A.N.: Yes, I know it's been forever, and only a short chapter to show for it! I'm sorry, kids, but I've had to move three times in the last year, not to mention attend trade school to help get a better job. Hopefully things will get better now, and I hope to post more soon. As always, reviews are loved and treasured.

So the next morning, at the butt-crack of dawn no less, found Kuwabara and I hiking through the woods with Kurama's neatly detailed map in my hand. He had given it to me as we were leaving, ("I checked a few of my sources while you were sleeping, and it would seem that Genkai is now looking for an apprentice." "Really? Geeze, any more coincidences and I'm gonna have to declare this a conspiracy." "Regardless of the reason, at least you two will have an excuse to be on her property."), and wished us luck.

I hadn't told Kuwabara about Rando. Truthfully, I was hoping I wouldn't have to. Knowing Kuwabara, he'd be ready and willing to kick this guy's ass from here to America, and then keep me from finishing him off out of his stupid 'honor code'.

Sometimes he just doesn't understand that killing one guy could help save hundreds of others. Not that I've killed before, but I suppose that if I had to, it would be best to have an evil guy as my first kill.

Not looking forward to this at all.

"Are you sure it's this way, Urameshi?"

"You mean besides this Staircase from Hell? Don't you see those giant doors up there?" That and the stairs were stamped with hundreds of dirty footprints all leading in one direction (Kuwabara didn't notice them, and I didn't bother to tell him).

"Oh."

"Heh."

"SHADDUP! My hay-fever's acting up again! I can't see right with these watery eyes!"

"And that was your saddest excuse yet."

"You're an asshole, Urameshi!"

I consider it a personal victory when Kuwabara starts swearing properly, giving myself another tally to my mental score sheet. "And you're oblivious. Help me open this door."

What, you think it's weird that I'm asking for help? Apparently you've never had to open granny's front gate. I didn't find out until much, much, later that she inscribed seals into the gates to make the doors outrageously heavy to anyone who doesn't live with her. Which is everyone in the universe at this point. It was also the unofficial first test (evil old hag. If you can't even open her stupid gate then you had no business being her student.).

Working together we managed to crack open the gate and slip inside. We didn't hear the gate thud behind us because of the crowd ahead of us. From where we stood I could barely make out the first building, the roof being the only thing I could see. Men from all over the world, from all walks of life, were here, hoping to be chosen as Genkai's heir.

I didn't care who would be chosen; I was planning on dropping out as soon as I took out Rando.

"Geeze, talk about a headache." Kuwabara had one hand pressed against his temple, and I didn't blame him. So many strong auras in one spot, all white and blue and orange and small green spots, it made the courtyard shine like the sun.

I really wish I knew how to turn off my sight.

We made our way closer to the building, with me trying to spot any red at all in the crowd. So far, no luck. He must know how to manipulate his aura like Hiei could.

Damn.

A quick glance at the Demon Compass showed me that he was strong enough to shatter the stupid thing.

Double damn.

And, if he knows that I have it, and how to shatter it while hiding his aura from me?

Triple damn. There wasn't a fight coming up so much as a struggle to survive. I had a feeling that I was going to be doing most of the struggling.

From out of no where (and I should know, I've helped clean every inch of this place and I've never found out where she stashed it) a gong sounded, quieting the crowd and drawing our attention to the slowly opening doors. Out stepped the ugliest, tiniest, old lady I've ever seen.

"I don't get it," some guy nearby muttered. "How can she be the master of anything?"

Her aura shone with the proof of her power. As old as she was, she was still stronger than most of the guys here. And her aura was the most colorful of all. Plenty of white, with well defined blue, orange, pink, green, and the fading strands of yellow. Shit. My danger sense went into over drive at the faded yellow. Did she already do what she was supposed to do, or is her destiny still to come?

"Quite a crowd." She wasn't trying to make herself heard, but we were all so quiet we heard her anyway. "Let's whittle this down a bit, shall we?"

"Here we go." said that same guy from before. "This'll be rough."

"No problem." replied his friend. "We can tackle anything."

What could she possibly make us do? In reality, she could do anything she wanted to us, and like fools, we would play along for the prize. Visions of wrestling bears, or being made to announce our abilities like a kid at our first day of primary school fought for dominance in my head. Kuwabara looked pale, and was muttering under his breath.

"The first test is…" as a whole, the entire crowd tensed, ready to do her bidding. "Drawing lots."

I swear, half the crowd hit the ground going mach 2, face first. I managed to catch myself in time, but it was close.

"What the—a lottery?" Oh shit, what if I draw the wrong one? I can't get kicked out now! The toddler from Hell would never let me hear the end of it! And it's not like he has a life to distract him from chewing me out!

No way am I losing now!