The week was almost over. There were only three days left for the Urameshi Team and the Toguro Team to practice in the mountain. It was already dark. The members of the Toguro Team, Karasu, Bui, the Toguro Brothers, Sakyo and Marie were in Sakyo's building with Ria. "Boss, we need another player. The rule of the Tournament is that each team needs seven players. And there's only six of us." "Six? You mean Ria's gonna join us? I thought she's a member of the Urameshi Team?" "I am." "So, you know about the other player." "Of course I do! And we need another player." "Let's see, there's me, Bui, Marie, Toguro Ani, Toguro Ototo, and… who else?" "Boss, of course!" "So, you DON'T know about the other player. I'm not joining. I won't fight." "Who's the other player, boss?" "You'll know, soon enough. By the way, I'm extending the practice for three more days." "But why, boss?" "You're not getting enough practice. The Toguro Team couldn't even scratch you, even if you made your powers weak." "As if the Urameshi Team could do better with you." "Well, the Urameshi team is also extending their practice for three more days." "But we still need another player. Boss, you said you're sending another player. We still need another one."

"Why don't you just fight with us, boss. I know you can't fight. Marie here could teach you. She's the best trainer." "Like I said, I'm not fighting." "But we're gonna be disqualified." "Boss, you have to fight. I don't want the Toguro Team disqualified. I won't be able to fight Karasu, or Marie, or any of you guys." "Yeah, I wanna fight Ria." "No way, Karasu! You always fight with her in Boss' office! I'm fighting my sister and that's final." "That's what you think. Ria's fighting me!" "It's my turn to fight with Ria. You guys always fight her." "Alright. You guys can fight my sis. And I'll fight Hiei." "Hm, I can't think. I want to fight Ria. I also want to fight Hiei. And I also want to fight Kurama-chan and Kurama-kun." "We'll settle this thing tomorrow. For now, you guys better get some sleep." "Yes, Boss!"

The next day, at around five o'clock. "Breakfast time! Come and get it!" Marie and Ria said as they set the food on the large table. Everyone sat down and started eating. "You're still the best cook, Marie! This is GREAT!" "Yep!" "What about my sister?" "I'm not trying the eggs that she cooked. I might get poisoned." "But it's good." "Never!" "Come on, Karasu, try it." Kurama-chan said. "Very well, I'll do it for you, Kurama-chan." They ate breakfast happily. After breakfast, they started practicing. "Mind if I fight with you, Hiei?" "Why not?"

After a few hours of practicing, Kurama-chan decided to go to the forest. Meanwhile, the members of the Toguro Team were having their break. "You did good Togs! You too, Bui. But Karasu and Toguro Ani, still needs practice." "Hey! I did good!" "I think you two better keep practicing. You're already good, but if you want to face my sister, you'll have to do better than that." "I'll take a break." "You guys better take a break, too. I think I asked you to do too much work. I'll call you guys for lunch. Then, we can practice again." "Alright."

Karasu decided to go to the forest and rest there when… "Oh, my Kurama-chan!" "Help! Get away from me, Karasu!" Kurama-chan said as she tried to get away from Karasu. Karasu chased Kurama-chan for a long time until he finally caught her. Meanwhile, on a tree Hiei was watching Karasu and Kurama-chan. "Why won't he get away from her?" Then Hiei noticed a girl with sky-blue hair who seemed to have her eyes on Kurama-chan. Then, she saw Hiei. "Hello. My, what a cute little Youkai." She said. "Stop calling me that!" The girl grabbed Hiei but Hiei broke free. Hiei was about to jump to another tree when the girl started to sing. "Why can't I move?" Hiei realized that he was paralyzed. The girl took Hiei in her arms. Karasu heard the singing and looked up to where it was from. "That… That voice…M… M…" "Hi, Karasu." The girl said and smiled. "Melody!!" Karasu let go of Kurama-chan and approached the tree. "It's been a long time. How are you?" "I'm fine. And you?" She asked. "Well, I…"

"Got your hands on another girl, huh?" She said with a tinge of jealousy in her voice. "Hey! I can't help it. She's my new obsession." "I thought I was your obsession?" She asked Karasu. "You are, but… but--" "You're not trying to blow me up, anymore. That's not fair." She interrupted. "Well, you see, my best friend, Marie brainwashed me. And now, I'm not so crazy about blowing my obsessions up, anymore." "Best friend? First you got this redhead as a new obsession. And now you've got this Marie as a new best friend. She'll pay! I'm supposed to be your only best friend." Melody said. "Hey! Wait a minute! How come you've got your hands on Hiei?" "That's because he's cute. And another thing, what do you care? You've got two to replace me already." She said to Karasu. Hiei started to wake from the spell. Melody started singing again. "Ah, that voice. That beautiful voice." When her song ended. Hiei wasn't struggling anymore. And his eyes were blank.

"But, I'm cute, too. I'm better than Hiei. And besides, I DO care. You're my friend ever since childhood." "Well, that was when we were children. You used to chase me. I was your only obsession. I was your only friend. Then Bui came along. I didn't mind. Cause you still chased me. But now… But now… you've got another obsession and another best friend." Melody said as she hugged Hiei tighter. "Hey! Get your hands off Hiei. Isn't it enough that you already got Karasu?" Kurama-chan shouted to Melody. "Why? Isn't it enough that YOU got Karasu chasing you?" Melody asked Kurama-chan. "I didn't want Karasu to chase me!" Kurama-chan told Melody. "Hey! Stop that, you two. Melody, If you'll just get to know Kurama-chan and Marie better, I'm sure you'll find them okay." Then, Karasu's stomach rumbled. "I'm hungry." Marie and Ria suddenly appeared from behind the trees. "I knew you were here, Karasu! You missed lunch." "What!?" "Yep! Kurama-chan, and Hiei, too."

"But I'm so hungry. I need some food or else I'll collapse." "You? Collapse? I don't think so." "Yeah?" "Yeah! 'Cause I brought you guys some lunch." "Lunch? You came all this way just to bring me lunch?" "Not really, we thought you'd be there. We were just sent by Boss to do an errand." "And since we saw you, Kurama-chan and Hiei go in the forest, we decided to take some food for you guys, too." "Thanks, Marie, you're so sweet. I'm glad to have a best friend like you." Melody jumped down from the tree, still holding Hiei. "So, you're Marie. You'll pay." Melody said. Then, she started singing. "Ah! That voice." When Melody's song ended, Marie and Ria clapped their hands. "That was great." "You have a really cool voice."

"Why didn't it work on you?" Melody asked in surprise. "Our powers are strong enough to hold your attack." "It won't work on us." "Oh, yeah! You must be Melody!" "How did you know my name?" Melody asked. "Boss sent us here to take you to your cottage." "Yeah, well, I am kinda lost." Melody said. Then, Hiei blinked. The spell has worn out already. Marie and Ria spread a large piece of cloth on the ground. Soon, the cloth was full of food. "Come and get it, you guys!" They all sat down and started to eat. They had a little conversation with Melody. "So, Ria is a member of the Urameshi Team but her sister is a member of the Toguro Team. That's strange." Melody told them. After some time of talking, "Don't worry, Melody. I have no intentions of taking Karasu away from you. I didn't know that he had a best friend aside from me and Bui."

It was already late when they got back from the forest. Ria led Melody to the cottage of the Toguro Team, while Marie went back to the forest with Karasu. Ria and Hiei went with them. Marie and Karasu sat under the tree where Hiei and Ria were talking. "What's the big idea not telling me that you had a best friend aside from me and Bui, and an obsession aside from Kurama." "Do I have to tell you EVERYTHING?" "No. But if I knew somebody would get jealous about being your friend, then I should have pretended not to be your friend. I want Melody as a friend, too, you know. I want all the members of the Toguro Team to be my friend." "Alright. I'm sorry. Now you know." "That's okay. I'll talk to Melody, tonight." "Hey! Now that you guys are finished talking, why don't you come up here with me and Hiei." Ria shouted from up the tree. "Why don't you and Hiei come down here. I don't think there's much space up there." Ria and Hiei jumped down.

"Hey Hiei! You should have seen how Marie ran when I showed her a little lizard." "You are so cruel." "Hehehehe!" "You, too, sis." They went back to their cottages at almost midnight. Marie and Ria went to Melody's room. "You awake, Melody?" "Yes, why?" Melody asked. "Um, I came here to tell you that Karasu still likes you. Even if he has me, Bui, and Kurama-chan. Karsu will never replace you. I wanna say that I'd like you to be my friend. Is that alright with you?" "I want to be your friend, too." "No way!" Melody said. "Why don't we make a deal. You fight my sister. If you win, she'll stay out of your life forever." "Hey! Why only me?" "She doesn't like you! But if my sister wins, you'll be our friend." "Hm! Fine. Tomorrow morning. At around five." "Okay. Goodnight, Melody." Marie and Ria went to Sakyo's bedroom. "Go away, you two!" "But it's cold." "Then sleep together." Sakyo lied down at his bed. The two girls slept beside him. "What have you two done to me? You're giving me a really hard time. But I can't fire you." "Goodnight, Boss." Sakyo soon, fell asleep. Then a hand fell on his face.

The next day, the two made breakfast, as usual. When Melody came out of the cottage, Karasu grabbed her. "Oh, my Melody! It's been a long time since I hugged you." "Get away from me you… you…" "Slimeball?" Kurama-chan suggested. "Yeah!" Melody yelled at Karasu's face. "But… but…" "Serves you right." "Poor Karasu." "Yeah." "Well, I'm ready to fight." "Let's make this a little more interesting. If I win, I get Karasu." Melody said. "All right! And if I win, I'll give you Karasu." "Why does it sound like she wins both ways?" "Oh and another thing. If my sis wins, you get Karasu but you let go of Hiei."

"All right! Welcome to the Ultimate Battle for Friendship and me! On the left is my dear best friend, MARIE!" And the crowd cheers! "Isn't he just conceited? ^_-" "And on the right is my other best friend and childhood obsession who is still my one and only obsession, Melody!" And the crowd cheers again. "Ahem. Your one and only?" Kurama-chan asked, annoyed. Kurama-kun gave his clone a look that made Kurama-chan avoid his glance. "W-well, one of my obsessions. Anyway, let the fight begin!" "I thought you didn't like Karasu." Kurama-kun said. "W-well, being chased by a guy kinda flatters me… kinda." Kurama-chan said.

And so, Melody first took out a flute and played a high-pitched sound. Everyone around except Marie, Karasu and Ria covered their ears. "What kind of music is that?!" "Ah! Such beautiful melody.¤ " Out of the flute came a long thin line. Her flute became a whip. Melody charged at Marie, who just avoided her attacks. "Fight me!" Melody shouted. Marie disappeared and Melody suddenly felt someone hit the back of her neck. Then, she collapsed. "I didn't want to hurt you much, Melody, so I thought pressure points would do the trick." "I can't move from the neck down." Melody thought. Everybody crowded around Marie. "You were great!" "As always." "Let's just wait and see what Karasu will do about Melody." Karasu was kneeling beside Melody. "Um, before I ask Ria to de-paralyze you, could you just… you know… um, be like you were before?"

Ria kneeled down beside Melody and touched her ear. "Cut it out, Karasu, a deal is a deal. You don't have anything to worry about." "I… I can move." Melody said in surprise. Marie reached out a hand to Melody. "A deal's a deal. Friends?" "…Friends." Melody said. Melody was just about to reach for Marie's hand when Marie suddenly hugged her and squeezed her very tight. "I have a new friend!!! Yeah!" "I ca-- I ca-- I ca-- I CAN'T BREATHE!!!!!!!" Melody shouted. "Oh! Hehehe. Sorry." "Don't mind her, she's always like that." "Well, you're mine, now." Melody said. "Yes!!" "Nice game, Marie." Kurama-chan said. "Ah! Kurama-chan!" "I thought you were MINE, now." Melody asked. "Yeah! Yours AND Kurama-chan's." "That's what we meant." "Well, it's better than nothing." Melody said with a smile.

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