Dont own YYH...thank you.
Chapt. 20
You Did What?!
I thought going to bed at ten would help me rest, but I guess when you've been sleeping for almost a month it doesn't work out that way. All night I tossed and turned, thinking about anything and nothing. I sat up after a while and looked at my clock. Midnight. So much for sleeping.
I get up and leave the room I had claimed as my own. My real room my probably gathering dust. Osadyro worked long and hard to alter my family's minds; she had fun too though. They think that I went on a scholarship trip for some college on the west coast. Like I'll ever get to go to college now. I probably won't even finish high school. How do Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Kurama do it?
My stomach gave a loud growl. I guess dinner didn't fill its appetite. The kitchen was pretty far away, so I pulled out the chicken wing bone I had saved from my first dinner with these crazy people. Maybe that's why I couldn't sleep. Jeans and a chicken bone aren't all that comfortable.
I wander the dark halls for a little while more. The wing bone was covered in teeth marks from where I was gnawing on it; now I was sucking on it like a sucker. I push the kitchen door open and walk over to the fridge. Upon opening the door, a faint moan comes from behind me. I turn around and see Kurama sitting at the table, shielding his eyes from the light.
"Sorry," I mumble through the side of my mouth, shutting the fridge and re-pocketing my half-eaten bone. "What're you doin' up?"
"Couldn't sleep," he answers shortly.
"Well, that makes two of us," I laugh, sitting across from him.
"I'm not surprised that you wouldn't sleep. You're body must want to run for miles again."
"Yea, but I'm gunna save it all for the tournament in a few hours."
"Are you sure you're up for it?" the kitsune inquires in a concerned tone.
"I'll be fine Kurama; I've been in worse situations."
The conversation continues on, and we talk about whatever comes to mind. Mostly, though, we talked about the Ankoku Bujutsukai. I had heard the story from Osadyro hundreds of times (she was there), but I still loved to hear it one more time. The battles they won and lost, the people they met, and the fun they had, even if their life was on the line. I loved to hear it again and again; it never got old, and each time it varied from the last.
The Urabutosatsujin would be similar, but entirely different. The people we would be fighting were assassins, wrestlers, mass murderers, swordsmen, and fist fighters. And most of them were humans. Sure, there would be demons there, but humans were most common in the preliminaries. I have never killed a human, and I don't plan to start.
Could Kuwabara and Yusuke handle this pressure? In this tournament, if you aren't strong enough to kill your opponent, or smart enough to find another way to win, you were going to get killed. Kuwabara wouldn't kill a soul that was human...or of the female species. Yusuke wouldn't kill a human either. How will they survive? Can they stand against these kinds of odds? I know they did in the Ankoku Bujutsukai, but this was different. Those were demons, these were going to be humans.
"Kurama?" I interrupt.
"Yes?"
"What will be our wager for the Urabutosatsujin?" I ask timidly.
"Wager?"
"Yes, you must have a wager in the tournament that you give up if you lose. It must be something precious; the more precious, the harder we fight. Weapons you give up automatically when you lose, but the precious thing you give up when your team loses. Do you know what it is?"
"Koenma never told us about that part of the tournament."
"Do you think it means he put up his own wager for us?"
"It's possible."
I give a menacing growl. "That bastard. We're a team, and the sponsor is supposed to tell us this stuff! Take me to him Kurama before I rip this place apart finding him!"
"Calm down and follow me." Kurama gets up and starts the long trek for the Jr. ruler's office. I follow closely behind him, fuming with suppressed anger. That baby was goin' down!
Soon, the large oak doors came into view.
"Would you like to be a witness to his demise?" I ask Kurama coldly.
"No, but I'll come in anyway."
"Suit yourself." I push open the large doors with little effort.
"Ever hear of knocking?!" the mini ruler exclaimed. "Oh, Kurama, Darkfire. What are you doing out here this time of night?" he corrects himself, shaking slightly.
"I just wanted to ask you a question," I coo (scary for how pissed I was), walking casually up to his desk.
"Such as?" he says cautiously.
"You never did tell us what the wager for the Urabutosatsujin was," I say sweetly. "Why the Hell not?!" I explode. "You know that we need a wager! What, or dare I say who, did you put up for it?!?!" I yell, yanking the child lord out of his chair, over his desk, and very, very close to my face.
"Swear you won't kill me?" he begs in fear.
"I might consider it," I hiss.
"I knew it would make you fight harder and do better and not lose. I didn't think it would hurt much. I just hope –"
"Out with it binkie boy!"
"So I put Yukina as the wager!" he screams fearfully.
"You what!!?!!" I shriek, tossing him across the room. Kurama skillfully catches him. I turn and face the shivering child ruler. The Devil would have cowered before me right now. "I hope Yukina knows you did this," I snarl, stepping towards the kitsune and small lord.
"She agreed to it!" he shrieks.
"Agreed?"
"It was her idea! I swear!" he wails, trying to hide in Kurama's arms.
"If you're lying, I hope you have a will written up." I storm from the room and head down the hall. I memorized where Yukina was staying so it would be easy to find her in an emergency. I think now would be classified as such. I was at her door in minutes.
I practically hammer the door down. It opens quickly and I almost whack the small ice apparition on the head.
"What is it?" she asks worriedly.
"Sorry to wake you so early, but I need to talk to you."
"About what," she inquires, stepping aside and inviting me in. She pushes the door shut.
"Did you agree to be the wager for Urabutosatsujin?" I ask, taking her shoulders gently.
She stares at the ground for a moment. "I wanted to be of some help. I knew you guys would fight harder if I was put on the line."
"You didn't have to put your life in danger."
"That's what Koenma said. You can't talk me out of it Darkfire. Please, something just told me I had too."
I couldn't believe my ears. This small, innocent apparition was putting her life on the line so that we wouldn't lose. I knew she was much older than I, but she acted like a small child. Caring, loving, tender, and gentle Yukina was so frail. A flower in a wildfire is sure to be burned; but it stands in its beauty in the line of danger. Yukina was the frail ice flower, and she was risking getting burnt for us. Right then, I admired her courage.
"Ok Yukina, but you get to tell Hiei."
"What's wrong with telling Hiei?"
"Let's just say he wouldn't exactly approve if told by someone else." I could see him ripping me to bits if I were to tell him. "Let's just hope he keeps his rage for the tournament," I sigh. I felt sorry for the team we faced first. I wonder if it would be legal to let Hiei kill them all.
Thought I'd inform you that I have pictures of my characters and various "scenes" from this story. If you happen to want to see them, please send me an e-mail at:
Just lettin' ya know...
