SailorStar9: Wow, and another chapter goes up. This is Chapter 48. Sorry for the wait guys. FFN was being retarded on Friday. Read and review.

Disclaimers: YYH, Magic Knight Rayearth and Sailor Moon aren't mine.

Chapter Summary: In a brutal power play, Yomi has forced Kurama to serve as his advisor. If he doesn't, Yomi will destroy the one person Kurama loves more than anyone. But the alliance is hardly stable, for ancient seeds of hatred lie between them. Meanwhile, a group of familiar faces from the past return for one more shot against Yusuke!

Chapter 48: Torn Between Identities


The scene opens into Kurama's school with the test results posted on the bulletin board.

As expected, Ami emerged tops and for once, Kaitou beat Suiichi.

"Hey, Minamino, let me see your answers." Kaitou requested as he took Suiichi's test paper from his desk.

"It isn't like you to make so many careless mistakes." Kaitou remarked, giving Suiichi's answers a glance-over.

"Yup." Suiichi nodded.

"Is there anything bothering you recently?" Kaitou asked.

"It's okay." Suiichi waved it aside.

"I'll have to battle Hiei and Yusuke this time round." he added.

"Really?" Kaitou rose a brow.

"Yup." Suiichi nodded.

"But you don't seem too upset. In fact, you look pretty pleased." Kaitou commented.

Most probably because of the chemical reactions in my body. Suiichi mentally added.

After the Dark Tournament, I'll switch between my Yoko Kurama and Minamino Suiichi personalities for a week during every month. It was then when I realized how much I liked to fight. Recently, the time I morphed back to my Yoko form shortened. Once the time was up, I'll change back to Yoko Kurama automatically. This phenomenon grew more obvious after I met up with Yomi. Suiichi explained.

A 'beeping' from his pocket got Suiichi out of his musings.

"A girlfriend? I'm ashamed of you Minamino." Kaitou joked.

"No, it's only his younger brother. Suiichi knows I'll skin him if he saw anyone behind my back." Ami kidded.

Kaitou laughed.

"Very funny." Suiichi muttered as he got up to return his brother's page.

"Hey big brother." Suiichi's younger brother, who ironically had the same name as he did, greeted his step-brother.

Suiichi remembered what Ami had said when he told her about this.

"Coincidence? Me think not."

"I was just passing by so I came to walk you home." the younger boy offered.

"Don't travel this far in the future. Stay at home to wait for me." Suiichi advised.

"Hey, don't sat that, it's my job after all. I don't think you'll run." the younger boy remarked.

Once back home, Suiichi's younger brother sat on the edge of the bed.

"According to the latest information, Mukuro has the person called Hiei on her side and their power are increasing. Just as you've said, there is a renovation in each king's crew." the younger boy reported.

"Didn't Yomi tell you to take proper care of the hostage's body?" Suiichi asked, his Kurama personnel taking over.

A worm-like demon sprouted out of the boy's ear.

"Don't get to cocky. One wrong move and this boy gets it." the demon warned.

"You really are an idiot. You can only threaten me if the hostage is safe. You'd better get back in there." Kurama warned.

"I have other ways of torturing him without killing him." the demon sniggered.

"It's better if you don't anger him. He has other rather surprising moves of his own." Icy cautioned from a tree outside the open window.

"Hey boys." she kidded when Kurama and the worm demon turned their attention to her.

"And one more thing idiot. Touch one hair on him and you'll find eight very ticked off dragons on your tail." she warned.

The demon blinked and stammered in fright, "I'm sorry. It was my mistake. I was too anxious…"

Turning to Kurama, he added, "Oh yes! The plan you promised to Yomi-sama…"

"All six of them have reached a power level of five thousand each." Kurama replied.

"What? Really? Then why hasn't the Reikai people take any actions?" the demon asked.

"It's of course operating in secret. Only selected people know about it." Icy supplied.

When they were finally alone, Kurama turned to the girl.

"You do know I can take care of that." he remarked.

"But what's the fun in that?" Icy replied jokingly.


Some time later, the pair arrived at Genkai's temple.

"Ah, so the two of you are here." Genkai noted, seeing the new arrivals.

"How are they?" Kurama asked.

"They have potential." was all Genkai said.

"And much easier to teach than Yusuke I assume." Icy added.

"That too." Genkai nodded.

"Hi." Koenma greeted the pair.

"Man, those guys really are improving fast. The barrier should be raised pretty quickly, otherwise the Reikai will feel it." Koenma remarked.

"Speaking of which, what are you planning, Kurama?" he asked the redhead.

"You should let me know a little more."

"I'm merely ensuring the stability of Makai." Kurama replied.

"Quite true. Once Raizen dies, the balance in the Makai will be disrupted." Koenma nodded.

"You're going to be the third power?" he suggested.

"That, I do not know. It all depends on Yusuke." Kurama answered.

"Such an amazing relationship." Koenma noted. "Looks like you're anticipating this battle."

Kurama said nothing as both he and Icy opened the door.

"Hey you two!" Chuu greeted the fox pair.

"Man I never knew I can improve this much." Chuu remarked.

"Thank the teacher." Rinku added.

"I've heard Yusuke's improved a lot. Can't wait to fight him." Jin commented.

"Don't be impatient Jin." Touya reprimanded.

"We have another half a year boys. Better start training." Icy remarked.

"Yes mother." Jin joked.


Time passes and before long, six months were up.

Chuu, Rinku, Jin, Touya, Suzuka, and Shishi Wakamaru were presented before Yomi.

"Unbelievable. All of them have a power level of more than ten thousand each." Yoda gasped.

"How is this possible?" he asked.

"Good food and ample of exercise." Kurama answered.

"Plus lots of fresh air." Icy quipped.

"Good food? Those plants were darn hard to swallow." Chuu muttered.

"Ample exercise? It was like hell there." Jin mumbled.

"She's right about one thing: the air is fresh." Touya muttered.

"Not bad, Kurama. From now on, you're my second-in command and the six of them are under your instruction." Yomi announced.

"But Yomi-sama, this might not be a good idea. All of them being under Kurama's command. What if they turn against us?" Shachi protested.

"Shut up, Shachi !" Yomi rebuked.

"What have you done in the last five hundred years?" he added.

Shachi was rendered speechless.

I'll kill you! Shachi seethed in anger.

Che, his power level isn't even two thousand. This should be easy. Shachi scoffed.

You or me? came Icy's rather amused question.

Depends on who he comes after. You can take him if you want. Kurama replied.

Nah, he's yours. Icy waved his offer aside.

If you say so. Kurama grinned.

"Shachi, you can come out now." Kurama instructed.

The merman demon stood before the fox pair, his trident drawn.

"Aren't you afraid of punishment?" Kurama asked.

"Hn, I won't leave any traces behind." Shachi mocked.

"Yomi's patience is indeed remarkable. I wonder how many capable assistants you've gotten rid of in this manner." Icy mused.

"I'm guessing Yomi must be waiting for someone to get rid of you for these hundreds of years." Kurama noted.

"I'll see how long you can keep this up." Shachi scoffed as he reached for his communicator to give orders to his worm demon to remove the hostage.

The subordinate's reply was astonishing when he told Shachi that he was now under Kurama's command and would no longer obey him.

"You make such a blunder with only one hostage. If it was Yomi, he won't need a hostage to threaten me." Kurama commented.

"Well said." Yomi complimented from his position.

"Stop talking and die!" Shachi let out a battle cry as he leapt to pierce Kurama with his trident.

The pair immediately split up to avoid the attack.

Icy was about to fire an icicle when she noticed that Kurama had morphed into his Yoko self.

With a quick lash of his Rose Whip, Shachi was slashed into pieces.

Sushi anyone? Icy joked.

Ha, ha. Yoko Kurama replied dryly.

"Don't look at the tramp card." he warned Yomi.

"I'll know what tricks you have once I see the tramp card right?" Yomi suggested.

From that point on, Kurama was officially Yomi's second-in-command.


SailorStar9: Sorry for the wait people. My brother's been hogging the com this week.