Everything I'm Not

"Speech"

Thoughts

Telepathy

((My Notes))

Disclaimer: I don't own anything!

Chapter 8: The Fourth Day

--

As Hiei was training he couldn't seem to get the situation that occurred earlier out of his head. Just what the hell was he doing? The point of taunting Botan was well... taunting Botan. It wasn't supposed to have a reverse effect on him! Toying with her like that... didn't exactly have a good effect on Hiei.

Dare he say it: It almost felt good to be that close to 'the annoying ferry-girl.' He may have even liked it.

Cursing himself silently he began to take his anger out on the trees, ruthlessly slashing his katana.

Hiei decided he would just ignore that it ever happened. He did not almost kiss her... and he most certainly did not like the feeling of her up against him like that. Nope, not one bit.

--

Botan strode into her kitchen yawning. Hiei probably left early to train, like he did every morning, and for this Botan was grateful. She wasn't ready to face him just yet. After making herself some coffee, Botan went into the living room and sat down. Putting the television on, she began to flick through channels.

The scene between Hiei and herself kept replaying in her head. The way he looked at her with those teasing eyes... the way he pulled her close... it was the sweetest torture she had ever felt in her life.

"This is so stupid! I'll just ask him about it when he gets back! That's right. I won't think about until the time comes to ask! From now on it will be erased from my mind!"

Just then, the phone rang.

Botan sighed, getting up from the couch she picked up the phone. "Hello? Oh hi, Keiko. What's up?"

"Hey. I wanted to ask about what's going on with you and Hiei."

Botan's amethyst eyes widened. Way to be blunt Keiko. That girl is definitely spending too much time around Yusuke. "Uh... me and Hiei? Well... I- uh, you see..." She was doing so well too... what with her agreement not to think about the prospect of Hiei and herself. Now she had no choice but to rack her brain for answers concerning their relationship.

Keiko's voice was soothing on the other side of the phone. "Botan it's okay. I know you like him already... you don't have to hide it from me."

Finally losing her resolve to keep this a secret, she confessed. "It's awful, Keiko! I don't know what to think anymore... I mean before I might have liked him a little bit. You know a small crush... but now, I have stronger feelings for him. I really like him Keiko."

"You poor girl. It'll be okay. I bet he likes you too... I mean... based on what I saw before." Keiko's voice became more sly than usual, and Botan was sure that she would have to separate Keiko and Yusuke. She was beginning to transform!

Botan smiled. "I don't know... he can be so confusing sometimes. It's hard to say what he thinks or feels."

"So just ask him." The way Keiko stated it made her situation seem so simple. If only Botan could just ask Hiei all the questions that floated in her mind.

"I know I should ask him about it, but...it's not that easy..." Botan trailed off.

"Ask who about what?" Hiei had obviously come back from training, looking a bit flushed and out of breath. He had this nagging feeling she was talking about him.

She jumped at the sound of his voice. "Hiei!... Um... uh... nothing. I was just rambling! You know me..." Botan laughed nervously waving Hiei's question off. "I have to go Keiko. Talk to you later!" Botan hung up the phone and looked in Hiei's direction.

"How was training?" She wanted to avoid asking him anything about before at all costs now. It was too embarrassing.

Hiei went into his room and came back out with a towel and a change of clothes. "It was fine."

"Do you want some breakfast?"

Hiei nodded then walked inside the bathroom.

Botan sighed, she didn't have the courage to ask him yet. She needed a bit more time.

--

A few hours passed and by the time Botan knew it, it was afternoon. She and Hiei hadn't really said much to each other, and Botan was getting tired of it. She had a plan to loosen him up... then she could ask him all the questions she wanted.

"Hey Hiei..." Botan called putting down the novel she was reading.

Hiei turned to her waiting for her to continue. "What is it?"

"Do you want to... go for ice cream? I mean it's such a nice day and all we shouldn't waste it inside this stuffy apartment! But if you don't want to go, I totally understand! I-"

"Onna, I'll go." All the ice cream in Botan's freezer was gone because everyone came over yesterday, and Hiei had been craving ice cream ever since this morning.

She made an excited noise then ran into her room. A few minutes later she came out in a new change of clothes and a happy expression plastered on her bright face. "I know this cute little shop a few blocks down! Their ice cream is to die for!"

"It better be." Hiei got up from his seated position and followed her out the door. He didn't really feel like going out into places crowded with foolish ningens, but for some ice cream, it was all worth it.

Once they reached the shop they ordered their ice cream and sat down. "So how's the taste?" Botan asked excitedly as she watched Hiei began to eat his ice cream.

"It's good," Hiei replied. It tasted like a little bit of heaven, but Hiei wouldn't let Botan know that. "For something that ningen's made." He added quickly.

Botan smiled ignoring his last comment. "I know." She looked up at him solemnly, with hopeful eyes. "Say Hiei... you've only got three more days left to live with me, after today. So was it as bad as you thought it would be?"

Hiei snorted. "Ask me that after it's over." He looked to see Botan's shoulders slouch a bit and expression get more solemn. He almost felt guilty for being so callous towards her feelings. Hiei resisted the urge to sigh at her softness and continued. "It could've been worse, onna."

Botan's pink lips curled into a smile and her eyes lit up. "I'm glad. I didn't do this to torture you, I just wanted-"

"Hiei! Is that you?" A girl's voice was heard and they both looked to the source of the voice. Botan heard Hiei groan and looked back at him.

The girl had honey brown hair, cinnamon eyes, and a chipper smile. She was very attractive and Botan found herself feeling a bit insecure around her. Hiei looked at her with disgust when she walked over to their table.

"It is you! I saw your black spiky hair and immediately knew it was you! How are you doing?" The woman seemed very happy to meet him and wasted no time in talking to him.

"Why don't you go find something more productive to do with your time." Hiei pointedly ignored her while finishing off his cone.

She laughed. "Still as crabby as ever! You are too cute!"

Hiei cringed at the word "cute," and quickly found himself wishing he had his katana again. This girl was too much. If it wasn't for his honor-code Hiei would have disposed of her already.

"Um, excuse me... but who are you?" Botan questioned hoping to get some answers. Could she and Hiei have possibly had a relationship before? No! Why would he ever... with someone like her...! Botan stopped herself from thinking such jealous thoughts. Who Hiei had relations with was none of her business, and Botan knew deep down she shouldn't be judgmental.

"I'm Sarah, and you are?"

"Botan. Nice to meet you."

"Likewise, dear. Anyway, Hiei saved me from some brutes a while back and we just keep running into each other! Call it fate, if you must!" Her high-pitched voice rung through the air as Botan smiled weakly.

Hiei snorted. "More like stalking." Botan had to force herself not to laugh after she heard Hiei say that.

"Hiei you are just too funny!" The brunette slapped him on the shoulder heartily while laughing. "So how do you two know each other?"

"We...uh, we work together!" Botan replied hurriedly.

"Oh so you two aren't involved, just colleagues. Makes sense. I didn't think you would be involved with someone like her... I mean she is definitely not good enough for you, Hiei."

Botan's smile dropped. Her fists clenched in anger and her eyebrows furrowed in anger. Not good enough for him... why the nerve of that girl! I'll show her not good enough-

Before Botan could defend herself she heard Hiei's cocky voice. "Hn. Don't jump to conclusions, baka. As a matter of fact we are 'involved,' and in case you haven't noticed, we are in the middle of..." Hiei paused and forced himself to say the last part, "a date."

Hiei looked to Botan waiting for her agree. "Yes. We were in the middle of date. So sorry!" Botan replied with feigned sympathy for the girl standing in front of her.

"Well when you get tired of her and want a real woman, call me!" Sarah left her number scribbled on a small piece of paper on the table and made sure to let Hiei get a good view of her assets as she walked away from him.

"Call me when you want a real woman... The nerve of her! I mean I may not be as voluptuous as her... but I-"

"Don't let her get to you. Trust me there's nothing about her that you should need to feel jealous about."

Botan's eyes widened. "Jealous? I'm not jealous... I just... she... I'm not jealous, okay?" Botan looked down in embarrassment, cursing herself for being so foolish. Her cheeks became tinted pink and she huffed. Botan began suddenly became engrossed with her ice cream and she began eating it feverishly to avoid the situation.

Hiei smirked. "Whatever. I was just saying, she's not worth your time. You're more of a woman than she'll ever be."

The blue-haired girl felt her heart beat loudly against her chest. "...What?"

"Do you have a hearing impediment? I'm not repeating myself," Hiei said a bit too stern, angry with himself for complimenting her. He never said anything nice to anybody before.

Botan shook her head. "I heard you, it's just that I..." ...had trouble believing you would actually say that to me, Botan finished in her mind. "Thanks, Hiei."

Hiei nodded, averting his eyes from her gaze and caught hold of the piece of paper on the table. I won't be needing this. He burned it quickly leaving nothing but ashes.

Botan looked at the ashes on the table with a happy feeling swelling inside of her. "You attract some ...interesting people."

"I regret saving that woman everyday," Hiei groaned out while eating his second cone.

Botan licked her cone. "I think it was a very noble thing to do."

"She was in trouble, I helped. Nothing noble about it," Hiei answered.

"You shouldn't downplay it like that. You saved that woman's life. That's a very noble thing."

Hiei shrugged his shoulders, not know how to take her praise. He hadn't really ever been complimented like this before. About his fighting skills sure, but Hiei wasn't used to such compliments that pertained to his character.

Clearly seeing Hiei wasn't used to such things Botan changed the subject. Looking out the window she sighed. "The day is almost done, and I really don't want to go to work tomorrow." Suddenly she slapped her hand down on the table in realization. "Oh crap work! Are you sure you won't get into any trouble with Mukuro... I kind of made you take a whole week off without realizing you had things to do as well..."

"As I've said before, don't concern yourself with such things. Mukuro can deal with her territory for one week. In any case Haru says he's got things covered."

"Really? That's nice of him. He's such a sweet guy."

Seeing her expression soften at the mention of Haru, Hiei rolled his eyes. "Sweet? More like a pain in my ass."

"You don't have to be jealous, Hiei..." Botan teased.

"Shut up!" Hiei began as her rich laughter filled his ears. It sounded kind of nice... but then again she was laughing at him. "Baka onna."

"Botan," she said quietly after she finished laughing.

"What?"

"My name is Botan. It would be nice to hear you call me that more often than onna... or baka..."

"What I chose to call you is my business alone." Hiei answered arrogantly.

Botan pouted. "It wouldn't kill you to be a little nicer to me, you know..."

"Actually, it would. Just be happy I don't threaten you as much as I used to."

"You're right! You really don't threaten me anymore!" Her eyes widened as she gasped.

"What is it?"

"Do you actually think of me as a friend now?"

Hiei rolled his eyes in disbelief. "Hardly. It's just pointless to threaten you anymore seeing as you're under Koenma's protection."

"Hm... I guess that's true. Oh well. Either way I like it better when you're not constantly threatening my life."

Hiei smirked, as he thought back to better days, namely when Botan was afraid of him and didn't open her mouth so much when he was around.

--

Outside of the ice cream shop were Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Kurama. For once, they weren't spying on Hiei and Botan... or at least that wasn't their intention. Kuwabara and Yusuke were killing time at the arcade, like they did every Sunday, when they saw Kurama on his way home. Kurama was picking up a few items for his mother when he joined up with the duo. They were all on their way home, and the ice cream shop just happened to be conveniently built on the way to all three boy's homes.

"Well don't they just make the perfect picture," Kurama mumbled while watching the pair interact.

"You know, they kinda do." Yusuke admitted after seeing how comfortable Botan was around Hiei now.

Kuwabara laughed. "Of course they do! After all, my sweet Yukina has faith in them!"

"We should go before they notice us," Kurama advised, while turning away from the shop and walking away.

"Sure thing Fox-boy!" Yusuke saluted Kurama and followed him. Kuwabara followed close after.

Kurama sighed. "I really wish you would refrain from calling me that."

--

"Hey look it's Kurama, Yusuke, and Kuwabara!" Botan pointed towards the glass window.

Turning around, Hiei saw nothing but strangers passing by. "So aside from being a baka, you've begun to hallucinate."

"No, really, I swear they were just there!"

Getting up from his chair, Hiei dismissed her. All that ice cream must of gotten to her head. "We're leaving."

"But I really did-" Botan sighed, realizing Hiei didn't believe her. "Okay, time to go."

--

After changing into her pajamas and getting under her warm inviting covers, Botan attempted to fall asleep. Attempted... and failed. That stupid scene was still replaying itself in Botan's head. The only way she was going to get some sleep was obvious. She had to confront Hiei about it. Gathering up her courage, Botan got up from her bed and walked over to his room. Lightly rapping at the door she waited for him to answer, hoping she hadn't woken him up.

"Come in."

Botan opened the door to find Hiei on the window-sill, looking into the night sky. He looked so serene... and the glow of the moonlight made him look even more unattainable than he already was. "Sorry if I disturbed you. I just wanted to ask something."

"Go on."

Come on girl, you can do this. Just ask. "Yesterday... when you were going to read into my thoughts... what exactly happened between us?"

"It was nothing. I was just taunting you, nothing more."

"Oh. I see." It kind of hurt to hear him say that it meant nothing so bluntly, but it's not like Botan was expecting him to confess his undying love for her or something.

He thought he heard ... disappointment in her voice. No... why on the face of the three worlds would someone like Botan ever want someone like him. It was impossible.

"Oh, and thanks for going with me to the ice cream shop. It wouldn't have been much fun if I went alone." Botan smiled at him graciously.

Fun? She had fun... with him? Now Hiei was sure Botan wasn't entirely sane.

Upon being answered with silence, Botan went on. "Being with you today, just spending time and talking with you... I really enjoyed myself. And I know you may not think of me as your friend, but I'm glad we could talk like this."

More silence... the silence was more unnerving than anything else in the world to Botan.

"And I don't expect you to say anything it's just... well... you could at least act like you're paying attention, Hiei!"

"I heard you loud and clear. Just go to sleep Botan."

Botan placed her hands on her hips and huffed. "The least you could is answer when I'm- you said my name!"

"It's what friends do right? Or would you rather I went back to calling you baka?"

She blinked twice, then outright gawked at him. "...Friends?"

Hiei paused. "Yes, now go to sleep."

"Goodnight, Hiei." Smiling she left his room with no further replies. First he says my name, then he says we're friends. I never know what to think with that guy. She giggled remembering the way her name sounded on his lips.

"Botan!" She mocked in a voice that was way too happy to sound like Hiei's. Hm no, that's not it...

Clearing her throat a bit she lowered her voice and feigned annoyance. "Just go to sleep, Botan." Bingo! That was it exactly! She sighed dreamily like a school girl obsessed over her first crush.

Hearing her through Botan's seemingly paper-thin walls Hiei smirked to himself. The onna was definitely insane.

--

Wow. And UPDATE! After a very VERY long hiatus! I'm updating again... Basically this chapter was nothing but H/B bonding Haha. To all the loyal reviewers thanks for sticking with this story! I haven't given up on it! I'll try to update regularly! Sorry if this chapter wasn't as good as the others... I'm trying REALLY hard Review and tell me what ya thought! D