Chapter 8: The First Night

The hotel was very fancy and well-to-do. A porter came and led them away. They were led to their rooms in the hotel. They had received two. One for the boys and one for the girls. The girls set their things in their rooms and met in the boys' room. Hiei was standing off to the side while everyone sat.

"What was the tournament like when you participated?" Yasu asked.

"Well, last year, everyone was very eager to see our heads torn off." Kurama answered.

"I doubt it will be much different this year." Rai put in.

"There were sixteen teams, including us. We only fought four teams. The competition was very fierce." Kurama explained.

A knock came at the door. A man with a cart wheeled in. He set down six cups of tea and promptly walked out. Kurama grabbed his cup and sipped it quietly.

"Anything else you remember about the tournament?" Yasu asked. Her eyes never really left Kurama.

"Yeah, the Tournament Council was really against us, the guest team." Yusuke remembered. "How come you haven't asked any questions, Rai? It's seems like you would be the curious one."

"I have my sources." She said cryptically.

"Those sources would be?" He inquired further.

"My brothers. Mainly the two oldest ones. They enjoy fighting and watching fights. They're very descriptive in the details of some of the fights." She explained.

"How many brothers do you have, Rai?" Kuwabara asked.

"How many brothers? Let's see. Seven and I'm the only girl. There's Yukaru, Hiriguwa, Inasuwei, Karima, there's Seishou, Naku, and finally, Marakai. That's all seven of them in order. Five of them are older than me though. Seishou's only older by three hours." Rai said, ticking their names of on her fingers. "Let me tell ya, it can be difficult being the only girl out of eight."

Everyone was staring at Rai. Kuwabara's and Yusuke's jaws had reached the floor.

"What? Is it abnormal to have siblings?"

"Not very many people have that many." Kurama pointed out.

"I knew you had several brothers, but I have to admit. I didn't know you had that many. I've only met Seishou, Naku, and Marakai. You hinted there being another one, but you never said you had seven in all." Yasu asked. She had been very surprised at this newly discovered information.

"Well, no one ever asked." She said with a shrug. She took her cup and sipped it like Kurama. She quietly set it down. "Now, if you would excuse me, I'm going to get some rest before the tournament starts." She walked out of the room.

Yasu looked at the time. She scoffed. "Some rest? It's barely seven o'clock. I know she doesn't need that much rest. I can bet you that since she started talking about her brothers, she's thinking about Seishou." She turned to "suggest" to Hiei to check up on her, but when she looked, he was already gone. "Well, some people are ahead of the program."

"Who would've thought that the shrimp would get a girlfriend? But those two make a cute couple. It reminds of me and Yukina. I wish she was here." Kuwabara talked on about this subject. Then he cracked a nerve.

Yasu punched him in the face. He fell to the floor. She then picked him up and dragged him to the hallway. Yusuke laughed loudly. Yasu turned to glare at him.

"You wanna be next?" She shouted. Yusuke promptly shut up. She calmed down a little. "He can come back in as soon as he regains consciousness. His voice was just getting really annoying."

"Though they do make a cute couple." Kurama commented quietly and took another sip of his tea.

Rai sat at the window, staring into the dark night. The room was dark, as well. She felt so heartbroken and helpless. She didn't know if Seishou was safe. Were any of the others harmed or captured? She leaned her forehead against the cool glass.

"I don't like that look on you." A voice came from behind. Rai turned to see Hiei standing behind.

"Don't I ever get any privacy?" She asked exasperated. Every time she tried to be by herself, Hiei would always pop up.

"No." He stepped up to her. She shook her head. Just like him.

"Are you my guard dog now?" She asked jokingly.

"Yes." He said as he slid his arms around her neck. He folded his arms across her shoulders, pulling her against his chest. Leaning against it, she could feel the well-developed muscles in his chest and torso. She looked up at him. He was looking out the window now. He still had a serious face on. He always did.

"Stop worrying about him so much." His voice broke through the quiet. "Worrying will get you no where."

"I guess you're right, but I can't help it. He's my twin brother. I love him." She said, some tears threatened to fall. Suddenly she felt Hiei's warm breath on her cheek. He had placed his head on her shoulder.

"He wouldn't want you to cry over him. No brother ever wants to see his sister cry." He whispered to her, imparting some of his knowledge as a brother himself.

"You know, with me having seven brothers, you'd think I would know how to react around you. But you can be so much more difficult than them. You're so stubborn, serious, distant, and unpredictable." She said, pretending to be cross.

"Anything else you'd like to add?"

"Yes. Strong, sweet, caring, protective, and maybe just a little attractive." She added playfully.

"Hn. I see you got your sense of humor back. That's good." He sat down behind Rai. She laid on his chest and closed her eyes. Suddenly she started humming. It was calm and sweet, very soothing. He looked at her. She looked very peaceful. She stopped.

"I'm sorry. I didn't quite mean to. The song just popped into my head." She apologized.

"Continue it." He demanded quietly.

"I think I forgot to add demanding to the list. Yes, master." She said, protesting to the demand. Hiei smirked.

"Just do it. I liked it."

"Fine, fine. Keep your shirt on." She started the song again. She closed her eyes, not knowing that Hiei had quite done the same. Soon Rai asleep. Hiei tried to get up, but Rai had a firm grip on his arms. He decided against trying to break free of her. He shut his eyes and soon followed her into the realm of dreams.

The door to the room opened slowly. Yasu and Kurama peeked through the crack. They soon spotted the sleeping couple.

"They look so peaceful lying there. We shouldn't wake them up." Kurama whispered. Yasu nodded. She paused for second.

"I guess I'll go to sleep on the couch. The bed might make too much noise." Yasu whispered back to him.

"Good night and sweet dreams." Kurama said as he lightly kissed her lips.

"Sweet dreams." Yasu said, closing the door silently.

More Useless Comments of the Author:

I love this chapter! Hiei can be so sweet! There's more Kurama in this chapter. For some reason I haven't been putting him in as much lately. But that'll change. Speaking of changes, I've decided to bring my Batman back to life just for the Aurthor's Notes!

Korunue: (Comes up with a poof) Huh? Where am I?

Elf: With me! (glomps the unsuspecting bat demon)

Kuronue: Ack!

Elf:Isn't life great?