Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho.

Just a note on the psychics powers, for everyone who's not familiar with the anime:

Kaito: Can set up a 'territory' of approximately ten yards around himself. No violence can be preformed within it and if someone says a word or sound that is taboo, his or her soul becomes part of his territory.

Yanagisawa (Yana): Can copy anyone he touches.

Kiddo: Can hold someone captive by stepping on his or her shadow. It is as immobilizing as a straight jacket.

Chapter 3

Youko traveled halfway across the city before stopping in a park to decide where to go from there. He concealed himself in a tree to keep any annoying humans from bothering him. He couldn't return to Makai just yet-- that's where Koenma would expect him to go and would look for him first. Now, granted, he could easily escape detection, but he didn't know how much had changed in the past fifteen years. He knew for a fact that some of his hideouts had been found, but he didn't know which ones. He also didn't know if anyone had taken up residence in his absence. Of course, he could easily take care of them, but that would be a problem if time were of the essence. No, it was better to lay low in Ningenkai for a while before returning to Makai. After all, if Hiei could do it, how hard could it be?

Now that the initial elation of being free of Suuichi had worn off, Youko's fatigue was surfacing. Mental battles with Suuichi always left him exhausted. Although he'd never admit it, Suuichi's indomitable will was a force to be reckoned with. No one person could mentally overpower the ningen. Youko had learned that the hard way.

Closing his eyes, the demon allowed his senses to extend to the plants around him, listening. There were a few small animals nearby, asleep, but that was all. Determining he could afford to allow himself to relax for a little while, he shifted into a more comfortable position and fell into a light doze.

~*~

Agreeing it would be better to split up and search for Youko with two teams, Genkai, Kiddo, Yana and Kaito formed one team while the rest of the Reikai-Tantai formed the second group. Botan went back to Spirit World to report to Koenma and see what he wanted them to do about the current situation.

After splitting up with Yuusuke's team, Genkai thought back over everything she knew about kitsune in general and about Youko specifically. If the kitsune could have overpowered Suuichi by himself, he would have done so long before now. A mental battle would have been very tiring and Youko would probably want to go somewhere he could rest. The fox would need a place with relatively few humans, but somewhere he could protect himself. The only place I can think of would be the park, Genkai concluded. Armed with flashlights, her group headed towards the park.

As they neared their destination, Genkai could feel a strong demonic aura, confirming her suspicions. After locating the area where the energy was the strongest, Genkai explained her plan to the three psychics and they got into position. Raising her spirit energy, she called out a challenge. "Youko Kurama! Come out and face me!"

Youko woke upon feeling a high level of energy so close to him and smiled in amusement at the challenge. What foolish mortal dares to challenge me? he wondered, inhaling deeply through his nose. Ah, the old woman and three others-- one of whom is still holding Suuichi's soul. They are fools to challenge me, he thought. Obligingly, he jumped out of his hiding place, landing in front of Genkai.

Immediately, Genkai shined her flashlight on the kitsune, casting a long shadow on the ground behind him. Youko smiled as he heard someone running up behind him.

"So, you think to attack me from behind?" he asked, casually. His eyes widened in surprise and then narrowed in anger as he found he couldn't move his arm. In fact, he couldn't move any part of his body.

Genkai, seeing Youko was immobilized, gestured to Yana. At Genkai's signal, he stepped forward while Kaito got ready, as well. Youko was very clever and Kiddo had never held a demon captive before, so Genkai wanted Yana to copy the kitsune in case anything went wrong.

Youko watched, his anger rising at his inability to do anything as the ningen approached from the side. The demon fox noticed the human was careful to stay out of the light. A growl rose in his throat as the teenager reached out a hand to touch him. As the ningen's fingers made contact with Youko's skin, the kitsune felt something being drawn from him. He tried to jerk away, but couldn't manage to so much as twitch. The sensation wasn't painful, but it wasn't pleasant, either. It was almost as if part of himself was being drained away.

Youko had become immobilized after Genkai had turned on the flashlight, so it stood to reason that getting rid of the light would allow him to move again. You may have restricted my body, but you forgot about my spirit energy! he thought, glaring at the source of the light.

Genkai jumped back in surprise as the blades of grass at her feet shot upward like spikes, almost skewering her. The flashlight wasn't so lucky; four sharpened blades rendered it useless and extinguished its light.

Finding he could move again, Youko hit Yana, sending him to the ground a few feet away. He then pulled a seed from his hair, growing it into a rose and jumped towards Kiddo. "You should know better than to try to attack me from behind," he said, changing the rose into a whip. Flicking it forward, he watched as Kiddo's eyes widened in fear. At the last minute, the grass at Kiddo's feet sprang up, creating a barrier and saving the ningen teen.

Youko's eyes widened slightly in surprise as he also noticed one of the ningen's scent had changed. It was the human that had touched him-- his scent had become very faint, almost to the point of being undetectable. His scent was being overridden by a demon's scent-- a fox demon, to be precise. That must be who interfered, Youko thought, turning towards the demon. He stared, confused.

Youko was facing... himself. No, he thought, That is merely a copy of myself. He still smells faintly of the ningen. "So, you can copy other creatures after touching them. You now have my body. Can you use it effectively, I wonder?" Youko asked, sending his whip sailing towards the imposter. He felt a slight change in his weapon, as if it was altered using spirit energy. The whip had been shortened so it didn't reach his opponent and the thorns had been removed, as well.

"It appears that you have met your match. You see, not only can I copy your appearance, but also your unique talents with plants and even your memories. I am basically 'you' in every sense of the word," YanaYouko said, mockingly.

"It is easy to make such claims, but being able to back them up is another matter entirely. Let us test your skills of imitation," Youko challenged, picking two blades of grass as his feet. They grew into twin blades, long and sharp.

YanaYouko copied his moves, creating two grass swords of his own. As if by some unseen signal, they raced towards each other, their blades clashing together as they met. They exchanged blow for blow, neither being able to land a hit. As hard as he tried, Youko could not break through the other's defenses and, not at his best when the fight began, was rapidly tiring. Suddenly, YanaYouko leapt forward in an almost desperate attack, leaving his side open. Fool. That is something I would expect from Yuusuke. Apparently, you're not as similar to me as you claim, Youko thought, blocking YanaYouko's sword with one hand while bringing his other blade toward his opponent's unprotected side. Too late, he saw YanaYouko's other sword arc towards his neck. Thinking quickly, he concentrated his spirit energy on YanaYouko's sword, causing the blade to lose its sharp edge and stiffness. The grass bent as it reached his neck, brushing lightly against his skin as it passed. He was annoyed to discover YanaYouko had done the same to his sword. Leaping backwards, they both studied each other.

"So, it seems that plants will not effectively work in this fight," Youko said, breaking the silence. "Although, I doubt your claim that you are a perfect replica of me. That last attack was something more befitting of the detective."

"You misunderstood me. I know how your mind works, but that doesn't mean I have to do exactly what you would do. I have the option to react differently," YanaYouko replied, a cocky smile on his face.

If that is true, he has a distinct advantage in this fight. He can find out how I would react and use it against me, like he did in that last attack. This fight would have been over already if he were to use that to his advantage. He's stalling for something. The only question is, what?

A strange sensation came over Youko, almost like a warm breeze passing through his mind. The feeling was not unpleasant and left Youko feeling complete, as if something had been missing and he hadn't even realized how much he needed it. He felt... relieved.

Before Youko had time to ponder this, he heard a soft, confused, painfully familiar voice in his mind. What's going on?

Welcome back, Suuichi, Kurama said, warmly.

Youko swore, colorfully. Suuichi was once again in the body. That feeling of being relieved was when Suuichi re-entered the body, unharmed. Youko paused. When Suuichi returned, I felt... relieved? No! It cannot be! I do not care for that human-- to care for something is to make one weak and vulnerable. I have been forced to lurk within the depths of his mind, unable to take control for fifteen years! If anything, I wish to destroy Suuichi Minamino!

Youko's rage was building and his spirit energy reacted to his anger, lashing out at the person standing in front of him in the form of an energy attack. Yana Youko was caught off-guard and was thrown back, colliding into a tree. His now human body crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

Glaring at his opponent in hatred, Youko quickly pulled a seed from his hair, tossing it on the ground at Yana's feet. Using his spirit energy to grow it, he directed the ojigi plant to attack the unconscious teen. He turned his back as the leaves descended on the impersonator, smiling as he heard his plant shriek in pain. That should keep Genkai occupied while I deal with the other two.

Youko turned towards the other teens, his anger still boiling. His eyes landed on Kaito and his now empty hand. "Didn't I tell you," he began, softly, although there was a deadly edge in his voice, "that I would let you live if you kept Suuichi's soul?" Youko was pleased to see the ningen's eyes grow wide in fear as the kitsune stalked towards him. "You didn't do as I asked, so it is time to fulfill my promise. I believe I said there would be dire consequences, did I not?"

Youko paused as Suuichi began a mental assault. You can't kill them, Youko! They're human! Koenma-sama said we're not allowed to kill humans unless we are under Reikai orders, remember?!

Youko used his rage to fight back, ruthlessly crushing Suuichi's assault. I do as I please! I serve no one! he yelled, internally. Suuichi cried out in pain at the severity of the attack.

Having quelled his human counterpart for the moment, Youko turned his attention back to the outside world. Reaching up with his left hand, he quickly withdrew a seed from his hair, growing it into a tangle of vines covered in long, sharp thorns. His eyes locked with Kaito's, the corners of the demon's lips curving upwards as the vines shot out, easily entangling the human in their grasp.

"Have you ever heard of the Senshi Vine? It uses its needle-like thorns to drain the victim's blood from his body. This is a rather slow process, so the thorns are all tipped with an interesting poison that immobilizes your muscles and sometimes causes hallucinations, to prevent you from escaping. I am told that it is quite painful, but don't worry. Due to the intensity of the poison, you'll suffocate before very long. I'd say you have five more minutes left to live, at most," Youko explained, smiling maliciously.

Kaito screamed in pain as the thorns stabbed into his body. He struggled, trying to pull the plants off, but the vines only curled around him tighter, forcing the thorns deeper into his flesh. He started hyperventilating in fear when he felt what he assumed was the poison beginning to take affect as an itching spread throughout his body. His limbs started to feel heavier and heavier as he lost control of more of his muscles until he fell to the ground. The itching became a burning that only continued to grow in intensity until he felt as if he were being burned alive. Screams of agony were torn from his throat, giving voice to his pain until his vocal cords were paralyzed. His labored breathing was all that could be heard and that, too, was getting weaker as his diaphragm struggled to draw air into his lungs.

Youko watched, his expression that of amusement mixed with disappointment, as Kaito's glazed eyes rolled up and he passed out. "He'll be dead in another minute or two, although it is a pity I had to cut it short by using a plant like that. I would have liked to toy with him some more, but time is short," he remarked, his gaze sliding over to the blond human.

Kiddo, seeing what was happening to Kaito, took an involuntary step back. Immediately, the plants on the ground around him came to life, shooting upwards and imprisoning him in a thorny cage.

"Don't worry-- I have not forgotten about you," Youko said, smiling cruelly at Kiddo.

"Rei Gun!" Genkai yelled, firing at the fox demon in front of her. She stood protectively in front of Yana; the charred remains of the ojigi plant lay scattered on the ground around her.

Youko sensed the attack coming and jumped back, but not soon enough. The blast hit his left arm, incinerating the roots of the senshi vine that were holding Kaito. He disappeared, swallowed up in the smoke caused by the attack.

A soft wind blew through the trees, clearing away the smoke and carrying Youko's voice to the humans, low and deadly. "I will not forget what happened here today." There was a glimpse of silver in the trees and then he was gone.

~*~

A wolf demon, long scar marring the left side of his face, detached himself from the shadows where he had been watching the fight. Your skills have not waned since we last fought, but they did little to aid you then and they will not help you now. I have waited seventeen years for this day to come. Your life will soon be mine, he thought, following silently after the kitsune.

~*~

Youko fled the park, cradling his injured arm to his body while being careful to keep his spirit energy low enough to prevent Genkai from following him. It was unlikely that she would; but, in his current state, the kitsune could not defeat the old woman, so it was better to be safe than sorry. Youko put a hand to his head, wincing in irritation. Suuichi, will you stop that?! You're going to get us both killed!

Suuichi mentally attack the kitsune again. No! This is my body and I want it back! You're going to get us in trouble and I am not through with my life yet! You lost any claim you had to life fifteen years ago, so quit trying to take over mine!

Youko savagely countered, momentarily quelling Suuichi's resistance. Baka ningen! What is it that you are fighting for? This life you lead is nothing! Do you enjoy masquerading as a normal human, trying to pretend that you are just like everyone else? Yet, even then, you stand out above the crowd. Suuichi Minamino, the perfect student, the high school genius. And then you use my skills, my powers, and become nothing more than a lap dog for that brat ruling Spirit World! Face it, everything you hold dear, I have given to you!

Not everything, Kurama interjected, quietly.

What do you mean? Youko demanded. A picture of Shiori flashed through his mind. His lips curled up into a predatory smile. I see. The reason you're fighting me is because of that woman, isn't it? Yes, you were willing to throw our lives away to save her-- without her, you wouldn't have a reason to fight against me, anymore, would you?

A thrill of fear ran through Suuichi. No, please, leave her out of this-- he began.

Oh, but she's already involved in this, little Suuichi. In fact, she was the reason you chose to stay after I had recovered a sufficient amount of energy to leave, wasn't she? Yes... Your feelings for that ningen make you weak. Just one little death and your world would crumble. I will break you, Suuichi Minamino... by killing Shiori.

To Be Continued