Finally, Kurama and I reached the diving board. Kurama deposited our towels on the ground, and I stepped aside to allow the redheaded youkai go first. I watched carefully to see what move he'd make. The pool was deep, and reached twelve feet in the deepest end- the part where we were diving. Once the people swimming had cleared out of the way, Kurama began to gently jump up and down on the tip of the white board. Finally, he leapt high into the air, flipping backwards and turning so he made a perfect swan dive when he hit the water. Those that had been watching clapped politely as he came up, and girls giggled and whispered excitedly to each other.
Rolling my eyes, I stepped up. As Kurama pulled himself out of the pool, I thought over what I would do. The humans looked to me expectantly, and finally, I smirked.
Stepping forward, I caused my spirit energy to swirl around me in the form of fire. Looking to some girls floating before me, I said: "Move unless you want to die." Immediately, they swam to the side of the pool. Taking a deep breath, I shot upwards, flipping as I did so. When I started to come down, I twirled to face the water and shot stream of fire below me. The water evaporated from the scorching heat, leaving a large dry circle with water for sides. As I dropped to the bottom of the pool, the water began to cave in and fill the space where I stood. Before it could touch me though, I jumped above the water. I performed a back flip again and landed on the diving board. Finally, I made a perfect swam dive, rivaling Kurama's. I swam beneath the water to the other side of the pool. As soon as I got up, thunderous applause filled my ears.
Wearing a small smile, I calmly returned to my friend's side. "Well done Hiei. That was quite a show," He complimented.
"It was nothing," I replied with a shrug. Kurama gave me a knowing smile and nodded. Together, we jumped into the pool and began to swim. My ki kept me warm, so the water wasn't as refreshing. I lowered my energy so that my body heat would be the same as a human's. I enjoyed the clean liquid and the exercise I got from swimming through it.
About an hour after we had started swimming, Kurama and I got out to get some drinks. We tracked down a waiter, and to my surprise, I found it was the same one who had made the remark about the kids' menu. He looked at me fearfully as Kurama asked:
"May we have two lemonades?" The waiter opened his mouth and answered slowly, all the while, keeping his eyes on me.
"Of course sir. Anything you want," He agreed. Taking two glasses from off his tray, he handed them to Kurama and hurried away.
"Strange guy," Kurama commented as he sat in a nearby chair. Sitting beside him, I took the extra lemonade. Sipping it slowly through the straw (something I had recently mastered), I watched the waiter as he scurried from place to place around the pool. As I monitored his movements, a scheme began to formulate in my head. I never got him back for insulting me... An evil smirk crawled onto my face as I finished my drink.
"Hiei, what are you planning?" Kurama questioned worriedly.
"Nothing for you to be concerned about," I assured him as I got to my feet. Kurama watched me as I made my way around the pool. I knew he was hesitating- he wasn't sure whether to follow me or not. While he debated in his mind, I formed a small ball of energy in my hand. Clenching my fist around it, I let my energy pour out. People screamed and scrambled to get out of the way. Finally, I reached the man and he whirled around. As his eyes widened in fear, I released my ki.
He yelped as he clothes caught on fire. Folding my arms, I watched in amusement as he tried to put it out with drinks. "Perhaps something from the kid's menu could quench the fire," I said smugly. When the drinks didn't seem to work, he looked feverishly at me and tried to tear off his shirt, burning his hands in the process. Pitying the poor fool, I shoved him into the water, extinguishing the flames.
People laughed and pointed as he broke the surface, gasping for air. A second later, Kurama was at my side. "Hiei! You know we're not supposed to injure humans!" He scolded.
"Kill Kurama, kill," I corrected him. Kurama sighed heavily just as the waiter got out of the water. Taking one look at me, he ran out of sight.
"Hiei... I don't know what to do with you anymore!" Kurama complained. I just shrugged and continued to smile now quite content. Kurama frowned, then grinned as he pushed me forward. Startled, I fell into the pool with a splash. Shooting back up, I glared at Kurama. Seeing that his feet were within my reach, I grabbed him by the ankles and pulled him in with me. With a yelp, he went underwater. When he came back up, he dunked me with rage. I grabbed him, forcing him under again.
Soon we were both fighting- not seriously, but competitively. Suddenly our brawl was interrupted when a voice screeched over a nearby intercom, freezing us in place.
"Hello everyone! Are you having fun yet?" Botan giggled. "I sure hope so! But if not, head down to the pool for our last event of the night- chicken fights!" With that, Botan's voice ceased and the intercom clicked off. Kurama and I glanced at each other and asked:
"Chicken fights?" Almost instantly, the crowd doubled. I spotted Yusuke and Kuwabara with Keiko and Yukina- all four of them in bathing suits. People were getting out of the pool so Kurama and I did the same. As soon as we did, Koenma appeared. He stood in his teenage form with a microphone in hand. A hush fell over the crowd as he began to speak.
"To end this night, we will be having chicken fights in the pool. A team consists of two people, and fifteen teams are allowed to enter. How you play, is one of the two people on a team will get up on their partner's shoulders. They'll go up against another pair and try to knock the person on top off of their teammate and into the water. Whoever beats all the other teams and comes out victorious will win a special prize," Koenma explained.
Excited, people began to talk and pair up to from teams. Kurama looked to me as I began to walk away. "Hiei..." Kurama began.
"No," I replied without turning around. By the way Kurama's voice changed, I could tell he was disappointed.
"Onegai?" He pleaded gently.
My steps slowed until I finally stopped. Don't look at him, I thought... but I couldn't help it. Staring straight into Kurama's bright green eyes, I crumbled.
"Sometimes I just want to take my sword and cut out your eyeballs- ya know that?" I seethed grumpily. Kurama smiled and nodded. "Well, as long as you know," I muttered as I made my way back towards the pool. A few minutes passed till Koenma asked:
"Will each team that wishes to participate please raise their hands?" Immediately, hundreds of hands went into the air. I noticed that Yusuke, Kuwabara's, Keiko's, and Yukina's were among them. I cringed instinctively. This would be interesting.
"Well, it seems we have too many teams. Of course, any Yu Yu Hakusho teams are automatically in, but we have to narrow it down so we have twelve other teams. Please play Janken until only twelve pairs remain," Koenma ordered.
"Hn. Figures he would use rock, paper, scissors to decide this. Why are we allowed to participate without any preliminary round?" I questioned angrily.
"Well, it is our cruise," Kurama pointed out.
"Quiet you," I snapped sourly. Kurama just grinned. Time passed quickly until only twelve other teams remained. Kurama and I, along with Yusuke and the other participants gathered in a circle around Koenma.
"It seems that all fifteen teams are present. Let's begin," Koenma announced. Immediately, Koenma began pairing up different teams. I was surprised to find we were left without any opponents.
"Koenma, what is the meaning of this?" I demanded as the other teams slid into the water.
"Because there isn't an even amount of teams, one team, usually the strongest, gets to the pass the first round and go immediately to the second. I figured you two would make the strongest couple," Koenma explained. I nodded. That was a reasonable assumption. Seeing that we would have to wait, I turned and watched as the teams laded their partners onto their shoulders. I clenched my right hand angrily when Kuwabara hoisted my sister onto his back. She situated herself on his shoulders and I watched in disgust as he blushed and smiled. Yusuke wiggled beneath Keiko, causing her to slap him playfully. Urameshi grinned in response.
The other pairs I did not recognize, but most were girl-guy couples... all except for one- Inu-ko and Kara. Inu-ko still wore her black bikini and was supporting the person on top of her as if it were nothing. Kara wore a glittery green one-piece bathing suit. Noticing that Tomoyo wasn't in the water, I scanned the crowd. I saw her watching her friends intently, cheering them on with a smile.
Finally, Botan's voice broke the tense silence as she said from the intercom:
"Let the chicken fights begin!"
Immediately, the teams were pitted against each other. I admit, watching girls in bathing suits try to hit eachother off another person's shoulders was... barbarically entertaining. After a few minutes, the winning teams stood with their partners, grinning with pride. Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Inu-ko's partners had all done surprisingly well. I assumed a strong bottom was the key to victory.
As Koenma announced the winners, he also stated the next pairings. Finally, Kurama and I were called to fight one of the other couples. Our opponents would be two brown-haired humans. The girls had long brown hair and gray eyes. She was tall and slender while her slightly shorter boyfriend was muscular. As he hoisted her onto his shoulders, I looked to Kurama. He looked back and we stared awkwardly.
"I assume you want me-
"On top? Yes- you're shorter and you're lighter," Kurama answered before I could finish.
"Hn," I muttered in embarrassment. Kurama knelt down in the water in order for me to climb up. Grabbing his shoulders, I pulled myself onto his back and swung my legs over so they dangled against his chest. As he stood, I wobbled slightly and leaned forward. I gasped as my groin rubbed hard against Kurama's head. Judging from the sudden heat I felt, I assumed the kitsune was blushing. I scooted back some, my face growing red. Luckily, it seemed only we had noticed.
While we waited for the fights to begin, I looked over at my sister, who was sitting on top of Kuwabara. She shared my strength in some aspects. Could she possibly beat the other girls despite her kind nature? While I watched Yukina, Koenma stepped up to the microphone. I was so wrapped up in my thoughts, that I almost didn't hear him say:
"Begin the second round!"
As soon as Kurama moved beneath me though, I faced forward and eyed my opponent- the tall girl. She smiled at me and put her hands up- ready to push me off at any moment. Without batting an eyelash, I ducked down and punched her in the stomach. Her eyes widened in painful surprise as she fell backwards into the water. I had won.
"Hiei!" Kurama yelped as the guy in front of us scrambled to help the girl I had just defeated.
"Nani?" I asked airily.
"Not so hard Hiei! You'll hurt someone!" Kurama scolded. Angrily, I squeezed Kurama's head between my knees and his hands shot up instinctively. While he tried to loosen my grip on his skull, I talked in a low hiss.
"As long as I'm fighting, we'll fight my way." As I said this, Kurama continued to claw at my legs. Giving him one last squeeze, I weakened my hold. Instantly, Kurama dropped down underwater, pressing me against the pool bottom. Hurriedly, I swam out from underneath him and went to the surface, I glared at Kurama angrily and he glared back just as viciously. Before we could exchange words though, Koenma spoke again.
"All right, the next pairings are as follows: Yusuke's Team vs. Kuwabara's Team, and Inu-ko's Team vs. Hiei's team."
I stopped listening after that. We were going to face the two girls- Corri and Kara? I clenched my teeth and tried to remain calm. What I had told Kurama was true- I would fight my way- roughly... but that's because I didn't know the humans and had no emotional attachment or ties to them. Now that we were going up against Inu-ko and Kara, should I let up? Kurama looked at me out of the corner of his eye and I nodded.
Forgetting our recent fight, I resumed my position on his shoulders. Corri approached us with Kara situated on top of her while Kuwabara and Yusuke paired up their girls. I looked into Kara's olive green eyes and smirked. She grinned back and placed her hands in front of her.
"Begin!" Koenma ordered. Immediately, Kurama stepped forward, and I took a swipe at Kara. It was a normal attack, and Kara blocked it easily. I continued to attack calmly, but Kara countered each thrust. Just when I started to get annoyed, Kara lashed out. Surprised, she caught me off guard and hit me square in the chest. Kurama began to slip backwards, causing me to panic. Before we could fall, I launched a series of lightning fast punches, knocking Kara easily from Corri's shoulders. Kurama regained his balance as the girls broke the surface for air.
"Good job Hiei," Corri panted.
"Yeah. For someone so ugly, you sure can fight!" Kara exclaimed with a smile.
"I'll ignore that," I glowered as I looked at Kara. All she did was smile innocently. Suddenly, Kurama nudged me. I turned to question him, but the words I had in mind quickly disintegrated when I saw what he was pointing to. My sister and Keiko were still fighting, and by the looks of it, my sister was winning!
Keiko and Yukina's hands were locked, but it was obvious that Yukina was stronger because she was pushing Keiko and Yusuke backward at a rapid rate. Her face was set in determination, and her small body was tense.
"She reminds me of you," Kurama whispered fondly.
"Hn," I replied as color rushed to my cheeks. Kurama said no more. Everyone watched in silence till the two were up against the wall. Then, everything changed. Yukina stopped pushing, allowing Keiko to press forward... then, she wrenched Keiko off of Yusuke's shoulders and flung her into the deep end. She had won.
I listened in amazement as the crowd cheered. Yukina blushed and waved politely. I was filled with pride for my sister, but then filled with horror when Koenma boomed:
"We now have our two finalists! Hiei and Kurama, vs. Kuwabara and Yukina!"
NO! I thought to myself. I had to face my sister and that oaf? There was no way I'd lose to Kuwabara, but I wasn't about to fight my sister either.
"Curse it all," I hissed under my breath.
"Hm?" Kurama questioned curiously. I began scheming inside my head in the few seconds I had to reply. Finally, I grabbed Kurama by the wrist and trudged out of the pool. Before we could leave the area though, Koenma yelled:
"Hey! Where do you think you're going?"
"To take a piss, do you mind?" I yelled back threateningly. Koenma instantly reddened as others laughed.
"Okay, hurry back," He instructed. Once we were away from the pool and running down the halls, Kurama asked:
"Where are we really going?"
"Back to our room. There's no way I'm going to lose, but at the same time, I'm not going to defeat my sister," I stated firmly.
"Then... how...?" Kurama trailed. I never answered. Instead, I continued to run, focusing on the task at hand. When we finally reached our room, I threw open the door and ran inside. Kurama followed curiously, a puzzled expression on his face.
Without explanation, I opened my suitcase and pulled out a pair of wooden sandals. They were similar to the sandals samurai used to wear, but rarer. They had long bottoms- at least two feet high. In a way, they were like mini stilts.
"Hiei, you can't seriously be considering...!"
"Yes, you're going to fight my sister," I finished before he could ask. Kurama sighed as I slipped on the sandals and tied them to my feet. When I stood, I was about as tall as Kuwabara.
"I'm not so sure about this Hiei," Kurama said worriedly.
"Deal with it kitsune- I'm not fighting my sister," I restated stubbornly. Kurama said nothing as we made our way back to the pool. When we arrived, people pointed and stared, but I ignored them. Stepping into the water, I walked up to Kuwabara and Yukina, now level with Kuwabara's chin.
"What's wrong shorty? Afraid to go up against a girl?" Kuwabara chuckled. I smirked.
"No, I just wanted the satisfaction of kicking you in the balls if we lose," I retorted. Kuwabara's eyes widened in shock as he took a weary step back.