Part 17
"Why are you so concerned about her? The Hiei I know would have blown everyone off a long time ago. Is it that you feel compassion towards her! Our dear Princess Stephanie, the last of her royal bloodline..."
"Shuttup, Keishou!"
"And if she is then that means you cannot even come close to being with her, only someone of my status can meet her royal needs! I am royalty just as she, my dear Jaganshi! I am the son of Iroaku, the only blood of my family that remains!" Aisoku exclaimed, "By the way, I am not Keishou Naishin, my true name is Aisoku!"
"I knew it!" Hiei yelled, "All you want from her is her power! With her you could rule all of Makai!"
"Not just Makai, Jaganshi, I could rule the four worlds combined!"
"I'll kill you before you even get your corrupted hands on her!"
Aisoku laughed, "Like you stand a chance against me!"
Hiei tore off his head band and his Jagan eye flared at Aisoku. He then pulled off his cloak, revealing the Kokuryuhaa that rested upon his arm, "Dragon of the Darkness Flame, merge with Goukaryuu!" The Kokuryuhaa burst forth from its resting place and enveloped Hiei's spirit beast. Goukaryuu grew into a large black dragon that resembled the Kokuryuhaa. Hiei then transformed into his youkai form which turned him green and Jagan eyes appeared all over his body.
"Am I supposed to be intimidated?"
"You should be!" Hiei exclaimed as he and Goukaryuu both rushed at Aisoku.
A roar was heard from over the plains of Makai and finally from the haze appeared a white being running on the ground and black being in the sky. The three turned towards the figures as the Tora Hino Shiro and the Youso Kokuryuhaa appeared before them. I jumped off the back of the Youso Kokuryuhaa and glided down to the ground.
"Stephanie!" Hiei exclaimed. My gaze upon them remained blank as Aisoku walked over to me.
"No, Hiei, this is Izanami."
My eyes flared as my whole body became encased in spirit energy. I pointed at Goukaryuu and the Tora Hino Shiro ran at him. Right as my tiger reached him, he jumped and his light entangled Goukaryuu. The Kokuryuhaa was forced from Goukaryuu and the dragon returned to Hiei's arm. The little spirit beast had returned to his normal size and hid behind Hiei. I then pointed at Hiei and my Youso Kokuryuhaa began to envelop him.
"Stephanie, I know you're somewhere within that body; you can't be controlled like this!" Hiei screamed at me as my dragon continued to envelop him, "Stephanie...!"
From the darkest portion of my mind I heard Hiei's screams at me. I stood up, "Hi-ei...? Hiei!"
"Stephanie, it's really you!"
"Hiei, what is it?"
"You've lost control! Aisoku has released your demonic powers!"
"What did he call me?" I asked.
"What does that have to do with this!"
"WHAT DID HE CALL ME, HIEI!"
"H-he called you Izanami."
"Izanami..." I whispered.
"Yes, that is who you are," Aisoku laughed as Hiei was finally completely enveloped by the Youso Kokuryuhaa. Goukaryuu fell to the ground unconscious as Tyler, Tiffany, and the rest of our friends appeared.
"This is going to be fun!" Tyler laughed.
"Stay out of it!" I snapped at them all and turned my attention back to Aisoku, "My bloodline is not one to be messed with, Aisoku. I am not who you think I am. The powers you see before you are not mine."
"What are you talking about!"
"Guess you haven't done all your homework, huh, Aisoku?" My Jagan Eye closed and the Tora Hino Shiro and Kokuryuhaa disappeared instantly. Hiei's unconscious body fell to the ground and changed back in his normal form.
"Hiei..." Yukina whispered seeing him.
"What are you doing!" Aisoku exclaimed at me.
"I'm taking back control! Elemental Amalgamation!" I exclaimed as my heart stopped and my whole body went numb. Every single organ within my body went into suspended animation as the true transformation began. I began to bleed from my nose, ears, mouth, and eyes as my human blood began to drain from my body. It stopped after enough of it had drained and my demonic blood be gan to fester inside me. It didn't take long for the blood to finish it's takeover and for the next change to begin. My ponytail grew, as did my bangs, and my hair color changed to blue with black streaks, my eyes changed from hazel to red as Izanami's blood and her consciousness were finally reunited. My wings were the last thing to grow and change as Izanami was now in full control.
"Wow..." Tiffany trailed off, "Izanami..."
"Kouken Gurentai, take Goukaryuu and Hiei and get yourselves out of here right now." My friends all nodded as Kurama took Hiei and Yukina grabbed up Goukaryuu.
"I'm not letting them escape! They are dead, they are all dead!" Aisoku screamed as he began to gather his spirit energy, "Elemental Manifestation!" Aisoku went through the same transformation I had just gone through. Within seconds, Aisoku was truly reborn into his body, and his full demonic powers were awakened. "Demonic Destroyer!"
"Shield of Metal!"
A metal shield appeared and completely enveloped Kouken Gurentai from the Demonic Destroyer of Aisoku, which would have ended all their lives. Once the wave of destructive spirit energy was gone, the shield dropped and everyone was looking around for the caster.
"Looks like the guy that beat Marianu had even more in him than he led us to believe..."
"That's a voice I recognize," Jin stated quickly.
"And one you should, Jin!" Lastina beamed, a bright smile spread across her face. Saikio grinned from where she stood next to Lastina. Valarie and Raselli stepped out from behind them and smiled as well.
"This is one battle you're not going to fight alone! We're here to help all of you, as you all helped us realize we have more to live for than killing. Thanks much," Raselli told everyone.
"Yeah, now let's get those two out of here safe and sound!" Valarie agreed as she shouted her command. Everyone on Kouken Gurentai nodded and they began their retreat.
"No, you don't! Demonic Blaster!"
"Monsoon of Water!" Valarie screamed, stopping Aisoku's attack and soaking the unexpected demon in water.
Lastina moved in front of everyone, "Now my turn! Storm of Lightning!" Aisoku was definitely electrocuted, but because of his demon power, it didn't affect him as it would a normal demon, or even a high powered demon.
"And how 'bout a Comet of Earth!" Raselli finished the onslaught and brought down a very large comet, "Let's go! My comet won't hold him for long because he's way stronger than I am."
"Right," everyone agreed once more as they began to retreat for the barrier to Ningenkai. I stood my ground and waited for the moment that Aisoku would burst forth from underneath the comet, but it never came. I knew I could still feel his spirit energy pulsating, but it took me awhile to realize where it was actually coming from. It was moving underground, it was heading to intercept my fellow demons at the invisible border. I turned and flew as fast as I could to catch up with my friends.
Right as I reached them I saw Aisoku spring forth from the ground. I tackled him and used a bunch of my spirit energy to hold him down. I turned to the demons, "Cross over the barrier, now!"
Touya looked at me with his usual cold eyes, "What about you, Izanami?"
"What happens to me does not matter. You are all my friends, but most of all you are my family. You have cared for me and watched out for me, risking yourself numerous times. This time, your lives come before mine. I am going to finish this battle once and for all, with my own hands, with my own powers," I told them as I could feel my spirit hold weakening, "Now go!"
In the Spirit World, Koenma opened the barrier and Touya crossed over first. Then followed Kurama and Yukina with Hiei and Goukaryuu. Soon after, the rest of them crossed the barrier. The last to cross were Tyler and Tiffany. Tyler's eyes fell to the ground and he crossed without a word to me, but Tiffany couldn't go silently, as usual.
"Izanami, watch over Stephanie...and come home safe."
I smiled and nodded, "I will, and thank you for everything, Tiffany. Now, please, go." She smiled back and finally left Makai. Koenma closed the barrier just as Aisoku broke free from my hold.
"You may have let them escape, but you will not be keeping your promise!"
"I beg to differ, Aisoku! I will finish you once and for all. You and your blood thirsty, power hungry bloodline will perish from the four worlds today... Kyuukyoku Yousotachi!" I cried as I forged my clan's ultimate weapon from the very depths of our bloodline. It was the most powerful Ultimate Element Sword I had ever forged, but I knew it to still be not enough to defeat Aisoku. Maybe fend him off, but not beat him.
My Elemental Demon ancestors would never allow one such as Aisoku to wield such a sword, but his demonic ways and his ability to hack into people's minds allowed him to copy my sword. It wasn't as powerful, but it was still of all the elements. He rushed at me and I took off into the air. Within seconds he met me in the sky and the battle for my ancestors' and family's honor, began. Aisoku met me sword to sword, blade to blade, element to element. He wasn't weakening, just like Marianu in their battle so long ago, he just wasn't getting any weaker. I figured he had stolen the technique from her after defeating her in the ring. I was caught off guard from being in my thoughts and plummeted towards the ground, a large gash in my left shoulder.
I hit the ground fast and hard, bouncing off of it because of the impact. Pain shot throughout my already weakening body. With an open wound Aisoku could easily steal my energy, so I had to close it. I created a fire ball and placed my hand on the open wound, sterilizing and shutting the wound. I jumped back up and saw my sword begin to weaken like I had. "Dammit..."
"Seems as if I will have my way after all! Once I defeat you and your stubborn personality, I will be able to use your power to control the four worlds of the universe! The Spirit, Living, Demon, and Under Worlds will be mine!" Aisoku cracked happily.
After Tiffany crossed the barrier into the Living World, she and the others went to Genkai's Temple to take care of the injured and meet up with Genkai, Yusuke, Keiko, Hinageshi, Kuwabara, and everybody else that we had befriended along the way. Genkai already had a room waiting for them when they arrived. Kurama and Yukina went into the room and placed Hiei and Goukaryuu into the two beds that were laid out. Then, Yukina began to heal them the best she could. Kamikaze zoomed into the room with Puu waddling along the ground and they stared helplessly at their fallen friend.
Outside, in the courtyard that was in the center of the temple, stood everyone else that wasn't helping Yukina take care of the injured. Which happened to be everyone but Botan, Hinageshi, Genkai, and Keiko. "I thought you four were killed during the Dark Tournament, how in the hell are you alive?" Touya asked, "And what happened to the two of your powers?"
"Figured one of you'd ask as much," Saikio sighed, "When we were killed during the Dark Tournament we were instantly taken before King Yama. Come to find out, we are the protectors of Makai's Ancient Demon Clans' gravesites. Marianu had taken each of us and manipulated us into her death machines."
Lastina nodded, "Yeah, and because of our past lives and what we were really supposed to be, King Yama granted us our lives back. But we had to be able to hatch Spirit Beasts, like all must do to regain their lives. Well, our Spirit Beasts hatched and acted as the bridge, themselves, to take us back to our bodies. That is why you do not see them, they are inside of us."
"Once we were back in our bodies we were brought here by Hinageshi to train under Genkai while you all remained at the tournament and went onto victory," Raselli added, "Since then we've traveled all over Makai training ourselves to be even more powerful than before."
"And for the difference in mine and Saikio's powers. The reason for the change was because, you, Touya are already an Ice Master, so I needed a different Mastery. Saikio's Mastery was already taken as well by the Fire Demon, Hiei. We each picked the elements that related to our Masteries, which are Ice to Water, Fire to Metal," Valarie finished.
"Alright, enough catching up," Kurama said assertively, "We have more important things to deal with, like the battle going on in Makai."
"It's not good..." Tiffany whispered, "I can feel it in my gut, Izanami isn't doing so good. She's loosing major energy from wounds...and I'm getting the feeling Aisoku is draining Izanami of her energy."
"It was one of Marianu's best abilities," Raselli said to everyone, "He must have taken it from her."
"We have to do something," Tyler sighed, "If we don't help Izanami soon, she and Stephanie will no longer remain in this world...or any world for that matter." Everyone's eyes fell to the ground, knowing what he said was true. Their time was limited, very limited.
"What can we do?" Tiffany asked, worried.
"I don't know, but I know who does..." Rinku said looking at her.
"Who?" Yusuke asked.
Tyler walked over to Tiffany and looked at everyone, "Us." He then turned to Tiffany, "We have to evoke the powers of our ancestors, Tiffany. Without their strength, Izanami's power is unbalanced."
"--uhh...?" Tiffany was speechless, she had never heard Tyler speak so recklessly. She had never heard him say something so--so smart. She knew he was a brainiac, but this was freaking her out. Then it hit her, Tiffany knew what he said to be true, Semai Wan ensured her it was. She nodded, "Let's do this! Feline Mutation!"
Tyler nodded, "Canine Evolution!"
As soon as they said those words, both of their hearts stopped and their organs shut down as the evokements for Semai Wan and Muteki to come forth began. Once their bodies went numb, they began to bleed from their noses, ears, mouths, and eyes as their own human blood drained from their bodies. Once enough blood had drained their ancient wolf and cat demon bloods began to spawn inside of them. When the blood finished the takeover, the next changes began. Their ears moved to the tops of their heads as their senses all enhanced. Their tails sprout forth from their bodies as they both grew claws, sharp as broken glass. Tyler's blond hair grew out and down to the bottom of his chin as it changed to white with brown tips, while Tiffany's hair grew down to the bottom of her back and braided itself. It stayed its natural dark brown, but streaks of light brown shot through it. Tyler's eyes changed to bright blue as Tiffany's changed to a yellow-green. Finally, Semai Wan and Muteki were finally reunited with their own blood, as I had been with mine earlier.
"Wow..." was all that Raselli was able to peep out, while everyone else remained silent at the sight of their team mates' transformations.
"We have got to send Izanami our powers!" Semai Wan exclaimed to them.
"The eleven of us fighters each have an element, something that we're masters of either through blood or training. Eleven elements to boost Izanami's power with! We can use our spirits to create solid spirit swords of those eleven elements, like Stephanie does when she battles," Muteki explained. The eight demons agreed, though nobody thought about the missing element of fire, which would have to come from the unconscious fire demon.
Rinku stepped forward as he began to gather his basic demon spirit energy, "Kisotekimi..."
"Yamimi..." Muteki said as he began gathering his dark energy.
Raselli's earth energy began forming a earth sword as she fueled her energy into it, "Chikyuumi..."
From inside the room where they lay, Hiei and Goukaryuu began to gather fire energy, even though they still remained unconscious. Without warning, Hiei slipped out, "Himi..." as his power continued to collect.
Touya started gathering his ice energy, "Koorimi..."
"Hikarimi..." Semai Wan stated as she began her formation of a light sword and her gathering of her light energy.
"Denkoumi..." Lastina said as she forged a lighting sword with the lightning energy she was gathering.
Saikio's metal energy burst forth and created a pure metal energy sword, "Kinzokumi..."
Kurama pulled out a rose and began to fester his nature energy into it, transforming it into a sword, "Daishizenmi..."
Jin and Kamikaze, from inside the room, put their minds together and began gathering wind energy, "Kazemi..."
"Mizumi..." Valarie completed as the eleven of them held their swords close to them as they continued to pump them full of their spare spirit energy. Within minutes their swords were glowing brightly, and they transformed into bigger, more powerful elemental based swords. Then, everyone of them pointed their swords towards the center of them all. There was a flash as their swords returned to pure energy and shot into one large ball of living spirit energy. To everyone's surprise, from inside the room where Hiei and Goukaryuu laid, the last blast of energy shot out and joined the ball.
"This is it," Muteki said to everyone, "Let's finish this once and for all!"
Everyone concentrated on my specific spirit energy, "Tamashii Sakuretsu!" With Tyler's technique of Spirit Explosion they shot the giant spirit energy ball towards Makai to help me.
Aisoku walked towards me as I laid on the ground, unconscious from my drained energy. My sword was gone and I was defenseless. He went to reach for me but was stopped by a sick feeling in his stomach. He looked up and saw the large ball of spirit energy falling towards us from the sky. Aisoku jumped out of the way as it crashed onto my body. The ball of spirit energy picked me up inside of it and began to heal all my wounds. It then began to reenergize me with spirit energy when my life was stabilized. My eyes shot open and I saw all eleven of my friends standing around me, plus Muteki and Semai Wan.
"Izanami, you can do it!" Tiffany laughed as Semai Wan placed her hand on Tiffany's shoulder.
"Never give up on yourself, we haven't," Tyler said as Muteki leaned against him like a leaning post.
"Don't give up hope," Rinku smiled.
Raselli, Lastina, Saikio, and Valarie were gathered together, "Smile brightly, and beat that jerk-faced demon into oblivion!"
"You fought along side us to win the Dark Tournament as our leader and friend, I expect you to be there to fight with us in the next one," Touya grinned. Although it was faint and quick, I could of swore I saw a small softness in his eyes too.
"Izanami, Stephanie, the both of you have come such long ways with your powers, you cannot lose now," Kurama stated.
"I want you to know that I'm glad I met you, you've changed my life a lot, and for that I thank ya!" Jin told me.
Lastly, even though Hiei was floating before me unconscious, I heard his thoughts, "Izanami, beat Aisoku...show him what happens when you mess with the Spirit Detective, and with our friend. Oh, and to Stephanie, thank you, for everything."
"Mmhm," I nodded to everyone, "And I thank you all for everything you've shown and given me. Before I was reawakened I only knew part of what Stephanie did, but now I know that you all really care for her and for one another. I won't let you guys down, I won't let my family and ancestors down either. This battle is mine!" The spirit ball exploded and came together before me as a large, and even more powerful, ultimate elemental sword. I reached out and rapped my hand around the hilt, and its light once again surrounded me, "Aisoku, your time in these worlds is up! I call upon the powers of basic, dark, earth, fire, ice, light, lightning, metal, nature, wind, and water demons everywhere! Hear me, our worlds and our lives are all in danger; please, lend me your powers!"
Demons all over the Reikai, Ningenkai, Makai, and Meikai heard my call, and even those of whom had bad run-ins with Stephanie focused everything they had together. The light surrounding me and the sword grew brighter and brighter as demon after demon sent more and more power to me. I focused a bunch of the energy and my Jagan eye burst open, "I call upon Goukaryuu, the Kokuryuhaa, and the Youso Kokuryuhaa! Kamikaze and Tora Hino Shiro, you come forth as well!"
Goukaryuu and Kamikaze both disappeared from beside Hiei as the Kokuryuhaa burst forth from Hiei's arm. The three reappeared beside me as my two guardians appeared from my arms. "Gouka, Koku, Youso, unite as one! Kamikaze and Tora, you as well! Become the Ultimate Guardian Black Dragon and the Ultimate Guardian White Tiger!" The three and the two began to glow as they all forged together into the two ultimate beasts that ruled over Makai.
"Izanami, Shirotora, let's go!" Kuroiryuu, or Black Dragon, yelled as he went first and ensnared Aisoku within himself. Shirotora, the White Tiger, ran at Kuroiryuu as I jumped onto his back. Right before we reached him, Shirotora stopped and I flew forward like a rocket. When I reached Kuroiryuu, I thrust the ultimate sword straight ahead. He released Aisoku just in time for my sword to miss him and pierce the cold heart inside the emotionless demon. Aisoku let out a blood curdling scream as the powers of my ancestors, my friends, and the demons from all four worlds exploded inside of him, ending his life. I fell to the ground and smiled, finally seeing his demise; just as Stephanie did when she defeated his father, Iroaku. Then, the last thing I remember is Kuroiryuu and Shirotora's shouts as everything went black.
When I awoke I was laying beside the still bodies of Kuroiryuu and Shirotora. I tried to use the bit of gathered energy I had to disperse their transformations, but to no avail. I passed back out before it could even commence. The next time I began to come around, I was being carried by someone. My eyes fluttered open and as they started to adjust I saw blue hair with green bangs and blue eyes.
"T-Touya?"
"You're finally awake, I see. Do you think you can stand?"
"I can try," I said as he set me on my feet, keeping a hold of me just in case. When my eyes had fully adjusted I saw all of my friends, including the Black Dragon and White Tiger, who seemed to be fairing better than I. "Where are we?"
"In Makai," Kurama answered.
"What happened?"
"After you toasted Aisoku you fell unconscious, we weren't able to get through the barrier until awhile ago when Koenma finally felt it safe to reopen it for us. When we found you, these two were carrying you. Touya took you from them so they could rest their strength," Rinku told me.
I nodded and set my eyes upon Muteki and Semai Wan, "Thank you...no, thank all of you. If it wasn't for your bravery and strength, I would have never been able to defeat him. Well, you and the rest of the demons in the four worlds."
"I knew it, you evoked the powers of the demons from the Under World too!"
"Uh-huh, and every demon I reached sent me their powers. That is how those two were finally truly awakened," I said motioning towards Kuroiryuu and Shirotora.
"Actually, I'm not in my true form," Shirotora said, "But I'm close enough. I need one more fusion and I will be."
I snorted lightly and turned to Jin, "Jin, could you lend me a bit more of your strength?"
"Sure, but why?"
"So I can let the five of them rest."
He nodded, not exactly knowing what I meant. I took his hand and my Jagan eye flickered open. "Thank you, Kuroiryuu-tama and Shirotora-tama, you have been a great help to me, and I am glad to know you finally settled your differences."
"Thanks to you, Izanami," Shirotora said.
"We will be here if you ever need us again," Kuroiryuu stated as the two of them began to glow. Before everyone's eyes the Tora Hino Shiro burst forth from Shirotora's body, leaving Kamikaze, who seemed as hyper as ever. Then came Kuroiryuu's division as the Youso Kokuryuhaa came forth followed by the Kokuryuhaa, leaving a very groggy Goukaryuu. He looked around, then flew over and tackled someone hidden from my sight. Everyone moved out of the way to reveal Hiei holding the little Spirit Beast. I smiled, happy to see him alright. The Kokuryuhaa trailed up and rested upon Hiei's arm for a well deserved rest.
I turned to my two beasts of power, "Tora Hino Shiro, Youso Kokuryuhaa, you are free to go where you wish. I no longer control you, so you may roam Makai freely, without having to answer to my every beckoning call.." They both came over to me and nuzzled me.
"We choose to stay with you because you are our friend," the Tora Hino Shiro said as he ran back up my arm to his resting place, as did the Youso Kokuryuhaa. My Jagan eye closed and they disappeared within me.
"So, Izanami, what's your story?" Muteki asked me.
"It's a long story..."
"We've got the time," everyone said to me.
"I was in love with a human in my life before. I knew it was against the rules of the worlds', as did he. The night before I was to be named as the next ruler of my kingdom, I ran to a demon I knew could help me," I told all of them, "I went to a demon by the name of Cerinos, a powerful youkai in the magical field. He instantly knew what I wanted and told me that my powers would be reborn into a child of the future. I agreed, not taking any heed as to who it might be and my youkai powers were drained from my body..."
"There are two Princes and two Princesses which remain from Ancient Clans of demons that ruled in the world of Ancient Makai," Lastina explained.
"Who are they?" Rinku asked.
"People you know and love, Rinku, four demons that you are around every single day," I said very plainly.