Disclaimer: Yu Yu Hakusho is the property of Yoshihiro Togashi. This is a fan-fiction using pre-existing characters in a pre-existing world that is not of my original creation.
Loan Me Life
By Zelia Theb
Thread VIII
Yukina learned quickly. She already had some basic moves in, and Kurama was able to demonstrate ways to control her regular abilities into refinement. She was pleased; and more so when Kazuma would assist her. It was plainly obvious that the two had taken an immediate liking to each other; a fact that Hiei both loved and hated.
In fact, if they were to marry, then Yukina's children would be banished from their home. They would be just like him. Thankfully it could be to someone he knew and trusted, despite their many quarrels.
But that was too far into the future. The pressing issue was the first match. He had completely missed the opening announcements; which were eloquently spoken by the tournament's announcer and referee; the fuzzy-eared Koto.
The rules were simple, though. Kill or be killed; or at least knock your opponent to the floor or out of the arena for ten seconds. Yusuke was busy deciding the specifics of the match with the other team's captain; some blonde and pallid pyromancer that Hiei cared not to remember the name of.
"One on one, then," the soothing egotistical tone the other captain, Zeru, said.
"Fine," Yusuke huffed. The incessant howls and taunts of the crowd were more than irritating him at this point. He felt like shoving pins into his ear drums just to get rid of the din.
"Dimwit," Genkai blurted out beneath her breath.
"Ssszzzeeeeru," hissed a serpent-like member of the team, "Sssssshouldn't weeees rollssss the dicesssss?"
Zeru considered it for a moment before verifying Yusuke's affirmation of the set rules, and remarked, "Why yes, Pliskin (1)." Turning to Koto, he switched it up, eyeing Yusuke in an attempt to force the rule upon him whether he liked it or not, and stated, "We'd like to roll dice. Whatever names come up have to battle together."
"Hey!" burst Kuwabara, "That means one of us could end up fighting more than once!"
"Hn," replied Hiei, "Let's just hope that my name comes up all five times."
Yusuke smirked and nodded to the terms. Within seconds, Koto informed the crowd, which somehow figured out a way to get louder.
"Just roll the dice already!"
Clink, clink, clink.
"Okay, everyone! Time to get some blood spilling as Kurama and Pliskin enter the ring!"
Hiei was dozing off. This Pliskin was unskilled. How had it managed to get to the tournament anyway? Clearly Kurama was going to be the victor, as the demon apparently hadn't noticed that the redhead had already planted the infamous death seed within its scaly epidermis.
"Heh! Quits dansssssssing arounds! Humanssss...boys..."
"As you wish," stated Kurama, planting his last graceful step as he stood his ground. No sooner had he stopped did a vile and ferocious plant spring forth from Pliskin's chest.
"And the winner is, Kurama of the Urameshi team!"
The matches were fairly easy from then on. Kuwabara had a bit of trouble at first with the yo-yo slinging apparition Rinku, but in the end won with his extreme stamina. However, the luck of the draw chose him to fight twice, and he lost with little injury to a mohawk-donning fellow named Chuu.
"Hn," Hiei grunted, casting a watchful glance at his sister, "It is down to myself and the Detective."
"What about me?" Yukina asked, digging her toe nervously into the ground, "I haven't fought yet."
"I dunno, Yukina," Yusuke responded with charm, "I mean, these guys are pretty tough...I don't think Kurama here is capable of healing everyone."
The dense fog within the fire demon's mind did not lift, though. She would have no choice if her name was picked. But the detective certainly was...nice to try and make her feel better.
"Next up! Zeru and Yukina! This is for the win for the Urameshi team!"
"Boo! Tear that girlie up, Zeru!" Hiei hissed at the crowd with his hand planted firmly on the hilt of his sword.
"If you don't, I will, if ya know what I mean!"
"No, Hiei!" Yusuke reminded him, "It's better to stay here and make sure everything is okay."
"She'll be fine. Her offensive powers are just as capable as her defensive and support powers." The elder psychic moved to the forefront and glanced at Hiei, just to say, "I thought that you knew that already, though."
"Hag," retorted the demon.
"Child," she replied.
"Okay!" Koto announced, "Ready! Set! Begin!"
Flames swirled in a tornadic upheaval with Zeru at the epicenter. A massive display of demonic power emanated from him. It challenged Hiei; taunting him as if he knew his little secret.
"Stand back, you fools!" Genkai cried out, tossing up a barrier around the group as the flames danced their way up into the stadiums and scorched a perfect charcoal line into the crowd.
"Whoa! What a display of raw power!" declared a cowering Koto, "I love it!"
Yukina survived easily, having draped herself beneath a shower of snow. When the firestorm dwindled to nothing, Zeru smirked, and said, "Hmm. You'd think that fire would melt snow, but this isn't the case now, is it?"
"N-no..." the maiden stammered.
"Stupid bitch." With that he charged forward at the unsuspecting girl, and tossed a kick into her right side. She fell with yelp and immediately her spherical shield was around her once again. Pressing her palms to her side, she eased the pain, and stood within the walls of her creation.
"Damn it!" cursed Hiei, "I knew she wasn't ready!"
"Hi-." Yusuke was interrupted by his master.
"Hush. Watch."
A lithe hand reached to the sky, almost as if it was gathering the clouds themselves, and she created her own miniature funnel of ice. The rapid spinning particles of snow raced around her cold orb of protection, forming a damage shield that; if touched; would leave the attacker paralyzed.
Or so she thought, until Zeru breeched the forcefield and placed his hands upon her throat. Pandemonium swept through what remained of the audience as Yukina struggled to breath.
"Ah...augh...!" Jewels hit the floor as her eyes teared up. Would no one help her? She looked to her team but she knew that it was no use. She had no idea who these people were, or what their purpose really was.
And what if the very person taking her life was her brother?
What was there for Hiei to do? Of all the times he had watched her, of all the times he had kept a vigil outside her window, she had never shed tears from physical pain. He had to interfere, or else...
"Don't look," said a pervading voice in her brain, "Just stare at him."
She was vexed. Telepathy? Or was she going crazy from the slow crushing of her windpipe? It was better than nothing...it was better than dying...
"Heal. It'll defend against a physical attack."
"Yukina!" an upset Kuwabara called out, "Hang in there! Please!"
Her misted eyes faded not, but as she struggled to keep up with the slow pace of her death, she listened to that voice; that calming voice that let her know her fight would be for something.
Another jewel fell.
"W-what? She cries gems?" asked Kuwabara as he turned toward Kurama for answers.
"Indeed, Kuwabara," he answered, "They're very expensive on the black market. Her race is often captured and tortured to produce them..." The tallest let out a squawk of horror.
Particles of frozen diamond ascended from the ring, filling her heart with life. The pain was not absent; it was still a tangible force upon her neck. Each crack in her vertebrae was filled almost immediately; but for how long could she keep this up?
Would she really have to kill another being?
"No. He can live," Hiei assured her, as if reading her mind. However, he did not possess that ability; he merely came to such a conclusion through the expression across his sister's face.(2)
"His eyes. Freeze them."
With all of her might and waning power, she shook her head slightly at the thought of the violent act.
"Do it!" he shouted in her head, ashamed he had reacted in such a way.
"You're eventually going to wear down, woman, just like all women do eventually." Zeru smiled, baring petite fangs at the moist eyes in front of his face and remarked, "I've got you completely under my control."
The detective regarded the scene with anxiety, up until a shiver was sent up his spine. The temperature drastically changed just then, and shivering was all he could do to keep himself warm. Was anyone else this cold? How come he couldn't see her doing anything? Why wasn't it affecting Hiei, or more importantly, Zeru?
"Let me go!" she shouted, sending the suspended and sharp shards of water into a spiral toward the ring. Zeru fell backwards, stumbling on his own heels and gripping at his face in pain. He tumbled over the side of the ring, nearly missing Koto on his way down, and screamed in agony as he felt the sticky and cold substance of his own blood fall from his eye sockets.
"Yukina!" yelled her crush from the sidelines.
"One! Two!" The counting had commenced.
"Ka-Kazuma..." choked the apparent victor, "I'm-I'm okay..."
"Eyes! Eyes!" the agonized blonde screeched.
"Ten!" Koto finished, "Zeru is out! Team Urameshi wins the first round of the tournament!"
"Gah! Gah! Gah!" The losing team's captain ran onto the arena platform in convulsions.
Yukina let out a gasp, interrupting her own healing and ran over to aid the afflicted captain.
"Gah! Gah! Gah!"
"What is it? What did I do?" Saddened eyes looked to their team for help.
Chuu, a master of drunken fighting and at being just plain drunk, stumbled onto the arena as well. With a hiccup, he said, "Ay', girlie, ya've gone and frozen those oculars of 'is. Gone right to 'is brain, I'm 'fraid."
"No!" she whimpered.
"It's fine, then, see?" he pointed out, "'E's already back t'normal. 'As that fire power, 'e does. Just a seizure."
"He'll be all right, Yukina," Genkai said, setting Yukina's mind at ease, "What you did there was amazing. You should be proud of what you've done today."
Yukina sniffled; "Really?"
"Of course!" Kuwabara exclaimed, offering out a hand to help her up, "Really just honorable and that's okay in my book!"
"Thank you, Kazuma!" she smiled, embracing him quickly, "I felt like I was going to die. But then...I felt my brother. I knew he was alive! Like he helped me get through it...helped me not give up and showed me the honorable way..."
Yusuke smiled; a bit of mist lining his eyes; and said, "He's probably a great guy."
"Yeah, I'd sure like to meet him some day!" his best friend concurred with a nod, "We'd probably get along really well." The detective and the fox coughed, both having to choke upon their own laughter at the irony of the statement.
To Be Continued...
(1) Metal Gear Solid Reference
(2) Telepath does not equal empath. Telepathy is psychic communication. Empathy is the ability to feel other's thoughts and emotions (thus read thoughts). This sentence was a statement on the inaccuracy of fanfiction where Hiei can read everyone's thoughts if he wanted to. I encourage everyone to research psychics and the paranormal before writing fictions surrounding powers not spoken of in the series.
A filler chapter, sort of. It's building up. But what would the Dark Tournament be? I can assure you guys that I really don't want to write forty chapters of matches, so don't worry about that.
Rereading might be good if you're all a bit lost...it has been a while since I last updated. I'll refresh your memories for you quickly and say that Loan Me Life is the overall theme. They are looking for reasons to justify survival (Thread IV, I think?).
Don't forget to review!
Zelia
