Chapter 69
Invitation
"Come off already" Riku said as he scrubbed his arm in the shower. He brought it up to his nose and sniffed. "I said get off" he said, as he scrubbed some more.
"He's still in there, isn't he?" Botan asked Yukina, who was standing in front of the bathroom door listening to Riku. "I don't blame him. I can still smell it" Yusuke said. If you're all wondering what's going on there's a simple answer. Koenma had more punishments for Riku and Yusuke after the shopping. The worst was when he made them clean the septic tanks of Spirit Detective Headquarters. Let's just say those two now know what ogres eat at work.
After ten more minutes Riku opened the door and walked out in nothing but a towel. His long black hair clung to his shoulders and back. "You okay Riku?" Yukina asked. "The smell's almost gone" Riku replied before walking into his room. He came out wearing his usual outfit minus the trench coat.
Out side Nami watched from a tree in a new pair of black leather shorts, a tank top, and boots. I almost feel sorry for them. But if they hadn't gotten punished, I wouldn't have had my date with Hiei she thought. As if on cue Hiei appeared in front of her. "Is the wolf still at it?" he asked. "Why don't you just call him Riku? After all he'll probably be your brother some day real soon" Nami said. "I'm not letting that happen" Hiei replied. "Aw come on Hiei, you know Riku's gonna ask her eventually" Nami replied. "I tolerate him making out with her. I won't let anyone do anything more with her. Not even him" Hiei replied.
Nami hit his head. "What was that for?" Hiei asked rubbing his head. "Your to stubborn for your own good Hiei. If Yukina says yes then there's no stopping her" Nami said. "Hn" Hiei replied. "Oh I get it" Nami said. "Get what?" Hiei asked. "You just don't want those little Rikus and Yukinas calling you Uncle Hiei" Nami said snickering. Hiei growled. "I have to admit that does sound funny" Nami said. "No it doesn't, Aunt Nami" Hiei replied smirking.
Nami's eyes widened. "A-Aunt Nami?" she said. Hiei snickered. "Wait, for me to be related to them then you and me would have to…" she trailed off. Hiei gave her a peck on the cheek before flitting off. Nami sat in place with a deep blush on her cheeks. Was Hiei actually implying that we… Her thoughts were cut off when the branch she was sitting on fell off the tree.
She looked up from her place on the ground and saw a sword had sliced through the branch. "HIEI!!!" she yelled before flitting after him.
"Was that Nami?" Yukina said. "Hiei must have played one of his jokes on her" Kurama said. "It's cute how those two play pranks on each other even thought they're together" Botan said.
Riku sighed as he let Yukina rest her head on his shoulder. He was just starting to get comfortable when the phone rang. "I got it" Crystal said from the kitchen. She picked up the phone and brought up to her ear. "Hello, Genkai's residence" she said. "It's me Crystal" Rogato replied. "Hey bro, what's up?" she asked. There was no reply. Crystal had a bad feeling. "Rogato, what's wrong?" she asked. "Is Riku there?" he asked. "Yea" she replied. "Put him on" Rogato said. Now Crystal knew something was wrong. Rogato would have usually asked her to get Riku but what he just said was more of a command. "Alright, just wait sec" she said placing the phone down.
She hurried to the living room. "Riku, phone" she said. "Just a sec" he said. He looked down at the koorime on his shoulder. "Sorry but I have to get up" he said. Yukina kissed him before getting off him. He smiled at her and went to the kitchen. "Who is it Crystal?" Riku asked. "It's Rogato and he doesn't sound to happy" she replied.
Riku took the phone and held it to his ear. "Riku here" he said. "Bro something bad's happened" Rogato replied. "What?" Riku asked. "You might want to sit down" Rogato said. "What happened?" Riku said more urgently. "It's Murakai" Rogato replied. Riku froze. "Murakai?" he said slowly. "He's…he's…he's been" Rogato stuttered. "What's happened?!" Riku asked. There was a long silence. By now everyone was watching Riku from the kitchen entrance. "Rogato!!!" Riku said. "He's been killed" Rogato finally said.
Riku felt the world around him stop. He stopped breathing and felt a chill go through him. He stood there like this for a few minutes before regaining his breath. "What…did you say?" he asked. "He's been killed Riku" Rogato said. Riku dropped the phone and fell to his knees. Yukina rushed to his side.
"Riku, what's wrong?" she asked. He looked her in the eyes before resting his head on her shoulder and crying. Yukina was surprised but gently stroked his back as he cried. Crystal slowly walked to the phone and picked it up. "Rogato, you there?" she asked. "Yea, how's Riku?" Rogato asked. "He's crying, what did you tell him?" she said. "I think it's best he tell you, bye" Rogato said before hanging up.
Crystal looked back at her still crying brother. Kurama knew something was up. He closed his eyes and hoped Hiei would hear. 'Hiei, Hiei' he said telepathically. 'What is it fox, I'm busy at the moment' Hiei replied. A faint blush appeared on Kurama cheeks. 'I think you and Nami should get over here. Something's up' Kurama replied. 'Very well but it better be worth it, or you can kiss your precious hair goodbye' Hiei replied before closing the link. Kurama gulped.
"Botan" Riku finally spoke. "Yes Riku?" she asked. "Tell Koenma to get that plane of his ready for a trip to the States" Riku replied. "Why?" Botan asked. "Just do it!!!" Riku replied. Botan left without another question.
"Riku please tell me what's wrong" Yukina said. "He'd dead" Riku cried. "Who is?" Yukina asked. "Murakai" Riku replied. Everyone gasped.
Hiei and Nami arrived at that moment. They were lucky no one notice how messed up their hair and cloths had become. "What's happened fox?" Hiei asked. "Looks like we're going to America" Kurama replied.
Hours later
Riku was the first one out of the helicopter. His father and Damien were waiting. "Welcome back son" Kovu said. "Where is he?" Riku asked. "I'll show you later. We should help you and your friends settle in first" Kovu replied. A few other pack members picked up their bags and helped carry them to the house.
"It's good to see you all again" Hitomi said with Kai in her arms. They all said their hellos and walked inside. Lila was sitting on the couch with Sakura in her arms. "Oh good your all here" she said. "What's wrong?" Keiko asked. "It's Maya, you know how close she and Murakai were" Lila replied. The girls immediately understood. "Where is she?" Nami asked. "In her room" Lila replied. They all hurried down the hall.
Yukina knocked on the door. "Go away" Maya said from inside. Yukina sighed and stepped to the side. Nami kicked the door open. Maya's room was a mess with ripped cloths, broken glass, and many other things. Maya was lying on the bed crying her eyes out. "Sis" Crystal said as she rushed to her side. She gently pulled her into a hug. Maya's eyes had become bloodshot from all the crying she'd done.
"He's dead Crystal" she cried. "I know, I'm sorry" Crystal said as she stroked her sister's back. "We know how you felt about him" Yukina said as she joined them on the bed. The other girls, including Nami, soon joined them.
"Do you wish to see him?" Kovu asked. Riku stood up without a word. "We're coming to. What ever Riku has to go through we have to be there with him" Yusuke said. Hiei, Kurama, and Kuwabara nodded in agreement. "Follow me" Kovu said as he walked out the door.
They made their way through the village. As they walked other pack members watched them intently. Everyone knew Riku would be deeply affected by Murakai's death. In his life Riku had had only three best friends, Damien, Murakai, and Kage. Riku used to be more of a loner and showed the classic characteristics of a lone wolf. These included a piercing gaze, sharper claws, spikier hair, a tint of red in his eyes at all times, increased muscle size, and longer ears. Make no mistake; a lone wolf is a very different demon from those that live in a pack. Lone wolves had to survive on their own without a pack and thus were more powerful then normal wolf demons. For some reason Riku seemed to be turning into one. That all stopped after Kage's death. The pack was worried how Riku would change at losing another best friend.
They finally arrived at the hospital. Kovu walked to the front desk and was directed to the morgue. He motioned for them to follow. They made there down the hall and stopped in front of a door. "Let me warn you, if you have a queasy stomach you might want to stay here" Kovu said. Everyone stood in place. The wolf slowly opened the door and walked in.
Mokudo was standing next to a table with an object lying on it. A blanket hid it from view. Mokudo waited for them to gather around the table before grabbing the blanket. "Last chance, I wouldn't blame you if you left now" Mokudo said. Still the guys refused to leave. Mokudo tightened his grip and pulled the blanket off.
At the sight of the mutilated body Kuwabara clamped his hand over his mouth and made a break for the nearest bathroom. Hiei and Kurama both flinched. They never expected it to be this gruesome. Yusuke turned a slight shade of green but stood his ground. Riku on the other hand was different. He fell to his knees with a look of shock on his face. But that looked was soon replaced with anger.
"Who did this?" he growled. "We don't know. Rogato found him like this" Kovu replied. "Are there any clues?" Riku asked. "The only physical evidence was this" Kovu said showing them the black feather. "What else do we know?" Riku said. "Murakai died a quick, painless death. I doubt he even knew what hit him. And whoever did it had a big sword" Mokudo replied. Riku clenched his fist till his claws punctured the skin of his palm and blood seeped from the wounds.
Before anyone knew it, Riku had run out of the room. They decided it would be best if they left him alone. "Anything else?" Kurama asked. "Give this to Riku" Kovu said handing Kurama the envelope. What no one noticed was that Damien had disappeared as well.
Riku leaned against a tree at the top of the hill near the village. He couldn't stand to look at the body any longer. "Murakai" he said as tears formed in his eyes.
He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked behind him. It was Damien. "I know how you feel Riku, he was my best friend to" the fox said. "The war's over, no one else should have to die" Riku said. Damien put an arm around his friend's shoulder. "Riku don't beat yourself up like this. I know losing Murakai is tough for you but you're stronger than this" Damien said. "He wasn't just a friend Damien, he was more of a brother" Riku replied. "We all were brothers, you, me, Murakai, and Kage" Damien said.
"I'm just to weak to protect anyone" Riku said. "No you're not Riku. You're the Devil Wolf. No demon's more powerful than you" Damien said. "That's precisely the problem, I am the Devil Wolf. I bet every demon alive knows that. I'm a marked demon. No one is safe around me. Maybe it would be better if I just leave you all" Riku said. Damien punched him in the face causing him the fall on his but. "Listen to yourself Riku! Running away is not the answer! If anything, you need your friends right now! You can run all you want but you'll just die a miserable lonely wolf! But your friends will always be there for you and with their help you can get through this" Damien said.
"But what if there are no more friends to help me?" Riku asked. "Riku, I know you. You wouldn't let anything happen to your friends. Don't give up what you have now just because you're afraid of what might happen. What about your friends here or your new ones from Japan" Damien said. Riku didn't reply. "Think about Yukina" Damien added. That got Riku's attention. He's right, I can run all I want and still not find a way out of this. But with my friends, I can conquer anything sent at me. I won't leave anyone especially Yukina he thought. His lips curved into a smile as he looked up at Damien. "Let's head back to the others" Riku said. Damien smirked and held his hand out. Riku took it and Damien pulled the wolf up. "Thanks Damien" Riku said. "What are best friends for?" Damien said before they took off toward the village.
They arrived to find everyone in the living room. Maya was on the couch with the two pups on her lap. Crystal and Lila were at her side. Yukina and Hitomi were serving everyone sodas. "Riku" Kurama said as he stood up. "What is it Kurama?" Riku asked. "This was found near the body, I think it's for you" Kurama replied. Riku looked at the writing on the front. He quickly ripped it open and pulled a letter out. It read:
Devil Wolf
If you're reading this you must already know what I did to your friend. Yes I won't deny it; I'm the one that killed him. Don't bother trying to find me. I'm far too skilled to let anyone track me down. You're probably wondering why I did it. It's very simple really. I want you to compete in the Demon King's Tournament. If you're unfamiliar with it then ask Kurama or Hiei. You'll have two reasons not to refuse. One, I'll be there and two I'll continue killing off your pack if you don't. Your friends are also invited, the more the merrier. Your invitations will arrive soon. I look forward to watching you fight.
There was no name at the end. "What's it say Riku?" Yukina asked. Riku handed it to Kurama. Kurama looked at him then started reading it out loud. "Great another tournament" Yusuke said sarcastically. "This isn't any ordinary tournament, it's the Demon King's Tournament" Hiei said. "Is it as bad as the Dark Tournament?" Kuwabara asked. "No you fool it's worse. This tournament attracts the most powerful demons. And because it's held in the Demon World there are demons there that you wouldn't ever see in the human world. It's far more ruthless than the Dark Tournament. There is no ring. Instead you fight in a wide open space similar to those gladiatorial stadiums of ancient Rome" Hiei replied. "So we'll be fighting as a team right?" Yusuke asked. "No, this is one-on-one fighting. If we all enter then we'll have to fight each other" Hiei replied.
"And the only way to win a match is to either kill your opponent or make them give up" Kurama added. "What if your opponent's knocked out and can't give up?" Keiko asked. "Then you go for the kill" Hiei replied.
"It's bloody and the most popular tournament of the three worlds. Every demon dreams of becoming powerful enough to compete" Kurama said. "Why's that? What's the prize?" Yusuke asked. "The prize is a high ranking position in the Demon King's army. The reason he holds to tournament is to get more generals" Kurama said. "So this guy works for the Demon King" Nami said. "No, I don't think so" Yusuke said. "What makes you soy that?" Kuwabara asked. "Something granny told me before we left" Yusuke replied.
Flashback
"Hurry Yusuke, we have to leave" Keiko said from the van. "I'm coming" Yusuke replied. "Hold it Yusuke" a voice said. He turned to the source and saw Genkai standing there. "What do you want granny? I'm in a hurry" Yusuke replied. "Be on your guard I sense something big in the future" Genkai replied. "I know, the Demon King" Yusuke said. "No it wasn't the Demon King who did this. This was a sneaky underhanded murder. The Demon King's style is a grand battle in the open" Genkai said. "So it wasn't the Demon King?" Yusuke asked. "No, someone else is behind this. Someone not with the Demon king" Genkai said. "Who?" Yusuke asked. "I don't know. That's why I want you and the others to be on your guard. Whoever is behind this will use any means necessary to get what it wants" Genkai replied. "I'll keep that in mind granny" Yusuke said before running out.
End Flashback
"That's what granny told me" Yusuke said. "That does sound accurate. There must be another enemy we have to deal with" Kurama said. Everyone nodded. A tapping sound could be heard from the window. The looked over and saw a raven perched on the windowsill. Hitomi opened the window and scared the bird off. She then noticed a number of papers on the sill. She grabbed them and went back inside.
"What is it mom?" Rogato asked. "The bird seemed to have left these behind" Hitomi replied holding out the papers. "Let me see those" Riku said. His mother handed them to him and he started to look through them. "This guy doesn't waist time" he said. "What are they?" Botan asked. "Four invitations to compete and ten tickets to sit in the stands" Riku replied. "Only four" Kuwabara said. "Yes" Riku replied. "So who's competing?" Damien asked. "I'm defiantly competing" Riku said. "Me to" Yusuke said.
"Kuwabara, I think you and me should let Hiei and Kurama compete" Nami said. "Why?" Kuwabara asked. "Think about it, this is the Demon King's Tournament. The King and his goons are our enemies so they might try anything to keep us from winning. You and me have the best spirit awareness so we'll be able to sense if something fishy is going on" Nami replied. "I don't know" Kuwabara said. "You'll get to sit next to Crystal" Nami whispered. "Alright the shrimp and Kurama can fight" Kuwabara said.
"So who gets the tickets?" Yusuke asked. "Me and Kuwabara should each get one" Nami said. "And our girlfriends to" Riku added. "That leaves four more" Kurama said. "I know Shizuru will want to come" Kuwabara said. "I want to go" Maya said. "Are you sure sis?" Rogato asked. Maya nodded. "In that case I'm going to" Rogato said. "Count me in" Damien said. Riku looked at him. "Murakai was my friend to. I want to find out who killed him" the fox replied. "Then it's settled" Botan said.
"The tournament will take place two years from now" Riku said as he read the invitation. "Two years?" Yusuke said. "Good, we'll need all the time we need to prepare. We'll all have to be beyond our best if we want to survive" Hiei said. "Good point" Nami said. "We'll worry about that later, we have some business to take care of here" Riku said.
Three day later
The gang was back in Japan. On the second day of their stay the pack held Murakai's funeral. Hiei and Nami had decided to go to the Makai to train. Yusuke and Kurama would have to juggle school with training.
"Please granny, is there anything else you can teach me?" Yusuke said. "I taught you everything I could Yusuke. The rest you'll have to learn on your own" Genkai replied. "But" Yusuke started but Genkai held her hand up to silence him. "You've fully mastered the Spirit Wave and all the techniques I taught you. In other words, you've graduated" Genkai replied. "Then it looks like I got a lot of work ahead of me" Yusuke said. Genkai smirked and nodded. "Thanks granny" Yusuke said before walking out.
"So that's the boy Koenma told me about" a figure said from the shadows. "So what do you think?' Genkai asked. "I'll have to see him in action first" the figure replied. "Well he will be competing in the tournament" Genkai replied. "I'll keep that in mind" the figure said before disappearing.
Outside, Riku was looking at the sky. "You okay Riku?" Yukina asked as she walked up from behind. Riku turned to her and slipped his arms around her waist. "Yukina, I've made a decision" Riku said. "What?" Yukina asked. "I'm going to track down Gurumin and train under him" Riku replied. "How long will you be gone" Yukina asked. "I'll be gone for two years" Riku replied. "I understand" Yukina said. "You're not mad?" Riku asked. "Why would I be? I know the hardships I'll have to go through in order to be with you but I'm willing to deal with them" Yukina said. "I won't ever forget you while I'm gone" Riku said. "Just promise you'll come back" Yukina said. "I promise" Riku replied. They smiled at each other before closing their eyes and sharing a passionate kiss.
That was a long and depressing chapter. And the gang is going to another tournament. The next chapter will be up on Sunday.
Next chapter, we rejoin Muraku, Kairi, and the twins. Review please.
