Disclaimer: I don't own YYH or the characters.

Day 2: Monsters/Apocalypse/Meme: This is Fine


The ticking echoes loudly,

Pounding in my heart.

Endless hours of waiting,

Unbearable when we're apart.


Botan loved being with Hiei. His caustic humor and sarcastic wit always amused her. It was good to see his laid-back, jocular side. The two seemed like an unlikely pair, but Botan could see all the ways Hiei rounded her out and how she did the same for him. It seemed like they fit perfectly together, interlocking.

But there were some things that weren't perfect.

It had been a long time since the attack on Spirit World by the former residents who despised Koenma's new policies. Back then, the spirit detective team united again to defend their friends, an act that connected them all once again since Yusuke's firing.

Botan and Hiei weren't together back then. That didn't happen until years later. However, since the two became a couple, Hiei's demeanor towards dangerous situations changed. At least the ones where she was involved.

"I don't understand why I can't come with you," Botan argued. "I used to fight alongside Yusuke all the time when he was spirit detective."

Hiei's gaze remained impassive and unyielding. "That was before he was strong enough to handle himself. Before Kurama and I were involved."

Botan deflated a bit. "What's that supposed to mean? That I'm not needed? Even if I can't fight whatever threat this is, I can at least still heal you all."

Hiei released a frustrated sigh. "We don't have time for this. You aren't coming with us this time, and that's final."

"I can do what I want, Hiei. I want to help you."

Hiei wanted to argue more, but he knew it wouldn't get them anywhere. Instead, he disappeared from site, leaving Botan alone in the middle of the hall of Genkai's.

It felt like the world was caving in around her. How could Hiei leave in the middle of this, just like that, and leave her behind?

She decided to try to keep herself busy, pretend she was okay. Even though it broke her heart that Hiei didn't see her worth.


Hiei met up with the guys at Spirit World. He couldn't believe something like this had happened again. He thought they weeded out the rebellious spirits that had tried to take control of Spirit World last time.

It was the same with Demon World, a seemingly endless source of rebels angered by the new changes of peaceful coexistence.

This was why Hiei didn't want Botan to accompany them. It would devastate her to learn that her fellow spirits still wanted to take over and harm her and Koenma.

Their group waited for the leader to let his guard down and then ran in to take the rebels down. Hiei so badly wanted to end their lives, but he knew they were needed alive to get information on other supporters.

The spirit glared at Hiei, eyes full of hatred and disgust. "It's demons like you that are tainting our kind, tainting our ferry girls and—"

Hiei usually wasn't one to let his emotions out in a fight, especially not one so petty, but punching that guy out felt very cathartic after his argument with Botan.

Yusuke and Kuwabara freed Koenma and George. The Spirit World ruler approached Hiei and sighed. "What a mess… I can't believe this happened again."

Hiei shrugged and faced the former prince, now king, of the world he used to detest and still had very strong opinions. "It can't be helped. You went against what was accepted. The same is happening amongst the demons."

Koenma looked aggrieved for a moment, as if he wanted to tell Hiei something specific. Unfortunately, George beat him to it. "I'll have the ogres clean up the ferry girl's quarters. We'll fix up Botan's room like no one was ever there."

The Reikai ruler paled as Hiei's expression morphed from surprise to fury. "What happened to Botan's room?" he growled darkly.

Koenma released another heavy, sorrowful sigh. He sent George on his way with orders to make the place look pristine and to replace anything broken. After, he took Hiei aside, privately. "Their attack started in the ferry girl quarters, and Botan's was the first place they attacked. I'm so incredibly thankful she was away in Human World with you. I don't want her to worry, so please don't say anything. Just look after her."

Hiei's fists clenched. Rage didn't even begin to describe the awful feelings churning his heart. If Botan hadn't been away, she could have been seriously hurt, or worse.

He had no intention of saying anything to her right now, but she would need to know eventually. For now, the fire demon wanted to get back to her and shield her from this as much as he could until Spirit World weeded out more of their rebels.

"Fix this," he demanded simply before he disappeared. Koenma nodded, already coming up with a plan to make things safer for his friend.

One thing was for sure… Things were far from fine in Spirit World.