Part 4: Distractions Arise
Due to the ring’s destruction, an extensive intermission was announced and the teams migrated to their locker rooms. Leilani attempted to offer her help to Bui, following which, she changed back to human form and traveled to check on Kurama. Kuwabara was talking with his sister, Hiei was laid on a cot, and Kurama was reading a book. Leilani leaned against the doorway, contemplating how to approach him.
“He probably would not enjoy me disturbing his reading,” Leilani though
“That doesn’t really matter, just get the job done,” Bob pestered.
“How old is he again?”
“15 in human form.”
“That’s young!”
“His demon form is over 300 years old, going into the thousands if you look into hints given later in the series if you look enough into it. Is that a bit more your maturity level?”
“Hm, I suppose that’s better, but how old does that make me in this form? I hope I’m not regressing in age!”
“Oh, your similar, I was considering making you 14 like the other guys, but you're the same as Kurama's human form.”
“Woop-de-doo” Leilani drawled sarcastically, “I’m a whole year older. Still, it’s a pity that they have to fight so violently when they are still such a young age.”
“Gee, you never expressed feelings that way for Gohan missing school, and he was quite a bit younger when he became super sayain.”
“I thought that we weren’t talking about other cartoons,” teased Leilani.
“It’s just to prove another difference.”
“Well since were on the subject, I have a brilliant idea to revolutionize cartoons! How about a cartoon dating service?”
“A dating service, you’ve got to be kidding me!”
“Really, I’ve got the first couple in mind and everything.”
Bob glared at Leilani in disbelief accusing, “You’re just trying to avoid confrontation again.”
“No I’m not. I was just thinking that Kurama would be perfect for Raven.”
“From Teen Titans? I don’t think so.”
“Well look, they are quiet, reserved with their emotions, spend their free time reading, and they’re about the same age. It would work perfectly!”
“You’ve obviously never dated in the real world before, have you?”
“I’m serious, I mean when Raven starts going berserk trying to break Robin and Starfire up, just send her here.”
Just then Koenma in his stud-muffin form appeared behind Leilani.
He inquired, “Might I have a word with you?”
“EEEP!!!” squealed Leilani turning around, “Oh, uh, hi.”
“Ah-hem…” coughed Bob, which was immediately received by an inconspicuous hitting reflex from Leilani.
Her motion sent him back crashing into the wall with the screen blacked out. It slid to the floor, wires poking out and electric currents fizzing. Leilani smiled at Koenma like nothing had happened. He returned the smile, paying no heed to what had happened to Bob.
“Sure,” Leilani beamed.
Koenma motioned out of the door and they began walking down the stadium corridor. He asked her about angels since he had never interacted with them before…in fact he never even knew they existed. With the implication that angels were employed by Spirit World and the fact that Koenma was in charge of a great deal of this otherworldly organization, made it rather sticky for Leilani to explain herself. Still, she responded to his inquiries the best she could, but thought Bob had taken care of all that. However, since angels weren’t afore mentioned in the series, they needed a form of introduction, so she bore with it.
“I still find it strange that I’ve never been exposed to your kind before,” Koenma pursued.
“We have dealings with King Yama, he probably doesn’t bother worrying you with the details. You know how the Spirit World operates on a need-to-know basis,” Leilani chuckled.
“I would imagine that I would have heard something about angels after all the time I’ve spent overseeing the Human World.”
“We don’t enjoy going around bragging, I’m sorry that Juri blew my cover.”
“I’m glad she did,” Koenma whispered.
He stopped walking and turned to Leilani. Gazing into her eyes, he raised her chin with his hand.
He continued, “You’re the most beautiful creature I have ever encountered!”
Leilaniblushed. Such a pretty face with silky brown hair looking down at her. She was unsure how to react. Before he seemed to be conversing with her on a business level, but now if this wasn't a pickup line, she didn't know what was. She hesitated as she found herself lost in his big, sincere eyes, finally giving into her inclinations of throwing her arms around him in a warm embrace. Likewise, his arms wrapped around her. Loosening her grasp, she looked at his charming face and could tell he was smiling behind his pacifier. They both closed their eyes and drew their faces together her hand drifted close to remove his binky.
Suddenly, cold metal clamped onto Leilani’s ear and yanked her away, back down the hall to Team Urameshi’s locker room.
A familiar voice gruffly stated, “You should be more careful with your equipment!”
“BOB! What’s the big idea?” Leilani shrieked.
“I’m not very happy with you crushing the communicator’s circuits! You need to focus, the intermission will end sooner than everyone expects.”
“And what about your job? If you did it properly, Koenma wouldn’t be asking me questions!”
“I did my part, can’t you tell he was searching for an excuse to flirt with you?”
Leilani escaped his grasp and stood smiling at the thought, “Oh, really?”
“You know, for being an angel, you’re not acting very angelic!” Bob harassed.
Leilani continued walking, “Hey! I’ll get things done in my own way, on my own time. I know what I’m doing.”
“You’ve only been on the team for a month, you’re not a pro yet!”
“So why did you choose me to come if you don’t like my style?”
Bob growled as sparks flew between their glares. They arrived at the doorway of the locker room and needed to drop their heated argument. Within, Kurama was in the same position as before, reading his book. Leilani leaned against the entrance and sighed.
“So are you going in, or do I need to make a formal introduction?” Bob pestered.
Leilani imagined how embarrassing Bob could make it and shuddered, “I’ll do it myself, you just stay here.”
She walked into the room and sat beside Kurama. He continued reading his book, unaware of how Leilani found every delicate curve in his hair exquisitely gorgeous. The way the front framed his face, the thick bangs, the front locks curving over his shoulders, and not to mention the wild mess behind that had locks sticking up and down half way down his back. She scooted closer to him as she mustered the courage to interrupt his book.
She gently asked, “How are you feeling?”
Kurama closed his book and looked at her, replying, “Much better, thank you.”
“That’s good to hear,” she leaned in and stroked the side of his face, intertwining his hair in her fingers.
“Ummm,” Kurama stammered, “I was wondering…”
Before Leilani could encourage his question, Hiei stirred on the cot. Leilani drew back as he woke up. Seeing Kurama, he asked about what was going on. Kurama informed him that he had been sleeping for six hours now. Hearing this, Hiei wanted to know that they won tournament and was sorely disappointed that they haven’t even held the next round while they were waiting for the equipment to arrive to transport the old ring to the stadium.
“What? Did you think you could just sleep through the whole thing?” Leilani taunted, “I wish I could just do that, like Bedtime Bear when there was a soccer game and he said…”
“LEILANI!!!” shouted Bob.
“Dah! Where’d you come from?” Leilani jumped, “I thought you were going to stay outside!”
Not listent to her, Bob lectured, “What crazed suspicion caused you to think that they know anything about Care Bears!”
“Care what?” Kurama questioned.
“Hn. They sound like some mob of sickeningly sweet furballs,” Hiei commented.
“I rest my case,” stressed Bob.
Just then, the end of the intermission was announced over the intercom. The next match would take place sooner than expected thanks to Toguro’s strength in carrying the new ring in single-handedly. The team met up in the arena as the ground shook, awestruck at their opponents power and strength.
