Author's Note:
Sorry for the super long hiatus! I'm also sorry that this chapter is gonna have tons of dialogue from the show!
Thanks for reading! Reviews are welcome and appreciated!
Enjoy, and check out YYHTheLostChapters on DeviantArt for pictures of the characters!
Chapter 36: Reunion
Flein squinted in the bright light as she finally escaped the dark interior of the tournament's stadium building, her teammates sprinting behind her. Moments before, it had seemed impossible that she would soon forget the close encounter with her brother and the tournament's reptilian security officers- the experience was so harrowing that her stomach was still doing backflips.
But as her eyes landed on the monster in front of her, the chilling memories abandoned her in an instant.
Towering over even the top row of the stadium's seats, the creature could only be described as a gigantic, fleshy troll. His posture was so hunched that Flein could only estimate his height being approximately eight feet tall, which only seemed to increase as she got closer. His right arm was stretched out to impossible dimensions- his claws were embedded in the stadium platform, the pale concrete forming a pile of rocks over his large hand.
"Amazing!" Koto yelled into her microphone, one fist pumped exuberantly in the air. The shortest member of Team Urameshi, still masked in white cloth, was standing just feet from her. "Ichigaki's stretching out his arm like it's warm putty!"
"Wait . . ." Kirda said, just as Flein was starting to piece the puzzle together. She pointed a finger at the giant. "That thing is Doctor Ichigaki?"
Flein nodded hesitantly, her gaze drifting from Koto to Yusuke, who she had just realized was on the arena platform as well. It was nice to see that the human members of the team had survived despite their long rescue mission- although she hadn't caught a glimpse of the least attractive one just yet. "Somehow I wasn't expecting the doctor to be so . . . big." she added, turning her attention back to the largest eyesore. If the doctor was really this tall, she felt sorry for any audience members who had had their view of the arena blocked by his enormous backside.
The doctor's head turned slightly to the left- Flein froze as she realized that Hiei and Kurama were standing dangerously close to the other side of the troll. Neither the doctor nor the two demons were standing in the ring, which no longer seemed to matter to the excitable tournament announcer. The giant's other arm stretched out in front of him, rushing at the two other members of Team Urameshi. Hiei and Kurama dodged this assault easily, causing their opponent's other hand to sink into the dirt that was just recently below them.
Flein turned to consult her teammates, only to find a vacant space beside her. She scanned her surroundings and quickly found them a few feet away, Kirda kneeling with concern over a coughing and weak Metamura. Flein rushed over hurriedly, quick to disguise the fact that her worry for the two male demons on the other team had been enough to completely distract her from the older man sputtering on the ground nearby.
"I'm just overstimulated" she assured herself, watching the water demon carefully help the master to his feet. There was far too much going on at once, with very few of these events being ones she understood completely.
"That man . . . is a monster . . ." Metamura gasped between coughs, leaning his weight on Kirda's shoulder. He had to have been at least five inches taller than the girl, though she never faltered.
"I can tell." Flein replied, although she had a feeling that the man had been muttering this more to himself than to the others. Doctor Ichigaki was stepping onto the platform now, closing the distance between himself and Hiei, Kurama, and Yusuke. His muscular arms had retracted back to their shorter length, but only for a moment. It wasn't long until his left arm shot out again, colliding once more with concrete as the three Team Urameshi members jumped out of harm's way.
This prompt failure did not deter the doctor- he had his sights set on Yusuke, who had landed safely a good distance away. His right arm extended over his left, catching the team's leader off-guard and cutting into the skin just over the human's elbow. Yusuke tumbled to the ground, cradling his newly-injured arm to his chest.
"Yusuke!" Flein turned toward the unfamiliar shout, only to find that it had come from the normally soft-spoken Kurama. His panicked voiced sounded strange to her- she would have guessed that the voice originated from an entirely different person.
The shout gave him no advantages- Doctor Ichigaki was looking at him now, shrinking his right arm only to extend it again. Kurama dodged this with ease, another hole appearing in the arena's floor.
"They're too fast for him to hit" Flein thought to herself, nibbling on her thumbnail absentmindedly. Their human teammate was the only vulnerable member- any individual battle between the doctor and either of the two demons would clearly end in the troll's quick demise.
As if hearing Flein's thoughts, Doctor Ichigaki made his way toward the Spirit Detective, who had managed to sit up, still clutching his arm. The giant was laughing, his confidence growing with each step toward the injured human.
Within a millisecond Hiei was in front of Yusuke, sword drawn at his side. Flein's heart quickened its pace. "Why do I feel more frightened now than I did before?" she thought, subconsciously comparing the fire demon's short stature to the troll towering above him. She had been so sure of the demon's chances just minutes ago, yet now she found that there wasn't much left of her thumbnail to chew.
Yusuke staggered to his feet, his hand still clamped over his wound. His mouth moved, but Flein couldn't make out the words over the excited roar of the audience.
"Yusuke's back up! Despite the delicious outpouring of blood from his arm!" Koto exclaimed, the individual hairs of her tail rising with anticipation. The masked member of Team Urameshi still stood nearby, looking on at Yusuke and Hiei's silent exchange. For the first time, Flein began to grow frustrated at the small fighter's apparent reluctance to join the fight. "And what's more, he's asking Hiei to withdraw! Does he really wanna take this beast on by himself?!"
As if to confirm Koto's words, Hiei moved aside, leaving a short path between Yusuke and his enormous opponent. Doctor Ichigaki merely cackled at this new development, which he clearly believed was in his favor.
"But Hiei and Kurama just got here! Let them fight!" Kirda protested, although not nearly loud enough to reach Yusuke's ears. Flein used her friend's words to muffle her sigh of relief.
"We have to respect his wishes." Flein startled as Kurama came to stand beside them. She didn't know if the demon was just simply quiet or if she had been far too preoccupied with the battle before her to notice his arrival. "After all, it was he and Kuwabara who had to experience the students' pain personally."
"Go ahead then!" Doctor Ichigaki boomed, interrupting any potential response to the redhead's words. He beamed at Yusuke, revealing his oversized fangs. "Defy all logic!"
Both of the doctor's arms extended at once, his right landing just beside Yusuke, and the other missing Hiei completely and burying itself into the arena's surface. With both of the doctor's limbs on either side of him, Yusuke wrapped his own arms around his opponent's, effectively trapping them in place.
"What's this?!" the doctor rumbled, his expression changing rapidly to one of shock. A blue light gathered around the Spirit Detective, his energy engulfing his entire body. Using this burst of power, he managed to squeeze the troll's arms even tighter, lifting the giant far above him. The sight didn't look possible- Doctor Ichigaki was easily four times the human's size, yet he was being held up by the arms as if he were no heavier than a balloon.
The doctor seemed to share this sentiment- he howled in a mixture of pain and surprise, his giant, clawed feet leaving the ground's surface completely. Yusuke released his opponent's arms, only to sprint up to the flying troll and leap, aiming three solid kicks to the chest and face. This sent the doctor hurtling in the other direction.
"That was for the three innocent lives you stole!" Yusuke shouted upon landing. Flein saw Metamura shudder in the corner of her eye. She couldn't help but flinch a little herself- she and her companions didn't know that the three mind-controlled students they had tried so hard to rescue were already dead upon their arrival.
Doctor Ichigaki landed harshly on his feet, causing a mini earthquake throughout the stadium. He held his abdomen in pain. Yusuke leaped toward him regardless, his hand balled into a fist.
"And this one's for screwin' with their master!" he continued, landing a strong punch into the doctor's sharp cheekbone.
"Nicely put!" Kurama remarked. Master Metamura simply looked on in silence- Flein could see that the troubled man was too lost in thought to admire Yusuke's tribute.
"And this is for my friend who felt sorry for them and got his ass kicked into the ground!" Yusuke went on, his knuckles pounding into the other side of the giant's face. "And the last one's for me . . just for pissin' me off!"
An uppercut collided with the doctor's chin, sending him flying so high that Flein almost believed his pulverized body would leave the stadium completely. Instead, he landed within the top rows of the audience, the spectators scrambling to get out of the way before the giant's massive form would crush them. The collision left a large dent within the seats, the doctor's body so far deep within that he couldn't be seen from underneath the pile of concrete.
"Damn." Kirda admired, her voice seeming loud compared to the complete silence of the audience members.
"Now you're gonna think about what you've done, Dr. Ichigaki!" Yusuke finished, his fist still aloft.
"Wow! Can I just say . . . wow?" Koto said breathlessly. "Dr. Ichigaki has been totally demolished by Yusuke's powerful assault! The crowd is speechless!"
"Hey . . ." Joka grunted beside them, lifting himself to his feet. The color had started to return to his face, his period of exhaustion resulting from the overuse of his wolf form slowly subsiding. "Ya sure humans are as weak as you guys say they are? Because this guy can hold his own."
Flein opened her mouth to speak, before closing it again. In truth, she had never seen a human display as much power as Yusuke. Even Kirda didn't seem to have an explanation for Joka.
"It . . . doesn't matter." Master Metamura said abruptly, and at first Flein thought he was talking about Yusuke's power. It only took a moment for her to realize he hadn't been listening at all- he was still looking intently at the pile of rubble the doctor's body had created, lost in his own grief. "Taking Dr. Ichigaki's life away is never going to bring them back. Yen . . Ryo . . Kai . ." Tears rolled down the master's face, and Flein made the connection. These were the students' names. "It's all my fault! How can I ever forgive myself?"
Metamura sobbed, and watching him display his grief so openly, along with observing Kirda on the brink of weeping along with him, caused tears to threaten to rise in Flein as well. "Don't cry here." Flein ordered herself, blinking at her feet. Kurama looked on sympathetically, his emotions so hidden that his expression bordered on apathetic.
"How is any of this your fault?" The girl's voice was so uncharacteristically stern, that Flein was forced to look up, tears or no tears. Anji was standing in front Metamura, holding back her own set of tears- although these ones could easily be of frustration. She looked at the ground and unclenched her hands shortly afterward, seemingly regretting her sudden outburst.
"Yeah, didn't the doctor cause all of this?" Kirda quickly jumped in, though her voice was gentle.
Metamura simply continued looking straight ahead. "But they did this for my sake . . " he persisted, denying any comfort the girls could offer him.
"Save your tears, Metamura."
Flein turned, her ears perking up at the unfamiliar voice. She was shocked to find the masked fighter of Team Urameshi standing over them from the fighting platform. Her voice was unmistakably female- that Flein could tell for sure. All of her theories that the masked fighter was a child were all whisked away in an instant.
"Your boys aren't dead." she continued. Metamura lifted his head, hope gracing his face for the first time that day.
"Are you kidding?" Yusuke asked incredulously, standing a few feet behind his teammate. He turned to look behind him. Flein approached the platform, standing on the tips of her toes and shielding her eyes from the sun in a struggle to see the center of the platform.
There lay three figures on their backs who, one by one, sat up. The three males looked at their surroundings in confusion. Flein had never seen them before- she could only guess that they had been lying their the whole time, obscured by the height of the arena platform.
"Now this is stupid weird." Yusuke muttered, as the three students stood up and observed each other in shock. Metamura gasped beside them, and pried himself from Kirda's arms, staggering over to the platform in earnest. He struggled to climb up for a few moments before Kurama rushed to his side to give him a boost. "But . . . I don't understand! A few minutes ago their spirit energy was completely AWOL!"
"This seems too good to be true . ." Flein added, her eyes narrowing. But there was nothing she could honestly call into question- the three students were somehow alive and well.
Master Metamura limped to his students, only for them to turn their backs to him. Their murmurs were sad ones- Flein leaned over the fighting platform even more, her toes leaving the ground, and strained her ears to listen. She could feel Kirda and the others lean in beside her, their breathing slowed to almost silence. She was lucky the audience was so quiet as well- it didn't take long for her ears to pick up the conversation.
"Dammit! Why couldn't she have just killed us?!" cried out one of the students, sobs making his words almost unintelligible.
"How can you say such things?!" Master Metamura said in dismay.
"Your master is right. Your guilt is misplaced." The masked fighter added, approaching them as well. "The technique I used is called The Spirit Wave. It is powered by your own spirit energy. If your souls are corrupt, then the wickedness will take your life. But if you are pure of heart, then that purity consumes you and destroy any outside impediments. It was your soul that destroyed the Virucchi."
"Yen, Ryo, Kai . . she says what I've known all along. If there was anything you could've done to prevent those kills you would have!" Master Metamura said. The students' shoulders shook, their backs still facing their teacher. "Your bodies were taken over, but who you really are- your souls- are still clean. I see you in the same way now as I always have- as my most noble students. Let's put this behind us!"
The students turn simultaneously, their faces covered in tears. "Master!" they cried, embracing Metamura so tightly it was a wonder he didn't topple over.
Flein smiled. The tears were threatening to surface again, but this time it was a warm feeling. "Somehow, I would've never pictured something this sappy happening at this tournament . ." she remarked, letting herself land back on her feet.
The others returned to the ground beside her. "Yeah, but it's still so sweet . . " Kirda sniffled, wiping her eyes. "Dammit!" Anji laughed good-naturedly, her expression strained from holding in her emotions. Joka simply looked confused.
"And so in a dramatic explosion of emotion fit to make any demon wretch, the Urameshi Team is set to advance!" Koto concluded, which finally ignited the angry roars of the previously silent audience. The familiar chant consisting only of the words "Kill Yusuke" could be heard again, and Flein sighed in exasperation.
Yet, it was hard to break the good mood. She hadn't realized how much she had been rooting for Team Urameshi until this moment- it was like a large weight had been lifted off of her chest.
"Wait . ." Kirda said, touching a finger to her chin thoughtfully. "So if the students were already saved when we got here . . ."
". . . Then there was no use in us bringing Metamura at all." Joka finished, collapsing back onto the ground again in defeat.
Flein sighed. She had almost been captured today- it was an even worse memory now that she knew it was all for nothing.
"You've reunited them. That's good enough." Flein turned to see Hiei beside her, and she had to resist jumping ten feet into the air. Both he and his red-haired companion had a habit of sneaking up on others unintentionally. Hiei smirked. "I was shocked that you had returned at all- we were beginning to think you had gone back on your word."
"Nope, we were comin'!" Kirda assured him cheerily, wiping the last of the tears from her eyes. "We just had some difficulties!" Flein was grateful that she didn't go into detail- she didn't know if she could tolerate him knowing just how much trouble they had barely dodged just in an attempt to get inside the building.
"We're no longer in need of assistance, so I suspect the next time we meet will be in combat." Hiei said, turning his back to Team Musakui. Flein might have been the only member present that recognized his statement for what it was- a compliment. She turned away in an attempt to hide her satisfied smile- their status had transformed from "doesn't stand a chance" to one of equal footing. Hiei stopped short, before turning back to them. "Do yourselves a favor and stop offering aid to your competition so readily."
This time Flein didn't hide her smile. "Speak for yourself." she told him. He had gone to unnecessary lengths to help the members of Team Ichigaki- and they both knew it.
Hiei paused, but his eyes finally met hers.
The moment only lasted for a second. Any possible response was interruped by the familiar announcement tone, a musical melody that would normally seem cheery if it didn't usually mean something bad or inconvenient.
"May I have your attention please." a female's voice calmly blared over the intercom. "The third round of the Dark Tournament will begin immediately."
The audience erupted into shouts of excitement so deafeningly loud that Flein almost didn't hear the latter part of the announcement.
"Furthermore, the tournament committee has unanimously decided to begin the round in accordance to the match diagram, starting from the left." the announcement continued without pause. "Team Urameshi and Team Masho, please report to the ring."
Hiei's brows furrowed. "What? Again?" he said flatly, and speeded away to the fighting platform so fast that it almost seemed as if he had teleported there. Flein supposed it was too much to ask to expect a goodbye from the fire demon.
"Something tells me they didn't check the tournament schedule this morning . ." Kirda said.
"Something tells me that they didn't get a tournament schedule this morning." Flein said, suspicion rising once again.
There was definitely someone- or multiple people- higher up who were looking forward to Team Urameshi's failure.