She was unstoppable. Not because she did not have failures or doubts, but because she continued on despite them - Beau Taplin


Chapter eight: Failure is a bruise not a tattoo

I was Thursday. I should have gone to school, but I couldn't be too sure he wouldn't be there so I just decided to stay home. I seriously didn't feel like having to sit next to him. I was too angry. Still. If I saw him I would probably punch him or something.

I put on my day clothes, a hoodie and shorts and went to Yusuke's school. I tried my new ability a few times and I was right. Somehow I could teleport twenty steps around me. I knew Yusuke spent most of his time at the roof top of his school so I just went to Sarayashiki Junior High roof top and waited until he would come there only to already find Botan there.

'Oh, hello, Ran-chan,' she said with a soft smile as she saw me. I was confused why she was dressed in Sarayashiki's uniform, but I didn't ask her about it. She probably just didn't want to look suspicious.

'I can see your abilities have grown,' she spoke calmly and I blinked, 'You know about my abilities?' I asked her and jumped up to sit next to her.

She smiled and nodded, 'Yes, you caused quite the stir. A twelve year old who killed youkai is quite a big thing. Plus the fact that Master Genkai decided to train you.' She looked at me as if I was something precious, 'It's really everything to die for.'Really? Die for? Alright either she was playing it or she didn't get that her choice of words was very poor.

I frowned a bit confused, 'You know about that as well?'

Botan suddenly looked like she just realized that her words didn't make me too happy and quickly covered her mouth, 'Oi, sorry, Ran. I didn't mean to upset you, I spoke to much.' She hit her forehead, 'I always say too much. I'm sorry, Ran.'

I shook my head, 'No, Botan. It's fine. You all talking about it all the time?' I asked not sure what did it mean or what was I asking anyway.

She opened her mouth just as Yusuke came to the roof, 'What is this girls' club?' he asked as he spotted us.

I showed my tongue to him while Botan giggled, 'How are you doing by the way?' she asked me suddenly. I almost forgot that she was in the hospital when I had my melt down so it was possible she heard me shout in the hallway.

'I'm fine. I just forgot that I can't trust youkai, I guess.'

She looked a bit worried at me, concerned, but I didn't care and just watched Yusuke until I crossed my arms, 'You said that there's one more artifact. I want to help today because I'm leaving for my Master tomorrow,' I told him.

'What about you?' asked him Botan.

'I still have nightmares about Gouki and most times I don't even dream,' admitted the boy before he shivered. They continued to talk about Botan's outfit for a while until Botan jumped down and said, 'I almost forgot. About Kurama...'

I frowned a bit.

'Under the circumstances, he may have some breathing room. He's reformed himself and all, and his whereabouts are clear enough.'

'That's great,' said Yusuke glad and looked at me, but I didn't share his enthusiasm. I was glad he was fine because of his mom, but in my current state the assshole could rot in a cell for all cared.

'Yusuke?' asked Keiko who just appeared on the roof surprising us.

'Oh, Ran, why aren't you in school today?' she asked looking crossed and I looked away a bit since Keiko had that look that made you feel sorry for not going to school.

'Uh, I wasn't feeling like going to school. So I stopped by to see how you guys were,' I said and added a fake smile hoping she would buy it. She frowned a bit before she looked at Yusuke and started to talk about some book report he didn't turn in in time. I sighed relieved that I was off the hook for a while until Yusuke messed things up by asking Keiko to do his homework.

I shot him a look, 'Dude, seriously?' I asked with a furious glare to signal him that he was making a mistake, but he just shook his head, 'What?'

'Oh, so you and Botan will be busy,' said Keiko annoyed before she left the roof pissed at probably at all three of us.

Yusuke looked from her to me to back to her and I shot him another look, 'Well, don't just stand there.'

He ran after her then and I threw my head back annoyed. Jesus, boys could be so I caredyesterday. I told Ken the truth and it turned out better than I ever hoped it would, that and the fact that Shiori was alive and well were the only good things that happened so far.

I watched the clouds pass on the sky and decided to wait until the end of their class and just help him out then. oddly one of the clouds looked like a little three limbed fox which made me frown.

Selfish asshole.


Ran's POV

I waited for Yusuke to come out, but Keiko came out sooner and told me that he had to stay in class until he wrote the book report. I chuckled at that, and decided to walk her home if nothing else.

'Who's that Botan?' she asked instantly. Whoa, I expected at least a little bit of a cool act, but then again Keiko was a year younger. I shook my head, 'She's just some girl. I think she wants to help him get an after school job.' I would have to let Yusuke in on the lie later. Well, I did tell the truth to Ken so it seemed fitting that I would double lie to Keiko.

She sighed and nodded, 'I acted like a jealous girlfriend, didn't I?' she asked me and I chuckled, 'A tiny bit, but it's fine, I think he is worried that you actually might think that.'

She shook her head, 'It's nothing. I shouldn't have acted like that. Tell me about you and Ken. How are things?' she asked, and I smiled a bit, 'Great, we talked yesterday, and it felt awesome.' I admitted with a small smile as we walked. We started to talk about everything from Ken, to school, to the new TV show we started to watch not even paying attention to anything else, until I felt someone spoke in my mind.

You should be paying more attention to your surroundings, little girl.

I stopped in track because that voice spoke in my head. I looked around frowning and Keiko stopped as well, 'What's wrong? Ran?' she asked and took a step closer, but I stopped her with a raised hand, 'Don't move.'

'Ran, I'm scared. What's wrong?' she asked seeing the worry in my eyes. I swallowed hard unsure of how to voice my fears looking around before I pulled off my glasses seeing the same red glow which looked like a dragon moving too fast from one spot to another.

'Keiko,' I said and pulled my best friend closer behind me trying and failing to watch the moves of the youkai.

Too slow, little girl.

Said the voice again before it suddenly disappeared again only to show up behind me where I was hiding Keiko and with a move too quick for me to catch, his sword cut her.

'No!' I shouted and pushed her away before taking a hit at him only to miss. I quickly kneeled down to her as she was unconsciousness on the ground, but I didn't see any blood from the cut. Did he really cut her at all?

'Keiko? Keiko, wake up, please?' I asked moving her shoulder to wake her up, but it was no use.

I heard something which by all means was a sinister laugh and I looked at the direction of it with my heartbeat higher than as if I was running around in circles for the last ten minutes, 'What the hell did you do to her?!' I demanded and watched as the youkai showed himself.

'Something not pretty. I'm going to take her now,' he spoke and took a step closer to us.

'I would like to see you try,' I said taking my position to protect my friend on the ground. He did try in fact, but I was ready and angry this time so when he came close I let all my energy to create a shield around my arm and have him thrown away momentary caught off guard.

He frowned, 'Baka, you shouldn't be fighting me if I'm the only one who can help your friend.'

I didn't care that I was showing my energy to possible people around me as I was glaring at him. And I sure as hell didn't care about what he had to say in the moment, 'Well, you have to be insane if you think I will let you take my friend just like that.'

He smirked and tried to go at me again while pulling out the sword again. He hit the shield again and the power from the impact got me to fell on my back. He was faster than me for sure, so he went at me again hoping to catch me off guard with such a quick attack after the first one, but I was angrier and before he knew it I punched him. He was lucky that he jumped away in the last second or he would have ended up as just like all those other youkai or so I thought.

'Foolish girl,' he said before in a quick move he did get Keiko into his arms, and I realized that when he got me on my back I left her unprotected.

'You shouldn't pick up battles that aren't meant for you.'

That only made me more angry as I quickly jumped the twenty steps I learned the other day surprising him once again as I could see his eyes widened before I punched him as hard as I could.

Keiko fell off his arms and I semi-caught her as the youkai fell to the ground as well. I quickly checked my friend hoping that the battle was over. I was wrong as just as I had Keiko secured in my arms I realized that unlike the other youkai he didn't explode with his disgusting blood everywhere. He was on the ground coughing a bit blood, but apart from that he seemed fine.

My eyes widened. This wasn't good. I tried to hold Keiko tighter to me. I wasn't a coward. I didn't want to run. I wanted this guy to pay for hurting my friend, but I had to sort of my priorities which at the top right now was my brown haired best friend unconscious in my arms.

Don't get cocky.

Master Genkai's words echoed in my mind she warned me that just because I was only met with weak youkai so far. Hiei was a challenge, but it wasn't worth getting Keiko hurt more. I tried to jump again only realize that I couldn't while I was holding Keiko in my arms.

He wiped his mouth looking so angry with me it was actually scary, 'You shall regret this, Baka Onna.'

I pushed Keiko a bit away from him. I definitely pissed off him and his dragon glow as well from how furious it was glaring at me. I had to grip Keiko's arm to get a grip as well since the fear from the scary thing was making me almost paralyzed. I didn't know this youkai, and although I met many other none, not even the one that killed my father, let out such a deadly feeling as this one.

He pulled out his sword again and in a second was in front of me which I could only block with another shield, but I could tell he was going after me with everything he could because I was barely holding my ground with each of his hit.

I tried to hit him again, but he was prepared now and because I opened myself to a hit as well, he quickly kicked me into the stomach. Yup, he definitely didn't hold back as I felt my breakfast coming back up.

I hissed in pain before I looked back up only to find him holding Keiko once again, 'Final warning girl. Don't get involved.'

My eyes widened. He was going to disappear again. I couldn't let him take Keiko I just couldn't. I wasn't sure what happened. I was too worried he would take her, but for a moment I felt the flow of my spiritual energy and where it was centered inside my middle where I thought my soul could be situated. I felt something move inside it. It hurt, but as I saw Hiei's smirk as he was ready to leave I pushed the pain backward and stood up. However, once my foot hit the ground something happened. It was the same as if when I used my shield only the glow didn't just materialized into a shield, but it spread around me from the spot I hit on the ground and started to move toward Hiei as if it was a wave.

His eyes widened, but before it would reach him and Keiko, which I only realized to late would get hurt by thw wave as well he was gone. The wave must have moved only a few steps, but with how worried Hiei looked for a moment I had a feeling it wouldn't just end with a simple cough. That was the last thing on my mind as the world went pinch black aound me.

'Ms, are you alright? Ms?' I heard as the world was coming back to me. I fainted and used another completely new technic in the middle of the day and in a public street. Now there were people with worried looks around me.

None of that was important though. Hiei disappeared with my best friend or maybe just ran very fast but either way he was gone. I quickly got up and started to run and jump looking for her praying that she was alright. I was terrified. I couldn't lose Keiko. I couldn't lose her to some youkai.

I stopped for a moment as I was running for far too long without any trace. Although the last person I wanted to see right now he would know maybe where his associate was. Shaking my head, I decided to swallow my pride and find my best friend before it was too late.

I found the closest phone dialing the number. I wasn't even sure I knew the number until I actually did. I couldn't be sure he would be home. He just got off from the Reikai and his mom was probably still in the hospital.

'Moshi-moshi, Minamino-'

'Do you have any idea where Hiei could be hiding right now?' I asked before further ado thanking the lucky star that he was home.

'Ran, what-'

'DO YOU?' I shouted scaring a few locals that were walking around the street close to me.

He was quiet for a while, and I pressed my head against the device hoping that it didn't mean he had no idea when he suddenly said, 'A little while back he asked me to meet him once in a warehouse at the docks.'

I raised my head, 'Ran, what's going on?' He asked sounding so concerned and worried and I wanted to tell him and let him help me ease my mind and burden just like he had with Yusuke's death, but I was still pissed at him for not telling me...for wanting to...

'He has Keiko,' I quickly ended the call and ran to the docks using my new ability as well and hoping that I wasn't too late.


Once I finally got there I immediately recognized his energy with Botan's and a large amount of humans. I must have lost mt glasses during the battle on the street. It took me a while to get through the door as it wouldn't open, but once I was in a immediately ran in and found Yusuke fighting a very shirtless and green youkai with eyes all over him.

'The hell?' I asked confused for a moment before I was attacked by several humans.

'Hey!' I had to block several punches at once.

'Ran!' I heard Yusuke as I almost got hit by a guy with a pipe.

'We'll have to keep you entertainmed until I'm done with your friend, little girl,' said the youkai and I cursed as I had to block another attack. I couldn't exactly hurt a human. I had to jump to the air and on one of the boxes as one of them had a knife.

'I will make you both into youkai,' said Hiei. I looked over and found him with a sword in his hand looking at Yusuke and then at me. 'What's that? You're making me to choose?' he asked smiling as neither of us answered and he ran after Yusuke.

'No!' I shouted and jumped from the boxes, but before I could get there out of nowhere Kurama appeared and got stabbed into the stomach while protecting Yusuke. I was by his side a second too late only to quickly help support him as he still had the sword in his stomach.

'Oh, my God.' Several thoughts ran through my head in that moment and all of them lead to the fact that just as I felt guilty for not hearing what Yusuke had to say to me when they train came, if Kurama died now it would be with me still being angry at him.

'Ku-rama,' I breathed out, but he oddly smiled at me as if he just won. He pushed the sword further into him and I cried out, 'Stop.' His hand was covered in blood and in a moment he took that blood and splashed it over Hiei's third eye causing him to let the sword fall down and him to step away in pain.

'Hey, it came untied,' said Yusuke as he was free to move while I looked at Kurama who looked pleased with the result.

He put his hand around me as he was losing his stability and I held him tighter for support.

'The spell broke. The Jagans on Hiei's body are just for amplification. Without the Jagan exposed on his forehead his powers become useless,' he said and then hissed in pain holding his stomach tightly.

'Okay, enough with the lecture, you need to sit down,' I told him. I wouldn't let him go, but he needed immediate help.

'Are you alright?' asked Yusuke and I shot him a look, 'He just got stabbed by a swords, what do you think?'

'I'm fine. It's only a minor hole in my stomach,' he said and I had half a mind to pinch him if he wasn't so hurt.

'You didn't have to do that,' said Yusuke and I looked at Kurama to see what he will answer. Without my glasses, I saw his fox glow clearly. It didn't look terrifying. It looked pleased somehow. It was like it was happy it was in a battle and that it helped Yusuke.

'I'm only alive because of you,' he spoke, 'Besides, you and Keiko are Ran's friends, and that means a lot to me,' he said and looked down at me with a smile. I wasn't sure what did this attitude mean, but for me it meant that he risked everything there was to save my friends, and as much as I wanted to punch him for what he did and how he made me worried. I couldn't. Not right now.

'Come on, sit down for a bit,' I said hoping there weren't too much emotions in my face. Kurama looked at Yusuke for a moment, 'You'll have to fight Hiei on your own, but I will take care of your friend as much as I can.'

I didn't let him talk more and literally pushed him to where I could sense Botan alone with Keiko. I sat him down against one of the boxes before I rushed to Botan, who was struggling with some light that was coming out her hand, 'What's happening?' I asked feeling terrified that Keiko wasn't moving and that she had a third eye in the middle of her forehead.

Kurama pushed me a bit to the side as he started some sort of healing process along Botan. In a few moments I heard and noticed the men from earlier returned.

'These again,' I whined. 'They're controlled by Hiei,' spoke Botan, 'They don't know what they're doing. So you can't hurt them, Ran.'

'I know!'

I cursed a bit before I ran toward them to try to prevent them from going to close to Keiko and the others without actually hurting any of them. I could hear Yusuke still fighting Hiei, but I couldn't leave the people on Kurama and Botan who had enough on their hands with Keiko.

One of the man got a good shot at me with a pipe before they all fell to the ground unconsciousness all at once.

I blinked looking around before I watched as Yusuke quickly ran Keiko carrying the sword. He undid the blade and quickly let a few drops hit Keiko's forehead where the creepy eye was. I slowly walked there worried hoping that it would help and relieved watched as the eyes slowly closed.

'Goodbye, Keiko youkai,' said Yusuke relieved as well, before he looked at me and we nodded at each other both glad more than ever.

'She's going to recover,' said Botan and I walked even more toward them before I kneeled down next to her as well.

'I sure hope so,' said Yusuke and looked over at Kurama who was taking his time to heal. I stood up again completely forgetting that he was stabbed for a while, 'Hey, do you need an ambulance or something?' I asked and he shook his head with a small smile, 'I'll be fine.'

When he looked at me however I looked away. Sure, I was glad he was alright, but I was still angry at him so he wouldn't get off the hook that easily.

'Anyway, thanks, Kurama, I own you one. You sure you're alright?'

'Yes, I avoided the important organs at least.'

'I still can't believe what you did Yusuke,' said Botan and I tried to not to look again at Kurama although I wanted to.

'Why didn't you tell me the spirit gun can bounce off mirrors when did you learn how to do that?'

'About ten minutes ago?' said Yusuke and I shot him a look, 'You didn't know that would work?'

'No,' he said as if I offended him or something.

'He was way too quick. So I knew I had to hit him from behind. That's when I spotted the mirror and I thought hey, I'll give it a try ' he said and I felt like strangling him.

'You weren't certain?' asked Kurama also shocked by the news.

'One time in science class they bounded a light from a mirror and I thought it might be the same.'

'And what would you done if it didn't work?'

'I would have been chopped to pieces I guess.'

I hit my forehead.

'All this time we thought you were a master strategist when you were just a lucky fool.'

'Hey, watch it fox boy. What's that word mean anyway?' he asked

I sat down again, 'Nothing that you will ever be that's for sure.'

'A strategists is someone who uses his brain,' said Kurama, and Yusuke looked like he was ready to punch him, but Botan somehow managed to calm him down while I was looking down at Keiko. Was I really cocky? Could I have somehow avoid getting her taken?

'Yusuke, I'm sorry,' I said not looking at my best friend as he was saying something to Botan, but with my eyes glued at Keiko's sleeping face. I remebered that as we were younger when we were having sleepovers everyone slept like a frog or all over the bed, but Keiko always slept in one place so calmly looking like an angel.

'For what?' asked Yusuke, but I still kept my eyes on Keiko.

'I was with her, and I let Hiei take her.'

'You were with her?' asked Yusuke shocked a bit and I clinched my fists, 'It was my fault she got taken. I tried to stop him. But I didn't. I couldn't. I wan't good enough.'

I felt Yusuke's hand on my shoulder all of the sudden, 'Hey, Hiei was really strong. It happens. It's nothing really.'

I frowned, 'It's not nothing. He could have killed her on the spot,' I said annoyed.' I trainned for four years almost and I probably had better abilities than Yusuke, but in the end he was the one who defeated him. I let him take Keiko, and couldn't even find him without Kurama's help and in the end I spent the fight dealing with a band of mind controlled humans.

With everything I learned and did I was still useless to protect one of the only people in my life that counted. I couldn't protect Keiko, or Yusuke when he got killed, or Ken who was sick all his life or even Kurama when he wanted to sacrificed himself for Shiori.

I stood up. All that power and still useless.

'Oi, Ran?' asked Yusuke, but I didn't look at him, and just started to walk away.

'Hey, Ran, where are you going?' he demanded, 'Ran, wait up,' he called, but I just continued to walk not looking at him or Keiko or Botan and definitely not looking at Kurama. I just walked away. I knew Yusuke wouldn't follow me since he had to take care of Keiko. I just walked until I was at the train station. I just walked not thinking about that I left both injured Kurama and unconsciousness Keiko on Yusuke and Botan, but I seriously didn't want to look at them knowing what a disappointment I was.


Kurama's POV

Finding Ran was easy. It might have been due to everything that I have done in the last couple of days but many of my youkai abilities in their weakest forms were showing. With Ran sitting next to me for almost four years it was easy to find her scent both when I was running to her and Yusuke's aid a few hours ago and now.

Yusuke wanted to walk me home, and Botan to heal me, but I was alright in the next half hour and the wound had heal on its own. I told them to take care of Keiko instead and promised to go find Ran.

'I'm not sure she will talk to you. When she's like this she doesn't talk to people much she just locks herself inside her head,' he warned me. I knew that. I already saw her doing so, but I also witnessed her open up to me when the boy died.

I found her by scent at the train station. I knew this was how she usually got to her Master at the weekends, but it was an odd time to be going to her temple. I found her sitting alone on one of the benches looking at her hands. I understood her feelings partly as I also felt useless when my mother was ill until yesterday. I knew how this would end but I still approached her. She looked up at me the moment I came too close and frowned.

'Why the hell did you follow me?!' she demanded annoyed and upset. She wasn't crying, but with the look on her face, I could tell she was very much hurt and blamed herself about what happened with Hiei. I still walked up to her and partly waited for her to sit away, but just like years before when she was forced to sit next to a youkai for the first time in her life terrified, still she didn't. She continued to sit next to me while looking at her hands again.

I watched her for a moment seeing the bruise on her face. A momentary urge arrived to heal the bruise, but I was certain she wouldn't appreciate the gesture in the moment. Instead I reached into my pocket and pulled out her glasses.

She looked at them a little bit startled and losing the upset expression.

'I found them on my way to the docks after you called.'

She took them from me, but didn't put them on and instead watched them in her hands.

'I put them off,' she said after a while when I was sure she would never spoke again, 'I put them off once he spoke in my head. I wanted to have all the advantage I could.'

'That was a smart thing to do,' I told her with a nod.

She still watched them, 'I punched him once. He wasn't expecting it and it looked like it hurt him a lot, but in the end it only made him angrier,' she said. I knew this didn't mean she forgave me or that she thought us as friends again, but it mean something to be able to hear her out when she needed it.

'You're lucky, it's very hard to surprise Hiei with how fast he is,' I told her honestly, but she frowned, 'Yusuke did. You did,' her eyes moved as if for a single moment she forgot she was so crossed with me and almost looked at me.

I tried to think of something which would ease her mind although I knew from experience when someone lost in a battle it was hard to give something to find comfort in. I looked to the front again before I spoke, 'I used to steal things. My last robbery was almost dull with how easy I've done it. I was in and out, but I wasn't expecting to almost get caught by hunters or to almost get killed. I always prepared everything to every possible detail and outcome and yet I still almost lost my life at something which I considered an easy job,' I spoke remembering my last robbery before I merged with the fetus inside Shiori.

'The point is that you can have everything planned and do everything right and still lose. It's not always a choice of abilities or luck.'

Ran reminded silent for a while and I assumed my words didn't help before she suddenly stood up and looked at me as if she was Fury itself.

'Asshole! Baka jerk! What the hell were you thinking? How could you do that?!' she shouted at me at the empty train station, 'Did you even consider what Shiori would feel like? Or me? Did you even care?!' She demanded, but didn't give me time for answer and just continued to shout, 'My mom is a coldhearted bitch and you know I only have my friends! You saw how ruined I was when Yusuke died, and comforted me and helped me get through it! How could you just do that to me knowing it would break me like that?!' she asked before she grabbed my collar and raised her hand to punch me. I had all the time to stop her, but I didn't want to. I could see the hurt I have caused her and if beating me would make her feel even a little bit better I would gladly take it. It was a terrible thing to watch Ran like this. Her hand shook as she was aiming at me ready to punch me in the face, but she didn't. Instead she let go of my collar and stepped away, 'I fucking hate you.'

My eyes widened. The words should mean nothing to me as I knew her reactions suggested the opposite, but I had to admit it did hurt to hear her say them out loud. It shouldn't. I knew Yoko Kurama wouldn't care, but I couldn't push the horrible feeling they brought inside me away.

She looked me into the eyes, 'How could you do that to me? Did you think about how I would feel? Did you? DID YOU?!'

'No,' I found myself saying which shut Ran up instantly. I looked into those grey eyes of herself and told her the truth

'I knew you would be hurt, but I didn't let myself go into that place. I knew my mother would have been devastated, but I condolenced myself knowing that you two would have each other. You have an absent mother and my mother would have been childless.'

Her eyes widened. It was a terrible cruel thing, and I could see it in the horror in Ran's eyes.

'You seriously would have just... you really,' She frowned again, 'You can't just give me to your mom in exchange that's not how this works, baka. You're her son. She gave birth to you she will never love anyone the way she does you!'

I stood up, 'I had to save her no matter what. She was the first person who showed me kindness.'

'So you wanted to repay her by leaving her in with the pain of losing a child. Nice one,' she said sarcastically before she took a step closer, 'You saw what it did to Yusuke's mom. You saw how it broke her and I love her, but she is not as nearly as motherlike as your mom. It would kill Shiori if you died don't you understand?' she asked her voice losing the anger and was simply filled with desperation.

'And what do you think would have happened to me if she died and left me here alone?' I asked her which once again shut her up before she shook her head. The train finally arrived and in a few moments Ran would leave.

'What do you want me to say, Ran?' I asked, 'I can't apologize for wanting to save my own mother and you shouldn't ask me to.'

'I don't want you to apologize for that I want you to apologize for wanting to sacrifice yourself without telling me. I want you to apologize for going about everything behind my back when we should be friends. I want you to apologize for making me not know that our talk on my balcony might have been the last one ever. I want you to apologize for causing this pain from your betrayal inside that doesn't go away.'

I saw a tear fall down her cheek, 'I want you to apologize for almost leaving me behind. For going to a place I couldn't follow.'

She waited, but even though it would be easy to say I was sorry I couldn't. In that moment I for the first time heard Ran's fear through and through. Ran's mother abandoned her every chance she got so Ran's greatest fear was for people she cared about to do the same willingly. Yusuke got hit by a car while Ken was sick all his life. But I almost left her behind willingly.


Ran's POV

I got to the temple holding onto my glasses. I still hadn't put them on. I tried not to think about what Kurama just said to me and just focused on the night scenery behind the windows of the train.

Master Genkai was still in her pajamas when I came. It was the first time I ever saw her dressed in something else, not to mention that I surprised her with my arrival.

'Ran, what happened?' she asked as she saw me.

'I came a bit earlier. I hope that's alright,' I said looking at her and I could see that she once again understood that something happened. She just pointed me to the bathroom. Once I light up the small room, I found myself with a large bruise on my cheek since I let that asshole get a swing of me like that.

I sighed and started to undress and Master brought me some clothes which oddly fit just fine. I noticed that I also had a bruise on my stomach from when Hiei kicked me, but it was much smaller than I expected and I didn't even feel it anymore.

It was still very right not even close to morning, but I didn't feel like waiting. While Master left I already knew my way around the temple so I picked up my dummies and sat them around the field in the back. I should explain. The dummies were literal woodened dummies which were filled with well bombs. Yup, you heard right. They were filled with tiny little explosives which would explode if you hit them. They weren't dangerous it would just threw you back a bit but nothing serious. The snakes were worse. Much worse. Anyway, since my Master noticed I was good in defense and I got better at offence, I was still quiet slow. This was cause over the years I got used that I could take down my opponent with one or two at max strong hits with my spiritual energy, but if yesterday taught me anything it was that I was very wrong.

Master made the dummies so that I would learn how to move faster. It was simple it was basically a hit and run situation, where I hit them, and had to get out of the radius of their explosion so I wouldn't be thrown back.

I set them around the field and started at first I ran toward them and tried to run away, but I was still too slow. I remembered how fast did Hiei appear to be and frowned as I got hit by another explosion again.

Very upset I decided for a different approach apart from actually hurting the youkai when I punched him the only other time I surprised him besides the strange wave, was when I jumped and appeared in front of him.

I tried it out on the dummies. I would hit them and jumped or teleported the twenty steps back and again. It took me a few times to be fast enough, but I finally managed to get it by the time the sun was high in the sky. I sighed relieved feeling a bit better. Maybe I would never be as fast as Hiei, but I would surely get him hell the next time I see him.

Panting hard and tired I frowned annoyed. Next time...Right, because youkai gave you do-overs, and breaks to catch a breath.

'That's enough for a while,' said my Master standing near one broken dummy, 'I made some tea, let's take a break.'

I raised my brows. We? I was training on my own for the next couple of hours so how could she have said we?

I sat myself down in front of my Master as she put tea on the table in the small living area with the view to the forest, 'So your friend is a Spirit Detective,' she said after I told her what happened in the past few days. She didn't look very surprised though. I guess it came from all the experience, 'There is a certain irony in it now.'

I blinked and looked up at her, 'Irony?'

Master Genkai nodded and took her cup, 'I was approached a few days after you first came from Reikai. As I have taken you as my student I was asked if they could offer you to become a Spirit Detective yourself.'

This caught me off guard completely and let me speechless for a few moments, 'You never told this to me.'

She sighed, 'No, I haven't. You should know that there was once a Spirit Detective a few years before Yusuke. He started to appear spiritually aware at the same age you did, and by your age he was even on a higher level then you capable of handling even high level youkai.'

I sensed that the story wouldn't have a nice end, 'Now many suggests why did it all came down to what happened, but personally I always that it was the fact that they made a boy do a man's job. Even more a boy with a very sharp mind that divided youkai and people completely.'

'I don't understand, Master.'

'Let me ask you a question when you first came here, Ran. Did you hate youkai?' she asked looked up at me.

Hearing the Word hate now I couldn't believe I had said it to Kurama. He looked like it actually botheted him. I felt almost bad to admit it, but I nodded, 'I was scared of them so yeah I think I hated them.'

'Did you think that all youkai were bad?' she asked again and although I wasn't sure where she was going with this I nodded again, 'At firs yeah, I thought so...even the youkai in my class scared me and I hated sitting with him since I thought he wanted to hurt me one way or another,' I admitted drifting back to the moments I thought Kurama would hurt me physically now I knew that emotional hurt was worse and he managed to do it without a single mean word. I was called plenty of things because his fan girls thought I was stealing him, but the fact that he would kill himself without a single word hurt like a never healing open wound.

'So did you consider all youkai bad then?' she asked and I looked at her again before I nodded, 'I guess at first I did think that.'

'Sensei was the same. He considered all the people good and all the youkai bad.'

I frowned at that, 'Alright, I did think the youkai were bad, but not every human is good.'

'But as a child you didn't know about everything a human was capable off, did you now?' she asked calmly and I had to admit she was right. At my child age of twelve I only knew that youkai killed my father and that their glow scared me. I never thought about rape or violence a human could propose. You don't think of those things when you're a child.

'Either way, because he thought the world was black and white when he finally for the first time came across the possibility of humans being cruel than youkai it broke his mind.'

'What did he see?'

'I have no idea, but from what I heard it was too much for his straight mind and caused him to abandon his status as a detective and disappear from the sight. No one saw him again. When you showed up I could tell that you were the same. As you already guessed before I'm not against all youkai, and I was very pleased when you started to befriend and see past your fears of them though your classmate.'

I remembered seeing how she spoke about having a place where youkai and human could live in harmony.

'I didn't like the idea then that you would go on the same path as him not to mention you were merely a child, who didn't even know how to use your abilities so I declined. Everything could have been different perhaps, and I hope you will forgive me for making the decision for you, Ran.'

I looked at her seeing that she looked almost humbled probably thinking I would actually be mad at her for that. 'I don't have anything to forgive, Master. Your training safe my life, and coming here...saved my mind in a bit. You taught me courage when I was too afraid and you showed me I could be brave and fight back. I am forever in your dept. If you believe that I wasn't suited for it I am fine with it. Plus with what happened with Hiei? It showed me that I have to learn a lot before I will be...really good. You told me not to be cocky, but because I always managed to defeat every opponent I was a bit. I was shocked that I didn't knock him out like the others,' I frowned, 'It almost ended badly for Keiko because of me not being good enough.'

I clinched my fists, 'I'm getting new abilities every while, but abilities are useless if they're not used properly. I have to get better. I have to get better so that next time I'm needed I can be useful and protect and save my friends.'

There was quiet after that before I heard my Master chuckling.

'What's wrong?' I asked and looked up only to find her with her hand pressed over her eyes for a moment, 'You really do remind me of my self, Ran.'

I blinked, Thanks?'

She shook her head before she got all serious again and sighed to composed herself, 'However, there is more to discussed now.'

'Alright?'

'I will be having a tournament soon to choose my new student, and I wanted to ask you if you would like to participate as well-'

'Well, I already am your student wouldn't that be cheating?' I asked, but she stopped me with her palm.

'Let me finish, child,' she looked me straight into the eyes with a very serious expression, 'Hear me out first. When you first came, do you remember what I did?'

'You asked me to lie down and touched my forehead?' I instantly remembered that since the weird dreams were all on my mind lately.

'When I first saw you I could sense it coming from your very essence. Remember what I told you about spiritual energy?' she asked and I had to think for a moment to remember, 'You said it's different for each person...and you asked me if there was any traumatic experience when I first started to be spiritually aware. I told you about my dad.'

She nodded, 'There are two main ways how people get spiritual abilities if they are spiritually aware. One is that they train for years, as me for example, and another is that they go through a traumatic or overwhelming experience which awakes them. Because of what happened with your father I assumed you belong into the second category, but over the passing years, I realized that you belong to the third one.'

I blinked, 'There's a third one?'

She nodded, 'You inhered your spiritual energy from somewhere.'

I blinked, 'From an ancestor or someone?'

'It's possible,' she said, 'I heard of two cases through history when it happened before, but as I remembered your story and so your progress it's clear you are a third one.'

'Okay? What does this mean for me exactly?' I asked somehow nervous as Master didn't look pleased that I was a heir, 'It means that training doesn't help you to grow spiritually like it does from the two other categories. It means it only helps you to unlock the abilities you already have within you.'

'I'm guessing this isn't a good thing,' I said and Master sighed, 'It's a pain in the ass because it means you cannot be thought abilities which other psychics possess. I couldn't understand for a long time why you weren't able to learn some of the technics only to learn some completely different until I realized you can only unlock the ones you already have learned once...or better yet your ancestor has.'

'So I can't be taught anything,' I frowned and Master continued, 'You can be trained, and perhaps you could be taught, but you must not, Ran.'

I blinked confused.

'Look at your cup, Ran,' she spoke and I looked down at my untouched tea, 'Imagine this is your body and the tea inside are abilities. Although you haven't been able to unlock them yet you already have them inside you. If I were to take my own cup and pure some of my tea to yours-'

'It would overflow,' I said and looked back at her, 'My body isn't made for that much spiritual energy.'

She nodded, 'You're unlocking and awaking your abilities, yes, but if you would to add more your body would not have survived the pressure. So far you were very lucky that if you didn't master a technic I let it be since you awoke another one, but if you would have it might bring great pain to your body. If the technic was too strong than maybe even kill you.'

I watched the cup for a moment before I nodded, 'So I won't force myself to learn any technics. I already found I have two new abilities I will just train with them to make them better.'

She smiled, 'That would make me very pleased, but I still have to explain the tournament I'm proposing.'

I nodded and gave her my silence and attention once again pushing the new information for later.

'Ever since I met you before I knew that you were in the third category I was planning to for you to inherit all my powers.'

I blinked stunned, 'I rarely train people so young, Ran, but as I watched you grow, I knew you would be the perfect person to one day get such a power. I would know you would use it wisely and that you have a very brave and good heart and that you don't judge based on your experience with one youkai. I must be getting sentimental or perhaps I like how much you remind me of myself, but I really wanted to give you all of it one day. However, as you now understand, it is impossible to give you more powers than your body could handle,' she looked at the cups as well, 'Therefor, I need to make a tournament to pick a new student. I can't let such power go to waste,' she said and looked at her hand, 'I'm not sure if I will be able to find someone I will tolerate as much as you,' she smirked, 'But I have to do so. I would advise you to take part in it since it would be good for you to test your own skills, but,' she was quiet for a moment before she looked at me and I nodded, 'I wouldn't be able to win. I would have to withdraw before the last match,' I finished for her and she nodded, 'There is no other way, if you want to stay alive.'

I nodded understanding and finally took my already cold tea, 'It's alright.' I smirked, 'I will train as hard as I can to get to the finish even if I can't win. I will train to become better for everyone who would need me and to show you that you did train me well, Ba-san.'

She smirked, 'Good, cause if you lose before the last match there will be hell to pay the next weekend in training, girl.'

My smile fell, 'Wait there will be training next weekend?' I asked terrified while my Master gave me one of her wicked smiled, 'Of course, I will still be your Master and push you to your limits, girl. Now finish your tea. There will be fighters and martial artist all over the country in the tournament and I can't let you embarrassed me by losing in the first round. We have a lot of work to do.'

I sighed already feeling my future crying muscles before I took my tea and finished it all.

I already regretted agreeing.


A.N: Btw thanks for the reviews and favs and following. Oh and guest? You're on to something with Ken ;)