I am soooo sorry! this chapter has taken forever to write! but is should be weirth it, every thing starts to fall in to place in the next chapter and you are in fore a suprise with this one!

Chapter twenty-one:

Rain

Rain – there are so many symbols that it stands for; purity, clean, new life… how come then does it rain when something bad is afoot or has happened? Because it stands for sorrow too, my father would say "when it rains it means someone has died or is going to die and the stars are crying from them".

So does that mean some one would die today then? I guess so, for in the final rounds only one team will survive.

Yes – it was raining when Kurama and I made it to the grounds where our team was waiting. Hiei had been right, Kurama was fine, though he was a bit sad still, but he said he would tell me, when the time was right. I believed he would know, and so I would wait.

The rain is always cold in demon world, like melted ice; it would make a human shiver, as Yusuke and Kuwabara found out. I saw Kurama shiver once in a while, after all he was human he could not help it. Hiei looked annoyed by the rain, being a fire demon, I expected as much. I was fine with the cold water that was slowly soaking my clothes and hair, Shiori sat next to me in silences her glassy blue eyes staring forward, examining the forest.

Through the watery air you could see our new battle grounds. It would be very different. There would be no cheering or booing crowed, no large stone arena, no announcer to make my nuts.

No

The grounds were very different; a large dark green jungle like forest ranging a mile each way. Both teams were to go in, once inside this forest you could not leave until one team had given up or was dead, if you left before then you were disqualified.

This did not bather me though, I rather liked the change. But there were things that did bother me. Like the fact that Shiori was going to be with us, as part of the team she was being forced to fight, (Yusuke was glade his girl friend did not fallow him this time.) It bothers me, Shiori was the only tie I had to my clan left and I could not protect her in this battle. Why? We agreed that be shall split up once inside the forest: Yusuke and Kuwabara, Hiei and Shiori, them me and Kurama would be alone.

I would have to trust Hiei to keep her safe.

There was one more thing that bothered me, as we stood there in the rain. We didn't get to see our appoints, no not until we were fighting them. It seemed unfair, they had no surprise, every one knew of us. Every one wanted to kill us.

Kurama was not keen on use being alone, but being one who worked alone most of the time I had volunteered to do, I promised him I would be ok.

Thunder rolled thought the sky, reminding me of a gun that people used to start races. The Thunder was that, we were to go in once the thunder started. I took a deep breath then and we all stepped forward, praying that everything would be ok.

I was on my own know, the team had dispersed as soon as we had gotten there. Kurama and hugged me whispering in my ear to be careful, I laughed slightly at him at the time; I was always careful – but it was nice that he was worried, it meant he really cared.

Shiori had wished me luck and licked my hand, it had been difficult watching hr leave with the fire demon, but she had assured me that she would be fine.

I didn't worry about the humans very much; I knew they could take care of them self.

The trees kept a lot of the rain out, creating a sort of canopy over my head, though I still don't a drop of water on me once and a while. I didn't like this forest much, it made me uneasy. There were no animals – and the air was call despite the storm above. It was so quiet for me, the only sound was my breathing, footsteps and the storm.

I kept raising my hand to my neck, where nothing laid, I had given Kurama my necklace back – I don't know why but part of me believes that it belonged with him. Closing my eyes I prayed, I prayed that he would be ok, that after this was all over I could tell him what I have wanted to tell him for so long.

I just hoped we got the chance.

My ears twitched suddenly – hearing something I opened my eyes. I was a sound I knew pretty well but at the same time it made no scents. It's quite an odd sound, like as if it's a high pitch sound, like when you move something throw the air fast. But it was slightly different, because the object was not blunt. I blinked finally realizing it as the sound you get when a blade is cutting throw the air. It was getting closer.

I reacted quickly jumping into the air as the blade flew through it right where my arm had been. I weapon, I knew it…

In was like a boomerang, about twice the size of a normal one, but the wings on it were replaces with double edged blades. It made a loop cutting down a tree before disappearing into the forest again.

I landed, tenser then every, that weapon, no it couldn't be. I shook my head, it just couldn't be.

It was silent for a long time, my breathing was not normal I was trying to convince myself that it was merely a fluke. It had to be, he was dead…he had to be.

Five very only minute passed before I heard the sound of twigs and leaves being crunched under feet could be heard far off. Someone was coming. Quickly I took my swords out of their sheaths and stood ready.

Slowly I could see an outline appearing, I held my breath feeling my stomach roll into knots, it had ears.

He low chuckle was hear, and my ears went back, a low growl in my throat. The person stepped into the light, and my fears were intensified.

He stood there in dark green and black leather, a smirk placed on his pale skin. Dark orange hair held black cat like ears. His eyes – dark green held sinister joy in them. his black tail switch playfully behind him, the boomerang in his left clawed hand.

He opened his mouth and spook "it's been a long time Persian, I'm glad t see your doing well" he said lightly.

It took me a long time to find my voice and when I spook the one word it came out breathless, coated in anger, fear and sorrow

"….Leon"