"I will kill her."

Hiei let out a grumble as he shifted his small body comfortably on top of the wooden steps. He let out an irritated sigh as he felt the hilt of his katana still safely around his waist.

"Now what is this I hear about killing, brother?"

Hiei turned around only to see Yukina walking towards him. Without a word, he turned away from her letting out another curse. Yukina smiled as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Although still not used to this kind of treatment, he, nevertheless, made no effort to move away.

"Stay longer?" She asked softly. Hiei didn't answer, his eyes still fixated on the setting sun.

Damn it anyway! Now that Yukina knew the true identity of her brother, Hiei now found himself staying here at Genkai's place for a month instead of frolicking in the Makai and freely eliminating everybody that gets on his nerves.

"And it's all that stupid ferry girl's fault!" He thought with anger.

He should've known… that stupid female wouldn't be able to keep her mouth shut for long. When Yukina learned of the truth, she immediately went to him and confronted him about it. Hiei, for a second there, was too shock to deny the whole thing. And now he suddenly found himself staying here at the request of his sister. He just couldn't say no to his dear Yukina.

"You know, I'm glad Botan-chan told me about you." Yukina began as she sat beside her brother.

"Hn."

"Stay longer, kudasai?" She asked again, her hand on his arm.

Hiei still refused to look at her. How could he say that prolonging his stay here is hindering him to fulfill his promise to Botan about killing her? What's more, he couldn't even refuse his sister… Hell! Not that he doesn't want to be near her, but he has to get out of this place! He is just not used to this!

"You still angry at Botan-chan?" Yukina asked.

"Hn."

"Brother, please forget about the whole thing, it wasn't Botan's fault." Yukina said.

Hiei looked at her for a moment. Yukina smiled sweetly at him that he found himself turning away quickly. How could he refuse such a smile? How could he even revoke her simple request of forgetting what Botan did? But then he couldn't deny the fact that somehow it was like a heavy burden was lifted up from his shoulders when she accidentally told Yukina about the truth.

Now he can fully express what he felt for her. Sometimes, he hates to admit this but he found out that her influence greatly changed him a lot. Unlike before, he now found himself enjoying a moment of peace, just sitting here, and watching the setting sun, reflecting. Unconsciously, he began to recognize beauty as he began to develop a soft spot for almost everything. Even the thought of killing became less appealing for him.

"You know, killing her won't solve anything." Yukina said.

<Killing her… >

Darn it! Now thinking about that, he suddenly realized that he doesn't really want to kill her. He realized that that thinking and saying it aloud to himself is just an outlet for his anger. If he is to face Botan, he knew he wouldn't be able to.

Without thinking, an amused smile lit up the corners of his lips. That female was really stupid, bubble-headed and an idiot. He could still remember how Botan immediately moved out of Rei Kai right after she slipped the whole thing to Yukina. She hadn't even thought about his Jagan, that no matter where she hides, he could still very well find her.

And the stupid thing also is her fear of him. Could she really be afraid of what might happen to her that she immediately moved out of Rei Kai and settled temporarily in Ningenkai?

"Am I that cynical?" He found himself asking.

He shook his head. No, killing Botan would be like killing laughter itself. He admits, although stupid, Botan is an advantage for them. She informs them of their missions, brings them strange gadgets that doesn't work or usually ends up with that stupid carrot-top breaking them, goes with them to show support, takes care of them when injured… no, he just couldn't and wouldn't kill her.

"But a little lesson won't hurt…" He thought standing up, an evil grin on his face. He turned to Yukina who was looking up at him with obvious adoration.

"I'll be going out for a while." He said.

"You'll be back?" She asked hopefully.

"Yes."

"Promise?"

"Hn."

Taking it as a yes, Yukina smiled and gave her brother a quick peck on his cheek. Hiei just nodded his head in acknowledgement.

"Take care, kudasai?"

Hiei, after giving out a yes, quickly went on his way.

==========

"Looks like rain." Botan said to herself as she looked up at the clouds through her large, glass window. Not long after the words came out, rainwater suddenly fell from the sky, getting heavier by the second.

"Oh well…" She heaved tiredly as she began to prepare herself some dinner.

It has already been a month since she settled herself in this apartment. Koenma was really against the whole thing but she values her life too much. Her boss even assured her that as long as she stays in Rei Kai, he would see to it that Hiei wouldn't be able to touch even a single strand of her hair. She retorted out by saying he doesn't know how stubborn that fire demon is. Koenma retaliated that no matter where she hides, Hiei would surely find her with the help of his Jagan.

"… oh if that is so, then I don't want to be slaughtered in front of you. It might give you nightmares." She had said and immediately she stormed out of the room.

Now she sat there, alone, thinking, waiting, and wondering what is taking that blasted demon so long. Why prolong the agony? Now thinking about it, at least she would die doing what is right, though she didn't mean it.

She heaved another sigh as she laid down the food on the table. The rain is getting heavier now and it made her feel cold. Without thinking, she walked out of the kitchen to get a sweater from her room. She was already inside when she heard a loud thump just outside her bedroom window.

"What the-- " She began as she walked towards it to investigate. Then she gave a frightful scream upon seeing a black figure splattered against the little terrace. When she recognized the figure, she immediately stopped.

Hiei looked up only to find her looking at him, screaming then staring. He slowly stood up, his arm aching from the nasty fall.

"Oh god, judgement day." Botan thought, as she stood there motionless.

Then she stopped as she saw Hiei standing there, his left hand over his right arm, his face showing discomfort. He was pitifully drenched, shaking with the terrible cold.

"Maybe he is hurt." Botan thought as she walked closer to the window. Without a thought, she lifted the latch and opened it. Might as well do something good before dying. That would earn her some extra points for Koenma. Who knows, she might end up being a dog or something instead of a worm.

"Come in." She said as she hurriedly turned away to get some towels. Hiei wordlessly stepped in, his aching arm preventing him to utter out anything that would make Botan throw him out in the rain.

"So what took you so long?" She began icily as she handed him a dry towel. Hiei accepted it without a word.

Then she stood there, eyeing him warily. Strange but she didn't feel even the slightest fear now that Hiei's here. Or maybe it has something to do with how she had anticipated this. She had expected that this day would come, that he would eventually keep his promise to her, it didn't surprise her now.

"Are you just going to stand there?" Hiei asked as he tried his best to control his annoyance.

Botan blinked and realized that her being there is hindering him to make use of the towel. Shrugging, she decided to step out of her room, leaving the wet Koroome to tend himself on his own.

Hiei counted fifteen seconds before he shrugged the wet cloak away. He grimaced as he exerted another effort to take the wet shirt off, the pain in his arm increasing. He thought about how good it will feel if he could get rid of the trousers too but remembering Botan, he decided not to.

"Finished?" He heard her suddenly call.

"Hn."

Botan popped in as he was about to drape the dry towel around his body. She stopped momentarily as she was granted a glimpse of the lean chest. She just can't believe how perfectly sculpted his chest was this close. Well, yeah she had seen him without the shirt on, in fact several times already, she just didn't expect it to be… that perfect.

Hiei looked at her strangely and realized that she was staring at something. He followed her eyes and looked down. He felt his face get warm upon realizing what has been keeping her eyes busy. He let out a soft growl.

"What the hell are you looking at?" He asked nastily.

Botan gave him a dirty look as she sauntered towards him.

"Nothing." She replied irritably. She then bent down to pick up the wet clothes that are carelessly scattered, creating a puddle on the floor. "Look at the terrible mess you made."

"Hn."

Botan let out a defeated sigh as she made her way towards her bathroom. There, she wringed his clothes dry and hanged them carefully. After the task, she went back to the room only to find Hiei sitting on the bed, massaging his right arm.

"You hurt?" She asked.

"None of your business." He curtly answered stopping immediately.

"Let me see." Botan insisted completely forgetting that he would actually finish her off later.

"It's nothing serious." He protested.

"That is what you, Yusuke, Kuwabara and Kurama say when you are always injured." She retorted as she forcefully yanked his arm. Hiei gave a soft yelp.

"Are you stupid, woman?" He cried with annoyance. Botan looked up and smiled sweetly.

"Oh gomen ne." She said.

Hiei then found himself shutting up and studying her. She was frowning slightly, the mild concentration on her face visible. He found it intriguing and quite nice. For the first time they've been together, he began to notice how unusual her eyes are. Shining and… violet. In fact, too violet then changing to lavender then to pink and then back to violet again and who knows what's next…

"What?" Botan asked looking up and finding him staring at her. Hiei smirked as he desperately tried concealing what's been going on inside his mind.

"You're eyes are too violet." He replied. He tried his best to sound as cool as possible.

Botan frowned with disbelief and annoyance. Now he is criticizing her eyes for being too violet?! He might as well say that her eyes are ugly! Who gives a damn about vanity anyway? She would see Koenma later, that is, under different circumstances.

"Well, yours are too red, bloodshot." She retorted. "They are also too big for your small head." She added nastily.

"Hn." Was his only reply. Then he smirked. "Your hair is blue." He added. His voice sounded as if having blue hair is illegal.

"So?" Botan asked feeling pissed. "Your hair is spiky and coarse and black." She retorted.

"Hn." Was, again, his only reply. Then he smirked again. "You are too freaking noisy."

"And you are too freaking small." She said.

This time Hiei growled. He couldn't deny his height deficiency since it was unmistakably true. Botan smiled with satisfaction upon beating him in the vocal war. Strange, she found Hiei shutting his mouth almost too quickly instead of thrashing her more with something offensive. Working with him for sometime made her learn just how he hated losing.

"Your arm seems to be aching." She said finally standing up. "I will get some hot compress for it."

Then without waiting for his answer, she exited the room quite gruffly. Hiei was left alone to listen at the pouring rain, still getting heavier. Then it struck him. Just why did he criticize Botan's feature? Well, its not a bad criticism… also not a good one but the fact that he noticed them-- her…!

"Her eyes were shining." He thought. And she has this unusual hair, gleaming out an exotic blue color to boot. Then snapping out, he gave out a curse.

It was her fault! If it wasn't for her, Yukina wouldn't know. If Yukina doesn't know then he wouldn't have to spend an entire month with her. If he hadn't spent an entire month with her, he wouldn't be influenced by her sweet nature. And if he hadn't been influenced, he wouldn't know beauty. And if he--

Beauty?!

"Kuso!" He cursed out loud. Something is terribly wrong with him. Not only did he use the term beauty but now he suddenly found himself wondering if his eyes are really too big, his hair too spiky and coarse-- is black a bad hair color for him? Is his head really out of proportion to his eyes? He shook his head and decided to clear his head.

It's just the stupid rain.