A/N: New Chapter!

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Chapter 19

"Don't be discouraged, Princess." Toguro's deep voice ran through Gene's ears like a blade as they stood at the stairs leading onto their boat. Gripping at her luggage, the demon narrowed her eyes, staring at nothing. Despite this being her chance to finally take revenge for the loss of her family, something urked at her. Something pulled at her heart, telling her to run away and hide. Her cold stare turned soft as she took her step toward the boat. This was a chance to let her family rest in peace, and there was no way she was going to pass it up. Still, though... Something didn't feel right...

"After you.." A tall man with long black hair and a metal mask over his mouth spoke politely with a soft bow.

Returning the bow with a nod, she proceeded onto the luxurious boat. Gene stood there for a moment, the rest of Toguro's company taking their place in the rooms provided for them on the boat. Still distracted by her thoughts, Gene merely stood in place as the anchor was lifted and the boat set off.

"Something wrong, Princess?" The deep tone of Toguro once again fell over Gene's ears.

With a slight sigh, she turned to face him.

"No. Nothing's wrong; and you can call me Gene. I haven't been called Princess in a very, very long time." As the words passed through her lips, a sense of sadness fell over her. Eyes lowered, she finally closed them with a sigh before setting her destination to the bow of the boat. 'Why did that depress me...?' She thought to herself. 'Its not like I care..' Leaning against the railing, she gazed at the gentle waves in front of her. So calm... almost like the gentle tone in Kurama's voice. 'Why am I thinking of that fox...?' She glared softly before pushing herself off the railing and turning around to walk away. Almost like a brick wall,

Toguro stood in front of her, shoulder vacant, towering over her. With a slightly shocked expression, the young demon took a step back. Toguro was such a tall man, she wasn't able to take in his entire appearance unless she did. With a hard expression, she stared up at him for a moment, waiting for a reason to be standing behind her.

"Such a beautiful horizon..." He nearly mumbled to Gene.

'I know he didn't come over her to talk about the view...' She thought to herself with an arched brow.

"What do you plan on doing to the ones responsible for the death of your family?"

"Oh..." A little taken off guard, she paused to take in the question.

"You've never thought about how you will seek your revenge?"

"I guess not..."

"Heh..." With a grin, he slid his hands into the pockets of his long green coat. "You will... Trust me..."

Paying no mind to his words, Gene merely nodded before taking her leave.

"Well, well, aren't you two chummy..." A cackle came from behind. Looking over his shoulder, Toguro met eyes with his elder brother.

"What of it..?" He turned back to gaze upon the water.

"Hmph." Narrowing his eyes, he leaped onto Toguro's shoulder.

"Pay no mind, brother... She has no idea what's in store for her. And its something she cannot refuse, unless she wants certain death.."

"Brilliant, brother..." Cackling again, he gave a nasty grin.

The loud chiming of the captian's bell sounded loudly throughout the entire boat. Slowly lifting her eyelids, Gene squinted at the blinding sunlight flooding into the room. Taking a minute to wake up, she touched her fingertips to her moist cheek. Confused, she pondered the thought before it dawned on her.

"Tora..." She muttered aloud. "Oh man..." Guilt plagued her. Resting her palms to her eyes, she rested them while taking a sigh. "What a horrible dream..." At that moment she rested her arms around her head while thinking back on the dream.

Sitting in a pool of blood, Gene looked upon the decapitated body of her friend. Lifting her hands, she gazed at the blood dripping through her fingers. Frighted at the sight of Tora's lifeless body infront of her, she hopped to her feet, feeling the weight of her armor. With eyes wide, she took a look at the armor that hugged her every curve, and at the center of her chestplate was a crest. Long claws in the shape of a criss-cross X, with red gems in the center. Gasping, she let out a shriek of terror before all went black...

Sitting up, she ran her fingers through her long black hair, just missing her small spiral horns near her temples.

Taking her position next to Toguro, Gene was still upset about her dream. The morning had already passed, but she couldn't manage to shake the image of Tora that seemed to sear into her memories.

'I have to see her...' Determined, she thought to herself before being shaken from her thought at Toguro's voice.

"I assume you slept well..?" He questioned, not bothering to even look down at her.

"Heh... Go for it..."

Standing at the shoreline of an island that looked as if it was filled with death, Gene glanced at the others with her. 'I wonder why they all came here...' Taking another look, she took in the appearance of the others. They were all huge except for Toguro's elder brother, and all so unique... One coated in armor, the other black. Toguro could touch the moon, and his brother could fit in a burrow. Biting her lip, she reached for her heart while taking a deep breath. 'I guess Toguro really wants to help me...' Letting out her sigh, she smiled softly to herself. 'This is it... Finally after fighting all my life, I get to let my family rest in peace...'

"Lets go." Toguro's voice was now cold as he began moving forward.

Approaching a large entrance way at the top of one of the mountains, Gene glanced at the signed above. 'Hanging Neck Island.' Shrugging it off, she just assumed it was an odd name for an abandoned looking island.

Finally, after turning corners and taking stairs, Toguro stopped at a door. Turning his head, he looked down to Gene.

"You go through here." Grasping the door handle, he glanced at the other two accompanying them, giving them a signal to wait. With a slight nod, Gene walked through the doorway as Toguro held the door open for her, following her in.

Shutting the door, both brothers stood in front of it while Gene gazed upon the man sitting at the desk. Black hair slicked back, reaching to just about the middle of his back, and that scar...right across his face... Narrowing her eyes, she growled.

"You...!" Holding out her hands to her sides, yellow energy swirled before it began sparking into a while light, continuing to send sparks of lightning out of her palms. Baring fangs, Gene ignored the burning sensation on her wrist. Clenching the balls of lightning, she crouched before pouncing. Coming within a foot of the man's face, she caught a faint grin as the elder Toguro stood on his younger brother's shoulders, and in the blink of an eye shot his fingers out across the room. As they coiled around Gene's wrists, ankles, and neck, he lunged his arm back, flinging her back in front of the two brothers.

"What is this...?" She hissed while hanging her head in rage.

"Relax, Princess.." The man behind the desk spoke while laying his hands over one knee, which had been bent over the other. "I'm not the one who killed your family."

"Then why am I here..?!" Rage had consumed her, along with the ever lasting heartache of failure. Tears swelling in her eyes, she sneared while lowing her upper body to ground.

"Well, I have proposition for you. Well, rather, a demand. You see--"

"...And who are you..?!"

"Oh, forgive me. How rude of me." Standing, he walked around his desk and stood in front of the kneeling demon. "You may call me Sakyo." He took a pause to see if she had anything else to say, taking this time to sit on his desk, then continued. "Now about my demand.." He lowered the tone in his voice. "You fight for me, and I'll lead you straight to the doorstep of the ones responsible... See? Simple."

"I thought that's what these two were doing?" Clenching her fist, she faught the tears. 'Once again, a dead end...'

"Now as far as details..." Sakyo completely ignored the poor demon in front of him. "You'll be on a team with four others. There is no refusing a spot in the Dark Tournament---"

"But I never agreed!" She then got loud, forcing him to abruptly end his sentence. " I didn't agree to anything!" Losing the battle, tears streamed her cheeks.

"I find that hard to believe." Sakyo then narrowed his eyes while looking down upon her. "You are here, after all."

"No one said anything to me..." She muttered, hanging her head.

"Now I assume you've met your team mates?"

Gene lifted her head, glaring at the man in front of her. He wasn't listening to a word she was saying, and that infuriated her. Clenching her fists, she gritted her teeth, only to be put at bay by the elder Toguro's binds around her every limb. Giving in, she merely sneared while averting her gaze off to the side.

"No... I haven't..." She muttered.

"Well two are behind you, and the other two are outside the door."

Gene's eyes shot open. 'They seriously just used my pain to get here...' Her mouth slowly opened in shock.

"Why does it matter so much that I am on your team..?" She shook the tears away. "Whats in it for you?"

"Hah. Well, you are very powerful. You need some training yet, but nothing a few days with your team mates can't handle. That, and the winner of the tournament gets one wish. If your team wins, your wish can be anything you desire. Bringing back your family, or seeing the one who killed them..."

Gene's eyes widened at his words, then shook her head in disbelief. If they lied once, they'll lie again...

"Although..." He continued. "Losing means your death... It shouldn't be too hard for a demon of your status." He grinned, simply toying with her emotions.

Pushing open the heavy metal doors, Gene stood at the top of a long stone stair case. Shaped into a bowl, lined with seats around the outside, in the center was a circular slat of cement. The playing fields... This was it... Life or death. Either way, if she leaves her alive, her life will be changed forever.

Written By: Gene