WHOO! I'm back! Yaaaay! ON WITH THE STORY!!

Charlotte—Thankz 4 da reviews!

NOTE: This chapter might switch POV's.

------feelings

(Kurama's POV)

I walked down the hall past Hiei's room then Yusuke's room, then Keiko's room, then Botan's. I reached Asuka's door and paused for a moment. The light was still on so I knocked lightly on the door. No answer... I knocked again and heard an annoyed groan and the rustling of fabric. The door slid open to reveal Asuka, her hair down and wet, her silk red spaghetti strap top was cut quite low so it showed a lot of cleavage and her silk red pants clung to her curves... I shook my head.

"What are you doing up?" she asked tiredly.

"I should ask you the same." I said. "You're the only one awake besides me... Please get some sleep. You have training tomorrow."

"I only have a few hours to wait. And... I can't sleep." She said. I looked down at her. "Can I stay up with you?" she asked. That was quite unexpected on my half... I already feel like Youko around her. But I nodded. She pulled on a black robe, again made of silk. This girl truly WAS a princess. She stepped out of the doorway and closed the door quietly. We went out to the front of the dojo and sat on the porch in silence. She eventually stood and put a hand on my shoulder. "You're going to be my opponent today?"

"Yes. Then Hiei." I said.

"I you going to go Youko on me?" She asked. "Because I don't want to have to go in my full demon form on you..." I looked at her.

"Maybe Genkai will change her plans." I said. "She might just give you chores today." She raised an eyebrow.

"Chores?" She said. "You're kidding right? I could go home and do that. Even though my parents tell me NOT to." I looked up at her.

"They tell you to NOT do chores?" I asked, surprised. She nodded.

"They told me that it was 'servant's work.' And something about how princesses are only alive to carry on the line of the White Tigers." She grumbled the last part. I heard Genkai yell for Asuka.

"ASUKA YOU SLACKER!" I heard her yell. She must have thought Asuka ran away... Lights turned on around the dojo. I heard Genkai walk out and see us sitting on the porch. "Didn't I tell you to get as much sleep as possible?" She snapped. Asuka glared at her.

"I COULDN'T SLEEP!!" She growled back.

"DON'T BE AN IDIOT!!!" Genkai bellowed. I simply stood and went inside.

'She's so much like Yusuke... It's actually quite funny.' I thought. Hiei and the others were in the hallway. All of them looked very tired. I simply chuckled.

"What's so funny?" Yusuke grumbled. I smiled.

"Asuka is just like you, Yusuke. She's loud, irritable, and acts like she's so tough." I said. He glared at my comment. "You wanted to know." I said. He grumbled and left for breakfast. Hiei repeated his usual "Hn." And left for breakfast and the others followed him. I went to the training room and sat. I wanted to see her strength before our fight. I wasn't worried, but I did want to know how much she could take. I didn't want to hurt her too bad. After all, she is a woman. She and Genkai walked in. Asuka was wearing a black Chinese dress with a white tiger on the back. Genkai took her place. Asuka listened to her instructions to stand on the other side of the room.

"Now what?" She asked.

"I want you to attack me without using part of your demon form. Just stay in your human form." Genkai answered. Asuka simply smirked and disappeared. I wasn't expecting the speed but Genkai was. She appeared behind Genkai and her side hand slash was blocked completely. Genkai had her wrist. Asuka cursed herself.

"Grr..."

"We will keep doing this until you've struck me. Got it?" Genkai barked.

"Yes." She said obediently. She was different when she fought. She was serious and was fully dedicated. Maybe she used the stuck up brat part of her as a cover up in front of her parents and people she doesn't know. Asuka broke free from Genkai's grip and jumped back to where she was.

"Once mor-..." Asuka was already behind her. Genkai dodged to the left. Asuka tried to kick her but Genkai was too fast. Asuka kicked behind her and sent Genkai flying. Hiei and the others had made it just in time to see the kick. Genkai landed against the wall. "Very good." She said as she stood.

"Haha!" Asuka laughed triumphantly. Genkai threw an unexpected punch at her but Asuka jumped away. "Hya!" She stood on her hands for a little while but sprung to her feet when Genkai tried to kick her off balance. Asuka went into an interesting fighting stance.

"You're going to try the Tiger Claw technique on me?" Genkai smirked. Asuka looked at the boom box near by and it turned on to some kind of rock music or metal. It was annoying. Everyone looked at the boom box, even Genkai. Asuka took the chance to knock her down with a powerful strike that was strange. It wasn't like a punch or a kick. It was a force of her palm that couldn't be seen. Even if it were spirit energy, you couldn't see it. Her eyes had turned light purple then they flickered red. Her hair had turned black with fiery red streaks. All of the men seemed shocked. I even found myself slightly entranced by her amazing change. It was... A good change, actually. I knew why they called her the 'black tiger with red stripes.' Or 'Black Crystal.' Her eyes turned black but it had a purple and red... what looked like actual flames. It was bizarre... Yet, amazingly beautiful. Genkai was shocked at the transformation.

"I'm sorry. I wanted to see if... I could control it even a little." Asuka said as she offered her hand. Genkai took her hand and pulled herself up. "Guess not, huh?" Asuka looked down.

"I see amazing potential in you, Asuka. You only need to learn control." Genkai said. "I want you to fight Hiei in one hour. Until then, clean up and change your clothes. His katana will waste your expensive Chinese dress. Wear that black outfit that Botan gave you." She said. Asuka nodded and too the outfit from Botan.

"Thanks Botan." She said. Botan smiled.

"No problem at all!" She chirped. Asuka, Mayumi, Keiko, Botan, Shizuru, and Yukina all went to the lake by the waterfall for a quick bath. Yukina, Shizuru and Asuka already knew each other, I was told. An hour later the girls came back wearing new clothes. Asuka's hair was dripping wet but she put it in a purple hair tie. It seemed to be a thin, purple ribbon. I noticed it only because it sparkled. Hiei smirked and tossed his black cape onto the ground. This fight was going to be interesting. I chuckled to myself. Hiei didn't think of her as a threat, but he took his cape off—a sign that he will be cautious during the battle. She stayed in human form and smirked. She took off her long, loose over-shirt to reveal a tight, Chinese-style shirt made of some type of shimmering material I could not recognize... It was black. I made myself look away from the area that seemed to catch my eye.

"It's time to get this started." Hiei said in his flat tone.

"Okay. Don't underestimate me." She got into fighting postion. Hiei had already drawn his katana. She stayed still and closed her eyes. Hiei seemed to appear behind her.

"Time to lose!!" Hiei growled. Asuka grinned and moved very swiftly backwards. She had dodged Hiei. I was surprised. Not too many people dodge Hiei. She gave him a quick headlock. He struggled but she whispered something in his ear and he instantly seemed to stop. Hiei had been knocked out. She set him gently on the floor on the other side of the room. She murmured something about 'that being easy' and adding 'poor thing.'

"He'll wake up in a few minutes. Don't be alarmed." She said flatly. I resumed my place, leaning against the wall. Kuwabara was shocked, as were the others. Genkai and I were the only ones who weren't shocked.

"Good job, Asuka." Genkai said. "That's enough for today. You have dinner preparation duties with Kurama tonight, Asuka."

"Okay, Master Genkai." She said, smiling. She obviously liked to cook.

(Later: Dinner Time)

(Asuka's POV)

I wore a black tee shirt and black pants. I placed the food on plates. Kurama was adding spices and vegetables to the soup he made. I watched his moves... God... I thought he's gorgeous... I turned red and looked away. I hopped that he didn't notice, and continued with my work Soon after, the dinner was ready. I walked out of the kitchen and down the hall to the dining room, i set the food on the table and everyone began to eat. I just left for the kitchen again and when I got there, Kurama was gone. I sighed and made myself some tea. I went to the front porch, far away from the others and sat on the moonlit steps while sipping on my tea.

(Meanwhile... Dining Room)

(Hiei's POV)

I couldn't believe that that stupid tiger knocked me out! I feel totally idiotic now because of that damn princess. She'll pay for this... I know she will. I watched as the others ate, talked, and laughed as if nothing happened. Kurama seemed to have something on his mind. I wonder whether he is thinking of that damn tiger? Probably... The way he looks at her makes me sick. I wouldn't be surprised if she felt the same...

-----------End of chappie

okay, i know it isn't TOO long, but I HAD to update sooner or later! right? review plezes! I would love emails with ideas for this story and all my other stories! THANX! XD