I'm slightly embarrassed. I've held off the ninth chapter of this story, re-reading and reviewing the three chapters my friend returned to me a while back, yet I discovered that I followed the same line for all three as was originally intended!

blush

Anyway, thanks for your patience. I'm going to leave my little preview up, I suppose.

Chapter Nine: Reasons for Hatred and Abandonment

She froze.

"Father. I wondered when we would meet again. The one who abandoned his child to humans. You will die this day," Elyees said.

She was in control of Elyees. She and Kurama had worked on that for the past two days. So long as Elyees was under her control, there would be no possession episodes like when Grace had died the first time.

Yes, Mychela. There will not be another episode like that. I am more than willing to be under your control, because you are just and decent. I have apologized for that episode, Elyees said, tone wry, but calm.

:I know, Elyees. Is he telling the truth? Are... well, we, his daughter?:

Hai. We are.

:Oh, joy.: Mychela retorted, tone sarcastic.

Elyees chuckled. Just finish it. It's time we came into our destiny.

:What do you mean by that?: Mychela queried as she summoned the two Rose Whips, snapping them threateningly at Karei.

He laughed. "Do you really expect them to work?"

Mychela, you're going to need to let me have this one. Full control, Elyees informed. Trust me. You won't have the same reaction you did last time. Last time, it was the anger. The grief. Your friends are mine as well.

Mychela hesitated before letting Elyees have full control. :Good luck, Elyees. I'm trusting you.:

Which is how it should be between us.

:Don't go philosophical on me.:

Alright.

Kurama watched as Mychela lowered the barrier between her and her fully demonic side. He was proud of her.

Damn. I don't know which side's hotter. Her or Elyees, Youko said. It's close, anyway.

:Hentai.:

And? That's nothing new. You're an undercover hentai, human.

:Can it.:

Is that an admission?

:I said, 'Can it.':

Uh oh, Shuuichi got some freak in him.

He scowled and focused on the fight. Right now, a childish argument with Youko was out of line. Very out of line. And completely immature.

"Who's betting?"

Kurama looked at Yuusuke. "Betting?"

"This is her second fight in her demon form. Who's betting she loses control like last time?"

Hiei looked at Yuusuke and said, "I bet five cartons of sweet snow."

"We're talking cash, Hiei."

"Fine. However much ningen money it costs to buy five cartons of sweet snow."

"Which side?"

"She loses it. This is her father we're talking about."

"I bet that she keeps control," Arelia wagered. "Same amount as Hiei."

"I'm with Hiei on this one, guys," said a new voice.

Hiei found the source of the voice about two seconds before Kurama. He didn't hide his blush adequately.

The source was Keiko Ukimura.

Ah, so our hi youkai has a crush. How sweet.

:Do you ever shut up?:

Umm... no.

:Shimatta!:

Elyees spoke before Youko could form a reply.

"Why did you leave Joylan and me? What happened?"

"That happened before you were born. She betrayed me with the human, Nathaniel Averys."

Mychela's rage at the mention of the man's name was nearly explosive.

"What happened to Nathaniel?"

"Had him killed about two years back."

Elyees nodded, not really surprised. She knew of everything that had happened in Mychela's life. Including that bastard, Nathaniel's, death.

"So, did you know that he was physically abusive?"

"To whom?" Karei asked.

"Me."

Karei stiffened.

Now! she thought, moving in and striking first blood.

Thwap! was all anyone heard for a clear second. Then, the screams of outrage or of pleasure at the bloodshed.

Karei looked stunned. He now had a gash about an inch long and about a quarter of an inch deep in his abdomen.

"As I told Urameshi on the first day we met, never underestimate a woman. We use weapons you males will never possess. Even though that bastard, Nathaniel, did abuse me, I was using it to judge exactly what the hell was going on here."

"So beautiful, yet so manipulating," Karei said in the native language of the kitsunes. She automatically replied in the same tongue.

"So young, yet so ready to die. Why did you enter this tournament? Did you know that I would be here and you could finally rid yourself of the crown?"

"Actually, yes, I knew you would be here, but I didn't decide to fight personally until I saw how cold and heartless you could be once your demonic nature took over. You intrigue me, girl. You are a worthy heir to me."

She scowled. "Is that the only reason I am here, you asshole?"

"Just about. Now, let's do this."

She nodded her agreement, snapping the whip again. He went into an offensive position, so she instinctively moved to defense.

"She's good," Yuusuke reluctantly admitted. "She's learned more control over Elyees, though I think that, should there be cause, that control would snap in an instant."

"Undoubtedly," Hiei concurred.

"Of course. I've lost control of Youko on more than one occasion," Kurama pointed out. " It's quite possible that she will lose control again, given the proper angering tactics."

Botan, Yukina, Keiko, Shizuru, and Sakyo were all down on the field. Yukina was being comforted by Yuusuke, obviously either ignored or unnoticed by Hiei, because Hiei was holding Keiko. Botan was over to the side, leaning against the wall, murmuring to herself.

Kurama recognized the song, because it was one of Mychela's favorites by Linkin Park, In The End.

"I tried so hard/ And got so far/ But in the end/ It doesn't even matter/ I had to fall/ To lose it all/ But in the end/ It doesn't even matter..."

How true. In the end, this won't matter at all, Kurama mused, watching the interesting fight between whips in the ring. We can't afford for her to lose. C'mon, Mychela! You must win!

She looked at him for a split second, smiled, and turned back to her fighting.

-Listen up, everyone!- she broadcast to all of the reikai tantei. -This fight is about one thing. Will I inherit my father's realm? If I don't, Yuusuke, I want you to have it destroyed, fuck the consequences. The next one in line is my cousin. He will destroy it anyway, but for an overlord to do it, no one can protest. Kurama, you are to find my other cousin, Lane, and take her to a secure location until I am up and moving, if I live. Hiei, you keep chill. Botan, prepare to have a soul to take.-

Everyone nodded and she leapt into the air, hovering, flapping her wings on her first flight.

"Thousand Poisoned Strikes!" she screamed, flinging out her hands.

Her nails went flying, poisoned as they were, directly at her father.

He dodged and she swooped in, implanting the Death Plant and swiping at him with the Native's Paintbrush.

-No turning back now, koi!-he sent, letting her see it momentarily through his eyes.

-I wanna be pushed aside,- she replied, remembering the lyrics and flashing a grin at him. -The very worst part of you is me.-

He nodded and she frantically managed to fly up.

"Well, audience, I don't know how to place this one! Is she in the ring or is she out? She's hovering twenty yards above the ring, hiding in the sun. What does the rulebook say?!" Juri informed everyone in a slight panick.

One minute passed.

"DIE!" Elyees screamed, directing her voice at Karei.

Elyees immediately switched control to Mychela, who landed lightly.

"I am sorry, my father. You chose this, not I. I had no control in this, for you angered my darker half. I lay your death on your own soul. Lady Naoru, make sure that he is prepared to be born back to Rolle in all dignity that a former king deserves."

"Yes, your Majesty." Naoru saluted her and bore Karei's body away from the ring.

"Thank you, Lady Naoru," she replied, bowing regally. She exited the ring, head bowed and body tense.

"Mychela... you fought well."

"That was Elyees, not me, Kurama. I let her have full control. I'm a coward when it comes to these... abilities of mine," she protested weakly.

He pulled her close and shook his head. "No, no, no, Mychela. A coward is something you will never be."

"Your Highness...."

She turned and looked at the speaker. "Yes?"

"Can you come with us? We need to prepare for your coronation and the official take-over of Rolle Kingdom."

She nodded and withdrew herself from his embrace. "Of course."

Juri was watching the events, stunned.

"And what's this?! We have the new Queen of Rolle Kingdom in the stadium!"

Mychela shot Juri a killing glance and the announcer shut up. However, it was too late. Whispers were already starting and stares were being received. Mychela sighed angrily and entered the ring again.

"Your microphone, please?"

Juri nodded and handed it over.

"I'm afraid, audience, that our beloved Juri, the most enthusiastic announcer when it comes to this sport of bloodshed and gruesome deaths, was momentarily confused when she made that announcement. Please ignore it and continue to do whatever it is you were doing before she interrupted your activities."

The audience looked at her and continued to whisper.

Mychela rolled her eyes and gestured to Kurama.

"What is it?"

"Meet me on the beach, where we talked last, in two hours. Be prepared to see something you would have never expected of me."

He nodded. "Now, go. Destiny awaits you."

She smiled waterily as she followed Naoru and Co. Every girl dreams of a knight in shining armor, but, in this case, I think, it will be the Queen in shining coronation robes.

Suddenly, she hated her biological father more than she had ever thought possible.