I glanced behind me and saw Botan helping Kuwabara get to the grass. "Oh look, he's off his sickbed. Now that he's fully recovered, I'm sure he'll be a great help." Especially with Hiei's arm injured and Genkai low on her power, considering the Spirit Wave drained her... Kurama nodded.
"Who wants to begin? The first can be captain." I looked at Team Masho. Another tornado tore off one of the fighter's robes, revealing a demon with longer bright red hair and ocean-blue eyes.
"I'll go and take those humans again." His accent was Irish and he spoke rapidly.
"Jin, the Wind Master. Well, that would explain who this team is."
I looked at Kurama, the wind blowing my loose hair around my face. "You know these jokers?"
"Indeed, most demons do. Team Masho must be a pseudonym for this tournament. Their actual names are the Shinobi of the Spirit World."
"Shinobi? What the hell does that mean?" It sounded familiar...
"They're stealth fighters. Deadly mercenaries to the highest bid. A dispute arises in Spirit World and they solve it in secret. You are familiar with their other name, aren't you? The ninja." Jin walked forward, the wind lifting his hair up, a crazy look on his face.
"Team captains will decide on the battle terms." Jin and I stood across from each other. Jin smirked slightly, his left fang pronounced.
"Let's fix these stakes simple enough. One to one to one until I'm a tower on my feet holding the five."
"Whatever he said." I agreed, shrugging. In other words, elimination match.
"Jin has asked for a series of one on one matches with the advancing team taking five wins, and Urameshi gives the nod!"
He stepped to the side and forward, I glanced at him, then joined in the circling, I didn't want to give this guy my back. He was strong. We circled once when he paused. He was just about to pass me when he spoke. "A damn near pleasant wind be fillin' the air now." He glanced at me and I met his gaze. "Tell a person by the wind and yours is the kind I like, Urameshi." I turned towards him a little more a questioning look on my face.
"Huh?" He just looked forward and continued to walk back to his team. I shrugged and walked back over to mine.
I looked up as the speaker spoke. "May I have your attention please. The Tournament Committee will be instituting a medical examination before the next round."
"What the hell is this?" I asked, jumping down from the ring. "Gym class?"
"Due to the Urameshi team fighting without rest and accordance to Section 13 of the Tournament Index, report to the medical tent." I groaned and faced the nurse coming towards them and shivered. I didn't like her.
"Hello." She raised her hand and glanced at each of us in turn. She paused at Hiei and Genkai. "Yes, you two fighters. Would you please follow me to the medical tent?"
"Don't be ridiculous. We need no attention. Why don't you nurse the fool lying on his back?" Hiei asked, obviously unimpressed with her.
"Because his wounds don't interest me in the way yours do, Hiei. Maybe I can help you." Reluctantly, they followed her to the tent. A minute or so later, they turned to leave. Just as they were about to, a force field of some kind surrounded the tent, surrounding them.
"Hey! LADY! WHY DO I GET THE FEELING YOU AREN'T A LICENSED NURSE!" I shouted, running towards them. Seeing the force field appearing.
She turned and removed the nurse outfit. "That's correct. My name is Ruka, considered the most talented creature alive in spell defense incantations." I gritted my teeth. They couldn't escape her, then. Nothing could get through that force field.
"GIVE ME MY DAMN TEAM BACK." I whispered, oblivious to the fact that I was surrounded by my energy, it flickered angrily.
"Didn't you hear the announcement? They're both very sick. They're going to need a little time to recover." She stopped and glanced behind her. "Sokujiyujyo." The energy forced them back, Hiei hissed in pain. I gritted my teeth, as my power inconspicuously increased.
"That energy thread, it uses their own Spirit Energy against them. The more they struggle, the more powerful it will become." Kurama glared at her.
"As a result of the medical examination, Hiei and the Masked Fighter have been ruled unfit to fight. They will sit out for the duration of the round while they are suitably treated." I growled at the announcement.
I turned and ran to the center of the ring, muttering, "What the hell is this!" When I reached Koto, I glowered at the announcer. "How can you let them lie like that? Fighting AGAIN was one thing-!"
"I don't have anything to do with these decisions! Really! I am completely neutral!" She shook her head vigorously.
"WRONG STUPID ANSWER!" My energy pulsated, causing the ring floor to crack, leading to the edge.
"It's all right." I glanced at Kurama, nodded, and took in a deep breath, forcing my energy in. He was right. The committee was against us; although we hadn't been hurt. Too badly at least. Hiei and Genkai were in no shape to fight, considering their lack of energy and strength. And this hopefully gave Team Masho a false sense of security; so we probably had that one small advantage.
I turned to the sound of laughter. The tallest of the five members of Team Masho stood behind Jin. "Two against five, now Jin. You can destroy them all."
Jin glanced at me and I could've sworn I saw sympathy in his eyes. He sighed. "Nah… I'm having to change my mind if it's going to be a fix like that." He closed his eyes and casually brought his hand to his ear and made a show of picking it. Bringing it away, he turned around and walked past his teammate as he said, "I don't give a damn. Somebody else go. I'm sure I'd rather be the watch now."
His teammate put his hand on Jin's shoulder, stopping him from going any farther. "It wouldn't be wise to think you can disrupt the sect this time." Jin turned to face him and put his hand around his teammate's wrist.
He glared death at him, eyes fierce, fangs bared. "Don't ever put your gritty hand on me again." He hissed as he easily pulled his hand off him and pushed him back. He walked to the wall and sat down, his hands behind his head. I could hear him whistle.
"Do not get too upset, Bakken." Another team member with a cross on his robe, advised. I shivered at the sound of his voice, it was like ice. Cool. Distant. "He only wants a true challenge in his battle."
Bakken replied harshly. "I could care less. Who's fighting them first?"
"Please." Another teammate stepped forward and jumped into the ring, shedding his robes. "The Master of Disguise will."
"You're on." I stepped forward, but Kurama moved in front of me. "What-!"
"Let me fight them as long as I can. You'll take over when I fall."
"Do you have to sound so optimistic?" I grumbled, but left the ring. For he could determine their weaknesses better than I could.
"It's Gama versus Kurama." Koto announced. "You may begin."
Gama brought out two paintbrushes from his double sheath. "Tell me, demon traitor; what does the word 'make-up' bring to mind? Human females, no doubt. A little gloss to attract the next mate."
"DON'T STEREOTYPE ME!" I shouted, flipping him off. Kurama chuckled slightly.
Gama continued, pretending he didn't hear her. "Disgusting isn't it? The way humans bastardized everything they touch." Kurama's eyes narrowed. "Over centuries the human influence has infected Spirit World as well." He brought the brushes to his face, leaving bright red paint on his eyes. "Now few demons even know its original power." As he painted his lips, it was a blue paint. He painted himself even more, leaving unusual designs and patterns. He sheathed the brushes and a red aura surrounded him. It boosted his power, but it didn't extend far from his body. Close combat was his specialty, apparently. "Allow me to show you." He charged Kurama, who easily dodged. He knew he was playing a dangerous game, finding the weaknesses before he struck, but he wasn't too worried. "I know all about your plant concoctions, Kurama. And I don't plan to give you time to make them!" He stumbled as he barely avoided a punch. Before he could move, Gama struck. "Let me demonstrate what I mean!" His brush encircled his leg. Gama laughed as Kurama struggled to move his left leg. The paint shimmered.
"If you don't mind me asking, what exactly have you done to me?" He sank to one knee.
"Your leg feels like a giant block of lead, doesn't it?" Gama laughed again.
"That smell…." I groaned. Every part of Kurama's body Gama painted he couldn't move.
"Why try to fight the inevitable? The Makeup of Death has already marked you Kurama. There's no hope for escape."
"KURAMA!" I looked at the kitsune, eyes fearful.
My guess was Gama's makeup seeps through the clothing to the skin, which transmits his spirit energy, so it was as if Kurama was gripped by Gama physically. Gama attacked once again, painting the rest of Kurama's limbs.
"The Makeup of Chains." Gama proudly announced. "Nearly 2,000 pounds of weight is directly chained to his skin now." Gama leapt around Kurama, laughing. "Yes, that's better. Finally you're accepting your fate."
I watched my friend helplessly and whispered, "Please don't leave me alone with these guys…" My eyes widened as Gama went in for the kill. "KURAMA!"