The fight lasted for a few days until Tatsuo was surrounded by the group with Hotaka in the middle with him.

"You've won," Tatsuo panted. "That. Round. At-least."

"All this time, I have been contemplating," Hotaka stepped closer to him. "Let you live and suffer in a jail, kill you instantly and be done with this so I can get back to ruling, make an example of you, etcetera."

"I still have enough energy to end you then your sister next," Tatsuo glanced at her. "At least the last of your lineage will be gone even if I am gone." He ran towards him with the last energy he could muster.

Hotaka had his tails facing Tatsuo, piercing his body. Tatsuo spurted out blood as he realized he had made a mistake. Hotaka let out a sigh. "Really? That was your last move? Typical. I could skin you alive just like you did to my family and the others but I think this way is just as good. Do you feel that tingling sensation?" Tatsuo did feel something tingling in the spots where he was struck. "My little sister grew them. Most painful plant around, Deciduiagymp." Tatsuo gulped. "There's a similar plant for humans but nothing compares to its demon counterpart. I wonder how it feels. Humans have said that their plant hurts so much that it can make them blind from pain and can last up to several months if not a year. The sensation can be described as being burnt with hot acid while being electrocuted. I would like to know how the demon plant feels." He took his tails out of him. Tatsuo fell to the ground. His arms catching him.

"Then how are you not feeling any pain?" Tatsuo was shaking as it spread to his whole body.

"Family secret," Hotaka flicked the blood of his tails in one swoop.

"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!" Tatsuo could feel the sensation he described but worse. At his open wounds, each tissue felt as if it was being burned individually. Usually after being burnt long enough, the nerves are gone and there is no feeling. That wasn't the case. Tatsuo grabbed his wounds only to retract his hands. The blood had mixed in with the plant making it seem as if he placed his hand in boiling lava. He cried out in pain again. His heart pumped the pain. He could feel it through his veins, through his fibers, every tissue and receptor, the pain had spread. There was no numbing point. His heart raced, increasing the torture. The pain spread to his heart, lungs, and head. "EEENNNNNDD MYYYYYY SUUUFFFFFFFEEEERRRRRRRIIINNNGGG!" He continued to wail and flail around.

"No," Hotaka stood firm. "I will not show mercy to the monster who skinned children alive! This is your price that you must pay before you end up in Hell. You can pay for the rest of your deeds there, but this, no matter how much you change, no matter how much you devote yourself in doing good, I cannot let you go unscathed. If you survive, then you can live, but innocent children!" Hotaka started to form tears in remembering his brothers and sisters. He remembered the families he stumbled upon while hunting Tatsuo down. The blood splattered homes and forests. The brown tinted bodies still moaning out for help as the demon insects started to suck their juices and eat their flesh. He tried many times to revive and help heal them. They never survived. Creating nameless graves for majority of them. "INNOCENT LIVES!" The tears started to fall. "We may be demons but I cannot let someone like you live in this world. This is my kingdom for the time being, my world, and my rules. The next King can condemn me for this but I will not let you live. Not after, never after."

"KIIIIIIIILLLLLLLL MMMMMMEEEE!" Tatsuo's blood started to seep out. His skin was sloughing off. Tatsuo scratched at his eyes, trying to relieve the pain. He had claw marks all over his body. He started to stand while his body parts were disintegrating before being hit in the chest by a giant thorn. He fell to the ground. His body further crumbling into a grotesque puddle.

Hotaka turned around to see who did that. Hoshimi stepped forward. "I guess he couldn't handle the full thorn either." She spoke in a monotone. "It's done, let's go home."

"Remind me to never piss any of you off," Yusuke stared at the puddle.

"Oh Yusuke, you could never do that!" Hoshimi giggled. "We like you too much!"

"That doesn't sound like it's any better either," Yusuke didn't handle her tone well.

"That was satisfying," Hiei let out a sigh. "Any more battles Hotaka has, I'll gladly help out."

"Agreed," Chu added. "But let's not end everything like that 'kay?" The group nodded.

Hotaka was being led by Hoshimi with the rest of the group to the outside of the cavern. Enki and Kokuo met the group with solemn faces. Hotaka and Hoshimi glanced at each other before stopping in front of them. Enki nodded. Hotaka and Hoshimi ran past them, leaving the group behind. They ran towards their original home. Enki and Kokuo held each other while keeping the solemn face. Kurama kicked up his heels and followed. Yomi was next. Yusuke and the others followed behind.

The siblings reached their forest. They slowed down once they hit the small meadow. Hoshimi clutched her brother's hand. She hadn't visited the forest since the massacre. The trees still showed the scars of the struggle. In the middle was the pelts of their family. Hotaka led Hoshimi to the graves he had made. She gave him a pelt and he buried it with its rightful owner. When they were finished, the rest had shown up. The group paid their respects to the dead.

Hotaka stared at the forest surrounding him. He remembered coming home and his siblings would run up to him, calling out his name. He would pick each of them up to twirl them around or toss them into the air. His littermates would wrestle with him, hunt, defend, and look up to him as the eldest. He turned to view his sister. "I have never asked you, how did you escape?"

Hoshimi walked up to a tree ridden with claw marks. "I didn't." She placed her hand on the bark, pushing on it. The bark came out like a door. "I watched it all happen while I was hiding." Her voice distant. "When he was finished with our family, I ran away, far away. I didn't even check to see if they were still alive. The view, oh the view!" Her voice wavered. She clutched herself. "I endured endless nightmares and created my first secret home."

Hotaka pulled her into a hug. "He will never harm anyone again." He caressed her. Hotaka peered into her hideout. He remembered that she would create all sorts of things before vanishing away from the rest of kits to some unknown hideout. It was a sweet memory but the view inside the trunk showed something different. Everything was knocked over. Old blood splatter outlined where his sister huddled in fear. Her tiny claw marks that kept her from revealing herself. It was beyond words how both suffered. Hotaka let go of his sister to view the rest around them. The group had now become friends and allies. They may be all different types of demons but they came together and compromised on situations like these. "Come! I shall reward everyone back at the castle!" He led the group away.

Kurama, Hiei, and Yusuke stayed behind as Hoshimi closed the secret door. She jumped when she finally noticed them. "I thought you left with them?"

"And leave you behind?" Yusuke called out. "Not a chance. I thought he called you the little sister since you were the youngest but being able to fit into that small of a tree, you were the runt!" Hiei shook his head while Kurama let out an embarrassed sigh.

"I was not the runt!" Hoshimi stormed upon Yusuke. Her finger pointed right at him. "I was the last to be born! My stature was small due to that. It happens with all litters."

"Like I said, the runt!" Yusuke moved her finger away.

The group made their way back to the castle. Hotaka rewarded each fighter with a monetary reward and a feast. The demons headed back to their homes. Hotaka met with thousands of foxes. They thanked him for what he had done. Hotaka introduced his sister to them. Kurama, Hiei, and Yusuke headed back to Earth. They met in Hoshimi's home exchanging stories. It took a few days to catch up on everything. When it was late in the night, Kuwabara and Yusuke sat down deck while Kurama leaned against the wall. Hiei was perched on the tree.

"Our bet we made, I won," Hiei spoke with his eyes closed. "Pay up."

"Wait," Yusuke thought about the bet. "When did this happen?" Hiei let them know the date.

"Hold on," Kuwabara looked over to Yusuke. "What bet is this? How come I wasn't told?!"

"You would have lost anyway," Hiei smirked.

"How would you know?!" Kuwabara jumped up.

"Settle down," Yusuke was bummed. "I did include you on the bet, it was the 'make peace with the enemy' bet. Is there prize for runner up? Keiko and I made up for the distance the first night I got back."

"That is a prize itself," Hiei argued. "Don't degrade it."

"Wait? YOU and-and KEIKO?!" Kuwabara was beyond shock. "That's what that meant? Oh!" He then had an incredulous thought. "Wait, if Hiei, then." Kuwabara was mumbling about. "Aha! I won!"

"What do you mean you won?" Yusuke stared upwards. Kurama watched Hiei.

"Yukina was scared since the people were attacking her for being different," Kuwabara explained. "This was before those yakuza, since she had gotten attacked at the library that one time. Anyways, she was on a school field trip near my classes. Lots of people from my school were making fun of her along with her classmates for something she did. I was walking by and saw the commotion and rescued Yukina. She must have been in awe of my heroic deeds," Kuwabara flashed his smile. "I think I sealed the deal when I brought her to my apartment to relax and there she found Eikichi and my new kitten. I told her she could have the new kitten to make her happy." He then became bashful. "I thought I did something wrong because she started to cry when I said that it was orphaned and needed someone to love and care for it. I told her I would love and care for that kitten just like Eikichi even though it was different and not too many people enjoy cats since they can be dangerous at times."

"So you two are going out then?" Yusuke instigated. Hiei opened his eyes in a panic.

"Yeah, ha ha," Kuwabara got all red. "You can say that. Since we've been boyfriend and girlfriend, I don't want to push her, so I wait until she wants to do it again. She's spunky. I thought she would regret it since I was her first but I'm so happy that's not the case."

Hiei froze and started to fall off the tree. He landed on his feet. Kurama was about to jump up to help his best friend who was still in a state of shock. Yusuke was holding his sides trying not to laugh.

"Kurama, it sounds like you are the only one left then, wow, that's a surprise," Kuwabara scratched the back of his head. Yusuke couldn't hold it in any longer. He chuckled enough to bring tears to his eyes.

"Oh, don't worry," Kurama smirked. "Soon enough."

Hiei shook away his shock. "I don't know what she sees in you, but you better not hurt her." He warned Kuwabara. "If she cries just once with you, you're dead. No, you're worse than dead."

Kuwabara stepped back then thought better of it. "Wait. Do you like her or something? You're always protecting her, like some brother or something."

"AHH hahaha!" Yusuke rolled around.

"You could say it's something like that," Hiei stared him down. "I won't worry as much since it probably won't last long. She'll finally see you for the big idiot you are and then leave."

"Hey!" Kuwabara protested.

After a few days on Earth, Hiei and Kurama went back to demon world. Yusuke stayed a bit more to catch up with Keiko and Koenma. Koenma had received the device that recreated bodies. He used that on the human lives that were stolen away. They made sure none of the humans remembered anything before placing them back on Earth. Koenma would place the device into his vaults when they were not using it. He also was informed about the ascending foxes. Koenma was happy to hear that there would be more ascended foxes. Several hundreds were employed by Koenma to work in all sorts of areas. They were better workers than the ogres. They helped clean up the aftermath of the human hating demons on Earth. Those who were not employed by Koenma travelled around the Earth, became guardians for shrines, served as teachers to those seeking wisdom and spiritualism, and enjoyed their freedom.

Kurama and Hiei met back up at the castle. There were several groups of foxes dispersed out in the fields. One group started to glow in gold and white before disappearing. Hoshimi came behind them.

"Fascinating, isn't it?" She giggled.

"When are you going to ascend?" Hiei asked.

"Soon, I hope," Hoshimi grabbed Kurama by the arm. "Come, our group is waiting."

"Our group?" Kurama saw another group ascended.

"Brother won't ascend until a new King has been named," Hoshimi explained. "There are a few others waiting along with him."

Hiei pushed Kurama forward. "Soon, remember?"

Hoshimi tugged on him. "Let's go." The two moved forward to the last group. She came in close to him. "I know you want me all to yourself, but it'll be more fun when we become godly." Kurama smirked as he changed into this nine-tail form. "Besides, we get a piece of Heaven to ourselves when we ascend and the privacy is better than my vaults." She gave him a wink. The two waded into the circle.

The group closed their eyes and synced their chakras together. They let their power be drawn out, letting it all delve into one. Kurama felt a small lift and a warmth spreading over him. He opened his eyes to see that he was surrounded by clouds. There were buildings of all eras in the distance. His eyes were drawn to a familiar building. He knew exactly was waiting in there for him. Kurama headed to that direction. Clouds formed around him, hiding the home. He crouched on the roof. "In this world, I can sense you," he teased as his ears twitched listening to her foot falls as she went from room to room.

"Then why are you stalling?" She called to him in a playful tone. Kurama jumped down and sneaked into the house.

It was close to the end of the Hotaka's reign. Yusuke and the gang were lined up to get their lottery number. Kuwabara didn't participate as he took over Genki's estate when Yusuke was away.

"Thank goodness we didn't bet how long one can last," Yusuke spoke aloud to Hiei. The two hadn't had any word from Kurama.

"If you don't have endurance, you will likely fail at everything," a familiar voice quipped.

The two turned around to see the new Kurama. He looked the same but had a powerful aura. He was in fox form wearing the white sleeveless yukata but had gold armbands. He gave them a smirk.

"Thought you got lost in her secret garden," Yusuke joked. He had his short hair again. He had learned the ability to call upon that strength with ease.

"She has many secret gardens, which one are you talking about?" Kurama teased back. Yusuke froze in thought on that one.

"Where is your tail, anyway?" Hiei eye him.

"She is greeting her brother," Kurama felt happy to be back with his friends. Not that his time spent with Hoshimi was bad. It just felt nice to be all together again.

"Good luck!" They heard her voice from afar. She was coming closer. Hoshimi had met with Chu and the gang. They were awestruck with how she looked. Hoshimi's hair was styled in elegant twists and shapes with hairpins and hair pieces that were all in gold. She waved at them in a long flowing gown that was gold and white. "I can't wait to hear who the new King is! Good luck you two!" The same effect happened to Yusuke and Hiei.

"I'm surprised you're not competing," Yusuke finally spoke.

"I have a sparring partner for the rest of my life, why waste my energy on someone else," Hoshimi explained.

"If it wasn't for Kurama's new jewelry and aura, no one would think he ascended," Hiei teased him.

"He's just being modest," Hoshimi opened her fan.

"It's the same for her," Kurama switched subjects. He did have a different attire in Heaven but it wasn't important. He noticed that Hoshimi wore something modest as well. "Like she said, good luck. We'll be watching from the sidelines."

"You're not competing either!" Yusuke could have fainted.

"I think it would be unfair to the others if someone from our stature tried for King," Kurama explained. "The only ones who could come close are other ascended foxes or the demons who became godly. You and Hiei are gaining to that level. This may be one of your last years of competing." He informed them.

"Good, that means it's my turn to become King," Yusuke was ready.

"After me," Hiei warned.

The two headed towards the lottery box. Kurama and Hoshimi headed to where her brother was at. He had found himself a mate. It didn't take long as he thought it would. He had met her when he was paying his respects to the rest of the fallen foxes. She was like him, a fox fated with luck that didn't meet their doom that day. She had not ascended since she thought she would miss out on this tournament. The four of them watched the tournament to see who would be crowned the next King of Demon World.

~Fin~