DISCLAIMER: I don't own any yyh. I don't. Don't ask me. But I do own Mai, Kira, Ryu and all my original works including the plotline.
A/N: yay Halloween!! Even though I probably won't get this chapter up until after tonight, I hope all of you stay safe—and get as much candy as you want! WHEEEEEEEEEEE!! Lol, plus I get my braces off tomorrow! I'm so happy, LoL, but I think all my friends are out to get me because of it ::nervous laugh::
Anywhos...I'm not quite sure how this chapter will end up, so don't hate me! I've waited too long anyways to update, so I'm just sort of trying to keep you guys from going haywire if I don't update ::sweatdrop::
Thankies to my reviewers!
Umeko Saito: you actually thought that was a lot of Yusuke/Mai fluffiness? Hm, I wasn't really trying to put so much in there; I only meant it that way because they're detective and guardian, so they're kinda supposed to care about one another...o well—you should be happy though; lots of Kurama fluffiness this chapter!!
NOTE: Seikoki is actually Japanese for Saint Light Energy (I saw it when I was looking through some episodes for future ideas)
Sarah1281: ::twitch:: you told everyone my name...::twitchtwitch:: and now I can't delete it!!!
Naoko Asakura 009
TonyDiMerasbedroomslave
(Ah, and just so you guys know—if you even care, LoL—my team lost in the semifinals ::sniff:: but thanks for your support)
Thoughts/Flashback
'Kira'
Fire Angel
::The First Fight::
Mai heard them even as the team passed beneath the stadium; hundreds upon hundreds of demons chanting and shouting above them; lusting for the sight of blood...
Their blood.
The Guardian shivered and clutched Kira's staff protectively to her chest. She felt her heart pounding in her rib cage and she glanced quickly up at the rest of the gang in front of her. She knew it was in them too; she could sense it as if it hung in the air...as if she could reach out and touch it.
With each step her body trembled and she had to place her staff in front of her for support. And without Kira to help her out on this one, she felt very much alone.
She shut her eyes tightly as her grip on Kira's staff tightened as if she was trying to squeeze the last remainder of the former Guardian from the last physical trace she had left. But all that remained behind was the faint sense that Kira was gone...
"Koi?"
Mai quickly glanced upwards into Kurama's emerald green eyes. The red head smiled reassuringly, but the Guardian's bottom lip trembled as she fought back her tears.
And out of the blue, she suddenly wrapped her arms around his chest and sobbed into his shirt. He gently placed his hand on her head and stroked his fingers through her hair as she took shuddering breaths.
"Kurama, I'm scared..." she murmured. In front of them, the rest of the team slowed to a halt to wait on the remaining two.
"And why is that?" he inquired softly, "You have nothing to be afraid of, Mai..."
The Guardian was about to answer him, but held back; how was she to tell him that she was afraid of Yusuke getting hurt when the Detective wasn't even conscious? Why wasn't she worried as much about Kurama? Maybe it was because she knew he could take care of himself; that he wasn't reckless and stupid like Urameshi.
She meekly wiped her tears from her eyes with her palm and laughed hollowly, "You must think I'm so weak...to cry like this..."
He merely smiled at her and softly drew her closer to him. Her fingers tenderly stroked the fabric of his shirt and she let her remaining tears trickle down her cheeks.
But I am weak...she thought...It's been Kira all along giving me my strength; without her I'm just some helpless child...
"Just...Just be careful today Kurama-san..." she whispered into his shirt.
The red-head looked down at her and rested his head gently on hers, "I will, Mai...don't worry..."
She sniffed rather loudly before slowly released herself from his touch. Frustrated now for allowing herself to break down like that, she irritably wiped the remaining tears from her eyes and brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes.
"Promise?" she demanded quietly.
Kurama nodded and smiled sadly, "Yes, I promise."
"You guys ready now or what?" Kazuma called from ahead of them, "Anymore of this stalling and I think I might go crazy."
Hiei, who stood next to him, snorted, "Good, then we could send you to an asylum and we wouldn't have to listen to the constant flapping of your mouth."
Kuwabara's face flushed an angry red, "What was that, shrimp?!"
But Mai had come up from behind them and swiftly smacked Kazuma over the head with her staff, "Cool it," she ordered calmly, "We're fighting Team Rikkuyoukai not each other..."
She died out then when the walls around them rumbled with the mighty chanting of the demons above them.
The rest of the team heard it also and went quiet—not that it made any difference to the masked fighter; it wasn't as if they had anything to say to group anyway. But the dull thunder did not die down, but got louder with each passing moment.
Looking at one another, they nodded and without saying another word, they slowly made their way down the hallway once more.
Mai took a shuddering breath and fingered the cool metal of her staff between her fingers...
So this was it...
-:8:-
"Welcome to the Dark Tournament, everyone!! I'm Koto, your announcer!" the rather cheery fox-demon chirped through the microphone, "Now who's ready to see a little blood and gore?"
The stadium erupted with the roars from the other demons, some of them shouting profanities at the Urameshi team standing along the outside of the ring. They hissed angrily; it was as if the team of humans (with the exception of Kurama and Hiei) tainted the battle field.
Kuwabara folded his arms and frowned, "Well screw 'em," he muttered darkly and Mai hushed him as if the crowd could hear them. There wasn't a single friendly face amidst the audience; all hateful glares and leers.
But then, several cheers could be heard across the stadium. Team Urameshi glanced over towards the other side of the battle field and realized that they were cheering for the approaching team.
There were five of them; two of them already recognizable to the group. Zeru seemed a little too calm for comfort as well did the rest of the team. The little child, Rinku had a rather large grin plastered on his face and he placed his hands behind his head. The other three they hadn't met...though it wasn't though they wanted to. One was a blue-skinned demon with even darker blue hair. The remainder of the team was the two taller demons; one looking much like a hippie and the other was a stronger brute with dark hair.
Koto hopped onto the ring now and raised her hand into the air, "Alright everybody! On my left we have Team Urameshi!"
The stadium filled up with the single note of 'boos' and hisses. Team Urameshi returned with distasteful glares at the demons.
"And on my right...Team Rikkuyoukai!!"
Their boos turned to cheers and the crowd stamped their feet wildly. Their opponents grinned and Rinku waved at the demons in the audience.
The announcer grinned as well and gestured to the two groups, "Leaders of both teams come on up!"
From the other side of the arena, Zeru made his way towards the center of the ring. The Urameshi team however was left unmanned while Yusuke lay sleeping and unconscious along the stone wall nearby.
"I'll go for Urameshi," Kazuma decided.
Mai's brow furrowed, but she didn't object. It seemed right for her to go in Yusuke's stead, but then again, she wasn't one to stand before several hundred demons wishing she and the others were dead.
The red-head stepped onto center to confront Zeru. Koto stepped between them with the microphone still attached to her hand.
The blonde-haired demon smirked, "One-on-one sound good to you?" he suggested coolly.
Kuwabara nodded, but didn't reply. For a baka he was taking this on with a strong sense of confidence, Mai decided as the red-head started to leave the arena.
But before he had taken more than a few steps, Zeru suddenly chuckled darkly and his body suddenly erupted into flames. Kazuma turned back around quickly as the rest of the Urameshi team looked on in and awe-filled fear as several fireballs erupted from the demon's flesh.
Zeru smirked and abruptly sent flames charging into the stadium and everywhere around them. Mai raised her hands in front of her creating a barrier around her team while many of the demons in the audience became obliterated by the fire Zeru had created.
The flames around him, after a moment or so, died down and the demon stepped off the ring without a word. The Guardian lowered her shield cautiously as Kazuma continued to stand in the arena.
Koto blinked uncertainly, "Uh...well for all of you who are still alive, both teams have decided on one-on-one battles. Both teams send in your first fighters!"
Kuwabara turned his head towards the group, "I'll take the first one, guys,"
Across the ring, the child Rinku grinned toothily and hopped onto the arena. Kazuma's face fell slightly; disappointed that he had to fight one of the lesser fighters of the team...though his opponent was probably thinking the same thing.
Rinku laughed, "Man, this is gonna suck for you!" he told the red-head while his hands still rested behind his head.
"Wh-What did you say to me, punk?!" Kuwabara challenged dangerously; his face growing a bright red.
But before he could do anything drastic, Koto raised her hand over her head and swiftly brought it down, "Let the first fight begin!!"
The two fighters stood ready, but made no move to fight quite yet. Their eyes were locked on one another; glaring one another down while trying to sway their opponent down.
Then Rinku smirked and suddenly disappeared from sight. Kuwabara stepped back in surprise and stared around the stage cautiously. But then the child reappeared a moment or two later hopping about the arena; his agility making him almost invisible. He continued to taunt Kazuma and jumped around him.
Kuwabara grunted when his opponent suddenly punched him in the stomach and vanished, only to reappear again and kicked him in the chin.
"Dammit, you stupid little punk," the red-head muttered and whipped his head around; trying to find Rinku.
His eyes widened slightly as he became aware of exactly what the child was doing.
He's leaving a trail...Kazuma discerned when he noticed the faint outline of Rinku remaining shortly after he zipped out of view...That little bastard...
Kuwabara waited a little longer...just enough so that Rinku would try and throw another punch at him...
Suddenly, the child grunted painfully as the red-head socked him in the chest. Time seemed to slow down as the opponent was sent flying into the air.
Rinku crashed into the ground, causing several of the tiles below him to crack. Kuwabara smirked triumphantly when his adversary didn't get up right away.
But after a moment, Rinku shakily got to his feet; his pride shattered suddenly. Angry now, he charged at Kazuma, disappeared in his speed. The red-head however sensed him once more and knocked him down before the child could throw a punch.
Angry boos now rumbled through the crowd.
"Come on, Rinku!! Get your ass in gear!"
"Don't let these filthy humans beat you!!"
The child frowned darkly as Kuwabara started to charge after him, "You're going down, punk!!"
But before he could land a hit, Rinku dodged his blow; disappearing once again.
Suddenly, his opponent materialized to his left. But before he could react, Rinku swiftly swung his leg around and into Kazuma's neck.
A sickening crack could be heard throughout the stadium. From the sidelines, Mai winced and drew in a sharp breath when she noticed the rather painful angle that Kazuma's neck was in.
Koto quickly rushed to the scene of the attack and observed the red-head carefully before addressing the crowd, counting down.
"One!...Two!...Three!..."
Rinku laughed and turned his head back towards his team, "Hah, I thought it would be funny to make him think that he could win...what a loser!"
"Four!...Five!..."
"The poor bastard is dead!" the child grinned at his handiwork, "It's not like he'll be getting up anytime soon—!"
But even as he said this, Kuwabara suddenly began to stir. The red-head slowly lifted himself off the ground and Koto stopped her count. He rolled his neck and the position of his head returned to normal. The Guardian's eye ticked slightly at the sickening sound, but Kazuma smirked.
"You're going down, Shorty," the red-head informed him darkly.
-:8:-
A/N: yeah well it was short...and well...just a little jumpy I should say; I haven't seen this episode for awhile so I'm having to look it up on a bunch of fansites ::nervous laugh::
Ah well I hope you guys enjoyed!
DO YOU GUYS WANT KEIKO TO BE IN THE STORY TOO??? PLEASE TELL ME IN YOUR REVIEWS!!
Ciao! Peace and Luv!