Disclaimer: Yu Yu Hakusho is a property of Manga Artist Yoshihiro Togashi and Anime Director Noriyuki Abe, I have no rights to it and I don't plan on wanting them, the artwork for this Fanfiction belongs to Azuki Shibakawa. Please don't copy the information. This work is T rated, but it is a Romance along with an Adventure. English is only my second language, so forgive me if there are any mistakes, I will update every week so bear with me and I hope you'll like this story.

Chapter 2

Trouble

After a minute of silent worry Kurama closed his register, grabbed his keys and went out of the shop closing the door and leaving a "closed" sign on the shop's window. He started walking south, towards downtown Tokyo, still thinking of the latest problem. 'Why is the Dark Tournament being conducted again, and for what purpose? Lord Alcor is a leader of Makai, the demon world, so why conduct a Dark Tournament so close to the Makai Tournament?,' he thought walking down an empty street. 'Unless it has something to do with the reelection… But then why asking for fathers and sons to participate? I better talk to Koenma,' he turned the corner and came to a stop in front of a small restaurant. Lifting the drapes over the entrance he walked into a homey setting, with a few wooden tables by the wall and a long bar area. Two people were working behind the stand, preparing for morning customers, when they saw the redhead come in.

"Hey Kurama!" Yusuke shouted in excitement "It's been a while, how are you man?!" He waved at Suichi and jumped over the bar beaming like a kid.

"Hey! Yusuke! Come back here! We have work to do!" Keiko Urumeshi roared at her husband, she turned to their guest and gave him a big smile. "It's nice to see you Kurama," she said her tone lighting up," but what brings you here so early, we're not even open yet?"

Yusuke was about to yell at her for being so uptight all the time, but something stopped him and he turned to Keiko, eyes narrowed. "Dear," he said calmly, "go upstairs, now..." Keiko looked at him shocked, but she knew that tone, it meant trouble and any arguing was not an option, so she got a hurt look on her face and did not move an inch. Yusuke cringed, "please, now, hurry," he insisted, and as much as Keiko hated to leave him in danger, she nodded and exited the dining area. A small rumble of the ground told her that something was wrong, stopping on the steps up to the second floor, she listened as a female voice sounded out: "My Lord Yusuke Urumeshi, son of Raizon! You are here by summoned to participate in the Dark Father and Son Tournament this year. As a special guest to our master, Lord Alcor, you are to bring your son Raizon Junior with you as well, he must be a fighter on your team, the appointment is mandatory, no exceptions." Keiko ran out of her hiding place frantically shaking with tears. " You can't!" She screamed falling towards Yusuke who stopped her in mid jump. "You can't do that!" Unfortunately the voice along with its owner disappeared before her eyes, and Keiko fell crying in her husband's arms. Kurama stood there during the entire confrontation, without uttering a word, after a moment he finally shook his head. "I received the same message," he said lowering his gaze "and somehow I'm positive that Hiei received one as well."

"Damn it!" Yusuke jerked up. "What the hell is going on!" He lifted whimpering Keiko back to her feet "Wasn't it over the last time! And what is this father-son crap?" He spat at Kurama.

"I was on my way here to find out if you got the same message as I did, and it looks like we are both in the dark." Kurama replied knowingly.

"Does Botan know about it?" Keiko asked lifting her head. "I can't imagine our kids battling in this arena… Last time… Last time was just too horrible…" Her voice shook and tears spilled down her cheeks.

"I have not told her yet, "Kurama said in an even tone," but it looks like I will have no choice, I have to find out what Koenma knows about this matter, and if the tournament is real, Botan isn't going to like this," he stopped looking at Keiko. "How much does your son know about your past?" He asked suddenly, getting inquisitive looks from his friends. "What do you mean?" Yusuke asked blinking at Kurama "we told our son everything over five years ago, he knows of the dark tournament, and of all of you guys, it's not like we've been keeping it a secret," he shrugged, and Kurama let his shoulders drop as he turned on his hills and went for the exit. "Hey, wait!" Yusuke shouted after his friend. "What are you going to do Kurama?" He asked hastily.

Kurama tilted his head, "I plan to talk to Koenma and then go home," he answered simply, "it seems I have a long conversation to look forward to tonight, you guys have to deal with it in your own family circle. Once I'll have any new information, I will contact you."

Leaving the restaurant Kurama walked a few blocks uptown, and was about to turn towards the nearest entrance of the spirit world, when a wind rush nearly swooped him off his feet and Botan appeared flying down to him on her oar. Kurama caught her midair, and seeing her teared striking face he already knew what kind of news she brought with her.

"Sweetheart," he hugged the woman closely, while she sobbed in his arms.

"I assume you and Yusuke already got the message?" Botan whimpered slowly pulling away from her husband.

"Yes." Kurama replied lowering his head, while she looked up at the sky, "I can't let our son do this," she uttered, "and yet I have no choice. Koenma was given an ultimatum: If our team will not participate, Alcor will declare war on spirit world."

Kurama brought Botan close to him kissing her forehead and nudged her into a walk towards the bus station. "What I don't understand," he admitted, "is what will be the point of having this tournament, so close before the Makai Tournament?" He asked.

Botan blinked some tears out and looked at him sighing heavily. "Alcor is going to have this tournament instead of the preliminary round for Makai tournament, you see… He did not give much explanation, but from what I gathered, Koenma made sure our team's wish will be granted, and you wouldn't need to fight in Makai, even if you guys win."

Kurama listened patiently to his wife, he motioned her towards the bus, thinking through everything she has told him, though a few things still made no sense.

"Dear?" He started, but Botan held onto him, pulling them both at arm's length "Please Kurama, you have to train our son," she said in determined voice, "he cannot lose, both of you have to come home safely, do you understand?" Kurama smiled softly, surprised at, and proud of his wife's strength.

"You seem to be taking it better than I thought," he noticed, but Botan shook her head. "Not really, I've already cried my eyes out at Koenma's office…I'm a mother, a wife, and a deity of death, I simply have responsibilities I cannot ignore, and I trust you, but I am very afraid for Kuronue." She trembled slightly.

"I still think I should go and talk to our little spirit lord face to face, before we jump into anything dangerous…" Kurama tried to assure his wife, but she only stopped him again.

"That would not be possible," Botan said annoyed at the whole situation. "Koenma blocked all the entrances to the spirit world for any yokai including you and Yusuke, as a precautionary measure. I'm the only one who can still go there and back, and only if I'm in my spirit form." She sighed "However anything you want to ask him, I will deliver promptly, and I will not take no for his answer.

"I see." Kurama replied thoughtfully.

"Oh yeah, and don't try to make me stay home during this whole mess, I'm not letting you and Kuronue out of my sight, I will be your healer at the tournament no matter what, so I probably will teach Sakurasō how to heal as well." Botan added hastily.

"Are you sure you want our daughter to be there too?" Kurama asked worriedly.

"Yes!" Botan replied. "You will need at least two healers. This time Yukina can't go because her daughters are too young, and Genkai…is no longer with us..." She trailed off sadly.

The situation seemed to become more desperate by the minute, and Kurama decided not to push his wife for any more answers. There was no time for asking questions about the unusual tournament circumstances, and the spirit world ruler's cowardly behavior, so he only posed one question: "How are we going to tell the kids?"