True Belonging

by Too Young to Feel This Tired

It always felt as if the world was grey, haunted, silent with barely enough noise for him to realize that he was awake and present. Except for when she touched him. When she touched him, the world bathed in the brightest colors of sunflowers and green ribbons in raven hair.M for swearing, violence, non-con and later consensual explicit smut

10. Youth Part VIII

Title: True Belonging

Summary: It always felt as if the world was grey, haunted, silent with barely enough noise for him to realize that he was awake and present. Except for when she touched him. When she touched him, the world bathed in the brightest colors of sunflowers and green ribbons in raven hair. M for swearing, violence, non-con, and later explicit smut.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything

Chapter Ten: Youth Part VIII.

---

This is my confession.

As dark as I am,

I will always

Find enough light

To adore you to pieces,

With all of my pieces

– Johny Nguyen

---

Warning: Mention of character death, violence, blood

---

To be completely honest, Kurama felt this crawling sensation under his skin ever since Nana left with Hiei. It was most likely the traces of his anger still lingering inside him almost mocking him for all his misfortunes.

Despite everything he ever told himself, everything he wished to control and keep in check, he still managed to do the unthinkable. He hurt her. He hurt Nana and worse even if she didn't want to, he finally forced her to leave. It was a brutal hit into parts of him he long since knew he grew inside him in the name of his affection and friendship for the girl. Soft parts. Unfit for a yokai. Parts he would have no use for if he was still the Legendary Thief in Makai. Yet, these parts were impossible to cut out anymore. They screamed. They hurt. And they demanded that he would go after her and make amends before it was too late. However, these soft parts were fitting for his human side. Irrational, passionate, affectionate. A side that grew up inside this new body. But once he focused enough if nothing else, Kurama managed to silent these parts.

He tried the potion a couple of times just to be certain how many minutes he would be allowed to be in his previous body.

Every time it seemed to affect his psyche for a moment mixing between who he used to be and who he was now. Then, a yokai from Makai, now, a yokai with a human heart from Ningenkai. The aftertaste was weaker each time as he must have been coming to terms with himself even that didn't seem to help occasional mockery over himself.

How cruel. He seemed to lose his charm if he couldn't get one human girl to listen and to do as she was told.

He shook his head denying such traitorous thoughts to find fruitful ground in his mind. Kurama knew better than to slip into his old violent and demanding habits.

For the moment, he had to let go of his sentiment and focus on his strategy. If he wanted to make things right between Nana and himself, he needed to live to see another day first, and so did she. For that, he needed to beat Karasu and end him to make sure he would never get close to either of them again.

Upon seeing the true extent of Yusuke's new gained power, Kurama followed the reki grouping up with the others startling Kuwabara with his hidden presence.

He could easily tell Hiei was having a field day over his and Nana's fight, obviously coming to terms with his own teasing side as he kept looking at the redhead with a smirk across his lips.

'Do you wish to discuss something? Something perhaps about a family matter, Hiei?' asked Kurama especially kindly and poisonous all the same earning himself a glare from the other yokai, a confused glance from Kuwabara, and nothing at all from Yusuke who was still lost in thoughts no doubt about Master Genkai's sudden and brutal death.

Although they returned to their room, sleep didn't seem to be on anyone of their minds as Kurama could hear them moving around in their rooms and saw Hiei awake looking outside the window.

'Is your arm truly alright?' he asked after what felt like forever.

Hiei must have cooled down from Kurama's weak threat long ago, but he didn't seem to be in the mood to talk which for most of the time, the kitsune took as a blessing. He, himself, was dealing with his own thoughts and doubts too engaged by them to be provoked and teased in a way only Hiei seemed to be capable of as only he was aware of what happened between him and Nana.

'Worry about yourself,' came the blunt remark before he heard the yokai sigh and lift his hurt arm, 'Tomorrow will tell.'

Kurama glanced up at him and saw how Hiei studied his arm with if not concern Kurama would call cautiousness. The shorter yokai wasn't one to leave things to fate, but he also wasn't foolish enough not to at least consider the possibility of a different outcome than one in their favor.

The redhead nodded understandingly while he admitted, 'So it will.'

Only tomorrow could reveal what their opponents would toss their way and if they would be able to survive it and come out winners once again.

Hiei lowed his arm and glanced at his teammate with a grim look on his face as he must have sensed Kurama's thoughts or perhaps was just too good in reading him at times, 'You should find the human girl before the tournament. Set your mind straight and worry about only your upcoming match.'

Kurama blinked surprised at the idea coming from his yokai friend of all people. Hiei usually cared little for the relationship and feelings aspect of their partnership so naturally, Kurama wouldn't expect him to try and give him some advice on the matter other than he should let go of Nana to be free of his weakness. He truly had changed then as well.

'My, my Hiei, I would never peg you for being so worried about Nana's and my friendship,' teased Kurama out of habit and perhaps some uncomfortable feeling of his weakness, Nana, being too exposed like this. This didn't sit right with either side of him.

The other yokai didn't take the bait instead letting out a distinguished grunt and lying down on his side with his back toward Kurama and his face toward the window. If nothing else, Kurama at least took it as a sign of trust to have Hiei sleep with his back to the kitsune, 'Friendship, how cute.'

Kurama watched him for a moment wondering if he would say anything else, but instead, the yokai truly prepared to go to sleep slowing his breathing and heartbeat with ease.

Knowing, that was the last he would hear from the yokai now and he couldn't properly see him as the window with no light offered no reflection, Kurama's hand reached out and touched the spot on the side of his neck where Nana, so out of character, bite him.

His eyes closed, and he almost chuckled recalling how as kids Nana was never afraid whenever he showed his yokai side. Whenever they played on the ground, wrestled, getting grass and dirt on their clothes, she just rolled with it easily throwing her own punches. Others found him strange, mean even evil. They could sense he was different, and his odd attitude caused him to be avoided. It wasn't until puberty that teenagers seemed to take more into consideration his looks, and he was in control enough to keep his behavior as humanlike as possible. Not Nana. No, his human friend seemed to accept him and all his weirdness since the first day on the playground giving him a piece of chalk to make their first garden with her. She didn't mind the fights, the wrestling, even the biting, immediately understanding that if he didn't want anyone to touch him, and he didn't know how else to make them stop, he reacted. She took it and accepted it simply because she was Nana.

Just like she did today.

His eyes opened, and he found a small smile across his mouth. She was scared. He had to scare her, but even so. She didn't run from him. She wasn't disgusted or angry. She bit him right back just as she would when they were children to prove she didn't mind how he acted as long as he was her friend, as long as he was good to her, as long as he cared for her.

'I'm going for a walk,' he said quickly as he stood up from his bed. He was almost by the door when he heard Hiei's response, 'First thing worthy of your intelligence you said all day.'

This time Kurama actually chuckled. Hiei was a person of few words, but sometimes, they were brutally on point.

The moment he got out of the door to his room, he sensed Nana's presence outside in the hallway. The others were in their room, none of them asleep but perhaps not paying too much attention to notice her there. Was she there long? Was she unsure if she should enter or not?

He didn't waste time guessing and opened the door immediately catching the frightened state she was in shaking and looking away trying to hide from him perhaps even running away.

'What's wrong? Are you alright?' Kurama asked already looking through the hallways trying to see or sense anyone who didn't belong or could pose a threat to the human girl but found nothing.

'Nana?' he asked again only for the raven-haired girl to take a step back.

Almost immediately Kurama snatched her wrist and started to pull her toward him not daring to allow her to run away from him in her current state, 'Nana, what's wrong? Please, tell me.'

Whatever it was that left the girl shaken and scared causing Kurama's own skin to cover with goosebumps just from seeing her in such a way. It didn't sit right with him at all.

'Nana?'

The girl let out another snob and looked up at him as if she wanted to say something. Her eyes were filled with tears making her usually chocolate color a much lighter brown color.

When Nana fell to her knees, so did Kurama burying her in his embrace as she started to violently sob and cry against his chest obviously distressed and frustrated as if he wanted to shield her from the world, hide her like the precious treasure she was forever.

Whether her outburst was because of something that happened right now or the culmination of everything that occurred to the poor girl over the course of these past weeks, Kurama didn't know, but he held her closer closing his own eyes and breathing her in feeling a sense of strange relief upon having the girl in his arms at least for a moment knowing if she sought him out like this, she couldn't hate him. Not completely.

'Nana, it's alright. I'm here. I got you,' he told her as she continued to cry perhaps even not hearing him at all. It didn't matter. For Nana, it was always the fact that he was there that counted. It was always all the human ever needed. She just needed for people to be there for her.

'I promise. You will be safe,' he said and brushed her from the back of her head all the way to her back pressing his lips against the crown of her head in a light kiss.

It lasted for a while perhaps even catching the attention of others, as he swore, he heard someone open the door, but just as quickly close it giving them the privacy they really needed at that moment.

Taking in a deep breath himself, he finally allowed himself to let her go enough to look down at her. It was hard. Holding her for the first time since he told her to leave earlier that day calmed his heart in ways, he didn't think anything could. How foolish of him. Didn't he know by now?

She looked sad but seemed less shaken than she was when he found her in front of the door to his room. It was still painful to see her like this.

'S-sorry-'

'Don't apologize,' he said and brushed some of the tears falling down her cheeks he adored so much.

She shook her head and leaned away, 'No, I-I'm-I am, you were right, and I-'

'I didn't mean it,' he said quickly, and Nana shot him a look of somewhat annoyance which if nothing else was a refreshing change from the look of absolute devastation she had earlier on, 'You never say things you don't mean. Not to me at least, Kurama.' True. He often lied to others if he needed to do so. More often than he enjoyed. More often than he should. However, after he told her the truth about himself, Nana was a rare exception. One which he was grateful for.

He took a moment and slowly nodded, 'You're right. But even I can get consumed by my emotions. Despite how much pride I take in being somewhat of a calm and rational person. It's impossible to stay that way when your safety is involved. I still shouldn't have told you to leave like that. As if it was just your fault. It wasn't-'

'I know, but it was. Most of it anyway. If I wasn't there it would be easier for you to try out the potion and be your previous self again,' she said and looked away slowly raising up, 'I just wanted you to know I was sorry, and I hope that we can-'

'We will always be,' he said cutting her off already knowing what she wanted to say.

Friends

His own eyes drifted away as hers landed on him, 'Remember before…before I told you about my past. Every time without a miss, you were determined to accept me no matter what I did. Every time. You told me it didn't matter what my secret was or if I changed. You told me you would always want to be my friend,' he looked back up at her. She was standing at her modest height while he was still kneeling on the ground where he held her a few minutes ago. He felt exactly as he did when his past self took over as if despite how everything about her should indicate she was less, Nana stood bright and tall and almost magical above him leaving him to do nothing but to stare at her in awe.

'Back then I thought it was impossible,' Kurama shook his head, 'I thought all those things, I had done before would have chased you away. I would lose you. What kind of human could be friends with someone like who I was? What kind of human could care for someone like me after what I have done?' he asked before his eyes landed on hers, 'But you did. You just do. I think I understand it now too,' slowly he stood up now towering over her just as he had in the cave when he gained his former self yet feeling like he was the one kneeling, bowing, and surrendering to her.

'Even if I chase you away, even if I would wish you would be safe, I never want you to leave my side. Even if one day you would decide you don't want us to be friends, I would always be your friend. I will always want to be your friend. It makes me sick that I hurt you, scared you, and acted that way toward you. I never intended to. I was sure I changed enough not to be the way I used to when I was in Makai but perhaps, we don't change at all. Perhaps, no matter how much we think we changed, we stay the same simply assimilating to the situation we are in. I was sure, I would never hurt you even if it meant to protect you, I was certain I would never do as I would when I was my past self.'

Nana watched him for a moment. Her brown eyes were still red and shiny from the tears, but there was a certain gentle look inside them for a moment that almost caused Kurama to reach out and pull her into his arms again just to avoid seeing it there.

Then a moment passed, and the raven-haired girl brushed her cheeks and nose, against the back of her hand, 'Sorry-it's not…Whatever you did was in the past, I can't speak for those times and situations and in the cave… I was scared, and I won't go around saying I knew you wouldn't hurt me because that would be messed up, but…I think understand why you would hurt me. At least enough to keep me safe. You changed from the times you were Yoko. You're still you but you got-'

'Soft,' he said, and his displeasure must have been obvious to the human girl because she tilted her head to the side and smiled with a knowing look on her face, 'That's not a bad thing. Not in the human world.'

Kurama watched her for a moment before he nodded, 'I suppose you're right.'

They watched one another for a second before he spoke again feeling it was needed to be said for the sake of the both of them, 'So truce?' he asked and rose his hand causing Nana to roll her eyes a bit, 'Yes.'

She rather displeased shook his hand causing him to smile a bit before he said, 'Would you like me to escort you to your room?'

Nana flinched. Not visibly. Not in a way, anyone would notice or at least give any grand meaning to but for the kitsune who had known the girl like the palm of his hand it was beyond easy to spot and understand.

'I-'

'Perhaps, before we could make a small stop,' he said cutting off whatever excuse or confirmation she was about to give. Evidently not in the mood to discuss what possessed her to run to him in the middle of the night. He caught her scent upon entering their shared living room, so he was aware Nana had recently come perhaps to use the phone again or talk to him, but he still wouldn't think she would come rushing to him in tears unless something happened. Her scent was hers and his alone, so he knew she hadn't encountered any rival yokai. She also didn't mention Master Genkai so Botan must have stayed silent about the woman's recent passing.

Still, upon hearing his words, Nana blinked surprised a bit before she nodded, 'Alright, what do you have in mind?'

Her eyes widened as the corner of his lips pulled into a very specific mischief smile, 'Something sweet and salty.'

---

At moments like the ones all of the members of the team Urameshi and their supporting girls were in one room playing cards, talking, or drinking, Nana couldn't help but feel as if they were all there just to enjoy some fun. Like camp or some trip. Simply being young, friends and living their lives that had nothing to do with deadly yokai tournaments or any violence and blood.

However, the most normal, the absolute bizarrely ordinary and casual, she felt was right that very moment when she was sitting on the floor next to Kurama opposite from a vending machine they more or less robbed of all of their snacks and sweets.

'Isn't this stealing?' asked Nana suspiciously glancing at her redheaded best friend before taking another bite of her cherry-flavored kit kat.

'Technically the room and food are paid for as we are members of the team,' replied Kurama tossing another calbee chip into his mouth.

'Lucky,' said Nana tapping her foot and looking around the floor where Kurama tossed the items he rather effortlessly stole from the vending machine. It definitely had its perks to be the Legendary Thief although the human girl doubted Kurama would ever guess, he would be stealing snacks from a vending machine.

She wasn't expecting the redhead to bring her here, but still, she felt stupidly happy he did. It was a sort of throw into the days that weren't filled with yokai and Rekai's detective work, and it was very nice to recall the calmness of their life from before. Nana wasn't complaining. She knew better than to ask for things to go back when she knew this was also a part of Kurama's life, but every once in a while, it was nice to just stop and take a moment to act like real teenagers.

When Kurama reached for another bag, she chuckled though, 'Won't you get fat?'

'Yokai metabolism burns through junk food and alcohol fast,' he said with a small smirk causing Nana to roll her eyes, 'Of course, it does. How unfair.'

'Not all of us can have your cute chubby cheeks,' he said and before she could stop him already knowing what he was about to do, he reached out and pinched her.

'Oi! Quit it!' she helplessly waved her hands in front of her face to shoo him away knowing it would be no use since if he wanted Kurama could be almost as lightning quick as Hiei. At least in her option.

'Would you prefer all of us to be fat?' he asked teasingly, and Nana gave him a look, 'Don't you know that's my secret plan. I started with you then moved on to Hiei soon I will cook victory dinner for everyone and all of you will be chubby-'

He chuckled and shook his head looking back at the vending machine which was serving as the only source of light in the whole hallway, 'What a sinister plan. Truly wicked.'

Nana watched as even after he said it the small smile stayed on his face making him look rather handsome even more than usual. It felt like ages since she saw him smile like that. She didn't realize he hadn't until that very moment. It fueled her to nudge him, 'Hey, speaking of complimentary food do you have any money I can borrow?'

He blinked surprised bit the smile still there but his green eyes caught onto something as it was a rule Nana never asked for money, 'I want a souvenir after this is all over.'

'A souvenir?' asked Kurama while raising his brows, and the girl nodded, 'Yup, doesn't your team have like action figures or plushie?'

He chuckled closing his eyes and shaking his head his shoulders shaking a bit, 'You're ridiculous. What on earth would you do with a plushie of me?'

'Whoa, narcissistic much?' she asked doing her best impression of some rude teenage popstar she could manage before she grinned, 'I want a plushie of Kuwabara and Hiei.'

Kurama grinned pressing his head against the wall already knowing she was pulling his leg but still asking, 'Alright, I'll bite, why?'

'So that I can make them best friends. I will have them go on vacations, and trips, camping trips, and spend time after school and live together. They will be the ultimate best friends. They will be the best friends every best friend want to be,' she pointed between herself and Kurama barely containing herself not to laugh herself at the idea of Hiei and Kuwabara being anything close to friendly let alone the scenario she was describing or even in plushie forms, 'They will be the nicest, softest and most loving best friends ever,' she finished her grand speech about how amazing friends they would be by tossing her arms around herself and hugging her body with a big grin on her face.

When Nana opened her eyes, Kurama was covering his eyes from her view but based on the way he was failing to fight back a smile and his shoulders shook, Nana knew she got to him.

She leaned closer whispering into his ear through her own giggles, 'They will call each other Kazu-kun and Hiei-kun.'

To hear Kurama burst out of laugher and laugh for those few moments openly and richly was enough to heal Nana's soul from whatever darkness her nightmare pulled her and laugh along with him. It didn't last long. Nana could never get the kitsune to laugh like this for too long, but it was still enough for both of them to feel much better about everything.

'You're impossible. Pray, that Hiei never catches wind of such thoughts. Even I cannot guarantee your safety if he would,' said Kurama still occasionally chuckling and his occasionally shaking. Nana had a strange desire to always see him joyful and ridiculous like this.

Nana tested the water, 'Not even in your Yoko form?'

'Not even then,' he chuckled either finding his own peace on the subject or not nothing that she asked. Probably the former.

Nana sighed and pressed her head further against the wall enjoying the feeling of a good laugh settling inside her body.

'I don't think we laughed like this in a quite a while,' he said and when Nana looked at him Kurama's green eyes fell on her, 'Just the two of us.' He was right. Even if occasionally, they teased one another and got into a good mood, they also more often than not got into these tense and dark moments between them. It was unavoidable of course when Kurama and the others were fighting for their lives, but Nana would still wish they would have more happy and joyful moments like they used to when they were young.

'Yes, lately, everything has been tense, and serious between us,' she admitted sensing the mood was once again falling to those two things when Kurama chuckled again and looked away again, 'It's maybe for the best. It makes these rare moments even more special.'

His smile softened, and Nana's heart bloomed with peace overseeing him look like this, 'Back in Makai only Kuronue could make me laugh like that. It didn't happen all the time of course. But something about being serious for too long always forced me to crack up every once in a while. He's jokes just like yours we're not funny at all.'

'I can't speak for Kuronue, but I think I'm hilarious,' she said and both of them chuckled some more. Kurama told Nana some stories about Kuronue. Nothing about how they met just how they were. Two thief stealing artifacts. She could tell there was more to that than them being after the same goals.

'You cared for him,' she said and smiled looking at him genuinely glad he had someone like that even if not all the time, 'Was he your best friend back then?'

'I suppose he was as close to one as possible in Makai. He was my partner in crime,' said the redhead, and the human girl nodded, 'So he was me and Hiei in one person.'

Kurama suddenly flinched and looked as if he was thinking about it looking properly startled by the idea, 'That is unsettlingly fitting.'

'Hey,' she said and tried to shove him only for him to grab her wrist. His smile was gone, but he still looked rather calm and amused obviously whatever issues they had before seemed to be at least partly resolved if he was not shy about touching her less than carefully even if still with a sense of carefulness reserved for her being human, 'That was a compliment.'

'It didn't sound like one.'

He let her go and they returned to looking at the vending machine and eating snacks and sweets.

'I'm glad you had him,' said Nana and felt Kurama turn to her while she kept her eyes on the light blue light of the machine in front of her, 'I'm glad you had someone close even if it wasn't me and even if for a while. I'm glad you weren't alone. I'm also glad you aren't alone now. You have Hiei and Yusuke and Kuwabara. I'm glad you have other people, other friends.'

He blinked upon hearing that looking a bit surprised upon hearing her words. Nana wasn't sure why. It shouldn't come as a surprise she would want him to be happy and have other people, right?

Suddenly he seemed to figure out whatever wasn't was running through his head and ever so slightly he smiled and nodded, 'I'm glad you have other friends too, Nana.'

She watched him for a second before she nodded, 'Good.'

'Yes, indeed,' he said almost mysteriously his eyes suddenly falling to her wrist.

Nana's followed looking at her bare wrist, 'He took yours too. Like a crow.'

'He cornered me-,' Kurama started as if he wished to excuse himself, but then with a much lower voice added, 'I will get them back tomorrow.'

Nana shook her head and looked up at him, 'Just survive.'

Their eyes met for a moment once again the light atmosphere shifting to something more serious and intense, 'I can live without some old ribbons just fine.'

I can't live without you was not said out loud, but it was still heard loud and clearly.

---

The walk to their room was rather long because both of them seemed to purposely try to waste time with more chatter and sort and lazy steps.

Kurama couldn't just blame Nana for it. He as well, was more than conflicted about their parting especially since Nana still didn't confess why she was crying and came looking for him.

'It was just a nightmare,' she said as they got off the elevator and shrugged her shoulders, 'I just… I just wanted to see you. I knew we were fighting or angry at each other, but it really freaked me out, and I just wanted to see you. I knew you would make me feel safe, and you did.'

The redhead blinked and then nodded feeling some relief upon hearing her words, 'I'm glad. If you wish to talk about it-'

'Not now. Tonight, I just want to forget it,' she then nodded to herself, 'After the tournament?'

'Anytime you want,' Kurama assured her, and stepped closer toward her side, 'There perhaps is something I should tell you, it's…it's rather sad, however. But you should keep it to yourself. Kuwabara and the girls-'

'Kurama, don't tell me then,' said Nana suddenly, and both of them stopped in front of the doors to her room.

Nana looked away, 'If I can't tell it to them and it's sad… Wait until after the tournament. I…I don't want any bad news tonight. If-if that's alright?'

The kitsune watched her for a moment before he nodded, 'It's perfectly alright. If that's your choice, then I shall tell you tomorrow as we will probably tell everyone.' How strange it was to make so many plans for tomorrow when they didn't know if they would live through the tournament. There was a strange assurance to it to know how dangerous tomorrow would be yet talking about as if nothing would change. Especially since Kurama knew just how untrue that was. How easily Toguro killed Master Genkai and how just as simply all of them could be killed tomorrow, yet, tonight they are alive. Tonight, they are alive and breathing and making decisions one way or another.

Nana nodded, 'Thanks.'

'Of course, Nana.'

Neither of them moved.

This would surely be the last time, they would see one another as the boys would leave early to take their places in the arena and the girls would go find their seats.

How does one say goodbye?

She looked so small now. Before even if she was on the ground, she somehow seemed taller. Towering over him, and back in the cave over his even taller yokai form. As she stood her own ground, as even in her ordinary human state she possessed a godnesslike presence that was impossible to defy. Now she seemed small realizing this was their last moment too probably not sure how to end it.

'Tomorrow,' said the kitsune feeling a strange sense of confidence all of the sudden as he would not make this his goodbye to her, 'I will find you tomorrow after the tournament.'

His hand reached out and very gently touched stroke her cheek smiling at how soft it was and how easy it would be to pinch her again only for him to suppress the temptation.

Precious

Indeed, she was. His precious human girl.

'Good night, Nana,' he said and turned around with a small smile the feeling of her skin still lingering against the tips of his fingers.

'Wait!' said Nana all of the sudden and he calmly turned around to once again tell her they needed to rest when all of the sudden she was in front of him almost surprising him with how quickly she managed to appear there.

His eyes ever so slightly widened surprised by her action.

Close

She was close. This close and with their very prominent height difference, she was practical with her chest to his stomach and the bottom of his own chest. She used to be taller than him, but ever since they got into middle school, he outgrown her enjoying her frustration and secretly liking how nicely it made her fit into his arms whenever they hugged for a while. She said she felt safe. He liked to keep her safe.

This close he could also smell her better. She smelled like him. Not just like his past self, but like him. The yoki was his too. It was alluring to have her smell like this. Like she was his. It was far more profound than it was before when she simply wore his clothes and slept in his bed. This was strangely fitting as if Nana should have always smelled like this. Like herself, yes, but also like she was his.

He didn't say anything of what was crossing his mind making the wise decision to simply watch her and wait as she told him. His curiosity was high, and his thoughts supplied nothing but heated fragments of what could this possibly mean. This time he couldn't blame it on the aftermath of his transformation back to his human body but solely on his human teenage years.

A sigh escaped Nana's lips, and the redhead could tell, she was gathering the courage to do something.

Her chocolate eyes finally lifted from his chest where they seemed to find a safe haven to settle and moved to his face looking strangely confident. Everything else about the girl seemed shy. Brutally shy and embarrassed even, but her eyes, no, Nana's eyes already made a decision.

Kurama felt rather than saw Nana's palms rose and pressed against his chest because he couldn't tear his eyes away from hers and that look inside them. He felt like this was a new look. One, which Nana never showed him.

His stomach flinched by the sensation caused by the girl's hands on his body distantly wondering why when he knew it was just Nana touching him. It was just Nana looking at him. It was just Nana standing this close to him, body to body. It was just Nana touching his chest. It was just Nana which meant everything he couldn't dare to say or think even if he knew already.

And even if he knew what Nana was about to do and had all the time in the world to stop her, Kurama still found it paralyzing when she slightly jumped forward and upwards toward his face her soft lips pressing against his own in the softest and shortest kiss of his life. Both human and yokai. As if someone took a peacock's feather and lightly stroke it against his lips. Barely felt but still there.

Before Kurama's emerald eyes could even blink, Nana was already back on the ground with her precious cheeks painted in the most beautiful scarlet color and her chocolate eyes wide as if she was shocked at her own actions perhaps even more than he was in that very moment, 'G-good luck, Kurama.'

Her words stuttered through the world and brought his spirit back to the presence of the moment.

Nana kissed him.

Her widened eyes darted away toward her door, and he knew the moment her heels touched the ground she wanted to bolt to her room.

Just as she stepped away his reflexes finally awaken and the thousand-year-old yokai snatched her elbow abruptly pulling her back toward him. The quick moment caused the human girl to clumsily lose her footing and end up against his chest the fingers of her free palm spread against his body as if they were preparing her own body for an upcoming fall. It was unnecessary. If Kurama was around he would never allow her to fall.

Her eyes blinked up at him still shocked probably now more than ever. The worry from what she did a moment ago pushed away due to the surprise from how he grabbed her. However, the pink across her cheeks was still pressed and simply too adorable to ignore.

Another blink and something else sparks behind those brown eyes. It was something much more preferable by the kitsune who was slowly coming to terms with what just happened.

Nana kissed him.

He didn't have time for doubts and fears now. Before they could plague his judgment and make him reconsider, Kurama pushed them away by tangling his fingers in Nana's loose raven hair he used to play with so often when they were younger occupying his bed talking or reading books.

No, he had no time to think and overanalyze. No time at all as he pulled her head closer to him as he bent down so they both needed to meet halfway.

'Kura-,' he cut his name coming from her lips by covering them with his own lips.

There was a soft surprise sound that came from Nana's, but almost immediately afterward he felt her melt against his touch her fingers digging into his clothes. He tilted her head to the side like he wanted to make it easier for them to move their lips. Then he processed to move his lips against hers in movements so soft he almost felt like they couldn't be his own because even if he could be incredibly soft with Nana and with all the soft parts he grew for her, his mother and the Ningenkai, Kurama wouldn't believe he was ever capable of such softness toward anyone.

A second passed, and he felt the girl shyly and rather clumsily at first mimicking those soft movements of his. Despite their softness and innocent, Kurama felt something incredibly alluring and thrilling growing inside his chest causing his whole body to lighten up like a firework at the spring festival. He felt hot like someone lightened up a match which was slowly warming places inside him he never knew were cold, at that very moment. It felt beyond anything he ever felt before until Nana let out another soft sound from her lips that he immediately hid into his own lips, Kurama was certain he got completely lost in the sensation.

He was shaking. He was shaking so badly that if Nana wasn't shaking as well, she would no doubt notice and find it funny. This wasn't how he remembered it. No, nothing like this ever seemed to happen to him. He never felt like this.

Kurama felt possessed. It had nothing to do with Yoko or Karasu or the tournament. It was all him. His hunger. His desperation. His moment. His love. Yes, his love. All his. His soul might have lived for ages, but his body was new, eager, and felt a magical magnetism toward Nana always recognizing her by touch or her presence alone just as she could recognize him. But maybe it was about the soul as well, yet despite remembering everything that happened in Yoko's life, every heist, every moment of hunger, power, sadness, violence, greed, lust, satisfaction, and even happiness, the redhead knew he never felt like this before. Not about anyone. Not about anything.

When he finally got her lips to part and let him in, he felt the slight buckle of her legs right before he sought out her wrists to place her hands over his neck. All the while never moving or breaking their kiss. She was tiny so even by standing on her toes and with the support of hanging from his neck he still had to bend down a lot to reach her properly. He didn't mind. He would do so gladly if it meant he was allowed to have her like this for a moment longer.

She tasted delicious. She tasted like everything could ever want and never knew existed. Something worth stealing. The only thing worth stealing. She tasted like something new and familiar all at once, like a thousand and one good thing that didn't belong to him, that would break apart at the slightest touch.

She tasted like Nana

The fire inside him spread into a full forest fire taking over and destroying everything in its path. He teased her and pushed her forgetting all about the previous softness willing to satisfy the sudden impossible to explain hunger for his human girl any way he could preferably by dancing with his tongue against hers feeling her melt more and more against him.

Always aware of things and slowly gaining some control while still feeling overwhelmed, Kurama thought about taking Nana to the room three doors down knowing it was vacant since the start of the tournament. There he could lay her down and kiss her until sunrise.

For a split second, he imaged how he would make her melt against him tasting her and getting to know a new side of her he hadn't yet had a pleasure to come familiar with. He would kiss her until she would need air and even then, he would settle for her neck pulling her hoodie and PJs low enough to find the mark he left on her and properly apologize for it with his lips while she would catch her breath.

They wouldn't need to carry on further. He would be perfectly content with simply holding her in his arms as they would await tomorrow occasionally allowing his lips to mark her hair or forehead with another kiss much sweeter than the previous passionate ones. He would be a perfect gentleman for tonight.

He didn't care if they would only kiss or just stay in each other's arms he would take it over the loneliness he felt in his room while awaiting morning intense and grieving silence with Hiei and the others. To hold her like this longer, the whole night, at that moment, Kurama would give up anything, willingly, with pleasure. He craved her like he never did anything else. He wanted her like he never did anything else. And at that moment knew he cared for her like he never did for anything else.

When Kurama finally broke the kiss somehow managing to count and come to the conclusion that it had been too long since either of them breathed properly he didn't immediately open his eyes.

Instead, the kitsune pressed his forehead against Nana's. The blood and the sound of their heartbeats echoed in his ears as they both panted while he left them close in order to allow the sensation to wash over him. Every last drop of the wonderfully thrilling and horribly alluring feeling he would probably never experience from anyone or anything else was forced to wash over him until it was all put out leaving his body once again in its primal colors that now seemed incredibly dull by comparison. When Kurama's eyes finally opened he found Nana's were still closed as she was probably doing the same thing.

He smiled at that and softly kissed her one more time across the nose causing her eyes to be startled open wide.

Her cheeks were red, but as she noticed his smile, Nana let out a small and short chuckle and then sighed pressing herself further into him.

---

She kissed him.

Nana knew she wasn't the brightest student, so the state of not understanding what someone, usually a sensei, was talking about was not new to her. However, the human girl never felt so out of touch with her own mind as she had in that very moment. She couldn't speak or think about anything else just…

She kissed him.

She did so recklessly and completely in a moment of absolute horrible realization that this might be the last time she would see him before the finals, and her granny's and Master Genkai's words mixed into her thoughts and actions inside her mind making her move before she could find excuses and reasons not to.

Don't make loving him something you will regret.

So, she kissed him and then realized how horribly, stupidly, awfully bad of a mistake that could be and tried to run. But-

He kissed her

Her heart was still beating like it wanted to escape her chest and appear in his hand where it probably thought it belonged because Nana couldn't seem to calm down at all.

He kissed her

Nothing and everything made sense and the realizations crashed together confusing Nana and yet making everything clear.

Her brown eyes were on his face. His lips were slightly more red than usual, and that glow of happiness he had when they were by the vending machine was present on his face again. His eyes looked different those a bit sharper and not as green almost-

She gasped when she felt his hand ever so slightly brush against her back. She was still oversensitive and overwhelmed by it all.

His body flinched, and Nana was certain if he wasn't more Kurama, he would have a chuckle at her reaction, but luckily, he must have been more in control than her and took pity on her not to embarrass her any more than he already had.

Slowly he leaned her down so she would be on her heels again. He probably wanted her to let him go, but he didn't look upset or disappointed.

She pulled her hands away, but he stopped her gently linking the fingers of her right hand with his own fingers for a few moments while looking at her still calm and happy.

No, he wasn't upset with her kissing him. He wasn't upset with her kissing him at all.

He kissed her back after all, and he did so very very well.

Nana's mouth felt dry as she realized her body still didn't feel fully recovered from the way he kissed her so softly at first and then when he entered her mouth...And then when he entered her mouth, Nana wasn't sure if Kurama was kissing her or devouring her since something dark and heavy was taking over her stomach threatening to consume her, and Nana felt she was more than willing and happy to let it.

However, now Kurama's smile was soft and honest, and the heaviness and desire inside her slowly transformed into a delicate feeling of adoration.

He brought her hand toward his lips and pressed them against the back of her hand again softly like she was something fragile that could break easily, 'I will see you tomorrow after the tournament,' he said again.

This was a promise, that much Nana understood despite her thoughts still wildly spinning in a tornado of chaos.

The raven-haired girl nodded allowed him to untangle her other hand from his clothes. She wouldn't lie to herself. The moment they stopped touching she felt the cold and a sense of emptiness, but she knew better than to demand more especially before tomorrow.

She managed a smile or so as she nodded before she disappeared into her room.

When the door shut closed with a click it was like she woke up from a dream. The room was silent except for the slight snoring and breathing of her friends. No one noticed she was gone. And if she didn't confess no one would.

Her heartbeat was slowing down. It was easier to calm down on her own. If Nana didn't know better, she could almost pretend it was a dream. Just a sweet and lovely dream. No one would know. No one would have to know if she didn't say anything.

Quietly, Nana made it into the bathroom and closed the door.

Her reflection in the mirror said it all and almost caused the girl to gasp before she reminded herself she needed to be quiet.

Slowly she brushed her swollen lips and then put her hands against her heated cheeks.

Ridiculous

She was acting ridiculous. She wasn't a little girl and-

Her lips pulled into a smile on their own.

He kissed her back. He kissed her so much, and he held her and-

'Baka,' she whispered with a smile still painting her face, not sure if she was talking about Kurama or herself but feeling ridiculously happy all the same.

Her hands moved from her cheeks toward her chest where she pressed them against her still-beating-fast heart.

Please, keep him safe tomorrow. Please, more than anything, keep him safe tomorrow.

---

Nana woke up early barely falling asleep again after what happened last night. Partly it was still the fact that she was overwhelmed by kissing with Kurama, and partly because she was anxious beyond belief about the finals, and partly because she did not want to risk dreaming another nightmare and ruining the feelings yesterday with Kurama brought her.

It was overwhelming yes, but it wasn't bad. Even the anxiety and embarrassment weren't as horrible as usual compared to the pleasure and joy she felt every time she replayed those moments in her mind feeling like it might have all been a dream. Anything was better than the paralyzing fear she felt due to the nightmare and the realization she would see Karasu again tomorrow, and he and Kurama would most likely fight.

Still-

We kissed

'Are you alright?' asked Shizuru surprisingly close causing Nana to toss the shirt she was holding in her hands, 'Uh, what?'

The older girl raised her brows, 'You look a bit red there. Running a fever?'

Nana let out the most awkward laugh she could think up, 'No, just…uh, it's warm in here.'

'Hmm,' said the girl and smirk, 'Probably wasn't warm last night when you went for that walk.'

Nana's eyes widened in horror. Did Shizuru know or was she just trying to catch her somehow?

Doing her best to act natural which made her look nothing like that, Nana shrugged and turned back to grab the shirt she tossed on the floor, 'No, it was fine. The weather was nice. Fresh, night air.'

'So you left the hotel in your slippers?' asked Shizuru, and Nana cringe glancing at her slippers by her bed that was completely clean lying there.

'I-I don't want to answer,' confessed the girl finally hearing the older girl laugh, 'You could have saved yourself the trouble and say that in the first place.'

Nana shot her a look which only earned her another chuckle, 'Relax. I'm just teasing. Did you and kitsune boy sort out your issues?'

The raven-haired girl knew she turned red which probably spoke louder than anything she could have confessed to Shizuru.

With a nod, Nana again turned to her bed. Well, they kissed so it was safe to say they sort out their previous issues and made some new ones. They hadn't talk though. No words, no confessions, no nothing. At this point, lonely thoughts about whether it wasn't all a heat of the moment thing appeared inside Nana's mind, but just as quickly the girl pushed them away. She couldn't think that. She couldn't because simply it wasn't important. Whatever yesterday meant wasn't important until Kurama and the others won their finals and were all alive and well. Nothing else had room to matter at the moment and that was the status Nana decided to take about the kiss. Whatever would be the resolution about the kiss after the finals she would deal with it then but now she would focus on surviving another five matches between the boys, Master Genkai and Team Toguro.

'Alright, ready?' asked Keiko just as Nana finally put on her yellow shirt and buttoned it up. This time she decided on pants, a shirt, and a pair of sneakers.

As she turned around, she could see all of the other girls were ready too, and so they all nodded at one another before the raven-haired girl said, 'Let's go see the boys win just like always.'

---

The morning came in a blink of an eye after Kurama's return to his room. Despite the shocking shift of his relationship with Nana, the kitsune had no time to dwell on it at the moment as he needed to keep his head on the upcoming match just as the rest of his teammates had. Whatever warmth, whatever comfort, and the safety those moments with Nana gave him, Kurama needed to push them aside in order to concentrate. He didn't have the benefit of slacking off or more time. He needed to win his match. He needed to end Karasu and his terror once and for all.

That being said, as the team found themselves outside the gate to the arena, Kurama turned to their team captain and asked, 'Yusuke, what about the fifth man, who will take the place of Master Genkai?'

The detective didn't look surprised by his question, but there was a trace of nervosa as he said, 'Yeah…He's probably here already.'

Kurama guessed Yusuke would call in Lord Koenma as their substitute. He was the owner of their team after all.

'What, now? You mean Ba-san really can't come?' asked Kuwabara shocked oblivious but not entirely due to his own density to the fact that Master Genkai was no longer in the land of the living. Unlike Nana, who chose not to know, Yusuke made the decision not to tell the ginger-haired boy on his own, with both Kurama and Hiei acting as his accomplices keeping the truth hidden. It was for the best probably. Kuwabara was a person of great honor, character, and heart. If he found out what gruesome end Master Genkai met, there was no telling what he would have done. Despite how courageous he was, he was still a teenage boy. He still had fears and doubts just like Kurama did. However, unlike the kitsune, he didn't possess the decade's shaped power to control those or keep them in the bay the way Kurama could. Kuwabara was too passionate for that. For now, their lie was a good thing. Hiei who never seemed too interested in human affairs or reasoning seemed to agree as well.

Kuwabara carried on his questions about Master Genkai and her absence until they heard the monumental sound of the gate opening and the referee announcing their team.

Despite his years of wisdom and battles, Kurama still couldn't help but feel a tingling sensation in his nerves.

All will be resolved today. One way or another.

'Looks like this is it,' said Yusuke, his voice slightly shaken despite the confidence that seemed to radiate from him. It was obvious everyone was on the edge, filled with stress and nerves.

Just as the door stopped moving fully opened, Yusuke, as Team Urameshi leader, the boy who got them here and this far, started to walk outside.

Kuwabara followed closely behind and Kurama went to follow the ginger-haired boy sensing that in their little team hierarchy it would only be right to do so.

'Whatever happens,' said Hiei by his side suddenly quiet enough that only Kurama would be able to hear him, 'I will make sure they get out of here alive.'

The short yokai share his gaze for a second before he nodded toward the crowd presumably where the girls were sitting.

Kurama knew Yukina would be his priority as always, but even so, it was surprising yet Kurama was grateful that he would keep Nana's sake in his mind as well. As far as yokai comradery went that was a very grand gesture on Hiei's part. One which Kurama didn't take lightly.

The kitsune nodded making sure to avoid any teasing and keeping his voice even, 'I promise the same. You know that.'

Hiei glanced at him for a second revealing nothing, but Kurama almost smirked anyway reading him just as well.

With some sort of mixture of gratitude, anxiety, and courage, and other emotions the kitsune always tried to keep composed, Kurama turned around and followed Kuwabara out into the light and the arena with Hiei closely behind.

The lights in the stadium were different less bright than they should have been making everything seem greyer, or perhaps that was just his own perception of the place as once again it was forcing him to go back to his violent side. He didn't enjoy it when he was in a state of calm, but in a fight when there was no way, he wished for a win just like anyone else. If he could achieve it without hurting anyone or murder, he would, but in a Dark Tournament, that was just hopeful thinking. Some of his opponents didn't deserve their gruesome demises although many did. It wasn't about violence or the thirst for blood. It was survival. Anyone could paint it however they wished, but in the end, it would be just that. Kill or be killed. Not this time though. This time, there wouldn't be any mistake. There wouldn't be any mercy or plans to win with minimal damage. This time, he would kill his opponent and make sure Karasu would never even think about him or Nana again. Nana might have asked him just to survive, to come to meet her after the tournament was over. But making sure Karasu's last breath happened in this arena was a promise Kurama made to himself.

The crowd let out their usual slur and death wishes toward them not that they expected anything else or cared for that matter. The viewers were mostly weak yokai who only came to see the bloodshed.

Juri announced Team Toguro and despite their collective confidence, Kurama felt a sense of tremor pass over him if not out of fear than at least because the under the skin-crawling sensation of hate especially directed at the third member of the team, Karasu, who slowly almost elegantly walked after the Togoru brothers.

It's an act.

Nana said it well. It was an act too. Under the surface, the crow could look sophisticated all he wanted, but the truth was he was just as reckless if he got angry.

That allowed the kitsune the return of some of his confidence. He just needed to stick to his plan and work what he could until the potion would start to work.

One way or another he was ending this and Karasu today. Even if it was the last thing he would manage to do.

---

Nana and the girls were standing outside of the stadium listening to the cries and pleas of the yokai who desperately wanted the security guard to allow them to enter and see the finals. Unfortunately, once again, they were in the same boat as these guys since Botan apparently forgot to pick the tickets from her boss, Lord Koenma, earlier and now was in no way able to reach him.

'Are you sure this isn't going to be hopeless?' asked Yukina by her side, and Nana looked up from her bare wrist to look at the ferry girl wondering not for the first time what happened that caused her to be so reckless. Not that Nana complained or thought it was so much different from other times, Botan acted less than responsibly, but even so, this seemed like a different sort of situation.

Either way, the raven-haired girl didn't really care what was the reason as long as they would find a solution. As horrible as it would probably be to watch Kurama and the others once again fight for their lives, Nana knew with every cell inside her human body and soul that if she wasn't there to see it happen, she wouldn't be able to function. It was horrible, and she wasn't sure she would keep her eyes open the whole time as she and her stomach still recalled some of the worst, goriest and bloodiest fights, but the girl knew she needed to be there. She needed to see Kurama defeat Karasu and survive. There was simply no other way for this to end but with Kurama's victory.

She just needed to be there for his match one way or another.

'I'm sorry. I forgot to get the tickets from Koenma-sama,' apologized Botan genuinely looking apologetic and not her goofy normal self.

The blue-haired ferry girl was looking down, her face looking very devastating and sad. Nana knew it wasn't due to the tickets. Botan was usually a much more bubbly and cheerful person for something trivial to cause her to react this way. It had to be due to whatever reason she had for not being here the whole day yesterday.

'There perhaps is something I should tell you, it's…it's rather sad, however. But you should keep it to yourself.'

Kurama's words echoed in Nana's mind as she watched the ferry girl. Kuwabara didn't know, but maybe Botan did. If that was the case, Nana was glad she wasn't in on the secret. Her mind was already filled too much with worries about their team. Not to mention her stomach was getting the best of her filled with anxiety heavy enough to rip itself apart.

'And here they've gotten all the way to their finals,' mumbled Botan suddenly breaking Nana's train of thoughts.

Shizuru, who patted Botan's arm lightly, didn't seem too bothered by their situation, although Nana suspected the older girl knew why Botan was acting this way as she spoke with a small on her face, 'There's no other choice, then. How about we force our way in again?'

'Shizuru-san, we can't!' complained Keiko hugging Puu, who was given to her for safekeeping again, closer to her chest.

The taller brunette crossed her arms, 'Do you have some other way?'

Keiko took a step back a bit hesitated, 'No, but…'

'Indeed, there is no other way…,' started Yukina with her soft voice which made Nana chuckle as Botan looked horrified by the sweet ice maiden even thinking to use violence to get anything.

Nana shook her head a bit at their exchange. Some anxiety from not being inside and knowing what was going to happen to numb down at least for the moment since they had other issues.

Just as the raven-haired girl glanced around, she spotted someone a bit stumbling in the scattered crowd of yokai who were just as to them ticketless.

Blinking Nana recognized the lizard-looking yokai dressed in a green suit who she recalled from the first day of the tournament as he talked with Lord Koenma when she first met him, 'Hey, isn't that-'

As if he heard her the yokai looked up and met her gaze, 'Huh, you there! Aren't you with Lord Koenma? Aren't you together with him today?' his confused look shifted into a nasty smirk which reminded Nana of something a car salesman would have across his face if he thought he would be able to make some money off of someone.

Nana straightened up as Botan pointed at the yokai, 'You're the scalper who tried to sell Lord Koenma those tickets on the first day!'

The yokai laughed delighted walking even closer to them, 'You remember me, huh? Anyhow, you appear to be in quite a fix. What seems to be the matter?'

Shizuru barely let him finish as she frowned and disagreed, 'We're not in any particular fix!'

The yokai reached into his jacket and pulled out five tickets, 'Is that so? In that case, these just might go to waste.'

'Are those-?'

Nana wasn't much for quick thinking. Sure, she wasn't a complete idiot, and luckily Kurama seemed to care for her too much to get annoyed with how stupidly long it took her to make a chess move or learn basic study material he seemed to comprehend after one reading. However, the moment, the girl said the yokai with the tickets a light bulb lightened inside her mind, and the girl took action.

She crossed around Yukina closer to Shizuru and gave her a look. It was brief, maybe a split second, but the other woman ever so slightly half nodded and leaned closer.

'Box seats for today. Platinum tickets,' he said waving the tickets quite unsafely for how important they were seemingly possessing all the confidence in the world, 'But, for you ladies, I'll let them go for 50 million yen each-'

Before he could finish Shizuru took the opportunity and snapped the tickets from his grasp leaving him stunned that she had, 'H-huh?'

'Ah, Shizuru, you found the tickets in your pocket,' said Nana with a small smile just as the taller girl nodded, 'Sorry about that everyone. I must have had the tickets in there the entire time.'

'Hey! Just a second!' snapped the yokai making his way to Shizuru who put her hands along with the tickets behind her back as Nana quickly reached for them, and Botan, who seemed to return to her former self pulled out a marker from somewhere.

'Everyone, I had these tickets all the time, right?' asked Shizuru calmly like a professional liar stepping in front of Nana as she pressed each one against her back and quickly wrote their names while the yokai stayed engaged by the Kuwabara woman.

'Yeah, right,' agreed Keiko, and Nana handed each one of them the signed ticked.

'Hold on now, lady, this is a bad joke you're pulling!' accused the yokai trying to step closer only for Shizuru to stop him once again, 'But we already have our names written on the tickets.'

As on cue, they all rose their tickets with their names on them smiling brightly at the yokai.

Nana would almost feel bad for the yokai if she wasn't so desperate to get into the stadium before the matches would start. If nothing else, she at least sent out a silent prayer that the yokai would gain some fortune in his future if only to make up for the bad karma she and the girl just earned with this stun.

The crowd of yokai around them started cheering and mocking the robbed yokai's misfortune just as the girls started to make their way inside.

'Mister, your generosity is tops in all the Spirit Realm!' said Botan, and Nana and Yukina bowed to the yokai, 'Something even better will come your way.'

Whatever the yokai said next was left unheard as Nana and the others quickly rushed inside to find their seats before the matches would start.

'Somebody's coming out!' she heard Keiko say as she stopped by her side. Luckily, the match didn't start yet which caused the raven-haired girl some relief even if she didn't know what to expect at least she didn't miss anything. At least for now everyone was safe.

The owner of Team Toguro gave some speech which mostly went through Nana's head as her eyes fell on the member of the team, she wished she didn't see ever again.

Karasu couldn't see her. Of course not. There had to be thousands of yokai, and they were so far up all the fighters were practically ants. However, just the fact that she saw his frame and knew it was him caused the girl to shiver and not even find any humor in later moments when Lord Koenma appeared and Jorge comically cried out.

She could almost feel it. A sensation of someone's cold finger gripping her neck even if her hair was down.

'Some sadistic thrill. Love is the most sadistic act of all.'

Chilling sweat covered Nana's back as she recalled the moment he kept her still and threatened to blow her up two days ago.

'I'm going to kill him while your pretty brown eyes watch knowing that the moment the tournament is over, I will slowly kill you too until you beg me to end your life already.'

The dream was worse, so much worse.

She felt dizzy suddenly. It was as if she was getting vertigo.

'How pretty.'

Her mind clouded, and it was as if Karasu wasn't down at the arena with the others but right there next to her slowly moving his arm to touch her again to hold her still so she wouldn't be able to move or run or-

'Nana, it's alright. I'm here. I got you.'

Her eyes shifted to Kurama finally tearing her brown eyes away from the yokai who put fear into her life and caused a nightmare to haunt her last night. Even from the distance, she could make out his red hair and the Chinese-style yellow plain outfit.

A smile almost curled across her face as she realized that subconsciously she picked the only yellow shirt she had here so now they matched a bit. Well, if they couldn't match with their ribbons they could at least do so with their clothing.

'Let's find our seats,' spoke Keiko suddenly and started to lead the way Nana carefully followed. She didn't look at Karasu anymore. Instead, Nana turned her gaze to Kurama focusing on his red hair and recalling their bittersweet goodbye from last night.

It didn't matter. They got to spend yesterday together and made up. Right now, all that mattered was that he would survive. Anything else could be dealt with afterward. As long as they made it out today alive and alright everything would one way or another fall into place.

Just as Keiko and she reached their seat, Botan jumped up and rushed to up the stairs again very clearly distressed.

Nana watched Botan leave with a worried face wondering if she should go look for her since it was obvious something was bothering but with the beginning of the match moments away, she honestly would prefer not to go.

'Don't worry,' said Shizuru and stood up seemingly a witness to her dilemma, 'I'll go talk to her. Focus on your boyfriend's match-'

'His not…,' Nana bit her tongue before she could properly answer since honestly, she wasn't sure what she should say now, and more than that she wasn't sure she had the capacity to deal with it now with everything that was going to happen.

She settled for a nod and looked back to the arena telling herself she could deal with the status of her and Kurama's relationship, Botan's strange behavior, Master Genkai's absence, and whatever sad news Kurama had for her later.

Right now, Nana would be content to watch Kurama win the match. Because that was what he needed to do. That was what he had to do. There was no other way around it. There was no other way for Nana to survive sitting her or even existing in this world. She couldn't bring herself to think of the alternative, and she wouldn't Kurama would just win. He had to.

Kurama, win so I can breathe

---

When the referee finally accepted all the changes and said that they could call in their first fighters, for a second of something warm rushed through Kurama breaking through the heavy mixture of anxiety, tension, anger, and courage that was floating inside him.

Nana

Although it would be impossible to know where she was in such a crowded place, Kurama was certain, she was there. Despite, not seeking her out before today knowing it would only cloud his judgment and throw him off his focus, the kitsune couldn't help but feel relief upon learning she was there as if her presence alone could help him. He shouldn't be surprised as her presence had helped him lift his spirits many times, yet it would probably forever amaze him just how deep the feelings of warm, good, and kindness created by Nana could reach him regardless of his darkness and the depth of his guilt.

I promise this ends today, Nana.

Unfortunately, all those feelings were short-lived as Karasu stepped onto the podium.

The familiar coldness and anger entered his being as he recalled how the yokai threatened him and Nana enjoying the toying almost as much as killing. He was a sadist. That much Kurama understood, and he knew he would stay true to his words, and go after Nana the moment, Kurama would die if it comes to it.

Juri, the referee, raised her hand, 'The final match of the Dark Tournament. Round One!'

The crowd cheered even louder as this was their most awaited series of matches. All their waiting has come to an end as they would witness their long-awaited show. It was sickening honestly. It was cowardly in Kurama's mind. He was never interested in the battles of others. He never cared whatever scores his band of thieves had settled. Only weak cared for such entertainment. Only the weak were entertained by such spectacles.

'From Toguro Team, contestant Karasu! Versus from Team Urameshi contestant Kurama!' called the referee.

Both of the contestants made their way toward each other in the arena.

Kurama tuned out most of what the referee said next or the obscene and violent cheering of the crowd who wished them that until-

'What are you talking about?!'

Everyone turned to the direction of the female voice, directly at the only supporters of their team sitting right there among the yokai very much bright, human and fearless from the looks of it.

'There are those of us rotting for Team Urameshi here too!' shouted Keiko so loud her voice was heard despite the many voices and noises coming from the rest of the crowd. It was as if it didn't even resonate with the girl that anyone else could be present or not pleased about their presence.

Kurama looked over at the girls as well. He couldn't properly see Nana. She was too far for that. But he could recognize her raven hair which was this time down. She was wearing a yellow shirt which made her stand up a bit more at least to him than the other girls, but in general, Nana always stood up more to him so that didn't necessarily have to be due to her choice of clothing as much as it had to do with his feelings for the girl.

Sunflower

Dressed like that Nana did justice to the flower, the kitsune associated with her since the first time they drew them on the pavement in the playground near her house eleven years ago.

Nana didn't shout. Even if the others started to chant something about a thorny bat, Nana seemed motionless probably too anxious to even notice what the other girls were doing. He could picture her easily sitting there all tensed with her hands on her knees fisted and the inside of her cheek bleeding from how hard she was no doubt biting into it awaiting the beginning of the match. Nana was a very anxious person who easily got worried about people, strangers, and friends alike. Yet, he knew just as well as he knew this trait about himself that nothing scared her and therefore made her more anxious than when she knew he was in danger.

I will try to make this quick, I promise, Nana.

Kurama turned back to the arena narrowing his eyes as he noticed Karasu was looking in the direction of girls too.

As if he sensed Kurama's gaze, the yokai turned to face him now once again. With the mask, it was hard to distinguish if he was smiling, but even so, the redhead would have to say Karasu looked pleased with himself. Then, the yokai started to almost lazily raise his hand and while looking straight at Kurama pointing his fingers to his forehead in a finger-gun gesture.

'Bang,' he said calmly yet incredibly malice simply because he seemed to almost find the whole thing amusing.

For less than a split second, everything froze inside Kurama as he recalled everything from his own encounter with the yokai to Nana's chilling story of her encounter before it all burned with the red color of absolute fury.

How dare you?

Unlike last time, now, however, Kurama felt more in control of his feelings at least enough to logically manifest that fury for the yokai into cold chilly calculation and revenge. Rage wouldn't help him or Nana. Only rational thinking and sticking to his plan would.

You're dead.

Even if it's the last thing I will do, I'll end you today.

Karasu lowered his arm to his side pausing for a second before his own face twisted in a slight frown.

'Whoa, that's chilly,' commented Kuwabara who managed to catch up with him. Perhaps, his yoki spiked a bit again enough to remind Karasu of before when he scared him off. Because that was what he did. Even if he held Nana hostage his Yoko form was enough to cause him to retreat. Even Karasu knew he wouldn't be able to survive a fight when Kurama was in his past form.

'Kurama, are you planning to use the medicine you got from Suzuki?' asked his teammate behind him.

'Yeah, I already took it about two minutes ago,' confessed the kitsune without looking at the ginger-haired boy, 'I tried it out several times, and when you use it as a liquid, it takes a little bit of time for its effects to appear.'

Kuwabara let out a shriek, 'Several times? Then, you already tried taking some of it before you came here?'

Kurama smirked to himself, 'I'm not so daring as to use it abruptly in the middle of the battle.' It would have perhaps saved him another fight with Nana, but given the outcome in the hallway last night, it all seemed to turn out well although he saved such thoughts for later and kept such confessions locked. No one needed to know of that yet.

Without giving Kuwabara much time to dwell on his words, Kurama jumped into the arena.

'A-are you going to be okay?' asked the human boy, always making sure everyone was alright. Some humans truly possessed a kind and carrying heart sometimes too big for this world.

'Suzuki was correct in what he said. One swallow will allow me to return to my original form for about fifteen minutes,' he explained watching Karasu come closer to the middle of the circle.

The softest of his parts that included his love for Nana, his family, and friends got pushed aside in order for his previous coldness and ruthlessness to come out, 'That will be plenty of time to defeat this guy.'

'And now the first match! Begin!' called Juri.

This is it then

Kurama took a fighting position tuning everything out and focusing solely on Karasu who didn't seem too bothered and almost leisurely shifted to the side, 'You're sure you're okay like that?'

The kitsune's frown deepened as he knew the other yokai would try to intimidate again. He seemed like the type who enjoyed talking.

'You must have gotten a glimpse of my power earlier,' he spoke clearly referring about his semi-final match that Kurama witnessed the other day. The match which left him shaken with the startling realization he wouldn't be able to defeat the yokai on his own no matter how many tricks he could pack under his sleeve.

'Knowing that,' continued Karasu, 'you haven't come here to be killed without putting up a fight, right?'

His eyes moved slightly to the side, 'You wouldn't risk her life like that would, you now?'

Keeping his face locked in the cold expression he put on once he entered the podium Kurama didn't allow his feelings for Nana to corrupt his plan or state of control as he spoke, 'I will change soon enough. If it's to defeat you, I will become anything I have to be.'

It was a promise. Whatever Nana needed him to become to protect her, he would. His previous self would try to keep her hidden, like a treasure, breaking her legs if he had to to keep her from running into danger. His human self would do no such thing. He would never torture her with solitude like that. Instead, he would create a world for her to be able to walk around freely and safely. No matter, who he had to take down to achieve it.

Karasu watched him for a moment. His eyes shifted across his face no doubt trying to catch some sign of hesitation or something he could use to further jest with Kurama. However, it seemed he found nothing as his last result was to chuckle rather unkindly.

'Then I will count on that,' said Karasu raising his hand.

Kurama felt the yoki gathering there knowing he would make some sort of move, but before he could the redhead quickly used his own yoki to create and toss into the wind red flower petals surrounding both him and his opponent.

'Oh my!' he heard Koto in the distance call out, 'Innumerable flower petals are souring contestant Kurama!'

It was a weak strategy. Kurama knew so himself. But he also knew in this form he stood no chance against someone with the abilities of Karasu. His best, and only choice was to wait for the fruit to change him back to his Yoko form and defeat Karasu under his fifteen minutes time limit. That wouldn't be a problem. However, in order to get to his Yoko form, he needed to make sure he would avoid his opponent's touch for the upcoming moments. The other day, he was reckless. He allowed his anger and emotions to cloud his judgment and gave Karasu an opening. Today, he would do no such thing. Even if it meant locking Nana inside his human heart for the time being to avoid thinking of her, so be it.

Kurama rose his hand and the rose pedals proceeded to spread around him in a circle. This technic was a derivation from his Rose Whip. The pedals were controlled by his yoki and as they were swirling around him, they served as protection attacking and ripping to shreds anyone who would get too close to the range, they possessed. Kurama mainly used this technique as a barrier of sorts to deal with a large number of weaker yokai.

Although he couldn't have known, Karasu started to walk toward Kurama seemingly uninterested or worried about the strange petals only stopping once one of them cut his cheek spilling some blood.

'An array of flower petals, sharpened to have a razor edge, huh?' he asked almost impressed, 'Quite elegant.'

The cut almost immediately healed which didn't surprise Kurama as he knew such an upper-class yokai as Karasu wouldn't have much of a problem with this technique. It wasn't Kurama's essential goal to hurt the yokai knowing it would be impossible. He just needed to keep him at a safe distance for a little longer.

'However, they are fragile, aren't they?' asked Karasu as he carried on walking closer the petals cutting him whenever they touched him, 'Frail, weak, not to mention fleeting things.'

It occurred to Kurama that just as he had hoped for, his opponent didn't have a defensive posture that will allow his own attack to invade his space and slice up everything there was.

However, just as the petals were to do so going directly at Karasu this time, the yokai rose his own arms and pointed them to the direction of the upcoming petals that immediately exploded in the air.

Kurama stood shocked. No, it couldn't be possible. He didn't even touch them, so it was impossible that he could blow them away like this, unless…

'You've got my power all wrong, don't you?' asked Karasu mockingly.

If possible Kurama could feel cold sweat across his back realizing Karasu was right, he did make a mistake in assuming he knew how his opponent's powers worked just by watching one match.

'I inject my own yoki into the body of whomever I touch, causing an explosion from the inside,' said Karasu calmly, 'That is what you thought, is it not?'

So it was a trick. All this time, with Nana, his semi-final match, when he threatened Kurama in the hallway. It was a trick, an act as well, to appear he needed to touch whatever he wished to explode when in reality he could have done so without it. He wanted Kurama to think he figured him out. He wanted him to assume he knew something to think up a plan and use it.

'You cannot see the true form of my yoki, which is to say that is the difference between our spectral powers,' carried on the yokai, 'I will ask you again. Are you sure you're okay in that form?'

Before Kurama could answer Karasu jumped into the air and in the next second disappeared from Kurama's vision as he used his incredible speed to move to Kurama's side. He barely managed to escape his touch his mind trying to come up with another idea to stall. His body was changing. He could feel the fruit slowly working, but it would still be a few moments before he would fully get to the form he needed to properly fight.

Karasu's speed was great, and Kurama once again just barely jumped away without a single moment to spare jumping away again and again as the yokai was restless in trying to get to him. No matter how much distance he put between them Karasu was in front of him almost immediately.

No, it was pointless and tiring to continue to dodge and run like this.

Jumping away once again Kurama pulled out his Rose Whip and tried to swing it at his opponent only for Karasu to blow it up before it could even reach him.

'You still refuse to give up, even knowing the difference in our abilities,' said Karasu as Kurama's feet landed on the ground again, 'Most laudable. That is, after all, why I like you the most,' said Karasu almost with some sort of affection behind his voice before he almost brutally quickly charged himself at the kitsune once again.

'However, no matter how much affection you lavish upon something you like,' his eyes turned almost violently red now, 'in time such things grow old, weak, ugly and die!'

Kurama barely jumped away from another attack as the yokai carried on his speech, 'In which case, I will kill them with my own hands! I have always done so! When something that I love dies at my hands, it feels so good that I cannot stand it!' explained Karasu almost manically, a dangerous and psychotic feature appearing instance and the way he spoke. Could he be losing his act? Was he done with the mask?

'Did it use to feel the same for you?' he asked his voice slightly different, 'Did you imagine killing your human pet in such a way? Watching the light fade behind her earthy eyes? Watching the moment, she would realize all his loss, and she-' Kurama tuned his words out giving him no weight. It might have been another trick to cause him to make a mistake or perhaps Karasu wasn't as in control as he would like to appear and was losing his cool.

However, what worried the kitsune more was another thing. So much time had passed yet he still had yet to turn back to his Yoko form. What happened? Had he grown immune to the fruit? It didn't take this long before. Not after he figured out the right amount and tried it out a few times.

'Oh, you aren't listening anymore, are you?' asked Karasu suddenly getting through Kurama's wall of ignorance just before he disappeared in front of Kurama's eyes once again.

Quickly, Kurama started to look around catching Karasu above him and moving away from his reach seconds before his hand collided with the ground below Kurama's feet breaking it in the process.

Unfortunately for the kitsune, just as Kurama landed on his feet he felt Karasu's yoki a second before he heard the sound of a small explosion, and an agonizingly sharp pain shot through his left arm forcing him to his knee.

Kurama hissed from the pain his human body was not made for. His human body had been hurt many times since he tangled with the affairs of Rekai mostly stabbed or beaten, but none of those previous attacks were as painful as the sensation of his flesh and skin exploding from the inside in such a gory way.

He panted trying to control his mind and dull the pain in order to think.

'I did not touch you now,' said Karasu while laughing a bit as his hand went into his pocket, 'It must be excruciating. How much do you think it will hurt your pretty little flower?'

Ever so slowly Karasu pulled out one of the green ribbons he stole from Kurama or Nana and carefully wrapped his fingers around it, 'Will she beg? Say my favorite please?'

His eyes almost softened while looking at the ribbon before he tugged it safely back into his pocket and charged at Kurama again with grand speed.

The redhead tried to make a run in the opposite direction pushing the pain away, but Karasu cut him off and before Kurama could think of something else, he felt the familiar yoki.

His eyes widened just before he heard and felt the crushing pain shooting from his right thigh forcing him to stumble and fall on his side.

The pain was devastating, but it couldn't keep him down. Biting onto his lip and pushing himself as much as he could despite the agonizing feeling he started to rose up. He wouldn't give Karasu the satisfaction. He wouldn't allow him to win.

'I will give you a hint,' started Karasu as Kurama slowly lifted himself once again. His body was shaking due to the pain all the while his mind running on overdrive trying to figure out a way out of this almost losing hope in the potion altogether. With his last failed attempt, he made sure to take enough this time. So why wasn't it working? Why?

'Just as you are able to manipulate plants with your yoki, I am also able to control a certain thing. What's more, I am also able to create it. It is in my right hand at this moment. Even so, you are probably unable to see it,' said Karasu and then let out a long almost annoyed sigh as his eyes turned red once again, 'I'm tired of all the talking. Are you just about ready to die?'

Kurama mentally cursed.

Karasu spread his fingers apart as if he was holding something before a ball of green light filled with his yoki appeared in his hand, 'Lastly, I will take this spiritual object that I control, and intensify its manifestation even further so that you can see it.'

Karasu jumped into the air as the green ball transformed into another object, 'It's a bomb!'

Kurama's eyes widened, and just as the other yokai tossed the bomb at him, the kitsune finally felt the familiar sensation of the Fruit of Previous Life Potion taking ahold of his body.

---

Nana's scream died behind the hands she used to cover her mouth as she watched the whole arena fill with smoke.

Her heart stopped for a moment, and everything went silent.

Don't panic, you didn't see what happened.

She tried to rationalize with her mind. There was too much smoke. She saw the bomb fly toward Kurama, but she didn't see if it hit him. She didn't see what happened. She didn't know. She witnessed many of his matches before. He always pulled through. One way or another he always figured it out no matter how worried she got, he always found a way.

She believed in Kurama. She believed that he was a genius, strategist and that he spent the last two days coming up with tactics to use on Karasu not to mention experimenting with the potion to regain his previous power.

Kurama, come on.

The smoke started to clear as Koto started to comment on how massive the explosion was clearly impressed. Nana wasn't. She hated the idea that Karasu could do this. He didn't even touch anything to blow it up meaning the other day when he held her captive he didn't even have to touch her either. He just wanted to scare her more. He wanted to physically feel him and be terrified.

Nana crushed her fingers into the fists against her mouth. He was a fucking sick bastard! Nana didn't cure, and rarely actually thought ill things about anyone wishing them a bad fortune, but damn it but even she thoughts so.

Kurama, please.

No one could see anything through that thick smoke. Nana didn't know if Kurama got hit directly or not. There was still a chance. And she would rather die herself than to ever deny Kurama the benefit of the doubt that he could somehow still find a way to survive. He had to. He promised to meet her after the tournament. What more she asked for nothing but for him to survive and there was no way Karasu managed to kill him this quickly. This easily. It was impossible. Kurama wouldn't allow it. No matter who he was against. Kurama knew how to fight or use his powers or freaking stall. No way, was Kurama, the smartest person she knew, the clever strategist, the most analytical and cunning member of their team just gone like this. No way, he got killed like this without almost any fight. Just no!

Nana was certain. Even if she didn't know, even if she couldn't see. She was certain. Kurama wasn't dead. He was there. He had to be. The smoke would clear and he would-he would just be fine or simply injured and-

-and then she felt it.

Nana's brown eyes widened and goosebumps covered her skin as the sensation pressed against her senses.

It was the same as last time. Never being one to sense anything the way the Kuwabaras or Yusuke could make the sensation pretty undeniable or impossible to confuse. Nana felt the sensation of something massive, dark, and dangerous coming from the arena just as she had before during the Team Urameshi semi-finals and then the day after that in the cave.

Her hands fell to her knees, and her mouth automatically let out a sound of relief which must have confused the other girls who looked at her.

However, Nana's chocolate eyes stayed on the stadium with a small smile forming at her lips just as she could hear the familiar wind and see the bright white light taking over the fog as the yoki must have been so massive it had to be visible. It seemed to take longer this time, but the result was the same.

The smoke finally cleared and in the place of her redheaded best friend stood Kurama in his tall silver-haired with ears and tail form.

Yoko Kurama

Just seeing that he really managed to transform in time and was now alright allowed Nana to close her eyes and take a deep breath. It was something she hadn't been able to do since the match started and then got worse as she saw Karasu blow red pedals up without touching them or each time he hurt Kurama, but Nana now found a new sense of confidence knowing that this was all part of Kurama's great plan to beat that jerk.

For a moment nothing happened, and it seemed as if the two yokai talked as everyone got over the fact that Kurama once again returned to his Yoko form.

Then Karasu raised his arm and Kurama pulled out two roses from his silver hair tossing them in front of him causing two new explosions. It seemed in this form he could even see Karasu's yoki and properly fight it.

'Nana-chan,' said Yukina and touched her hand with a smile as if telling her she also believed everything would be alright now.

Nana nodded at the shorter yokai before she turned back to the arena. Now, Kurama moved quicker, Nana only caught the silver hair every once in a while as he must have dodged Karasu's bombs for a moment before he landed on his feet and stopped.

Then before Nana could wonder what was going on she felt another wave of the massively dangerous vibe from Kurama right before large purple tentaclelike plants erupted from the ground around Kurama and dozens of large explosions went off each louder than the last.

The smoke cleared once again and now there was a gigantic purple plant standing in the arena behind Kurama. Without much ado, it started to attack Karasu pushing him to retreat. The other yokai tried to blow it up with his bombs, but the plant seemed indestructible chasing him around the same way he did Kurama just a few moments ago. All the while, Kurama simply stood still and watch it happen without breaking a sweat. It was so different from all the other times he fought when he always had to move and attack or dodge. It truly spoke volume about the difference between Kurama's power in his human and yokai body.

Before it always seemed as if Kurama was the underdog. Someone who had to think through how to get out of troubling situations. Someone who always got hurt. Now, he seemed invincible. Just as strong-no, even stronger than Karasu or any other opponent. It was a bit shocking to know this was the true extend of Kurama's power.

'Are you frightened?'

He asked her before in the cave. She didn't lie. When he asked her, she was overwhelmed, and then she did get afraid but only because he was acting like a jerk to her. However, it didn't change anything for Nana even now.

Tail or not, you dummy, you're still my Kurama

Just then as if bored with the fight, the silver kitsune looked back in her direction. He couldn't see her. At least, Nana was sure, he couldn't since she was pretty far and there were too many viewers. Yet, it felt like he looked just at her, and on the off chance he had, Nana pressed a hand against her chest and took in a deep breath before she exhaled it just as widely.

If he understood what she meant or not he turned back to his opponent and immediately the plants started to almost savagely attack not giving Karasu a single chance to attack back.

It was clear that Karasu was the one who didn't stand a chance against Kurama and after several moments of running around the plant caught him.

Although Nana couldn't hear what Kurama said, she saw the way his fingers made a finger gun, and he mimicked shooting himself in the head recalling how before the start of their match, Karasu did the same thing while looking at Kurama.

The plant started to crush Karasu and after a moment, Nana saw something fall off and fall to the ground.

The plant had covered Karasu's whole body as if it wished to devour him which maybe it did, and pretty much everyone in the crowd including the referee marked the match as finished.

'He did it,' said Keiko joyful.

'That's our Kurama-kun. He's terribly far removed from my own Kazu, huh?' joked Shizuru, and Nana felt Yukina once again touch her arm and looking at her, but for some reason, Nana didn't return their joyful words as her stomach still carried that single knot inside as if something terrible and sickening would happen soon.

'What's wrong, Nana-chan?' asked the ice maiden, and Nana glanced at her and the other girls who seemed to also lose some of their enthusiasm.

The raven-haired girl opened and closed her mouth before she looked back at the scene. The plant continued to cover Karasu, and it looked so simple as if Kurama was already declared winner, yet, the feeling didn't go away.

'I don't…I don't think it's done yet. I…I want to hear them say he won,' she said and frowned a bit. What was it? Why did she feel this way?

A moment ago, she was on her way to relief. She could breathe again, but now watching everyone relax made her anxious once again. Something wasn't right. She could just feel it and her stomach wouldn't allow her to calm down. What was it?

She looked at Kurama. He stood tall and steady. He didn't seem troubled even if she wouldn't probably know in this form. But he looked fine. So why couldn't she?

Kurama started slowly to walk toward the plant that contained Karasu for some reason just as Juri got to her feet and started talking, 'Judging contestant Karasu to be unable to continue fighting, contestant Kurama is the victor!'

'See, Nana, Kurama won!' said Botan cheerfully, but Nana just bit the inside of her cheek the knot inside her stomach that made her nauseous tightening even more almost. No, it wasn't the end. She didn't know why, but she felt worse was yet to come for some reason. What was happening?

Just then Kurama stopped and green light started to shine through the cracks inside between the plant before the plant exploded in the largest explosion yet.

'What was that?' asked Keiko shocked, and Nana's fear hit full as the knot crushed her further inside her stomach.

Through the smoke once again Karasu emerged.

Juri immediately apologized for her mistake, and Nana felt her heart sink as she knew something was off even if she wished she wasn't right one bit.

Karasu opened his mouth causing Nana to realize whatever fell a moment ago was his mask before all of the sudden his dark slick hair turned blond much to her confusion and annoyance knowing whatever was going on was not good.

'Contestant Karasu's hair color has changed!' called Koto, the commentator, 'And even my eyes can tell that contestant Karasu's yoki is growing more powerful!'

Kurama took a step back even if just a small one, Nana noticed, as Karasu lightened himself completely by the green color.

In the next moment, the yokai jumped into the air laughing maniacally, before he charged toward Kurama once again.

'Kurama!' Nana screamed before she could stop herself in desperation, shock, and fear of what was about to happen.

This time, Nana's scream was loud, but still got silent by the sound of an explosion that echoed through the stadium as Karasu reached Kurama.

Once again there was smoke, and Nana immediately went to her safe place reminding herself that she didn't see Kurama's body yet. He could have been fine. He was stronger now, and he could have dodged or done another plant technic.

Swallowing hard she tried to look around. The others were alright slowly getting up with Hiei already standing. The stadium was a mess. There was a hole in the side where the explosion went off and many yokai looked injured or killed. It was horrific to look at crushing whatever hopes Nana was so desperate to keep alive along with Kurama's fate. It was simply to put it destruction and there was nothing simple about it.

Nana stood up ignoring the other girls' voices trying to see the silver hair somewhere through the smoke and pieces of the destroyed stadium realizing with an even more sickening feeling of agonizing fear that she didn't sense the dangerous vibe she had before.

No, please, don't tell me that-

Her eyes landed on some shifting rocks and despite the distance, she immediately caught the red hair color.

'Oh no,' breathed out Nana falling back to her seat the hopelessness, panic, and fear taking over her body once again completely. This wasn't bad. This was a disaster.

Kurama

---

'Oh my! Contestant Kurama is still alive!' called Koto just as Kurama shifted some rocks freeing himself from under them.

He was shocked, to say the least. He was shocked Karasu survived through his Ojigi plant technique. He was shocked he seemed to get stronger now. Kurama was shocked that he himself survived and even more so that he was back in his human form.

His mind raced. How could it be? It was barely six minutes.

Slowly, Kurama started to get up his arm hurt the most and his body felt heavily beaten from the previous explosions. Had he used the potion too many times? Did he become immune, or it was wearing off faster? It took longer to start working this time, so it wouldn't be surprising if it had worn off faster now. Yet, Kurama was nowhere near pleased with the discovery quite the opposite.

'I do hope you're ready to continue,' said Karasu suddenly slowly walking toward him. His voice sounded much different without his mask clearly no longer pretending it was soft and gentle.

'If you don't come back to the arena, and they declare me a winner for no reason, the first thing I'm going to do is get to her,' he smirked at the redhead, 'Which would you like me to start with first? Her left hand or perhaps her right thigh? That way you could match more.'

Kurama cursed under his breath pulling out a rose from his hair. His arm trembled as his weak body protested against any movements at the moment. He tried to concentrate and put as much yoki as he could into the rose to create a whip, however, instead of transforming the rose fell apart. He was too injured and used up almost all of his yoki.

'You are no longer able to see my yoki either, are you?' mocked Karasu certainly enjoying Kurama's struggle.

The now blond yokai closed his eyes his smile sharp and twisted, 'How about we make a deal? If you surrender yourself to me right now and beg me nicely. I will make her death quick. One simple touch against the neck. She won't even feel it.'

Kurama felt himself almost hissing at the yokai. Perhaps, his yoki was gone but the yokai inside him was not. His connection to his past self and primal urges was still strong, 'Shut up.'

'You should be grateful for my offer.'

'Stop talking,' said Kurama keeping his voice even despite not feeling as in control as he had before. It didn't do him good that the potion wore of like this, yet his mentality was still torn between who he was and who he become. He needed to think.

Karasu didn't listen and continued, 'They get so old and ugly. If she dies like this she will forever stay in your mind as your perfect little flower,' the yokai opened his eyes and glanced in the direction the girls were sitting at no doubt looking at Nana now.

'Don't look at her,' warned him Kurama with a cold edge to his voice.

Karasu chuckled again, 'Your perfect little sunflower.'

Gathering as much strength as he could at that moment, Kurama jumped and immediately went to attack Karasu. Of course, the yokai managed to avoid the attack, but he still looked surprised by the move all together which Kurama took as a good sign and did not give him a moment to rest constantly attacking Karasu.

'Have you lost your mind? Coming close to me is suicidal!' said Karasu both confused yet pleased raising his hand to form another bomb.

'If I can't see your yoki then it's all the same, no matter where I am!' said Kurama and seemingly easily dodged another one of Karasu's bombs simply by calculating the trajectory of the throw.

As Karasu was left shocked he didn't get him, Kurama appeared in front of him gathering as much yoki as he could and thrusting it against the other yokai.

It seemed to have barely bruised him all the while Kurama was left panting and at the edge of strength.

'That was a good thrust. Is this was you were intending to do?' asked Karasu and pulled out the small seed Kurama planted into his chest during the attack, 'Shimaneki grass, huh? Your rehashed attacks won't work on me.'

The blonde laughed, 'Let me at least commend you for injuring me not just once, but twice now.'

Just as he said it something burst from the ground and captured Kurama's leg while a small talking bomb appeared attacked to the trap, 'Got you!'

'My underground explosive, the Muddy Bomb,' explained Karasu calmly with a smile.

Kurama didn't have time to think and react.

The bomb exploded, and it ripped through Kurama's ankle. The pain mixed with the exhaustion was even worse than before. Not even the adrenaline could cover it up. It was terribly challenging to try and stand on his foot feeling like might throw up from the pain, but still, Kurama pushed himself to do so knowing he couldn't give up. Not yet. He still needed a moment.

It took him a moment to get back on his feet slowly stumbling before he heard Yusuke's desperate cry, 'Kurama, don't move! You're surrounded!'

Kurama carefully moved his eyes staying as still as possible barely but still enough seeing the slight green lights of Karasu's bombs fueled by his yoki floating around him.

'Even if you'd like to move, it must be all you can do just to stand up, right? There's nothing you can do,' slowly Karasu made his way toward him, 'You can't call on any plants from the Makai. You can no longer make a plant into a weapon either. Am I wrong?'

Kurama narrowed his eyes at him.

'It would be a simple matter for me to blow you to bits,' Karasu smiled, 'But I'm not going to do so,' he raised his hand in that maniac way he did before, 'I think I will have you suffer and her watch a little longer, what do you say?'

Kurama didn't want to answer, but even if he did, he couldn't as in the next moment two bombs went off clouding his mind with the same agonizing pain they did before ripping apart his shoulder and forearm. The pain was too great causing him to fall a bit setting off another set of bombs or perhaps Karasu simply moving them toward his body.

Kurama screamed. Everything hurt. His whole body was on fire which spread threatening to burn in alive in this hot pain as he fell to his knees. He was losing so much blood. Even if Karasu planned to toy with him further soon the blood loss would be fatal. There was no way out of this alive. For once Kurama was uncertain of his fate more and more inclined to believe he wouldn't live much longer.

'You've done well to put me to this much trouble,' said Karasu with almost a hint of admiration, 'I almost wish I could place you at my side forever. As your reward, I will let your beautiful face remain just as pretty as it is,' he glanced up again toward Nana's direction, 'Both of your faces.'

Kurama closed his eyes the mixture of exhaustion and pain too much for him threatening to genuinely keep him down and just let him die.

Kurama, come on, get up already, please.

His eyes shot open. It sounded like Nana.

Get up, please.

It was Nana. But how? Perhaps he was imagining hearing things now. He was weak and the blood loss was severe. It wouldn't be the first time he heard her voice on the bridge of dying.

Kurama, don't let him win. Please, don't let this be the end. Figure something out. Anything. Don't let him win.

He almost smiled. He couldn't give up. Not when Karasu promised he would kill Nana afterward. Not when Kurama still was breathing.

Not like this.

Kurama blinked listening to the voice as if it really was Nana's, who was standing near him.

Don't give him the satisfaction. You're Yoko Kurama. You're the Legendary Thief. Cruel. Ruthless. Cunning. The Greatest. The human body or not. Almost losing or not. You're the smartest person I know. In every match, you always figured something out. Even when you couldn't use your yoki, you turned the tables around. You don't need your yokai form. You're still Yoko inside. You're still you.

All of a sudden he felt a pair of kind and warm human hands on his shoulders. The same hands that held him all so many times before. Hands that would caress him so sweetly and hold onto him shamelessly forgetting everything he could ever have done and more. Those hands weren't gentle. They weren't small. They weren't delicate. Those hands prepared dinner for him and his family and worked with him in the dirt. Those hands worked to earn something for themselves. But despite their roughness, those hands were kind and those hands belonged to Nana, a person, he loved.

Beat him in a way only Kurama can!

Very carefully, he started to get up as if the hands were still on his shoulders slowly pulling up. His body shook and his knees felt like they would break down any second due to his pain and injuries, but for some reason, it still didn't fall down.

Kurama, I'm here.

He felt those hands slip from his shoulders but remained on his back holding him and making sure he would keep upwards.

Nana, I'm not giving up just yet. I promise.

Taking a deep he cleared his thoughts somehow being able to focus more now. The small wound in Karasu's body was still open. He either didn't notice it or didn't care if he hadn't healed yet. Kurama was the Legendary Thief, but he was also the Master of Plants. He knew many plants. Some original, some cultivated, some created by various mutations. Over the course of his long life span, Kurama learned that there was a plant for almost everything at least in one of the three realms and if there wasn't it either wasn't found yet or created.

Unlike the other matches. Kurama spent two days thinking, rethinking, and planning his moves for this one. He had too much at stake. Too much he couldn't risk. Yet, this match didn't go how he planned in any of the scenarios he so carefully planted in his mind. But sometimes that was a good thing. Something the best ideas come in a desperate situation free of thinking too hard about them.

Many things Karasu said today were wrong. Kurama didn't have time, energy, or interest in listing all of them. However, the only thing that matters right now was what Karasu said about his powers. He was wrong. Kurama could still summon a plant from Makai, however, it wouldn't be his yoki which he would use to do it.

Nana's hands pressed harder against his back as comfort and support.

Win so I can breathe.

I will, I promise, Nana.

---

Nana watched completely still as Karasu took another step toward Kurama. It was brutal. No, not even that, it was destructive and torturous and if at that moment Karasu was there in front of her and blew up her own arm or any other part of her body, Nana was certainly more than anything in her life it would hurt less than watching this. Because nothing, absolutely nothing, in anything in the three realms around them could ever hurt as much as it hurt in that very moment for Nana to watch Kurama get slaughtered like this time in front of her very eyes.

'I will find you tomorrow after the tournament.'

Kurama's body was already so injured, even worse than it was ever before, even when he was fighting Bakken.

'Just survive.'

Nana could see how profoundly badly he was bleeding since he was leaving pools of blood every step the redhead managed to take.

'Nana, it's alright. I'm here. I got you.'

Karasu pushed more bombs against Kurama's body looking confident and clearly enjoying every moment of this fight if they could even call it that.

'You plagued my new self's thoughts.'

With each movement, another bomb seemed to go off further hurting Kurama and creating a new open wound even if it was impossible to see anymore with all the blood soaking through Kurama's yellow clothing.

'I felt better…and then safe.'

Kurama's pained and distressed cries for help filled the stadium reaching every corner of Nana's soul and causing it to bleed as well.

'You're here with me. No one can touch you. No one ever will.'

Nana couldn't move.

'Kurama, rest now. You're safe now.'

Nana couldn't breathe.

'Then I suppose, I have no other choice but to win.'

It felt as if her heart stopped as she sat there-

'Kitsunes like to keep their dents filled with scents that calm them and…we match now.'

-and helplessly watched each of the bombs going off ripping against Kurama's body further injuring him.

'I think from all your abilities the most awesome one is when you make me feel better like this.'

Nana's lungs felt as if they were on fire, burning inside her body all the while she sat there frozen with nothing else to do-

'It doesn't matter to me what anyone yokai, human or anyone from Rekai thinks about our relationship, about our friendship.'

-but to watch the nightmarish moments of her life that were watching the person she loved to most get tortured like this in front of her eyes.

'I just need… this for a bit.'

Another bomb and another one of Kurama's screams echoed in Nana's ears almost making her cover them if she could move.

'You always know what to say, Hinata Nana. Thank you.'

Again, Kurama's body hit the ground, harder than ever perhaps.

'At night, when there is no sun to guide them, the sunflowers turn to each other.'

It sounded heavy.

'It's nice to meet you, Kurama.'

Juri started counting again.

'I want you to remember. I want you to know. I trust you, Nana.'

Despite the distance, Nana could see how his body violently shook all the way as Kurama got up even if just barely.

'She's going to be alright.'

Kurama screamed again only this time it sounded more like a battle cry than a pained scream.

'You're important to me too. Special even. I could…I could never replace you.'

Then Kurama's whole body lightened up in a bright pink color, and Nana's being felt the familiar vibe of danger and cold only this time it didn't cause goosebumps to cover her skin or her body to sense genuine darkness, but rather it caused her to almost feel safe.

'Let her go, and don't ever touch her.'

Suddenly a gigantic plant burst from Kurama's yoki toward his opponent, but Nana's eyes stayed on Kurama's body which fell to the ground motionless.

'I have faith in our friendship for the both of us.'

The vibe and the feeling of anything at all really went out like candlelight inside the human girl's body.

'It's okay, Nana. I found you.'

In fact, for the first time since the tournament started all together, or maybe in all of Nana's life, she didn't feel anxiety, fear, or the twisted sickness inside her stomach while looking at Kurama's body.

'Th-that wasn't bad at all.'

At that moment, in that very moment, Hinata Nana felt nothing but the absolutely devastating emptiness that seemed to take over her entire body and soul leaving her a hollow shell.

'I'm glad I'm back too. I missed you.'

Someone said something, perhaps it was one of the girls?

'Yes, if we get married, we will stay happy together.'

But Nana didn't hear them at all, she didn't hear anything at that moment not even the sound of her own heartbeat or breathing for that matter.

'Yaa-! Shuichi-kun, want to come and play?'

Nana's eyes stayed on Kurama's motionless body and the only thought that really seemed to exist in the complete hollow emptiness that become of Hinata Nana in that very dark moment that might as well be the end of the universe and life itself was a sunflower.

'Himawari.'

---

Kurama opened his eyes taking in a deep breath filled with scents of the different plants growing on the pots on the small balcony. It was soothing really. It felt like ages since he was allowed to just enjoy being surrounded by his plants although that couldn't be right since he was here every day at least for a while.

It seemed like a perfectly warm and nice day.

Glancing around, he realized Nana wasn't on the balcony anymore. He didn't notice when she left. It was strange, but perhaps he just wasn't properly woken up yet and his senses weren't as sharp.

Kurama stood up and followed the familiar path through the hallway not paying attention to any of the pictures or paintings before he stood in the doorway to a light blue bedroom.

Nana was humming something. The melody was familiar enough almost like he heard it somewhere before or maybe she just hummed it so often it was imprinted into his mind.

He found the young woman in the room close to the window standing over a cradle holding onto a small child.

As if the child noticed him as well, his yoki spiked slightly before he turned his head nuzzling it against Nana's shoulder to look at him. His hair was dark close to the raven color he knew all too well, but his eyes were bright green. He wasn't smiling as he must not have been woken up yet completely, but the look behind his eyes was calm and affectionate making up for it.

With how shaky his yoki was Kurama could tell he was happy to see him as he was happy to be held by Nana. The disruption of the yoki of the child caused the one inside Nana to reach out again softly trying to touch the child's one as if it was curious.

The boy leaned away and blinked at Nana before looking down trying to see where the yoki was coming from before he let out a small delighted cooing sound.

'What is it?' asked Nana and touched her nose against the child's one which made it laugh a bit and tap its hands against her chest.

Kurama made his way into the room and gently stroked Nana's back before he brushed the child's cheek with the back of its fingers getting its attention while the yoki coming from the woman's womb slowly faded again.

'They're greeted each other,' explained the kitsune, and seeing no reason to fight it smiled.

---

'Himawari.'

Suddenly, Nana was four again raising up her hand holding a piece of chalk she broke from her original larger piece.

A redheaded little boy was standing in front of her looking down at the sunflower she just finished and then at her again.

Nana smiled at him. Openly and brightly for what felt like the first time since the other kids were mean to her before.

'Do you want to help me? We could make a whole garden.'

She didn't know the boy. She saw him around. He used to walk around the playground alone not really interested in anyone. For some reason, she liked that. She liked he wasn't with the other kids. She liked that he was interested in her drawings. She hoped he would draw with her. She hoped he would be her friend.

The little boy reached his hand and took the piece of chalk she offered him.

He kneeled down not too close to her but not far enough that they couldn't hear each other and started to draw. Nana smiled to herself and started to draw another flower as well.

'Himawari,' said Nana out loud.

Once again, Nana was fifteen again the memory staying simply that. A memory.

She was in the stadium looking at Kurama's motionless body feeling nothing but complete and absolute emptiness.

That was the first word, Kurama ever said to her.

Sunflower

They were kids, and they met on the playground near her house, and Kurama who she used to call Shuichi back then and maybe even was a bit more like Shuichi came to her as she was drawing one on the pavement and said sunflower.

Your smile

Nana's brown eyes widened, and she stood up.

She could see Shizuru try to reach for her but she ignored it in favor of trying to make sense of what just happened.

She heard him. Even in her own head, but it wasn't her head making it up, right? She-she heard him! Loud and clear. She heard Kurama!

Your smile was bright and open like the sunflower you drew on the pavement that day.

Just then she saw it. Either her eyes were playing tricks on her, or she saw it, and Nana was sure, certain, positive, and everything else that she did, in fact, see it. Ever so slightly, maybe by a single centimeter, Kurama moved.

'He moved-'

'Nana,' said Botan slightly worried perhaps about her sanity, but Nana didn't let her think that of her, 'He moved!'

'He did!' agreed Keiko suddenly also standing up and pointed down, 'Look!'

Slowly and shakenly Kurama started to stand up. Actually, stand up. Really stand up.

'Contestant Kurama has done it! Risking his own life in the attack he has defeated contestant Karasu!' called the referee confirming what Nana felt and saw a moment ago.

Yusuke jumped to the arena and rushed to Kurama who fell to his knees again all the while followed by Nana's eyes.

You survived.

He really did survive. Karasu was dead and Kurama was-

Suddenly as if a dam inside her broke and everything Nana felt all the horror, fear, anxiety, numbness, and happiness rushed through her causing the girl to faint right there on the spot.

Pokračovanie nabudúce...

---

A.N: Thank you for reading and your support :) I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Have a nice day :)

I can't write some of you guys anywhere else so I will do it like this :)

Guest from the 25th October:

Thank you for the review :), I am happy you liked the story for the most part.

I understand your points, and no it wasn't too harsh :D The Twilight comment made me chuckle :D

But also Hiei got bitten in the tournament too. So maybe biting is a part of Yu YuHakusho world? :D

Maybe I didn't write it clearly, I apologize for that. They are one and the same person. Kurama himself said it's a merger, not a possession. So I am writing it as they are the same person, but also that Kurama is a 'new' person due to experiences, his life in the human world, his family, and friends. I'm sorry that I made it confusing and seem like they were two people which they are not. I just meant that Yoko is like a past self (version), the person who Kurama used to be but now isn't because he changed. Of course, he still is but isn't :) Also, the story is not over so I am planning to write about that more, and Kurama himself in later episodes/manga chapters said that there are times he turns more into 'Kurama' and in shorter intervals after the Dark Chapter Crisis.

As for making this seems dark, well, I can't apologize for that. I think the point of fanfiction is to write the story you want to so this is the way I write this story. :) It is a part of my writing style and this story. But I will start to put warnings on each chapter just in case.

Guest from Oct, 25th: Thank you for the review :), I am glad you like the story so far.

Japanese 101: Sorry, about that. I fixed it already. Thank you for letting me know.

Guest from Oct, 30th: Thank you for the review :) I am happy you enjoyed the story so far.

Guest 2.0: Thank you kindly for your review and the support :) I am happy you like the story and my ideas so far :) Sorry, I don't want to reveal anything, but as if now, I plan Nana to be like Keiko just an ordinary human best girl of someone who isn't entirely or at all human :)