A/N: I'M BAAAACK!!! Two weeks, two weeks of no typing or surfing the net has finally, finally ended. Oh, how tempting the computer seemed, sitting there on the study desk, as though trying to bait me yet laughing when I couldn't. Ack! Dramatic. Thanks to these reviewers:

Rita Jaganshi-Thanks for your review. As for the exams, they're over and I shall not think about them until the moment I'll be getting my papers back. I'm glad to see you review again!

Asilin Kheldarson-Thank you for the review! Yeah, I read lots of CYOAs too, I love some of them! I'm considering the idea of writing one but well, until I finish this, I'll think about it.

FluffysBijin05-Yeah, I like the kiss scene too! I was thinking of how to get the relationship started when this image popped into my head. Really? You think Kou is cool? Gee, I didn't really expect that but hey, thanks! Ooh, I think Kurama is trying to remind you that he wants to stay as your favourite Yeah, Kou's not really a bad guy. As to why he had to work for the real bad guy, it'll be revealed later on. Thanks for your review!

XxAnimeLover14xX-Glad you like the chapter. I hope that you'll enjoy this one as well. Thanks.

Here the chapter I promised you guys. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own YYH, which is why I have to resort to writing fanfictions about them.

"…" talk

[…] thoughts

{…} telepathy

= = = = = = changes of scene/time

Chapter 9: Taito Pinchu De! : In A Tight Pinch!

Mizuko's POV

The sickles produced a dull hum as Seko and Kosatsu twirled them, each circling me slowly. I turned slowly, eyes darting back and forth to keep them in sight. Suddenly, Seko flung his sickle at me. I easily avoided it and grinned, but I heard a different hum behind me, a shriller one. Jumping up, I managed to evade Kosatsu's attack but Seko jerked the chain in his hand. The sickle that passed me before was now heading towards me. I barely twisted out of the way and landed. "Nani?!" A rip appeared on the side of my shirt, and blood oozed slowly out of the gash under it. "Our sickles spin at such a high speed that even if you manage to avoid a direct hit, the air pressure created could still hurt you." "Ch'!" [How am I going to avoid it then?] I tried to figure out as the sickles returned to their owners' hands. [Sou da!] I could read their minds and affectively disable their attacks.

{Hehe, she won't be able to avoid the next one. I'll fling it straight out, then attack her from behind. If she jumps, I'll pull it up and if she move sideways, I'll just pull it around her.} Kosatsu then flung his sickle outwards me. I sidestepped it and blocked the sickle as it came behind me. Losing momentum, Kosatsu was forced to pull it back. I rolled out of the way as Seko's sickle aimed for my head, I had anticipated that. Without even looking, I deflected it with a dagger. "Nandato?!" {What the hell happened?} This time, both decided to work together. Their sickles spun around me, closing in. I just jumped up and landed heavily on them, successfully jerking Seko and Kosatsu onto the ground. I jumped back and threw a fistful of shurikens at their faces. They quickly rolled aside and got onto their feet. [Turn back!] I commanded silently. My shurikens obeyed and three embedded themselves in Seko's back while Kosatsu, being the faster one, had managed to pull his sickle up and knocked the rest down. "How did she evade that? Can she read our attacks?" Kosatsu yelled to his brother, while the latter just gritted his teeth in pain.

= = = = = =

3rd Person's POV

Yusuke was just about to take a nap when he heard shouts from outside. "Yusuke!" "Botan! Keiko, what's wrong?" The look of fear on their faces worried him, and where was Mizuko? Keiko looked up, and cried almost pleadingly, "Yusuke, you have to go help her!" Kurama and the others emerged. "Help who?" asked a confused Kuwabara. Botan had regained her breath by now. "Mizuko-chan is in trouble!" "Two demons tried to ambush us just now, and-" Keiko's words were lost as the Reikai Tanteis bolted out. Botan and Keiko ran after them, leading them to Mizuko.

= = = = = =

The three of them were breathing heavily, bleeding from various gashes. Even though she could read their minds, Mizuko still had a hard time evading all those attacks. Her shirt was ripped in various places and her skin was covered with dried blood. Despite that the training had increased her stamina, constant moving was wearing her down fast. Her legs were already feeling heavy. Kosatsu finally gave up on attacking her from a distance and rushed at Mizuko, raising his giant sickle. Wasting no time, Mizuko constructed a youki barrier around her. [I have to be careful. Being on defense drains youki faster.] Kosatsu was repelled as his sickle met her barrier with a loud clang. She executed a fierce combo, managing a cut across his chest. Blood spurted out and Seko immediately came after her for hurting his brother. Mizuko forced her tired limbs to move as quickly as possible. But she still got a slash on her left leg. Seeing she had slowed down a bit, both demons attacked ruthlessly, not allowing her a single chance to counterattack. Mizuko could only defend herself against the rain of attacks. She managed, somehow, to dodge the sickles, but she didn't see the punch coming. Kosatsu fist planted itself right in her abdomen, sending the golden-eyed girl flying backwards. "Gah!" Her back slammed into a tree, and Mizuko spat out fresh blood.

She staggered up and barely had time to catch her breath when Seko rushed towards her in an unexpected speed, his weapon's tip tearing at the earth. Mizuko tried to jump away but Seko swung his sickle upwards and its tip buried itself into her arm. If she had not kicked the blade away, her arm would've been amputated. She gripped the wound, trying to stop the crimson liquid from flowing. Kosatsu took this opportunity to loop a chain around her neck. [Shimatta!] He tugged hard. Hard enough to choke her, but not enough to kill her. Seko begun to twirl his sickle, and launched it at the immobilized Mizuko. Already having difficulty breathing, Mizuko summoned her remaining strength and put up a barrier in front of her. Both sickle and barrier broke at the impact. A shard of the metal cut the chain and Mizuko managed to get free. However, she was now drained.

"Mizuko!" Mizuko twisted her head and noticed the Reikai Tanteis running at them. Yusuke got ready to shoot his Rei Gun but to their shock and surprise, Genkai stopped him. "Oi, baasan, what are you doing?!" "This is her fight." "Are you trying to get her killed?!" Genkai sent him a sharp glare. "This is her chance of growing stronger. And she doesn't want to lose that." They anxiously turned to watch as Mizuko struggled to get up. [They're here. But I'm not going to ask them for help. Watashi wa, motto tsuyoku ni naru da!] Kurama and Hiei restrained themselves from jumping into this fight when they saw the blazing determination in her eyes. They realized that she wanted to defeat them on her own, that she will not ask for them to help her, nor will she want anyone to interrupt this fight. All they could do now was watch and hope.

"Your friends are here. Aren't you going to cry for help now?" Seko sneered. Mizuko bitterly spat out, "I don't need anyone's help to defeat you." "Confident now, aren't we? Little hime." Mizuko narrowed her eyes at the remark. "Why don't you keep that filthy mouth of yours shut, sissy?" Angered, Kosatsu lunged at Mizuko. His killing intent was burning. Mizuko jumped into the air. "!!" Pain vibrated through her body and she fell to the ground, clutching at her neck. A burning sensation that blinded her, she tried to duck Kosatsu's next attack. "Gyah!" She crashed onto the ground. Hiei and Kurama both exclaimed, "Mizuko!" Hiei kept watching her, worry growing evident in his eyes. He was fighting the urge to run right in and torture the two demons for hurting Mizuko.

Mizuko tried to push herself up. [Why is it acting up now?] Her scar had stayed 'dormant' for so long that she almost forgot about it, but it was hurting now, when she's in the middle of a life and death situation. "Grr…" she growled lightly, trying to will the pain to go away. [Heh?] Something was amiss with her wrist. [Where's my bracelet?!] She quickly scanned the ground and noticed it glimmering in the earth. She ran towards it. So intent was she on getting the bracelet, she dropped her guard and was kicked full in the back. Mizuko tasted something like copper as she hit the ground. Seko noticed the piece of jewelry and picked it up. A twisted sneered marred his already twisted face. Mizuko suddenly felt cold. "Kaeshite!" she yelled as she rushed towards him, only to have Kosatsu planting another kick in her side. Mizuko fell coughing to the ground, holding her side. She struggled to take in breath. "Give that back, you bastard!" Seko grinned even wider. "This is a very interesting object." He studied her face. "From the anxious look on your face, I can tell this means a lot to you." Mizuko wanted to stand up, but her limbs have gone numb with pain and weariness. If looks could kill, then Seko would've probably dropped dead at the intensity of Mizuko's glare. But he stayed oblivious to the death glare and smiled wickedly. He tossed the bracelet to Kosatsu, who caught it in his fist. He too sneered as he clenched his fist, a crunching sound could be heard. He opened his palm to reveal the bracelet had been reduced to dust. Mizuko felt nothing but a numbing coldness as the brothers' laughter filled the air.

Nandato-What

Shimatta-Shit/Oh no (when you're caught off-guard or realized something bad about a situation all of a sudden)

Baasan-Grandma (what Yusuke usually calls Genkai)

Kaeshite-Give it back

A/N: Ah, I know, it's pretty short. But it's mainly action and fight scenes, there isn't really much to describe. It'll have to be this short if it follows the sequence that I planned. So please R & R and tell me what you think about it (I'm trying my best at the fight scenes!) Meanwhile, I'll go and type the next chapter. Ja ne!