Chapter 4 A Fiery Welcome
The 5 members of Fairy Tail were surprised at the young Spirit Detective's question. They certainly hadn't expected for this to happen as soon as they had gotten home from a job.
"You're looking for Fairy Tail"? Erza repeated.
"There an echo in here"? Yusuke replied snidely, "Or do you just like stating the obvious".
"Forgive me, I'm just a bit confused", Erza said.
"Yeah, what's your business with Fairy Tail"? Gray asked, rather suspicious of Yusuke's intent.
"Are you planning on joining the guild or something"? Lucy asked.
"More or less", Yusuke said with a shrug, "All I know is I'm expected there".
"Expected? You mean the Master is waiting to see you"? Erza asked.
"I guess", Yusuke replied, "Your master and my boss are old friends or something. Said they got some sort of plan that they hope to introduce to the other guilds here in Earthland".
"I wonder what it could be", Lucy said putting a finger to her chin.
"Who knows? But it's best if we save those kinds of questions for when we get back", Erza advised before turning to Yusuke, "If you'll follow us, we'll take you to see the master".
"Lead the way", Yusuke said with a nod.
"Hey! Do you think we could ride on your bird back to the guild"? Natsu asked eagerly.
"What"? Yusuke said in disbelief, "You're not serious. Why would I let you ride on Puu after you tried to eat him"?
"Come on, I said I was sorry"! Natsu pleaded.
"Natsu, the guild isn't that far away from here", Lucy pointed out.
"You really want to fly back when you know it's only a short walk away"? Gray asked incredulously, "How lazy are you"?
"Come on, how often does a chance like this come along"? Natsu argued, "When are we ever going to get the chance to ride on a giant bird again"?
"Well, he does have a point, not many chances like this come along that often", Erza thought rubbing her chin.
She then looked back over at Puu, who gave her a friendly chirp and a smile.
"And he's just so cute"! Erza thought as a slight blush appeared on her face.
"Alright it's decided! We'll ride Puu back to the guild"! Erza said in a firm tone.
Gray, Lucy, and Yusuke couldn't believe this.
"Are you freakin' kidding me"?! they exclaimed in unison.
"Whoohoo"! Natsu yelled, pumping his arms in the air.
"I guess it'll be nice not to be the one to do the all flying for a change", Happy said, warming up to the idea.
"Oh come on"! Lucy exclaimed in disbelief.
"Might as well go along with it", Gray said with a sigh, "Not like we can say no to her".
"I guess you're right", Lucy said hanging her head.
"Hey wait a second! Puu's my bird"! Yusuke said defiantly, "And I don't recall giving you any permission to ride him after the stunt your friend just pulled! Go find your own damn ride back to the-"!
"Are you coming or not, dude"? Gray said as everyone had already gotten on Puu's back.
"Time's a-wasting"! Natsu said eagerly.
"Aye"! Happy added.
Yusuke looked at them with a blank expression as he couldn't believe that his authority as Puu's master was completely trampled over. He then let out a loud groan before going to join them. The young spirit detective sighed as he finally boarded Puu's back.
"Alright, now which way are we headed"? Yusuke asked.
"The guild is about a quarter of a mile west of here", Erza informed him, "A short distance, but I'm sure Puu will be able to make the trip in half the time it takes to walk back".
"Puu"! Puu chirped, flattered by Erza's praise.
"Alright, you know where to go, buddy", Yusuke said, "Let's fly"!
Puu let out another cry as he began to flap his wings. As he began to ascend, the 5 members of Fairy Tail were in awe as Puu began to take them higher and higher above the ground.
"This is actually pretty cool", Gray said as they went higher and higher.
"Uhhh, dude? What happened to your clothes"? Yusuke said, looking back and noticing that Gray was down to his boxers and necklace.
"Gaugh"! Gray panicked, "DAMN IT, NOT AGAIN"!
"Does he do that often"? Yusuke asked, turning to the others.
"Too often", everyone, minus Gray and Yusuke, sighed.
As they flew away from the forest, Yusuke couldn't help but wonder what he'd find when they got there. Was the guild hall as big as the Gates of Decision? Or small like Genkai's dojo? What kind of people would he meet there? And what was this big idea that Koenma wanted him to be a part of? He sighed, knowing that all his questions and more would be answered once they got to the guild.
Fairy Tail Guild Hall
After a brief flight, Puu had touched down where Erza instructed him to land, right in front of the Fairy Tail Guild Hall. As Yusuke descended from the Spirit Beast, he looked up to inspect his new place of work. The Guild Hall which sat close to the edge of a cliff. The building itself stood on the shore of a lake, known by the locals as Lake Scilliora. The building's design reminded Yusuke of some of the large pagoda buildings he saw back home in Japan. Not as big as a skyscraper, but bigger than his old school. It had white walls, and a large red oval shaped door with two red pentagon shaped windows on both sides. Above the door was a gold trimmed wooden sign with the words "Fairy Tail" emblazoned in dark blue lettering. On both sides of the sign were two identical, fairy-esque silhouettes, both of which sported tails for some reason. On the highest level of the building were three flags. The left was green, the one on the right was blue, and the one in the middle was orange. Yusuke didn't recognize the symbols on the right and left flags, but as he saw the middle one, he noticed the strange bird-like symbol bore a resemblance to the fairy shaped figures on the sign.
Needless to say, Yusuke was not disappointed. Then again, he wasn't exactly impressed either.
"Meh, I thought it'd be bigger", Yusuke critiqued.
"Watch your tone"! Erza chided, "This guild hall has been with us for hundreds of years. I know it may not look like much to you, but I won't have you speaking ill about the current condition".
"Tsk, whatever, just as long as I get paid, I'll sleep in a ditch if I have to", Yusuke said apathetically.
Lucy hadn't known Yusuke very long, but she was already getting as fed up with his attitude as much as Erza. She scowled as she put her hands on her hips. "Are you some kind of professional when it comes to being a jerk"?
"I'm good enough to pro, I guess", Yusuke said with a smirk.
"He says that like he's proud of it", Happy observed with a frown.
"Yeah, what a weirdo", Gray added.
"You're one to talk, ice freak", Natsu muttered.
"What'd you say, pyro"? Gray asked angrily.
"You can't exactly say that when you're standing there in your undies, pervert"! Natsu said, pointing at him.
Gray looked down to see that, once again, he had subconsciously stripped out of his clothes.
"CRAP"!
Yusuke laughed at the antics displayed by the fire and ice duo.
"You guys sure are good for a laugh every now and then", Yusuke said, putting his hands behind his head and walking ahead of them, "Now where's the guy in charge? I want to see what this is all about".
"Straight forward, isn't he"? Erza observed with a frown.
"Yeah, that's one word for it", Lucy said bitterly.
As the 5 mages escorted Yusuke inside, the spirit detective's senses were flooded by the loud sounds of people making merry. Everywhere around him, people were laughing, feasting, and drinking. The noise and apparent smell reminded him of something of a beerhall.
"We're back"! Natsu shouted.
Everyone cheered, each one giving their own welcome to their fellow guildmates who had returned. As the 5 wizards received their warm greetings', Yusuke took a quick glance around the interior. The inside of the building reminded Yusuke of a large lunch hall. A parquet floor with a mezzanine held up by two wooden beams overlooked the lower level, which consisted of Several long benches and tables stretched across its length with a bar at the end. Each of the tables had 3 or more individual at either side. A large wooden board with a sign that read "Request Board" tacked onto it was located beside the bar.
"Well at least this place has got a bar", Yusuke thought to himself, "Can't complain about that".
After finding an empty stool, Yusuke sat down in front of the bar and leaned forward.
"I'll take whatever beer ya got, and keep 'em coming", Yusuke said nonchalantly.
"Excuse me! Are you new"?
Yusuke looked around to see who was speaking to him and there to his left was a very lovely young woman around Erza's age with long white hair standing behind the bar. Her bangs were held up above her forehead. She wore a lovely red, sleeveless dress that stopped at about her ankles. This was Mirajane Strauss, current bartender and former S-Class Wizard. What really caught Yusuke's attention, though, was her impressive bosom. Resisting the urge to do a more thorough double take, Yusuke cleared his throat and put on his best smile.
"Why hello there", he said, "As a matter of fact, I did get lost for a moment. Lost in those amazing eyes of yours, beautiful".
Mirajane stifled a giggle as a slight blush appeared on her cheeks. "Well aren't you quite the charmer"?
"Charmer? Yeah right", Lucy deadpanned.
"Even I thought that one was lame", Happy added.
Erza frowned, unimpressed by Yusuke's behavior once again. She'd met a lot of men like that, some of whom were even members of the guild, but at the end of the day, at least she knew that they were the kind of people you could count on. Which at this point, was a lot more than she could say about Yusuke.
The white-haired bartender smiled warmly as their conversation continued. "I'm Mirajane. How can I help you"?
"I'm looking for the guy in charge", Yusuke continued, "The guild master. Know where I could find him"?
"As a matter of fact, I do", Mirajane said sweetly, "If you'll just wait right here, I'll go fetch him for you".
"Don't be gone too long", Yusuke said smoothly, leaning forward, "I'll start missing you".
"Oh stop"! Mirajane giggled, waving a hand.
Sparing him one last glance, Mirajane walked away to fetch the guild master. Yusuke turned around so he could lean back on the bar. As he got comfortable, he took a good look around.
"Place sure is noisy", he said to himself, "That's bound to get annoying after a while".
"It does take a while to get used to it", replied an older, slightly gravelly voice.
Yusuke turned to see who was speaking and found a short elderly man sitting next to him. He had wrinkled skin, thin, white tufts of hair on the sides of his already bald head, with white moustache to match. He was dressed in an orange jacket with light blue cuffs over a white t-shirt with the Fairy Tail emblem. On his head rested an orange and light blue striped jesters' hat. A wooden cane with a pink smiley face rested on his shoulder. This was Makarov Dreyer, the Guild Master and the one who was anticipating Yusuke's arrival.
"You're pretty sneaky, I didn't even hear ya coming", Yusuke said, quite impressed.
"Years of practice, m'boy", Makarov said with a smirk.
"Ah Master, there you are", Mirajane said, walking over to them, "Well, here he is. Allow me to introduce our guild master, Makarov Dreyar".
"You must be the one I've been expecting, it's a pleasure to meet you in person", Makarov greeted amicably.
Yusuke sweatdropped. "THIS guy is the guild master"? He thought, "I know that people shrink when they get old, but come on! He's the same height as Koenma"!
"Uhhh, likewise", Yusuke replied hesitantly.
"Master"!
The two of them looked over to see Erza and the rest of the group approach.
"Glad to see you all made it back", Makarov greeted warmly, "I trust you all have met our newest member"?
Erza frowned as she glanced at Yusuke, who responded with an impish smirk. "Yes, we've...met", Erza said reluctantly.
"We ran into him in the East Forest when Natsu tried to eat his pet bird", Happy said.
"Gimme a break, I said I was sorry", Natsu huffed, crossing his arms.
"Pet Bird"? Makarov parroted, looking at Yusuke curiously.
Without warning, Makarov suddenly felt a breeze wafting across his head. He reached up to find that his hat was gone. Looking up, he saw Puu with a smile, holding Makarov's hat in his beak.
"Huh? HEY! THAT'S MINE"! Makarov shouted, jumping up and down trying to retrieve his hat, "Wait, how the hell did that thing get in here, anyway"?!
Yusuke and the others suddenly found themselves laughing along with the other guild members who happened to catch a glimpse.
"Alright Puu, joke's over, give it back", Yusuke said with a smirk.
Puu complied and promptly dropped the hat back onto Makarov's head. The old guild master gave Puu a sour look, who responded by nudging Makarov affectionately.
The elderly man adjusted his hat before he continued speaking. "Anyway", Makarov said, clearing his throat, "Now that you're all here, I can get started".
This was it, the moment when everyone's questions would be answered. Yusuke and the members of Team Natsu all waited with anticipation for what the Guild Master was going to say.
"LISTEN, EVERYONE"! Makarov shouted, "I HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT"!
Everyone immediately stopped what they were doing and turned their attention to the master.
"Wonder what's so important"? Macao said, looking up from his drink.
"Who knows", Wakaba said taking out the cigarette between his lips.
"Let's just shut up and listen so we can get back to drinking", Cana slurred slightly putting down her large mug of beer.
"Alright", Makarov began, "Take a look around you. Each and every one of us has accomplished our fair share of jobs and whatnot. We've come a long way since the day our guild was first established. Despite what the snobs at the Magic Council may think, we've continued to progress thanks to each of our talents, both magical and natural. And we'll continue to do so, because that's what makes our guild NUMBER ONE"!
Everyone who had been in the guild longest cheered at the masters' proclamation. Yusuke, who had been hanging onto every word the old man was saying, was rather impressed. In a way, Makarov reminded him of Genkai. The biggest difference being Makarov was much more spirited and seemed much more openly compassionate.
"Yeah Master"! Jet cheered.
"You tell it like it is"! Droy added.
"We won't let you down"! Levy said happily.
Before Makarov continued, he motioned for Yusuke to stand up, who did so without question. "And now, as we look to the future, we'll be initiating a new chapter in our guilds' history, which starts by welcoming our newest member", he continued, placing a hand on Yusuke's shoulder, "Let me introduce you to the newest member of the guild, Yusuke Urameshi"!
Everyone shifted their focus on Yusuke, who looked a bit nervous with everybody staring at him.
"Uhhh...hey"? He said with a nervous smile.
"Since you'll be joining, you'll need a guild emblem", Mira said, walking up to him, "What color would you like"?
"Uhh...Green please"? Yusuke said after giving it a bit of thought, "...Dark Green, if you have it"?
Mira went behind the bar and took out a stamper from beneath the counter.
"Where would you like for it to be placed"? She asked.
Yusuke thought a bit harder for this one. When he was younger, he did think about getting a tattoo, but after becoming Spirit Detective, such childish dreams eventually drifted out of his thoughts. He then remembered he always wanted his first tattoo to go on his right shoulder. He then took off his jacket, lifted up the sleeve on his right side and pointed to his shoulder.
"Right here", Yusuke said with a smirk.
Mira then pressed the stamper against his shoulder and with a light pop, a dark green Fairy Tail emblem was now emblazoned on his shoulder. Yusuke couldn't help but smile as he looked down at the mark.
"Welcome to Fairy Tail, Yusuke", Mira said warmly, "So, what kind of skills do you have, if you don't mind my asking"?
The members of Team Natsu were especially curious. Since they were the first to meet Yusuke, they were rather interested in what the young man could do. Yusuke knew he couldn't let it slip that he wasn't from another world just yet. So, for the sake of privacy, he decided to bend the truth a bit.
"Well, I was the Spirit Detective of my hometown, but I guess now I'm the Spirit Detective of Fairy Tail", Yusuke fibbed slightly.
Practically everyone in the guild gasped as they all stared at Yusuke with a surprised look. The young half demon immediately felt uncomfortable by the attention he was getting.
"Uhhh...what"? Yusuke asked with a shrug, "Did I say the wrong thing or…"?
The awkward silence was suddenly replaced by cheering and applause, which immediately caught the young man off-guard.
"AWESOME"! They shouted, "WE HAVE A SPIRIT DETECTIVE"!
"First a Celestial Wizard, NOW a Spirit Detective"!? Macao said in excitement and disbelief.
"Our guilds' getting better by the minute"! Cana shouted in agreement.
"Welcome to the family kid"! Wakaba greeted warmly.
Yusuke couldn't help but smile. The whole "family" thing was a bit weird to him, but being praised for his skills seemed to make up for it. Back on Earth, if he were to tell anyone about his title, people would either think he was crazy, weird, or both. So this was a nice change of pace. Makarov tapped him on the shoulder.
"So tell me, what kind of skills do you possess as a Spirit Detective, Yusuke"? he asked.
"Oh uhh...".
This was a first for Yusuke. After all, it wasn't every day when someone asked him about his Spirit Powers. He had a feeling that, despite their welcoming attitudes, that he'd be getting some rather unfriendly looks if he let it slide that he was half demon. So, for safeties sake, he decided that he'd just give them the lowdown on his basic Spirit Powers.
"Well, I'm a lot faster, stronger, and sturdier than most humans", Yusuke began, "And I've been trained to point where I can control my own Spirit Energy, as well as sense the full extent of others' "?
"Spirit Energy"? Erza said curiously.
"You know what he's talking about"? Natsu asked, looking over at Lucy.
"Nuh-uh", Lucy said, just as perplexed.
"Me neither", Happy added.
"You guys are so clueless", Gray taunted with a smirk.
"Oh yeah? So why don't you tell us what it is, Smarty Pants"!? Natsu challenged.
"Yeah Gray, enlighten us"! Happy said, just as offended.
"Well, obviously...okay, so I don't know either", Gray relented.
"I think I can help", Levy said, stepping in, "I've read about Spirit Energy but I never really got the chance to meet someone who claimed to master their own".
"Great, a bookworm", Yusuke muttered, "ACK"!
Yusuke shouted in pain as he felt a hard smack against the back of his head. He looked to the side to see that it was Erza who had dealt the blow.
"Did ya have to hit me with your armored hand"?! He complained as he rubbed the sore spot.
"Would you prefer I take it off and hit you again"? Erza threatened.
"Knock it off guys"! Lucy scolded, "Go ahead Levy".
"Anyway, I've read about some people, mostly warriors and monks, who, while unable to use any magic, have trained their minds and their bodies to the point where both become so strong, they can generate a type of energy directly linked to their souls, their spirits. Hence the term Spirit Energy".
"That's pretty much the abridged version of my powers", Yusuke relented, "A bit too heavy on the textbook mumbo jumbo, but you're in the ball park".
"Interesting", Makarov said, rubbing his chin, "So what exactly are you able to do with your Spirit Energy"?
"Kick ass and take names, what else"? Yusuke answered plainly.
Makarov sweatdropped. "I should've seen that coming", he sighed.
"If you want him to show us what he can do, I know the perfect way", Natsu said stepping in.
Gray, Lucy, and Happy knew immediately where he was going with is. "Oh boy, here it comes", they all said tiredly.
Being the new guy, Yusuke was a bit confused as to what they were implying. The pink haired fire wizard then pointed at Yusuke with a grin and a determined look in his eye.
"You and me, Yusuke", Natsu said fiercely, "Let's go"!
The young Spirit Detective didn't need much context to know where Natsu was going with this.
"You want to fight, huh"? He said curiously, "I can see you're serious. But what makes you think I'd want to fight you"?
"Forget it man, this is pretty much Natsu's way of welcoming new members", Gray said with a sigh.
"He won't rest until you decide to fight him", Happy added.
"That so"?
Yusuke looked over at Natsu. He immediately recognized the look in his eye. It was the same look Kuwabara had every time they'd run into each other on the streets or at school. It was so familiar, he actually began to feel nostalgic.
"Alright then, if you're so eager for another beatdown, I'll be happy to give it to ya", Yusuke said, finally relenting.
Southgate Park
With the fight having been set, Makarov issued that they take the fight somewhere else, to avoid the hassle of any damages that would've befell the building. It was at the Southgate Park where their sparring match would take place, and everyone in the guild had gathered there. Discarding his luggage and jacket, Yusuke was now wearing his white t-shirt, jeans, and white tennis shoes. He stood a few feet from the Sola tree with his opponent 5 feet from where he stood.
"You may have caught me off guard last time, but I'm ready for you", Natsu stated confidently, "And now, I'm all fired up"!
"Oh yeah"? Yusuke said cracking his knuckles, "Then I guess you won't mind if I don't hold anything back"?
"Yeah, come at me with everything you got"! Natsu exclaimed.
"Yusuke doesn't seem the least bit nervous", Lucy observed.
"He's either really brave or really stupid", Gray said.
"Is it just me, or do those two seem like two pea's in a pod"? Happy asked scratching his head.
"That's for sure", Lucy said with a slight smile, "They've both got that same reckless sense of confidence in their abilities".
"Maybe, but Yusuke's attitude makes him come off more as arrogant", Erza said sharply, "Natsu may always rush into things, but he's always been able to acknowledge his own limits. Perhaps this battle will be over faster than we anticipated".
"That's kinda harsh, don't ya think"? Lucy commented.
"I'm simply stating the facts", Erza said, turning away.
"Hey Gray, I know you use Ice Magic, but Erza just made it look like a popsicle in comparison", Happy observed.
"No kidding", Gray agreed.
Turning their attention back to the combatants, Natsu and Yusuke each got into a fighting position.
"From what I saw back in the forest, it looks like he uses some kind of fire magic", Yusuke thought, "But he could have more than just those two moves. I'll let him make the first attack, just in case. If he hits me with something new, I'll work my way from there".
"Alright! Here I come"! Natsu said, slamming his fists together with an orange magic circle appearing between them.
Yusuke smirked as Natsu ran towards him with a flaming fist. The pink haired mage then leapt at Yusuke with his fist cocked back.
"Fire Dragon Iron Fist"!
Minutes before his punch could make contact, Yusuke swiftly sidestepped, dodging the attack, taking Natsu by surprise.
"He dodged it"?! Natsu said out loud.
But it didn't end there; Yusuke pulled his own fist back and uppercut Natsu right in the stomach with a Spirit Energy coated fist. Natsu groaned in pain as the attack made contact and suddenly sent him flying upward. Many of the guild members were stunned by this.
"Whoa! He dodged Natsu's strike right at the last minute"! Lucy exclaimed in surprise.
"And he followed it up with a counterattack without even wasting a second! Yusuke's really quick on his feet"! Happy added, just as surprised as Lucy.
"He acted without hesitation", Erza thought to herself, "And timed that dodge perfectly. He may be arrogant, but he's definitely methodical with his attacks, I'll give him that much".
Natsu landed on his feet, clutching his torso as he knelt in front of Yusuke.
"Hell of a punch you've got there", Natsu groaned, "But it's going to take a lot more than that to do me in".
"I figured as much, otherwise this wouldn't be as fun", Yusuke said with a smirk.
Natsu then rushed at Yusuke, throwing a series of punches and kicks that Yusuke blocked without hesitation. Memories of the years he spent fighting with Kuwabara and scraps with other random thugs on the street came flooding back to him as he redirected the pink haired Mage's blows. As Natsu came in with a leg sweep, Yusuke quickly leapt over his attack, but the young dragon slayer came in with a counter. He jumped up and swung his arm in an upward arc at Yusuke.
"Fire Dragon Crushing Fang"! Natsu ignited his fist with his magic and successfully struck Yusuke in the back of his head with his flaming fingertips.
Yusuke groaned as he hit the ground. Rubbing his slightly burned scalp, he looked up in the direction of Natsu, who was grinning like a fool.
"I got you"! Natsu said eagerly.
"Finally landed a blow", Gray observed.
"Nice shot, Natsu"! Happy cheered.
"He may have gotten a hit in, but it will take a lot more than that to win this fight", Erza said stoically, "And if you hadn't noticed, it doesn't look like it had that much impact".
The Ice Make wizard and blue cat turned their attention back to the fight to see that Erza was correct. The Spirit Detective, who was now back on his feet, was smiling, as if the attack had not even happened.
"He's right"! Lucy agreed, "It's like it didn't even phase him"!
Yusuke looked at the hand that he used to rub the back of his head.
"Ha, not bad, Matchstick", Yusuke said mockingly, "But I've dealt with flames that burned a lot more than yours".
"Don't worry", Natsu said with a sneer as he cracked his knuckles, "Cause it's about to get WAY hotter"!
Natsu ignited his flames once more and then released a barrage of multiple fireballs, all heading towards Yusuke. The half born human smirked as he gripped his right hand, which started to glow with his Spirit Energy.
"Shotgun"!
Thrusting his fist forward, he released a wide spread spray of spirit energy. A lot of Yusuke's projectiles intercepted Natsu's fireballs, causing them to explode. Alzack and Bisca, Fairy Tails' resident gunslingers were quick to take notice of this particular move.
"Very effective", Erza noted.
"He converted his Spirit Energy into a wide spread attack", Levy observed with fascination.
"Well it is called the Shotgun move for a reason", Yusuke pointed out.
"This kid's got skill", Alzack commented.
"That move of his looked a lot more effective than any shotgun I've ever used, that's for sure", Bisca added.
Using the smoke created by the exploding fireballs as cover, Yusuke quickly darted around Natsu in an attempt to get him from behind. Unfortunately, thanks to the Fire Dragon Slayers enhanced sense of smell, Yusuke suddenly found himself in Natsu's grip.
"That was quick", Yusuke complimented as the mage held his arm, "Didn't think you'd find me with all the smoke".
"My nose is a lot stronger than yours", Natsu said with a grin, "It's easy to tell the difference between the smell of smoke and your scent. And speaking of stronger, this attack is a lot more effective at close range"!
Yusuke's eyes widened as he looked down and saw that Natsu had already coated his hand in flame magic.
"Fire Dragon Grip Strike"! Natsu ignited the hand he was holding Yusuke's arm with. Using his free hand to support his other, he released a vast amount of explosive flames which engulfed the Spirit Detective.
"That had to hurt", Lucy cringed.
"Natsu got him at point blank range", Happy said, "He had to have dealt some damage".
"You sure about that"? Gray asked, putting a hand over his eyes as he attempted to see through the smoke, "I can't see anything through all this smoke".
"Wait, look"! Levy said, pointing ahead.
Each of the wizards of Team Natsu looked to where the Solid Script Mage was pointing. As the smoke cleared, they saw Yusuke and Natsu still standing there, the former covered in burn marks and scratches. His shirt was tattered and there were even some holes in his jeans. Though his body was littered with injuries, he remained conscious. The pink haired Fairy Tail mage smirked as he loosened the grip on his own arm while still grasping Yusuke's.
"That hot enough for ya"? He joked.
"Gotta admit, that actually stung a bit", Yusuke said with a frown, "But so does this"!
Natsu raised a brow, confused as to what his opponent was referring to. His ears soon caught the sound of a light humming noise. A slight glow coming from beneath him caught his attention and as he looked down, he gasped as he saw that the Spirit Detective was pointing his right index finger, which was now glowing with Spirit Energy, and was aiming at Natsu's chest.
"This attack's more effective at point blank, too", Yusuke said confidently, "In case you forgot how it felt the last time, then here's a refresher"!
Natsu grunted as he quickly let go of Yusuke's arm, but the Spirit Detective intercepted him and grabbed Natsu's arm as he pointed his glowing finger at the pink haired dragon slayer's face.
"My turn"! Yusuke sneered.
"Look out, Natsu"! Happy exclaimed.
"Spirit Gun"!
Yusuke fired a bright blue blast of Spirit Energy right in Natsu's face, promptly releasing him as the force of the blast sent Natsu flying back. The Salamander groaned as he landed on his backside, his face stinging from the attack.
"He used that attack back in the forest", Lucy recalled.
"Given the size of that blast, I'd say it's effective at any range", Erza added.
"Spirit Gun, huh"? Alzack repeated.
"I liked that one", Bisca said with a smirk.
"Me too", Alzack agreed.
Yusuke tore off the tattered remains of his shirt as he stared at the downed fire wizard.
"Had enough, match stick"? Yusuke gloated.
"Not...even...close"! Natsu grunted as he pushed himself up using his hands.
"You're a stubborn little bastard, I'll give ya that much", Yusuke said with a smirk, "It's been a while since I had a fight like this".
"Me too", Natsu said, smiling as he got into a crouching position, "You know something? You're not so bad...But don't think I'm going to go easy on you just because I like ya now, Mr. Spirit Detective".
"Wouldn't have it any other way, ya overgrown Firefly", Yusuke replied, smirking as he cracked his neck.
Gray shook his head and smiled as he watched the display.
"First he challenges him, now they're suddenly friends", he said, "Only Natsu could pull something off like that".
"Aye", Happy said with a nod.
"Once they acknowledged each other's strengths, they were able to form a bond of mutual respect in a way that only fighters like them know how", Erza said with a smile.
Though she wholeheartedly agreed, Lucy knew better than to assume that was the end of it.
"Yeah, but like Natsu said, that's not going to keep him from finishing this fight", she said.
"It'd be weirder if it did", Happy noted.
"Indeed", Erza said in agreement.
Natsu spit at the ground beside him as he finally got to his feet. Each of them looked at each other with a determined look in their eyes. Though a new bond of comradery was formed in the heat of battle, neither of them was going to back down. Charging towards one another, Yusuke and Natsu each let out a determined yell, igniting their fists with Spirit Energy and Fire, respectively.
They immediately clashed; Natsu grunted as he repeatedly blocked and countered Yusuke's blows. The Salamander let loose a relentless barrage of flame coated punches, which the Half Demon blocked and deflected with his own blows. Each of their moves were reciprocated faster than they were exchanged. When Natsu managed to hit Yusuke in the jaw, Yusuke was quick to return it with a punch of his own. Whenever Yusuke blocked a kick or a punch, Natsu was quick to block the ones sent by Yusuke.
It was essentially a stalemate, since they were both physically capable of holding their own against physical attacks. Both of them were aware of this and knew they had to find a way to turn things around in their favor. Natsu was the first to act, jumping back from a right hook that Yusuke sent.
"Check this out, Yusuke", Natsu said, "I learned this the same way I learned all my other moves, from a Dragon"!
Before the Spirit Detective could respond, Natsu took a deep breath, gathering his fire magic into his mouth. As his cheeks began to puff out, he cupped his hands over his mouth.
"Fire Dragon Roar"! Natsu released his signature attack, exhaling a large torrent of fire from his mouth straight at Yusuke.
As his face glowed from the light of the attack, Yusuke knew he had only seconds to act before the attack hit its' mark.
"Should I counter it with the Spirit Gun"? He thought, "I might draw out too much Spirit Energy if I do. With how things are, I don't know if I'll be able to last much longer. This guy can take a beating a lot better than I thought, and I'm starting to get tired, and the less energy I have, the less kick my Spirit Gun will have. Wait! That trick Genkai taught me might work"!
Spreading his legs, Yusuke held a hand out with his palm facing forward. Grabbing his arm for support with his free hand, he began to gather Spirit Energy into his palm just as Natsu's breath attack made contact. Everyone in the audience turned away as bright fire stream hit its' mark and seemingly exploded upon impact.
"Direct hit"! Happy exclaimed.
"No kidding"! Gray said, using his hand to shield his eyes from the bright light emitting from his fellow mages' attack, "It didn't look like Yusuke had a counter for that one"!
Placing a hand over her eyes, Lucy squinted as she attempted to see the outcome of Natsu's attack. As her vision slowly began to adjust, she gasped with surprise.
"Look"! She exclaimed.
Each of her friends slowly uncovered their eyes to see what Lucy saw. They soon shared the Celestial Wizards' astonishment as they saw Yusuke standing among the flames with his arm still pointed outward. They could see a spherical outline in the fire stream around Yusuke which was acting as a barrier and protecting him from the attack.
"He's converted his Spirit Energy into a shield"! Erza observed.
As the attack finally receded, Yusuke panted as his arms dropped to his side.
"Well, I learned that from a crusty old hag", he said with a smirk, "Though yours wasn't half bad. You really learn all that from a dragon"?
"Yeah", Natsu replied, stretching his arms, "His name is Igneel and he taught me how to use Dragon Slayer magic. I'm no ordinary fire wizard, I'm a Fire Dragon Slayer".
"Dragon Slayer, huh? That's a hell of a title", Yusuke complimented.
"Thanks", Natsu said with a smile, "Now come on, let's get back to the fight"!
The fight dragged on for another hour, both sides refusing to let up or surrender. By the time the hour thirty-minute mark passed, both Natsu and Yusuke were, at that point, running purely on adrenaline. Both of them were covered in bruises and scrapes and were breathing heavily.
"You...sure can...take a beating...Matchstick", Yusuke panted, "I'm impressed".
"You're...pretty tough...yourself", Natsu sighed, "But it's time that I wrapped this up".
Natsu pulled back his fist as it ignited with his flame magic. Yusuke followed suite as his own fist glowed bright blue with his Spirit Energy.
"This is it", Happy noticed.
"Only one of them will be walking away the winner after this", Gray said.
This was it; They were going to put every last ounce of energy into one final blow. Natsu growled with determination as his whole body was engulfed in flames. Yusuke did the same as his entire form started to glow with the last of his Spirit Energy.
"I'll put everything I've got into this last attack", Natsu thought as he clenched his fist.
"It'll all be worth it if I can knock him on his ass", Yusuke thought, pulling his arm back, "No matter what...".
With the last of his magic energy being channeled through his body, Natsu charged towards Yusuke, who also started towards the Fire Dragon Slayer as fast as he could. Each of them yelled at the top of their lungs, both determined to end the fight with one final strike. They continued their resolute bellowing as their fists finally collided with each other. Their clash resulted in an explosion of orange and blue light.
The audience was once again forced to cover their eyes as the explosion rocked the whole park. The earth heaved and shook as clouds of smoke and dust filled the air. Everyone tried to maintain their footing as the ground beneath them shifted, afraid that it would explode from the amount of power that was just exhibited from both opponents. The entire area was covered in debris and ash, no one could see a thing. A lot of them began to cough after breathing in the compromised air.
"Can anyone see them"? Lucy called out through the smoke.
"I can't even see my own hand with all this smoke"! Macao cried out.
"Who won"?! Nab coughed.
"I don't know! I can't see a damn thing"! Wakaba replied.
"Hey wait! I see something"! Happy exclaimed as he peered through the smoke.
As the smoke slowly began to settle, two silhouettes appeared amongst the smoke. It was hard to discern Natsu from Yusuke, but judging from the way both of them were trying to stay on their feet, it was clear that they had both finally managed to exhaust all of their power in that last attack. The smokescreen finally settled and everyone saw both Natsu and Yusuke still standing, their backs turned to one another.
Their bodies had seen better days as fresh bruises and cuts appeared as if to replace the old ones. Natsu's jacket and pants were ripped and Yusuke had lost a shoe in the ensuing blast. They were both swaying back and forth, their bodies weakened after the endless number of minutes spent in the fight. No one dared to say a word, as they were all eager to see which one of them would be the first to fall.
Suddenly, Yusuke leaned heavily towards the right. Everyone held their breath, waiting for the moment that he would collapse. Unfortunately, though, that moment never came. The young Spirit Detective grabbed his left arm and quickly regained his balance. Squeezing his left eye shut, he groaned as a smile spread across his face. Then, as though time stood still, the Salamander's legs buckled beneath him, and he fell to the ground, groaning as he landed face first into the dirt. Natsu, one of Fairy Tail's strongest wizards and resident Dragon Slayer, had been defeated.
In the crowd, Makarov was silently observing along with all the other guild members. During the fight, Makarov paid close attention to the way that Yusuke fought. The way he acted earlier today was nothing like the way that he fought. There were many things that he noticed in Yusuke as they fought; versatility, strategic planning, and a calm attitude under pressure.
He could now see why Koenma had sent him and why the ruler of Spirit World spoke so highly of him. However, he also noticed something else in Yusuke. As he looked into the Spirit Detectives eyes, he could tell that there was some kind of pain. A sadness he had buried deep inside and could only be noticed by the keenest of sight. But the elderly guild master knew better than to pry into someone's personal affairs right after a fight. For now, he would leave it for another day.
"This fight is OVER", He announced, stepping through the crowd, "And the winner is Yusuke"!
Most of the wizards in the crowd were still stunned by the results. Yusuke, a non-magical individual, managed to best one of their strongest up and coming wizards. It was fairly common whenever Natsu would lose to someone outside his weight class, especially someone from the guild. But the fact that Yusuke managed to last as long as he did was truly astounding.
Yusuke looked around as he attempted to catch his breath, anxiously waiting for the boos and jeers. It wouldn't have been anything new to him. In the Dark Tournament, basically the whole audience was against him, due to the fact that he was a human. The fact that he was the new guy was bad enough, but beating up one of their top contenders had probably added fuel to the fire. Which is why it surprised him when he heard someone slowly begin to clap. It continued until someone else began to clap, and then another and another. Until finally, it became a full blown applause.
"Way to go, newbie"! Macao cheered.
"You're one tough customer, Yusuke"! Wakaba praised.
"That fight was so freakin' manly"! Elfman exclaimed.
"I didn't know he had it in him", Jet said in astonishment.
"I guess you have to be tough to be a Spirit Detective"! Droy cheered.
"I'll drink to that"! Cana said whole heartedly as she downed a bottle of wine.
The members of Team Natsu each made their way over to Yusuke.
"Gotta admit, man, you've got some great skills", Gray complimented, patting Yusuke on the shoulder.
"Yeah, I had no idea you were that powerful", Lucy said in amazement.
"Yes", Erza said, crossing her arms, "Even I must admit that that was quite impressive".
"Heh, it's all in the wrist", Yusuke joked.
"Hey Natsu, you okay"? Happy said, walking over to his downed friend.
"Ugh, five more minutes, Igneel...", Natsu groaned deliriously as he rolled over onto his back.
"If he can still talk, he can walk", Yusuke quipped.
"Hey...Yusuke...".
Yusuke turned his attention to the fallen Salamander, who was now looking up at him.
"I...want a rematch...", Natsu said weakly.
"Saw that one coming", Gray muttered.
"Even a blind person would've seen it coming", Lucy added.
"That's Natsu for ya", Happy chimed in.
The young Spirit Detective smiled as looked at his new friend. This wasn't a fake smile, though, but a sincere, genuine smile. Hearing him say that made the half born human think back to Kuwabara and how Natsu's iron clad determination reminded him so much of his old friend.
"Any time you're ready pal", he replied.
Limping over to his fallen guild mate, Yusuke held a hand out to Natsu. The Salamander stared at him for a moment, before taking his hand with an amiable smile.
Author's Note: I know what you're thinking, the fight was way too short. Honestly, I didn't want to drag things out and I kinda ran into a mental roadblock. I didn't want to stress myself out trying to think of things to drag the fight out, and ideas that are forced don't come off as good. So, I thought it best to keep things simple; have them exchange blows, use a few choice cuts from their movesets, add in a new one, and speed things up. Don't worry though, I don't plan to skip ahead like that. Only if I'm hard pressed for time. So again, I apologize for those of you who thought it should be longer. Trust me, in future chapters, the fights will truly last longer than that. I may go back and add some more to the fight should inspiration strike, but for now, you get what you get. Anyway, teaser time;
(Up Next: A new team in Fairy Tail is formed, featuring Fairy Tail's strongest (AKA Team Natsu), and newcomer Yusuke. As the young wizards will get a glimpse at Yusuke's work ethics, will this lead to strong bonds OR stronger division? Find out NEXT TIME!)