Chapter 10: A Final Spiritual Conflict
BAM! A raven-haired teen in green was getting his butt kicked by Jonau while Yukina stood watch. They were in a large office room with a yellow-tiled floor, desks and papers scattered all over the place. "Yusuke!" Yukina cried out. Yusuke was banged up, but good. His head was gashed in, blood seeping from his mouth and welts all over his body from shoulders to toe. Yukina was fearing that she was watching the end of Yusuke when a light flashed from behind her. She looked back and saw Pikachu, Edward and Excel exit, Excel packing heat in the form of a giant ram-like cannon. The rest were coming.
"Now, Spirit Detective," Jonau grumbled. "It's about time that you go to Hell." His arms began to protrude spikes. It was about how she described the scene. "Die!" The spikes shot out, aiming right at Yusuke...but intervention was requested. Pikachu raced in and swatted the spikes from the air with his Iron Tail. "What?!" The spikes fell feet from Yusuke while Pikachu got to his side. "Who the hell are you?"
"Interestingly enough, I'm kinda wondering that myself," Yusuke shrugged. Edward and Excel ran to standing by Pikachu and becoming the wall betwixt Jonau and Yusuke.
"You alright, man?" Edward asked Yusuke. Yusuke staggered onto a knee, weakened from his bout.
"Isn't it obvious?" Pretty much. Excel stood in front of Jonau, ready for combat.
"Now, ferocious demon," she called out. "Beware of the strength of ACROSS as I, Excel, will punish you for tarnishing this spirit realm and illegally possessing Lord Illpalazzo!" Talk about gun-ho, Excel went to the point of accusation. Edward and Pikachu knew that there was no way for Excel to prove Jonau did all of that...when they had gone back in time.
"Excel, we're in the past," Edward pointed out. "He hasn't done the possession thing yet." Oops. Excel scratched her head in some shame and probably given Jonau an idea.
"Excel's sorry."
"Possession of a lord, you say?" Jonau began to plot. "That doesn't sound like a bad idea. But let's start with you!" He fired more spikes at the four. Edward was on top of that as he erected a wall vie alchemy, blocking the spikes from reaching. Excel came around, engaging Jonau in hand-to-hand combat. She just needed to dodge one punch for...Excel goes berserk! She rained a barrage of punches, nailing Jonau from the hip up. She had to have landed at least 50 punches...in five seconds!
"...And pancakes!" One more punch to the sternum sent the wanted demon flying as Excel turned. "ACROSS Avenging Fist!" She didn't listen to Edward. Still, the decking to Jonau was pretty good. The rest of the team filed out where Sakura tended to the injured Yusuke. And believe it or not, two Yukinas. One was more timid than the other.
"I'll be fine," he groaned. "But what about Kuwabara and Kurama and Hiei?" The teammates. Ash, May and Naruto looked out the windows and saw waves of demons approaching three young men. A short shadow black-haired man, who's hair may be considered darker than Ash's, had black robes and fatigues wrapping his body while wielding a samurai sword. The second was a redhead, much like Matsuda's back in the Academy, was in a magenta kung fu outfit with a green thorny whip. The last was also a redhead, not as colored at the second guy, was the tallest in a blue uniform, not police or military. He had two blades that seemed to be made from some sort of energy. Ash had taken an interest in the quantity of fiends on the approach.
"Looks like we got our work cut out," he mumbled.
"Yeah, I don't think my Shadow Clones will be enough to help," Naruto doubted himself. Jonau laughed as he rose to his feet. Excel didn't hurt him hard enough. Everyone turned to see the wanted demon, including the two Yukinas.
"The invasion has started and there's nothing you can do to seal the gates," he snarled. "It's a hopeless battle and you don't know what you're facing." His laughter made the rest feel uneasy and struggled. Illpalazzo came up and extended his arm out.
"Then why don't you join your mob and face us when the blood bathtub is filled," he muttered as the force propelled Jonau through the window and onto the ground several feet below. This was only the beginning.
"We need to get going if we can stop this mob from reaching here," Alphonse figured. Agreeing, everyone chose to head out and make a stand, Excel grabbing her weapon. Yusuke was fascinated with the unified team, but saw the two Yukinas first. Who was who?
"Yukina, you need to be alive," one Yukina confidently smiled. That would be the present Yukina telling the the past Yukina about the situation. "I've seen what goes on." The past maiden nodded, believing her future counterpart. "Yusuke, don't worry too much about me. Me dying is nothing compared to hers." Yusuke scoffed, not too concerned with either Yukina.
"Don't tell me who I should protect," he arrogantly withdrew the offer before running off with now-Yukina and ditching past-Yukina. As the group made their way to the battlefield, someone else wanted to mix it up with the invaders and not the humans.
"Looks like there's gonna be one big barn-burner in a min," someone with a Scottish accent scoffed. Pikachu looked up to the sound, eying a redhead man with a horn sticking out of the crown and what appeared to be white overalls with the straps crossing over his chest. Visible tornadoes covered his arms like they were wrist-guards. To Roy, it was extra help.
"We could use some extra assistance!" he huffed, nearly out of breath. The new man flew lowered to Ash, thinking he's the leader of this group.
"So, young laddie, you have any idea on why these demons want to storm the spirit realm?"
"Even if I do know, all we need to do is stop these guys from reaching Yukina," Ash replied. "By the way, I'm Ash and this one on my shoulder is Pikachu."
"Jin is the name. See ya in the front lines." Jin flew forward, ready to help these humans who reached the other three, lining themselves up.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" the redhead in blue with a gruff voice stammered. "Who the hell are you? Urameshi's new friend?" The other redhead seemed pleased to have more people to help with all these demons. The man in black was more annoyed.
"Relax, Kuwabara," the other redhead muttered, calmer than anyone on the defense. "Knowing them, they had to have helped Yusuke with Jonau." Kuwabara began to ease about the new aids.
"Besides, Kuwabara, we did protect Yukina for you," Edward rubbed it in. Hearing about Yukina, Kuwabara realized that they could be trusted.
"Well, if you did keep Yukina safe, welcome aboard the defensive stand with cool Kurama and shorty," he mocked Hiei, the man in black.
"Refrain from using my size, Kazuma," Hiei scorned in a lower tone than Kurama. "My powers can kill you in a blink of an eye." Well, there was about to be a flood of blood in this battle.
"Let's keep the name calling for these idiots coming for us," Kuriko advised. Thousands of demons versus Yusuke, Kuwabara, Kurama, Hiei, Jin, Yukina, Ash, Rin, Edward, Sakura, Alphonse, Roy, Naruto, Hinata, May, Kuriko, Excel and Illpalazzo.
"This is it, everyone!" Ash bellowed. "The final battle! Attack!" Both sides met. This was about to get physical. Excel pulled the trigger of her cannon, which behaved like an automatic rifle. Regardless of what it was shooting, the massacre of demonic bodies began to take toll. Rin and Hiei were carving their way through demon after demon, not letting one squirm into their bubbles.
"It seems that I'm not the only expert of swords and power," Hiei complimented Rin's work. Rin finished one more before turning to the other raven-haired man.
"While I do appreciate the good word, we should keep our minds on the demons," she muttered. Back to hacking. More demons zeroed in on Roy, his ignition glove on. He's nonchalantly walking into the battle like it was in the bag while the brothers bashed tooth, fang and nail.
"Let's go, let's go!" one demon shouted for the charge. "He's asking to die!" Roy grinned, too confident for the demons to realize his real scheme. He swung his arm across his body and snapped his gloved fingers. KABOOM! A massive explosion blew away the demons as well as blow them apart. Man, to think he had restraint. Naruto, Sakura and Hinata seemed to be having no problem with their battles. Naruto carbonated his clones to his best efficiency. Hinata was knocking demons around like they were toothpicks and discarding them aside in a littering stint. Sakura? Take no prisoners! Her ninja skills with her weapons carved new ones in the demons. Ash and May allowed their Pokémon to do the fighting with Ash aiding them. Pikachu, Grovyle and Combusken gave the demons such a lashing that made even Grovyle feel cocky. Everyone, including Jin and the other detectives swiftly gained the upper hand. That's when a sky blue-haired female in a pink kimono flew above the battlefield on a wooden oar. Why an oar? She found Yusuke after tossing a demon onto spikes summoned by Edward. Demon-kabob, anyone?
"Yusuke!" she shouted. Yusuke looked up just as a flash stream of wind propelled more demons, courtesy of Jin.
"Botan, what is it?" Yusuke wondered.
"We need Yukina and the demon watch with Koenma on the Sunset Cliff over there." She pointed to a cliff side in the distance. What for and why both Yukina and the pocket watch? Yusuke knew what to do in this situation. Ash, decking one more demon, overheard Botan, getting an idea.
"Leave Yukina to me," he grinned. Botan and Yusuke had doubts about this.
"Are you sure?" he expressed his disapproval.
"Hey, I told Naruto that my straightforward thinking can work. Trust me." If Botan and Yusuke wanted to trust Ash, it had to be with whatever Ash had baking in his mental oven. Before getting their consent, Ash was off and running back to the office. "Pikachu, Grovyle, listen to and protect May!"
("You got it, bro!") Pikachu obeyed. Grovyle acknowledged Ash's orders as well.
"Alphonse, Excel, I need you!" Alphonse and Excel? The called upon got to Ash in a sense of regrouping.
"What is it, Ash?" Alphonse asked. "You formulated a plan?"
"Yeah, listen. We need Yukina over with the others on that far cliff which can only be scaled up the side. Thanks to listening to Ed, we'll need that armor as a carrier for Yukina." Ash was banking on Alphonse's armor to escort Yukina safely. Excel had a thought of why she was summoned, but had to be clear about it.
"What about Excel?" she moaned.
"You provide clearance. You've been doing awesome so far." Excel knew it. She nodded, ready to go into battle. When they reached the office once more, both Yukinas had been observing the battle from the safety of the windows. "Yukina, you've been summoned! Let's go!" The present Yukina nodded, allowing the past Yukina to approach the trio. Alphonse opened his breastplate where Ash helped inside. Now-Yukina nodded, knowing that this was it as she tossed the watch to Ash who placed it in his pocket.
"Ash, be careful," now-Yukina promised. Ash nodded. What about Excel and Alphonse?
"Hey, if anything, I've got a few good people who've got our backs." The three stormed off, past-Yukina inside Alphonse's breastplate. They charged headlong into battle, Excel with a fresh stock of bullets ready to fire.
"ACROSS Rapid Fire!" she chanted loudly as she pulled the trigger. More bullets fired out of the barrels and hitting each demon like a mower to grass. Kuwabara saw the trio run out through the waving demon hordes and followed. Botan was by the checkpoint, cliff base, eying the four approaching. As soon as they arrived by Botan, Ash bent forward in lack of oxygen. Out of breath. Excel, Alphonse and Kuwabara were okay as Alphonse opened his breastplate and letting Yukina off. Kuwabara was glad to see Yukina in perfect shape.
"Yukina, you alright?" he asked in a hint of concern. Yukina smiled up to Kuwabara, a good sign that she was okay.
"A little shaken up but otherwise..." she summed up that bolt. Botan was very impressed with Ash's quick thinking, burying her doubts.
"Ash, I'm amazed that you made it work," she praised. Ash looked up with a confident smile and flicking a thumb up.
"So now what?" Alphonse questioned. "You're gonna take Yukina to the top and do what she needs to do?"
"That's the plan." Easy enough. Kuwabara chose to offer a bit of his services to help the mission.
"Allow me," he opened. "My spirit sword should reach the top in no time." He jabbed the sword into the ground. Yukina was a bit hesitant about having Kuwabara give her a lift. That's when Ash remembered the watch and gave it to her, nodding that this would work. Going with this motion, Yukina latched onto Kuwabara's neck. Time to rise. "Hang on tight. Sword get long!" That's when the length of Kuwabara's sword increased greatly, catapulting the two up the cliff. On top was a small child with a pacifier in its mouth and wearing blue, including his hat which was about the same size as his body. There was also a blue goblin with a leopard pelt around his waist. Reason?
"Yukina!" the boy greeted...sounding more like an adult. Okay... "Kuwabara, you made it. You have the demon watch?" Yukina revealed the watch.
"It's right here, Prince Koenma," she acknowledged as Ash and Kuriko arrived as well. Koemna pointed to the setting sun.
"Hurry and point the watch to the sun!" Complying, Yukina pointed the watch to the sun, a beam of light shooting out. Suddenly, shades of energy coated the humans from Ash to Yusuke, the Pokémon as well. The demons and humans watched, wondering what that light was doing. That's when a wave of light splashed into the scene. Everyone braced for the fast approaching wave, not enough time to steer clear. SPLASH! The light smashed into everyone in the gorge. Ash, Kuriko and Kuwabara hoped everyone would be okay. Then, just as the wave came, it went. Other than Jin, Kurama and Hiei, the demons appeared to have been washed away. Not even a dismembered arm, probably courtesy of Rin, Hiei or Edward, was exposed. The mission was accomplished and this time, celebration was in order.
"All...Right!" Naruto cheered wildly in the air. Much jubilation was awarded as Naruto, May, Edward, Yusuke, Excel, Pikachu and Jin joyously jumped around and hugged everyone in much excitement. Kuriko got caught up in the excitement as well, hugging Ash and allowing her breasts to smack his head. Can you call that crushed by a crush?
"At last, it's over," Botan sighed in relief. Rin and Hiei shook hands, a sign of respect amongst swordsmen.
"Perhaps, we can fight each other in respect when you come by the spirit realm," Hiei issued. Rin smiled, interested with the offer for a match with Hiei. Edward and May congratulated each other with a hug...and holding lips in a kiss. You could tell that they were in love and she didn't care if Edward's auto-mail would pinch her. In New York for this brief moment, everyone had watched the podium where the Statue of Liberty once stood. Suddenly, the statue began to materialize. It had taken a minute, but with cellphone cameras available, they had witnessed the resurrection of the Statue of Liberty, the symbol of American freedom. This was the signal of the accomplished mission. The celebrations was enough to wear a headache-rattled Ash.
"It's all over," Ash sighed, practically repeating Botan. "I kinda wished it would go on for a little longer. I was enjoying the thrill." Well, Ash, all things must come to an end.
"This..." a familiar growl broke. Those on the cliff heard the tone and turned to...was that Jonau? He was huge. "This isn't over by a long shot!" How did that happen? Did Excel change Jonau? Ash, Kuriko, Botan, Yukina and the blue guy became frightened. Excel saw the new Jonau, feeling guilty about the change.
"I take it that the avenging fist backfired," she realized. Gee, you think? Lord Illpalazzo gazed at Excel, that ACROSS Avenging Fist in question.
"You used the pressure point punches in the wrong demeanor, didn't you?" he groaned. Yup. Ash straightened out and walked toward Jonau, approaching suicide.
"You dare face me?" he scoffed. "You are nothing. All you possess is what all humans possess. It makes no difference!" Boy, doesn't that put you down? Ash stood his ground, a blue glow enveloping him. Was that the same power he used on Barry? Kuriko became dumbfounded with the new Ash while the others wondered about the new coating.
"I am a descendant of Sir Aaron," he proposed. "One of the great Guardians of Aura. I have the power to defeat anyone who stands in my way, even when I don't have my Pokémon to help. It's never used in the past since there was no real threat such as you. However, I've got friends to protect. My suggestion is for you to surrender before I tear you to confetti." Guardians of Aura? Was that the glow? Was it when the watch restored the past to what it was originally? Jonau laughed, calling out Ash's bluff.
"You? A descendant of a powerful guardian? Don't make me laugh." You did laugh. "Now die!" He tried a punch and with the size, he could easily crush Ash. BOOM! Everyone gasped, fearing the worst. That's when the smoke cleared. Ash had blocked the punch...with one arm. Now Jonau was the one gasping, disbelieving the stoppage of his punch. "Impossible!" Ash was ready to return the favor.
"Allow me to give back the power you're offering." Suddenly, the aura began to cover Jonau, instantly paralyzing him from moving. Jonau was screwed. KABOOM! A massive explosion rocked the mountains of the spirit realm. Ash and Jonau were in the epicenter. Did Ash destroy Jonau...at the expense of his life?
"ASH!!!" Kuriko yelled out, wishing her flame of a short while would survive.
TO BE CONCLUDED...