---Road to an Eternity of Wars---

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or Yu Yu Hakusho.

(Yawn) I'm running out of ideas for 'Deceased Romance with New Revelations' I don't mean this story, the other one! TT

For this story, yes it may seem as if Kagome and the others were invincible and all, but…they're not. It just shows more in part 2 of this story. (Later on)

Right now, it's because Team Urameshi doesn't know their full potential and is now hesitant because of the people on the team. Thanks!

Chapter 18: Of a Friend and Opponent

Overall POV…

They all stayed in shock for a little while.

Keiko whispered something quietly.

"What was that?" Koto came closer.

Keiko twitched, "I said…END THE MATCH!"

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"Now, that's the Keiko I know" Yusuke smirked, being her loud enough to actually go over the (extremely weak) sound barrier.

"But why would she want to end the match?" Kurama frowned in confusion.

"Sensibly, it would be a tie, if the fight continues, something even more serious is going to happen" Hiei grunted, supplying the unknown information.

"We…should end the match" Kuwabara stared at the two figures standing on the arena: one in shock and one that was tense.

"Uh…um…e-end the match! Tie!"

There was some muttering and shifting in the crowd, disappointed that there would be no more bloodshed.

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"Botan…" Sango whispered, placing her hand on the ferry girl's shoulder as a sign of offered comfort as she walked back to her team members.

"Bl-blood…." Botan muttered in a trance-like state, staring down at her metal covered hands.

"It's alright…" Yukina told Botan, summoning some ice, melting it and then tearing a part of Botan's already ripped cloak off, gently wiping the red substance off her hands, "You're going to see this often now, do you think you'll be okay? You've never had any qualms about blood before…"

Taking a couple deep breaths with the help of Keiko and Kagome, Botan managed to utter out, "I'll be fine"

Kagome suddenly stood up, "I'll go next"

Keiko glanced up at their captain in worry, "Are you sure?"

"Positive. I need to move or my legs will start to numb"

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"Genkai! Are you alright?" Yusuke ran up to his sensei, seeing her clutch her shoulder.

"Genkai!" Kuwabara followed after him in worry.

"I'll be fine" Genkai sighed, shooing them off, but it seemed that they were attached.

Kurama chuckled quietly to himself, walking up to the pink-haired lady and creating some leaves and vines to wrap securely around the wound, "Temporary until we can really fix it up" he explained.

"Alright" Genkai nodded exceptionally, shooing off the other two, "Get off!" she growled.

They immediately detached themselves.

Hiei sighed, muttering about idiot ningens.

"I'm going next, remember?" Kurama eyed the second to last cloaked person on the other team. The way she walked seemed too familiar, but he couldn't pinpoint from exactly where.

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"So…who's going next…?'

The two teams sighed in annoyance. It seemed that with every match, Koto and Juri got even more confused, running their words together and scratching the back of their heads.

"I am" Kagome stated confidently, secretly clenching her fists together and staring at her shoes.

"And I am too" A smooth voice cut in.

'Oh god no…' Kagome's eyes widened, 'I needed to get some movement, but I don't want to fight Kurama!'

'Alright! It looks like the infamous Kurama from Team Urameshi is going up against Kage from Team Higurashi! What a battle this will be!'

They started a stand-off, facing each other in impassive faces, waiting for the other to strike first, as if one was saying, 'oh, go ahead, make the first move' and the other went, 'No really, it's alright, you go first!'. Such a silent death stare.

Kagome twitched in anticipation, 'I…I'm not invincible…and…I'm going up against Kurama. What are the chances here?' The worst thing aired off around her – the doubt and insecurity.

Kurama stared at his opponent, 'who could it be…? Who is this woman that lies beneath the cloak?' His fingers twitched, 'And who will make the first move?'

The opponent from Team Urameshi ran up and did a high kick aimed at Kagome's shoulder.

Startled, Kagome gasped and took the full blow, sending her back a few paces, 'I was soo not expecting that…' Narrowing her eyes, she shifted into her stance and dodged the next attack, grumbling, "This damn cloak just had to restrict my movement"

Due to his good hearing, Kurama detected her tiny retort and smiled a little, "Why don't you just take it off then?" He suggested innocently.

"Hell no! I'm leaving it on, thank you very much!" Kagome yelled out, growling. She reached her right arm behind her and grasped the hilt of her sword, unsheathing one of her twin blades.

With her weapon, Kagome lunged forward, trying to catch Kurama off-guard with no avail.

Kurama gracefully dodged all her attempts and took a rose out of his hair, unknowingly causing Kagome to raise an eyebrow, "Rose Whip!"

Kagome's eyes widened, as the rose seemed to just disappear and reappearing was a long, green whip with thorns that stuck out dangerously.

The whistling of wind was heard as Kagome dived out of a blow and rolled away from Kurama, using the support of her sword to stand up once again.

The whip was startlingly quick for the second time, wrapping around Kagome's sword, jerking it out of her grip. The sword clattered to the ground yards away from where Kagome was situated at the moment.

Clenching her teeth, Kagome pulled out her second blade. She noted that Kurama's face seemed way more solemn and serious then at school, that smile replaced by a firm line, determination set in his eyes.

This only served to unnerve Kagome even further. As her hand started to shake, she gripped her sword tighter, and spun around unconsciously, rocketing forward at the last second, Kurama's back exposed, as he seemed to be deep in thought.

'What is she doing…?' Kurama paused hesitant, 'If it's someone I know…I don't want to hurt her…' He inwardly frowned, 'what if it's Yukina…or Kagome…or maybe somebody else I know…? Then they'd be seriously hurt…!'

But before he could make a firm decision, Kagome had squeezed her eyes shut, not wanting to witness this as the sword had plunged into his back and stuck out of his front stomach.

Kurama's pupils dilated as he saw the sharp metal that had gone through his body.

Kagome whimpered, 'Why…why did I just…do that…?'

As you can see, everybody seems to be having their own problems with everything, fighting people they know and all... yeah…

Is it just me or did this chapter seem really short…? Eh…it's over 1000 words so…nah…Anyways, read and review onegai!

Sayonara,

Tenshi-Battosai