Disclaimer: Don't own YYH or Katrina Kon. I only own the storyline. Thanks to my signed and anonymous reviewers, particularly Anime-Freak54. Thanks!

Chapter 13: Why Did I Want to Learn from Genkai Again?

I have never felt more alert in my life. I'm so excited about learning from Genkai! I start to whistle, 'cause I'm never going to become the panther again! At least, that's what I hope. I am walking to her with Keiko in tow, even though she is complaining about getting up so early when we are on the Japanese Independence Day Holiday Week. The only way I got her to come was because I said I needed to "repay" her for getting me A's on all of my projects. I don't think this was what she had in mind, though. Hehe.

I see Genkai and run to her excitedly. Keiko grudgingly follows. "HI, GENKAI!" I yell like a little girl.

"Hello, girls. Follow me."

She drags us on and on and on and on, getting miles away from the school. At least Keiko and I won't be missed, since all the teachers are at home with their families. Even my enthusiasm is wearing thin by the time we reach an ancient, large temple.

"Keiko, you already know this, but Katrina, this is where I train. I also trained Yusuke here. His training took many months." I utter a gasp of surprise. If she heard it, she pretended not to.

"Since you are part demon already, therefore not full human like him, your training should only take a few weeks. As you are on quarter break as well as holiday break, you should be ready by the time you go back to school. You will live here until at which time you are fully trained. Understand?"

"Yes."

"Okay, let's not waste time. Show me your powers. I need to know what you can do."

I don't like how she said 'can.' Almost as though I don't know anything. Oh, well. She is a tough freak as it is. I search inside for the panther, and it rises eagerly to meet my calling. I can feel transformation coming on. I start to pant and then.....

"Girl, not that kind of power. Not where you transform. Show me spirit energy. C'mon, you can do it, girl, go! After several more fruitless attemps, she rolls her eyes. "Watch my demonstration." She stares at her hand, which begins to glow with golden energy. It's so beautiful...

"How do you do that?" I inquire.

"Reach inside your soul and you should find a ball of energy. It is from this fireball that you call your powers from, including your panther shape. Concentrate on believing there is a ball of energy within you, and you will make fire. Go on, go on!"

"ALL RIGHT!" She's pushy. V-e-r-y pushy. I concentrate on the impossible. Sweat appears on my forehead.

"You're not believing!" She says harshly. I glare at her and try again.

To my surprise, blue fire appears in my hand, slowly spreading throughout my body. Now I'm glowing all over. I see Genkai looking puzzled.

"Girl, where did you learn that?"

"First of all, my name isn't 'Girl.' And secondly, I just let the power spread by itself. I didn't have too much to do with it."

"Well, Katrina, you're a fast learner. It took Yusuke a long time to master that one. Try another one. Now, Kurama told me that you're half panther, half human?"

"That's correct. And by the way, where's Keiko? Haven't seen her for a while."

"She's asleep in her room. Anyway, demons have a secondary effect to their main strength. Yours is brute strength and camouflage, Kurama's is poisonous plants and healing abilities, Hiei's is flame powers and non-human speed, Yukina's are icy attacks and healing ability...It's the same for every demon. You need to excercise both of those powers to really get control, so that's what we will work on soon. Make more fire for me, please."

I make it. "Again!" I make it again. "Again!" I make it again. "Again!" This goes on for several hours until I can barely walk. "Go to bed, Katrina." I gladly oblige. I'm sharing the same room as Keiko, who by this time has woken up (finally).

"How was it?" she asks. I start to answer, but the bed is too comfortable. See ya, world...

I awaken to hear voices outside my door. I know it's wrong to eavesdropp, but I do it anyway. Oh, well. It's Yusuke and Genkai; their voices are very distinctive.

Genkai is talking. "...Power...incredible..."

Some dude, probably Yusuke, talks. "How can you tell?"

"Trust me, she...improving...faster than you did."

"YOU'RE KIDDING! I was the one who beat Tigoro in the Dark Tournament, before all those sick demonic fans! I was the one who brought you and Kuwabara back to life...literally!"

"True, but she is more powerful than you. And Botan brought me back to life, buffoon! Kurama told me that she already prevented a transformation all by herslf, and that's something some adult demons can't do, and as she's a half demon, too...It's a little too early to tell, but I can make an educated guess that she's going to be an impressive fighter one day. Perhaps even better than me. Unlike you."

"Just what I need, another meaner, more powerful, annoying...er Genkai," Yusuke mutters. They disperse to the temple gym.

They obviously didn't know what they were talking about. Me, a good fighter? I laugh. I don't much approve of fighting for sport, I think it just wastes time.

"Okay Katrina, today we move on. You have shown great talent in terms of fire making. Now we'll move on to more tricky stuff."

"Okay..." I flinch. Her voice makes me flinch.

"Become the panther for me. I will use my power to let you keep your mind for the first time through, but after that you will have to do it yourself. We will spend many weeks on this. Begin!"

I oblige. Keiko looks worried. However worried she is, I'm more so. What if I kill my teacher? Maybe she'd be happier dead, though. She certainly is always grim in life.

I transform quicker this time. It gets easier every time I try to. I can vaguely see Genkai chanting, and just as I was beginning to feel some mind tyranny resistance from the panther, there is none at all. The strangest feeling...

I confidently go through the ritual, and am suddenly standing, a great hairy black beast, on the floor of Genkai's temple. I walk around, flexing my four legs. I feel incredible power in me, surging through my blood. I try to speak, but a growl comes out instead. I try to laugh at it but can't.

So, I pace over to Keiko. She is white under her tan. She shakes violently. (Hey, I'd be afraid of me too! I'm twice as big as a normal panther). She takes a deep breath and reaches up, changes her mind, and runs like heck. Oh sheesh, is this how everyone is going to react to me now?

Genkai calls me over. I can see she is straining. "I'm going to release you from my magic, okay? Just be prepared to fight it again."

I nod, gravely dreading that time.

"Three, two, one, FIGHT!"

I feel it again beneath me. I sweat instantly and fight to supress it. This time, I will not become a mad beast, or kill Keiko or Genkai. Strong as Genkai is, I don't think she could handle me killing her or my best friend.

I will not let it beat...me down...

Just try it, panther...

Try it...

See if you can...

I'm me again! Memememememememememememe! I never loved me so much!

"Keiko! I'm meeeeeeeeeeeeee! I didn't even feel myself changing back!" I run into her room her to tell her about it. She stares slowly, and looks immensely relieved that I am 13 and human again.

When I run back with Keiko in tow, I see that Genkai looks impressed. "You beat it in such a short period of time, too! Impressive, Katrina really."

I hear a 'but' in her voice. "But..." I prompt.

"But I'm afraid you were only able to beat it quickly because I kept it under for so long. You've a long way to go, Katrina."

"Must you always be optimistic, Genkai?" I ask sarcastically in a pained voice.

She smiles. "Training resumes for tomorrow. I'm afraid neither of us have any Spirit Energy left."

I eagerly totter to bed and dreamlessly sleep for many long hours. I don't even hear Keiko come in.

A/N 45 chapters completed! Though by the time I post this I'll probably be well into 50...ideas, ideas...

SPOILER WARNING! The gang gets to the actual famous spirit world in chapters 21 or 22.