The best of the best: prelims
7. Miroku Karasu vs. Kenshin
(in the ring)
Announcer: Ok, people, sorry for the wait! Next match, Karasu vs. Kenshin!
(in the crowd)
Shippo: What? Who's Karasu? Wasn't Miroku supposed to fight Kenshin?
Kagome: Did you forget? Miroku's disqualified because he tried to kill Ulquiorra after Sango was vaporized. I'm glad that the healers managed to revive both of them.
(in the ring)
Karasu: So… you are the infamous Hitokiri Battosai, mmm? A pleasure to meet you… heh heh heh.
Kenshin: Likewise. And you are… Karasu, yes? Oro… you look like a vampire.
Karasu: I take no blame for what my artist decided to do to my appearance. Let's get this over with.
Kenshin: Oro… you seem to like rushing things. Well, if you insist… (draws sakabato)
Karasu: a reversed blade??
(sidelines)
Kurama: What? Does this swordsman have a death wish? Going against Karasu with a reversed blade is like committing suicide!
Hiei: Either he has no clue of the danger he's in, or he's just plain stupid.
Aoshi: That idiot… I told him to switch out the sakabato for a real sword before the tournament!
(in the ring)
Karasu: well, if you really want to die…
Kenshin: this one isn't dying today.
Karasu: that's what they all say, until they see what I can do to them firsthand. Then, they don't even have time to object to death! Heh heh heh… (smirking evilly)
Kenshin: If you say so… Come! This one will end the fight quickly.
Karasu: If you insist… (charges forward, one hand extended)
Kenshin: so fast…! What? In his hand…
Karasu: he's noticed, has he? That's right… a bomb! (flings it at Kenshin)
Kenshin: Oro! (dodges, barely) Ryushosen! (uses up-slash like attack)
Karasu: unh… this guy's good, for a human…
Kenshin: Ryutsuisen! (slams sakabato down onto Karasu's head)
Karasu: gghhh… (stumbles, then regains footing)
(sidelines)
Kurama: I don't believe it! Kenshin's actually holding his own out there.
Aoshi: Kenshin will surprise you. It's a fact of life.
Kurama: He has, Aoshi. Surviving this long against Karasu…
Itachi: I thought you hated Karasu.
Kurama: (sweatdrop) well, I do, but I'm not saying he isn't strong…
Inuyasha: Shut up, morons. I'm trying to watch the fight!
(Itachi and Kurama send Inuyasha a death glare)
(in the crowd)
Kaoru: Whoo! Go Kenshin! Yah! (punches the air above her head)
Yahiko: Heh, Karasu, or whatever his name is, is goin' down!
Sanosuke: Dolt. Don't relax just yet, shrimpy. (Yahiko gets a ticked off mark) Karasu's still looking pretty steady after that Ryutsuisen/Ryushosen combo…
Megumi: Sano's right. That guy can create bombs out of his energy… I don't think that even Ken-san will last forever against explosives of the power level that the previous one had.
Misao: Stop being such pessimists! Himura's gotta win! Aoshi-sama did, didn't he? So Himura has got to!
(all from Kenshin's world sweatdrop)
(in the ring)
Karasu: Not bad, little swordsman. However, I suggest checking you feet before you attack me again. (smirks)
Kenshin: Oro? This one's feet… the ground has swallowed them? (Two little eyeballs-on-stems sprout from the mounds of dirt)
Eyeball thingy: Gotcha. (they explode sending Kenshin tumbling into the wall)
Kenshin: Aaaagh! Can't walk… This one's ankle bones are shattered! Not good… (tries to stand)
Karasu: May you know a minimum of pain… (creates a few bombs, then flings them at Kenshin)
Kenshin: ah… (tries to avoid bombs, which latch onto his shoulder and waist)
Karasu: Good bye, swordsman. (bombs explode, taking off Kenshin's head)
(in the crowd)
Kaoru: KENSHIN!!
Yahiko: …wha? He can't…
Sanosuke: no…
Megumi: Ken-san… (looks on the verge of tears)
Misao: Don't cry, Kaoru-san. Look! The healer lady who revived the monk and slayer girl is already working! She's reviving Himura!
Kaoru: sniff Really? (smiles a bit)
(sidelines)
Aoshi: I didn't think it possible… for Kenshin to lose…
Kurama: Karasu's a demon, Aoshi. A master bomber, he never gives up once he has a target. I should know. (shudders at the memory)
Hiei: Hey, the red headed lady is reviving your friend.
(Aoshi gives an inaudible sigh of relief)
(in the ring)
Kenshin: Oro-o-o… This one's… alive again? Ah, thank you, Orihime-dono.
Orihime: (blushes a bit) You're welcome.
Karasu: feh. Why does some meddler always see is fit to revive my victims? (exasperated sigh)
END
A/N: Again, I hope I did OK on this. I had trouble deciding what sort of nasty end Kenshin was going to have. (I'm so evil… heh heh) Still, I'm sure everyone agrees with what Megumi said; Kenshin couldn't last against a guy who can create bombs out of energy. I'm sorry again if I offend any Kenshin fans, or if someone's out of character. The next fight, Inuyasha vs. Sesshomaru, is gonna last for quite a while…