Author's note: hum... I was hoping to get this out before the end of september but work has been more hectic than I thought. In any case, here it is.


File 52: Sacrifice and Awakening

"No-no way! Urameshi!" Kuwabara yelled as Yusuke smiled and Sensui released his Seikouki. Against that power, even if Yusuke faced him while prepared to die, he was simply no match against Sensui! That was why he was risking his everything and betting on their fury at his death. There was no doubt for Kurama, Hiei, and Akari. But Kuwabara still couldn't accept it. He rushed to the eye of the creature in which they were trapped. "Y-you dumbass! Hey, Urameshi! Don't do it! Stop! Urameshi!" But his pleas were ignored, and Urameshi once more challenged his opponent. With his power, he could kill him in a second, so what was he hesitating for? "Urameshi! Do you hear me?! Come on!" Kazuma kept begging. Tears started streaming down his face. He recalled the beginning of his 'relation' with him... even though that guy had beaten him, he didn't remember his name, so Kuwabara had sworn to himself to make him remember. And so he had challenged Urameshi again and again, no matter how many times he was trounced, or how much his friends advised him against it. He would never win. He knew, but didn't care. It was just that... it was him... And then, he managed to make him remember, and was super happy. And still that continued... just fighting with Urameshi was so fun and exciting... "Why am I only thinking of the past? That can only bring bad fortune, right?" He too was starting to despair. Akari gritted her teeth and snapped.

"You can't pull it off! You're not me, and that guy won't hold back! Who do you think you are?! Noble sacrifice my ass! You're hardly the martyr type!" She snarled. She had pulled those tricks in order to elevate him, so they'd be equals... but not like this! It was meaningless if he died! It was meaningless if anyone died! She had gained strength in order to be able to prevent something like this... so why was it happening now! Nothing had changed! However, even her words had no effect. Still, as long as Sensui did not move, there was hope.

What do I do? Why am I hesitating? I'm certain that Urameshi doesn't have the strength left to defeat me. But still... Why do I feel so unsure? Shinobu pondered, clenching his fists.

"Hey, you... let us out of here right now." Hiei demanded as he removed his cloak. "If I'm gonna die, I wanna die fighting... with him!" Power was gathering around his right arm.

"With me, Kuwabara-kun, Hiei, Yusuke, and Akari who's unfortunately not the type stay put, that'll be 5-on-1. I also wouldn't be able to stand having one of us missing." Kurama took out his rosewhip.

"Humph. Damn right I'm not that type. As if I'd let some shitty bug keep restraining me! Walls are made to be blown, right? And what do you mean 'unfortunately'? Isn't that one of the reasons you love me? But 5 on 1... Yusuke will be mad... and I hate that too... but I guess it can't be helped. So if you get it and trust your pal as much as you say, then let us go." The girl turned to glare defiantly at the Gatekeeper.

"No. Even together, the five of you can't beat Shinobu. However, your combined power should be enough to let you escape... especially if you, Akari, manage to get rid of that parasite and join the fray... only you have ever been powerful enough to injure Shinobu after all. I won't be foolish enough to underestimate you. And you, Hiei and Kurama, you two were A-class demons to begin with. Although that is no longer the case due to your various circumstances, if I were to let you go now, you are certain to come back even stronger. Even the nails that MIGHT stick up will get hammered down. So you're staying right there."

He read through us... The three smart ones cursed in their minds. That guy too was something else. Kuwabara was calling him a dirty dumbass when Mitarai reminded him of the Jigentou. As they were in a subspace, the Jigentou, that could cut through dimensions, should be able to cut the Uraotoko and let them out. Kazuma tried to summon it but failed. If he could do it freely, he would have already been swallowed by the Gourmet or used to open the kekkai.

"Why...?! Why can't I?!" Kuwabara fell on his knees as Urameshi and Sensui lunged at each other again. "Now... at the most critical time...! Why won't it come forth?!" He strained to summon his dimensional sword. After landing a few good hits, Yusuke was now being mangled right before them. "You look like you've about had it, and yet, I... I can't do anything for you! And after we fought together all this time... Urameshi...!" Tears were streaming down his eyes. His despair, his distress, his frustration were echoing Akari's feelings. She could not utter a single sound due to the lump in her throat. If she hadn't messed up... it was her fault... and now Yusuke had to die because of it?! She could only watch as again someone she loved, as her family was killed in front her?! No way in hell! She had sworn to never go through that again! Her ki was burning around her and throbbing. She threw up blood. Her heart felt like it was about to be ripped apart. But who cared?! If she had to die then she'll die fighting and trying to save her friend! Her energy increased. Kuwabara howled. Kurama, Hiei, Mitarai and Itsuki gaped at them. The detective stood up and turned to Sensui.

"Urameshi, farewell." Shinobu charged. As he did, Akari roared and her reiki output exceeded the parasite's capacity and vaporised it. With the dyke broken, her energy burst and filled the dimension. Kuwabara summoned the Jigentou.

"Shinobu! Hurry and kill Urameshi!" Itsuki yelled. Yusuke simply stood there, waiting for the blow. Kazu sliced through the subspace, cutting the face of the Uraotoko. They all jumped out into the crumbling cave. Urameshi turned to them and smiled... right until his heart was pierced by Sensui's hand. Blood gushed out. He fell back with a thud.

On another part of the city Shizuru heard Keiko worriedly call Puu. He had completely stopped moving. And he seemed to have stopped breathing too! She kept calling and suddenly thought of Yusuke, Puu-chan's counterpart. If Puu had stopped moving, then what about Yusuke?! Filled with a devouring fear, she looked at the sky.

Akari vanished and reappeared right before Sensui, giving him a spinning heel kick. He blocked but the impact sent him crashing against the wall. When he looked again, the girl was kneeling at Urameshi's side. Her face seemed to have frozen. The others watched on in shock and horror.

"You're kidding, right. Hahaha... you can't fool me! I see you trying not to smile! Wake the hell up, hey. Look, if I cover your nose and mouth, you can't breathe, right? You can't take it, right?" Kuwabara laughed nervously, but nothing worked. He knew it was all in vain, but he couldn't help it. It was... painful to watch. But the reality was much more painful. "Okay, no matter what act you put on, your heartbeat will give you away, you can't fake that!" He put his ear against Yusuke's chest, but... there was really no sound after all. Seeing that, Akari's eyes widened. She hugged herself. Trembling, she stood up and stumbled backwards. Her lips started quivering. Kurama walked to her and tightly held her in his arms. Hiei had his head down and his hands curled into fists. Kazuma got up too and turned to glare at Sensui who was sitting on the TV.

"The movie is over already. I was so caught up in the fight that I missed the chance to listen to the ending. It's a very beautiful requiem. It would have been perfect for Urameshi right now." Shinobu lamented. They all glared at him quietly but fiercely. "He may be dead, but there's no need for you to cry or miss him. You'll be following right after him. The real finale is just getting started. The first gate has opened." He declared as low-level monsters started spilling inside the cave. "Shall we see what's beyond it?" He pondered, his sharp cobalt-blue eyes fixed on them.

"I'll go anywhere you want." Kuwabara said. Hiei removed the bandage around his right arm. The fabric covering his third eye burned away, and he summoned the black flames of the Makai. Kurama squeezed Akari one more time and let her go to face Sensui. He transformed, reverting to his youko appearance. Both demons lunged, shocking Kuwabara and causing Sensui to smirk appreciatively. Right now... those two's power... was nothing like before... without a doubt, they were now A-class level. Kazuma glanced back at Yusuke.

Urameshi, we have properly inherited your will. I might be joining you in a few minutes but I'll go down in a blaze of glory and meet you with my head held high, so watch me. He smiled and ran after his friends. He glanced at Akari who hadn't moved and was still staring at her fallen comrade, her brother in arms, and left without her. She would be fine. That was Akari. Hiei summoned the Jaou Ensatsu Kokuryu Ha. The black fire dragon incinerated the low-level youkais to nothingness and caught Sensui in its maw.

You were really a huge idiot to the very end. But... I'm an idiot too... we all are... that's why we're going to give everything and see things through, we're going all the way to the end... whatever it is. Keep watching us... because the party is still going on! Surrounded by her energy, the girl levitated and zoomed towards her friends.

"We're going all the way to the Demon World!" The Jagan master shouted.

"Mmm, that sounds good." Shinobu replied coolly, his arms crossed, protected from the scorching flames by his golden energy. The fiery beast carried him into the distortion where it continued burning everything. Hiei, Kurama, Akari and Kuwabara jumped after them.

Mitarai and Koenma were left in the cave whose crumbling had stopped due to the departure of all dangerous elements. The prince of the Reikai swayed and was about to collapse but Mitarai supported him. The child worriedly asked him what was going to happen now that the hole was open. Koenma told him Hiei had wiped out all the demons swarming around the entrance but another wave should arrive at any moment. However, the real problem wasn't that bunch. The more powerful a demon, the more intelligent and careful they grew. They were going to wait until they felt they could safely enter the tunnel, and once they did, the Human World was finished. The young psychic argued there was still the kekkai that separated the two realms in place. The highest-class demons couldn't get past it, right? As long as it was there, they should be safe! But the prince dashed his hopes. Kuwabara was going to cut a hole in it, in order to fight Sensui... even though he knew he couldn't possibly win against him... Kuwabara was that kind of guy... they all were... that was why they had gone... And Koenma no longer had the strength or right to stop them...

Hiei, Kurama, Akari and Kuwabara moved through what looked like a dark tunnel. The fox told Kuwa it was the subspace that separated the Makai and Ningenkai. The human wondered since when Kurama could become a Youko again. But it was not like he had actually turned back. He was still the same person, not the one from the past. His body had just changed form to cope with the rise of his demonic power. They arrived at the barrier. It was a net of energy connected by spells. And on the other side, they were shocked to see Sensui. They landed. Hiei clicked his tongue. That bastard was perfectly fine. His best attack had not even singed his clothes. He had blocked it all with just his ki.

"I told you, didn't I? My seikouki is a holy power. The Reikai's barrier is only capable of blocking demonic power. It eradicated your Kokuryu Ha. You should feel proud though. Anything below A-class would have passed right through. Ironically, Urameshi's death awakened your true powers, and yet, that power now prevents you from getting to me." Shinobu chuckled cynically. Kurama approached the kekkai and tried to touch it. There was a strong reaction of rejection and he withdrew his wounded hand that he licked. Sensui was right. The girl sighed and charged. Her fist connected with Sensui's palm. Her friends cried her name in surprise. "Oh, that's right, you were granted special permission, weren't you?"

"Yes, in exchange for the protection of a certain object. Kuwabara! Your Jigentou can cut that barrier, then you will all be able to come! But if you do, you'll be playing in that garbage's hand! What do you choose?" Akari raised her energy, forcing his opponent to do the same and both battled for supremacy. Shinobu believed he could do the same as with the Mafuukan... but it didn't work...! Why?! She was really one troublesome woman after all... And...

"Fuck that!" Kazu shouted, invoking his dimensional sword and cutting through the barrier, opening a hole. "I won't die for nothing. I'm gonna take at least one of your arms with me as a present for Urameshi!" He declared strongly.

"Good. The Reikai is sure to send people to fix it anyway." The pink-haired one grinned. Sensui smirked. And suddenly, Akari no longer felt any resistance. On the contrary, she was being pulled forward and turned away. She jumped and attempted to retaliate with a spinning back roundhouse kick but he let go and floated away further into the tunnel, just when her friends came to her help. They all went after him.

"I see... so even Koenma could not stop him." The Great King Enma said.

"No, but I'm sure Yusuke and the others will think of something." Botan replied, kneeling on her oar.

"That's impossible for them." His majesty stood up. He was a portly bespectacled man with a thick black beard. However, his most striking feature was definitely his stature. He was about as tall as a four-story building. "It cannot be helped. I shall dispatch the Special Defense Squad. The situation calls for no delay. But all things considered, we might have committed a huge mistake."

"In regard to Sensui?"

"No... To think he was a mazoku..."

"Emergency situation! The crisis level in the Human World has been raised to A-II! Possible destruction of a nation! Spirit World Special Defense Squad, please mobilize at once!" The alarm echoed through the Reikai. Known and feared as the 'Hunters' by the inhabitants of the Makai, their primary duty was to patrol of the Demon World under Reikai control, extend that area of influence, and exterminate dangerous demons. Their secondary mission was to monitor those in the Human World who grew to A-class or above, and eliminate them if they were deemed harmful to humans. They assembled on a balcony and departed.

In the Makai, a few demons were standing at a safe distance from the tunnel and carefully watching how the situation was developing... and mocking the rabid twerps piling up on each other like a mountain to get to that hole. How repulsive, those lower-class twits... In any case, they should watch how things unfold a little longer, it might be a trap from the Reikai. And... there were five guys inside packing some incredible power... Two of them were youki, two were reiki, and the other...? Whatever, it seemed too dangerous to stay close to find out. So they decided to leave and return once things had settled and it would be safe to pass.

Sensui came out of the tunnel, followed by Akari, Hiei, Kurama and Kuwabara. And now, all five of them were free falling?! Kuwa especially hadn't expected the exit to be so high in the air. However, Sensui was mesmerized by what he was seeing. So this was the Demon World... Wonderful... And Kurama and Hiei were analyzing their surroundings. Below them was the Forest of Fools. They were lucky. The youkais around here were still on the well-behaved side. Akari couldn't care less though. Her business wasn't with them but with that guy. When Kazu started freaking out, the fox grew a Floating Leaf. Purple vines wrapped around his waist and extended so the other boys could grab them. On his back, the leaves grew, shaped like a butterfly, breaking their fall. Akari simply used her control over the winds to fly. Kuwa was shocked that the kitsune could even make wings. However, it was just a floating leaf variety of a Makai plant. Three people was a bit heavy for it but they should manage.

"Serves you right! You're upside down! Go on and get smashed like a tomato!" The carrot-haired idiot mocked. He had forgotten about the Seikouki again. Engulfed like he was by his golden energy, Shinobu looked like a celestial being.

"Angels are said to be God's messengers, but that was probably because long ago, that's what people thought when they saw others cloaked in Seikouki like myself. The best part about this ki is that it unifies you with nature, although the winds of the Makai are a bit difficult to control."

"That bastard can do anything." Kuwabara cursed. Akari scoffed.

"Really?" The girl materialized large white feathery wings on her back. "Then I wonder what they would say about people like me. And those winds are as tame as could be. The problem is just you." She hated losing, even for tiny, petty things. And having spent several years in the Demon World, she was quite accustomed to the elements here.

"Keh! Did you see that? We too have a nonsensical all-around freak!" Kuwabara boasted.

"Kuwa-chan, call me 'freak' once more and I'll start by killing you." She warned kindly and sweetly, nonetheless acknowledging the 'nonsensical all-around' part.

"It doesn't matter. Now that we've come this far, we won't run away." Kurama commented.

"We're going to finish this!" Hiei heightened his fighting spirit. Sensui didn't want to damage this beautiful forest though so they drifted to a triangular plateau towering high about the woods... that plateau was called the Guillotine Hill... what a perfect place for a final battle. Kurama detached the Floating Leaf that flew away and they landed. The next second, the two demons were circling the enemy on either side while the girl lunged straight ahead like a bullet. Of course her punch was parried and her kick that followed avoided. She blocked his leg and was about to break it when his other leg connected all too heavily with her temple and she was sent flying when a second Akari unleashed a high powered reigun right above him. There was an explosion of light. When it subsided, Sensui was standing in the middle of a crater, without a scratch, and now clad in a golden armor.

"I should warn you. I think it shameful to fight you when you've already resigned yourselves to losing. However, because you are fighting out of regard for your feelings towards your deceased friend, I will respond in earnest! Kikou Toi!" Aura Steel Battle Raiment. "My raised ki can materialize to become both a supreme weapon and an ultimate armor. Akari-kun you can also materialize weapons like you did with those wings earlier, can't you? And Kurama-kun, it's quite similar to your own white clothing." Indeed, the fox's white clothes were made of spectral power and had defensive properties.

"Heh, you clearly mean 'although it's on a completely different level', right?" Kurama retorted. Sensui looked behind him where Hiei were once releasing immense ki and launching his dragon. A second Kokuryuha... he really wasn't thinking about an 'after'... he was forfeiting his life in this battle. The dragon soared and dived back on him, letting him absorb its power. The fire youkai attacked the enemy with a barrage of punches that proved ineffective, and was repelled by a blow to his guts and a kick. Kurama and Kuwabara charged next. The human summoned his Jigentou and the Youko a thorned vine that coiled around his right arm and elongated beyond his fist into a blade. The Dark Angel sidestepped the human's slash and kicked kuwabara away, then as Kurama attempted to stab him from behind he spun around extremely fast, catching the fox in a tornado of wind and aura where he was cut up by wind blades. But suddenly, Sensui too was engulfed in whirlwind enhanced with blades of reiki. But then, as he started feeling a strain on his armor, he spotted from the corner of his eye a sword aimed straight at his neck using the gap between his helmet and armored collar. He managed to catch it. Akari clicked her tongue. Shinobu released a powerful blast of seikouki, dissipating the weapon made of materialized reiki, bursting the tornado, and projecting the girl away. Hiei struck with his Jaou Ensatsu-ken, but the Dark Angel did not even try to dodge the black fiery sword that failed to even scratch the armor. And again, the small demon was hurled away.

"It must be frustrating... being so strong and yet so weak, you unconsciously try to defend yourselves... It's unfortunate... how much you'll have to suffer before you actually die..." Sensui spoke as the boys struggled to get up, clutching their wounds.

"Then why don't you take a look at that hand and that neck of yours?" Katsuyama suggested, a smirk curving her lips. Sensui did as told. Indeed, blood was flowing from cuts on his palm and fingers when he had caught her sword, and on his neck as he had caught it a second too late, and it had pierced his skin. And earlier, he had definitely, albeit slightly, felt the resistance of his armor weakening under her attacks. "So what if we can't beat you? That's just fine with me. What's the point if you aren't worth defeating? Now, it's only starting. No cheap trick to get me out this time. Let's have some real fun!" She bellowed, releasing a huge amount of reiki. Her opponent smirked too. Urameshi was not the only one... she too was always trying to become stronger, to surpass herself... and she was fighting with a huge grin on her face like she was having the time of her life and nothing else mattered... It seemed she was the happiest when she fought for herself without a care for anything or anyone.

"I'm not trying to die easily... all I want it to avenge Urameshi by, if nothing else, taking that high-and-mighty face of yours and slicing it up for him!" Kuwabara shot back, invoking his Jigentou again and charging.

"Puu-chan... Puu-chan!" Keiko called weakly and desperately. But the little wasn't moving at all, and didn't even seem to be breathing. It couldn't mean... that Yusuke... since she was beginning to panic, Shizuru told her to calm down. But suddenly, Puu started glowing and rising to the sky. She tried to hold him back but her strength wasn't enough and she was forced to let go. The girls nonetheless decided to follow him.

In the Irima Cave, Koenma was checking Yusuke's condition. It was strange after all. Yusuke's heart had stopped, but his soul hadn't left his body... even though when one died, his soul automatically left his body. Mitarai saw hope... Then maybe Urameshi-san wasn't dead! But Koenma confirmed the boy's death. His heart had stopped. He was definitely dead. That was why it was so strange. Then, the nine members of the Reikai's Special Defense Squad landed between them and the entrance of the distortion. Junior told Mitarai about them. That his father had deployed this team composed of the finest elite warriors showed just how critical the situation was right now. The captain, Otake, instructed Suuhou, Sourai and Saitou to close up the hole to the Makai. The three went to the shore and started pouring their energy. Ryohi, Rinpai and Shunjun, who were ordered to stand by inside the subspace and eliminate any youkai that came along, entered the distortion. Otake and the last two walked over to the prince of the Spirit World who told them he was fine. But when Otake asked that he returned to the Reikai to get some rest, Koenma refused and informed them of his intention to go to the Makai now.

"You have used up all your reiki, and you lack the strength to make calm decisions. It is an order from Enma Daiou. Please return." The leader insisted.

"I can't even if it's Pops' order. I will take complete responsibility for my actions." Junior asserted with conviction.

"You will have to see something... that will be hard for you." The head of the special squad warned. Indeed, the Great King Enma had ordered the elimination of Urameshi Yusuke as a special measure for the preservation of the Human World. Otake was aware that as a Reikai Tantei, Urameshi Yusuke had carried out many duties for the sake of the Ningenkai and Reikai and saved both worlds a number of times... but there was no choice. The blood of a mazoku, a demonkin, was flowing through him. One of the soldiers moved Mitarai away with a small burst of energy, angering Koenma. "We are going to eliminate Urameshi Yusuke. He... is a descendant of a mazoku!"

"That's ridiculous! Both his parents are humans!"

"Yes, they were, and so were his grandparents, and those before them... " Otake confirmed. Suddenly, realization downed on the prince... Mazoku Daikakusei, demonic grand atavism... genetic hybridization with a human that only A-class youkais or higher could achieve. Atavism was delayed heredity. It was the reapparation of a certain gene inherited from an ancestor and that did not appear in the intermediary generations. For human atavism, it often skipped a generation from a grandparent to grandchildren. But in case of demonkin grand atavism, the gene could stay dormant for dozens of generations. Those demons did that usually out of boredom or curiosity... or in the RAREST cases... because they fell in love with a human and wanted a child with them. And they could manipulate their DNA to awaken whenever they wanted. In Urameshi's case, the demon who had planted his abominable power 44 generations ago when the kekkai didn't exist was a clever one. When Urameshi died the first time, he had neither the physical nor the spiritual capability to handle that latent power, hence the lateness in the discovery. By bringing him back to life as a Reikai Tantei, they had given the demonic atavism exactly what it needed to come out. Earlier, Great King Enma had noticed a faint resonance between Urameshi and the tunnel. Ironically, it would have made more sense if Urameshi had been the one to try and open a hole to the Demon World. And now, that power dwelled inside him!

"What the hell are you people talking about?!" Mitarai was recovering and standing up. "Who do you think Urameshi-san has been fighting for all this time?! For the Human World, and the Spirit World... he kept fighting until he was like this! And you say you're going to eliminate him?! Who cares if he's part-demon?!" He raged. One of the squad members hit the nape of his neck, rendering him unconscious.

"You moron! That's the most serious thing about this. He could become a threat even greater than Sensui!" He dragged the boy's body to the wall.

"We bring Yusuke back to life after he dies once, make him accomplish dangerous missions as a Reikai Tantei, and now we're going to eliminate him?! We, the Reikai, are the ones who made all this happen! And Kuwabara, Akari, Kurama, and Hiei are still in the Makai with Sensui... are you just going to abandon them?! There's no way I will allow this, Otake!" Koenma bellowed. Given his rebelliousness, the head of the Special Forces had no choice but to disable him momentarily with an energy discharge at point blank range. Koenma fell to his knees and cursed. He was still conscious but in terrible pain.

"Forgive me. This is the will of the Spirit Realm." The squad captain ceremoniously carried him against the wall. However, while the Reikai unit had been busy with Mitarai and Koenma, Yusuke's body had started glowing, levitating, and radiating energy. And that energy was no longer reiki but youki! He was awakening! All the present squad members fired on their leader's order. But suddenly, a spirit beast burst through the hole in the ceiling and covered Urameshi. The attacks hit the wing of the giant blue bird. "Fire! Keep firing!" Otake desperately urged his subordinates. They obeyed.

"Don't shoot!" Koenma yelled. However, this onslaught barely had any effect. When they understood it, they stopped shooting.

"Puu, that's enough, I'm alright." Yusuke said reassuringly. He was standing and petting his spirit beast. "What's with you? Just when did you get so big?" Puu puued happily. Puu was now more than twice as big as Yusuke and had a more phoenix-like appearance. His small patch of black hair had become a short mane running along his long neck, his beak had elongated, his ears now stood upright like antennae, his tiny 'arms' had transformed into large beautiful wings, his legs looked like those of a proper bird, and he had grown large tail feathers with orange ends. Everyone gaped, shocked. Urameshi turned to them. "I heard what you were saying. So I'm the descendant of a mazoku?" He smirked like a hungry beast before a prey. "That explains why I feel so invigorated now, like... I've been reborn!" He effortlessly released an impressive amount of youki, forcing the elite warriors to shield themselves, and still, he was obviously holding back. The soldiers took fright, realizing they were no match for him. The captain tried to do something himself but was blown away by the pressure. "Silence, boy! Bow your heads insolent fools! Don't you know who we are? We are the descendant of demon royalty!" Yusuke was employing the royal pronoun and the archaic way of speaking formerly used by the nobility. And from his intensely savage grin, he looked totally out for blood. "Now then, after my awakening, we shall show you our true form...!" He laughed as if he were the very incarnation of the Maou and was going to eat them all. This was too much for the special squad members who ran away, scared out of their wits. "... or NOT! Just kidding with ya, morons!" He made all too silly and funny faces like a clown amusing children. All tension evaporated. The soldiers fell from the shock. The boy asked if Kuwabara and the others were in the Demon World and the prince confirmed. "Then I'd better get going. They must be having a hard time against Sensui..." He started worriedly before stifling his laugh thinking about the female member of his own team who had gone on ahead... "Although Akari should be having a blast right about now..." He looked so amused. That girl was downright crazily insane after all, though that was probably the best part about her. "But I doubt she can kill him so I'll be going. I've got things to settle too."

"W-wait! What the hell are you?" Otake demanded.

"Geez, shuddup will ya? Or I'll gobble you up!" The revived started boredly, annoyedly... and finished threateningly, scaring the captain who still recovered enough to ask what he was planning to do in the Makai. "Eh?! Are you retarded?! I am Urameshi Yusuke! Reborn or revived, that's all I am, and that will never change!" He confidently pointed at himself with his thumb. "I don't care if I'm related to some demon or aristocrat, I'm gonna kick Sensui's ass, and that's that!" He put his fists on his hips. Suddenly, Koenma burst out laughing.

"Yusuke! I'm coming too!" The prince stood up. He had recovered and was grinning. It was like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

"Y-you can't! You must not disobey the Great King's orders any further!" The special squad leader enjoined... only to have Yusuke's foot on his face a second later.

"Leave us alone, will you!" Urameshi was starting to get really annoyed. Otake fell backwards. Yusuke and Koenma jumped on Puu's back.

"Tell my dad he's free to fire me or disown me or whatever he likes!" Junior yelled. And Puu took off and entered the distortion. "Yusuke, you may not be able to return to the Human World." The prince warned.

"Save it for later! I'll worry about that after I beat the crap out of Sensui!"

"You're definitely still you!" Koenma laughed again.

"You're grossing me out! Did you hit your head or something?" The boy replied with a smile. "Hurry, Puu!" They sped through the tunnel.

The three Special Squad members waiting at the hole in the kekkai were complaining that even though they had been ordered to terminate any youkai that tried to pass into the Ningenkai, no youkai were coming. And they were bored. But there was no way they'd be coming. Once those demons sensed their intense reiki halfway here, they turned tail in a panic. Even A-class demons would not get away unscathed against them. Indeed only one of them had been enough to hunt down that youko bandit. But suddenly, the woman sensed a tremendous youki coming their way from behind them. But it couldn't be! Such huge youki coming from the Human World?! Puu passed through the opening in the kekkai. That was Urameshi Yusuke and Koenma-sama! So the elimination had failed! But still... that spectral power... it was in a league all on its own...

On the Guillotine Hill, the two demons lunged too. Hiei summoned a sword of black flames and Kurama his rose whip. Again, Sensui avoided the slash of the dimensional sword and kicked and punched its owner away. Then he caught the rose whip and pulled on it, drawing the kitsune to him and strongly kicking him in the guts. Blood flowed from the mouth of the fox demon who collapsed. Shinobu cracked the rose whip that wound around the flaming sword and yanked before kicking Hiei's back. The three boys were down, and heavily wounded. Only Akari was still standing. But although she didn't quite look in the best of state, she didn't seem to care. Sensui apologized for making them suffer like this. Akari laughed. She still seemed full of energy. She was one who would keep fighting with a smile even after her members were torn apart and wouldn't stop before her head was lopped off. The more you pounded her, the stronger she got, just like Yusuke. They were birds of a feather.

"What suffering are you talking about? Hey, guys, will you just sit and quietly let him kill you? Who cares if he has greater power? Didn't you know that from the start? Fight to surpass yourself! Or are you all giving up now when it's just getting good? If that's the case I'll just kill you myself!" The little girl provoked her friends. The light in her eyes was burning stronger than ever, and her smile was growing more feral.

"You are too harsh Akari-kun." Shinobu scolded her.

"Don't worry, they're used to it. That's just the usual pep talk. And I'm fine if they're just taking a good rest. No, maybe it is better like this, then, they won't get in my way. Sensui, let's have a blast!" Her sudden acceleration caused a small crater. And from this enssued a high level, high speed hand-to-hand combat. She was also protecting herself with reiki, although not materialized. And what more... its quality seemed to have gone up! No, it definitely had! Tears were appearing in Sensui's clothes, and on his armor... The others cheered for her, and, inspired, started feeling their energy returning. But the two battlers stopped all of a sudden. They had sensed terrific youki coming from the boundary tunnel and heading their way. They all looked in the direction and saw that giant blue bird... with Koenma and... YUSUKE on its back?!

"Sensui... sorry for the wait! Come on, let's pick up where we left off!" Urameshi grinned.