RAWR: Wahoo, one review on Fos-ff! Thanks for it, you're the only reason this chapter even came out haha. With that being said please forgive all mistakes. This chapter is much shorter than the rest will be. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho, trust me.

Claimer: I own this plot and Gabriel, yeah, she's mine too.

The next time the boys met the woman was in the forest, just as they were about to board the ship which would take them to Hanging Neck Island for the Dark Tournament. All four of them stayed in the back, out of the way of the hord of bloodthirsty demons. Both Hiei and Kurama agreed that it would be best to save their energy for the tournament. Kuwabara and Yusuke were too tired to argue, the latter almost falling asleep on his feet.

"Where's that woman at?" He mumbled, his brown eyes barely managing to stay open. They would bored soon yet their fifth member had yet to show herself. It was making the already rumpled teenager antsy, which wasn't helping Kuwabara's nerves in the least.

"Maybe that fool Koenma decided to take her out and give us someone who won't get in our way," Hiei said, his posture tense as always.

"I don't like the idea of a girl fighting," Kuwabara put in his own two-cents, though everyone seemed to ignore his words. Kurama stayed silent, his keen green eyes watching the forest for any sign of their missing teammate.

Soon the horn bellowed out, assembling all fighters on board the great vessel. As the demons crowded on Yusuke cursed under his breath.

"Where the fuck is she,"

"Behind you Yusuke," Yusuke whipped around at Kurama's statement. Behind him stood Gabriel in her normal garb with her vacant eyes seeming to stare right through him and into another world which only she was privy to. The mysterious staff remaind on her back, though it seemed to have lengthened a bit since their last meeting.

Kuwabara's eyes had widened considerably. "W-what? I can't sense her at all. It's like she has no spirit energy."

Before Yusuke could demand answers the horn once again blared. He walked towards the ship, casting Gabriel a suspicious glare as he walked past her. Kuwabara followed him, though he seemed wary at having the woman at his back. Hiei had already dissappeared, presumbly already on the ship and awaiting the 'slow humans'.

Only Kurama remained, emerald eyes still fastened on the mysterious figure before him. She stood still, seemingly awaiting for him to make his way to board.

"After you," his low voice did nothing more than bring the vacant stare to his eyes where before they had been fastened to his shoes. The woman did not blink, simply stared at him before doing as he said and walking torwards the ship to stand beside the rest of her teammates. Kurama subtly narrowed his eyes.

The woman had no doubt been going to simply stay until she had been told to move. She had been trained well, it seemed, in the ways of obedience.

Many questions started to form in the fox's head and deep inside him something, someone, stirred, awakened by the challenge.

Maybe this tournament wouldn't be a waste of time after all.

Yusuke's harsh training had exhausted him, leaving him to do nothing but fall asleep against the railing of the ship. Beside his rested form on the railing stood Hiei, below him stood Kurama, then Kuwabara. On Yusuke's other side stood Gabriel, her eyes watching the demons in front of her with little interest.

Gabriel was not isolated, she knew all the demon types in front of her and how they acted. She also knew what was going to come next, as she heard stories of it in passing whenever the Dark Tournament rolled around.

Koenma's Ogres were not known to had tight lips after all.

So she waited, her body calm and lax. These demons would not be enough to bring out the hunter within her.

Lucky for the detectives.

"Geez," Kuwabara said from where he leaned against the railing, "I thought cruises were suppose to have pretty girls. There's nothing here but a bunch of ugly demons."

His narrow eyes looked at their mysterious companion.

Koenma said this girl is suppose to be strong, but she doesn't have any spirit energy. He smirked to himself. Bet she'll let us do all the fighting when she sees my awesome new spirit sword.

"I hope the island isn't as boring as this," commented Hiei boredly, his hands in the pockets of his loose fighting pants.

"You know this isn't a vacation," Kurama said, his eyes closed to the ongoings on the crowd in front of him. His ears were perked, however, alert to even the smallest sounds occuring around him.

"I know," Kuwabara hung his head dejectedly. He just wanted some pretty girls who would bring him some yummy food.

Gabriel looked over at her teammates as they talked between each other. Her thoughts were closed but her mind was sharp. She began to categorize them in her mind, giving each his own special file in her brain.

Hiei, last name unknown, telepath and wielder of the Jagan Eye. The Forbidden Child of the Koorime clan. I wonder if he cries blood rubies as well.

Youko Kurama, also known as Shuiichi, legendary fox thief and plant wielder. I wonder if he'll bleed spirit energy soaked blood or the blood of a human.

Kuwabara, human with keen spirit energy perception and wielder of the Spirit Sword. Such a human, easy to break and make bleed.

Yusuke Urameshi, demi human with vast amounts of spirit energy and wielder of the Spirit Gun. Only apprentince of Master Genkai. So much energy, it will end up burning him alive.

Gabriel quieted her thoughts as the captain began to blast over the ship's intercom.

So, it was as she thought, the preliminary battle would be fought here on the ship. Kuwabara complained, "I thought we were the special team,"

"This is how they operate," Hiei stated, his crimson eyes becoming tinted with malicious amusement.

Kuwabara was hasty at being the one to fight, claiming to want to show off his new self. He quieted quickly when three demons made their blood lust, specifically their human blood lust known.

"Er, those guys are pretty big," his eyes were wide before he put his hands on his hips, acting self-righteous. "Well, since Urameshi is the one who wants to fight, plus he's the team captain it should be his responsibility to fight!" He pointed at his friend, sweatdropping as he realized for the first time that Yusuke was out cold.

He began to yell, attempting to wake up the boy, but Kurama stopped him.

"Yusuke has been through rigorous training. He needs to sleep and regain his strength,"

"Well, then who is going to fight?" Kuwabara asked. Without a word Gabriel turned and began walking to where the mass of demons had assembled. Each was the strongest of their team and all wanted a go at the Spirit Detectives. She stopped as she reached the edge of the arena which had opened up on the ship.

"I guess we have a volunteer," Hiei smirked.

"But we don't know anything about her! What if she screws up and gets killed?" Kuwabara questioned.

"Then we kill all the other teams. When we get to the island we'll say we're the rightful team and no one will complain," Hiei's smirk remained, now tinged with the amusement that matched his eyes.

"You didn't have a lot of friends growing up did you?" Kuwabara asked dryly, sweatdropping to himself.

Kurama looked on, eager to see the woman's capabilities.

Gabriel jumped easily up onto the platform, with about 15 or so demons standing in front of her. All faced her, backing her into a proverbial corner.

She gazed at them with cool eyes and the staff on her back pulsed once. No one but Hiei and Kurama noticed, and the two demons narrowed their eyes.

Shh, my pet.

"Let's go for the whelp from the human team first," one demon said. The others all shouted their agreement.

"We've got to warn her!" Kuwabara yelled. Gabriel ignored him, ignored everything but the energies in front of her.

Such a waste of time. They will not satisfy.

"Patience," Kurama grit out, slightly annoyed at the boy's loud voice.

As one the demons attacked.

"Her head is mine!" "Only if you get there first!"

Gabriel gazed at them as they drew closer before sliding two daggers out of her long sleeves. They both landed in her palms and seemed to pulse with a black energy tinted with a green overcast. In the blink of an eye she had both weapons raised, her arms bent and crossed in front of her in an X style. She slashed quickly and the strange energy pulsed out in two sharp streams.

The black-green energy tore through the demons as easily as a knife through butter. One by one body pieces fell to the ground and blood quickly began to pool on the arena floor. It gathered together from the scattered remains to drip over the edge of the platform.

Plip, plop.

Plip, plop.

By now the rest of the team had migrated closer to the platform. All of them were shocked in varying degrees though only Kuwabara seemed to be able to express it.

"Di-did you guys see that? She killed them with just one attack," His eyes were wide and his jaw was hanging low. That energy, there was no doubt in his mind, it was her spirit energy. A shiver wracked his frame. Even with her powerful attack he had only been able to sense a trickle of her energy.

What is she? He wondered.

Hiei had his eyes narrowed, "Looks like she won't be so useless after all."

Kurama said nothing, just stared with narrowed eyes at the woman raised above them. Something within him hummed, something of importance.

We know that energy.

Yes, but how?

The question could not be answered and within him another being stirred, agitated by the power that he could not place.

This new member was someone they would have to keep an eye on.

Above them the captain was disgruntled and made the next announcement with disgust dripping from his voice, "Unfortunately it seems the 16th team will be a human won. Team Urameshi wins!"

Gabriel calmly walked over to her teammates.

"Wow, good job girly. Now how about you lower that collar so we can see your face?" Kuwabara said with just a hint of chauvinism in his voice. Gabriel ignored him, and instead pointed behind him.

All the members turned to see the hord of demons who had all just lost their 'best' member.

"What's goin' on?" Yelled Kuwabara, much to the amusement of the demons surrounding them.

"Do you really think we care about playing by the rules?" One demon sneered while another cracked his grotesque looking hands. "There's only one way to find out who the best team is."

"Seems like they stole my idea," Hiei said with amusement in his voice and a malicious glint in his ruby eyes, "We'll need to make them pay dearly for that."

Kurama chuckled and pulled out a glimmering rose from his hair, "Of course."

As one the three demons jumped in the air, leaving Kuwabara on the ground to fight for himself.

Gabriel didn't care for dramatics. She didn't dodge unless she needed to and she didn't run. Her blades sliced easily through the flesh of the demons who were unlucky enough to be pitted against her. One great beast tried to attack from behind while two demons swarmed her front. She nimbly side stepped and slit both of their throats, ending with a powerful kick that crushed the throat of the demon behind her.

She jumped onto the top most part of the ship where the captain had previously stood. From her position she could better keep an eye on her teammates.

"You are not to kill them Gabriel, nor are you allowed to let any harm come to them outside the arena."

Two demons tried to sneak up on her from behind. Their rancid smells easily gave them away, however, and the woman wasted no time in ending both their miserable lives. One died his comrades blade while the other was stabbed twice in quick succession in the stomach. The fell to the ground and Gabriel kicked them off her perch, it was getting too crowded for her tastes.

Their bodies fell with harsh splashes into the cold depths of the ocean below.

Gabriel cast her eyes below her to watch her teammates. Hiei was easily slicing through the demons with his katana. The gleam of amusement had vanished from his eyes and he looked decidely bored with how easy the demons fell to him.

Kurama had no difficulty disposing of his pests either. His Thorn Wheel attack dismembered the demons with ease. They fell in chunks around him.

Kuwabara was still fighting with his spirit sword but he didn't look to be in any dire trouble.

Gabriel's eyes sharpened and narrowed as a demon approached the sleeping form of Yusuke.

Kuwabara let out a yell when he saw the sharp claws of the demon charge towards the teen's face. It was for naught, however, as the demon was sent flying back by Yusuke's powerful punches as he yelled some nonsensical things concerning an old woman.

"Well at least he's finally awake," Kuwabara said just as the teen stopped his ramblings and fell back heavily.

"Fool, he's still sleeping," Hiei said condescendingly. Kuwabara blinked in suprise.

"Uh, what are you doing beside Urameshi?" He spoke to Gabriel as though she would answer him.

The figure had appeared just as Yusuke had stood to deal with the demon on his own. She stood still, her eyes gazing apathetically at the form resting at her feet.

"I believe she was going to save him," Kurama said, curious green eyes regarding their teammate without suspicion. He had a feeling she couldn't care less about the boy's protection personally.

Kuwabara momentarily ignored her when Yusuke mumbled something else about Genkai.

"Even as he sleeps he relives his training," commented Kurama in response to the boy's mumbles. "His preparation should make us all envious."

Gabriel continued to stare at the boy at her feet. So much pain a person would go through in order to become more powerful. She knew power would be either the root of his ultimate demise or ultimate happieness.

But power was like a virus. It would seep in without you realizing what it had changed until it was too late an you succumbed to its hungry force.

Gabriel had her orders and she would follow them through.

"If any of them become unstable or infected by the tournament you know what to do."

Oh she knew what to do and she did it well.

"Hey what happened to the giant fight we were in?" Kuwabara questioned, blinking dumbly.

"It's over, everyone's dead." Kurama stated in his cool, collected voice.

Kuwabara let out an 'Oh' before racing to catch up with his teammates who had begun to walk to the head of the ship. He went to pick up Urameshi but was stopped. Cloaked arms already held him indifferentally, propping him up before slinging him onto a narrow back. The woman was meticulous in handling her charge, making sure he did not rest adversely on her mysterious staff.

"Uh, I can take him for you," she regarded him with apathetic eyes before glancing at the head of the ship. The island was fast coming into view and without further adieu she made her way to the others without a single glance back.

Kuwabara huffed but followed nonetheless, waiting for when the girl would request he carry the boy on her back.

There's no way she can carry him for long.

He was proven wrong when they made their way into the lobby of a swanky looking hotel, which seemed very out of place on the foreboding island. Gabriel still carried the boy on her back and seemed to have no trouble in doing so.

A man greeted them in the luxurious lobby with a voice as slick as a snake.

"Hello, we've been expecting you. Please, follow me to your rooms."

The team did as he requested, though they did so tensely. All three demons cast there eyes subtly about their surroundings while Kuwabara made his suspicioun known.

"I get a funny feeling about this place," he said, not trying to quiet his voice at all. "I never trust grown ups dressed that fancy."

Behind them the adults whispered among themselves. All three demons could hear their conversations but none chose to comment. Let the humans underestimate them, it would prove to be their advantage in the end.

Gabriel's nose wrinkled, unseen by her high collar. The smell of arrogance and the stench of wealthy sin began to turn her stomach. Corrupt humans made her thirsty, so thirsty, but they were too useless to sustain her.

Soon my pet, soon.

The weapon let out a subtle pulse, unnoticed by everyone in the lobby.

"Well I have to hand it to them, they sure do know how to make things fancy," Kuwabara commented once they were settled in the living area of their room. It was spacious with a chandler and large leather couches centered around a square coffee table.

"Your coffee gentlemen," the bellboy set down five cups then procceeded to leave.

Yusuke lay snoring, his tall body taking up one couch. On the other sat Hiei, Kurama, and Gabriel while Kuwabara sat on a cushioned bench in front of the table.

"Careful," Kuwabara cautioned, "those fancy guys might be trying to poison us."

"That's illogical Kuwabara," Kurama stated, grabbing his cup without hesitation.

"The organizers of this want to see us fight. They'll save their murder attempts for tomorrow," Hiei added, giving Kuwabara his normal 'you idiotic human' stare.

"Say what you will, I'm sticking with trusty aluminum," Kuwabara rummaged in his bag and pulled out a soda can.

It was then Kurama made a keen observation, "Why is there only two cups on the table."

Kuwabara looked at him with a duh look, "Cause I'm not drinking one and neither is the girl."

"So there should be three. One for you, one for Gabriel, and one for Yusuke," Kurama looked over at Gabriel, who had not moved since sitting down. Her eyes were fastened on something behind the fox and fire apparition.

Kuwabara asked if Yusuke could drink in his sleep too, but a slurping caught their attention before anyone could point out how stupid the human was. The three, Hiei, Kurama, and Kuwabara, turned around to see a kid sitting on a dresser, slurping the missing coffee cup.

He was dressed childishly and three stars decorated his left cheek. He giggled a little when he found himself under the scrutiny of four pairs of eyes.

"How did you get in here?" Kurama questioned.

"He must have been hiding in the room," Kuwabara said.

"Liar, liar," the boy's childish voice rang out, "I came through the door after you guys like a good boy." He tilted his head back, "I guess I did forget to knock though," he took another slurp of his drink.

"So you guys are the guests, you're so lucky," the mystery boy said. "My name's Rinku, I'm from the Rykuukai Team you are fighting tomorrow."

This sentence finally made Gabriel really look at the boy rather then gaze past him. She dismissed him as inconsequential, looking back into the wall behind his head.

"Papa? Where are we going?"

"She'll be the perfect weapon."

So much blood, it'll stain her hands forever.

"Since you guys are the guests you don't have to go to all the boring orientation stuff," Rinku continued, balancing on the handle of the glass on the tips of his fingers. He was quite the little gymnist.

Wonder how much pressure would have to be applied until he broke in half.

"Guess you don't have to worry about all the cool prizes and stuff at the end of the tournament if you're gonna' be dead soon," the child said in a childish voice tinged with cockieness.

What's with this kid? He talks about death like its a game, a cold sweat broke out on Kuwabara's forehead.

The kid went on about how he was disappointed with them but Gabriel had long tuned him out. Her attention was now focused on the demon who had just joined them. He leaned against the wall, relaxed with his eyes closed. His blonde hair mismatched his pale skin and Gabriel felt a small, almost unnoticable urge rise in her.

Paint it red. We're so very hungry.

"Don't you think you're talking too much," the stranger announced cooly, bring all attention to him.

"What? I didn't sense either of them come in the room," Kuwabara stated in shock. Rinku jumped over energetically to the blonde, his teammate no doubt.

"Heya Ziru, I was just sayin' hiya to the enemies," the boy stated gleefully.

"Let them enjoy their last night among the living," Ziru said as he opened the door. "Let's just say that tomorrow will see you in the same shape as your coffee cup."

Kuwabara barely managed out a huh before the coffee broke became sliced in two.

All of them stared in shock at the coffee cup, no one noticed Gabriel moved until it was too late.

Rinku gasped and Ziru's eyes widened as he choked from the pale hand grasped tightly around his throat. Gabriel squeezed subtly, deciding wether or not she could kill the demon in front of her. Technically she wasn't suppose to interfere with the battles, but the blonde demon had threatened her charges outside the arena.

She couldn't allow that.

"Let him go!" Rinku said angrily and made to move before he too was grabbed by the throat and hoisted up next to his teammate. Gabriel's grasps slowly got tighter before a calm, calculated voice stopped her.

"Let them go Gabriel or we won't have anyone to fight tomorrow," Gabriel immediatly threw the two figures out of the room before closing the door calmly with a click. She turned around to see her teammates regarding her carefully.

Kuwabara was in shock at out fast she moved while Hiei and Kurama wondered about the girl's true power, and most importantly, her origin. She had obeyed Kurama without so much as a blink.

"Must you obey us?" The fox questioned, his eyes narrowed. Gabriel nodded in response.

"Why were you put on the team?" No one expected her to answer and she didn't. She simply gazed at them with apathetic eyes before walking to her individual room.

The others followed her example, though many went to sleep with questions buzzing in their heads.

Tomorrow was the beginning of the Dark Tournament and they had to trust someone they didn't even know.

This would be very interesting indeed.

RAWR: Review and tell me watcha' think!