{AN: Okay, this chapter was one that is slightly odd, but….Yeah, thers a certain closeness at the end as well. Promise!
Please Read it, and REVIEW! I love reviews, almost as much as I LOVE coffee! Lol :D}
"Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Koto. I'll be your cute host for this years tournament and its gonna be a messy one!"
Kagome heard the girl announcing, and she breathed deeply. "Relax. We've so powerful none of these guys will be able to beat us!" Kagome smiled half-heartedly at Kuwabara's attempt to cheer her up. Shifting her weight, Kagome made herself more comfortable with Yusuke on her shoulder.
"Don't worry, Kagome." Kurama murmured, gently patting her back. Kagome blushed and nodded mutely.
"Let's go." Hiei murmured, stepping forward before everyone else. Kagome brought Yusuke and her medic bag while everyone else walked with what they'd need to fight.
"Both teams into the arena." Koto spoke into her microphone.
Kagome walked at the back of the group and tried to ignore the snide remarks of her new outfit. She had changed it to a blue short kimono that was at her knee, with a slit on her right and left sides and tight shorts underneath. She had on her same black and white tennis shoes, and her hair was up in a bun this time.
Instead of following the others onto the stage, Kagome placed Yusuke on the ground and stood beside him while the others all greeted the opposing team.
"Excuse me." Kagome looked up and smiled at Koto.
"Yes?" Kagome replied, watching Koto look around confused.
"Um, why are there six of you? I know there's an alternate-"
"Yes, that's me."
"But, the alternate isn't allowed in the arena right now." Koto finished, holding the mic away from her face.
Kagome frowned a minute before smiling. "We're the special guests, so….we get special privileges." When Koto didn't look convinced, Kagome decided to add a bit of a fib. "And one of the main team mates are still sleeping." She pointed down to Yusuke sheepishly. Koto followed her finger and made an 'O' face. "I'm the current tote person. And I'm the assistant coach."
"But-" Koto started, but paused when a circle appeared on the big screen. "Committee, are you saying it is acceptable for this girl to be here?" this time Koto spoke into the mic, projecting her voice.
"Yes." Another females voice echoed in the stadium, making everyone still. "She is the alternate of the team and knows not to interfere until a team mate has died. Continue with the first match."
Emerald immediately started asking Kagome where that voice had come from, and Kagome winced at the high pitch of Emerald's voice. "Okay, well, lets decide on the terms of battle! Team leaders, please meet in the middle and choose."
Kagome watched the three on the stage talk a bit before Kuwabara went forward and decided on what the terms would be. After a few more seconds, they started walking back. 'Emerald, please stop jumping around in my head. I can't concentrate!'
Emerald calmed down a bit before talking again. 'I apologize, but that voice was just so….alarming! There's no owner, it must be a ghost!'
'No, there isn't a ghost. It's called a microphone. A bit of technology, you know, that thing I told you about? It projects your voice. The owner of that voice is probably behind those glass windows up there.'
Emerald was quiet a bit before talking again. 'Kagome, that golden guy is getting ready for an attack, you may want to move if you don't want to be a roasted cow.'
Kagome immediately picked up Yusuke and moved him farther behind the guys, across from the other team, before all of Emerald's words sank in. 'Hey! Are you calling me FAT!?' Right at that moment a huge burst of fire went by and into the stands, directly over where they had been. Shocked into silent shock, Kagome sat there on weak knees, the realization she would have been a crisp-Kagome flashing through her mind over and over again.
"Are you alright?" Kagome looked up and smiled a little shakily. Kurama was so nice.
"Y-yeah. I-I'm okay. Just a little spooked, that's a-all." Kagome jittered, looking towards the stage as the rest of the team jumped down.
"Perhaps you should sit down?" Kurama asked, standing beside her.
"Nah, I'm okay." Kagome stood up off the ground, looking at Kurama with a bright smile. "So, whose going to fight first?" she noticed movement out of the corner of her eye and noticed that Rinku was going first for the other team. Kagome was surprised that Kuwabara was going to fight Rinku.
"Bara, be careful!" Kagome shouted, watching the match begin.
"I don't think the fool heard you." Hiei murmured, watching the child jump around in circles, then cut the side of Kuwabara's head.
"It would appear not. Perhaps-"
"Bara! Watch the feet!" Kagome interrupted Kurama, cupping her mouth and shouting.
"we should just watch and see?" Kurama finished, kinda feeling out of place. She had interrupted him.
"Yes! Go BARA!!!!" Kagome shouted, feeling kind of bad for Rinku, after all he was such a cute kid, but Bara was on her team. And, it would be embarrassing for him to loose to a kid.
"Our lessons have helped him more than we thought, Hiei. It seems he is the type of fighter whose true skills can only be measured in the ring." Kagome looked over at Kurama, who was looking at a disinterested Hiei. She smiled when he nodded slightly.
Kagome zoned out a bit but tuned right back in not long after at Hiei's response. "-strike the kid while he's down."
Kagome stuttered. "What!? Hiei, why would you say that! He's just a kid!"
Hiei shrugged, not upset for making Kagome upset. "It's the way these fights are fought. To the death."
"Bu-Bu-"
"It's true." Kurama added, to take Hiei out of the spot light. "The dark tournaments are dark for a reason."
Kagome looked between the two before huffing and looking away. "I'd never be able to hurt a child, even if he is a demon."
"That's obvious. You're a human. Humans are a weak being. They are weak hearted and physically weak." Kagome glared at Hiei, and Emerald wanted to beat the crap out of him, but Kagome wouldn't let her.
Instead she ignored Hiei and looked back to the fight, only to notice Kuwabara was lying on the ground. "What happened!? Bara!"
Koto started her count down, and Kagome covered her mouth. "Bara…."
"Kagome, use your powers, is he dead?" Kagome looked down at Genkai and nodded, tears still forming in her eyes. Closing them, Kagome sensed out Kuwabara's body and saw his aura was still alive. Opening her eyes she grinned. "He's okay!" Koto was at 5, and the rest of the team looked at her for a minute but when Koto stopped counting they turned back and saw Kuwabara getting up.
"Huh, the buffoon is smarter than I thought, that or he has more lives than a cat." Hiei muttered, half amused.
Kagome ignored that comment and focused on the match again. Rinku was just getting his toys out now. "He's going to fight with his yoyos?"
"Those are normal yoyos." Kurama murmured, watching Rinku attack Kuwabara, who had just materialized his twin power swords.
"Oh no." Kagome whispered, covering her mouth as Rinku raised Kuwabara up into the air. "NO!" Kagome yelled as Rinku pulled Kuwabara down from a height equal to the top of the stadium. Kurama gasped, while Hiei just stared in shock.
&&& episode 28 &&&
Kagome watched in horror as Kuwabara was flung around the arena like a toy doll. "He wont be able to stand much more…" Kagome whispered to herself. Emerald was quiet, astonished at the power the child had.
"We better get ready and plan for the next fight."
"No, there are still some things he could try." Kurama replied, quietly.
Kagome looked over at the two conversing. "What else can he try?" Kagome asked, before shouting brought her attention back to the arena.
"He will not survive a fall that big." Kurama commented, watching Kuwabara rise above the arena, higher and higher he went.
Kagome huffed and was about to comment was she heard some yelling. Turning, Kagome saw a girl yelling at Yusuke. She was half amused at the girls actions.
Her view of the girl was cut off when a big blue guy got in the way. She had a bad feeling, so Kagome ran and jumped out of the arena floor and into the stands. Running quickly, Kagome made it to the back of the blue guy. Hearing him threaten the girl, who was human, Kagome grabbed the back of his shirt and threw him to the left.
"Um, hi?" Keiko greeted, out of breathe.
"Kagome! How wonderful to see you again!" Botan greeted, running forwards and hugging Kagome, who laughed and hugged her back.
"Hey Botan, how's it been?" Kagome asked, letting go of Botan and stepping back a step a bit.
"Its been okay, I've been hanging out with Keiko and Shizuru." Botan pointed to each girl, who did their own little wave.
"Oh, so you're the girl he's crazy about!" Kagome laughed when Keiko blushed. "You're the one that was yelling at him, right?" She nodded, and Kagome smirked. "Well then, come on and you can yell at him while he sleeps!"
Kagome led the way back down, glad Kuwabara hadn't been dropped yet. She picked up Keiko and jumped down to the grass, setting her down so she could run and start yelling and pointing at Yusuke in a safer environment. Shizuru declined the offer and stayed in the stands, standing by the railing.
Kagome shrugged and ran back to the stage area. Kuwabara had been dropped and had knocked himself and Rinku out.
"Get up! You're late, Kuwabara…" Kagome looked down and giggled, finding this vary funny.
Rinku got up on the ring, and Kagome was surprised when Yusuke continued talking. "Get up Kuwabara, I know you're used to loosing, but now isn't the time…" Kagome covered her mouth and tried not to laugh, but was shocked when Kuwabara got up to yell at Yusuke.
"Bara, you should really-" "9" Kagome was interrupted by Koto. Rinku used his power to bind Kuwabara so he couldn't get back in the ring, and against her wants Kagome didn't help.
As Koto counted "10" Kagome burst out laughing, finding Kuwabara's loss very entertaining, even if it was bad.
As the next match started she helped Kuwabara get out of the yoyo ropes. "Its okay Bara, he was a tough fighter. You would've won if Yusuke hadn't distracted you."
"Darn right if would have! Stupid Urameshi!" Kagome laughed as Kuwabara 'threatened' Yusuke. Placing her hands on his left arm and shoulder, Kagome brought p her healing powers and set to work healing him of his broken ribs and other such important injuries.
"Let the next contestants enter the ring!" Koto announced, raising her hand as the match ended and after the ring was cleaned off.
A grey skinned guy hopped up onto the ring, with a green trench coat. Kagome looked up as Kurama's voice reached her ears. "I'll take this one."
She was mildly worried, her mind conflicted on if she should stop him or not. She didn't like the idea of him being hurt. 'He's a kitsune. He wont be that easy to injure.' 'But-' 'Trust me. This match will be over quickly.' Kagome was silent for a minute before reluctantly nodding.
"Kurama." Kurama turned to look at Hiei, "considering the stakes don't take any chances. Don't leave the ring with him still alive."
"Naturally." Kagome shivered at the tone in his voice. He sounded so cold, it just gave her the shivers. Whither they were shivers of excitement or of terror….she'd find out later.
"I should probably get going now. I don't think I'm supposed to be here." Keiko's voice reminded Kagome of her presence.
"I'm sorry, Keiko. Here, I'll take you back." Kagome volunteered, raising her hand. Keiko smiled and nodded, letting Kagome take her hand. Walking over to the wall, where Shizuru was standing Kagome leapt up and placed Keiko by Shizuru.
"Be more careful Keiko. Kay?" Kagome requested before turning and jumping back into the arena. Botan had stayed below and was talking to Hiei.
Walking back at a leisurely pace, Kagome watched as they talked back and forth, but when Botan ran to Yusuke and started slapping him around Kagome became confused and ran the rest of the way. "Botan, what are you doing?"
"Trying to wake him up!"
Kagome nodded uncertainly before walking back to Kuwabara and healing him some more. Kagome looked up when Hiei gasped softly. "What? What is it?" Standing she looked onto the ring and saw a cut appear on Kurama's left cheek. "What the-" 'I thought you said he'd be fine!?' Kagome yelled at Emerald, making her somewhat surprised. 'I said he's a Kitsune and it'd be had to injure him. He probably got distracted…'
Kagome watched as Kurama and the strange opponent talked, and inhaled when Kurama just stood there and allowed the other demon to attack him. Kagome watched intently as Kurama hit his opponent with two things. She wouldn't have noticed if Emerald hadn't said something. 'He's using a plant…' 'What do you mean?' 'Kurama. He's planted a seed in the enemies chest. I can't tell which one is was, but I saw it.' 'Oh…'
Kagome continued to watch the fight and winced as a huge gash was made on his cheek again. "Oh, Kurama…." Kagome whimpered, trying not to tear her eyes away.
Kagome watched as more talking happened, and tried to understand what was said. The enemy tried to push the button in his hand, but as soon as he did, the plant Kurama had implanted exploded and took over the enemies body.
As soon as the fight had begun, it seemed, it had stopped.
'He's begging for his life, the weasel.' Emerald growled, her temper very out of bounds. Kagome watched, on jumpy feet, and Kurama walked back to the side of the ring.
'The flowers are beautiful…' Kagome thought, her mind wandering a bit, before focusing again. "Kurama, come down here and let me heal your wounds."
Kurama shook his head, making Kagome frown. "No. Let them heal as they will. It should be healed by tomorrow."
"Can I at least make sure he didn't use some sort of poison?" a bit of hesitancy made Kagome almost growl, but Kurama agreed to it and moved off of the ring and allowed Kagome to place her hand on his left cheek.
'So soft…' Was their combined thought, Kurama was thinking of Kagome's hands, and Kagome was referring to the skin of Kurama's cheek.
Blushing, Kagome dropped her gaze and removed her hand. "It's fine. There's no poison, so its okay."
Kurama nodded, still a little dazed, before turning to talk to Hiei.
"Botan, I'm going to go to the bathroom for a minute. Take care of the boys for me?" Kagome asked, trying to keep her blushing to a minimum and to hold off her transformation.
"Sure Kagome, no problem!"
{AN: so, what did everyone think? Thanks to the reviewers! Sable_Scribe, CrystalVixen93, Trinity Fenton-Phantom! I love the reviews! But, question for Trinity….when you say Jin, are you talking about the aussi accented Chu? Whose Jin? :P I might notice later, but right now I have no clue who your talking about! Lol, and I was thinking of making this a three way, but wasn't sure about it. I hadn't even had the thought of her adopting Rinku. But, I bet he and Shippo would get along great! Lol
Please review! I love'em!!!!! *Kisses!*}