I sit there still for a moment and cock my head to the side.
"In what way?" I ask softly.
She starts fidgeting with her hands and not looking at me for a moment before sighing.
"I mean he's nice and sweet, he's a good guy and I'm starting to like him."
I smile at her innocence. It was cute in a way and I respect Kuwabara. He is a good guy and willing to stick up for people. Him and Yukina were one of my favorite couples in the show although they weren't together. I smiled at her brightly.
"Well I think it's cute and I bet he likes you too."
"Oh Londyn, do you think so?"
I nod and smile. "I have a secret too. I like Hiei."
She just giggles and nods. "I see the way you look at him and when he looks at you. He seems like he wouldn't fall in love but hes real nice. He helps me out, but he seems familiar."
My face pales slightly. She notices and places a hand on my face.
"Are you well? Should I get Kurama?"
"No, no, I'm good, just tired from training."
"Oh yes! You have more training. I'm going to let you sleep!" She says smiling and hugs me.
I hug her back and get dressed and run off to my room. I stop and realize Hiei was outside and hasn't eaten. I run to the kitchen and reheat some food and a tea cup full of lavender tea. I walk outside and set it down on the chair and hurry back inside. I smile as I walk back to my room and lay down. I feel his energy flare right before I fall asleep with a smile on my face.
The next morning, I awake to my brothers' sadistic side as he tipped my mattress except instead of hitting something hard like the floor, I hit something hard and soft. I look up as Yusuke grins at me. I roll my eyes and whine.
"God no one ever told me brothers suck as much as you two do." I growl softly.
"Awww did ya hear that? She considers me a brother." Yusuke says cackling.
"That's a high honor. She hates everyone" Kurama chuckles back.
I punch Yusuke on the shoulder and push him out of the room. Kurama raises his arms and I raise an eyebrow and point to the door. He walks out chuckling and I slam the door closed. I get dressed and put my hair up and open the door again as see Kurama and Yusuke still outside my door. I roll my eyes and Yusuke throws his arm around my shoulder's.
"You're like a little sister. Now with that being said, Hiei..."
Yusuke doesn't finish. He gets pulled back and away.
"Shut it dimwit, your late." Genkai says strolling away with a cussing Yusuke.
I laugh at him pointing when Kurama places a bottle of green liquid in my hands. I glance over and sigh deflating. He smiles and walks away. I mock him and chug the drink almost chocking. Kuwabara meets up at the kitchen and hands me a bowl with rice and an omelet in it. I stuff my face quickly and run to Yukina and hug her placing the bowl on the counter.
"It was amazing." She giggles and waves as I slip out of the kitchen back into step behind Kurama. He leads us outside, down the porch stairs, out to forest. We walk until he hit the first clearing. Kuwabara drops the bag and walks to the center with Kurama and he turns to look at us. His eyes have grown cold and calculating. I take a step back and bite my lip and try not to meet his eyes. I feel the ground start the shake as vines shoot out from the ground around me and Kurama takes out his rose whip.
"Londyn you will focus on repelling my vines and I will work with Kuwabara." He turns to Kuwabara as his voice drops lower. "Do you realize the danger you will be in?"
"Yeah." He answers summoning his spirit sword.
"Hiei cannot prepare you for the viciousness of the fights. Your weakness and his honor make him go easy on you. I will not." he says accenting the words with a snap of his whip.
At once the vines start attacking as I summon a water shield. I keep an ear on the conversation while dodging and attacking with fire.
"Come on toughen me up." Kuwabara says glancing at me and dropping into a ready stance.
"As you wish." Kurama says simply, lunging at Kuwabara.
Their fight was then lost on me. I was getting hit from every direction and more than once I was knock out of the circle with less time to recover. One of his vines was extremely aggressive. It had thorns and had already claimed a bit of flesh. I threw a fire ball at it and it withered, and another took its place not moments later seeming more aggressive then the last. It reached back and I couldn't stop the attack. The other vines attached themselves to my wrist stopping me from shielding myself. It leans back coming in for an attack when I close my eyes waiting for the sting... it never comes. I open my eye a little bit and look around. The vine is writhing around on the ground. The other vines release me and seem to be watching. I look at the vine closest to me and I poke it. It nudges me back and I poke it again. And it starts almost acting like a cat. I smile to myself.
"Interesting."
I turn and look up at Kurama who is watching our interaction in interest. His eyes turning a golden color as he glances at me.
-2 months later-
Kuwabara is leading us through the forest as Kurama is at my side and Hiei is a step behind but still in arms reach. My training has done so well. My water acts as a shield and as a healing. The past month has been spent on healing wounds and working on ground techniques. It's a larger shield and solid but it takes more energy. Genkai seemed impressed and I saw the hint of pride in Hiei's eyes which made it all worth it. We reach the edge of a clearing and I pause. So. Many. Demons. Hiei comes up and nudges me softly and I turn grasping his hand. He squeezes softly and let's go as I hear demons start making meal jokes with humans as the main course.
"What do you think is taking Urameshi so long?" Kuwabara asks looking around.
"Hopefully finding us a fifth member." Kurama says mildly.
"Why don't you worry about yourself Kuwabara. Have you gotten any better since our last fight?" Hiei sneers.
Kuwabara says something back but the horn of the ship cuts him off. I stop focusing on the conversation and start extending my energy out to the demons trying to pick out the strongest ones. And so far, none were pinging the way the 3 around me were. It made me feel a little bit better, but the sheer numbers were overwhelming. I feel strong presence and turn around and smile.
"Now, now, that isn't necessary. Sorry to keep you waiting." Yusuke says appearing out of the woods all beaten up with someone else.
"Way to give me a heart attack.' Kuwabara complains and I turn and hug Yusuke who hugs back laughing.
"Sorry. These forest hikes really wear me out." He says stretching.
I pick up my bags after having taken a few steps back and notice Hiei walking closer. I secure my backpack and cock my head watching them.
"Yusuke." Hiei says.
Yusuke looks at Hiei as he disappears striking Yusuke over and over again as Yusuke dodges. The forest around us goes quiet as the demons watch on. I'm able to follow though barely.
"Guys are fast. I can barely keep up." Kuwabara says in disbelief.
I nod in agreement and Yusuke catches the blade in-between his thumb and and first to fingers, halting the unknown assault.
"Dang Hiei, is this how you say hello to people now?" Yusuke asks with a smirk
Hiei smirks back and sheaths his sword.
"Hm. I don't know where you've been all this time, but it seems you've improved your skills a little bit."
"Improved a little bit? I'd say he improved a lotta bit." Kuwabara says.
"Don't be discouraged. That fact that you followed their movements means you've improved too." Kurama says patting his shoulder.
I chuckled softly and hitched my bag up a little higher and look at the other person with him. They seem familiar ad the height seems correct. I think I remember it being Genkai. They glance at me nod slightly as if affirming my thoughts. I smile to myself and turn as we start to file onto the boat. We walk to the edge as everyone breaks up. The masked fighter is on the far left. Kuwabara is leaning against the railing, then Kurama is looking around with his arms folded, I'm sitting on the railing looking at the water, Hiei is standing on the railing with his hands behind his back, and Yusuke is sitting on the ground with his legs out and sleeping. I glance up at Hiei and he looks down smiling and I look back out across the boat. I notice a few demons looking in my direction and I level them a glare.
"I sure hope the island isn't as boring as this." Hiei says softly.
"We're not on vacation you know." Kurama says as Kuwabara goes on about pretty girls and cocktails.
"I know but they could at least have had food." Kuwabara mumbles.
"Alright matey's Train all eyes to the captains deck. The last team will be determined on my ship."
We turn and watch the captain and I glance at Kurama who nudges me and smiles. I turn and looks back at the captain.
"Say what?!" Kuwabara exclaims rather loudly.
"A preliminary for the competion." Hiei says looking around.
"Now that we can't go anywhere." Kurama adds in.
I open my mouth to say something when the deck starts to shake violently. I try to steady myself when I almost fall. I feel a hand gently on my shoulder and turn to see Hiei steadying me with his hand.
"Earthquake!" Kuwabara yells.
The floor starts to separate as an arena rises from the ground.
"Fool there can't be an earthquake on the water." Hiei says trying to stay top side.
The ring complete rises and settles as the energy around us gets thicker and heavier.
"Woah that things huge." Kuwabara says looking it up and down.
"She's a real beaut ain't she? 15 teams have been chosen which means one will be chosen here." The captain says loudly.
"Wait a minute, I thought we were the special guests." I say cocking my head at the demons around me trying to gauge strength.
"Yes, this is how they operate." Hiei says sounding slightly bored.
"Battle royale style. Whoever is left standing gets the final ticket." The captain declares.
I notice a large demon coming up behind Kuwabara and I brace for an attack. Hiei nudges me with his knee telling me silently to prepare for the worse. The demon starts talking about how hes about to eat humans for lunch.
"Ahh. What did he say about the humans? You know these guys are pretty big when you see them standing right next to you and everything." He says giving a nervous laugh and looks at Yusuke. "Hey! That's right! You're the one that wants to fight them. Well I guess as group leader it's your responsibility." He kneels in front of Yusuke and grabs the lapels of his jacket shaking him. "Hey! Wake up Urameshi! I said it's the group leader's responsibility! Why do I feel like I'm screaming at myself?!"
"Stop. The training Yusuke went through was apparently immense. You must give him time to recuperate." Kurama says sharply which was apparently lost on Kuwabara.
"Whose gonna defeat all the big monsters?" He says sounding like a young child, causing me to giggle.
The masked fighter walks past Kuwabara and heads to the arena
. "Heh. Seems like we have a volunteer. Good. I'm anxious to see what he can do." Hiei says turning and watching the fighter break through the crowd.
"Are you serious? We don't know Jack squat about that guy. What if he loses and we get booted from the tournament?" Kuwabara asks turning to Hiei and glancing at me.
"If that happens, all we have to do is kill everyone else on the boat before we reach the island. They'll think were the right team and no one will complain." Hiei says as he glances at me with a gleam in his eye that says he hopes that's the outcome.
Oh boy...