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Genkai, Yusuke, Kuwabara, Kurama, Hiei – I do this for youKoenma turned to watch Sakyo – he appeared even stronger and more fit than before. Sakyo flexed his muscles reflectively, and Koenma suddenly realized that Sakyo would show no mercy; his opponent would enjoy the prospect of humiliating and destroying the demigod. Oh, Lord help me. How can I even survive when I am forbidden to fight back?
"And let the final match BEGIN!"
Chapter III: The Last Battle
The battle had begun, but neither opponent stirred. They were sizing each other up; gauging relative strengths and weaknesses. It was the calm before the storm; a moment of silence when members of the audience could do the same. Botan's fingers were clutching at her clothes nervously, and worry shown in the rose-colored eyes. Keiko, glancing to her other side, saw that even Shizuru was taking shorter, faster drags on her cigarette. They're both so nervous…I hope that Koenma will be okay.
Yusuke too was closely watching the pair at the center of the ring. His eyes flicked to the scoreboard, the ring, and back again. "Wait…I don't get it. Why is Sakyo so eager to continue fighting? It's not like it would do anything for him if he wins. He'd only have 2 wins."
"No, Yusuke." Kurama replied. "This battle is special – its outcome will decide who wins the tournament. If Sakyo wins, then Team Toguro wins; even if it would mean that they only won two rounds."
"We're doomed" Yusuke moaned softly.
"There's no need to be…to…pessimistic, right?" Kuwabara said, peering nervously at the arena.
"I hope not" said Kurama, sighing.
Sakyo was staring contemptuously at Koenma. "Aren't you going to remove that…thing?" he asked, gesturing loosely towards Koenma's pacifier.
"Heh. Not likely. I'm rather – attached – to it." Annoyance flashed across Sakyo's features before he could restrain himself. Wonderful. Smart thinking, Koenma. When in doubt, piss off the guy who wants to kill you.
"Fine then" said Sakyo as he suddenly sprung towards Koenma. Oh, I think I just hit a nerve.
Whatever Koenma had been expecting, it hadn't been Sakyo being quite so fast. It was only his naturally heightened senses that allowed Koenma to dodge the first forward punch. That punch was stronger than I thought it would be. I won't be able to take many hits like that he thought sourly, as a slight wind from the force of the punch passed his face. I'll just have to keep dodging, and hope that he runs out of energy first.
Ten minutes of this unfortunate strategy, and Yusuke was completely fed up. "What the hell, Koenma?! Stop dancing around and fight back, damn it!" Yusuke growled as Sakyo's fist crashed into the ground and then, using his forward momentum, Sakyo brought his leg up and made to land a solid kick to Koenma's head. "Stop being such a wuss! KOENMA!"
Unluckily for Team Urameshi, Yusuke's shouting had distracted Koenma just enough so that Sakyo was able to land a solid kick to the Prince's head. Koenma shot forward, behind Sakyo, back towards the middle of the arena, before landing heavily on the ground. Yusuke stared at the fallen Prince with horror; but it was Hiei who, whirling on the Spirit Detective, put voice to the unspoken thought: "You fool! What have you done?"
"Argh! Get up, Koenma! You can take him, sir!" Botan's emotions were running high, suppressing her natural reluctance to order around her boss.
"Don't encourage him, honey," said Shizuru, sighing, "he doesn't have a chance at winning."
"What do you mean?" asked Keiko, interrupting Botan's spluttering.
"I mean that Koenma's been barely dodging those attacks. Sakyo's faster, stronger, and has far more spirit energy. It's odd, actually, but I can't sense any spirit energy coming from Koenma."
"No spirit energy? But how is that possible? I thought Lord Koenma was a spirit being. Wouldn't that mean he has to have spirit energy?" asked Keiko, confused. Puu cheeped softly in agreement, and Keiko clutched the spirit beast closer to her.
"Not necessarily," replied Botan. "But I've never noticed a complete lack of spirit energy in Lord Koenma."
Yukina, who had until now been silent, responded to that. "I, I don't think that it's that he doesn't have spirit energy. It's…there; and yet just…not. It's like Lord Koenma has been suppressing his spirit energy."
"Suppressing his energy? But why would he want to do that?" With more questions than answers, the four girls turned back to the arena.
Koenma was struggling to his feet, inciting many gasps from the audience. But Sakyo wasn't paying attention. Instead, the billionaire was studying something in his hand. He clenched his fingers around the object, and looked up at the Reikai Prince, smirking. "Well, I'll admit, I am surprised." His smirk got even wider as he held up his hand, revealing Koenma's pacifier lightly clenched between two fingers. "You don't keep this just so you can look like a complete fool."
Koenma stiffened; his voice low in warning. "Give it back."
As if he hadn't heard, Sakyo just continued: "It's strange, really, so much power in so small, so pathetic, a container. I can feel it, you know – an incredible spirit energy swirling, straining to break free; I bet I could free it-"
"NO!" In a single instant, Koenma was right in front of Sakyo, his fist slamming into the other's wrist, loosening the crime lord's grip on the pacifier. While after another moment he had been pushed back by an invisible force, blood dripping from two deep wounds on his forearm. But still, the pacifier was clutched victoriously in his hand.
"Amazing!" Koto sounded excited. "I blinked, and Koenma was landing a punishing blow at Sakyo's wrist. And look at all the delicious blood! I didn't even see Sakyo retaliate! (And who would have thought that the Reikai Prince would be so attached to his pacifier?) Lets take another look at that last move with our new and improved recording system!"
The large black screen fizzed to life, and everyone watched closely, wanting to see now what they had been unable to see before. "Look at Lord Koenma's speed, it's incredible! He might even be a match for Hiei! His fist colliding with Sakyo's wrist – oh, I think that may have broken a few bones. And there! What?! The pacifier?!" Koto had paused the screen, and it was clearly evident that Koenma's pacifier was glowing a pure, clear blue, and as she started it up again it the blue light – spirit energy – had taken the worst of Koenma's punch and pushed it back towards him, creating the two deep gashes that were the visible end result.
"Hmm, interesting. That punch would have shattered my wrist. I guess I will be needing that pacifier after all."
"Hmph. I won't drop my guard again." He shoved the pacifier in his pocket, and for the first time shifted into something that remotely resembled a fighting stance.
Sakyo's smirk was feral. "We'll see about that," he said, as the two sprang towards each other, both noticeably faster.
"I…see." Kurama spoke slowly, wonderingly, as if he couldn't bring himself to believe whatever it was he saw.
"See what – what?" Kuwabara sounded frantic. "I don't get it! What's going on? And where did all that spirit energy come from?"
Yusuke rounded on his friend. "Spirit energy? What are you talking about? Koenma just decided to stop screwing around."
"No, you imbecile. The brat's power just went from as week as a newborn ningen to something actually worthwhile."
"That's true," Kurama said as Yusuke turned to look back at Koenma, "but that wasn't what I finally understand. You were wrong Hiei, Kuwabara. Koenma wasn't being cowardly when he said he couldn't fight. He really can't. Look closely," Kurama added, gesturing to the battle that was raging between the two fighters and the droplets of blood that stained the ground. "Every time Koenma attacks Sakyo, Sakyo comes out of the attacks relatively unscathed, while Koenma is much the worse for wear. Koenma's pacifier is protecting Sakyo, while hindering the success of its owner. Although why, I have no idea."
Frowning, Yusuke saw that this was really the case. Sakyo was breathing hard and was covered in dirt, with some bruises on his face and arms; but Koenma's chest was heaving with each breath; his face, chest, and arms littered with cuts – some superficial, and some not. Koenma, what secret have you been hiding from us?
"Why do you keep trying to defeat me? You're never going to succeed – especially not when your beloved pacifier is protecting me. Why does it do that, anyway?"
Koenma had been trying to catch his breath, but at the crime-lord's words his head shot up. "Don't tell me your annoyed that beating you up means I beat myself up in the process. But, since you're curious, I'll tell you. I've turned my pacifier into a weapon that's been pre-conditioned to protect humans from all perceived dangers. Including myself, unfortunately."
Kurama started violently. I can't believe it! Preconditioned to protect humans? Could it be…? Hiei noticed his friend's discomfort, but didn't dwell on it. Kurama would tell him when he was ready. Sakyo had started speaking again, anyway.
"I'm surprised. I never would have suspected you to love humanity so much."
"I don't. But I got saddled with the protector-of-humanity/keeper-of-the-peace job anyway."
"What a pity for you. You're going to be killed by your own weapon, and the rest of humanity along with you."
Koenma's eyes widened, but that was the only sign of surprise. "What do you mean?"
"Just that all the energy stored in that pacifier would provide the perfect catalyst needed to break the barrier. I think that demons would be a fine addition to Earth's food chain. Don't you agree?"
"Are you mad?! Demons and humans are supposed to live separately. That's why they each have their own world. It's why the Kekai Barrier was created in the first place!"
"Now, now, I don't think that was the wise thing to say. The audience certainly doesn't agree with you." Koenma, looking around wildly, saw that this was indeed the case. There was a dull, unhappy murmuring coming from the stands, and it was slowly becoming more bloody-minded.
"What kind of moron are you?! I sure as hell don't want my home invaded by these ugly buggers!" Koenma's lips twitched upwards, and even Hiei struggled to keep his poker-face. That's Yusuke for you.
"I'm afraid I must disagree with you Sakyo, some of the audience appears to agree with me after all," said Koenma, a smug grin on his face.
"Yeah, you tell him, Koenma!"
"Thank you, Yusuke," said Koenma, rolling his eyes. "Anyway," his attention snapped back to Sakyo, "you can't create a tunnel between the worlds even if you wanted to. Money can only go so far."
"But still far enough." Sakyo smiled malevolently. "Let me show you…my greatest achievement!" He fished a simple remote from his pants pocket – it only had one button. Without further ado, Sakyo pressed it, his grin getting wider all the time.
There was a low rumbling, followed by the creaking, groaning sound of splitting earth, and slowly twelve enormous poles which surrounded the stadium began to climb into view. The poles were large and thick, and each had what appeared to be a metal box towards the top. Even as Koenma stared nervously at the boxes, he began to sense a tremendous surge in spirit energy which steadily grew until branching outward; it connected all twelve poles like giant telephone cables made to channel spirit energy. Then slowly the wall of the boxes facing the stadium lowered, revealing twelve humans chained to the pole itself – the source of the spirit energy. Feeling ill, Koenma realized that they weren't innocent boxes at all, but cages.
"You see," cried Sakyo, "nature provides me with twelve psychics to create the tunnel, and technology – money – provides me with the means of sustaining such a high level of spirit energy as needed to create the tunnel. Inside those pillars are my most favorite toys – devices that exponentially enhance the amount of spirit energy within a person, allowing them to sustain it indefinitely! It's so much more efficient than having to constantly find new psychics after the old ones reach their physical limits."
Koenma was frozen in shock and horror. "You monster…you're killing these innocent humans! A human body can only contain so much spirit energy; to force them to produce it on such levels, it would tear their souls apart!"
Sakyo, apparently unconcerned, said, "Such is the price of progress. And now you have given me the final key to creating a stable portal between worlds!"
"You don't have my pacifier yet" Koenma growled.
"That," Sakyo said dismissively, "is only a catalyst. But this other can be used as a sacrifice to cut the barrier." He gestured towards one of the gates, which opened to reveal a low class demon, clutching a small form in its arms.
"GENKAI!" Yusuke shrieked, all caution and forethought gone to the winds. "Don't touch her you bastard!" He lunged forwards.
"Yusuke, don't!" Kurama caught him, struggling to hold him back.
"What the…why not?! That bastard has Genkai!"
"If you interfere, we will loose this tournament."
Stunned Yusuke staggered back, before screaming out his frustration. "There's nothing we can do," Kurama said, gently. "It's in Koenma's hands now."
"I don't think we'll have to do anything, anyway. The brat looks like he's going to explode." Hiei cut in. Three pairs of eyes snapped back towards the fight.
"I think I have you to thank, Koenma, for preserving Genkai's body and restoring both her spirit and life energies to it. It's almost as if you were planning to…resurrect her, isn't it? Fortunately, I found her before you could do anything drastic, and in the exact condition needed to make the perfect sacrifice necessary to open the barrier. The pure life and spirit energy of a powerful human psychic can destroy the pure life and spirit energy of the Kekai barrier. And when I place this device on her," he said, holding up a small metal box like the ones on the twelve chained psychics and like the one that had suddenly appeared on himself, "She will be mine – the means of the destruction of human world! So I thank you," Sakyo shouted, his own spirit energy increasing astronomically, "for providing me with the final key to realizing my destiny!"
Sakyo sped forward, a blur to even the quickest eyes. But after another moment he was flung backward as if he had run into an invisible wall. Koenma was somehow between Sakyo and Genkai, one fist still outstretched. He was shaking uncontrollably, barely suppressing his rage.
"How…dare you. First you torture these innocent people for your own sick fantasy. Then you threaten Genkai. If you so much as touch her, I'll kill you." Koenma seemed to have finally lost control over his spirit energy. A pure, crystal blue aura was surrounding him, wildly flickering in every direction.
"I'm surprised you care so much. What could a human possibly mean to a god?"
"Even gods still have feelings! She's a friend! Is that such a hard concept to grasp?!"
"Pity, you're going to have to see your friend die an all new type of death." Sakyo was suddenly right in front of Koenma, pushing the prince out of his way, lowering his hand to place the binding device on Genkai…it was inches away from her still form…
"I said STAY AWAY!" Koenma screamed, fist slamming into Sakyo's jaw. He had finally lost all control; flashes of blue light from the pacifier were slicing into his skin all over his body. But he didn't care – and as the crystal blue energy swirled and darkened, becoming a shade of dark indigo streaked with midnight black and blood red, he laughed; reveling in power that had been suppressed for far too long.
Snarling, Koenma spun towards Sakyo. "You said you wanted demons? Well, I'll give you demons." Laughing, he stalked forward, the center of a maelstrom of faintly demonic energy.
A/N: Well, I hope that everyone enjoyed chapter 3! If anyone has any questions feel free to review/PM me, and I'll try and clarify.
YuYuFanatic14: Thanks for reviewing; I hope that Kurama was able to clear up any confusion. :-)