Prompt: Hurt

"It really wasn't my fault!" Botan defended, as she retold the story of the Spirit World's latest mishap.

Hiei pushed his hands in his pockets and grunted dismissively. He supposed the disorganized chaos that seemed to befall her world every now and then could work in his favor. After all, in a few short nights, he was due to infiltrate the high security vault and pilfer one of its most coveted treasures.

His mouth twisted into a frown. He didn't know what would happen after that. He had no idea if he'd see the ferry-girl again. Or how their tenuous relationship would change after the deed was done.

His gaze drifted back to her unwittingly. She appealed to all the things he thought he never cared for: beauty, kindness, light. He desired her, that was a simple fact he could not deny. And no one could blame a man for wanting what he shouldn't have. He briefly considered acting on his impulses in the fleeting time they had left, when he sensed the distinct thread of a malevolent energy drawing near.

"Stay behind me," he ordered suddenly.

Botan came to an abrupt halt beside him, blinking confusion. "Huh?"

Hiei didn't wait for her to react, instead stepping in front of her and keeping his focus on the rapidly approaching enemy. A rustle of trees and swooping of wind from above announced the demon's approach.

"I-it's the phoenix demon," she whispered in shock as she stared up at the avian creature.

The demon descended from the air, taloned feet landing gracefully on the grassy floor. Bright red wings retracted now that they were no longer needed and he folded his arms over his puffed out chest. "You're quite difficult to track down, ferry-girl."

"How are you even here?" Botan asked from behind Hiei. "I saw Yusuke defeat you!"

"I still had a few tricks up my sleeve," he snarled, dark eyes filled with disdain as they glowered at her. "And after I deal with you, I'll get that cursed detective!"

"I don't think so," Hiei intervened, his voice low and menacing. "If you want the ferry-girl, you'll have to get through me. And I have no intention of letting you rise again."

The phoenix demon finally took stock of Hiei. He raised an unimpressed red brow and scoffed, "You don't scare me, little man."

"Have it your way."

Hiei wasn't interested in the sort of long and drawn out battles that phoenixes were known for. They might have both been demons born of fire, but he knew that his was much more potent. He gathered enough energy until fists were engulfed in deadly orange flames. Then, faster than the average eye could track, he advanced and threw a flurry of punches. The phoenix went up in a blaze of scorching heat before he could even react. The flash fire left nothing left behind. Not even ashes.

"That was… very final," Botan breathed out.

"If you don't destroy phoenix demons completely, they always rise from the ashes."

"Yes, of course, I should have known…" she frowned contemplatively. Her eyes were colored with disappointment, as if she had failed in some unknown duty.

Hiei's gaze was hard as it met hers, the sinking suspicion already settling in his gut. "Why was he after you?"

"Petty revenge, I suppose," Botan surmised. "Yusuke was ordered to stop him. As assistant to the spirit detective, I was there as back up."

The confirmation struck him like an unexpected blow. He couldn't help the biting edge of his voice as he hardened his gaze at her. "You work with the detective."

"I didn't exactly mean to hide it from you," Botan replied as she pointed the pads of her index fingers together and pointedly avoided his gaze. "It just never came up in conversation."

Hiei scoffed. So, they had both been keeping things from each other. And while his secrets may have been undeniably worse, hers complicated things in ways he could no longer afford to ignore.

"This is all pretty recent," Botan tried to explain. "Yusuke's job is to seek out those who threaten this world–"

"You mean demons," he cut in sharply.

Botan shook her head, ponytail swaying with the action. "Anyone really. The main priority is the protection of this world and its people."

"I see."

"I bet you'd make a great addition to the team."

"What?"

"You're incredibly strong," she marveled, clearly impressed by his latest display of power. Her expression brightened buoyantly. "Yusuke's a quick learner, but this is all new to him. I've done my best to support him, but the dangers may only get worse from here on out."

Hiei frowned at what the ferry-girl was proposing. If she only knew what he planned to do - she wouldn't be smiling at him like that, much less trying to win him over onto her side.

"So, how about it?" Botan asked lightly, not a single trace of suspicion or distrust in her gaze. "Feel like fighting for the greater good?"

"I would never willingly ally myself with the Spirit World, or fight to protect humans."

"I figured you'd say that, but it was worth a shot." Her fond expression didn't falter in the slightest as she smiled back at him. "In any case, I really should report this. Shall we take a rain check?"

He nodded mechanically, unable to meet her gaze. She failed to notice the flicker of conflict in his eyes as she bid him farewell.

Left alone in the forest clearing, Hiei allowed his energy to flare up as a surge of mixed emotions coursed through his veins. Botan wasn't just a ferry-girl; she was the damn detective's assistant. Sooner or later, they would cross paths on opposite sides of the same battle.

Whatever he thought he was doing with her needed to end. Now.

His fists clenched tightly as he gritted his teeth. A part of him thought he could have it all - both Botan and his own self-serving interests - but he was only fooling himself in the end.

.

.

.

In the days that followed, Hiei stopped frequenting his usual haunts.

He made sure to conceal his energy.

Stayed far out of sight.

He avoided Botan at all costs, but her memory still haunted him at every turn.

Flashes of her smile, snatches of her voice, the sweetness of her scent and softness of her touch.

He'd be giving it all up in lieu of following through with his word and carrying out his ambitions. It was far too late for regrets, so he did what he could to push all thoughts of the ferry-girl out of his mind.

The plans were already set in motion.

There was no turning back now.

Botan sighed as she flew through the Spirit World's darkening skies. She hadn't seen Hiei in days - not since their encounter with the phoenix demon.

She checked all the usual locations and failed to see any signs of him at all. She couldn't sense his energy anymore. It was as if he had vanished off the face of the human realm. That - or he was actively avoiding her.

The bluette bit her lip worriedly. It made no sense. Things were going so well between them. Or so she thought.

She let out another deep sigh, before deciding to dismiss those thoughts for now. It was a long day of ferrying souls and she just wanted to be alone for a while. She flew through one of the larger windows in the administrative building and was immediately startled by the harsh blaring of the alarms. It indicated trouble in the west hall, where the vaults were. Wasting no time, she steered towards the area.

Botan bit back a gasp as she came upon the horrific scene of corpses littering the way to the vault. The guards clearly didn't stand a chance against their enemies. She swallowed thickly as she stepped over the pools of blood and entered the artifact room. Red lights glared over the scene, cutting through the darkness as they cycled across the area. The vault door was halfway off its hinges and its mouth stood three shadowed demons. She recognized Hiei's silhouette immediately and her heart caught in her throat.

The largest one took notice of her first. He grinned at her menacingly, blood dripping off his hands. "Looks like another Spirit World fool wants to fall."

Botan's heart pounded in her chest. She took a retreating step as he loomed closer, preparing to summon her metal bat.

"Touch her and you die." Hiei's voice was cold and lethal. The sword of darkness was held firmly in his grip, its deadly blade pointed at the larger demon.

"Want her for yourself, eh?" he laughed, tossing the Orb of Baast up and catching it in his meaty hand. "Fine. I've got what I need anyway."

"Hiei," she whispered shakily as the other demon walked off. His expression was hard to see under the harsh red lights and shadows. "What's going on?"

"Leave this place," he ordered, his gaze not once reaching her eyes as he turned away. "This doesn't concern you."

"Please, don't leave," she pleaded, grabbing a hold of his arm. "I-if you were coerced into doing this, I can help you-"

"Don't misunderstand," he interrupted. "I chose this path."

"But why?"

"We have what we need," a new, calmer voice interrupted. "We must leave now, before the SDF mobilizes."

The fire-demon glanced back at her, something akin to indecision in his eyes, before it was snuffed out entirely. She didn't even feel him pull away from her grasp, but she was suddenly holding onto thin air as she stared back at his wispy afterimage.

She wasn't sure how long she stood in the vault, eyes passing over the bodies of her fallen comrades numbly. The alarm thundered deafeningly in her ears. Hurried footsteps drew near. Voices shouted orders. The SDF had finally arrived, but it was already too late.

Botan was soon after ushered to Koenma's office. Displayed on the large screen in clear definition was Hiei, along with his other two accomplices. Spirit World intelligence always was extensive. She shouldn't have been surprised that Koenma had collected the identities of the three culprits within minutes of catching their images on the security footage.

As Koenma continued to list off their crimes, as well as how imperative it was that they be caught, Botan's mind was spinning. She couldn't tear her eyes away from Hiei's picture on the screen. His expression was stoic, eyes hard and mouth pulled into a terse line. He was so unrecognizable, both in picture and in person a couple of minutes ago. She could hardly believe that the man she shared so many moments with was a thief. A criminal. A murderer.

She felt so stupid for believing in him. For being so blind to his true intentions. The pain, the hurt, in her heart only intensified.

"Botan!" Koenma's shrill voice pierced her thoughts.

"Yes sir?"

"Pay attention. If we don't get those artifacts back in time, the damage to the human world will be irreparable. As will the damage my father will do to me!"

She winced grimly. Lord Enma's temper was unmatched. She didn't want to think of the havoc he'd wreak if he found out about this little incident. She and Yusuke would have to work quickly to reclaim the artifacts. There was no time to dwell in misery. Even if her heart felt like it was splintering into pieces.

"Yes sir," she answered dutifully. "I understand."

.

.

.

Botan poured all of her energy into supporting Yusuke as best as she could.

Retrieving the orb from Gouki was touch and go. He was stronger than Yusuke and if it weren't for the ring of concentration, they might not have made it out of that battle alive.

Dealing with Kurama was a different sort of risk. After hearing his story, Botan couldn't help but sympathize with him. He only wanted to save his mother's life, after all. It certainly didn't excuse his actions or justify his crimes, but it did humanize him a bit. In the end, they reclaimed the mirror without any bloodshed or death.

The only one left was Hiei. In addition to his mastery of fire, Spirit World intel revealed that the demon was an excellent swordsman. He possessed above average speed and agility. And he had the fearsome jagan eye at his disposal.

He'd be a formidable foe; one that she wasn't sure Yusuke could defeat him on his own. That's why she was currently crouched in front of an open metal briefcase, stocking it up with all manner of spirit tools.

'Let's see,' she thought to herself. 'We have the mystic whistle, concentration ring, mejiru seals–'

'Botan.'

'Hiei?' Her heart ached longingly upon hearing the dark and familiar echoes of the fire-demon's voice. She wanted nothing more than for things to return to the way they were, but that was impossible now. Her longing quickly morphed into anger as she slammed the briefcase shut. 'How dare you even try contacting me after all you've done!'

'I don't have time for a lecture, ferry-girl. I only need you to relay a message to your detective.'

'A message?'

'I have his woman. If he wants her back, he'll meet me at the abandoned warehouse on the edge of town with both artifacts intact.'

'You captured Keiko? How could you-'

'Tell him to be there before sundown.'

And then the connection ended.

Botan's eyes blurred with unshed tears as reality sunk in. She couldn't figure out what would possibly drive him to do such terrible things, but she couldn't afford to ruminate over his motives and actions. Hiei made his choice and she needed to stand firm in hers.

The ferry-girl rose to her feet, clutching the spirit detective briefcase tightly in her hands. Setting her sights on the evening sun, she resolved to pick up the shattered pieces of her heart and turn her sorrow into strength.

There was no time for lamenting lost bonds; she needed to take action.

You go Botan!

Catch y'all in the next chapter~