A.N. Well, here we are. The beginning of the end. Let's get started.
Hina714: Here you go! I did it as fast as I possibly could, there were a number of kinks to iron out in order to set up the final battle. Truly anything can happen now. Just trust me that I know what I'm doing. This is all leading up to something big!
Ukitakeitalialover: I cried too, I promise. You should have seen me typing away at my laptop; I was a wreck.
B.Martinez: Have fun!
SilenaMB: It destroyed me as well. It was never going to be fun to write, but yeah. Horrible. Thankyou so much for your kind words. It really means the world to me!
KarinaGuardian: The sign of an amazing piece of art is when it can still make you feel something after a long time. Yusuke's death is one of those moments. I still struggle to read certain parts of Harry Potter, for instance, since there are deaths in there that I will NEVER get over.
Don't worry, there's a fair bit of badassery in this chapter. Enjoy!
Ghost of Magic: I want the same thing. We only have a few chapters left til book 3 is over, so hang in there!
love or pain: ohhhh I can't wait to get into Sakura's demon side. It's going to be a blast.
Keyword LF: it's very hard to watch. Breaks my heart every time. You're right though, the bed kicks off here. Hope you enjoy!
Anonymous Hakusho: Well, this is awkward. Hello IloviendoNoshi. I didn't expect this. I guess I do owe you some kind of explanation, but I'd rather get into the action now, so I'll respond to you properly at the end of the chapter. Ok?
Hope you all enjoy! And remember, this is only the beginning!
Chapter 42: Vengeance
The greatest silence anyone had ever known settled over the group. None of them even seemed to be breathing. Not even Sensui.
Kuwabara shook his head. This was a joke. He wasn't seeing this. Yusuke couldn't be lying dead at their feet.
"Come on, stop clowning around. Heh. Prankster!"
Yusuke couldn't fool him. Any second now, he'd sit up and start laughing.
"I get it," Kuwabara giggled weakly. "This is payback for tricking you with Toguro. Good one. Too bad I'm not as gullible as you, big lame-o!"
No response.
Kuwabara dropped to his knees beside Yusuke and shook him. "Ok pal, I know you're trying not to laugh. Come on, get up!"
Nothing.
"I mean, hey, I'll just cover up your mouth and nose. You can't complain, right? I mean, dead guys don't gotta breathe!"
Nothing.
"Look, your plan to motivate us worked. I broke us out. Now let's beat Sensui and that other nutcase together and go home!"
Nothing.
Kuwabara forced a smile. "Come on, I'm not dumb,"
He laid his ear to Yusuke's chest. "See, you can't hide your heart beat -"
Dead silence greeted him.
"Urameshi?" Kuwabara jerked back.
A silent heart, lungs without breath, every trace of Spirit Energy gone.
Urameshi…
There was still one person who could assuage the fear. One last thread of hope.
"Kura, tell him to…quit joking…"
Sakura didn't answer. Her legs gave way and Haruki lowered them both to the ground. She didn't protest. She didn't do anything at all. She just stared with glassy, unseeing eyes while tears dripped off her chin.
The wall of denial Kuwabara had built crumbled. He could no longer lie to himself. None of them could.
No…
Kuwabara got to his feet and stood alongside his friends, their heads bowed as the crushing weight of loss sunk in.
Yusuke was gone. He had given his own life, trusting them to finish what he couldn't. Trusting them all to stop Sensui.
No…
Kuwabara turned around, his face alight with the rage that had begun to swell inside him. Growling, panting, he faced the one responsible for this atrocity. The man who now sat atop the television set with a downcast look on his face.
"For some reason, I thought taking his life would bring catharsis," Sensui said. "I even timed the video's climactic final scene as a requiem for his death. It would have been perfect for him. But instead, I just feel a deeper sadness. Another soul lost, fighting for the wrong side."
His words opened the floodgates.
"NOOOOOOOO!"
The terrible scream of misery and anguish shot straight through them all, for they had never dreamed Sakura could make such a sound.
"No, Yusuke! YUSUKE!"
One could almost taste her grief and heartache. It was pain that no injury or ki attack could ever produce. The kind that made death itself a welcome relief.
"Honey, this had to happen." Haruki dragged his fingers through her hair. "Don't you see? We can start over now."
She didn't respond; she only had eyes for Sensui. Blazing eyes that threatened to slice him in two.
"Come now, Sakura." Sensui said. "There is little point in mourning his passing. As humans, we will all join him soon enough."
Hiei, Kurama and Kuwabara stared at Sensui. He saw the fires of vengeance burning in their eyes as the howl of the demons above him grew louder.
"If you insist on getting your swings in, you should hurry. The tunnel is complete."
The glass shattered. The demons were free.
"NO!" Kuwabara shouted.
The horror on Genkai's face didn't begin to express the sheer devastation that overtook her as she collapsed on all fours.
"No…"
"What is it, Master Genkai?" Yana asked.
"I felt that wind." Kaito murmured.
Yusuke's Spirit Energy had completely vanished. She knew what must have happened, and her heart shattered.
"Please…is this why I came back?" she whispered. "More pain?"
Botan could see the Gate of Judgement when a great force rocked her around. She slipped from the oar, only managing to hang on with one hand while she fell through the clouds and landed at the castle's entrance.
She was shaking a little. For her to fall off her oar, after all these years of ferrying souls…
"That was awfully bizarre turbulence…something's been shaken up."
An image flashed before her eyes. It was Yusuke, smiling before he slowly turned his back and walked off into the distance.
Botan suddenly remembered. "I've…felt that before. The first time…"
And then she realised.
No, it can't be! It can't possibly be…!
"Are any of you brave enough to lead the way?" Sensui asked. "Attempt to finish what your late friend could not?"
The first wave of demons began to emerge from the tunnel, and Kuwabara simply said, "Sure. Bravery's the only thing we got left."
"SENSUI!"
The latter looked over with mild interest towards Sakura, who appeared to be going mad with agony.
"Honey…honey, calm down. It's time -"
Even Haruki was struggling to contain her now. She was absolutely hysterical.
"Sensui, you son of a BITCH!"
Kurama gasped. "Kura!"
At last, Sakura wrenched free of Haruki's grip and shrieked, "YOU KILLED HIM! YOU KILLED HIM! I'LL KILL YOU!"
She started running, powered by the most blinding rage she'd ever felt. She couldn't breathe, she couldn't think. All she cared about was destroying Sensui. To make him suffer like she would for the rest of her life.
"Honey! Honey, STOP!" Haruki yelled, and at last Kurama and Hiei leapt into action.
The curse bindings spiralled away from Hiei's arm and his Jagan flew open. Kurama's hair turned silver as he morphed into the body of Yoko Kurama, and they started sprinting at top speed.
Sensui cracked a smile. "Ah, incredible. Their demon energy has jumped to A-Class levels."
"Hey! Wait for me, you guys!" Kuwabara yelled. "Sensui, you're gonna regret making me mad!"
Sakura didn't even notice them coming. None of it mattered. Nothing did anymore, except getting justice for her brother.
"SPIRIT FLAME!"
Scarlet fire erupted from Sakura's hands, easily the strongest one yet. Even Sensui visibly marvelled at it.
Sakura didn't care what he thought. She doubted she'd care about anything ever again.
I'll kill you. I'll kill you if it's the last thing I do!
She pitched the fire at Sensui's face with an unhinged ferocity. Anything that came into contact with the flames would be vaporised. Even Sensui.
Kuwabara was right. If Yusuke isn't here, then who am I?!
Sensui watched it come, then flared his seikoki as Sakura's Spirit Flame engulfed him in a blazing sphere. Hiei and Kurama were forced to stop and shield their faces from the radiant heat.
Haruki's mouth hung open. How in the world did she manage that?!
Sakura fell to her knees again from the effort while the flames burned. Sensui needed to be annihilated. Destroyed. No trace of his body or soul deserved to remain. Not even his ashes.
Sensui hadn't emerged, and for one beautiful moment everyone thought she might have succeeded, until golden light shone from within the inferno. Her fire turned blue, then melted away.
Now it was Sakura's turn to gasp. Behind the flames, Sensui was cocooned in his seikoki. The fire hadn't even glazed him.
"Nice try, Miss Urameshi. I'm afraid that burning me was a one-time thing."
Sakura's shock immediately returned to that wild wrath, and she screamed again
"SENSUI!"
"Oh, don't feel bad," Sensui smiled. "You still fulfilled your role. I have no further use for you."
"NO!"
Sakura got to her feet again and aimed. But someone else was coming up from behind. Haruki, reaching out to seize her, to drag her away into the tunnel…
Kurama started sprinting again, "Kura, behind you!"
She didn't seem to hear, but Kurama kept going.
Sensui looked up at Haruki and said, "Consider this my parting gift."
He fired a shot of ki at Sakura, faster than a bullet from a gun.
"Kura! Kura, NO!"
Kurama knew he wasn't going to reach her in time. But he kept running. He wouldn't stop, he'd get to her somehow…
Sensui's attack hit Sakura squarely in the chest, directly over her heart.
For the briefest of moments, Sakura's eyes widened as she understood what had happened. Then she crumpled to the ground.
"NO, KURA!"
Kurama halted. She can't…she can't be!
He didn't believe it. He refused to believe it.
She's not dead. Please, don't let it be true.
No, this couldn't be right. Kurama forced his legs to move again. He wouldn't allow himself to believe she was gone until faced with undeniable proof…
Don't let her be dead. Please don't let her be dead. It's my fault if she's dead, I was too slow…
Haruki calmly bent down and scooped her up.
"Time to go, honey."
She's alive!
Sensui hadn't killed her, just knocked her out. Haruki wouldn't be so calm otherwise.
The relief flooding through Kurama morphed into panic. Yes, she was alive, but Haruki still had her. And he was already rising into the air.
"KURA!" Hiei and Kurama shouted together while Haruki laughed.
"Still too slow, Spirit Fox!"
"NO!" Kuwabara roared again. "Let her go, you whack job!"
Their horror and shock turned to action.
"Kurama, MOVE!" Hiei shouted. But Kurama didn't need to be told twice. He was already running again.
Sensui had not moved at all or made any attempt to stop the inevitable attack. He simply watched as if observing a particularly interesting television show.
Haruki's eyes were alight with triumph as they all rushed towards him. He pulled Sakura closer and rose even higher, towards the tunnel.
"What can you possibly do now, Fox?"
Hiei's Jagan flashed in Haruki's direction. That monster wouldn't take Sakura if he had anything to say about it. Never again.
Kurama was about to grow his whip, when Hiei's voice rose above the commotion.
"Dragon of…the Darkness Flame!"
The ferocious dragon emerged and roared straight at the target. But this was not the same dragon from the Dark Tournament. This Black Dragon had taken on a power never seen or felt before. Its very aura vaporised the first wave of demon intruders amid screeches of pain.
But not Sensui. His golden seikoki still protected him in that shield. Instead of being destroyed, the dragon forced him backwards through the air.
"Huh. Not a bad way to travel." Sensui mused.
Hiei propelled the Black Dragon forward, pushing with all his might to give Sensui the punishment he deserved.
"Here's a one-way ticket for you straight to hell, you BASTARD!"
Faster and faster Sensui went, but his body and eyes remained serene. He seemed to be quite enjoying himself.
But Sensui was not the sole target. There was one more threat to be dealt with.
"Nice try, Hiei!" Haruki taunted from behind his energy shield. "But I'm afraid your aim is a little off!"
"Fool! Who said anything about aiming for you?"
Kurama saw Hiei's plan instantly. A direct attack on Haruki was far too risky while he had Sakura. But they had many other means, and he was about to learn that the hard way.
Kurama nodded at Hiei and kept moving. The moment to act was surely seconds away.
I'm coming, Kura!
Sensui and the dragon crashed directly into the wall and straight through the tunnel with the force of an explosion, and Haruki's smile vanished. His shield may protect him from physical damage, but it could do nothing against the shockwaves and recoil; not in mid-air.
"No!"
Haruki lost his balance. The turbulence hurled him through the air and in his shock, Sakura slipped from his arms.
"Kurama, QUICK!" Kuwabara shouted. He was too far away to help, but Kurama was already reaching out to catch her.
"BINDING SHADOW CORDS!"
Those thin black threads twisted around Sakura's waist.
"You won't take her from me, Fox! You WON'T!"
Even as Kurama made a grab for Sakura, Haruki pulled hard and yanked her back towards him.
Kurama hissed and reached into his hair for a deadly plant seed. He would rip Haruki to shreds…
"NO!" Kuwabara bellowed. "I WON'T LET YOU!"
With pure adrenaline and fury, he launched himself off the ground, through the air, and brought his Jigen-tou crashing down on the cords.
The bindings disintegrated instantly. Haruki gave a maddened scream as Sakura was released, but that was all he managed to do before Hiei threw another fireball into his stomach. Like Sensui, he rocketed backwards, through the tunnel and out of sight.
Kurama watched in horror while Sakura fell towards the lake.
"KURA! NO!"
He ran, but even with his speed he wasn't going to make it in time.
SPLASH!
Sakura hit the water hard. Kurama sprang into the air, intending to cross the gap between them and pull her to safety, when someone else jumped into the lake first. Someone who had been a lot closer to the water.
"Go on, Mr Kurama!" Mitari shouted. He was already halfway there, but Kurama kept running.
Mitari dove under the surface and emerged, dripping wet and dragging Sakura behind him.
"Do what you have to do. I'll keep her safe, I promise!"
Kurama hesitated for a moment. The thought of leaving her like this was unbearable, but at the same time, he knew he had to go. With Yusuke lying dead mere feet away, he had to finish this for good.
You know what you must do, Shuichi. For her.
Yoko was right. Sensui needed to pay. And Haruki? Even more so.
Kurama nodded at Mitari. I'll be back, my love. Once I've destroyed the final two.
He hurried to join his friends. The fierce winds of Demon World swept them upwards and pulled them into the vortex.
"Guys, where are we going?" Kuwabara yelled.
"We're going in." Kurama said.
Kuwabara looked back at Yusuke's body.
Urameshi, you died a hero's death. Sacrificing your life to save billions of others. You've lit our torches and I won't let your death be in vain. Even if it means I'll be joining you soon.
He glanced at Mitari bringing Sakura over to the edge, and his resolve steeled. She'd been through so much pain already, and now her twin was dead. The least they could do was ensure Sensui and Haruki paid dearly for it.
This might be our team's last match, but if that's the case, we'll make it one heck of a show.
Judging from the waves of power radiating from Hiei and Kurama, they felt the same way.
Mitari watched them vanish into the tunnel. He honestly didn't know if they'd ever come back, but he couldn't do anything except take care of Sakura.
He waded over to the shore, hauled her out of the water and immediately started checking her vitals. She was breathing, and her pulse was strong. What a relief.
"Sakura…" Koenma appeared, pale and unsteady on his feet. "Is she…?"
He stumbled, and Mitari immediately went to steady him.
"Hold on! Are you going to be alright, Mr Koenma?"
"Forget me," Koenma panted. "What about Sakura?"
"She's breathing," Mitari said. "I got her out pretty quick so I don't think she swallowed any water. But just look at her."
Now that he was up close, Koenma was able to fully appreciate the extent of Sakura's injuries. He couldn't believe how terrible she looked. Cuts, bruises, a black eye…it even looked like she'd been shot in the shoulder.
It was outrageous. Despicable. How many times had they assaulted her? And for what?
He crouched beside them and asked, "What did they do to her?"
"Mr Koenma…" Mitari swallowed. "I…they made her watch Chapter Black."
Koenma's eyes widened. "No, they didn't!"
"They did. But when we found her in Haruki's den, Mr Kurama had just stopped the tape. And she wasn't conscious, so it's possible she didn't see more than a few minutes. I hope."
Koenma's heart sank. Sakura being subjected to the horrors of Chapter Black had been the nightmare scenario. His worst fear.
He swallowed hard. "What else can you tell me?"
"I don't know much. She was…tied down, and there was an IV line in her arm. We found a syringe outside too, near the car. We don't know what they gave her, though. Mr Haruki wouldn't tell us."
The track marks on Sakura's inner elbow turned Koenma's stomach. And the dress, the ring…all those long hours she'd been held down here…he didn't even want to imagine what else might have happened.
Sakura, I'm so sorry. I should have checked those files…
Just then, Sakura moved.
"Miss Kura?" Mitari leaned down. "Can you hear me?"
Her eyes opened. She rolled over and started coughing.
"Sakura! Oh my God, are you ok?!" Koenma reached over to help her sit up. Mitari did too. Sakura pressed her hands into the ground and coughed harder. She was soaked to the skin and that blue silk dress stuck to her fragile body, but she didn't seem to care.
"Miss Kura?" Mitari placed a hand on her arm. She flinched at his touch and Mitari pulled away.
Koenma hesitated. "Sakura, I…"
Her head snapped up and she looked around wildly.
"Sakura, it's me," Koenma said. "It's just me, alright?"
Her head whipped towards him. Those huge brown eyes, normally sparkling and soulful, were now empty. Lifeless.
"Sakura, it's alright." Koenma moved closer. She shrank back in fear.
"It's ok, Miss Kura," Mitari said gently. "Hiei forced Mr Haruki through the tunnel. He's gone."
Blank stare.
"He's gone," Mitari repeated. "You're safe from him now, I promise."
She just looked at them with those hollow eyes. Silent. Unmoving.
Frankly, her glassy stare frightened Koenma the most. There was just…nothing. It was like she didn't exist anymore. Like her soul had left its post.
Koenma didn't know what to say, or do. Not that he had the right to say anything at all.
Sakura slowly turned to Yusuke's body. She stiffened.
"Miss Kura, I'm sorry." Mitari whispered. "I'm so, so sorry. I wish -"
Without a word, Sakura started crawling on hands and knees towards her twin.
"Sakura, I…" Koenma faltered and exchanged a look with Mitari. Serious as her condition might be, neither of them would dream of stopping her.
Sakura reached Yusuke's body and gazed at him. With trembling fingers, she reached for his face. Every one of her senses was wrong. It was a lie. A joke. This couldn't be happening. Not again…
Yusuke.
The moment she made contact, pain flashed across her features and she collapsed on top of him. He was cold. Limp. Void.
Yusuke.
Her whole frame started shaking. It was over. No matter what she said or did, Yusuke had gone where she could never call him back.
Yusuke.
If the world around her could reflect how she felt, every rock, every atom in the universe would scream in agony. Throw itself into a bottomless black pit and vanish from existence.
Yusuke.
And at the same time, Sakura didn't even feel present. She wasn't in this cave. She wasn't in this dimension. She was adrift, floating somewhere in a hellish landscape, looking down on the scene from above and knowing it was not her living this nightmare. She couldn't be here, lying across Yusuke's dead body and wishing more than anything that it was some terrible dream…
"Sakura?"
Koenma and Mitari approached, but she did not move.
"I'm…so sorry," Koenma said. "I'm so sorry, Sakura. I can't even -"
No response. Not that they expected one.
Koenma knelt down and placed his red cloak over Sakura. "This is my fault, all my fault. I was so careless. If I'd just checked the records…"
"What will happen to us now?" Mitari asked. "The world didn't come to an end when the tunnel opened up, I don't think."
"These things don't just happen in an instant," Koenma muttered. "It's not like dropping an atom bomb at a certain time and place. The battle will be drawn out and those beasts Hiei deep-fried were just the first wave. More will follow soon, but they aren't the ones we need to worry about. There are demons of far greater strength and intelligence, lurking in the depths of Demon World. Laying low and waiting until they know it's safe for them to pass through to this world. And then…they'll unleash a terror more destructive than any weapon man has ever forged. And that is how the world will end."
"Smarter and stronger demons? You mean the kind that Mr Itsuki called with Miss Kura's telepathy? At least, he said he did that."
"Yes, he did." Koenma sighed. "That much is true, and it's the worst case scenario."
"But what about the Kekkai barrier?" Mitari asked. "Won't that keep the really bad demons from escaping? I thought that's why they wanted Mr Kuwabara's power, so they could use it to break the net that's in their way. But since that never happened, the barrier must still be intact. Right?"
"Kuwabara will slice through it. In order to avenge his friend's death."
"He wouldn't do anything that rash!"
"You obviously…don't know Kuwabara."
Koenma looked at the ground. His whole body trembled with the magnitude of what was happening.
"Even if, by some miracle, Kuwabara resists the urge to slice the barrier, the swarms of D and C-class demons will overwhelm them. Not by force or power, but sheer numbers. It would take forever to control the horde until the tunnel can be sealed. And Kurama? He'll chase Haruki to the ends of hell and destroy him, even at the cost of his own life. He'll never risk Sakura's safety by just writing that monster off. Can't say I blame him though…"
Koenma couldn't bring himself to look at Yusuke's body again. Couldn't bring himself to face Sakura's misery.
"I'm in no position to stop them," he said. "The last of my authority died with him."
Sakura gave a choked sob.
Yusuke.
Kuwabara looked around at the strange void they'd entered. Black as the ace of spades, spiralling lines all around…he'd never seen such a strange place.
"Where are we? Demon World?" Kuwabara asked.
"No, we're in the Pseudo-Space," Kurama said. "It's a neutral zone between worlds. A limbo."
"Right. So who cracked open the Idunn Box and turned you back into your foxy self?"
"I've been able to transition between forms since the Dark Tournament. It usually takes much more effort, but this time it was seamless. It's a side effect of all this Demon Energy."
"There he is!" Hiei said suddenly.
Though the strange void seemed to stretch out into an infinite tunnel, a glimmer of yellow light could be seen at the end.
As they drew closer to the end of the passage, the spiralling lights straightened out into something of a grid-like formation. Kuwabara's eyes widened as he said, "Woah, it's like being inside a video game."
It was the closest comparison he had.
"No," Hiei said darkly. "Trust me, it's not."
The closer they got, the more the yellow light diluted and stretched. They burst out the other side and saw the net, expanded across the space as far as the eye could see.
"What's that?" Kuwabara gasped.
"It's the Kekkai!" Hiei growled.
The three of them dropped to the ground and glared at who lay beyond the barrier. Sensui, and…
"Haruki…" Kurama hissed.
"How the heck did you both make it through here?" Kuwabara demanded.
"I'm glad you asked. As you remember, my energy is of the sacred kind. Fortunately, the brains in Spirit World only made this net to filter out Demon Energy. That's why I passed through unscathed, while Hiei's attack burned out when it hit the net. As for Ghost, he isn't quite at A-Class levels, so he was able to slip through as well."
Hiei gritted his teeth.
If my best technique can't even singe his ass through this fence, how are we supposed to fight him?
"Either way, it matters not," Haruki said with a look of deepest loathing at Kurama. "You haven't won yet, Spirit Fox. And you won't."
Kurama's eyes narrowed in suspicion. Something wasn't right here. By his estimation, Haruki had been around the middle of B-Class when they first encountered him at the Dark Tournament. All the training he'd done with Sensui, and so close to the tunnel's epicentre no less, should have made him rise to at least lower A-Class and therefore unable to pass through. There was no way Haruki could only be upper B-class after all this time. But from here, Kurama couldn't detect his ki level at all.
What is he planning?
There were several possibilities, but none of them would happen. Not as long as the three of them had any say in it.
"Still, you and your friends can take some consolation in the fact that this Kekkai is only sensitive to the energy of A or S-Class demons," Sensui said. "Which means that in killing your friend, I've awakened the potential you've both dreamed of. Your silence is all the thanks I need. Ironically though, now that your powers are finally strong enough to match me, you can't get close."
Kurama took the first careful steps towards the Kekkai.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Kuwabara asked.
Kurama reached and touched the Kekkai barrier. It sizzled and popped. He pulled his hand back and observed the blackened flesh on his fingertips.
"He's right. We're trapped."
Haruki's eyes sparkled as he said. "You're still helpless against me, Spirit Fox. Typical."
Kurama hissed. "You cannot escape from me, filth."
"Funny, from where I'm standing it looks like I have," Haruki laughed. "Pathetic."
"Indeed." Sensui said. "The only way you'll get through and satisfy Urameshi's dying wish is if Kuwabara can get his Jigen-tou up again. Of course, if you need a day to think about it, that's fine. I can wait."
"Ha! Well I'm one hundred percent human so I can still make it through on my own." Kuwabara spat.
"Urameshi couldn't take me on his own. What makes you think you stand a chance in hell?"
Kuwabara jumped up and started sprinting. "We'll see when we get there!"
Neither Hiei or Kurama made a move to stop Kuwabara from making the selfish choice.
He leapt into the air. The Jigen-tou appeared, and with an ear splitting roar, Kuwabara brought his blade down on the Kekkai Barrier.
Sparks flew, energy crackled, light flashed and the net sliced apart.
Kuwabara glared at Sensui through the gap he'd made, and said. "I could handle you myself, but this way, even if I die they can still use your skull as an urn for Urameshi's ashes."
Sensui only smirked. "Huh."
Kurama fixed his murderous gaze on Haruki. At last, nothing stood in his way.
"Going to kill me, Fox?" Haruki whispered.
Botan couldn't help but shiver. King Enma's face might be obscured in shadows, but she could feel his icy glare. Behind her, Jorge cowered on the floor in terror.
"Does your being here mean my son has used his Mafuukan?"
"I'm not sure of that, King Enma sir," Botan admitted. "All I know is that there was an earthquake coming from the cave. But I'm positive Yusuke will do something."
"That's what I'm afraid of." Enma stood up from his throne and adjusted his glasses. "I can no longer trust a cataclysm of this magnitude in that boy's hands."
"But sir, Yusuke-!"
"Is no longer on this case. I have no choice but to call in my own men."
Botan gasped. "The…Special Defence Force?"
"The SDF? Things are bad!" Jorge squeaked.
"The prince's slack leadership has wasted too much time already. It's worse than we thought. My son made a very grave error when he recruited that Spirit Detective."
"No-one could predict Sensui!" Botan said.
"You understand nothing," Enma growled. "If only we had known earlier. The mage must have concealed it…"
Mage? Does he mean Master Shin? Botan hesitated, then asked, "Known what?"
"What should we have known?" Jorge whimpered.
Enma did not answer. He simply walked over to his desk and pressed a button hidden underneath.
Bone-chilling sirens began screeching throughout the castle. Warning lights flashed in all directions. The loudspeaker crackled to life.
"Attention! The Situation in Living World has reached Code Red. This is not a drill. Special Defence Force personnel, please report for immediate deployment to Living World by order of his royal majesty, King Enma. The king would like to thank you in advance for performing this civic duty to him and all of the Spirit World."
Nine figures descended down fireman poles to collect uniforms from lockers and gather their weapons. In seconds, they were suited up.
"Go! Go!" the Captain shouted.
They ran through the hallways, towards the elevator that would take them to the surface.
"I hate that siren," Enma muttered. "It only sounds when things are grim."
The Special Defence Force, or SDF, was revered by citizens of Spirit World and feared by denizens of Demon World. Their primary mission was ostensibly a peace-keeping one: patrolling the occupied territories of Demon World and terminating any demon who gets in the way of Spirit World's expansion of the controlled zone. In the rarest of times, the King might deploy SDF troops to Living World if a demon posed a major threat to the human population. However, due to their conspicuous presence, this almost never happened.
Enma watched from his window while the SDF exited the elevator and assembled on the Deployment Site, where the Captain briefed them.
"Let's go!"
"Yes, sir!"
As one, the nine SDF members rose into the air and soared away in beams of red light.
"Believe me, I do not enter into such decisions lightly," Enma said. "Every casualty grieves me as though it were my own child. But the cause is righteous, and this action necessary."
Botan couldn't believe what she was seeing. What had they gotten themselves into?
I've never seen the SDF mobilised. I hope they can give Yusuke and Koenma the backup they need.
And maybe, just maybe, they could free Sakura from Haruki's clutches.
"I want my mommy!" Jorge wailed.
The five combatants stared at each other. The barrier was cut and power levels were raging, but neither side had made a single move.
Sensui knew exactly why.
"Again, you find yourselves in quite the dilemma," he smiled. "Who to attack first? Yusuke's dying wish hangs over you, but at the same time, choosing me might just give Ghost a moment to slip away. And you can't possibly take that chance, can you?"
Kurama bared his teeth, but didn't move.
What is Haruki up to?
Why was he standing there so calm…so smug, as if he already knew the outcome? Why did his eyes shine, after being so irate when Sakura fell from his grasp?
Is it arrogance? Or something else?
Either way, Kurama knew he needed to figure it out, and quickly. He couldn't risk acting until then.
Hiei and Kuwabara growled, and Haruki laughed.
"What are you waiting for? You have an opening. Why don't you take it? I seem to recall several promises of revenge. But it looks like, once again, you won't be able to deliver. Pathetic."
Kuwabara's face contorted. "Oh just you wait, pal!"
Haruki smirked at him before refocusing on Kurama. "Have you forgotten what's at stake here, Spirit Fox? Forgotten what we talked about before?"
Kurama snarled. "Never! You will never -!"
He reached into his hair for a special seed, but Haruki only laughed louder.
"How quickly you forget, Legendary Bandit. I have many moves at my disposal. I'm all but undetectable to you!"
Hiei's Jagan eye flew open. "Kurama!"
They turned just in time to see Haruki's shadow form streaking towards them. The three of them ducked, and Haruki landed on the other side next to what they now knew to be another clone.
"What?!" Hiei snarled. "You shouldn't have enough power left to form another duplicate!"
"That was the case," Haruki agreed. "Until I borrowed some from the Barrier."
Kurama's eyes flashed. "So it was a lie," he said. "You're not a B-Class. I suspected as much."
"Very good, Spirit Fox. Thanks to Sensui's training, and being so close to the epicentre, I'm now Super A-Class."
Kurama understood now. Haruki's clones had no discernable ki signal, so it was able to slip through the barrier. He'd switched to his shadow form so they wouldn't see him and waited for the barrier to be opened.
But what for?
"You could be a fairy for all I care!" Kuwabara yelled. "You're still going down!"
"That won't be happening, but I must thank you for opening the Kekkai barrier," Haruki's evil grin appeared. "It'll make this next part easier."
He waved his hand, and the clone sprang into the air.
Kuwabara gasped. "He's going back to grab Kura!"
Kurama threw the seeds he was holding. Razor sharp vines appeared faster than even the clone could dodge and entangled it. Hiei's fire blast hit the clone in the face and destroyed it before anyone could blink.
"No!" Haruki shouted, and he made a move towards the boys. "You can't stop me, she's MINE!"
"In your dreams, pal!"
Kuwabara slashed his Jigen-tou at Haruki, who leapt back in the nick of time. He avoided being sliced to ribbons, but the force of Kuwabara's weapon still knocked him several metres. Even Sensui leapt to avoid being hit.
Haruki jumped up again and growled. This was unexpected. He wasn't likely to get back now, even with his clones. It wasn't just Kurama and Hiei to worry about; Kuwabara could cut him in half with that sword. The range of it was at least a three foot radius from the blade itself.
"Alright, change of plans," Haruki hissed. "Seems I'll have to wait until all of you are disposed of first. In fact, I think this works better. Ensure she's free of your control. No attachments, no reason to cling to the human world…"
"Enough!" Kurama said. "You will not touch her again!"
"I can't wait to see you try and stop me, Fox." Haruki smirked. "And once you're lying dead at my feet, nothing will stand in my way of starting again with her. With my bride."
Kurama hissed. He already held a perfect red rose, but Haruki shook his head.
"Not here, Spirit Fox. Even for you, fighting in the Pseudo Space is beneath demons. Let us battle on equal grounds in the Demon World. That seems a much more fitting place for the Legendary Bandit to end his life, don't you think?"
Kurama's eyes flashed. "Wherever we fight, the outcome will not change. You will pay."
"Come along then, if you're so confident," Haruki smirked. "Mr Sensui, shall we?"
"You're free to do what you like with yourself, and the girl, if you still wish to have her," Sensui said. "It's none of my concern."
Haruki blinked. "Sir?"
Sensui didn't reply, either by choice or because the boys were done waiting.
Hiei led the charge, shouting, "This is where you end, Sensui!"
Kurama hissed again and leapt with ferocious abandon. Kuwabara was already at their heels. They were unforgiving, ready to end this.
Haruki smiled again. "Let's see how fast you really are."
He transitioned into his shadow form again and hurried away with all three boys pelting after him.
Not a word needed to be spoken among the trio; they all knew. With Yusuke gone, they had to finish Haruki this time.
If they didn't, there was nobody on earth who could protect Sakura from his obsession.
Koenma and Mitari exchanged another look before they gingerly made their way towards the twins.
"Sakura?" Koenma said.
She didn't move. No surprise there.
"Sakura, look…" Koenma began. "We need to get you out of here."
No response.
Mitari got down to her level and said, "Miss Kura, listen. You're seriously injured."
She shook her head. They knew what that meant. I don't care.
"It's more than that, Sakura. It's Haruki…I know Kurama will…but just in case he…well, Haruki's already escaped once, and if he manages to get away, I'm sure he'll come back here and…well, he'll come back for you, and I'm not letting that happen. So, we have to -"
She only clutched Yusuke tighter.
"Miss Kura, Mr Urameshi wouldn't want you to put yourself in more danger," Mitari said. "Let us take care of you."
He gave her head a gentle pat. Again, she shied away from the contact but otherwise did not budge.
"Sakura," Koenma said. "You…you can't do anything for him. I promise I'll take care of things, but we have to make sure that you're safe, alright?"
Another choked sob escaped her lips, and with it, Koenma's guilt stabbed him in the heart.
At least, until he felt a warm, soothing sensation at his side.
Huh? What's that?
Then he remembered. Sakura's necklace. Botan had given it to him. What had she said at the time?
"I can't explain it, but I have a strong sense that she'll need it as soon as possible. Can you…get it to her, safely?"
Koenma couldn't see how a necklace would make the slightest difference, but at this point he couldn't see a better option.
It's worth a shot.
"Sakura, look. I have something for you." He reached into his pocket. "Botan gave this to me outside; she said it's yours?"
When the necklace emerged, Koenma's jaw dropped.
A Hiruseki stone? But I've never seen one like this!
The pendant's surface pulsed gently with colours that evoked the northern lights, and it radiated a soft, calming glow. Mitari stared at it.
Koenma moved in front of Sakura and held up the stone. "Yukina gave this to you, right?"
At last, Sakura raised her head enough to see her pendant. Her eyes widened.
"Botan wanted me to bring this to you," Koenma said. "She said you'd need it."
The stone glowed even brighter. The calming waves became stronger, and Koenma could have sworn it started pulling towards Sakura. Like they were connected.
The smallest spark of life appeared in Sakura's eyes.
"May I?" Mitari asked.
Nobody objected, so he carefully took the pendant and fastened it around Sakura's neck. Her fingers brushed over it, then she closed her eyes and laid her head back on Yusuke's chest.
Mitari swiped a hand across his eyes. Seeing her so broken and lost was unbearable, but they couldn't wait much longer. Haruki could show up any second.
"Mr Koenma, is there any sign of Mr Haruki coming back?" Mitari asked.
Koenma looked at the tunnel entrance, screwed up his face with concentration, then said, "No, I don't sense him. And the boys won't let him come back without a fight. But if he does, I still have a contingency plan."
"You do?"
"Yes. But it's high risk, so I'd really rather not use it unless absolutely necessary."
The communication mirror burned in his pocket.
Haruki is gone. There's no way Kurama will let him back here alive. I should contact Ayame and call it off.
It would be much easier to do so. Much safer for everyone involved. And especially for Sakura.
I should call it off.
But something inside Koenma told him not to. And if the past few hours had taught him anything, it was that he needed to listen to his instincts.
Lightning flashed around the dilating portal in the black and red sky. From their perch, five B-class demons watched with a mix of interest and scorn at the ladder of lower-class creatures clambering over each other to reach the tunnel entrance.
"The path to the Ningenkai is finally complete, huh?" one said.
"Look at that C-Class trash, clamouring for a piece of human flesh," the tallest one snorted. "They give all of us yokai a bad name."
"Haven't those short-lived cretins ever heard of overpopulation? From what I hear, the streets up there are paved with people!" his friend added.
"Speaking of which, shouldn't we get in line?" another asked.
"Like lambs to our slaughter? I don't think so."
"Why's that?"
"For all we know, this could just be another of the Raekai's traps."
"Oh yeah…"
The blue demon considered the possibility for a moment, until something made his ears prick up.
"There's five powerful beings heading this way!" he gasped. "Three of them have Yoki, one has Reiki, but the last…"
His companions felt it too. They took a step back."
"I don't know what kind of energy he's got, but it's a lot!"
"That's not all," the tallest demon looked around quickly. "I sense huge amounts of yoki, coming from there…and there! Holy hell, there's more!"
At least three other ki signals were approaching from different directions. Granted, these were much further away, but to feel them from this distance wasn't a good sign.
"Wait, you mean from the Makai?!" his friend asked. "But a signal that strong…that could only be from…"
He couldn't say it, but the others understood.
"You don't mean…the seconds?"
"Not sure about you, but I don't really wanna stick around to find out!"
All of them looked at each other.
"You heard him, guys. Let's not be the Welcoming Committee."
"Catcha on the flip side!"
The group dispersed.
"Where's he taking us now?" Kuwabara asked as they hurtled through the Pseudo Space. Sensui was still flying backwards, facing them, always staying maddeningly out of reach. Beside him, Haruki's shadow form twisted and swirled forward. His real body seemed much more capable of manipulating his shadow body than one of his projections.
He used up most of his power in the cave, during our fight and to imprison Kura for all that time. Siphoning off the Kekkai Barrier was only temporary. He hasn't got enough power reserved for another clone. That's a good sign.
Just then, something appeared. The Pseudo-Space grid flattened out and rippled like a body of water, which Sensui and Haruki plunged straight through.
"What's that thing?" Kuwabara asked.
"The exit!" Kurama said.
WIthout hesitation, the three of them dived through the hole and emerged on the other side.
When the blinding light faded, they found themselves looking over an endless landscape. Rocky formations, lush green forest, purple clouds, lightning that illuminated the red and black sky…
Sensui tumbled through the air below them, unsupported by anything but apparently quite at ease.
So this is Demon World. I hope…that I will find what I'm looking for here.
Kurama glanced this way and that.
Where is Haruki?
There he was, in his shadow form, falling to earth at a leisurely pace.
You will not escape me, Haruki. The only outcome here will be your end.
But first, they had their own pressing matter to attend to, as Kuwabara pointed out.
"Hey, has anybody noticed that we're falling very very VERY fast?!"
"Hiei, do you know where in Demon World we are?" Kurama asked.
"Yes, I believe I've been to these parts before, and if I'm right then we're rather lucky," Hiei said. "It's the Forest of Fools. Just low-level demons who won't present any kind of challenge to us."
"I know we're about to die and all, but I REALLY hate when you guys ignore what I have to say!" Kuwabara wailed.
But Kurama was already on it. "Hold on tight."
Thick purple vines wrapped around his waist and extended towards his friends. Once the both grabbed ahold of this lifeline, Kurama channelled his ki and something huge blossomed out of his back.
Are those…wings?!
Kuwabara blinked. "Fox and a butterfly…is there any animal you can't metamorph into?!"
"I haven't turned into a butterfly. This is merely the leaf of a plant, doubling as a glider."
Kuwabara gave a slow nod. Now that he was confident they weren't going to splatter all over the ground, he turned his attention back to Sensui.
"Look at that cocky punk, just free-falling without a care in the world. But I'll betcha he wishes he had something to catch him now!"
Sensui's speed picked up; he was almost out of sight. But Haruki? He looked up at them all and with a grin, began to transform.
Kuwabara growled. "What's that freak up to?!"
The shadow form of Haruki twisted and almost melted into a smoke-like substance.
"He's reverted to a complete shadow form in order to land safely," Hiei said. "Not that it will change a thing."
The shadow straightened out and zoomed towards the ground at breakneck speed.
Kurama hissed. Your heartbeats are numbered, filth. I will not let you leave this place alive.
No matter what, he would avenge Yusuke, then keep his promise to Sakura. His promise to destroy Haruki and return to her side.
Just then, a powerful wind whipped up. But this wasn't a normal wind. It was the result of an extremely strong presence, and it wasn't hard to work out who.
And then they saw Sensui, floating in the air with arms spread. That golden glow of his Seikoki surrounded him again.
"What did he do?!" Kuwabara asked.
Nobody had a chance to answer, for at that moment they were tossed around in the wind. The three of them managed to cling on and the weight of all three balanced them out, but as a mere shadow, Haruki couldn't resist the force of Sensui's power flaring.
They heard him calling for Sensui as he vanished into the distance.
"Mr Sensui! Mr Sensui, I'll be back! I -!"
But Sensui didn't even give him the courtesy of a glance. Instead, he rose higher to face his opponents.
"You begin to see what my Seikoki is really capable of. I don't have a bag of tricks or packet of seeds, and I don't need them. I can fly without any roots attached, without even the help of my maker. That's why they call me Dark Angel. If we lived in less cynical times, the gift I'm preparing for the world might've been labelled for what it really is: a miracle."
"You think you can scare us with that holy one crap?" Kuwabara snapped.
Kurama smiled in spite of himself. "Does he really believe we'd turn around after all we've been through?"
"Who cares what he is?! As long as he's dead!" Hiei snarled. Ki sparked around his right arm.
"I admire your electric enthusiasm, Hiei, but I don't want to hurt these beautiful woods," Sensui said. "Do you mind if we finish this fight over there?"
He nodded over his shoulder at a huge stone formation and soared over to it.
"Oh, I see," Hiei said. "The Plateau of the Beheaded. A fitting battleground indeed. Come to think of it, it's giving me some ideas."
"I got some of my own." Kuwabara hissed.
Once Kurama had lowered them close enough to jump, Kuwabara was the first to let go with Hiei following suit.
Kurama also released the gliding leaf and leapt gracefully to the ground. When all of them had reached his level, Sensui stepped before them and relaxed his Seikoki.
Kurama looked around. No sign of their other enemy.
"Hiei, where is Haruki?"
The Jagan eye glowed, and Hiei said. "He's a fair distance away, in the Forest of Fools. He's making his way back already."
Kuwabara gasped. "Wait, we can't just let him get away! He'll go back through the tunnel and take Kura!"
"No," Kurama said. "If he's already returning, it means he intends to fight us as he threatened. That is when we shall finish him."
"He'll have to come this way if he wants to go back towards the barrier in any case." Hiei said. "He won't escape."
"He's free to do as he wishes," Sensui shrugged. "As I said, he's no longer my problem."
"As I thought. He was always a mere pawn in your kingdom," Kurama growled. "But that does not absolve him of anything he's done to my Sakura. Or you, for setting him in motion."
"If you say so," Sensui grinned. "But you'll have to take it up with Haruki, should you survive this encounter."
"Oh don't worry," Kuwabara snarled. "We'll find that freak and smash his face in for what he's done to Kura! After we finish you!"
They all charged forward with one thing on their mind: vengeance.
Far off in the forest, Haruki ran towards the battle in his real body.
The fox must die. They must all die.
Yusuke was gone, but three remained. Three that stood in the way of his new start.
I know I promised I wouldn't touch them, but it looks like I need to break that promise, honey.
It was for the best. She would understand once their spell over her was broken, once they started again.
I'll be back for you soon, honey. After I take care of this last thing.
But as Haruki ran, he didn't realise that he wasn't alone. He didn't see the three strangers watching him from the treetops, or hear their hushed conversations.
"He's heading towards the fight, Hokushin. The one on the Plateau of the Beheaded."
"I can see that," Hokushin said. "Come, let us follow. We may learn something to our advantage there."
"Are you sure that's wise? The king ordered us to stay out of sight."
"And we shall indeed stay hidden," Hokushin said. "But the King also commanded us to observe the battle until the end. And…"
He eyed Haruki's retreating form through narrowed eyes, "I have a feeling…that our assistance may be required after all."
A.N. Ohhhh boy. Grab your popcorn because heavens alive are we about to go into hyper speed!
Before I wrap things up, I need to address something that I really hoped wouldn't come up here. But due to a couple of reviews this week, I have to. Sorry everyone, I really am. I hate the thought of bringing drama here, because all I want is for this journey to be fun. But at least this way, you'll all understand what actually happened.
Dear IloviendoNoshi (Anonymous Hakusho)
I really, REALLY didn't want to talk about this publicly. I would have much preferred to keep it private so as not to embarrass you. But since you've shown up in the reviews demanding an explanation, I suppose I don't really have any other choice. So here we go.
Yes, I blocked you. I didn't want to do it. I didn't enjoy doing it, and I most certainly didn't want to hurt your feelings. I wouldn't do that to anyone on purpose. But in the end, I made that decision because I honestly couldn't see another option.
When you first started messaging me it was fine. I loved your enthusiasm and still do, but over time it just became too much.
Yes, you wanted to come up with ideas for the series. That was fine in itself, other readers have sent me ideas and suggestions before. But the problem was, I felt you were being too pushy about it. You were sending me 20 messages a day for months, asking me again and again about your ideas, and when I gently explained that I didn't think they would work with the story, you got upset and told me to "be more fun".
As for me not "communicating in a civilised manner", you could show the entire conversation thread and everyone with eyes will see that I did communicate. Again and again I very gently and kindly explained that the ideas were good but not suitable for the series, and you didn't accept that. All I got were more and more messages to "be more fun and try something new."
You didn't accept that I couldn't use your ideas. You asked me to rewrite the books with your ideas and send you the drafts. I'm simply not doing that.
I suggested you write your own series and offered to help, several times, and the answer was always a flat no.
I didn't really know what else to say after ithat. Your messages ranged from pleading to angry, getting upset that I didn't respond in the middle of the night when I wasn't even awake, saying you were done with the series, and I had "lost a reader". Again, I sent you a kind response. And then we were back to more pleading.
10-20 messages on average every day is excessive, but On that last day, you sent me 42 messages in less than 24 hours. That is absolutely too much and I just couldn't do it. I'd tried everything to be kind and understanding but that was it. My friends were getting really concerned about the sheer number of times my phone buzzed with another notification. Even at 3am I'd be woken by the sound of it.
So I reluctantly blocked you. I didn't know what else I could do. All other attempts to quell the situation failed.
So now, let me make a few things absolutely clear:
This is MY story.
You are welcome to read and enjoy the series. But you are not entitled to demand I change anything, or send me countless messages every single day.
I am not shoehorning random characters in and try to make it seem like they were there all along like you wanted. I am not rewriting the series with your ideas, or sending my chapter drafts for approval. I am not naming characters after Pokémon, or adding family members for characters that have never been mentioned, or suddenly making this a Sailor Moon crossover halfway though like you wanted.
This series is not a collaboration. It's a story I want to tell on my terms. That's all. I only said no to your ideas because I know the story. I know the vision in my head and I know how things will turn out.
Nothing I'm saying here is intended to be mean. I honestly, truly am not trying to hurt you. But I need you to see that this isn't ok. I need you to accept that you are free to write your own story. You are free to keep reading my work, or not. But I'm going to write this series the way I want, and that is final.
Once you do, it might be 'water under the bridge'
I hope you can try to understand that. And I hope you'll face your fear and try writing your own story. You have a really creative mind and it would be a shame to waste it!
*deep breath* Sorry to all my readers for having to see all that. I really, REALLY didn't want to have to resort to reading the Riot Act but it is what it is.
Hope you all enjoyed the chapter. Let me know what you think in a review, and we'll see you soon!
Rosentic xx