Chapter Two: Enter the Tournament
DISCLAIMER: Since I own so few characters in this story, I'll just make sure to point out what I DO own. Oh, and Himeko is a creation of the brilliant and fertile mind of one of RTD's biggest fans, Touya no Miko (TnM).
Yusuke sat on a small log, glaring off into space. His eyes flickered down to his wrist, then back into space.
"She's late," Hiei snarled.
"I know," Yusuke growled back.
"Where is she, Detective?"
"How should I know!?"
"Well, she is your assistant. I though employers were supposed to keep tabs on their employees," Hiei sneered.
"She's not my employee, thus your point is invalid."
"Big word Urameshi," Kuwabara jibed, smacking Yusuke on the back.
"Shut up, moron!" Yusuke yelled, whirling around to smack Kuwabara in the face.
However, having a blue haired young woman fly into you generally interrupts any plans you may have had.
Botan sat up rubbing her head. The "young" woman was wearing the same outfit she had when they rescued Yukina.
"Oh, hello boys," she said, smiling weakly.
"Hello Botan," Yusuke said from beneath the ferry girl.
"Eep!"
Botan quickly hopped off a very irritated Yusuke.
"Must you always act so foolish?" Hiei sneered.
Botan shot him a fearsome glare, but the fire demon didn't even flinch.
"Fine, maybe I'll take your fifth member back with me to Spirit World and you can drop out!" Botan said huffily.
"Wait!" Yusuke cried. "Let's not get too hasty here. I'm sure Hiei is sorry for what he did."
Hiei gave a large snort, but Yusuke shot him a glare, and the fire demon quieted down again.
"Now, tell me, where is this guy?"
"I'm right here," said a cool, smooth voice directly behind Yusuke.
The Spirit Detective craned his neck around to look at the woman, and saw a beautiful girl about his age (17-ish) with black hair up in a bun, large red-brown eyes, and a tight, green, Chinese-style dress. Her pale ivory skin seemed to shine in the darkness, as did her strange-colored eyes.
"And who are you?" Hiei asked, obviously annoyed to have another female fifth member (Hiei seems...a little male-chauvinistic to me.)
"I am Yakosuya Tsunami," said the young woman, leveling Hiei with yet another glare. "But you may call me Himeko."
Kurama, who Yusuke hadn't noticed, was next to her in a moment. His deep green eyes pierced her own.
"Himeko?" he gasped.
"Ku...Kurama?" she replied.
"I'm missing something here, aren't I?" Kuwabara asked rhetorically.
"You and me both, brother," Yusuke quipped.
"We...knew each other in the past," Kurama said, still staring at Himeko.
"Read: 'we bumped uglies'," Yusuke snorted.
He just barley ducked a chain-whip in time, the weapon ruffling his hair.
Himeko pulled the weapon back, the whip wrapping around her wrist. In a flash, it changed into the necklace she had been wearing.
"Well, I think we know her power," said a stunned Kuwabara.
"Do not speak lightly of things you mortals cannot understand," Himeko growled. Her deep eyes flashed fire and she glared at Yusuke.
"I'll remember that in the future," Yusuke grumbled.
"See that you do," Kurama added coolly.
"Aye!" cried a gruff voice. "The boat fer Hangin' Neck Island (pronounce: "oiland") is leavin' in ten minutes ya louts. Ye best be gettin on board soon, lest ye want to stay ashore."
"Guess we better board the sturdy vessel," Yusuke said, trying to lighten the very tense mood.
"Yes, it seems we should," Hiei agreed, nodding.
"Did Hiei just agree with me?" Yusuke asked, shocked.
"Did Hiei just agree with someone?" Kuwabara said, even more shocked.
"Sign of the apocalypse, that is," Yusuke joked.
"Don't even joke," Botan said harshly.
Well, seems Botan does know a little something about what's going on right now. However, she's not telling. And we have now met Himeko, who has a much more interesting character this time around. Lots of tension and emotion going on here. But what is her past with Kurama, well, if you read the submission, you'd know. But it's been deleted so...oh well. Guess you'll just have to find out, won't you? See you next time as Team Urameshi enters their first conflict with some very strange opponents.