Disclaimer: I don't own YYH or the characters

And here we are, the final chapter. So I've thought more about the drabble series, and I don't know when I'm going to start it. I've decided that it's going to be random fluff pieces and whatever ideas I might have. Some might be direct continuations of this story or even AU pieces related or not to my other HXB stories. It doesn't have a name yet, and I haven't started working on it yet, so I don't know when I'll start it, but keep an eye out in the fandom ;) Thank you to everyone who took the time to read and review this story. I'm sorry it took about four years to complete. We can all agree that a lot has happened in that time with all of us. Without further ado…

The weeks had passed and Botan had become more proactive with her new life. She had decided not to run her idea by Hiei yet, for she wanted it to all be a surprise. Kurama, though, helped her fill out college applications with made up credentials that he and Koenma were able to create to fill in her high school years. She didn't like lying, but she knew it was hard to find work for someone with literally no past. She knew her stuff well, and had already been interviewed by a few schools. She was going to be starting work on her psychology degree in the fall, right after the Demon World Tournament meaning she could go and cheer her mate and friends on. Well, if Hiei even let her. The surprise she had for him might throw a wrench in that plan.

"And you haven't told him," Kurama stated, his voice full of amusement. "He will not be happy you've been keeping this secret during your weekly call."

Botan laughed lightly as she finished working on her hair. "I wanted it to be a surprise, but yeah he probably will be. But maybe he'll be impressed I managed to actually keep a secret for once."

The fox demon chuckled as he watched her get ready. The plan was for the two them and Yukina to head into the city and meet the others. Hiei would be showing up at some point, meeting them at the summer carnival. Botan was so excited to go to the fair, especially since it was the first year it happened during the time of her birthday.

"How do I look?" she asked, still questioning if she had done her hair right. She then scowled at her reflection and removed the fancily done ponytail. "Eh, screw it. I think my hair wants to stay down tonight."

"Botan, relax," Kurama reassured her, smiling at her antics. "You know that Hiei won't complain about your looks. As long as you're comfortable. Hiei will be thrilled just to see you."

Botan sighed and reluctantly moved away from the mirror. "I know, but I can't help it. The last time he saw me in person, I was still recovering."

"Yes, and you look even better now that you look so lively," Kurama stated. "Now, let's go. Everything is going to be fine. When do you plan on telling him?"

"I was thinking about on the Ferris wheel," she teased. "He can't escape that way."

Kurama shook his head, a grin plastered on his face. Hiei had certainly met his match.

Hiei was angry that he was running so behind schedule. He had gotten held up at Mukuro's stronghold, and then attacked by random thieves on his way to the portal. It amused him somewhat that a band of thieves thought to attack him, clearly not knowing who he was. They merely saw his mother's tear gem and assumed he had bought it and been wealthy. He snickered at their idiocy and incapacitated each and every one of them…permanently.

Still, it had taken too much time and effort, and he realized he would be late in meeting the group. He should have just flashed out of their view and continued to the portal, but old habits died hard. Either way, he would be there. He promised Botan that he would be, and he would not disappoint her. She had been incredibly supportive of him and his self-imposed mission. He was lucky she didn't try to change him or hold him back, simply offering unconditional love and comfort.

He knew that she wanted to tell him something. Every time they spoke, he could tell she was immensely happy and couldn't contain her excitement, but she simply said she was getting stronger and stronger every day, and then one day that she was completely healthy. She thought she was being secretive and discrete, but there was something in her eyes. Respecting her privacy, Hiei didn't attempt to read her mind, but he could have. If he truly wanted to spoil whatever was making her feel so elated, he would have known already.

He allowed her to believe that he wasn't on to her. She deserved that much. Besides, he really had no idea what it could be. He knew that Kurama and Koenma were working on giving them Human World credentials and backstories. Basically, that she went to high school with Yusuke, had been a foreign exchange student like she said, and had worked with children, teenagers, and even adults providing therapy and advice so that they could move on with their lives. Hiei, on the other hand, didn't have much schooling but had his GED, whatever that was, and had been away for business. They had known each other for years, meeting through mutual friends, and had married a few months earlier before he had left for another business trip. Hiei didn't care about the semi-true, falsified backstory, but he knew that if they were going to make a life in the human realm, there had to be something.

Still, why they were doing it now of all times, he didn't know, so Hiei assumed it was something related to that. It would make sense since Botan could do whatever she wanted in Human World now. He figured she'd want to be a counselor or something. She was good had dissecting situations, telling someone what they needed to hear while remaining completely trustworthy and optimistic. It would suit her. She could even work in the child services system. She did have this warm and understanding nature. No matter what she chose to do beyond her Spirit World retirement, Hiei knew she would excel. After all, he had chosen her to be his mate.

He managed to get to the carnival just outside the gates before he flashed inside passed the ticket counter. The Jagan glowed from under his bandana as he searched for the group, and he found them under a tent eating at a picnic table. The scene he was met with warmed him, his sister and Botan laughing over the antics of the former spirit detective and his idiotic, redheaded sidekick. Yukina was leaning against the former ferry girl trying to conceal the gems forming from her laughing so hard, Botan slipping the objects into her pockets while using the table to keep both her and his sister from falling over.

Hiei instantly flashed beside Botan, pulling her back to her shock and interrupting the laugh fest. "And what are two chortling about?"

Yukina and Botan both blinked in surprise before grinning brightly at him. "Hey, welcome back," Botan greeted placing her hand on his arm. "Um, I have your ticket. How did you get in?"

Hiei answered with a shrug and took a seat beside her. Botan chuckled and shook her head, handing him the slip of paper in case someone asked. He didn't care either way. It's not like he stole entry into the function. Kurama and Shizuru returned with food for everyone and saw Hiei sitting with Botan and Yukina, simply relaxing. "I take it your trip was uneventful," Kurama spoke up.

Hiei eyed him and muttered a quiet, "Hn," before motioning his hand to indicate the trip had been so-so. Kurama merely grinned and put food down in front of them. "What's going on with the two idiots wrestling on the ground?"

"Yusuke invited Keiko," Botan started, "but Kuwabara gave him the wrong day, so she's stuck in a meeting while we're here and Yusuke is stuck sleeping on the couch for the rest of the week."

"Try month," the detective grumbled after leaving Kuwabara slightly injured on the ground. "Whatever. He said he'd tell her it was his fault, but that doesn't help me now."

Yukina merely shook her head, a fond smile gracing her features as she went to assist and heal the human. "Well, you can hardly blame her for being angry," Botan admonished lightly. "After all, you did forget your anniversary last year, and you missed her birthday this year."

"There was a reason," Yusuke defended, pouting, "but enough about that. What's happening, short stuff? How's old Mukuro doing?"

"She's fine," Hiei scoffed, "but she wouldn't take kindly to being called old. She's younger than the fox."

"Eh, you're all older than me so what do I know?" he laughed. "Everyone ready for the tournament next month?"

"Her soldiers are prepared," Hiei replied. "I did not come here to discuss Demon World politics with you, so keep your curiosity to yourself tonight." His attention turned to the woman. "I'm here for another reason entirely."

"Feh, you're making me look bad," Yusuke muttered. "Seriously, with your speed you can cross dimensions and the city easily. I'm sort of glad Keiko isn't here or she'd expect it next time I'm held up in Demon World."

Hiei crossed his arms and leaned on the table, his eyes closed. "Simple. Don't get held up."

"Jerk."

Botan giggled at the boy's interaction. She was so very happy to see her mate. He looked so much better to her than before he left, which was saying a whole lot. She wondered if it was because she was so excited to tell him her news. "Hiei?" she called out, earning his attention. "Want to go somewhere?"

"You should eat first," Hiei remarked shoving a bowl of chicken and rice in front of her. Botan chuckled nervously and nodded, taking the dish and eating as quickly as she could without making herself feel ill. Afterwards, she set the bowl aside and Hiei nodded to her. She looked to Kurama who waved them off and told them to have fun.

Once Botan and Hiei had walked away, Botan leading him to the Ferris wheel, Yusuke looked to Kurama and said, "So she's gonna tell him?"

"She is," Kurama replied.

"Finally," Kuwabara chuckled, smiling at Yukina. "I'm still surprised you've been able to keep quiet."

"Me?" Yukina questioned indignantly. "I kept the fact that I knew he was my brother secret. Besides, I understand why Hiei kept secrets, and I'm not angry with him for it, but this is like my own personal payback for him trying to make me think he died."

"Heh…well, remind me never to keep anything from you," Kuwabara teased kissing her forehead.

"I don't think we'll have to worry about anyone keeping secrets for a long time after tonight," Kurama mused looking in the direction of the large wheel. "In fact, I'm sure we're all going to be talking about this for a while."

Botan sat close to Hiei on the Ferris wheel leaning her head on his shoulder. Hiei had his arm wrapped loosely around her nuzzling his nose against her neck. It seemed Hiei had missed her just as much as she missed him. "So, what have you been up to?" she questioned. He gave her a pointed look and she huffed. "I mean when you aren't training, Hiei."

"I haven't had much time to myself," he admitted, noticing Botan's concern. "It was my choice, onna. No one else's. I needed the distraction."

"Why?" Botan questioned, genuinely curious. "Everyone needs a break sometimes."

Hiei snorted in derision. "To do what, exactly? To think about the tournament and what happens after? To think about you, who I haven't seen since I left? It would have driven me mad."

Botan smiled at Hiei's indirect admission that he had missed her and kissed his cheek to which his just scoffed, although he did grin slightly. "Kurama has been helping me get all the documentation together so I could apply for college. I'm thinking of getting a degree in psychology, and possibly criminal justice. With my skills as a ferry girl, I could easily qualify for either a normal psychologist job or even becoming a social worker. What do you think?"

"I figured you would do something like that," Hiei stated. "I don't really understand why humans waste all their time with schooling considering experience is the telltale sign of competency."

Botan had to cover her mouth so that she didn't laugh loudly and draw attention from the other cars. "Oh, Hiei," she sighed contentedly. "I missed hearing you say things like that. We don't really have to understand it, but it will definitely make getting a job easier. I'm only doing this for the future. Besides, I can get a private apartment on campus, so that means we can stay there instead of at the temple. Kurama took me around some of the locations and there was this little café that serves gelato you'd like. There's also a very good hospital near each of the schools I'm looking into."

Hiei's brows furrowed. "What does a hospital have to do with anything?"

Botan's expression remained happy and excited. "Well, I wanted to surprise you, so I've been keeping as quiet as possible about it. Hiei, I'm…I'm pregnant, only a couple of months along."

Hiei's eyes widened, his expression highly stunned. He had not been expecting the woman to say that, of all things. "W…What?"

Botan took his hand and placed it on her abdomen. "We're going to be parents. Isn't it exciting?"

Hiei felt a small twinge of panic but swallowed it down. He was still astonished and tense, but Botan's joyful expression made him relax slightly. "H-How…?"

The former ferry girl laughed. "Well, when a man and a woman love each other…"

"I didn't mean that!" he snapped at her, growling and looking away with his arms crossed. Then he sighed and looked to her, "I was going to ask how you were feeling."

Her expression softened as she said, "Eh, I'm okay. Sometimes I feel sick, but not always. Yukina has been helping me out. She and Kurama have me on a strict, healthy diet."

"Yukina knows?"

"Oopsie…you see, I wasn't supposed to tell you that," Botan scolded herself before grinning. "Don't ask me how I kept quiet so long. I just wanted to see the look on your face in person."

"Hn," Hiei murmured pulling her into him once again. "I…I don't know what to say or think right now."

"I figured," Botan assured him. "It was quite a shock to me, too, but the timing works with the night we were mated. I'm a bit nervous, but I can't wait for us to be parents. You're going to make an amazing father."

Hiei sucked in a breath before he looked down to her form. The surge of emotions that followed her words reminded him so much of all those moments where he confided in her and she discredited the hateful words of his past. She truly saw his worth, even if he didn't. He honestly had no idea what to do with a child, but her assurances made him want to try. He nodded, not trusting his voice, making Botan grin. She gently place her hand behind his head and pulled him in for a kiss. Hiei had somewhat expected the gesture and let it happen. It had been so long, too long, since he had been there with her, and once again he felt leaving would be highly difficult to do, especially knowing of her condition.

She pulled away only for a moment, an impish look in her eyes. Hiei's narrowed. "What do you want?" he muttered, knowing full well that the conversation wasn't over.

"I can still come watch you in the tournament, right?" she asked hopefully, but he could tell by her tone that no matter how he answered, he'd see her in the crowd.

"Hn," he replied, once again initiating a kiss. Of course he wouldn't object to it, knowing that she'd be fully protected. Those at Mukuro's stronghold knew she was his mate, and as loathe as he was to admit it, he trusted them. With Yusuke's followers hanging around and even Kurama and Koenma, he wouldn't need to worry about her. Besides, that didn't count the plus, that he would be able to see her much earlier than anticipated. There were plenty of things he saw himself arguing with her, but getting to see her again was not one of them. He was hit with another thought before fireworks were shot off in the night sky. They had separated, Botan looking at the shining fire in the sky, the light gleaming in her eyes. He smirked and leaned back, relaxing as he repeated the one thought in his mind.

Who would have ever thought his life would turn out like this?

He certainly hadn't.