Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Star Tears ❯ Star Tears ( One-Shot )

“Hey, Kurama!” a voice called, echoing throughout the empty hallway of the Reikai palace. A red-haired youkai looked over his shoulder in curiosity as his footsteps ceased while more footsteps came rapidly in his direction.

“Oh, Yusuke. Surprise to see you here.” he admitted in his all-truthful voice. Grease on multiple black hair strands on the running hanyou's head reflected the light with an unhealthy shine.

“Oi! Fox-boy!” Yusuke greeted the former thief.

“Yes, hello.” Kurama greeted back. “What is it you need?”

“Keiko's freaking out about getting a kimono for some “Star Festival” and asking ME what the legend was and what-not!” Yusuke panicked.

“And your problem is?” Kurama prompted. Yusuke glared at the fox-demon.

“I. Have. No. Idea. What. The. Damn. Legend. Is.” he said as if explaining it to a child. Kurama sweat-dropped. He was TONS smarter than his chocolate-eyed friend, yet he was being spoken to like a toddler!

“Let's see, the Star Festival, huh? I think I read that once.” Kurama pondered, his sparkling emerald eyes staring into space in wonder.

“D'ya mind tellin' me?” Yusuke asked, getting annoyed of the freaking stalling.

“Oh, yes well, the Star Festival is a festival in which children and young women find quite a lot of enjoyment in. Legend goes that on the eve of July 7, Shokujo, the Weaver Princess Star, is supposed to meet Kengyu, the Herdboy Star, on the bank of the Amanogawa--”

“Huh?” Yusuke stood clueless with his interruption.

“River of Heaven,” Kurama continued, “or Milky Way, for their annual tryst. The legend goes back to the celestial princess, a most skillful weaver and the embodiment of industry. One day, while engaged in weaving cloth for the king's garments, fell in love with a handsome lad, a cow-herder. As a reward for her diligent industry, the king allowed them to marry. But so much in love were they that the princess gradually neglected her weaving and the herder allowed his cows to stray, which so exasperated the king that he finally separated the couple, forcing them to remain on opposite side of the Milky Way and permitting them to approach each other only once a year.

“But there is no bridge over the Milky Way and the princess, on her first visit, wept so bitterly at the impossibility of meeting her husband that she roused the sympathy of a Kasasagi (magpie) who assured her that a bridge would be built for her. This was done because the magpies with wings spread across the Way, forming a bridge on which the princess crossed. But, further says the legend, if the eve of July 7 is rainy, the magpies will not form the bridge and the celestial lovers must wait another year before meeting.” Kurama looked at Yusuke's reaction.

“In English?” he asked. Kurama sighed heavily.

“A princess fell in love with a cow herder, they got married, king got mad, king separated the two, and now there's a festival about it.” he simplified.

“Oh! Thanks, Kurama!” Yusuke thanked and started to leave, but Kurama grabbed his shirt collar.

“There's more, Yusuke.” he told his friend. Yusuke looked at Kurama with an annoyed look.

“Fine.” he mumbled.

“This is about the actual festival, so you should most probably listen.

“Although the modern celebration of the Star Festival varies widely according the localities, a common feature of this festival is the display of bamboo branches decorated with long narrow strips of colored paper and other small ornaments and talismans. The paper strips are inscribed with poems expressing the wish for fulfillment of romantic aspirations. Young girls firmly believe that when they observe the festival earnestly, they would gain skill in weaving and sewing. Decorated bamboo branches are tied to a pole and placed in front of one's house. At the end of the Star Festival, the bamboo branches are thrown into a river to be carried away, thereby dispelling misfortune. Some are placed in rice paddies in means of repelling insects or as a thanksgiving offering for what is hoped will be a bounteous harvest.

“Yet, all those traditional and picturesque habits of the Star Festival have mostly disappeared in these recent days. The festival is observed at some kindergartens and national schools, but rarely city dwellers now celebrate the day as their mothers and grandmothers did it. Today, girls are not so romantic as to believe in the story. Yet in rural districts, it is still observed, not knowing the significance of the festival. Yet they enjoy the day as with it comes something good to eat and their mothers are in good spirit.” Kurama, once again, looked at his friend's reaction.

“So, there's not really a festival in our city?” Yusuke asked.

“No. But my mother is cooking a very nice dinner tonight.” Kurama said as if it was the bright side of bad news.

“So why's Keiko getting dressed up and acting all lovey-dovey-ish around me, then?” Yusuke asked. Kurama shrugged.

 

Hiei stood there, quiet as the darkness, invisible as a shadow in an unlit-room, and as curious as a cat. Soft, flame-styled hair stood up and short bangs hung over a white bandana on his forehead. The white and azure strands could not be seen in his corner of the hallway. Crimson eyes were the only things visible, but no one noticed. He listened to the pathetic ningen legend with open ears and unidentified wonder.

What kind of festival celebrates a legend of two lovers who can't always even see each other? This is stupid, pointless, and unimportant!

“Botan's been asking me what color kimono she'd look pretty in, too.” Kurama told the detective. Hiei's fist clenched involuntarily.

“She likes ya.” Yusuke teased. Hiei's fist clenched more.

“Now, Yusuke, you don't know that, and neither do I.”

“Betcha Hiei does, with that Jagan and all.”

“I'm sure he doesn't care for what Botan thinks. They seem to hate each other.”

“Really? Keiko's always teasing Botan about her and Hiei.” Yusuke pondered. Hiei's face seemed to blank.

“Interesting. Well, let's go. Koenma might know where Hiei is.” Kurama said and motioned Yusuke in this opposite direction of Hiei's perch.

“So, the detective's mate thinks the onna likes me?” Hiei whispered to himself. He shook his head.

Don't get your hopes up, Hiei.

With that last thought, he flitted off into the blackness.

 

~~~~June 7~~~~

 

“Thank you, Koenma-sama! Most people in the Ningenkai don't celebrate this any more like when I was a child!” Botan thanked, purple eyes closed with happiness.

“You're quite welcome, Botan. I must say that Keiko and Yukina are enjoying this, too.” Koenma replied, running a hand through his short brown hair. The Reikai Star Festival seemed to be a big success with everyone…well, the girls mainly.

“Yes. This is the perfect time for them to spend more romantic time with Yusuke and Kuwabara! Shizuru may not act like it, but she's loving her time with Kurama, too.” Botan agreed, smiling. Then she sighed.

“Hm? What's wrong?” Koenma asked.

“Just thinking about how much those all of yall love your girl/boy friends.” Botan practically breathed out. Koenma blushed, remembering that Ayame was running a bit late. Botan sighed again, not paying attention to the blood racing to Koenma's cheeks.

“O-oh.” Koenma stuttered. Botan just watched Yusuke and Keiko bickering about something, Kuwabara flirting with Yukina, and Shizuru, their Shizuru, acting shy around Kurama. And soon Ayame would be here and steal Koenma from Botan's company, leaving her to talk to no one.

“Onna.” a monotone voice said behind her. She looked over her shoulder quite cutely and saw a koorime striding up to her.

“Hello, Hiei. Personally, I didn't think you'd come at all.” Koenma admitted.

“Hn.” Hiei replied, taking his gaze off Botan for a millisecond.

“I guess you wanted to talk to Botan, huh? Well, I'll leave you two alone, then.” With that, Koenma left, hiding a sly grin.

“Uh, hi, Hiei.” Botan greeted, trying not to sound too cheerful for she feared the emotionless youkai standing before her. Hiei raised an eyebrow.

“Why aren't you annoyingly happy?” he inquired.

“B-because, I-I….” Botan couldn't think of an explanation.

“Because you fear me?” Hiei asked, almost tauntingly.

“…Maybe.”

“I'll take that as a “yes,” onna.”

“Why do you call me “onna” instead of my name, Hiei?” Botan fake-pouted. Hiei took no notice of her expression.

“Because I do what I want and I don't want to recognize the fact that you have a name.” Hiei clarified coldly. Botan felt a tear come to her eye. Why did he have to be so cold to her? What did she ever do to him to make him so hateful towards her?

“YO! HIEI!! WATCH OUT!!” Yusuke shouted. Hiei snapped his attention to his comrade and raised his eyebrow again. Then, he was dripping wet. All he heard was Botan laughing her head off next to him and a little voice cursing up a hurricane in his head. He only blinked, twitched his eye a bit, and growled, his face still emotionless.

“We warned ya!” Yusuke cried over his and Kuwabara's roaring laughter.

“Why the hell am I dripping wet?” Hiei asked calmly.

“Me…and…Ura-” Kuwabara tried to explain but kept laughing his head off.

“Uh, I think Kazuma means that he and Yusuke-kun were playing with the balloons full of water and one hit you, Hiei-san.” Yukina came up with the best explanation her naïve mind could think of.

“Yusuke! Why were you and Kuwabara-” Keiko started to scold but once she looked at poor Hiei, she had to contain her laughter.

“What's going on? Hiei, why are you all wet?” Kurama asked, trotting up to the commotion with Shizuru at his heels. Shizuru cracked a smile and Kurama chuckled.

“May I ask what the fuck is so funny?” Hiei asked, his anger rising.

“Your hair!” Yusuke and Kuwabara shouted. Indeed, Hiei's once gravity-defying hair was now drooping over to the side, making him look insanely cute.

Cute was something that was just hilarious when used as an adjective for Hiei Jaganshi, ruthless killer and most feared demon in the Makai.

“Yeah! You look so cute!” Botan chirped. Instead of rising laughter, it became falling laughter. Hiei's eyes widened and his mouth became just a dot.

Oh Enma he looked so kawaii!

 

After endless torture from Yusuke and Kuwabara, Hiei and Botan got away and were now in separate places.

Botan stood on a bridge, ends of her bubble-gum kimono whisking in the wind pitifully and long, pulled-back blue hair waving to the sparkling stars above. She sighed again, not believing she called Hiei cute in front of everybody.

He was cute, though, you had to admit.

Botan seemed to be on a sighing spree tonight when she started thinking about the koorime. He grew…a lot. He was taller than her now, and could easily just grab her by the waist and with his red lips…

Botan shook her head back and forth crazily. Why was she thinking about that?! He would NEVER do that! Never, never, never, never! But…

She wished he would…

 

Hiei was walking up a dirt path to anywhere. Why did the onna call him “cute?” Of all the damn things she could call him it had to be that! Hiei put his hand to his forehead.

Why had he come here? There was no fighting, no killing, no blood, no kissing, no hugging, no—what? What the hell was he thinking?!

Hugging? Kissing? Where the hell had those come from?!

Then his crimson eyes caught sight of a flicker of sky blue. He was secretly hoping it wasn't the onna yet at the same time he was. He walked closer, the blue-ness too mesmerizing for his own good.

 

Botan felt a hint of demon energy and spun around.

No one.

She cocked her head to the side in wonder. Where had that energy gone? It was just there a second ago.

“Dark out here, huh?” a monotone voice asked right next to her. Botan jumped.

“EEP!”

“You're loud, onna.”

Botan looked at the youkai next to her. She groaned inwardly at the sight of the black, white, and blue hair. She looked the koorime over.

His kimono was black with a red dragon wrapping around him. The sleeves went to his middle finger-joints and he seemed to be clutching onto them.

“Like what you see?” Hiei asked, almost jokingly. Botan jumped and blushed again. It always scared her how he could be looking away from her yet know what she was doing. She watched him lean forward on the bridge rail, looking out into the night. His aura felt inviting, so Botan did the same next to him.

Hiei covered his tension of being around the deity of death with thoughts about how his twin was doing, how to kill Kuwabara, him kissing Botan, finding a good fight in the Makai, asking Kurama what the hell a “computer” was, he and Botan slipping off each other's kimonos, him pushing Botan onto a bed with them both naked, he and Botan—

Hiei shook his head mentally. What the fuck was he thinking…again?! This time he was being perverted, and that usually led to being somewhat like the detective.

But, he wanted so much to just grab Botan by the waist and kiss her like no one has ever kissed the one they love before. He could just imagine what the Grim Reaper would taste like, would feel like in his arms, how she'd respond, just so much.

“Hey, Hiei.” Botan said.

“Hn?” Hiei responded.

“Do you envy Kurama, Koenma, Yusuke and Kuwabara?” she asked dreamily.

“Why would I envy the fox, the toddler, the detective and the oaf?” Hiei replied with his own question.

“Do you envy that they're in love?”

“Why would I?”

“Haven't you ever felt loved, Hiei?”

“Shut the fuck up.” Hiei's tone was colder and more hateful all of a sudden.

“What? You have, haven't you?” Botan asked.

“I'm off.” Hiei retorted and started to walk away.

“Your mother must've loved you a whole bunch.” Botan argued. Hiei froze in his spot. “And your father, too.” Hiei turned to face the deity.

“Didn't I tell you to shut the fuck up?” he asked so icily, it made Botan's blood run cold. She could see his face in the starlight.

He looked like a poor, lost little child who had no home.

Botan just kept staring at the koorime.

“Didn't your momma love you?” she dared to ask again. In a split second, she was pinned to the side of the bridge as much as possible.

“Don't you ever talk about my mother again, onna.” Hiei hissed. Botan just stared into his lost eyes.

“But…everyone knows if their moth-” she started again.

“DIDN'T I TELL YOU TO SHUT UP?!!” Hiei shouted in her face. “DON'T YOU DARE TALK ABOUT MY MOTHER, EVER, ONNA!! YOU HEAR ME?!” he bellowed again. His hands were gripping Botan's shoulders violently and he had shaken her just a bit.

Botan was on the verge of crying her amethyst eyes out. Hiei was yelling at her, in her face, and he was hurting her arms so bad!

“I-I-I-I-” she started but started crying. Hiei's grip didn't loosen whatsoever as he just watched the onna cry her eyes out in front of him. For some reason, it gave him pleasure, as well as pain, to see her cry this hard, knowing he was the reason for it.

But he didn't know that he was crying too.

Black tear gems hit the wooden ground in a staccato beat, clanking against each other. The demon that was feared by all was crying with a bubbly Grim Reaper in plain sight of the stars staring down on them in pity.

Botan opened her eyes and saw the falling ebony gems hit the ground for she was looking down. She shot her head up and saw the stones pouring from Hiei's hurt crimson eyes. He didn't even seem to know he was crying.

“Hi…ei.” she choked through her tears. Hiei looked directly into her water-lined eyes. She was looking at him, then down, then to him, then down again. Hiei followed her gaze to his feet and his stinging eyes widened at the stones he saw.

“Those?” he asked himself in wonder. He removed one hand from Botan's arm and rubbed his eyes. “What?”

“Crying. You were crying.” Botan told him, also rubbing her eyes. “Just like me.” Hiei opened his mouth, and then closed it again.

They just stared into each other's puffy red eyes.

“I'm so sorry!” Botan cried as she lunged into Hiei's arms. “I made you cry I'm so sorry! I'm sorry that I brought up your mother, I didn't know it'd hurt you!”

Hiei didn't know what to do. So, he guessed.

“Onna,” he breathed and wrapped his arms around Botan's small frame.

“I'm so sorry, Hiei.” Botan apologized again and fell into his embrace.

“…I never met my mother. I was tossed off the island of Koorime the minute I was born. I fell infinite miles down to the ground and no one cared.”

Botan looked up at the dark koorime.

“Then I was raised by thieves who abandoned me when I became too strong. From then on I was just a wandering, lost child. All I had of my mother was the tear gem she cried when she gave birth to me and Yukina.”

Botan sniffed.

“One day I lost the tear gem. I thought my world came crashing down; I had nothing to remind me of her. Then I went to see her, only to find that she had killed herself in agony.”

Botan buried her face into Hiei's kimono.

“Onna, I've never known a mother's love, and I never knew my father. Is that what you wanted to hear?”

“…Yes. Now I know why you're so cold and dark. You've been abandoned so many times and never knew your parent's love. I'd be distant and reclusive, too.” Botan answered through even more tears.

For some reason, the Star Festival legend popped back in his head. He thought about the elegant princess who fell in love with a mere cow herder and then the two loved each other so much that they put everything else aside. Then the king banished the cow herder far away to where the two lovers couldn't always see each other. He smirked; it reminded him of himself and Botan.

She was an elegant, slightly clumsy, deity who could pass for a princess easily. He was the Forbidden Child, doomed to suffer and be unimportant. In a way, they were separated by their emotions and only had these moments VERY rarely.

Now, about the “love” part…

“Hiei…” Botan whispered shyly.

“Yes, onna?” Hiei cooed, unknowingly.

“Do you think I'm…pretty?” Botan asked hopefully. Hiei was taken aback by the completely random question.

“No.” he answered in all truth and honesty. Botan's face paled.

“Would you wanna live and be with me forever?”

“Hn. No.”

“Would you cry if I left right now and never spoke to you or saw you again?”

“Hell no.”

“Do you like me at all?”

“I'd never like you, onna. I never will.”

“JERK!” Botan screeched and turned to walk away, tears making an encore. How dare he do this! He probably planned this all just to make her cry!

But a hand snatched her arm gently, yet roughly.

“You're not pretty.” Hiei told her softly. “You're so beautiful you make the brightest of stars jealous. I don't want to live with you forever. I need to be with you whenever I turn around and whenever I wake. I wouldn't cry if I never spoke to you or saw you ever again. I'd die, onna.” Botan stared into his shining crimson eyes.

“But you said you'd never like me. You're just playing with my feelings, Mister Jaganshi.” she told him and tried to get away again.

“I wasn't lying. I'd never, ever like you, onna. At one point I did, but then I just quit liking you a long time ago.” Hiei clarified and pulled Botan into a warm embrace. He watched her eyes, brimming with crystal tears, look up at him. Hiei brought down his lips to her cheeks, one at a time.

“You're such a jerk, Hiei. You're playing with my feelings.” Botan whined, convinced that the youkai hated her. Hiei smirked and let her go.

“If you don't want to hear what I think about you, then run back to the bakas.” he told her. Botan stepped back, afraid of more heartbreak. Then she took another; then another, and she was about to turn and run when she had the best moment of her life.

Hiei grabbed her upper-arm and pushed her down slightly with his left arm supporting her back in one swift motion as he planted his warm, tender lips on Botan's lush red ones. He slid his lips over hers, wanting a reaction. He continued to kiss her, getting a little bit wilder by the second.

Botan was blushing like mad. She was not expecting this!! She felt Hiei's caring lips caress hers soothingly, and then they started to demand a response. Botan closed her eyes and snaked her arms around his strong neck as she pressed her lips against his. She could feel their teeth sliding against each other and they're tongues played in their mouths like hyper children.

When Hiei broke away for air, he swallowed and looked down at Botan.

“I'll never like you because I love you, Botan!” Hiei told her, raising his voice at the end. Botan just stared into her future lover's eyes.

“I love you, too, Hiei.” she told him and this time kissed first. Hiei responded immediately, making the kiss more passionate than it was.

With the stars as their witness, Hiei of the Jaganshi and Botan, Guide to River Styx, give all their emotions, all their feelings, all their fears to each other in only one kiss. They might've gone farther if it hadn't been almost time to go back to the Ningenkai.

 

That night, a star flew on her oar to a lonely, hidden and much more opposite star that wanted nothing more than to be with his true love at long last, unbound from pride and fear.

 

 

 

The End

 

 

Star Tears - by: Vehira