Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho or Inuyasha or any of their characters. I do, however, own any OCs created and the story written.

Chapter 4: Rando Rises, Kuwabara Falls

Previously…

"I know about you and him because he told me."

"What?"

"We've known each other since we were boys. He's my closest friend."

"No offense, but I didn't think you had any friends."

He smirked, "There's a lot of things you don't know about me." He straightened up, "I'm a firm believer in destiny and fate. I always believe that we control our lives, to an extent. When you two first met, a connection was formed. It was immediate. Meaning you were destined. But it was up to the both of you to act on that connection."

"And he did." She contemplated, "I've only known him for such a short time, but it feels longer. I think…"

Her eyes widened, "I think I'm in love with him."

"Good. 'Cause I know I'm in love with you."

1-2-3-4-5

Kagome turned to the subject of the discussion walking toward her, "You are?"

"Very much." He grabbed her hand, "Kagome, when we first met, it was like this shock of understanding shot through me. Like I knew you. Like I was meant to know you. What started as just fascination and a need to know more, turned into adoration and a need to be more. More than just a fox demon or a thief. I wanted to be someone who was better than I was so I could deserve you."

"But, I'm only a human."

"Well, unlike Sessh here," The fox smirked over at his frowning friend, "that's never bothered me." He stroked a finger over her chin smiled, "Especially now that I've fallen head over heals in love with the best one I've ever met." Sessh nodded and took off, leaving the couple alone.

"Yoko." She started crying, "Falling for anyone was never my attention when I came to this time. The Jewel was. My past feelings for a certain Hanyou is just that… past. It was like we were trying to force those feelings into something that wasn't there." By that point, he had her face cupped in his hands, "With you, it's effortless. Like we were meant. I never thought I would meet someone who made me feel whole. Like…" he gently wiped the tears from her cheeks, "like, you're my everything."

"And you're mine. I love you, Kagome."

She laughed as everything that she was mixed up about just surged together in a clash of enlightenment, "Oh, Yoko. I love you, too. So much."

They leaned in together and sealed their declaration of love with a kiss.

1-2-3-4-5

Kagome stood at the edge of the field with Genkai, Botan and the remaining three competitors, "Since he doesn't seem to be moving you'll just have to fight around him. Come on, you two. Let's close up the semifinals." Genkai said.

Kuwabara grinned as he and Shorin walked so they were right across from each other.

"It's ironic that out of all of the fighters," Botan said, turning to Yusuke, "Shorin was last on my list as a suspect."

"Yeah, if you're gonna disguise yourself, why not look cooler?" Yusuke questioned.

"The unassuming doesn't draw attention to themselves." Kagome smirked, "I mean, you've got such a powerful demon running around, a wanted one at that, stealing the powers of psychics. I'd want to keep a low profile, too."

"You'd make a pretty good Spirit Detective, Kagome." Botan flinched at the glare that Yusuke was sending her, "But, that's not important. If Shorin is in fact Rando, I'm afraid Kuwabara is out of his league."

"Hey Kuwabara! Wait up!" Yusuke yelled, running up to Kuwabara.

"Don't try to give me your coaching advice, Urameshi." Kuwabara glared.

Kagome watched as Yusuke started whispering to Kuwabara. "I don't care who he is!" Kuwabara yelled, shoving a finger at Yusuke, hitting his nose. "First of all, I'm gonna beat this guy and then I'm gonna grind you into the dirt. So don't try to get out of it by making me scared! And second, you beat that last guy by luck!"

"What's that got to do with this fight?" Yusuke asked, incredulous.

"I'm not exactly sure! But I'm going to fight this guy. Monster or not!"

"What's the point? You know I'd beat you next anyway!"

Kuwabara shouted,"Oh yeah? Well that'd be true if it was opposite day! Stupid!"

"Hey!" Botan shouted, running toward them, "Would you boys please behave! This isn't high school!"

"Shut up!" The boys yelled in sync.

"How about you shut up!" Kagome pinched her nose in resignation, "It's like trying to get in between Inuyasha and Koga." She glared, "Stubborn bull headed boys. Both of you. Just stop it, already! Yusuke, you can't stop him from fighting. He's gotta get though it. You'll have your turn afterwards. And Kuwabara, quit being so juvenile. Not everything is about proving you're better than Yusuke. This tournament is a little more important than that. So both of you need to shut it down, now." She sighed, "First thing I'm going to ask Genkai to teach me is how to charm prayer beads. A few sits could really come in handy right about now."

After a moment of silence, with everyone just staring at her, Shorin stepped forward and bowed, "Please sir, may we start?"

"Yes, please!" Kagome glared, making Botan and Yusuke slink over to her side.

"Yeah." Kuwabara whispered, rushing away from the brunette.

"Begin!" Genkai shouted.

"I'll take you down in one hit!" Kuwabara yelled as both competitors ran at each others. The teen reared back and hit Shorin in the face, sending him flying back. Everyone blinked in mild shock as his opponent hit the ground.

"What the…?" Yusuke stuttered, exchanging looks with a shrugging Kagome.

Shorin struggled as he sat up, rubbing his cheek, "I see this fighter will take more strength than I thought."

Kuwabara rubbed the back of his head and said,"Gee buddy, are you alright? That was just a warm-up shot."

Shorin stood up. "You needn't worry about my health, sir." He ran forward and tried to punch Kuwabara, but luckily the teen managed to dodge, clumsily. He started throwing a lot of kicks and punches, but Kuwabara dodged them all. Kuwabara finally had enough and punched him in the head, causing him to fall on to the ground.

Kuwabara started laughing, "Our difference in strength is pretty big, huh?"

"So, what are the chances of a demon being a total wuss?" Yusuke asked, looking at Botan and his cousin, "Maybe Rando's been hiding here somewhere, but not as a fighter."

"Yeah." Botan nodded, just as confused.

"Or maybe Rando was one of the fighters and he already got beat."

"Demons can be wusses." Kagome frowned as she watched the shorter man rub his head, "Depending on the species and type. But he's not. He's suppressing his Energy. I think he's just trying to get a gauge on what Kuwabara can do."

"What?" Kuwabara squawked, "Is that all we're going to fight?"

Shorin stood up. "No, let me try a few techniques first." He slid his left foot back and waved his hands around like he was rolling a ball; making sparks start to appear in between them.

"The structure of Shorin's Spirit Energy is changing." Botan said, staring.

"I told you he was suppressing." Kagome growled, "And whatever he's doing is bad."

Shorin put one hand in the air as a flaming ball appeared in it. He then held both of his hands straight out and another fireball appeared in his other hand.

Kuwabara stared, "What is that?"

"It couldn't be." Genkai gasped, concerning Kagome further.

Shorin reared back his arm, yelling, "Circles of Inferno!" He threw one out like a baseball, barely missing Kuwabara as the teen dodged it. The second one scraped his stomach; making him start patting his jacket and yelling.

"You're okay Kuwabara! Stop giving yourself a pat down and get ready for his next attack!" Yusuke yelled, trying to get the frantic teen to focus.

"Would you shut up?!" He shouted as Shorin gathered another fireball in his hand, "Fine, if you want to use your fireworks, I'll use mine!" He pulled out the broken piece of wood from before and manifested his new Spirit Sword. "All right you little shrimp-baby, batters up!" Kuwabara got in batting position while Shorin threw the fire ball at him. Kuwabara swung his sword and hit the ball like it was a baseball, sending tt went flying into Shorin's stomach. He flew and hit the ground hard.

Yusuke stared in shock, "Whoa, I guess that's a home run."

"Nice hit!" Kagome exclaimed, impressed.

Shorin, hunched over on the ground, holding his stomach in pain as his clothing smoked from the hit.

Kuwabara laughed, "Those pitches were pretty nasty, but nothin' compared to the old batting cages back home."

"Kuwabara's like a whole new fighter when he starts using that Spirit Sword of his." Yusuke smiled, watching his rival, "I think he can beat this little punk, Rando or no Rando. Ha."

"Anything is possible, I suppose." Botan mused.

"Let's not count our chickens before they're hatched, okay." Kagome shook her head, "This is supposed to be a mighty demon in disguise. Someone who's stolen the powers of 99 psychics. He's not going to be that easy to defeat."

Shorin stood up, "Very surprising. Twice now you have managed to evade my attack and make it your own offensive."

"Ahh, don't try make it sound so high-tech. I'm just trying to cream you." The cocky teen replied, propping his sword on his shoulder.

"This requires a new approach." Shorin put his hands together, as if praying, and starting chanting.

"What the heck are you muttering about over there. You might as well speak up." Kuwabara growled, but Shorin kept chanting.

"Yes, I thought I recognized where that fireball attack was from." Genkai nodded in recognition, "Ages ago, two renowned masters spent the last half of their life perfecting the Circles of Inferno and this chant."

"What's this do?" Yusuke asked, suddenly scared.

Genkai snapped, "That isn't the point. What matters is that the only ones who could have taught this boy have been dead for centuries."

"Old lady, you just proved something for me once and for all." He stated, turning back to the field, "That chanter's definitely no boy."

"So we can officially start calling him Rando." Kagome shook her head as she stared at the field, "Is Kuwabara seriously going to just stand there and let that monster finish his chanting? The freaks eyes are turning red."

"I'm shutting you up, boy." The teen called, "You're freaking me out." He ran forward, sword at the ready, when Rando finished the chant.

"REDUCTION!" They watched in shock as Kuwabara shrank before their eyes.

"What the hell?!" Kagome exclaimed, gripping her cousins arm, "What happened?"

"Hey, hey! How did that kid get so big. Hey, the grass got big too! W-wait a minute..." Kuwabara stuttered, looking around. A caterpillar started to move right beside him. "That's a-a a caterpillar! Ah! I've turned into an insect!" Rando reached out and grabbed Kuwabara with his hand.

"What the hell?" Yusuke gaped.

"I just said that." Kagome nudged him, "But it really needed repeating."

Rando pulled Kuwabara up to his face, "Don't be worried, you're still a human. Just a very small and fragile one. So, does this hurt?" He asked, squeezing.

"Oh, my gosh." Kagome panicked, "I can hear his freaking bones cracking."

"There's no way he can pull out of this. Kuwabara! Tell him you're backing out of the fight!" Yusuke yelled.

"Oh, but that just cannot not be allowed." Rando drawled, "I have to make use of this power a little first." He crushed his hand around Kuwabara a little tighter, then threw him up in the air and caught him. "I'm curious about the strength of bones after they've shrunk. I'll start with the right arm." He pulled Kuwabara's sleeve off and wrapped his fingers around his arm.

"Kuwabara!" The cousins and Botan shouted, getting more upset.

Rando started messing with the elbow, pulling and tightening his hold on it. Kuwabara screamed as it was twisted in the wrong direction.

"Well, that was a fun experiment." The demon laughed, "Now let's see about the rib cage, shall we?"

"I can't stand this lady!" Yusuke yelled, looking at Genkai, "I'm going in there!"

"No, I'll call off the fight. That's enough Shorin!"

"All-right." Rando laughed, crushing Kuwabara some more.

"You bastard!" Yusuke screamed, "This punk's not gonna listen to you anymore, old lady!" Yusuke ran towards the back of Rando. The demon turned, smiling, and tossed Kuwabara over Yusuke's head, "Kuwabara." Yusuke watched as his frenemy landed in the tall grass. With Botan and Kagome behind him, Yusuke rushed of to check on him.

Rando laughed again, "You said let him go, right?"

"He is so lucky I left my bag at the temple." Kagome growled as she searched with the others, "I bet a well aimed Sacred Arrow would take care of that creep."

"Kuwabara!" Yusuke yelled, trying to look through the grass. "Just say something!"

"I can't sense him." Botan complained.

"I can." Kagome squatted down, "It's faint, but he's here." She looked over in fear as Rando started chanting again. When he stopped, Kuwabara enlarged back to his normal side, "Oh, no."

"Oh my God. Kuwabara!" Yusuke exclaimed, rushing over to kneel at his side, "His body, it's twisted."

"Both arms are in pieces." Botan stared, not sure what to do.

"His ribs too. I've never healed anything this extensive before." Kagome said as Genkai walked up behind them, "I wouldn't know where to begin."

Kuwabara turned his head slowly and smirked up at them, "I won't die, even if all the bones in my body are broke." He rasped out, "Remember Urameshi. We still must fight each other…" he trailed off before passing out.

"Yeah buddy, that's right." Yusuke nodded. He patted Kuwabara's cheek before clenching his fist and glaring at Rando, who was approaching from the side.

"I can not tell you how long I've wanted to use that technique on someone, but it takes such a long time to complete the chant." Rando said, a contemplating look on his face, "It's very bothersome. The move is so complex, imagine concentrating on that while fighting fifteen people. What with the word order, the intonation. But with your Spirit Wave technique, you can destroy a hundred people with just one simple motion of Energy. That is right, isn't it master?"

"Yes, if it's misused." Genkai responded, not liking the question.

"Of course, I wouldn't ever use it that way, but it's great to know the potential."

"Potential my ass." Kagome muttered, "I've seen lesser demons than him kill hundreds in a village because they were in their way."

"And I refuse to let that potential go to him." Yusuke growled, standing up, "Not so fast, you freak!" He turned to the demon, clenching both fists, "You have to beat me first! And in case you didn't know… I happen to be a Spirit Detective."

"Let the final match begin! Shorin versus Yusuke!" Genkai said.

Yusuke and Rando moved a few feet away from the others as Spirit Energy started surrounding the young Spirit Detective.

"Well, I see your Spirit Energy is recovering nicely on this hill." Rando smirked as they got into position, "Ready?"

Yusuke gave a growl and his Spirit Energy whipped up again. Rando's own purple Energy was slowly surrounding him.

"The first one is for Kuwabara!" Yusuke charged forward, hitting Rando in the face with his fist full of Spirit Energy, sending the the demon back. Straightening up from the attack, Yusuke held up his fist, glaring, "And I still got ninety-nine more. One for every psychic who's life you stole."

Rando stood up and looked at Yusuke over his shoulder. He wiped his face and looked down at his legs, "Huh? My knees." He only had a moment to recover before another Spirit infused fist got him in the stomach; followed by another in his face. The attack sent Rando flying back again.

Rando sat on the ground, holding his face, "His Spirit power only scored 155, but his Spirit power must have increased to over 200 to make that kind of impact."

"Is that possible?" Kagome asked, looking at Genkai, "I mean, it hasn't even been a whole day since the test. Can it increase that much?"

"Under the right circumstances and motivation, yes."

"You better stand," Yusuke called, "I'll feel bad if you're glued to the ground."

When Rando stood and held his hands out in different positions, Yusuke starting running towards him for another attack. "Sickle and Tornado!" Rando jumped into the air and hovered; two green circles were shown behind him.

"What the hell is this?" Yusuke asked.

Genkai nodded, "I see."

Kagome frowned, "See what?"

"Of all my techniques," Rando called, "I enjoy this the most."

"Congratulations." Yusuke shouted, mocked.

"I once knew of a fighter who made quite a name for himself with that attack." Genkai commented, "It creates a vacuum around their opponent and causes air to escape violently from their body from the cuts in their skin." Kagome stared in shock, worried for her cousin.

"And with as many battle wounds you have Yusuke, it should be very painful." Rando laughed, sending out three multicolored energy wheels with spikes on them at Yusuke. The Spirit Detective let out a shout and ran right for them. They hit him straight on, knocking him onto his back as they shot up into the sky and disappearing.

"Ouch!" Yusuke shouted, sitting up with smoke coming off his chest.

Rando cocked his head to the side, "Now that's surprising. Most would pass out from the pain. Shall we try it again?!" He jumped up and shot out three more. Yusuke responded by getting up and running at them a second time.

"It appears your friend is a fool." Genkai said.

Botan glared, "No, just mad."

"And rightly so!" Kagome agreed, shaking her head.

Rando glared, "I dare you!"

Yusuke jumped up and, bracing his arms over his face, took all three head on.

"I don't know where he got the will to endure that kind of pain, but he's making it into the eye of the tornado!" Genkai exclaimed.

Yusuke, to Rando's shock, got through the wheels and tackled. Using his arms in the shape of an 'X', he hit the demon's jugular, hard, and they slammed into the ground.

"I got him," Yusuke breathed, standing up, "and he wasn't joking about the pain."

"You got him good Yusuke!" Botan cheered, "He'll probably be out for a week!"

"That's what happens when you piss me off."

"It's a shame Kuwabara couldn't be here to see it." Botan said.

A voice called out from the side, "Hey, I'm not dead yet, I still got to kick Urameshi's…"

"Yusuke, maybe you shouldn't try walking for awhile." Botan said as Yusuke stumbled.

"I'm fine." Yusuke said and started walking towards Genkai. "Well, how'd you like that, grandma?"

Kagome glared, "You're a dill weed."

"Hey!" He exclaimed, "What's wrong with you, huh?"

"He's a demon, Yusuke. You actually think that hit finished him off? Please." She scoffed, shaking her head at him, "I've seen lesser demons than him get taken out by a whole lot more than that. What kind of Spirit Detective are you? You're not done."

Genkai nodded, "She's right, boy. You shouldn't have wasted your Energy walking here. Your fight isn't over yet. Did you actually think Rando could be defeated so easily?"

"What?!" Yusuke asked, shocked.

All of the sudden a really deep laugh sounded from the prone body of what was once 'Shorin'. Kagome shivered, "That sounds like that's the real Rando's voice."

"Yes, Mr. Urameshi, you should listen to the old hag." He said. They tend to know things. For example, that I'm a demon that will not be destroyed. Most likely, she also knows that I must kill you all, as you are about to see my true form. The only real mystery is this: how would I choose to torture you?"

The body started to break open at the same time as the ground started to shake. The 'Shorin' shell got sucked into the grass and cracks appeared in the ground. A flashing beam of blue Spirit Energy shot up out of a large hole and a new figure arose out of it's depths.

"I'm don't like this feeling I'm getting from him." Kagome said, bulling Botan back behind Genkai, "That is some seriously dark energy emitting from over there."

"What is that thing?" Yusuke asked in a shaky voice.

The dark laughter from before echoed, "I'm the one you've been looking for, Rando."

Kagome starting shaking, hard, as memories flashed through her mind…

1-2-3-4-5

The Darkness. It surrounded her as the final battle went on outside of the Jewel. The Jewel. The true puppeteer. Controlling Naraku and manipulating everything from the beginning, just so it could keep on existing. Now, it's trying to trick an already broken Kagome into making a selfless wish. All she wanted was her Yoko back. But she knew she couldn't do it. It was a very selfish thing to want when so many people are dying. She closed her eyes as it finally hit her. There was no way to make a selfless wish without causing more problems. That's the trick. The Jewel was too corrupted by all the demons to grant such a wish. So what did she do?

"Kagome!" She looked up as Inuyasha finally got to her, "Found you. You can't make a wish. It'll keep you here to take over from Midoriko."

"I know." She hugged him, listening to both battles; inside and out of the Jewel. "I know why the Jewel was born inside me. It was the only way to protect it and keep demons from getting to it." She looked in his eyes, "I can't be selfish. I am the protector and I always will be. The Jewel can't be destroyed. So it needs to disappear."

"What?"

"I wish for the Shikon no Tama to disappear from this world."

A bright light surrounded them as everything froze, "Thank you." They turned to see Midoriko standing behind her, "You have freed me." She started glowing, "You are the protector because you are my descendant. You were meant to do this." Her entire being lite up, spreading her light through the Jewel, "As the true protector, you are sacrificing a life of normalcy to continue to be a true Miko. The Jewel, now purified of all demons and darkness, shall remain inside you forever; only to be passed on after your death. To help you continue onto your journey, my power is now your power." The light blinded Kagome, and when she opened her eyes, she was in her family's Well House. Alone. Crying, she sat on the stairs to mourn her friends and loved ones.

To be continued…

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