Hey, I'm back again. Still trying to get these chapters up faster. How fast depends on 2 things – 1) how long it takes me to write them, and 2) how long it takes Kagome to edit them.
Hikari: Maybe you shouldn't have Kagome-san edit them.
WFD: Nah, I need her to look it over. Otherwise I might screw up on the IY characters. She's my IY expert after all.
Hikari: I see. I guess it's my turn to do the disclaimer. Our beloved creator does not own Yu Yu Hakusho, InuYasha, X 1999, or any other anime/manga she may decide to put in here. She also does not own Leiko, Shina, Kanaye, Kazuo, Mana, and Nano. They belong to her friends, Inu and Kagome. She owns us, the ones who are the kids of the Yu Yu Hakusho and X 1999 characters.
Chapter 6
Sakura sat quietly in the back of the classroom, gazing out the window. This was the last day of classes for the trimester. Summer break was about to start. However, while most of the class was looking forward to a month away from school, Sakura wasn't. The beginning of break meant the intensive training would start.
Sakura couldn't help but wonder who they'd be training under after spending the weekends for the past month and a half with everyone's parents. She felt kinda bad for her friends, most of who had never gone through any kind of rigorous training before. The Higurashi twins, along with Mana, Nano, Shina, and Kanaye, were already used to working hard, while the Minaminos never had any real training. Everyone had a lot to do. Inuyasha was in charge of training those who couldn't fight physically, or needed improvement, while Kuwabara and Miroku taught Spiritual Awareness, and Kagome and Subaru taught Spiritual Energy. Sango and Kagome were now actually pregnant, about a month or so along. Because of that, Miroku didn't want Sango helping with any physical training.
For Sakura, the weekend training sessions were nothing compared to Baa-san's training. She had basically gone through the same training her father did when he was Genkai's pupil. Of course Baa-san might have gone a little lighter on her than Yusuke, but it was still tough. She was sure than even Inuyasha hadn't trained his kids as hard as Genkai trained her. Then there was Ryu, who was trained by his father to survive under a tyrant king. He was used to being constantly alert, growing up in Makai. Sakura sighed as she stared into space. This was going to be an interesting couple of weeks.
Sakura was woken from her day-dreaming by the sound of the teacher's voice calling her. She quickly made her way to the front of the room to get her report card. After she returned to her seat, she carefully opened it, peaking inside. She had done better than she thought. Lots of Bs and one A for Phys Ed. Not bad for someone who hadn't been in a normal school for a long time.
The teacher called the name of the final student, then dismissed everyone soon after. Hundreds of students piled out of Nadeshiko Academy, excited about the coming break. Sakura quickly met up with Leiko and Kazuo outside their homeroom, along with Shina, Kanaye, Anzu, Kaori, Hina, and Touya. The teens shared their grades as they made their way home. Everyone would be meeting up at the train station at 8 AM to embark on their 'training adventure', as Kanaye sarcastically put it. So she wouldn't be late, Sakura was staying over with the Higurashis. Shina's family, along with Nano and Mana, was also staying there. Sakura also got the chance to meet another member of this Higurashi family – a teenage fox demon named Shippo. Shippo was adopted by Kagome after his parents were killed by someone Inuyasha called the Thunder Brothers, and now lived with Sango and Miroku in the Feudal Era. After dinner, it was decided that no one was going to sleep, since they would never get up for the train if they did. So everyone stayed up, using any kind of caffeine they could get their hands on. It was an interesting night, to say the least. They spent most of it playing video games, with Sakura whipping everyone's asses at the fighting games.
At 7:30, the small group arrived at the train station so Inuyasha and Kagome could get everyone's tickets. Shina and Mana had gone with Kazuo and Nano to get everyone coffee, while Kanaye went to chase pretty girls. Leiko and Sakura decided to sit on one of the benches and wait for everyone. As they waited for their coffee, Anzu and Kaori arrived with the Sumergais, along with a miko in her early twenties that Sakura hadn't seen in a long time. She had long, raven hair that came to her knees, and purple eyes. She wore a traditional red miko outfit that hid her lean frame, and a red jeweled Mars symbol hanging from the gold chain around her neck.
"Rei-oneechan!" Sakura exclaimed as the group drew closer. The young woman smiled gently at Sakura and embraced the younger girl in a hug.
"It's good to see you again Sakura," Rei Hino said, laughing gently at her.
"Rei-san, you know Sakura-chan?" asked Anzu, who was standing behind Rei.
"Yes," answered Rei. "She came to the temple I used to live at all the time."
"Ah, I see," exclaimed Anzu.
Rei gave Sakura a quick kiss on the top of her head, whispering, "You're looking well. Come visit me when you return."
"Hai!" Sakura exclaimed happily.
The remainder of the group finally arrived, and everyone boarded the train for their summer training session. But none of them knew where they were going. The train ride was fairly peaceful, except for Leiko and Kaneda's occasional bickering that was quickly stopped by Inuyasha. Sakura slept most of the trip, only waking when the box lunches came. Her dreams were pleasant for a change, mostly about her time spent with Baa-san and Ryu at the temple. Kuwabara woke her up when they finally reached their destination. The group departed the train and boarded a bus. They rode the bus for about a half hour through a mountain pass. As they rode along, Sakura got the strangest feeling she had been there before. As they neared their stop, the surrounding area became more and more familiar. It didn't hit her until they got off the bus that Sakura had indeed been there before. She knew this place.
The motley group of adults and teenagers still had a bit of a walk after departing the bus. After about 10 minutes, they reached a stone staircase leading up to an old temple. Sakura's eyes lit up and she dashed happily up the hill, causing everyone to stare at her. Turning around to them, she called for them to hurry up. Everyone laughed at her, and the other teens quickly dashed up the stairs, leaving their parents in their dust.
When the teens finally reached the top of the stairs, they were greeted by the weirdest creature they ever saw. Staring at them was a large blue bird resembling a phoenix with a tuff a black hair, and thin, dangling doggie ears on its head. It continued to stare at the group as they all entered defensive stances. None of them knew where Sakura had disappeared to, and their parents had yet to make it up the stairs. Seeing them tensed up, the creature stood up on its legs, spread out its wings, and let out a loud shriek.
"Puu-papa, quit it," came Sakura's voice from behind the creature.
Everyone looked to see Sakura coming out of the temple behind the beast. Next to her was a very short old woman, dressed in a red and purple old fashioned fighting outfit. Her face was covered in wrinkles, and her eyes looked tired and dull, like she had just woken up. Sitting on Sakura's shoulder was another strange creature. This one was a small pink Eastern dragon with shiny pink wings, eating a cookie with its front two talons.
"Puu," cooed the large bird as Sakura came up to pet it. It nuzzled her shoulder as she wrapped her arms around its neck in a hug.
The teens relaxed and made their way towards Sakura.
"What the hell is that thing!" Kaneda shouted, pointing at Puu.
"That's Puu." Stated the old woman in a gravely voice. "He's a Spirit Beast."
"And you are?" asked Hina, standing behind Kaneda.
"I am Genkai," the old woman introduced herself. "And I will be your teacher for the summer."
Kaneda burst out laughing, while Hina and Hikari giggled at the idea. Kazuo, Kanaye, Nano, and Touya gave each other puzzled looks, while Kaori and Leiko gave the old woman a look over, Leiko with a raised eyebrow.
"You sure you can even move ok, Baa-Baa?" Leiko asked Genkai sarcastically.
"Leiko!" chastised her mother, Kagome, now that the parents had finally reached the top of the stairs.
"I told you this was a bad idea." Inuyasha whispered to Kuwabara.
"Don't doubt Genkai-san," came a voice from behind the adults. Everyone turned to see Ryu standing at the top of the staircase.
"Why is that?" asked Mana.
Ryu jumped and landed next to Sakura, hands in the pockets of his jeans. "'Cause she trained Sakura."
"You trained Sakura-chan!" Shina exclaimed in surprise.
"I did." Stated Genkai.
"She trained Papa as well." Sakura said happily, while Puu cooed at the mention of his master.
All the teens now looked at Genkai in awe. This old woman trained Sakura?
"Well then I guess you can't be that weak if you trained Sakura," commented Kanaye.
"You got that right brat." Genkai said as she walked among her newest students, sizing up their strengths and weaknesses. She finally stop next to Sakura and turned back to the group.
"Ok, you're training will start tomorrow. You can spend the rest of today getting to know this temple. It will be your home for the next month." Genkai sighed as she walked back into the temple, the parents following her. Well, all except Kuwabara. He went over to investigate Ryu, who was standing next to Sakura in the middle of the group of teens. The boy looked familiar, but Kuwabara still couldn't place where he knew the boy.
"Who are you?" Kuwabara said suspiciously, pointing at Ryu.
"Ryu." He answered in a manner that reminded Kuwabara of someone. "And, by your mop of orange hair, I'd guess you're the baka?"
"What did you say you little shit!" Kuwabara yelled, grabbing Ryu by the collar of his t-shirt, making Puu coo angrily, and Hina yell to her father to put Ryu down.
"You are." Ryu said calmly. "Otou-san said I'd get that reaction out of you."
"Otou-san?" Kuwabara asked, letting go of the younger boy. "Who..?"
Then it hit Kuwabara who Ryu reminded him of. "Are you … Hiei's son?"
"Hn," was all Ryu had to say for Kuwabara to know that it was Hiei's flesh and blood standing in front of him. Everything about the boy was Hiei. His posture, eyes, mannerisms, and taste in cloths were all just like Hiei's. Kuwabara laughed to himself and surprised everyone by embracing Ryu in a hug.
"Nice to meet ya nephew!"
"Nephew!" Hina's jaw dropped at her father's last comment. "What they hell are talking 'bout Tou-san!"
Kuwabara snickered once again after he let go of Ryu. "This kid's dad is your mom's twin brother, making him your cousin." He then left the teens to themselves to join the other parents.
Sakura giggled, and offered to show everyone where they were gonna be sleeping for the next month. One by one, the teens left the courtyard, until Ryu and Puu were the only ones left. Puu cooed at the young fire demon, looking around the now quiet temple.
"I know Puu," Ryu said as he petted the Spirit Beast's beak. "Things are gonna get very interesting this summer."
Ryu was right; things did get very interesting that summer, at least from his point of view. To everyone else, it was torture. Genkai worked the teens from sun up to sun down. She put them through a routine similar to the one she and Kurama put Chu and the others through during the six months before the first Makai Tournament. Of course, nearly everyone hated it. They were so glad to finally leave near the end of August. But they were now stronger than before and could probably handle the Dark Knights with little problem.
When the first day of the new trimester came, everyone was more than happy to go to school. The day went like most school days, and the end soon came. Leiko and Sakura both had to stay after, because they had forgotten their summer homework. The two had decided to walk through an old construction site as a short cut to the Higurashi house.
"Why the hell do teachers have to give homework during summer vacation?" Leiko complained as they walked through the construction site. "I mean don't they know summer is a time of fun, not work?"
Sakura sighed. "I sometimes wish we had a school year like American kids do. Summer doesn't fall between the trimesters."
Leiko laughed, "Yeah that would be cool. I wish I could miss school like my mom did."
"Yeah, Mama would yell at me if I missed school," Sakura said. "She's a stickler for it."
Leiko gave Sakura a puzzled look. "How come we've never met your Kaa-san? I mean we met your Baa-san, but not her."
Sakura turned her eyes to the ground, trying to hide any tears that might form. "That's 'cause … Mama's … been in a coma … since I was five."
Leiko was at first very uncomfortable at the tears that were escaping from Sakura's eyes. She had never seen her look so helpless before. Sakura always seemed like she was so strong and in control. The Sakura standing in front of Leiko right now was more like a frightened child.
"Hey," Leiko said as she put a reassuring hand on Sakura's shoulder, causing Sakura to look up with her tear-filled eyes. "If you don't wanna talk I won't make ya, but when you're ready, I'll be there to listen."
Sakura wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her uniform. "Thanks Leiko-chan."
"No prob," Leiko laughed. "Hey, why don't I buy you ice cream to make up for making ya cry?"
"Hai!" Sakura said happily. However, the happy moment was interrupted by an evil aura covering the construction site. Both girls took up defensive stances, back to back, trying to locate the source of the energy they were feeling.
"You think it's Knights?" Leiko asked as she whipped out her sword, Kigaisaiga.
"No," Sakura answered. "It's too strong to be theirs. Plus it's concentrated. Theirs is usually spread out to cover their numbers."
"So we're only facing one guy?" Leiko smirked. "This should be easy."
"I wouldn't get cocky Leiko-chan," Sakura warned. "We don't know what we're up against. I've never felt youki like this before."
Suddenly the two girls were hit with four blast of dark youki, knocking Leiko into the crane behind them, and Sakura into a pile of concrete farther away. Both girls hit the ground hard. As they tried to get to their feet, they heard a low laughter, and a long shadow appeared. Both looked up to see a bird-like demon standing before them. It was about 8 feet tall with a wing span of about 10 feet. Its lean body was covered in black feathers, accents of gold on its knees, forearms, torso, and claws. The feathers in its wings were a mixture of gold, red, and purple. There was also a large golden wheel protruding from the creature's shoulder blades, and a long black tail dragging behind it. Piercing red eyes stared at the two teens, while a smirk played on the demon's beaked mouth.
"Two little troublemakers all alone," the creature spoke in a high pitched voice. "What ever will they do?"
"What … are you?" Leiko struggled to get up, using her sword for support.
"I am but a humble servant of my lady. You may call me Bahamut." Bahamut took out a long and flamboyant bow, licking his beak in the process. "You look very tasty, doggie. Maybe I should have a bite."
In a flash, Bahamut had Leiko pinned to the crane by her shoulders, digging his clawed talons into them. Leiko let out a low growl, and attempted to cut off the demon's arms with Kigaisaiga. However, Bahamut simply pinned the arm she was holding her sword in with one of his massive talon feet. He then sunk his claws even deeper into Leiko's shoulders, causing her to cry out in pain. Sakura had finally dug herself out of the concrete pile, and was advancing on Bahamut, an earth dragon at her side. However, Bahamut sent four more balls of dark youki at her, disintegrating the dragon and sending Sakura flying into the scaffolding. His high pitched laugh filled the construction site as the scaffolding fell on top of Sakura. Her school uniform was torn into near pieces, and blood was flowing from the several deep cuts that now covered her small frame, but Sakura did not give up; again, she charged at Bahamut, and again she was thrown back by the dark youki balls.
Leiko continued to struggle against her captor, but to no avail. Bahamut simply increased the pressure on Leiko's shoulders and smacked her legs with his whip-like tail. His last attack on Sakura had nearly crippled her, and she lay only a few feet behind the demon, watching as he tortured her friend. Anger at both herself and at Bahamut swelled within her. Tears again filled her eyes as she attempting, in vain, to move any part of her body, but she couldn't. She couldn't do anything. Leiko was going to die and then she would be next. She heard Leiko screaming and Bahamut laughing. Then silence. The horrible silence. Mouths were moving, the wind was blowing, and the crane was falling apart under the pressure of Bahamut's weight. But Sakura could hear none of it. It was just like in her nightmares. Then she heard it yet again. From the depths of her soul it came, louder than ever before:
"Let me out!"
Leiko cried out again as Bahamut's claws dug down to her bones. The demon laughed as he lapped up the blood flowing from the hanyou's chest and arms.
"Perhaps it is time I finish you. Before you get cold, that is," Bahamut laughed in his shrilled voice. "Doggies taste very bad when cold."
Bahamut smirked as he went to take a bite out of Leiko's neck. She closed her eyes, waiting for the end to come. But instead of feeling sharp teeth piercing her skin, she heard flesh being ripped apart by metal, and a gasping sound coming from Bahamut. She cautiously opened her eyes, and was shocked at what laid before her.
Bahamut had been impaled through the stomach by an unseen combatant with a lobster claw like blade. Shock spread across the demon's bird-like face as his grip upon Leiko's shoulders loosened enough for her to break free. She fell and hit the ground hard, nearly passing out from the amount of blood she had lost. On the verge of passing out, she saw Bahamut being raised into the air, still impaled on the strange weapon. Now Leiko could see more of the weapon. It was a type of polearm, the claw like blade attached to a purple staff, shaped like a roman column with a black, flat bottom cone sticking out of the end. But it was the person holding the staff that shocked Leiko the most. A pair of violent purple eyes stared into space as the same hate-filled color surrounded Leiko's savior in a powerful aura, but the color didn't look right, it wasn't her eyes or her aura, because standing in front of Leiko was someone who shouldn't be. Leiko gathered up just enough strength to ask her savior one question.
"Sakura-chan?"
Sorry for the very, very long wait. So what do you think? I know, I know, I'm bad with the cliff hangers. But I mean, come on, I gotta create the suspense. The strange voice will be explained in the next chapter. And maybe where it comes from. Not sure about that yet. Well, as always please, review. And again I will try harder to get the chapters up faster. Ja ne.