A/N: Hey guys, thanks for reviewing the previous, suspenseful chapter! Here's more of the battle, let's see what takes place here!
Chapter 10
Revenge Round 1
Time didn't seem to be present as the audience and fated group of fighters watched the fiery ring slowly burn to a black hole of what could be demon ashes. Everyone stayed silent as Koto tried to examine the field by squinting her feline like eyes, her face still expressionless and unpredictable as she kept staring down at the burning field.
"Come on Kurama, please be alive," Kuwabara pleaded quietly, his heart racing with anticipation and hope of his friend's condition.
"What happens if Kurama loses?" Botan asked randomly.
"Even I don't know that," Loreena answered, her eyes piercing down at the clearing field through her black hood. She knew this fight wouldn't be over even if it killed Kurama, Pyroblood always found a way to stay alive after any type of attack. "Only time can give us that answer, we just wait and see what is revealed to us."
Everyone nodded at Loreena's creative but grim comments and looked away from her to the clearing field, only to see the short demon lord getting to his feet. His robes and hair were covered with field ashes, but he smiled after he looked around to see Kurama wasn't in his view.
"OKAY EVERYONE, THE FIELD HAS CLEARED AND PYROBLOOD IS THE ONLY NOTICEABLE FIGHTER AT THIS TIME, BUT YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT KURAMA HAS UP HIS SLEEVE," Koto informed the audience, but she suddenly jumped to her feet from her seat and stared down at the field carefully. "LOOK EVERYONE, KURAMA SEEMS TO BE IN ONE PIECE AFTER THAT UNEXPECTED MOVE FROM PYROBLOOD! BUT HE'S OUT OF THE RING AND NOT LOOKIN' TOO PRETTY!" She stared the count and everyone seemed on edge now, waiting to see the result of the fight.
'How could he summon such power without calling its name?' Youko asked himself as he slowly got up from his lying position. He was covered in blood and ashes from the explosion, traces of his aura hanging like threads around his body. 'No demon has ever attempted such an unpredictable move without killing himself. What kind of demon is he?'
"EIGHT…NINE…," Koto's voice echoed.
Kurama started sprinting to the ring, but his energy was drained and he fell to the ground just below the charred ring, panting heavily as he clutched his broken, bleeding left arm.
"TEN AND BY RING OUT, MASTER PYROBLOOD IS THE WINNER!"
Most of the audience cheered for the master's victory, but they suddenly went silent as Pyroblood slammed his axe into the ground and spoke in a loud, challenging voice.
"NOW THE NEXT PART OF THE FIGHT WILL START, THE REVENGE ROUND!" Pyroblood yelled so every fighter could hear his words of challenge.
"MASTER PYROBLOOD, PLEASE DEFINE THE REVENGE ROUND FOR US," Koto requested, her insides jumping for joy at the sound of the two words. She shivered when Pyroblood laughed and wiped the blood from his nose, but she regained her cool as he explained.
"IT'S QUITE SIMPLE REALLY. IF SOMEONE LOSES THE LAST FIGHT OF A ROUND AGAINST ANY OF MY COMPANIONS, THEY GET TO HAVE ONE OF THE FIGHTERS FROM THEIR TEAM COME DOWN FROM THE AUDIENCE AND HELP THEM FIGHT ME OR ONE OF MY ASSOSICATES, BUT THERE'S A CATCH IF THEY LOSE-," he stopped in his speech and clicked his fingers three times and a gate to the south of the stadium opened.
A small family of slaves walked out in chains before the audience, their faces filled with fear and hope of mercy. They made signs to each other since their collars prevented their voices from being heard. They all stepped forward to see a pedestal with a gap the size of a normal head and an executioner staring at them with a large scythe.
"SELECTED SLAVES WILL FACE EXECUTION RIGHT BEFORE THIS LOVELY AUDIENCE, NO MATTER HOW MUCH THE FIGHTERS OR SLAVES BEG FOR MERCY. ONCE THE TWO FIGHTERS LOSE AGAINST ONE OF US, NOTHING CAN STAND IN THE WAY OF DEATH," he finished, a grim smile etched in his ash covered face. He didn't laugh just then, for he was saving his victory laugh for the end of the battle. "COME OUT AND PLAY, I KNOW YOU'RE WATCHING!"
Everyone suddenly became confused and talked amongst one another, trying to decipher the master's last phrase. People begged Koto to explain Pyroblood's sudden remark, but she only stared down at the unfortunate slaves who stood before their fate.
"W-What does he mean by that?" Kuwabra asked nervously.
"He wants a specific person to fight him," Hiei said with excitement.
"I'm goin' tu foight him!" Jin said, flying out of the room, but someone chased after him to protest against his decision.
"You're not ready to fight someone like him, Jin," the person said calmly.
"Don' be crazy, I'm ready!" Jin said defensively.
"I'm telling you as a friend Jin, let me handle this. Besides, you two can't have all the fun at once," the person said, stepping out of the shadows. Yusuke gave him thumbs up and started walking out to fight Pyroblood, when Loreena ran after him to give him last-minute advice.
"You're too reckless to fight him," she warned.
"Don't be stupid, I'm doing this for Kurama!" Yusuke shouted, but he didn't dodge Loreena's sudden uppercut.
"Go ahead and die Yusuke, but you're pride doesn't compare to those people's lives! Don't be stupid like usual and watch your back, he's not to be messed with," Loreena said coldly, then walked off back to the room as Jin followed her.
"I hope Urameshi doesn't mess up," Kuwarbara commented.
"Hn, I would like an opportunity to fight this demon, he looks to be a worthy adversary," Hiei said as he grinned at the screen.
"Let's just see how stupid he acts this time," Touya said and they all went quiet as Yusuke arrived at the ring and started talking to Kurama while Koto made her quick announcement to start the Revenge Round.
"ALRIGHT EVERYONE, WE'VE GOT OURSELVES A GREAT LOOKING REVENGE ROUND NOW THAT SPIRIT DETECTIVE YUSUKE URAMESHI ENTERS THE RING," Koto said with a bubbly voice, trying to fight the urge to dance.
Yusuke helped Kurama stand up as they stepped onto the black field, blood trailing behind them from Kurama's bleeding arm. Kurama had returned to his red headed from and he seemed like he were to die at any second.
"Honored to meet such a famous detective as yourself," Pyroblood said.
"Cut the introductions pal, I've got a fight to win," Yusuke said impatiently as he helped Kurama down and out of harm's way.
"Don't…mess…with…him…Yusuke," Kurama wheezed.
"Yeah yeah…I know that! You just rest for now," Yusuke said impatiently, turning to his adversary. "So, how does this "Revenge Round" work, I don't have a lot of time here."
"GWA HA HA HA! I like you boy, you're attitude fires me up! Here's the thing: You fight me until your comrade can stand and fight again, but if you lose…well, you get my meaning right? It's a Fight to the Death!" Pyroblood said with intimidation, his dull eyes now fiery with excitement.
"READY, BEGIN REVENGE ROUND NUMBER ONE!"
'This better be a good ending for all of us,' Loreena thought grimly.
"FIRE…SHIELD!" Pyroblood said again and the ring of fire came to life.
'This'll be easy, he's too weak to kill me,' Yusuke thought with a smile as he into his stance for Spirit Wave.
"No where else to go for you, Spirit Dectective…YOU'RE MINE!" Pyroblood screamed and charged for Yusuke.
'That's it…come to try and kill me,' Yusuke said to himself, his energy level rising dramatically.
But what happened next was so sudden and blinding that no one could see what just took place. As Yusuke yelled and performed his late master's signature move, Pyroblood did the same explosion as he did when he fought Kurama. Once more, the field burst into flames and the audience jumped out of their seats to avoid falling fireballs.
"WOW FOLKS EVEN WITH PYROBLOOD IN A THREATENING CONDITION, HE STILL PERFOMS HIS STRONGEST MOVE LIKE HE DID TO KURAMA! NOW THIS IS SOMETHING YOU DON'T SEE IN ANY NORMAL TOURNAMENT, I'M SO EXCITED AND FIRED UP FROM THIS FIGHT!" Koto said emotionally, jumping around screaming like a rock concert girl.
"She needs to be taught a lesson in humanity and emotion," Loreena snarled.
"No kidding, she's always like this at every tournament," Botan agreed.
"The real question is: Where does all that energy come from?" Hiei said to the angry women, seeing they were suddenly interested in his comment. "Every time before someone attacks him, his uses his axe to make them weak and drain their energy. Does that type of strategy ring a bell to your occupied brains?"
Everyone suddenly started thinking and then gasped at the television screen as the fire suddenly turned blue with Yusuke's energy, but the two fighters couldn't be seen through the blue shield. The audience resumed their endless cheering for each fighter and shouting to see the right, while the slaves huddled next to each other as they watched in suspense and fading hope for their freedom.
"UH-OKAY FOLKS, IT APPEARS THE FIGHTERS WANT TO QUARREL PRIVATELY! YUSUKE MUST BE USING HIS ENERGY TO DOUSE THE RISING FLAMES FROM PYROBLOOD'S AXE, I GUESS WE JUST WAIT AND SEE IF THIS FIGHT CLEARS UP," Koto said nervously, her body acting strange now that the fight couldn't be seen. Her senses craved a live fight with speed and some blood, but she also shivered at the thought of the outcome of the fight.
"We 'ave to save those people roight now!" Jin said, standing up.
"Yes, but how? That executioner can call security!" Touya shouted.
"Who cares about the guards, let's just save those people!" Kuwabara added.
Everyone but Hiei and Loreena ignored the clearing screen, but the fight only seemed to get uglier than before. The two ignored the arguing demons and human, knowing their attempt wouldn't go unnoticed.
"GUYS, GET A HOLD OF YOURSELVES!" Loreena screamed, getting their attention. "There's nothing we can do, no matter how much our hearts are dying to do the right thing. They are the only ones who can save them now. We just have to wait and see what happens."
"SHOTGUN!" Yusuke yelled, millions of blue energy bullets shooting from his hands. He grinned as the fire demon started bleeding and grunting from the effect of his energy, but he didn't sense the odd presence behind him.
"BLO…ODY…AXE," Pyroblood whispered, the axe springing to life.
The audience stood still, along with time as the axe flew towards Yusuke to end his life, but something caught the axe in midair. Yusuke turned to see Kurama standing before the axe, the blade landing straight…in his heart!
"K-U-R-A-M-A!" Yusuke shouted as his energy bullets faded into nothing.
Everyone watched as the red headed fighter fell to his knees, coughing up blood as he tried to pull the axe out. His scream of agony as he slowly pulled the blade out of him only caused the leader's part of the audience to cheer with glory of a good ending for Pyroblood.
"No…he can't be…," Touya whispered.
"Kurama…no…," Kuwabara said to himself.
Yusuke turned to a laughing but dying Pyroblood, his eyes gleaming blue with anger and revenge. He felt his energy become unstable, flying around his body like a hungry hawk.
"DAMN YOU AND YOUR RULES, I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU! SPIRIT GUN!" Yusuke screamed as his energy gathered and charged towards the dying fire demon in one large bullet, tears running fiercely down his face.
But the detective wasn't finished just yet as he walked over to the dying Kurama, the blade almost out of his chest. He smiled at his friend, Kurama nodded at his friend's idea and together they pulled the axe out and Yusuke walked back over to his enemy.
"I hope Death enjoys its victory tonight, Pyroblood," Yusuke said menacingly and plunged the axe into its master. The fire demon gasped and tried to click his fingers, but Yusuke fired another Spirit Gun and the fire demon was finished.
"ALRIGHT FOLKS, YUSUKE AND KURAMA WIN THE FIRST REVENGE ROUND WITH A GREAT SUCCESS! TEAM URAMESHI PROCEEDS TO ROUND TWO BEGINNING TOMORROW! THANK YOU AND SEE YOU ALL TOMORROW!" Koto yelled, turned off her microphone and walked out of her box.
The audience cheered the winning fighters, but Yusuke ignored them and walked over to see the smiling slaves but they also looked guilty when they saw him carrying Kurama.
"You're welcome, hopefully we can set you all free," Yusuke said proudly.
The little boy walked up and gave Yusuke a little stone and pointed to Kurama, which made the detective smile and give the little boy a high five before leaving. But the mother tapped him on the shoulder and pointed to the box where the others were, but the detective remained confused.
"Tell her thank you," the woman mouthed silently.
Yusuke nodded and walked back to the door up to his box to talk with the others, Kurama's blood staining his bare chest as he left the arena.
-Later that Night, Medical Office-
The lizard doctor finally walked out of the operating room to see all of Kurama's friends waiting, but he only pointed to Yusuke and Jin and the two demons followed the doctor back into the room without a word to the others.
"That was a close fight," Botan whispered through tears.
"Kurama must be the most dedicated person out of all of us," Touya guessed, but he caught Loreena actually crying. "Loreena, are you alright?"
The Night Maiden looked up from the ground to the ice youkai beside her, but she shook her head and tried to keep her emotions inside herself for no one else to see.
"It's ok to act like this Loreena," Touya assured her.
"I don't care…he gave his…life for them…why would he…," she stammered, confused at how someone of a different race even care for her own kind despite what their fate was.
"Because Kurama cares for everyone," Kuwabara added.
Loreena looked up to the orange headed human, seeing his eyes full of worry but faith as well. She looked at him with confusion and wondered why they all seemed to care for her kind; it was alien for her to have someone actually care for what happened to the slaves of the cursed place.
"It was…brave…of him…I guess," she stated quietly.
But no one spoke further when Yusuke and Jin stepped out of the operating room with the lizard doctor. The others couldn't tell what their faces would tell them, so they just said nothing and started walking back to their room to train and rest for tomorrow's battles.
Hiei and Touya occupied the back area of their rooms by the trees and lake while Kuwabara talked to Yusuke about fight, Jin just watched Loreena from the window while she practiced her substitute attacks for tomorrow.
'How can she think of foightin' tomorrow? Kurama gave his life fer her, but she doesn' seem worried a' all,' Jin wondered to himself as he watched his old friend fight the wind and her problems.
"She's a strange one, isn't she?" Yusuke asked Jin.
"Nah, jus' different," Jin said quietly.
"This tournament is suspicious, especially for what happened today," Yusuke said, thinking of what the doctor explained to them earlier.
"Should we tell Koenma before we foight?" Jin suggested.
"Not a bad idea," someone said behind them, making the two jump. "We should bring him here so he can see just how worse things are getting."
"Good idea," Yusuke said to Touya. "But what about Kurama?"
"Let's sleep on tha', then we'll go tu Koenma durin' 'he tournmamen' without any trouble," Jin concluded and they all agreed.
They all just hoped that tomorrow would be better once Koenma came to see what their next move should be. Kurama was in no condition to fight and Loreena was at risk despite what she says, but nothing would prepare them for their dark future ahead that waited around the corner.
To be Continued!