[In the Crystal Caverns, Kurama in his human form faces Remayolo, both ready to spring.]
Remayolo: You really don’t plan to face me in that pathetic human crust.
Kurama: Don’t grow over confident, brother. You may regret it.
[Kurama pulls out a rose from his hair.]
Remayolo: I’ll believe it when it happens.
Kurama: Very well. ROSE WHIP!
[Kurama snaps his whip at Remayolo.]
Remayolo: DEMON TIGER CLAWS!
[Remayolo swings his arm, sending off sharp dagger-like claws that shred Kurama’s whip. He runs to Kurama and jumps, kneeing Kurama in the face and sending him back. As they fight on, Endoya circles around Hiei.]
Endoya: That was quite the show you put on with my brother, little one. Such passion. In the short time I’ve known you, I’ve come to admire your spirit.
Hiei: Hn. Too bad I can’t say the same about you.
Endoya: Then let me show you my own ardor; perhaps it could extinguish that little flame of yours. WATER SERPENT!
[Endoya lets out a mass of water that coils around Hiei like a snake. Okiya pulls Yusuke through the air, away from the other fights.]
Okiya: I’ll only inform you of this because I’m nice. But when a force is in motion, it will stay in motion unless a greater force stops it…like THIS!
[She stops and turns to punch Yusuke’s gut while he is still in motion. As she draws back for another hit, Yusuke swings his legs under and kicks her, sending them both flying away into opposite walls of the cavern. Concurrently, Remayolo knocks Kurama back with another attack.]
Remayolo: You cannot fathom all of my abilities. My power is limitless next to yours, brother; especially since you have forsaken your heritage!
Kurama: [straining up] It is not my heritage that has been forsaken! Just my role as your mindless puppet!
[Kurama charges Remayolo with vines forming a sword around his arm while Endoya’s Water Serpent continues to squeeze Hiei.]
Endoya: Feeling stifled yet? Perhaps I should leave you contorted like you left my brother.
[The Water Serpent wraps an extra loop around Hiei’s neck and runs up the side of his face, starting to force his head to turn to the extreme right. Hiei resists. Endoya chuckles and merges with her Water Serpent. The darkened section of her form in the serpent slides up and around Hiei. Her hand materializes by his cheek, using extra force to twist his neck. Her face emerges by his opposite ear.]
Endoya: [alluring] Come now. Relax. Give in.
Hiei: NEVER!
[Hiei manages to bring his arm up through the coils and grab Endoya’s pressing hand. He pulls it away and swings his head back. The force of the serpent loosens enough for Hiei wheedle his way out of it’s bind. The head of the serpent chases after Hiei. He jumps from it’s snapping mouth. After a jump, he lands on his hilt and melted blade, causing him to slip. He shoves off of it and raises the cooled metal as a shield against the serpent. The serpent snaps, getting the metal plate stuck in it’s jaw.]
Hiei: FIST OF THE MORTAL FLAME!
[Hiei pounds the metal plate with a fiery fist. The Water Serpent recoils.]
Hiei: I beat your brother and I can beat you!
[Endoya retracts her Water Serpent.]
Endoya: The problem with Osuko is he did not even get a chance to try out his new ability. Perhaps that is why he lost. I will not make that same mistake.
[Liquid circles from the ground, surrounding Hiei in a sphere. The fluid continues to fill in closer to Hiei. It burns as it touches his skin. Endoya walks around the sphere.]
Endoya: Ironic that something like water will burn you where fire does not.
[Hiei screams in agony while floating inside the ball.]
Endoya: You may have noticed the barrier of ice on your way in, now you know why it was so threatening!
[Yusuke and Okiya share punches in the air, neither making any progress.]
Okiya: I think it’s time I clipped your wings! AIR CONDENSE!
Yusuke: What? WHOA!
[Yusuke is forced plummeting into the ground. He strains to get up but fails.]
Okiya: Didn’t know air could be so heavy did you? You can’t see it, but I can manipulate the particles to hold together and force you down.
Yusuke: Heh. I’ll have to remember that one.
Okiya: Foolish amateur. What’s to remember after you are crushed? [laughs] Can your pride handle it? The thought of being crushed by nothing but air?
[Yokira’s hand flinches, which Remayolo spots out of the corner of his eye. He lets Kurama gain ground as he backs up to Yokira.]
Remayolo: You are not aware of the extent of my abilities. Shall I show you more?
[Suddenly Yokira springs up, grabbing Kurama’s wrist and planting him against a wall. The earth surrounds him, locking Kurama into the wall with only his head free.]
Kurama: Yokira!
Remayolo & Yokira: It will be fun peeling your stinking human flesh off…where should I start?
Kurama: Yokira! Stop! You must fight it! You have a choice! You don’t have to do this! Take control.
Remayolo & Yokira: [laughing] A useless plea, she doesn’t want to stop. She really must be upset about you deserting us. I only willed her to handcuff you to the wall, and she completely submerged you!
[Kurama ceases his struggle with a strategic look on his face. Yokira pierces his forehead with a nail and very slowly cuts him down the side of his face.]
Kurama: Hm. It seems as though you are not aware of the extent of my abilities, nor my relationships. Why do you think Yokira and I got along so well?
Remayolo & Yokira: Because she took pity on you, runt.
Kurama: There’s more to it than that. Think of me as a seed and you, or rather Yokira’s subconscious, just planted me in rich soil. HAAAA!
[Kurama’s eyes light up as a massive plant explodes up from under Remayolo which completely desecrates him. Roots break up from under the ground, connecting to Kurama and releasing him from his imprisonment. Remayolo and Yokira both let out a scream as he dies and her body falls immobile.]
Kurama Voiceover: Yokira. You sacrificed yourself to protect me. Unfortunately I have not the skill to repair the damage done to you.
[Kurama pulls out herbs to dress his face, including a hunk of skin missing near his neck as he looks over to Yokira.]
Kurama: [quietly] Thank you my sister. Forgive me.
[Okiya steps up to Yusuke’s flat body.]
Okiya: My, what a strong body to withstand the pressure for so long. Perhaps I should speed things up?
[Yusuke clenches his fist and pounds the ground. His body lifts slightly but goes back down. Okiya kicks his side to turn him onto his back. She crouches down.]
Okiya: Honestly, do you think you can live without air? This whole fight I have been holding your life. I could simply vacuum all the clean air away from you. But why don’t I just infuse your lungs with that luscious miasma that was outside and sample how scrumptious you are at the same time?
[Caressing the side of his face, Okiya brings her mouth closer to Yusuke’s. He closes his eyes and manages to swing his arms around to punch the ground again. This time his eyes start glowing and Mazoku tattoos appear on his body. His phoenix formed energy emerges from behind him as he rises and Okiya is thrown back.]
Yusuke: [ticked off] Shut up! You’re just full of hot air!
Okiya: Oh I hope that wasn’t supposed to be a pun; otherwise I would have to be offended.
Yusuke: Well then take offense, ‘cause you’re going down!
[Yusuke powers up as his phoenix energy wraps around him and concentrates into his fist, Mazoku marks gone. He throws it at Okiya, who flies up into the air. Yusuke jumps after her.]
Okiya: You’ll have to catch me first! TEARING GALE!
[Okiya sends a gust of wind towards Yusuke.]
