Chapter 10: Hating Predictions

The arena was dark, gloomy, and terrifying. Dark clouds covered the stadium, embracing it with an icy chill. For the members of the Urameshi team, it meant more threats from the weather that the audience. Only a few hardy yokai were there to watch.

The only one on the human team who wasn't oblivious to the weather was Torashi. Rain always made her feel week, and, although she liked the clouds, her curse would haunt her were it to rain.

Thunder echoed through the stadium as lightning struck not far from it.

"That was pretty close. Let's get this last round started before we all get rained out!" Koto said over the loud speaker.

"Let's keep this fight going. We don't stop until all the members of the other team are down and out." Yusuke stated the terms of the fight. "We'll allow a retreat, but that forfeits a win."

The other team eagerly agreed.

"I'll go first. I'll try to leave some for you guys," Yusuke volunteered. He climbed up the ladder, swaying in a slight wind.

"I think I will go next. Is that all right with the rest of you?" Kurama suggested, looking at each member.

"Then me. I want a semi-early fight this time," Torashi demanded.

"Aw, man. I wanted to go," Kuwabara complained.

"Why don't you let me go? It's an easier way of settling things," Hiei remarked.

"If you can't agree, let Jaken handle this," Kurama suggested.

The group tried several times before a true result was reached.

"All right! I really am going next and no one can change that!" Torashi exclaimed.

"How did you win? I've never lost a game of Jaken before," Kuwabara complained.

"I won. Don't deny it with crap like that. Besides, there's a first time for everything."

Kuwabara changed his prey from Torashi to Hiei. "Not very good at Jaken are you Hiei?" he mocked.

"It's a pathetic Human game. Why the hell should I care if I can play it well or not?" Hiei replied.

"Whatever. I'm going after Kurama," Torashi stated proudly.

"Then, I'll go, which means..." Kuwabara trailed off, thinking.

"I'm last you clown," Hiei assisted.

Yusuke went through two yokai before retreating. Kurama took out another yokai but he had trouble with it. He came down, and then sat next to the Urameshi team.

Torashi climbed the rope ladder, praying silently to herself. She realized she was a little nervous, and that pissed her off. Nothing would happen. She double-checked her whips, making sure they were still snug on her wrists.

When she was up, she shifted nervously from foot to foot. Finally her opponent was up. It was a giant of a yokai, big and muscley. (Sorry, that's a made up word. Makes more sense to me...)

Koto announced, "This fight will be the Urameshi Team's Torashi against" she was drowned out by a roll of thunder. "Begin!"

Torashi dashed forward and began punching the yokai. It didn't even flinch from the onslaught of blows.

"No rei? That will make it rather difficult to get through my wall of muscles," the demon reprimanded.

Dammit, Torashi thought. He's right. But, my rei isn't working right. I've never liked the rain, but this is ridiculous.

The yokai aimed a punch at Torashi. She was quicker and jumped backwards out of the way. She was left looking at the hole the punch had left in the rink.

He's stronger than me, but I'm quicker. The determining point is going to be endurance. He's going to be sorry when I get tired of this.

Torashi tried once more to summon her rei-tsume, but it didn't work. She fingered the whips. Not yet. Wear the damn thing down before truthfully attacking.

Continuously, the yokai made swipes at Torashi, and constantly, she avoided them. This went on for several minutes, before Torashi started feeling the beginnings of strain.

She dodged quickly, slashing at the yokai's arm and jumping over its shoulder.

"That was nothing! Are you sure you know what you're doing?" The yokai asked, turning around.

"I wouldn't be here if didn't. I'd be careful now if I were you," Torashi was staring at the yokai, "But, thank Koenma, I'm not."

Again, she bolted forward. The yokai was taller than she was, so the speed was to help her clear the jump onto the yokai's shoulder. Torashi brought her right whip back across to her left shoulder and lashed out at the yokai's neck. As soon as she hit the vein, Torashi sprang off its shoulder, landing and slipping on the loose gravel.

Her vision swayed. Looking over, Torashi realized what had happened. Blood trickled slowly from a thin scrape on her upper left arm.

"I...I'm done!" she announced. She staggered up to the trap door and climbed down the ladder. She fell not far from the ground as her vision blurred, somehow landing on her feet.

Torashi looked at the group, a slight smile on her face. She held two fingers out in front of her, symbolizing victory. (It's like peace, but in anime, it stands for a great accomplishment.) "Don't loose. The fight's ours."

She fell forward, catching herself before she fully hit the ground. The group rushed forward to see if she was all right. "I soaked those whips in poison. Got that thing pretty good," she pressed two fingers to her neck. "I gave Kuwabara the fight, if he'll live long enough to win. Just avoid contact and it will die. Course, I screwed up and got myself as well..." Torashi finished passing out from the poison's influence.

Torashi came to in pain and she knew the poison was spreading. It always did. She was laying on her side, facing the window, her back to the door. Torashi knew she was in her own room, how, she couldn't conclude with a clouded thought.
Her rei was dispersed, and she was too cautious to try and work it, but Torashi did know there was someone else in the room from the occasional turn of paper.

The latch on the door clicked open and someone walked in. Yusuke by the sound of his voice as he said, "Hey, Kurama. How long do you plan on sitting here?"

Torashi's mind took a few seconds to process the thought that Kurama was in the room, watching over her.

"I feel I should watch over her. We made a promise and I want to be here when she remembers. I hold her to it," Kurama replied to Yusuke.

Oh yeah, that promise, Torashi reminded herself.

"I think there's more," Yusuke prompted.

"What do you mean?"

"I think you like her, you just don't want to admit it. You still have a bit of yokai in you, that's why. Let it go, Kurama. Things like that only happen every once in a while."

"Don't be absurd Yusuke."

"Don't kid yourself, Kurama. If you love her, you love her. You two make a cute pair," Yusuke left the room, the door clicking back into place.

"I don't know if that's true Yusuke. Is it?" Kurama whispered.

Maybe Yusuke is right. Maybe we do care about each other, but don't know how to express it. Things like that get really confusing. Torashi thought, as she faded off, back to oblivion.

Continuously, Torashi awoke sometimes for a while, or there were grueling long times. Kurama was there to help with her needs. She managed to get some water a couple times, but that was all. Then, the unthinkable happened.

So how was it? I got jipped a betta, so if there are a couple grammar or spelling problems, don't worry about it... Reviews are going to be treated like Tagalongs, because I only get so many...I'm sorry for taking so long typing, by now I almost have the story all written out, so all I need is the typing...not quite tho, major writers block....You probably know how it is.....