-
Hiei narrowed his eyes at the mess of drunkenness known as Atsuko, also known as Yuiko's mother. Yuiko hid her face in her hand, muttering something about "This isn't happening." Keiko and Botan were still asleep, and Shizuru stood on the balcony lighting another cigarette. Kurama stood on Yuiko's other side, looking surprised.
"Not a very responsible mother, is she?" Yuiko grumbled as she slowly lifted her face out of her hands.
"Well . . . at least she cares," Kurama said.
Yuiko gave him a look. Hiei's eyebrow twitched.
"I'm surprised no one's tried to kill her yet," Hiei said. Kurama gave him a stern look.
"Humans usually don't go around massacring people, Hiei. If we were anything like demons, then she probably wouldn't be," Yuiko admitted. She sighed. "There's no point in moving her. It's almost like she's a corpse when she's this out of it."
She stepped over the beer bottles and empty food bags.
"Where's Kuwabara?" she asked.
"He said he's waiting for us in my herb garden," Kurama answered. He looked around the room. "Should we really just leave the girls to clean all this up?"
"Keiko's a neat freak. She'll do just fine on her own. And what do you mean by 'the girls', hm?" Yuiko raised an eyebrow at him.
Kurama turned bright red.
"I didn't mean - !"
At her giggles, he realized she was joking. He relaxed a bit and followed her out. Hiei grunted. It was pathetic, really, Kurama pining over her like that. The fire demon ignored the pangs of jealousy that played against his ribcage.
-
Yuiko stopped as Kurama made a turn.
"Hey, where're - ?"
"The arena. Just to check the competition out." Kurama explained.
"Good idea. I was just going to buy one of those videos they've been selling outside to do that," Yuiko said.
Kurama smirked.
"You're a fighting addict, aren't you?"
Yuiko gave him one of the foxiest grins he'd ever seen. Hiei grunted and continued down the hall, ignoring both of them.
-
"YOUR REIGUN'S KAPUT!?" Kuwabara said.
Yuiko winced.
"Yeah, Genkai-sensei did say something about that . . . . Damn it. I should've been more careful. Sorry, Kuwabara."
"Hey, no need to apologize. You were awesome back there, catching even us off guard. Even Kurama was surprised!"
She smirked.
"So, what else did Genkai say?" Kuwabara asked.
"We didn't really talk about it. My PMS was getting in the way that day."
". . . . I didn't need to know that . . . ."
Yuiko burst out laughing. Kuwabara joined in after a little while.
"Just keep this in mind," said someone.
They stopped laughing and turned. The masked fighter stood among the trees.
"Your aura is sucked dry. Until you fully recover, you shouldn't use your reigun. Or else you'll ruin your arm, just like someone else we know," the masked fighter said. She walked away without another word.
Kuwabara tried to think of who the masked fighter meant, after freaking out over the young female voice. Yuiko raised an eyebrow at the voice, but she didn't ponder it for too long. An image of Hiei's bandaged right arm resonated in her head.
"Oh shit . . . ." Yuiko muttered.
-
"That was rigged!" Kuwabara shouted as they looked at the matches. Team Urameshi had two in a row. Later, they would face a third team, and then Team Toguro.
"Nothing we can do," Yuiko said, putting the piece of paper down. "From what I've seen from those tapes, Team Ichigaki's going to be tough. And they have humans on their team, don't they, Kurama?"
Kurama nodded.
"They fight with invisible weapons, right?" Yuiko said.
Kurama raised an eyebrow.
"You couldn't see them?" he asked.
Hiei glanced over at them from his perch on the window sill. Kuwabara blinked confusedly. Yuiko's face morphed into a worried expression.
"No, I couldn't. Could you?"
"Barely," Kurama admitted. They stayed silent for a moment. Yuiko shrugged.
"I got nothing," she said.
-
"Where are Kurama and Hiei? The match is in a few hours!" Kuwabara shouted.
"They'll be here. They wouldn't bail on us," Yuiko assured him. Kuwabara grunted.
They walked down the hall with the masked fighter.
"Hey! Yuiko!" called a voice.
She turned around. A tall, handsome young man ran up to her.
"There you are! I've been looking everywhere for you," he said.
"And you are . . . ?" she asked.
"I'm Koenma!" he said.
She blinked at him repeatedly.
"Is this an illusion then?" Yuiko questioned.
"No! This is my human form. Anyway, aside from that, I'm here to talk to you about your egg." Koenma said.
Yuiko racked her memory for anything that mentioned a special egg.
"Oh yeah! That thing! What about it?"
Kuwabara stood staring at them, looking confused.
"Well, it'll be hatching soon. The hatchling may be of use to you in the tournament. If you've been good that is." Koenma explained.
Yuiko pouted.
"What do you mean 'if I've been good'? I've been a sweet little angel!" She grinned at him.
Koenma narrowed his eyes at her.
"Well, one: you curse more than a young lady should, two: you're a fighting addict and have committed murder on purpose. Yes, it was only demons and under my orders, but still. Those two things can have an effect on the creature inside the egg." Koenma said.
"Sugar and spice and everything nice, that's what little girls are made of. Didn't you ever hear that rhyme?" Yuiko said, turning and walking away.
"And that arrogance is going to make it even worse!" he yelled after her. She waved her hand in the air. He glowered. "Fine! Let it devour you! See if I care!"
She laughed to herself.
"I love getting under his skin. It's so much fun," she said under her breath.
-
The crowd roared. Koto stood in the middle of the ring again. Team Urameshi stood on one end and Team Ichigaki on the other. Kurama and Hiei were still missing. So were two members of the other team. They agreed on a three-on-three match.
"Ready?" Koto spoke into the microphone. "Begin!"
-
Red Roses2: Please review.