Kurama was standing in the back, inside of a dark forest, waiting for the boat, like all the other contestants for the Tournament. The day has finally arrived for the starting of the Dark Tournament, and everyone was as prepared as they could be for this day. They all trained as much as possible, in the small allotted time they had. Even though they only hand three months, from what he could already sense, everyone's powers have grown exponentially.

He was slightly worried over the fact that he once again lied to Kagome. He left her a note, saying he was gone on a school trip-- He sighed, closing his eyes. He knew it was for the best. She was strong, but he didn't want her to get messed up in his problems. He knew she would probably just distract him, and maybe everyone else from their goals if she came-- Yet why does he still feel guilty?

"Urameshi still hasn't showed up yet! What could that dummy be doing?!" Kuwabara angry spoke up.

"Hopefully he is finding us a fifth fighter." Kurama hummed an answer. But it was true, Yusuke hasn't appeared yet, and it was about time for the boat to arrive.

"Hmm." Hiei huffed. "Why don't you worry about yourself, Kuwabara? Have you gotten any better since our last fight?" He sounded skeptical.

"You'll see for yourself, shrimp boy!" He replied.

Kurama sighed, shaking his head side to side, smiling to himself--

"Nice to see the gang together like this…" A familiar voice flowed into their ears, making Kurama freeze in place, and snap his head up, eyes wide. Everyone quickly turned around, spotting the owner of the voice.

"Kagome!" Kurama spoke her name in surprise.

"Kurama!" She replied just as eagerly with a large smile, and ran up to him, embracing him in a hug.

"W-What are you doing here?!" He asked, too stunned to do anything else but stare at her. She backed away from him and turned so she was facing everyone.

"I'm here for the Tournament of course." She told them plainly. Everyone's eyes widened at her words. "Sesshomaru signed me up three months ago."

"D-D- Doesn't that mean we are going to end up fighting each other?!" Kuwabara gasped in shock, knowing they probably would be in trouble if they were.

"Actually, I am on your team" She replied with a grin.

"What?!" Kurama exclaimed.

"Yup!" She smiled. "I know you guys need five people, and your little group only has four-- so I decided to join you guys instead."

"That's great!!" Kuwabara spoke up, glad.

"Yeah, but if you already have another member, I'll back down, and be a substitute player, incase something should happen." She hummed.

"Kagome, you sure this is best?" Kurama looked down at her seriously.

"Even if I didn't want to, it's too late to back out now." She rolled her eyes at him.

"I suppose you're correct…" He sighed. Guess his plan just went out the window--

"Kuwabara, how have you been since I last kicked your ass?" She looked up at him with a smirk.

"Pretty good actually." He puffed out his chest, smiling. His cheeks flushed red as he tried to impress her.

"And how's my favorite fire apparition doing?" She glanced at Hiei and he turned his head away from her, huffing. "Aww, don't be like that-- It's been a while since I've seen you! You should give me a hug." She spread her arms out, waiting.

"No." He stated.

"Well, if you're not going to hug me-- I'll hug you!" She quickly jumped him, and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling his head into her chest with a purr. "I think you've gotten taller!" She grinned. Hiei's eyes widened slightly by the attack, stunned. Kurama's eyes also widened in surprise, by her sudden show of affection towards his companion.

"Woman, let go of me before I rip off your arms." He mumbled a threat into her chest. She gave a soft laugh, but let him go nonetheless.

For the second time, Kurama was speechless, as he watched Hiei reaction towards Kagome's hug. If it were anyone else he would have already cut them in-two-- This only proves that his assumptions were correct. He has been visiting her at her house, and they have somehow gotten close…

"You're so grumpy." She playfully teased him while poking his cheek. He sighed, and crossed his arms over his chest, ignoring her. Correction-- They have gotten very close… Kurama looked away from the scene as a heated feeling started to boil in his blood--

"Don't I get a hug too!?" Kuwabara asked her, while spreading his arms out wide, grinning, and his cheeks flushed pink.

"Touch me, and I'll hit you in the crotch again." She calmly warned him. The tall male quickly moved his hands to cover up his most precious parts and paled.

"That's okay-- I'll keep my distance! No need to be rash!" He gave a nervous laugh. Kagome chuckled at his response, smirking.

"Hmm." Hiei was also smirking.

" 'Ta ship iz 'ere Matey's." A gruff looking man with only one eye and a pipe spoke up. "Now, let's try ta get on board wif'out any violence." He grumbled out. Kagome half expected him to say 'Arrrgh!' any minute now--

"Wait a minute, Sir!" Kuwabara spoke up. "Our team still has some stragglers."

"Then w'll hav'ta put 'a mark on t'ere heads and send out 'a hit man. Stand'rd rules of 'da Tournament."

"Now, now, that's not necessary." A familiar rough voice echoed into the forest, catching everyone's attention. Kagome turned around and spotted Yusuke, along with a short person, wearing a white cloth wrapped around their head and face beside him. "Sorry to keep you waiting, guys." He gave a lazy apology. She huffed, rolling her eyes at his relaxed form.

"What the hell, Urameshi!" Kuwabara yelled out. Hearing whispers and sly mumbles from all the demons around them, Kagome kept her guard up, keeping a close eye on them.

"These forest hikes really wipe me out." Yusuke complained while placing his hand onto a tree and slouching forward, as if tired.

"Yeah, you look awful." Kuwabara agreed. "No, wait-- That's just your face." He poked fun of him. "Heh-Heh" He gave a small laugh at his own joke.

"Yusuke." Hiei called his name, walking towards him.

"Hmm?" Was his reply as he turned to face the small fire apparition-- Without warning Hiei jumped towards him and started to repeatedly slashing at him. The slick teen easily dodged the quick attacks, their movements were mushed into swift blurs to the untrained eye.

"Man, their fast." Kuwabara spoke up. "I can barely keep up with my eyes." His beady orbs were dancing around, back and forth, as he tried to watch their actions.

"Damn Hiei." Yusuke hummed with a smile, after catching the blade between his fingers. "Is this how you say hello to people now?" He asked.

"Hmm." Hiei smirked towards him, a spark of interest dancing in his eyes. "I don't know where you have been all this time, but it seems you have improved your skills a little."

" 'Improved a little.' " Kuwabara repeated, mouth gapped open in surprise, eyes wide. "Oh man! I would say he improved a lot!" He corrected him, still stunned.

"Don't be discouraged." Kurama tried to reassure him. "The fact that you could follow their moves, shows you have improved as well."

"…" Kagome gave a small yawn, and tiredly rubbed her eye.

Everyone's skills seemed to have grown since she last saw them, except for herself of course. She doesn't really need to be stronger to survive in this arena, she could probably win without trying-- But that isn't why she came. She came because something has been going on in the Human realm and she needs to find out why.

"So Yusuke." Hiei stood up and withdrew his sword. "I assume the little one is going to be the fifth member of our team?" He asked while glancing at the short masked person out of the corner of his eyes.

"Uh!?" Kuwabara spoke up, walking up to him. "You mean this little guy!?" He was more then a little surprised. "He's even shorter then Hiei!" He exclaimed.

"Trust me, that one is going to be a lot of help to us." Yusuke spoke up for his shorter companion.

"I don't know…" He didn't sound convinced. "He barely comes to my waist."

"Forget him." Hiei spoke up with a smirk. "Yusuke, Kagome, and I are all that will require."

"Kagome?" Yusuke repeated. He looked around until his brown orbs locked onto her blue ones.

"Yo." She lazily spoke up, raising her hand while scratched the back of her head with the other. She sighed.

"What are you doing here?" He asked.

"To join your team." She plainly answered. "I wanted to be the fifth fighter, but it looks like you got someone else-- Guess I got no choice but to be a substitute now… Bummer." She mumbled to herself. Though in reality she didn't really care either way. She had her fair share of bloodshed and fighting in the 500 years of her life…

Yusuke looked like he was about to say something, but then another voice interrupted him--

"Enough pesky distractions!" The gruff call of the pirate sailor spoke up, raising his left hand--Uhh, 'Hook'. "Let's all 'get on board!!" He yelled out, his pipe bobbing up and down in his mouth as he spoke.

"Oh goody…" She spoke sarcastically, rolling her eyes.

Kagome was leaning against the ship's railing. She was positioned beside Hiei, who was standing on top of the railing, above everyone else. Kurama and the others were also within arms reach, as everyone stayed near the railing. They were off in their own thoughts, while looking at the other demons on the boat. We were stationed near the middle of the boat, so watching other combatants wasn't much of a neck stretcher to accomplish, even though it was a rather large boat.

"I'm bored." She mumbled to herself.

"I hope the island is more interesting then this…" Hiei spoke up as well.

"This isn't a vacation." Kurama reminded them.

"I know, but they could have at lest given us some food." Kuwabara said, and for once she agreed with him-- "With pretty waitresses." He added, causing her to roll her eyes at his silly comment.

"Ev'yone please turn 'yer eyes 'ta 'da capt'ins deck." The voice of that pirate echoed throughout the ship. Everyone did as they were told and looked up, spotting the short sailor standing on the top of a tall tower, above everyone else. " T'is still going 'ta be quite some time before 'da boat finds its way 'ta 'de harbor." He announced. "So we' be ha'ven some ent'tainment for 'ya's to keep 'ya from gettin' rowdy!"

"OooOo~!" Kuwabara suddenly exclaimed in excitement. "I knew it! Some dinner and dancing!" He happily cheered.

" 'De preliminaries battles for 'da tournament will be fought 'ere, on me trusty ship!" He quickly burst Kuwabara's bubble of joy. All the demons started murmuring to each other.

"Say what?!" The tall goof was not pleased…

"A preliminary for the competition." Hiei mumbled to himself, not sounding surprised.

"Now that we can't go anywhere." Kurama added. Suddenly the ship started to shake, causing everyone to wobble.

"Earthquake!" Kuwabara sounded the alarm, shocked.

"Fool." Hiei huffed. "There can't be earthquakes on the water."

"…" Kagome covered her parted lips with her hand, a giggle escaping. "Good one Hiei."

"Hmph." He turned his head away.

"Look." Kurama quickly caught everyone's attention and pointed to the center of the boat.

The middle of the boat started to split, and spread apart, until the two half's were wide enough to reveal a huge square hole. A large circle platform rose from the darkness, towing over the demons.

"Whoa." Was Kuwabara's intelligent comment.

"I'll tell it to ya straight." The echo of the pirate spoke up once more. "15 teams 'ave already been chosen and 're awaiting 'yer arrival." He stated. "That means, out of all 'ya on my ship, only one team will be competing on dry land." At his words all the demons started to boo and complain, shaking their fist at him in anger.

"Hold on." Kuwabara mumbled. "I thought we were the special guests?"

"This is how they operate." Hiei answered.

"Don't expect any red carpet treatment, Kuwabara." She spoke up as well. "After all, we are the 'human group', and every demon seems to hate our guts."

"Geez, thanks." He sighed. "Makes me feel a lot better…" He was being sarcastic of course.

"All teams pick out 'yer strongest fighters and bring 'em to the ring." He ordered. "There they'll fight 'de battle royale'! Who'ver comes out alive will win their team a ticket to fight on 'da island!"

"So, its one big beat down uh?" Kuwabara smirked while cracking his knuckles. "Guess its time to show them my special attack…" He gloated. A large thump vibrated the ship as a large ogre demon appeared behind him.

"I do like larger battles." He agreed with him. "One-on-one always makes me bored." The demon's deep voice hummed out in amusement.

"A great chance to sharpen my claws." A green demon hissed out while flexing his hands. His razor sharp claws glistening from the movement.

"Now I can kill as many demons as I want-- After I rip that human boy inside-out of course." Another large demon appeared, smirking. All three of them started to laugh, as they walked towards the stage.

"You know…" Kuwabara mumbled to himself. His eyes were wide in slight fear and his body was stiff. "These guys look awfully big when they are standing right next to you." He just now noticed. "Ha-ha-ha." He suddenly gave a mocking laugh, hands on his hips. "That's right!" He pointed to Yusuke. "You're the one who wants to fight them! I guess it is your reasonability as the group leader…" He quickly turned chicken, his tail between his legs. Kagome rolled her eyes.

"He's sleeping." She told him, since he obviously didn't know. Yusuke was sitting with his back against the railing, head hung low, resting peacefully without a care in the world.

"Sleeping!?" He yelled out. He was about to go to him, to wake him up, but she quickly got in front of the teen.

"Don't disturb him, just because you are too scared to fight them yourself." She stuck up for him.

"I-- I'm not scared!" He objected.

"Yeah, right." She wasn't convinced.

"The training Yusuke went through was apparently immense." Kurama spoke up. "You must give him time to recuperate." He also agreed not to wake up the sleeping boy.

"Then who is going to fight the demons?" Kuwabara questioned. Soft footsteps entered her ears and they all watched as the masked fighter started walking towards the stage.

"Seems we have a volunteer." Hiei looked amused by this. "Good. I'm anxious to see what he can do."

"Are you serious?!" The tall one had something to say yet again. "We don't know jack squat about that guy! What if he loses and we get booted from the tournament!?" Kuwabara objected to the idea.

"If that happens all we have to do is kill everyone else before the boat reaches the island." Hiei told him. "We'll say we are the right team and no one will complain."

"…" Kuwabara looked at him with a weird expression, his eyebrow twitching. "You didn't have too many friends growing up… did you?"

"Heh." She gave a small laugh, finding the comment to be funny. "I think it's a splendid idea." She stuck up for her short, crimson-eyed companion. "Though I doubt we will need to use his brilliant plan." She added.

"Why do you say that?" Goofy questioned.

"I'm sure our fighter will win." She stated matter of fact.

"Oh?" Kuwabara blinked in sunrise, and turned towards the stage. Everyone watched as the fighters stood on the battlefield, getting ready. She quickly noticed all the demons were on one side of the stage, all looking towards their fighter.

"Hmm." The brown ogre from before hummed. "Let's attack the one from the human team first." He spoke up.

"Then we can start on each other." The green one hissed.

"Sounds like a plan." Another one agreed.

"Hey--!" Kuwabara barked out. "We have to do something to warn him! They're all going to gang up on him and he trapped himself into a corner!"

"Patience." Kurama tried to calm him down, but she noticed his eyebrows were angled together, upset as well.

"Don't worry about him, he'll be fine." She told them.

"We are you so confident about him?" Hiei asked, slightly curious.

"Your not?" She questioned him, looking at them out of the corner of her eyes. "Yusuke, the man who you have chosen to be the leader, has picked him to be our ally. That should be reason enough." She stated. "You should trust his judgment, as your leader and friend." She sighed and glanced at him. "Besides, he reminds me of a half-demon I know…" She was mostly mumbling to herself.

"Half-demon?" Kuwabara repeated.

"Yeah. He had a knack for attracting powerful companions, and if he is anything like him, this fighter is strong enough to take care of himself." She shrugged.

"Attack!!!" Suddenly the pirate's echoing voice shouted through the speakers. They quickly turned toward the stage, and watched as all the daemons screamed out, charging our teammate head on.

The small one took a deep breath, closing his eyes, before crouching down and placing his left hand onto his right wrist. Kagome noticed a large amount of his spirit energy was gathering-- Suddenly it exploded in a wave of power, as she watched spiritual energy blast out of his hand in small, but pure amounts, blasting all that stood in front of him. It was so strong that all the demons got hit multiple times, and was knocked into the air, before flying off the boat and landing into the ocean, probably dead.

"Wow, he got them all in one shot." Kuwabara seemed amazed.

"I'm sorry 'ta say that 'de 16 team will h've 'ta be 'a Human one. Winner is 'da Urameshi team…" The pirate didn't sound too happy about that fact, and all the demons started to boo, not liking it either.

"Nice." Kagome gave a small and slow clap, impressed, as their member walked up to them, stopping just in front of Kuwabara.

"That was a great job little man!" The tall male cheered as well. The silent team member pointed, and everyone looked. All of the demons around them slowly started to walk towards them, an angry scowl on their faces, weapons drawn.

"You really think we care about fighting by the rules?" One of the ogres hissed.

"There's only one way to find the best team on this boat." Another one spoke up.

"I think they stole my idea…" Hiei huffed.

"Of course, it was a good idea after all." Kagome hummed, shrugging.

"We will have to make them pay for that." The fire apparition added, pulling out his sword.

"No need." She quickly got in front of everyone, making them all pause and look at her. "Why waste your energy on weaklings like them?" She rolled her eyes. "I'll quickly take care of these fools." She sighed. "Just stay close alright?"

"What are you going to do?" Kuwabara asked.

"Watch…" She smirked, closing her eyes. "I won't even have to lift a finger." She snapped her eyes open, and suddenly a large pink bubble appeared around them.

"What's this?" One of the demons spoke up, huffing.

"A barrier?!" Another one snorted.

"What use will that do?! We'll just break it down!!!" He raised his club in the air. "Charge!!!!!" He gave a war cry and several demons ran towards it head on, bent on breaking it with power alone.

"…" They really are idiots.

Once their bodies touched the shield they instantly burst, turning into dust, only to be carried by the wind. Everyone's eyes widened in shock, and the demons murmured to each other, backing away in fear.

"What is that?!" One of them yelled.

"What happened?!" Another one shrilled out.

"Calm down!" One tried to reassure them. "As long as we don't touch it we should be fine! Just stay where you are and don't get close."

"That won't save you…" She hummed.

Slowly the bubble started to grow, expanding outward. All the demons screamed as they watched it slowly inch closer. They started backing away, and once it touched some of the closer ones, turning them into a pile of ash, they quickly panicked. They turned around, fleeing from the attack, yet it was too late--

She swiftly called out her powers, and in an instant the barrier covered the entire boat before they even had a chance to retreat, encasing the boat in a huge, pink, bubble. The only thing left untouched was the tall captain's tower that was stationed in the middle of the ship, barely hovering above the pink glow of the shield. The pirate looked on in horror, and he dropped his microphone, staring down at the scene in disbelief.

She sighed and slowly the shield faded. She turned around, humming in satisfaction, facing her teammates. The only one who looked remotely surprised was Kuwabara. His jaw was hanging open, so low that it was touching the floor, his eyes wide. Hiei was intrigued, for his was smirking as well, eyes holding a small spark of amusement in them. Kurama smiled at her, nodding. The masked fighter looked indifferent, and Yusuke, of course, was still sleeping.

"What was that?!?!" Kuwabara questioned.

"A barrier." She stated, as she walked past him, going towards the railing. "I just put my powers into it, and any demon that touches it gets purified into nothing." She shrugged. "…" She sighed, and slowly sat down onto the floor.

She was putting up a front on the outside, but the truth was that little stunt she pulled, left her feeling exhausted-- She thought she had more energy then that, and so she did it without thinking, but it seems that was a terrible miscalculation on her part. Being unable to do something as simple as a barrier without being drained, is quite upsetting to her. A barrier is one of the most basic of moves…

Since she rested for the past three months, she believed she recovered much of her powers and energy. She thought she would be able to go through the tournament, but it seems she was wrong. She felt weak, like she did long ago, before the jewel gave her longevity. Unable to do anything, or perform any attacks without draining herself. She had to resist another sigh that threatened to escape her lips. Has the Earth really drained so much energy from her?

"Kurama?" She called for him.

"Hmm?" He replied, looking towards her. She patted the spot next to her. He quickly understood her actions, and sat down beside her. "Yes? Is there something you wish to discuss with me?"

"…" She leaned against his arm, resting her head onto his shoulder. "Wake me when we get there." She mumbled out.

"Of course…" He smiled down at her.

She closed her eyes, and quickly drifted off into a dreamless sleep as his aroma filled her senses.

"Urameshi's Team has just checked in." A deep voice called to the other man who was standing on the other side of the room.

"Hmm." The man hummed in reply. He was staring out of the window, in thought, a table beside him. He was clad in a black business suit, with sleek black hair that went to his shoulders. "I spoke to the captain." He told him. "The other demons onboard were no match for them."

"Were you really expecting it any other way?" The strikingly taller man wasn't that surprised.

"I wasn't expecting them to be defeated by only one member."

"One member?" He repeated. "Was it Urameshi?" That caught his attention.

"No…" He shook his head. "It was a woman."

"A woman?"

"Yes." He nodded. "I believe he said that they 'suddenly turned into dust.' Is how he described it."

"To dust…" He mumbled. "…!!" His eyes widened slightly under his dark shaded glasses. "What was this woman's name?"

"Hmm…" The man looked onto the table beside him, and picked up the sheet of paper lying on top. On it was the list of all the contestants, and who they will be fighting. "I believe it was Kagome." He told him when he scanned the list and found her name. "It says here that she is their substitute player." He paused, and turned around to look at him over his shoulders. "Does that mean something to you…?"

"Things just got interesting…" He smirked.