YAY FIGHT TIME! Things are going to get a bit messy in this chapter. And in true YYH fashion, everyone is getting in each other's business. Happy reading!
I do not own any YYH characters
Chapter Four
Kiyo watched as Sen charged at her. She felt a distinct let down; his ki was nothing compared to hers. I come to test my strength, but this is what I find? She thought bitterly. From the sidelines she could hear Kuwabara dithering about how she would be killed for sure.
Sen paused, just outside her range for a left hook. Her eyes narrowed; he moved forward slightly in an attempt to strengthen his stance. Mistake.
Kiyo lunged forward, punching him solidly under the chin and then across the face. She grabbed his arm in midair and kicked, sending him straight into the wall. Koto ran to inspect the fighter.
"Winner by knock out is Kiyo! Wow that was fast! It seems this tournament's only female competitor is no push over!" she exclaimed.
Kiyo went back into her crouch, waiting.
At the beginning of each match, Kuwabara covered his eyes, not wanting to see the results. Kiyo knocked out every fighter so quickly that he found if he watched, he pitied them.
Hiei noticed this and said, "And you thought she was a stupid schoolgirl like yourself."
Kuwabara scowled, and then looked at the ring. It was the final match. Kiyo rubbed off a smudge of dust on her face, not really doing any good. She had managed to send all of the fighters into the same crevice in the wall.
Kori was walking into the ring, eyes nervous, when the roar from the crowd died down. Yusuke felt as if ice water had been poured down his back. Hiei's hand was on his sword hilt, eyes darting around. Kuwabara had gone completely stiff and blue with fright as he felt the enormous energy emanating from one being. Kurama prodded Yusuke and Hiei lightly, nodding at the imperial-looking guards that now guarded all of the exits, barring the way with glaives. Hiei's eyes widened as he looked at the entrance directly behind them. A red sash was tied to them.
In the ring, Kiyo stood up, her arms hanging loosely at her sides. Her face was shadowed.
Koto looked up and gasped. Eight figures stood at the top of the steps. Six were guards. It was the remaining two that caught the eye. Kurama's eyes narrowed. They were dressed in clothes very similar to those that Kiyo had had in her room, the only difference being that a cloak was clasped at the right shoulder on both of them.
It was a woman and a man. The woman's hair was a dusty brown and to her ears in a boyish cut. She looked in her late twenties. She stood slightly behind the man, a katana at her side.
It was the man that drew the eye. He was clean shaven with silvery white hair in a short horse tail at the base of his neck. His eyes were a frigid blue. He didn't have the appearance of age, but one instinctively knew he was older by the depths of those cold eyes.
As one the entire stadium rose to its feet, a sign of respect to the man who stood at the steps. He began to proceed down, the woman following a step behind on his right. As he walked past, the demons bowed as they had stood, wordless awe in every line of their posture.
A shadow darted over the crowd. Hiei tried to get a fix on it, but it moved too quickly.
Koto appeared dumb struck, but only for a moment.
"Oh my god! I-I – it can't be! I can't believe it! The Oarashi has entered the stadium! For those of you who don't know, the Oarashi is a warlord from times before Raizen. He alone controls a small portion of land in all three kingdoms! It looks like his most recent descendant it with him… Tsuya Oarashi! Wow! What a complete shock! He never leaves his compound, someone, get him seats in the box…" She would have babbled on had someone not caused her microphone to disappear into shadow.
The man was sitting now, a row directly behind the girls. Keiko looked back in time to see an empty space. A pool of darkness formed and gradually made the shape of a young woman. She sat there, bored. Slightly pointed ears and minute fangs pronounced her demonic heritage. Her clothes were stylized with a slight difference from her companions, and her hair was cut straight at several layers. Her silver dragon slitted eyes were glazed over from ennui. Her clothes declared her a guard of the highest caliber in the service of Oarashi.
Keiko felt a clawed hand resting on her knee. She squealed as a demon gripped her shirt hem lightly. Shizuru and the new girl acted as one. There was a sickening crack as the demon was punched from both sides.
The girl cracked her knuckles and glared warningly at the surrounding crowd. Instantly the seats weren't as crowded as before.
Kiyo looked up from the ring at last. She met the glacial eyes of the Oarashi, not flinching. She gazed at him levelly, the only person able to do so. Kori looked at Kiyo when she turned back to him. She lifted her hand slowly, and spread her fingers suddenly. He dropped to the ground.
She looked up to the stands again, catching the shadow-girl's eye. The girl, who had been sitting as the very picture of boredom with her legs crossed and her elbow on her leg, chin cupped in her hand, lifted her head slowly and lazily moved her hand. It could have been a greeting or a coincidence that she was swatting a fly.
Kiyo smiled grimly and walked out of the stadium while Koto was still doing the count. Genkai stood up and went down to the field and followed her out. Oarashi walked back out the way he came, the shadow girl following.
When Kiyo reached her room she saw the girl from the stadium leaning against the door. Kiyo kicked open the door and locked it behind her.
Once inside, the girl tackled her.
"KIYO NEE CHAN!" The girl screamed. Kiyo began to turn blue from lack of air.
"Saku imou chan! Can't… BREATHE!" she managed to gasp. The dark haired girl leapt back, smiling. She helped her childhood friend to her feet.
Kiyo couldn't help but smile as Sakuya began opening all the drawers and cupboards, testing the water in the bathroom, and just being curious in general. Kiyo changed her clothes while Saku waited in the hall before going for a walk with her.
Kurama sat with Hiei and Yusuke in the hotel. The girls had rushed off to find Kiyo, Kuwabara trailing after Yukina like a lost puppy. Genkai had vanished and Kiyo was no where to be found.
It was just as well. The three of them didn't want Kiyo present for what they had to say. At least not yet.
Yusuke spoke first. "I can't believe the energy coming from that guy. It was incredible. How can he be from before my ancestors time and still be alive?"
Hiei looked to Kurama. The redhead was searching his memories of his other self, and found what he wanted.
"He's a legend among the Makai. I remember even in my youth that he was already ancient and had long since retreated to his lands. Most people only know the legends. That family typically stays out of any important affairs. To stay below the radar."
Hiei nodded, and Kurama continued. "He was a warlord of sorts. About four hundred and fifty years before your ancestor came into the spotlight he had an army the likes of which has never been seen again. But for some reason he disbanded his armies and by another quirk of fate came to find an expanse of land on which there were no borders to the other two kingdoms. He's lived their ever since. Some of his army still remains with him, no one knows why."
Hiei fidgeted as Yusuke spoke. "I say we ask the girl. Did you see the way she looked at him?"
Kurama nodded. "Yes. And that woman next to him had almost the same build…"
"Kiyo's eyes were identical to Oarashi's…" Yusuke said, trailing off.
Hiei still said nothing, remembering what Kiyo had told him.
"You don't need to feel any loyalty to me. You don't owe me any. If they ask, tell them. Or tell them anyway." Despite her words, Hiei couldn't get over the knot in his stomach at the thought of betraying her confidence. He also had the sneaking suspicion that she might tell Yukina who was her brother if he did.
Yusuke brushed it off. "It couldn't be. That woman would have to be her mother and Koto said she was the most recent descendant."
Kurama nodded, unable to displace the uneasiness he felt with his agreement.
Keiko and Botan were dragging Kiyo back for a medical check up with Kurama.
Kiyo thrashed violently, but Sakuya held her under the arms while Shizuru held her feet. The girls had met at an onsite restaurant, where Kiyo had promptly tripped over her own two feet.
"I'm perfectly fine!" she yelped. Keiko glared at her.
"You are going to see Kurama. You have a cut and he can clean it out," she snapped.
"I didn't get that fighting. I got that when I tripped down the stairs," Kiyo said sulkily.
Yukina sided with Keiko. "But we can't take any chances. You promised to watch after Kazu for me," she said, smiling.
Kiyo opened her mouth to say something when Saku hit her over the head. Kiyo glared murderously at her friend, who ignored her.
They had almost reached the rooms when Kurama, Hiei, and Yusuke came out of their room. They looked in surprise at the captive Kiyo.
Opposite the group were two people; Tsuya and Oarashi. The woman had abandoned her formal clothes for overalls and a tee shirt, while Oarashi was clad in imperial armor and his cape.
Tsuya rushed at Kiyo and picked her up, hugging her and smoothing her hair.
"Oh my little baby! You fought so well today! I'm so proud of you – how'd you get that cut? Did you trip again?"
Everyone began to laugh as Kiyo smiled weakly, a distinct shade of crimson on her face.
Tsuya put her daughter down and looked at her companions. The girls bowed. Hiei said nothing, though Tsuya smiled and ruffled his hair. As introductions flew through the air, it became apparent that the only people not partaking in them were Kiyo and Oarashi.
This was because they were concentrating on each other. They looked very similar. Both had the same elfin features, the same eyes, the same veiling eyelashes. He was at least a foot taller than her, but had the same slender bone structure. Right now they wore the same expression; pensive. In fact, she bore more resemblance to him than she did to her own mother.
After a while Kiyo bowed. The old man nodded regally and began to walk down the hall with her. Yukina whispered something to Kurama and he started to follow when Tsuya and Saku bared his path.
"They need some time alone," Genkai said from behind them.
Kiyo skipped a stone over the waves. She flopped down on the sand, sketching designs with her toes. Oarashi stood upright, his long cloak billowing in the sea breeze. Kiyo didn't say anything; she knew they both were recalling the last time they had spoken, and how it had not ended so well.
He was upset that she had entered the tournament; she was tired of waiting for him to train her. This was the only option she saw.
She sighed and stood next to her ancestor. She felt a knot in her throat. She tried to speak, only to see Oarashi raise an eyebrow. She smiled faintly, and turned back to sea. Maybe this was okay. Maybe this was all they needed anyway.
They started to walk back to the hotel. Her ancestor put his arm around her shoulder.
