Yu Yu Hakusho: The Next Stage
Chapter 10: Revelations
Today was Thursday, which was the match between Demon World and Spirit World. Team Urameshi was not a part of this match, so they used this day to rest. Yuki, who had been severely injured during his battle with Karasu, was still recovering in bed. Despite the combined healing powers of Kurama, Botan, and Yukina, Yuki was not back to perfect health. His parents were sick with worry, for Yuki had not awoken since the completion of yesterday's match. Botan and Kurama stayed by their son's side without rest. Keiko and Yukina brought food for the Minamino family, but they hardly touched it.
Takashi and Marth had gone to watch the match, so they could gather information for the upcoming fights. Tohiro was no where to be found, and Mayumi waited outside of Yuki's hotel room for him to awaken.
Everyone had gone to the match with Takashi and Marth, with the exception of Mayumi, Yuki, Kurama, and Botan. Kaito left with Kurama his deepest sympathies, despite the fact that they were once high school rivals. Yusuke and Keiko had attended the match, along with Genkai, Koenma, Ayame, Jeorge, Hiei, Kuwabara, and Yukina. Also in attendance were Kido, Yanagisawa, and Seaman. Marth and Tohiro's parents, Anishi, Jin, Tanokai, and Toguro, had gone as well. Marth's younger brother, Roy, and Takashi's younger sister, Hina, were there, much to their parents' dismay. The whole gang was together, gathered once again.
Mayumi had one burning question that had been in her mind constantly, especially over the past week. She had a deep passion for singing, but that had developed in Demon World, and she had never sung once she was out, with the exception of choir class. That was the question. Her mother had not known her love of voice, so how did she find out? Someone must have told Keiko. But who?
Mayumi began to hum quietly to herself, a sad little tune she had created in Demon World. She closed her eyes and lost herself in her thoughts, about the whole tournament, her new school, her friends, Takashi...
The mahogany door beside her burst open, and Botan scrambled out, close to tears.
"He's awake!" she cried happily.
Mayumi stood up from the red carpet floor she was sitting upon.
"May I see him?" she asked.
"Actually, he woke up insisting that he see you right away," Botan said, a look of concern washing into her carnation eyes.
As Mayumi frowned, a wild bewilderment swept over her. She strode quickly into the room, and Botan followed. Mayumi knelt down next to Yuki's bed, where he lay gazing up at the ceiling with clouded eyes.
"Mother? Father?" started Yuki, "might I request a moment with Mayumi in private?"
Botan opened her mouth to argue, but Kurama silenced her with a look. He ushered her out of the room, and then he closed the heavy door behind him.
"Yuki, what..." Mayumi began.
"I have something to tell you, and I feel that you will be able to understand the most out of all the protectors. Something happened in yesterday's battle, and I want to warn you most of all."
Mayumi stared.
"Do you recall Karasu's taunting?"
"Yes."
"Though I am ashamed to admit, I became distracted and emotionally unsettled. I tried to use my Earth Stone at that very moment, but that's when it happened."
"What did?"
Yuki sighed, and closed his eyes. A thought struck Mayumi, but she kept it quiet until Yuki had finished explaining. Without opening his eyes, he continued.
"Do you also recall Koenma telling us to clear our minds before the use of a Stone?"
Mayumi nodded.
"Do you remember the consequences?"
Mayumi nodded. "You 'transform' and become sort of like a demon."
Yuki's eyes shot open.
"Not sort of. You become a pure demon," he said quietly.
Mayumi gasped.
"But, I thought…"
"This is serious," he continued. "If you can imagine the worst demon alive, that's what you become. And I'm afraid that is what I began to turn into. Luckily, Karasu knew that I would have the advantage after that, so he acted. I hate to contemplate what may have taken place had he let me continue. You try to fight it, but it takes grasp of you."
"I'm just glad you're okay."
"Thank you, Mayumi."
"Um," she began, "may I ask you something?"
Yuki nodded.
"How did you do it?"
"Do what?"
"Fight that whole battle, without being able to see?"
Yuki was quiet, his clouded emerald eyes staring straight ahead of him toward the ceiling.
"I have four senses left, and I've learned to use them. Sight is quite overrated."
Mayumi bent her head toward the floor.
"I could feel his presence beside me," said Yuki softly. "I could smell his demon stench with ease. I could hear his shallow breathing, which was amplified through his metal mask."
Mayumi waited.
"And worst of all, I could taste his lust for human blood."
"Just like everyone else in this stupid competition," Mayumi muttered bitterly, gazing out the window.
That afternoon, Mayumi found herself walking down the hallway to her room. She had a tiresome day, so she had decided to take a short nap before dinner. As she made her way back she noticed Takashi opening the door to his room with his hotel key. Mayumi rushed up to him, waving.
"Hey, Takashi!" she greeted.
"Huh?" he looked around, surprised. "Oh, it's you. Hi."
Mayumi was crestfallen at his dull tone of voice.
"So," she began, "how did the match go?"
"Spirit World won."
"Oh, well, that's good for us, right? We won't have to worry too much about catching up then, if the other teams only have two points each?"
Takashi shrugged.
"I have to go," he said, pushing the door and closing it behind him. Takashi had disappeared into his room, leaving Mayumi with a single tear rolling down her cheek.
In his room, Takashi began to feel ashamed of his indifferent attitude. He sat on the couch, rubbing his temple with his hand.
"Why did I do that to her?" he asked himself. The guilt was becoming unbearable.
"Wait a minute," he thought. "She's the one that betrayed you for the enemy. You have no reason to feel sorry for her."
Takashi leaned back on the seat as tears flowed silently down his face.
The concrete doors once again rolled open, and Team Urameshi stepped outside into the stadium. Instead of the usual flow of sunshine, however, a drizzle of rain came down upon the five protectors. The dark clouds floated above, leaving behind traces of their presence.
Across the stadium, the opponent's doors also opened. Something was not right, however. Mayumi noticed only one person walk out from the darkened corridor. This was the older man with the narrow black eyes and gray hair.
"There's only one?" she asked, puzzled.
"Only one?" Yuki replied, unable to see who had emerged. "I believe this is the older one, correct?"
"Yeah."
"My father told me about him. His name is Captain Ootake, and he's the leader of the S.D.F."
"Their leader?" exclaimed Mayumi incredulously. "This guy must be strong."
"He's as strong as those soldiers come," Tohiro said in his usual quiet manner.
Mayumi sighed heavily.
"Okay, folks!" Koto began. "Let's go over what we have so far. Team Kyono has a total of two points, as well as Team S.D.F! Team Urameshi, on the other hand, only has one point. If they lose this fight, they'll be out of the running and Team S.D.F. will claim victory of the entire tournament. Team Kyono will be out of luck, despite having one more fighter. If Team Urameshi wins, then Team Kyono has one more chance for the prize. It's been the luck of the draw, ladies and gentlemen, which has decided the order of the fighting. So, both Demon and Living World I'm sure are rooting for our Team Urameshi!"
"Will our two fighters step into the ring?"
Tohiro stepped forward, as well as Captain Ootake.
"For Team Urameshi, Tohiro Toguro, and for Team S.D.F, Captain Ootake!" announced Koto excitedly. "Let the fight...begin!"
Tohiro rushed forward without hesitation, as Ootake took a defensive stance. Tohiro pulled back his arm to deliver a powerful blow, and energy gathered in his hand. As the captain prepared for the attack, Tohiro vanished into smoke. Ootake was slightly taken aback as he searched wildly around for his opponent. He was nowhere in sight. Beads of sweat formed on his brow. Tohiro had left behind no trace of his whereabouts, and the boy disappeared into vapor. His eyes narrowed as a smirk suddenly formed on his face. It was apparent that he had idealized a strategy in his mind.
The captain began to chuckle softly, but it grew louder and louder as the captain began to pace slowly around in the ring. All the members in the audience watched in bewilderment as the captain's laughter grew into a maniacal cackle.
"Dear boy, you think I do not know your secrets?" he shouted to the air around him. "I've watched you ever since the day you were born! I know your strengths, your faults, and the things that make you happy as well as angry, sad, frustrated, even afraid. I probably know you better than your own mother! Her name's Tanokai, right? I know I am. And your father, he is the Younger Toguro. I would know."
The four other protectors, mere bystanders in this battle of the past, watched in baffled horror as Captain Ootake revealed his connections to Tohiro's mysterious past.
"After your father was released from the Purgatory, I was sent to personally keep an eye on him. I watched him fall in love with your mother, and I watched him become a father. To you. I've watched you for your entire life, and I know everything about you. You grew up to be a cold, ruthless demon, haven't you? All those years in Demon World, and now you're fighting for the Living World."
Mayumi's eyes grew wide, not from shock, but from self-realization.
"You've become quite attached to this new life of yours, haven't you? Well, I'll make a deal with you. You can die this instant, or you can join me on the S.D.F. You'll be guaranteed a high position, perhaps even as my lieutenant. What do you say?"
The audience sat in shock.
Ootake's eyes grew harsh and his smirk faded quickly from his wrinkled face.
"My patience is wearing, boy. Answer me now or..."
He was stopped mid-sentence as his eyes grew wide and blood spewed from his mouth. He collapsed on the ground as Tohiro sheathed a dagger and placed it in his boot.
"You're through talking now," he said quietly, straightening up. "I choose neither of those choices. They don't sound very appealing."
The Demon World audience cheered wildly. They were in for the final round. Members of Spirit World booed loudly. Living World supporters looked on in bewilderment at the scene before them.
Koto cleared her throat tentatively as she adjusted the microphone.
"Well, since Captain Ootake is clearly dead, the winner of this match is Tohiro with Team Urameshi. Spirit World is out, but Living World and Demon World still have equal chances of winning! Each team is now tied, and tomorrow's match will decide the victors of the Tournament of the Three Worlds!"
Mayumi was returning to her room after dinner. She had left early because she had been worn out, and tomorrow she needed all of her energy to compete with the mysterious fourth fighter of Team Kyono. As she headed down the burgundy-carpeted hallway, surrounded by beautiful wall sconces dimly illuminating her path, she noticed Tohiro sitting in a corner.
"Hey, Tohiro," she said casually. "Nice match today."
Tohiro nodded his head in acknowledgement of her presence..
"So," she began, trying to sound matter-of-fact, "So you grew up in Demon World, huh? That's...neat."
Tohiro raised his eyebrows.
"Okay, let me get to the point. I think you know something you're not telling me."
Tohiro looked interested.
"You told my mother to sign me up for choir."
Tohiro chuckled. "And why do you think that? I didn't even meet you until our first day of school, after registration."
"Well," she started, "you're the only one who was in Demon World at the time I was, which was the only time I sang."
"It could have been one of my parents, or it could have been Marth, or one of his parents, or his brother..."
"Don't act stupid, Tohiro. I know it was you. I just have this feeling about you, like you keep so many secrets, and you don't let anyone in. You shut everyone out of your own private world! You need to talk about it, get some of it off of your chest!"
Mayumi didn't mean to say that, but she had just blurted out her true feelings about his personality. She was shocked at her own words, and it seemed Tohiro was a little surprised too.
"Well, 'the cat's out of the bag,' as you humans like to say. I've been caught."
Mayumi smiled. She sat down next to him in the dark corner.
"If you're the protector of Fire, then why do you like the dark?" she asked curiously. Tohiro was taken off guard at her sudden switch back to her usual, innocent self.
"Because fire can illuminate even the most dark of places, and provide comfort to one lost in the cold," he said simply. He opened his hand and a flame danced on his hand. Mayumi giggled.
"You're trying to be more open with me, aren't you?"
Tohiro smiled slightly.
"Can I ask you another question?" she asked.
Tohiro nodded.
"Why didn't you use your stone today?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Tohiro said, closing his hand and extinguishing the flame. "You saw what happened to Yuki."
"How...did you know?" Mayumi gasped. "He only told me, I thought."
"It was clear to me, when he began his transformation. I didn't want it to happen to me too."
"But you're a full demon. How can you turn into a demon if you already are one?"
"The Stones do not only turn you into a demon, but they turn you into a bloodthirsty killer with no self-control. I don't need that."
"Yeah. I think I get it now."
Mayumi stood up to head back to her room. She turned to face him.
"Marth has no secrets. If he had known about my singing, he'd never stop talking about it."
Tohiro chuckled. "I suppose you're right."
"My last question of the night." Mayumi said.
"What?"
"Why did you do it?"
"Do what?"
"Tell my mom about singing?"
"Well," Tohiro replied, "because you seemed like you needed a way to get your emotions out."