The auditorium fell into a hush as the curtains on the stage drew back revealing a group of twenty-five children seated in brown folding chairs. A woman well into her sixties stood at the front of the stage smiling and waiting for the final whispers to die down before beginning her speech.

"Good evening ladies and gentleman and welcome to our 17th annual city spelling bee!"

A wave of quiet applause filled the air followed by the loud ranting from the center row where a few apparitions sat.

"GO RINKU!!!"

"KICK HIS ASS LITTLE BUDDY!"

"Attention!" The woman called. "Please, before we begin. I would like to state the rules. If a student misspells the word they are disqualified. However when we get down to our final two spellers if one student should miss the word they are not disqualified until the next speller has had a turn…if he or she should also spell their word incorrectly then they will both receive another turn, so on and so forth until we have a winner. Boys and girls we shall start with Ms. Jillian's home schooled students, Beginning with Rinku."

"Go Rinku!!!" A chorus shouted from the center row including a giant foam finger.

/////////

"Aww man." The brunette boy grumbled, walking up to the microphone in front of the stage.

"Are you ready?" The officiator asked.

The star cheeked child gave a small nod trying to ignore his friends encouragements.

"Rinku your word is: consciousness."

"Consciousness, C-O-N-S-C-I-O-U-S-N-E-S-S, consciousness."

"Correct."

//////////

"Yes." Shishi praised from his seat. "This is in the bag."

"Well it's good for laddie." Jin smiled. "Can you imagine how embarss'n it'd be to be the first bloke up there and misspell your word." He laughed. "But he's smart'er than we give him credit for, that's for sure."

The ice master raised a brow from his seat. "Jin…spell consciousness."

"C-o-n-s-h-e..no s-h-I…s-h-u-t-u-p!" He grinned.

"Witty." The ice master sighed.

"All of you better s-h-u-t-u-p. Before you get us thrown out of here." Genkai sighed, wishing they weren't in a school so she could have her usual 'I'm surrounded by dimwits' cigarette.

"I'm so damn proud of that little bastard I could bust." Chu grinned.

"Shh. Here comes Carol's little spawn." Shishi glared.

"Choke, choke, choke, choke." Jin began chanting quietly, before receiving an elbow from Touya.

"They're just kids." He hissed.

"Eddy, your word is: questionnaire."

"Questionnaire," Eddie said, standing in front of the microphone. "Q-U-E-S-T-I-O-N-N-A-I-R-E. Questionnaire."

A small curse was muttered by the samurai before directing a glare to the cheering parents on the other side of the auditorium. "Pfft. Rinku's word was harder, much harder."

"You know it's pretty strange hearing you praise Rinku." The blonde observed. "but then again you'd do that to anyone if it served a purpose for you…in this case putting that human woman to shame."

"At least it's a noble cause."

///////////////

"That is correct, Eddy. Next is Katie from Mrs. Adina's class." The officiator announced.

Eddy grinned, giving a quick thumbs up to his family in the audience , before turning around and heading to his seat.

Rinku watched him walk down the aisle throwing a glare his way as Eddie flashed him a crude grin. 'Smug bastard, insulting us. I'll show him just what us 'inferior foreigners' can do.' The brunette grinned a plan forming in his head.

Round after round continued to go by disqualifying over half the students in the auditorium. When round six came around only five students were left. The apparitions were grinning from ear to ear every time Rinku finished another round triumphant. Chu and Jin were alternating between a series of cheers and trying to encourage the rest of the audience to do the wave.

"Correct Isis. You may take your seat now. Up next is Taki from Mr. Doj's class."

The redheaded girl named Isis skipped down the aisle taking the empty seat next to Rinku. "Hi." She whispered when she sat down.

"Um, Hi." Rinku stared. "Isis, right? Good job."

"Thanks Rinku. You're doing great. I didn't know some of the words you got. But Miss. Jillian did say you were tops."

"Oh you're another student of Miss. Jillian…um…are you a…"

The small girl blinked her brown eyes. "Am I?"

"Um." Rinku gulped. "Never mind." He sighed looking away.

"An apparition?" She smiled, leaning in to whisper in his ear.

Rinku blinked leaning on the edge of his chair. "Y-you are?"

"You can't tell?" Isis smiled.

The star marked child squinted his eyes for a moment in the faded presence of her aura he cold barely make out two small cat ears on top of her head. "Wow." He smiled. "I could barely tell from your concealment spell…Is it a potion or talisman?"

"Um..it's this weird pink potion, but it's from a fruit my dad gets from this blonde apparition who lives over in Sparling forest.

"I live in Sparling forest." The boy grinned. "My roommate Suzuka sells concealment stuff and weapons."

"That must be who he gets it from. My family and I live west of the forest; Rushing Lakes area."

"Rushing Lakes? That's only like a thirty minute walk from my house."

"Probably ten if you ran." She smiled. "You should come over sometime…a lot of apparitions live there as well most of them with kids our age."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I mean I haven't heard of any other apparitions living in your area…Do you have many friends close by?"

"Well…not really."

"You should come by this week then." She smiled. "I'll introduce you around."

"Sounds great."

"Rinku, dear." The referee smiled. "It's your turn."

"Oh sorry." Rinku blinked, standing up and walking towards the microphone. "Ready."

////////////////

"What the hell is he doing?" Shishi blinked watching the distracted child walk towards the front of the stage.

"Flirt'in with the pretty little Sheila from the looks of it." Chu grinned, chest puffing out slightly in pride. "That's my boy, a chip of the old block."

"Let's hope it's not too big a piece." Suzuka commented. "You've already taught him it's better to forfeit a match rather than lose the chance of a date."

/////////////

"Your word is…magnificence."

"Magnificence M-A-G-N-I-F-I…"

////////////

The demonic group held their breath, eyes glued to the stage.

"Come on Rinku." Suzuka muttered. "I before E, except after C."

///////////

"C-E..N-C-E. Magnificence."

"That is correct."

////////////

A collective sigh of relief was issued from the center row of the audience. "Way to go Rinku!" Chu shouted, clapping his hands.

"No sweat lad, shake off your doubts your do'in great!" Jin's accented encouragements filtered to the stage.

"I told you." The tengu glared, giving a more modest applause. "Women and competitions don't mix."

Suzuka paused in his clapping to turn disbelieving eyes to his friend. "Shishiwaka…do you ever follow your own advice?"

////////

As two more rounds went by the contest was down to it's last three competitors Rinku, Isis, and Eddy. The three youths had just taken a small break as the stage was rearranged so the only three chairs were left, and lined up single file.

"Looks like it's about to start again." Touya observed.

"I must say I'm impressed." Genkai praised. "I wasn't sure he would be able to get this far."

"He's gonna go farther than that I say." Jin smiled. "I can feel it the lad's gonna win."

"Even if he doesn't." Touya interrupted. "He has a lot to be proud of."

////////////

"And now we begin our next round. We shall start with Ms. Isis."

The redhead gave a nervous smile, giving a look to Rinku."Don't worry. You'll do fine." Rinku grinned.

"I hope." Isis smiled, walking up to the microphone.

"Isis. Your word is…representatives."

"Representatives…R-E-P-R-E-S…E-N-T-A-T…E-V-I-S. Representatives?" She finished nervously.

"I'm sorry Isis. That is incorrect. The correct spelling is R-E-P-R-E-S-E-N-T-A-T-I-V-E-S. Congratulations on making it into third place."

Isis smiled, giving a small curtsy before walking back stage. Passing by Rinku she threw him a small wink before mouthing good luck as she made her way behind the curtains.

"Hmm. One Gaijin down, one more to go." Eddy smiled.

Rinku's eyes widened, quickly he turned his head to face the boy. "What did you call us?"

"A Gaijin. G-A-I-J-I-N, foreigner."

Rinku gritted his teeth together in anger. "You-"

"Eddy. You're up next dear."

"Hmm. I better go win this." Eddy smiled, walking up to the front of the stage.

"Eddy. Your word is…indispensable."

"Indispensable. I-N-D-I-S-P-E-N-S-A-B-L-E. Indispensable."

"Correct."

The boy flashed a smile to the audience and began his short trip back to his seat…another trip however seemed to be in his forecast as the young human's feet began to topple over each other causing the youngster to go ass over tea kettle into the aisle.

The audience was quick to watch in panic as several teachers went to aid the youth. The row containing Rinku's supporters however, was of a mixed reaction.

Shishi kept a firm hand over his mouth before blurting out in laughter. "Now that's grace kid! You're ready for the runway!"

"Shishiwaka~" Suzuka muttered, attempting to scold the samurai, but it was unsuccessful as he bit the inside of his cheek to keep a straight face.

"I can't believe you're laughing." Touya hissed. "That kid could have hit his head and really had permanent damage."

"Aye, you sound like a mother hen, Touya. The wee one's fine. It was just an accident." The elf waved.

"Yeah." Touya glared at the stage eyeing Rinku carefully. "An accident."

////////

Back on the stage Rinku gave a mild look of surprise as he discreetly tucked his yo-yo back in his pocket. "Gee wiz Eddy! Are you okay?"

The thirteen year old boy gave a glare before standing up and brushing off the teachers. "I'm fine, I'm fine." He fumed, taking his chair with a huff.

"Well, with that little accident over. Let's call back young Rinku to the stage."

Rinku smiled taking his place before giving a nod indicating he was ready.

"Rinku your word is…Fundamentally."

"Fundamentally." He began.

//////////

"Ladies and gentlemen we are now in round fifteen of our spelling bee and it has been a knuckle biting match between Eddy and Rinku these past few rounds. Let's give them a big round of applause."

The parents and friends gladly complied cheering on the last two students.

"I wish that old hag would quit stalling." Shishi grumbled.

"I know what you mean mate." Chu grinned. "I've got ants in my pants over the tension. I know my little buddy can do it!" He cheered, Shaking his fist in the air with a few 'Whoo-whoos'

Rinku grinned, giving a small wave back. The youth had spent the past few rounds enjoying the competition like he had at the last few tournaments. After all it was the rush of the competition, not the win itself that he loved.

"I see that mowhawked oaf still is in denial that you'll win."

On second thought he would really enjoy wiping the floor with that freckled face bastard.

"If Chu's in denial then you must be delirious."

"Hmp. Just don't feel too bad when I beat you. Kay, Rinku?" Eddy smirked.

"Eddy. Your turn dear."

The human boy smiled standing up and heading toward the mike.

"Don't trip this time." Rinku muttered.

"Eddy. Your word is…Correspondence."

"Correspondence. C-O-R-E-S-P-O-N-D-E-N-C-E, correspondence."

Rinku looked up at Eddy wide eyed. 'He forgot the extra R. Didn't he? There are two Rs.'

//////

Touya watched the stage and smiled. "Eddy's out."

"Indeed." Genkai smiled, crossing her arms over her chest.

"It's about time." Shishi grinned. "Now we just have to pray Rinku doesn't blow this opportunity.

/////////

"I'm sorry Eddy but that is incorrect."

Eddy stared at the old woman, disbelief all over his face. "I-I'm sorry?"

"Don't go too far though Eddy. If Rinku misses this word you both get another turn. Rinku, can you spell correspondence?"

Rinku smiled, walking over to stand by Eddy. "Correspondence. C-O-R-R-E-S-P-O-N-D-E-N-C-E. Correspondence."

//////////////

"Did…did he get it right?" Chu asked, elbowing the samurai next to him.

The tengu paused to slowly turn his head to the Aussie. Shishi opened his mouth about to make a comment about illiteracy, but instead he just smiled. "What do you think?"

Wow, sorry for going so long without an update guys. Nursing school has kept me busy…and what can I say for some reason when I get sick I am suddenly full of the creative spirit inside me…It must be all the Rx…/downs some more Nyquil/ Anyhow. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. We're getting to the wrap up point of this story. FINALLY! I'll have completed one for the first time in a while. Please know none of my stores are discontinued…they're merely late on updates…I actually have a few chapters half-written…it's just sometimes I forget and think I've posted them because I know how they're going to turn out…oops? Well anyhow I hope you all enjoyed. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE review. Oh and check out my new C2 community dedicated to these guys, 'The Tournament Six' Drop me a line if you wish to add a story or if you'd like to recommend one. If the flu continues I'll be posting hopefully over the holiday weekend…ha…ha…ha…lucky for you guys…bad for me.

-Siren

Gaijin- A Japanese term the literally means outsider, or non-Japanese, a lot of times it can be used with negative connotation.

All of these word are from the 2009 ninth grade spelling requirements…I put Eddy at about 12 ½ -13...and Rinku of course only LOOKS about that age in this timeline. I own nothing except for the plot in my head and a few OC's.