Chapter 18: Red Phoenix

"This is it. Either don't come to fight, or you'll be killed." Inutake's proposition met silence.

"Are you serious?" Rai finally asked.

"Quite serious, I assure you."

"And what do you take us for? Cowards?" Rai looked at him angrily.

"No, not at all. It's just that my team doesn't want to fight you. We've had this discussion with each of our opposing teams. We don't enjoy killing."

"I knew it." Yasu stated calmly. "Why are you here then?"

"We were forced. I won't tell you what was used as leverage."

"Guess what, Inutake. You weren't the only ones. They have my twin brother as a hostage. If we didn't come, they would've killed us and my twin brother. I care deeply for my brother. Plus, I've become fond of my head. As I know a certain other person I know has as well. I… My team can't back down."

Inutake looked at Rai. He was considering what she just said. "How do you know that they have your brother? It could be some fake. Besides, how do I know that you aren't lying to me? Coming up with a fake story for pity."

Hiei was enraged at this. His katana was, once again, at Inutake's throat. "How dare you question that girl's honesty?" He spat angrily.

"Calm down, Hiei, please. He didn't make it this far trusting everyone he met." Rai put an arm on Hiei's shoulder. Hiei looked at Inutake for second and lowered his katana. "Inutake, remember what Shogate looked like?"

"Yes, but what does that shape-shifter have to do with this?"

"Everything. He took the form of my brother, Seishou. Do you think that Shogate would let the real Seishou wander around so that the real Seishou could put a stop to him?" Rai asked.

"No. The original is always stronger a copy, as they say." Inutake looked at Rai again, thinking very critically of this girl. He suddenly stepped up to Rai, sniffing her.

"Wha-what are you doing?" She took a step back. Yusuke and Kuwabara barged in at that precise moment. When they saw Inutake sniffing Rai, their jaws dropped.

Inutake finally stepped back. "You're not lying. If you were, your heart would've started beating faster and you would've given off a different scent. And, well," He chuckled to himself.

"I'd join in, but I have no clue you're laughing about." Rai said, crossing her arms.

"Really?" He chuckled again, he leaned forward and whispered something in her ear. Rai quickly went red and mumbled something.

"I'm amazed." Yasu said, an amused expression had flitted across her features. "You've managed to reduce Rai to a blushing, mumbling idiot. How'd you do it?"

Rai looked up surprised, "Um, Inutake, isn't it you returned to your team?"

"Yes. I regret having to face you in this tournament, Team Toshimo." He paused for a minute. "Perhaps you don't have to die." He said, leaping out the window the way he came.

"What was that about?" Yusuke asked, "And why was he sniffing you, Rai?"

"Um, Inutake came in telling me that if we didn't withdraw from the tournament, his team would kill us. But then I explained what we were here for and it seemed he changed his mind about having to kill us." Rai explained. Kuwabara's face had a thoughtful expression.

"What is it, Kuwabara?" Kurama asked. Kuwabara looked pretty thoughtful.

"Why'd he go out the window? He coulda gone out the door." Everyone's face fell. Of all things to realize.

"Hm, well anyways, I'm going to get ready to fight, so if you don't mind, boys," she paused to glare, "I would very much like to get dressed."

Yusuke and Kuwabara suddenly realized that Rai and Yasu were still in there pajamas.

"Wow Yasu. You look a lot different in those clothes than in your fighting ones." Yusuke commented, forgetting Kurama was standing right there.

"Yusuke, just to refresh your memory, she is taken and I am standing right next to you." Kurama said calmly. But inside he was rather angry with the detective's comment.

Yusuke jumped at the sound of Kurama's voice. "Oh yeah. Heh, sorry there, Kurama." He then noticed Yasu glared very deadly daggers at him. "Heh, heh. Forget I said that."

"Good, for if you said anymore, I would feel very much compelled to cut something off that's very dear to you, Yusuke." He visibly gulped. He quickly exited the room, followed by Kuwabara who was laughing at him. Rai smiled and shook her head. Hiei looked at Rai and walked out the room.

"Well, since we have more time than we usually do, I'm gonna take a shower." Rai said as she grabbed her gear and ran into the bathroom. Leaving Kurama and Yasu alone.

Yasu took her hair, holding it in position for a ponytail. She grabbed the black hair tie on her bed and tied her hair in place. What struck Kurama as odd was that she seemed to be ignoring him.

"Is everything alright, Yasu?" He asked her quietly. He approached her and put a hand on her shoulder.

"Oh, you're still here? I didn't realize it." She brought her hair over her shoulder, revealing that her shirt didn't cover the upper half of her back. "No, nothing's wrong. I was thinking to myself."

Something red caught the fox's eye. He backed up a bit to shine some light on Yasu's back. A red phoenix was tattooed on the fire demon's back. His hand trailed down from her shoulder to trace the outline of the majestic beast. Yasu shuddered from his touch.

"That feels," She paused, looking for the right word, "Nice." Taking this as a good sign, Kurama continued tracing its outline.

"Where did you get this?" He asked. Curiosity was pulling at him.

"After a couple years of being with Rai, I decided I needed more strength. I knew that I would come back when I felt I needed to,plus I was also rather restless. I did some traveling. I was in much better health than I had been." She paused reflecting on what had happened. "I met a man that could teach me more powerful moves than I had ever known. And he did. When he taught me the last addition to my powers, I received this tattoo as a sort of, well, housing of the power."

"Have you ever used it?" Kurama asked. This was curious.

"No. I was going to use it on Himimaru, but I never had the chance." She turned around to face Kurama, who was still standing. "Not that I didn't mind your help at all." She didn't really notice that Kurama hadn't moved his hand. It had placed itself on her stomach when she turned around.

"I don't believe I was ever told thank you for that." He smirked at the much shorter girl in front of him.

Yasu gave the fox a dirty look before wrapping her arms around his neck. "Really?" She gave him a short, yet deep, kiss. "Thank you."

Elf: Heheh. Sorry about the long wait in updating. But I was rather busy.

Kuronue: Too busy being lazy?

Elf: (glare) I had stuff to do.

Kuronue: Like reading other people's stories and sitting around. Not to mention finally giving me more credit than you had been for several months.

Elf: Oh get over it. AndI did other stuff than that!

Kuronue: Ah yes, you did go on that trip to Utah.

Elf: Yup! It was very pretty! And- ... You were stalking me again.

Kuronue: (slight blush) Only to make sure that you didn't kill yourself.

Elf: Aww! My Batman is so sweet! (huggles/glomps)

Kuronue: Ack! Not again!