Disclaimer: Same as last time, except now we don't own the characters of Serena, Faye, and Minoru. If you'd like to use them in one of your fics, contact their owners.
Chapter Three: Apprehension and Elimination
"They act like they've never seen an ocean before," Kurama said, to the boys. They were sitting in the dining car eating dinner. The girls had claimed the window seats, and had their faces pressed to the glass, staring out at the clear ocean water, which was sparkling in the setting sun. It was truly a beautiful sight, and the girls were savoring every moment of it.
This was their last meal on the train. They were due to arrive at the tournament later that day, and the mood was mixed about this.
The buzz of conversation was a bit lower; apprehension was building. No one knew what to expect.
The engineer's voice over the intercom startled them all.
"Goooooooooooooooood evening, competitors! I hope you've all had a wonderful time on the Death Isle Train! We'll be reaching Death Isle in a few hours or so, but because it's an island, hence the name 'Death Isle', we're going to be taking the scenic route...under water."
"COOL!" Kozu shrieked, "We're going underwater!" Hiei didn't look so happy about this (he is a fire demon, after all).
"But to do this," the engineer continued, "We're going to have to borrow just a little bit of energy from each and every one of you. Nothing serious, most of you will probably just feel a little dizzy, and for the weaklings... well, I'm not going there. Thank you for your cooperation, we'll let you know when we arrive." As the intercom turned off, all of them felt a slight tug as some of their energy was sapped away. The world seemed to spin for a moment before it righted again, and Kozu was able to sit up, blinking away the spots.
"Well," she said, "That was...NIYALI!" Niyali was slumped against the table, her breathing slow and shallow. She was unconscious.
"Weakling," Hiei muttered.
"That's not nice, Hiei," Arashi told him, and began whispering something with Kozu, glancing at Niyali every now and then.
"What happened to her?" Yusuke asked, as Kurama sat Niyali back up, her head lolling on her shoulder.
"Energy loss," he said, "Nothing serious, she should be back to normal in a while."
"Well, well," said a sneering voice, "So the weak are being weeded out already." The six of them looked up to see a man standing in front of them. He was tall, muscular, with his black hair pulled back in a ponytail. His eyes were black, and from his left ear hung a small, silver hoop earring. He wore tan pants that were tucked into his black boots and a black leather jacket.
"Pitiful, isn't it?" he continued, "Those who can't fight shouldn't bother showing up here."
"Listen, you," Kozu said, standing on the seat to make her seem taller, "That's our friend you're talking about there."
"And Niyali can fight just as well as you can," Arashi said, standing on the seat as well, "In fact, she's probably better than you!"
"Not that that's hard to do," Kozu added. He smiled, a cold, hard, smile.
"Really? Well, perhaps she and I should fight some time. Then we'll see who's better."
"We can't speak for her," Arashi said, "But I'll tell you---"
"Enough, Minoru," said another voice, "Stop bothering the other teams." The speaker was a female with white-blonde hair and blue eyes. She wore a white tunic over white pants that was belted with a chain of diamonds, as well as diamond jewelry, with no shoes.
"Some people have a harder time adjusting to the energy loss than others," she said, with a slow, deliberate, calmness in her voice, "You would, too, if you had plants growing out of your head."
"Serena, if I wanted your opinion I would've asked for it," Minoru growled.
"It hurts that you would abuse a fellow lover of nature," Serena said, her face impassive.
"Whatever," he said, "Come, let us get back to the others...those who are worthy to fight in this tournament." He turned and walked away. Serena smiled gently at Team Urameshi before following herself.
"I don't like him," Kuwabara said, after a moment had gone by.
"Jerk," Yusuke muttered, "Dissing our teammate like that just because she-- WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?" Arashi had seized a plant that was in Niyali's hair and pulled. It came out...root and all. The boys just stared.
"They grow in her hair?" Kurama asked, after a moment had passed.
"Yep," Kozu said, pulling another one out of Niyali's head. A trickle of blood came with it this time, running down Niyali's face.
"Ew," Kuwabara said.
"What do those things do?" Yusuke asked.
"Nobody knows," Arashi said, "Not even her."
"GAH! You mean they grow out of her head and she doesn't know what they do?" Kuwabara's mouth was open now.
"Basically," Kozu said.
"Why are you pulling them out?" Hiei asked.
"Well..." Arashi exchanged a look with Kozu before continuing, "They grow out of her head, you know? But plants can't grow on nothing, so they feed off her energy."
"I get it," Kurama said, "So the more of them or the bigger they are, the more energy they take?" Arashi nodded.
"So when they took a bit of energy from each of us," Yusuke figured, "It was too much for her?"
"Exactly," Arashi said, "So we pull them out every now and then. We're doing it now 'cause she's unconscious and can't feel 'em."
"Niyali's been a bad girl," Kozu said, "She hasn't pulled them out in what, 3 weeks?"
"3 months, more like," Arashi corrected her. The pile of plants increased, as did the amount of blood flowing from Niyali's scalp. Kurama picked up one of the plants and studied it for a moment before slipping it into his pocket for later analysis.
The train rolled on.
***
Death Isle--Midnight
***
"This is the first elimination round!" the announcer said, happily. The train had arrived at Death Isle, and the people had gotten off. It was dark, so they couldn't see the announcer except for an outline.
"Elimination round?" Yusuke asked, his mouth falling open, "But Niyali's still unconscious--she can't fight!"
"Who said anything about fighting?" The announcer asked, "We're having a car race!" The crickets chirped insanely for a moment before the competitors burst into laughter.
"Car race, that's a good one!" Kuwabara roared, elbowing Kurama, "Like they'd actually make us do that!"
"What a joke!" Someone called out.
"That's a good one!" The announcer (her name was Faye) smiled.
"Glad you got a laugh out of it," she said, "Now, do any of you know what's so special about the Ohsukah Tournament? What makes it different and perhaps better than all the rest?" There were a few negative murmurs.
"It's the way we do things," Faye continued, "And not just our battles--but the elimination rounds and the other things in between. In other words--here are the rules of this round. You must have all seven members of your team inside the car at all times. Follow the main route; if you veer off you're on your own. No speed limits, no stoplights, no major road rules just good ol' racing, until you reach the City. If, after that, you break a road rule, you are OUT. First eight teams to cross the finish line will move on! Any questions?" The crickets chirped merrily on.
"Then let's go! Follow me to the cars!" Stunned, the competitors followed her a little ways to where 16 cars were parked.
"Are they mad?" Yusuke asked, his jaw dropping open at the sight of the cars.
"How're we supposed to fit into those?" Kuwabara gaped.
"Ladies and gentlemen, your chariots await!" Faye exclaimed, "Please make your selection, buckle in and drive up to the starting line in your old-fashioned, '69 Volkswagen Beetle!"
The crickets were having a field day. [Get it, FIELD? Crickets live in FIELDS? Huh? HAHAHAHAHA---okay.]
Faye frowned and grabbed a megaphone from a nearby stand and held it up to her mouth.
"GET MOVING!!!" They did. The teams were jolted into motion. Yusuke ran over and picked out a chocolate-brown one.
"YAY!" Arashi exclaimed, "OUR CAR IS MADE OF CHOCOLATE!" Everyone peered at it for a second.
"Hn. Hurry up," Hiei snapped. He was already inside, "Get in the cockroach."
"It's called a BEETLE, Hiei!" Arashi said, as she moved closer to the car.
"Hn. What do I care. Just get in." They obeyed.
"Why does Kozu get to sit next to Hiei?" Arashi moaned from her place between Niyali and Yusuke.
"Because she won't try to strangle him," Yusuke told her.
"I don't strangle him! I huggle!"
"Same thing."
"It is NOT!" Arashi's eyes filled with tears, "You hate me! WAAAAAAAAAAH!"
"Don't think about polar bears," Niyali mumbled. Arashi abruptly stopped crying and looked thoughtful.
"Hm...polar bears....polar bears...POLAR bears! Polar bears..."
Kuwabara looked at Niyali. "Is she really unconscious?"
Hiei's Jagan flashed for a moment. "Yes. Out cold."
Niyali mumbled something in her sleep. Everyone (except Arashi, who was still muttering "Polar bears...") bent closer to hear.
"Stupid... fire... thing... stop burning..." Hiei looked insulted.
"Even in her sleep, she's still not getting along with him..." Yusuke mumbled.
"Racers, start your engines!" Faye shouted into the megaphone. A total of two people did successfully.
"Oh, I forgot, some of you don't know HOW! Just turn the little key to the left or right, I'm not sure which, and it should turn on!" A few more cars started. One blew up.
"Whoops! I know ONE team that won't make it to the finish line! The rest of you: On your mark..."
"Are you sure you know how to drive this thing?" Kuwabara asked nervously.
"It can't be too hard," Kurama replied. "After all, I have driven a Volkswagon before."
"Get set..."
"Was it a Beetle?"
"No, It was an SUV thing..."
"But Beetles and SUV's have absolutely nothing in common!"
"GO!"
***
There was an author's note here, but I had to remove it, and
I need something here to work with the time change and everything, so...ah,
well, I guess this bad little interlude is what you get. You could have been
laughing at the party, but noooo...stupid rules.
***
"This isn't so bad," Kuwabara said, as they raced down the...track. He immediately swallowed his words as they narrowly avoided hitting a tree.
"Oh, come on," Kurama said, "I'm not that bad."
There was a silence. "Oh, come on people, we're in the lead so I can't be that bad."
A car passed them. Kurama frowned.
"Kitsune, go faster," Hiei said.
"I can't, there's a speed limit."
"Kurama, we're not in the city yet! We don't have to obey the rules!" Yusuke said.
"Oh, well in that case..." The car shot forward, and everyone tried to keep hold of their stomachs.
Kozu moaned. "I don't feeeeeeeeel good..."
"Switch places with Hiei so you can throw up out the window. Maybe another team will drive through it or something!" Yusuke suggested. Kozu and Hiei obeyed.
Sure enough, Kozu threw up a moment later. It hit a car that was attempting to pass them and splattered on their windshield. Their screams of disgust and rage could be heard as they veered off the road, through the barrier, and off the cliff.
"Wow..." Kuwabara said. "Could you do that again?"
"And Team Urameshi has successfully disposed of another team! That leaves fourteen still in the running!" Faye said cheerfully through the megaphone.
"We just might make it!" Kuwabara said. Suddenly, Kurama skidded the car to a stop.
"What was THAT for?" Yusuke said.
"Stoplight," Kurama said, pointing upwards. "We entered the City while you were looking out the window."
The light turned green, and they went through, at a considerably slower speed.
Ahead of them, a car sped through a red light. As soon as they went through, however, the vehicle pulled over and shut off.
"And Team Bakusho has been disqualified! That leaves Team Urameshi in the lead, and twelve other teams close behind!"
"Don't break any rules, Kurama," Yusuke warned.
"I've never dreamed I'd hear you say that," Kurama said, "But don't worry, I have my license." Their car jerked and pulled over.
"NO!" Kuwabara yelled.
Kurama laughed and pointed to an ambulance passing by, sirens blazing. As soon as it was by, he pulled back onto the road, Kuwabara hyperventilating in the passenger's seat.
"And five teams fall to the passing ambulance! Team Urameshi is still in the lead---they must have a licensed driver!"
"There's the finish line," Kurama said. He pulled over.
"What NOW?" Yusuke asked.
A fire truck passed by. Kurama pulled back onto the road.
A group of people crossed the road, not on the crosswalk. Kurama jerked around them, not bothering to stop.
"Kurama! Don't you have to stop for them?"
"Nope! They're jaywalkers!"
The car pulled over and stopped.
"What now?" Yusuke asked. "A police car?"
"Um...not exactly...apparently you're supposed to stop for jaywalkers..."
"Oh, TOO BAD! Team Urameshi has been disqualified only an INCH from the finish line! If they can somehow make it OVER the line WITHOUT leaving their car, I think they can still win!"
"Um... everybody, JERK FORWARD!" Yusuke yelled. Everybody thrust forward sharply, causing the car to scoot forward a millimeter or two. Niyali's head bumped against the window.
"Maybe putting her there was a bad idea," Arashi said, as she jerked forward again.
"And they have CROSSED the finish line! They can get out of the car now!"
They did.
***
"And...Team Rose is out. Erg," Faye sighed, "That makes all the teams except Team Urameshi out of the tournament...we can't have that, now CAN we? So here's what we'll do! Choose a runner from your car, have them run to the starting line, and then run BACKWARDS to the finish line! On your mark...get set...GO!" She took the microphone down from her mouth and tucked it under her elbow as she scribble something down on a small notepad.
"Note to self...no more car races."
***
Eventually, the elimination was over, and eight teams were ready to compete in the tournament. However, seeing as it was three in the morning, all most of them wanted to do was get to bed and sleep. So, Faye gave them the keys to their rooms and sent them off to the hotel.
Team Urameshi's room consisted of a kitchen, three bathrooms, two sleeping rooms (each with four beds) and a main room thing. Small and cozy. Larger than the Dark Tournament, but smaller then they would've probably liked. Ah, well, too bad for them.
***
The next morning dawned bright and early. Too early. They were required to go to an informative meeting about the first round of the Tournament. The girls moaned and whined about having to get up.
"Do we have to go?" Arashi whined, "Those meetings are no fun!"
"YEAH!" Kozu agreed, "Why can't we stay here?" Niyali, who was half-awake, nodded.
"Please?" she asked, in her tired voice, "Let us stay and sleep?" The boys exchanged glances.
"No way," Hiei said. Arashi's eyes filled with tears.
"You hate us...WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Kozu joined in the crying. Niyali went back to sleep.
"All right, all right," Yusuke said, "You can stay."
"NO WAY!" Hiei growled, "This is just an act, detective!"
"Hiei, how much trouble can they get into?" Kurama asked.
"Too much!"
"We should only be gone an hour," Yusuke told them, "Don't get into trouble while we're gone."
"Ok!" Arashi and Kozu said, their hands behind their backs.
"Uncross your fingers," Hiei snapped.
"Ok..."
"Have fun," Kuwabara told them, as the boys left.
"We'll try," Kozu said. The door shut behind them.
"We'll try very hard," Arashi said, an evil grin spreading across her face. Niyali sat up.
"Did they buy it?"
"Yep. Always do," Kozu said, proudly, "Let's go play in the kitchen!"
***
The rules were, apparently, simple. The first round would consist of matches determined by the captains of each team. If you stayed down or out of the ring for ten seconds, you lost. You could not fight again once you had lost. But for some reason, those three simple statements were elaborated on many times, such as examples and nitty-gritty details that no-one cared about. This was going to take longer than an hour.
***
"More blue food coloring!" Arashi exclaimed, "Now what can we do with all this blueness?"
***
All right, there's chapter three! Now, in honor of chapter threeness, we're--oh, wait, it's I'm now, because Arashi can't be in the author note because of ff.net's new rules, so...I guess I'm going to give you a spoiler. It used to be Arashi's job...I miss having her in the author's note...T_T