Standard disclaimers apply. Yu Yu Hakusho and all it's characters are not mine, I'm merely borrowing ^_^ Drats, this is the revised version, I forgot that Yusuke was NOT in this part of the tournament *bumps her head on the wall repeatedly* Baka, baka, baka…this is what I get from basing a fanfic on the series...but I changed it already ^-^ Chapter done in Kurama's point of view.
Chapter 5
The pain in my arm was sudden.
"Oi, Kurama! What the hell are you doing!? Don't doze off now!"
Kazuma's insistent voice woke me up from my trance, forcing me to straighten myself. His voice had rung me back to reality as I winced at the pain that started to spread through my arm as my hand automatically seized my arm to stop the bleeding. I looked down to see my own blood clinging to my clothes, the wound just as raw as the pain it had caused. I cursed under my breath at my own carelessness, glaring at my opponent's eyes as I dodged another assault. I stole a careful glance at my team, casting up a hand to let them know I was all right.
The tournament has begun.
The battles I have been through were tolerable enough, and I have only used up a few of my spiritual energy on them. Most of my opponents were defeated in battles of wits, and they have been easy enough for me, and Yusuke was practicing his powers with Genkai somewhere at the moment. But even through my worse battles, all the while I kept finding myself scanning the audience, even the team's side, of a single glimpse of blue that might brighten up my hopes of winning.
Explains the careless hits I get.
A frown suddenly creased my face. I was convinced she wasn't in the stadium, I have looked at almost every single seat there is in this place, but not a single glimpse of her was present. My frown never left me as I willed myself to just concentrate on the fight, my body responding on reflexes solely for my mind is always elsewhere. My opponent had started saying things that I could hardly understand, my mind all clouded in a mist of confusion and disappointment.
"Kurama, watch out!"
I woke up in a start, over and over cursing myself as I realized that I must've lost myself yet again. I glanced at Kazuma's worried face, as I felt cold and moist air envelope me, trapping me in a cloud of smoke. The mist started to climb up around me, blocking my view of my surroundings. All I could see was the misty blue of the cold fog. I backed away, concentrating on where my opponent was, willing my mind to stop thinking about her for sometime and at least give me the aid to live.
"This is a technique that makes an enemy younger," the small, mischievous voice that I recognized as my opponent's spoke beneath the mist. I looked around, trying to find a single sign of him or his weapon, standing my guard as a watched the clouds swirling around me. "I shall wait for it to take effect, and then I'll find myself battling a little baby," his laughter roared inside my head, deafening me.
I tried covering my ears, only to find myself void of the usual long hair that I possessed. I gasped silently, staring down at my hands.
My small hands.
My eyes widened, my voice getting caught up n my throat. Could it be? I stared down at my own body, feeling my senses tingle at the sudden change in physical features. I gritted my teeth as I contemplated on what he had just said.
A technique that makes the enemy younger…
No…if this goes on, I might as well be dead. If I continue this battle as a child, I'm afraid I might…
I shut my eyes as the continuous chill swelled inside my skin, making me tremble slightly. I supposed I was a mere infant by then as I found myself weak and unable to stand. I winced, cursing my luck as I waited for the attack that was sure to come. But even as a child I could still feel the cold sting of the mist surrounding me, engulfing me in a cloud of ice.
My head began to throb, the painful beating seemingly crushing my head. I started to grow again, from a small child to another…being. My eyes widened as my strength started to flood back to me, even more than I first had before the battle. I looked down at my hands, my body, only to find myself looking down at the all-familiar paleness that had been me. That was me…fifteen years before.
I closed my eyes as I permit myself to change again, the fear and worry all forgotten as I awaited the spell to cease. My confidence started to go up again, my heart lessening its fearful attempt to pump blood on my pale skin. I smirked as streaks of silver started to block my sight, my ears transforming back to that familiar youkai ones on my head. My eyes settled on the mist with a renowned buoyancy.
Only to remember something else.
My eyes snapped open as dread started to flow through my veins, blocking the sudden hope of victory. It was clear to me that I have come back to my old self, the youko that I once was. The youko that had been the source of my nightmares every night. The being that had always left me hungry to hold the one I had tried to escape years and years before. The sudden fear of realization as I might be able to come back to that past. To have that kind of danger again.
The girl…
…No, she mustn't see me like this. I wouldn't let her.
I gritted my teeth as I watched the clouds start to part. The expected gasp came from the crowd, with the same thing from my opponent. Pure horror had started to spread through him, his skin paler than that of a ghost. He backed away from me, clutching his rod tighter in his fist. "W-Was it…too much?" he whispered, glancing at their supposed to be leader. The man merely shrugged and looked away, leaving his teammate clueless and afraid.
I frowned, pity filling my mind. I had to make this quick if ever I plan to defeat this man. To spare him the pain, and to spare me the trouble. I had to change back to my own self. The risk of struggling through the questions to come might not be tolerable for me. I could only wish that she hasn't seen me yet.
After a few taunting words for fear, much needed for later battles, I tried to finish the match in haste. I was free to roam my eyes on the audience now, rest assured that I would win. The young man was no match to my skills, as proven by the cuts and bruises I had just inflicted on him and my body that had been left unharmed. But dread started to flow through me as the match neared its end.
My enemy was down.
Even before the referee could announce the winner, I ran to our side of the ring and grabbed Kazuma by the shoulder, cutting off his obvious cheers. My intent gaze must've silenced Hiei as well as I was left to panic on my own. But that was hardly the thought that had been on my mind. "Where's Botan?" I asked, almost desperately.
I was met with a startled gaze, Kazuma's eyes widened at the sudden question. And must've been the touch of a stranger. I was in my youkai form after all. I growled, having to shake him frantically before he jumps out of his trance. "K-Kurama!? W-What? What did you say? Hiei said you were…"
"Where's Botan?" I asked again, cutting off his statement.
He started to look around. "Botan? I think she's not here, probably had something to do," he replied. A short pause went on between us, only to be interrupted by Kazuma's sly grin. "Why?" he asked, almost teasingly.
Like he understands what's going on.
"Nevermind," I said, turning away from all of them as I headed for our quarters.
"Oi, where are you going? We're not allowed to leave unless the whole match is over!"
I ignored that last remark completely, heightening my steps into long ones as I ran through the hall towards our room. I reached the bolted door, almost kicking it open and shut myself inside. I tried to catch my breath as I leaned back against the steel door, clutching my head as I slid down the ground. The chill of the door was only adding up to my dread as I felt my blood freeze in the sudden bursts of anxiety.
Please…to whatever god that may be out there…let her not see me.
==
"I still don't get why you were so worried that she might see you," Kazuma said as we walked side by side.
Suzuki, a member of one of the teams we've defeated before, had asked us to meet him before our final battle begins. We're down to the final team we're supposed to defeat, and that is the team that we're appointed to battle in the first place. Yusuke had come back to fight with us by then, and I suppose we're all ready to face our matches. I admit, we were doing pretty well.
"Forget about it, Kazuma," I said. He had been asking me the same thing over and over since that day, but I doubt I'd actually answer his question. I just wished he'd understand.
Kazuma and I stopped abruptly at the sight of blonde hair. The man's back was in front of us, as if oblivious of our presence.
"Oi, Suzuki!"
Suzuki turned back at Kazuma's call, the sudden bolt of recognition spreading through his eyes. "There you are," he said, pacing up in front of us. His hands, that were primarily hidden behind him was presented to us. We were faced with a sword's hilt and a bottle of purple liquid. A frown creased our faces as we stared blankly at Suzuki. He sighed, handing it to us further. "I want you to have these."
==
I stared down the small bottle that I had received as I walked back to our resting room. I had left Kuwabara behind, since he had said that he would want to try out the sword for himself. These…gifts from Suzuki, were given to me and Kuwabara especially to aid us in our battles. Suzuki had said that he wanted to help, that he would do anything to see the Toguro team defeated. I wasn't sure why, but I left that thought out as I listened closely to what he told us.
The sword was the one Wakamaru had used in his battle with Genkai, a sword that uses the owner's ki to provide the blade. This was given to Kuwabara, in aid to his Reiken. As for me, I was given the same substance that was used in my battle with Urashima, the one that made me turn back to my old self.
My brows furrowed at the thought. I remembered the feeling of dread that I had felt at that time, as I risked my identity to be known. I remembered the anxiety and fear that I felt to find out that she might be out there, the fear of what she might say.
And the fear of the possibility that she has forgotten.
And with that in mind, I doubted I'd use that form again. I was only thankful to find out that she hadn't known about it just yet, and I asked the others to refrain from telling it to her. I didn't want her to know. Never would I let her know again.
Never will I endanger her again.
Much as I had missed her, it's better that she forget. But I doubt that I would accept it coming straight from her. I'd rather have my silence as the Kurama she knows, and not the youkai who had once been her mysterious lover. It was a risk that I had been a fool for taking, a risk that had blinded us both with the dangers it might cause.
The unnecessary dangers it might cause.
I sighed as I neared our quarters, suddenly feeling weak and miserable. But I knew some things are needed to be sacrificed. I'd be content to watch her from afar.
I was only a few steps more before I near our room, but I was stopped by two members of the Toguro team, a man with the dark, ebony hair and dark clothing and a larger one equipped in armor. I banished every thought I had as I caught my breath, a chill suddenly working up on my spine. I am now faced with the man whose battle I had been watching a few days ago. As I recall, this is the same man who had defeated his opponent with only a single touch, inflicting a fatal explosion with the mere flick of his finger. My brows furrowed as I stepped back, eyeing the one in black particularly.
"So…you're Kurama," the one in black said, straightening his posture and started to walk towards me. I hid a disdainful grunt as he neared my side, circling around me like a was a statue to be inspected. I stood still, refrained from any sort of movement as to not risk myself getting hurt with whatever assault I might face. "I'll be fighting with you in a couple of days, ne?" he asked, his eyes piecing through my own.
"Karasu, hurry it up," the other man said, looking around the vicinity. I remembered, fighters were not allowed to go to their opposing team's quarters unless the fights were over, lest they risk the chance of getting disqualified.
The man in armor was met by a scornful grunt. "Just a second, Bui," he said, touching my back up to play with a few locks of my hair. I held my breath at the possible attack, but was merely met by a sly grin. "I'll be looking forward to our battle, Kurama."
I followed them with my gaze as they started to walk away, my fists trembling at my side. I tried moving my hands, clenching them in a fist. I watched silently as they disappeared from view, but not before I could catch a glimpse of Karasu raising his right hand. I watched closely as he held his open hand in a fist, all the while dreading what would come in next.
The explosion was silent.
I winced at the sudden burst of pain on my shoulder, finding it bleeding all of a sudden. I clutched it tightly in my hand as I tried to stop the blood from flowing any further. I shut my eyes and dragged myself to our room, repeatedly fearing the sudden recollection that started to spread in my head. No matter what excuse...
I couldn't defeat him in this form.
End of chapter 5