Having lost Genkai, Yusuke transfers his grief into fighting spirit, and proceeds to the final round. However, the tournament rules state that the final round must be fought with five men each, in one on one matches. Sakyo, the Toguro team owner, appeared for them, just as Koenma emerged as the Urameshi team's fifth combatant. The turbulent Dark Tournament's final round was just about to begin!

Explosion! The Demon Fox Awakened

Juri announces that the first match of the Dark Tournament's final round will be the Toguro team's Karasu versus the Urameshi team's Kurama. As the two fighters step onto the ring, Koto comments that the fiercely contested Dark Tournament has finally, finally entered its final round. The demon spectators are all hyped up, and demand for Karasu to kill Kurama.

Koto says that everyone in the stadium is unanimously cheering for Karasu of the Toguro team. But someone yells out what is she talking about -as the demons turn around to see Keiko and the others. Keiko says there are those of them rooting for the Urameshi team here too.

Jorge is with them as well, and is cheering for Koenma -although he forgot to give him his thorny bat. They all start cheering, and Yusuke sees them -although he wonders if they'll be alright up there, if they cheer that loudly. Kuwabara asks Kurama if he's planning to use that drug he got from Suzuki. Kurama says he is, and took it a couple of minutes ago. He says that he's already tried it out several times, and when drank as a liquid, it takes a little bit of time for its effects to work.

Kuwabara is kind of surprised he's tried it out so many times already, but Kurama says it's because he didn't dare use it abruptly in the middle of battle. As he jumps onto the ring, he tells Kuwabara that what Suzuki said was correct -the item he gave him allows him to change to his original form for about 15 minutes, which should be plenty of time to deal with this guy. Juri is about to go over the rules, but the audience yell at her to just get the match started.

Keiko notices how glum Botan is, and asks her what the matter is. Botan claims nothing is wrong, and puts on her best smile. Keiko wonders what has happened with Genkai, and why she isn't appearing in the finals. Shizuru says that it must of been hard on Genkai when she fought those matches in the semifinals.

Botan says that's right, Genkai had said something about not being able to win against age. Jorge says nothing, whilst Botan suddenly gets up and leaves. Keiko asks her where she's going, as the match is about to start, and Botan says she's going to pick some flowers. As she leaves, Keiko tells Shizuru that Botan has been acting strange, ever since last night. Botan doesn't leave the stadium, and just stares at a wall.

Shizuru finds her and tells her that if she keeps brooding over it, Genkai will never be able to find peace. Botan realizes Shizuru knows of Genkai's death. Shizuru says that she has been in touch with Genkai for a long time now, and yesterday, she came by to pay her respects. She also said to take care. She didn't say what was happening, but Shizuru is sure Genkai was content about it.

Botan says she understands, but also says she can't let it go. Shizuru tells her to let their guys take care of the rest, and if they get done in, she'll go in and kill the Toguro team herself! Botan tells her not to go saying stuff like that, as the two head back into the stadium.

As Kurama and Karasu face each other, Juri tells them to begin. Karasu asks Kurama if he's ok fighting as he is now. He must have seen a glimpse of his power earlier, during the semifinal match against the Gorenja team. He asks Kurama if he intends to be killed here without putting up a fight. Kurama says he'll change soon enough, as if it's to defeat Karasu, he'll become anything he has to. He releases many petals from his hand.

Koto comments that an innumerable amount of flower petals are surrounding Kurama. Kurama thinks that as he is now, he probably has no chance of winning, no matter what. But once he returns to his demon fox form, he can win. For now, he needs to buy some time and fight Karasu from a distance. He can't let Karasu touch him no matter what. Meanwhile, Karasu just stands there and watches.

FUKA ENBU JIN

(Wind Petal Waltz Configuration)

Karasu makes a gesture with his hand, then starts walking forward. One of the petals cuts his face, and he realizes each petal is razor sharp. But his cut heals instantly, and he keeps walking on. Whilst he thinks they're elegant, they're also frail.

Kurama thinks that Karasu is taking no defensive posture, which is what he was hoping for. His wind petals will attack and slice Karasu up. But as the petals approach Karasu, he whips across his arms, which causes the petals to suddenly explode.

The petals are all destroyed, and Kurama doesn't understand how -Karasu didn't even touch them. Karasu tells him he's got it all wrong. He says that Kurama must have thought he injects his own demon energy into the body of whoever he touches, and causes an explosion from the inside. That's not the case -he says Kurama can't see the true form of his demon energy, which is the difference between their powers. He asks Kurama again: is he sure he's ok in that form?

Karasu then goes on the attack, and Kurama avoids every strike. He leaps up and uses his rose whip...

...but Karasu blows that up as well. He tells Kurama he isn't refusing to give up, despite knowing the difference in their abilities. It's most laudable... it's why he likes him. He starts attacking again, saying that no matter how much affection you lavish on something you like, in time, they grow old and die.

In which case, he'd rather kill them with his own hands. He just loves the feeling he gets when he gets to do something like that. Kurama wonders why he hasn't changed yet, as enough time has passed. Karasu then jumps up and falls down, and Kurama leaps back just in time to avoid being grabbed.

But it seems he wasn't fast enough, as part of his left arm explodes. Karasu says he didn't touch him just now. Kuwabara wonders why Kurama hasn't changed yet, and thinks the drug may not have worked. Meanwhile, Sakyo is bored. He thinks he should have stayed up in the VIP seats.

Toguro says there's no need to rush, as things are just getting started now. Kurama gets up and starts to run to the other side of the ring, but Karasu cuts him off, and then part of Kurama's right leg explodes.

Karasu decides to give him a hint. He says that he can control a certain thing with his demon energy, like how Kurama can control plants. He can also create it as well. It's in his right hand now, although he believes Kurama won't be able to see it. But now he's tired of talking, and asks Kurama if he's ready to die. He decides to intensify the manifestation of the spiritual object he's holding, so Kurama can see it.

The object is revealed to be a bomb. He leaps up and throws it at Kurama, and it explodes, causing a massive explosion. Seconds later, Karasu leaps out of the smoke.

Koto says that was incredible, but from where she is, she can't clearly tell what just happened in the ring. The Urameshi team fear the worst, as Karasu just stands there and watches.

But he then realizes he didn't get out unscathed, as a thorny rose has pierced through his hand. He rips it out, and watches as a strange demon energy swells around in front of him. Koto comments that this could be the same phenomenon that occurred during the Reverse Bedtime Stories team battle!

The energy comes together and Yoko Kurama appears. Kurama says that was a close one -if this had been Shuichi's body, it would have been blown to bits. Yusuke asks if that's really Kurama, and Koenma explains it is -the brutally cruel demon thief, Yoko Kurama.

Kurama says he's pleased to meet someone from the class of demons who have the ability to control things: a quest class demon. But he's still going to kill him. Karasu tells him he's the one who is going to die, and summons something else. But Kurama can now see them clearly. Karasu sends his summoned explosives forward...

Kurama summons two roses, and throws them at the explosives. They hit their target and destroy them before they can reach Kurama.

Kurama says that if Karasu is a quest class demon, it explains why Shuichi is not yet up to the task. Karasu thinks otherwise, and tells Kurama he can't beat him, even as he is now. He summons more explosives, which this time resemble bats.

Kurama jumps over them, and they explode when they hit each other. But many more are sent after him, and Karasu says that are trace eye homing bombs, which are made from his own demon energy. As Kurama dodges around, he asks Karasu if he's ever heard of the plant known as the ojigi weed. It's a perennial from South America, which reacts to vibrations, or being touched, or to flammables by closing its leaves. Karasu tells him he's not interested in such things.

Karasu tells him the trace eyes have him surrounded, and he's now in a desperate situation. Kurama claims otherwise, and chants words that result in a plant being summoned from under him. The trace eyes are all destroyed, and the plant looms over the ring.

Kurama says the ojigi weed of the Demon Realm is aggressive, it goes after anything that moves or is laden with flammables on its own. He tells Juri that if she doesn't want to die, she'd best not move. The plant sets itself on Karasu.

Kurama tells him it appears the plant has considered him its enemy. The plant then starts attacking Karasu, forcing him to leap around the ring to avoid being eaten. Koto comments that, in a complete reversal of offensive and defensive positions, Karasu now finds himself in a great pinch.

Kurama tells Karasu he can't keep running from it. More of the plant bursts out of the ring, surrounding Karasu. Koenma thinks Kurama has won, whilst Kuwabara believes this fight is theirs, now that Kurama has turned back to his demon fox form. Hiei hopes so.

Sakyo says this is enjoyable, and Toguro tells him this is where things get more and more interesting. The plant starts breathing fire everywhere, causing Karasu to take more evasive action.

He throws a grenade he created and destroys part of the plant, but it's far from finished. Another branch locks onto him, and moves in for the kill.

At last, Kurama, having become a fox demon, has begun fighting back! However, Karasu still has evil powers that he is hiding. The fight has only just gotten started!


NEXT EPISODE PREVIEW

(Yusuke is speaking)

How can this be?! Karasu hasn't taken any considerable damage! Doesn't even the power of a fox demon work against him? If this keeps up, the fight will go against Kurama! But I believe in you! You're not the kind of guy who gives up over just this! Next time: The Desperate Kurama! A Final Measure. The Other World's not watching for nothing!