YuYu Hakusho Beyond!

AN: Fanart by Krizomet from TheOtaku

Last time Kurama confronted the master mind behind Foliage Fortress, Rose, his female clone. Their skills and strategies were equal, dragging the fight on with the advantage to neither. Rose then revealed she could willingly transform into a fox demon like Yoko Kurama. They continued their fight until Rose decided to reveal the captured friends of Kurama. All fighters are low on energy and the world will be destroyed soon. Kurama must choose whether he will use his strength and time to save the world or his friends. Time is ticking as Kurama battles within himself. Can he make his decision in time?

~*~

[Kurama stands surrounded by the Puzzle of Plants. He is sweating but  attempts to look calm. He tilts his head forward and closes his eyes.]

Kurama Voiceover: There is no time left. Either I can abandon my friends and save the world, or...

[Yoko Kurama's face continually appears as a ghosted image over Kurama's mind while talking then fades out.]

Yoko Kurama Image: ...abandon the world to save our friends.

Kurama  Voiceover: But even if I were to free Hiei, he cannot reach the orb and  stop detonation in time while I freed the others. He would not have  strength enough to get through the puzzle.

Yoko Kurama Image: Forget the world.

Kurama Voiceover: It is not just the world. It is Midori, Mother, my family.

Yoko Kurama Image: Our friends have loved ones too.

Kurama  Voiceover: Kayko, Shizuru, Yukina. They would be saddened of the loss  should I let my comrades die. But if they should die instead, the pain  my friends would experience would be unbearable.

Yoko Kurama Image: Listen to me.

Kurama Voiceover: There must be a way...

Yoko Kurama: I can help.

Kurama: [screams] THERE MUST BE A WAY!!!

[Kurama starts untangling plants to go towards the orb.]

Kurama Voiceover: For the greater good, I must save the world.

[Yoko Kurama appears completely ghosted over Kurama.]

Yoko Kurama Image: Not if I have a say in it.

[Kurama  starts to glow as he continues to work his way towards the orb. Yoko's  spirit pulls back. Yoko's spirit turns to head in the opposite  direction. Kurama and Yoko's spirit both pull as they open up paths  through the Puzzle of Plants.]

Kurama: I have to try.

Yoko Kurama: So do I.

[Yoko's  spirit breaks free of Kurama. Kurama increases his speed as he works  his way towards the orb while Yoko's spirit clears a path towards his  friends. They each work intently and silently. Yoko's spirit reaches the  room with Kuwabara, Yusuke, and Hiei. Yoko's spirit touches the Energy  Extractor holding Hiei. The surrounding plants retract and the clamps  unlatch. Hiei falls forward to the ground.]

Yoko's spirit: I know you're tired, but you must go help Suichi.

Hiei: [nodding] Hm.

[Hiei  pushes himself up. He takes off running, grabbing his sword off the  ground on his way to the path. Yoko's spirit goes over to Yusuke and  touches the machine he is in to retract the plants.]

Yusuke: How did you do that? I thought you and Kurama were the same.

[Yusuke falls to the ground. Yoko's spirit goes to Kuwabara to release him.]