Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho. Only Kiharu, daughter of Yomi.

Violet Haze
Chapter Two: Never Mock a Demon's Height

Key:

Location

Thoughts

Noise

Demon World Stadium

11: 34 AM

Yomi and Kiharu walked into the arena where they were to draw lots for their placement in the preliminaries. They waited in a long line of demons, until finally they were before a large black box with a hole in the lid. It was then Kiharu noted a woman who had fox-like features wearing an off-the-shoulder yellow shirt and pink shorts over tight gray pants. She had a microphone in her hand so Kiharu assumed this must be the commentator for the tournament. Yomi reached his hand into the box and pulled out a card. The commentator looked at it.

"Mr. Yomi, a favorite from last year, will be in Group Sixty-two," announced the commentator. She peered down at Kiharu. Putting the microphone to her side, she said, "And who might you be, miss?"

"This is my daughter, Kiharu," said Yomi with a slight smile. Kiharu felt her anger rising. She was not a mute. She could speak. She could do many extraordinary things but Yomi seemed to treat Kiharu like a pet or a doll, acting as though she had no inclination to speak.

"Oh, is this your first tournament?" the commentator asked.

"Yes, it is," answered Yomi.

"Stop answering for me!" yelled Kiharu, glaring up at the blind demon. "I have the capacity to process thought and speak without your help!"

The commentator's perky fox ears were now twitching oddly as she stared bemused at the small female demon. "Er–I'm Koto by the way," she said hesitantly. "I'm the commentator for this tournament."

I really don't care, thought Kiharu.

She kept her thoughts to herself as her fingers fumbled around for a card inside the box. She pulled it out and showed it to Koto. "Ms. Kiharu, daughter of Yomi, will be placed in Group Fourteen."

"Move along, Kiharu," said Yomi, gripping her arm. "There are many others who have to be placed." He then glanced at Koto. "Excuse me, but might I ask the turnout for this year's tournament?"

"Um, sure," said Koto, scratching one of her fox-like ears. "Uh–there's 2,048 demons competing, sixty-four groups, and in each group there are thirty-two fighters. That's the status for the preliminaries anyhow."

"Thank you, ma'am," said Yomi in an almost gentlemanly manner. It would be more convincing an act if not for his dark smirk and devilish horns.

"Uh, sure." Koto turned her head and saw the next competitor drawing their card. Kiharu observed it was Hiei, Mukuro's heir. He retracted a card and handed it to Koto. "Mr. Hiei, who fought against Mukuro last year, is in Group Thirteen."

Too bad. I'd fancy a fight with him.

The next person to step up was Mukuro, who was quick to draw her card. She probably didn't really care which group she would be placed it. "Ms. Mukuro, another favorite from last year, is in Group Seven."

Mukuro walked over, Hiei by her side, up to Yomi. "Yomi," she said lightly, "I hope you haven't forgotten about our little pact."

Yomi smiled, though such a smile would probably frighten a small child. "Why of course not, Mukuro. I'm a man of my word."

Mukuro gave a half-smile. "Good. As am I a woman of my word. Best of luck in the preliminaries, though I'm sure you don't need it."

"And vice versa," said Yomi. He turned his head and faced Hiei. "And I also hope that you prevail in the tournament, young Hiei."

"Hn," said Hiei, turning his head.

"Mind your manners, Hiei," jested Mukuro, chuckling softly to herself. Apparently his stoic mannerisms were regarded as humorous by Mukuro. Kiharu couldn't help but ponder about the rumors her father spoke to her of. Could it be true that Hiei was not just her heir, but her lover? She glanced at Hiei and then at Mukuro. She wasn't ugly, but Kiharu didn't think she'd be winning any beauty contests. And as for Hiei . . . he was fairly attractive if you fancied the I-don't-give-a-fuck-about-anyone-but-myself look.

"He probably has none to mind," said Kiharu, desperate to speak her mind. Hiei glared at her.

"Watch your tongue, wench, or I might rip it out for you," he said sternly.

"We'll see once I whoop your ass in the tournament." She smirked. It was rather fun to irk him, making him a ticking a time-bomb. She wondered when he would explode. Only one way to find out.

Hiei snorted. "Yeah, that'll happen and hell's reopening as an ice rink."

"You're so witty, it's charming."

"And you're so weak, it's pathetic."

"Touché."

"Hn."

Yomi and Mukuro did not intervene. They merely watched, snickering at their bickering heirs.

"Are you illiterate or just immature enough to create your own words?" said Kiharu, hands on her hips.

"I don't take insults from a weakling like yourself," he said, crossing his arms, crimson eyes still glaring at her.

"At least I'm not a dwarf." Kiharu got a deviant smile. Clearly she crossed the line bringing his height into their quarrel. His crimson eyes were literally glowing with spite and his fiery demonic aura shot up greatly. Truly he would be a very formidable opponent in the ring.

"Care to say that again?" he snarled. Anger was too light a term to describe the livid fire demon. Furious, enraged, and smoldering were all better terms. Heh, he's not half-bad when he's angry. It was true. The crimson eyes were much better when they were ablaze with anger. His rough features only complimented his fury. And the black flames that were his hair made him seem all the more dark.

Kiharu couldn't deny it. He was very handsome indeed, even though the object of all this built up hatred was her. She felt herself smile. It was fun to provoke him. To make him angry. In fact, it was hilarious. In truth, her insult was hollow, considering she was even shorter than he was. But still she continued to harass him.

"At least I'm not a dwarf," she repeated daringly.

Within a split second her head slammed against a stone wall. A calloused was tightly enclosed around her throat. Kiharu's violet eyes opened and she saw that eyes of crimson glaring intensely at her. The grip on her throat tightened. "Never . . . insult . . . my height . . . again."

He squeezed on her throat so hard she winced in pain, but she bit her bottom lip to keep from crying out. He released his grip, letting the small demon fall on her rear. "I'll let you get away now but in the ring I'll show no mercy."

He walked over to Mukuro and mumbled something. Mukuro conversed briefly with Yomi and then left, her heir trailing close behind. Yomi walked over to Kiharu and glanced down at her. She was massaging her throat. His grip was firm and she didn't see it coming. She had to get stronger if she was going to take him on. "Are you all right?" asked Yomi, offering Kiharu his hand.

She slapped it away and got up. "I'm fine," she muttered, dusting her clothes off. Then the echoing voice of Koto, the commentator, was heard.

"All fighters please come to the arena to be transported to your groups!" her voice rang. "I repeat, all fighters please come to the arena to be transported to your groups!"

"Let us be off," said Yomi, starting to walk back to the arena.

"Yeah . . . let's."

Yomi and Kiharu entered the arena and Koto had a small electronic device in her hand. She glanced at Yomi's button and punched in the number on it. "Group Sixty-two," she said to herself. Koto took out a keycard and walked over to a door with a scanner on it. She slid the card down and it opened. Inside there was a bright white light. Without another word, Yomi walked through the door and it slammed shut behind him.

She looked at Kiharu, who stared at her with blank purple eyes. She punched in the number on Kiharu's button. "Ok, so you're in Group Fourteen," she mumbled. Koto took out another card and walked over to the door. She swiped the card and the door opened, this time a bright lime green color shone from the inside. "Through this door is a portal to your fighting station," explained Koto.

"Whatever," said Kiharu with a roll of her eyes. She walked past the commentator and stepped inside, the door slamming after her.