"You're not focusing!"
Sayomi swallowed a groan as she opened her eyes to Master Genkai's glare. She tried to think of something to say, but settled on staying quiet. Then she closed her eyes again and started over. Even Yusuke was easier to deal with than these guys...
As Sayomi tried to meditate, the demons from the Dark Tournament sparred with each other not three feet from her. Toya paired up with Suzuki and Chu trained with the imp, Shishiwakamaru. Rinku and Jin darted and flew across the room around the other fighters.
Sayomi took in a deep breath and did her best to tune them out. Last time I objected to this, she argued that battles aren't going to be silent either. She's not wrong, but...
Two months ago...
"So you're here to train again?" Genkai asked. She watched the boys spar in the room after Kurama and Koenma left.
"Yeah." Sayomi stood next to her with her arms crossed. "I've been training in the Demon Plane and I've finally come to terms with who I am, so to speak. Now I need to master a certain technique."
Genkai eyed Sayomi and smirked. "You think you're strong enough?"
Sayomi shrugged. "Only one way to find out." Then she glanced down at her teacher and grinned. "This time, I have a better idea of what I'm getting into."
"Hmph!" Genkai scoffed. "And what is this technique?"
"It's... kinda hard to explain, but I'll try." Sayomi told Genkai about her training in the Demon Plane. She shared what Hiei had described to her and what she experienced in the Void, leaving out the details involving his past. Then she recalled Hokushin describing similar events when she first tried to train with the monks. After that, she shared her first experience with the technique used by Yasuhiro and the reason she ran away.
As Sayomi spoke, Genkai lit a cigarette and listened. By the time she finished, the old hermit had gone through half a pack. She took in a long drag and put it out in a nearby incense ash tray. "So you're serious this time."
Sayomi raised a brow and said, "I was serious the first time, too."
"No, you weren't," Genkai said bluntly. "You were eager, but you were barely a beginner. The only thing you could do was heal. Now you have some real battle experience and the power to back it up. It's not going to be as easy as it was back then."
"Easy...?" Sayomi paled as she remembered struggling to control her aura and maintain it. There were nights when she couldn't sleep because her body hurt too much. If that was easy... what the hell am I signing up for this time?
Present...
Genkai's voice was loud and clear over the grunts and shouts of the boys. Sayomi did her best to focus on it. "Don't worry about what they're doing. Think about why you came here. Did you come here to slack off and waste my time, or did you come here to train?"
Sayomi's breathing gradually became deep and even. She listened to Genkai's voice until it became her own. "What am I doing here?"
She wandered alone in the Void. It was better than sitting and doing nothing. There wasn't anyone to talk to but herself. "When I first came to the Human World, I was... excited. I was finally free to train, but why? Why did I want to fight?"
When her feet touched something cold and wet, she looked down and blinked. Her reflection stared back at her. She crouched down and touched her fingers to the surface. Her reflection rippled, yet her fingers and feet stayed dry. She stood up, looking around at the infinite darkness, and sighed.
"It was to protect myself, right? I didn't want anyone to risk themselves for me. Now, I can take on Class-A demons. So why am I still trying to get stronger? It's not just for fun, even though it can be. I don't want to be a killer. Is it really just because of Hiei, or is there another reason? I have my freedom now, so why?"
She continued walking over her reflection. Though she knew it was there, she pretended it wasn't. "At first, I was scared. Then, I saw the monks training and thought it looked fun. The old man told me stories of when he was young and in his prime. His stories were mostly battle-driven and there was a sense of pride in his vice when he told them. I wanted to know what it felt like to be strong.
"When I wanted to start training, I accidentally cursed them. They never trusted me after that..." She glared down at her nails and clenched her fist. Then she took in a deep breath and slowly released her grip. "Although, Hokushin and Raizen didn't seem bothered by it.
"Once I came to the Human World, I met Master Genkai." Sayomi smirked at the fond memory. "She was the first person to actually help me. She taught me some basics for my weapon and how to manipulate my aura for more than just healing. Back then, I needed to be able to protect Yusuke."
Her smirk widened into a grin and she chuckled. "Thinking back on it now, he never needed my protection. Yusuke was always the one who ended up helping me." She shook her head. "When he died, I felt weak and useless. I wasn't strong enough to keep him safe."
Her footsteps, light as they were, made small splashes. Her smile became bitter. "Now he's so much stronger than me, and getting stronger still. It's hard to keep up with someone like that.
"It's hard keeping up with the others, too." She thought of Hiei and Kurama, both participating in the war for their own reasons. "If I'm trying to stay out of the conflict, why am I still trying to get stronger? Why am I trying to learn this technique?"
Sayomi froze as she remembered Yasuhiro. His wicked grin flashed in the dark. His laughter echoed above the frightened screams of the hunters. She shivered as she remembered running away as fast as she could. "Why do I want to learn that?"
Before she could move, her meditation was disrupted. One of the boys crashed into her, knocking her over from the left. When she opened her eyes, she saw Rinku laying across her and rubbing his head. When he noticed her under him, he jumped to his feet and said, "Are you okay? I'm sorry!"
Sayomi sat up and sighed. "I'm fine. Are you okay?"
"Rinku! I didn't mean to hit you that hard!" Jin flew over and landed between them. "It was just a breeze that whiffed you and you went flyin'!"
Rinku glared at the wind master and raised his fist. "That's not fair! We're not supposed to use powers yet!"
Then Genkai called out for everyone to stop. "Cool off and get ready for lunch. You'll have an hour to rest and digest, then we'll get back to work."
The boys grimaced as their stomachs collectively growled at the mention of food. After Genkai left the dojo, they started stretching and complaining.
"Do you think we'll get some actual food for once?" Suzuki stretched an arm over his head with his other resting at his hip. "I don't know how much more of this I can take."
Toya stretched his arm across his body and said, "It's supposed to cleanse the body and boost the immune system."
"But does it have to be grass and leaves?" Rinku sat on the floor with both legs spread out in front of him.
"Even a salad would be better than this," Jin agreed.
"Forget salad! I need meat!" Chu plopped down on the floor with his arms wrapped around his stomach. "Steak, sausage, chicken..."
"Stop talking about it. If you don't think about it, it'll be over before you know it," Shishiwakamaru snapped. He leaned against the wall in his pretty-boy form. He used his imp form less often since Sayomi started calling him a fairy.
Sayomi shrugged and stretched her legs. "If you guys handled eight months, you can handle four more."
"Easy for you t' say! You just got here!" Chu argued.
Sayomi smirked and said, "I've trained with her before I met Yusuke. I think that was a few months before the Dark Tournament."
"That long?" Toya stared at her curiously. "Why didn't you fight in the tournament?"
"I was kinda pushed into the alternate position. By the time I was able to fight, it was against Team Toguro." Sayomi sighed as she remembered the finals. "I guess you can say I chickened out."
"Can't say I blame you there," Suzuki commented. "He was stronger than I could've imagined. I certainly would've died."
"As if I would." Shishiwakamaru sneered and crossed his arms.
"If you couldn't beat Master Genkai, what makes you think you could've beat Team Toguro?" Jin asked.
The samurai scoffed and turned to ignore them. They laughed and reminisced about the tournament as Genkai and Yukina walked in with food. They continued to complain and crack jokes as they forced the herbs down with stream water. After lunch, they sat on the floor in a wide circle to talk about the upcoming clash.
"So what do you all think will happen?" Toya asked. "If Raizen dies and Yusuke takes the throne, do you think we'll have to fight him for real?"
"I was fighting him for real last time and it threw me for a loop. I can't wait to fight him again!" Jin's ears poked out from his red mane and started to wiggle.
"I'll say!" Chu grinned. "I'm lookin' forward to another death match m'self."
"He's only gonna kick your butt harder than last time," Rinku taunted.
Sayomi smiled as she watched them argue and wrestle. Then she turned to Toya and answered, "If it comes to that, I'll probably disappear for a while. I don't want to fight my friends in a three-way war."
"So, what are you doing here, then?" Suzuki asked.
"Just some personal training. Kurama's assigned me to recon, but it's just a cover to allow me free roam in Gandara without Yomi knowing the truth." That was her assumption, at least. It was hard enough getting in to find Kurama without getting caught.
"So you'll just run and hide like you did at the tournament. What's the point in training if you're not going to fight?" Shishiwakamaru stared down at her accusingly.
Sayomi glared back at him. "I won't fight my friends to the death. You, on the other hand, are free game and I know where you sleep."
Suzuki casually patted her head and said, "Now, now, there's no need for that. Shishi didn't mean it."
"Hmph!" Shishiwakamaru turned up his nose and ignored them.
"Yeah, right." Sayomi closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Not that it's his business, but I do fight. I just don't want to kill my friends."
"What about other demons?" Rinku asked curiously. "You can still fight in the war if it's against other people, right?"
Sayomi looked at the young boy. "I don't want to kill anyone. I enjoy fighting, but not killing."
"What better way t' die than a good fight?" Chu asked.
"Coming from the battle junkie," Rinku muttered under his breath.
Toya smiled and said, "I can certainly think of worse ways, but it's not bad to die doing what you love."
"If I go down fighting Yusuke, I'll die a happy demon." Jin grinned and gazed up at the ceiling as he fantasized about their rematch.
Sayomi stared at them with a raised brow. "I just don't like killing."
"Then why do you fight?" Jin asked.
"To defend myself and because it's fun." Sayomi shrugged and said, "I sorta grew up with mostly peaceful people. They trained to fight, but they were against killing unless absolutely necessary."
"Guess that makes sense, but then why were you at the tournament?" Suzuki asked.
Sayomi looked at the blond and said, "I was there to help Yusuke and the others. It's a long story."
"And it'll have to wait for another time," Genkai interrupted from the doorway. She stood with her hands behind her back and said, "Now get up and follow me. We're going outside."
Sayomi and the boys got to their feet and left the warded dojo. They followed Genkai around the back and away from the main path. She took them deeper through the rockiest part of the mountain. They climbed a ledge and settled down to discuss their lessons.
Genkai turned to each fighter as she gave instructions. "Chu, there's a rope tied between two pillars of rock. Do your best to make it across while you drink. If you fall, don't die and try again from the beginning. Rinku..."
The old woman went around, giving each demon a task unique to their strengths and weaknesses. When she got to Sayomi, she pulled out a white cloth and handed it to her. "Tie this over your eyes. You'll be sparring with me."
Sayomi took the cloth and arched a brow. Then she looked at her teacher and asked, "Will you be blindfolded?"
"No," Genkai answered. "This exercise will be meditation in motion. It's similar to Tai Chi, but we'll move at a more natural pace. Use your aura and other senses to feel your way through the fight. Your mind will slip into a meditative state and your movements will mirror your state of mind."
"Is that really possible?" Sayomi stared down at the cloth skeptically. "I thought you needed to sit still and just relax."
"That is the most basic and popular method, but you can go into a trance when you're focused enough on any task. Whether your mind is clear or filled with doubt, your movements will reflect it."
"How is this supposed to help me?" Sayomi asked.
"Your eyes can deceive you so you need to rely on more than just sight. Use your other senses to guide you and maintain constant physical contact. Once you have it, try to use your technique on me." Genkai turned to leave and beckoned for Sayomi to follow.
"But isn't that dangerous? When Yasuhiro used it..."
"You needn't use it the same way your brother does," Genkai lectured. "Your technique delves into the mind of your opponent and you use their memories against them. Is that right?"
"Yeah," Sayomi confirmed. "The trick is to use their memories to find out their worst fear. It's supposed to drive them mad until they kill themselves."
"Is it supposed to be an instant kill or just a distraction for you to escape?" Genkai asked.
"When Yasuhiro used it, it was almost an instant kill. Although, he liked to drag it out a bit sometimes. When I use it, it's more of a slow curse that grows over time. I just want to be in control so I don't end up using it on my friends."
"So if you could control it, how would you use it? Would you rely on your opponent's fears or would you find another way?"
"What other way is there?" Sayomi asked.
"Hmph!" Genkai smirked and stopped walking when they reached a wide flat area of rock. She turned to face the demoness and said, "That's what this exercise is for. You'll fall into your natural motions and let your mind wander. You may use your aura, but not your weapon. When you see my memories, let your emotions guide you to something besides fear."
Sayomi stared at her teacher, the blindfold clutched tightly in her fist. "Are you sure? I don't want to intrude on your memories."
"Quit making excuses and start," Genkai snapped. "If you're not serious about training then stop wasting my time and leave. I have better things to do."
Sayomi took in a deep breath and tied the cloth over her eyes. She fell into her fighting stance and waited for Genkai to move. She listened for the lightest sound to signal her teacher's position.
After a moment of silence, Sayomi felt a hand chop the back of her neck. She instinctively followed the motion into a forward roll and landed back on her feet. Damn! I'm supposed to maintain contact.
She focused on her hearing and covered her body with a thin layer of aura. She waited patiently for Genkai's next attack. It came from the left side as a kick to her kidney. Sayomi planted her feet and caught her teacher's leg. Before she could counter, Genkai followed through with another kick to her head. Sayomi was knocked down and she scrambled to get back to her feet.
"You're tense," Genkai commented. "You never had trouble fighting in the dark with your night vision. Now that you're blind, you don't know what to do."
Sayomi tried to pinpoint the old woman's location, but her voice seemed to echo off the surrounding mountains. She felt a palm against her chest and immediately trapped the hand and stepped to the side. The motion jerked Genkai's body off balance, giving Sayomi the chance to bring her down.
Genkai grunted and twisted out of Sayomi's grip. Sayomi tried to regain her hold, but the master kicked her and jumped back out of range. Sayomi sighed and got back to her feet. How am I supposed to meditate when I can't even relax?
She settled into her stance and waited. She could hear the guys training in the distance and did her best to tune them out. Her feet shifted as she tried to clear her mind.
When she felt a knuckle graze past her cheek, Sayomi raised her arm to block Genkai's punch. She quickly stepped in to counter, but Genkai swept the leg out from under her. Sayomi growled as she dropped down and used her foot to pivot with a low kick that hit air. Dammit!
"You're still lacking focus," Genkai scolded. "Stop trying and start doing. You'll never win if all you do is wait around like a sitting duck for your opponent to strike."
"But I can't see you or sense your aura." Sayomi tried not to show how annoyed she was as she stood back up. "And it doesn't help when the guys make more noise than your footsteps."
"How do you think your opponent deals with that same blindness against you?" Genkai asked. "They either adapt to their limitations or die. I could actually try to kill you if that will make you take this training more seriously."
"Why aren't you wearing a blindfold?" Sayomi asked.
"Do you blind yourself when you fight your opponents in the dark? Have you ever really felt that primitive fear of not knowing what's there? That is the fear your brother takes advantage of when he fights. Experience it and mold it into something that will help you fight through it. If you can't do it today, then try again tomorrow. We won't stop until you either get it or die trying."
Sayomi flinched when she heard a loud explosion close to her right. She jumped when the ground gave in beneath her feet and removed the bandana to look down at the small mountain crumbling to the ground. Suddenly, a kick to her back sent her crashing into the rubble.
Sayomi coughed as the dust settled around her. Then she glared up at her teacher as her shadow started to twitch. "What was that for?!"
"You're not allowed to remove the blindfold until I say so," Genkai answered. "Otherwise it'll defeat the whole purpose of this exercise. Now put it on and try again."
Sayomi's fist clenched around the cloth as she took a moment to calm down. After a few deep breaths, she covered her eyes and prepared herself for another round.
Hours dragged on as Sayomi tried and failed to catch Genkai. The old woman stayed out of her reach and beat her around until it was time to round up the guys and go back to the temple. It was dark by the time they all dragged themselves through the threshold.
Jin and Suzuki carried Chu's limp body inside before they collapsed in exhaustion. Chu snored on, oblivious to his sudden impact with the floor. Rinku and Shishiwakamaru trailed in close behind them, gasping for breath and leaning against a wall for support. Toya was covered in sweat, his eyes and body posture projecting how tired he really was.
Sayomi reached for the doorway with her hands and groped the wall to find her way in. The blindfold was still tied around her eyes, so she carefully used her feet to make sure her path was clear before moving forward. Then she leaned back against the wall and dropped down to sit on the floor.
Yukina smiled as she looked up to greet the fighters. "Dinner is ready. There's plenty for everyone so don't hesitate to ask for seconds."
"Urrgh..." Jin, Rinku, and Suzuki all groaned as they eyed the salads and watered-down soups.
Sayomi could smell the greens and faint hint of miso broth. She leaned forward to crawl towards the food, using her hands to feel her way around the others. When she reached a tray, she carefully started to dig in.
The boys reluctantly joined in for the meal. Chu's meal was left untouched since no one wanted to eat more than they absolutely had to. Nobody said anything until it was time to crawl into bed. Sayomi felt grateful that the Master was letting them sleep in normal beds instead of the snake pits.
"Are we almost done, yet?" Rinku drawled.
"We still have another four months to go. After that, we'll follow Kurama to Gandara," Toya answered.
"Ya, I don't care who wins the war, s'long as I can fight with Yusuke again." Jin folded his hands behind his head and closed his eyes. "I'll catch up soon enough at this rate."
"So long as I can get the recognition and respect I deserve, I don't care either way." Shishiwakamaru turned over in his futon to face the wall.
Sayomi tried to ignore them as she settled into bed. She wasn't allowed to sleep outside and the boys didn't bother trying to keep quiet. Naturally, sleep evaded her as she listened to them talk. At least some ear plugs would be helpful.
"What about you, Sayomi?"
"Huh?" Sayomi automatically turned to the direction where she heard the voice. "What was that?"
"How did your training with the old hag go?" Suzuki asked.
"Oh, you know." Sayomi shrugged. "The ususal."
"What's with the blindfold?" Rinku asked, pointing at the cloth.
"I'm supposed to wear it constantly until she says otherwise," Sayomi answered.
"Why?" Jin asked.
"For training. I'm supposed to fight blind and I can't sense her aura when we train. I've practiced sneaking without using my eyes before, but not fighting." Sayomi sighed. "Let's just say it's a sort of role reversal."
"I see," Toya murmured from the other side of the room. Sayomi could barely hear him over Chu's snore. "Shadow demons tend to fight their best at night when it's harder to be seen. It makes sense that you would often fight virtually blind opponents. Are you able to use your weapon during training?"
Sayomi shook her head. "No, just my aura. I just don't know where she is so I can't really do much."
"What about the cloak?" Suzuki asked. "That's it, isn't it? The one I gave you?"
"Oh yeah..." Sayomi lifted the hem of the cloak and felt its soft linen. "You know, I forgot about it for a moment. I've used it before, but it was... weird."
"Weird how? Like side-effects? How much have you used it?" Suzuki's interest piqued as he asked about his invention.
"Well, I didn't really start to use it until after the Dark Tournament. I didn't know what to expect. But after using it a few times, my Shade started to come out to the surface while I ended up trapped in my subconscious."
"Your Shade? What is that?" Toya asked.
"Like your shadow?" Jin's head tilted curiously.
"Kinda." Sayomi explained it as simply as she could and continued. "Just recently, we were able to become one. Since then, I don't think anything else has happened. I can still use it to teleport and manifest shadows from the Void."
"How did the other two items affect Kurama and Kuwabara?" Suzuki asked.
"I'm not really sure about Kurama, but Kuwabara lost the use of his aura for a while. Later, he was able to awaken it and summon a new sword that can cut through dimensions." Sayomi smiled as she wondered about what the human was up to then.
"Interesting..." Suzuki rubbed his chin in thought. "Do you feel any different since you merged?"
"Umm..." Sayomi tried to think of something and said, "I actually feel a little better for the most part."
"Try using it in your training and see if it helps," Toya suggested.
"But I can't see where I'm going," Sayomi argued.
"Do you need to see?" Rinku asked.
Sayomi hesitated. That's a good question. But what if I end up somewhere weird and I can't remove the blindfold? Master Genkai did something to it so I really am stuck like this.
"Trust in your power and it won't steer you wrong. The wind hasn't failed me yet," Jin advised. "A little practice is all you need and now's your best time to do it."
"Jin's right." Toya smiled at his friend. "Just have more confidence in yourself and your abilities. You'll figure it out as you go along."
"Yeah, yeah." Sayomi turned over in her futon. "I'll try it out and see how it goes. If I end up missing and later turn up dead, you guys will take the blame."
"What?! Why me too?" Rinku asked defensively.
"Because you brought it up to begin with," Sayomi answered. "Now quiet down. I'm trying to sleep." She closed her eyes and listened as the others settled in to sleep shortly after. Within minutes, they were all snoring or grumbling in their sleep. Though everything was dark and relatively quiet, her mind continued to wander with thoughts of her friends and Yasuhiro.