"This had better be good, Koenma…I was on a date with Keiko. I'm never gonna hear the end of this…" Yusuke complained as the four man team settled into their usual spots in the office. Hiei was leaning against the wall, keeping close to the shadows as he did so. Kurama was sitting on the couch looking as if he was bored but still politely paying attention. Kuwabara made no effort to hide his boredom as he yawned loudly next to where Yusuke was standing in front of the demi-god's large desk.
"I take it you all remember the Dark Tournament?" Koenma started.
"That question have a point?" Yusuke asked warily. Already he didn't like where this was going. The Dark Tournament had been quite simply a fiasco. Especially that bit at the end involving the fleeing from the collapsing stadium. That had been a real hoot.
Koenma sighed a bit and pointed his remote at the large flat screen TV across the room. "This is the demon Katashi." He stated as the picture appeared. Katashi was a demon with four glowing red eyes and gray skin that was drawn tight over his protruding cheekbones. Long black hair fell around his gaunt face in gentle waves and fangs were just visible hanging over his bottom lip. "He's wanted for a variety of crimes including the capture and brutal torture of another spirit detective. He's participating in the upcoming Blood Tournament. It's the only time we'll be able to get near him. Because you won the Dark Tournament you get an automatic invitation to participate in the Blood Tournament. We need you to capture…or in this case more likely kill, Katashi. He won't go down without a fight."
"How do we know he will be at this tournament?" Kurama asked curiously.
"He's part of the defending champion's team. He attends every year. After that though…he completely falls off the map." Koenma said. "We've been trying to track him down for nearly a year and this is the best opportunity we have."
The door opened and the white haired, blue eyed, vixen walked in sending Kurama a wink before leaning against Koenma's desk. "Got the information you wanted." She said sending the infant-like ruler a sidelong glance.
"Well?" Koenma demanded impatiently.
"Katashi's a low A level demon who specializes in bladed attacks. He has an arsenal of bladed weapons at all time but his most worrisome technique is one called Mind Lapse. He sends a very unpleasant shockwave of ki out which completely paralyzes anyone caught in it for up to three minutes. Apparently that's how he got the better of the spirit detective he captured. We didn't know about the ability until after we got the detective back." She explained glancing at each of the team as she did so. This was more for their benefit than Koenma's after all.
"Hn. Can you break it?" Hiei asked.
The vixen shrugged. "Nobody's done it but that doesn't mean it's not possible. There is evidence to support that you can defend against it if you're prepared for it. People have been able to build up a shield and prevent it from hitting them. But only a few have done it successfully and they are all on his team. Team Ragnaro."
"So we just gotta go in and beat the dude into the ground. Simple enough." Yusuke said casually.
"Yeah, piece of cake." Kuwabara agreed.
Kurama smiled slightly, shaking his head at them. "I assume that since this is another tournament that we will need a fifth participant again?" Koenma nodded. "Who will that be? Genkai cannot join us now that she's given Yusuke the majority of her power."
Everyone was quiet for a minute as they thought. "Hey! What about you Yuki? You're pretty tough. Those ice powers of yours kick ass." Yusuke said looking at the vixen expectantly.
Yuki smiled a bit. "I'm sorry Yusuke but I can't. I've been barred from this tournament."
"Barred?" Kuwabara echoed. "Why?"
"Well…there was a slight incident involving a ring that was in the possession of one of the judges…and I decided to relieve him of the burden of owning it." She said with a bit of a laugh. "Needless to say he was not entirely pleased."
Kurama smiled "I do hope it was worth it."
Yuki frowned. "Not even a bit. Damn thing turned out to be a fake."
"Hn. That doesn't help fill out our team." Hiei said moodily.
"Maybe Genkai knows someone that could help. What'dya think Urameshi?" Kuwabara asked.
"Maybe…" Yusuke said uncertainly. "Probably only fossils like her though."
Koenma sighed. "You four had better start training. The tournament is only a month away. I'll find you a fifth member and have Yuki bring whoever I find to the meeting place."
They all started heading towards the door when Yusuke paused. "Hey Koenma? What happened to that spirit detective that Katashi caught?" Everyone stopped and turned slightly. They were all curious now.
Koenma frowned around his pacifier. "Let's just say Katashi fancies himself skilled at autopsies…even if the person's still alive."
"Spirit detective was tough too…wouldn't tell him anything about Reikai's goings ons even when Katashi pulled pieces out." Yuki added with a cold look in her eyes. She might have been the so-called 'Torture Queen' but it had lost its appeal to her fairly quickly. Once you heard those types of screams…they were too hard to get rid of. She hadn't done anything remotely sinister to anyone in over three centuries. 'Maybe I am getting soft…' She thought.
As the spirit detectives left the room Yuki stared after them. She was starting to get a bad feeling about this mission. They had to fight their way through a lot of people before they could fight Katashi. "What do you think?" Koenma asked, shaking her from her thoughts.
Yuki sighed. "I don't know. I don't really have anyone that would be powerful enough and loyal enough to be their fifth man. Times like these make me wish I had a different line of work. Sometimes theft just…comes back to wring your ears."
"It's your own fault." Koenma snapped.
"I'm aware."
Koenma sighed. "Go get me all the files on the active spirit detectives, demons, and apparitions under contract with Reikai. I'll start with them."
Yuki nodded and left the office. She wasn't remotely surprised to see Kurama waiting for her. "Koi…you will be careful won't you?" She asked as she leaned up against him, resting her head on his shoulder.
"Of course." He murmured stroking her silky white hair. "Will you be able to at least come with us?" He asked rubbing behind her fox ears.
She made a mew of happiness at his actions. "They said I was barred from entering…not watching. I'll come."
Edit: I cannot believe I spelled Koenma's name wrong that whole chapter...I've fixed it now. Sorry if you noticed.
Oh and I forgot to mention...Yuki is the OC from my other story Ice Roses. Though the first story isn't finished yet this is the sequel...I'm just dying to show Hiei some love I guess...