I don't own anyone you know…duh
'What the hell are you doing here fool? 'He tried to hide his disbelief, a very difficult task. His plan had backfired. After all of the night's events she had staid, she was standing up there, a smug look on her face. As much as he had fought it he did want her to be there, he didn't care that she was in danger. She trusted him to protect her, and he wouldn't let her down.
'Watching the tournament, duh. Now focus idiot' she rolled her eyes a smile on her face.
--Flash back--
The sky was a peachy color as the sun peaked over the horizon it had been a half an hour since she had reached the boat, she just stood there frozen unable to move un able to leave break neck island. 'Damn jerk. What was I thinking trying to love a wild demon? What was I thinking when I thought I could love at all? What's wrong with me?' She stared down at her palms 'this stupid girl with witch's blood in her veins was not wanted by her own community, I'm not wanted here, I'm not wanted anywhere' She bit her lip to keep from crying. 'Well fuck it; what do I have to lose by staying? Hiei can't break up with me for a second time, been there done that. I told Cheri that I can't stay, but now I can't leave. Can't leave my friends, Yuske kuwabara kurama they're all fighting for their lives too.' She couldn't leave because she didn't want things to change; she wanted this day to be over with so they could all go home they could all go back to the way they were. 'I won't leave. Ready or not guys here I come' First she started to run to the arena but then she stopped. "I should probably change clothes first this is pretty rank" she scoffed running to the hotel instead.
--End of flash back--
'hn you're almost as think headed as the oaf' they both stared closely at Kurama and Karasu as the fight began.
'what fun would it be if I just rolled over and played dead. You marked me Hiei and maybe it's you that doesn't really get what that means. You're stuck with me.' She sighed.
"You ok?" Shizuru nudged Raven in the shoulder.
"Huh? Yeah I'm fine" Raven nodded. The mental conversation ended there.
Kurama had killed karasu with one of his blood thirsty plants but didn't do so before the count of ten and consequently he lost the fight. The arena was filled with chants and cheers for team Toguro.
"No one seems to be taking into account our moral victory here. At least everyone on our team is still alive" Kuwabara muttered.
"You just don't get it" The elder Toguro hissed, the crowd grew quiet.
"Oh you all shut up for the shoulder monkey" Kuwabara yelled angrily.
"You observation is as always short sighted and ultimately incorrect". Hiei glared over at the man perched on his brother's shoulder, between his voice and kuwabara's Hiei didn't know who he wanted to kill first. Raven saw Hiei's expression and somehow she knew, he'd be fighting next, he couldn't contain the dragon or his desire to fight any longer. She held her breath hoping she would not have to bury the demon bellow her.
'Hey what's that supposed to mean?" Kuwabara scratched his head.
'Even if by cruel cosmic joke you survive your matches you forget that each champion gets a wish' a smile curved over the hunched demon's lips. "Once our team wins and mine is rewarded I'll wish for the death of all of your friends" He pointed straight at them a glowing tint in his eyes. Hiei clutched his fists there was no choice they had to win not only to save their lives but those they cared about.
"Hey Raven high five. If they all die and Toguro get's his wish and kills all their friends and loved ones you'll be totally ok because no one loves you" Cheri exclaimed her palm in the air.
"Uh huh…Tell me what part of that is high five worthy" Raven scoffed. 'What's the point of being the only one who survives that's just a handful more funerals I'd have to attend. Good thing I like the color black' She glanced sadly at Hiei. 'Please don't die Hiei, you might be a god damn bastard but I can't watch you die' She considered getting up to leave afraid to see the horrors of battle but she stayed in her spot. 'I swear idiot if you lose I'll…I'll' She bit her lip 'what would I do?'
"Does he really want us all to die?" Yukina questioned softly.
"Don't worry he's only kidding" the group tried to convince her. 'What a cruel joke it'd be. It's not a joke it's a threat, possibly a promise' Raven put her chin in her palms staring harder at the center of the arena.
"Want to know what I'll wish for when we beat them" Hiei had a new found confidence. "The bloody deaths of every member of that corrupt tournament committee so I'll never be pulled into one of their carnivals again" No one would be telling Hiei what to and where to be. He was a free spirit a dark broody, criminal free spirit. He would soon be sitting somewhere in the human world trees living life as he sees fit, life would be good again when he was in control again. 'I will…We will' thoughts of Raven's foolish face appeared in his head. 'we will live by our rules no one will tame us' he had a sly grin on his face. The elder Toguro stepped forward allowing team urameshi to decide who would die at his feet first. Bui stepped forward his armor clinking loudly as he moved.
"Oh Bui I wasn't expecting you to step forward so soon.' The elder Toguro stepped back allowing the giant to pass by him and enter the ring.
'Let me go with this guy" Kuwabara flexed his muscles.
"So do you want to be buried in that or something decent' Koenma rolled his eyes. "Do you want a grave or a tomb" he continued to taunt the boy.
"Yuske I planned on taking the thug with the sunglasses for myself. But after what happened to Genkai I believe vengeance belongs to you. 'Hiei stated.
"Thank you"
"Hn. But this thug will do just as well" He sneered waiting for the big man to get into the ring. Hiei had claimed Bui as his fight before it even started the vivid dream from the morning had plagued him; he would defeat Bui to get peace of mind. 'Cocky bastard' Raven felt her nails dig into her palm as she clenched her fists tight, her nerves were balled tight.
"Standing at four foot ten, without his hair: Hiei. At nine feet: Bui" Juri was beginning to lay out the fight. Bui formed his battle axe above his head Hiei looked on, he seemed unimpressed.
"hn. Not a bad weapon you got there Bui but with all due respect I must say I still prefer my own" He removed his cloak. Raven grinned at what she saw. 'I did a damn good job if I do say so myself'
'Don't gloat fool. A trained monkey could do what you did' Hiei scoffed, he knew her well enough to know she was patting herself on the back it pleased him that she wasn't too worried that she must still believe he could succeed.
'Trained monkey yes. You apparently not so much' She stuck out her tongue causing her friends to look at her with confusion.
"um…tongue spasms" Raven shrugged.
'hn. Even as I fight for my life you taunt me still? There's a reason I liked you best. Only you could mock someone before they meet their maker' He stood waiting for Bui's next move.
'You can only hope that you'll live long enough to do the same to me' Then their minds grew quiet.
"man look how tight Hiei has those bandages tied around his arm. His injuries must not be even close to healing" Kuwabara doubted the small demon could fight in that condition.
"No, you've misunderstood Hiei's true motives, the purpose of these particular bindings are not to repair" Kurama corrected. 'Always the smart one Kurama' Raven nodded, she had covered and warded Hiei's arm well, to keep the dragon under control.
"What the hell? Then it's just there to look pretty?' Yuske scratched his head.
"Not exactly" Kurama went into deep thought wondering what Hiei's plans were.
"Ready set go!" Juri yelled. With that all talking all joking all time stood still there was only Hiei and Bui nothing else. Raven clenched her eyes shut she didn't want to watch. She felt a small hand on hers.
"Yukina" Raven murmured.
"He'll be fine. You know he will" She smiled. Raven didn't say anything didn't nod or shake her head only looked at Yukina for a moment before turning her gaze to Hiei as he fought Bui. The fight was quick paced which was as to be expected from a swift demon such as Hiei. half way through Hiei disintegrated Bui's axe with his fists of the mortal flames. 'Hn. Rid of that ugly thing one and for all' he sneered.
"Uh remind me never to let Hiei touch me anytime soon or like ever" Kuwabara blinked his eyes not believing how Hiei had improved.
"Right I'll make a note" Koenma sighed as the fighters continued their battle. After Bui took off his armor Hiei knew it was time to unleash the dragon.
"Hn so it takes a lot more than that to bang you up. Well here comes a lot more" he first tore off the wards then began to unravel the bandages. 'Well there goes all my hard work' Raven tried to be light hearted but she could feel it, how the end was near and she felt her heart sink into her stomach. 'Hiei you idiot I… I love you. Don't die idiot' she felt her breath get caught in her throat her pulse quicken she was more frightened than she had ever been.
"Time is wasting lets go ahead and finish" Bui grew impatient.
'Hn. Quiet fool I don't have to be told to hurry up. It's in my nature." Hiei scoffed the lengthy bandages flowing to the floor. "It' been pulling at the bandages for some time" He glanced up at Raven who gave him an uneasy smile "I couldn't contain it for long" Fire crackled around his arm. "You're the next sacrifice to the dragon of the darkness flame" And with that it appeared the black dragon leapt from his arm out into the arena a shroud of red and black filled the air. Hiei ran at Bui full speed launching his attack. 'Now or never idiot' Raven bit her lip. The dragon crashed into Bui but he caught it, pushing it back at Hiei crashing him into walls swallowing him whole.
"Hiei" Raven gasped turning her face away from the arena she freely let tears stream down her face. "Idiot" She tried to rub them away but they showed no signs of stopping.
"Raven-"Eli started.
"He's dead. I love Hiei I can't help it I tried not to but damnit I do, so much" She cried. "hell I said he was stupider then a trained monkey who says that? Who tells the one person who-"
'This brings out my next attack-" Hiei's voice pierced through her hysteria she turned, eyes wide open she rubbed them to make sure what she was seeing wasn't just her eyes seeing what they wanted to.
"Hiei" She gave a nervous chuckle. "He's alive" For the second time that tournament she had thought Hiei to be dead only to be pleasantly surprised. Raven hugged Eli tight, he began to turn blue, with little air getting into his lungs.
"I'd like to be alive too" he croaked. She loosened her hug and ran down to the arena wall she watched as the match continued.
"Countless centuries countless masters tried to harness the power of the darkness technique. Only I have had the courage the strength and the abandon to realize its glorious potential. I have the power of the black dragon because now I am the dragon" Hiei explained how he had not only survived the dragon, but consumed and harnessed it. Bui relentlessly tried to beat Hiei but was no longer in the same ballpark as the demon; Hiei seemed barely phased by his punches. Hiei ended the match crashing Bui into the stands.
"The second fight is over Hiei takes the point' Juri announced. Hiei jumped down from the wrecked ring, victorious. Raven let out a sigh tears still sporadically fell from her eyes, Hiei was alive 'for now' She gave a silly grin he would live to fight another day.
"Awesome job Hiei" Yuske gave a thumbs up.
"Yeah real awesome. How about you go about 20 yards that way and fight the rest of them" Kuwabara was a tad frightened by the demon, who outwardly disliked him, and his new power.
"That's against the rules now you cretin. Besides my attack expired. I don't know if your brains can imagine it but this attack drained a good deal of my energy' He paused to yawn. "I'll require some hibernation to get it back. Think you can manage to find a safe place for my body where it won't get stepped on?" As tired as he was he was as serious and brash as always. "Listen you two" He pointed at the two humans. "I'm trusting you two against my better judgment only because I have no other choice. Take care of the Toguro brothers. If I wake up and we've lost I swear I'll kill you all" And with that Hiei fell to the ground into a heavy slumber. He had done it he had mastered the dragon and secured his team a point.
--Dream--
"Damnit it woman just because it's broken doesn't mean you can move it anyway you please" Hiei winced.
'Oh such a cry baby. You can take on a whole group of demons just for the hell of it but you can't stand a poor girl like me twisting your leg a bit. And FYI it's not broken" She stuck out her tongue as she inspected the damage.
"Hn. Demon's don't bicker with me" He crossed his arms.
"Only try to kill you. I'll be right back I'll need two first aid kits for this mess. Don't go anywhere" She grinned.
"Oh yes very funny.' He sat up on her bed looking at how his blood was staining her sheets when he heard a strange sound. After some quick searching he found the source, Raven's cell phone, the screen read: one new text. He pushed a button and more words appeared: are you coming or what? Raven walked in and saw Hiei staring at the small device.
"Such a snoop" She snatched it back. 'You might be a thief but not in my house" She shoved it deep in her pocket.
"Where are you supposed to be?" He glanced at where the phone was buried.
"A party" She shrugged.
"Don't you usually have parties here? I should know, they're a major inconvenience how can I be around so many-"
"This party is at Eli's Aunt's place. It isn't just a drinking party" She corrected.
"Hn you people have parties for things other than alcohol" He rolled his eyes.
"It's a birthday party"
"Birthday parties. hn a waste of time much like all these other human holidays. Whose glorious birthday is it?" Hiei slouched his shoulders looking up at her with curious eyes.
"Stop being so nosey like you care" She snapped, she had all but finished his bandages.
"Hn" He scowled looking closer he could see Raven was a bit sad. "Yours?" He watched her face change. "it's your birthday, your party. Fool what are you doing here?"
"bandaging your leg." Raven shrugged a smile on her face.
"Hn. You should've told me I would've gone to kurama I just-"
"Well I thought you preferred that I did-"
"I do but, a party for a birthday without the person who-"
"Hiei I staid because I wanted to help you, parties can wait I mean they're a big waste of time. Maybe I'll get you to come with me not like you'll be doing much of anything else tonight" She kissed him on the cheek.
"Hn don't count on it" He sneered but the sneer turned into a small smile. 'She cares about me. Enough that she'd miss fun with her foolish friends, to nurse me back to health. I thought she just liked me well enough. She really cares.'
"Fine but then that means you have to grant me a birthday wish" She grinned.
"Hn What am I a genie? what is your stupid wish?" If she had told him to steal a polar bear from the zoo he would have, he finally realized that Raven cared for him and that he truly cared for her too. She flopped down on the bed pulling his collar to turn his face kissing him passionately.
"Still think it's stupid?" She said between kisses.
--end of dream--
"He really needs to learn not to talk in his sleep" Raven sat on the floor of the locker room chuckling at the unconscious demon.
'Well I think that it's good for him to let down his guard once in a while don't you think?" Kurama questioned.
"That's why he barely sleeps, doesn't like putting his guard down doesn't like being vulnerable. Can't say I blame him" Raven shrugged remembering the countless times she had turned over in bed to see Hiei glaring a hole into the ceiling or moving outside to his tree.
"Does he let his guard down with you? If you don't mind me asking"
"Depends, Hiei let you know what he wants you to know, no more no less" Raven sighed. "But I can be a nosey pest and sometimes he caves" Raven gave a small laugh.
"You two are good for each other. When I first met you I thought Hiei was going to kill you but I see I-"
"When he first saw me he thought the same thing" Raven grinned within the first three minutes after meeting Hiei he had his sword at her throat, but he hadn't killed her, he had saved her from the harshness of the demon world and she saved him from the harshness of his own mind. 'What are you staring at?" Then it hit her. "Oh this" She ran her hand over her shoulder it still hurt a bit; she still didn't know exactly what Hiei had meant by it.
"Is there a reason you look so sad Raven?"
"Hmm. No. Hiei and I got in a fight right after he…"
"He marked you" Kurama finished the sentence for her.
"Yes and I just don't know if now he regrets it" She bit her lip.
"Hiei doesn't make decisions-"Just then Hiei began to stir.
"Where am I? How long have I been out?" Hiei sat up holding his head his mind was hazy and so was his vision.
"We're in the locker room and you've been hibernating for a little over six hours" Kurama answered politely.
"Six hours?! Well who won the tournament?" Hiei's yelled.
'I'm afraid I can't answer that one. Nothing's changed since you passed out Yuske and Kuwabara got bored and went for a walk"
"You're not making any sense!"
"It's taken time to organize since you leveled half the stadium" after Kurama finished all that could be heard was the stifled laughter of the girl sitting on the floor in the corner. 'Raven' He stared at her for a moment, like he didn't believe she was there.
"In the flesh." She remarked weakly, knowing that he was surprised, but not knowing what he'd do next.
"I'm going to check on Kuwabara and Yuske" Kurama made his exit.
"Listen idiot I know you told me not to come here but you know what I'm my own-"
'Shut up" Hiei sat down on the bench.
'Don't tell me to shut up. Now I'm probably only going to say this once-"
"Shut up" Hiei repeated.
'Stop telling me to-"
"Shut up fool I have something to say" Hiei sneered.
"Well say it" Raven huffed, crossing her arms.
"Hn." He looked up at her a worried look on his face. "I meant it" he nodded to Raven's hand that was still covering his mark. "I'll only say I love you once because love is a-"
"Silly and weak emotion I know I know" She rolled her eyes a broad smile on her face. He walked over to her took her hand to help her to her feet then pulled her into a hard kiss. They had missed each other so bad; they held each other close ensuring that no one would leave no one would huff off in anger. Raven finally pulled back from the kiss her face flushed, but Hiei didn't give her time to catch her breath he kissed her again.
"Fool don't ever follow me into battle like this again" He frowned when that kiss ended.
"I can hold my own idiot" She ran her hand through his starchy hair.
"I had to carry back your unconscious body from out of the brush" He sneered.
"I did that on purpose" She laughed she proceeded to kiss and nip at his neck; he pulled her over to the bench pinning her beneath him.
"I just got the official word the ring is now in place and we'll be ready to start in 30 minutes please proceed to your seats in an orderly fashion" The loud speaker announced.
"Nothing good ever comes from that cursed box" Hiei growled.
A/n probably one more chapter maybe two. I'd do another sequel but I don't know what I'd do it about since I don't like the 3rd season