"And now you die, demon traitor!" Gama ran at him.
"KURAMA!" The throbbing increased tenfold. I clutched my knuckles.
Then just as he was about to claw out his heart, Kurama turned his head.
"Rose Whip!" The whip, in a bright pink, formless state, struck Gama repeatedly, controlled by Kurama's will. Blood poured from the wounds. He sank to his knees. The whip was wrapped around his ponytail.
"But… The Makeup… of Chains…" The whip receded into his hair.
"Only an amateur depends on arms and legs for victory."
I breathed out a sigh of relief.
"Damn you…" Gama glared at Kurama. "Don't take credit for this. I've killed myself today by the mistake of not sealing your energy as well."
"Don't waste your breath on conversation. I know with the power you're using to restrain me you could easily heal your injuries. Release me and I will let you walk away with your life."
Gama laughed weakly. "Convincing, aren't you? But the battle isn't over yet."
"Even with my arms and legs bound, you are in no shape to fight me. Don't die pointlessly Gama. You're too intelligent for that."
Gama walked forward, blood trailing behind him. "I appreciate your confidence!" Blood splattered onto Kurama as Gama's punch missed.
"Don't move. You'll bleed to death if you keep trying to fight." Kurama sounded worried. Kurama leaned back slightly as he barely missed another punch. More blood fell on his clothing. "It's of no use. Be wise." Gama ignored him and kept trying to punch him.
'I've killed myself today by the mistake of not sealing your energy as well.' My eyes widened as I realized Gama's intent. "KURAMA! KILL HIM! HE'S TRYING TO PUT ANOTHER SEAL ON YOU!" I shouted. His eyes widened.
Gama fell, blood pooling out beneath him. "The death is yours. Your friend noticed too late. And... You never asked me what made my makeup different from that of those human idiots. The difference is the main ingredient… It's made of MY BLOOD." Kurama's eyes widened even more as he felt his energy seal inside of him. "I gave you the Makeup of the Seal. It's what I should've done from the start. So I die, knowing that it was NOT in vain…" His head fell as he died.
Another sect member stepped forward and pulled off his robes, it was the one who had spoken earlier. "You fought bravely Gama. I assure you your death will be honored." His pupil-less icy blue eyes looked at Kurama emotionlessly. "Kurama will pay." I stood from my sitting position beside Kuwabara and ran to the ring, but too late.
"Time's up. By default I must consider those in the ring as the next opponents. So it's Kurama versus Touya!" Kurama bit his lip. His legs and arms were still anchored down by Gama's first curse. He could live with that. His energy trapped inside, he could not. But... Maybe he could stall for time.
"Please, answer me one thing first. Why? The Shinobi have always dealt with their affairs in secret. Why expose yourselves now?"
Touya closed his eyes, then opened them. "For light."
"Explain."
"Its simple, even the strongest tree will die if left in the dark. I find that the best way to describe us. A giant oak, crashing through a dark soil, bringing order to an otherwise chaotic land. The Shinobi have done their job for centuries, and done it well. But in recent years, we have seen glimpses of the outside world and asked 'why not us? Have we not earned the privilege others take for free?' We are entering a new era, and we will begin with a land of our own. This island. It has been arranged that if we win the Tournament, Hanging-Neck Island will be our prize."
"Heh. The ninjas are revolting." Hiei leaned forward.
"The Shinobi have survived for centuries by one master passing on everything he knows to one apprentice before he dies. The previous masters must've made poor selections. These fighters don't know their place." Genkai glanced at them scornfully.
"I don't give a damn about their internal disputes. The only thing that's important is how strong they are. I've fought my share of ice warriors. Seiryu the Blue Dragon fell to my sword quickly enough, but was no master. He was a fool who thought he could get by on half of his lessons. But if there is an ice master, any one who completed the complete training his master intended for him that knows the art of ice, it is Touya."
I listened in. "That's reassuring, Hiei." I muttered and looked back at the ring.
"Let's cease with the conversation. I know you are simply trying to buy time for that seal to wear off."
"I admit, you caught me with my hands red." Kurama inwardly groaned. 'His wits match my own.'
"You boys are having way too much fun. Begin!"
"Gama made the mistake of giving you too much time to think. Not me." Touya clenched his hands into fists and jettisoned his power out, enclosing the ring in it.
"Whoa, that's cold." I gasped, shivering.
"Your own climate control, that's very impressive." Kurama remarked.
"In addition to improving my attacks, it will serve as a barrier." Touya's hands were surrounded in a green light, his energy. "I admit, even with your energy sealed, I am somewhat hesitant to get near you, what with your little rose whip maneuver. You understand." He brought his hand to his mouth and moved it so the surface was, the green light taking form. "I'd rather kill long distance." There was a high, piercing whistle and the razor-sharp blades of ice flew from his hand. "Shards of Winter!" Kurama regained use of his legs just in time to dodge the fatal blow of the assault. Landing, he ran. "Nice try." Touya ran with him. "You'd better think of something quickly, Kurama. You can't dodge these forever." He blew another attack at him. Kurama barely dodged the attacks, using his flexibility and acrobatics. "SURRENDER!" He couldn't dodge. He winced as he used his body to stave off the fatal blow. He stayed down for a second, to buy time. Touya smirked. As Kurama stumbled to his feet, he clutched his side. "That hit was not enough to beat you. I know you stayed down intentionally in yet another attempt to buy time. I suggest you don't try it again."
Kurama inwardly groaned 'I have to find a way to my energy soon, or else he'll bleed me to de-' He looked down at his blood-covered hand. 'Perhaps…' He ran again. Touya readied his energy for more attacks and ran beside him. Ripping his shirt, he used his blood to rub off the seal. 'This seal is powered by Gama's blood. Perhaps my own will disengage it.' He stopped and finished rubbing it off.
"Now, now, don't underestimate Gama's abilities. It'll take a lot more than smearing to disengage it."
Kurama looked at him, and pulled his rose out from his hair. "Rose Whip!" He cried out in pain when he tried to change it.
"I see, you found inklings of your energy in your blood. Only one problem, to release enough energy to defeat me, you'd have to bleed yourself dry." Green light surrounded his hands again.
Kurama fell to his hands and knees. Blood droplets fell beside his hands. 'Touya's right again. These drops won't get me anywhere. I have to find a way soon. I HAVE to win.'
"Gama's seal won't wear off anytime soon. Admit it Kurama, I'm holding the end of your life in my hands." He sent the attack at the helpless fox, which used the same defensive technique, but fell to the floor.
Touya looked at Kurama nervously. 'No one could survive all those direct hits from my ice attack, unless…' He gasped. "You are dangerous, aren't you? I haven't been making direct hits. You've been blocking your vital points with your own body. You must be very old, experienced. Perhaps as I am."
"More alike than you know. Now, tell me, when you get this island, what do you plan to do with it?"
"The world will know just as soon as we get there."
"Don't assume."
Touya's mind raced. 'Could it be he still plans to win this? He's been delaying me after all, letting me believe I was winning all the while thinking of some clever plan…' He concentrated his energy and let it encase his arm in ice, creating a sword. "I can't allow this to continue." Kurama's face was grim. He lunged at Kurama, who dodged and jumped out of the way. "A lucky move, my friend. Let's see how long you can keep that up. RAAH!"
He attacked Kurama, who dodged. 'The slightest mistake and I'll be killed!" And a few more minutes of more lunging and nearly getting beheaded. "I can't postpone any longer. So no more delaying the inevitable…' He let Touya's sword cut his arm. He fell back and onto the floor.
"Kurama! Are you trying to get yourself killed!" I shouted, close to tears. Kurama looked at me fiercely. I felt the breath catch in my throat from the look of determination on his face.
"Let me do what I must, Yusuke." He smiled, but looked more like the fox he was than ever. I smiled back, and nodded. He stood and clutched his arm, inserting a seed into the open wound.
"It seems I got to know you quite well in such a short fight and I rather like you. Let's not let this slaying ruin our friendship." Touya's icy sword reflected the light sinisterly.
"My thoughts exactly." Kurama replied before he started running again.
"Now, you should've have run. I can't guarantee a painless kill that way." Touya remarked. Kurama stopped. "Kurama! Farewell!" Kurama's seed burst open and the vines ran down his arms, ripping through Touya's stomach and keeping him from stabbing him. "But… How? Your energy's trapped inside of you, how could-!" His eyes widened and he gasped as saw the source of the vines. "Insane. You had sown the Death Plant into your own body."
"It was my only option. My energy is trapped inside."
"You… Really are something else…" Touya collapsed. I let out the breath I'd been holding. The barrier vanished and Koto started the count. Touya unsteadily tried to stand up. "Rnn….Uh… ah…." He fell down again just as Koto's voice echoed "Ten!". He paused for a moment, catching his breath. "You won the match, I admit." He looked up at Kurama, his eyes devoid of emotion. "Please, kill me."
Votes:
Hiei: 5
Kurama: 0
Hiei and Kurama: 6