A.N. We're getting closer and closer to the end of Chapter Black. Let's keep going!
Hina714: Yes, you were right! Oh Shenron and Kami how I love writing that chapter. I'm so, SO excited for those two to meet. Sakura's mind was also a real joy to explore. The best kind of challenge. Beautiful and inspiring, but also dark and terrible at times.
Ghost of Magic: :D I'm glad you thought so.
Keyword LF: Thankyou so much! Its's most definitely one of my favourite chapters in the story as well. Sakura giving Itsuki what he deserved after everything she's been through was SO satisfying. Read on to see if you're right about the chapter. Good luck!
Chapter 41: Seikoki
Sensui's demented laughter rang about the cave while his bizarre gold energy swirled and shattered everything it came into contact with. Nobody knew what to make of it.
Yusuke stared at him. "You sure have the crazy laugh down."
Yusuke, this is so dangerous. Please be careful!
Yusuke took a step back and glanced up at her.
Kura…
She might still be trapped and seriously injured, but at least she was out of the way, and free of Itsuki's control. It was…something.
Just hang in there, ok Squirt? I'm gonna -
Yusuke stumbled. The destruction had died down, but Sensui was glowing. Waves of indescribably energy radiated from him. A normal human would have been knocked over. Even Haruki had braced himself against the rock wall.
"Gold aura?" Yusuke gawked. "Ugh…it makes my head hurt. That's new."
Sakura's own head throbbed. Oh God…I've never felt Spirit Energy like this before!
Mitari's jaw dropped.
"That's not…spirit energy at all!" Kurama gasped.
"It's not demon energy either." Hiei said.
"Wait a second, if it's not spirit or demon, what the heck kind of energy is it? Solar?" Kuwabara asked.
Sensui merely smiled calmly. At that moment, Koenma stirred on the ground.
"I bit my tongue…" He hauled himself to a sitting position and massaged his head.
"Koenma, stay…back!"
Koenma looked up quickly. His eyes widened. "Oh no, Sakura!"
I'm sorry, Koenma. He…called them. The S-Class…I tried to stop him, but…
Koenma didn't have a chance to respond, for he had realised what Sensui was up to. That gold aura, that insane power level…there was only one explanation.
"No! It isn't possible! He's mastered…Seikoki!"
Yusuke blinked. "Seikoki?"
"What the heck is that?" Kuwabara asked.
"He can't!" Kurama breathed.
"Seikoki - Sacred Energy," Koenma said. "It's the highest echelon of power that any being can harness. But how could you?! It takes forty years of discipline at least! Even Genkai couldn't reach it!"
"Forty years shared by seven personalities is only six." Sensui said.
Sakura's head whirled again. That hardly made sense!
"Of course, even the training's no guarantee." Sensui went on. "You need to be receptive to it, having the inherent desire to correct the world around you. Something Genkai discovered she did not possess."
"What?" Yusuke gasped.
Sensui smirked. "Even your teacher has her limits."
He flared his ki further. The force made Yusuke slide backwards as both he and Koenma put their arms up for even a little protection.
Sakura gave a tiny scream of fear. Sensui's power had reached where she was strung up in the web and it was blowing her around.
If I fall, I'm dead!
She clutched at the cords that bound her wrists and gripped them as tightly as possible. It wasn't much, but what else was there?
Hold on, my love. Kurama's pained voice told her. Just hold on!
Haruki looked up and yelled, "Honey, you'll be fine! They'll hold, I promise!"
She stared down at him. The fear in her eyes twisted his stomach.
Sorry, honey. It's for the best. Everything I've done is for your own good. I swear, I'll make it all up to you when we start again.
Now that Sensui had revealed his Seikoki, starting again with his bride was closer than ever. He grinned at Yusuke and Koenma's horror.
"Seikoki is about operating on a higher plane," Haruki laughed. "Transcending the physical realm."
Sensui raised his hand to demonstrate and said, "This may seem like I'm bullying a weakling, but…"
He made a slashing motion and Yusuke doubled over. At least ten invisible punches had struck him. Blood flowed from his mouth as he went careening backwards into the wall.
"YUSUKE!" Sakura yelled at the same time Kuwabara shouted, "Oh no!"
Sweat trickled down Kurama's face, and Hiei's.
Yusuke fell face-first on the ground, but forced himself to stand again.
"Yusuke…" Koenma breathed.
Sakura gritted her teeth while Yusuke charged at Sensui head-on. He wasn't going to give up now or surrender to his fear. He couldn't.
Instead, Yusuke did the only thing he could do. Unleash his powerful fists.
Punch punch punch punch punch.
Even with visible Spirit Energy in Yusuke's blows, Sensui merely stood there with an insufferably smug grin.
Nothing's happening! Sakura realised in a panic. His fists aren't even connecting this time. Sensui's Seikoki is blocking them all!
When Yusuke finally leapt back, Sensui roared with more laughter. The sound went through Sakura like physical pain.
Yusuke only tolerated it for five seconds before he barrelled back in for more, hurling a monstrous ball of Spirit Energy at Sensui's face.
Sensui seized his wrist. "You're tired. What do you say, Ghost? Should I let him take a break?"
Haruki grinned. "Do you need to ask?"
With the slightest flex, Sensui snapped all the bones and ligaments in Yusuke's forearm.
His scream of agony ripped Sakura's heart from her chest. Her own arm spasmed with pain as well, but she hardly noticed while she screamed for her twin.
"URAMESHI!" Kuwabara shouted.
Sakura gasped. She realised what Sensui's goal was. His assault had made the Mafuukan fly out of Yusuke's pocket, and he was reaching out to grab it.
At least, until Yusuke's shoe smacked him square in the face.
The room fell silent. Yusuke pitching his sneaker across the room? Absolutely, positively nobody had seen that coming. Nor did they expect him to catch the Mafuukan between his toes.
"WHAT?!" Haruki yelled.
"You're getting sloppy, Sensui," Yusuke said. "So I'll need a cast; you'll need a nose job!"
Koenma looked like he wanted to die. "You know I have to put that back in my mouth!"
Sensui fell silent and observed Yusuke for a moment before he said, "I know…what you are planning to do."
"Well, it sure beats giving up." Yusuke said.
Sakura's heart jumped. That doesn't sound good.
"Shinobu…" Koenma stumbled over. "It's me!"
"Shut up, Koenma! This is my fight!"
"You don't have to!"
"Sorry but…you don't have a clue what I have to do!"
Koenma stared at him, speechless. What's this really about?
Yusuke closed his eyes for a moment. "I know…we'll win." he said. "We're going to beat him, in the end."
"Yusuke, what on earth are you thinking?"
"I'm thinking, I see now," Yusuke said. "I'm thinking…no, I know I'm close…to the world's best strategy for kicking ass."
"You're close?"
"And I'm thinking that Sensui's thinking he knows what I'm thinking, because he usually does. But there's just one thing I don't know. Do you have…the stones? to pull off what it is you're thinking you'd like to do to me? Or are you scared…that your little destiny is nothing but crap?"
That grin on his face…
Sakura shivered. Normally that look meant Yusuke had a plan. The kind that meant the fight was already over. But this time…she had a horrible feeling that something terrible was about to happen.
Clearly, Kuwabara didn't think so, because he was cheering inside Uraotoko. "Yeah, Sensui! Destiny breaking's our specialty!"
"I wouldn't get my hopes up." Hiei said.
"Why not?!"
"Yusuke doesn't have a plan. There's no way he can win."
"Hey, who's side are you on?" Kuwabara scowled.
Then he paused. Sweat poured down Hiei's face. He trembled all over, and incredibly, his eyes were huge with…fear. No, terror.
Kuwabara had never seen it before. Hiei was panicking. Actually panicking.
Hiei's a wreck. What's he know that I don't?
"Your human senses probably aren't sophisticated enough to know this," Hiei stammered. "But Sensui's energy…is currently that of an S-Class apparition."
"That's a lot, right?"
"That's as strong as they get," Kurama said. He too was sweating bullets and his eyes had almost narrowed to slits. "And I think Sensui's been restraining himself as much as he possibly can. He broke Yusuke's arm with limited power. Delicately, as if snapping a twig."
"Shame on you! I still have faith!"
"Well that makes sense. Faith's for the fools. But we've all been made fools here." Hiei squeezed his eyes shut. His hands shook as he said, "We assumed we'd triumph, that…we'd be able to kill another arrogant enemy. We were arrogant this time. Sensui will kill us all. I hate being underestimated, but underestimating is worse. His power's rare even in Demon World. I never thought I'd see it like this. And to see it manifested in the hands of a crude human being no less!"
Sakura's mouth hung open. This can't be real!
Hiei and Kurama had both gone into their own version of panic mode. That alone was beyond terrifying. Still, Kuwabara wasn't giving up.
"I get it; he's strong!"
The world started shaking once more. The boys gasped out loud. It was even felt inside the shadow monster.
"Not again!" Kuwabara moaned.
Sensui's ki vibrated. The tremors spread through the cave. More stalactites fell. Shards of rock flew around and the ground cracked beneath their feet.
Haruki released his ki and formed an energy shield around himself. He looked back towards Sakura. The first chance he had, he'd bring her down. Away from the fight.
"Was that me?" Sensui raised a brow. "I've checked my power for so long now that sometimes I don't know my own strength and just lose all control over it. That's my only setback, really. I'm too strong for the Human World. It's physics can't hold me. Literally, my strength is my weakness. Isn't that ironic?"
"You don't make any sense," Yusuke snorted. "You wanna destroy this world, or so you say…but you also say that doing this kind of damage to the world is your greatest weakness. So what are you holding back for, Mr I'm-Too-Strong? If it's such a pain for you, just let it out."
"Finally, someone says it." Sakura muttered under her breath.
"YOU STUPID CHILD!" Sensui roared. "YOU THINK YOU CAN TAKE ONE TENTH?!"
And with that, he unleashed his most powerful ki surge yet. The force propelled both Yusuke and Koenma off their feet and directly into the wall behind them.
"You and your big mouth, Yusuke!" Koenma groaned.
Sakura heard an ominous creaking sound and she turned her head as much as she could. Sensui's power had shaken the shadow cords so violently that some had ripped out of the roof and walls
"Kura! NO!" Yusuke shouted when he saw his twin's predicament.
The net started slipping. Sakura fell back with a shriek of fear. If one more came loose, she'd fall…
"No, Kura!"
She heard all the boys shouting her name. Kurama's voice rose above them all.
Haruki's head snapped up. "NO!"
He shot an energy wave towards the web just in time. The cords stiffened and drove straight into the rock again.
The net stabilised. Her heart hammering, Sakura lay back and tried to breathe again. The boys almost collapsed in relief.
"Kura…" Kurama gasped. "It's alright, love. It's alright…"
Haruki exhaled, then glared at Sensui and shouted, "Mr Sensui, be more careful!"
Sensui ignored him. He only had eyes for Yusuke.
"You're wrong, you know," he said. "I don't want to destroy the world. On the contrary. I like flowers, and trees. Insects and animals. The only thing I hate…is all human beings."
Yusuke spat the blood from his mouth and stood up. "Then you and I have something in common. 'Cause we both hate you."
"Ha! Clever. I'm going to grant your wish."
Sakura froze. What does that mean?!
The answer stabbed into her like a knife.
"Good." Yusuke said. "Just leave my sister out of it."
"Idiot! You think I'll let anything happen to her?!" Haruki snapped.
"If I'm an idiot, what does that make you, shithead?" Yusuke shot back. "You think your boss gives a damn about her? Or you?"
Haruki's eyes narrowed. "What the hell did you just say to me?!"
"You're nothing more than a tool to Sensui. He'll turn on you in a second, just like he did with Mitari and that Amanuma brat. Hell, even Gourmet. You just wait!"
Haruki couldn't have looked more shocked if Yusuke had sprouted an extra head in front of him. He stared in disbelief for a moment, then his face turned a furious scarlet.
"If you think…I'm going to…believe that lie…then -!"
"Yusuke, no!" Sakura hadn't grasped a word of their latest shouting match. Her heart was racing again. "You can't be thinking what I think you are. You just can't!"
He tilted his head up towards her with a tiny smile. "I gotta do what I gotta do, Squirt."
"No!" Sakura forgot all about the fear of falling and started thrashing against her restraints. "No, Yusuke! YUSUKE!"
Sensui looked at Haruki. "Ghost, will you do something about that?"
Reluctantly, Haruki raised his hand again. "Quiet down, honey."
His fingers clenched and Sakura gave another scream. The shadow cords tightened so much they cut into her already damaged body. Drops of blood splashed at Yusuke's feet.
"KURA!" Kurama and Yusuke shouted.
"Stop that you crazy freak!" Kuwabara bellowed.
Hiei snarled and Mitari cried, "Ghost, no!"
Itsuki smiled. Serves her right.
"The hell is WRONG with you?!" Yusuke shouted at Haruki. "WHY?! Haven't you done enough to her?!"
"She has to learn!" Haruki spat, though he couldn't quite conceal the guilt and regret. "Just be a good girl, honey. It's not hard."
More blood dripped from Sakura's wounds, along with tears of pain. Kurama leaned his head on the wall. He couldn't stand it. He couldn't take this anymore. He had to do something. He had to…
Shuichi, if you kill Itsuki, escape is impossible. You have to hold on a little longer.
Kurama, I'm ok. This won't…stop me…
He stared at her through misty eyes.
Oh, my love.
Even in the midst of this horror, she was comforting him.
I promise, it's going to be alright. Somehow.
"If you have any sense left, Sakura, you'll refrain from making a nuisance of yourself." Sensui said. "You heard Haruki. It's not hard to behave."
"Kura…"
Yusuke's own blood from his clenched fist dropped beside his sister's.
Sakura gritted her teeth and called, "Don't…worry about…me, Yusuke. Just…keep going!"
Yusuke looked at her for a second longer, then forced himself to face Sensui again. He knew what he had to do.
The demons at the portal entrance had grown in numbers. They crawled over each other, trying to get the prime position when the tunnel opened.
"If you want to die, then so be it." Sensui said. "The demons are getting restless. They know they'll be out soon. But then, you won't have to live to see that!"
He's distracted!
Sakura knew this was her chance to act. Maybe the last one she would have, and it wasn't going to be easy from this angle. But it could be what changed everything.
My right hand is closest to the ground. If I can just move it enough…that's it!
Koenma turned to Yusuke. "We still have a chance. Give me back the Mafuuken!"
"What, your chew toy? Sorry, I can't."
"YUSUKE, FORGET YOUR PRIDE!"
"No, I can't because I don't have it anymore!" Yusuke snapped. "He must've snatched it at some point."
"Looking…for this?"
Koenma gasped. "Sakura?!"
He couldn't believe it. Sensui didn't have the Mafuukan, Sakura did. Against all odds, she'd managed to commandeer it through telekinesis.
Everyone gawked. Even Sensui and Haruki looked dumbstruck.
Sakura gave a tiny movement with her free hand and the Mafuukan soared across the room, right in front of Sensui's head.
This is…all I can manage…Koenma. Do what you…have to!
"Thank you, Sakura!" Koenma said. "That's right where I want it!"
Power gathered around Koenma's arm, and for the first time, Sensui looked afraid.
"Wait!" Haruki yelled. "Wait, what are you -?!"
"MAFUUKEN!"
None of the spectators had ever heard Koenma shout so loudly. But that didn't even compare to the colossal attack he hurled at Sensui. It spiralled through the air and connected with the Mafuukan.
The moment the two entwined, the ki ignited and exploded with the force of a bomb. It crackled and sparked into the air with a blinding light while strands of ki shot out and wove around Sensui, shield and all.
"NO!" Haruki shouted. "NO, THIS CAN'T HAPPEN!"
"It looks like that thing's really working!" Kuwabara said.
"Yes. The Mafuukan can be the most powerful defensive spell in Spirit World, depending on how much Spirit Energy's been concentrated in it," Kurama said. "Or more specifically, in its physical emissary. In Koenma's case, his pacifier."
"That's why?" Kuwabara said. "I always thought he sucked on that 'cause he had some sort of oral fiction."
"Fixation," Kurama corrected. "The more it absorbs, the more intense its power to defend becomes. Koenma's Mafuukan emissary has been collecting his Spirit Energy for hundreds of years now. Not even an S-class apparition could break free of the Kekkai barrier it produces."
He didn't mention what this might mean for them next. Koenma couldn't trap Haruki in it too since he was holding Sakura, and wasn't in the line of fire, but if Sensui was immobilised the rest of them could take Haruki down.
Sakura closed her eyes. Please let this work. PLEASE!
"Surrender now!" Koenma shouted. "This is your final opportunity! Soon the pressure will grow so strong that it will trap even the most powerful creatures in its net!"
He'd only used this weapon twice before, and this was the first time he'd used it against a human. He never dreamed Sensui would be the target.
Don't think about that. Just do it!
Koenma reached deep inside himself and surged even more power into the spell.
The unearthly waves radiated across the cavern. It formed a crack in Haruki's shield before reaching the tunnel entrance and obliterating the apparitions that waited.
"What is this?" Haruki cried.
Sensui stood frozen in the giant sphere that encased him. He wasn't moving or speaking, but the look of absolute horror read plain as day.
"You can end it now, Shinobu!" Koenma yelled. The pain he felt was audible. "Just come with me!"
Sensui just managed to close his fingers around the pacifier. His scream echoed to the heavens, and with it, the earth trembled.
Outside the cave, Botan nearly lost her balance. "Whoa! What's that?!"
"I think that would be an earthquake." Kaito gasped. "Five point seven, roughly."
Botan's stomach dropped "Koenma, is this…is this the signal?"
What was it he'd said?
"If there's an earthquake in two hours, then you get out quick. Fly to Spirit World and inform my father."
This had to be it. With ice in her heart, she summoned her oar.
"Botan?" Yana blinked.
Without answering, Botan transitioned into her pink kimono and took to the skies. Those left behind watched her fly faster and faster, until she vanished from sight.
"Where's she going in such a rush?" Kaito asked.
"Spirit World, I guess. That's where King Enma is and he'll be wanting to hear all the latest dirt." Genkai said.
"Uh, did you say King Enma?" Yana asked.
"Then he exists?" Kaito said. "I thought he was just a fairy tale."
"This isn't the time for stupid questions. Not when something much more important is going on down there."
"What is happening, since you mention it?" Yana asked
"Not sure, boys. But it's not the sort of thing you'd want to bring a date to. We can only hope that burst of energy doesn't mean the tunnel has opened. Or that Sensui forced Sakura to call the S-class demons."
Kaito and Yana exchanged a look.
Sensui's grin returned. The moment he seized the pacifier, the power lessened. Koenma's ki blast didn't cease, but it flickered. Koenma doubled his efforts to hold the connection.
Something's wrong!
Jaws dropped all around. Even Yusuke had no words. Sensui…seemed to be stopping the spell with his bare hands. But how?!
"The Mafuukan is being blocked!" Kurama said.
"You sure Sensui can really do that?" Kuwabara asked.
The answer came as quickly as Haruki's look of deranged joy. Sensui pulled his fist back, and with an almighty roar, he raised the pacifier above his head. The motion snapped the threads apart and Koenma's connection.
"Impossible!" Koenma said in horror. "He can't…stop this!"
But he had. Sensui was in full control now.
He aimed the tunnel of power towards the roof. It spiralled upwards and crashed straight through the metres and metres of hard stone while the pacifier disintegrated in his palm.
"NO!" Sakura yelled.
Haruki watched the scene with demented joy.
He's done it. He's actually done it!
Now nothing could stand in their way.
The first sign of trouble for the residents of Mushiyori City were the tremors.
"Is this an earthquake?" someone asked.
But Shizuru knew better. Someone's ki had caused that shaking, and she had a very good idea of the source.
"It's coming from that way!" Shizuru said, and the girls started running down the street towards the ki signal.
Buildings cracked. Metal groaned and twisted. When one sounded a little too close for comfort, Shizuru looked up just in time to see the gigantic store sign crashing down from above.
"Look out!"
She pushed Keiko and Puu out of the way and threw herself on top. The falling sign smashed to the pavement exactly where they'd been standing and shattered into pieces.
"So, should we take that as a sign from above?" Shizuru said grimly.
"A sign of what?" Keiko asked.
"Oh, like we aren't meant to ever leave the apartment again? Or that they still haven't beaten Sensui."
Another tremor shook the earth followed by the sound of a tremendous explosion in the distance. But it was the unearthly light that caused the girls to look up.
A monstrous ki blast spiralled into the air and bathed the city in its glow. All around, passers-by stopped and stared long after it disappeared.
"I can't look away!" one said to his speechless wife.
"Did that come from the town square?" another murmured. "But it's too odd to be a gas leak."
"It could be a terrorist attack! We should get out of here!"
"Wow." Keiko said.
"You think that has something to do with the boys?" Shizuru asked.
They shared a knowing look and spoke simultaneously.
"Let's go!"
They weren't the only ones keen to get closer. Once they arrived at the town square, crowds of people were gathered around the giant hole in the centre, and plenty more were still arriving. Everyone was buzzing with theories on what might be behind this.
"Maybe this city was built on top of a haunted burial ground."
"Nah, all that's down there is an old system of caves, leading out to Demon's Door Cave."
"An enormous light just shot up from there!"
"It's deep; I can't even see the bottom!"
"Look at that! I guess the water main broke under Mushiyori City."
"I'm betting this has something to do with government testing, or a UFO!"
"No, maybe it's magma."
"Don't get too close!"
"You get some kind of reading off this?" Keiko asked.
"Yeah," Shizuru pressed a hand to her forehead. "A big energy tug-of-war going on somewhere. I only hope we're…on the right side of that rope…"
Then she gasped.
"We have to go, now!"
Shizuru took Keiko's arm and started pulling her away.
"But where are we going?" Keiko asked.
"Somewhere far away. I've got a bad feeling. Something bad is gonna happen, and it's gonna happen here!"
Keiko glanced back at the hole. "Please…be careful Yusuke."
They continued wading through the ever-growing mob. Keiko clutched Puu tighter to her chest. She couldn't stand not knowing.
"Shizuru…did you get any kind of sign about Yusuke? Or Kura?"
Shizuru hesitated. "She's…alive. But her signal is faint. She's struggling. Or hurt. Or both."
Ice flooded through Keiko's body.
No…
It was over. All of Koenma's power had been literally thrown into the stratosphere. Sensui stood triumphant in his glowing gold Seikoki until it too flickered out. But unlike the Mafuuken spell, Sensui's would soon be back. They could all feel it.
Sensui lowered his hand and smiled at Koenma amidst the falling debris.
"You really thought you had me. But you didn't take into account…the Seikoki muscle. What a waste of your royal saliva."
Tears brimmed in Sakura's eyes. She should have known it was too good to be true. Toguro had seemed unstoppable, but Sensui? He was on another level. One that they had no hope of reaching.
"The mighty prince fails mightily again," Sensui said. "However, you shouldn't be so hard on yourself for this one, sir. Really. There won't be any humans to protect in a few centuries anyway. We'll wipe ourselves out. I'm just not willing to wait."
Koenma collapsed to his knees. The reality of the situation had truly sunk in now. Centuries of power down the drain, and all for nothing…
You must be feeling so much guilt over this," Sensui said. "Not only did it fall on your watch, you set the forces in motion. You know that, and it kills you. You want to run home and cry to your father."
"Koenma, don't listen -!" Sakura called.
Sensui looked up at Sakura with contempt. "Haruki?"
"Yes, sir!"
Haruki waved his hand. The binding spell slackened and Sakura flew across the room with telekinesis.
Kurama closed his eyes in frustration. Was there no end to this?
"You really are quite extraordinary, aren't you Sakura?" Sensui sneered. But it seems your best wasn't good enough. As always."
Sakura wanted to answer, but she couldn't thanks to a wave of dizziness sweeping over her.
"That's right," Sensui taunted. "You've given absolutely everything and now you're helpless again. And that's exactly how it's going to stay from this point on."
Sakura raised her head and gave Sensui the filthiest look she possibly could. "That's what…you think, asshole."
The white haired stranger had said it himself. Sensui and his men could take over her body. They could invade her mind. But whatever happened next, nobody could control her heart.
Suspicion flashed across Sensui's face. He shot a warning look at Haruki. "Make yourself useful for once and get that girl under control. I won't tolerate more interference from her. Understood?"
"For once?" Haruki repeated.
"Just do what you're told." Sensui turned away from him. "Your weakness is beginning to show."
"Weakness? But sir, what do you -?"
"Haruki," Sakura whispered. "I tried to tell you. So did Yusuke. Sensui doesn't care -"
SMACK!
"Stop hitting her, you jerk!" Kuwabara yelled while Kurama's teeth ground together.
"That's enough, honey," Haruki said. "You…you don't know what you're saying. He didn't mean it like that. Now come on…"
He wrapped his arm around her neck again. More tears fell from Sakura's eyes as Koenma clenched his fists.
Sakura's battered face was only one reminder of how deeply he'd failed. So many people had been hurt already, so much had been destroyed. And now, the tunnel was seconds from opening and countless people were about to die, partly because of him. Intentional or not, he had played a role in setting this whole disaster in motion.
"You're right," Koenma said. "I take responsibility for hiring you and sending you to that place."
Sensui smirked. "I never thought I'd see the proud son of King Enma humbled at my feet."
"I'm ready to pay for this," Koenma whispered. "The rest of the world shouldn't have to -"
A hand fell on his shoulder.
"You're not ready to die." Yusuke said. "You just stopped teething."
He started walking towards Sensui again.
"Don't, you can't win!" Koenma said. "The world needs you alive, Yusuke; you're their only hope, and you're no good to them dead! It's my mess to answer for, not yours!"
Yusuke looked down and gave him a small smile. "Are you forgetting about my other half?"
He jerked his head in Sakura's direction, and her stomach dropped.
Her suspicion was correct.
"Oh right, I'm killing you," Sensui smiled. "Forgive me, I got distracted."
"You'll walk into my plan." Yusuke growled.
"I knew Urameshi had some approach all along!" Kuwabara cheered. "I'm big enough to admit when everyone else is wrong. Just try and contradict me now."
"You're wrong, Kuwabara." Kurama said, getting to his feet.
Kuwabara frowned. "Didn't you just hear what he said?"
"I heard amply. Remember what you did in the fight with Toguro? Yusuke now intends to do the same."
"He's using the Spirit Fly Swatter?"
"Wrong Toguro. What you did when Yusuke fought the younger one."
"Oh yeah…when I let him think Sakura was dead. I mean, how could I forget that?"
"Ok, Urameshi. Kura did what she could. Now beat him for all of us! Make her death count!"
"What you did for him, Yusuke is going to do for all of us," Kurama said. "Except this time, Sensui…"
"Won't be faking." Hiei finished.
Kuwabara's jaw dropped. "No, Urameshi's not gonna leave it to us, it's not his style to trust anybody. He wouldn't give his life unless he was saving us for sure!"
"Perhaps that's just it." Kurama said. "Think, Kuwabara. What you did at the tournament wasn't a real gamble. You knew what Yusuke had just been through. You knew Yusuke wasn't living up to his potential. He possessed the power, but he didn't know how to tap into it."
"Well then, Kura's out of the question, but maybe we should kill Kuwabara this time." Hiei said.
Kurama shook his head. "No, Yusuke's maxed out. We're the untapped ones. We have the power, but not the strength of mind to reach it. Not without the pain of loss."
"So, could we save him?" Mitari asked.
"Wait, Urameshi!" Kuwabara raced to Uraotoko's eye and started hammering on it. "You don't have to die! If you really think I have the strength, I'll find it! Please, just give me time! I swear!"
"Yusuke!" Sakura cried. The panic rising inside her superseded any drug or injury. "Yusuke please! You can't do this! We're a package deal! I can't…I need you!"
Haruki pulled Sakura into him and started laughing. "This is the first intelligent idea you've had all night, Spirit Detective. Saves me the trouble of having to destroy all her meaningless attachments myself."
"Yusuke, no!" Sakura started clawing at Haruki, trying to get free. "You can't leave me! You can't!"
Yusuke glared at Haruki with pure loathing. "Ya know, it REALLY sucks that I won't be able to kick your ass for all the shit you've put her through, but at least I know Kurama won't hold back."
He glanced up at Uraotoko, and said, "Hey pal, I know you're into plants, but make sure to give him a few extra punches for me, alright?"
Kurama didn't know what to say.
"I'll allow you to have your fantasies, Detective." Haruki said while Sakura twisted and kicked at him with about as much strength as a dandelion puff. "After all, I wouldn't want to send you to your grave without hope. But that's purely out of respect for my little porcelain doll, you understand."
"Shut up!" Sakura panted. "Just shut up! Let go of me!"
"Shhh, honey. Getting all worked up will only make you collapse again."
"This won't accomplish anything! Please…Yusuke." Koenma clutched at Yusuke's leg.
"You're half right," Yusuke agreed. "I've got a feeling what I'm about to do isn't gonna seal up any tunnels, or keep demons from having Earth to play with. Whole world's probably screwed. Who cares?"
He pointed a defiant finger at Sensui. "But I'll get one thing accomplished. I'll know the loser of this fight!"
Koenma made another attempt to stand before he keeled over again.
"You are asking me to take your life, Yusuke?" Sensui said.
"Yeah, that's right. And do it with some style. I don't want some half-assed try. I know you can do it real quick."
"Yusuke!" Sakura yelled. "No! I won't let you!"
"See that?" Yusuke said. "If you think she's pissed now, wait til she powers up and gets her hands on you, Sensui. I'd rather face ten Toguros than her when she's mad."
"Interesting," Sensui chuckled. "Do you have faith in her, even in that condition? Some might call that optimism to the point of idiocy."
"If you want to underestimate her and learn the hard way, then be my guest. But don't say I didn't warn you."
"Urameshi! You can't go this way!" Kuwabara shouted. "THINK! What I did against Toguro in that fight, I did for you!"
"The breaking point." Kurama murmured. And Kuwabara wasn't the only one on the verge of a meltdown. If Sensui killed Yusuke, Kurama didn't even want to imagine how it would damage Sakura. There would be no going back.
"I did it for you!" Kuwabara yelled. "But you can't ever die and have it be for me! You can't! You CAN'T! URAMESHI!"
But Yusuke did not turn around. He kept walking towards Sensui. Defiant as the first day he and Kuwabara had met…
*~*~*
As soon as the bell rang, Kuwabara and his three friends sauntered through the school gate and down the street.
"Well, we survived the second day." Miyamoto sighed. "What do you guys wanna do now?"
"Hmm…the arcade sounds pretty good," Komada said. "Kuwabara?"
"Yeah, I'm down for - wait a sec…" Kuwabara looked over his shoulder. "You guys hear that?"
"Sounds like a fight," Okubo squinted. "Can't see anything though."
The four boys listened intently. The sound of blows and shouting confirmed their suspicion. And it sounded like one they didn't want to miss.
"I think it's coming from that way." Miyamoto said. "Let's go!"
They hurried towards the commotion.
BAM! PUNCH!
When Kuwabara's gang arrived at the scene, the small crowd was watching in awe. It didn't take the boys long to figure out why.
Komada's jaw dropped. "Three-on-one?! No way!"
Apparently, yes. Three of the participants were wearing the Rugafuchi school uniforms while the fourth boy had black gelled hair and a green outfit. And what was more, despite being outnumbered, the Sarayashiki boy seemed to be…winning.
"Hey, isn't that guy in our class?" Miyamoto asked.
"I think so," Okubo said. "What was his name again?"
The boy in green wove and ducked around three opponents almost lazily, then landed an expert blow to the tallest fighter.
To the crowd's astonishment, the tall Rugafuchi fighter went down.
The boy in green smiled. "Jeez, and here I was thinking this might actually be a challenge!"
"Oh that's it, you're going down!" The second Rugafuchi fighter spluttered, then charged in for another hit. The boy in green sidestepped the attack.
"Please. I've fought kittens stronger than you."
BAM!
The second fighter was eliminated, and the final Rugafuchi boy standing went white.
"Ok, ok! You win, I give up!"
The boy in green considered the offer. "Ya know, normally I might let you get off with a warning, but…nah."
The Rugafuchi boy tried to run, but it was too late. The boy in green had already knocked him over and slammed his head into the ground before anyone could blink.
Kuwabara stared in awe. That wasn't a fight; it was art. He'd never seen anything like it.
The boy in green stood up and cracked his knuckles. "Anyone else feel like pissing me off?"
The crowd scattered in all directions. Except for Kuwabara's gang.
Once everyone was gone, the boy in green dusted off his hands and went to retrieve his bag.
"Amazing!" Komada breathed while Miyamoto shook his head.
"Now that's what I call a fight." Okubo said. "Three-on-one…I didn't think that was possible!"
Kuwabara's face lit up. "Oh man, I gotta get a piece of this! Hey, come on! You can't go without fighting me first!"
He ran forward. The boy in green turned around with a scowl. He didn't seem at all intimidated by the fact that he barely came up to Kuwabara's chest.
"Fight you? What for?"
"Because I'm Kazuma Kuwabara, the toughest first year at Sarayashiki Junior High, and I never back down from a fight. So let's go!"
The boy looked Kuwabara up and down. "Pfft. Yeah, and pigs might fly. You're not worth my time."
He turned to go. Kuwabara grabbed his shoulder to stop him. "Hey, what's that supposed to mean?"
"You deaf or something? I don't fight the defenceless, and that definitely means you. So rack off."
Kuwabara growled. Being insulted was one thing, but having this punk question his fighting skills? Not a chance.
"Alright, that's it! I'm gonna teach you some manners!"
He turned the boy around, raised his enormous fist and hurled it at his face.
BAM!
Kuwabara didn't know what hit him, literally. Stars filled his eyes as he went flying back and landed several metres away.
"That uppercut!" Miyamoto said. "I…I didn't even see it coming!"
Kuwabara sat up and rubbed his jaw. Never in all his life had he ever felt a punch like that. "Ok, you got one hit in, but that's the only one!"
He jumped up and ran back to his opponent.
The boy sighed. "Your funeral."
Punch. Dodge. Kick. Dodge. Punch. Dodge. Kuwabara couldn't seem to land a single hit, but he certainly felt every single one from the boy in green. His friends winced from the sidelines, but after seeing what happened to the Rugafuchi students, they didn't dare step in.
BAM!
A kick in the ribs left Kuwabara sprawled on the ground. The boy jumped on top of him, grabbed him by the collar and prepared for the final blow, when…
"YUSUKE! What the hell are you doing?!"
Kuwabara looked up quickly to see an attractive dark-haired girl standing over them with her hands on her hips.
"Oh God," the boy groaned. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"Only the second day, and you're in a third fight?!" the girl said. "Even by your standards, that's ridiculous."
"Come off it, you damn brat. I got a reputation to keep!"
"Fine, you've made your point, now get off him!"
"He started it!"
"I don't care who started it. I'll finish it!" The girl seized the back of his collar and yanked him off. "Seriously, Yusuke!"
"Damn brat…" Yusuke pulled himself free.
The girl glared at him, then approached Kuwabara. "Are you ok?"
Kuwabara sat up slowly. He could only stare. This tiny girl had actually stopped the fight? Unbelievable.
"I'm so, so sorry about him," she said. "He's just…he loves fighting. It's nothing personal."
Yusuke rolled his eyes in disgust. Kuwabara grinned.
"Nice one, tough guy. Does your pretty girlfriend always boss you around like this?"
"Girlfriend?! You think she's my GIRLFRIEND?!"
BAM!
Another stinging blow connected with Kuwabara's face. His friends gasped.
"Get your eyes checked, you idiot! She's my sister!"
"Wait, sister?!" Okubo gawked.
"Unfortunately, and to my everlasting shame, yes," the girl sighed. "We're twins."
Kuwabara blinked the stars from his eyes and took a closer look at her. Black hair, identical brown eyes, porcelain complexion…yes, these two were definitely twins. The resemblance was obvious once you checked.
The girl bent down to Kuwabara's level and frowned when she saw the black eye and bloody nose. "Um…you should probably get some ice on that eye. It'll help the swelling go down."
Kuwabara flushed. Nobody this beautiful had ever been so close to him.
"Meh, this is nothing. I've had a lot worse."
"Ok…" the girl hesitated, then stood up. "I'm Sakura Urameshi, by the way. And this absolute headache is Yusuke."
"Whatever, you damn brat!"
Sakura ignored him. "It was nice to meet you, uh…"
"Kazuma Kuwabara. Toughest punk of Sarayashiki!"
She smiled a little. "Fair enough."
"Alright, that's it!" Yusuke snapped. "Move it, Squirt."
The twins left, but the arguing continued all the way down the street.
"Damn brat! Why'd you have to interrupt?"
"Because you're going to get me in trouble too!"
"Give me a break! How?!"
"Guilt by association. You know how teachers are!"
"...What?! I don't even know what that means!"
"Yeah, go figure. I swear you're going to send me to an early grave."
"Good! Maybe I'll get some peace and quiet from your nagging!"
The four boys watched them turn the corner and disappear.
"Wow…" Komada said. What else could he say?
"I can't believe how strong that guy is." Miyamoto seemed to be shaking a little.
Kuwabara got to his feet. Something was stirring inside him. An urge to fight unlike any other. This Yusuke Urameshi would be his greatest challenge yet.
He threw back his head and laughed. "Oh man, that was amazing!"
"What are you talking about, Kuwabara? He beat you without even trying!"
"That's gonna make it all the sweeter when I smash his face into the pavement!"
Komada grimaced. "Think his sister will be ok with that?"
Kuwabara paused. Fighting in front of girls was probably against his code, but there was a loophole…
"Ah, it'll be fine. I'll just do it when she's not around."
He picked up his bag. "Next time I see him, it'll be game on. I can't wait!"
Kuwabara would get another chance, but not for more than a week.
*~*~*
Yusuke glanced behind him. "Following for a reason?"
"Hell yeah. It's time for our rematch, you punk! Now let's go!"
Yusuke blinked. "Huh? What rematch?"
"Don't you remember?!" Kuwabara spluttered. "I'm Kuwabara! We fought last week!"
"Kuwabara? Nope, never heard of ya."
"Is that so? Well lemme just jog your memory, punk! Nobody forgets fighting me!"
Kuwabara hurled himself towards Yusuke, only to receive a fist in his stomach.
"Hey, I think you're right!" Yusuke said. "The sound of your ribs breaking does ring a bell!"
"YUSUKE!" Sakura appeared from the school gate. "What are you -?"
"Oh hey, Kura. Ready to go home?"
Sakura's eyes widened when she saw Kuwabara. "It's you. Kuwabara, right?"
Yusuke blinked again. "You remember this guy?"
"Of course I do. How many 6 foot something orange haired street punks do we know?"
"Shut it, you damn brat!"
*~*~*
Tears streamed down Kuwabara's face.
"I won't ever forgive you, not if you go out like this! There's nothin' wrong with guys needing each other! For me, you're…well, you're my…"
*~*~*
CRASH!
Once Kuwabara emerged from the pile of trash he'd been thrown into, he sat up and yelled, "You got lucky! Next time you're kissing pavement!"
"Yeah, yeah. You ever beat me and I'll become a nun."
Sakura smacked her forehead. "Oh God, a nun? Don't ever give me that image again."
"Whatever, Squirt. Let's go."
"Are you ok?" Sakura said to Kuwabara. "That looked…painful."
"Of course! I'm a real man. That was nothin'!"
"Well, if you're sure…"
Yusuke took her arm and pulled her out of the alley. "Come off it, Kura. I didn't break anything. This time."
"What am I going to do with you?" She sighed, but couldn't quite hide her affectionate smile.
He laughed and ruffled her hair. "Nothing, Squirt. Nothing at all."
*~*~*
Yusuke tossed his bag to the ground and jumped off the wall to retrieve it. But as he bent to pick it up, a familiar pair of shoes entered his line of sight.
"Hmm. You really got a pain fetish, Kuwabara."
Finally, he remembers my name.
Kuwabara couldn't help smiling at that.
Yusuke stood up. "Well, let's make this a quick one. My mom's making TV dinners."
"The only way you're going home is on crutches!"
Kuwabara made the first move, but from the moment his fist swung it was another losing battle. Of course, that didn't stop him from trying. They traded punches, got their kicks in, and Yusuke had just hurled Kuwabara to the concrete when…
"Oh for heaven's sake…again?!"
"Oh hey Squirt," Yusuke laughed. "Sorry, you just missed the good part."
Sakura closed her eyes and moaned, "Why do I get the feeling that someday I'll be describing this to a psychiatrist?"
"Very funny, you damn brat. Real cute."
Sakura spotted Kuwabara's gang sheltering behind a nearby row of bushes and called to them. "Hey, I think Kuwabara might have hit his head. Take care of him, ok?"
Komada squeaked a little and gave a single nod. Sakura took that to mean yes.
"Shut it you damn brat!" Yusuke said. "If he didn't wanna get beat up, he shouldn't have -"
"Come ON!" She grabbed Yusuke's wrist and yanked him away. "Honestly, Yusuke. I don't get you. At all."
"Why do you care so much? He's the one who always wants to fight, not me!"
"Look, just ONCE I'd like to go straight home without you beating up everyone in sight. Is that too much to ask?!"
"Well I guess it is, you damn brat! If Kuwabara wants his ass handed to him, do you really think I'm just gonna…"
Their argument faded as they left. When the coast was clear, the boys gingerly emerged from their refuge and crowded around Kuwabara.
"That's zero wins and forty-six losses." Okubo said.
"You should take it easy." Komada added.
"He's stronger than the devil," Miyamoto shivered. "I don't know how his sister does it!"
"I know how strong he is," Kuwabara said. "I know better than anyone. But men don't give up on dreams."
"So you're going to challenge him again?" Okubo asked.
"I'm a real man, aren't I?"
His friends didn't understand, and neither did Sakura. They never would. Winning wasn't, and never had been the reason he continued to challenge Yusuke. Even knowing he'd always be beaten, fighting with Yusuke made him feel alive in a way nothing else did.
*~*~*
"You've…always gotta be there, Urameshi!" Kuwabara sobbed. "Can't you get it?! If you're not, then who am I?"
Nobody knew how to answer that.
"What's wrong, Shizuru?" Keiko asked.
"My brother's heart…I can sense it breaking." Shizuru leaned up against the wire barrier that surrounded the rooftop. She stared out over the streets below and said, "I have to admit it, Keiko. I'm really scared."
Keiko paused. She was scared too. Yusuke. Sakura. Kuwabara. Kurama…so many people they loved were in danger. And there was no guarantee that everything would work out like before. There was no guarantee that Yusuke and the others would return in one piece, if they returned at all.
Looking at Shizuru, all Keiko could say was, "Is it wrong to be?"
"Hey, what are you waiting for, head case?" Yusuke asked.
Sensui couldn't understand it; Yusuke was right there, daring him to do it, yet he couldn't seem to make the move.
Why can't I bring myself to strike? I know he can't stop me. This is what I've been waiting for. It's judgement!
Sensui looked down at his trembling hands. Yusuke didn't have the strength to win. That was beyond certain. So what was the issue?
Why do I hesitate?
"Sensui, don't do it!" Sakura called desperately. "Don't do it, please! The tunnel is about to open, you've already won. Just don't kill him!"
"I told you, honey. That's enough!"
"Let go of me! Let GO! Yusuke, please!"
Itsuki almost salivated at the sight. He didn't even want to risk blinking and miss a moment of it. Sensui, about to kill Yusuke and finish the job. Sakura, about to witness her brother's death before Haruki whisked her away. It was more than she deserved after banishing him from her mind like that.
Finish him, Shinobu. Show what you're capable of.
"Lover boy!" a voice snarled. "Release us now and you can keep your ability to breed!"
Itsuki looked over in time to see Hiei cast his robe aside. Energy crackled around his bandaged arm as he said, "If we're going to die, let us die in war. Against Sensui."
"But how?" Kuwabara asked. "I mean, we tried everything!"
Kurama withdrew a rose from his hair and grew his signature whip. It was time to act. He couldn't watch his flower's suffering for another second.
"Kuwabara, Hiei and myself will join Yusuke in four on one combat, using every tactic we have. We've gone far past the stage of fighting for our honour."
"I'm ready!" Kuwabara said. Yusuke wouldn't like them butting in at this point, but he'd have to deal.
"We just need Itsuki to let us out of this creature," Kurama's eyes narrowed. "Perhaps torture would suffice."
Four enraged faces drilled into Itsuki while he considered the threat. He looked at each of them in turn before answering.
"You'd still fail."
"What?! It's four on one!" Kuwabara said.
Itsuki shrugged. "Four times zero power is still zero power."
Kuwabara made a furious move towards Itsuki. "I'll show you zero -!"
Kurama stopped him. "If you really think we can't help, what was the purpose of trapping us?" he asked.
"Well, while you were never a threat for defeating Sensui, you could perhaps, with teamwork, run away. I imagine you four could take care of Ghost, at least long enough to rescue the girl and flee. Carrying Yusuke on a shoulder as you escape the cave, deflecting Sensui's attacks."
"No, we don't run!" Kuwabara began.
"Maybe you don't, but you should ask your more strategic friends. Hiei…Kurama…I sense that neither one of you is terribly far from becoming an A-Class demon. In fact, I believe you once were, until circumstances changed that." Itsuki smiled. "Maybe you plan to escape with your lives now and brace for the first wave of demon intruders. Then, make yourselves strong, defeat Sensui as a team and proceed to damage control."
He's read our minds.
Hiei suppressed a growl. "You're clever, Itsuki. But you've guessed wrong."
"Don't try your bluffs on me, Hiei. I know your kind too well. Just stand here and do the only thing you can: watch Yusuke die."
Itsuki flashed his malicious look at Kurama.
"And after that, Spirit Fox, you'll have to watch your girlfriend disappear forever into the Demon World. I have no doubt you'll chase after them, of course. But the plane is vast. Trying to find her would be like searching for a needle in a haystack."
Kurama crushed the end of the whip in his hands so he wouldn't fasten them around Itsuki's throat.
"You're a soulless freak!" Kuwabara hissed.
"Uh, Mr Kuwabara?" Mitari piped up. "I've been thinking about something."
"Sorry pal, but if it's not about a way out, I don't wanna hear it."
"It is! Remember our fight, when you and your friends were trapped inside my water monster? That Territory was a dimension; you shouldn't have escaped. But you did, by realising your new power. If you got out of that dimensional beast, then you can get us out of this one."
"Uh, you think?"
Mitari nodded. "Mr Sensui kidnapped you because he saw what you could do. It wasn't a fluke. Just tap into it."
"You should have brought this up to me earlier, kid." Kuwabara laughed, not bothering to consider how nobody else had thought of it either.
Outside, Sakura's heart leapt. "Kuwabara, he's right! You can do it; you have to!"
Haruki pulled her around to face him. "It won't work, honey," he hissed. "And you know why?"
"Don't listen, Kuwabara!" Sakura shouted, her voice growing higher with panic. "Just do it! I know you can! It's our only chance!"
Kuwabara raised his hand and concentrated. Almost instantly, he felt that insane power starting to gather. That strange yellowish light flashed from his fingers while he strained to unleash the sword.
Come on. Come on!
But it was only for a moment. The power Kuwabara felt vanished like a plug being yanked from a socket and he fell flat on his back.
"Idiot." Hiei spat.
"He still hasn't learned how to hone his new power." Kurama said with clenched fists. If Kuwabara had just discovered his Jigen-tou a little earlier, they never would have been trapped here. They would have fought as a team, found some way to win or at least retreat…
Kuwabara hauled himself up and glared at his hands. "I know you're in there somewhere!"
"Why do you think we prevented Gourmet from eating you earlier?" Itsuki sighed. "Because you're still useless. You can't yet summon the Jigen-tou at will."
Kuwabara didn't answer; he was far too busy trying to reach his power. Trying to summon their final chance at victory…
"Come on, power! Come out!"
"Keep trying, Kuwabara! I know you can do it!" Sakura shouted again. "Come on, hurry!"
She's still trying to help. Still doing everything she can to save Yusuke…
Kurama couldn't stand this. The power to escape was literally at their fingertips and still couldn't be used. It was maddening. Unbearable. Infuriating beyond words…
"Sensui, finish Yusuke now!" Itsuki ordered.
Sensui glanced behind him at the tunnel, then turned back to Yusuke.
"Well then, you just heard Mr Itsuki. I'm no longer allowed to hesitate. One of us detectives has to die."
Sakura managed to slip her left arm from Haruki's grip and aimed at Sensui, screaming, "THEN IT'LL BE YOU!"
"No you don't!"
Haruki was too quick. Like lightning he surged forward and twisted Sakura's arm behind her back.
"Stop it, honey! Just STOP! You might get hurt!"
At the sound of Hiei and Kurama's anger, Kuwabara's temper skyrocketed. He strained with all his might to summon the dimension sword, but nothing happened.
This is insane. I have the power; I know I have it! Come on, why the hell isn't it working?!
Yusuke crouched forward at the same time Sensui did. The Spirit Detectives of past and present faced each other down, aura flaring on both sides. This was the end.
The maddened panic and frustration burst out of Kuwabara in a primal scream.
"WAIT!"
An eerie wind rippled through the trees. Genkai sank to her knees with a groan.
"Master Genkai! Are you ok?" Yana asked.
"Hope you're studying, boys. If you couldn't sense that, then get yourself some wind chimes."
"Then that force was Urameshi's energy." Kaito said.
"Yeah. It's Yusuke's, Sensui's and Kuwabara's all mixed into one. And someone's about to pop."
Genkai closed her eyes. At the centre of the storm, she felt the tiniest thread of Sakura's power too.
Be careful, Missy. Never thought I'd say this to you, but don't do anything stupid.
"What are you waiting for? Your balls to drop?" Yusuke asked.
"No, it's not fear," Sensui said. "I just want to savour your fall."
"Yeah? Well then, I'll make sure I'm tasty for you."
Yusuke threw his head back and unleashed all the remaining power in his body. If he was going to go out, he'd make sure it was with a bang.
"STOP!" Koenma yelled as Yusuke sprinted towards Sensui for what was certainly the last round.
Yusuke sprang into the air and aimed a hard kick at Sensui's face. Sensui shifted a fraction to the side and blocked it with his hand. He flung Yusuke over his head and quickly turned around to counter the next attack.
When Yusuke didn't react in time, Sensui swung his own fist. Yusuke dodged and kicked him in the stomach. Sensui flew backwards, landing on his feet in time for Yusuke to phase forward and start punching away.
"YUSUKE!" Sakura cried. Sensui leapt away and Yusuke fell forward onto the ground.
He dragged himself upright and glanced at his hand. His power was almost gone, but instead of looking scared, he gave his cocky smile.
"Now I know I've made the right call. You're done pal. It's just a matter of heartbeats."
Sensui sprang forward. BAM! A direct kick in Yusuke's solar plexus. BAM! A follow-up punch in the ribs.
"Yusuke!" Koenma shouted.
"No, NO! YUSUKE!"
It's ok, Squirt. Just make sure you kick his ass real good, ok?
Tears poured from Sakura's eyes as she screamed, "Kuwabara, HURRY UP!"
Kuwabara took a shaky step before he collapsed on his knees. He couldn't bear it.
"Why now? WHY? It doesn't fit the rules! I get this power right when we need it, but then I can't reach it. How can that be right?!"
Punch . Punch. Punch.
"No, let go!" Sakura yelled. In vain, she fought against Haruki's hold, doing absolutely everything she could to get loose. "I can't watch this! Let go of me! YUSUKE!"
"I'm supposed to get stronger from seeing him hurt, hit new levels!" Kuwabara said. "It's the part where I power up and save the day!"
Punch. Punch. Punch.
Hiei's arm crackled. Kurama's hand tightened around his whip.
"You still can Kuwabara!" Sakura shouted through her tears. "You have to!"
Kuwabara's own tears started to rain again. Why couldn't he do it? Why couldn't he do anything for Yusuke? Why was he still so useless?! At the most crucial moment of all?
"No…we've survived too much, learned too much to end this way!"
After they'd fought together, all this time…
It started at Yusuke's wake. Then the fire. Meeting the twins at Genkai's challenge and the first time he'd used the Spirit Sword. Giving Yusuke the edge he needed against Rando. Training on his own while Yusuke was off with Genkai. Fighting against Byakko, solo and alongside Sakura at Maze Castle. The two of them donating their life energy to save Yusuke. Both boys working together to spear Toguro in the stomach while they rescued Yukina. Finding Yusuke beaten and bruised after receiving Genkai's orb. Smashing Elder Toguro with the Spirit Fly Swatter. Sakura leaping in front of him against Toguro, which ultimately led to their victory at the Dark Tournament…
It couldn't end like this. It just couldn't. He wouldn't let it happen…
Punch. Punch. Punch.
"Don't you get it?" Kuwabara said. "There's been a scheme. A bigger reason for it all. We've learned!"
Punch. Punch. PUNCH!
Sensui's blow's became more frenzied, more aggressive, and something inside Kuwabara snapped.
"NO! What the hell could be the reason for this?"
Yellow light appeared in his hand. Hiei and Kurama gasped.
"He's doing it!"
Kuwabara shouted from the effort. The light blazed brighter. And brighter. He was going to summon this weapon if it was the last thing he ever did…
BAM!
Yusuke crumpled to the ground, but almost immediately he rose up one last time. This was it. He was ready.
Sensui considered the boy for a moment. "Well Yusuke…hope you've found peace."
That deadly gold seikoki started glowing around his entire body.
"No!" Sakura sobbed. "Yusuke! YUSUKE!"
Sensui started towards Yusuke for the finishing blow, and the final barrier in Kuwabara's way broke apart.
"Come on! Come on!"
His power blinded everyone. He rose up and with the loudest yell yet, the blade came forth.
Itsuki turned back to the battle. "I've done all I can! FINISH HIM, SENSUI!"
Kuwabara swung the sword with all his might at Uraotoko.
"This is it, honey!" Haruki said. "This is how it ends!"
"KUWABARA, HURRY!" Sakura shrieked.
RIIIIP!
Uraotoko gave a shrill cry, then its head split apart and all four of the boys leapt out. But Sensui was only feet away from Yusuke…
"Urameshi!" Kuwabara bellowed. "GET OUT OF THE WAY!"
Yusuke merely smiled briefly as the bright yellow attack roared at him. But there was still one last thing to do.
He turned to his horrified sister.
Hey, Kura-chan?
She stared at him, and he winked.
Love you.
And just like that, it was over.
"Hey Puu?"
Shizuru turned quickly at the sound of Keiko's voice. Puu was lying motionless in her arms.
"I think something's wrong with him," Keiko said. "He just…he just went cold."
As the words left her mouth, a fleeting image momentarily blinded her.
Yusuke glanced back at Keiko with a small smile. Then without a word, he slipped his hands in his pockets and quietly walked off into the distance.
Keiko's heart skipped a beat. "Yusuke…"
Silence fell at the same time Yusuke's lifeless and bleeding body hit the ground.
The world stopped. Kurama, Hiei, Kuwabara, Koenma, Mitari, none could do a thing or believe their eyes. This couldn't be real.
"He can't be…" Kuwabara choked. "He can't!"
"Trial of humanity." Sensui said quietly. "The defence rests."
A.N. I am not the least bit ashamed to confess that I cried HARD while writing the end of the chapter. I never expected it to be easy, but the tears were a genuine surprise.
Sakura and Yusuke have such a tight bond. Even though we know what happens next, to write Yusuke's death was more painful that I imagined. And, in case you didn't realise, this was the first time Yusuke has EVER said "I love you" to Sakura in the entire series.
It was a deliberate choice that I made way back in Chapter 5 of Spirit Detective, and I wrote every scene with our twins with this moment in mind. I made things pretty difficult for myself with that, but I'm so glad I did.
I can't wait to see what you all thought of this MASSIVE chapter. And I assure you, things are going to get even crazier from here.
Let me know your thoughts in a review. I'm already hard at work on Chapter 42 (as I should, considering it's the answer to life, the universe and everything :P) and I'll publish it soon.
Lots of love
Rosentic xx