Chapter 3

The Catastrophic Fight

Rasheen started walking toward Yusuke with a evil smile on his face. He was 10 feet away from him when Kurama stepped between them.

"If you want Yusuke you will have to fight me first." said the fierce fox demon with a look of determination in his eyes.

"Fine then, you will be the first to know death." said Rasheen examining Kurama looking for any weakness that he might have before they began the fight.

"Hey I know death," said Yusuke, "And it ain't pretty so don't get killed Kurama."

"Do not worry Yusuke, If anybody experiences death it shall be Rasheen." Replied Kurama. He then pulled a fragrant rose out of his hair and his voice boomed "ROSE WHIP." The rose then lost its petals and grew into a deadly thorned whip.

"Shall we get started," said Kurama while he moved into a defensive stance ready to block any attack thrown at him.

Rasheen started to run toward Kurama and with the press of a button a blade appeared at the end of his cane. Rasheen took quick swipes as Kurama easily dodged every attacked. Rasheen took a long stroke with his cane at Kurama. Kurama again avoided his attack, and used his whip as a lasso to wrap Rasheen's legs together making him slam into the floor. After Kurama had retracted his whip, Rasheen laid there motionless then slowly got up, and dusted himself off.

"You know you cannot win," said Kurama as he slid his whip across the floor in a rhythmatic motion.

"Ohh I have not even begun to fight." Replied Rasheen as he slowly started to raise his spirit energy. He slammed his cane's bunt into the ground as he yelled "Dismal Destruction." A shattering earthquake then started to shake the ground. Kurama couldn't keep balance and fell to his hands and knees. It seemed Rasheen was used to this as he stood there as if nothing was happening at all.

"Now let me give you a taste of what I can really do." Rasheen ran at Kurama. He then picked up his cane and slammed it into Kurama's side. Kurama cringed in pain as he left a rib crack , but was to busy to pay attention as he tried to concentrate on his new problem. "What can I do," thought Kurama as he was pummeled by Rasheen. Then an idea struck him.

He started to crawl over to the casing where the imitation orb used to be held. He sliced with his whip aimlessly at Rasheen since he couldn't keep focus on him with all the shaking. He was able to finally hit him sending him flying into a wall on the other side of the gallery.

"Finally a chance to unveil my plan." Thought Kurama as he steadily pulled himself up using the pedestal, that used to have the glass casing which was now shattered on the floor, as support. Kurama finally got to his feet and was able to pull out the bottle holding the fruit of past lives in it. Suzuki had given this second bottle to him as a present for his team ridding the earth of Teguro. He chugged the bottle hoping that Rasheen wouldn't recover fast enough to stop him. He had finally got it all down and it took affect immediately. Rose petals flew out of no where and surrounded Kurama obscuring his body so that nobody may see what was happening. Slowly the petals fell one by one to reveal a muscle toned Youko Kurama.

Rasheen was finally on his feet. He saw Youko Kurama, and did something that nobody expected. He laughed. It was a maniacal laugh that showed he was truly evil.

"You think transforming into your fox demon will help you stand up in this earthquake," he yelled over the rumbling of the earthquake.

"No your right it won't help me stand up in this earthquake," said Youko staring at Rasheen with his cold eyes, "But whoever said I was going to be standing." With this statement he yelled "Fuyouka Shokubutsu (The Floating Plant)". Two Butterfly wings (which was really a plant) sprouted from his back and began to flap. "Now do you understand Rasheen I am not going to stand, I am going to fly." said Youko as he began to take flight and pilot around the room. "Juryou Youzanken ( Tree Spirit Demon Slash Punch)" yelled Youko as two rose whips appeared out of no where and wrapped around his left arm making a large thorned glove with a large point at the end of it. He dove down at Rasheen his arm ready to punch. Rasheen tried to dodge the hit but was unsuccessful as Youko hit his left shoulder and pulled up ripping off the clothing and flesh on his shoulder. Youko circled around the room setting up for another air attack. He went into another dive but Rasheen was ready this time and jumped out of the way.

"Kurama," he yelled out clutching his left shoulder trying to stop the flow of blood that was now dripping on the floor, "haven't you wondered why I wanted this gem so much to steal it."

"Yes I have, but I was going to ask you after I turned you into a bloody heap on the floor begging for his life." said Youko as slowly floated to the floor to where his feet almost touched the ground.

"Well then let me explain even though the orbs are very beautiful they hold a great power that can be used when activated. To activate The Orb of Fire you must have it connected to some type of weapon as a conductor to transfer the power into a move," Rasheen gave a evil smile as he said this then began to speak again, "Each orb contains a move powerful enough to destroy an army. My orb contains. . . . .well let me just give you a demonstration." He pointed his cane at Youko and yelled "Sphere of the Flame" a huge fire ball shot out of the end of his cane soaring right toward Youko. Youko surprised by the move couldn't react in enough time and was hit head on by the blazing ball.

The sphere pushed the fox back into the wall sending him through it and the next. Rasheen tapped his cane on the ground and the earthquake stopped. Rasheen then turned around to the other two fighters who were stunned by the overwhelming power of the orb.

"Who will be next," Rasheen said with a look of utter victory on his face. This expression soon turned to bewilderment as he heard a voice behind him say "I am not that easily defeated." He turned around to see burnt Youko (His plants smoldering) standing at the entrance to the hole he had just made with his body. The look in Youko's eyes were now ablaze at the fury of being surprised by an attack.

"No you can't be alive, I just killed you, you are suppose to be dead after an attack like that." yelled Rasheen angered that Youko was still alive.

"In any other instance you would have been right I would be dead, but I was able to pull my arm up just at the last second so that it took most of the blow. The consequence to that is I cannot use my left arm, but will not need it to use my last move." Youko then yelled "Shokuyou Butsu (The Death Tree)". A large tree started to form around his right arm then three branches grew out of the trunk surrounding the arm and at the end of each branch was a mouth full of razor sharp teeth dripping with spit. Rasheen face became full of terror as he saw the one of the branches coming toward him.

He held up his cane to try to shoot off another fire sphere but was soon knocked away by the branch. The branch was about to devour him when it stopped. Youko had commanded it to stop at the last second. "Now if you would be so kind as to tell me who the other people are that were with when you stole the orb."

"I don't know this orb was delivered to me."

"Liar." Youko said and the branch started to get closer.

"Ok ok I'll tell you just call down your tree." The tree stopped as if frozen in time. "One of them goes by the name Grotesque he owns the orb of wind and lives in Las Vegas, Nevada.

"And the other one?"

"Well he kept a very low profile. We didn't even know his name, but I know he has the last orb, the orb of rain, and lives in Akita, Japan. Now will you spare my life?"

"No." a river of saliva started to pour out of the branch's mouth. The screams of anguish were slowly drowned out as the saliva took its affect and started to melt away Rasheen's flesh. About 5 minutes later there was nothing left but a strong smell of acid. Youko Kurama well built body then transformed back into the lanky 15 year old Kurama. Kurama was barely able to walk. The burns were still present on his skin.

"Kurama, are you okay." yusuke said as he and Hiei got up from where they were sitting.

"No, I do not think so Yusuke. I did not lie when I said he would of killed me if I hadn't blocked the move with my arm and I am burned very badly."

"Kurama will be okay he is stronger than to be put out by that fire ball although it is strong. Kurama I believe you deserve to keep that cane till the end of this mission." Hiei said pointing to the cane Rasheen used to own before his utter demise.

"Yes I believe I will," Kurama said as he picked up the weapon, " Now which orb shall we seek next?

"Well I want to go to Las Vegas so we don't have to go back to Japan so early." Yusuke said

"Then It is settled we will go to Las Vegas." Hiei said. They then started walking to the ship they had parked on the Island.

End of Chapter 3