Yuusuke's gaze was transfixed on the red rose I held out into the air between us. Kurama also did not bother to hide his shock-his jaw had gone slack and his mouth was slightly open. While all eyes were on me I smirked back at them. This just felt so… Right.

Yuusuke was the first to find his voice. "Ah, can you do anything with that, Hiei?" I shrugged. "Of course."

Eyes wide, Kurama shook his head from side to side, but said nothing. I flicked my arm back and cried, "Rosewhip!"

"Hi--Hiei!! No!" Kurama shouted.

It was too late for me to stop, even if I had wanted too. In an instant I felt the rose stem thicken and grow into a long, thorny vine as I swung it out into the air. With a thud, the end of my rosewhip hit the ground hard creating a long and narrow trench in the earth.

I grinned--this fun.

"You shouldn't be able to do this--I don't understand, Hiei."

I looked at Kurama and felt angry, not realizing then that I had already grown accustomed to his use of my voice and body. "What? Why?"

"Because." He said, glaring at me with his red, glittering eyes. "Abilities, such as my control over plants, are linked to a youkai's your yoku, not their bodies." He clenched his fists. "This just isn't possible!"

I tightened the grip on my rosewhip and took a step forward. "So what? I'm doing it, aren't I?

Yuusuke put up his arms, waiving for us to stop. "Guys, guys-chotto matte yo. Stop." Kurama lunged at me, sword drawn. I jumped over his head, pivoting as I landed and swung my elbow into the back of his neck-hard. Kurama stumbled, but did not fall unconscious. I was tempted to fix that with a swift kick to his head, but stopped, waiting to see what was on his mind.

"That hurt, Hiei." Kurama said through clenched teeth.

"So? You're the one who started this." I gripped my rosewhip tighter, wondering if he would make me use it. This… It just wasn't like him.

"I want my body back."

Kurama was not in his right mind. I stared at him a moment, not sure if I wanted to continue the fight.

"Kurama--I don't think Hiei did this on purpose."

"I--I know. I think the swap is effecting my mind as well." He put my katana back in its sheath. "Excuse me."

"Let's go get Kuwabara. This situation seems a bit more serious than I thought."


JM Reverie 2001 - 2004

Yu Yu Hakusho is copyright to Yoshihiro Togashi/Shueisha, Jump comics, Fuji Television and Studio Pierrot and licensed by FUNImation Productions, Inc.