Disclaimer: Still don't own them…
Part 6"...I expect you to be there. I don't think I need to tell you of the consequences should you not follow. Don't force me to do something horrible Kurama, especially now, that is a crucial moment. Prepare well, kitsune; I hope you've been training like I instructed you to. Farewell, I will meet you in a week."
Kurama quietly stared at the disappearing figure of the horned youkai on the wall, taking with it the stain and the broken shards of glass, and then looked forlornly outside. The breeze played with some of the leaves of the tree outside. Without warning, the winds howled and knocked on the glass of the viewer. The redhead balled his hand into a fist and held it painfully until it bled. As he jerked his head up, a bolt of lightning struck the branch overlooking his window. Kurama, eyes hooded, smiled.
I hate you... Hiei.
"Ano... Tokiya, what is it? Koganei-chan, you're a genius, tell us what it is!"
The two cringed their ears and turned their attention to the opaque ball on the table. It was strange: a crystalline ball with this black fluid-like thing inside. And the way they found it... It was after the redhead's kidnapping attempt. Suddenly, Kaoru's head perked up, "Ano... Maybe it's a bomb! Oh no!"
Immediately, Doumon and Recca panicked and the latter managed to pick the object up and started to throw it. Tokiya objected, "Oi! Stop!"
Kaoru sweatdropped and began, "Hey... I was just kidding, don't-" But it was too late. The flamemaster had already let go of the ball and it went sailing towards the window -
Only to hit the side of it due to his bad aim. The ball smashed into infinite pieces. Now, it was Recca who sweatdropped. The Adamantium Blade wielder exasperatedly said, "Look what happened! You are so pathetic!"
"Oh yeah? Well I was not the one who thought it was a bomb!"
"Well I'm not the one with the bad aim!"
Tokiya held up his hand, "Quiet, you immature... whatever."
Recca and Kaoru stopped, thank God and Doumon finally stopped gaping. The four watched as the fluid from the shattered ball started climbing the wall and began taking form. Finally, a horned figure was completed. Doumon overreacted, "Oh no! It's a ghost! Kill it!" Before he could do anything, however, it spoke up:
"Greetings! Don't smash the wall or do anything to destroy it, I am not really here. This is a message ball. As you may have presumed, I am a youkai, believe it or not-"
The four blinked. It never occurred to them that he was a youkai...
"I am giving you this message to invite you to a tournament in the monster world. I have heard that you have won one of your own in the past, and I pose this more challenging battle. It will not be easier than your last. In fact, it will be much harder. And, like that battle, you will have to bet something-"
Recca's brow twitched. Not his hime again...
"It will not be a life, but a precious thing in your possession. I'm sure you are interested and are wondering how to get to the venue."
Doumon, Kaoru and Recca all nodded their heads as Tokiya snorted.
"Next week, Saturday, go to the Tokyo Botanical Garden. There is a rock next to the pond with a strange marking. Tap it three times and you will be transported here, where my servants will welcome you and provide needed accommodations. A maximum of six players each team is required."
Recca scratched his head and started counting.
"I am hoping that you would join gamely. You can win a lot of very... interesting prizes, and you will see your level of fighting. Remember, Saturday, the Botanical Garden."
~ÀÀÀÀÀ~
A firefly went up with the wind, its tiny point of light flashing spasmodically. Kurama watched, fascinated. His verdant eyes followed the little creature wherever it went: the ceiling, the window, his desk, and to finally land on his open palm. The redhead could hear a slight snore, and from the corner of his eye, he saw a cozily sleeping Kuwabara, drool down the side of his face, and a slack smile to match. He returned his attention to the insect and that point of light. It seemed to be pulsing from orange to red, to yellow, to red. And Kurama thought hard. Fire... fly. In a single moment, his hand closed, and the shine quickly disappeared in a cave of darkness.
I HATE YOU!
~ÀÀÀÀÀ~
"Oi, Ku- I mean, Shuuichi!"
The freshman stopped walking and turned his head towards the voice. Kuwabara noisily sidled up towards his friend, "Hey!"
A nod, "Good morning, Kuwabara. You're up early today. Classes were suspended because of a slight... they didn't really say."
"Is it a slight disturbance?" came the enthusiastic reply. Kurama paused, "You're quite excited. May I ask why?"
"Well..." the taller guy started to unwrap a sandwich and threw the wrapper God-knows-where, and continued in between gulps, "Last night. (chomp) Shthere swash a (gulp) weird ki."
Kurama's eyebrows furrowed. Kuwabara wanted to smoothen out that forehead. He really didn't like it when Kurama frowned. I've seen enough of that... Please. Smile even just a LITTLE. "A weird ki? How so?"
At least that frown's gone. "You see, I was sleeping. Then in my dream, a wave of... something kind of weird... I mean, the ki felt so familiar, yet there was an... evil tinge to it," he slightly shivered, "And it felt like death was upon me. Hey... You usually stay up late. Didn't you feel it?"
The redhead only shook his head and greeted someone as they walked passed by her. The girl seemed to turn red all over. Kuwabara gave an exasperated sideglance, Why do chicks always have to fall for HIM, not ME? As if reading his thoughts, Kurama spoke up, "You already have Yukina."
The big man sheepishly smiled, then a thought hit him, "Oh yeah! Wasn't there going to be another tournament?"
Kurama stopped by the front door of their shared room and turned to face the carrot-top, "Hai. How did you-"
"I'm psychic you know. Hehehe... Anyway, I'm entering."
That really got Kurama's attention, "Kuwabara, it's best that you sit this one out-"
"Again?! No way! We can reunite our forces. You, me, Yuusuke, Hi-" He managed to cut off himself in time.
Too late. Kurama winced, "Yuusuke has his domain to be group with, I'm with Yomi."
There's that weird ki againWAITAMINUTE! Is that from... "Um... Can't you have um... Two groups? Come on, for old time's sake." Damn. I think it IS from-
"Even though, we would still lack members. We need SIX, Kuwa-chan. And-"
"So? There are already three of us. Why don't we take in those you trained last time, like Touya, Rinku, Jin... You know."
"I... I have to ask permission from my Lo- from Yomi. But if it were me, I'd agree."
Kuwabara smiled, but he was already deep in thought, That bad ki...
~ÀÀÀÀÀ~
Hiei looked up from the decapitated body he just took care of. He spotted Mukuro, or rather, felt her coming from towards their fortress. "Little fire demon..."
"Stop calling me that."
"Oh... What shall I call you then? What was that name Kurama used to tease to you? Hm... let me-"
A cold steel met her throat. She merely smiled, "My. Aren't we in a pissy mood?"
"I'm.Not.In.A.MOOD."
"You better not be. The tournament is in four days. We can't afford to lose. I'm betting quite a large piece of land, Hiei. I'm expecting you to perform well." "Hn."
"Oh, and about Kurama... As expected, he is working with YOMI."
A sly smile was hidden from view. In a flash, a tree suddenly fell down, cut vertically in its middle. The ruler raised a brow, "My... Not pissed off, aren't we?" Hiei growled menacingly. Why does that kitsune have to stay with that goat anyway? He's not only power-hungry, but he's also a friggin maniac! The carrot-topped woman sighed and shook her head, "You mean that sly fox didn't tell you? What a surprise!"
She was grabbed by her robe, "I'm not in the mood for playing games, woman."
Mukuro scoffed as she freed herself, "Don't be so rough, now. I am your ruler, show me even just a bit of respect you give that redhead. Ha! I wish you would be as obedient as he is to Yomi-" "Urusai!"
Mukuro stopped blabbering and rolled her good eye, "Well."
"Give me the reason, woman."
"You have to say please first."
"Dammit! If you don't tell me now, I'll-" "GOD, Hiei, you're no fun to tease! I wonder how Kurama coped with you."
Hiei gritted his teeth, "Now, Mukuro."
"Oh, right. They used to be partners, that's all."
"Hn. There's no way that fox could-"
"Remember that he was a youko at that time."
That made Hiei pause and think. He'd had the same doubts with Kurama at first, that the redhead wanted power, that he would kill to get what he wants... But was proven wrong. Through their stay together, he had showed such friendship, compassion. And that is why- Hiei shook his head, "So? He doesn't have to come back to being with Yomi and go serving that mania- goat again."
"That is what I can't figure out, providing that in the past, there was a change of roles: Yomi served Kurama then. Or preferably, he was the inferior one."
Dammit, kitsune. I can never figure out what's going through that red head of yours. Why? WHY, DAMMIT?! Sometimes, I just want to wring your neck. And then, there are times when... Mukuro walked away leisurely, leaving a seething koorime behind.
"Okay, Enki. We've just finished our list. But why do we need ten of us? Max fighters are six. No more than that."
Enki browsed through the figures of Natsumi, Shiji, Kedo, Li, Soun, Ten, Iraza, and Coco, lingering for a while there, with a slack grin on his face. Finally, he turned to Yuusuke, "It's for unseen circumstances, boy. I've been in this business longer than you have, I should know."
"Eh... Whatever. But I don't want any fighting as to who will battle in a match."
Enki boomed out laughter, and the whole place seemed to shake. He called out his friends, "Oi! Oi! Everyone, meet Raizen's descendant! This is his great, great, great, um... grandson, Yuusuke."
The eight stopped for a while to look at the half-ningen in front of them. Li fished something out of his pocket and threw it at Yuusuke, who managed to easily duck it. But even so, something seemed to bind to him, and that something spoke up, "Very strong. Ki level, cannot be computed. Cannot be computed." With that, it burst to flames and the ashes fell to the ground.
This time, with interest, they approached, with the exception of Natsumi and Coco (they already met Yuusuke in the past), and began:
"Li. I use magic."
"Shiji. Specializing in weaponry."
"Soun. This is my power." He commanded the ground at Yuusuke's feet to move. The teenager almost fell, but managed to maintain his balance.
"Ten. I'm as fast as lightning."
"Iraza, singing diva." This earned a few catcalls.
"Kedo."
Yuusuke strained to hear more words, but none came. Hm... Like Hiei. Though I'd love to beat up that runt as much as Kuwabara does..."Yoshi! We're all set! To the tournament!"
"HAI!"
As Yuusuke exchanged grins, he remembered Keiko's reaction when she heard that another tournament was in order.
"Another one! Oh no, Yuusuke, you are definitely not joining!"
That was preceded by pans and other kitchen ware being thrown at him.
Yuusuke painfully rubbed his bandaged forehead, Keiko...
The whole noise seemed to have been vacuumed when a presence was felt. Everyone turned towards the elm tree to their right, and a figure materialized. It was of a black-dressed figure. Yuusuke instantly reacted, "What do you want?" Cold, and dangerous voice.
From the corner of his eye, the visitor could see the others tensing up, "Please do not attack. I only have a message for Yuusuke."
There was a collective relaxation, as Yuusuke stepped forward to receive the envelope, "What does Yomi want? It better not be a proposal for an alliance of some sort-"
"Iya, not from Lord Yomi. It's from Lord Kurama."
"Kurama?" That made Yuusuke grab the letter faster, Is he in trouble? What is Yomi doing to him? As he looked up towards the messenger, the shadowy figure had already disappeared. Well, can't do anything about that. He ripped the side of the scented envelope, and freed the message. His eyes moved as he slowly absorbed what was written in the piece of paper, and then nodded at Enki. The fat youkai approved and immediately, he headed to the nearest portal. Kuwabara... I know what you're thinking. Do you think Kurama will agree?
"Ah... What will you do now, Minamino-kun? Where are those two gorillas who protect you like hell, huh? Where?"
Kurama slowly backed up to a wall. He winced as he heard the former statement. True. Itosugi had been sent to detention for beating up one of this guy's lackeys for trying to hurt him, and Kuwabara had been forcefully called for a make-up test. That left him alone, and unprotected. Even Itosugi's friends weren't around. Besides, this was an isolated area, and the redhead began to regret having visited this serene place to think of his problems. Tofu must have followed him here. Two hands painfully pinned his shoulder to the wall, "There, there. Where shall I start?"
The junior took a knife and popped a few buttons off his uniform, to prove how sharp it was, then pressed it agonizingly on his cheek, causing the milky white skin to yield and bleed. The torturer smiled, "Ne, maybe I should start by cutting off your tongue first, so you can't scream. What do you think?"
Kurama was starting to get angry. People always think I'm weak. Well, how shall I kill thee? Let me count- WHAT WAS I THINKING? He was too shocked about where his contemplations were leading to, to even notice how Tofu forced his mouth to open and braced the knife. The older guy paused in decisiveness, and spoke up, "But maybe I'll enjoy this lusciousness for a while."
He rapidly took the redhead's mouth and savored the sweet taste. It served to snap Kurama out of his pensiveness. Panicked, he tried to push the heavier man, and only managed to budge minutely from the grip. As he was about to command his plants (there was no doubt plenty in the area, it was a garden), a fist connected with Tofu's head, instantly breaking the kiss. Yuusuke rubbed the spot where his fist connected and spoke up, "Get your filthy self off him. Think I'll let you hurt him? Well, think again."
Kurama didn't see how his friend beat up the offending junior, he was too busy panting and touching his bruised lips, not quite sure why it happened... But his memories seemed to help calm him down. By the time he reached sanity, Yuusuke was already done with Tofu. He took a handkerchief and pressed it to the redhead's wound. Kurama's eyes began to glaze, "Yuusuke..."
The raven-haired youth embraced the lithe form, while maintaining his hold on the handkerchief, "Daijoubu?"
Although no tears came, Yuusuke still felt so bad for his friend. Damn! That was so close... Kurama stirred and separated himself from Yuusuke, "Hai. Doumo."
The shorter one looked at his friend, Damn. He's just too good at hiding his feelings. Kurama, let me help you.... There was a moment of silence before Yuusuke moved to reach for something in his pocket, and when he pulled it out, he waved the letter in his hand.
"I think I would like to form another group, with you and Kuwabara. Rules didn't state that you couldn't participate in two teams... Besides, let us let Kuwabara reminisce the old times..."
Kurama looked up to uncertainly meet shining brown eyes.
~ÀÀÀÀÀ~
"Oi! Only three more days 'til the tournament. We still lack one player! Ideas, guys! Ideas!" Recca was getting desperate. As he scanned through his teammates, he slightly winced as he saw Fuuko bandaging Doumon's arm for the time-being because their healer had gone to the market. Ganko was sobbing softly, holding the talking stuffed toy closely, Kaoru, leaning against the wall, as if without a care in the world, and Tokiya seemed to be playing with his redhead companion. They had regrouped here, in Kagero's hut still last Wednesday, and started training since then, all except Shuuichi, who just arrived with Tokiya that day, Friday. The flamecaster sweatdropped as he remembered the disastrous results they came up with when they tried to look for a sixth member.
"Here! Try here, there's a hole!" Fuuko was excitedly calling out to here friends.
Doumon, Ganko, her stuffed toy ran towards the voice, as Kaoru followed slowly, at the same time, calling out to the disappearing backs, "I don't think that's a good idea..." Ganko's not used to-As he stopped, he heard Doumon saying, "At least we have some ideas. Not like some genius-"
That caught Kaoru's attention and got him agitated, "Hah! At least I don't do things impulsively like some stupid idiots... Look at what happened to the forest." The burly man followed the pointed finger and his eyes bulged out as he saw all the trees that were cut and lying down the forest floor. But before he could formulate a retort, Ganko's frilly scream was heard, "Ack! It's alive! Waah!!"
Fuuko jumped away, "Guys, look out!"
A branch moved in and attempted to hit the two arguing youths. Kaoru, being nimble, quickly avoided the blow, but Doumon, still thinking (?) what to do, was swiped and he landed a few meters away. Immediately, Kaoru used his weapon, "Arrow!" True to aim, the jewel fell from the hole where it was placed. The tree stopped moving and started to fall...
Recca paused and turned to the sound of another tree crashing. As he faced his mother's back again, the latter's pace in cutting vegetables had quickened, seemingly getting impatient, "Recca, what are your friends up to?"
"Um... Practicing, 'kaasan." He fidgeted from his kneeling position and resumed begging, "Please, 'kaasan. Be our sixth member... We have no other player..."
"I already told you: no. I can't fight in there. I'm not sure I can keep up. All I know is to throw knives and not die."
Her son sweatdropped, "I promise we'll win all the fights, so your turn won't come. Come on..."
A tic seemed to have formed under his mother's eye as she turned to face Recca, the knife still in hand, "Do you want me to hurt you right now, so your turn won't come as well?"
That got Recca running.
The leader huffed out some air. What a day this was... Suddenly, Kaoru spoke up, "Why don't I just fight twice? I can handle it."
"Kaoru, we're not sure how strong our opponents are. They're not humans after all..."
"Ouch! Fuuko! That hurts!" "Quit being a whiner." "Ow!!!"
"She's right, you know. We have to have another member. Guys... Give me ideas!"
'It was so close... I should have been there... That Tofu guy's going to pay. He's going to regret what he did once I'm through with him.'
Slowly, he stroked the red mane, slowly, he caressed the smooth skin, enticing the younger to falling into slumber. The redhead squirmed, resisting. Tokiya sighed quietly. When he turned to look around, he caught sight of Recca staring at them. When the latter met eyes with the Hyomon Ken master, he blushed, and scratched his cheek, "Ano... ideas?"
Tokiya snorted, closed his eyes and looked away, as he replied, "Yanagi-san seems to have one." With that, he stood up, still carrying his cousin in his arms, spun around, and headed towards their shared room. A sound of protest escaped the redhead's lips. Recca was about to react, but his head swung to the sound of the door opening. All signs of worry disappeared from him and he smiled widely as he saw his princess coming in, "Hime-" his greeting was cut short when he remembered Tokiya's words, "Yanagi-san seems to have one." What could it be?
As if on cue, the newcomer greeted everyone, " Minna-san! Guess who I bumped into."
Fuuko stopped treating Doumon's wounds, Ganko wiped her eyes, and all of them gazed at the coming figure.
"SAICHO!"
"NO!"
Tokiya sighed, exasperatedly, this time, "Come on, Shuu-chan. You have to rest..."
Kurama tried to push away the blankets and pillow his cousin attempted to cover him with, I'll dream of that ungrateful... BASTARD again. No, no more. "Iya! I'm not going to sleep! No!"
"Shuu-chan..." Tokiya warned, and pinned the redhead to the bed. Kurama slightly thrashed, but was quickly getting tired. Instead, he screamed, "Iya! No, no no!"
Everyone paused from welcoming Saicho, when they heard an alto voice. Doumon started, "What's going on?"
"I'll go check," said their fearless leader.
He opened the door and almost choked when he saw the Ensui-wielder on top of a squirming Shuuichi. "Tokiya! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
Recca pulled off the brown-haired youth and painfully pushed him against the wall. From the corner of his eye, he saw the redhead sitting up and watched the scene playing before him. Recca shook with anger, "Tokiya! You- Don't you know that you're not supposed to... to... hurt -"
"Hanabishi, get off me."
"I can't... let you..." the words were already strained.
Kurama worriedly viewed what was going on, quietly wondering what this was about. He didn't know why Recca was so angry with his cousin, Tokiya-kun...?
"Hanabishi, if you don't let me go now, I'll make you suffer miserably-"
"How can you call yourself his LOVER when you try to-"
Tokiya stopped pushing against the flamecaster, "His what?" Kurama was also surprised, 'My what?'
"His lover, dammit!" He punched the wall beside Tokiya's head asking himself, 'Why is he so surprised? Did he think I was that thick-headed to not notice?' To his agitation, and surprise, his captive stared to laugh out loud. When he turned, he caught sight of the redhead, tremors running through his body, also seeming to... chuckle? "Huh? Will someone explain to me what's going on?"
Tokiya let go of the lock of hair he was holding, "Baka! You actually thought..." More laughter came, "that we were... That one is priceless, Hanabishi! Us..."
He pushed the confused youth away and gave the redhead a quick kiss on the forehead. Recca blushed upon seeing this and started to bow his head, but a voice made him freeze, "Save it, flamecaster," Tokiya seemed to have regained his composure, "You actually thought that we were lovers?"
Recca dumbfoundedly nodded.
"Then I gave you more credit than I should have, numbskull." "Oi! I resent that!"
"Yes, we may have a relationship..." Recca's ears grew big, "But Shuuichi and I are mere cousins. Relatives."
"Ju-Just..." but a thought quickly popped into his head, for revenge, as his eyes quickly narrowed into that evil, teasing look, "But the way you act... It's like, you know..."
The related boys sweatdropped (again, hehe...) and Tokiya smashed Recca on the head, "You've been watching too much porn."
"Don't tell my hime that -- I mean, of course, I don't! But wait-" Another thought popped into his head (they just keep coming, don't they?), "What were you doing to him a while ago? Huh?" His eyebrows were raised to match his knowing look. Because of that, he garnered another bop on the head, "I was trying to put him to sleep, hentai-minded nitwit!"
"Oh... Hehe..."
"I'm not going to sleep!"