"Master! Master Mitamura!"
"Please don't die!"
An old man laid in a futon with a large pillow and thick comforter. He had graying hair and aged laugh lines. He smiled at the young men sitting around him, heads hanging low in grief. "It isn't a choice I can make. My health is failing, and that is that. But I've no regrets… You wonderful children are here with me to ease my passing."
"Surgery could save him, but we don't have the money…" A young man with long dark hair spoke with regret. He had a mustache that sat well with his square jawline.
"We owe him so much…" Another young man spoke angrily with a clenched fist. He had long brown hair that parted to expose a cross scar on the right side of his forehead. "He took us in, raised us, taught us disciplines of body and soul… There must be something we can do!"
The old man turned to the two boys with a loving smile. "Such heartfelt regard… But I am not important. You are all ready."
"No! You need to get better!" A young teen with shaggy orange hair and a snaggle-tooth spoke up defiantly. "You must get better, whatever it takes…!"
"My name is Ichigaki." The men stood and turned to see a short, gray man with pointed ears and a large cleft chin. He had white hair that reached his shoulders but did not grow passed his ears. He had droopy eyes and his cranium dipped in the middle. He wore a simple white lab coat and matching white slacks. "I will cure your master… at no cost. There is just one condition…"
"What's that?!"
"Who cares?! We'll do anything!"
"Hmm… Would you three be willing…" Ichigaki pointed a clawed, bony finger at the boy with shaggy hair, the boy with the scar and the young man with the mustache. "…To take part in a little experiment of mine? It's nothing complicated, I assure you. Gyuk gyuk…"
"…And that was it." Kuwabara sat on his bed, facing Yusuke and Sayomi who were seated on the couch. He finished explained a dream he had just before waking up.
"Ichigaki, huh? Name sounds familiar…" Yusuke reached for a canned drink as he tried to rack his brain for a clue.
Sayomi sighed and crossed her arms. "Really, Yusuke? It's the name of the team you guys are fighting today. Is your memory really that terrible?"
"Shut up, Sai." Yusuke opened his drink and took a few gulps. "I'm just not really good with names."
"So Kurama and Hiei haven't come back?" Kuwabara asked as he reached for his own canned drink.
"Nope." Yusuke answered, gulping down the rest of his beverage.
"Hmph!" Kuwabara clenched his teeth and resisted the urge to crush his can. "Thought Hell would reopen as an ice rink before those two ran away."
Yusuke finished his drink and set his empty can on the table. He smiled and said, "Don't sweat it. They'll show up."
"I hope so." Sayomi uncrossed her arms and looked at Yusuke uncertainly. "No offense, guys, but without them, our odds don't look too promising."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Kuwabara finished his drink and glared at Sayomi.
"I said 'no offense.'" Sayomi deadpanned. "Yusuke isn't at his best right now and you're the only one to lose a match in the first round."
"Why you…" Kuwabara grumbled and stood up with Yusuke, Sayomi, and the Masked Fighter. He slung his jacket over his shoulder and refused to look the demoness in the eye.
"All set? Let's go!" Yusuke announced as he made his way out the room.
As they made their way through the hotel hallway, they ran into a tall young man with brown hair. He wore royal blue robes with a scarlet scarf around his neck. Sayomi couldn't help staring at the baby blue pacifier in his mouth and the 'Jr' tattooed on his forehead.
"Hello?" Yusuke asked hesitantly.
"Nice work in the first round, guys." The stranger addressed the team in such a familiar manner, Yusuke was able to put it together himself.
"That voice… And that stupid pacifier." Yusuke creased his eyebrows in concentration and he pointed accusingly at the stranger. "You're not…"
"I am, Human World version." The stranger confirmed Yusuke's suspicion.
"Gawd! You are Koenma!" Yusuke freaked out, his eyes wide and teeth clenched.
Oh crap… Sayomi froze and tried to attract as little attention as possible. If what Yasuhiro said was true, does that mean I'm still a suspected criminal? I don't even know what we were accused of!
"You… uh… Humanize pretty good, but can't you ditch that thing? The readers are freaking." Yusuke tried to get used to a non-baby Koenma, but the pacifier made him almost as uncomfortable as Sayomi.
"Too bad for them." Koenma deadpanned carelessly. "I'm attending this event strictly as a spectator, but I thought you should know about that egg I gave you a while back."
"Huh?" Yusuke blinked and scratched his head. "Egg…?"
Koenma felt his patience wear thin as he tried to refresh the detective's memory. "Yes, the egg, the beast egg…" When Yusuke showed no sign of recognition, Koenma snapped and yelled, "…The one that was supposed to hatch when you came back to life!"
"Ah!" Yusuke held up his finger as the memory came back to him.
"Don't 'Ah!' me!" Koenma scolded the teen and composed himself with a stressful sigh. "Sheesh… Out of sight, out of mind. Quick review – I had you come back to life sooner than planned because your body and soul had to be in tune. As a consequence, the egg returned to the Underworld unhatched. But it's growing, sustaining itself by drawing on your soul energy."
Sayomi's ears perked at the new information. I remember Yusuke briefing over this before, but he neglected to mention that it was still feeding on his energy. She glanced at the teen and sighed. Then again, he probably had no idea.
"Hatching is now imminent," Koenma continued. "Just a matter of days. Once it emerges, the hatchling may be of use to you!"
Yusuke rubbed the back of his head and pointed at himself with a goofy smile. "Great! So the wait was worth it!"
"The wait… Yeah, right." Koenma muttered to himself sarcastically before changing the subject. "So, how're your lessons with Master Genkai going? Getting good training in the meditative arts?"
Sayomi felt a shiver run down her spine as she felt Koenma's eyes sweep over her briefly. Does he already know…?
"Naw, still working on the basics of Reiki." Yusuke answered with a hint of annoyance in his tone. "I've progressed to making explosive bursts of aura, and concentrating them on a target."
Sayomi resisted to urge to do a face-palm. Instead, she felt her eyebrow twitch with irritation. Isn't that what you've been doing since day one?
"Awright!" Yusuke cheered as he left Koenma behind in the hall. "Let's win this thing so I can see that egg hatch!"
Did you already forget that you still can't use your Reigun? Sayomi stared at Yusuke's back in worry. She tried to ignore the paranoid feeling that Koenma was keeping a close eye on her. So long as he doesn't try to kill me or anything…
"Hey! What's goin' on?"
"Those teams ain't complete!"
Sayomi ignored the crowd's shouts of displeasure and focused on the team in front of her. There was a short troll in a lab coat and three humans. She glared at the troll suspiciously. This is too much of a coincidence that we both happen to be missing two teammates.
"Those guys, they're… right outta my dream!" Kuwabara muttered to himself with clenched teeth. Sayomi slid a glance in the boy's direction to see him sweating nervously.
"It's time! Both teams, step forward!" Koto instructed with a raised hand.
Yusuke and the troll both stepped forward to discuss the rules for the match. Yusuke kept his composure with his hands in his pockets as he looked down at the demon.
"Gyuk gyuk… Both teams short, eh? Bound to happen, as the battles whittle us down. This is a sort of preview." The troll, Dr. Ichigaki, raised three clawed fingers and asked, "Will you accept your three against my three?"
"Don't see why not." Yusuke allowed casually. "What about you? You sittin' it out? We have a fourth fighter who would just love a chance in the ring."
"Gyuk gyuk…" The doctor chuckled and smirked up at the teen. "I'm just the team advisor and alternate. My dear boys here will do the fighting."
Yusuke stared down at the troll as he raised his finger to point at the detective. "Most demons think humans are poor fighters, but I'm one demon who knows different. Fact is, you humans are very talented. Properly trained and conditioned, you become excellent killing machines." Dr. Ichigaki's voice began to raise in volume and his smirk became a wide grin. "I have a dream – to create the ultimate biological weapons! Perfect slaughter machines to do my bidding, without fear or question!"
Sayomi clenched her fists, and glared at the short demon. I'm already tired of listening to this damn troll. It's a shame he's too much of a coward to step in the ring. I'd love to take a swing at him myself.
The doctor calmed down and clasped his hands behind his back. "These three are my prototypes. Took pulling a few strings to procure them…" Dr. Ichigaki's smirk widened and Sayomi felt sick just looking at him. "…But it's been worth it. This should be a fine battle."
"You done?" Yusuke asked, just as annoyed with the troll as Sayomi.
"Just about." Dr. Ichigaki raised a finger and said, "I'm also very interested in you two. Care to make a little wager? If my boys win, I get your corpses. New brains, simple resuscitation… You'll be good as new."
Sayomi bristled at the doctor's words. "Over my dead body!"
"Fine." Sayomi snapped her attention to Yusuke in shock. Yusuke ignored her and glared at the doctor. "And if we win, I kill you."
"Gyuk gyuk! You're on!" Dr. Ichigaki turned to walk back to his team, assuming the stakes settled until the Masked Fighter stepped forward.
"Let's make it more interesting. We propose… A battle royale."
Sayomi stared at the Masked Fighter curiously. That's not a bad idea, actually. Then Yusuke won't be at such a disadvantage without his aura.
The doctor slowly turned to face the Masked Fighter with a wide grin. "Gyuk gyuk! We accept!"
Sayomi and the troll doctor made their way out of the ring. Once on her side of the ring, Sayomi stole angry glances at the short demon. Once she was sure the troll didn't have any tricks up his sleeve, she shifted her eyes to her team. "I hope you know what you're doing, Yusuke."
"Reality's shaping up like my dream. Very weird." Kuwabara watched their opponents wearily.
"I've seen those three before." Sayomi, Yusuke, and Kuwabara turned their attention to the Masked Fighter. "They're students of a well-known martial artist. Great men, loyal and respectful toward their teacher, unwavering in their training. This is a very sad state of affairs."
"That jibes with my dream!" Kuwabara exclaimed, troubled with the turn of events. "That toad's brainwashed 'em! They're bein' made t' fight against their will!"
"Begin!" Koto announced, unaffected by the revelation.
The doctor's team immediately dashed forward. The boy with the scar lifted his right hand like a claw. The young boy with messy hair had three gold rings around each arm. The man with the mustache raised his fists like he was holding something.
"Hound Claw!" The scarred boy dashed closer, raising his hand and staring down at Yusuke and Kuwabara.
"Jump back!" The Masked Fighter shouted at the boys urgently, stopping them from reacting naturally.
The boys hesitated, but they did as she instructed. Just as their opponent was bringing his hand down towards them, they jumped back. Sayomi gasped when she saw the crater form just where the boys were standing. While they were still in midair, the mustached fighter pivoted on his braced leg and swung his arms. An invisible force was strong enough to hit the boys and knock them back down to the ring.
"Glumph!" Kuwabara yelled in pain. He landed and skidded on the back of his neck and shoulders. "Didya see what hit us?! I didn't see nothin'!"
Yusuke landed upward and skidded back on his right hand and foot. His left arm covered his sore stomach as he tried to recover from the pain. "Some invisible force, like that first guy's attack! If we hadn't jumped back—!"
"Refining one's aura can make it invisible to weaker opponents." The Masked Fighter explained to the teens as she braced herself for the next attack. "You two are definitely in that category."
"So how do we fight 'em?!" Yusuke and Kuwabara regained their footing and clenched their teeth angrily. Kuwabara wiped his fist across his injured chin.
Sayomi growled angrily from the sidelines. This sucks! I can't do anything to help from here! Those damn rings are distracting them from the actual threats. At this rate, they'll be too exhausted to fight back. And what the hell is keeping Hiei and Kurama anyway?!
"Yeah, run 'em down!"
"Corner 'em! Kill 'em!"
The crowd chanted and yelled, craving blood. Sayomi glared at the smug troll. I don't like the way his smile looks. He was too happy when the Masked Fighter made that offer.
The Dr.'s team rushed forward. The young one threw a half dozen rings towards Yusuke and Kuwabara, forcing them to dodge. Kuwabara had summoned his aura sword to defend himself against their attacks.
"Gaah!" Kuwabara was knocked off his feet by the mustached man's invisible attack.
"Unh!" Yusuke grunted in pain when the attack followed through to land a direct hit.
"Guys! Pay attention to the other fighters! The runt is just distracting you!" Sayomi tried to remind them of the third fighter that was rushing in.
Yusuke gasped when he landed upside down on his right hand. The scarred fighter was closing in on him while he was off balance and vulnerable. The scarred fighter raised his hand, preparing to attack. "Aww, cra—"
Yusuke was cut off by the Masked Fighter who kicked him out of the way. The Masked Fighter got the full brunt of the Hound Claw. She held up her arms to shield her face, but she was still slammed down into the stadium floor and thrown across the ring.
"The Masked Fighter took the Hound Claw hit for his teammate!" Koto announced from outside the ring. "He's knocked out of bounds! Starting the count!"
"Oh crap!" Sayomi ran towards the Masked Fighter. When she reached the fighter, she stopped short and gasped.
The Masked Fighter's mask was torn from the attack. Sayomi could see wavy pink hair falling from the cloth wraps. So it is Genkai? I'm so confused!
The Masked Fighter looked up at Sayomi with large brown eyes. "You needn't worry about me. You would be best off saving your energy for later."
"But you're Master Genkai, right?" Even though the woman was very young, Sayomi couldn't think of anyone else with pink hair. Let alone someone that Yusuke would trust to have his back like that.
The Masked Fighter ignored her question and ran back into the ring. Sayomi watched, stunned, as she jumped just in time to save Kuwabara from a fatal blow. He was caught off guard, but she kicked the mustached fighter off his feet. She quickly turned to attack the other two fighters while they were distracted. Then she skidded to a stop in front of the boys, her face fully exposed for the crowd to see.
"You idiots! Don't hesitate!" She scolded the boys, but kept her eyes on their opponents. "Do you think by losing you'll save their souls?"
"Is that why they wouldn't fight back?" Sayomi finally realized why the boys were on the constant defense. They feel too bad or them…
"The Masked Fighter's up at the 4-count!" Koto spoke into her mic in shock. "And now we know—she's a young woman! Who'd have th— huh?!" Koto was cut off as a demon's body landed in the ring and bounced all the way into the wall behind her. "One of Dr. Ichigaki's team has fallen from the sky—" Koto narrated excitedly. "—In pieces! Awp! He's hit the wall!"
Sayomi noticed Dr. Ichigaki's surprised expression and she growled. "I knew that troll was up to no good!"
There was a loud rumble and the ground shook as something crashed through the stands. It was a large robotic creature with long arms and a single eye. The doctor's attention grew worrisome as he turned to see the monster. Sayomi grinned when the dust settled and she spotted their missing teammates.
"Hiei! Kurama!" Yusuke shouted, happy to see his team in good health.
Kurama pointed down at the dismembered corpse and said, "That pile of trash told us everything. To save their teacher, those three humans submitted to an experiment. They had no idea they'd be turned into killing machines."
"So that's what my dream was about!" Kuwabara exclaimed in realization.
"What's more…" Kurama continued calmly. "…Ichigaki caused their teacher to fall ill in the first place."
"Say…" Kuwabara glared ahead at the troll.
"…What?" Yusuke finished, glaring and gritting his teeth.
"Gyuk gyuk..." Dr. Ichigaki stood with his hands behind his back, smirking at their angry expressions.
"He tricked those three into submitting to his sick experiment!" Kuwabara yelled angrily as all eyes turned to the doctor. The three humans in question simply stared ahead with blank expressions.
"So what if I did?" Dr. Ichigaki smirked behind his human shield outside the ring. "Enemies are enemies, whether demon or human, right? My team has one purpose – to do battle." He held up a stack of papers and raised a finger as he continued to taunt Team Urameshi. "So don't hold back. They are killing machines, and you should destroy them… if you can. They're the first phase of my ideal vision – and have reached the end of their usefulness to me!"
"Maggot!" Kuwabara growled beside Yusuke.
The Masked Fighter tied her mask cloth to cover her face again while Sayomi glared at the doctor in disgust. He's using their anger against them. C'mon guys, don't let him bait you like this!
"You've said enough!" Yusuke yelled as he and Kuwabara charged straight for Dr. Ichigaki.
"Urameshi and Kuwabara have become enraged by Ichigaki's statements!" Koto elaborated for the crowd. "They're heading out of bounds to attack him!"
Before they could reach him, they were cut off by the doctor's team. The mustached fighter delivered a strong kick to Yusuke's stomach while the young boy punched Kuwabara across the face. Yusuke and Kuwabara were sent skidding across the arena in the opposite direction. When they got back to their feet, all three fighters stood in front of the doctor.
"They're defending that scum!" Yusuke growled through clenched teeth.
"Thanks to my Blood-Control Nodes!" Dr. Ichigaki smiled and chuckled as he explained the organs on the fighters' backs. "They function as second brains and hearts – dominating the hosts! And they are permanent. Remove them, and the hosts die!" He pointed up at them to taunt them. "The nodes are completely subsumed to my like and will! I am what they care about… I am what they live for!" He cackled while the boys growled angrily.
"S-so we hafta kill 'em?!" Kuwabara began to sweat nervously as he tried to think of an alternative.
"That's so low…" Sayomi clenched her fists and began to tremble with anger. "I'm disgusted to come from the same world as him."
"Don't just stand there, dear boys! Attack!" Dr. Ichigaki grinned as he ordered his thrall. They charged towards Kuwabara without any hesitation.
"Kuwabara's standing his ground, facing them down!" Koto announced in wonder.
"Kuwabara!" Yusuke turned from his retreat to see his teammate in the direct path of their opponents.
"They'll kill him!" Hiei exclaimed, stunned by the human's idiocy.
"Damn it, Kuwabara! Move!" Sayomi shouted desperately.
"I know what you really want!" Kuwabara shouted defiantly. "You want to be free of that bastard! You want your lives back!"
The impact was almost deafening as blood sprayed onto the arena floor. All three of the doctor's mind slaves delivered a direct punch to Kuwabara. The teen struggled to breathe as he was sent across the field. He bounced once, making him cough up more blood. Sayomi, Yusuke, and the Masked Fighter gasped in shock at the brutality of the joint attack.
"Kuwabara!" Yusuke made an angry run for his best friend's mangled body.
"Gyuk gyuk… One down." Dr. Ichigaki smirked to himself at his team's progress.
"Whatever Kuwabara was hoping for didn't happen! He just took a merciless pounding!" Koto announced elatedly.
Sayomi glared at the troll doctor and growled under her breath. "Once this is all over, I'll kill him."
"The fool is alive. Now shut up and follow me."
Sayomi turned to see Hiei standing behind her. He was missing his shirt and he kept his hands in his pockets. His headband was missing and his Evil Eye was open. Sayomi also noted the scratches and bruises covering his torso. "What happened to you?"
"Did the giant beast not tip you off?" Hiei glared back at her as he made his way around the ring to join Kurama.
Sayomi sighed and scowled at the fire demon, following him to the red-head with her arms crossed. "Smartass…"
"I'll ki—!" Yusuke stopped midsentence in shock, watching the doctor's team cry tears of blood.
"Kill… Kill me… Kill… Kill…"
"Kill… Me… Kill…"
"Kill… Kill… Us…"
"They just missed his vital organs." The Masked Fighter spoke up from examining Kuwabara. He was covered in blood and bruises. He was barely conscious, grunting in pain from every twitch. "I've seldom seen such precision. They do want to be free of Ichigaki, even if it means their deaths."
"Gyuk gyuk!" Dr. Ichigaki laughed. "This is the most fascinating fieldwork I've ever conducted! I'll have to thoroughly revise my estimate of what it takes to gain total control of the human mind!"
"That so?!" Yusuke trembled, his aura flaring up with his rage. His knuckles popped as he clenched his fists at his sides. "If you did to me what you've done to them, I'd want someone to kill me, too!"
In an instant, Yusuke was knocking down the mustached fighter with a strong right hook. The fighter was sent sliding back across the ring.
"Huh?!" Dr. Ichigaki's grin fell as he saw Yusuke take down one of his fighters. Even Koto was speechless by the display.
The scarred fighter dashed forward with his raised right hand. His aura manifested into a giant claw. Yusuke jumped back as the attack made a crater where he was just standing. Then, he quickly leaned back, avoiding his opponent's follow-up swipe.
"Incredible!" Koto exclaimed from just outside the ring. "The tables have turned! Urameshi's getting the best of Team Ichigaki!"
"What's going on here?" Dr. Ichigaki pulled out a calculator from his pocket and began to punch in some numbers. "This wasn't in my calculations. I'll have to input Urameshi's new power values and recalculate my team's chances."
His face became grim when he saw 52.725% appear on his calculator.
"What's the matter? Can't do it in your head?"
"Urk!" Dr. Ichigaki jumped at the voice and turned to see who was behind him. Hiei, Kurama, and Sayomi blocked him from making a hasty retreat.
"Nice idea, a by-the-book psychological attack…" Kurama commented casually with his hands in his pockets. He was just as beat up as Hiei. "…But there's just no calculating what will rally the human spirit."
"I hope you're ready to do your share of the fight once this match is over." Sayomi glared at the doctor, shifting her shadow threateningly.
"Argh! Grr!" Dr. Ichigaki growled and pointed at his team, angrily shouting orders. "No! I can't be wrong! Do it, boys! Kill them now!"
The three boys ran ahead at full speed, unable to disobey the command. Yusuke charged up his aura from his right arm. Sayomi gasped quietly to herself when she realized his aura was returning in the heat of the battle.
Just as the mustached fighter pulled back his arms to swing an aura staff. As he swung it forward, it extended in length. Yusuke jumped up into the air and kicked it to the side. The misdirection was enough to knock the man off balance.
"Sorry to have to do this, guys!" Yusuke aimed his Reigun, charging it with his recovered aura. "Wait for me! I'll make it up to you in the Underworld!"
He froze when a hand clasped firmly to his arm. He turned to see the Masked Fighter holding him back from attacking. "No… Don't fire." The doctor's team regrouped on their side of the ring, gathering their aura to attack. Yusuke and the Masked Fighter landed in front of them. The Masked Fighter got into a fighting stance and said, "They must face me now!"
Dr. Ichigaki watched the ring hopefully when he saw Yusuke hold pull back his shot.
"Don't move a muscle, you damn troll." Sayomi growled, reaching behind her back and holding it there. "Rules or no rules, I'll cut you down if you try anything."
The doctor flinched at the dangerous tone of her voice. She glared down at him, her gray eyes getting darker with her rising anger.
"The Masked Fighter's restored her headdress, and waved Urameshi off!" Koto narrated, confused by the Masked Fighter's actions. "Now she's stepping forward to face their three foes alone!"
Sayomi, Yusuke, and Dr. Ichigaki watched her curiously. Kuwabara was unconscious in the ring. He was disqualified from the match due to a 10-count knockout. Kurama and Hiei watched the match impassively, patiently waiting for the end.
"Ha ha ha…" Dr. Ichigaki laughed and pointed at the Masked Fighter. "What a farce! She has qualms about killing humans, especially innocent ones! Go! Stomp her out of existence!"
The three humans rushed forward wielding their aura weapons: an aura rod, aura rings, and a condensed aura bomb.
The Masked Fighter held up both hands. Her right hand was held up at face level while the other was angled towards her wrist. Her thumbs, pointers and middle fingers were extended. The ring finger and pinky on her raised hand simply folded over at a flat ninety degree angle with her palm. The ring finger and pinky on her angled hand curled closed. She began chanting in an old language and her aura began to flare and twist around her arms and hands. "Kaaah!"
"Shee! Check out that energy level!" Yusuke yelled in shock at the display.
"This could be a big moment!" Koto yelled with anticipation.
"She's bluffing!" Dr. Ichigaki gritted his teeth and broke out in a light sweat.
"They're closing in fast!" Sayomi watched with wide eyes, silently pleading for the Masked Fighter to move.
Just before the doctor's team reached her, she broke the connection where her fingers touched her wrist and there was a sudden burst of light. The brightness was just enough to stun the three fighters for a brief moment. The Masked Fighter quickly pierced each opponent's heart with the pointer and middle finger of her right hand, ending with a couple more chants. Once the light died out, the nodes on their backs burst with blood and the three fighters fell back to the stadium floor.
Sayomi, Yusuke, and the rest of the demon crowd was stunned to silence.
"Im… possible! She…" Dr. Ichigaki trembled in fear and disbelief. "Killed all three – in one attack!"
"She really killed them?" Sayomi couldn't believe her eyes. Does she really not care? Then again, did she really have another choice? But if not, then why did she stop Yusuke?
"Too weird! She snuffed 'em, just like that!" Yusuke whispered in shock. He was sweating and his fist was clenched tightly at his side. "No hesitation, just… boom!"
"Team Ichigaki is down – en masse! Starting the count!" Koto jumped onto the ring and ran to the center to start counting.
"Ulp…" Dr. Ichigaki perspired more as Koto's count continued.
"10!" Koto finished and swung her arm to point at Yusuke and the Masked Fighter. "The winner – Team Urameshi! They'll now advance to the second round!"
"The way we won…" Yusuke clenched his teeth angrily and made his way across the ring. "…Makes this one sour, ugly victory. And you're responsible!" He stopped in front of Dr. Ichigaki, boxing him in from the ring.
"Er…" Dr. Ichigaki frantically looked around at Hiei, Kurama, and Sayomi who surrounded him from all other sides. He looked up at Yusuke and desperately held up his hand to stop him. "H-hold it! If you kill me, their mentor dies, too! Only I know where he is, and how to cure him!"
"Oh – so?" Kurama casually pointed to the side with his arms crossed.
The doctor reluctantly looked over his shoulder and gasped. "Huh?!"
The Masked Fighter stood next to an old man dressed in martial arts gi. He used his hand to hold himself steady against the stadium wall. His graying hair was combed over and he had some stubble on his chin from lack of grooming. He shook as he slowly made his way forward along the wall. "You snake…"
"No… How…?" Dr. Ichigaki's face twitched as his plan fell to shambles before his eyes.
"Your assistant… was persuaded to assist us." Hiei explained vaguely. "And Kurama had no trouble diagnosing and treating the illness."
"You need to use more potent botanical poisons." Kurama advised calmly.
"You know, for a doctor, you don't seem be to be very good at your field." Sayomi observed with her arms crossed.
"Grrrr…" Dr. Ichigaki growled and shifted his glare between Kurama and Sayomi hatefully.
"Enough talk. Time for you to pay!" Yusuke glared at the troll with murder in his eyes.
"Heh heh heh…" Dr. Ichigaki began chuckling to himself. Then, he laughed out loud as he pulled a full syringe from his coat pocket. He immediately injected himself with the contents. "Ha ha ha! You squirming maggots think you can kill me?! No chance! My genius vastly exceeds your meager skills!"
"Ah, crap." Sayomi muttered.
"Ha ha haah!" The troll began to turn green and grow too large for his lab clothing. Horns grew on the top of his head and his teeth became long and sharp. "My monster solution makes me your foe of all foes!" He glared down at Yusuke and lunged for him. "Now… Die!"
With a single right, overhanded cross, Yusuke punched the troll into the stands. The impact created a large crater where the demon doctor's remains were scattered. "You were sayin', lame brain?"
"Ichigaki's been pulverized!" Koto exclaimed, shattering the stunned silence in the stadium. "Even this demanding and hostile crowd is impressed!"
Sayomi clicked her tongue and said, "Good riddance."
"Unh…!" Sayomi turned to see the old Master staring at his students in grief. "I'm grateful that… justice is served… but also aggrieved! En… Ryo… Kai… all dead, while I live! It is… wrong!"
"Not so, sir."
Sayomi, Yusuke, and Kurama looked over at the Masked Fighter, filled with disbelief and hope.
"You mean…" Yusuke stepped forward, trying to understand his teammate's words. "…You mean they're… Alive?!"
"G-gone…" Sayomi looked over to the ring to see the three boys sitting up, checking their backs for the mind controlling organs.
"Th-they're getting up!" The old Master watched in awe and he tried to make his way to his students. "Thank God… It's true! They're alive!"
Sayomi looked at the Masked Fighter in admiration. She killed the blood nodes… I wonder how much aura that took out of her.
"En! Ryo! Kai!" The old man reached out for his students.
"M-Master!" The scarred fighter exclaimed in shock. Then all three students turned away in shame. "Please, stay away!"
The old man stopped short, letting them speak. "We've dishonored you. Committed horrible crimes! Our sin, our shame, is… intolerable!" They clenched their fists and trembled as they tried to distance themselves. "Death… is the least we should suffer."
"That… That's lunacy!" The old Master shouted, causing his students to freeze at his tone.
"Let me say something." The Masked Fighter walked up to the group with her hands clasped behind her back. "My move was one of the Five Major Fists, a pinnacle of discipline. Its purpose is to force the soul to judge its own sins and pass sentence on its manifest form. If a soul is corrupt, its flesh will be destroyed. But if the soul is pure, the evil in the flesh will be purged. Your souls defied those nodes from first to last. I merely gave your souls the power to act on that defiance!"
Sayomi smiled at the Masked Fighter from the sides. Genkai or not, I'm glad she didn't have to kill them.
They may have been weak enough to be controlled, but at least they were strong enough in the mind.
Shut up, Hiei. Sayomi couldn't bring herself to seriously scold the fire demon. There's no need to ruin a good moment.
"En, Ryo, Kai…" The old Master stood his ground and spoke firmly. "I never doubted you… I knew that, though your bodies were enslaved, your souls… your hearts, were incorruptible. You… make me proud! Now…" His students listened silently, his words striking their very core. His voice trembled as tears began to flow freely down his cheeks. "Will you please turn around? I may be cured, but… Heh… I'm still about dead on my feet!"
His students quivered in silence before turning to reach for their teacher.
"Master…!" The students helped their master to his knees. They huddled close together, crying in relief and joy to be free of the nightmare.
Everyone turned away, giving them privacy. No one wanted to intrude on the family's reunion.