"Speaking"

Thoughts

Mental Conversation

Thankfully Genkai showed up to take her turn, so Hiei would have to be content to sit still just a little bit longer. It was during the commotion caused by weather or not the old woman in the ring now and the young woman that had been revealed as the masked fighter were truly the same person; that Rei shifted her form, and just as she had hoped the commotion and Shishi's arrogance display kept too many people from noticing.

"I don't know why you're being so cautious." Hiei interrupted the panicked way she was looking around, "I don't care who knows that you are no mere cat anymore."

"It's not these apparitions that I'm worried about." Rei murmured.

"We'll talk about that later, right now let's focus on the reason you've changed to your natural form." Hiei sighed he knew very well that the look of fear in her eyes was the same look that she'd had on the day that they'd met.

If her old master is here somewhere I'll need to keep an even closer eye on her. He thought.

Rei shook all of the negative thoughts out of her head before smiling. "Should I help your wounds along too Kurama?" She asked. "They don't look too serious at the moment, but it looks like that box also did a number on your spirit energy."

"If it won't be a bother." Kurama responded.

"Looks like Hiei has more than just a few tricks up his sleeve!" Juri announced.

"I'll say!" Koto added onto the commentary. "It's been awhile since a team has entered with such a rare demon in their support panel." The vixen added.

Having Rei ring side to treat their injuries was not against the rules, so long as she did not interfere with any of the matches. They also were on their own should any other demons or other apparitions get any ideas to take her.

"Sure thing, I'll need to take care of that bite on Hiei's shoulder before it can get infected, and of course that knock out of the ring fractured a rib or two." Rei sighed though her smile never wavered.

Hiei stayed still as her glowing hands hovered over his wounds. Rei was skilled enough to make it so that he felt nothing as she mended his flesh not even leaving behind a scar as evidence. It took her no time at all then she moved on to the few cuts and bruises that Kurama had received.

The final judgment had been made, and Genkai would be allowed to fight. Toguro put an end to anyone's disagreements from the crowd, and their had been a lot.

As the elder Toguro brother returned Koto's mike to her his shaded eyes swept over both sides of the ring.

Hiei and Kurama noticed his gaze and how Rei flinched and hid behind Hiei in an effort to shield her small form the bulky demons gaze. Her entire being trembling from the fear that she felt knowing that he out of everyone knew that she was there within snatching distance. Partially convincing her that her fear of fully revealing herself would be coming true.

"Could it be that Toguro is your former master?" Kurama asked. His emerald eyes remaining glued to the match beginning between ShiShi and Genkai.

"Not him…..worse." She whimpered.

Well, he won't be doing anything to you on my watch. Hiei glared at the ring.

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Shishi's first move it seemed was to twirl his weapon above his head;Useless, they all thought until the most god awful wailing sound had begun to emit from it.

Now Rei was trembling for a completely different reason as her ears tucked themselves against the top of her head and she used her hands to cover them. Unable to do much Hiei took her into his arms bridal style, and allowed her to curl into him.

Shishi struck then directly on Genkai's head thousands of ghostly skulls filling the stadium and biting the heads off of anyone that they came into contact with.

"Demon souls stripped of their bodies, it is said that their fury will destroy any living creature that they touch." Kurama explained. He and Hiei were both on alert despite the fact that they were the only ones remaining calm as the building's occupants were chased and killed. "I advise using an energy barrier to ward them off."

Just as the fox had finished his statement two of the skulls had tried to ambush them from behind, both demons simply knocking them out of existence before they could touch them.

The attention returned to the ring as things calmed down. The attack having left Genkai completely unscathed.

"Are you okay now?" Hiei asked, as he immediately had to take the question back as that horrible noise started up again. He could feel Rei's agony through their link, and wanted nothing more than to jump into the ring and end her pain.

Rei was actually relieved when Shishi attacked once again putting an end to that noise. Even more happy when she got to witness that blue haired ego maniac fall flat on his back twice. The fun and excitement of watching a legend such as Genkai completely taking her mind off of her fears for the moment.

Next came that strange old man who in the first few minutes of his match did just what Shishi did and made Kuwabara disappear.

Why did you guys even bring him along again? Rei asked.

I agreed to it for comic relief purposes, but at the rate he's going you'd have made a better teammate. Hiei sighed.

He'd spent a bit of time improving her speed and teaching her a few offensive moves to go along with the defensive ones that she already knew. They wouldn't do much, but keep her alive until he could take care of things, but she could have easily taken care of Kuwabara's first two opponents. Shishi and this clown however, she would have had a hard time with.

Genkai after stepping in once Kuwabara had been eliminated easily defeated the so called beautiful Suzuka without even trying or using any of her energy. Even Rei had to admit that Genkai's handy work had been an improvement over the clown make up, and the ridiculous red nose that the old woman had snatched from his face earlier in the match.

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Once the matches for the day had ended the small group of fighters were met by their small cheering section as they made their way to the exit of the building and back to the hotel. Hiei and Kuwabara not taking very much time before they started a rather amusing argument. The Star fighter of the day leaving to have some time on her own, no one but Rei seeming to notice, all of them too focused on making fun of Kuwabara.

Rei sat on the bed in the room she was sharing with Hiei. The demon in question was in the shower. She was a little nervous now that it was time for them to talk; Hiei had told her that he'd had a few things to think over and consider, and tonight he'd said that they would speak. Rei knew that no matter what he told her in regard to the rather strong feelings that had developed within her, she wanted (if he would continue to permit it) to remain by his side, and continue on as they had been.

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Hiei had cut off their link once the matches had ended for their team. Genkai had asked that he and Kurama watch team Toguro's fights and learn some of what they would be getting into, but he has more important ways to spend his time. He needed to have a much awaited talk with Rei, he could see how anxious she was about everything that was going on between them. That conversation was the first thing on his to do list.

Then he had some training to do to get ready for the finals. As of that moment the 'Dragon of the darkness flame' was his strongest attack. Toguro had been watching them since day one and he was going to need better control and a few more tricks up his sleeve to come out of this.

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Rei was still sitting right on their bed where he'd left her trying and failing to distract herself with one of Kurama's text books.

"Rei we need to talk for a moment." His words snapping the girl to attention. "I am completely aware of how your feelings towards me have changed, as well as how confused you have been made by the events of last night.

Hiei was trying to talk this out by using a few manurisims that he'd picked up from spending so much time with the fox. He couldn't change the gruffness of his tone, but everything else was coming off calm and collected.

Rei nodded. Hiei wasn't one to say very many words unless he was insulting someone. She knew that this conversation was going to be difficult for someone so cut off from their emotions, so she would only speak if it was necessary and allow him to say what he needed to.

"It would seem that on an instinctual, and even personal level that you view me to be an ideal mate." He explained. "I possess qualities that attract you."

"I understand." She nodded again.

"If I am going to be honest with you, you too possess many attractive qualities." Hiei continued. "Which is why I have decided to slightly alter our relationship and court you."

Rei's shock at his words was clear on her face, and she still managed to convey how happy she was that he was willing to try and form something more permanent with her.

"Now come on we have some much needed training to do if we're both going to come out of the finals." He told her making his way out the door.

"But you just got out of the shower!" Rei scolded following him out of the room.

Hiei was putting himself through some crazy intense training pushing his control of the dragon and his energy to the limits. He knew that if he failed not only would his life be forfeit, but Rei would be at risk of ending up back with her former master, whom happened to be connected to the Toguro's in some way.

"Sakyo(?) will more than likely keep me alive only until he deems he's punished me enough, or my will has been completely broken."

"Who?" Hiei questioned pausing for a moment.

"He's pretty much Toguro's boss, and if the way Toguro had been behaving these last few days is anything to go by he's also the reason that you all are even here." Rei explained.

"Who he is won't matter come tomorrow." Hiei grunted.

AN: Thank you guys for reading and supporting this story this far. I have decided to end this with the end of the tournament so only one or two chapters until we're done. However I will continue this in small cute one shots whenever some inspiration hits me, this won't be the end of Hiei and Rei.

I own nothing bit a portion of the plot and Rei. Some original dialogue from the anime was used as I love the dialogue from the fights and Hiei's insults.

R&R