DISCLAIMER: I do not own YYH or any song lyrics that happen to pop into the course of the fic…
a/n: Wow, this is probably the fastest I've ever updated for um…ever XD
Cookies to everyone who reviewed!
BlueWater26: Well I'm actually glad you think so; I did try to make it as sad and/or devastating as possible…
Shadowkitsune7: Good thing you understood that little line, lol (I was afraid everyone was going to be asking: what the hell does "wo ai ni" mean?) I did get the idea from Fushigi Yuugi though :nervous laugh:
XxXHellzFireAngelXxX: Wow, long time no see right? Haha, okay calm down I have your update
Umeko Saito: Haha, alrighty I'm glad I could be some inspiration to you. And sorry about the end…but it was practically mass genocide in the unedited version of the show, I just let you all fill in the blanks.
Fangimation: T.T I'm sorry! But that is kind of how it happened in the unedited version (that was really gross) (by the way, what does PUS mean? I've been wondering that XD)
Thoughts
:A misery is not to be measured from the nature of evil,
But from the temper of the sufferer:
Joseph Addison
Forever Fornever II
:Toguro's Desire:
The wind blew past him with a quiet moan as it swept over the hillside. Blades of grass brushed against his face, but he wiped them away absently.
With a sigh, Yusuke stared up at the sky above him. But by the way his head faced the bottom of the hill, it appeared to him as though the clouds had become the ground itself. He frowned at his own reasoning; that sounded stupid.
He placed his hands behind his head and squinted down at the city beyond the forest. Far off, he could hear cars honking and whizzing through intersections. The detective thought for a moment as he stared at the clouds drifting along the ground and the buildings hanging upside-down from the sky. You know…he might have liked to see the world like that; switched around…
…Different…
A breeze swept over him and ruffled his t-shirt while he sighed again. In a sense…his own life had been turned upside-down…at least ever since she came along. He found himself laughing inwardly; she had changed a lot of things that was for sure. Maybe it was just him, but he could have sworn that Kuwabara was even acting slightly smarter…
There was just something about her that almost had a certain effect on people…
Or maybe it was just him she had affected.
He frowned momentarily and stared back at the city hanging in the sky. It was weird how these things seemed to tie into his life. Or that might have just been the aftermath of coming back to life after being a ghost—but whatever it was, it was kind of creepy.
Lazily, Urameshi ran his fingers through his hair. It only occurred to him what might have happened if they had never bumped into one another that day; if they had never crossed paths…
A lot of things would have never happened, he decided. But most of all, he could almost feel that something more would be missing from him. She seemed to fill that void…but what it was exactly, he didn't really know; ever since she had turned their lives around, he couldn't understand what it was about her that made such a difference—
"There you are!"
Yusuke lifted his head off the ground to find Mai jogging down the slope towards him, her bright red ponytail bouncing behind her. She grinned and plopped onto the ground next to him. Her cheeks were flushed—probably from trudging up all the slopes looking for him.
"You've been up here all day?" she wanted to know rather cheerfully.
He shrugged and laid his head back on the grass, "Pretty much," he answered simply. The guardian beamed and fell backwards so that she too stared up at the sky.
Her violet-speckled eyes shimmered beneath the sunlight, "It's nice up here," she smiled contently, "And it's a pretty day too…"
Urameshi turned his head towards her and stared for a moment. As he was watching her smile, a thought occurred to him…
Maybe…
…Maybe living upside-down wasn't all too bad…
-:-
Kira dropped to her knees, trembling. Her eyes were wide as she covered her mouth with a quivering hand. The former guardian's hakama sprayed out around her while tears streamed down her face.
Mai-chan…
Ayame leaned quietly over her, "Miss Kira?"
She shook her head and closed her teary eyes.
"…Mai…"
-:-
—Blood suddenly spilled across the arena floor…
And Yusuke's eyes went blank with rage.
The crimson liquid seeped over Toguro's fingers and dribbled onto the ground steadily. The guardian's eyes went wide and the glow suddenly vanished from within them. Toguro's fingers twisted suddenly within her chest, causing a small whimper of pain to escape her.
He leaned towards her paling face and smirked—
His hand wrenching out of her.
Kurama's eyes grew wide, "…no..."
The apparition beside him clenched his fists, "Onna…"
Kazuma stared in horror from only a few feet away as blood was drained from her body; spilling almost endlessly over the ground beneath her. And he suddenly found himself shaking in both terror and rage. His eyes dilated and Mai's body went limp.
"You've done your job…" the apparition muttered.
He let her crumple to the ground.
"MAI!"
The air suddenly exploded around the arena. The golden wave of chi that had been surrounding her had vanished, but the tension was stronger than ever. It literally sent tremors hurtling through the air. The waves however, were suddenly thrown into reverse. They raced back towards Mai; the energy growing even fiercer. It vibrated through the stadium towards her lifeless body.
All at one, the ki erupted from around her. It spiraled, swirling furiously towards the top of the stadium. It enveloped the entire stadium with its blinding light. The golden glow rose up above her before it suddenly drifted back towards the earth…only this time it was redirected towards Yusuke…
It was drawn into his body, with or without him wanting it too. The golden haze surrounded him for only a moment before it vanished within his body…
But he seemed oblivious.
Kuwabara stumbled to his feet as he raced frantically towards the fallen guardian. Toguro vanished as he drew near. The redhead carefully lifted her arm over his shoulder as he tried to raise her up off the ground. The rest of their team rushed towards them.
"MAI!" Kurama shouted, "Come on Mai, don't fade on us! Don't leave us Mai—!"
His face fell suddenly and there was a look of horror that none of his teammates had seen on him before.
"…Mai…"
Toguro smirked from a little ways off.
"That's oddly anticlimactic…" he mused as he stared down at his bloody fingers, "In all truth you hardly knew her…but you had more than just a mutual friendship didn't you? And after all of that, she's finally gone…"
Mai...
The apparition watched as Yusuke trembled on his hands and knees.
"Do you think that was sufficient enough for you?" he continued darkly; his eyes flashing, "Or do I need to take another one of your friends for you to get the point?"
"Live for me…Mai..."
—"Stop it Yusuke! I can't bear to think of you leaving me alone!"
The detective drew his hands slowly up to his chest, his body still shaking violently.
…but what about me…
…now…I'm alone…
His gaze suddenly became hooded and he felt his body go numb.
Toguro's eyes flickered towards him when he saw him moving. Slowly, the detective lifted himself to his knees…and then stood at last. He stood hunched over, as if a sudden weight had burdened his heart…
Without warning, a wisp of energy rose up from the ground—
And Yusuke was no longer there.
The apparition's eyes widened furiously, "NANI?"
His eyes flashed as he sensed a presence suddenly behind him. He whirled and found the detective hunched over; resonating with a heavy green aura that had been flecked with bits of gold. It swayed around him eerily…
Toguro gritted his teeth slightly, so I guess it was enough…
There was a sad glow to Yusuke's eyes…they shimmered dully through the veil of his energy.
The sacrifice was much too high…
"You took my teacher, and now I let you take my friend…" he lowered his eyes towards the ground, "What the hell do you want from me?" he asked bitterly; his voice shaking
We tried to hide what we feared inside…
A slow, sorrowful wind blew out from him while a panel of blue light appeared at his feet. The energy expanded out around him all of a sudden until it had completely enveloped the floor of the stadium. Small shockwaves blew out around his feet; the pulsars of energy drifting into the stands. Dust appeared in the path of the ringlets and rose into the air.
Yusuke's eyes stared off despondently at pure nothing.
There were orbs of blue light radiating from the clouds of dust. They swirled steadily around him and rose up slowly into the stands; drifting like hundreds of tiny spirits.
Kurama's eyes narrowed fiercely, "Alright Toguro…" he muttered, "You got what you wished for…"
Today is the end of tomorrow
The detective clenched his fist, "Don't you think I wanted to use my power, win this thing and go home?" he whispered quietly.
His opponent gleamed, "Of course."
Yusuke's eyes shimmered pitifully, "I just didn't know how to reach it…and now I have to live with that," he lowered them further into the ground, "I've been pathetic…but I won't let you take away any more of my friends…"
The orbs floating around him drifted into the stands; drifting between the audience members as the chi swirling around the detective flared. His energy was skyrocketing to the point where it was nearly incomprehensible.
Touya stared in awe as the wisps of light floated past them, "Look at it…" he breathed.
"I'd say the wind is something not the same…" Jin said in wonderment.
Gripping her microphone, Koto watched the wisps of energy drift past her in marvel, "For all those still listening to this broadcast, Yusuke is emitting a stranger energy unlike anything we've seen from him before!"
"His feelings…" Botan said softly as one of the spirits brushed her arm, "I can practically taste them in the air…"
Keiko watched the arena sadly, "Yusuke…"
Below them, Kazuma stared aw-filled as the orbs of light drifted around them slowly. He turned with the guardian still in his arms, so that he could get a better look at them.
"Urameshi's energy…it's changing…"
Koenma's eyes were locked on the detective, "The loss of his friend is too great of a shock," he said, "The walls are coming down."
A thick and heavy silence suddenly fell over the arena as Yusuke stared silently down at the ground in front of him. And as if he had no control over his body, took a heavy step forward…followed slowly by another and another…
"What the hell is wrong with you for making me worry over you like that!" the guardian demanded, "You're lucky you won, Yusuke or I'd give you a fight of my own!"
—"I had to make a choice, Yusuke!" she shouted angrily, "I had to become stronger to protect you; so I could remain your guardian! But in doing so I had to destroy Kira! Don't you understand!" she cried tearfully, "I destroyed a part of myself for you! I didn't want to lose one of my closest friends because I was too weak to protect them!"
Yusuke took another grief-stricken step forward.
It was like…her memories…
…They were apart of his own…
"…You're…you're not going to be alone while you're my guardian, don't you know that?"
— He grew silent all of a sudden when he noticed her smiling through the golden haze. His eyes widened as tears trickled down the guardian's face.
"…Aishiteru…Yusuke..."
The detective suddenly came to a stop; his shimmering eyes still fixated on the ground beneath him.
"I love you…Yusuke…"
"…Now let's do this," he said quietly, "I already said I'll never forgive you...Now I can never forgive myself, so let's just do this…"
The blue chi suddenly swirled around him; rising high up into the air like a furious cyclone. It streamed through the entire stadium as a fierce blast of wind rushed across the arena towards the detective. His shoulders remained hunched over and he seemed unaware that he was even creating such a colossal stream of power. The energy created a barrier around him…but despite the fact that the color of it had changed…there was still a small hint of gold swaying with the blue…
Toguro watched him…
Anxiety…and fear. It's been fifty years since I've felt those. At last I enter a fight for which I don't know the outcome…there was a smirk that curled at his lips as the power mounted within Yusuke, The tension is mounting in my neck…An ultimate fight with you, Yusuke; Genkai's dead, but one part remains. Now I fight her progeny and all things can be brought to a close…
"I need to thank you Yusuke, for finally realizing your power," he commended smoothly, "You see, I couldn't finish this story with satisfaction…until you had become like me."
Suddenly, the apparition's eyes narrowed fiercely—
And he charged towards the detective.
"NOW YOUR POWER HAS REACHED THE LEVEL OF MINE!" he shouted as he raced forward.
Yusuke stared at the ground.
"You know that's a load of crap Toguro…" he said quietly.
The apparition raised his fist, "Is that so?" he demanded. But he didn't give him any time to respond. In another instant, Toguro's fist hooked around and slammed into the side of his face.
His attack neatly uprooted the detective from the ground; sending him spinning through the air until he painfully slammed into the ground. His body continued sliding through the dusty earth until it crashed into the wall behind him.
Kuwabara gritted his teeth, "Urameshi…"
"Toguro makes a solid right hook—and Yusuke does nothing to defend himself!" Koto shouted through her microphone as her tail twitched excitedly, "And he ground-slides all the way to the back wall!"
As the dust began to clear, Yusuke was seen amidst the fallen rubble; his face still bent towards the ground…
He hardly even stirred when he heard the tiny sound of breaking glass…
The precious shards tinkled to the ground below him…and something brushed over his hand.
He looked then; his eyes distant and shimmering in sorrow. The detective watched as the worn-out photograph skipped away from the shattered vial around his neck…
"You see?" Toguro asked him and Yusuke slowly raised his head, "I can tell that didn't actually hurt you. Earlier that punch would have left you unconscious. But now you can take it without even blocking and still get up to fight…" his eyes flashed, "If that's not a sign of equal power, what is?"
Urameshi's eyes drifted away from the apparition.
"You were right about one thing Toguro…That punch didn't hurt me…"
He shifted and slowly stood back on his feet.
"Yusuke's truly done it," Hiei said aloud, "He's learned how to battle on a level playing field with Toguro!"
Kurama's brow furrowed slightly, "Level, and yet at the same time it's completely different…"
As Yusuke stood, the blue aura returned. It rose off of him like steam; drifting slowly into the air and through those sitting within the stadium. The air resonated with the steady rhythm of the chi emitting from him. The waves of energy slowly rose up above him; creating a similar cyclone effect from before. Then the ki began to change…it suddenly went from a blue energy to a fierce red…and then simply back to blue again.
"Both their powers are mixing together…" Chuu said as the aura continued to alternate hues, "It's the real dinki-di, mates! It's got the strength of a ute, but for some reason it doesn't feel harmful…"
The shorter apparition beside him nodded, "Yeah, its weird! All a sudden I feel a whole lot better! Kinda like I'm being protected or something!"
Jin suddenly seemed sad, "It's such a melancholy wind he be firin'. Like I can feel all the sad on his inner sides pouring out into a big black empty…"
"Yusuke is locked in a struggle with his own emotions," Touya told him and the wind master turned, "A sense of guilt is reversing his power…His defense goes outward, guarding all of us in the stadium, while his attack is aimed solely on himself…"
The detective stared off sadly at the ground in front of him…
…He could feel her…
…it was all her energy…behind his own; forcing it onwards out through him…
Like she was holding on to him…
Toguro smirked as the detective's energy brushed past him.
"Are you hurting, Yusuke?" he asked mockingly, "Feeling guilty?"
Urameshi's eyes flashed towards him and clenched his teeth; the aura surrounding him suddenly flickering to red again. But the apparition only chuckled in response.
"Don't worry. It's like the chicken pox. Once you get over it the first time, it never comes back," he informed him coolly and his eyes narrowed, "Think Yusuke. What do you owe these people?"
A fiery aura suddenly exploded behind Toguro as his voice began to rise angrily.
"Why should you let their weakness drag you down? Throw off the bags of guilt and you can become as powerful as me!" he shouted, "Give yourself control! Believe in nothing but your own strength and it can never let you down!"
He saw the detective clench his fist and he chuckled again.
But Yusuke suddenly cut him off.
"Shut up, Toguro," he muttered darkly, "I'm not. Like. You…I…I won't just throw people away…"
The apparition smirked, "Can't let go?" he asked sardonically.
Urameshi's eyes narrowed slightly and he looked away at the ground, "I never would have gotten this far without these guys' help…And whenever I was getting my head rearranged, it's always cause I cared about them that I could win…"
Toguro's eyes flashed and he pointed furiously at the detective, "And that's precisely the reason you've been limited up to now! YOU'RE TOO SOFT! You don't need anyone but yourself! Don't you understand that!"
As if confused, Yusuke slowly shook his head, "…iie…"
It was silent along the arena floor for a long time. The apparition still had his hand outstretched towards Urameshi; his finger pointing angrily.
But Toguro laughed suddenly and lowered his arm…
"Then I guess I need to kill another one of your friends."
Yusuke's eyes narrowed furiously as the apparition turned towards the opposing sidelines.
Kurama and Hiei gritted their teeth and stood defensively. Kazuma stepped back, still trying to protect Mai's corpse while the demigod beside him watched Toguro nervously. The apparition turned and raised his hand as if he were going to attack all of them at once—
But froze suddenly.
He turned his head and found Yusuke gripping his wrist. The detective's body flared with a monstrous amount of spirit energy; rising into the air in a furious crimson haze. Urameshi's gaze was hooded angrily and his free hand clenched at his side.
Toguro's eyes narrowed dangerously, "Let go," he muttered.
The detective's brow furrowed and his eyes almost looked…sad…
"I…somewhere inside, I…I respected you, you know that?" he said quietly, "Let's just say I haven't had many older guys to look up to. And what you seemed to have goin', it didn't look so bad…"
The energy around him suddenly strengthened. The ground beneath his feet cracked threateningly until nearly the entire floor had been covered with the tiny crevices.
"Genkai told me over and over again how stupid I was. But I saw your strength, and how no one could boss you around, no matter what!" he seemed to spit the words out with bitterness, "And I wanted that…"
Toguro smirked, "Hn, then you should take my advice."
"IDIOT!" he shouted angrily, "I'm not done! That's what I did want, until Genkai told me the rest."
"He asked the committee to turn him from a human into a demon of the highest class. He left us so he could keep his youth and precious strength. Everyone has to fight with time, to find their place before their inevitable death…Toguro, he ran away from that fight. Don't you ever do the same, you son of a bitch. No human is ever a one man show. Every decision you make will affect the countless people who care about you. Do you understand…? You can just be a cocky kid anymore. You…have to…"
"Since I started this whole tournament, I've learned the value of what you gave away. And I won't let it go! Even if I have to give up my life too!"
His fist suddenly tightened around Toguro's wrist. The bones cracked as sparks of black electricity raced through both the fighters.
The earth beneath them rumbled. Yusuke's energy alternated suddenly to blue and whipped around both of them. Swirling higher and higher into the air in a furious tornado of energy, it caused the earth to tremble further. It was the mere force of the ki that sent boulders from the ground flying into the air; ripping fiercely at the ground beneath the fighters' feet.
Koenma watched in awe, "Yusuke."
"So he understands now…" the akage whispered.
The rubble continued to fly around them as did the swirling blue energy resonating from the detective. Both he and Toguro were left standing on a single platform; the ground elsewhere had disintegrated into a giant crater.
Toguro sneered, "I can see you're a disciple of Genkai in every way, a slave to your softer emotions…"
Urameshi glared furiously, "You shouldn't even be allowed to say her name…
"TODAY YOU DIE TOGURO!"
"Heh," the apparition watched him in amusement, "You go ahead and try—"
There was suddenly a flash of movement that crossed his path. And Yusuke slammed his fist into the other side of the apparition's head.
The force swiftly sent Toguro flying. He cried out as he crashed painfully into the ground, and kept going. His body slammed over and over again into the rubble lying scattered across the arena. The apparition collided with a large slab of the former ring and slid to a halt.
He grunted from beneath the pile of rubble as he shoved the slabs of concrete out of his way. As he emerged, it became evident that Yusuke's punch had clearly dismantled his neck—
Toguro's eyes widened suddenly when he saw the giant orb of blue light hurtling towards him compliments of the detective.
He cried out as the attack enveloped him, and crashed through the side of the stadium. The walls on the other side crumbled instantly as the rei gan pierced through them and continued onwards through the forest. It tore furiously at the ground and anything in its path. The attack skimmed across the surface of the ocean when it ran out of land before it finally shot off into the sky and disappeared.
And when it had vanished…
Toguro was sitting in the mouth of the opening and Yusuke still had his finger pointed towards him.
"He's…super-Yusuke!" Koenma gaped.
Hiei snorted slightly, "Even his idiotic strategies have improved…"
"WOW! Unreal!" Koto breathed in awe, "Yusuke delivers a ruthless one-two punch, knocking Toguro down with a hard right cross—then launching a spirit gun blast before the fallen beast could react! It's the first time I've ever seen Toguro on the ground!"
"In-Incredible…" Chuu whispered.
Rinku nodded slowly, "Yeah, you can say that again!"
Botan stared, "I think...we can really start hoping…" she said.
Below them in the ring, Yusuke pointed at his opponent; a smirk suddenly forming along his lips…but there was also something in his eyes that wasn't there before…
"Get on your feet," he called angrily, "I'm firing one last shot with all I got, and it's gonna end this fight one way or another. So no more stupid surprises or fakes. You show me everything you've got right now. If I win this time…
"I don't ever want to see you back up."
Toguro sat there for a moment before he smirked and slowly lifted himself up out of the surrounding rubble. With his hand, he easily cracked his neck back into place.
"Oh my!" Koto shouted, with a hint of small disgust, "Toguro is back up, realigning his head with the sturdiness of an action figure!"
Jin gaped, "A crazy one!" he cried in alarm.
The ice master furrowed his brow uncertainly, "Don't tell me Toguro is completely unharmed after that attack!"
"I'll tell ya, he's a total freak!" Rinku exclaimed.
The apparition below smirked as he watched Yusuke glaring furiously at him, "The eyes of determination…" he mused aloud, "I've encountered them many times on glory-seeking fools, and I always give their owners what they ask for. Nearly always it's a fight with me, and when I see they truly want it, I'm obliged to kill…But you've actually asked me to give it all I have…
"So be it."
Suddenly, the bones in his body began to crack…as the muscles attached to them bulged once again.
The announcer's eyes widened, "I thought we'd covered this, but Toguro seems to be making another increase!"
Toguro screamed suddenly and clenched his fists. His body bulged as if was going to explode from the mere power he was generating within himself. The area along his shoulders morphed and began to cover his head, expanding also out over his arms like armor. The muscles along his body rippled; deforming the apparition entirely. He screamed again as the flesh along his legs bulged. The strain tore at his pants and ripped apart the shoes along his feet…
As the transformation came to a close, it became apparent that if there had been any human-like qualities in Toguro's previous form…they weren't there anymore.
The apparition smirked again, "I admit I haven't been truthful. What I've always said was a hundred was more like eighty-five…"
Rinku gritted his teeth, "Aw man…"
"To fully become a master of a trade, you must commit your all to it and throw everything else away," he continued and pointed at Urameshi, "If you don't have the guts to do that, you will never be more than a groundling."
Yusuke narrowed his eyes, "Ksht. Damn you're stupid…" he muttered, "You didn't throw it away."
The apparition glared.
"You just ran away from it," he continued darkly, "Like a frightened little child."
Toguro's eyes narrowed and Yusuke grabbed his wrist with his hand; the index finger on his right pointing down towards the ground below him.
"I won't run and I won't let go."
He raised his hand and a spark of blue energy flickered at his finger.
I'm doing just what you said, Genkai…I'm caring about you jerks all the way…
Urameshi gritted his teeth as a blue aura suddenly swirled around him. The piercing azure light enveloping the stadium in its hazy glow. There was a gust of wind whipping at his feet now as it drew all the energy laying wasted in the arena towards him. Wave after wave rushed towards him in a giant blast of energy each time the bullet at his finger tip grew.
I don't care if I never fire a blast again. I don't care if I die...The only thing I want to do now is make this shot with all the power I have!
The chi surrounding him was being absorbed by the mass. The wind was fiercer than ever as it whipped around the detective and raced through his body towards the glow at his fingertip. But by now the bullet was nearly exploding in its size as it now nearly doubled in Yusuke's height. Beneath him, the ground rumbled furiously as if it would give way at any second with its support now being drawn towards the detective.
Rinku stared in wonder, "Look at that!" he cried.
"Our cobber is makin' a last stand," the violet-haired apparition said quietly…
Toguro gritted his teeth as his eyes flared in anticipation. And he screamed suddenly. The energy continued to flow into Urameshi's bullet, but the apparition gripped his fists at his side. Youki exploded from his body in one massive force and whipped through the air to counter Yusuke's power. The dark mist swirled demonically around him as he continued to push more and more energy into the air around him.
A fierce lightning crackled between the two fighters from the clashing energies…
Kurama watched them with gritted teeth, "They'll put their full powers against each other…"
The demigod furrowed his brow nervously, "I guess all we can do now is pray and let the man upstairs decide…"
Koto's hand was shaking as she gripped her microphone excitedly, "Whichever way this turns out—!"
"It's definitely the end…" Botan finished quietly.
The air was filled with the sounds of their screaming as the powers clashing in the arena became unbelievable. Urameshi's eyes were wide in fury as the orb at his finger continued to grow. The piercing light from Yusuke's spirit gun was blinding as it managed to envelope the entire island as well…The ground trembled nervously as if it too anticipated the outcome of this final blow.
"Right Yusuke!" Chuu shouted into the flaring energy, "Give him all you got!"
"Their energies are both pushed to the max!" the shorter apparition gaped.
"And not just, Rinku!" the wind master cried, "Righty up ta' max and beyond!"
Touya gritted his teeth, "They're putting their lives on this on final attack!"
Urameshi screamed again.
Kurama clenched his fist, "Yusuke!"
He was still raging into the swirling cyclone around him; his hand shaking from the strength it took to hold on to the bullet at his fingertip.
…her hand…
It was there…
…He could feel it encasing his own…
…Mai…
—"Aishiteru…Yusuke…"
His eyes widened wrathfully as he screamed again into the air and as a final rush of energy flowed through him…
This one's for you.
"I love you…Yusuke"—
"REI GAN!"
The attack erupted. It enveloped the entire stadium with its blinding aura and the sense of pure power. The bullet ripped through Yusuke's finger and pushed him back; he staggered and braced himself against its power as it literally ripped across the arena. He screamed again as the energy charged through him…it was only Mai's energy that kept him going.
Through his finger now came bolts of golden light. They shot over his original attack and enveloped the blast in an aura of gold; crackling dangerously as spirit bullet strengthened in its size. Yusuke gritted his teeth as he struggled to hang on.
Toguro roared out furiously as he charged out to meet the attack. He cried out in rage as he through out a hand to try and stop it.
He grunted as the muscles along his back bulged from the strain. Despite his attempts, he suddenly slid backwards. And as he continued to hold on to the blast, blood spurted from his hand and Toguro screamed in rage as dark electricity crackled along his arm. He furiously gritted his teeth as he thrust his other hand against the glowing bullet.
"Toguro's barely holding it back!" Kuwabara cried.
The demigod beside him nodded almost in awe, "Yes, it is unusual seeing him on the defensive."
Urameshi gritted his teeth against the force pushing back against him while the apparition on the other side of his attack did the same; he didn't dare lessen his hold on the attack.—
Suddenly the detective's eyes widened and he gasped.
It was then that the energy flowing through him began to die away…
"He's fading!" Kurama shouted frantically.
As he spoke, the remainder of Yusuke's energy depleted and vanished. The detective gasped for air suddenly as he stood breathing heavily…and he finally dropped to his knees. He watched helplessly at his attack now that it was on its own…
For a moment, Sakyo stood with a grin across his face…but that suddenly faded when he realized that apparition was still holding on to the orb of glowing energy…and it was steadily pushing him backwards.
"Toguro has not released himself from the spirit gun yet…" Hiei pointed out.
"But if this blast isn't enough to make him fall, Urameshi will have no power left to fight him!" Kuwabara realized with a jolt, "He won't stand a chance after that!"
Koenma clenched his fist as he gnawed at the end of his pacifier, "Come on Yusuke! Make the thing work!"
But the detective could only watch powerlessly as Toguro held off his attack…
The apparition grunted as the blast continued to force him back. His muscles bulged suddenly, and blood erupted from his back after much toil and strain…
Jin's eyes grew wide, "He's losin' it!" he cried.
Toguro's feet dug fiercely into the earth as he tried to fight back. But as the blast continued to push him further and further towards the edge of the stadium, he suddenly screamed as he managed to wrap his arms around the monstrous attack. In desperation now, he steadily began to crush the glowing bullet against him…but his body began to crack in the process. He screamed again as the blast grew smaller and smaller—
Until it finally vanished within Toguro's grasp.
The remaining energy evaporated into the air in a wisp of blue light…
And a heavy, stun-filled silence weighed down over the stadium.
The apparition stood hunched over, breathing heavily; his body scorched and steaming. He stood frozen as if the attack had left him paralyzed, but his body shuddered with each breath he took.
A flash of defeat crossed over Yusuke's weary eyes…
He grunted and fell forward into the earth.
Koto stared wide-eyed in disbelief, "Its…it's over…" she whispered.
Toguro straightened slowly; his body creaking as if it were ready to give way at any second. His foot stepped outward, as did his other foot until he was well on his way towards the detective on the other side of the arena.
Steadily, he came to a halt in front of him; a smile etched along his deformed face.
"I killed Genkai…but one remained…" he said quietly as a trickle of blood streamed down the corner of his mouth and he continued to smile, "And now that surviving piece can at last be put to rest…"
All of a sudden, crevices appeared all along the apparition's body.
They race all along his arms and shoulders and seemed to all congregate at the center of his face.
Sakyo stared in horror, "This…is not good…"
Toguro continued to watch the detective at his feet.
"Thank you again…Yusuke Urameshi…"
His eyes widened. With a cry and a sound that could have been mistaken for breaking glass, fragments of his body shattered into the air around him. The shards that broke away left nothing more than his true body hiding beneath the shell…
The body staggered.
This was the first time I could use my absolute strength…and you answered.
It was the only way it could end…
His body toppled; dropping to the ground and sliding across the dusty arena…
A horrible silence filled the air…
Keiko stared wide-eyed down at the base of the stadium, "…Yusuke…?"
The kitsune announcer blinked slowly, "That's…hard to call…" she said.
"They're both out?" Koenma cried in disbelief.
Kazuma gritted his teeth, "Urameshi…"
From a little ways off, and behind a rather large chunk of the former ring, Juri stepped out of hiding nervously. She made her way carefully towards the fallen bodies and leaned over Toguro's—only to cry out in alarm when she saw the state it was in…
What might have finally passed as human was no more. The skin along his body had gone white and was peeling off; if there had been any of his bones visible, it would have been difficult to tell…
But as the announcer studied the state of Toguro's body, a single intake of air swept across the stadium.
…even Hiei had a grin etched along his face.
"Juri!" Koto shouted frantically, "Behind you!"
She whirled…and blinked.
Yusuke staggered as he lifted himself off of his knees. With a final call of strength, he was at last able to stand his ground and he stood; staring rather…sadly at the ground beneath him…
"He did it!" Koenma cried.
The akage beside him let out a small sigh of relief, "Yusuke…"
Hiei snorted, "Hn."
Botan suddenly latched onto Shizuru's arm excitedly, "We can go home now, Shizuru!" she cried in her joyous celebration.
Kazuma carefully cradled the guardian's lifeless body and his eyes narrowed darkly, "Yeah…but at what cost…?"
The kitsune announcer hopped over the railing separating her from the fighting arena. Yusuke merely stared at the ground in front of him; the emotion within his eyes drawing a blank.
Koto raced towards Juri's side and in unison, they raised they're hands above their heads.
"WINNER OF THE TOURNAMENT! TEAM URAMESHI!"
-:-
:Far better it is to dare mighty things,
To win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure,
Than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that neither knows victory nor defeat:
Theodore Roosevelt