"This is messed up." I muttered to Kurama as we stood on the stadium. On the screen it showed Team Urameshi vs Team Masho. The dark tournament committee decided to start the third rounds straight after our fight with the demented doctor, also choosing our team to fight first.

"It is to be expected." Kurama replied tensely as we watch a green tornado land before our group, revealing five cloaked figures, Team Masho. "The committee want us dead and it is much easier to do that with a weaker team."

"Damn." I cursed under my breath. "Why do I get the feeling this is going to be a tough one?" Yusuke said openly, no one saying anything as it crossed all our minds.

'Hiei and Kuwabara are both hurt and all five of them have been drained of power either a little or alot.' I thought as Kurama and Yusuke whispered to one another. 'This is going to be a tough fight.'

Strong winds surrounded one of the members of Team Masho, lifting their robe off to reveal a red headed demon, reminding of a imp of sort, with sky blue eyes and a horn poking out from his spiky, red locks. He was wearing white pants held up by blue obi, a red gem in the center. Two pieces of white cloth crossed over his torso and bandages were wrapped around his forearms and his sandals.

"Jin the wind master." Kurama commented causing us to turn to him. "Well that would explain who his team is."

"Do you know these jokers?" Yusuke asked him, raising an eyebrow at the redhead on our team.

"Indeed, most demons do." 'I don't' I thought but didn't say out loud. "Team Masho must be a sudo name for this tournament. Their actual name is the Shinobi of the Spiritworld." Kurama informed us. I blinked in surprise.

'Shinobi as in ninja? Why would a stealth team fight in such an open arena? Are they trying to show off so they get more jobs.' I asked myself, staring at the robed team and Jin. 'What ever their goal is, it doesn't matter. These demons are skilled fighters Shizuka. Be careful.' Kuro warned as I nodded slightly.

"Team captains, please decide the battle terms." Koto asked them as Yusuke and Jin stood facing one another.

When Jin opened his mouth to speak, all I could do was blink. 'Did you get any of that?' I asked Kuro in confusion. 'Beats me.' Kuro replied just as confused as me. It seems like Yusuke didn't understand what Jin said, the demon ninja's Irish accent being so thick it sounded like he was speaking gibberish, as he blindly agreed to the terms Jin offered.

"Jin has asked for a series of one-on-one matches with the advancing team taking five wins and Yusuke gives the nod." Koto announced, me blinking in confusion once more. 'That's what he said. It didn't sound like that.' I thought, Kuro snickering in the background.

Before the matches could begin however a tone went off. "May I have your attention please." A female voice spoke from the stadiums speaker system. "The dark tournament committee will be instituting a medical examination before the next round."

"What is this, gym class?" Yusuke questioned as he hopped off the stage to join us.

"Due to the Urameshi team fighting without rest and in accordance with section 13 of the tournament index, report to the medical tent." The female continued.

"As long as they don't grab my balls and make me cough." Yusuke grumbled crudely, my nose crinkling slightly in disgust. "Scratch that." He muttered soon after as he spotted the nurse walking out from the medical tent set up near by.

"Boys." I mumbled in disgust, walking away and sitting by the wall. 'You were one once too, you know.' Kuro chuckled as I groaned. 'Don't remind me. It still creeps me out and I have had at least five years to get use to it.' I replied, running my fingers through my hair.

I watched as the nurse raised her hand, hovering the appendage in front of each member. She was about to do the same to me but seeing the murderous glare on my face she decided not to.

"Yes, you three fighters, would you please follow me to the medical tent?" The nurse asked Hiei, the female masked fighter and Kurama.

'Thats odd. Shouldn't she go see Kuwabara first?' I thought, watching as the nurse tried to seduce Hiei and Kurama to follow her into the medical tent. 'Slut.' I murmured straight after in disgust, watching as she battered her eyes at Kurama. 'Oooo, someone's jealous.' Kuro said, snickering at the end as I scoffed.

I moved to stand next to Yusuke and Kuwabara as we waited patiently for the others to have their medical exam. When they went to return to us however, they were stopped by blue lightning barrier.

"Dammit, what's happening to them Shizuka?" Yusuke asked. "It was a trap. They are being stopped by a force field of some sorts." I replied, cursing under my breath. 'We really don't need this right now.' I thought as Yusuke charged the red headed nurse only for her to reveal her true nature. An enchantress named Ruka who was exceptional at spell defense. She removed her nurses outfit to reveal the vine like bikini that barely covered her at all.

"As a result of the medical examination. Hiei, Kurama and the masked fighter have been ruled unable to fight, they will sit out for the duration of the round while they are suitably treated. Due to this however, the committee has agreed to allow Shizuka Takenada to fight." The woman's voice from before announced, Yusuke growling in anger.

"Concentrate Yusuke. There is still a chance that we can win this match." I told the boy, pulling him away from Koto as he shouted at Koto. "Right now we are the only ones who are fit enough to fight so get a hold of yourself and calm down."

Laughter sounded from behind us, our heads turning to look as one of the cloaked figures from Team Masho stepping forward. "Two against five now Jin, you can destroy them all." The cloaked man advised the red head only for the demon to complain and walk off, saying someone else can fight instead.

'Is he helping us or does he have something else he is playing for?' I thought curiously, watching the red head as he took a seat. Looking up, our blue eyes connected before he sent me a wink with a cheeky grin as I turned away.

"What are we going to do?" Yusuke asked me, slightly worried, gaining my attention again.

"It's best that I fight first." I advised the teen. "We need to be careful in this. Not only am I an unknown factor, giving me an edge, but out of the two of us you need to rest more than I do." I continued, noticing Yusuke wanting to argue with me.

"Alright," Yusuke agreed, breaking the silence that fell. Pulling off my tunic, revealing the shirt and pants I wore underneath, I passed it to Yusuke, the bells in my hair chiming as swished my hair behind my shoulders.

'Yusuke.' I called out mentally to the only other fighter left on the team. 'Kurama. Hiei. Kuwabara. Forgive me for what you may see.'

"The master of disguise will fight this battle." A lanky and slim demon said, his white skin almost reflecting the sun. He had sharp features and wore a green bandana over his head with a matching green skirt that was held up by a red and gold belt.

"And it's Shizuka vs Gama. You may begin." Koto told us. I slid my right foot back, bending my knees as I waited for Gama to make the first move. What he pulled out however confused me greatly.

'Paint brushes?' I thought in confusion.

"Tell me wench, what does the word makeup bring to mind?" Gama asked me. I raised an eyebrow at the man but made no move to answer. 'Is he really asking me this?'

"Human females no doubt, something you yourself may have worn to attract the next mate. Disgusting, isn't it? How humans have managed to bastardise everything they touch. Over centuries humans have influenced Spirit World as well, now few demons know its original power." Gama explained as he started to paint his face, torso and arms. Immediately his demon energy rose, setting me straight onto alarm.

"Allow me to show you!" Gama shouted before charging forward, raising his fist into the air. Doing a handstand to the left, I sprung up into the air to avoid the hit, a crater forming where I once stood. 'I need to keep moving' I thought, taking a few steps back after I landed as Gama turned to fight me.

Gama sent powerful hits and kicks my way, each one effortless dodged. Focusing my demon energy, I waited until Gama left his side exposed before summoning my sickle into my right hand. Throwing it at the demon, I jumped away to leave space between us.

'He's fast, I'll give him that.' I thought, summoning two more sickles into my hand, one in each palm, as I charged at Gama the same time he charged at me. As if moving to a beat, both of us danced to the song the other performed, dodging the others attack while releasing our own.

Performing a spin kick, I ducked under Gama's leg before springing right back, trying to slice at Gama's torso. Twisting out of the way of both my sickles, Gama went to punch me which I pushed away with my forearms. Swinging my left arm up, I tried to cut Gama's face but the demon slid to the right, sliding to the left as I followed up with my right arm.

"Enough of this." Gama announced before drawing his paint brushes once more. 'I can't let them touch me.' I thought, throwing both my weapons at Gama as he charged forward, the demon moving quickly to dodge them. I ducked as the demon tried to paint me, tumbling to the left to get out of the way.

I jumped away from Gama, spinning to face him when what felt like lightning shot through my shoulder down to my fingers on my right arm. A small noise escaped my lips, my face scrunching up in pain as I turned to look at my shoulder only to see a black circle with two criss crossing lightning bolts in the center plastered on the fabric of my shirt.

'Shit!' I thought angrily, turning to look at Gama as I tried to not move my arm.

"How does your arm feel Shizuka? Does it feel like a million lightning bugs are crawling up it, biting at the skin and paralyzing the limb?" Gama asked, laughing at the end.

I took a step back, my arm stinging in pain at the movement as Gama walked closer. "I won't need it, to defeat you." I told the demon confidently between breaths of air. 'I can't attack him while he has those brushes out, not at a close distance anyway. That doesn't leave me many options.' I thought, trying moving swiftly without moving my arm as Gama charged forward.

I did a one handed hand stand with my left arm, spinning my legs around as if they were shuriken to keep Gama away, only for the demon to paint a different set of symbols on each leg, resulting in me falling onto the ground in a crumpled heap as the demon jumped away.

I small gasp escaped my lips as pain rocketed through every part of my body. The only thing I could move was my left arm and my head and even then I didn't want to move. Monsters smashed and crashed the inside of my brain as I was forced to watch Gama laugh at my vulnerable form.

'I can't get up. Not without hurting myself even more.' I thought, trying to come up with a plan quickly as I ignored what Gama was saying. 'What do I do? What can I do?'

"Get up Shizuka!" I heard Yusuke shout, my icy orbs drifting over to his form.

"She can't you fool!" Gama shouted, laughing loudly. "Over 2,000 volts of energy course through three of her four limbs. If she even thinks of moving one of them, she may be killed!"

I tried to force myself off from the ground, only for a groan to escape my chapped lips as I fell back, electricity igniting my system on fire. 'I can't even stand from the pain.' I thought sadly, closing my arms as pain coursed through me once more. The bells in my hair chimed, my mind taking me to another place.

"Pain! You weak, foolish, ignorant girl!" A young girl looked up, her ice eyes meeting that of an older man. A long, white beard tumbled down from his wrinkled chin, bottomless pits for eyes glaring at the child with hate. "You don't know what pain really is! Get up!"

"It hurts master." She whispered, long raven locks protecting her face from the mans glare as she bowed her head. The older man bent down, slapping the girl in the cheek. Blood dripping from her mouth as well as from various cuts made from the black sword the man was holding.

"And this will keep hurting you until you can block out the pain!" He shouted in fury, standing tall. "Pain is a weak feeling! Emotions are weak! You are weak!" As the master shouted this he swung the butt of his sword down on the girls head causing her to crash into the matted floor.

"Block out everything you stupid puppet!"

"Don't you dare give up Shizuka!" I opened my eyes slowly as I turn to see Kurama staring at me from behind the barrier.

"Don't leave me alone with these guys." I heard Yusuke whisper.

'I need to win this, no matter what.' Bowing my head, the bells in my hair chimed quietly in my ear as if the sound was trying to comfort me.

'Block out everything. Feel nothing.' I chanted in my mind, breathing slowly as I pushed everything away. The crowd. My opponent. My friends. Kuro. Nothing can phase me, nothing will phase me.


3rd Person P.O.V

"Look at this! Shizuka is getting up!" Koto announced excitedly, clutching her microphone tightly as said girl stood up from the ground.

"It doesn't matter if she can stand!" Gama shouted confidently, putting his paint brushes away. "For now the bitch will die!"

Red demon sparked around Gama as he charged forward, his dagger sharp nails ready to claw apart Shizuka. Jumping into the air, Gama swung down his arm.

Suddenly, everything stopped as the sound of bells rang through the air. A cold yet malicious look appeared on Shizuka's face as four powerful arched attacks came the bells that tied up her hair.

The attack moved swiftly at Gama, the demon having no room to dodge. The first attack cut the man's right arm off, the hand that was about to hit Shizuka hitting the ground with an almost silent thud. The second and third attack cut both of the demons legs, blood sprouting from where the knees once where. The last attack sliced through Gama's neck, the head cleanly cutting off and ending any pitiful noises the demon would have made with it's final breath.

"Do you honestly think I would come to this fight with just a blade?" Shizuka asked the dead corpse coldly, her voice ringing throughout the silent air. "Never underestimate your opponent or it will be your last mistake."

The silence of the crowd disappeared at Shizuka's words, the crowds cheering at the sight of death and blood. "Way to go Shizuka! That's one down!" Yusuke shouted in joy, snapping out of his frozen state.

"An unbelievable one eighty people! Shizuka has turned what would have been from a defeat into a bloody victory!" Koto announced into her microphone, teal green eyes lighting up in excitement.

Shizuka ignored everyone around her as thoughts centered on the marks left by Gama. 'How long will the marks stay on me? They might affect me in the next fight, depending on how long I can keep this technique up.' Shizuka thought disdainfully.

Another Shinobi, this one having a crystal blue cross on its hood, took Gama's place. Removing their cloak, the third shinobi was revealed.

The demon had slicked back ice coloured blue hair, four green strands falling down the left side of his face. Blue eyes stared in apathy at Shizuka as he studied her at the same time she studied him. Under a dark blue shirt he wore a long sleeve fish net shirt, a white one shouldered tunic being held up by a lavender gem covering both layers. He wore similar sandals to Jin and Gama over the top a lighter blue pair of pants.


"It's Toya, the master of ice." Hiei said from where he stood behind the barrier with Kurama and the masked fighter. "Get her out of there Yusuke."

"She won't be able to last for much longer." Kurama commented, evergreen eyes focused on Shizuka in concern as she watched the girl twitch. "Though she is ignoring it, the pain will soon catch up to her." 'Please be careful Shizuka.' He added, fingers barely moving as he was forced to watch.


"You fought bravely Gama." Toya said to his fallen teammate. "I assure you, that your death will be honored. Shizuka will pay."