Team Kaleo vs. Team Reform
Team Hitokiri vs. team Ukishima
Team T.C. vs. Team Kono
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Kurai waited patiently for Chi to run and catch up. "Come on, darling Chi, we don't have all the time in the world. You're slowing everyone down."
"Sorry, Kurai," Chi apologized, jogging to catch up.
"Don't fall behind any more, all right?" she said, smiling. Chi nodded, following Kurai and Kage to the arena. The three climbed up onto the stage, meeting up with their fourth member, Renee.
The entire stadium shook as the crowd screamed, booing and calling for blood as Team Reform walked onstage. They were led by a tall, giddy man with carrot orange hair that waved to everyone who was screaming for his head.
"Is that...?" Chi paled, touching Kage's elbow.
"It is," Kage's eyebrow's disappeared into her bangs. "Holy shit!"
Kurai didn't seem fazed by the infamy of their opponents. She smirked as one man stepped forward. "I'm Kurama," he introduced, making a polite bow. "It is an honor to fight against such worthy opponents. I have heard many stories about you, Kage Kancho-san."
Kurai's steely gaze did not falter, even though she was quite taken aback that Kurama's remark was to Kage, and not herself. She had not been expecting that.
Kage's cheeks flushed pink. "Thank you," she said, feeling awkward.
"Shall we begin the fight?" Kurai suggested icily. She snapped her fingers, and Chi stepped forward. "Which one of your fighters has the guts to fight my Chi?" she asked, her milky eyes surveying their team.
Kurama looked back. "I'm sure someone would love to take you up on that," he smiled, walking back to his team.
Koto stood in confusion, waiting in the center with a quizzical look on her face.
Kurai motioned for Kage and Renee to wait on the sidelines. The three of them walked back, stepping out of the arena. Chi was left alone, standing and waiting for Team Reform's decision.
"And Team Reform has chosen Kuwabara for their first match!" Koto announced, watching the orange haired man walk up to meet with the tiny bobcat girl. Kuwabara had a much more powerful air about him then he had when he had participated in the Dark Tournament. He was definitely older, and because he was only a human his age showed more than the demon's on his team. "The teams have each selected their fighters! The first match will be Kazuma Kuwabara from Team Reform versus Chi Koen Koe from Team Kaleo! Ready? Fight!"
Chi took an immediate defensive stance, raising her arms up to block any fast attack Kuwabara might make.
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"That doesn't make any sense," Koenma said, another piece of popcorn missing his toddler mouth and rolling onto the floor. "In as long as I've known Kuwabara, he's never fought with girls. Or girls that are cute and fuzzy little kittens."
"Maybe he's had a change of heart," George suggested, picking up the popcorn Koenma dropped and trying to eat it inconspicuously. "It's happened. I mean, look at Yusuke. He's evil."
"Yusuke isn't evil, you misguided oaf," Koenma yelled. "And don't eat my popcorn!"
"Sorry sir," he apologized. Koenma cleared his throat, watching the screen he had in his office in the underground stadium. Chi and Kuwabara hadn't made a move yet.
"There's got to be some reason behind the whole Yusuke fiasco. That's why we're here, ogre, we're going to find out. This is it. Once these petty little fights are out of the way, we get down to the nitty gritty."
"Nitty gritty, sir?"
"Yes, ogre. In all seriousness, once there is one team remaining, Yusuke is going to come out and fight them. And once he's taken out four of five fighters, the last participant standing has a number of choices. We need to make sure that none of the power hungry psycho's are that last fighter. The last fighter standing will literally be holding the fate of the demon world in his hands. He can either step down, walking away with his life in tact, leaving Yusuke as the King of Demons. Or he can fight Yusuke until one of them is dead, fighting for the title of King. If Yusuke feels they are a worthy opponent, he may simply just hand over his title without the loss of a life. There are many ways this could end. But what we need to do is make sure that we haven't put another crazy in a position of power."
"So you're looking for the next king? Koenma, sir, I think that's sort of like cheating."
"Shut up, ogre, it's not cheating!" Koenma hit George with a handful of popcorn. "It's only cheating if Yusuke finds out. Besides, it's not like I set ALL the fights up. This is the demonic world. The rules are much different, and much more flexible here."
"But won't Yusuke find out?"
Koenma shrugged. "I don't know. He could, and then might come down here the instant he finds out. Or he just won't care and will stay up there where he can watch out for any real competition."
George frowned, watching the screen as Chi and Kuwabara were finally getting somewhere. Chi had gone on the offensive, covering Kuwabara with claw marks before he had a chance to draw his spiritual sword. "Is there any competition for Yusuke at all? He was your most powerful spirit detective, and he did win lots of fights against demons that were much more powerful than he was at the time. And he's only gotten stronger!"
"Yes I'm quite aware of that, ogre." Koenma's attention turned to the screen. "I sincerely doubt that anyone here is any REAL match for our favorite ex-detective. The only ones who might even be able to hold their own are Hotaru, the Ukiya's, and Team Reform. Of course, there may be others who we just haven't witnessed the potential of yet."
"I'd put my money on him," George said, pointing to the security camera screens.
"Who?" Koenma demanded, hopping from his chair. He scuttled over to the security feed, looking at the camera where George was pointing. "Him??! What on earth for?!" the little masked fighter stood by himself, leaning against a railing at the top of the stadium, the fighter ogre had put his faith in.
"I have a weird feeling about him," George said.
Koenma stared incredulously. "And that's what you're going on? A weird feeling?"
George nodded. "Yes."
"You're retarded."
George folded his arms. "Well, then who do you think is going to be the last one standing?"
Koenma pondered for a moment, going back to his chair and his popcorn. "I think it'll be Hotaru. She's the only one who's ever withstood the full force of Yusuke's pissy adittude, and I'd bet my money on her reaching the final round."
George slammed his hands down on the table. "You're on, Koenma sir!"
Koenma grasped his popcorn, totally bewildered. "On for what?"
George pointed back to the security feed. "I bet you that the masked fighter will be the last fighter standing in the final round."
Koenma furrowed his eyebrows, chewing thoughtfully on his popcorn. "All right, ogre," he said finally. "I'll take you up on your bet. I'll bet you that Hotaru is the last one to face Yusuke. If you win, I'll let you sit in my chair and I'll do your paperwork for a day. If I win, I get to dress you up in pretty pink clothes and hand you over to Botan and Yukina, and you're going to do your paperwork, plus mine."
"Only one day? A week. And if I win, I'll put you in a frilly dress too."
"Two days."
"Four."
"Three, and that's it." Koenma settled. George bit his lip, but stuck out his hand and shook Koenma's. "You're on."
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"It looks like Chi and Kuwabara are at a standstill!" Koto observed, a finger tapping on her chin. "It doesn't seem like this fight will be over any time soon!"
Chi took a deep breath. She heard Kage and Renee cheering her on from the sidelines, shouting their encouragement.
Kuwabara withdrew his sword. "I don't hurt girls," he said, abiding by his famous code of honor. "But since I have to fight you, we're gonna do this fairly. Hand to hand. No demon tricks. No spirit energy." he held up two fists, waiting for Chi's response.
Chi studied Kuwabara carefully. "All right," she said, retracting her sharpened claws. "Hand to hand. No tricks. No spirit energy."
"Well it seems that Kuwabara and Chi have come to a mutual agreement for a close combat match! No telling how this one will turn out. Will it be Kuwabara's brute strength, or Chi's lightning fast moves that earn a win?"
"C'mon, Chi! Knock him out!" Kage screamed from the sidelines, her hands cupped around her mouth. Kurai glared at her.
"Kage, please. Keep your spastic tendencies to yourself." she scolded. Kage looked down at Kurai, and hung her head slightly. She smiled apologetically, but Kurai simply turned her attention back to Chi and Kuwabara.
Chi vanished, leaving Kuwabara glancing around quickly for where she might reappear. She appeared behind him, kicking his legs out from under him and bringing him down to the ground. She grabbed him, twisting him into a headlock and slamming him face first into the scuffed arena floor. "Not such a tough guy, are you?" she hissed loudly, her bobcat ears pinned back.
Kuwabara broke free of her hold, sending her landing lightly on all fours some distance away. She stood, her tail flicking angrily. She licked a scrape on her knuckle with her tiny kitten tongue. "I'm not going to make this easy for you," she snarled.
"Good, cause I'd be really disappointed if you did!" he shouted, smiling. He ran forwards, raising a fist. Chi raised her arms to block, waiting. Kuwabara made his approach, decking Chi on the left side of her jaw. She dropped like a sack of potatoes, but sprung back up in no time to hook her opponent in the jaw, sending him falling backwards.
"It looks like little Chi packs quite a punch behind that fuzzy kitten exterior!" Koto shouted.
Kuwabara went to stand up, but Chi stamped down hard on his chest. "Stay down!" she growled. Kuwabara chuckled, grabbing her leg and flinging her into the ground behind him.
"Watch out, kitty," he warned, half jokingly.
Chi glared, her green eyes glittering with anger. "I'm not a KITTEN!" she screamed, lunging for the large carrot haired man. She knocked him down, rolling him onto his back. She pinned him, holding his arms behind his back at such an awkward angle they were almost at their snapping point.
"Start the ten count!" Koto said, turning to the screen. The large, shining red numbers flashed on the screen, counting down.
Kuwabara broke one of his arms free, but Chi nailed him in the face with another well placed punch. "This is my fight!" she scowled. "Kurai's always knocking me down and telling me what a terrible fighter I am! And now I'm gonna prove to her that I can beat anyone that stands in my way, no matter how famous they are!"
"And that's a ten!" Koto announced. "Team Reform has sustained a loss, and Team Kaleo takes their first victory! Would the next fighters please step up to the plate and we'll get this show on the road!"
Chi clambered up off Kuwabara, brushing herself off furiously. Kuwabara stood up, rubbing his face. "I'm gonna have a lot of bruises in the morning," he groaned. He turned to Chi, who was already making her way back to Kage, who had climbed up into the arena to congratulate her teammate. "Hey!" he called after her. Kage looked at him curiously. Chi turned around, her temper flaring.
"What?" she snapped, staring at him.
He held out his hand. "Good match," he said. Chi stared at his hand, her anger deflating. She turned back, walking slowly towards him. She twitched slightly as she held out her own hand gingerly. Kuwabara shook her hand firmly, smiling. Then he turned around and walked back to his team.
Chi turned around quickly, looking to Kage, who stood just as confused, if not more so. Tears filled Chi's big, wide eyes. She walked slowly to Kage, looking up at her. Kage smiled, holding out her arm to Chi. Chi took her friend's arm obediently, walking back to Kurai and Renee with her.
"Can we get with the program, people?" Koto urged, tapping her foot impatiently.
"Yeah, let's get moving with the bloodshed!" demons in the crowd screamed.
"We wanna see blood!"
"They want blood, do they?" Kurai smiled. "Well then. Ill give them blood." she ruffled Chi's hair, smiling gently at her before leaping gracefully into the arena.
"And Kurai has stepped up to the plate! Who will Team Reform choose to send to fight her?"
Kurama stepped forward. "I'll gladly take you on, Kurai-san." he said, smiling that dazzling grin that made fan girls swoon at the sight of him.
"Kurama has been sent into the arena! From previous matches, we know that Kurama has given many a powerful demon a run for their money. But with a new challenger up to bat, will he be able to take down this newcomer just as easily? I guess we'll find out! Team Reform's Kurama versus Kurai Momoko of Team Kaleo-- GO!"
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A/N: Hey guys, thought I'd give you a short preview into the next chapter! (Which will be up really soon)
Kurama and the mysterious Kurai are fighting in the upcoming match, and the whole audience is calling for someone, ANYONE'S blood! Kurai says she can give the crowd what they want-- but what does she have up her sleeve? Turns out this girl is hiding more than we think, but can she take down the infamous Yoko Kurama? Find out in the next chapter!
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always, s-chan