It had taken quite a while to get Yusuke caught up with the current, horrific events that had occurred while he was facing his final challenge from Genkai. To say that he was furious wouldn't do the situation justice, as the news that one of their own had been taken hostage by their targets, and subsequently a threat had been issued against the other females in their rag tag party, only added to the obvious turmoil he was experiencing over the death of his master.
Yes, Genkai was slain, taken down by none other than Toguro only moments before Yusuke awoke from his apparent coma with a deep sense of foreboding. Rushing to his masters side, he held her in his arms as she took her last breath, vowing vengeance against Toguro who watched on without a shred of remorse for what he had done to his oldest, and at one time closest friend.
But now the tables had turned for Yusuke and the remaining members of their team, with Sakyo's blatant disrespect towards them amplified by the action of taking Cora. Two months of rigorous training had brought the young detective and demon closer together, forming a kind of mutual respect and acknowledgement between them. She was his sparing partner, his rival and his friend; and on his life, he would bring her back to them, and take down Toguro in the process.
The crowd, though rowdy during all other days, seemed to be buzzing with extra pent up energy that could be felt as far down as Yusuke and the boys, who walked through the underbelly of the stadium. All four were on edge, events over the last week drawing them to the very brink of their patients, which wasn't saying much on Yusuke's part, as he's never been what one would call "patient". "Yusuke, with Genaki gone, and Cora still under Sakyo's thumb, who's going to be our fifth?" Kurama asked as they grew closer to their destination; the gate into the main arena.
The corners of Yusuke's mouth drop the smallest fraction as he side glanced to his red headed team mate. "Don't worry, I already got it covered." Kurama nodded.
"So Genkai's really out of it?" Kuwabara said curiously making Yusuke and Kurama minutely flinch. "I heard something about her giving you her powers Urameshi, and she looked pretty worn out after the semifinals; guess she pushed herself to far, eh?"
Hiei scoffed, his hands resting in what appeared to be a casual way inside his cloaks pockets. "...you really are clueless."
"Why you little-!" Kuwabara made to grab for Hiei, but stopped with a startled yelp as the announcers voice came roaring through the tunnel, bouncing off the walls and the poor mans skull.
"HELLO, EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE! SORRY FOR THE DELAY, BUT NOW I'M READY TO INTRODUCE OUR TEAMS! TEAM URAMESHI!"
The four boy's shared a critical glance before stepping out into the ring. The stadium seemed to have gone through some renovations over the last three days, with grotesque stone carvings the looked more like monsters then pillars and doorways being added to the esthetic. As per normal, the crowd was shouting all sorts of profanities at them as they made their way ring side, their cries echoing off the stadium walls with such intensity, it was a wonder that the building had begun to shack and crumble from the force.
"AND PRESENTING TEAM TOGURO!"
The crowd practically exploded with shouts of praise as Elder Toguro, Toguro, Bui and Karasu entered the stadium. The air around the ring seemed to grow heavier the closer the four demon's came, and the hatred and rage was damn near palpable on Team Urameshi's side. The excitement began to simmer down into confusion, however, when the audience began to notice a blaring discrepancy in the number of competitors that were standing ring side. "ONLY FOUR ON EACH TEAM?! WHAT THE HELL KIND OF BULL SHIT IS THIS?!" demons shouted at Juri, who quickly pulled out her rule book, flipping to the correct page in an instant.
"Quiet please! According to the Tournament Rules, the finals are strictly one-on-one! Whichever team takes three out of five matches will be declared the winner!" She read out loud, looking between the two teams for validation on her reading. "If a team suffers no fatalities, then a fifth member must be called in!"
Kuwabara leaned over Yusuke's shoulder, glaring at the side of his head. "So who's our fifth, huh?! Jin? Chu?"
"I just hope he didn't chicken out..." Yusuke said in answer leaning Kuwabara stumped; who the hell did Yusuke recruit?!
From the stands Koto addressed the audience, perplexed by the turn of events in the wee minutes before the finals. "We've already hit a snag, folks! If this is how the finals are going to start, there's no telling how things will progress from here!"
Cora stood in the darkened hall, listening to the roar of the crowd and their demands for the finals to begin. "If it wasn't for your fucking boss I'd be out there with my team, and we could get this show on the road." She said to Clayton who was standing across the hall from her, his arms crossed over his chest and a deep frown on his lips. He seemed edgy that day, which was a far cry from his normal laid back persona, and to be honest, it was putting Cora on edge too. "You'd be out there too; the way things worked out, adding an additional match wouldn't have been necessary."
"It's the way Mr. Sakyo wants it." He quipped. He shifted his eyes from the back of his bosses head to the young woman he was due to fight, his eyes narrowing into a glare. "Now shut up, or I'll silence you permanently."
Sakyo chuckled and glanced over his shoulder at the two demons, a certain gleam coming to his blue eyes. "Now Clayton, let's save that for the ring." He said just as the door into the stadium began to open. Turning more fully towards them, Sakyo offered his arm to Cora who eyed it distastefully. "Shall we?"
Growling under her breath, Cora moved to go past him only to be stopped by Clayton grabbing her upper arm in a vice like grip. "You would do well to show Mr. Sakyo the proper respect."
"I'm showing him all the respect he deserves from me." Cora ripped her arm away from him and stormed out into the stadium, ignoring the death glare Clayton was sending her way and the amused chuckle that came from Sakyo.
"An amusing creature, isn't she?" Sakyo said making Clayton's scowl deepen ever so slightly before he allowed himself to relax. "You are tense today Clayton; have patients. Your chance will come soon, why not enjoy the show for the time being?"
"Yes sir."
Yusuke elbowed Kuwabara, notifying his team when he spotted a familiar white haired woman come storming out of the tunnel behind Team Toguro. Her scowl and the rough way in which she moved brought a small smile to the detectives face; at least she still had that fire in her. "I'm surprised they allowed her out here." Kurama said earning a growl from Hiei.
"Doesn't look like they roughed her up; but she sure as hell doesn't look to happy." Kuwabara said, scratching the side of his head in thought.
"Oh, like that's a surprise!" Yusuke hit his partner over the back of his head, earning a yelp of shock from the taller teen. "You moron, just what the hell does she have to happy about, huh? She's been stuck with the creep brothers and their entourage for nearly a week!"
As if hearing their bickering from the other side of the ring, Cora looked their way as she settled on a spot some fifteen feet away from Toguro and his men. She waved at them, flashing a half assed smile, and Yusuke and Kuwabara reciprocated her greeting with a little more enthusiasm. Kurama didn't wave, but he did flash her a small, reassuring smile and Hiei, well, he looked at her at least, before turning back to Team Toguro, refusing to take his eye of their enemy.
"What new development is this ladies and gentledemon- Team Urameshi's healer seems to have switched sides-" Juri squealed when Hiei's intense glare shifted from Team Toguro to herself, causing a nervous sweat to break out over her skin.
"Don't assume so much, woman, or I may just slip up and hit the wrong target." Hiei said to her, making her take a tentative step back. She glanced over at Cora who promptly flipped her the bird, causing the announcer to make a very offended sound into the mic. Yusuke laughed, the weight that had been settled on his shoulders lifting ever so slightly; yes, she was still out of their reach, but her spirits hadn't been dampened. It was a welcome relief, her attitude.
"Yusuke, you better not slack off today!" Cora shouted over at him making his brow tick. "I'd hate to have to beat ass after this is all said and done!"
Yusuke growled, his worry deflating and being instantly replaced with annoyance. "You little shit- DON'T MAKE ME COME OVER THERE AND STEP ON YOU!"
Kurama placed a restraining hand on Hiei's shoulder, pulling his attention away from the frightened ring girl. "Let them say what they want; those who matter know the truth." Hiei scoffed, shaking Kurama's hand from his shoulder. "You should save this energy for the ring. We're going to need all that we can to win this one."
"I know." Hiei bit out, not in the mood for Kurama's scolding. He would have said more if the object of his ere hadn't walked from the tunnel on the other side, a cigarette hanging form his lips and a smug look upon his face as he eyed Yusuke and his team from afar. Another demon, a young male with red hair whom Hiei had never seen before, followed after him, his abnormal blue eyes shifting across the crowd before they landed on Cora, then shifted to Team Urameshi. Hiei felt a growl building in his chest, but he suppressed it; no doubt this was the alternate that Cora was set to battle, but as annoying as it may be, Kurama was right. Hiei needed to save his rage for the fights ahead.
"Fighting's not my thing, actually." Sakyo said as he took up residence beside Team Toguro, a trail of smoke wafting from his mouth as he spoke. "But I'll enjoy a close-up view of Team Urameshi's demise. But make no mistake, there's no chance I'll be needed."
"Sakyo's declaring victory already!" Koto shouted into the mic, causing the crowd to start chanting Toguro's name.
"He's confident. That's nice." Kuwabara jumped a bit as a new voice spoke from behind him, one that he hardly recognized. Turning around he found a teenage Koenma, his pacifier hanging from his mouth much like Sakyo's cigarette.
"GAH! KOENMA?!" Kuwabara exclaimed, truly shocked to learn that their boss- no, that the PRINCE of Spirit World was going to act as their fifth fighter.
"Please understand that those who govern the Underworld should avoid getting involved in affairs like this, but current circumstances force me to step outside those bounds, and into this arena." Koenma unclasped his traditional cape as he spoke, his serious tone making a nervous sweat break out over Kuwabara's face and neck. "In the unlikely event it comes down to me and whoever," Koenma flipped his cape off and turned, giving the four fighters a look at the jet-pack-back-pack that resided there. "I've got an escape plan all figured out!"
Kuwabara and Yusuke nearly fell over in surprise while Kurama and Hiei looked less than amused with the Prince' antics. "Never needed him in the first place." Hiei said offhandedly to Kurama who sighed in exasperation.
"Hopefully that's actually the case."
"Hold on a moment!" Juri said, waving her hand at Yusuke to get the leaders attention. "This is completely irregular! Aside from your registered alternate switching teams-" Hiei growled, though this time he was ignored by the announcer. "According to the rules, an alternate cannot be brought in if Genkai's still alive!"
"Well, Genaki is..." Yusuke seemed to struggle with what to say, his brow furrowing in contemplation.
"It's all right." Sakyo spoke up, gaining the attention of the entire stadium.
"Their new guy seems devoid of any aura." Karasu continued for him, his voice sounding rather bored behind his iron mask. "I expect he's a place holder, to fill their slate and nothing more."
"Ohho, very perceptive of you." Koenma said lightheartedly making Kuwabara's brow tick.
"Yeah, very!"
"Does this mean that Lord Koenma is going to be taking on Team Toguro's Alternate, Clayton, in the second rounds Alternate Fight?!" Koto shouted into her mic, clearly flabbergasted by this turn of events.
"No." Clayton spoke up, his voice carrying out over the stands. "My opponent has already been decided, and it shall not change."
"Oh, uh, alrighty then! You heard the man folks!" Juri said, a nervous tremor entering her voice as the two teams (or mainly Team Urameshi) sent death glares at the red headed alternate and the rest of his team. "Well then, if we've gotten that all out of the way, let's get this show on the road! First combatants from each team, please enter the ring!"
With no hesitation on their side, Team Toguro's Karasu stepped up into the ring, his indigo eyes locked onto Kurama. With his hand folded into the shape of a gun, Karasu placed his index finger against his temple. "Bang!" he said, issuing a challenge to Kurama that the fox demon was ready to accept.
"I'll take him."
Nobody on Team Urameshi tried to fight Kurama for the right to fight Karasu, and Kurama was grateful for that; he'd had a bone to pick with this man since his first encounter with him, the day of the semi finals. Their encounter had been brief, but it had been enough to get under Kurama's skin...
Kurama glanced around in a mild panic, his eyes trying to find where Karasu had disappeared to. Bui stood as silent as ever, his arm still resting against the wall he'd struck in order to distract Kurama and allow Karasu to vanish. Just as Kurama was starting to think that Karasu had simply left, he felt the distinct sensation of hands brushing lightly through his hair, and the warmth of finger tips a mere centimeter from his throat. "Tsk tsk... split ends. You should take better care of yourself, Kurama; human's wear out so fast."
Kurama struck out behind him, growling "Skum" as he forced Karasu to retreat.
Said demon laughed lightly behind his mask, the corner of his eyes wrinkling ever so slightly above his iron mask, hinting at a small smile. "Just some harmless fun. Cool, yet aggressive; of the five of you, you're my favorite Kurama. When I destroy what I favor, I become as depressed as when I ponder the purpose of my existence. However, I rather enjoy being blue, so for me the finals can't come soon enough..."
The sound of the announcer calling for their match rang through Kurama's head, bringing him back to the present situation. The encounter still fresh in his mind, Kurama took a deep breath in order to steel his nerves. "Hey Kurama, you gonna use that fruit juice stuff that Suzuki gave you?" At Kuwabara's question, Kurama turned to acknowledge his team.
"Yes, I took some just a few minutes ago."
"What?! Do you even know what the stuff does?" Kuwabara exclaimed, clearly shocked by Kurama's blasé decision to drink an unknown liquid given to him by someone who was once their opponent.
"I've tested it a few times over the last couple days, and found that it takes a little while to work." Kurama said. " So I took it ahead of time to give it the proper gestation period needed for a full transformation."
"Y'mean you've tried it more'n once?"
"Of course. Practice makes perfect." Kurama turned back towards the ring, his shoulders set with far more confidence then they had been before. "And Suzuki was right; one sip, and I can hold my old form for 15 minutes. That should be enough time."
From the other side of the ring, Cora watched with bated breath as Kurama and Karasu dance around one another, with Kurama taking the brunt of the damage due to Karasu's ability to create grotesque bombs at will. She didn't know what to call Karasu's ability, but one thing was for sure, she hoped to never have to tango with this particular demon. So far, things were not looking to be in Kurama's favor; it was obvious that Karasu was faster and physically stronger than Kurama, but if Cora didn't know any better she would think that Kurama was running away, which was not like him at all.
It wasn't until a massive explosion erupted over the top of Kurama that Cora made her first sound, calling out his name in shock and horror as the entire ring was engulfed in smoke. As the smoke started to clear, Karasu was revealed first, a single rose stabbed through the palm of his right hand. "Very amusing." Karasu ripped the rose from his hand, crushed it, and tossed it away.
Botan, along with Keiko, Shizuru and Yukina, sat in their normal spot near the top of the stadium on the north side, behind their respective teams positon. Each sat in different states of shock as they watched their friend struggle against his opponent. When the devastating explosion sent ripples of fear down their spins, Keiko and Yukina let out startled gasps.
"Oh, it got him!" Keiko exclaimed, disbelief apparent in her voice.
Botan wrung her hands in her lap and tears threatened to spill from her eyes as she tried desperately to pick Kurama's red hair out in the dense smoke...I've already taken one person I love to Spirt World, please don't make me take another...
A moment later, and the air in the stadium began to shift; bright blue and white energy started to spiral around the detonation site, and blasts of black lighting began to rip through the air, colliding with the infrastructure of the stadium and sending small amounts of crushed stone and mortar onto the audience bellow. Everyone waited with baited breath as the smoke began to clear.
"I've seen all this before!" Koto exclaimed to the stubbed silent crowd. "This battle's about to experience a heart stopping face lift!"
The smoke cleared, revealing a toga clad Youko Kurama. "Shuichi is fortunate that I could come." Youko said. He looked a little worse for wear, with blood rushing down the left side of his head and multiple first degree burns littering his arms. "He wouldn't have survived that blast, being what he is."
"Well it's no surprise I was right! It's that Foxy Youko Kurama!" Koto had pushed herself up on top of her desk, her face lit up like a Christmas tree as she open ogled the male fox demon.
Kuwabara did a small victory dance on the side lines. "ALRIGHT! THIS IS GONNA BE SWEET!"
Yusuke, who had been unconscious during Kurama's fight against Uraurashima, looked on in blatant shock. "You're telling me that's Kurama?!"
"Mmmmm, basically; as you've heard his full name is Youko Kurama, but he's known by several other titles too." Koenma said. The energy from the crowd shifted dramatically then, with many calling out to Youko with words of praise, a far cry from the taunting and jeering of the past.
Youko paid everyone around him little mind, his attention focusing all his attention on Karasu. "Creating a bomb from nothing takes talent." He spoke calmly, all previous panic portrayed by Shuichi long gone. "That kind of power alone proves that you belong to a superior class of demons, the Quest Class, and one I consider to be fairly worthy; worthy to fight, and worthy to die."
Karasu, who looked a tad bit weary of his new opponent, began collecting his energy into the palms of his hands. "You flatter me; but we're still not equals."
"Rest assure Karasu, I fully agree."
Youko dodged and weaved around the winged, one eyed explosives with expertly placed foot steps. They, Shuichi and himself, were lucky that the seed had kicked it when it had; if he'd had been hit, Shuichi would have been taken down in an instant by Karasu's last attack. "Have you ever heard of the Humble Plant, by chance?" Youko droned, sounding as if he was incredibly bored with what was going on around him. "It's a South American Perennial that closes it's leaves when touched by hand or fire."
"Horticulture's not my thing." Karasu hummed in brief thought. "My, my look's like you're completely surrounded. What's a boy to do?"
Youko found himself surrounded by hundreds of the winged bombers, but despite the obvious danger, he still held an air of calm about himself. "I thought you would know better than to corner and animal like a fox, Karasu. We have a tendency to show our teeth." Kurama whispers something intangible under his breath, and the ground beneath him erupted, sending a cloud of debris and long tendrils of a fern like plant into the air, taking down the hundreds of bombs in one fell swoop. "The Humble Plant is quite dangerous on its own, but when grown under the influence of a demon it becomes quite temperamental. It'll attack anything that moves, or emits excessive heat." Youko glanced down at Juri who had fallen over amidst the chaos. "That means you woman. If you wish to live, stay still." The demon plant screamed then, the sound sending shivers of fear down the backs of many demons in the arena. "Look's like it's zeroed in on you, Karasu; I guess all your trembling must have caught its attention."
Not a moment later, and Karasu was on the run, dodging the flailing limbs of the demon plant as it attempted to snatch him up with it's wide, teeth filled, leafy mouths. "The tables have turned dramatically!" Koto shouted into her mic. "Now Karasu is being forced to run around like a cockroach at a tap dancing convention!"
"How does it feel to be the one being pursued? To be trapped against your will." Youko taunted from his stationary spot beneath the slew of writhing plant stalks. As Karasu weaved around like a rat caught in a deadly maze, more and more of the Humble Plant stalks broke free from the ring, closing in on him at an alarming rate.
"Oh yeah," Koenma had his arms crossed over his chest, a smug smirk pulling at his lips from beneath his pacifier. "This one's in the bag."
"Who cares if he's part of the whatever-you-call-it class, Youko will still kick his butt!" Kuwabara cheered, excited over the prospect of their first match of the finals going so smoothly.
"It's called the Quest Class," Hiei chimed in, earning a curious look from the rest of his team. "I doubt you can remember your own name half the time."
Kuwabara scowled at his short companion. "Get off me! Anyway, that super fox Kurama's gonna beat that idiot, I just know! That guy's plant food!"
Despite the elation felt by his dimwitted companion, Hiei still had his reservations about the fight. Sure, Youko was strong and Hiei had very little doubt that he could beat Karasu, but time was not on their side. It had already been three minutes since Youko's revival; that left the King of Thieves only twelve minutes to take Karasu down for good...I hope so... we can't afford to take a loss this early in the game...
Cora watched in amazement as the demonic plant began tossing around beams of red energy, with Karasu just barely managing to avoid a direct hit. "Wow... note to self, never challenge Youko..." she said under her breath, her previous anxiety lessoning as the battle continued. She wasn't sure how Kurama was able to draw Youko to the surface again, but to her it didn't matter; so long as he had the fox demon on his side, Kurama's match was a good as won. "KICK HIS ASS KURAMA!" She shouted, pumping her fist into the air enthusiastically.
Karasu, trapped with nowhere to run, created and tossed what looked to be a hand grandee into one of the many mouths of the Humble Plant, causing it to scream as it was engulfed in flames. However his actions only seemed to enrage the plant, which began to thrash around all the more violently as it tried to snatch him up.
Youko watched the exhibition with a gleeful smirk on his face. "The Humble Plant also responds to aggression, so it will be all the more vicious once you attack." As if to prove his point, the plant dove down onto Karasu from all sides, it's mouths open and read to engulf him. "You're going to have to come up with a smart way to kill it, or else," Youko held his hand up to his head it he shape of a gun, mimicking Karasu's original challenge towards him. "Bang."
Karasu's luck finally ran out as the plant managed to wrap on of its fringed mouth around his torso, the action causing his iron mask to be ripped form his face. The other mouths showed no hesitation as they joined in, wrapping themselves around their pray until all that could be seen of Karasu was a mass of undulating, feeding leaves.
"Huh," Youko frowned minutely, his left ear wilting in disappointment. "I thought it was going to last much longer then that. I would have liked to have played with him a little before he died."
"Is it safe to move now?"Hearing the shouted question, Youko glanced over to see Cora standing stock still, her arm held above her head in mid fist pump. "My arm's falling asleep..."
Chuckling, he nodded. "Yes pup, the Humble Plant is sedated for the time being."
Cora whooped, resuming her fist pumping enthusiastically. "YEESSSSSS! THAT'S MY BIG BRO!" Cora shouted undeterred by the perturbed by the dark look that Clayton was sending her way. "WAY TO KICK ASS!" The rest of the crowd soon joined it, though it was a obvious they weren't sure about the outcome of the match. After all, they adored Youko Kurama, but he was fighting for the humans. What was a demon to do?
"That was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen!" Koto cheered into her mic, her previous affection towards Youko apparent in her appraisal. "Kurama's plant just grabbed Karasu and juiced him like a fresh orange! I never would have thought botany could be so deliciously gruesome!"
"Way to show that punk what was up! Easy peasy kill in less than five minutes!" Kuwabara shouted, earning snarls of displeasure from the crowd. "Take that Toguro!"
"Hey Juri!" Koto shouted at her co-announcer who seemed to be a little out of it given her close call with such a dangerous plant, and attractive fox. "Get the lead out, it's time to announce who's won!"
"Ah- oh, right!" Juri, who had been sitting on the floor per Youko's insistence, jumped up, and with great enthusiasm proceeded to talk into her mic. "It appears that Team Toguro's Karasu has been soundly defeated, and as such it looks like the winner of the first match is Team Urameshi's Kurama!" Juri squealed as the ball of digesting plant suddenly lowered its self down beside her, as if inspecting her as a potential next meal. "H-hey, stay back-AHHHHHHHHH!"
With out warning, the mass of plant that was once Karasu exploded with enough force, it nearly knocked the surprised Youko and Juri from the ring. "I wouldn't count me out just yet." To say that those in the stadium were shocked when Karasu emerged from the smoke would be rather foolish. With a nervous laugh, Juri recanted her previous statement, and motioned for the match to continue. "You look surprised Youko; did you think that was the last you'd see of me?" Karasu opened his mouth as wide as he could, expelling a massive wave of energy. As his aura built ever higher, his naturally pin straight black hair morphed into long wavy blond locks, and his impassive face gained an edge of madness. Youko felt every hair on his body stand on end as Karasu's energy signature started to spike at an alarming rate.
"His mask came off." Elder Toguro said, making Cora glance their way; it was the first time since the start of the finals that either one of them had spoken.
"Not good. Clayton." Toguro motioned towards Clayton who simply nodded and jogged over to Cora, making her curious look turn into a glare.
"What the hell do you-!" Clayton didn't even spare her a glance before her picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder, making her shout in surprise. "Hey! Put me down right this minute!"
"Shut up." Clayton said as he deposited her between himself and Sakyo, who had moved to stand behind the two Toguro brothers and Bui. "If you don't want to die, then don't move from this spot."
"Hey! What the hell is going on over there?!" Kuwabara exclaimed as he watched Cora get totted off like a sack of potato's. "That's no way to treat a lady!" The four remaining members glanced over just in time to see Clayton stand Cora behind the Toguro brothers, causing three of the four to furrow their brows in confusion.
"Given the current situation, she's probably in the safest place she can be at this moment." Hiei said, shocking everyone around him.
"What?! How can you say such a thing shorty!"
Hiei, who hadn't taken his eyes off the match, spoke with a sense of finality that set everyone on guard. "Karasu's internalizing his energy, meaning that the bombs he normally makes are now inside of him essentially making him one giant explosive."
"Are you serious?!" Yusuke exclaimed, a nervous sweat breaking out over his and Kuwabara's foreheads.
"Of course I am." Hiei didn't even spare them a glance, his eyes shifting between the charged up Karasu, the ever stoic Youko, and the partially hidden Cora. "And if my assumptions are correct, he's about to detonate, so if you're wise you'll take cover now, and be prepared for a major shock wave."
If ever there should come a time when an award for understatements is handed out, Spirit World should make a side note to always award it to Hiei for this one, particular instance. Major was far to weak of word; enormous. Cataclysmic. Apocalyptic- these words, while some would argue are a bit strong, would have done the magnitude of carnage that came with Karasu's attack far more justice. A massive portion of the South West wall of the stadium, along with the audience that resided there, was blasted to smithereens. Screams of terror and agony accompanied the falling rubble; even Yusuke and the gang were hard pressed not to get caught up it he shockwave, and had to ride it out like kites (or a plastic bag in Kuwabara's case).
"Everybody okay?!" Yusuke shouted as the winds died down. Kuwabara, who had managed to land on his head, sat up with a groan. Hiei, who had been forced to land on the top of the stadium wall, stared over to the other side of the ring, looking for Cora in the mass of smoke and debris. Koenma had managed to land beside Yusuke, and aside from his disheveled hair and dusty cloths, looked to be in good shape.
"Seems so..." Kuwabara said as he got back onto his feet. At that moment, Hiei managed to find his partner who looked ruffled, but unharmed as she had been protected by Clayton and the Younger Toguro brother. Knowing that she would survive, no matter how frustrating it was that her captors were the ones to protect her, Hiei jumped down to join the rest of his team. "But where's Kurama?!" Kuwabara exclaimed, bringing about a whole new source of worry for the team.
All occupants of the stadium were sitting on the edge of their seats, their eyes fixed onto the ring which was still veiled in a thick cloud of smoke and rock dust. When it cleared, the entire stadium gasped in surprise to find not the silver haired Youko in the ring with the still blonde Karasu. "Shit! He's changed back!" Yusuke exclaimed. "That potion must've worn off, now he's really going to have to wing it."
"But it's only been 6 minutes! It's supposed to last for 15!" Kuwabara was fraught with confusion and worry over his companion; it was obvious that Kurama had reverted back before the explosion had fully subsided, and as a result was badly injured with multiple cuts and burns littering his body and clothing.
Botan and Keiko sat huddled together, their eyes wide with fear as they looked out onto the island that was now visible through the gapping hole across the stadium from them. Beside them Shizuru picked at her ear, a cross look on her face and her forgotten cigarette collapsing into ash at her feet.
Yukina looked on in worry, her knuckle resting between her teeth and a nervous sweat broken out over her forehead. "Oh my..."
In the ring, Kurama was equally as confused as Kuwabara and the rest of his team... I had plenty of time left... did all that practice cause me to build up a resistance to the potions effects-?
"Sorry to intrude on your thoughts," Karasu said, bringing Kurama back to the predicament at hand. He strolled casually, his stride rather flamboyant as opposed to his earlier domineer. "But shouldn't you take this time to pray?" The Master Bomber stopped just a few feet away from Kurama, a smug smirk graving his handsome face. "After all you are about to meet your creator. Hahaha, you can ask him why he flawed with you!" Not willing to take his death sitting down, Kurama pushed his demonic energy to it's limit in a last effort to conjure up a weapon. When nothing happened, Karasu let out a dark chuckle. "Your to weak Kurama, you can't even control the most basic of your attacks. Make this easier on both of us and give in. I promise it wont hurt to much."
"Wow fight fans, the suspense is in the air at this tournament," Juri said, her tail flicking behind her restlessly. "Because everybody know's that one more shot like that last one, and it's curtains for you know who!"
Form behind Toguro, Cora growled. "SHUT UP LADY, KURAMA'S STILL GOT THIS!" Sakyo and the Elder Toguro bother laughed sardonically at her, obviously amused by her blind faith.
"It'll be amusing to watch your reaction when Karasu leave Kurama's pretty little head as a smear along the ground." The Elder brother said, making Cora grit her teeth.
Growling a curse under his breath Kurama pushed himself into action, jumping towards Karasu and sending blow after blow at the infuriating demon. It all seemed for naught though, as Karasu easily evaded all of Kurama's attacks, the smug look never once faltering.
"First time we've ever seen Kurama fall back on martial arts! To bad Karasu appears to be more then capable of dodging the fox demons every move!" Koto shouted into her mic.
"He has a plan; it's obvious in the way that he moves." Hiei stated, earning alarmed looks from Yusuke and Kuwabara. From across the ring, Cora was wringing her hands so hard she was sure to have friction burns, but her worry over Kurama was to heavy for her to care.
"I think you've finally lost your mind." Karasu asked, his tone egging Kurama on in his relentless yet fruitless attacks. "Closing in on me is suicide!"
Kurama feigned his dodge as Karasu reached towards him, prepared to send Kurama to his maker. "I will not be afraid of something that I cannot see!" Kurama countered Karasu's taunting before landing a double open palm strike against him, pushing Karasu back some fifteen feet.
Blood dribbled down Karasu's upper chest, staining the dark red interior of his coat nearly black. "A good, well-placed strike. However," he dug around inside his own wound, pulling out what looked to be a small pebble from it's depths. "Was this your real purpose? To place the Deadly Vetch on me? And here I thought you'd be more original."
Cora gnawed on her lower lip; this was not going well. Kurama was seriously injured, out of energy and Karasu had hardly taken any damage at all and appeared to have a limitless supply of energy to create his bombs...what is he going to do? If this keeps up, Karasu's going to kill him... just the thought alone made her stomach churn. Unlike Hiei's dumb ass, there wouldn't be a mythical dragon to bring Kurama back from the dead. "Come on Foxy... use that big brain of yours..."
"You look troubled, Miss Cora." Sakyo looked down on her, a small smile playing across his face.
"You're delusional." Cora snapped back. "I have no reason to be worried. Kurama is going to win, if only to wipe that smug look off your fuc-!" Another explosion from the ring cut Cora's retort short, forcing her to whip her head back to the carnage. A copious amount of blood now ran down the side of Kurama's left calf, which was still smoking from the close range blast. But it wasn't the fresh wound Kurama had acquired that made her blood run cold. "KURAMA! Don't move a muscle- he's got you surrounded!"
Kurama came to a dead stop, Cora's warning striking panic into his heart. Karasu chuckled darkly. "Didn't you say you chose not so be scared of something you cannot see? Well then, here's a better look." Glancing around himself, Kurama could make out the pockets of Karasu's green energy that hovered around him. "You know that this entire battle has been an exorcise in futility. You're weak," Karasu started strolling towards Kurama, his hands resting causally in his pants pockets. "You're tired. You're powerless. You're pathetic."
"Don't listen to him Kurama!" Cora shouted from the sidelines, only to be silenced by Clayton clamping his hand over her mouth.
"Yet, it seems you have a masochistic streak that want's to be indulged." A sinister smile broke out over Karasu's face as he raised his hand towards Kurama. "So, here it goes." One by one the bombs that surrounded Kurama streamed towards him, detonating upon impact. His body, already battered and bruised, was practically ripped apart a little at a time, the explosions painting the ground around him in thick blood.
A distinct shade of green colored Keiko's face before she turned her head, unable to watch the fight for a moment longer. "Ugh, I can't stand to watch him suffer like this!"
"Karasu is such a bastard!" Shizuru quipped, her brow knitted together in frustration. "He's clearly just playing with him now; wish he would just get this over with."
Botan whipped her head around, shooting Shizuru the darkest look anyone had ever seen on the peppy woman's face. "I don't ever want to hear you talk like that again! Kurama will beat him! Kurama can't die, he just CAN'T!" Clenching her hands into tight fists, she turned back to the match, determined to watch it till the end despite her blurred vision. "I've already lost one person I love to Toguro's team, I refuse to lose another!"
There was nothing Yusuke and the others could do but watch in muted horror as Kurama was brought to his knees. Across the way Cora screamed from behind Clayton's tightly clamped hand, her nails digging into the tend flesh of his arm as she tried to remove him from her. As the smoke died down along with Kurama's screams, an eerie silence filled the stadium.
"Heh, your red hair is perfect for that fiery heart of yours that I admire." Karasu taunted as Kurama managed to lift his head and offer the sadistic demon a dark glare. "You know that's why I've decided to leave your beautiful face unharmed. I may not be able to keep you, but I'll always have the memory of your face to give me comfort."
Kurama managed to force himself up onto his feet, narrowly avoiding the remaining bombs that still hung in the air like demonic Christmas lights around him...you couldn't have been more wrong about my so called lack of tact, Karasu... just as wrong as believing that wound on your chest is just a mere scratch... he may not think I posses the ability to summon a plant, but he will soon find out just how wrong he is... Kurama straightened his shoulders, setting he resolve with in his heart...I will attack once more... and in exchange for my life, he WILL die...
"Alright..." Karasu raised his hand once again, a board frown falling onto his face. "Let's end this." The remaining bombs closed in on Kurama, dolling out even more damage onto the young mans body.
Kurama took all of it on, crying out only once that pain became to much for him to bare. As the last bomb erupted over his abdomen, Kurama chanced a glance towards Team Toguro, his foggy spring green eyes landing on the tear streaked face of Cora...forgive me... his legs suddenly gave out, and as his team mates shouted his name he fell face first into a pool of his own blood.
"Kurama!" Yusuke shouted, his face pale and covered in a cold sweat. "NOOOO! Kurama!"
The crowd erupted in cheers once again, though this time around they were decided unanimous as they begged Karasu to finish Kurama off for their own sick pleasure. "The crowd is going wild here!" Koto exclaimed, her amplified voice hardly noticed in the overwhelming sound of the crowd. "Kurama's down and I don't think he's getting back up-gah!"
A random demon from the crowd snatched Koto's mic from her. "JUST DO IT WE DON'T HAVE ALL DAY!"
"GIVE ME THAT!" Koto snatched the mic back just before being tackle hugged from behind by another crazed crowd goer. "JURI COUNT! FOR THE LOVE OF KAMI, COUNT!"
"Okaaaay! He has until the count of ten!" Juri held her hand above her head, ready to give the count. "If he stays down then Karasu wins! ONE! TWO!"
On the side of Team Toguro Cora, who's eyes were still over flowing with tears as she shouted Kurama's name, managed to sink her teeth into the palm of Clayton's hand, causing him to hiss in pain though he still held his grip firm. "Will you knock it off already?! I'm not scared to knock you unconscious woman!"
From beside them Sakyo chuckled at their behavior. "Having a little trouble, are we? Perhaps it would be best to take her away." Sakyo said making Clayton's brow furrow in frustration. "It's only going to get even more brutal from here, and I'd hate for her to die should she try to interfere with any of the other match's."
Sighing in understanding, Clayton hoisted Cora up off the ground, wrapping his free arm around her arms and upper body to keep her from flailing around to much. "I'll take her back to the locker room." Cora fought him the whole way, her legs kicking at his own in an effort to get him to drop her. As Juri neared the end of her count, Cora was taken into the darkness of the access tunnel, and unknowing if her dear friend would even survive.
As Juri reached her count of 8, Kurama managed to somehow push himself up onto his hands and knees. Karasu, who had been smirking in smug victory, scowled at him. "You know, you really should have stayed down..." With a wave of his hand, Karasu released another bomb towards Kurama.
...I cannot hesitate... I barely have any life energy left... I must destroy him now! Pushing every scrap of energy he could find into his attack, Kurama let out one last battle cry as a large, vine infested plant erupted from his side, slamming into Karasu's torso and latching onto the small wound left there by Kurama's previous attack...I may die... but at least it will end in a draw... As Karasu shouted in agony, Kurama fell back to the ground, his body slack and his eyes listless.
..."Kurama, how do you feel?" Cora asked, her voice no longer monotone but instead filled with concern.
"Heh, I'll live. Thanks to you I'll be able to heal in no time." Cora smiled wholeheartedly.
"Great!" She then punched Kurama upside his head making him yelp in surprise. "DON'T EVER BE THAT STUPID AND RECKLESS AGAIN! YOU SHOULD HAVE BACKED OUT OF THE MATCH BEFORE SEWING THAT SEED INTO YOUR BODY!" Cora shouted at him making Yusuke and Botan fall over in exasperation. "If you ever do something so stupid again, I'll never forgive you!" Kurama rubbed his head, chuckling nervously.
"I can't make a promise like that, but I can say that I'll try to be less reckless in the future."
Cora eye balled him heatedly. "You better try really hard."...
The memory from what felt like ages ago fluttered across Kurama's mind, bringing a barely noticeable smile to his lips...ah, seems it was good that I didn't make that promise after all... Karasu staggered for a moment, before he too fell over lifeless, the carnivorous plant crawling it's way up his body as he was devoured whole. An eerie calm fell over the stadium once again, all began to process what had just occurred in the ring; both fighters lay unresponsive, seemingly dead.
"His life energy-it's fading!" Kuwabara exclaimed, making the others on his team gasp in shock.
"Oh Kurama, please get up!" Botan pleaded, now standing from her seat. Keiko and Yukina sat in muted shock, pricks of tears coming to the corner of their eyes.
"He isn't moving; do you think he's dead?" Yukina asked, her voice trembling in uncertainty.
"Of course he's not! He can't be!" Botan defended.
Shizuru grimaced. "Accept it Botan; Kurama sacrificed himself to kill Karasu..."
All was still. That is, until first Kurama's finger and then entire arm flinched...what...I'm still alive?... using what little strength he had left, Kurama pushed himself up onto his feet, swaying a bit before he was able to steady himself...I don't understand... how did I make it; I gave all of my life energy... as hitting a brick wall, everything that had happened to him over the last twenty minutes started to make sense... of course...each time I take the potion, the duration of it's effects shorten... shorten because every time I transform into Youko Kurama, I gain a little more of his power...that's how I survived...
"And that's how we win this!" Yusuke shouted, pumping his fists into the air in a show of victory before jumping into the ring, looping one of Kurama's arms over his shoulders. "Here, lemme help ya out a bit."
Kurama staggered a bit, a tight lipped frown coming onto his face. "Thanks. Sorry about the match."
"Wha?" Yusuke's brow furrowed in confusion; what the hell was Kurama talking about-
"AND THE WINNER OF THIS MATCH: KARASU!" Juri shouted into her mic, making Yusuke and Kuwabara do a double take on the score bored.
"WHAT?!" Yusuke exclaimed in disbelief.
"What the heck is goin on, Kurama nailed Karasu's butt good!" Kuwabara demanded of Juri, who didn't look in the least bit disturbed by the humans discontent.
"Kurama took the full count! He struck back while still technically down, and was not back up until after I counted to 10!" Juri explained to the stadium as a whole, making Yusuke bristle angrily.
"10 count? I didn't hear any stinking 10 count!"
"Hardly anyone could." Kurama interjected, sounding more then a little let down by the turn of events. Sure, he'd managed to take out Karasu, but in doing so he lost the match, putting a massive amount of pressure on the rest of his team. In order to win the tournament, Yusuke, Hiei and Kuwabara would all need to win their match's. A daunting task.
"As the crowd noise made it impossible to hear the end of the Juri's count, a quick replay will reveal that Kurama was not up before the count was complete!" Koto's confirmation quickly deflated Kuwabara and Yusuke's enthusiasm.
Amidst the jeering crowd, Yusuke lead Kurama from the ring. "You're gonna have to talk to the squirt when this is all over with." He said to Kurama as he set his down against the far wall. "They had their own red head take her to the back. Pretty sure she thinks you died."
Kurama sighed. "I should have; it is only by luck that I managed to survive. Thought part of me thinks my surviving was for naught." He smiled a little at Yusuke's perplexed face. "After all, she's just going to kill me herself for being so reckless."
"Hn. She'll have to get over it quickly; her match should be beginning shortly." Hiei said, hiding his relief over Kurama's survival. It would have been torturous to try and handle Yusuke and the dimwit on his own.