322 The Semi-Finals Begin!

Human World, Hanging Neck Island.

After a few hours of passionate, animalistic love making, James, Irene, and Erza finally left the bedroom around noon. When they reached the suite's living room, not everyone was present. In fact, only Genkai, Shizuru, and Botan were there.

"Based on what I know about you, Kid, it looks like you three had a good time." Genkai said, after glancing at the room's new arrivals.

After hearing Genkai's comment, both Shizuru and Botan also took a look at James, Irene, and Erza in curiosity. And when they did, they knew what Genkai meant at once. Currently, Irene and Erza were clinging to James from his right and left, respectively, with contented smiles on their faces.

"That... is a fact I cannot deny." James said with a smile that showed his status as a winner at life.

"So, the three of you had sex, huh?" Shizuru asked in a disinterested tone. Then with her gaze shifting between Irene and Erza, she continued. "But aren't you two mother and daughter?"

"Yes, but as members of devil society, the social norms for us are quite different." Irene replied.

"I see." Shizuru said, leaving the topic there before she lit a cigarette.

"Wait, are you all serious?" Botan asked, thoroughly dumbfounded by the conversation. "Why are none of you surprised that he was having se... se... sleeping with two women?"

"You can't even say the word sex, huh?" Shizuru asked with a small teasing smirk on her lips. "You're really adorable, Botan."

"Now is not the time to tease me, Shizuru." Botan said in a fluster with her cheeks turning red. "Just answer my question!"

Botan's outburst caused the others in the room to giggle at her expense. Eventually, they all calmed down. Then, Genkai was the first to answer the question.

"Well, I lived with them for three months." Genkai explained. "So, I understand the types of things James does. Instead of worrying about their sexual escapades, you should just be happy that they remembered to raise a silencing barrier."

Just then, James, Irene, and Erza … Well, just James and Irene smiled wryly. Erza on the other hand smiled just as she had been from the beginning.

"I actually did forget the barrier when we started." James admitted. "But I did put one up in the nick of time."

"It helps that it was around dawn, too." Irene added.

"Wait..." Botan said, raising her hand for emphasis. "You started at dawn?"

"Pretty much." James replied with a shrug.

"And then you went back to sleep, right?" Botan asked, her face reddening as she asked.

"Nope." James replied casually. "After we finished, we took a shower, got dressed, then we came out here."

"Yes, James has quite the stamina." Erza said.

Hearing that, Botan's whole face turned red, quite the contrast to her cyan colored hair. However, Botan was not the only one to blush at Erza's comment. Even Shizuru's nigh unchangeable nonchalant expression broke for a few seconds as she blushed. If Kuwabara had been there to see it, he would have accused her of being an imposter.

"Anyway, where are the others?" James asked in order to dispel the awkward atmosphere.

"I told Yusuke and Kuwabara to go and observe their possible next round opponents." Genkai responded quickly.

"What about Hiei and Kurama?" James asked.

"I'm not sure about Hiei, but I think Kurama also went to the stadium to see what the opponents in the next round were capable of." Botan said, inserting herself back into the conversation.

"If I were to guess, Hiei is probably off training." James said. "I bet he was pissed off that he didn't have full control of the Darkness Flames when he used them in the first round."

"I wouldn't put it past him." Genkai said in agreement.

And just as those in the hotel expected, Hiei was on one of the island's beaches. In front of him was a bonfire, and he was unravelling the bandages that wrapped his right arm.

When the bandages were removed completely, quite a bit of his forearm was still covered in burnt flesh. However, it seemed as if he had no issue with moving his arm and hand, despite the burns.

"Ha... Just wait." Hiei said with a villainous smile on his face while extending his right arm toward the bonfire. "Once this tournament ends, I'll defeat you, learn all your secrets, and then take your life. I'll make you understand that no one humiliates me and lives to tell the tale."

A moment later, a wisp of Darkness Flame appeared in Hiei's outstretched palm. Then, after hesitating for a moment, he plunged both his arm and the Darkness Flame into the bonfire, causing it to shoot upward as if a large amount of fuel was dropped on it from above.

Like that, with James and the others chatting, Yusuke and his group watching the other fights, and Hiei training with the Darkness Flames, the day passed without much fanfare.

Around the time the sun set, Yusuke, Kuwabara, Keiko, Yukina, and Pu returned to the hotel room. A few minutes later, Kurama also returned.

"So, how were the matches for today?" James asked.

Well, there were only two." Yusuke replied. "The winner of the third match from yesterday, Team Uraotogi won today, too."

"Yeah, and the other match was between two teams whose names I can't remember." Kuwabara said. "But I doubt either of them could stand a chance against Team Toguro."

"And what of your chances to win tomorrow's match?" Genkai asked.

"Honestly, it shouldn't be a problem." Yusuke said while scratching his head. "But I still don't think I can beat Toguro, even with all the training I went through."

"At least you're self-aware." Genkai replied with a nod. "So, for that reason, you will not be participating in tomorrow's match."

"Say what?" Yusuke questioned while slamming his hands on the table between the sofas everyone was sitting on. "You expect me to stand back and watch my teammates fight to the death?"

"Take it easy, man." James said, waving off Yusuke's concerns. "Between Kurama, Hiei, and I, there is no one on Team Uraotogi that can beat us. At least, that's what my senses tell me after seeing them fight in the first round."

With just that, Yusuke calmed down significantly. Then, he returned his sight to Genkai.

"If I'm not gonna be fighting tomorrow, what will I be doing?" Yusuke asked with a slight frown.

"I'll be transferring my last technique to you." Genkai replied without changing her expression. "First thing in the morning, you and Pu are to meet me at the foot of the mountain on the island. And just so you don't get confused, Dimwit. Meet me at the place that is closest to the hotel."

"Don't treat me like an idiot, you old hag." Yusuke said in an irritated tone.

"Well, if the shoe fits, Urameshi." Kuwabara said, interrupting the conversation while trying to hold back his laughter. "Wait, why didn't you mention me when you talked about everyone who could beat Team Uraotogi?"

"Wow, that's one hell of a late reaction." James said through his stifled laughter.

Ignoring Kuwabara's stupid question, Yusuke looked around the room. When he did, he saw not only Kuwabara stifling laughter, but Keiko, Botan, Kurama, and James doing so as well. Then, his eyes narrowed, and he lunged toward Kuwabara.

*Bang!* *Bang!* *Bang!*

Then, after a few well-placed punches, Kuwabara was laid out on the ground, holding both his stomach and his nose.

"Why did you only hit me?" Kuwabara asked in a pain filled tone.

"Well, because Keiko and Botan are girls." Yusuke replied as if it were obvious.

"But Kurama and J were laughing, too." Kuwabara protested.

"Well, Kurama is too hard to hit." Yusuke replied. "And I like being conscious, so J was out, too."

Kuwabara, Keiko, and Botan were surprised to hear there was someone that Yusuke was not willing to fight. Meanwhile, Genkai, Irene, and Erza expected an answer like that.

"You've grown a lot, Yusuke." James said, appearing next to the younger boy. "When we first met, that would not have stopped you."

"Well, losing hours at a time after attacking you got old pretty fast." Yusuke replied while looking away.

"Pretty fast?" Genkai asked with disdain in her tone. "The last time you got beat into unconscious was only two days before we left. You got mad that J took the last cup of pudding and attacked blindly before getting knocked out for eight hours."

This time, instead of stifling their laughter, everyone in the room erupted into full blown laughter, leaving Yusuke pouting that his lie had been exposed. Before he could defend himself, however, Erza appeared on his other side and patted his shoulder as James had done.

"Do not let it bother you." Erza said in a chivalrous tone. "Some desserts are truly worth fighting to the death for."

After Erza finished speaking, everyone remembered the way Erza devoured the extra-large strawberry shortcake last night. Then, they decided to ignore her as she began to drool just thinking about that same strawberry shortcake.

Like that, the group continued chatting. Though, Hiei did not return to the suite for a few hours more. Eventually, everyone decided to call it a night. Though they did not have an early morning ahead of them, as their match would begin at noon, they would have a long day ahead.

The next morning, the group, aside from Yusuke and Genkai, who had left for their training shortly after the sun rose, left their bedrooms at around nine in the morning. On another note, Yukina left the room that used to belong to Erza. Seeing as both Irene and erza were now sleeping in James' room, they decided to move their belongings there as well. With two rooms freed up, Yukina was able to get her own room, no longer having to share one with Keiko.

After having breakfast and chatting a little more, Team Urameshi, minus Yusuke, and those affiliated with them, minus Genkai, left the hotel and started walking.

"Wait, aren't we going the wrong way?" Kuwabara asked just after leaving the hotel grounds. "The stadium is that way."

"Were you not paying attention at all?" Hiei asked, looking at Kuwabara disdainfully. "The semi-finals and the finals will be held in the new arena."

"Oh, yeah, that's right." Kuwabara replied sheepishly. "I forgot."

"Fool." Hiei said before ignoring Kuwabara completely, deciding not to waste anymore breath with such an idiot.

"Anyway, how did your training go, Hiei?" James asked with a smile.

"Do not think that I will give you any information." Hiei said sharply. "Just know that your defeat is guaranteed after the tournament."

"Hey,Irene." James said, wrapping his right arm around Irene's waist. "Isn't it cute how he thinks he actually has a chance of winning?"

While Irene merely shook her head at James' antics, Hiei clenched his fists and gritted his teeth hard enough for them to be heard by the rest of the group. On top of that, he stared at James with such intensity that he may catch on fire. Which, with his Jagan, was a distinct possibility.

After walking for a few more minutes, the group saw where the last two rounds of the Dark Tournament would be fought. In front of them stood a rather ominous looking covered arena with what appeared to be spider legs carved into its structure.

After approaching the arena, the group split into two groups with Team Urameshi entering through the competitor entrance while the girls entered through the normal spectator entrance. Then, it did not take long for both groups to find the places where they were supposed to be. With the guys in their waiting room and the girls finding their seats without issue.

{"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen."} Kuto's voice rang out from every speaker in the arena. {"Today, for some inexplicable reason, I will be your commentator instead of your referee/commentator. I don't know why I was demoted, but I'll do my best to tell you about every bone shattering hit and blood spilling slash!"}

As the demons present did not care who the referee would be, they cheered loudly at Kuto's declaration. Then, Kuto spoke into the microphone once again.

{"Now, let me introduce you to the referee for the semi-finals and finals, Juri!"} Kuto shouted over the microphone.

With that, the lights in the arena dimmed. Then, a spotlight fell on the ring. Standing in the light wearing a tight black bodysuit with holes in the front and back that exposed her abdomen and lower back, a pink top, a matching skirt, a purple bow-tie, and a pink bandana on her head was a beautiful female demon, who appeared to be in her early twenties, with tan skin, mint-green hair, webbed hears, and a mint-green tail with a fin at the end.

"Now, ladies and gentlemen." the mint-green-haired girl, Juri, said into her microphone. "Let's begin the first semi-final match!"