"Wow we actually made it!" Yukina said as they sat down in their seats and looked at the ring and everyone else in the stands.
"Hiei," Shizuru said, "he's the short one wearing the blue Chinese warrior's outfit down there, right?"
"Yes."
Keiko said, "Wow, you two look nothing alike. Is Yusuke sleeping right now? What is wrong with him? Isn't he supposed to be defending us and saving our lives? I can't believe this!"
Yukina replied, "According to Master Genkai she said his training was really tiring."
"That red haired guy down there," Shizuru observed, "I don't think he's actually human."
"Hiei told me he's a fox from demon world," Yukina explained, "apparently he's a famous one from a long time ago."
Keiko said, "Of course he's a fox, he has red hair and green eyes." [In Japanese legends people with red hair and green eyes are said to be spirit foxes in disguise.]
Yukina added, "What I'm worried about is where's Botan? She said she had a floor pass."
"So," Kuwabara said when they got to the ring, "since Urameshi's still out cold who's going to be team captain?" He looked at Yusuke sleeping peacefully on his shoulder.
Hiei started, "I think Kurama-"
"Why don't you take the position, Kuwabara?" Kurama asked.
"Really?" Kuwabara asked, "Well I don't like being second choice but I'll take it!?" He stepped forward.
Hiei asked, "Seriously?"
Kurama replied, "Just because I'm the smartest one here doesn't mean I have to be in charge of everything."
"Excuse me?!" Genkai said. Well compared to the rest of them he really is the smartest, she thought.
"No offense, Master Genkai," Kurama added as he saw her disapproved look.
Koto announced, "Team Captains have decided on one-on-one matches with 3 out of 5 wins advancing to the next round!" The crowd cheered. As they went back to their side of the ring, Zeru threw fire around the Urameshi team and into the audience. Yusuke didn't move, much to Zeru's disappointment.
"Yukina!" Keiko shouted, "You're on fire!"
Yukina looked down at herself and saw the left half of her body was engulfed in flames and quickly spreading. "Oh, fire's never hurt me," she replied as she patted herself out. Her clothes didn't survive as well but wearing a modest kimono meant she still didn't show any skin. She looked to the left of her and saw dozens of demons had been burnt to a crisp.
"Really?" Keiko asked.
"Well," she explained, "for the longest time I just thought I was so cold as an ice maiden but Hiei's a fire demon. I must have some of that in my DNA." She looked down at Hiei who didn't even notice his sister could have been severly burned.
Shizuru said, "Duley noted."
Rinku entered the ring first. "Alright!" Kuwabara said, "Let me handle him."
"Go ahead," Kurama replied as he entered the ring.
Hiei asked, "Do you think he stands a chance?" Koto told the fighters to begin. Rinku started dancing circles around him.
Kurama replied, "It's hard to tell. We trained him to be better at controlling and maintaining his spirit sword. Only in the ring will we be able to tell." He watched as Kuwabara punched Rinku out of the air.
"Hn," Hiei said, "he might be ready to finish."
"No," Genkai corrected, "the boy was leaving a trail, making it obvious where he was going next. Kuwabara's too much of a dimwit to realize that."
Rinku introduced his yo-yos and zapped Kuwabara several times with them as he danced around Kuwabara's spirit sword easily. Hiei said, "He's getting nowhere. This is worse than watching him fight Byakko."
"Patience," Kurama insisted as Kuwabara was tied up by the arms and legs. Rinku put him into the air high above the ring.
"What was that about patience?" Hiei asked.
Kurama explained, "Regrettably I can think of several ways I could safely get myself to the ground from that height."
"If he thrusted me into the ground from that height I'd survive just fine," Hiei replied.
Genkai said, "I'd also be able to make do but none of that matters since it's Kuwabara that's in trouble and he clearly doesn't know how to handle this situation."
"I'm here!" Botan said running onto the arena floor, "What did I miss? Oh Kuwabara!" She looked up at him.
"We're about to watch Kuwabara meet his end," Hiei replied, "Why are you here?" I saw her before, he thought, with Yusuke and the shadow sword. What are these memories? They're so clouded.
"I'm here because I'm Yusuke's assistant!" she shouted at him.
Rinku dropped Kuwabara down to the ground. He created a spirit sword and catipulted himself across the ring. Meanwhile Rinku shot his yo-yos at him. They both made contact and knocked each other out of the ring.
"Satisfying blows," Hiei said, "so who wins?"
"Tough call," Kurama replied, "I'd be surprised if either of them got up and back into the ring in time."
They both did get up, but Kuwabara yelled at sleep talking Yusuke rather than getting back into the ring on time so the first point went to the other tea, meaning Rinku won.
Hiei said sarcastically, "What a great first impression."
"Shut up!" Kuwabara shouted, "I had him, runtboy, and you know it!"
Kurama said, "Someone has to put our team on the board." He started walking forward.
Hiei said, "Don't get too injured. Yusuke's still asleep which means you might have to fight again."
"I'm aware," Kurama replied as he stepped into the ring.
Roto stepped forward and said, "What perfect timing. I'll go."