Chapter 21: Challenge Accepted

May felt as though she had had the wind knocked out of her. The guinea pig had been caught by the snake and after the recent discovery of her past as Arianne, the Spirit Detective, she knew that her fear was much more deep-seated than she could have ever fathomed. His fingers had laced with hers and she squirmed within at the feeling of his spirit without the filter of distance.

"Shall we take a stroll?" he asked as if he was giving her a choice but he pulled her along with him, leaving the relative safety of the bench behind. Not being completely recovered from the demon attack the day before, May tentatively reached for her store of power. If she could just shock him into releasing her... but the plan flew from her mind as he squeezed her hand and she quickly began to lose feeling in her fingertips.

"Catch me up, won't you?" Ishi prompted conversationally as they reached a vendor selling charms. "I haven't heard from you in a while." He fingered the charms but she stayed silent, trying to espy anyone she knew.

"Ah, Makoto-sama. See anything you like?" the vendor, a reptile-like demon, asked simperingly.

"Makoto-sama..." May repeated just below a whisper.

"Not today, I'm afraid. I was just looking in case I need something later on," Ishi said before drawing her away, the vendor bowing low as they left. "By the way, May...it was so thoughtful of those friends of yours to deliver you to my doorstep for the celebration."

May couldn't hide her stricken expression as she watched the ground that suddenly seemed far, far away. "Why, May, you don't seem a bit pleased," he said mockingly, lifting their entwined hands so that he could kiss the back of hers causing her to shiver violently and take a step away, trying to throw his hand from hers.

"Stop!" she demanded before she was jerked back to him and she cried out in alarm causing the demons immediately around them to look around and realizing who was in their midst, they started to bow or lower their heads in reverence. It was a ripple effect that allowed the worried gaze of Botan to see through to May being held close, her arm pinned in a twist behind her back none-too-gently.

"May!" shouted the Grim Reaper as she struggled through the crowd.

May didn't hear as she looked up into the black malevolence of Ishi's eyes. "Haven't I already told you," he hissed lowly bringing his face closer to hers, "that you have no choice? You are mine, Mayku... or should I say Arianne?"

May clenched her teeth. Her mind was screaming. 'How!? How does he know?'

"Did Koenma not tell you of the spy they caught? From your face, I would guess not. It matters not to me—the pathetic creature gave me the best news before he was caught. Completely caught me by surprise that a mere human would have the will to take over the body of another just to save themselves. But no, you weren't meaning to save yourself just for your own satisfaction, were you?" His words were filled with venom. "No, you planned to come back to that pathetic demon... did you not hear me when I said you would belong to me and none else?" His hand that had been drawing her face closer now twisted into the braid at the nape of her neck and pulled back. "Or must a remind you?"

Demon fangs brushed against the pulse of her neck and she squeezed her eyes tight, tears trickling from the corners when she heard the ring of a blade being drawn. Ishi withdrew his mouth from her exposed throat and May looked to the right as far as she could with her head bent back as it was.

"Hiei..." she whispered.

Botan, Keiko and Yukina stood behind Kazuma and Genkai. Hiei had drawn his blade and stood closest while Yusuke stood just slightly behind the short demon and to the left. The other gathered demons stood in a circle around them in quiet anticipation.

Ishi laughed. "You are very bold indeed to threaten me here."

"Perhaps," Hiei said, before flicking his katana to point at Ishi. Hiei's expression changed to something May had never thought she would see—he was smiling wickedly. "But then I've wanting to do this for some time now."

"Ah, yes, it was you who watched as I made my move, wasn't it? You and that other demon traitor... the even more pathetic Kurama." Ishi twitched his hand in May's hair and she cried out in pain, trying to untangle his hand from her with her right hand.

"Let her go."

May wanted desperately to look behind her from where the voice had come. She knew that voice—her heart thrummed filling with hope. Ishi's smile faded as he looked beyond her.

"What's to keep me from killing her again?" he asked quietly. From the look on Ishi's face, May could tell he liked Kurama's reaction. "Or perhaps this time," he said tauntingly, "what if I killed you in front of her?"

"No!" May cried out in alarm. "Please..." she whispered, causing Ishi to look upon her face with raised eyebrows. But it only stayed for a moment.

"I have an even better idea," he said, the whole place holding their breath in anticipation. "How about a wager? I would say it is about time for another tournament."

A sudden clamor of voices showed the excitement of the demons gathered while May looked at him in confusion.

"Of course there will be the usual prize... wishes granted to all the team players. But between you and I, Kurama, it is the right to May. I see the look on your face and before you feed me some philosophy about her rights... just know that I will be wishing for her when my team is crowned victor." Ishi's hand loosened in her hair and she thought she would finally be released when he suddenly pulled her face to his with both of his hands surprising everyone with a fierce kiss to her unsuspecting mouth.

Almost as suddenly, May was thrown back, caught from behind by Kurama as Ishi fended off Hiei's sudden lunge with a sword of his own before landing on top of the building at the center of the celebration. "Thanks for the luck," he laughed before disappearing, leaving behind the cheers of his demons and May wondering what had just begun.

Only an hour later May found herself in Koenma's office along with Genkai and the boys. Yusuke had told her all about the Dark Tournament that the boys had been roped into participating in a number of years earlier and the dire consequences it could have had.

When Koenma was filled in on all that had happened, he looked extremely ruffled. "Do we have any idea how big this one is supposed to be?" he asked and looking at everyone's collective expressions he collapsed in his chair clearly feeling the beginnings of a headache as he rubbed his face.

"Well, training starts tomorrow," Yusuke said humorlessly

"How big are the teams going to be?" Kazuma asked in one of his rarer moments of thoughtfulness.

Before anyone could respond, there was a knock on the office door and the blue ogre May had seen her first time to Koenma's palace entered. "Yes, George?" the prince asked causing May to raise an eyebrow never having imagined an ogre would be named George.

"This just arrived, sir. It looks like an invitation," George said handing the envelope over.

"Well," Koenma sighed, "looks like our host has made good use of his hour." He opened the invitation and all eyes were focused on him as he read it aloud. It contained all the information that they needed. "We have three months to prepare you lot and all five will be needed," Genkai said gruffly. May nodded but all the men (aside from Hiei) looked at her in alarm.

Kazuma of course protested the loudest, "What do you mean all five of us?"

"There's no sense in getting anyone else pulled into this," Genkai continued.

"I do not think it wise to use May," Kurama said causing May to look at him sharply, torn between being hurt and being mad.

"Why? I have as much right to be allowed to fight!" she retorted.

"You're the one he wants."

"If that's your excuse, then you can't fight either!"

"May..."

"No," May snapped, squaring off to look at the redhead. "He wants both of us—the details of how are irrelevant."

"She's right," Yusuke said softly though he too looked against the idea.

"There's no point in putting her in danger, Urameshi," Kazuma argued.

"She's the epicenter—she'll be in danger no matter what we do," Hiei piped up. Everyone turned to look at him. "Might as well keep her close." Kurama looked like he wanted to say something but when even Kazuma was clammed up, the silence got harder to break.

A full ten minutes passed before Genkai moved toward the exit. "Now that that's settled, you've a long way to go, child. No sense in wasting time. Dimwit, you come, too. You're the best chance she has to be strong enough to beat anyone." May started to follow, Yusuke joining with a sigh, his hands behind his head, but Kurama caught May's arm.

Looking back at him, May could see his struggle but as much as she appreciated his desire to protect her, it was time to try a new approach. She pursed her lips, gently brushing his hand off her arm before catching up to Yusuke. Just as she reached the door, she turned back briefly catching emerald with sapphire.

"See you in three months," May said with a small smile before shutting the door behind her.

Casidhe here and boy, do I have news for you!

It's your turn! I will be focusing on this story for the next handful of chapters (my HP fic got TEN). I admit this chapter probably isn't my best work but now that I have a direction to move in, I have a feeling it will go pretty smoothly. I am sorry about the year hiatus-it was definitely not planned and I cannot believe how much time has passed. Like the quote by CS Lewis, "From day to day nothing changes-but when you look back nothing is the same."

Reviews: JamieLov3-here is more, dearest.

LadyEllesmere-thank you for reading my other stuff!

Kshepps27-I'm glad, thank you.

Brightcloud0915-I hope you feel it gets better after this!

YuYuHakushoObsesser-I'm a despicable human being...

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Again, a thousand, billion apologies. But I am here now-and have been watching anime/listening to music a lot lately to get me pumped and in the zone!

Love,

CB