Bad Habits : The Starting Point

A/N: Sorry about deleting that one story... I really just rushed it. But this one is going to be different, and I know that this is another mating thing, but I'll make it different! I swear! So please read and review, and yes, this will be a bit slower on the updating.

I

Hiei growled in his tree. He was angry. Very, very, angry. His fists clenched as cold sweat dripped down his face. His breaths were short for the first time in his life. Why does it have to affect me now?

Moments before Hiei had been enjoying the few moments of sleep that he got. That was when he had a rather disturbing dream. He wasn't able to see anything, but his body had been racked with pleasure. He actually cried out in his sleep! That was what woke him, his own shout.

It was another demon mating season, but this was the only one that had made an impact on him. The worse part was that he had no idea who his instinct had picked.

His red eyes narrowed as he felt someone enter his mind.

Oh. So the season has affected you. Handling it gracefully?

Hiei's teeth gnashed together.

Shut up fox.

Who did you season pick?

Shut up.

It hasn't picked one for you yet?

Hn. No. Go away.

Come over if you have any questions. I'm sure you will.

Hn.

Hiei closed his eyes as the connection was broken. Who is my instinct going to pick? I don't know any women that are options. Wait! Maybe that's all that will happen!

Hiei sighed with relief. So if he didn't know anyone, then there was no chance that he would have to face the severe urges. Hn. Good. He licked his lips as he let his eyes remain shut as his Jagan Eye opened, giving him a good view of Genkai's temple. There was Yukina, and Hiei Jaganeshi actually smiled at the fact that she was safe.

II

Botan hummed happily as she skipped down the hallways of Rekai. She was giddy with excitement. Koenma is finally going to give me a vacation! Her blue hair rested on her back as she opened the door to Koenma's office. Her pink eyes widened at what she saw.

There was Ayame. Her eyes were closed as Koenma kissed her. He was the one who heard the door creak open. Botan felt her face heat up faster than a fire when it is fed gasoline.

"I'm sorry, sir!" Ayame's eyes shot open at the voice and her face turned bright red as well. She smoothed out her kimono, and Botan wore a crooked smile as she regained her mischievous side. "Finally you did it, Koenma! I thought that I was going to have to push you two together or something!"

Koenma coughed as he moved away from his assistant slowly and pushed back his brown hair. His cheeks were pink.

"Yes, thank you, Botan. And you are granted permission for your one week vacation."

Botan bowed and turned to leave, but then smiled.

"Don't get too carried away, or else George might hear something."

Botan summoned her oar and flew out of Rekai before Koenma could yell at her, or worse, take away her vacation.

She sailed through the clouds of Ningenkai and laughed into the sky. This day could not go wrong! I'm on vacation, Koenma FINALLY made his move on Ayame... Whee!

Botan dove over an ocean and let the water spray because of her speed. She squealed as she rocketed back into the atmosphere, the clouds bending to her as she flew by. Her pink eyes narrowed as she concentrated on flying faster to her destination.

Genkai's temple was in her line of vision even before she could see. She was at top speed and she stopped at a complete halt at the walkway. Birds whistled and leaves flew around her. Some salt water was evident in the air. Botan felt like she was floating as the wind swirled around her, catching her finally.

She looked behind her and saw the trees leaning toward her. Her lips were pulled back in a full grin. The door opened and Yukina stepped out, her eyes blinked once before she hugged the ferry girl.

"Oh Botan! You came!"

Botan was on the ground, the ice maiden having tackled her, and was laughing at Yukina's flustered and apologetic expression.

"Of course I did! Thanks for wanting me to stay with you!"

Botan was already being helped off the ground, her oar disappearing as she was ushered into the temple.

III

Hiei's ruby red eyes snapped open as the wind picked up to about seventy miles per hour. He grabbed on to a branch to steady himself and he looked up instinctively. All he saw was a flash of pink. He tried to smell what it could possibly be, but he was thrown off by the scent of the ocean and ozone.

He flitted from tree to tree and raced the wind, and he won of course. He waited and saw that a person appeared. The wind almost blew him out of the tree, he had forgotten about it. It whirled around her, leaves and drops of water spinning towards her. It wasn't the image that startled him. It was how his chest constricted and a blush spread across his face.

The ferry onna turned and smiled. She didn't know that she was looking directly at him. She couldn't have known. It was the way his heart pounded and his blood heated just by looking at her face.

Oh Kami... my instinct chose Botan...

IV

Kurama was reading when he felt a presence. He looked up and jumped at the sight of Hiei sitting on his bed, three feet in front of him. Hiei's eyes were as emotional as rocks, but Kurama knew something was up. Hiei never came into his house without reason.

"Hi, Hiei. What can I help you with?"

The fire demon scowled at him, but Kurama caught his fists clenching his sheets.

"What exactly happens during..." The demon looked around, his voice lowering, daring the kitsune to comment on it. "Demon mating season?"

Kurama sighed, and Hiei bristled. He didn't look nervous, but if Kurama wanted to know what happened he would have to let Hiei tell him.

"Well, first come the dreams, and you've probably had them before, no?" Hiei nodded curtly, not a crack in his stone mask. "Your instinct usually chooses a very compatible mate." He saw the Koorime swallow saliva. "It's never wrong."

There was a long pause, and the air was thick with tension.

"What happens with that person... the one that the instinct chooses?"

Kurama smiled, and Hiei glared at him in return.

"You will have urges, and it's almost impossible to fight them. Most successful seasons result in mating and marking."

Hiei's reaction was priceless. His shoulders shook with rage and his lips pulled back into a snarl, his fangs glistening dangerously.

"I WILL fight it, kitsune!"

Kurama's emerald eyes widened slightly. Who could it possibly be? Mukuro? She's not that bad, I mean, she's just like him. But Kurama frowned at that thought. Similarity was not how nature worked. Opposites. That was the key. Who is Hiei's opposite...? Then it dawned on him.

"Hiei you have to tell her!"

Hiei's face fell and the way he growled and approached the kitsune menacingly, it was scary.

"How do you know?" He grabbed Kurama by the collar. "TELL ME!"

Kurama didn't flinch, but smiled.

"Opposites attract." Hiei let him go, his eyes losing their madness. "First rule of chemistry." Kurama waited for Hiei to sit back down before he spoke again. "If you don't tell her, she's going to be surprised when you force her to mate with you."

Hiei snarled and Kurama didn't continue.

"I would never... do ... that... to her, fox!"

Kurama bit his lip.

"Hiei... listen... you are not going to be able to fight it. It's coursing through your blood and it wont ever leave unless you kill her." Hiei averted Kurama's eyes. "I know that part of your code. You can't kill her."

The Koorime didn't say anything, and Kurama blinked, and when his eyes opened, he was gone, the window open. He isn't going to tell her... but he's going to have to soon...

V

Botan was painting Yukina's nails when Keiko and Shizuru came over. They all hugged Botan, it had been about a year since they had seen her. They all ate together and stayed up late.

"So, Keiko, how is our old boy Yusuke?"

Botan loved how Keiko smiled.

"He's good. He wants to marry me." A gasp echoed throughout Yukina's room. "What?"

Shizuru had a faint smile gracing her face.

"Girl, you are one lucky lady."

Keiko put her hands on her cheeks bashfully.

"T-Thanks."

That was when Botan rounded on Yukina.

"So how's Kuwabara treating you?"

Yukina blinked innocently.

"Kazuma?" She looked around. "He's treating me... humanely."

Everyone exchanged humored glances.

"No, what we meant is if he's asked you out yet."

Yukina's dazed and confused face made Keiko waved the question away.

"Okay, okay, forget it!" She turned to the ferry girl. "What about you? You and Koenma get down to it yet?"

Botan's face turned scarlet.

"NO! Oh, goodness no! He's with Ayame!" Botan giggled. "I haven't found someone."

Yukina smiled.

"What would you want them to be like?"

Botan was silent for a moment (oh god!) As she thought to herself.

"Well... I would just really want him to love me. I want to make him smile even if he barely laughs at all." Botan winked at the girls. "They say opposites attract."

There was a hushed silence until Shizuru's low and uncommon laughter broke it.

"That would mean that you and Hiei would be perfect for each other."

If Botan's face could have gotten any redder, it would have.

"Sh! Don't say that!" She looked around. "He'd kill you for even suggesting that something like that would work!" She took a breath. "And I'm not saying that it would!"

"Never say never, Botan!"

The girls laughed at the bewildered ferry girl, trying to control her nervousness. Little did she know, the man that she feared would over hear was just outside the window, listening.

VI

The baka's sister is sharp. Hiei watched as the baka ferry onna's face turned all shades of red at the subject. He smiled. He liked it when she was flustered. Unsure. They talked about useless things after that. That was when they all left to get changed. His eyes widened when the ferry onna reentered the room. She looked like a kid.

Her blue hair was down, earning compliments form the other girls, her cheeks reddening. She was wearing white flannel pajamas, her shirt fitting, long sleeved, and her pants stopped just above her ankles.

The Koorime closed his eyes as he sank to the ground, his back resting against the wooden side of the temple. He was happy to feel his instincts ebb down. All he had to do was be near her and he was okay. I can wait out this mating season. I can do this.

His eyes never opened again that night, his mind already drifting away to many thoughts. His past, his label, his sister... and Botan...

VII

A/N: Hey! Please review! I'll give you... um... cartman dolls... whee! Okay, um, review and tell me what you thought. Did you like it? Love it? Hug it?

-mia