File 21: Fight Fire with Fire

Koto called the next contestants to step forward. The crowd was ridiculing the Rokuyukai saying that they were scared. Zeru climbed on the ring. The spectators immediately changed attitude and were certain it was going to be an easy victory for him.

"Zeru? Then he isn't their captain?" Kurama asked, surprised.

"So then, the last two are even stronger?" Kuwa wondered.

"No." Hiei contradicted them. "He's the strongest among them. But knowing their ridiculous bunch, they probably decided their order as they saw fit."

The announcer insisted that the member of the Urameshi Team come forward.

"I'll go." The little demon said again, fired up. "He made quite the fools of us yesterday, after all." He threw his light blue scarf in the air and stepped up.

"Rokuyukai Team: Zeru! Urameshi Team: Hiei!"

There was a long pause during which the contestants provoked and attempted to intimidate each other. Both were brimming with confidence and arrogance. The tall one had his arms crossed and the small one had his hands in his pockets.

"A youki of fire... you're a user of flames techniques." Hiei commented. "I saw the cut you made in the cup you broke. It looked as though you had cut it with a sharp blade but the edges were slightly melted. Your technique is pretty rough, huh?" He taunted.

"What about it? I don't recall how it's any business of some rat-reeking Jagan master." Zeru snapped back. They glared at each other.

"Begin!"

The blond demon summonded his flames the very instant, so intent on his opponent that he had forgotten about Koto and unconsciously forced her out of the ring.

"What's with that face?" He asked in a low threatening voice. He raised his youki. The flames gained in heat and power and spread in blistering lines through the stadium, burning whole portions of the audience to a crisp. Her arms still crossed, Akari instantly erected a shield with her reiki, protecting her teammates and the girls behind her. Hiei had not moved from his spot. But that was soon going to change.

"I'm going to turn you to charcoal dust." Zeru created a fire ball and blasted it at him. The black-haired demon jumped out of the way.

"Ah! Hiei has skilfully evaded Contestant Zeru's spectral fireball!"

But Hiei was still in midair, and his enemy was not going easy on him. However, the little one was fast, and his great speed allowed him to dodge all the youki-controlled fireballs bulleted at him. The red-eyed youkai landed on the edge of the upper deck of the stadium and jumped again as the part of the deck where he had been standing was hit by a fireball and chunks of concrete fell on the crowd. He landed back on the ring. Zeru had a psychotic smile on his face, obviously mad that his enemy had evaded all his attacks.

"No sooner are we underway that Contestant Zeru launches a staggering attack! Hiei is completely on the defensive!"

"How was that? You must be speechless. A rat like you couldn't put this kind of youki together in his whole life!" The blond demon boasted, looking dead serious. Heat energy was still emanating from him and he was holding a flame in his right hand for everyone to see.

"Enough talk. Come." Hiei merely replied, bored.

"I'm done playing around!" His opponent emitted a massive amount of youki and flames that flared up high above the stadium. He concentrated, his right fist in the palm of his left hand, and absorbed the fire hovering over him. And as he did, he started to change colours.

"He's red! Red as if he were aflame!"

And indeed his whole body appeared dark red and gained an ethereal reddish glow and his already deadly abilities were tremendously augmented. Hiei smirked. Then with a great lunge, Zeru stabbed Hiei through his stomach with his right hand and set him ablaze with his energy. The cold blue-eyed youkai stopped but with the momentum, Hiei was hurled backward. While his enemy was still airborne he incinerated him with a massive firebomb released from his fist. He regained his original skin tone and his self-important smile, apparently quite satisfied with himself and Koto's laudatory comments. Everyone – including his own teammates – thought it was the end for Hiei. Everyone but Akari who was still smiling, confident in Hiei's ability. That guy was not the type to kick the bucket so soon and so easily. His pride would not allow it. And that was what she liked about him: his pride, his strength, his cool, his apparent coldheartedness, and his cute sides.

"How dull. He was no match for me." Zeru said disdainfully while walking away.

Koto was going to announce Rokuyukai's victory but suddenly stopped.

"That was a good attack." Hiei complimented. Indeed, the red-eyed demon was back on his feet, alive and smoldering. "So much that it would be a shame to kill you." His tarbad and the sleeves of his light blue pullover had burnt and there was a hole in it too, proof that he had not escaped unscathed from his opponent's attack. But he was smiling. It was the bloodthirsty smile of a predator that had decided it had been sufficiently entertained by its prey and was now going to end the game in one blow.

The match was not over.

Zeru had never felt such fear and despair before. He couldn't believe that Hiei could still be alive, that someone could have resisted his spectral flames.

"You ran out of luck when you came up against me." Hiei said darkly, a black flame burning away the fabric covering his third eye. "Rejoice! You are the first victim of the Jao Ensatsu Ken here in the Human Realm!" He shouted, his jagan shining and his youki growing exponentially to incredible levels.

"Jao Ensatsu Ken?!" Kurama repeated. "Don't tell me he means that legendary technique..." The legendary move that not a single person had been able to master. Of course, the fox knew about it, and the immense risks that his friend was taking by invoking such a technique. In the VIP seats, Koenma was expressing the same disbelief.

"If it's Hiei, he can do it. I believe in him." Akari said, firmly. She was still smiling. But now her smile was tinted with sadness. That guy was overdoing it again. But if he wasn't, that wouldn't be Hiei. And it would be no good if Hiei wasn't Hiei. Because she liked him as he was. The green-eyed teen gazed at her. That expression... did she really believed in Hiei and cared for him that much? Now he had two causes of worry.

The black-haired youkai extended his arm and in his hand, a black flame appeared.

"A black flame... you mean you've called up the flames of the Demon Realm?!" He had a look and tone like he was refusing to believe, and yet that he already knew. His situation was hopeless. He was going to die. Hiei's youki was still rising, luring in the black flames of the Makai.

"The rules state that defeating you is alright. But right now I can't completely control it. Sorry, but I can't hold back." He said, looking insanely happy and murderous. "If I were able to, I would have liked to end it without having to kill you. Using my right arm alone will be more than enough. Do you see the difference? Your amateurish fire tricks are nothing compared to that. Look well, this is a true demonic fire technique! Don't look down on the power of the Jagan!"

"Th-this is too dangerous." Koto said, trying to remain as calm as possible for as long as possible (in other words: to maintain a professional attitude). "Although I'm reluctant to do so as your commentator... I am going to take refuge momentarily!" She quickly jumped down the ring and crouched down below its surface level. Her safety was still her priority.

"Take this! Ensatsu Kokuryuha!" Hiei shouted as the pressure from his youki and flame tore apart what remained of his shirt. And everyone watched, awed and horror-shocked as he released his attack. The Ensatsu Kokuryuha, literally, the Immolating Black Dragon Wave, made him shoot the Dark Flames in the shape of a dragon. Paralysed with fear, Zeru could only scream and wait as the blazing beast closed in on him before catching him into its mouth and completely engulfing him. The dragon crashed against the wall below the bleachers and vanished. Once it was over, Koto carefully raised her head. Hiei's arm still extended and his palm directed toward where the opponent had been. The ring was blackened in an elliptical shape starting in a narrow angle below his hand and widening before being cut short by the limit of the ring. The little demon himself looked like he could not believe what he had done and how much power he had unleashed. Nobody could in fact. Although it was incomplete, he had actually pulled it out! But it had come with a price. His right hand and forearm were also burnt black, and still smoking. Koto looked for Constestant Zeru. She noticed the wall. All that remained of him was a black silhouette on the wall. He had been burnt into oblivion. Yusuke was still sleeping peacefully.

"So then, the count..."

"No need. I burnt up everything there was to him. All that's left of him is that silhouette on the wall."

"W-which means, there's no use for a count, right?" Koto stammered fearfully. But the demon was only concerned about the state of his right arm. "Winner: Hiei!"

Everyone was still awestruck by the display of power they had just witnessed. Kuwabara was rejoicing: now it was 2-1. But a second later he did not look as happy as he was imagining what would happen if Hiei decided to turn against them. It wouldn't be so strange, and he had that awesome move too! The little youkai reassured him: until this tournament ended, he would remain on their side. And his Jaou Ensatsu Ken wasn't perfect either. Then he winced suddenly, and walked cautiously down the ring under the careful watch of Akari and Kurama. They were frowning, worried about his arm. What about the possibility of Hiei turning against them after the tournament? Nothing really. It was fine too, wasn't it? On the contrary it could be very fun and interesting.

The last two members of the Rokuyukai Team were freaking out. They would have never imagined that even Zeru could be killed so easily. They only participated because they thought they could enjoy themselves with some easy killings. But now that their lives were on the line, they were running away. However, they did not go far as suddenly their heads flew and a fountain of blood gushed out from their severed necks and a man landed on the arena. He was fairly tall with an athletic, muscular body. And he had a bottle of alcohol in hand.

"Chuu!" Rinku exclaimed.

"Playing around is fun because it IS dangerous!" Chuu said like those guys were stupid. He had a long blue mohawk that ended with a sort of twin rat tails tied by red ribbons. He had a short messy goatee and mustache, as well as a green-striped tattoo under his blue eyes that crossed the bridge of his nose. He wore black boots and a dark blue sleeveless shirt, both fur lined, and olive green pants with a red belt. His empty bottle fell down and broke with a clang. But suddenly he swayed and half fell half sat, cross legged, on the concrete slabs. He called the 'play-by-play girlie' to come over, which she did. He said that there was an 'unforeseen accident' and he had just lost the two last members of his team and asked what he should do about it. Koto answered that there was only one replacement per team, no matter how many members died. She was pinching her nose so she would not be assailed by the stench of alcohol coming from Chuu. He stood upright, overjoyed that he could take on both the remaining members of the opposing team, and 'warmly' expressed his thanks to the female youkai.

A substitute... eh?

The girls thought he was just a strange drunkard, which was why he was a substitute. But that opinion was not shared by everyone.

"He's emiting far less youki than Zeru but I have a bad feeling about him... There must be something..." Kuwabara voiced his teammates' thoughts. He had actually gotten stronger. Before, with the Toguro Brothers, he had not been able to sense such a thing. Hiei was for once silently agreeing with him, judging from his disquieted expression. When that man had killed the other two he had not sensed any bloodlust at all. In the VIP seats, Gondawara was also rejoicing, saying confidently that now that Chuu had appeared it was over for the Urameshi Team.

"Now let's hurry up and start! Hey, sweetie! Come, I'll take you anytime!" He was actually challenging Akari. But the way SHE had introduced herself and challenged everyone and she had displayed that incredibly massive amount of energy was still vivid in his memory. So vivid that goosebumps would appear when he would think about it, and yet it was all the more exciting for him. And she was the only one of the two who was still awake.

"Sorry, but you must give up on me. I don't like stinking baldies." She turned him down bluntly, her hand covering her mouth and nose, and partly hid behind Kurama, feigning disgust. Although it might have been quite fun, she still didn't want to fight him.

"What?!"

"Yusuke will fight in my stead. Got it, Yusuke?" She said, acting like the all high-and-mighty queen of the stadium that she was.

"I got it, I got it, sheesh... That stink of alcohol wakes me up from my well-earned nap and the first thing you do is boss me around."

"Stop whining and go already."

"Yeah, yeah..." Then Yusuke said something about some 'light exercise', which angered his opponent although it did not show much on his face. The monstruous audience was chanting for Urameshi to be killed. Kuwabara started to feel anxious but Hiei dismissed it and so Kazu corrected himself saying that given the current situation they had essentially won everything easily. To what Akari replied that the one who lost should not be speaking so freely about victory. But Kurama was worried. Zeru had been genuinely strong, which was why Hiei had to unleash that incomplete technique. And for him to summon makai flames capable of burning to a crisp a flame-user, he must have paid a price.

"Using my right arm alone will be more than enough."

That was inexact. He had sacrificed his right arm. He certainly could no use it anymore. Had he used both, he would have been unable to even wield a sword. And now that guy had appeared, emitting a strange youki, different from Zeru's... Yusuke would have to be especially careful... even though that was probably impossible...

Suddenly, Chuu blurred away and reappeared at Koto's side, her mike in hand. She had not seen him coming. The demonic crowd stopped chanting "kill... kill... kill..." and everyone strained their ears.

"Um... I'm going to tell you one thing before we fight. The only thing I'm bad at is janken. I'm good at fighting! Reeeeaaaaaaalllyy good!" The man declared. Everyone looked at him cluelessly, wondering what that dude was talking about. And so Koto took it upon herself to explain the cryptic message.

"The Rokuyukai members had to determine their order and substitute by using rock-paper-scissors, and so he is the alternate in name only, and as far as power goes, he's saying he's Rokuyukai's number one!" The announcer translated so everyone would understand.

"That's right!" Chuu confirmed loudly. Kuwa wondered how that girl could understand him so well. Rinku was quite embarrassed by his friend's drunken attitude. "How's that?! Are you surprised?! I'm strong!" The soak bellowed again.

"I know, I know! I can tell quite well that you're strong! So let's get going right away!" Urameshi replied like he was humouring a retarded person and not really listening. He had thrown his blouson away, grinning, hoping on his feet, and kicking and punching the air, obviously eager to fight.

"Ah...! Why you! You don't believe how strong I am, do you?!" The blue haired demon shot angrily. The youkai spectators were starting to doubt that he was really strong and one even said that he was really just a substitute. Chuu heard and, outraged, ran toward the source of the rude comment. He climbed the wall and grabbed a green-skinned demon by the neck. He repeated that he was only weak at janken. He had meant to put forward paper but his fingers had turned into scissors on their own. It happened, this kind of things. Half-choking to death, the youkai managed to nod. Chuu let him go and jumped back down, stealing another bottle of sake while he was at it. On the ring, Yusuke was despairing: his urge to fight was going away.

"You idiot!" The mohawk dude blew at him. "It's no fun to win against someone who has his guard down! Now listen, I'm telling you now, my technique is the sui-ken. The more I drink, the stronger I get!" He pointed and gulped down some sake. The drunkest fist, huh? Indeed, that fitted him perfectly, and explained many things... "It's a technique that outfoxes the enemy with its irregular movements, unexpectedly catching them off their guard. Got that? Don't come at me if you're messing around!" He got back on the ring and stood up. Kuwabara thought he was an idiot for spilling the beans about his technique like that. But that was not the case about Yusuke...

"You're quite the straightforward one. However, using the sui-ken is not a skill in itself. You must have something else, some secret reserve technique that only you can do, right?" Urameshi was smirking challengingly, his hands on his hips. "If not, this wouldn't be any fun."

Now Chuu was serious.

"You're insightful. And you have nice eyes. I haven't seen eyes like yours in long time." Deep down, he was happy to be facing a real opponent at last. He began swaying in a fluid movement. Then he stopped, raising his youki that glowed red around him. "You're going to amuse me."

Akari smirked too. It took one to know one. These two were birds of a feather: incurable adrenaline-addicts, inveterate fighting-fiends, hopeless challenge-lovers, incorrigible thrill-seekers... And being exactly the same as them, she was getting restless too. Now the real battle was starting at last.