Skip a few days:

Kurama's POV:

I see the bloodthirsty eyes around me. We're all waiting to board a ship to take us to this island where the next tournament will take place. Yusuke, Kuwabara, Hiei, and their mentor Genkai form a loose circle around me with Hiei staying close. I'll admit I'm nervous, but at the same time, excited. I don't know. Maybe its because I haven't done anything exciting at all with my life.

I look down at Hiei. He has his emotionless face on. He's probably worried about me, ready to take on any demons that try to harm me, or something like that.

I try to keep my poise as the loud voice of the captain interrupt my train of thought. "Listen up you demons. I'm here to take you to Hanging Neck Island where your team of five must survive battling other demonic teams. If any of you want to back out, now's the chance. We ain't taking any cowards to a place with demons ready to kill you at every corner. Then again, maybe we will." He catches my eye and squints. Hiei captures his gaze and throws back a warning look. "Very well. I hope you're prepared to die." He turns and walks on the dock to the platform leading up the ship.

We let the other teams go first, of course. I feel Hiei slip his hand in mine. He stares at me with gentle eyes. "It'll be okay." I read his lips. I return a nod and smile. It will be okay, wouldn't it?

As the ship sail, other demons stare at our team, still bloodthirsty. Yusuke and Hiei along with Kuwabara put on a threatening face, which is the only thing keeping them back. And perhaps the dark energy Yusuke and Hiei are emitting.

Genkai comes to stand next to me with her calm façade. "Don't worry, Kurama. No one is going to touch you. I'm sure Hiei's very protective of you and will probably rip the demon who hurts you piece by piece. You leave all the battling to us. Just stand back and watch."

Yusuke's listening in to what Genkai's saying. He snickers. "Yeah watch me and the team kick some ass. And you can also enjoy the old hag, that is if she's not too old for fighting."

Genkai doesn't hesitate to hit him across his face. I hold in a laugh. Then the playfulness mood dies down when a low class demon ten times the size of Hiei approaches us.

"Can we help you?" Kuwabara asks casually.

The demon ignores him and instead eyes me. "Looks like you brought some food for us, Human Team. We'll take him gratefully." The demon lunges for my throat, but the blade of Hiei's sword quickly pierces his stomach.

"Don't you dare touch him. Because if you do, I'm going to have to kill you." He warns, then quickly pulls back his sword. Blood gushes out from the demon's stomach and Hiei sends him flying, the railing at the other side of the ship stopping him.

"And that was a demon who was about to do something." Yusuke grins at me then at Hiei. "I wonder what he'll do when someone makes a scratch on your face Kurama."

I put on a smile for him. I meet his crimson eyes and I just want to hug him. If he knows me, then I know he can tell that I'm shaking and that my heart is vibrating.

For a couple more hours, no one tries to do anything. The captain's loud voice erupts from the megaphones attached to the ship. "You fools think that all of you are going to participate? Hell, you are dead ass wrong! Only one team will make it. And which team will you ask? Lets just say its survival of the fittest. The last team standing will be registered as the last team to compete in the tournament. Any survivors from wiped out teams will be thrown off board." Silence. "You may begin."

Of course being the odd ones out, we just have to be the target of everyone else. Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Hiei smiles.

"Well Hiei, don't go crazy and kill all of them. Save some fun for me. I wanna kick some ass." Yusuke clenches his fist, his smile widening.

"Just don't get in my way." Hiei draws his sword, eying the ones he wants to kill.

Genkai stands next to me, still with that calm face. "Genkai-"

"Leave it to them Kurama. Have some faith and watch. Those boys are stronger than you think."

Hiei looks over his shoulder to me. I give him my usual smile and I make out a faint blush. Next thing I know, the ship is a battleground.

Hi guys. Sorry I haven't posted in weeks. I got surgery so I was out of it then school started and that wasn't good either. So here's a little something before I go back to school. Hope you like it! - Love and all Air