My first Hiei/Botan.
Damn...
He was slouched at the hotel bar where the detective and his crew were staying for the grand tournament. His fourth drink was already half-empty, yet he felt no intoxication. He let out a loud grunt, quickly swallowed up by the surrounding clamor: muddled conversations, shrill laughter, and clinking glasses.
He lifted his glass to his lips and downed it in one go. The burning sensation in his throat faded immediately. Chugging it down was nothing he couldn't handle. His attempt to escape his troubles had failed miserably. His arm still burned just as intensely. He'd used the dragon technique twice today, but it seemed insufficient. It felt like his arm was on fire. Literally. He could still smell the charred flesh seeping from beneath the bandage.
A waste of time...
He didn't feel comfortable in places like this. In fact, he felt comfortable nowhere except in his own solitude. It sounded bitter even to him. Since when had he been seeking solitude? He had always been a loner. Even when he'd joined the detective's crew, he was alone. A dingy tavern in the depths of Makai would have suited him better.
He ignored the sound of a chair scraping next to him. He poured himself another drink, ready to bring it to his lips when a hand stopped him.
"You shouldn't drink alone."
He didn't even bother to look up. The voice, combined with the unpleasant odor emanating from her, was enough to identify the intruder. Too close! He was here to unwind, but not like this. He chose to ignore her, but she wasn't having any of it. She moved even closer.
"Why don't we drink together? You've been brooding for an hour. My little finger tells me you desperately need some company."
If he hadn't been in so much pain and frustration, he might have laughed, and someone would have lost their little finger. He set the glass aside and brought the bottle to his mouth.
"Finish this bottle quickly so we can get to somewhere quieter."
For the first time that evening, he looked up. He gave her a quick once-over. As expected, her appearance matched the cheap smell she gave off.
"Did I catch your attention?" she asked.
"Fuck you, wore" he spat through gritted teeth. He was at his limit, but she didn't seem to get the message. She edged closer and whispered, "Do me!"
With a sharp click, he unsheathed his sword. He wasn't one to tolerate nonsense, especially after a warning. She didn't look alarmed; she just smiled. Eventually, he set the bottle on the counter and moved away. Just as he was about to turn his back on her, she brushed against the sleeve of his long black coat. He shot her a sharp look, surprised by her audacity. But this time, he really drew his sword. He was a damn fire demon, and he bet she knew exactly who he was and what was hidden under his bandage, but she was probably desperate for money to risk her life like this.
He cranked up his spiritual pressure, and the entire room fell silent. All eyes were on them. The woman recoiled. Maybe she wasn't as suicidal as he thought. He sheathed his sword, and conversations picked up again.
"If you change your mind, I won't be far," she said, capitulating as she walked past him. He growled and sat back down, grabbing his bottle. The fourth one of the night. He had tested his limits with Ningen alcohol, but he didn't know how many bottles of Makai liquor it would take to hope to forget this crappy day. He wanted to erase this day from his memory. He lifted the bottle to his lips but stopped abruptly, staring at his bandaged arm. It was all his fault. That damned arm, in that damned body.
He set the bottle back on the counter and, with a swift motion, drew his sword. He laid his bandaged arm flat on the counter and lifted the sword above him with his left hand. Even without his right arm, he would still be the cursed child, but the pain in his gut, in his heart, would vanish. He was about to lower the blade when...
"Hiei!"
He let out a hiss, halting the movement a centimeter from its target.
"Hiei…"
He raised his sword again. If he ignored the voice, it would disappear...
"I know you hear me!"
Or not...
"What do you want?"
"Where are you?"
He growled. He wanted to cut the connection, but deep down, he knew the Fox only contacted him for strategic meetings before fights or in emergencies. It was too late for a meeting, and as for emergencies, nothing could be worse than what had happened today. He sheathed his sword. He would deal with it later.
"Speak, Fox!"
"Botan is looking for you…"
The fire demon tensed. Correction: the worst probably hadn't happened yet. He straightened in his seat. He felt his black dragon stirring. Seizing the moment, Kurama continued.
"About this morning's incident and knowing your certain handicap with human relations, I just wanted to warn you that she's determined to find you. But it seems, if I'm not mistaken, that you've already taken steps to avoid her. So, if you want my advice…"
He cut him off.
"Save your advice for the fight!"
"I think that…"
"She'll eventually give up."
"She's been to my room three times.. in an hour."
"Damn it!"
Kurama took a breath.
"Listen, Hiei, I know you think avoiding her will solve everything, but you should have a conversation with her before one of you gets hurt. And when I say one of you, I'm referring more to Botan than to you."
"Mind your own business," he snapped. He was fed up. The Fox was too clever for his own good. The morning incident was supposed to be an isolated case, and stupidly, he'd thought it would go unnoticed. But that was without knowing the Kitsune, always meddling in what wasn't his concern. He threw his bottle and stood up. He needed to get out of here... quickly.
"You're my friend, Hiei. I wanted to warn you before it's too late…"
"Hiei! Finally, I've found you!"
It was already too late...
The Yokai cut off the connection immediately. He came face-to-face with her. Damn it. He let out a "hn" and stuffed his hands into his coat. He had to get out of here as fast as possible.
"I've been looking for you everywhere," she said with a smile. That damned smile. He scanned her from head to toe. She looked slightly out of breath. She had swapped her eternal pink yukata for Ningen attire: black shorts and a white tank top. He watched her, her chest rising and falling... He felt a shiver run down his spine. He quickly looked away.
What the hell am I doing...
She continued, noticing his silence. "I was expecting to find you perched in a tree…" He growled and shot her a fierce look. She laughed nervously. "Trees are really comfortable, don't think I'm mocking you. I'd love to one day sleep on one under the moonlight with you... um, no... I meant on your tree... no... well, you get what I mean." She was digging herself deeper. She was so nervous, and him glaring at her wasn't helping at all.
He finally let out an exasperated sigh.
"What do you want, Reaper?"
Surprised, she let out a horrified cry.
"That's rude, Hiei. Don't call me that. I'm a spiritual guide."
"Hn."
He wanted to leave, but she blocked his way, hands on her hips.
"Seriously, I don't extract souls, I just guide them."
He rolled his eyes.
"I don't care about your etymological bla-bla. Move out of my way." He could force his way through, but he didn't want to draw attention.
"No. I want to talk to you first…"
"I have nothing to say to you, woman."
She was about to respond when a hissing sound caught her attention. She turned around to see a lecherous demon eyeing her as if she were a piece of meat. She recoiled, wrapping her arms around her body for protection. She cursed herself inwardly for standing in the middle of the bar, clad only in her pajamas. "Oh Lord…" she murmured.
The disgusting demon gave her a lascivious grin. She felt sick. Suddenly, she felt Hiei tensing up in front of her. He must have increased his spiritual pressure because she felt a wave of warmth surrounding her. The demon must have felt it too, as he quickly fled.
"What rudeness!"
"You're parading around in a bar full of lustful demons. What did you expect?" he said, irritated.
"I-I... I was in a hurry. I wanted to see you, so I didn't think to change," she tightened her arms around herself, lowering her head in shame. For once, she had nothing to say. He rubbed his face to calm his nerves. He didn't know why, but seeing her like this displeased him. He took off his coat and draped it over her shoulders.
Botan turned to look at him. "Hiei..." she said, surprised. She hadn't expected this gesture from him. A genuine smile lit up her face as she wrapped the coat around herself. Firewood. It smelled like him. She shivered.
"Oh Hiei, you're so kind and thoughtful."
"Hn. Don't get any ideas."
She burst into laughter. He had no desire to be labeled as kind or thoughtful. He was the Fire Demon, a notorious thief, a demon feared across the three worlds. He had given her the coat merely to avoid drawing attention. Her scent was already enough to attract demons, without adding her near-nakedness to the mix. He tried to convince himself of this, but deep down, he knew it was something more. It irritated him even more.
"I'm not getting any ideas. I know all about your code of honor," she said, sticking out her tongue.
"You're quite naïve, woman. My code of honor only applies in battle."
"But you still threaten to kill me," she pouted.
He chuckled.
"My code my rules. Now, get out of my way," he ordered with a wave of his hand. Her gaze was drawn to the darkened bandage along his arm, burn marks or perhaps dried blood. She grimaced. It was all her fault.
He had tried to hide it before, but she had noticed. She felt guilty.
Hiei noted her shift in mood and understood why. He needed to leave this place quickly. He had to focus on the upcoming battles, on something, anything other than her. He couldn't afford to crack, or the morning's incident would repeat itself.
He moved, but she grabbed his arm quickly to hold him back. She winced as she did, using her left side, her injury.
"If you don't want to talk, that's fine, but at least let me heal your arm."
"It's none of your business," he replied, yanking his arm away.
"Actually, it's because of me that you're hurt, so please, Hiei."
He didn't want her pity.
"GET OUT OF HERE!"
She flinched in surprise but didn't step back. She stared defiantly at the demon, determined not to move. He growled and finally turned back toward the counter. The effects of the alcohol were beginning to hit, not to mention the pain in his arm. He was furious. He almost regretted the time when his mere presence was enough to make her pale.
When had she become so bold? No, she had always been reckless, but he didn't know she could be so foolish. Or maybe it was him who was becoming too soft. He should never have accepted her hospitality on rainy nights, her kind smiles, and certainly not her pity. He was the cursed child, the product of an abomination, the demon with a thousand sins. He had nothing to offer in return.
He ran a hand through his hair, trying to calm himself. Stupid woman. He could destroy her with a snap of his fingers. He had almost done it this morning. Just thinking about it made him want to vomit. He could still smell her flesh, her pain... he thought he might go mad.
He felt her behind him.
"Hiei..."
"Focus on your own injury instead of worrying about mine."
She sighed and finally moved to sit beside him. She picked up the bottle he had left a few minutes ago and took a swig, spitting it out immediately.
A minute of silence passed...
"How did you know about the injury?"
"Hn."
She gave him a reassuring smile.
"It's just a small scratch. It'll probably heal by tomorrow. Don't worry."
"I'm not worried."
She offered him the bottle, but he didn't move. He wanted no contact with her. She eventually placed it in front of him.
"Hn." He took a sip, then continued. "I know it's not just a scratch. I can feel the dragon's flames coming from beneath your clothes."
Just mentioning it made him sick.
She looked at him questioningly.
"The dragon's flames are alive. They're directly connected to me. In a fight, when I inflict damage on an opponent, I feel their agony."
"But that's horrible..."
"It's the kind of person I am."
He was more bitter about it than he realized.
"No, no..." She fidgeted. "I meant that it must be awful for you to feel all that pain..."
"Stupid woman. I don't feel the pain, but their agony, and it excites me to no end. My dragon feeds on it, making me stronger than ever."
She widened her eyes for a brief moment, which didn't escape the demon's notice.
"I-I'm sorry you had to use that technique... it's all my fault."
He waved her words away dismissively.
"It's obvious..." He replied. Though he thought the complete opposite. He knew full well it was his fault. The woman had been attacked by a demon that morning, a damned lower-class demon. The detective and his men had come to her rescue. He should have let them handle it and stayed out of it, but his instincts had taken over. As soon as he faced the demon, he lost all clarity. The demon had taken the woman hostage. He had lost control and, without thinking, had used the Black Dragon. "It was a damn bad idea..."
Botan, who had just brought the bottle to her lips, stopped abruptly. He had spoken aloud.
"Oh, it's so thoughtful of you to worry about me, Hiei, but I'm quite the drinker. I used to go to bars with Shizuku just to..."
"I don't care." He cut her off. "Leave."
She rolled her eyes.
"I'm not going anywhere, Mr. Grumpy." And he grunted. She laughed as she continued. "If you refuse my help, I can still stay with you to cheer you up."
He found no humor in that. She didn't realize she had almost been killed this morning, because of him. This woman was reckless and completely clingy.
"I didn't ask you for anything!"
"Come on, Hiei! You don't need to ask for anything. It's our relationship."
He raised an eyebrow.
"You're delusional, woman. We have no relationship."
"You're my friend," she said cheerfully.
"I don't have friends..."
She crossed her arms, pouting.
"It's so mean of you to deny the friendship between us. I can accept that you don't acknowledge our relationship, but Kurama? And Yusuke?"
He wanted to tell her that Kurama was a war ally, a companion in crime. A completely different bond, based on duty and mutual understanding. As for the Detective, he needed him to continue enjoying his conditional freedom. A relationship based on mutual interest. Friendship, family, love... None of that existed in the demon world.
"You're very important to me, Hiei," she continued. He grunted. "I don't deny that we started off on the wrong foot, but over time, it's gotten better, hasn't it?" He didn't respond, but she wasn't expecting an answer. She went on. "You even used to come stay at my place when it rained. We had good times talking and getting to know each other."
It was mostly her talking, he thought. He had to endure her endless chatter. He only listened out of sheer frustration.
"You saved my life today. You wouldn't have done that if you didn't see me as a..." She paused to think before finishing. "...Comrade."
"I almost killed you…" he spat.
"W-what?"
"My Black Dragon could have killed you."
"Oh, that? It was nothing. I'm tougher than I look. I'm a spirit guide," she said proudly. "This body isn't as fragile as people think."
He slammed his fist on the table, making her flinch. Her face went even paler, and beads of sweat began to form on her forehead.
He was furious. He had felt her pain when the flames had touched her skin. The intensity of his anger toward the demon that dared to harm her nearly drove him mad. His hatred had clouded his judgment; he had wanted to burn the demon alive and revel in its agony. He had lost control. He could have let the detective rescue her in a less dangerous way, but his darkness had taken over, and she had nearly paid the price.
He clenched his fists, overwhelmed by guilt. This emotion was foreign to him, but today, he knew he lost all clarity where she was concerned. If he was honest with himself, he thought, it wasn't the first time. Ever since he had accepted her kindness, her concern, and her sincere smiles, he was doomed. He could no longer ignore it.
And the worst part was how he had treated her after she took the full brunt of his attack. He was so angry with himself that he had lashed out at her. He had thrown all sorts of atrocities at her, which she had endured without a word. She had ended up excusing him before losing consciousness.
He was so furious with her, with himself, that he preferred to run away. And now she was next to him, with her eternal smile, determined to heal him when she was the one who was hurt.
He wanted so badly to hate her…
He didn't know if it was the alcohol or the fatigue, but he got up from his chair and moved closer to her.
"Hiei?" she asked, looking at him curiously.
"Be quiet, woman!" It sounded more like a plea than an order. He expected her to back away, but she did nothing. She just nodded. He hesitated for a moment, then placed his hand on her right side. She jumped slightly, and he stiffened.
To say Botan was shocked was an understatement. Mr. Zero Human Contact was actually touching her, and the irony was that he had initiated it. A shiver ran down her spine. But once the surprise faded, she felt a gentle warmth emanating from the yokai's hand, starting from her stomach and eventually enveloping her whole body.
He was using his magic on her, so she closed her eyes and allowed herself to relax.
The demon watched her face soften and almost hated himself for enjoying the sight. He wanted to look away but knew it was a waste of time. The real problem lay elsewhere. The Kitsune had been right, he thought; it was already too late. He continued to observe; he had never used his healing power on anyone other than himself. He had underestimated the emotion called "guilt." A soft moan of relief from the woman pulled him from his thoughts. He swore under his breath, pulling his hand away as Botan opened her eyes.
He turned to go back to his seat, but she grabbed his arm.
"Thank you, Hiei."
She was so grateful.
"Hn."
"Let me return the favor."
"Don't make me regret it."
She crossed her arms, pouting.
"Come on, Hiei! I should have been the one to heal you. My injury was minor, but you treated me anyway…"
"Don't lie. It wasn't minor. Without me, your wound would have taken days, maybe weeks, to heal. You'd have suffered greatly the entire time, plagued by nightmares. You were already starting to deliriously invent nonexistent relationships…"
She stared at him, dumbfounded, then burst out laughing.
"Would you rather scare me than admit our special relationship?"
"I'm leaving…"
She leaped to stop him.
"Okay, I'll retract that, but for the love of Enma, let me heal you," she pleaded.
He sighed in exasperation. She wasn't going to give up. Anyway, he was already screwed, so he might as well give in for tonight. She was so stubborn, and he was so tired, that he finally capitulated.
"Fine!"
"Seriously?" she exclaimed with joy. "You really want to?"
"Hn."
She was so happy that she didn't waste a second and jumped on his arm to remove the bandage, but he pulled his arm back abruptly…
"Not here."
She looked at him questioningly, but after a few seconds, a glimmer of understanding crossed her eyes. They were still in the bar, and her magic could alert all the demons in the room. She was about to suggest going outside, but he cut her off.
"Wait for me outside my room. I'll join you."
"W-what?"
"Woman, my patience has limits."
"Why would we go to your room?" she asked suspiciously, and he was about to lose it.
"Unless you plan on inviting all the demons in Makai to your white magic session, you'd better listen before I change my mind. And don't you dare imagine…"
Before he could finish his sentence, she cut him off.
"I'm just imagining the look Kurama would have seeing me come in with your coat on and your scent all over me." The fire demon's eyes widened. Touché. She swallowed a laugh and continued, "I might be delirious enough right now to misinterpret our special relationship, but I'd love to see how Kurama and his clarity would react…"
The demon clenched his fists. This woman was anything but stupid.
She waited for a response that never came and knew she had won. With a mischievous smile, she quickly turned her back to him, making sure her body brushed against the yokai's.
"I'll be waiting in my room… comrade!"
Her scent filled the air and hit him like a slap. A mix of fresh herbs, peppermint, and... scorched wood. The demon felt his whole body tense.
Their combined scents...
He was about to lose it.
This woman was going to be the death of him.
"You're not playing fair, Reaper," he muttered.
"My game, my rules!" she said, heading toward the exit.
It was just as well—he always enjoyed a challenge and was known for bending all the rules. A faint smile appeared on his face. Maybe this day wasn't as shitty as he'd thought. He downed the rest of his drink and left the bar, hands in pockets.
Deylie