Chapter 94

While on her way back to the hotel, Etsu had taken the vial of amber liquid that Suzuki had given to her out of her pocket and stared at it in her hand.

'I don't know why, but it feels as if I should take this now instead of later,' thought Etsu. 'But there's a chance that I could temporarily lose my Spirit Energy and leave myself vulnerable. That's what Suzuki said at least.'

Etsu sighed and placed the vial back into her pocket as she decided to take it as soon as she got back to the hotel, suddenly deep in thought.

'Maybe I should stop by the girls' room to have Shizuru fix my hair,' thought Etsu. 'I do need company and Botan's blabbermouth would help keep my mind off of things, too.'

However, Etsu also thought about returning to hers and Kiyoko's suite when getting back to the hotel first as she felt the need to sob and binge on food. She was about two-thirds away from the hotel when she suddenly had the feeling that she was being watched, stopping in her tracks. She wanted to demand who was there watching her, but kept her mouth shut as she suspected of who it was.

'It must be Karasu,' thought Etsu, looking around at her surroundings. 'He did look at me and Kiyoko creepily the day before the semi-finals.'

She then heard a sound like something was being lit and looked down to see something similar to a bear trap latching onto her leg, a little one-eyed purple bomb-like creature popping out.

"Hahahaha, Surprise!" the creature exclaimed. "Time's almost up before you're- ahhh!"

Etsu had ripped the thing from her leg and destroyed it with a crystallized energy blast right when it was about to blow up. She was now very pissed off as she had yelled out to her stalker.

"All right, get your damn ass out here right now!" Etsu demanded. "If you don't, I'll track you down and kick your ass!"

Etsu heard a chuckle in response following by a familiar voice as he showed himself.

"Maybe that attack was a little too easy for someone like you, but it would have been disappointing if you couldn't escape at all," said Karasu. "Though, I doubt you'll have much of an advantage with my stronger attacks, but you're welcome to try."

"Or maybe because it a was flimsy, cheap sneak attack!" Etsu snapped. "Not to mention that you've picked a very bad day to-"

"I've already heard about that and I really don't understand what's the big deal about it all," Karasu interrupted, walking towards Etsu as his violet eyes gleamed red. "After all, nothing else matters except for how I'll take you into oblivion."

Etsu readied herself as she knew that Karasu wasn't going to let her get away this time and he was about ready to pounce.

'What am I going to do? How am I supposed to fight him?' thought Etsu, feeling tense. 'My mind is completely blank. I didn't expect this to happen.'

"No need to be so tense," said Karasu. "It'll be over before you know it."

'Okay, Etsu, calm down,' thought Etsu. 'His power may be tricky to fight against, but-'

Before Etsu could finish her train of thought, Karasu moved swiftly enough to give an illusion that he had disappeared. However, it didn't fool her as she materialized her crystal gauntlets, but extended them to her elbows and made them pretty thick, as she turned to block his attack.

"Did you seriously expect that to work?" Etsu remarked. "I've been sneak attacked so many times that I can block them in my sleep!"

Karasu laughed which seemed to confuse Etsu.

"What's so funny?!" Etsu demanded.

"That wasn't my intended attack," Karasu confessed, charging his demon energy. "This is."

Karasu started seeping his explosive energy into Etsu's crystal gauntlets, but Etsu reacted fast as she had managed to distance herself from him before he could deposit anymore of it. She wanted to withdraw her gauntlets, but knew that there was no guarantee that Karasu's already deposited explosive energy would be neutralized. She also knew that his explosive energy would soon pass through even if she didn't retract them and had to make a decision as soon as possible.

"Might as well rip off the band-aid," Etsu said to herself. "Then hopefully the damage won't be so bad."

As soon as she withdrew her crystal gantlets, Karasu's explosive energy made contact with Etsu's arms and inflicted her with only a few flesh wounds. Despite the fact that her arms were bloody and hurt a bit, Etsu was relieved that her arms weren't blown off.

'That was a close call,' thought Etsu, looking at a disappointed Karasu. 'I've better be cautious while fighting him, but he probably won't give me the chance to.'

As Etsu predicted, Karasu flew at her as he prepared to attack her head-on, his hands glowing a sickly green color. She was careful to keep her distance from him as she attacked with her Crystal Stars, but he avoided them by filling them with his energy which caused them to blow up.

'Shit!' thought Etsu. 'He must've planned this!'

"That attack won't work against me no matter how hard you try," Karasu stated. "In fact, I don't think any attack like yours will have any advantage against mine. So, why don't you just go ahead and submit?'

"I don't think so, bitch!" Etsu exclaimed, charging at Karasu head-on. "Submit this!"

Etsu had swiftly kicked him in the abdomen, but not any usual kick with Spirit Energy put into it. She had her leg, from knee to foot, encased in crystal with rapidly twirling Crystal Stars at the bottom of her foot which was embedded in Karasu's abdomen. Karasu was lying on his back on the ground unmasked while coughing up blood as Etsu withdrew her attack and stepped to the side.

"So, that's what you look like underneath your mask," said Etsu. "Anyway, as much as you deserve it, it would cause trouble for tomorrow's finals if I went ahead and killed you. It shouldn't take you too long to recover."

Etsu became confused when Karasu laughed in response.

"It's amazing how you're soft yet brutal," Karasu commented. "This level intimacy between us, murderer and victim, is truly exquisite- I need to see your spirit separate itself from your body!"

Hearing Karasu say this had made alarm bells to go off in Etsu's head as she decided that it was best to leave while she had the chance. As soon as she turned to flee, she realized that bombs had appeared appeared around her.

"You should've never went easy on me," said Karasu, getting up a moment later. "Despite your brutality, your soft nature will always be your greatest flaw as a fighter."

Etsu was about to snap at Karasu until she noticed that there was a gap at the bottom she could slide through. But before she could attempt to escape the bombs, they had been drawn away from her as Karasu decided to inhale them into his body instead, his hair turning blond while his wound Etsu had given him healed up.

'He sucked the bombs into his body!' thought Etsu. 'That means it's likely he's turned himself into a giant bomb! I'm at a greater disadvantage fighting him now than before!'

"What's wrong, Etsu?" asked Karasu. "You seem beside yourself."

'I can't just run away! He'll just end up hunting me down!' thought Etsu. 'I have to find someway to get away- I need to call for Kiyoko's help!'

Karasu merely smirked at Etsu as he slowly walked towards her while she stepped back until she backed into a tree.

'I can't believe how scared I am right now!' thought Etsu. 'I'm more than capable to fight against him, but how am I supposed to fight against a walking bomb?!'

Once Karasu had approached Etsu, he placed a finger on her forehead, slowly slid it down the side of her face to the bottom of her chin, and she winced as his burning touch had scarred her.

"See how easy it is to accept your fate?" Karasu tormented. "Though, it would be a shame to end you now. You're cute when scared, but maybe you want a little more than this."

Etsu had closed her eyes in an attempt to calm down, but Karasu saw it as an invitation as he placed a hand on her waist and leaned closer. Suddenly opening her eyes, Etsu freaked when she saw Karasu leaning in closer to her as she encased her knee in crystal and kneed him hard between the legs. She then ran off as he dropped on to the ground in pain.

'My life just flashed before my eyes back there!' thought Etsu. 'I've never felt this freaked out since Rando!'

Realizing that Karasu would be up on his feet at any moment and that she was vulnerable on the ground, Etsu had jumped into the trees and masked her Spirit Energy while she was at it. When she was far away enough, she sat in a tree, got out her communication mirror and called Kiyoko.

"Etsu, is everything- what happened?!" Kiyoko answered. "How did you get that scar?!"

"I ran into some trouble and need help fighting him off!" Etsu cried. "I barely got away and I'm even farther from the hotel than I originally was!"

"Calm down and tell me what happened," said Kiyoko.

"Karasu happened!" Etsu exclaimed. "Long story short: he surprised attacked me and I held my own against him until he turned himself into a walking bomb and nearly killed me!"

"Is he one of Toguro's guys?" Kuwabara asked in the background.

"Yes," Kurama replied.

"What do you mean that he turned himself into a walking bomb?" asked Kiyoko.

"Exactly how it sounds," Etsu replied. "He consumed bombs and they're inside him. His hair turned blond, too."

"That must be a newer technique, because he didn't do that when I fought him in the past," said Kiyoko. "I'll be there as soon as I can. Are you safe where you're at?"

"I think so, but he could be looking for me right now," Etsu replied. "I masked my Spirit Energy so he wouldn't find me right away."

"I'm on my way," said Kiyoko. "Together we can get him to back off."

After hanging up her communication mirror, Etsu had placed it back into her pocket, stayed put in the tree she was in, and didn't make a sound as she realized that Karasu was beneath her, looking for her.

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Kiyoko had just snapped her communication mirror shut, placed it into her pocket, and was about to leave in a hurry until Kuwabara had gotten her attention.

"Do you need any help?" asked Kuwabara. "I mean, Etsu sounded distressed and that Karasu guy sounds like trouble."

"I appreciate your concern and your offer to help, but you'll just get in the way," Kiyoko replied, continuing before Kuwabara got the chance to react. "I had the most experience fighting the psycho, and Etsu would just need my help to get him to back off."

"Yeah, well, it never hurts to have a man around!" Kuwabara protested. "A real man comes along to help when there are girls in trouble!"

"Kuwabara, Etsu and I can fend for ourselves!" Kiyoko snapped. "If you come along, Karasu will just use you as a shield or right out blow your ass up!"

Kuwabara was about to protest some more until Kurama had placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Kiyoko knows what she's talking about, Kuwabara," said Kurama. "You have no idea what Karasu is capable of and Kiyoko does. If either of us comes along to help, we'll just unintentionally make the situation more complicated."

"Aww," Kuwabara pouted.

As she sighed, Kiyoko had taken her communication mirror out of her pocket and handed it to Kurama.

"Here, hold onto this until I get back," said Kiyoko. "I'll let you know when the situation has resolved."

"Be careful," said Kurama.

"Don't worry, I will," Kiyoko reassured.

Kurama felt Kiyoko's hand slip out of his as he watched her hurry off out of sight, Kuwabara getting his attention a moment later.

"So I'm guessing she's the boss of the relationship, huh?" asked Kuwabara.

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Kiyoko hurried to Etsu's aid as she followed Karasu's Demon Energy since Etsu had masked her Spirit Energy, thinking of a strategy to fight off Karasu.

'I should probably use long range attacks, but since Etsu most likely used the Crystal Star attack, Karasu would be expecting it,' thought Kiyoko. 'I could just use my Crystal Kunai to catch him of guard at some point and use an attack I've been improving on months before this tournament started.'

Kiyoko had suddenly felt Etsu's Spirit Energy and hurried faster, knowing that Etsu would feel foolish from being scared of an opponent she had trouble fighting before too long.

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While Karasu continued searching for her, Etsu started to feel absolutely foolish for hiding from Karasu even though she was at a disadvantage fighting him. She knew that she had to keep fighting him instead of behaving like a frightened cat up in a tree, suddenly taking a deep breath and exhaled quietly.

'This is stupid- I'm not a coward and I should stop acting like one,' thought Etsu. 'Hiei would be disappointed if he knew-'

"Don't be ridiculous," Hiei interrupted telepathically. "You're just being cautious."

Etsu didn't say anything as Hiei continued.

"There's nothing wrong in fleeing when you need to re-strategize," Hiei continued. "You know this as well as any other fighter does so don't second guess yourself."

"Yeah, you're right," Etsu agreed.

After the telepathic communication was cut off, Etsu looked down at Karasu (who was now calling her name) and simply observed him before continuing to fight him.

'For one thing, I need to keep my distance when I continue to fight him,' thought Etsu. 'Letting him anywhere near me would be a deadly mistake.'

Etsu suddenly realized that Karasu took on his blond-haired form to scare her into submission easier, feeling her face getting hot with anger and embarrassment.

'What a bastard!' thought Etsu, jumping down from a tree feet away from Karasu. 'He had some nerve to scare me like that- and I was stupid enough to fall for it!'

Karasu smirked once Etsu stopped masking her Spirit Energy and was about to go for her until she surprised kicked him in the face, Etsu's leg encased in thick crystal again. He fell to the ground as she landed inches from him.

"So, you've came out of hiding," said Karasu, suddenly getting back up. "I was wondering where you went to."

"I'm not going to let you scare me, Karasu!" Etsu declared. "And if you keep this up, Toguro's going to find himself short one team member!"

Karasu laughed in amusement until Kiyoko made it to the scene, Kiyoko relieved to see that her sister was alright. That was until she noticed that Etsu was riddled with flesh wounds that weren't healing like they were supposed to.

"Etsu," started Kiyoko.

"I'm alright, Kiyoko," Etsu interrupted. "I was just spooked when I called you."

"But you were right to call me, Etsu," Kiyoko stated. "Not that you wouldn't have been able to fend him off- he just doesn't know when to stop."

"It's nice that you've joined us, Kiyoko," said Karasu. "I was hoping to see you sooner than later."

"I don't know how to tell you this, Karasu, but that blond hair washes you out," Kiyoko remarked. "But it does suit your homicidal personality."

"Well, aren't you confident," Karasu retorted. "Do you think you can beat me together?"

Etsu was about to reply until Kiyoko gave her a look telling her not to say anything as she suspected that Karasu was up to something.

'There aren't any bombs around as far as I can see,' thought Kiyoko. 'But it's obvious that he's up to something."

Before Kiyoko could figure out what Karasu was up to, she noticed that Etsu had an alarmed expression on her face. However, before Etsu had the chance to warn her, Karasu had some bombs that he had hidden blow up from behind her, laughing in satisfaction as she screamed in agony. Kiyoko had collapsed onto the ground and Etsu was about rush over to her aid until Karasu gave her a wound to her leg without touching her, causing her to drop to the ground.

"Ah-ah-ah," Karasu taunted, waving a finger at Etsu. "Wait your turn."

Etsu was yelling at Kiyoko to get up as Karasu had turned to approach her, but her ears had rung from the explosion while feeling a painful burning sensation on her back. Kiyoko suddenly felt being picked up by the back of her shirt as she grunted in pain and saw Karasu's lips moving, but didn't need to hear what he was saying as she had figured it out for herself.

'He was expecting me to come, because he purposely scared Etsu into calling me for help,' thought Kiyoko. 'He actually wanted to kill both of us at the same time, but he needed to put us off guard first in order to succeed.'

"You two are so close and value each other's safety over your own that it was hard not taking advantage of it," Karasu confessed. "Be sure to pray, because I'm about to send you to your maker."

Kiyoko gave Karasu a glare that exclaimed, "Go to hell, you psychotic freak!"

Determined to not let Karasu kill her sister, Etsu had forced herself up as she ignored the pain in her wounded leg and charged at him. Hearing her scream and sensing her forming an attack, Karasu looked to Etsu to see her form a spiky crystal attack with electricity surrounding it and it was enough to knock him out. He stared at her with a deer in the headlights expression on his face until Bui had unexpectedly stepped in to knock her out against a tree by hitting her with the non-bladed side of his ax. Kiyoko tried to yell out Etsu's name, but had passed out from the pain of her wounded back, Karasu frowning.

"What are you doing here?" Karasu demanded. "Can't you see that I'm in the middle of something?"

"You know as well as I do that the Daioh sisters are off limits," Bui replied. "Toguro will not be happy with you if he finds out that-"

"I don't care what Toguro says," Karasu interrupted. "I've had my eye on the Daioh sisters for a long time, especially Kiyoko. As far as I'm concerned, they're mine to take away."

Bui growled in annoyance.

"Don't forget that Toguro won't be the only one you'll answer to," Bui pointed out. "Besides Team Urameshi, Spirit World will issue a warrant for your arrest and execution."

Karasu thought about what Bui had said as he transformed back to his black hair and placed his mask back onto his face, but he didn't want to release Kiyoko from his grip.

"How about I let you take Etsu if you let me end Kiyoko?" Karasu bargained. "I know you have a fondness for her. No one has to know."

"Listen, Karasu, I respect them because I know that they're different from the rest of Spirit World, and I'm telling you to stop right now!" Bui demanded. "Don't make me have to drag you back to the hotel!"

Before Karasu could respond, Hiei and Kurama had arrived while Kuwabara was back at the hotel to get Yukina to go to the sisters' suite without any explanation. Kurama became alarmed once he spotted the wounded and passed out Kiyoko in Karasu's grasp.

"Get your filthy hands off of Kiyoko, Karasu," Kurama demanded.

"You can't have her," said Karasu, laughing in amusement. "I'm not done with her yet."

"Don't make me say it again," Kurama warned.

"Or what will you do?" asked Karasu, his eyes gleaming red. "It's not like you can do much against me considering Kiyoko's a higher class than you."

'He's right,' thought Kurama. 'If he managed to render Kiyoko helpless, what can I do against him?'

Hiei looked around for Etsu and was about to demand where she was until Bui pointed his finger to his right. There, he found her knocked out among a mass of trees with some bruises, flesh wounds, and a pretty bad leg wound, carefully picked her up into his arms to discover that her ribs were broken as she groaned in pain.

"Something unhonorable must have happened for you to be hurt this bad," Hiei concluded, suddenly noticing Bui's eyes on him. "You must have been the one to break her ribs- your teammate wouldn't have been capable of such of a thing."

Karasu had caught wind of Hiei's comment, but didn't respond to it as he knew full well that breaking bones wasn't his specialty, explosions were. He enjoyed Kurama's look of torment as he still had a grip on Kiyoko and refused to let her go. Kurama was racking his brain of how to free Kiyoko from Karasu's grip without causing any harm to her or to himself. He knew of only one way to free her, but it would cause her additional pain involving thorns.

'Forgive me, Kiyoko,' thought Kurama, taking out a rose. 'This is the only option.'

"Rose Whip!" Kurama called out.

Karasu considered running off with Kiyoko so he could finish her off until Kurama had wrapped his Rose Whip around her and yanked her from him, Kiyoko screaming in agony. Kurama had taken off his yellow tunic from his outfit and put it on her to wear since Karasu had what remained of her lavender tank top.

"You're only delaying the inevitable," Karasu finally said, stashing away Kiyoko's tank top. "Her fate will always be in my hands as long as I'm around."

"Mark my words, Karasu, I'll make sure you'll never lay a finger on her again," Kurama declared. "I don't know what game you've played that allowed you to injure her, but I'll make sure you'll pay the consequences tomorrow at the finals."

Karasu couldn't resist Kurama's proposal as he had spoken up a moment later.

"Assuming that you'll go through with it," said Karasu. "Of course, it doesn't matter, because your fate will be at my hands as well as Kiyoko's."

'And don't think I'll forget about Etsu, either,' thought Karasu. 'She'll be close behind both of you.'

Bui was getting antsy as Hiei had glared at him intensely, but didn't react as he decided to fight him in the finals the following day. Sensing Bui getting anxious and not wanting Y. Toguro to come for him, Karasu decided to leave with Bui a moment later.

"At last they've gone," said Kurama, relieved. "But we haven't the time to waste."

"Hn," Hiei agreed.

After lifting Kiyoko onto his back, Kurama and Hiei hurried on their way back to the hotel to the sisters' suite so the sisters could be treated of their wounds.

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Not only Yukina had agreed to go the sisters' suite with Kuwabara, Botan, Shizuru, and Keiko (holding Puu) had decided to tag along as they wondered what was so important about going to the sisters' suite. Unfortunately for Kuwabara, he didn't know why but did tell them that Hiei and Kurama told them that it was important.

"Oh no, you don't suppose that something bad happened to the girls, do you?" asked Botan, worried.

"What makes you think that, Botan?" asked Keiko. "They don't strike me as pushovers."

"I don't think what she's getting at, Keiko," said Shizuru. "Botan seems worried, because a lot of the demons around here don't seem to like Etsu and Kiyoko very much."

"Now that you mention it, Etsu called Kiyoko for some help because one of Toguro's teammates was after her and didn't know how to fight him," Kuwabara explained. "She said something about the guy being a walking bomb or something- whatever that means. Anyway, Kiyoko went off to go help her and was gone for awhile and then Kurama got a worried look on his face and ran off. He didn't tell me anything before except that he wanted us to wait at their suite."

"I hope they're okay," said Yukina.

"Me, too, Yukina," Botan agreed. "Sometimes the girls run into some opponents that are difficult to fight and they do find a way to beat them, but they end up getting themselves hurt in the process."

When the group got to the sisters' suite, they discovered that the door was ajar as if whoever went into the suite were too much in a hurry to close it. They decided to find out what was going on as they went inside to discover Hiei and Kurama waiting for them.

"What took you, fool?!" Hiei demanded.

"Calm your jets, shorty!" Kuwabara snapped. "I've brought Yukina so tell me what's going on!"

"It's Kiyoko and Etsu," Kurama explained. "They've been hurt very fatally."

"Oh no, I've got to help them!" Yukina exclaimed. "Please take me to them!"

"I should help, too," said Botan. "Yukina, you go heal Etsu while I heal Kiyoko."

"What should I do?" asked Kuwabara.

"You stay put," Hiei replied.

Kuwabara was about to protest until Shizuru made him sit down on the sofa with her and Keiko (holding Puu), Yukina following Hiei to Etsu's room while Botan followed Kurama to Kiyoko's room.

"I hope Botan and Yukina are able to help them, because it sounds like they're hurt really bad," said Keiko. "I might have a hard time getting along with them, but Yusuke would be upset if he lost his friends and I don't want that."

"Don't worry, Keiko," said Shizuru. "I'm sure they'll be fine."