Prompts: Misunderstanding Time

Hiei stood atop a stack of wooden crates with the Sword of Darkness firmly in hand. All was quiet within the walls of the abandoned warehouse, save for the occasional creaking of the old structure. The air that blew in from the open window was heavy with the scent of salt and sea from the nearby docks.

Anticipation built in Hiei's chest as the last rays of a burning sunset cast everything in an orange glow. Yusuke was due to arrive any minute now — provided Botan relayed the message to him in time.

The fire-demon didn't plan on seeing or speaking to her after what he'd done, but she was his only link to the detective. Left with no other options, he was forced to contact the woman through the jagan eye. The betrayal in her tone was unmistakable. The hurt in her voice was undeniable. It was obvious that he ruined any chances he had with her.

If he was more in touch with his emotions, perhaps he might have heard the hollow echoes of his conscience in the back of his mind. But he'd always been a stubborn bastard, so he pushed aside all traces of hesitation and focused on the here and now..

He'd get all three artifacts in his possession and then—

Well, Hiei wasn't exactly sure what he would do next.

Creating an army of human slaves didn't exactly appeal to him anymore. It was an impulsive goal, bolstered by too much time on his hands. Even so, leaving things unfinished just because Gouki was too weak and Kurama too obsessed with his human mother felt like too much of a defeat for Hiei.

Two sets of footsteps cut into his thoughts. He frowned when he spotted Botan entering the warehouse alongside the spirit detective. She made an immediate beeline for the human girl, kneeling beside her and checking for injuries. The ferry-girl's usually chipper expression was marred with worry: doe eyes narrowed, blue brows crinkled in concentration, lower lip caught between her teeth as she bit it. It wasn't a sight he was used to. Nor was it one he was expecting to see so soon.

Hiei tore his gaze away from the scene and fixed it on the detective instead. There was unbridled fury in the human's eyes. Good. Hiei was long overdue for a decent battle. He ripped his cloak off, ready to strike at any moment. The air was kinetic as two warring energies started to rise.

Yusuke Urameshi was every bit as unpredictable and rough around the edges as his reputation claimed. He matched Hiei's base power and speed with ease. He fought with a tenacity and reckless abandon that Hiei could appreciate. And the longer they clashed, the stronger Yusuke became. The fire-demon wanted nothing more than to lose himself in the thrill of battle, but his attention continued to drift back to Botan. Was the detective that careless? Did he not notice his assistant was going too far past her limits?

"The ferry-girl will kill herself attempting to thwart the effects of the sword," Hiei warned as he threw a full force punch.

Yusuke blocked it with both arms, glaring back at him through hard, steely eyes. "Then I'll just have to kick your ass before that."

Highly unlikely.

The detective was strong for a human, Hiei would give him that, but he was far too green. Inexperienced. Sloppy. It was only a matter of time until Hiei bested him.

The onslaught of attacks and energy blasts continued until Yusuke was on his last legs. Even with the fox coming to his aid, the detective simply wasn't enough to overpower the fire-demon. Hiei would have reveled in the victory if it weren't for the rapid decline in Botan's spirit energy. She was fading fast. It was only a matter of time until she reached the point of no return. He turned sharply to the bluette, a snarl on his lips and an admonishment on his tongue, but it all faded the moment his crimson eyed gaze landed on the woman.

It wasn't the pallor of her skin or the weary slump of her shoulders that froze him to his spot. It wasn't the exhausted furrow of her brow or the small beads of sweat forming around it. It wasn't even the cuts on her hands as a result of staving off the dark energy pouring out of the human girl. It was that damned bracelet - peeking out harmlessly from the end of her sleeve - that ended up being his undoing. Botan was still wearing it, even after everything that transpired between them.

She still—

The fire-demon's entire body seized up, searing pain exploding across the center of his back. Crimson eyes darted angrily from a smirking Yusuke to the Forlorn Hope. The infernal detective launched a sneak attack on him in his moment of distraction.

As his body got heavy and his eyelids drifted shut, the last thing he saw was Botan's worried expression staring back at him.

Grim determination bolstered Botan's steps as she traversed the labyrinth that was the underground prison. Koenma had been keeping a watchful eye on her ever since he learned about her unlikely camaraderie with Hiei, but with a little luck and fortuitous timing on her side, the ferry-girl managed to sneak into the area undetected. If he knew that she was currently on her way to see their latest prisoner, she would have never heard the end of it.

The prison was a dark and desolate place, a stark contrast to the lively, bustling world above. Its cold and unforgiving atmosphere seemed to seep into her bones, chilling her to her core. Flickering torches provided spotty glimpses of her surroundings as her sandal clad footsteps echoed in the emptiness. Fortunately for Botan, the further she descended into the darkness, the lighter the security became. Hiei was their only detainee in solitary confinement and the Spirit World patented cell was impenetrable. There was no chance of escape for him, therefore no need for guards to man the station.

By the time she reached the very end of the cell block, she came upon the fire-demon's form shrouded in shadow and slightly obscured by the cell's vertical bars. His hands and feet were shackled by thick, unbreakable Spirit World metal. He sat with his legs bent and drawn up, arms resting on his knees. His head was bowed, but she knew that he'd already sensed her presence by the way his body tensed.

There were so many things she wanted to say; so many things she needed to know. She wondered if their time together was nothing more than a ruse. If he was simply using her for his own nefarious gains. But as she stood before him and took notice of the talismans draining his energy and the listless look in his dull eyes, all words failed her. Despite her resolution to stand firm in her ire, she couldn't help but feel her heart soften and gravitate towards him.

"What were you doing back there?" Hiei asked suddenly, his voice hoarse from disuse.

The question threw her completely off guard. "…What?"

"The warehouse," he clarified, lifting his head to pin her with an almost accusatory look. As if she was the one in the wrong. "It was foolish of you to try and combat the effects of the sword on your own."

"What was I supposed to do? Stand by and watch Keiko get turned into a mindless slave?"

"You shouldn't have been there at all."

"And you shouldn't have broken into the Spirit World, massacred the guards, stolen the artifacts and kidnapped Keiko!" Botan countered hotly. "What's wrong with you?"

Hiei's mouth tightened into a terse line.

"Well? Don't you have anything to say for yourself?" she probed, her voice echoing off the stone walls.

"…"

"Hiei!"

He angled his body away from her, the metallic clink of his shackles ringing loudly in the empty silence.

Botan examined him for a few more moments. His red eyes were distant as they stared at the ground. There was nothing remotely warm or familiar about him. He was closing himself off from her, and there was little she could do to stop him. Letting out a heavy sigh, Botan turned on her heels and stomped away.

Disappointment and frustration sat heavy in her chest, remaining with her even as she returned to the main hall. She was fuming. Incensed. Her feet slapped against the pristine tile floor as she meandered through the sea of ogres and ferry-girls bustling around the hall with a deep frown etched on her face.

Hiei could've at least had the decency to answer her, but he remained so rooted in his defiant pride. She huffed, arms folded over her chest as she rounded the corner too quickly and nearly ended up running right into—

"Kurama?!"

"Are you alright?" he asked, a hand on her shoulder to steady her. Kurama was the picture of composure: not a single red strand out of place or wrinkle on his school uniform. He smelled faintly of flowers, too, but Botan could have just been imagining it at this point. His green eyes were concerned as they settled on her. "You seem a little… frazzled."

"Oh, I'm just peachy," she lied sheepishly, readjusting her kimono in an effort to regain her bearings. "What brings you here?"

"I have business with Koenma."

"You do?" she asked, blinking in surprise. She'd admittedly been a little distracted since Hiei's imprisonment and couldn't remember if Koenma mentioned it to her or not. "Well, I can walk you there, if you'd like."

"I'd appreciate that."

Botan's smile was genuine as she led the way. They garnered a few stares as they walked - some of the spirits recognizing Kurama and no doubt recalling his crimes - but the attention didn't appear to affect the demon at all.

"By the way… how are you feeling?" Botan asked, glancing over at him. Kurama had intercepted an attack meant for Yusuke. She was too drained after the fight to heal him fully, but he reassured her that he would be alright in a few day's time. Judging by his upright posture and steady stride, he wasn't lying. "Is your wound giving you any trouble?"

"It wasn't as deep as it looked. Hiei stopped the attack the moment he realized what he'd done."

Botan's steps nearly faltered. "He did?"

"Yes. He and I have known each other for quite some time. It wasn't his intention to harm me."

"That's right… he did say he had a meddlesome, know-it-all partner!" the ferry-girl recalled with a snap of her fingers. "So that was you."

"Guilty as charged." Kurama smiled, gaze lit with amusement. "Hiei doesn't usually deal with others unless there's a common goal tying them together. I must admit, I was surprised to see him willingly spending time with you."

"Y-you knew about that?"

"I saw you both at the park once. He refused to say anything about it, which was telling enough."

"…I see."

"You're understandably upset."

"Of course I am!" she confirmed. "All this time, I thought he was my friend. I thought he cared… but he was only using me to get to the artifacts."

Kurama raised a brow. "Is that what you truly believe?"

"He hasn't given me any reason to believe otherwise…"

"I can't speak for Hiei, of course, but I'm sure you've realized that his is a complicated soul. As stubborn and stoic as he appears to be, he values honor and loyalty above all else." Kurama paused, a knowing look on his face. "If you manage to get the truth out of him, he may just surprise you yet."

Kurama proceeded to enter through the automatic doors or Koenma's office, leaving Botan to stand there in silent contemplation.

His words stayed with her all day, bouncing around in her mind and sinking like a stone in the pit of her stomach.

When it came down to it: Hiei knew right from wrong and yet he still chose to commit such horrible, unthinkable acts.

Hiei spent his time in the cell nursing his bruised pride from the bitter sting of defeat. He couldn't break the shackles around his limbs, though he tried many times. He couldn't overpower the talismans long enough to catch a glimpse of Yukina. He couldn't do much of anything, except sit and stew in his vexations.

He tracked the days and nights using the faint light that filtered through the north window. By the third day, Botan returned to see him again. She was like a beacon in the darkness with her bright pink kimono and equally bright blue hair. She didn't belong in a bleak place like this. And he certainly didn't want her to see him in this pathetic state.

Hiei sighed, lifting his gaze to meet hers. "Aren't you tired of this, woman?"

"I just want answers."

"Nothing you hear will make you feel better."

"But at least I'll have clarity," she replied, hands balled into fists at her sides. Her expression softened in tandem with her tone. "Please… won't you tell me why you did all of this?"

"Kurama approached me with his plans to steal the artifacts. I had nothing better to do."

"...So the whole time we were getting to know each other, you were secretly plotting against my kind," she stated. "Did you keep me around because it suited your goals? Was I just a means to an end?"

Her misconceptions were only natural. When the facts were laid out in front of them, that did seem to be the most logical conclusion. But the accusation spilling out from her lips burned more than he cared to admit. He couldn't keep the hard edge out of his voice as he responded, "You were the one who sought me out and refused to leave me be, woman."

Botan's lips parted, but no words came out. He could see the anger flashing through her eyes. The betrayal mounting in her expression. And the pain hidden behind her expression. He wasn't being very fair to her. Lashing out like this was entirely unbecoming of him. The least he could do was give her the answers she so clearly sought.

"Kurama's plans were set well before I learned that you were a ferry-girl," he confessed. "I had no intentions of using you or harming you. That is the truth."

Botan's eyes widened a fraction as they searched his expression. He held her gaze evenly, not once breaking it. She seemed as though she needed this. He wouldn't begrudge her for seeking closure.

"I see," she said eventually. She bowed her head, powder blue bangs obscuring her eyes and making it hard to gauge her expression. "I appreciate your honesty."

He nodded once, before glancing away. An awkward silence enveloped the two, only broken by Botan clearing her throat.

"Well, I should go," she announced, taking a step back. "I'm really not supposed to be down here in the first place."

Hiei didn't bother saying anything else. There was little point in prolonging the moment when their paths were diverging in vastly opposite directions.

"Goodbye, Hiei," she whispered.

His eyes tracked her until she was out of sight, her voice replaying in his mind long after she was gone.

.

.

.

In the days that followed, Hiei had a lot of time on his hands. Time to stew in his anger. Time to pretend he had no regrets. Time to admit that, perhaps, he actually did.

His foolish actions nearly cost the ferry-girl her life. He never meant to put her in harm's way. And the thought of her not being around affected him more than he cared to admit. He didn't know just how much she meant to him until it was too late to do anything about it.

His jaw ticked as he ground his teeth in frustration. The only one to blame for his current situation was himself.

And now, he would most likely rot away in this dismal, dingy dungeon.

He couldn't even check in on Yukina from here. Bitterness and resentment crashed over him like a tempest. He'd been such a fool.

A pair of footsteps echoed in the hall. His head snapped up to view the annoying toddler prince and his faithful ogre attendant. Koenma was standing tall, taking the form of an adult. It was undoubtedly his meager attempt at seeming more regal or mature or intimidating. Whatever the case, Hiei wasn't particularly interested.

"What do you want?" he gritted out.

"There's no need to be so testy." Koenma's high-pitched voice grated on his ears. "I have a proposition for you."

Hiei bit his tongue; tamping down the instinct to refuse. Anything would be better than dying in this cell. "I'm listening."

The offer was simple: join the spirit detective team and stay within the confines of Koenma's jurisdiction, or remain in the dungeons until his life expired. He found it odd that the Spirit World would willingly employ a demon, but he did recall Botan mentioning that the detective would eventually need help. Perhaps they sensed greater threats on the horizon; ones that were too deadly for their precious detective to face alone.

While Hiei had no interest in the safety of the human world, it was a small burden to bear in exchange for his freedom. He voiced his choice without hesitation. "I accept."

"Good." Koenma nodded. "We'll release you tonight and read you the terms of your probation then. You can thank Kurama for vouching for you."

Hiei frowned. The last thing he needed was a debt to the fox.

"Botan too," the prince added as an afterthought. "She believed you'd be an asset to the team."

Hiei's eyes widened as Koenma took his leave. He didn't think the woman would even deign to think about him after this, much less advocate for his freedom. But he shouldn't have been surprised. Botan was a bleeding heart. Too trusting and compassionate for her own good.

The image of her smiling face flashed in his mind. She wasted so much of her time and effort on him, but perhaps it didn't have to be for naught.

He'd been given a second chance. An opportunity to turn things around. He couldn't afford to squander it.

Hiei stared down at his shackles, mind made up.

This time, he would do right by the ferry-girl.

This time, he would surely make her his.