Meru: I'm baaaaaaaaaaack. How is everyone?

Hiei: How do you think? You're here, aren't you?

Meru: (Hugs Kurama) Waaah! Kurama! Hiei's being meeeeeeeeaaaaaan!

Kurama: (Pats her head akwardly) There there

Meru: (Perks up) Anyway, here are the announcements. I am now in HIGH SCHOOL! And it's a PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL!

Hiei: Yup, she's dying by the lack of perfection.

Meru: AM NOT! Anyway, another announcement is that our beloved Nolannii-chan will probably not be posting as often, if at all, because he is now too busy planning the future to hang around with little kids like me.

Hiei: No, he's running from you like everyone else.

Meru: (About to cry) That was cruel.

Kurama: Also, Valentine's Day is coming up, and Meru here is planning to do some nice things for her friends, isn't that right Meru?

Meru: (Nods) Uh huh, and I plan on doing a special Valentine's day post. Speaking of Valentines! We are happy to announce that Nolannii-chan is engaged! (claps)

Kurama: Congradulations Nolan-san.

Hiei: Well, as we can see, he has someone who loves him. Meru, on the other hand, will be an old hag with no wife.

Meru: The fourth announcement is that I would like to wish an early happy birthday to my friend Eneth, who has just started beta-ing my new story. If you are interested in reading it, let me know.

Kurama: Can we start the story now?

Hiei: Yeah, I'd like to see me fight!

Meru: conceted...

Hiei: grrr

Kurama: (holds Hiei back) Meru does not own YYH, nor will she ever.

Hiei smirked and disappeared before Kurama could blink. His speed had certainly improved; Kurama couldn't sense him at all, but that was not a problem in the least. The youko shut his eyes and concentrated on the task at hand. Whispers from the vegetation around him whispered to him, and he knew. A wall of vines jumped up behind him, and thorns shot at the fire demon, slowing him down. "First rule Hiei, know your opponents weaknesses. Yours would be your headstrong fighting."

Hiei growled and stabbed at Kurama, but the fox countered the attack with a blade made of a stiff, large bamboo leaf "Second rule, don't attack with anger." He pushed the fire demon back.

"Rule three," Hiei mumbled "Don't get a fire demon angry!" he charged forward, jumped over Kurama, and just as he was directly above him, shot a wave of fire. Once he landed he shouted "And rule four! Fire always beats earth!" Hiei waited, but Kurama never came out. From behind him, a tidal wave hit, and the attack Hiei had been prepping was extinguished in a moment.

From behind the water, Kurama emerged twirling a rose in his fingers "Rule five, always watch your back."

"You're crazy," Hiei said with a smirk.

"Like a fox," and they charged at each other again.

---

When the pair arrived back at the palace, they each had their share of scrapes and bruises.

"Who won?" Mukuro walked into the the room, carrying Ryuzo in her arms.

Kurama laughed and pointed at Hiei "I ran out of energy before he did. It was a pretty good fight, but now I can't heal either of us," he took Ryuzo into his arms and rocked her back and fourth.

"You're just getting weak," Hiei muttered.

"And you're lonely, so we're even," he kissed Ryuzo's head, and in doing so was not able to see the look that Mukuro and Ryuzo shared.

"Hiei, I would like to talk to you later if you don't mind," and with that she walked out of the room.

Kurama smirked and looked at Hiei "She smelled different."

"And why, pray tell, were you smelling her?" Hiei's voice rose defensively.

"And why are you so worked up about it? Is it because part of her scent is now similar to yours? Care to tell what is going on?"

"Preferably not," he shut his eyes and leaned back.

Kurama sat up and poked him, making him jump "What was rule number seven?"

"Don't make your weaknesses obvious," he rolled his eyes behind his eyes lids and then opened them "I'm not an idiot."

"I'm beginning to doubt that. You have no clue what keeping secrets can do to a person," Hiei huffed and shut his eyes again.

"I am not a person."

"You are a living creature, and everything has flaws. Here is rule ten, learn to admit to them, and befriend them, because your opponent should never know your weaknesses better than you."

Hiei took Ryuzo into his arms "I have no weaknesses."

"Yes you do, and she is right there in your arms. Another one is your anger; you can't control it. The third just left this room smelling of you. I know you slept with her, now you have to admit it, and the reasons why you did so."

Hiei stood up, handed Ryuzo back to Kurama, and stomped away in anger. He wasn't going to listen to this. He didn't have a weakness, and even if he did, he would hide it so well that his enemies would never see them. This tournament meant more to him than anything. Yet, Mukuro still wanted to talk to him.

---

Mukuro sat in a chair by the window, thinking of the future. What would happen if Yusuke were to win? This fight meant everything, and there was a chance that Hiei would lose, leaving the world at the mercy of a ruthless tyrant. Koenma was gone, and Enma probably was as well. There was no one in the spirit world to help. All Mukuro could think, was that they were doomed, and the chance at a new beginning was all but impossible.

"Mukuro, you wished that I speak with you?" Hiei stood in the door, and Mukuro felt herself lose control. She burst into tears.

Meru: Anyone who can figure out what Mukuro has to say gets a special prize.

Hiei: I do not have weaknesses (Glares at Kurama)

Kurama: Hey, Meru made me say it.

Hiei: (Glares at Meru and pulls out knife)

Meru: Kurama hold him down (Kurama holds him back and Meru pulls out a needle and intjects something into his leg) Sweet dreams.

Kurama: Wasn't that a little harsh?

Meru: (Pulls out scissors) Would you like me to cut your beautiful hair to sell on ebay for thousands of dollars?

Kurama: (Stares in shock)

Meru: Didn't think so. Read and review people! I need reviews to inspire me to keep going!