By the next day, it was the beginning of the Dark Tournament as Team Urameshi was preparing themselves for this upcoming match. Nezuko woke up from her slumber as she climbs out of bed scanning her surroundings that she remembers not being at the apartment instead she was at the hotel with her friends. Just as she heard the door open she jumps off the bed and crawls underneath it to hide.
"Nezuko?" She heard a familiar male audible voice calling out to her.
"Mmf...Mng..." She made a noise to get their attention as the person kneeling beside the bed to peek under was only Hiei. He was still wearing the Chinese gear that he wore from yesterday which underneath it was his training uniform.
"What are you doing hiding under the bed? It's me." Hiei said in a somewhat soft low tone. She tilted her head to the side as he moved away to allow her to crawl from under the bed. Nezuko then comes from under the bed sitting on her knees looking up at Hiei blinking in curiosity. "Well? Don't just sit here. We have to get ready for the tournament."
Her facial expression was dumbfounded for a second until she has almost forgotten about the tournament. So, she quickly stood up to go get changed into the casual clothes that Yusuke had packed for her. No, he didn't be a pervert to pick through her girly items because then his mother would completely scold him for being a rude gentleman towards a lady.
While Nezuko got dressed Hiei leaves out of the room and sits in the living room with Kurama, Kuwabara, and Yusuke that was still asleep. The fighters were just eating the meals that were served by the waiters of the hotel to give them enough energy for the tournament.
"Is Nezuko awake?" Kurama asked.
"She's up," Hiei replied with his arms folded behind his head as his eyes were shut tightly.
"Urameshi still isn't awake after all the traveling to get here from last night. Maybe Nezuko could try headbutting him again." Kuwabara slightly chuckles at the thought of finding it hilarious when Nezuko tries to wake up Yusuke by headbutting him.
"I don't think that will work. She nearly cried her poor heart for not being able to wake him up." Kurama took a piece of the croissant dipping it into his coffee and took a bite out of it.
Kuwabara let out a small grunt eyeing back at Yusuke before chewing and swallowing his last bit of breakfast. The door was heard open down by the hallway as Nezuko appeared in a light pink shirt, with black long sleeves, a checker panter printed on the front pink and white. She had on a green belt wrapped around her waist wearing blue shorts, black socks, and pink shoes.
"Hey, Nezuko! You wanna sit down and eat with us?" Kuwabara inquired.
Nezuko stood in the dark shady part of the hallway not moving due to the sunlight in the room shining a little too bright through the large glass windows. So, she went back into the room to look around for something to shield her when she noticed Hiei's cloak was handing on the end of the bed. He wouldn't mind if she borrowed it, right? As Nezuko took the cloak to cover her head and around her body, she left out and came back to join with the others.
"Hey, you're wearing the shrimp's cloak." Kuwabara pointed out while chewing on his food.
"Mmm..." Nezuko replied.
"It is too much light in the room. She had no choice but to cover herself up and shield the sunlight," Kurama faintly said.
"Right."
Hiei took one peek over at Nezuko to see her wearing the cloak while clutching it. She looked like a small maiden looking for a place to keep her safe and not be faced with danger. If she were to ever face danger there's no telling what kind of moves she'll pull against the demons during the tournament.
After breakfast was over, Nezuko was going to be carried around in her bag that Yusuke uses to carry her around. She was a little anxious at first since Yusuke wasn't carrying her when he's asleep, so Kuwabara had to carry him on his shoulder while Hiei volunteered to carry Nezuko on his back. They walked all the way to the stadium as Nezuko made noises just by peeking through the bag to see a lot of demons were going to be watching them fight in the ring. Back in Yusuke's town, Keiko and Kuwabara's older sister, Shizuru, confront Botan about where Yusuke and Kuwabara went. She spills the story, and they demand that she take them to the Dark Tournament. Koenma and his blue ogre bodyguard also make plans to depart for Hanging Neck Island. Botan, Keiko, and Shizuru, Kuwabara's sister, arrive at the tournament site to watch Team Urameshi duke it out with their first opponents, Team Rokuyukai. Koenma is there as well, and reveals an adult form, to impress everybody since he's tired of being called a "toddler".
Everyone takes their seats, and the kid with the colorful outfit, whom Team Urameshi met last night, Rinku, steps up to take the first match. Since Yusuke still seems to be asleep, Kuwabara takes the first match. The match begins, and Rinku demonstrates his incredible speed by running in flashes around Kuwabara. Kuwabara's training seems to have paid off, however, when he can easily detect Rinku's movements. He deals him a few crushing blows, and it looks like Rinku is down. He grins, though, standing back up and telling Kuwabara he was just playing around to begin. He reveals his true weapon, eight Yo-Yos, four for each hand. He launches them forward to Kuwabara. Kuwabara reveals his newly-improved weapon, double Spirit Swords. They can't stop the Yo-Yos, however, when the strings bend and twist to maneuver around his Spirit Swords and slam into him, fueled with spirit energy. Kuwabara is knocked back but quickly gets back up. Rinku launches them again, and Kuwabara's defenses prove no match for the child's incredible toys. Kuwabara starts to get mad, and Rinku launches a ground attack towards him. He starts unearthing the tiles of the ring to block the attack, but they just slam through and hit him again. He's taking a horrible beating, and Rinku decides to try something else. He throws out his Yo-Yos, but this time wraps them around Kuwabara's limbs. He goes into him "Around the World" move, launching Kuwabara into the air only to bring him down face-first onto the ring. After some of that, he takes Kuwabara up into the air. With a drop from that height, Kuwabara's likely to die.
It changes his direction from downwards to towards Rinku, and he prepares to knock the kid out. Rinku, in retaliation, fires his Yo-Yos again, but Kuwabara has one more trick up his sleeve. He can maneuver his Spirit Sword as well, and twirls it around the strings, and hits Rinku straight through the chest. His Yo-Yos strike home as well and both fighters are sent out of the ring. The announcer says that the fighters can only stay out of the ring for ten seconds, and begins the count. Rinku comes up after five, and Yusuke, still presumably sleeping, shouts for Kuwabara to wake up. Kuwabara gets mad, and gets up, and confronts Yusuke. Just then, Rinku stops from healing himself and causes his Yo-Yos to squeeze Kuwabara, preventing him from jumping back in the ring. The announcer finishes the count, and Rinku is awarded the first win.
After a moment, the second match begins Roto vs. Kurama. Hiei encourages Kurama to go for the kill because they need the victory, and Kurama replies with a very cold "Naturally." Kurama goes on the offensive, but as Kurama is about to deal a finishing blow, Roto quickly reveals his trick: He has a demon brother that's been tracking Kurama's human mother for some time. He has a device that, when activated, will tell his brother to kill Kurama's mother. He warns him not to move. Kurama flicks a pebble at him, and Roto laughs and starts to beat him up. It seems as if Kurama isn't willing to put his mother's life on the line, and continues to take the abuse from Roto.
It wasn't long until Botan showed up to help the team out except Hiei wasn't fond of having her over. He told her to leave or else things will be quite dangerous for her to be around in this turn of even that is coming their way.
"Now, now. Hiei I actually didn't come empty-handed. You did go to ask Koenma about making a sample for Nezuko to be able to walk around under the sun." Botan chimed as she pulled out a syringe as Hiei squinted his eyes over at the woman.
"I didn't forget," Hiei replied in a low tone.
"Do you think you have something for Nezuko to be able to walk around the sun?" Hiei asked the toddler sitting at his desk planting some stamps on the paper.
"I don't know if I have anything to cure her. But if I ask any doctor that has the option to do it. Then I will request him to do it." Koenma said looking back up at the fire demon who nodded at him.
"I want it to be done when it is ready," Hiei said.
'I'm only doing this for Nezuko because she can't fight around the sunlight. When it's dark, then she comes out.' He glanced down at the bag knitting his eyebrows together when he remembers asking her about going outside into the light. 'She misses the sunlight and I don't blame her. How is a demon born to be afraid of the sun?'
After a while, Roto grows bored of the torment, and raises his foot, and tells Kurama to lick the slime off. Kurama declines, and Roto threatens to press the button. Surprisingly, Kurama tells him to go ahead and press it. Roto raises his arm when suddenly, he finds himself unable to move. Kurama reveals a small puncture in his chest. He threw a "Death Seed" in Roto after he used the pebble to divert his attention away. It takes a few minutes, but after a while, it will bloom and thorned vines will sprout from the opponent. Kurama takes the device, and Roto pleads with him to stop and asks if Kurama has any mercy. Kurama replies: "No." The Death Seed sprouts and Kurama is given the win.
Botan watched as Kurama made his way off the arena. "Wow Kurama, you really did a number on the guy!" He smiles at Botan and thanks to her for the support. His eyes glanced down to see Botan holding the syringe in the palm of her hand.
"What's the syringe for?" Kurama asked.
"It's for Nezuko. A sample should help her stay in the sun longer and she wouldn't have to hurry about the sunburn." Botan warmly smiled as she approached over to the bag to lift it as Hiei shield the sunlight to hurt her and the demon girl lets out a low growl. "Nezuko, I'm just going to give you a sample of this. Don't worry it won't hurt." Nezuko refused to listen to Botan as she lowers herself deeper with a worried and scared expression on her face.
"Maybe I should do it." Kurama insisted as Botan handed the syringe to him as he softly pats Nezuko on her head. The demon girl stares into the green eyes of the demon fox making her calm as he used the syringe by raising her sleeve and place the substance inside of her arm.
"How long does this affect her?" Hiei asked.
"Only about an hour or two until the process is complete. Give her some time and she can try getting out and standing into the sun just not right now." Botan explained.
"Right." Kurama nodded.
Hiei P.O.V.
Koto calls for the next pair of fighters to step into the ring and Rokuyukai's leader, Zeru surprises Kurama and Kuwabara by entering on behalf of his team. I already claimed him as my opponent. I easily stepped onto the stage and exchanged a few words with him. "You have your flaws, Zeru. Your flames are weak and sloppily used. I've seen infant demons with better control of their abilities."
"Like you're so perfect. I don't like to take advice from someone who likes to use a fake eye." I glared at him, he was going to pay. "Oh and Hiei, what is that delicious demon's name again? Nezuko? Once this battle is over, and I've disintegrated you, I'll take her as payment for your team killing two members of mine. She'll make for a beautiful slave, don't you think?"
I felt my anger bubbling to the surface. He shouldn't dare to have uttered her name and then speak of her like she's meant to be his. My hand started to itch, begging me to draw my sword so I can cut off his head. Perhaps give it as a gift to the woman, once she hears about his intentions. "Oh, what's the matter Hiei?" Zeru stared at me, then his eyes opened wide as if he just realized something. "You have a desire for her, too! Don't you Hiei?!" I felt my face burn, but I didn't answer. I didn't know how to answer. I unsheathed my sword and prepared to attack when ready. "Well then, this should be interesting," Zeru snickered. "And YOU MAY BEGIN," shouted the announcer.
Both fighters exchange trash talk before the fight. As soon as the match begins, Zeru tries to intimidate me by emitting massive amounts of energy. I merely laugh in response and am soon forced to start dodging Zeru's fireball attacks. A portion of the upper deck of the stadium is destroyed as a result, along with a decent fraction of the audience. During a brief ceasefire, Zeru continues to emit heat energy and then begins absorbing the flames into his own body, augmenting his already deadly abilities. With a great lunge, he puts his right arm through the midsection of me, with the heat transfer setting me ablaze. Then, with me still airborne, he releases a massive ball of heat which makes direct contact with me. Everyone sees the match as finished with me appearing to be burnt to a crisp. Zeru then throws an additional insult at me, continuing to demonstrate his arrogance.
Third Person P.O.V.
"Well when you're as talented as Zeru," the announcer claimed, "always expect one heck of a fight!" Nezuko peeking from the bag setting her eyes on Zeru, silently promising to avenge Hiei, whatever the cost. But before she could even step on the stage she hears a familiar voice, with sarcasm dripping with every syllable.
"Yes," the voice drawled, "In fact, he's so talented, I'm reluctant to make the kill." Nezuko's eyes quickly return to where Hiei's body once laid. Yet there he was, standing in front of her, his body still smoldering. His shirt was nearly burnt off, but what scared Nezuko the most was the dark look in his eyes. He didn't seem right, something was about to happen. She watched Zeru's expression change from one of complete confidence to one of utter fear. "Bu-but how did you manage to survive that?" he demanded.
Hiei merely smirked at him and allowed his Jagan eye to disintegrate his white headband. "I believe we already covered that. You see, in a way, the Jagan's eye has a mind of its own, and it loathes disrespect." Nezuko watched in terror as she felt a sudden rush of power radiate from Hiei. She looked around, eyes widened with fear as she waited for what could only be Hiei's biggest attack. "DRAGON. OF. THE DARKNESS FLAME," She heard Hiei announce.
"No, this is unbelievable," Kurama whispered, too stunned to explain further. "Dragon of the who?" Kuwabara asked, speaking Nezuko's thoughts aloud.
"The technique. It hasn't been mastered by anyone because it's so impossible to control. If not used properly, Hiei could end up killing not only himself but the entire stadium," Kurama answered softly. Nezuko felt the sweat drip down the back of her neck, hoping Hiei had what it took to keep his new attack stabilized. Hiei had what looked like a dark ball glowing in his hand, moving so furiously and chaotically, she was afraid he'd accidentally let it loose amongst the crowd.
"I assume my right arm would do," was all Nezuko managed to hear him say before he released a dark, fiery dragon that had originated from the ball. Its piercing screech increasing as it landed right on Zeru, leaving nothing but his outline on the walls of the arena. The announcer blinked her eyes in disbelief before she managed to regain her focus.
"And HIEI TAKES THE POINT!" she cheered while Hiei stared at his burnt arm that had released the dragon, looking unimpressed. Nezuko watched as he walked over to her, wincing in pain when he quickly shoved his burnt arm as deep as he could into his pocket. She could tell he was trying to play it off, but she wasn't about to have any of that.
Hiei glanced down at the basket to see Nezuko trying to peek open as he shut the lid down. He kneels opening it a little to meet her eyes staring back into his and said, "No Nezuko. It's only been 20 minutes and you shouldn't come out just yet." She returned with a low growl coming from her as he formed a small grin.
After Hiei is declared the winner, two members of Team Rokuyukai flee in fear of Hiei and are killed by the team's true team leader, Chu. He informs the crowd that the only reason he wasn't on the starting roster was that he lost at Paper, Rock, Scissors. Initially, everyone underestimates the Chu as they cannot feel his complete energy, even when he dealt with his teammates. Koto calls for an opponent to enter the ring, and Yusuke surprises everyone by jumping energetically into the ring. The smell of alcohol awoke him from his recuperative slumber, and he prepares to fight the Chu, showing that he still has his trademark cockiness and confident attitude. Soon after, the "kill Yusuke" chant begins. Both Hiei and Kurama feel that something feels off when it comes to the Chu, suspecting that he is in fact the true team leader, a strong and formidable opponent. The Chu continues to drink during the prematch happenings and when he finally begins to engage Yusuke in battle, his drunkenness is revealed to be his strength. Yusuke is in for a tough match, for the Chu is in fact a master at Suiken.
Soon enough, the match begins and the Chu begins to release his energy and dance around the ring in the Sui-ken style as Yusuke struggles to follow his movements. His unpredictability gives him the early edge as he punches Yusuke five times in a split second. He continues to press his advantage against Yusuke, who can't seem to land a single blow. Yusuke, at last, connects with a massive right hook, but the Chu turns the tables quickly, kicking Yusuke out of the ring and into the adjacent crowd barrier. Throughout the fight, Chu continues to talk to Koto in a drunken stupor.
Right before the conclusion of a ten count, Yusuke jumps back into the ring. At this, even Keiko is rejuvenated while cheering Yusuke on. It's at this point that Yusuke seems to realize the Chu prefers to fight to the death. He fires a spirit gun blast destroying a portion of the stadium roof in an attempt to intimidate the Chu. The Chu responds by going into his own secret move, pulling out a bottle of ogre killer which ironically, revitalizes his energy and brings out his true power. As his power continues to increase, the entire stadium is eclipsed by Chu's aura. As a side effect of drinking the strongest alcohol known to man, Chu vomits, killing the previously tense atmosphere.
The Chu begins to create an orange energy ball, which Hiei recognizes as his finishing move. He throws his attack just as Yusuke fires his spirit gun. The energy clash results in an anticlimactic draw. Both fighters then launch into offensive flurries of blows, not even bothering to block the other's attacks. The Chu then creates a much larger blast of energy and throws it at Yusuke, and it looks like the end of the match for Urameshi. Yusuke surprises everyone by firing the last of his spirit gun ammo in rapid succession a barrage he calls the Spirit Gun Double. Both Chu's and Yusuke's energy connect with their targets, leaving both fighters helpless on their feet. The Chu has a proposition to end the fight once and for all...
The fight continues with both Yusuke and Chu completely drained of their energy. The Chu proposes they end the fight with a Knife-Edge Deathmatch, and after Yusuke eagerly agrees despite not knowing what the deathmatch entails they wait for a decision from the tournament committee. While waiting for approval, Chu proceeds to explain the rules of the deathmatch: the two will fight to the death with their fists after placing their feet in front of knives stabbed into the ground. Rinku seems confident the Chu will win, while Team Urameshi remains more neutral except for Kuwabara who seems completely clueless. The committee wavers on the decision, but eventually allows the match into play.
The weather takes an ominous and foreboding turn as the match gets underway and both competitors begin to pummel the life out of each other with heavy punches. Everyone watches in suspense and admiration as Chu and Yusuke exchange impressive flurries of body blows and uppercuts. Meanwhile, an enigmatic demon makes his first appearance of the series in the halls of the stadium, leaving the security guards smoldering on the concrete. His name is revealed to be Karasu, and he is a member of the favorites Team Toguro. Keiko gets worried about Yusuke and leaves the stands crying, and Shizuru follows but loses her and is ganged up on by numerous low-class demons. Fortunately for her, Sakyo diverts her path and rescues her from a gruesome fate.
Keiko reappears on the arena floor and confronts Kuwabara about why he isn't helping Yusuke, who has flashbacks of Toguro. He explains to her how they got trapped into fighting at the Dark Tournament and that as a team, they want to be there fighting to settle things once and for all. Keiko then understands as she sees the exhilaration on Yusuke's face as he trades blows with the Chu. The two then end the fight with a double headbutt, Chu's trademark, and it seems the stronger head will prevail. The Chu goes down and Koto counts him out. After the match, he tells Yusuke to finish him off following the terms of the match. However, Yusuke refuses, telling him they'll fight again when he's better. The two show how honorable they are through this exchange and the Urameshi team wins the round!
"Hey! Your stepping out into the sunlight." Yusuke spoke up as their heads turned to look over at Nezuko. She was standing right in front of them not affected by the sunlight that didn't hurt her skin or made her hiss in pain.
"It doesn't hurt, right?" Nezuko shook her head as she smiled under her muzzle. She paced over to Yusuke giving him a bear hug that she really missed him being awake.
"She sure did miss you being awake," Kuwabara said.
"He did sleep quite a long time only to be awakened by alcohol," Kurama said with a light chuckle.
Yusuke broke out of the hug as he gave her a head pat making Nezuko even happier. She glanced behind Yusuke to see the fallen stumbling warrior that had lost as she pushed her way through to climb into the ring. She went over to the Chu as the warrior stares at the girl as she gave him a head pat making him smile.
"Well, I think she's trying to assure him that he did what he had to do. Not just by winning, but by playing fair." Botan said.
"Hey! Nezuko, we're heading back to the hotel." Yusuke called over at the demon girl as she whips her head to wave goodbye to the Chu and followed her friends back to the hotel. When they were heading back to the hotel, Yusuke was exhausted after the fight he had against the Chu. While he sat on the floor, Nezuko lays her head on his lap to rest her head as she stared up at the ceiling blocking everything out of her system.
"She's always laying on the floor staring into her own world," Kuwabara said.
Yusuke grinned, he started patting the girl's head making Nezuko shut her eyes at his touch. "She's like that back at my place too. It's her thing." He slightly shrugged as Nezuko nuzzled against him even further, but she didn't know that there was an angry demon glaring at the human for doing that to her. Yusuke giving her all of the affection and the head pat that she wanted from him and not from last night.
"She really wanted you to wake up yesterday. So, well, she gave you headbutt instead." Kurama grinned.
"A headbutt?" Keiko quirk her eyebrows at Yusuke.
The male-only chuckled, "I knew I felt something hard against my skull. That really did hurt."
"You even made her cry when she did that," Kuwabara added.
"Really? Geez, I'm sorry I didn't give you attention Nezuko." Yusuke chuckled.
Kurama smiled at the loving friendship scenery as Nezuko only made noises coming from her mouth as she smiled up at Yusuke. She forgave him. He looked over to see that Hiei was making a grumpy look on his face while watching them.
"Is something bothering you, Hiei?" Kurama inquired glancing over at the fire demon who responded with a "Hn."
"No. I'm fine," Hiei reassured.
"Well, now that Yusuke is awake. She might as well sleep in the same room with Yusuke." Kurama said as Hiei tensed up a little when he mentioned Nezuko going to sleep with the Detective in the same room along with that fool. His eye twitches at the thought of it that churn in his stomach. Has she not realized that a woman needs privacy and not around men?
"Does she even want to?" Hiei asked.
"Why not ask her yourself," Kurama says trying to imply Hiei to ask the demon girl if she would like to sleep in the same share two-bedroom with him.
Nezuko sits up to walk over to Keiko giving her a head pat as she faced over to Hiei and Kurama. She gave them a head pat too before she sat on the couch between Kuwabara and Shizure swinging her legs back and forth.
When night came around Nezuko was heading back to the bedroom where she slept before until she bumped into Hiei on the way there. She tilted her head wondering why he was blocking her way refusing to let her back into the same room with him.
"Mmm?" She raised an eyebrow at Hiei to see him giving her a straight face.
"Where are you going?" Hiei inquired. Nezuko pointed behind him that was the door she was ready to head inside.
He then asked, "Why? Yusuke's awake since you were crying desperately to wake him up. You should go sleep with him."
Yusuke appears from behind Nezuko with his arms folded over his chest looking down at Hiei. "There isn't enough room to sleep in the same room that I sleep in. Plus, I don't want her to sleep on the floor and I might end up stepping on her." He explained to the fire demon as he continued, "Kurama told me that she slept in the same room like you. If it bothers you that much then just let her sleep on the couch."
Hiei looks at Yusuke then at Nezuko who looked a little sad too. He let a sigh escape his lips," She can stay in the same room. I thought you would rather have your demon partner to be sleeping with you." He felt a sting of jealousy in him by mentioning them sleeping together after watching them embrace earlier.
He saw the look on the detective's face that was disgusted and he shook his head. "No. Nezuko and I are not like that. She's like a little sister to me." His expression changed as he gave Nezuko a head pat to make the girl smile and giggle a little. "Besides she's happy to see me awake and not sleeping on my ass like yesterday."
"I get it," Hiei reassured. When Yusuke left the fire demon allowed Nezuko to walk into the room. As Hiei enters he saw Nezuko standing there like a statue as he looked at her quite confused to see her like that. "Why are you standing there?" He watches as Nezuko approached him as she looked down to see Hiei's burnt hand gently touch it trying to soothe it. Hiei watches her movements carefully not to make his arm sting by her touch as she stares up to meet his gaze.
"I think that's enough. You better rest up for tomorrow." He told her as she stopped before giving him a head pat and went to go run a shower. Hiei took a moment to look down at his hand after succeeding the power of the dark dragon in his possession.