Happy Halloween! I would like to apologize for the lateness of this chapter. I hope everyone is excited for it....I can't think of anything to say.

Enjoy chapter 4!

"How do you like this one?" Rinku brought his arms down.

Kuwabara slammed into the concrete fighting ring.

"It's my take on 'Around the World,'" Rinku brought his arms around to the other side of his body, causing Kuwabara's back to collide with the ground. Saliva mixed with blood spouted out of the boy's mouth.

"Now take your time with him, Rinku," a demon in the audience suggested.

"No, hit him harder! Give us breaking bones," suggested another.

The side of Kuwabara's face met with the concrete.

"What a glorious fight!" Koto projected into the mic, "The opponent is helpless! It's hard to counter-attack when you can't even move! I love it!"

"You see," Hiei started, "I told you that Kuwabara's training wouldn't be enough. We'd best assume him dead and plan for the next fight."

"No," Kurama disagreed, "There are still some techniques he hasn't tried."

"I'm gonna get you," Kuwabara growled from the ground, "You'll be screaming mommy."

Rinku sighed, "You're like fighting a brick. How many times do I have to throw you around? Hey! I know exactly what to do. And I won't even have to work!" Rinku transferred more of his spirit energy into the yo-yos.

"Hey! Wait! Uh…what are you doing?" Kuwabara was lifted into the air again, higher than before, "I'm gonna get you!"

"Well, at least baby brother is getting a good view of the stadium right?"

"How can you joke right now?" Kayko chastised Shizuru, "Don't you know what'll happen if he falls?"

"That's easy. He'll die."

"Shizuru!" Botan scolded, "You should be ashamed of yourself provoking her like that. Kayko is worried because your brother's life happens to be hanging by a literal thread."

"And us getting upset will make a hell of a difference, won't it?" Shizuru stuck a cigarette in her mouth.

"Stop it, you brat!" Kuwabara yelled.

"Just enjoy yourself! You'll be coming down soon enough," the so-called brat answered.

"I don't like what I think he mean by that," Kuwabara said to himself as he struggled to get out of the yo-yos grip.

"Yusuke! Avigayil!" Kayko looked at the twins, "AVIGAYIL AND YUSUKE!" Kayko stood up from her seat, "How can you keep sleeping when your friend is in trouble with these nasty demons. Help him Yusuke! Get off your lazy butts and help him!"

"Whew! That girl has some real guts to be screaming for the human underdog in a crowd chock-full of demons!" Koenma took note of Kayko standing out of her seat.

"Yeah, kind of like sitting on the wrong side at an ogre's football game," George compared.

"She's liable to get hurt. Yo, ogre! Go help them!" Koenma ordered.

"Me?! Are you crazy?! I'm just a scrawny little guy. You're the boss. You should help."

"Me?! Don't make me laugh. Ha. Yes, well true progress is achieved through adversity, after all. They'll be just fine. I would of course like to help, but when is Botan going to learn to handle things for herself?"

"Ugh!" Kayko ran to the landing.

"Don't go any closer, Kayko! We're not on safe ground," Botan warned.

Kayko stopped on a stair and turned around to the girl, "Maybe Shizuru's right and worrying won't make a difference. But I still have to try."

A shadow loomed over Kayko. She turned around and saw a huge demon. He was blue, bald and buff.

"What's the matter, little girl? You lost?"

Kayko didn't respond.

"Go to your filthy home. This here tournament is for apparitions only."

"You can't scare me with that talk," Kayko stood her ground, "I know Yusuke and Avi's beaten creatures a lot bigger than you."

The demon chuckled, "Your girl and boy are asleep. Too bad you can't protect yourself," he stuck his tongue out at her.

Shizuru snuffed her cigarette on the demons tongue.

"Thanks a lot," Kayko watched the demon dance around in pain and ran down the stairs.

"So, I see where Kuwabara got the need to defend himself growing up," Botan joined Shizuru.

"Yeah," she shrugged.

"You know, it's really hard to take this seriously when a little kid…with yo-yos is the one who's gonna finish me!" Kuwabara screamed from the sky.

"What's the matter with you two?!" Kayko yelled from the landing, "Your friend needs you now! Think about that!"

Shizuru and Botan joined Kayko at the wall that divided the fighting ground and the audience.

"Hang tight, Kuwabara! I don't suppose you can fly, can you?" the deity asked him.

"Huh? Oh, hey Botan! Oh—sis? I didn't know you were gonna be here. I'd given you a better greeting, but I'm kinda busy right now."

"Rinku seems to be hesitating," Koto narrated, "Why don't we ask the fans what they want?"

"Finish him, kid! We've seen enough!"

"Make him splatter!"

"Let him drop! We'll watch him fall!"

"Yeah! Let him drop!"

"Let him drop!" the crowd began to chant.

"Say, guess that settles it. Gotta give my fans what they want. And they want a drop," Rinku let the yo-yos untie themselves from Kuwabara's limbs.

Kuwabara gasped. Hiei and Kurama stood there with their mouth open. Koenma was on the edge of his seat gasping. And the girls held onto each other.

The yo-yos snapped back into Rinku's hands. Kuwabara dropped from the sky.

"This is it, people! Get ready for a boom!" Koto nearly yelled into the mic.

Yusuke turned over onto his right side, snoring lightly. Avi moaned in her sleep missing a little bit of warmth.

Kuwabara just moved his hands in front of him, "You just made your big mistake, Rinku! You should never let me use my hands! Spirit Sword get long!"

The sword extended and planted itself in the ring. As Kuwabara neared the ring, the sword flexed back and the boy used it as momentum to shoot forward.

"Kuwabara makes a sensational recovery. It's time for the nitty-gritty."

"So the sword absorbs your fall like a backwards bungee cord, huh? That's a pretty neat-o idea from a blockhead," Rinku commented, "There's one little problem, though. You flying straight at me just makes it easier for my yo-yos to hit you at once. And you can't handle that!" Rinku released his yo-yos.

Kuwabara grunted, "My only chance for a hit!" he shot his Spirit Sword out of one hand.

"Not that dummy sword again. I dodge that easy!"

But Kuwabara's sword was altered this time. His sword bent and dodged all of the yo-yos.

'Say what?! His sword can bend now?'

"Clever…" Sakyou took a sip of wine.

"Get the hell out of the way, Rinku!" Zeru snapped.

'We're going together, you freak!'

The yo-yos and the sword made contact with each opponent at the same time.

"He really hit…" Rinku paled.

"That's right…I hit you."

The fighters were knocked out of the ring.

"So who's the winner?" Shizuru broke the silence.

"Beats me," Botan replied.

"Umm, right, well both fighters have been extraordinarily knocked outside the ring. At the very same time," Koto emceed.

"Was that the focus of your training?" Hiei mocked.

"Well…more or less. The main focus of our training was to teach him precise control of his Spirit Sword," Kurama looked at Hiei.

"By the rules, you're only allowed to stay out of the ring for ten seconds. So, um, I'm just going to start counting…"

"I'd be surprised if either of them gets back on their feet in time," Hiei spoke.

"One…"

"It's true. Both the yo-yo and the sword made solid hits," Kurama agreed, "I guess we'll know soon enough."

"…two…three…"

"Get up!" Yusuke yelled, "You're late, Kuwabara!"

Kurama, Hiei and the masked fighter snapped their heads at Yusuke's outburst.

"…four…"

"Please get up Kuwabara. You have to get up. You just have to…" Avi mumbled restlessly.

Kurama and Hiei narrowed their eyes at Avi's statement.

"…And five!" from Koto's peripheral view she saw a hand reach up to the ring.

Rinku dragged his body and stood on the stadium floor. There was a hole in his shirt and his stomach looked badly bruised.

"Look Rinku's back."

"Of course! The human can't win."

"Damn it. I didn't think he could throw such a blow," Rinku took ragged breaths, "I'll have to use a lot of my energy just to recover," Rinku's hands formed a translucent ball of energy in front of his tummy.

"Rinku has entered the ring after five counts, but it's not over yet."

"That's okay. He's down for good," sweat dripped down the boy's face, "I'll have my time to heal."

"Kuwabara, I swear I'll go out on a date with you, but you have to get up…please," Avi begged in her sleep.

At the mention of Kuwabara and date, Hiei narrowed his eyes, 'What the fuck is she dreaming about?'

"Get up there Kuwabara! I'm serious! I know you're used to losing, but not now," Yusuke said.

"…six…"

Kuwabara's ear twitched. He sprang to his feet, "What'd you say?!"

"Six, Kuwabara. You have four counts to get in the ring," Koto informed him.

"Not you—Urameshi!" he stomped over to the twins, "Outta my way! Little bitch, you want to say that to my face!" he grabbed Yusuke by the collar, "Avi," he looked over at the girl, "As much as I would love to go out on a date with you, sadly, my heart belongs to someone else," he focused back on Yusuke, "Oh, you're pretending to be asleep now? You scaredy cat!"

"Seven! And an eight!"
"Hey! Hold your horses. I'm coming."

"Oh man, I can't take any more of him right now," Rinku lifted his palm.

"Hey! HEY!" the yo-yos that were loosely wrapped around Kuwabara began to tighten around his arms and wrists.

"Nine counts!"

"Let go of me, stupid yo-yo strings. That's cheating!"

"Ten!"

Kuwabara slumped back in defeat.

"Come on…" Shizuru blew some smoke.

"And Rinku's the winner! The Rokuyukai Team get a point!"

The scoreboard gave an X next to Team Urameshi and an O next to Team Rokuyukai.

"No, no, no, no, no! Hold it, jackasses. That wasn't a fair move. Let's go," Kuwabara growled.

"Wha—you run on batteries or something? I beat you. Just please go away," Rinku stepped back.

"That was fairly innocent," Kurama smirked, "It's rare to see both fighters still standing."

"Hn. I assure you, it won't happen with me."

"This isn't over, kid. Meet me behind the hotel when the tournament's done."

"Go away," Rinku ran off to the grass.

"What's he talking about?" Kayko pouted.

"Junior High boy stuff," Botan mimicked Kayko's face.

"'Scuse me," Rinku passed his team and squatted on the grass, continuing his repair.

"Used so much power and didn't even get the kill," a blue skinned demon with hair standing up like a V, wearing a trench coast and black pants spoke, "He forgets what makes this tournament dark," the demon jumped in the ring.

"Ooh. The next competitor has already stepped up," Koto noticed the demon entering from Team Rokuyukai's side.

"Please, I'll handle this one," Kurama made his way to the center of the ring.

'I can tell this will be exciting,' the demon smirked.

"Kurama."

The teen turned towards Hiei.

"Considering the stakes we can't afford to take any chances. Don't leave the ring with him still alive."

"Naturally," Kurama replied coolly.

"Be careful, Kurama," Yusuke mumbled.

"What is he talking about?" Kayko exasperated.

"Yes, it's simply time I stepped in," Botan hopped over the wall.

"Um, are you sure you can do that?" Kayko questioned the deity's actions.

"We will deal with the rest of their team. You relax," Hiei ordered Kuwabara.

Kuwabara, sitting crossed legged, holding his right arm, retorted, "Hey, I'm not out of this yet. If Yusuke or Avi don't wake up, I'll take the last guy."

"We'll pray that that doesn't happen."

"Alright boys, I'm here. Now let's whip this team into shape," Botan ran up to the group.

"Hey—how'd you get here?" Kuwabara asked.

"Leave, before you hurt yourself," Hiei commanded.

Botan glared, "Well that's a jolly thing to say to someone who's going to help you win, don't you think?"

"You mean you're like the replacement fighter for the Urameshis?" Kuwabara asked.

"No, silly," Botan threw off her kimono, "Tada! In addition to Detective's Assistant and Pilot of the River Styx, I'm also a licensed trainer," Botan explained in her new outfit, consisting of black slacks, a yellow blouse and red suspenders, "I'll be looking after you all and making sure you stay in tip-top shape for fighting."

"Oh great!" Kuwabara began unbuttoning his blue jacket, "Then maybe you can help me nurse this wound here. See—"

Botan ran over to Yusuke, "Spirit World to Yusuke! Wake up!" she slapped him a few times, "Come on, now!"

She walked over to Avi, "Avi…it's time…to…" Botan trailed, seeing the light sweat on the girl's forehead.

"None of that will work. They are determined," Hiei broke into her train of thought.

"Well, at least I'll get them out of the way," Botan dragged each twin, one-by-one, by their legs.

She propped them sitting up against the wall.

"You know," Kuwabara looked down at Hiei, "That Rose Whip he's got must be ten feet long. Where's he stash it? All of the ways I can think of sound kinda painful."

"Kurama simply carries a normal rose. By manipulating it with his Spirit Energy it's transformed into a whip. Even weeds can turn into a deadly weapon for Kurama," Hiei explained.

"Second fight, Roto versus Kurama, begin!" Koto announced.

"I know you've been spending years in the Human World," Roto spoke, "We all do what we must. I only hope you didn't, say, get attached to one of them."

Kurama continued to stare expressionless.

"This red-haired boy…I don't think he's really human," Shizuru questioned.

"That's funny, why'd you say that?" Kayko inquired the elder girl.

"For example, be mournful of their death," Roto created a large curved blade from his middle finger and the top of his hand, connecting to the finger.

"What is your point?" Kurama emphasized each word.

Roto charged. Kurama jumped up and out of the way. The blade left an imprint in the ground. Roto continued to slash, while Kurama easily dodged each swing.

"He's clearly no match for Kurama. What a joke of a round. It's a pity you couldn't have taken him and let Kurama deal with the little child and his yo-yos," Hiei taunted.

"Hey you watch it, shrimpy. I got cheated is all!"

"He can't even hit the bastard," the man rooting for Team Rokuyukai complained.

"But Gondawara," Sakyou spoke, "I thought with the support of those dirty fans a team could beat anyone. Maybe even upset my Toguro. I hope didn't wager too much of your money on that."

Roto went to take another swipe. Kurama dodged and appeared behind the demon.

"Your skills weren't enough for this tournament. Say your last words," Kurama raised his arm for a finishing blow.

Roto smirked, "I have your human mother, Kurama. Or should I say, Suichi."

Kurama's guard fell for a split second. But it was that split second that Roto took advantage and swiped. The emerald eyed boy jumped back. A light cut appeared vertically on the boy's left cheek.

Hiei and Kuwabara paled.

"What happened? He's bleeding—you said no match!" Kuwabara growled.

"Stupid cheater. I hate him," Yusuke mumbled, "Little stupid…"

"Don't listen. Bastard…" Avi mumbled.

Botan looked between the two, "You sure you're not asleep?"

"Allow me to introduce my little button," Roto pulled out a device with a single red button, "When I press it, a signal will be sent to my demon brother. He's been tracking your mother for some time, you see. And he's very anxious to bite her head off."

Roto chuckled, his blade disappearing, "So you understand…"

Roto punched Kurama in the face. He continued to pound on the boy.

"No fighting back," the demon ordered and paused.

Kurama flicked a pebble at Roto, which hit him in the cheek.

"Oh honestly, do you think throwing a pebble at my face is the best thing to do in this situation?"

Kurama went back to standing still.

"You've been warned. With a push of this button your mother will meet her death in a very unsightly manner. Now fold your arms behind you back and let me hit you as I please."

Kurama obeyed his demand.

"Oh yes! That's much better. I love that posture of forced submission. Why train hard to be the best when you can hold onto one of these?" Roto held up the remote.

"Mysterious! Kurama has become totally obedient to his opponent!" Koto informed the crowd.

"What's wrong Kurama?! Let him have it!" Kuwabara shouted.

"Quiet," Hiei ordered.

"Yes, beautiful! Roto has somehow hypnotized him!" Koto gushed.

"Who gives a damn! When do we get to hear the bones break?!"

"Gee, that's so lame," Rinku commented, "Roto always uses that dirty trick of his…huh?" Rinku looked up.

"Yes, and he always wins," Zeru stood next to the boy, "That's the goal, remember?"

"I guess so."

Roto laughed and walked up to Kurama, "You want to try. I can see it in your pretty eyes."

Kurama continued to hold his blank expression.

"I know what you're thinking. 'What if I can quickly cut off that left arm of his? But what if his severed finger still presses the button?'" he held the device up to Kurama's face.

"What is that crude doing now?" Gondawara wondered out loud, "Just finish the fight. This is not for his personal amusement. Fortunes are on the line!"

"A loss would make it two to zero," George informed his boss.

"Yes, ogre, I know."

"Kurama remains absolutely motionless! What is the cause? Has he lost his willingness to fight?" Koto spouted question after question.

"Why don't you answer her?" Roto kicked Kurama in the gut, "Tell the crowd the truth. Tell them you refuse to fight for the sake of a human tramp!"

Roto punched Kurama in the face.

"It's brutal! It's violent! It's wonderful! Roto is punching him like a side of meat and there's no retaliation," Koto narrated.

Roto took two more shots, "Damn it," he formed his blade again and lifted it to Kurama's face, "I hate that look. Despite all I've done you still have that look like you're superior to me," he slowly dragged the blade across Kurama's cheek, forming an X with the precious gash.

Kurama did not even flinch.

"Stop. That. Look!" he cut viscously and Kurama's head moved with the force of the strike.

The red head turned his head back to Roto.

The demon growled, "It doesn't matter, anyway. Because I'm the one who has the power now," Roto lifted his left leg. His left arm came to rest on it, "I would like you to lick the scum off of my boot. I just can't seem to keep it clean. And after you've wiped the whole thing clean," Roto licked the blade, "I will decapitate you and spare your nasty mother's life. And since you care about her, Suichi, it's really your only choice."

"I will not," Kurama firmly stated.

"What?"

"Go ahead," Kurama brushed dirt off his sleeve, "Press it now if you wish."

Roto's blade turned back into his hand, "In the end your true character emerges. You're nothing special, nothing high class. Just a selfish demon like all the rest of us here. Look at me like I'm dirt. But in the end it' a lie. You think of only yourself," Roto laughed manically.

"Push it," Kurama dared.

"I will," Roto moved to press the button, but he froze, "I…can't move."

Kurama slapped the remote out of the demon's hand and caught it, "Fighting on the strength of one threat is a very risky gamble. What if I truly didn't care? Or what if I could just make you immobile?"

"It's hard to tell what' happening now! But it's clear Kurama has control!" Koto broadcasted to the stadium.

"I've sown the seed of the Death Plant in your body," Kurama explained, "And it's had plenty of time to take root."

Roto looked down and saw a tiny plant poking out of his left breast, 'The pebble! It was a distraction so I wouldn't notice the seed.'

"I feed it with my energy," Kurama continued his explanation, "I have but to will it and it will instantly bloom. I'm afraid there won't be anything left of your evil life after that," Kurama turned and made his way to leave the fighting ring.

"Wait Kurama! You don't have to do this! I never actually would've pushed the button. I swear it! I'm just a low class. I don't know any better."

Kurama paused and glanced at Roto.

"Come on! You believe in mercy, don't you?"

"No."

Thousands of stems sprouted out of Roto, leaving him dead with wild flowers coming out of him.

"What irony," Kurama continued to walk out of the ring, "Such beauty, sprung from such an ugly soil."

The scoreboard showed an O next to Kurama and an X next to Roto.

"Well that one's defiantly over. The score is tied at one!" Koto cheerfully informed.

"What a fool. So intent on proving himself he couldn't notice your moves. Don't worry about his demon friend. He vanished the moment Roto died."

"Then you knew…" Kurama smiled a light smile at Hiei.

"What a relief…" Yusuke mumbled.

Kurama and Hiei looked at Yusuke.

"Yes…" Kurama agreed with Yusuke.

"Too much blood…" Avi squirmed.

The boys narrowed their eyes, looked at each other, and then back at Avi.

"Okay, enough secret glancing stuff! What just happened?" Kuwabara asked,

"Yes, do tell," Botan inquired.

"It's past," Hiei simply answered.

"Agreed," Kurama and Hiei turned towards Koto.

Botan huffed, "That isn't very friendly of them."

"Those demons think they're so damn cool!" Kuwabara gritted his teeth.

Zeru glared at the opposing team. He was quickly losing his patience.

I don't really like how I ended this chapter. It orignally ended with Kuwabara speaking, which didn't really much of cliffhanger. On a different note, I am really really really excited and anxious to write the next chapter. I have been forming all of these stories since I was 12-13 years old. But this next chapter I was focusing on for a very long time ever since I saw it. I am not entirely sure, when the next chapter will come out, because I want to perfect it. I have been toying with so many ideas....

Anyway, I hope this note excites you all. I encourage you all to take a guess as to what I might be planning in the next chapter.

Love,

Avigayil Urameshi.