File 07: Rando revealed!

In fact, Akari wanted also to know what Yusuke would do. Fighting in the worst conditions, he had used his reigun, he was still tired and beaten and his fighting style required a good amount of energy. On the other side, Kazemaru had enough time to rest and was in better shape. What would Yusuke do? Surpass himself or give up? As a Reikai Tantei there's no doubt there could be situations when he would have to fight strong monsters one after another. This would also be the perfect test and training for him. Yep, Randou should be a good stepping stone for him. As long as he didn't die in the process.

"Hey, Akari, can't you heal me?"

"Nah. That would be cheating."

"Stingy."

"I agree that it will be difficult but are you that weak as to not beat them despite the state you're in? Dying sooo SOON after being revived, that would so LAME, and Keiko-chan would be so SAD, maybe she'd console herself in the arms of ANOTHER MAN. As for the front row tickets for the WRESTLE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, I'll be more than happy to go in your stead." She teased him. His anger had been growing along with the number and size of the veins visible on his head. He engaged her in a headlock.

"Why you… I'll defeat every last one of them before you could even blink!"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm looking forward to that. And be careful of where you step…" The pink-haired said flatly. Well, at least now he was fired up. Anger had always been a good fuel. That was a good thing. That was a good thing but man... that was so easy! It was not even that fun.

Everyone arrived in a 'clearing', well, more of a swamp, the place of energy, where many battles happened, loaded with the souls of the dead soldiers, contains the highest amount of reiki. The most suitable place to regain their strength and increase their rei ability, Genkai explained.

"I see, indeed. I can feel my whole body packed with power…." Crappy singer said. As for Yusuke, his energy was also returning but not enough to fire a reigun. Meaning, if his opponent were Rando, (and of course she knew he wasn't, bad guys are always the ones we expect the least to be, meaning the ones we expect the most if it makes any sense), he would be doomed. But still, Kazemaru WAS strong, compared to Yusuke. Though he wouldn't stand a chance against her. He said that Yusuke was unfortunate, that he pitied him, but he was right in one thing: strong people attracted luck. But the boy didn't seem to be even listening. The ninja attacked head on with his fists, saying he didn't need to use his reiki against someone who was out of energy. He landed many hits, Yusuke was sent backwards. Then Kazemaru went for another punch but the middle-schooler countered by one of his own. The bodyguard dodged but still got a bloody scratch on his cheek. Akari smirked, that was Urameshi Yusuke for you. Though, unfortunately for him, the ninja still had tricks up his sleeve. Such as shurikens. He threw them, Yusuke escaped easily, but that was not the end, the shurikens chased him, attracted by his reiki, he had more and more trouble to dodge until he got one to stick in a tree. It exploded and the boy couldn't escape the blast and still received injuries. It seemed Yusuke really had no way out. But knowing him, he'd rather take his opponent into death with him. Kuwabara and Botan still trusted him but were really worried, her grand-ma believed it was probably the end for Yusuke. He ran toward them, Kazuma was scared, but as she thought, the kid had decided to leave everything to them from now on. The girl had a stern look, she closed her eyes. The guys were wondering what he was doing before yelling at him to stop when he was heading straight toward Kazemaru, who had his rei cannon ready. But just before he fired, Yusuke 'disappeared'. Off balance, the ninja was defeated by his own shuriken.

Kuwabara, after realizing that his friend had not vanished into thin air but had actually fallen in a hole, helped him out of it.

"Told you to be careful of where you step." Akari said.

"What! So you think I should've died?"

"But you actually won, congratulation! Right grand-ma?"

The lady nodded, smiling, the young one winked at him making him blush slightly, then he humphed and laughed loudly, so proud of himself and his fists on his hips.

"HAHAHAHA of course I won! And you thought I was a goner? HAHAHA, don't be stupid, I'm the STRONGEST one ever!" He boasted. She pushed him slightly with her index, making him fall backward in the exact same position. "HEY! What was that for?!"

"Don't get ahead of yourself, now it's Kuwa's turn, and then, the final against Randou." She said, serious again, casting a worried look at Kuwabara and a glare at Shorin who smiled back innocently.

Kazuma seemed confident but Yusuke tried to warn and stop him, advising him to give it up. Of course he didn't quite agree with that.

"What the heck are you talking about? As someone who only depends on fortune and pure craziness to win, better take care that you don't die first! I'll pummel you after that guy!" Yusuke was kinda ticked off and said he could go ahead and die.

"I don't think it's time to quarrel!" Botan scolded them while Akari boredly yawned, that was just the usual. Shorin politely re-introduced himself and the fight began.

Kuwabara lunged at his opponent, for a time he had clearly the upper hand, it really looked like an easy win for him, even when Shorin used fireballs. Botan and Yusuke were wondering if it was really the great demon Randou, or if maybe his legend was exaggerated. The detective was saying that since Kuwabara was getting way stronger he'd win for sure.

"No, Yusuke, Randou's far stronger than you think, and he's a twisted one. He's just toying around with Kuwa." Then, she smiled sadly and knowingly, "Trust me…." He felt a pang but didn't want to believe it, that is, until the demon began chanting and his rival shrank to the size of Tom Thumb. Shorin was holding him in his fist and wouldn't let go of him, he wanted to make him suffer. Her eyes narrowed to slits and her fists tightly clenched as the demon would slowly break her friend's limbs. Yusuke was also losing his calm. Genkai announced Shorin the winner but he didn't stop. On the contrary, he squeezed Kuwabara more, trying to break all his bones. Yusuke shouted Kazuma's name, Kuwabara screamed painfully, but the girl was first to snap. In a split second she was behind Randou, her index at the nape of his neck, her eyes burning.

"That's enough. You won the match." She said in a threatening tone. The demon stopped, sweat and goosebumps visible on his skin, he was scared. She would kill him, and he knew it. He had not even sensed her coming. He couldn't win, for now. But after getting the Reikohadou, he would be free to do as he wished with her. She had got all his attention when she fought Genkai that first time. But now he had to bid his time. He calmed himself and just shrugged saying he'll give him back and he threw him away. Akari lowered her arm and slowly stepped back to her place while he was giving Kuwabara back his normal size. His right arm, left leg and left hipbone were broken, but he was still alive for now, after all, he was tough. He asked Yusuke to fight and win in his stead. Shorin ignored it all and was just analysing the technique he just used. That it was the first time because it was too time-wasting to focus on the chant and so it was not suitable for a real fight. But with Genkai's reikohadou, this flaw would be curbed, and he was in a hurry to have it and try it out. Though he should stop daydreaming, 'cause Yusuke's here and he'll beat him to a pulp!

Last match, finals: Shorin VS Yusuke!

Both took their battle stance, strong battle ki was emanating from Yusuke, the atmosphere of the place, mixed with the fact that he was furious, helped him get back his energy at a rapid rate. He lunged at Shorin and used his killer punches against him, stronger than before, saying he'll avenge the 99 he's killed so far but also for Kuwabara's sake. But again, though he was sent flying, Shorin would just comment that the Yusuke's punches must now exceed the 200 points. He said he was impressed but didn't look much like it. Instead he threw a wind attack, the wind slasher typhoons using the air pockets to create wind blades. But Yusuke being Yusuke, fought them head on ignoring the many cuts he got (and indeed the young female rei user would have done the same thing), he jumped, crossed his wrists and pounded the demon in the dirt, the wrists pressing against his neck and his face held in place between the backs of the detective's hands. Shorin was down. Yusuke was out of energy again, and Botan congratulating him for having won and avenged Kuwabara, even though Kuwabara had not dead actually died. But it wasn't yet the end.

"Why are you coming back Yusuke? Your fight has still not ended." Akari asked him.

"If your opponent is Randou, the match is just about to begin." Her granny agreed with her. And it was confirmed as Shorin's body dissipated to be replaced by the real Randou and a dark laugh rose in the air. He was excited to have been forced to resort to his true form to beat another human aside from Genkai, or Akari. Yusuke was trembling. He could barely stand while his opponent's youki was stronger than ever. Of course that didn't stop him from attacking but it didn't affect the demon in the slightest way, for there was absolutely no reiki in these punches. Tired of his enemy's futile struggle, Randou created youki threads that merged together and wrapped around Yusuke. Though those threads looked more like gum. It was strong, no matter how it would be dashed, swung, turned, thrown or how much it was being pulled on, it wouldn't break. As a proof, he slammed Yusuke into the ground and into trees.

"There's no use! Tied up like this, there's no way he can escape! Master Genkai, please do something! At this rate Yusuke will be killed!" Botan pleaded.

"Is that really what you want? If Yusuke forfeits, Randou will be my apprentice and I will teach him my technique as I promised." Genkai warned.

"That would be a big mistake, if you do that he'll use that power to kill humans and even you!" But when the master replied that she didn't care, the ferry girl asked the grand-daughter to say something, to do something, she couldn't let her grand-ma and Yusuke die, could she?

"I won't interfere. Genkai's job as a rei master is to teach her techniques to a disciple before her death. Yusuke's job as a Spirit Detective is to find and defeat evil demons. Those are jobs they have to complete while putting their lives on the line. If they die, that would mean they weren't strong enough. That would mean Yusuke wasn't meant to be a Reikai Tantei. As for granny, she made a promise, and those who don't respect their promises are worse than trash. We both respect it, and the old hag knows fully well what she's doing. In regard to that, my job – as well as yours, Botan – is to witness everything with our own eyes to the very end." She said firmly, keeping her arms crossed.

"But you can't be that heartless, you saved Kuwabara!"

"Kuwabara... had nothing to do with it. He doesn't have the same responsibilities. But don't get me wrong, if someone kills, he should be prepared to be killed. If he kills grand-ma and Yusuke, I'll make his death a hundred times more painful. Do you really think I'm that weak as to be beaten by him even if he gets the reikohadou? But, you know, I think you should trust Yusuke a little more." The human girl finished with a sincere smile. Genkai smiled too, Akari was indeed her grand-daughter.

"Akari's right, don't worry that much. Let's just watch the fight." She said.

Then they reported their attention back to Rando who was hanging Yusuke onto a tree, above a pond. It was looking really bad for the detective, he was pretty beaten up. The demon chanted again and 'Hate Fish' from the makai were summoned into the pond. One tried to eat Yusuke but failed. Rando fed them a small demon that was devoured in a few seconds, his bones floating on the surface. He taunted Yusuke, saying that he'll feed him to the fish too. He then pointed his index at the human and fired an impressive reigun, scratching Yusuke's cheek and blowing a tree behind him. So he had already mastered it. Indeed his battle ability was really something, he could do really great. As her grand-ma said, if he was to have their abilities, he would probably become stronger than herself. At least her old self. But now was not the time to be praising him right? Urameshi was scared and couldn't believe it, that he had his own technique used against him and he had apparently no way out. Now, what was going to happen?

Randou teased his victim again, saying he loved human screams and noises when they were being eaten alive. So he fired again and the branch broke, Yusuke fell into the pond, he screamed. Randou wanted sprays of blood and shrieks of pain. But then Akari felt a disturbance behind her, Kuwabara's soul was leaving his body and dived underwater. She smiled, reassured, Yusuke will win this fight. For himself, for Kuwabara, and when he was provoked, he just couldn't resist, for she was sure that was what Kazuma would try. And after all he was just one of the luckiest guys she had ever known. And it did work. Yusuke snapped, broke the threads and let out a huge wave of ki, destroying all the fish. But the demon, though impressed, was sure it was the human's last stand, that he'll kill him when he'll emerge. He fired at the bubbles popping but the boy was behind him, he had swum underwater into the tunnel to the hole behind the demon. He punched him and the demon fell in the water. And now that Yusuke really had no energy left he did hope Randou wouldn't come back, but he did. The water bubbled, steam rising, there was a great burst of youki and the pond evaporated. Randou was pissed. Kind of. And after a few of his punches, Yusuke was down. He could no longer move and said Randou could do whatever he liked. So the demon began chanting yet again, but instead of Yusuke, he was the one to shrink.

Genkai explained that if a chant or a spell should fail, the effects return to the caster. He shouldn't have used that technique again. One just has to stop his hearing to counter it. Randou replied that Yusuke being an idiot shouldn't have known it at all, which was plainly true. But Yusuke being a LUCKY idiot had some algae from the swamp stuck in his ears, so he couldn't hear anything and he was saved.

"Concentrating on only ripping off the moves off others and yet never understanding the true façade of that move, you've totally lost!" The Master's granddaughter declared. Of course the demon wouldn't accept it and tried to reverse the chant, but the detective fell on him, his elbow out, and crushed him.

"So, how was that granny? I may look terrible now but at least I still won." The middle schooler showed off yet again.

"Humm, the one to inherit the secret skill has been decided! Winner: URAMESHI YUSUKE!" The old lady declared. Botan was overjoyed.

"Maaaan, and here I was so sure you could win on skills alone, you're weaker than I thought. How could you deceive me like this?" Akari asked, so dramatically faking tears.

"Why you….!" He yelled bolting upright and trying to punch her but falling again right away.

"Nah, just kidding. Yusuke, you did well, congratulation." She said leaning over him with a sweet, sincere smile, making him blush slightly and humph. She did give him a compliment, he was not used to that kind of things from her. Then she knelt beside him and healed him while Genkai was healing Kuwabara who woke up soon after. Botan said she was gonna be taking Randou to the reikai prison.

"Yooshh! Then I'll be going to the wrestle world championship!" Yusuke cheered, his arms in the air. The pink-haired girl looked at him weirdly. Was he stupid?

"Oh, so you didn't forget?" Botan asked.

"Ya kidding? That's the only reason I took part in this." The detective replied.

Yes, he WAS stupid.

"What are you babbling about, idiot?" The grand-ma said, "I told you I'll be teaching you my secret skill. You'll be staying here for the time being to learn the basics of the reikohadou."

"So…. That means….." Yusuke began, feeling faint.

"Yep! No championship for ya!" Akari said, happily, "But rest assured, I'll be going in your stead." She added, in a solemn tone. Of course that didn't quite calm him. Then she gave the finishing blow. "Kuwa-chan! Let's go together! Oki?" She grinned. "It'd be so boring all by myself." She asked sweetly. As expected, Kuwabara gladly accepted to 'escort' her there, and Yusuke did faint. Now, the real hell would begin for him...! Poor Yusuke. Or not. Right? ^_^.