DISCLAIMER: I don't own YYH but all my originalities are mine.
a/n: Dammit, I'm having a bad day…
So I guess it's only right that I drown my sorrows in writing…
(Oh, and if anyone's wondering—I HATE MATH SO DAMN MUCH AND SCHOOL SUCKS ASS!)
UPDATE ON THAT LAST STATEMENT: if anybody cares/wants to know—I'm not so angry anymore! My counselor helped me fix my schedule so I'm in a better math class (hell, I actually understand what they're talking about!) Anywhos…just in case you wanted to know about my life, lol (but school still sucks)
Also!
If any of you still haven't gotten the last YYH DVD I highly recommend it! I admit it is sort of sad watching the last episode—but it's worth it!
Cookies to my reviewers!
Little Sakura 87: Me neither! T.T I swear I sat there in front of the TV for about ten more minutes as if there was going to be another episode (and now you see where I get the title from). Haha, but did you listen to the commentaries/outtakes? I thought those were hilarious (:drool: and wasn't mazoku Yusuke from the Makai Saga hott?). Ah but don't worry about this fic, it'll be up for awhile :sweatdrop:
BlueWater26: Ahah, thank you! Here's your update!
Seeyu: LoL, alrighty! And yes she is pissed…I was debating whether or not she should be worried or pissed…I decided pissed would be more amusing, LoL.
Umeko Saito: Haha, well that's a good question…but no, that line was in the show (believe me, I was taking notes, LoL, I'm so lame…) but it would have been funny as hell if Toguro yelled "BAM!" right after that.
Fangimation: That's an awesome rhyme, hehe. And I do believe that part that you've been waiting for will be up, ummm…in the next chapter—or at least the one after that, I'm not quite sure yet :nervous laugh:
Shadowkitsune7: Aw, thank you! And the good news is: I have the next chapter here!
Thoughts
Forever Fornever II
:Toguro's Full Power:
Without warning, a blast of yoki enveloped the apparition. Urameshi started in shock and swiftly attempted to put up a blockade with his own energy against Toguro's assault. But the apparition's energy however, quickly overpowered his own and with the sound of shattering glass, broke the detective's feeble shield.
Yusuke raised his hands to cover his face as the aura whipped around him. A slice of wind however, and a new gash appeared along the side of his cheek.
Great, he muttered inwardly, He can dice me up with nothing but the force of his energy…And I couldn't even lay so much as a scratch on him with my Rei Gan!
The detective snapped suddenly out of his thoughts when he noticed Toguro moving towards him. He braced himself as if waiting for the demon to flex his ki a second time.
"And I thought you might actually be the one, Urameshi…" he growled, "If you had passed my test, I was ready to go full power for you. But there is absolutely no need for you to worry about that now," his gaze darkened, "My total power would be wasted on you…"
Kazuma blanched, "What? He's not at his full power?" he asked in disbelief, "I wasn't aware anybody could get any fuller than that!"
The second redhead beside him frowned, "Do you think there's hope left for him?"
Hiei snorted, but there was a small flicker of fear behind his eyes, "Not really," he answered seemingly calm.
Above them in the stands, Jin and the others watched on in horror.
Chuu gritted his teeth nervously, "If he's that much mightier than our boy, what's that say about us nongs who lost a bout with Urameshi earlier on?"
"Face it guys," Rinku announced to them, "You're just a bunch of lame wad losers."
"Thanks Rinku," the ice master beside him muttered sarcastically.
"And right about now, Urameshi's gotta be thinking to himself: I don't stand the tiniest little chance!" Koto shouted through the microphone as she leaned excitedly over the railing separating her from the arena, "I mean face it, if his enhanced spirit gun can't take Toguro down, what else has he got?"
The apparition shifted his stance as he faced Yusuke. The detective's eyes narrowed dangerously towards him and he frowned…
But it was soon replaced by a smirk as he straightened. He wiped the back of his hand across his bleeding cheek and laughed, "Heh…Guess play-period's over? Oh well, it was fun…"
Toguro's eyes widened, "What?"
The smirk remained as Urameshi raised his left hand out in front of him. His hand moved slowly towards the green band around his wrist and began pulling on it—until it finally snapped. Simultaneously, there was a flash of gold light that appeared around that same wrist.
"Well, for some inexplicable reason, Yusuke has ripped off his left wrist band to reveal a…uh," Koto trailed off at a loss for words, "It's a glowing, gold, bracelet! And might I say, it takes a pretty tough man to wear jewelry in public—Especially at a martial arts tournament!"
Yusuke's hand clasped over the other wrist band and raised both hands about his head. His eyes narrowed as the band snapped.
Another flash of light and Urameshi was suddenly enveloped in the golden glow. "Bracelets" appeared on his other hand as well as his two feet; and they were all connected by a single beam of electricity that crackled between them both.
Toguro narrowed his own eyes towards the detective, "I should have expected…" he mused but not without a hint of amusement, "Spirit Cuffs from Genkai."
From the sidelines, Kuwabara blinked, "I gotta say, that's a pretty sissy fashion statement. Even for Urameshi…" he thought aloud in curiosity.
But Kurama was more stunned than curious, "But why?" he whispered, "Why would he fight Toguro using such a handicap?"
"Easy," the apparition beside him snorted, "It's because he's a cocky fool."
Koenma nodded slightly, "He must have inherited it from Genkai—the spirit cuffs I that is."
"So uh, will somebody please tell me what's going on?"
Yusuke slowly closed his eyes and sighed…
"Genkai, is it time yet?"
The old woman turned towards him as he stood in the mouth of the cave. Her eyes narrowed seriously, "One more thing before I give you your test…" she told him, "Give me your hands. I have to prepare your body…"
Urameshi eyed her suspiciously, but did as he was told nonetheless, "This isn't another trick is it?"
She ignored him, "Hold still and try not to cry," she said as she began to trace her forefinger along the path of his wrists, "Prefer et obdura dolor nie tibi proderit olim!"
A path of light had begun to encircle the detective's hands. But when Genkai had finished the chant, the beam had suddenly clenched around his wrists. Yusuke cried out in surprise and fell forward; the weight of his fists holding him down against the floor of the cave.
"GAH! Dammit you old hag! I don't know what you're tryin' to pull, but I'm not into this kinky stuff!—And you're way too old!" he added angrily.
As he was talking, the older woman had been walking around him as the detective was beginning to stand, "In your dreams, you big baby. I'm going this for your own damn good. These are spirit cuffs and they'll save your life," she repeated the process on his legs and Yusuke let out a similar cry when those cuffs latched onto his ankles. He swayed dangerously before he was able to regain his balance, "Once again you can thank me later."
"Gee, why wait?" he muttered, "Thanks for being a cruel, heartless, domineering old bitch!" and with no luck tried to pull apart the spell.
"All your muscles won't break you free of this," she said calmly—but the detective's eye ticked dangerously, "Your physical strength tops out as only so much, but your spirit power can reach limitless heights with proper training."
Yusuke growled under his breath, "Er, not this speech again!"
"Shut up," Genkai ordered, "You must jointly use the energy of the spirit and the body, with each feeding the other, to overcome this obstacle and move our little rear."
"Jeeze, alright already. You had me at shut up…"
A blue haze began to surround the detective as he closed his eyes. The aura swayed around him with an eerie sort of calm as he slowly pried apart his wrists…and followed shortly after with his feet until they were a stepping distance away from each other; receiving a small grin from the old woman.
"Okay." He muttered, "I passed that test with flying colors, now get this piece of crap off me!"
She glared at him, "You will keep that crap on you at all times!"
Urameshi blinked, "Eh?"
"That means you are to remain at full spirit power and full physical strength twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week if you want to so much as take a step or pick your nose," she folded her hands behind her back calmly, "Think of it as strapping weights to your spirit energy; the longer they stay on you, the stronger you will grow. Now I'm going to give you a safety word…it'll unlock the spell and release you from the cuffs, I trust you'll know when it's time to use it, Yusuke…"
The detective opened his eyes.
"Now's a pretty good time, right Genkai?"
He raised his hands above his head so that the cuffs were crackling fiercely together. His eyes narrowed as he clenched his fists.
"AVITUS!"
-:-
With a staggering cry, Mai suddenly skidded to a halt. Her feet stumbled around her, but her head shot to the sky where a pillar of blinding light rose out from somewhere amidst the treetops. Her eyes widened despite herself.
"…Urameshi…?"
-:-
An explosion of golden energy erupted out around the detective—but in an instant, it flashed to blue. Yusuke screamed as he flung his head back and his ki began to rupture the very stadium. The pupils in his eyes disappeared as he continued to scream. His energy began to spiral out around him in a giant pillar of light that rose out through the ceiling of the stadium. Toguro braced himself against the mere force of the power coming from Urameshi.
The streams of blue light however, were moving. They morphed and began to take on form until the hazy outlines of a blue phoenix appeared above him.
A screeching cry echoed through the stadium as the beast suddenly lifted off the back of the detective. Its glowing plume trailed out behind him as it circled around the arena. It flapped its mighty wings as the crowd stared on in awe and before it finally returned to Yusuke. The giant bird cried out again as it settled behind the detective and little by little, streams of light detached themselves and were absorbed into Urameshi's body.
Kazuma let out a shout of triumph, "Just feel that! His energy is outta control! There's no way Urameshi can lose this now!"
Koto was squealing in delight, "Oh my goodness! Urameshi's strength is making me feel faint! Who knew he had a surprise like this planned in the back of his head?"
Up in the stands, Touya's eyes grew wide in awe, "His power…it's phenomenal…"
"Agreed so I'd say!" Jin concurred, "When your wind looks like a phoenix you know that you got something big!"
The drunken fighter beside the two gaped, "He keeps getting' stronger! I can't imagine what it'd be like fightin' the bloke now!"
"It'd probably be a lot like last time, just twenty times more painful!" Rinku answered for him.
There was a haze still drifting around the detective even as the phoenix vanished…but the power still remained. Yusuke smirked as his eyes turned towards the glaring Toguro in front of him.
"Are you so arrogant Urameshi that you thought you could actually beat me while wearing those…?" he wondered darkly, but with the tiniest hint of amusement.
He smirked again and laughed, "Well, yeah, sorta…" he confessed sheepishly, "In hindsight I may have been a bit cocky…"
The apparition narrowed his eyes dangerously at the idea that Urameshi had taken him for no more than a joke, "You've wasted enough of my time by underestimating me…Fortunately this will be the last time you ever make that mistake…"
Yusuke glared in response as he slowly took a step forward. His steps quickened steadily as he made his way across the arena until he was at an all-out run towards the apparition. With the same momentum, the detective launched himself into the air—
And swiftly vanished.
Those along team Urameshi's sidelines stared in awe at the ring where Yusuke had once been standing.
Kurama narrowed his eyes slightly, "Now I understand…"
The second redhead furiously searched the fighting arena for the detective, "Nani? Where'd he go?" he shouted.
In answer to Kazuma's question, there was suddenly a flash of movement over the arena. Toguro's head snapped towards it and his eyes widened. Urameshi hovered directly above him and was quickly falling. Another instant later, and the apparition was being pummeled by a flurry of his fists. Without relenting, Yusuke continued to throw punches into the side of Toguro's face; not allowing him to have the time to put up any defense. The detective's attack continued down into his gut.
He let out a cry and hurled a final fist; hooking Toguro's jaw…
And sending the apparition flying.
All across the stadium, mouths dropped in pure shock and astonishment as Yusuke's attack lifted him off the ground and threw him across the arena.
"T-Toguro's knocked down!" Koenma cried in bewilderment.
But Kuwabara laughed in victory, "Ah! He's gotta be feeling that one!"
Urameshi landed back on the ground instantaneously with Toguro's body. But as the apparition crashed into the ground, Yusuke quickly disappeared a second time—and reappeared again above Toguro.
He cocked his fist as he fell directly towards the other fighter. Another second later, and his fist slammed into his opponent. There was a burst of energy that blasted out from around the two fighters and a spurt of blood was coughed up by Toguro as a crater formed beneath the both of them.
Yusuke would not stop. His fists continued to find ways of attacking Toguro over and over again…and still the apparition put up no protection…
"This is a very different fighter…" Kurama mused quietly to himself, "I've never seen Yusuke fight so intensely before…"
Kazuma laughed again, "You said it! He's like a machine!"
The detective continued attacking; shoving his fists again and again into Toguro's body…
Until something caught his attention.
Without warning, Yusuke stopped. His eyes widened as he quickly jumped out from the crater.
"But why?"
Hiei gritted his teeth furiously, "Idiot! Don't stop now!"
"AW!" Koto's ears drooped unhappily, "Just when we were starting to get into some hardcore pummeling, Yusuke got spooked and backed off like he was afraid of Toguro's unresponsive body!"
Urameshi breathed heavily and sweat appeared along his brow. He was watching the crater still, but there was a look of fear that remained within his eyes.
It's that damn look in his eyes. Just by looking at them I thought I was going to be killed, he mentally whispered to himself as the vision of the apparition's blank and lifeless eyes popped back into his head…Like he was still the one in control…
His thoughts were suddenly interrupted when he saw movement coming from within the hollow.
Slowly, Toguro's head appeared at the rim of the basin; the hollowness of his eyes sending a chill down the detective's spine and most likely anyone else…despite their ability to see them clearly. Yusuke took a wary step backwards as he stepped out from within the crater.
It was bizarre…Once, Toguro's body had been formed into a giant mass of muscles, but now it only looked as though he was made up of literally skin and bones…
Jin blinked, "What's with Toguro's muscles all of a sudden?" he wondered aloud, "They've deflated like a beach ball on the rocks. Lot a crazy things I seen, but this one takes the prize!"
Beside him, the ice master frowned slightly, "Urameshi's attack was powerful…Perhaps this is what happens when Toguro is injured."
Kurama was studying the apparition suspiciously, "I am afraid that a ferocious wolf is laying in wait underneath that placid sheep's façade…" he told the others seriously.
Hiei snorted, "I know," he muttered darkly, "It's written on his face…"
-:-
The tension-filled silence within the stadium was irritating her…
Genkai watched the match with narrowed eyes while Kira stood plastered in front of the screen, completely numb in her own sort of anticipation. She hated to say it, but Toguro had been right on one thing: Yusuke was a dumbass for underestimating him…and now he was just repeating himself.
She snorted half-heartedly, "…dimwit…"
-:-
"At last Yusuke…
"You've done as I asked…"
The detective started when there was a sickening crack resonating from Toguro. It happened again and again…almost like the sound of many cracking bones all at once…
But there was something else Urameshi was wary about…it was Toguro's aura. It was the same hazy violet color from before…but there was something different and more malevolent about it this time that made the detective uneasy.
"I've waited a long time for this moment…" he told him slowly, "…Now destiny has rewarded my patience…"
There was suddenly a blast of air that swept over the floor of the arena and the earth began to shake beneath them as the ki surrounding Toguro began to pulsate.
"Wow! The earth is quaking everyone!" Koto cheered as she pointed out the obvious, "Now this is shaping up to be the kind of fight where some legends are made and others are painfully broken!"
Yusuke took another step back as the apparition let out a furious cry of rage into the air.
"Shimatta…" he breathed…
-
Mai sensed it even before it came into view.
Her senses raced as she swiftly held up a reiki barrier before her. Only an instant later, did the blast of violet chi charge towards her and bounce off of the shield—but only by the merest chance. The light continued further behind her until it had completely enveloped the island.
She breathed heavily as she stared between the land in front of her and the rest of the island trying to resist the enormous wave of energy.
But the guardian quickly clenched her fist, "That BASTARD!"
He was going to kill Urameshi before she even laid a hand on him!
-
Yusuke stood frozen to the spot. His eyes widened in horror as the energy rose up into a pillar surrounding the apparition. Energy rushed out through the stadium while Toguro gladly embraced the ki radiating around him and that spiraled up through the top of the stadium.
It wasn't even as though he was trying to shield his eyes from the light; the detective, quite simply, couldn't move. Sweat appeared along his brow as the aura grew thicker and thicker…
The sickening cracking sound continued however while Toguro's body began to throb all at once. The muscles along his body expanded and constricted with the heavy flow of his pounding blood and formed grotesque areas around him. He was breathing heavily with an eerie wheezing sound, as his silhouette appeared from behind the wall of chi; his eyes keeping a similar color to his energy…
Toguro's yoki morphed again as it created a dome over the apparition. Then bullets from within the energy field suddenly charged outwards into the stadium. They roared furiously over the stands; tearing up the seats…as well as those who were unfortunately sitting in them. Screams of terror and agony swept over the arena as the energy bullets drilled mercilessly into the demons watching the fight.
Kurama watched the transforming apparition nervously, "It's hard to tell if Toguro's lost control of his power, or if he's attacking the crowd on purpose…"
The skin along the demon's body grew into a tint of a sickly gray and his bones cracked as they made room for the atrocious body parts growing.
He let out a furious cry suddenly as he raised his hands above his head. Urameshi stepped back on instinct when a black orb of energy appeared between his hands. It crackled with several bolts of purple electricity before it suddenly expanded; enveloping the entire arena.
Yusuke started and hurriedly whipped his head around; even though the stadium had already vanished from his sight.
"Oi!" Kuwabara shouted into the darkness, "What the? Who the heck is turning off the lights?"
The second redhead frowned, "Be careful, Yusuke…"
Hiei smirked in anticipation, "This is it."
Koenma sweated nervously as he chewed at the end of his pacifier, "I'm not lookin' forward to this…"
The darkness was swallowing the island whole, and uncertain cries echoed through the inky black.
"Dammit, I can't even see myself think!" Kazuma shouted furiously.
But then from beneath the veil of nothing, a dim purple flame appeared. It enveloped a monstrous form…no doubt what was now considered Toguro. Yusuke's face was outlined by the violet glow amidst the darkness that accentuated the fear that grew within his eyes.
And it was without warning that the stadium suddenly appeared, and the inky veil vanished; leaving behind a single atrocity bathed in a purple haze.
But Toguro wasn't finished yet…
"Urameshi!" Kuwabara yelled across the arena, "This is your chance! Finish him off! Do it while you can before he reaches full power!"
But the detective didn't stir.
I…I can't move. It's not fear that's holding me back though…it's curiosity. I just need to know what he's got…
There was suddenly a wave of silence that swept over the crowd as the violet haze drew itself into Toguro's misshapen body. What once resembled something of a human was depicted as no more than a cold-blooded demon. Toguro's body bulged with the armor-like skin he had so recently acquired and the enormous muscles that protruded around his body.
Even Hiei seemed suddenly stricken in shock, "…I can't believe…that body used to be human…"
Kazuma gritted his teeth, "Hey, are we certain he doesn't get any stronger?"
"Well after much anticipation and buildup—Toguro has finally revealed his full power!" Koto breathed through her microphone in sheer excitement, "And may I be the first to say that I'm not the least bit disappointed in the grand unveiling. You have got to see this muscle-bound man to believe him!"
Team Urameshi awaited along the sidelines nervously as the two fighters continued to square off.
"You know…" Kuwabara said slowly, "I was kickin' myself pretty hard before for not bein' able to feel this guy's power…But now I realize that if I actually had felt it, my head would have exploded all over the darn place…"
"Well, you win some and you loose some," the demigod replied trying to sound calm, "I guess that's what makes it gambling. It's too bad, really, that Yusuke didn't have enough time with Genkai before she gave him her power…Just a few more years…" he said absently.
Yusuke clenched his fists at his side…not quite out of defense, but rather in his fear did he try and direct the pain coursing through him.
He started suddenly when the apparition raised his hand…but as he waited and watched, that was all he seemed to—
The detective's head suddenly snapped backwards; sending him flying across the floor of the arena. He slid along the earth and tumbled into one of the chunks left behind from the original ring; creating a spider web effect on the stone slab behind him.
Jin gaped, "I…missed somethin'" he whispered in shock.
"It looks like Urameshi had a couple too many…" Chuu frowned.
Staggering and gritting his teeth, the detective rose back to his feet. His eyes glared at Toguro furiously as a trickle of blood raced down his forehead from somewhere beneath his hairline.
What the hell? One second I'm standing and the next…
His eyes flickered towards the apparition's hand and widened.
…His thumb! That bastard made a bullet and shot it at me with his thumb! He realized suddenly and with a growing amount of anger within him.
Toguro smirked in amusement, "Did you like that one?" he wondered coolly, "Unlike your spirit gun, I have an infinite supply…"
Yusuke started when something prickled along the back of his neck. Out of the blue, he raised his fists and powered through them and creating miniature shields just as Toguro raised his hand towards him again.
It was lightning fast the way the apparition fired off those bullets at Urameshi. The detective was just barely able to keep up with his speed whilst dodging his previous attacks. He gritted his teeth as he fought back and sent Toguro's bullets flying elsewhere.
Man, this is getting rough; he muttered mentally, I hope he gets bored soon. Dotted skin is not my favorite look…
The bullets were taking different directions now and flying off into the dirt around Yusuke's feet. Dust began to fill up the air around him as more and more bullets kicked up the dirt and rubble.
Toguro came to a halt on his assault suddenly when the detective had completely been covered by the veil of dust.
"It looks to me like Toguro's done with target practice—and Urameshi's just plain done!" the kitsune announcer shouted to the audience.
But before she could get too excited, the dust shifted and a flash of movement sped out of the mound of debris. Yusuke appeared above the apparition with his fist already glowing and his eyes glaring menacingly towards Toguro.
"Take this—you bastard!" he cried.
The apparition didn't even flinch. He calmly raised his hand and extended his thumb towards the oncoming detective. And with only that, was he able to catch Urameshi's attack before he even had the slightest chance of hitting him.
Yusuke's eyes widened, "NANI?"
Toguro's other fist however, was quickly taking on its own attack; slamming straight into the detective's extended arm. Instantly, the area around the apparition's fist bruised from the blow and a sickening cracking sound was heard throughout the stadium. The punch sent Yusuke flying back into the ground. He rolled, but when he stopped furiously clutched his nearly-broken arm to his chest and screamed.
"I have more power in my thumb than you have in you entire body," the apparition informed him darkly.
Urameshi dangerously narrowed his eyes, "We'll see…" he muttered as he extended his forefinger, "I've got a strong finger myself!"
He eyed the glowing finger angrily, "Now hit me with everything you have!" he roared towards the detective, "You have no idea which shot will be your last!"
Yusuke glared furiously, "SPIRIT GUN!"
The blast ripped towards the apparition, but Toguro didn't even bother to flinch—or move at all for that matter. Even as the giant orb of blue energy hurtled towards him. His eyes narrowed towards the attack and let the bullet slam straight into him; only to have it dissipate against the sheer strength of his skin and body.
The detective's eyes widened in fear as Toguro continued to watch him.
"I consider myself a good judge of humankind. Having formerly been one I can say there's something missing in your eyes…"
"This…maybe the last time I'll be able to see you…" he whispered.
Suddenly, Yusuke started when Toguro vanished. A flash of movement appeared directly in front of him—and without warning found himself dangling in the air; the apparition's fist clenched furiously around the collar of his shirt.
He brought the fighter closer to his face, "And that something…is fear…"
"…I'm afraid, Kuwabara…" he muttered quietly and his fist clenched again, "…I'm afraid she'll get hurt—that Toguro…" he furiously shut his eyes, "That Toguro would kill her! She's too damn stubborn so even if I told her to stay away, that stupid bitch would come along anyway!"
"It used to be one of your strength," Toguro continued darkly, "Without fear you will never grow stronger as a fighter. I know I've told you that before!"
The apparition's other hand suddenly materialized in front of him—and without giving Yusuke any warning, drilled directly into his gut. He gagged at the sudden force pressing down on him, but that also did not have enough time to reflect on when he was sent flying.
His body crashed into the stands and continued drilling upwards until he slammed into the back wall.
Yusuke stood frozen for only a moment; his eyes drawing up blank and nearly lifeless.
"…ke…"
The detective suddenly dropped to his knees and braced himself with his hands. He coughed again and choked; blood spilling from his mouth and dripping slowly between his gritted teeth.
From the arena below, Toguro's eyes narrowed fiercely.
"I will find that fear!"
-:-
Love is everything it's cracked up to be…It really is worth fighting for, being brave for, risking everything for.
Erica Jong