I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho or any of the characters.
Prologue
"Oh…this is not good. How in the world did they manage to slip this under our noses?" Koenma mumbled, head in his hands as he stared down at the invitation in from of him. "This won't be anywhere near long enough for us to be ready."
"What are we going to do Koenma sir?" George asked peering over his shoulder. "We haven't seen Hiei or Kurama in months. Yusuke's getting ready for his wedding soon too isn't he?"
"It'll have to wait. I don't have anyone else I can trust with this. If those lands fall into the wrong hands, I'm afraid we'll be looking at a war between demon and spirit world. Yusuke and the others are the only ones that can compete with the demons this tournament is sure to draw in."
"But sir, it says a team must consist of five members. With Genkai no longer with us, that'll leave us short two members. Who are you going to get to fill those spots?"
Koenma leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest, humming as he ran through the list of fighters he knew. "Kuwabara will probably be interested. After all, the person they plan on using against Hiei is Yukina. In a way, they're using her against him too. That just leaves one spot."
"What about one of the demons Yusuke beat at the Dark Tournament?"
"That won't do. I'm sure they'll already be fighting anyways." Koenma sighed. "I'm not sure I know of anyone A class or stronger. Unless Hiei or Kurama have a friend they can-wait a minute! That's it!"
"What's it sir?" George asked. Koenma dug through his desk until he found a small silver key on a keychain marked #13. George's eyes widened. "Sir! You can't be serious! That's a prison key! You know your father doesn't allow you down there. What if something were to happen?"
"I don't have time to wait for my father to return." Koenma replied hopping down from his chair and running over to his tall mirror. With a loud POP, elder Koenma appeared. "Summon Botan immediately. Tell her to gather the others at Genkai's temple. I'll bring the fifth member of their team and meet the tonight at eight."
"Yes sir!"
OOO
A dark chuckle echoed through the wide hallways as the figure read over the invitation the Prince of Spirit World had brought her. Her almond shaped cobalt eyes read over it a few more times before crumbling it up into a ball and throwing it out of her cell. The guards on either side of the door shifted but neither made a move to correct her behavior. The chains rattled as she stood up. Feet bare against the damp stone floor as she approached the cell door where Koenma stood looking in at her.
"What exactly is it you were hoping for in coming down here?" She snarled. "I've been in this cage for over thirty years. I have no idea who sent out that invitation or even who has control of my territory. If I did I'd send them a gift basket for coming up with such a well thought out plan."
"This isn't something to joke about. Millions of people could be in danger if the portal on those lands falls into a demon's hands. Demon world would have the power to open the gates into human world. Spirit World would have no choice but to step in. It would be a war."
"Why should I care? It's not like I have family left to protect or friends that even care where I'm at. It might be entertaining to watch you all struggle to defend everything you care about."
"I don't think you really mean that. There's still one person you care about and he'll be fighting in that tournament. Would you really sit back and let him give his life without lifting a finger to help?" Koenma replied. The woman growled deep in her throat and stalked back over to her bed. "I'm offering you a chance."
"What can I do? My energy has been sealed, my weapons are gone, my brother is dead, and my home is being used to fuel this tournament. I would be useless in a fight against any of the demons that will no doubt be competing."
"That's where your chance comes in." Koenma held out a small device. "This will allow the holder to remove your shackles and increase or decrease the amount of demon energy you have access to. If you agree to be the fifth fighter on Team Urameshi, I will entrust this device to one of their members. If you help them win this tournament, this device will be destroyed and your record will be cleared. It seems like a pretty sweet deal to me."
"That's all I have to do? Win this tournament and I'm free to go? No trail, no more prison, just free to leave?" She asked eyeing him skeptically. "How do I know this isn't a trick?"
"No tricks. The choice is yours. Help guarantee a victory and you have your freedom. Lose a match and I can't promise you'll walk away with your life. You know how demon tournaments are."
"…Very well…I'll do it."
OOO
"WHAT! WHAT DO YOU MEAN WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE!?" Yusuke yelled glaring down at the crumpled up paper. "You've got to be freakin kidding me! I thought we were done with this crap until the Makai Tournament!"
"What's up Urameshi?" Kuwabara said sliding the door open. His last class of the day had finished later than usual and it was a two hours trip to Genkai's temple. He had just arrived. "What's that?"
Yusuke said nothing as he handed the paper over to Kurama. Kurama read it to the rest of the group though he had a feeling Hiei already knew most of it from Yusuke's outburst. "'Team Urameshi is hereby invited to participate in the Tournament of Kotodama. The prize will be the Yami no Kuni. The tournament will begin 2 weeks from the date of delivery and each team much be registered 1 week prior to the start and undergo a physical to guarantee the health of each individual. All teams must have 5 members and each member must be of lower A class strength or higher. Failure to meet these conditions will result in the disqualification of the team. Failure to register or failure to meet all rules will result in the loss of one loved per individual. We hope to see you there.' There is no signature on it. Only our names."
"WHAT!" Kuwabara yelled. "We can't let them do this! What about Yukina! And Keiko! They can't protect theirselves!"
"I'm afraid we don't have much of a choice. We have to participate." Kurama replied. "That's not the only thing that concerns me though. How does this person or group know about what lies within the Yami no Kuni? To my knowledge, only a select few people know the truth about those lands. Three of them are dead. That leaves myself, Lord Enma, Lord Koenma, Mukuro, and Yomi."
"What makes this land so important." Hiei growled. "This is nothing more than a way for demons to have an excuse to slaughter each other. They wouldn't waste their time on something like this. I know I wouldn't."
"Hiei kind of has a point. What makes you think it'll be that serious?" Yusuke added.
"To put it simple, it's not the land that matters, it's what is on them that people will seek. It's said that a portal to the Netherworld is settled in the middle. Since the Netherworld was defeated, all the energy that normally would have flowed into it has been storing up inside the portal. If the wrong person won and took control of it, they could unleash that energy. It would certainly mean war between Demon and Spirit world. The living world which separates us would be drawn into the battle. Millions of people would be killed. I'm not even sure if Spirit world would could win the war is that energy was unleashed."
"So we go in, kick ass, and take the prize. No big deal." Kuwabara said. "Wait, who are we gunna take with us? It says we need five members. We only have four."
"At least the idiot knows how to count."
"Shut up shrimp!"
"Ahem!" Koenma cleared his throat. "I already have you a fifth member. That's another thing I'm here to discuss with you all. It's a specialty case. This person will be under control by at least one of you at all time. I would prefer it be in groups of two. The only time she is to be left alone is for a bath. Otherwise I want your eyes on her closely. These lands were home to her family a long time ago. I want to make sure she has nothing to do with this. You'll also be keeping an eye on Yomi and Mukuro to see if they have any involvement."
"She? The last thing we need is another woman slowing us down." Hiei snapped. "Leave it to me and Kurama. We will find a suitable fighter."
"I believe Kurama will be on my side in this." Koenma replied. "Bring her in!"
The doors slid open and four guards stepped in with a woman in the center of them. She stood eye-level with Kurama's chin when he was standing and she had pale skin. Her hair started out black and faded to silver, pulled up in a high ponytail that hung down to her lower back. She wore a knee length dark blue kimono with a light grey obi, black sandals on her feet. The kimono hung off her shoulders and cut down low to reveal an ample chest size and claw shaped scars that ran from the top of her right shoulder to the top of her breast. Almond shaped cobalt eyes squinted and her pointed eyes twitched as the light practically blinded her. She titled her head down and to the side revealing another claw shaped scar on the left side of her jaw.
Kurama's eyes widened as he stared at the women, mouth falling open slightly. "Reimei."
"Kurama." Her full pale blue lips raised in a small smile. "It's been a long time."
OOO
Later that night, Team Urameshi sat around the living area to read over the rules Koenma had given them. Keiko and Shizuru had arrived earlier and were currently watching a movie in the other room with Botan and Yukina. Koenma had returned to Spirit World an hour earlier, promising to meet up with them at the start of the tournament.
"Looks like the first round will be tag team. One of us gets to sit out." Yusuke said stretching out on the couch. "So do we draw straws or what?"
"I saw the new chick sits this round out." Kuwabara replied earning a low growl from Reimei. "I'm just saying we don't know just squat about you and you don't know us. If it's tag teams, we need to be paired with someone we can work well with. Like Hiei and Kurama or me and Urameshi."
"I work extremely well with Kurama. I will not be some extra that has to sit on the sideline while you embarrass us. A human has no place in a demon tournament to begin with." She snarled. "We should just kill him now. It would save us a lot of time and hassle."
"What did you say! My precious Yukina is in danger and I'm not gunna sit back and depend on some demon to protect her! You might not know this but I have a sword and I can kick demon butt just as good as anyone in this room!"
"Having a sword and determination is not enough to get you through a tournament like this. You are both inexperienced and ignorant to think that a human will last more than a minute in the ring with an A or S class demon. Maybe with two hundred more years of experience but by that time you'll be nothing more than more dirt in the ground."
"Listen you little gothic freak! I've fought demons before and I won so shut your mouth and watch! I'll show you know won't last a minute!"
"For once I agree with the oaf. We know nothing about this woman and I won't put my life on the line for a little girl on a field trip from prison." Hiei supplied. "You can pick up the pieces when we get to the singles matches."
Reimei growled deep in her chest but Kurama held up a hand, "I will work with Reimei in the qualifying round. We worked well together in the past and I'm sure nothing has changed much. Isn't that right?"
"Will you be able to keep up in that body?" Reimei asked looking him up and down.
"I can manage. Now," Kurama swiftly changed the subject. "shall we discuss the living arrangement. We're being given two rooms with two bedrooms each."
"The girls get one room and we get the other. Simple as that." Kuwabara replied.
"I think he means Reimei." Yusuke said. "She can't stay with the women and there isn't enough room for her with us."
"I can stay with-". Kuwabara began.
"Yukina can stay with the Ferry. The other women can share the other room." Hiei supplied. Kuwabara grumbled but then fell silent. "I don't share rooms. I'll be outside."
"Then Yusuke and Kuwabara can have a room and I'll share one with Reimei." Kurama suggested.
Yusuke began to laugh, "Damn Kurama. I never took you for the gothic type! Maybe this will do you some good."
"You misunderstand." Kurama began nervously. "She's just a friend. She has to stay with someone that can control her energy levels. I would never put her in such a position that would corrupt her innocents."
"Her what?" Yusuke looked between the two. "How OLD! are you?!"
"Over nine hundred." Reimei replied. "My brother would have killed anyone that so much as tried. Youko was no different. He was like a second older brother. Though I'm sure he regretted that role each time a new demon challenged him or Kuronue for a right to mate me."
"It wasn't easy. Especially with you finding new ways to sneak out all the time. I think you were becoming better than me in that area." Reimei suddenly burst out laughing. Kurama smiled. "I'm afraid I won't be able to keep up with you this time though. My nose isn't as good as it used to be."
"So are you a fox like Kurama?" Kuwabara asked. "Cuz I don't see a tail and you don't have ears on your head like Kurama does."
"No I'm a bat demon." Reimei replied. "My ears are pointy to follow the sound waves. That why the twitch when anything moves. It's basically like feeling the air round me and knowing where someone is based on the way their motion or voice effects the air current. I don't have a tail but I do have wings."
"Where?" Kuwabara said walking around behind her. "I don't see any wings."
"I keep them concealed when I'm not fighting. They take up a lot of room and make unnecessary sounds." Reimei replied.
"So we got three-eyes, fox boy, and now bat girl." Yusuke laughed. "We make one hell of a team that's for sure!"
"Watch your mouth detective." Hiei said from him place at the wall. Reimei had barely paid much attention to him since she arrived but now she couldn't help but stare. He was shorter than her but not by much. His eyes were piercing red and his hair black as midnight. He was fairly attractive but from the way he had spoken to the others, he had a really bad attitude. He glared when he noticed her starring. "What do you want."
"Nothing. Sorry." She mumbled. A light blush coming to her pale cheeks. "So um, how long do you think it'll be before I'm allowed to walk around without Koenma thinking I'm out stealing, killing, or manipulating others for my own gain and power?"
"With the way you said that, it makes it sound like that's the normal for you." Yusuke said with a chuckle. He stopped at the smirk that crossed her face. "Okay what did I miss?"
"Yusuke," Kurama said. "she was a partner of mine. As in criminal. She was the decoy we used on almost every heist. She may look like the average young demon but the truth is, she's very close to myself in age and more experienced in some areas than I am."
"How? I thought you were like the best of the best?" Kuwabara said.
"Idiot. Do you see the way she's dressed?" Hiei grumbled out. Kuwabara nodded. "She's dressed like a used whore to catch a man's attention. Her scent clearly tells otherwise so it's easy for her to control a male demon that lacks any sense. It's a brilliant strategy to use against lowly demons. Maybe we should use it in the beginning of the competition."
Reimei laughed but Kurama looked less than assumed, "That won't be necessary. I'm sure we can get by perfectly fine without it."
"Kurama, we still need to work on our teamwork." Reimei said.
"We'll work on that tomorrow. It's time we turned in got the night." Kurama replied. "I'll show you to your room."
"Alright." Reimei replied. Reimei waved to the others as she followed him out.
He led her down a few hallways before stopping in front of a plain wooden door. He slid it open to reveal a small bed and dresser. The rest of the room was bare except of a small window. She crossed the room and settled on the window seal. It had been a long time since she had been allowed to stare out in the open. She enjoyed the silence but another pain settled on her chest. It made breathing slightly hard. It had been a long time since she was alone. She was use to the guards watching her. When Kurama started to leave, she grabbed his arm.
"Kurama," Her cobalt eyes locked onto him emerald. "please stay. I don't want to be by myself."
"I don't think-"
"Please." Kurama sighed before gathering her up in his arms. He carried her over to the bed and laid her down beside him. His chin rested on the top of her head. She snuggled closer to him as he pulled the covers over them. Her arm wrapped around her waist. "I missed you. So much."
"I missed you as well." Kurama replied. "Why did you agree to help us? I know it's not because of the deal Koenma offered."
"Because I feel like I need to be there, with you." She replied. "I don't care about the rest of the world but I won't allow you to give you're live for Spirit World so freely. You're my partner Kurama. Through hell or high water, I'll be there for you. Regardless of the situation. Because I love you."
"I love you too." Kurama replied. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her half on top of him. "You must promise me you'll be careful. I can't deal with the thought of losing you again."
"I won't leave you Kurama. You're all I have left."
