InuYasha Fan Fiction / Fruits Basket Fan Fiction / Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ The Tournament ❯ Chapter 3 ( Chapter 6 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

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Third Chapter! Gomen if it was too long since I updated! I was busy with my relatives! You know, family reunion? So, anyhow, I'm back on this story…And I must also add, could we just overlook the little problem with the Sohmas turn into animal thing? Unless it would be better for me to say that the curse was already broken? I don't know….. sorry… I'm on the verge of having major writer's block….

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Brriiinngg!!

The bell signaling break sounded at Kaiwaia High.

As it might turn out, Storm had almost all her classes with Kyo, Yuki, Tohru, Uo, and Hana. She was content with her life as of present…

"So, the cat's got himself a girl," drawled a way too polite voice.

Kyo's eyes shot to the door where his freshman relative stood, leaning against the door frame.

"Ah, what do YOU want, you cow?!" he growled.

"Nothing. I simply heard the news and stopped by to congratulate you and your special girl."

"Don't you dare make him go black, you stupid cat," hissed Yuki.

"Oh, shut your trap, you puny rodent!" snarled Kyo.

Storm, for once, didn't lose her temper and stalked over to Haru.

"I'm Storm. Nice to meet ya," she gritted out, jamming a clawed hand out.

Haru eyed her for a moment, then took the offered hand, putting pressure to it. Storm's crimson eyes laughed at the little challenge and she too applied pressure, ever so slightly crushing Haru's hand.

He looked down at her in approval, nodding.

"I am Hatsuharu Sohma, but you may call me Haru."

Storm nodded.

"So, Kyo… very nice choice. A wolf, hm? Yes, very nice," stated Haru.

"Why you… little… I bet YOU couldn't get yourself a girl if you even tried!" Kyo yelled.

"Actually, I really have to say that I've got my eye on one in my Phys. Ed. Class. She seems very nice."

Kyo smirked.

"Well then, we'll just have to meet her. Why don't you ask her out and we can introduce her to the damn rat's girlfriend too?"

"Very well, after school then," replied Haru, accepting the little challenge.

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AN: Gomen nasai! I feel so bad for not updating, but I've been really busy and I totally forgot until I remembered that I'd not finished a fic that I started to read!!! OMG I'm SO SORRY!!!

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Haru approached the girl during a break, where she was standing in the hall. Unfortunately, the President of the Student Council got to her before he could.

"What's this?! Green Hair?! And in beaded braids too?! This is unacceptable!!!!"

The girl turned her blue eyes on him.

At first glance, you would've thought that she didn't hear what was being said to her. Except for the fact that a spilt second later, she nearly exploded.

"Is there a PROBLEM with the way I dress, Mr. President-of-this-damned-to-hell-crapped-up-student-council?" she asked a little too nicely.

The boy before her flinched and stepped back somewhat jerkily.

"Ah, no, no, nothing at all…" he trailed off, still pondering whether or not he should report her or let it slide.

At this time, Haru decided to intervene.

"Ah, Mr. President-of-this-damned-to-hell-crapped-up-student-council. Remember when you ASKED me about MY hair?" he inquired.

The student council president was fidgeting now.

"Er…yes, of course… er…your hair…it's…FINE…. Yes, yes….no worries…I'll just be going now….er…." he muttered, inching back along the hall.

Once he was gone, Haru turned to the girl. She was staring at him.

"Uh, yea, sorry about that," said Haru, "He can get rather irritating. The name's Haru."

Seeming to snap out of a daze, the girl nodded.

"Taranee," she said.

"Well, I just came by to ask you something."

"Oh?"

"Er, yes. My cousins are in the year above us, and they asked me to go on a little "lets-meet-everyone-and-find-out-what-kind-of-girl-you-bring-along" sort of thing, and I was wonderin if you would go with me?"

Taranee snickered slightly.

"What?"

"Well, you could've just asked me out instead of giving me that long explanation. I would've said yes, anyway."

"Really?"

"Yea. You seem like a good guy."

"You wouldn't know," muttered Haru under his breath.

"What was that?"

"Nothing… So come with me to my other cousin's place after school?"

Taranee shrugged.

"Sure."

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After school, Haru met Taranee at the front of the school and they walked to one of the Sohma houses, owned by Shigure Sohma. When Haru opened the door, he was met by six pairs of eyes trained on him and the girl next to him.

"So, the cow decided to show up after all," sneered Kyo.

"Shut it, Kyo," said Haru, "I'm here cause you wanted me to be."

They were all sitting at the table. Shigure at the head, with Tohru and Yuki on either side of him. Kyo and Storm were next to Tohru and Susami was next to Yuki, leaving and open spot next to the miko and another at the foot of the table.

"Ah, Haru! Just on time! I have something to tell all of you!" said Shigure in his light, way too optimistic voice.

Haru and Taranee took a seat and Shigure put on his reading glasses and slipped a letter out from his robe.

"Akito sent this to me a few days ago," he began. All the Sohmas froze imperceptibly.

"This was an invite to a tournament. A fighting one to be exact. I have no idea what the prize is, but urely it must be large because this invitation was sent out to all demon and humans alike with enough rationalism in their minds, of course. It wouldn't do to have a rampaging youkai running around at night, massacring all the other competitors. So, Akito wants Yuki, Kyo, and Haru to enter, for a chance to bring the Sohma name more glory. But this invite also recommends that you bring a companion to either fight, sub, heal, or coach. And, seeing as this companion must be one of which, I will be tagging along."

It took a while for all the information to process.

"Why YOU?!" demanded Kyo.

"Well, you seriously didn't think I've been single all these years, have you?"

"Well, we all though you were with Ayame," said Tohru, blushing slightly.

"Goodness, no! That's just an old joke between us. Goes back to high school. Ah, those were the days. But no, I will be going as a companion fighter."

"You FIGHT?!"

"Well, yes, although I've never had to use my skills, unlike you. But yes, I did learn from Kazuma at one point. Akito ordered it."

"So, who're you going with?" asked Taranee, green braids swinging as she tilted her head in question.

"You'll see," said Shigure, a twinkle in his eyes.

Everyone sighed mentally. Of course it was so like Shigure to be oh so mysterious about it.

"Well, now then! Why don't we introduce ourselves?"

Kyo rolled his eyes.

Tohru smiled.

"Everyone! I am Shigure Sohma, head of this house."

"We KNOW that, idiot!" said Kyo.

"Hi! I'm Tohru!" said the energetic sophomore.

"Kyo, as you may know…"

"Storm."

"I'm Haru Sohma."

"I'm Taranee."

"I am Susasmi."

"And I'm Yuki Sohma."

"Good! Now, who're you three bringing with you? Hurry and decide. Hari will pick you up tomorrow. I've already called in to your school to tell them that you will be absent for the next….oh say…. 3 weeks?"

Everyone stared.

"I think we might need to get away from YOU and go talk this out," said Yuki.

"Yes. Why don't we go to the park?" added Susami.

The six of them left, leaving Shigure and Tohru alone.

"So, Shigure. Who's this mystery girl?" asked Tohru, cheerily.

"If I show you, will you keep it a secret?" asked Shigure, a glint in his eye.

Tohru nodded her head vigorously.

"Cross my heart and hope to die!"

"Very well. Come along," said Shigure, getting up and walking to his study.

Tohru eagerly followed.

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The six teens walked to the nearby park and all sat down at a picnic table.

"First of all, it seems we have no choice but to fight in this Tournament, seeing as Akito ordered it," said Yuki.

"Psh, got that right. Dammit. The least he could do is ASK, and then order us to!" exclaimed Kyo, the arm around Storm's waist tightening.

"Well, so now we see who to bring with us," said Haru.

"I'll go with you, Haru," said Taranee, speaking up.

"Are you sure?"

"Yea, always wanted to fight in one of those tournaments, but never had the money to enter."

"Don't worry. The Sohma house will pay for everything."

"I'll go as well," said Susami, softly.

Yuki nodded.

"And you, Storm?"

The ookami hanyou narrowed her eyes.

Then finally, "Fine. Someone needs to keep HIM in tact anyway," she said, jerking her head at Kyo.

"So it's settled. We go and compete," said Yuki standing up.

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Meanwhile, Tohru watched as Shigure pulled out a picture frame from inside his desk. In the picture was a girl with light brown hair that fell down to her waist, and bright periwinkle eyes.

"Ooh, Shigure-kun. Who is that?" asked Tohru.

"Her name's Mila. She's very special to me," said Shigure, lovingly.

"She's your girlfriend, right?" asked Tohru, teasingly.

"That's right."

"Very good, Shigure-kun. Very good."

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AN: Finally. It's a little shorter, I know, but I've been way busy lately… School starts tomorrow for me. And I've been freaking. So I'm very sorry if the next chapter doesn't come for a while. Time is something I don't have much of…. Gomen nasai! Ja!