Helen was an orphan. She had no family or home outside the school. Her home was the school. Ren stood in her friend's room. Tears stained her cheeks as she packed up Helen's belongings. They had all come together and had a service for her passing. Since the school was on such large property there was plenty of room. Keiko had insisted Helen be buried next to Yusuke's former master, Genkai, who had a very wise teacher. And an amazing person to them all. Ren continued to pack up the items in the room as the service for her friend ran through her mind. It had been a very simple service as they all said a prayer for her. Hideki and Yukio had helped to bury her and then seal the grave. Botan had been the one to help Helen move on. That seemed to help reassure Ren in a small way. The sting of pain in her chest was just so strong she wasn't sure how she was going to be able to handle it. Liu stood outside the room just in case Ren needed help with anything. He felt as if all this was his fault. He knew that was not racional for him too but still - it was because of his brother. His brother had been plotting this and he had something bigger planned. He was just unsure of what it was. Ren came out with the last box in her arm.
" Well, that is all of it." Ren wiped her tears away. She gave Liu a sad smile. " You didn't have to wait with me."
" Yes I did. You are my friend and you are hurting. I couldn't just leave you alone."
Ren gave a laugh. " Well thank you. And just so you know, I don't blame you. Your brother did this, not you."
Liu felt a huge weight lifted off his shoulders. He still felt as if he was still at fault. But knowing Ren didn't blame him helped him feel as if he could still help her avenge her friend. Ren deserved that if anything else. They went on their way to store Helen's things and go and join the others in the locker rooms. Hideki was of course outside the door waiting for them. They followed him inside the room. Yukio and Sachiko sat with Shizuru and Keiko. Ren went to her mother and got the biggest hug. As dumb as it was Liu wondered what that was like. A hug from a mother. It must have been a wonderful feeling as he saw Ren's face. The love and gratefulness she held. He was very grateful to witness that even if he was not he one to receive it.
" Where is Ronin?" Liu asked as he didn't see him.
" Aunt Yukina is looking at his arm. Making sure he didn't do anything he wasn't supposed to do while he was fighting." Sachiko supplied the answer.
" Which is just fine. Mom said I am all good to go. Still only one good arm though." Ronin entered the room, standing next to Liu.
" You all need to be careful. This was a setup from the start. Your father's had to deal with something very similar to this years ago as you know. So this is hitting a bit close to the vest for us." Keiko spoke out. Her voice was shaking. She knew the kids were strong and could handle anything but knowing she was helpless made her feel even worse. She couldn't even help her husband. She held onto Ren even tighter.
" Do we know who we will fight next?" Liu asked.
" No. But we can't take anything for granted. Helen had the best defense in this inter school and that wasn't even enough." Yukio spoke. Looking at his sister. " I am sorry Ren."
Ren shook her head. " You stated a fact. You didn't say anything to hurt me or that wasn't true. But our parents had and have defeated so many enemies. It could honestly be anyone."
They all nodded in agreement on that.
Shizuru looked at the time. It was time. " Show time kids."
They all filed out of the room and went to the arena. Keiko and Shizuru went on to the stands. Liu followed behind everyone else. Sachiko stopped in front of him. " Sachiko? Are you-"
Sachiko wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. Holding him close. Liu felt his arms going around her waist holding her to him. He found himself kissing her back. He wasn't even sure why. He had no idea what he was doing but he felt this was right. He had fallen for her right from the moment he saw her fighting in the arena against her father. She was beautiful. Smart. Amazing fighter. It didn't matter what other things he could think of, she was perfect. Absolutely perfect. Slowly they pulled apart. Looking at one another.
" That was probably bad timing but I had to do that." she said finally.
"No. It was perfect timing. You can do that anytime you want."
She laughed and took his hand in hers. They walked together to the others. Sachiko saw the look on Hideki's face as they walked up holding hands. The look of disapproval. Well he could be disapproving of her choice. She wasn't. The doors opened for the arena with the loud creak as it always did. They all walked through to see their entire school was back in their seats with the zombie creatures watching over them. Even blocking more doors. Looked as if Zakos didn't want anyone else coming in and interrupting.
" Good afternoon." Zakos called out to them from the balcony. "I trust you had the time you needed to grieve. And gather your strength back for this final round."
" What do you mean final? There are always four teams till one wins. There has only been one other than our own." Ronin called out.
" I am aware. But I only need these final two." The doors on the other side of the arena opened. Revealing two people walking through. The darkness seeping out was thick. Harsh even. As the two walked into view for everyone to see- no one moved. Karasu. The dark raven demon seemed to be smiling under his mask. Then there was the one that had all their hearts feeling as if they were going to stop. The youngest Toguro brother. Yusuke had been the one to defeat him in the Dark Tournament so many years ago. From what Zakos remembered from his research he had wanted Yusuke to kill him. To finally move on. Yet he had asked to go to Limbo, the darkest part of Spirit World.
Toguro looked up and saw the one that brought him back. Being dead gave him a special talent for seeing the rage and need for revenge that literally was seeping from his body. He knew what this boy was wanting him to do. Moving to the side he started walking toward the kids.
" What the hell is he doing?" Yusuke asked. They were all back up on the wall trapped. The view they had of the arena gave them enough to see everything. After everything that happened with that man- why did he have to be brought back?
" Why is he coming this way?" Yukio spat out.
" Don't engage with him. We still need to play this carefully." Hideki spoke slowly to his cousin.
Toguro made his way over to the kids knowing he was being watched and he didn't care. He had no intention of playing his game. As he saw right through it. His hands moving to his pockets he kept on walking . As he got closer he could see them all glaring at him. He could see they all looked like their parents. All but the one boy. He was different. His energy was similar to the one one on the balcony. But he could tell something was off about his body. He was just unsure of what it was. Stopping a few feet away he just stood silent in front of them. Turning around he looked at the one on the balcony. " I won't fight. Send me back to Limbo if you have a problem with my decision." He looked back at the kids. " I have no intention of fighting against you. Any of you. I already had the fight I wanted years ago and that was all I had asked for." He walked over to the far wall, leaning his back against it.
" Uh- does that mean anything to anyone?" Liu asked.
" Yeah. He gave us a win." Ren said. " He fought daddy back when he was a kid and lost. That was the fight he was talking about."
" Karasu is mine." Sachiko said. She kissed Liu. No caring that everyone was looking. She noticed he didn't seem to care either. " Got my back?"
" Always." Liu kissed her again before she went to the arena. He saw Hideki glaring at him. The glare was more than anger. It was jealousy. Was he in love with Sachiko? They were cousins for crying out loud. But they are not blood related. Of course. That's why they had that argument near the dorm rooms. He was trying to protect her not just because of them being close since childhood. It was because he was in love with her. Hideki said nothing as he looked back to the arena as Karasu and Sachiko went to the middle of the ring.
" You saved your fight for me. You are your fathers daughter." Karasu laughed. Sachiko didn't say a word to him in response. She pulled out her rose, changing it to a bow. She then took the shot.
" If he kills my daughter, I will haunt you. I will make you suffer in ways you know nothing about." Kurama made his words to be a promise. Not just a statement.
" Your daughter will not die. She has a very important role in my plan. Only she can fill it."
" Do not lay a hand on my daughter." Kurama bit out every word.
Zakos heard the dark voice that came from him. He felt every hair on his neck stand up. Kurama was not your average demon it would seem. Fear even held him for a moment. But he had to continue with his plan. Saia. Saia was going to come back. And after this fight- everything would be as he needed.
Karasu dodge the very close range shot. Barely. This girl wasted no time. She got right into battle mode and just kept going. Kurama had trained her well. He saw the elegance in her movements. Timing the arrow in such a way he couldn't help but accept the challenge she presented him. She was quick too. Matching his speed almost to the point of having no movement. But he knew he couldn't play with her forever. He saw what she was trying to do. Staying right up on him so he didn't really have a chance to make a bomb. Only he had already made a small minefield. He was just enjoying the dance they were sharing. He couldn't wait to hear her scream. He jumped back a good distance. He saw her coming. He then jumped up inside of to the side. Stretching out his arm he created his bomb and then threw it at her dead on. The explosion was beautiful. Karasu laned and looked with pure joy. How he loved the sight.
Several vines with thorns broke through the arena ground and grabbed him. The thorns were sharp enough that they were cutting into his skin. The blood slowly seeped through some of the cuts.
Sachiko stood before him. Her face was blank and emotionless. It was as if she was on auto pilot.
Well that was about to change.
The large screen that hung in the arena suddenly came on. Everyone looked to see what was coming on through the static. Sachiko dropped her bow as she saw her father being blown up. The blood and screams made her heart stop. The video restarted. His ankle had been trapped and then a bomb exploded. Then the rest started as he moved. He had been surrounded. Tears fell down her face. She had known about the fight. They all had been told about them Which was why she wanted to fight this man. Give her father the victory he had not won when he should have. But this. She had not even once thought this was how it had happened. He was being killed. Tortured. The bastard before her was the one who had done it. The damn bastard was literally torturing her father.
The video restarted again.
" What the hell? Who put that on there? Stop that damn recording!" Ronin shouted.
" Uncle Kurama…..he…. he is bleeding so much. Is this the kind of mission they had?" Ren's voice was low.
Yukio turned Ren away from the screen. She didn't need to keep seeing those images. He looked up and saw his mother and aunts. Their faces were hard. But the tears were real. He could tell they were remembering that day.
Liu looked up at his brother. He saw him holding something in his hand. He could make out a small movement. He then saw the video restart. His brother was controlling the video. " Z! Stop it now!
Sachiko heard Liu shouting. She couldn't make out the words. To be honest she didn't care. Even with the video she never once lost control over the vines. She made sure Karasu was held tight. Only she knew exactly how she needed to beat him. She threw several seeds down and used her spirit energy to make them grow. A very large white rose engulfed her then. It started to pulse. Slowly. Then the speed of the pulses grew more intense.
Karasu then ripped through the vines long enough to snap his fingers. The bombs exploded all around the rose. Laughing he just watched as they all detonated.
" Sachiko!" Hideki and Liu shouted at the same time. Liu felt it then. The strong surge of demon energy. It had increased ten times in what seemed as a matter of seconds. Was it her?
The bombs stopped. Smoke covered everything around them. A sudden rush of wind came out of nowhere. The wind was also accompanied with- rose petals. They were in pieces. As if ripped away. Liu got up in the ring close to where he thought Sachiko was standing. He felt that energy again. The stronger. More profound energy. A figure moved in the small amount of hazy smoke." Sachiko?"
" Stay back Liu." The figure came into full view. Silver hair long and braided. Gold eyes that could pierce your soul. The white dress accomied the new look. She lifted her fingers to her head as if it was a gun. She stared Karasu down. A dark smile on her face. " Bang."