Mukuro's fortress was situated on top of a hill, which afforded a clear overview of the land surrounding her territory. The building itself was colossal and imposing; stony walls, high towers and large windows were just a few of the exterior features. Botan should have felt a bit of nervousness, but instead her head was clouded with confusing and betraying thoughts concerning the fire-demon by her side. He was so sure of himself and unyielding in his convictions and she did not know how she would be able to deal with him for an entire month.

"This way, miss," a member of the border patrol unit said, snapping her out of her thoughts as he ushered her inside.

She was immediately greeted by a smiling and welcoming Haru.

"Hey there, pretty lady," he grinned. "I hope you didn't go through too much trouble to make it here."

"Great to see you again, Haru," Botan greeted. "And no, it wasn't any trouble at all."

"I'll show you to your room," the orange-haired demon offered. "I'm sure Hiei's got his own business that he needs to see to."

Botan looked over at Hiei and the fire-demon nodded. Haru relieved Hiei of Botan's luggage while she carried the rest up a spiral staircase and down a long and winding hall. He stopped in front of a door and pushed it open with his foot, unable to use his hands.

"Welcome to your new home for the next month," the orange-haired demon announced as he set her things down.

Botan stepped inside and examined the room with a pleased eye. The stone walls were a warm, soft gray color and the room was furnished with dark woods and intricately made rugs and curtains.

"It's lovely," she breathed out, stepping further into the bedroom.

"Glad you like it," Haru replied. "But I can sense that you're a little wound up. Is everything okay?"

"It's nothing to worry about. I'm fine…" Botan lied as she deposited her bags on the bed.

Haru rubbed a finger at his chin as he examined her with a critical eye.

"I can feel sense your nerves buzzing and it isn't fun. You don't have to worry; everyone will treat you with the respect you deserve. And if you fear for your safety, you've got Hiei right across the hall."

"Oh, no, I'm fine, really," she said. "I'm sure that we will all have a productive and fruitful time during this ambassadorship."

"What's eating at you, then?" he questioned good-naturedly.

"It's nothing!"

"Is it Hiei?" he guessed. "I'm getting all kinds of crazy vibes from you right now. "

"Uh..."

"He's a great guy, you know."

"I know that…"

"Lots of women would kill to be in your shoes."

"I somehow doubt that."

"Seriously! Hiei's a pretty eligible bachelor in this world."

"No, that's not what I was disagreeing about. It's just that at the moment, I'm confused and unsure and uncertain," Botan explained. "I doubt anyone would want to be in my shoes right now."

"What are you so confused about?"

"Everything," she confessed. "His sudden feelings and my own complicated ones… It's all just very overwhelming."

"I don't get it," Haru replied. "You're interested and he's interested. What's the harm in giving it a try?"

"We did try... sort of. It was years ago and it didn't end well at all. I don't think we will be able to bounce back from it if we couldn't make it work in the end," Botan revealed. It was strangely easy opening up to the emotion reader, and she supposed it had to do with his empathetic nature.

Haru folded his arms over his chest with a contemplative look.

"Maybe you two needed the time apart to grow or figure yourselves out," he noted wisely. "Look at him now, really look at him and if you feel yourself drawn to him, then don't deny it. Trust me when I say that repressing your feelings is never a good thing."

"I just don't want to fall head over heels like I did the last time," she sighed, remembering how easily and quickly she had given in to her feelings three years ago. "I have to be sensible and realistic, no matter what my heart says."

"Maybe following your heart is the only sensible course of action left for you this time around."

"I don't know, Haru..."

"Well, that's okay. You've got plenty of time to figure things out," he reassured her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Botan nodded.

"Thanks."

"Anytime!" Haru beamed. "I'm gonna let you settle in now. Take your time and relax. Someone will come and get you when Mukuro is ready to meet with you."

"Okay," Botan said.

"Oh, and here's your key," he said as he passed a small, golden key to her. "Best to lock up when you're gone to ensure that your things stay safe."

Botan nodded and smiled as he exited her room, closing the door behind him softly. Without Haru there to take up her attentions, she was now able to notice her living quarters for the next month. It was much larger than her room back home, complete with all the furnishings. She even had her own television and connecting bathroom. Grinning from ear to ear, she began to unpack, depositing her personal items throughout the bathroom, the closet and the dressers. She set up a table in the corner for work purposes, organizing the detective tools and paperwork for ease of use.

No matter how she might have felt about Hiei, she was glad to be here and she hoped that it would be a successful month.

Hiei glared at Haru as the carefree demon entered his room without permission or warning.

"You've seriously got to chill out. You're turning your favorite ferry-girl a nervous wreck," Haru accused without any prompting or explanation.

Crimson eyes narrowed.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Botan?" Haru said. "I'm getting all kinds of anxious signals from her and they're all linking back to you."

"What would you know about it?"

"Hello?" Haru said, motioning to himself with more dramatics than necessary. "Emotion reader here! It's kinda my thing?"

"If she's nervous, it isn't because of me," Hiei lied. He paused to lean his sword against the wall and drop his cloak onto his bed. "I haven't done a thing."

"I can see the deceit in your aura, Hiei," Haru sing-songed. "So what did you do? Give her some freaky perverted stare or something?"

"I don't even know what that is, you fool."

"It's like this," Haru said, contorting his face into an appearance that Hiei hoped he wouldn't ever have the unfortunate displeasure of remembering.

The fire-demon shook his head dismissively.

"Oh! Maybe you were giving off a perverted aura," Haru guessed with an air of excitement, as if the whole thing were just a game to him.

"Impossible," Hiei scoffed. "Unlike most of the swine here, I can control my urges."

"Sure you can," Haru mocked.

Hiei rolled his eyes and Haru stopped his crooning, looking down at Hiei with a more serious expression.

"Look, you know I'm on your side, so how about you actually try listening to me for once? Try wooing her a little more tactfully and a whole lot less forcefully."

"I don't do subtle," Hiei said.

"Well, what about using some good old fashioned romance?"

"No."

"Girls love that sort of thing. It might actually work out in your favor!"

Hiei said nothing, instead deciding to tune the other man out entirely.

"Just think about it," he advised, before exiting the way he came.

Hiei wanted to dismiss the conversation entirely, but he had witnessed firsthand just how… fervent… he could be when he was not actively keeping his guard up. He had accidentally projected his thoughts onto Botan before and perhaps he was doing it again. He needed to control himself. She was here for work and, although he had other plans for her, he could not afford to push her too far now. He had her right where he wanted her and there was no need to rush. He had time after all.

He reclaimed his sword and strapped it to his back. A little training would clear his mind and put things into perspective again. When he stepped into the hallway, he crossed paths with Botan, who had an attendant at her side.

"Where are you going?" he asked the low-level demon.

"I was leading her to Lord Mukuro's throne room," he answered.

"I will take her," Hiei said, leaving no room for discussion.

"Understood, sir," he answered obediently, before walking off in the opposite direction and leaving the two alone.

"Y-you really didn't have to do that," she stammered. "I'm sure you've got plenty of things that you need to do…"

The anxious way she avoided his gaze was enough for Hiei to realize that perhaps Haru was right. Maybe, just maybe, he had been making her more nervous than necessary. He took a step forward and she instinctually took a distancing step back.

"I'm not here for anything personal," he told her calmly, keeping his gaze level and his tone even. "There are simply some things you should know about this place before you see Mukuro."

The suspicious look in her amethyst eyes wavered as she stared at him curiously.

"What do you mean?"

"This fortress was made to keep intruders out, but that does not mean that there is no danger within these walls."

"I see," she said, looking at him expectantly. "Well, I'm all ears."

Hiei began walking at a leisurely pace and Botan matched his stride.

"Don't wander around unless you know where you are going or you have an escort. It's easy to get lost here."

"Okay," she agreed.

"And don't be so trusting," he added. "The men here are uncouth and ill-mannered. You can trust the women to an extent, but keep all valuables on your person at all times or at the very least keep your room locked."

"I understand."

"If there is an alarm or any cause for concern, you are to return to your room. Security is increased in that wing for obvious reasons."

"Right."

He paused, jaw set into a firm line as he looked further out into the distance.

"What is it?"

"Down the stairs of the adjacent hall, you will find the training area," he revealed. "If you need me for anything, you will find me there."

"Got it," she replied without missing a beat.

Hiei paused to stare at her intently.

"I mean it. Do not try to handle everything on your own. This world isn't like yours and this fortress can be a dangerous place."

"I know," she assured. "I'll be sure to find you if I need you. I promise."

He nodded and then motioned ahead.

"At the end of this hall, you will find Mukuro," he instructed.

She looked at the large iron doors and nodded.

"Thank you Hiei. I appreciate the tips."

"Hn."

"I guess it's now or never," she said a little apprehensively. "Wish me luck!"

"You'll be fine, ferry-girl."

Botan smiled at that, eyes lighting up with confidence. He watched as she took a deep breath and entered the throne room.

He lingered in his spot, entirely unsure of where to go form here. He had gotten her to the fortress, where he could see her any time he wanted to, but there was still the matter of making her his. He had to be smart and sensible this time around and perhaps Haru had been right on target with his suggested romance approach. That still left Hiei in a bit of a predicament though, because he did not have a romantic bone in his body.

It was then that a highly disturbing thought came to mind. It was an ill planned idea that had quickly caught fire in his mind and soon, Hiei found himself sneaking into Botan's bedroom and pulling that abysmal book from the bag that he had seen her return it to. He retired to his room and sat at the edge of his bed, looking at the cover and preparing himself for what he was about to do. He thought he could not go any lower than when he was working for Spirit World, but apparently he could. Sneaking into Botan's quarters, rifling through her things, stealing her book and then contemplating reading was definitely lower than low, but he had no choice and no other options. He did not know the first thing about romance and he was sure that the novel contained more than enough information about the topic. He flipped through the pages curiously, ruby eyes roaming over the small black print. It was not that thick of a book – he had read longer documents during his days as a bandit, stealing forbidden publications and the like – and he was sure he could finish it within the day if he wanted.

He was about a third of the way through with the story when a knock interrupted him. Glancing down at the page number and committing it to memory, he then proceeded to throw the book inside the drawer of his nightstand. His eye caught hold of something else, and he was surprised to see the photo booth pictures from three years ago. He didn't realize that they were there, having never really used most of his furniture in his room. Without giving it much thought, he used it as a bookmark and closed the drawer.

At the other side of his door stood one of his soldiers.

"Is training cancelled for today?" the water apparition inquired. "The recruits have just arrived and are awaiting your instruction."

Hiei glanced at the clock on his wall and realized that he had lost track of time.

"Tell them to prepare themselves. I will be there soon."

The soldier nodded compliantly and Hiei collected his sword. The book had already given him some ideas that would be sure to work on Botan and if all went well, she would be the one seeking him out as opposed to it being the other way around. She was completely taken in by all things romance and perhaps this would soften her up to the idea of choosing him.

Botan had just finished giving Mukuro a condensed version of the happenings in Spirit World, along with a brief overview of the differences between the old regime and the new and what they hoped to accomplish with this ambassadorship. She also listened politely to Mukuro's summary of her territory and inquired as to what the demon would like to gain from this ambassadorship. It was a good discussion and they agreed to meet with her council later on to talk more specifically on different policies and procedures. It was just a start, but she could already feel that things were moving in the right direction.

She exited Mukuro's throne room and came face to face with Haru.

"Hey there," he waved.

"Hello."

"What do you say I give you a tour of the place?"

"That would be much appreciated!"

"It's pretty big and it'll take a few days for you to get accustomed to it, but I'm sure you'll get it in no time."

Botan nodded, wondering if a month's time was enough for her to become desensitized to the bizarre aesthetic design leading to Mukuro's throne room. The walls resembled the innards of a strange creature and there were all sorts of distorted facial features and limbs adorning it. She sincerely hoped that it was just for show and was not real as she fought the urge to shudder at the thought.

"You okay?" Haru raised a brow.

She laughed sheepishly, peeling her eyes away from the strange sight.

"I'm fine… but, before we start… is there any place that I absolutely should not go?" she questioned.

When he looked at her curiously, she continued.

"You know, like a secret lair or a forbidden wing?" she elaborated.

Haru shook his head, orange curls ruffling slightly as he did so.

"No, we don't have anything like that here. You've got quite the imagination, don't you?"

Botan grinned.

"I suppose I do."

"Of course, you'll have to use your discretion. Not just anyone can barge into Mukuro's throne room or her actual room; trust me, I tried at first and received the thrashing of a lifetime," Haru recalled.

"I bet you did and I bet you deserved it," Botan said amusedly.

Haru scratched the back of his head and laughed.

"Yeah," he chuckled, eyes passing over the hallway that led to the training area. "Oh, I also wouldn't go down to the lower levels if they're in the thick of things. It gets pretty dangerous when they're training."

"Got it."

Haru led her to the dining hall, which consisted of rows and rows of tables and benches.

"Breakfast, lunch and dinner are always held at certain hours and you should do your best not to miss them. Though if you do miss it, the cooks are nice enough to make you something extra," he told her. "I'll give you a schedule later tonight."

Botan nodded as they exited the area and Haru continued to introduce her to the far corners of the fortress. He had shown her the kitchens, the grand hall, the storage room, the armory, the medical center and more. The place really was massive and if she wasn't careful, she could easily lose her way. But Botan was pretty good with directions, being a guide for souls and living in a world as massive as the Spirit World. She would be fine.

"So, if I remember correctly, the soldiers, staff and maids are in the west wing and our rooms are in the east wing?" she recited.

"Yup!" he affirmed with a nod. "You're right across the hall from Hiei and I'm a bit further down. But if you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."

"Thank you," she said.

"No trouble at all."

She smiled back at him, glad that she would at least have someone as warm and open as him to accompany her when she had free time. There was one thing she was curious about, though.

"Are you considered a soldier as well?" she inquired.

"Nope, I'm just an advisor. I can defend myself, but I prefer to keep out of the violent business. My abilities allow me to read a person's heart; it helps Mukuro weed out those who will hinder her cause and keep those who will remain on her side. You never know when betrayal will rear its ugly head."

"I see. And have you always had these abilities, or did you have to work to hone them?"

"It's always been really easy for me to read someone. I guess it's a natural talent," he said, running a hand through his hair embarrassedly. "Hiei says it's the luck of a fool, because if I had to work at it, chances are I'd never be as good as I am now."

She smiled, imagining the fire-demon saying it in his blunt way.

"Can you turn it on and off?" she asked.

"Yes," he answered. "And before you ask: it's off. I'd like to get to know you the old fashioned way, without special abilities and added insight. Besides, a gentleman never pries into a lady's mind, right?"

Botan smiled.

"Well aren't you a regular standup guy?"

"Finally, someone in this fortress who appreciates me!"

Botan giggled as together, they continued their tour of the grounds. She was met with all sorts of strange looks and comments from the inhabitants and she realized that this must have been how Hiei felt whenever he was summoned to the Spirit World. It was just as odd to see a ferry-girl roaming the halls of one of the King's fortresses as it was to see a demon freely walking through the Spirit World. She made it a point to politely greet everyone she had come into contact with and more often than not, she was received kindly. There were a few who ignored her and refused to respond, but Botan took it all in stride and let it go. She had an image to uphold and she could not afford to fly off of the handle.

By the time they had toured the entire place, they ended up circling back to the hallway in which they started. Just down the hall were the stairs that led to the training room and she gave Haru a mischievous grin.

"Do you think we can get a glimpse of Hiei in action?" she wondered.

"I don't see why not!" Haru said, as he led her down the stairs and into the basement levels.

The large iron door leading to the training room had a circular window in the middle, allowing Botan to peek into the private session. Hiei was speaking with the new recruits. She could not hear what he was saying clearly, but she could tell that he was either berating or disciplining the group of fighters. He stopped pacing to stand in front of them and then motioned for them to come near him with his left hand. Botan found it odd and apparently so did the recruits. When the initial shock wore off, they charged at him with varying levels of confidence. She watched as Hiei disarmed a number of them and used their weapons against them. He easily dodged others and tripped up the rest. He even attacked a few, but none of his maneuvers were deadly.

She had always enjoyed watching Hiei's movements, even back when she was still afraid of him. Yusuke barreled ahead, throwing his whole body into the brawl with a blatant disrespect his enemies. Kuwabara charged forward, a bit clumsily at times, but bravely and valiantly. Kurama always allowed his opponent to come to him, remaining poised and calm throughout the entire battle. But Hiei was another story entirely. He charged forward, confidently and haughtily, sometimes in anger and more often than not simply caught up in the thrill of battle. No matter what state of mind he was in, his attacks were always precise and his aim was always true. His movements weren't exactly graceful, but they held a balanced strength that years of experience had honed. Watching him fight was always an experience that she could not easily forget and this time was no different.

When he was finished with the recruits they were all weary with exhaustion, panting and trying to keep their strength up. Some had collapsed to the floor while others just barely struggled to stand. Hiei walked calmly to the center of the room, giving them an evaluation based upon the impromptu test and she could practically see the authority in his stride, in the set of his shoulders and in the tone of his voice. The level of respect he had gained by being not only the general of the army, but the ruler of the world, was incredible. He could do whatever he wanted and be with whoever he chose, and despite all of that… he still only wanted her.

Botan turned away from the sight, her heart beating in her chest as she traveled up the stairs and back onto the ground level. It was easy to forget just how important he really was when it was just the two of them, but seeing him in his element was a completely different thing entirely. She willed her traitorous heart to stop fluttering so wildly, but try as she might, she could not erase that heady feeling for the remainder of the day.

Over the course of the next few days, Botan had not seen much of Hiei. She found herself busy with meetings and the like between Mukuro and her council, as well as reporting back to Koenma via the new and improved Spirit Detective Briefcase. The videophone had been upgraded for better sound, clearer image and stronger connection. In addition to meetings and talks, she had also been brushing up on demon etiquette and familiarizing herself with the layout of the fortress, as well as the lifestyle its inhabitants had adapted to.

She should have been busy enough to dismiss Hiei's absence, but of course, her mind continued to wander to the fire-demon. She had seen glimpses of him here and there, but that was the extent of their interaction. It was driving her crazy. Sure, she was the one who suggested they be professional during her stay, but this was going overboard. The ferry-girl wondered if she had done something to upset him and if that was the case, she wished that he would just come out with it and tell her. This strange limbo that they were in was wreaking havoc on her mental state.

Although Hiei had always been standoffish and in the past, things were different now that he liked her. She found herself wondering if his feelings had changed and he had given up on pursuing her completely. It should have been a relief to her, but the thought just left her feeling and empty and hollow inside. It was similar in many ways to the heartache that she felt upon learning about the bet, but on a much smaller scale. It seemed as though no matter what happened in the end, she would still end up somewhat slighted over the fire-demon. She couldn't confront him about it - not when she was so confused and uncertain about her own feelings – but she could herself in work and try to distract herself instead.

She reentered her room and she spotted a pile of uprooted flowers siting on her vanity. The smile that reached her expression was genuine as she closed her door and advanced towards the offering. She had been receiving all sorts of endearing gifts and she had figured that the staff left them behind in an effort to display demon world etiquette. The gifts never failed to bring a smile to her face and served to comfort her when she felt discouraged or tired.

So far she was given exotic looking demon world fruits, a gold necklace and a ruby pendant. She took a step closer to examine the flowers further and she noted that clumps of dirt were still attached to the roots and she could see a few small bugs as well. Those weren't so bad, but when she spotted a spider-like creature the size of her hand making its way down her vanity, she shrieked and jumped up onto her bed. Hiei barreled inside of her room, gripping his sword tightly as he searched for signs of a threat. It was the first time they had been in close proximity in days and she felt a wave of relief wash over her at the sight of him.

"What is it?" he asked, eyes darting around the room for the source of her distress.

"There!" she pointed at the creature crawling on the ground. "There it is! Get it, Hiei!"

The tension drained from his expression as his gaze dithered from the flowers, to the insect and finally back to Botan. He gave her the most long-suffering look she had ever received to date, before pointing over at the creature with his sword.

"You shrieked over a harmless insect?" he gritted through clenched teeth.

"It's horrible!" she maintained, looking at it wearily and ignoring Hiei's frustration. "You've got to get it now before we lose sight of it!"

Hiei took a long, deep breath before stomping over to the insect and crushing it under his boot. Botan grimaced at its remains, before climbing off of the bed and onto the floor.

"Well, I didn't mean for you to kill the poor thing, Hiei," she lamented, a frown tugging at her lips.

Hiei afforded her one brief look as he sheathed his sword.

"You're insufferable woman."

Botan raised a finger to counter his claim, but he said no more as he exited her room and left her with the unfortunate clean up duty. She cringed as she dealt with the insect and then moved on to take care of the flowers. After cutting the stems and putting them in a vase of water, she set them down on her work table. They were a lovely bunch of blossoms; each carrying five amethyst colored petals and she couldn't help but smile at the thoughtful gesture. She really needed to figure out exactly who was leaving these gifts behind, because she would have like to relay her gratitude. If Hiei had stuck around, perhaps they could have figured it out together.

The sound of her rumbling stomach cut off any further thought and she smiled sheepishly.

"I suppose I can't search for the elusive gift giver on an empty stomach!"

Remembering Haru's and Hiei's advice, she locked her door and pocketed the key. The trek to the dining hall was a relatively quick and easy one for Botan, as she had visited the hall three times a day and was now familiar with his whereabouts. She spotted Hiei at a table in the corner and after choosing her own lunch (demon world food was a bit strange, but she had found a decent amount of meals that she enjoyed), she made her way over to join him.

"Good afternoon boys!" Botan greeted cheerily. She received a few grunts and replies from those that she did not know on a first name basis as she took a seat.

"Hello!" Haru greeted.

"Hn."

"So, how are things?" she asked, strumming her fingers on the table.

Haru was the first to answer with an excited and self-satisfied grin.

"Great! I interrogated this spy who was trying to infiltrate our ranks. He was a hard case to crack, but of course, with my expert skills, I got the job done."

"That's nice," she said absentmindedly, having not really heard a word that he said as she looked over at the fire-demon with expectant eyes. "And what about you, Hiei? I feel like I've hardly seen you in these past few days."

"Fine," he answered.

His curt reply caused the ferry-girl to frown. He always did lean towards one word answers, but the fact that he had yet to even look at her unnerved her. Perhaps he really was over it all. They ate their lunch quietly for the most part, with only slight interjections from Haru. Botan glanced over at Hiei as subtly as she could, taking in his overall countenance. He did not look angry or upset with her, in fact his was complete expression neutral and his posture was relaxed. Perhaps he wasn't avoiding her and he had just been busy with other things. The thought gave her a bit of motivation, so she decided to try reaching out once more.

"The staff has been leaving the sweetest things for me in my room," Botan mentioned, trying to make casual conversation.

"The staff?" Hiei echoed, lifting his gaze to look at her for the first time since she entered the dining hall.

She nodded.

"Well, they didn't exactly leave a note or anything, but I'm sure this is all some part of demon world etiquette, right?"

Haru looked between the two of them with a sly grin.

"Demon world etiquette, eh?" he echoed. "I didn't even know we had something like that."

"Of course you do," she said. "Who else would have been leaving me welcome gifts?"

"Isn't it obvious-" Haru started, but stopped when he saw the icy glare that Hiei was giving him.

"What wrong?" Botan asked, looking between the two in confusion.

"I have work to do," Hiei grumbled as he gave Haru a stern glare. "Don't let the ferry-girl get into any trouble."

"Aye aye general!" Haru saluted.

Botan watched disappointedly as he threw the remains of his lunch out and returned to the table to retrieve his cloak. She noticed an object fall out of his pocket and by the time she had collected it, Hiei was already gone. Turning the neatly packaged item over in her hand, she inspected it with a careful eye.

"Hiei went off in such a hurry that he didn't even notice he left this behind," she said. "I wonder what it could be?"

Haru leaned in, blinking his green eyes before grinning. He slid the top of the box off and she viewed the tidily arranged caramel colored blocks inside.

"It's a demon world delicacy," he filled in, before pulling one out and popping it into his mouth. "And it's the good stuff, too. Think of it like the demon equivalent of chocolate."

"Uh…" Botan tried to think up an excuse, fully well knowing that Hiei did not want anyone else to know about his sweet tooth. "It was probably… um…"

"Don't worry, I know all about Hiei's dirty little secret," he said, his words slightly muffled by the treat he was happily savoring.

"Oh," Botan said sheepishly.

"But you know," he started, pausing to swallow. "I don't think this was something he bought for himself."

"Why do you say that?"

"'Cause it's all wrapped up," he replied. "This is the kind of thing you give to someone special."

Botan blinked as she tried to process what he was saying. Was Haru really implying what she thought he was?

"In other words, maybe the staff wasn't the one who was leaving you all those gifts," he hinted. "Maybe it was someone who is socially inept and still trying to win your heart."

The flowers, the pendant, the necklace and the fruits… they were all from Hiei?

"Oh no!" she gasped. "He was going out of his way to do something nice for me and I'd been so oblivious to it all. Oh, I'm the absolute worst..."

Haru patted her back sympathetically.

"Aw, don't beat yourself up over it. It was just a little misunderstanding. Happens all the time," he said. "Besides, it's not too late to go and thank him."

"Yes," Botan agreed, comforted by his kind words. "I suppose you're right."

It all started to make sense now and she was embarrassed for not seeing it earlier. Hiei was not backing off, he had simply tried to employ a different tactic - one that was actually quite romantic at that. The fact that she hadn't recognized his efforts must have been the reason for his jilted attitude. She looked down at the sweets in her hand regretfully. He was trying so hard for her; going out of his way to do things that he was averse to and it warmed her heart to know that he still cared.

Hiei glared as he flipped the page of the infernal book which had yet to yield any results. An entire week had passed since he decided to employ the use of the novel and he had gained nothing. Although it was full of emotional and long-winded confessions, sappy displays of love and downright pornographic sexual encounters, there was one thing that suited him. The characters often afforded each other with small gifts as a sign of interest. It was a common ritual in demon courtships and it was easy enough for him to do.

The point of the gifts was to show her that he could be what she wanted. He could be patient. He could show his desire for her in other ways. But it didn't seem to be working and now he knew why. She thought the items were from someone else and he had essentially wasted his time. He supposed he should have left some sort of note, but he figured she would know that it was from him and understand his intent. His frown deepened; he was one more failed attempt away from incinerating the book in its entirety.

His gaze wandered down to the photo booth pictures that he had been using as a bookmark. He had her three years ago and he foolishly let her go. If he had only done things right the first time, then he wouldn't be in this mess right now. He swallowed thickly and dismissed the thought. He had never been the type to lament over the past.

A knock on the door quickly pulled him from his thoughts.

"Hello? Anyone in there?" Botan's voice rang out.

He concealed the pictures within the book and shoved it under his covers, before walking over to answer the door. Botan wore a slightly hesitant smile, holding her hands behind her back suspiciously as she greeted him.

"Can I come in?"

He gave her a discerning look, still in a sour mood over his pathetic waste of effort.

"I'll be quick, I promise," she reassured quickly.

Hiei nodded and stepped aside to allow her entry.

"If it's okay with you, I just wanted to talk. We've hardly seen each other in this past week."

"You were the one who said we should keep things professional," he reminded her, crossing his arms over his chest.

"That doesn't mean I don't want to see you or spend time with you," she countered. The room was silent for a moment and she bit her lip in embarrassment as a blush covered her cheeks. "I mean, we're still friends, aren't we?"

"You already know how I feel about us," he answered honestly.

"I do," she admitted with soft nod of her head. "And I finally realized that you were the one who's been leaving me presents."

Hiei looked away.

"Why did you do it?" she asked.

"You know why," he replied tightlipped.

"It's just… I never pegged you as the gift giving type," she mused with a playful smile.

Hiei's eyes narrowed slightly at her wording and she shook her head.

"Not to imply that you are stingy or anything… what I meant to say was… um, well, it was all just so unexpected."

"Hn, perhaps you don't know me as well as you think you did."

His comment seemed to have struck a chord within the ferry-girl as her expression froze and then took on a more contemplative look.

"Maybe so," she said quietly, eyes lingering on him in a bout of amused wonder. "It's easy to forget exactly who you are when we're in the human world or in the Spirit World, so far removed from here."

"I don't follow," he said.

"You're so importan," she explained. "General of Mukuro's army. Leader of the Demon World. Those were just titles before, but now that I've had the chance to see you here, I finally understand the depth of it all."

"Does it impress you?" he probed, trying to get a gage of what exactly might open her heart to him again. The foolish woman in the novel was easily impressed by fancy titles and affluence. Botan was not a shallow, but if a small part of her did admire those sort of accomplishments, it would be good for him to know.

Botan's blush deepened and her gaze dipped the floor.

"You've always impressed me, title or not," she answered. "It's just nice to see a new side to you is all."

He grunted noncommittally in response, cataloguing that information away for later. He supposed it was a good thing that his tactics were working and an even better thing that she was impressed with what he had accomplished. The fact that she had come to him this time was good as well.

"Anyway," she started as she revealed what she had been hiding behind her back. "I wanted to give you something in return. I hope you like it."

Hiei looked down at the box with slightly widened eyes. He did not expect for her to gift him with anything at all. That wasn't the point of his efforts, but he wordlessly accepted the offer.

"Go on," she urged with a smile. "Open it."

Hiei's fingers worked to deftly untie the red bow and he let it fall to the floor as he opened the top cover. Inside was a silver chain, much like the one he was wearing now. It was clearly more expensive and sturdy than his own though.

"It's for your hiruiseki stone," she explained. "I noticed that yours was getting a bit worn out, especially with all of that fighting you do. Haru took me to the marketplace and the jeweler assured me that this is excellent quality and should last for a while."

Crimson eyes lingered on the gift for longer than necessary, before lifting to meet Botan's gaze.

"You didn't have to do this," he told her.

"I know, but I wanted to. Those gifts made me feel very welcomed here and when I learned that it was all from you…"

"What?"

"It sort of made them even more special," she disclosed. "It was very thoughtful of you."

He swallowed thickly as a warm feeling settled in his chest. As much as he wanted the ferry-girl, he still did not know how to properly deal with these emotions and sentiments. He closed the box and nodded at her wordlessly.

"Well, that was all I came here for," she announced. "You're probably busy, so I'll just-"

"Wait," he said, halting her as she turned back to view him. "If you know what those gifts meant then you also know that I haven't given up."

Strangely enough, she smiled back at him.

"I know."

He watched as she left the room, all the while thinking that perhaps this romance thing wasn't so useless after all.

How'd you all like this update? It's a bit slow on the development side, but Botan needed time to settle in and I couldn't resist having Hiei reading the romance novel in the meantime. I'm still working out the kinks in the final few chapters, but it looks like it's all coming together nicely. Still can't believe I'm saying this, but this is really it: in a few more chapters this story will be over!

In the next installment, things will heat up as our favorite pair starts finding their way back to each other. Hope you're all looking forward to it!

As always, thank you for the reviews/favorites/alerts/PMs and support so far! I can't express just how much it motivates and encourages me!