Only when Kai's tears had subsided and his sniffling had ceased did Hiei release him. The raven-haired man stood up from his crouched position, watching as Kai retrieved his backpack and threw it over his shoulders with a bright grin. Though the two had just shared an emotionally charged moment, the air between them had returned to normal. Hiei pushed away the guilt associated with Kai's tears and focused on the present. He had made the proper decision in the end and he had no regrets about what he had left behind in America. This was where he needed to be.

"I should take you back to Botan's," he stated.

Kai blinked up at him, purple eyes rounded in shock.

"You mean… I don't have to go to school?"

"Is that what you want?" Hiei asked, looking down at his son patiently.

Kai shook his head and then slid his hand in Hiei's. Although Hiei refrained from showing any outward reaction, the small gesture was surprising enough to cause a twinge of emotion to blossom in his chest. The boy's hand was so small and slight, reminding Hiei of just how young he really was. The fact that he had even considered leaving was a mistake in and of itself, but he found some consolation in the fact that he did not go through with it in the end.

"I want you to take me home," Kai requested.

The supplication was simple enough but the earnest quality of his words and the affections in his mauve eyes was more than Hiei deserved. He nodded wordlessly as he closed his hand around Kai's tiny one and together, they set off on the short trek back to Botan's apartment. With every step he took, he was more and more sure of his decision. This was exactly where he belonged.

"Gotta say, I didn't expect to run into either of you today."

The familiar voice cut through Hiei's thoughts and they both stopped walking when they noticed Yusuke's approach. He was dressed in a casual pair of jeans, a white t-shirt and a red jacket, rather than in his usual work uniform. Hiei found it a bit odd that the other man was breaking his tried and true routine, but did not comment on it.

"Hi Yusuke!" Kai waved at him with his free hand, since he made no move to let go of Hiei's.

"Shouldn't you be at school, kiddo?" Yusuke wondered, looking down at Kai with amusement twinkling in his brown eyes.

"Dad said I could stay home today," Kai answered proudly.

"Did he now?" Yusuke responded, flicking his gaze over at Hiei. "Didn't take you for the lenient type, Hiei."

"The circumstances allowed it," Hiei reasoned.

"And I'm guessing that the fact that you're still here and not at the airport means your flight got delayed or canceled," Yusuke supposed.

"I'm not going anywhere," he answered.

Yusuke's grinned, obviously pleased by his response.

"For real?"

Hiei nodded as Kai continued to beam at his side.

"I guess I shouldn't be surprised," Yusuke commented, rubbing a hand at his chin contemplatively. "You always did have a way of surprising us in the end."

Hiei shifted his gaze to the left uncomfortably.

"Don't you have a business to run?" he asked, moving the topic to something much less personal.

"Actually, I was on my way to meet up with Hokushin," Yusuke disclosed. "I figure it wouldn't hurt to hear him out and see if there's any merit to his offer."

"Who's Hokushin?" Kai asked, looking up at the both of them in confusion.

"Just a guy who knew my old man," Yusuke answered.

Kai frowned in concern and Yusuke moved to ruffle the boy's hair.

"Don't worry, he's one of the good ones," he reassured. "And I'll be back just in time for your birthday dinner tomorrow night."

"Oh okay," Kai replied, apparently satisfied with Yusuke's reply. "Have a nice trip."

"I will." Yusuke's gaze moved to meet Hiei's. "And you better not forget about what I told you at the bar."

Hiei's brows furrowed in confusion, eyes narrowing as he tried to understand Yusuke's ambiguous demand. Last night Yusuke claimed that Botan was in love with him and that all the others knew it as well. Even Kai seemed to think there was something between them, but Hiei had been blind to it all.

"Looks like you've got more than enough time to set things right, seeing as you'll be sticking around indefinitely," Yusuke smirked, before pulling his collar up and departing.

Hiei pondered the usually lackadaisical man's uncharacteristically serious words. The woman was the type to put everyone else's needs before her own and she knew how much the job opportunity meant to him. If she had pushed aside her own wants and needs for him, perhaps her feelings really did run deeper than they appeared to be on the surface.

"Dad?"

Hiei looked down at Kai.

"Ready to go?" he asked.

"Yes," Hiei answered.

They continued to stroll back to Botan's apartment in silence. No words were needed; this surety, this quiet comfort was enough. When Kai unlocked the door, Hiei was afforded a clear view of the woman. She stopped typing away at her laptop, eyes going wide at the sight of him. Kai released his hand to enter the apartment, but Hiei stood frozen at the door. As Botan stood up numbly, staring at him with a myriad of emotions flashing through those amethyst eyes, he was absolutely certain that Yusuke's claims were true.

There was no way Botan could look at him like that and not be in love him.

It was suddenly all so clear.

Botan's heart froze in her chest when she spotted Hiei.

"W-what are you two doing here?" she asked finally.

"Kai thought it necessary to skip school," Hiei divulged upon entering the apartment and closing the door behind him. "I was only bringing him back."

Botan's eyes narrowed as she frowned down at Kai.

"You skipped school?" she echoed, crossing her arms over her chest. "We talked about this, Kai, you can't just run off on our own like you used to."

"I'm sorry, I just…" he ducked his head guiltily, avoiding all eye contact as his shoulders shrunk in.

"The blame is not his alone to bear," Hiei started.

"Dad…" Kai mumbled, looking up at Hiei in shock.

Botan's ire vanished the moment she heard the word escape from Kai's mouth. Whatever had happened between the time they had left and returned must have been significant for this sudden change to occur.

"The boy was wrong to go off on his own, but he was upset because of my own carelessness," Hiei insisted.

Botan's expression softened and she nodded understandingly. Kai had a rough few days and she could understand his pain better than anyone else. If he felt so distraught that he didn't even want to go to school – a place that he loved more than most others – then she could not fault him for that.

"I suppose one day off won't do any damage," she relented with a gentle smile. "You have been through an awful lot.

"I'm sorry," he said again.

"It's alright," she soothed. "Just promise me that you won't do it again."

"I won't," he reassured. "I promise."

She nodded in satisfaction, before turning to Hiei. It was then that she remembered the proverbial elephant in the room.

"Oh no, Hiei! You've got a plane to catch, don't you?" she reminded him. Finding Kai and bringing him home must have caused a large delay in Hiei's schedule, but perhaps he could still make it in time. She glanced down at the time displayed on her phone. "You've got about forty-five minutes. You can make it if you leave right now."

"It doesn't matter," he dismissed, crimson eyes locked onto Botan's evenly. "I don't intend on catching it."

"What are you saying?" Botan blinked in confusion, arms falling at her sides loosely.

"He's saying that he's staying!" Kai filled in exuberantly. He was practically bouncing on his toes as he continued. "He's not going to America anymore!"

"You're really staying?" she asked as her gaze flitted between Kai's bright grin and Hiei's impassive expression.

The black-haired man nodded wordlessly and Botan had to swallow the lump in her throat. She didn't mean to get choked up, but she couldn't help herself. Mere minutes ago she was crying over the fact that he would be lost to her forever, and now he was standing before her with no intentions of going anywhere.

"I'm really glad that you changed your mind," she admitted finally.

"So am I," Hiei replied, looking down at their son.

Botan's heart warmed at the exchange. Hiei had come so far in the span of a few months that it was almost unbelievable. Her gaze fell upon Kai as well, smiling as the boy wrestled with the undoing the buttons on his navy blazer. He had certainly changed them all for the better.

"I should probably change if I'm not going to school today," Kai mentioned, rolling his shoulders under the stiff material of his school uniform. "I'll be right back. Don't go anywhere, dad!"

Botan watched him scamper off into his room, relieved that his mood had taken a complete turn around. This was exactly what he deserved: to be happy and to be loved. She was so glad that Hiei had decided to stay that she almost forgot the angry way he had left. Botan turned back to face him, unsure of what to say or do. The air between them was tense and heavy; filled with the words and sentiments that she couldn't quite express.

Although the two of them had returned to the same exact positions that they had taken up minutes ago, both of their countenances had changed. She was no longer laden with the sadness and regret that came with Hiei's departure and Hiei was no longer fuming with anger and hurt. His posture was much more relaxed now, the tenseness gone from his features and from his shoulders. Perhaps he had lost his ire or perhaps he had simply blanketed it with another one of his impenetrable guards. In any case, she knew that she owed him an explanation and there was no better time than the present.

"What you said earlier this morning about us not trusting or believing in you," Botan began cautiously. "I want you to know that it isn't true."

"I know," he disclosed. "You were doing what you thought was best."

She nodded, glad that he understood their intentions.

"We didn't want to hold you back or make you miss out on what you've been working towards. We both care about you and we wanted you to be happy," she confessed.

"I know that, too," he admitted, his angular eyes somehow softer than what she was used to. "You two have a bad habit of going beyond what is necessary when it comes to me."

"It comes with the territory," Botan replied with a lighthearted wink. "It's what a family does, after all."

He nodded in understanding and the two fell silent again. Botan suddenly felt small and awkward under his gaze, and the silence that had stretched over them was not helping at all. She lacked the courage and the energy to jump to the heart of the matter that lie between them, so she switched to a more neutral topic instead.

"Koenma might be put in a tight spot now," she started conversationally. "He mentioned the significance of this meeting and how imperative it was to find a strong candidate. Now that you're not going, it might be a bit difficult for him to find someone else."

"He will be fine," Hiei answered, not bothered by it at all.

"How do you know?" she pressed.

"Because I asked Mukuro to take up the position instead," Hiei revealed.

Her entire expression lit up as she clapped her hands together.

"Of course! Mukuro is certainly capable, smart and tough. I can definitely see her making it big out there," she commended.

"She deserves this," he replied.

"I'm sure she does," Botan agreed wholeheartedly. "It looks like everything worked out for the best, then."

"Almost," he answered obscurely.

Botan's eyes narrowed, unsure if she had heard him correctly or not. When he made no move to explain or elaborate, she looked away with a blush on her cheeks. She had barely wrapped her mind around the idea that Hiei would be staying in Tokyo, so she had little to no time to consider what it would mean for the two of them. Luckily she did not have to ponder it just yet because Kai chose that moment to stride back into the living room, donning a comfortable pair of sweats. His arms were crossed and a frown tugged his lips downward and Botan immediately focused all of her attentions on the boy.

"Is something the matter?" Botan asked in concern.

"Um... well, I was wondering if dad would come over tomorrow," Kai said, before turning towards Hiei. "It's my birthday and mom was going to make a big breakfast before school. She's even going to let me open a present, too. Do you think you can make it?"

Hiei's eyes widened, clearly not expecting the sudden request. He glanced over at Botan and she nodded.

"It's completely fine with me," she approved.

"So… will you?" Kai asked.

"If that's what you want," Hiei decided after a brief silence.

"Awesome!" Kai grinned, punching a fist in the air. "It'll be the best birthday ever!"

His good cheer was infectious and soon Botan found herself matching his expression. Nothing made her happier than seeing that brilliant grin on her son's face.

"Hey mom…?" he asked, breaking her from her thoughts.

"Yes honey?"

"Didn't you have that staff meeting today?"

"Oh, I nearly forgot!" she exclaimed. She looked over at Hiei apologetically. "Do you mind watching him for a bit? Kai was supposed to be at school while I was out, but … well, here we are."

"I'll take him back to my apartment," Hiei decided. "I might as well unpack."

"I'm really good at organizing!" Kai offered. "I can help you."

"If your room is any indication of your organizational skills, I think I'll pass," Hiei declined.

Kai puffed out his cheeks and Botan giggled at the exchange.

"Well, you two have fun with that," she teased. "I'll come by as soon as the meeting is over."

"Okay," Kai agreed.

She bent down to hug him and then stood up, looking over at Hiei. He stared back at her with that indeterminable expression – the one that made her heart ache – and she couldn't ignore the thread of longing that tugged on her heart. It was entirely unfounded, though. Hiei was still here and he wasn't going anywhere. They had plenty of time to sort out their issues.

"I'll see you later," she said to him lamely, suppressing the feelings that threatened to overtake her.

True to his word, Kai actually did turn out to be a decent helper. Hiei was able to get a majority of his belongings sorted and stored in their proper places just in time to take the boy out to lunch. Kai insisted on a new café, and Hiei obliged. It was close enough to Botan's office and he told her that she could meet them there when she was finished.

The café was mostly empty, save for a familiar figure giving his order.

"Was Haru the one who told you about this place?" Hiei asked darkly.

"Mhm," Kai affirmed, still oblivious to the source of Hiei's sudden change in disposition.

"Figures," Hiei muttered under his breath. He contemplated leaving the place entirely, but that plan fell through in the moment that Haru turned around and spotted the two of them.

"Hey Haru!" Kai waved.

"Hey Kai, hey Hiei," Haru greeted casually, before taking a sip of his coffee.

A moment later he froze, doing a double take as his green eyes landed on Hiei. The man looked as though he had seen an apparition, but his shock was quickly overturned by his glee.

"Hiei, you're here!" Haru wailed, throwing his arms around Hiei tightly all the while managing to keep his drink in tact. He looked down at Kai excitedly. "He's really here!"

Kai nodded in a placating manner as Hiei pried the over emotional man off of himself.

"Go order something for yourself," Hiei instructed as he passed a few bills over to Kai.

"I knew that you wouldn't really leave us all in the end!" Haru exclaimed, as Kai ran over to the counter.

"I'm only beginning to regret that decision now," Hiei stated dismally.

"Aw, don't be like that, buddy," Haru cooed, slapping Hiei on the shoulder jovially.

Hiei rolled his eyes.

"So, what changed your mind in the end?" Haru questioned.

"I figured out what was most important," he stated, glancing over at Kai, who was busy chatting away with the barista.

"That's good. I'm really proud of you," Haru praised. "And it's especially great because it means you and I will be working together again!"

Hiei raised a brow.

"I wasn't aware the position was still open," he admitted.

"Psh, I trashed the resumes and applications that came in," Haru declared shamelessly. "If Risho thinks he's getting your job, he's got another thing coming."

"You realize what you did was a crime," Hiei stated.

"Eh, I'll be fine so long as you don't say anything," Haru supposed with a half-hearted shrug of his shoulders.

"Hn."

"Besides, I'm sure we can always call up Koenma and get things back in order," Haru proposed.

Hiei honestly hadn't considered it. It had only been a few hours since he decided to stay and the thought of reclaiming his former position never even crossed his mind. It did sound tempting, though.

"Don't you dare think of bailing on me," Haru warned with a warm smile. "We've still got lots of work left to do, partner."

The corner of Hiei's lifted into a smirk.

"Is that what you call what you've been doing all these years?"

"Hey!" Haru protested. "My contributions to Enma Corp. have been incomparable and unparalleled and don't you forget it."

"Hn."

"By the way, did you sort things out with you-know-who?" Haru pried nosily.

"I don't intend to talk about that with you. Especially not now."

Hiei's gaze rolled down towards the blue-haired boy who was gathering his purchases and Haru nodded in understanding.

"Well, when you finally gather up the courage to say what's on your heart, I can help you out. I am a master when it comes to things like this, you know."

"I highly doubt that."

"Just trust me!" Haru said, puffing his chest out self-importantly. "Follow my advice and she'll be yours forever."

"I don't need any advice from you."

"You sure look like you do, buddy," Haru teased. "Especially with a catch like you-know-who."

Kai returned to them with a brown bag in his hand and a questioning look in his eyes.

"…Are you guys talking about my mom?" he asked.

Haru's jaw dropped as he pointed a finger at Kai.

"He knows?"

"You practically just told him you fool," Hiei gritted.

"Aw, Haru didn't spill the beans," Kai dismissed. "I already knew that you and mom liked each other."

"Kai…" Hiei ground out warningly.

"But it's the truth…" he reasoned, staring up at Hiei stubbornly. "And so obvious."

"That's exactly what I was saying!" Haru agreed with a chuckle.

Hiei crossed his arms over his chest tightly, lips pulled into a tight line.

"Aw, don't give us the silent treatment, Hiei. Especially not when we're so invested in helping you," Haru said. "Little Kai may be young, but he's got a sharp mind. And I know all about wooing a lady. You're lucky that you've got us in your corner and at your disposal."

"Lucky isn't the word I would use," Hiei countered darkly.

"You're such a negative guy," Haru mused, running a hand through his orange waves exasperatedly. "But no fear. I will stand by your side and help you out regardless. So tell us, what do you plan to do next?"

"That is none of your business," Hiei maintained, turning his back to the two of them entirely.

"He could always start with flowers?" Haru suggested unfalteringly.

"Mom liked the tulips I got her for Mother's Day," Kai inserted in an attempt to be helpful.

"Chocolates are a sweet gesture, too," Haru added.

"Yeah, she's always eating the ones that come in those heart boxes," Kai divulged.

"Good to know," Haru commended. "Most important part of all, though, is the emotional confession. It's got to be authentic and come straight from the heart."

"Ew… like those mushy gushy movies she's always watching with Yukina and Shizuru?" Kai questioned, disgust laced in his tone.

"Precisely!" Haru answered brightly. "Oh, and he should probably put some effort into his appearance. That matters."

"Mom thinks he looks good all the time, though, so it probably doesn't matter," Kai said.

Hiei's proud stance broke a bit, eyes widening in surprise. He was grateful for the fact that he wasn't facing them and that no one could see the way his expression deviated in that moment.

"You hear that, Hiei?" Haru called, stepping in front him and wiggling his eyebrows. "You're already in her good books. This'll be a piece of cake."

"With chocolate frosting on top!" Kai added, joining him at his side.

"…You're both insufferable," Hiei muttered, as the two continued to cohort amongst themselves.

Since they did not bother listening to him, he pulled his phone out of his pocket and caught up on the messages and emails contained in his inbox. He was not at all surprised to find one from Koenma and he supposed that he had some explaining to do. Although they were short on time and Mukuro was an exceptionally adept candidate for the position, he did go over Koenma's head. The CEO had requested a video conference in half an hour to discuss the recent happenings and Hiei could not afford to miss it.

"Stay with him until Botan arrives," Hiei instructed. "I have to go."

"Wait a minute – where's the fire?" Haru asked.

"Video conference with Koenma," he replied. He might as well explain himself as well as secure his old position back.

"Alright. Leave Kai to me!" Haru said, saluting him.

"Don't forget to stop by tomorrow morning!" Kai reminded him.

"I won't forget," Hiei affirmed.

Hiei managed to make it to the office in record time. Although he didn't have his keycard or security ID on him, the woman at the front desk let him through regardless and Sayo was beaming the moment witnessed his entry on the sixteenth floor.

"Is the office open?" he asked her.

"It always is for you," she smiled.

He nodded his thanks and then entered his barren office. Without the personal touches that Haru added, the place seemed colder. But it was his, and it felt good to take up residence within these four walls again. He sat down on his leather chair and logged into the conference portal. It took a few moments for it load, and soon enough he was greeted with the nearly comical image of Koenma seated in his oversized chair. The brown-haired man leaned forward, hands folded atop of his spotless mahogany desk.

"Would you mind explaining to me why you're still here and Mukuro is halfway to America?" Koenma inquired.

"I decided not to go," Hiei replied evenly. "I'm needed here."

"I can't fault you for changing your mind, but the investors were expecting you," Koenma reminded him. "We will look unprepared and untrustworthy by sending in an employee that they did not expect."

"I know," he acknowledged. "But even so, Mukuro was always the better candidate. She possesses more experience and knowledge in the field and, quite frankly, the woman is more cutthroat than either of us. She is the best person to spearhead operations and I don't regret sending her in my place."

"I see your point," Koenma conceded. "I just wish I was given a heads up. It will certainly be harder for her to gain their trust and support."

"It will be, but she works best when the odds are stacked against her."

"That is true," Koenma agreed. "My father isn't happy with this, but I can't really find it in myself to be too angry. I suppose I'll just have to do a bit of damage control."

The tension in his shoulders drained a bit at Koenma's words, but he remained alert.

"We were going to hold interviews for your position, but I suppose that's unnecessary now that you're back," Koenma commented, shuffling through some papers as he spoke.

Hiei frowned, brow crinkled in confusion.

"That's it?" he questioned.

Koenma looked back into the screen once more, catching Hiei's perplexed expression.

"Well, there's no use in throwing a tantrum over it," he answered, to Hiei's surprise. "And if I'm being honest, I felt pretty guilty for handing you this opportunity when it meant I'd be breaking up your family. My conscience is a little clearer now that you've decided to stay."

"I see."

"Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to ask you a few personal questions – off the record of course," Koenma began.

Hiei frowned.

"What is it?"

"Did Botan have anything to do with your decision?"

She was partly the reason for his indecision, but she was not the deciding factor in his choice to inevitably remain here.

"It was Kai," he answered honestly. "But if she had asked me to stay, I would have."

Koenma nodded, features settling into a more serious look.

"I'm not sure what's going on between you two, but Botan is my oldest and closest friend. Despite her cheery outlook on life, she has been through a lot and I'd like to avoid any further heartache from coming upon her if I can."

"And what does that have to do with me?" Hiei asked defensively.

"I want you to do right by her. You're a good man, Hiei, but matters of the heart are complicated. It's easy to hurt one another once you open yourself up in that way," he explained, looking as though he were speaking from experience. "I want you to do your best to keep her happy. I want you to promise me that you'll take good care of her."

Hiei swallowed thickly. He knew what he had to do, but being accountable and pledging responsibility for Botan to the person who meant so much to her was something else entirely. He stared back at Koenma with a sharp nod. This was the least he could do.

"…I will."

"Good, because if you don't, then I'll have to sic Yusuke on you," Koenma joked.

Hiei rolled his eyes. It seemed as though everyone had an opinion when it came to his nonexistent love life. He could not fault Koenma for the sudden big brother routine – Hiei had done the same for Yukina in his own rough and temperamental way – but Kai and Haru were a different story. Those two were annoyingly persistent in their crusade for Hiei to tell Botan the truth. He didn't need their reminders or their pushing; he knew that there was no sense in keeping it to himself any longer. He was not a romantic person and he had trouble saying the things that resided in his heart, but he would have to do it eventually. She had done far more than she needed to for him; being honest with her was the least he could do in return.

The following morning, Hiei arrived at Botan's right on time. She greeted him warmly, hair pinned up in a messy bun and apron tied around her waist. He was a little surprised to see that she was fully alert at such an early hour, but then again she was probably just as excited over Kai's birthday as Kai himself. She let him inside and Hiei followed her towards the dining table. His brows rose as he spotted the large spread.

"Did you invite the others?" he asked.

"No, it's just us three today," she replied, removing her apron and setting it on the back of her chair. "Why? Do you think I went overboard?"

Overboard was an understatement. The woman had made three different types of eggs, along with pancakes, waffles, hash browns, sausages and bacon. There was even an array of fruits and pastries set up as well.

Hiei nodded wordlessly and Botan shrugged.

"Well, I suppose we'll be eating well all day today. Yusuke's also going to be making a special dinner for Kai tonight," she revealed. "Oh, and then I've got all of his friends coming over to the park tomorrow to continue the birthday celebrations. It might be a bit too much, but I couldn't help it. It's his first birthday with us and I wanted it to be special."

He could understand that much. She was only making up for the years she had missed out on, after all.

"Is that your gift?" she asked, pointing to the large box he was toting.

"One of them," Hiei answered.

"You can set it against the wall, right next to mine," Botan instructed, pointing to a smaller, rectangular box that lay on the floor.

As soon as he had put the gift down, Kai exited the bathroom. Half lidded eyes jolted to full wakefulness when they spotted Hiei.

"You came!"

Hiei wondered when the boy would stop greeting him with such an excited and appreciative air. It did something strange to his chest every time and he wasn't sure if he would ever get use to it. Botan nudged him and Hiei remembered why he was here in the first place.

"Happy birthday," he said lowly.

"Thanks dad," Kai grinned. He then stood up to full height and straightened his posture. "Do you think I look any older or taller?"

Botan giggled.

"I don't think it works that way, hun," she told him, rearranging the dishes so that they all fit comfortably on the table.

Kai's inquiry was soon forgotten when he spotted the array of food.

"Whoa… is all of this for me?" he asked.

"You bet it is! It's a special day, after all," she replied. "Don't be shy now. You too, Hiei, there's no way we can finish all of this on our own."

The two of them took a seat and began eating. He thought of how far they had all come. He nearly hated the woman and resented the child, but in a few months that had all changed. They had all started out so inexperienced and unsure when it came to being a part of what was now their family – but they all found their footing and it had all worked out in the end. Hiei had never believed in things magically falling into place or the universe working towards a singular goal, but even he had to admit that there was some unseen force that had kept them together.

He glanced over at Kai - who was busy wolfing down his food at a downright scary pace - before digging into his own meal. Eventually, Kai's fork clattered against gis plate and the boy regarded them eagerly.

"Can I open my presents now?" he asked excitedly.

"Go right ahead," Botan permitted.

Kai slid his chair out from the table noisily and dashed over to the two items. He moved to Botan's gift first, taking a seat on the floor as he unwrapped the gift carefully and considerately. It was only then that Hiei realized that the boy had probably never done this before. A pang of guilt ran through his chest as he watched Kai's expression brighten.

"A game station!" he exclaimed.

Botan grinned triumphantly.

"I can barely pry you off of Yusuke and Kuwabara's, so I figured it was high time you got your own," she revealed.

"Thanks mom!" he said as he set the box down in order to hug her tightly.

Botan giggled.

"You're very welcome. Now open Hiei's," she urged. "I'm curious to see what's inside that large gift."

Purple eyes looked over at the box in curiosity. He removed the wrapping paper in the same slow and cautious manner that he did with the first present, and then paused to stare at it almost disbelievingly.

"You remembered..." he said, mouth falling open in surprise.

Hiei nodded as he placed a hand into the pocket of his black slacks. Kai had mentioned not having a bicycle before, and Hiei figured it was time he got one. It did not require much thought or deliberation, but it had clearly touched the boy more than he expected.

"I did," he affirmed.

"...Thanks dad," he smiled. "I love it."

"And you've got more presents to unwrap later," Botan reminded him. "But for now, you've got to get ready for school."

"Right."

Hiei watched Kai disappear behind his room door before he helped Botan clear the dishes away and clean up the kitchen. If he had boarded the plane, he would have missed out on all of this. He would have been absent through it all. He shook the thought out of his head and instead decided to focus on getting the place cleared up. He and Botan worked in silence and in tandem as they had done countless times before. It was more than easy for him to be here with them; it was natural. They had fallen into this routine so many times before, but Hiei soon realized that he didn't want things to return to the way they were. He wanted to move forward, and he wanted to do so with her.

Hiei turned around to tell her that, only to come face to face with the woman. Botan staggered at their sudden proximity and he caught a hold of her to keep her from slipping.

"I was reaching for the paper towel beside you…" she tried to explain. "I didn't expect for you to turn around so abruptly."

When she tried to take a step back, he merely tightened his grip on her, shaking his head once to prevent her from moving away. Botan froze in his grasp, staring back at him and searching his eyes for an answer to the sudden and uncharacteristic decision to keep her close. He wanted Botan, in all her eccentricities, with all of her emotions and in spite of all of her complexities and he didn't need flowers or chocolates or fancy clothes to tell her what was on her mind. There was nothing he needed aside from her. With that thought in mind, he brushed his lips against her parted ones slowly and deliberately. She let out a gasp, before leaning into him and responding with more fervor than he expected her to. His mouth moved to deepen the kiss, but his efforts were short-lived as Botan returned to her senses.

"Hiei…" she whispered as she pulled away, placing a hand on his chest to keep him anchored there. Her cheeks were pink and lips swollen. "What are we doing?"

"What we should have a long time ago, if only we hadn't been so stubborn and blind to the truth," he answered, arms dropping at his sides as he released her.

Botan's palm fell away from his chest, her brow crinkled slightly as she tried to process what his words meant. For someone so adept in the matters of the heart, she was blindly oblivious when it came to his.

"I don't stand a chance when it comes to you, woman," he professed. "I didn't understand it at first, but it's all clear now. It's the reason why every single thing you've ever said to me has stayed with me and every thing you've ever done is etched into my memory."

"Hiei..."

"I didn't think I was capable of changing this much, until you and Kai came along," he admitted. "You've both done more than enough for me, so if you wanted me, if you needed me, you should have said so. You shouldn't have let me go."

Botan's amethyst gaze broke away from his self-consciously, the way she always did when she was caught in a moment of hesitance.

"I couldn't possibly ask you to stay when everything you've been working towards was finally within your grasp," she reasoned. "You deserved to get exactly what you wanted and I didn't want to stand in your way."

"What if I told you that everything that I wanted was right here?" he asked her lowly.

Botan looked up at him in shock, mouth falling open.

"You…"

"I love you," he declared. "I love you more than I can say and more than you may ever know. I love you more than the differences between us and the obstacles that lie ahead. And if that's good enough for you, Botan, then I want you to be mine."

She nodded as tears sprung to her eyes.

"I love you, too," she admitted softly. "I have for a while now. I'm sorry for pushing you away when only thing I really wanted was to be with you, Hiei."

His mouth quirked upwards into a wry half-smile. It had taken them long enough to reach this point, but he suppose it was worth it in the end. He leaned in to capture her lips again, when Botan halted him.

"Slow down there, mister, Kai could come out at any moment," she reminded him.

But Hiei was past the point of listening. He wrapped an arm around her slender waist and pulled her in close.

"Then we shouldn't waste any time."

Her entire body was tingling from the attention that Hiei had given her. The touch of his fingers, the grip of his hands and the way he moved his mouth against hers was more than enough to make her dizzy. It was just like their first kiss, except this time she knew exactly what was inside of his heart.

The rational part of her brain was telling her to put a pause on things but when Hiei's hand slid up until it found purchase on her waist, she lost all logical train of thought. There was an almost uncontrolled quality to the way that he kissed her, as if she were able to make him lose his composure and control. It was an empowering thought and it spurred her to take the lead, moving her lips against his slower and more softly than he was probably accustomed to. He growled at the sudden change in pace, but followed suit nonetheless with a determined and unrelenting passion that made her go a little weak in the knees.

"Whoa!"

They both pulled away at Kai's excited interjection.

"Kai!" she exclaimed breathlessly, the memory of Hiei's touch still fresh in her mind and on her skin.

"Best… birthday… ever!" Kai squealed.

"Now, son-" Botan tried to calm him down.

"I knew you guys would get together eventually!" he cheered.

Botan blushed as he continued.

"Are you guys going to get married?" he asked hurriedly. "Is there going to be a wedding? Can I be the ring bearer? Whose apartment are we going to live in? Who's last name are we taking? When-"

"Kai," Hiei interrupted sternly, causing the boy to quiet down.

"You're moving at the speed of light," Botan said to him softly. "We need to take things one-step at a time."

"Aw, okay," Kai relented, though the excitement still danced in his eyes.

"Your father and I are still trying to figure things out and we would appreciate it if you kept this little incident between us for the while," Botan requested.

"I can do that," Kai guaranteed.

Hiei crossed his arms over his chest, fixing Kai with a disbelieving look.

"I can!" Kai pressed, hands balled into fists at his side.

"Good! Now that that's all settled and agreed upon, we should see you off," Botan suggested.

"Okay!"

Kai walked outside with an extra spring in his step, and Botan honestly felt like doing the same. When the bus pulled up to the curb and the doors opened, she bent down to give him a quick hug.

"Have a great day, sweetie."

"Thanks!" he replied, grinning from ear to ear. "Love you both."

"Love you more," she answered.

Hiei nodded wordlessly in response, the look in his eyes calm and content.

They both watched him board the bus and Botan waved until the bus was out of sight. Now that it was just the two of them, her thoughts began to stray.

"I have an appointment soon," he noted, looking down at his watch.

When his crimson gaze met hers, she felt her cheeks heat up.

"A-Alright."

"I'll meet you at Yusuke's."

"Huh?"

"You said that he is hosting Kai's birthday dinner."

"Yes... silly me."

Hiei smirked and it was suddenly clear where Kai had inherited his devious streak from.

"A little flustered, woman?"

"No!" she denied hurriedly with a shake of her head. The longer he stared at her, the more her resolve began to shake until she let out a defeated sigh. "Well, maybe just a little. This is all just so new. Aren't you a little uncertain, too?"

"I know exactly what I feel for you. There is no need for uncertainty."

"I didn't mean it like that," Botan explained. "It's just a little scary because this is brand new territory for the two of us. Not to mention how complicated it will get with Kai in the mix."

Hiei frowned in confusion, so she continued.

"I want us to last, is all," she said honestly. "You mean too much to me for it all to go sour."

"It won't."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because you never gave up on me, so I don't intend on letting you go."

The simple surety in his statement was more than enough to erase any fears or doubts that resided in her heart. He continued to surprise her every day and she hoped that he would never stop.

"You're absolutely right," she agreed, before smiling at him lightheartedly. "I had no idea you were so romantic, Hiei."

His determined expression gave way to an irritated scowl.

"That wasn't romantic."

"Could have fooled me," she teased.

"You-"

Whatever words Hiei had hoped to say were lost to him as Botan leaned in to kiss his cheek. Her smile deepened mischievously when she realized that she had managed to catch him off guard. She could have sworn that she even saw his cheeks redden, but her eyes must have been playing tricks on her.

"Now who's flustered?" she teased.

"Shut up, woman," he grumbled, shifting uncomfortably under the weight of her gaze.

Botan giggled. He looked downright adorable, but she dare not say it aloud. Hiei certainly wouldn't appreciate it, but she supposed she could afford to admit those things to him now that they were together. Her cheeks flushed at the thought. It was still hard to wrap her mind around it.

His phone began to ring and he looked back at her.

"I have to go."

"Alright, have a nice day at work. I'll see you later tonight."

He nodded, before answering his call and walking away. Botan watched him go fondly, heart fluttering in her chest and mood soaring high. She looked up at the cerulean sky with a smile as bright as the sun that shined down on her. It was ironic how a man who brought her such frustration and stress at the start of their relationship was now the one that she didn't want to do without. Life really did work in mysterious ways.

Kuwabara sat on the bench, watching as the golden colored leaves fell and drifted away on the wind. It was a sunny and cool day, but his mind was far removed from the picturesque scenery and a dark frown littered his features. Everything was changing so quickly and he wasn't sure he could keep up.

Kurama wouldn't be around to make eyes at his sister, or to give them boring lectures and anecdotes about his work with plants. Urameshi wouldn't be riling him up one minute and laughing away with him in the next. Even Hiei wouldn't be around to get on his nerves. The little jerk was probably already settling in America by now.

The four of them had gone through so much and he always just assumed that they'd continue to move forward together. But here was, stuck in the same spot while they all advanced.

"Hey, big, blue and goofy – what's with the sad face?"

"Leave me alone, Urameshi," Kuwabara grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest and turning to face the other way.

"Gee, I just thought you might like to know that I'm not leaving," Yusuke announced.

Kuwabara's brows lifted, turning to view the black-haired man in confusion.

"Huh?"

"Hokushin's got all these complicated rules and regulations. It's not my style at all," Yusuke explained with a dismissive wave of his hand. "I'd rather pave my own way than work towards someone else's vision."

Kuwabara blinked, taking in the sudden information.

"I feel the same way," a calm voice agreed.

"Kurama!" Kuwabara said in surprise, turning to see the redhead walking towards him.

"Dredging up the past is no way to pave a future for yourself," Kurama stated. "I believe I am exactly where I need to be."

"Y-you mean you guys aren't leaving?" Kuwabara asked, his chest feeling lighter already.

"Hn," Hiei grunted. "I think he might actually start to cry."

"Hiei!" Kuwabara exclaimed, jumping into a standing position. He never thought there would be a day when he was relieved to see the little shrimp, but he supposed there was a first time for everything.

Yusuke looked between the four of them with a knowing smirk.

"Guess we're all a bunch of big lugs in the end, huh?" he stated cheekily.

"Speak for yourself," Hiei scoffed.

"Aw, I think you boys should hug it out," Botan teased, joining them with a grin.

"You're free to shed a few manly tears, too," Shizuru suggested.

Yukina smiled at the exchange, moving to stand beside him.

"It looks like everyone is exactly where they're meant to be," she commented softly.

"Yeah," he agreed lowly. His expression brightened when he spotted Kai. He could only imagine how happy the boy was, especially now that his dad decided to stay. "Happy Birthday little buddy."

"Thanks Kuwabara," Kai replied, blushing a bit at the sudden attention.

"I hope you guys brought your appetites, because I'll be cooking up a storm. It's not every day Kai turns eight," Yusuke commented, cracking his knuckles.

Kai ducked his head in embarrassment.

"And, hey, in ten more years, the kid can actually join us at the bar," Yusuke pointed out, as he entered his cart and wiggled his brows at them from behind the counter.

Kai's face scrunched up in distaste.

"Why would I want to go there?" he wondered, looking up at Yusuke for an answer.

"Well…" Yusuke paused, catching Botan's glare. "I'll tell you in ten years."

"If you say so…" he trailed off, before hopping up on one of the stools. "Do you mind if I watch you cook?"

"How about I do you one better? Get in here and I'll show you how to make my newest dish."

Kai's mauve eyes lit up in satisfaction, before he hopped off of the stool and made his way towards Yusuke.

A lot had occurred within the span of a few months, but it brought them all closer and that was really all that mattered. As Yusuke and Kai chattered on in the background, the rest of them took a seat at one of the many tables scattered around the park.

Hiei slid into the bench directly after Botan and Kuwabara's eyes narrowed, his sixth sense on alert. There was something strange going on here. They didn't necessarily do anything out of the blue, but he could sense that things between them changed somehow. His mouth twisted in concentration as he observed them critically, trying to the exact cause of this new development.

"Kazuma?"

Yukina's calm voice pulled him from his thoughts.

"Yes my love?"

"Is something the matter? You look upset."

"Oh, I'm fine," he said, laughing nervously. "I was just thinking is all."

"Are you sure?"

Kuwabara's entire spirit lifted upon knowing that Yukina was concerned over him. She was so pure hearted and kind.

"I'm fine, my sweet, I promise!"

"Okay."

Maybe he was just being paranoid, but as the day went on, there were things that Kuwabara couldn't ignore. The two sat a little closer to each other than normal, and despite the proximity, Botan seemed completely at ease in Hiei's presence. The shrimp wasn't bothered by it either and his gaze lingered on Botan a split second too long when he thought no one was watching.

He kept his thoughts to himself, but after dinner, something happened that he couldn't ignore. He was in the middle of a game of hacky sack with Kai, Yusuke and Kurama, when he ended up overshooting a bit too far. He wandered over to where Hiei and Botan were seated to reclaim the the sack when he heard it.

"You're so cute, Hiei!" she giggled.

"I'm not cute," Hiei denied tightly.

"Tell that to the adorable little pout on your face."

"Say what you will now, woman, but I doubt you will be so bold once I get you alone."

Kuwabara turned ghostly pale as he walked back to the others, the game long forgotten.

"What's the matter, Kazuma, you look like you've seen a ghost," Shizuru noted.

"He has gotten awfully pale. Are you unwell?" Kurama asked.

"B-botan and Hiei," he stuttered out.

"Yes?" Yukina prompted, encouraging him to continue.

"She was calling him cute and he was acting like it was normal. And then he said something about getting her alone," Kuwabara recalled with a shiver. "It was freaky."

"Botan calls all of us cute," Yusuke rationalized with a shrug, pausing to give Kuwabara a look over. "Except for you, Kuwabara, that mug can't be classified as cute."

"Oh shut it, Urameshi, I'm being serious here!" Kuwabara bellowed.

"Now that you mention it, they do seem a little closer than usual," Shizuru agreed.

"See? Something's not right!" Kuwabara maintained. "There's definitely something going on between the two of them."

Kai stiffened, looking away nervously.

"Something the matter kid?" Yusuke asked.

"Nope," Kai said, before pressing his lips into a thin line.

"Aw and here I thought we were better friends than that. I even think of you as a little brother of my own, but I guess you don't feel the same if you're keeping secrets," Yusuke said.

"I'm sorry Yusuke, I can't tell you," Kai lamented. "I wish I could."

"So there is something to tell…" Yusuke grinned cheekily.

"Oops," Kai exclaimed, covering a hand over his mouth.

"You're guilt-tripping a child, Yusuke. Think about how low you've sunken before you go any further," Shizuru warned, brown eyes narrowed into a glare.

"Yeah, but the kid clearly knows what's going on," Yusuke rationalized.

"Perhaps it simply isn't our business to know," Kurama advised maturely.

"Yes," Yukina supported. "My brother is a very private person. If something has changed between them, he might prefer it if it stayed between them for a while."

"Mhm!" Kai added with a sharp nod of his head. "That's exactly why he didn't want me telling anyone that they were kissing in the kitchen this morning."

"Oh my," Yukina said, placing a hand over her mouth.

"Oh no…" Kai winced in horror. "I blabbed again."

Shizuru put a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"I wouldn't beat yourself up over it," she soothed. "Yusuke was spurring you on in the first place."

"But I promised them that I wouldn't tell anyone…" Kai lamented.

"If Hiei wanted to keep it a secret, then he shouldn't have been out in the open," Kurama surmised with an amused smile.

Shizuru nodded in agreement as Yusuke stepped forward.

"We've all gotten dragged into their whirlwind romance on more than one occasion," Yusuke reminded them with a smirk. "So I say it's high time we returned the grief a bit."

"This is nice, don't you think?" Botan asked, regarding Hiei with a soft smile curving her lips.

"It would be better without Kuwabara and Yusuke's offhanded remarks, but if Kai is happy, then that is all that matters," he admitted.

"That's the spirit Hiei!" she cheered. "Tomorrow will certainly be a bit crazier, especially with all the kids running around."

"...Remind me to work overtime."

"No you don't, mister. I'll need you there to help with all those kids."

"I hate kids," Hiei grumbled.

"But you're great with Kai," Botan pointed out.

"That's because he's mine."

"Well, they're all his friends and it's his birthday party, so you'll have to be there, too," Botan decided.

Hiei grunted, crossing his arms over his chest. She resisted the urge to kiss him on the cheek and settled for poking him in the arm playfully instead.

"At least this is the extent of your worries. In a few years he'll be a teenager and that will come with a whole range of other problems..."

He raised a dark brow.

"Is this your way of looking on the bright side?"

She nodded.

"Why, is it not working?"

"Not at all."

Amusement laced her features as she dusted off her jeans and stood up.

"In any case, maybe we should go and join the others. It might seem a bit strange that we're off alone while they're all together."

Hiei nodded as he took a stand as well, frowning when he noticed that everyone was making their way over to them instead.

"It wasn't my fault, I swear!" Kai warned.

Botan blinked down at him in confusion.

"What?"

But Yusuke had already begun talking before Kai could explain.

"You know, something's different with the two of you, but I just can't seem to put my finger on it," he began, rubbing a hand at his chin purposely.

"Heh, you're right Urameshi," Kuwabara teased from beside him.

"W-what do you mean?" Botan asked, uncomfortable under their combined scrutiny.

"Now that you mention it, something does feel like it's shifted," Shizuru noticed.

Botan gulped, avoiding the brunette's discerning gaze at all costs. Hiei was as indifferent as always, posture relaxed and calm as he ignored the conversation entirely.

"Perhaps the answer is obvious and right in our faces. An inevitable conclusion to the course of events that were set in motion long ago," Kurama supposed.

"I-it's really nothing at all," Botan tried, hands raised in defense.

"It doesn't seem that way to me," Yukina opined.

"Y-yukina… even you?" Botan faltered in surprise.

She only smiled guiltily in response.

"So what's the verdict, oh wise and knowledgeable Warrior of Love?" Yusuke asked, cocking his head towards Kuwabara.

"I think they finally got together and decided not to tell us," Kuwabara stated sagely.

Botan's eyes widened in disbelief.

"How could you possibly know that?" she shrieked.

"Because the Warrior of Love knows all," Kuwabara replied.

"Or a certain blue-haired blabbermouth couldn't keep it to himself," Hiei deduced, glaring down at Kai.

Kai threw a hand over his mouth and hid behind Kurama's leg.

"Don't blame the kid," Yusuke defended. "We figured it out all on our own. It was inevitable, really, so why the secrecy?"

"W-well, it's all just so new… and we needed some time," Botan defended.

"Something tells me you two will be just fine," Shizuru commented. "I'm happy for you both."

"So am I," Yukina added.

Hiei looked away, shoving a hand in his pocket and Botan smiled.

"Thanks girls."

"Yeah, we're all happy for you, just don't go getting all lovey-dovey in front of us. It's bad enough that Kuwabara's always waxing corny poetry and Shizuru and Kurama are making eyes at each other. I'm starting to feel like the seventh wheel over here," Yusuke grumbled.

"Maybe it's time for you to settle down, too, Urameshi," Kuwabara taunted. "If we can find a girl who can manage to put up with you."

"What was that?"

"You heard me, punk!"

The two began fighting as Kai watched on with increasing interest. Although it was quite juvenile and immature, Botan was glad that there were some things that never changed between them. When their little wrestling match had gotten out of hand and their insults a little too crude, she decided to step in.

"Alright, enough of this," she interrupted. "It's time to cut the cake!"

Kai's face lit up as soon as the magic words left her mouth and they all gathered around the nearest table. Although it was nearly autumn, he had insisted on an ice cream cake for his birthday, so Yusuke pulled it out of the fridge in his cart and placed it directly in front of Kai. Botan made quick work of setting and lighting the candles and then the group busted out into song. Kai's contented smile was illuminated by the golden glow of the candles and Botan couldn't help but take a few pictures for posterity's sake. Her heart was full to the brim with happiness and she was sure that Kai felt the same, too. She glanced over at Hiei, before reaching out and slipping her hand into his. She was wholly surprised when he wordlessly closed his hand over hers, not caring if anyone else saw. His grip was warm and firm and everything that she did not know that she needed.

Life didn't get much better than this.

Six months ago Kai was just a kid without a home. He had no family, no parents and no friends. When he found his mom, he had also found his dad, and his aunt and a group of friends who would eventually come to be his family, too. He had two homes he could call his own and a set of people that he trusted. He wasn't sure how he got so lucky, but he sure was glad that he finally found a place where he finally fit in with and people who loved him for who he was.

"Time to make a wish," Botan said.

Kai shook his head resolutely, eyes passing over his parents and the rest of the group with all of the sureness in the world.

"I've got everything I need right here."

The End

I started this story during a rough time in my life with the belief that things could get better. Here we are, a few months later, and they really have gotten better. This fic holds a particular special place in my heart, and I'm so glad that you all were able to get a few laughs and happiness from it as well. Thank you for all of the support and encouragement. Thank you for sticking to with this story until the very end.

That being said, I have decided to start a side fic that will showcase moments that didn't quite make the cut for Love You More. You guys are more than welcome to request scenes that you'd like to see during any point during or after LYM's timeline.

In closing, I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. It was such a pleasure writing for you guys. I've got some more HB stories in the works, so I hope to see you all there!