A/N

Hello everyone!

Sorry if there are mistakes. I have some flu like disease and got a little impatient in the reviewing. I've been itching to put something out. Grad school is kicking ass. Sooo...Thanks for the reviews! Love you all so much! Still structuring this as I see fit. Want to cut out too much of what happens in the show, but don't want to leave anything out. its more of a challenge than I thought. I usually write my own story lines, so intertwining has been difficult.

Sorry for the delirious rant.

~Red

The true nature of others is simple. Demon or human does not matter. They all do what is necessary to get what they want. Some of them are more subtle than others, but you can see it there. There is a fine thread that weaves all of them together of selfishness. Greed that drives them to achieve their will regardless of consequence. They lie, cheat, steal, seduce all to get what they want. Watch them closely and see it for yourself. My words ring truer than anything you know.

Chills ran down Suki's spine as the murmuring of Apocalypse brushed into her mind. Kuwabara asked something that she didn't hear until she heard Kurama's voice.

"He's one our classmates, my academic rival. He also happens to have befriended Suki, they have similar taste in books," he responded making Suki frown.

"So you know him from school then," Kuwabara deducted making Suki wonder if he totally missed the very blatant and signature red uniform Kaito was wearing.

Suki cleared her throat trying to take the taste of betrayal out of her mouth, "obviously we never told him about any of you. Thankfully it would seem. Which makes one wonder how and why he kidnapped Yusuke."

"It's a mystery, isn't it?" Kaito sneered that smug smile ever present on his face. "I've learned many things about you all that I never would have guessed in a million years. For one the fact that my school rival and his colleagues are the winner of something called a dark tournament."

Everyone tensed immediately at his words. Kaito used this as an invitation to continue, "I was most surprised to find out about the two of you, however. Imagine my surprise to find out that my school adversary can do the funniest things with plants. And you, Suki, the friendly new classmate of Meioh High. Secretly harboring a world ending demon within her body."

"You better watch your words, Kaito," Kurama's voice warned with a chilling tone.

It however only seemed to further amuse Kaito, "now that's a scary look. I don't think I've ever seen you make that face in the classroom. Did I strike a nerve?"

Stepping forward Suki was trying to rationalize what was happening. Apocalypses murmuring continued to haunt her in the back of her mind. "Why are you doing this?" she questioned as Kurama grabbed her hand so she wouldn't be too far from his side.

Kaito's eyes focused on their interlinked fingers with a frown, "we all hide things from our classmates it seems. I've developed these abilities over the past few months and I just couldn't wait to test them out. Your group is certainly worthy adversaries.

"I've had enough. You'll see my impatience for human fools will be an asset here," Hiei suddenly called out as he drew his swords and rushed forward. Suki squeezed Kurama's hand as she realized Kaito's fate before Hiei's sword shattered on an energy shield. Making everyone gape at the turn of events.

"The shield came out of nowhere," Suki responded in awe.

Smirking at her Kaito cooly leaned back in his chair. As if there wasn't an angry fire demon ready to end his life next to him. "Brute force is worthless here. Only words have power," he replied cryptically.

"Your power involves making words more powerful than actions. Meaning the sign on the door was truly a warning," Kurama narrowed his eyes at him.

Anger radiated off Hiei making Suki worry that he was going to do something rash. "Any fool can make a shield. How do we know you're not bluffing?" he growled.

"There is only one way to find out," Kaito replied.

Kurama tensed immediately, "Hiei, don't do anything foolish."

Suki knew it was too late. The fire demon wasn't one to listen to directions or be bested by those he felt inferior to him. In a matter of seconds Hiei scoffed at a three letter word ruling his fate and yelled out 'hot' without regard. In the blink of an eye Hiei's soul was ripped out of his body turning him to stone. Botan and Kuwabara yelled out in surprise and Kurama just gripped Suki's hand tighter basically cutting off the circulation to it. All she could do was hold her other hand over her mouth at the sight. Kaito was smiling holding the bright soul in his palm with a sick gleam in his eye. Who was this person she once considered a friend?

"What exactly is your game here?" Kurama asked. If looks could kill, Suki was sure Kaito would be dead.

If the young woman had any doubt that this was a deliberate and well thought out plan they were dispelled by Kaito's obviously rehearsed speech about his power of taboo. "I've had this power for about a little over a month now. Controlling it was the most challenging aspect. The others and I call it manifesting our territory. It's as simple as that. We extend our spirit energy for specific distances. For me it's a ten mile radius. Anything and everything in that space needs to follow the rules I set. I imagination turned into physical 's quite fascinating," Suki always knew that Kaito was a bit of a snob. But the way he spoke about his new found power was over the top of snobbiness.

"So, if we incapacitate you, your territory will cease to exist, and Hiei's soul will return to his body," Kurama deducted. Suki silently wishing he'd knock Kaito's lights out. The traitor deserved it.

Kaito shrugged. "I don't know," he answered with a little too much amusement. His entire demeanor was making Suki sick. "No one has beaten me yet, so it hasn't happened."

"This guy is cocky," Kuwabara complained. "I can't take any more of his ego trip."

"How do you handle these friends of yours, Shuichi? They can't even handle one intelligent conversation. And still, no one has chosen. Will you challenge me, or go home?"

Their options were bleak. They needed to figure out what to do get Hiei's soul back and rescue Yusuke. Kuwabara suggested leaving the fire demon behind. Insisting it was his own code. Botan was outraged immediately. The entire thing made Suki unsettled. Would Kuwabara really do that? She wanted to think not, surely he would never abandon a friend like that. She didn't think he was capable of doing something so cold. In the end they would have to play by the rules. They couldn't move on until they defeated Kaito and obtained a key from this Yana guy. There was nothing more to do than pull up a chair and sit while baking in the intense heat. Suki was wondering what the point was of it all. It wasn't like any of them were actually going to say the word 'hot.' Right? Obviously she had been wrong before.

"I can't take this," Kuwabara yelled out as he wiped the sweat off his forehead. "We're still allowed to talk, right? As long as we don't use that word. That's not difficult." He turned to Kurama and Suki. "You guys know him from school. What else do you know about him?"

"He has gained a lot of attention at school," Kurama answered. "His intellect is ranked at the genius level, with some of the highest scores the school has seen."

"Well, isn't that a roundabout way of bragging. If I'm the 'prince,' then you must be the 'king,'" he deadpanned.

"Cumulatively my grades are superior," Kurama continued ignoring him, "but in certain subjects like writing and literature, you surpass me. He's even published essays on literary theory and has become a renowned book critic."

"So, he's a writer huh?" Kuwabara reiterated. "I bet we're cooler than anything you've read in a book."

"Not really," Kaito replied nonchalantly making the human psychic glare at him.

"It's so obvious what you're trying to do," Kuwabara accused. "You just want us to sweat it out in this room until we all say your stupid word. It must be like a hundred degrees in here."

Kaito lazily glanced at him. He had taken a book and begun to read it. Pretentiously bored by his opponents, "Eighty, actually, with eighty percent humidity. It's for the plants after all. My tribute to you, Shuichi."

"A foolish choice if you ask me," Suki muttered knowing that he had inadvertently given Kurama an advantage.

For a split second, Katio glanced at Suki with a look of regret. But as quick as it appeared in his eyes it left. Leaving behind that infuriating attitude, "there are drinks and glasses over there if you are thirsty."

Kuwabara huffed, "yeah and who's to say they're not poisoned."

"As if I'd waste my brain power doing something so simple," Kaito countered back.

The carrot top glared before looking at Suki and Kurama, who both nodded in agreement. It would be silly to do all of this work just to poison everyone. Botan went over to the fridge giving in to her thirst and looking over her options. "You want to share something Kuwabara? How bout some OJ, it's better for you than soda?"

Still slightly skeptical Kuwabara crossed his arms and shot Kaito a look, "yeah that's fine. Just pour it over ice and we can share it with each other as long as we have two straws."

"Your confidence in my health is charming," she deadpanned at him.

Their banter would have been comical if in the next second Kuwabara's soul wasn't ripped out of his body. Suki felt her blood turn to ice at the sight as she heard Botan protest that he hadn't even said the word hot. Suki shot up and gaped at her friend as she held her hands over her mouth before losing her own soul in a flare of light. The girl hyperventilated as she ran Kuwabara's words over and over again in her head. So we can share with each other...share with each other...each other...holy crap. Turning to face her opponent she couldn't help but shake in anger. The joy in his eyes as he held the three souls in his hands made her feel sick to her stomach.

She barely could take the hate out of her voice as her sight blurred with tears, "what kind of monster are you?!"

Kaito flinched at her scowling as Kurama reached out to Suki. Pulling her down onto his lap and wrapping his arms around her. "We must keep our composure, Suki," he whispered in her ear.

"You can't say the letters that spell the taboo word in a row. Or you'll fall prey to its game. Pretty cheap trick if you ask me," she spat.

Kaito smirked, "very good. I knew you were a smart one. I didn't think your friends could handle it. No need to be upset. Even I am subject to my own rules." His eyes sparkled with amusement as he gazed up on the bright orbs in his hands, "souls are so pretty. I like girls' the best. Souls are the only thing you can't make stronger by training. You can only make them darker. How about it Suichi, should I darken my soul by breaking one of these? It feels so strange to have this power over people. But, you probably know what that feels like, hm?"

Suki felt her power flare in anger only being fed by the tension of her boyfriend. Kurama was hard as stone as Kaito eyed each soul maliciously, "maybe I could make just a scratch."

Turning to face him the look on Kurama's face almost scared her half to death. He was angry, but instead of the fiery heated gaze most people would have Kurama's was different. It was cold and icy, like a blizzard. "I'm warning you," he called out lowly, "if you so much as bruise what's in your hand, I will make you feel pain. The hue of your soul will cease to matter because your soul will not be judged. You will cease to exist."

Kaito's eyes turned to Suki assessing her for a moment before turning back to Kurama, "my...you'll have to teach me to talk like that. Yet I fail to see how she thinks I am monster and you are not. Afterall what is a life in exchange for another? You killing me and me taking these souls are not much different."

"Except you are doing this idiotic act for no reason whatsoever. In our case this is nothing more than self defense. How long can you afford to keep this going before you end up on the bad end of this game, Kaito?" Suki answered.

Kaito chuckled, "glad to see you've regained your composure. My biggest curiosity would be to see just how pretty your soul is, Suki. I wonder if it's half bright and half dark. Because we all know who the real monster among us is."

Ah, a monster, that's all you'll ever be to anyone my dear, Apocalypse whispered in her ear. Suki looked down at her hands trying to ignore the pain in her chest. Kaito dug into one of her biggest fears. Apocalypse always whispered to her that she was just a monster. One that everyone kept happy so that they could live. It was hard to push back the thoughts, but she sometimes wondered if all of it was fabricated...all in order to keep her from destroying the world.

"Watch. Your. Tongue," Kurama's icy voice was quiet yet deadly as he glared at Kaito with such intensity that it made Suki's hairs stand on end.

Kaito's laugh echoed in the room, "or you'll what?"

"You forget. Once you have been defeated the fate of your soul will rest in my hand. Continue hurting the ones I love and I guarantee you I will show you no mercy," he warned.

A dream. Suki thought, this felt like some kind of sick dream...or nightmare. Kurama would have to kill Kaito really in order to get them out of here. Sure she was angry with him, he was obviously not who she thought he was. But still...she used to think he was her friend. The entire scenario was hard to process. She knew Kurama already had an advantage over Kaito, otherwise he'd never make a statement like the one he had now.

"You sound confident, Shuichi. Do enlightment on why that may be?" Kaito smirked cockily.

Everyone in the room was shocked when Kurama pulled a key out of his pocket. A small gasp left Suki's lips as she then looked over to where Yana was standing, looking flabbergasted. "He's bluffing, it's right in my pocket…" his face paled, "what? But he never came into the hall?"

Kaito sighed running a hand over his face in exasperation. Suki had to admire Kurama's stealthiness. Truly Kaito did not realize just who he was messing with. His little game might throw off most people but not him. "I was not stopped because I did not use violence. It appears your opponents can use their powers so long as they follow the rules," he responded to their confusion. The plants that Kaito had in the room served as the perfect medium for stealing the key.

In all honesty, Suki had to hold back a snicker. "Plants as a tribute...a foolish choice," she reiterated sarcastically.

Kaito glared at her obviously unhappy with his oversight, "a small hindrance. Yet you still can not win. In order to leave my territory you must beat me at my own game."

The small amount of hope that had bubbled up in Suki almost deflated. It was a stalemate. None one was going to say the word hot. No matter how long they sat in the unbearable heat of the room. Yet she couldn't help but note that Kurama did not seemed concerned.

"Tell me Kaito, is it possible to change your taboo? It is obvious none of us will say the taboo word, leaving us in a standstill. I was hoping to increase the challenge," Kurama suggested. Suki let out a breath of relief. They would make it out of this. She was sure of it.

"Of course. I was planning on this all along. I don't want to beat my rival in a simple word gag. I want a true battle of wits," Kaito was shining with curiosity at Kurama's request, "what exactly did you have in mind?"

Truly everyone in that room wanted to know. Suki was sure it was going to be interesting if not brain boggling, "A game that will make me champion within forty-five minutes."

Kaito raised a dark brow, "Oh? How arrogant. Tell me, what do I gain from accepting your challenge?"

"If you win then you can have my soul as well," Kurama offered making Suki want to yell at him.

Kaito leaned back and contemplated this, "no. If win than I get both your souls. Afterall, one of you might take revenge when this is over. That way I can guarantee my safety."

Every muscle in Kurama's body tensed. His jaw clenched in anger at the request but Suki knew there was no other way, "fine. We accept." She ignored the look that Kurama shot her as she risked her own safety. Afterall Kaito wasn't wrong. She would want retaliation if something happened. Not that it would. She had full trust in Kurama.

Pleased with himself Kaito smirked at Suki, "well then Shuichi, tell me the rules of our new game."

Kurama cleared his throat, "it's simple really. It starts with one letter, but as time moves on, we eliminate more. There are twenty-six letters in the alphabet, and forty-five minutes of the game. Every 104 seconds, we will lose another letter starting from the end, at z."

The excitement in Kaito's eyes was almost unnatural. Which was weird because it was obvious he hated everything about Kurama. Suki half expected him to scoff at his suggestion, "brilliant. At the end of the game every word and sound will be taboo. Quite the imagination, and quite the challenge. I look forward to seeing the hues of your souls."

It was hard not to glare at him. Suki realized her harsh gaze was making uncomfortable...good. Kaito shifted his weight and looked up at the clock on the wall, "it's fifty after midnight, let's start neatly at 1."

Suki looked at the clock with apprehension, ten minutes...that's all they would get before this crazy game would start. Sighing she turned to Kurama and placed a hand on his cheek turning it to face her, "I won't speak at all after the game starts. I don't trust myself enough. But I'm not worried, because I know you're going to win… just promise me you'll be more than careful. Ok?"

Kurama nodded placing his hand over hers and giving her a reassuring smile, "of course."

Leaning down Suki pressed her lips to his just in case this was the last time...no she couldn't think like that. She scolded herself. A good luck kiss. Parting with him she went to stand off his lap, but his arms prevented her from moving. She turned to him a bit puzzled, "I'm okay with this seating arrangement."

Suki rolled her eyes but got comfortable, after all she wasn't going to complain. And it also seemed to make Kaito uncomfortable, an added bonus. There wasn't much time for Suki to ponder on the why as Kurama pulled her into a much more intimate kiss than she'd expected. Kaito cleared his throat at the couple looking crossed. Suki pulled away again almost tempted to apologize for Kurama's odd behavior. But she figured it was all part of his plan so she stayed quiet as she watched Kaito bite his tongue.

Once the game began Suki focused on being silent. It honestly was annoying to watch Kaito cockily throw out words with the letters that were about to be disqualified. Did he really feel so confident? The bad thing about quiet time was the ability to think. The entire time Suki kept playing every moment she had known him in her mind. Should she have known that he was such a slimeball? Was she truly this poor at judging character? She should hope not. However, she did honestly think that Natsuo loved her...and that Chika was her friend. That turned out to be a load of bullshit. Her eyes landed on Kurama's face, studying him carefully. He loved her, she knew this...right? The doubt was eating away at her gnawing at her gut. Kaito was nice. Kind even. He befriended her and talked to her. The first person she had met in a while that didn't know about Apocalypse. He wasn't nice to her because he had to be. He just was…

And now here they were, sitting a room playing for their souls. Literally. Was she blind? Was there some kind of signal or sign that she missed? She tried not to think about it too much. It was one of the thoughts that Apocalypse would weazel into her mind. All of this was fabricated. Made up for her own sake. Keeping her happy to save the world. The thought made her blood run cold. Kurama was sacrificing himself for the sake of their world… would he do that?

Kaito stood up suddenly snapping her out of her mind. "Going off?" Kurama asked him.

"Need a John," he answered before walking off.

Suki barely registered what he muttered to Yana as Kurama gave her a look asking if she was okay without words. Suki only smiled weakly at him wondering how he got to know her so well. Plants sprung to life growing all around her. Turning the room into a jungle. Kurama grabbed her face with both his hands making her hold her breath. How could she ever doubt him? He brought her in kissing her so tenderly that it made her heart skip a beat. Once he pulled back he moved her one hand to his chest over his heart. She wondered if he knew how much he comforted her. Plants wrapped around her body gently almost cradling her before pulling her away. Suki couldn't see anything, the plants had hidden her away one of them stroked her face gently before getting to place. She felt like a butterfly in a cocoon. All she could do was wait. Kurama had a plan and she knew that she could trust him. Almost as a precaution a plant suddenly wrapped itself around her mouth. She could hear Kaito's footsteps and then nothing but silence. The suspense was almost too much to bear. Suddenly, Kurama's voice rang through the air almost scaring her half to death. Then...laughter?

Kaitos cries of defeat filled the air and all Suki got to see as the vines and plants gently placed her down was his body turned to stone and his soul floating above it. It was an unsettling sight. Thankfully, life sprung back into Kuwabara, Botan, and Hiei as their souls returned. Leaving them all confused and making Suki let out a breath of relief. Before they could figure out what happened Suki ran and crushed both Kuwabara and Botan with a hug. Then smiled at Hiei, "I'm so glad you all got your souls back!"

"What happened?" Kuwabara asked looking over at Kaito's statue.

"Kaito lost his own game," Kurama responded nonchalantly.

"We'd be lost without you Kurama," Kuwabara sighed with relief. He turned to glare at Hiei, "with no thanks to you Hiei. Getting us in trouble with your 'I'm so tough act.'"

It was hard not to giggle as Hiei just grunted annoyed before they moved on to the door. A warm hand wrapped around Suki's making her look back."Are you okay?" Kurama whispered into her ear.

Suki nodded at him, "yeah. We need to keep moving. Don't worry about me right now."

She could see the worry in his eyes but she was right. Yana was unconscious and they needed to move on. The instructions on the door warned not to keep going without his permission. Suki feared what was next as the teen woke up. He was genuinely shocked that Kaito had been beaten. The suspense was killing Suki as they walked through the locked doors only to reveal a very weird room with many different doors. What the hell? Suki looked at Yana who couldn't appear any more bored really.

"Everyone of you needs to go through a different stairway to get to the next room," Yana said in reply to their questioning looks.

Immediately the grip that Kurama had around Suki's hand tightened, "no." He said giving Yana a look to make him flinch.

"Those are the rules. Follow them or Yusuke dies," he retorted.

Kuwabara scoffed, "and how do we know that you're not going to try something!"

"There's no need man," Yana shrugged.

"I suppose if you wanted us dead you would have already done so. You want us to make it to Yusuke. Now don't you?" Kurama questioned him back.

There was no answer to that question, but Yana did seem a bit uneasy. There was a par to Suki that made her think her boyfriend had figured out their games. Everyone stood nervously before the doors when Botan suddenly remembered she had seals that would help them know the condition of their friends. After a few minutes, and a little resistance from Hiei, everyone stepped into the stairwells with seals on their chest. At first the lime lit steps were a little weird, something about them made her feel watched. She kept climbing up and then suddenly the steps began to down. Or at least it felt like it. She hoped it would be over soon regardless, something about the way that the steps kept moving was making her nauseated. What exactly were these strange boys planning? A door suddenly materialized in front of her. Taking the knob and a moment to collect herself, Suki stepped through. On the other side was everyone else. And Yusuke oddly standing unbound and unharmed with a strange blond kid behind him.

"What the hell is going on?" she blurted out in frustration. This was the weirdest day. EVER.

"Watchout guys! This guy can paralyze you by stepping on your shadow!" Yusuke warned.

Everyone halted at this. Wondering where this was all going. The blonde smirked and crossed his arms looking them all over, "surprised to see you all made it up here. Are you ready for your last test?"

"Lets just get this over with?" Hiei grunted impatiently.

Kido looked annoyed, but continued his speech anyway. "One of you is an imposter. The last test is for Yusuke. You see Yana has the power of copy, with one touch he can copy everything about a person. Their memories their personalities and their image. Yusuke must find out who this person is in ten minutes or else the real one will be killed. The time starts now. So if I were you ura"

In a panic Suki looked around, she knew she definitely wasn't it. Everyone seemed to be looking at each other with suspicion. Obviously...if not then that person would give themselves away...Tension built as Yusuke asked stupid questions. Things that she didn't he would know about any of them. The clock kept ticking. The damn seals weren't of any use apparently, as Yana's power was able to copy people down to their energy signals...how convenient. Time slowly but surely ran out to the point where Yusuke had to make a decision. He had to choose who the imposter were and knock them out. That was the only way to break Yana out of his territory. Suki growled in impatience. What was the point of all this?

Yusuke was sweating looking at each of them with hesitancy before he made his choice. Although a little on the obvious side, there was still mild surprise when Yusuke punched Kuwabara in the face. Or not Kuwabara she should say. She looked up at Yusuke, "how did you know it was him?"

The grin on his face was so typical Yusuke it was almost like he wasn't just in a life or death situation. "Well I figured Kurama and Hiei are way too smart to get caught by some human punk. They are way too untrusting to just walk into a trap," he reasoned.

"Or say the word 'hot,'" Kurama teased making Suki laugh and HIei glare.

"If anyone copied you, Suki, they'd be in a puddle of piss on the floor and in need of serious therapy...no offense," he continued wincing a bit at the way Kurama shot him a look.

Suki snorted, "no you'd be right about that."

"Anyway, Kuwabara would be my choice. And if anything at least he's used to getting a beating from me. Botan would be too easy to pick. And honestly if they chose the only non-fighter in the group it wouldn't matter if they'd kill me. I'd come back from the grave and kick their asses," he finished.

"My hero!" Botan exclaimed happily.

The blond slow clapped. It was annoying, Suki thought as she glared at him, "impressive."

"If you are so impressed, please enlighten us to why you have put us through this," Kurama demanded.

Suki nodded in agreement, "and give us Kuwabara back. He better not be harmed."

"You will get Kuwabara back soon enough. But first, let me introduce you to the mastermind behind all of this," he said as a door mysteriously opened behind him.

That was it. Suki was about to lose her shit. The small figure came out and looked at them with familiar brown eyes. "Genkai, I had a feeling you were behind this little ruse," Kurama said without a hint of surprise.

Yusuke however was not amused, "What the hell grandma?! Can you explain this to me Kurama because I'm fucking confused and pissed off as hell!"

Suki had to smile a little. At least she wasn't the only one confused. Genkai stepped through and smiled. She looked at Kurama expectantly since he apparently knew what was happening. "She was trying to teach us a very valuable lesson. A lesson about perception," he explained.

"But why, Genkai?" Botan asked perplexed.

"In the past three months a staggering amount of humans have come to me for help with their newfound abilities. These humans have the ability to manifest territories. All uniquely capable of rendering unsuspecting opponents useless. This was supposed to teach you a lesson. You are all very capable fighters, but you can be careless and hasty. Honestly if not for Kurama than you'd all probably be dead. If you used that lump three feet above your ass than you might have kept your soul," she scolded. Suki might have been imagining it. But she thought that Hiei might have looked embarrassed for a second.

"You still haven't explained why you did this," he spat sparing Suki what looked like a warning glance.

Genkai looked more serious than ever, "because someone is making a tunnel to demon world."