** This is a Fan Fiction and is just that, a Fan Fiction which means, in short that I Do Not Own Yu Yu Hakusho, nor the characters except Serenity. For those of you who are skittish, yes there are Yaoi parts, and for those of you who do not know Japanese terminology that means Gay or Guy Guy sexual relations. So you are warned. This has been brought to you by your friendly neighborhood announcer guy**

A few things to start with: 1 / Means that Kurama is thinking personally./ *Means that Serenity is thinking personally* [Means Hiei is thinking personally] And 2 This is happening during the Dark Tournament, there will be one slight thing that changes. In stead of Koenma taking Genki's place, Serenity will. But don't worry Koenma fans, (If there are any) he still goes to the Dark Tournament as a teenager. ************************************************************************

/ Her smile is that of a scared child. Her eyes are that of an old woman and one wise beyond her years. Her body is that of a well developed teenager. And her movements are that of the swift and cunning. She is dangerous above all and yet she knows nothing of her threat, and nothing of her potential. It's all a dangerous combination. /

The day began to disappear as the night sky began to over power the sun. The wind smelt fresh like after a summer's rain. And the trees were fresh in bloom. And the sky, once blue was now splashed with pinks and purples, and dark blues creating a beautiful painting for all the world to see.
Kurama sat down amongst the freshly cut grass watching the sun slowly disappear beyond the mountain range. Birds chirped in the distance reminding Kurama that he was still with in the human world, able to enjoy the beauty. The dark tournament was still a day away, and he was not yet forced to go back to Makali, the demon world.
However, his mind was turning in a different direction; he no longer cared about dark tournament in that way. He worried about the dark tournament because of what it would cost him. If they lost, it would mean the deaths of all his friends, those people that he started out with, and grew close too. The loss of people who knew he was a demon and cared nothing about it, who just cared about him. It would mean the loss of some one...no, no, the loss of two people he loved more than life. Kurama didn't know if he could bare either loss.
"Kurama? You have been sitting around this place for 3 hours now. Surely the sun doesn't need that much attention."

/Hiei, he too power, different, tough, strong, and though most never see it loving. He can be loving, and he can be loving to me. But he has been touched, corrupt, stained. However the love he shows is great, and he too is dangerous, methodical. This thing ningens call love is toying with my mind, and my heart. Why am I allowing it to do so?/

"I was just watching its beauty fade. I personally like the colors disappear into darkness."
"Hn. I find no interest in such things." The demon crossed his arms and closed his eyes standing to the left of Kurama.
"I suppose some wouldn't." Kurama laid back onto the grass and closed his eyes breathing in its beauty of a scent. "Where is Serenity?"
"That foolish girl is harassing Yusuke about the mission we are to go on. That girl never gives up."
The Youko laughed a deep roar. "Did you honestly think that Serenity was so easily persuaded. I am surprised he hasn't broken yet."
"I still don't understand why you asked us to keep the dark tournament a secret to her. Its not like she can't handle the truth. And besides we need five fighters if I am not mistaken."
Kurama let out a deep sigh remembering the first time he meant Serenity. It was in the demon world. The day was darker then usual. The rich bastards of the human world had planned a special event for the demon kind. It was a horrible event going back to the time of human gladiators...
The stands were full and all that was available was standing room only. Demons screamed and shouted, the announcer was on the ring ready to start the battle. That's when Kurama saw her.

/She was a scared child ready to do all that she could to survive. Her eyes were ready for any single movement, ready to attack at any provocation. She was ready to kill. No person her age should be willing to kill so young. Yusuke, though young didn't have the same look in his eyes as she. It is his job to kill, it is his job to bring down demon bad guys, but she, Serenity, had the look that it was life or death./

Three men walked onto the ring dragging a body behind. It was a body of a young woman. Her hair was long with a hint of red, and to Kurama's surprise the tips of her hair was green, and a natural green at that. Her clothing was some what tattered, her shirt barely covering her breasts, and her skirt a few inches above her knees. Kurama felt pity for this child. But in his present state he had no chance of helping her.
"Welcome folks to this gladiator event brought to you by Trugshi and company. A team of highly respected demons known as the Kushi team have volunteered to fight Serenity, the half human half demon girl."
The three men dropped her body to the ground as the crowd began to roar with boos and remarks of hatred...

"Kurama, what is that mind of yours thinking about?"
"The reason I don't want Serenity to know about the tournament is because she will want to go."
"Of course she will. And she more then any of us has a reason."
"Understandable. However is her reason more important then her life?" Kurama asked. His voice becoming less consistent.

/The demons will destroy her, she shows a demons weakness to fall in love, and not only be in love, but be in love with a human. That above all is a dangerous mix. But I too have that weakness. Hiei is my weakness, I am unable to claim my love to him, and if I did he will shun it and destroy it. But I do love him, and her. I can claim my love to her, and she will not shun it, she will not destroy, however she knows my feelings towards Hiei. She would not believe me./

"Sometimes that is not your choice Kurama, but hers to make." Hiei finally uncrossed his arms and fixed his velvet black cape over his shoulder. "As is telling her your choice, and we shall leave that up for you to make." Hiei jumped up into the almost pure black sky, allowing the dark shadows to consume him and make him disappear into the night leaving Kurama once again alone.
His mind once again began to wander as well, back the day in Makali where he first saw young Serenity fight. She was powerful and she could control it well. Her spirit energy was off the charts however only when her demon form came out. And it took a lot of pain and provoking before she unleashed her true self, but not this night.
Kurama remembered the smell of decay when he walked down the stairs to get a closer look at the young half demon who was now in the middle of the ring with five demons surrounding her. She was standing up now, and her hair reached her shoulders. He took notice of a few scars outlining her back. But he was unable to really tell what they were from. Around her neck was a silver looking band. Kurama caught a glimpse of what looked to be sparks coming from the band. He didn't need anyone to tell him that this wasn't going to be a fair fight in the least.
"Well folks, all that needs to be said is...Let the game begin!"
One of the demons stepped forward, a huge smile across his face, his pointy ears twitching in the wind, his bright yellow eyes watching her every movement.
"How are thing Halfling?" He asked in a harsh roar of a voice.
"Been better," she answered like it was just another normal conversation.

/It was like she was unconcerned that she might be dieing in the ring today. Yet her voice was like an angel to my ears. Her voice had hypnotized me like a Sirens song./

"Have your prayed today?"
"I don't believe in praying."
"Umm...fighters...the crowds are getting a little restless with all this talk and no action," cried the announcer in a panic due to the crowd uproar. "These folks paid good money to see a fight."
"We're getting to that girlie," he screamed loudly so all could hear him. "Just trying to get to know my prey before I kill it." He ducked his head and stepped forward.
Serenity nodded ready to fight. Kurama remembered how it seemed like it had been forever when in actuality it had only been a moment that past. They both moved so fast, that Kurama wasn't sure whether anyone else knew what happened.
The first Kushi fighter, Kurama had to admit, was quick. He was able to throw out five punches in three seconds. Serenity had dodged all but the last, which she took in the face, sending her flying back. She quickly caught herself and stood up like nothing had happened.
"Are you going to just dodge all night or actually fight me?" He roared, annoyed by her lack of combat.
"I didn't think you wanted to die so fast, wanted to give the crowd a good show for their money, but if you insist."
Serenity's hair suddenly turned pure green, her eyes turned a dark purple, and an aura of spirit energy poured from her body; she gave a small flicker of a smile. "I hope you said your prayers."

/It was like the smile of death, I was even scared but yet it was not like I was scared of dieing, I was scared of her potential, and the reality of how powerful she was/

"Kurama, so you're still here." Yusuke stepped out from behind the tree. "Hiei said you would be."
"When did you get back from Genki's?"
"Earlier this morning. As soon as I got home Serenity was at my door asking about the tournament."
"She has been like that with all of us, since Kuwabara slipped about it. Since then he has been hiding from her."
"Sounds like Kuwabara to me, never being able to talk with girls." Yusuke chuckled as he sat down next to the Youko watching the stars glisten in the night sky. "Kurama, may I ask how you and Serenity know one another?"
Kurama smiled and once again closed his eyes. He allowed himself to remember the smell of burning flesh and ash. Serenity had gathered her spirit energy into one huge blast, one that was completely undodgeable, and the demon knew it. With a flick of her wrist she let the blast release from her control. The stadium turned a bright green as the whole entire ring blew up into millions of microscope pieces, taking the whole Kushi team and the first row of demons along with it.
Serenity was on the ground, her clothing a little singed. When the sudden shock disappeared the crowd roared with praise. Serenity stood up, her face filled with anger, tears rolling down her cheeks. Kurama remember how sad she looked after the kill.
"Now you love me! It took for me to kill your brethren before you praise me like I am a god! You creatures are nothing more then savages!"

"Kurama?"
The fox demon sprang his eyes open, and glanced around thinking he had fallen asleep. "Sorry Yusuke. It's late, and tomorrow we have a big day, we should be getting our sleep." Kurama stood up and brushed his long hair red hair over his shoulder. He took one deep breath trying to etch in stone the smell of the beautiful spring.

/I was intrigued by her then, while I was in love with Hiei. She had smile unlike any other, she had a mind unlike any other, she was unlike any other. She was one of her kind, a half human half demon wanted killed by the demon world, but praised like a god. Who knew that a Halfling could be become more powerful the toughest demon in Makali, and wanted dead all the same./ The yellow street lamps didn't nothing for the night but taint it, and make the stars less visible. Kurama had been walking back to his house which was about an hour away from the park, taking the long way. His mind still fighting back and forth between that which he had, and that which he wanted.
"Hn. Having problems fox?" Hiei said from a tree branch above Kurama
"Hiei, how long have you been following me?"
"Kurama, you better be more on top of things. We are going to be fighting the best of the best in the days to come. And having one of our best fighters not on the ball could hurt us."
"Hiei, you worry to much." Kurama replied as he opened the door to his house. "Would you like to stay the night?"
"Hn." Hiei jumped down and entered.