File 35: Over power

Kurama was alive, and he had defeated Karasu. The large red flower of the vampire plant, nourished by Karasu's blood, had beautifully bloomed. Akari stood back up as she didn't want to risk certain people taunting her. But other than that, she didn't move a muscle. Kurama might be alive but he was in such a state... Urameshi and Kuwabara were too busy rejoicing about their team's first win and their friend's huge come back victory. Only Hiei was deeply frowning and gritting his teeth as he was looking over to the enemy side. He was already getting ready for the next fight. And Sakyo and Toguro were smiling. That was their – the Toguro Team's – first win….

Kurama apologised to Yusuke who had come to help him. Just killing Karasu was the best he could do. Urameshi didn't understand. It meant the fox hadn't been able to win the match even though he had killed his opponent. And indeed, Juri announced Karasu's victory. Everyone was full of incomprehension. How could the guy who had been killed be the winner? Naturally, Yusuke demanded explanations.

"By the countdown!" The referee informed.

"The ten-count down? I didn't hear any of that!" The boy menaced her.

"It's true! I do my job right, after all." She affirmed strongly as she slapped his hand away.

"What are you talking about? At that moment, you were just cowering in a heap, weren't you?" The human retorted. But although that declaration seemed quite plausible as the referee often did just that, this time it was completely wrong, and she vehemently challenged him to watch the VTR playback for proof. There was no mistake! However, even if Juri's conviction had pacified him, he still couldn't believe it. He turned to Kurama who weakly confirmed the umpire's statement. Koto was confused too as she had herself believed in Kurama's victory which was being fiercely denied by Juri who was conscientious about her work. The crowd too was very displeased by the lack of clear-cut answers.

It was then the VTR arrived. Koto played it. Kurama had counterattacked while still in the down state. Karasu had died after the count down had been completed. Thus it was Kurama's loss. The spectators cheered. After only two more wins, the Toguro Team would be the champions again! They started chanting. "Two more win! Two more wins! Two more wins!" Yusuke was shaking from anger, grinding his teeth and clutching his fists. He turned towards Juri who recoiled fearfully.

"We're going to win next. Make sure you take the count." He seemed to calm down and went to help his gravely injured friend. Juri sighed, relieved.

"Shuddup you all!" Kuwabara yelled. "He may have lost the match but he won the fight! With him still alive, this is all ours!"

"You don't get it do you?" The older Toguro brother taunted. "He may have survived but your fate remains unchanged. Did you forget? Each member of the champion team will receive a prize. And my wish will be... the death of all of you. Well, except Akari since her power will be needed to further our plans..." He chuckled maliciously. Yusuke put Kurama down and Akari started healing him without a word. An absence of reaction that quite disconcerted the fox... he had expected anger, relief, expressed in her usual physical manner... but here, nothing. And it raised his apprehension. Surely, he would have it later. Hiei smirked.

"Let me tell you what my wish is. The lives of every puppet master behind this tournament... so that there won't be another ridiculous game in the future." The small fire demon proclaimed.

"The puppet masters behind this tournament... eh? Indeed, there were such folks around at one time..." Sakyo recalled those trivial folks... and their bloody fate.

"Apparently, I've already granted his wish on the house, huh?" Younger Toguro commented.

"Yusuke, I wanted to fight Toguro, but for Genkai, I'll let you have the bastard. This guy will do instead." The fire youkai looked at this other side as Bui also stepped forth. Toguro-ani was surprised by such assertiveness from the most placid member of his team. Yusuke whispered Hiei's name. And as the little demon passed her by, he placed his hand on Akari's shoulder. This contact barely lasted a second. And yet she had felt it all, that strength, that comfort, that warmth, that caring... such a definite presence... 'Don't worry, I am right here... for you...' was what he was saying without speaking... Akari's eyes widened as she stared at his back that suddenly appeared so firm, so strong, so dependable... like never before...

And the only other person to have noticed that touch... as well as what exactly it had elicited in that girl's heart... was Kurama. The fox felt his chest tighten. Fear, guilt, anger, pain, frustration... as if he was caught in a hazy whirlpool... He may have killed Karasu but he had still lost. And he had almost died. Even though he had promised to never leave her alone. He wanted to protect her, no matter what, regardless of the sacrifices. He wanted to protect her smile. But what she needed was someone at her side. It was his fault. He had lost, almost broken his promise, made her suffer and brought her closer to the moment when according to the agreement she would have to join the Toguro Team. In that case, could he really condemn her or the way she was gazing at Hiei right now? Or Hiei's actions?

No, even if I don't have the right, I...

Hiei and Bui met before Juri. Of course the crowd almost unanimously cheered for Bui. They wanted him to chop the shrimp in half with his axe. As per their demand, he summoned his giant axe. Hiei scoffed derisively. To think he would be belittled this much. took off his cloak and scarf and threw them, revealing the special warded cloth wrapped around his right arm. It was reinforced by a rope bracelet on his arm below his shoulder and another around his wrist with a bell attached. Seeing the bandages, Kuwabara idiotically thought he hadn't healed yet but Akari and Kurama contradicted him. Those were a seal, although bound in a rather self-style, forceful way. Could Hiei have mastered the Kokuryuha in such a short time?! Akari had healed Kurama enough so he could stand and watch the fight but he still needed her to prop him.

Juri announced the beginning of the match. Bui lunged, leapt, and slashed down. The axe embedded itself in the concrete.

"Act like you mean it. I don't even feel like fighting back." Hiei warned irritably. His opponent raised the ring tile like a piece of steak with a knife and hurled it at him. Naturally, he evaded easily but the Toguro Team member did not stop there and and kept flinging tile after tile. Some crashed among the spectators, crushing those too slow to move in time. However, this massive attack had no effect on the jagan master aside from angering him more. The fabric around his third eye burned away and he shattered the next few blocks with his fist. But suddenly, he saw Bui right in front of him, swinging down his axe to slice him in half. However, Hiei caught the blade... and evaporated it, leaving only a half melted stump. "I told you to be serious. With no youki in it, did you think that scrap iron would be of any use against me? I'm sick of your sloppiness."

Kazuma was astonished and he was not the only one. The spectators, and even Yusuke and Kurama.

"That guy is really outrageous." The fox could not help but mutter. The forces of Hiei's flames had gone up several times. He had ample youki and yet it was still rising. Akari kept quiet though. From the moment he had touched her shoulder, she had had absolute confidence in his victory, and in him. That guy would never betray her and her expectations.

"I see. I suppose you're not an opponent I can beat with my armor in place." The tall youkai remarked. Koto pointed out with surprise that it was the first time Bui had spoken during this tournament (and quite appreciated his fine and deep voice...). The contestant started removing the pieces of his armor. When George suggested that Hiei took advantage of this opening to attack, he was violently vituperated by the girls. That was totally against his character! This was a battle between men, how could he do something so gutless?! The poor ogre had tried to escape being bossed around by his boss only to be told off by girls. The pieces of armor made holes and craters where they fell. Kuwabara was getting scared.

"Are you sure? You'll be taking my attacks dead-on..." Hiei warned with a smirk.

"Don't worry. Armor is usually worn in order to protect the wearer, but mine is different. I wear it in order to suppress my power... a terrible power that not even I can control..." He removed his helmet and mask, revealing the handsome features of a young adult with aqua hair, blue eyes and a scar on his forehead from which two branches were extending down the sides of his nose to his cheeks. He clenched his fist and his youki burned around it before spreading and engulfing his whole body. And with this, the crowd regained its spunk. All the cheers were like "Amazing! Kill that little monkey!" or "That bastard deserves to die for his big shot attitude!".

Well, it was true that Hiei had never been particularly modest but it was not a trait that Akari disliked. What she disliked was empty words, the all bark and no bite type, like those spectators that yapped loudly and endlessly despite being even lower than insects, and many of the previous contestants... But Hiei... was truly strong! The sheer pressure from Bui's energy had become like a tangible force, elevating him in the air. Battle aura. That was Bui's real armor. And one strong enough to keep his body afloat.

"You better get serious too. This will make for something to remember." The Toguro Team member challenged his opponent.

"You're right, I'll do just that. But you'll regret it." Hiei ripped the ward and started removing his bandages. Kuwabara was freaking out. Just what was this seal for?! It was Kurama who answered him. Just like Bui's armor that seal served to control his power. If they didn't place limits on themselves, their power was unimaginably destructive. Though, as Akari pointed out, those were used as temporary measures until they could better control their power. But the fox was tense. If they clashed like this, unbridled, this stadium would be blown up! The girl didn't really care though. She would protect her friends. The rest didn't matter. But then again, no matter how trashy, this kind of event did need a gallery, right? What to do? The cloth came undone, revealing the black dragon tattoo coiled around his arm, its head on the back of his hand. Black flames surrounded his right arm before immersing him completely.

"There's no turning back now. I've forgotten how to wrap it up again." A dangerous and malicious grin spread across the fire youkai's face. "Now let me show you the perfected Ensatsu Kokuryuha!" His youki kept rising, far much than ever before, taking its toll on the most sensitive and weaker spectators, fear and dread clutching them. Kuwabara was praying so that he wouldn't get caught up. "Here I go!" Hiei lunged.

The Jaou Ensatsu ken's greatest, most powerful secret technique... Ensatsu Kokuryuha! If I can withstand it, I'll win! A Kokuryuha that is warded off will return to its caster who will be devoured by the flames he himself had unleashed! The member of the Toguro Team reasoned.

"Take that! Ensatsu Kokuryuha!" The red-eyed demon yelled as he released his fiery black dragon. Bui roared and caught its maw with his battle energy. But the sheer force behind his enemy's attack made him skid back across the ring, furrowing its concrete, and lift him in the air. They passed over the audience, leaving a trail of nothingness. They hit the walls, the ceiling, leaving craters, grooves, distortions.

"I will not kill you yet. You will become stronger. You will then come seeking my life once again." Toguro's contemptuous words echoed through Bui's mind as he recalled that feral grin full of anticipation and amusement, reviving the ignominy, the mortification from that day long, long ago.

The dark beast of fire rampaged through the stadium. They blasted through a wall and it pinned the Toguro Team member against the top of that giant rock formation that towered above the building. Because of the strain, blood oozed from his old scar. Hiei left the shattered ring and climbed onto a piece of concrete protruding from the wreckage around the gaping hole so he could witness with his own eyes and enjoy the moment when his dragon would devour his enemy. And as he was being overwhelmed, Bui recalled that day again when a light punch from Toguro had made this scar on his forehead. His frustration, his rage, his hatred that were seething inside him exploded. He couldn't lose! He couldn't lose before he defeated that man! With this fury-fueled surge of power, he repelled the dragon.

"I did it!" Bui exulted.

"What?!" Hiei exclaimed, shocked. His own Kokuryuha swooped down on him and caught him in its fangs... under the horrified gazes of his friends and teammates and the cool smiles of Sakyo and the Toguro brothers. Bui and the crowd jubilated. The Urameshi Team was both anxious and incredulous. Only Akari seemed strangely calm and confident. But for her, it was only natural. Even without voicing anything, Hiei had told her not to worry. So there was no need for her to worry. She trusted him and his strength that much. She could put her life in his hands without a second thought. It was impossible for him to die even if he was killed.

And indeed, against everyone's (but hers) expectations, a black flame appeared behind the tall youkai. A cold sweat prickled his neck like ice shards, melting slighty and running down his back. That dark, sinister, dreadful power... The flames receded, revealing Hiei completely unscathed. Was that guy immortal?!

"What are you so excited about?" The fire demon wondered coolly. "This, starting right now... is what I wanted to show you." He smirked, much to his friends' relief.

"I-impossible." Bui muttered. He could hear the audience urging him to destroy his opponent in a flash since he shouldn't be able to do anything anymore. After all, nothing had changed except that he no longer had that dragon mark on his arm. Those idiots... they could blabber like this because they were too weak to feel the truth like he could!

"So this is what happens after he has perfected that thing." Yusuke commented.

"That's right. Hiei has devoured the Kokuryuha." Kurama confirmed. Kazuma could barely believe such an outrageous thing. But it was Hiei. "He's become someone with enough power to contain and control the vast energy of the absorbed kokuryuha. Someone as capable as Bui must be able to tell." The fox devised.

And just as he had deduced, Bui was clutched by fear and slowly stepping back. Hiei's spectral energy that was already close to rivalling his, had increased several folds!

"Do you see this? This is the youki of one who had mastered the Kokuryuha. There are many who misunderstand this, but the Kokuryuha is not just a projectile weapon. It is a nutritive that explosively raises the caster's youki. In other words, it is just fodder." The fire demon explained, obviously enjoying his superiority over his opponent. Piqued, Bui charged and punched his enemy. Hiei took the hit and smiled like he hadn't felt anything. Seeing that, Bui started raining blows on him... but he wouldn't even flinch. His punches, his kicks, with all his power packed into them did not have the slightest effect! He was panicking. He was despairing. And then, with his own aura, Hiei sent his opponent high into the air. He leapt after him, soaring into the sky like a dragon, and punched Bui who crashed down into the bleachers. He landed next to him. The member of the Toguro Team could no longer lift even his arms or legs.

"Kill me." Bui said. "Before, when I fought and lost to Toguro, there was still the possibility of me becoming stronger. I toughened myself to my very limits in hope to one day defeat Toguro. However, Toguro has become even stronger. Between us, there is an unbridgeable gap. And now, I was completely beaten by you as well. I no longer have a reason to live."

"Humph. If you want to die then die on your own." Hiei jumped back onto the ruined ring just as Juri finished the ten-count. "I don't take orders from anyone." He smirked. But had he dilly dallied a second longer and he would have lost by ring-out even though he had won the fight.

"The match is over! The winner is Contestant Hiei!" Juri declared. The victor's teammates cheered. Now they were at one win and one loss. As Hiei approached them, Kuwabara freaked out. Was it really safe to get close to him (-that monster-)?!

"That was so cool, Hiei!" Yusuke exclaimed.

"Welcome back." Akari smiled softly.

"Since you're so invincible, why don't you go ahead and fight the rest of them?" Kazuma suggested.

"I can't do that. This technique has a fatal drawback." The winner contradicted him. His legs had started wobbling.

"Drawback?" Yusuke and Kuwabara repeated.

"In order to allow my extremely overworked spectral power and physical strength to recover, I've got to hibernate for a few hours. No matter how perfected the technique, there's nothing I can do about it." Hiei explained while struggling to keep his eyes open. "Listen!" He pointed a menacing finger at the guys. "I used this technique because I've put my faith in all of you good-for-nothings. You aren't the least bit reliable but you'll gain more confidence. If I wake up... and we've... lost... you're... going to... get... it..." And he completely shut off and fell down.

Kurama chuckled. Yusuke laughed his head off. That idiot was acting big right up to the moment he fell over! Kuwabara wanted to scribble on his face as revenge for his bad attitude. But he decided against it when Akari reminded him of the death sentence hanging over him if he did something like that (after all, he did deserve his peaceful rest)... and when he saw Akari's expression. While she was usually always in on the fun things, there was something threatening about her this time and he couldn't tell whether he would be killed by her, by Hiei or by both. But then, her expression became so tender as she gazed at Hiei that he could barely believe it. She let go of Kurama to kneel at the sleeping demon's side. She slightly raised him to make him rest on her lap and she started restoring him. And seeing that, the fox was no longer in the mood to laugh or smile.