"Not seeing it." commented the large man at the door of the abandoned warehouse blandly.
"Listen man," Kuwabara growled, "I'm tellin' you Shizuru is my sister! I know she's in there! Just let us in already!"
"Can't do that," the man replied evenly, "This is an invitation only type of thing. And there ain't one of you who looks like you have one."
"Just go get her and she'll tell you!" Kuwabara demanded heatedly.
"Look I get you think it's a good idea. Me...well I know the chick and trust me I'm not crossing her when she's about to face off in the ring." the mountain explained in his deep voice.
"She's what?!" Yusuke and Kuwabara exploded in surprise.
"This is a waste of time." he said annoyed with the entire scene.
Why they insisted on speaking with the thug who had obviously had no intention of allowing them access to the building was beyond him.
There were easier ways to go about entering the building.
Granted they had already very pointedly dismissed the idea of him simply knocking the man out but as far as he was concerned that seemed the best option in the end.
"Please we absolutely must speak with Shizuru." Kurama said insinuating himself between Yusuke and Kuwabara, effectively making them back off, "Is there any way you can think of that will help us achieve that?"
"Hmm" the man ruminated briefly, "Since you're being sensible I'll tell ya what. She's got a friend in there and if she'll vouch for you I'll let you in."
"Thank you." Kurama turned to the others as the door was shut, muffling the cacophony of sounds from inside, "Keep your heads you two. This is not a place you want to much attention brought to you."
"What do you mean?" Kuwabara asked.
"Geez Kuwabara," Yusuke rolled his eyes, "How many places you go that have armed doormen?"
"Umm none." Kuwabara answered truthfully, "But what's she doing in a place like this? And fighting? That doesn't sound like her."
"It sounds exactly like her." He censured casting a baleful look at Kuwabara, "Do you know anything of consequence?"
"Listen runt I ain't gonna to take that from you!" Kuwabara began then was cut off from saying more by the door opening once again.
"So here they are," the human mountain said to someone just out of sight, "Do you know them?"
"Nope never seen them before in my life." a familiar voice denied.
"Botan!" the other three chorused.
"Oh alright," Botan sighed appearing in the doorway, "Yes I know them. The large one is her brother."
"Still not seeing it." the man muttered before opening the door wide for them, "Come on. Don't cause any trouble though."
They entered quickly forming around Botan who at least had the sense to look extremely nervous.
The sounds around them echoing off the walls of the building dimly reminded him of the arena in the Dark Tournament. The heavy scent of perfume had not mingled with that of blood and sweat during that time but standing there he could recall it having been a part of that space within her mind where the lazy dragon had circled overhead.
It was an odd thing to recall in that moment when he should have been far more focused on the here and now. He brought his wandering attention back to Botan.
"Before you say anything I didn't know we were coming here." she offered with a faltering smile, "And Shizuru seems to have quite a solid um following among these people. It's actually quite exciting. You wouldn't believe the type of people she's been introducing me to. I had no idea she fought this girl Narumi..."
"Did you say Narumi?" Kuwabara interrupted then seemed to relax a little, "Oh that makes more sense then."
"How can that make more sense?" Yusuke demanded scowling.
"Well back in the day her and Narumi use to fight every time they came across each other. Never got it though. No matter how many times Shizuru beat her down Narumi always came back for more." Kuwabara answered with a shrug.
"Seriously...you...don't get that?" Yusuke asked with an incredulous look.
"Where is she now Botan?" Kurama asked steering the conversation back to the original reason for coming.
"Oh she's getting ready. Her fight is next. Come along." Botan encouraged walking briskly away towards the boisterous crowd in the center.
She flexed her hands trying to relieve the to tight sensation of the wrappings on them.
There had been a time she had not bothered with them. Just as there had been a time she had not spent so much of her time defending her face. Back when skinned knuckles or a black eye would not have sent Kazuma into hysterics.
It would have been amusing except it forced her to alter the way she fought. It caused her to take more body shots then she liked to but not having to listen to Kazuma of all people try to lecture her was worth the extra bruising as far as she was concerned.
The air in the building was a little on the chilly side especially since she had removed her long sleeved shirt in favor of the tank top she habitually wore underneath. She would be warm as soon as the fight started.
She smiled to herself as she took a drag of her cigarette.
"I'll never get how you can smoke so much and stay in the shape you are." Arata commented appearing at her side.
"Lucky." she replied watching for Narumi's appearance at the far side of the ring, "Everything set up?"
"Yeah. You'll get a pretty sweet cut when you win." the bookie said grinning, "Needless to say so will I."
"Where's Botan?" she asked noticing that the reaper was not at his side as she had told her to stay.
"Right here!"
"I told you not to leave Arata..." she stopped talking as she noticed the four figures that had come along with the blue haired woman, "Huh...I was off by about a half hour. To bad, I would have been done by then."
She had been half hoping that only Kurama and Hiei would show up.
"If you needed someone to beat on why not just use Kuwabara?" Yusuke asked grinning, "I do."
"Hey!" Kazuma snapped.
"I get to do that for free." she answered smirking, "This is different."
"I thought this was a fight not a family reunion."
She turned to see Narumi stood a few feet away, the woman's eyes traveled over each of the young men with appreciation that sent a flare of annoyance through her instantly.
"They bite." she replied taking one last drag before flicking the rest to the side, "and I do worse. Keep your thoughts to yourself Narumi. Usually it's better for your health."
Narumi laughed turning her back to her, "Come on Shizuru. I don't have all night."
She moved to join Narumi in the center of the ring but stopped as a hand circled her wrist.
"She has a weapon in her boot." Hiei informed her narrowed eyes on Narumi.
"Yep." she agreed casually, "she normally tries for it half way through. Not going to change much though."
His crimson eyes swept up to meet her's, "Just because the reaper is with us does not mean you are going to need her services."
A thrill of electric warmth slipped through her. It probably was as close as he would get to expressing anything close to "be careful."
"Try not to piss anyone off here alright." she suggested extracting her wrist from his easing grip, "This is my world and I need it to stay the way it is."
Something between a smirk and a smile twisted his lips, "I believe your fight is with that woman."
Abruptly she recalled she was annoyed with him.
A day after the park and this was the most he had said to her since then.
It was one of the many reasons she had needed this fight to begin with. Something that had helped tighten that coil inside of her.
"All of you just keep to yourselves okay." she said raising her voice and her eyes to look at each of them, "I mean it."
Then she did turn her back to them, purposefully pushing all of them out of her mind as she approached the center of the ring.
"Who's the short one?" Narumi asked as she reached her, "He's kinda cute."
"Wow do you talk more then you should." she returned, "Never learn do you?"
Narumi shrugged, "If you aren't interested in him..."
She did not let Narumi finish what she had been saying. She hated the concept of talking during fights. It was a waste of everyone's time especially her's.
Narumi evaded the first punch thrown at her face but the fist she had aimed at her stomach landed with a satisfying, solid feel to it.
She quickly ducked under the fist Narumi rocketed towards her face.
All other thoughts disappeared into the necessity of action and reaction.
Her adrenaline was flowing fast.
Her muscles singing for the release of everything built up inside of her.
The tight smile she always wore in moments like this tilted her lips.
This was exactly what she had wanted to feel.
This was exactly what she needed.
Reviews Please!