I'm just the man in the middle

Of a complicated plan

No one to show me the light

Ah, yes, I'm weary from battle

But I've just begun to fight

Nowhere to run to

Nowhere to hide

Bee Gees – Man in the middle (chorus)

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A/N: Ok, In this chapter Razi uses a samurai sword known as a Nodachi sword and Katzi has a weapon of her own known as the Naginata – quick history lesson here before you read on ok? Thank you to the owner of 'Nodachi swords information site' and the 'Sword glossary index' for the info:-

The Nodachi was the predecessor to the katana. It was much longer than the katana, with a hilt that almost resembled the shaft of a spear. The Nodachi could be as long as 5 feet, with a 2 foot hilt. As with all samurai swords, a long hilt meant that its possessor could wield it with great freedom and flexibility, making it possible to slash at opponents in all directions.

The Naginata was a common pole arm used throughout Japanese history. The forging, construction and polishing is similar to that of the Japanese sword. Naginata have poles of approximately 6 feet (2 meters) in length. While Naginata were used by samurai, the traditional use of the Naginata was by samurai women in defending the castle during the absence of the men. The most striking feature, however, was the blade; it could be anywhere from 10 inches to more than 2 feet, and was sharpened on a single side, fashioned in the manner of either Sakizori or Uchizori. As with most shafted weapons, it was most devastating when utilizing sweeping, circular motions.

There you go! Enjoy!

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Quickly we blew apart from each other; I could tell that the effects of my blood that was inside the midget had taken its toll. He was having trouble focusing, let alone drawing that so-called-stick of a Katana! HA! I'll take on every one of those bastards for mocking us like this – even if it kills me #smirks#

"Yo, half-pint….lay off the blood-doping eh? The side-effects might kill you…"

This, was making him angrier.

"Your kind belongs in the fiery pits of hell Dragoness – rotting mercilessly away until only your summoning spirits remain…for people like me to manipulate and use to my advantage...heh heh"

Fuck this shite! #draws her Nodachi inferno blade# I hesitated no longer and charged at him 40 mph (which is pretty fast for a young dragoness on foot), swinging the titanic tribal blade like some Bo-staff only to find that he had vanished in thin air! What the fuck? Where is that that 4ft stack of shit!?

"Have you finished dawdling? I grow bored already…."

That little punk! He's smirking like some bastardly emperor heh, staying in the thicket of the trees are ya? Not by my watch you aint!

A deep rumble in the cavity of my chest growled viciously as I unleashed one of my famous attacks upon this miserable excuse of a man.

"Chasm Inferno Blade!!" Placing the Nodachi above my head in a figure of 8 formation, I created an illusion of a hot red/white dragon circling around myself. Then, swinging the blade across in his direction, the 'Dragon' pummelled into him.

Score! I managed to create a ragged gash from the neck to the side of his hip, that should bleed him dry yes!! Ack!! What the??

"Hn, nice sword…shame it doesn't work well in close combat….like mine. Observe and try to learn this time…."

What the hell!? Hey! I don't like being on the defensive here! That's Katzi's job! #grumbles# why didn't she use her famous attack with that Naginata she has stashed somewhere under that cloak of hers #sweatdrops#

"Arg shite! You smarmy little git!!" Growling as fresh, thick, oozing blood poured from the only place where only soft tissue dared to spread itself – the chest and abdomen.

If I'm gonna black out from blood loss I'm taking him down with me!! #coats her talons with her own blood and drives it into Hiei's wound# let's see how you handle that you dumb little fuck! The symptoms grew more obvious as his slashes grew sloppier and in addition, his breath/voice became further haggard.

"You….think you so cleaver…don't you?"

"Like wise asshole…." I turned towards Youko had Katzi too close for comfort, cradling her as if she meant anything to him. I snarled a threat at him.

"And ya see you? When I get over there I'm gonna personally use you for a pelt you perverted creature! If I don't get ya then I'm sure Katzi will win the next battle for me!! Ngh….."

I collapsed on the floor, feeling the stinging sensation of a spirit blast smacking me right on my blasted lesion! Don't tell me that those two humans were here the whole time!?? Was we that distracted that we let our guard down? Dam them!! #blacks out#

-Flash back-

"Get up" A wolf demoness glowered her frosty grey eyes down at a battered dragoness.

Unlike the barren and aged landscape, both were youthfully young, Katzi being 209 at the time and Razi who was just 159, decided to take up additional training the wolf had to offer.

"How do you expect me to take you seriously if you can't even block simple glacier assault? Being a shadow/fire dragoness you need to strengthen your weakness instead of relying on just your offensive attack?"

Stubbornly getting up on her powerful legs, (and by god was she thankful for that!) Razi got into her fighting stance once more.

She was relatively new to the horde of mainly females, who just like their alpha were strong in the defence department. Those who were marked on purpose were either slaughtered or hunted out of the mountains where their fortress had remained anonymous for quite some time.

"Right, I'm going come forth with a technique known as 'Lunar laceration' I want you to block with your blood wall and counter with 'Wraith Chaos' ready?"

Razi nodded with her senses heightened. The wolf had some sort of an advantage being on the ground; maybe if she could knock her up into mid-air then the tables would definitely be turned. She could reach mach 2 in the air with those wings of hers but here, on the solid white ground- 35 mph max.

"Lunar Laceration!!!" Katzi had jumped about twice her height, slicing the air with her Naginata by moving the long, sharp object almost in full circle until finally having to twist her own nimble body 360 degrees, slamming down onto the student like a huge spring-trap guillotine.

Luckily the blood wall had soften the blow and slowed the wolf down; giving the dragoness enough time to dodge (and ending up having her front split wide open) along with unveiling her 'wraith chaos' – a hazardous attack that possesses the victim in which they are purely devoured inside out, leaving nothing but jellied mush.

Katzi knew about this type of offence and was lucky enough to just finish one of her defence moves – tundra wall. Killing any wraiths that were there.

"Phew! That was too close! I could've of been consumed in no time at all! #impressed# not bad….not bad at all…but you must keep your front sealed up with tougher amour than that" She pointed to Razi's padded cloth amour. "The cities in Makai make excellent body amour which can withstand almost anything, we'll steal it before those blasted bandits do! I personally will make that so!"

-End flashback-

I stirred, feeling like shit eh? What's with the bedroom? Aw crap! Don't tell me we're in that Temple again! Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!! I'm gonna gut them, and then I'm going to stick their head on pikes and use them as lavatory plungers! I can't believe we're back in this hell hole AGAIN!!

"mmhmm…. believe it so old friend, and we have to help them with a stupid mission too….."

Obviously she was pissed off big time, she's got a collar/choker around her neck and is near enough rendered useless – unless fox boy activates her spirit energy. Her lips looked bruised badly. What did he do to her!??

"What happened to you when I was out of it?" I asked.

"Simple, Youko wanted to know what I taste of…."

"Bastard!!! Didn't you do anything to stop him?"

"Pfff, yea right, I can't defend and I'm forced into my human form 24/7….the best part is that his human form is nice and apologetic afterwards! I'm dealing with Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde here!"

Dam him! Arg! I gazed at where the source of irritation was coming from – my arm.

Only to find that a dark dragon 'tatoo' hadwrapped itself aroundthe armdomineeringly, smirking at me just like Hiei….

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A/N: read and review please!