"Speaking"

Thoughts

Mental Conversation

Rei and Hiei had been living together for almost two weeks; Kurama had in fact discovered her in her cat form when Hiei was out one day and he'd stopped by to give him some news. The entire group had easily bought the story about her following him home, but Yuske demanded to know why she was always scratching at him when he tried to pet her.

He smells like a pervert so I don't want him to touch me. Was the reason she'd given when Hiei had asked her about it. No female in their right mind would allow a pervert to touch them in any way.

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"So what news did the demon with the red hair give to you?" Rei asked while they ate dinner.

Hiei had been doing a lot more training the last few days and she'd noticed the increase in his appetite.

"Kurama was here to inform me that the team is being made to compete in the Dark Tournament." Hiei told her putting more rice in his mouth.

"Sounds fun...I've been to it quite a few times." She said tapping her chopsticks against her bottom lip in thought.

"Well you're going again." Hiei said sipping his soup. "Your healing abilities will benefit me greatly, and you could learn a lot form watching the fights."

"When should I start packing?" She asked.
"Tonight, we leave the day after tomorrow." He answered.

Rei studied Hiei once the meal lapsed into silence. As far as masters went he was very different from her previous one and the ones she'd heard about, but in a very good way. He never yelled at her, he didn't abuse her in any way, he hardly ever ordered her to do anything unless he returned home injured or wanted his bath ready when he walked through the door.

Perhaps helping him during the tournament will make me feel more useful to him...right now I feel more like a house wife. She thought.

"I would imagine that house wives have less freedom than you in many ways." Hiei pointed out holding out his empty bowl, his silent way of telling her that he wanted seconds.

Rei blushed as she fixed him another bowl of rice. "What would you call me then? i don't really feel as though we have that master/servant relationship that we're supposed to."

"We're companions." Hiei shrugged without even needing to think about it. " You help me I help you...partners."

"I've never been a companion before." She mused giving him his food and returning to her own meal. "It's odd though...I thought that you would've been more comfortable with the other arrangement."

"I'm fin with both this is just what developed." He said.
"We'll so long as I am of use to you I am happy." She smiled

Every time she said something like that Hiei would feel weird. His Jagan pulsed, his heart beat was off, and he always found it difficult to look her in the eye because he knew if he did he would blush like an idiot. Therefore he never looked at her when he knew that she was going to smile at him a certain way.

Kurama was pretty much the only one to notice the way Hiei was acting. He was training hard and to the point of passing out which wasn't really new, but Kurama could see that e was also loosing his focus at some points. He hardly insulted Kuwabara or threatened anyone, and once he'd just silently done as he was told.

"Alright Hiei spill." Kurama said managing to corner the shorter demon after their final training session.
"What the hell are you on about now fox?" Hiei demanded growling.

"I know that something is bothering you, and I'd rather that you just come out with it instead of making things difficult."Kurama told him.

"It's nothing. My Jagan just acts strange when I'm around my...neighbor." Hiei sighed, "and I'm just trying to figure out why."

"What's it doing?" Kurama asked, "perhaps I can offer some insight."

Hiei by this point had just realized that instead of telling a complete and total lie, he'd told a good portion of the truth, and now there was no going back. Hiei sighed in defeat and told Kurama everything that happened when he was in the presence of the woman leaving out who the woman was.

"It sounds to me like you're developing an emotional attachment to her." Kurama said after a moment.
"You mean lust?" Hiei asked scowling, he could deal with lust, but he didn't think it was so simple.

"And some love." Kurama explained, "she is becoming important to you...perhaps you should do something special for her to see if she feels the same way."

"Great..." The demon growled.

Why couldn't it have just been lust! He thought. Though he had to admit if only to himself that he really didn't mind that Rei was becoming important to him. After all I am the most important person to her. Maybe I can get her to feel the same way about me at some point.

Hiei seemed a bit off when he came back from training, and it was making Rei feel strange. When he'd come in through the kitchen window (he rarely ever used the door) shirtless and covered in sweat and dirt, he'd responded to her greeting by pulling her into a tight embrace and whispering that she looked pretty in her dress in her ear. Then he went to take a shower.

And I could swear that he'd been inhaling my scent while I was cleaning the dinner dishes. She thought as she got ready for bed. Perhaps he was getting tired of just being partners, or maybe by some weird twist of fate he was actually developing feelings for her. Rei shook that last thought out of her head, if Hiei were to develop feelings for anyone it would be a beautiful demon that was just as powerful and merciless as he was.

I'm just a cute companion that doesn't mind waiting on him hand and foot. Like he said we're partners, one hand washing the other and all that.

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Hiei exited Rei's mind once she finally stopped thinking and fell asleep. He was amused by how nervous his actions had made her, but his new found feelings made him a bit bothered with the way she saw herself as nothing special.

Being bought and raised as a servant since the day of her birth, and having that disgusting bastard as a master really did a number on how she sees herself. He thought trying to figure out a way to get her feelings to reach the same level as his own.

How do I show her that she is special, since my nature forbids that I just come right out and tell her so?

Eventually his own thoughts died down giving way to sleep.

Rei was in Heaven if the way she was purring was any indication. On the third day of their time together Hiei had taken to petting her and scratching behind her ears or under her chin while she rested in his lap or his arms in her cat form. She was currently curled up against his chest while he held her in his arms and scratched behind her ears, but she was purring shamelessly.

The entire team was on a large boat with a bunch of other monsters all headed to the island where the Dark Tournament was to take place. Yuske was designated leader of the team, and was at the moment sitting on deck indian style his shoulders and head slumped forward as he slept. Kurama and Kuwabara were casually standing to his left both leaning against the ship's railing, Kuwabara muttering about cruises having cute waitresses and food. Hiei was skillfully balanced and standing on the railing; Rei had been right, stroking a kitten while watching his enemies and knowing full well that they were underestimating him more than usual was really inflating his ego and pumping him up for a fight. The other member of of the team was the significantly shorter than Hiei mysterious masked fighter. The boys all thought the new fighter was a guy, but Rei's delicate and much more heightened senses were easily picking up on the fact that the masked fighter was indeed a woman; She had no intention however of mentioning it to anyone. She had to have some fun of her own after all.

It's been so long since I've been on a trip. She thought letting out an exuberant purr as Hiei switched to her other ear.

"Rei you act as though I don't give you enough attention." Hiei chuckled at her over but sincere enthusiasm.
"What the hell does such a sweet little kitten see in you anyway shorty?" Kuwabara grumbled.

"Rei and Hiei have a lot in common actually." Kurama pointed out not mentioning that Hiei tended to remind him of a cat at times. "She loves and cares for him deeply."

"So when shorty finally makes a friend it turns out to be his new little pet?" Kuwabara teased. The oaf was a bit scared when she began to hiss and try to get at him with her claws.

"See just like Hiei." Kurama chuckled.

Hiei himself was amused at how she was lashing out at the buffoon. In fact he was tempted to let go of her and see what exactly she was capable of.

"Now, now Hiei allowing her to scratch Kuwabara's eyes out won't be good for team moral." Kurama said his tone both teasing and scolding.

Whatever Hiei was going to say was cut off by the captain of the ship making an announcement and another stupid remark from the buffoon about food, and before anyone could say anything else the entire ship began to shake; Kuwabara and Hiei getting into an argument about earthquakes.

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In the center of the deck a large elevated circular ring had risen. The captain didn't waste any time explaining to them that one person from each team would be entering in battle royal to determine which team would fight in the tournament. The preliminaries beginning with the masked fight volunteering to take them all on, and surprising everyone by eliminating everyone in one move, a move that looked a lot like Yuske's shotgun technique.

The demons were not to happy that the human team had won and shockingly decided to converge all at once on the small group of fighters and eliminate them.

"Stay next to the detective Rei, you don't want the blood of such lowly scum to stain your fur." Hiei told her.

Rei quickly got out of the way, and watched in admiration as Hiei cut down demon after demon with ease.

Its so beautiful like a work of art or a graceful dance! Honestly she had never seen Hiei look so beautiful. Despite hoe easy the fights were his crimson eyes still held his passion for the kill, the passion of a fighter. So much to love...wait love?She thought surprised that she had just thought such a thing.

Rei was so caught up in her own suddenly confusing thoughts that she hadn't even noticed the danger until Yuske started fighting in his sleep yelling something about an old lady that he was dreaming about beating him up.

What's got you so worked up? Hiei asked, he wasn't going to pry unless whatever it was continued to bother her.

I'm not really sure...I suppose it was just a random confusing thought.She responded jumping back into his arms.

The small group stood (with the exception of Yuske) by the rail as 'Hang Neck Island' finally came into view through the darkness of the night and the slight fog.

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The lobby of the really nice hotel they were staying in was posh and full of snobby rich people. Kuwabara mentioned something about not trusting adults that were dressed so fancy; Rei agreed with him, but only because she was familiar with the tournament and the committee's underhanded schemes and tactics. She didn't trust any of these people either, but being naive was the number one cause of death in their world.

Their hotel room was just as nice and they got complementary cups of coffee, though Yuske was still passed out on the couch, and Kuwabara suspecting foul play decided to drink what he brought instead. Hiei before seeing to his own drink poured Rei a saucer of milk.

"Why is there only one coffee cup on the table?" Kurama asked.

"Because I'm not drinking it," Kuwabara said. "we just discussed this."

"Yes, but there should be one more. One for you and one for Yuske." Kurama pointed out.

A reply from anyone was cut off by the sound of slurping.

Are you nervous about fighting that team tomorrow? Rei asked as she and Hiei relaxed on the windowsill in their room.

No, I'm looking forward to it,Hiei answered twirling the tip of her fluffy white tail between his thumb and index finger. A very lewd image of her tail and his oncoming boner flashing through his mind.

That tall demon who was in here with the rude kid that stole Yuske's coffee really seemed really interested in you...do you suppose that was his way of issuing you a challenge?She asked moving to stand her hind legs on his lap and her front paws planted on his abdomen as she looked up at him curiously.

Hiei glanced down at the little cat standing in his lap, she actually seemed a little worried about the upcoming fight. If he was challenging me the he must wish to die.He told her.

You'll need to be careful, who knows what dirty tactics they may try to use against you tomorrow. She said, the comity members will do anything to protect their interests and secure the bets that they place throughout the tournament.

Your knowledge of how things normally go just may come in handy a little later, but for now we need to rest. He told her.

I don't think I'll be able to sleep...I'm far too anxious. She sighed curling up on his leg, Maybe if I just lie here and do nothing until sleep comes to me.

I could put you to sleep. He suggested.

No I felt kind of weird when I woke up the last time you did. She told him.

AN: Another long chapter, and just a heads up I'll only be going into detail on my favorite parts from the show and a few of the fights from this point on, so if you at any point need a refresher on anything check episodes 27-66. No this will most likely not be as long, but it will cover as much as possible and will have more detail than all of my other fics. I will also start referring to them all by name.

I own nothing but Rei and the plot!

R&R please!