A month seemed to go by quickly and, at the same time, not quickly enough.
Sayomi scowled as she weaved through the crowded courtyard. It seemed to consist mostly of men who were either martial artists, spiritualists, both, or neither. As she gauged each possibility, she kept her cloak on with her hood up to keep herself anonymous.
Master Genkai's Disciple Selection Trials had a pretty decent turn-out after all. I guess that's a good thing, but how am I supposed to know which one is the old man's descendant?
As she took note of each human, she grimaced at some of the possibilities. One man had a strong, angular face with a clef-chin and low cheek bones. His long blond hair flowed passed his shoulders in waves.
Another man had a large bald knot on his head with five red dots on his forehead, marking him as a man of the cloth. His black beard and mustache dominated his lower face.
A third guy had black hair that stuck out in all directions. His thin eyebrows betrayed his keen intellect, but the swirls in his glasses kept his eyes hidden.
She shuddered at the thought of one of them being related to the King. If any of these guys ends up being the old man's heir, I don't know if the country will survive. I just hope it's not one of the weird-looking ones. Your plan better work, Master Genkai.
A few days earlier...
"Are you sure about this, Master?" Sayomi felt reluctant about the whole idea.
"I'm getting old, so the sooner it gets done the better," the old hermit answered. "It doesn't matter who wins as long as my techniques can continue on. I don't have time to worry about crap like morals."
"Even if he turns out to be the one I came to find? He'll end up with a lot of power and there's no telling how that can affect the average human." Sayomi's eyes turned a shade darker as she slowed her breathing. "You would still teach him if he became corrupted by it, knowing what he might be?"
"If my power needs to be in the hands of the wicked for a while, then so be it. This can't wait any longer. Isn't that how it is for you, too?"
Sayomi clenched her fists, but nodded. She's right. The old man doesn't have much longer either.
"Alright," she muttered reluctantly. "What do I need to do? If it's supposed to be such a big event, how will I be able to find him?"
"You'll have to blend in with the crowd," Genkai said after she sipped from her tea. "Pretend to be one of the competitors. By the end of the third phase, you should have a good idea."
Present day...
If she plans to weed him out from this crowd in just three trials, she must have something big up her sleeve. Really wish she had let me in on that much, at least. Sayomi glowered under her hood until she heard a loud shout.
"Yo! Urameshi!"
"Huh? Kuwabara?!"
Sayomi turned towards the commotion and spotted two young boys. One of them was dressed in a sleeveless white shirt and jeans with a bag slung over his shoulder. He kept his black hair slicked back, exposing his expressive almond-brown eyes.
The other one was tall with bright orange hair. She smirked as she imagined it as a large orange carrot resting on his head. He had beady eyes and prominent cheek bones, making him look more like the other weirdos in the crowd. He wore a white shirt with vertical stripes and the word "Kuwabara" scrawled across his shoulders.
If he's Kuwabara, then the other boy must be Urameshi. When he turned, she saw the word "Motorhead" and other strange words across the front of his shirt. The only normal thing about him was his jeans. Although, Kuwabara seems like he fits in with the weirder part of the crowd.
She noticed how young they were compared to the rest of the men. They actually look closer to my age, though. Could it be one of them?
Kuwabara ran up to Urameshi, pointing a finger at him. "What are you doing here?"
Urameshi stared at him, just as shocked, and asked, "What are you doing here?"
Kuwabara looked nervous as he answered, "My sixth sense is getting out of hand. I keep seeing and hearing things all the time… and my sleep paralysis is getting worse. My sister said I should come here for advice, but this crowd… sheesh."
"Who the hell is this Genkai, anyway?" Urameshi asked bluntly.
"You came, and you don't know?" Kuwabara blanched at the other boy's ignorance and explained. "According to my sister, she's a top-notch master of Reiki. That's the flow of aura that surrounds the human body. If you can control it, you can acquire all kinds of powers like pulverizing rocks by concentrating energy in your fist, or healing the sick and injured with your own life force. Reach Master Genkai's level of skill and you can blow people away without even touching them."
"Order in the courtyard! Master Genkai approaches!"
Finally... Sayomi turned away from the boys and looked towards the temple's main porch as the doors slid open.
"That shriveled runt? That's Genkai?!"
Sayomi bit her lip to keep from laughing at Urameshi's surprised outburst.
The Reiki Master glared down at the crowd standing before her, raising an eyebrow in mild interest. "Well, now. Quite a crowd, I see. Let's whittle this down a bit, shall we?"
Sayomi overheard a quick exchange a few meters over. "Here we go, this'll be rough."
"No problem. We can tackle anything."
Sayomi smirked. This should be interesting...
"The first test is…"
The crowd waited patiently, preparing themselves for the worst.
"Drawing lots." Genkai watched impassively as everyone fell over in disbelief.
"What the… A lottery?!"
"That's it? What's that prove?!"
Are you serious? That's your first test? Sayomi glared up at the old woman through her hood.
Genkai pointed to a large ceramic jar on the floor next to her. "Each of you will take an envelope from this jar."
Sayomi dusted herself off and made her way into the improvised line. When she got to the front, she didn't even bother paying attention to which one she picked up. This better work...
It took a few more minutes for everyone to draw a lot. Soon, everyone was inspecting their choice, waiting to open the paper slips.
"Everybody got one? Good. Open them, please. If there's a piece of red paper inside, you've passed." Genkai watched as the crowd exclaimed their results.
"Oh no! White!"
"Red!"
"No! White!"
Sayomi ripped her envelope open and sighed when she saw the red slip. I knew it...
"C'mon white…! Gack!"
"Hm?" Sayomi turned and blinked when she saw the Urameshi boy looking at his slip with disgust.
"It's red!" Urameshi and Kuwabara exclaimed at once in shock. "Yours is red too?!" They turned to point at each other, equally surprised.
Weren't they trying to get red? Why do they seem disappointed? Sayomi watched the boys curiously. If they didn't come here to compete in the trials, then why are they here? Whatever their reason, they must have a decent amount of spiritual power if they managed to turn their slips red.
Genkai smirked to herself and chuckled at the ignorant people. "Those who passed, follow me. Everyone else, you are excused."
"Just a minute there!" Genkai turned to see two giants looming over her intimidatingly.
Uh-oh... Sayomi stared at them cautiously. Looks like someone's not happy about their result.
One man had a scarred bald head with thick facial hair reaching over his ears. He wore a traditional martial arts uniform. The other giant had wild hair with a thin beard and mustache. He wore a fur tunic with martial arts pants and a blocky headband rested around his forehead.
"We're famous spiritualists from Kyushu!"
"We didn't come all this way to get turned away like this!"
The crowd watched, stunned at the physical mass of the two angry fighters. Sayomi crossed her arms under her cloak and smirked.
"Whoah, those guys tower over Master Genkai! And they don't look happy!"
"Can't say I blame 'em! What a rip-off this was!"
The two giants continued to antagonize the old woman.
"What have you got to say for yourself?!"
"It'd better be good, or you're gonna be in for it!"
Genkai glared up at the two fighters and said, "Listen, you pipsqueaks, and listen good—I gave you a chance to leave quietly and save face, but you're blowing it. You call yourselves spiritualists? You don't even know why you lost! You're phonies, and you're wasting my time. Go home, knock back some brews, and get a life."
The two men growled in rage. "Enough of your insults!"
"We will not be mocked!" The giants lunged themselves at Genkai.
"They've lost it! They'll pulp her! No matter what skills she has, there's no way she can stop those brutes!"
Sayomi's smirk grew at the Urameshi boy's ignorance. He really has no idea who she is, huh?
"Kah!" Genkai shouted, standing her ground, and blew the giants away. They landed heavily across the courtyard, knocked unconscious. The crowd watched, stunned at the display of power.
"Sh… She blew 'em away!"
"Without even touching 'em!"
Sayomi grinned at the silent crowd. Well, now they all know what she can do. Maybe now her tests will be taken more seriously.
Genkai sighed. "Once upon a time, I could make guys like that wet themselves just by looking at them. Now… hmph. Getting old sucks. Anyway, these applicants now see that size isn't everything. And those who've passed the first phase of testing are at least somewhat gifted. Don't stand there gawking – come on."
The remaining contestants followed the old woman around the temple to the next test. Some fighters were still in shock by the incident.
"I'd heard the rumors but… that was incredible."
Sayomi smirked as she watched what was left of the crowd follow after the Master. Well, at least it looks like a good amount of possibilities have been sifted out. As annoyingly simple as that first test was, it certainly took care of most of the work already. Now I just need to be on my toes and pay attention to the next—
BREEP! BREEP!
"YAAAH!"
Sayomi heard a small explosion and looked over to see Urameshi staring down at his wrist in surprise. She could see a small bit of smoke coming from the trinket he had fastened on.
"It… blew up!" He said in disbelief.
Kuwabara looked over at his friend curiously. "What th' hey?"
Sayomi's brow arched. Wonder what that was all about...
Genkai turned to gauge the crowd behind her. "About fifty left. Not bad."
Sayomi sighed quietly to herself. Fifty, huh? Hopefully the next test will thin out the numbers enough to get a better idea. She looked around at what was left of the possible candidates.
There was a big, bald fighter with a big nose and small eyes. There was a strange character who was wearing a gas mask and army helmet, and another guy that could almost pass for Frankenstein's monster. There was even a guy that looked like he belonged at a punk rock concert.
Then she turned back to the two young boys.
"What have I gotten myself into?" Kuwabara muttered to himself.
Urameshi inspected Kuwabara curiously. "You're not him, that's for sure."
Kuwabara turned to the other boy, irritated. "What're you yakkin' about, scuzz?"
Sayomi found herself wondering the same thing. If he doesn't know who Master Genkai is, and he was disappointed about getting the red slip, then why is he here? Is he looking for someone, too?
Genkai stopped at a door at the end of the hall. "We will now proceed to the second phase of testing!"
She pushed the doors open with a heavy creak. The crowd of fighters gasped at the room, shocked by what was inside.
"What th' ding-dong?! It's an arcade!"
"We're gonna be tested here?"
"That's right," Genkai answered bluntly. "Now listen up. Each of you will play these games to the best of your ability."
Sayomi grimaced. Great. It had to be something she knows I'm not good at. I'm starting to think she's doing these kinds of tests just to annoy me.
A random fighter in the crowd stepped forward and asked, "Master, I don't understand. How will this prove anyone's suitability to be your pupil?"
Genkai explained, "These machines have been designed to measure your capacities in various ways. Your spirituality – derived capacities, I should say. The Rock-Paper-Scissors game measures your sixth sense. Ten or more wins out of fifteen tries is required to pass. The Punching game measures your spiritual might. You get three tries and you need at least 120 points to pass. The Karaoke game measures your life energy. You get one try to get at least 70 points to pass."
Urameshi pointed at the other games around the room. "What do Tetris and Asteroids measure?"
"Nothing. They're just for fun. Of the three testing games, you must pass two of them! Oh, and one more thing. They're 100 yen each to play."
Urameshi glared at the old woman's back. "Greedy old bag."
Sayomi dug into her pocket and pulled out a handful of coins. Looks like Master Genkai gave me just enough for maximum gameplay. I just hope I don't screw this up.
"I'll take the first whack. Oughta be a cinch for me." A man with a hooked nose and small mouth slipped on the boxing glove for the punching game and punched the pad as hard as he could. "How's that?"
His score of 18p flashed on the screen.
"Terrible," Genkai commented.
"Can't be! I hold the record for the Nishiogi punching game!"
"Good for you! But there's no hint of spiritual power working with your physical strength! You've failed!" Genkai emphasized the importance of using their aura. She was not about to pass on her legacy to a muscle-head with no real talent.
Kuwabara took the glove and gave his own solid punch at the game. 129p flashed on the screen. The crowd stared at him, impressed with his age and high score.
"Can you top that, Urameshi?" Kuwabara challenged the other boy to try.
Urameshi glared at his rival and pulled the glove on. "You joking, Kuwabara? Just watch.
"Hyah!" Urameshi punched the pad and 155p flashed on the screen, trouncing Kuwabara's score. He scratched his nose, content with his number. "There ya go."
Kuwabara grimaced angrily at his loss.
"155 points!" The crowd couldn't believe young kids were scoring so high on the tests so soon.
Deciding to take advantage of the shock, Sayomi slipped a coin in the slot and put the glove on. She took in a deep breath and focused her aura around her fist. Keep it subtle. I still need to blend in.
When she exhaled, she punched the pad. Her score of 125p flashed on the screen. Sweet. I passed. As she passed the glove to the next player, she saw the two boys glaring each other down. That Urameshi boy certainly has a strong punch for a human.
Kuwabara eagerly challenged him to the next game. "I'll beat you in Rock-Paper-Scissors!"
"Fat chance, Bucko!" Urameshi laughed at Kuwabara's bold declaration.
Sayomi smirked as she quietly followed them to the next game. This one is supposed to test their sixth sense. I wonder how they'll score.
She merged with the crowd around the Rock-Paper-Scissors game and waited for the boys to play. She smirked as she watched them compete with each other.
"Wow, he nailed all 15 rounds!"
Kuwabara laughed at his rival. "How 'bout that, Urameshi?!"
"Man! My intuition's pathetic!" Urameshi glared at the machine.
Sayomi chuckled quietly as she took the next turn. He only won two out his fifteen tries. He may have a powerful punch, but he doesn't have much of a sixth sense. However, that Kuwabara guy has power and intuition. So far, they seem like the most likely candidates.
"Wow! This guy scored 171 on the punching game! He's even better than that kid!"
Sayomi turned back to the punching game curiously.
The crowd was praising a grown man with dark shoulder-length hair. He had a goatee and deep scars on his face. He wore traditional martial arts Gi with bandages wrapped around his fists. He gave off the aura of a very experienced warrior.
Sayomi finished her game and took note of the human. He certainly looks like a serious fighter. Although, I wonder if he could really be related to the old man.
"Gyaah! That's the worst singing I've ever heard!"
"But he's scored 100! You can actually see his aura!"
Sayomi turned towards the Karaoke stage. The crowd was excited about a lean, bald man with a Buddhist manji on his forehead. He wore a red ninja outfit with a fishnet undershirt.
She cringed at the sound of the ninja's awful voice. He would certainly fit in with the other monks and he has an impressive amount of aura for a human. I guess the most likely candidates are starting to stand out after all.
"Karaoke! That'll settle this!" Urameshi glared at Kuwabara.
"Wail away, Chump!" Kuwabara returned Urameshi's glare with his own.
Sayomi frowned at the thought of singing in front of a crowd of strangers. If I need to blend in, then it's probably best that I don't sing. Besides, I won 11 out of the 15 rounds so I don't need the karaoke score.
After everyone finished the test, Genkai dismissed the losers and led the rest of the men towards the forest.
Sayomi did a quick head count. About twenty left. That's still quite a bit. Hopefully this next test will do the trick.
"Hmm… Didn't think so many would get this far." Genkai mused to herself, watching the group behind her.
"She's taking us a long way from the temple." Urameshi looked at his surroundings, trying to figure out what was next.
"What's this about? Where're we going?" Kuwabara was just as on edge about the scenery change.
Sayomi smirked to herself as she felt the change in the air. Now this will be a real test. I can finally see how they handle themselves in a more serious situation.
"Gack?!"
"What is this place?!"
The group had stopped at a line of trees bordered by a spirit ward. A strange aura emanated from the forest, disturbing the sensitive fighters and psychics.
"You've passed the preliminaries. Now for a serious test of your capabilities." Genkai faced the group, preparing them for the danger ahead.
"A test… in this creepy forest?"
"More than creepy! It seems to be emitting a demonic aura."
Genkai ignored the scared contestants and continued her explanation. "This is a primitive forest teeming with dangerous beasts and deadly traps, where compasses won't function, and all manner of demons dwell. It's called the Cursed Forest. It is no place for ordinary people. None ever come out alive. See that large tree in the distance? That is your goal. You'll pass if you reach it within two hours."
"That's it! I'm outta here!"
"Risk my neck for a bunch of martial arts tricks? No thanks!"
Sayomi sighed when she saw two of the men running away. I guess they'd rather live than fight. Still, the rest of them seem ready, or at least determined.
Genkai chuckled. "Those departing are wise. Facing the tangible menace of the forest, many learn their limits and heed the lesson."
"So it should be," the scarred fighter said with his arms crossed. "Only those who have had proper training should take this challenge."
"Yeah! All you wannabes go home," the ninja agreed.
"Hmph." Urameshi and Kuwabara looked at them, unimpressed.
Then Urameshi jerked his thumb at himself and said, "I'm in! Do or die, I want to learn the stuff this hag knows."
"That's Master Hag to you, punk." Genkai corrected from the sideline.
Sayomi chuckled quietly. Well, he certainly doesn't like to be looked down on.
Urameshi walked up to the two fighters and pointed an accusing finger at them. "Who says training'll make any difference anyway? Is that the real advantage you two have?"
The two men stood silent, confused by the young boy's outburst.
Kuwabara pulled Urameshi away and said, "If you're doin' it, I'm doin' it!"
The boy scowled and said, "It's your neck, Dum-dum!"
Sayomi looked around as the fighters lined up across the tree line. Well, at least they're eager, but it'll take more than that to survive. Besides them, I'll need to observe the rest of the men, too.
Her eyes raked over a few of the most likely possibilities. Besides those two boys, Scars, and the ninja, there's the swordsman with the eyepatch who seems to know what he's doing. Glasses over there looks like he's enjoying himself. Then there's that young boy...
The young monk smiled as he got ready to start.
Her eyes narrowed. The old man said there shouldn't be a trace of demonic aura in him until he was ready and it doesn't look like he's sporting any visible markings. So why is a another demon taking part in these trials?
Genkai looked at the men and said, "Ready… Get set… Go! If you use your sixth sense to avoid danger, you just might make it!"
Everyone took off. They jumped over the wards and started running through the forest as fast as they could.
Genkai ran passed them with her hands behind her back. "I'll meet you at the tree."
"Huh?"
"Lookit her go!"
"She's not human!"
"If you keep up with me, you'll get there quicker." Then, Genkai took off out of sight.
"She's not human!"
Sayomi smirked under her hood. Now the real fun can begin.
She ran at a steady pace, letting the others get a head-start. I don't need to win this one. I just need to know who will make it through.
About an hour into the test, Sayomi decided to see who was in the lead. She let her body meld with the shadows and found the aura signature that was closest to the exit. She was amused when she found Kuwabara in first place.
"I've managed to kinda follow my instincts and I haven't come across any traps or demons. I must be going the right way. Hmm…" He observed the two paths in front of him. "I don't like the looks of that direction, so I'll try this."
She smirked and slipped away before he could notice her. Seems he really does have a good sixth sense. Now what about everyone else?
She found another fighter who was about in 15th place. He observed his surroundings, paranoid as he started to lose his sense of direction. "I'm… I'm right back where I started! Is it my imagination… or am I just going in circles…?" He started running around a large boulder. "Help mee!"
Sayomi scowled and moved on to the next contestant. They can't all be this bad, can they?
The next guy she found was screaming at a mischievous Bug-Ugly Beast that hung down from a tree branch, even though it was just a mischievous head with a couple arms. Then she found two more that were tangled in the vines of the Loiter Weeds, large demonic flowers with smiling mouths.
Damn it. What about that Urameshi guy? Sayomi did her best to remember his aura signature and tracked him down in the forest. When she found him in 10th place, he had a tear in his shirt and a snake on his shoulder. Did he really just go straight through the forest?
"I've lost the trail!" He yelled in frustration. "I can't tell what direction I'm going anymore! And wherever I am, it's crawling with snakes and leeches! Yuck!
"Ow!" He stopped and saw blood drip from a scratch on his cheek. "Now what?!" He looked up at the trees when a shadow caught his eye. "A nest of bats?!"
"What fool dares to enter my domain just in time for supper?"
The Urameshi boy looked through the colony of bats for the source of the screeching voice. He gasped when he spotted the culprit.
It was a humanoid bat thing with a face that resembled a corny vampire from TV. He had large pointed ears and his hair was combed flat against his head. Black wings wrapped around his body like a cloak and his clawed feet clung to a branch, letting the creature hang upside down.
Great... Sayomi scowled at the boy's lousy luck. He ran straight into the Bat Master. He controls the bats by emitting a special ultrasonic sound. He feeds on blood and won't hesitate to attack hikers to steal their valuables. Urameshi better watch out for his sharp fangs and claws.
"Yuuum!" The Bat Master swooped down and flew towards the boy at great speed.
"Yipes!" Urameshi braced himself for the oncoming attack.
Sayomi forced herself to stay hidden as the demon attacked. If he can't handle this on his own, then he's most likely not the one I'm looking for. Regardless, this is my chance to see what he can do.
The boy held his arms up to guard himself while the Bat Master flew around him. The demon screeched, signaling the other bats to attack him too.
"Go on, young ones! Feast on his flesh and blood!" The Bat Master screeched and flew in for another attack.
Sayomi watched the human boy try to hit the demon and miss. I just wanna see what happens, then I'll catch up with the others.
Time passed, but she was too absorbed in the fight to care. Every time he tries to attack, the Bat Master flies out of his range. Even if he survives, he's not gonna make it to the exit in time.
"Ha ha ha! Are you petrified with fear, human?" The Bat Master flew around before he swooped in behind the boy. "Then I'll just eat you!"
"Eat this!" Urameshi glared as he jumped and punched the demon.
"Eiyaaah!" The Bat Master fell to the ground with a large knot on the back of his head. "What... happened..?"
Urameshi grabbed the demon by the neck and yelled, "Thanks to you, I wasted at least half an hour memorizing your stupid flight patterns!"
"I'm... s-sorry..." The Bat Master stared at the boy with wide eyes.
"And I'm tired of listening to your annoying voice!" He punched the demon one more time in the face, giving him a bloody nose and knocking him unconscious.
Sayomi stared at the boy, impressed with his victory. He really did it. He actually defeated the demon with his bare hands!
"Damn! I need to get out of here!" The boy bagged the demon up in its cape and grabbed one of the feral bats in his other hand. Then he rushed to finish the test. "I hope I'm not too late!"
Before he got too far away, Sayomi merged with his shadow. I hope so, too. If he can beat the Bat Master, I'd like to see what else he can do.
Urameshi continued his beeline through the forest. When he heard voices, he shoved his way through the rest of the trees and bushes.
"Time's up…" Genkai said, looking down at her pocket watch.
"No, wait! Look there!" Kuwabara pointed at the tree line.
They watched as a figure pushed his way through the brush. Kuwabara recognized him instantly. "Urameshi!"
The boy stomped across the field with leaves in his hair and scratches all over his body. "So much for taking the straight path, dammit! Thought I'd never get here in time!"
Genkai looked up at him, surprised by his claim. "You said you headed straight for this tree? Then you would have met the Bat Master, the toughest demon in the forest…"
He held up the demon's unconscious, beaten body and growled, "What? You mean this guy? He was a real pest, fluttering around and screeching! Took forever to bag the little sucker!"
Genkai stared at the boy curiously while he dropped the bat on the floor.
Sayomi sensed the shadows of the other fighters through their connection to Urameshi's. Looks like there are eight left altogether. This might be harder than I thought.
Genkai looked at the finalists and said, "And now… for the fourth test!"
They anxiously waited to hear their next challenge.
The old hermit turned away. "Didn't think I'd need one. Lemme think…"
As the men fell over in disbelief, Sayomi mentally sighed. As long as it's not boring.