Hi and welcome to the story. I found this collecting dust on my hard drive, and figured I might as well give it some breathing room. I hope you are enjoy it. Reviews are always welcomed. Thanks again!
Disclaimer: I do not own any YYH characters!
Chapter One
Genkai watched her young heirs bask in the sunset, enjoying the peace of the moment. She smiled to herself and started to walk to the compound, her steps coming slower and heavier than they had in previous years. She could hear them laughing now. Her smile grew tired.
"That boy makes me feel old," she said to herself, a soft chuckle escaping with the words.
On the beach, Shizuru caught her eye and started to follow. She was almost to the old psychic when Genkai glared at her.
"I'm not dead yet, girl," she snapped. Shizuru paused, and smiled. She walked back, digging her toes in the sand.
As Genkai closed the door, a voice spoke.
"Hey, baa-chan."
"I really am getting old. Time was I'd have sensed you traveling two weeks ago. I wasn't even sure if you were coming," said Genkai as she held her head.
A match was struck; light glowed, concealed in the palms of a girl. She gently prodded the flame into a lamp, blowing the wick to life. Her hair was longer now, but still every shade of gold imaginable, ranging from white to auburn. It was tied at the base of her neck and fell to her waist, though nothing could contain the rebellious strands that tickled her nose. Her eyes were an unsettlingly pale blue, somewhat hidden by the unruly tresses. She had grown to maybe Keiko's height, her body slender. Her coltish legs fit at last.
The eyes narrowed in annoyance. "Baa-chan, you're not getting old. I'm just not a stupid five year old who can't disguise her ki anymore."
Genkai smiled weakly. "Yes. Time has passed since than."
The girl sensed the older woman's fatigue.
"And as for my coming, d'you really think I would ignore your letter?" she asked, looking wounded.
Genkai's face was shadowed. "I am … glad you came. I have a lot to tell you, and a favor to ask-"
The girl slid open a door, revealing the sea. Her eyes narrowed, able to pick out a shape on the beach. "He's done well. You should be proud," she said quietly.
Genkai ignored the girl's lapse in concentration. "I recently made out my will. I named you in it. That's why I sent for you. I left you-"
The girl gathered things to make tea, working from memory.
"Baa-chan, I'm surprised. You didn't move the cups! You're becoming a creature of habit," she said lightly, smiling. Genkai sighed. She recognized that set of the jaw; her most evasive mood, and slightly preoccupied. She had news as well.
Genkai sipped her tea, reading the letter Kiyo had given her. She set it down. The girl was stretched out on the ground, staring at the ceiling and waving her feet in the air. Genaki remembered when she had done that before. She had been much shorter then. Less disciplined, too.
"I wasn't aware that your mother had attempted my technique. I'm surprised she survived."
"It's a trial technique by nature. It depends on the user as well as the target. Besides, she's been training for most of her life for something of that magnitude. She's content now."
Genkai smiled. "I find it hard to believe that Tsuya will rest."
Kiyo sat up, eyes alight with humor. "I never said she would rest. I said she was content. For the time being," the girl said, grinning.
Genkai folded her hands. The girl watched the psychic carefully.
"Kiyo, I asked you here for a reason. In my will I left this place to the young ones. I included you and Hiei in the group."
Kiyo shrugged. "I thought as much. The reason's pretty obvious."
"Of course. You've been following them," Genkai said, sipping her tea.
"Any descendent of Raizen is worthy of interest. Besides, your pupil has the uncanny ability to turn dangerous enemies into loyal allies," she said seriously.
"So you noticed," Genkai said. Kiyo nodded.
"Mind if I place my bet?" Genkai shrugged. Kiyo took a deep breath.
"The girls – Yukina, Shizuru, and Keiko – will spend a majority of their time here, thought the latter two may go out into the world occasionally to work. However, the boys will travel and continue to fight. You called them here not because your death in close – you have at least seven years and that's if you're careless and bathe in the River Styx seven times – but to prepare and train them. You wanted assurance that someone will be able to protect the compound and them wherever they may be.
I fit that description nicely. I have connections and I know all five trial techniques, though I've never used them. Once word gets out that I am residing here as protector and guardian, mere reputation of my escapades will keep this place safe. And then, should my ancestor acknowledge my existence to the public, no one will dare cross your borders without sending a six month notice. That's why you want me here, as a warning."
Genkai bowed slightly. "I am grateful."
Kiyo's eyebrows shot up. Her face was shadowed. "You assume much, Genkai. That's twice you've made an assumption about me."
Genkai made no comment. That more than anything told the girl how tired the old woman was.
"You took me in during my childhood while my mother trained under Oarashi-jii-sama. I stayed for almost four years and you taught me the basis of control. I watched your every move, learned your style of fighting that you thought you had concealed from me and Sakuya. Sometimes I ran away for days at a time, angry at the world and lonely. You never forced me back. You let me learn. I grew up here. Of course I'll protect this place."
Genkai smiled wearily. "Thank you, Kiyo. When will you meet them?"
Kiyo stretched and went into the hall. "Soon," she called, her backpack hanging over one shoulder.
Yukina was the first to return from the shore. A pile of towels were stacked by the door along with a change of clothes for all of them. Genkai blew on her third cup of tea while her heirs filed quietly past to change.
When they returned, food was ready. Yusuke noticed an empty space to Genkai's right. Feeling uneasy, he shifted in front of Keiko. His eyes passed over Genkai. He saw something move in the corner. His immediate reaction was to summon his ki.
Kiyo opened an eye and yawned. Seeing the waves of power gathering around Yusuke, she rubbed her eyes.
"D'ya mind tonin' the light show down a notch? I'm seeing spots right now," she said, yawning again. Yusuke didn't oblige.
Grumbling about good-for-nothings-turned-Rei-tan, she sat up, ruffling her bangs. Genkai couldn't help smile; sometimes Yusuke had reminded her of the girl who was yawning.
Standing up, the girl stretched and took her place next to Genkai, ignoring her wrinkled jeans and bed head. Kuwabara's Reiken was ready, leveled at her throat. Kurama was toying with a rose. She rubbed her head, complaining about the lights again. She sent a distempered glare to Genkai.
"I suppose you find this incredibly amusing. I'm taking a nap one minute – beginning a well deserved vacation, I might add – and the next your punk pupil's primed to shoot."
Genkai sipped her tea. "Stop complaining. You're just put off because you almost slept through dinner," she snapped pitilessly.
Kiyo smiled sheepishly, her mock anger gone. Yusuke lowered his arm slightly to look at his teacher.
"You know her?" he asked, surprised.
Kiyo laughed. "You think I'd be able to get in otherwise? In case you haven't noticed, she's not a corpse yet," she said, giving him a thoughtful glance. Her eyes narrowed.
"Your arm's too far right. You're not balanced – too much weight on your front foot. The recoil would throw you off," she said suddenly as they prepared to sit down for food.
Kurama flinched; no one had noticed anything wrong in Yusuke's stance. A quick glance confirmed it; he would have been forced back the barest centimeter. Her ability to notice it in a single peek confirmed experience.
She was smiling shyly but bouncing on the balls of her feet, barely containing her excitement. The smile was so reminiscent of Jin that Yusuke found himself smiling back.
"Besides, if we starting fighting, the hag would make us go in time out. And clean up," she added as an after thought. Yusuke laughed sharply. She sat down, eyes filled with curiosity and anxiety. Genkai introduced her. She shied away slightly as old friends began to talk.
After a while, conversation turned to Hiei and whether he would be joining them in the next tournament.
"He's very devoted to his work-" Kurama explained, only to be cut off.
"But Hiei's been wanting to fight Urameshi!" Kiyo said abruptly, her hands clamping over her mouth as soon as she spoke. All eyes turned to her. She stared at them with equal amazement.
"How d'you know Hiei?" Botan asked, interested. Kiyo hadn't spoken since the start of dinner.
"A few months back, a few demon hunters from Ningenkai decided they wanted some trophies from the Makai. Mukuro's forces couldn't hold the entire perimeter. I went to lend a hand," she said slowly. "Hiei was on assignment with me. Funny guy."
Kuwabara's eyes widened. He had many words to describe Hiei, and none of them were 'funny'. The others, outside of Genkai, seemed shocked.
Kurama looked at her intently. "But that's a matter of the Makai. You're human. Humans are typically forbidden from the Makai." Kiyo tensed at his quiet, calm voice. Genkai raised her eyebrows, smirking. She had opened her mouth to speak when Kiyo spoke.
"Is it really that strange? There have been odder occurrences with those here," she pointed out.
"Perhaps, but only a person of immense power would volunteer and what's more be accepted into Mukuro's border patrol," Kurama shot back.
Kiyo grinned crookedly. "Unless they're insane. I've been called both," she said. She crossed her eyes as she said this, making both Yukina and Keiko giggle. Then she continued, eyes still crossed. "I've studied a lot about demon and human ki. I was wanted for knowledge, not fighting. That's why I was with Hiei; Mukuro figured I'd be better with the social aspect of convincing the poachers to turn back." Everyone at the table smiled; they all knew of Hiei's attitude.
Once her eyes had returned to their proper position, she yawned. "Point is he's coming along whether you want him or not. They're making new rules for the tournament too. It'll be like the first one you attended with a few differences. In the final round, the captains will be excluded, requiring the other fighters to battle. The team with the overall wins will be rewarded following tradition. The captains will fight for the kingship. It's also a five person team again. You'll need one more fighter." Genkai watched as she stood up, clearly meaning to go to bed.
Kuwabara jolted. "Whaddaya mean, one more? I'm not fighting in the tour-"
"Come off it, Kuwabara! You're coming!" Yusuke snapped. "Or are you too scared?"
"URAMESHI, YOU CALLIN' ME A COWARD?!"
"YEAH!"
"I OUGHTA-"
"TAKE YOU'RE BEST SHOT!"
Kiyo laughed as the two exchanged insults. Once she was in the hall, Kurama drew her aside.
"He died once before. He wouldn't have stood a chance at the last tournament," he said quietly.
"I know. But his ki is stronger now, better controlled. By being forced to contain and conceal it for three years, his control is equivalent to that needed to summon Kokuryuuha. He just needs defensive work. Human ki has no limits, only those the person puts on themselves. He is frightened, and must learn that his potential is infinite," she said, just as soft. "Examine his aura. You can barely see it – not because it's weak but because his control is so tight. It is better than Karasu's ever was or stood a chance to be."
Kurama flinched and she yawned She paused, listening to the continued tirade and continued down the hall. Halfway down, she paused.
"You tell him that. He listens to you," she said. "He'll be needed."
Kurama tried to examine her aura, but found none. Uneasy, he returned to the room. Genkai was watching him, an odd smile on her face.