Chapter 78
Quarterfinals: Part II
"WILL RIKU AND TOUYA COME TO THE ARENA!!!" "I'm up" Riku said as he started walking away. Hiei sat next to Nami in the stands nursing his gunshot wound. Nami was bandaging it up with a worried look on her face. He yelped when she tightened the bandage. "Don't move, the bullet's still in there" she said. "Well that hurt" Hiei replied. "The pain will subside" she said before giving him a peck on the nose and turning her attention to the arena.
"So you're Touya. The guy Kurama barely beat at the Dark Tournament" Riku said. "I let my guard down in that fight. I won't be caught off guard again" Touya replied. "Hopefully you'll do better than Jin" Riku said as he unsheathed his sword. Touya got into a fighting stance.
"BE-" before the announcer could finish Jin came flying back onto the scene. "Okay Urameshi where were we" he said. "Your match is over Jin. They disqualified you" Touya said. "What?!" Jin said. "You didn't actually think they'd wait for you to fix a little chip on your horn did you?" Touya asked. "It's not fair" Jin said.
"Just calm down and let me fight" Touya said. He was really starting to wonder why he teamed up with the wind master. Jin was about to say something else but then he noticed a few pretty demon girls giggling and looking at him. "Have fun" Jin said before flying to the girls. Touya sighed and turned his attention back to Riku.
"BEGIN!!!" The two stood staring each other down for a few minutes. Riku had his sword ready and Touya was ready to use his ice powers. "I'll make the first move" Touya said as ice gathered in his hand. The ice formed his signature ice sword.
He charged Riku and started swinging. Riku mainly dodged using his sword to block a few swings he couldn't dodge. Touya started to push him back and seemed to have the upper hand. But when he took one swing his ice sword clashed with Riku's and pushing match started. "You're pretty good with that thing" Riku said. "There's more if you'll be patient" Touya replied before jumping back.
This time Riku charged but Touya jumped over him and swung. Riku managed to position his sword behind him and stop the sword before it could slice him. He spun around while doing a horizontal slash. Touya stepped back to avoid it and swung at him. Riku blocked it and another pushing match started.
A red glow surrounded Riku's body. He narrowed his eyes and Touya was blown back when Riku powered up. He managed to land on his feet in a crouching position but noticed his sword was broken. The ice shattered off and he looked at Riku. Riku was now surrounded by red energy.
"CRESCENT CLAWS" Touya had to do some fancy acrobatics to avoid the spirit blades. While he was distracted Riku charged and threw his sword high into the air. Before Touya knew it, Riku sent a flurry of punches and kicks. Each one hit before Touya could put up a defense. He finished his assault off with an uppercut to the chin. Touya went flying back but managed to flip and land on his feet.
Riku smirked and opened his hand to the side. The Crescent Edge landed in it. He had timed everything perfectly. "Impressive Riku. Now it's my turn" Touya said. A faint blue light surrounded his body. Riku felt the temperature in the arena suddenly drop.
"It's cold" Kuwabara said rubbing his arms to keep warm. The twins huddled closer to Kairi to keep both themselves and her warm. Times like this make me glad I'm a fire demon Hiei thought. He and Yukina were the only ones who didn't seem to mind the cold. "I knew I should have brought my jacket" Nami said. She stopped shivering when she felt something warm over her shoulders. She looked at what had been put on her and realized it was Hiei's cloak. She smiled at him and turned her attention to the fight.
The air around Riku started to get really misty until he could no longer see Touya. Riku looked around for the ice master. The mist made it all but impossible to see. Riku realized there was only one way he stood a chance of putting up a fight. He closed his eyes to heighten his other senses.
Touya had snuck behind Riku and formed another ice sword. Using his shinobi skills he silently crept up to Riku. He raised his sword and swung. Riku disappeared before the sword hit. Touya jumped out of the way of a swing from Riku as the wolf appeared behind him. Before Riku could launch an assault Touya disappeared back into the mist.
Touya was still wondering how Riku had been able to sense him. He knew the wolf couldn't have smelled him since the mist canceled out all smell. As he thought he suddenly saw something red in front of him. He ducked a swing from Riku and continued to dodge Riku's swings. Riku raised his sword and stabbed it into the ground. It sent out shockwaves of spirit energy that blew away the mist. Touya watched as the mist disappeared.
Riku pulled his sword out from the ground and looked at Touya. His eyes narrowed when he noticed Touya was gathering more energy in his hands. His hands were surrounded by a faint blue energy. Touya charged and readied his fists to attack.
Touya first swung at Riku's face but Riku flitted out of the way and appeared behind Touya. Touya noticed this and spun around. He threw a punch at Riku's gut and Riku managed to avoid the fist but he gasped when his stomach was frozen over in ice. Touya threw another punch, which Riku stepped to the side the dodge. His upper right arm was soon covered in ice.
"It doesn't matter if you dodge it or not just being in close proximity to my fists caused a part to be frozen" Touya said. Riku growled and swung at Touya. Touya leaned to the side and avoided the blade and threw two more punches that froze Riku's left shoulder and left thigh.
Before Touya could continue Riku kicked his stomach with his right leg. Touya doubled over as Riku jumped back. "I must say you impress me Riku. But it's time I ended this" Touya said. Riku got into a fighting stance. "You've probably heard the legend of the phoenix, the legendary bird of fire. But I've discovered a phoenix of ice and have learned to harness its power" Touya said as his body was surrounded in a white glow. Once again the temperature in the stadium dropped as blue energy gathered in Touya's hands.
Riku sheathed his sword and decided to use an attack he hadn't used in a while. He concentrated as he sensed wolf spirits gather in his hand. Touya had gathered the energy he needed and prepared to attack. He noticed Riku was still gathering energy and saw his chance.
"PHOENIX BLIZZARD" a phoenix made of ice flew out of Touya's hands and toward Riku. "SPIRIT WOLF CLAW" Riku thrust his hand forward. His energy-covered hand collided with Touya's attack. Riku closed his eyes and felt the rest of his body starting to go numb from the cold Touya's attack created. He saw his limbs start to freeze over and deiced to take action. He yelled and the energy on his hand intensified. He ran forward his attack plowing through Touya's.
He reached Touya and the white energy on his hand started to glow. "SPIRIT WOLF CANNON" Touya was engulfed in a huge white energy beam. The resulting explosion forced everyone to shield his or her eyes. When the light died down they looked into the ring expecting there to be nothing left of Touya.
Instead they say Touya pinned against the wall. Riku's fist was planted on his stomach. Next to them on the wall was a massive crater. Riku had fired to the side of Touya to distract him while he came in for the final punch.
"You've done well. I have no regrets losing to an opponent like you. I give up" Touya said before passing out. Riku drew his fist back and let Touya slide down the wall until he lay slumped against the wall. Riku shook the ice off him and turned around. "TOUYA IS DOWN AND OUT!!! RIKU ADVANCES TO THE SEMIFINALS!!!" "Way to go Riku!!!" Botan said. "You sure showed him!!!" Kuwabara said. "Nice on bro!!!" Rogato said. Riku smiled at them before heading to the room where Yusuke was waiting.
"Nice work out there" Yusuke said. "Thanks" Riku said as he sat down. "At this rate we might have to fight each other in the finals" Yusuke said. "Well first you'd have to beat X and I most likely would have to face Muraku" Riku said. "He's up next so I guess we'll find out" Yusuke said. The two looked back to the arena.
"NOW FOR THE LAST OF TODAYS FIGHTS, KAVIK VS. MURAKU!!!" Kavik and Muraku walked onto the arena. The mysterious warrior watched front the stands. "I believe it's time" the woman with him said. "Indeed it is" the warrior said as he pulled out the vile he had yesterday. With a smirk he opened it.
"BEGIN!!!" Muraku charged and unsheathed his sword. Kavik drew out his guns and jumped back to avoid Muraku's first swing. As Muraku raised his sword Kavik did a spinning heal kick that forced Muraku to duck. Kavik kicked him in the face and followed it up with a kick to the gut. Muraku growled and powered up forcing Kavik to jump back.
Muraku looked at Kavik and smirked. He charged again. Kavik raised his guns and opened fire. Muraku continued forward dodging the bullets by stepping to the side. He reached Kavik and swung horizontally to the left. Kavik leapt into the air before Muraku's blade sliced through him. He flipped in the air and while he was upside-down in the air, opened fire. Muraku flitted out of the way of Kavik's bullets.
Kavik landed crouching. He sensed something and stopped Muraku's sword with his right gun. They stared each other down as they pushed against each other. "You're not half bad" Muraku said coolly. "Well I always do my best at whatever I do" Kavik replied. He tried to kick Muraku again but the wolf flitted out of the way of his foot.
Kavik stood in the middle of the ring looking around for any sign of Muraku. He looked up and saw Muraku falling toward him. "TRIPLE IMPACT" Kavik dodged the first two blasts but the last hit his left shoulder. Muraku swung but Kavik managed to dodge. He fired a couple of rounds at Muraku but the wolf once again flitted out of the way.
Muraku landed with a smirk about ten feet in front of Kavik. "You've lasted longer than I thought. Most opponents would be mincemeat by now" Muraku said. Kavik smirked and prepared for another attack. He placed both guns back in their holsters and charged.
He threw a series of punches at Muraku. Muraku blocked each one using only his left hand. "You'll have to be faster than that" Muraku said. Kavik took that moment to grab the gun in his left holster and draw it out. Muraku saw it just in time and flitted out of the way of Kavik's shot. He appeared on the other side of the arena.
For a guy with one eye he sure has fast reflexes Kavik thought. Muraku knew this fight wouldn't be as simple as he originally thought. He was thinking on a strategy to beat Kavik when something overcame him. His eyes widened as he felt an urge to kill. He growled as the feeling intensified. His eyes were tinted with red and his fangs seemed to get sharper.
Kavik watched with growing interest, as Muraku seemed to be struggling with himself. His eyes widened when he saw Muraku's face. He looked like a bloodthirsty beast. His eyes were almost completely red, his fangs were bared, and his hair seemed to stand on end.
With a roar he charged with speed Kavik had never seen before. Muraku raised his sword as he neared. Kavik prepared to counter but Muraku surprised him by kicking him in the gut then punching him in the face with the hilt of his sword. Kavik went fling back.
Before his hit the ground Muraku charged again and flipped. His foot slammed into Kavik's stomach and slammed Kavik to the ground. It created a crater that was twenty feet in diameter. Muraku grabbed Kavik by the collar and lifted him up. "I'll show you a new level of pain" Muraku said menacingly. He threw Kavik to the side and into the wall. Kavik fell off onto his feet. Immediately Muraku clotheslined him with his right arm. As Kavik fell back Muraku kneed him with his right knee. He swung at Kavik and sliced his left shoulder leaving a deep gash.
"Muraku!!!" Kairi said as she watched Muraku assault Kavik. "Make him stop mama" Mimiru said as tears fell down her face. "Something's wrong with Muraku" Riku said. "He's almost like his old self" Yusuke said.
"What happened to you?" Kavik groaned. "Muraku stop!!!" Kairi yelled. "Wench" Muraku mumbled. "Somehow I know this isn't the real you" Kavik said. "That's none of your concern" Muraku said as he raised a hand to Kavik's face. He sent out a purple blast that caused Kavik to go flying to the center of the arena.
Muraku laughed and charged. He jumped into the air and landed with both feet on Kavik's chest. Kavik yelled in pain causing Muraku to smirk. Muraku jumped back into the air and came down on the gunman. He continued to do this laughing every time Kavik screamed. He finally stopped and lifted Kavik by the collar.
"Muraku please stop!!!" Kairi yelled. "Shut up!!!" Muraku yelled. "This isn't you Muraku!!!" Kairi yelled. "I said shut up!!!" Muraku replied sending a shockwave in Kairi's direction. Kairi was pushed back into her seat. "Mama!!!" Yugi and Mimiru said. "Kairi!!!" everyone else said as they ran to her side. "I'm okay" Kairi said.
"Now for you" Muraku said turning to Kavik. "Muraku, down" Kairi said quietly. Muraku slammed into the ground releasing Kavik when he hit. Kavik stumbled back. "Listen, he's not his normal self. You have to help him" Kairi said. Kavik looked up at her. "I'll try" he said before turning his attention to Muraku.
Muraku charged him again and slammed his fist into Kavik's stomach. Kavik was slammed into the wall again as Muraku drew back his fist and slammed it into his stomach again. "Aw, does that hurt?" Muraku asked menacingly. "Is this really you?" Kavik asked. "Of coarse it's me" Muraku growled before punching him again.
"You leave me no choice, I give up" Kavik said. "Oh it's not going to be that easy" Muraku said with a smirk. He gathered energy around his fist and slammed it into Kavik's stomach again. "I'm not stopping till I've punched a hole in you" Muraku laughed as he continued punching.
He was about to continue when he felt something grab his arm. He looked at who it was and saw Kairi with both arms around his. "That's enough Muraku" she said. Muraku pulled his hand back swiftly causing Kairi to fall to the ground. "That's the last straw" he said as he raised his sword.
Kavik took that moment to slipped his arms under Muraku's and hold him in place. "Let me go" Muraku said. "Look at her" Kavik said. Muraku continued to struggle. Kavik had no choice but to grab the sides of Muraku's face and make him look at Kairi. "Remember what you've been fighting for" Kavik said.
Muraku looked straight into Kairi's pleading eyes. Memories of the past two years with her filled his mind. "Kairi" he said. Kavik relaxed his grip. Muraku took that moment to punch Kavik back. "Hey" Kavik said rubbing his face. "I'll spare your life, because you reminded me of what I was fighting for" Muraku said.
Kairi smiled and threw her arms around Muraku's neck. "I thought you'd gone back to your old self" she cried. Muraku didn't return the hug but she expected as much. "I'm sorry Kairi" he said. "It's okay, I'm just glad you're back" the priestess replied. She let go and looked at Kavik.
"Thank you" she said. "Glad I could be of help" Kavik replied. He got up and dusted himself off. "Well, be seeing ya. Good luck in the tournament" Kavik said as he walked off.
"AND MURAKU HAS WON THE FINAL SEMIFINALS MATCH!!! TOMMOROW WE'LL SEE YUSUKE URAMESHI VS. X AND RIKU VS. MURAKU IN THE SEMIFINALS!!!" Muraku smirked and looked to the window Riku was behind. "I look forward to it" he said before passing out in Kairi's arms.
I'm surprised two fights made such a long chapter. Next chapter should be up on Saturday.
Next chapter, Yusuke vs. X and X's identity is revealed. Review please.
