Yu Yu Hakusho: New Dreams, Old Nightmares
Chapter 11: Time to bring back some familiar faces!
New Dreams, Old Nightmares
Chapter Eleven: The First Meeting
"Hey, Kurama!" Jin yelled, waving to his friend before flying over to him. "It's a bloody shame ya couldn't come sooner, so we'd be able to have a raucous of a good time, yeah?" the yokai said in his excited Irish voice.
Kurama had stepped through the portal into Makai a short time ago and was making his way towards Raizen's old capital, where Enki had taken residence once he had come to power. Jin happened to be in the area, and ran into Kurama out of sheer luck.
"Jin!" Kurama smiled as Jin landed a few feet from him. "I haven't seen you in months! How have you been?"
"Been trainin' me heart out, I have. Gonna knock a few skulls in the next tourney!" he said, puffing out his chest and flexing his arms.
"You've certainly improved, I see," Kurama said, crossing his arms to examine his former student. "So, having plans to become the next king of Makai?"
Jin waved his hand in a dismissing gesture. "Nah, I don't want any of that. I just want to get some good fights in. Got no ambition to be in politics, no-siree."
"I would hope not all yokai as good natured as you feel the same way. Walk with me?" Kurama said as he continued walking down the path. He estimated it would take him another half hour to get to his destination, assuming there were no distractions.
"What mean ya by that?"
"Well, I feel we all got lucky with Enki-sama winning. Suppose a yokai with rather darker ambitions really wanted to become the next king and none of the good ones were to stop him because they wanted to, what was the term you used? 'Bashing a few skulls?'"
"I trust any of Raizen's friends to do right by him. Although I don't imagine any of them would go down easily, that's assurin' ya. My jaw still hurts from the last tourney!"
"How have the others been?"
"Chu keeps runnin' off after Natsumi, the lovelorn bastard. Rinku's the exact same way with his little kitten mistress. She beat the livin' hell out of him not too long ago, durin' one of their sparrin' matches, she did."
"Boys will be boys, I suppose."
"No foolin! Every one seems to have someone except for me. How's about Yusuke? He ever patch things up with that Keiko lass?"
Kurama honestly answered, "I don't know." He hadn't heard anything about how the night had gone, since he left the compound and had to deal with the yokai attack against Hana.
"Any girl that has a boy like Yusuke pinin' over her for so long has to take him back, it's the way things be!"
"I thought you were trying to get with Ruka?"
"Oh wow," Jin said, doing a flip in the air before answering. "She's a pistol, that one. We tried it and it didn't seem to work out for some reason."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"No worries, pal! So, what about you? Anyone new in your life?"
"No, not really," Kurama said while laughing. "So Jin, what brings you by today? I doubt you were flying in the area for no reason."
"I'm on patrol, it's my turn. There's been a lot of strange things goin' on recently."
"Really?" Kurama asked, suddenly interested in Jin's answer to this question.
"Yeah. Reikai and Koenma asked us to step up the patrol until they can find a new Tantei. Seems they didn't think they be needin' one but with that Kakai barrier down, not much keeps us from gettin' in and out of Ningenkai."
"I thought there weren't any yokai lower than B-class on patrol?"
"That be true. The problem is the lower class ones tend to sneak about and find portals that seem to open up. We don't even know that they've gone until we get a message from the top about how many humans were killed before something was done. Usually the SDF takes care of it."
"Yes, Reikai definitely is apprehensive about all this," Kurama agreed.
The problem was a very old one. The psuedo-space between all three worlds was impenetrable by normal yokai, under normal circumstances. The ones who were capable of opening portals were usually A and S classes. So, the Kakai barrier was erected to prevent these yokai from entering either world. There were exceptions to this of course, when a sub-A class found the power to open portals (such as Itsuki). Before the last tournament, there was quite an industry in Makai of traffickers. Yokai that could open up portals were paid large sums to open portals for weaker yokai to go through. And now, with the barrier down, the so called "yokai trade" was as busy as ever.
Earth had been relatively lucky, in terms of yokai activity. There were other worlds out there that were easier to access – it was only recently that they started coming to Ningenkai in larger – and more powerful – numbers. This was why Koenma decided to instate a Reikai Tantei on Earth – with Kuroko being the first. It's not like there weren't humans defending their world before that point – indeed, humanity might have never made it as far as it did if it wasn't for the efforts of all the monks and mikos that took it upon themselves to fight. The yokai threat was still a relatively small one, so Koenma didn't feel the need to have an official Tantei on Earth.
All that started changing about a century ago. Spiritually inclined humans found themselves fighting stronger and stronger yokai, and with instances like the slaughter at Genkai and Toguro's old dojo becoming more commonplace, Reikai finally stepped in to do something. But the Tantei had two roles – savior, and excuse.
Deep down, Kurama felt a burning resentment towards King Enma, and he knew Yusuke did as well. The Spirit Defense Force was able to take down A-class yokai with ease, yet Reikai didn't send them except as a last resort. The Tantei on Earth, such as Yusuke, Kuroko, Sensui, and the others that fought alongside them to protect Ningenkai – himself, Kuwabara, and at times Hiei – were left to their own devices. The Tantei were sometimes just a way for Reikai to look the other way.
Toguro was a perfect example of this – he had come so close to killing them all, and Reikai could have stopped it all so quickly with the SDF, even by sending their weakest member – but they didn't. They didn't see Toguro as a threat. They would only step in when the threat was so large it couldn't be contained by whatever forces Ningenkai had on its own. They never stepped in before the situation nearly leapt out of control – almost always with devastating consequences for humanity, losing some of its top defenders. It was almost like it was a nuisance to them to step it. And with the Kakai barrier up, who could blame them? They couldn't waste their time on lower class trash.
How many people had Kurama seen suffer and die at the hands of lower class trash?
Too many to count. There had almost been another one last night. Kurama felt a pang of guilt. How many others had he not been able to save…?
"Hey, you seem blue, Kurama!" Jin said, noticing his friend in deep thought.
"Hm?" Kurama started, shaken out of his trance by the inquisitive blue eyes looking into his own. "Oh, it was nothing. Just thinking about everything that's going on."
"Well, fill me in on everything that happens at the meeting, will ya pal?" Jin said, flying a quick circle around Kurama.
"And how did you know what I was doing?"
"Are you kidding? Everyone knows there's gonna be a new tourney, and people are all riled up for it! Why else would you be heading towards Enki's place if it wasn't to discuss what happenin's be goin' on?"
"Can't get much by you, can I?"
"Nope!" Jin said with a grin while his ears twitched.
"Well, since you seem to have been in the area, do you know if the others have arrived yet?"
"A few have. I saw Mukuro and Yomi earlier, not together of course. You should take a look at Shura, the little bugger's really grown!"
"Looks like I'm the last one then," Kurama said with a sigh.
"You might not be! You wouldn't happen to know if Yusuke was comin' to this little shindig, do ya?"
"He knows of it, but he has other plans as far as I know. I can tell him you said hello, next time I see him."
"Right as rain, pally! I best be off now, I gotta keep an eye out on what's happenin'!"
"Take care, Jin. Tell the others I'm here and I would love to meet up, if they have no plans later."
"No problem, I don't think any of the old gang would miss this!"
Jin took off like a rocket, the wind from his flight blowing Kurama's hair back and causing the trees to rustle. He's certainly in a good mood…
"I'm surprised you understand a word he says, Kurama," a familiar voice said behind him.
Kurama turned and saw his friend standing on a tree branch nearby, and smiled.
"Hiei, it's good to see you again."
Hiei gave a small smirk as he jumped off the ground, landing in front of Kurama. "I was wondering when you would show up."
Knowing that was as much of a greeting as Kurama was going to get out of the yokai, he got right to the point. "I would have been here sooner, except there were some issues last night."
"It wouldn't have anything to do with a group of yokai that managed to get through one of the portals, would it?" Hiei asked, falling in step beside Kurama as the two of them continued along the path.
"How did you know?"
"I was on patrol yesterday and we ran across a group of fools who found a portal before we did. I killed all of them, but a few had crossed over before I arrived."
"There were three last night that I encountered. Not much of a threat, but these attacks need to stop. How have you been?"
"Adequate," Hiei said nonchalantly.
"Trying to get any training in for the next tournament?"
"I've been making preparations."
"Trying to stay awake after using your kokuryuha?" Kurama teased, the corner of his mouth pulling into a smile.
"Hn. And what about you? Managed to get any training in?"
"A little. However, I am afraid I have reached the limit of my abilities in a few areas."
Hiei raised an eyebrow while looking at Kurama. "Without transforming, you mean."
Kurama nodded.
"I don't understand you, Kurama."
He laughed. "I could say the same of you."
Both of them chuckled lightly as they made their way.
"Well, look who finally showed up," Yomi said, extending his hand out towards Kurama. "I am glad you were able to make it."
"Yomi," Kurama said, taking his hand and shaking it. "You look well."
"As well as can be expected. I was wondering if you'd make it here at all."
"Strangely, you're not the first person to say that to me today," Kurama noted as he saw Hiei continue into the chamber.
Yomi smirked. "Not like you to be late."
"There were some issues that came up in Ningenkai I had to take care of."
Yomi smiled. "I understand. Perhaps we would be able to catch up for a while after the meeting? I'm curious as to how you and your family are doing." Yomi gave a slight chuckle. "Suddenly, since I have one of my own now, I see the importance in what it can mean."
"I would enjoy that very much, but I'm afraid I will have to postpone it. Someone else already asked for my company today."
"I see. Well then, I will look forward to it."
"Welcome everyone!" Enki said, standing at the end of the long table. The large red Yokai was very happy to see everyone there.
The conference was taking place in a large room, its vaulted ceiling reaching high into the air. A large table of polished metal was located in the center of the room. Chairs surrounded it, some occupied, and others not. Chatter around the table ceased when Enki's voice spoke out.
Hiei sat with Mukuro on the right side of the table, with Kurama and Yomi mirroring them on the left. At the other end of the table were a few other of Enki's friends, most of them from Raizen's old gang.
"Well, I think everyone is here, so shall we get started?"
General murmurs of assent made their way around.
"Most of you know each other, but there are a few new faces here, so I'll introduce them."
He pointed at a man at the far end of the table. "Vanzu, stand up, will you?"
A tall, olive skinned being rose from his chair. He wore a long flowing tunic, blue in color, with no ornamentation to speak of. His ears, pierced three times each, framed high cheekbones and narrow red eyes. Shoulder-length black hair made its way down the back of his neck, a few strands falling in front of his face.
"This is Vanzu. He's become one of my most trusted advisors and keeps me informed of much of the activities that occur in Makai. I trust him completely and he's a really great guy. He'll be the one in charge of the tournament for the most part, since I actually plan on competing and I don't believe he has any plans to, was that right?"
Vansu bowed, and a soft voice sounded. "No, I don't think so. I know when I am out of my league."
The rest of the introductions went smoothly, but Enki didn't elaborate on the other members as much as he did Vanzu. Soon enough, it was all business.
"Well, I asked you all here today for two separate reasons. The first one, which should be the easiest to take care of, involves planning for the next tournament. I'll turn over my power to whoever wins."
"And what happens if you were to emerge victorious again?" Mukuro said.
"Well, then I guess I'm still going to be around for the next few years!" he said with a laugh. "I hope none of you think that's a bad thing. I've tried to do my best."
"I must say, I am very impressed with the way you've been handling things," Yomi said. "Not saying I couldn't do a better job, however," he added with a smirk.
"Win the next tournament and you'll have your chance," Mukuro replied.
"Actually, Yomi, it pleases me to hear you say that. I've asked you here several times because I trust all of you. You were the rulers of Makai, and even though I'm the rightful ruler, that doesn't mean I know much about politics. You two know much more about being in charge than I do, so I hope you don't mind me coming to you seeking advice once in a while."
"I see no harm in it," Mukuro stated. Hiei was starting to look bored.
"Do you have an idea for the format of the next tournament?" Kurama said.
"Well, we've had several ideas. There's probably going to be a lot more participants this time, seeing how luck played a large part in the last one. The first involves starting the preliminaries in a month, at different regional areas around Makai, with the best ones advancing to the real preliminaries. Kind of like a contest."
"How many yokai plan on entering?"
"We'd be lucky if there were less than about ten thousand. I'm thinking that in order to get everything done in time, we'd have to split it up to a few different areas in Makai."
"With the main preliminaries occurring at the start of the actual tournament?"
"Yes, I would think that a wise idea," Vanzu said, from the end of the table. "We barely were able to accommodate the volume of people who attended the tournament last time."
"So, how would you propose the math works out?" Yomi asked.
"Kurama?"
Kurama thought it over in his head, being the most proficient in math seated in the present company. "I think we should have sixty four fighters start the main tournament in one-on-one matches. If we figure that the preliminaries at the actual tournament are groups of fifty fighters, then it would allow for three thousand and two hundred yokai to be at the main tournament. I don't see any other way we could narrow the field down to that number without separate preliminaries before the main tournament."
"How do you suggest we split up Makai?"
Mukuro answered this question, her eye scanning Enki. "Why not divide it by the boundaries of the old kingdoms?" While it was true that Makai was considered one kingdom now, the old boundaries were still intact, mostly as states or different regions.
"Yes, I would think that would work."
"Hold one hundred preliminaries at different population centers. Have a large, battle royale style match and when there are only thirty two left, those thirty two advance to the main tournament and preliminaries?"
"I don't think anything else would be quite as effective."
"Hiei? Anything to add?"
"Hn."
"At any rate, we would have to have all of the hundred matches take place at the same time to prevent people from cross-entering."
"How do you mean?"
"Well, suppose someone loses at one of the preliminaries. What's to keep them from just going on to another?"
"Good point. Hold all of them at once so there's little chance of foul play."
"Well, there's one more problem that I can see."
"What's that?"
"Assuming each region splits up the matches evenly, there will still be one match needed to make a hundred."
"What region gets that match?"
"I haven't thought of that. All of the population seems to be equal in those areas."
"I believe I might have a solution to that. I wanted to discuss it, seeing the way things are working out for the planning now."
"What do you think, Kurama?"
"There are also plenty of humans who enjoy a good challenge. Unfortunately, there is no type of tournament environment that would allow them to test their skills. I know of several that would love to enter the tournament, and I'm sure there are others."
"It's bad enough that idiot Kuwabara was here once, Kurama…"
"I don't think Kuwabara is one who wants to participate. He has his own life now. But there is definitely an interest with those that have any type of spectral power to put it to the test, and they cannot do so in Ningenkai unless it's facing down a few of the yokai that don't appreciate the new order."
"That's very interesting. Have the hundredth one be a human-only match?" Yomi mused, scratching his chin.
"Yes. In all honesty, most of them would be eliminated at the main preliminaries, but I certainly don't see how it could hurt, since everyone is given an equal chance to compete."
"Why not? Any objections?"
There was silence at the table, then Vanzu spoke up. "Suppose a human were to actually go on to win the tournament?"
Hiei and Kurama glanced at each other, both thinking of Sensui when he said that.
"We could make it a stipulation for all humans wanting to enter to test their skills that they will not become the ruler of Makai should one of them indeed win."
"I don't think that any of them seriously think that they would win anyway."
"It might seem unfair, but I think most would be so grateful for a chance to even compete that they would be fine with that setup."
"How do we go on and announce this in Ningenkai? We can't exactly string up banners."
"Fortunately, I have connections with all the ones who would wish to enter. I believe Master Genkai may know of some as well."
"Genkai? The Genkai?" Enki said in astonishment.
"Yes, that would be the one."
"Wow. Is there any chance she would join us?"
"I'm afraid not. She is aged and simply wishes to live a peaceful life."
"So then, it's settled? One hundred preliminaries a month from now, with the last one being a human only tournament?"
No objections were made.
"Great!" Enki said with enthusiasm. "Vanzu, I hope that wouldn't be a problem for you!"
"Of course not. I will begin preparations immediately."
Hiei leaned back. "Can we get on with this? I don't care how we get it done, just that we do."
"Someone's eager to show his stuff," Mukuro said, giving a sly grin in his direction.
"I'll defeat anyone who gets in my way."
"I'm sure you'll freeze them to death with your sunny disposition."
Hiei glared at Mukuro, but she was already turned toward Yomi.
"What was the other reason you asked us here, Enki?"
"Ahh, that," he said, leaning back in his chair. "We seem to have another issue that's come up, although I'm sure all of you have been aware of it."
"The attacks in Ningenkai?"
The large yokai nodded.
"Reikai is coming down on me about it. We need to figure out a way to beef up the patrols, somehow."
"We don't answer to King Enma and his fools."
"No, we don't Hiei, but the chance here is too great to squabble over." Yomi observed.
"There hasn't been a chance at peace between Ningenkai and Reikai like this for centuries. There might never be one again. We should all work together to ensure it does not diminish, for both our worlds."
"I don't see how this type of foolishness would benefit or retract from Makai."
"Calm down, Hiei."
"Consider this," Kurama said, leaning back and steepling his hands. "Makai has been a relatively level playing field for most of its existence. In the hundreds of years we've lived, we can all see that. Some of us here are older than others, so we can remember that far back. Do you all agree?"
"Yes, you're right. But where are you going with this?"
"I say this as someone who has lived in Ningenkai for the time I have," Kurama started. "I have studied the history of the world, and seen the effects which are taking place in it now. Over the last thousand years, Makai has made no great strides in technology or strength. The strongest yokai are really no stronger than they were thousands of years ago. We have always been superior to Ningenkai, but that is starting to change.
"Take the last hundred years, if you will. Ningenkai has made tremendous strides in technology, medicine, and strength. Their advancements in weaponry has been most effective. They have figured out how to do with technology what many of us can do naturally, although they are still nowhere near our level."
"What exactly is your point?"
"My point is this. Ningenkai is evolving at a much faster rate than Makai is. Humans in general, and all their technology. At the rate they are progressing, it won't be too long before Ningenkai is at Makai's current level, and may possibly surpass it."
"You can't be serious!" Vanzu said in an annoyed tone.
"I am," Kurama said, staring him down. "Take for example what happened in my country not even a century ago. Humans were able to harness the power of the atom into an incredibly destructive weapon that killed tens of thousands in a single instant. The weapons of today can kill many, many times more than that."
"Is it that big of a deal?"
"Two thousand years ago, they were fighting with rudimentary blades. Now they are creating miniature stars. Add another thousand years onto that rate, and tell me you don't see the problem it presents to Makai."
Vanzu's eyes narrowed for an instant.
"As of now, Ningenkai is virtually defenseless. That's why Reikai chose to guard it. But now things are different. Reikai is taking a back seat and is watching how we might achieve co-existence on our own, without their interference."
"As if Reikai was ever going to promote co-existence anyway."
"Even if they don't, the point remains valid. Makai is much stronger as a whole than Ningenkai is. The gap is closing quickly and will be completely gone within a few hundred years, if not before then. Why not lay the groundwork for a long established peace now while we have time to build trust and relationships?"
"I can't believe we're even discussing the idea that humans would be able to become more powerful than us! Why should it fall on us to pick up all their slack?"
"Because right now, we're the most powerful and Reikai is trusting us to do the right thing for this to work."
"Do you honestly think that humans would react the same way if the tables were turned?" Vanzu said, standing up and leaning over the table, placing his palms face down on it.
Kurama looked up at him, the tension building. "I would hope it would never get to that point."
"Answer the question."
"I believe they would, yes."
"Humans have a lot of evil in their hearts."
"The same could be said of Makai as well. Is it a fair comparison?"
"And how do you think Ningenkai would react if they were more powerful than us, and suddenly found out the entire truth about the existence of Makai?"
Kurama didn't have an answer for that."
"They would be horribly conflicted!" Vanzu said, standing up to his full height. "Ningenkai is a savage world. In all of its history, when there has been a startling discovery made, everyone thought that their fighting would stop. That they would be so amazed by what was presented that they would stop waging war and live in peace.
"But that has never been the case. It's always given them an excuse to fight harder. Take for example when your Columbus discovered your so called 'new world.' It caused all the aptly named 'civilized people' engage in bloody wars with each other and on the new soil, with those who already lived there. How many people died, how many civilizations were wiped out of existence?
"What makes you think that they wouldn't kill all of us, given the chance, and expand into the now bare Makai?"
"If that is to be the case, then we have several hundred years to prevent it, by establishing a good relationship now," Kurama answered.
"Being a human has made you soft. What happened to the legendary Youko you used to be?"
Kurama stood up, enraged but calm, and stared right into Vanzu's eyes. "I will not have my humanity called into question!"
"You didn't even have a humanity eighteen years ago."
"Enough, Vanzu." Enki said, trying to break the moment. "You two can discuss the long term ramifications later. The more pressing short term issue is that Reikai has talked about raising the Kakai barrier again."
"What good will that do?"
"Do you want the honest answer?" Enki said. "It would make us lose a lot of face. Makai just went through a massive upheaval and we need to show that the new system works better than the old one. If we can't make this work, then the relationship between our three worlds will never change."
"There's only so much we can do."
"What do you suggest?"
"The patrols have to have two objectives now – to keep humans out, and to keep yokai in. Each squad is comprised of A-class demons and B-class with special powers. If an S-class has any plans to get through into Ningenkai, he can be dealt with by the rest of us. It's the smaller ones that don't give off much energy that are giving us problems."
"Too many are slipping by," Mukuro said. "We have tried to stop them as best we can, but with new portals opening and closing all the time, we can't get there in time to stop some of the sub-B class from entering into Ningenkai. Most won't, but a few will."
"I've had to deal with them more than once," Kurama said. "Last night, I killed three of them."
"These have to stop," Enki said. "What would you think we should do as a preliminary measure?"
"I can only use my Jagan to see so much."
"Now there's an interesting idea," Yomi said, the first time he had spoken in awhile. "Are there any other yokai out there that have the same type of ability to seek things out like you do, Hiei?"
"How would I know?"
"You seem like the kind of person that keeps close eyes on your competition, no pun intended."
"Maybe we can find a few, but most choose to stay in hiding," Mukuro answered before Hiei could say anything.
"Okay then," Enki said, clapping his hands together. "We'll round up and recruit anyone with psychic abilities that wants to help us. Does everyone know of at least several they can talk to?"
A round of yeses and nods made their way around the table.
"Perfect. Plan on meeting again in two weeks to see how the progress is and to go over the final details for the first round of preliminaries?"
"Will it be a long one? I have more training to get in with Shura."
"No, it wouldn't be. Just a way to go over how Vanzu and myself decide to set things up."
"You're the boss, Enki," Mukuro said, standing up and stretching. "Is there anything else?"
"No, that should do it," Enki said, standing up as well. "Thanks for your input, everyone. I really appreciate it. You're all dismissed."
That's the end of that chapter. Don't be too surprised if I go back and reword it slightly!
Please R+R! It's always greatly appreciated!