File 59: Reason to fight – Kurama's chapter

Minamino Shiori called her home. Her son answered. She couldn't know that he actually wasn't home but in the Makai. He reassured her. He was doing good, eating properly, and he hadn't felt any earthquake. Although the newly-weds had hesitated, he had half-forced them to leave on an overseas trip through the end of august. Of course it was a present for their honeymoon, but in fact, it was mostly for his own convenience... all so he could come here to the Demon World – with the condition that it would only be for this summer vacation – to serve as Yomi's advisor. He owed a debt to Yomi.

Kurama was in the forest surrounding Gandara – Yomi's capital – and was heading to the city, which was just like a human city, when he was suddenly attacked by three assassins. He evaded them and quickly dispatched them. He asked Yomi to come out, and the king stepped forth. The fox got angry at him. After having sent messengers to invite him, what kind of greeting was this? Yomi was just puzzled by the gap between his current presence and the one he had back then. That was just a little test. Kurama noted how cautious Yomi had grown over the time. People changed in a thousand years. Now Yomi was able to rival Mukuro and Raizen who used to reign far above their heads and he was even out to defeat them. It was then Youda, an elderly demon serving as the King's assistant, came to fetch his master who told him Kurama would be participating in the meeting as an advisor. Youda looked at the new guy with disdain, obviously doubting his capabilities. That man looked so puny and weak and had almost no demonic power, but the king insisted.

The war meeting began. Youda showed a graph with the relative military strength of the three nations with their own nation's overall represented as being 100. Mukuro's was 115 and Raizen's 56. There were also the numbers giving the relative strength of each country's ruler: 55 for both Yomi and Mukuro and 49 for Raizen. Well each country was basically one-man-teams whose fighting power relied all too heavily on the king's power. Then he showed the projections one year from now on. Both Mukuro and Yomi had grown by a point and their country by 2 or 3 points, but Raizen had dropped to zero, and his nation's overall power to 3. Raizen was going to die within a year. So their plan should be to bolster their own army by acquiring the best warriors going to leave that territory and all surrounding areas as well as any able military personnel.

The king asked Kurama's opinion. The others were also curious about it since his insight had been praised by their ruler. The fox requested the power level breakdown for each king and their strongest subordinate. Youda offered to show him the data of every warrior but was turned down. The old one believed it was because all those numbers were too much to grasp for the new comer. The stats included the health points/stamina, the offensive power, defensive power and value of the special abilities, and their sum made the total demonic power. The total demonic power of the kings were: 1 550 000 for Yomi, 1 575 000 for Mukuro, and 1 322 000 for Raizen. And for their second in command: Kirin had 189 500, Hokushin had 136 000, and Shachi (Yomi's red fish-like right hand man) had 137 800. Youda asked Kurama what he made of it.

"Well, I'm not sure the term 'right hand' is accurate... compared to their leader, each country's No. 2 is practically worthless." The kitsune began, causing Shachi to glare at him. "Supposing that Raizen dies, it will come down to the two remaining nations. There is no difference between the two kings' powers. As such, the struggle would usually depend on the armies and other forces. But in our case even the second strongest is far too weak compared to the king to have even a slight impact. There's no telling who will win in this scenario."

"Humph... that's all you can come up with? That's some shabby 'insight' you've got there..." Shachi belittled him.

"However, in the near future, those graphs and that scenario will drastically change. Within half a year, the No. 2 in each country will have changed."

"What?! Don't make me laugh! There's no way a standoff that's been going on for five centuries will change just like that!" The general burst out. His collegues told him not to get so worked up because of a newbie.

The council session ended soon after that. Yomi and Kurama left together, and in the hallways, the king mentioned this had been the most amusing war meeting he'd had in a long time and told his new staff that Shachi had been glaring at him the whole time. More than hate, he was overflowing with bloodlust. The fox was impressed he could discern that much. The change in the body temperature, blood pressure, the tauntess of the muscles, the flow of air around people... Yomi could discern it all. Becoming blind had actually made him much stronger. And he could also guess what Kurama was thinking. The child that Raizen had a human woman birth, Urameshi Yusuke, was engaged day and night in fierce active combat training in order to lead Raizen's forces in the near future. And reports had come that Hiei who had gone to Mukuro had also obtained a surprising amount of power in just a short time. Urameshi, Hiei, and Kurama, the three of them were going to become No 2 withing six months.

"The second in command is the true key to any organization. That's what you've always said." The king remembered. His former leader kept quiet. "Oh, yes, Kurama, with the council meeting and all, it had slipped my mind... There's someone I must have you meet. Come with me." They went deep underground and stopped before a door with a strong and complicated lock. It looked like a vault. "I believe I told you I managed to capture the scum who stole the light from my world." Yomi smiled with a hint of malice. Kurama remained silent, but he was sweating slightly. "What's wrong? Your heart rate is climbing." The blind demon noted while typing a code.

The door unlocked and opened. Inside was the rotting body of a youkai. His eyes had been gouged out, he was pierced by numerous harpoons, deeply lacerated... but the worst was that his upper body and lower body were only connected by a few strips of skin and flesh. The bones and insides between the ribs and lower abdomen were gone. Obviously he had been horribly tortured.

"His body has been decaying rapidly for a few days now and he can only manage a few words at a time. I still remember vividly when he attacked me 1000 years ago. In those days we were eager, desperate to make our names known throughout the Demon Realm and carve out our own territory. But to create a country, one needs both wealth and might. Hoping to kill two birds with one stone, we became bandits, the most popular 'career' in our world. Our positions were reversed then, you were the leader and I was the deputy. Hot-blooded and overconfident, I was so sure of my own strength I would often take action on my own, each time growing more and more reckless, and letting growing numbers of our subordinates die. My defining quality, I believe, was my unfathomable stupidity. You, on the other hand, were cold and calm. You had a different type of cruelty. Calculating, patient, you emphasized the importance of careful planning and were always three steps ahead of our targets. Thinking back on it, my overly simplistic views on the world were almost cute. No wonder you grew uneasy, you knew where things were headed. I probably wasn't qualified to be your right hand.

And one day, in a village I had decided to raid myself, he showed up. He was strong... compared to my level of the time. Though I lost my eyes, I managed to wound him badly enough that he couldn't finish the job. With a last cryptic message 'my life's worth more than the money', he vanished. Confused and frightened, without knowing who had attacked me and why, I could only wait for you to save me like you had always done. But no one ever came. As the years, the centuries went on, I heard I rumors that you had gone to the Human World. In that world of yesterday where Raizen and Mukuro lived unchallenged, you gave up and left. And I never got to meet you again until now. I wanted answers, and I wanted revenge. And after all this time, I finally managed to track him down... Your heartbeats have already returned to normal after seeing him like this... You're as impressive as always." Then he walked over to what remained of the once strong assassin. "Hey, wake up!"

"P-please... kill me..." The tortured begged.

"Very well, I'll end your suffering. But first you must answer my question one last time. Who hired you to kill me?"

"Man... with terrifyingly cold eyes... silver haired youko... Kurama..." The words had just left his lips that Yomi crushed his head underfoot. Kurama watched without batting an eye, having fully recovered his cold and calm demeanor. Right, the hitman he had sent had been caught, tortured and killed, and the one who should have been killed had grown far more powerful than the one who had betrayed him and wanted him dead.

"Before you say anything, understand that I bear you no grudge. I was stupid and careless and needlessly led hundreds of our subordinates to their deaths. Had the current me been in your place, I would have done the same."

"What do you want?"

"Just as I said, your help, nothing more. Keep serving me as my advisor. Back then I was still of use to you in my own foolish way, wasn't I? Now, for the sake of my ambition to unify the Demon Realm, I want you to help me in your own way."

"And what if I refuse?"

"...Humans enjoy traveling, don't they?" The king began after a pause and a twitch of his eyebrows. "It'd be a shame if a plane were to crash. Tragedy befalls a middle-aged couple on their honeymoon after remarrying... I doubt a story like that would even make it on the evening news..."

"You bastard..."

"Minamino Shuichi's mother, Shiori, the woman who taught you love, and that you desperately wanted to save... The first step in military strategy is to gather intelligence. It's one of the many things you taught me."

"You were puzzled when you first saw me? Who the hell taught you such acting skills?" The fox spoke through gritted teeth. The king burst out laughing.

"You are genuinely enraged, and yet somewhere in your head you are thinking calmly, coming up with some way not to lose the person you hold dear. Already, you have started thinking ahead two or three steps beyond my threat, trying to move things in a better direction, one way or another, instead of simply letting yourself be overcome by your emotions. What a sad, cold fellow. And what a fearsome fellow you are. The Makai will soon be plunged into great disorder. That's when I'll need your composure and cold-bloodedness. Utilize those powers of yours for me." Yomi passed him by. "Ah, but there might be one thing in particular I want... Katsuyama Akari." He smirked, even wider so when he heard Kurama's heartbeat suddenly increase and he sensed that flash of bloodlust mixed with a touch of fear. The fox had also curled his fists and his eyes had widened in shock, though he closed them and managed to calm himself after a few seconds. "The fact that you failed to mention her earlier, were you avoiding to remind me of her because you didn't want this to happen? There's no way I'd forget about her now, is there? I must say I never expected someone as proud and cold as you to one day wag your tail before a mere human girl. Well, I say 'mere' but she's got some troublesome abilities, and she too is growing infinitely stronger. If there's a chance I can obtain such a wild card, it's only natural for me to take it. That said, I heard she's an impulsive, unrefined, and gluttonous girl who just relies on brute strength to solve everything, and also that she's extremely willful. It's hard to think you're really into that type. Or could it be that she has a peerless beauty that blinds you to everything else? In any case, I'm extremely curious and impatient to meet that woman you've fallen so hard for..." The king left on these words.

Kurama once more opened his calculating green eyes. Certainly, he understood Yomi. Bringing Akari over meant weakening Raizen's army, bolstering their own, and having even more leverage against him, an additional hostage...

Days later, Kurama was watching the lightning falling on Gandara from one of the observatory towers. From the higher tower right next to it, a green twig-like demon was observing him. When 'Shachi-sama' joined him, Kara reported the fox hadn't made any suspicious move. Shachi warned him to be wary of that guy since they didn't know what he could be thinking. They saw Yomi walking to Kurama. Kara didn't get why the king could be so interested in a new-comer. The general told him he had heard that they had been friends a long time ago but he still couldn't trust that fox. The truth was that inside he was just green with envy though.

In the other tower, Yomi asked Kurama what he thought they should do for their kingdom to prevail. The kitsune had already thought about it and was working to implement it. In the near future, he should be able to bring six people with a spectral power rating above 100 000 points. The king was impressed that he was cooperating so actively and constructively.

"In the past you had a heart of ice, but you've changed. Is that how dearly you hold your family?" The blind demon mocked. 'Shuichi' pretended he hadn't heard that comment and informed that he was returning to the Human World to oversee the training of the people he had chosen. "But if you believed that it would make me relent about Katsuyama Akari's case, then you're mistaken. I hope you're making preparations to welcome her as well..." He seemed to be speaking kindly but the menacing note in his voice was unmistakable. The fox replied he had already contacted Akari and arranged to see her then. "Kurama, I'm depending on you."

Back at Meiou High, it was also exams time. And for the first time, Minamino ranked only 2nd, and Kaito was 1st. So Kaito went to talk to him. The fox admitted being involved in another conflict, and that he may have to fight Akari and Yusuke and/or Hiei this time. That shocked Kaito, all the more since rather than agonize over it Kurama seemed to be enjoying it. The fox just smiled faintly. Although he never mentioned it to anyone, his bio-rhythm had changed. Ever since the Dark Tournament, every month or so, he was assaulted by an overwhelming feeling that despite still being 'Minamino Shuichi', he was turning into the Youko, Kurama. When it happened, he became extremely combative and belligerent. Akari did notice though, and had always been quite willing to spar with him. What more, lately, the intervals had shortened, and it felt like he could just – snap – and turn into Kurama at any time. It had gotten worse since he had met with Yomi. Suddenly, his pager rang. It was his new little brother, Hatanaka Shuichi, who was calling him.

However, Akari grew much more slippery and less keen whenever he would seek her help to try and release his suppressed energy and emotions in a different, less destructive way and deepen, strengthen, tighten their bond. While she had managed to escape him until now, he could tell he was this close to catching her. She always acted tough but was actually quite shy and anxious when it came down to it. But with much patience and efforts, he had appeased her and greatly lowered her defences.

After school, Kurama saw his little brother waiting for him outside the grounds.

"Heya, Shuu-nii. I was in the area so I figured we could walk home together."

"Don't come to my school again. I don't care how boring it is, you wait at home." Shuu-nii replied surprisingly coldly.

"Oh don't say that. I'm just doing my job. It's not like I think you'd run away." Hatanaka retorted rather rudely. And indeed, they spoke at home. The child was sitting on a bed. "I've got some news. Mukuro's really pushing Hiei to the next level. Just as you said; both Mukuro's army and Raizen's army seem to be undergoing changes..." He took out a cigarette and was going to light it when Kurama quickly snatched it away.

"Didn't Yomi teach you anything, Kara? Hostages must be treated with the utmost care." The fox admonished. Kara's body creeped out from little Shuichi's ears.

"You're one galling bastard. Watch your mouth. If you piss me off too much, I can have this kid's head rolling on the floor in a second."

"Are you stupid? Hostages only have meaning if they're kept safe. You just need to stay inside there like you were ordered to."

"There are other things I could do besides killing him... like cutting off his fingers one by one..."

"Don't make me too mad. There are times occasionally when I don't care what happens. If you talk about methods to make others suffer while keeping them alive, I know every last one. How about I try a few on you?" The kitsune threatened. He looked and sounded so cold and cruel that Kara cowered and apologized. The parasite youkai also returned to the subject. Was the plan of producing six fighters with over 100 000 points of total demonic power going well? Kurama confirmed. All six had already cleared the 50 000 points hurdle. Kara voiced his skepticism. If there truly were such guys, there was no way the Spirit world would let it slide! "It's a secret of course. With one exception..."

So Kurama went to that secret place, far out in the mountains, surrounded by wards. Genkai and Koenma greeted him. Those six were doing well. They were more rewarding to teach than Yusuke at least. With their demon power growing by leaps and bounds, the force field would have to be strengthened soon so the Spirit World wouldn't notice them. Koenma asked Kurama what he was plotting.

"To preserve the balance of power in the Demon World. In that sense, it's also to protect the Human World and Spirit World."

"It's true that the face off between Raizen, Yomi and Mukuro has kept the Demon World stable for centuries. When Raizen dies, there'll be nothing stopping Mukuro and Yomi from having an all-out war. Don't tell me you plan to become the third great power in Raizen's place?!"

"I don't know. Everything depends on how Yusuke and Akari will move."

"You guys have a strange relationship. I'd assume you'd want to avoid fighting each other but there seems to be some kind of unspoken agreement for this kind of situation."

"We provoke rather than collude... that's the relationship we appear to have. And if I can't keep up, Akari will get bored of me. I can't have that." The fox grinned.

"When the six are about to go the Demon Realm, let me handle it. The current Special Defense Squad captain is more understanding than Otake was."

Kurama passed through a door into a passage leading deep into the mountain. He arrived into a large cave whose floor had been tiled and whose ceiling was supported by pillars. There, Chu, Jin, Touya, Rinku, Suzuki, and Shishiwakamaru had been waiting for him. They were glad to have been offered this chance to pump themselves up. It was all thanks to their amazing teacher. But Yusuke had become even stronger and Jin was impatient to fight him again. Touya told him not to be hasty. They still needed to work on their basics. Kurama didn't care about their reasons. But he wanted them to double their current power within the next six months. The guys cheered and immediately resumed training, dividing into pairs and dueling. They all had individual training regimens too.

"I told you when I left that I wanted to put our relationship on hold. You remember, right?" Her hands in her pockets, Akari walked up to Kurama and glared at him. He was sitting on a bench in a park.

"But that doesn't mean we can't see each other at all, right?"

"Well... that's true but what's the big deal, calling me out so suddenly?"

"I wanted to see you. Is that not good enough?" The fox smiled at her. The girl didn't reply and stared blankly at him. Who was he trying to fool? "Well, let's save that for later. For now, won't you let me pay the price for having made you come all the way here?" He stood up, smiled even more charmingly, and held out his hand to her. She kept staring at him, then sighed.

"It'll be high, you know." She took his hand.

"Don't worry. I won't let you down." He sweetly grinned at her. Akari sighed again. Geez, there was really no helping it when he was like that. She just couldn't stay mad at him, not like she was really mad. And he could so easily anticipate her words and desires and perfectly respond to them.

The pair went bowling, then the arcades, and karaoke, while making pit stops to eat crepes, ice creams, ramen, and okonomiyaki. Then they went to see some of her favorite wrestlers fighting. After the match they had Katsudon and headed to a festival. Amidst the various shooting and throwing games and fish scooping, she ate yakisoba, yakitori, takoyaki, roasted corn, karaage, ikayaki, taiyaki, chocolate banana, caramelized apple and cotton candy. Yet she didn't gain weight. She must have a way for turning all those nutrients into power, like Chu got stronger the more he drank. Kurama recalled what Yomi had said of Akari. Indeed, she was a gluttonous girl but she always looked so happy when she was eating, like she was truly enjoying life. After all, although it can be considered a base pleasure, food was actually life. It was her simplicity that was good. And seeing her enjoy life so much, the fox couldn't help but feel all warm inside and smile too. To him, that was one of her cutest side. And it made him happy too that his mother loved her and how openly Akari expressed her love for her cooking. Shiori had also complained that the men in the family should be more open like Akari, because even though they complimented her, it sounded like they didn't really care. Shiori also loved going shopping with her, and eating crepes or fruits parfaits with her on the way back, and really seemed to consider her like her own daughter. Akari too having been deprived of her mother at a young age had very much taken to her and listened to every word she said. He recalled having balked at seeing her so obedient and submissive as he had never imagined it possible. Katsuyama decided to give the goldfish she had caught to a little crying girl. The festival ended with fireworks they watched from a secluded place.

The one who had taught Kurama about human love was his human vessel's mother, Minamino Shiori. Demons, save for a few exceedingly rare exceptions, felt no such things as 'love', including filial love. To them, it was a foreign concept. Kurama had been the same as all those demons. So he had been puzzled and touched that this woman would go so far as to sacrifice herself for him... even though she didn't know of the real him. It was the love of a 'mother' for her 'child', a transcending love that did not need to 'know'.

Then he had met Akari, who despite being human, rejected, or rather feared love. She taught him of the pain and fear of losing people you loved, and how extreme those feelings of pain, fear, and love could be. And she taught him about a love that knew and accepted everything about you. And her brightness, her light, which was actually her thirst for life, or more exactly, for the feeling of being alive, had pierced him. And that love and light had illuminated the darkest parts of his soul and warmed his cold heart to the core. She had embraced the deepest part of him that nobody else had ever touched. That was why he needed her, entirely, and could not bear for her thoughts and heart to turn to someone else. Now that he knew that light, he could no longer live without it.

After the festival, they went to Genkai's place. She took him to an underground chamber for sparring. She could tell his demonic blood had been growing stronger and he was oozing bloodlust, although he was trying to hide and suppress it. She hit her fist against her palm in a 'come-and-get-it' way. He didn't need to hold back with her. The kitsune smiled. Akari might not be the smartest girl, but she knew what was important, she was observant, understanding, and considerate... when she wanted. But, really, with her, he could just be himself, without hiding, or suppressing anything, his love or his bloodlust. She was strong enough to take him on head on and accept everything about him.

Then, after they healed themselves, it was time to dip in the hot springs. They bathed separately and put on their night yukata. They sat down on the wooden walkway just out a tatami room to look at the moon and talk. The young woman correctly guessed he had called her out because Yomi had asked him to make sure she switched over to their side. Knowing him, he must have refused, but things still came to this, so something must have been used against him. And if he had a weakness that could be grasped, that was his family. There were hostages.

"You remember that I gave them a strong protection, right?" Katsuyama continued. Indeed, they knew by experience that their family and the people they loved could be targeted by demons for different reasons, mainly grudge and leverage. It had happened during the Shiseiju mission, and during the Dark Tournament, and even just recently against Sensui. So she had decided before leaving to make sure everyone was well protected. She had drawn a blood seal on them, like an invisible tattoo that would erect barriers in case they were about to be killed.

"...Yes..."

"But you're still worried... Alright, I'll strengthen the enchantment."

"Thank you. A parasite demon was also sent to watch me by taking over my brother but I'm already dealing with that."

"As expected of you... And I expect you already know my answer to that 'request'..."

"I do."

"As long as MY territory is left untouched and they don't make waves, I don't care about demons eating humans. It's just nature that the strong prey on the weak. And as a human it shouldn't be my place to be involved in power struggles between demons. So if I don't stay neutral, actually, it's much more interesting to fight for a lost cause. Raizen and a number of his pals and subordinates are my buddies too. I haven't decided on anything yet but when the time comes, I'll surely go with whatever Yusuke will choose. For an idiot he has some great flashes of inspiration. You could say he instinctively knows how to keep things nice, fun and simple. And I like things better this way too. Also, love and fights are different matters, surely, you can understand that too..." She smirked at Kurama who sighed amusedly. "So could you relay this message to Yomi? 'I don't like cheap dirty bastards that take hostages, and I don't like guaranteed victories. They're no fun. If you want something, don't just stay rotting on your throne, come and get it yourself. I'll listen anytime.'"

"'He won't like it... but I guess I have no choice. You really love putting me through the wringer." The fox sighed again.

"And I also told you, it's boring when everything goes too smoothly for you. But unfortunately, I'm sure you'll be fine, since it's you. Wait... it's you... so I'm pretty sure there was a way for to deal with those threatening Shiori and Hatanaka-san..."

"Well... yes?"

"So you were really just using that order as an excuse to see me!"

"I did tell you that I wanted to see you, didn't I? What's wrong with that? And now that work is done, we can fully enjoy our time." Kurama suddenly pushed Akari down and kissed her, surprising her. She started squirming and (weakly) resisting at first but quickly melted as the kiss deepened. "And from what I can tell from that kiss, it seems you've been missing me too..." He smiled and licked his lips.

"No! I just wanted a breather!"

"It's cute when you try to put up a front but your body is more honest. We'll see how long you can keep up the lie." The fox grinned wolfishly and kissed her again. And indeed, his ardent kisses, his burning love sparked a fire in her... and as much as it angered her, she couldn't help but be swept away. He gently bit her ear before licking her neck, trailing kisses down her exposed throat, sucking on a sensitive spot that made her arch her back and press against him. His hands pulled down the sleeves of her yukata, opening the top, exposing her. His lips, his tongue, kept going down and down, kissing, licking, sucking, marking, like he was reaffirming his possession. He untied the sash. She really couldn't resist his touch...

The next morning, the two were in her room on her futon, a blanket loosely covering their embracing forms.

"I thought we were putting our relationship on hold..." The kitsune taunted.

"Don't YOU say that." His extremely annoyed lover replied.

"I couldn't help it, you were so alluring in your night yukata and your nice smell and slightly wet hair and I've really missed you..." He smiled sheepishly. "And just so you know, I won't let you say that you didn't miss me..."

"Is that your excuse you bastard?!" Akari snapped.

"It's the truth."

"I'll kill you." She really hated them, that triumphant smirk of his, the fact that he could so easily make her lose herself, that she couldn't resist him... and the fact that he always saw right through her... how frustrated all that made her feel, and more than anything, the fact that despite everything, or more exactly, because of it, because he was like this, she loved him so much.

"You can kill me as many times as you'd like. If you want, why not try it again right now?" Kurama shifted their positions and avidly kissed her again as he squeezed her tighter and his hands wandered on her body.

In the Makai, Shachi went to his king to express his doubts concerning Kurama's loyalty. They hadn't heard a single thing from him. He had boasted about bringing six people with spectral power rating over 100 000, but it seemed to have been just a bluff. It couldn't be good to have such a liar among the king's closest aides! All he was going to bring was detriment to their nation! He was obviously trying to take advantage of the fox's absence to try and win Yomi over.

"Shachi, I will bear in mind your concern for our nation. However, if you must mull over something in that head of yours, do it over something else." Yomi advised (chastised) his subordinate and walked away. The general glared at him, but in his mind, it was Kurama that he was cursing.

Two days later, Akari returned to Raizen... in an extremely foul mood. Right, she had hoped to get a break and finally show off and win against that con-fox... and yet she was feeling that she had been completely defeated! To think she even let him do all that to her! It had to be a nightmare! And just remembering she'd feel her head burn and steam come out... it was so unbelievably embarrassing in so many ways that she could explode. How could she have been beguiled like this?! So she was returning with renewed determination to lose herself in her training and become immensely stronger so such a thing would never happen again... although it was not like this kind of training could prepare or make you more resistant against that sort of 'attack'... Still that was the only thing she could do given how simple she could be.

Yusuke was fighting with his usual four opponents when he saw her. They stopped battling and came to greet her. However, sensing something from her, Yusuke was too persistent in asking how things had gone and how her reunion with Kurama had been.

"Alright." Katsuyama let her bag fall. "I guess this is a good opportunity. Yusuke, if you win against me, I'll satisfy your crass curiosity. If you lose... well, you'll be half-dead anyway but I'll have you prostrate yourself before me so I can trample you." She declared. Clearly, she just wanted to take her anger and frustration out on someone... and attacked without giving her victim the time to respond, sending him flying with a HARD, rotating punch in the stomach.

And even after this fight, and despite having suffered some good damage too, she still felt that she hadn't rampaged enough and went to challenge Raizen. He found her more womanly, more... alluring, sensual... and deduced she had a rather pleasant time back home. He had this typically 'elderly' (at least the elderly around her), highly aggravating knowing smirk that induced this urge to smash these old faces. Akari's eyebrow twitched and a vein appeared on her temple. Still, crudely and persistently poking their noses in her business... like father like son.

"In any case, I haven't vented enough. Indulge me!" She lunged at him. He caught her fist, but the impact caused a shockwave that shattered their surroundings. Although only slightly, the Demon King was actually straining. Akari was really a fighter whose power output relied on emotions. She always had this burst of power whenever something angered her. And the stronger and more able to utilize her power she grew, the more this burst grew too.

"You might be indeed developing into a fine babe, but you still need to grow more if you want me to keep you company." He pulled her forward and suddenly punched her in the guts from below, blasting her through the ceiling. He really didn't hold back, even against her. She wouldn't let him. One of the effects of the Reikou Hado Ken taught to her by Genkai and that she still practiced was physical enhancement that only added to her naturally high resilence. You couldn't take her down with just a few good blows. And so, even as the female psychic was rocketing upwards, she fired a reigun. The whole chamber disappeared in an explosion.

And so, six months passed. When Kurama had reported to Yomi about Akari, the king had laughed it off. It seemed she really belonged to Raizen's faction after all, their personalities were quiet similar. And he felt sorry for Kurama, having such a handful as a girlfriend. And then, Chu, Rinku, Jin, Touya, Suzuki and Shishiwakamaru were presented to King Yomi and the advisors. Youda checked their total amount of spectral power, and all six of them were around 120 000. The elderly couldn't believe it. What manner of sorcery could this be?!

"A good diet, and a moderate exercise, that'll all it took." The fox smiled innocently. The advisors were openly amazed, but Shachi was positively fuming... and so did the concerned six fighters, for a different reason. That Kurama... making them eat that nasty crap they could have sworn was poison! And what 'moderate exercise'?! It was worse than hell! To reward Kurama for his splendid work, the King promoted him to General of his entire army, formerly Shachi's position, with of course those six under his command. That decision outraged Shachi who believed those six were just Kurama's puppets and that he intended to use them to overthrow Yomi.

"Silence Shachi. What the hell have YOU ever done during these 500 years?" The master rebuked him. The red demon could not reply to that.

"Indeed, your spectral power is the second greatest in our country... but as a tactician, you're incompetent. After the three nations entered this tense situation, have you raised up any fighter with superior power? Far from raising any, you never looked for a single person. But in just a few months, Kurama brought us six of them. If you aren't incompetent, then what are you?" Youda mercilessly explained.

"That's enough Youda. Everyone is aware of Shachi's outstanding spectral power. It would be cruel to expect anything more from him." Yomi voiced his disdain and left. And Shachi resumed cursing Kurama. However, having had his position stolen from him like this was more than he could bear. Having lost all will and patience to take care of this matter in a more 'legal' way, he had decided to take drastic measures and eliminate that fox himself.

Kurama was walking in the hallway. The red fish-like youkai silently approached from the shadows, hiding behind pillars, trident in hand. As it would be stupid, or at least dangerous to attack someone stronger than him like, he checked his enemy's demonic power, and was reassured to see a measly 8 902, nothing compared to his own power. The fox stopped walking and told Shachi to come out. The former general revealed himself, ready to attack.

"Shachi... are you prepared for the punishment for this?" Kurama asked coolly, his hands in his pockets.

"Humph! You think I'd leave any evidence behind?! I'll destroy you bones and all!"

"Yomi has indeed become very patient. I don't know how many prospective officers you've done away with, but for those last hundred years, Yomi has been waiting for someone capable of defeating you."

"Go to hell! Kara, do you read me? When I give you the signal, kill that hostage kid!" The incompetent commander barked in his transmitter. Kara refused though, and even said he was no longer following his orders but those of the Youko, Kurama, before ending the communication. Shachi franctically tried to call again and demand explanations.

"To think the loss of a single parasite demon and hostage could affect you this much..." The kitsune sighed. "Yomi would have found a way to threaten me without resorting to his hostages."

"Correct." The King said, sitting somewhere in his fortress. Kurama had also given him his report concerning Akari earlier. For some reason, her response had made him burst out laughing. He had even agreed to let her be for the time being and postpone his decision on how to deal with her.

Shachi lost it and charged. Kurama evaded all the spear's thrusts and slashes. His opponent boasted about the difference between their demonic powers. A mere 8 902 points against a 137 800 points?! But then, Kurama took on his Youko form and sliced through his opponent with his rose whip. His duty done, Kara left Hatanaka Shuichi's body. Before dying, Shachi saw the device's new reading... 152 000. That was Youko Kurama's true power.

"Don't ever play your trump card first." The kitsune lectured.

"And if you must play it, make sure you have something else up your sleeve." Yomi concurred, remembering his former leader's lessons well. Kurama regained his human appearance. He had now become Yomi's military Chief of Staff and Commander General both in name and reality.


Author's note: 3rd intallment of the mass release. And yes, those two's relation finally reached that point. Congratulations on Kurama for his victory, condolences to Akari for her honorable defeat. She was never good at protracted battles but still resisted (ran away) to the end, managing to last this long... but Kurama proved stronger... or more tenacious XD. Got to know more about Kura's feelings too.

On another note, I do know what I'm putting you guys through with all those months between releases, and I can't apologize enough for that. But that Makai tournament is really being the death of me. I mean, the last episode basically wrote itself on its own, but that complicates, or rather lengthen the tournament itself and I have trouble choosing the match-ups and visualizing how the battles play out... and just filling things. So yeah, sorry, your waiting is far from over :(

Next chapter (who knows when): File-60: Changing Times - the Fool's Path