I glance towards Yusuke who seems to have succumbed into a self-induced coma of sorts, completely unaware of Kuwabara's moaning and complaining at the lack of entertainment and food on board. Genkai has really worn him out it seems, but that is exactly what Yusuke needed; being pushed to his limits. There is no way to survive otherwise.

I let out a sigh to calm my nerves. A tense feeling has been growing in my chest ever since we set foot on the boat. What if's keep swarming in my head like a nest of bees. I'm surprised with myself on how many different situations my mind can come up with. I should really stop doing that.

Shifting my eyes towards Kurama, my ever-lasting source of tranquility, he seems as calm as ever. His eyes are closed as the sea-breeze plays with his long hair, catching the moonlight every now and then, making his hair glow silvery….

I purse my lips and knit my brows as I take a shallow breath. It seems I unconsciously stopped breathing for a moment and I only noticed after I started feeling light-headed while my heart was beating faster and spending all the oxygen in my blood in a fast pace.

'Knock it off!' I scold myself, knocking myself ungraciously on the head, earning an odd glance from the masked team-member next to me. I can only smile sheepishly in return, making them shake their head at my weirdness.

I'm brought back to my senses as the loud voice of the captain sounds over the demon filled deck. "Everyone, if you'd please be quiet…Before the boat reaches the island, and if you don't mind this being a replacement for the banquet, I would like to offer something as a meaning of entertainment." he starts, much to the excitement of Kuwabara. "Finally!"

"Starting now, will be the preliminary of the tournament." the captain announces much to everyone's surprise. "What?" Kuwabara questions dumbfounded. "Preliminary's he said?" Hiei wonders. "And here on the boat at that." Kurama adds. "Should we really be surprised?" I mutter blinking.

I have to grab the railing as the boat suddenly starts to shake beneath our feet. "An earthquake!" Kuwabara screams frightened. "Idiot! Do they have earthquake's at sea?" Hiei calls annoyed from his perch on top the railing.

We look on wide-eyed as the deck splits and from it rises what seems to be a ring made for battle. "This is where you will fight." the captain tells us. "As it 'appens, fifteen of the teams who will be competing on the Dark tournament 'ave already been determined and are standing by on the island. There is only one team on this boat who will be able to participate." he explains causing a chorus of protest on the boat.

"Damn, so we aren't guests then?" Kuwabara mutters disappointed. "This is the way they operate." Hiei announces. "Please choose who is strongest on your team. They will fight atop 'ere in a battle royal and the one remaining will be given the right to enter the tournament finals on Hanging-neck island." the captain continues.

Kuwabara steps up excitedly, cracking his knuckles. "All right, let's do this!" he says before a bulky demon steps up behind him in an attempt to be intimidating. "This will be a nice warm-up. You seem to be wanting to win this after all." And with that the smack talking takes off, leaving them all to bicker with each other as team members make for the ring.

The intimidation tactics seem to have worked on poor Kuwabara as he quickly appoints Yusuke to the task of fighting, but sadly, Yusuke is not showing any sighs of waking up just yet. In his frustration, he starts to shake the detective, but stops as Kurama butts in.

"He's gone through some very intensive training right? He's entered a deep sleep to recover his physical and spiritual power." Kurama explains. "So then who else is going to go?!" Kuwabara questions.

"I'll go." I tell him, making the boys perk up. "Yusuke hasn't taken over my job just yet you know. Only when I conclude his skill surpasses mine, I'll be willing to pass the full responsibility to him. Not that he's going to like it, but that's what's going to happen." I tell them, not liking that they're forgetting about me. It hurts my pride.

"So then you'll quite the force as they say?" Kuwabara wonders making my eye twitch. "Of course not. I'll always be a spirit detective and I'll always have Yusuke's back." I tell him heatedly, making him blink. "Oh, that's real nice of you."

I sigh, shaking my head before perking up as I see movement headed towards the ring. "Where are you going?" I ask the masked fighter. They turn their head towards me, looking me in the eye. The boys look back and forth as there seems to be some tension brewing between us, as if a heated discussion is taking place with just our eyes. If only they knew…

After a moment of silence, I release another sigh, having calmed down quite a bit. "All right." I say, nodding and backing off much to the surprise of the boys. "What just happened?" Kuwabara wonders. "That is what I would like to know." Kurama wonders as the short fighter makes it's way to the ring. "Don't mind it." I tell them, leaning back on the railing and sinking down to a crouch.

I watch the masked fighter arrive on to the ring and the demons start to discuss a conspiracy at their expense. 'You probably know what you're doing right? I have no reason to worry.' I think as my shoulders relax.

"What are we going to do if he loses?" Kuwabara questions, not sure of the situation himself. "If that happens, all we have to do is kill everyone on the boat. Once we do that, there will be no one to complain." Hiei says smiling, a glint in his eyes. Kuwabara pulls a face. "You're personality is as frightening as ever."

I fold my arms behind my head as the others worry over our mystery fighter that is being ganged up on and I watch as they are attacked by all of them at once. They don't stand a chance though as they punch their fists in quick succession, releasing a blue spirit energy as they do so. It knocks all the demons up there down pretty quick.

"A-awesome." Kuwabara breathes ones the so-called dust has settled, leaving the masked fighter the only one standing. "Now we can see why Yusuke can sleep so soundly, without any worries." Kurama says, understanding now.

Looking back at Yusuke and me, he narrows his eyes in curiosity, making me hide the smile that was playing on my lips. That was pretty amusing.

When his scrutinizing eyes linger just a tad too long for my comfort, I decide to tease him. "Yo." I say dully, waving at him. He seems to snap out of his train of thoughts and blinks before turning away, making me grin. He knows I know more about the mysterious fighter, but I'm not giving up the secret just yet.

"It has been determined that the sixteenth team on the Dark tournament will be the Spirit detective's team!" the captain calls out, much to the dismay of the remaining demons. In response they approach us, looking rather menacing. "Here we go." I say as a matter of fact as I get up.

"In that case, rules don't mean anything." says one demon as we're surrounded. "Anyhow, all we have to do is defeat these guys."

"Things are turning out as expected." Hiei says, not sounding worried. "It seems they stole you're idea, Hiei." Kurama says smiling, taking out his rose. "They will have to pay dearly for that." Hiei says before jumping into the fray.