-Tricked-
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Chapter 19 - Transformation
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A dreadful sight. A thin line appeared on the horizon. Hiei stared out as the glowing fiery orange ball of fire started to come up. He was sitting indian-style on the cliff over-looking the vast, churning waters. The tension in the air hung like a blanket of fog.
"This isn't a good sign." He said to himself. Botan and the others were nervous. A shadow fell on him. He knew exactly who it was. "Kitsune."
"You sense it too?" Hiei nodded. Kurama sat down next to him.
"Of course I sense it. The fights today may be harder."
"May? Of course they'll be harder." Kurama was worried, Hiei could tell.
"Don't let on that you're nervous to the others." He said, his eyes going to his partner. "They sort of look up to you in a way. They know that you are stronger than them. If you're nervous, they'd just about give up."
"How can you be so calm?"
"I know my limits. I know that the only thing to fear is fear itself." Kurama stared at Hiei's profile, for he looked back out over the churning waters. "I will do what I can. Nothing more." A silence so thick settled on them, that they could hear the other's heartbeat, feel the crashing waves on the bottom of the cliff. Hiei stood up, closed his eyes for a minute. "It is time."
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Kurama caught tones of anger and excitement in the air. It was tinted with weariness from the fighters. His intense gaze went to Hiei. Botan walked up near the front with Yuusuke. She was so confident, so radiant against every one of the fighters.
"I only hope she can stay confident.." He mumbled to his friend. Hiei looked up at him.
"She will. She has no doubts. She also knows that its either win or lose." He glanced back ahead at Botan. "You should know that by now. You also should conceal the fact that you are nervous. Can you imagine what would happen out in the ring? You won numerous matches and lost only one because you were unconscious before. If you truly believe in your abilities then you can win." He paused. "You better have learned. That was my first and last pep talk." Kurama chuckled.
"I suppose I have. The Great Hiei has given me his wisdom and opened my eyes to the true light." Hiei snorted.
"No sarcasm." Botan glanced back and smiled at the sight.
"Its good to see you boys so confident!" They turned and looked at her. She had dropped back to talk to them. "We'll win for sure." Her eyes brightened at the thought.
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"Let the fight begin!" Hiei didn't hesitate. To hesitate was to ask for death. He charged forward, the dull side of his katana pressed against his palm. He raised it, making a swing that his enemy blocked quite quickly.
"He's faster than I imagined." Kurama murmured. "Perhaps Hiei will have a challenge after all." Botan looked from him to Hiei. Kurama was right. Botan wasn't worried about her teacher. She knew that he fought just as well as the rest of them. She knew he was strong. She knew he could do it. She had faith in him. Hiei combined a spirit energy attack with his sword attack. His eyes narrowed. The attack hit his opponent in the arm.
"That was a lucky hit, Hiei. I won't give you another chance." Hiei had figured the guy reacted a little slow. He took some of his blood and gave Hiei a malicious smirk.
"Shit.." Hiei realized that he didn't have a chance in hell if the demon bled. He also knew an attack that would be perfect. "Sword of the Darkness Flame!" He tore off his bandana and his Jagan glowed. Hiei knew this attack was not as strong as Dragon of the Darkness Flame, but he wasn't about to paralyze his arm again. This attack would prove sufficiant enough.
"What the-" A scream interrupted his remark. His own scream.
"You see, I am more powerful than you can even imagine. I bet you didn't think I had that up my sleeve." The man fell to the ground.
"Bastard.." Hiei chuckled. "No.. I didn't think you.. would use that attack on me.. nor did I think it would hit me.."
"Your blood is tainted. You can not use it against me, Shino. Don't even try it."
"What?" Shino looked up, his eyes narrowed.
"If you try to attack me with your little blood attacks, it won't work. You see, your blood is now tainted. It is no longer any use to you. Fight with your fists or don't fight at all." Kurama understood immediately what Hiei meant. However, no one else did. Kurama closed his eyes.
"Hiei used some extra spirit energy to enter Shino's blood. It would not have affected any normal demon, but Shino is a demon who depends on blood attacks. If Shino decides to attack, it would not harm Hiei but it would attack its own. The attack would fade but Shino would feel it as if it had attacked him." He explained, opening his jade green eyes. They rested on Hiei. "That is what Shino is not aware of." As if on cue, Shino tried to attack. Just as Kurama had predicted, the attack faded before it reached Hiei. A cry of pain reached their ears. Shino was done for. There was no way he could beat Hiei.
"Wow.. that's intense." Kuwabara muttered. "I never knew Shorty could be so.. harsh." It was almost like a sarcastic remark. They took it as one. Hiei had not been that harsh in a battle since he was fresh out of Makai.
"Hiei did what needed to be done." Kurama stated, his eyes not leaving the ring. "If he had not done that, he may have lost."
"But Shino's defenseless!" Kuwabara hissed. Kurama regarded him with amusement. His green eyes glinted. Every member noticed and moved back a step.
"Is he? Every good demon knows to be prepared for battle. You need more than one attack. You need to have different types." He looked back at the action in the ring. "Something is always happening in Makai. No technique is not needed. Any chance to gain a master is jumped at immediately. I never took an apprentice. Hiei took on you, Botan. You are now his student. He will teach you everything. It will continue until your training is complete."
"Let's get on with the next match, shall we?" The announcer broke their conversation. Hiei jumped down out of the ring and stared calmly at all of them.
"Kurama versus Akio! Fighters, enter the ring!" Kurama got up into the ring and stared hard at his opponent. Akio looked to be a formidable foe. Hiei could tell this would be a harder battle than last time. Kurama would not get off easily.
"He better be careful. He can't afford to lose this battle."
"Why?"
"Because he needs to make up for you." Kuwabara took offense and Botan felt like slapping both of them.
"Cut it out you two." She scolded. "Don't even think of fighting during Kurama's battle." She glared at both of them. "What did you really mean, Hiei?" He scoffed then looked at the ring.
"He can't afford to lose his life. This battle will be more hard core than the last one." He was serious. They all realized that their prized fighter was in danger. "Had any of us gotten him, we might have lost. He will handle this as if it were personal. Just like his battle with Touya."
"Oh.." Botan bit her lip and fell silent. Kurama's battle with Touya had made them all lose their faith. After Gama had paralyzed him with his attack then sealed his energy, it had seemed hopeless. Kurama had won, at a dear cost. He had been in some pain. He had to sew his own death plant into his body so it could take root in his imprisoned energy. This battle would be the battle that they had to worry about. Kurama closed his eyes and winced in pain. The battle was already intense and it had just started. Akio sliced at him with his claws and kicked with his feet. He was a fast opponent. One that was not to be taken lightly but seriously. He realized this battle was more perilous to him in his human form. He could not win like this. He could not win if he was in his human form. He grasped a small tube that was securely pinned in his pocket. He took it out and drained it. An explosion of white mist blew forth. He still had a few more just in case the effects wore off.
"His spirit energy.."
"Its rising.."
"He took the stuff Suzuka gave to him. Youko is about to be released." Botan gasped. It didn't take a genius to figure out what happened in the beginning. What had happened not very long ago. Youko almost killed them both.
"He can't be thinking straight!" Botan said, grabbing hold of Hiei's shirt. "Youko almost killed them both! Is he insane?"
"No, he is not." Hiei calmly removed her hands from his shirt and narrowed his eyes at her. "He is thinking perfectly fine. Every demon with a human form goes through that. Youko is not evil. He merely wanted to get out every once in a while. He needs that. He's smothering inside a human shell. A human covering." Botan finally understood. She went weak.
"But.. he.. what happened.."
"Was neither of their fault. It was just dangerous because Kurama's human side did not understand what Youko wanted." Hiei said in a sort of comforting way. "It was not direct, complete. It was random for both of them. I wasn't about to go into details before but it was Youko's time. He was having trouble maintaining his control over his emotions. He was going into his mating period."
"I see.." She looked to the ring where the mist was just starting to clear. They could hear the grunts and heaves of fighters in a heated battle. They saw shadows.. nothing more. They were a blur. Hiei's expert eyes could follow it as if they were doing it at normal pace. Botan gasped lightly when they both stopped. Youko landed gracefully, as if he had wings to steady him. His silver tail streamed out behind him. His long silver hair blew across his face. His two fox-like ears on top of his head rotated toward sound. His golden eyes were cold, merciless, deadly. He was deadly, but handsome. "Wow.." Botan whispered, awed.
"He is free." Youko jumped up, launching speedily at Akio. Yuusuke and Kuwabara stood there, remembering the very first time they saw him. Certainly he was powerful. He could beat this demon easily. Youko took a rose from his hair and transformed it into his infamous weapon, the Rose Whip. He brought it down on Akio, who dodged it narrowly.
Akio and Youko were equally matched. Blood dripped from Youko's fingers. He panted slightly. He wasn't wounded horribly. Just enough to prevent him from going his maximum speed.
"This is a fight that is equally matched." Kuwabara mumbled. "It ain't gonna end any time soon." Hiei snorted and Botan elbowed him, giving him a stern look.
"Right. Moron. If you had any sense at all, you'd notice that Akio is considerably weakened, but Youko is only beginning his fight." The koorime smirked. "Youko is not about to lose this match."
"He doesn't look it. He still looks really calm." Yuusuke said, pushing Kuwabara. "All we can do is wait for the end of the match."
"Its the only way to determine whether or not he'll win the fight." Botan said, ending the entire arguement with her one little comment. Youko took a seed from behind his ear and manipulated it with his spirit energy. It grew into one of his many death plants. His death tree. Sharp fangs with acidic saliva dripping from the sharp points. Akio didn't stand a chance. The death tree encircled around Youko's arms and around his body, continuing to grow out to reach Akio. The battle was over. Akio was food for the merciless plant.
"And Kurama wins with a startlingly beautiful finish!" Koto said excitedly.
"Update those score boards." Juri called.
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That's all for now. I thought I'd give you at least a fairly long chapter, since I lost the internet and made you wait.. =(
-Jess-
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Chapter 19 - Transformation
-------------------------------------------------
A dreadful sight. A thin line appeared on the horizon. Hiei stared out as the glowing fiery orange ball of fire started to come up. He was sitting indian-style on the cliff over-looking the vast, churning waters. The tension in the air hung like a blanket of fog.
"This isn't a good sign." He said to himself. Botan and the others were nervous. A shadow fell on him. He knew exactly who it was. "Kitsune."
"You sense it too?" Hiei nodded. Kurama sat down next to him.
"Of course I sense it. The fights today may be harder."
"May? Of course they'll be harder." Kurama was worried, Hiei could tell.
"Don't let on that you're nervous to the others." He said, his eyes going to his partner. "They sort of look up to you in a way. They know that you are stronger than them. If you're nervous, they'd just about give up."
"How can you be so calm?"
"I know my limits. I know that the only thing to fear is fear itself." Kurama stared at Hiei's profile, for he looked back out over the churning waters. "I will do what I can. Nothing more." A silence so thick settled on them, that they could hear the other's heartbeat, feel the crashing waves on the bottom of the cliff. Hiei stood up, closed his eyes for a minute. "It is time."
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Kurama caught tones of anger and excitement in the air. It was tinted with weariness from the fighters. His intense gaze went to Hiei. Botan walked up near the front with Yuusuke. She was so confident, so radiant against every one of the fighters.
"I only hope she can stay confident.." He mumbled to his friend. Hiei looked up at him.
"She will. She has no doubts. She also knows that its either win or lose." He glanced back ahead at Botan. "You should know that by now. You also should conceal the fact that you are nervous. Can you imagine what would happen out in the ring? You won numerous matches and lost only one because you were unconscious before. If you truly believe in your abilities then you can win." He paused. "You better have learned. That was my first and last pep talk." Kurama chuckled.
"I suppose I have. The Great Hiei has given me his wisdom and opened my eyes to the true light." Hiei snorted.
"No sarcasm." Botan glanced back and smiled at the sight.
"Its good to see you boys so confident!" They turned and looked at her. She had dropped back to talk to them. "We'll win for sure." Her eyes brightened at the thought.
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"Let the fight begin!" Hiei didn't hesitate. To hesitate was to ask for death. He charged forward, the dull side of his katana pressed against his palm. He raised it, making a swing that his enemy blocked quite quickly.
"He's faster than I imagined." Kurama murmured. "Perhaps Hiei will have a challenge after all." Botan looked from him to Hiei. Kurama was right. Botan wasn't worried about her teacher. She knew that he fought just as well as the rest of them. She knew he was strong. She knew he could do it. She had faith in him. Hiei combined a spirit energy attack with his sword attack. His eyes narrowed. The attack hit his opponent in the arm.
"That was a lucky hit, Hiei. I won't give you another chance." Hiei had figured the guy reacted a little slow. He took some of his blood and gave Hiei a malicious smirk.
"Shit.." Hiei realized that he didn't have a chance in hell if the demon bled. He also knew an attack that would be perfect. "Sword of the Darkness Flame!" He tore off his bandana and his Jagan glowed. Hiei knew this attack was not as strong as Dragon of the Darkness Flame, but he wasn't about to paralyze his arm again. This attack would prove sufficiant enough.
"What the-" A scream interrupted his remark. His own scream.
"You see, I am more powerful than you can even imagine. I bet you didn't think I had that up my sleeve." The man fell to the ground.
"Bastard.." Hiei chuckled. "No.. I didn't think you.. would use that attack on me.. nor did I think it would hit me.."
"Your blood is tainted. You can not use it against me, Shino. Don't even try it."
"What?" Shino looked up, his eyes narrowed.
"If you try to attack me with your little blood attacks, it won't work. You see, your blood is now tainted. It is no longer any use to you. Fight with your fists or don't fight at all." Kurama understood immediately what Hiei meant. However, no one else did. Kurama closed his eyes.
"Hiei used some extra spirit energy to enter Shino's blood. It would not have affected any normal demon, but Shino is a demon who depends on blood attacks. If Shino decides to attack, it would not harm Hiei but it would attack its own. The attack would fade but Shino would feel it as if it had attacked him." He explained, opening his jade green eyes. They rested on Hiei. "That is what Shino is not aware of." As if on cue, Shino tried to attack. Just as Kurama had predicted, the attack faded before it reached Hiei. A cry of pain reached their ears. Shino was done for. There was no way he could beat Hiei.
"Wow.. that's intense." Kuwabara muttered. "I never knew Shorty could be so.. harsh." It was almost like a sarcastic remark. They took it as one. Hiei had not been that harsh in a battle since he was fresh out of Makai.
"Hiei did what needed to be done." Kurama stated, his eyes not leaving the ring. "If he had not done that, he may have lost."
"But Shino's defenseless!" Kuwabara hissed. Kurama regarded him with amusement. His green eyes glinted. Every member noticed and moved back a step.
"Is he? Every good demon knows to be prepared for battle. You need more than one attack. You need to have different types." He looked back at the action in the ring. "Something is always happening in Makai. No technique is not needed. Any chance to gain a master is jumped at immediately. I never took an apprentice. Hiei took on you, Botan. You are now his student. He will teach you everything. It will continue until your training is complete."
"Let's get on with the next match, shall we?" The announcer broke their conversation. Hiei jumped down out of the ring and stared calmly at all of them.
"Kurama versus Akio! Fighters, enter the ring!" Kurama got up into the ring and stared hard at his opponent. Akio looked to be a formidable foe. Hiei could tell this would be a harder battle than last time. Kurama would not get off easily.
"He better be careful. He can't afford to lose this battle."
"Why?"
"Because he needs to make up for you." Kuwabara took offense and Botan felt like slapping both of them.
"Cut it out you two." She scolded. "Don't even think of fighting during Kurama's battle." She glared at both of them. "What did you really mean, Hiei?" He scoffed then looked at the ring.
"He can't afford to lose his life. This battle will be more hard core than the last one." He was serious. They all realized that their prized fighter was in danger. "Had any of us gotten him, we might have lost. He will handle this as if it were personal. Just like his battle with Touya."
"Oh.." Botan bit her lip and fell silent. Kurama's battle with Touya had made them all lose their faith. After Gama had paralyzed him with his attack then sealed his energy, it had seemed hopeless. Kurama had won, at a dear cost. He had been in some pain. He had to sew his own death plant into his body so it could take root in his imprisoned energy. This battle would be the battle that they had to worry about. Kurama closed his eyes and winced in pain. The battle was already intense and it had just started. Akio sliced at him with his claws and kicked with his feet. He was a fast opponent. One that was not to be taken lightly but seriously. He realized this battle was more perilous to him in his human form. He could not win like this. He could not win if he was in his human form. He grasped a small tube that was securely pinned in his pocket. He took it out and drained it. An explosion of white mist blew forth. He still had a few more just in case the effects wore off.
"His spirit energy.."
"Its rising.."
"He took the stuff Suzuka gave to him. Youko is about to be released." Botan gasped. It didn't take a genius to figure out what happened in the beginning. What had happened not very long ago. Youko almost killed them both.
"He can't be thinking straight!" Botan said, grabbing hold of Hiei's shirt. "Youko almost killed them both! Is he insane?"
"No, he is not." Hiei calmly removed her hands from his shirt and narrowed his eyes at her. "He is thinking perfectly fine. Every demon with a human form goes through that. Youko is not evil. He merely wanted to get out every once in a while. He needs that. He's smothering inside a human shell. A human covering." Botan finally understood. She went weak.
"But.. he.. what happened.."
"Was neither of their fault. It was just dangerous because Kurama's human side did not understand what Youko wanted." Hiei said in a sort of comforting way. "It was not direct, complete. It was random for both of them. I wasn't about to go into details before but it was Youko's time. He was having trouble maintaining his control over his emotions. He was going into his mating period."
"I see.." She looked to the ring where the mist was just starting to clear. They could hear the grunts and heaves of fighters in a heated battle. They saw shadows.. nothing more. They were a blur. Hiei's expert eyes could follow it as if they were doing it at normal pace. Botan gasped lightly when they both stopped. Youko landed gracefully, as if he had wings to steady him. His silver tail streamed out behind him. His long silver hair blew across his face. His two fox-like ears on top of his head rotated toward sound. His golden eyes were cold, merciless, deadly. He was deadly, but handsome. "Wow.." Botan whispered, awed.
"He is free." Youko jumped up, launching speedily at Akio. Yuusuke and Kuwabara stood there, remembering the very first time they saw him. Certainly he was powerful. He could beat this demon easily. Youko took a rose from his hair and transformed it into his infamous weapon, the Rose Whip. He brought it down on Akio, who dodged it narrowly.
Akio and Youko were equally matched. Blood dripped from Youko's fingers. He panted slightly. He wasn't wounded horribly. Just enough to prevent him from going his maximum speed.
"This is a fight that is equally matched." Kuwabara mumbled. "It ain't gonna end any time soon." Hiei snorted and Botan elbowed him, giving him a stern look.
"Right. Moron. If you had any sense at all, you'd notice that Akio is considerably weakened, but Youko is only beginning his fight." The koorime smirked. "Youko is not about to lose this match."
"He doesn't look it. He still looks really calm." Yuusuke said, pushing Kuwabara. "All we can do is wait for the end of the match."
"Its the only way to determine whether or not he'll win the fight." Botan said, ending the entire arguement with her one little comment. Youko took a seed from behind his ear and manipulated it with his spirit energy. It grew into one of his many death plants. His death tree. Sharp fangs with acidic saliva dripping from the sharp points. Akio didn't stand a chance. The death tree encircled around Youko's arms and around his body, continuing to grow out to reach Akio. The battle was over. Akio was food for the merciless plant.
"And Kurama wins with a startlingly beautiful finish!" Koto said excitedly.
"Update those score boards." Juri called.
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That's all for now. I thought I'd give you at least a fairly long chapter, since I lost the internet and made you wait.. =(
-Jess-