Shiori tells him that the cherry tree in their garden has blossomed and he remembers how he used to climb that tree when he was a kid. Sending regards to his stepfather and stepbrother, he hangs up.

Koto convokes the fighters for the next fight: Kurama versus Shigure. In a waiting room, Shigure kneels before Mukuro and walks towards the battlefield. He and Hiei avoid looking at each other.

Yomi meets Kurama near the battlefield and, very calmly, accuses him of turning his back on him without hesitation when Urameshi proposed the Makai Tournament. "You did it because you were certain that in that moment I'd never do a thing against you." Kurama denies it. "So you betrayed me even knowing you could die for it?"

Kurama falters, but Yomi takes the question back. "It doesn't matter. Thanks to Urameshi, I changed a lot. Only now I realize exactly where I stand." He walks past Kurama. "Yeah, people change... I want to see your true strength."

As Kurama and Shigure meet on the battlefield, Koto asks Yoda to comment on Shigure's abilities: "What's a Makai Surgeon?"

Yoda explains that a Makai Surgeon can change a demon's youki by transplanting a new source of energy on his body -- a very rare skill. According to Yoda, the mastery of the sword is a reflex of that ability. Koto asks for an example of youkai who had his energy changed this way, but the commentator points out that this is a secret between doctor and patient.

Mukuro asks Hiei's opinion about the combat that is about to begin. "I don't know," he replies laconically.

Kurama attacks with the Rosewhip, which loses one of its thorns to Shigure's circular sword, but manages to cut down the ball-bell the Surgeon had hanging from a piercing on his head. On the other hand, the blade came close enough to rip the front of Kurama's tunic.

Shigure is impressed by Kurama's coldness. The redhead admits he'll be doomed if he moves to close to the adversary. "Until you neutralize my strikes with your skills, it will be hard for you to fight without coming closer," predicts Shigure, throwing his sword. Kurama jumps out of the way. The blade destroys the battlefield platform and almost hits Kurama in its boomerang return to Shigure's hand.

Shigure throws the sword once again, forcing Kurama to run to the forest. The redhead tries "fishing" the sword with the Rosewhip, but the blade cuts the plant easily before disappearing among the tress. Kurama uses the advantage to try to attack Shigure directly, but before he can reach him the blade boomerangs back. Kurama has to change direction mid-jump to avoid being slashed.

"Before the surgery I judge the patient's life," says Shigure. "Then I decide if I should operate or not. Your life is very interesting; I can see it in your eyes. Tell me, what's your goal?"

"I might have a goal," Kurama suggests, "but I'm not telling you." He prepares the Fuuka Enbujin attack.

However, Shigure spins the sword so fast that creates a tornado inside which the Surgeon is propelled in the air to fly at full speed in Kurama's direction. The impact is so overwhelming that creates a crater on the terrain. Koto is sure that the fight is over; she only waits for the smoke to settle down and reveal the combatants' status to declare Shigure the winner.

At last Shigure can be seen, but where is Kurama? Suddenly dark sparks of youki glint through the smoke cloud, announcing the presence of Youko Kurama.

Yomi is content with the change and eager to see the Youko fighting again. Yoda comments that the shift into the Demonic Fox form was probably caused by an outburst of emotions like hate and anger, and that in his opinion Kurama had planned to do that right from the start. Koenma disagrees: "I have the feeling that Kurama didn't want to turn into Youko."

Fascinated, Shigure attacks, throwing the sword on the Silver Youko, who dodges gracefully and spectacularly but never counterattacks. Instead, he remembers what happened to his life after being hit by the Makai Hunter.

He came to Ningenkai to heal inside a human body, intending to return as soon as his youki was restored. But the love and care Shiori offered him had changed his mind. Remembering his friends and family, Kurama realizes how much he changed after becoming Shuuichi Minamino. "I don't want to live a lie anymore."

"Why don't you attack me?" asks a perplexed Shigure. Kurama shifts back into his human form, to everyone's surprise. "You plan to fight in this frail-looking body?"

"I don't deny this force inside me," Kurama states. "I only wish to protect something that is very important to me."

Yomi is disappointed and confused. "Kurama, why?"

Shigure's next attack wounds Kurama severely, worrying Hiei and Yusuke. But Hiei is sure that Kurama knows what he's doing: "He's studying the adversary and planning an intelligent counteraction. This kind of tactic is what he's best at."

Koenma and Mukuro don't see any possibility of Kurama winning this round. "Come on, Kurama, think!" Yusuke urges.

Suddenly, many branches sprout from the soil throughout the whole crater. "I sowed some seeds in the battlefield and they're finally taking root," says Kurama. "My trump card isn't in Youko Kurama's figure." Infusing his ki on the earth beneath him, Kurama creates a colossal cherry tree that takes over the entire battlefield structure.

Shigure spins his sword and forms the tornado around him again, cutting through the branches to fly towards Kurama in a mortal attack that astounds everybody. Hiei yells Kurama's name.

But an inch away from hitting the redhead, the sword gets stuck in a branch. Disarmed, the Surgeon sees he's surrounded by sharp spears made of the tree wood. He acknowledges his defeat.

Pink petals rain over them. "Are these flowers from your homeland?" Shigure asks.

Kurama holds one of the petals in his fist. "Yes."

"They're beautiful." With that, Shigure jumps in the abyss. "A swordsman can't be defeated twice. I only serve Mukuro."

Kurama faints and his friends run to help him. Mukuro gives her back to Hiei, in a silent permission for him to go too.

But Yomi is already there and helps Kurama out of the battlefield. "Kurama, you abandoned the Youko self."

"I never abandon anything in this life, Yomi. Anything."