Disclaimer: I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho.
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"Hey guys, have you noticed that Hiei and Kurama have been acting weird lately?" asked a certain azure-haired girl out of the blue.
It was the first week of summer and the girls had decided to have a picnic. Sitting in a semi-circle under a sakura tree, are the Reikai Tentei's only weakness (and in Keiko's case—Yuusuke's only fear too. 'Only'—not counting Eikichi and Shiori). The four of them, namely Keiko, Yukina, Shizuru, and Botan, had been very good friends since the Dark Tournament, and to this day they're inseparable. Well, except when Botan's in Reikai, Yukina visits Makai, Shizuru and Keiko busy in college and high school respectively. But that's beside the point; the four ladies have a sister-like bond that even if they're not always together, they know if something is wrong with one of them.
Keiko thought for a second before responding "No, not really. Hiei still doesn't talk much when he's here and Kurama still acts in a very polite, calculating way. Why, is there something going on between those two that we don't know of?"
"I'm still not sure. What about you Yukina, have you noticed that your brother is visiting Ningenkai twice as much as before?" Botan now directed her question to the petite ice apparition.
Yes, she now knows that Hiei is her long lost brother. She actually knew it the first time she saw him, but she wanted him to tell her himself. Besides, she didn't want to scare him away, which she probably would have, had she not waited for her temperamental twin to admit it in his own time. She almost blew it when she called him 'Brother' during the time she gave him her gem. Thankfully he bought her quick fib.
Anyway, that's all in the past and both of them are now openly acting in a brotherly-sisterly way.
"Yes, he's here four times a week and stays longer. Though Kazuma says that Hiei is only doing it to annoy him and not let him take me out on a date" Yukina finished with a faint blush, which is saying a lot since ice demons aren't supposed to blush at all.
Botan's still not dissuaded on her assumption. "How about Kurama, have youseen how carefree he is recently?"
"That's probably because the boys aren't doing any missions with the three realm's Peace Treaty and all, excluding Hiei who's patrolling the border and training under Muroko. But we all know that that's his definition of 'fun'. Will you stop beating around the bush and tell us what you think is wrong with them?" replied Shizuru while lighting her third cigarette since they started their picnic.
Botan placed her chin over right thumb and forefinger in a detective-like position, her brows furrowed in seriousness.
"Well, it's just that these past few weeks, I've noticed that Hiei is scowling less and his infamous death threats are almost non-existent, with the exception of Kuwabara of course. Plus, his trips to Ningenkai are almost daily! I know he's over protective of Yukina, but he's also hanging out with us even if Yukina isn't here."
Botan paused as if waiting for her information to sink in before going to the second part of her observation.
"Then there's Kurama, isn't he supposed to be the most level headed among, well, everybody? I'vecaught him staring into space at least twice every time I see him. And one time, I swear upon Lord Koenma's pacifier, that I heard him hum. He doesn't even see the mob of girls who are drooling and gawking all over him!"
Again, the deity waited for her friends to grasp what had been on her head for the past month or so.
There was pregnant silence, the birds chirped, a sudden gust of wind soared over them tugging their shinny hair. A mutual unspoken question was building inside the three listener's head. Botan could see the realization dawning upon them.
'Finally!' she thought.
Shizuru was the first to voice their inquiry. With a dramatic puff of smoke and quirked eyebrow, she asked, "Are you stalking them, Botan?"
The deity in question face faulted. She twitched in the classic anime way. Her friends are eyeing her with a mixture curiosity, sympathy, and a bit of humor.
"NO! Maybe a little… but that's not my point!" she exclaimed as soon as she recovered.
"So, mind explaining why you're observing Hiei and Kurama's odd shift of behavior?" Keiko asked, a knowing smile gracing her full pink lips.
Botan stood up and stretched, clearly trying to avoid the question.
'Hoooboy, how can I explain it to them? I'm sure they'll think that I'm imagining things if I say what I know and didn't give enough proof! Shoulda kept my mouth shut, but I'm more than a hundred percent sure of what I've been seeing lately. It's gotta be the only logical explanation. Why am I the only one noticing it? Those two are being blatantly out-of-character if I do say so myself'
Unbeknownst to Botan, she was making weird faces and her three friends are giving her weird looks, along with everyone passing through their part of the park.
Having enough of her friend's obvious mental soliloquy, the tallest girl coughed, trying to get the deity's attention… which didn't work too well.
"Botan—" the next words fell on deaf ears.
'Why can't they see it! Yes, I'll need a camera, better yet, a video camera… I wonder if Koenma would let me use his video thingy… then I'll bribe George to help… and …'
"Botan!"
"Huh? Were you saying something?" mental thoughts halted, Botan faced Shizuru only to note the funny looks her three companions sent her way.
"I said, why are you investigating this 'strange phenomenon' and what's your conclusion, Sherlock?" Shizuru repeated her question to the now listening Botan.
"Uhehehe?"
Seeing that they're not going anywhere, Yukina urged her friend to answer their questions "You can tell us Botan, what is it?"
'Yep, I better have a solid evidence to back up my claim or they'll never let me hear the end of this!' Botan said to herself.
"Oh that? Never mind, it's nothing! Will you look at the time? It sure flies when we're having fun! Sorry girls, but there's another death nearby and duty calls, later!" she said in one breath while summoning her trusty oar and gliding away from the three girls' flabbergasted expression.
The Deity of Death knows how persuasive those three could get. Having experienced it first hand when the Reikai Tentie went to the Tournament without them knowing, she didn't want to go through it again, if she can help it.
Death, thespirit who helped the Rekai Tentie during theirmissions, the one who valiantlyfaced demons with only a metal bat at hand,the onlyone who had the guts to steal Hiei'ssweet snow,and so muchmore 'the ones',is afraid of a little confrontation. Escape is her only friend at the moment.
Back in the park, the three girls sat in silence, silently contemplating what their perky friend wanted to tell them.
"You think she has any idea?" Yukina softly asked the other two.
Sipping her soda, Shiziru smirked, "Nah, she can be as dense as a brick. Botan's even worse than you when it comes to that and you've been living with a tribe of asexual ice demons your whole life while she's been ferrying human souls for hundreds of years, no offense meant, my dear."
The cute Koorime smiled, "None taken"
"Shizuru's right, she would think that Kurama and Hiei are in love with each other first before she even begins to imagine that those two like her" Keiko jokingly said and all three giggled, not having the faintest idea that they hit the bull's eye.
tbc
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A/N: This is a KuramaBotanHiei triangle, sorry no shounen-ai/shoujo-ai. I'll try to make the next chapter longer. Again, constructive criticism is welcome. Oh, if it's a bit vague, it'll make sense on the following chapters.
Thank you so much for those who reviewed my first fic, Nail Polish! You're all too kind! I'm trying harder too look for any grammatical mistakes for I'm sure I have plenty, but I'm learning (I hope, and if not I'll keep trying until it's almost error free).
Again, much THANKS to you:
Chasing RainIssueshaveIKittySand Katiekahel09A lilmatchgirl (I really appreciate the advice trying to keep what you said in mind), avidrkfanLexi-Teniroanimeroxzyume-chan29, Me.