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Chapter Text

The clicking of Hiei’s boots on the tiled floor reverberated through the egregiously bright and polished marble hallway. There was a determined tick to his jaw and urgency to his stride as he rounded the pillared corner. If he just made it out of this last door away from Koenma’s office, his chances of running into anyone he had the severe displeasure of knowing decreased exponentially. He couldn’t use his demonic speed without alerting them to his presence, but if he could just blend in with the rest of the unmemorable beings in the next hall down he could—

“Boo!”

His hopes dwindled right before his very eyes in the form of powdery blue hair and a garish, glaringly bright kimono.

Hiei stared back at the ferry-girl stoically as she ambushed him on his way out of the dull, bureaucratic hell that was the Spirit World. She had leapt out from an adjacent corridor in a show of theatrics, amethyst eyes brimming with excitement and pink lips curved up into an eager smile.

He didn’t bother disguising how very much he was not excited from his flat tone. “How did you find me?”

The ferry-girl covered her giggle with a dainty hand, eyes crinkling with mirth. “I know all of the secret passages in Spirit World, silly.”

Of course she did.

“The Prince mentioned you were looking for me. What do you want, woman?”

She tilted her head at him, mouth falling into a displeased pout. “Well, that’s no way to greet an old friend, is it?”

Hiei frowned dismissively, shoving his hands into his pockets. “We aren’t friends.”

“Acquaintances, then?”

“None of the above,” he rejected, side-stepping her and continuing on his way.

“Hiei!” she called out, voice echoing in the empty hall. “Wait up!”

The fire-demon tromped onwards determinedly. He didn’t intend to linger in this world any longer than need be. Mukuro had tasked him with delivering a scroll to the toddler Prince and now that his duty was fulfilled, he was free to return to Demon World.

“I know you can hear me!” she exclaimed persistently, sandals slapping against the tiled floor in a hurried cadence. “I only need a moment of your time!”

The sound of her lilting voice reverberating off the walls only served to exacerbate his prickly mood. He was sure the annoying pest would follow him all the way out of the temple at this rate and that simply wasn’t something he was willing to endure.

“What is it, woman?” he snapped, coming to a halt and whirling around to glare at her. “What possible reason could you have to accost me relentlessly?”

The bluette nearly crashed into him, her fresh meadows scent suffocating his senses as she managed to thwart a full on collision. Recovering with a sheepish smile, she slid a hand into the large sleeve of her kimono and rooted around until she retrieved a small item from its folds. “Tada!” the ferry-girl sang, displaying the card with a sweeping flourish. “You’re officially invited to Fall Fest!”

“Fall-what?”

“Fall Fest!” she repeated enthusiastically. “That’s what Kuwabara dubbed it anyway. For the next two weeks, the good old gang will be partaking in all things autumn!”

Hiei glanced down at the horrendously orange invitation. It was decorated with all manner of strange and pointless things: dead leaves, smiling vegetables and a ridiculous looking apparition to name a few.

“What is this, ferry-girl?”

“Humans celebrate the season in a myriad of ways and Kuwabara’s taken it upon himself to introduce Yukina to its many wonders and traditions. He and Keiko have all sorts of super fun activities lined up, culminating in a Halloween Bash at Genkai’s Temple.”

“Sounds abysmal.”

“Quite the opposite, actually! I’m sure even a grump like you will eventually see the appeal,” she stated, motioning to poke his shoulder but thinking better of it at the last second. “And what’s more, this whole thing is for Yukina.”

The fire-demon’s scowl deepened at the mention of his sister. They all knew she was the key to his surrender, especially now that he had recently revealed the truth of his relation to the ice-maiden. It wasn’t a decision he made lightly. It wasn’t something he had done on a whim. Now that Yukina knew exactly who he was, Hiei fully intended to be there for her.

Unfortunately, that resolution put him in an undesirable position. He considered how she might feel if he reneged on the first real opportunity to make good on his word and prove that his commitment wasn’t for mere show. If he failed to attend an event centered around her enjoyment, she would surely be disappointed. Perhaps not in him directly, but in his absence itself.

He ground his teeth together when he realized what needed to be done. His word was his bond; he would see this through even if it led to his inevitable doom. Crimson eyes flicked back up to meet kunzite as he snatched the invitation out of her grasp. “Fine. I’ll be there.”

“Oh, I just knew you would!” The ferry-girl’s expression lifted joyfully as she clapped her hands together. “It’s like Yusuke always says: you may not be around often, but you always show up when it matters most!”

Hiei glanced away, unsettled by the saccharine assessment.

“I understand all of this is new to you,” she began carefully. “And you may find yourself out of your element when it comes to these Human World customs…”

“What’s your point, woman?”

“I’ll be happy to help you out as needed. Keep you informed and the like. I’m pretty well versed in Human World affairs, you know.”

“I don’t need help, ferry-girl.”

“Botan,” she corrected primly. “And you may not need it now, but my generous offer remains on the table for the entirety of Fall Fest.”

He merely continued to frown at her. The woman wasn’t deterred in the slightest bit.

“See you soon! I’m sure we’ll all have a boo-tiful time!”

Hiei grimaced, resisting the overwhelming urge to burn the tasteless invitation to ashes as the infuriating woman all but skipped away.

Chapter Text

“Should we wait for Hiei?” Keiko asked as they stood beneath the wiry sign of Apple Acres.

Botan shrugged, shielding her eyes from the sun with one hand as she searched the surrounding trees for any suspect fire-demon shaped shadows.

“He’ll find us eventually,” Yusuke reasoned, flicking his shades up to cast the rest of the group a teasing look. “You know he loves making those edgy, dramatic entrances.”

Kuwabara snorted. “Yeah, shorty’ll probably just sneak in without paying and find us with that freaky third eye of his anyway.”

“Kazuma…” A light frown marred Yukina’s gentle features.

Kuwabara immediately wised up with a remorseful wince. “Sorry, my sweet.”

“Tactless as he is, Kazuma has a point,” Shizuru conceded, pushing off of the fence she was leaning against. “We might as well get a move on.”

“Yes.” Yukina nodded. “I’m sure my brother will arrive when he can.”

“Let’s be on our way, then,” Kurama agreed, gesturing for the ladies to head into the orchard first.

The motley crew of seven continued onwards with their empty baskets in tow. Excitement strummed in Botan’s veins as she glanced around at the rows of trees. It was a beautifully crisp and sunny day. There was a slight chill in the air, but the beaming sun, coupled with her cute yet functional weather appropriate attire kept her sufficiently comfortable. Donned in a pair of jeans, a thick sweater and knee high boots, she took in the feeling of the cold air against her cheeks and the earthy scents surrounding her. She had never done something so mundanely human before. It was thrilling.

The group naturally split up as they each headed towards their respective areas of interest. Botan had done her fair share of research and had her sights set on finding the Golden Russet grove. She read that they were the perfect type of apple for making cider: another activity she was all too eager to try during Fall Fest.

“Hm…” The ferry-girl wrestled with her map ten minutes later, standing before a hedge of perfectly trimmed trees. “Where on earth could those apples be?”

“Lost already, woman?”

The cutting voice startled her, pulling the bluette from her terse concentration. Spinning around, her eyes widened upon spotting Hiei standing near the edge of the row with his arms folded over his chest.

“Hiei!” she exclaimed brightly, the map crinkling slightly under the weight of surprise and satisfaction. “You actually came!”

“I told you I would.”

“And I didn’t doubt you for a second!” she replied, crossing over to him with a smile. “Did you see Yukina? She’s around here somewhere.”

“She was with the oaf,” he revealed, a small frown tucked away in the corner of his mouth. “I have no intention of listening to that clown croak incessantly all afternoon—”

“So, you chose to find me instead?” she finished teasingly, setting her free hand on her hip. “Sounds like somebody is taking me up on my benevolent offer, after all.”

“Don’t flatter yourself. I just happened upon you, ferry-girl.”

Botan bit back a giggle at his expense, fully well knowing it would only serve to irritate him further. The fire-demon was dressed in a thin, long-sleeved white shirt. The material looked softer than the usual battle-resistant clothing he donned. Casual, in a way she wasn’t used to seeing. His hiruiseki stone rested over his chest, glinting with an arctic, mysterious glow.

The golden filter of the midday sun fell upon the fire-demon in warm rays, illuminating the streaks of blue that outlined his raven hair and the fiery irises of his eyes. He looked comfortable. At ease with himself. His return to Demon World and his subsequent time at Mukuro’s clearly did him well.

“I’m searching for a specific apple but I seem to have gotten turned around,” she informed him. “Care to join me on the hunt?”

“Not particularly.”

“Well, you’re already here, so you might as well participate.”

“I hardly see the appeal in menial labor.”

“It never hurts to stop and enjoy nature every once in a while,” she reasoned. “There’s something healing about tending to the land.”

“If you were that interested in harvesting you should have taken up farming instead of ferrying.”

“It’s called having hobbies, Hiei,” she quipped back lightly. “You should try it sometime.”

“Hn.”

She returned her gaze to the map she found on her way inside. Tilting it to and fro, the ferry-girl tried her best to make sense of it. She was usually so good with directions, too.

“Give me that, woman.”

Botan didn’t hesitate, handing the glossy guide over without objection. Hiei squinted down at the map, glimpsed around at their surroundings, and then glared back down at the map again.

“I really don’t understand what I’m doing wrong,” she lamented, shoulders drooping defeatedly. “The Golden Russets were supposed to be right here!”

“It’s simple: your map is outdated.”

“What? That can’t be…” Botan leaned over his shoulder and spotted the date printed in a barely noticeable font at the bottom left corner. She was two years too late to make any use of it. “Oh poo! I wonder how this old thing got in the mix…”

“Hn.” Hiei discarded the map without a care, letting it fall to the leafy brush as he tugged his bandana off in one smooth motion.

“W-what do you think you’re doing?!” she whispered harshly, as the jagan slowly awakened. “Are you mad? Someone could walk by at any minute and—”

“Quiet, woman,” he ordered snappily. “I can’t concentrate when you prattle on like that.”

Botan pressed her lips together in a petulant pout. He was undoubtedly checking on Yukina—ensuring Kuwabara hadn’t gotten too close or the like—but he didn’t have to be so rude about it. A beat passed before the jagan’s blue glow eventually subsided and the eye closed shut. Hiei wasted no time re-tying his bandana and walking off in the opposite direction, booted tread crunching over dead leaves and grass.

Botan picked up the useless map and followed after him curiously. She wasn’t sure where he was going or why, but it wasn’t as though she had any better prospects. With any luck, he would lead her back to the others. Maybe one of them had come across her Golden Russet trove. Or, perhaps Kurama could use plant-to-plant telepathy to—

Her thoughts cut short when her eyes fell upon the golden-brown apples she’d been searching for all along.

“The Golden Russets!” she marveled, the sun’s light outlining the fruits like little ringed halos. “You found them!”

He grunted dismissively.

“Oh, thank you, Hiei!” she gushed, practically skipping to the row of trees to examine their yield. Hanging from the branches were an array of round and medium-sized apples, all in varying states of ripeness. A couple of bruised and rotting ones littered the ground, serving as compost for the soil. “Would you like to pick a few of them with me?”

“I see no point.”

“Alright,” Botan conceded, pushing the straw basket into his hands. “Then you can carry the goods.”

Hiei opened his mouth to protest, but was interrupted when Yukina and Kuwabara appeared at the end of their lane. The ice-maiden looked all too happy to see her brother actively participating for a change. Kuwabara strolled beside her, lugging a basket full of brightly colored and disparately shaped apples.

“So this is where you disappeared to, brother,” Yukina said with a small smile. “I was worried that Botan was all alone after running into Yusuke and Keiko by the Fujis and Shizuru and Kurama near the Honey Crisps.”

Botan laughed nervously, feeling oddly embarrassed at being caught alone with the fire-demon. “Y-yes, he so valiantly saved me from my lonesomeness.”

“The only thing I spared you from was your incompetence,” Hiei amended sharply as his gaze landed on his sister. “The ferry-girl was pitifully lost.”

“Hey!”

Kuwabara’s charcoal eyes narrowed as he studied them, causing Hiei to bristle and Botan’s angered flush to darken for another reason entirely. She wasn’t sure which wheels were turning in the psychic’s perceptive mind, but he ended up dismissing them entirely with a shake of his head. “You better pick up the pace, Botan. We’re supposed to be meeting outside the barn in fifteen minutes. Urameshi’s itching to check out the ingredients and I promised my coworkers I’d bring back some souvenirs.”

“Right!” She nodded, her focus sharpening on the task at hand. “You two go on ahead; we’ll catch up in no time at all.”

Kuwabara nodded and left after Yukina offered them a parting smile.

Hiei waited until the ice-maiden was out of earshot to pin her with a bored look. “We?”

“Well, you’re perfectly free to spend the next fifteen minutes with Yukina and Kuwabara if you like,” she suggested, her tone airy, as if the matter meant nothing at all. “I’m sure Kuwabara’s love sonnets will be music to your ears.”

Hiei looked as though he wanted to retch as he faced the trees once more. “Just pick the damn apples, woman.”

Botan grinned, returning her attention to the Golden Russets. She read that it was important to pick the freshest ones, without any discoloration or softened integrity. Reaching out for her first pick of the day, her hand enclosed over the slightly rough skin. It twisted off with little resistance–a sure testament to its readiness. Humming a little tune as they walked down the line, her basket slowly but surely filled.

“In my preparations for Fall Fest, I read about an ancient festival across the sea called Samhain. It’s quite interesting, actually! It marked the end of harvesting season and kicked off the darker half of the year, when the veil between the living and the Spirit World was said to be thinnest. Humans lit bonfires and offered food to keep spirits happy, and wore masks to confuse the pesky troublemakers,” she informed as she continued her inspection of the fruit hanging from thin branches, pleased to have someone to share her research with. “But what interests me most is the divination aspect of it all. Did you know they had several different methods of using apples to predict their romantic futures? Some involved bobbing for apples while others used the apple peels themselves. Pretty neat, huh?”

“Is that how you intend to waste these?” Hiei asked, hiking a brow at the now nearly filled basket.

“No, these babies will be used to make the most delicious cider you’ve ever tasted!” she declared. Her eyes lingered on the large batch, pressing a finger to her chin contemplatively as a tempting idea began to take form. “But I suppose I could use the skins to—oh, never mind, what am I saying?”

“You should do it, woman.”

“I-I should?” Blue brows rounded as her cheeks warmed, despite the brisk autumn breeze. “W-well, I don’t have anybody to—”

“Use Yukina and the oaf,” he clarified, making his true intentions known. “If the tradition holds any credence, it will prove what an unholy match they are.”

“And what happens if they’re perfectly aligned?”

“Then I’ll burn the evidence to the ground.”

“Oh, you’re terrible, Hiei!” she scolded with a shake of her head as she deposited another apple in the basket. Despite her words, she found herself fighting back a smile at the fire-demon’s scheming. “Absolutely awful.”

Hiei wasn’t fazed, merely grunting out a sound that was a cross between a scoff and a dark chuckle in response.

In the end, the fire-demon remained at her side until Keiko suggested they queue up for a hayride. Botan wasn’t at all surprised when Hiei quietly vanished out of sight, biting back a knowing laugh as the trees rustled in time with his great escape. As she tracked his retreating shadow in the distance, Botan found herself privately wishing that this wouldn’t be the last she saw of him.

Chapter Text

Hiei lurked on the outskirts of another Fool Fest activity, lingering long after the burning orange sun had dipped beneath the dark blue horizon. The usual suspects were huddled around a large fire, glowing embers floating above their heads and lighting up the dark of the woods like fireflies on a clear summer night. He observed them silently from a branch hidden in a nearby tree—as he usually did when forced into paltry socialization against his will. His sister was seated on an aged log next to the oaf, smiling contentedly while learning how to roast marshmallows in an effort to create something called a “shmoor”. While participating in these get-togethers often left a bad taste in his mouth, he couldn’t find it in himself to regret witnessing more of her ever-growing moments of happiness.

Or so he thought, until the brief respite was broken by a shrill shriek, a sharp slap and the subsequent thunk of a body crashing to the dirt floor.

“Geez, Keiko, you didn’t have to get that violent!” Yusuke huffed, dusting himself off as he plunked back down beside his harpy.

“Keep your hands to yourself and it won’t happen again,” Keiko admonished tightly.

Across from the feuding lovers sat the oaf’s sister and the fox. He had seen the more sensible psychic wander over to the ferry-girl to question the empty space beside her, but the bluette simply shooed her away without much of an explanation.

It was a peculiar exchange. The annoying woman was often in the mix of everything—butting into others’ affairs, piping in with unsolicited opinions and riling people up with her teasing words—but in this moment she sat calmly, simply observing the others while he observed her.

Dropping down from his perch in the tree, he landed on his feet quietly. He could feel the group’s eyes on his back as he crossed over to the bluette, but he pretended not to notice. Hiei didn’t know what it was that drew him to the woman as of late, nor did he intend to overthink it. The most logical conclusion was to consider it a byproduct of the group’s dynamics. The others had all been paired together in some way, shape or form, leaving both he and the woman as the odd men out.

“Alone again, ferry-girl?”

Botan’s expression lifted upon seeing him, a peculiar flip in script that he still wasn’t accustomed to. “I’m not alone,” she chirped, pushing the extra cup into his hands. “I saved this spot just for you. I figured you’d get tired of skulking around in the shadows eventually.”

“I wasn’t skulking,” he denied flatly. The cup was still fairly warm, its contents the color of honeyed ale. “What is this?”

“Apple cider, made by yours truly!” she answered through a proud grin. “Go on, have a taste.”

The fire-demon did as instructed, letting the warm, tart liquid glide down his throat. By now, the others had stopped staring at him and continued talking amongst themselves. Crimson met amethyst as the flavors played on his tongue. “It’s sweet.”

“And oh so comforting on a chilly autumn night!”

Hiei brought the drink up to his lips again in lieu of responding. The woman must have spruced it up with other spices because he tasted a hint of cinnamon as well.

“It’s a lovely evening, isn’t it?” Botan commented, bright eyes lifting skyward. “Certainly not as dreadful as you were probably imagining.”

“Hn.” The fire-demon grunted noncommittally as he followed her gaze up to the starry expanse above. He hadn’t attended every single ridiculous event on the roster, but he did make an appearance when his schedule allowed. Strangely enough, in every one of his appearances, he found himself ending up beside the nosy ferry-girl.

Hiei wasn’t entirely sure what was happening or why he allowed her to get so close. Perhaps he had gone soft. Maybe he was going senile. Or perhaps, he grew tired of the effort it took to maintain the distance between them.

It was strange. There was once a time when nearly everyone seated around the fire was afraid of him. A well-timed glare or an icy death threat would leave them quivering with fear. The slightest hint of malevolent intent was more than enough to unsettle even the elder Kuwabara. But somewhere along the way, they had all taken to treating him like a normal man and not a cursed emiko with more crimes stacked up under his belt and blood on his hands than he cared to keep track of.

The ferry-girl remained the worst offender of all with her open smiles and earnest sincerity. Even now, she sat far too close to him, her floral scent prevalent amidst the thick smoke of the bonfire.

“What’s the verdict, Yukina?” Shizuru asked, fixing her brown eyes on the ice-maiden. “Are you enjoying my baby brother’s Fall Fest extravaganza?”

Yukina nodded. “Very much so! Thank you all for planning so many elaborate events just for my sake.”

“Aw, you don’t have to thank us, my sweet!” Kuwabara declared, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. “I wish we could have done this for you sooner.”

“I would never expect you to shirk your studies or your responsibilities for my sake, Kazuma,” she said solemnly. “But I am glad that we can all spend this time together.”

A disgustingly saccharine blush saturated the clown’s sharp cheekbones.

“Cheers to that!” Botan raised her paper cup in the air.

The others followed suit, letting out their own exclamations in agreement. Hiei drained the rest of his cider without any of the fanfare, setting the empty cup down beside his feet.

“Humans usually trade ghost stories around campfires,” Keiko mentioned, tucking a lock of hair behind her ears. “Do you want to start us off, Yukina?”

“Ghost stories?”

“Yeah, you know…” Yusuke paused to blow on his burnt marshmallow, the small morsel as dark as charcoal. “Superstitions. Urban legends. Dramatic retellings about things that probably never happened. That kinda thing.”

“Oh!” Yukina blinked with recognition. “We have plenty of those in the glacial village.”

“Do tell,” Kurama suggested, retracting his perfectly roasted marshmallow from the fire. “Demon World legends are typically steeped in more fact than fiction.”

Hiei wasn’t particularly interested in hearing about the ridiculous notions the koorime used to keep their clanswomen held captive on that desolate, floating rock, but he listened nonetheless.

“Well, the most popular one was the Lady of the Snow. She disguises her voice as someone you know and beckons you during a storm. If you answer her call, your soul will be hers. All it takes is a single word in response to spell out your doom,” Yukina retold, gazing into the flames as she recalled the tale. “Supposedly, she was a grief-stricken maiden who lost her life centuries ago and intends to lure others into the tundra to keep her company.”

“Creepy,” Kuwabara commented with a shudder.

“So… don’t follow the hot lady into the snow,” Yusuke mumbled through a mouthful of scorched marshmallow. “Got it.”

It wasn’t lost on Hiei that Yukina purposely avoided the countless superstitions centering on men or emikos, most likely for his sake. He caught his sister’s ruby eyes over the fire and nodded at the affectionate smile she afforded him.

“That was a great start, dear!” Botan commended with a clap of her hands. “Does anyone have a spooky story that can top that?”

“What about the Sarayashiki Poltergeist?” Kuwabara tried.

“Lame.” Yusuke quickly shot down with a dismissive wave of his hand.

Keiko hummed in thought before offering up, “The Ghost Train?”

“Anticlimactic,” Shizuru replied, shaking her head. “I always wondered about The Man in the Tanuki Mask, though.”

“I believe that was actually debunked quite some time ago,” Kurama refuted smoothly.

Shizuru arched a brow. “Really?”

“Yes, the culprit turned out to be a drunken salaryman.”

“Underwhelming, but not surprising.”

“I’ve got it!” Kuwabara snapped his fingers. “Possession at the Shrine!”

“That’s about as scary as a lullaby,” Yusuke vetoed again.

“…Is it just me, or do all these stories pale in comparison to all the supernatural events we’ve lived through?” Keiko asked, taking a thoughtful bite from her chocolate.

Yusuke shrugged in that heedless way of his. “I guess dealing with sharp-fanged demons, psychotic psychics and apocalypse after apocalypse really dulls your fear factor.”

The rest of them seemed to agree, the crackle of the fire the only sounds amongst the once lively group. An almost awkward air blanketed the area now that they had nothing festive to talk about.

“Well, that’s quite alright!” Botan voiced sunnily, chasing away the stilted atmosphere. She held out her indulgent tower of marshmallows and chocolates sandwiched between two cookies. “Bonfires aren’t just for ghost stories, they’re for enjoying tasty treats and spending time with friends.”

“Botan makes a good point,” Kurama concurred, watching the fire’s flame lick at the air as the smoke rose towards the stars. “Perhaps for once we need not dwell on the many horrors of the three worlds.”

“I’m all in favor of that.” Shizuru tipped her cup towards the fox in a show of support before finishing off her cider.

The night advanced uneventfully after that. Hiei barely listened as they all spoke about their mundane human jobs and the latest chaotic event that rocked the Spirit World. Kurama asked about how things were transpiring at Mukuro’s fortress, but Hiei refused to reveal too much. The affairs of the stronghold weren’t anyone else’s business—especially not that of the fox, who once aligned with Yomi.

Time ticked on easily, as it tended to do with this crowd.

The moon cradled higher in the sky and their drinks ran low.

Beside him, the ferry-girl suppressed a slight shiver. A cursory glance in her direction revealed that she had crossed her arms over her chest, body tensed up in an effort to retain its dwindling warmth. It was hard not to notice the discomfort in her expression or her growing frown highlighted within the fire’s ambient glow.

Hiei reacted before he could think better of it, raising his energy just enough so that the heat would spread out and envelop her form. Botan’s shoulders relaxed first, her blue brows unfurrowed next and her pink lips parted on a quiet gasp. When their gazes met and her mouth curved into a small, grateful smile, Hiei couldn’t find it within himself to regret his momentary lapse in stoicism.

Crimson eyes lingered on the woman long after she glanced away, a new warmth entirely unrelated to the flames of his energy filling his chest.

Chapter Text

Botan watched Yukina cut jagged edges at the end of a white blanket, before tilting her head at her friend. “I’m certain Kuwabara would be more than willing to purchase whichever costume you wanted, dear.”

“I know,” the ice-maiden admitted, a small smile painting her lips as she continued her task. “But I don’t want to burden Kazuma. He’s already done so much for me.”

“And he’d be honored to do even more.” Botan grinned, holding out her own odds and ends in front of her to measure them. “But this way is pretty fun, too, isn’t it?”

Yukina giggled from across the low table. “It is. I used to help make kimonos back home, so this feels very familiar to me.”

“Perfect, then you can help me with my costume. I barely know what I’m doing!”

Yukina glanced over at her mess of black materials, a small crinkle in her seafoam blue brows. “What are you trying to fashion?”

“Why, it’s—”

Botan was cut off by the gentle swoosh of the shoji doors sliding open, revealing none other than Hiei. She wasn’t sure if she would ever get used to the fire-demon showing up whenever and wherever he pleased without warning, but she couldn’t deny the warmth that filled her chest as he stepped through the threshold. It was an entirely new development—one the ferry-girl refused to dwell on or overcomplicate.

“Brother,” Yukina greeted, taking a stand. “I didn’t know you’d be stopping by today. I would have prepared your favorites if I did.”

“Don’t bother,” he dismissed, crimson eyes passing over the mess of fabrics and sewing tools. “I didn’t intend to interrupt.”

“You’re not interrupting anything,” she insisted, taking his arm and drawing him further inside. “You can keep Botan company while I make something for the three of us.”

Hiei was left with no choice but to acquiesce to his sister’s will, any arguments he might have had dying in the wake of Yukina’s gentle persistence. He shirked off his cloak and scarf, before lowering himself into a cross-legged position a few feet away from the ferry-girl.

“Hello Hiei!” Botan greeted chipperly. “I didn’t expect to see you on a free day.”

“I was in the vicinity.”

“Returning a human who crossed the barrier?”

“Unfortunately.”

“Well, don’t look so glum about it. You’re a regular hero!”

“Hardly. Don’t confuse duty with heroism.”

Botan giggled.

He reached out and grabbed a black headband, inspecting it with just the slightest bit of curious interest. “What is all this for, woman?”

“My costume, of course!” she answered, holding the soft material to her body. “For our Halloween Party at the end of the month.”

Hiei grimaced, dropping the accessory back on the table with a clatter.

“Care to guess what I’m going as?”

“A black hole,” he surmised, based on all of the dark items spread about.

“No, silly!” She shook her head and then lifted her fist, bending her wrist as if it was a makeshift paw. “I’m going as a black cat!”

“I fail to see the significance… or the relevance.”

“Black cats are pretty popular around this time of year. Humans believe that crossing one’s path brings bad luck,” she explained, the Fall Fest knowledge slipping easily from her mouth. “But this adorable kitty will be breaking that unfair stigma! I’ll be the luckiest feline in all three worlds. And cute as a button to boot.”

Hiei scoffed.

“Don’t give me that look, mister. What are you going to be?”

“Invisible,” he bit out. “I don’t plan on attending such a deranged affair.”

“Oh, but you simply have to!” Botan urged, her grip tightening insistently on the smooth fabric. “There’ll be music and games and so many of our friends, too!”

“You’re making me less inclined to attend with every word that escapes your mouth.”

“Don’t be a downer, Hiei. The party is the culmination of all the events rolled into one. It’s our Fall Fest Finale!”

“Now you’re just making things up, ferry-girl.”

“I’m not!” she insisted with a shake of her head. “What’s more: Yukina will definitely be expecting you. You have to at least make an appearance.”

“…”

“Which means you’ll certainly need a costume,” she continued on, amethyst eyes examining and cataloguing him carefully. “Let’s see… what would suit you best…?”

“Worry about your own wardrobe, woman. If I attend, it won’t be in costume.”

“That’s a shame, Hiei,” she pointed out, imagining him in all manner of ensembles. “You’ve got a great figure and you’re quite handsome, too. You could pull off any number of looks.”

Hiei hiked a dark brow.

Botan realized what she just admitted outloud, nervous laughter bubbling out of her throat. “And I say that completely objectively. You know… from friend to friend.”

“I’ve told you before: we aren’t friends.”

“Now you’re just being a grouchy fibber.”

Hiei’s eyes narrowed. “What makes you think you and I would ever be friends?”

It was her turn to raise a brow this time, distinctly looking around at the cloth strewn about the room, down to herself, and back at Hiei. “Well, you’re here, aren’t you? Sitting with me. Talking to me. Not threatening to end my existence. One might say that makes us friends.”

“I’m here for Yukina.”

“I know that, but you’re still—”

“I mean it, ferry-girl. After this Fool Fest is over, I intend to keep my distance.”

“Oh.” She nodded slowly, pretending to be convinced. “I see.”

“Far away.”

“Far away. Got it.”

“In Demon World. As far away as physically possible from interfering ferry-girls with ridiculous notions of friendship playing on loop in their delusional little minds.”

Botan pursed her lips together pointedly.

Silence descended upon the two. Abrupt, terse and tense.

The change in mood very clearly disgruntled the fire-demon, as evidenced by the impatient bite of his voice. “What now, woman?”

Botan didn’t deign to look his way, fiddling with the tail of her costume. “You’ve just gone and hurt my feelings now, is all.”

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw his brow twitch. He wasn’t expecting her to say that. Nor was he prepared to deal with the consequences of his nasty little words. Good. Serves him right! Botan resisted the urge to smirk victoriously and she pushed her lips into a pout instead. She let her shoulders droop for added effect, sighing as she reached for the cat ears she would be attaching to her headband.

“Woman.”

“…”

“Ferry-girl.”

“…”

“Botan.”

So, he knew her name, after all. Although it was a pleasant surprise, it wasn’t nearly enough to cease her completely and totally justified cold shoulder. Botan hummed to herself while gluing on the black velvety ears, body angled away from him.

“Fine, you insufferable woman,” he conceded tightly. “What sort of wretched human costumes were you thinking of?”

Botan perked up immediately, turning to catch his narrowed gaze with renewed vigor.

“A pirate?”

“No.”

“Hmmm. Werewolf?”

“No.”

“Oh, you’d make a wonderful vampire!”

“No.”

“Then how about something mythical? You have the perfect body for a merman.”

Hiei shot her a particularly incensed death glare. “You’re truly demented, woman.”

Botan’s shoulders shook as she laughed. She had never seen the fire-demon look so disturbed before and she had to admit, it was an extremely satisfying sight. “Well, what would you be comfortable dressing up as?”

“Nothing.”

“Would it help if you heard what the others were planning?”

“No.”

“Alright then.” She carried on, ignoring his objections completely in lieu of waving her arm across the table. “As you can see, Yukina’s currently crafting her ghost costume.”

Hiei glanced over at the bedsheet with disdain. “She can’t be serious.”

“As a heart-attack!”

Hiei’s expression darkened with distaste.

Botan tilted her head at him. “What, you don’t like it?”

“Not only is it ridiculous and demeaning, but it’s also pitifully trite.”

“Well, that’s what your sister wanted…”

“Absurd,” he scoffed, glaring at the bedsheet. “This world’s influence has been a detriment to her.”

“I don’t know, I still say a life here trumps the glacial village and all its restrictions,” Botan ascertained. “I’d rather Yukina have the freedom to do as she pleases, even if it is unorthodox.”

“That goes without saying, ferry-girl,” he grumbled. “Even so, it doesn’t mean I have to agree with her… peculiar preferences.”

Botan tittered. The way his lips downturned into a softened frown was almost—dare she think it—cute. “Well, I suppose not even twins will always see eye-to-eye.”

“Hn.”

“Oh, I just thought of the most adorable idea!” Botan exclaimed, pulling another white sheet from the floor. “You could dress up as a ghost, too! Then we’d have a regular old twin haunting!”

“Not a chance.”

“Come now, Hiei, we’re running out of options,” she complained. “At this rate, you might as well shift into that evil jagan form and call it a day!”

Hiei shot her a smirk that was equal parts teasing and menacing. “Be careful what you wish for, ferry-girl.”

An indignant squeal pierced through the room as the energy shifted into malevolent territory. She recognized that intense aura all too well, recoiling immediately. “Ew, Hiei! Stop!”

The fire-demon chuckled darkly, his skin tinging a faint hue of green.

“Hiei!”

Chapter Text

Crimson eyes scanned the group one by one beneath dark, furrowed brows. Yukina, the ex-detective, his harpy, the Kuwabaras, and the fox all stood in the middle of a long line leading towards their next Fool Fest attraction. But something wasn’t right. He snuck a subtle glance ahead of them and then behind, his frown deepening at the distinct lack of blue hair, bright eyes and a melodic voice.

“The ferry-girl,” Hiei muttered lowly, against his better judgement. “Where is she?”

“Botan got caught up in some Spirit World business,” Keiko informed him. “She told us to save her a spot in line.”

“Do you think we should let some others go ahead of us?” Yukina suggested, the beginnings of worry creeping onto her expression. “We seem to be moving forward fairly quickly…”

“Eh, Botan always manages to pop in out of nowhere just in the nick of time,” Yusuke reassured, mischief glinting in his eyes as he wiggled his brows at the fire-demon. “Kinda like someone else we know.”

Hiei huffed and looked away.

“Why are you asking, hamster legs?” Kuwabara questioned, examining him with a judgmental stare. “You’re not trying to mack on her are you?”

“Really, Kazuma?” Shizuru’s usually unbothered countenance was colored with exasperation as she regarded the oaf.

“Don’t look at me like that, Shizuru! They were totally flirting at the apple orchard!” he accused, pointing a finger Hiei’s way. “And then again at the bonfire.”

“Is that what that was?” Yusuke snorted, sliding his arm around his woman’s shoulders.

“Don’t confuse it,” Hiei cut in. “That infernal ferry-girl is the one who bound me to this nonsensical chain of events in the first place. If I’m forced to suffer through another Fool Fest affair, then so should she.”

Yusuke traded an unconvinced look with Kuwabara before chuckling. “Sure. Whatever helps you sleep at night, bud.”

Hiei resisted the mounting urge to unleash his Dragon of the Darkness Flame on every single soul in the vicinity, including the humans innocently awaiting their thrills. He could already imagine the screams of terror and the stench of burnt flesh. His little death fantasy was the only thing keeping him grounded.

“Don’t listen to them, brother,” Yukina said softly. “I think it’s nice that you and Botan are getting along.”

“Yukina—” he gritted, fantasy thoroughly ruined by his sister’s innocent, yet unhelpful remark.

Before he had the chance to say anything else, the fox cleared his throat.

“It appears we’ll be entering soon. Do remember that these are merely humans playing a role,” Kurama urged, his emerald gaze lingering on Yusuke and Hiei for a second too long. “Reacting violently won’t bode well for any of us.”

Hiei dismissed the fox’s heedings. The sole reason he joined them tonight was to guard Yukina while she traversed the bizarre attraction. If anyone made the unfortunate mistake of touching either one of them, they would immediately find themselves without the ability to ever touch anything again.

The line edged forward, prompting Hiei to do the same. The so-called haunted house was in the near distance. It appeared to be a typical two story human abode, messily decorated with little rhyme or reason. A plastic skeleton stood on the lawn. Cobwebs lined the windows. Fake blood smeared across the steps of the entrance. He failed to see what was so hair-raising about it, but he could sense the tendrils of fear and anticipation tainting the autumn air as the line of humans pushed closer and closer to the entrance.

“How are we doing this?” Yusuke asked. “They said we can either buddy up or go solo.”

“I refuse to go in with Yusuke,” Keiko declared, crossing her sweatered arms. “He’s always trying to scare the actors.”

“Aw, don’t be like that, Keiko,” he teased with a snicker. “Who else but me will protect you from all the big, bad freaks in there?”

She turned away from him with a huff. “I can protect myself, thank you very much.”

“I’ll go with you, hon,” Shizuru offered, stepping closer to Keiko as the line moved forward. “I’m not sticking around to see what mischief they get into.”

Kuwabara looked around at the group and then down to Yukina, a foolishly lovesick grin stretching over his features. “Heh, maybe Urameshi should go with Kurama. Then I can escort my sweet!”

“Hey, I’m not some prized pony you can just pawn off on whoever so that you can hold hands with Yukina.” Yusuke scowled. “Besides, I was planning on going alone. You know, to show these actors a thing or two about horror.”

“I would prefer to be on my own as well,” Kurama expressed as their group reached the front of the line.

Bandaged from head to toe, the employee manning the front door allowed the two human women entry first before closing the doorway off again with a simple red rope. Hiei’s eyes narrowed in thought. They were staggering entrances. All the more reason to ensure he went with Yukina. He would allow the imbecile to believe he was accompanying her for now. It would be all the more sweeter to snatch the chance away from him right before their entry.

Hiei smirked as one by one, their group continued to shrink.

Yusuke headed inside next with a salute.

Then the fox.

And as soon as the bandaged fool removed the rope, it would be his turn.

“I hope the others are alright,” Yukina fretted at the sounds of muted shrieks emitting from the old house.

“You don’t have to worry about a thing, my snow cone,” Kuwabara declared, his gravely voice dropping an octave. “The great Kazuma Kuwabara will protect you until the end, baby.”

“Think again, you fool,” Hiei interjected, taking a step forward. “I’m—”

“Reporting for duty!” Botan announced sportively, appearing out of thin air. “It looks like I barely made it, too. Don’t tell me everyone else already entered?”

“Botan, I’m so glad you made it!” Yukina greeted. “The others went ahead, but you and I can still go in together.”

The ferry-girl glanced over Yukina’s shoulder to where Kuwabara was adamantly shaking his head and mouthing the word ‘no,’ at her. She chuckled nervously and before Hiei knew it, the woman had grabbed his arm in a vice-grip. “Well, I’d love to, dear, but I promised your surly brother I’d be going in with him!”

Hiei’s sadistic expression fell.

“Yup!” she tittered, squeezing tighter in all of her terrible, overzealous acting. “You two go on inside first. Hiei and I will be right behind you!”

Hiei wanted to protest, but the surprising strength that the ferry-girl exuded caught him thoroughly off guard. He would have to use brute force if he intended to break free from her hold in time to stop Yukina. And that wasn’t something he was willing to do to a non-fighter.

“Next up,” the bandaged worker droned boredly from the entrance.

“We’ll see you at the end,” Yukina avowed, casting a smile their way, before Kuwabara carefully guided her inside.

Botan released him as soon as the door closed again. The glare he shot her would have made lesser men soil themselves, but the ferry-girl was either too dense or too oblivious to realize what she had just done.

“Now, Hiei,” she began seriously, “I know you hate seeing Kuwabara with Yukina, but he’s been really excited to—”

“I don’t care about the oaf. The only reason I came to this infernal hell hole was to ensure Yukina’s safety,” he gritted. “You’ve singlehandedly ruined that chance.”

Botan blinked slowly, the realization setting in. “Oh my, I had no idea your motives were so genuine. I thought you were just pulling the overprotective brother card!”

He glared harder.

“Don’t look at me like that, Hiei, she’s in great hands. Kuwabara would never let anything happen to Yukina,” the woman carried on in that blithe and unaffected way of hers. “Besides, in the slight chance that there is any danger beyond those doors, Yukina is perfectly capable of taking care of herself.”

“I know that, woman.”

“Then stop worrying!” she urged lightly. “You’ll get premature wrinkles if you keep scowling at everyone and everything!”

She emphasized her statement by pointing at her forehead and wrinkling her brows.

“Hn.”

“You’re still angry, aren’t you?” she pointed out unhelpfully.

“What do you think, ferry-girl?”

“Well, if it’s any consolation, I’m certain you and I can still catch up to them if we speedwalk through the attraction,” she touted hopefully. “That works out nicely for me, because I’m not too keen on getting jump-scared, anyway!”

Hiei’s eyes thinned. “Don’t tell me this nonsense actually frightens you.”

“It’s not exactly my idea of a good time,” she admitted, poking the pads of her index fingers together. “In fact, why don’t we skip it entirely and meet the others at the back exit?”

Suddenly, this night just turned itself around. A smirk curled the edges of his lips.

“Not a chance, woman,” he refused. “We’re seeing this Cursed Complex through to the end.”

“Next guests.”

“Oh poo,” she lamented, shoulders wilting as she hesitated near the entrance.

Hiei trudged forward without preamble, prompting Botan to scramble after him in fear of being left alone. The tight corridor—narrow enough for only a single body to pass through at a time—was pitch black, and once the door to the entrance had shut behind them, no light was let in. The fire-demon’s enhanced sight was rendered useless in the wake of the Human World tricks. No matter, though. He had faced more dire straits than these.

“Ohhh, Hiei, I don’t like this,” Botan bemoaned from behind him.

He scoffed. “Already? We aren’t even ten feet in, ferry-girl.”

“I thought I’d be able to see!”

“You yourself said there’s no real harm to be had through these doors. Pull yourself together.”

There was a pause.

“You have a point.”

He grunted and began advancing through the dark. Upon hearing the click of his boots moving further away, Botan let out a dismayed gasp. He could feel the displacement of air as she tried and failed to grasp his cloak. When her hands found no purchase in front of her, she audibly slid them along the closed-in walls surrounding them to guide her.

“This wall feels wet and gross.”

He smirked and continued moving forward until his senses alerted him to a small gust of air rising from beneath what he could only assume to be the end of the corridor. It was close. Practically right under his nose. Reaching a hand out, he eventually found a cold handle gripped firmly beneath his warm skin. As he tugged it open, the ferry-girl squawked behind him in a blind panic.

“Something just grabbed my foot! Help me!”

“Don’t be ridiculous, woman,” he said as the light from the next room finally filled the corridor. Turning around with another reproach at the ready, he stopped short when he saw what was going on in the pitch black hallway. There were milky white hands everywhere, sticking out of holes in the floor, pulling at her knees and ankles.

“Hiei!”

He bit back the wicked grin fighting its way onto his lips. “There’s nothing there.”

“I feel it!” She squeaked, twisting back and forth to get away from the hands grabbing her.

“You’re imagining things,” he told her. “Stop wasting time. The door is already open.”

She blinked as she finally looked up into the dim light instead of fighting against the hands at her feet. When she saw the path ahead and Hiei’s dark shadow, she cried out in relief and ran towards him. He crossed his arms as one last hand attempted to snatch her ankle while she ran through the doorway to freedom. The door slowly creaked closed behind her and she rested her palms on her knees to try to catch her rattled breath, seemingly safe from the hands at last.

“I’m so glad you found the door. I was starting to go a bit cuckoo in there!”

Hiei turned away from her to keep a blank face. “Hn.”

The pair had walked into another dim hallway, but this time the dull lightbulbs hanging from the ceiling were rocking back and forth and blinking, giving a disorienting feeling to the bloody stone walls and concrete floor. Hiei leisurely guided them through while the ferry-girl followed behind, chewing on her fingernails as her head whipped back and forth to check for anything about to grab at her. Reaching the end of the hall, they found a set of stairs going down.

“Poo, not the basement.”

He ignored her and descended the dirty, damp steps.

The first room resembled a scene out of Kurama’s television. If he remembered correctly, the humans called it an asylum. Rusted medical instruments—broken needles, tarnished forceps, and bloodied scalpels—lay scattered around the padded white room. Wailing patients were strapped to gurneys and tables between the stained medical curtains. Some were mid-procedure, fake viscera on display for the guests. A lone man dressed only in a hospital gown, rocked back and forth and pulled his messy hair between his skeletal fingers at the opposite end of the room.

Hiei rolled his eyes at the dramatic display and strolled through, nobody daring to bother him as he crossed the room. Maybe they weren’t as stupid as he originally thought. The ferry-girl, however, had no such luck. The ‘crazed’ man charged straight at her and she screamed, instinctually holding her hands out in front of her chest to protect herself. The actor stopped short of tackling her and instead began running his fingers down her ponytail and muttering about pretty, pretty hair. He pulled rusted scissors from his gown and Botan had the mind to deftly duck away before the instrument could do any harm to her powdery locks.

“You have to pay the fee if you want to flee~!” The man cackled, chasing after her again as if to snip a strand of her hair.

She squealed and plowed into the fire demon in her haste to get away, clutching at Hiei’s cloak and begging him to keep moving.

Her fear was sweet, sweet revenge.

Hiei took his time walking into the next room until the actor circled back towards his assigned post. Glancing down at the delicate fingers buried in the dark material of his cloak, he frowned. “Let go, woman.”

When she realized what she was doing, her cheeks burned a light shade of pink.

“Sorry about that, Hiei.” Botan laughed nervously as she released his cloak from her shaking hand.

The next room proceeded in much the same fashion, except this one featured an electric chair as its main attraction. One actor was pulling on the lever that caused sparks to fly out the chair while the other actor writhed and shook as if he was being electrocuted, foamy drool dripping down his chin for added effect. Hiei rather liked witnessing the human being tortured, but the ferry-girl had other feelings about it. Her doe eyes would widen each time the lever was pulled, and when a man dressed in a matching green medical outfit began pulling her towards the chair, she quickly wrapped both hands around Hiei’s wrist to keep from being dragged away.

Once outside the room and standing at the bottom of the next set of steps, she noticed what she had done.

“Oh, not again!” The woman dropped her cold fingers from his wrist. “I didn’t mean to invade your personal space for a second time. Silly me!”

She was met with a weak glare as the phantom touch of her cool, slender fingers ghosted along his skin. It was a halfhearted effort on his part, but convincing enough to deter the ferry-girl.

Giggling anxiously and turning her attention to the staircase, she continued. “Anyway, shall we head on up?”

Red eyes flickered down his arm to where her hands used to be. It was… odd that she would cling to him, of all souls, for comfort. It was a first for the fire-demon. To be needed in this way. And while he knew it was a thoughtless act of survival on the ferry-girl’s part, her actions all week indicated that she actually did trust and believe in him on some strange, misguided level.

“Hiei?”

He grunted dismissively and ascended the rickety stairs, the ferry-girl hot on his heels.

They were immediately thrust into another ‘gruesome’ scene. This time, body parts hung from the ceiling by way of dangling chains. An actor stood in the corner dressed in a pair of soiled overalls with the head of a pig sitting on their shoulders. Chopped bits of flesh flew off of another performer as the swine-like monstrosity slammed their meat cleaver into the shaking body. There were no jump-scares in this room, but Botan was visibly disturbed nonetheless as they traversed through to the next.

The next room was presented as a run-down kitchen, with more body parts strewn around in various places and fake blood splattered on the walls and actors. The demented chef was stirring eyeballs and other organs in a large cauldron over a fire. He grinned as the duo walked in, beckoning them over to his stew.

The chef held a ladle out to them. “This one was a liar. You can taste it in the tongue.”

The ferry-girl cringed and backpedaled, and the cook laughed maniacally, smearing the blood on the corner of his mouth with his hand. She came to a stop as she backed into another body. It was an old hag, and she pulled at Botan’s fingers once she’d whirled around to see what was behind her.

“You have to peel the skin nice and slow,” the hag began her ominous song, “or it doesn’t scream right.”

The ferry-girl quickly pulled her hand away and made for the next room, but instead wailed and turned bodily into Hiei when a man with a cleaver jumped out in front of her. If Hiei wasn’t so used to taking hits like this at the fortress, he would have been knocked over by the force of it. He narrowed his eyes and pulled them both along as she kept her arms wrapped around his bicep with her own eyes squeezed shut. The entertainers backed off immediately as he walked out into the next hall.

Left in a brief respite of silence and solitude, Hiei stared at Botan for a moment too long. Much to his own disgust, the terror on her expression was no longer something he found entertaining. Her pathetic quivering and cowering no longer kindled his dark sense of amusement. Any thrill he once gained at the start of the journey was replaced with something much more troubling. And far more confusing. He stared down at the woman in his arms as a strange urge grew from within. The longer she clung to him, the more he found himself wanting to protect—

Hiei instantly killed that ridiculous notion, wondering where it surged up from all of a sudden. It must have been the effects of this Cursed Complex. It had to be. He needed to escape this madhouse before they were both driven insane.

And there was only one way to do that with the ferry-girl in tow.

“You can open your eyes now, woman.”

“A-are we out of there?”

“Yes.”

“I did it again, didn’t I?” she tittered once her lashes fluttered open, her hands going to her cheeks in all her embarrassment. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what keeps coming over me. I told you I’m not very good at these things, right?”

“I don’t care, ferry-girl. Your useless apologies are marginally worse than your incessant clinging. If you intend to exit this place before daybreak, you’ll stop floundering and let me handle things.”

“Um?” she trailed off. “I don’t—”

“Hold on to me for the remainder of this ordeal. We’ll get out faster that way.”

The ferry-girl’s brows disappeared behind power blue bangs as the light of hope returned to her widened eyes. “…Do you really mean that, Hiei?”

“That is why I said it.”

“Oh, thank you!” She lit up, linking their arms back together. “My hero!”

“Don’t get the wrong idea, woman,” he warned tightly. “This isn’t an act of benevolence and I’m far from anyone’s hero.”

“That’s fine! Maybe a villain is just what I need.” She winked at him. “After all, these actors don’t seem to want to bother you.”

She’d said it conspiratorially, but something about her words left a treacly, warm feeling in his chest.

He wasn’t left with any time to quash it as the ferry-girl set off with a renewed pep in her step. Eventually they’d entered the attic and he found himself distracted in the room full of broken porcelain baby dolls. Unlike the last few areas, the woman was ooh’ing and ahh’ing at the macabre decorations instead of shaking in her boots. Now that she was attached to him like leech, he was subjected to soft curves and gentle touches as she pressed against him.  Hiei imagined that self-flagellation was less tortuous than whatever the hell was going on in his own mind.

“Do you see that? I wonder how she got up there!” Botan gasped in a haze of wonder, pointing up at the actress hanging in the corner of the ceiling in a dingy white dress and blacked-out eyes.

“Hn.”

Yes, this night had quickly taken a turn for the worse. He allowed his impulsive emotions to override his good sense, and now he was bound to the cheerful woman with no end in sight. He had nobody to blame but himself.

And Fool Fest. He blamed Fool Fest.

His musings were abruptly cut short by a sudden, shrill screeching piercing his eardrums. Apparently, the woman led them into the next area and she wasn’t faring well. There was a large variety of insects writhing along the flat surfaces of the room. While she danced around them in a hysteric frenzy, the fire-demon merely crushed them under his boots as he walked through. They were nearly out of the bug-infested chamber when Hiei felt a familiar presence creeping up behind them. Faster than the average human could detect, a man with a spider mask and eight legs attached to his back charged at them and lifted the ferry-girl off the ground.

Botan let out another ear-splitting shriek, slapping at her assailant's arms desperately. “Hiei, don’t let it take me, please!”

“Bahahaha, GOTCHYA BOTAN!” Yusuke cackled as he lowered her back on her feet and shifted his mask up. “It’s only me. See?”

“How dare you, Yusuke!” she scolded sharply, pulling away from him and setting herself to rights. “You know I hate these jump-scares!”

“Sorry, Bo.” He chuckled, not sounding very sorry at all. “I’ve been trolling this place for some fun. These actors are lame.”

She harrumphed. “Well you didn’t have to scare me.”

“I was 0 for 2. Kurama sensed me before I got close and Yukina didn’t even bat an eye.”

“Serves you right!” She huffed and—to Hiei’s complete horror—nestled herself back into his side, hugging his arm once more. “Shall we move on?” she sniffed, turning her nose in the air to Yusuke, whose jaw had found itself on the floor. “The sooner we get out of here, the better.”

The ex-detective stammered momentarily, eyes darting back and forth between the demon and spirit. “You’ve gotta be shitting me,” he muttered, disbelief giving way to a tickled amusement that could only spell trouble. “Kuwabara was actually right for once?!”

Hiei growled at the idiot, shaking the woman off his arm. “Shut your mouth, detective.”

Botan tilted her head in bewilderment. “Right about what, Yusuke?”

The detective threw his head back as he laughed. “About you climbing Hiei’s tree! My flabbers are gasted, you naughty Grim Reaper.”

It took her a second to realize what he was saying before outrage overtook her expression. “Yusuke!” she gritted out warningly, summoning a heavy metal bat. It took less than a second for her to strike him over the head with it. And even less than that for her to turn on her heel in a huff and stomp ahead.

Hiei spared one glance down at the ex-detective’s unconscious form before stepping over him as if he were nothing more than another unsightly feature marking the room.

“You’ll give him brain damage at this rate,” he warned, hands pushed into his pockets as he caught up with the incensed woman.

“Oh dear! I was only trying to knock some much needed sense into him,” she defended, her tone managing to reach a convincing blend of innocent and cheery.

He smirked, finding himself strangely impressed. “How uncharacteristically violent for a ferry-girl.”

Botan winced sheepishly. “We all have our faults, I suppose.”

“I never said it was a problem, woman.”

She paused for a moment, features shifting into a slow, genuine smile.

As they continued perusing the Cursed Complex, and as the ferry-girl tucked more and more comfortably against him, two things became abundantly clear.

He didn’t mind being alone with her.

And, loathe though he was to admit it, perhaps the oaf and the ex-detective weren’t so far off the mark after all.

Chapter Text

Beep! Beep!

Botan padded towards the oven with her mitts on, pulling out a tray of cookies and setting them on the counter to cool. Intermingling scents of warm dough and sweet sugar wafted in the small, functional kitchen tucked away in one of the Spirit World’s string of abandoned buildings.

A pleased smile reached her lips upon surveying the fruits of her labor. The first batch of ghost-shaped cookies maintained their shape perfectly without any cracks or crumbles marring their surface. Once they were properly cooled, she would ice and decorate them accordingly. Removing her oven mitts, she set about clearing up some of the mess she’d made while brainstorming what type of expressions and features she would pipe onto the cookies.

The Halloween bash was rapidly approaching and, although the others insisted they would handle all the prep work, Botan thought it might be nice to surprise them with a few goodies of her own. She planned to bring the most adorable cookies they had ever seen, using the ghost and pumpkin molds she found in the Human World, along with a couple of Halloween-themed mixed drinks to spice things up.

“Woman.”

“Ah!” Botan startled, whirling around to see Hiei standing near the threshold of the door. Hand splayed out over her thumping heart, she shot the fire-demon a withering look. “You really ought to give a girl a heads up before appearing out of nowhere, Hiei!”

He merely grunted by way of response, stepping further inside and dropping the box he’d been carrying down on the wooden table in the center of the room. “Yukina asked me to deliver this to you.”

Botan tilted her head in curiosity as she walked over to his side. Using one of the knives in the block, she carefully slit the box open and peered down at its contents. “Oh, I was hoping these would arrive in time!”

“Brewing potions, ferry-girl?” he asked, raising a brow at the set of vials. “I always knew you were secretly a witch.”

“Very funny, Hiei, but these babies are actually for the Halloween Party!” She lifted one of the round bottomed ones up and showed it off with a grin. “I’ll be filling them up with homemade cocktails and the like. Pretty neat, huh?”

“Pretty pointless.”

She pouted, setting the vial back inside its packaging and depositing the box down on the floor. “Well, I wouldn’t expect a grouch like you to understand the importance of ceremony.”

Hiei rolled his eyes, but took a seat on one of the wooden chairs as if he meant to stay. She bit back a smile at the unexpected, but welcomed new development.

“Well, since you’re already here, would you care to be my taste tester?” she asked, motioning to the three pitchers laid out before them. “I could really use a second opinion on these drinks—if your tolerance is up for the challenge, that is.”

Hiei’s eyes narrowed, his ego effectively activated. “Human and Spirit World grade alcohol are pitifully weak compared to Demon World’s. Your little concoctions will hardly affect me.”

“Perfect; I knew I could count on you, Hiei!” she heartened, flitting over to one of the cabinets and pulling out three glasses. She took a seat directly opposite of him, resting the glasses down with a soft clink. “Which one do you want to try first? Pick your poison."

Crimson eyes scoured over the various liquids disinterestedly. “It doesn’t matter, woman. You choose.”

Botan reached for the deep purple cocktail first, pouring it into one of the empty glasses. “This one is called The Drunk Witch. It’s made of grenadine, blue curacao, vodka and a splash of spritzy soda.”

Hiei wrapped a hand around the drink, downing the entire thing in one go. The cocktail was a delicate blend of bitter, crisp and sweet. Sure to impress those with complex palettes.

Botan leaned forward with a bated breath. “Well?”

He paused for a moment, no doubt contemplating the aftertaste. “Passable.”

Botan’s lips curved into a surprised grin. That was practically a shining endorsement in Hiei-speak. “In that case, the Drunk Witch definitely makes the cut!”

“Hn.”

She poured a portion of the electric green liquid next. Sliding it over Hiei’s way, she motioned for him to take a sip.

“Are you sure you aren’t trying to poison me, woman?” He examined the drink distrustfully. “This one appears to be noxious.”

“That’s part of its appeal!” she defended. “I present to you next: the Poison Apple. I made it with a mix of vodka, sour apple schnapps and a sour apple mixer.”

The fire-demon raised the glass to his lips, imbibing a much smaller amount this time around. This one was one of her personal favorites: sweet and sour, it packed an energetic punch.

Hiei’s nose crinkled. “Too loud.”

“Which is the whole point of a party!” she insisted. She could definitely see someone like Yusuke or Chuu enjoying it. “Preferences aside, was anything off with the taste? Should I have added more or less of something?”

“The blend is fine. Although, if you expect me to make it out of this wretched party with my sanity intact, you’ll use a heavier pour on the alcohol.”

“Noted,” she replied with a wink. “I’ll make a special set just for you then.”

Hiei seemed to be pleased by that, offering her a nod as his shoulders relaxed.

“Last but not least, we have the Black Widow!” She poured the scarlet drink into the final glass. Their fingertips brushed as she handed it off to the fire-demon. “The flavor profile is a bit richer than the others.”

Hiei took a generous sip of the cocktail, his expression betraying none of his thoughts. Eventually, he nodded his approval.

“You like it?”

“It’s adequate.”

“Super!” she cheered. “The Black Widow is supposed to be garnished with plastic spiders for added effect, but I’ll most definitely not be adding those disgusting creatures to the mix. I have a bit of an aversion to spiders, you see.”

“I remember, woman.”

Botan tilted her head in bewilderment. “Y-you do?”

“Cursed Complex aside, I was tracking you three on the way to Tarukane’s stronghold,” he stated. “You let your fear render you helpless against the spider-demon. If it weren’t for the ex-detective, you would have been its next meal.”

“I couldn’t help it! All things creepy crawly freak me out!”

The way his lips quirked upwards didn’t bode well for the ferry-girl.

“You better not be up to anything funny, mister.”

“Funny isn’t in my wheelhouse, woman.”

“No, but wicked certainly is!”

The devious set of his features remained despite her warnings. Botan decided to ignore it for now, knowing there was no sense in worrying over what might not even come to pass.

“Anyhoo! Have you settled on a costume yet?” she asked instead. “And don’t even think about pulling out your jagan form again. That hardly counts!”

“I don’t plan on using that form ever again, much less for a puerile human function.”

“Really? Why not?”

“It isn’t necessary. The boost in speed and power it once provided pales in comparison to what I’ve achieved now.”

“Well, that’s all well and good,” she commented with a nod. “That form just stirs up bad memories anyway.”

He raised a brow; a silent demand for clarification.

“You were awfully menacing back in the warehouse,” she reminded him. “And mean to boot.”

“I’m still mean.”

“Maybe, but you’re a far cry from the same soul that kidnapped Keiko and stole the artifacts,” she pointed out. “The Hiei I first met would never willingly taste-test human drinks in one of the worlds he despises most.”

“What’s your point, woman?”

“No point, really. I’ve just been enjoying your company these last few weeks,” she admitted. “I know this isn’t your thing, but I hope Fall Fest wasn’t complete torture for you.”

Hiei glanced out towards the window. His expression was oddly devoid of its usual stoic guard as he muttered, “It wasn’t entirely meritless.”

Botan’s whole countenance warmed at that.

“Witnessing you lose your mind the other night was a definite consolation,” he tacked on rudely, returning his gaze to hers.

Botan’s jaw dropped in shock. “Hiei!”

He smirked back at her, but it wasn’t a cruel or coldhearted slight. This was familiar. Almost warm at its core. It made her heart flutter against her will, so she buried those fruitless sentiments with mock offense instead.

“You’re awful!”

“I know.”

“The absolute worst.”

“I’m well aware.”

“A complete and total menace.”

“Which begs the question of why you’ve continued to gravitate towards me all week, woman.”

The ferry-girl’s throat ran dry as the fire-demon’s piercing gaze rooted her to the spot on which she sat. The truth of the matter was simple: she had grown quite fond of Hiei. He may have been rude and curt and antisocial, but she found herself enjoying his prickly persona and blunt method of communication.

Despite knowing each other for years, this was the first time they truly had the chance to really see each other beyond the bounds of duty. And she liked what she saw. But there was no way she was going to tell him any of that. His ego was big enough for both of them. That, and she wasn’t exactly sure how he would feel about her newfound budding interest in him.

“It’s like I told you at the start of all of this, I’m simply lending a helping hand. Guiding you through the intricacies of Fall Fest as they arise!”

“No,” Hiei denied, rising from his seat to step closer. “I don’t think that’s what this is.”

Botan’s heart skipped a beat, cheeks turning flush. “I—”

She was mercifully spared from his interrogation with the swinging of the door as three Special Defense Force members filed through the threshold.

“Botan, are you okay?” Ryohi asked.

Captain Ootake entered after her. “We felt the energy of an S-Class demon nearby.”

The ferry-girl stood up, hands raised in defense. “There’s no need to worry. It’s only Hiei.”

Shunjun stalked inside of the room last, looking past Botan as if she wasn’t there at all. “What business do you have here, fire-demon?”

Botan could feel the threat in Hiei’s aura as he turned to face the trio. There would most definitely be an incident if she allowed their egos to persist. “His business is with me. I want him here.”

Shunjun eyed her critically. “A ferry-girl’s mind is feeble and weak. Susceptible to manipulations. How do we know he’s not just controlling you with that evil eye of his?”

“Shunjun!” she exclaimed indignantly, hands balled into tight fists. “You take that back right now! Hiei’s our former ally. He would never do that!”

“Former being the keyword,” Shunjun countered. “His loyalty now lies with one of the most vicious Three Kings in Demon World.”

“Yes,” Hiei agreed, his voice laced with a venomous edge. “What you say is true: I have no loyalties to this place. If I wanted this world destroyed, I would have long since burned it to the ground.”

Shunjun stepped forward. “Is that a threat, demon?”

“It’s a simple truth,” Hiei spat. “Don’t let that unsightly uniform get to your head. I could crush you all in an instant. The fact that I haven’t yet should speak enough for itself.”

Botan’s voice was hushed as she inched closer towards him. “You’re really not helping!”

Hiei didn’t seem to care, crimson eyes glaring hard at the soldiers. “The ferry-girl already answered your questions. I fail to see why you’re all still here.”

“Hiei!” she hissed.

“Um,” Ryohi cut in, glancing around at the plethora of ingredients, kitchenware and bottles littered around, before addressing her captain. “It doesn’t look like anything untoward is going on in here, sir. Botan was clearly indulging one of her strange Human World proclivities again.”

“That’s what I’ve been saying all along!” Botan exclaimed, stamping a foot in exasperation.

“Yes.” Captain Ootake’s brown eyes narrowed at Shunjun in a nonverbal command to stand down. “It appears so. We apologize for the intrusion.”

Ryohi offered a slight bow of her head.

Shunjun’s lips twisted with discontent as he turned away, arms folded over his chest.

Hiei merely grunted, the set of his shoulders indicating that his patience had run dry as a result of the encounter. When he glanced back at Botan, the look in his eyes was far less harsh than she would have expected. “You’re off the hook for now, ferry-girl, but our conversation is far from over.”

The fire-demon vanished before she could get a word in, his slowly fading afterimage doing very strange things to her heart.

Chapter Text

Hiei stood on the temple’s wooden veranda, just before the shoji doors. Through its flimsy lattice framework, he could see the shadows of movement and merriment. Hear the loud blaring of obnoxious music and the frivolous echoes of loud laughter and foolish cheer. Sense the mix of human, demon and spirit energies coexisting in ways that would have been foreign to him a few years prior.

The party was in full swing.

With any luck, he would be able to make a quick appearance and an even quicker getaway.

There was just one thing he needed to do first and it started and ended with the ferry-girl. He wasn’t sure what game either of them were playing, but he would have his answers before the night was over. Even if that meant he had to suffer through a ridiculous human fête to do so.

Hiei took a step forward, fingers brushing against the door pull.

If this were a few years earlier, he would have undoubtedly avoided the woman altogether. Pretended she didn’t exist. Buried the uncharacteristic feelings he harbored so deeply in the recesses of his mind that even the jagan couldn’t reach it.

But he had changed considerably since his thrill-seeking days of contest and thievery.

His time with the Spirit Detective Team taught him that there were people worth trusting in the three realms. People he could rely on. People that relied on him.

His time with Mukuro taught him how to break free from the chains of his past in ways that didn’t involve repression and regression.

And his time with the ferry-girl taught him that perhaps he wasn’t so far beyond the reaches of affection and other stirring emotions.

Hiei had never been the type to shy away from any type of challenge: physical or mental. The emotional aspect was new to him, but he wouldn’t allow it to conquer him. Resolve hardened, he wrenched the sliding door open.

Almost immediately, his senses were assaulted by the overabundance of bizarre decorations and even more bizarrely dressed guests. There was a mix of humans, demons and spirits mulling around. Faces old and new, lit by the fluorescence of purple and green lights.

His eyes immediately locked on to the ferry-girl, standing near her potions proudly. And his mouth ran dry.

That most definitely wasn’t the outfit she was crafting the other day. Skin tight, the suit may as well have been nonexistent with the way it outlined her every curve and feature. Any modesty the suit pretended to offer with its long sleeves and ankle length was offset by the low neckline, putting the woman’s modest cleavage on full display. She wore a faux collar around her neck with a hanging jewel that matched the color of her eyes.

The only part of her outfit that he did recognize was atop her head, pointing upwards in an imitation of cat ears.

“Hiei!” she greeted, waving her hand excitedly. “You made it!”

“I told you I would. Did you doubt my word, woman?”

“Well, you were running so late that I worried that something came up at the fortress.”

“I would only be so lucky,” he muttered, before pinning her with a questioning stare. “What are you wearing, ferry-girl?”

A bright grin stretched over her lips as she did a performative spin. “What do you think?”

Crimson eyes skirted over her body, the fire-demon’s stoic expression betraying none of his unsavory thoughts. “That isn’t the costume you were working on before.”

“About that…” Her tone was sheepish as she let out a little chuckle. “Yusuke and Kuwabara got into a little scuffle that led to both mine and Yukina’s costumes getting torn to shreds. Shizuru was so kind as to save the day with a couple of last minute purchases. Isn’t it cute?”

Cute was far from the word he would use to describe her right now. She looked more like a hell-cat summoned from the deepest ring of perdition to test his restraint and patience.

“Hello?” she sang, leaning forward and giving him an up close and personal view down her chest. “Human World to Hiei?”

“It’s fine, woman,” he replied gruffly, glancing towards the side and away from her very exposed skin.

Botan frowned. “Just fine?”

The wounded tone of voice had him gritting his teeth. He couldn’t say what he really thought of the sinful costume, lest he scare her away before finding out the true nature of their relationship. He needed to choose his next words wisely or run the risk of destroying whatever it was that was building between them.

“You know I don’t care for costumes,” he deflected.

“Right…” she trailed off, eyeing his sleeveless black shirt and pants in agreement. But rather than fuss and pout about his lack of Fool Fest spirit, she brightened, looking rather proud of herself. “I figured you wouldn’t bother with one, which is why I took the liberty of choosing one for you!”

Hiei watched as she pulled a billowing cape out of nowhere. The material was black on the outside and red on its interior, complete with a gaudy collar that fanned out around the neck.

“Don’t give me that look, mister,” she chided, invading his space to fasten the cape securely to his person. She smelled like fresh meadows and—

No.

He wasn’t going there.

“This is ridiculous, woman,” he grumbled, focusing on everything but their close proximity as she smoothed out the wrinkles in the fabric and readjusted the way it sat on his shoulders.

“Don’t be a spoilsport. It’s festive!”

“Festively stupid.”

She ignored his response expertly, taking a step back to examine her work. “You’re almost ready. We just need one last thing to complete your vampiric visage.”

Hiei’s eyes narrowed at the plastic teeth she suddenly summoned between her thumb and forefinger. “I’m not wearing those.”

“But—”

“Quit while you’re ahead, ferry-girl. This is as far as I go.”

“Oh fine,” she relented, dropping the fanged teeth on a nearby table. “I suppose this is better than nothing! Now let’s get you familiarized with the party, shall we?”

Hiei was trying to familiarize himself with something different all together—but for now, he nodded, allowing her to take the lead.

“In this corner, we have the pumpkin carving contest!” she announced cheerily, dodging a stray wad of gooey pumpkin that sailed their way. She leaned in closer, mock-whispering behind her hand. “As you can see, it’s very intense.”

Hiei took in the scene with a flat, disinterested air. “Why are they eviscerating vegetables?”

“It’s meant to be fun and artsy! You can carve whatever sort of face or shapes you like on its surface,” she explained. “Fancy a gander at Yukina’s jack-o-lantern?”

The ice-maiden sat in an angel costume, complete with a halo hovering over her head and wings sticking out of the back of her white dress. She was attempting to fashion a smiling face, but the mouth was lopsided and the eyes were mismatched. If her goal was to recreate Kuwabara’s unfortunate features, then he supposed she was doing a stellar job. The room held a mix of souls whose faces he only distantly recognized and whose names he never bothered to remember: the dour looking ferry-girl, one of Raizen’s monks and the daughter of a past spirit detective. They all wore matching looks of concentration as they hacked at their respective pumpkins.

“Very nice, Fubuki,” Botan encouraged, once again dodging a handful of pumpkin seeds and innards as they were ripped from the core of the orange gourd.

“Thanks!” Fubuki beamed up at the ferry-girl. “Are you going to try, too?”

“Are we?” she asked, tilting her head at the fire-demon playfully.

Hiei took one look at the girl’s winking pumpkin and shook his head. “I have no interest in mutilating produce.”

Botan hid a giggle behind her head and nodded. “Alright, there’s plenty more to see.”

She took his arm, much like she did back in the Cursed Complex—although this time it was with much less urgency and much more familiarity. Hiei didn’t bother fighting it, allowing her to lead him through the compound with little resistance. The sooner they finished their frivolous rounds, the sooner he could get his answers.

“Everyone did such a swell job setting up,” she commented as they passed under hanging cobwebs.

“Yes, the temple looks almost as atrocious as its guests now,” Hiei replied dryly, crimson eyes narrowing at the group of skeletons situated as if they were mid-battle.

Botan pulled away to grab one of the skeletons with a sword, pointing the bony hand and plastic blade at Hiei. “En garde!”

He swatted the tip of her sword away. “Get that ridiculous thing away from me.”

“Let’s fight!” she insisted playfully, the jewel on her collar jingling as it rocked back and forth.

“I won’t be battling a fake threat.”

“Don’t be such a party pooper. Watch!” The ferry-girl thrust her free arm out showily. “Dragon of the darkness flaaaaame!”

“…I’m even less convinced now than I was ten seconds ago.”

“Oh come on, Hiei. Whip your sword out!”

Yusuke rounded the corner in the flashy red and blue trunks of a wrestler, a brow raised and mischief coloring his gaze. “Don’t you dare pull your dick out, Hiei.”

Botan’s arm fell as she spluttered, dropping the skeleton’s fake sword to the floor unceremoniously, “T-that’s not what I meant!”

“Sure it wasn’t,” he replied flippantly. “If you’re done soliciting our favorite fire-demon here, how about you crazy kids come bob for some apples? It’ll be good practice for you, Botan.”

The woman blinked twice. “Practice for what?”

Yusuke smirked, a depraved answer at the ready.

“Choose your next words carefully, ex-detective,” Hiei warned, his tone low and deadly. “They’re the only thing preventing you from losing your tongue.”

Yusuke raised his hands in defense and then ambled forward with an innocent whistle. Botan trailed after him curiously, prompting Hiei to begrudgingly do the same. They ended up near two large barrels tucked away in a small corner of the temple. Chuu stood beside the wooden vessels with a healthy flush on his cheeks and a barbarian-styled club resting over his pelt covered shoulders. It was clear the overgrown lush already had more than his fair share of drinks.

Hiei’s nose twitched with the scent of a very potent Demon World liquor in the air. Something was definitely amiss.

“Oi, Sheila!” Chuu slurred at Botan. “Ready to bop some apples?”

“Yeah, what he said.” Yusuke snorted, clapping a hand on the side of the barrel twice. “Step right up for an experience you won’t forget!”

Botan’s eyes glittered with excitement. “Ooh, we should try it, Hiei!”

“Don’t,” he advised. “Not unless you intend to submerge yourself in Demon World liquor.”

Botan placed her hands on the rim of the barrel and glanced down at its contents, eyes immediately watering from the potent, reeking liquid. Her head whipped in Yusuke’s direction accusingly. “You didn’t!”

“How do you think he got so drunk?” He chuckled, cocking a thumb in the taller demon’s direction. “Chuu was a very willing participant, but Hokushin fell for it: hook, line and sinker. He’s probably still stumbling around three sheets to the wind somewhere.”

“You’re awful, Yusuke! You knew I had a perfectly good set of cocktails set up at the drinks station!” she reminded him, hands balled into fists as she pouted petulantly. “There was no need to spike anything at all!”

“I guess, but where’s the fun in that? They don’t call it trick or treat for nothin’!”

Botan huffed, but Hiei was already growing tired of their juvenile delinquency.

“Leave them be, ferry-girl,” he directed, as the newest victims approached the barrel curiously. The balding blue ogre and the demons with him had no clue what they were wandering into and Hiei didn’t much feel like sticking around to watch the madness unfold. He began to walk away, knowing the woman would follow.

“Hiei!” she protested, black heels clicking after him. “Wait up!”

“I don’t have all night,” he stated impatiently. “Finish your tour quickly. We have matters to discuss.”

“We do?” She caught up to him, walking side-by-side now. “What sort of matters?”

“The kind that involves only you and I.”

“Just us?” The woman’s voice pitched higher in a show of her nerves. “What about us?”

“I intend to face what has been going on between us during the entirety of Fool Fest.”

“We’ve just been…” She trailed off uncertainly, fumbling for the right words. “Hanging out! Getting to know each other better. Like good friends do!”

Hiei pinned her with a hard stare. “You still believe we’re friends?”

“I—yes, of course. Why are you asking?”

“Because—”

Hiei’s reply was cut short by a clumsy, lumbering body knocking into him at full force. Kuwabara was dressed head to toe in black leather and faux spikes, its gaudiness only paling in comparison to the white and black makeup marring his already unpleasant features. The fool didn’t stop to assess the damage done, rushing forward with endless rolls of bandages stacked precariously in his arms as he slipped through the open door.

“I’m here!” Kuwabara called out. “I’ve got ‘em!”

Botan lit up at the chance for a distraction. “I wonder what’s going on outside! Let’s take a peek!”

She hurried in the same direction Kuwabara had, leading straight into the open backyard. A small group had gathered on the grass: a few demons from the Dark Tournament, a couple of humans and some denizens of the Spirit World. They were all dressed ridiculously. Even if Hiei had the will to, he couldn’t begin to decipher what most of them were attempting to be.

“Alright participants!” Koto began exuberantly. “Now that we’ve got the goods, are you all ready for a race to the death?”

Yukina hesitated, looking up at Kuwabara through worried ruby eyes. “Um, I thought this was just for fun?”

“It isn’t fun if it isn’t a little violent!” the cat-demon hollered in that grating and overly enthusiastic way of hers.

Yukina didn’t look the slightest bit consoled by that.

“Don’t listen to her, baby.” Kuwabara clasped her hands in his. “The great Kazuma Kuwabara will be fine so long as your love keeps him strong.”

Hiei bristled and strode forward, interrupting the disgustingly saccharine moment. “What sort of nonsense have you roped her into this time?”

“Brother!” Yukina smiled warmly, her hands falling out of Kuwabara’s grasp as she turned to face him. “I believe this is called a Mummy Wrap Race?”

None of those words made any sense to him when lumped together like that, so he arched an impatient brow at Botan.

“It’s simple: we break into teams where one teammate wraps the other up head to toe. Usually the first team to finish the deed claims the victory, but we’ve taken it a step further. The ‘mummified’ teammate who crosses the finish line before the other combatants wins.”

Koto’s teal eyes glinted under the moonlight as she clapped her hands together. “Listen up, people! This is a no holds barred contest. Use whatever tricks and moves you have at your disposal, so long as it doesn’t tear through those bandages. Feel free to sabotage the other racers at your leisure, too!”

Botan looked over at Hiei pleadingly.

“No.”

Her shoulders slumped a fraction. “You’re no fun, Hiei!”

“I never promised to be. You still owe me answers, woman.”

“Ready?” Koto’s voice carried through the air, drawing their attention to the competition and away from the answers he sought. “Set! Go!”

Hiei glanced boredly at the teams as they began bandaging up their racer. While most of the others broke out into a frenzied rush and tore their bandages, Yukina took the slow and steady course, wrapping the oaf from head to toe easily. Kuwabara was off in a burst of determination, followed by the other combatants shortly thereafter. They all looked extremely absurd as they hobbled forward precariously. Beside him, Botan clapped and cheered for the racers, completely absorbed in the chaotic competition. Once again, Hiei found himself wondering how he had gotten here.

“Kido’s got Jin’s wings clipped, pinning him with his shadow ability!” Koto narrated. “But our windmaster isn’t down for the count! A friendly gust of air knocks both Kido and Hinageshi down in one fell swoop!”

“Oh, what a nail-biter!” Botan exclaimed.

Hiei just scoffed.

“Son of a former spirit detective: Kaisei finds himself neck and neck with the SDF member: Saito until an ill-timed energy blast obliterates both their bandages, resulting in our first double elimination!” Koto trilled without missing a beat. “In a surprising turn of events, Kuwabara takes the lead with Rinku hot on his heels. It’ll be a close call, people!”

Amidst the mayhem, Rinku managed to expel a spinning bauble out from his bandages. Its strings circled around the oaf’s ankles, tripping him up a mere foot before the finish line. The boy leapt nimbly over Kuwabara’s flailing form, claiming the win by a hair’s breadth.

“Team Rinku nabs the victory!” Koto declared, much to the dismay of the other competitors.

Rinku burst out of his bindings with an exuberant victory cry. His teammate—the very same demon girl he had battled during the first Demon World Tournament—rushed up to pull him into an overjoyed hug.

Hiei glanced around at the disarray left behind in the wake of such a nonsensical game. Scorches of burnt earth and dead grass disrupted the once pristine lawn. Unraveled bandages lay scattered across the greenery. Botan moved to join Yukina and Kuwabara on the grass, still intent on avoiding him at all costs. The ice-maiden was crouched beside the fallen clown, freeing him from his restraints.

“That was a very valiant effort, Kazuma.”

“I couldn’t have done it without you, my angel,” he gushed, his blush evident through the gaps in the bandages. “I am kinda bummed that I lost to Rinku again, though.”

“That’s alright, there are plenty more games to play,” she consoled, hands deftly working to unfasten the last of his bindings. “It looks like Keiko has the scavenger hunt set up. Should we all join her?”

“Yeah, we’ll definitely win this one!” Kuwabara declared, jumping to his feet and helping Yukina up as well. “Time for a comeback!”

“Excellent!” Botan agreed, clapping her hands together.

She made to scamper off, but Hiei grabbed her by her black tail. “We aren’t going anywhere.”

“Oh?” Yukina blinked, glancing between the two and immediately taking stock of the situation. “In that case, Kazuma and I will just—”

Botan snagged her tail out of his grasp and slapped the fire-demon’s shoulder a couple of times in a jesting manner. “What a joker he is!” Her laughter sounded as conspicuous as her tightly wound smile was. “What he meant to say was: that sounds like a splendid idea! Lead the way.”

“We aren’t going anywhere—”

But the fire-demon was promptly ignored as Botan shuffled over to the opposite end of the yard, where Keiko stood. Hiei gritted his teeth, his energy just barely under control as he watched the woman escape yet again.

“We should head over,” Yukina offered sympathetically. “It looks like the hunt is starting soon.”

“Heh, real smooth, shorty.” Kuwabara shot a smug, amused look his way, before jogging after the women.

The fire-demon gritted his teeth harshly. There was no one to blame but himself for his current displeasure. He had little reason to be here any longer. Yukina was so wrapped up in all of the Human World nonsense that his presence made little difference. The only thing tying him to this accursed place now was the ferry-girl. And she was hardly making this whole affair easy on him. He needed to end this. Now.

Summoning what little bit of patience he had left, he pushed his hands in his pockets and trudged ahead.

Botan was chattering about something or the other with the blue-haired ice-master, when Hiei grabbed her wrist and hauled her through the first door he could find.

“If you wanted to do something else, you could have just said so!” she chided lightly.

“I have said so. Several times, in fact,” he pressed. “You and I have unfinished business.”

“The costume contest is about to begin!” Juri’s voice was amplified by the microphone, echoing off the walls. “I’ll need each of our contestants to line up in the front with me, please!”

Hiei realized they were in one of the back rooms now, right on the outskirts of another ridiculous affair.

“We absolutely have to check this out!” Botan squealed.

Hiei could tell that she wasn’t trying to avoid him this time. The excitement in her eyes couldn’t be manufactured. “Woman—”

“Let’s make a deal,” she began.

Hiei frowned, but crossed his arms over his chest and nodded for her to continue. “I’m listening.”

“As soon as we’re done making the rounds, you can discuss whatever it is you want with me,” she promised. “What do you say?”

Hiei took a moment to consider her terms. They already covered most of the temple’s grounds. There couldn’t be much left to see. He supposed this was truly the fastest and surest way of seeing things through.

“Fine. You had better keep your word, ferry-girl.”

She nodded earnestly, a smile reaching her lips as she held three fingers up. “Scout’s honor!”

“We’ve got an impressive line up on our hands!” Juri said, motioning to the contestants. “It’ll be a hard call for our judges!”

“Judges?” Botan repeated, glancing to the low table where Genkai, Suzuka, and the bespectacled, soul-stealing psychic from the House of Four Dimensions were seated. “Oh, how official!”

“I’ll be as impartial as possible,” the freckled nerd said solemnly.

Genkai took a small sip of sake. “Hmph. Let’s just get this over with.”

“Yes,” Suzuka said with a flourish of his arm. “With my discerning eye and taste for all things beautiful, we will surely make the right pick.”

“Our judges are raring to go, but I have to ask: why haven’t you joined in on the contest, Suzuka?” Juri questioned. “Isn’t this right up your alley?”

“It wouldn’t be very fair if I did that, now would it, my dear?” he smiled at the fish-demon, teeth flashing white as he winked at her. “We should at least keep things fair.”

“R-right!” Juri’s skin flushed red as she nodded. “Fair is… fair is good!”

Botan giggled, watching the exchange with avid interest.

Hiei rolled his eyes and pushed off from the wall. “Pathetic.”

“I think it’s cute, the way those two continue to dance around each other.”

“Hardly.” He began walking down the corridor, continuing on with their tour. “It’s nothing more than a pointless waste of time.”

“Maybe some people need the extra time to sort out their feelings,” she said, pressing the pads of her index fingers together as she tread beside him. “These things are complicated, you know.”

“Hn. If your feelings are so easily conflicted, then they aren’t worth the trouble in the end.”

“That’s not true! Not everyone can dive head first into the unknown! And just because someone hesitates, that doesn’t make their affections any less real!”

“Do I sense trouble in paradise?” A sultry voice asked from nowhere.

They both turned to see the enchantress seated at a small, circular table. Hiei’s eyes narrowed as he took in the nurse outfit she wore, a bitter reminder of how she tricked them all during the Dark Tournament.

“Ruka?” Botan blurted out, completely flabbergasted.

“In the flesh,” she mused, motioning for Botan to take a seat on the opposite end of the table. A crystal ball rested at its center. “You two look like you could use a little divine intervention.”

The ferry-girl clasped her hands together. “Oh, are you predicting fortunes?”

“Something like that.”

“Chitchat on your own time, Botan!” Koenma complained, disguised in his adult form. “We’ve been waiting in line for ages!”

“Sorry sir!” Botan apologized sheepishly.

Hiei’s eyes shifted to the long line wrapping around the corridor. Predictably, it consisted of mostly males, all of whom were grumbling about the hold up.

The enchantress was unconcerned with them, sanguine eyes drifting out towards the scavenger hunt through the open door and lingering on the windmaster every now and then. She snapped out of her reverie and motioned once again to the empty chair.

“Ignore them. Ladies first,” Ruka insisted.

“Well, if you’re sure!” Botan replied, lowering herself into the chair, despite all the complaints. She chanced a brief glance at the queue, trying to soothe their irritation. “I’ll only be a moment!”

“This is bullshit!” An unfamiliar voice groused.

Hiei shot a glare at the line of pathetic admirers, instantly shutting them up.

“Now then,” Ruka started, addressing them both with her usual alluring demeanor. “How do you feel about tarot cards?”

“I don’t care,” Hiei answered impatiently. “Just make it quick.”

The enchantress hummed at his attitude but spread a deck of cards full of elaborate art along the table. “Let’s keep it simple. A past, present, future reading for the two of you.”

Botan watched, intrigued, as Ruka pulled the cards back into a single stack for a deft overhand shuffle before cutting the deck into three separate stacks. She then shifted the piles into different positions around each other like one would a magic trick. Finally, she flipped over the card at the top of the left-most stack.

“The first card symbolizes your combined past and what may still be influencing you now. A two of swords… this can represent two opposing forces, often in a stalemate.”

Botan turned to him with a small smile, “That sure sounds like us, doesn’t it?”

“Hn. Tell me something I don’t know.”

Ruka flipped over the top card of the second stack, unfazed.

“The middle card demonstrates the relationship between the two of you as it stands right now. An ace of wands. Are you experiencing new growth? Perhaps a budding friendship where there was none before?”

“Yes, yes! That’s right!” The ferry-girl nodded along, jumping up and down in her seat, growing more and more enraptured with every word the enchantress said. “Oh, I can’t wait for the next one. Do you think we’ll be friends forever or become mortal enemies?”

Hiei rolled his eyes.

The enchantress smirked as she flipped the final card over, glancing suggestively at Hiei. “Well, well, well. I never would have guessed.”

Botan’s eyes widened in dismay as Ruka went to lay the card flat, getting the first glimpse of the painted parchment. She dove for the stack, knocking it over and chuckling nervously, pushing the cards around as if she meant to put the deck back together when in reality she was just turning it into a disaster. “Oh, ahaha… Nothing to see here! I’m just such a klutz. So sorry for ruining your stellar fortune telling, Ruka.”

Hiei raised a brow. The only thing he managed to see was the brief image of two figures and the number six at the top of the card. Whatever it was had ruffled the ferry-girl greatly.

“Get a move on, already!” One of the impatient losers grumbled. “It’s our turn!”

“I guess that’s our cue, huh? Time to go!” Botan continued her borderline hysterical simpering.

Hiei watched the ferry-girl traipse ahead and swiped the card in question before the enchantress could notice. Sliding it into his pants pocket, he fixed his eyes on Botan’s back as he trailed behind her. “How much longer, woman?”

“All that’s left are the Haunted Portrait Photoshoot and all the treats!” she revealed, slowing so his stride would eventually match hers. “And we’re definitely taking pictures, mister. Don’t even think about skipping out on me.”

He pushed his hands in his pockets, his right hand brushing against the mysterious card. “What for?”

“To commemorate the fact that you not only made it through Fall Fest, but you actually participated, too! We have to memorialize the occasion.”

Depending on the woman’s answer later, he might not want to memorialize or remember this ridiculous night. Shaking his head, he pushed those thoughts aside. “…Pointless.”

“Was that hesitation I sensed in your tone?” she questioned, hedging closer teasingly. “Don’t tell me you’re wary of cameras stealing your soul, too?”

“Don’t be foolish, woman. I don’t believe in any of those nonsensical superstitions.”

Botan laughed. “That’s good, because we’re up next!”

Hiei fixed his eyes ahead at the large photoshoot area. In the middle of the room was a platform meant to act like a stage. The floor beneath was shrouded in an eerie mist thanks to low-hanging fog machines. Flickering green and purple lights cast unnatural shadows across the ghastly set that consisted of barren trees, rotund pumpkins and small specters. A haunting melody played in the background, distant howls adding to the theatrical atmosphere.

The elder Kuwabara could be spotted stumbling her way through the foggy space. Behind her, the imp-demon Shishiwakamaru was adjusting ring lights and pushing all manner of buttons on the camera that he had attached to a tripod. To the side, there was an array of props and costume gear that Hiei assumed they were meant to don for the Fool Fest photos.

Unlikely.

His sneer at the festival garb remained tightly in place as the fool’s sister approached. At first glance the woman was nearly unrecognizable, but her costume was no match against his superior demon senses. Her usual long, chestnut hair was hidden beneath a black wig that was cropped bluntly at the shoulder. She was adorned in a revealing, all-gold outfit, makeup, and embellishments. He didn’t know what the hell she was meant to be, but his best guess was royalty.

As she drew closer, she tripped on one of the wires that the camera was hooked up to, landing squarely in the ferry-girl’s chest. “Oof! Shizuru, are you okay?”

Shishiwakamaru cursed in the background.

“I thought that was y-you, Botan,” the human woman slurred with a drunken smile, throwing her arm around the ferry-girl’s shoulder. “My favorite… Grim Barbie.”

“Oh no.” Botan tutted as she held Shizuru upright. “You’ve gone bobbing for apples, haven’t you?”

“Maybe…”

Hiei’s interest waned to nonexistent levels at the intoxicated conversation. The ferry-girl mentioned something or other about some Cleopatra woman that he did not know, but Shizuru was useless while she cuddled to Botan’s chest, so he took the opportunity to satisfy his curiosity. He turned away from the now whispering and giggling women and pulled the card from his pocket, hiding it in the confines of his vampire cloak as he peered down at the loopy lettering before him.

The Lovers.

His jaw ticked as he crumpled the delicate card between his fingers. This was what he wanted, yes. But the ferry-girl had been well-near a panic attack at the thought. Perhaps he had read all her signals wrong. Misinterpreted her overarching friendship in ways she didn’t intend.

He had no time to dwell on it. The detective’s harpy, dressed discernably as a butterfly, swept the elder Kuwabara away towards the snacks to sober up. Meanwhile, the imp-demon finished plugging the camera back in, signaling for him and the ferry-girl to step onto the makeshift stage. He stealthily slid the stolen card back into his pocket while Botan steered him over to the props with that perpetual pep to her step.

He watched as she fumbled with and tossed signs saying ‘Creep It Real’, ‘Here for the BOOS!’ and ‘Trick or Treat Yourself’ over her shoulder. She held a pirate hat up to her face before shaking her head and also throwing that back into the pile. While the ferry-girl shuffled through more sparkly signs and murmured to herself about finding the perfect prop, he stared down at the heap of nonsense with loathing. Shishiwakamaru’s impatient sighing was cut off with a potent death glare.

“What about this ‘If You’ve Got It, Haunt It’ sign?” Botan asked him, holding an atrocious, shiny, purple board to her chest.

“It’s all Fool Fest garbage to me.”

She rolled her eyes at him playfully before diving back into all of the options. As she pushed her ugly purple sign to the side, the perfect prop just so happened to catch his peripheral.

It was overly fuzzy and meant to be cute, but it would do. Hiei nabbed it and tucked it into the folds of his cloak while Botan remained none the wiser. After rifling through everything, she finally emerged with a witch’s wand and pulled him over to pose in front of the camera with a flourish.

“Are you two ready now?” Shishiwakamaru asked with a few last minute adjustments to the lens.

“Just about,” Botan confirmed. “I had no idea you were interested in photography and the like, Shishi!”

The blue-haired menace smirked, purple eyes gleaming with self-adoration. “With a face like this, it’s a crime not to be. I can’t trust any old amateur to capture my essence, now can I?”

“R-right,” the ferry-girl laughed amenably as Hiei rolled his eyes.

“Now: work the camera, you two.” Shishiwakamaru motivated, the flash of the camera catching Botan throwing bunny ears behind Hiei’s head while he stared blankly ahead. The woman continued pose after cute pose, pointing her wand at him as if she were casting a spell—she was thriving with each click of the accursed contraption. The fire-demon merely crossed his arms, grievously reconsidering participating in mortal activities with her ever again. Shishiwakamaru raised a brow, shutter clicking with each press of his finger, “Er, well, work the camera, Botan.”

The woman was in her own world of modeling, egged on by the imp-demon, giving him the perfect moment to take advantage of the prop he chose. He removed the fuzzy arachnid from his cloak, holding it by the string and letting it dangle above her slender shoulder. He waited for the chaos to unfold with a wicked grin tugging at one corner of his mouth, the red eyes of the spider bouncing up and down as it swayed in the air. When it brushed against her skin on one of her quarter turns, he knew the time had come.

“EEEK!” Botan shrieked, leaping a foot into the air as she spotted the eight-legged horror inches from her ear.

“That’s a keeper,” Shishi snorted, the camera still flashing as he documented the woman’s horror.

Botan spun around wildly in place until her scrabbling hands met the object of her disgust. With another high-pitched shriek, she swatted the offensive item away. “Hiei! That’s not funny!”

Hiei caught it effortlessly. “Call it dramatic effect.”

“You are the worst,” she let out breathlessly, resting a trembling hand over her racing heart. “You nearly scared me to death!”

He tossed the prop on the floor and crossed his arms over his chest. “Consider it your punishment for dragging me around and exposing me to such nonsense.”

“You—”

“These aren’t half bad,” Shishiwakamaru interrupted, purple eyes glued to the screen as he scrolled through the images. “I expected nothing less with my talent, of course, but I suppose even I can surprise myself now and again.”

Botan lost some of her ire at that, shoulders falling from their taut position as anger melted into curiosity. “Can we see?”

“Not until I’ve cleaned them up. All printouts will be provided at the end of the night,” Shishi said. “Now shoo, you’re holding up my queue.”

“Oh alright!” she conceded, returning the wand to its rightful place and carrying on.

Hiei followed suit, shoving his hands in his pockets and trailing after the woman down the corridor. He fully intended to burn those wretched photos later. There would be no evidence left if he had it his way.

“Ugh, I can still feel those creepy legs crawling near me,” Botan said, a small shiver passing through her body at the memory. “That was awfully naughty of you, Hiei!”

“Isn’t that the point of this ridiculous affair?” he asked, inclining his head towards the Trick or Treat sign hovering above the final station of the night. “You wanted me to participate. And I did.”

“Yes, but I didn’t think you’d turn on me!” she huffed. “And after I’ve been such a gracious guide to you, too.”

“Hn.”

“In any case, there’ll be no more of that now that we’ve finally made it to the main attraction: the amuse bouche!” Botan announced brightly, extending an arm towards the long table full of bite-sized food, small desserts and drinks with a graceful flourish. “We have Keiko and Yukina to thank for most of the delectable goodies, but this little corner was crafted by yours truly.”

Hiei’s gaze swept over the assortment of drinks and brightly decorated cookies, ignoring the downright embarrassing flutter that ran through his chest at her careless wording.

“Care to try any?”

He knew how proud she was of her concoctions, so he decided to appease her. In addition to the ones he’d already tested, there were a few more dubiously colored cocktails included in the bunch. “Surprise me, woman.”

Botan lit up radiantly, pulling two beaker-shaped bottles from the bunch. Their fingers brushed when she uncorked their respective drinks and handed one over to the fire-demon. His name was written on the plastic bottle in the woman’s flowery script. The liquid inside was a dark hue and, judging by its scent, his was more potent than the rest.

“I took your tastes into consideration and made this one just for you,” she informed with a wink. “Bottom’s up!”

The woman clinked their potion bottles together, before they both downed their respective cocktails. She’d gone heavy on the alcohol, as per his request. It flowed down smoothly as he discarded the empty bottle.

“So?” Botan began. “How’d I do?”

“You passed,” he allowed, finding no reason to lie.

Now that a little liquid courage was swimming in her veins, perhaps they could finally get to the heart of the matter.

“How about a sweet treat next?” she asked, as if she read his mind and was looking for yet another unnecessary distraction.

“I don’t like sweet things.”

“Now we both know that’s not true. A little ice-maiden shaped birdie told me otherwise!” she sing-songed, taking his arm and turning him towards the cookies. “Come on, humor me, won’t you?”

“That’s all I’ve been doing since this wretched season started, woman,” he gritted as his narrowed eyes landed on the little grinning treats. A mass of ghost and pumpkin cookies made up the batch, but one anomaly in particular caught his attention. There, near the center, was a green cookie with a Jagan eye sitting at its center.

“Pretty neat, huh?” She grinned, releasing him. “I couldn’t pass up on the idea once it hit me.”

“You didn’t do this for anyone else,” he said lowly, upon confirming that there were no hidden fox, clown, or detective themed monstrosities within the mix.

“W-well, no. Our conversation was fresh in my mind, you see,” she explained, avoiding his gaze as she pressed the pads of her index fingers together. “And I thought it would be a fun little callback.”

“No,” Hiei said, fixing his eyes on her determinedly. The Lovers card weighed heavier in his pocket, adding to his growing impatience. “I don’t think that’s what this is, woman. You keep avoiding the topic and I grow tired of your diversions. I want to know exactly what is going on between us.”

A flush dusted the ferry-girl’s pale cheeks in a way he wasn’t entirely opposed to. When pink lips parted on lost words, he didn’t have to touch her to know that her pulse had stuttered.

“What ever do you mean?” Botan feigned ignorance with a retreating step backwards. “I-it’s not like there’s something unspoken between us!”

“There isn’t?”

“No, of course not!”

“So you don’t want me.”

“No!” Botan shook her head adamantly, ponytail swaying back and forth as she backpedaled and he advanced. “There is absolutely no wanting here. No pining. No yearning. No siree!”

“You’re a terrible liar, woman.”

She swallowed thickly, shoulders jumping as her back hit the wall.

Hiei’s arm shot out to cage her in, palm pressed flat beside her head. No more hiding. No more running away. “Spare us both the theatrics and tell me the truth.”

Botan threw her face in her hands and bemoaned, “Oh, why are you doing this to me, Hiei? Do you want to humiliate me? Make fun of me? Reject me cruelly?”

“Is that what you think I’m aiming for, ferry-girl?”

She peered up from her hands with a pout. “Why else would you be tormenting me this way?”

“Tell me and you’ll soon find out.”

“Fine!” she exploded, hands balled into tight fists at her sides. “I like you, okay, Hiei? Somewhere between the orchards and the bonfires and the—the everything, I’ve fallen for you. Are you happy now?”

Hiei went silent at those words, slowly processing the fact that he hadn’t misread her. Her confession filled his chest with a sweet sweep of satisfaction. It was soft. It was unbecoming. It was entirely unlike him. But he didn’t care. The fire-demon wasn’t in the habit of denying himself of anything, least of all the woman who managed to breach his defenses.

“…Are you imagining all the ways you’re going to torture me now?” she lamented miserably. “Because if so, I’d much prefer a quick and painless end, please.”

Crimson eyes met amethyst once more, offering a self-deprecating huff. “I can hardly fault you for feeling the same way as I do, woman.”

The realization slowly flashed over her face, hope lighting her gemstone eyes. “You do?”

“If it wasn’t pitifully obvious by now, yes.”

Botan’s blush darkened almost impressively.

“And while I do have a penchance for torture, there are much better things you and I can be doing to each other now that I know you want me as much as I want you.”

“H-Hiei!”

Hiei smirked. Yes, there was no room for regrets.

With that thought securely in mind, he closed the minute distance between them. His mouth slotted firmly over her full, velvety lips, and a breathless squeak escaped them. He swallowed the keen sound greedily, finally claiming the reward he had been so patient for all night long. The party around them dissolved into nothingness when Botan’s fingers, uncertain at first, found the front of his vampire cloak—anchoring his lips more deeply to hers with a fervid tug. The taste was sweet, hints of the potions she made just for him still lingering like honey on her tongue. Hiei growled into her kiss, restraint burnt to a pitiful crisp, his hand sliding from the wall down to her hip and over the spandex of her hell-cat costume.

The sound of a throat clearing behind them did nothing to deter his hand from finding purchase at the modest curve of her backside. Botan’s lips remained fixed to his as if she hadn’t heard a thing, and Hiei had no intention of being interrupted. That little mewl in the back of her throat demanded more exploration, commanding his full attention.

“Hiei.” The most meddlesome voice known to all three realms pitched insistently from a few feet away. “Botan.”

He could have scorched Kurama to cinders where he stood when she broke away with a startled gasp.

“Go away, fox.”

“K-Kurama! I, um, didn’t s-see you there!” Botan stammered, inching uselessly away from him as she visibly fumbled for an excuse that never came. “Look at you! You make a very dashing Prince Charming.”

Hiei begged to differ. Dressed in a royal blue tunic that was set over a puffy-sleeved, white undershirt and a deep red cape to play to a royal silhouette that one might find in children’s books, Kurama looked like nothing more than a fool in tights. Pathetic.

Kurama’s smile slanted slyly, his eyes glimmering with unveiled amusement. “Shishiwakamaru asked me to bring you this photo after a brawl that broke out between Yusuke and Chuu ended up crushing his camera. However, I can come back later if you’re… otherwise engaged.”

“Hn. There won’t be a later.” Hiei unclasped the ridiculous cape from around his neck and let the sweeping material fall to the floor. “I got what I came for. Let’s go, ferry-girl.”

“Go? Go where?”

“You’ve had your fun for the night, woman. Now, it’s my turn.”

“Y-you can’t just say things like that, Hiei!” she hissed hotly. Her gaze skirted towards Kurama, who suppressed a chuckle behind his fist and turned towards the cocktails in a lame attempt at affording them a modicum of privacy. “Especially not in front of our friends!”

Hiei pinned her with a knowing stare, not bothering to hide just how much he wanted her. “Are you actually objecting or are you pretending to be coy?”

“Neither!” she spluttered, before cradling her flaming cheeks in her hands. “I can hardly think straight when you’re looking at me like that…”

He raised a brow, tempering the upwards twitch of his mouth. Botan had caused him a great deal of confusion and conflict for the duration of this wretched season. It only served her right that she was now wrestling with the consequences of her actions. He was sure her pulse was skittering beneath her heated skin. Heart thundering. Mind racing. He was tempted to use the jagan to listen in on her frazzled stream of incoherent thoughts, but they’d long since overstayed their welcome.

“Make up your mind, woman.”

“Oh fine!” She suddenly stopped floundering with a stomp of her foot and a resolute look in her amethyst eyes. “Take me out of here, Hiei.”

He smirked, leading her forward with his right hand as he deftly swiped the photo from Kurama with his left. Crimson eyes flicked down to the image, an amused grunt escaping his lips. The only photo that the imp-demon managed to salvage just so happened to be the only one worth saving, in his opinion.

“How did it turn out?” Botan asked curiously.

He handed the photo over to the ferry-girl with little fanfare. “See for yourself.”

The woman’s affronted gasp was almost worth the moment being memorialized.

“This was the worst one out of the bunch!” she lamented, eyes glued to the photo and pink lips drawn into a pout.

Hiei slid the shoji door open, allowing the night’s temperate air to wash over them. “I beg to differ, woman.”

Botan huffed, but still held the photograph within her grasp as if it was worth something to her. Clung to his touch as if he meant something to her. The softhearted notion settled squarely in his chest and if his fingers closed a little firmer around her hand, that was no one’s business but his own.

He led her out onto the temple’s veranda, where all manner of outlandish decorations hung beneath its eaves and awnings. The grating cacophony of music, laughter and chaos dulled into a muted thrum as he closed the door behind them and turned his back to the revelry occurring inside.

Fool Fest was nonsense—he would always stand by those words—but perhaps it wasn’t a complete waste of time. Not when it led him to her. From silly invites to apple orchards, bonfires to costumes, cookies to parties; they all wove together in a tapestry of moments he hadn’t meant to keep. Somewhere between her Golden Russets and golden smiles, and his reluctant taste testing with reluctant amusement, they’d fallen heedlessly and unexpectedly into something that felt like love.