Tournament: the Best of the Best: Semifinals!
2. Karasu vs. Sasuke
(on the sidelines)
Sango: Kurama, who do you think is going to win?
Kurama: Normally, I'd say Karasu, but due to Sasuke's earlier display of power, I think the match could go either way, or that we could have another inuyoukai style match on our hands.
Inuyasha: An' what do you mean by that, ningen?
Kurama: two things. One: they might kill each other just like you two did. Two: I am not a ningen. I am a youko.
Sesshomaru: You smell human.
Kurama: watch, I'll prove it. There's no point in holding it back anymore, I won't be fighting in this tournament again. (transforms to youko form) do you believe me now?
Inuyasha: ……I'm not sure…
Sesshomaru: (checks Kurama's scent) He's not lying. This is not an illusion.
Hiei: Hey, they're starting! Kurama, you'd wanted to watch, right? Stop playing with the dogs and pay attention.
(the inuyoukai brothers both glare angrily at Hiei and Kurama transforms back)
(in the ring)
Sasuke: Let's end this quickly.
Karasu: Why? I like to torment my prey before I kill it.
Sasuke: normally, I'd agree, but Itachi and Naruto have a bet on how long it takes for me to kill you, and both said over ten minutes. Technically, Naruto said you'd win, but I hate to lose.
Karasu: …well, I hate to disappoint my fans… heh heh heh… I hope you're good at dodging. (begins creating bombs and flinging them carelessly at Sasuke, who dodges with ease)
(in the crowd)
Kisame: Huh? Itachi actually said that Sasuke would survive this? Weird, I thought Itachi hated him…
Sakura: ew… fish man… Hey, where have you been? Aren't you Itachi's partner? Where were you when he lost to Naraku in the first round?
Kisame: (slight sweatdrops) The line at the sushi bar was kinda long…
(all sweatdrop)
(on the sidelines)
Sango: You bet on how long it would take for him to die?! (glaring at Naruto)
Naruto: H-hey, I was only joking… I didn't think he'd take it seriously.
Grimmjow: And Itachi bet on him winning? I thought you hated each other.
Itachi: ……he's still my only little brother…… Life would be very boring if he weren't trying to kill me all the time…
Kenshin: …oro…
(in the ring)
Karasu: Is that all you can do, dodge my attacks? You won't win just by dodging, little ninja.
Sasuke: he's right, but I can't find an opening… not yet, at least. Sharingan!
Karasu: well, that's new… didn't the other one, Itachi, use that too? Are you related, by chance? That might explain why he thought you'd beat me. Arrogant, very arrogant.
Sasuke: He's my older brother. It's 'cause of him I have these eyes. Technically speaking… Enough talk. I'm on a time limit here. Fireball Jutsu! (shoots a huge fireball at Karasu)
Karasu: Much better! (dodges the fireball) And I thought you were going to curl up and die… Ah, well… (makes more bombs, then flings them)
Sasuke: (carefully dodges them, but gets hit once. The bomb explodes) Ow… he didn't use as much power in that one, but it still hurt like Naruto's "Uzumaki Naruto Barrage"! Best keep my distance…
Karasu: I'm just getting warmed up. Dodge this!
Sasuke: If that's the best you can do, you're dead, Karasu. I haven't even gotten started! (activates curse mark, first level) Fire style, Phoenix Flower Jutsu!
Karasu: gah… (three fireballs hit him) grr… (extinguishes a strand of hair) Alright, you've gotten quite irritating. Just die already, brat. (lotsa bombs)
Sasuke: gotta take it up another notch… (activates second state, flies out of the way)
Karasu: Hm! That's far more interesting than I'd thought you'd be! It seems some humans can be strong.
Sasuke: This form isn't exactly… human. I'll show you what I mean with this. (Lands, then charges at Karasu) Chidori! (impales Karasu)
(on the sidelines)
Kurama: Sango, scratch what I said earlier.
Sango: (was too absorbed in the fight) huh?
Kurama: I think Sasuke's got this round in the bag. He just nailed Karasu with some sort of lightning attack.
Itachi: That is the Chidori: 1000 birds, so named because of the sound it makes.
Hiei: and since when are you so well informed?
Itachi: He's tried to kill me with it more than once. I believe I should know something about that particular move.
Sango: …Is it possible that Sasuke and Itachi are on an even worse relationship than our inuyoukai are?
(in the ring)
Karasu: …you're pretty strong… for a human… (coughs lightly, the cough muffled by his mask)
Sasuke: Just admit your loss and I won't have to kill you.
Karasu: Admit my loss? I'm not finished yet.
Sasuke: Suit yourself. Fireball Jutsu! (shoots a huge ball of flame at Karasu)
Karasu: Aaagh! (before he disappears inside, his mask pops off)
(on the sidelines)
Kurama: !! Everyone, get back! Karasu's mask came off!
Sango: ?
Inuyasha: His demon-scent just got stronger!
Grimmjow: --, his reiatsu's skyrocketing!
Itachi: be careful, little brother A/N: yes, Itachi is showing a bit of brotherly love here. No, he's not OOC
(in the ring)
Karasu: h-heh heh… heh heh heh… (laughter is slightly shaky due to injury from Chidori)
Sasuke: ? what is he laughing about…?
Karasu: h-heh heh heh… hah hahaha! Die! (begins charging up energy blast)
Sasuke: Whoa, his hair changed color! I've got a bad feeling about this…
Karasu: (leaps into the air still a bit shaky and hurls the shockwave at the ground) Ahahahaha! Good riddance, brat!
Sasuke: What the--?! (disappears in the shockwave's blast)
(in the ring)
Toguro (younger): Looks like a big one.
Toguro (elder): heh heh heh… The little brat has no chance…
Bui: ………
Sakura: who are these goons? Sasuke……
Yusuke: Wha-? Toguro! What are you doin' here?! I thought I killed you!
Toguro (younger): You did, Urameshi. I'm just here to watch, courtesy of Reikai's generosity. Hah, Reikai and generosity… I sense an oxymoron. (Yusuke glares at Koenma)
(on the sidelines)
Kurama: This one's even bigger than the one he slammed me with! Take cover! (ducks down behind the edge of the ring)
Hiei: Whoa! (gets sent flying by the force of the blast)
Grimmjow: --! (starts cussing as he's also knocked flying)
(Ulquiorra, Sesshomaru, Kagura, Aoshi, and Sango have each found a secure location to "weather the storm")
Itachi: ! Sasuke! ... (got hit by shrapnel it isn't too serious, but it is painful and is forced to take cover) you'd better survive this, little brother… preferably in one piece…
Inuyasha: What the -- is goin' on here?!
Sesshomaru: If you were intelligent, half-breed, you would find shelter. (Sesshomaru has followed Kurama's example and is crouching below the edge of the ring to avoid the worst of the blast)
Kenshin: thunk oro…… (is K.O'd by a piece of the floor)
Aoshi: …sigh Why does he insist on acting like a moron? Maybe… it isn't an act…? Then again, knowing Kenshin…
(in the ring)
Announcer: ………holy--, Karasu just destroyed the arena with that blast! I can see Karasu just fine, but where's Sasuke?
Karasu: Stupid announcer… look at the former center of the arena, baka.
Announcer: Oh…my… A/N: I'll let you use your imaginations for this one I'm not allowed to use gory details ……As Sasuke has been… incapacitated… this match goes to Karasu! Karasu will fight Ulquiorra in the Finals!
Karasu: heh. You, woman. (points to Orihime) You've got a big job ahead of you. Put him back together.
Orihime: eh… Ok… (gets to work reviving Sasuke)
(on the sidelines)
Itachi: Sasuke… little brother… (somewhat in shock)
Ulquiorra: …… this one's almost like Grimmjow… (absently fingers Jakotsu's Shikon shard in his pocket) I may need to use that…
END
A/N: There, I've finished with the semifinals. I think that one was my longest fight yet! Hey, I can't help it. They're both strong fighters. Next fight is gonna be even longer, if my ideas work out right. Still, I can't help but be unhappy with the winner of this battle. I'm a major Sasuke fan (he's second only to Itachi in my list of favorite Naruto characters) and Karasu turned him into a bloody mess, so I'm gonna try to avenge him next round. Itachi's pretty bent up about this too. He keeps sulking or trying to burn me with Amaterasu when I tell him he can't go and slaughter Karasu. sigh I can't win… Anyway! Next up is Ulquiorra vs. Karasu in the finals! Almost…there… this is a really long fanfiction! I'm glad it's almost over.