Chapter 7
              "Hiei vs. Ookami; A Furious Battle of Dangerous Blood"

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        The crowd grew restless as they watched Hiei and Ookami. The
two stared at each other with eyes of viciousness, their swords in
hand. 

        "HAJIME!!" The announcer called for the two contenders to
begin. Hiei took off his dark cloak, throwing it to the side, his
Jagan glowing furiously. His sword gleamed dangerously in the bright
spotlight. Ookami's eyes turned to slits.

        "I warn you," Ookami said to Hiei all of a sudden, motioning
to the sword. "I am like the calm before the storm. Calm at first, but
raging later on. That's why my sword here is called `Shizuka`." 

        "Heh. I am the eye of the storm then." Hiei repied
sarcastically, looking at Ookami from the side of his eye. "Raging and
dangerous all out."

        "Who's the tail then?" Yuusuke and Sentoru asked in unison.
Kurama gave Yuusuke a comical expression.

        Ookami started laughing at Hiei's reply. "We'll see."

        Hiei couldn't restrain himself any longer. "Yaro~!!!" To
Ookami's surprise, Hiei vanished like a ghost, and appeared again!
Near enough to slash Ookami's chest! Luckily, Ookami was quick, and
jumped out of the way. Hiei only managed to cut through the fabric,
and not through Ookami's flesh. Ookami's wolf-like cloak fell to the
ground in a heap. Hiei landed a few meters away, his back towards
Ookami.

        "Ksoo~!! Kisama!!!" Ookami hollered to Hiei. Hiei turned to
face Ookami, his eyes widening at the unexpected revelation... Ookami
was a woman!

        Several in the audience sounded exasperated. "What's this
tournament coming to?? Another woman??!"

        The cat-announcer blinked at the remarkable scene. Astounded
at how the match started off, she said onto the microphone, "Ladies
and gentlemen, I can't believe it. Ookami, who we thought was a
good-looking young man, turned out to be a woman!" She rubbed her eyes
to make sure she wasn't dreaming.

        "Ookami-chan!" Koumari cried. My God, didn't she feel the
slightest bit embarassed with her chest exposed like that? Apparently
not. Koumari glanced at Neko. She, too, looked worriedly at Ookami,
her hands on her lips. 

        Cheval bit her lower lip, her hand to her breast, feeling the
pounding of her heart. `Ishika-chan...` Ookami's real name flashed in
her head.

        Yuusuke, Kurama, and Koenma were gaping at Hiei's unusual
opponent. Another woman?! Yuusuke hoped that Sentoru wasn't one as
well. He eyed Sentoru closely, who was busy blinking in surprise,
along with Kuma, at what Hiei had done. Yuusuke examined Sentoru from
head to toe. He sure looked like a guy...

        Gasps escaped the mouths of the four girls up on the
bleachers. Keiko, Botan, Shizuru, and Yukina couldn't contain
themselves. Botan and Shizuru couldn't believe that such a handsome
guy turned into a girl!

        "You monster!! How dare you--!!" Ookami spat out. She glared
at Hiei with pure venom. Hiei felt her aura growing stronger. It
encircled her like a glowing blue flame. Its energy hot and intense,
however its coldness chilled Hiei. It was the wrath of a woman.

        Koumari rolled her eyes, and placed her palm on her forehead.
"Uh oh, now she's mad."

        "Hn. Even if you're a woman, I won't go easy on you." Hiei
stated, his eyebrows lowering. "I do not suffer from blinding human
emotions like Kurama does." He pointed his sword at Ookami, and raised
his voice, "I shall not be merciful!!!"  

        Ookami readied her sword, her attention fixed not on the torn
garment she wore, but at the arrogant little shrimp she faced, who was
her opponent. Damn, she knew he was powerful, the twerp. She
swallowed, and shouted back at him, "Neither will I!!"

        With a yell, Hiei charged for Ookami with his sword. Ookami,
to everyone's surprise, did the same. They matched each other's speed.
They matched each other's swordsmanship. A sharp `clang` pierced the
air as their swords met.
They stared at each other for yet a moment, and then took off again. 

        Kuwabara awoke from his oblivious state, and couldn't believe
what he was seeing... or not seeing. "The-they've disappeared!"

        "They haven't disappeared. Their speed is just not adjusted to
the human eye." Kurama explained, his eyes trying to keep up with the
movements of the two contenders. They heard the sounds of clashing
metal and angry battle cries.

        "Ladies and gentlemen, I'm sorry, but I can't tell you what is
happening between our two players because their speed is beyond fast!
I don't know who is winning!" The cat-emcee said, her tail wagging
nervously, and her ears twitching involuntarily.

        "You bastard!!! I'll make you pay for humiliating me like
that!!" Ookami threatened, as she and Hiei continued to settle the
score. So far, she had only been hit twice. Minor blows to the
shoulder. Not bad.

        It was Hiei's turn to laugh. "Baka! Try it! Your attempt will
be futile! That will humiliate you even more!" He swung upwards,
missing her neck by an inch or so. Ookami cursed him some more. She
swung; he jumped. Damn, she missed!

================================================================================

        A figure watched among the shadows. The fight was whetting his
appetite. He licked his chops, hungry for battle. A very enjoyable
fight indeed. He turned, his cape swaying majestically behind him as
he walked towards the dimly lit hallway.

        A voice rung in his head. "You fool! You can't use my strength
like this! That's cowardice!"

        The caped figure chuckled. "Silence, my friend. I'll be the
judge of what is cowardice or not." He laughed. Merrily at first, then
evilly.

        "Urameshi Yusuke will stop you!" The voice countered.

        The caped figure continued to laugh. "Urameshi who? As far as
I know, Sentoru is the strongest opponent I've faced so far. The way
you talk about this Urameshi boy is making me curious about the way he
fights." He continued down the dark hallway.

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        Clashing of metal. Everywhere. And to think there were only
two of them. Yuusuke and Kurama knew this would be a long fight. They
heard Hiei give a cry of pain. He'd been hit! It was followed by a
loud insult from Ookami. They heard Hiei curse her next. Everything
was heard, and not seen.

        Yuusuke exhaled loudly. "I'm getting dizzy just watching this!"

        "Naniii?? You mean you can see them??" Kuwabara grabbed
Yuusuke's shirtfront. Yuusuke blinked back at Kuwabara, and nodded.

        Koenma's eyes narrowed. "Hiei could be in deep trouble if he
doesn't be careful." Yuusuke, Kuwabara, and Kurama turned to look at
Koenma. "His opponent is Ookami, the wolf warrior halfling."

        "Halfling? What's a halfling?" Kuwabara scratched his head.

        "Oh, so you DO know something about them, ne Koenma?" Yuusuke
said.

        Koenma nodded. "A halfling is a powerful being that is half
animal, half human, similar to Kurama's youkai form." All six eyes
were focused intently on Koenma. "I don't know their story, but I do
know that they are from a magical forest in Reikai."

        Kurama turned his attention back to the fight. Yuusuke and
Kuwabara still looked puzzled at what Koenma had said. 

        "But if they're from Reikai, then why are they human?" Yuusuke
asked.

        "Maybe there's more to what they're letting on," Kuwabara
replied. "They are pretty powerful for humans--..."

        "LOOK OUT!!!" Kurama yelled, and pushed Kuwabara aside.
Yuusuke ducked. Koenma moved out of the way. Kuwabara hit the ground,
looking as puzzled as ever. Yuusuke's eyes widened, not at what Kurama
had done, but at the wall behind them. It was a wreck! It was slashed
into rubble!

        "W-what happened??!" Kuwabara's voice shook. 

        A faint smile appeared on Kurama's face. He pointed to the two
contenders evening it out in the ring with his thumb. Kuwabara's eyes
widened even more.

        Shizuru stood up. "Girls, who wants to accompany me to the
bathroom?"

        All eyes were fixed on the fight, trying to make out the
moves. Shizuru dragged them out of their seats.

        "Shizuru, what are you--?" Botan protested. As soon as the
girls, along with Puu, moved away from their seats, the youkai behind
them and in front of them had their heads sliced off! Botan, Yukina,
and Keiko gasped in shock, their hands to their mouths. Shizuru calmy,
as usual, puffed on her cigarette. Shizuru felt a sharp wind, and saw
a black figure whizzing past her. The cigarette she held suddenly
broke in two. 

        "Mo~! Hiei!!" Shizuru yelled to one of the players with the
third eye.

        `This is a furious battle,` Koenma thought. `I wouldn't be
surprised if Hiei lost, but he had better be careful. I'm glad I'm not
wearing my pacifier.`

        Yuusuke felt a sudden rush of wind above his head. Strands of
hair fell onto his hand. "Oi~! Hiei! Watch the hair!!"

        "C'mon, Ookami-chan! Give `im a left, and a right, and a left,
and a right!!" Koumai cheered. The figures zoomed past her. A few
strands of hair fell from her bangs. Koumari screamed. "Baka, Ookami!!
Not my hair!!"

        The two players stopped whizzing about, and stood in the ring
facing each other, their breathing short and ragged. Blood dripped
from Ookami's shoulder, her sleeve torn. Hiei, on the other hand, held
his side, his shoulders sagging from the wound.

        "Yaro~!! You're going to pay!!" Hiei said to Ookami.

        "Never... in a... million years, you... son of a..." Ookami
panted.

        "AMA!!! Don't underestimate me!!!" Hiei charged for Ookami
again, sword at hand. Ookami's shoulder quaked with immense pain as
she held her sword. She summoned up a bit of her strength and charged
as well. 

        "JAOU ENSATSU SLAYING TECHNIQUE!!!" Hiei yelled. Ookami
shouted back in reply. They charged towards each other, seeking blood.
The last thing the people saw was the swinging of their swords, then
they disappeared again. They reappeared a moment later, their backs
towards each other, their swords raised high in the air. Silence.
Everyone waited. Who had hit who? 

        Time seemed to tick before their eyes. And then, as though the
clock had stopped moving, Ookami fell to her knees, the garment on her
legs torn, her calves bleeding. Hiei turned around to face her, and
laughed.

        "Baka! Are you ready to give up?" He placed the tip of his
sword under her chin. Ookami gritted her teeth. Pain. She forced a
smile, then laughed, her head bowed down.

        "Nani ga okashii*??" Hiei demanded.

        Ookami looked up. "I know that your being a shrimp is an
advantage, so you managed to slash my leg. But I was able to
counterattack it. Being tall has its advantages too."

        "Naniii--" Hiei stilled. The band on his head fell to the
floor, its white color now soaked in red. Hot liquid poured down his
temple. It wasn't sweat. It was blood. Hiei fell to his knees as well. 

        "ONORE!!!" Hiei growled. "Now I shall show you the power of
the Jagan!!"

        "Just try it!! I'm ready for it!!" Ookami challenged. The two
glared at each other. The storm wasn't over yet. It WAS a furious
battle. A fight to the finish. 

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*"Nani ga okashii??" = "What's so funny??"

SPRITE: Konnichi wa, minna! Genki? Sorry if this chapter
       took so long. As you know, Assassin doesn't want to 
        help me out here...
ASSASSIN: What do you mean I don't want to help out?? It's 
        just that I have mid-terms coming up, and besides, you're
        a much better writer than I am! 
SPRITE: Hmmm? Excuses excuses... See, minna, without Assassin here,
        there wouln't be any wisecracks and badmouthing parts. Haven't
        you noticed those things became paricularly mild?
ASSASSIN: *grumble* *grumble* ok ok, you made your point!
SPRITE: Good. Now you can help me out here, ne? And while you're at
        it, uh, can you lend me some money to buy that nice Rurouni
Kenshin video.....
ASSASSIN: *exasperated groan*
SPRITE: Anyway, minna, see you next chapter... if Assassin here drops
by my              house after her mid-terms.
ASSASSIN: ...If you survive, Sprite, if you survive... *threatening
voice*
        

        






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