DISCLAIMER: see all my other chapters—but these confusing plots/characters are mine!! I own Mai and her demon half, Kira...I also own the plot (once again) but only to the extent of my originality; I don't own the episode part of it...
If that made any sense...
A/N: ahhhhhhh!! Stupid damn school/science fair! I wish it would all burn in hell!! ::pants heavily then perks up:: but now I have an update—despite the fact that it sucks—but nonetheless I have one!!!
Sorry if you guys don't enjoy it as much, I was kinda having a major brainfart and I couldn't decide what this chapter should be like...
Ah well, please don't be too harsh, LoL, I promise I will try and make it better by the time I move onto the actual fights—that's where the plot/romance thickens everyone! So be prepared! Haha, I just hope I don't confuse anyone with all the twists and crap...
PLEASE KEEP SENDING ME IDEAS FOR WHO MAI SHOULD FIGHT!!! I've already had a few people suggest Jin and a few people that Genkai and Hiei fight, but please tell me what you think please!!!
Thanks to my reviewers!
Naoko Asakura 009
Dragon Firefairy
adrienne: haha, yes I know you found my story...
TonyDiMerasbedroomslave
XxXRoseVixenXxX: ooo!! I like your new pen name!
Stormbringer08
Umeko Saito
Sk8tergirl69
Inu-hottie
Thoughts
'Kira'
Fire Angel
::Hanging Neck Island (aka: the crappy chapter!)::
Mai's PoV
"Does it hurt, slacker?!" Genkai barked as Yusuke clambered up the cliff-face with the heavy boulders along his wrists and ankles. The old woman bobbed up and down in the air beside him all the while shouting orders and giving her motivation. Already Yusuke had been subjected to the woman's vigorous training and shakily made his way further upwards.
I stood beneath them with my hands raised above my head towards the Detective and sweat perspired off my brow. I bit my lip forcefully. Transferring my energy to Urameshi wasn't easy and it appeared as though it wasn't doing much good, seeing that it was only draining me.
Genkai turned her head to me, "You're slacking off, Mai!!" she roared. I clenched my teeth almost painfully and forced more and more of my energy towards Yusuke.
The Detective seemed to receive it and struggled further up the cliff-side. My body began to tremble violently, but I continued to hold on. I shut my eyes tightly and gritted my teeth; I couldn't hold on much longer.
"DAMMIT!" I cried to myself and suddenly collapsed to the ground.
Above me, I heard Yusuke yell and then felt the ground quake as he fell to the earth. He cursed angrily as I lay panting into the grass. Tears of failure filled my eyes and I slammed my fist into the ground. Genkai floated to the ground and folded her arms.
"Take a break you two—"
"No!" I snapped as I continued to pant, "I don't know about Yusuke, but I'm finishing this!! We've been at it for a week now; I should be able to do it!"
Urameshi shakily got to his knees, "Mai, you're drained, just take it easy for awhile..."
I sent him a stubborn glare before weakly rising to my feet, "Whatever," I told him and slowly made my way into the woods where a small stream ran though it. Unsteadily, I fell to my knees beside it and dipped my hands into the cool brook.
Cupping my hands, I brought the water to my face and splashed it over my head. But as the liquid trickled down my cheeks, so did my tears.
Why couldn't I do it? The question ran through my mind as I took shuddering sobs. How the hell was I supposed to be a Guardian if I couldn't even support my own strength?! My tears fell onto my hands and I clenched my fists.
Fine...I thought to myself...Mai, we're just going to have to push harder, then...
-:6:-
'Mai...' Kira coaxed '...You're pushing yourself too hard; calm down...'
She gritted her teeth and scowled at the earth. Her index finger nearly extended to the spike below her. A small pink orb was the only thing separating the girl from impaling herself on the spear. Sparks crackled up and down her arm. Sweat perspired off her brown and her arm shook, but she still wouldn't give up.
"Five weeks," the girl muttered to the former Guardian, "Five weeks is all I have before this god-forsaken tournament and I can't waste a single minute!!" she growled, "I at least have to be at the same level as Yusuke by that time!"
And with that, the orb at her finger grew larger and she was raised slightly higher into the air. Around her, the eerily pink haze suddenly appeared and rippled around her body as sweat continued to perspire off her brow.
"Five weeks," she repeated again through her gritted teeth.
From the doorway—and without Mai noticing—Genkai stood watching. The old woman's brow furrowed slightly as she watched the girl perch on top of the spike and her spirit energy. She had been at it for nearly seven hours now and yet still she did not let up. It was curious that Mai was able to withstand such drain...Curious yet intriguing at the same time that she possessed such endurance...
Just like Kira...the old woman thought and folded her arms slowly.
"Five weeks indeed..."
-:6:-
A little more than a month later:
"Man, these guys are creeping me out..." Kazuma muttered quietly to the only two of his teammates present. Each and every team of demons were leering at them; loathing them for just being there at the docks.
Kurama nodded slowly and warily, "It would appear as though we're not welcomed..." he said calmly and glanced around cautiously. Hiei crossed his arms over his chest and glared at the other teams dangerously.
The first red-head frowned uncertainly and glanced back towards the woods, "Where do you think Yusuke and Mai are? The ferry—"
A voice from near the shore suddenly called towards them, "Departure to Hanging Neck Island will be in five minutes!" and older-looking man limped forward into the midst of the teams before falling on the lonely trio, "If your entire team is not present, you will not be allowed to make the trip."
"Hey!" Kuwabara shook his fist at the man, "Hold up there will ya?! We still have two teammates coming!!"
The man narrowed his eyes, "Five minutes," he repeated and turned back towards the docks.
Hiei snorted, "Bastard."
The trio shifted uneasily as the seconds began to tick away and still no sign of either the Detective or the Guardian. It was only when the captain called back to the teams for a final warning could a soft rustling be heard behind them. The three turned to find Yusuke and Mai emerging from the woods...along with a sixth member...
Urameshi looked exhausted from fatigue and limped towards them with the support of the Guardian. The third part of the odd trio was nearly shorter than Hiei and wore a mask over their face so that only their eyes could be seen. This fighter, however, bore the same clothes as Genkai...
"Sorry we're late guys..." Yusuke said weakly, "Mai forgot her purse..."
She scowled only teasingly just as an unhappy murmur rippled through the crowd of demons; team Urameshi would be allowed to make the voyage. Many of the teams sent hateful glares towards them and grumbled in agitation.
But Hiei watched the Detective carefully for a moment before flicking the hilt of his sword with his thumb.
Without warning, the speed-apparition slashed out at the Spirit Detective with everything he had. Yusuke dodged the blows easily despite Hiei's swiftness even as the demon whizzed in and out of view.
The Detective suddenly caught Hiei's sword between his fingers and gave him a small grin.
"Hn...You've gotten stronger Urameshi," Hiei observed calmly as he withdrew his weapon and sheathed it once more.
Yusuke yawned suddenly and started to close his eyes, "...I, I think I'm just going to rest for awhile..."
The Detective suddenly slumped over and Mai caught him. A soft snoring could be heard from the boy and she sighed sadly.
"I guess Genkai's training drained him..." Kurama observed quietly as the Guardian began to haul his sleeping for towards the docks. What surprised the others was that she was able to carry him with such ease without even the least bit of struggle.
The demons parted distastefully and Mai said nothing as she and Urameshi made their way onto the boat with the other members of their team following behind. And in only a minute's time, the other teams boarded the ship and the boat lurched forward.
Mai carefully set Yusuke down by the railing and the other five stood nearby with the exception of Hiei on the railing itself.
"Hey, Mai, what's with those things on your head?" Kazuma asked and pointed to three turquoise stones curiously etched in a triangle along her forehead; three stones that certainly weren't there two months prior.
The Guardian glanced upwards as if not quite sure what he was talking about before she flushed furiously and slapped her hand over her head, "Nothing," she replied quickly, "Just experimenting with my style and all that crap..."
Kuwabara frowned slightly, but shrugged and let the subject drop. The others, however, had turned their attention to the Masked Fighter with a mix of curiosity and uncertainty, but the new member didn't seem to notice and merely kept to themselves.
But before any of them could get comfortable, the speakers suddenly blared across the deck:
"All teams shall choose their best fighter; only one team from this ship is permitted to leave and continue on to the Dark Tournament. This boat is the preliminary round..."
A murmur swept through the ship, but just before a low rumble could be heard near the center of the deck. Demons cried out in surprise as the floor suddenly began to split and from beneath, a platform arose.
It was a moment before the "best" of the other teams moved forward to the battle field.
Kazuma smirked, "These guys are pushovers! Let me at em—!"
He stopped short, however when a pair of rather large demons began to make their way towards the platform. Kuwabara gulped and scuttled away towards the railing, "Urameshi can take them..." he mumbled.
"He needs to rest, Kuwabara," Kurama told him just as the Masked Fighter suddenly started to make their way towards the arena before any of them could protest.
Team Urameshi watched them nervously, all save for Mai who leaned against the railing calmly and Hiei snorted.
"Hn, well if they lose, we can always kill the rest of them off...then no one could complain and we'd be in the tournament," the apparition smirked and folded his arms over his chest.
On the platform, the demons chuckled at the small fighter that leapt onto the arena; each of them wanted a piece of the easy fight.
But the sixth member had other ideas.
Without missing a beat, the fighter suddenly recoiled their palm to their side where it began to glow a pale blue color. Before the demons could react, they pushed their fist forward and a sudden blast erupted over the field, obliterating any and all the other fighters.
Around the deck the other teams suddenly growled angrily with one another and sent rather furious leers at the Urameshi team. On instinct, the group readied themselves as the demon began to surround them.
"It doesn't matter which on of us makes it the island," said a demon, "Just so long as these filthy humans don't!"
Others muttered in agreement and closed in around the group. Mai took up her staff in her hands while the other three readied themselves as well.
It was all a blur of how the fight started, but it was clear that team Urameshi was on their own for this one. The group guarded their area—and Yusuke—from the hoard of demons swarming around them.
Mai grinned as she swiped her staff at several other teams, "Well this is a change of pace!" she observed as her staff pierced through the flesh of a demon, "It's been awhile since I actually fought someone."
The shorter apparition smirked, "Yeah 'cause you were forced to fight with Urameshi the entire time..." he zipped out of sight momentarily and reappeared a second later as his sword lashed out near the center of the mass.
Kuwabara had drawn his spirit sword and Kurama and pulled out his whip and slashed out at the other teams. Already, a vast majority of the demons had already been exterminated, but there were still those who kept coming. The Guardian remained near Urameshi; determined not to allow any of the demons through.
From above them, however, the masked fighter suddenly jumped down from the platform and landed amidst the Urameshi team and pounced easily on the deck and next to Mai. As if on instinct, the Guardian lifted her palms in front of her with her wrists planted together, the masked fighter doing the same. In both their hands, a glowing orb appeared and began to grow steadily. The demons charging suddenly froze in terror as the pair pushed forward, the beams of energy racing across the ground.
AS the demons were obliterated, the other three teammates blinked in confusion and sweat-dropped.
"Okay...then..." Kuwabara said slowly. And in a small sense, Mai looked somewhat confused as well, but quickly shook it off as if nothing had happened.
Kurama placed his whip back in his hair (A/N:...right...well I'm not quite sure how to describe that ::nervous laugh::) and glanced around the ship, "It appears that was all of them..." he stated quietly.
There was an awkward silence through te group before Kuwabara whirled on Mai.
"Dude! What the hell was that?!"
The Guardian turned and sweat-dropped, laughing nervously, "Reflexes?" she suggested before quickly making her way across the deck as if to avoid any other questions. She stopped at the opposite railing and stared over the side, suddenly becoming somber.
Kazuma leaned towards the other red-head, "Your girlfriend's weird, Kurama..."
-:6:-
Mai flopped down on the couch heavily after she had hauled Urameshi to the armchair next to her. Hiei perched on the chair casually and Kurama sat next the Guardian. Kuwabara sat across from them on the second couch while the masked fighter crossed their leg over the other on the armrest.
Tea had already been laid out for the team and sat on the coffee table before them. The only ones who hadn't taken any were Yusuke and Kuwabara—who had this paranoia that everything was poisoned. The Detective huddled into a ball and was probably sucking his thumb had he not had his back turned to them.
"Dammit, grandma..." he muttered in his sleep.
His Guardian rolled her eyes and wearily placed her head on Kurama's shoulder. The red-head smiled and leaned on her head as well.
"So when do you think Urameshi will wake up? In time for tomorrow's match?" Kuwabara asked.
Mai shrugged weakly, "I dunno; we both have been training a lot lately; it's a miracle I'm still conscious—"she stopped suddenly and glanced down at the table and the tray, "...Uh, guys? Weren't we supposed to have six cups?"
Kazuma nodded, "yeah we still do though, right? I mean I didn't take one," he said gesturing towards the remaining cup.
Kurama shook his head, however, "But neither does Yusuke; we should have two spare ones left over," he observed the group, "The rest of us still have one, so we're missing one—"
A small laugh suddenly resounded through the hotel room. The team turned sharply to find a small child sitting on top of the dresser near the door. In his hands was the missing cup.
"Ha, losers..." he laughed and took a sip of the tea, "It took you long enough to notice..."
The group suddenly jumped to their feet and Mai quickly slapped Kuwabara upside the head, "Dammit, couldn't you sense him?!" the redhead winced and rubbed his scalp. But the intruder merely laughed again.
"Well if that's the way you all are going to fight tomorrow, you guys are as good as dead..." the child smirk.
"You're not welcomed here," Kurama told him dryly.
The kid shrugged, "Serves you right for not sensing me in the first place—"
"Shut up, Rinku," said a cool voice from the open door. The Urameshi team now turned their attention to the demon standing in the doorway. He had blonde hair and paler skin and wore a navy blue shirt.
Rinku also turned his head and grinned, "Oh hey, Zeru! I was just checking out the competition," he said and glanced a bit distastefully towards the sleeping Detective, "Looks like an easy fight with these guys..."
Mai picked up her staff and jabbed it towards the child, "Say that again and I'll break your neck," the girl threatened, and he sweat-dropped while backing off a little bit. Zeru—the demon behind him—narrowed his eyes.
"See you tomorrow," he told them calmly and as Rinku jumped down from the dresser, he turned back and pointed towards the spare teacup. A thin line appeared along the porcelain before it suddenly shattered and the tea sloshed over the saucer.
Zeru smirked, "I'll enjoy watching you all lose..."
-:6:-
Mai's PoV
I couldn't sleep, that was for sure. All I could do was lie on the couch and listen to Yusuke's steady breathing next to me on the other couch. I stared out into the darkness silently and clutched my pillow tightly to my chest. My eyes glanced slowly towards Urameshi and sighed when I hear him muttered several profanities in his sleep.
"Be careful tomorrow, Yusuke..." I murmured to him.
-:6:-
crappy, yes I know, I promise it will get better, I've just been a little off lately...
Ciao everyone!! I gtg to rehearsal!!