File 36: Twisted

After those bone-breaking, life-shortening fights, the score was tied one-on-one. The momentum belonged to the Urameshi Team. But due to some people's rampage, the stadium and the ring were completely smashed up.

"Once again, we've been made aware of the force of Hiei's Ensatsu Kokuryuha." Kurama strained a small and weak smile. Hiei was strong. That strength had granted him victory not only over his opponent, but also over him. He had succeeded where he had failed. He had protected Akari. And though of course that win made him feel joy and relief, that also made him feel wretched.

"Even though the perpetrator is fast asleep..." Yusuke looked over at Hiei, sleeping soundly against a stone. Well, he had used up all his energy, it couldn't be helped. "But what about the next match, with the ring the way it is?" The detective wondered.

"Who cares about the ring? With the momentum we've got now, I'm going to go out there and pluck us another victory!" Kuwabara claimed confidently. But the words barely left his mouth that he felt an intense bloodlust that sent chills down his spine. He turned his head and his eyes fell on Toguro-ani who was fixing him intently, with the crooked smile of a hyena, impatiently waiting to be unleashed to rip him apart. Kazuma felt himself shake with fear. He was being overcome like by venom freezing his blood in his veins...

"That bastard's just trying to provoke you. Don't let it bother you." Yusuke tried to reassure him.

"Who, me? Dumbass! I was just staring them down, that's all!" The tallest punk retorted in a show of self-confidence. But his bravado was obvious.

"That's right, nobody's expecting any great feat from you, just to be barely back with your life... or maybe even less. But don't let it bother you." Akari smiled sweetly.

"That's actually what's bothering me the most!" The orange head shot back. Geez, even if that was her usual taunting, would it kill her to believe in him and encourage him NORMALLY for once?! He had to show her! And to save her... At one win and one loss, his match was the cornerstone of the finals. He had no right to lose...

Koto announced the decision of the main office that the match would be reported until the ring was fixed. Kuwabara suggested returning to the waiting room since it couldn't be helped. But just as he started walking away, he was stopped dead by a voice.

"Your intuition is indeed sharp." Someone praised him. He sharply turned around to see Toguro-ani. When? How? He didn't feel the slightest presence or movement! "I mean for you to be having a premonition of your own death... you have grown surprisingly over these last few months. However, the difference in our power is just too great. You know this as well. You are certain to die. How fortunate for you that your execution has been delayed. You should spend this intermission time to make sure that you leave no regret behind in this world." And the demon walked away, laughing in sadistic anticipation.

In the Urameshi Team's waiting room, Hiei had been laid on one of the benches. Akari and Kurama were sitting on the other. Yusuke was leaning against the wall, his arms crossed, and Kazuma was gazing out the window. A violent wind was rocking the trees. Akari noticed his restlessness and asked him about it. He slightly changed the subject and pointed out Genkai's absence. With this break she'll surely have some time to come and encourage them, especially given Akari's situation. He failed to notice the slight contraction of the girl's features, or Kurama placing his hand on hers and squeezing it reassuringly. She closed her eyes.

"She's not coming. She's not that type. And I'm not either. We fight our own fights. We do what we want. We do what we must. That's how we've always been." The female rei user answered curtly.

"Jeez, that's why I'm saying you two are too cold and asocial. And anyway, why did you go and make such a stupid bet with that guy?! If only you could take part in the matches, I could have got that Sakyo dude and beaten him flat!" Kuwabara shot back. Akari squeezed Kurama's hand tighter.

"I understand you're scared but relying on others and butting into other people's business to escape reality is not what you should be doing, is it? I made that bet because I trusted you. Hiei fought like he did because he trusted you. If our trust in you is truly misplaced just say it outright and leave. I won't stop you. If you trust us and believe in our judgement, then man up already." The golden eyed girl retorted calmly but scathingly. It was then Keiko, Botan, Yukina and Shizuru entered. And Shizuru, who had heard, grabbed the front of her brother's jacket and threatened him for being such a coward, backing away like this.

"I-idiot! I'm not backing away! I'm just a little nervous... that's all..." He looked away. Shizuru, noticing a change in her sibling, let go and lit a cigarette, pretending it was nothing. Yukina approached the next fighter and greeted him. The boy's expression instantly brightened up to his usual silly one. The Koorime wanted him to do his best in the match and had brought him stamina drinks. "You didn't need to go through all that trouble! When Toguro the Elder goes up against The Man Kuwabara, he'll be all worked over in 0,5 seconds!" He boasted. "Y-your love has definitely reached me!" He suddenly turned and took her hand in both of his. Akari stared blankly at him. Gee, such a difference in treatment and responses and attitude... He was incorrigible... although Yukina was as clueless as always. But certainly it was all for the best.

Suddenly, they heard and felt an ominous rumbling, as if a humongous dinosaur was walking towards them. Those who could ran outside and saw the Younger Toguro carrying the huge ring from the other stadium on his back. And they were filled with awe, and, in Kuwabara's case, horror and dread. The passionate and enthusiastic mood he had been in thanks to Yukina's encouragements had just been blown away all at once. That guy... was a monster!

Hiei opened his eyes, and after a few seconds, they fell on Kurama.

"Hiei, you're awake." He remarked with a smile.

"Where is this? How many hours have I been asleep?" The fire demon sat up on the bench.

"We're in our waiting room, and you've been asleep for about six hours." The fox answered.

"What about the tournament?! How are Yusuke and Kuwabara?!" Hiei exclaimed. "What... what about Akari?! He grabbed the front of his friend's shirt. "Akari... is she..." He trailed off, unable to finish. Kurama looked at him. After all, when it came to Akari, the concern, distress, the apprehension Hiei showed was on a whole different level compared to the one he showed for Yusuke and Kuwabara...

"She's fine. They still haven't fought. But neither of them could sit still so they went over to the arena."

"What? Why?!"

"Because you guys really messed this place up." The fox explained. Indeed, the bleachers had to be evacuated, the ruined ring disposed of and replaced, and all dangerous and wobbly parts of the ceiling and walls removed. "While you were asleep, Younger Toguro gave a little performance. He was able to carry the ring from the other arena all the way here. He said it was in appreciation of being allowed to see your skill." He added. Hearing this, Hiei was not very happy. It was good the matches could continue. But that this man could have such monster strength, that the atmosphere he had striven so hard to create during that last match could have completely vanished from that 'little' counterperformance, that Akari wasn't safe...Then, from the speakers, they heard that the stadium maintenance had been completed. Everyone was to return to their seats.

Juri apologized for the long wait. It was time to begin the third match. The crowd began cheering – for Toguro of course. During this whole six-hour-long wait, the tension had risen considerably. They were all eagerly looking forward to Kuwabara's cruel and gruesome death. And once again, Kuwabara was being overwhelmed by this terrible atmosphere. All of that because of Toguro's little act. He had to show them his skills! He had to show them something big! And he was still grumbling. Even if Akari was like this, Genkai should still have come!

"Good grief, what a happy fool." Hiei remarked with a cruel and disdainful note in his voice. Kazuma commented about what kind of attitude that was as soon as he woke up. Kurama walked up to Yusuke and Akari and asked why they still hadn't told him about Master Genkai. Yusuke looked down. Akari deliberately ignored him and went to Kuwabara. She put a hand on his arm.

"Are you sure you don't want to run away and use this opportunity to elope with Yukina?" She suggested with a half-teasing and half-serious tone.

"Wh-what do you take me for?!" He slapped her hand away, obviously needled. "I am Kuwabara Kazuma, THE Man! For me, taking care of that guy is a piece of cake! Besides, my re-re-relationship with Yukina-san is to grow like a flower out in the sun!"

That's right! I'm not about to lose to that guy! I've got this surefire special sword! Kuwabara took out the katana hilt Suzuki had given up. He resolutely headed towards the ring.

"Oh my, is that so?" Akari sounded like she was humouring a child. Even if he was scared out of his wits, he was going to fight for his comrades. So even if she was just as scared, she had to trust him and believe in him. How could she be more of a coward than he was?! That was her fight! "Kuwabara, don't die even if you're killed. If you die I'll kill you myself. Got that?" She threatened.

"Yeah!" The boy turned to her, smiled, and saluted. Even if her sentences were nonsensical, their meaning was clear. Even if she was threatening him, she was encouraging him like only she could. He jumped onto the ring and walked towards the middle. Elder Toguro did the same.

First move wins. I'll astound them with my deadly technique! The human raised his reiki, it flowed into the hilt from which a shining blade of energy sprang forth. Not only that, his energy was surrounding him like a constantly rippling, moving net of lightning. If someone touched it carelessly, that person wouldn't be in for just a few scratches. The audience was awed. So were Hiei and Yusuke. The Elder Toguro was quite impressed too.

"Contestant Kuwabara produces a powerful reiken unlike any he has displayed before! What's more, his reiki is enveloping him like a barrier!" Koto commented.

"Kuwabara-kun's astonishing powers of recovery have become even more heightened. The reiki coursing through his sword is also several times stronger. It is indeed a weapon of both offence and defence." Kurama remarked.

"I'm going to settle this right away! Here goes!" the Spirit Sword user lunged at his enemy.

That sword is definitely trouble. I think I'll use that one trick. Toguro-ani devised without the slightest change in his self-assured pose and expression. However, the ground cracked under his feet. The cracks extended towards his opponent and even passed him by. Without noticing a single thing, Kuwabara sliced him in two. Nobody could believe it. Why hadn't he dodged? How could he bite the dust so easily? The human on the ring was the most confused. Had he really... won? Suddenly he was pierced from behind as if by spears in five places. His arms, his shoulders, his left side had been had. Blood flowed from his mouth. He let go of his sword that vanished and fell forwards. The shafts retracted and returned to normal fingers size. The youkai's torso stood out of the concrete. Toguro mocked his enemy for being such a fool. Deceiving him felt so nice. Kazuma was confused again. How could there be two of that guy?!

For explanation, Toguro moved his left arm that came out of the ground like a root from the earth or a serpent from the sea... all the way to his 'double'. He had transformed his left hand into a dummy of his own body. He had felt pain but not nearly as much as what Kuwabara was feeling right. Besides, it was not like anything important had been cut. The sliced 'doll' turned back into a hand and he licked the blood oozing from the little gash on his thumb.

"And it's not just my shape I can alter. I am also capable of relocating my organs, even my brain, my heart..." Toguro did a little performance. Back then he had actually moved his entire self behind him through the soles of his feet and drilling his way through the floor tiles. He then caught the abandoned hilt with his whip-like fingers and brought it back to him. "This is quite a handy instrument. Is it a memento from Genkai? Then again, after leaving a memento to a pupil as stupid as you, she must be rolling in her grave right now."

"What?! W-what did you just say?!"

"What are you so surprised at? Do you mean you didn't know? Genkai is dead. She's been killed." The demon smiled cruelly. Kuwabara was stunned. Genkai? D-dead? He looked over at Akari and Urameshi who both averted their eyes. Th-that couldn't be. But Akari's reaction each time he had complained about Genkai's absence... and Hiei's... and Yusuke's... He struggled to stand up.

"So that's it... everyone else knew, huh? It was only me... am I the only one who didn't know?!" He clenched his fists, cursing his own obliviousness and the others' silence... and while the truth, the reality had yet to sink in, his opponent stabbed him again before retracting his fingers.

"What cold friends you have! Nobody told you? Alright then, before you die I'll explain everything to you... using this puppet show!" He let out a sadistic laughter and elongated his right arm that he made to look like a young Genkai. Her resemblance to Akari was rather striking. Only Akari had longer and straighter hair. "Once upon a time, there was a young man and a young woman. The woman's name was Genkai and she was a beauty without equal and the man was my younger brother and went by the name of Toguro. The two of them worked to master the martial arts. However, many years passed rapidly by and the woman became ugly with age." He made his imitation age in accelerate to look like the old Genkai everyone was used to.

"Elder brother!" The young Toguro warned him.

"It's okay, let me continue! Contrarily, the man used the power of the Demon Realm to preserve his youth and better his martial arts. And the so the old woman became envious of the man and challenged him to a duel. However she was brought to a pitiful end." And he ran his 'doll' through, making even blood trickle down its mouth. Kuwabara's eyes widened in shock and horror; as opposed to his teammates'eyes that narrowed in anger as they glared fiercely at the member of the Toguro Team.

Genkai's death came as a great surprise to almost everyone in the stadium. Keiko asked Botan for confirmation. The ferry girl had no choice but to corroborate the claim, greatly saddening her, Yukina and Shizuru.

"And so, Genkai was killed by my brother and has gone to heaven and all's well that ends well." Toguro-Ani concluded and laughed insanely, taking an evident and malicious pleasure in his vulgar little performance and the people's reactions. Kazuma was shaking.

"You're wrong!" Yusuke yelled, unable to take it anymore. "The granny didn't fight out of envy!"

"You're the one who doesn't know anything about my grandma. But since talking to you is useless then I'll just tell you this: regardless of the outcome of this fight and the tournament, if somehow you're still whole in the end, then I'll disintegrate you so that not a single cell will be left of you." Akari warned dangerously. Younger Toguro cursed his sibling's bad habits.

"There'll be no need for that, Akari-chan. You don't have to dirty your hands, because I'll be the one to smash that trash to smithereens." Kuwabara murmured in a low but strong voice. His reiki was growing and starting to cover him.

"You're sure full of spirit. Power is good but I have your trump card right here." Toguro showed the hilt in his hand. "You cannot cut me with your reiki alone."

"Shut up."

"You shut up! Die!" The youkai's fingers grew again. They were going for his chest, for his heart... but they couldn't even pierce his skin. The boy's reiki had intensified so much that it was protecting him just like armor. The human raised his head. He had completely snapped.

"You... I'm going to make you pay! Burn in hell!" He extended his arm and shot blades of reiki from his palm like a machine gun that hacked Toguro into bits.

Koto commented about how Contestant Kuwabara had magnificently turned the tables with that technique never seen before. He had torn Toguro-ani into pieces and dropped him onto the ring! Yusuke cheered. Juri started the countdown but stopped fearfully when a dark and derisive chuckle was emited by the dislocated man.

"To think that you could shoot reiki like knives from where your sword emanates... you're more skilled than I expected. But the strain isn't good for your body." The demon mocked as flesh reconnected his body parts and joined them back together. "You see, you've got too many injuries to use your reiki in a way you're not accustomed to. Morever, your attack didn't manage to cause me much damage."

"You bastard... are you immortal?" Kazuma swore. His body was shaking because he had overexerted himself. His opponent was right. Just standing was difficult. The crowd was amazed and quite happy about the new turn the situation was taking.

"As long as you don't crush my heart or brain, you have no chance of survival. However, since I can move my organs at will, there's no way you can tell where they are!" Toguro smirked again, thoroughly enjoying himself. It was so sweet, shattering every last sliver of hope of an enemy before killing him. "Now I'm afraid I'm going to have to have you sprawl out on the ground. It's what suits you best." He shot his fingers that curved to stab the human from behind and pin him to the floor. "If I don't do this much, there's no telling what you'll do." The monster justified himself.

Juri started counting again. Kuwabara struggled in vain. Toguro pointed out once more that even if the human managed to break free, it was impossible for him to deal a fatal wound on someone who could freely move his vital organs. And there was no waiting for the ten-count defeat either. He would lop off his head before the end! Unfazed, Kazuma declared he would kill him without fail.

"Don't make me laugh. You're just a frog about to be dissected by me. Now die!" Toguro transformed his right arm into a large blade and told him to go bawl in the next world. He swung his blade.

"Sword, extend!" The reiki used suddenly yelled as his ki reached the one into the hilt, formed a sword again.

"Beneath me?! That thing can be remotely controlled?!"

"You're the one who'll get dissected by me you bastard! Die!" As if it was moving on his own, the Sword of Trial slashed the youkai apart, freeing its master. Kuwabara stood back up. The situation had been reversed again. Juri stopped the count for Kuwabara and started it for Toguro-Ani instead who blamed this as the result of his own careless. But again, he had not been mortally damaged. He began reassembling once more. The human had little energy left. This time, he better not fail. He broadened his sword into a fly swat-like weapon and augmented its power. "You're right, this truly is a handy tool, transforming according to my thoughts."

And for the very first time, true fear appeared in Toguro's eyes. He had already acknowledged the danger of this weapon, but with shape, then...

"Since I don't know where your weak points are, then I'll hit them all!" Kuwabara swung his arm down, crushing his enemy completely under the crowd's dumbfounded looks. The referee went over and made a disgusted face. There was no question concerning the man's current inability to keep fighting. She declared Contestant Kuwabara the victor. The Urameshi Team was now leading 2-1... how could that be?! What was with the Toguro Team?! What was happening?! Such an upset from before the match began!

Yusuke was praising him when suddenly Kazuma punched him as hard as he could. He tried to do the same to Akari but froze when he saw the look in her eyes as if he had been pierced through the heart. Kurama took advantage of that moment to step protectively in front of her.

"Wait, Kuwabara-kun!"

"Why didn't you tell me the old lady had died?! Why was I the only left out?! Did you think I'd bail out if I knew she had been killed?! Eh?! Well?!"

"Kuwabara-kun, we didn't hear anything from Yusuke or Akari either. We just realized it and didn't ask them about it." The fox defended them. At this, Kazuma slightly calmed down. He stared at the two for a time. Yusuke and Akari stared at each other, like Yusuke was silently asking her whether she would be alright talking or if she preferred he did it instead. She closed her eyes for a few seconds then opened them again and looked straight at Kuwabara.

"She died before our eyes. Even now, we still can't believe that, we can't accept that. There's no way we could actually talk about it and admit it, make it real. You certainly had a right to know but you're also the one who couldn't sense anything or read the signs, and you're venting that frustration on us." The girl also vented her frustration at just how dense he could be. The man clenched his fists and silently accepted the blow. Yusuke headed towards the ring.

"Urameshi, win." Was all Kazuma said. Urameshi smiled slightly. "Definitely!" Yusuke glared with determination at his opponent, Younger Toguro. Akari heaved a small sigh meaning 'those guys are such a handful'. Kurama wrapped an arm around her shoulders and smiled too.

"But before that, I have a suggestion to make to the Prince of Reikai and sponsor of the Urameshi Team, Koenma-sama." Sakyo interrupted again. "So if he would please come down..." He sneered again. Naturally Yusuke didn't quite appreciate this cold shower suddenly dumped over his burning fighting spirit. What was it again?!

Koenma was just as anxious but came down nonetheless in his teenage form as his pride was bigger than his fear. This surprised the others but he reassured them. He had an escape device attached to his back. His life was more important than his pride. But it was not like he didn't trust them, right? Kuwabara got angry at such a blatant lie and lack of faith but that was Koenma after all. His name had become like a synonym for 'petty and cowardly'. And Sakyo mocked Koenma too. His attitude and precaution could not be blamed. He knew of Toguro's strength, and even if the match was good, ultimately, it was impossible for Yusuke to win. Akari too should be aware of it. She knew Toguro's strength better than anyone after all. And though she made that bet that time and has done well enduring until now, she would necessarily interfere to stop Toguro from killing Yusuke, and to kill Toguro herself while she was at it. Because even if she trusted her comrades, the results weren't guaranteed. There always came a time when they failed, the only question was when... and in the end, the only thing one could truly rely on was one's own strength. And when that moment came, even though she was to win, she would have lost.

"You seem to think you've magnificently trapped us in a no-win situation, but as you said, the results aren't guaranteed. There also exists the possibility that both Yusuke and Akari will prove stronger than you think and win their battles. Speak, what is your suggestion." Koenma argued seriously. Sakyo's grin broadened.

"To make this an all or nothing contest. If both Yusuke and Akari win, I will relinquish all my assets and my information to you, or at least the emplacements where they are hidden. It will be up to you whether you can actually get hold of them or not. They won't fit in my coffin after all."

"And if they lose?"

"If either of them loses, you will also lose your life. The stakes would be everything I have accumulated in my years of existence versus your life. You have that much faith in your team, don't you?"

There was another outcry. If Urameshi, Akari and Koenma were all finished then no one could stop the worst things from happening, whatever they were. The path would be completely free for all those with evil intentions and enough power to apply them. If the teens were soldiers on the frontlines, then the Prince of the Reikai was the commander moving them and organising everything. And certainly, that was precisely the reason why Sakyo had suggested such a bet. Koenma looked at Yusuke, at Akari, and the others. Even so, that was alright. He believed in them. And he would stake his life on their victory. And the things that could be obtained in return were certainly worth the risk.

There was an announcement. This new bet was going to be submitted to deliberation for ten minutes. Kuwabara grumbled. They all knew the executive committee was rotten to the core. And this Sakyo definitely had things they didn't want to be known. They were just worried about their dirty asses in case Sakyo would lose. He didn't know the executive committee had already been eliminated. And for once the crowd was just as dissatisfied but for different reasons. They wanted Urameshi and Toguro to hurry and start the match. They didn't need a recess. Sakyo and Toguro left. Keiko asked Shizuru what they should do and Shizuru, who had been watching the business man on the ring, snapped back to reality. She didn't know about them but she had to go to the restroom while she could. Things were getting so interesting.

She climbed up the stairs but stopped before entering a large room. She had seen Sakyo and Toguro walking on a walkway. She followed them to a large balcony.

"I thought that I had killed all the administrative personnel." Toguro remarked. The sponsor lit a cigarette.

"It's just an act. Raising the tension before the finals and before the last match... it's more stirring this way, right?" Sakyo chuckled. "So we've finally come this far. It's been a long journey now that I think about it." He pondered. The youkai kept quiet. "Yes, my parents were completely ordinary people. There were five of us siblings. I thought it was an ideal family even from an objective viewpoint. All of my brothers and sisters are probably public servants now. I'm the only one who turned out like this. It's not anyone's fault. It's my own brain that rotted. I just enjoyed looking at blood and guts. I went from dissecting frogs and fish to dogs and cats, one after another. It didn't take even three years before humans became my subjects. But I soon grew tired of it. Even now, the only thing that gets me fired up is gambling. Day in and day out, I lived only to gamble. And as a result, I rose my way up through the underworld. I've staked my life in place of chips four times before. That's not very much, is it? There were several other times but when they realized I was serious, they all backed down. The ones who accepted the bets were others like me whose brains had rotten."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Why indeed?" The human chuckled again.

Behind a pillar, Shizuru looked down with a sad expression.

As the break time would soon be over, they returned to the ring and Shizuru to her seat.

"I have never been defeated when I bet my life. Of course, I'll certainly win this time too." Sakyo's smirking was brimming with confidence and thrill, but his eyes were those of a dead man.

"I'd like to be able to thank you for placing your full trust in me; but I don't do this for anyone. I fight only for myself." Toguro declared, his stare fixed on Urameshi who was glaring back at him. "I'm sure it's the same with him."

"I know."

And so the intermission ended. Koto announced that a decision had been reached. The wishes of both parties would be observed. Whoever won this match would be given two wins, and at the same time, this team would be declared the champion. If the victory went to the Urameshi Team, Sakyo would lose his life and all his assets to them. If the Toguro Team won, Katsuyama Akari would be handed over to them and Koenma, prince of the Spirit Realm, would lose his life. The crowd cheered. Shizuru sat down at her seat with a strange expression. Keiko was worried sick. Juri asked the two contestants to come forward. But before she made the call for the match to start, they heard a chuckle like that of a madman. Suddenly, Toguro-ani popped from the ground. He was still in the middle of regenerating. This shocked practically everyone. That guy was still alive?! But apparently, Kuwabara's blow had done some significant damage...

"This will certainly be the end of you bastards! Urameshi, you can't beat my brother! Even that Genkai lost! Even Genkai! At the moment when my brother dealt with her, she definitely had her youth back. In other words, even though she used all her power, she was unable to win, despite having been many times stronger than you! When Genkai was young, she was truly a fine and beautiful woman. I don't know how many times I've thought of making her mine. Do you know why I didn't get her? She was just too strong for me. However, even she grew filthy and senile and it was as an ugly old had that she died! And now we'll send you bastards after her!" The demon howled. Kuwabara wanted to go finish him off but Kurama stopped him saying it was unnecessary for him to go. Those two would not let anyone interfere. "Now, little brother! Use me as your weapon! What would you like, a sword, a spear?"

"Move." The younger sibling commanded from behind him.

"Huh?"

"You're in the way, brother." He added mercilessly. He kicked his brother sideways like one would lightly kick a soccer ball. Outraged by this betrayal of his only brother, the one with whom he had sold his soul for power, Toguro-ani swooped down on him but the younger one couldn't care less. He punched him in the face. He hadn't sold his pride. The impact completely, literally shattered the light man and sent him crash far out into the sea. "Now that nobody's in the way, it's just you and me, Urameshi."

"Yeah." Yusuke smirked.