DISCLAIMER: I don't own yyh. But I do own my OCs (Mai, Kira, Ryu…etc.) and the plot idea is also mine (except for all that's actually happened in the series, but my own ideas are mine)
a/n: ugh…kitkat isn't doing too well; colds aren't fun nuh uh…::sniff:: well anyway, despite this, I'm still gonna try and update this week! Yay!!
Thank you to my reviewers!
XxXRoseVixenXxX: yeah…I apologize for that (heck, now I'm just regretting ever putting up the vote-thing in Fire Dancer cuz now I think it would have been so much better then…) but I'm still going to be putting a bunch of fluffy moments in between Mai and Kurama, so don't worry!
Sarah1281: you thought that chapter was funny? Hm…well I kinda was trying to in the very beginning but…
Umeko Saito: You're really in Ireland??!! That's so cool! And I'm so glad that you've actually found the time to review! LoL, but I do have to confess that I too am a dubbie ::sniff:: but I am able to do some "research" for the true storyline. But to tell you the truth I have absolutely nothing against Keiko! It's just that I like to experiment with my characters and the ones from the show (I'm actually thinking of making a Hiei/OC fic where Keiko and Yusuke will be together : )
Naoko Asakura 009: haha, okay, okay…I'll try and make it so that those fights work out. But from now on, I don't think I'll be making many more suggestions to you guys (nothing personal, really!!) I just think it's easier and a bit more fun to write the fic when my readers don't know what's going to happen…if that makes sense…
…
So…um….on with the chapter!! YAY HIEI!!!!!!
Thoughts/Flashback
Fire Angel
::Dragon of the Darkness Flame::
"Let's have the next two fighters come on up!!" Koto cheered into the microphone as the audience began to grow impatient for some actual violence. And both Keiko and Shizuru sitting alone behind Team Urameshi began to shift uneasily.
However, with the spirit detective and his guardian both unconscious, the group was left only with Hiei and the masked fighter to finish out the fight. The duo leaned wearily against the wall; both of them leaning up against one another for support and nearly oblivious to the entire match.
From across the ring, Zeru calmly made his way towards the field…but a triumphant gleam already flashed in his eyes.
Hiei's eyes flickered quickly towards Yusuke where he still remained sleeping along with Mai; continuing to leave their companions crippled and at a near disadvantage against team Rokuyoukai. The apparition formed a small grin; more fun for him then…
And as Zeru stepped onto the ring, Hiei nimbly leapt onto the arena as well without saying a word to his companions, but it didn't appear as though they had any objection anyway.
"Alright then!!" the announcer chirped, "Let's hope that this fight will have a bit more violence in it than the other two fights!! BEGIN!!"
The two fighters stood silently for a moment; glaring one another down and testing each other's willpower. But both of them—with their enormous egos—would not back down from the other. Hiei looked almost amused with his opponent and folded his arms casually; it wasn't as if Zeru's specialty was a mystery…
Zeru smirked and his eyes narrowed. Out of the blue, flames suddenly erupted around him and shot off into all directions of the stadium. Audience members cried out in pain as they were swallowed by the inferno. Team Urameshi blinked in surprise and threw up their arms in protection of the scorching flames. But the shorter apparition didn't even flinch as the fires blew around him.
Flames began to consume Rokuyoukai's fighter and in his fists, fireballs licked at the palms of his hands. Zeru readied his stance so that he was prepared to fight his opponent, but Hiei merely smirked and didn't seem to make any move to prepare.
"This might have been a good fight for Mai…" Kuwabara said thoughtfully (a/n: …), "I mean, since they're both use fire-type attacks and all…"
The redhead beside him finished wrapping up a small wound he received during his fight, "I'm not quite sure about that… for one of two reasons: fire on fire would be a difficult match; neither of them would have had the advantage and would have had to resort to physical fighting," Kurama placed a hand in pocket, "Besides that, Zeru must be one of the strongest fighters on their team…don't get me wrong, I have total trust in Mai it's only that I don't think she's quite ready for a match like this."
Botan frowned from where she knelt next to Yusuke and the guardian, "Not ready? Hasn't she been training with Yusuke the past three months?" she raised her eyebrow curiously, "The way Genkai drilled him before you would think that they would both exceed the entire team…"
He shook his head, "It's not that I'm worried about…I'm just not sure if she's ready emotionally to take on a fight like this."
A desert-like wind whipped at Hiei's clothes and tousled his hair as the fires continued to envelope the stadium in a burning inferno. Zeru tossed one of the orbs of fire casually in his hand as if it were a baseball before his eyes swiftly flickered back to his opponent.
The fighter turned suddenly to face the apparition and hurled the fireball at him. Hiei dodged nimbly, but then had to jump away again when the demon threw another in his direction.
Zeru now hurled the fireballs continuously at the shorter fighter so that Hiei was constantly dodging his attacks. The streams of inferno charged through the air and whenever they missed Hiei, collided into another section of the crowd.
Koto excitedly held her microphone directly in front of her as if afraid to miss any action, "Now this is what I'm talking about!" she cheered, "At least one of these matches involves some actual fighting!"
Rokuyoukai's leader withdrew his attacks on his opponent and Hiei landed back on the ground a few feet away without the least bit of harm done to him.
A smirk curled around Zeru's lips, "You're not going to last for long, you know…" he said coolly.
Hiei raised his eyebrow mockingly, "Really…? I'm actually quite bored with your antics…so I guess it would be somewhat enlightening to see what you think you can kill me with."
His opponent hooded his eyes and growled, "Gladly," he muttered, and returning to a normal stance, the demonic aura around him began to grow. He clenched his fists and punched them together causing spurts of fire to crackle along his arms. His body pulsed with the strength of his energy and started to glow a deep red while flames erupted around him.
Team Urameshi looked on worriedly as Zeru's power rose dramatically. Hiei continued to stand calmly before his opponent, but his eyes showed something of a spark of interest now that the fighter was becoming stronger.
Zeru cried out suddenly as the flames roared around him; anger flashed before his eyes and his fists clenched angrily as his energy started to reach its peak.
Then, the demon whirled on Hiei and hurled his fist at him while it blazed with fire. The apparition didn't ever try to move as his opponent's attack made contact. His fist pierced flesh it seemed as it was thrown into Hiei's stomach. The flames from the attack exploded around him and enveloped him in flames.
The apparition was hurled into the air by the force and sent flying across the ring. Zeru however was not yet done with his opponent and punched the air in front of him causing a new fireball to arise; this one enlarging itself to thrice the size of its user. The fiery ball of inferno charged towards Hiei before he could even recover from the attack.
Flames roared around the apparition and exploded on impact. An unearthly silence filled the stadium as Hiei crashed into the ring…and did not move afterwards.
A pause filled the air for a moment afterwards as the crowd began to comprehend what had just happened. When their shock had subsided, however, their roars and cheers of excitement thundered around them. Team Urameshi stood in a stunned silence though as their teammate did not rise from his stilled state.
"He…he didn't even try to avoid the attack," Kuwabara said wondrously.
"It didn't really seem like it, did it?" Kurama continued softly.
Zeru folded his arms coolly as a triumphant gleam flashed across his eyes. He stood there for a moment watching Hiei's body continued to crackle beneath the flames of the fighter's attack. A smirk curled along his lips as he slowly began to walk away from his victim; obviously believing himself to be the victor.
He had nearly made his way off of the arena too…until a dark laugh stopped him in his tracks.
Team Urameshi drew in a sharp breath of surprise when they suddenly noticed the flames around Hiei shifting as the apparition began to stand. Zeru froze and there was a sudden wave of terror that swept across the ring from the demon. His body went rigged while he slowly turned back towards the other fighter.
Hiei rose slowly; taking in the fear surrounding Zeru. But as he stood, the entire crowd went silent when they noticed that the headband around his head had disappeared.
The Jagan above Hiei's two eyes opened slowly and gave off an eerie glow. Pure terror raced across his opponent's features when he had fully confronted him again…and the apparition was enjoying every minute of it.
"Don't tell me that was your best attack…" Hiei muttered, but not without a hint of amusement.
Zeru blinked and stepped backwards warily, "But…no one could have survived against the heat of my fires—!" he stammered as he watched the flames continue to wrap themselves around the apparition but without leaving a single mark.
Hiei smirked, "That probably would have been true had it not been for my Jagan protecting me…"
The third eye opened fully now; an unnatural, pale blue glow hovered around it. There was a brief flash of light and suddenly the flames around him were swept away as the Jagan Eye put up a protective orb around the apparition. The entire audience went silent as Hiei's energy drew in a sense of omniscient darkness into the stadium.
Slowly, as if taunting his opponent, he raised his right hand before him as a flaming black sphere appeared in his palm. Purple flames enveloped him and rose into the air and high above the stadium. The ground beneath them trembled violently as fear filled the arena.
Kurama's eyes grew wide suddenly and he stared at his teammate incredulously, "He's…he's going to call on the dragon…!"
Kuwabara sent him another one of his confused looks, "What dragon?"
"Dammit! He's not that stupid is he?!" Koenma muttered from above them in his sky-box view (and back in his child form). The sky above them now grew dark and a foreboding crimson hue.
Jorge (a/n: hell, I'm not sure if it should be George or Jorge, but I like this way better; it looks cool LoL) who had been standing behind the demigod's giant armchair peered down into the stadium curiously, "Something wrong, sir?"
"Doesn't it look like something's wrong?!" he barked and leaned in closer to the window to get a better view, "That attack is unstable!! If something goes wrong, that idiot could be destroyed!"
Even so, it appeared as though Hiei knew exactly what was going on despite the confusion of most of his teammates. Black lightning flashed across the skies above them and the ocean surrounding the island could even be heard groaning beneath the extravagance of the power the apparition was calling upon.
Hiei continued to hold the flaming sphere in his palm and sneered when he noticed the terror racing through Zeru at the moment…and even though his opponent didn't know exactly what the attack was, he knew that there was a great power behind it.
"There really a way to control this attack once I release it…" the shorter apparition said casually from behind the veil of violet flames, "But I guess my right arm will have to do, "…There has to be something to channel its power; it tends to have a mind of its own…" a devious smirk curled along his lips.
Thunder shook the entire arena and Koto backed away fearfully from the purple fire surrounding Hiei, "Uh…I think that's my cue to hightail it out of the way!!" she cried and quickly scurried off the ring and away from harm.
Hiei's eyes narrowed dangerously and his Jagan began to give off an even stronger light as he raised his hand towards Zeru, "This…this is the end for you…" he growled as the flames around him intensified and the ground around them shook with an even mightier force. The Urameshi team watched the apparition as the burning orb in his hand suddenly started to crawl along his arm; spiraling upwards towards him.
He took his left hand to steady the right and glared across the ring at Zeru.
"DRAGON OF THE DARKNESS FLAME!!"
A dark light erupted from within the ring and a foreboding crimson glow surrounded Hiei. Along his arm, however, a violet cyclone of energy roared and the force caused the earth around him to quake.
The cyclone suddenly lashed out with an impenetrable fury and hurled itself at Zeru…the face of the attack forming in the shape of a terrible dragon.
Hiei's opponent cried out in pure terror as his attack swarmed around him. Lightning flashed once more as the stadium went completely silent and the stilled quiet reached up even to Koenma in his seat.
The apparition appeared quite pleased with himself, except for the fact that when he glanced down at his hand, he realized that his entire arm was scorched and to the point of uselessness. His eyes flickered briefly towards the opposite wall where the only remains of Zeru were the scorch marks along the concrete.
Team Rokuyoukai gaped in awe and fear at their former leader while the Urameshi teammates did the same.
Koto poked her head from the sidelines and glanced up at the ring to find Hiei alone. Shakily, she stepped back into the arena, "Let me just say first off…that was the best match yet!!" she cried while becoming suddenly cheerful again and as the unhappy mutters of the audience filled the stadium, "And since Zeru is not only out of the ring, but clearly unable to fight on, I announce Hiei the winner!"
The apparition snorted and calmly headed back towards his team. And as he stepped down from the arena, Kuwabara blinked incredulously.
"That…was…AWESOME!!" he roared excitedly, "With that attack, you could defeat anyone—!" he paused for a moment; his expression failing him, "…But…that kinda means he can use it on us too…"
Hiei snorted again as he came to stand next to them, "I wouldn't worry over that too much, baka; but I assure you I will use it after the tournament."
The redhead paled suddenly, but puffed out his chest defiantly, "Yeah, well—we'll be ready then!!"
Across from them on the other side of the ring the remaining fighters on the Rokuyoukai team continued to stare at the scorched outline of their leader in horror as their faces dropped suddenly.
"Holy shit!" one of them cried out after a moment, "I'm not gonna sit here and get my ass beat like that!!"
The other nodded briskly and started to back away from the ring, "Hell yeah!" he turned his head to the child nearby while running off into the tunnel behind them, "Hey, you're on your own, Rinku!!"
The yoyo master blinked as if stunned before whirling back towards them, "Hey wait!! You can't just leave me here—!!"
There suddenly came a brief shout and cry of pain followed by the sound of bodies slumping to the floor. Another wave of silence lingered in the stadium afterwards as a lone figure was seen returning from the tunnel dragging two bodies with him.
It was a taller man wearing a fur-trimmed vest with a crimson sash and olive green trousers. In his hand he carried a bottle of liquor and his hair was styled in a type of mowhawk-mullet cut. There was a faint sense of a five o'clock shadow around the lower half of his cheeks and chin and he had a greenish blue strip across his nose.
As he entered the stadium, the heavy scent of alcohol drifted over the crowd. He let the two bodies of the former Rokuyoukai fighters drop to the ground as he turned sluggishly to address the announcer.
"Hey, sheila!" he called in his thick Australian accent (a/n: that's always seemed weird to me since…ah nevermind; if I continued I'd just be contradicting myself (I luv Jin!!) he let out a drunken hiccup, "Since both of me teammates are dead you don't suppose I could fill in for em do ya?"
Koto blinked, "Uh…I guess so…If you think you can finish off the round, I suppose."
The drunken man stumbled into the ring without another word and staggered to the center. He took a swig of the bottle in his hand and turned almost dumbly towards the announcer and blinked. It took him a moment before he skittered off to her side.
"Oi! You're a cute one aren't ya?" he said to her; his words slurred together by too much liquor. The fox-demon blinked uneasily, "…Erm…"
Shizuru flicked open her lighter and lit up another cigarette calmly as she watched the new fighter enter the ring. She frowned though when a sudden feeling prickled at the back of her neck.
"Mm… Something's different about this one" she said to herself "…he feels strangely more powerful than the others…"
Keiko glanced up at her curiously, "What was that Shizuru?" she asked.
She shrugged and returned her attention to the match while attempting to smile half-heartedly, "Nothing…I was just talking to myself."
"Eh?" the warrior glanced around the sidelines for the opposing team and found them one three-hundred-sixty degree turn later, "Oi! So which one of ya is gonna fight, Chu?" he demanded impatiently in third person and took another draught of the alcohol.
The Urameshi team glanced at one another uneasily; all of them had already fought…the only member left conscious was the masked fighter. The question however was whether or not they could trust them…hell; they didn't even know who they were!
"Maybe Kurama should go," Botan suggested, "He's less worn out than you two…"
The redhead frowned, "True, but something feels different about this fighter…"
Kuwabara nodded, "Yeah, I sensed something just a moment ago; something about him made me think that he was really strong; maybe even stronger than Zeru…Maybe we should have the fighter Yusuke brought in fight since they're all rested up and whatnot."
Hiei opened his mouth to protest to this when the ferry girl suddenly poked her head around them and towards the wall where Urameshi and Mai had been resting, "Er…did anyone else realize that we're missing two of our teammates?"
The other three turned to find the wall bare. Confused, they turned back towards the ring to find Yusuke already stretching and preparing himself for the fight. Mai had crawled to the base of the platform and was even starting to nod off again, but she was nonetheless awake once more.
Mai glanced up at the screen high above the crowds and grinned, "Would you look at that, Yusuke…we're actually winning!"
The detective turned and folded his arms while trying to conceal a snort of laughter, "And am I to assume the loss we have is from Kuwabara?"
She nodded and placed her hands behind her head, closing her eyes, "Yup."
Kuwabara flushed angrily, "Hey it's not like you were any help during the match anyway!!" he yelled defensively, "You and Mai were sleeping half the time!!"
The guardian blinked, "Were we?" a teasing shimmer lingered in her eyes, "I didn't realize that I had slept that long!" she grinned letting him know she was only kidding.
Botan placed her hands on her hips and frowned; eying the pair suspiciously, "How is it that of all times, now you two decide to wake up?"
They both glanced at each other and simultaneously winked at the ferry girl, "It wouldn't be a fight without at least one of us fighting," Yusuke grinned and gave her the thumbs up cheerfully while Mai nodded in agreement.
From behind them, however, the crowd muttered restlessly and somewhere a chain of boos started up. And somewhere else, a chant started up protesting against the Urameshi team; making their anger known to the rest of the demons in the stadium. Yusuke frowned towards them and the guardian opened an eye and peered over the crowds as well. The detective smirked and swiftly showed all of them his middle finger before turning his attention to the ring.
Around them, it seemed as though the audience had found that their favorite chant was saying "Kill Yusuke" over and over again.
That's getting annoying already, Mai decided wearily, but froze suddenly when her senses suddenly jerked to attention. Her eyes shot open and she scanned the crowd hurriedly before her eyes fell on one of the passageways above the seats where a lone figure stood watching; their forest green cloak draped over their shoulders.
Her eyes narrowed, but she said nothing to her companions, even though she felt the familiar terror sweep through her as his cold, hard gaze fell on her. Let him watch, she told herself while trying to keep the courage to hold his gaze. After a moment she turned away and forced herself to focus on the match about to occur.
"This might be a tough fight for Yusuke," Kurama said softly.
Mai turned to him, "Why do you say that?" she inquired curiously, "The man's completely hung-over; he can't be that much of a threat, can he?"
The redhead frowned slightly, "Maybe…but Chu almost seems as though he's hiding his true power; there's something about him that makes me think that's he's much stronger than we believe him to be…and now that Hiei's arm is damaged our team is already crippled as it is; if he loses then we'll have a hard time trying to defeat him."
The guardian considered this for a moment; there was something odd about this one (besides the reoccurring question in her head as to why someone could and would get so drunk).
"Kuwabara might actually be right," he continued, "This fighter might be even stronger than Zeru—" Mai gave him a quizzical look, "Er, the one Hiei just fought with…Zeru claimed that he was the team leader, but Chu seems much stronger now than him even when he was powered up…Personally, I think Chu might be the true leader of team Rokuyoukai…"
Upon hearing his name, the drunken warrior glanced up at the Urameshi team and frowned; trying to look serious. But the strain on his face made it look almost comical.
"De only thing I suck at is Rock, Paper, Scissors!!" he grumbled at them. This 'explanation' caused the group to sweatdrop and look at one another. Koto looked around uncertainly, before her eyes lit up with understanding.
"Ah! Well what I think Chu is trying to say is that the Rokuyoukai team decided their fighting order by the method of Rock, Paper Scissors…and since Chu lost, he became their substitute for the match!"
Yusuke raised an eyebrow, "Yeah, well I guess that makes a little bit of sense…I guess…"
His guardian stood now and leaned up against the platform, "Hey Yusuke," she called to him and he turned to face her, "Just don't lose," she grinned and gave him the thumbs-up and he did the same.
Koto stepped up to the center of the ring and raised her hand above her head, "Let the next match of the dark tournament—between team Urameshi and team Rokuyoukai begin!!"
-:-
a/n: wow that was getting too long and I need to go to bed. I hope this satisfies you all for now cuz right now school has been pretty stressful (stupid damn balancing equations that we don't even have to do for another two years or whatever, grrr) (I hate chemistry)
Anyways, I probably won't be asking for you guys' opinions anymore (NOTHING PERSONAL I SWEAR!!!) it's just that I think it would be better if I just kept my ideas to myself so I'm not ruining the story for you all.
Ciao ya'll!!!