One thousand three hundred forty-nine... one thousand three hundred fifty... one thousand three hundred fifty-one...

I sighed, rubbing my eyes and pushing away the pile of rice I had been counting. The anxious feeling was building the longer time went on. It had only been three days since they had left in the first place and everything felt, to put it simply, off. I wanted to be able to relax, or do my training without getting distracted, but everything rolled straight around to that one simple fact: I was terrified for Team Urameshi.

Deciding to attempt to do some homework, I grabbed my books, grumbling, and climbed up one of the branches of the many trees surrounding the compound. I had a good view of the building, the sun was clear over my head (yet well shaded between the leaves), and it was a nice change of scenery from being in that stuffy building all day.

"BQ, BR, and BS are tangents... one circle has a radius of four, one has a radius of 2... How are they related?" I tapped the pencil against my chin. "It can't be "A" because BS isn't greater than BR... not "B" either..."

"Excuse me?"

Did I mention that my life was becoming a stereotypical anime of sorts?

I jerked up, smacked my head on the tree trunk behind me, and found myself lying in a heap in front of the owner of the voice. I glanced up to see a beautiful turquoise haired girl with startling red eyes and a traditional blue kimono staring at me with worry surrounding her .

"Are you alright?" She wondered, concern in her eyes.

"Apart from a wounded pride? Yeah, I'm okay. Thank you." I blushed, pushing myself up and clearing my throat. "So... uhm... can I ask why you're here?"

"Oh! Yes. I'm sorry. I was looking for Master Genkai." She bowed politely and smiled a small smile at me. "Kazuma mentioned this place quite fondly, and I needed to ask her a question."

"Kazuma?" I rose an eyebrow. "Kazuma... Kuwabara?"

"You know Kazuma?" She cocked her head at me, a timid smile on her face.

"He's my cousin. You must be Yukina." I grinned, bouncing. "He talks about you all the time."

She blushed, breaking out into a grin. She was gorgeous, exactly as my love-crazed younger cousin described her to be. I chuckled, waving my hand to gesture that she should follow me. She trailed behind me, perfectly polite and everything that I imagine a traditional Japanese girl from feudal times would be, which was both a little unnerving to see in real life and really, really fascinating.

"So, Yukina, what brings you here?"

"I had a feeling that I needed to come to this place before I ventured to the Dark Tournament." She admitted with a sheepish smile.

"That's funny..." I glanced to the envelope Genkai had left for me, pieces one and two clicking into place. "What gave you the feeling?"

"I can't explain it, really. I just felt like I needed to come here at once. Like someone was compelling me to find Master Genkai and speak with her." She looked down. "I must have been wrong if she isn't here."

"No... no I think you're right where you're supposed to be,Yukina." I sighed, glancing up and cursing Genkai's impossible vagueness and inability to just tell me what was going on. "You said you need to go to the Dark Tournament?"

"I did." She nodded. "It is nearly impossible to get there through demon world right now and through the human world I am unsure of where I am going."

"I think I might. I happen to have two boat tickets. Do you know where the Dark Tournament is held?"

"Hanging Neck Island?" She frowned, concern in her eyes. "Why do you ask?"

"Because Genkai happened to leave two boat tickets to Hanging Neck Island when she... stepped out." I grabbed the envelope and handed it to her. "If you wouldn't mind a companion that is."

Her eyes widened, and she broke out into another grin. "I would love if you joined me! The company would be most welcome."

Her smile was contagious.

"I'll be right back."

The trip out to the boat was thankfully smooth, and filled with pleasant conversation. Apparently where Yukina came from was indeed in demon world, but in the realm of the ice maidens, a frosty bunch of women who reproduced asexually, always giving birth to girls. She had, in essence, run away from that world, too kindhearted and gentle to live amongst such cruelty. I told her in return stories about Kazuma from our childhood up to the point that I left. Kazuma had always been a fighter, much to no one's surprise, and she was enthralled with the tales about how he used to scrap with the kids that would pick on me for my looks, and how he would turn around and pick flowers with me in the same hour.

The boat trip itself was... interesting. There were demons of all sorts crowded together, and Yukina and I barely managed to slide in with our pre-purchased tickets. Apparently humans tended to be discouraged from riding. We sat against the rails, watching demons move about, and she explained to me the differences in some of them that she knew of. It was fascinating how many different looks there were within the world, and this was just one small boat. We were entering through the half of the island meant for demons, since apparently humans and demons were separated as much as possible. The hotel lay on the side of the island, and housed competitors, humans, and a few high class demons that could pass as humans.

"You have an interesting power." She commented, and I jumped from rotating two balls of water above my palm like Chinese medicine balls. "It is rare to see a human have control over an element like you have over water."

"I'm still an amateur; I would hardly say I have control over anything." I blushed, letting the balls float back to the water beneath us, reabsorbing themselves into their natural state once more.

"You give yourself too little credit." She insisted, bringing up my hand in hers and launching me into a world of cool blues. I glanced around me, touching the stream nearest me and smiling at the feeling it gave me. There was an island in the center of the stream, just a small patch of green grass with colorful budding flowers. I found myself loving it dearly.

Her face met mine with the next few blinks, and she only smiled at me with those sweet, innocent eyes. I blushed, glancing down at my hands and pulling away from her.

"I'm sorry."

"You shouldn't be. I'm honored."

"What?" I frowned up at her again.

She pointed at her eyes, and pointed at mine. "Your power can go both ways. You saw into my soul, yes, but you also allowed me to see into yours. It's quite incredible."

"I... I don't..." I swallowed, letting her take my hand up in hers again and shivering at the cold feeling running through my skin.

"Your power is malleable. It's unusual, but not unheard of. If you would like, I can teach you to heal. Water and ice wok in perfect combination of one another, I'm sure I could teach you."

Excitement rose up in my throat. "You're serious?!"

She giggled, a blush gracing her lovely face. "I would be happy to do so. It would be wonderful to work in tandem with another."

I grinned back, shifting to face her fully. "Can we start now? Here on the boat?"

She glanced at the demons glaring our way, and nodded with another smile. "Let's go down to the lower level and we can practice in private."

"I'll protect you." I promised her, smiling and patting her head once. "No one is going to touch you while I'm here."

She nodded, smiling. Damn, I couldn't wait until we were legally related.