Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho or Inuyasha or any of their characters. I do, however, own any OCs created and the story written.

Chapter 3: Hard Fights for Yusuke

Kagome stood next to Kuwabara, staring in shock at her cousin on the ground.

"Has Yusuke been beaten?" Botan asked, shaking.

"Not yet." Kagome placed a hand on the Reaper's shoulder as Yusuke tried to lift his head, "He's too stubborn."

"What a shame." Kazemaru smirked, "Ow." He frowned as Kagome pulled her hand away from pinching his shoulder, "Blame your cousin, little girl. Maybe next time he'll think twice about running his mouth."

"Well then," She smiled, "maybe next time, I'll just forget that you're human and shoot you with one of my Sacred Arrows. Do you think you'll survive?" He grunted before turning back to the match, "Right." She scoffed, turning back to her cousin.

"If you say you give up, I'll let you live." Kibano said, laughing.

Yusuke strained himself as he struggled to his feet, swaying. Grunting in pain, he wiped the blood off his lip, "Oh well, I guess you'll just have to kill me."

"Ooo… Acting with reckless arrogance that only a kid could have. You probably think you're invincible." Kibano laughed as he watched Yusuke shifting in pain. "You've lost a lot of energy. I know because it's harder to see you in my mask."

Botan said,"Yusuke can't go on like this."

Kuwabara shouted,"You better not die! Darn it!"

"Nice encouragement, Kuwabara." Kagome shook her head, "But, do you think you could speak a little louder? I don't think he heard you?"

He just stared at her, "You're kind of a brat, aren't you?"

"You have no idea."

"Kibano is wrong about him." Genkai said, "Even with the mask, Kibano's Awareness is limited by what he expects. In a normal person, sure, power would have gone down from such an attack, so that's what Kibano sees. But this brat's Spirit Energy has a very unique wavelength. It responds to desperation by getting stronger. He could win, if he could see."

Kagome, noticed that Yusuke had heard what Genkai had said. His eyes lit up and started looking around, trying to figure out his best course of action.

Before he could make a move, Kibano appeared in front of him and punched him in the face. Yusuke shifted back, like he was going to fall, but he grabbed Kibano's arm and locked it with his elbow, holding him in place, "Now it's over!"

Kibano looked shocked, "What!"

"See, this is all apart of my plan, next I'm going to break your arm."

"Yeah! Do it! Then start with his face!" Kuwabara called out in excitement.

"Don't tell him what you're going to do, you idiot." Kagome yelled, slapping at Kuwabara's arm, "And don't shout out instructions, you doofus."

"You hit almost as hard as Urameshi." He deadpanned.

As Yusuke tightened his grip on Kibano's arm, his masked opponent nodded, "Not such a bad idea, if I wasn't a master in every style of martial art. Including grappling." Kibano grabbed Yusuke's arm and pulled him over his head, swinging him around like a lasso, "Here's my favorite throwing technique! The Bonzai Missile!" He flung him out, sending Yusuke flying back like a spinning top.

The group stared in shock as Yusuke slammed onto the ground, bounced up and hit the wall. Blood flew out of his mouth before he hit the ground.

"When he's far away he can't see," Kuwabara lamented, "and when he's up close the guy does judo moves on him! What's he supposed to do?!"

"The only way I see Yusuke pulling this off is with the Spirit Gun." The Bluenette said, "But that's still impossible. He would never be able to make a direct hit."

Genkai rolled her eyes, "Who cares, stop dwelling on what-if's. The reality is that he can't see and he's about to get canned."

"You better get up Urameshi! I'm not going to let you run out on me again!"

"Look here, Pompadour!" Kagome pinched Kuwabara on the arm and twisted, making him yell out, "Quit yelling at him and let him focus, or I will hurt you."

"You're meaner than your cousin."

"I must admit," They turned back at Kibano's words, "I'd feel guilty killing an amateur like you. Please, tell me you give up and you can go back to your mother. Maybe your little cousin over there can carry you on her back." Kagome frowned as he laughed, "I'll even open an ear plate so I can hear your actual voice." He opened a piece off the left side to expose his ear, "I could just feel out your vocal vibrations. But surrender has such a nice sound."

"Then say it yourself, I'm winning this fight." Yusuke said as he stood up, holding his left arm. He took a step forward, but almost ended up falling, "Next time you attack me, I'm going to knock that helmet off your head. Then I'll slap you around a bit. If you can still move."

Kibano laughed, "Don't you think it's a little too late in the fight for you to bluff. We all know that you're blind."

"Maybe, but my mom told me not to make excuses."

"Ugh, fine. Then I'll give you no more warning."He put the metal back over his ear and pulled his arm back to power it up again, "Farewell, boy!" Kibano jumped up and disappeared into the darkness, making Yusuke looked around nervously. "I will admit, I am surprised about how long you lived, but now it's all over. Ahh!" Yusuke put his finger up and Spirit Energy started to gather on the end of his finger. "I can feel you trembling, your body is shaking with fear. Ahh!"

"Watch out!"Kuwabara warned.

"Yusuke!" Botan yelled

Kagome grinned, "He's got him."

"Farewell!"

"I'm not trembling, dummy! I'm powering up! Spirit gun!"Yusuke yelled as he sent his Energy out. The attack hit Kibano's mask and split it apart, sending to the ground.

"Oh yeah!" Yusuke's friends cheered, happy that he won.

"I- don't understand what happened. You can't see in here. How did you hit me?" Kibano stuttered, looking up from the ground.

"Why don't you look at your belt before your eyes roll back."

Kibano looked down to see what Kagome noticed earlier, "What is that thing? You tracked me down with that?"

"That's right. It's the cigarette that Genkai was smoking. Remember? She threw it at me at the start of the fight. I saw it on the ground a few minutes ago… still glowing. And while you were busy teaching me your stupid kung fu moves, I slipped it under your belt. And after that… well hell, you know the rest."

"You, tricked me." Kibano said.

Yusuke said,"Yeah well, of course I did! And with that mask you couldn't see it." As Yusuke finished talking, Kibano had had enough and passed out.

Genkai raised her right hand, "Winner: the dimwit."

Yusuke walked back over to the group, "That was close."

"Hey… where did you learn to be so tricky anyways?" Kuwabara asked.

Botan crossed her arms with a smirk, "It's probably from being a kid, trying to think up reasons why he didn't come to class."

"Maybe." Yusuke looked over at Kagome, "How'd I do?"

"I've seen better." She laughed as he shoved her playfully, "You're just a street fighter with no real training. If you can get through this competition, I'm sure Genkai could whip you into shape. Or throw you down her stairs for annoying her."

"Wait… what was that glow ball you fired at him?" Kuwabara asked.

"That's my Spirit Gun. See, it's like this big explosion of my Spirit Energy."

"So you're using a gun and I've got a sword, don't you think we're cheating!?" Kuwabara said.

"Oh, don't worry Kuwabara. Just think of these weapons as extensions of yourselves." Botan explained.

Genkai said,"Alright kitties, let's start the semi finals." Genkai announced, "The first match will be Kazemaru and Yusuke."

"I've waited for this." Kazemaru said.

Yusuke screamed out, "Whoa, old lady! Pick somebody who's had a chance to breathe, okay!"

"If you want to get mad, then get mad at the one who drew the lot. And that's you." The psychic explained, closing her eyes.

Kuwabara said, "You're not a very lucky person at drawing lots, are you Urameshi!"

Yusuke put his arm out behind him. "Well can you at least throw another cigarette?" Yusuke exclaimed, making Kagome giggle.

"No… we won't be fighting the semi-finals in here." Genkai gestured to the darkness and a door opened up, shining a bright light inside the room and blinding the occupants. "Follow me." Genkai started walking and the group followed behind her.

Kagome walked beside Yusuke and they trudge up a hill through the woods. "Great, now I have to fight a dude who can shoot a giant energy blast out of his whole stinking palm and my little Spirit Gun is all used up." Kagome just shook her head at his complaining. "Well, I don't see you fighting." She laughed and just shoved nudged him with her shoulder.

"And don't forget that one of those fighters might be Rando in disguise." Bota whispered, trying not to alert anyone else.

"Oh yeah, that's true." He sighed, "If he's hiding as a human, then there's only two guys that he could be now." He looked ahead at the back of his opponent, "And there's something not right about that Kazemaru guy. Call it a bad hunch."

"Do you get many of those?" Kagome asked, cheekily, "Listen, I've been around a lot of fights. Didn't really get to participate in any, except to shoot the occasional Sacred Arrow, but I've got enough experience to know about this stuff. Instead of complaining that you're having to fight again, just imagine that this is a life or death situation, which it is, and you're fighting one bad guy after another. Oh, wait," she snapped her fingers in surprised, "You are."

"You're a brat."

"And you're a jerk. What's your point?"

1-2-3-4-5

Kagome, who had just gotten back from the future, walked through the woods, lost. Kaede had said that Inuyasha had forced the rest of the group to follow Kikyo, may she eventually rot in Hell, to search for more jewel shards.

"I am going to kill him." She muttered, completely lost. "Why? Why would he do this when he knew I was only going to be gone for two days." Looking around, she realized that she had come upon a hut beside a small lake, "Oh, wow. Pretty."

"Who are you and how did you get here?" The demanding voice startled Kagome, causing her to stumble on a rock. Before she could fall, an arm reached around her waist and forced her around, "Answer me."

She slowly looked up, into the eyes of her captor, and froze. His golden eyes held her in place, almost searing into her soul. "I-I…"

"Who are you?" He whispered, as transfixed on her as she was on him.

"K-Kagome."

"How did you find this place?"

"I got lost looking for my friends. I'm sorry for intruding." She finally blinked and looked at the rest of him. He has pointed silver ears, tail, and flowing hair down to mid-back. He was wearing a white sleeveless yukata with split sides, along with matching martial arts pants and shoes, "Um, you're either part Inu or a full Kitsune."

He looked surprised, "Interesting. How would you know anything about that?"

"I travel with a Hanyou Inu and a fox kit."

His eyes widened, "You travel with Inuyasha."

"Yes."

"Then you're the Shikon Miko."

"Guilty."

"Mmm." He stared, scrutinizing her, "Fox." He watching her nod in understanding and paused before smirking, "Since you're lost and don't know which way your friends went, how about you come inside? Get something to eat and get cleaned up."

"I don't know…"

"Relax. I'm a thief, not a murderer. I only kill out of necessity; protection and defense."

She stared at him for a moment and nodded, "Okay."

1-2-3-4-5

"Thanks for walking me back to Kaede's Village." Kagome said as she and her new friend walked through the forest, "I appreciate it."

"It is of no inconvenience to me."

"How long have you lived in the cottage?"

"I don't… mostly. It belongs to a friend of mine. The area is protected by demon charms, which is why I was surprised that you had found it." He chuckled, "Anyways, he lends it to me when I'm traveling through the area. I have a cave that leads further back that I keep all of my…" he smirked at her giggle, "acquired items protected."

"I should be appalled. But…" She thought for a moment, shrugged, "I'm not. Who do you steal from? I mean, do you steal from weary travelers? Poor villages? The sick? Do you steal from other demons?"

"Actually, I only steal things that interest me."

"What kind of things?"

"Special or important artifacts."

"Don't tell me that you want the Shikon Jewel, too?" She rolled her eyes.

"Not even remotely." He chuckled at her attitude, "I could care less about making any wishes. Those things can be dangerous. No, no. Foxes are pranksters and hoarders. I like a good prank. It's fun. Hoarding is different. I don't just hoard junk. My hoard has become an extensive collection of rare and unique objects. From special texts and possessed boxes to moving paintings and dangerous potions. I don't use them. I just collect them. Sometimes, if the price is right and I know it's not going to kill millions of people, I'll sell requested items. Most of the money I make are from gold and jewels I take from the wealthy and sell it off." He looked over to see her smiled, "What?"

"You're like a demonic Robin Hood in reverse."

"Who is that?" Before she could answer, he put his hand on her shoulder to halt her, "I smell Inuyasha heading this direction. Coming in fast."

"It might not be good to have you here. He's kind of a hothead."

"Don't I know it." He released a seed out of his hair and dropped it into his hand. Letting his power run through it, it blossomed into a rose. He grabbed a rose quart stone from a pocket that he was compelled to bring with him and spelled the two items together. "Take this with you. Wear it." He held out the stone, which now looked like someone had carved it into a rose with fox in the center of it, and gave her a chain to go with it, "This will let you find the cabin if you need a place to get away. Also, if you are ever in extreme danger, I will know and come check on you. If it looks like the half-breed has it covered, I'll stay back until you're in the clear and wait for you to come to me. I'll check you over and heal you from injuries."

"Why?" She whispered, "Why do this?"

He looked into her eyes again, serious, "There's a strong connection between us, Kagome. I am compelled to be with you. To learn more about you. To protect you. I don't know what it is yet, but it's strong. Please."

She didn't hesitate. She knew that connection well. Felt it. Without another word, she grabbed the necklace and slipped it over her head, "Thank you."

"Kagome?"

"Yes?"

He leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips, forever sealing her scent to him. Making the connection even stronger.

"Take care of my Miko."

1-2-3-4-5

Kagome shook herself out of her memories as they walked up a hill and came to a large field with dead trees and muddy ponds scattered across it. "This will be your new fighting ground."

"Ugh, what is it?!" Kuwabara asked.

"The site of an ancient battle." The psychic explained, "An entire army was overcome by madness. Thousands of soldiers attacked their own men. Restless souls fill this place." Kagome shivered as her senses picked up the pains echoing through the field.

Kuwabara stepped backward and started freaking out. "I'm seeing things here I've never wanted to see." He grabbed his head as if in pain, "Oh please, please someone take me home."

"On this hill side, Spirit Energy begins to over take the body." Genkai explained, turning back to the group, "It's perhaps the best place on Earth to use Spirit Power. And so the best place for your fight."

"Excellent, their Energy is circulating through me already now." Kazemaru said, lifting his hand as blue Spirit Energy encircled his entire body, "I feel stronger already."

Botan turned to Yusuke, "What about you?"

He lifted his hand and focused on his finger, "No use, I'm feeling some of my power coming back. But there's no way it's enough to use my Spirit Gun." He turned to his cousin, "Are you okay?"

She looked like she was hyperventilating and on the verge of a panic attack, "I don't know. My Reiki… it doesn't like it here." She shook her head and pointed away from her, "Go. Focus on your fight."

"Botan. Kuwabara." The two looked over as Yusuke started to leave, "Keep an eye on her, please?" They nodded in agreement and he walked out into the middle of the field with Kazemaru, leaving the rest of the group a few good meters away from them.

"Girl." Kagome looked over as Genkai held out her hand, "Put this on." Kagome grabbed the protection beads that the psychic held out and studied it, "It will guard your Reiki. Your Miko powers aren't used to the likes of this field. The Energy here could do some serious damage to you. Not to mention the Jewel you protect."

The Miko nodded and put the necklace around her neck. The beads were a mix of obsidian, black tourmaline, citrine, emerald, clear and smokey quartz, amethyst, selenite, hematite and tiger's eye. It had the kanji symbol for protection engraved in each stone and another one inlaid in an iron disc hanging off it. As soon as it settled, it shimmer with some sort of Energy and Kagome immediately felt better. "Thank you."

Genkai nodded and turned to the field, "And the first match of the semi finals, begin!"

1-2-3-4-5

"What a shame for you, fighting two battles in a row, both mismatched." Kazemaru said.

Yusuke exclaimed, "What?!"

"Everyone knows Kibano would have defeated you, if not for your little trick. And as for my own advantage, well, you'll soon find out." Kazemaru smiled. Before Yusuke could blink, Kazemaru is in front of him, delivering punches left and right. All he could do was take blow for blow.

Yusuke went to punch him, only for Kazemaru to run behind him and kick him in the face! Kazemaru jumped high in the air and landed behind Yusuke as Yusuke fell backwards onto the ground. "I am surprised to find someone else in this contest who can use the Spirit Firing Technique."

Yusuke sat up to a kneeling position and said, "Yeah, I'm pretty awesome, huh?"

"Of course, it's nothing compared to mine." Kazemaru said. He walked towards Yusuke.

Yusuke said, "Yeah, good point. Maybe we should agree not to use them and just play fair."

"Oh, don't worry, I'd rather use… my fist!" Kazemaru said and charged at Yusuke with his fist raised. Yusuke went to brace himself, but suddenly looked behind him as his foot sank in the mud and Kazemaru attacked him with a barrage of punches."

"You can't even fight back." Kazemaru said.

Botan yelled,"Do something!"

"He's too tired to block a punch." Kuwabara said.

"Come on, Cuz." Kagome cringed, "You've got this."

Kazemaru delivered a right hook and sent Yusuke flying! "Don't give up Urameshi, put everything you got into one hit! Ow!" Kuwabara looked down as Kagome moved her hand away from him. "What was that for?"

"Because you're a doof. Quit calling out instructions that his opponent can hear!"

"Are you sure you're not a fighter?"

"Bite me."

Kazemaru charged at Yusuke while he was on the ground, only to have Yusuke to duck a little and dodge. Yusuke quickly went to hit Kazemaru only to barely graze his nose as he back flip out of the way!

Yusuke said, "Aww, perfect!" All of the sudden a cut appeared on Kazemaru's cheek.

"What the!" Kazemaru yelled, shocked.

"Damn!" Kuwabara shouted as Genkai laughed.

"That would have finished me if I hadn't dodged it." He whipped the blood off. "I can't get that close. Guess I'll have to fight long distance!" He put his hands in the top part of his shirt and pulled out four Shuriken throwing stars.

Kagome just stared, "You mean he really is a ninja?"

Yusuke said, "Your joking."

"Shuriken Throwing Knives, my favorite." Kazemaru said before jumping into the air and, infusing them with his Spirit Energy, started throwing them.

Yusuke said,"Oh, give me a break, ninja boy. I'm not to weak to dodge." He taunted as easily dodged the Shuriken. Kazemaru landed smirking as he crossed his arms. "Hello, I was expecting a more shocked reaction. Did you not just see me dodge your toys."

"Not quite." Kazemaru bragged, looking past the teenager.

Yusuke exclaimed, "What!"

"Yusuke!" Botan and Kagome yelled.

"Those things are behind you!" Kuwabara yelled.

Yusuke looked back in shock, "Uh oh." He dove out of the way just as the Shuriken flew at him. "Okay, they are like boomerang knives. That's a decent trick." The Shuriken turned around in the air and themselves at Yusuke.

"Actually, they lock on to a person's Spirit Energy. Kazemaru bragged, "And they can stay up in the air for days before hitting their appropriate target."

Yusuke blocked his face as the Shuriken flew past him, tearing at his clothes. They came back around and Yusuke barely managed to dodge by using his right leg. The blades flew close the ground and then turned and hit Yusuke, sending him flying back He sat up and looked around as the Shuriken turned around and started coming back at him again.

"Alright." He started running towards a tree. He turned]d around towards the Shuriken and said,"Come on!" He jumped away just before the Shuriken reached them and they stuck to the tree. When the third one hit, it exploded and sent Yusuke flying back into the ground, face first.

"Oh, perhaps I neglected to mention the gun powder stored in the tip of every blade. They blow up on impact. Even if you manage to dodge the blades, you can't avoid the explosion. It's a done deal." Kazemaru said, laughing.

Botan shouted, "Yusuke!"

"How's he supposed to get out of this?" Kuwabara yelled.

"It might be a good time to tell him goodbye." Genkai said, blunt.

"I've already done that once, okay!" Kuwabara yelled at the old lady.

"Come on, Yusuke. Focus!" Kagome yelled, concerned for her cousin.

Yusuke started running towards us screaming. "I'm a good guy, Urameshi!" Kuwabara put his arms up to guard himself.

"You have to listen to me Kuwabara! You have to win the Tournament now! Take care of my cousin!" Kuwabara lowered his arms as Yusuke ran past him, "See ya!"

Kagome, scared, got a mental flash in her head of what was about to happen and smiled. "Well, that's one way to do. Even if it is an accident."

"Well, that's funny. What do you think he meant? I figured he wanted to win?" Kuwabara said, turning to the Miko, "And what accident."

"Just wait."

Botan said, "Oh dear."

"I see, he knows he can't escape, so he's decided to kill two birds with one bomb." Genkai commented, figuring out the teen's plan.

Kuwabara screamed, "He what! Urameshi! Don't do it! Can't you think this out a little more?!"

"Yusuke." Botan whispered, scared.

Yusuke ran straight towards Kazemaru, causing the Ninja to power up a ball of Spirit Energy between his hands.

"You try whatever you want Ninja, but I'm taking you with me!"

"Sorry! I have other plans!" Kazemaru said and pointed the Energy towards Yusuke. All of the sudden, Yusuke vanished from the field. "What the?! He… disappeared!"

The Shuriken were still coming towards Kazemaru. He aimed went to fire the Energy at them and it caused an explosion blast out. It engulfed Kazemaru, sending him flying back on the ground, defeated.

Kuwabara, Kagome and Botan ran forward to the spot where Yusuke had disappeared.

"You see that? He's gone." Kuwabara stated, looking around.

"Yusuke! Hello!" Botan yelled.

Kuwabara waited a few seconds before yelling,"Hey Urameshi! Are you playing around?!" He looked around for a moment and grunted, "I'm going to mad if he can turn invisible and nobody told me."

Botan just shook her head. "Only the dead can do that."

Kuwabara said, "Well, maybe he jumped really high and hasn't come down yet or something."

"You really are a doof." Kagome shook her head as she pointed to a hand sticking out of the mud with a gurgling noise coming out. "I think he needs help."

Kuwabara said, "I found him!" Kagome just shook her head as Botan and Kuwabara pulled her cousin out of the water.

Yusuke, covered in dirty water and scratched, was bent over coughing, "Pretty clever, hiding in the mud like that." Kuwabara said, impressed.

"I wasn't hiding. I slipped." Botan and Kagome just busted out laughing.

Kuwabara exclaimed in shock, "You weren't hiding! Are you trying to tell me the whole thing was an accident?"

"What whole thing?" Yusuke asked, looking to where Kuwabara pointed over his shoulder to Kazemaru knocked out. Genkai and Shorin walked over to them. "You mean I actually won the match?"

Genkai said, "Kazemaru's power-up emitted so much Spirit Energy that it diverted the knives toward him when you fell. Your victories a total fluke. But then as I've said before, anything goes as long as you can win the fight."

"It isn't fair." Kazemaru muttered, lifting his head for a second before passing out again.

Yusuke shrugged, "He's got a good point."

"Guess this makes up for the unluckiness you had drawing lots." Kuwabara said.

Yusuke wiped some mud off of his cheek, "Works for me."

"Winner! Yusuke Urameshi! Only three fighters are left. I hope you're excited." Genkai said.

"Yusuke." Kagome grabbed his shoulder, "I don't have the full training to heal, but I can make you aches more mangable. If you want."

"Um, sure. Just don't hurt yourself, okay." He let her send soothing waves through his body as Botan leaned over to them.

"Well, we've narrowed it down. Kazemaru must not be Rando. If he was, he would have shown his true form after he was beaten."

"Then, we've figured it out." Yusuke said, looking at Kuwabara's opponent.

Botan nodded grimly, "Shorin is Rando."

"Oh, dear." Kagome sighed, "Evil demons. Why am I not surprised."

"Let's move to the second match of the semi-finals." Genkai stated, "It's not hard to guess. Kuwabara versus Shorin."

1-2-3-4-5

Kagome stared off into the distance, lost in thought. It had been a few months and she had gone to the cabin a few times, without being followed. Didn't mean he didn't follow her on occasion. And every time they parted ways, he bestowed one kiss on her lips.

Conflicting feelings ran through her. She thought she was in love with Inuyasha. That they were meant to be. But now… "Why?"

"Because he found you." She turned around to see Inuyasha's brother leaning on the tree beside her.

"Lord Sesshomaru." She shook her head, "Um… what did you mean?"

"I just assumed that you were questioning the fox's interest in you. I though I'd explain it to you. Help you understand."

"Why would you do that?" She flinched back, "Better yet, how do you know about him?"

"I know about you and him because he told me."

"What?"

"We've known each other since we were boys. My closest friend."

"No offense, but I didn't think you had any friends."

He smirked, "There's a lot of things you don't know about me." He straightened up, "I'm a firm believer in destiny and fate. I always believe that we control our lives, to an extent. When you two first met, a connection was formed. It was immediate. Meaning you were destined. But it was up to the both of you to act on that connection."

"And he did." She contemplated, "I've only known him for shut a short time, but it feels longer. I think…"

Her eyes widened, "I think I'm in love with him."

"Good. 'Cause I know I'm in love with you."

To be continued…