Youtou Shinnoken: Demon Sword
A Yuyu Hakusho/Rurouni Kenshin fic
by Chester Castañeda and Danyal Herder
Original concept by Chad Yang
Chapter Three, folks! Things are really starting to heat up by now, and much to my contentment, we're finally starting to throw in more characters from both sides. Oh, and by the way, I'm Danyal, the other author of this story.
Disclaimer: Yuyu Hakusho is the rightful property of Yoshihiro Togashi, Shueisha, Fuji TV and St. Pierrot. Rurouni Kenshin is the rightful property of Nobuhiro Watsuki and Sony. Don't sue us please. We are very poor.
Chapter 3: Heart of Sword (Part 3)
The pink elephant hanging around the trio of Kenshin, Botan, and Yusuke was the fact that Genkai was about to perish within a month's time, just as the panicky Koenma had informed them. They dared not address it, but it was definitely in their minds... or at least in Yusuke and Botan's minds, since Kenshin barely knew the old woman. On the other hand, Keiko was blissfully ignorant of the situation.
But of course, aside from the ignored pink elephant, yet another animal of concern... a monkey on the shoulder, if you will... was presently bothering a certain preoccupied Angel of Death.
Botan felt a bit awkward around Kenshin's presence, but she tried anxiously to compose herself. 'Just because he pulled that weird holding-hands thing after seeing Tokyo and stuff doesn't mean that he's actually interested in me or anything. He must have been thinking of something else.'
"Incredible! Horseless carriages!" Kenshin cheered, his eyes as wide as saucers. "What great developments! This new century really is quite a sight to behold; so many innovations in technology! I wonder how those cars run. Do you have any idea, Yusuke-dono?"
"Yusuke don't know," Yusuke offhandedly quipped, his eyes half-lidded as he deliberately ignored Kenshin's excited pleas and inquiries. 'Jeez. People would think that he was raised and trained in the mountains or something.' To Kenshin, he responded, "I never really had any interest in those kind of things."
"Actually, Kenshin-san, the reason they're running is because they're powered by fossil fuels," Keiko explained matter-of-factly. "I'm surprised you didn't know about this."
"It's because he's, er, been under a rock, so to speak," Botan remarked with a weak laugh, thinking, 'Or stuck to a rock on an altar inside a remote cave in Japan, but never mind.'
"Oro? Fossil fuels?" Kenshin further inquired, blinking. "What are those?"
"Oh, y'know, crude oil? The by-products of that can be used for many things."
"Oil, huh? I think I understand now." Kenshin nodded, his expression turning grim. 'It's the black, inky substance in Shishio's battle arena; he predicted that the industrialized countries are going to make good use of oil to spearhead an Industrial Revolution. It seems that he was right on that part all along.'
"Hey, Kenshin! What's the matter? What are you thinking?" Yusuke concernedly asked before an impish glint flashed in his eyes. "Are you imagining what Botan would look like nude?"
That little statement earned Yusuke a paddling from Botan. "WHAT THE HELL IS IN THAT DIRTY LITTLE MIND OF YOURS? WHY THE HELL WOULD HE THINK THAT!?"
"Jeez! Relax, will you? It's normal for guys to think that, even if they're hundred-year-old spirits. Why, I was just thinking the same thing about Keiko just now."
A noise akin to that of the crack of a whip was heard as a flat hand connected to an already reddened cheek. "Pervert!"
"Ow! Don't hit me on the same cheek!"
Because of the bond Yusuke and Kenshin shared, the displaced soul was currently moving around like a punch-drunk boxer. "Look at that! It's another flying metal bird! It's called an airplane, is it not? Incredible, I say!" he slurred as he pointed at a sheep-shaped cloud.
Botan could only sigh in dismay under the given circumstances.
"Boss Iehik, the employer is here!"
Iehik nodded to Bi. "So where is he already?"
"Like I said, he's here!" Bi reiterated.
"Don't toy with me, Bi! I have no patience left for this nonsense! Where is our great benefactor and employer?!" Iehik irritably demanded as several large veins popped up on his considerable forehead.
The effeminate Bi merely scratched the back of his head as he clarified, "Here he is," showing his open palm and revealing a six-inch-sized little demon with pasty white skin and red hair.
Iehik could only stare in shock. "R-Rando-sama?!"
Kuwabara tiredly scoured the entirety of his surroundings, the uprooted trees, and the inside of the spiral-shaped crater that resulted from his nemesis' last attack, but there was simply no sign of his opponent. "Dammit. Mission failed. Some Class-B he was; that demon is at least a fucking Class-A, or even higher."
Exhaustion caught up with him as he collapsed at the center of the crater, the darkness quickly overwhelming his vision.
The demon hopped off the palm of Bi and landed on the ground, which was an impressive feat considering how high he was in proportion to the size of his body. The three lower demons crouched on their knees and watched as Rando clasped his hands together, eyes closed as if in prayer.
Within a few moments, Rando was growing, and soon he regained the height that the others were accustomed to. He opened his eyes and scowled at the dumbstruck demons.
"Don't waste your puny brainpower thinking about that; it's just one of my many talents," Rando spat, brushing his long hair aside and glancing at the newly-formed wounds on his body.
"Yes, yes, Rando-sama! We all bow to your great talent and power!" Iehog wheedled, bawling in what the others figured was either pride, fear, or both.
"As you should," Rando merely harrumphed. He gazed around his surroundings. As usual, his lackeys had thought it appropriate to meet in yet another cave. 'It seemed as though the only place lower demons are comfortable in are caves,' he snorted to himself. He turned back to his three servants. "Well? Get on with it. What news have you brought me?"
Iehik himself bowed down. "We tracked down the sword that you requested, but it was intercepted by a human much more powerful than us! Also, the guardian of the sword who calls himself Himura Kenshin has gotten in our way as well. Bi reports that their group is currently headed to the temple of an old woman known as Genkai."
Rando flinched at the mention of Genkai's name as he considered telling Iehik that filthy cockroaches were more powerful than them, but it would just slow down his interrogation.
"As usual, you demons have managed to make things infinitely more difficult." He grasped Iehik's chin with his long fingers and pushed his face up slightly, so that the two were looking eye to eye.
"I'm sure you're aware, you little wretch, that getting the sword was an order of the great and powerful Chojin; a lord and master I don't intend to disappoint in the near future. Do you understand?"
The other demon nodded furiously, tears streaming down his chubby cheeks. "Yes, sir! I'm so sorry, my lord! It won't happen again!"
"Good. Because if it does, I won't show mercy like that human apparently did," Rando barked before a light-bulb went off in his head. "This human," he continued, "was he a rather young boy with a head of sleek, black hair and a sharp, lethal look in his eyes?"
Iehog nodded stupidly. "Indeed he is, Rando-sama! How did you know?"
"Damn!" Rando screamed, causing Iehog, Iehik, and Bi all to quiver in fear. What the redhead didn't mention was that it was because of Kuwabara's interference that Yusuke was able to get the Demon Sword. 'First Kuwabara tracks me down, and now Urameshi's got the sword. I'll be lucky if the Chojin lets me live this down. I have failed big time.'
Rando looked at the only demon that hadn't spoken yet. "Bi. Get in touch with Suzaku or Jine, whomever you find first. I'm going to have to discuss this with them before things go much further."
"Yes, my liege!" Bi scrambled out of the cave at the order, ready to please his master at any cost. Rando glanced over his wounds before deciding that he was in no shape to run after Yusuke as of now. Because he was forced to use the Blood Wind twice today, he'd used up all his remaining youki, despite the fact that he survived both the life-threatening dangers posed by Urameshi and Kuwabara.
Iehik breathed deeply. "Forgive me, lord, but why those two? There are several others you could meet with, like..."
"Shut up," Rando snarled. "I know everyone involved, and those two are the only ones I trust enough to keep this a secret." He looked up. "No one's going to like that the sword's in enemy hands, but I trust that if we're able to retrieve it in time, all will work out well."
Frustrated, Rando turned away and gnashed his teeth nearly to the point of breaking. 'If only I had more power. If only that interloper Kuwabara hadn't interfered. Although I currently have two extra techniques to supplement my other ninety-nine talents... Urameshi's Rei-Gan and Kuwabara's Jigen Tou... it's still all worthless until I find a way to gain more power!'
His head suddenly snapped back towards Iehog and Iehik. "As for you scum, I want you to keep a close eye on the blade, no matter how far to the ends of the earth you have to travel."
"Yes, Rando-sama!" With that, the two lackeys bumbled off, leaving Rando to sit and wait on a makeshift throne made out of stone blocks.
With no one to discover the truth behind his bluster, a thin line of blood quickly flowed from Rando's mouth.
Kuwabara raised his head very slowly, his eyes still getting accustomed to seeing after being closed for so long. His brain was also beginning to function smoothly as he gradually recognized where he was; in the forest where he had fought Rando. Still, he couldn't immediately recall what had caused the situation he was currently in.
He heard a voice from behind him. "Ah, so you're finally awake." Climbing to his feet, Kuwabara turned around to see a very tall man in a police officer's uniform, his black hair bangs swaying in the blustery wind.
Kuwabara jumped in surprise. "W-Who are you?" he cried.
The policeman smirked. "Just an officer who happened to see almost half of the trees in this area collapse. When I finally got here, though, all I saw was you passed out. That was about," he checked his watch, "two and a half hours ago. Anyway, I considered taking you in to the station, but I figured I could get some answers easier if I let you explain the whole thing here."
Beads of sweat formed on Kuwabara's brow. He had never gotten caught by the police before on any of his adventures, and knew that if he played his cards wrong, he could easily wind up in jail. He struggled to remember the fight with Rando as best he could, but his head was throbbing with pain. "Well, uh, you see, there was another guy here, and he was picking a fight with me, and..." He kicked his feet at the ground. "You know, I had to defend myself."
"I understand." The officer nodded. "But still, is there any reason why I shouldn't arrest you for destroying all these trees? Obviously something very wrong happened here."
The young man sighed. "Trust me. You wouldn't believe me even if I told you. You might as well just arrest me, officer."
"I have no intention of doing that," the policeman admitted, prompting a curious look from Kuwabara. "I'm very interested in hearing the true story from you, sir. Come, I'll take you back into town, we'll get some coffee, and you can explain everything." When he saw the look of hesitation on Kuwabara's face, he chuckled. "Do not fear. I promise that I won't hurt you or arrest you."
Still reluctant, Kuwabara slowly bobbed his head in assent. "All right, we could do that. Where's your car?" he queried, taking a few steps and gauging how much his present wounds hurt.
"Right over here," The officer revealed, walking out of the clearing that had formed as a result of the fight and heading to a car that was parked about a hundred yards away. The car... a well-traveled black Honda Accord Compact... had been stopped next to an extremely crude dirt road that led out of the forest and back into town. Kuwabara halted when he saw it.
"What's with the car? Why aren't you traveling in a squad car?" he inquired the officer, who was lighting up a cigarette.
"I was off-duty when I found you. Don't misunderstand; I still could've arrested you if I deemed it necessary, and I still can now; but no matter. Just get in, and I'll drive us back." Having lit the cigarette, he slipped his lighter back into his jacket. He started to settle into the driver's seat, but before he did, he stood back up. "Oh, before we leave, I never did get your name, kiddo."
"Kuwabara Kazuma ," was the reply of the young man as he climbed into the passenger seat. He slammed the door shut and looked at the driver, growing a bit more comfortable. "Is it okay if I ask for your name, or should I just call you 'officer'?"
"Not at all," the policeman reassured as he started the engine. "You have every night to know my name." He pushed on the gas pedal, thrusting the car into motion. "It's Fujita. Officer Fujita Goro."
In sheer and desperate terror of the looming threat before him, Rando inadvertently activated one of his more psychosomatic skills: Astral Projection. Just as an advanced living organism would automatically shield its eyes at the threat of being pierced, so did the involuntary parts of Rando's mind teleport his spirit away from near death. It was merely survival instinct that prompted him to do so.
But no, his life-threatening terror wasn't caused by his recent failure to finish Yusuke off and his 'draw' with the surprisingly strong Kuwabara. Rather, it was the consequences of his failure that really bothered him. He'd wasted his ration of destructive negative energy, and now his revived soul was at the mercy of the unforgiving Chojin.
Still, in this moment of utter solitude, the crimson-haired demon was given a chance to mull things over. Only one thought continued to repeatedly haunt Rando's mind; he could have done way better in his fight with Yusuke. He really could.
His first mistake was underestimating the gap of power between him and Yusuke, the Son of a Mazoku Warlord. His second mistake was nearly losing to the pathetic Kazuma Kuwabara, of all people. His haphazard battle with the half-demon caused him to enter his fight with Kuwabara at below a hundred percent; he wasn't using that an excuse, that was just a fact.
'Damn that double-edged Blood Wind,' Rando's spirit cursed as he surreally looked down at his twitching, unconscious self. He checked his injuries one by one as he observed his spiritless body from afar.
Come to think of it, his hollow, recessed eyes and more-gaunt-than-usual pallor were undoubtedly the results of excessive blood drain care of the Blood Wind. Also, a myriad of bruises and contusions lined Rando's body. These wounds could have been a lot worse had he not learned the Iron Body Technique, he noted to himself in a mantra-like manner.
Rando was beginning to see a trend to his woes and injuries; most of them were, more or less, his fault. This fact depressed him all the more. He did his best against his opponent given the circumstances, but it was very evident that his best wasn't good enough. He could blame the circumstances surrounding his defeat... lesser demons would... but not him. His defeat was his responsibility and his alone. And regret was for losers.
He had to face facts: He had failed the Chojin. He was just glad that, even for a short time, he was able to fight Urameshi to the limit.
He suddenly heard a spiteful, derisive laugh echo in his ghostly mind. "Are you kidding me? You call that 'fighting to the limit?' Please. Urameshi barely went S-level with his powers; you were just too weak to notice."
"Who's there? Show yourself!" Rando's spirit demanded as it whirled wildly towards the origin of the reverberating voice.
"You're right about two things, though. You really have failed the Chojin, and it's all your fault," disparaged the voice.
Rando's eyes narrowed as he finally caught sight of the previously unseen outsider. "Oh. It's you. The Chojin's pet dog."
"I could say the same thing about you. After all, you do constantly follow him around, hanging on to every word he says like a little lost scamp."
Rando harrumphed. "It takes one to know one."
The stranger chuckled. "You call that an insult? So it's okay for you to be a sniveling, mangy dog since I am one too?"
"Whatever. What do you want?" Rando snapped. "Don't tell me you've come all the way here just to make fun of me."
"Though that is tempting... No." The stranger seemed to hesitate for a few moments before stating his business. "Believe it or not, I'm here to grant you the power to defeat the Reikai Tantei Urameshi Yusuke and, in turn, the Guardian of the Youtou Shinnoken, Himura Battousai."
"Oh, really?" Rando asked in obvious skepticism. "You can do that? How lucky of me, then."
"Of course I can," the stranger bragged, acting as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "I am, after all, the conduit of the ever-powerful Chojin's jaki. That's to be expected, since I've been his most loyal servant for more than a century."
'Humph. And he wonders why I call him the Chojin's dog.' Rando raised an eyebrow. "So you're serious? Exactly, why would you want to do that?" The demonic ghost eyed the outsider warily. "What's in it for you? What's the catch?"
"No catch. And just to be clear, I don't want to do this." The stranger sighed. "But if you're really doubtful about my intentions, then go take it up with the Chojin; he's the one who ordered me to do this." Rando's eyes went wide at the outsider's revelation.
"I could care less why, truth be told. Personally, I'd rather see you burn in hell." The stranger shrugged. "Oh well. You're merely a means to an end anyway. Besides, now that you have to continue your fight with Urameshi, I still have the small comfort of watching you suffer some more."
But Rando was already ignoring the stranger after he heard the good news. 'I can't believe it. The Chojin actually sent him to give me the power to destroy Urameshi Yusuke? Incredible. It seems that, despite my bumbling, the Chojin has yet again given me another chance to prove myself! Hell, I may have even impressed him with my performance in the fight, in spite of the circumstances!'
"...Now don't get ahead of yourself, red. I'm hardly giving you all of the Chojin's power. I'm just here to tune you up a bit before round two starts. Consider it your second wind of sorts."
The stranger was soon bathing in the dark aura of choleric jaki. "Though you have inexplicably curried the Chojin's favor, I'll be providing you with just enough jaki to let you use most of your first and second level tricks and any one of your third level attacks. After all, like you said in your little monologue, you've bumbled a lot in this fight; this is all that you'll get because of it, and nothing more."
"Then stop your yapping and let me have it already," Rando plaintively declared, his arms crossed in challenge.
"Fine." Without so much as a word of warning, the stranger blasted wave upon wave of the Chojin's ebony jaki into Rando's floating spirit, making him drown in a spherical pool of pure evil energy.
Soon, youki began to course anew through Rando's battered frame, restoring it back to health.
"You're welcome," the outsider harrumphed, despite Rando never actually thanking him for his ministrations. "Now finish what you've started. Don't waste any of the Chojin's mercy; there's not a lot of it to go around."
"Don't tell me what I can or cannot do. Only the Chojin can decide my ultimate fate," Rando riposted as his jaki-filled spirit started to travel back into his recently repaired body.
'And he calls me the dog.' The stranger sneered. 'Go, Rando. Go forth and give Urameshi Yusuke an epic battle worthy of the Chojin himself. You have no other choice anyway.'
Koenma sighed once, then twice. By the third time, he was able to overcome his shock and denial as he again reread Kurama's report to him that Jorge delivered a week or so ago. In fact, it was the half-youko's message that convinced him to have Yusuke fetch the Demon Sword in the first place. 'So the threat that began more than a hundred years ago has come to pass.'
'The Meikai incident and the Black Chapter Club episode are connected to the Chojin's rise to power. The imbalance of power in the Demon World and its threat against the Human World; the attempt to merge the worlds; the revival of a once-dead kingdom; each and every one of these seemingly separate incidents are interrelated.'
Koenma tiredly rubbed his throbbing temples, making for a rather weird and uncharacteristic sight given his toddler-like appearance. Even after rereading the letter, the whole situation still didn't sit well for him; not at all.
'A very ancient pain-in-the-posterior is rearing his ugly head again. We all underestimated him and his abilities, taking him for granted; which is understandable, since he never did anything major for the past hundred or so years. However, the very fact that he didn't make himself appear like a threat early on ultimately made him the Reikai's greatest threat yet. He's like a malignancy now; an incurable cancer.'
Koenma has several suspects fitting the malefactor's true identity, but he still wasn't sure who he truly was, this puppet master behind many of the greatest threats to the Human World. 'He was even able to usurp Yakumo's negative energy power, of all people! And now he may actually have a hold in the 'ferrying system' of the dead as well. This is very bad indeed.'
Koenma called upon one of the lesser oni and handed him Kurama's letter. "Disintegrate this letter. This letter never existed. Burn all the files concerning any contact with Kurama. We never contacted him. We know nothing. You know nothing. Now go, and find that slacker Jorge while you're at it," the Reikai Prince ordered.
Once he was alone again, Koenma went back to his numerous reflections, all centering upon one particular idea: 'Himura-san's legacy, the Demon Sword... I must find out more about it. I know that he and the malefactor are interconnected somehow. I'm sure of it. The Demon Sword is the key towards the cure of the malignant cancer known as the Chojin.'
"Humph. What a pity, indeed. Rando has certainly become the Chojin's whipped dog," a figure with a black, conical-shaped hat commented, grinning maniacally. He chuckled. "Going through the great Chojin's standard procedure of informing his comrades of any important piece of information; how very obedient, this dog."
Bi shook in vexation and fear over the imposing figure of what appeared to be a very deranged psychopath. It was almost impossible to believe that this was once a human, and not a demon from the very beginning. "May I have my leave now, sir? I still have to deliver my message to the leader of the Four Saint Beasts."
"But of course. How rude of me. Please go," the creature consented, grinning all the while. His teeth shone in the darkness, like the teeth of a predator about to consume his prey. Bi wisely took his leave then and there, running as fast as his two humanoid legs could take him.
"Unfortunately, though, I am nothing like that whipped dog, Rando. I hold no such loyalty. Suzaku and his lackeys will never know what I know now. I have only one intention in getting the Demon Sword, and it's not to please the Chojin."
The handsome Bi found himself frozen in his tracks. 'W-What's going on? Oh no... NO! Please!' he thought frantically before shouting out, "No! Jine-sama...!"
An appalling splatter was heard, followed by incongruous, gruff, and insane laughter. "I promised Battousai that I will see him in hell; this is my chance. I will soon remind him why his Demon Sword is called as such."
Kuwabara sat in the banged-up car silently, not really eager to strike up a conversation with the officer behind the wheel. It wasn't that he didn't trust him, but the man just looked so cold, with an unwavering expression on his face that didn't shake once as they drove through town. Only after Fujita parked on a curb in front of a small coffeehouse did he speak to the cautious youth. "This is a good place. Have you ever been here?"
"Nope," Kuwabara replied, shaking his head. "I don't really drink coffee. I usually have soda or something. Coffee's too bitter."
"I see," Fujita stated, beckoning to one of the tables outside of the building. "Just sit with me, then. I'll be right out, for we have much to discuss," he ordered in an icy voice. Before Kuwabara could answer, the officer had already turned his back and entered the store.
"...Okay?" Kuwabara muttered, confused. 'For an officer, this guy has a really cold aura,' he thought to himself. There's obviously more to him than meets the eye. Still, Kuwabara figured that there was no reason to fight him or run away, so he sat at one of the round glass tables, fiddling with the fold-out umbrellas until Fujita reappeared, his left hand clasped around a cup brimming with steam.
Sitting down, Fujita took a small sip and locked his gaze on Kuwabara. "Now why don't you tell me just what happened in the park? As I said, no matter what you tell me, I promise not to arrest you or anything of that sort. All I want is the truth." He narrowed his eyelids. "And I don't suggest you tell me anything other than the truth."
Kuwabara nodded, the glare making him quite uncomfortable. "All right, officer. I was in a fight with a... demon." He stopped to see if the older man would respond to that with anything. When he didn't, he hesitantly continued. "A demon named Rando, and..."
"You don't need to tell me anymore. I know the rest of your story," Fujita confirmed, taking another drink. Kuwabara stared at him in shock.
The young man shrugged. "What do you mean?"
"That you were sent by Koenma Daio to help Urameshi Yusuke retrieve the sealed Demon Sword and recapture the renegade demon Rando," Fujita surmised calmly.
Kuwabara's face turned about ten shades of red when he heard what Fujita shared. At a complete loss of words for a few seconds, his breathing became a bit erratic when he finally began speaking again. "How'd you know all that?" he shrieked, prompting a look from people at the other tables for a second.
This time, it was Fujita's turn to shrug. "I know many things."
"Hey, answer me, pal!" Kuwabara shouted, slamming his fist on the table and making a small dent appear on it. "Hardly anyone knows about that, and if you...!"
"You'll attack me in the middle of a crowded street?" Fujita inquired, drinking from his cup again. Kuwabara, noticing that more people were staring at them, settled down. "All right, all right, I'm sorry; but you just caught me off-guard there. Are you a demon?" he asked earnestly.
"Not in the slightest," Fujita confessed, shaking his head. "Just an extremely well-informed human, like yourself. Now, I'd like for you to tell me anything you know about where this Rando went. You said he escaped; where could he have gone to?"
Kuwabara thought for a moment. "I don't know. I'd only fought him one time before, and that was about two years ago," he mused.
Fujita arched an eyebrow. "Oh, so you actually have some sort of history with this Rando character?"
Kuwabara nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! You know the dojo nearby run by that old hag, Genkai? My rival and I were in a tournament of hers a while back, and Rando crashed the party, you could say. I lost to him in the semifinals, but Urameshi beat him in the finals and got the special training prize from Genkai."
"Very interesting," Fujita drawled, finishing the last of his coffee and tossing the empty cup into a nearby trashcan. "You said your friend's name was Urameshi? As in Urameshi Yusuke? The same person you helped out at the Shrine of the Sword?"
Again, Kuwabara was stupefied. "Jeez, you really are good at finding out information... except of course the friend part and all. Yeah, he's the one. What about him?"
Fujita managed a small chuckle. "You could say I know of bit of information about him as well. No matter. This Genkai character could be of some use to me. Would you mind taking me to this dojo? I'd love to hear what she knows."
"Sure, if you don't mind a hike!" Kuwabara joked. When he saw that Fujita wasn't laughing along, he stopped and glared at him angrily. "You know more than what you're letting on."
Fujita nodded. "You're correct. But you needn't worry, Kuwabara. All will be revealed soon, I'm sure." He looked up. "Come, let's get going. We shouldn't waste any more time than we have to."
"So that's what that was, Kenshin," Keiko finally finished.
Kenshin nodded. "Thank you very much for telling me that, Keiko-dono. Who would have thought that so many things changed so much in such a short time!" he expressed in gratitude. "It's really too much for my simple mind to comprehend!"
"Gee, who would have figured that?" Yusuke muttered to himself before shutting up, mostly because he saw Botan preparing her oar for another whack, and Kenshin begging him to spare the both of them further pain.
Yusuke rolled his eyes. "I mean, yeah, things sure have changed." He gave up trying to have an active part of this conversation and just lied down.
An even more curious look appeared on Keiko's face. "Where exactly did you come from, Kenshin? Are you human?" She glared at Yusuke, eyes narrowing. "This big jerk brings home all kinds of demons and terrible things, but I've grown used to them over time."
Kenshin chuckled a bit uncomfortably. "Yes, Keiko-dono, I'm human. I was just taken off of the Human World for a little while, so I'm still getting used to things." He gazed at his pseudo-date. "Isn't that right, Botan-dono?"
Botan grinned, albeit hesitantly. "Of course, Kenshin," she affirmed. When he turned around, her smile dropped.
'What does he mean?' she asked herself. 'Is Kenshin getting more out of this charade than I am?' She thought for a moment. 'I suppose it could be that men were this polite to ladies about a century ago.'
Finally, Botan shook such silly thoughts from her mind. Kenshin was probably just going out of his way to see that Keiko is convinced of their little act, she concluded.
"So, you said it had been a while since you were here, Kenshin." Keiko giggled. "What do you plan on doing in Tokyo?"
Kenshin, unsure of how to answer the question, shrugged. "Well, I'm not exactly sure, to be honest. There was an old dojo that I used to spend much of my time at. I suppose I can look to see if it's still here."
"What was it called?" Yusuke queried half-heartedly.
Kenshin turned around. "The Kamiya Kasshin Dojo. Have you heard of it, by any chance?" he asked, sounding hopeful.
Yusuke shook his head. "Can't say that I have; fighting with swords has pretty much disappeared. Nowadays, everyone's either fighting with their fists or they're gangsters that carry around guns. A lot of those old training halls are gone, although kendo is still a popular sport."
The former rurouni's head dropped. "I see."
Botan, trying to think of a way to see if she could cheer Kenshin up, poked his back. Both Kenshin and Yusuke reacted to the sudden pinch as though an ice cube slid through their spine, much to Yusuke's chagrin.
"Yusuke, stop clowning around," the clueless Keiko berated, unaware of the spiritual bond the two men shared.
"You know, the person we're visiting right now, Genkai, runs an old dojo for martial arts training. Once we sort out the Demon Sword issue, maybe she could help you out with your past life and stuff?"
"Really? Do you think she can help?" Kenshin asked hopefully.
"I believe she's almost eighty years old, give or take a year," Botan chirped, holding her hands together. "I know that's not old enough to be from your time, but she might still be able to help you out. You never know."
The ex-vagabond's face lit up. "Oh, that's fantastic. I simply must meet her!" He thought for a moment. If Genkai were seventy-five years old that would mean she would've been born around... "What year is today?"
"1993," Yusuke idly answered.
"Right." The spirit nodded. Genkai would have been born around 1918; early enough for Kaoru, Yahiko, or Sanosuke to still be alive. This old woman just might have the sort of information Kenshin was so desperately needing; besides the fact that she was the one responsible for the sealing of the Demon Sword's power, of course.
Keiko stood up. "Well, there's no point in waiting. We might as well get going if we want to get there before dinner," she declared, dusting some dirt off her skirt.
Hours later, inside Genkai's Temple...
Genkai looked up to the twilight sky in curiosity and boredom from her home's patio, serenely sipping tea while the wind chime tinkled amidst a wayward mountain breeze. "The stars are exceptionally bright tonight."
She blinked as she peered at a particularly brilliant star just beside the seven stars of the Big Dipper. She'd seen that star twice before; just a few minutes before she fought the Younger Toguro, and one other important instance.
There was a legend concerning the star: It was called the Harbinger of Death, because it only appeared clearly to those who were about to die.
Genkai exhaled in acceptance. "So I'm about to die for real this time, huh? Fine. It's about time. Better me than someone else who still has his life ahead of him."
Jorge rushed into Koenma's office, where he saw his master slumped over his desk, lost in thought. "Is everything okay, Koenma-sama?"
The Acting Lord of Reikai snapped to attention when he saw his most loyal servant appear, clutching a large pile of papers in both his hands. "No, everything's not okay!" he shouted. "I need to find out more about what's going on here!"
He tossed a dry seal at Jorge's face. "You! Did you find out any information about Himura Kenshin-san?"
"Y-Yes, sir!" Jorge answered, pushing the papers onto Koenma's desk. He sifted through them for a moment, pulled one out and began reading. "Himura Kenshin, born June 20, 1851, 158 centimeters tall..."
Koenma hurled another stamp at Jorge, this one hitting him in the stomach. "I don't care about how tall he is! Get to the important stuff!"
Jorge nodded furiously. "Yes, Koenma-sama! In the Bakumatsu, he was known as the Hitokiri Battousai because he killed hundreds of people trying to reform the Japanese government. After it ended and the death of his first wife occurred, he became a rurouni for ten years. This lasted..."
"I already know that, you dolt! Those were the facts I used to judge his soul a hundred or so years ago!" Koenma quickly interrupted, rolling his eyes as he impatiently tapped his fingers on his desk. "Well, it can't be helped. Just continue with the story, Jorge."
"Yes, sir. He was a vagabond for a decade before meeting a young lady named Kamiya Kaoru. In 1878, he was summoned by someone named Okubo Toshimichi to assassinate Shishio Makoto, an insane rebel trying to overthrow the Japanese government. Kenshin completely dismantled Shishio's operation with the help of his friends, but he and Shishio perished in the ensuing battle between them." He placed the paper back on the table. "Will that do, Koenma-sama?"
Koenma nodded solemnly. He considered telling Jorge that he'd uncovered much more information than the ogre probably knew, but thought the better of it. 'So Shishio and Himura-san killed each other around the same time that the Chojin was first sighted. Interesting.'
To Jorge, Koenma cooed, "Good. Did you find out anything else that might be able to help us? Like who Himura-san's close contacts were at the time of his demise? Finding those people could be greatly beneficial to us."
Jorge thought for a moment before he had an epiphany of sorts. "Oh, that's right! Well, I discovered that Himura-san was in very close contact with not one, not two, not three," he counted off his fingers for dramatic effect, "but four mighty warriors of that era!"
"Four?" Koenma exclaimed. 'Well,' he thought, 'birds of a feather flock together.' "Tell me more about them. All of them."
"Yes, Koenma-sama. First is Saito Hajime, captain of one of the Shinsengumi Units. He has a death record in the Human World, but I couldn't his records here in the Spirit World. It's quite bizarre, but bottom line is, I don't know much about him." He shrugged.
Koenma grunted, but nodded. "Continue."
"Second is Hiko Seijuro the Thirteenth, the final master of the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu, the style Himura-san practiced. Even though I'm sure he's dead, information about him is also hard to find."
Koenma stroked his chin. The name did sound familiar; he'd be someone to keep in mind for later. "Very well. Who else?"
"Last are the legendary fighter and gangster Sagara Sanosuke and one of the most powerful samurai at the turn of the last century, Myojin Yahiko," Jorge proclaimed proudly. "We've located their spirits within the Eden Sections of Reikai, so I didn't think it'd be necessary to look up the details of their lives. Himura-san was best friends with these two."
"Excellent job, Jorge." Koenma rubbed his hands together in glee. "I have vague memories of both of them, so they could definitely come in handy. Are there any other notable people Kenshin knew at the time of his death?"
Jorge shook his head. "Not really, Koenma-sama. There is his unnamed wife and Kamiya Kaoru, a couple of ninjas, two prominent doctors, and a few other friends, but those four stood out the most because all of them are quite well-known to those who've studied that era of Japan. All of them are fierce, strong warriors."
Koenma wrinkled his nose in meditation. "All right." He resolutely stood up. "Jorge, your next mission is to track this Sanosuke and Yahiko down and bring them here to the Gates of Judgment."
"What?" Jorge cried out in total shock. "You're not going to bring them back into the Human World, are you? That's only for the direst of emergencies! This situation isn't that bad, is it?" he worriedly queried, growing more frantic by the second.
"Not at the moment," Koenma acknowledged, shaking his head. "But I can't risk anything going wrong, so I'm going to need to have a discussion with those two about Kenshin, about the Demon Sword, about Shishio, and about everything. In any case, I want them in this office within the next few hours!"
Jorge groaned, but nodded. "Yes, Koenma-sama! I'll get right on it!" With that, he burst out of the room and darted down the hallway. Koenma sat back in his chair and sighed.
He doubted he'd get anything from Sanosuke and Yahiko that he didn't already know, and it would show great desperation if he had to give them back their mortal bodies and send them back to the Human World. Still, he decided, matters like this are too hazardous to worry about rules.
"You were right, this is quite a hike." Kenshin beamed blissfully.
"Don't worry, Kenshin. We're almost there," Keiko reassured.
"We'd better be, or I'm going to..."
"Shut up, Yusuke," Botan reprimanded.
Keiko looked up in the sky. "Wow. It's getting dark. But look at all those stars! That one right beside the Big Dipper is quite beautiful, Yusuke! I wonder what it's called, though."
Yusuke grumbled. "Star of Lame? Who cares? Come on, let's get a move on before it gets really dark."
Rando, Iehog, and Iehik exited their cave, only to see a very tall demon licking a blade drenched in blood. At his feet were the scarred remains of another demon.
"B-Bi!" Iehog wailed, crouching to look at his human-looking underling. He stared up at Jine in askance. "Did you do this to Bi?"
Jine's eyes seemed to bulge out of his sockets as he unleashed a huge cackle. "Why, of course!" he screamed. "I thought it appropriate that his final task is to summon his own killer." He chortled again.
"Damn you, Jine!" Rando slurred through gritted teeth. "I'm not so much angry about you killing him, though. He was a worthless wretch."
"You're correct," Jine intoned, giving Iehog an evil sneer. "He didn't even put up a fight; he just ran like a mangy little dog," he informed, turning his glare at Rando.
"But I was about to send him to get Suzaku," Rando continued, trying to ignore what he considered ranting and raving on the part of Jine. "I wanted to speak with both of you, and...!"
The four heard a bird squawking overhead. "You don't need to worry about that!" a shrill voice muttered. Above them was a green bird with a tuft of purple hair that had apparently been watching them from one of the nearby trees. The familiar continued by shouting out several more words, but her voice was so disruptive that the others had trouble deciphering it.
Iehik looked at Rando curiously. "What the hell is that thing?"
Rando snorted. "It's Suzaku's damn pet bird, Murugu. It's probably been spying on us this whole time. Damn that Suzaku."
"Quite ironic, isn't it?" another voice, this time a much smoother one, resonated from behind them. Turning around, they saw a blond-haired humanoid creature standing on top of the mouth of the cave. "You sent one of your servants to get me, when in fact it's me that's looking after you, Rando."
"It's hilarious, Suzaku," Rando deadpanned, his voice dripping with sarcasm. His eyes switched to Iehog and Iehik, who were watching in horror as Jine dissected the body of their former comrade. "You two," he commanded, "I've changed my mind. You're free to do as you wish. We'll take it from here. Now get lost!"
Iehik began sweating. "But master...!"
"LEAVE!" Rando roared. "If you're still here after five seconds, I'll be more than happy to let Jine and Suzaku rip you to shreds." When Iehog and Iehik saw Jine brandishing his sword and Suzaku making a golden bow appear from nowhere, they didn't need a lot of encouragement to make a hasty goodbye and slither away.
Suzaku jumped off the cave entrance and let his bow disappear. He glanced first at Jine, then at Rando. "So, why did you summon us here, Rando? Do you have some sort of juicy information to share with us?"
"Yes, about the Demon Sword. I've found that..."
"Is that all you wanted, you wretch?" Jine exclaimed. "What makes you think you could possibly know more about that sword than I? I nearly died by that blade!"
Rando rolled his eyes, hoping to keep the insaneness of Jine in check. "All I meant to say was that the one who inhabits it, Himura Kenshin, has finally been unleashed, and that I know where it is right now."
"Fool. I know of that as well," Jine snorted. 'Let your folly lead to your death by Battousai's hands, Rando.'
"Huh. And how does that involve me?" Suzaku demanded. "I don't particularly care for the sword, except for the fact that the Chojin finds it very important."
The gears in Rando's mind went spinning wildly as an idea hatched in his head. "Tell me, Suzaku, what has become of your lackeys? Genbu, Byakko, and Seiryu?"
Suzaku let himself chortle forcefully. "Well, since our unceremonious losses at the hands of Urameshi's group, we've been training night and day, praying for another chance to fight them and thanking the Chojin for giving us that opportunity."
"Yes! An opportunity is something we've been waiting for!" Murugu cried, still hovering around them in the air.
Rando grinned; that was the exact answer he wanted. "As I said, I know where Urameshi is, and I think we should have a surprise waiting for him when he gets there."
"Just tell me where he is," Jine seethed.
"I've got a special plan in mind," Rando divulged. When he saw both Suzaku and Jine glowering at him, he held up his hands in surrender.
"Just hear me out. I plan on going over there right now. In all honesty, I don't think I can defeat Urameshi, this samurai or whatever, and that bitch Genkai by myself. So," he looked at Suzaku, "I want to take Genbu, Byakko, and Seiryu with me."
Suzaku pondered for a moment. "Perhaps. Why?"
"Yes, why?" Murugu echoed her master.
"It's simple," Rando coaxed, deciding to begin by lying through his teeth. "The Chojin has demanded we retrieve the Demon Sword that he's seeking so badly. I've decided to obey that command. Therefore, if I'm able to defeat all those fighters myself, then I'll be sure to deliver their bodies to you two, and you can do with them what you will."
Rando noticed both Jine and Suzaku smiling at the mention of that particular tidbit. "However, if I can't defeat them, I'll have weakened Urameshi Yusuke and Himura Kenshin enough for you two to get your own revenge anyway."
"Fine, then," Jine replied. 'There's no way you can defeat Battousai, but you'll grant me the perfect opportunity to do so.'
Rando nodded slowly. "Right." He looked at Suzaku. "So how does that sound to you?"
Suzaku pulled out a small whistle from a pocket in his gi and handed it to Rando. "I like it. Use this new demon whistle from anywhere on the ends of the earth. My three servants will appear at your whim."
"I see," Rando murmured. "I don't remember you being able to do that, though."
Suzaku snickered. "In these last few years, we've all picked up a few new tricks. Do not underestimate my servants."
"Yes, do not under... ACK!" a shriek came from the heavens. Rando and Suzaku looked up to see Murugu falling to the ground, a huge blade stuck in her chest. When she crashed to the ground, she had already died.
"Murugu!" Suzaku shouted, running to her and cradling her corpse. When he saw Jine pull his sword out of her body and howling uncontrollably, his eyes flared. "Why did you do that? She did nothing to you!" he screamed.
Jine's uproarious guffaws continued. "She was annoying me, and I felt the taste for blood again. It's a nasty habit of mine, you see."
You'll pay for what you've done!" Suzaku screamed, readying a burst of energy. When he fired it, however, Jine had already vanished.
Rando turned away. "I'll see you soon, Suzaku." He walked off, leaving Suzaku on the ground, crying and grieving the loss of his servant and pet. "I'll get you for this, Jine," was all that escaped from his mouth.
"Ah, I never get tired of visiting this place," Botan disclosed, kicking her feet and stretching out on a wooden bench overlooking a patch of grass. "It's just so peaceful here. No wonder Genkai-baasan decided to set up her dojo on the peak of a mountain. I'd love to live up here." Little did the ferry-girl know that the whole area belonged to Genkai, her property stretching as far as the eye could see.
Yusuke curtly grunted, walking down the main path towards the dojo's front door. "You'd think the old hag could have a road run up here instead of thousands of stairs. But noooo!" He flung his arms in the air, causing Kenshin to look on inquiringly. "She just had to keep the 'peace and tranquility' of stairs. It makes me sick."
"My pardons, Yusuke, but perhaps she prefers steps because it keeps people from her home?" Kenshin pointed out, looking around, "It certainly seems as though Genkai-baasan likes to keep her privacy, but this is still a gorgeous place."
Keiko nodded. "It is. I'll check to see if she's home." She proceeded to hop up the few steps in front of the door and knock. After a few seconds, the door creaked open slowly. A short figure could be spotted investigating who was at the door, and soon after the door flung open.
"Ah, Keiko!" the figure greeted happily. It was an extremely short, elderly woman with frail hair of a pinkish hue, sporting a red variation of a martial arts outfit. "How are you today?"
"I'm fine, ma'am," Keiko serenely tilted her head to the side. "I'm glad to see that you're still healthy and perky for your age!" Meanwhile, in the background, Botan and Yusuke choked on their own spit as they uncomfortably looked away.
To be Continued...
Next: Past foes, present woes.
I've noticed that the trade-off posts between myself and Chester have been getting longer and longer. I'm not sure if that means we both have more to write, or if we're just trying to beat each other to writing the fun stuff first. What do you think, pal? :)
Anyway, much thanks go to said Chester and the SeventhOne for the original concept. I should write a eulogy for the hour of Yu Yu Hakusho/Rurouni Kenshin that introduced me to both shows (Even if both shows were heavily edited, it was still the best hour on TV). Ah well.
Danyal Herder