Disclaimer: Nope....I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho....but I wish I could

Chapter Two: A Morning Swim With A Challenge

Dinner was filled with the usual chatter and witty banter between Yusuke and Kuwabara. Etsuko and Genkai sat opposite from each other. Hiei took in the observation of just how much Etsuko resembled her mother, with the exception of her eyes. Genkai's being a pale pink, Etsuko's were a vibrant shade of blue. Hiei hadn't seen blue eyes as bright as hers. Etsuko's gaze fell upon his and she scowled.

"Keep it up, demon and I'll poke that extra eye of yours right out!" she spoke coarsely. Hiei averted his eyes and stared at the wall. How did she know of the Jagan eye?

"Etsuko, will you be studying this evening?" Genkai questioned her offspring, taking a big sip of tea before looking up to meet her eyes.

"Yes, after dinner." Etsuko replied, "Botan said she would assist me."

"Good." Genkai nodded.

"Studying?" Yusuke raised an eyebrow, "It's summer vacation. Why would you need to study?"

"What I do with my free time is none of your concern, idiot." Etsuko rose from her seat. She brushed a stray pink curl from her face, "Besides, you'll see soon enough."

Yusuke stood to confront her, but she was already leaving the room and Genkai was giving him evil glares for him to take his seat.

"It would be wise of you Yusuke to clear your mind for tomorrow's training. I'm very sure that Etsuko sees you as a challenge." She stated and sipped her tea again.

"That's fine with me. I like a challenge." Yusuke sat.

"If you don't mind me, I'm off to help Etsuko!" Botan said with a giggle. Hiei rolled his eyes at her perkiness.

"Genkai, how does Etsuko know of Hiei's Jagan eye?" Kurama spoke just after Botan left, "Has she seen us fight before?"

"You could say that." Genki rose, "I think all of you should go to bed soon."

Hiei wandered down the long temple hallways towards the room that would be his for the time being. He hated being there, but now at least he had something to entertain him. Etsuko's power had been suppressed during the fight with the demons. He could tell when she focused more energy in the few attacks on Yusuke. The girl had her secrets and he wanted to know them.

The sound of someone typing on a keyboard brought Hiei back from his thoughts. He stopped by the room the sound came from. The door was open a few inches and Hiei glanced in. Sitting at a computer, Etsuko was typing at a high speed. She stopped briefly and pushed the play button on the VCR. Scenes from the dark tournament played out before her and to Hiei's eyes. Etsuko was watching the match between Bui and Hiei. She paused the tape right before Hiei let loose the dragon of the darkness flame. She studied the expression in Hiei's eyes before typing something on her computer.

Hiei watched her with even more curiosity than before. She was studying him, learning everything she could from a very important match he had put his life on the line for. She pushed play again and sat back, a small smirk crossing her lips as she watched the dragon tear across the stadium. The tape got blurry and she pushed stop with an angry sigh.

"Stupid demon." She mumbled and tossed the tape onto a shelf, "It's because of him that I can't watch Yusuke at his best. That's okay, I'll draw his best out on my own. Isn't that right demon?"

Her eyes met with Hiei's. He stepped in from the dark hallway and faced her. Her face was cold and angry. He made sure that his matched.

"What do you hope to learn from that tape?" he asked, knowing that she hadn't seen the whole match.

"What's the matter? Not used to seeing yourself fight?" Etsuko stood. Hiei averted his eyes. He hadn't noticed her sleeping attire of a purple tank top and matching underwear. She laughed at him and he refocused his eyes on hers, "You shouldn't be snooping around here. You are only a guest."

"I wasn't snooping foolish girl." Hiei snapped angrily.

"Get out of my room, stupid demon." Etsuko stepped before him and glared up into his dark eyes, "This is my room and you're not welcomed."

She went to shove him hard and he dodged, slipping silently to one side. She sighed quietly. She knew this one would be a handful.

"Hn, stupid girl, you never answered my question." Hiei glared at her.

"I don't ever remember anyone telling me I had to answer your question you fucking jackass." Etsuko turned. She was going to change her tactics, "I am going to bed. If you're staying then close the door. If not, then leave."

She climbed slowly into her bed and glanced back. Hiei was gone. She smiled to herself. It worked every time.

"You're up early." Botan smiled as she met Etsuko in the hallway. It was barely after sunrise and Etsuko was dressed in a skimpy black bikini and a pale blue wrap around skirt, "Are you going swimming?"

"I do every chance I get. You should join me." Etsuko replied, "You do have a bathing suit, right?"

"Yeah, but I didn't think I'd actually need it." Botan giggled.

"Hurry up and change. I'll wait for you here." Etsuko leaned against the wall and watched Botan hurry to her room. A few moments later she returned dressed in a light pink bikini and a towel wrapped around her waist.

The pond was nestled in the back of the temple. It's crystal clear water made Botan sigh with amazement. The place was beautiful. With no word said, Etsuko dashed past the bubbly blue haired girl and dove into the frigid water. Coming up for air, Etsuko motioned for Botan to join her. When Botan refused, Etsuko laughed evilly before splashing.

"Etsuko!" Botan shrieked, "You jerk!"

"Now you have two choices, Botan! One, you can come in on your own. Or two, I will throw you in myself!" Etsuko yelled.

"That's not fair, Etsuko!"

"Sure it is!"

The yelling woke Hiei from a somewhat peaceful slumber. He heard laughing and splashing. He grumbled as he rolled himself out of bed and stumbled to the window. Looking down he noticed Botan being chucked into the pond by a much shorter Etsuko. His eyes grew wide for each girl wore the most revealing outfit her had ever seen on a human female. Etsuko stretched her arms over her head before diving into the water again.

"She certainly doesn't have a body like Genkai." Hiei sighed and jumped onto the windowsill to watch the two girls swim around.

"So, what do you think?" Etsuko splashed Botan again.

"You come out here every morning?" Botan asked, "This place is so serene and quiet. I don't think anything could disrupt this peacefulness."

That was until a loud yell of cannonball was heard and Yusuke and Kuwabara were diving right in. The girls shielded their eyes from the splashing water. Both of them cursing under their breaths about the two of them being idiots.

"Fucking bastards!" Etsuko yelled, "Next time warn us before you do that!"

"I thought the yell of cannonball would be enough of a warning." Yusuke smirked playfully.

"I don't get it, why are you two up this early?" Etsuko asked, "I thought you idiots would sleep through most of the day."

"We would have if he didn't wake us up." Kuwabara said and pointed behind Etsuko. Kurama sat quietly on the large boulder at the edge of the pond. He had on blue shorts and a white t-shirt.

"Didn't know you were there, fox. That's quite sneaky of you." Etsuko swam over to the rock and climbed out. Yusuke and Kuwabara gasped. She looked back at them and glared, "What the hell is your problem?"

"You are not Genkai's daughter!" Yusuke exclaimed in disbelief, "No, there is no way that you can be related to her!"

"You keep telling yourself that moron." Etsuko rolled her eyes and sat next to Kurama, "You guys seem to be missing someone. Where's shorty?"

"You know you shouldn't make fun of his height. You are shorter than him." Yusuke said pointedly, "Besides he'd probably beat you up. He wouldn't care if you were a girl or not. Then again, any of us could probably beat you."

"I accept the challenge." Etsuko stood and wrapped her pale blue skirt around her waist and tied a loose knot, "All the three of you stand on this rock with me."

"All three of us?" Kurama looked up at her. She nodded and he sighed, "Alright then."

"Come on you two. Botan you might want to back off a bit. This could get messy." Etsuko smirked and allowed Yusuke and Kuwabara to climb up onto the rock, "I challenge you three to push me off this rock and into the water."

"Are you serious?" Yusuke stared at her in disbelief, "That's not a challenge."

"Oh, but it is. You'll see." Etsuko smiled like a devil. Her first target was Kuwabara. The damn oaf would be the easiest to get into the water. She leaned forward and pretended to slip, falling into Kuwabara. Her barely covered breasts made contact with his exposed stomach. He jumped back, just like she knew he would, and fell into the water. Leaning back a bit she pretended to catch her balance by leaning against Kurama. Using his body as a strong point, she lifted off of him, kicking Yusuke hard in the face. He stumbled a bit and Etsuko was there to trip him and shove him hard in the water. She turned and faced the last opponent.

"Kick her ass, Kurama!" Yusuke yelled, slicking his wet hair back and away from his face which was now red with anger.

"Well, well, fox." She cooed, "Dare to try?"

"You use your womanly charm to help you succeed. Some people might get the wrong impression of you." Kurama smiled politely, "But, yes, I do dare to try."

"Very well then." She smirked again and then threw the first punch at his stomach. He blocked it and grabbed her wrist, twisting her arm around her back. He pushed her forward toward the water. Yusuke and Kuwabara cheered. Etsuko smiled again. She caught her balance enough to manage a high back flip, landing quietly behind her challenger. Kuwabara gasped in shock and Yusuke grumbled. There was no way she would go in that easily. A thorny vine caught her waist and she looked back to Kurama. He gave an apologetic smile and pulled her forward, the thorns cutting into her flesh as he did. She winced from the pain, and prepared for the fall into the water.

"I'm sorry if I'm hurting you." Kurama whispered sweetly.

"Don't be." Etsuko replied and he shoved her into the water, only to feel himself falling as well. They splashed into the water at the same time. Kurama came up for air first and Etsuko followed. He looked at her with confusion. He had no idea how he got pulled in. She reached for his wrist and pulled the fabric off and held it up. It was the skirt she had been wearing through the fight. He had never noticed how it got there.

"May I ask how you did that?" he inquired. He really was surprised.

"I guess you're not the only one who is sneaky, fox." She smirked again, "It's my little secret. Maybe someday I'll show you."

Etsuko turned away from the group. A small figure caught her attention from above. She glanced up, meeting Hiei's eyes. Kurama joined her side and looked up as well.

"He's been up there the whole time." He spoke quietly, "I suppose he's studying your movements."

"My movements?" Etsuko looked up at Hiei again, "You fucking pervert!"

Hiei shook his head and jumped down from the window and out of sight. Kurama gave a nervous laugh.

"I didn't mean those movements." He explained, "I meant your fighting movements. He knows nothing of your technique."

"Then he should have come down and joined us." Etsuko frowned, and turned to Kurama, "Thank you, fox. I look forward to having a real fight with you next time."

"You keep calling me that. How come?" Kurama questioned her as he followed her out of the water. It had been the fourth time she called him fox.

"That is what you are, right?" Etsuko asked, "I guess it's just another of my little secrets, fox. Breakfast will probably be served soon. We should head in to eat before my mother puts us to work."

"Very well." Kurama watched her walk away. Yusuke, Kuwabara and Botan joined him shortly after.

"That cannot be Genkai's daughter." Yusuke was watching Etsuko walk away, "Who knew the old hag could produce such an offspring?"

"Pig." Botan spat and walked away.

"Who knew Botan looked so good in so little?" Kuwabara shrugged.

"Yeah, who knew?" Yusuke agreed.

"I can hear you, ya know!" Botan turned and screamed before storming inside.

"Women, who knew they could be so evil?" Kuwabara spoke as they started into the temple.

"What are you complaining about? One of those evil women practically threw herself at you." Yusuke chuckled, "She sure knows how to use what she's got."

"I think there's more to her than we know of. She's certainly not the innocent type. I think it would be wise to not take her so lightly." Kurama walked inside, leaving the other two to stop and ponder his comment.