Chapter Thirteen

"Hiei!" she yelled, running to his befallen body, crying so hard that her heart found it hard to keep up.

Hiei lay motionless in her arms.

"Oh, Hiei, please wake up."

"Somethin's wrong guys," Kuwa said, lowering his voice.

"Huh?" yusuke looked up from Hiei, Botan, and Kurama.

"HEY LOOK OUT!" Kuwa yelled.

"YAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" everyone yelled as a black smoke scooped them up and the city around them diapeered.

***

"Ugh, where are we?" Kuwa asked the others as they got up.

Kurama pulled Hiei up onto his back and walked up behind Botan.

"He's still breathing, but he's going to need some help and soon. Where are we?" he said.

"I don't know," Botan said, "but we've got to get out of here."

"It smells," Yusuke said smugly.

"Urameshi, this is serious!"

"Just pointing out the obvious," he said.

A cackle circled. Then a familiar voice began to beckon.

"FOOLS!"

"C-casandra is alive?!" Botan said alloud.

"Hiei," Casandra bellowed through the echoing black room, "You think I wouldn't know that you already knew my weakness?! I have grown stringer since then and have no weakness now!"

"No," Hiei muttered, only to Kurama's ear.

Kurama's eyes lowered sadly.

"Hiei," he said, "hang in there."

Casandra appeared behind Kurama suddenly and grabbed Hiei off of his shoulders.

"NO!" he yelled, the others turning around.

"Hiei-" Botan said.

Casandra held him in her arms.

"All those years ago, Hiei," she said, her voice taking on a new tone, a soft tone, "Why?"

"Huh?" Botan said softly.

"It was so long ago, Hiei," she said, "We were only so young. Why did you leave me, Hiei? Why?-"

"WHY DID YOU LEAVE ME FOR HER?!" she yelled and threw Hiei to the floor.

"You'd never understand," Hiei said.

"Huh? Hiei," Botan said.

"Y-you never have," he said, pulling himself up with all his strength.

"Hiei, don't stand up, you'll-"

"Don't tell me what to do, Kurama," Hiei said softly.

Casandra's eyes widened.

"Hiei," she said.

"Casandra, it was so long ago," Hiei said, "Why do you keep insisting? You gave me up for power, so why do you come to me now? I don't love you anymore. Don't you understand?!"

"You mean, they actually loved each other?" Botan asked.

"It appears so," Kurama said.

"But Hiei," Casandra said.

"Enough," he said, "You have loved me and lost me; wanted me, and nearly killed me to get me back. Is that what you truly desire, Casandra?"

"N-n-no," she stammered.

"Then there is no more to cry about. You do not love me anymore, nor I you. Take a moment to realize that this is just a foolish game of yours!"

"H-hiei," Casandra muttered.

"GOD DAMMIT WOMAN! I'M NOT GOING SOFT ON YOU! HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU PUT MYSELF AND MY FRIENDS IN DANGER BECAUSE OF YOUR OWN FOOLISH WANTS?! COME INTO REALITY! YOUR DREAMLAND IS NO MORE!" Hiei yelled, showing great pain, physically and emotionally.

"Yeah!" Yusuke tried to back up.

"Wait a minute, Uremeshi, Hiei," Kuwa said.

"Wha-at?!" they asked, irritated at their stupid friend.

"Hey, love's a hard thing to get rid of, I know. Maybe, she's been under control all this time or something."

"He COULD be right, Hiei," Kurama said.

"He might be," Botan said, placing a hand on Hiei's shoulder, causing him to flinch in pain, "Let's give Casandra a chance."

Casandra chuckled.

"You ARE idiots you know!" she yelled, "DRAGONS OF DARKNESS FLAMES!"

"What?!"

"A-bove us!" Kurama yelled as tons of black dragons came from the ceiling.

"Oh, what was that ryme I taught myself," Botan thought, "Oh yeah! Go for the source and not the force!"

"HEY CASANDRA!" she yelled, "EAT THIS! SPIRIT GUN!"

She shot a pink light towards her. The dragons dispersed just before hitting them all.

"Let's get outta here. This place is creepin' me out," Kuwa said.

"It CAN'T be over yet," Hiei said.

"Actually, it can," Koenma said, appearing behind them, causing them all to jump.

"DON'T DO THAT!" All the guys yelled.

"Jeez," Koenma said, holding a handkerchief to his face, "You don't hafta yell. Anyway, Spirit World Police have her in cuffs as we speak. It wasn't too hard, seeing that she was weakened by all the Dragons of Darkness Flame."

"WHA?!" Yusuke said, practically squeaking, "WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST DO THAT BEFORE?!"

"Well, I was kinda busy."

"But, Koenma sire, I thought you were playing that video game all month," George said.

"SHUT YOUR MOUTH OGRE!"

Hiei and the others facefaulted.

"Why me?" Hiei asked.

"Don't worry," Botan said, "You always have me."

"Yeah," he said and kissed her lips softly.

And this, my friends, is where the story ends.

THE END!

(Well, I thought I'd have a short and sweet ending. Not to mention, I thought it was kinda funny too. I like Koenma so I wanted him to be the reason for the end. Lol. Anyway, fear not Hiei/Botan fans! I will have a new H/B fic up soon! I've already dreamt up the idea! It might be based more around humor than romance though. I'm beginning to enjoy writing it. Will you look at those reviews?! THANK YOU ALL! I'm so happy to have such dedicated fans!

As Always,

Goten0040)