Part 07

Tiffany walked up to me and smiled slightly as I glared at her. My eyes softened, I knew that she was afraid of me because of what I had done. I didn't want her to be scared of me, I didn't want any of them to be. Although, I did have to admit I was kinda scared of myself because of how easily I'd lost control of my body and mind. "Semai Wan, atashi chigiri anna atashi kokorozashi tonda kigai anata niokeru nanishiro, jou, o gyousou."

She peered up at me as tears welded up in her eyes, "I thought you were going to go so out of control that you were going to kill yourself! Please, you've got to gain control of your powers!"

I sighed as I let the little dragon fly out of my arms and back over to Hiei, "I'm trying, but it's hard to. I discharge so much energy right before a battle from pure anticipation that I lose control of myself. And it doesn't help with that voice inside of my head I completely lose control! I have no clue as of who has been inside my head, but it's driving me insane!"

Tyler snickered, "And here I thought you already were."

"Why you--!" I exclaimed as I lunged at him, only to be met with a blade to the heart and a blade to the neck.

"Watch it, Stephanie, don't forget you killed two of our teammates today. You may be the one who's practically raised me, but I am still skeptical on if I can fully trust you again."

I stood there and listened to my fellow youkai quietly. I nodded when he was finished, "I agree with you full-heartedly, Tyler. I don't want any of you to trust me completely. Do not trust me with your lives or your souls."

"If we can't trust you with our souls or our lives then how can you be labeled the Spirit Detective?" Kurama asked me, "You can't be if you cannot be trusted."

"I--"

"Fox boy's right, Stephanie. Sure, you killed me, but I'm back and ready for more, that's for sure," Jin laughed.

"Nobody's perfect," Touya said quietly.

I smiled, "I guess you're all right, but I'm still not sure if I'm trustworthy or not."

"Okay, enough with the repeating, let's go back to the Ningenkai and rest up. We still have a month to train and try to get those powers of yours under control," Keishou said to me. We all agreed and took off towards home.

It wasn't long before we reached the barrier and weaseled our way back into the human world. Once through I stopped and turned back to look at the invisible world. I jumped when I felt a hand upon my shoulder. I looked at the hand and recognized the bandage, "Hiei..."

"You coming?"

I sighed and nodded, "Yes, but answer me something first."

"Sure, anything."

"You and Keishou really hate one another, why?"

"We both have our reasons, mine are because I know something about him, his because I know that something. I would have told you by now what it is that I know, but I fear if I do that you may not live to do anything about it." I looked at him weirdly and just nodded, not wanting to pressure him into telling me anything he didn't want to. "You're not mad at me, are you?"

I shook my head, "I can't be mad at you, Hiei, you're part of the team."

Hiei nodded, "Let's go." We both turned and headed back to the apartments. When we arrived at the apartments we remained on the roof instead of heading directly inside. "Stephanie, why do you care for me so much?"

"You saved my life twice and I still owe you for one of them. Besides, you're my friend and friends are there for one another."

"Still, I am a fugitive after all. I remain on the run from the underground Makai authorities because I've done a lot of things I shouldn't have since the last Dark Tournament. Even with Koenma's pardon, they're still after me. What it is that I have done, well, that remains untold."

"Tell me," I said quietly.

"I can't," Hiei sighed, "I would if it were possible, but it would be putting you in danger. There will be a time when it will be safe to speak freely about my true past and when that time comes you will be the first to know everything, I promise."

I smiled slightly as I walked to the edge of the building to move on to the apartment, "Fine, if that's how it has to be, then so be it. But I assure you, my dear Hiei, if you do not fulfill that promise to her, I will kill you. For you mean a lot to Stephanie, and I swear that if you hurt her I will make the remainder of your life a living hell."

Hiei stood there stunned as I jumped over the side of the building and entered the apartment. "That was not Stephanie..."

"You're sure right it wasn't!" Jin said appearing beside the fire youkai, "I guess our team leader's other side is finally showing herself to us openly. Before she threatened my life if I were to say anything about her and now she's flaunting herself around! Sheez, I will never understand women..." The fire youkai let out a small chuckle as he and Jin both went down to the apartment to get a well deserved rest.

The next four weeks were the same, every morning everyone was up and training at dawn and continued until the sun had set. Even with all of our hard work, though, I still hadn't even come close to getting my powers under control. At least I hadn't heard the voice within my head, otherwise there probably would have been more casualties. Tyler and Tiffany had partially gotten the hang of their true powers and could perform them without injuring themselves too severely, but they had yet to transform into their true youkai forms. Jin had learned to fight well against lightning attacks thanks to Keishou while Touya had conquered his weakness of fire because of Hiei.

It was the night before we left for the tournament and everyone was running about Genkai's place since that's where we had all gathered. I sat beneath a tree, listening quietly to the whispering winds that spoke softly in the night. I heard footsteps coming towards me and I looked up to face Genkai.

She looked at me and sighed, "In all my years I thought that no one could be as stubborn and pig-headed as my favorite dimwit."

"What's that supposed to mean!" I exclaimed, aggravated by her comment.

Genkai shook her head, "You, child, have much power residing within your body, but you are afraid to tap into it because of the voice within your head that tells you to kill those close to you. I am here to tell you now that if you ever wish to conquer the powers within you then you must lose all fear within your heart. If you continue to act as you have then your powers will overcome you without any warning at all. Those powers will eventually destroy all those close to you and you, yourself, in the end."

"Why are you telling me this, Genkai? I'm not your pupil."

"I know that! In my old age I've come to realize that there is much more to being the most powerful fighter. After I passed on the Spirit Wave technique to Yusuke I thought my worries were over, but now that you have been brought into the world I fear my concerns are only going to grow," Genkai explained, "You must figure out who you are before you will be able to conquer your powers. Stephanie, you are not just a mere Elemental Youkai, you blood line flows back much further, past that of Keishou's or even Iroaku's."

"What do you mean?"

"Do you remember when Iroaku referred to you as Princess?" I nodded and waited for her to continue. "Well--"

"Stephanie, you gotta come look at this!" Tiffany exclaimed cutting our conversation short. Genkai nodded and I stood up. We followed Tiffany into the courtyard where the rest of my friends and teammates stood. We all looked up to see meteors showering across the cloudless sky.

"It's so beautiful!" Yukina gasped.

I smiled at everyone's awe in the show that was happening above us. My eyes fell upon each of my friends and I remembered why they meant so much to me. It wasn't long before my wandering eyes fell upon the fire youkai. Hiei diverted his eyes from the sky to mine and our gazes locked together. I saw what he thought of me, or what I thought he did anyway. He saw me as a powerful asset to the team, but also as a very dangerous one that was not to be underestimated. It was then I could hear his voice, I could hear him talking to me.

"Stephanie, you have to stop looking at me like that; the look as if you just killed me again. I know that you still blame yourself for what happened to me and Jin, but we are alive. Stop thinking about what happened a month ago and think about what's happening right now, and what's going to happen after tonight."

I knew Hiei was right, I had been dwelling too much on what I did to him and Jin. I had to get my mind set on the Dark Tournament which was before us. If I didn't have my head screwed on straight then who would? I sighed heavily and smiled at Hiei, "Okay; I'll be okay, I promise." He nodded as we both turned our attention back to the sky.

"Think happy thoughts while you can, my dear Princess. For your time here in the Ningenkai is over and now it's time for you to return home to Makai. I just hope you'll be able to live though the Dark Tournament so you can regain your rightful place in Makai's royal past!" Keishou laughed to himself as he watched me and Hiei talking telepathically. Hiei noticed the grin that had spread across Keishou's face and shot him a death glare from the depths of Makai's Hell Fire, threatening whatever scheme he knew Keishou was up to. Keishou just smiled at the fire youkai and returned his eyes to the skies.

After the meteor shower we all went inside and said our goodnights. I went into my quiet room and closed the door behind me. I had requested a room for myself so I could get all the sleep I needed for the next day since I knew once the tournament started, sleep was going to be my last priority. I collapsed onto the bedmat on the floor and wrapped myself in my blankets. After I had fallen asleep the nightmare began. I was in a pitch black room with no one else near me. And it was only a few seconds later that it got worse...

"...just killed me again..." I heard Hiei's voice echo. "...killed me again..."

"No, stop it!"

"KILLED ME!" the voice echoed again. Right then, before me, I saw myself killing Hiei for a second time, but this time with pure relentlessness. I murdered him in cold-blood, right in the center of a very large arena.

My eyes shot open as I sat up in a cold sweat. I shivered, "It was just a dream, Hiei's still alive..."

There was a knock at the door and Kurama entered the room, "I was worried, you've been acting weird since earlier today." He walked over and knelt down beside me, "Are you okay?"

I looked up at him, tears streaking down my cheeks, "No, I'm not..."

"What's wrong?"

"I killed Hiei again, in my dream."

"That's all it was, Stephanie, it was just a dream," Kurama said attempting to comfort me.

I threw my arms around Kurama and buried my head into his chest. His eyes grew wide from my doing so. "I wish I could believe you, I really do, but I just can't!" I sobbed, "I'm so afraid of what I'm going to do during the Dark Tournament. I seriously believe that I'm going to end up killing our entire team plus everyone else there."

Kurama remained kneeling as he hugged me slightly in another attempt to comfort me, "I won't let anything bad happen again, I promise, Stephanie. Hiei and I aren't going to let you get out of control like you did last time."

"You can't stop me, Kurama, you know that," I cried, "My powers are just too strong..." There was another knock at the door and the two of us stood up. "Come in."

Keishou opened the door and walked in, "Is this bad time?"

I wiped my tears and shook my head, "No, it's not, what do you want?"

"I felt your powers skyrocket, I wanted to know what happened."

"I'm okay, I just had a nightmare."

Keishou's gaze went back and forth from Kurama to me for a few seconds and then he sighed, "Alright, get some rest, everyone needs to be at full strength tomorrow for the start of the tournament."

I smiled, "Okay and thank you. Good night, Keishou."

"Good night, Stephanie, Kurama," Keishou said walking out of the room.

I then turned to Kurama, "Keishou's right, we need to get some sleep."

"I guess," he nodded walking towards the door, "Good night, Stephanie."

The next morning I woke up as soon as dawn had shone a pinch of light on our city. I changed into my martial arts uniform, which was like my practice uniform except blue pants with a matching tanktop. I sighed as I debated on what to do until everyone was up and ready to go. There was a knock and Yusuke opened the door, "Stephanie, can I speak to you for a second?"

I nodded, "Sure."

"I want you to know that I'm not going to be at the Tournament."

"I know, you have a responsibility here. Besides, I think with Botan, Yukina, Koenma, and Ogre there to root us on, we'll be okay."

"Just promise me something? Never forget what I'm about to tell you. No matter how hopeless your fight may seem, there is always a reason for you to fight. People like us are born to fight, and trust me, it never leaves your blood. Kuwabara and I are still fighters at heart and we always will be. Watch over everyone for us, and be careful."

I grinned and gave him a thumbs up, "Always."

"Well, come on, let's go get breakfast for everyone." I nodded and followed Yusuke out of my room and downtown. We arrived at his Noodle Shop and went inside. Together the two of us cooked and prepared a healthy, yet filling, breakfast for everyone back at Genkai's. After the sun had rose we headed back out carrying all of the food in packages.

Upon re-arriving at Genkai's we were met by Keiko, "I figured you went to the shop. Well, come on, everyone's awake." Yusuke and I followed her into the room where we had our meals and we set up everything.

I then ran outside and opened my Jagan eye, "Come and get breakfast everyone!" Right after I said that I could hear everyone running towards the hot meal and me. After breakfast we all headed to the barrier and said our good-byes. Our team, along with Yukina and Botan, crossed the barrier and headed for our destination.

When we reached Dark Tournament arena we met up with Koenma, in his elder form, and Ogre. "So, it seems as if you have all appeared in top condition and on time," Koenma said looking at all of us, "I wish the nine of you the best of luck, and Stephanie, be careful. My father is watching this tournament to see just how well you have improved yourself."

"Gramps is watching too, huh? I better not let him down, if I do he might take back my life," I laughed.

"It's not a laughing matter, he's watching to see if you lose control during your fights, and if so he is going to withdraw his contract and you will lose your life."

"Oh..."

"Koenma, Sir, the team needs to get to the arena, they just announced that Team Kouken Gurentai is in the first round!" Ogre exclaimed. Our team entered the coliseum and headed straight for the arena floor. Botan and Yukina broke off from us to go sit in the audience until they were needed. We continued on until we were stopped by guards blocking the way to the arena.

"State team name and decide your first five fighters and four back up fighters," one guard said to us.

"We are Team Kouken Gurentai," I said turning to my teammates, "So, who wants the first batch?"

"I'm out," Hiei said quickly, "I don't want to fight until I'm needed."

"I'll fight, without a doubt," Keishou grinned happily, "And I think it should be a rule of our Team that we don't kill unless we absolutely need to." All of us, except Hiei, then agreed to the rule. Everyone looked at Hiei.

"What are you all looking at me for, I'm not going to do anything that will get me in trouble with Chief."

I growled and turned to the Masters and the Guardians, "Fine, now Keishou's fighting, Three-Eye's not, what about you guys?"

"I will," Rinku nodded as Kurama just shook his head.

"Alright, I guess," Jin agreed.

"I don't think so, I'm saving my strength for later," Touya said.

"Alright, then I guess it's up to us now," I said to Tyler and Tiffany, "You two wanna fight?"

They looked at one another and then at me, "Oh yeah!"

I nodded and turned back towards the guards, "We have chosen our opening team. Keishou, the Elemental Youkai; Rinku, the Basic Youkai; Jin, the Wind Master; Tyler, the Urufu Youkai; and Tiffany, the Neko Youkai." The left guard nodded as he inputted the information into the computer and then set the last four of us as reserves.

The right guard moved out of the way, "Reserve party members take the stairs on the left that are right before the entrance to the arena field, they'll take you to the front row bleachers so you can watch the fight. The rest of you continue out onto the field and prepare for battle." We all nodded and walked down the black hallway. Soon enough we were almost to the exit and I heard one of the same guard yelling at us, "Go upstairs, Reserves!" I waived him off and we stopped at the same time.

"Hello, faithful tournament fans! I am Shanie, the referee for this year's Dark Tournament elimination rounds! And now, introducing this tournament's special guests, Team Kouken Gurentai! The Team is made up of all kinds of demons and most of all, five of them are all returning contestants from the last Dark Tournament!" Shanie exclaimed as we all walked out in a line, side by side. Myself and the other reserve fighters stopped and the others took a few more steps forward. They turned to us and nodded so we all jumped up into the stands and took our seats as the guards ran out onto the field. They looked up into the bleachers and I grinned at them. The two of them left the field as our five fighters continued on to the ring and joined Shanie.

"Good luck, guys," I said as Shanie prepared the next introduction.

"Our next team is none other than Team Kerionae. This team has a very high reputation throughout the Makai for being ruthless killers that don't stop for anyone." The opposing team walked out and joined my team on the stage. "Team Leaders step forward."

Keishou and a girl walked forward. "So now they're sending girls to do the job?"

"I wouldn't be talking, rumor has it your team's leader is one of the two girls on your team. But my senses are deceiving me, I sense the blood of humans. Those two on your team and that other girl in the stands, their blood is that of ningens," the girl stated looking from Tyler and Tiffany to me.

Shanie butted in, "Marianu and Keishou, you each get to choose a rule to apply to your matches. Our rules state the team that wins three out of five of the battles shall win the match."

"I say no time limit or disqualification on leaving the ring, as long as the battle remains in the arena field's vicinity, by all means, fight till your heart's content," Keishou added his rule.

"And ours is giving up during a battle nor knockouts are allowed as a loss, for it's kill or be killed against our team," Marianu snickered.

"The rules have been set, now let the battles begin!" Shanie exclaimed.

Rinku walked up, "I'm going first! My new found abilities are waiting to be brought out in a real battle!" Keishou and the rest of my team jumped off the stage.

A young girl walked up beside Marianu, "I shall go first against him." Marianu nodded and jumped off the stage with her team in tow. "I'm not waiting for any formal announcements!" the girl exclaimed as she disappeared. Rinku didn't wait either before he vanished as well. Within a few seconds they both reappeared, each bleeding from their faces. I figured they had each punched one another really fast and really hard to cause such a wound on each other.

Rinku was the one who didn't wait for introductions this round. He reached into the bag that he carried around and pulled out a top, "Python Twister!" The top shot out of his hand and landed on the ground as it began to spin very quickly, causing a twister to grow and rush around the ring. The young girl jumped to the side and dodged it but Rinku pulled his hand back towards him and the twister changed its course, heading straight for the girl once again.

She didn't dodge the attack this time, "Fire of Darkness!" All around her fire appeared and when the twister hit it the fire was sucked up inside. The twister changed colors from white to black allowing the girl to take control of the battle. She threw her arms out and the twister of fire raced right at the stunned Rinku. When Rinku was hit I saw Tiffany look away as everyone else blocked themselves from the fire and wind that rushed off the arena. When the dust had cleared Rinku was no where to be seen. Finally he was spotted beside the concerned Tiffany.

"Are you alright?" Tiffany asked.

"Fine," Rinku nodded, "Viper Curative..." His body began to glow as it began self-healing with the help of his second new attack. The girl just stood watching on the arena floor.

"Don't wait for him to heal, Saikio, defeat him now!" a fellow team mate exclaimed to the girl.

She nodded and raced towards the still healing Rinku, "Inferno Chain!"

"I don't think so, Boa Constriction!" Rinku yelled as his yo-yos shot out of his bag and entangled the girl within their strings, canceling her attack. Rinku stood after he was healed and ran straight at the girl, "Cobra Strike!" By where we were sitting and by what I saw, a King Cobra came from within his body and bit into Saikio, pumping its poison toxins into her veins. The yo-yos released her and returned to their place in Rinku's bag, as did his singed top. He walked over to her as she laid on the ground, gasping for breath, "I'm sorry, but by what Marianu said, kill or be killed. Feel lucky you were poisoned by a snake other than another animal." Saikio smiled and gave him a thumbs up as her eyes closed and Rinku was proclaimed the winner.

Rinku jumped off the arena and sat down next to Tiffany. "I'm up next," another girl said jumping onto the stage. Everyone looked over at Jin who was jumping in place.

"If you're that anxious to fight then by all means, go right ahead," Keishou said to him. Jin nodded and jumped onto the arena in front of the girl.

"And for the second battle of this match, Team Kouken Gurentai's Jin against Team Kerionae's Lastina. Fight!" Shanie exclaimed as the two fighters took off into the sky.

"Here I thought I was the only one able to fly in this match!" Jin laughed.

Lastina's eyes narrowed, "Sorry to disappoint you, Wind Master, but this battle is already over."

I instantly knew what Jin was going to do next, "Junsai!" My water shield created a cylinder shield that entrapped Jin and Lastina within the battle stage's area.

"You're right, and I win! Hurricane Blaster!" Jin attacked.

"Light Shield!" Lastina yelled blocking herself from the attack. My shield dropped as Jin's hurricane disintegrated. Hiei looked at me and I smiled slightly as I leaned over onto his shoulder and fell asleep.

"That shield took a lot of energy out of her because she had to make it powerful enough to last through his prolonged attack. She did it to protect everyone who would have been killed by it, for there are plenty of demons here who couldn't of withstood that attack," Kurama said as Lastina's shield dropped as well.

"It's my turn, and as you can see, my dear Jin, you're the only one who's soaking wet! Now, Storm of Lightning!" Her attack enveloped the drenched demon and sent him flying into the arena field, right in front of us.

"Lastina is the winner!" Shanie called. My eyes shot open but there was no life in them, and I had no clue as of what I was doing. I held my hand out and a burst of wind and water struck Lastina, then it enveloped Jin within itself. Everyone watched in awe, and Lastina in hatred, as the wind and water stopped swirling and took shape as Kamikaze, Jin's spirit beast. The little Jin in a tornado smiled brightly as Jin's eyes opened and he blinked a few times.

Jin looked at Kamikaze, "Thank you, little buddy." Kamikaze laughed and mobbed Jin. My eyes closed once again and I fell back to Hiei's shoulder as if nothing had happened.

"It seems as if our leader's powers are progressing even more so than we all believed, more than even I believed," Keishou thought to himself, seeing what had just happened.

Jin flew back over and landed next to Tyler, "Sorry that I'm not dead Lastina, good thing I have him here watching over me. Well, him and the Leader."

"Get in there and finish the job!" Marianu exclaimed

"I was already proclaimed the winner of the battle, why bother?"

"You dare defy me? We all agreed when entering this tournament to take no prisoners, now kill him!"

Jin readied himself just in case Lastina came after him but, yet again, she disagreed. "No, I'm not going to kill him! I may have killed many in the past, but he is worthy of life. He put up a fight that no else has against me."

"Fine, then you're done with!" Marianu laughed, "Denkou Kyuusei!" Lastina's expression changed to that of horror as she was enveloped in lightning. When the lightning disappeared, her body fell to the ground, lifeless. "You forgot I hold your lives in my hands. Now, do either of you want to go against me?" The other two girls shook their heads as my team looked on in disbelief.

Author's note

Small One, I (feminine) promise that I (fem.) will absolutely not harm you (fem.) in anyway, shape, or form.