I don't own YYH.

Sorry for such a long delay in my updates! Three research papers have driven me insane for the past three-four weeks. I got them all about the same time and they were due extremely close to one another. Two were due back to back and the other was due four days later. And lets just say that if one is failed (which I've never done in my life, thankfully) I don't graduate. All that's over now :) and all I have to worry about are finals. Ugg.

Thanks for reviewing:

Ani Mei– Thank you! The battle has finally begun! Lol. I'll have to deal with the prequel once summer begins, I have far too much to worry about now to work on it.

strawberry – eep, scary voices T.T Lol. My battle has bugged me for a while, I had no idea how to write it. I had it all in my head, but when it came to sitting down and typing it got all jumbled… In the end this was the product… or rather part of the product. You'll see what I mean by the last part at the end.

jadejr1212– cries I'm sorry! School is horrid… and trust me when I say this, if I get off the A honorol in school my parents will most likely take away my internet and then there won't be any updates... or at least not for a real long time.


Chapter 28

"Koenma sir, have you ever heard of that legend?" Botan asked in bewilderment as she turned her gaze from the monitor to the spirit prince.

"No," Koenma admitted, never taking his gaze from the screen. "Then again I've never studied the ancient ways."

The spirit envoy nodded and remained quite for several moments before speaking once again, "I wonder who all the gods are."

"Elemental masters undoubtedly," Koenma responded. "At least that is the impression I get from watching Eralasea and Firan."

Botan nodded once again. "Koenma sir…" she hesitated a moment, "What chance do you think Era has of winning?"

Sighing the price answered back with three simple words, "I don't know."

vvvv

Era's fist connected with Van-Gareth's jaw line at the same time as his connected with hers. The impacts held such power that both fighters found themselves flying backwards, where upon their back smashed into a monolith. To the amazement of Touya and the rest of the group the stones neither shifted from their position nor showed signs of cracking in the slightest of ways.

Both fighters slid down the monolith to their feet, where they stood unfazed. Eralasea smiled faintly and stepped out of the battle arena, stopped when next to Firan.

"The battle fairs as it should thus far," Firan calmly said with his arms crossed over his chest.

"Thus far," Eralasea repeated. Firan merely nodded, knowing that as the battle commenced one would clearly be the winner, but who that victor would be was unknown.

"Eralasea," Touya began, "Era told us that we were to come here for an item that would aid her in defeating Van-Gareth, where is it?"

The goddess smiled softly at looked at the ice master, whom was only a few feet away to her left, "As you know Era's ability to speak in this modern tongue is far below average. What she came looking for was not an item, or at least one that you can physically hold, rather she came looking for something more- meaningful."

"What do you mean?" Touya asked in confusion.

"That is something that you must figure out for yourself," the goddess said as she turned her gaze back to the battle in time to see Era roundhouse kick Van-Gareth to the ground.

"Will this- thing help her?" Touya questioned in worry.

"It all depends."

The words were not reassuring in the least to the ice master, but there was nothing he could do, or so he thought. As he let his gaze fall back to the battle he cringed at the sharp noise created when one was hurtled into the monoliths. That person happened to be the one he was worried about and this time she did not slid to her feet, she fell to her stomach.

Van-Gareth seemed displeased even though he had struck the water maiden so hard. Closer inspection proved to hold the reason; a deep bluish-purple substance was trailing down his arm to his finger tips where it dripped to the grass below.

"Is that blood?" Kuwabara asked.

"I believe so," Kurama answered, "It isn't too awkward to see demons with blood that isn't red."

Era began to pick herself up of the ground. When her hands became free one went to the back of her head to rub the area that had slammed into the monolith, discomfort evident on her features.

Suddenly Van-Gareth disappeared, leaving Era to look around in hopes to detect him before she could be struck once again. Her hopes paid off as she dodged the shadow beast as he came out from the shadows attempting to stab her with a hand that was now shaped like a jousting lance.

Not a second later did she bring her knee up to hit him in the stomach, but he merged back into the shadows before the blow could be dealt. Unfazed by his escape Era came to stand on both her feet as she felt out her opponent's location.

When Van-Gareth reappeared he was behind the water maiden, his lance like arm once again went for a fatal blow. Era turned and stepped back out of the way, however her movements proved too slow to escape it completely, leaving a cut to appear on her cheek. As blood began to leak down her face she stepped towards her enemy, her fist following with the intent to land square in the middle of his face.

To evade a blow that would cause pain to surge through him body he jumped into the air. He was about to disappear into his element when something strong latched around his leg and slammed him into the ground with enough force to make a small indentation. That something proved to be water no thicker than a piece of rope.

With a growl Van-Gareth's arm turned into a whip and was sent with a sharp crack at Era, who ducked to evade it. The shadow beast had expected such a movement and was quick to send his whip like arm back at her, this time it curled around her legs tightly and lifted her into the air upside down.

Era wriggled around in midair as she tried to get Van-Gareth off of her, letting go of the water bound to his leg in the process. She grabbed the aggregating whip and tugged harshly on it as she attempted to pry it from its tight grasp.

Feeling the water around his ankle sink back into the ground Van-Gareth flung his arm grasping Era to the side, letting go of her near the ground to allow her to land with no hope of bracing herself. Her breath was knocked out of her lungs as he got to his feet, malice gleaming in his blood red eyes.

"Era get up!" Touya cried from the side lines.

Era coughed repeatedly as she tried to refill her lungs with oxygen. Van-Gareth noted her state of weakness and would not let it go now that this was to be their final battle, the very battle that would decide who would change the world.

The shadow beast jumped diagonally into the air so that he would be over the coughing maiden, his arm shifting to the form of lance once again.

"ERA!" Touya screamed so hard he felt his throat sear in pain.

The water maiden pushed up on her arms and looked up to him after she coughed, a faintly smile playing on her lips. Water built up around her hands, but if it was to be an attack it never had the chance to leave the ground.

Van-Gareth's lance like arm pierced the middle of her back, only stopping when it hit the ground below.

Touya and all his friends stared at the scene with horror and a lack of breath. "No," Touya whispered, he never turned his head to the side despite his mind wanting him to, nor did he ever take his eyes away from the horrid scene. Instead he took in a deep breath and screamed much like he had when he had first lost the maiden, "ERA!"

Eralasea covered her offended ears, "Not so loud child."

Touya's hands clenched into fists as tear welled into his eyes. He had cried more in the last week than he had in years, but he did not care.

"'ow can ya be so emotionless?" Jin questioned with drooped ears.

"Do you really believe Era is gone?" Eralasea questioned.

Shock covered their faces at these words. "But she-"

"Look closer child," the goddess cut him off.

Touya fixed his eyes on Era. Her eyes were closed and her body was limp on the ground. The lance had been removed from her back, yet no redness could be seen upon her, with the exception of her cheek.

"There's no blood," Touya said in surprise before a smile came to greet his face. "That means-"

"The battle isn't over," Firan finished.


So… if Era's alive, where is she? And what is that thing that looks like here?

Find out in the next chapter!

I'm hoping to update either next weekend or a few days after that (after my dratted math final). Another words I'm going to do my best to get my updates back on track.

Please review!

Thanks