Koto informs the public that she too is unaware of what is going on in the kekkai-surrounded, smoke-covered battlefield. Kuwabara wonders whom that powerful energy he's sensing belongs to. "Hn. It's Kurama's, naturally," Hiei answers. "I'm positive."

Hiei remembers how Youko Kurama became Shuuichi Minamino, and when he introduced him to Gouki, the third in the party that stole the Reikai Treasures, apparently in the same woods they first met Yusuke Urameshi.

Gouki didn't believe that that could be the legendary Youko thief and mocked his frail appearance, demanding that he transformed into his original form to prove his identity. Kurama explained he couldn't do it. "It's not exactly an incarnation; it's a fusion. I'm at the same time Kurama and Shuuichi Minamino."

Gouki asked Hiei if he was sure Kurama would be up to the difficult task of invading Reikai; Hiei smiled, "Gouki, why don't you test him?"

Kurama admitted that he didn't have the power level he used to, but suggested that his new life had given him another kind of force: "I grow very strong to protect the ones I care about." He took off a rose from his hair and turned into the Rosewhip, cutting all the tress around them with it in a single stroke.

Hiei snorted and grinned. Gouki cowered: "I was just kidding, Kurama! Let's be friends!"

Back to the present, Hiei realizes that Kurama's power was never as strong as it is now.

George sees himself surrounded by smoke as well, and throws a bucket of water on the source of it, which is, strangely, right beside him. When the smoke clears up, George doesn't find Kurama, as he had assumed, but a very wet and very angry Koenma, who, not being able to watch the combats, had decided to fry some fish for a snack.

Koto asks Juri to tell the public what is happening in the clouded battlefield. However, Juri had also been affected by the smoke and had turned into a child. She can barely walk, let alone help in any way.

Youko Kurama picks a seed from his silver hair and makes it grow into a dreadful-looking carnivorous plant, whose saliva is so acid that can melt the bones of a body in a few seconds. He warns Ura Urashima that the plant had nothing to eat in a while and is very hungry now.

Urashima begs for mercy; the Youko demands the secret of the smoke. In terror, the shortest fighter swears the box with the smoke was given to him by Shishi Wakamaru and that only he knows how it works.

The plant grows closer, its fangs only centimeters away from Urashima's body. Youko Kurama wants him to tell everything he knows.

His adversary doesn't think twice. "I'll tell you everything! Please don't kill me! I'm not Ura Urashima, the tale character. They convinced me to do this. They promised me to give me everything I wanted if I won this combat. Makin Tarou and Kuromomo Tarou were in the same situation..."

A sword is unsheathed and thrown towards the battlefield. It breaks through the kekkai and hits Urashima's neck, killing him instantly. His body returns to its true form, which the Youko recognizes as belonging to a species of Makai demon. "The kekkai was destroyed easily," he notices as well.

The smoke clears up and Kurama sees Shishi Wakamaru, his hand still stretched after throwing the sword. Koto finally gets to see the battlefield, but none of the figures standing on it were the ones she expected to see. She describes the beautiful man with long silver hair, and George comments, while hanging Koenma's clothes to dry, "He is really handsome, don't you think, Koenma-sama?"

"Shut up!" snaps the crabby toddler in underwear.

The effects of the smoke are reverted; Kurama and Juri return to normal. Juri declares Kurama the winner of this round.

Score: Urameshi Team, 3; Uraotogi Team, 0.

Shishi Wakamaru jumps onto the battlefield and collects his sword. "Not only worthless, but also a traitor," he says about the dead demon at his feet.

Meanwhile, girls walk in the forest, trying to get to the stadium. "I hope they hadn't lost already," Shizuru mutters.

"Oh, Kazuma-san..." Yukina sighs in dismay.

Keiko is very worried. In her arms, Puu seems to be suffering terribly. She asks Botan if, since Puu is part of Yusuke's life, that this would mean Yusuke is also suffering.

He is. In the cave, Yusuke screams in pain, the new ki in his body explodes.

Sensing the boy's anguish, Puu escapes from Keiko's arms and flies away.

Outside the cave, Genkai only waits. "Soon I'll know... if he'll succeed or die."

In the stadium, the dice are thrown again, determining the next round. Shishi Wakamaru for the Uraotogi team; free choice for the Urameshi Team. A crowd of very enthusiastic female fans of Shishi's cries his name and raises placards of support. Irritated, Kuwabara yells that those women's place is at home.

Shishi challenges Kuwabara to fight, mocking his skills. But Hiei feels ready to fight again, and Kurama is eager to defeat Shishi and make him tell the secret of the smoke that could turn him back into Youko. And Kuwabara wants to prove himself to the one who dared to mock him.

Kurama suggest that they choose Shishi's adversary by Janken. "Janken?!" Hiei frowns. Kuwabara mocks him for not knowing the rules, which are quickly explained by Kurama.

At the first try, both Hiei and Kurama have rocks, Kuwabara has paper. The latter starts walking to the battlefield when Hiei stops him, saying he saw him cheating. Kuwabara asks how Hiei found out, and sees the Jagan glowing under the bandanna.

They try again, several times... until Kuwabara wins again with rock against two scissors, and Hiei can't complain this time. Kuwabara is certain of his victory: "Yukina-san is somewhere in this stadium watching me and I can't let her down."

In the forest, Yukina sneezes, surprising Botan: "So the Ice Maidens also sneeze?"

Keiko is depressed and Shizuru tries to cheer her up. "Yusuke is a strong boy, I'm sure he'll win."

The cave is starting to come down, lashed by Yusuke's power. Yusuke bangs his head on the wall, feeling his body in flames and unbearable pain. At last he falls, unable to move anymore. His strengths are gone. He remembers Keiko telling him, "If you lose, I won't forgive you."

He silently apologizes to her. "I can't... If I fall asleep I'll never wake up again... I'm a failure."

A drop of water falls on his lips, cool and welcome. He opens his eyes and sees Puu, who tries to fly back to the lake to get more water. But the little creature is also too tired and constantly collides against the cave walls, unable to fly on a straight line.

Yusuke is moved by the sight of Puu spooning water on his wings and tottering back, stumbling, falling, staring sadly at the wasted water, then trying again to fly to the lake. Tears run down the boy's cheeks.

Puu falls again, and Yusuke remembers Koenma's words: "The Reikai monster feeds from your heart. It's part of your body. Be careful. If you become too weak, he might die."

Puu tries to stand, in vain. Yusuke tries to go to him, with no better results. They're both exhausted.

But then Yusuke hears a cracking noise: an enormous stone is about to collapse right on top of the little monster.

Despite all the pain and the blood gushing from his knees, Yusuke stands up in less than a second, his aura flaming around him, and runs to Puu, kicking the stone into gravel.

Later, Yusuke takes Puu outside and hands him to Genkai. "Please take care of him."

"You did it," she says. "You mastered the rei ball."

Yusuke smiles and faints.

"Sleep well, Yusuke," says the old woman. "The real battle will start when you wake up."