File 25: Trapped – on thin ice

Two consecutive battles against such opponents... they really did not go easy on them... Even the oblivious Urameshi got that they were in a pinch, although he had no idea how much... He thought only about Kazuma. They had barely weathered the last round with severe casualties: Kuwabara was out of the fight, Hiei could not use his arm, Akari had lost a good deal of energy with her technique and healing (both herself and others), and even though Yusuke had recovered his reigun and was made to keep going by the adrenaline, he had not escaped unscathed either... The only one who was fine and who could objectively look at the situation was Kurama. The others were certainly going to make do, but still...

It was going to be difficult, but if they couldn't even pass this much, then they had no right to challenge Toguro Team. They had to get through this, no, they definitely would... somehow...

At Koto's demand, the Mashotsukai Team – the Urameshi Team's next opponent - appeared in a flourish of powerful youki, flaunting their superiority. Its members were all disguised in long, black cowls with pointy hoods and no facial holes. The robes perfectly concealed their wearers' bodies. And each had a different symbol on it. They could not hide their voices, however.

Both teams were asked to send one representative. Suddenly a strong gust of wind picked up around a Mashotsukai Team member and a cloak shot upward, revealing a tall and athletic man of young appearance, who had thick, shoulder-length red hair and blue eyes and a small horn at the base of his red bangs. He wore a white garment, with white baggy pants which were held up by a blue sash with a prominent red gem in the center, and two white strips of cloth crossed before his chest and behind his back. Murmurs and cheers rose among the crowd. Jin, the wind user, was pretty (in)famous. Kurama had also recognised him, and immediately guessed the true identity of the Mashotsukai Team as shinobi from the Demon Realm. They were groups that worked behind the scenes in the power struggles among youkais: Makai Ninja. And those guys were the most feared among them, the Specters of Shura. Jin and Yusuke met in the middle of the ring, before Koto who told them to decide the manner in which they were going to fight. They chose the one-on-one elimination. They would keep fighting until there were no opponents left. They circled each other like sharks eyeing and surveying their preys... until the demon suddenly grinned ear to ear like a fool...

"But before that..." He flew like a rocket past Yusuke, blowing him away and rushed straight at Akari, tackling her in a hug. "Aaaaakarii-chaaaaaaan! To think we'd have the chance to fight again! You've gotten much stronger and prettier but not really taller, have you?" He teased her like he would a baby sis.

"Huuuh? What are you moron babbling about?! Back then and now we've always been enemies! Let go or I'll kill you!"

"But we're also friends, right?"

"That doesn't change the fact that I'll kill you if you don't let go! Go back to your own side, you idiot!" She pushed his obnoxious head away, not denying the fact that they were indeed friends. She greatly appreciated his cheerful and up-beat personality and his talent and aesthethics as a fighter. In a sense he was quite similar to her and Urameshi, and also like Chu. But now was not the time for such displays! That'd have to wait for after Team Urameshi's victory! Both were oblivious to Koto's comments that they seemed pretty close and wondering what kind of relation they had, voicing everyone's thoughts. Just like they were oblivious of how and how much – some people – resented their familiarity.

However, they were soon made to stop these effusions of friendship (or undue intimacy) by another announcement from the top brass. A medical check was to be conducted on the Urameshi Team to give them special treatment as they had to fight consecutively owing to the schedule of the tournament. On cue, a tall and beautiful woman emerged from a medical tent. Her long straight red hair was hiding part of her face and her voluptuous curves were moulded in a nurse outfit that showed off her long legs. There were many cat calls and whistles as she lavishly walked to them. Others were also telling her not to waste her time healing humans who were going to die anyway. Koenma immediately fell in love with the 'nursie-chan'. She passed her hand before Yusuke, Kurama, Akari and Hiei and told the last two to come with her. Of course the young girl insisted that she was fine and could heal herself as a master of the Reikohado. If she really wanted to heal them, she should take Kuwa... and Hiei too, he would slow them down with that arm of his. In return, he blamed her for stupidly showing mercy to the enemies. That was the signal for another argument. Each saying the other was the one in need of treatment because of their weakness... Well, that was their way of caring for each other under a teasing guise. The argument was interrupted by the nursie-chan explaining that she was to heal first those who could actually stand but still needed treatment for a better fight. She'd only ask a few questions. Her resquests fell on deaf ears until the fox defeated Akari's resolve with the twin blades of his reason and his cuteness. If something happened, they needed her in perfect shape.

"Alright. But if something happens, I'll blow the whole stadium if I have to." She warned in a way that did not leave any doubt concerning the fact that she would really do it. Those were NOT idle threats. "And you are going with me." She tightly hugged Hiei's valid arm and forcefully dragged him with her after the nurse.

"No way! Why should I go with you?! Go alone if you want to!"

"I don't want to go alone and beside me you're the one who least wants to go. There's no way I'd let you off the hook. We're going together... to Hell." Akari said with a silky voice coming right from the abyss and a cruel and delightful expression, like a very angel from hell, beautiful, alluring, with pure black wings, and who would never let go of its prey. And before such expression, he had no choice but to fold and follow without a word.

Damn that little devil...! The fire demon cursed in his mind, a large vein visible on his head, angry at her for her power over him and at himself for letting such a thing happen. He was being attracted, and he could not resist. But to call a medical tent 'hell'... really... for those two, inability and rest might equal hell, but still...

In the white pavillion tent, the woman asked them stupidly basic questions such as whether they were in pain anywhere and the condition of their stomach. What did she take them for?! It had not been a few seconds that they were already sick of this farce. Akari had come for Kurama and Hiei had come for Akari. But this was beyond what either of them could endure! After all, they had never said anything about staying...

"You bitch... are you mocking us?" The infernal pair glared fiercely at the woman.

"It appears you have a lot of stress built up. I think you should indeed rest a little." She merely smiled in an annoyingly glib and affected way.

"And I think you're out of your mind." Akari replied.

"Idiot, try healing your own brain." Hiei agreed as both fighters began to leave. But suddenly the air in front of them crackled. They tried to leave but the instant they set a foot outside they were eletrocuted. Through gritted teeth, they grunted in pain so they would not scream. They had their pride as people who had endured different kinds of hell and survived. However it was still too much for them. They were trapped, confined within the limits of this medical tent by a kekkai. The fake nurse and kekkaishi stripped out of her nurse outfit and introduced herself as Ruka and prided herself as one of the best defensive walls caster. Her private parts were hidden and bound by magical threads. Akari and Hiei were going to behave themselves in this barrier until the end of the round. She cast the Sokujucho spell, causing their bodies to weaken and even prove fatal if they moved around carelessly.

Koenma was disappointed that she wasn't a real nursie-chan and blamed Georges for having hit him as hard as he could and given him this bump for nothing (even if it was something he had ordered himself. That was merely his habit of blaming others for his own faults).

The lady's voice from the megaphones annouced that Hiei and Akari had been declared generally unfit to participate in the battle and would not be able to appear in this round in order for them to receive medical treatment.

The Mashotsukai Team owner, Butajiri (whose name fittingly translated as 'Pig's Rump'), was also a member of the Black Book Club, and a portly old man with gray hair and jowled cheeks and dressed in an expansive suit. And he was currently laughing, satisfied at how well his dirty methods were working: the Urameshi had to fight continuously with no time to rest, the enchantress he had employed had successfully trapped Hiei and Akari, and Kuwabara was as good as dead. Now what kind of fight were they going to show? He chuckled again maliciously.

Urameshi jumped on the ring and demanded an explanation. This was such an obvious conspiracy! But Koto really did not know anything, she was just a neutral announcer!

"Neutral you say!" Yusuke repeated threateningly but Kurama stopped him. It was no use. They had undoubtly fallen in a trap, but if these two were really in the shape to fight, they would have broken through this level of kekkai already. However, whether this twist was going to be for the better or the worst...

"Now it's two against five, huh, Jin?" A Mashotsukai team member stepped up at the wind user's side. "You could put them away all by yourself."

"Whatever, I've changed my mind. Someone else go." Jin was picking his ear, having lost all motivation. He was someone who genuinely enjoyed giving his all into a fight. And that was why he genuinely disliked such dirty tactics. "I'll be watching." He was starting to leave when a brown clawed hand as large as a man's thigh clamped his shoulder.

"You're really as self-serving a bastard as always. Stop your grumbling and get out there!"

"Don't you go telling me what to do!" Jin tightly and painfully grabbed his wrist and glared back at him murderously. He had spoken through gritted teeth but his anger was all the fiercer this way. There was nothing the other man could say or do. Jin sat down against the wall where he started whistling. He had been anticipating having to fight against a hard one as one of his teammates pointed out and now this. After a time, one volunteered to fight in the first match. It was Gama, the bodypaint bearer. His appearance was slim and lanky, with very pale skin, pointy ears and chin. He wore a green bandana and a green skirt held by a jeweled sash and his shins were covered by gray cloth. Urameshi wanted to go but once more the fox stopped him.

"I'd like to say I could put them all away... but judging from their youki I don't think it'll be so simple. I'll find out as much as I can about what they have up their sleeves. The rest will be up to you." He informed Yusuke. Kurama was always cautious, but never overly so. And under the usual chants of "Die, die, die, die, die", the fight began.

Gama produced brushes from the 'sheaths' strapped at his waist and said that enormous magical power resided in makeup. Human women used it daily to bewitch others. Particularly during rituals and festivals, it possessed special signification and power. He was going to show him the true power withing makeup... using his special mixtures. He passed his brushes over his eyes, his lips, arms, shoulders and chest, and suddenly his youki rose dramatically. Sentou no Shou, Adornement of Combat... this was certainly the true meaning of War Paint. With impressive speed, he lunged at Kurama. The fox was still faster and jumped away, evading a punch that made a crater in the ring. He instantly devised that he had to kill his enemy at a distance with his rose whip. Engaging in close combat with that type of adversary was dangerous.

The Master of Makeup went after him. His blows rained but were all dodged. Hiei was cursing in his mind: Kurama had the bad habit of observing his opponent's tactics too much. He should be using that time to bring out his weapon!

"You won't have time to bring out your enchanted plants! I'll make sure of that!" Gama challenged, still attacking relentlessly at this enhanced speed that even his enemy could barely cope up with. And indeed, because he had been defending too much, Kurama ended up losing his balance after a bad landing. His opponent did not miss that chance and charged. The kitsune jumped back but was a second too late. Holding his brushes, Gama smirked. Kurama tried to move, only to discover that his left leg refused to budge. He sank on one knee and looked. Layered around the leg of his pants was a black pattern ressembling infinity, or ressembling chains... The paint user chuckled and mocked him. With this, his leg must feel as heavy as lead. He could not escape him anymore. Kurama cursed as his enemy slowly approached, his malice driving him to prolong the fox's torment. The member of the Urameshi Team stood up and forced his body to move, to run away.

"Amazingly, it seems that contestant Gama can use his cursed bodypaint on his opponents as well! It affects their speed and attack power! Contestant Kurama is in a great pinch!" Koto exclaimed under the cheers of the crowd.

"The makeup that Gama produces soaks through the victim's clothes and adheres directly to the skin, acting as a receptor. He cannot escape." A Mashotsukai team member commented as his comrade quickly ran ahead of the red head and lunged, brushes in hands. The fox jumped but was too late. The same pattern now adorned his right leg, as well as both of his arms. Gokujou no Shou, the Makeup of Chains. Now even if he took his clothes off it would be no use. It was like he had a 50-kg iron ball cuffed to each of his arms and legs. With 200 kg holding him down, it was impossible for him to move. Gama had stolen his freedom. Kurama gritted his teeth under the pressure created by his opponent's tecknique that was not only heavily containing his movements but also his youki. The ninja started leaping all over the place, around his paralysed victim, taunting him, confusing him, making him unable to know from where the death blow would come. Yusuke, Kuwabara, and even Hiei watched him with horror and fear etched on their features. Only Akari's pretty face was devoid of emotions. She trusted him. She trusted Kurama. He was not the type to die that easily. But...

Still showing caution despite his obvious advantage, Gama charged at his enemy from behind, clawed hand thrust forward. Still he had not been cautious enough. Blood gushed out in fountains from his mouth and the deep lacerations on his shoulders, his arms, his torso and his legs. Gama stared in shock at Kurama's rose whip wound around his long red hair. The fox did not need his arms or legs to fight. Koto commented about the incredible reversal of the situation. Gama was badly injured. Kurama had dealt a decisive blow with his whip.

"Looks like I underestimated you. I blew it right at the end. I should have completely barred your youki." The Mashotsukai team member realized his mistake – only too late. He had been overconfident.

"Enough talk. You have been defeated. Release me from the curse. Turn the youki you're using on me to heal yourself. If you don't, you will be in danger." The fox ordered, his tone superior, if not condescending, but not completely devoid of sympathy; although more aware than anyone else that if this curse was not undone, his own life would be in jeopardy. He was counting on the youkai's selfishness and instinct of self-preservation. As expected, Kurama was going to win. He was going to live through this match. But Akari could not keep the shackles of dread from tightly constricting her chest.

"We'll see about that. This match isn't over yet!" The Makai Ninja chuckled derisively.

"Even with this curse, I'm still faster than you. And since you cannot use your arms, you'll die quickly." The fox reasoned. "Don't die needlessly."

"It will be an honor to be killed by you." Gama charged despite being fatally injured. He attempted again and again to hit his adversary who dodged all his blows but did not heed the blood splattering in lines on his cloths, crossing over his thighs, his arms, his waist, his torso. Many times, Kurama tried to convince him to stop, desperate to save them both. But all of his pleas fell on deaf ears, even as blood spurted from Gama's mouth and the strain completely finished severing his right arm from his shoulder, his pride as a shinobi and loyalty to his team greater than his instinct of self-preservation. At last, Gama collapsed. Koto started counting.

"Counting is useless. He will not get up again." Kurama closed his eyes. Suddenly he heard his opponent laughing maliciously. The kitsune opened his eyes again.

"Sealed..." The fallen opponent murmured.

"What?"

"You... were watchful of my brushes... but you were careless about my blood spraying on you... I'll tell you, what my makeup really is... it's my blood...!" Gama was smirking malignantly. Kurama's green eyes widened. A set of two kanjis meaning 'Sealing Curse' had appeared on his torso. In an instant, he understood all the dreadful implications of that revelation. "Makeup of the Sealing Curse. Your youki is completely sealed. This is what it is to be a shinobi. Even after I die, my youki will remain active for ten minutes. That guarantees our victory." The ninja expired after these last words. Koto arrived at 10 and called the next contestant to step forward.

A dark robe with a pointy hood and decorated with a gree cross flew away, revealing a handsome young man, of rather short stature but mature and determined expression. Composed and stoic of demeanor, he had slicked-back blue hair, with four green spiked strands jutting downwards on the left side of his face. His narrow light blue eyes shone with a cold and merciless glint. He was dressed in a long-sleeve fishnet undershirt and over it a dark blue shirt with lighter blue pants. He also sported a one-shouldered white tunic with a lavender gem on the shoulder, and his purple sash also decorated with a lavender gem. It was the Hexed Ice user, Touya. The demonic audience cheered again. Like Jin, he was quite (in)famous.

"Well done, Gama. I will not allow your death to be in vain. Ten minutes will be enough. I will avenge you." Touya said in a low and deep voice – the same voice that had explained Gama's ability earlier on – his hard and glacial gaze fixed onto his enemy.

On the other side, Kurama could not move his arms and legs freely because of Gama's technique, and on top of that, his youki was sealed, and before such an opponent too. He cursed his own carelessness. He was really in a precarious position. The slightest slip up and he would die.

Butajiri, the owner of the Mashotsukai Team, walked down the stairs to join Sakyo who was sitting at the edge of a bench with the demon audience. He asked what he was doing here with the rabble when he had VIP seats prepared for him upstairs. However, the young Black Book Club member found more exciting to remain here due to the sense of closeness to the actual thing it procured... not like it was something the bloated man could understand. More importanly, he wanted to know what Sakyo thought of his idea to have arranged for Hiei and Akari's capture, thus ensuring the Urameshi Team's crushing defeat. The crowd was going to be very pleased too. He also gloated that he had in mind a 'penalty game' for the spectators to enjoy which was for them to use the bodies of that team in a match of punchball.

In the tent, Hiei and Akari were sitting on the table, straight up and arms and legs crossed for the demon - and feet dangling and hands gripping the edge of the table for the human, her bust lightly leaning forward. But both had serious looks on their faces and were very worried about their comrade even if they were not very open about it.

"At this rate, the only thing he can do and hope for is to stall for time, huh? If his strength could hold out he'd have a chance of victory, but..." The rei master began.

"That's only if things go smoothly." The fire youkai snorted. Both knew Touya was not the type to let things end like this.

The fox began by asking why the strongest shinobis were participating in such a fight.

"The light."

"The light?"

"For those of us who live in the shadows of a world already in darkness, there isn't so much as a glimmer of light. However, we realised something. With our abilities as Makai Ninjas, we could live in the outside world as much as we'd like. What we want is very simple. We want this island. We will begin in this place, and then we ourselves will become light and dominate this world."

"A ninja revolution, huh?" Hiei snorted.

"Before they die, the Makai Shinobis pick their best disciple to entrust their techniques to. If you repeat that cycle there will necessarily be some who will wish to test their powers. There must have been some bad decisions." Akari surmised.

"But this guy is strong."

The problem was: how could Kurama evade his attacks and get rid of him. Ice demons were very rare and powerful. Seiryu of the Four Saints Beasts, whom Hiei had defeated, had been extremely strong. And this guy, Touya, was on a level far superior than that.

"Enough talk. It seems you want to buy time but I can't allow that. This time that Gama bought with his life, I won't let it go to waste." The ice master ended the conversation.

"Looks like you figured it out." Kurama smirked, despite knowing better than anyone just how thin and stretched the tightrope he was walking on was. Koto announced the beginning of the match. Touya released his glacial youki, extending it to the edge of the arena, freezing the ground, creating his own barrier, and rendering any escape impossible. And he did not make the mistake of underestimating his opponent. He knew of the fox's sharp mind and wary personality, and he knew that he always had a number of tricks up his sleeve. Even with his body weighed down and his demon energy sealed, he was still dangerous... which was why the ice master decided to shoot him to death from a distance. He, too, was very cautious. He knew that he would be the one to die if he was not careful to the end. The fox would take advantage of the slightest opening. He blew on the youki he had gathered in his palms and with whistling sound, ice pellets flew at high speed toward Kurama, as if blasted from a shotgun. Mateki Sandansha, written with the kanjis for demon flute hailstone bullet shot. Name that included a pun as 'sandan', written with different kanjis, could mean 'buckshot'.

The kitsune youkai jumped away but could not prevent a number of shots from making tears in his cloths and grazing him, sometimes deeply. He winced, landed, and immediately started running away, Touya after him. But it was useless. That shinobi was not someone he could defeat without the use of his youki, and as slowed down as he was, he could not escape his attacks. He ran around the frozen arena, doing his best to keep his vitals from being hit by the ice pellets ceaselessly speeding toward him. Blood was oozing from his many wounds. And then, at last, the fox was down.

His teammates swore and tried to encourage him. The audience cheered and wanted Touya to hurry up and kill him. George and Koenma were wondering if anything could be done to help Kurama. But to the prince's opinion, there was nothing Kurama could do with his youki bottled up. He should give up and let Yusuke handle the rest. Humans and youkais alike had to know when to quit! One's own life was more important than victory or honor or anything else for that matter! At least that was what HE would do... Before his subordinate's doubtful expression, junior pulled hard on his cheeks and tongue to punish him. However, contrary to his prediction, the handsome red head stood up again. He had not given up. Koto commented on the great fight he was bringing about. And George remarked that he was acting more admirably than his master, although when that master threatened him again, he cowered and acted innocent.

Kurama was breathing hard and holding his injured right side.

"Stop putting on that fake show. You're not the sort to go down over such an attack as that. Are you trying to buy some time again?"

His opponent did not answer anything but thought no less. He had been seen through again. He had to find a way to undo this spell that sealed his power! It was then that he noticed the blood on his hand and had an idea. He started running again. If this spell used bodypaint made from blood then blood should be able to dissolve it! When the ice youkai saw his enemy rub and scratch his own chest, smearing it with his own blood, he instantly deduced what Kurama was thinking and praised him for it. The red head took a rose from his hair. Touya watched confidently, fearlessly as his adversary tried to turn the flower into a whip and failed, pain shooting through his body, making him collapse again. He was down again. He really could not bring out his plants.

"It's useless! Did you think the spell would be broken by doing that? Having fought Gama, you know his ability better than anyone. As long as Gama's spectral power doesn't disappear, there's no way for you to let your youki out." Touya sent his mateki sandansha bulleting toward his enemy again. The ice tore his clothes, his skin, his flesh, his red blood splattering, dripping down his arms and legs. Although each wound did not draw much, the sheer number made it difficult for the fox. The handsome and injured red haired was down again. He had realised, though, that even though he could not bring his powers out, there was still a way for him to use his energy, only one. And it was a dangerous one. However, he did not have a choice.

Kurama staggered upward, to many people's amazement. Akari jumped down the table and approached the limit of the kekkai arround the tent, her golden eyes intent on the fox's bloodied and tattered form, that reminded her so much of others she had seen years ago. What was this feeling? She knew he would never forfeit, and that was one of the traits she admired so much in him. She admired him, she trusted him, but...

His enemy praised him as a formidable opponent. He had evaded all his fatal blows with that body, and yet while dodging, he would still think of a way to win. He was as smart as he had thought... to the point that even though he would not say it, the ice youkai was the one who, despite his obvious advantage, was feeling pressured and apprehensive about his own chances of victory. The fox's fortitude and durability had surpassed his expectations.

"Tell me one last thing." Kurama said. "What are you going to do in this world?"

"I don't know yet. The light comes first."

"I see..." Kurama replied, lightly rubbing the large and deep cut on his left arm.

Seeing that, Touya remembered that Gama's curse was soon going to wear off, and no matter how serious his enemy's injuries and exhaustion, he could not afford to let him use his youki. He had to bring this fight to an end and defeat him for sure! It was time for close combat! He summoned a sword of ice that took shape around his right arm and hand.

"Here we go, Kurama! I'll kill you!" The ice demon lunged.

The kitsune dodged the first thrust by stepping aside and the horizontal slash that followed by quickly lowering his stance allowing the blade to only cut a few strands of his red hair. He then jumped away to avoid being impaled from above. The sword dug into the ground. He recovered further away.

"You did well dodging those in your state. But it won't go so well this time. Die!" Touya charged again and leapt, aiming right for his opponent's head. Blood dripped on the ground. Everyone stared in shock and disbelief. The vines coming out of Kurama's left arm had wound around and stopped the sword of ice while the vines from his right hand had formed a blade and pierced through Touya's chest. And the ice master realised only too late that Kurama had planted shimaneki seeds inside himself, through the gashes the mateki sandansha had made. Since his powers were blocked from the outside, that was the only solution left. The fox withdrew his weapons. His opponent collapsed, saying he was incredible, his sword shattered, his kekkai dissipated. Akari's heart started beating again.

Koto started the count. The crowd started railing ("you stupid bastard! And you call yourseld a shinobi?!") and Butajiri, the owner of the Mashotsukai Team, started cursing: if it went on like this, all of his brilliant plan would be for naught. He hurried up the stairs, passing Toguro-ototo who was nonchalantly going down to join his master. In the VIP seats, Koenma and George were rejoincing.

"After all, you can't give up until the end, huh?" The oni cheered.

"Of course not! That's what I've been saying from the beginning, haven't I?" The prince agreed and added, conveniently forgetting or ignoring the fact that he had maintained the very opposite just earlier. And as unreasonable as he was, the toddler got vexed when his underling commented about how slick he was and threatened to transfer him to one of the most disgusting and ungrateful job. Georges however, managed to report his master's attention back to the arena where Touya was desperatly struggling to get back on his feet. But he was unable to; and Koto annouced Kurama's second victory in a row.

"You have won. Kill me." The fallen youkai declared, showing pride and honor as a shinobi and a warrior. Kurama closed his eyes and opened them again.

"I refuse."

"What?"

"I want to know... what is after the light you're seeking... and... to tell you the truth... I've suffered more damage than you... much more..." With that, the fox's arms fell limp at his side.