A/N: I've been house-sitting, so I had some time on my hands. Enjoy!

"Kurama!" Chloe flung herself at him, relief at his safety (and her own security) washing over her like a flood. It was like a gigantic weight had been lifted from around her neck.

The red-head took a step back, slightly shocked at her outburst. "Hello, Chloe." It was sort of endearing how excited she was to see him.

She let go and pulled back, eyes wide and hands covering her mouth. "I-I am so sorry." She stammered, blushing furiously.

'That's the first time she's stammered in a while.' He noted, smiling reassuringly. "Don't worry about it. Are you two all right?"

Chloe looked at Haru, then nodded. "We're fine. Better than fine, now that you…both are here." Her gaze flickered between Kurama and Carmen.

Carmen snorted. "Like you've been waiting on the edges of your seats for me to come back."

Haru grabbed Chloe's arm. "You could be more grateful, we did all just traipse miles across Demon World to try and help you."

"Yes, and a lot of good it's done me." Carmen replied coolly. "And as you can see, I'm perfectly fine."

"What about all those tears in your clothes?" Chloe asked, almost timidly, then her eyes widened. "And where's Ethan? Did he find you guys?" She couldn't imagine what had caused those tears in Carmen's clothes, even further how Carmen seemed so undamaged underneath.

"He did. He-"

"-was killed by one of the assassins." Carmen cut Kurama off, sending him a warning look.

Kurama worked hard to keep from clenching his fist. Last night Carmen had seemed almost human. Now she'd reverted to her selfish, irritating self. 'She's your best chance at keeping your family safe. .. and Chloe…' He reminded himself, focusing on his breathing instead. It was better than going head-to-head with the woman.

'Besides, you'd probably get thrashed.'

The red-head didn't bother responded to Youko – he was right. There was still so much about her that was shrouded in mystery, and after seeing what she could do last night (although he didn't know exactly how she'd done it), he probably would be soundly beaten. Better to bide his time until he could turn her over to Spirit World.

Chloe blinked once. Then twice. Then three times. "He's dead then." It wasn't a question, it was a statement.

Haru could have beaten Carmen senseless for being so callous. "Chlo, I'm so sorry." He put his arm around her shoulders.

For some inexplicable reason, Kurama had the strangest feeling that he'd rather be the one comforting her.

'Stop thinking like that. You're just keeping your family safe and then you'll be leaving her life. Remember that.'

Chloe shrugged out of Haru's arm. "I'm not upset." She seemed as surprised as the rest of them. "He wasn't really my brother anymore. I can't explain it. He was … different. I'm sorry he's dead, but…nothing more. He was dead to me a long time ago, although I guess I just didn't realize it.."

Kurama looked at Carmen, half-heartedly hoping to see some sign of remorse on her face. Unsurprisingly he found her examining her fingernails with a bored expression. "Kurama, a word." She turned and walked back to the tree line, head tilted back as if looking for fruit growing on the trees. "Here's the snag. With Ethan dead, we have no way of finding Shangri-La."

"He didn't tell you where it was?"

"No. He would have no reason to since he was planning on killing me before we got there, now would he? So we go to plan B."

"Plan B?"

"She goes with us to the tournament. If she's not with me, she's with you, as simple as that."

"What happens if she gets separated and someone gets to her?"

Carmen didn't bat an eyelash. "She will become expendable."

An anger surged up in Kurama's chest, squeezing it painfully. "That's the thanks she gets for everything she's done for you, for all of us? You'd just abandon her? What happened to honor?"

"Honor would not let me sacrifice one world for one life. I will try to help her, but" Carmen's eyes held a hard glint in them "I do not bargain with my adversaries." They stared off for a moment before the familiar nonchalant look returned to her eyes. "It's rather nonsensical discussing all this anyway. I won't let her be taken under my watch, and if you do the same then we shall never have need of seeing how far my," she paused, seeming to chuckle a little "-honor, extends."

Kurama watched her walk away, pushing down the angry and irritated emotions welling in him. She was so flippant, so arrogant, so narcissistic! Did she really consider herself a god, or was that just an act?

There was no way to know.

…..

"Carmen?"

"Hm?" Carmen flicked one eye lazily towards Chloe, who had decided to walk beside her for a spell.

"May I ask you something?" The girl's eyes were staring intently at the ground, her hands entwined nervously.

Carmen had a sinking feeling she knew what the question was, but there was no graceful way to get out of it. "I'm not going to stop you from asking."

"Was Ethan a demon?"

Carmen nearly choked on her own spit. "Excuse me?"

"He was so different when he came back. I thought…"

"You have a lively imagination. Hungry?" Carmen stopped at a bush, picking pink berries growing on it. "They're delicious." She chewed them slowly, not to savor their tart flavor, but to let her mind process. Why had Chloe's mind jumped to that conclusion? This girl might be smarter than she'd given her credit for. If that was true, extra care was going to be needed.

Kurama and Haru caught up to them. "Why'd we stop?" Haru asked, sitting down on a log. They'd been traveling all day.

"Chloe was hungry." Carmen shrugged, popping more berries into her mouth.

Chloe's head came up. "I never sa-"

"I heard you stomach growl a mile back." Carmen winked, disappearing to the other side of the bush.

Kurama picked a few himself, smiling a little. She may be callous and irritating, but at least he could trust she would watch out for Chloe's well-being.

Chloe's eyes fell and a pink hue took to her cheeks. "I didn't think you heard it…" She mumbled, eating her berries one at a time. She was hungry, but she hadn't wanted to admit it since Carmen hadn't seemed to need a break.

Haru soon joined in the feasting. "Are you all right Chloe?" He asked between mouthfuls. "Do you want to sit down for a while?"

While the idea of sitting sounded incredible right now since her legs were throbbing, she shook her head. "I'm okay." She answered, determinedly smiling reassuringly.

"Haru's right, you should rest for a bit. You're not accustomed to this amount of walking." Kurama spoke up, motioning to the log Haru had abandoned.

Chloe opened her mouth to protest, then shut it and went over and sat in front of the log, instead using the wood as a backrest She smiled when Haru plopped down next to her and offered a handful of berries. "Thanks Haru. How much farther do you think we have to go?"

Haru leaned his head back. "Dunno. Kurama?"

The red head lay down on the log, his head towards them. "I'm not sure, probably still a day and a half. I-" He paused; they still didn't know that he was a demon. "-have only heard about them." He finished lamely.

Haru glanced at him; he'd heard the pause. Chloe didn't even look up, just chewed her berries slowly.

….

"ah-CHOO!" Chloe sneezed loudly, using one arm to rub her nose briefly before wrapping it again around her body. A thunderstorm had started two days ago. They had had cover from trees for the next half day, but they'd spent the next day traveling across a barren wasteland that seemed never ending. The rain was pounding on them just as hard, and Chloe flinched every time lightening cracked – some had gotten awful close.

"How much further?" Haru shouted to Carmen, who was several feet ahead of them.

"Just over the ridge!" Carmen yelled back, swiping some water out of her face. "Let's pick up the pace. Kurama, help Chloe. Haru, how are you feeling? Do you have it in you?"

Haru looked at Chloe, then nodded determinedly. "Yeah!"

"Alright. It's a race now. Last one there buys drinks!" Carmen took off like a shot.

"Hey!" Haru leapt after her, all thoughts of wet and cold lost.

Kurama fell into step beside Chloe. "You'll be warmer sooner if you hurry."

Chloe nodded miserably. "I know. I'm just so tired…"

"You've already come this far. Carmen will never let you hear the end of it if you don't put some effort into it."

Chloe knew he was right, but the thought of moving any faster than this plod was just so tiring.

"It'll help warm you up too." Kurama held out his hand. "Trust me?"

Chloe looked at him for a moment before tiredly placing her hand in his. "Okay.."

…

Carmen slid down the muddy incline, leaping to avoid boulders. There was a small city at the base, and a particular tavern that had both warm rooms and delicious drinks. She glanced over her shoulder, surprised to see Haru come bolting over the edge. "Holy sh-!" She jumped to the nearest boulder and propelled off it. She was freefalling for several seconds before her feet met the slippery ground again. She leapt and rolled to a stop when she met the flat ground. She straightened herself out, crossing her arms as she watched Haru make his clumsy way down the incline.

"I almost had you." He panted after he rolled to a stop at her feet.

Carmen snorted. "Oh please. I was barely trying."

"Uh-huh." Haru got shakily to his feet, using his hand to move his hair from his eyes. His blond hair was plastered to his head, and now was more brown than blond thanks to the mud.

Kurama and Chloe crested the ridge. "It's easy from here. You just slide down the hill. Be sure to avoid the rocks though. Shall I go first?"

Chloe gave him a wan smile. "Sure."

Kurama let go of her hand and moved to a clear path, crouching slightly before stepping off the solid ground. The mud took him immediately, sending him flying down the sharply inclined hill.

Chloe moved to where he had been, watching until he was safely down the hill.

"Come on Chloe. It's fun!" Haru yelled, waving his arms.

Chloe took a deep breath. "Shouldn't be too hard, right?" She mumbled to herself, crouching like Kurama and then stepping onto the mud. "Ah!" She shrieked as she lost her footing and fell onto her side. A bump sent her tumbling down the hill every which way. She felt herself hit something and she stopped suddenly. She opened her eyes, and her brown gaze met Kurama's amused green eyes.

"Are you all right?" He asked, pulling her to her feet.

Chloe nodded, blinking her eyes to try and make the world stop spinning. "Uh-huh. Just…a little dizzy."

Carmen threw back her head and laughed. "You definitely know how to make an entrance. Let's go get warm now."

…

"I don't think it's open." Haru pointed out dryly, looking at the locked door and barred windows.

Carmen gave him a scathing look. "You obviously don't know what you're talking about." She walked up to the door and raised one foot and kicked it. "OOOW!" She yelled, limping in a circle and holding her leg with her hands. "Dammit Eric – that's not nice!" She yelled, walking up to one of the windows and ripping the bars off. "I'll show you a damn demon repellent lock!" She raised her fist to smash the window when she heard a distinctive click from behind them.

"I wouldn't do that."

All four turned to look at the male pointing a strange gun at them. "Carmen?" He lowered the gun.

"What kind of a welcome is this Eric?" Carmen pointed to the door. "I nearly broke my foot on that thing."

Eric shrugged, uncocking the weapon. "You told me you wouldn't be around for another couple of days. Besides, I thought it'd be fun to test it out before it was really needed."

"Damn troublemaker." She groused. "We're here now, so can we get our rooms? We're tired, wet, and dirty, so we'll need baths and new clothes too."

Eric snorted. "I don't run a maid service." His hands glowed blue for a moment when he put them over the lock, then it clicked open. He pulled it off and pushed the door open. "Come on in guys." He snapped his fingers and the lights came on.

Carmen was the last in and she shut the door behind them. "You still living here by yourself?"

"Yep." Eric placed the shotgun behind the bar. "This way guys." He led them through a door and up a winding set of stairs. At the top was a small, round landing with four doors. "Leave your clothes outside your doors and I'll see they get cleaned. There are towels and extra blankets to wrap up in in the closets."

…

"Commander!"

-BOOM-

"Keep your head down!" The young commander snapped at her soldier, swiping one muddy hand across her face to clear her short red hair from her eyes. "What is it? Where are the others?"

"Dead. They're all dead. Burned in the tents."

The commander finally turned her yellow eyes on the soldier. He looked angry, but controlled. "We're all that's left of our little stealth incursion then."

"Yes sir."

"Funny how they knew where to strike.." She mumbled, her mind thinking quickly. "How far is their group?"

"30 paces."

"How fast can you run?"

"Fast enough."

The commander dared a peek over the edge of the ground. "All right. We're going to have to do this by ourselves then, understand?"

He nodded. "I understand Cailyn. We're not coming back."

She nodded, pulling him close and planting a heavy kiss on his lips. "I love you."

"I love you."

"Let's go!" She leapt over the embankment, her feet moving so swiftly she was a blur. Fire rained down around her, but she was too quick. She made the thirty paces before whipping out her knives. A slash here, a stab there, and the ground was soon rank with demon blood. "Get the wind demons!" She shouted to her companion, turning only to find herself knocked over by large, blue demon. His hands were cold – very cold. "Filthy ice demons!" She spat, feeling her limbs growing colder and heavier as she thrashed against him. Then his hands were around her neck, squeezing tighter-

"Carmen!"

Carmen bolted upright, the knife in her hand pressed into Chloe's neck.

Chloe didn't dare breath, though she wanted to make a noise. The eyes staring back at her were not those of the Carmen she knew. "C-Carmen?" She whispered fearfully.

Carmen blinked, her yellow eyes finally focusing on Chloe. "What the hell were you thinking waking me up when I'm sleeping." She dropped the knife and slid out of the bed, the pants and shirt she'd borrowed from Eric hanging loosely on her thin body. She looked in the mirror, her green hair falling loose over her shoulders.

"Y-you yelled in your sleep. I-I'm next door..s-so I heard it and I was worried." Chloe put a hand to her throat, still in shock at how close Carmen had come to-

"Get out." Carmen pulled Chloe off the bed and shoved her roughly out the door. "Get out!"

Chloe tripped and fell to the floor, her heart pounding. What had come over Carmen?

"Chloe?" Haru stepped sleepily out of his room.

"What's wrong?" Kurama stepped out of the other door, looking much more awake.

"Th-there's something wrong with Carmen. Sh-she yelled in her sleep, so I went to wake her. First she nearly sliced my neck open, and th-then she threw me out of the room!" Chloe scooted away from Carmen's door, eyes wide.

Haru beat Kurama to Carmen's door and shoved it open. "What is your problem?" He shouted angrily.

Carmen was pacing in front of the fire, hands nervously braiding her hair. "Get. OUT!" She roared, the room darkening visibly.

"Make me! You can't treat Chloe like that, I don't care how badass you think you are!"

Kurama barely made it in front of Carmen before she ripped Haru's head off. "Calm down." He pushed his hands against Carmen's shoulders, keeping her away from the human.

"Let her – I'm sick of her narcissistic crap!"

Kurama caught one glimpse into Carmen's yellow eyes. There was something there he'd never seen before. He couldn't place it..

'Let her go. Both of you get out of there.'

Kurama was shocked to hear the urgency and understanding in Yoko's voice. 'I can't just let her get away with scaring Chloe that badly.'

'Trust me. I know that look – I have it. It comes from seeing things nobody, human or demon, should ever see. Let her be."

Kurama backed away slowly from Carmen, for some reason his senses cautioning him to move carefully. "Let's go Haru." His tone didn't leave room for argument. He herded the boy out of the room, clicking the door softly shut behind them.

"You're just gonna let her get away with that?" Haru demanded angrily.

Kurama could have smacked the boy. "Did you see the look in her eyes? She was going to kill you. Not figuratively – literally. Your blood would be staining the floor right now if I hadn't intervened."

Chloe grabbed Haru's arm. "What? Why would she do that?"

Kurama shrugged, his memory still burning with the look in her eyes. "Something sent her over the edge. We know practically nothing about her history, so there's no telling what was set off or how. For now, just keep your distance. You two should go back to bed. Get some rest."

Haru grudgingly returned to his room; Chloe followed him wordlessly.

Kurama watched the two until the door closed. Inexplicably he felt jealousy swelling inside him that she- He shook his head, dispelling those thoughts before they formed. He likewise returned to his room, but kept the door open so he would see and hear anything that happened.

….

Breakfast was taken downstairs; it was a silent affair. Chloe kept her eyes pointedly down, Haru stared at Carmen, Carmen didn't seem to care, and Kurama kept his eyes on all three of them.

"Well?" Haru spoke finally, dropping his hands onto the table. "What do you have to say for yourself?"

Carmen ignored him, instead biting into an apple.

"Haru.." Chloe looked at her friend, shaking her head.

He ignored her. "I'm talking to you Carmen, and I know you can hear me though you pretend not to."

Carmen took another bite of apple.

Kurama tried to catch Haru's gaze. "Enough Haru, let it go."

"No. No I won't let it go. Just because she thinks she's something special-"

"I love apples." Carmen tossed the apple core on her plate, leaning back in her chair and closing her eyes contentedly.

"You could have killed Chloe last night!" He slammed his fist on the table.

"But I didn't."

"What stops you from doing it next time?"

Carmen rolled her eyes. "Haru, boy, I stopped myself from killing her. And IF it happens again, I stress if, it will be me again who stops myself. I'm just not used to traveling with people, so getting woken up usually means I'm being attacked. I can't shut my instincts off at will."

"If it happens again…"

Carmen looked like she was considering gutting him but instead crossed her arms. "Are you threatening me, human?" She nearly spat the last word.

Chloe felt goosebumps running up and down her arms. "Haru, you don't have to do this. She didn't mean anything last night." She whispered worriedly.

Kurama put his bread down, ready to jump in if need be.

Haru stood up, facing Carmen. "If you need it spelled out for you, then yes – that's a warning."

Carmen gave a forced laugh, not bothering to stand up. "You're a stupid child." She could see his fist clench at that. "As such, I won't beat you to a bloody pulp. But know that the last person who threatened me was unpleasantly ended. By me. And he was much larger, much more powerful, much older, and a demon."

"Come on Haru, leave it be." Chloe tugged at his arm, her fearful brown eyes watching Carmen.

"No! I'm not gonna just leave it be!"

"Haru, think carefully." Kurama cautioned. The tension in the air could have been cut with a knife.

Carmen stood up slowly, eyes trained on Haru's. "If you want to hit me, then hit me."

"Haru, don't!" Chloe pulled harder, afraid that Haru would take the advice.

"I'm serious kid – hit m-" Carmen's head snapped to the side from the force behind Haru's fist when he punched her. For a moment time seemed to stand still. Carmen didn't move, Haru didn't move, and Chloe looked on in horror. Finally the green-haired demoness turned her head back; the left side of her jaw was red and her lower lip was split and blood was dribbling down her chin. "Do you feel better now? Feel like a man?" There was a mocking tone to her voice.

"You fu-"

"Enough!" Kurama stood up, towering over the others. "Haru, leave. You've done enough damage."

Haru allowed Chloe to pull him away, though he continued glaring at Carmen as they went up the stairs.

"Aah, kids." Carmen sat back down, swiping away the blood with the back of her arm.

"You don't need to taunt him like that." Kurama looked at his food again, but right now he just couldn't stomach it. Why was it the one person they needed the most right now was the one person they all wished they could unceremoniously get rid of. Well, perhaps not Chloe – she was far too forgiving and…he hated to say it, but too naïve. Too naïve to understand why Carmen, even though she was protecting her, was so dangerous, to them all.

"He hardly needed the encouragement." Carmen pointed out, shrugging. "He had something to say and he was going to say it. Why shouldn't I have let him get it out of his system? That way he won't be so grouchy."

Kurama bit back a sharp remark, choosing instead to ask "What were you dreaming about last night when Chloe woke you up?"

Carmen picked up Chloe's uneaten apple and bit in. "Mmm. You know, I find it hard to believe how delicious and nutritious apples are. Aren't things that taste good supposed to be bad for you?"

Kurama held back a sigh. She wasn't going to talk, was she? "When does the tournament officially begin?" He finished his food; he'd need his strength, if only to deal with Carmen all day.

"Tonight at dusk. Don't let Chloe out of your sight today. I have..arrangements to make, so I will be here and there with no time to play baby-sitter." Carmen stood, straightened her skirt and pulled up her boots before skipping lightly out of the tavern.

…

A huge crowd had gathered, facing out towards the seemingly empty plains; it was an hour before dusk. Chloe watched them from the window in her room. "What are they doing?" She asked Kurama, who was standing by her.

"I don't know. The tournament is supposed to start in an hour, so perhaps they're waiting to head to the fighting ring."

"I guess…" Chloe bit her lip, twisting her hands nervously.

Kurama looked down at her from the corner of his eye. He could only imagine what she was going through, but he had no idea how she was holding it all together as well as she was. He just wanted to hold her and make everything go away. Technically he could just have Spirit World apprehend Carmen and the medallion at the tournament and then-

"Look!" Chloe exclaimed, eyes wide. At first it just looked like a bunch of sand blowing around, but it was quickly forming into a huge stadium. "I've never seen anything so huge!" She couldn't stop staring at it, the thing was gigantic! Doors the size of small buildings swung out slowly, pushed open by two huge demons. "Is that Carmen?"

Carmen strode through the middle of the doors and down the ramp. She was clad all in black leather with her shoulders and arms exposed. Her green hair was braided and pulled over one shoulder, a black ribbon weaved in with her hair. "Ladies and gentleman, the Black Tournament can now commence!"

Chloe watched the mob of demons swarm through the doors. "Wow."

"Are you going to stand there all day, or are you going to get dressed and come watch the fights?"

Kurama and Chloe turned around. Carmen stood in the doorway, arms holding some clothing similar to her own.

"What's wrong with my clothing?" Chloe looked down at her jeans and t-shirt confused.

"Nothing, except that I don't want to be seen in public with you. Put these on and go find your seats. You'll have a good view, but be far enough back so you shouldn't get any miscellaneous fire."

"M-miscellaneous fire?" Chloe's eyes widened.

Carmen snorted. "We don't fight by human rules, and we play with bigger matches. Hurry up, or you're going to miss the first fights." She tossed the clothes over and disappeared out the door.

"You don't have to wear those." Kurama pointed out gently. "And don't worry about what she said. It doesn't happen often, but I'll have you out of harm's way if it looks like it will go that way."

Chloe was only some reassured. "No, I'll wear them, it's okay. I've just never worn," she held up the pants "leather before."

…

Chloe kept her head down, self-consciously crossing her arms in front of herself. "I didn't realize leather was so…huggy." She whispered to Kurama, ducking her head again. "I feel like the only person in a hundred miles who's wearing all leather." She was doubly conscious of the cold of the medallion piece as the leather pressed it into her chest.

Kurama chuckled. "Just wait till we get inside. There are many female demons who prefer it, both because it moves so well but also because it affords some small amount of protection. You won't be the only one."

Chloe couldn't keep her head down once they entered the huge doors. Demons were everywhere, moving in every direction. She barely felt Kurama take her hand she was so lost looking at everything. "Everything is huge!" She exclaimed, letting herself be pulled along. Suddenly the came out of the hallways into the seating area around the arena in time to here Carmen over the speakers say

"Welcome to the Black Tournament!"