Chapter 16: Training

Hayami's POV

"HE TELLS YOU TO WHAT?!" Ranumi yelled, mostly in worry.

All of us, including Kurama, are in the living room discussing about the stupid invitation that the younger Toguro told them. We were all sitting on the couch, discussing our dilemma.

"I'm afraid so." Kurama said as father sighed and leaned back onto the couch.

"He told Yusuke that we only have two months of training before the tournament." Hiei said, "Might as well use our time for training."

"To think I thought our lives would be just fine after coming here to the human world, but a dark past has come again." Father said and looked at me in concern. "Hayami, I know you wanted to avoid this as much as possible, but I'm sure that Toguro would be expecting you to be there in the tournament after they left you for dead back in demon world."

"I know. Even if I don't want to do this, we don't have a choice but to accept." I said looking down. "I'm joining in this fight if it means for our survival in that tournament."

They all nodded in understanding as we heard the doorbell ringing.

"I'll get it." Ranumi said as she walked over to the door. "Guys, we have a visitor." She said as she walked back inside with Kuwabara behind her.

"Kuwabara, what brings you here tonight?" Father asked,

"I only came here to ask if you can train me for the tournament, Mr. Ezume." Kuwabara said, "Since you did train your daughter and I thought that maybe you could help me as well with Hiei and Kurama."

"Yes, I did train Hayami along with Genkai's in order to control them, but to give you a reminder Kuwabara that she is half human, and her powers are far greater than yours." Father stated,

I know it sounded offensive, but father only said it because he doesn't want to severely hurt Kuwabara went it comes to training. Mostly because when training with him, going easy is his sign of preparation for brutality.

"I don't care. Whatever it's gonna take, I'll train as hard as I can." Kuwabara said,

"Are you sure, Kuwabara?" Ranumi asked,

"Hm, he might be killed before the training even starts." Hiei said, sitting next to me on the couch.

"Do you want me to fight you, shorty?!" Kuwabara shouted around him.

Hiei smirked, "Try me, you fool." He said, crossing his arms.

"Oh, that's it!" Kuwabara said as he was about to walk up to him,

"If you two will fight, take it outside the house, and Kuwabara, lower your voice. It's already night. We don't want the neighbors to start yelling at us for being loud." I stated, crossing my arms as he stopped in his tracks and pouted.

"Anyways, since the four of you will need the training, we'll meet in the clearing of the forest tomorrow after your school time." Father said, "Of course, while Kurama and Kuwabara will be in school, I'll be training Hayami and Hiei. Ranumi will be attending to all of us for any injuries after training. Just remember that this training will be taken seriously and no complaints."

"Right." We all agreed.

"Then it's decided." Father said as he stood up, "Tomorrow, I'll be observing your weaknesses after small sparring with each other. That way, I know what type of training will be needed."

"Thank you, Mr. Ryuji." Kurama said,

"Good. It's best if you two head home to your families before they get worried." Father said to Kuwabara, and Kurama and they bid their goodnight to us. "You three should get some rest as well." He said as he faced us.

"Father, do you think that we'll make it out alive?" I can't help but ask.

"I'm sure you guys can win in that tournament." Ranumi said, "Though I will admit that I'm going to be worried if something bad will happen during that."

"It's best to not be overconfident about it, but we can only hope that the training we'll do will pay off." Father said as we all nodded.

We all went back to our respective rooms, while Hiei decided to stay with me in my room since I am his mate and father and Ranumi were fine with it.

Hiei was taking a shower while I was drying my hair with my hairdryer and my hairbrush. I was wearing a light lavender tank top and purple shorts. My thoughts went to the training that we will be doing for the next two months.

I was mostly worried about how Kuwabara is going to handle the training. He was nearly killed back in maze castle so I'm not sure how is he going to do in the training with my father and the others. Kurama would be just fine, though it would be an advantage if he transformed back into his demon form. At least the team could use Yoko when times are desperate during the fight. Yusuke is whom Toguro wanted to fight, so I just hope his training with Genkai, to which I'm sure he'll be going, pays off and that it'll be enough.

I heard the bathroom door open to see Hiei drying his hair. He was shirtless and was wearing his black pajamas as he walked out. I blushed at the sight of his upper body and just looked away. Despite that I'm officially his mate, I can't help but admire how well-fit Hiei's body is.

I put the hairdryer and brush down on the table until was carried by strong arms and placed on the bed. I yelp a little by surprise to see Hiei smirking as he looked down at me as I was still in his arms. I was still blushing.

"You shouldn't be embarrassed to look at me that way, Onna." He said smirking as he caresses my cheek. "After all, you are mine."

"Well, I couldn't help but still get flustered whenever I see you like this." I said, placing my hand on the back of his neck. "Either I'm still getting used to the fact that we're mates or that I'm just starting to get obsessed over you."

Hiei chuckled and leaned down for a kiss as our lips dance in sync. He licked my lips, asking for entrance as I hesitantly let him. Our tongues played with other as I felt Hiei hovered over me. His hands went around my waist as he pulled me closer to him and my arms unconsciously wrapped around his neck.

We pulled back for air as we stared at each other lovingly. Hiei gave me another kiss. "I won't mind you being obsessed over me, Onna." He said as he pulled away from the kiss. "Since I'm already obsessed with you from the start."

We both chuckled as Hiei leaned on his side on the bed while keeping me in his arms.

"We should get some rest, love." I said to him, as he kissed my forehead and pulled me closer to him.

"Right. Goodnight, Onna." He said,

"Goodnight, Hiei. I love you." I said closing my eyes and snuggling closer to himself

"I love you too, Hayami." He heard him say as we both fall asleep.

Third POV

The next day, training became intense. Ryuji observes each and everyone's skills in battle as everyone spars against each other in pairs. The first pair was Hiei and Kurama and the other was Kuwabara and Hayami.

Kuwabara kept saying that he couldn't fight Hayami because she's a girl, but Hayami decided to pull the trigger in order for him to fight her and it worked. Kuwabara was also surprised that he was able to get a few good hits on Hayami but wasn't enough to take her down.

Hiei and Kurama's battle was pretty much even. Mostly through experience and their skills are evenly matched.

Hayami sparred against Kurama after his fight with Hiei and the two were giving it all. Kurama even tried trapping her with his vines, but she was able to cut through it with her water-made weapons.

Hiei and Kuwabara's fight only ended short when they fought with bamboo-length swords.

"At this rate, you'll never survive." Hiei said to him as he dropped his bamboo and walked beside Ryuji, observing Hayami and Kurama's fight.

A few minutes Hayami and Hiei fought last and their skills in using their swords are evenly matched, though Hiei's speed was greater than hers, and was easy for him to catch her off guard, she managed to sense him in the last second every time.

Kurama and Kuwabara's fight was mostly pushing Kuwabara to his limits. Only for him to react quickly and to have his spirit power rise to an even more powerful level.

For the two months of training, everyone trained with Ryuji personally and was able to improve their skills and power in a matter of a short time. Though all in all, everyone's effort to train each other paid off.

Ranumi was proud of everyone for training hard as she used her healing powers in their wounds. Mostly on Kuwabara because he mostly took the most injuries. During their breaks, Ranumi insisted in teaching her sister in improving her healing powers. In this, they were able to spend some time together.

Right now, it was just a week before the tournament. Ryuji told them that after four more days of training then they'll be ready, and two days of rest were needed. Ryuji asked Hayami to come with him for a small talk as they went to talk somewhere in private.

"My ocean, there's something I needed to tell you. Something your mother said to me about your appearance when you were born." Ryuji said, facing his daughter as she looked up at him.

"What is it father?" Hayami asked,

"When you were born, you had a demon form." He then explained to her. "Your mother told me that your demon form had a power that is greater than that of an infant."

"So, what caused me to be in this human form if I had my demon form when I was born?" She asked,

"Wakumi...took half of your power, causing you to transform in your form now. She said that the power you held back then could've killed you if she didn't take half of the power you had." He said, "She planned on telling you when you were eighty years old, because you were strong enough to handle half of your power and that she would give back the other half of your power. Of course, her plans were interrupted by her visions upon seeing the Toguros."

"So, she not only gives back half of my power, but she just gave all of her powers..." Hayami said in shock to what she is hearing. "...Why? Why didn't she tell me from the start?" She couldn't feel anything but anger and disappointment in what she was hearing from her father.

Ryuji placed both his hands on her shoulder and sighed. "Hayami, your mother did it to protect you. She never wanted you to blame yourself for being a cursed child." He said wiping a tear that fell from her eyes. "Your mother loved you so much, but she was afraid of how you would react if she ever told you about your demon form. Hayami, Wakumi doesn't want to lose the child that gave her the strength to keep going. And she mostly doesn't want to lose her first child."

Hayami cried silently as she hugged her father tightly. Ryuji rubbed her back gently in comfort.

"Hayami, your mother loves you with all her heart. She loves all of us and was willing to sacrifice her own life just to save us." Ryuji said as he gently lifted his daughter's chin. "The reason why I fell in love with her and will forever cherish the thing things she cared about most...And that is her beautiful children."

"I just...I just missed her...so much." Hayami sobbed,

"I know dear, I know. We all do." He said as he wiped away her tears. "Let it be known that your mother is very proud of you, even if she isn't here with us."

She nodded in understanding as she calmed herself down after crying.

Little did they know is that Hiei heard the whole conversation. He felt sympathy for his mate and knows that her mother was very dear to her. Even after meeting Lady Wakumi, Hiei felt as if he was treated as a son by her, to which he hesitantly took it as a compliment at first but grew to respect her and her family.

The two went back to the group to discuss the last training before the tournament.