Heart's Starlight
Chapter 26: Drawing Numbers
"Wow!" I murmured when our boat reached an island, as well as the other 21 boats. The stadium was set in the middle of the island and there was a hotel beside it that was huge. The stadium had a "super bowl" shape to it and was fairly large. I stared at it, amazed. I was picturing something else, almost like a rink outside or some kind of platform outside.
"Come on, Kirei!" Yusuke said, shoving me forward. "We have to go check in and then we'll draw our number for the tournament!" I nodded and walked with the guys toward the hotel. I glanced at Hiei and sighed. Of course he wasn't glancing at me or staring at me like he used to. I haven't seen his smirk for a long time and not once have I had the chance to stare into his eyes. It was like he completely forgotten about our kissing.
"Here we are!" Kuwabara yelled, spreading his arms to the hotel. I gasped and pulled out a camera, grinning.
"Come on, guys! Let's take a picture!" I suggested. The only one who didn't seem to be down for it was Hiei so I had him take the picture. "If you're not going to be in it, then take it," I said, coldly. He narrowed his eyes at me and I narrowed mine back. I walked to the other three guys and stood between Yusuke and Kuwabara. Hiei stared at the camera, not too entirely sure how to do it. "You look through the hole and then push the large button on top," I said.
"I know that," he sneered before staring into the hole and adjusting himself. I grinned cheekily and held my arms up as Kuwabara made a goofy face along with Yusuke and Kurama just smiled. The flash went off and Hiei stared at the camera before throwing it to me, shoving his hands in his pockets.
"Party pooper," I whispered, dusting my camera off and putting it back in my bag. I walked into the hotel with the boys and stayed close to Yusuke as other groups began to gather into the hotel. We stayed in line and I guess we were about the third team. I looked around and saw demons of all sorts, but they were all mainly guys. I saw an all-girl team, but they didn't look too threatening. They mainly stood there, twirling their hair, or popping bubble gum.
"Name please?" the clerk said, flicking his tongue and searching through papers.
"Team Urameshi," Yusuke stated. I heard the lobby go quiet and I looked around, curiously. All the teams were looking at us, wide-eyed and their mouths open. I lowered my eyebrows and looked at Yusuke.
"Your rooms are on floor 17!" the clerk said, unfazed by anything. I walked away with the boys and looked over and saw Kaida.
"Kaida!" I yelled, waving my arm and catching a lot of attention. Kaida looked over and smiled, running over. I grinned as she caught up and we all piled into the elevator. Yusuke pushed the 17th button and the doors closed. "So, why did everyone look at us?" I asked, finally.
"Last tournament, we defeated Team Toguro," Yusuke answered, cockily. "They were titled undefeatable since they didn't lose one battle in any of their rounds." I nodded. "So, I guess we've become some sort of legend." I giggled and the elevator doors opened after a ding. I rushed out and looked around. "Before you ask, this whole floor is ours!"
"Really?!" I exclaimed. Yusuke nodded, grinning. "Awesome!" I screamed, running down the hallway and pushing through a door. I claimed this room and went back to the hallway to see my luggage. I grabbed it all and tossed it into my room. The boys, and Kaida, were staring at me shocked. "What? Finder's keepers, loser's weepers!" I mocked, slamming my door shut and peering around at my room.
It wasn't anything glamorous, just enough for me to sleep in. I plopped on my own separate bed in my own separate room, with no bunks. I was excited for that. I looked over and saw a door. Curiously, I jumped up and barged through that to see a bathroom and another door. I barged through that, scaring Kaida half to death. "Hello!" I hollered. "Isn't this awesome?!"
"Um, yeah! Kirei, are you okay?" I nodded and barged through her door and into the living room and kitchen, which were connected. The boys were in here, which all jumped when I barged in.
"Dude! There are doors connecting every room," I shouted, running into the kitchen and tearing the refrigerator open and saw many energy drinks and condiments for food. I grabbed a Monster and walked calmly into the living room, sipping it. I didn't know why I was so hyper, but I was. I was probably hyped up for our fighting and stuff.
"Will all teams report to the stadium for number drawing? All teams report to the stadium!" I heard. I looked around for the speaker box, but shrugged when I found none.
"I don't think you need that, Kirei," Kurama stated, reaching for my Monster, but I smacked his hand away, glaring. "Okay ..." We all walked out and to the elevator, which was almost full. We made it to the lobby, even with the other demons in the elevator, and walked out into the lobby, toward the exit.
The walk over there wasn't glorious, but it was short. Demons really can't merge with one another, even in the short distance to the stadium. Our team stood to the side and stared around. There were a total of 21 teams. Most looked pathetic and too excited to be called a team and others looked stern and strict and very obedient. I frowned and sipped at my energy drink nervously.
"Will the team captains step forward?" the announcer stated. I watched as Yusuke walked forward, as well as the other 21. "Each captain will draw a number between one and twenty-two. We'll start with Team Argisi!" It was a while before Yusuke got to draw, since they went in alphabetical order. "Team Urameshi, number 9."
Yusuke walked back, holding the little chip, and stared strictly at the other teams. I frowned and kept my expression blank, like Yusuke, Kurama, Hiei, and even Kuwabara. "Now we will begin the drawing for the first fights tomorrow, in which 11 teams will continue on to the next rounds," the announcer said, motioning to each of the teams.
There was a large bowl and the announcer reached in, digging around. "Team number 17 with goes up against team number 2, first thing tomorrow," he announced. I tuned him out, not really caring about who was fighting whom. "Team number 13 will be going up against Team number 9 the day after tomorrow," the announcer said. I looked around to see a team staring around also. I caught eye of one and he nudged the others.
I looked away and caught eye of Team Haguro. The biggest guy, who I presumed to be the captain, was staring directly at me. I felt a chill go up my spine and my eyes narrowed on instinct. I looked deeper into his eyes and a weird feeling overwhelmed me: it was like I was measuring his power. And trust me, he had a lot.
"Yusuke," I mumbled, causing Yusuke to look at me. "Team Haguro's captain has a lot of power."
"How do you know that?" I shrugged.
"It's probably her inner power that every elemental demon possesses," Kurama stated. I lifted my chin up as the captain smirked and I flicked my eyes to the announcer.
"Team number 15 will be going against team number 3!" I looked back at the captain and he was looking at his team members. It was a while before the announcer ended and motioned to the teams again. "All the numbers have been drawn," he began as some girl passed out fliers. "On these fliers are the numbers of each team and the fight they are in." I grabbed the flier before Yusuke could get it and looked over it.
We were going against Team Kikashi for our first match and from the looks of it, they were roughly around the same type of demon: animal. I let Yusuke grab it and stared over at the team we were facing. I tried to read their power like I did with Captain Haguro, but I couldn't get a reading. "Come on, Kirei," I heard and looked over to see Kurama. I nodded and walked away with him. I had a day to rest before our fight began.
"What time is our fight at?" I asked when we reached our floors and walked into the living room. Kaida was sprawled out on the couch, twirling her hair with a bored look on, and Yusuke sighed.
"Mid-morning! We're the second fight that day," he stated. I nodded and sat on the couch with Kaida.
"So, we're just supposed to sit here and do nothing?" I asked. The boys nodded and I watched as Hiei sat at the window. "No training? Nothing?"
"Yeah," Kuwabara stated. "I brought cards!" I shrugged and motioned for him to deal. He grinned and ran to go get the cards.
"You really want to play?" Yusuke questioned, sitting beside me, ready to play too.
"There's nothing else to do," I mumbled as Kuwabara ran back, grinning madly. He began dealing and I looked at my two cards. "We're playing blackjack, huh?"
"Yeah!" Kuwabara stated, looking at Yusuke, who was staring intently at his cards.
"Hit me!" Kuwabara handed him a card and he nodded. "I'll stand." I looked at my cards. I had an ace and a jack: eleven.
"Hit me," I mumbled. I snatched the card Kuwabara handed me and frowned. It was a measly eight. "I'll stand."
"I'll stand." The three of us put our cards down and I sighed. Kuwabara won somehow. He had a straight blackjack. "Hells yes!"
"You cheated," I mumbled, narrowing my eyes.
"No, I didn't! I don't cheat, especially when there's a girl playing," he said, winking. I rolled my eyes and shook my head. I looked up at Kaida, who was blowing a piece of her hair up, her eyes blank and bored.
"Bored, Kaida?" She nodded. "Let's go shopping or site seeing then!" I exclaimed.
"Where? We're on an island!" she replied, skeptically. I laughed nervously.
"Let's go to the gift shop then! That's our mall!" She laughed, but nodded. I stood and gave Yusuke a goofy look before walking out the door with Kaida. I know the gift shop was probably as large as a mini van, but...I have my camera and I can take pretty funny pictures of people.