Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho
Episode 10
"I, Ookami the lightning wolf, shall defeat you!" The wolf youkai smirked, grabbing the scythe. Lightning crackled, and the scythe was connected to the end of a long rod of electricity.
"You seem to be under the impression that I am going to sit here quietly and let you decapitate me with that halberd of yours," Youko smirked. The two youkai immediately flew at each other, slashing ferociously with their weapons. Ookami's halberd sent out an electrical shock every time their blades connected, and the effected was multiplied, as Youko was still wet from his previous battle. Soon, his steps slowed, and his blows weakened.
"Youko Kurama has gotten reckless," Hiei sniffed with disdain. "I suppose that is the result of having been cooped up for so long… especially around such good opponents."
"Oi, midget, are you saying Kurama's going to lose!" Kuwabara yelled.
"No, you big oaf. I am simply stating the obvious."
On the arena, Youko had stumbled, and for a split second, he was off guard.
"Die! Lightning Strike Explosion!" Ookami growled, throwing a ball of lightning at the fox demon.
"No! Kurama!" Yusuke and Kuwabara yelled. Hiei simply stood quietly.
"Fufufu, he got too reckless," Ookami smirked, turning away. "Too bad it brought his end."
"I'm not dead yet," said a voice from the smoke. Kurama emerged from the smoke, battered and bruised but still alive.
"Oh. Back to your human form, eh?" the wolf sighed, and lowered his halberd. "Too bad I'll have to impale you either way."
"Not if I can help it," Kurama muttered, biting his fingernail. Ookami was a difficult enemy… dare I risk fighting him as I am now? Or should I ask Youko again? No, maybe not. He's probably tired anyhow.
"Oh? And what will you do to stop me?" Ookami asked, swinging the halberd.
Kurama had a split second to react, barely avoiding the electrically charged blade. He ran around the circumference of the arena, with the wolf demon closely behind. The outer edges of stone began to crumble, due to the holes Ookami was making with his halberd.
"What the hell is Kurama doing?" Kuwabara yelled. "He's just running around in circles!"
"Thanks for stating the obvious," Hiei snapped. "I'm sure he has his own plan."
"Well, whatever it is, he'd better run faster," Yusuke muttered. "Ookami's catching up."
"I wonder what Kurama's doing! He seems to be trying to dodge his opponent by running around in circles! I think he's getting soft, don't you!" Kori was busy yelling to the audience. "What's this! He just ran into the center of the arena!"
"Plants of Makai, heed my call," Kurama said quickly, placing his palm on the ground as Ookami closed in.
"Die!" The wolf yelled for the second time, slashing downward. Kurama was kneeling, and in no way could he escape. Only Ookami did not notice the vine creeping up Kurama's arm.
There was a blinding flash of lightning, a roll of thunder, and a deafening explosion. When the smoke cleared, Yusuke could see two figures frozen in place.
"Heh, looks like you got me," Ookami smirked, coughing up blood. A huge vine was sticking out of his chest.
"I could say the same about you," Kurama replied. The wolf's blade had cut deep into Kurama's shoulder. Blood leaked in a steady stream from the wound. The two youkai looked at each other and chuckled. Then they both slid to the ground, seemingly dead.
"Well! What an… unexpected conclusion! Well, I'll start my count now! If neither of the fighters can get up before I count to ten, then it's a draw! So… One! Two! Three!"
"Is he ok?" Kuwabara asked. "I think he's bleeding a lot."
"Thanks for stating the obvious. Again," Hiei muttered. "He's alive."
"How do you know that, shorty?"
"Kurama is not the type to go down after a simple cut like that," Hiei sniffed in disdain. "Unlike you."
"Hey!"
"Nine… and TEN! The battle is a draw! Um… Will someone from each team come and retrieve their fighters?"
"Bwaa! Ookami, are you ok?" Shouka asked worriedly as Keisui grabbed Ookami's body.
"Ugh Ookami, you're damn heavy," Keisui grunted. "Why do I always have to be the one to haul your carcass off the crime scene?"
"I don't think he can hear you," Shouka said, looking up at Ookami's face.
Meanwhile, Yusuke was having his own problems…
"Damn what the hell is this stuff?" Yusuke snarled, trying to untangle Kurama from the vines. "It frickin won't come off!"
"Here, let me try to cut them, Urameshi," Kuwabara offered, taking out his Spirit Sword.
"That won't work," Hiei said shortly. "Kurama has to command the plants."
"Yeah, but Kurama is unconscious!"
"Then wake him up."
"Yeah, well—" Before Kuwabara could retort, the vines snaked away and slithered back into the ground. Yusuke, Hiei, and Kuwabara looked up. Ookami was standing in front of them, with the support of Keisui.
"It helps if you know how to talk to them," smiled the wolf demon. His companion grunted and hauled him over his shoulder.
"That's enough out of you for today. Now go to sleep," Keisui muttered. He walked calmly off the stage, placed his injured teammate tenderly on the grass next to Junsui and walked back to the stage. "Now, I shall fight you, team Urameshi!"
"No! I want to fight!" Shouka yelled from the grass.
Keisui turned around to look at Shouka, who was waving her arm off, and sighed. "Ok, you can fight. Just don't get yourself beat up like those two idiots, ok?"
"No way!" the shinobi girl smiled. "They'll be fried to a crisp before I'm through with them!"
"We'll see about that," Keisui laughed. "Have fun."
"Well? Who wants to fight me?" Shouka asked, bouncing up to the stage.
"I can't," Kuwabara said. "You know I can't hit girls."
"Well, I want to fight the big guy," Yusuke said, making a fist. "Kurama's out, and Akuryou's… … Forget Akuryou! Well Hiei, looks like it's your turn!"
"Hn," Hiei said, walking toward the arena. "If it can't be helped."
"Well, ladies and gentlemen! I hope you ready for a hot battle, cause we've got a fire demon and a fire shinobi in the ring! Fighters ready? BEGIN!"
"Wow, so you're Hiei?" Shouka asked, fireballs igniting in her hands. "You're awfully short!"
"Hn," Hiei grunted, drawing his blade.
"Well, don't hold back cause I'm a girl!" Shouka said, smirking. "Cause I ain't holding back!" She yelled, launching fireballs at Hiei. The fire demon dodged them easily, and went in for the kill. The fire shinobi tried to dodge, but she wasn't quick enough. Hiei's sword went straight through her right shoulder.
"Hn, I missed," he muttered, sounding disappointed.
"I'm not through yet!" Shouka yelled, pain causing her voice to shake.
"That's what they all say," Hiei said without emotion, slashing viciously.
The fire shinobi slumped to the ground with a cry, bleeding profusely. Her arm was almost completely severed from her body.
"Um… I'll start the count now!" Kori announced uneasily. "One! Two!"
"W-wait!" the girl was trying to sit up, despite her wounds. "I…I'm not dead yet!"
"You will be, if you keep bleeding like that."
"I would rather die than disgrace my team!"
"Hn. You're just like that ice one last time," Hiei muttered, hitting her with the handle of his sword.
"Eight! Nine! And… TEN! Hiei wins the battle!"
Hiei walked calmly off the arena. Keisui stalked onto the stage and picked up Shouka gently. Then he shot the short fire youkai a murderous glare.
) Meanwhile (
"Stop it."
"Stop what?"
"Putting your arm around me!"
"I'm not!" Korosu said innocently, his arm slinking away at once.
"Liar," Akuryou hissed, swearing fluently in two languages.
"Tsk," the youkai smirked. "Don't swear like that young lady!"
"I am NOT A LADY!" Akuryou yelled. She grabbed the intruding hand and flipping Korosu onto his back, then ran as quickly as she could toward the stadium.
"Oi! That ain't very nice! Come back here Akuryouuuuu!" Korosu's wailing voice faded slowly.
"Enma damn him!" Akuryou swore. "I'm on the FRICKIN OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ISLAND!" She looked up as she ran and yelled to the sky, "DETECTIVE, YOU BETTER LEAVE ONE FOR ME!"
) Meanwhile (
"Alright then, chose your next fighters!"
"Heh," Keisui smirked, flicking his short ponytail to one side. "My turn!"
"Alright!" Yusuke said happily. "My tu—ah… ah… … ACHOO!"
"What's wrong, Urameshi? Coming down with something? Makaian flues have awful affects on humans, you know?" Keisui asked teasingly.
"Eh, it was nothing," Yusuke replied, rubbing his nose. "So, what's your element? We've fought water, lightning, and fire."
"You'll see," Keisui said, smirking even more.
"Fighters ready? BEGIN!"
"Let's see what you can do, Yusuke Urameshi!" Keisui laughed. Thunderclouds rolled in above the stadium.
"Bring it!"
Sorry guys, short chapter! I just thought it would be a good place to stop…
Kurama: Well, it seems that Akuryou still has not arrived at the stadium… And I wonder what Keisui's element is? And what in the three worlds is Akuryou going to do about that annoying youkai? Find out next time, on Yu Yu Hakusho!