Author's Note: To be honest, my lack of updating comes from the fact this story is ending soon. I suppose I'm desperately trying to draw it out. I've had so many wonderful reviewers and now I'm getting all emotional. FML... -sniffles- Someone give me a hug? On a different note... HOLY SHITCAKES IS THIS A MONUMENTAL CHAPTER! All of you have tried to pry out of me just who our evil villain was, and at last you find out. Some were close, others closer, and some off by leagues, but soon you all shall see. ENJOY! -wiggles in her seat for the crazy reviews to come-
To All My Reviewers: What do you think is going to happen in the next chapter?
sherlaylay: First of all... -streamers and balloons and all kinds of goodies- YOU ARE OFFICIALLY REVIEW NUMBER ONE HUNDRED! -huggaggles like crazy- This chapter is all yours honey! I'm dedicating it to you for not only being an avid reviewer, but also for being the 100th review! -huggaggles again- Anyways, I can't just kill off Kotone. Not only would there be readers with pitchforks, but she's one of my favorite OCs so far and I adore her too much to just THWACK! off with her head kinda thing. =3 I'm so happy you enjoyed the last chapter and I thank you again for the reviews sweetheart! -huggaggles one more time-
Shiningheart of Thunderclan: Kurama's a certified genius! If I could get him to be my college friend, I would be straight A+'s all the damn time. 100's straight across the board... -.- Unfortunately, I can't steal him. Apparently that's not allowed. =3 Enjoy the update dear!
Just 2 Dream of You: You're the second person to mention Kurama's plans always work. But of course, this is very true! He's a genius through and through. YAY! I GOTSA STAMP! -dances- ENJOOOOOOOOOOY~! -singing-
Song for Chapter:
God Bless You - Black Veil Brides, Set The World On Fire
Chapter Twenty-Nine: Genocide
"But Yusuke, I really want to go today!" Keiko whined for the umpteenth time. The last match of the tournament was in a short half-hour, but the Spirit Detective was firm. "I know it'll be dangerous, but I'll have you!"
"Keiko," he seethes, grabbing her shoulders and staring her right in the face, "I can't let you get hurt too! Shit is literally going to hit the fan today and you'll only be in the way of this crazy plan Kurama cooked up!"
Keiko had tears in her eyes. She wanted to go, not for the fight, but instead to be there when Kotone was resurrected. Yukina was more or less in the same boat, Kuwabara trying his hardest to keep the pretty little koorime from going.
"I won't be in the way! I want to be there when Kotone comes back!"
"'If', Keiko! 'If'!" He released her, stepping away and sighing heavily. "There's no telling if this plan will work. We have to try and get passed Enma and that is harder than anything."
"Keiko," Yukina whispers, finally coming from the room with Kuwabara, "I think we should stay here. Kazuma has told me a little of what they plan on doing and I don't want to hear anymore. It really is best we stay. It is going to be a blood-bath."
Keiko stares at her friend for a long, careful moment, the tears streaming down her face at long last. "Alright, fine! Geez! But you better come back alive too, you pervert!" Keiko smacked Yusuke hard on the back of the head. "Go you two. Be safe."
"I'll be back tonight. Just... wait. If something goes wrong and you need to get out of here fast, use this to call Koenma," Yusuke murmured, handing over his compact to his upset wife. "Izume has to have a parent, Keiko. I'm not saying I'm not coming back, but just in case shit does get real."
"I've got your back, Urameshi," grunted Kuwabara, clapping him hard on the shoulder. "Now come on. Daiki will not want me to be kept waiting for so long. We have a big match."
"Yeah," Yusuke agrees, the two laying sweet kisses and love tidings on their women before hurrying from the hotel. "Mizue, protect them with all you got, okay?"
The hanyou nods, seated on the couch and a dire look on her face. "And just make sure my Hajime comes back to me alive."
~:.:{We're All Told That When We Die, We Leave To A Better Place}:.:~
Three sets of eyes watched from the owner's box above the arena, the match of Daiki and Kuwabara already falling into its first hour. The two were relentless, fighting with all they had. It had devastated part of the crowd from their wayward blasts of youki and reiki, but no one really seemed to care.
"I can't believe that little bitch killed off Akihiko and Takumi," Izanagi snarled, his gloved hands holding tightly to a glass of fine champagne.
"Aki wanted to die and Takumi was a fool," a new face insists, a smirk dancing on his lips. His red eyes scan over his two remaining partners. "If he would have been paying attention, a pathetic little girl with no youki left would not have killed him. He was too cocky."
"Yes, well what do we do when they try to revive her?" Yami was on the balcony, leaning against the rails with his back to the other two, watching the fight. Yes, this fight had turned out to be a fearsome one, much unlike the duel yesterday. "I much prefer these two to the ones that fought yesterday. They just did not seem into it at all. Probably depressed. I was glad the fox won in the end, that Youko Kurama in human form. I placed my bets well."
Izanagi and the other man, Eiji, stand and join him in watching the heated death match. Both Kuwabara and Daiki were worn, bleeding, but still going with everything they had. It caused the three to share a wicked laugh.
"I would have to say that Daiki will win this round. He's everything I like in a demon," Eiji comments, brushing a strand of the waving, purple locks behind his ear. "Anger, hatred, spirit, will, and he simply looks mouth-watering."
"Well, you can find out soon enough when we take our turn in the arena. We can kill off those that win and then claim the wish for ourselves," Izanagi snarls lowly, an evil glint in his eye. "Then He won't be a problem for us anymore. We can destroy him and take over Makai ourselves. Why bother with a silly war when you can have all of one world to yourself?"
"Agreed, Iza," Yami responds, barely throwing up a barrier around the box as a massive stream of wayward flames shoot through the stands and towards them. Many spectators burned in that blast. "Ah, and he has the utter disregard for others. Yes, I agree Eiji. He is everything that is still right in a demon."
"When do you think this will finish? The judges already have the scores tallied up so far, and this will be the deciding match," Eiji clutches tightly to the railing, his breezy suit catching the wind. "I'm ready to kill them all and be done with it."
"Don't underestimate them," Yami snapped, never letting his pewter gaze move from the fight. "Remember what happened to Takumi when he got cocky. That little kaze daiyoukai skewered him like a stuffed pig. Akihiko wanted his death, so I'm surprised she didn't kill him sooner."
"He went down fighting," Izanagi shrugged, the male grinning wide enough to show his fangs. "And if not for him, she would not have been even weaker to be finished off. He did a good job."
"Are you idiots done yet? Enma will be here shortly and he'll need to be killed."
The three swivel to face the shadows within the box, glaring at the man that had sanctioned all of this. His youki was nowhere near as powerful as theirs, but he held the key to keeping them from bursting, as Koi had done after learning too much from the man in the shadows.
"Yes, we're ready," Eiji growls, holding tightly to the rail behind him. God he hated this male! "We merely wait on the King of Reikai now. It will be no problem killing him."
"Good, because I hate failure and I will kill any that screw up my plans. Kotone is dead, but rumor has it that those ridiculous demons plan on resurrecting her. Kill Enma before they can make that wish. She will surely remember the face of her killer. With any luck, should she come back, her mind will repress those memories. Unlikely, but highly possible."
"Don't worry, we will handle everything," Izanagi grumbles, lowering himself to a sweeping bow. Yami and Eiji reluctantly follow suit, the growls rumbling deep in their chests.
"Make it so, and don't screw this up."
The man was gone.
~:.:{And All I Know Is What You Left, A Love I Can't Erase}:.:~
"Kotone, are you ready for when this happens? My father has prepared for his descent to Makai, so it will be the best time to get you there." Koenma steps in front of her, once more in his teenage form.
"Yeah, I've never been more ready," she nods, quickly popping her various limbs and limbering up. "As soon as I'm back, if I can remember that bastard's face, I'm going to kill him, Koenma. I will make him disclose that we were framed right in front of Enma himself and clear my own name, along with Daiki, Hajime, and Yuji's. After that, I'm keeping his head for a trophy."
"Yes, well that is expected from you by now," Koenma laughs nervously, her glare locked on him. "Oh look at the time, we need to finish up this paperwork here and open a portal into Tourin!"
"That's more like it, baby-face," she snorts.
~:.:{All The Same In Love And War}:.:~
Daiki was panting heavily, feeling the heat from the smoldering stands and the scent of burning flesh. It was putrid to say the least, but it had to have happened. Kuwabara was on one knee, trying his damnedest to right himself and failing with each go.
"It is dishonorable to strike a man when he is down!" the fire demon hollers, hoping to rile up the human enough to pull himself together. "Get up so I can finish this!"
"Shut up, brat!" Kuwabara shakily stands, wobbling on his feet. Daiki did not hesitate, using the blunt side of his blade to knock the human over the head and sending him sprawling, unconscious.
Koto began the count, the match coming to a close and the woman jumping for joy. "WINNER! DAIKI OF TEAM TSUKAI! NOW WE WILL TAKE A TWENTY MINUTE BREAK TO DETERMINE THE POINTS SCORE AND VICTOR OF THE TOUMA TOURNAMENT!"
The cheers that rang were nothing compared to the thousands from before. The crowds had been significantly trimmed from the few occasions Daiki had let his flames fly wrong or Kuwabara's sword had flown out of his hands.
Complete accidents, all of them. Right?
Daiki takes the time to snap Kuwabara awake, healers rushing into the arena and hurrying to try and rush the boys into the infirmary. Both refused, letting them do their work right there. Team Urameshi and Hajime leap into the arena, everyone ready to hear the final results.
Before Koto could come back with the paper waving around frantically, a loud burst is heard and none other than King Enma appears, massive and towering over the masses. He had sat off to the side, glaring down at everyone.
"Who is our victor?" Even his voice was booming, those his gaze was trained on Hajime and Daiki ruefully. He knew who they were...
"Uh..." Koto stammers, blinking rapidly at her sheet. "WOW FOLKS! OUR CLOSEST SCORE SINCE THE FIRST TOUMA!" She jumped ecstatically. "In first place with six-hundred and twenty points to the losers' six-hundred and ten, TEAM URAMESHI!"
Daiki and Hajime gape, sure their team had won but still dutifully satisfied. Enma seemed pleased enough, though the two knew that they were going to be arrested as soon as the wish-making was completed.
"What are your four wishes?" Enma thunders, crossing his arms and moving his iron gaze to the four. "Yusuke Urameshi?"
"Wait just a moment!" Yami, Izanagi, and a new face- obviously the final Sentinel- flit down to the arena. "We will have our hand at all of you and should we win, your wishes are relinquished!"
Without hesitating, Yami throws himself towards Yusuke, trying to keep him far from Enma and unable to make his wish. Demons were everywhere, the small army the remaining three had collected appearing from the innards of the stadium, ripping away at the men.
Team Tsukaiwakamaru were down in a flash, trying to keep the armies at bay. The fight was massive, a genocide of souls, and none stopped to take in what they were doing. The stands became a death-ring, all of those around falling from wayward strikes of wind, ice, fire, reiki, and youki.
~:.:{Burn My Name And Ashes Scorn}:.:~
Hiei was concentrated on Izanagi, the bastard smugly laughing at the fire apparition. His sword was aimed for his neck, but he just kept swirling out of the way. A wild rain had begun to soak the arena, strikes of lighting and random bursts of hail aimed at the fire user.
"Storm demon!" Hiei snarled, managing a cut to his cheek. "You are the one creating the atmospheric changes in Alaric!"
"And Gandara, and Tourin recently," he scoffs, snickering despite himself. Izanagi tore his jacket away, revealing a green, scaly arm. "Ever heard of having the arm of a dragon, boy? Let me show you just what it can do!" The claws were pointed at him, a horrible heat permeating from the ugly arm. Hiei dodged with great ease.
"You want to see the arm of a dragon?" The fire demon unwraps his seals, the black reptile slithering excitedly across his arm. "THEN YOU SHALL SEE ONE! DRAGON OF THE DARKNESS FLAME!"
He would not pass out after this. No, he had far too much to do.
~:.:{You Left Me With These Broken Lies, And I Let You}:.:~
"YUSUKE! Make your wish now!" Hajime threw himself at the powerful psychic, Yami, and held him off. "HURRY!"
The Detective swivels to face the giant King Enma, staring down on him with patience. He had not even tried to join in on the fight, instead just sitting there and watching. "Yusuke Urameshi, make your wish."
"I wish that those three- Eiji, Yami, and Izanagi- were dead, along with their army, and unable to be revived ever!" Yusuke grins, watching Enma nod in approval.
"So it shall be." His hand waves, emitting a brilliant glow, before the screams of the dying are heard.
"I'M TAKING YOU WITH ME!" Yami slams a long, jagged sword into Hajime, ripping from his navel to his collarbone in a devastating, fatal blow. The brute falls over just as Yami's soul is ripped from him.
"HAJI!" Daiki screams, hurrying to his dying friend. "Don't you dare die on me!"
"G-Got it," he grunts, blood pooling around him.
The armies fall, white wisps coming from them, and Eiji and Izanagi let out feral screams. The lifeless forms created a massive quiet around them, Hiei and Jin- who had joined the fight against the storm demon- smirking in satisfaction.
"Kazuma Kuwabara," the giant king hollered. "Make your wish."
The human was half-conscious, pulling himself from the floor with great strain. "I-I wish that all of us... that are... human... or part human... Keiko, Izume, me, Yusuke, Mizue, and all our future children... could l-live the lifespan of demons with our... loved ones, should we so choose."
All stare in shock at the thoughtful, perfect wish. Kuwabara gives a small smile as Enma nods, flicking his wrists and immediately rejuvenating the fallen human. Yusuke was beaming, kneeling next to his friend.
"Good idea, idiot," he laughs softly, patting him on the back. "Who thought up that one?"
Kuwabara grins. "Kotone told me to do it before..." He trailed off, looking away. "She didn't want to see any of us hurt."
"Even in death, the lass is knockin' sense in-ta us," Jin chuckles, falling back on his rear.
"Shuichi Minamino and Youko Kurama," Enma breaks the gleeful reverie. "State your wish!"
"I wish," the fox begins with a coy smile, his Youko form out after drinking the last of the serum he had concocted, "that those who framed Daiki, Hajime, and Kotone to appear before us after Hiei gives his wish."
King Enma growls. "None have framed those who are condemned. You waste your wish when no one will appear."
"I think not," Youko smirks. "That is my wish and it is not wasted."
Hajime smiles softly, shaking and pale from blood-loss. "T-Thanks..."
"So be it!" Enma was scowling, but turned on the fire demon. "Hiei, state your wish. If you think to revive your fallen mate, rethink. I will not grant it."
Hiei gives his own, wild smirk. "I wish for all that are dead in this stadium, stands included, save those of the army of the Sentinels and the three themselves, to be revived and back to full health."
Enma narrows his eyes. "A thoughtful wish for one that cares not for the death of others. Commendable, fire demon. It is granted."
Souls begin appearing all over the arena, flitting back to healed bodies to retake their lives and start where they left off.
All of Team Urameshi was grinning.
~:.:{I've Had Enough Of Sympathy, It's Time To Watch You Fall}:.:~
"Now, Kotone!" Koenma hisses, throwing her soul from beside him. "Hurry, while my father is distracted with the countless others!"
"Got it, chief!" She laughs quietly, their voices barely whispers and hoping the great king did not hear them. She had been floating over her body, hidden in the dead corpses of the stands, for well over an hour now, keeping her presence unknown.
Touya had sat back from the fight, ready to de-thaw her coffin as soon as Koenma gave the go ahead. He smiled merrily, the prince nodding to him and the ice falling from around the preserved form.
Kotone catapults herself into the lifeless form, her laughter turning wild, and the next thing she knew, she felt a freezing cold.
Once lifeless, white-blue orbs flutter open, staring at the face of the ice master with a profound shiver. Touya sighs in relief, hugging the revived wind demoness and patting her on the shoulder once he pushed her away.
But Kotone was not alright now. Images swirl back into her head, chest pounding, and the face of the man that had killed her became clear.
"It's time for his death," she snarled, leaping to her feet and bristling madly. "The death of a traitor."
~:.:{So God Bless You, God Bless You}:.:~
"Now, your wish will be filled Kurama," the king shouted, waving his hand and smirking. "None appear before me. They were not framed."
A loud clapping is heard, a figure waltzing into the arena and all staring. "No, they were indeed. I am here for a reason, after all."
"You... YOU!" Daiki snarled, about to attack and leave his dying friend. "Wait, why isn't Hajime reviving?"
"He was not dead. I will watch the rest of this from Reikai," King Enma boomed, narrowing his eyes and feeling rather conflicted. "With the death of this man, the three that were framed will be free of their charges. That is all!" And he disappeared into the sky.
"I WILL KILL YOU!" Daiki went to move against the man, the one that framed them, but someone stopped him.
"Back off! This battle... is mine."
Kotone was alive. And she was pissed.
"Yuji."
Oh shitcakes! I TOLD YOU ALL I HAD PLANS FOR YUJI! I feel bad because I really liked his character, but it had to happen. REVIEW!
To All My Reviewers: ...What do you think is about to happen?
Next in 'Praying for Closure':
Not much could be said. It was time for the last battle... The one that would change everything. It was time for the death... And a death of a traitor... Or would Kotone fall at the hands of a man she once considered family... again?
