Chapter 25: Can I Have Your Attention?

Immensely refreshed by a full night's rest, Mae stretched contentedly in her bed, turning over before snuggling in for just a few moments more to see Kurama sitting on the edge of his bed, already dressed, and watching her. 'And just how long has that been trained on me?' she thought biting back a blush. "Good morning," she greeted, her voice husky with sleep.

"Can I join you? Just for a little while?"

She felt shock register on her face before nodding and scooting backward across the bed to make room for him. He stood from his bed, slipping onto hers and laying down facing her and she felt a curious mingling of relief and disappointment when he didn't join her under the bedclothes. He pillowed his head on his arm, stroking her face for a moment with the other hand before pulling her wrapped in the comforter closer by the waist and kissing her forehead.

"Good morning," he finally returned the greeting and she looked up at him, his face close to hers.

"It's a big day today," Mae said, distracting from the close proximity but he mimicked her whisper.

"Correct—but the others haven't woken yet so we can stay here a little while more." For a moment, she thought his eyes had turned gold, which they probably had. She nodded in response, looking down but his hand lifted her chin back up to look at him. She was nervous and suddenly didn't know where to look, feeling herself blush from his close scrutiny.

"What are you looking at?" she asked, attempting petulance but marring it with a catch in her throat.

"Why are you so nervous?" His eyes were definitely golden.

"Yoko..." she said softly causing Kurama to smile before kissing her mouth softly, and she felt him asking for a response. She managed to slip a hand from the confines of the blankets to hold his cheek and he slipped his hand to her waist, pulling her tightly against him, short kisses intermingling with longer ones. She sighed softly against his warm mouth and she could feel him smile in a way that reminded her of a memory she had dreamed of just the night before. Arianne had been kissed in much the same way after falling in a river and being fished out by the fox demon. It had been winter in the Makai and it had been the first time she had ever been to his home.

She had been drying off by the fire he had made before he wrapped her tightly in a blanket and, as though assuring himself that she was indeed completely fine, he had kissed her helpless in the comforter. Pulling back, Yoko in eyes and expression, Kurama in face, hummed in content and would have leaned in for another kiss but there was a sudden knocking on the door. They froze, the gold turning back to green.

"Aren't the two of you awake yet?" Kazuma asked as he walked in to see Kurama standing at the window still in his pajamas and Mae looking like a lump of blankets on her bed.

"Yes, yes," Kurama said as he ushered Kazuma out the door and they left Mae in the room alone. Once she was sure the door had been closed, Mae sat up in bed, her curly hair mussed even more after having wrapped her blushing self in the blankets to hide from her cousin. For a few moments, she had forgotten that he and Yusuke were in the next room over and that there was anything else going on. Part of her was thankful that there was, indeed, something else to have on her mind aside from the next time she'd get such a beautiful, quiet moment with Kurama.

Upon entering the arena to get a first look and feel for the combat space, the team discovered that the bracket was already set up. Yusuke and Kazuma were rather vocal about how fair the pairings seemed. According to the bracket, they would at the very least only have one fight per day until the seventh day of the Tournament. After that, it would truly be down to the luck of the draw. Mae was glad for it. She felt that the set up was best for her debut as a competitive fighter. She had yet to win a match against Yusuke or Genkai but they had both seemed satisfied that she would at least not die in the first match.

All the teams were gathered, Ishi and his team sitting on nice chairs against a wall just below the audience seating that was completely empty but would apparently be overflowing with demons the following day in anticipation for the first match.

The same demon announcer as before stood between the guest teams and Ishi's. His cat tail was looped around his waist like a belt, his ears poking out of a hat tailored for him. He was completely enthused as he explained the rules of the Tournament. The time of each round would be unlimited as long as the fighters were within the ring. The first opponent to knock the other out of the ring, unconscious, or into the Spirit World would be the victor and so on and so forth.

"Each rounds detailing will be left to the discrimination of the combatants to be set forth at the beginning of each round! The winner of the Tournament will be awarded with a wish to each participant so if you haven't thought of your greatest desire yet, get to it so that you have a reason to kill! Not that we really need a reason, right?" The cat threw a wink and Mae felt the disgust showing on her face and in her stance. "Now, we'll have a word from our host!"

Makoto Ishi stood up from his chair to applause of acclamations of appreciation from the teams, wearing a traditional hanfu in deep crimson and black that made his dark eyes blacker. Raising a hand to silence the hubbub, he smiled. "I wish all the teams the best of luck in their endeavor to win this tournament. I advise and encourage you to take the rest of this day to train as you see fit. And Mae the best man win!" The roar thundered through the cavernous stadium and Mae watched as each energy was magnified.

"They'll wear themselves out at this rate," she observed before looking to Ishi to see him watching her closely. When their eyes met, he raised the goblet he was holding to her before draining it in one drink.

"Let's head back to the room while everyone else tries to train," Yusuke said and the others turned to leave only to be blocked by the Amazonian team they had ridden on the boat with.

The purple eyed demon with the accent smiled as he stepped forward and held a hand out toward Mae who accepted it without qualm. "Well met, tiny dancer," he laughed warmly. "I see you are still in one piece after that dance with our host."

"I am," Mae said with an easy smile.

"Good good... I've heard so much about your companions and look forward to meeting them in battle with my comrades. Make sure not to get kicked out too soon!"

"Worry about yourself!" Kazuma challenged, stepping up beside his cousin. Mae used the momentum from Kazuma to elbow him swiftly in the stomach causing him to keel over, her eyebrow twitching as she thanked the man for his concern and assured him that they too looked forward to the match with a polite bow.

The man laughed, his hands on his hips. "The name's Zaizen, ma chere. This is my team," he gestured to the rest of the Amazonian group with a smile each greeting them in some form from waving to nods. The woman seemed to look at Mae an appraising expression as Zaizen bid them adieu and they continued on their way out of the arena.

"He seems rather taken with you," Kurama said teasingly and Mae threw him a look.

"Indeed, maybe it'll be he who wins me at the end," she responded. The teasing fell flat, Kurama's own expression fading into something more withdrawn. Before she could apologize, Hiei had blurred past them all to who knows where and Kazuma threw an arm about her shoulders and guided her towards the room, Yusuke being left to bring up the rear with Kurama.

"I brought cards, coz, how 'bout a little poker? Perhaps we could wager the sleeping arrangements again," Kazuma drummed up with a hopeful tone.

"Don't be a sore loser, Kuwabara!" piped in Yusuke from behind but Mae couldn't bring herself to look back.

Their final day of peace passed quicker than Mae could have hoped (the biggest upset being that Yusuke had lost the bigger couch to Kazuma in their own game of poker). And when the night came, she still hadn't had a chance to speak with Kurama. Thus, it was with great trepidation that she retired to the bedroom and though she changed quickly she stayed seated at the vanity not allowing her cowardice to get the best of her.

After a very long blink, she startled awake as she was picked up from the chair and she looked up at Kurama in alarm.

"I didn't mean to fall asleep!" she squawked and he lifted an eyebrow as he continued to move with her in his arms over to her bed.

"I should think not. It would have been a poor choice, indeed, to sleep in that chair before our first fight," he reasoned and she felt the teasing fall just shy.

"No! What I mean… I meant to wait… I wanted to say I was sorry," she stammered, and he stopped beside her bed, making no move to put her down.

"I asked for it. I teased you first," Kurama said with wary eyes.

"Yes, but you could have easily meant he took a shine to me in the way of friendship. I took it to far.

"What say we both forgive one another and push past it?"

She gazed up at him, wondering if it would do any good to be stubborn, before she could make up her mind either way, he set her in bed having already turned the bedding down before he'd plucked her from the uncomfortable chair she'd managed to fall asleep in. In their silence she conceded as he pulled the covers up over her and tucked her in snugly.

"Kurama?"

"Yes, Mae?"

"Do… do you really think we have a chance at winning?" she asked, finally voicing the fear that had plagued her since Ishi's challenge was given. "I know we're all strong contenders but… what if like us, the rest of them were just hiding their power today?" He sat on the edge of her bed, the lamp lighting half of his face.

"Most demons when gathered together like this lose any desire to hide their power. I am sure a few hid it in hopes of being underestimated to lull the rest of us into a false sense of security—but if you take all you sensed with a grain of salt, you should be able to feel well-prepared to face what's ahead," he said falling back into a teaching cadence.

"But… do we have a chance?" He smiled before dropping a kiss on her brow.

"At the risk of sounding incredibly corny, I believe love conquers all," he said softly as he stroked the curls back from her forehead. "Just you mind that." She drew the covers higher over her nose to hide the blush at his near confession. "Any other questions before we sleep?"

About a million questions lit up her mind but to err on the side of caution so that they would truly sleep at some point, she asked the one that had nothing to do with either of them. "Where do you suppose Hiei is sleeping?"

Kurama's eyes widened as if to ask if that was the question actually weighing on her mind but with her earnest look laughed softly with a shrug. "I have no idea. We've been friends for a long time now, it seems, and he's still as mysterious as day one."

"Oh," Mae acknowledged with a nod and a stifled yawn. The demon took advantage of the blanket dropping below her chin once more and kissed her swiftly before standing up from the bed and moving to sit on his own.

"Goodnight, Mae," he said and she swore he was almost smirking when he saw her obvious surprise at just one chaste kiss.

"Goodnight," she grumbled with a blush before rolling over to put her back to him, hearing his chuckle as he started to change into his own pajamas.

The next morning found a somber pair in the bedroom while in the living room Yusuke and Kazuma were already talking battle plans.

"I think it would be smart to lead with strongest member," Kazuma was saying while Yusuke shook his head.

"No, definitely the most charming."

"Which as we know would be neither of you," piped in Koenma as he popped in out of thin air. The blue bubble of a binky bobbed in his mouth, the only real sign that he was anxious at all as he watched Kurama and Mae walk into the living room, Hiei slipping in through the window. "How are you feeling, Mae?" he asked, taking a step closer to stand in front of her and she looked up.

"As ready as I'll ever be, I think," she acknowledged in the sudden quiet.

"As the team captain, you get to choose who fights, Mae. And if you should choose not to fight personally, I am sure we would all support—" he began but she held up a hand, a fire starting to burn within her eyes.

"This is my mess and though I cannot clean it up all by myself… I will give just as much if not more than the rest to see this comes to a proper end." She had not been surprised by his suggestion and though he seemed only mildly surprised at her answer, she could feel no relief from any corner of the room. Deep blue eyes looked to each of her companions in turn, Hiei only giving the briefest nod. She felt as though he touched her mind to say he understood her need not to hide and it emboldened her, standing all the straighter as she looked back at Koenma. "Will you be standing with us or watching from the stands?"

"Our dubious host has allotted me a solo box and George will come to attend me soon," said the prince and she nodded. "Well, I have a feeling the timing will be all quite punctual. You better head out or you'll be late."

Koenma disappeared as Yusuke and Kazuma took the lead followed by Mae, Kurama, and Hiei bringing in the rear. Other teams were just closing their doors ahead of them and she felt a tremble run up her spine at the sheer number of fighters. Even knowing that they wouldn't have to face them all couldn't rid her of feeling overwhelmed by the brawn and cunning that lie between them and their goal.

Her hands balled up into fists at her side, her knuckles wrapped and ready for the fight ahead. Mae had asked Kurama not to touch her in their newfound but old way. She was sure that those participating in the tournament already had some inkling about the triangle that they and Ishi made but beyond that, she didn't want their relationship to be the focus… either from the announcer, or from the teams they went up against. Just pure, honest fighting and commentary.

She could, however, feel him move closer, his heat radiating off of her back in silent support of her inner struggle. Her past life may have fought demons for a living but those memories of knowing how to fight had yet to resurface and until now hadn't bothered her with their absence.

'I could use all the help I can get,' she thought somberly as the teams poured into the stadium, goosebumps breaking out in a frantic parade at the sudden spike in noise from the gathered audience and she couldn't help but look up to see the bodies roiling with color and texture in the stands.

The first two teams stood on opposite sides, lined up to look at one another as the announcer prepared to flip the coin in the center to decide which team chose the rules for the round, his microphone held at the ready to his lips.

As the coin began its ascent into the air between them he screamed, "Let the tournament begin!"

Reviews: Lady Ellesmere, ExtraCaramel, Have, YuYuHakushoObsesser, and The Otaku Lady Priya!

… all from 4-5 years ago. Hello, I have returned and am going to finish this story for you all, even if it's the last thing I do! (Though… I hope it's not the last, because I have 3 other stories to finish…) I won't bore you with the details and I won't be offended if no one ever reads these final chapters (don't have a number quite yet; I am going to wrap up the story but I will do my very best not to rush).

Side note: I did the math, and adding up every little thing I have written in my 15 or so years, I should have had 6 novels out by now. Alas. I will settle for completing the projects I have been neglecting the longest.

Thank you for reading.

-Casidhe