Thank you for the reviews. You’re all so cute.

Title: Playing with Fire

Summary: She thinks he reminds her of fire. He thinks she doesn't know how right she is.

Disclaimer: I don’t own them. But I play with them. A lot.

Rating: PG. Don't expect this rating for very long.

Cookies: Ooh! I got 9 reviews for the last chapter instead of eight- So that means I should get ten for this chapter instead of nine -right?

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“Hiei-san? Are you listening?” Hiei watched as a puzzled expression flooded the girl’s face; Watched as her head canted to the side with confusion; Watched as her eyes narrowed because he wasn’t answering her.

The Koorime himself would then turn around, sparing the girl a nonchalant look, his nose wrinkling in indecision. Damn it.

“No.” Botan furrowed her brow at his response. Where else could he go except to Ningenkai? The ferry girl hesitantly took a step forwards, an aura of stubborn pride wrapping around her. Hiei mentally sighed; this would take longer than he’d hoped it would.

“Where are you going?” She was a foot away from him, and Hiei glared at her height. If she thought she could push this fire Youkai around so easily..

“Hn. I find that to be none of your concern, Botan.” He glared at her, running a hand through his spiked bangs before he stopped to avert his gaze to the window. Somehow, it didn’t feel right to glare at her, and this was slowly getting the better of him.

Botan took a step closer. She’d watched the spread of emotion wash his face, and then watch as it went stolid. She was reminded then of his nature; untamed.. uncontrolled.. unexpected...

“Botan.” She glanced up, meeting his crimson hues. He held her gaze for a moment, letting it flicker with a familiar haze Botan couldn’t then identify. But then she did, all to soon, and a whimper escaped her pink lips.

The Jagan was open. She felt her knees buckle, and for the second time, her memory reminded, everything had gone black.

---

He caught her effortlessly as she fell, a look of resent in his eyes that was not meant for the ferry girl. Steadily, he placed her down upon the cold marble of the Reikai palace, lifting the white headband so as to tie it once again back unto his forehead.

It was the only thing that he could think of; withholding Botan with the Jagan. Hiei didn’t want to tell her he was leaving, and in his defense, she didn’t need to know. At least not from him.

He gazed down at her form, letting his mind entertain the listless thought of telling her where he was going, telling her why he was going...

But she was now out cold, on the cold floor of the palace, in the cold that surrounded this place with reminder that nothing was living.

He wanted to leave. Gently, the fire Youkai bent down on a knee, scooping his arm under her shoulders, and pulling her to his chest in order to pick her up. He stood up, eyes narrowing as he heard footsteps, and quickly backed away into a corridor, heading towards her room.

He kept looking down at her, watching as her chest rose and fell with a steady rhythm, and as her hair gently splayed across her forehead with each step he took. Her scent, especially, is what he noticed. She smelled like Peony’s. He closed his eyes for a moment, his footsteps halting.

"Are you my friend?"

He shook away his memories, continuing on his path. There was no one in the corridor, and his presence was only marked by the soft tapping of his feet against the floor. He could’ve made it so no noise was made whatsoever, but it was nice to have a reminder that he didn’t have to run and hide if he didn’t want to.

Or maybe he did. He just didn’t know it yet.

A pair of sad eyes watched him from a shadow, the small click of a bead hitting the floor their only made presence.

---

She was almost on fire. She could feel it, hovering over her form, teasing her, but never touching. Something was holding it back, and Botan whimpered pleadingly at it. She wanted to burn; wanted to be enveloped by the intensity of it’s flames, but it kept a safe distance away from her.

Botan woke up, cold sweat covering her body, causing her clothes to stick tightly against her. She pushed her bangs back, and looked up, her mouth open in slight surprise.

There he sat, knees drawn to his chest, and arms resting on his knees. He was watching her, watching the way she slept, and all the antics of her sleeping. The Jagan was now covered, and the ferry girl once again found herself confused while looking into his eyes.

“I’m going back to the Makai.” He stated curtly, eyes never leaving her own. He reminded her of the raven from that famous poem. And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting..

Still is sitting..

“You are?” She didn’t realized she’d said anything until he finally responded, and scooted closer towards him. He skin was still warm, but the room was cold.

“Yes...” He looked away for a moment, his eyes narrowing in thought before he looked back to her. “It’s September 21’st.”

Botan’s brow furrowed in curiosity. That date seemed oddly familiar. She looked down at the sheets of her bed for a moment, before looking back up towards him. He sighed, leaning over so his face wasn’t anymore than a centimeter from his own. She didn’t gasp: she was to taken by surprise of his actions too.

“Hiei...?”

“I’m free.” He said it almost harshly, but only to get his point across. Botan just looked at him, unknowing of what to say. This was one of those times when she couldn’t just make a joke out of something and lighten the mood.

But then again, what mood was there to lighten? Hiei was happy, ne? And she was too. For him.

No, really.

“O-oh. So, you won’t be.. Coming back.” She knew the answer- what need of him would there be when he left? Besides, Hiei hated Ningenkai. Hell, Hiei hated everyone. Except Yukina, but other than that, everyone. Even Santa Claus.

“Botan.” She turned, and before she’d had enough time to even blink, her mind registered his lips leaving her own. Botan sat there dumbfounded, the pigment of her dress fading into her cheeks. Had he just...?

“Hn. Get some sleep, ne.” She watched as he went to open her balcony window, and close it behind him; watched as he leapt stealthily into the shadows the setting sun cast about the area. Watched until the sun set all the way, and there was nothing more to watch.

Later, she would raise a hand to her lips and note that they were burning wondrously. She had gotten a taste of the fire that teased her, and she would not so easily give it up.

She laid back onto her pillows, and fell asleep. That night she would dream of flames.

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Sorry the update took longer than usual. I’m on stage crew for Dracula, and my body hurts. A lot.

But Reviews will get the next chapter posted by Monday or Sunday, Hint-hint.