PART XIII. EPILOGUE. "Power & Control."
"A human vulnerability doesn't mean that I am weak."
— Marina Diamandis.
From the edge of the cliff, I watched Reikai and committee officials in the distance. They lingered around the rubble that was the stadium. In the low morning sun's light, officials were more preoccupied with the mess than on the two present SDF soldier's and their barrier watch.
It was interesting to see how frustrated they were. Even from this far I could note the tedious, even angered, body language from the officials. The Toguro team owner's idea of opening a portal to Makai and let youkai run through perished with him in the stadium's destruction.
I could see them place their hands over their eyes, shaking their heads in shame.
"There you are!" Botan's voice dragged me from the satisfying view, and I turned to see her walking up to me in her human body. "I didn't recognize you with your hair up…" She paused as she neared me, stopping just feet away. "Is that why you think it's okay to be this close to them, Kurama?!"
"I assure you they can't make me out from this distance," I laughed, staring on at the damage as they paid no attention to me. "The soldiers are on the other side of the island, as well." She stammered, nodding, though still nervous about me being so close to them, as if to taunt safety. "And regardless of my previous status with Reikai, I'm still given the day-grace, correct?"
She paused, index finger to her lips. "Well… you were a participant so…"
"Then I should be fine. They cannot see who I am. I'm a figure in the distance."
She shrugged and hiked the strap of her backpack against her shoulder. "We should get to the dock, though. The boat will be here soon."
I looked on at the small figures around the rubble and then nodded to the guide.
"Your trip to Reikai was fast," I noted, watching her perk up in surprise.
"Oh, you saw that?"
I nodded as we began walking, keeping our distance from the officials.
"Well… I guided the younger Toguro to Reikai," she said quietly. "I thought his soul made it to Reikai alone but it turns out… he just has a handle on his ki."
"And the elder brother?" I asked.
"I don't know if he died. He could have died after Toguro kicked him out of the arena and some other, poor guide had the unfortunate task of handling him." She pouted, upset at the thought of some other guide having to carry the macabre being across the River Styx.
"Did the two of you talk?"
"The younger Toguro and I?" She shook her head when I affirmed. "No, he didn't say a thing to me while I guided him over the River Styx."
I didn't expect them to have much to talk about other than Genkai.
"I'm assuming there's more to why you agreed to take him," I said, glancing down at her.
She laughed softly, nodding. "Yeah. I… You know Genkai and Toguro were… well, I think they were an item way back. I wanted to be the one to deliver him for her—even if he did turn out to be a huge monster in the end."
"Part of me thinks you don't really agree with that."
"He's strange—I mean, he didn't try to kill Kuwa. He just wanted a rise out of Yusuke… I know that's still bad but…"
"This is true, but he wanted the portal to open—the portal Sakyo was creating."
"I know," she said with a mumble, arms crossing over her chest. "I know. I'm not defending his choice for wanting the tunnel to open but at least it wasn't with some scary, psychotic intent like Sakyo. I don't want to excuse it but the intention behind it was almost… sad."
The muscled, former human, younger Toguro, wanted worthy opponents to fight had he beaten Yusuke. Though the idea was selfish, dangerous, it was true it didn't hold the same malicious intent. Sakyo wanted to open the tunnel, let youkai through, to create chaos and cure his boredom.
In the end, the two ideas were similar when taking their intentions out of the equation.
"She was there, waiting for him," she said with a smile. "She looked how she did when she was younger. Oh, she's so pretty, Kurama." I said nothing in reply, and she quietly dabbed her eyes with the corner of her sleeve. "They talked for a while, and I… I had to leave."
"Knowing Genkai, I'm sure the two settled their differences," I reassured her. "He lost and that satisfied him."
She paused, fully, stopping her stride. I stopped as well and turned back to her to find her looking at me quizzically.
"You felt it, didn't you?" She asked. "His reiki, what little remained when he died."
I had expected her to question the oddity.
I nodded, aware that a guide to Reikai, who dealt with and guided souls for almost a decade now, would know best between us. "I assumed it was because he was a former human that there was still reiki left."
"It's been bothering me since the end of Yusuke's fight because there shouldn't have been," she mumbled and cupped her chin quizzically. "He should have turned into a youkai—he was a youkai. How could there have been reiki left?"
"How did they grant his wish to become a youkai?"
"We still don't know." She shook her head. "The tournament committee said there was a third party involved, like a youkai from Makai." She wrapped her hands around her upper arms, shuddering. "I just can't wrap my head around how little reiki he had. It's as if the process was unfinished."
Youkai did not have reiki as humans did. Their youki substituted as the equivalent to human's reiki, sustaining them.
"Still… I've never seen someone like him die…" She mumbled.
"Then that raises the question," I said, and she looked up to me. "Whether they granted his wish."
"He was a youkai though," she grumbled, beginning to walk again. "Maybe that's just how it is when you transform. There's always some reiki left to hold together who you were."
I walked alongside her, continuing along the edge of the island to keep out of sight. "Was he the first?"
She shrugged. "The Toguro's are the only formally human youkai we've got records of, so I can say… yes."
"It's like a dirty secret for the committee—one of many." She nodded in response, and I realized why the incident confused her. "It's because his soul didn't materialize when he died that you noticed something strange."
She nodded again. "That's what I thought at least, but his wraith appeared later that night. That's when I offered to take him. That little reiki was just enough to sustain his soul, which felt so... weird. It didn't even make sense."
"Had his reiki been wiped clean, could it have destroyed him?" I questioned myself mainly, but she shook her head in response.
"The youki would have—should have—just taken over and replaced it, but it didn't. I don't know… It's just…"
"Perhaps it's not possible."
In that moment of silence, we both could hear each other, despite not speaking. He was a youkai, regardless of the oddities.
In the nearing distance, we could see our friends, waiting patiently near the dock, staring out at the low, early morning sun. Quiet conversations reached my ears, and we could hear Keiko and Shizuru's conversation.
"Maybe it's not," Botan agreed quietly but then raised her voice as we neared the group. "But that's when I realized Kuwa wasn't dead and he was lying to us all!"
"Don't remind them!" He flinched away from his sister, who was standing behind him.
As if it was something any of us could forget.
Shizuru became noticeably upset again at the comment as her brows furrowed and a fierce scowl formed. He settled himself on the other side of Keiko, who was holding Puu, as he didn't want a shiner branded on his other eye.
"I realized it too late. Even though you're capable, you wouldn't know how to handle your soul leaving your body," she laughed as we approached the group. "That's why we should've seen your soul if you had really died! Oh, you're a trickster, Kuwa, taking advantage of all the commotion."
Yusuke, who held a somber aura since last night, spoke then. "So someone who has control over their reiki well enough can do what?"
We all knew what he was asking and Botan's cheerful demeanor sobered quickly. "If you're talented enough, it can dissipate until beckoned to return and manifest into what you see as their ghost."
"So that's what he did," Yusuke shrugged, though we all knew it wasn't about Toguro.
It was just as when Genkai died, how he did not see her ghostly image appear, yet it returned to Botan later in need of a guide. Had it never appeared among us, it had found its way to Reikai on its own.
Botan cleared her throat and forced a smile, speaking to give a simple, fitting farewell. "That's just one of the many, many reasons she was so well renowned among our realms."
"Yeah," he replied simply, watching the boat come from the horizon and inch ever closer to the dock we waited above. "We should get down to the dock."
"Geez, here we go again," Kuwabara sighed. "He's been saying that all morning."
"I'm going to go home, play all my video games, and relax," Yusuke announced.
"We only have like two more days of break," Kuwabara noted, and Yusuke's face fell to one of disbelief before Keiko spoke.
"I'm waiting for him to just jump off the cliff and swim to the mainland."
"I could do it, too," Yusuke snorted, recovering quickly. "If I survived this, I could survive some cold waves."
"I have a feeling we're going to hear him bragging about being the champion for a while," Kuwabara sighed.
"After all that and I don't have bragging rights?!"
Keiko bristled, raising an eyebrow at the boy.
"Bragging rights!" Kuwabara laughed and called among the group. "Someone call his mom, he needs to be picked up from daycare!"
"The two of you both need to have your parents called," Botan remarked. "You're both children. Look at you."
"We may be kids but we all know I can whoop his ass up and down this island all day," Yusuke retorted with a grin, ready to drop his backpack and put Kuwabara in a headlock.
"I say we let them go at it," Shizuru remarked to me. "By the time the boat gets here they'll be all tuckered out and the ride home will be quiet."
"I think that will set back Yukina's healing progress on Kuwabara, though," I replied, watching the two teens spit remarks back and forth.
"Let it."
"Oh, crap!" Botan gasped, looking around our group. "Yukina's should be here. I have to guide her to Reikai to file her immigration papers."
"Last I saw her was in the room," Shizuru replied.
"And Hiei!" Botan hissed, cradling her face. "He's under contract to stay in town. Where is he?" She stiffened and turned to me, gasping. "You don't think he's going to try hopping the portal…"
"Hiei wouldn't," I reassured her. "It would only put him in hotter water with Reikai. I'm confident he'd rather be relieved of Reikai's presence than put more attention on him."
"I was hoping to avoid listening to this drivel," he remarked from behind me, letting his presence be known by choice.
Keiko's voice could be heard among the group. "Well? We're waiting for your great swim to the mainland, Yusuke."
"The way you put it sounds like you're hoping I cramp and drown," Yusuke replied.
"Of course that can't happen to the great Tournament Champion!" She replied mockingly.
"I assumed you were with Yukina," I spoke quietly to keep Kuwabara at bay with questions about why, but I couldn't help but prod.
"Why would I be?" Hiei glared up at me with a side glance.
"Huh, I figured," Shizuru replied, amused, watching the couple before them.
Hiei's glare stayed on me, growing more irate as my smirk grew.
"No reason," I replied with a smile, shrugging.
Botan's voice took hold of us then, taking our attention.
She held her free hand above her eyes, blocking the rising sun's rays. "Look, you guys, the boat's here! I can see it in the distance."
Everyone paused, conversations cut short. We watched the same tattered boat we'd come in on traveling over the water. Even though we knew we were victorious, it didn't feel finished until this moment. We could return home, to our lives, without stress or fear.
At least, most of us could.
In that moment, everyone's energy dipped low, sobering again in thanks for surviving and silencing for those who didn't.
"We should get to the dock," Kuwabara gruffed quietly with a nod to which a few people agreed.
"You assholes are just going to leave an old woman on a faraway island?"
Everyone froze, placing the familiar, raspy voice. Yusuke was the first to turn around, seeing the famed Genkai standing next to the Prince. She was healthy, alive, and full of sardonic remarks to mask the pride she held for her disciple.
She glanced over her shoulder, looking back to the hotel we stayed in the past few days. "On second thought, leave me here. The room service they provided was better than any of your company."
And yet, she smiled as Yusuke and Botan were the first to sprint towards her. They led the group into what could arguably be a stampede that could have sent her back to Reikai.
Kuwabara's shiner looked better in the late morning light, but Shizuru stopped Yukina from healing him completely. Despite her anger, she was just relieved to know her little brother was still alive. She showed it through staying close to him on the boat ride back to the mainland… despite his attention being on Yukina.
Yusuke and Keiko took to themselves, relishing in the aftermath of the tournament and their safety. Botan and Genkai shared their time together towards the front of the boat.
Behind me, on the railing of the boat, stood Hiei.
"It seems everything's worked out after all," I noted. I eyed Yukina as Kuwabara flexed for her, daring to prove his sister's punches were no match for him.
Hiei shrugged. "I still don't understand what you thought would happen to your precious human life if you lost."
"I'm not sure what I could have done," I replied. "There wasn't really anything I could do without telling the truth. It was reckless but still out of my control."
"Being reckless wasn't always your forte," he noted. "At least it didn't used to be. What happened to being able to tie all loose ends, fox?"
I turned around and leaned my arms on the railing next to him.
"Desperate times come for desperate measures," I reminded him. I remembered my final battle and Yusuke's as well.
"I'm just surprised it all worked out in your favor, regardless of how little planning you put into it."
"It almost sounds like you're jealous."
"Not jealous," he replied with a gruff. "I just noticed a fox's luck never seems to run out."
"Normally, I would mention that foxes are not lucky but capable." I turned my attention to the mainland that was coming up in the distance and I could feel him repressing an irritated sneer at my reply. "But right now, you are right. I was lucky that the lack of planning my disappearance didn't backfire."
A gust of wind blew past us, the air crisp and cold, though welcomed by us all. Anything was better than the island, even the freezing temperatures of the mainland and being out at sea.
The boat pulled into the dock an hour later and I bent over to pick up my backpack.
"I live for moments like this in the hell that is Ningenkai." Hiei let out a loud laugh, though not one of true happiness—one to mock me. "It backfired, Kurama."
I straightened as the Kuwabara's and Yukina passed me by, and Yusuke and Keiko followed after them. My gaze settled on a familiar face past the dock meters away near the edge of the park.
In front of the woodlands, arms crossed over her chest, was Aiko.
"Shit!" I heard Yusuke's curse from his place on the dock as he stopped walking.
Botan pushed past him, as did Genkai and Keiko, to get on flat land.
In utter bewilderment, Yusuke and I exchanged glances while the gusts pushed harder. I made my way to Yusuke and walked past him. Yards away she stood, arms folded over her chest with a more than ominous look.
She was reminiscent of a dragon from an old English fairy tale. Her breathing deepened, escalated, while her scowl became ever more prominent. I could almost see the black smoke exhaling from her nostrils.
Even though I was in shock with how she could have possibly found out, I couldn't help myself from smiling at the girl, even with her anger. I was at ease to see her, despite knowing the wrath that was to come, because I'd rather see her now than have met her on the island.
"Hey, Aiko!" Kuwabara was the first to call to her, waving, before turning to Botan when Aiko didn't respond. "…That's Aiko, right?"
"That… that is!" The guide gasped. "Aiko! How did you find…"
She trailed off once she noticed the girl's fury written all over her face. The girls, along with Genkai, stopped walking towards her.
Yusuke's quiet obscenities rung out behind me as he trailed along, trying to hide behind my taller stature.
"Just stay ahead of me—she'll rip me apart," he hissed. "She'll just hit you."
Everyone stayed away from her, all aside from dear old Genkai feeling ashamed to have lied and hid the truth from her. Knowing I needed to settle this fast, I walked to her, briefly stopping to hand Botan my belongings on the way.
Aiko eyed me, baffled I would walk to her with a smile. Still, I knew her well, and I waited for her to tear off the windbreaker and start a riot. As I neared her, close enough to notice the day old, smudged make-up, she bared clenched teeth.
In the split moment she tried controlling her heavy breathing, she sucked in a deep breath and spat out a large wad of gum off to her side. The moment she lifted her head, she began screaming bloody murder.
Everyone's hands flew to their ears.
"Someone tell this girl what the hell we did on that island and shut her up," Genkai groaned. "Didn't expect to use my ears again for this."
Hiei sucked his teeth and fled, annoyed by the girl.
"Hiei, get back here!" Surprisingly, we could hear Botan's voice over Aiko's screeching. "Hiei—ugh!"
I figured to let her tire. But even thirty seconds later, she continued screaming with just second intervals to catch her breath and continue again.
She struggled to continue screaming, face coloring a hint of blue. I inched towards her, daring to release my hands from my ears so I could present them to her. I hoped to imply no harm, to encourage peace.
Tears streamed down her already dirtied face, smearing make-up around more. I stood in front of her, letting my hand hover over her shoulder, waiting for her to let me know it was fine to touch her.
Instead, the screaming stopped with another inhale and she only let out a choked sob. Tired, puffy eyes were the brunt of my guilt, and I stepped back once she balled her shaking fists. I readied myself to dodge the blows, but to my surprise, she ripped off her purse and swung it to the ground in desperation to release anger. With all her might, the strap clutched in both hands, she threw it aside to let it slide across the dewy grass.
She stumbled forward from the weight of the throw, losing balance and all her energy. Before she could fall forward, I reached out and let my forearms tuck under her arms to catch her.
Her friends came behind me while I gently guided her to the ground, Yusuke leading the small pack.
"Yo, Aiko, when was the last time you ate?" He asked, kneeling beside her, hands hovering over her.
Kuwabara took his stance behind me with the younger girls pulling up the rear.
"We should get to town and find a place to eat," Botan said. "She looks absolutely exhausted."
"But how did she even find us?" Keiko asked, curiosity peaked.
Botan then looked to Shizuru. "She's who called?"
It was then everyone looked to Shizuru, who shrugged with blithe nonchalance.
"Yeah, she called. I wasn't going to lie to her."
It was then the next question came: how did she know to call Shizuru? Surely her absence wasn't a hint that led here.
Yusuke and I exchanged another brief glance and the group of upperclassmen came to mind. To him, it may not have made sense why as I was unsure if Botan ever mentioned to him that Reikai Barrier officials were present on the island.
"We can ask questions after we find some food." Kuwabara nodded to himself. "I, for one, am starving—and Aiko, you look like a zombie. We have to get some food in you."
I could hear the small brunette's voice and it was full of venom. She was unable to lift her head to glare at the younger Kuwabara, though I could feel the anger in her as she gripped my sleeve.
She spoke through gritted teeth, trying to keep herself composed. "Little Kuwabara… the last thing I thought to do when I found out about you all was to eat or sleep."
Shizuru grabbed Kuwabara by the collar and dragged him away from the small circle.
"She should be fine but let's give her some breathing space, you guys," Shizuru said. I could feel her next words boring into the back of my head. "I'm sure finding out about this so late was hard on her—living in ignorance while they fought for their lives and all."
Yusuke, though, refused to move from his spot, while everyone else agreed.
"We'll be making our way down the trail, then!" Botan said, hiking my belongings on her shoulder with hers. "Catch up with us as soon as possible, you guys."
"Well, don't leave us!" Yusuke called.
"We should," Keiko called back, though we could hear the smile in her voice. "Dark Tournament champions can make it back on their own, right?"
Yusuke grumbled to himself before looking back at the girl we hovered over.
She found the strength to push herself up, gripping my wool sleeves tighter for leverage. Her eyes scanned the arms that held her before traveling to see my torso, and then my face.
Her eyes lingered on me, scanning my face quickly, quietly. She pieced together I was alive and relatively unharmed. Gradually, an expression of relief turned to one of sadness, pushing the pooling tears out of the corners of her eyes and furthering my guilt.
Her hands let go of my sleeve and moved to cradle my face. Shakily, she pulled herself to me, lips landing just centimeters away from my own. She stopped, and through her small sobs, I could hear Yusuke repressing laughter behind her.
Her face, pressed against mine, continued to only get wetter as the seconds passed. I'd be lying if I said I didn't mind the comfort of warm, familiar breath on my skin. She let my hand rest upon the back of her head to keep her steady.
Heavy words came through her sobs, lips grazing my skin as she spoke. "I'm sorry, Kurama."
I stiffened at the formality. The notion of her apologizing wasn't surreal, as she proved she was capable of uttering the words, but the fact she directed it at me.
It was then I realized the source of her culpability.
Yusuke eyed her at the remark, unsure if it was truly her. I could only imagine at that moment he felt he died and Koenma put him in a dreaming state to spare him the humiliation and defeat he suffered at the hands of the younger Toguro.
She waited, refusing to put any distance between us until she heard my answer. Among pink scleras, brown irises searched me, scared. Brown mountains shifted as the small black mass next to it expanded and retracted with each movement. Copper ridges moved fluidly in anxious patience.
Despite never having thought of her saying the words, mine came naturally as she deserved them. "Don't be."
The distance between us increased, and she sat back in exhaustion, landing on her bottom as she pulled away from me. I kept my hand behind her head to keep her steady as she stuttered, almost baffled.
"R-really? You forgive me?"
I nodded. "Naturally."
Her relieved gaze lingered on me a moment more before shifting to the raven-haired boy next to her. It was his turn to receive his welcome back. He flinched... but then figured she was in a good enough mood now. He flexed, lifting up his arm to show off his growth in muscle with a more than childish smile.
It didn't help the situation and she snapped at him. I had to retrieve my hand.
"You're a fucking idiot!" His happy expression faltered as she pounded the grassy ground with an angered fist. He knew then he indeed won the tournament. "You're a stupid, fucking idiot! No brain! Numbskull!"
His falter remained, shocked, as he wondered why he wasn't deserving of a similar welcome. She uprooted grass. He remained in place as she threw the dirt and blades at him... only to have them returned to her with a conveniently timed gust of wind.
The dirt and grass flew back in her face and he laughed at her, howling in delight.
It was then, with true anger rising in her again, she lunged at him. And for some reason, just as he let Keiko smash his head into the hard concrete floor, he let her take hold of his hair.
"Get her off me!" He snapped before she dragged him down to the grass below.
She slammed his head into the ground primitively, like a caveman trying to break one rock on another. It continued for a while, and with each hit, she began to lose strength.
Yusuke, though, did not lose his voice.
"Kurama, get her off me!"
"I don't think touching her would be wise at the moment," I replied, positive she'd turn the anger on me.
"Botan! Keiko!" He tried calling out, but the group was far too gone now. "Someone!"
"You're lucky you're even alive, you twat!" She lifted his head, and still he refused to touch her.
"I get it! Let go!"
And again, his head met the ground.
"Do you know how stupid you are?!"
"Can I tell you my side of it, though?"
"No!"
Again.
"Can I tell you my side of it, though?"
"No!"
Again.
This time, he raised his voice as she raised his head off the ground. "Can I tell you my side of it, though?"
"Fine!"
She lifted his head, disheveling his hair further from its gelled state. It was at that moment he knew why she set him on a different pedestal than she did me. It was not my role as his companion that pushed us into the tournament. It was his role as Reikai's detective.
He understood that in the brief second he stared up at her in her grip, and he broke into a sly grin, proud of his next words. He knew he couldn't convince her and figured it best to crack a joke instead, reminding her his livelihood had yet to disappear.
"I fucked them all up!"
Again.
She did not lift his head. The two remained silent as her body trembled.
Finally, his hands hovered around her torso, voice calmer.
"Aiko…" His voice was hesitant, and then annoyed at the display of emotion. "Aiko, you're crying on me." He was about to push her off him, but stopped just before touching her, hands hovering around her torso. "Come on, I get it. I get it! But it's over! Look, I'm alive!"
"What if you didn't live?!" She snapped. "All that work to come back—to just die?"
"I'll tell you everything that happened!" He compromised. "I'll tell you everything—Aiko, gross. That tear was black. You're getting make-up on me. Aiko—eugh. That went up my nose. Get off!"
"What was I supposed to do if I lost you?" Her voice was brittle. His hands froze in the air—and with her next words, raw with honesty, I too stiffened with heavy guilt. "What was I supposed to do if I lost him?"
She lifted him again. Though this time, when she went to push his head into the grass, her grip loosened and she lost strength and pushed herself back. Overstimulated again, her body working to accommodate the lack of energy and sleep, I was quick to catch her when her body gave out.
And despite the tantrum he endured, Yusuke was quick at her side.
"Tunnel vision?" Yusuke asked, leaning towards her, and she nodded, breathing heavily with a pained expression. He then glanced up to me, unaware of the amount of black streaks that now trailed along his face. "Just let her lay down for a few minutes and then we can go."
I was reluctant to follow his order, as I knew from her heavy breathing it would be best to help her sit up and rest her head between her knees. But I also knew they met before she and I became close. So I quickly, gently, laid her on the ground.
After a few minutes, when her breathing steadied, I sighed in relief.
"I'm afraid to ask if this is routine," I said to him, and he met my gaze with chestnut eyes.
He shrugged, glancing to the girl. "You learn some things when you're a ghost, you know? Since few people see you and all." He paused, letting me watch the girl calm from her feverish actions. "Even after, you still learn a lot of things." He then attempted to smooth his hair back into its rightful place. "We'll stop by one of the fast food joints when we get into town."
He scowled when it fell back to its leisure state.
"I believe there's a small vendor after we exit the park's woods," I replied.
"You hear that?" Yusuke raised his voice, nodding to Aiko, who furrowed her brows in irritation at him. "We're going to pick up some food after this tantrum's over. So when you're ready, we can go home."
"You know…" She heaved an exhausted sigh before rolling on her side to see the boy. "Do I have to remind you that if you never got any of us involved in this—we wouldn't have to go home because we would have never left?!"
He sucked his teeth before shoving his pinky in his ear, pretending to clean it out as he crossed his legs. "Uh-huh."
"Don't uh-huh me."
"The energy to raise your voice has returned," I noted, prompting her to look over her shoulder at me.
"So we can go home now?" Yusuke cocked his head at the girl as she rolled on her back, taking another deep breath before closing her eyes.
We waited another moment before she exhaled. She opened her eyes and nodded, raising her arms above her, asking silently for us to help her up. Yusuke and I rose to our feet, and as I brushed myself off, I watched her smile to me before Yusuke took her hand.
"Also, one more thing before we start heading out," she said, lifting herself slowly.
Yusuke accommodated her.
"What?" I asked.
She paused, eyeing Yusuke before speaking. "You're paying for most of my way home."
He let go of her just as she bent at the waist, ripping his hand from hers. "What?!"
She yelped and fell backwards, losing balance and footing. I reached for her out of instinct to keep her unharmed, but even I wanted to let her drop.
My forearms wedged under her arms again to keep her sturdy as I locked perplexed gazes with Yusuke. There were many things we couldn't wrap our heads around when it came to this girl, but this was the million dollar lotto number.
"What if you didn't find us?!" He snapped, scolding her like a child.
If she didn't have enough money for the way back. She obviously didn't use any of her funds on a motel, with the scent of another, someone unfamiliar, on the windbreaker she wore.
I assumed she stole it from someone but…
"Don't look at me like that," she said as I helped her to her feet. She steadied herself and inched away from us. "I would have called someone to pick me up!"
"Whose windbreaker is that, Aiko?" I questioned, keeping my tone calm to diffuse any temper.
Her lips pursed as she looked at me, almost ashamed that what knew what she did was dangerous. She was unwilling to admit it.
"You're fuckin' kidding me," Yusuke grumbled, shaking his head. "What if—" He paused, looking at her face and remembered the state of her make-up in the beginning. "Where did you sleep?"
"You didn't sleep," I noted, and she stared warily. "Where did you stay, then?"
Her eyes darted between the two of us as she waited for us to drop the subject.
"You don't get to turn this on me," she finally argued. "This is about you—"
"You're just as stupid as us!" Yusuke accused.
"Did anyone approach you?" I asked, and Yusuke waited for an answer.
"No," she whined, but her voice stiffened as she continued setting her gaze between the two of us. "Can we please go home?"
"Yeah, whatever. Let's go," Yusuke said dismissively, shaking his head as he passed her.
"We'll discuss everything when we return home," I offered, walking up to her. "The ride home will be a good opportunity for us to rest."
She didn't move as I approached her. Quiet and stoic as she stared up at me, she wondered if I would utter a phrase to prod at her and her brash antics as I'd done plenty of times before.
And I waited for heated words, another tantrum, as I asked. "Shall we go home?"
She waited, trying to taste the air for the innuendo in my sentence, but when she found nothing, she nodded with a smile. "Okay."
An honest, simple exchange void of derision or prodding. In the brief interval of Yusuke's absence, we acknowledged our intentions, grateful for the change of heart. Gratitude for each other's presence eased our proximity, and though Yusuke returned, entering our space, it didn't disturb us in the slightest.
We welcomed him, knowing we'd miss his presence otherwise. She was content with him shoving her purse into her hands.
"Make sure everything's in there before we leave," Yusuke said, and she took the purse she'd thrown at me just minutes ago. "Because we are not turning around half way through to come get anything."
She scoffed, rummaging through her purse. "Okay, mom."
After confirmation everything was there, we headed off on the grassy path in the woods we had taken just over a week ago. With the help of Aiko's belongings and lotion, we were able to clean our faces of the ruined and running make-up we all adorned.
It wasn't until we were near the bus station that Aiko decided to let us know about the detours we'd need to make.
"Better hope they didn't get on without us," Yusuke said, though I figured they hadn't. He laughed. "Keiko wanted to mock me, let's see how funny it is when she gets stuck somewhere else."
I was more interested in the damaged pillar. "I'm positive it was Hiei's Kokuryuuha from the first match. It really upset the waves around the island."
Aiko bristled at the name, and though Yusuke and I caught on, we said nothing. There was a silent agreement among us to save the details of our personal excursions for another day. We wanted to take this grace period without complaint. If something was necessary to say, an emergency, we'd air it.
And yet, nothing was.
Soon, we met up with the group, waiting at the nearest bus stop.
We settled in. Aiko gave a brief announcement about the necessary detour and I retrieved my belongings. Yusuke was quick to take orders. Botan doled out her long list, and nobody batted an eye since with our grace period also came the revocation of dining privileges and room service.
"How did you find out?" Keiko asked, leaning over to Aiko.
The two of them sat on the bench, with Genkai next to Keiko on the other side, and Botan at the end with Shizuru standing behind her.
"I know you have a knack for being nosy," Botan laughed. "But geez this is kind of insane, don't you think?"
"Well, first…" She paused, looking at Puu in Keiko's lap. "What the hell is that?"
"Puusuke!" Botan snickered. "It's another egg Yusuke received."
"Another egg?" Aiko asked, glancing to Yusuke, who was with Shizuru now.
"Come on, don't change the subject," Keiko said. "How on Earth did you find out about everything?"
Though we agreed to save any heavy news for later, it didn't necessarily apply to the girls who didn't know anything about Aiko's outer circle. I waited to hear Natsume's name uttered, because despite the desire for the grace period, why the older brunette would tell her about the tournament held my interest.
"It's been a long day, you guys," Aiko said, feigning a small, appreciative smile to them. "Just… There were some comments dropped by a few people…" She paused and glanced to me, who stood next to her at the post. "About a certain, uh, youko. And I could just feel it—I could feel it in my blonde something was wrong."
"Your blonde's not even natural," Yusuke remarked, still counting on his fingers and taking orders.
Aiko glared at the boy, but the anger left her face quickly, and she struggled to repress a grin.
"Then I guess you could say the feeling was…" She trailed off, lips splitting apart into a wide smirk. "Supernatural."
A collective groan came from everyone within earshot and Aiko was the only one laughing outright. Even I could feel the heavy sigh leaving my lips as I set my palm to my face.
"Get it?! Because everything—the entire situation—this is all part of the supernatural!"
"We get it," Yusuke groaned, embarrassed at the pun.
Kuwabara stood at the other end of the bus stop snickering into his hand, trying to hide his appreciation for the poor joke.
"Don't let the bus leave without me," Yusuke said as he walked past me.
"Without you?" Aiko then decided to stir the girls up for his lack of support for her bad joke. "Right after I told you about the detour you said you hoped Keiko got on the bus and ended up stuck somewhere else for mocking you."
He inhaled sharply, shaking his head, before exhaling a growl. "Got me feelin' some type of way…"
"Oh, Aiko, be careful," Botan snickered, leaning towards her. "He's the Dark Tournament champion. He's invincible!"
"It's required you refer to him as The Amazing Tournament Champion Urameshi at all times now," Keiko remarked.
I stifled a laugh as Yusuke bristled. "All the shit I went through and I can't even enjoy the title when you say it like that."
"Forgive them, The Amazing Tournament Champion Urameshi," Shizuru smirked. "They don't—" She shook her head, chuckling. "Yeah, even I can't play like that."
The girls chorused in laughter and Yusuke turned, heading off, exasperated.
"You better hope the bus doesn't come before you," Keiko called after him.
Kuwabara cleared his throat to stop the laughter. "I'm going, too."
He then turned to Yukina, inviting her along.
"Make it back quick, you two," Keiko said. "The bus is bound to come any time now."
"Alright!" Kuwabara waved.
"Anything you interested in, Kurama?" Yusuke turned back to speak to me.
I shook my head and fibbed as Kuwabara and Yukina passed us by. "I ate earlier at the hotel."
With a small shrug in reply, the trio disappeared. Conversations carried on until the bus rolled up. Slowing to a stop, Keiko was the first to get on. The rest of the girls laughed at her determination to remain spiteful, though it was much to Aiko's encouragement.
"I know I'd be the first one on that damn bus, too," Aiko snickered as everyone began boarding.
Shizuru sighed, standing at the door. "What stop are we getting off, Aiko? We can wait there if they don't make it in time."
"Uh…" She hesitated and dug in her purse to pull out a small white sheet of paper
Shizuru leaned in the bus, talking to the driver. "Sorry. We have some people coming; they'll be here any minute now."
"You're lucky traffic was nice today," the female bus driver replied before looking at her watch. "You have three minutes."
Botan then appeared next to Shizuru, leaning out the bus. "How long could it have taken them? I didn't even ask for much."
"Three double cheese burger meals isn't much?" Shizuru asked, surprised.
"No," Botan replied simply with a smile.
Aiko pushed the paper in the windbreaker's pocket before taking it off. Shizuru sighed in relief as Yusuke's frame came into sight. We saw the trio with many paper bags in their hands, running to catch the bus.
We settled in the bus, and after Yusuke paid his toll, he began handing out orders to their respective customers. Aiko was last and he handed her a small bag.
"Double cheese burger. No onions, no ketchup, extra pickles," he said, nudging the bag in her face. "Small unsalted fries."
She stared at the bag, surprised at the order.
"Come on. I know you hate onions and ketchup, and I know you like pickles." He shoved it in her face. "Take it."
She took it reluctantly, fingers wrapping around the bag gingerly, but even the simple notion forced her to smile.
"Kuwabara," Yusuke asserted as he sat across from the ginger boy. "I know you're going to blow a good amount of that money you won on video games so I'm going to your house tonight."
"Whatever, I'm going to the game store before I head home anyway," he replied, shoving his burger in his mouth. "I'm picking up Goblin City."
And everyone ate quietly, with conversations just as soft, in the different atmosphere. All jabs and jokes aside, everyone carried conversations civil and soft enough to keep from receiving dirty looks from the other passengers.
"I just remembered I moved all my appointments to tomorrow," Shizuru groaned, biting a fry in half.
"I guess I should wait to ask for a trim, huh?" Botan chuckled nervously, to which Shizuru smirked.
Aiko, who sat with me on the outskirts of the group, began shuffling slightly. I turned to see her pulling out the small white paper from earlier. I only paid attention to her as she wrote because I figured she meant it for me. It wasn't until I could make out the horrible strokes that I realized it wasn't.
I didn't need to use this either. I found them. Thank you.
I pretended to set my gaze outside the window but let my eyes sit on the paper she continued fiddling with. The jacket lay in her lap, and I watched patiently as she dug around in the pocket.
A small glimmer of silver atop a familiar color of currency appeared before she clipped the paper to it and shoved it back inside.
I let my gaze settle on the scenery passing by as a heavy wave of irritation weighed on my torso.
"This is our stop," Aiko called over her shoulder, and she shoved the last of her burger in her mouth the moment the bus stopped. "The next one is thirty-three-eighty-four."
We were the last of the group to head out. We trailed behind everyone as they dispersed around the bus stop. She turned on her heels to speak to me the minute she stepped foot on ground.
"So what plants are you going to tell Shiori about?"
I eyed the girl, wondering what could have possibly come over her to not use the money she was given, what could have happened to where she had to be given money by a stranger in the first place.
"I was thinking of something other than the norm," I replied, stepping foot on land.
"No angiosperms?"
I shook my head, and irritation disappeared as I realized the tone of her voice—it wasn't rude. It was genuine, interested, and only let guilt settle in deeper.
"More along the line of bryophytes," I said. "I felt it would be a new route of discussion. We only see those in lab or in the woods."
It wasn't the first time she'd risked herself for me, for any loved one. The situations she put herself in, and got herself out of, were intimidating for any regular high school girl. And yet, she pulled through each time, loyal and hardened.
"That's moss, right?" She asked, walking backwards slowly.
And those situations often involved me.
I nodded and she continued walking backwards, heading for the bus stop's post.
It was the first time she stuck her neck out for me that I realized how she weaseled her way into that grey area and why I accepted her into the white. It was through loyalty. It was this time, the second, I realized why I wanted her in the white.
Nobody was stupid enough to put themselves in dangerous situations unless they felt there was a good reason.
I leaned forward and placed my hand behind her head, on the post she was steps away from. Surprised by my movements, she jerked back, bumping her head on the back of my hand. She registered the post almost immediately and repressed a grin. She crossed her arms under her chest, holding the windbreaker close.
"And you?" I asked. "What have you told your parents?"
"I'm on a forty-eight hour movie binge with Kitajima," she replied with a shrug. "Hopefully my dad doesn't call her. If he does, I'm sure she's got a library's worth of excuses about why I'm in the bathroom every time he calls."
"What will happen if he finds out you're not there?"
Again, she shrugged. "Probably a black eye." When I raised an eyebrow at the words, she grinned. "I'm kidding. I don't know. I can always just tell him I was a few cities over with Natsume or something, which would be better than him finding out about this. He doesn't have to find out I'm practically across the nation."
The next words out of my mouth stopped short. I knew telling her how little thought she put into protecting her alibi was dangerous, but I was surely one to talk.
"It's fine. I just won't see daylight for the next three years if he finds out," she said, glancing over to the group we excluded ourselves from. "What's more important is if Shiori found out. If any of your parents found out."
Because there was only one other way for them to find out something was amiss: if we didn't return.
Her eyes lingered on Shizuru. "Can you tell me why you decided it'd be best to not tell me?"
"Aside from the obvious fact that you would have wanted to come?"
She bristled, staring up at me. "Yes."
I sighed, remembering my words to Shizuru in the elevator after our first match.
I decided not to choose my words carefully as I had with her. "You would have been an encumbrance."
Her brows furrowed, as if she was trying to define the word in her head. I continued without missing a beat, figuring it best.
"It would have been difficult to care for not only myself in the ring, but for your safety in the stands."
She expected the response I gave to the older brunette and so her face flushed. It fell into one of surprise, lips parting on the verge of slacking her jaw.
She composed herself. "Keiko and Kuwabara both ended up fine."
I decided to not argue or tell her how they had their fair share of nuisances throughout the tournament.
"You mean to say if you were there, you wouldn't have gotten yourself in trouble?"
She turned her nose up to me despite being aware I was right. "Maybe…"
She returned my skeptical smile with a coy one before inching towards me, closing the already small distance between us. Small arms wrapped around my neck. Mumbles of playful obscenities followed and disappeared as she buried her face in the fabric wedged in the crevice of my neck and shoulder.
The idea she'd forgotten everyone was close by, or she just didn't care, was pleasant. Had this happened months ago it would have been more so than I would have liked to admit.
She let my steady, cautious hands rest on the small of her back, and the position between us was familiar, welcoming. An ease shifted between us, and this time she molded to my fit, relaxed.
In the midst of an unfamiliar town, surrounded by those who fought both by my side and for my safety, her comfort and presence was a reminder we could return to our normal lives. My routine for the past fifteen years.
She pulled her face away, stopping just inches from mine.
I waited, uncertain of what I should do, as I was certain she wanted to fix her mistake from earlier. Despite facing death many times in the ring, I actually felt more concerned now in front of this fifteen year old girl.
Shifting her weight to the balls of her feet, I decided against my better judgment… because her company was more than welcome in my routine.
Small lips pressed against mine, and the kiss was her in every sense: naïve, inexperienced, and just as closed as she was to my sex. I was delighted, entirely amused, and the guilt that had buried itself in the back of my mind disappeared instantly.
Laughter caught in my throat as I repressed a grin under her lips.
My hands found their way to her head, and I gently cradled it, trying not to laugh outright. Wrapped up in each other, we overlooked how our company was still present. Her body became stiff as we heard Yusuke's and Kuwabara's snickering.
Shizuru, whose voice was sly, lightly tapped my shoulder as she passed us by. "Bus is here, you two."
Aiko jerked away immediately. One hand flew up to let the windbreaker cover her bright red face, and another gave Yusuke her middle finger as he passed by laughing. I turned my gaze away from the group, hand covering my mouth to hide the laughter.
"Yusuke, you are such a bridge troll!" Botan snapped, pushing him along. "Leave them alone."
I didn't mind. In fact, I enjoyed it. The notion of vulnerability and trust from someone who braved a brash and hot-headed front at all possible hours was charming. And by now, I couldn't keep the laughter in my throat.
I guided the windbreaker away from her face and found she was absolutely mortified.
She flinched at my raising hand and so I spoke through the laughter.
"Aiko, here." I gestured, to which she stood still, nodding slowly, still nervous and humiliated. "Like this."
I closed the distance for the last time and cupped her chin. Using my thumb, I gently guided her lower lip to part, to accept my own and share my essence.
An ever-present gnawing of concern returned in the back of my head despite the conscious decision I followed through with. The idea of becoming romantically involved with another in this life was unsettling.
Camaraderie and friendship were necessary for surviving in human society, as you always needed someone. Romantic involvement was not… until you surpassed involvement and it became investment.
I pushed the gnawing away, suppressed it, and an easy, pleasant feeling settled in the pit of my chest. Because in that instant of affection, when she broke apart from my kiss in a fit of small giggles, I knew it wasn't against my better judgment.
She clasped her hands over her face as she continued laughing at her previous mistake.
"The bus is leaving, you guys!" Kuwabara yelled from the stairs behind us. We heard Yusuke smacking his lips together, mocking the sound of kissing.
While I pursed my lips to contain my laughter, she pushed me gently, guiding me to the bus where I boarded first. Even while I waited for her in the walking aisle of the crowded bus when she approached the female driver, she had to repress laughter as she bowed in respect.
Her next words, finally calm after an inhale, put another puzzle piece in the picture of her journey. I knew to wait until we arrived home to ask why she told the woman: "Please tell Mr. Eiji I didn't need to use this."
She handed the windbreaker off to the confused driver and made it to our group. And with no seats left, I moved out of the way to let her sit. Though when she passed her younger friend by, he grinned to her before puckering his lips, taunting her.
"I called your mom before I left!" Aiko hissed, determined to not draw attention.
Yusuke paled at the remark, and his lips fell limp as he began counting on his fingers. "Then she's going to be pissed for at least… three days. Kuwabara, you'll let me crash at your place for three days, right?"
Kuwabara replied without much care. "Sure, I guess."
I gently gestured past Aiko for her to walk to her seat, and she continued threatening him as she walked by. "And when she kills you, you will not drag me out in the middle of the night to tell her not to cremate your ass because I will pay for the cremation."
Yusuke didn't care about her threat but the wrath of the next female in his life.
Aiko sat next to Shizuru, who moved her purse off the aisle seat next to her. The two brunettes took comfort in the silence between them. With the elder's knowing-grin, the younger gave a bashful smile before pushing her face into her hands. I grabbed the grip holder haft as the bus jerked forward. With the shift in weight from the bus came my own sense of embarrassment that I worked to ignore.
The bus set in motion and Botan's spoke. "The Dark Tournament Champion could survive that."
And a burst of laughter sounded from our group, landing us a few dirty looks from other passengers.
A/N: Yay, it's over!
Well, Nervosa is over… but this story isn't.
I mean, there has to be a continuation. Okay… there doesn't have to be, but I set all of this up and to leave it would be pointless and a waste of time. Plus, we're definitely going to see a lot more of other characters (like Botan, Maya, and the Kuwabara's)! So if you're interested, the sequel's posted! You can check out the next chapter to see a preview of it before heading off to read it.
Anyway, I've rambled long enough.
Thank you for sticking around to read this whole thing. Thank you for all your reviews and any overall support, really! All the encouragement and even the occasional criticism I've received mean so, so, so much to me. Thank you all. :)
I really, really, really hope you enjoyed Nerv. and I hope you like what's to come because I've got so much planned.
So much I think I'm getting in over my head…
Leave a review on your way out, if you wouldn't mind? Because it'd be so, so, so lovely to know what you thought about Nerv.! :)