Disclaimers: Fighting for the right to own them, but always losing…

Part 8

"Okay... Are you guys ready?"

Tokiya only snorted as he waited for his cousin to come out. When he did, he seemed tired and like he lacked sleep. "Are you okay? Didn't you sleep well last night?"

Kurama looked up and softly smiled, "A bit. I had... a strange dream." How did I get back to our room? His answer passed by him, his cousin, and Recca, who had asked if they were ready. Yomi only nodded in greeting, but sent a message to the kitsune, Good luck fox.

They met the others at the front door of Yomi's palace. They each had a determined look on their faces. Soon, the crucial semi-finals would begin. They had better left the place.

"Wow! A new venue for the semi-finals? I hope the stadium's bigger. We'll certainly need something like that..."

Recca nodded in approval at what Fuuko said. But still, he could not shake out a nervous feeling. Will we be able to defeat their team? Do they have a sixth member?

"Watch where you're going, sea-monkey. You'll run over that wall."

Recca stopped in time before he COULD have run over the wall. As he turned to protest Tokiya's name-calling, he immediately shut up when he saw Tokiya lifting Shuuichi, who had started to doze off. Then, he heard Yanagi calling out their names, "Tokiya-kun! Recca-kun! The match starts in five minutes! Come on!"

Kaoru piped in, "Yeah, Recca-niichan. Or are you scared?"

"I'm not! Idiot!" He ran after the little member of the Hokage team.

Yuusuke smiled when he saw Touya, Jin and Rinku enter the waiting room. Before he could speak, however, Kuwabra had already bawled, "Oi! Kurama's not coming again?"

The three shook their heads. Touya spoke up, "He said he'll be at the Hokage's side. So he WILL be present in the tournament, just not with us for the moment. But he will fight when his time comes."

Yuusuke thought for a while and sweatdropped when he remembered how lucky the redhead was for not getting picked in the role of the dice in their past fights. "Ah..." was the only thing Kuwabara could say. Then after a while, he added, "Then, we just have to win all our fights, ne? So that Kurama won't need to fight."

Rinku squealed, "But I want to see him fight. It's been long already... When we fight under Yomi, he's not there. We might as well not fight for Yomi. Kurama's the one who trained us, not that goat. Kurama should fight NOW!"

Yuusuke sweatdropped, "And risk his cover? Remember that he's pretending to have no relations whatsoever to fights. Especially since Hiei left... He didn't really need to pretend... It's like..."

Jin and Kuwabara cracked their knuckles and said at the same time, "I'll make that shrimp pay..."

Jin acted like he did a very grave mistake, "Eyuuch! I'm beginning to talk like Kuwabara! The horror... The horror..."

Kuwabara was already agitated. Jin only stuck his tongue out, and whatever argument may have brewed stopped when their door opened, as the new announcer, Aida, introduced their group. The crowd went wild as they entered.

Recca grinned cockily as he saw the other group enter. He sweatdropped when he turned to survey his own team, and saw Fuuko and Doumon making faces at their opponents.

Yuusuke and his teammates only looked for one person, and they found him sleeping in his cousin's arms. Rinku asked, not knowing, "Is that his lover? I'd love to do a test drive with him."

Jin smiled, "You'd have to wait in line. Me first."

Hn. Not if I can help it... Touya looked determined too.

Kuwabara and Yuusuke exhanged looks and laughed out loud, "Hmph! Ahahaha!!! You thought they were lovers? HAHAHAHAHA!!!!"

The three glared at them. Both gulped nervously and instantly, Kuwabara hid behind Yuusuke, who started waving his hands in front of him, in a gesture of truce, as he explained, "They're cousins."

Touya spoke up, "Even though. He looks at us vehemently. I'd like to fight him."

Recca wondered why Yuusuke and Kuwabara started laughing. And it seemed he wasn't the only one. Fuuko, Doumon and Kaoru all exclaimed, "Are they laughing at us?" But then they saw Kuwabara going behind Yuusuke and decided that it was not really about them, rather, it was a personal joke.

Finally, Aida greeted everyone, "Good morning to all! Welcome to the start of the semi-finals! Our first fight will be between the Urameshi team-" The crowd went wild, "And the Hokage team-" the crowd booed.

Doumon and Fuuko waved fists at the audience for their 'lack of taste'. The announcer started to introduce the first players. "The dice is rolling my friends... There it goes.... Ah-hah! Voila! The first fight: Fuuko Kirisawa vs. Touya!"

Fuuko determinedly climbed up the stage. Doumon called out, "I'm rooting for you! Good luck Fuuko!"

She gave a 'V' sign. Meanwhile, Touya also started climbing the stage, and managed to give one last look at the sleeping Kurama, before the announcer screamed, "Begin!"

Immediately, Fuuko jumped up and screamed, "Wind-"

But to her surprise, Touya blurred out of the way and when he reappeared, he had icicles on his palm and then blew on them. Fuuko did not react enough, and she was hit by a barrage of tiny ice particles. She stumbled. Recca and Doumon screamed, "Fuuko!"

The ice user smiled in approval, but to his shock, his opponent stood up painfully. He muttered, "Hm. So you're not that weak after all." He raised his hand and the stage was suddenly wrapped in an ice barrier. Aida managed to go out in time. The barrier was transparent, and they saw Touya wielding an ice-sword. He started attacking her. The blows he gave were all narrowly missed by Fuuko. He was having fun, but he remembered what Kurama taught him in the past, You should never be too lax with your opponents, especially if you don't know their full potential, and yours. It would be advisable if you finish your fights immediately.

Fuuko looked up at his attacker, when a blow connected. Her blood dripped on the floor. She didn't fail to notice that the ice-guy had a distant look. There's only one way... She took the second to the last Kaze no Kadama on her Fuujin, and then shouted, "Fuujin-chan!"

In the sidelines, the Hokage team was already worried for the wind-user. On the other side, Rinku shouted, "Touya, pay attention!"

But it was too late. The little Fuujin-chan had already made towards the surprised Touya. On impulse, he made an ice shield and the God of Wind shattered it, and barely missed Touya, and it crashed on to the barrier of ice. It shattered to many shards. Touya only smiled, then commanded the shards to move to his will. They started going towards Fuuko and hit her mercilessly, bringing her out of the ring, and at the same time, the God of wind hit Touya from the back, seeming to want the match to end in a draw. Shocked, the ice user stumbled forward, then caught a glimpse of Kurama. My training will go to waste if I lose... "I'LL WIN!"

The Fuujin-chan was wrapped in ice, until it fully disappeared. The audience was quiet. The announcer was also stuttering, then managed to say, "The match is over. Touya wins!" The crowd was in uproar.

Aida cleared her throat, embarrassed at how she had been left speechless, then announced, "The next fight: O! It's Tokiya Mikagami vs. Kazuma Kuwabara!"

Doumon ran towards where Fuuko was and lifted her battered body. As he reached their group, Fuuko managed to let out, "I'm sorry I lost..." Recca smiled at her and said, "That's okay. We'll win for you. Rest."

Yanagi immediately went to Fuuko and started healing their wounds. At the same time, Tokiya had woken up Shuuichi and then put him down. Kurama cutely yawned and blinked, then gave out a, "Good luck!"

Kuwabara was already on stage when Tokiya jumped up. Kuwabara waved at the redhead, and the half-youko only smiled. The announcer presided, "Second match... BEGIN!"

"REI-KEN!"

The carrot-top started attacking Tokiya. The latter barely broke out a sweat as he easily avoided the blows. 'Shuuichi was right. He IS slow.' He phased out as he jumped, his ice sword ready for his attack. To his surprise, the glowing sword elongated and curved round him, and he was pulled down. He looked disdainfully at his bleeding leg. As he stood up, he made his move, "Absolute Zero!" Something seemed to go towards Kuwabara. Being slow, he couldn't avoid it. He was turned into a block of ice. This time, it was Yuusuke who shouted, "Kuwabara!"

Tokiya started to walk away. He proclaimed, "It's over. He can't get out from there." As he walked back, he saw his cousin's worried face. But then, he realized it was not only for Kuwabara. He heard a cracking noise. When he turned around, there was Kuwabara, panting like hell, and his Rei-Ken had turned different. Kuwabara put his sword up triumphantly and said, "This is my Dimensional Sword! Eh-"

"Mizu Hebi!"

Kuwabara was swept away from the ring by the water snake. Everyone sweatdropped. Even the floor seemed to sweatdrop. Aida raised up a hand, "Out of the ring! Tokiya wins!"

Tokiya went down towards his cousin. He could hear the one called Rinku insulting Kuwabara, "WoW! My Dimensional Sword! What a joker!"

Yanagi approached him, "Tokiya?"

He looked at his bleeding leg, "Don't worry. I'll fix it myself."

Aida had already announced the next fighters, "Saicho vs. Jin!"

The peaceful fighter climbed up the stage at the same time Jin did. The latter was humming a tune to himself. As soon as they met in the middle, their fight had begun.

Saicho let go of his Shikagami. It rolled noisily down the stage, and he fell forward. The announcer started the count, "1... 2... ..... 9.... 10! He's down ladies and gentlemen! The winner is Jin!""

Yanagi already looked pale from healing Fuuko. When Recca protested her healing Saicho, she smiled and insisted, and soon, Saicho was awake. By now, Fuuko had also regained conciousness and after a brief rundown of the score, she steamed. They all turned their heads to the calling out of the next battlers, "Kaoru Koganei and Rinku. Oh my!"

The Adamantium blade wielder complained when he got to the stage, "What do you mean 'oh my'?"

Rinku agreed, "Yeah? Just because we're small doesn't mean our fight won't be interesting..."

And indeed, it was. Kaoru had already expended four forms. He threw his boomerang. Rinku expertly dodged, and unlike last time, watched out for the coming back of the device. He caught it using his yoyos and rode back, to give a kick at Kaoru. The latter staggered backwards. As Rinku landed, he brought out his big yoyo, and proceeded to throw it at the boy genius. Kaoru jumped up, got caught in the line, and he fell heavily on the floor. The string twisted around his body painfully. He was lying flat on his front, arms pinned under. Rinku laughed and started to pull Kaoru towards him. When they were about two meters away, Kaoru suddenly looked up and shouted, "Fifth form. An!" The projectile shot straight through Rinku's heart. The yoyo boy staggered backwards.

After the count of ten, Rinku had lost. As Kaoru painfully limped back, Kurama worried so much about Rinku. He wanted to go there so much. Touya had taken the tip of the arrow into his hand, and after thinking, decided it should stay there, until Kurama decided to come, or else, Rinku would bleed to death. Ku... rama... Please come...

The announcer once again proclaimed the next fighters. Kurama was already getting worried. At this rate, even if he were not called in this next fight, he would surely have to fight in the last. He heard Doumon crack his knuckles, "I wish I'm next..."

But Doumon's wish didn't come true. "The next fighters: Recca Hanabishi vs. Yuusuke Urameshi!"

Yuusuke looked at Rinku and said, "Hang on. After this, Kurama has no choice but to fight. He'll come."

Recca walked towards the stage. As he and Yuusuke met, sparks flew. Yuusuke nodded to show he was ready. Recca followed suit. Aida blared out, "This is one of the deciding matches! Begin!"

After a few minutes of fighting, it was clear that Yuusuke was just fooling around. He had just kept on evading and once in a while, would deliver a blow to the flamecaster. Not that he wasn't hit yet. His shirt had already been burnt away when Recca popped out Nadare and Homura, and grazed him with Saiha. Recca was in a sorrier state. His shirt had all been ripped from just the punches, his pants ripped in many places from the kicks, his face clearly showed signs of being battered, like the bruise below his eye, and a swelling on the cheek that matched Yuusuke's. Now, the latter decided that he was sick of their fight already. He pointed his finger (not the dirty one...) at Recca and a blue light started to emerge. Recca remembered this scene from the Urameshi team's last fight, and immediately called out, "Madoka!" "REI-GUN!"

The shot was deflected by the psychic shield created by the dragon. Yuusuke sniffed, "Eh?" Then he smiled, "I have a solution for that."

Recca still needed a breather. He had almost spent all his strength. He looked up as he saw Yuusuke coming closer, and he thought, 'No one can break this barrier...'

Yuusuke suddenly said, "Rei-shotgun!" Instantly, a barrage of rei-gun's shot against the shield. At first, they dissipated, but then the blows became stronger, until a few managed to slip through. Recca looked through blurry vision as a huge one came straight for him. Kagero shouted, "RECCA!"

The blast hit the flamemaster square on the chest, and the psychic barrier disappeared, and his body went sailing towards the wall of the bleachers. He hit and smashed it, then fell limply on the ground. "He's out of the ring! Yuusuke wins!"

The crowd was in an uproar. Kurama turned to Tokiya, who was even quite shocked from the events. "Tokiya... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..."

Doumon and Kaoru dragged Recca back. Yanagi worriedly healed him. As he grew better, he heard the redhead's apologies.

"I'm so sorry... For not telling you any sooner..."

Tokiya's brows furrowed. What's this about? Not telling us about the true strength of his friends? Recca butted in, "Don't be Shuuichi. You helped us so much! It's just that I got so cocky..."

Kurama shook his head, "Iya. That's not what I mean. Tokiya... I hope you won't get mad."

"About what?"

"Remember in the garden, when I told you I had a secret but was not ready to tell you?" He spoke rapidly, as if trying to take a sting from the statement.

"Hai?"

The rehdead met Tokiya's eyes, "Now is the time to tell you..." He ran towards Yuusuke and the others before anyone could react.

When he reached the place, Rinku was already very pale, "What took you so long?"

"Sorry, Rinku..."

"I'm sorry too... I couldn't help keep your fighting abilities... I lost..."

Kurama smiled and wiped the sweat-laiden forehead, "Don't worry about it. They would have known sooner or later anyway. I still have to fight for Yomi." He carefully broke the tip of the arrow, and Touya helped him pull it out. Kurama applied some oil on the wound, and Rinku cringed under the pain. The redhead bandaged him slowly. Aida had come back to the stage after a brief disappearance and apologized, "Sorry it took too long! We were deciding if the stage needed repairs."

Indeed, the stadium was in a sorry state, especially after Recca and Yuusuke's fight. "So here is the deciding match folks! If the Urameshi team wins, they advance to the finals; if not, a tie-breaking fight will occur. Here they are, the final players: Doumon Ishijima vs. Kurama!"

Doumon started up. 'So... they do have a sixth member. But where is he?"

Kurama tied the bandage tightly, then gave Rinku something to let him go to sleep. Kurama told the rest, "I'll heal you later. Right now, I have to go."

Aida called out once more, "Yoo hooo! Kurama! Calling for you..."

Doumon smiled triumphantly, "Maybe he got scared of me and my great body! HAHAHAHA!"

The announcer stuck a tongue out at him, "He's here, idiot."

The Hokage team were shocked when Shuuichi Minamino went up on the stage.

"SHUUICHI?!!!!"

Kurama looked remorsefully at Tokiya. Even the Hyomon Ken Master could not believe it. The announcer shouted, "Okay! BEGIN!"

Doumon called out, "This is just a joke, right?"

Kurama shook his head. Doumon thought for a while, "They took you because they were short of a fighter. Yes! That's it! They're putting your life on the line? Don't worry! It won't hurt much!"

Kuwabara called out, "If I were you, you'd fight your best."

"Shut up ape! You don't even know a thing about fighting!"

Miraculously, Kuwabara shut up, deciding it was better for the tomahawk guy to be embarrassed that way. Doumon whipped out his other weapon and threw it at the side. "I guess I won't be needing that... I'll just use my Saturn's ring. Come on, Shuuichi, let's give them a show." Kurama took a fighting pose. Doumon attacked.

After a few missed blows, Recca called out, "Oi, Doumon! Don't you dare hurt Shuuichi, ok?"

Doumon was sweating profusely, "Hurt him? I can't even touch him!"

That grabbed Tokiya's attention. He looked towards his cousin and noticed the tight air around him, and those serious eyes... They were eyes of a fighter. He stepped forward, "Doumon, don't be reckless. Fight him with your best."

Both Recca and Doumon turned his way and asked incredulously, "Are you crazy, Tokiya? You're really serious?"

Kurama nodded at Tokiya, knowing that he understood, "I suggest you do as he tells you to. I will not go easy on you, Ishijima-san."

He suddenly disappeared and reappeared in front of Doumon, and kicked him on the stomach. The big man doubled over in pain. Kurama appeared again in front of him, and as Doumon spit blood, he cursed, "Dammit! SO that's how you want to play it? Fine! It's not my fault if I break your bones!"

His Saturn's ring glowed as he drove a punch towards Kurama. The latter merely caught the hand and paused for a while as he said, "That's all? Doumon, this disappoints me..." The tomahawk guy was more than surprised when the redhead twisted his arm and threw him across the stage. Then, he reappeared beside him, lifted him up and threw him into the air, then jumped up and hit him in the back, sending him back down. The stage practically cracked upon impact. The announcer started counting, "10...."

The Hokage team were left speechless. Fuuko started towards the ring, "Doumon..."

"2... 1... 0! Doumon's down! The winner is Kurama! Ladies and gentlemen, our first entry for the finals: the Urameshi Team!"

Kurama carried Doumon towards the Hokage team, who watched him without saying anything. Shock was still coursing through them. As he laid Doumon down, he headed slowly towards his cousin, his head bent, not knowing what to expect. To be beaten up, to be slapped... to be left again... "Tokiya..."

His eyes flew wide open when he was drawn into an embrace. "Tokiya...?"

"Baka! You thought I would get mad when I found out about this?" Kurama looked worriedly at his cousin and nodded. "Please give me some credit, Shuuichi. Or Kurama. Although I am quite disappointed that we lost and... that you didn't trust me, I'm not mad. I can never be if it's you."

Kurama turned his head when he felt a hand clamp down on his shoulder, and saw Recca, and in the background, the rest of the Hokage team looking at him, "It was a great game... It wasn't just for us."

Things had turned out quite well. When they reached Yomi's territory after their fight, things were back to normal. The teasing, etc... And finally, thank god! everyone discovered about Tokiya and Kurama's relationship over the dining table. After that, the rest of the members had gotten quite embarrassed, and soon, learned Kurama's life story as a youko, and now, as Shuuichi. They also found out that indeed, Kurama knew Yomi, and that they still had an upcoming fight in a few hours. It was the qualifying round to the finals. As they went strolling around the new stadium, Recca suddenly turned and asked Kurama why he gave out information about the Urameshi team, "Was it because you pitied us?"

Kurama shook his head and replied, "Iya... I had two obligations, and that was the Urameshi team, and with you. It was my duty to help both..."

"Ah..."

The group bumped into Yuusuke as they headed towards the stadium, and discovered that he, too, had another group. The Hokage team sweatdropped at how complicated things were for them, especially when they found out that Touya, Jin and Rinku was also fighting with Yomi, due to Kurama. As the redhead explained his worries over the upcoming semi-finals match, Yuusuke playfully patted his head, "Nothing's too hard for Yomi's heir, right?"

Kurama's head perked up, "Hm? What did you call me?"

"Yomi's heir. Everyone knows that you will be the next ruler of Gandara-"

Kurama suddenly walked faster, still holding on to Tokiya's hand slightly pulling, so the latter also got to his feet. As they walked, the redhead said softly as they passed Yuusuke, "Everyone's so assuming. Sumimasen, I have to go somewhere. Good luck with your fight, Yuusuke. "

~ÀÀÀÀÀ~

"Our final entry, Ladies and Gentlemen to the Makai Bujutsakai II finals, is none other than Yomi's group! Here is the list of the finalists: First, Urameshi team. Second is Mukuro's team. Third, Enki and Yuusuke's Group, and lastly, Yomi's group! Congratu- What?"

A young youkai approached Aida and whispered something. "Absolutely remarkable! Ladies and Gentlemen, Urameshi Team withdrew! There are three finalists left. It looks like it's going to be one of those kingdom wars again! Congratulations! And oh, a meeting for the finalists will be held in the jury's room in an hour. Be there, finalists!"

Yuusuke watched Kuwabara as they walked, "Are you sure you really wanted to withdrew, Kuwabara?" The carrot-top smiled at him and said, "Hai. I'll leave the three kingdoms to their bickering. Besides, it would just tire you guys out to fight for two teams... I'll beat Hiei up in another time."

~ÀÀÀÀÀ~

"You mean a rumble?"

One of the jury nodded, "Yes. Ten members per group. Don't think it's an endless battle, there will be a time limit for each round, so you could rest. It's really the survival of the fittest!"

Another member agreed, "Yes, and faster too!"

Enki protests, "But what about our bets?"

The head judge spoke up, "Here, it gets more interesting. Each now has something to gamble, which they'll lose to the one who defeated them. Don't worry, there'll be a lot of cameras to find out who."

A low murmuring could be heard. The second head judge took out parchment paper and said, "You have to have me list here what you're betting. You cannot join the fight if you're not on the list. Take note, your bet cannot be your life. It would probably be lost during the fight anyway..."

A lot lined up and had their names written down, and beside that was written things like sword, diamonds, etc... Yomi, Mukuro and Yuusuke/Enki had bet pieces of land. Hiei finished his turn and had bet his teargem. In a few moments, it was Kurama's turn to have his bet written down. Hiei watched him, and could almost burn a hole in the redhead for his staring. "Kurama."

Those who knew him turned to look at him, and soon, after he said what he bet, everyone WAS staring at him.

"I'm betting my freedom."