Chapter 2 - Why, I Oughtta!
Musical recommendations: Yelle - Ce Jeu, Cenotype - Unearthed
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On the incredibly quiet and awkward walk back to the hotel, the pain of Botan's injuries began to set in. Though she hadn't realized it before, whatever it was that had grabbed her shoulder had punctured her skin. She pouted as she pawed at the irreparably torn jacket, and patted at the bump on her head that must have been at least two lumps high. She was quite embarrassed about having to have Hiei escort her back to the hotel, but in attempts to make herself feel better, tried to rationalize it. The only reason she ended up out in that forest was because of him. It wasn't her fault he was too prideful to accept her help. Escorting her back to the hotel was the least he could do. For that matter, he should shower her with gifts and praise.
(Somewhere in Botan's imagination, she pictures Hiei bowing down to her, and piling elegantly wrapped gifts around her)
A very audible laugh suddenly burst from Botan, which was quickly stifled by her hand. Though she couldn't see very well, she could tell that Hiei turned his head to cast a glare in her direction. Well, maybe not praise and gifts. Botan also wondered what Hiei could be thinking at that moment. She realized he never really spoke about anything outside of battle, so it was impossible for her to try an guess. Except maybe he was thinking about battle. The hotel was now in sight. At what point would Hiei stop 'escorting' her? A game it is! The further he follows her, the more he cares for her safety. How nice...
Hiei periodically glanced up at her out of the corner of his eye, now unsure if he should be annoyed or confused at her behavior. Through no formal decision, annoyance remained the preferred reaction.
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Once the both of them entered the room of Team Urameshi, Hiei behind Botan, they were immediately greeted by the very curious Yusuke. Before Hiei had even closed the door, Yusuke had already magically appeared behind Botan, with a grin which made it appear as though half of his face was teeth. "So where did you go, huh? Late-night stroll?" He said coyly, diverting his gaze from Botan to Hiei. Hiei ignored Yusuke, and everyone else in room, and walked past towards the window. But Botan glared at him, clenching her fists, "did you two," Urameshi said in a low murmur right by Botan's ear, making a gesture with his pinky finger, "you know." Yusuke began giggling to himself as he no doubt tried to picture it in his mind, casting looks at Botan and Hiei, who sat obliviously at the window. It was at this point which Botan landed one of her clenched fists on the back of Yusuke's head.
"How could you suggest something like that, Yusuke?" She said with her eyes closed and her fist still hovering in the air where Urameshi's head once was. He crouched to the floor holding his injury, his expression dazed. Kuwabara jumped from his seat, offended by Yusuke's conduct.
"You'd better shut up, Urameshi, or I'll shut you up!" Kuwabara shook his fist at Yusuke, raising his voice. Kurama, who sat on the nearby couch, silently laughed to himself, amused by the scene these three caused.
"That's right Yusuke, you'd better knock it off or you'll be in big trouble." Botan's eyes closed in an innocent smile as she said this. Then, as if he had never gotten up from the ground, but once more magically appeared next to her,
"What's this," Yusuke poked at the bloody spots on the girl's shoulder, "and you look really sweaty. You should tell him to take it easier on you next time." His arm was now around her shoulder as he giggled like a dirty old man who walked around town with a trench coat, and no pants on underneath. This time Yusuke found Botan's oar reconstructing the back of his head, as she did a 'make it magically appear' trick of her own.
"You just never learn, do you Yusuke?" She said in a scolding tone. Hiei spared a glance from the window, wondering why she hadn't shown this sort of strength in the forest.
"Tonight must be the night you want to die, Urameshi." Hiei warned.
"You can't talk about Miss Botan like that!" Kuwabara said grabbing Yusuke by the front of his shirt.
"I guess you're right," Yusuke said, sounding as if he'd given up, "what Hiei and Botan do at night in the middle of the forest is none of my business." He resumed his grin full of large sharp teeth, and dopily squinted eyes. It was not a minute later that Yusuke smacked against the wall across the hallway from their room's door.
"And stay out!" Botan said furiously, standing next to Kuwabara, who did the throwing. She slammed the door on the pesky Yusuke, and threw herself over a cushy armchair. Reaching for a nearby book, she found herself mentally ranting about how rude Yusuke had been, and laughing at his muffled pleas which barely made it through the door. Just what was he thinking? Just because two people of opposite genders happened to go into the same woods doesn't mean that they're...
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(Somewhere in Botan's imagination)
Botan was back at that dark, rocky shore after Hiei had rescued her from the pursuing creature without a second thought. She brought herself to her feet and approached Hiei, unzipping her bloody jacket, then pulling it off revealing nothing but a white tank top underneath. She sat next to Hiei, facing the opposite direction he was as he stared off into the sea. As she settled, her leg not two inches away from his, she looked upon him with girlish curiosity. The tip of her index finger found its way just between her teeth as she examined his bare chest. So strong, yet so vulnerable she thought. Hiei finally turned his eyes, and she met his gaze with overt demure. She diverted her eyes, and the demon raised his fingers to her wounded shoulder, the shoulder closest to him. She looked back at him to see his eyes focused on her shoulder as his fingers ghosted over her skin, careful not to touch the sensitive wounds. She winced slightly at the dull pain this close contact caused, which drew his attention back to her eyes. He watched her eyes with intensity as his fingers still trailed slowly down her shoulder over her chest. He watched her as if he would learn her by examining her reaction to his touch. She was not used to being touched in such a sensitive place, as the perks in her tank top revealed. Her heartbeat quickened, she was sure he could feel it through her chest. As his fingers reached the perk he had caused on her right breast, he removed his fingers. She diverted her eyes once more, feeling as though he could see right through her. She couldn't hide anything from him. Then he moved his face close to hers, his lips nearly touching her ear. She could feel his heat, which made her own rise so that the occasional cool breeze was almost a shock of cold. He whispered to her as he eased his hand across her front waist. His breath tickled her ear, which made her shy her shoulder away from him with a shiver than crept up her spine. With his left hand, he guided her neck closer to his lips. He could feel the girl's soft hair on his mouth when he pressed his lips against the side of her neck. She giggled as the kisses continued, his lips caressing the delicate skin, and she rested her left hand against his right shoulder. He used his right arm, which was around her waist, to pull her in even closer to his body. He felt the goose bumps that covered her frail arm, as her right shoulder pressed against his exposed chest. Botan was forced to use her right arm as a balance, placing it on the other side of Hiei's legs. He pulled her closer still, exploring her neck, making her head fall back, and placing more pressure on her injured shoulder. Blood smeared his chest from her wounds. The pressure and salty touch of Hiei's chest on her wounds, coupled with the continuous delight she found in his kisses on her neck, this mixture of pleasure and pain, forced a moan from her lips, "Hiei," she groaned, almost in a daze.
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Botan's cheeks turned bright red as she tried to return her full concentration to her book. Impulsively, she snuck a quick peek at Hiei, who still sat at the window. She found that he was already staring at her with wide eyes, one of them twitching slightly. Yusuke still banged on the door, pleading to be let back in, insisting he was just joking around and would stop.
"Keep it down Urameshi!" Kuwabara called through the door. All of this background noise didn't ease Botan's intense feelings of guilt and embarrassment. Hiei must have known! She easily tore her eyes away from the awkward stare Hiei glued on her, and the first thing her eyes landed on was Kurama, who sat across from her. He looked at her curiously. She looked back at him beginning to break a light sweat still feeling Hiei's eyes judging her. Her face looked guilty, blushed, and sweaty. Kurama shifted his eyes over to Hiei who was still staring at Botan with a twitching eye. Kurama, being the intelligent demon he was, shifted his eyes back to Botan who looked at him, frozen.
"Hmm?" he said, raising an eyebrow. A slight smirk grew on his face.
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Well there you have it once more, kiddies. Hope you enjoyed the chapter. : )