Title: True Belonging

Summary: It always felt as if the world was grey, haunted, silent with barely enough noise for him to realize that he was awake and present. Except for when she touched him. When she touched him, the world bathed in the brightest colors of sunflowers and green ribbons in raven hair.M for swearing, violence, non-con and later consensual explicit smut

Disclaimer: I don't own anything

Chapter Eight: Youth Part VI.

How blessed it truly is to stumble upon a soul that wants nothing but smile and sunshine for you, for the rest of your life. – Anonym

Warning: Violence, blood, non-con!

Almost immediately after Botan agreed to take them to the Hanging Neck Island, things happened rather quickly, and before at least in Nana's opinion the human girl knew it, they were dressed and packed and leaving notes for their loved ones so they wouldn't worry which in Nana's opinion would only make them worry more, but who was she to judge when she was leaving her granny to explain it to Shiori-san.

The trip to the island itself was quicker than Nana would have expected as apparently being a bubbly ferry girl had its perks and Botan rather cleverly managed to convince some of her co-workers to take them all despite all of the ferry girls looking worried that three human girls would be there in the first place. Still, for someone who acted a bit silly at times, Botan was quite good in persuading people to do what she wanted which puzzled Nana a bit about the blue-haired ferry girl.

Once on the island, they were rather behind on the schedule and after coming to the island they barely had time to toss their belongings in a hotel room, Botan managed to get from all four of them and rush to the stadium.

'Dress in something nice,' ordered Keiko as she tossed most of the things in her baggage out to see what she would wear.

'What? Why?' asked Nana confused originally planning to go as she was in knee-long shorts and a t-shirt.

'Don't you want Kurama to see you cheering for him in something special on the first day?'

Honestly, that was the last thought on Nana's mind as until she would actually face Kurama, the human girl wouldn't rest worrying her yokai friend would be pretty upset with her for coming here. It was dangerous to be here, and Kurama had too much to deal with already as it was without adding his best friend walking around an island full of hungry and violent yokai. Still, with Keiko's brown eyes intensely looking at her like she knew something Nana didn't the girl grabbed her only nice yellow summer dress and put on a white sweater leaving the buttons undone but pulling her hair up into a ponytail with a simple black hair tie Shizuru tossed her way when she spotted her by the mirror.

For a second her eyes fell on the green ribbon that was still tied around her wrist the same way it was ever since Kurama put it there. She would die before she would confess it to anyone. But Nana hadn't put it down once since even showering with the green fabric wrapped in a small plastic bag so the tie wouldn't get undone. She knew others would talk and think something ridiculous about it, but she felt stupidly happy that it was there and knew that just because it was there she had some sort of invisible connection to the yokai even if they weren't together. It was silly, yes, but Nana couldn't help herself but believe it knowing that as long as she wore this one and Kurama the other one the two would be alright.

The hotel room and the place itself were relatively normal looking. Well, expensively normal looking with people dressed in nice dresses and tuxes that cost possibly more than Nana's entire house. Still, it looked normal. Humanlike even. However, the grounds around the stadium were anything but.

Yokai

There were yokai. Lots and lots of yokai.

The human girl felt a sense of panic all of the sudden hit her along with memories of the yokai who tried to eat her in the alley a couple of months ago before Hiei rescued her.

'Don't worry,' said Botan as she took the lead to the stadium being the only one who actually had any business being there in the first place as an officer of Reikai, 'Everyone on the Island is forbidden from hurting humans with the punishment of death. Many rich people pay a fortune to be here and make the tournament happen so there is no way they would risk something happening.'

One of the yokai caught Nana's gaze and opened his mouth to reveal a rather long and disgusting brown tongue which was probably meant to intimidate the girl but honestly made her feel nauseous. It wasn't just his presence or the presence of other yokai. In general, Nana didn't really think much of them being different than humans as she came to terms of both Kurama and Hiei being ones a while. It didn't matter to her that they were yokai as long as they treated her with respect, she would do the same. However, the idea that humans paid for this tournament to take place and just to see blood and violence really caused the girl to feel upset about her own kind.

'However,' started Botan again causing the raven-haired girl to glance at her, 'Maybe make sure you don't wander off, alright? I'm sure Kurama would have my head if something happened to you because I brought you here, you know?' the blue-haired girl laughed awkwardly and pulled her kitten face, but made it clear she certainly wouldn't want to be on the kitsune's bad side.

Nana grimaced but since she as well as worried about Kurama's reaction to her presence on the island pointed out, 'I'm pretty sure Kurama is smart enough to think of far more efficient ways to punish someone than have their head, but I get your point.'

Botan chuckled a bit nervously, and all four girls continued their way to the stadium which was filled with even more yokai. Most of them looked nothing like Kurama or Hiei or even close to the humanlike meaning they probably weren't all that powerful as far as what Nana learned from Kurama when he explained to her some of the things about his kind.

'You're sure they're here somewhere, right?' asked Keiko about the boys as they got close to the stadium.

'Go easy on him, Keiko-chan,' started Botan only for the younger girl to give her an upset look and point a finger at her face rather rudely before she scolded her in front of humans and yokai alike, 'Listen here, Botan-chan! Because of Yusuke, we nearly died!'

Nana and Shizuru shared a surprised look at the girl's outburst. Clearly, she wasn't all that forgiving about the whole Makai Whistle problem from a couple of months before or learning that she had been taken hostage a little before that. Botan should have probably kept that to herself in Nana's opinion seeing that it only increased Keiko's anger with Yusuke. Who knew what would she do now when she would finally see him?

'For him to get us all so deeply involved, and then say nothing and go off to do something else dangerous is unpardonable!'

Nana wasn't one to judge but Keiko did have a point. She recalled how horribly angry she was with Kurama for not telling her he was planning to end his life to save Shiori-san. So, in a way, she understood the girl's rage and feeling of abandonment rather well. Yet, Yusuke probably didn't tell the girl for a reason and that reason was most likely because he didn't want her involved like she was right now stuck on an island full of yokai.

Keiko took Shizuru's arm and started to lead her toward the stadium while Nana patted Botan's shoulder to show the girl some support, 'She's upset with him because she cares. She's not angry with you.'

Botan nodded understandingly, 'It probably makes sense that someone who is Yusuke's childhood friend for so long would have to be able to give anyone a piece of their mind.'

Nana chuckled recalling all those interactions she witnessed between the two younger humans when she worked in the dinner, 'Yes, it does make sense.'

Botan suddenly gave her a look that caused Nana to think the trouble, 'It also probably means you and Kurama have to be very much alike to be childhood friends.'

Nana raised her brows, 'Doubt that. He's very observant and a genius. I'm barely passing my classes and only care about food.'

'And your friends and family,' reminded her the ferry girl with a soft smile, 'Both of you seem to have that in common.'

The human girl couldn't really argue with that. Sighing, Nana glanced at the stadium again. Even if now that she was present it was easier to breathe a bit. She still found it rather suffocating to know that so close Kurama and the others were about to fight for their lives in such violent ways.

I hope you guys will be okay.

'Lord Koenma-sama,' called out Botan suddenly, and Nana, as well as the other girls, turned to see a young-looking man with medium-long brown hair with a Jr. mark across his forehead walking toward them. He was dressed rather respectively and even a bit nobler than some of the people she saw in the hotel and had a certain glow about him Nana couldn't explain.

Her eyes drifted for a second to Shizuru wondering if the psychic could sense something she hadn't, but much like Kurama, Shizuru was the type of person who kept a very calm and slightly unimpressed look on her face not giving away her inner feelings whatsoever.

'You sure are popular, sir!' called a lizard-looking yokai dressed in a suit and hat behind the young man, 'Are all four of them your sweethearts?'

The young man surprised the girl by answering before causing her to feel a familiar sense of hotness and pressure inside her as he explained, 'They're the guests' relatives and girlfriends.'

Not a girlfriend, Nana thought to herself but didn't say out loud since she wasn't certain she should right before the man carried on with a rather annoyed look on his face, 'My dimwit assistant here let word slip out, and was forced to bring them along with her.'

Botan looked properly sad about the remark mumbling to herself, 'He said I was a dimwit!'

Nana frowned a bit upon watching the blue-haired ferry look so upset just as the man moved closer to them, 'Nice to meet you. Please accept my regards.'

'Excuse me,' said Nana and took a step closer in front of the girls and closer to the man, 'Botan-chan wasn't to blame entirely, sir?' she wasn't certain how to properly address Botan's boss who was most likely a higher officer of the Reikai. Something before she has actually gotten involved the girl, Nana would consider holier than it apparently was, 'If anything we were the ones who forced her to tell and bring us here. You shouldn't be too hard on her because of us.'

The man blinked surprised for a moment before he looked closer at Nana as if he wanted to read something off her face.

'I-is something the matter?' asked Nana nervously as a different sort of dread filled her stomach upon a closer inspection by someone from Reikai like this. What exactly could he see? And did she want him to see it? With Reikai officers, Makai yokai and Ningenkai psychics Nana had to wonder if all of them could tell things about her she didn't wish to ever let out of her mouth let alone have strangers see and judge her for. Not to mention how it often made her feel a bit ordinary compare to the likes of Kuwabara, Yusuke, and Shizuru and even more so compared to Kurama and the others.

'Hm, it's rare for anyone to try and stand up for Botan's foolish antics-'

'Hey, now you're just being cruel, sir,' commented the blue-haired ferry girl just as the man continued ignoring her words, 'But I heard that you're quite the advocate for yokai and humans alike so perhaps it makes sense you would, Hinata-san.'

He then looked at all four girls, 'Shall we?'

He started to walk, and the others followed with Nana staying behind a second longer confused by what he meant by that before she noticed she was alone with a group of yokai and quickly rushed after the only people she knew. She should keep in mind not to get separated from her group no matter what in the upcoming days.

Luckily, Nana didn't have to spend too much time in the strange Lord Koenma's presence as he instructed Botan to lead them to some seats while he and the ogre, another officer of Reikai, George as he quickly introduced himself, would leave to take their seats in owners of a team section.

She and the other girls found four places between the sea of yokai who didn't seem all that interested in them rather facing the arena and matches that were about to begin. It was a bit overwhelming, to say the least. Up until today, Nana hadn't even left their hometown, and despite being quite big it never caused the human girl to feel claustrophobic with so many people around her. Even more, these weren't people, but yokai. Creatures who wouldn't probably mind eating her if they met her in a dark alley. And on top of all that, she was here to watch her best friend and other friends get beaten up and hurt in bloody fights all so they wouldn't be killed on the spot or their loved ones murdered.

'Nana-chan?' asked Botan near her taking her hand and the girl offered her a quick smile before lacing their fingers together. It felt a bit easier to breathe knowing she wasn't alone there. Botan truly grew on the girl and although they knew each other only briefly, the human girl felt a sense of kinship toward the ferry girl. Even with her support, however, Nana would still prefer this was all a bad dream rather than the reality that was actually happening.

The announcer, a pretty-looking female yokai by the name Koto, started the first match between Kuwabara and Rinku, a childlike-looking yokai.

'He's not an actual child, is he?' asked Nana watching how much her ginger-haired friend was struggling against the yokai.

Botan shook her head, 'It's an appearance just like any other.'

It was unnerving to watch the two especially how hard the yokai was hitting Kuwabara. The only positive thing from all of this was how stubborn and relentless the human punk seemed not to give up no matter how often he got send to the ground.

Even Shizuru, despite her words, seemed impressed with just how much he could take.

Unfortunately, when the yokai pulled out yo-yos of all the things, even Kuwabara's resistance proved to be not enough as Rinku toyed with him by lifting him up from the ground into the sky knowing the psychic couldn't escape.

Shizuru lightened up another cigarette at that point commenting, 'Kazuma sure has risen up to a place where we can see him well, huh?'

Nana blamed her nervousness on the fact that she almost chuckled as her stomach was pressed so tightly witnessing Kuwabara up in the sky she was sure she could burst an appendix any moment just from the pressure alone.

Keiko and Botan looked at the older Kuwabara in shock as the brunette scolded Shizuru, 'J-just a minute, now! If he is dropped from that height…!'

'He'll die, no doubt about it,' said Shizuru strangely calmly which caused the pressure in Nana stomach to gain a level of sickness. It was a horrifying thought even if they all knew it was possible. Still, for Kuwabara's sister to speak about it so calmly was even more upsetting and gave the whole situation a color that made Nana want to scream or puke.

'Shizuru-san!' complained Botan letting go of Nana's hand which was just as well as the raven-haired girl feared if Kuwabara did fall to his death she would probably crush the ferry girl's fingers with her grip, 'You know, he's your own brother! Is talking about him so coldly the only thing you can do? He might die, you know!'

Shizuru didn't seem to upset with Botan's words as she turned to look properly at her and since Nana was by her side at the human girl as well, 'That's all up to fate. He's just out of luck. Us getting upset about it before it even happens won't help anyone. Certainly not Kuwabara or anyone who is in his place.'

She turned back to the arena and her brother leaving Nana with a feeling she was talking directly to her.

'Shizuru's right,' stated the human girl closing her eyes at last before she took a deep breath to control her nausea and feelings of anxiety. Once she opened her eyes the scene in front of her didn't change, but her body did gain some tolerance as it felt easier to inside her own skin once more, 'All we can do now is hope he will make it and figure out a way to do so. Kuwabara is Sarayashiki Junior High's second-toughest punk, and he was trained by Kurama and defeated the beasts in the Demon City and dealt with other cases we don't even know so…,' she smiled a bit genuinely feeling herself relaxing if only so she wouldn't throw up right there by her feet, 'Until the match is truly over, I have faith.'

However, since Kuwabara's chances didn't seem to approve Keiko obviously didn't have the same faith as she got to her feet screaming from the top of her lungs, 'This is bullshit! Yusuke! Yusuke! Come on! How can you sleep so easily when Kuwabara-kun is in trouble?!'

'Keiko-chan, don't get involved,' warned her Botan as they noticed a lot of yokai seemed to only now noticed them and were actually realizing who they were, 'remember we're only here as viewers.'

'He can't hear me from this far away! I have to go shout into his ear!' snapped Keiko back at her just as Nana noticed a yokai getting up and walking closer to her human friend.

Shit

'Uh, Keiko-chan?' she asked loudly slowly getting up as did Botan and Shizuru as the yokai spoke, 'Who are you now?' A human taking the Urameshi's side? Go back home, now! This tournament is for yokai!'

Keiko seemed to gather some courage openly snapping back the yokai, 'So what yokai?! Yusuke has already died once and come back to life and fought tougher and meaner guys than you!'

'Is that so,' chuckled the yokai sinisterly before he looked Keiko up and down slowly. Nana's anxiety returned for a completely different reason as she recalled the horrifying experience of almost being eaten herself, 'Sweetheart, you look quite tasty! How about I eat you?'

The large yokai opened his mouth only for Shizuru, who by then managed to reach the younger girl, to press her lightened cigarette against his tongue burning him looking just as calm and collected as always.

Nana covered her mouth as a sudden wave of laughter threatened to come out of her watching the yokai crying and begging for water all the while he ran away from the girls. Not to mention a lot of yokai who looked like they might pick a bone with them as well returned to their seats avoiding eye contact and in general looking scared of the older Kuwabara at least. Nana wasn't one for violence and in general, believed in respect and kindness, but even she had to admit if fear could get them out of trouble it was nice to be feared by such tough creatures as yokai.

'Just what you'd expect from Kuwabara's sister. You chased him away brilliantly!' praised her Botan as Keiko continued on her journey toward the edge of the front row to be able to better get Yusuke's attention.

Nana stopped in track realizing if they truly got close enough Kurama would most likely sense her and would figure out she was here, in the stadium, on an island full of yokai. Her stomach dropped knowing full well he would not like it especially now when he would be up against his opponent in a short while.

'Aren't you coming?' asked Botan a little behind the other girls as Nana remained standing frozen on the steps torn between what she would do. She didn't want to lie to Kurama and hide from him here. She would definitely find a way to tell him she was on the island, why would she hide? But did she really want him to learn she was here right before his match? Just as he needed to focus more than ever on his own victory? That didn't sit right with the girl. In fact, it sounded incredibly foolish even idiotic the more she thought about it.

Ever so slightly she shook her head and rushed back to her seat feeling both like a hypocrite and coward for some reason. Her decision certainly didn't cause her soul to find peace as she watched Kuwabara get defeated so pointlessly.

'Your friend would have won if he didn't act so recklessly,' commented someone sitting behind her in a rather smooth voice.

Nana didn't really pay much attention to the person thinking it was the same blue yokai who she barely noticed the first time they found these seats.

'Hopefully, this one will have more luck,' said the voice again in a very calm manner which if Nana was paying more attention to, she would compare to Kurama's. However, at that very moment, the human girl was too occupied by watching her redhead kitsune friend slowly make his way to the referee and his opponent.

'Me too,' mumbled Nana absently before closing her eyes for a second and making a wish into the universe that Kurama would be alright and win.

Good luck

Kurama blinked and for a second look at the sky. Unlikely as it was, for an instant he thought about Nana as if she was right there in that moment with him. Regardless of the last time, when he saw her numb expression knowing something bad had happened to the girl and later finding out it actually happened, this time he felt a sense of warmth fill his chest as if he saw that bright smile of hers that reminded him of sunflowers on a sunny day.

Wish me luck

'Kurama,' called Hiei before the match started, 'Don't think about putting him in just a little bit of pain,' stated the smaller yokai with a small sadistic smirk typical of him, 'Fix him so that he won't think about going against us ever again.'

The redheaded kitsune offered him a small smile of his own, 'Naturally.' It wasn't something Kurama wished to do. Long gone were the days he was interested in the suffering of his opponents. Lately, he settled for victories even by their surrenders. As long as they were final they were sufficient.

When he turned back toward his opponent his smile purposely fell. Roto's yoki was unmasked. He wasn't the strongest opponent on the Team Rokuyukai, but that didn't mean Kurama would make the mistake of underestimating him. As he learned a long time ago, it was precisely those who didn't possess the strength that could turn out to be the deadliest opponents in the sense that they had to be far more clever and cunning if they wished to stay alive. Back in his past self days, such opponents were his favorite kind as he enjoyed the hunt often more than the kill itself. Whatever kind this Roto would appear to be Kurama was ready for him.

The referee, Koto raised her arm and cheerfully announced into the microphone, 'The next match. Roto vs. Kurama. Begin.'

'I hear you're living amongst humans,' said the yokai almost immediately without any indication to move.

Kurama knew better than to react rather waiting for what Roto was coming to. It wasn't a surprise that any yokai would have quite a lot to say about Kurama's way of life even less that they would try to use it as an insult to bait him into acting recklessly. Unfortunately for those who decide to use such a tactic, Kurama was far too clever to fall for that. He cared for his humans deeply, but he knew better than to allow his love to become a weakness.

'I can't believe it, but the word is you care for humans around you,' said Roto rather mockingly making sure the redhead knew he found the idea laughable.

'If they died,' he said raising his arm and transforming one of his fingers into a scythe, 'I'll bet you would grieve.'

'Mid-air wave cuts, huh?' asked Kurama loudly seemingly ignoring his opponents' previous words.

Without a second to spare Roto attacked, but very quickly the kitsune learned he didn't have much of a fight in him. His attacks weren't fast enough, and the redhead easily dodged every one of them. He allowed Roto to try for a few minutes to see if he would come up with a worthy attack, but as Kurama found there was no point he prepared to end the battle with a single strike.

'You don't appear to be very good with that,' he said as a matter of fact, but still, there was probably some smugness there.

Kurama raised his hand pushing his arrogance aside. Even if he needed his yoki to fight against yokai in this tournament, he refused to submit to his yokai past, 'I'll lay you to rest now.'

Just before he was about to strike knowing the other yokai was too slow to dodge, Roto smirked and said with every intention to shock Kurama. Unfortunately, it was beyond successful, 'I have your mother's life in my care, Minamino Shuichi-kun.'

The shock that washed over Kurama was enough to cause a second delay in his retreat and a cut across his cheek for the redhead. Of course, the slight pain from the cut was nothing compared to the dread that crept over the kitsune's soul as his mind proceeded to what he just learned.

Roto knew his human name. He claimed he had his mother. He could be lying. But he knew and on its own, that was dangerous enough.

Roto seemed to enjoy his distress as he laughed, 'Do you recognize this?' he rose his hand to reveal some sort of a device between his fingers, 'If I press this switch, my errand yokai will devour your mother. You understand what this means, right? My tender, tender, Shuichi-kun? You did well to hide your little girlfriend though. For all the talk about her, my yokai couldn't find her anywhere.'

Kurama didn't allow his mask to slip and reveal his struggles but his mind race imagining his mother back at home followed by a creature wishing to harm her. What exactly did he mean he couldn't find Nana? Neither of that news was positive in any way. For now, however, he needed to remain calm and pull himself together to get out of this situation.

He lost his fighting stance and straightened his back immediately knowing what Roto desired with his little blackmail stunt. For now, he would allow him to have his open and get close enough for Kurama, the expert in manipulation, observation, and attack, to have his.

Nana clenched her fists over her knees in confusion mumbling to herself, 'Kurama, what in the three realms are you doing?'

The redheaded kitsune wasn't fighting. He wasn't even trying to defeat himself. In fact, he seemed to allow himself completely at the mercy of the other yokai.

What's happening?

Was the yokai brainwashing him? Was he using some sort of mind control?

'Now, that's a rather unfair move?' she heard the yokai behind her speak again in his calm and smooth voice like silk, 'It seems your friend's mother is being threatened.'

Nana's brown eyes widened as a wave of petrifying fear washed over her body and entered every single corner, every single crack, and every single crack.

Shiori-san

'How weak to threaten someone's loved one, wouldn't you agree?' asked the yokai, and Nana froze for a completely different reason. Why was the yokai still talking to her? She didn't catch the blue color when she returned to her seat but was he still the yokai who was sitting there before? Was she perhaps also used as blackmail material without knowing it? Suddenly the idea that she split from the girls who were all the way down by the first row seemed like the most stupid idea, Hinata Nana ever came up with.

The raven-haired girl swallowed a bit and watched her best friend get beaten by someone who was clearly no match for him in a fair match and who Kurama would no doubt already be done with by now if his loved ones weren't threatened.

She felt the familiar sensation of anxiety and her insides being squeezed to the point she thought she would lose the last breath of air left inside her body. Watching Kurama get hurt with so little hope and faith of his victory left truly caused Nana to feel like she couldn't breathe.

However, then it got a million times worse when Kurama stood up and put his hands behind his back leaving himself completely open to Roto to punch him as much as he pleased.

Nana couldn't stop looking at him. She couldn't move. She couldn't breathe. She feared if she did anything. Anything from moving a muscle to taking a deeper breath something would happen and Kurama would be dead. Something would happen and the yokai behind her would kill her. Something would happen and she…and she…

Kurama…please…

For a second, she felt as if someone behind her reached their hand and was about to touch her shoulders, and the utter horror that something would move or shift caused her to whisper-shout, 'Don't touch me!'

Her own voice was almost unrecognizable and for a second, she thought she saw Kurama turn around and look at her. But in the sea of yokai with a match at his hands and fear of his mother how would her kitsune even notice her? And even if he had what would he do? How could he aid her when he had already so much on his hand?

'Please,' said Nana with a much firmer voice knowing it was pathetic that begging was all she could do, however, it seemed to work because her body never did feel the touch of the hand that was reaching for her.

'No worries, it seems your friend figured it all out,' stated the voice and the paralyzing fear finally washed away from Nana's body leaving her still worried but with much less intensity than before. Feeling even a sense of bravery or at least common sense, the human girl turned around only to find the seat behind her vacant and caught a freakishly tall man with a waving black coat and hair walking away.

Without much time to dwell on the yokai or whatever their encounter was, Nana returned in her seat and looked back down just as it appeared something changed in the dynamic of the match.

Roto, the yokai, who blackmailed her best friend rose his hand to the sky in some sort of determination only for nothing at all to happen.

Then as if the previous beating was just for show, Kurama's hand reached out and grabbed something from Roto's hand.

A device

She couldn't hear Kurama's voice or words, but based on the almost relaxed posture his body suddenly had, her own body seemed to recognize him getting the upper hand and just like that Nana took a deep breath in and out.

I can breathe again

'What's the matter? Now, it is contestant Roto that is not making a move! It's clear contestant Kurama has control over the match now,' said Koto, the referee, and Nana couldn't help but take a few more deep breaths and for a second close her eyes, 'Finally, Kurama, what was the hold-up?'

Kurama obviously won the match as he calmly placed his hands into his pocket even turning his back to Roto and walking away only stopping to look at him briefly before a thousand of colorful flowers burst from the defeated yokai body, and Roto fell down. No doubt, he was dead.

'Ironic,' said Nana to herself looking at the beautiful flowers thinking it was ironic for something so gorgeous to come from such an asshole who threatened the lives of innocent humans to simply won a match. Truly a tactic of the weak.

'Nana-chan,' called Keiko as she rushed to her probably deciding not to jump down to the teams after all. Good. Maybe it bought Nana some time too to figure out a way to let Kurama know she was here without causing him any stress.

They reached for each other while Shizuru calmly walked after Keiko, 'That was really horrible. Why would Kurama do that?'

'He didn't really have much of a choice,' said Nana as the two other girls sat down each on opposite sides of her, 'So you know?'

Nana nodded at the older girl, 'Someone sitting behind me told me.'

The psychic glanced to the empty seat behind Nana and the other girl shrugged her shoulders not sure what to tell her about the strange experience. Perhaps, it was just her paranoia and fear for Kurama that caused her to hallucinate most of the encounter and paint it as scarier than it really was.

Still, the raven-haired girl shivered recalling the calm soft voice that still left her to feel chilly. Was it just her mind or maybe…

Luckily, Nana didn't have time to dwell on it much as right afterward, came Hiei terrifying match and Yusuke's somewhat goofy and intense one.

The matches were strangely captivating once Nana focused on the match itself rather than the fact that it was her friends who were getting the beating. It seemed to even be strangely entertaining and stunning in a way Nana never knew since she always deemed fights so brutal and violent. She wouldn't say she could find pleasure in them but the adrenaline and cheering for the guys was an experience she definitely couldn't paint as all bad.

'That's enough!' said Keiko suddenly causing the raven-haired girl to lose her focus on Yusuke's fight with Chuu which was the last match for Team Urameshi today, 'If they keep it up like this, Yusuke is going to die!'

'Well, he already died once,' mumbled Shizuru unfortunately loud enough for Keiko to hear and shot her a furious look.

'Sorry, sorry,' apologized the older girl half-heartedly, but it apparently already cause its damage as Keiko quickly stood up and ran away again, 'I have to stop this.'

Nana pressed her fingers against her forehead feeling a migraine, 'Not again.'

Keiko seemed to be indecisive about what to do and honestly, as much as Nana liked the girl and care for her, it was getting on her nerves. She was worried about Kurama and the others too. Hell, maybe even more (although she would never admit that out loud because it would make her sounds like a bad person or something), but honestly, she was right about what she thought of Keiko before. She was acting a bit like a brat about this.

'Keiko-chan!' called Shizuru already getting to her feet and running after her.

Nana tossed her hands into the air before she took a final look at the arena below and then back at the girls who were quickly disappearing from her sight.

'Great,' she mumbled to herself before she foolishly rushed after Shizuru and Keiko. As much of a bad idea as it was, it didn't seem all that much better to be stuck alone in the arena either.

'Guys! Hey, wait up!' she called out until all of a sudden she found herself standing alone in one of the hallways with no Keiko, Shizuru, or anyone else around.

Nana sighed to herself loudly before she turned back around. Of course, the hallways she came from seemed just as dark and with many turns making it impossible for the girl to remember where she came from originally.

Kurama would be really displeased with her right now, and she wouldn't even blame him as she herself felt like an idiot for running after the girls like this. Then again, her two human friends were the idiots for running away like this in a stadium full of yokai. But what did it make her to run after them?

Suddenly, Nana felt a rush of chill across her back and turned around looking into one of the dark hallways by her left. Was someone there? Was someone watching her? And why did the hallways have to be so dark?

Sighing to herself, she continued down the hallways trying to see if she would run into the girls all the while growing uncomfortable by the minute as if she could almost feel someone was close by in the dark watching her maybe even following her. She didn't hear footsteps or anything, but the silence itself was unnerving too.

Little flower

Nana's eyes widened. It wasn't much of a voice but more of a feeling, but even if her feet didn't stop because they seemed to be too scared to, the human girl would have sworn she heard even if only in her mind that someone called her-

'Hey, girl, human girl,' heard Nana this time for real and out loud, and she stopped wondering if she should answer or run before very slowly she turned around making the decision to this time at least face whoever was calling her.

It was a woman and by the looks of it a very human woman.

'Come help me out, will you?' she asked in a very strange accent waving at the girl from what looked like a restroom. Honestly, Nana wouldn't even think it was dark as it looked like a part of the wall, but the light inside made it clear it was.

As Nana got close, she found the woman to be Asian, perhaps Chinese since her Japanese was a bit accented, with dyed platinum hair.

The woman went into the restroom and despite her internal paranoia Nana followed finding the woman there with her back toward her and her dressed unzipped, 'This is the last time I'm wearing this Gucci to a fighting match. What a drag.' For the last sentence she switched to English, and it sounded just as accented as her Japanese.

Nana quickly took hold of the task and easily zipped the woman up wondering how did she even end up in here, 'Uh, all done.'

The woman turned to her and offered her a small. She was rather beautiful despite the makeup and dyed hair. In fact, Nana could see someone like her to be a famous model or movie star. She reminded Nana a bit of her mother when she was younger and still seemed full of life and like someone, people wanted to be around.

'You're with the human team, Team Urameshi, right?' asked the woman checking herself in the large mirror but occasionally stealing a look at Nana.

'Yes, we came to support them,' confessed Nana. It was pointless to say otherwise since the woman knew she was human and what else would a human girl be doing here.

The woman chuckled. 'That's new. From what my daddy told me the human teams rarely have any fans.' It was a bit funny to listen to the woman speak in Japanese but mix English words into her sentences. Nana wasn't good at English by any chance, but she still managed to understand the woman well enough.

Nana shrugged her shoulders not sure how to respond or if she should carry on with the conversation at all. She was asked to help out this woman, and she did, now she should resume in her quest to find Keiko and Shizuru or go back to her seat to at least have some sort of an illusion of safety around here. Honestly, this whole trip was nothing like Nana would imagine, but at the same time, the human girl didn't know what she really expected so what did she know?

'I'm Jessica, by the way,' said the woman and offered Nana her hand which the girl took with a chuckle. Right, Jessica.

'Uh, Hinata Nana. It's nice to meet you, but I have to go find my friends,' said Nana, and the woman smiled, 'You're very nice, Nana. You could have just left, you know.'

Nana didn't understand why she said it in such a way, but she figured there was no point for her to stay so she just slightly bowed to the woman and went for the door, 'Word of advice.'

Nana paused in the doorway, 'If you ever get in trouble. Just say you're with the Smiths family, 'kay?'

The human girl watched the woman for a second before she nodded and thanked her closing the door just as Keiko ran after her, 'Keiko-chan.'

'Nana-cha, I can't find a way to the arena,' said the girl rather upset about the fact, however, the raven-haired girl nodded and took Keiko further down the hallway so they wouldn't stick out too much, 'That's good.'

'How can that be good?' asked Keiko, 'I have to stop Yusuke's match,' complained the younger girl clearly frustrated that her friends weren't offering her any help, 'He's going to die if we don't stop him. Again! Why is no one listening to me?!'

Nana shook her head and sighed hoping to reason with the brunette, 'Keiko-chan-'

Keiko looked insulted probably not up for another one of Nana's speeches telling her she was wrong, 'You don't get it-'

'Yes, I do. Believe me, watching Kurama get punched and spat on by some lowlife yokai who wasn't even a match for him and used his mother as bait wasn't fun for me either,' said Nana a bit coldly watching Keiko's own anger melt a bit upon hearing Nana speak so honestly.

Sighing the girl continued, 'Listen, Yusuke-kun and Kuwabara-kun and the others have come across someone who is threatening them and their loved ones. They have to fight, but…I think for men it's more than that. It's about honor and proving to yourself and your opponent that you gave your everything and won fair and square. I…I don't think Yusuke will forgive you if you rush there and end the match. Especially, when he's enjoying the fight as much as he was. And based on what I saw he really was. It's scary, and believe me, throughout the whole time until Kurama was announced as the winner I couldn't breathe, but it's what he had to do, and it's what Yusuke-kun has to do, and you just cannot take that away from him.'

Keiko was silent for a moment just taking Nana's words in before she stepped away and leaned against the wall sliding down to the ground, 'All my life, I just watch from the sidelines as Yusuke-kun gets from one fight to another. It always leaves his clothes dirty and his face bloodied and bruised, but it also always leaves him with a smile across his face. It's so disturbing, but at the same time… It's what makes him happy.'

Nana crouched in front of the younger girl with a small smile.

'I just wish there was something that wasn't giving me a migraine or heart attack that made him smile like that,' said Keiko and chuckled a bit causing Nana to giggle as well.

The two girls looked at each other and in a moment of understanding, Nana stood up and offered her a hand, 'How about we find Shizuru-san and watch the end of the match? That way you can at least nag Yusuke-kun about how long it took him to win. I'm sure he would love that. Maybe…maybe you don't see it often, but believe me, there are more things that make him smile happily, and even if some leave him with bruises and slaps the shape of your hand some just leave him smiling and looking at you like…well, you know how he looks at you, Keiko-chan.'

Keiko's cheeks turned slightly pink before she nodded seemingly with a much better mood accepting Nana's hand and allowing her to help her up just as Shizuru showed up from around the corner looking lost in thoughts.

'Shizuru-san!'

The older girl looked momentarily surprised before her face returned to her calm look once more, and she waved at the girls so they would find their way back to their seats and watch the end of Yusuke's match.

As intense as it was it ended with the victory for team Urameshi which caused the three girls to cheer even if they were the only ones with other yokai around booing both the winners and losers of the match.

With their first match a success, they were allowed one day to rest before their other matches would end, and it would be decided who they would be up against. It was probably for the best as apart from Yusuke almost draining his spirit energy completely there was also the problem of Hiei's injured arm. Something he foolishly wished to keep a secret from the others. As they had some time on their hands, Kurama left the hotel to witness the matches of other teams and get a first impression of their fighting styles and technics. It was better than to sit around and wait as his small injuries were healed before Hiei's fight even started.

As fruitful as seeing the others fight as it was, it also caused all of them to face the reality of just how strong Toguro himself was. Something which even if predicted still left them all shaking upon actually witnessing such brutal strength.

'Damn, I can't believe those bastards would set us up like this,' complained Kuwabara as he led their way to the elevator to get some dinner for the evening. He and Yusuke were still rather grumpy about the fact that they would be fighting matches with no rest. No doubt, a ploy of the organizers of the tournament to make sure they would be weak and vulnerable. An easy kill. How pathetic of them. Their constant need to find ways to cheat was seriously annoying both the yokai and human part of him. Did they really seem like such a big threat? Did they truly trusted the other teams so little they needed to disadvantage the only human team as much as possible?

'Oh, good, the elevator,' said the ginger-haired boy as Yusuke yawned and Kurama started to walk closer as the door opened.

However, the moment he took the first step his feet stopped so abruptly Kuwabara walked straight into him.

'Oi, watch it,' said the taller boy brushing his chest before he must have sensed something was wrong and glanced at his friend, 'Kurama, what's wrong? Did you forget something in the room?'

Kurama completely tunned him and the rest of his team out as he focused on the scent that came from the elevator. He knew that scent. How could he not? It had been in his human life for as long as he could remember. It was in his human life so long in merged with his own and more often than not smell like his own. He used to hate it. It used to be a horrible smell growing up just like everyone else's, he remembered it still, but little by little with every sweater he forced her to wear and every moment she spent in his room, in his bed, and close to his side, her scent changed and became tolerable. More than that. It became a smell he associated with things like childhood, friendship, happiness, home, and his.

'Did the elevator go up or down?' he asked startling the other boy.

'Ha?'

'Up or down?!' he snapped so uncharacteristically of him at Kuwabara, 'Uh, down. It was up and went down…I think from the floor above ours,' he said but didn't sound sure at all.

Without a second to spare he rushed in and pressed the button ignoring Kuwabara's and Yusuke's weak protests and confusion feeling his heart speeding up with every second it took the stupidly slow machine to get to the upper floor.

Once the door opened, the kitsune rushed out looking around catching the smell even stronger which meant it couldn't have been too long since they brought her up. He didn't smell any yokai on this floor, just humans but that didn't mean anything. The people here came to witness violence and killings. Most of them could be worse than some yokai.

He tried to block his mind from coming up with ideas and instead focus on following the scent and finding her. Everything else he could deal with afterward. However, his mind had other plans already coming up with scenarios of how some yokai or human found out about her and went to kidnap her, in order to use her against him the same way Roto tried to use his mother.

He couldn't find her.

Roto said he couldn't find Nana in the human world because he hid her. At the time, Kurama thought she simply went somewhere, but where would Nana go. She didn't spend time with people outside of their little duo. Only Hiei, Botan, Keiko, Kuwabara it seemed. Most of them were here. So where would Nana be?

Where did you disappear? Why are you here?

Not wasting a second to spare he kicked the door which carried her scent down and rushed inside the room carefully looking around keeping eyes on everything. The room didn't look any different than theirs. It had a small living room area that connected several rooms. Nana's scent was especially strong inside. She must have been here. She had to be.

When he heard Nana's startled scream, despite all his cautious and years of battles, he felt his entire body and being freeze as if someone reached inside and gripped the very essence of who he was. It lasted a second before he ran toward where the sound came from bursting the door open.

Nana was on the floor partly sitting against the side of the bathtub. He didn't even spend a second to check if anyone else was in the room or if it was a trap instantly rushing toward her body, 'NANA!'

Only once he gripped her shoulders did he notice the split-second frown on her face before it disappeared, and her eyes opened. Her brown pupils danced with surprise looking at him, 'Shui-Kurama?'

Just then he glanced around realizing the bathroom was empty and Nana looked more or less unharmed, 'What happened? Are you hurt?'

He turned back to her catching the blush covering her face. The surprise from earlier shifted into embarrassment and then worry, 'I'm sorry.'

It took him a while to realize what she said. By the time he did, she started to explain.

'It was Botan-chan's fault. She told Keiko-chan and Shizuru-san where you went and they forced her to take them, and they asked me to go too because Botan-chan wasn't the most reliable, I guess. I figured I would have more luck in convincing Keiko and Shizuru-san not to be so rash than Botan, and I wanted to see you because I was worried,' she talked rather fast which she usually did when she was worried, she did something wrong and wanted to explain herself before the other person get upset, 'But then Keiko-chan saw Yusuke-kun fight, and she decided not to distract him, and I figured sooner or later you guys would realize we're here, so I left you that message at the front desk-'

Nana didn't have time to finish as all of the sudden she was in his embrace his face buried into her neck. For a moment Nana was left sitting there on the ground in Kurama's arms feeling his breath against her shoulder and neck as he held her before she came back to herself and put her hands on his back returning his hug.

It was just then that she realized how much she really missed him and wanted to talk to him since they entered the island. She was worried he would be upset. He told her where he was going, and she didn't ask him if she could come. She didn't even think about it. This was his thing. She was useless against yokai so what good would she be other than a distraction. Someone he would have to worry about on top of worrying about himself and his teammates? Also, she did promise him to keep an eye on his mom from to time. She supposed she should apologize for that now.

After what felt like a while, Nana heard him let out a long relief sigh before, he let go of her kneeling by her side to look at her again. Kurama's expression was perfectly calm again, even she would believe he was perfectly fine if she didn't know better. After a certain age, they stopped goofing around the way they used as they were little. They didn't wrestle in the grass, tickle each other on the ground, or have pillow fights in each other's beds. When a couple of months ago they thought Kurama's mother would die, they started being more affectionate, but even that was only due to comfort and shared worries. This? The way he buried himself against her desperate to hold onto her like he thought she would be gone any second, this was something else. Something, unfortunately, he did more often now as she seemed to drawn bad things to happen to her.

Nana also noticed that his hands remained on her shoulders. Did he think something happened?

'Why did you scream?' he asked carefully. His tone didn't betray the internal distress she knew he was experiencing.

She blinked already forgetting her little stunt, 'Right, Botan-chan took a bath earlier and the place was a mess. I wanted to clean it up and I slipped. It startled me,' she said feeling more than embarrassed that she screamed like she was being attacked because she was falling to the ground. But in her defense, it was sudden, and everything was slippery. She thought she would hit her head against the tub or something.

When she heard him chuckle, she shoved him lightly the humiliation burning her cheeks scarlet, 'Oi! Don't laugh. It's really slippery here.'

'Perhaps,' said Kurama with a smile small that looked more genuine than he pretended peacefulness, 'But you're also a very clumsy person.'

'I'm not,' she argued but smiled as well since just having him near her lifted a lot of weight off her shoulders. She would survive some light teasing in good nature as long as it meant Kurama was by her side a bit longer.

'If you're not clumsy, how come you fall down so often?' he asked, and Nana crossed her arms not really upset just playing her part, 'Because your stupid friends are tripping me. See? Proof!' she said nodding at the wet floor.

He chuckled some more and let go of her shoulders letting out another sigh. He sounded slightly exhausted, but as Nana look at him, she could only see a rather fond look across his handsome face, 'Well, they convinced you to come to an island full of yokai while we are fighting in a Dark Tournament. It's safe to say they're your friends as well,' said Kurama wisely and slowly stood up reaching out his hand to help her.

She rolled her eyes but accepted the hand not trusting her feet on the floor anymore. It would be beyond humiliating if a slippery floor was the reason, she would get hurt on an island full of yokai. Not that she wished to get hurt at all, but surely her self-confidence would suffer greatly, 'Maybe a little bit. The girls are nice.'

Kurama smirked in that innocent way that was totally fake in Nana's mind, 'Expect for when they're bathing.'

Nana glanced at the bathroom floor, 'Just Botan by the looks of it.'

When she looked back at him, Kurama was still watching her his smirk gone, and his face a bit soberer which was an indication that he wanted to be serious about something, 'I would rather you didn't come at all.'

She watched him for a moment before she nodded understanding him completely. More often than not she wished she stayed home too. It wasn't a very smart decision on her part even if she didn't mean any harm by it. She just wanted to see him. Being so far away and not knowing for sure if he was alright was not good for her. Seeing him get hurt was horrible on a whole different level but in the end, when he made it out unharmed it was totally worth it.

'However,' he started giving her a small smile again even if only for a second before it fell away. It looked a bit private like it was hiding a secret, he wasn't willing to tell her just yet. Maybe for today, she would let him keep it.

'I'm not angry that you did. It's…concerning,' he said with a strange tone, she knew meant he wanted to say something else, but at the same time didn't want to, 'it's not the safest place for you right now. Especially since some of our opponents won't have a problem to use any leverage and any weakness to get to us,' he said with a firm look.

'I know,' Nana nodded, 'I will try to stay out of any dangerous things. I promise.'

He grimaced, 'No offense to that but you also have a habit of getting into dangerous situations.'

'Not true,' she argued quickly.

The kitsune gave her a look and then pointed around the room not just to indicate the fact that she slipped in the bathroom, but also that she followed a group of girls she barely knew into one of the most dangerous places on the Human Realm.

The raven-haired girl bit her lip for a second clearly thinking about what to say before she had, 'Alright, kind of true, but I only did it to support them and be a good friend.'

'I never doubted you were anything but,' Kurama told her smiling a bit at her not really in the mood to be upset with her. At the moment, he was just glad and grateful that Nana was alright and that his worst fears were just dark thoughts in his mind. It helped to hold her in his arms for a moment and smell her scent knowing she was healthy and didn't smell of blood. It helped to mix their scents again to make sure she would smell like him rather than some lowlife she was sitting or standing next to.

Nana sighed for a moment and then gave him an honest look allowing him to see her eyes and intentions clearly, 'I will be careful, and stick close to the others.'

At the moment, that was all he could ask of her as another ship wouldn't come any time soon, and it would be better if she was in a group than alone in this hellish place.

'What about you?' she asked suddenly and then raised her hand as if she wanted to touch his cheek but stopped herself just pointing at it, 'I'm not going to lie that was…scary.'

He knew she meant his match against Roto. It was worrisome, yes, but scary was only the first second before he cooled down and started to work on his attack. For Nana, it must have been quite terrifying wondering if he would fight back and what was going on. She never saw him fight before. She only ever witnessed the aftermaths. She didn't know he was a skillful fighter even if she knew he had to be capable based on how long he survived, it probably wasn't convincing just by looking at the match.

'It wasn't so bad, I had a plan,' he said, and watched as Nana's chocolate eyes moved from his cheek to his forest green ones before she smiled a tiny bit, 'I knew you did. But it was still quite hard to watch. I thought…it kind of felt like I couldn't breathe waiting for you to…win,' she confessed revealing that she knew he would win. She was just waiting for him to do so. It made him feel pride and something else that once again warmed him on the inside as he watched his childhood friend knowing she had every bit of faith in him and his abilities, 'I won.'

'Yeah,' Nana agreed while lowering her voice although her smile was still present, 'It was then that I felt like I could breathe again. It was terrifying, but,' her smile widened some more with her ponytail a bit messy probably from the fall she looked almost like she did when they were kids playing in the summer sun, 'I don't mind doing it again as long as by the end you will come out victorious again.'

Win so I can breathe again.

Before he could stop himself or question his intention, his hand reached out and tugged away pieces of her hair behind her ear his fingertips lightly touching her skin there, 'Then I suppose, I have no other choice but to win.'

She watched him for a moment feeling a familiar knot inside her stomach, she got sometimes when he looked at her just as intensely as he did now. Sometimes, she wanted more than anything that he wouldn't look at her at all because she was scared of what it caused her to feel.

'Good because I'll be watching,' she said hoping her voice sounded more normal than she felt as his hand returned to his side and his look softened to a more friendly one.

She noticed his eyes fell from her face toward her hand where his smile tugged into more of a smirk before he took a hold of his sleeve and slowly rose it up to reveal the green ribbon still neatly tied around his skin.

Nana blinked surprised he would keep it as well before she rose her own hand the green ribbon still there matching his own.

'I guess it does bring some good luck.'

He chuckled fondly still looking at the green fabrics on their wrists.

Upon hearing that the girl offered him a wide smile. She couldn't agree more her heart was finally at peace and love. More than she felt in the past month it seemed. It warmed her enough to make her blush, but at the same time, its pureness allowed her not. No, this feeling blooming inside her chest was special and innocent and even if such things always caused her to go red and embarrassed right now she didn't want to ruin the moment with any of that. Instead, she wanted to continue to smile at Kurama and keep the moment alive for as long as possible.

It was a perfect moment just for the two of them to be together after all.

Finally meeting Kurama, caused Nana to sleep better than ever that night and gaining some much-needed positive mood for their upcoming match. It felt far too good to know he wasn't angry with her for showing up and that he even liked that she cheered for him. There was still tension regardless of their next match with team Dr. Ichigaki, and right afterward their match with team Masho if they win, but it was mostly anticipation rather than dread. She was beginning to genuinely enjoy and understand the matches and their atmosphere.

'Huh? Aren't we a few members short?' asked Keiko by her side as they took their seats just before the match was about to start finding instead of their standard five people only three.

Nana frowned a bit. Kurama mentioned yesterday that Hiei although he didn't seem like he was unwell, and that he purposely hid it from others by staying away. Maybe he went to look for him as it was more serious. Nana wouldn't put it past the kitsune to avoid saying how seriously Hiei was hurt for her or his benefit.

Despite their absence, Nana wasn't as scared as she was two days ago, but there still was this intense feeling due to the nervous energy coming in waves out of Shizuru after she said her ominous predictions.

A heartbreaking cry for help

Nana didn't like the sound of her statement especially after the match started, and she watched as most of what they did was dodge or run away.

'Why-why aren't they fighting back?' asked Nana confused. She heard Yusuke was drained out from his last match, but the others? The masked fighter? Kuwabara?

It was horrible how outmatched they seemed with the Dr.'s fighters getting the best of them. It was hard to watch all until the very end until the masked fighter who previously appeared to have killed the poor brainwashed humans revealed they were alive.

Nana couldn't help but feel relief and a sense of comfort upon seeing the fighters reunited with their master who Kurama and Hiei rescued and found forgiveness and peace of their mind.

Still, the fact that so soon after their brutal match they would face another, Nana couldn't allow her worries to rest.

Remember, win, so I can breathe, Kurama

As unfortunate as having to fight so soon was, it wasn't all bad that Hiei and the Masked Fighter were imprisoned by Ruka's barrier as Hiei was still injured and incapable to use his right arm, and the Masked Fighter seemingly used up most of her spirit energy much like Yusuke had in their previous match.

However, it wasn't good that only he and Yusuke seemed to be able to fight.

Their first opponent, Body paint-bearer Gama, took his position, but as Yusuke made his way toward him, Kurama stopped him.

He stepped in front of him eyeing the contestant from team Masho ready for anything yet knowing there would always be something that would surprise him in whoever he was fighting now, 'I'd like to say I can put all of these guys away but judge from their yoki, it doesn't look like they're going to allow that.' The wiser decision was to leave Yusuke for those who the kitsune wouldn't be able to defeat himself. Despite Yusuke's abilities, he was no match to Kurama's wits so the redhead would have to open the attacks of as many opponents as possible.

'I will find out as much as I can of what they have up their sleeves,' stated the kitsune before glancing back at Yusuke, 'The rest will be up to you.'

The referrer announced the beginning of their match and Gama immediately pulled out a pair of brushes carrying a visible scent of his yoki.

'By its nature, there is an enormous magical power that lies within body paint,' said the yokai rather proudly, 'Even among humans, the females use makeup in their everyday lives to bewitch others. Particularly during times of festival, it possesses a special magical power,' he smiled at Kurama as if there was a personal joke inside his words before he lowered his voice slightly, 'I will show you the true magical power of body paint.'

He took one of the brushes and painted his eyelid in striking in red, 'Using the special properties of my own makeup.'

He painted his other eyelid the same way and then proceeded to paint his lips and limps with the color blue. His yoki immediately increased as he warned Kurama with not so many words by his monologue about paint and make-up.

As he finally went to launch at the kitsune, Kurama quickly dodged realizing right away he would have to use his whip to end him without getting too close. However, the other yokai seemed to know this as well as he made sure to keep the kitsune on his toes and not allow him a single moment to drawn his weapon. If he really wanted to, Kurama would already find several openings to pull out his Rose Whip. Gama was strong and fast, certainly a better opponent than Roto, but he was still not unbeatable. Kurama would blame his nature on his decision not to try and hurt the yokai just yet. Something Hiei often despised about the kitsune, was Kurama's obsession with knowledge about his opponents. Mainly their weaknesses. It was reminiscence. A habit from his past self days in Makai where opponents were fairly easy to kill. Back then, the real thrill was in toying with them just enough to give them a false sense of security for them to make a mistake or reveal their weakness. That weakness was a prized possession, something the back then Legendary Thief used to his advantage. He could kill them much sooner of course. He could so quickly and bloodily or bloodless depending on his mood. But those few extra moments or hours in a fight where he could truly learn something about his rival and get under their skin was precisely what made the fight so much fun, to begin with. The look on their faces when they realized he was toying with them all the time just to strike them in a way it would hurt them the most.

However, this caused the kitsune to slip up for a moment and Gama to pull out his brushes in an abrupt move.

Nana bit the inside of her cheek as she watched Kurama kneeled down on one leg. Something happened. She wasn't sure why because the movements were too fast, but for a second something happened and now both Kurama and his opponent were standing still talking.

'There's something on his ankle,' said Shizuru while smoking, and Nana tried to zoom to the stadium, but still found it hard to see anything.

Kurama started to move again as Gama made his way to him, but it was obvious he was going unbelievably slow as if his ankle was twisted. When the other yokai finally did reach them in quick movements he used his brushes again.

Suddenly the redhead was standing still motionless with some black paint splashed across his clothing.

'He can't move,' mumbled Shizuru adding to Nana's distress as she watched Gama seemingly toy with Kurama jumping above him from every side knowing all too well the redhead was open for any attack he wanted.

'Oh dear!' called the referee, 'Contestant Kurama's arms and legs have been locked up! Will this be the end for him?'

Nana's heart sank and the familiar sensation of no air took a hold of her body as she could do nothing but have faith and watch.

Just like that Gama jumped into the air once again seemingly finally deciding to give Kurama the final blow causing the girl to almost scream if she could even open her mouth. However, before he reached him Kurama turned his head and in the next moment, Gama was falling to the ground with cuts and dark-colored liquid coming from every one of those cuts.

The dread inside her submitted to shock as she saw a green whip with thorns was tied around Kurama's striking red hair waving in the wind.

Nana let out a revealed if slightly hysterical chuckle and felt Keiko brush her back while watching the whip retreat somewhere into Kurama's hair.

It was over. At least that was what she assumed but Kurama's opponent suddenly started to stumble toward the redhead. He was weak and injured, no doubt in a need of healing, but he didn't stop trying to hit Kurama even if it was obviously pointless.

'H-he's down,' said Koto also shocked by Gama's behavior, 'I'm beginning the count.'

'Something's wrong,' said Shizuru and Nana tore her eyes away from Kurama to look at her, 'What? But he won? Isn't Gama-'

The older girl frowned, 'I don't know but something's off.'

Nana looked at Kurama again. He continued to stand there while Koto counted. Suddenly, the raven-haired girl felt a bad feeling and nausea settle inside her once again. Something was off. The relief from before didn't wash over her. Shizuru was right.

All of a sudden Gama's blood on Kurama's clothes started to shift and words began to appear on top of his white shirt.

NembakuFuju no Sho

'Seal?' questioned Nana before her eyes widened. If he could seal Kurama's limbs with a bit of paint what could he seal with most of his blood?

Koto finished her counting and the screen above the ring lightened up with Kurama's victory, but Nana's heart sank, and her stomach was crushed under fear as another contestant of team Masho stepped onto the ring and tossed aside his cloak.

Touya, the Hexed Ice Master

'Prepare yourself! I will show no mercy!' said his next opponent just as coldly as one would expect from someone using ice techniques.

Kurama was never one to panic openly, had to admit he didn't like his odds. At the time he was defenseless. He couldn't move, and he couldn't use his yoki at all. Even in his childhood years, he was never this weak. Either he did not recall ever being stronger or he could at least use some of his low yoki tricks. Now, all he could do was buy himself time, and the only way to do that was to talk, 'P-please, tell me something first.' He wasn't certain if the panic in his voice was to fool his opponent or perhaps caused by his weak human fears. Maybe a bit of both. Maybe enough to work.

'Why are you guys, said to be the mightiest of ninja, participate to fight?' he asked those few seconds before he knew for sure if Touya would even bother to answer or simply attack him on the spot the most critical.

The shorter yokai closed his eyes for a second as if recalling a distant memory before he replied, 'The light.'

Despite the seriousness of the situation, the answer sparked a sense of curiosity inside the kitsune, 'The light?'

'That's right,' said the yokai, 'For those of us who live in the shadows of the world already in the darkness there isn't so much as a glimmer of light. However, we realized something. With the power we have as Yokai Realm Ninja, we could live in the outside world as much as we like. Our wish is to have our own territory unsullied by anyone else,' he raised his hand, 'This island.'

Kurama was surprised by his words. All they wanted was a home, a place of their own. His eyes drifted to the green ribbon still tied around his wrist under his sleeve while his mind projected an image of Nana with her wide smile surrounded by sunflowers. A smile that caused him to remember his childhood, his mother, his home.

'Enough of this,' said Touya suddenly and smirked, 'Your intention must be to buy yourself some time. I cannot allow that.'

Kurama allowed himself to smirk as well some of the panic he felt before easily gone as he recalled why he was here and how far he would go. He couldn't allow himself to lose. Not when he promised to someone to win. Someone who was must likely be holding her breath until he would do so.

I can't have you worry too much about me, dearest Nana.

Nana swallowed hard as a barrier formed over the arena making it even harder to see what was going. Kurama still didn't seem like he could move with only stalling Touya for a moment from how it looked. However, at least before Nana lost sight of them, it seemed Kurama gained some sense of strength as if he had overcome some fear from talking with his opponent.

Luckily or unluckily, just as she was about to ask what was happening, Koto spoke, 'Contestant Touya launches an attack! Contestant Kurama is in an absolute crisis!'

Nana could barely make out two figures running away and recognizing Kurama only because of his red hair.

'Contestant Touya appears to have completely taken in contestant Kurama's movements!' came Kota's voice through the microphone, and Nana covered her eyes for a second trying to subdue her dread.

Come on, Kurama. Think of something. Anything, please.

'Contestant Kurama is down!'

No!

Nana's heart stopped when hearing those words cutting through her like a knife. It didn't matter how much she trusted Kurama's abilities or mind. Hearing that he was down and seeing him on the ground was too much even for her faith to handle.

'Contestant Kurama is getting to his feet. He's giving us a nice fight! He has not given up yet!' said Koto in a cheerful way as a commentator should.

The raven-haired girl partly heard Keiko and Shizuru arguing about how Yusuke should end the match, but tuned them out quickly in favor to watch Kurama start to run again only to end up on his knees not long after the chase.

'Contestant Kurama is down again! He continues to get beaten up! However, he's hanging tough! He is trying once again to stand up!'

Get up! Please, please, get up!

Nana silently begged in her mind everything around her disappearing as she focused solely on Kurama. She didn't even see the ring anymore or his opponent. She just saw him.

Kurama, please, get up.

He got back up slowly blood dripping from his wounds. Did he really just hear Nana? No, surely, it was the blood loss, lack of yoki to use, and overall exhaustion. Nana was somewhere in her seat too far to be heard or seen.

Still, Kurama would have sworn he heard her.

'I have one more question,' said Kurama cutting of Touya who seemed to realize during his run he was plotting how to attack him, 'What would you do in the outer world?'

The shorter yokai looked surprised by the question and sounded genuinely unsure, 'I don't know. The light comes first.'

'I see,' whispered Kurama counting the time that had passed for Gama's spell. Soon, it would be broken. Maybe he could make it. But just maybe.

Surely Touya would realize this as well.

The ice yokai froze the ice molecules around his palm into a sword. He figured him out. Now he had no other choice than to attack Kurama in close distance. So, it would come down to this for the both of them. Neither of them had another choice.

'Die!' cried the ninja as he rushed to attack.

Kurama managed to dodge but just barely escaping from the blade for a few moments before he was abruptly cut and ended up on the ground again. His past self would see it as a disgrace. He didn't use to be one to allow himself to fall. He also didn't use to be one to pity or sympathize with his opponents or gain human mothers, friends, and Nana.

'Kurama!' shouted Yusuke from across the barrier, 'Leave the rest to me! There is nothing to be gained if you die, you know!' Oh, but that was not true. Even in death, there were things to gain if not for yourself than for others for sure.

More blood fell to the ground as he offered his team captain a smile, 'Let me do this, Yusuke.'

The black-haired boy seemed to understand the need to win his own battles as he offered him a short nod.

Touya rushed at him once more ready for the final blow he was sure Kurama couldn't dodge or trick any way.

Well, perhaps only in one.

Nana stood up from her seat trying to see what was happening. Someone got stab. But it wasn't Kurama. No the blade stopped in front of his face, but just barely. It was Touya.

Touya was stabbed by a plant it seemed.

The barrier vanished as Touya fell to the ground.

Koto started to count.

Nana's let out a breath of air feeling a momentary relief that was short-lived as she fully took in Kurama's appearance. The plant that stabbed Touya and delivered him the victory came from his own arm. He had to plant the seed inside him and force it to grow. She couldn't imagine that was something nice or easy to do. She couldn't imagine that was something that was anything short of exhausting and painful.

Kurama, how will you go on?

Just then the shorter yokai started to get up slowly and looking rather hurt with every single move. However, he didn't manage to get up before Koto finished her counting and declaring Kurama the winner yet again.

For a brief moment, the redhead looked up and Nana would have sworn, he saw her before ultimately, his hand fall to his side and he lowered his head back down.

Nana's eyes widened as for a second as the world turned grey all the colors fading away when she felt as if her heart stopped as terrifying thought crossed her mind that Kurama was dead-

He's alive.

The little voice inside her whispered so quietly she almost didn't catch it, but just like that the world restored its natural colors, and Nana knew in her heart that voice was right.

He was hurt. He was exhausted. He was probably unconscious.

But he was alive.

'Nana-chan,' said Shizuru by her side and took her palm pushing her back to her seat as the girl forgot she stood up when she thought Kurama got stabbed by Touya a few moments ago.

'It's done now. They will let Yusuke fight,' assured her Keiko with a confident look behind her brown eyes and Nana tried to offer her a smile, but she couldn't and rather turned back to the arena.

Koto came to Kurama who hasn't moved a muscle and pressed her head against his chest. With her ears no doubt picking up more than any humans could. Maybe, if the situation was different Nana would feel some sort of jealousy strike her, but at that moment all she could do was feel dread as Kurama wasn't moving and for some reason, she sensed their troubles were far from over.

They saw Yusuke shouting something at Koto after she declared Kurama alive. The boy probably wanted to take his place as Kurama was in no way capable to fight anymore.

However, another contestant from team Masho came to the ring walking toward the referee. He was large and very muscley with many scares as far as Nana could tell.

Nana felt her heart sink realizing what the sinisterly looking yokai clearly wanted.

No, no, no, don't tell me. Please, don't tell me they will allow him to fight.

A female voice came from the speakers, the same one that came before when they ordered team Urameshi a medical checkup, 'By the order of the tournament main office, a swap will not be allowed.'

If someone had stab Nana it would hurt less. Everything inside her body froze with petrifying fear just like the one she felt not so long ago. Would this truly not end? How could this happen? It was one thing for Kurama to figure out a way to win, but to not even be conscious…

'This isn't fair. Please, this isn't right,' she whispered shaking her head not able to do anything but watch as Kurama was getting brutalized by Bakken without any chance to defend himself.

Again, and again, Kurama got punched by the other yokai left bleeding on the ground only for him to pick him up and do so again. It ripped Nana's heart open to watch it, but she feared if she looked away for even a second, Kurama would be gone.

Please, stop this, please

Her lips trembled and tears started to fall down from her eyes almost clouding her vision as Bakken picked up Kurama to punch him again before he noticed Yusuke who was seemingly ready to fire his Reiki Gun regardless of the consequences.

In a final act of aggression, Bakken tossed Kurama's lifeless-looking body out of the ring declaring himself the winner of their match leaving Nana with an absolute gross taste inside her mouth, nausea in her stomach, and rapture in her heart.

She stood up from her seat again, 'I need to go-'

'Go,' said Shizuru firmly cutting her off, and Keiko gave her an encouraging nod before Nana returned it and quickly rushed toward the exit. The hallways were dark and annoyingly complicated, but unlike before even if Nana did feel like someone was watching her, she didn't allow her worry to stop her. Her mind was too clouded by her fear for Kurama to even consider thinking about her own safety.

Luckily for her not long after she got the hallways, she found one of those security guard lizards. Without a second thought, she rushed to him and asked pleading, 'Can you, please, escort me down to the arena?'

The yokai looked almost offended that she would ask him clearly not interested in helping any human girl, 'What? No, get back to your seat. We have enough of you humans running around like this-'

'Please, I…I'm with the Smiths,' said Nana as convincingly as she could recalling what the woman, Jessica, told her when she met her the other day.

That seemed to have some effect on the lizard as his eyes widened and then he waved at the girl to follow him. Luckily, he led her to right away, and very soon, Nana could see the light from the arena at the end of the hallways.

She slightly bowed to the yokai, 'Thank you and sorry for the trouble.'

The yokai waved at her, 'Yeah, yeah, at least you're polite, human girl.'

She quickly rushed into the light for a second blinded by it before her eyes adjusted, and she could see everything. She was on team Urameshi side of the arena, thank Kami for that. She could see the ring and Yusuke standing on it, but then everything around her got taken by light blue fog. No doubt caused one of Bakken's attacks.

It was hard to see anything, but Nana was sure she knew where the ring was, and so she started to walk to the left from the entrance.

Nana

She paused for a second. She didn't really hear Kurama's voice, but at the same time knew it belonged to him.

She changed her direction a bit and reached out immediately knowing she touched his hair before she kneeled down in front of her. The fog made it hard to see, but she could still see enough of the bruises and blood.

Very gently she pulled him toward her and let his head rest against the crook of her neck. Only once she could feel his soft breathing and weak heartbeat, Nana could finally accept he was alive and would be alright.

'Kurama, rest now. You're safe now,' she whispered and pressed a soft kiss against his cheek.

Something was different. He noticed right away.

Nana sitting on the balcony in the middle of the pots filled with his plants. Plants that responded immediately to his yokai, but also to someone else's. They liked it. They liked his yoki, but also the new one not fully developed just as much as they liked Nana's voice. Her voice was tender and cheerful filling the room with a positive atmosphere that the plants seemed to be drawn to.

Just as them.

'What's wrong? Still tired?' asked Nana and tried to get up, but he quickly stopped her not wishing her to exhaust herself or do moves which she wouldn't be capable of doing.

Her scent changed again. He noticed before, but it seemed only today it fully transformed submitting to a far more powerful one inside her.

Instead, he sat down in front of her and offered her a small smile, 'I had a strange dream.'

Her fingers appeared in his hair, and in soft moves, they brushed it, 'Ah, hopefully not a nightmare.' She sounded genuine. She always did. He never met anyone who sounded so open and honest, and who made him feel like this at ease.

'Don't worry yourself with it. It was nothing,' he assured her and leaned down pressing a kiss against her throat. He heard her gasp and felt the vibration against her flesh.

Lovely

'A-alright,' her voice broke a bit, and his lips pulled into a smirk as he continued to press soft kisses lower down her unbuttoned blue shirt. Her skin tasted deliciously and the scent that filled his senses was even better than her usual one which wasn't something he would ever believe could happen.

'Y-you know we don't really have…uh… time for that,' she said and bites through a soft moan when his lips got dangerously close to her chest.

His smirk morphed into a smile as he leaned back to look at her, 'Yes, I believe we have about five minutes before his lordship demands to be fed again.'

Nana hummed her cheeks still a bit red from his little kisses. It was adorable to know even after all this time, she still blushed. He hoped she would always keep this little habit of hers as he deeply adored it.

'He's a greedy little thing,' she said fondly and pulled her hand out of his hair to throw her arms around his neck, her brown eyes sparkled with happiness she seemed to always carry behind her eyes nowadays, 'Just like his-'

Kurama woke up with a startled breath before his body and soul relaxed as his senses immediately filling with Nana and recognizing her to be the one who was holding her.

He moved his face further into her neck his lips brushing against her skin, his nose filled with her scent that reminded him once again of the home.

'You're awake,' said his human girl in a whispery voice, 'How do you feel?' there was a mixture of relief upon his awakening and fear of his injures.

He closed his eyes and breathed her for a few more moments before he finally leaned away and answered, 'Tired and hurt, but healing. I will get better soon.'

Her brown eyes were red and shining as she must have cried not so long ago, but her face relaxed sensing he was telling the truth and her lips even tried to offer him a smile although it was mostly a grimace, 'I'm glad. I was…you know. I'm glad you're okay. That was scary but amazing. You're…you're really an amazing fighter.'

He chuckled and found her hand to lace their fingers together his eyes never leaving her face. She was such a beautiful sight for his sore eyes at that moment or any moment in general, 'I would believe that compliment more if I hadn't lost.'

'For me, two out of three is a good score,' said Nana and lifted her eyebrow a bit to give him a look. The light mood helped his mind tear away the last bits of fog caused by his coma state. They were still in the arena on the grass with the wall against their backs. He could smell blood and fight. This caused him to frown a bit. It probably wasn't the smartest thing to have Nana here for every yokai, every potential enemy to see, but either way, in that very moment, he couldn't bring himself to care too caught up in just having her nearby and feeling her.

Just then Koto announced Yusuke the winner and Kurama heard his footsteps walking toward them.

Yusuke suddenly appeared in front of him crouching on Kurama's other side, 'Sorry about that. According to what I planned, I was hoping to defeat three of them.'

Yusuke shook his head seemingly not to bother by this, 'Are your injuries okay?'

'It's not the injuries. Those heal rather quickly,' explained the kitsune before he looked down at the arm that was still cut open with a plant sticking out of it, 'But the Shimaneki grass I planted in me that's is going to be the most trouble.'

Nana glanced at the grass as well, 'Can we do anything to help?'

'At the moment no. It's a demon realm plant after all. It will take some time for it to die,' said Kurama honestly before he smiled at both of his human friends, 'Sure enough, I'm reaping what I have sown, huh?'

Nana rolled her eyes and brushed his head playfully rather than gently while Yusuke urged him to rest now, 'I will take care of the remaining two.'

Kurama's own smile fell as he sobered enough to warn his captain, 'Don't get careless. The previous three were all mixed up in their order as well as their strengths, but the last two are definitely in the captains' class.'

Somewhere behind Nana, Kurama could sense the shift in Hiei's yoki. It probably wouldn't take too long for his other friend to break free. Maybe it would be soon enough and help Yusuke with his final two opponents.

'Good luck, Captain Urameshi-sama,' said Nana jokily earning a half-smirk and wink from the younger boy before he jumped back to the ring.

Nana looked a bit to see his opponent apparently, 'What do you think?'

'For now? All I can say, Yusuke will do his best,' said Kurama and motioned for the girl to lean closer as if he planned to whisper something only for her to hear, 'Stay close to me, Nana.'

Her brown eyes blinked, and the familiar scarlet color covered her cheeks as the kitsune smirked leaned against her shoulder once again slowly killing the plant inside his body and gaining strength while watching Yusuke's match against Jin. Yes, he wished to always make this girl blush in such away.

Despite how intense Yusuke's fight was, Nana breathed far easier now that she finally was by Kurama's side who wasn't in immediate danger.

'That was something,' she said as they announced their break and another match to begin only for both her and Kurama and everyone else to be shocked by the decision of the head office.

'B-but,' mumbled Nana finding it hard to comprehend that the boys would lose based on the cheating of the officials.

'Damn them,' muttered the kitsune by her side. It was obvious everyone felt cheated by their decision.

It seemed even the members of team Mashu weren't all satisfied with the decision as Touya despite his injuries made his way to Risho and tried to talk to him about it.

Kurama started to slowly get up much to Nana's distress, 'Wait, are you sure-?'

'Yes,' he gritted, and Nana frowned but helped him by allowing him to rest on her, 'Then, alright.'

She helped support his weight as they stood up and pressed their backs against the wall behind them to see the argument between the two ninja before Risho hit Touya and send him to the ground.

'Kami,' whispered Nana horrified he would do this to his friend. She didn't like many members of team Masho due to how they have beaten Kurama up, but she had to admit not all of them were bad. Jin clearly only wanted a fight and Touya and Gama weren't savages striking Kurama down when he already was.

As Risho started to walk to Koto, the referee, Yusuke stood up in front of her as if to shield her, 'Do you know who it is that's most dissatisfied? Do you?!' he screamed at the yokai in front of him obviously pissed probably as much as he was with Bakken for so cowardly hurting Kurama.

Risho didn't seem too bothered by Yusuke's words or threats clearly smug about his unfair victory all the same as he would be if he won.

Nana shook her head thinking it wasn't fair or right for someone to win like this. The boys did their best and fight to their last bits of strength. It was disrespectful to all the winners and losers alike so far that someone would win on a cheat such as this one.

'Yusuke,' called out Hiei suddenly causing all of them to look at him, 'Let them have the victory!'

'Hiei,' said Kurama in a soft voice with a frown across his features, 'Just looking at him, you can see how foolish and meaningless their games are, right? There's no reason for us to play by their rules.'

Hiei chuckled as the nurse Ruka, who previously held him and the Masked Fighter in her barrier weakened taking steps away from the two in fear, 'From now on, I'm playing by my rules. There will be a survival game, and only those who are truly strong will live through it!'

Nana felt dread pressing closer to Kurama as even with practically no spiritual awareness, she could still sense something wicked about the glow of power coming from Hiei.

'You're right…I'm this close to tearing him apart myself,' called back Yusuke presumably liking Hiei's idea. 'I'm with you, Hiei! Let's make a real show of running wild!'

The crowd behind them started to cheer and Ruka's barrier started to break. It certainly sounded like something big and horrific was about to happen and Nana wasn't certain she would very much like the outcome of such savagely or survive it for that matter.

'Don't worry,' Nana heard Kurama's voice in her ear and felt his hold on her tightened in a firm yet comforting way, 'You'll be alright.'

Nana was about to say something, but she forgot it the moment a loud roar-like voice came from their left, 'Hold it!'

They all looked over at Kuwabara, who despite being immobile through most of the battles with team Masho finally stood up tall, 'There is a contestant capable of fighting!'

Nana leaned closer to Kurama and blinked, 'Kuwabara-kun, doesn't mean himself, right?'

'Surely not-'

'It's me!' roared the ginger-haired boy causing both of them to sigh at the same time and closing their eyes. The bad feeling of the outcome of this mutual for them both.

'What are you talking about? Your injuries are awful!' complained Botan clearly upset trying to stop the boy, 'Your body is in no shape to fight at the moment.'

'Hey, you guys have completely forgotten about my existence,' complained Kuwabara slowly wobbling his way to the ring while Nana shook her head in disbelief, 'Can he fight? Like actually fight?'

'At the moment, I find it highly unlikely,' said Kurama just as Nana noticed Botan running away from the arena.

'Should I try to physically stop him?' asked Nana unsure, but the kitsune shook his head, 'I doubt that would do any good.' His hand shifted brushing her back and pulling her closer causing her to blush once more and the tightness inside her stomach changing into a rather different kind of pressure, 'Also it is better you don't leave my side at the moment.'

'Alright,' she said and hid her face partly by lowering her head at least for a moment before she looked back up to be able to see Kuwabara fight just as Yusuke came to stand by them.

Nothing would be as horrible for Nana as watching Kurama get beaten while unconscious, but seeing Kuwabara who was barely standing try to fight Risho came fairly closer. Unlike, with Kurama where Nana couldn't force herself to look away in fear she would blink and he would be gone. Here she constantly averted her gaze and closed eyes trying not to see the most brutal of attacks.

'This is savage. He's barely standing. Fuck them all,' cursed Yusuke by her side as Nana stirred closing her eyes hearing another brutal hit. The only thing which gave her some comfort was Kurama's hand moving across her back although that might have been to comfort himself a bit as well. She couldn't really imagine how horrible it must have been to see such cruelly on his teammate when he could actually do something about it.

Kurama suddenly flinched, and Nana glanced over at him, 'What's wrong?'

His emerald green eyes were distant for a second before they landed on her, 'Kuwabara-kun, he's planning to die.'

Nana's eye widened and turned to the ginger-haired boy just as he looked over at Yusuke, 'I leave the rest to you.'

Everything stilled in the world around Nana as she felt the familiar horrible dread fearing for the younger boy.

Was Kuwabara….? Was he really planning to?

'Urameshi, watch closely the way Kuwabara the man now dies!' shouted the boy seemingly in peace with his decision.

Nana was too stunned to even say anything looking at the boy hopelessly and in disbelief.

He turned back to his opponent, 'Brace yourself!'

Their fight continued with Kuwabara catching Risho's attack but getting forcefully drag across the ring.

'Kazuma-san!' they all heard suddenly, and it took Nana a moment the voice was calling out to Kuwabara as no one seemed to call him by his given name except for his sister.

Nana watched in surprise as Kuwabara tossed his enemy aside like it was nothing and skipped with newfound energy toward the side of the arena waving at someone there.

'Ah! Apparently… is this his girlfriend that has come into the stadium?' shouted Koto into the microphone and Nana blinked glancing at Kurama, 'Girlfriend? I thought he was hopelessly single,' she grimaced at her own words as it was probably a mean thing to say about someone.

'He is,' said Yusuke rather annoyed beside her stepping closer to actually see the commotion.

'Wait, aren't they both out of the ring? Can Koto count?' asked Nana panicked looking from Kurama to Kuwabara as he started to fight Risho right there on the grass.

Almost in the last second Kuwabara managed to get into the ring and was declared the winner.

'You won,' said Nana with a giggle and carefully leaned closer to Kurama who offered her a small smile in return. But despite that, she could see the joy from behind his eyes knowing he was happy.

Nana sneezed all of a sudden causing everyone to say bless you over each other.

She chuckled and smiled, 'Thanks, guys.'

'Are you cold, Nana-san?' asked Kuwabara grabbing some hoodie that looked like Yusuke's but the girl quickly waved her hands in front of her, 'No, no. I'm fine.'

They were all sitting around in the boys' living room. The weather outside was awful forcing them to stay there enjoying a moment of peace together. The only ones missing were Yusuke and the Masked Fighter who Botan said ran out earlier to solve some issues.

'Maybe someone is talking about you,' giggled Yukina by her other side, 'Shizuru-san said that's what happens when someone sneezes.'

Nana purposely made a thinking face, 'Maybe my grandmother. I left her at home alone. She probably misses my cooking.'

'You cook?' asked Yukina and before Nana could answer Botan let out a moan and Kuwabara enthusiastically started to nod, 'You have to try Nana-chan's cooking, Yukina-chan. It's so good. She makes everything taste better. Unlike some woman I know,' he added earning a kick from his sister who frowned, 'Yeah, yeah, talk like that. Starve when we get home. See if I care.'

Some of them chuckled while Nana leaned closer to Yukina. The ice maiden was probably one of the most innocent beings Nana ever met, human or yokai. She acted almost childlike, but it was obvious she wasn't a child just curious about things she didn't know.

'You can stop by when we get back to the city any time you want. I will fix you something nice. Have you had any human dishes before? Something you like?'

The ice maiden was silent for a second, and Nana sensed she accidentally came into a difficult topic. They didn't tell her much about the girl. Just that she was a part of Yusuke and Kuwabara's last case when they got into trouble with the Toguro brothers and ended up here. Nana knew it was probably the case that Kurama and Hiei had gone to as well since the maiden knew them both. No one said much but it was obvious Yukina was held captivated by some greedy man who was hurting her.

Nana smiled calmly making sure the girl wouldn't feel like something was wrong, 'It's fine if you didn't. We can just try them all to see what you like.' There truly wasn't any harm in being a beginner in some things.

Yukina's face brightened immediately, and Nana couldn't help but feel a sense of pride that she got the girl to lighten up like that. She could really see why Kuwabara was so in love with the girl. She was a sweetheart.

'Really?'

'Sure,' said Nana and then noticed the hopeful look on Botan's and Kuwabara's faces.

She rolled her brown eyes and said with fake desperation, 'Yes, you wolves. You can come too.' Just then got an idea and smiled to herself, 'In fact, we can make it into a party. Sort of a victory celebration. All of you can come.'

'Great!'

'Ah, man now we have to win!' laughed Kuwabara.

'Past,' came Hiei's dry reply which caused both Yukina and Nana to look his way. He was the only one sitting by the window looking at the rain rather than spending time in the company. He seemed off. Well, to be fair, Hiei wasn't a very social person. In fact, Nana was certain in his past life the yokai was a cat based on his behavior even toward her, but still tonight and even yesterday after the matches he seemed off.

However, his reply seemed to cause Yukina to look a bit sad, and since she didn't know the grumpy youkai very well she could assume it was because of her. Nana easily nudged her leg with her foot, 'Don't worry. He loves my food. He will come too.'

That caused the ice maiden's smile to return, and Nana felt strangely happy about the fact she managed to get the girl to smile. She was adorable in her cute and innocent way.

When Nana looked up, she noticed Hiei was looking at them and raised her brows confused only for the fire yokai to turn away from them. Since it was typical of her, whenever she didn't know what was happening or sensed that something was happening, she glanced at her best friend, who offered her a soft smile and closed his eyes. He didn't say anything at all, but it was enough for Nana to know that something was happening with Hiei that involved Yukina and Kurama knew what it was. She was curious of course, but she was never one to openly snoop so instead she turned back to the others, and they carried on playing cards, eating junk food, and talking. If it was something she should know, she would have.

Nana was late. How could she be late? Didn't she set an alarm? Why didn't the others wake her up?

Quickly Nana brushed her hair and tossed a pink sweater she was only ninety-percent now was hers over her white bra before running out of the hotel room.

'Shoot,' cursed the girl and ran back quickly locking the door knowing she was the last one. She fell asleep. She was unsure how it happened in the first place. Yesterday, they stayed up too long in the boys' room, yes and she recalled how tired she was and how she tried to remind everyone several times that they needed to go to bed if they wanted to get up on time tomorrow, but then it was mostly blurred as she fell asleep somewhere beside Kurama on the couch. He probably carried her to her bed, but right now she didn't really have time to feel embarrassed about that. She just barely caught the girls calling for her to hurry up. Couldn't they wake her up? Couldn't they try harder? Couldn't they wait for her?

Of course, even the elevator was taking its sweet time, and Nana rolled her eyes deciding to take the stairs rushing to the other side of the hallways only to stop by the door to the stairs.

'Oh, Nana~,' she heard a female voice call after her in a singing way.

The raven-haired girl glanced in the direction of the voice immediately recognizing the platinum hair color, 'Oh, hello, Jessica.'

The woman giggled and waved at her, 'Just the person I needed. Come.'

'No, I'm already late, and my friends are waiting for him,' complained Nana, but the woman carried on, 'It will only be a minute.'

The woman disappeared inside her room leaving the door open, and Nana sighed to herself more than a bit annoyed, 'Only a minute.'

Quickly she ran toward the room half expecting the woman to need help with her zipper again. That didn't seem to be the problem as Jessica wasn't even dressed yet nonchalantly standing in the middle of the room with clothes, shoes, and other accessories tossed all over the place. The woman's room was a single bedroom with a private living room, but it was far nicer than the one the girls had and even the boys. Not to mention the clothes look very expensive.

'What should I wear to the semi-finals? What are you wearing?' asked the woman, and Nana grimaced feeling like she should cover herself since she was only dressed in a pair of jeans and a sweater she grabbed at the last minute before running out of the room.

'No, no, no,' said Jessica as she must have realized what Nana's silence meant, 'Your boyfriend is fighting today, right? You absolutely cannot wear just that.'

Nana blushed, 'He's not my boyfriend.'

The woman chuckled, 'Of course he's not. Smart though. Never let them think they have more power over you than they really do. Come on, I think I have a nice purple dress that will go nicely with your skin tone.'

Nana shook her head and tried to step closer to stop the woman, 'No, that won't be necessary. I'm already late and my friends…' she stopped talking as she got close to the enormous view and noticed Botan and other girls already halfway out of the hotel.

The raven-haired girl frowned a bit rather annoyed and said in disbelief, 'Left me here.'

Jessica skipped to her side to look out of the window before she waved her hand, 'No worries. I have a car waiting for me. We will be there even sooner than your friends. Trust me, Nana.'

The woman winked at her and returned to her dress hunting while Nana tried to shake off the fact that they left her behind. Sure, she overslept, but they could have waited.

Jeez, what a bunch of friends she got.

At least Jessica seemed to finally decide what to wear as she started to put a on a golden dress that along with her striking hair made her look like she was shining which was probably the reason she decided to wear it, 'Put on the dress. Hurry.'

'No, really,' Nana tried to complain but the woman wouldn't take no for an answer, 'Come on, Nana. It will take us twice as long if you don't start dressing now.'

Frustrated but knowing the woman was probably stubborn enough to cause their delay if she didn't get her way, the raven-haired teenage girl turned her back to her and quickly tossed aside her sweater in order to pull on the purple dress. With its tulip sleeves and due to Nana's small height it luckily went below her knees which Nana was thankful for as she didn't want to expose too much skin especially given the state of the sky. It would probably rain again today.

Once she turned around, she noticed the woman's eyes were on Nana's side where she must have caught glimpses of the scar she received when the loan sharks possess by the Makai whistle came to her house.

'It's alright,' said the woman, and gently lifted her hair a bit to reveal an old scar behind her ear, 'Some of us pretty girls carry reminders of just how strong we really are.'

Nana's own face softened as she nodded wondering what happened to the woman to be strong too. But she didn't ask knowing that was something not everyone wished to talk about.

'You look absolutely precious, but come here,' urged her Jessica and when she stepped closer the woman pushed her into the small chair in front of her mirror, 'You're really pretty, Nana. In that soft innocent way. No wonder that redhead of yours is all over you,' Jessica said winking at the girl through their reflections in the mirror as she stepped behind the girl to undo her tie and brush her hair a bit more elegantly.

'N-no, you don't have to…and he's my best friend not…boyfriend or anything,' said Nana feeling embarrassed that even a stranger like Jessica could see something more between her and Kurama.

The woman chuckled, 'Silly, the way you ran to him the other day when he was on the ground and how he pulled you close. But alright. Keep your secrets. It's not my business anyway,' the woman's face softened as she put Nana's hair in a side updo braid exposing her neck, 'You're lucky though. He's very handsome. Not everyone can be loved by handsome men, I'm afraid.'

She got in front of Nana and grabbed a brush quickly adding some blush to Nana's cheeks before she could stop her, 'Relax, just a bit to highlight those apple cheeks. So adorable. I bet your Kurama gets jealous whenever you two go out.'

That genuinely caused Nana to chuckle, 'Yeah, right.'

Jessica raised her brows with a small smirk, 'Oh, so you're the one who gets jealous.'

'No, I don't I told you,' tried to complain Nana again only for the woman to wave her off, 'Relax, it's pointless. It's obvious, he only has eyes for you. The way he watches you must be thrilling, intense,' the woman sighed blissfully, 'I miss teenage loves. So wild and charged with electricity. Every touch is dangerous, forbidden, and new.'

Nana felt the pressure return to her stomach as she listened to the way Jessica describe the affair. It wasn't like that. Sometimes Kurama teased her with some heated wordplay sure, but in general, their interactions were very soft and-why the hell was she thinking about it? They were just friends, and friends didn't think about such things.

'Uh, it must have not been that long. You're really young,' said Nana hoping to change the conversation and busy her mind not to go into its dark corners again.

The woman smiled, but it was a bit bitter, 'You're too kind, Nana. I'm already thirty-three you know. I'm lucky. Women in my family keep their youth a bit longer than others. If it was anyone else daddy would have tossed them aside from a while ago. Not me though.'

She fixed her makeup and for a moment Nana caught something very sad almost tragic in the woman's eyes before something about what she said caused her to pause, 'When you say daddy-'

'Sugar daddy,' clarified the woman with a mischievous little smirk, 'My sponsor and maybe-boyfriend who likes to buy me clothes and take me to places.'

Nana's eyes widened and her face turned scarlet from her embarrassment even without the makeup, 'Oh.' She wasn't sure what else to say to that. She assumed Jessica was some rich spoiled daughter of her wealthy daddy, not a well professional girlfriend.

Before Nana could decide how she felt about it, they heard a knock on the door, 'Ms. Jessica, the car is waiting.'

'Coming,' said the woman and checked her watch, 'Perfect, just enough time to be fashionably late, Nana. Put these on,' she grabbed a pair of nice white sandals and pushed them into her hands while she went to fight herself some black high heels and matching bag, 'Let's paint this tournament red, Nana.'

The girl quickly put on the shoes wondering what company did she get into and what would her friends say if they saw her. Maybe she could find a coat or something to cover. Even if the dress was decent even nice enough, Nana felt strangely exposed being around Jessica who everyone seemed to recognize. Well, she couldn't really judge with her mother being an addict apparently and most of her friends yokai, but she could definitely feel funny about it.

In the car on their way to the apparently new stadium, one which Nana didn't even know about, Jessica nudged her side and said, 'Don't worry, I promise not to get my bad reputation on your clean sleeve.'

Nana felt a bit guilty for feeling embarrassed now knowing who the woman was before she shook her head, 'I'm sorry. It's not my business. Everyone has the right to survive the way they need to.'

The woman blinked surprised for a second before she offered the girl a soft smile, 'You're a kind soul, Nana. It must be why yokai are drawn to you so easily. They rarely see anything pure and uncorrupted in the human world. Despite its name. Often the cruelty of people surprises them even more than the bloodlust of their own kind. Strange, isn't it?'

Nana thought about it. True, even if there were yokai who wished to eat or harm her. She often met with humans who wished to hurt her just as much if not more. Yet there were both good humans and decent yokai who could be friends with her and care for her all the same.

The new stadium was far more sinister-looking than the old one, and Nana felt dread from the moment her brown eyes landed on the place. How was it that even the weather today seemed to match the atmosphere of the place? She could only hope her fears were misplaced and these matches would be far less emotionally crushing than the previous ones although based on her luck so far, she doubted that would happen.

'Who's this?' asked an older-looking American man in his seventies who came to greet Jessica with a kiss on the cheek, 'Very lovely.'

Jessica tried to wave it off her English heavily accented making it easier for Nana to understand, 'Just my new friend who needed a ride. Shall we go to our seats?'

'Of course, what's your name little lady? You look familiar,' said in perfect Japanese the man and tried to take a closer look, but Jessica took his arm, 'Nina. Isn't it a lovely name?'

'Adorable,' agreed the man smiling at Jessica with clear adoration, 'Have her join us then.'

Nana's heart sank and she stole a glance at Jessica who quickly tried to talk her out of the situation, 'Oh, please, such a young thing shouldn't waste in the presence of old people. Don't you think?'

'Nonsense, not all of my friends are grandpas, you know?' asked the man and tapped Jessica's nose making the woman's nose wrinkle, but she carried on with her smile.

They both turned to Nana, but before she could complain Jessica spoke again, 'Five minutes and then you will be back at your place, dear.'

Nana wished for anything but, however, a group of security surrounded them and before Nana knew it she was inside a private elevator and then in one of the private rooms with screens and no doubt the best view.

'Ah, Frank, Jessica, and who's this?' called one of the men who were talking between each other in English. There were also some women around all dressed in nice expensive clothes and looked like they were born with a golden spoon. Nana felt beyond uncomfortable and wished to leave, but the security guard at the door made it clear it would be impossible. She tried to take comfort in the fact that there were other women in the room one of them at least her somewhat acquaintance Jessica, but the comfort was barely enough not to cause the girl to scream when the stranger took a step closer to her. Was she overreacting? She didn't think so but perhaps she was. She could have somehow said something sooner and avoid all this, but once again she allowed herself to get into a situation like this.

Her heart sink as the man offered her a friendly smile, 'Hello.'

'Hello,' she said and bowed a bit very nervous, but not sure what else to do. If she stayed quiet it would draw more attention to her, and at that moment, the human teenage girl wished nothing more than to disappear from the eyes of all these people.

'Come sit with me, Nina,' said Jessica and quickly took her hand to sat her down by her side on a small couch, 'The first match is about to start.'

Nana glanced at the screen still sensing the man watching her making her feel uneasy. Team Urameshi vs. Team Uraotogi both took their places outside of the ring as Koto said a few words about the upcoming matches.

A man, dressed like a Sheikh, who was smoking on the side commented something in a language Nana didn't understand, but she did catch him saying Yusuke's name.

'Perhaps, the captain is simply taking his time,' answered another man in English which even with her poor English Nana did understand. They must have been talking about Yusuke's absence as once again Nana didn't see him standing with the others. She didn't have a good feeling about the matches or her situation.

She felt Jessica brush her bare wrist and almost jumped out of her skin only for the woman to speak all the while looking at the screen, 'Don't worry. I already told the waiter to get you to the elevator. In a moment I will nudge you. Slowly get up whisper something to me and go to the door like you want to use the phone or restroom, alright?'

Nana almost looked at her but figured she made of point of not looking at her and so just allowed her hand to briefly touch hers.

'Relax,' said Jessica with a small smile looking as if she was enjoying the view on the screens.

'So, who's your friend, Jessica?' asked the English man and the woman chuckled, 'A bit eager, aren't we? This is Nina. We met the other day.'

'Such a lovely name, perhaps she would like to sit next to me for a bit,' he said and chuckled as if it was a joke one which Jessica found amusing or at least pretended to because she openly laughed, 'Don't be greedy. Go sit with the others and leave my friends to me.'

'All of us can be friends,' said the man and tried to come closer only for the man, Frank, who was with Jessica shooed him away maybe thinking he was flirting with his girlfriend rather than interested in Nana, 'Perhaps, this is friendly enough. Move it.'

Jessica chuckled and blew the older man a kiss before she offered Nana a smile much more honest-looking than the fake ones she wore so far. It must have been tiring to be constantly wearing a mask. Whenever Kurama was doing it too long in public, surrounded by their classmates and people he didn't care for, he seemed to slip at times looking exhausted or annoyed. Nana couldn't imagine living a life like that. She was too much of an open book Kurama would say.

Her eyes darted toward the screen just as one of the opposite teams tossed a pair of dice deciding Hiei would be the first to fight again a large yokai, Makintaro. One of the men seemed to be especially happy about this tossing a few words in a foreign language before he repeated Hiei's name a couple of times.

'He's a fan,' whispered Jessica with a mild annoyance obviously dealing with this a lot. While they prepared for the fight, Nana looked around the room. Everyone seemed to be facing the screen except for the smoking man who was looking out of the view, and the man who seemed so interested in her.

When their eyes met, Nana cursed at herself and looked at the screen again wishing time would go by quicker so she could leave. No such luck. Hiei's first match was lightning fast ended with her friend's victory, and as the man who was his fan cheered, Jessica still didn't give her the signal to leave.

Another set of dice was rolled, and Hiei has put again Momotaro Kuro. This seemed like more of an entertaining fight with the foreign man moving and talking as if he was telling Hiei how to attack or dodge. It seemed to capture the attention of the others enough for Jessica to finally nudge the girl.

As slowly as she could given that she wished for nothing more than to ran toward the door, Nana stood up and leaned toward her whispering a very quiet, 'Thank you.'

'Barefoot,' came Jessica's tense reply while her smile remained the sweet cherry one she always seemed to have in this company.

Slowly, as if it wasn't a big deal at all, Nana made her way to the door where the security, who was just as focused on the match as the others didn't even glance at her.

Once outside, Nana almost ripped the sandals as she got them off her feet and rushed in the direction of the elevators. The waiter quickly stepped inside and punched a code before walking away slightly bowing at her and looking genuinely relieved that she was leaving before they both heard the English voice call out, 'Hold the door, please.'

Nana shot the man a panicked look, but with a direct order all the waiter could do was to push the button on his side of the elevator and stop the door from closing.

The raven-haired girl's eyes close as she heard the footsteps.

'Leaving us so soon?' came the man's voice, and Nana opened her eyes giving him the best glare she could offer, 'Aren't we good company?'

She didn't answer. Maybe if the man thought she didn't speak English very well he would lose his interest.

She shared a quick look with the waiter who seemed genuinely sorry about her situation before the door closed and the elevator started to move down.

The man didn't step closer to her, but his presence was unwelcome all the same. He said something or asked but in a way and with words, Nana wasn't familiar with.

When he tried to touch her, she didn't hesitate and slapped his hand away.

He chuckled, 'Feisty, aren't we friends?'

'No,' said Nana not caring if the man understood Japanese or not.

'I thought we could be,' he said and looked her up and down making her feel even more uncomfortable than he already had and that was saying something, 'Friends?'

'Leave me alone,' said Nana firmly knowing with her accent her English must have sounded funny. However, she was too upset and scared at that moment to feel embarrassed wishing she was anywhere than in this damn elevator.

'Come on,' said the man and tried to reach out for her again only for Nana to hit him across his hand with the sandal. The edge of the heel must have been sharp as the man hissed and took a step back holding onto his hand that carried a small cut.

The man cursed at least based on the angry and hurt look on his face before he looked at Nana in a way that should have made her scared but instead made her feel furious herself. Who the hell was this man just trying to grab her twice after she made it clear she didn't want to? Why the hell did everyone feel the need to touch her when all she wanted was for them to leave her alone? She wanted to come to watch Kurama and the others. She wanted to come to the stadium and just watch why couldn't people seem to understand that?

The man tried to get her perhaps to grab her hair based on the angle, but Nana didn't let him tossing one of the sandals to the ground and for the first time in her life punching someone.

It hurt.

No one ever told the girl it hurt to punch someone or maybe she just did it purely, but even so, Nana felt a new wave of thrill and power she didn't before over the fact that she managed to actually punch a pervert who wouldn't leave her alone just as she did when she bit the fat asshole when she was ten or when she slapped Kurama for being a jerk to her. It felt good. It felt like she wasn't just hopeless and weak and useless. Hell, it felt great.

And as the man hit the side of the elevator clearly hurt and shocked based on how he put his hands against his cheek, Nana couldn't help but feel damn proud of herself.

The elevator door opened as they must have reached floors where common viewers were allowed, and Nana grabbed a hold of the sandals easily putting them back on her feet and made her way out all the while the man made sure to get out of her way.

'Remember this the next time you go and harass girl, asshole,' she said even the fact that her English was rubbish not bringing her down from her height.

Unfortunately, the second she stepped out of the elevator her smile and confidence left as if they were never there.

Shishiwakamaru tossed the dice again, and this time, luck was on Kurama's side.

He took his place on the ring sizing his opponent with interest for a moment before the new referee announced their fight to begin. Urashima Ura seemed to use a fishing pole as a weapon something which meant he had to be rather quick and skilled.

Kurama pulled out his own whip and the two began their attacks. Immediately, the redhead noticed despite the way he sounded, Urashima wasn't trying too hard to actually hurt him rather keeping the appearance of doing his best.

Suddenly, the yokai called out to Kurama through some sort of telepathic link, 'Keep attacking while you listen, please!'

His voice was genuinely desperate and worried.

'I have a favor to ask of you,' said the yokai looking distressed, 'I want you to kill me.'

'My, my, such foul mouth you have,' said the tall yokai with long dark hair as he came closer to her, 'And here I thought, you were just a sweet little flower.'

Nana felt a crushing fear unlike any other as the yokai moved toward her in a slow way mimicking the sound of his voice and the way he spoke. It sounded very innocent, but the vibe coming from him was anything but.

'For someone so fragile,' said the yokai before he stopped in front of her, 'you seem to get into the danger of situations, little human girl. Running around dark corridors looking for trouble when you should be looking at the match. Getting in arguments with the security. Harassing the wealthy sponsors. All the while dressed so nicely,' his fingers were suddenly taking the hold of the end of her braid, 'Isn't your boyfriend a lucky fella to have such a pretty little flower.'

Nana swallowed realizing this yokai must have seen her as she was looking for Keiko and Shizuru during the first fights, and then on her way to be with Kurama during the third ones.

Why?

Why was he so interest in her? Why did he mention Kurama? Her mind ran over what she remembered from their conversation. She knew he was the yokai sitting behind her who told her that Kurama was blackmailed. Was he interested in them ever since or maybe even before?

He was so freakishly tall, Nana had to tilt her head back to see his face. He was very pale-looking and slim and even if some might consider him handsome despite the mask covering the lower half of his face, Nana felt no such affection. In fact, despite the almost none existent spiritual energy, Nana felt a crushing gravity coming from the yokai that threatened to suffocate her just the same as watching Kurama get beat up did.

The yokai in front of her chuckle, 'Come little flower. It seems your lover's match has already started.'

His hand was suddenly on the back of her neck and Nana almost screamed as her insides tightened with fear and lack of oxygen caused by his hauntedly cold fingers that felt as if they had the power to suck the life out of her.

'I wouldn't advise you to scream or try run human girl,' he said in a voice so smooth any other girl would found it romantic, however, Nana found it deadly dangerous wishing he would rather shut up because the more he spoke the most she felt terrified beyond belief, 'You see, my specialty is bombing.'

Nana's eyes widened and her entire body froze in a wave of absolute horror like the one she felt when she thought the yokai was going to touch her.

'I have quite the explosive touch, you see,' he said almost pleased with himself before he pushed a bit at Nana almost causing her to cry out as the girl felt tears gather in her eyes, 'Let's not keep your darling waiting. Shall we? It's not good if the boy cannot see his number one girl cheering for him.'

Nana closed her eyes and forced her feet to move not sure what would happen if she didn't. Her mind tried to focus on something else and escape the cold grip of death coming from the yokai's soft touch. It was barely there, but it terrified the human girl all the same. She didn't know if he was telling the truth about his abilities or not, but even so, she couldn't take the chance knowing that the fear wrecking her insides wasn't something to be taken lightly.

'W-who are you?' she managed to ask as they continued to walk down the hallway toward the light coming from the arena where the new referee's voice was getting louder with each click Nana's sandals made.

Nana swallowed the light from the outside hitting her feet first as she walked toward it, 'Why are you doing this? What do you want from me? From Kurama?'

'How rude of me,' said the yokai and his thumb brushed a spot on Nana's neck causing her goosebumps to reach an all-time high. However, he didn't answer her question.

'Tell me, human girl, what will your beloved do when he sees you killed like this in front of him while he fights against someone else. I can only imagine to devastation and heartache. How very pathetic isn't it? To devote yourself to someone. To love someone. To allow yourself such weakness and then suffer for no reason at all because of your own foolishness,' his voice sounded just as soft as always, but his words were brutal and harsh causing Nana to truly accept the gravity of the situation. He really wished to kill her in front of Kurama just like that.

Maybe it was bravery, but Nana didn't find that likely. She was a simple human girl. No one special. No one was worth mentioning or getting the attention others seemed to give her. She wasn't extraordinary in any way. She wasn't brave and honorable like Yusuke and Kuwabara fighting for the weak and humanity alike. She was devoted, kind, and caring sure but not brave. Not based on the tremor that shook her body as she walked toward the light and possibly her death.

So it wasn't bravery that forced Nana to act. No, it was probably desperation. Desperation and well love. Because as much as Nana didn't want to die this young and alone at the hand of some yokai who threatened to blow her neck up to pieces apparently, she would much rather die just like that young and alone in the dark hallways or surrounded by yokai who wouldn't even pay attention to her, than to allow Kurama to witness it happen.

'So this is your grand plan?' asked Nana swallowing hard as she felt on the brink of crying frustrated from it all that was happening around her, 'All that talk…about fairness and here you are…trying to mess with an opponent rather than try and win.'

The light blinded the girl for a moment, but she quickly blinked it away only to find another large purple fog appeared around the ring. As it was nowhere else it was obvious even to the human girl it acted like a barrier keeping whoever was inside in. It probably wasn't according to his plan that they wouldn't be able to see Kurama. The barrier was too thick and made it impossible to see anyone only hearing noises coming from inside thanks to the microphone that must have been inside.

Worry shot through her as she didn't know what was going on with Kurama, but it was quickly put aside as she realized where she was and who she was with.

'You-you must really be weak if all you want is-'

Her insult was cut short as she felt the yokai's fingers suddenly tightened against Nana's skin causing the girl to hiss in pain.

No doubt there would be markings there now. Despite the pain that shot through her, Nana held her cry and tears taking at least some comfort in that fact that for all his calmness she was getting to him. He might have reminded her a bit of him the first time, but now it was clear he wasn't like him at all. Her kitsune would never allow an insult or mockery to mess with his head. Certainly not that of a little girl such as her.

The voice changed as he carried on, 'You're the weak and pathetic thing and so is he for loving you. Such an insult.'

A flame of fury aroused inside the girl's chest, 'If that's true what does that make of you when you're scared of him? Of a yokai who cares for a human?'

She heard something close to a growl wondering if he would finally strike and end it all before the sound morphed into a dark chuckle, 'Yes, he cares for you. Yet obviously not enough to make you his. To mark. He brushes against you and touches you but that blood of yours is still dirty from your humans' ancestors. What is he waiting for?'

'Sorry, if your plan is to kill me in front of Kurama for some sadistic thrill you're out of luck,' said Nana shocked herself she managed to do so but ultimately felt grateful Kurama couldn't see her standing like this shaking, a hostage of this jerk.

The cold fingers gripped her tighter, 'Some sadistic thrill. Love is the most sadistic act of all.'

Nana was left confused ready to ask what this psychopath could mean only for something dark to appear to happen inside the barrier as even the color changed to a light blue one.

A horrific sound was heard from inside the barrier and Nana heard even Karasu let out a surprised gasp as did many other viewers who started to talk between each other something about yoki and stranger.

'Still,' said Karasu, and Nana felt his other hand appear close to her wrist, 'I wonder what he will do when he smells someone's else yoki from your blood.'

Whatever the lunatic was about to do, it didn't sound like she or Kurama would like it one bit. Her mind raced as she tried to think of something to do.

She watched in a slight mixture of anger and fear how he pulled the green ribbon Kurama tied around her wrist before he left for the train. It was the first time the ribbon was off her body, and Nana felt a slight stab to watch it disappear somewhere behind her.

'That's mine,' she said despite her fear.

'Don't worry, I am only borrowing it for a while,' said the yokai in a completely different voice, and Nana's eyes shut close as she felt his voice far closer than before. He must have leaned his lips over her ear, 'You can ask you kitsune to come to take it back whenever he's ready for it.'

Nana hissed as she felt something soft and cold touch her skin close to her neck. He wasn't wearing a mask anymore and his voice sounded nothing like the smooth silk he tried to make it out to be before. The girl felt paralyzed feeling his cold grip reminding her she was trapped.

Kurama!

The girl swallowed wishing the redhead could at least see her to know she was in danger too scared of what Karasu was planning to do to allow pride over her uselessness to get to her.

Kurama, please, help me!

Just as Nana felt something sharp against her skin perhaps a set of teeth the dark force coming from the barrier spiked again causing even Karasu to lose, his grip and take a step back. Without a second thought, Nana started to run.

She didn't scream. She didn't turn around. She didn't try to struggle. She just ran.

Her feet move on their own and before she knew she was by the edge of the front row her stomach hitting the rocked wall hard.

Quickly the girl turned around breathing hard from the running and newfound freedom which allowed her to breathe again only to find the yokai gone.

Nana brushed her face the distress and panic still there as she truly found her wrist bare. Her green ribbon, the ribbon Kurama tied around her wrist for good luck, the ribbon she had since she was a child, the ribbon he kept in his den inside his closed, gone.

Hot anger mixed with all the other emotions, as the human girl felt truly humiliated and upset that she allowed Karasu despite the situation and how she really couldn't stop him if she wanted to, take Kurama's prized possession from her. Kurama gave it to her for safekeeping and that sadistic jerk took it. She felt her neck was bruised now, no doubt by his cold fingers that were digging into her skin. Could he have really blown her up? Did he really want to do so while Kurama would see it?

Pathetic coward going after defenseless human girls

Nana brushed her nose and forced her tears to stay behind her eyes as she turned to look at the barrier. She missed Kurama's entire match on top of it all. She felt useless and weak and wished nothing more than to never have come in the first place and ran down to the arena to see the redhead.

Something happened in the next moment and the smoke began the clear.

Nana leaned forward trying to find Kurama's striking red hair, but instead, she was met with another appearance perhaps even more noticeable than her childhood's friend.

Somewhere in the back of her mind, Nana could hear Koto loudly talking into the microphone, but at that moment, Nana couldn't make up her words. She couldn't make up the stadium and viewers around her anymore. She couldn't see Kuwabara or Hiei either. She couldn't see or hear or comprehend anything at that moment apparent from the person-no, creature, in front of her.

Silver

Her brown eyes blinked taking in the tall figure standing in the clear fog all tall and strong and completely breathtaking and terrifying.

Is that…Kurama?

The silver-haired yokai turned and even if it shouldn't be possible he appeared to look directly at Nana. He didn't look like Kurama. Almost not at all. There was something cold and ruthless that even in Kurama's darkest times, Nana never seemed to accept, yet, she couldn't lie to herself now.

No, this really is Kurama

She recalled the time Kurama first told her about himself. His past. His life. His acts.

Yoko Kurama

Even from the distance, which was keeping them apparent, Nana saw the corner of Kurama-Yoko's face ever so slight lift in a brutal smirk that was far more dangerous than any Kurama ever tossed the poor girl's way.

Her heart speeded up, and it surprised Nana as she thought it was still rapidly beating from her run from Karasu. However, it seemed the moment, her eyes landed at least on some version of Kurama, even once she wasn't familiar with it, she calmed down. Now, however, it was back on its track of heart failure, and it was obvious the tall silver-haired yokai who was causing it was taking pride in the fact.

The whole encounter didn't take long, however, and in another moment the fog and barrier cleared enough that Kurama started to transform, and once again Nana was met with the all too familiar emerald eyes that seemed so much softer and fond of seeing his friend before something shifted over them once more and Nana saw Kurama frown.

Could he tell she was panicked? Could he see she was in a dangerous situation before? Was he upset that she saw his past self?

Nana didn't know but remained put as the redhead made his way closer to the wall before he mouthed, 'Are you alright?'

So he could tell something happened.

Nana shook her head knowing it would be pointless to lie.

The yokai seemed worried, but Nana shook her head again and offered him a weak smile. He couldn't come to her and given the situation, she probably shouldn't go down to him. She would stay put and hope for the best even if she felt like throwing up now that she was finally free but knew some psychopath was watching her and Kurama probably because he hated humans and yokai who engaged with them.

A.N: Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed the chapter. I had to break the Dark Tournament into 2 chapters because it became longer than I originally planned for it to be. I hope you and your loved ones are alright. Stay safe. Have a nice day