Botan entered her small kitchen and immediately got the thermos. Her whole dinner forgotten, she carefully filled the small basin with hot, steaming water. After the task, she then walked back cautiously into the room.

"You have to keep the hot cloth on top of the arm for a long time." She said settling the basin on her night table. Then without a word, she fished out a small towel from her drawer and soaked it into the steaming water.

"No." Hiei said upon noting how hot the water is. It was so hot that steams are practically rising from it. "Not that hot."

"Then how would you stop the pain?" Botan asked as she carefully lifted the wet towel. She grimaced a little upon feeling the heat.

"No!" Hiei said this time firmly, threateningly.

"Oh don't be such a big baby!" Then without further ado, she dropped the towel on top of Hiei's swollen arm. The fire demon cried out with pain as he felt the scorching heat on his arm.

"Now, doesn't it feel much better?" She asked sweetly sitting down beside him.

"Hn!" Hiei snorted. Then to his surprise, the stinging sensation of the hot water began to disappear. It suddenly felt soothing and relaxing, the pain slowly ebbing away.

"So," Botan began as she casually lifted the towel. "Why only now?" She added as she soaked it once again.

Hiei momentarily closed his eyes as he felt her place the towel again on his arm. He opened them only to see a pair of violets looking at him.

"I'm not here to kill you." He said curtly. Botan raised an eyebrow.

"You want me to do something then?"

"Hn!" He replied. "You are not worth my time."

"Oh is that so?" Botan replied, sarcasm dripping from her mouth. "Then what are you doing here in the first place? You were eating floor a while ago as I remember."

"Hn!" He replied. He just couldn't believe it! Botan was able to beat her again! This woman is supposed to be stupid and pompous. Since when did she become a smart aleck?! He turned away and decided to keep quiet instead.

Botan looked at him. It surprised her to find him staring at the rain with a look on his face, a look that wasn't Hiei at all! She saw content, peace, and satisfaction… the thirst to kill slowly diminishing from his eyes. She saw how his eyes appreciated the falling rain as if he is seeing it the first time. Maybe it has something to do with Yukina's presence, her nearness? But nevertheless, there is something terribly wrong in here…

Then for the first time, she noticed how gentle his features are. Hiei was not frowning nor was he scowling, his face has a far away look on them as he let his eyes feast on the pouring rain. She noticed his lips, the grimness on them getting gentle. And his eyes, softening, bringing out its shining, crimson hue. She felt herself get warm as she noted how his chest, his awfully lean chest, gently rise and fall with every breath, and his--

Then she stopped. What is wrong with her?! For pete's sake, this is Hiei! Hiei, the grumpy fire demon! Hiei, the I-don't-like-your-face-so-I'm-going-to-kill-you Koroome! Hiei, the wielder of the famous I'm-having-a-problem-with-the-world-scowl! So why is it that she felt this sudden attraction?! What's more, how come he became suddenly attractive?! She shook her head.

"It's just the stupid rain." She mused. Then she groaned. Even that was lame…

"What?" He growled softly. It was a husky growl to her ears. Instantly she blushed.

"N-nande mo nai…" She said turning away.

Hiei's eyes widened as he saw the pink tints that suddenly appeared on her cheek. Somehow, seeing those made her nicer and better, in fact he admits that she is becoming as pretty as his Yukina, but not half as much lovely but then it was nice and--

"What the hell-- " His mind screamed. He looked away as an uncomfortable silence settled on them. For the first time, an awkward hush settled over them.

"S-so when are you going to leave?" Botan asked after a moment.

"As soon as the rain stops." Hiei replied. Botan nodded her head.

Then she frowned as she contemplated about the situation. The scenario shouldn't be like this. She absolutely hates awkwardness. It should be like she, yakking out everything while he sulks and scowls at her with obvious irritation. Yes, that should be it. She would yak till the uneasy atmosphere around them goes away.

"So how's Yukina-chan?"

Hiei's features darkened at the mention of his sister's name. Botan immediately let out a nervous giggle. Ooops… wrong move.

"Fine." He answered after a moment.

"So how are things going on at Genkai-san's house?"

"Fine."

"I wonder how Yusuke and the others are doing right now? You know their being away to college and everything… You think Kurama-san's having the time of his life working in his father's company? You know like, he doesn't have to go to those boring classes and-- "

Hiei turned to her frowning slightly as Botan started yakking. His eyes studied her and wondered if this female did ever tried shutting her mouth for once. Then to his surprise, he noticed the pretty shine in her eyes as she talked animatedly. Her face smiling, then laughing and the next moment giggling, her laughter so soft and so feminine… He shivered as he felt her bubbliness and her cheerfulness reaching him.

He then discovered his eyes settling on her lips and he found them small, glossy, smooth, and awfully shapely. He then felt her warmth reaching up to him, shuddering him to his soul. Just then something inside him snapped, something beyond his control.

"Botan, will you shut up?!" He demanded. With that Botan stopped with surprise, not with the shutting up thing but with him saying her name. It was actually the first time that he addressed her using her name.

"N-nani…?" She began stuttering.

Hiei felt that strange but nice feeling surging up again upon seeing how her eyes widened. It showed him innocence, vulnerability, very much like his dear Yukina's…

"Will you shut up and let me kiss you?!"

Then without a word, he pulled her to him and buried his lips against hers. Botan, at first, was too shocked to react. Then her muffled cries and protests began as she felt his lips on hers. Then it died upon realizing how surprisingly soft they are. Botan closed her eyes, as she relished the feel of it.

Hiei hadn't expected her lips to taste-- well, although they taste like mint, they were sweet and delicious and strange. He gently broke the kiss, his brain furiously contemplating on that sudden action, on that sudden feel, it felt good, damn good! He looked at her, just in time to see her slowly opening her lovely, too violet eyes.

"Hn!" was all he said. Botan eyes lit up with amusement with a tinge of curiosity as she found him still looking at her, staring at her.

"H-Hiei…" She began. Then she stopped as she felt herself being pulled once again, his lips shushing her. To her surprise, she found herself closing her eyes once more as she gently responded.

Botan instantly felt herself weakening as she slumped against his chest, her face buried in it. Hiei's eyes widened then to his absolute surprise, he found himself not moving away. Instead, his arms went up about her, savoring the warmth of her body, bringing him comfort.

For a moment, they just sat there, too surprised to say anything, both thinking about the unusual affair that suddenly happened between them. Then Botan lifted her head and stared at him.

"Just what is this?" She asked softly.

"Hn." He replied but not unkindly. "It's just the stupid rain." He added softly.

With that, Botan smiled and rested her head against his chest once again. Hiei placed his arms around her with the tenderness he hadn't known he had actually possessed.

"Yeah, it's definitely just the stupid rain." She agreed.

"Hn."

Silence.

"You are stupid." He began softly but making no effort to let her go. Botan shrugged, also making no effort to move away.

"You're peevish." She whispered.

"If you don't stop being stupid and idiotic, you could get hurt."

"If you don't stop being peevish, people will stay away from us when we go out."

"Hn." A soft, agreeing one.

"Use your brain once in a while so you won't get hurt" He said after a moment.

With that Botan chuckled.

"So is that how you say take care?" She asked with amusement. He is really terrible when it comes to this.

"Hn."

Then she lay there, cradled in his arms. Hiei let out a tiny smile when he felt her yawn softly. Botan closed her eyes, the comfortable heat of his body making her drift off to sleep.

Upon feeling the regular rising and falling of her body, Hiei carried her gently and settled her snuggly on the bed. He was about to heave the covers up to her chin when suddenly, one bright eye opened up at him sleepily.

"What are we going to tell the others? This will be a shocker for them." She asked her voice sluggish.

"Hn."

"This is strange… but nice."

"Hn." A soft, agreeing one.

"Good night, Hiei." She softly said, closing her eyes. "Visit me again?"

"Hn." A soft, agreeing one.

It was already midnight when Botan felt the cold chill settling inside her room. She opened her eyes, only to find the rain had already stopped and her source of warmth already gone. Then she frowned as she felt something cool against her chest. She looked down only to see a delicate tear gem resting against her bosom. She smiled as her fingers went up to toy the precious stone, his most prized possession. Yes, he would definitely be back. She looked out the window, a dreamy smile on her face.

She hopes it rains soon.

Owari ^_~