Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Christmas Time ❯ Chapter Seven ( Chapter 7 )

Chapter 7: A Little Competition

"Are you two going to arm-wrestle yet?" Kuwabara demanded to know as he glared at Kurama and me kissing. "I'm getting bored."

"Oh, stuff it, Kuwabara," Botan retorted. "They're being so sweet and romantic, so just let them be."

Kurama and I broke the kiss, the both of us blushing.

"Shall we compete now?" Kurama asked me, doing his best to ignore his red face.

"Yeah, we don't want Kuwabara to have a heart attack," I replied, putting out my hand while Kurama moved to sit down across from me. He took my hand, and we immediately began to try to beat each other.

Kurama was strong... very strong. He was definitely stronger than I was. He had the same powers as I did, but he was also older. He had lived longer, so he had been able to spend more time perfecting his fighting techniques and exercising. Of course, I had more practice using my powers, so I somehow used them to keep Kurama from pressing my hand to the table.

"C'mon, Kaline!" Botan shouted. "Beat him!"

"Don't let her win, Kurama!" Yusuke yelled in support. Typical. Men almost always supported men, and women almost always supported women.

"Go, Kurama!" Kuwabara added, punching his fist into the air above his head.

Kurama and I seemed to be tied when it came to brute strength as long as I used my magic, but he had one advantage--endurance. He could fight longer than I could. So, after about five minutes of the both of us trying our bests to win, Kurama finally beat me.

"Good job, Kurama," I congratulated him as I massaged my wrist. "That was a hard-won battle."

"Are you okay?" Kurama asked immediately, touching my wrist with one of his hands. He didn't seem to care that he had won. He was more worried about me.

"Yeah, it's fine," I replied, smiling. "My wrist was in the same position for a little too long, so it's merely stiff."

"Good," he said with a happy sigh. "Now who do I get to go against?"

"I'll take you on," Hiei said, eyes flashing. It almost seemed like he wanted to challenge Kurama for a personal reason, which wasn't like Hiei at all. Of course, Hiei didn't do arm-wrestling either. I knew why Kurama had been acting strangely, but I still hadn't figured out why Hiei was acting so weird.

I stood up and allowed the fire demon to take my place as I said a quick prayer for Kurama. I didn't want Hiei to hurt my love. I wasn't even sure which of the two was stronger. I did know that Hiei was faster and better with a sword, but that was pretty much it.

"Good luck, Kurama," I whispered in his ear, a hand on each of his shoulders.

Kurama and Hiei began the battle, while everyone else watched quietly. No one seemed to know who to root for, well... except for me.

The two demons kept on at it, neither willing to give up and lose. After five minutes had passed by, they were both still going stronger. After ten more minutes had passed, I began to really wonder who was going to win. Was there even going to be a winner?

I didn't dare move for fear of distracting Kurama. I wanted him to win oh- so-much, and I definitely did not want to be the reason if he lost.

Finally, Kurama beat Hiei for the same reason he beat me--he had more endurance. I couldn't help but be happy for him.

"Go, Kurama," I said cheerfully, giving him a kiss on the cheek. "You're on a winning streak now."

"Congratulations," Hiei told Kurama, his voice sounded little dejected. "You won."

"Cheer up, Hiei!" I urged, smiling at him. "Losing isn't all that bad. After all, I lost to Kurama as well."

"Whatever," Hiei grumbled.

"Would you like to arm-wrestle against me?" I countered, hoping to cheer him up. "I am curious to know which of us is stronger."

Hiei looked up at me, a strange look in his eyes. "Yes."

"Okay then," I replied, giving Kurama's hair a gentle tug. "Would you mind getting up so I can have a go against your friend?"

"Not at all," Kurama said, getting up and moving out the chair for me.

"Thank you," I said politely. He pushed the chair back in as I sat down. "Ready, Hiei?" I put my arm out and waited for Hiei to accept the challenge.

Hiei nodded his head then grasped my hand with his. We both instantly began to try to force the other's hand down to the table.

I was amazed by how strong Hiei was. He was just as strong as Kurama, possibly stronger. I began to wonder if I was going to win. It was most likely going to come down to endurance again, which meant that Hiei had a disadvantage at the moment. He had just finished trying to beat Kurama, and I had magic.

Strangely enough, I became tired much faster than Hiei did. After about five minutes, he defeated me just like Kurama had. The only differenly was, he made it look easy, as if I had been exceptionally weak and that he hadn't even been trying.

Hiei gave me a half smile as he held onto my hand a few moments longer than he needed to.

"Congratulations, Hiei," I said, pulling my hand back nervously. What was he up to? "You beat me fair and square, even though you were probably still a little tired from going against Kurama."

"Okay, now that all you people have gone, I demand a rematch with Kuwabara!" Yusuke shouted.

"Shut up, Urameshi," Kuwabara said in his rough voice. "I'll go against you again just to prove to everyone that I really am stronger than you."

"Do you want to go now?" Kurama asked quietly, his head right by my ear. "I have a small surprise for you back at my place."

"Hmmm... you got my attention," I replied, getting up and taking Kurama's hand. He had a surprise for me? I couldn't help but wonder what it was. I trusted him completely, so I didn't have to worry about him doing anything that I wouldn't like.

"Hey, where are you two going?" Yusuke demanded to know.

"We're leaving," I told him, waving as Kurama and I walked out the door.