The day of the battle with Toguro was looming so close, and even after the help we received from Sazuka we still seemed to be favored to lose. Things are definitely bleak.

I rummaged through my bag and found the box given to me by Sazuka and the note.

"Amaya,

Truth be told I've never cared much for women. They have a tendency to be more beautiful than men and a lot more trouble- but I like a woman that can fight so I'm helping you out. One beauty to the another.

Anyway- as I'm sure you've deduced the matches for this thing have pretty much already been decided and you're going to end up facing Shisho. He a right bastard. But as I'm sure you've also deduced he has a HUGE flaw. He has a weakness for beautiful women. I'm sure the items I have enclosed will help you surprise him and hopeful give you the advantage you need. Put these assholes in their place.

The BEAUTIFUL Sazuka~"

I rolled my eyes at the end of the letter but I couldn't help but smile. I suppose an enemy of my enemy is my friend after all.

Enclosed in the package were a few interesting items: my favorite of which was a set of finger tip rings that looked like fancy silver finger nails. These were dipped a drug that made the victim disoriented and eventually caused internal bleeding and death. And they were pretty. They went beautifully with the tempered steel fan and matching twin daggers they were paired with.

Also enclosed was a very slinky Cheongsam with a wide hole exposing the tops of my breasts and a slit up each side. Stitched inside the dress were various compartments for holding weapons and poisons. All in all- a deadly sexy dress.

The only problem with it was the hole that showed off my entire back. Although my tattoos were invisible it was still hard not to be constantly aware of them.

I waited in my room thinking about what was to happen the next day and all that had happened since our arrival. This whole situation made me feel sick.

None of us had spoken about Genkai's death and I felt terrible about leaving Kuwabara in the dark- but I think we all felt like it was Yusuke's right to tell him. Sadly Yusuke was doing what Yusuke does: bottling up his feelings and using them to fuel his determination. Toguro was going to pay, one way or another. His death was assured.

I dressed quickly and threw on a long black trench coat over my dress so that it didn't show. As far as everyone could tell I wasn't wearing anything out of the ordinary- just adding a coat. I was laying all my hopes on the possibility that my research would pay off. I pulled the hood up and over my head and headed into the common room to meet my comrades.

At the stadium~

I watched with baited breath as Kurama was the first to take his place in the ring. Karasu looked even more intimidating than he did in the hallway days ago, if that were even possible. I couldn't help but feel this nagging pit in the bottom of my stomach saying that things were about to go south quickly.

As the battle began I felt the breath leave my body and I stood paralyzed with fear as I saw Kurama fight for his life against that masked monster. Even as he turned into his demon form I couldn't find it in me to be relieved. As long as we were in this stadium and Karasu's heart was still beating, I wouldn't feel okay. Far from it.

Kurama began to take the worst beating yet once the fruit of the past life wore off and Karasu once again had the upper hand. As Kurama began to sacrifice the last of his life to defeat Karasu once and for all- I felt my heart stop. I was suddenly floating above my body and I knew I was a ticking bomb.

I listen with shaking intensity for the thump of Kurama's heart beat in my ears. Should it stop for even a second I knew it was all over for everyone in the stadium. I could feel my control slipping just as he finally stood again. Suddenly my heart leapt and everything was back to the way it was- which didn't say much as we were still trapped in the same nightmare.

The next match completely annihilated the stadium- but thankfully Hiei was the victor. Our relief was short lived whenever Kuwabara stepped up to take on the brutal and merciless elder Toguro.

But as Kuwabara has an uncanny habit of doing- he surprised us all by squashing him like the disgusting insect he is. Literally.

Naturally I was the next up to bat. I entered the ring with minimal apprehension, as I knew my anxiety would only benefit my enemy. I stared down at Kaede Shisho with no emotion, my coat still firmly in place and my hood up. I took a defensive stance and waited.

The fishtailed girl announced the beginning of the round and stepped off to the side as everything around me faded silently into the background. Every ounce of my attention and energy was focused fully and completely on Shisho.

He was taller than Kurama, with more muscle definition and masculine features. He looked like a stunt double for a Sean Claude Van Damme movie. I would be a fool not to acknowledge his attractiveness. It was part of what made him so famous in the demon world- and also made him very dangerous.

He smirked at me and began walking to the right. We circled each other for a moment before he spoke.

"And what is your name again, my dear? Surely you could find something better to do with your time than fight with dirty boys in the tournament? Is it because you feel the need to scare the boys into liking you because you're a tomboy with know sex appeal?"

The crowd guffawed at this and I tried not to feel affected by his words. He doesn't know me. He's a stranger and has no affect on me. None.

I looked over to Yusuke and the others and saw they weren't taking his insults well either. Except Hiei. Hiei didn't care about things like sexuality or looks. He wouldn't know a beautiful woman unless she packed a powerful punch.

I turned back to him as he chuckled at his own cleverness. Jackass.

"What's the matter sweetheart? Cat got your tongue? Why don't you just go home and let the men handle this? I'll tell you what- if you forfeit right now I'll buy you a dress and some makeup. Maybe then you'll look decent and you can get married."

He turned to the crowd. "Any of you demons up there interested in dating a cactus?"

Some booed while others laughed. I couldn't help the anger that boiled in my gut. I immediately snuffed it out. I had heard enough. It was time to take action.

Before he could turn around again I ran up and delivered a quick kick to the back of his head and sent him flying out of the ring and into the wall. He crack the concrete and was buried for a moment in rubble.

The announcer girl cheered something about female victory but i wasn't listening. I knew that blow did nothing but piss him off- which would make him take this fight more seriously. Now it was a matter of pride- for both of us.

I watched him crawl out of the wall and jump back into the ring. He calmly straightened his clothes and hair and looked back up at me, this time his smirk was less playful and more demented.

"Well then sugar, you can't say I didn't try to be nice." In a flash he was in front of me and landing a glancing blow to my cheek. It stung, but it barely connected and wouldn't so much as bruise. I knew then that I at least had him on speed. If this were a physical fight, I would definitely win. But I knew it was a matter of time before I met with his real powers.

We went a few rounds of blows and it was obvious he was trying to prove something to me and was only getting more and more frustrated as I dodge his hits and countered with my own. He began to growl profanities as the crowd started to turn on him. He was losing in a battle of physical strength- to a girl.

I knew I had to end it soon because his anger was something I didn't want to face. I had heard stories of the things he would do to people who pissed him off. Things that would leave poor creatures in the worst possible state. Killing them was a mercy, and I had done it many times. In a way it felt like destroying this man would somehow avenge all of those poor lives and somehow clean their blood off my hands.

I was shocked when he sent me reeling with a blast of his energy and what I can only describe as a mixture between a feral shout and a furious snarl.

"Enough!" he turned and glared at me with wild eyes. "I'm done toying with you! Fucking with me will be the last thing you ever do!"

He started firing shots of invisible energy at me that I was barely able to dodge. It was time to get serious.

When he stopped for a moment to catch his breath I began to remove my jacket. When the last button popped open, I shucked it off and tossed it aside. The entire arena went silent.

I stood there, in all of my feminine glory while everyone drank it in- including Shisho.

My breasts spilled slightly over the top of the tight Cheongsam and both of my legs were visible up to my hips. My hair swung freely in its messy curls and I held the steel fan up to my face as I stood with my weight leaning to one side in what was the sexiest pose I could manage without feeling ridiculous.

I could tell it was having the effect I was hoping for because his mouth dropped open slightly and he didn't resume his attack. I managed a glance at my team- Yusuke and Kuwabara were both flabbergasted and were bleeding from the nose, and Kurama and Koenma both looked astounded. And maybe a little peeved.

Shisho finally closed his mouth and smiled.

"Wow girly. Just wow. I didn't know all this " gestures at my body with his hand. "was hidden under all that ninja getup." He rubbed his chin in thought as he sized me up. No doubt with the way he looked at me he probably knew all my measurements.

Then something happened. His smile twisted in a wicked way that I had somehow seen before. On another man- from long ago. I shuddered to remember it. My eyes widened and my pulse quickened as I heard a dark chuckle rumble from deep in his throat. I had made a terrible mistake.

He looked up at me and grinned wickedly. "Honey- you should have taken my offer to get out of here before I actually saw what you really look like. Now you'll never escape me." that chuckle again. "But I tell you what- I'll be nice and give you another chance to make things easier on yourself. Say you'll be mine and fuck me in front of all these people, and I'll let you live without so much as a scratch. Or we can do this the hard way- which is preferable to me."

I blanched when the words "fuck me" left his mouth. This bastard can't be serious.

But by the look on his face I could tell he was serious. I needed to think of a plan. I never thought my plan would backfire so badly. I needed to keep my head and find a way out.

My thoughts were cut off when I felt a strange presence settle over me. I went to move around to see what it was and realized I couldn't move. My eyes widened and I heard him chuckle again.

"Ah-ah-ah, little pretty. You're not going anywhere. Not as long as I can see you. I can use your fear against you and get you to do anything I want. I'll show you just what I mean."

He put his hands in his pockets and locked his eyes on me. My arms began moving without my consent and my hands reached up and cupped my breasts. I glared at him. It only made him chuckle more.

"Oh my. I'm going to have so much fun with you." My hands traveled along my body caressing and fondling as he watched eagerly. "But it's hard to enjoy from all the way over there." he said as he brought his hand up and crooked his finger, beckoning my body toward him. Instantly it obeyed.

I fought against my own flesh as it moved step by step toward him. His face held only sick amusement and lust.

Once I was standing right in front of him, he reached out and touched my face. I tried to flinch away but my body was still not my own. He reached around with his other hand and cupped my ass and squeezed. "Mmm. Very nice. You have been the nicest surprise I've had for a very long time. I can tell we'll be very physically compatible. Can you?"

I felt sick as my hand moved of it's own accord and rested on the front of his pants. He was hard. I heard someone from my team shout.

"Stop this! This isn't fighting! It's just wrong!" It was Yusuke. I wanted to look to my comrades for strength and courage, but my neck wouldn't even turn. I was at his mercy. I had walked right into my own trap.

My hand began to move up and down along his crotch and I felt him shiver with delight.

"Oh yeah thats good. You're a natural."

I fought with everything I had, trying to break free from him. Finally my hand stopped moving but still touched him. At least it's a start! Come on Amaya! You can beat this asshole!

He seemed to get angry at this sudden interruption of his pleasure.

"Do you really think you can fight me? Not only can I control your body, but your mind as well. If you aren't happy with what's happening on the outside I can get my pleasure from what's inside your head. How about we try that shall we? That way it can be private and I can be more creative." He chuckled darkly and I trembled in fear.

This is it. This is what I've heard of all those times. The tormenting of peoples minds. This is what has made him so powerful. God.

He looked at the fish girl for a second. "If anyone interrupts my playtime I will make them my next plaything, got it princess?"

I can only assume the look of horror she possessed as he threatened her. Then he turned back to me and suddenly the stadium faded away and I was in a dark room. It looked like a dungeon. He appeared before me.

"The thing I like most about controlling someone's mind is that it hurts their body too. You can kill someone by convincing they're dead, did you know that? The mind is a powerful and mysterious thing. I don't even know all it's secrets." He smiled wickedly at me.

"But enough talk- lets get to the good part."