AN: I forgot to mention in the last author's note that there is A LOT of backstory before we get to the good stuff. I mean...I don't think it's a ridiculous amount, but it does feel like a lot; especially since as a writer all you really want to do is write the big chapters and scrap the filler. But let's face it folks, the filler makes the story, or at least it makes the big chapters more exciting. The first few chapters are going to seem very familiar and that's because I really needed an in to introduce my character. Sorry for that, but they are worth it, I promise. And hopefully my writing style isn't too drab and the reading goes fast. Also, this fix is barely Beta'd, and for that I apologize. That's why it's ok to ask questions if things seem too muddled or confusing. I feel like I've forgotten something else, too...but I can't seem to put my finger on it...Oh! Right! I forgot the disclaimer. I'm only doing this once, so pay close attention...I own neither YYH nor any of its characters. I only own the characters that you will know were't originally there (sorry, no spoilers). Anywho...off we go on another adventure!
File 1: Hanging-Neck Island
The wind held a bitter taste that day as a dilapidated vessel prepared to ship out on an inky sea towards its nefarious destination. The foghorn sounded last call as last-minute passengers rushed from the dock and trekked the boardwalk onto the ship. The boat would leave with or without them and those at the end of the stairway climbed faster as the vessel pulled away from the dock, spilling the temporary structure and some unlucky passengers into the bay below.
A figure stood at the bow of the ship wearing a bemused expression underneath the hood of a white cloak. Her eyes scanned the sea below as she listened to the muffled shouts of those who were unfortunate enough to be dropped into the sea. Every year it was the same; fools from all classes and all walks of the demon plain would cram themselves onto ships just like this one to be audience to the age-old practice of watching demons torture and murder each other in the equally age-old conquest of greed. The girl wrinkled her nose and scoffed at the thought, "Disgusting."
She turned her face to the wind as she tried to remember why she came back to The Dark Tournament every year. Ah, yes. The pay was good and living in the Ningenkai wasn't cheap. More importantly, it brought thousands of demons to one place. The Tournament made her job easy. Instead of scouring the vastness of the Ningenkai in search of one demon in particular, it brought them together under one dome. So, every year she accepted the offer the rich human scum made and journeyed to Hanging-Neck Island.
It amused her that they called on her. She found it comical and ironic that they would need a person of her skills to even attend The Dark Tournament, since most of the competitors ended up dead anyway. One of the human owners explained that having a healer like her there keeping the fighters in tip-top condition meant more money was made. It had something to do with bets and other black-market dealings, but she had stopped listening halfway through the explanation. It twisted her stomach and left a sour taste in her mouth knowing what humans were capable of doing for large sums of cash.
A sudden gust of wind interrupted her musings and had her slight frame stumbling sideways. If it weren't for the metal railing that encompassed the ship's deck she was sure that she'd have been sent overboard.
"You oughta watch yerself, lassie. That coulda ben one helluva doozy, yes it could," said a disembodied voice.
The girl, still clutching for life to the railing, whipped her head around to peer behind her. The source of the voice – a boisterous looking fellow with wild hair the color of poppies and a horn protruding from the middle of his forehead – was hovering above the deck with a wide grin plastered across his face. She narrowed her eyes at him and righted herself. Turning around to fully face this unwelcome intruder she tensed and tried to make herself seem as imposing as possible. "Thanks for the advice," she ground out.
The floating demon held his hands out in front of him, trying to diffuse the tiny woman's palpable anger. "I meant nothin' by it, I didn'. There's no need ta be getting' defensive."
The girl narrowed her eyes suspiciously at the newcomer. She knew all too well that you could never be too careful around the demons that came to these tournaments. She studied him for a few moments longer, taking in the amused glint in his cornflower eyes. Deciding that he meant her no malicious intentions she began to walk briskly back towards the opening that lead to the interior of the ship, giving him her back. He followed her, hovering with his legs crossed and hands behind his head.
"So," he started, "are you competin' in the tournament?"
"No," she countered flatly. She really didn't want to deal with this right now. She had more pressing matters on her mind.
"Oh," he said, hearing the tone in her voice but forgoing the warning. "Just comin' to watch the matches then?" He added energetically.
She stopped her march to about-face and glare at him. "Watching a bunch of muscle-headed, power-hungry demons kick the snot out of each other is not my idea of entertainment. I'm simply here to help the ones who survive their fights, heal," she said heatedly.
As if the notion amused him even more, the redhead's grin grew wider and he excitedly exclaimed, "Ah! A demon nurse of sorts, are ye? I migh' have to fake a stomach ache so I can get the chance ta see ya again," he finished with a wink in her direction.
The girl had to hide her amused laugh with a snort, but his large pointed ears picked up on her mirth. After a few moments of desperately trying to contain her laughter, she finally gave in and laughed outright at him. It had been a long time since someone had so blatantly tried to pick up on her with such unbridled sincerity. He joined her in her laughter and noted how lovely the sounds coming from her were. She had a soft voice when she wasn't hiding it behind contempt.
Composing herself, she let a few more giggles escape from behind the hand covering her mouth. "You know," she started, "I haven't talked to a demon so…" she paused as she searched for the word, "…lively in decades."
His pointy ears began to wiggle and a faint red stained his cheeks. He took this time to touch his feet to the wood of the deck. Slowly he bent forward, trying to get a better look at his acquaintance's face. But he found that he could only see her small pink lips turned up slightly underneath her cloak. As he rose to stand, he put his hands behind his head, "Is tha so?" He started. "Well, glad I could be of service ta ya, I am! Maybe ya could leave the medical ward ta watch one o' me matches?"
The mirth in his eyes was too much to deny and she nodded her head slightly, "I'll think about it."
A comfortable silence held for only a moment before he stuffed his hands in his baggy white pants and introduced himself. "Mah name's Jin by tha way. Jin, Master o' the Wind." The way he said it gave her the impression that he expected her name in return.
"Pleasure," she said without missing a beat, "but I don't give out my name to demons I've just met."
The look that befell his face as he stared at the top of her pristine cloak hood was deflated. "I don' see why no'. After all, tha was a mighty fine laugh we jus' had, it was."
The girl craned her neck to look him in the eye. He was tall, very tall, especially when compared to her. Jin had at least two heads on her, and that was excluding his shaggy red hair. The top of her head didn't even reach his shoulders.
As she stared up at him, she sighed. He had such an innocent look about him and it was very likely that she would never see him again. Maybe this one time it wouldn't hurt to give someone her name. With a small hint of exasperation hidden in her voice, she replied, "Kamara. Master of Nothing, but a Jack of all trades."
He laughed loudly at the joke he knew was pointed at him. "Kamara then, is it? Tha's a mighty pretty name, it is."
"Thanks," she said, unmoved by the overjoyed tone in his voice. He moved to say something else but was interrupted by the blare of the ship's horn.
Both their heads turned toward the west. Coming into view over the horizon was their destination. Hanging-Neck Island. It looked more ominous and foreboding each time she saw it. The sea that surrounded the scraggly rocks that protruded from the belly of the island was black and inky and seemed to be in a constant state of turmoil. It never rested. The shadows that were cast in between the caverns and caves that nestled the cliff face seemed to move and teem with malicious intent. This place, where humans pitted demons against demons, where so many had lost their lives for the sole purpose of entertainment, made a chill run up Kamara's spine.
"So tha's Hanging-Neck Island?" Jin let out a breathy whistle.
Kamara nodded, "That's it alright."
"I can't wait 'til it's ours," Jin said excitedly, ears twitching in anticipation.
"Yours?" She inquired.
He nodded at her and smiled from ear to ear. "Me an' mah team. When we win the tournament we're goin' ta wish fer tha island, we are. So we can be free."
Kamara smiled and shook her head. Freedom…on an island. Then again, she had heard far more malicious wishes than ownership of a cursed island.