Alrighty, here comes the second-to-last chapter of The Feline Curse! Gah! I can't believe I'm really almost done...it's pretty amazing. I can't believe so many people enjoyed this fic. It makes me feel so happy and warm and fuzzy inside! "It's a little bit funny, this feeling inside..." (from Elton John's Your Song) So yeah. Thanks so much!

Thank you's:
TwitchyEars007: Yayness! I'm really happy my descriptions enabled you to picture everything. That's something I always try to aim for, so I'm glad it worked!
4-is-lovely: Yeah, breathing water really doesn't work. Though once I could have sworn I was breathing in my swimming pool...but that's besides the point.
Vitanie Tora: What a wonderful suggestion! Actually, when I first wrote that part in quiz format, I was pretty shocked with myself...I even made myself cry, how pathetic is that?
Angelkitsune-Naomi: You'll be happy to know that I did super-type this chapter! So I apologize if there are any stupid mistakes. And as soon as I saw I fifth review, update time! Enjoy this one!
Ayane Sakurai: Thank you very much for your many and wonderful reviews. Seriously, even if you don't say much, it still means a lot to me because I know that someone is at least taking the time to tell me they enjoy my fic! I hope you like this chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't own YYH, just The Feline Curse. Five reviews to update! Hang on everyone, we're almost there!

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CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE – INNER STRENGTH

Kurama and Hiei's bodies fell to the ground in front of Kitkit, about a meter apart. Neither of them moved.

Not again, Catalyn thought in despair, tears falling down her cheeks like waterfalls. Not again… Not again…

Kitkit stepped forward, leaving the bodies behind her. "Yes, go on and cry," she said. "Cry because you know it's your own miserable fault. You were stupid enough to act in anger and get caught. And they were foolish enough to think that they could keep you from getting killed! They've only delayed that time, and it's all in vain. All thanks to you."

No, she thought desperately. They can't be dead…not them… Why did this have to happen? They didn't deserve to die… It's all my fault…my fault… Why? Why me? Why did I have to be so stupid? After all my sensei taught me…and I went and broke his rule…I let her get to me…again… Oh, sensei, I've failed you… I wasn't a worthy student after all… I couldn't save my friends… I was the weakest link… Why do I deserve to live longer than them? Why? Oh, Kurama…Hiei…I'm so sorry…Please don't…

"It's all your fault," Kitkit continued to taunt. "It's your fault, no matter which way you look at it. Out of the five, you were the weakest. Why the hell do you deserve to live the longest?" Catalyn sobbed at that, not saying anything. "Well?" she demanded. "ANSWER ME!" But she still couldn't speak. "So, you know just how worthless you are?" Kitkit said. "Good. And for admitting it, maybe I'll let you die painlessly. Still, torturing you would give you more time to regret the things you've done. I like that idea better."

The cage of heat waves closed in on Catalyn, and she felt her clothes rip and her skin burn. "I'm sorry!" she wailed as the pain grew and she closed her eyes. Yusuke and Kuwabara fought Kashi so that they could come to help me. They really cared, even though I found them both annoying. Hiei, well, he might have been in the fight for his own interests…maybe he didn't want to protect me, just show off to me of how much a loser I was, that baka… And…Kurama. He was always so nice to me, so kind and considerate…He kept me company while I was stuck in bed healing, did everything he could for me…and I couldn't repay him…Sensei, I'm sorry I couldn't be a better student…I'm sorry you ever had to put up with me.

That's when she heard it. It could have been a figment of a dying girl's imagination, but she heard the boys' voices in her head, and her sensei's and Kashi's as well. Their grinning images formed in her mind.

"Come on, Catalyn, don't stop now," Yusuke said. "You didn't kick any ass yet!"

"Yeah!" Kuwabara joined in. "There's no way a beautiful girl like you isn't better than an ugly thing like her!"

Kashi nodded in agreement. "Don't let these boys jerk you around, come on!"

"I'm sorry," Catalyn told them sadly. "I'm sorry for being such a burden this whole time."

"Hn," Hiei said. "You're too cowardly to show your potential."

Kurama smiled the same smile that had always made her feel better. "We know you can accomplish this," he said. "You just have to find the inner strength to believe in yourself."

They all disappeared, leaving only her sensei behind. Then everyone's mocking laughter echoed all around her: the martial arts students who said she couldn't, the Ten, and above them all, Kitkit.

"Hear that?" her sensei asked her. "You've endured mockeries ever since you entered the school. Even now that you've left, the laughter still continues. But did you ever give in? Never. You always kept fighting for what you believed in. Don't throw it all away now. Not when you've done so much to get this far."

Catalyn was struck with a stunning revelation. "You're right," she whispered. Louder: "You're right!" The laughter vanished, and so did her sensei, but not before giving her one last smile. "I can do this," she said, almost in awe of herself. "I will do this!"

At these words, her eyes snapped open and she vaguely realized that she'd been shouting aloud again. The cage of heat that Kitkit had trapped her with was completely gone. Her aura was circling her in a blazing swirl of light, and she felt surprisingly neutral. There was no sadness, no rage, no happiness, no nothing, not even surprise for the huge amount of dormant power she'd just released. All she could feel was pure purpose.

She began walking towards Kitkit, who looked genuinely surprised. Catalyn knew the difference in their powers was too great, but she kept walking forward. It wasn't so great that she couldn't lay a scratch on her. Her eyes were filled with determination. And she continued to walk.

Kitkit's look of surprise relaxed slightly as Catalyn continued. So she did it, she thought. She's raised her powers to their 100 potential. A little prodding was sure to bring it out. She frowned, her ears twitching as she tried to figure out the stats. So she'll be able to do it after all, as long as she doesn't hold back. And she knows her limits well, so she'll be able to have enough left over… Very well. I get it now. She'll make an excellent fighter. Her sensei will be proud. As Catalyn drew closer, so close that she was almost upon her, Kitkit let out a small smile.

Catalyn launched into her attacks. She charged forward, pulling into a reiki-filled punch. Kitkit moved to dodge. Acting on a spur of the moment, Catalyn's instincts told her where to follow, and she followed the dodge to make contact. At the last second, she pulled out of her punch and delivered a smashing kick instead. Hands flaming, Kitkit grabbed her foot. Catalyn jumped and flipped her hands to the ground. Then, using her tail for balance, she swung into a full 360, kicking out in the splits and freeing her foot. Judging by Kitkit's flaming arms and legs, Catalyn knew she would not get her there. Instead, she knew exactly where to aim. She just needed the right strategy.

She began a new series of punches, with Kitkit either dodging or blocking each one. But that didn't matter. Catalyn was on the offensive. Kitkit did the same and started punching back. But Catalyn hardly felt the blows; they healed themselves almost immediately after contact. It was as if her aura was shielding her from the pain. Then she realized with a start the full power of her new aura. She could sense healing powers!

Amazed as she was, it didn't show in her moves. Catalyn continued to fight back, switching into a defensive offensive style, using reiki to reflect Kitkit's attacks and to keep attacking as well. Then she launched into the offensive again, adding kicks and flips with the punches in an unpredictable, never-repeating pattern. It was starting to work.

Kitkit was smiling, but Catalyn paid no attention to this. She had found her opening. She flipped into the air, freezing Kitkit's arms and legs into difficult positions to block another strike. Her fist glowed more brightly than ever as she put all she had into one last punch. She brought her arm back as she spun into position. "HAAAAA!" she yelled, and her fist closed in.

"Nice job," Kitkit muttered as she moved to block it, but it was too late. Catalyn's fist had made contact exactly where she was aiming for, smacking Kitkit right in the forehead. She was pushed back and into the air, but she caught herself quickly with her tail. She stood, brushing herself off. "You won," she said simply. There was a small drip of blood on her forehead.

All of Catalyn's senses came back at those two words as she let go of all the power she'd used an instant ago. She fell to her knees in relief, breathing hard. I've done it…I've won…

Kitkit walked towards the house, wiping her forehead. "Come inside when you're done," she said as she opened the door. "Yusuke and Kuwabara are fine. Their minor injuries are being healed right now."

"WHAT?" Catalyn yelled, her voice raspy and her head snapping up. "They're alive?"

Kitkit nodded. "They were just hurt enough to be knocked out. Kashi couldn't have killed them. She doesn't have the will of a killer. Still, she did want to give you some motivation." Then she turned and entered the house, closing the door behind her.

Catalyn felt tears of joy stinging her eyes. They're alive! Oh, thank the heavens! Then the tears stopped, and she was struck with a sudden horror. Kurama! Hiei! Somehow she found the strength in her wobbling legs to sprint over to them and she collapsed to her knees between their bodies. She reached out on either side to feel their pulses and heartbeats. They weren't dead…yet. But their heartbeats were slowing. They needed help, and fast. Catalyn's voice was almost gone, and she had no strength left to move. The battle had exhausted her completely. But she knew that if she didn't get help soon, they'd die for real.

That's when she remembered. Kurama had told her about how Kuwabara gave Yusuke an aura transfusion once to save his life. She could do the same with Kurama and Hiei! Her aura was partially demonic anyways. It would be able to save them!

She placed a hand on each of their hearts, preparing herself. She looked excitedly into her last reserves of aura, and her heart plummeted like the Tower of Terror.

She only had enough to save one of them!

Catalyn stared down at her hands in shock and despair. How could this be happening, now of all times? Her brain worked furiously, trying to find another way. She tried to yell for help, but her voice was too hoarse. She tried to stand, but she fell right back down again. Even crawling was out of the question. She took a deep breath and accepted the truth. She could only save one. But who should she save?

The answer jumped into her mind right away: Kurama. Of course it should be Kurama. He'd done more for her than the rest of the guys put together. As for Hiei, he'd never done more than hurt and insult her and make her off as weak. He was such an arrogant jerk! There was no reason to choose him over Kurama. Catalyn put her hands on his chest to begin the transfusion. Then she stopped.

She looked back at Hiei, her mind filling with flashbacks. He had been the one who saved her from the vampire demon so long ago. But then he'd gotten her worked up, making her faint. But he had saved her. And then he had gone on to beat her in their first training battle, and knocked her out afterwards. And then Kurama told her about his little sister...and so she knew Hiei was, if only a teensy bit, compassionate. But then…when he and Yusuke had been captured, she had finally agreed with Kurama to go save him… And then when Yami was about to kill her, Hiei stepped in, saving her life. That was the second time he'd saved her life…but she never wanted to admit it because of all the times he was mean to her. And then now…sure, he was in it for his own interests, but he had definitely sacrificed himself for her along with Kurama. Again, he'd saved her life. Sure, she never wanted to admit it. She just wanted herself to believe that Hiei was mean and didn't care about anyone else. But that wasn't true, and she realized now how wrong she was about him. Sure, this was his true personality, but she wondered if his reputation had anything to do with his attitude as well. Either way, she'd finally come to her conclusion about the little runt: he was definitely rude by nature, but he also worked hard to protect his friends. And for that, he deserved her respect. So, finally, she made her final impression of him. And she did respect him.

So it was decided. Catalyn couldn't let him die after all he'd done. But then she realized that she just couldn't choose Hiei over Kurama. Sure, Hiei deserved her respect for all he'd done and didn't deserve to die, but did Kurama deserve to die over Hiei after being so kind to her? She couldn't bear to choose Hiei over Kurama, especially since Kurama has become like a best friend to her. Kurama had done so much for her as well, and she couldn't choose anyone in the world over him. She realized now that she'd been crushing on him this whole time, and she truly cared about him. So, having reached that conclusion, you couldn't let him die. But that would mean choosing him over Hiei. She couldn't do that now that she truly understood and respected him. But there was also no way she was choosing Hiei over Kurama. What could she do?

Catalyn felt their heartbeats again. They had nearly stopped, and she knew that if she kept sitting there debating, they'd both die anyways. She had to make her decision. She sighed, tears falling down again because she knew that either way, she'd never come to a decent conclusion. They've both done so much for me, she thought with remorse. If I let them die, I won't deserve to live… They deserve life so much more than I do…

Then it hit her. She only had enough aura left for one of them because she was still saving the rest for herself. But if she emptied her body of all her remaining aura, both boys would be able to live! So what if it amounted to her suicide? It was a sacrifice. It was thanks to them that she'd been able to accomplish her task.

Her mind was made up. She placed a palm on each of their chests, felt their stopping heartbeats, and took a deep breath. "Thank you," she murmured, closing her eyes to focus better. "Thank you for everything."

Catalyn began to transfer her aura. She was giving almost everything, and their heartbeats still weren't stabilizing. The last bits of her aura were coming out, and it was taking every last ounce of will to keep going. As she was giving the last of her reserves away, she realized in horror that it would not be enough.

No, she thought desperately. I won't let you die! Not after all you've done for me! I can't!

And suddenly she was filled with fresh power. Deep inside of her, there had still been some aura left. At this rate, there would be enough for all three of them. She just kept pouring out aura, in case it wasn't enough. Finally she stopped, panting hard. She felt for their heartbeats, her own heart stopping in anxiety. Then…

They stabilized!

Catalyn practically fell over in relief. Oh gosh…it worked… she thought weakly. She wanted to smile, but she was too weak for even that. Then she remembered that Kitkit had told her to come inside once she'd finished. She knew all along what would happen, she realized. Maybe her intentions were good after all. With great difficulty, she somehow managed to drag herself to the door. Just before she reached it, the door opened and there stood Kashi, looking frazzled.

"My mother just told me what she left you to do," she said with a pant. "Are they –?" Catalyn nodded in reply. "I can't believe she did that!" exclaimed Kashi angrily, acting as a crutch to help Catalyn into the house. "I never thought she'd go that far…ah, here you go."

She had brought her to a room filled with comfortable-looking chairs and a nice bed. At the side of the bed, Catalyn let go of Kashi and let herself fall into the warm mattress. It was softer than anything she'd ever felt before. "Thanks," she murmured, and was asleep in an instant.

-A day and a half later-

When she woke up, Catalyn knew something was different. Someone had changed her into fresh pyjamas. Sunshine was streaming through a window, and she knew a lot of time had passed. But that wasn't what was different. My arms, she thought suddenly. She sat bolt upright, staring in shock at her arms. The bandages were off…and the scars were gone! The curse had been lifted! She felt the sides of her head, where her ears should have been, but there was nothing. She felt higher and discovered that the cat ears still remained. Her tail swished and she knew. The curse was gone, but she was still a demon.

"I didn't want to make you human again just yet," said a nearby voice.

Catalyn looked around and suddenly realized that Kitkit, Kashi, Yusuke, Kuwabara, Hiei, and Kurama were all in the room, sitting on the couches and watching her.

Kashi rushed over to her bedside. "Gosh, but you really like to sleep, Catalyn!" she exclaimed. "It's been a day and a half!"

Catalyn wiped her eyes to get rid of the last of her grogginess. Kurama was beaming at her. "Kashi told us how you saved our lives," he said, indicating Hiei, who responded with a "Hn." "Thank you," he added, "from the both of us." "Hn."

"You know," Catalyn said, "I should be thanking you. You gave me the motivation I needed." She looked at Kitkit, who was laughing silently. "Unless you let me…?"

Kitkit shook her head. "Nah, I'm not that mean," she said. "I just wanted to see your potential and have you put it to good use."

That was when Kashi glared at her mother, and it seemed like both women were on fire. "You didn't have to make her try and kill herself, though!" she yelled. "That was too much!"

"She's alive, isn't she?" Kitkit laughed.

But now the four spirit detectives and Catalyn were staring them down. "You owe us an explanation," Yusuke said.

Kitkit nodded. "Why not have the master of this plan explain himself?" She flung open the door, grinning from ear to ear, for Catalyn's sensei had just walked into the room.