"It's time the angels had a say," a thunderous voice echoed in a colossal marble hall. All eyes were on the speaker, and nobody dared to utter a word for fear of disrespecting their guardian. The head of a falcon with a sharp beak kept a fearsome grimace on his face always. His eight wings, four on either side of his body, demanded a wide girth. Chiseled muscles discouraged the strongest of warriors, and his thick dinosaur like feet exposing talons that shed many a enemy's blood. Sariel was his name, and he guided his realm in all affairs.

"I don't disagree with you," a softer voice similar to a rushing river broke the silence, "but we have kept to ourselves for so long...I doubt anyone is even convinced we exist." The daintier yet still ominous angel was in rank with Sariel and was known as Rhiannon. Her appearance was drastically different from her companion with translucent wings that resembled a dragonfly, her face looking more humanoid aside from large, round eyes of shimmering violet, and her pale skin looked so fragile like a breeze could rip it to shreds. Despite such delicate features, her lack of clothing revealed strong muscles, and those who witnessed her in battle knew she a formidable opponent.

"Then we make our presence known once more," a third voice growled dangerously. Probably the fiercest looking of any angel to every exist Artaxes possessed the head of a lion with canines so large they just of of his mighty maw, his body was hard and gray appearing like a statue with sharp claws on every finger and toe, and a thick spiked tail trailed behind him. He bore one set of thick and powerful feathered wings.

Even though the three giant defenders of the angel realm took up much of the grand hall it was still packed with the citizens Sariel, Rhiannon, and Artaxes protected. All of the angels watching the conversation transpire were each beautiful and strange, and they were eager what role angels would have in the upcoming Makai Tournament.

"Angels have kept to themselves, yes, and we've also kept peace," Sariel stressed. "The demons create constant chaos. It is time we intervene."

"There will be a high chance the demons won't stand to have an angel in their tournament," Rhiannon calmly stated. She was their cautious wind.

"Then I would say they shouldn't hold a martial arts tournament to decide power," Artaxes grunted, "and it does appear they have no restrictions. Humans and children have entered after all."
"Well," Rhiannon said after a moment's consideration, "who will represent us?" She and Artaxes eyed Sariel anxiously awaiting his suggestion under a mask of calm. The hall was even more quiet than before with tension thick in the air.

"Koren," was his answer.

The divine hall suddenly came alive with murmurs. Too shocked by the mention of Koren the inhabitants couldn't keep quiet any longer. They all knew Koren, and in their minds she would have been their last choice.

"Koren," Artaxes repeated concealing any emotion. "She is young and inexperienced."

"She was chosen to be in line as a guardian with us," Rhiannon simply stated careful to give no indication what she truly thought of Sariel's choice.

"Young as she may be, Rhiannon is correct in that she has already proven herself worthy, Artaxes," Sariel reasoned.

"Hmph," Artaxes grunted, "I have no reason to doubt your judgement. Where's our warrior then?"

The three angels looked out into the assembly for the first time only to see a confused crowd of faces and no sign of Koren among them.

Quite a distance from the majestic grand hall and all its excitement Koren rested in a field of clouds that nested golden dandelions. She preferred open spaces to stuffy meetings, and she doubted she'd be missed. Sariel had many a talk with her to stress the importance of her interest and support in the gatherings, but she just couldn't bring herself to attend.

Instead she stowed herself away in the clouds daydreaming of a care-free life. No meetings, no battles, no important realm peace keeping, and, sometimes, a friend who understood her. Her destiny didn't dismay her, but it was a lonely path.

Her fellow angels treated her with suffocating respect. No one dared to challenge her on anything. If she tried to be part of their games, they'd let her win. If she tried to join conversation, no one contradicted her words. Lady angels were always complimenting her blonde curls, blue eyes, and beautiful traditional feathery wings.

Like a true angel, they'd say.

Sir angels acted stoic like they were her soldiers ready to go to battle with her. They'd die for her. At least she didn't have to deal with suitors like they say human girls do. Angels didn't have sexual relations since the universe creates them when it wishes. Sex wasn't even a past time.

In a world with so many like her, she was still alone. Rhiannon would tell her she was over sensitive, and that if she'd focus on studying and training to be a guardian she wouldn't even notice loneliness.

Harsh winds assaulted her peaceful crowd blowing it away along with the wispy dandelions as their seeds were carried off. Koren reached out a hand in vain. Those seeds were her only company; she wasn't ready to see them go. When she realized the source of the wind, she was forced to let her "friends" drift off. The three protectors of the angels had found her and looked very displeased.

Koren silently swallowed as she brought herself to an upright position. Normally, Sariel would just send another to fetch Koren if he wished to speak to her. Never had he come searching for her let alone all three of them. Had she pushed their patience too far with her disinterest in official affairs?

"It was most unfortunate you were too busy to attend at the grand hall, young one, especially since you were the center of discussion," Sariel spoke calmly, but his sharp gaze made Koren shrink within herself.

"Let's not forget the humiliation of putting faith in someone who thinks she's too good to show proper respect," Artaxes growled, the sound shaking Koren's bones.

Rhiannon kept her piece, but her eyes added to Koren's shame.

"You were talking about me," Koren asked meekly. She tried meeting Sariel's gaze, but the weight of his gaze made her look down at the broken islands of land below.

"We were discussing the Makai Tournament world's tournament for a new king," Rhiannon provided, "and who would go as our representative." This news did not bode well for Koren. Despise the burning eyes on her small form, her shocked face looked at each angel.

"We chose you, Koren," Sariel revealed. "You are our champion."

The pride in his voice was not lost on Koren. Expectation crashed down on her shoulders, and she knew she had no choice but to bear it. Despite her dreams an angel never backs down from his or her duty. Her care-free life was to never be. She bowed her head in respect accepting her fate.

"I understand. Thank you for this opportunity to serve our realm."

"You will serve it well," Rhiannon said reassuringly all harshness vanishing from her face.

"Ah, only after training with me," Artaxes added seeming in a better mood at the thought of preparing another warrior. Koren briefly wondered if she'd suffer more strenuous training than necessary as punishment for her absence.

"She will not disappoint us," Sariel affirmed with as much as a smile as his vicious beak would allow.

Koren took the words without an expression as she thought about her dreams being blown away with the dandelion seeds.

Yusuke Urameshi wasn't a delinquent teenager anymore. He was the owner of his own ramen stand. He had moved into an apartment of his own with bills to pay. He had retired as Spirit Detective. With all that said, Yusuke didn't exactly appreciate Botan showing up with news from Koenma, the Prince of the Spirit World.

"What is this all about Botan," Yusuke yawned as he stretched out on his thrift-store couch.

"Yeah," a gruffer voice tuned in, "it's weird Koenma to send messages to Urameshi after all this time." Kuwabara made himself comfortable on one of the chairs at the small kitchen table. Botan dressed in her signature pink kimono having just arrived from Spirit World stayed standing not sure what else to do in such a small space.

"Well, alright no need to get all worked up! It's about the Makai Tournament," she said the latter part somberly.

"What about it," Yusuke asked getting a little impatient.

"Koenma has just gotten wind that new kind of competitor will be entering," Botan revealed. This got both of the young mens' attention. Yusuke straightened up from the couch only to lean forward with his arms resting on his knees.

"What do you mean by a 'a new kind'," Yusuke asked.

"Like," Kuwabara intercepted, "a different kind of demon or something?"

"No, it's not demon at all! Koenma said it's...an angel," Botan said still unsure herself what was she saying.

"Wait, you mean little fat babies with wings and halos," Yusuke asked incredulous.

"And wouldn't they just be spirits from, well, Spirit World," Kuwabara added. Botan shook her head before replying,

"Angels are a set of creatures of their own from a different world altogether. No one, not even Spirit World, knows how to reach it. In face, we thought they didn't exist anymore since it's been so long without anyone seeing once. Honestly, I was beginning it was all a myth..."

"So, we don't have any clue what we're up against. Great," Kuwabara mumbled.

"And what does this have to do with me," Yusuke inquired. Botan sighed at the former detective's obvious disdain of any possible motives from Koenma.

"Koenma only wishes to prepare you. We don't know why the angels would choose now to return from solitude. If an angel wins the tournament, who knows what means for the demon AND human worlds."

Yusuke smirked, flexed an arm with one hand over the muscle, and said, "Whatever the hell they are and what they want doesn't matter. I'm always up for a good fight."

Koren rushed through the air but not on her own accord. She didn't have the ability, the strength, to slow herself, so when she finally collided with a nearby island it was a painful relief. The impact knocked the breath out of her, and she saw multi-colored dots. If that wasn't disorienting enough, Koren couldn't ignore the searing pain from the cuts and bruises that dressed her body. Blood flowed from her wounds making her body so slick she had a difficult time getting to her feet.

"You're body should be able to take these minor blows," Artaxes bellowed from the skies. Koren let out a shaky sigh. Angels have rock solid bodies if disciplined enough; her skin should have been able to simply absorb the attacks without a single scratch to show for it. Once her vision cleared she looked up at Artaxes eyeing his stone body. She wondered how much she'd have to put her body through in order for it to be that resilient.

"We'll need to work on your healing abilities as well," Rhiannon said suddenly at Koren's side. "You're body should have already started to regenerate itself." Koren flinched not from pain but from embarrassment. She knew that she would learn all of these attributes that make an angel guardian, but normally that could be down in a few decades. She had to learn it all in a few reached out a hand to help heal Koren's wounds.

"STOP!" It was Artaxes. Rhiannon lowered her helping hand and gave Artaxes a questioning look.

"If she cannot accomplish it on her own, the she must be prepared for the consequences," he growled then added, "No demon will be merciful."

"Perhaps this will encourage you to learn faster," she said softly before returning to the skies.

Dread washed over Koren as she turned to face her formidable teacher. She was tired, weak, and practically defenseless compared to the ancient weapon before her. Still she took her fighting stance and tried to mentally prepare herself for the agony to come. Artaxes stared down at her with pitiless eyes like she was a demon scumbag threatening their heavenly home. She felt like she would die underneath that stare right then and there.

Unfortunately for Koren, training had only just begun.

A/N: I've been inspired by some other fan-fiction stories I've been reading by Aria123 and Graphospasm, so here it is. If it's not already clear, this is taken place after the end of the original series. We last see the team about to fight in the second Makai Tournament, and this is set right before that.

Please let me know your thoughts. I appreciate any helpful criticism because I have no idea really where I want this story to go.

The pairing (if there's going to be one) is up to you when we get to that point.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this!