Everyone back on solid ground in Demon World was watching on the largest center screen as Yomi and Meiyuki battled back and forth for what must have been hours. Even all the other fights that had been scheduled to take place at the same time had stopped, and all the fighters returned to watch what would transpire in the battle of the century.

The lead passed from one to the other as quickly as one could blink. First Yomi would have Meiyuki pinned on the ground, and then she would jump up and throw him into a tree. It went back and forth between them, neither appearing to tire, and the demons back on the ground growing more and more worried as time wore on.

A few hours into the battle, they all watched as Yomi picked Meiyuki up by the neck and threw her into a large boulder. The sheer force of his throw was evident in that the boulder broke into pieces the moment she hit it. "Damn it!" Yusuke shouted. "He's going to kill her up there!" Growing more and more frustrated, he ran up to the roof of the building they were in and shouted, "Meiyuki! You better kick his ass, or I'll kick yours! Don't you dare give up!"

He watched as she opened her eyes and stood strongly, and he smirked, knowing that she'd heard him. The others joined him just in time to see her fly towards Yomi, hands outstretched in attack, and it must have taken him by surprise because she hit him as hard as she could, pounding him into the ground and creating a rather large crater around him.

She stepped out of the crater, staring angrily down at him and shouting, "That can't be it, you bastard! Get out here and fight me like you mean it! Come on! Give me the strength you gave Shiro and Mamoru! I dare you!"

Kurama shuddered, able to feel her anger even from where they were standing. "My gods," he said, trying to stay calm. "I think it is she who might kill Yomi."

Answering her call, Yomi jumped easily out of the hole and glared at her. His easy-going, playful nature was now gone, and he was growing angrier himself, as was evident in his own expressions and growing Energy.

"You presumptuous wench of a Tigress," he said, keeping his voice calm. "What makes you think you can defeat me on your own? How dare you! You and your pathetic friends should have attacked me when you had the opportunity! You might have had a chance fighting me together! Instead you chose to scheme and plan, and where did it get you? Alone! You're all alone, Meiyuki! Perhaps if those Tigers had cared more about you, they would have put up more of a fight like you are now! It seems that you care far more about them than they ever did about you!"

Her eyes grew wider as he went on. No! she thought to herself. Don't let him manipulate you this way! He's wrong! Shiro and Mamoru loved you just as much as you love them still! And they still love you! Don't let him get into your mind!

He could see how she was beginning to break and smirked. "Yes, that's the hit, isn't it?" he said triumphantly. "You know that it's true, Meiyuki. I can see you battling it out in your mind. 'He can't possibly be right…can he? Did Shiro and Mamoru really care about me at all?' Don't fight the truth. It's a ridiculously ancient concept that never works. You'll only disappoint yourself in the end."

A cold chill ran through her body as his words sank in. There was just no way. The last things they had said to her had been how much they loved her. But…Shiro was a far stronger demon than she. Why wasn't he able to hold Yomi off longer? The moment she had sensed that he was in danger, she had run to help him, and it had been only minutes later that he was dead. Something was amiss here, and that was undeniable even in her mind.

Seeing that she had broken down inside, he quickly rushed her and slashed her as many times as he could with his claws before she fell to the ground in a pool of her own blood. He then stood over her, licking the blood from his claws as he said, "I knew you were weak. It was all just show, your hardheaded determination. Isn't it just like a female to let you down in the end?"

Meiyuki breathed deeply, keeping her head and hanging onto the little life he had left in her. Damn, she thought. He's broken me. I haven't anything left to live for anyway. My entire kind are dead because of me, and the few friends I have left here I've let down.

At that moment, she heard a voice ring through her head, Meiyuki, you can't think that way. Please, get up. Don't think you've let us down. None of us could ever be prouder of you.

Kurama? she asked, raising her head.

We're all watching you, he replied. When we promised you that we'd always stand behind you, we meant it. We're here.

She smiled, letting a little tear fall from her cheek. I can't do it anymore, she thought. I can't keep going. I'd rather let him kill me and get it over with. At least I'll die knowing that I tried.

Suddenly, a different voice entered her head, one that she knew she would never forget. Meiyuki, Shiro said gently. You know that Yomi is only manipulating you. You know how much Mamoru and I love you. We've been right here watching you the entire time. Koenma gave us a special deal to let us watch and make sure you were okay.

Listen to me, Meiyuki. Mamoru and I are proud of you and everything you do. You've been so strong up until now, but we have to ask that you stay strong for a little longer. You can defeat Yomi. You're strong enough. We love you, and gods, Meiyuki, I love you. You know that had I been strong enough to survive I would have had children with you in a heartbeat.

More tears were beginning to flood her eyes as she said weakly in her mind, Shiro…

No, don't try to talk to me. You conserve the strength you have left, get up, and destroy him like we always meant to do together. We're watching, and we're with you no matter what.

She nodded, listening as Koto called over the intercom, "I don't believe it, ladies and gentlemen! Meiyuki's been down for several minutes now! This can't be it! It just can't be! Come on, blood and gore fans! Let her hear it!"

The entire stadium began to cheer her on, screaming at her to get up and fight. Listening to the support behind her, she lifted herself up onto her arms and arose weakly to her feet, staring Yomi in the face. "I'm not done yet," she said angrily, to the gleeful cheering of the demons in the stadium.

"Stubborn female," Yomi said, anger still evident in his expression. "You've signed your own death certificate."

"It was my pleasure," she replied with a smirk, standing at the ready. "Go."