Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Sins of the Damned ❯ Chapter 1

Title: Sins of The Damned
Fandom: Yu Yu Hakusho
Theme: 6. Judgment day
Author/Artist: Ryukotsusei
Pairing: Hiei/Botan/Yusuke Urameshi
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Yu Yu Hakusho, nor do I make any profit off of this fan fiction.
Summary: When drastic times call for drastic measures will Yusuke and Hiei be ready to do what is necessary for the best possible outcome?
Warnings: Threesome lemon, language, minor ooc.

 

 

 

-----------------------In The Reikai---------------------------

 

"I'm sorry Botan," Koenma had sorrow laced through his voice as he spoke softly to the ferry girl standing now in front of him even as he tried to ignore the tears welling up in her eyes. `Damn it, we both knew this time would come sooner or later but I never expected that it would come to an end so quickly. I swear I don't know where the time has gone or who I can ever find to take her place. She's just that good at her job.' His heart went out to the woman standing before him and as much as he wished there was something that he could do to put this off he couldn't. "I know you're not going to want to say goodbye to everyone but I think you'll rest easier if you do. It isn't much but I can give you twenty-four hours to speak to the others. Once your time is up I expect you to return so we can finish this." He stuffed his hands down into his pockets as his eyes left hers for a moment to stare at the floor, still trying to figure out if there could possibly be some way around this edit that his father had laid down so long ago but as before his mind drew a blank. Then his gaze was drawn back to Botan's face as her teary voice captured his attention once again.

 

"Isn't there something that you can do Lord Koenma?" Her eyes were pleading as she stared at the demigod although Botan was almost certain it was pointless to even ask. “I know that no one would expect me to beg, usually I wouldn't but this is just too important to me. I know you can see that Lord Koenma, you of all people know that.” Now she was begging as shameless tears started to slowly trickle down her face. Few would have expected this behavior from her but in her previous life she had killed someone, committing one of the seven deadly sins and as such it had damned her soul. It had only been on King Enma's mercy that she'd been spared and had been sentenced to serve the Reikai in the position she now held. However now her slate was clean and Koenma really had no choice but to lay her soul to rest. While some might look forward to the prospect of eternal peace she did not. The will to remain among the living, in even this particular form was too strong within her to let go without trying one last time.

 

Koenma sighed heavily as he stared down at the folder laying open upon his desktop that contained her sentencing that he was now bound by his father's orders to carry out. "Short of damning your soul again? No. I'm sorry Botan but there's really nothing that I can do, my father's word is law." Somehow he'd known that this was going to happen and he'd even gone so far as to speak with King Enma himself. Not to put too fine of a point on it she was lucky she even had time to say her goodbyes, The large man hadn't been very sympathetic to her plight. But then again no one had expected her to become so attached to her existence either. Slowly he closed the folder and took in the fidgeting girl's form. She was unique, unlike any of the other ferry girl's that had worked beneath him before. Her depth of feelings and emotions were uncommon, usually the women became hardened to their existence. For her it would be extremely difficult to say goodbye to the ones she'd become so close to. His voice shook ever so slightly as he gave her his final answer. "You should go, the others are going to want to spend time with you."

 

"Yes Sir," Her voice came out as a whisper before she turned away from the man she'd known as her boss over the last few centuries and walked out the door. She could feel his gaze following her out until the large doors slid shut behind her resounding with a heavy thud that seemed to echo through her body. Really there was nothing more that she could do. Attempting to hide from the Reikai would only work for so long, sooner or later they would come and she'd be forced to the rest they claimed she deserved. Ogres swarmed around her in their rush to attend to their specific duties but none of them paid her any mind. The noise in the room was almost deafening and the stench of sweat was almost nauseating as she tried to get out of the stampede. Before long she found herself outside of the palace walls and staring at the Reikai landscape, something that she'd soon never see again. With a resigned sigh she summoned her oar and took to the sky, taking one last journey into the Ningenkai.

 

Her hands shook on her oar and her mind wandered through the memories that bombarded her of the many experiences she had shared with those she called friends. She had grown to love them although she had never told them so. 'Maybe I should tell them now. What will they say when they find out what's happening?' Botan couldn't help but wonder as she descended through the clouds. The wind tore through her hair but she paid no mind to the stinging sensation. She'd experienced it for too long for it to affect her like it might some others although she supposed that her distraught appearance could easily be explained away by the trip if she decided she didn't want to go into too much detail. Some of them most likely wouldn't care, assuming she ran into them in the first place. Genkai was likely to tell her to suck it up and deal with it, things could be worse. Of course the woman had already died and been to the other side, in fact she'd even been happy once she'd gotten there. She almost hadn't taken the opportunity to come back, something Botan would jump at the chance for but it was not to be.

 

Hiei wasn't likely to give a damn either she decided with more than a single tinge of regret. They'd never been the closest of friends although she couldn't understand the apparition's dislike of her. `Have I slighted him in some way that I wasn't aware of?' Botan couldn't be sure if it was that or just the fact that she worked for the Reikai, a place he claimed to abhor. The tree line was rapidly coming into view and dread was beginning to fill her as she knew her journey was coming to a close. `Where should I go first?' Logically the first place would be the closest which happened to be Genkai's. Yukina wasn't there any longer, several months ago the small Koorime had decided to move in with Kazuma and Shizuru but Genkai would be unless she had left for some unexplained reason. "Maybe I should just go into the city." Despite the fact that she'd spoken aloud there was no one to answer he thoughts as her feet touched the ground. A warm breeze caressed her skin in almost a loving gesture as she turned towards the direction the temple laid in. In spite of her words Botan's feet carried her towards the sacred ground the temple rested on never knowing that she had a silent but curious watcher taking in her every move.

 

Something about the ferry girl seemed off to him and it wasn't hard to place it as she moved away from him. The woman was almost listless, as if she were dreading something that she knew was about to happen. It left him almost curious enough to follow her if only to find out what was going on but Hiei steadfastly resisted that urge. It would mean showing that he cared, even if it wasn't something that would be noticed by many and that was something he didn't wish to be accused of. Even Botan's surroundings quickly seemed to mimic her mood and it made Hiei wonder just what could have happened. The attitude change certainly wasn't something he was used to seeing in the deity, that was for certain. Still, whatever it was really wasn't his concern. Hell, the only reason he was here had been because Yusuke requested someone to spar with and Kurama had too great of a tendency to become injured. Now that his demon blood had awoken the Toushin's skills needed to be improved upon constantly and there were few people who could help him accomplish that.

 

As Botan walked she really didn't pay attention to her surroundings and surprise jolted her out of her reverie with the sound of Yusuke calling her name. 'When did he get here?' she wondered, thinking little of the fact that he was currently shirtless and walking towards her with a worried expression on his face. `Do I really look that bad?' She realized that she must as now the Toushin had hurried his pace. Generally Yusuke didn't hurry for anyone, at least not since Keiko had left him. The poor woman had been unable to cope with the endless stream of tournaments for the Makai that Yusuke insisted on competing in and the worry that one year he wouldn't come back alive. None of them blamed her for it, least of all him. They all knew the dangers of the life he lead and there was only so much a woman could take. "Yusuke.."

 

Something twisted inside of him the moment Yusuke saw the distraught look upon Botan's face. A long ago he'd been forced to admit to himself that he cared for the woman in spite of everything. At the time when he'd first realized his affections he'd still been with Keiko and had resolutely pushed them aside. After he and Keiko had parted ways he hadn't allowed them to resurface, believing that his lifestyle wouldn't be any more fair to the deity than what it had been to Keiko. But he knew by the look she wore now on her face that something was horribly wrong and all of his protective instincts he'd long ago repressed surged to the surface once more. She stopped just within reach, whispering his name though he heard it easily enough. Lightly he touched her shoulders wishing there was something he could do to help her but he wasn't even aware of the problem yet. "Botan, talk to me. What's going on?"

 

"I... have to go Yusuke," Botan looked up into his eyes seeing the concern there that was being directed towards her. There was also a great deal of confusion lurking there as well and it was obvious that he was waiting for her to go on. The small amount of courage she'd managed to build up was crumbling rapidly and she knew that she wouldn't be able to hold it in forever. More than likely once Yusuke learned about what was going to happen he'd go up to the Reikai with the intent of bashing Koenma's skull in but it wouldn't do any good. Koenma's hands were tied, just as her own were. "This is goodbye Yusuke and.. it's for good," she whispered as her gaze trained down upon the ground, not wanting him to see the tears that were now trailing down her cheeks.

 

"Bullshit!" Yusuke swore out loud and his voice echoed off the temple walls. He didn't know what the fuck was going on but he was now more then determined to find out. Quickly he took her hand and pulled her towards the temple knowing that Genkai wouldn't have a problem with him sitting her down and getting to the bottom of this. It was more then a little telling that the ferry girl didn't put up any resistance to being man handled like she was and merely stood compliantly as he yanked the doors open and pushed her inside, barely giving her an opportunity to slide her shoes off. Sliding the doors shut behind him he glared although the anger wasn't directed at her. "Alright, what the hell is going on? What did you mean for good?" Botan just stepping out of his life was completely unacceptable. There might not be more than friendship between them but he wasn't willing to allow that small piece of her that he'd claimed for himself to be taken away without a damn good reason and one hell of a fight.

 

The tone of his voice told her plainly that there was no way in hell he was going to let this slide and with good reason. `Did I really expected any single one of them saying goodbye without any explanations given whatsoever? Of course not, I'd harass them until they told me just to shut me up!' So this reaction from the Toushin was absolutely no different than how she would be feeling if the situation had been reversed and she was standing in his shoes. Yet through all this time she'd never experienced the sheer force of his emotions that was now directed towards her. There was absolutely no doubt in her mind that he cared, something she'd come to question about each one of them throughout the years. "Yusuke, long ago I did something terrible," her eyes shone brightly with tears as she gazed up at him. "Worse than what Hiei and Kurama did when they stole the artifacts of darkness."

 

A feeling of dread settled then in the pit of Yusuke's stomach as she began speaking, her voice tormented with whatever secrets she had kept hidden for so very long. But it wasn't making any sense. He knew that she was a good person, she'd proven it time and time again with all the times that she had helped them in so many ways. What could have possibly been worse than what his teammates had done? "Assuming I could believe that you've done something worse than those two, what could that possibly have to do with you coming here and saying you're leaving Botan?" None of this was making any fucking sense to him and he was so damned tempted to go to the Reikai and beat it out of a certain toddler if Botan wasn't forthcoming with the information. Koenma had stated more than once he knew almost everything that pertained to a human spirit's life, why would the deity be any different? "Botan, you know you can tell me anything right?"

 

"Oh Yusuke, I know," she breathed heavily trying her hardest to maintain her composure. “Why does this have to be so hard?” Once the story came out he was bound to argue she'd been perfectly justified in what she had done. In fact Koenma agreed with her as well but it didn't change the laws or the fact that she was bound to them, just like everyone else. "Before I died, women were considered little more than personal property. Hardly worth more than the livestock that would keep a farmer's family fed." As she began to speak her gaze drifted to the floor where her fingers had found the edge of her kimono and began brushing it absently. "We were only given that high of a status because we bore the children that would tend the fields, our worth was in what we could provide." It was a small comfort to know that times had changed for the better, not that it did her much good now. "I was married as soon as I reached child bearing age and at first my husband was what would be considered a decent man, at least for the times that we lived in."

 

By now Yusuke had come to sit fairly close by her side and was watching her face intently. Somehow he knew just what was coming but he refrained from commenting just yet. This was the first time Botan had revealed anything at all about her past and he was loath to interrupt. This was hard enough for the woman in front of him as it was, there was no need to add to her torment if he could possibly help it.

 

"I did my part, working in the fields as I had been expected to do. The only women exempt from manual labor were nobility, even the pregnant wives of the farmers were often out working right up until it was time to give birth. It came as a surprise that the first year passed and I had not yet conceived, despite my husband's efforts and for this he grew quite angry. It was considered a stain on his pride to have a barren wife and when another year went by things took a turn for the worse." Even now that centuries had passed she could still remember the feel of his fists raining down upon her prone body, the snapping of ribs as he foot connected harshly with her side. Nightmares had plagued her of the final night of her life and it had only been by Koenma's blessing that the torturous event had been dulled to seem as if she'd been a bystander and not an actual victim.

 

At that moment Yusuke wished he could take that haunted look from her eyes and make sure that it would never return. Clearly she wasn't over just what had happened even though generations had passed since what she'd lived through had been considered acceptable behavior. "You fought back, didn't you?" It was the only logical outcome to the situation knowing Botan for as long as he had. The woman was quick with her temper and didn't hesitate to lash out with physical violence if she felt the situation warranted it.

 

"Eventually," Botan stated softly before pausing for several seconds. The rebellion she'd put up hadn't happened over night, it had been a long time in coming and then only when she'd felt her life was truly in danger. "He couldn't remarry, not while I still lived and eventually he decided that I was of no use to him. He came at me one night, I had overcooked his soup though I think it was just the excuse he was looking for. There was no getting away from him, even though I tried to run." Vividly she remembered the feel of the scalding soup running down the side of her face and neck where he'd thrown it on her. Scars would have surely marred her skin from the burns had she survived that fateful evening although Koenma had done her the kindness of seeing to it that they didn't linger when she'd taken a human body once again.

 

He didn't miss how her fingers came up to gently touch her pale skin although he didn't know the exact reason yet. In spite of how she was speaking to him it was almost as if she were lost in the memories of what had happened. A whisper of movement had caught his attention and he turned his head slightly to see that Hiei had entered the room and was watching Botan carefully, his face devoid of all emotion. It wouldn't surprise him if the apparition had heard everything that had been said so far, despite his protests of how much he hated the deity Hiei seemed to take an active interest in her welfare although it wasn't exactly noticeable. In the end Yusuke had learned long ago that the hybrid's feelings for her were much the same as his own although neither of them had considered acting upon them. How would Hiei take the fact that Botan intended on leaving them for good? Yusuke wasn't sure he wanted to find out.

 

"I couldn't tell you how long the beating lasted. Minutes, perhaps hours, it all turned into one big blur that I couldn't keep track of. My blood covered the floor and the walls, what furniture we had was broken." Botan shuddered with the memory of trying to cross the room only to slip in the blood that had splattered upon the floor. "I knew I was dying somehow. It hurt to breathe, it hurt to think but I still tried to escape. I screamed for help but I knew no one would listen, there would be no one to save me. Eventually I was tackled to the floor, his weight pinning me down as his hands closed around my throat and I started reaching for anything that I could." She couldn't look at Yusuke now but she knew that she had to continue, "In the struggle the table had become overturned and the knife he chose to eat with found its way into my hand, as I began to black out I used the last of my energy to plunge it into his chest and I prayed it would be enough." The last sight she had seen before her spirit left the body was the sight of his body laying limply across her own, blood beginning to pool beneath the both of them. "The next thing I remember is Ayame coming to collect my soul and escorting me to the Reikai."

 

Hiei listened silently as she talked, wishing that there was a way he could travel back just to torture the man who had dared to do such a thing. While he had called her weak in the past even he knew that some people were never meant to be fighters, his sister being one of them. It was up to the stronger ones to look after and protect them, although from the sounds of it no one had cared enough to do that for Botan. As tragic as her story was though she was not alone in the world, she was not the only one who had suffered such a fate. So why was she telling Yusuke this now? That she hadn't even noticed that he'd come into the room was telling enough and Hiei was tempted to use the Jagan to pull the rest of the answers he wanted to know from her mind. However he would not invade her privacy in such a fashion, not without good reason and mere curiosity just wasn't enough.

 

"Botan," Yusuke breathed out a heavy sigh while waiting for her to look at him. He couldn't imagine anyone treating someone they supposedly cared for in such a fashion although somehow he doubted that her marriage had been anything more than a business arrangement made by her parents. "What you did was self defense, you can't consider killing that bastard something horrible alright? So what does this have to do with you leaving us for good?" As expected he sensed the apparition tense hearing his words, lending more belief to the fact that the cold hearted bastard did indeed have a heart after all, one that someone other than Yukina could break through.

 

Hiei's crimson eyes narrowed in further agitation and now he was regretting not following the woman until after Yusuke had dragged her inside for his own unknown reasons. What the hell was going on in that woman's head? Yusuke was right, it was self defense. He'd done far worse in his life and she had accepted him for unknown reasons so what was the problem now? The urge to go and shake some sense into the deity was strong but for the moment he refrained, waiting to see what she had to say.

 

"Everything Yusuke, it has everything to do with why I must leave," Botan looked up and for the first time saw that Hiei was now in the room as well. The revelation surprised her a little bit, especially since he hadn't said anything as of yet. It would have been almost expected for him to scoff at her for being killed by someone she'd tied herself to, even if it had been unwillingly. It was no matter though, Hiei being present certainly wouldn't change things and it would save someone else the trouble of informing him later. "Lord Koenma was sympathetic to my situation, as was King Enma but the fact remained that I had taken a life no matter what the circumstances were. In most religion's murder is a sin of the highest caliber and it leaves a mark on a soul. Most are condemned to hell for committing such a crime but King Enma gave me a chance few are ever given. I was to work off my sentence, doing what good I could to redeem myself and that is how I came to be a ferry girl. Yet it was never meant to be permanent." Botan fixed the both of them with a solemn look, she could see a light dawning in Hiei's eyes meaning he'd figured out what she was trying to say. Yusuke however hadn't quite made the connection yet so she decided to help him out, "My slate has been cleared Yusuke and King Enma insists that it is time to move on. By this time tomorrow they'll have stripped me of my responsibilities and put my soul to rest, I no longer have a choice in the matter."

 

"What the hell do you mean you have no choice in the matter?" Yusuke's voice was harsh with anger as he stood up and began to pace the room as a way of expressing his agitation. Hiei looked to be equally pissed off, more than likely furious with the idea that the woman would just cease to exist for them all. Fuming he turned towards Botan who was staring at him sadly, letting him vent his anger. "Can't Koenma do something? You're one of the best workers he's got, he's said so himself a lot of times!" So help him even after all they'd been through he was going to end up shoving that pacifier down the godling's throat and then he was going to pay a special visit to King Enma just to kick his ass.

 

"Please don't make this any harder than it already is Yusuke," Botan pleaded with him to calm down. She'd known he was going to be upset but she also knew all the anger was pointless. It wouldn't make any difference whatsoever, not in the long run anyway. "I've already asked him and there's nothing he can do. Short of damning my soul again there's no point. I'm dead, or the closest thing possible without actually being a corpse. All that's left is the formality of sending me to rest, even reincarnation isn't an option since the scales are completely balanced now." All she could do now was hope that Yusuke didn't go on a rampage although for some reason Hiei looked equally ready to kill and for that she didn't understand. Even though she cared deeply for the both of them Hiei had absolutely no reason to be upset with what was about to happen to her. `He doesn't give a damn right? So why all the anger?'

 

Already Hiei's mind was racing with possible solutions to the problem. While he might not be the strategist that Kurama was he wasn't stupid either. Her words left a loophole, albeit a temporary one but it was the best chance they had of keeping her there. The problem was he doubted that Botan would be willing to kill another person and even on the off chance that she was the circumstances wouldn't keep her from being sentenced. More than likely Enma would cast her soul to hell for sheer amusement alone at that point. "What other methods are there for damning a soul Botan?" Even Yusuke stopped his infernal pacing to stare at him incredulously but he ignored the man for now. If someone was going to find a way to keep her there it would have to be him to do so.

 

Botan thought about it for a moment before responding slowly, wondering just where Hiei was going with this, "The obvious is taking another's life although there are a few other ways. Contrary to popular belief even the most deadly sins mean nothing, they are committed every day by nearly everyone. Almost no one would make their way to heaven under those circumstances." Personally she thought that those particular beliefs were for those who went looking for ways to condemn others. "Another way is by breaking sacred vows, such as swearing an oath to a particular God and breaking it or entering into a marriage and committing adultery. Why do you ask?" If he was thinking there was a way to damn herself again she just couldn't see it happening. Killing another wasn't something that she could do and she had no vows to break, casting aside the oath she'd given to Enma in this instance wouldn't work for it was in effort to avoid what was to happen. She wouldn't truly be turning her back on the Reikai and their beliefs.

 

Her words left them little room to work and Hiei knew it. Some quick decisions had to be made and he wasn't one for being put on the spot. `The question is, would I be willing to do something I'd never considered before or for that matter would Yusuke?' Having been well aware of the Toushin's feelings for the ferry girl left little doubt in his mind that the man would step up to the plate and bond with her should the need arise. But would he do so and then accept Botan taking pleasure from another man in order to condemn her soul once again? There was only one way to find out and Hiei pushed himself away from the wall only to stand between the two of them, his gaze hard and demanding as he stared into Yusuke's eyes. If Botan truly wanted to stay she wouldn't object to what he had in mind. "Tell me Yusuke, are your feelings for the girl enough to do anything to keep her here? The truth, we haven't the time for you to ponder just how far you are willing to go!"

 

A slight gasp could be heard coming from the deity but for the moment Yusuke ignored it in favor of the question. So the apparition was questioning his affection for Botan? That in itself was of no surprise but he was determined to keep her with them if that was where she wished to remain. "Anything Hiei, do you have a plan?" Almost anything could and would have been expected out of the apparition's mouth at this point. Storming the Reikai and taking King Enma out of power, taking Botan into the Makai and keeping watch over her there. Anything but the words that actually came out of Hiei's mouth now.

 

"Botan if you are truly wishing to remain in the Ningenkai then do not argue with what I have to say. If breaking a vow is what is required I expect that you will do so without any hesitation." Hiei held up his hand when she looked ready to protest, silencing her with a look. It wouldn't surprise him in the least if she had absolutely no idea just what he had planned. "Yusuke will take you as his mate, the feelings are there that are required to make the bond permanent. After that is done another male must take you, breaking the oath that the bond entails." It was asking for a hell of a lot, Yusuke's demonic instincts would likely be demanding that he eliminate the threat but it helped that the man had lived as a human for so long. With any luck his instincts would be held in check by that very fact alone.

 

"You mean?" Botan swallowed hard around the sudden lump in her throat, unsure of just what to say. Was her continued presence enough to make these two guys even want to take this step? It was calling for a huge sacrifice on Yusuke's part, bonding himself to her in such a fashion and at the moment the man in question looked like a landed fish with the expression he was wearing. Uncomfortably she fidgeted under the intense look that Hiei was giving her. Never before had she seen such a look on his face, much less directed at her. Clearly he believed he would fill the niche of the second man quite nicely. "But you.. hate me."

 

Hearing it declared so openly Hiei inclined his head slightly but made no comment to dissuade her from that notion. At this very moment he wasn't going to outright say just how far she'd wormed her way into his heart especially given the fact that if she agreed she would belong to Yusuke very soon. The man might accept them being together once but any more than that was likely to be pushing it. Admitting feelings he'd kept hidden with reason would only complicate the matter further. If the time came that they decided they wanted him as a permanent fixture in their relationship then they would deal with it then. First they had to make sure Botan could remain with them in order for it to even come to that point. "What I feel isn't the issue, are you willing to do it?"

 

As much as she wanted to say yes Botan wouldn't feel right about asking this from either of them. "It's too big of a sacrifice for either of you to make for me but.. thank you." At least now she knew that they cared enough to do whatever they could for her. Slowly she stood up, intending to go about the business of breaking the news to the others. Frankly she wasn't certain how she could continue to hold up throughout the day but somehow she would manage. A gasp escaped her lips as firm hands prevented her from taking another step and she looked up to see Yusuke staring down at her.

 

"Let us decide if we're willing to make that choice. If you'd rather take Enma up on his offer just say so but don't back out under that excuse. Tell us Botan, is that what you want?" Yusuke didn't let up on the grip he had on her, fearing she'd say that death was preferable showing clearly in his eyes. Yet the small spark of hope was quickly returning to her eyes and he nearly breathed a sigh of relief at seeing it. Hiei's suggestion had stunned him and truthfully if it had been a stranger wanting to fuck the woman he would have pushed his fist down their throat. However this was Hiei and he knew that the man wasn't just out for a cheap thrill, the apparition genuinely cared for her whether he wanted to admit it or not. "Hiei? What do I have to do?" There was no time to go and do this the human way, even if Botan somehow managed to come up with the paperwork declaring her human. Taking her in the demon way was the only possible route they could take.

 

Quickly Hiei turned towards the door and locked it, there was no need to have any interruptions while they were doing this. Granted, this wasn't likely to be comfortable as they'd be using nothing but the floor but it would have to do. Slowly he came to stand beside the ferry girl and fixed Yusuke with a determined look. "Kneel down and face each other, you'll want to change into your demonic form Yusuke." Slowly Hiei glanced over the room for something to use to make the necessary incisions. While he might not have done this before didn't mean he didn't know how these things worked. His eyes landed on a blade hanging on the wall. It was a decorative piece to be sure but far preferable to his own katana which had the blood of so many spilled upon it. Quickly he made his way over to it, pulling the dagger from its sheath and returning to where Yusuke and Botan were now sitting upon the floor. The ferry girl's eyes immediately fell to the weapon in his hand but surprisingly there was no fear coming from her.

 

Yusuke tensed as Hiei gripped Botan's hand firmly before drawing the blade against her pale skin. Blood welled up from the wound to spill upon the floor but he didn't have time to contemplate Hiei's actions before the apparition was doing it to him. Roughly he pressed their bleeding wounds together before removing the ward over the jagan and the eye began glowing with an unholy violet light. The hybrid's presence suddenly filled his mind, the deep voice echoing the vows that he was supposed to say in order to begin the process of bonding to the woman in front of him. Slowly and clearly he began to speak, hoping this would be enough to keep Botan by their sides. Only later would they contemplate the emotions that Hiei had for her as well, for now he would just accept what was happening. "I, Urameshi Yusuke, in the name of the spirit of Gods which reside within us all, by the life that courses within my blood and the emotions that consume my very being, take you Botan to my hand, my heart, and my spirit, to be my chosen one. To desire you and be desired by you, to possess everything that you are and in turn be possessed by you, without sin or shame, for nothing can exist in the strength of my emotions for you. I promise to love you completely without restraint no matter the circumstances, in life and beyond, where we shall meet, remember, and come together again." A force greater than he'd expected surged through the wounds that joined them and he could feel the spark which was the bond taking hold.

 

The surge of emotions Botan felt coming from Yusuke brought tears to her eyes and she knew that he meant every word that he was saying to her. Only then did she smile at him despite the fact that she now felt Hiei entering her mind but it stunned her to feel the gentle affection that he'd kept hidden from her as well as the others. She would have turned to look at him but his strong hands gripped her shoulders and kept her facing the man she would soon be joined to. There was also more than a little sadness radiating from him, a wish that it was him in Yusuke's place. She didn't have time to think about it or question him though for already he was giving her the words to recite which would finish the bond. "I Botan, in the name of the spirit of Gods which reside within us all, by the life that courses within my blood and the emotions that consume my very being, take you Botan to my hand, my heart, and my spirit, to be my chosen one. To desire you and be desired by you, to possess everything that you are and in turn be possessed by you, without sin or shame, for nothing can exist in the strength of my emotions for you. I promise to love you completely without restraint no matter the circumstances, in life and beyond, where we shall meet, remember, and come together again." The bond completing itself was enough to sap all of her energy for a time and for a second darkness clouded her vision. When she was able to open her eyes again she could see Yusuke holding her protectively, looking down upon her in concern. "I'm okay, I just got a little lightheaded for a moment."

 

"Maybe you should lay down for a few minutes," Yusuke said gently while she tried to sit up once again. It was rather nice having her leaning against him as she had been and he was rather reluctant to let her go.. It didn't escape his attention that Hiei was looking rather envious at the moment but he didn't hold it against the apparition for he had plainly felt the same things that Botan had. He gave the man a genuine smile, not one that held any superiority over the fact that he now possessed Botan despite what was soon to happen. Ever so slightly the apparition relaxed, becoming even more accepting of the situation. Whether Botan realized it or not the hybrid wanted to take his place in her life as well and for once Yusuke wasn't going to argue with him.

 

Finally regaining her balance, Botan shook her head slowly. As nice as resting sounding King Enma was sure to have realized what was happening. If he hadn't then he would soon, for their vows involved invoking all the Gods and surely this wouldn't be something that he'd overlook. Being bonded would mean nothing if the vows weren't broken. The Reikai would still be able to pull her away from her new mate and he'd be powerless to stop them. "We should do this now, King Enma will not be happy once he's learned of what we've done. The sooner we do this the better, I don't know how much time we have." Her gaze strayed over to Hiei, wondering if he'd go through with it now but she didn't have long to wonder. Already the man was stripping his cloak off knowing that time was of the essence, giving her a good view of his body in the process. At first this confused her, shouldn't Yusuke be the one to take possession of her first since they were mated? It would make sense but laying with one and not the other would make this all pointless should the SDF arrive.

 

Yusuke didn't want to be completely left out however so while she was momentarily distracted he leaned forward and brushed his lips against the side of her neck. Quickly she turned to look at him which was all to the good and he captured the woman's lips in a gentle kiss. She put up no resistance when he wrapped his arms around her waist and began tugging on the obi which kept her kimono closed, dropping it to the ground so he could part the folds of her garment. Slowly he pushed the deity back towards the ground and began moving towards the final barrier to her womanhood. "Raise up for me," he commanded as his fingers found the waistline of her panties and then drew them down her slender legs when she obeyed. Looking up he saw that Hiei was kneeling next to her now, completely nude and erect with the excitement of what was about to transpire. Oddly enough the sight didn't make him angry like he would have expected. Instead his body tensed in anticipation and it was then that he knew that he wouldn't have a problem in sharing with the man.

 

Feeling a wet heat surrounding a taut nipple, Botan tossed her head back only to feel a hand tugging her ponytail free and her blue tresses spilling over her shoulders. As they both continued to work her over Botan's mind went into pleasurable overload and her hands gripped frantically at the mats she laid upon. Even now Yusuke's tongue was lashing at her damp petals, torturing her with every brush against her hidden jewel. This was nothing like she'd ever experienced before, not in her previous life nor in her time as a spirit guide and she desperately wished that it would never end. "Oh please!" She panted, not knowing exactly what she was begging for but certain that the two touching her did. Abruptly Yusuke switched tactics, sucking her clit between his lips and focusing his attention solely on it while Hiei repositioned himself as well.

 

His intention had been to move so he could access both of her nipples but as he knelt next to her Botan's hands came up and rested on his hips, pulling him closer. Hiei's eyes widened as she leaned forward, flicking her tongue against the tip of his cock and bathing it slowly. It was all he could do not to force the taut length down her throat and fuck her face but he resisted knowing that she wasn't likely to be used to this sort of activity. Eventually though he was forced to take over since Botan's ability to even think had been taken from her as her first orgasm tore through her body and left her panting for more. He only gave her a moment to recover, his own need ripping though him forcefully. With Yusuke's help he managed to get Botan positioned in his lap, the Toushin engaging her in a desperate kiss as Hiei prepared to enter her. Knowing that it had been centuries since she had taken a lover the apparition knew this was the best position for her to dictate the pace. As much as he wanted to fuck her hard and fast he knew that was likely to cause her pain, something she didn't need. A hiss escaped his lips as the ferry girl began to lower herself on his shaft inch by agonizing inch.

 

Despite the slight pain which came from being stretched so fully, Botan welcomed the intrusion and forced more of the apparition's cock into her tight sheath. For a moment he seemed to hesitate as if he needed to regain control but the stillness made her whimper, "Please, don't stop." As soon as she'd accepted that she'd be laying with this particular demon she knew that he'd be a powerful and passionate lover. Her head fell back to rest upon his shoulder as her words gained the desired effect, his hips thrusting upwards and burying that heated length deep into her body. "Hiei!" Her voice echoed through the room as he took her hard and fast while she strained to add her own movements to their coupling. A possessive snarl ripped loose from the demon's chest as he wrapped his arm around her waist firmly and forced her onto her hands and knees, never pulling free from her body.

 

Yusuke watched in a haze of pleasure, his hands already having done the work of removing his own clothing while Hiei had entered her and even now one was wrapped around his own thick shaft, pulling slowly. There was nothing gentle in the way they moved together, instead raw passion permeated the room as they took their pleasure with each other and Botan's moans of ecstasy echoed in his ears. Eagerly he moved to the side, getting a better look of the way she was being penetrated and he groaned at seeing how tightly the apparition's cock was being hugged by her walls. Wetness now coated the insides of her thighs and he just knew that she'd come once again. Licking his lips, Yusuke considered the possibility of her taking both of them on at once. She looked to be so damned tight but would it be too much for her? Could she handle it? "Hiei, stop for a minute."

 

The urge to ignore the man was strong, he was so close to his own release but something about the look in Yusuke's eyes made him do as the man said. It was only by sheer will that he suppressed the growl that wanted to escape when the Toushin pulled her off of his cock. But then Yusuke ordered him to lay flat upon the mat and began to positioned Botan over him once more, and it was only then tat Hiei began to get an idea of what the Detective wanted to do. Curiosity got the better of him as Yusuke helped to guide the ferry girl down on his slick length although when she started to move the man stilled her. "What are you planning Yusuke?"

 

A cocky grin formed on his face as Yusuke took his place behind Botan, "We're both going to take her at once," he said without hesitation. A slender eyebrow raised in his direction and Botan looked stunned but he ignored the look in favor of resting his cock against the tight entrance that Hiei was currently occupying. "We'll go slow, tell me if this hurts you okay?" A slow nod was his response and Yusuke began to push his way in, grunting with the effort. Botan had buried her head in Hiei's chest but made no move to stop him. As for the apparition, his eyes had shut as if he were trying to control himself when his cock was gripped even tighter. Inch by inch he forced his way inside until he was fully seated within her. Feeling Hiei's length pressed against his own was different but not unpleasant as he began to withdraw slowly only to advance when the apparition began to pull out.

 

The friction they were creating between them had Botan nearly sobbing though it wasn't from any pain. Any discomfort she'd experienced when Yusuke had stretched her further was long gone and now all she was able to feel was the pleasure of being filled so completely. Faster and faster they pushed her to the edge of ecstasy once again and with a harsh cry she gave into the release they were offering. Her climax was enough to drive the two demons to the brink as well, their speeds increasing as they drove into her repeatedly. Harsh panting could be heard on both sides and she loved every minute of being sandwiched between them. A burning warmth filled her as the apparition beneath her tensed and his seed flooded her body. Moments later Yusuke's movements became erratic as he met his own end, finally coming to rest upon her prone form. The grunt beneath her had Botan trying to push herself up, knowing that their combined weight would be too much for Hiei to put up with for long.

 

Koenma coughed, gaining the threes attention though he kept his gaze averted since he didn't want to be brutally killed for looking upon something he had no right seeing. Never had he thought that Botan would go to such lengths in order to get what she wanted but there was no denying that was exactly what she had done. How his father would react though had yet to be seen, he was already aware of what had transpired and that was the entire reason why Koenma was here in the first place. "If you three are finished, my father wishes to speak with you Botan. It wouldn't be wise to keep him waiting."

 

Hearing her bosses voice was enough to send Botan scrambling to her feet, or trying to anyway despite the weight that was pinning her against Hiei's chest. Soon enough though Yusuke had moved which allowed her to pull away from the apparition. "Excuse me!" She said as she quickly snatched up her panties and kimono, pulling the soft fabric up over her shoulders before running from the room towards a bathroom. There was no way she could face King Enma in the state that she was in currently, she had to at least make herself somewhat presentable before she faced whatever the God might throw at her.

 

Yusuke watched his mate rush off and turned his attention towards Koenma as he pulled his pants on. "If you think either you or your father are going to take Botan away from me, "Yusuke glanced over to Hiei for a moment before continuing, "or Hiei for that matter be prepared for a war Koenma. Neither of us will stand for it and I have a hard time believing there wasn't anything you could do to help her." At the moment he wasn't sure just who he was angrier with, Koenma or his father but right now the man in front of him made an easy target. Hiei didn't look to be any happier with the fact the demigod had showed up but for the time being he hadn't said anything.

 

"It's not like I had any choice in this matter Yusuke," Koenma ran his fingers through his hair and tried not to take Yusuke's attitude too personally. If what he'd just seen was any indication then the strength of the Toushin's feelings would be more than enough to back up any threat that he chose to give. That wasn't including Hiei's part in the entire matter, he was still shocked over that one. How far the apparition's feelings ran was anyone's guess and he wasn't about to try and figure it out. "Look Yusuke, I'm going to be honest with you. I don't know what my father is going to do, there's a very good chance that as her punishment he could confine her to the Reikai and insure that neither of you see her again. It doesn't help things with him not liking you in the first place, the only possible thing that might save the entire situation is the fact that he likes her. It was his decision in the first place to spare her the torment of the hell she could have been sent to."

 

The last belt was secured into place before Hiei turned to face the godling. His face was unreadable but his eyes were intense with barely restrained blood lust. He didn't have the comfortable friendship that Yusuke had developed with the man standing before him. "Even you are not immortal Koenma and neither is that fool that sired you, you'd both be doing well to remember that." Hiei's words caused the man to pale even further, knowing the words to be true. It would be an intense battle but one he was certain that they would be able to win even without calling on the many allies they had made over the years. It was likely that King Enma was well aware of that as well, why else would he have been so adamant about Yusuke's destruction?

 

"Your threats are unnecessary Hiei," Koenma fixed him with a hard look, "If it were up to me she could stay here in the Ningenkai for as long as she wished but it is not. I can guarantee that if you take this attitude with my father however he might fight you for the hell of it and I don't think I have to remind you that you aren't invincible either." Koenma finally broke the stare he had with the apparition and pinched the bridge of his nose feeling a headache coming on. Sighing lightly he prayed that Botan would hurry up, at least then he wouldn't have to worry about which one of these two would lose their temper first and attempt to take it out on him. There had been just a bit too much posturing for his comfort and more was sure to follow if the deity didn't get a move on.

 

"Let him if he wishes to witness his own destruction," Hiei shrugged a shoulder as if it were of no concern to him. If it was a war the Reikai wanted then they would gladly give it to the fool. The tension had been steadily building between the two realms for centuries and there was no charitable feelings harbored on either side. Although the circumstances might be called into question later, should Enma outright attack him or Yusuke it would be all the aggression needed for at the very least Mukuro to join the fight. Kurama's loyalty was unquestioned as well and should he come to their side then most likely Yomi would as well and surely the ruler of the Reikai knew this.

 

As she listened on the other side of the door Botan bit her lip, uncertain of just how the upcoming meeting would conclude. There was no doubt in her mind that Hiei was deadly serious in his threat, the apparition rarely bluffed and she already knew that Yusuke didn't screw around with things either. If it did come down to a fight, how many people would die over her desire to remain in the Ningenkai with her friends? How would she be able to handle the guilt that would come if King Enma managed to destroy one or both of the men who had done nothing more than attempt to help her? She wouldn't be able to and Botan knew it. Taking a steadying breath she opened the door, gaining the three male's attention. Her pink eyes were filled with sorrow as she gazed at each of them in turn. "I don't want you two to fight, not over me," she said softly. There was no point in explaining why, most likely they would know the reasons already. Besides, if she were to say it was because she worried over their safety Hiei at the very least would take offense to the idea that he could possibly lose.

 

"If he wants to fight we aren't going to back down Botan," In spite of what Botan had said Yusuke wasn't about to let the Reikai to get in between him and the woman he'd come to care for. It was easy to see just how badly the thought of it coming to a fight bothered her but there were some things that just couldn't be helped. But the hardness in his tone had disappeared for a moment as she walked closer towards him, "Don't worry, it might not come to that. Alright?"

 

"I hope you're right Yusuke," Botan whispered as he gently placed a hand on her shoulder. The future was now out of her hands and the best she could do now was hold on for the ride. "I guess we better get this over with then." Keeping King Enma waiting was only likely to increase his foul mood and extinguish any hope she had for a peaceful resolution. Somehow she managed a tentative smile as Koenma opened the portal that would take them into the Reikai. Unsurprisingly both Yusuke and Hiei were at her side as they walked through into the realm of the dead.

 

Once the others had gone through Koenma followed and closed the portal behind him. All activity ceased upon their appearance and he nearly rolled his eyes. Surely there would be speculation for centuries to come as to why he'd brought them here although in his opinion the less people that knew about this the better. "Follow me, we'll go to my office and you can wait there while I tell him you are here Botan."

 

"She's not going in there without us," Yusuke fairly growled out the words but began to walk after the demigod anyway. One of his worst fears now was that she'd walk into the throne room alone and they'd never see her again. It would be best if the two of them kept a very close eye on the girl for the remainder of their stay, with luck it wouldn't be for very long. To Yusuke the apparition walking on the other side of the woman looked just as on edge although he couldn't be certain. There was no love lost between any of them and the God who held Botan's life in his hands, although if Koenma were to be believed the man had some form of affection for the ferry girl. It made no sense to him but wouldn't the toddler be the better judge of that? He was the one who saw them all on a daily basis.

 

Hearing the animosity in Yusuke's words, Botan laid a comforting hand on his arm although she didn't stop walking. The move wasn't lost on either him or Hiei but neither said anything much to her relief, she didn't need either of them pulling some macho crap that would only make things worse. "I know you want to go in with me but it will be fine Yusuke." She managed a weak smile although the look on his face clearly stated that he wasn't fooled. "Trust me Yusuke? He won't hurt me." Even as the words passed her lips she prayed that they would indeed be true. While the God hadn't done anything to harm her in the past this was something that had been done for the sole purpose of thwarting his will.

 

“Let me go in first and talk to him.” Koenma wasn't looking forward to facing his father once again but to have the two males before him going in with the attitude that they were going to wage war against the entire realm would be a much worse and far more nasty situation then he wanted to have to deal with. `I'll just have to find a way to make him understand.' He motioned with his hand for the three of them to have a seat in the chairs that sat beside King Enma's door then took a deep breath as they reluctantly complied. Finally after a moments hesitation he opened the door and stepped into the interior of the office where his father sat waiting, then closed the door swiftly behind himself. He wasn't gone for very long, no more then a few minutes really when the door opened once again. Koenma appeared in the opening looking rather pale but he motioned all of them to follow him into the offices brightly lit interior where Enma stood waiting for all of them.

 

“Stay ready for anything that might happen.” The whisper was soft but Hiei heard it clearly as Yusuke followed Botan past him and into the office where their unknown fate awaited them all. The look on Enma's face was dark with anger but he waited until they were all inside and the door was closed once more before he spoke. When he finally did speak, it was nothing that any of them had expected to hear.

 

Enma's voice was low and dangerous as he began to address the assembled group. “I hope that none of you misguided fools are so absolutely stupid as to think that I don't know what you've done or your reasoning behind the actions. I can only assume that this is your pathetic attempt to sway the path of the fate that I had, in my mercy, so generously chosen to bestow upon Botan. You have taken it upon yourselves to not only attempt to thwart my plans and my word as law but you have also chosen, it would seem, to try to put yourself into a position to make decisions that are not yours to make.” He sneered down at them from his towering height as if mocking them for what he considered to be a feeble attempt. “Just so you are aware of this little fact, I knew what if was the moment that you did it. All three of you.” He turned his attention to Yusuke specifically as he spoke his next words. “I was actually impressed with the depths of your feelings for Botan you worthless sniveling brat. Impressed enough that for the sake of her happiness I was going to be willing to reverse my earlier stand on the matter. But now I find that is no longer the situation.”

 

His gaze turned next to Hiei. “I know this was all your idea, I don't believe that Yusuke would have been smart enough to think up this little scheme on his own. Botan would never have crossed me in such a manner as this, I know where her loyalties lie.” He glanced over as Botan's ashen face for a moment before returning his glare to Hiei. “Or at least I did until you decided to meddle where you had no business interfering.” His face hardened even further at seeing the defiance that was clearly written across Hiei's face. “I suggest that all three of you think about what you have done long and hard. I'm positive that you will all find that you will have plenty of time to do so. Before I pass judgment on all of you is there anything that any of you would like to say? If there is, say it now.” His expression was one of pure malevolence now, as if daring them to open their mouths. At the stubborn mute expression on the faces of the demons before him he arched an eyebrow and cast a glance over to the ferry girl who was giving the two demons before him pleading looks. No doubt it was only for her sake that they were remaining silent, not wanting to tempt fate anymore than they already had been. “No? Then I shall pass sentence now.”

 

“Botan, you have hereby damned your own soul for all of eternity. There will be no final rest for you, that is now forfeit with your acts of disobedience and your defiance of my wishes. Where you once would have never had to deal with any unpleasantness or discomfort and freedom from all your past pains and miseries, they will now be a part of you forever. You will remember them for the rest of your existence which will be forever.” Enma's face hardened even further as his glare shifted over at his son, who had tried to plead the girl's case to him and also that of her now husband and lover. Koenma shrank back slightly from the murderous glare but to his credit he did not leave the room, choosing instead to stand beside his former employee in the face of his father's wrath. When Enma did speak again it was clear he was speaking to Botan even though he was looking at his son. “Your body is now mortal, you will no longer have the position you held while you were in my favor. When you die your soul will wander for all of eternity, never able to find peace. But you are not alone in your judgment.” Now his gaze shifted to the two demons who were also standing before him.

 

 

“The both of you will share in this punishment since you were both willing participants in this fiasco and sought to thwart my will. Not only are you both hereby bound to her but you are now also bound to each other. Your fates are now intertwined and there will be no escape. When one dies you will all die. But my judgment will not end there, you will all wander together as restless spirits, forever joined. There will be no final rest for any of you. That is my final judgment. Now get out of my sight before I regret the decision I have made and decide to kill the girl now anyway.” Suddenly without warning a portal opened and the bottom disappeared out from under Botan's feet. She fell from view and landed on the grass back at the temple where she had so recently been saying her goodbyes. Yusuke landed with a thump beside her and then Hiei. The portal then closed with the last sound of Enma's fading curses ringing in their ears.

 

“Well.” Yusuke jumped to his feet and helped to Botan up to hers as Hiei pulled himself out of the crouch he'd landed in. “It could have been a lot worse I guess. I think he came up with that though simply as a way to avoid a war that he knew he didn't want.” He looked at his new wife with a speculative gleam in his eye and then at Hiei. It would take some working out but he had no doubt that they would find a way. “Since we're all in this together, I say we find out how much fun it can be.” With a wink at Hiei he picked Botan up off of her feet and started back towards the temple, leaving Hiei to follow at his own pace. A slight smile graced his lips as he heard the footsteps of the apparition behind him. `It'll be interesting but if I had to pick anyone as a co-mate it would have been him.'

 

Author's Note: Thank you to everyone who chooses to review. Updates for this and all my other stories will be slow from here on out due to ongoing health problems. Thank you for your patience.