A.N. We've made it to the final battle, so let's dive straight in.

Remiko Okami: You aren't alone. Plenty of readers across the platforms want the same thing, and I'm keen to wrap up his journey to. Sakura's recovery will be...a journey. That's all I'm saying.

Hina714: I'm sorry, I had to! Sensui is definitely more of a physical threat than Haruki, though its debatable who's more insane of the two. Stiff competition. Koenma, hurry!

Ghost of Magic: Haha, gotta love Admiral Ackbar. Old memes are so much fun. Haruki has done more than enough to deserve an excruciating end at the hands of our boys.

KarinaGuardian: Well technically speaking, it was Itsuki who controlled the Uraotoko shadow monster, so... Anyway, there's still a lot to happen before we're done with Chapter Black, and Kurama has some very painful ideas for Haruki.

Guest: It's arrived, and I'm working on Chapter 38 now!

loveorpain: All I'm saying there is that Sakura's transition into the Three Kings arc is not going to be the same as Yusuke's, and I've known for a long time what will happen there.

Hope you all enjoy the chapter.

Chapter 37

The shadow snaked back through the giant cavern, slithered across the floor and up the wall. It came to a stop, and then spat one lone figure out.

Yusuke tumbled through the air, screaming in shock before landing painfully on the stone floor.

"Stupid…!"

Yusuke rubbed his head and forced himself to stand quickly. His eyes immediately bugged out when he saw Itsuki sinking through the floor.

"I'll leave you two alone."

Itsuki vanished from sight. Sensui launched himself through the air, spinning in a somersault and landing in front of his opponent.

Yusuke jumped back in alarm and fury. "I don't know what you did with my friends, but I tell you now: for every one you hurt, I'm taking a limb!"

"You're misunderstanding it," Sensui said. "Your friends haven't been touched; I'm not interested in their fates. I just don't want distractions."

Yusuke glared at him, but at the same time, he felt a strange understanding pass between them. The Spirit Detectives of past and present were about to collide, and nobody else could interfere.

"So…then it's time." Yusuke said. Perhaps in a way, he'd always known it would come to this.

"Well…" Sensui tilted his head thoughtfully. "Maybe one distraction won't hurt. Mr Itsuki?"

Yusuke turned quickly. The giant shadow face was moving again. Its mouth opened, and it spat someone out the same as Yusuke had been.

In a flash of blue, Sakura's limp body soared across the cave.

Botan shivered and pulled her jacket more tightly around her. The wind was blowing a gale and there was still no sign of Yusuke or anyone returning.

"Oh dear, they've been down there forever. What's taking them so long?"

"Patience, Botan," Genkai said from her meditative position on top of the truck. "It's the end of the world. You can't just flip it off with a switch."

"I know…" Botan sighed. "But-"

Genkai gave a wry smile. "We have to trust the weapons we've got, and cross our fingers."

At last, the fall ceased as quickly as it had begun. The remaining four found themselves floating in a dark and eerie place. Jagged and decayed pieces of random objects, trash perhaps, sailed past at a leisurely speed.

Hiei had apparently retrieved his black robe during the fall. He pulled it on while looking around through narrowed eyes.

Mitari was the first to ask, "What is this place?"

"Looks like the dark bowels of hell." Kurama muttered.

"You mean that?" Mitari gasped.

"Where's Urameshi?" Kuwabara looked around. "And Kura? They're not here!"

Kurama clenched his fists. His aura flared.

Once again, she's been taken from me.

He'd been too late to prevent them from forcing Chapter Black on Sakura. But they'd still made it to Haruki's den. And despite her unforgivable condition, they'd almost gotten her to safety. He'd been close, so maddeningly close to ending her ordeal.

She was right there.

He stared at his now empty hand. For just a brief moment, he'd finally held her in his arms again, but her captors had other ideas.

Damn it.

"We are in the bowels of something, Kurama," Hiei said. "I'd say it's a Dark Soul."

"A Dark Soul?" Mitari said. "What's that?"

"An old apparition," Hiei said. "It lives beneath the surface of the earth, collecting human trash."

"But we were not swallowed by chance," Kurama said darkly. "Someone else must be controlling this creature."

He had an excellent idea who that might be. Moments later, he was proven correct as someone else joined them.

"Creature? Please, call him Uraotoko. That's his proper name. He's my pet; I tamed him myself."

Mitari hissed. "Itsuki!"

"You're not truly a human, are you?" Kurama asked.

Itsuki merely smiled. "Do you think a human could've produced that tunnel?"

Six disembodied hands dotted with eyeballs sliced through the air behind Itsuki. Kurama understood all at once.

"He's an actual Yaminade!"

Mitari frowned. "What's that?"

"The devil with six hands," Kurama explained. "A rare super-sensory breed of demon with six shadow arms. Each is capable of reaching across dimensions. One of the few species with the ability to command lower-level demons as their slaves."

"I don't care if he's a unicorn! Let's start this fight!" Kuwabara yelled. "We'll see how special he is when I'm smashin' him!"

Itsuki raised his hand for quiet. "Calm your anger, Kuwabara. I'm not here to fight."

"What? Then why'd you bring us to this freaky place? We sightseeing? 'Cause I've seen enough."

"Where is Sakura?!" Kurama asked, unable to contain himself. "And Yusuke?!"

"Don't worry, Kurama. They're both perfectly safe," Itsuki said. "At least, Miss Urameshi is. Ghost will not allow her to be harmed."

Kuwabara nearly exploded. "That's a load of complete BS! Didn't you see what that psycho did to her face?!"

"Unfortunate, but necessary for the plan," Itsuki shook his head. "But not to worry, Kuwabara. Even on a human, bruises heal."

Kurama growled. Itsuki smirked at him.

"Sensui has been looking for a fight since the beginning," Hiei said sharply. "So why separate us?"

"I'm protecting the fight between our detectives." Itsuki said. "Though we are on different sides, we serve the same cause, do we not? Protecting this battle through its completion, without bickering amongst ourselves. Yusuke deserves it. Sensui deserves it."

"Ha! He doesn't deserve bunk," Kuwabara snapped. "You tell me one good feature that traitor has. One decent thing that makes you follow his end-of-the-world crusade!"

"He has everything," came the simple reply. "Sensui can be violent, courageous, spiritually pure, and even fragile. He can be a graceful spokesman with charisma to bring anyone to his side. Indeed, I have been drawn to his aura like a moth to the flame since the very first moment that we met."

Itsuki gazed upwards, as if looking back into the past.

"I first saw him in the darkness, forging a path of light. I would follow him for hours, unbeknownst to him. Just watching him work made me feel alive."

His eyes went dreamy and he continued, "My obsession grew. I began helping from the shadows, killing apparitions who wanted him dead. Of course, when he caught me, he wasn't grateful. I was just another demon to judge."

*~*~*

Itsuki kept running, but he was no match for the young Spirit Detective. The purple orb was on his heels before he could even think of evasion. It crashed into him and he fell, rolling over and over until flat on his back.

Sensui stood over him, arm raised for the final blow, and asked, "Do you have anything to say before you die?"

"If it's possible, let me have one more day to live, Mr Sensui."

"Why should I?"

"Tomorrow, my favourite television series airs its final episode," Itsuki murmured. "And I'd like to see how it ends."

He laughed at his own joke, and Sensui fell silent. The orb in his hand slowly flickered and died out. And moments later, Sensui joined in the laughter.

"You're the first demon to ever make me laugh."

*~*~*

"And so he let me live," Itsuki smiled. "I suppose I was his first step in realising his relationships of good and evil could not be so…traditionally defined."

He remembered that night so well, how the two of them had talked for over an hour beside a roaring campfire. Sensui had been so powerful at the time, that the demons themselves knew nobody who so much as looked at the Spirit Detective would live to tell the tale. And indeed, Sensui killed every demon he fought in the manner of an elite assassin. Yet his soul was pure as new-fallen snow.

Itsuki recalled that first question Sensui had asked, with wide and curious eyes…

"You mean there's all kinds of apparitions, good and bad?"

Sensui's soul had begun to open at that very moment.

"Who could have dreamed that a hunter I admired for physical prowess, this killer of killers, could also be warm. Compassionate. Intellectual. Open to broadening his view of the world."

Itsuki paused, then added, "Yes, I admit my attraction was not purely academic; I always wished he would become my lover."

Kuwabara held up both hands in self defence. "Ok, you can stop right there, I don't think my ears are old enough for this!"

"You might have stopped Sensui before things went this far," Kurama said with narrowed eyes. "The path he's chosen will destroy him as well."

"You can't save the damned," Itsuki shrugged. "Don't you see? I'm expecting him to act terribly and hurt people. Even to his own end, there's no way to stop it."

"Why not?" Kuwabara demanded.

"Because Sensui must follow his soul's true course," Itsuki said. "Drop ink on the finest snow white paper, and it will inevitably absorb into black. Its purity demands it. Tainted men have immunities. Black does not absorb black. Sensui's change is but proof of his perfection, and you cannot stop him. The ability to prevent this demise would show purity did not exist. Purity is worth the world. And worth it ending."

Kurama and Hiei glared at him. So that's what this was all about. Itsuki's logic was as twisted as Sensui's was.

If Yusuke defeated Sensui, it would prove that Sensui's supposed purity was never real to begin with. He was placing the blame for Sensui's actions at the feet of those who shattered his mind.

But they both knew Itsuki was wrong. And Sakura Urameshi was a living example of just how wrong he was.

Much like Sensui, Sakura had lived through horrific trauma, and while scarred, she had maintained her sweet and loving nature. She had never turned on the world, or even thought of revenge. She simply wanted to be free of her pain. Even if Chapter Black had been forced on her, nothing could change the truth of her inner strength and determination.

But Sensui had chosen to burrow deeper and deeper into his despair. He hadn't even tried to reconcile or process reality. He had simply allowed himself to be consumed and was now drunk on the power he gained. Granted, Sensui had clearly acted of his own volition, but Itsuki had been his constant shadow, encouraging this death spiral every step of the way.

Kuwabara looked like he wanted to retch at Itsuki's monologue. "You're really making me nauseous. All of your fancy lies…" he growled. "You can't excuse him! He's a monster, cut and dry!"

"You're not listening to me, Kuwabara. I'm not excusing him."

"Then what the heck do you call that?!"

"Sensui is indeed becoming depraved. But I must let that happen. Because I know whatever he does to the world, even if it kills us all, it's what we deserve."

Hiei shook his head in disgust. "Fool. You say you aren't excusing him, but you most certainly are. You're blinded by your warped admiration and those ridiculous feelings."

"You should know, I will kill you if I can, without remorse." Kurama hissed. Everything inside him was roaring to do so. But cold logic knew he could not.

"You will do what you must, Kurama," Itsuki smiled again as if he knew what Kurama was thinking. "But whether I live or die, the battle will not be affected. My Uraotoko will make sure of that. You see, I'm the only one who can control him."

"If we kill him, I get the first hit." Hiei muttered.

"I'm afraid these surroundings are making us stir-crazy. Let's have a better view."

Itsuki made the tiniest movement with his hand, and the eyes of Uraotoko slid open. Somehow, this gave the four boys a front row seat to the battlefield where Sensui and Yusuke glared at each other.

As they watched, Yusuke looked up quickly. His jaw dropped in horror.

"No!" Kurama shouted when he realised what was happening. Everyone else gasped or cried out in alarm. The sky-blue flash told them that Sakura was being catapulted across the giant cavern.

"Kura! Kura, NO!"

Yusuke leapt off the balls of his feet and started sprinting as fast as he could to catch her. Thankfully, he got there in time and she landed safely in his arms.

"Hey Squirt, you ok?!"

Sakura had passed out again, so Yusuke lowered himself to the ground and held her as tightly as he dared. She was still cold as ice.

"It's all good, I've got you. You're ok, you're ok…oh my God…"

He winced. The better lighting meant Sakura's injuries were thrown into greater relief.

Holy crap, how many times did that asshole hit her?

"Nice catch, Detective. Seems your reflexes are better than I gave you credit for."

Yusuke glared over his shoulder and snapped, "Wait til you see my fists, asshole!"

"By all means, but you'll need both hands. Might I suggest putting your sister down first?"

Yusuke pulled Sakura closer into his chest. "Not until that scarred shithead takes a dirt nap."

"Well, in that case…"

Sensui nodded to the side and before Yusuke could blink, Sakura was torn from his grip.

"What the-?!"

Shouts of protest sounded from his friends inside Uraotoko. Yusuke whipped around just in time to see his unconscious twin lying motionless in Haruki's grasp.

"Telekinesis, Spirit Detective," he laughed. "It was never my speciality but that doesn't make it any less effective."

"Put her down right now!" Yusuke shouted. "Get your filthy meat hooks off her!"

Haruki snorted. "I don't take orders from you. And somehow, I doubt you want her involved in your upcoming deathmatch. So what else do you expect?"

Like Yusuke, Haruki lowered Sakura to the ground and supported her upper body.

Sensui chuckled and said, "That's exactly right. Just make sure she's left untouched for the grand finale."

"Leave her to me, Mr Sensui. I've got it under control."

Yusuke stood up, fists clenched. "Just get away from her, you-!"

"Yusuke…?"

Just then, Sakura stirred in Haruki's arms and started to cough.

"Squirt! Hey, I'm right here!"

"Yusuke…" she murmured. "Is that…you?"

"Yeah it's me, I'm here, I promise!"

Sakura's eyes fluttered open. "Where…am I?"

"Don't worry, honey," Haruki said before anyone else could answer. "You're safe and sound with me."

Kurama growled. "Take your hands off her!"

Haruki ignored him. "Feeling any better, my sweet? I know it's been a long night, but it'll be over soon."

"What's…going on?" Her eyes slid shut again.

"Kura, it's ok, we're all here!" Yusuke said. "I promise it's going to be fine, once I kick Sensui's ass then we'll-!"

"There's no need to yell, Detective. Can't you see how worn out she is?" Haruki smiled down at Sakura. "That will last a while, honey. Just relax for now."

She blinked and the veil lifted. Her mouth fell open in shocked horror. "Haruki…! Wait…what is this?"

"It's time for the climax, my little porcelain doll. And you have a front row seat."

Sakura's head started spinning again while she stared at Haruki's smug face, but she could also hear someone shouting her name. Someone she'd recognise anywhere.

Yusuke.

She turned and saw him standing in front of Sensui, desperately calling for her. Only Yusuke.

I could have sworn Kurama was here too. And Kuwabara and Hiei and Mitari and…no!

It all came flooding back. Just minutes ago, they had all been there in the den. Kurama had freed her from those restraints and held her in his arms again. He whispered gently in her ear, called her back from the darkness, and for one glorious minute, she'd felt safe.

Where is he?! Where's everyone else?

"Kurama!" Sakura gasped out, though her voice was so fragile from everything she doubted anyone could hear it. "Yusuke, where are they?"

"Kura!"

It's him!

Sakura pushed through her dizziness and looked around for Kurama.

"Where are you?!" she cried. "Kurama, where-?"

SMACK!

"What did I tell you about saying that name?!" Haruki hissed.

"No!" Yusuke roared.

"Don't you dare touch her!" Kurama's voice snarled from further away.

Sakura shook her head a few times. "Yusuke, where is everyone?"

"Don't worry, Miss Urameshi. They're quite safe," Sensui said. "In fact, they're watching over us now."

He indicated the wall. Sakura's jaw dropped when she saw the shadow of Uraotoko staring down at her.

"No!"

"It's alright, my love," Kurama called. "Be strong!"

That shadow monster swallowed them. Just like Haruki said. Sakura's chest ached at the thought. This is my fault. It's all my fault. I didn't warn them in time.

"Feeling a little more lively, I see," Haruki's lips tickled her ear. "What do you say we step back and-?"

Sakura pulled away from him, snapping, "Let go of me!"

Haruki seized her hair and wrenched her upright. "You said you'd stop fighting me," he growled in her ear while she cried out. "Why can't you keep such a simple promise, honey?"

Yusuke forgot all about fighting Sensui and started towards Haruki. "Let her go!"

"Stay back!"

Haruki wrapped one arm around Sakura's waist and the other around her neck, not hard enough to choke her, but enough to cause pain.

"Yusuke, don't!" Kurama shouted.

Yusuke immediately skidded to a halt when he saw the pressure Haruki was putting on his sister's throat.

"Don't do anything stupid," Haruki breathed. "Worry about your own fight, Detective."

Kura…

Yusuke stood, looking between his sister and her demented captor. What should he do?

Forget me, Yusuke. Please. You have to stop Sensui!

Hearing her voice in his mind again finally calmed Yusuke's pounding heart, somewhat.

Ok. But don't worry Squirt. I'm not letting him take you anywhere.

"Come now, my boy. We have far more pressing matters to worry about," Sensui said with a leer at Sakura. "Her moment will come in time."

Haruki pulled Sakura closer and said, "Of course."

He glanced up at Uraotoko, knowing Kurama was watching. Knowing the Spirit Fox could do absolutely nothing.

She belongs to me.

Haruki leaned down and nuzzled Sakura's neck. She whimpered.

"Relax, honey. We'll start our new life soon."

"Actually, before we begin I do need to ask," Sensui's eyes shone. "Miss Urameshi, did you enjoy your movie?"

Agony passed over Sakura's face. Her eyes filled with tears.

Yusuke hissed. That's it. He's going down!

Kurama was using every ounce of self control to prevent himself from tearing Itsuki to shreds. Not only for separating them all, but for his part in making this whole wretched mess happen.

Haruki must be waiting for the right moment to drag her into the tunnel. But can he even pass through the Kekkai barrier?

Uncertain, depending on his strength. But Sensui and Sakura definitely could as humans.

You will not take her to the Demon World, Haruki. You won't take her anywhere.

Maddeningly, Kurama could do nothing from here, except trust in Yusuke. His friend would not allow his sister to be taken without a fight.

"Why?!" Yusuke snapped. "Why bring her out here?! You said it was just meant to be us!"

"Think about it, Yusuke," Sensui smiled. "This would hardly be the trial against humanity without the star witness in attendance."

"What?!" Kuwabara demanded. "What's that supposed to mean?!"

Sensui glanced up. "Exactly as I said, Kuwabara. Miss Urameshi is my star witness. Not only in the trial against humanity, but also as a witness to the Spirit Detective's failure."

Kurama growled while Hiei's ki signal flared and Kuwabara and Mitari started yelling.

"Leave her alone, you nutcase!"

"Mr Sensui, stop this!"

Haruki laughed at their anger and started dragging Sakura towards the wall, away from the inevitable fight.

Don't worry about me, Yusuke. Just kick Sensui's ass!

Yusuke forced himself to turn away from his twin and focus on Sensui. Sakura was right. He had to stop the tunnel opening above all else.

Sensui stood calmly, arms folded and apparently amused. Yusuke planted his feet firmly in a combative stance, shaking fist ready to fly and his blazing glare fixed firmly on the enemy.

"Simply looking at me fills you with fury. Right, Detective?"

No response.

"You know Yusuke, if you continue this work as Spirit World's agent, you'll eventually share my fate. The things you see grow a canker on your soul and you cannot heal the infection. Do you want to know why?"

Yusuke remained silent.

"Because the canker keeps growing and consumes you. The evil you're chasing becomes who you are," Sensui smiled. "Just picture where you were a year ago, before any of your noble detective work began. Would you ever have imagined murdering another human being? Now your team's killed three in under a week. Imagine ten more years on that steep decline."

"Those were all set-ups! You fixed it so that killing them was our only choice!"

"We humans can justify anything, can't we?" Sensui chuckled. "That's how our corruption begins."

"And that's exactly what you're doing now!" Sakura burst out. "Projecting your own crap onto everyone else!"

Sensui barely even glanced at Sakura as he said, "Don't overexert yourself, Miss Urameshi. You'll be needed soon."

"Screw…you," she choked. "Like I said before-"

"Ghost?"

Haruki pulled her into him. "Come on, honey. Let the grown-ups talk."

Yusuke gritted his teeth, and Kurama did the same.

"Where was I?" Sensui asked. "Oh, yes. Embracing corruption. You see, that's why I like demons. They make no excuses. They accept their wickedness. Just as you will, in time."

"NO!" Yusuke shouted.

"Remember this always, Yusuke, if you survive this day," Sensui continued. "Your immorality is your strength. The moment you accept it, your confusion will subside. No longer filled with guilt and anger over what you're becoming, you'll focus more on your fighting. You'll at last have your peace."

He burst out laughing. It echoed all around them and sent shivers down Sakura's spine. Haruki giggled at the sound, but Yusuke? He simply scratched at his ear, then surged forward at a breathtaking speed.

Sensui stepped backwards and whirled around just as Yusuke aimed a punch at his face. In response, Sensui immediately swung his foot to block it, but Yusuke vanished from sight again. Sensui lost his balance. He righted himself just as Yusuke's right fist sank deep into his jaw.

"WRONG!" Yusuke roared.

Sensui flew several metres, just barely regaining his footing in time to slide along the ground. Sakura gasped when she saw the blood trickling from Sensui's mouth.

Good. See how he likes it.

"Yeah, now that's a statement punch!" Kuwabara cheered.

When the dust cleared, Yusuke was still on his feet. He glared at Sensui with pure loathing.

"Maybe there have been times when I've been pissed and hated things, but it wasn't from this work," he said. "My dad's a no show, my mom's a lush, my sister keeps getting hurt and school sucks. But this job is the one damn thing I've ever been good at. And if all the crap in my life hasn't screwed me up yet, then neither will this. And neither will you."

Sensui spat the blood out of his mouth. His smile returned.

"And what about Sakura? Look me in the eye and tell me she hasn't suffered through your work."

Yusuke didn't say anything, but didn't look away either.

"You can't, can you?" Haruki grinned from the sidelines. He had released his hold on Sakura's neck, and now used his free hand to pull her face towards him.

"That's why we're going to leave this all behind, my little porcelain doll."

Sakura's heart constricted, but then Yusuke's voice broke through.

"Kura's been through stuff I can't begin to understand. But she hasn't let it change her, not like you," he snapped at Sensui. "She's still kind and loving and thinks of everyone before herself. She's never blamed the whole world for anything. And that alone makes her the bravest person I know. A lot braver than both your cowardly asses."

"Touching," Haruki said. "Unfortunately for you, Detective, I know better. It's all lip service with you, isn't it? In your arrogance and lies, your longing to fight demons out of some misplaced sense of self righteousness-"

"Oh my God…" Yusuke rolled his eyes. "Can someone shut this yapping chihuahua up?"

The smile on Haruki's face vanished.

Yusuke raised a sympathetic brow at Sakura, who had slumped against Haruki again thanks to the drugs.

"Squirt, did he blabber on like this to you as well?"

Sakura nodded weakly. "You have…no idea. Between the two of them…it's been ridiculous."

"Sheesh," Yusuke shook his head in amazement. "How the hell did you survive?"

Haruki growled, but Sensui silenced him with a look.

"As for the self-righteous thing, you're wrong," Yusuke said. "To me, fighting has always been an end to itself. Getting to take on threats to the human world is just the icing on the cake," he looked back at Sensui and added, "You complicate things. I don't."

"You take things so seriously sometimes," Sensui said with a chuckle at Yusuke's anger. "You see? That's precisely what I mean. Once you've accepted your evil nature you'll feel much more relaxed, no matter the odds."

How long did they have left? Sakura strained to see the timer. It read 1 hour, 45 minutes, 29 seconds.

Yusuke, hurry!

Sensui's purple orb appeared in his hand. "Take me, for instance," he began. "If your power ranking is a ten, mine is a six. Speed, strength, stamina…you beat me in all three. And yet you're still going to die."

"No!" Sakura cried, though the effort to do so made her vision swim.

Haruki's arm went back around her neck in a chokehold and he growled at her to be quiet.

"Why is Sensui talking so much?" Kuwabara asked. "You think he's buying time?"

"I don't think that's it. He's exuding as much confidence as ever." Kurama said.

"You're right, Kurama," Itsuki murmured. "I haven't seen Sensui this happy in a long time, as he's getting to kill and prove a point."

"Shut up! From now on you're in quiet time, ok?!" Kuwabara yelled. "Don't listen to 'em Urameshi! Just do what you're best at: kickin' tail!"

Sensui bounced the orb in his hand. "Despite advantages, you can't win. Want to hear a list of reasons?"

"Ha! We've talked so much already. I don't think my attention span can take it!" Yusuke said, and charged towards Sensui. "So let's just skip to the fun!"

Yusuke's powerful fist made the first move. Sensui blocked it with his free hand, but that was just the beginning. Yusuke let loose with a relentless barrage of punch after punch in all directions. Even though Sensui still held his attack ready, he blocked and dodged each one before jumping away. Yusuke leapt after him and kept right at it.

Punch. Block. Punch. Block.

Sensui leapt away, Yusuke was right there again, swinging with all his might. Sakura could hardly follow along. She was too weak and too dizzy.

Punch, block, punch, block.

At last, Sensui slid back and took a flying leap towards the cave wall. Yusuke immediately hurtled after him. Sensui landed on the wall, orb still in hand, and sprang off it. As Yusuke closed in through the air, Sensui finally released and manoeuvred his orb to the side, foot swinging to launch it towards his opponent.

"BRING IT ON!" Yusuke roared.

But the orb did not strike him. It vanished. Yusuke's moment of surprise was all Sensui needed. Instead of the orb, his powerful kick caught Yusuke's left side.

Yusuke flipped backwards and regained his balance, immediately moving to continue the fight. Suddenly, Sensui's opposite foot appeared out of nowhere and dealt a colossal kick to his jaw.

Sakura watched in horror while her brother went careening back across the cave. He hit the jagged rock wall with a sickening crack.

Yusuke!

When the debris disappeared, Yusuke fell from the sizable dent he'd left behind and crashed head first into the ground.

"Well that didn't work." Kuwabara said.

"Yusuke!" Sakura whispered. "Please, get up!"

She didn't have to wait long. Yusuke only took a moment to rub his head before he was back on his feet and raging at Sensui.

"Damn it! First you say I'm faster, then you get the heads up on me like I'm an old lady crossing the freeway. For ONCE I just want some honesty from the bad guys!"

"You are faster Yusuke, but it doesn't matter," Sensui smirked. "Reason one why you don't stand a chance: I can predict your moves."

"NOBODY can predict my attacks! I'll have you know I beat a mind reader, ok?! I'm too crazy to call! Even Kura can't-"

"It's not about being a psychic. It's about experience. When you dodged my kick, I knew you'd answer with your favourite finish: a right hand hook to the jaw. Despite your speed, my knowledge of this allowed me to turn just enough to make your fist slide off. I played a detective just like you, and like you, decoding my opponent's fighting style is my strength. But I've been doing it for decades longer."

"He's lying!" Sakura called through the haze of drugs. "It's more than that!"

Haruki spun her around. "What did I say about being a good girl, honey?!"

"Don't you TOUCH HER!" Yusuke yelled.

"Have you forgotten about your own fight, Detective?" Haruki asked.

"The tournament, Yusuke!" Sakura kept yelling. "They watched the tapes-!"

SMACK!

Kurama and Kuwabara shouted at the same time.

"Kura!"

"Stop it you crazy freak!"

Haruki didn't speak until he'd hauled Sakura back into his death grip. "I strongly suggest you all zip it, or you'll have to watch something even more unpleasant. And I don't think you want that, do you?"

Kuwabara clutched his head. "Damn it…we can't do anything!"

"That's exactly right, Kuwabara," Haruki purred, and gave a malicious grin aimed at Kurama. "Remember what we talked about before, Spirit Fox!"

Kurama's anger skyrocketed to new levels. He knew Haruki was referring to what he'd whispered to him during their fight. Those evil words could never be spoken aloud, and he would not permit them to come true either.

Haruki laughed and brought his mouth to Sakura's neck. "Behave, honey. Be a good girl and I won't need to punish you like that."

"Shut up, you crazy freak!" Yusuke said.

Kurama's hands trembled with rage and vengeance. If only he could rip his way out of this dimension. If only he could finally lay his claws on that deranged monster and make him suffer as he deserved…

You'll get your chance, Shuichi. Losing control will not do you any good. Stay focused.

Kurama took a step back and forced himself to calm down. Behind him, Hiei's ki signal flared with a similar fury.

Kurama, I hope you can hear me.

He gasped. How could she speak to him across a dimension? Was it just their relative proximity, or was she really that powerful?

Whatever happens…please don't ever…forget or doubt…for a moment…that I love you.

She sounded so broken, so weary, and Kurama's eyes misted. Not being able to comfort her was beyond excruciating.

My precious flower. He swallowed. Be strong. I promise I won't let him take you from me again.

No matter what he says…or does, I love you. I will always…love you. Even if I can't be…

Kurama's heart clenched. Despite the distance, he saw that Sakura was only upright thanks to Haruki. She was so close to collapsing again.

Sakura knew it as well. She didn't even want to imagine the amount of drugs swimming around her bloodstream. Instead, she closed her eyes and tried to stay conscious, and on her feet. Haruki must have felt her slipping, because he drew her closer into his body.

"It's alright, honey. Not long now. The tunnel will open in a few minutes, and that's when we'll get out of here."

"Why don't we all calm down?" Sensui said. "Yusuke and I still have business to settle."

Yusuke stared at his twin, still in Haruki's clutches, and she gave the tiniest shake of her head.

Sensui first. Sensui right now.

He took a breath and turned back to his enemy.

"So I guess I can't surprise you. But I've been in my share of fights, you creep. And trusting what people tell me has never been my thing!"

And he ran into the fray once more.

"Yeah, bring it to him, Urameshi!" Kuwabara said. "Just don't do anything obvious…unless he thinks you won't, 'cause then you should! Or not!"

Yusuke sprang into the air and somersaulted over Sensui. He landed on the ground, skidded about two feet and came charging back from behind. Sensui spun around, ready to block, but only a second before making contact, Yusuke vanished. He hit the stone floor with an almighty punch. Dust, dirt and rock fragments billowed around the two combatants.

Sensui growled, then he heard something. "You're up!" he said, expecting Yusuke would perform an aerial attack.

But instead of Yusuke, a giant boulder came crashing down from above. Sensui jumped and avoided being hit by a hair.

"That's called a fake." Yusuke was crouched on the ground behind him, and Sensui's moment of being caught off guard allowed Yusuke to let fly with another flurry of powerful hits. This time, every single one of them connected. Sensui didn't have a chance to counter or retaliate.

Yusuke gave a final yell and gave his hardest blow yet, directly in Sensui's stomach.

The impact propelled Sensui high above the battleground and into a giant stalactite. He slammed into the wall so hard that the cave shook from the impact, bounced right off and plunged into the lake below.

Yusuke watched, and when it was quiet he flexed his wrist.

"Jeez…"

Kuwabara winced. He'd experienced Yusuke's gut smasher before and had a stomach ache for a week afterwards.

"Now that's a hit!" he whooped. "It's about time you listened to me and did something right! Now finish him so we can leave; I haven't eaten since they kidnapped me!"

Hands on hips, Yusuke surveyed the lake and called, "What's that, Sensui? You forgot how to swim? You drowned? Great, we'll pack up and go. You heard Kuwabara; he's starved!"

So saying, he turned on his heel and started storming towards Haruki.

Time for a little hostage negotiation.

Kurama's heart jumped. Whatever was about to happen, Sakura might be placed in more danger, if that were even possible.

"Yusuke, be careful!"

Yusuke drilled his glare into Haruki's smug face. Sakura was scarcely conscious, still in that chokehold, the other muscular arm locked around her waist. Even so, he wasn't concerned. There were still a hundred options to kill him from here.

"Yusuke," Sakura coughed as her twin approached. "Don't do it…"

Yusuke either didn't hear her, or didn't listen. He merely slammed a fist into his palm. "Alright, you sick freak. Now it's your turn, so get the hell away from her!"

Haruki's eyes glittered and he nodded towards the lake. "Mmm…you might want to look behind you."

Yusuke instinctively swivelled around. Sure enough, the lake was bubbling. A shadow loomed below the surface, then Sensui rose up from the depths.

"Good hits, Detective. Between that and the water, my shirt practically dissolved."

Sakura made a sound of fear, and Haruki yanked her further backwards.

Sensui waded over to the shore. As he stood up on dry land, everyone watching physically recoiled.

Yusuke's eyes widened. He leapt back in shock. Sensui had indeed lost his shirt, and his well-built torso was littered with thick discoloured scar tissue.

"Gross," Kuwabara said. "Look at the scars he's got. Guess he wasn't lying about all those fights he's been through."

"Don't you know what they say about assuming, Kuwabara? These wounds aren't from enemies; nobody's ever hurt me that bad. I gave myself these scars as part of my training," Sensui nodded towards his minion. "Granted, they're not nearly as impressive as Haruki's. But still."

Yusuke groaned internally. Great, a masochist. True though, his body's well trained. It's like punching a tractor tyre.

Looking pleased at their reaction, Sensui stalked towards Yusuke once more.

While she watched in terror, Sakura caught a glimpse of the television. Amid the horrifying scenes of war, the timer read 1 hour, 50 minutes, 1 second.

She trembled. Not just at the reality of the situation, but also seeing her brother and Sensui preparing for the next round.

"Let's fight like there's a little more at stake." Sensui said.

"Do you even listen to yourself, or are you just stupid?" Sakura spat with all the venom she could manage. "The whole world is on the line, you moron! How could the stakes possibly be higher?!"

"Thanks for the reminder, you damn brat!" Yusuke hissed.

Sensui turned his head very slowly to face Sakura. "Oh, I believe I can think of one thing, Miss Urameshi."

He raised his hand. Another orb rose out of the lake and floated lazily towards them.

"Oh that's just great. Now he can make things move without touching them!" Kuwabara moaned.

Kurama tensed up. "And that won't be all."

"You see Sakura, stakes aren't always external factors. They can be deeply personal as well. Allow me to demonstrate!"

Kurama's stomach dropped. "Don't do it!"

At the same time, Yusuke knew what was about to happen, and he'd already shouted, "NO!" as Sensui hurled the orb in Sakura's direction.

A.N. The fight has officially begun, and I'm crazy excited for everything that's going to happen as we wrap up Chapter Black!

Don't forget to leave a review and tell me what you liked in this chapter, and any thoughts on what might happen next. It always makes my day when a notification arrives in my inbox.

Before I leave you all to keep writing the next instalment, I have a question to ask. Do you guys prefer shorter chapters released more frequently OR longer chapters that are posted less often? If you can let me know in a comment, it'll really help me figure out my posting schedule and mapping out Book 4: Three Kings.

Until then, stay safe, stay awesome, and we'll see you all very soon!

Rosentic xx