Yay! I was finally able to update a chapter. Others are coming soon, I'm just a slow typer. However, I would like to give credit to co-author Rythym. She helped me come up with the story and stars as Itsuko.

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho.

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"Phew," Koenma sighed in relief. "Now that we have some semblance of order, perhaps we can get something done. Now, I'm sure you know why you're here."

"For staying out after dark," Koyuki whispered, and the others started giggling.

Koenma gave the group a stern look and continued, "You're here because in this file, there is a very long list of robberies in Makai, Ningenkai, and now Reikai and several assaults on humans. On top of that, you've either killed or wounded half the SDF."

"Wait just a minute!" Eiji interrupted. "We've never attacked humans! We don't eat human flesh."

"These are false charges," Chisaki cried out, indignant.

"Not according to this." Koenma patted the file. He folded his hands an continued, "this is enough to get you put away for life, perhaps even sentenced to death."

"You can't do that," Daisuke shouted, outraged. "According to the laws of Reikai, the death penalty can only be used on repeat offenders of human eaters, those who directly attack Reikai with intent to take over and rule, or those who are too violent or extreme to be taken into custody alive. We're none of these! Not only that, but a motion to enact the death penalty has to e passed through the Council of Elders and a unanimous decision reached."

"And how hard do you think it would be to get the Council of Elders to vote for your death? You, who tried to steal the Three Dark Treasures?" Koenma said calmly. "The way it stands now, you're in no position to give me any lip."

"But what about our right to a trial? Your laws also guarantee a chance to plead our case!" Daisuke pointed out.

"Your 'case' was decided last month. Sorry you weren't present for it," Koenma smirked. "I suggest..."

"Suggest what?" Koyuki jumped to her feet. "That we just take this shit ad let you kill us?" Several Special Defense Force members aimed at Koyuki, ready to fire. She stopped in her tracks but continued to growl.

Chisaki smoothed her kimono and spoke calmly, "Surely we can handle this in a civilized manner. Now sit down, Koyuki."

Koyuki made no move to sit; she only continued to growl ferally, like a cornered animal.

"Sit," Chisaki said again in an icy voice.

Koyuki looked back and forth from Chisaki to the men that surrounded her. "But..."

Chisaki sent a telepathic message, "But what? this isn't the time to be rash. This is a situation best handled with words, my expertise. Now sit."

Koyuki cast one last, hateful glance at Koenma before finally conceding to Chisaki. She sat down, crossing her legs and arms; she calmed sown and said, "Fine. Do whatever ya gotta."

Chisaki turned her attention back to Koenma. "You said there was a reason you brought us here. What were you about to suggest?"

"As I was saying, instead of having the five of you executed..."

"Which you can't do," Daisuke muttered under his breath. Both Eiji and Chisaki elbowed him in the ribs, leaving him doubled up, clutching his sides. "Owwwwww... so violent."

Koenma continued, "Instead of having the five of you executed, there is a more pressing matter I'd like to draw your attention to." Koenma activated the television screen and they all turned to watch the pictures that flashed across the screen. "Yamanaka Kansuke, oldest member of the Black Book Club. He's contracted a rare but deadly disease and knows he will die in the next six months. He's also announced that he wants to leave behind a 'present'." Koenma paused for a moment. "The ambitions of such a man can too readily lead to chaos and destruction. Yamanaka is planning to pull this off by winning the Dark Tournament. That's where you come in. The five of you will compete in the Dark Tournament as well. It begins tomorrow; all you have to do is make sure you defeat Yamanaka's team so he doesn't get the money to fund his project."

"Why should we risk our necks to solve your problems?" Chisaki calmly asked. "What's in it for us?"

"I thought you might ask." Koenma shut down the TV screen. "If you succeed in shutting down Yamanaka, we will clear your record of all criminal charges."

"So let me get this straight," Koyuki butted in, "all we have to do is fight, and then we get to just go free?"

"Yes, provided you defeat Yamanaka's team."

It was Daisuke's turn to speak up. "Hey, maybe we should think abo-Mmmph!" The four others had clapped their hands over his mouth.

"DEAL!" they shouted together.

Daisuke pushed them off. "Are you nuts?" he shouted, panicked. "This is the Dark Tournament we're talking about!"

"Daisuke, we've been trying to get to the Dark Tournament for ages," Itsuko happily answered.

"To watch, not fight in!"

"That just makes it better," Koyuki added. She leaned in closer with a nasty expression on her face, purposely trying to scare him, "It means we get to indulge in our bloodlust."

He scuttled backwards. "Y-you're crazy!"

"Well," Koenma broke in, once again annoyed, "If you idiots are done, the SDF will escort you to your supervisor at the front gate."

"Supervisor?" Eiji asked.

"You didn't think I'd let you go without someone to make sure you stay put, did you?"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Itsuko said, waving it off. "Let's just go already."

Captain Ootake turned to the Shukketsukawa bandits, "Follow me."

Once they and the rest of the SDF had left, only Botan, Jorge, and Koenma were left in the office. Koenma collapsed in his chair and sighed, "I can't believe tha worked."

Botan looked over at Koenma, puzzled. "Lord Koenma, are you sure it was wise to let them go like that? If they're that dangerous, why not sentence them to death and arrest Yamanaka?"

"Because they were right."

"What?"

"Those were false charges. They have a long history of robbery, but that's all. We couldn't give them the death penalty even if the council agreed to it, but none of us wanted them left alive. If their ambition ever increased, it would be disastrous. In the tournament, there's at least a chance they can be killed."

"But, Yamanaka..."

"Isn't plotting anything. The only thing he plans on using the winnings for is to find a cure. Like all men who've gained power through dark means, he fears death. He knows there is a hell, and it's waiting for him."

Botan was nervous, "But, sir, you don't mean..."

"The entire thing was a bluff. I wasn't expecting them to know our laws. For a minute, I didn't think it would work."

"Yes, sir, that was a close one," Jorge responded.

"Shut up."

"Yes, sir."

The small speaker on Koenma's desk crackled to life. "Lord Koenma, this is Captain Ootake."

"Go ahead," Koenma replied, unnerved by the captain's tone.

"Sir, the prisoners have escaped!"

"WHAT!?"

"We don't know what happened sir. One moment, they were here and- and the next they had disappeared!"

Botan spoke up, "You don't think they figured it out, do you?"

Koenma stood up, slamming his hands on the desk. "Captain Ootake, find them now! This is top priority so..."

A female voice on the radio cut him off. "Lord Koenma, this is Okioni."

Impatient, Koenma asked, "What is it?"

"I have the Shukketsukawa bandits with me, and I think I know how they've been slipping through the three worlds so easily."

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Okioni struggled, holding a radio in one hand, trying to keep the tall youkai from grabbing the silver instrument in her other hand. However, it wasn't easy due to Koyuki's long reach. The ogress, Okioni, was dressed in a blue mandarin tunic over a white shirt and pants, and her blue eyes and single horn were framed by long, silky black hair. The others watched with a mild interest, now laden with several bags. Okioni spoke into the radio, "It appears they had a dimension key."

Koenma's voice crackled through, "Yes, that would explain it. The dimension key has the power to open portals to the other worlds, but I thought they had all been destroyed." He paused before asking, "Do you have any idea where the bandits vanished to? I doubt they came straight to you."

Chisaki grabbed the radio from Okioni. "You didn't really expect us to go to the tournament without at least a change of clothes did you? We just popped back to the den to get our stuff."

"The den?" Okioni was confused.

"Where we live." Chisaki answered before tossing back the radio.

Okioni looked at all the luggage held by the other four youkai. She noticed that Daisuke carried a long, narrow bundle wrapped in cloth. "I know I'm gonna regret this, but what is that?" she asked, pointing at it.

Koyuki answered, "It's mine. A naginata, yari, two katanas, a pair of broadswords, a Chinese straight sword, and a staff."

"Isn't that a bit much? Are you really expecting to use all of those?"

"No, I packed other weapons to choose from, too." Koyuki made another lunge for the key. Okioni spun around, dodging her and causing Koyuki to fall face first on the ground. Okioni looked skeptically at the group.

"Lord Koenma, are you sure this is the right group?"

"I don't know. I'm not there," Koenma said flatly but peeved. "What do they look like?"

"Uh...," she quickly glanced at the group. "A kitsune, short with purple hair, black hair with horns, tall with white hair, and black hair with tattoos."

"That's correct."

"And they're the Shukketsukawa bandits?" she asked, disbelieving.

"Yes."

"The one's who took down half the Spirit Defense Force?"

"Yes."

"That are supposed..."

"Yes," a very annoyed Koenma yelled. "Now will you do your job and escort them to the tournament!?"

"Yes, sir." She put away the small radio and turned to the group. "All right, let's set some ground rules."

"Excellent idea. First, you are not the team captain and will never be the team captain," Itsuko stated.

"She should be the alternate," Eiji added.

"Why can't I be the alternate?" Daisuke whined.

"You think were gonna let you get out of fighting?"

"Excuse me," Okioni shouted angrily. "I'm the one setting the ground rules here!"

"I don't think so," Koyuki stated coldly.

"As far as we're concerned, you're just a fancy babysitter," Itsuko added.

Okioni clutched her head as if she had a headache, muttering to herself, "And I'm supposed to spend ten days with them? Ohhh, Kami." She sighed and said, "Let's just get this over with. C'mon."

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When Okioni opened the door to their hotel room, she wasn't prepared for what followed next. The five youkai charged through the doorway, practically running her over, to claim their beds.

Koyuki zipped through first and bounced on the bed closest to the window, shouting triumphantly, "This one's mine!"

The others in the group followed suit, until they had each claimed a bed; the two brothers made sure theirs were next to each other.

"Awww," Chisaki teased, "baby bwother follows him everywhere."

"S- shut up," Daisuke said, trying to act as if the comment didn't bother him, but he was beet red.

Curious, Okioni turned to the group, "Are you all related?"

"Naw, just Eiji and Daisuke."

"Well, let's go," Okioni stated. The rest of them were confused.

"Go where?" Eiji asked.

"To the rules meeting. Every team captain is supposed to attend to be briefed on procedures, opening ceremonies and negotiate prizes. So, who's going?"

They looked at each other before Itsuko said, "Uh... you are?"

She was peeved, "I thought I wasn't allowed to be captain? Now, come on. Which one of you is it going to be?"

"I dunno," Koyuki answered. "We'll figure it out tomorrow."

"It's gonna be a looong trip," Okioni sighed as she left the room to attend the meeting. Once gone, all five of them moved converged on Koyuki and Itsuko's beds.

"You don't seriously think Koenma's really gonna clear our record, do you?" Daisuke asked, hoping his friends weren't that dumb.

Koyuki thumped him on the head. "How stupid do you think we are!? Of course not!"

"Then why'd you agree to this!?"

"Think about it, Daisuke. There's no way Reikai would ever let us go. They're up to something," Chisaki pointed out.

"The only question is: what?" Itsuko stated.

Koyuki spoke. "Plus, if we can escape at any time. This place is perfect. We can easily blend into the crowd and slip away if we need to."

"Yeah, I guess," Daisuke said, giving in to the others.

"Besides, might as well enjoy ourselves."

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This story is gonna be so awesome. It was inspired by a stupid picture I drew of my friends and I watching Team Urameshi in the Dark Tournament. Somehow, it evolved into a full blown story based on us. Rythym was a big help coming up with the story as we discussed it after staying up all night watching anime. We recorded it on tape, and we sound like a combination of drunk and crazy. Ha ha! I hope you enjoy this story as much as we do!