Chapter Thirteen: The Training Begins
Disclaimer: I do not, nor have I ever, owned any of the rights to Yu Yu Hakusho, though if someone were to want to sell them, I'd definitely make a bid.
After Kurama brings Jin and Yusuke to the clearing and there's a short bout where Yusuke tries to pound the other two demons (and Toma-su gets a glimpse at why Yusuke's name is infamous in the Demon World) Jeff and Kurama explain the idea. Yusuke nods afterwards "Alright, as far as tomorrow goes, I know some punks that've been getting pretty cocky. They'd be perfect training dummies. As for tonight, what were ya' thinkin'? One of us reign in our power and fighting him while the others watch?"
Kurama and Hiei nod, Kurama commenting, "We were planning on having me fight, considering that without the help of my plants, I am the weakest." He turns to Jeff, saying, "If you would permit me my weakest weapon, I wold be honored to test you."
Jeff nods a little shakily "O...okay, I guess. Just don't fatally injure me or anything." he says, slipping into the position he always took before a fight, one foot placed slightly in front of the other with his fists cocked.
Kurama smiles and nods, "Don't worry about that. This is a test, nothing more." With that he runs his hand through his hair and produces a simple, delicate red rose, holding it out to the side with his arm outstretched but lax.
Jeff nearly falls over in surprise but recovers quickly, re-entering his fighting position before regarding Kurama, who seemed to have anticipated his action and waited for him to recover, 'What's up with this? Kurama doesn't seem the type to joke or call something so fragile a weapon. What's he up to?'
Seeing the deduction and question in Jeff's eyes, Kurama nods before his eyes harden a bit and he flicks his wrist, calling out "Rose Whip!" As if summoned, in the blink of an eye the 'delicate' rose transforms into an eight-foot long green whip, complete with thorns and rose petals scattering to the wind. He lowers it, a gentle ripple flowing through the plant as he does so.
His eyes regard his weapon before speaking "This is the Rose Whip, my weakest plant. Its thorns can penetrate even the strongest of steels." He lifts his eyes in time to see Jeff gulp, a smirk tugging at his lips before he continues, "For purposes of this test however, they are unnecessary." He closes his eyes and seems to concentrate for a minute before the thorns recede into the vine, leaving Jeff faced with a thick green whip.
Jeff can't help but gulp a little at the prospect of going toe-to-toe with someone even he can tell is vastly superior to him as Kurama slides into his own fighting stance. One leg extended in front of him, while most of his weight was carefully balanced on the other. He places the hand with the whip in it high above and a little behind his head while the other hand finds its way to a little ways in front of him to provide balance.
Jin looks between the two combatants, his usual grin plastered on his face, "Alright, this'll be a fist-ta'-whip, toe-to-toe skirmish. No winners, stops on tha' three counts of givin' up, one o' us stoppin' the fight, or five rounds of tha' second hand. Agree?"
Jeff gives an uncertain "Yeah...sure..." while Kurama just nods.
Jin nods in response before chuckling a bit "Aye, I feel like one of those there referee lassies from the tournament." He then lifts one arm high over his head, glancing at each of the fighter before bringing it down swiftly, "And...start!"
Jeff keeps his eyes locked on Kurama, doing his best to remember what he'd learned on the streets about reading moves. Neither so much as breathes as they wait for the other one to make a move. Jeff sees one of Kurama's arm muscles twitch beneath the fabric and he's able to roll out of the way just in time as the tip of the whip snaps at the place where he'd been not two seconds before.
Jeff stays slightly crouched, ready for the next attack. Kurama looks at him with something akin to commendment and Jeff can't help but smirk before mentally berating himself, 'Idiot! Don't get cocky after dodging one...crap.' He thinks as he sees the whip wrap around one of his legs and pull his feet out from under him before he can move.
He flips himself over and catches himself on his hands and knees, quickly shaking his leg free of the whip before whirling around and charging, thinking 'I gotta get close. I'm screwed if I can't even get one hit in.'
Kurama looks a bit surprised at the charge but then calmly regards him, easily dodging the punches and kicks that Jeff throws, effectively ticking him off, "Dammit! Hold still will you?"
He sees something gleam in Kurama's eyes before he feels his fist come into contact with the red-haired boy's jaw. He watches in surprise as Kurama hits the dirt, 'Woah! I didn't actually expect him to hold still!'
Slowly, calmly, Kurama gets up and dusts himself off, saying "Alright, I believe that everyone has drawn their conclusions, correct? Is there any area that I forgot to test?" He looks around at the mildly impressed faces, aglow in the setting sun's light, before nodding, "I take that as a no. Alright then, this fight is concluded."
Jeff relaxes out of his fighting stance. He isn't surprised that Kurama abruptly ends the fight, indeed he was expecting it. "So," he tries to say lightly "did I pass the preliminary?"
Kurama regards him coolly before speaking "You have exceptional seed and reflexes, though that's not surprising considering how Hiei is. Your fighting stance and power are slightly above a normal human's, however, you lack the concentration and temperament to use your skills optimally, and you have a long way to go before you stand the slightest chance against tying with any of us."
Yusuke chuckles a bit, "In lameman's terms, you're quick and strong, but you gotta focus more, not get so easily riled and train...a lot."
Jeff nods, "Ok, so that's all I can get you to do with me tonight? No more training?"
Hiei looks ready to say something but Jin interrupts "No, ya' need your rest laddie. You've had a dig day fer' bein' a human like ya're. Go home an' sleep. Yusuke an' I'll be by once the sun wakes up to get ya' ready fer' training."
Jeff nods, "Yeah, yeah, yeah, I hear ya'. Though I really would like to stay." He glances up at the sky, which is filled with dark, heavy clouds about halfway to the horizon, then to Hiei and Toma-su. A thought flits through his head, but he pushes it away, only to find the harder he pushes, the more persistent it becomes until finally he bends to it and asks, "Umm...Hiei, Toma-su?"
Hiei casts a glare at him, "You are to call me Hiei-sama Tomu, what is it?" he snaps.
Jeff reflexively winces a bit but continues "I was just wondering if...if you had somewhere to stay tonight since it looks like it's going to rain."
Hiei and Toma-su's eyes narrow and Toma-su asks, with a hint of curiosity in his voice, "Why? What does it matter to you?"
Jeff bites the inside of his lip, a habit from when he was a kid, "I just though that, you know, if you didn't, you could crash at my place. We're sort of kin after all."
Toma-su looks at Jeff with something like confused amazement, but Hiei answers, "Feh. Demons don't worry about a little rain. Go back to your apartment and sleep. Be thankful for it, if it were up to me you wouldn't have one."
Jeff sighs, "Yeah, I thought as much. Just had to ask though. Alright then, see you guys in the morning." With that, he turns and jogs off, intent on making tomorrow come as quickly as possible.
Yusuke and Jin both scowl at Hiei "That was low man, even for you."
"He was jus' tryin' ta' help. You didn't hav' to bite 'is 'ead off."
With that they turn and run after Jeff Yusuke calling out "Yo Kei! Wait up!" while Kurama slinks unnoticed into the foliage, leaving a confused yet amazed demon, and an outwardly indifferent demon behind.
A.N. Yay! I updated! Sorry it took so long, homework's been a pain. So, what'cha guys think of the fight scene? I gotta admit, it's the first one that I've ever done, so I'm not real sure on how good it is. Next chapter the real training starts, though before morning breaks Jeff is going to have an interesting talk with a certain someone (I'm not saying who!) Oh, and just a question, if Toma-su were to get a 'proper' name (like Jeff or Kei) what do you guys think it would be? I need ideas, 'cause as is right now I'm fresh out on this one! Well, thanks for reading! Please Review!
