"Where've you been, Touya,"
"I was enjoying the light, Risho," Touya said. "Is that a problem?" Although Jin was giving the appearance of sleeping, his ears twitched slightly- not in the way that meant he was excited, but in the way that meant he was aware of what was going on. Touya was sure Risho didn't notice. Risho glared at Touya, and the ice master was well aware that Risho probably liked him least. Jin should have taken up that slot but Risho was too wary of Jin's powers to try anything- not that Touya couldn't hold his own against Risho.
"You haven't tanned," Risho sneered. Touya raised an eyebrow, eyes glazing over.
"My complexion is suddenly important? Come, Jin. Let's go watch the fight," Touya said, donning his cloak that would hide his identity.
"Master! Master Mitamura!"
"Please don't die!"
"It isn't a choice I can make. My health is failing… and that is that. But I've no regrets… you wonderful children are here to ease my passing," Master Mitamura said.
"Surgery could save him but we don't have the money…" a man said.
"We owe him so much- he took us in, raised us, taught us disciplines of body and soul- there must be something we can do!" another man said.
"Such heartfelt regard… but I am not important, you are all ready…" Master Mitamura said.
"No, you need to get better!" a younger man cried. "You must get better! Whatever it takes!" Another… man- no demon- entered the room and everyone's attention turned to him.
"My name is Ichigaki. I will heal your master- at no cost. There is just one condition," Ichigaki said.
"What's that?"
"Who cares? We'll do anything!"
"Hmmm… would you three be willing to take part in a little experiment of mine? It's nothing complicated, I assure you, gyuk gyuk," Ichigaki smiled.
"And that was that," Kuwabara said, relating the story of his dream to Yusuke.
"Ichigaki, huh? Name sounds familiar," Yusuke said.
"So Kurama and Hiei haven't come back yet?" Kuwabara asked.
"Nope," Yusuke said.
"Hmph! Thought hell would reopen as an ice rink before those two ran away," Kuwabara sneered.
"Don't sweat it," Yusuke smiled. "They'll show up. All set? Let's go fight!"
"Hiei, are you alright?" Kurama asked. Hiei looked up towards the branch, glaring at the redhead.
"What are you talking about?"
"Your arm? You know that things will get tough soon…" Kurama said. "Did you have Yukina take a look at it?"
"Even she can't heal this. And I don't have a choice," Hiei spat. "For us chosen to participate… we must kill everyone." He turned to face the demons approaching as Kurama jumped down gracefully from his branch.
Yukina frowned, listening to the crowd's anger. She herself was concerned. The teams were missing people- and one of those missing from Team Urameshi was her brother. She tried to push the bloodlust that was suffocating her in the stadium, trying to find her brother but he wasn't grasping the telepathic connection.
"That's crazy!" Kuwabara said. "These are the guys I saw in my dream!"
"It's time to begin!" Koto announced.
"Fate has chosen well," Ichigaki said, approaching Yusuke. "As the fights go on, the number diminishes. Three against three, that's fair?"
"You're not going to fight?" Yusuke frowned.
"Me? I'm here to guide them. You're going to fight against my guinea pigs," Ichigaki said. "I love to do experiments on men. Believe me, men are splendid animals. Without thought and other things, they're a perfect power machine. My dream is to create the ultimate genetic monster! A monster who doesn't think and obeys, the perfect machine!" Yusuke frowned and then Ichigaki gestured to his fighters.
"These three are my prototypes. It wasn't easy to obtain them. A simple machine isn't peculiar. Elsewhere, robots are forbidden in a tournament," Ichigaki said.
"That's got nothing to do with your story!" Yusuke snapped.
"I am very interested in you two," Ichigaki smiled. "I have a proposition for you. If I win, you give me your bodies. That will permit me to continue with my tinkering."
"If I win… you're dead!" Yusuke glared.
"Hahaha, of course!" he said, walking off the stage. 'Everything's going according to plan. Without Kurama and Hiei, they don't stand a chance!'
"I also have a request," the masked fighter spoke up. "I would like the fight to be done in one go."
'Chance of success… 99.95%!' Ichigaki calculated. "As you wish!" 'Haha, it's a victory! They're mine! With my minions together, they don't stand a chance!'
'The masked fighter is right… Without Yusuke's reigun, this is too close to call. We're going to have to play it close to the chest…' Kuwabara thought. "His story resembles my dream! It's not possible!"
"I know these three," the masked fighter spoke. "They are pupils of a great master. They have much respect for him."
"So?" Kuwabara demanded. "Have they been brainwashed? They don't have consciences anymore!"
"Let's start!" the announcer said.
"They're clumsy," Hiei spat as he and Kurama cut into another worthless demon.
"They think they can slow us down with these miserable things," Kurama rolled his eyes. "You're going to die."
"No thanks. You're opponent isn't me," Kurama and Hiei both raised an eyebrow as the lowlife demon finished speaking. The ground began to shake and the two demons looked up to see a Cyclops. "It's the armored monster of destruction. It's a masterpiece of Dr. Ichigaki's! It's invincible! Kill them!" The invention lunged at them. The Cyclops' arms stretched from its body and the two demons dodged the first onslaught. Hiei drew his sword and attacked the arms, flipping away from the demon when he realized his sword wasn't doing any damage.
"That armor's made from a special substance! A child's sword will do nothing to it! It has nothing to worry about!" the demon laughed.
"We'll see about that!" Hiei sneered. A sharp pain in his hand drew his attention. The burn still hadn't healed on its own. That split second of Hiei's diverted attention was enough for the Cyclops to trap Hiei against a tree with his claw.
"Hiei!" Kurama shouted.
"Hah! You're useless!" the demon shouted. "You're dead meat!"
"He's going to pay for that!" Hiei said through gritted teeth, summoning his black fire.
"Hiei, no!" Kurama shouted. He moved in front of the three eyed demon and the claw that was chasing him slammed into the one that was holding Hiei, freeing the three eyed demon. Hiei landed on the ground a fair distance away from Kurama. The claws freed themselves and began to attack Kurama.
"Kurama!"
Yukina didn't want to watch anymore. She didn't want to see her brother's friends- no matter how much he refused to admit it, they were his friends- get hurt unnecessarily. Even though her demon side was enjoying the carnage, her stomach was churning inside. She turned her head away slightly and then she caught sight of two cloaks. She frowned, narrowing her eyes as she tried to pick up the energy signature the two were hiding.
"Yukina, I love you,"
The memory swamped over her as she tried to tap into the energy signature and her eyes widened but before she could think any further, a Cyclops exploded through the arena.
"Hiei! Kurama!" Yusuke shouted happily.
"Sorry we're late," Kurama said, smiling a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes as he stood next to Hiei on the Cyclops. Yukina smiled in relief when she saw her brother and felt their telepathic connection open again. She didn't notice the man enshrouded in the cloak looking at her.