Chapter 8: The Battle Begins

Yusuke, Hiei, and Kuwabara took their places at Kurama's sides and prepared to fight.

"So, you're ready to die now?" Sagara wondered, arrogantly. "Well, I think that can be arranged. Yasuo!"

Yasuo stepped up and took a rose from his hair. He jerked it down, turning it into a whip.

Kurama's eyes widened in shock. He could never do the Rose Whip before, he thought. What happened? How did he learn it?

"In case you were wondering," Sagara spoke up. "His skill has increased as a result of his brainwash. So now, he can perform every technique his fragile body can handle with ease. He is, after all, the ultimate weapon."

Kurama straightened and took a rose from his own hair, glaring at Sagara. He jerked it down, forming a whip.

Sagara smirked and motioned for Yasuo to attack.

Yasuo began flinging his whip at his father with lightning speed and accuracy.

Kurama blocked his blows with minimal difficulty using his own whip. He watched the boy jump back and dodged his next bunch of faster attacks by running off to the left.

Yasuo followed him with his eyes and whip, never ceasing his attacks.

"Whoa," Kuwabara breathed, stunned. "I've never seen anyone move that fast, not even Urameshi."

"No kidding," Yusuke agreed. "And Kurama's keeping up with him too."

"Barely," Hiei said, stuffing his hands in his pockets.

"Huh?" Yusuke and Kuwabara wondered, looking over at him.

"Kurama has never been forced to move at his maximum speed during battle before," Hiei explained. "Even a spirit fox can't last very long moving and fighting that fast. He will tire soon and slow down drastically."

"What?" Yusuke asked, looking back at Kurama who had stopped moving. "But... he's not even breathing hard."

"Just watch, and you'll see what I mean," Hiei replied, smirking.

Yasuo dropped his whip and took a fighting stance, his father doing the same. He charged Kurama and began to throw punches and kicks faster than the human eye.

Kurama blocked and dodged every blow until his son nailed him in the jaw, throwing him to the ground. He pushed himself up and flipped away into a nearby tree as Yasuo's fist came flying at his stomach. He wiped the blood from his lip and jumped away as the boy came at him again. He's a lot stronger and faster than I ever thought possible, he thought, landing lightly on a boulder. I'll have to stay on my utmost guard.

Yasuo landed twenty yards away from him and stared at him, blankly. He shook his head, suddenly, and dropped to a fighting stance again. He charged Kurama and threw a punch, missing him completely. His fist instead connected with the boulder and broke it into a million pieces. Gritting his teeth in frustration, he leapt at his father again.

"What's the deal?" Yusuke wondered. "Why isn't Kurama fighting back? That kid's gonna beat the snot out of him if he doesn't do something soon."

"You idiot," Hiei said, angrily. "You should know Kurama better than that by now. Even in his original demon form, he would never hurt women or children. This child is his son, making him ten times less likely to fight back."

"So, what you're sayin' is he's just gonna keep runnin' away?" Kuwabara asked, glaring down at Hiei.

"Exactly," Hiei agreed. "He'll run away until he comes up with a plan to stop the boy without hurting him. I'm surprised that you were able to catch on so quickly." He smirked up at Kuwabara, waiting for the retort.

"Hey!" Kuwabara yelled, pulling back for a punch.

"Cut it out, you two!" Yusuke ordered, glaring at both of them from the corners of his eyes. "Hiei, shouldn't we go help him or something?"

"No," Hiei declined, shaking his head. "This is Kurama's battle. He may be gentle in his demon form but he would not tolerate us stepping in to help him out. Don't worry, spirit detective. He'll think of something soon."

Yusuke nodded and looked back out at the battlefield. He watched his friend get socked in the gut and then slammed into the ground, getting angrier by the minute.

Kurama struggled to his feet, holding his stomach. He coughed up some blood and straightened, dropping his hand at his side.

"Kurama!" Yusuke called, starting to come to his aid.

"No," Kurama stopped him. "I'm fine, Yusuke. I can handle him by myself. I don't need your help." His tone was firm, demanding no argument whatsoever.

Yusuke nodded slowly and backed up to Hiei's side again.

"I told you so," Hiei scoffed, smirking at Yusuke.

I just hope he'll be alright, Yusuke thought, ignoring Hiei.