Disclaimer: I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho, or the Mention of "The Twilight Zone."

KL-IG: Hey all! How are you doing? I'm great thanks! Crud, I feel like I'm typing a letter . . . so enjoy the chapter!

THE WAY TO THE TOP,

Chapter 3,

By KawaiiLil-InuGurl

Previously, on The Way To The Top

"Feeling ill? It'll pass . . . . . . . Legendary Thief, Youko Kurama."

Now, on The Way to the Top

"It feels like something, or someones claaaaaawing their way out of my stomach." Kurama said, rolling over on the ground.

"Something like that." Ji said, watching as his body started to morph. Slowly, his feet split giving him four legs, two in Red, and two in white. Then his arms, two in red, and two uncovered. Kurama eyes went wide as his saw this.

"What's . . . happening to me?"

"You're turning, or rather, splitting,with an Old friend."

"Why? Why are you doing this?" He asked, watching in pain as his torso was being split as well.

"I want to fight the Legendary! Great! Thief of ALLLLL thieves, Youko Kurama!" As Kurama grew a tail, he thought, 'I'm never going to be the same.' Screaming, he fainted from how much pain he felt, as Youko Kurama came to be, sitting on the ground.

"Well then," Standing up, he stretched his lower back and elbows cracking them. "Shall we get to it?"

"If you insist." Ji answered, floating back into the dark mist, Youko Kurama following, leaving a fainted Kurama on the ground.


"AAAAAHHHH!" Kuwabara yelled, running from the Chibi Pink, and Purple spotted Elephants.

"Come back!" They called in their miniature voice. "We still have to eat your eyes with mini tooth picks!"

"No way, Jose! I want to keep my eyes, Thank you very much!" He shouted back to them. "UUMMHHPP!" He grunted, tripping over something and falling. "Did one of them. . . get. . . me?" Pupils shrinking to almost nonexistence, he yet out a horrified scream, got up, and ran again. "Ohh poor Botan!"

The Pink, and Purple spotted Elephants lifted the tarp that had the most Disgusting cuts and organ oozing pictures on it off of Botan's body and floated away.


Stopping, Yusuke sat down on a rock and took his shoes off. "God, my feet hurt!" He said, staring at his blistering feet. Then looking up, into the Light Blue Sky, he saw Dark Purple Clouds coming from the east, darkening it. "What the?" He mumbled, pulling his shoes back on and racing off toward the clouds.


Giggling. That's the first thing he noticed. Then the pain came. More giggling, then an Icy cold. . . -something- touched the back of his head, were the pain was. "Awwww, is that better?" Feminine, but different from the other voice that he had heard. Actually, it WAS better, but you know Hiei, Stubborn as always.

"N-No." He croaked out.

"Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. You should not lie to people who can tell if you are. But if you want something else to ease the pain. . ." then 'the something' left for a moment before hot, steaming liquid was put under his nose, "You should drink this. It will help, and that headache will go away so you will be able to open your eyes." Hiei sniffed it, not being able to tell if it was poisoned or something. He didn't smell any poison, but that didn't mean it wasn't poisoned. Well, he would be able to handle it, poison or not. . . That and his headache was killing him! So, taking the cup up in both hands, he drank it in two gulps.

Slowly opening his eyes, he turned to the Female who had given it to him. She was smiling. Not meanly… but genuine. He then noticed a pile of Ice around her hand. Blinking a few times, she saw he wasn't looking at her face.

Sliding her eyes down,Sumai noticed that she had forgotten to remove the Ice. "Opps! Sorry." Picking her hand up, Hiei now realized that it wasn't a pile of Ice, but her hand was frozen! "I'm so forgetful! Sometimes I think that if I didn't have my head attached to my persons, I would leave it somewhere and most likely loose it." Said this female who just waved her hand a couple of times and the Ice disappeared.

"Who are you?" Hiei asked, looking at her funny. Smiling evilly suddenly, she answered with,

"My name? Why. . . it's Sumai Koori."


Stopping, Ji pulled out a bag and sprinkled dust all over the ground. "What was that for?" Youko Kurama asked, raising an eyebrow.

"You'll see." Ji answered, fisting her hands onto her hips. All of a sudden, the ground started shaking, breaking, tearing and crumbling until a huge ring of Earth got uprooted and a Stadium appeared. Walls taller then skyscrapers toward over them, blocking the two beings in.

"I suppose the rules are as in the Dark Tournament?" Asked Youko, walking onto the Stadium.

"You can 'suppose' if you'd like, but there are no rules. Winner is the one that lives." Said Ji, not moving from her position in the middle of the Stadium.

Cracking his knuckles, Youko asked one more question, "Now?"

And then, Ji stated, "NOW!" Rushing forward, Ji fired a Laser-like beam of Black Magic, hitting Youko square, or should I say 'Round,' in the chest. Being thrown off balance, Youko flew backward out of the ring, hitting one of the walls, and cracking it. Youko got to his feet, and glared at Ji, who just stood there, fiddling with her fingers.

"Let me guess," Started Ji, "Just getting warmed up?"

"Yes." Was the answer that had no speaker as Youko tore after her, using a beam of his own, his "Death Beam."

"Your good." Ji said, sitting up and wiping the blood from her mouth. Throwing a White powder into the air above her, Ji was completely healed, fresh with adequate energy, and raring to go! Ji then moved through the bottom of the Arena, disappearing. Youko was confused at first, until a hand grabbed his ankle.

"AAAAAHHHHHHHHH!" He jumped to the other side of the arena, panting. Laughing her butt off, Ji floated up and out of the Stadium, but her right hand got stuck, "Ut oh." She whispered, tugging with all her might.

Snickering, Youko watched all this with amusement; "Need help?" He asked.

"No. . . Thanks. I'm. . . fine!" She said through gritted teeth, then finally pulled her hand out, stumbling back. Turning around she started attacking again. This battle went on for some time, and night was approaching fast. After her 3rd heal, Youko knew this was going to be harder then he first imagined, so, thinking fast, he used what was to be a last resort.

"DEATH PLANT!" He shouted, throwing a seed into her face. The plant sprang up around her, enclosing Ji into its vine-like grip.

"GHHHAAAAAHHHHHH!" Ji screamed, feeling her very soul being torn to shreds.

The Full Moons light shone down on the two, lighting up the arena as it rose higher, and higher. "AAAAAAHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhh. . .hhh. . .hhh. . .hhh." Slowly her screams died down and she went limp.

"It shouldn't have worked that fast." Youko mumbled to himself, walking ever closer to Ji, inspecting her. Bringing his face inches from hers, he stared at her Eyelids. Ji's eyelids lifted up, opening wide showing her Bright, Silver eyes.

"What the-!" Youko stumbled back, falling on his butt. She broke free of the flowering tree, levitating over to him. Getting up, Youko took a fighting stance. "I'm ready for you, Jigoku."

Barking out of laugh, she stated matter-of-factly, "It's Seijun Aku."

Youko remembered stories he had heard about a 'Seijun Aku.' "You are suppose to be dead, are you not?"

"Well, I can say this, you will be!" Seijun shouted, then started spinning faster, and faster, until Black and Blue beams of light came forth. Youko got hit with the Black beams, sending him deep into the dirt that he hit, and the Blue Beams turned into Seijun Aku's.

"It's. . . not real." He said, pushing himself up, "Their just copies."

"But copies. . . CAN be real." Everyone of the Seijun's grinned evilly, and made a whip out of Black Magic. Using the whips like harnesses, they captured Youko and let him just hang there in the air. They all laughed at him as he glared, twitching his tail.

"You SHALL pay for this!" He said though gritted teeth, then he started to glow, so bright that the Seijun's had to cover their eyes. Blinking, Seijun realized that she was alone, no Youko, no Copies. She looked around but there was no sign of any of them.

"Up here." Called a deep voice, so she looked up, and narrowly missed getting a face full of thorns.

"That's it! Your going down!" Seijun yelled, flying at him. Not noticing that it had been some time and Night was lifting. About to slash at him, Youko taking a defensive stance, she faltered, feeling like she was twisting out of shape, like in 'The Twilight Zone.' That was perfect for Youko though, for then he hit her on the back of her head, knocking her out. In the middle of her fall, she changed back into Jigoku, right in Youko's arms.

"Well, sweet Jigoku, looks like you tried out." Mumbled Youko, as he walked back into the forest when the Walls and Stadium disappeared, looking at her.


"Kurama, wake up. . . Come on Kurama wake up. . . WAKE UP!"

"AHHHHHHH! WHAT WAS THAT!" Kurama asked, looking around.

"Nothing." Youko said, walking away, "We have to go though."

"Oh okay," Kurama got up and dusted himself off when, "YOUKO? WHAT! HOW! WHEN! WHO!"

"Relax! Relax! I'll answer your questions. . . Yes, Fox-Demon, Fruit, Yesterday, Jigoku." When Youko finished, he started to walk away again.

"Wait for me!" Kurama shouted, rushing after him.


Hiei would have gasped, but he doesn't gasp, so he didn't. "Your one of those Thieves that Koenma sent us to get." He stated, looking at her pointedly.

"Ji was right, you are cute, and I DO like you!" She snickered at his blushing face, "But still, whom did Koenma ALSO send? Three girls to much for one guy?" She winked, taking his cup and going to the kitchen to refill it.

"Yusuke, Kwuabara, and Kurama were also sent." Hiei answered, looking around at this extremely weird and cold room.

". . .Did you say Kurama?" Sumai asked, handing him the cup.

"Yes," was the simple answer to that question as he sipped the Tea.

"Hmmm. . . Who are you?" He spit out the Tea that, he noted, froze when it hit the ground. "You captured me without knowing who I was!"

"Well, to tell the truth," A "Pfft" is heard from Hiei, "I didn't capture you, Ji did."

"Oh. . . I'm Hiei."

"Hiei." She whispered, liking the sound of it, "that's a nice name." Hiei watched as she got up and left out the door, which happened to be made of Ice.


"I've noticed."

"Noticed what?"

"That you're an Ice Demon." Hiei stated.

"Oh." Sumai stared out over the Arctic Tundra-like plan, watching the Polar Bear Cubs playing with each other. "You should go back in." She said, turning towards him.

"Why?" Hiei asked, confused.

"Because you'll be feeling it soon, and I would like you to be lying down when it happens." Now Hiei was even MORE confused. . . until he got a pain in his stomach.

"W-What have y-you done to m-me?" Leaning close to Hiei's ear, Sumai whispered, "Demon Fruit."


Knocking on the Ice door, Chi stared at it impatiently as grunts and groans are heard inside.

"What?" Sumai breathed tiredly as she opened the door, looking disheveled. Chi's eyes widen at the sight some numerous things flying through her head, "Are you . . . . Ok?" She asked curiously.

"Yeah, why?" Sumai asked, looking confused.

"Well . . . " Chi was interrupted by a crash inside, "What was that!"

"OHMYGOD! HIEI STOP!" Sumai yelled, running back into the Ice-Living room as Hiei slashed through everything, his pain making him crazy. "Ahhhh. . . . Fudge!" Sumai shouted catching half an Ice wall before it squashed them.

"Oh . . . that's what it was." Chi said, sitting on what was left of the Ice couch.

"What was what?" Sumai asked, using her Dark Powers to make a cage around Hiei so he would stop.

"Nothing!" Smiled Chi, sweat dropping, "Nothing at all!" Look at her incredulously, Sumai motioned to her Bedroom where they could talk privately.

"Hmmm?" Chi asked, sitting down on the bed.

"Well," Sumai started, leaning against the wall; "I don't know how we're going to take out that group of Detectives. Have you sensed Ji? First she was normal, then WAY energized, then . . . like she ran out of energy. Maybe there just to strong."

"Of course not! We can take them!" Chi stated confidently, getting up, and pacing.

"How can you be so sure?" Sumai asked, curiously.

"Well, I have a plan."


Hiei, who had gotten out of the cage, was standing next to the door, listening to their conversation. 'So they plan to . . .' He stopped, eyes going wide. 'I have to tell the Spirit Detective.'

"Ok, Hiei, we're . . . done." Sumai looked around, but Hiei wasn't there.

"He's not even close! I can't feel his Aura anymore." Chi said, crossing her arms, and looking annoyed.

"Darn it! What if he heard us? . . . WHAT IF HE CHANGES!" Sumai shrieked, grabbing her hair and moaning.

Chi raised an Eyebrow at her, "Are you ok?" She asked.

"Oh yeah! Just, PEACHY! Ji is with those PEOPLE, Hiei probably knows our plan, he may also end up 'changing' while WITH them, AND, most likely, we're all going to DIE! But, YES! I'm FINE!" Sumai yelled, punching the wall. Chi slapped her across the face.

"GET a GRIP on yourself Sumai!"

"You're right, we just have to find him!" Sumai punched at the air, ran outside and leap over her 3 story Balcony.

"SUMAI!" Chi ran over to the balcony and watched as she took off in the distance. Sighing, Chi followed her.


Hiei ran as fast as he could in, what he hoped to be the right direction. 'You just better be there . . . de . . . tect . . .' "IIIIVVVVEEEEE!" He screamed out loud as a pain pulsated throughout his body, making him drop to his knees. He clutched at his stomach, moaning and groaning. 'What is wrong with me?' Suddenly his legs felt like they were breaking, then his arms, and next his torso. Hiei's Jagan eye burned a hole through his headband from the pain, and ended up melting the Ice Hiei was kneeled on, good thing it was frozen all the way through.

Hiei stood up and brushed himself off, amazed when he felt no pain, it had been so intense that he thought it would never leave. Hiei made to run again, when he tripped, but caught himself before he fell. Looking down, Hiei's eyes opened wide from the realization of seeing himself . . . six feet and four inches tall. "Whoa." Even his voice was a little deeper, but not by much. Hiei took a look behind him, and saw, wwwaaayyy off into the distance, the form of something. The form of a four-legged something. As it got closer he could make out White fur, a Black nose rounded ears and how big it was. 'Is that . . .?' Hiei was interrupted from his thought train as the thing got even CLOSER and he KNEW what it was.

Hiei jumped just in time as it skidded past right where he had been standing only seconds before. "Well now, it seems I have a Polar Bear on my hands." Hiei murmured, watching as it turned around. "What the heck." Hiei looked at its face, it didn't look like one of those mean ferocious Bears with a scar over its eye or something, it looked like a cute little cub. 'Cute little cub? Now from where did THAT thought come from?' The Polar bear, which by all means was taller then him, obviously was NOT a little cub, walked up to him slowly. Hiei reached out a hand to pet it, but before he could it licked his entire face in one, large, slobbery lap. "Ugh!" Hiei grunted, wiping the drool from his face. "You even got it in my hair!"

"HEY! Sumai don't run off without me next time!"

Hiei turned, and with amazement watched a huge fireball flew across the Ice at an alarming rate, leaving water in its wake. The fireball stopped in front of Hiei and transformed into a humanoid form. "You're that girl from the Ice Castle . . . what's your name . . .?" Hiei asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Chi. Chihiro, if it's any of your business." Turning to Sumai, Chi said, "Now change back Sumai, stop playin' around, we've got work to do."

Hiei heard a crackling sound from behind, so as he watched, the Polar bear change back into Sumai.

"Hey." She said, smirking, holding up the Piece sign.

"You're a weird one." Hiei snorted out, "Very weird."

"Yeah, but it gets the job done." She answered back, licking her lips. "And next time, not so much gel, huh? It leaves a nasty after taste." Chi was snickering, as Hiei glared back at her.

"But anyway, we can't let you leave." Chi stated, walking closer to Hiei.

"Yep, we can't." Sumai shrugged, also walking closer.

"You'll have to catch me first!" Hiei screamed, as he back-flipped over Sumai, and started running again. Chi and Sumai nodded to each other before Chi summer-sawed into the air transforming into the Ball of Fire, and flying after Hiei. Sumai clapped her hands together once, the sound resonating throughout the area, melting in with the Ice, flowing through it at a speed to surpass the light.


Youko was eating an Apple, while lying on a tree branch with an arm behind his head, watching as Kurama paced by Ji's body, which was lying on the ground.

"What are we going to do?" Kurama asked Youko, looking up at him.

Shrugging, Youko turned his head away and answered, "How should I know? She's your problem now."

"WHAT!" Kurama practically yelled, jaw dropping to hit the ground. "M-MY Problem! YOU'RE the one who battled her!" Youko sighed rolling to the left so his back was to Kurama and Ji.

"Go pester someone else about it." Then he promptly fell asleep.

"Crap." Kurama mumbled, thinking of what to do with Ji. 'Well, maybe I could . . .' "It's like killing two birds with one stone . . . not that I would ever want to kill birds!" Kurama took a seed out of his hair and made it grow into a Vine with a Demonic Aura. Taking the ends, Kurama then tied them to Ji and Youko. "There! All done!" Kurama smiled happily, "Now to find the rest of them." He walked away, thinking of how Youko would have to take care of her now.


Youko awoke a few minutes later, Kurama was no where to be seen . . . . And Ji was sitting in his lap! Eye twitching, Youko yelled, "KURAMA! YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS!"


Kurama had been walking for hours and his feet were getting tired. "Man, that Transformation of letting Youko out must have taken most of my energy. Now that I think about it . . . Wouldn't my demonic powers be gone?" Shaking his head, Kurama sighed to himself, sitting down to rest.

"AHHHHHHHHH!"

"What was that!" Kurama jumped up, looking for where the sound came from, but he couldn't pinpoint it, sounding as though it came from all over.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"

"OHMYGOD! WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT!"

"HHHHHHHHHEEEEEEELLLLLLPPPPPPPPP MMMMMMEEEEEEEE!"

Came three different voices. Kurama realized what, or should I say WHO they were and jumped up into the air as Botan, Kuwabara, and Yusuke ran into the clearing, smashing heads against each other where he had been standing moments before.

Yusuke was moaning, his head on the ground bent over where he was kneeling, Kuwabara looked like he was about to cry while holding his head and Botan was just laying there, out cold with swirls for eyes.

"Well, I guess we're all here now!" Kurama smiled, clapping his hands once, and turning around. "Lets go back to-" He stopped talking and gasped. "Holy Pearl of Perils! What if he kills her!" Kurama ran back the way he came, Yusuke glaring at him still on the ground, Kuwabara actually crying, and Botan still knocked out.


Trudging along and slumped over, Youko walked Ji on his back. She was tied around the waist, as was he, which was why she had to be on his back, for there was so little room that even holding her bridle style would have him at almost a perfect ninety degree angle. "God, ya' know, your not that light Jigoku." Youko mumbled, hopping up a little because she was slipping.

"You sayin' . . . I'm fat?" Ji yawned, snuggling closer into the warmth of Youko's Hair. Stunned that she had heard him, Youko didn't know what to say, that is, until she pulled on his hair.

"Ow! No, no! I wasn't saying you were fat." Youko sighed as she stopped moving, struggling as the path decided to get muddy in this particular area.


"WHHHHEEEEEE!" Sumai squealed out as she water skied, Chi pulling her with a demonic rope that wouldn't burn up right away while she was still in her fire ball form.

'Don't they ever give up?' Hiei thought, just noticing the end of the Arctic place where it was all rocky. "Good thing I used Ice skies or that water that passed under these would STAY water!" Sumai laughed, enjoying the feeling of the wind in her hair.

"Well, glad to be of some service to you." Chi remarked sarcastically.

"I'm glad to!" Sumai stated after Chi.

Chi smirked as she saw a particularly jagged Ice rock up a head, then swerving to miss it but going back into a straight line, in front of it, she smiled evilly as she heard the holler behind her then something flying over her head and toward Hiei. "Opps." Chi said innocently as she cut the rope.

"BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I AM THE FLYING POLAR BEAR OF ICE! HERE ME ROAR!. . . . Meow!" Sumai shouted, starting to fall, "GERANAMO!" Pinching her nose with her left hand, with her right arm straight up, Sumai crashed into Hiei.

"GGGGGGGHHHHHHAAAAAAAHHHHH!" Hiei face-planted and skid on the rocky terrain, thanking whatever Gods there were that he was a Demon, or he would probably have no face left! Chi just shook her head and, making sure no one was looking, teleported over to where they were on the ground.

"That was . . . weird." Sumai said, staring at the back of Hiei's head as she sat on his back.

"Yeah." Chi agreed, sipping a soda.

"How did youWhere did youDo I even want to know?"

"No."

"K!"

Grumbling out something that no one understood, Hiei pushed himself up, Sumai sliding down and off of him, as he stood. Wiping away the dirt and bits of rock from his face and clothes, he turned and glared at the two girls. "Listen youIs that a soda? Never mind; listen you two! I don't want to be bothered by you both any more! Leave me alone! Just. Go. AWAY! Alright?"

Sumai stared up at him, then sniffled, her eyes growing glassy and the corners getting wet.

"Awww, now see what you've done? You've gone and made her sad! You big meanie!" Sitting next to Sumai on the ground, Chi patted her back reassuringly, telling her that everything would be ok.

Sighing harshly, Hiei turned around and scratched the back of his neck. Chi and Sumai smirked to each other, then hurriedly went back to the way they were before once Hiei turned back and faced them. "Ok, what would make you happy again?" He asked, looking down at them. Their hair hid Chi and Sumai's faces as they smiled evilly.


Kawaii-sama: Ok, there's probably a lot of mistakes and stuff, and I realized that I put "Particular" or a form of it, somewhere around 3 times. Also, this chapter was paragraphed differently because I'm trying to do this correctly, with what People are saying on different lines. Sigh it's so hard! . And yes, Youko Kurama DOES have a Death beam in case you thought he didn't, I have the Dark Tournament game and it's one of his attacks.

Typo: (Is lying on the floor from all the warm) Sake Pweedy Cowers! Points to the ceiling that is a White/Cream color

Me: Don't worry, he doesn't do this often, I think this is only the second time this has happened, once before I knew him .;;;

Ji: (Is painting pictures on Typo's face) Maybe he drank that sake because of the Looks around and Whispers "Tutu" thing.

Typo: TUTU! GET IT AWAY FROM ME! (Jumps up and runs around, then smashes into a wall) Owww. . .

Chi: (Snickers as she removes the moveable wall and cuts little holes into his clothes) Think of how much fun we're gonna have when he wakes up to a black face, and holes riddled all throughout his clothes!

Us three: (chuckle evilly standing over Typo who's fast asleep with a snot bubble)