Chapter 18: First Fight
Hayami's POV
It was the day of the tournament. I woke up seeing Hiei's arm around my waist and my back against his chest. I turned to face him as my face was just inches away from him. Taking in the scent of his breath as he sleeps peacefully. I leaned over and kiss him. I felt him woke up from the kiss as he gladly returned it. Hiei then wraps his arms around my waist as he leaned me over him, not breaking the kiss. We pulled away as we stared at each other lovingly.
"Good morning." I greeted, smiling softly at his face.
Hiei smiled and caresses my cheek. "That's one way to wake me up, Onna." He said, "Good morning to you too."
"Come on, we should prepare for the fights later on." I said as I was about to get up until Hiei pulled me down. "Hiei, we have the fight to attend to if you're forgetting."
"I know. I just want you next to me for five more minutes." Hiei said, burying his face in my neck.
I only chuckled at his affection for me. It has been a habit of his when we slept together which I find amusing to see from him. I ruffled his hair with my free hand and kissed him on the cheek.
Eventually, we got out of bed and prepared ourselves for the fight. I was at the window tying my hair as I looked at the sun rising on the island.
I and Hiei met Kurama, Kuwabara, and a still-sleeping Yusuke in the living room as we all headed toward the stadium. Loud cheers and cries were heard from the hundreds of demons who went to witness the fight as we entered the place.
"AND NOW FOR THIS YEAR'S SPECIAL GUEST, TEAM URAMESHI!" The announcer named Koto said as we walked towards the ring.
Crowds of demons started booing and cursing at us as we walked up to the ring. Hiei secretly held my hand as we all walked.
"This is sure one heck of a fretting for special guests." Kuwabara said as he carried Yusuke, "I don't these monsters took their grumpy pills today."
"Agreed, Kuwabara. It most certainly isn't pleasant being called a traitor by creatures you've never met." Kurama said,
"Both teams into the arena." Koto said as we faced team Rokuyukai in just a few feet apart and all exchanged a glare.
Third POV
Meanwhile outside of the stadium. Ryuji and the girls are by the entrance as they watched the demons crossing by. Ranumi held her father's arms just in case of anything.
"So, these ugly things are the apparitions?" Keiko asked looking at all the demons.
"Yes, Keiko and please watch what you say." Botan said,
"Why, because it's dangerous?" Keiko said pointing her finger at Botan. "Well don't you think it's dangerous on not telling us any of this? You're too easy on him. Yusuke can't keep lying to people he cares for." She turned to Shizuru and grabbed her hand. "Come on Shizuru, let's find them." She said as they went walking.
"I suppose it takes a tongue like that to handle, Yusuke." Botan said,
"Well, Keiko is the only one who can really smack talk Yusuke whenever she pleases." Ranumi said, "Same goes for Hayami. It proves that they get along pretty well, not to mention that Keiko is Yusuke's childhood friend."
"Speaking of sharp tongues, where's Koenma?" Botan said,
"Didn't he say that he would be meeting us here?" Ryuji said as they followed the two human girls.
They were able to catch up to them as they noticed a handsome brunette teenage boy with a Jr. on his forehead, immediately knowing that he was the prince of the spirit world himself.
"Is that you Koenma?" Botan asked, "That's a doozie of a costume."
Ranumi blushes slightly at the sight of Koenma's teenage form, but she still chooses Kurama no matter the circumstances.
"Wow, I see his majesty is a stud. Are all these girls and man with you?" A demon advertiser asked,
"These are sisters, a girlfriend, and a father of my team." Koenma said, "The one with the big blue head is my assistant and apparently she has a very loudmouth."
"Oh, they're always very mean whenever they get handsome." Botan pouted as she wipes a tear
"I'm Koenma, I'm very cool." He introduced himself and bowed at the two human girls. "Anyways, let's get going. Ryuji, I trust that you'll watch over them."
Ryuji nodded as they all followed him inside the stadium. Demons began to whisper about Ryuji, knowing that his name was also known for being Lady Wakumi's husband as they also whispered something about Ranumi. Ryuji pulled his daughter close as they walked towards their seats in the stadium, giving all the demons a death glare, to whoever messed with his daughter or her friends.
Back with the team in the ring
"As always, the terms of the fights could only be decided by the leaders of the two teams." Koto explained, "Of course, if the leaders can't agree, we'll default into a one-on-one fight. Determining the winner by the individual wins, makes sense?"
"Um not exactly miss, our team leader is still asleep." Kuwabara said,
"Well then Kuwabara, you'll be the one who's going to do it." Kurama said,
"Really?!" He asked in excitement,
"I don't wanna go to school mom...Just let Kuwabara be the leader of this stupid tournament...Has anyone seen my green jacket?" Yusuke muttered in his sleep
"Hehe, if that's not a chance for power, I don't know what is." Kuwabara said, "Of course, I don't like the fact that I was second choice, but oh well. Let's do this tournament terms thing." He said as he walked in front of Zeru,
Hiei looks at him out of boredom, "Poor fool." He said,
"I don't care what terms is this going to make, it won't a difference." Zeru said, "Just as long as I enjoy my prize and victory." He stared at Hayami flirtatiously,
Hiei glared at him as Hayami rolled her eyes, giving him a disgusted look in her eyes.
"Would you stop hitting on Hayami? Let's do man to man, that's how real men fight after all." Kuwabara said,
Koto announced to everyone in the stadium that it would be a one-on-one fight. Both leaders walked back to their team, but Zeru only turned around to glare at a sleeping Yusuke as he emitted flames around his body.
"Ooh, check this ladies and gentlemen. Zeru is emitting flames from his body, don't you just love it." Koto said,
"Woah his spirit energy just shot out the roof. Geez, I hope he's not mad at what I said." Kuwabara said,
'Someone of his class with the power of fire, interesting.' Kurama thought. "Hiei, we'd better be careful with this one." He said to Hiei as he only nodded,
"Hey Urameshi, you'd gotta wake up! Come on!" Kuwabara said to Yusuke.
Zeru's flames began to charge at them as Hayami stood in front of her team as her eyes glowed, making a water shield as she stood firm protecting her friends.
"CHECK THIS OUT EVERYONE, HAYAMI HAS CREATED A WATER BARRIER TO STOP ZERU'S FLAMES. I GUESS THIS IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD EXPECT FROM THE PRINCESS OF THE OCEAN!" Koto said as she looked at Hayami in awe,
Eventually, the flames went towards the crowd, burning the apparitions to a crisp. Koto then announced to let the team bring their first fighters. Rinku volunteered too while Kuwabara confidently volunteered as well.
'The fool's overconfidence is gonna be his downfall.'
'Size or gender doesn't matter in this tournament, Hiei. Let's just see if Kuwabara was able to put father's training into good use and hopefully not be put to waste or else.'
"You can take him out Kuwabara! I have to go hike." Yusuke said in his sleep as Hayami sweat dropped at what he was babbling.
'I don't know whom I understand less. The detective or the buffoon.' Hayami thought as she looked at Yusuke and then back to the ring to see Kuwabara and Rinku at the center staring at each other.
Koto explained a few rules to them as the sound of the fight started. Rinku then started to jump all around Kuwabara.
"What is this, recess?" Kuwabara said as he dodged an attempt of an attack from Rinku but noticed blood dripping from his head. "Darn it, where he'd go?" He said to himself as he looked around for Rinku, only to look down and was kicked right under the chin.
"That's gotta hurt." Ranumi said,
"Oh dear, Rinku is incredibly fast and very acrobatic." Botan said,
"My brother's just standing there." Shizuru said,
"It's awful." Keiko said,
Ryuji just stayed silent and observed the fight. Though inside he was worried, knowing that Kuwabara isn't as fast to keep his eyes on track of Rinku.
"His agility is actually impressive for a child." Hayami said observing the movements of Rinku.
"Indeed, his agility will make it hard to follow." Kurama said,
Suddenly, Kuwabara landed a punch on Rinku's head and fell into the ring.
"Nice one lamo." Yusuke muttered in his sleep,
Rinku tried to run away from Kuwabara, but he was able to block him and gave him another punch to the face.
"I suppose Ryuji's lessons have helped him more than we thought Hiei." Kurama said, "It seems Kuwabara is the type of fighter whose true skills could be measured in the ring."
Rinku and Kuwabara charged at each other, but Kuwabara was able to land a solid punch to Rinku on his stomach and just kept landing a punch after the other.
"This might be his chance." Hayami said as she sees Rinku's struggle
Unexpectedly, Rinku managed to escape Kuwabara and kicked him on the side of his head, causing the team wide-eyed at the sight of Kuwabara's body going down on the floor.
Rinku began to chuckle, "How was that Zeru? I thought it would've been more fun if I let him think that he's winning for a while. The fans liked it too." He said, smiling proudly,
"Should've known. Kuwabara only seemed better because the boy was leaving a trail." Hiei said lowly,
Koto started counting while Rinku said that counting Kuwabara's heartbeat was better since he broke his neck. Koto was about to say ten until Kuwabara started to get up.
"Actually, my neck is just fine." Kuwabara retorted glaring at Rinku.
Rinku turned around to face him with a slight disappointment written on his face. "I guess we have to fix that. Won't we."
Kuwabara fully stood up, still holding the side of his neck as he glared at Rinku,
"They both greatly underestimated each other. I believe the first one to realize this will win." Kurama said,
"Well, at any rate, it's a very entertaining fight." Hiei said,
"We have yet to see Rinku's full power, Kuwabara should know that he should be fully on guard for what's to come at him." Hayami said as the two nodded,
Rinku then brought out eight yo-yos as four each on his hand, raising his spirit energy. "The Serpent Yo-yo Attack!" Rinku said,
"The serpent...yo-yo?" Kurama said,
'His spirit power is increasing.' Hiei thought,
Kuwabara brought out two spirit swords as he prepared for Rinku's attacks, but he was hit hard by the yo-yos moving on their own. Rinku continued to attack using his yo-yos which Kuwabara tried to avoid but failed. In doing so, his wrist and foot are tied by the yo-yo strings as his body was smashed into the ground several times.
"You see, I told you Kuwabara's training wouldn't be enough." Hiei said, "We best assume him dead and plan for the next fight."
"No, he still has a chance in using his spirit energy." Hayami said,
"I'm with Hayami. There are still some techniques that he still hasn't tried." Kurama said,
"I just hope they aren't put to waste." She said crossing her arms as she watched the fight.
He was then raised up into the air, being swayed around by the wind.
"Well, at least baby brother is getting a good view of the stadium." Shizuru said sarcastically as she smokes,
"Shizuru, how can you say that?" Ranumi asked,
"How can you joke right now? Don't you know what'll happen if he falls?" Keiko said,
"That's easy, he'll die." Shizuru said
"Shizuru!" Both Ranumi and Botan yelled at her.
"You should be ashamed provoking her like that." Botan said, "Keiko and Ranumi are worried for your brother's life is hanging by a literal thread."
"And us getting upset will make any difference, will it." Ryuji said, having his arms crossed,
"Father!" Ranumi yelled at him,
"YUSUKE! HOW COULD YOU KEEP SLEEPING LIKE THAT WHEN YOUR FRIEND IS IN TROUBLE WITH THESE NASTY DEMONS!" Keiko yelled, catching every demon around them their attention. "HELP HIM YUSUKE! GET OFF YOUR LAZY BUTT AND HELP HIM!"
'I guess this girl has some guts to yell and insult in front of every demon here.' Ryuji thought as he stared at Keiko shocked and surprised.
Keiko then had enough as she got up from her seat and started to run down to near the ring.
"Keiko, wait!" Ranumi said as she ran after her.
"Keiko, Ranumi be careful. We're not on safe grounds." Botan warned them both
Keiko turned around, "Maybe Shizuru and Mr. Ryuji are right and that worrying won't make a difference." She said, "But I still have to try. Are you with me Ranumi?" She asked facing the water apparition,
"You bet." Ranumi said as a giant shadow overcomes them as they faced a giant demon.
"What's the matter little girls, you lost?" The demon asked with a chuckle, "Go back to your filthy home. This tournament is for apparitions only."
Ranumi pulled Keiko behind her for protection despite her petite size. "Well, we don't give freaking care about you ugly demons. You'll be saying sorry if the human team we're cheering for wins." She said,
This got Ryuji's attention as he calmly got up from his seat and walked over to, where his daughter and Keiko.
"You can't scare us with that talk. I'm sure Yusuke has beaten demons even bigger than you." Keiko said as the demon chuckled,
"The boy's asleep too bad you can't protect yourself!" He said and was about to eat Keiko until Ranumi kicked him hard on the crotch, and Shizuru placed her cigarette on his tongue, feeling the heat while Ryuji water punched him in the face.
"Thanks a lot." Keiko said,
"No prob." Ranumi said, "Now come on!" She grabbed Keiko's hand as they ran to the front.
"So, I see where Kuwabara had the need to defend himself growing up." Botan said looking at Shizuru in awe as they followed the two girls.
The team looked up in worry about the outcome if Kuwabara falls from a high place.
"What's the matter with you, Yusuke?! Your friend needs you, think about that!" Keiko yelled at him, but nothing changed,
"Hang tight Kuwabara!" Botan said,
"I don't suppose you can fly can you!" Ranumi said, making Hayami flinch at the sound of her sister's voice as she turned around to see that her father was with them.
'Oh boy.' Hayami thought looking at her sister and back to the ring.
"Huh? Oh, hey, Botan. Huh, sis! I didn't know you were gonna be here." Kuwabara said looking at his sister, "I would give you a better greeting but I'm kinda busy right now!"
Suddenly the strings tied onto Kuwabara loosen as he then starts falling to the ground, having everyone on the team gasp. Kuwabara managed to save himself by using his spirit sword as he flings himself toward Rinku.
Rinku used his yo-yos to attack but was caught by surprise when Kuwabara made his spirit sword bend as it went straight for the boy. Both attacks made contact as their bodies went out of the ring and not being able to move.
"So, who's the winner?" Shizuru asked,
"Beats me." Botan said,
"Was that the basis of Ryuji's training on him?" Hiei asked Hayami,
"Well more or less. Father wanted him to have more control over his spirit sword." Hayami explained as she looked at him, "You know, making it bend and flexible other than having it stiff and straight."
"I'd be surprised if either one of them got back up on their feet on time." He said as they both looked back to the two fighters on the ground,
"I believe so. Both the sword and the yo-yos made pretty solid hits." Kurama said, "I guess we'll know soon enough."
"GET UP! YOUR LATE KUWABARA!" Yusuke yelled in his sleep, causing the team to look at him confused,
"Is he really asleep? I can't tell anymore." Hayami said, sweat dropping as she looked at the detective,
Koto was halfway through her count when Rinku got up from the ring, looking tired as he uses his spirit energy to recover the wound on his stomach.
"Get up, Kuwabara! I know you're used to losing but not now!" Yusuke said again in his sleep, making Kuwabara got up from the ground,
"What did you say?!" Kuwabara asked,
"Six Kuwabara, six counts for you to get back in the ring." Koto answered him,
"Not you! Urameshi!" He said before running over to the detective, "You little punk. You wanna say that to my face, come on!" He says grabbing his shirt, but Yusuke just kept sleeping. "Oh, now you pretending to be asleep now! You scaredy cat!"
"Kuwabara, get your ass back in the ring!" Both Hayami and Ranumi yelled at him, making him flinch that he got scolded by the two demon girls, only to hear that he only has two seconds left,
"Hey! Hold your horses I'm coming!" Kuwabara as he was about to climb up the ring.
He was caught by surprise when Rinku held him down by using his yo-yos. When Koto reaches ten counts, Kuwabara fell to the ground in defeat.
"He could've at least jumped up the ring while being tied up." Hayami said face palming at the idiot.
"Obviously it didn't go through his brain and think about it." Hiei said,
Of course, with that, the first fight between Rinku and Kuwabara was over, having Team Rokuyukai the first point on the scoreboard.