Sayomi weaved through the crowd until she found Chu's blue Mohawk again. She grinned and patted the drunk fighter's back. "It's a good thing your so tall. Makes it easier to find you guys."

Hiei stood behind her with his hands in his pockets and he wore a bored expression. Yasuhiro stood beside him with his hands clasped behind his head and an open smile.

Chu turned to look at them and grinned. "For a lass who didn't fight in the Dark Tournament, you sure could have!"

Jin and Toya smiled at them until Jin pointed and asked, "Ain't he the one Hiei was fightin'? Surprised you're still among the living after a bout like that."

"Do you know each other?" Toya asked.

"He's my brother," Sayomi answered.

"The crazy one?" Rinku asked.

Chu knocked the boy in the head and muttered, "Not a good thing to say when he's right there, mate."

"Heh, he's okay." Yasuhiro waved it off. "I did kinda lose myself for a while."

"So was that a fight between in-laws?" Suzuki asked.

Yasuhiro winked and said, "Just getting to know each other."

Hiei narrowed his eyes. "And making things clear."

Jin whistled. "Been a time since I've seen that look."

"So, this is the brother I've been hearing about?"

Sayomi turned and smiled when she saw Yusuke with a scowling Hokushin. "Hey, Yusuke! That was quite an opening speech."

"The Underworld Detective who was really a demon." Yasuhiro extended his hand. "The name's Yasuhiro. Pleasure to meet you."

Yusuke shook his hand. "Well, if your ears were clogged earlier, I'm Yusuke. Seems you gave our favorite fire demon a run for his money."

"Just a couple brother-in-laws working things out," Yasuhiro said with a wink.

Hiei closed his eyes and tried to ignore them until Sayomi nudged his ribs with her elbow. He opened one eye to scowl at her. "What?"

"Don't let him get to you. He's just trying to lighten things up," she whispered.

"Any more of this and I might have to set a few more things straight."

Yusuke smirked mischievously. "Is someone feeling inadequate?"

Hiei snapped a glare at Yusuke. "For someone who started this event, you were quick to admit your weakness."

"Better than putting up a front and eating dirt because I couldn't back it up!"

"Do we need another re-match to determine who the strongest really is?"

"C'mon, guys," Sayomi sighed and placed her hand on Hiei's shoulder. "Can't we save this energy for the actual fights?"

"Okay, everyone, we now have a final lineup posted for all the matches! Take a look!"

Sayomi looked up at the stage where two girls stood in front of a screen.

"Round one will be split into four blocks and fought in order, taking it from the top!"

The crowd quieted as everyone searched the large brackets for their name and their potential opponents.

"Hoo boy!" Jin exclaimed.

"They gotta be kiddin'!" Chu muttered through clenched teeth.

Sayomi's eyes widened when she spotted her potential line-up. "Guess I won't be getting very far."

Yasuhiro found her name, then let out a low whistle. "These matches are no joke. And who's this Zakuro guy?"

"Looks like most of us got shoved into Block D," Toya noted.

"Sheesh…" Suzuki swallowed the lump in his throat. "Chu may face Mukuro and Hiei."

Jin scratched his cheek and blinked. "Matching up with Yusuke won't be easy. Seems you'll have an easy time, Toya."

"Mostly unknowns, yeah… which actually worries me."

"But one round at a time, right?" Rinku asked.

"Right!" The boys pumped their fists.

"All participants! Please make your way to your Block venues!"

"Guess that's my cue," Chu said as he took a swig from his flask. "I'll be seein' ya in the winner's circle."

Sayomi chewed her lip as she watched him leave. Chu is going up against Natsume. She used to spar with the old man so I doubt she's as weak as Chu suspects. I guess everyone will realize how much further we still have to go.

Her eyes roamed over the chart again as she checked out the competition until Yusuke tapped her on the shoulder.

He jerked his thumb and said, "Let's go. We all have to go to our Blocks until it's time to fight. Every fighter is gonna get a tiny insect-shaped camera to stream everything up close and personal. Everyone knows what's at stake, so we'll still be able to watch."

"Yeah, okay." She looked at Hiei and smirked. "Good luck. Looks like you're gonna need it."

Hiei smirked and turned to leave. "The same goes for you."

"He's right. I don't know who this Zakuro is and that worries me," Yasuhiro said as his eyes searched the crowd.

Sayomi shrugged. "Well, killing's been banned so there's that at least."

Yasuhiro's eyes narrowed. "You can be broken and left alive, though I wouldn't really call it living."

Sayomi scowled until Yusuke ruffled her hair. "I wouldn't worry too much about Sai. She's tough and smart enough to know when to surrender."

"You must be an only child," Yasuhiro said as he gave Yusuke a blank stare.

"Well, yeah, but Sai's not a toddler who can't tell when something's too much," Yusuke defended. "I've seen her in action and I think she knows what she's doing. Why not give her a chance and see what she can do for yourself?"

Sayomi felt like a child as they spoke over her. "Guys, I'm right here."

"We should get moving, Yusuke," Hokushin reminded them. "The fighters are dispersing and the spectators are filing in."

"Right. Let's go, Sai." Yusuke turned, coaxing her along with his hand still on her head.

She turned and called to her brother, "Just watch, Hiro. I'll be fine."

"You better be," Yasuhiro muttered.

"So, are you nervous?" Yusuke asked as they approached their Block's venue.

It was a giant circular battlefield that featured natural terrain, allowing the participants to pick their favorite combat settings. A large circular arena was available for those who liked their fights normal. At the base below the arena was the rest area for the waiting combatants. Each venue was located outside, a safe distance from each corner.

"Yeah, a bit." Sayomi realized how far down her name was on the roster and settled in to watch Chu's fight against Natsume. "I guess I should take advantage of this and observe the rest of the fights. I might not get to fight them personally, but it's good to know what's out there."

"That's the spirit. Just relax and have fun. If necessary, you can just hide in the shadows and surrender," Yusuke considered with a grin.

"Are you certain your control is stable?" Hokushin asked.

Sayomi nodded. "My control isn't an issue. Now it's just a matter of whether I'm strong enough to keep up."

"Round one matches for each Block will now commence!"

Sayomi's eyes found large screens on the walls of the rest area. Each screen aired one of the four matches taking place from each Block. She watched as three of the four screens displayed fierce combat between the fighters, while one did not.

"What's going on here?"

"The Block D guys aren't moving."

Sayomi watched the stand-off between Chu and Natsume drag on until she noticed the shift. Natsume vanished from Chu's sight and he was flying back through the air. Natsume held her stance with her palm extended.

"Damn." Sayomi blinked at the swift attack. "And she said she's rusty?"

Chu used his hand to spring back to a knee to face her, but she was already behind him with her hand aimed down at his head.

"Do we go on?"

Chu smirked over his shoulder at her and said, "No, I concede."

"Good."

"What's your name?"

"Natsume. It's on the chart."

Chu closed his eyes. "Natsume…" Then he looked up at her and asked, "When can I see you again?"

She blinked, but his serious gaze never faltered.

"C'mon, I didn't hit you that hard."

"Huh? Hold on, I'm serious."

Natsume turned to leave. "You think I'm interested in weak men?"

"Good point. Just wait two…" Chu raised a finger. "No, one more year! I'll improve!"

"We thought the first match for Block D had concluded, but it now appears it's only relocating… out of the arena!"

Sayomi sighed as the screen went to a commercial break while they switched fighters. "Chu certainly doesn't lack in confidence."

"Guess you could meet your dream girl at any moment," Yusuke murmured.

"You're lucky you met yours early," Sayomi said.

"Just be happy you met yours already," Yusuke countered.

Sayomi looked back at the monk. "Maybe Hokushin needs to meet his, then he might lighten up a bit."

"I can see if Keiko has any—"

"You might want to try an older age group, Yusuke." Sayomi's eyes roamed over the other three fights only to see they had ended almost as quickly. "Looks like this first round might actually go by fairly quickly."

She found her attention split between the matches going on at once. In Block D, Mukuro fought against someone named Kabura. In Block C, Toya was up against a demon named Nensai. In Block B, Kujo faced off against Ohmune. She didn't even catch the names in Block A.

Mukuro's fight was over instantly, as was kujo's. Toya was pit against a fairly strong opponent, but he came out on top just slightly out of breath.

During the third matches, her eyes stayed focused on Kurama and Polygonum in Block B. Kurama stayed on the defensive as he studied his opponent before one of his traps ensnared him.

During the fourth matches, Sayomi focused on Hiei's match against Tobihi in Block D, though it didn't last long. Then she turned her attention to Shigure's match in Block B.

Sayomi's brow arched. Looks like Kurama will be facing Shigure in the next round.

In the fifth matches, Sayomi only recognized Shu, who was fighting Urara in Block A. It was over a little too quickly.

Block A immediately moved on to their sixth match with Soketsu against Soko, but it also ended too quickly.

Then Sayomi caught the sixth match between Rinku and a girl named Sasuga and she nearly face planted the floor. Rinku seemed to move as if he was in a trance and he was missing every easy strike he could've made.

When the camera zoomed in on his expression, it was clear that the boy was smitten, so his loss wasn't much of a surprise. First Chu, now Rinku?

During the seventh matches, Sayomi took the chance to get some stretches in.

Yusuke looked down at her and smirked. "Nerves starting to kick in?"

"Just don't want to go in unprepared. Who knows what I'll be going up against?" Her eyes scanned the crowd of fighters still in the rest area.

By the start of the eighth matches, Sayomi felt loose and ready to go. She smirked as she caught Suzuki's match against Kagura in Block D. It was amusing as the two fighters seemed a little similar, but she was glad when Suzuki won.

During the ninth matches, her attention was split between Denho and Utsubo in Block D and Shishiwakamaru and Koryu in Block B. While Denho finished his fight quickly, Shishiwakamaru seemed to have trouble with his.

When the imp won, Block B switched to the tenth match between Hokushin and Himuro. She watched as Himuro fell for Hokushin's trap and got tangled with the monk's neck. I guess the imp will be up against Hokushin next. That will be fun to watch.

Block B moved onto the eleventh match between Kokoh and Kagemi. Despite her drunken demeanor at the old man's funeral, she's really elegant and fierce with her attacks. I can see why Enki would marry such a woman.

For the twelfth match, Sayomi's attention shifted to Block D for Jin's match against Hakkan. Jin took his time warming up against his opponent as he stayed in the air. Hakkan couldn't land a single blow, but Jin slowly wore him down until he surrendered.

It was almost Yusuke's turn to fight in the thirteenth match in Block B when Kurama found them.

"Yusuke, Sayomi…" He had a cautious look in his eye. "Watch yourselves. It's starting to get serious."

"I know, but what about you?" Yusuke asked. "Your next opponent looks like a handful."

Sayomi followed the red-head's gaze to Shigure, who stood several feet away in the crowd.

" Hey you!"

Yusuke and Sayomi turned to see a wild- looking guy with armor covering one shoulder and his shins. Half a helmet covered his head and one eye. His long hair was tied back and a strange mask of cloth exposed his other eye and teeth. Bandages were wrapped around his other arm and a sash flowed around his waist. He had a giant ax strapped to his back.

Sayomi had flashbacks of Bui and felt herself tense. Bui's aura seemed more impressive back then, but I can't gauge this guy.

"Yeah?" Yusuke acknowledged. "Whatcha want?"

"I'm Zakuro, your Round Two opponent. Just so you know, I'm the guy who's…" He pointed at Yusuke. "Gonna take you out. And then…" He jerked his thumb out. "I'll ace that guy."

Sayomi followed the gesture toward Yomi. Her gaze shifted back to Zakuro as he kept talking.

"I'm goin' all the way, and once I do, I'll turn the Demon Plane into a true dark realm."

"You'll have to beat me first."

Zakuro narrowed his gaze. "As if a girl who hides in the shadows stands a chance against me."

"I hope you're not afraid of the dark," Sayomi warned. "You never know what might be lurking within."

Yusuke waved as he left for his match. "If you can beat her, I'll have no issue fighting you. Later, Sai."

Sayomi kept her eyes on her opponent, but she nodded. I don't care about his plans. If he intends to seriously hurt any of my friends in the process, then I'll stop him before he can even touch them.

When Zakuro left, she turned her attention to the screens. Hokushin stepped up behind her and said, "You've certainly grown since you left Tourin. You no longer lash out like an angry child."

"Is that supposed to be a compliment?" Sayomi asked with a raised brow. "It could use some work."

Ignoring her comment, he asked, "Why are you fighting in this tournament? Do you seriously intend to rule over the Demon Plane?"

Sayomi scoffed. "Yeah right, like I would last that long. I just want to see where I stand in something this big.

"My whole life, it seems like I was never allowed to really grow. Even after I left Tourin, just when I was starting to make progress, I was told to stop again." She smiled when she saw Yusuke on the screen for Block B.

"Despite all that, Yusuke never told me to stop. My friends actually encouraged me to get stronger. I want to see if I can stand with them on equal grounds, and gauge how much more I have to grow. Besides all that, it's just fun."

"Fun, huh?" Hokushin watched as Yusuke defeated his opponent with a grin on his face.

"Now that I think about it…" Sayomi arched her brow as she looked up at him. "Do you do anything for fun? Every time we interact, you always seem so serious about everything."

"That's because war is serious. The moment you let your guard down is when you're most vulnerable." Hokushin glanced at Zakuro then down at her. "It's not a game."

"And life isn't just about survival and politics. You need to make time for the things that make you happy, otherwise you're constantly surviving for the sake of just existing. What will you do when there is no more war?"

Before the monk could answer, Yusuke returned and clapped his hand on Sayomi's shoulder. "You're up, Sai. Break a leg!"

"I'll do more than that. Just be ready for our match in the next round!" Sayomi waved as she made her way to the arena.

Zakuro was already waiting for her when she arrived. "I'm surprised you showed up."

"Were you gonna cry if I didn't?" Sayomi tilted her head and smirked. "Poor baby."

Zakuro's eyes narrowed as he reached for his ax. "You should've taken the chance to run while you could."

"ooooh, scary." Sayomi held up her hands in mock fear.

Zakuro dashed and had his weapon raised in one fluid motion. When he brought his ax down, he cut through air.

"Is your weapon too heavy? That swing was a little slow."

Zakuro swung through the air towards the sound of her voice. He growled when he realized she wasn't there.

"Seems like you need to train more if you can't even scratch me with such a large weapon."

Zakuro's eyes quickly scanned the area. "Only a coward hides from battle. Are you truly worthy of fighting in this tournament?"

His eyes widened when he tried to move but couldn't.

"You're pretty bad at hide-and-seek, aren't you?" Sayomi solidified from Zakuro's shadow and gave him a disappointed look. "You must not have any friends."

Zakuro's eyes narrowed into a dangerous glare. "You wench!"

Sayomi cupped her elbow in one hand and tapped her chin in consideration. "I could keep you here until you surrender, but you won't learn anything from that."

She closed her eyes in thought until she came to a decision. "I know! Why don't we delve into the shadows in your heart? Let's get personal with what's really bothering you."

Yusuke watched Sayomi's fight from the waiting room and his eyes widened when he saw Zakuro's own shadow engulf him.

Hokushin's expression hardened as he watched the display.

"Guess Sai's learned a few things since the Sensui case," Yusuke muttered.

"This is why we tried to keep her from fighting," Hokushin said. "Shadow demons are feared for good reason, even among most other demons."

"She endured intense training since the Sensui case," Kurama reminded them. "She gained solid control under Master Genkai, and there's no telling what she went through while training with Hiei under Mukuro."

"So long as she doesn't get me with that attack," Yusuke muttered. "It looks like something I wouldn't want to be caught in."

In Block D, Hiei watched the match with a neutral expression.

Mukuro stood next to him and said, "She's already using that technique so soon. Do you think she needed it?"

"No," Hiei answered. "She's most likely rushing things so she can get to the next match with Yusuke."

"And who do you think would win between them?" Mukuro asked.

"Hands down it would be Yusuke's victory. They both enjoy a good fight, but Yusuke's natural talent outweighs her drive to improve. I can't say it would be a boring match to witness."

In the spectators audience, Yasuhiro watched as his younger sister resorted to the technique she used against him. I suppose she's gotten a better handle on it. Can't say whether I'm proud of her or worried for her.

In the ring, Sayomi waited patiently for Zakuro's screams to quiet down before releasing him from the darkness. The warrior was struck with a pale, fearful expression that ceased to register his surroundings. When Sayomi waved her hand in front of his face, he didn't respond.

She turned to the referee and waved her arm. "I think he's done!"

The referee took note of Zakuro's lack of response and announced Sayomi as the winner.

When Sayomi returned to the waiting room, Yusuke was smirking at her while Hokushin gave her a stern look. She arched an eyebrow and asked, "Did I do something wrong?"

"You showed your hand too early," Hokushin explained. "And you put yourself at risk of losing control."

Sayomi frowned until Yusuke said, "I knew you were fine. That was a quick fight but you still have plenty of tricks up your sleeve. I'll have to be careful in the next round."

Sayomi felt a little better, though she couldn't help but feel disappointed in herself. "I didn't like that guy's attitude, so I gave him a little self enlightenment. I won't use that technique on a friend if I don't have to."

"Well now that I've seen it, I'll do my best to avoid it," Yusuke said as he ruffled her hair and winked. "Don't let me catch you holding back on me."

Sayomi smirked and slapped his hand away. "Wasn't planning to."

She quickly scanned the screens around the room. Looks like Saizo already won his match in Block A. Enki and Tenzen are still going at it.

The final match in Block A between Tetsuzan and someone named Ikaru held her attention until Enki won his match.

As she was watching the final match between the two fighters in Block C, Hokage and Shuso, Yomi was announced the winner of the final match in Block B by default. As the final match in Block D ended, the voice from the speakers announced, "And with that we bring the curtain down on Round One!"

The Blocks were given an intermission to eat, mingle, or just get ready for the next round. Yusuke and Sayomi took the chance to grab a bite to eat and find their friends. Though they couldn't find everybody, they eventually bumped into Toya.

"Toya! You made it to the next round?" Yusuke asked.

"Just barely. It seems like everyone made it except for Rinku and Chu," Toya explained.

Yusuke gaped in shock. "Chu and Rinku are out? Chu doesn't surprise me, but Rinku? The battle maniac? How?"

Sayomi quirked her brow as she glanced at him. "Were you not watching the matches, Yusuke?"

"Shut up, Sai! I was absorbed in the fights with fighters I haven't seen before," Yusuke defended.

Toya sighed. "Blindsided like Chu… by feminine wiles."

Yusuke turned to Hokushin and asked, "And how'd that guy, what's-his-name, do?"

"Lemme think…" Hokushin tapped his temple as he thought. "Hmm… Can't recall…"

"Really, guys? Were you not paying attention to my match? I beat him!" Sayomi glared at the two fighters then pointed at Yusuke. " Did you really forget that guy was my opponent?"

"Is that who you were fighting?" Yusuke grinned. "Guess we got nothing to worry about, then!"

Sayomi face palmed and groaned to herself. Please let Round Two be more interesting.