A/N: Aaaand, we're back! Much thanks to everyone who stuck with me during this long revision process- the first arc had far more work to be done on it than this one, so it did take a bit, but hopefully we should be back to entirely new content relatively soon. This second arc does need some fairly serious revision for the first few bits, but I'm thinking it won't take quite as long.

For those of you that have not read the revised version of Arc I, I would recommend it- there are a few things that are exposed then that weren't in the original version, some characters that were cut or reworked significantly, and- most importantly- a lot of much needed clarification that should make this arc more understandable and, thusly, more enjoyable.

I would also like to take this opportunity to point out, once again, that I do not do trigger warnings at the beginning of chapters. The general rule to consider is that there is nothing in this story that is more graphic or damaging that scenes or themes from the original- but, considering that the original includes incestual sex-slavery, babies being thrown from cliffs, and people having their spines ripped out, it's safe to assume that pretty much everything is on the table. Arc I is fairly tame in terms of depictions of violence- this arc, naturally, is not. There are also some scenes in later chapters that are a little rapey (not actual sexual assault, but still with that kind of vibe- you'll get what I mean).

If any of you have any particular triggers that you wish to be warned about, please let me know in a private message and I will be sure to notify you privately of what parts- if any- you should avoid. I don't want to make anyone excessively uncomfortable, but I do feel that as a whole, trigger warnings can take away from the momentum of a story, particularly for those who do not have triggers and enjoy a bit of shock-and-awe.

This first chapter is a long one, but it's got a lot of important information for the chapters to come. So, with that, I welcome anyone who's come this far into Arc II, and I hope you enjoy it!

Arc Two

The Ankoku Tournament

Yusuke

Outside, the sun was shining, birds were chirping, and the residents of Ningenkai were going about their business as usual. However inside the Urameshi household the atmosphere was dark, and no amount of pleasant weather sought to lighten it.

Yusuke's heart had begun beating out of his chest just at the thought of yesterday's confrontation- he had assumed that if given a day and night to rest he should be able to pull himself together enough to retell the tale to Kuwabara without being overcome with residual panic. Unfortunately, it didn't seem to be enough- even now he was shaking.

At first Kuwabara had been reluctant to believe him. After all, they had both seen the Toguro Brothers fall- they had even hung around the compound for a while afterwards and there had been no sign of trouble. Kuwabara was convinced it had only been a dream, but the perpetual tremble in Yusuke's fingertips and his shifting gaze had soon proven enough evidence to the contrary, and Kurama and Hiei had backed up his story as well. Apparently they had also been invited, and with all three of them insisting this was reality, Kuwabara was eventually forced to believe them.

"What kind of sick people would pay to watch something like that?" Kuwabara said between clenched teeth, seeming somewhere torn between wholly terrified and childishly indignant.

"Blood-sport is quite popular among residents of Makai, unfortunately," Kurama began. Though he did not tremble like Yusuke and Kuwabara did, the look in his eyes was hardly reassuring. "Though the tournament is run by humans, the majority, if not all of its spectators are demonic."

"That's sick," Kuwabara mumbled under his breath.

"Unlike you humans, we are not so entertained by watching balls be kicked around a square," Hiei snapped.

The fury behind Kuwabara's gaze rose up instantly. "I should have expected you to be the type to like watching people die."

"I don't watch these tournaments," Hiei spat back. "Neither do I participate in them. I have no desire to fight like some monkey for the amusement of those weaker than me." Hiei's gaze shifted to Yusuke, narrowing even further. "Unfortunately, it would seem I don't have a choice."

"Hey, I didn't tell them to invite you!" Yusuke shouted back defensively.

"I realize that," Hiei said, turning away and back to the window. "But it doesn't change the fact that if it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been invited in the first place."

"This isn't my fault!"

"You may see it that way, if you wish."

Yusuke's jaw clenched, his panic shifting quickly into outrage at the gall of that little brat, but before he could retort Kurama stepped between them. "Arguing will get us nowhere," he began, sounding somewhat like a reprimanding mother. "Regardless of the circumstances surrounding our involvement, the fact is we are involved. All of us."

Yusuke felt the guilt rise up in his throat, choking down any response he could give. Despite his anger with Hiei he really did feel responsible- it was his job to get rid of Toguro, and he had failed at that. And, that besides, the massive, muscled maniac had made it no secret the day before that they were only invited so the two of them could fight again.

All his friends were going to die and it was all- singularly and entirely- because of him.

"It likely goes without saying, but we should each begin a rigorous training method as soon as possible- even today, if we can find time," Kurama continued. "We only have two months but-"

"- It's not enough time," Yusuke interrupted, speaking almost to himself and drawing the pointed gaze of the fox who looked down at him warily, as if his own negativity were somehow contagious.

"We have to try."

"Like hell we do!" Yusuke retorted, crossing his legs and pouting like a stubborn child. He looked down at his hands, which were firmly clasped around his ankles and gripped so tightly that he felt himself losing circulation to his feet. What the hell am I supposed to do in two months? Even if grandma trained me the entire time, there's no way I'd be able to improve that fast!

"We'll need to begin training as soon as possible," Kurama continued, smoothly avoiding Yusuke's indignation. "Yusuke, you should contact Genkai now. Hopefully you may be able to begin your training even as soon as tomorrow."

"Can't we just turn them down?" Kuwabara said suddenly. He looked up at Kurama, a slight glimmer of hope returning to his eyes. "I mean, it's not like they can force us to fight, right?"

"They cannot force us," Kurama agreed. "But-"

"But nothing! I'm not fighting unless I have to!" Kuwabara insisted, hungrily latching on to the first bit of hope he'd had since this conversation began. "I'd rather die in my own house than in some creepy demon tournament."

"The idiot has a point," Hiei said, keeping his gaze out the window. "We either face those brothers in the ring, or we face them when they hunt us down later. At least the second option isn't televised."

"If only it were so simple," Kurama sighed, placing his focus on Kuwabara. "While they cannot force us to fight, they can persuade us to..."

"Persuade?" Kuwabara repeated, before giving him a wary look. "It doesn't sound so bad, but I have a feeling you're about to tell me it is."

"Essentially, our refusal could turn this into a hostage situation," Kurama continued. "If we refuse they won't go after us- they'll go after those we care about. Hurt them, kidnap them- they'll find a way to convince us to go."

Yusuke's iron grip on his ankles tightened, and his gaze fell to the floor as images flashed through his mind- terrible images, things he had never hoped to see or even dream of. Images of his mother- strewn out and bloodied on the floor of their home. Images of Keiko burned and blackened and ripped apart like cotton candy.

Up until now his only concern had been for his own safety. Stupid- stupid, always so stupid and so incapable of reading between the lines, he had never even considered the danger his loved ones may face. Hell just a few weeks ago Keiko had been chased through the halls of her school by maddened teachers all because some prick in a castle wanted to push Yusuke's buttons- how could it not occur to him that it would happen again?

It was stupid, and it was shameful, but even worse than that was the fact that despite knowing that Atsuko and Keiko's safety lay in his hands, it did nothing for his courage. There was no righteous anger, no rousing of selfless bravery- there was only a silent, heavy compounding of fear and the dull ache of his feet losing blood.

"Those sick bastards," Kuwabara fumed in Yusuke's stead- undoubtedly the braver of the two of them if he were still capable of forming words. Still, he looked pale- washed out and withered by their new reality. "I swear I'll kill each one of 'em, if I get the chance."

"A sentiment I'm sure you're not the first to express," Kurama replied solemnly. He seemed far too calm- far too at ease- and Yusuke was suddenly reminded of their conversation months ago on the roof of that hospital. Kurama was old- far older than he was- and he had once been quite powerful. He'd probably seen things like this before; hell, maybe he had even participated once or twice.

Something a bit like hope seemed to come to him then and he stared up at the composed half-fox-half-human like a lost child. Maybe they could rely on him, maybe he could pull the team and find a way out or maybe-

He forced himself to stop. No, he thought, this isn't his responsibility.

And it wasn't- this was his own fault and no one else's. He couldn't force his friends to carry that weight, no matter how old or strong or mysterious they may have been. And it was then that he was reminded of the other parts of that roof-top encounter- the talk of Shiori, and Kurama's desperation to save her. He had people on the line too, and Yusuke would be damned if he'd allow himself to become a hindrance to keeping those people safe.

And though no, there still came no wave of altruistic heroism, Yusuke just managed to piece himself together- a tiny stitch on a gaping hole of doubt and self-pity.

"I guess we've got no choice then," Yusuke cut in, his voice wavering as he forced himself to let up the grip on his ankles. Instantly blood began to rush back in, sending the sensation of pricks and tingles all the way up his shins. "No turning back now."

He looked to each of his companions in turn- his fighting partners, as they now were- and found each of them staring back at him with hardened, determined faces.

That was until he looked to Hiei, who seemed to suddenly have perked up quite a bit.

"Hiei..." Yusuke began warily, and instantly the demon's red eyes shifted to him. The smirk followed moments later, and Yusuke's temper began to flare. "What the fuck is so funny/"

"Nothing, detective," Hiei curtly replied, before the corners of his mouth twitched up further. "It's just I've said for years that getting attached is a liability. Never really had an opportunity to prove it until now."

"Hiei..."

"Hey you little brat, what the hell is that supposed to mean!?" Kuwabara demanded, standing from his spot on the floor to stare down at the smaller man who remained huddled by the window.

"What do you think it's supposed to mean?" Hiei quipped back through a wicked grin. "It means I'm leaving."

"Hiei," Kurama said sharply, drawing the small demon's gaze before softening his tone to a whisper of warning. "You may not be as open about your 'liabilities' but it's no secret they exist-"

"- And those that know of them are few and far between," Hiei replied shortly, glancing between him and Yusuke. "So unless you're planning on ratting me out just so we can die together in some pit-"

"- We wouldn't do that, Hiei."

"No," the small demon replied, sounding almost haughty. "None of you are quite the type, are you?"

"We are not," the fox agreed. "But I believe you should reconsider."

"Duly noted."

"We need you, Hiei. Please."

"Don't beg, Kurama. It doesn't suit you."

The fox stilled then, his age and his power showing as he regarded the demon before him in a controlled, compact manner, and for the first time in his life Yusuke began to see how someone could be silent and strong all at once.

"I do not appreciate the tone, Hiei," Kurama scolded in his smooth vibrato. "I'm only trying to reason with you."

"You're trying to convince me to do something outside of my best interest," Hiei shot back, plainly unimpressed. "It isn't going to work."

"The fuck it is!" Yusuke shouted then, standing and inserting himself between Hiei and the rest of the group. The demon hardly seemed perturbed though, and when he cocked a single curious brow in Yusuke's direction the boy lost it. "What the fuck is your problem!? You can't honestly be serious that you'd just abandon all of us! I mean not after everything we've been through- after everything we've done for you!"

"You think I owe you something?" Hiei scoffed, leaving Yusuke practically foaming at the mouth.

"We're a fucking team, Hiei! Whether you want to be a part of it or not, that's what we are!"

"You're creating new liabilities all over the place," Hiei laughed back. The frustration Yusuke felt then was enough to drive him up a wall and only compounded further as the smaller man looked up at him with an amused grin. "You think we're, what... friends?"

"I don't know," Yusuke growled, a twinge of humiliation settling in his gut. "But whatever we are, it's like Kurama said- we're in this together. Regardless of who's... er, liabilities or whatever are on the line."

Hiei gave another scoff before pushing past both him and Kuwabara, moving towards the door. He didn't get far before Kuwabara reached out, snagging him by the neck and pulling him back, eliciting a vicious snarl from the smaller man.

"Do not put your hands on me-"

"- You can't leave!" Kuwabara insisted, his fingers twisted in the dark fabric of Hiei's cloak. "I don't know what the hell you three are talking about with this 'liabilities' crap, but if these tournament guys are really willing to go after my sister if we don't compete then there is absolutely no way I'm letting you out of this!"

"I'm warning you," Hiei seethed, and Yusuke could see a bit of energy begin to emanate from him. "Let go now or you lose the arm."

"If you wanna leave, you'll have to fight through me first!"

"I'd be happy to."

Both seemed to gear up, muscles tensing and energy levels rising to fighting levels. Yusuke too found himself worked up, his jaw clenched and teeth grinding and an undeniable urge to punch Hiei square in the jaw rising up from deep within him. Hell, even Kurama seemed ready to smack someone.

Fortunately- or perhaps unfortunately- it all ended when a rough voice spoke up from the doorway of his bedroom.

"I hate to rain on your little parade, Hiei, but you're definitely not getting out of this."

Yusuke turned at once to the source of the voice- Hotaru, leaning casually on the door frame with a steaming cup of coffee, and looking amused at the sight before her.

"Where the hell did you come from!?" Yusuke shouted, recoiling back and staring into the dark gaze of the girl across the room.

"I got here a couple minutes ago. I was making coffee," she explained, tilting the cup up in example before a single brow went cocked, the incredulity becoming obvious in her face. "You didn't know I was here? Because if you weren't able to sense me then you're less prepared than I thought. I wasn't even trying to sneak around."

Anxiety swelled in the pit of his stomach- he hadn't sensed a thing. The others, however, seemed pointedly offended at the accusation.

"I sensed you!" Kuwabara protested- childlike and overtly proud- before he shrunk back a bit, scratching at the back of his neck and muttering: "I just thought you were like... a little kitty or something."

"A 'kitty'?"

"You're energy signature is rather weak," Kurama explained, spurring furious nods from the other boy.

"Yea, it's like a cat."

"Or a rat."

Hiei's voice seemed to cut through the pleasantries like a knife, and when Yusuke stole a glance at him it took only the briefest of moments to realize that Hiei's prior levity had completely disintegrated. Hiei's gaze held such ire that Yusuke felt he could almost feel the heat- actually, he was pretty sure the small demon was physically smoldering. Yusuke had heard from Kurama sometime after Yukina's rescue that apparently there had been a bit of a confrontation between Hotaru and Hiei sometime back about his sister, but judging by the pure rage boiling inside the demon Yusuke was beginning to think Kurama had undersold the conflict quite significantly.

"You can insult me all you like Hiei, but it isn't going to change anything," Hotaru mocked with a sharp laugh. "You're stuck in this situation just like everyone else."

Hiei hardly seemed to take that well. "You cannot force me to fight in this game."

"No, but you are still..." she paused, sloshing her coffee about as she determined the proper words. "You're still- as you four put it- liable."

Hiei's rage seemed to double down at that moment, and frankly, Yusuke couldn't blame him. Though Kuwabara still seemed entirely lost, Yusuke could tell from a brief glance to Kurama that the fox was thinking the same thing- Hotaru was willing to expose Hiei's secret about Yukina in order to get him to participate.

It was a dirty tactic, and although Yusuke found himself shamefully pleased at the idea that Hiei would be in the same situation as the rest of them, he couldn't help but be a bit shocked- and a bit disgusted- that Hotaru would sink so low. She had seemed so nice, after all.

A moment later though, she corrected herself.

"Stop looking at me like that. It's not what you think," she chided, punctuating her speech with a loud slurp of black coffee. "All I'm saying is, there's more at stake here than just the families of these three."

"Do you mean to say..." Kurama began cautiously, knitting his brow in a contemplative stare. "Should one of us refuse, that Yukina as well will be-"

"- Yukina?!" Kuwabara bellowed. "Wait, what the hell does she have to do with all of this!?"

"Seriously?" Hotaru replied before giving a sharp bark of laughter. "The only reason you four are in this situation in the first place is because you were trying to rescue her- did you really think they wouldn't use her as bait?"

The room stilled, and Yusuke chanced a glance over to Hiei, who's temper had thankfully abated, though it had been wholly replaced by a look of terror that was ill-fitting for his normally stoic visage.

"You definitely can't back out now," Kuwabara growled, before launching towards the small man and grabbing him again by the collar. "Yukina has nothing to do with any of this and I'll be damned if I let you put her in danger all because you're too selfish to-"

"- I'll fight."

"... What?"

"If it will get you four off my back, I'll fight," Hiei replied, his fear fading into a well-maintained mask of nonchalance. "Not that I care about your families or that Yukina girl, but if it will stop all this bleating..."

It was a pathetically shallow lie, but thankfully Kuwabara seemed to fall for it, and Hotaru made no move to push further.

"Glad to hear it," she replied smoothly, taking a long, lingering pull from the steaming mug in her hands. Hiei did not meet her eyes- nor anyone's- as he slowly regained his position in the corner of the room, staring out the window like a pouting child, summarily bringing the debate to an end.

Hiei would be fighting- perhaps he wasn't happy about it, but he'd be doing it all the same. And now, with that problem solved, they only had about a billion more to deal with. Good progress.

Before Yusuke could continue on to raise his other doubts about the situation, however, Kurama cut in with a question of his own.

"Not to belabor the point," the fox began slowly. "But you mentioned that our involvement was due to the mission to rescue Yukina... Could you elaborate?"

Yusuke had never heard him sound quite so timid as he did then. Not overtly so- certainly by any normal person's standards the fox didn't sound timid at all. Yet there was a notable difference from the way he normally spoke. It were as if Kurama were somehow afraid of what the answer might be.

"Surprised?" Hotaru replied sardonically, before moving to speak to the group as a whole. "I can understand why you thought the Toguro Brother's were really dead- they put on a pretty impressive act, actually. Even Reikai was surprised."

Yusuke vividly remembered then when he had first spotted Toguro on the street, casually leaning against his monstrous motorbike as if nothing had ever happened. He had thought it was just a hallucination at first- that all this ghost stuff had been getting to him and now he was really going crazy.

If only it had been that simple.

"The thing about all that was..." Hotaru trailed off, tapping two of her fingers against the mug and staring at no one in particular. "Well to be honest, I'm not really sure why they went through that whole 'fake death' bullshit in the first place- something about a bet, I guess?"

"Wait, a bet?" Yusuke repeated through clenched teeth, feeling a deep sense of anger at the thought that all this recent pain and fear had been merely a part of some underhanded gambling.

Unfortunately, Hotaru wasn't all that reassuring either. "Yea, I really don't know the particulars of it- Sakyou had some thing worked out with some other guys, I guess? He needs money for a... project of some sort. Not sure what that is either."

"So you really don't know anything, do you?" Hiei ground out from the corner, before Kuwabara cut him off with a question of his own.

"Wait, who's Sakyou? He some other guy we have to fight?"

Hotaru let out a sharp bark of laughter, which faded into an almost whimsical sigh. "Oh I wish you could- you'd really save me a lot of trouble."

"Well who is he!?"

"He's a member of the Black Book Club- same club Tarukane was a part of, though Sakyou is at a much higher level than that guy was," Hotaru explained. "It's sort of a tiered system and- ah, well, you don't really need to know all the details of it, but Sakyou had lent out his two personal guards- the Toguro Brothers- to Tarukane in exchange for a few favors. Basically, even though the Toguro Brothers were working for Tarukane, they're actually Sakyou's men."

"And they follow his orders," Kurama finished for her. Yusuke noted the fox had that look he sometimes got- that particular way his brows furrowed and his jaw tightened that let Yusuke know he had just realized something that the rest of them were light-years behind in figuring out. "He was the one you left to meet with," the fox continued in a low tone. "You made a deal."

"I made a deal," Hotaru repeated back, her eyes locking with Kurama's in a gaze so heavy Yusuke knew there had to be something more to it, but she turned back to the rest of them before he could figure out what. "I met with Sakyou while you were at the compound and convinced him to order his men to back down. The conditions for doing so were that you would be signed up for the tournament."

"But they didn't back down!" Kuwabara interjected. "They were right there- we fought them, damn it! They didn't back down at all!"

"Yes, but they did throw the fight," Hotaru replied, sounding almost sympathetic. "That's what I was saying earlier- something about a bet meant they couldn't just leave you to alone, so they staged the fight instead and lost on purpose."

"And if you hadn't interfered?" Kurama asked, once again leveling that same heavy look towards the girl. "If you hadn't met with Sakyou, then...?"

"Then things would have turned out very differently," was all Hotaru replied. Kurama's green gaze narrowed, but he didn't respond.

Instead, it was Yusuke who took his turn to speak, though try as he might to come up with some way to sum up his feelings, the most he could manage was a swift fist to the floor and a muttered, "Fuck."

When he felt the group turn to him, his thoughts coalesced- though hardly into anything much better than the simple utterance. "Why the fuck would you do that?"

"Why would I make the deal?" Hotaru reworded back to him, and he ground his fist further into the carpet.

"You knew we'd be in this situation- this fucking tournament, you knew! And you made the deal anyway! Why the fuck would you do that!?" he shouted, staring pointedly at the floor before his gaze traveled upwards and he met the dark gaze of Hotaru. And, then, he found himself taken aback by the somberness of her expression, and the slight hint of pity that lay beyond her black eyes.

"I did it to save your life, Yusuke... You couldn't take them."

Yusuke was stunned.

He shouldn't be- he knew he shouldn't be. It was obvious to anyone with half a brain that he was no match for Toguro, yet somehow in the darkest recesses of his brain he still felt as if his first fight was a victory- even if it was false and even if it didn't stick. It was still a win, and somehow he still believed that in the tournament he could summon that power and win again, even if in his conscious mind he knew it was impossible.

Hearing it now, spoken so plainly by someone else, the reality of his inadequacy drilled itself deep, crushing any hope he held like concrete under Toguro's fists.

He was totally fucked.

"I'm sorry," she began, sounding entirely earnest. "You couldn't take them, and I couldn't find any other way- I tried to reason with Sakyou- I tried to offer him anything else, but your participation was the only thing he wanted."

"Oh," was all the boy could manage in that moment.

Luckily, Kuwabara was head-strong enough to speak for the both of them.

"If you knew that then why send us there in the first place!?" the boy demanded. "I mean- not like that I regret saving Yukina because I definitely don't but... it's just- I mean- why not send someone else? Why us, if you knew we couldn't do it?"

Yusuke waited. They all waited- Kurama in particular seemed eager to know the answer, staring at the girl with wide, emerald eyes. And, soon enough, an answer wrenched itself from Hotaru's throat.

"I made a bad call," she said simply- almost casually, though her face betrayed it was far from the sort. "Koenma asked me if you could handle the mission and I said you could. It wasn't until it was too late that I realized what you were really up against. I had to make the deal to save you and... I'm sorry. I really am."

Yusuke sat back then, reorienting himself and latching both hands to his ankles again in his own personal version of the fetal position.

Hotaru had done all this to save him.

This tournament- this long series of death matches against demons and martial artists and evil beings- this was the better option.

And well- wasn't that just the worst fucking thing.

"You'll have two months to train- I know it's not a lot, but if you devote yourself to it then it might just be enough," Hotaru continued on. "Plus the tournament format is basically like a pyramid, and the Toguro Brothers are likely the strongest competitors that'll be there this year. If you fight them last then you'll already be used to ring-style fighting, and you'll have some good experience to supplement your training. It's not impossible."

Yusuke turned back to her then, fully ready to be every shade of indignant at her naivete, but stopped himself when he found her regarding him without pity this time- instead, she seemed almost hopeful.

"It really isn't impossible," she stated plainly, before smiling just ever so. "I wouldn't have made this deal if I didn't think you could do it."

He knew he shouldn't- he knew he shouldn't let him feel hopeful at that. He knew what a god-awful situation this was, and how unevenly matched he was against Toguro, and how little two months actually meant in the scope of his training. And yet still, for some reason, he found himself believing her- if only for that one moment, Yusuke suddenly felt as if maybe he really could do this. They all could.

Somehow, Hotaru seemed to recognize his change of heart and smiled to herself briefly before hiding it with another sip of black coffee. And, once she lowered it, it was back to business.

"So, like I was saying about the tournament," she began, speaking in a clipped and professional tone- like a coach talking to a baseball team, or a doctor to a patient. "The whole ordeal is structured like a pyramid- each team has four rounds until-"

"- Why?"

Yusuke turned to look to Hiei, who had spoken up from behind him, to find the demon staring pointedly at Hotaru. Though the rest of them seemed relatively appeased, he was obviously far from it- brows knit, mouth in a tight line, and eyes blazing with a fury to rival that with which he had addressed the girl upon her entrance.

When he did not explain further, Hotaru took it upon herself. "'Why' what, exactly?"

"Why?"

She glowered at him- curling her lip up into an exasperated sort of sneer. "You're going to need to elaborate a little, Hiei."

"Why make the deal?" he finally spoke, and Hotaru's features contorted further into incredulity.

"I just told you why- to save Yusuke and-"

"Not you... Them."

"Why did Sakyou agree to postpone?" she phrased back, rolling her eyes skyward. "Because he wanted to? Because Toguro told him so? Because the phase of the moon wasn't in the exact right position to favor a win? Fuck, I don't know why he did it, Hiei- don't ask me to get inside the mind of a mad man."

"That's not what I'm asking," Hiei growled, and Hotaru audibly groaned.

"Okay well then why don't you spell it out for me?!" she retorted with an exaggerated shrug. "I swear, you spend all this time talking in cryptic, short-ass sentences and no one can tell what the hell you're talking about! If you want answers then just ask me, but don't expect me to read your mind, Hiei!"

Hiei stilled. His jaw went tight, and his hands bunched into fists at his sides.

"Why would they need your permission to submit our names?"

"... What?"

"Why is our participation something you could offer?"

"That..." she started, before falling briefly silent. Delicately, she placed her coffee cup upon Yusuke's desk, folding her hands in front of her and taking a deep breath. "That... is actually a pretty good question."

She looked back at them then- at all of them, before her dark gaze settled squarely on Yusuke.

"The thing about this tournament is... well..." she began, before straying off- her trepidation was obvious and it almost seemed like she wouldn't explain at all, before she finally admitted with a sigh of resignation:

"I'm the owner."

Hotaru

Fifty Six Years Ago

"Ms. Hotaru, you must understand the difficult situation that you've put us in. This request of yours is..."

Hotaru stared across the table- varnished mahogany with a large, gaudy center-piece of white lilies and gypsophila, a garish antithesis to the bloodied and dredged stadium field that the viewing box overlooked.

Opposite her was a slew of faces- many elderly, most human, and all absurdly wealthy. Though stoicism often begetted such types, the expressions of the tournament committee members that faced her now were anything but- there was contempt among some, naturally, as well as some expected disgust. Most interestingly- at least to Hotaru- were the faces that seemed disappointed- humiliated even, by being forced so low as to have someone like her in their midst.

After all, the idea of this tournament, and the main draw for the committee members- aside from the thrill of illegal gambling- was the simple fact that they were able to reign above the swath of miscreants that made up the general assembly, and that they were able to enact whatever trials and tribulations they wished upon the beasts that made up their pool of competitors.

Hotaru herself had been one of those competitors- though certainly not of the traditional sort. Though she knew what 'difficult situation' they spoke of, she also couldn't help but feel that somehow even just her presence alone troubled them enough, all talk of prizes and requests aside.

"This request of yours is..." the man across from her repeated, steepling his fingers together and resting his elbows upon the grand mahogany. "It is unique, to say the least."

"I can't really be the first to ask for this," Hotaru replied, leaning back in her chair and giving the man across her a hard stare.

"No, you're not," he acquiesced reluctantly. "However, Ms. Hotaru, coming from someone like you, specifically, this sort of request is quite troubling."

"From someone like me?"

"A Reikai associate," the man replied, making quite the valiant effort to hide his distaste. "In fact, you are the first Reikai associate to ever even participate in our humble competition. Naturally that means that this situation is far different than the prior occasions when such a request has been bequeathed upon us."

The man in question was one Kaze Mori- a wealthy arms dealer with a long familial history in weapons manufacturing and design, which had compounded their wealth into practical royalty during the Meiji Restoration. Mori himself had cultivated strong ties with military leaders during the Taisho Era, which later culminated in a strong political and financial presence in the early Showa. Unfortunately, the success of the long-running Mori line would later fall short, due to his eldest son's polarizing radicalism, and his second son's feeble mindedness.

For now, however- at least in this capacity- he was the chairman of the Ankoku Tournament and a key member of the board for the Black Book Club.

"A demon being the owner of our tournament!? It's an absurd idea!" shouted a wrinkled, jowly man from across the table- Ikki Kunoe, of similarly military-based wealth. "I refuse to stand for it!"

"'Demon' is a rather general term, don't you think?" Hotaru posed innocently, cocking a brow at the old man as his face flushed purple. "I grew up in Gunma Prefecture. Hardly foreign."

"That doesn't change what you are!" Kunoe bellowed, slamming his hand across the table top. "And that besides- you are hardly a victor!"

"Oh?" she laughed back with a haughty grin. "I'll admit I wasn't quite giving this tournament my full attention, but I do believe my team won, didn't they?"

"Even if they did, you didn't even fight!" Kunoe cut back- as if he, being well over the proper weight for a man his age, had any right to judge one's ability to hold their own in the ring.

Truth be told, no, Hotaru had not fought- her team had handled the opponents for her, as they were hired to do, and they had each left with their own monetary prize in hand. Hotaru, however, had made the history books with her own wish- ownership of the Ankoku Tournament itself. Or at least the majority shareholdings of such.

Perhaps it was a bit insulting for the most useless member of Team Yomotsukuni to have the grandest wish, but it wasn't her fault her hired teammates lacked creativity.

"Even if we were to give such a ludicrous prize to a demon," Kunoe continued, no lack of loathing in his tone, "it is beyond arrogant to assume we'd give the prize to some little girl who didn't even compete!"

Hotaru was about to retort, before Mori interjected in her stead. "Mr. Kunoe, that is quite enough," he began, maintaining his politeness but with a slight tone of authority laced beneath. "Despite what you may personally believe, Ms. Hotaru was a registered member of the winning team and is thusly by all accounts a victor, according to the rules of this tournament. Therefore, she is deserving of our respect, as any victor would be."

"I apologize, Mr. Mori, however-"

"- If you disagree with the rules, you are welcome to bring it up at our next meeting," Mr. Mori continued, in a clipped tone. "Until that time, I suggest you refrain from any further outbursts."

The quiet in the room then was uncomfortable- or would have been, if Hotaru hadn't been chomping at the bit to shut Kunoe up herself. Shortly after the lumberous man had stilled, Mori turned back to her, all previous authoritativeness hidden beneath a well-crafted veneer of good-will.

"Ms. Hotaru, I do apologize for my colleague's distemper, however you must understand- this tournament has been a human-run affair since it's inception centuries ago. We cannot forfeit such ownership merely because of a wish," he explained, to which Hotaru gave a polite shrug.

"You have a rule book, and it doesn't say anywhere that I'm not allowed to wish for ownership. If you didn't want this to happen you should have just written it down."

"We have, Ms. Hotaru- we cannot grant wishes that are beyond our power to control-"

"- So you don't have the power to sign over ownership?"

"Perhaps in a technical sense, yes, we do, however..." Mori seemed to struggle for the proper term then- likely out of feigned reluctance rather than any true aphasis. "We are morally bound to represent the committees that have come before us. To hand over ownership to a... being, such as yourself- particularly one with such strong ties to Reikai- is something we cannot do in good conscious. This is the same reason we have turned down such requests in the past- demonic creatures have no right to take ownership in this event. To allow such a thing would be the greatest of dishonors to our for-bearers."

He paused for a beat, before his thin face stretched into a pained smile.

"No disrespect meant to you or your kind, of course."

"Of course."

Hotaru leaned back further in her chair and heaved a quiet sigh. She new this would be difficult- impossible even, at least for most. Though she had faith in her own abilities to negotiate, she was also quite aware that the Black Book Club held a strong disinclination toward demonic beings, and that disinclination was overshadowed only by their vehement loathing of Reikai.

Honestly, she had never quite figured that part out- the members of the Black Book Club were some of the only humans privy to the nature of the afterlife. They knew what was coming- they knew that after their (inevitable) death, they would be escorted before King Enma, and he would enact their punishment. They knew that should they fight continually against him, they would suffer eternally in the afterlife, and yet still they persisted on, acting like rebellious teenagers and spitting in the face of their overlord. Perhaps it was only a natural reaction to learning- undeniably- that one's fate was entirely in the hands of another. Or- more likely- it was simple stupidity.

Either way, Hotaru wasn't the least bit naive in thinking this would be an easy sell. And, realizing then that polite conversation was likely to get her nowhere, she decided to cut to the chase.

"I'm going to lay this out plainly for you," she began, finally pushing herself forward and matching Mori's position with a forthright one of her own. "Reikai has allowed this shit little tournament to go on uninterrupted for a long time, but that's going to change."

"I would like to see them try to--"

"- It is going to change, Mr. Kunoe," she interrupted succinctly, cutting off the raging man down the table. "Whether you like it or not, your days of conducting this tournament without the prying of our organization are over."

She looked around the room then. One would hope that, in the face of a clear and thorough warning from a representative of the ruler of their fates, the men would back down. One would hope that, when confronted with the reality that they were no longer in control, the committee would accept that they had lost this round. However, if one were to hope such things, it was plain to see from the men around the room that they would be summarily disappointed- these were not men of reason, but rather men of power. They bowed to no one.

Fortunately, Hotaru had not been hoping for such submission.

In fact, she was counting on quite the opposite.

"We have been damn gracious in following your rules- we had hoped that if we went through 'formal channels', so to speak, that you'd be more inclined to agree with our proposal. After all, I'm not asking for full ownership- only the ruling share. That's not so extreme, is it?"

Judging by the way Kunoe sunk in his chair, Hotaru suspected that it indeed was quite extreme, but she continued on nonetheless.

"I may be the only representative of Reikai here today, but that doesn't mean I'm standing alone. I am here on orders of King Enma himself, you know." She paused then, her lips twitching into a mischief-ridden grin. "Then again I guess you do know- or at least suspected. You'd probably have killed me by now if you didn't suspect at least that much."

"You needn't fear, Ms. Hotaru," Mori began with a placatory smile. "You are safe here."

"I'm sure I am," she replied, not entirely confident in her own words. "And believe me, I get why you're reluctant- you want to see this tournament continue, and I hope I can assure you that discontinuing this event isn't at all what we're trying to do. Actually, Reikai is interested in expanding your operation, believe it or not."

Mori stilled across the table- likely taken aback by such a statement, though plainly unwilling to believe it outright. "Ms. Hotaru, when you say 'expand'-"

"- What I mean is, this tournament draws dozens of competitors who are looking for a good fight. But, it draws hundreds of competitors who are here for the prize- money, typically, though I'm willing to bet that a lot of them have bigger dreams than all that."

"You're saying Reikai will foot a grander prize than what we can offer?" Mori inquired, the gleam in his eye betraying any nonchalance his voice may have implied. He may not have been sold, but Hotaru knew then he was at least nibbling at her bait- she didn't need to explain outright how better prizes would mean better competitors, and better competitors would mean more demand for tickets and higher bidding wars than anything the BBC had ever seen. To a business man such as Mr. Kaze Mori, such things were obvious.

"Reikai will not be footing the bill for that, no," she admitted, before continuing on swiftly. "But, I do have someone else that is willing- a god by the name of Inari Daimyoujin. Heard of him?"

The rumble of urgent whispers across the room made it clear that they had.

Though at the time most of Inari's dealings were within Makai (it was far easier to operate as a god of finance in a place where beings already knew of the existence of gods), he had begun expanding his enterprises back into the realm of Ningenkai in recent centuries. Despite larger scale wars and invasions unlike anything Ningenkai had seen since the time of the Divine War, the realm was overall a more peaceful and organized place than Makai, and thusly far more apt to business prosperity. Though most Ningenkai residents were still skeptical about the existence of otherworldly beings and gods (outside of the realm of religious and superstitious fervor), the members of the BBC were far more aware of such happenings than the average human, and clearly Inari's reputation had reached them.

"Mr. Inari-"

"- He prefers 'Master', actually..."

"Master Inari..." Mori conceded, with some note of difficulty, "... does have quite the reputation, or so I have heard. Rumors have it he has already made his presence known to some within the national bank, and his presence abroad is already all but confirmed."

"He's been busy, then," Hotaru laughed back- she had just been with him a few days prior, in fact, and he had been ranting animatedly about the ineptitude of said national bank. Something about Eigo Fukai's 'complete and utter lack of anything resembling testicles' when it came to properly handling loans to the military, and how- if he had anything to say about it- Seihin Ikeda of the Mitsui Bank would be (and should be) next in line. But naturally, she kept that information to herself.

"Ms. Hotaru," Mori began, settling his hands flat atop the mahogany almost in an act of prayer. "Are you saying that you are an acquaintance of his?"

"You bet I am."

"And are you saying that- should we agree to let you on- he will lend his power to this tournament?"

"That's exactly what I'm saying," she replied with a wide smile. "Along with me, you'll get Inari Daimyoujin as your official divine sponsor. As you can imagine, Inari has the power to grant wishes way better than money- I think knowing you can get the blessing of such a well-known god should be quite a pull for the competitors, don't you think?"

The room went quiet then, and Hotaru noted that even the most contemptuous of individuals seemed to be stewing on this one. Despite what morals the BBC may have attempted to espouse, it was clear what truly motivated them- money and power. And, having a god of finance as the personal sponsor of their little event was practically the definition of both.

Finally, Mori leaned forward once more, a smile tugging at the edge of his lips though he attempted to hold it back. "Your offer is an intriguing one, Ms. Hotaru, and it does deserve some deliberation. However, I am somewhat concerned..."

"Oh?"

"Well naturally I imagine that this sort of offer does not come without strings attached. And- as you said yourself- it was King Enma who requested your presence here today."

"Ah well, yes. That's true," she laughed back, playing up a bit of nervousness for the benefit of her now quite-attentive crowd. "See, the thing is- we can't allow this tournament to continue without supervision, like it was in the past. There will be a few restrictions in place-"

"- If you believe we'll allow our freedom to-"

"-Mr. Kunoe," Mori began, his voice far more commanding than it had been up until this point, before it softened to an almost patronizing degree. "Another outburst like that and I will have you removed. Are you quite finished?"

Kunoe down the table held his tongue, though he made no qualms with leveling a heavy glare, which Mori matched in turn. Hotaru couldn't help but view the aggressive defense as a sign that Mori was more interested than he was letting on, and a moment later, he passed the table back to Hotaru, and she continued on unimpeded.

"As I was saying, there will be a few restrictions- with more powerful wishes come more powerful- and more ambitious- competitors. Reikai would like to make sure that if such competitors become the victors, they won't be given any power that'll harm our organization- no wishes are to be made that could cause the direct death of anyone in Reikai, for example."

"We cannot control what our competitors do of their own free will, Ms. Hotaru."

"Yes, we understand that, but with my rule and Inari's participation there will also be a measure of... compliance. For the competitors, and for ourselves."

"Meaning?"

Hotaru paused for a moment, allowing the conversation to slow before she continued on. "Mr. Mori- you and your colleagues were not wrong in assuming I'm inhuman. I am. And, beyond that, I do possess certain abilities- one of those abilities is to make binding contracts."

Mori seemed rightfully disturbed by this- and rightfully skeptical. "Do you mean magically binding?"

"Yes. In a sense."

"Well that's certainly changes things," he remarked with an uncomfortable laugh. "All talks of gods and wishes aside, being supernaturally bound to fulfill a contract is not something I- or my associates- are willing to do, I can assure you."

"Do you make a practice of breaking your promises, Mr. Mori?"

"Certainly not, however-"

"- Then I don't really see why this would be an issue," Hotaru interrupted smoothly, laughing and noting the brief flash of anger across the man's face at her delight. A moment later, she reverted back to calmer pleasantries.

"I realize it's kind of daunting, but it won't just be you under restrictions. Me, Reikai, and Master Inari would be under restrictions too." Mori seemed to perk up at this, and Hotaru continued. "For example, Master Inari would be required to grant any wishes that are within the confines of the rules- whether or not he wants to. That way you can be sure that any promises you make in advertising your event will be kept.

"Also, I, as owner, would be bound to continue the tournament, regardless of whether or not I'm opposed. Though I am not opposed currently, we all know that things can change- the contract, however, would bind me to continuing operation of the Ankoku Tournament. Unless of course the Black Book Club decides it is no longer an enterprise they want to continue.

"And finally- and I think you'll enjoy this most of all... Reikai will be bound to not interfere with any tournament activities or any of the activities of it's members that relate to tournament operations."

It was only for a moment- only for the briefest of moments that Mori let his true pleasure at the final clause be known. Naturally he would not want to appear too eager to agree, but it was plain to see that any apprehension he may have held had been thoroughly evaporated.

"That is certainly something to consider..."

"Now, that also isn't without restrictions," Hotaru stated then, though Mori- nor any of the board members- hardly seemed to care what else she had to say. "As the owner of this tournament and chairman of the board, anything deemed as a 'tournament activity' will need to be approved by me."

"Ms. Hotaru, perhaps you lack proper understanding of these sorts of arrangements," Mori replied condescendingly. "However the chairman of the board is just that- of the board. Though you would be the majority shareholder, we would still need to place most matters up for a vote."

"I know, I know," Hotaru dismissed with a wave. "Any operational business or tournament business will be voted on or whatever. But, the decision of what is or is not 'tournament business' will be up to me to decide. We can work out the details later, but I'll be serving as a supervisor of this tournament on behalf of Reikai, so that point is non-negotiable."

Mori seemed to fall back into thought then, though only briefly.

"Well, Ms. Hotaru, we are happy to take all of this under consideration. However, as I said before, this is a democracy, so we will need a bit of time to deliberate privately." He signaled to the large doors of the viewing box that led out into the hall just as an attendant pushed them open- ready and waiting for the signal to either kill her or welcome her, no doubt. "If you wouldn't mind, my assistant Kaguchi will provide you with a bit of refreshment while we discuss matters, and we should have an answer for you shortly."

A few minutes later, Hotaru was seated by herself in the lounge of the VIP area of the stadium, nursing a glass of expensive whiskey and puffing on a much-needed cigarette.

It had been clear that the committee was interested in what she had to offer, but there had been far more going on beneath the surface than what their conversation had entailed. Surely the men were aware that there would be other complications involved in taking on a Reikai associate, the most important of which was that Reikai would now have an eye not only into their tournament but also into their organization as a whole, providing some ill-desired transparency for their operations. And they would have to be quite naive to think that Reikai did not have other things to be gained from this deal- primarily, having an eye at the tournament would give them valuable information about possible threats to Ningenkai or Reikai- names, alliances, fighting capabilities... all would be laid bare before an astute observer and forwarded directly to their intelligence department. Beyond that, the restrictions on wish granting would allow Reikai to further protect itself against any threats that may arise from the tournament and it's victors, meaning it was hardly the underground menace it once had been.

That was why Enma had agreed to send her there in the first place- to ensure proper oversight- and the members of the committee would be fools to think that having such oversight would be anything but a hindrance to them.

Thankfully, though, they were fools.

Hotaru was no stranger to how she was viewed- being well versed in shape-shifting meant she was quite aware of how physical appearance could alter how information was received, and she also knew how her particular brand of speech- rough, uneducated, unrefined- made her seem to people like Mori and his associates. She was, in their eyes, a small girl of a muddied bloodline of demonic beasts, with a lack of knowledge about their world. She was an overconfident, under-qualified lackey of a monarchy that did not deserve the power it held.

Yes, Reikai would be supervising the BBC's operations, but they would be doing it through her. And, so long as none of the men in that room showed her an ounce of respect, neither would they show enough respect to her ability to supervise, which meant any secrets they meant to hide would be practically out in the open.

She would hold all the cards- Reikai would be reliant upon her information and the BBC would be reliant upon her cooperation.

And those foolish men were only moments away from signing away their fate, all because they were too naive to realize that sometimes stupidity is only an act.

Fifteen minutes later, the committee agreed.

Two years later, the tournament posted record profits.

Six years later, Hotaru was promoted to Reikai Senior Defensive Consultant.

And fifty-six years later, Hotaru was beginning to regret all of it.

Yusuke

Fifty-Six Years Later

"Let go of her, Hiei!"

"I knew this was all your fault-"

"Hiei, that's enough!"

"Before you even spoke I knew it was you-"

"Hiei! You're going to kill her!"

Yusuke struggled, Kurama at his side, to get a hold on the small powerhouse of a demon, linking his arms around Hiei's bicep and forcing all his weight backwards. The small demon remained fixed in place, both hands wrapped tightly around the neck of Hotaru who was pressed against the door, her coffee spilled and staining the carpet beneath their feet.

Her lips had begun to quiver and her face was turning blue- Yusuke stole a quick glance at the wide-eyed stare of the girl, normally so dark and commanding and now stricken with terror, and watched as a blood vessel swelled and burst beneath the surface of her left eye, coating it in red.

The sight sent a jolt down his spine. Before he knew what was happening his spirit energy had revved up to new heights, directed entirely towards pulling Hiei off of the girl, and finally he succeeded. Hiei's grip was wrenched away from Hotaru's throat, and the two of them flew backwards several feet before Yusuke's back connected with the rear wall and Hiei slammed into his chest.

Immediately Hotaru slumped to the ground, a sickening sound of wheezing and wetness emerging from her throat as she tried to breathe, but her chest never expanded.

"Her windpipe is crushed," Kurama whispered, before quickly going to a knee before the girl and summoning some of the healing energy he had to try and repair the damage. Yusuke had only seen him use this once- on Keiko, back when Hiei had been driven mad by the Kouma sword- and he could only hope it was enough.

"She deserves none of your sympathy, Kurama!" Hiei bellowed, only barely held back by all of Yusuke's strength, and now Kuwabara's, who stood in front of the small demon and helped push him back against the wall. "She is a rat! An omen!"

"Just shut up, Hiei!" Yusuke shouted back, keeping his eyes fixed on Hotaru and Kurama across the room.

Kurama's delicate fingers rested atop Hotaru's throat- black and bruised already from Hiei's vice grip. A soft glow was being emitted from them, and though the bruising did not dissipate her throat seemed to be expanding- reforming its natural shape. Hotaru was not breathing, was making no attempt to breath anymore- her skin pallid and each of her eyes resting open and unresponsive, now more red than black.

It seemed like ages before she suddenly let out a deep gasp, her chest rumbling and heaving with such sudden ferocity Yusuke briefly feared it too may burst. At the sound of her breathing Hiei's struggles against his confines only increased.

Kurama stepped away from the girl, though only slightly, as she regained her breath. Her body rattled and shook as she struggled valiantly to fill her lungs with air, her back arching upwards and her hands gripping at the soft carpet beneath her. Eventually, her panicked breathing mellowed and regained it's normalcy, and she slowly pushed herself up into a sitting position.

She looked up at the fox hovering over her with a weak grin, her white smile tinted with red.

"Never thought it'd be you helping me to breathe again," she remarked in a strained voice, and Kurama's brows furrowed in response before a slight huff of laughter escaped his lips, followed, a beat later, by a stifled sort of chuckling that he hid behind an elegant curve of his fingers.

Hotaru similarly let out a brief, unexplained laugh, though it turned into a pained yelp half-way through and she curled in on herself. "Okay, never mind," she wheezed, clutching her chest. "No laughing. Aaah, fuck, that hurts."

"Oh thank god she's alright," Kuwabara breathed, his clutch on Hiei momentarily relaxing before the small demon began to thrash again.

"You should have let her die!" he growled between clenched teeth, his red eyes wide and mad with rage. "You signed your own death warrant the moment you revived her!"

Yusuke was about to retort again- maybe with his words, maybe with his fucking fists by this point- when Hotaru cut in.

"Actually, they just saved your life, Hiei," she replied, with no hint of arrogance and only a touch of disbelief. "Do you have any idea what happens to people that kill committee members?"

"I would gladly suffer it if it meant the end of you!"

"No, I got that-" she began, before her body became wracked with shallow coughing. "I get that, Hiei, but like I've been saying- you're not the only one that would suffer for it."

Finally, the small demon seemed to still, growing steadily limp in Yusuke's grasp. With a hint of trepidation, the boy released him and- thankfully- Hiei made no move towards Hotaru, but instead moved back towards the window sill. Though he kept his eyes on her the whole time, everything in his body language seemed to scream resignation- clearly he was disappointed, but at least he was willing to accept that Hotaru would not die today.

Hotaru, however, wasn't quite finished. "This is something I need for all of you to understand- you're a team, now. And no, I don't mean that in the cutesy-little 'we're all in this together' kind of way- I mean you're a unit. And you'll be considered as such during the tournament."

Her eyes dutifully scanned the room- as if each of them could be who she was talking about, before she warned carefully: "If one of you does something stupid, you'll all pay for it. So you need to behave yourselves."

"You mean, like..." Kuwabara began, scratching his head. "Like, there's curfews and rules and stuff? Seems a little out of place in some demon death tournament."

"Okay, no, there's no curfew; and there are rules but they're- ah..." Hotaru half-clarified with a frustrated sigh. "What I'm trying to say is, you're responsible for each other, not just yourselves. If one of you fucks up, everybody pays for it. Basically- don't get reckless, don't get stupid, and- for the love of fucking god- don't get heroic."

Kuwabara let out a sharp scoff, and Hotaru leveled him with a threatening stare.

"I mean it, Kuwabara. Don't try to be a hero," she warned. "Hero's may do fine in movies, but in the ring they fucking die. Know your limits and don't push it."

With some note of difficulty, Hotaru managed to pull herself up from the floor, regaining her standing position and standing at eye-level with the rest of them.

"A big part of this tournament is going to be strategy- don't let pride get in the way," she continued. "You need to each know your strengths and weaknesses, and know that of each other too. Most fights- if not all of them- will be one-on-one, so you need to pair yourselves with the opponent that you match best. Maybe some of you are best at facing those big, lumbering, power-house types- maybe some of you are best at facing conniving, weasel-types, like Kurama over here-"

"'Conniving'?" the fox repeated in a clipped tone, and she shot him a sharp look.

"Oh, I'm sorry, was that offensive?" she spat sarcastically. "Because I just got fucking choked, and that was pretty god damn offensive too, but I'm still focusing on the real issues here."

Kurama gave an indignant huff, but allowed Hotaru to persist with her point.

"What I'm trying to say here is that you all need to take your emotions out of this and be smart," she explained. "I'll be on the committee, so I'll be able to help out a little bit, but-"

"- Wait!"

The group turned as a whole then to see Kuwabara, his index finger jutting out in Hotaru's direction and a wide smile plastered across his face. "I've just had an awesome idea!"

"... And that is?"

"You're the owner, right!?" he asked enthusiastically, to which Hotaru gave a shallow nod. "Well if you're the owner, then can't you just dis-enroll us!?"

The incredulity Hotaru held then was practically palpable. Surprisingly, however, she kept it in check.

"Believe it or not, I did try and sway the committee against enrolling you, but these things need to be voted on- I only submit the names for the guest participants, but it's the board that decides who will or won't compete," she explained slowly. "My deal with Sakyou said I needed to submit your names- I tried to make it out like it was a bad idea, but these BBC guys have a real hate-on for Reikai, so..."

"'Hate-on'?" Kurama questioned, and Hotaru once again gave him a venomous glance.

"It's like a hard-on, but for hating someone... Are you normally this worried about terminology, or is today a special occasion?"

"Even if you can't disenroll us, you can still help us out right?" Kuwabara bowled forward, drawing Hotaru's attention back just in time for an awkward waggle of his brows and a sleazy grin. "Like... you can pull a few strings for us, right?"

"See, that's the other thing..." she started, and Yusuke prepared himself for the worst. "I'm supposed to be impartial to all of this. If I help you guys out too much, I'll be seen as having a bias, and I can be voted off of the board for the duration of the tournament."

"Wait, seriously!?"

"Unfortunately, yes. That doesn't mean I can't still help out a bit- I can likely maneuver the line-up so you face Toguro last, and I can help avoid any blatantly unfair treatment, but it's still going to be difficult," she continued, before turning back on her authoritative tone, as if she were somehow precognizant of their eventual fuck-ups. "That's another thing- there will be unfair treatment, and I need each of you to promise me that you'll take it in stride. I'll help keep the worst of it out, but I can't interfere too much without them suspecting a bias, so you're likely to get thrown a couple of curve balls along the way. Do not get upset. If you get upset, it's only going to get worse."

"What kind of unfair treatment?" Yusuke asked, a brief image of him being forced to fight with his hands tied behind his back or blindfolded- or both.

Hotaru gave a half-hearted shrug. "Hard to say, really. Sometimes it's bad ref calls, sometimes it's shit living quarters- I've even seen them be petty enough to charge some competitors for mandatory medical care."

"They won't make us like..." Kuwabara began, seeming equally panicked. "Like, fight everyone by ourselves right? Or take everyone on at once?"

"That's unlikely- but, even if they try, that's what I'm here for. Even if I'm playing impartial, these guys are business men and unfair fights don't sell nearly as well as fair ones do- without the rules it's not really a game after all," she offered back. "That doesn't mean they won't do some unfair shit though- after all, you're representatives of Reikai, and the BBC is vehemently against that organization and all who associate with it. I mean, when I was negotiating owners terms I can't tell you the number of hoops I had to jump through, all because I had been sent on the orders of Enma!"

"Wait, Enma!?" Yusuke bellowed, almost betrayed at the thought of it. "You mean it was Enma that told you to become the owner!?"

"Did I not mention that part?" Hotaru cocked a brow, before dismissing it. "Yea, it was on orders of Enma- he wanted a representative of Reikai to be involved with the tournament so it didn't get out of hand, so he sent me to... ah, commandeer it, I suppose."

"If they already know you're an associate of Reikai, won't they assume you have a bias towards us outright?" Kurama questioned, and Hotaru waved it off.

"We have protections against that sort of thing too, otherwise they'd just vote me off the board every year and run like they used to- they need to have actual evidence of a bias, and the vote needs to be unanimous." Then, Hotaru straightened once more. "We're getting off topic- all you need to know is that the BBC hates Reikai, and since you guys are the little team of Spirit Detectives, it might be a bit tougher than it would be otherwise."

Yusuke let this settle- the fights would be tough regardless, but with the committee working against them it would be even worse. He trusted Hotaru to stick up for them, but it was hard to imagine what she could really do if she wasn't even allowed to act like she was one of their allies. He wanted to ask more- to find some sort of reassurance from her- however, before he could speak, Hiei stepped into the conversation.

And, surprise, surprise... he didn't sound pleased.

"I'm not a Spirit Detective," he stated plainly, and Hotaru gave a cautious nod of agreement.

"No, you're not, but you are still associated with Reikai and-"

"- I'm a prisoner of Reikai."

"Technically, you're a parolee."

"But I don't fight for them willingly."

Yusuke could feel it brewing again- Hiei's hatred mixed with Hotaru's temper was obviously a dangerous combination, and he found himself unconsciously inching towards the demon, should he need to restrain him again.

Hotaru crossed her arms, giving Hiei an indignant stare. "What exactly are you trying to get at?"

"I'm saying I'm not a detective-"

"But you're still associated."

"I also wasn't at the compound- not during the fight."

"That doesn't mean they didn't see you afterwards."

"They don't know who I am," Hiei stated firmly, before his eyes narrowed dangerously. "They don't know me, unless you told them-"

"- I didn't tell them anything, but they-"

"- Who did this man Sakyou ask for?"

Then, Hotaru went quiet, biting the inside of her lip as a touch of panic began to invade her features.

Hiei stared on, and repeated the question.

"Which people did he- specifically- request?"

Hotaru seemed like she wanted to fight- wanted to argue against the point and say it didn't matter. But, in the end, she did none of those things, and the answer spilled out in a resigned sigh.

"He asked for Yusuke."

"And who else?"

"... No one else."

Yusuke's heart skipped a beat. All this really was his fault.

He didn't know why it hadn't occurred to him before- up until now he had only been blaming himself for not finishing off Toguro properly. He had thought his weakness back then was his only sin, but now...

Sakyou had only wanted him.

And Hotaru had signed the rest up in order to protect him.

He was going to be sick.

"You're trying to use me," Hiei growled, cutting off Yusuke's internal monologue of self-hate and jolting him into awareness- the demon's aura was rising now, and quickly. "You're using me to protect him- like some dog you can order around to do your bidding-"

"- It isn't like that, Hiei."

"Then what is it like?" he asked, no lack of venom in his tone. "What exactly is it like? Why am I involved if not because you wished me to be?"

"I-" Hotaru began, before falling unceremoniously silent. She didn't respond, and the wrenching in Yusuke's stomach only increased.

"No answer, huh?" Hiei scoffed coldly- though his energy was blazing, filling the room with a hot, stifling air, he made no further move against the girl. Instead, he just stared on. "Ever since we made that deal, you have been trying to manipulate me."

"Wait, you made another deal!?" Kuwabara exclaimed, directing the question towards Hotaru, though it was Hiei that answered.

"It was long ago. Before you even knew of her existence, or mine-"

"- Hiei," Hotaru chided lightly, her eyes locked with his. "Let's not talk about this here."

"Do not order me," the demon suddenly bellowed, before leveling his tone back into a dangerous near-whisper. "You wanted me to be your guardian- your lap dog-"

"- This doesn't concern them, Hiei-"

"- You wanted to control me-"

"- Now isn't the time, just stop-"

"- I will say what I wish, and you will listen," he commanded. And, with reluctance, Hotaru went quiet as Hiei continued on his tirade. "I never had any intention of fulfilling my part of the bargain- once I got what I wanted, I intended that to be the end of it. And yet, years later, you've found a way to try and punish me for that."

Though Hotaru said nothing to silence the demon, Yusuke could tell she was angry. And, this time, it was a different sort of anger- darker, and heavier. Yusuke hadn't seen this side of her yet, and despite being well aware of how weak the girl truly was, even he found himself cowing somewhat in the face of it.

However, Hiei hardly seemed to care. "I will not be a pawn in your games. I was not then, and I won't be now. Had I known how you would follow me- parasitize my every move- I never would have accepted the-"

"- Stop, Hiei," Hotaru barked.

And, surprisingly, he did.

At least, mostly.

"Or what?" he asked, his tone sporting none of it's usual conviction. And, in return, Hotaru gave him a sad, pitying stare.

"Do I really need to say it?"

Then, momentary silence- the room still and hot and overcome with a quiet so uncomfortable Yusuke's skin began to itch.

Hiei's cloak whirled behind him as he sprinted towards the door- too fast for Yusuke to grab him in time. Thankfully, though, he did not attack again, and merely swept past the girl in the entry before going into break-neck speed and vanishing before their eyes.

Hotaru turned far too late, stumbling out into the hall and calling after him. "Hiei, don't you fucking run away from me, you little shit! Get the fuck back here!"

"Hotaru," Kurama began, laying a soft hand across her shoulder. "I think it may be best to let him-"

"- Oh what the fuck do you know, fox?" she snapped back, before taking another two steps forward. "Hiei, wait the fuck-"

She stopped suddenly, a hoarse cough wrenching it's way from deep in her chest and forcefully bringing her to a halt. It was followed closely by another- equally deep, and wet, and horrible- and soon she was doubled over in a massive fit.

Unable to do anything more than watch, Yusuke just stared on, waiting for the coughing to relent. And, when it did, Hotaru's hands dropped from her face, her fingers stained with light droplets of blood, and she let out a loud, painful groan.

"Well, we're off to such a good start, aren't we?"