Chapter 6: A New Tournament

The next day was bright, but the atmosphere said differently. Rai was silent. Thinking about her brother, no doubt. It galled him to see her like this. So sad and depressed. She put on a marvelous mask for the people at her school. They didn't see how red her eyes were from crying on his shoulder. She told them that Seishou had business he needed to do and she didn't know when he would come back.

Hmph. Business alright. Business tearing her heart out. The fierce fire demon scowled. This was definitely not some random trick. He had seen some dark plan in that imposter's mind earlier.

The school bell stopped Hiei in his thoughts. He watched as Rai walked out of the school gate, alone. That other fire demon had decided to keep her distance. She had told Hiei this morning while Rai was asleep that she had never even seen Rai mad, not anywhere close to what she felt like now. If Rai had ever been the slightest bit angry, she had kept it hidden until now.

Hiei kept an eye on his target. The girl was so preoccupied that she probably wouldn't have noticed him if he was standing in front of her. He stayed hidden in the shadows. She would probably start crying again.

Suddenly a thought of Yukina appeared in his mind. Was this what she felt like sometimes? But then, since Yukina had never known he was her brother, there would be no reason for her to grief over him. Although, if Yukina was ever told that her brother was dead, she might be sad, but probably never on such a level as Rai. She had not gotten close to hers.

"My, my. Traveling all by yourself? Well, this certainly does save me sometime trying to get you alone, now doesn't it?" A familiar voice rang through the street.

"Get out here so I can see you, Shogate!" She shouted angrily.

On cue, a body appeared out of the shadows. It was her brother, or rather, his imposter.

"Tell me why you're here and where my brother is!" She demanded. The sound of static caught Hiei's ears. A low rumbling also caught his attention. He looked up at the sky to see dark clouds hanging over the city.

"Rather impatient, aren't we?" Shogate clicked his tongue in a way that made Hiei want to cut his tongue out. "All in good time. The reason I'm here is to." He paused, "Make a sort of proposition."

"Why would I agree to anything you have to say?" She answered hotly.

"Because if you don't, your brother will die."

Rai visibly froze. That creep had her full attention. Hiei scowled again.

"The proposition is this; there is to be another Dark Tournament in one month. This will be the second year since Team Urameshi won. We invite you to join as Team Toshimo."

"And if I say no?"

"Then you, your little friends, and your brother shall all die. No one refuses an offer to join the Dark Tournament." Shogate said with a chuckle.

"I will join this tournament. And you better give me my brother back!"

Suddenly Shogate strode up to Rai. She was taken aback with this sudden movement. He hooked a finger under her chin and tilted up her face.

"You look so lovely when you're so angry and sad. So mixed with emotions. It's delicious." This comment sent the waiting boy into action.

She slapped his hand away and stepped back when Hiei jumped in between them.

"Keep your hands off her. She is not yours." Hiei growled. Shogate smirked.

"So I suppose that you'll be joining Miss Toshimo in the Tournament. I suppose your entire group will want to come. They're welcome to. You need all the help you can get." Shogate turned to leave, but not without one last thing, "By the way, you win this tournament, and you get your brother back."

And he disappeared into the shadows.

"He has my brother." Rai whispered quietly. Hiei turned to look at her. When he didn't see her directly behind him, he realized she was on the ground.

"Sitting there isn't going to help him." Hiei told her. He grabbed her hand and, not too gently but not too hard, forced her off the ground.

"You're right. I've done nothing but bring the people around down." She was looking down at her feet. She looked up. Tears were in the corners of her eyes, but a determined look was on her face. "But he's my brother and I have to get him. And you're going to help me." She paused, almost shyly looked up and added, "Right?"

"Of course." Hiei looked at her and smirked a little. "Idiot."

"Hey! I am most certainly not an idiot!" She said crossly.

"That's what you think."

"Rai! Hiei! There you guys are!" A shout came from behind them.

Rai turned to see Yusuke and Kuwabara running towards them. Yasu and Kurama were walking behind them.

"I saw the sky and knew it had to be you! There aren't that many lightning demons around." Yusuke panted as he reached them.

"What happened, Rai?" Yasu said, cutting right to the point.

"Since you have asked so nicely, I'll tell you. Shogate came back. He still looked like Seishou. He "invited" us to this upcoming Dark Tournament. And if we win, we get my brother back." She explained.

Yusuke's and Kuwabara's faces dropped in surprise. Kurama also had a light look of it.

"The Dark Tournament again?" Kuwabara shouted.

"Yes, the Dark Tournament. Shogate told me you guys participated under the team name Urameshi. With Yusuke as captain, I'm assuming. This year, it's supposed to be Team Toshimo. This was not by choice, I can tell you that."

Yusuke's face dropped even more. That was, obviously, not his choice of a name for the team.

"When is it going to take place?" Kurama asked, probably the only guy, other than Hiei, with a clear mind.

"In one month. So I suggest that, if everyone wants to live, we practice fighting."

"You're nervous." Yasu didn't ask.

"I am not! Why would you say that?"

"One, the dark clouds are still up there, two, you're fidgeting, and three, how could you not be? You've gotten us into a tournament where we have to fight for our lives."

"And get killed if we refuse." Rai added in an undertone.

"What was that?" Yasu asked. She was the only one that didn't have too much of a clue on the rules that Rai had agreed to.

"Um, Shogate told me that if we refused, we die."

Yasu looked at Rai. Then looked at everyone else. She bit her tongue.

"We have no choice. But I suppose even if we did, you'd go anyway. Where you go, I'll follow." She turned and looked at everyone else, "I assume everyone feels the same?"

"Of course we do! We wouldn't just leave you two to fight in a tournament by yourselves!" Kuwabara agreed. Yusuke and Kurama nodded in agreement.

Rai brightened considerably. She knew she didn't even have to ask Hiei, considering the way he protectively stood by her.

"Now that's taken care of, I must say it's gotten late. I think we should all get some rest" Kurama spoke up.

Everyone looked up. The clouds had gone away to reveal a dark night sky. Slowly, everyone went their separate ways. Except for Hiei. He seemed to loathe the thought of leaving his charge alone. Every time she had been, seemingly, alone, she had gotten into some sort of trouble.

He reminded Yasu greatly of a bulldog.

Yay! This one took longer than usual to post. I'm so sorry! I was busy!

Yasu: Yeah, sure. Busy playing card games, shopping, and playing DDR.

Oh, shut up! Anyways, I was surprised to see that my last chapter didn't get much response. It's the part where I reveal the Seishou isn't really normal! I suppose that whole Shogato-finds-Rai-kind-of-attractive thing is a bit... Well, rather nauseating because he's been in disguise as her brother. It's supposed to. I also did it to make Hiei act. It's fun to make him act so protective and get him all riled up!

Hiei: Baka onna. (unsheathes katana)

Oi! No killing the author! If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't be here!

Hiei: (Pauses) Good idea. (prepares to strike)

Bye now! (starts running)