Hiei the Sensei, chapter 4 (final chapter)
For additional warnings and disclaimers, see previous chapters.
Warning: Sadness and violence up ahead, lol.
A/N: Thanks to all reviewers! I may be inclined to write more YYH fics in the future if this one does fairly well.
A/N: Hmmm...when I wrote this, I didn't think about romance at all. Hiei and Mura's relationship is supposed to be strictly teacher/student. But if you really want them to be a couple, you can consider them one if you want. There's only a one-year age difference, I think.
A/N: selania(ss)Hiei(H), I thought they didn't start playing the "Dark Tournament" episodes until just recently. And I now know that Genkai does die. How sad ;_;
Over the next month, Mura endured the most intense training yet. Yusuke came back once more to help her strengthen her spirit shield, and Kurama came back several times to offer his input and watch her train. Mura collapsed several times due to fatigue. Occasionally, Hiei would allow her to rest, but usually he snapped at her to get back up.
Finally, the day of the contest came. Mura was dressed in dark blue and Hiei wore his usual black. As they entered the arena where the tournament would take place, Mura looked around for Koenma.
"Master Hiei, I don't see Koenma anywhere."
Hiei gestured towards the stands where the audience was sitting. "Third row, on the end where Kurama's sitting. He's the one next to the ogre."
Mura saw a teenager with a light-blue pacifier in his mouth. "I thought he was supposed to look like a toddler."
Hiei smirked. "Koenma usually changes to his teenager form in public. He finds the 'toddler' comments tiresome."
Mura laughed. "I understand."
A shadow passed over them. Mura looked up in surprise. "Huh—?"
A huge demon stood over Hiei and Mura. He had razor sharp claws and saliva dripped from his fangs. He carried a gigantic sword over his shoulder. Looking down at Mura and Hiei, he laughed.
"These tiny little humans are going to fight me?" He laughed harder. His green scales glinted in the light. Still laughing, he walked away.
"Pay him no mind," Hiei said. "He's a fool. Fools are easily overcome."
Mura nodded. "I hope you're right."
The arena was open-air, and the ring was a large stretch of ground surrounded by a low wall. After signing up, they were told that Mura and Hiei were to go and wait with the other contestants and their stand-ins in a covered area off to one side.
Over a loudspeaker, the referee reviewed the rules. It was the same referee (the female fox demon, Koto) that had overseen the Dark tournament a few months ago. "Ok, people! We're ready to begin the contest. I want to make sure everyone knows the rules.
Rule number one: You don't have to kill the other contestant to win! Killing is discouraged and anyone who kills their opponent will be subject to a penalty, such as elimination of their stand-in.
Rule number two: each fighter will take part in one-on-one battles and will be eliminated through each individual battle.
Rule number three: each fighter is allowed the option of one stand-in. The stand-in must wait on the sidelines of the arena, and is allowed to fight in the contestant's place during one battle if that contestant is too injured to fight and needs time to heal or rest. A stand-in can only enter a fight that has already begun if the contestant calls for them. Once a contestant is eliminated, the stand-in can no longer fight either. The stand-in is not allowed to take part in the final battle.
Rule number four: Any type of combat is allowed, with the exception of threats or blackmail.
Rule number five: If you stay out of the ring or on the ground for more than 15 seconds, you're out!"
And remember fighters, the winner of the final battle is awarded plenty of prize money, so do your best!"
The contestants were told to wait under the covered area until it was their turn to fight. The contestants' names were entered into a computer and each battle was decided randomly. The first battle was Mura vs. Ku-hay, the gigantic demon that had laughed at her.
Mura and Ku-hay took opposite sides of the large ring. Hiei stood on the sidelines, ready to jump in if need be. Ku-hay had no stand in. Koto asked if they were ready, and after both had nodded, started the fight.
Ku-hay laughed. "Alright pathetic human child, I'll give you a free hit."
Mura smirked as she drew her sword. "One thing," she said, "I'm not human."
Before the stupid Ku-hay had time to react, Mura had slashed him six times across the chest with her sword. Tiny scales rained down to the floor.
Ku-hay roared in anger and tried to swipe at Mura with one clawed hand. Mura easily dodged it and managed to cut off several of his sharp claws. Ku-hay grew even more infuriated. In his fury, he launched himself at Mura, who leaped out of the way. Ku-hay fell to the ground hard, eyes closed.
Koto walked over to their side of the ring. "One! Two! Three!" Mura tuned out Koto's counting. She kept her focus on Ku-hay, searching for any sign of consciousness. Koto counted fifteen and Ku-hay remained on the ground.
"The winner of the first round is Mura Hitori!" Koto announced. Barely listening to the somewhat scattered cheering, Mura made her way to the sidelines and sat down on one of the benches. Hiei followed.
"I told you that you'd have no problem with that one," Hiei said.
Mura smiled. "You were right. He was an idiot."
Mura glanced around at the other contestants. Most were demon, she noticed. And none of them looked too happy with her. After getting a look at each, Mura ignored them completely.
About one half-hour later, it was Mura's turn to fight again. She was fighting one of the only humans in the tournament. The human, Zengou, used only spirit techniques to fight. He was about 30 years old and appeared tough.
Hiei's eyebrows drew together. Mura had not had very much training in spirit techniques, and her strongest technique was her shield. She could handle it though, he reassured himself. Most of the fighters in the contest were only beginners, anyway.
Mura and Zengou entered the ring. Hiei and Zengou's stand-in, a fierce-looking demon, took their places on the outer edge of the ring. Soon, Koto began the fight.
Zengou started off by using the spirit gun technique. Mura blocked it using her spirit shield, and leaped to attack him. Zengou reacted barely in time, and punched her in the face at the same moment that Mura slashed at his shoulder. Mura flinched from the blow and barely managed to land on her feet. Zengou clutched at his wound.
Mura shook her head, trying to clear it. Zengou's punch had left her feeling dizzy. Zengou wouldn't be quick enough to dodge her next blow, Mura would make sure of that.
She waited a fraction of a second, and then rushed at Zengou again. Zengou prepared to use one of his techniques, but at the last second, Mura leaped over him. He spun around, but Mura was waiting for him. She slammed the hilt of her sword into his stomach. Zengou's eyes widened and he fell to the ground.
Mura backed away. She would not attack while he was still on the ground. Koto only counted to five before he was on his feet again.
Zengou narrowed his eyes. "Not bad."
Mura remained silent, waiting for his next move. Zengou drew a sword of his own. "You're too fast for my techniques."
"The fool," thought Hiei, "she'll be too fast for your sword as well."
The swordfight lasted maybe ten or fifteen seconds, and ended with Zengou laying flat on his face.
Mura sheathed her sword, and calmly exited the ring. She ignored both the cheering and the unsavory stares she received. Mura would have liked to enjoy her victory, but she wouldn't allow herself to lose her focus.
Mura fought in, and won two more battles. She and a vicious tiger demon were the finalists. The tiger demon, Yashai, had stayed in half-demon form throughout the contest. He had no stand-in.
They entered the ring, and Hiei took his place on the sidelines. This Yashai demon worried him. He had won every fight in less than two or three minutes, and was penalized twice for killing his opponent. He would provide quite a challenge for Mura.
Koto started the fight without delay. Yashai immediately transformed into his full demon form. Fangs, claws, and black striped, orange fur appeared on his body. His eyes turned bright red. A long tail thrashed. He was young, thankfully, and not very large for a tiger demon, but he still towered over Mura.
Yashai roared and tried to slash at Mura with one clawed hand. She leaped over his head and slashed him seven times with her sword. He roared in anger and turned to try to swipe at her. She leaped out of his way again.
Mura laughed. "Over here!" Yashai tried to slash her across the face, but suddenly she was on his other side. She cut his arm and leaped away again.
At one point, Yashai managed to hit Mura in the head fairly hard. She staggered from the blow. With her vision so blurred, it was easy for Yashai to grab her sword and toss it aside.
On the sidelines, Hiei tensed, ready to jump in. It didn't matter to him that stand-ins weren't allowed in the final battle. He wasn't about to let his student be killed.
Yashai picked Mura up in both clawed hands, and squeezed. Mura shut her eyes tightly and bit back a cry of pain as she felt two of her ribs crack. She glanced over at Hiei, who looked ready to jump into the ring.
"No," she gasped. "I don't want any help."
Yashai laughed and squeezed a little harder. "You will in a minute!"
Hiei scowled, but relaxed slightly.
Yashai finally dropped Mura. She collapsed to her hands and knees, breathing hard. Ignoring the pain, she reached for her sword. Yashai stepped on her hand, pinning it to the ground.
"I don't think so," he said, fangs flashing.
He picked her up again and nonchalantly tossed her in the air. Mura tried to angle her fall away from Yashai, but to no avail. Yashai slashed at her as she fell to the ground. Mura was unable to stifle a cry of pain as she hit the ground, bleeding from several deep cuts along her stomach. Eyes flashing in anger, Mura rolled away and snatched her sword from the ground.
She stood up with some difficulty. She glanced at Hiei, who was watching with a calm expression on his face. Mura managed a weak smile and turned her attention back to Yashai, who was eyeing her with amusement.
Mura raised her sword and leaped to attack Yashai. Her wounds slowed her down considerably, and it was easy for Yashai to snatch her out of the air. He laughed and threw her across the ring. She hit the low wall surrounding the ring and lay still. Several of the audience members stood up, trying to see if she was still alive.
Koto walked over cautiously with an expression of distaste. She began the countdown. She did not even have time to get to "two" before Hiei jumped over the low wall and rushed over to them.
"Um, sir, excuse me, but stand-ins are not allowed in the final battle—" Koto started to say before Hiei silenced her with a deadly glare.
Hiei knelt beside Mura. She sensed her instructor's presence and opened her eyes. She saw Hiei's concerned gaze. "I'm sorry Hiei...I failed you as a student."
Hiei could only shake his head, too shocked to speak. Mura winced in pain as Hiei tried to help her sit up. Mura coughed violently and Hiei was forced to lean her against the wall.
Mura leaned forward and hugged a surprised Hiei around his neck. "Thank you...for everything you did for me," Mura said, closing her eyes. A moment later, her ragged breathing ceased. Hiei laid Mura carefully on the ground. White-hot anger burned inside him.
Yashai roared in triumph. He turned to the audience and raised his fists in the air in victory. He received few cheers and several cold glares.
Koto spoke up on the loudspeaker. "I'm sorry to say folks, that Yashai is the winner of the tournament. As soon as I receive word from the judges, I'll tell you how he is to be penalized for killing that last contestant."
Hiei slowly stood up and turned around. He walked over to where Yashai was standing.
"Turn around," he commanded, his voice cold.
Yashai turned in surprise. "What do you want, little man?"
Hiei leaped at Yashai. The last thing he saw was about twenty flashes of light from Hiei's sword. Yashai fell to the ground in several pieces.
Koto was almost at a loss for words. "Well, um, that's something you don't see every day!"
***
A few days later, Hiei and Kurama stood in front of Mura's grave in the forest clearing where she had trained. Because she was only half-demon, she hadn't disappeared when she died like most demons.
Kurama placed a small bunch of flowers on the grave. Hiei carried Mura's sword over and placed it on the grave as well.
"It's a shame," said Kurama softly, "she had great potential."
Hiei stared at the grave for a moment, lost in thought. Abruptly, he turned and started to walk out of the clearing along with Kurama. Hiei slowed his pace so that Kurama would get ahead of him, and when there was a considerable distance between them, Hiei stopped and turned slightly so that he could see the grave.
"You never failed me."
And with that, Hiei the former sensei left the forest clearing.
****** ~Owari~ ******
So, how'd you like it? "Owari" means "end" in Japanese, for those who don't know. And I probably should have mentioned that "sensei" means "teacher" in Japanese. Sorry if someone didn't know that until now! Please R&R!