Kouken Gurentai

by Noelani

This story is about a girl who has been named the new Spirit Detective. Like Yusuke she loves a good fight & she has demon heritage, but can she control it long enough to conquer it? With the help of 2 street kids & fellow youkai, we'll just have to see.

11. Part 11

Part 11

When we arrived back at the hotel, dinner was hours away, so I figured my team was probably in the room. I headed upstairs and Amanuma followed close behind me. When we finally arrived I opened the door and he followed me in. Everyone looked over at the two of us.

"Who's that?" Tyler questioned from where he sat on the chair.

"Oh, him? Just a friend of mine, I met him earlier during the tournament," I replied pointing to Amanuma in his cloak, "I know a few of you know who he is."

"You gotta name?" Hiei asked from the window.

I grinned and looked back at Amanuma. He nodded and removed the hood from his head and smiled, "Hello."

"Amanuma!" Kurama exclaimed.

"What are you doing here?" Botan asked him.

Hiei closed his eyes, "Hmf, shoulda figured."

"I'm here to watch the tournament."

"I invited him to stay with us as long as we're here," I replied putting my arm around his shoulders, "Besides, I think he and Tyler will get along pretty well."

"You're the Gamemaster, aren't you?" Tyler smirked.

Amanuma nodded, "Yeah, why, you like games?"

"You better believe it! I'm unstoppable at the arcade!"

"Heh, you'll have to be better than just at an arcade to beat me! I didn't get the nickname Gamemaster for nothing, you know!" Amanuma replied.

Tyler stood up and walked over to him, "And I didn't get the name Invincible for nothin' either!" They growled at one another.

"Alright, you two, break it up! If you wanna fight this out, take it to the security room, just don't get caught..." They both looked at one another and nodded as they ran out the door together. I shrugged, "That's Tyler for you."

"And Amanuma," Kurama smiled, "I'm glad he's okay."

"Yeah," I said walking over to where Hiei was resting, "He said that he only came here because he heard you were on a team, Kurama." I pushed Hiei out the window and peered down at him, "Have a nice fall, Jaganshi?"

He glared up at me, "I'll get you back for that, woman!"

I laughed, "Yeah, I know you will." Instantly I felt the same feeling I had felt earlier during the tournament. My eyes left Hiei and went to the forest that was outside. I stared deep into it before realizing what I had felt earlier wasn't something I should of just laughed off, it was Mr. Carewallen and other demon entities I recognized all too well, all of which were from his club. I figured the other demons were that of Team Mekyotai, Kyoni's team. I turned to my friends in the room, "I have to take off again, sorry..."

I jumped out of the window and over Hiei who was just standing up. I sped off deep into the forest, knowing that Team Mekyotai was there for the Dark Tournament, and hoping they were already disqualified. When I arrived at a safe distance where they couldn't sense me, I opened my Jagan eye and peered further into the forest, eventually seeing Mr. Carewallen with Kyoni and Taichi.

"...you can make her do it then?" Mr. Carewallen asked.

Taichi nodded, "My Mind Manipulation can make anyone who is an A-Class demon or below do what I want them to. If she even tries to resist she'll just be pulled further into my control."

"Good, and Kyoni, you have made sure that she doesn't know we're going to be in the semi-finals?"

"Yes, sir," Kyoni replied, "The way everything is going, if they win their semi-finals bout, as we are going to, we will meet them in the finals."

"Very good," Mr. Carewallen grinned widely, "Let's get back to the arena to see how the team is doing."

"They've probably already won," Taichi laughed as they started to walk towards me. I closed my eye instantly and ran back towards the hotel.

I spotted Hiei in the trees in front of me. As I raced past him I grabbed his hand, "Come on!"

"What are you doing!"

"Running!"

"Why?" he replied, pulling free from me.

I stopped and looked at him, "Please, Hiei, keep going. There's a team of participants in the Dark Tournament back there and I don't want you to meet up with them."

"You know who they are, don't you?"

"Yes, I do, now let's go!" He nodded and we took off, eventually ending up back at the hotel. We both jumped up and into the still open window. Everyone looked at us weirdly.

"What's going on?" Yukina asked us.

I closed the window and peered down towards the forest, "Nothing..."

"You're a horrible lier," Touya replied from where he stood across the room.

"Not usually," Tiffany grinned, "Usually she can out lie anyone."

"Thanks," I snorted sarcastically, "I feel so loved." I yawned and walked over to the door to Tiffany, Botan, Yukina, and my room, "I'm going to get some sleep before dinner. Oh yeah, by the way, I told Amanuma he could have your bed, Hiei. I figured you prefer the couch to the room anyway."

Hiei nodded, "Fine with me."

I smiled and opened the door, leaving everyone behind. I closed the door and walked over to my bed, falling down onto it. I rolled over and stared up at the ceiling, "Only two more teams to defeat and we'll win the Dark Tournament... I sure hope we're not getting in over our heads..." In the other room, Hiei heard me and smiled as he sat down in the chair Tyler had abandoned before we had run off into the forest.

I awoke later that night to find a plate of food sitting on the small table next to my bed. I sat up and grabbed it, noticing it was still warm. I ate the food quickly and then put the plate back, instantly passing back out.

Keishou walked into the room and took the plate. He smiled at me, "Get all the sleep you want, Princess, because after we win the Dark Tournament, you're going to help me regain what is truly mine." With that he closed my window, which I had left open, and left the room, returning to dinner.

Touya, who had been sitting right above my window the whole time, jumped down from where his spot, "I bet he didn't even realize I was there... I'd better let Hiei know what he said, since I promised I'd keep a watch for anything suspicious." He walked into the hotel and into the buffet room. Touya spotted Hiei at the table with everyone else and walked up behind him, "Hiei, I need to talk to you."

Hiei looked up at him and nodded, leaving his spot. They left the buffet hall and headed back towards our room. "Keishou left during dinner with a plate, he took it up to Stephanie most likely..." Hiei trailed off as he spotted Keishou heading their way. They passed him in silence and got into the elevator.

"Yeah, he did, and she finished it too. That's besides the point, I was on the roof above her room because her window was open, so I was making sure nobody tried anything, and I heard Keishou say something really peculiar," Touya told him as they arrived on our floor. They left the elevator and went into our room right down the hall.

"What did he say?" Hiei asked once they were inside.

"'Get all the sleep you want, Princess, because after we win the Dark Tournament, you're going to help me regain what is truly mine,'" Touya replied, "But that's all. I have no idea what he was talking about, but it can't be good."

"When it comes to Keishou, nothing is good," Hiei growled as he sat down on one of the couches, "I'm going to stay here and watch over her, you can go back downstairs and enjoy dinner."

"Alright, I'll see you later, Hiei," Touya nodded, leaving the fire youkai alone.

Hiei looked over at the door that lead to my room, "What in the hell is Keishou up to? I know he was at Iroaku's castle when we were there, but what was he doing there? He's hiding something from us all, and I don't like it..." He stood up and walked into my room, closing the door behind him. He went and sat down on Botan's bed, which was next to mine, "What does he want with her?"

I rolled over, still asleep, "Hiei...watch out."

"What?" he asked as he noticed a demon presence other than ours in the room. He jumped out of the way as club crashed into Botan's bed. He looked around, but the demon was no where to be seen, "Where in the hell did it go!"

"...behind you..." I whispered.

He turned around and saw the club heading straight for his head. He unsheathed his sword and sliced the air near the club. A demon appeared, howling as the club fell to the ground, the demon's hand still clutching it. Hiei growled and stabbed the demon through the chest. The demon howled again as he and his hand disappeared into thin air, leaving the club behind. Hiei looked over at me, "She's still asleep...how did she know what was going on?"

Early the next morning I woke up and noticed a large club at the end of my bed on the floor, "Where did that come from?" Out of the corner of my eye I saw Hiei leaning against the wall behind Botan's bed. I turned and smiled, "He must have been watching me all night. He deserves to rest..." I laid back down and went back to sleep instantly.

Later that day, around noon, I awoke to hear Kurama and Hiei in the other room talking. I stood up and walked to the door and listened to them.

"...that club, where'd you say it came from?" Kurama asked.

"A demon appeared in the room last night and tried to bash my head in with it. If it weren't for Stephanie, I would have had my skull cracked open."

"But I thought you said she slept through it?"

Hiei sighed, "That's what confuses me, she did, but she knew what was going on. I think Keishou put something in the dinner he brought up for her last night. I think that demon was supposed to kill her, but I was there so it came after me."

"Why would Keishou do something like that...?" I thought to myself, "Although that food did taste a little weird..." I opened the door and walked out, "Good morning! Where is everyone?"

"Around somewhere," Kurama replied, "Knowing them they're out causing trouble."

I smiled, "Thanks. I'm going to go get something to eat, I'm starving." I left the two of them in the room and headed to the elevator. I got in and as the doors were closing I heard a girl hell.

"Hold the elevator, please!" I put my hand in and the doors opened back up. She got in and smiled, "Thank you so much, I thought I was going to have to take the stairs."

I nodded, "No problem." I pushed the button to the main floor and the doors closed. I turned to her, "So, you a tournament viewer?"

"No, I'm actually on a team. My name's Rekenre, and I'm on Team Phitoran. We're fighting later in the tournament today to see if we're going to make it to the semi-finals tomorrow."

"Cool, well good luck. My team already made it to the semi-finals yesterday."

"Hey, I recognize you, you're the leader of Team Kouken Gurentai!"

I laughed and scratched my head, "Yeah, I'm surprised you knew that."

"Of course, I've seen all your matches. Your team is really amazing!" she grinned as the elevator doors opened and we walked out, "Anyway, maybe I'll see you in the finals!"

"I'll be looking forward to it!" I replied as we went out seperate ways. I walked into the buffet room to see demons and apparitions all sitting at the many tables. I went and made a sandwich and grabbed some fruits. I looked around and saw Ogre sitting at a table so I went and sat down across from him, "Hey, George."

He looked up from his plate, "Hello, Stephanie, what are you doing here?"

"Eating," I replied taking a bite of food, "Shoo, where shis Koenshma?"

"What?"

I swallowed and took a drink of my juice, "Sorry, where's Koenma?"

"Watching a team that is making him very angry. They're slaughtering their opponents without thought. Their name is Team Mekyotai."

"WHAT!" I shouted. Everyone in the room got quiet and looked at me. I slid down in my chair, "What did you say?"

Ogre looked at me weirdly, "No, wait, it was Team Metarino." I fell out of my seat. He stood up and looked at me on the floor, "Are you alright?"

"Grr..." I growled standing up and grabbing my plate and juice, "Next time make sure you say the right team!" I stormed off, leaving him confused.

"What was that about...?"

I walked outside and sighed, "That was not cool..." I looked around and saw a girl with wings on her back walk around a corner. I followed her because I had nothing else to do and for the fact that she intrigued me.

When I turned the corner she was standing there looking at me, "What do you want with me?" I lost myself in her eyes, she was so familiar to me. "I see... Come..." She turned and walked into the forest with me following in close pursuit. Eventually we came out on a small cliff, below of which there was a sea.

"What are we doing here?"

"You and I are not different from one another, Stephanie."

"Wha? How do you know my name?" I asked, looking at her.

She smiled slightly, "You randomly break out into formal speech, do you not?"

I nodded, "Yeah, I do, but how would you know something like that?"

"Because I am the reason for it. My name is Izanami, and I am the reason you have Elemental Youkai blood inside of you. I was once the Princess of the Ancient Elemental Demons who once ruled East Makai."

"So why do I have your bloodline in me?"

"I gave up my blood after falling in love with a human," she sighed, "I couldn't be with him unless I was human, and so I made the ultimate sacrifice. I want you to know, dear Stephanie, that I never wished any of this upon you, although I knew a child of your time would be born with my powers. If you ever need my help just say my name and I will come to your aide. Also, be careful, there are those out there who would use our blood to hurt and destroy all that you hold dear to your heart."

"I will, and thank you. I'm happy that you told me, and I know there are demons and humans who would gladly use my powers. We are the most powerful of all demons, having power over all the elements."

"Exactly," she replied, "I must go now. Once again, please be careful."

I nodded, "You can count on me!"

"I know I can," Izanami smiled brightly, "Good luck in the Dark Tournament!"

"Yeah!" I beamed as she disappeared. I turned back towards the sea and breathed deeply. I exhaled with a sigh, "This day is turning out to be more and more interesting by the minute..."

"Stephanie!" I looked up into the sky and saw Jin and Kamikaze fly down towards me. They hovered in front of me, "What is our leader doin' all the way out here? Donchu got better things to do?"

I shook my head, "Nope, it's just a day of rest and relaxation for me!"

"Do you want to go flyin' with us? It'll give you somethin' to do until dinner."

"Sure, sounds like fun," I agreed as I focused my spirit energy into my back. My wings burst forth for the first time in awhile. I rose up into the air and took off past the two of them, "Just try and keep up, you guys!"

"You can't get away from me that easily, Spirit Detective!" he laughed as he and Kamikaze went zooming past me. They slowed down as I glided down to the water and put my hand in it as I flew along the surface.

"It's so peaceful here... I guess Izanami really had a hard time making her decision over this beautiful world and her family or the guy she loved... I am glad she chose to give up her powers, though, because I wouldn't be who I am today without these powers...and I wouldn't have such wonderful friends."

Hiei and Kurama looked out over the water at me, Jin, and Kamikaze. "She is really something, isn't she?"

"What?" Hiei asked looking Kurama.

Kurama smiled, "She makes friends with humans and demons alike so easily. Not many can do such a thing. Yusuke is a good example of someone who takes awhile to get to like."

Hiei smirked, "I guess so. All I know is that she has definitely changed since I first met her at Iroaku's castle."

Tyler walked up with Amanuma, "I can support that comment. Before she became a Spirit Detective she was always with us, working, at school, or fighting with thugs. Now she's so much happier, of which I'm really glad for her."

"Me too," Tiffany smiled brightly as she, Rinku, and Touya appeared, "I've never seen her as happy as she is now."

Botan walked up beside them with Yukina, Puu, and Goukaryuu, "Well, she does have a dark past like most people we know. Growing up as an orphan took a toll on her heart, and it wasn't until the Toguro Brothers killed her that she realized there was better things she could be doing with her life besides running for the Black Market."

"I'm glad she took the job," Yukina nodded, "I really like her. She's sweethearted and cares for everyone."

I looked over at the growing group of our team on the cliff. I flew over to Puu and Gouka, "Come on, you two!" The two of them flew off the cliff and over to Kamikaze. I flew above Tiffany, "Give me your hands!"

She raised her hands and took mine, holding on tightly. I flew upwards and over the water with her hanging below. Tiffany looked up at me, "Drop me!"

"Alright!" I replied releasing her. She dropped and flipped, diving into the sea. Tiffany surfaced and I flew down and grabbed her hands again, taking her back up into the sky with me, "Wanna do it again!" She nodded and I let her fall once again into the cold waters. I flew over behind Rinku and shoved him over the edge. I laughed as he screamed all the way to the water.

Jin flew over next to me and our friends who were still on the cliff, "Okay, which one of you is next?"

"Yeah, come on, you chickens," I grinned widely, "It's just water."

Tyler walked backwards and than ran right at us, jumping down into the sea. Amanuma followed him in and Jin laughed, "Looks like we don't have to worry about those two, they're crazy enough."

"Yup!" Tyler yelled back up to him.

Botan grinned, "Well, why not? It'll be fun to just relax! Come on Yukina!"

"Um...are you sure, Botan?" Yukina asked her.

"If you want out just let Jin or me know," I smiled, giving her a thumbs up, "We'll get you out and back on the cliff."

She nodded as Botan summoned her oar. They both climbed on it and went out over the water. Jin and I turned to see them plunge into the cold sea. Botan looked at Yukina, "You ready?" Yukina nodded as Botan's oar disappeared and they both fell into the water, laughing.

I turned back to Touya, Kurama, and Hiei, "Well, you guys going in voluntarily, or do I have to throw you guys in?"

"You wouldn't dare..." Hiei trailed off.

I grinned as I disappeared. I reappeared behind him, "I pushed you out of a window, Hiei, I don't think pushing you off a cliff is going to be any harder!"

I shoved him forward and he turned around, grabbing my arm, "If I'm going in, then so are you!"

"What! Hiei!" I yelled as we fell towards the water. I banished my wings right as we hit the ocean. I surfaced and glared at Hiei, "That was cheap!"

"Hey, I told you I'd get you back for pushing me out that window!" he retorted.

I started laughing as I looked up and saw Jin behind Touya and Kurama, "Hey, guys, watch out behind you!"

They turned right as Jin thrust his hands forward, sending them both over the edge as well. The two of them splashed into the water and I laughed even harder. Jin grinned widely, "Look out below!" He flew straight down into the water, resurfacing by Touya, "That felt pretty good, now didn't it?"

"Shut up, Jin," Touya replied.

I swam over to Tiffany and jumped on her back, sending us both under the water. When we came back up she turned and grabbed my head, dunking me under. I pushed her away and swam away from the cliff and everyone. When I surfaced I put my hands on the sea and closed my eyes. Everyone turned towards me when they felt the sea rumble. Out of the water appeared a large ball of water with me on top of it. I grinned as I brought my wings back out and spun around, drying myself off. I then flicked my hand and sent the ball of water crashing down on my friends. When they all resurfaced, Touya created an ice platform so everyone could climb onto it. I flew down on it and dispersed my wings once again.

I walked over to the edge and used my own ice powers to create a slide, "Now this is going to be fun!" I climbed up the ladder and slid down the giant slide into the water. I resurfaced with a huge grin, "That was great!" Tiffany was the next to get on the slide. She slid down and splashed into the water next to me.

"Let's stay here all day!" she exclaimed happily.

"You bet!"

When the sun started to set, Hiei and I melted the slide and platform away and then Jin and I returned everyone to the cliff. We then headed back to the hotel, none of us taking the time to use our powers to dry ourselves off. Our group walked to the door by the bath house and hot spring area of the hotel. I looked back at everyone, "Okay, I don't know about you guys, but I'm going to go and take a nice warm bath..."

"Us too," everyone else replied as we all headed inside.

"Hello, I'm Rechenia," a girl demon smiled as we walked up to the front desk, "It looks like you had a lot of fun today. How can we help you?"

"We're Team Kouken Gurentai and we'd like baths please," I told her.

She nodded, "Okay, will the girls please follow me, and you guys can follow Dentio."

"Can these little guys come with us?" Tiffany asked, referring to the spirit beasts.

"Sure," Rechenia told us as we left the guys to go with Dentio. Rechenia lead us into a large room full of towels and booths. She handed us all towels, "You can go remove your wet clothing in the booths." We did as told and she took our clothes from us, "I'll have these cleaned and dried for when you are done. Now, follow me."

We once again followed her and she led us to bathing room. She opened the door and revealed a large room that was very beautifully decorated with a large steaming bath in the center. We all walked inside and over to the bath. I turned to her, "It's perfect."

"Thank you," she replied, "If you would like to also enjoy our hot springs, let me know and I will see if we have one open for you after your bath." We nodded and she left the room, closing the door behind her. We all took off our towels and climbed into the bath. Gouka, Kamikaze, and Puu all dived in happily.

After about an hour we were all pretty much clean and I decided that I'd like to take up Rechenia on her offer. "I think I'm going to go back to the room," Yukina told us.

"I'm going to go get some food," Tiffany replied.

"Looks like you're on your own," Botan said to me.

"Alright," I nodded as we all wrapped our towels around us and left the room. We walked down the hall and eventually saw her just letting some demons into another bathing room. "Hello, girls, did you have a nice bath?"

"Yes, we did, thank you," Yukina nodded.

"I'm glad, would you like your clothes?"

"Yes, please," Botan requested.

I shook my head, "Actually, Rechenia, I'd like to take you up on the hot spring offer, if you have a spring that's open."

She smiled, "Of course. Girls, go down the hall and take a left, you'll find a room with a girl named Serene. She'll have your clothes. Stephanie, follow me." We left my friends and the spirit beasts as I followed her down a few long halls before she lead me into an outdoor walkway. We continued into another building and saw a bunch of more rooms. "This is our hot spring building, we enclosed it to ensure that no one from the outside could come in and ruin the springs."

"That was a good idea," I said as Rechenia opened a door.

"Here you go, I hope you enjoy yourself," she told me as we walked in.

I turned and smiled, "I will, thank you." She closed the door and left me alone. I got into the hot springs and the stress melted away from me as I leaned against a rock, "Now this is the life..." I closed my eyes and drifted off into a light sleep.