Part 05
It was very early the next morning when I awoke with a bad feeling in my stomach. I peered down from my treetop bed and then my Jagan eye appeared to help me. I peered into the darkness. I was surprised when I finally saw who lurked about below. Keishou stopped right at the base of the tree and looked upwards, right at me.
"Good morning, my beautiful Izanami, how'd the night treat you?" I smiled brightly as I jumped from the tree, landing gracefully in front of him.
I bowed my head, "Very well, thank you. But, may I ask, what are you doing in Makai? You told me that you refused to ever return to this world."
He sighed and looked away from me, "That I did, didn't I? I guess I came to realize this is where my roots are, and it was time to make amends with a world I never knew, but hated. I know that it was my father's fault I came to hate everything I am and will always be...but that changed when I met you. You showed me that it didn't matter who or what I was, just that I was myself. Stephanie, I really don't know why I ever ran from you and the others, but your death took large toll on my heart. I hated everyone and everything after you were killed. Nonetheless, those Toguro brothers got what they deserved during the last tournament, and during this one I will do whatever it takes to help you win. That's why I'm back here, I have to find my true self, find my powers and my soul. I want to be stronger that you are so I can protect you!"
"What do you mean? I'm not that strong," I said quietly.
"You're very strong, Stephanie, more so than anyone I've ever known. I heard how you overcame my father and about your taming of the Kokuryuhaa. Just overcoming its power was a feat all its own." I blushed horribly and went to argue again, but he wouldn't let me. Instead he covered my mouth and shook his head, "My mind is made up, I'm going with you, and together we shall become the most powerful demons ever known!" I smiled and nodded. With that we started on our way, walking side-by-side, through the thick mist that had settled during the long night.
As we walked we remembered the days back when we were both half the age we were now. I smiled upon myself back then, before I had been killed and before I was able to fight and control spirit energy. Keishou had always been able to use his powers and I remember him always sticking up for me and finally teaching me how to fight only a year before my death.
Keishou stopped after three hours of traveling, "Do you feel that?"
I nodded, "Yes, I do. It's strong, but I don't know how much power they have altogether..."
"Well, the feeling's getting stronger, so let's go and have some fun, alright?" he grinned.
I brooded over the thought and finally nodded, "Sure, it'd be fun to see what you can really do..." With that I began to walk off and grinned when Keishou realized that I said that I wanted to see him fight instead of myself.
"Wait a minute!" he yelled running after me as I began running as well.
When we came to the power source we stood before a large, very pissed off, tiger youkai. I figured him to be young for a youkai, since his size wasn't as large as many rumors had made tiger youkai seem to be. I didn't know exactly why the tiger had gone mad, but I was determined to find out. Keishou examined the demon, then turned to me, "I'll take care of this beast!"
"No, don't!" I yelled running between him and the demon.
"Why are you stopping me? It's going to kill us if we don't strike first! The demon has gone nuts, Stephanie!"
"Iie!" I yelled rudely, "The demon can't harm me, no matter how much it may wish to!"
"Why not?"
"I have my ways, Keishou-kun! This mere demon is in actuality Tora Hino Shiro, the Tiger of the White Flame. The Tiger in which legends tell of being constantly at war with the Dragon of the Darkness Flame, Kokuryuhaa. On my arm I bare the symbol of this powerful dragon, except mine stands for the Dragon of Elements, the Elemental Youkai's powerful adapted version of the Kokuryuhaa," I stated, at that time turning to the White Tiger, "Tora-sama, I ask of you, tell me why you are enraged as you are? It is not fitting of one of your status and power..."
"Why do you speak to me, konketsuji! Get out of my way you pathetic demon!"
"So what if I'm of mixed races? I will not get out of your way!" I exclaimed as my Jagan eye reappeared on my head for a second time that day, but this time my tattoo also appeared, "Sumimasen, Tora-sama, omae kamoshirenai densetsu demo, yurusunai dakara omae o koroso!" The tiger snarled as he jumped at me. "Bad choice! Dragon, awaken! Jaou Ensatsu Kokuryuhaa!" The dragon tattoo swirled off my arm and grew larger. When it finally had fully awakened it encircled the lone tiger and instead of killing him, as I had said I was going to do, put him into a deep sleep instead. I walked over and my dragon returned to my arm and I then placed my hand upon the forehead of the massive tiger, "My ancestors, I call upon thee! Take this demon, Tora Hino Shiro, and make him into my other power! With him ensnared within myself, I may be able to solve the problem of his hatred towards Kokuryuhaa! Please, take him into me and help me create a new era with the powerful Tiger of the White Flame!"
Keishou watchedas my whole body began to glow along with the tiger's. Soon enough the demon's body began to disintegrate and vanish. We watched as the tiger painfully made his way up my right arm to his resting spot for the time being. When the demon finally rested my whole arm burned of white flames. Keishou over to me, "Stephanie, are--what did--"
I shook my head, "Don't question me. I did what I had to do as an Elemental Youkai. We as descendants of this powerful bloodline must not fight when it is not needed, we have to help maintain peace between the three worlds. This demon is one that needs to be helped and needs to be taught how to correspond peacefully with the Dragon of the Darkness Flame, Kokuryuhaa. I fear, though, that Hiei and I may have to battle them in an all out war to ultimately settle their dispute. It will be the two of us fueling their powers and only one is supposed to win, but that will only lead to more chaos."
As Keishou stood there, just by listening to my voice did he learned more about who I was and who I had become in the years past. Little did I know it then, but he had also changed, a lot, and he also had secrets of which I couldn't comprehend at the time. Keishou had one secret, though, that he let be known by those who wished to know, but of course I did not. He cared for me, more so than I thought at the time. I, too, had feelings for him, but I never acted on them because of my hatred of getting close to anyone. Finally Keishou rose his hand and I stopped talking, giving him a questioning look.
"That's all I need to know, Stephanie. I need not the story of your whole life," he smiled, "Although I would wish to learn of what you have done since we parted. Nay, as you can see, this is not the time nor is it the place for such tedious banter. The two of us should push on further into Makai, for two months still lie between us and the tournament."
I nodded and grinned as the white flames finally disappeared from my arm, "Then let us go--but do not forget, my friend, there may come a time that we will have to battle one another...let us just hope that day doesn't appear before us for a long time." We then agreed to fight together until the time for us to part ways was before us and then continued on our journey.
A month later, back across the forest and through the barrier in the Living World my fellow teammates' training progressed. Tiffany and Rinku stood on opposite ends of the designated battle field, staring one another down. Finally Rinku made a move and began to move quickly around the ring as to confuse Tiffany. She grinned and turned to where he was, "You're gonna have to do better than that!" She slammed into him and knocked him a couple dozen feet.
He jumped back up onto his feet, "Not too shabby, Tiffany! But let's see you defeat these!" Rinku pulled out eight yo-yos which were used along with his spirit energy to create a deadly combination. "Serpent Yo-yo Attack!" His yo-yos sped towards Tiffany, but she was also prepared for this. Kuwabara had told her of this attack and how dangerous it was since he had found out first hand the last Dark Tournament. She dodged the yo-yos but they kept on her trail. Finally Tiffany had put enough distance between herself and the yo-yos to attack. She twirled around and held up her arm and formed herself a bow and arrow.
"Yousoya!" she exclaimed shooting the Element Arrow into the center of the oncoming yo-yos, "Sakuretsuya!" The arrow stopped and changed itself into an Explosion Arrow, as it detonated itself, destroying Rinku's Serpent Yo-yos and throwing him out of the battle field. Tiffany bowed respectfully as Yukina tended to Rinku.
As Tiffany walked off the field, Tyler and Kuwabara stepped up for their match. When the match started they both drew out their Spirit Swords. Kuwabara charged at Tyler, but was blocked. Tyler came around and hit him in the head, knocking him over. Kuwabara jumped back up and pummeled Tyler into a nearby tree.
Tyler glared at him as he pulled himself free from the wood, "I'm going to get you for that, Kuwabara!"
"Hey, all's fair, Tyler!" Kuwabara laughed at him. Tyler snorted as he shot blasts of lightning at Kuwabara. Kuwabara wasn't hit by any of the blasts, but he was so preoccupied with dodging them that he failed to notice Tyler running up behind him.
"Gotcha!" Tyler yelled as he slammed his two fists into Kuwabara's unprotected back. Kuwabara lurched forward in agony and fell to the ground. Tyler jumped back a few feet just in case Kuwabara was planning a counterattack. Kuwabara, of course, was and Tyler was hit in the back with Kuwabara's Spirit Sword. Tyler fell to his knees as his body absorbed the pain. Only when Kuwabara had pulled himself up and limped over to Tyler did the young youkai pull his own counterattack by blasting Kuwabara right in the chest with a fistful of spirit energy. Kuwabara fell backwards, knocked out from the blast, and Tyler stood up victorious.
Yukina and Botan, with help from Rinku, dragged the unconscious human off the battle field as Tiffany stepped back up for another bout. This time her opponent that stood up against her was none other than the former Spirit Detective, Yusuke Urameshi. Tiffany and Yusuke stood pretty much at the same level of power, that is, in their human forms. Yusuke would definitely be stronger if he called upon his demon blood that laid dormant within himself because he knew Tiffany couldn't fully use nor control her demon counterpart. "I'm not going to go easy on you just because you're a girl!" Yusuke yelled to her.
"I don't want you to, Yusuke! But be warned, if you try with me what you do with other girls when you battle, you will pay severely!" Tiffany laughed back. Yusuke nodded and took a fighting stance. Tiffany nodded as well and got ready to fight.
"FIGHT!" Tyler exclaimed.
Tiffany and Yusuke were at one another's throats almost instantly. They fought hand to hand, their fists flying faster than ever before. The only thing about this was that they couldn't land a single hit on the other person, no matter how hard each one tried. After a few minutes the two of them separated and stood breathing heavily at opposite sides of the battle field. Tiffany finally said to hell with fist fighting and forged her bow along with a Darkness Arrow. She placed the arrow in the bow, "Yamiya!"
"Spirit Gun!" Yusuke's Spirit Gun and her arrow hit one another dead on and caused a large explosion of spirit energy.
When the dust cleared they stood there, waiting for the other's next move. Yusuke grinned as his whole body began pulsating with loads of spirit energy. Tiffany's eyes narrowed, her gaze never leaving Yusuke as his demon heart began to beat and he began to transform. She watched as his hair began to grow and black tattoos started appearing all over his upper body.
After Yusuke's transformation, Tiffany's kicked into action. Everyone watched, eyes wide, as Tiffany's hair became untamed and a lighter brown while her pupils narrowed as her eyes changed to a greenish yellow color. Before long sharp claws grew from Tiffany's small hands as a fluffy tail grew from her backside. Right after this Tiffany's feline teeth took their sharp shape and her ears moved from the sides of her head to the top as they changed into actual cat ears. Tiffany sneezed as her nose changed its shape a bit and whiskers sprouted from her fair face, "I hate that part..." Lastly, as everyone predicted, her spirit level skyrocketed along with her other natural abilities.
Rinku looked up at Kurama, "Is that what she looked like as a demon?"
Kurama nodded, "Yes, that is her basic youkai form. She was a well known demon back before her demise, Tiffany had everything a demon could ever want if I had to put it simply. She had a family, friends, land, riches, everything. For, you see, her whole family was made up of noble blooded cat youkai."
Tyler walked over to the two of them, "Watch what you say about her, fox boy, for she can hear every word you speak. Tiffany does not like to speak of her past life nor do I of mine, so before you speak so openly about her or I, think twice." Kurama nodded, but didn't say anything else of it. Rinku looked back and forth between the two of them and just sighed, not wanting to make Tyler mad.
Back on the battle field, Yusuke and Tiffany had began to duke out the final minutes of their fight. Yusuke stopped, turned towards Tiffany, and began to collect his spirit energy. Instantly Tiffany knew what he planned to do, he planned to use his Spirit Wave technique. Tiffany grinned brightly, "You just made the worst mistake of your life, my dear Yusuke. For I will defeat you with an attack passed down to me by my parents!"
"What is she talking about?" Rinku questioned Tyler.
"Ayatori Youso Tsume, the Cat's Cradle Element Claw," Tyler stated quietly, "The ultimate attack of the tribe of Neko Youkai that Tiffany grew up in. She creates strings of her spirit energy that have all the different elements in the world. After the strings reach their limit they wrap around her hands and create huge cat's paws and change her nails into razor sharp claws. This attack alone can kill over a hundred youkai if need be and she only need use the same amount of spirit energy that it takes to kill one."
Rinku turned back to the fight and looked over at Tiffany, "Wow..."
"I'm just afraid that she might kill herself using it because she hasn't mastered it yet," Tyler thought to himself.
"Alright, Tiffany, this is it! Spirit Wave!"
"NO WAY, URAMESHI! AYATORI YOUSO TSUME!" Her giant claws of elemental spirit energy broke right through the Spirit Wave and hit Yusuke dead on. The former Spirit Detective flew backwards and landed near Kuwabara. Yukina ran over to him and knelt down as she instantly began to apply her healing abilities to him. As Yusuke's wounds began to heal, Tyler and Kurama headed out onto the field. Tiffany grinned as Kurama walked past her, "Never talk about my past again, for you might be the next one to meet the Cat's Cradle..." Kurama smiled slightly as he and Tyler took their places upon the field.
They both stared at one another as Yusuke and Tiffany did. Finally Tyler just relaxed and sighed, "How about we just take it upto the next level right away?" Kurama nodded in agreement and began to transform. Before long Tyler also began to transform. Like Tiffany, his ears moved to the top of his head, his nose changed, and he grew claws. The difference was his eyes, his pupils disappeared, and the only thing left was bright golden eyes. Tyler howled as his energy shot to its max and his transformation completed. "Time to lose, fox boy! Zenshinfuzui Kiba!"
Before Rinku could ask what the attack was Tiffany filled him in as her wounds began to heal slowly. "It stands for Total Paralysis Fang. It's an attack he learned in the past from his pack of wolf demons that paralyses his enemy in their tracks. After he uses it he usually follows up with another attack called Dokuga, or Poison Fang, which is self explanatory. Like me, though, he has trouble with his main attack and the Dokuga might deal him damage as well." Rinku once again turned back to the fight but remained silent as he watched the fight continue.
Kurama was frozen in his place as Tyler ran towards him at top speed, "Dokuga!" Kurama was thrown backwards like the others had been and was instantly tended to by the ever busy Yukina. Tyler walked over and grinned, "So, how'd you like the show, Rinku?"
"You both are really powerful! I don't even know why any of us bother to train with you because we always get stomped," Rinku relished.
Tiffany giggled, "Thank you, Rinku, that's really sweet. No one ever says how strong we are compared to them, not even Stephanie says we're strong, only that we can become stronger. Hm...I guess that's just the way she is though, always looking to be better and better. I really wish that she could tap into her powers completely and use her powers to their fullest--"
"Enough, Semai Wan! Izanami power's will awaken with due time for with great power comes a great responsibility. Hers will also take longer to control and tap into because of the fact that she's a rare type of youkai, just a pinch of that rare power is enough to last all of Tokyo a lifetime!" Tyler stated as the poison from his attack finally set in and he collapsed to the ground, remaining still as he began self-healing.
"I know, but--"
"It's okay, Tiffany, I don't need to know anymore," Rinku said reassuringly, "I'll find out sooner or later from Stephanie. When she wants to let everyone in on her past she will." Tiffany just smiled and nodded.
Somewhere back in Makai, atop a tree, stood a lonely fire youkai. Hiei sighed as he watched the sunset and remembered when he was in Ningenkai with Stephanie and the others. Their faces were stuck in his mind so long that he didn't even notice the night had gone half by. He shook his head and jumped out of the tree. When he landed he walked on, not having anywhere particular to go.
After awhile the tattoo on his arm began to tingle and stressed to be let free upon the moonless night. Then, without warning, the bandage meant to keep the dragon in place broke as the Kokuryuhaa erupted from his arm and flew off towards some unknown location. Hiei, without thinking twice, followed in close pursuit. When he came upon the dragon again he saw what the dragon was after, a large white tiger. "It can't be...that's the Tiger of the White Flame, Tora Hino Shiro..."
"That it can be, fire demon," Keishou said appearing beside the tiger, "Long time no see, Hiei."
"What in the hell are you doing here, Keishou!" Hiei yelled at him, "There is no way someone like you could tame the Tiger of the White Flame!"
"You mean, someone like me?" I asked coming out from behind him, "I am like Keishou, after all. I tamed the tiger because of the fact he wished to fight the Kokuryuhaa so badly. I have trained myself and my powers tremendously over the last month and have transformed the Tora Hino Shiro into a powerful ally of our team. He resides on my right arm while my Youso Kokuryuhaa still occupies my left. I can see that you, too, have grown in power as has your dragon."
"I didn't mean it that way, Stephanie...I just meant him. Keishou is no where near as powerful as you are, nor is he as smart," Hiei said to me his Kokuryuhaa charged at my Tiger.
"Let us see how powerful you have become, fire boy!" Keishou exclaimed grabbing me out of the way of the dragon.
"Let me go, Keishou! I fight along side my friends, not behind them!" I shouted pulling his arms apart and running over to my Tiger, "Calm the Dragon of the Darkness Flame with your light!" The tiger roared as he charged right into the dragon's mouth and exploded, causing him to return to Hiei's arm. My tiger ran back at me and went up my arm to his resting place as I turned to leave, "You still have a lot to learn, Jaganshi."
"Stephanie, wait..."
I looked back over my shoulder but Keishou came up behind me, "Let's go, Stephanie, he's not worth your time--"
I turned around, "Don't tell me what to do, I make my own decisions, Keishou!"
"But he's just going to get in the way of our training, besides I thought that--"
"Shut up, Aisoku!" I exclaimed, calling him by his real name, the one that his father had given him. With that I walked past him and over to Hiei, "Take my hand." He nodded and took it as we disappeared into thin air.
When we reappeared again we were far from Keishou, back towards the Ningenkai. "Where'd you learn to do that?" Hiei asked me.
"It's just another power I learned to use over the last month."
Hiei sighed, "You know, I've missed everyone; especially you, Stephanie." I turned to him only to see him look away. "I want you to know that not one day has passed that I didn't worry about you or wonder where you were..."
"Hiei..."
"But I guess that you enjoy the company of Keishou so much that you probably haven't even thought once about me or the others back in Ningenkai either--"
I slapped him across the face, "How dare you say something like that! That's not true at all, Hiei! Every single day I think about all that everyone's been through in the past few months! You and the others are always on my mind and I'm constantly worried that something is going to happen and that my teammates aren't going to show up at the tournament. I hate myself for ever thinking that, but I can't help it! I especially worry about you, Jaganshi! You're so reckless and are always doing stupid things that might end up getting you killed!" I turned from him as tears began to weld up in my eyes. I shuddered, "Just the thought of me never being able to see you again tore at me more and more every day...please, you've gotta promise me you'll stop being so reckless! You have to learn to control your powers before they kill you!"
Hiei stood there silently taking everything I said in and absorbing it. "Am I really that reckless as to worry her like that? I've never thought about how much pain I cause those around me...if I am reckless enough to make Stephanie cry, then I must be really bad. Dammit, what in the hell should I do!"
"I already told you what to do!" I exclaimed, turning back around and staring at a stunned Hiei.
"Y-you heard my thoughts!"
"Yeah, so maybe I did! I can't even control my powers and here I am yelling at you for being so weak at controlling yours!" I screamed turning back around and running off into the night. Hiei didn't think twice as he bolted after me. After a good ten minutes I tripped and hurt both my ankles in the fall. I just laid there in the dark until my breathing regulated and I relaxed. It was then that Hiei caught up with me and found my still body laying on the ground with help from his Jagan Eye.
He knelt down, "Are you alright, Stephanie?"
"I tripped and hurt my ankles, other than that I'm okay." Hiei laughed as he picked me up. "Why are you laughing? What's so funny?"
"You."
"What'd ya mean by that, Jaganshi!"
"It's just kind of ironic. You were yelling at me for making stupid mistakes without thinking and here you run off and hurt both of your ankles in a fall."
"Oh shut up, just because I'm hurt doesn't mean I still can't whoop you," I grinned.
"So, now you're making fun of me?" Hiei asked sarcastically.
"You know what, Hiei?" He shook his head and waited for me to continue. "I haven't seen you this happy in all three months that I've known you. I'm really glad to hear you laugh and see you smile. Did you know you're cuter when you smile?" I asked him and a huge grin spread across his face.
"No, I didn't, but thanks for telling me," Hiei said as he walked through the woods, "You are also prettier when you smile and very peaceful looking when you sleep."
"When I sleep? How do you know what I look like when I sleep!"
"That night I stayed at your apartment I went outside and onto your balcony to jump to the roof. I happened to see you sleeping through your sliding door...you're not mad are you?" I just shook my head and leaned my head against his chest. I closed my eyes as he continued on in the night.
I must have fallen asleep because when I awoke the sun was about to rise. I realized I was leaning up against a tree trunk up on a branch of a large tree. I looked below me and saw Hiei on a branch that was diagonal from me. "He looks as if he was up all night watching over me." I smiled and turned my attention back to the horizon as the sun began rising.
"It's beautiful, ne?"
I jumped, "Don't do that, Hiei! ...yes, it is beautiful."
He laughed and smiled, "Sorry, I couldn't help it. Are your ankles feeling any better?"
"A little, I guess, though I won't be able to really tell until I touch the ground again." He nodded as the sun fully appeared. Hiei stood and jumped up next to me on the branch. He picked me up as he jumped down from the tree. When we landed on the ground he set me down gently, but kept a hold of me just in case my ankles still hurt too much to walk on. "Ah--they still hurt, yes, but not as bad. I can walk on them, but I will need to rest frequently."
"Why don't you just fly? Wouldn't it be easier and a lot less painful then walking?" Hiei suggested.
"What about you?"
"I can keep up with you, I'm really fast remember? Just don't go too fast, though, because your flying speed is probably much quicker than my running abilities." I nodded as I concentrated carefully. Finally my wings sprouted from my back and I lifted off the ground, relieving my ankles of their pain. I flew up above the trees and Hiei jumped up into them. "So, where we heading?" he asked.
"Dunno, wherever I guess."
"How about in the opposite direction of Keishou, another run-in with him might turn bloody...for as you can tell he and I do not get along very well."
"I noticed," I sighed, "Though I don't know why you two don't get along. You both have a lot in common, surprisingly. Then again, I guess you do have a lot of differences between the two of you as well. I doubt he will get along with any of the others either if he keeps acting like my guardian."
Hiei nodded and we were both silent for a few minutes. "So, have you found our last two teammates yet?" I laughed hesitantly. "You haven't, have you?" I just shook my head. "I should of known you wouldn't...why don't you let me find the other teammates? It'd be a lot easier for the both of us."
"If I allow you to try and recruit the last two we'd be disqualified from the tournament because of our lack of teammates." He looked up at me, wondering what I meant. I sighed, "You'd probably just end up scaring them away like you do with everyone else you meet..."
"That was harsh, Stephanie," Hiei scorned, "But I guess you're right, I do have a bad reputation here in Makai, especially after the last Dark Tournament. Every demon I know of is afraid of my Kokuryuhaa."
I snorted, "And for good reason! The Kokuryuhaa is a powerful and deadly attack to unleash, and after your performance at the last tournament, I'd be afraid of you too if I didn't know better."
"What do you mean by that!"
"Most demons do not know you personally as I do. When I first met you, you saved me so I trusted you; the demons in Makai know you for your rash thinking and your releasal of the Kokuryuhaa and they're scared of what you might do to them."
"Hn," he snorted as we continued on in silence.
Author's note
This whole saying can be translated into the following:
"I'm terribly sorry Tiger, you rudely stated may be (a) legend but/however, I cannot forgive you therefore I'm going to kill you!"
and just in case, f.y.i.
'-sama' is a term of highest respect
It's meant for deities, rulers, someone you respect a great deal, and/or people with big egos