"You actually think, that I will willingly join you? After what you just did? Causing me to almost kill my best friend?! I think not, Edowin." Hiei raised his katana and moved his position so that he was in front of Kurama. The Black Dragon Wave had caused most of his spiritual power to be drained but that didn't mean he couldn't use his swordsmanship.
"As you wish. But remember, that I gave you a chance and you so rudely refused." Placing both palms together in front of himself, Edowin began to rub them together. The friction caused created a bit of dark energy, which grew into a storm of sparks.
Kurama's breathing caught Hiei's ears, and he looked at him with the corner of his eye. Silently he whispered to himself, "I am sorry, Kurama. Forgive me for my ill deeds...But before I do battle...I want you to know...I've chosen. I've chosen you to be the one, I am willing...to die for."
"Oh so touching indeed. Makes me sick to my stomach. Now, Hiei...we fight." Letting a short battle cry fall from his lips, Edowin sent a disc of the black energy straight towards Hiei.
"Don't think you can beat me...so easily!" Slicing at the disc speeding towards him, Hiei watched the two pieces of the floating energy fly off in different directions. "You can't use your regular techniques on me, Edowin. I watched your battle strategies during the war..."
"Like that will do much to save you." He straightened up, "So maybe you did infiltrate my discus, but my next attack will destroy you and your despicable friend."
"You will not touch a hair on Kurama, or I will see to it that you greatly regret it." This time, it was Hiei's turn to attack. Raising his katana again, he sped towards Edowin, only at the last minute did he turn directions and spin towards his back and hit his former friend.
The riff of Edowin's robes ripped, and a small cut appeared and began to bleed freely. Edowin smirked, "It seems that you too have lost your touch with the element of battle. I may have only known you for say around a week, but within that time I was quite capable of realizing your potential. You're holding yourself back, and whether it's because you still call me friend, or you are too weakened from your earlier attack, I know not."
"You seem to like to hear yourself talk." Hiei again, swung his katana at Edowin. This time he came in contact with the other Demon's chest, and struck hard. Though, it made no impact what so ever. In fact, all it accomplished was to break the quivering blade at a terrible angle, rendering it almost useless.
During the midst of the fighting, Kurama had slowly begun to regain consciousness. His eyes fluttered open, and he winced, clutching his neck. That was when he noticed the scorch mark upon the earth, and the dead Ranko. Had this one been the Demon who had played tricks with his mind, to confuse him? Was this the one who had disguised himself as Kuronue? Kurama pondered this for a moment before the movements and noises of the battles reached his senses and he jerked his head to see Hiei's katana snap in half.
"Hiei..." He silently called out but his voice was hoarse and naught above a whisper.
"A broken blade in battle is worthless, like a fool and a riddle. You should be more cautious when fighting opponents you must look up at, Hiei. In both mind and body." Edowin sneered.
"Shut up you hell scum!" Sheathing what was left of his katana, Hiei focused what little spiritual power he had left in an attempt to transform. Edowin had never seen his true form, so there would be some surprise to that route.
Kurama tried to stand up, but couldn't. He sank against the tree again, and focused on breathing. Nothing else. After regaining his composure, Kurama reached behind his ear. Searching within the mass of hair, he felt slowly for the rose whiplash that he would use to save his friend.
"What kind of dirty trick are you trying to pull now? Always the one to rely on trickery rather than skill, that you were. Seems you haven't changed." Edowin's eyes narrowed, he was unsure of what Hiei was doing and only hoped that his bluff would be able to render the Youkai into a fit of anger. For, when fighting in combat, anger was the factor that would create the weakness. The Achilles' heel that would have him end triumphant as always.
"I'm not a cheater, if that is what you are suggesting." Realizing that he did not have the spirit power needed to transform, he relied upon his attitude to get him out. For he, and the same for Edowin, had not noticed that Kurama had regained consciousness and was in a position in which he could function.
"But of course not. You good guys always play by the rules. Shame that rule following usually is the downfall of courageous fighters, such as yourself." Making a sweeping motion, Edowin appeared behind Hiei. An arm shot from the cloaked form and wrapped around Hiei's neck, capturing him within a chokehold. Edowin pulled upwards, smirking, an evil glint within his eye.
"It's time to end this. You've taken up enough of my time already..."