I has a chezburger, ur, I mean, a party. ((desert_gaara))

[thedeath_of_you]

If all things have gone right with the Nexus and Botan's ability to send things, Gaara should find a pink envelope on his desk. In her trademark bubble characters, the note (translated, of course) reads as follows:

Gaara

Comments

[desert_gaara]

To be honest, Gaara has never been one for social gatherings. Had the invitation been from someone else, he woudl have declined if he'd even botehred to reply at all. But this was Botan. And if she wanted him to come, he'd at least make an effort.

'Something nice' wasn't far from his usual clothes; black pants and red coat, though he did switch the mesh-shirt for a more normal shirt. He had observed a bit when they went to her world so he thought he had at least some idea on the style of dress. Besides, the coat offered a place to conceal one or two kunais and a bit of sand. The gourd would hardly go unnoticed after all, so that had to stay behind.

He wasn't exactly nervous or anxious when he stepped through the portal to meet Botan. But he couldn't quite shake the feeling that he shoudl approach this as some sort of mission.

[thedeath_of_you]

Botan smiles when she sees Gaara. She walks up and gives him a hug. "I'm glad you decided to come." She's switched her regular clothes for a nice, casual skirt and blouse. The only thing much different is the two strands of hair framing her face are curled now. "You look very nice." She means it, too.

"I hope you don't mind climbing stairs. We can't get a portal directly to Genkai-san's temple because it's pretty heavily shielded."

[desert_gaara]

"No oar today?" He smiles and kisses her cheek before letting go of her. "Will I be expected to be social and pleasant at this get-together?"

[thedeath_of_you]

"I'm afraid we'll have to keep to a set path to Genkai's. You'll see when we get there." She absentmindedly adjusts his collar.

"I'm not saying you should force yourself to be but it'd be a lot easier if you'd be at least cordial. They'll bug you, anyway. Koenma-sama will be there, too. I'd very much like for him to approve the man I'm with."

[desert_gaara]

"I will do my best, then. I won't be rude, in any case." He toys a bit withe the curls in her hair while she adjusts his collar. "Koenma-sama will require some formality, I suppose?"

[thedeath_of_you]

"That's all I'm asking."

She sets the coordinates into her communicator. "Yes, I was going to give you the full run-down on all mission specs. Ready."

[desert_gaara]

"The more details I have, the smoother the mission will go." His lips quirks into that small smile that pretty much his equivalence to a grin. "Ready."

[thedeath_of_you]

"Okay." As the portal appears, she turns back to him.

"The majority of my friends wouldn't know tact if it slapped them in the face. There will probably be inappropriate questions about you, me, and our sex life. I have ways to deal with this. They are also violent, and will probably try to pick a fight with you. In fact, there probably will be a fight tonight, if someone gets drunk enough. Show respect to Koenma-sama, and please, don't laugh at him. Also, Hiei...well, we'll cross that river when we get to it."

[desert_gaara]

"Am I allowed to fight back if someone would get the bright idea to fight with me?" Yup, still that would-be grin of his. "Koenma-sama has teh form of a small child, yes?"

[thedeath_of_you]

"I'm allowing, partially because I think it'd be hilarious." A grin.

She grabs his hand and pulls him through the portal. "Yes, he does. He's very sensitive about it, you see."

The world on the other side is a dense forest with only a small stairwell cut in the side of the hill. All along the path are wards.

[desert_gaara]

The dense forest reminds him somewhat of the Land of Fire. His eyes follow the stairwell. "Well, at least I know I won't have to carry you," he smiles and takes her hand.

[thedeath_of_you]

"You might have to on the way back."

As they walk, Botan tells him the tale of this forest and the shrine. "Many years ago, Genkai-san was a renowned demon slayer and psychic. In her prime, she was probably one of the greatest human fighters of all time. But, in her later years, she exiled herself out here in these woods."

Gaara may notice a presence following them, jumping from tree to tree, not unlike a ninja.

[desert_gaara]

Oh yes, Gaara notices the presence, and thsi takes up much of his attention. AS he's trying to hear at least some of what Botan is saying, he's fighting down an urge to throw a kunai at their follower. Habits are hard to break.

After a while he decides that he's had enough. Ever so discretely, small amounts of sand drifts out from his sleeves. Then without varning, it forms a band around the followers ancles to yank them down on the ground. Hey, ity's not hostile! It's just a way of saying that the follower is being rude for not introducing themself.

[thedeath_of_you]

An angry Hiei is not a good Hiei. The man, tall enough to come up to Gaara's chest, glares poisonous daggers at him.

Botan, on the other hand, squeaks. "Hiei? You were following us?"

"Shut up. I cam down here because I sense a powerful aura. And its sure as hell's not yours."

[desert_gaara]

Once again it's obvious that Gaara is the quiet type. He just looks disapprovingly at Hiei, though he has a few choice words on the tip of his tongue.
The bands of sand tightens around Hiei's ankles as a warning before the snake off and drifts up Gaara's sleeves again. You should not be rude to Botan while Gaara is around, even if he believes that she can take care of herself well enough.

[thedeath_of_you]

"This is Gaara, Hiei-san. He's my boyfriend. And before you say it, yes, I am not too annoying to get one. Now, we should all go up to Genkai-san's temple. I'm sure Yukina-chan has fixed us all a nice meal." All this is delivered in an upbeat fashion.

At this, Hiei either gets annoyed or bored and quickly vanishes, but not without one last look at Gaara. It's a mutual dislike, it seems. Botan sighs and continues walking.