Chapter 29: Where Destinies Collide

Kuwabara knew something had changed the moment the phone rang. A nervous chill ran down his spine before he even knew what sound he was hearing. The thin lead of his mechanical pencil snapped as his hand shuddered, messing up the next equation for his math homework. He'd gotten these kinds of phone calls before. For a whole year, after Yusuke and Hiei ran off to Demon World, Kurama and Miwa were the only ones who bothered keeping him in the loop. They were both busy doing their own thing, and they couldn't get too much firsthand insight into Yusuke and Hiei, but at least they popped in every now and then to catch up. As anyone would expect, Yusuke and Hiei were both training hard and getting stronger. Kurama rose through the ranks of Gandara, and Miwa started on a path to the truth about her oath. Even if he could help them, Kuwabara was also busy living his very human life, and he couldn't slow down. After months of late-night studying, he'd just barely passed as an alternate for his high school. If his grades ever slipped, he'd be kicked out right away and Shizuru would beat his ass for it. And these days, Kurama and Miwa's frequent updates were his only link back to his friends. The only thing keeping him from feeling truly normal.

Usually they would call, just like that phone ringing outside his door, announcing they were back in town or asking to meet up the next day. But this phone call was different; Kuwabara could feel it in every tingle on his skin. Whether it was for the better or for the worse, he didn't know, but it was something big. Something that would have a huge impact on the future. He listened as the phone rang a second time, his homework completely forgotten now. Shizuru's familiar footsteps drew closer and picked it up after the third ring while Kuwabara held his breath.

She answered, and her next words were the final confirmation that made Kuwabara scramble to his feet. "Oh, hey, Kurama. Long time no talk."

Kuwabara's desk chair toppled over in a loud, clumsy clatter, he threw open his bedroom door and each step slapped against the hallway floor. He rounded the corner, skidding ever so slightly in his socks and nearly crashing into the wall, but he was almost there.

Ahead, Shizuru rolled her eyes and sighed into the receiver, "Yeah, my graceful baby brother is right here."

She held out the phone expectantly, giving him a very stern look. "Don't you dare skip out on your homework because of this," that look said, but Kuwabara dismissed it and snatched up the phone. He pressed it against his ear, gasping out, "Hey, man, what happened?"

"Are you alright?" Kurama's very calm voice asked, "You're out of breath."

Kuwabara shook his head, forgetting Kurama couldn't see it. "Just had a feeling, is all. That this was something important."

Silence for a moment, and then Kurama chuckled. "Your Spiritual Awareness is as sharp as ever, Kuwabara."

"Is it bad?"

"...Not really." A pause. "Let's call it cautious optimism."

"Are you and Miwa back on Earth?"

"No, we're still in Demon World. Things are about to be very different, Kuwabara. For now, the Human World is safe, but the stalemate between the three lords has finally ended."

"...So, he died, huh?" Kuwabara said gravely, "Urameshi's ancestor."

"Yes, but Yusuke managed to keep things from getting out of control."

Kurama explained everything, but it was a long story. He recounted Yusuke's visit to Yomi, how close they were to an assassination order, and Yusuke's surprise proposal for a tournament. But not just any tournament. A tournament to decide the next ruler of all Demon World. Kurama explained his betrayal, how he used the warriors he gathered to force Yomi's hand. He explained that Mukuro, who had been watching the visit all along, readily agreed to participate. In just one day, the three governing bodies of Demon World were completely dismantled, ending the centuries old stalemate, and every demon out there now represented themselves. The highest ruling position in Demon World's history was up for grabs, and anyone could take charge.

"...Wow," Kuwabara said. During the story, he stretched out the phone cord so he could sit comfortably on the ground. Shizuru walked by occasionally, giving him a warning look each time that went ignored. "Do you think Urameshi planned it out like that?"

"I'm not sure, but things always seem to work out in his favor. He hasn't changed at all, you know."

"That's good to hear. So, are you all competing?"

"Yes. Some of the warriors are very eager to fight Yusuke."

Kuwabara frowned. "I dunno if that's the best motive in a tournament to decide the next ruler…"

Another chuckle. "Well, whether it's the best or not, it's undeniably a powerful motivator. And I'd rather have a friend be motivated by that and go far in this tournament than someone with crueler intentions."

"I guess so." Kuwabara absentmindedly twirled the phone cord around his finger. "So, in the end, you're still fighting against each other."

"Yes, but now it's on our own terms. Not by following orders."

"What about Miwa? She used to talk about how she didn't want to fight Urameshi and Hiei."

Kuwabara heard all about Miwa's adventures over the past year. He especially liked the story of the giant shikigami bird. It was like something out of a monster movie, even though Miwa wasn't nearly as enthusiastic telling it, and it was a fun glimpse outside of the political sphere in Gandara. The last time Kuwabara saw Miwa was a few days before she and Kurama returned to prepare for Raizen's death. It was only the two of them and a very short meeting at a cafe to bring him up to speed and announce their upcoming departure. No interesting stories were told that day, unfortunately, but to Kuwabara she seemed really uncertain. Miwa's last task under her oath was ending soon, he realized, and she still hadn't figured everything out. He remembered her sitting across from him at the cafe's booth, fiddling with a small hot chocolate in her hands. He had already finished his coffee, but Miwa hardly touched her drink, and it wasn't like her to appear so vulnerable. He'd seen her deplete her life energy just to win a fight, and she then came stumbling back with a smile and an ironic joke. Kuwabara considered asking if she was okay, but before he could say anything, she took the initiative herself, like it was the real reason she wanted to meet that day.

"Have you ever gone back on your code?" she asked. She was serious, ready for any answer he could give.

So Kuwabara thought about it; really thought about it. "No, I don't think so. I guess a situation where I'd have to never came up." Then, he remembered a passing thought he had kept to himself from the day Miwa told him about Shirai's lie. It never seemed like the right thing to say, until that moment. "But in your case," he said carefully, wanting this to come out right, "if things changed enough and a code doesn't do any good for anyone, then maybe it's not a code worth keeping anymore."

"That's my problem," Miwa said, slumping over a bit. "I don't know what to do if I don't have this."

He shrugged. "I don't think anybody has their future figured out, even the guys who say they do." Kuwabara, who forced himself to study on the mere hope of getting into high school, didn't know what would come next for him. He could only hope that continuing his studies would present more options when his next path needed to be decided. "Things change all the time, so I think most of us just pick a lane and figure it out along the way, like when Urameshi left to find his ancestor."

Miwa was silent for a moment, contemplating what he said, and then she laughed. Loud and enthusiastic, but it wasn't because what he said was funny. It was a laugh of relief, as if she believed he would have been disappointed in her for renouncing the oath she kept for so long. "You explained that in a much nicer way than Hiei ever did."

"Of course!" Kuwabara huffed and crossed his arms. "He may have a code, but it's just as twisted as he is."

She laughed again, and Kuwabara felt proud. That was the first time that day she seemed genuinely happy, and the rest of their meeting was a nice last memory before she left Human World again. Kuwabara tugged at the telephone cord. Knowing all that had changed since then, and now that her last task was finally over, he wondered if that day in the cafe would be the last time he ever saw her. She'd at least come say goodbye, …right?

Then Kurama cleared his throat, pulling Kuwabara right out of his memories. "She's actually going to compete in the tournament too," he explained. "To be honest, I haven't seen her this eager in a long time. She and Shirai have gone to see her tribe, but they'll be back before the tournament."

"Wha?" Kuwabara crossed his legs and leaned his elbows on his knees. Kurama was so casual about the unexpected news. Last he heard, Miwa had no intention of ever finding her tribe again. "What for? Is that supposed to help her seal problem?"

"I think it will, in its own way."

Kuwabara frowned and pulled the phone away from his ear, staring at it for a second like it was Kurama himself. Something was off, and this wasn't some premonition. "And you're okay with that?"

"Hm? Why wouldn't I be?"

"Well…" Kuwabara pressed his palm against the receiver and glanced around, making sure Shizuru wasn't doing another patrol down the hall to glare him off the phone. When he was sure the coast was clear, he said quietly, "For all we know, she could just run off with this guy. Or find Hiei."

"...If that's what she wants to do."

"No, I mean…" He tried hard not to groan out loud. This wasn't coming out as clearly as he hoped, but he had to say it, man to man. "Look, buddy" he sighed, "I know you really care about her. But if she's gone, she'll never know."

Kurama stammered, a rarity for someone like him. "What do you-"

"C'mon, man. I've only seen you lose your cool a handful of times, and usually it's about her. I just don't get why you haven't said anything. None of her problems now are because she hates you."

Silence for a moment, and Kuwabara wondered if he overstepped. No one told him anything about Kurama's feelings for Miwa, and he never spoke about it until now. But way back when they first met at Maze Castle, his first impression of them told him something was there. And, the more Kuwabara got to know them, the more he believed in his first impression despite Miwa's weird interest in Hiei. Or at the very least, he believed his impression was correct for Kurama. Meanwhile, Kurama was quickly becoming his own worst enemy in that regard, doing everything he could to convince Miwa that she should return to Demon World alone. Kuwabara didn't understand it, and he didn't want to see his friend regret something as permanent as that, so he finally spoke up.

Still, the returning silence was scary, even over the phone, until finally Kurama said, "I'm not giving her another reason to continue all this. She deserves something more."

"But what if this is what she wants?" Kuwabara wasn't sure what "this" meant, or why he even said that, but he felt like he finally touched on something important; the very thing that loomed like a shadow over his friends. Since that day he met Miwa in the cafe, he couldn't shake off the feeling that they were heading in the wrong direction. "And even if it isn't, don't you think she'd want to know to make a fair choice?"

Then, unexpectedly, Kurama laughed. Quiet and disparaging; the opposite of how Miwa laughed at the cafe. "Maybe she would," he said, "but it's better this way. It'll be easier for her to find her way without me around."

"I dunno, man. Something about that doesn't sound right to me."

Kurama chuckled, but it sounded so humorless. "I appreciate your concern, Kuwabara. I really do, but I've put a lot of thought into this, and this is for the best."

Kuwabara sighed, defeated, and leaned back against the wall. "Okay. If you say so," he said, even though it still felt wrong. "I better not see you regretting this later…"

"Don't worry. I won't."

Then, Shizuru stomped over, arms crossed, glaring down at him with a disapproving frown and one cigarette balancing between her tightly pressed lips. A jolt of terror made Kuwabara's stomach do flips, despite no words being exchanged. This was her final warning to get back to work before she beat him up. Kuwabara hurriedly explained that he needed to get off the phone, cowering under Shizuru's fierce stare. Kurama was good-natured about it, seeming to understand the reason behind the sudden change in tone. He apologized for calling so late at night and wished him luck on his schoolwork. Kuwabara thanked him and paused for a moment, briefly considering saying one last thing about Miwa, but then he changed his mind (Shizuru began tapping her foot) and instead returned the wish for luck. Whether it was for the tournament, for things with Miwa, or for the future of Demon World itself, Kuwabara didn't have time to clarify before hanging up, just narrowly avoiding Shizuru snatching the phone herself.

"Sorry, baby bro," she said, "but I know you haven't finished your homework yet."

"I know, I know," Kuwabara groaned, pushing himself to his feet.

He took a couple steps, and then Shizuru asked, with a surprisingly calm voice, "Is everything alright? It sounded more serious than usual."

Kuwabara stopped. The spine-chilling nervousness and anticipation from just hearing the phone ring were long gone, but now he didn't know how to feel. Things weren't bad just yet, and they weren't good, either. But knowing that Urameshi would still be there, at this tournament, and so many fighters - friends even - were eager for the chance just to fight him again, Kuwabara didn't feel worried at all. And even for Miwa, knowing that now she was actively working towards something, eagerly too if Kurama's words were to be believed, was such a relief to hear.

"Everything's fine," Kuwabara said, his own confidence in those words surprising even himself. "I have a feeling things are going to work out."

He grinned at Shizuru, who honestly had no clue what he was talking about, but Kuwabara wanted to keep it that way. She didn't need to worry over this stuff. So, he calmly returned to his room, and finished his homework.

Kuwabara had faith in his friends, so he knew that somehow, some way, everything would be fine in the end.

{00}

There were some things that Shirai was certain would never happen to him again in his lifetime, and he had accepted the loss of those moments. But to his genuine surprise, three of them ended up happening almost at once. The first was an opportunity to travel with Miwa, at her request.

She had come to him, days after Yusuke Urameshi's tournament proposal, and declared, "I'm going to find the Water Apparitions." Her voice was strong and clear, the determination leaps and bounds beyond anything Shirai had sensed in her for quite some time. "There's something I want to tell them, and I'm extending this invitation in case you also have something to say."

This was an invitation Shirai did not expect, and not because of her previous refusal to use his information to see her tribe. He didn't think she would want anything to do with him ever again, let alone travel. Shirai thought all connections between them would end the day he returned her hair ornament, and the rest would simply be work. Yet there she was, standing before him with the ornament in her hair, asking him to go on a journey to confront their shared past once and for all.

Of course, Shirai quickly agreed.

The second thing Shirai was certain would never happen again was standing in the middle of a crowd, Miwa at his side, watching the Water Apparitions perform their dances for an audience. And it was truly a beautiful display, just as graceful and elegant as he remembered it. Many dancers stepped and twirled around the roped-off area they made as their stage, beautiful costumes in many shades of blue and white made of a silky fabric that flowed smoothly through the air as if it were water. Water streams of various shapes, lengths, and thickness all looped and curved to create intricate patterns above their heads. Every now and then, the streams would catch the sun just right to form a brief and tiny rainbow. Shirai enjoyed it. Very much. He watched the performance with his full attention and a small smile as he took in its beauty. Even though they were no longer the focus of his personal research, it made him feel nostalgic for the days he was once allowed to shadow them and observe their life.

Miwa, on the other hand, was far less impressed. "They really haven't changed at all," she muttered, arms folded across her chest.

Neither of them put effort in hiding their faces. Shirai did ask if she wanted to, considering what had happened while she was out searching for Fuura, but Miwa dismissed it without a second thought. She didn't care if they were seen, which made sense, knowing the reason she asked him to come in the first place.

"It's still beautiful," he said, applauding with the audience around him.

"Yeah yeah, maybe they'll rearrange the steps every now and then to make it fresh for the crowds, but it's…" She aimlessly waved her hands, trying to find the right words. "...the forms, the stances, the freaking stories these dances tell. They're all the same."

"Did you truly expect something different from them?"

"...No," Miwa said, slouching over in defeat. "But I guess I'm not a better example of doing something different."

"I don't know about that. You took what they are doing now and transformed it into your own fighting style." He sensed her mood improving immediately. The purity of that emotion made him want to laugh, but he did not dare.

"C'mon. We should go."

Miwa turned around, pushing through the crowd to get away from all this. Shirai sighed and took one last look at the dancers before following her. It really was a beautiful dance, and he could see traces of the same forms and stances in Miwa's movements as she fought. Fondly, he remembered the old days. The two of them, wandering the world with no active pursuers or destination. They went wherever they pleased, figuring out whatever they could about the mizuchi through his own research and Miwa's natural abilities. He remembered the trial and error as Miwa taught herself how to fight with water, and how he kept quiet on the similarities to her old dances, even though Miwa herself was surely aware of them. He remembered her first dizzy spell when she managed to extract water from a bed of flowers, and the way she explored as he conducted new research, like the veil of her old life had been lifted and she could truly see everything for the first time.

They were young and free back then. But oh, how times had changed. Oh, how she had changed, even if she didn't realize it. But it was good. Good change, and Shirai still hadn't told her that.

The final thing that Shirai once believed would never happen again was approaching the Water Apparition's campsite. He had never dared to get close after their fateful escape many years ago. They approached the camp silently under the cover of night, their faces still unmasked, but even in the darkness, they could still see Water Apparitions wandering around the site by torchlight, finishing up various tasks before going to bed. Each step closer increased Shirai's excitement, imagining just what would happen when they were finally in view of Miwa's tribe. What would happen when they were finally spotted and recognized… What would they do? What would they say?

This is what Agata had felt the night Miwa's parents were killed, Shirai recalled. Before killing him, Shirai grasped Agata's face with his bare hand. He wanted to read exactly how that scum remembered that night. However, that night was barely a memory to him; just means to an end to escape a failed attempt at finding pretty women. Shirai found the lack of strong memory reprehensible, if not unsurprising, which was how he initially justified killing him without informing Miwa. But the memories he read conveyed the same excitement Shirai himself now felt. Agata approached the Water Apparition tribe with intent to disrupt their lives, just as Shirai and Miwa were doing now. And Miwa eventually became a criminal, just as he once was. The implicit irony of her goal to right Agata's wrongs had never gone unnoticed, but Shirai knew that Miwa didn't care. Not if she was fulfilling the purpose she found; being useful to the one she believed completed her mission.

That purpose was long gone now. Miwa carried herself with the gait and drive of a person with a plan. A new, reinvigorating mission in life. And yet, she inexplicably still carried the weight and consequences of her past choices.

"...Would they recognize you in your current state?"

Miwa's hair and face had changed since any of her tribe had last seen her. Her hair was still dark, and her eyes did not resemble a snake's. Exactly as it had been for the past four years. If she were not confidently walking around Demon World, anyone could easily assume she was a human. For reasons unknown to anyone but herself, Miwa's seal was still intact.

"They'll know," she answered definitively. "This is the face that dragged their name into the mud."

There was no security around the camp. At best a few men were lazily keeping watch, but they spent more time talking to each other than paying attention to the world around them. This was, of course, expected. The Water Apparitions never trained for battle nor war. Agata's crimes weren't enough to change their ways, even when it risked their personal safety. If Miwa chose to, she could destroy the entire camp with one fell swoop, even with the limited amount of water in her pouch.

But she didn't do that. That wasn't the reason they were here. Instead, as their bodies were slowly illuminated by the torchlight, Miwa cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled, "Hey!"

The sound carried through the night as quick and sudden as a gunshot. The two closest guards were so startled that their entire bodies violently shook. After gathering their wits, they quickly snapped their heads towards the noise, where Miwa and Shirai both stood. Exposed and visible in the dim light, waving their hands with falsely polite smiles. Then, this time the guards shook with fear, immediately recognizing their faces. One of the guards scrambled back into the camp, yelling for the nearest leader, and leaving his partner alone to deal with their unexpected guests. Word spread quickly, and many curious members gathered to see what was going on. Maybe the Dark Tournament infamy was finally starting to work in Miwa's favor, both in getting their attention and confirming what the Water Apparitions already knew about her.

"We're not here to fight," she said once a crowd gathered, and they both raised empty hands. "We just want to talk."

Then, Zaiten appeared. The crowd made way for her to walk smoothly to the front. Long white hair flowing down to her hips, fading both in color and vibrance; she was just as old and decrepit as Miwa remembered. "To think you both would dare show your faces to us again," Zaiten said, her long, wrinkled fingers squeezing the top of her wooden cane. Even her smell was the same. "Haven't you two done enough to hurt my family? With your lies?" She glared first at Shirai, and then turned even more fury to Miwa. "With your crimes and lunatic slander?"

"We just want to talk."

"Nothing you say will mend the bridges you've burned, nor cleanse you of the shame you've brought to us."

"You're mistaken," said Shirai, his hands still raised. "We're not here to mend bridges or cleanse ourselves of shame."

Zaiten frowned, and a wave of nervousness rippled through the bystanders. "Then why are you here? To harm us?"

Another wave of nervousness, and Shirai's thin smile did nothing to alleviate their fears. "We're just here to make ourselves heard."

Zaiten spat on the ground. "Preposterous. We will-"

"It was wrong of me to approach your tribe under false pretenses," Shirai cut in, his thin smile replaced with just his heartfelt truth. "I know there will be no forgiveness or redemption, but I selfishly want this to be known. I do regret my deception."

Miwa rolled her eyes at his side, and he sensed her meaning. If he hadn't approached their tribe, she would never have been able to leave. But, regretting his deception and regretting his actions were two different things, and Shirai did not feel the need to clarify that to the Water Apparitions. Miwa understood the difference, which was all that mattered to him.

Hushed whispers filled the air, but Zaiten spat at the ground again. "Your regret means nothing to us."

"Then what about your shame?" Miwa said, stepping forward, and a few bystanders stepped back at the same time. "You were afraid the 'slander' would come from him. Instead, it all came from me, the tribe member you exiled."

"You are not one of us," Zaiten hissed. "Leave us, now."

Then, to Shirai's genuine surprise, Miwa began to laugh. Loudly and with a big smile on her face, causing more fear to spread. "You're right," Miwa said. "I'm not one of you. I'm the mizuchi now. That is how I am known, to my friends and to my enemies. And thanks to his deception…" Miwa pointed her thumb at Shirai. "...I know what I am. So, disavow me, disown me, say I was an orphan child you picked up in a ditch, or whatever makes you happy. I stopped caring a long time ago." Miwa scanned the crowd, coincidentally making eye contact with one woman standing near the back. She flinched and tugged at her husband's elbow, pulling him along until they both were running away. "But," Miwa added, still smiling, "if anyone has the same questions about this tribe as I once did, then come see me. I won't be hard to find, and I won't withhold anything I've learned."

She turned around, a very graceful turn in Shirai's eyes, and walked away, never once looking back. Shirai was impressed. Returning her hair ornament had brought back lots of memories of how she used to be, and it was a stark contrast to what he was seeing. The girl he once asked to be his accomplice wasn't so brave to stand up to Zaiten like this, only willing to clumsily sneak around at night. When they travelled together, and even after teaching herself how to fight, she used to trail behind him like a small duck chasing its mother, as if his own steps paved the way for her. She had a rebellious side and a slight streak of pettiness, but this was different. The girl before him now told off her entire tribe and walked ahead with direction and conviction. It was a side of her Shirai saw for the first time during the Dark Tournament broadcasts, eventually inspiring him to write his letter. Now that he could see it with his own eyes, he didn't dislike it. So, he politely bade farewell to the tribe in her stead and followed after her, his newfound admiration more satisfying than the relief he expected to feel after his confession.

Maybe he didn't come to apologize to the Water Apparitions. Maybe he just wanted to witness the first steps of Miwa's plan, even if he didn't know what it was.

Behind them was a conglomerate of confusion, indignation, and dumbfounded stuttering. He sensed that, for the most part, their declarations fell on deaf ears. Only time would allow Miwa's offer to seep into their consciousness if it ever did. But despite the dull noise, Zaiten's old, scratchy voice spoke over them all, offering reassurances, denials, and a declaration that anyone who ever sought out the dissenter would never be welcomed home. Shirai heard the exact words he expected. "Lies." "Lunacy." And his favorite: "Heresy."

Miwa could hear them too, and she laughed again. The cap of her pouch popped open, and a long stream slithered out at striking speed. Her right arm swept back, and the stream lashed at the crowd, snapping in front of their faces like a biting snake. There were screams, shouts, and five people fell to the ground, but the chatter stopped immediately. Even Zaiten stumbled back a few steps, and two quick thinkers grabbed her elbows to steady her.

"Relax. We have nothing to do with each other anymore." Miwa's fangs were showing, visible through her smile. "And I only bite when threatened, so if forgetting about me completely makes you happy, then do it."

Shirai watched with wonder. Where did she learn to be this powerful fighter? Was it from her new friends? The influence of a ruthless Spirit Fox? Or…did she learn it herself in her eager search to meet him? He didn't know, but he was glad to be here and witness it.

After that, their mission to visit the Water Apparitions was over, and they left the tribe behind them. The only thing left was to prepare for the upcoming tournament.

Tracking the Water Apparitions to a well-developed city made for more pleasant travels than sneaking across old territory borders, or so Miwa insisted, and the overheard conversations were more fun. It had been about two months since the tournament's formal announcement, quickly bringing them closer to the end of the one hundred days of preparation. Everywhere they went, demons were speculating, theorizing, and even placing bets on who would win. Yomi and Mukuro were obvious popular choices, but what would happen if the two were put against each other early on? Could the crown for ruler of all Demon World be placed on the head of a nameless nobody? Eventually, that potential outcome became widespread knowledge, and more and more demons were signing up to participate, just for the chance of having that crown.

"I never thought you were the type who wanted to rule," Shirai said, swirling his drink around the cup in his hands.

After their bold declarations to the Water Apparition tribe, Shirai and Miwa found a smaller town a few cities away from where the tribe set up camp, found an inn, and decided to spend the night and get some rest. The inn hosted a small restaurant on the ground floor, where they both sat enjoying a drink they saw as a local special. Non-alcoholic, as it was still daylight outside, but its taste was as sharp and strong as any alcohol Shirai had ever tasted. He enjoyed it, but Miwa was unsure, describing it as the liquified scent of human gasoline.

"I'm not particularly interested in that part," Miwa said, setting down her cup with a small grimace. "I want to see the demons who show up, and I think fighting them is the only way I'll really understand their conviction."

"I see. Then, perhaps you and I could meet in the ring."

Miwa raised her head. "I didn't think you were the ruling type either. But you might be good at it, with all you've learned over the years."

"I wouldn't say that. It is highly likely I will lose. I simply wish to witness the future ruler of the Demon World for myself, just like you." He raised his hand slightly. "And perhaps get a quick read on them as well."

Miwa's face hardened. "But you don't need your hands for that, do you? Not anymore."

Shirai's fingers instinctively curled, as if hiding from her accusation in his palm. "You figured it out, then," was all he could say. It felt like admitting defeat, or getting caught red-handed, but a small part of him was also impressed.

"Kurama had his suspicions," she clarified, straightening up. "He said sometimes you'd make such omniscient statements that he had to assume you could read his memories. To some degree, at least."

"...Did he tell you what those statements were?"

Miwa silently contemplated if she should answer and shook her head. "No, but you encouraged him to tell me his full perspective on my oath, and I have no reason to doubt him. I sensed right from the start that you had gotten stronger, so it wouldn't be impossible."

…Shirai wanted to sigh, and he managed to keep it in, but a small frown made his lips twitch. Maybe the Spirit Fox explained his perspective properly, but he still withheld its driving force.

"You're right," Shirai said, uncurling his fingers and laying both hands on the table. "Sometimes, a person's memories are so strong in their mind that, over time, I've learned to…sense them without physical contact. But they are mere flashes, and I cannot always control which ones I sense. It is still far more efficient to use my hands."

Every flick of Miwa's eyes between Shirai's hands and face acted as a visual indicator of the gears turning in her mind. Shirai knew exactly which questions were forming there; everyone wondered the same thing.

"But fear not," Shirai continued, "I can…turn it off, so to speak. I cannot sense any memories right now without my hands. However, I will admit that I was listening in on the Water Apparitions, as a precaution, and sometimes your memories snuck in."

He thought she would ask which of her memories he had seen; it was a natural, instinctive response. Instead, she asked, "Then why were you listening in on Kurama? Did Yomi ask you to?"

"...No, Lord Yomi never asked that." Shirai paused, feeling a bit embarrassed admitting this. "I was simply curious about the demon who became such a pillar in your life."

In truth, Shirai never planned to use this ability on either Miwa or Kurama, but his curiosity got the best of him. Kurama was understandably guarded while staying in Gandara, and Shirai wanted to know what kind of demon would be so worthy of Miwa's loyal devotion. However, what Shirai found was far more interesting: a fascinating combination of buried guilt and careful affection, all centered around her. And during their many meetings together, Shirai came to understand that combination more and more. Of course, many things he sensed were focused on the topics of their meetings, and Kurama made attempts to resist; Shirai was able to sense that. Occasionally, his resistance would give rise to the memory of a demon, an unusual one whose head sprouted from a decapitated human chin, being devoured alive by a grotesque tree. Shirai sensed the significance of that memory, but nothing, not even a mind as sharp as his, can stop memory recall. Every time Shirai mentioned Miwa, all the interesting things came flooding to the surface.

And Shirai wanted to help. He truly did, despite Kurama's wariness towards him. It was like watching his younger self decide to erase Miwa's memory instead of admitting he killed Agata. Each carefully chosen expression of omniscience was meant to encourage Kurama to tell Miwa everything, including how he feels. Too many secrets were kept from her in her life, and Shirai knew just how heavy a secret's weight became over time. No matter how much Kurama convinced himself otherwise, he would inevitably come to regret that decision in time.

Miwa leaned her elbows on the table and cupped her chin in her hands. "A 'pillar' in my life, you say…"

"Yes, and I'm glad to know that now there are other pillars for you."

She furrowed her eyebrows. "Are you talking about Yusuke?"

Shirai nodded. "And not just him. When you were giving your speech earlier, you were thinking about your friends, weren't you? I sensed it in your memory."

He lowered his eyes, a bit ashamed to say it even though he had already admitted to this earlier. But Shirai had sensed flashes of Miwa's friends and the emotion she tied to those memories: her awe at Yusuke proposing the tournament, her admiration for Hiei mastering the Dragon of the Darkness Flame, and her respect for an injured Kuwabara standing up to fight against Risho of Team Masho. Inspirational memories of friends she admired that gave her courage.

Miwa uncupped her chin and looked down at her hands. "Yeah, I guess I was." She laughed a bit, perhaps remembering something Shirai could no longer sense. "They showed me who I am underneath my oath. If I can't be more true to that, then I don't think I'd deserve to call them my friends…"

Shirai thought carefully about what she said, grabbed his drink, and took a sip. It had gotten a bit lukewarm since this conversation began. Her hair was still dark, and her eyes still looked human. Shirai could both see and sense that her seal was intact, but its hold on her energy was now the weakest he had ever sensed it. Miwa was moving forward and accepting her independence. This trip to confront the Water Apparitions, for a reason Shirai didn't fully understand, was part of that journey.

"Miwa," Shirai said slowly. "Why did you invite me out here with you?" The question had been on his mind from the moment he accepted her invitation. "This wasn't just about offering me a chance to speak to the Water Apparitions. Not too long ago, you were furious with me. And rightfully so, but here we are, as if I had never betrayed your trust in me."

Miwa neither smiled nor frowned. Shirai had no idea what she was thinking. "Are you dissatisfied?" she asked.

Shirai shook his head. "I didn't think you would ever forgive me, let alone want to travel with me, so why…?" He trailed off. That question wasn't the important part. "Is all this part of your journey to free yourself from the seal?"

She remained completely still for a moment, but then a small smile crept its way onto her lips. "I suppose coming out here was part of that journey, but that's not why I invited you." She sat up in her chair, far more content with herself than she was a few minutes ago. "I decided to forgive you for killing Agata, and even for lying to me."

"...What? But I-"

"I have never resented you for setting me on this path, Shirai. I was…embarrassed, maybe, for using what you taught me to become a criminal. When I read your letter, I thought you hated me for it. But then, I was so angry about the lie that I…I didn't put much thought into why you did it."

"I…" He clenched his fist. "I acted irrationally, and I regret taking away your agency, but I did it because I loved you. I wanted to set you free." …Past tense. He used past tense.

"I know," she said, her nod gentle and kind, "I should have said all this sooner, but that is why I invited you. If I am going to move forward, I need to let go of my anchors, right? So, if you ever need me…" She reached out her hand. "...I'm still willing to be your accomplice."

Shirai stared at her palm, mere inches away from his own. He remembered the day she first reached out to him, allowing him to read her memories. It was her way to demonstrate her trust. Without realizing it, Shirai saw his own gloved hand had moved closer to hers, acting on his desire to know what she was planning for the end of her journey. Then, after thinking carefully, Shirai pulled his hand away.

"I don't need to read your memories to know you're on a better path now, Miwa." Shirai noticed that he was also smiling. "I hope you find what you're looking for at the tournament."

He felt warm and light; the weight of his guilt lifted thanks to her forgiveness. Finally, his duty to her was truly over. Shirai didn't expect this happy outcome the day he wrote his letter, but despite all he has learned over the years, there were still things that could come as a surprise. The world was changing before his very eyes. And for the first time since all demons began representing themselves, Shirai began to wonder what would be next for him. He didn't know, but the unknown had never frightened him. He only hoped that, by the end of this life-changing tournament, the outcasts he and Miwa once were would finally find the places they were each meant to be.

After that, his final wish for Miwa would be complete.

Then, Miwa suddenly asked, "What are your plans after all this? You already said that you don't expect to win."

Shirai tilted his head to think it over. "It is hard to say without knowing who the victor will be, but I suppose if Lord Yomi still needs my services, then I would not mind being in his employ again."

"Really? I thought you might have been done with him since you managed to find me."

"No, I…" What should he say? That he took pride in his work as Chief of Intelligence? That, like how she found things to admire in her friends, he too had someone to admire? …Or should he say that she was no longer the person he loved? "I suppose I am open to any possibility that presents itself, but it's the place where I want to be. Of course, that is if Lord Yomi would still have me there."

"I see." Miwa held her chin, thinking carefully. "Wherever you end up, I think you'll be fine."

"You will too. I am certain of it."

"...Shirai." She was smiling at him now. The same smile he saw when she agreed to sit next to him by that tent long ago. "If you don't mind, there's still something you can help me with."

How wonderful, he thought, that after everything, they could still be like this.

"I am your accomplice too, Miwa. If you need me, then I will help you."

{00}

One hundred days after the three ruling governments of Demon World dismantled tens of thousands of demons descended on the tournament stadium to witness the crowning of the new ruler. In total, 6,272 demons signed up to fight: a turnout far beyond any reasonable expectations. Many workers stood atop tall platforms with megaphones in hand, each barking orders and instructions at the crowd to keep them all in line. Tensions were high as everyone pushed and shoved to take their seat. Audience members were herded into three floors worth of seating wrapped around the main stage, where a large screen would broadcast the fights for everyone to see. The fighters all gathered on the ground floor, below the audience members, waiting for the tournament to officially begin.

Kurama and Miwa both arrived and checked in at the tournament together. Each fighter received a large white button to wear on their chest with their participant number painted in thin black print. Kurama received 0002, and Miwa received 0003. He was curious about the unexpected excitement in her smile as she pinned the number to her shirt, but the demons around them were so loud that it wasn't worth the effort to shout any questions. The crowd grew exponentially, creating a pungent mishmash of scents and odors that made Kurama wince if he focused on it too much. Instead, he made mental notes of the faces he did and did not recognize. There were many well-renowned fighters, some of whom Shirai had presented as potential threats over the past year. But, perhaps unsurprisingly, there were more unknown faces that crawled out of Demon World's dark crevices for their chance at the highest throne. It was impossible to listen in on any one conversation, and the rest of his focus was on keeping Miwa within his sight. Besides, he didn't need to listen in on anyone. Every demon around them had one thought on their mind: I will become the ruler of Demon World! That one collective thought was enough to make the eagerness and bloodthirst grow thicker and thicker in the air, as if manifesting it into existence. One wrong step, and a mob could easily be formed.

Miwa, on the other hand, did not seem worried at all. They worked their way through the crowd, moving and stopping as needed to avoid running into anyone, and her head constantly swiveled from side to side, somehow reminding Kurama of a search beacon. Their destination was, at the moment, unclear. Before braving the mob, Miwa declared that she wanted to find Hiei and Yusuke before the preliminaries started, and Kurama readily agreed and followed her. If anyone could find their friends in this place, it would be Miwa. Her bright, excited grin was such an impressive contrast to the growing bloodlust in the arena. Kurama could see her lips moving as she muttered quietly to herself, which he later realized was her counting out the highest participant number she saw.

When they finally came to a less-crowded area, with enough room to breathe and talk, Kurama chuckled lightly and said, "I didn't expect you to be so excited, Miwa."

"Because!" Miwa exclaimed, whirling around and beaming, "This is probably the biggest stage I'll ever see in my life! I can't believe I get to be a part of this!"

Her optimism was astounding. "Do you see Yusuke or Hiei?" Kurama asked.

Miwa stood on her toes and shook her head. "Not yet, but I think I saw Chuu waving at someone just now."

She stepped forward, back into the crowd, and Kurama followed before she disappeared. They were forced to walk in single file. In a crowd like this, it seemed inevitable to bump into a stranger's shoulder or step on feet, but each of them twisted their bodies to slip through the crowd without accidentally pissing someone off. It wasn't hard. They both had ample experience in moving swiftly through crowded areas. Kurama was, of course, focused on safely following Miwa, but his focus inevitably shifted to the blackness of her hair and the pouch on her back. Every step she took made it ripple and bounce like an inflated water balloon right in front of him. Even at a tournament like this, where Miwa would need every ounce of her strength to survive, her seal was still intact.

Her optimism should reassure him. After her battle with Rikiji, he should know that she wouldn't be here like this if she didn't believe she had a fighting chance. Miwa promised that she would think carefully about her After. Yet here she was, waltzing through the tournament arena with a big smile, her seal intact as if this were all according to plan.

Miwa, what in the world are you thinking?

Suddenly, a great hush overtook the ground floor. All heads turned to one direction, and instead of overconfident chatter, their voices lowered to whisper rumors and speculation. Only one thing could shut them all up so completely. Up ahead, an opening had been cleared for Yusuke Urameshi to speak with both Yomi and Mukuro. Three former rulers gathered in one place, talking amicably as if they were not on the brink of war a few months ago. Even Miwa stopped in her tracks, instinctively raising her hands as she worried for Yusuke's safety.

Then, as if to stir the pot even more, Mukuro ripped off the face-covering bandages, letting scraps of paper seals and ripped cloth flutter to the ground like feathers from a bird's wing. After centuries, Mukuro's face was revealed for the first time. Reddish-brown hair short and voluminous, old burn scars covering the skin from the right ear down, a glass lens and cloth covering the equally burned right eye, and slim, delicate features which showed the world that Mukuro was, in fact, a woman.

"There's no better training than the real thing," she said to Yusuke, her true voice deep and rich, "So use the experience of these earlier matches to raise yourself up to my level."

Yusuke did not respond, but he did smirk back, excited to take up the challenge.

Mukuro turned and walked away, leaving the cryptic parting words, "I'd hate to see you get beaten before it's your time to bow…"

The demons around them all whispered to each other their collective surprise, never once suspecting that the nightmare tyrant Mukuro was a woman.

"Wow," Miwa said, her mouth forming a small "o." and an excited twinkle glistened in her eyes. "This just got way more interesting."

She was right. It wouldn't have surprised anyone if the three former lords suddenly started threatening each other, or if the war everyone anticipated began right there in the arena. But instead, they all chatted like old friends excited to face each other in competition. Once again, Kurama marveled at how the centuries-long standoff between the lords, once sustained by an incredibly delicate balance of equal powers, somehow transformed into this. The tournament was already proving to be a once-in-a-lifetime event in more ways than one, and it hadn't even begun.

Miwa stopped her crusade to find Yusuke just to watch their discussion unfold, and now she waited patiently for him to finish exchanging words with Yomi and his son, Shura. Yomi explained that he had plans for both the tournament and for Demon World were he to rule, but he decided he no longer wanted to rule if he did not win. For Kurama, who worked with Yomi towards the single goal of unification for a year, it was astounding to hear his former lord's motivations change so drastically in just a few months. He was not aware of a son, nor did he know how the young boy's existence would affect the tournament. But in the hundred days of preparation, Kurama always kept an eye open for an act of retaliation for his betrayal. Some form of attack, using underhanded means, if necessary, to defeat Kurama and Miwa before the tournament began. Yet nothing ever came. It seemed Yomi had a change of heart in the past couple months, and now he wanted a fair, honest fight.

Yomi bade Yusuke farewell and walked away, leaving the young descendent of Raizen alone, so Miwa took action. "Let's go," she said, anxious to meet her friend.

Kurama wordlessly followed her, and eventually, she managed to catch Yusuke's eye. She eagerly waved her arm in the air before beelining her way towards him. Yusuke grinned at them, returning the wave when he noticed Kurama. And then, someone else caught Yusuke's attention. He belted out a loud and slightly surprised call, his voice seeming to carry farther than anyone else's. Yusuke found Hiei and called him over too. For the first time, former teammates reunited without the threat of war looming over their heads. All of this, from the tournament, the amicable words between former lords, and the unspoken agreement for everyone to give it their best shot, all started from Yusuke, and the people who knew him best gathered around him as if it were natural.

"Hey, guys," he called. Unsurprisingly, he was given the participant number 0001. "Fancy seeing you all here."

"Are you making new friends already?" Miwa asked.

"Why not?" Yusuke put his hands on his hips looking very smug. "It's not every day you get to meet so many fighters."

"It's not every day a tournament like this ever happens."

"Well, better than the Dark Tournament when everybody hated us." Yusuke looked around, his eyes glimmering with excitement. After the three former lords had assembled, the crowd collectively decided to give Yusuke and his friends some space. "You know," he added, addressing Kurama and Miwa with a friendly smile, "this would be the first time we got to fight. And Hiei, I'd have to make it three for three."

Hiei, who received participant number 0067, scoffed loudly. "The last was a draw, but now you should hope we're not in the same group." He looked away at the sky. Miwa used the chance to cover a small laugh under her hand, which Hiei didn't seem to notice. "It would be humiliating if the man who planned this tournament were eliminated so early."

Yusuke puffed his chest and changed his stance, raising a fist. "Not as humiliating as standing on a phone book while you fight!"

Hiei's eyes twitched. "You're starting to make me miss Kuwabara!"

Both Miwa and Kurama watched them go off at each other from the side, not surprised at all. With all the bloodlust in the air, it somehow was unsurprising that this was the first fight Kurama saw. Still, its familiarity made him feel relieved. A year could pass with so many significant events, but some things would never change.

"Alright, you two," Miwa sighed, chopping the air between them with her arm. "That's enough."

Kurama added, as neutral as he could possibly sound, "Perhaps you'd both be better served to save some of this hostility for the tournament."

"I'll-!" Yusuke began, but he was interrupted by a loud buzzer.

Everyone's heads turned towards the main stage in near perfect unison. A man with a red, beakish nose and dressed in a black suit raised one hand high above his head and addressed the crowd.

"Now's the moment you've all been waiting for!" he yelled into the microphone. "The lottery for the preliminary match-ups of the Demon World Tournament!" The whole stadium erupted into cheers, so loud that the ground rumbled under Kurama's feet. "And now," the announcer continued, screaming even louder to overtake the cheers, "I'll hand things off to your official Mistress of Ceremonies, the most effervescent and lovely lady to ever list 'black and blue' as her favorite color…"

A spotlight illuminated center stage, introducing a surprisingly familiar face. Kurama barely heard Miwa say, "Woah, it's her," before the crowd started cheering to welcome their Mistress of Ceremonies.

"Hello, ladies and freaks!" she called, as happy and energetic as Kurama remembered. "Who else could possibly be your guide through this inaugural tour of carnage but me? The hostess with the mostest and your voice of choice…" She spun and struck a pose. "Koto! 'Cause no one rocks the fight mic right…" She performed an impressive front flip into the announcer's box from the stage, "...like Koto rocks it, am I right?"

Audience and contenders alike erupted into cheers. In the distance, Chuu was extremely enthusiastic, cheering louder and happier than anyone around him as he professed his love for their Mistress of Ceremonies. Jin and Touya were at his side, both extremely embarrassed, but to Kurama it was very carefree. Koto explained how she escaped safely from the destruction of the Dark Tournament and that Juri, her co-announcer back then, had moved on to better things. Instead, Youda joined as an announcer and commentator, which was oddly fitting for someone like him. Kurama had wondered what happened to Yomi's council, only able to confirm Shirai's whereabouts because Miwa told him.

The preliminary fights, Koto explained, were originally going to be decided by lottery with the Rurimaru stones Yusuke had engraved. However, due to the incredible contestant turnout, they would use lottery cards instead. Fighters will be randomly sorted into groups of forty-nine to compete in a battle royale. Only the victor from each group, totaling 128 fighters, would advance to the main tournament brackets. Each group would be represented on multiple screens by a 7x7 square grid, and each square will be filled in as each participant pulls their lottery card.

"Sounds simple enough," Yusuke said, casually folding his arms over his chest.

Miwa nodded in agreement and glanced around the arena. "So many fighters are gonna get cut from the preliminaries alone…"

"Just make sure you're not one of them," Yusuke said with a cheerful wink.

Miwa laughed and stood up taller. "Of course I will."

Yusuke grinned. "C'mon, we should get in line. And I need to find Fox Girl."

"What for?"

"You'll see," he answered mysteriously, and then he ran off.

Kurama wasn't sure if he should feel concerned or not. Yusuke's enthusiasm made it easy to forget how much was at stake in this tournament. Depending on who took the throne, both Spirit World and Human World could be in great danger. Kurama didn't really believe Yusuke forgot about that, but knowing him, the stakes now lived in the back of his mind, and his friend just looked forward to a good fight.

"Hmph, someone's really eager," Hiei said, watching him go.

Kurama sighed. "I expected nothing less from him."

Despite the unusual enthusiasm from both Yusuke and Miwa, this was the best of all outcomes. Like he told Kuwabara, this may have been the only way to keep things from spiraling out of control after Raizen's death. Yusuke proposed this tournament believing it to be the right thing for Demon World, and he managed to get very important people to agree with him. Kurama could only hope that whoever won this tournament wouldn't put the people he cared for in danger.

"...I guess we should get in line too," Miwa said. But before she could take a single step, something to her left caught her attention. Her face brightened and she waved enthusiastically with one hand. "You two can go line up," she said quickly, "I'll catch up later." And then she ran off, just like Yusuke.

Shirai was there, almost invisible as the only still person in the moving crowd as everyone lined up to pick their lottery card. From this distance, Kurama couldn't hear what they were saying, and too many people obstructed his view to properly lip read anything. But he decided he shouldn't eavesdrop on them and looked away. Miwa seemed more confident in herself since coming back from her travels with Shirai. This was what he wanted.

This was what he wanted.

"Kurama," Hiei said sternly. It was the first time he had seen Shirai in person, and he stared at them without turning his head. "Her seal."

Hiei didn't phrase it as a question. It wasn't even a complete sentence, but Kurama understood. "She'll be fine," he answered, trying to reassure himself as well.

Hiei's usual frown remained unchanged, but he did hmph quietly and walked away to line up for a lottery card. Kurama laughed, thinking that the response was very Hiei-like, but he also wondered if there was a hidden meaning. Ever since Miwa told him about her adventure in the forest, giant Shikigami bird fight and all, Kurama began to question Hiei's unexpected interest in the state of Miwa's seal. Hiei never needed to show himself to her out there. His Jagan could have easily monitored her from afar, so why? At first, Kurama thought it was because someone like Hiei, so stubbornly self-reliant, couldn't comprehend how Miwa fervently devoted herself to another person. And maybe it was so back when they had first met, but recently, Kurama wasn't certain this was the case anymore.

Eventually, Kurama lined up for the lottery card, and it was a long wait for the results. The results from each draw were immediately thrown up on the display board but going through more than six thousand fighters would undoubtedly take time. But, despite the long wait, the interesting groupings that eventually formed gave the fighters in line plenty to speculate about. The fighters Kurama knew, including Miwa, Hiei, and Yusuke, were separated into their own groups. This was fortunate because none of his friends would want to go up against each other so soon. On the other hand, many of the monks that came with Yusuke were sorted into the same group, setting back any strategy they might have concocted behind Yusuke's back. Kurama felt a bit sorry for them seeing their collective depression after their cards were drawn, but such was the nature of lotteries. Then, in a twist that caused a quick shocked silence in the crowd, Yomi and his son Shura were both put into Group 34. The tournament was off to an exciting start, indeed.

Kurama pulled out his lottery card and read the white cardstock paper. Black neatly printed writing assigned him to Group 63. He looked up, waiting for his number to appear in the on-screen grid. Good. He wouldn't be fighting against any of his friends. And, as a quick glance to other grids showed, he wouldn't be fighting potential threats either.

There were some small announcements as more time went on. A strange phenomenon of fighters withdrawing in droves after their lottery cards were drawn. Youda speculated through the broadcast system that perhaps those fighters were placed in the same group as crowd-favorites like Yomi or Mukuro and fled to save their own lives. Or else, those who just wanted their fifteen minutes of fame decided to leave before things got nasty. Battle Royales, after all, were some of the messiest fights.

Then, once every fighter had drawn their card, they all gathered in place for the Preliminaries, and the first Demon World Tournament began.

{00}

Each fight of the Preliminaries would be fought atop giant Okunenju stalks. The gargantuan mushroom plants, clustered together like the world's largest forest, loomed over the landscape outside the arena. Each plateau bud housed an entire ecosystem, consisting of mountains, forests, rivers, lakes, and rock mesas available for all fighters to use to their advantage. The plateaus were so large, running hundreds of miles in diameter, that all 49 fighters in a group could theoretically go for a long time without ever seeing each other. Girls riding flying yellow camera creatures would observe all the fights from a safe distance and broadcast them to the audience in the stadium. There, the fights were viewed simultaneously on giant multi-screen displays.

Miwa was right. There would never be a stage bigger than this.

As expected, the warriors all did very well. Touya quickly won his fight by turning the entire plateau into an ice dome to freeze all forty-eight of his opponents, and they were disqualified after not moving for more than ten minutes. Rinku controlled twenty yo-yos with each of his fingers and toes to beat up all the demons in his way, and Jin used the wind to knock all his opponents off the plateau. Suzuki's Rainbow Cyclone Redux vaporized his enemies, and Chuu skull-bashed each demon he came across with his hard head. Kurama and Hiei both won very easily by using their weapons to kill and incapacitate the competition.

Mukuro automatically advanced because every single fighter placed in her group withdrew from the tournament, so she didn't even need to lift a finger. Her advancement, however, did intimidate the fighters who remained, all praying they wouldn't end up in her bracket later. Shishiwakamaru did encounter a bit of trouble with the last fighter in his group: a giant crab creature with a large, impenetrable shell. Shishiwakamaru was tossed into the creature's mouth, as quick and easy as a little snack. And Suzuki, who returned to the arena to watch on the screens, cried out in shock while Touya, who stood beside him, calmly narrated a poetic end to the fighter's life. But somehow, Shishiwakamaru attacked the creature from the inside, shrinking down to his imp form and slicing his way out of the crab's stomach to secure victory.

When Kurama returned to the arena, he found a room in the back where other fighters observed the preliminaries. The single screen display here wasn't nearly as large as the main stage, but it was much quieter, and Hiei was there watching from the back of the room.

On screen, Chuu continued taking out opponents one skull-bash at a time, but he was going strong. Yusuke had yet to take his turn, but Miwa and Shirai were up. They were both mid-fight in their respective battlefields, but Miwa was nearly done. She had drained a huge lake nearby to create a giant water stream. It barreled across the Okunenju plateau like a huge monster hungrily swallowing up her opponents. Their bodies helplessly floated along with the stream, and the ones who were still conscious desperately kicked and flailed to free themselves, but to no avail. The camera zoomed in on her, and Miwa had smaller streams bashing away at stragglers who managed to avoid the large one. It'd been a long time since Kurama had seen her controlling multiple streams independently like this, and her body danced in graceful circles, easily managing each and every one of them. Based on her fanged smile, she was enjoying it too.

In Shirai's group, the numbers dwindled to less than half, and the fighters who remained decided to focus on him. Several unconscious demons were pinned to tree trunks with long, white bone needles, looking like butterflies pinned in a display board. Three demons stood near Shirai, but they were dazed and unfocused, staring at nothing, and a small dribble of drool spilled from one of their mouths. Four other fighters, who must have seen what had happened, kept their distance with their weapons raised, but they did not charge. Shirai stood in the middle of them all, his ungloved hands held out in front of him.

"He grabbed their heads, and they became more brainless than the Cultivated Humans," Hiei explained without prompting.

Kurama nodded slowly. "Fighting him may be less dependent on power and more on your ability to stay away from his hands."

Hiei huffed in what sounded like agreement. "Miwa sure has interesting friends," he said. Kurama was about to say that Hiei didn't even know half of the characters Miwa worked with over the years, but then Hiei added, "It would be really easy for her to disappear if she had his help."

Kurama froze. On screen, Shirai circled around another fighter and grabbed his head from behind. The fighter, a burly demon with a spear in hand, had his eyes bulging out, searching wildly for Shirai. But then, his eyes snapped up, rolled into the back of his head, and Shirai released him. The demon stumbled away, bumbling around like a drunken man, but once he spotted Shirai, he immediately fled, screaming his surrender at the top of his lungs.

Shirai can read, manipulate, and erase memories. He kept that in mind almost constantly for the past year, already fearing what Shirai could do without his hands, but seeing this ability in action for the first time finally made it all real. Miwa insisted that Shirai meant them no harm, and Kurama believed her. But that didn't dismiss the vast potential of his power. And like Hiei said, it would be so easy for Himari Shimizu to disappear from the Human World with his help. The people who knew her only by that name would never know she existed.

Instinctively, Kurama looked to his side, but of course, Miwa wasn't there. She was still on screen, waving at the camera from the far away Okunenju plateaus after being declared the victor of her group. Koto's commentary excitedly called her the third female fighter so far to advance to the main tournament, after Mukuro and a woman named Kokou, which made Miwa grin in a way eerily similar to Yusuke.

More and more, she's getting farther away…

This was what he wanted…right?

Shirai's victory pulled Kurama back from his thoughts. The last three fighters also surrendered, but unlike the demon who ran away screaming, they seemed lost and confused. Youda's commentary explained Shirai's abilities briefly for the audience, clarifying that he simply made the final three fighters forget why they were even here. A quick and merciful end for them, Youda added, compared to the ones whose memories were erased into completely blank slates. The last comment made the other demons in the room mutter among themselves, debating if those fighters standing around dazed were the same as someone who lost their soul. The body was there and functioned, but the things that really mattered were gone.

Kurama wondered if Miwa would come find him now that her fight was over. They didn't make any plans other than arriving here together, and he supposed, since they finished at roughly the same time, it was more likely she would find Shirai first. This is what I wanted, Kurama told himself, but now he was beginning to understand the fear Miwa felt towards her After. When Miwa finally leaves, he would have to face his own After, one where he must live without her. Kurama would have to get used to this looming feeling, the inevitable longing to have her at his side again. It was something he had really taken for granted these past few years.

And he knew her. Kurama knew Miwa better than anyone else. Seeing her so excited to participate in this tournament, watching her fight on the large screen, and even her sudden trip to find her tribe with Shirai…it was painfully clear. The uncertainty that plagued her for the past year was long gone. Kurama didn't know what she was planning, or why she still looked human, but Miwa was already working towards an After that she decided. Kurama knew that without a shadow of doubt. He would get used to that inevitable longing. He decided that this was what he wanted.

Then, Hiei pushed himself off the wall and began to leave. His hands were stuffed in his pockets as if all this were boring him. Kurama asked, "You're not going to stay for Yusuke's fight?"

"...I'll hear if he lost whether I want to or not," he answered, and the door closed behind him with a sharp clack.

A mysterious exit, but Kurama didn't expect Hiei to voluntarily explain himself. So, now alone, he kept watching the screen. Chuu's group was down to just two fighters. His only opponent, a woman named Natsume, thrusted her palm into Chuu's chest with such power that it sent him flying back for miles. By the time Chuu gained his bearings, but still on his knees, Natsume was already behind him, her palm outstretched again. Even from a distance, Kurama sensed that she was powerful, very powerful, and he knew that this wasn't even a fraction of her full potential. Natsume said something that the camera could not hear, and Chuu answered her before he finally stood back up, declaring his surrender just as the camera zoomed in close enough to hear them both. Koto was about to declare Natsume as the victor, but Chuu kept on talking, asking, and eventually begging for Natsume to give him a chance for a date. Forgetting her place for a moment, Koto instead yelled into the microphone her extreme distaste for Chuu using the tournament as a dating service. It was a moment of levity, but if the preliminaries ended as Kurama expected, then Chuu would be the only one of their friends to lose. Still, it was better for Chuu to forfeit and survive than to have lost by death.

The camera footage changed over to Yusuke's group, just in time for their battle to begin. Yusuke immediately became the center of attention as his lineage and strength painted a huge target on his back. The other fighters decided to gang up on their one outlying threat, but Yusuke welcomed the challenge. As all forty-eight fighters prepared to fight, Yusuke simply raised his fists. In mere minutes, Yusuke punched every opponent to the sky, sending them off into the horizon until they were nothing but indistinguishable specks. Yusuke squinted at them, knowing none of them had been knocked out, killed, or surrendered yet, so he innocently asked the camera what he should do. There wasn't a specification in the rules for a ring-out loss since there were no rings atop the Okunenju, so Koto declared the other fighters as "Out" and Yusuke became the victor.

The last preliminary battle was Group 34, and only Yomi and Shura remained standing. Perhaps the most anticipated battle in the Preliminaries: a father and son pit against each other, but only one fighter could move on, and one has centuries more experience. Shura was young; everything from his eyes to his stature made that clear. He was merely a boy standing before the tall and fully grown body of his father. This would be the first time Kurama saw Yomi fight in a very long time, and he planned to watch carefully. The Yomi he knew would never throw this fight, but how far would Yomi go in fighting his own son?

The match began, and Shura made the first move. He leaped into the air and threw dozens of energy blasts - he called them "Bandit Darts" - that exploded upon impact at Yomi's feet. A dust cloud rose into the air, and when Shura landed, he had the over-confident face of a boy who thought he had won, but Yomi was quicker. Not a single Bandit Dart hit their mark, and Yomi appeared behind Shura without the boy noticing until Yomi spoke aloud. Alarmed, Shura ran away, dashing through the trees with the speed and agility of the world's fastest gazelle; faster than the flying cameras could follow. And yet, Yomi easily matched him step for step, his strides longer and calmer than Shura's frantic escape.

Once Shura decided he was done running, he pushed himself off a tree branch back towards Yomi. His assault was a barrage of punches and kicks, each getting blocked by Yomi's arms, but at this moment, Yomi was on the defensive, and Shura's barrage forced him backward one step at a time. However, Yomi had a small little smile on his face, free of worry, and then he caught Shura's whole fist in his palm. One punch to the face sent Shura flying backwards, and the boy tried to retaliate with a kick, but Yomi grabbed his ankle, knocking the boy off balance until he was kicked over the tree line and back into the dirt.

Yomi wasn't throwing this fight, but Kurama knew he wasn't fighting seriously either. If he wanted to, Yomi could have ended it immediately. Was he toying with Shura? Or did he have some other purpose?

Then, a familiar scent outside the room caught Kurama's attention. He turned around just as Miwa opened the door. "Hey there," she said with a small wave. Now that she was here in person, Kurama saw that she didn't get a single scratch from her own fight. Not even on her clothes. "Did I miss Yomi's group?"

Kurama shook his head. "How did you-?"

"Hiei told me you were in here," Miwa answered, and she finally noticed the screen. The cameras caught up to Shura's landing spot, and he was covered with dirt and scratches from the fall. "Oh wow, he's really fighting him…"

What possible interest could Miwa have in this fight? She wasn't fond of Yomi from the very beginning, and now that she no longer worked for Gandara, there was nothing connecting them. Nothing except…

"Where is Shirai?"

Miwa blinked, as if the question was unexpected. "I saw him after his group finished up, but he's waiting for Yomi."

So why was she here? Kurama wanted to ask, but he couldn't. On screen, Shura managed to push himself into a sitting position, and Yomi calmly approached.

"You're not blind, Shura," he said, "And you're a smart kid. You can see how this will turn out for you, can't you? You should accept your defeat."

Shura hesitated, and his lips trembled.

"Accept it!"

Shura flinched, but eventually he whispered a defeated "Okay." Koto added her commentary, praising Yomi for his masterful balance of power and patience. As they should expect from the former king of Gandara.

Yomi approached Shura, knelt, and held out his hand. "Defeat doesn't come easily, but one can always go with grace."

Suddenly, Shura's expression changed. A sudden shift from a defeated boy to a sinister schemer. He thrust his hand into Yomi's face and unleashed a huge energy blast, creating a fiery explosion nearly a mile in diameter that set the forest around him ablaze. Shura was powerful, and he wasn't afraid to trick his own father. If he were alone in his own group, he may have been a dangerous contestant to fight against, maybe even the final victor. But up against Yomi, he would have to pull out all the stops to even have a chance at winning.

However, the fire was not enough.

The orange glow that illuminated the forest slowly turned blue, and the flames shifted and churned in unnatural ways. The flames parted, and Yomi appeared, walking slowly and dignified through the path without a single scratch or burn on him.

"Shura, my son, your ego carries you too high. Even my patience with you is beginning to wear thin."

Shura, to his credit, managed to pull back his own shock. "Heh, that's what I was looking for," he said, smirking. "You promised me that you wouldn't hold anything back when we faced each other."

The flames disappeared, dwindling down to mere smolders in the blackened trees, and the two resumed their fight. They ran parallel to each other through the clearing Shura's fire created, and once again Shura made the first move. He leapt into the air once more, this time dividing his energy between his two hands, and while hovering in the air, he spun in circles, throwing dozens of energy blasts that looked like blades slicing through the air. But unlike with Shura's Bandit Darts, Yomi did not simply dodge. He waved his hand in a circle around him, and lines of an ancient script formed as ribbons in the air. They circled around Yomi in a protective dome, and the barrier it formed easily absorbed all of Shura's attacks. Each blade passed through an invisible wall and disappeared, only leaving behind bright yellow ripples as if they were rocks thrown into a pond. Yomi didn't take a single step, and now, as he stood taller, he seemed to have absorbed Shura's power, making it his own.

Kurama smiled. "I see now," he said quietly.

Miwa looked over at him. "You know what Yomi is trying to do?"

He nodded. "Shura is today what Yomi was in his youth. But Yomi isn't so much fighting to win, as he is focused on teaching his son not to make the same mistakes he made."

Miwa did not look back to the screen. Instead, she just stared, analyzing Kurama's smile. "Do you forgive him?" she asked. "For threatening Shiori?"

Kurama thought about it, and he nodded again. "Perhaps it could be said I deserved it as punishment for taking Yomi's eyesight."

"He had already forgiven you for that."

"...I suppose he did." He chuckled. "And you forgave Shirai too, didn't you?"

"...Yes, I did." Miwa's stare lingered for a moment longer, and then she turned back to the screen. "That's one way we can move on, I suppose. To leave things like that in the past, where they belong."

Miwa was beside him now. He could reach out and touch her if he so wished. But she talked of leaving things in the past and moving on. Yomi forgave Kurama and embraced the lessons he learned from losing his light. Miwa forgave Shirai and their friendship was rekindled. And Kurama… He would forgive himself one day for his complacency and selfishness in Miwa's oath, and he would move on once she was out there and free. Even now, while they stood together to watch this fight, he felt the distance between them grow.

"Shura, it's time to concede this fight," Yomi declared.

The fight wasn't over yet. Even though Shura's whole body was shaking, he forced himself to his feet and continued, throwing punches and kicks as best he could. Yomi would dodge, as easily as sidestepping a pet on the street, and throw Shura back with a powerful kick to the face. But Shura would persist, demanding that Yomi fight back properly. To not hold anything back. One kick threw Shura into a rock pillar several stories high, and the impact made the entire structure collapse over his prone body.

Still, Shura was determined, and he pushed rocks out of his way until he could stand again. His clothes were torn, and blood dribbled from his lip. "I won't stop. Not for you or anyone,"

he said, wiping the blood away with his sleeve. "My father will never defeat me!" His body shook with pain and fatigue.

"I'm starting to like this kid," Miwa said, smiling a bit. "He has guts."

"Yes, but I suspect that is not the lesson Yomi intends to teach him." Just like Chuu. In a fight like this that you can't win, it's better to forfeit and survive than to lose by death.

As Miwa said, Shura had guts, and with the strength he had left, he punched a hole into the ground, kicking up rocks and chunks of dirt to hide his movement. And finally, Yomi was deceived. Yomi turned and struck a rock with his hand, no doubt believing it to be Shura. And Shura took his chance to come from behind, throwing more energy blades. Unfortunately, it still wasn't enough. Yomi quickly threw up his energy-absorbing barrier, as if he knew Shura's plan the entire time.

"What's wrong?" Yomi asked. His smile was playful, amused, and maybe even slightly proud. "Have you decided to cease your attacks, Shura? If so, I'll bring the battle to you."

He walked calmly forward, and Shura fled, but not fast enough. As promised, Yomi brought the battle to him, and after more punches and kicks, Shura was sent flying, far past the clearing he created and into the trees. He flew with such a force that he burst through what must have been a hundred tree trunks before he finally stopped.

"Shura, are you ready to accept your defeat?"

"What? No way." Shura looked to the side, his stubbornness showing through. "You can kill me if you have to, but at least keep your word to me and fight this battle to the end."

"You have to know when you're beaten!" Yomi growled. "Only the weakest fighters move blindly on, believing that the greater the bloodshed, the fiercer the fight. Do you have any idea how little of my power I used to fight you? How obvious your attacks are in battle? So, if you choose an easy death, then welcome. This is exactly how far it got you." Shura was crying now, suddenly looking just like the young boy he really was. "I will ask you one final time," Yomi said sternly. "Will you accept your defeat?"

And Shura did, thus concluding the final bout of the preliminary rounds.

The moment Koto declared Yomi the victor, Miwa turned around and started to leave. The demons around her were doing the same. "C'mon," she said, "they'll want us all back at the main stage."

"Miwa, wait."

She stopped immediately, and Kurama didn't know if that was a sign of her long-held obedience or if she had expected him to speak up. He waited until the other demons left the room, until the two of them were alone.

"I'm glad that you've earned your slot in the main tournament," he said carefully, "but…I had hoped you would have sorted out your seal before coming here." It was too dangerous for her to be here without her full capabilities. He watched her take on the Dark Tournament Finals like that, and her only strategy could have easily killed her. He didn't want to see such recklessness from her again. Not after she had come so far. "What are you planning?"

Without looking back, Miwa laughed to herself. "Y'know, Hiei asked me the same thing a little while ago, so I'll tell you what I told him." She turned around, her smile confident and strong. "I've decided my After, Kurama, and no matter who wins this tournament, I'm going to see it through. But now isn't the time or place for me to tell you what it is." Her smile softened. "I'm sorry, but I want to keep it a secret for a little while longer."

Kurama felt the distance between them grow larger. But this was what he wanted, right? To see her confident and working towards the future.

"Don't worry," she continued. "I promise I will tell you everything. But who knows?" Her smile turned into a small smirk. "Depending on how these fights go, you may have it figured out by the time I do."

She left the room, and Kurama could do nothing else but follow.

Nearly an hour later, everyone gathered around the main stage. The loss of over 6,000 fighters significantly thinned out the ground floor crowd; nobody was bumping elbows just to walk anymore. Koto stood at center stage alone, microphone in hand.

"Now, if I could get everyone's attention, please! Before we proceed, I promised that I'd hand over the mic to Mr. Yusuke Urameshi so that he can say a few things to get tonight started right."

At her introduction, Yusuke joined her on stage, and the crowd gave a very mixed reaction. Some people cheered, some people booed, and some just murmured curiously to each other, wondering what the former Spirit Detective had to say. Yusuke took the mic, checked that it was on by saying a simple, "Hey," and then he cleared his throat. The camera zoomed in on his face, showing it on the giant screen behind him. "First, congratulations to those who made it to the main tournament. Now, I know all of you think that you're pretty bad Demons, but I want you to consider one thing. You don't have to fight to the death here."

The cheers, boos, and murmurs stopped at once. All eyes were on Yusuke now, as if he had said something blasphemous, like a wildly new concept no demon had ever considered before.

"To be honest," Yusuke continued, clearly expecting that reaction, "I'd rather no one die in battle at all. If for no other reason than I get the feeling all of you would like to fight more than once, and I feel the exact same way. And if you're dead, you can't fight. I'd hate for this to be the one day I see some of you in the ring. I'd rather all of you return to fight another day." Yusuke closed his eyes, and he smiled humbly. "Because to be honest, I don't have the greatest confidence that I'll walk away the winner here." This time, the audience laughed at him, thinking he was just giving excuses, but Yusuke wasn't bothered. "I think, in a couple of years, I'll be a better fighter, and better suited for this tournament. Of course, that's hoping whoever wins here today doesn't call this the final tournament. The point of all this is my proposition that we all meet here once every three or four years to battle it out again and decide who replaces the old ruler. Like a presidential election...with fists."

The laughter changed to intrigue. Under Yusuke's proposition, the highest position in all of Demon World could change every few years. Kurama looked at the fighters around him to gauge their reaction. Slowly, he watched them all work it out. Even if they lost here, if they survived, then they would still have a chance to become the next King. After being under the thumb of three rulers for centuries, it must have sounded like a breath of fresh air for them all. That spark of hope brought a new light to their eyes. The bloodlust and tension Kurama had sensed before dissipated before his eyes, and somehow, they all seemed more motivated to win than ever.

"I'm not predicting the future or anything," Yusuke said, "but I think that whoever wins here today can find this agreement to be a fair one. And with that little bit being said…" Yusuke raised his fist, grinning wide, and screamed as loud as he could. "Let's get started!"

The stadium trembled as the audience and fighters alike screamed their answers. Kurama could still hear the familiar old chant of "Kill Yusuke!" sneaking its way in. In a crowd this large, it would be impossible to sway everyone to the same option. Still, Kurama wanted to believe that the chant was just a minority, and that the fighters around him were genuinely interested in Yusuke's proposition. After all, it meant that this tournament would not be the end.

"Can you believe this is the same Spirit Detective we met that night in the woods?" Miwa asked, ignoring the people around her and focusing solely on Yusuke. "He had no idea what he was doing, and he still walked up to Spirit World's most wanted demons as if he had been doing it his whole life."

Kurama nodded, smiling as he watched Yusuke return the microphone to Koto and happily bounce down the stairs. They had only found this out after the Forlorn Hope ordeal, but that night was Yusuke's literal first day as Spirit Detective, and he wandered into their clearing with nothing but a cocky attitude and an oversized leaf to protect himself from the rain. "Yes, and now he is contending to become the king of all demons."

"He's come a long way, hasn't he?"

"We all have."

Koto returned to her broadcasting booth with Youda and explained the rules of the main tournament. The advancing 128 fighters would be divided into four different blocks. In a series of one-on-one battles, a fighter could only advance if their opponent surrendered or was deemed unable to continue fighting. The winners would climb the bracket ladder until they became the sole victor of their individual blocks. Then, A-Block would fight against B-Block, C-Block would fight against D-Block, and the winners would face off in the final round. The last fighter standing would become the new ruler.

Each Block appeared on screen, and the bracket lines branched out like the web of a spider. Everyone searched for their name, their first opponent, and any potential threats that were placed into their group. Just as in the preliminaries, things could change dramatically if fighters like Yomi or Mukuro were to face off early on. Kurama skimmed down the names, thirty-two in each block, but even with the main screen's large size, the entire list of fighters was almost an illegible blur.

Kurama eventually found his name in B-Block, but when he saw another name just a few lines away from his, he gasped. Beside him, Miwa began to laugh. It was a jovial sound, maybe even a bit astounded, but above everything else, she laughed as if this was the outcome she had hoped for all along.

"I guess I'll tell you my secret when we fight," she said, challenging him with a confident stare. "You'd better fight me seriously."


Notes: As you can see, I'll be playing around with the canon tournament brackets a little bit. Originally, Shirai was going to be Miwa's opponent, but their development ended up in a different place. They didn't need to overcome their shared past in battle, so he will be fighting someone else. Once I imagined Miwa fighting Kurama, I just couldn't let the idea go. But there are still other things to cover first before we get there.