A/N: Well, this will be a wonder. How many people are going to flame me, and rightly so? I sincerly apologize for not updating. I'll even tell you what happened to make this the worst possible time for me.

I already told you, through Kagome, that I wouldn't be able to update for some time due to no computer access. Well, when I got back, I was able to update Tides. However, before I could do anything for this story, I had my guinea pig fall ill. He wouldn't eat anything, and after nearly six years of having him and him being nearly seven, I was really worried. They're only supposed to live between five and eight years, and I was putting most of my energy into helping him try to get better.

That lasted nearly a week. What happened to the rest of this last week, then? Well, in the end, there was nothing I could do to help him. He died on Sunday last week, and I've spent the rest of the time trying to get over my annoying mind and work up the motivation to work on a story where the main character is an animal. At the time, I wanted nothing to do with animals in my stories, so I didn't get on fanfiction for quite some time.

But now I've finally gotten this out. And I'm going to say that this IS a cliffie, rightly so, and that I will be updating shortly if nothing interferes with my life. So please, don't flame me for the cliff hanger. Flame me for not updating if you must.

Thanks for the people who wished me into better health with my back infection; I am getting better. I'll try and be a better author and update. It's kind of sad that I had more time to update in school rather than summer.

So, without further ado, I give you the long-delayed chapter to ANY. And please, if you could, tell me: am I getting everyone in character?

Edit Note: Beta'd by Deb.


"...so that's how we won that battle," Yuusuke concluded. He gave a small smirk of pride at defeating the people he had, after telling the story again for the millionth time. Kagome was perched on his shoulder, paying rapt attention and hanging onto every word that poured from the brunette's mouth.

"Wow. So that was the Dark Tournament, eh? And when did you say the next one was?" she asked.

Kuwabara grumbled while Yuusuke answered. The carrot-headed boy didn't like the idea of a girl entering the tournament. Actually, he didn't like the idea of a girl entering a fight period.

"I think they said it was held at least once ever fifty years. Could be less," he said off-handedly.

Hiei and Kurama were talking quietly in front of the others, and had been for some time. None of the other three travelers had decided to see what was up, since one was busy telling stories, one was busy listening to the tales, and the third was too busy correcting said stories to pay much attention to the conversation.

"So, what happened with Jin?" Kagome asked. She liked how the hyper wind demon had been described. Of all of Yuusuke's opponents he had mentioned, she liked him the best.

"I don't know. I suppose he's still here. We could run into him, but I don't know. He's probably off training somewhere, trying to get up the strength to beat me." He laughed and held up an arm in the classic strong-guy pose. "Fat chance of that happening, though!"

Kuwabara took a swung at Yuusuke, which was easily avoided. Kagome automatically clung to the shirt on the shoulder she had commandeered, keeping her balance. "What are you doing telling her things like that, Urameshi? I'd like to see you fight some real opponents."

Yuusuke glared. "And what kind of real opponent would you suggest, dumb ass?" he shot back.

"I bet you wouldn't last one minute against the shrimp or Kurama. They'd beat you into a pulp!"

Yuusuke smiled. "I noticed you didn't mention yourself. Wise."

"I could beat you any day! Bring it on!" Kuwabara leapt in front of Yuusuke, blocking his path. He took up an old fashioned fighting stance, raising his fists against his friend.

"Anytime, loser." Yuusuke was about to get into a responding stance when he felt a sharp set of claws begin to maul his back. "Yeouch!" he cried. Shooting an evil look over his shoulder at Kagome, he demanded, "What the hell was that for?"

Kagome sat back slightly and ignored the poisonous stare from both males. "If you aren't aware, you're falling behind. And I don't want to be responsible for you two if you waste your energy on each other and have no more energy for a fight if we're ambushed." She turned innocent eyes onto Kuwabara. "You wouldn't leave me to fight all by my lonesome, would you?" For an extra measure, she pouted.

Kuwabara was unable to resist the absolutely adorable look he saw on Kagome's feline face. The only thing that would make it even more perfect would be bubbles and sparkles surrounding her face. Blushing and nearly squealing, Kuwabara promptly said, "Don't worry! With me to watch over you, you won't ever have to worry about getting hurt!"

Yuusuke sighed and mock saluted his friend. "Whatever you say, Captain Oblivious."

Kuwabara blinked. "Huh?"

"Exactly. We're falling behind." Yuusuke hurried to catch up with the others. "Oi! Wait up!" Kagome clung for dear life as Yuusuke used his spirit energy to pick up his speed, Kuwabara picking up the rear.


Off in the trees, a demon came up to Yura. He was an ugly fellow, with purple warts all over his sickly yellowed skin. Pinpoint eyes were hard to be seen, and he resembled an ape with his long arms and short, stubby legs. He carried a scroll in his hand.

Handing it to the young demoness, he bowed his head and said "A message from boss."

Yura plucked the slightly damp object. She tried not to think about what had caused it to become wet as she opened the scroll with two dainty hands.

Scanning the page, it was just as she had figured. More instructions to make the boss' plan come to fruition, she supposed. It was a basic plan that would most likely work, since everyone in the group had a high intelligence rate when it came to plans and plots- with the exception of one, who wouldn't know if anything hostile happened against him unless it literally walked up and bit him on the nose.

They wouldn't see something so simple until it was too late for them to do anything. And by that time, Yura and Hiten's wishes would be completed and the boss would be satisfied enough to go crawl under a rock and die.

Well, maybe it was a little much to hope for the latter, but the former would surely happen.

Evidence couldn't be left to be found, so Yura pulled out a small string. If one were to look closer, one would realize that the nearly invisible string was, in fact, a strand of hair. Weaving it in and out of perfectly manicured hands, Yura created a human's cat's cradle game.

With what seemed like magic, the instruction scroll lifted itself of its own accord. Then, with a small tug to pull the game tighter, the scroll was shredded into a million tiny pieces.

Yura smiled at her work. If anyone were to find all of the pieces, which were being scattered on the winds at that very moment, they would have a hard time putting the bits together to make a coherent message. It would be nearly impossible, actually. It was a perk of having razor-sharp weapons at her disposal.

Standing with the grace of a dancer, Yura tugged on a nearly invisible strand of red hair. Turning to the creature beside her, she said, "Follow quietly." She spoke as if she were speaking to a child.

Grasping the crimson hair in her hand, Yura picked up the trail she had stopped following a short time ago. It was a strand from the fox-turned-mortal she was tracking and she had placed it near her sight to have a way of marking where she left off. The rest of the strand was the same dull black that could be found everywhere.

Yura was giddy as she followed the trail. She was really looking forward to the time when she would get permission from her boss to slice the delicate red-head's neck and cut off his head. She couldn't wait to claim that luxurious head of hair for her collection at home. It would be a rarity amongst the rare; a true treasure that she could play with for a long time to come.

They arrived at where the travelers were. Passing silently (and Yura was amazed to discover that the ape-creature was following nearly as well as she was), they made their way around the pack and sped on ahead. For her to carry out her instructions correctly, Yura needed to be in the perfect vantage point.

There was a small clearing ahead. Gesturing with her hand, and giving a sharp command, she had the creature plant itself on the ground in the middle of the clearing.

Although she was loath to sacrifice a strand of her precious hair, Yura attached it to the neck of the creature. When she pulled on it gently, the creature would be able to feel it and know that its part of the plan would be put into effect, then Yura went to conceal herself in the trees.

She didn't have to wait forever, only until she glimpsed the group walking into the clearing. She heard them coming long before she saw them. It didn't take long, Yura gave the signal.

The purple-warted ape-demon raised his hands, clasped together in a giant fist. He slammed them into the ground at his feet with all his might.

Then the ground began to shake.


Kagome had long ago moved from Yuusuke's shoulder to her boyfriend's. She thought that she deserved a change, especially since Yuusuke wouldn't stop egging on Kuwabara, and the bozo wouldn't get a clue and let the taunts slide. She was enjoying the slight quiet that she was able to have on Kurama's shoulder while he was walking silently by Hiei.

None of the three were saying anything. The dynamic duo behind them were making enough noise for a heard of elephants rampaging through a discount store that was having a ninety percent off everything sale. Female elephants, with too much money and not enough hobbies outside of pack ratting and shopping.

It was enough to give the bravest of the brave a killer migraine and a wish for the two to just shut up and die quietly.

"They're always like this, aren't they?" Kagome asked wearily.

Kurama looked back at her from the corner of his eye. "They get worse. You're lucky you haven't had to deal with all of them on a sugar high. Or drunk."

Kagome shuddered. "That would be one of the last things I'd want to see. If that ever happens, shove me into a closet and don't let me out until they've calmed or sobered, whichever it needs to be."

Kurama smiled. "Alright, but I'd rather be in there with you as be around them on one of those days."

Kagome was going to reply, but they were coming onto a clearing. Kagome had gotten an agreement that they would stop and find something to eat at the next decent spot, and she had high hoped for this upcoming area. Her tail twitched in anticipation.

They broke free from the trees only to be thrown from giant tremors that shook the earth. Kagome was lucky she hadn't been in Kurama's arms, nor on Yuusuke's back when that happened; Suuichi was thrown flat on his chest, Hiei was on one knee, and Kuwabara had landed on the poor spirit detective.

All four looked up (with much fuss coming from where Yuusuke struggled to rise under Kuwabara's looming weight) and saw an ape-creature standing in the clearing.

They cautiously started to rise. However, there must have been more force in that tremor than they had originally thought. Before their eyes the ground began to split rapidly. It opened under the ape-demon's feet and the thing gave a bloodthirsty cry as it fell into the pit.

Even though they tried to get up and dodge the inevitable, but the crack was too fast for anyone to dodge except Hiei.

Each man had his way of holding on, though. Kuwabara clung to the surface layer, as he had been on Yuusuke and was able to get one hand on the land. Yuusuke was a decent distance below, clinging like a spider to the wall of the crevice. Kurama had merely called to the grass carpet that covered the ground to stretch their roots and give him a decent rope to hang onto.

They couldn't have known how small Kagome's claws were, however. They were made for a kitten, and no matter how hard she tried, there was only so much she could to try and hang on.

Shredding of both cloth and flesh didn't help at all. Kagome's claws were too small to get purchase on Kurama's shoulder and, despite how hard she struggled, she couldn't hold her grip.

Kurama turned at Kagome's cry of terror and saw her falling, backwards into the gigantic crack. He completely froze, unable to do anything while he watched his love tumble to her doom.


End Chapter

This chapter is dedicated in memory of:

Homer

September 6, 1999-June 25, 2006


Any questions? Comments? Suggestions? Flames for being late? Please review!