Hiei stood at the top of the stairs, staring out at the temple ahead of him. He could already hear the signs of commotion inside of the compound and he immediately wished he hadn't resolved to attend the old woman's party. His reasons for coming were sentimental and so completely unlike him. He had never cared much for the human world, the spirit detective team, or those in connection with the team. He had never cared for sentimental goodbyes or last meetings. But still, he was here. Botan had asked him to go and he found it more and more difficult to deny her requests. This would be his last opportunity to fulfill them, after all.
He tried to justify his decision by supplementing it with the fact that this would be a chance to execute his sixth date. The party was simply another means of completing the bet and gaining his freedom; another chance to expedite his departure from his world. He had been through countless other irritating experiences because of the bet; surely he could make it through this one.
There was only one problem left, now, and this one was a bit harder to justify. His new found affection for the ferry-girl had crept up on him like a silent, but deadly disease. It had taken root within him before he even had the chance to realize that it was there. Kurama was deluded into believing that Hiei's sudden interest in the woman was of the romantic kind, but he couldn't be farther from the truth. His feelings for her were in the same capacity as those towards Yukina or even the rest of the team to an extent.
"Hiei!"
The joyful voice rang out in the air and he looked up to see the source of his musings flying towards him on her oar. His crimson eyes followed her as she made her way towards him. Even from afar, he could tell that she was smiling; her infectious cheer radiated in waves.
"Well, don't you look handsome," she noted, giving him an approving nod.
"Hn."
He had only worn more formal clothes because he was told by Kurama that the detective had forced some absurd dress code on everybody. It was a simple pair of black pants and a black long sleeved shirt, finished with a crimson tabard. He had fashioned a belt around it to keep it in place and opted to wear his flat shoes in lieu of boots. His outfit was something that many martial artists wore and was not something out of the ordinary; however, the woman's look was entirely new.
She let her hair spill over her shoulders, framing her face in the same way it did on the night that he had kissed her. It was an image he was trying to forget, but found himself remembering more often than not. The royal blue dress she wore was modest enough; the sleeves cut off just under her elbows, the neckline revealed just a hint of cleavage and the length of the dress ended at around mid-thigh. He had seen women wear much more revealing clothing in the both the human and the demon world, but the way that the material clung tightly to her body was nearly sinful.
"Anyway, I'm glad to see that you came," she said, snapping him out of his thoughts. "And you made it in perfect timing, too! I was hoping to catch you before you met up with the others."
There was an excitement that only she was capable of harboring exuding from her aura. She had always been like that, energetic and lively, bright and happy. In the past it was an irritatingly obnoxious quality, but over time it had become less of a troublesome trait. He tore his gaze away from her body and looked up at her twinkling amethyst eyes.
"What for?" he asked finally.
She took a step closer and he could detect the faint scent of flowery and sweet perfume.
"I wanted to give you-"
"Hey, you two, get in here!"
A raucous voice cut through air and they turned to find Yusuke standing at the door, beckoning them to enter with a wide grin. The detective seemed to follow Hiei's train of thought, ditching his usual white-t and jeans in lieu of a yellow and green outfit similar to Hiei's own.
"In a minute, Yusuke!" she called out, shooing him away.
"Alright, but hurry up!" he urged, before heading back inside.
"Like I was saying," Botan started, a grin slowly spreading over her face as she spoke. "I know you've told me many times before that it didn't matter, but even so, I knew that you-"
"Good evening," Kurama said politely making his presence known as he moved towards them.
"Oh, hello Kurama," she replied, forcing a smile on her face as she bit down the irritation of being interrupted for a second time.
"Hn," Hiei grunted out, crossing his arms over his chest.
The fox appeared to be completely unaffected and oblivious to Hiei's animosity, but the glint in his eyes and the slight upward quirk of his lips suggested otherwise. He was no doubt thinking back to the drunken incident and Hiei clenched his fists. If only he had controlled himself better, then Kurama wouldn't have gotten carried away with the absurd notion that he was in love with the ferry-girl.
"I'll go on ahead," he said. "See you inside."
"Yes, we'll join you shortly!" Botan said.
Hiei watched as the ferry-girl smiled a bit too forcefully at Kurama, only returning her gaze to him when she was sure that the fox was out of sight and earshot. Whatever it was that she wanted to say must have been important, he figured.
"Alright, since we don't have much time, I'm just going to come right out and say it!" she huffed, digging through her purse. "I wanted to give you-"
"Hey Botan!" Kuwabara bellowed, coming up the long steps and walking over towards them. "…shrimp."
"Oaf," Hiei grunted out, like clockwork.
Botan's shoulders slumped as she closed her purse and pouted.
"Hello there, Kuwabara," she replied dully.
"You look nice," he noted, obviously unaware of Botan's sour mood.
She suddenly looked up at him, a genuine smile appearing on her face.
"Why thank you, at least somebody noticed!" she said. "And you don't look so bad yourself, mister."
Kuwabara looked down at his button-down shirt and slacks with a self-conscious shrug.
"I was surprised Urameshi suggested we all dress up. He really is going all out for Genkai, huh?"
"Yes, I think it's sweet that he wanted to go the extra mile," Botan replied.
They stood in silence for a moment, before Kuwabara cleared his throat.
"So, are you guys gonna go inside or what?"
"Yes, in a minute. I was hoping to talk to Hiei in private."
Kuwabara nodded in understanding. He had just turned to face the temple when Yusuke reappeared at the entrance.
"What are you guys waiting for?" the detective asked, waving them over. "This party won't start itself, you know!"
"I was trying to have a conversation with Hiei but everyone keeps interrupting!" she yelled back, before letting out a huff. "Oh forget it!"
The ferry-girl stalked off ahead of Hiei and Kuwabara.
"What was that about?" Kuwabara muttered.
Hiei only shrugged as he followed suit. The woman had many different moods and he had learned long ago that it was a waste of time trying to keep track of them.
As Botan stomped inside of the temple, she tried to release the agitation that had swelled up inside of her chest. She really wanted to present Hiei with his hiruiseki stone, but she was interrupted at every turn. With a couple of deep breaths and some logical thought, she realized that it was probably a good thing that all of her attempts ended in vain. In her excitement to reveal the stone, she hadn't really thought about how sensible it would have been to deal with this particular subject where anyone could have overheard them. She resolved to find some time later on tonight to return the stone to him in private, when the moment wouldn't have to be hurried or rushed.
Upon entering the main room, Botan noticed two things: first off, there were a lot of people and secondly, she had absolutely no idea who they were.
"What do you guys think?" Yusuke inquired, motioning over to the throng of people with a satisfied grin.
"I think… this party turned into a lot more than we can handle," she said uncertainly.
"I'm inclined to agree," Kurama voiced. "How on earth did you manage to gather so many people on such short notice?"
"I've got my ways," Yusuke replied with a cocky smirk.
"This isn't something to smirk about, Urameshi. Genkai's going to kill you!" Kuwabara rebuked. "You know she doesn't really like company."
Botan cringed as she imagined the damage Genkai would inflict on Yusuke once she noticed all of these strangers in her home. She looked over the crowd once more, noticing that they all seemed to be fighters of some sort and a majority of them had the same mindset and fashion sense as Yusuke and Hiei. When they heard formal wear, they opted to throw on their own variations of traditional martial arts clothing in lieu of the more conventional dress shirt and pants like Kurama and Kuwabara. Both options looked nice enough and suited the occasion just as well, she noted before sneaking an appreciative glance at Hiei. She returned her gaze towards the guests before anyone could take notice of it and as her eyes scanned the area, something occurred to her.
"A lot of these guys seem pretty familiar…" she said slowly.
"They should, seeing as they're the same group from that sketchy tournament Genkai held back when we first met her," Yusuke answered flippantly.
"Are you insane? We hardly know these people! They could all be deranged psychopaths for all we know!" she berated loudly, earning a few stares from the strangers closest to them. She cleared her throat and shot the guests a sheepish look. "Not that there's anything wrong with that..."
"Yusuke," Kurama interjected. "Do you even know any of these people on a personal level?"
"Sort of," he answered lamely. He turned to the crowd and began pointing people out. "That grumpy looking guy is Seiji. I have a feeling he and Hiei will get along, since they're both so pessimistic and morbid all the time. The pretty boy is Yuuto, he's the polite type like Kurama. And that other one with the eye-patch is-"
"-the same jerk that almost killed me!" Kuwabara shouted indignantly.
"Yeah, that's right! His name's Musashi," Yusuke informed.
"Who cares about what his name is! I can't believe you invited him!" Kuwabara bellowed.
Botan cast Yusuke a disparaging look, her mouth twisted into a frown as she awaited his response.
"Eh, that's all in the past," Yusuke dismissed with a wave of his hand. "You beat him in the end, didn't you?"
"That's not the point, Urameshi!" Kuwabara countered.
"This feels like a horrible idea…" Botan moaned, rubbing at her temples in a lame attempt to stave off the impending headache. "From what I recall, most of the participants were blood thirsty and cruel."
"People change!" Yusuke defended. "At the start of that tournament Kuwabara was just about ready to elope with you, but look at him now! He's all about Yukina."
Botan and Kuwabara tensed as all eyes turned towards them. Kurama looked more amused than anything else, while Hiei's disinterested gaze suddenly took on a sharper quality.
"Is that so?" Kurama asked.
"Oh that's right; you and Hiei weren't around at the time!" Yusuke recalled, before breaking out into peals of laughter. "It was the funniest thing. He thought that I was cheating on Keiko with Botan and then when he realized that I wasn't, he pretty much asked her to marry him right then and there!"
"It was just a harmless little crush," Botan explained, eyes darting between the two demons, hoping to clear the air. "Nothing to dwell on!"
"That's true," Yusuke agreed. "He practically forgot all about Botan when Yukina came into the picture."
"Hey!" Botan exclaimed, putting her hands on her hips as she frowned. "It might have been short-lived and fleeting but you didn't have to word it like that!"
"Yeah, Urameshi," Kuwabara agreed, folding his arms over his chest as he gave Yusuke a serious look. "Don't even pretend to understand the complexities of my love."
"Love?" Botan nearly shrieked, eyes wide as she stared at the psychic.
"No, that's not what I meant," Kuwabara corrected, his face flushing a dark red as he shook his head furiously and waved his arms in a non-threatening gesture. "I wasn't–"
"I fail to see what the fool's past infatuation with the ferry-girl has to do with the crew of misfits you so haplessly invited," Hiei interjected, his tone tense as he glared at them.
"I'm just saying, people change," Yusuke clarified, crossing his arms over his chest. "Kuwabara went from Botan's biggest admirer to Yukina's number one fan-boy and maybe these guys have changed, too. We really didn't give them a chance in the first place. Besides, who throws a birthday party without any guests? We needed more people and I pulled through!"
"Haven't you ever heard of quality over quantity? Genkai probably doesn't even care for most of these people anyway!" Botan whispered harshly.
"I asked the guys to bring along their masters, too. They all said they knew Genkai in some way or another, so I figured she would be happy," Yusuke explained.
Botan's eyes returned to the group of strangers. So that explained older guests wandering around. They held the same sort of strong-willed and disciplined spirit that Genkai had. The sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach dissipated somewhat as she mulled Yusuke's words over. Perhaps this wasn't such a bad idea at all.
"Oh, alright," she conceded, before raising a warning finger. "But if Genkai gets mad, I'm blaming it all on you."
"Fine, whatever," Yusuke said with a shrug. "That just means I get all the credit when it all goes well, and trust me, it will."
"Are the others on their way?" Kurama asked.
"Lord Koenma and Jorge will arrive a little later," Botan informed.
"Shizuru said she was going to pick Keiko up after work and bring her over," Kuwabara added.
"And Genkai will be here shortly," Yukina announced as she entered the room with a tray full refreshments. She had chosen to wear a more ornate lavender kimono for the occasion. "She had an appointment in the city and should be returning any time now."
"Yukina!" Kuwabara gushed, moving over to her side and taking the tray from her. "You look even more beautiful than usual!"
"Thank you Kazuma," she said shyly, accepting his help, before looking around a bit bewildered. "I wasn't expecting there to be so many people."
"That's all Urameshi's doing," Kuwabara replied, flicking his thumb over his shoulder in the detective's direction.
"Damn right it is!" he exclaimed proudly.
"I'm glad that all these people were able to attend the party, but I don't think we have enough food to feed a group this large," Yukina said worriedly.
"I've got you covered," Yusuke told her with a reassuring smile. "I asked Keiko's parents to cater. When Keiko and Shizuru show up, there'll be more than enough food."
"Wow, you really have thought of everything, Yusuke. I'm impressed," Botan complimented.
"I told you guys I had everything under control," he said with a grin. "Now let's mingle. This is a party, after all."
The detective was the first to make a move, heading off into the farthest corner of the room and striking up a conversation with a burly, but friendly looking man.
"I suppose it couldn't hurt," Kurama said, before walking away as well. He was soon accosted by some of the women and Botan couldn't help but grin as she watched him interact with them.
"I have a few more refreshments to finish," Yukina mentioned. "Would you mind helping me, Kazuma?"
"It will be my pleasure to help you, my love!" he agreed happily and together they disappeared into the crowd and out of the room.
Their group had disappeared to various areas of the temple, leaving Botan and Hiei alone.
"I hope Yusuke was right and the party ends well," Botan said conversationally as she turned to Hiei, unwilling to venture out into the crowd just yet.
"Knowing the detective, it could either go two ways: cataclysmically wrong or just right. There is no medium with him," Hiei responded.
"That's true," she said. "And more often than not, things usually do have a way of working out in Yusuke's favor, so I guess I shouldn't worry."
"Hn."
"Do you want to try and mingle with some of the guests?" she asked. She instantly regretted the question when she remembered exactly who she was talking to.
"I'd rather not."
"Me neither," she said, and he seemed a little surprised at her response. Truth be told, she was a little surprised by it as well. She had always excelled in social settings and it would be interesting to talk to these newcomers, but she would rather spend her time with him instead. "Do you mind if I stick with you for a little while?"
"Do what you wish," he told her, shoving his hands in his pockets.
She was about to reply, when she suddenly experienced the creeping sensation of being watched. Hiei must have noticed it too, because his attention snapped to the left. When she followed his gaze, it landed on a tall and handsome stranger with dark hair, pale skin and piercing blue eyes.
"Well, if it isn't the blue-haired beauty," he said, his voice as smooth as silk.
Botan looked around confusedly and upon noticing that there were no other blue-haired women in sight, pointed to herself questioningly.
"Me?"
"I never forget a pretty face," he said, walking closer and stopping a few comfortable feet in front of Botan. "You might not remember me as I did not have the chance to make it far in the tournament, but you my lady, are simply unforgettable."
Hiei grunted in disgust at the display, turning his head away so that he would not have to see any more.
"Thank you," she said, eyes glued to the floor as a blush heated her cheeks. He was like a character straight from one of Hinageshi's romance novels; dashing, polite and charming.
"My name is Yuuto and I've trained long and hard under Master Shinten, making quite a name for myself in the world of psychics."
"It's a pleasure to meet you," she said. "I'm Botan and this is Hiei."
"The pleasure's all mine," Yuuto replied, before smiling and revealing a set of pearly white teeth. "Would I be too forward if I asked you to share some of your time with me tonight?"
"Uh... you... with me?" she replied, her mind suddenly going blank.
"I just hoped that we might get to know each other better. I missed my chance before and I can't afford to make that same mistake twice," he declared.
Botan blinked, eyes drifting around the room for some sort of diversion. Yuuto's gaze was too intense and compelling and she found herself unable to look him in the eye.
"So, what do you say, Botan?" he asked smoothly.
"I'm charmed, really I am, but you see I'm already involved with someone else," Botan claimed, lacing her fingers through Hiei's before she had a chance to second guess herself.
"Is that so?" Yuuto raised a brow as he quickly assessed the competition. "Well, I have no qualms with waiting for such a fair lady to realize that I am exactly the type of man she desires."
Botan's eyes widened at the sheer magnitude of his determination. Hiei on the other hand, was not as impressed as he laughed darkly. She turned to him and instantly recognized that superior look on his face; he had worn it often during his matches in the Dark Tournament when he was taunting an opponent unworthy of his time.
"And what type of man is that?" Hiei asked, smirking arrogantly at the psychic. "The type who fails the preliminary round of a tournament full of weaklings or the type who is too dense to recognize when his advances are unwanted?"
"I've grown much stronger since Genkai's tournament and I always believed that my persistence was an asset both on and off of the battlefield. Perhaps you'd like a demonstration?" he asked, blue eyes narrowing in on Hiei and sizing him up.
Botan felt the fire-demon's grip tighten and she was sure that underneath his proud smirk festered a barely contained rage. He had already been in a dark mood; she didn't need anything else adding to that, so she quickly stepped in between the two of them in an attempt to distance them.
"Boys, boys, let's not ruin a perfectly fine party with arguments and squabbles," she pleaded.
Yuuto's smirk dropped when he noticed Botan's distress and he back down immediately.
"I apologize if I've upset you, but please know that I won't give up that easily."
"But I-"
"I know. You are with someone else. However, I've learned that situations and people often change," he said. "And I do hope that we will have the chance to see each other in the future."
Yuuto afforded her one last smile before deciding to retreat to another section of the room. He was caught by another guest and Koenma - who had somehow arrived without Botan realizing it – and the three began a discussion about something that Botan could not bother to wonder about. When she was sure that he was otherwise occupied, she let out a sigh of relief and released Hiei's hand.
"Sorry for dragging you into that," she apologized. "I didn't know how else to get rid of him, and well, you always look so menacing. I hoped it would scare him off without me actually having to reject him."
Hiei never had a chance to reply, because Yusuke's voice boomed over the crowd.
"Alright everybody," Yusuke hollered. "It's show time."
They all quieted down as they heard Genkai's light footsteps echoing through the hallways. She made her grand entrance into the main room and rounds of "happy birthday" filled the area as the psychic was met with familiar faces and smiles.
As she made her way through the crowd, Botan made sure to catch her in a fierce hug.
"Happy Birthday Genkai!" Botan beamed. "I'm sure you weren't expecting a big party like this!"
"No, I wasn't expecting to see this band of miscreants crowding my temple and drinking my booze," she grumbled, but Botan could see the undertones of gratitude hidden beneath that gruff tone.
"Well, you can go ahead and blame Yusuke for that," she said sheepishly. "But his heart was in the right place."
"I suppose so," Genkai concluded with a ghost of a smile lingering on her face.
Botan watched as Hiei nodded at Genkai. They exchanged a wordless greeting, before the guest of honor was pulled away by some other psychics, her tiny frame slowly becoming swallowed among the dense crowd. A smile crept onto Botan's face; she had a feeling this party would be exactly what everyone needed.
Yusuke mentally patted himself on the back as he watched his efforts pay off. The booze was flowing, the food was great, the guests were all getting along well enough and, most importantly, the old hag seemed to be enjoying herself – even if she made it her mission to pretend that she wasn't. All in all, Yusuke classified this party as a success.
Keiko hadn't even bitched at him once about the drinks he had downed. She was too busy enjoying herself for once and the girl deserved it. School was starting next week and she would be all stressed out and wound up. It was nice to see her relaxing and having fun.
There was one member of the group who had refrained from enjoying himself though. Yusuke's eyes drifted over to Hiei, who had taken up a corner of the room. It was just about time for Yusuke to do a little detective work and find out for himself what was going on between his assistant and his teammate. He waded through the crowd, narrowly avoiding spilling his drink all over the floor as his shoulders were bumped against a few strangers. When he reached Hiei, Yusuke clapped a hand on his shoulder.
"Congrats man, you're almost done!"
"What are you talking about?" Hiei asked, removing his hand as though it personally offended him.
"I'm talking about the bet. You're already on your sixth date and at this rate, you'll be done in no time!" Yusuke explained. "Just one more after this and you're free. No more dates. No more human world. No more Botan."
Hiei seemed to contemplate it for a few seconds, his brow slightly crinkled as thoughts unknown to Yusuke swirled around inside the fire-demon's head. Crimson eyes met his own as Hiei said something that completely confused the detective.
"Two."
"Huh?"
"I still have two more dates to complete. Tonight doesn't count," he clarified.
"Why shouldn't it? You both came together and this is a social outing. Sounds like all the trappings of a date to me," Yusuke shrugged.
"I know what a date is, detective, and this isn't one," Hiei spat. "If I'm going to prove to you fools exactly how trivial the dating game is, I'll have to follow the rules properly."
Yusuke lifted a brow, brown eyes twinkling in mischief.
"You do have that twisted and confusing honor code thing going for you, so I guess it makes sense. But for some reason, I don't really believe you," he taunted. "I'm thinking that maybe you're just trying to spend more time with our favorite ferry-girl."
Hiei's eyes narrowed.
"What?"
"Hey, I get it. Botan's hot and you're both single. It's nothing to be ashamed of," Yusuke reasoned with a suggestive wiggle of his eyebrows.
Hiei, however, did not seem amused by Yusuke's deductions as he pinned Yusuke with a dismissive look
"You're drunk and I have no intention of repeating myself," he announced, before turning on his heels and exiting the conversation entirely.
Yusuke watched as Hiei retreated with a self-satisfied smirk.
"Heh. I might be a little tipsy, but I can still see right through you little guy," he mumbled.
"What was that all about?" Kuwabara asked as he and Kurama joined Yusuke.
"Hiei's trying to buy more time," Yusuke revealed. "He doesn't want the bet to end yet."
"That's a good sign," Kuwabara said hopefully.
"It is, however, we should refrain from pushing him any further," Kurama advised. "When he is backed into a corner, he tends to lash out and ignore the matter at hand. I've already witnessed it firsthand when he drunkenly told me that he had feelings for Botan."
"He what?!" Kuwabara spluttered.
Yusuke winced at the volume of Kuwabara's outburst before turning to face Kurama.
"Yeah, that seems like pretty important information. Why didn't you tell us earlier?"
"I simply didn't have the opportunity to tell you two," Kurama explained. "In any case, Hiei is prideful and stubborn. If we push him too far, he might attempt to finish the bet by whatever means possible, ignoring his own feelings in the process."
"So, what can we do?" Kuwabara asked.
"It is imperative that we allow them to steer the course of their relationship without outside interference. For now, all we can do is to allow the future events to unfold naturally."
"So, you're saying we should do nothing," Yusuke said flatly, folding his arms over his chest.
"In a sense, yes," Kurama answered.
"But isn't that what got us into this situation in the first place?" Yusuke countered. "Doing nothing to stop it?"
"No, your boredom and Hiei's desperate desire for freedom are what landed us all in the precarious situation that we are in," Kurama replied.
Although Kurama's tone was objective, Yusuke couldn't help but feel a wave of guilt pass over him.
"Fair enough," he relented. "We'll do things your way for now."
"We are simply giving Hiei the chance to do what is right. If it looks as though he isn't, then we can take action," Kurama promised.
Hiei drowned out the sounds of the party as he leaned against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest and closing his eyes. This was supposed to be their sixth date, but his recent conversation with the detective had caused him to denounce it entirely. If he considered this to be their sixth date then there would only be one more left before the bet was over. He would only have one more chance to be alone with her and he wasn't sure if he was ready for that yet. Fate had a way of laughing at him, it seemed. When this whole thing started, all he could think of was ending it. But now that he had come this far… well, he didn't experience the sort of satisfaction he thought he would have.
He opened his eyes and they immediately locked on to the ferry-girl. It was a bad habit he had picked up lately; one that he was ashamed of, but did nothing to correct. When his gaze wandered, it subconsciously searched for the familiar shock of blue hair and amethyst eyes. When he caught her within his sights, his gaze lingered, and when she moved, his eyes trailed after her. He had taken to watching her without any reason or purpose behind it.
"Don't you look ripe for the taking," a sultry voice said, pulling him out of his thoughts.
He tore his eyes away from Botan and was met with a surprising sight. A woman with long brown hair and a devious glint in her hazel eyes was sauntering towards him, swaying her rounded hips for good measure. She was a fighter; he could see it in the lean muscles and fluid movements she made. As she saddled up next to him, standing in a way that highlighted her voluptuous features, she cracked a smirk. It might have been a while since he had been with a woman, but it was obvious to see that she was coming on strong.
"Shy or just playing hard to get?" she asked.
"Neither, just uninterested," Hiei replied.
Her expression dropped slightly. She was obviously not used to being denied.
"How can you be certain when you're too preoccupied with someone else?" she teased. "I saw you enter with that dainty woman, but a guy like you doesn't look like he would be satisfied with girl like her."
Hiei's jaw ticked; this woman was beginning to grate on his nerves. He maintained his indifferent look as she leaned in closer, trying to ruffle his cool exterior.
"Besides," she whispered in his ear. "She might have come with you, but it looks like she intends to leave with someone else."
Hiei's eyes drifted towards Botan, who was chatting away with Kurama.
"If you get bored with her, you know where to find me," the girl offered, before walking away.
Hiei scowled in disgust, although he wasn't sure if it was at the woman or the sight he had now set his eyes upon. Kurama was standing awfully close to Botan and she was undoubtedly blushing. It only happened when she was flustered or embarrassed. The fox always had that effect on women and it never bothered Hiei until now.
His eyes narrowed as he watched Botan's flush deepen. He would feel the same way if it were Yukina, he rationalized. But that was his duty as a brother and this… was something else entirely. The discomfort ran down to his gut. This was a deep seated irritation, burning and sizzling at his very core. His fists curled at his sides and he was practically itching with the desire to burn something just to expel the pent up fire fueling his fury. He was angry at Kurama, he was angry at Botan and he was angry at himself. It was almost as though he was taking a personal offense to the scene and he didn't know why.
This strange feeling had welled up far too many times in this one evening. It happened when he learned about the crush that Kuwabara harbored for Botan long ago. It happened again when the third-rate psychic tried to win her affections. And it was happening now as he watched the fox stand so close the ferry-girl. But he swallowed the feeling entirely and told himself that he did not care. That it did not affect him. That it did not bother him.
He forced that mantra to run through his head and for a moment, he actually believed it. But the shoddily woven lie was torn apart when he noticed Botan lean over and poke Kurama teasingly. It was a simple gesture, but something within him snapped. The swirling rage flared up even stronger and in its intensity, he was able to classify it. It was possessive. It was selfish. It was dark. It was shameful.
It was jealousy.
As Botan stood near the table full of snacks and drinks, she couldn't help but take a moment to appreciate the sight of a well-executed party. Yusuke was right, after all, the inclusion of these new guests certainly did bolster the level of excitement.
Genkai was having a drinking competition with some of the other older psychics and she appeared to be winning. A little bit to Genkai's left was Koenma, who had ordered Jorge to get him a plate of food while he talked with a few of the newer psychics. Jorge had long forgotten the order, too busy narrating the impromptu and lighthearted sparring match between Yusuke and one of the other guests.
Kuwabara was talking with Musashi, his former opponent in Genkai's tournament. Botan heard them exchanging their various battle styles and preferences in the art of swordsmanship and a smile played at her lips as she watched the two former enemies participating in civil conversation.
In another corner of the room, she noticed Shizuru slip outside with the good looking man she had been chatting up all day, presumably to have a smoke and engage in more private conversation. Botan's smile turned impish; she was sure to catalogue that little piece of information for later, when she would no doubt pester the woman for some juicy details.
She returned her focus to the rest of the guests, looking for more familiar faces. Yukina and Keiko were talking to one of the female fighters. She looked like she was giving them some pointers and the girls were soaking in every bit of information that they could get.
Botan momentarily turned away from the entertaining scenes to scan the table of goodies, picking up a small chocolate covered treat and popping into her mouth with a pleased sigh. When she returned her attention to the party, she caught sight of spiky black hair that could only belong to Hiei. She squinted as she tried to make his form out amongst the bodies in the crowd and she nearly choked on her dessert. He was talking to a woman, or rather, the woman was talking to him and he hadn't glared her away yet. Botan immediately frowned at the sight.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you looked jealous."
Botan stiffened immediately, feeling her cheeks darken in embarrassment as she turned to face her accuser.
"Don't be silly Kurama… I was just shocked to see Hiei engaging in conversation with another person is all," she laughed nervously.
"I was only joking, although your reaction leads me to believe that there was some truth to that earlier statement," he replied, his tone a little more playful than usual.
"Hiei's free to do whatever he wants… I'm not bothered at all. In fact, I think it's great that he's becoming more social," she maintained stubbornly.
"It doesn't look as though he is particularly interested in the conversation or the speaker."
"It's none of my business," she said defensively. "We aren't really dating after all."
"Very well then," he acquiesced, turning his eyes to scan over the selection of snacks on the table.
A moment of silence passed before she leaned in closer, giving him a shifty look as her insistent curiosity won out in the end.
"…But, do you really think that Hiei isn't interested? I mean, look at her, she's gorgeous."
Kurama glanced back at Hiei before giving Botan a nod.
"I'd say he appears to be disengaged and disenchanted with his current company."
Kurama was an expert at reading people, so if he didn't think that Hiei was interested, then he was probably right. She tried to keep the smug grin from her face and ignored the satisfied feeling that was building up rapidly. Sure, Hiei may not be hers, but she wouldn't be too happy to see him with another woman.
"Well, what about you? There are lots of pretty ladies here tonight; any lucky enough to catch your eye?" Botan asked, poking him in the shoulder lightly.
"I haven't given it any thought," he replied honestly, eyes wading over the crowd.
"Oh, you're no fun!" she teased. "I saw you with all of those girls earlier. You honestly weren't interested in a single one?"
"You're forgetting that I am much older than most of these women here," Kurama said, hinting at his true demon age.
"Oh that's just an excuse! Maybe I should help you find someone," she said mischievously. She turned to the opposite direction with the intention of finding a suitable girl for Kurama, but became distracted when Hiei entered her sights. He had stopped talking to that other woman and she couldn't suppress her grin when she noticed him making his way over to her direction. However, her good mood was diminished when she noticed how visibly irritated he was.
He wordlessly stalked over to the table that she and Kurama had occupied before grabbing a drink and downing it in one go.
"Perhaps you should lighten up on the alcohol, considering what happened last time," Kurama advised.
Hiei's shoulders squared as he glared at Kurama.
"That won't happen again," he replied.
"Let's hope not," Kurama said, a knowing smile passing over his face. He picked up a plate and some snacks before returning to the throng of people.
"What was that about?" she asked confusedly.
"Nothing."
"If you say so…" she relented.
Hiei turned to face her suddenly, his eyes instilling her with a sense of urgency.
"If the detective asks whether or not we're on a date, I want you to tell him that we aren't," he said suddenly.
"Does the fact that we could be mistaken for a couple make you feel uncomfortable?" she asked, wondering if the woman from before had anything to do with his sudden request.
"This has nothing to do with us and everything to do with the detective."
"Is Yusuke up to something devious again?"
"...Yes."
"Is there something you aren't telling me?"
"Just do as I say and we'll be fine," he replied. "And stay away from that infernal fox, too."
"Is Kurama up to something as well?" Botan asked, completely shocked by the news. It was so unlike him to get involved in one of Yusuke's childish pranks and she could hardly believe her ears.
"Hn."
"You seem sort of suspicious too," she noted as she stared at him doubtfully. "If the boys are planning something devious and you know about it, you have to tell me about it right away! I don't want to be caught in one of their harebrained schemes."
She could have sworn she saw him waver; an unidentifiable emotion drifted past his carefully guarded countenance and then vanished as if it was never there to begin with. It was clear that he was conflicted, torn between speaking his mind and keeping it to himself.
"Hiei?" she pressed, lips pulled into a concern frown.
"Everything is fine," he lied.
"You don't look like everything is fine," she replied worriedly.
"That's only because I'm surrounded by a crowd of inebriated and loose humans."
"How about we take a little breather, then?" she suggested suddenly.
He stared back at her wordlessly, his gaze drifting to the lively scenes around them before returning to her as he contemplated her offer.
"Come on," she beckoned, offering her hand with a gentle smile. "I think I know what might cheer you up."
Hiei had allowed Botan to lead him to one of the empty rooms in the opposite end of Genkai's temple. He wasn't sure why she insisted on privacy or secrecy, but at least now he was away from all of the noise and general madness.
"There's something I wanted to surprise you with. I was going to wait until tomorrow, but parties are supposed to be fun and festive and you look like you're not really enjoying yourself. Maybe this will change all that!"
"What are you babbling about?"
"Just a minute," she said, digging through the purse she brought with her. "Aha, there it is!"
She opened her hand slowly to reveal a single item and it felt as though the blood in his veins ran cold and he was frozen in his spot.
It couldn't be his-
There was no way she could have found it.
But as the familiar energy emitted from the stone reached his senses, the icy cold sensation had melted away and he was overcome with an emotion he couldn't quite place. It made his chest tighten painfully and his eyes prickled and burned.
It was his mother's hiruiseki stone, there was no mistaking it.
"How did you..." Hiei muttered out. "Where did you..."
He continued to stare wide eyed at the shining gem in her grasp.
"You told Makoto that you lose it in the Forest of Pain. I did a little digging in the Spirit World archives and managed to track it down. Mukuro was the one who had it."
"Mukuro..." he muttered, his head spinning. Mukuro was one of the three great kings; an infamous demon with unfathomable power and influence. It was impossible; she must have met an imposter parading around as the revered demon. "And this 'Mukuro' just handed it over – without requiring anything return?"
"Oh yes, she's a very kind hearted woman. She said she had no use for the stone anymore and happily returned it."
"Woman?" he muttered in disbelief.
"Yes, it might be difficult to tell since she wraps herself in all of those bandages and wears that unflattering outfit, but she's most definitely a woman, I'm sure of it," Botan revealed. "Oh and you should've seen her castle, it was magnificent. She even has a large army full of fighters and warriors! She's certainly done well for herself in a male dominated society."
This was too much. He swallowed thickly as he tried to process it all. Botan had gone to demon world, met with one of the three great kings and reclaimed what should have been out of his reach forever. His attention snapped back towards the stone as it glinted in the light and caught his attention. He remained fixated on the sparkling gem, unable to do anything else but stare at the very item that embodied his entire past.
Botan must have noticed his hesitation, so she took the initiative and stepped closer.
"I couldn't find a proper chain so I just used some string lying around," she explained nervously. "I hope you don't mind."
He tore his gaze away from the gem, looking into her eyes, searching for an answer.
"...Why did you do this?"
"I really wanted to do something nice for you because you've done so much for me without even realizing it, Hiei," she said, her cheeks stained pink as she spoke. "And because you deserve to have one good memento from your past."
And just like that, a rush of emotions flooded over him. Things that he thought he was incapable of feeling. Immense gratitude, respect and fondness for the woman standing before him swelled up and left his heart feeling as though it just might burst. The idea was insane – emotions stemmed from the mind and not the organ meant for pumping blood through arteries and veins – but he could feel the sentiments forming and gathering right where his heart was.
He wanted to take action, do something, but he couldn't move. He could only stare at her as the strange feelings swirled around and grounded him to the spot where he stood.
Botan took his hand in hers, opening it up and placing the stone in it. It rested delicately in his grasp and he felt the familiar smoothness as it lay against his calloused palm. It had been so long since he last had it and the mere possession of the stone once more sent him back to a time when he had nothing but a thirst for rage and violence; nothing but this stone could quell the burning sensation that he was missing something.
This scatter-brained, over-emotional and bubbly ferry-girl had returned to him what he had deemed lost forever. She had done it over and over – given him exactly what he needed, even when he didn't realize that the need was there.
And in that moment of clarity, he knew exactly what he was feeling for her.
Hours had passed.
The party raged on until the early hours of the morning and Hiei was subjected to viewing many moments that he could have gone without. He had seen the oaf's sister shove her tongue down some stranger's throat. He watched the orange-haired lummox himself performing an awful rendition of a love ballad to Yukina – and even worse was the fact that his sister seemed to honestly enjoy it. He watched the detective grope his woman in his drunken stupor and then become knocked unconscious after receiving a single blow from the infuriated and embarrassed brunette.
But through all of the embarrassing and outlandish events he had witnessed, there was one sight in particular that he did not mind seeing.
The ferry-girl had occupied her time wisely, meandering through different groups and finding her place easily. Whether she was becoming quickly enthralled by the old musings and recollections between Genkai and her peers, hanging off of every word and inquiring further details behind each story; nagging the detective and the oaf in a threatening and authoritative tone; eagerly participating in a conversation with the rest of the women; or, getting into some sort of mischief with Koenma and the blue ogre, she had consistently remained the focal point of his sights and musings.
He remained at the compound until the party had ended. The guests were cleared out, Genkai retried to her room and those remaining had occupied various corners of the main room, too exhausted to find rest elsewhere.
Yusuke and Kuwabara had both fallen asleep near the entrance of the area. If he heard Kuwabara mumble one more doting phrase in regards to his sister, he would have to smother the bastard with a pillow. Yusuke was snoring lightly, but every once in a while he, too, would mutter something intelligibly. Hiei was surprised to find that Kurama had even opted for staying the night. He must have given his mother some well-orchestrated lie, otherwise he would have ran back home by now.
Hiei passed by the detective's woman curled up in the corner of a couch, with Yukina situated on the opposite end. He strode past the oaf's sister, who had fallen asleep on the floor, using cushions as a makeshift bed. Botan was situated a little ways off, sitting uncomfortably in a chair with her upper body pressed against a high table, her head resting in her arms. The blue ogre was at her feet, snoring away, and Koenma had reverted into his toddler form, curled up into a fetal position as he slept in the opposite end of the table near the half-eaten cake.
He looked down at her and felt something stir within him.
Maybe it was the alcohol.
Maybe it was this world infecting his mind with its skewered values.
Maybe it was the weight of the hiruiseki stone resting against his chest causing the sudden heaviness he felt there.
Maybe it was a result of the strange spell that the ferry-girl had cast over him.
Or maybe it was simply because of him. Because whatever he was feeling for her, no matter how fleeting or foreign, was more than he had ever felt for anyone before.
He did something extremely impulsive and thoughtless. He acted out on the feelings that had overcome him, rather than the unfeeling logic he had come to depend on his entire life.
Reaching a hand out, he grabbed her shoulder and shook it gently.
Her face scrunched up in displeasure as she was roused from her slumber. She made a small noise of discontentment and screwed her eyes shut.
"Botan, wake up."
His voice registered in her mind, causing the tension to lift from her face as she opened her bleary eyes and set them upon him in confusion.
"Hiei?"
Her voice was still groggy with sleep and she rubbed her eyes and she got up into a seated position.
"Is everything okay?" she pressed.
"No, but it will be," he said.
It was the same phrase he used before he kissed her and the way her cheeks stained was indication enough that she had recognized it as well.
"Why is that?"
"Because I'm giving you a chance to escape. You can stop this right now if you want to."
"What?"
"If you're with me out of some warped of loyalty or friendship or guilt, you can leave. If you pity me for my past or if you simply feel like it's your duty as assistant to the detective to befriend me, you can let those notions go. You owe me nothing, you can be free."
Even if I can't, he thought.
"I don't understand…" she murmured. "Where is all of this coming from?"
"This isn't what you think it is. I'm not what you think I am. I'm dangerous, Botan. I could end up hurting you in ways you never imagined."
"Don't be silly, I know you would never hurt me," she chastised.
"I'm talking about the internal scars that you can't quite see but are never really healed. Are you prepared to risk getting hurt like that?" he asked.
"You're my friend and I choose to stand by your side because I want to. Not because I pity you or because I feel like it's my duty. I actually want to."
"Think carefully about what I've said," Hiei instructed, turning away from her. "I'll expect an answer from you later today."
She pulled at his arm and he turned back to face her.
"I don't need any time to think. I meant what I said. I'm not going anywhere."
He looked into her eyes and could see that she was determined. Her declaration touched a dark and vacant spot within him, but he didn't let it show as his features set into a resigned expression, mouth drawn into a thin line as he looked down at her.
"Very well, then."
Before she had a chance to react, he activated the jagan and the room was illuminated by a quick flash of light. Botan's eyes rolled to the back of her head as her consciousness quickly faded. He caught her before she fell off of the chair entirely and laid her down on one of the unoccupied couches carefully. Closing his eyes, he slowly entered her mind. There were swirling pools of color and images and feelings and he was careful not to disrupt any of her memories and recollections in his passing through. Using a precision that could only come with years of practice, he located the most recent memory in her mind; the conversation that had just transpired. It was impossible to fully remove someone's memory, but it was more than easy to block it out; to lock it away and separate it from her conscious mind. He opened his eyes once the job was done.
She wouldn't remember this moment that would stay with him forever.
Phew, that was a long chapter. Forgive any mistakes or inconsistencies - I'm had to rush to get this chapter out before I leave for vacation.
Anyway, I hope guys enjoyed the way it all panned out! Please drop a review and let me know your thoughts!