Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin or Yu Yu Hakusho.

Chapter 8: Bad News

"Hiei! Wait for us!!" Yuusuke's voice was quite clear, even in the fog Hiei could tell exactly where they were. He scowled and cursed under his breath. He didn't want them to go as well. He only wanted to be alone with Kurama. Hiei heard a sigh behind him as Kurama sagged his head from his normal posture.

Ever since I did that to The Fool, Kurama hasn't said much. I wonder what is on his mind... His thought trailed off as he came to an abrupt stop. He only had a few seconds before The Fool and Yuusuke caught up, so he chose his words carefully. Kurama noticed that he had stopped and looked up at him thoughtfully.

"Kurama, if you're wondering where I learned that move from, it's from my past life as Hitokiri Battousai/Himura Kenshin..." Hiei said, and then started walking at a brisk pace again, leaving Kurama in dead shock. Yuusuke and Kuwabara caught up with Kurama, and found him still in shock. Kuwabara shook Kurama a bit before he came back to reality.

"Hey man, are you alright? You look sick er something." Kurama immediately switched his facial expression and began walking again, in hopes of catching up with Hiei,leaving Kuwabara wondering what the hell was going on.

"Man, Hiei and Kurama have been actin' weird since they went to the Makai last and Hiei bumped his head. You have any idea Urameshi?" Kuwabara said as he rubbed his head. Yuusuke only shruged. He honestly didn't care. In his opnion, Hiei had lightened up considerably. Usually Yuusuke and Kurama were stuck breaking the two up from their fighting, and each time Hiei would have killed Kuwabara easily. This last time, Hiei restrained himself to the point where he even used the blunt side of the katana, which is very unusual. Yuusuke started to walk, and paused in midstep.

"Hey! Is that the energy of that one dude that escaped from The Emergency Cells in Reikai Prison that Botan and the other chick was tellin' us about?" Kuwabara said as he looked behind him. His sixth sense tingled and a chill went down his spine. He could clearly see a very demon aura was followng them.

"Hey Urameshi! Get the hell outta my way!" Hiei yelled, and as Yuusuke stepped aside, Hiei appeared in front of him. Kurama soon appeared out of the mist and frowned.

"Who the hell are you?!" Yuusuke yelled as he flipped the bird to the mysterious aura. Red eyes glowed from the mist, followed by a shadow. Hiei's eyes narrowed to the usual death glare. The figure appeared in front of them. It looked like a mummy.

"Where is Hitokiri Battousai? I know he was reincarnated as one of you four... Which one of you is he?" The voice from the mummy faded as a katana appeared.

"Never thought I would hear your voice again, Mokoto Shishio." Hiei said, bringing his katana and sheath into full view. Everyone, but Hiei and this mummy figure, stepped back. Hiei took in a deep breath, closing his eyes. Upon opening them, the golden tint was over his eyes, causing everyone to step back even further. The mysterious mummy smile widened.

"It has been a long time Battousai. I want to settle this once and for all." Shishio said as he pulled his gloves on tighter. Hiei smirked and remembered what happened 129 years ago...

"I have no quarrel with anyone else, so rest assured that they will live if you happen to die again Battousai.. so long as none of them attack me." Shishio continued, then he threw a katana towards Hiei. Hiei caught it.

"This is something of yours from a long time ago." Shishio said. Upon opening it, he found that it was a "sakabato" (reverse-edged sword), and tossed it aside.

"I am not the Rurouni, I'm a killer, so if you're going to give me a weapon, make it a killing one." Hiei said, glaring at Shishio.

"So, you've given up on that 'I do not kill' idealistic nonsense now that you have a new body." Shishio said, smiling even bigger. Hiei narrowed his eyes even more.

"No. You said that you wanted to see Hitokiri Battousai. Well, here I am." Hiei said, opening his Jagan. As he opened it, his demon aura rose, and his image started to change. After a few seconds, an older-aged samurai figure rose from where Hiei was standing. The figure had on black colored kendo pants and a dark blue kendo shirt. His hair was red, and loose except where he had it put into a ponytail. There was also a cross-shaped scar on the figures left cheek. Kurama was amazed that Hiei put forth this mental image of Hitokiri Battousai, and stepped back even further. Yuusuke and Kuwabara followed suit. Now the three were standing near some trees.

"Why'd you move to here Kurama?" Kuwabara whispered to the kitsune.

"Because both of those fighters are going to need the room, and if we are there, we will only get diced. Trust me Hitokiri Battousai is a very deadly man." Kurama said, watching everything that is happening carefully. Yuusuke nodded.

"So you managed to escape from hell huh?" Shishio smirked. He knew the repsonse that he was going to get from Himura, even in his new body, his skill never diminished. Not a single bit. Battousai's amber eyes narrowed.

"Obviously." Battousai said, confirming what Shishio already knew.

"Enough talk, now you finally die Hitokiri Battousai." Shishio said as he thrusted his blade towards Battousai. Battousai shifted his head to the left, and watched the katana blade rush past himself. Battousai and Shishio's katana's made a ring through the forest as Shishio arced the katana towards Battousai, and met Battousai's katana.

"I'm the one who is going to do the killing." Battousai said after the ring died down, and he slashed downwards. Shishio barely dodged as he spun around for another attack. Battousai jumped back a couple of feet, and ran towards Shishio with his blade parallel to the ground. Shishio had little time to react to the new attack, but he held out his gloved hand, and placed his Mugenjin on the back of his glove.

"HITEN-MITSURUGI-RYUU-KU-Zu-RYU-SEN!" Battousai yelled at the same time as Shishio's, "GUREN KAINA!" A huge explosion took place. After the blast, Kurama could see Battousai standing up near a tree, and Shishio standing right where he was when the blast took place. Shishio had a few cuts on his arms, while Battousai had clear-as-day singe marks on his gi. The thing that stunned everyone was that there were burns on Battousai's skin. Kuwabara noticed them after a second.

"Hey! Isn't Hiei a FIRE-demon?" He said to Yuusuke, who nodded.

"Then why is he all burnt and shit?" He said to Yuusuke, who shrugged. Kuwabara facevaulted. Kurama looked closer at Hiei.

"It is because he is using his Jagan to produce this other image of himself. The more he does it, the more volnerable he becomes to both fire and ice. This battle better end soon before Hiei is completely volnerable to fire and ice, and when that happens, it will be permanent." Kurama explained quickly to Kuwabara. Yuusuke chuckled.

"So in stupid terms Kuwabara, Hiei is obtaining a HUMAN aura, rather then a DEMON aura." Yuusuke said, dodging a volley of punches from Kuwabara, who was furious. Kurama retrieved the sakabato, just in case Hiei needed it.

Meanwhile..

"I see you are still standing Battousai. I do admire your spirit. You are the only one to live through my Guren Kaina--not once, but twice. This time it will kill you for sure." Shishio said as he gripped his katana with both hands, and swung them across the ground, lighting a flame from the sword. Battousai only wiped the blood from his face, and sheathed the katana in Battousjutsu stance.

"Sorry Shishio, but when I say that I will kill, you'll end up dead." Battousai said, narrowing his eyes. Shishio only smirked.

The Ama-kakeru-ryu-no-hirameki. This is the only move that allows for the Battousai to unleash his true potential. Shishio thought as he prepared for the attack. When he was a Rurouni, he nearly killed Shishio with this attack, so Shishio stood, even more prepared then ever. Shishio attacked. Battousai easily read the quick thrust and countered with the Ama-kakeru-ryu-no-hirameki, which surpassed the god-like speed and even Shishio couldn't see the attack, but side-stepped. Then Shishio felt the pull from the vacum that the Ama-kakru-ryu-no-hirameki made when the first attack missed. He held up the mugenjin for a quick block...

Success! Shishio not only blocked the attack, but broke the end off Battousai's katana. Shishio felt glee as he slid into a large oak tree. Battousai only stood.

"Hiten-Mitsurugi-Ryuu, Ama-Kakeru-Ryu-no-Hirameki." Battousai said, glaring at Shishio, who only smiled.

"Well Battousai, I am impressed, but your katana is broken, you have no chance of winning now. Die in peace!" Shishio said, pulling another glove on his bare hand. Battousai looked around, and seen Kurama with a katana sheath in his hands. Kurama nodded and threw the sakabato towards Battousai. Shishio started to rush with his hand out and the Mugenjin attached to the back of his hand. Battousai's mind flinched as he caught the sakabato. His amber eyes faded to a dark purple, and he remembered the oath.

This one will never kill again, that this one will most certainly not."

Battousai turned with his new weapon, and once again stood in Battojutsu stance. Then something happened at the back of his mind.

Is this a regular Japanese katana? he thought as Shishio bacame in range. Battousai flipped the Sakabato and unsheathed it, realizing it was too late when the sharp side of the sakabato tore through Shisho's torso. Kurama watched carefully as Kenshin's image slowly faded into that of Hiei. Kurama watched closer as Hiei began to cry. Kurama narrowed his eyes, and widened them in shock.

Hiei is crying, yet there are no tear gems, only tears. Should I approach him? Is he alright? Kurama though as Hiei stood, and swung the blood off of the katana. He turned towards Kurama, sheathing the katana, and revealed something that had not fadded.

The cross-shaped scar on his left cheek is still there?! And his left eye is still a purplish color... why? Kurama thought as he started to walk towards Hiei, who still had tears comming down his cheeks, but not in the numorus amount as before. Before Kurama could realize it, he was hugging Hiei tightly.

"I am very glad to see you like this Himura Kenshin, even though you didn't want to kill me, you used your natural survival instinct to live. I am very pleased Hitokiri Battousai, you killed me with your own weapon, the one that you swore your oath on. Even if you didn't die now, I shall wait for you in Hell, where we can duel again." Shishio's voice rang through the forest, followed by an evil laugh. Yuusuke and Kuwabara started to run after the spirit as it started to vanish into the fog, leaving Kurama and Hiei alone. Hiei stood, and began walking towards "The Market."

"K'rama, let's make this quick. There is something that must be said when we get back to Ningenkai." Hiei said, watching Kurama get up and run to catch up.

Authors' Note: once again, i appoligize for my lack of updating. i hope you have enjoyed this chapter. % the next one should be out of me a little bit sooner than this one was % thanks for your patience. -Rudy Blade-