Artemis was knocked back by Genkai's latest attack. She had felt a disturbance and momentarily let her guard down. She had hit the ground hard, but she had somehow managed to keep her head from hitting the ground. As she lifted her head to look at Genkai, she noticed that the psychic wasn't looking at her at all. So Artemis got her arms in legs into position and she flipped up onto her feet.

She turned to see what everyone was looking at, and she saw the guy that Koenma had told them about. She took a step backwards, regardless of how she was feeling at the moment. She still had the feeling like she couldn't possibly trust herself or her powers. Sure she was getting better, but there was no way she could possibly fight anyone this soon.

Sai showed herself as she stepped forward to stand just next to Rei. She was only a few inches back, but anyone looking would see that she was next to him. She considered him as a leader, not a lover, as others might think. She paused for a moment and clutched at the hidden pendant under her shirt. It was growing warm. As if several people in the area were not sowing their true forms. She narrowed her eyes.

It was obviously true enough. Kurama was a demon who had been reborn in a human. And the spirit detective Yusuke had become a demon and gone to Makai. So that alone made two people whose true forms were hidden. But she was under the impression, according to her pendant, that there was another one, and they were close. She had to take a look around. Who else could be causing it? She thought to herself. The only people closest were the demon girl, Genkai, and the gifted human. Sai paused at that, A gifted human. Of course, the possibilities are boundless. That pathetic human could be a demon in disguise.

Sai narrowed her eyes, which were still currently blue at the moment. Feeding off of spirits did that to her. It wasn't necessarily a healthy diet, but it certainly kept her from dying. And she wasn't about to go around asking Rei to let her feed off him. That would only make matters worse, especially when the others thought that she actually liked him. The thought alone gave her nightmares. And even though all this passed through her mind, her outward appearance was still as cold and distant as before. She would have to inform Rei about the gifted human girl later. Now was not the time for it.

Hiei was standing only a few feet away from where they were appearing. He had been watching Artemis and Genkai fight, that is, until they showed up. He recognized Rei from the video footage Koenma had shown them, but the girl standing just shy of being next to him was a mystery. She seemed to have an undoubtedly noble air about her. Like she was born and raised among noble demons. Hiei found that unlikely, but it was impossible to tell without knowing her better.

He moved swiftly from his position near the trees and was instantly standing nearer to Genkai and Artemis. He stared at the newcomers, keeping a disdainful, and annoyed look on his face.

(Finally got a banner up & spiffed up the front page some.)

Kaya sat uneasily on the branch, watching the man more closely than the female. If what Koenma had hinted to her was true, then she had good reason to be at this tournament, but the possibilities were so small... If this were to be the man she had been searching for, then she knew she would find out in time, but if he was this close now, why not find out now? Kaya watched him carefully as he walked out of the line of trees, hoping for something, some sign that he was who she had been looking for. Then it happened.

~~

Rei glanced behind him, the closest of all of the auras here was that of the demon girl behind then in the trees. Once he was a good distance into the clearing, her glance back at her, eyes narrowing a bit as he recognized something oddly familiar. There's no way I could have met her recently... the band has been too busy. But where..? He only shook his head a little as he let the thought go, walking rather casually right up to Genkai, Artemis and Hiei, though keeping a distance of maybe 6 yards away.

~~

Kaya, seeing his eyes became a bit enlightened. He had had a rather calm expression on his face, but those eyes, she knew, were capable of accomplishing treacherous things. However, his eyes alone was not proof enough for her. Kaya leapt from her branch, landing gently beneath that tree, and walked to the edge of the line of forestry to be within earshot if the two exchanged any... conversation. And with the distance they were at and the casual feeling given off by Rei, Kaya was sure it was either talking or fighting that they were here for. Not only did she have an uneasy feeling about the band, but there was another aura, a human's, approaching the temple.

~~

Rei grinned as he looked over Genkai and the small group in the clearing. "There's two missing.." he said slowly, "I shall wait."

(( I'd like to apologize for my absence. I've been extremely busy. I would have given you notice, but it was all of a sudden. Sorry. ))

Hiei was not nervous or scared, no, but he was feeling a little uncomfortable. He could sense a new arrival, a gifted human. Now if only Yusuke and this new arrival would show up, then everyone would be here. Hiei narrowed his eyes but stayed in his position, standing remotely between Artemis and Genkai, but nowhere close enough to touch either of them.

Sai involuntarily took a step backwards. There was no way she was afraid of these spirit detectives. They were practically nothing in comparison to what she had been through. But the simple idea that the human girl could be a demon in disguise. Her pendant was growing even warmer than before, she was certain that everyone could see it glowing through her shirt.

Artemis couldn't help but notice the girl near Rei. She seemed uncomfortable with something. Certainly it couldn't be anything to do with what was going on right now. Artemis knew that she wasn't a threat to any of them. Not yet anyway. Eventually, she would be capable of fighting them. And she was beginning to feel better about this encounter. It would give her a better reason to fight, to protect her family.

(( ARGH, piece of crap post... couldn't think of anything else to put in.... *dies* ))