Author's Note:
Well, I'm glad that I wrote this chapter, and oh boy, I hope you guys like character development, because this is by far one of most fun chapters I ever wrote. I can't wait to read your reviews.
Also I was planning to write a fanfic of Fairy Tail, focusing in one S.I using his magic as magic rings creator, so his powers would be related on what rings he would create for himself, and how his magic would start very small and he would be more like a second character like most of the others, and the chapters would be related of him being on the backstage talking and training with the background characters, while the events happens around the main characters. I would like to know if you guys like the idea. Or also having a few Saint Seiya references on how he would try to bring the full potential of the zodiacs by bringing the gold saints powers on the rings. Who knows?
Anyway, let's start with the reply of the reviews.
Le Quack. I cannot tell the spoilers about what's going to happen on Suzaku and Mukuru, but get ready for a few chapters later, because things are going to get interesting.
Sleepy Guest. Well, this is indeed a creative idea, but not something I would add on such risky battle, one thing would be humilation sure... But Rando wanted blood, and he would have brutalized Byakko if he was on the field and not on the lava cave.
Ghostly Guest. We cannot changes the canon events Hahahahaha, you already can guess what's going to happen, but still we have to be impressed on how Kuwabara managed to pull up such technique. People would think Kuwabara would treat that punch more like Falcon Punch, but the truth is... It was like Magna's Soul Chain Death Match, the brass knuckles of energy was exactly like Magna.
Eccentric Guest. I already have a great idea on what I would do at the moment Rando obtain his new techniques, prepare yourself for something epic happening after the events of the arc. XD
Mad Guest. Well everybody knows that Byakko isn't a warrior, but a coward, since he cheated his way to try to win against Kuwabara in canon and still Kuwabara won twice against him.
Guesthouse . You can bet Botan's going to take revenge on Yusuke hahahahaha. Prepare yourself for the future XD.
Odd Guest. Wow you brought that character from the deeps of Hunter X Hunter, truthfully I didn't remember her, but to answer your question. Magna freaking Swing, creator of Soul Chain Death Match, I was inspired on that kind of badass brass kunckles made by fire, so I did the same with Kuwabara.
Just a wee guest. It would be interesting to see both Rando and Genkai actually debating while both Yusuke and Kuwabara suffers from their training hahahahaha.
Just Guessing. Well, Koenma and Botan could try to find a way to learn where he got those techniques, but that would need to acquire his trust, and for him it was the best just to teach them how to do it instead of asking how and why he does it... But think of the potential on Koenma telling to King Emma there's someone who knows the forgotten techniques, you could see King Emma sending some of his elite guards who 1 or 2 would actually be a crazy fanboy and fangirl of wanting to learn the Kido Hahahahahahahah
Just Guest. Well, Byakko didn't a lose a tooth and even if he loose, the field was destroyed, so there was no way they could recover the tooth or fang. And both Yusuke and Kuwabara knew how Rando was ruthless before, but this time with desire to kill? They wouldn't even there to open their mouths, they are not crazy anymore hahahaha.
Hyper LOL Guest. Well I'm glad that you liked the chapter. So I hope you enjoy this one as much I did. Have fun reading it.
Mr. E Guest . Yeah, both Rando and Kuwabara showed they shouldn't be understimated, and knowing how powerful they could be with training. But still there's the journey ahead. So get ready. XD
coldblue2015 . Well, to be honest. I always preffered the anime instead of the Manga, not going to lie, the manga had some good scenes and concept that made sense for me to implement on my fanfic. But for me King Emma was the best version on the anime, instead of being the manipulative corrupt. I thought of him being a disgrunted father that wanted his son to learn the causes and consequences of choice. (also implying he send the elite team with desire to kill Yusuke just to awaken his demonic power and let him train in hell just to get used to his powers to then return on the human world.) And then when Koenma decided to abandone the spiritual world and live independently, King Emma was proud of his son on now taking his own path. To be honest I loved that ending when I watched on the anime.
And it's true, saying Kuwabara had the potential of 1 in 1 million, showing that he was equal to Gon and Killua, showing that he is officially the strongest human with the best potential on earth until now. So I think him having his determination and desire to show he is capable, it's not surprise he would have become rank S just like the others. So that's why I aimed for his training.
Also one fact... Shizuru did the comment of one punch not because understimating Kuwabara, it was to make him humble hahahahahaha, she saw on how cocky and annoying her little brother could be when he wins a fight, so that's why she says that, to deflate his ego, and make him more focused on the fight hahahahaha. Into being better and not being overconfident.
Now to answer your questions.
1. (Can we expect SI/Rando be Ranked as an Upper C-Rank Demon given he handle Byakko very easily?) With how Koenma saw him, he is officially Low Rank B now. Especially now that Koenma discovered he knows Kido, that would be for the great use of the spiritual balance.
2.(Is it possible we will read Kazuma Kuwabara experimenting with his Training in Nen more to develop more useful techniques?) Yep, his future training will be way more interesting, it will shows how he is going to suffer a lot on his training, on how Genkai would now have a rival into creating the hellish training, however there's a difference. Rando has experience into knowing how training works on the world of anime, specially on many types of anime hahahahahaha.
3.(Is it possible that SI/Rando could acquire something similar to a Guardian Spirit Nen beast in Demon world?) Nah, I don't want to think of that, I don't think so. He already has creatures of demon world. Remember his demon fishes? He already had some creatures and etc.
4.(How would Kuwabara react if SI/Rando and Shizuru are seeing each other in relationship? How would he react if Koto and Juri added to the mix?) It's going to be pure comedia, specially knowing since it's 1992 and would be way to crazy on that time hahahahahaha.
5.(Are most Demons going to realize Rando been slept on as threat with being able to use forgotten, but strong Spirit Techniques from a golden age?) Yep, but only the rank A to above knows about that, rank B and inferior actually had no idea and thinks the humans sucks and Rando was an idiot for trying to just learn human techniques... The tournament will make them regret that hahahahahaha.
6. (Will Pu, Yusuke spirit beast, be capable of a different Nen category than Yusuke given you hinted in your story Yusuke a Emitter/Enhancer dual type user?) I think Pu is already his spiritual nen beast, with his own barrier ability, I think Pu would be Enhancement and Transmutation nen techniques combined, but in more defensive state. So I think since he shares his own health with Yusuke, pure healing would be Enhancement healing as well. I hope I make sense.
.
.
.
Now guys, have fun reading the new chapter.
Narrator:
Yusuke and his group invaded the castle of the 4 Saint Beasts, to prevent them invade and conker the human world, they managed to defeat 2 of them, Genbu and Byakko. At the same time in the human world, the insects manipulated by the yokai attacked the men, it is very important for them to destroy the Makai whistle as soon as possible. Will the brave warriors able to do that?
At the same time the narrator explained the story, Kuwabara was seen using his Ren Tekken to punch and managing to take down Byakko from the field outside the castle. But as the group saw Byakko once again on the Hellish Room, as Rando was the one who who once in extreme anger, managed to do a combination of techniques that took down the Tiger yokai to the lava. And at the time the group saw him return, his eyes looking scarlet and tilting his head in confusion.
In the spiritual world, Koenma watched the events of Rando staring at the group, as he could even hear the ogres getting inside of the office to help him to organize the paperwork and bring some reports done by observing the news across the world. Thankfully, the insects were focusing much on the city, and luckily they didn't go across other countries yet.
But still it was a fight against the time.
But he couldn't help but smile; the victory against Byakko had been one of the easiest fights, and he was defeated easily twice, once by Kuwabara, a human with great potential, as Rando had said, and Rando, the yokai himself, who managed to bring from the forgotten history of the techniques a combination of powerful techniques that solved the problem easily.
"Mr. Koenma, now there are only 2 of the 4 Saint Beasts missing, isn't that right, Mr. Koenma?" Jorge Saotome commented as he was holding a book under his arm, glad the mission had been going flawlessly.
"Hmm. But still I didn't manage to get the data of them both." Koenma nodded his head, but he was intrigued as he wished to find a way to help the group, but sadly all he could do was trust in the information given by a yokai. "Rando said the next one probably would be Senryu, and from what he told Kuwabara, he must be some sort of ice yokai, whose powers could freeze someone in mere seconds. And sadly, at the time Rando got inside of the portal, we couldn't get through it to hear what the plans were and what he knew about them, and also what was inside of the mysterious portal. But all we could see was the fact he brought supplies to help the guys, which is very helpful. And from all the fights, both Kuwabara and Kurama had very good information that helped their fight without risking their lives in vain."
And as the time Koenma mused about the skills of the said Yokai, suddenly he noticed a book in the hands of Jorge Saotome.
"What is that book you have in your hands, big guy?" Koenma asked as suddenly he saw the blue ogre snap from his thoughts.
"Ah, I forgot, Mr. Koenma, I was looking for the book about Yokai, and I found this one that seems to solve all kinds of mysteries about them." Jorge smiled as he showed the book to his boss, but instead of getting happy, Koenma was looking outraged.
"AHHHHHHHHH, DON'T TELL ME, YOU IDIOT, WHY DIDN'T YOU GIVE ME THE BOOK HOURS AGO?" Koenma shouted as he immediately placed the book over the table, and slowly he went on the index of the book to check where the precious information about yokai would be. "Okay, monsters, humans, yokai… Okay here. Page 479…"
Koenma flipped the pages of the book as he started reading the pages while searching for the most important information.
"To make a delicious meal of Yokai, gather the following ingredients… 3 full spoons of sugar and 2 little spoons of salt? What is that? A homemade serum?" Koenma asked as he looked in disbelief as he slowly closed the book. "Culinary Book, Hellish Edition…"
"Err…" Jorge Saotome suddenly realized that it wasn't the book his boss was looking for…
As the little baby boss glared with the corner of his eyes while giving the death sentence.
"100 spanks on the butt to learn it." Koenma said as immediately Jorge felt panic, and before he could even leave, 2 ogres stronger than him appeared, as they were the ones who would give the sentence to the poor idiot who disappointed the baby boss.
"Oh NO, NOT IN MY BUTT NOOOOO, NO MR. KOENMA, PLEASE ON THE BUTT NOOOO. CALM MR. KOENMA, IT WAS JUST A LITTLE MISTAKE." Jorge screamed in panic as he was being dragged to his punishment, but Koenma simply opened the culinary book to start to read again.
The apartment looked unusually tidy, even as much as Atsuko would have to admit, the insect crossing the walls was something that she wasn't expecting. So much so that she had to take a look at the bottle of sake that she bought last week and check if it had passed the expiration date. Or in case she was too drunk to see things. She didn't like the insect wandering around her house.
"From all the times I had to borrow my electric insect killer from that pimp. It had to be last week," Atsuko murmured as she swore to herself that she was going to break a few fingers if that pimp didn't pay up an extra next time she did a favor for Koraru. Even as she stopped being around her friends of the Yakuza, she was still glad that they still offered her some help and protection, since the times she was one of the grunts helping the great boss… Even as she lacked some money, she was still supported by her friends.
That pimp was one of her friends, but sometimes he abuses her patience, and those were one of those times.
"Okay, maybe it's just me being drunk. I mean, it's just an insect. Nothing like a good newspaper couldn't kill it." The drunken mother said to herself, as she was calmly walking beside the door, as she slowly rolled the newspaper to prepare herself.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*
She almost jumped as soon as she heard the knocking from the door. But from seeing that from nowhere someone knocking? She doesn't know anybody that could possibly be there to call for her, especially knowing Keiko and Yusuke were now at school, and since she already had a program to visit the pimp in a few days, there was possibly no way there was someone going to pay the money before the time was due.
"Atsuko It's me, Shizuru. Are you awake?" But a familiar voice was enough to make her eyebrows rise in surprise. And from the insistence of the person knocking on her door, it was a surprise. Since Atsuko isn't stupid, from the time she met Shizuru at the parents and teachers's reunion. She recalled the times when Kuwabara and Yusuke tended to treat their usual morning at school as fighting.
Recalling the good moments of her youthful days before or even after giving birth to her boy Yusuke.
At the time Atsuko opened the door, she blinked her head in surprise as it was the first time she saw the young adult carrying with her the most traditional and yet classic good helper of her past. A good metal cane, and from behind her, there was a white-bluenette girl with a ponytail and wearing a 7 of 10 delinquent outfit, as she was holding a metal bat as well.
"Hello, Shizuru, what's the occasion?" The mother commented as suddenly the smoking teenager gave a slight glare at the table, where it was the damned insect, which immediately made them glare in her direction.
"Dammit, there's one here as well. Botan, on the table." Shizuru said as she grabbed the wrist of Atsuko and pulled her away from the house, as the blunette quickly walked inside.
"Got it." Botan said as she brought with her the spray, which in that instant, the insect was about to take flight, but the girl was faster and already used the spray on it. Which Atsuko looked at and blinked as at the time the girl used the spray on the insect, the said creature didn't die… it got vaporized. "That was close. Who knows what it could have done if this insect went to someone?"
"What's going on?" Atsuko said as she for the first time thought she looked at the bottle of sake, and she facepalmed herself. "Okay, that's the last time I'm going to accept a discount at the local bar; I'm going to buy at the supermarket."
"Err… hello, Miss Urameshi." Botan said as she noticed that it had been the first time she had met the mother of her friend. And knowing that she probably was thinking that she was crazy for a girl to suddenly get inside of the house and use a spray on the table. She must create a quick excuse. "We actually came here to help clean the table. With all the dust around, this cleaning spray is the best to solve all your problems."
…
Atsuko simply stared at the girl, who started to sweat as the glance of the matriarch clearly knew something was up. Call her a drunk woman, or even irresponsible, but a lie like that was so pathetic that she could have beaten Yusuke for having such a terrible lie.
"That I can see, it even kills insects with it. Vaporize included." Atsuko said as she crossed her arms, and from seeing the girl having her eyes wide open, she was very shocked.
"You actually saw them?" Botan, she said as she then remembered. Atsuko is Yusuke's mother, and from his great potential of spiritual energy. And from the lineage background? Does that mean Atsuko is also part of the spiritual lineage of one of the three kings of hell?
"Well, if you mean the insect that looks like a green dragonfly, then yes. I saw it; actually, thanks for the help, I was thinking of using a newspaper to kill it. But it seems your spray is fitted for the job." Atsuko said as she crossed her arms and looked at Shizuru for an explanation. "Also, did you just say that girl is Botan? Like Yusuke's boss, who made him stay on the mountain for a few weeks?"
"Yeah, the same one." Shizuru didn't even let Botan explain as she herself pointed the girl out with her thumb. And with a cigar ready to be lit up, she was just glad they managed to get on time. "Turns out she came to ask Yusuke and Kazuma for a quick job relating to demons, yokais, spirits, and those insects that are causing a lot of ruckus across the town."
Atsuko crossed her arms as she then stared at Botan, who was smiling sheepishly, and after listening to the briefing of everything, it wasn't even 3 sentences, and she immediately went nearby to the table, where the labeled sake with discount was there. And taking out the lid, she immediately gave a good gulp.
"Screw the expiration date; I'm too sober for this." Atsuko said, as it surprised both girls, and then bringing 2 lacquered for both girls, as she placed the liquid of the bottle in both of them. "Now, from the start. I want to hear everything."
"Err… Ms. Urameshi, I cannot drink." Botan said nervously, but then she blinked in surprise that on the next second, Atsuko drank from the both lacquered drinking cups.
"That's not for you." The matriarch of the Urameshi family said as she then glared at the bluenette, who immediately gulped. "I'm more curious about how the boss of my little boy had met him, and how he managed to get a job that I never heard of before, and what does she mean that you took both him and Kuwabara to work since both of them are supposed to be at school?"
"Oh…" Botan said as she grinned sheepishly, and she looked at Shizuru, but at the same time she tried to find her, the Kuwabara girl closed the door to smoke outside. "HEY, DON'T LEAVE ME HERE."
"I'm going to smoke; do your thing." Shizuru shouted from the outside, as she wasn't going to challenge Atsuko for the time she was starting to get tipsy and demanding answers from the poor Grim Reaper. "Also, it's not my responsibility since you're the person who hired him."
Botan stared at the door closing, and seeing the matriarch of the Urameshi family staring at her, waiting for an explanation. Since now Botan was about to say something, anything to try to come up with a story, but from seeing the fierce glare of Atsuko, she knew she didn't have much choice.
"...dammit Yusuke," Botan mumbled as she could see the matriarch crossing her arms and knowing that now it was the time to explain the situation for the woman. She just wished that she actually had some backup in case she would jump on her.
.
.
.
"So that's what happened." Botan explained, knowing that she didn't have a way out of it, and how things went very chaotic since the insects had been spreading the chaos around the world. But what she wasn't expecting was on the next second. She felt a hug from Atsuko, who clearly held the Grim Reaper as it was the most precious treasure around the world. "Ah—"
"So it was you... thank you." Atsuko said as she had been trying her best to not release the tears on her face, but knowing the drink she had a few minutes ago made her strong enough to hold her tears for so long. "Thank you for bringing Yusuke back."
Botan could feel the drops of liquid near the back of her neck, as she was being the grim reaper. She never had the chance to actually give a choice for the mortals to return their lives, but seeing Yusuke being a special case, it changed the lives of not just himself, but everyone around him. Including her.
The most reasonable thing for Botan to do was to accept the hug and give a few taps on the back of the woman who wanted so much to have another chance with her son. And was glad that she could see a life being fixed by the sheer determination of a stupid boy.
To say coming to a mission without changing clothes was a situation where it would be very risky to be. Rando realized that at the moment he was dealing with Byakko, he had reasons to return to the rooms of Hide and Seek, especially bringing Yusuke and Kuwabara, since they would be risky in falling on those unstable pillars above the lava.
Also a good opportunity to change clothes as well.
"I should have changed my suit. I mean, this is an Armani." Rando explained as he looked at his reflection, the reason why Kuwabara and Yusuke felt a bit intimidated; from seeing his scarlet eyes after using his changing appearance on his eyes, he forgot to exchange them once again. And by using the time to let both Yusuke and Kuwabara take refreshments, by cleaning their faces in the sink, or even watering their hair to make sure they would be refreshed. It was a situation where the group would be needing to elaborate the next strategy.
"I don't know why you all care about a single piece of clothing." Hiei, who observed Rando taking out his tie and suit. Stared at him with disbelief at why a yokai would care so much about clothing.
"I'm also curious where you got an Italian suit since you knew the brand of the said suit." Kurama also said that since he knew that his stepfather had some known suits and even spoke about some brands when he was at the dinner table. "Aren't they expensive?"
"Yep, this came directly from Italy," Rando didn't mind as he organized and made sure to place it in the closet. And looking for the right clothes, he also prepared himself for what's coming next. "And Hiei, good clothing and the right appearance can make you blend in anywhere around the human world. I mean... Kurama is using a student uniform, which probably people would think of him as just a child who studies in Japan."
"Okay, now I'm getting impatient." Hiei said as he glared at the white-haired boy. "Where did you learn it?"
"You have to be more specific, Hiei." Rando said as he could see the Yokai glaring at him, but also Kurama, who was very defensive.
"I think what Hiei is looking for is the answer to you knowing the Demon Spirit Way," Kurama said, as he himself never thought to hear from it again, since in the times he was the legendary thief and a very powerful yokai, he remembered the story told about humans who centuries ago managed to not only subdue yokai but completely kill them at their mercy.
"You mean Kido, right?" Rando corrected as the duo stared at him, and from the look of their faces, the white-haired boy seemed to have poked a nest of hornets. "Like I said, I'm known as being a doctrine thief, and I'm not interested in learning where you got the legendary eye Jagan, Hiei, or the fact where you learned to use your legendary Makai plants, Kurama Yoko."
And at the time Rando said that, Hiei's eyes glared murderous, and Kurama had his eyes open in surprise and sharp as always, but before anyone would say something, Rando simply raised his hands.
"Okay, okay, I went overboard. Sorry, but still. Each of us had stories and secrets inside of us, and I'm a very good information gatherer, and to be honest with you two, it took a long, long, looooooong time to finally reach my 99 techniques." Rando said as he could see Hiei almost hostile at him, but knowing the white-haired yokai didn't want to fight, but explaining the simple summary of his techniques, it made both Kurama and Hiei relax their guard over him. "Maybe someday I will tell where I learned my techniques and who were my victims of my bloodlust time and sadistic moments."
"Humph, do whatever you want." Hiei said as he crossed his arms, but seeing how the boy was still changing his own clothes, he had another question on his mind. "That boy Kuwabara said you taught him about the types of spiritual energy, being transmutation, enhancement, and some others."
"Huh, if you are interested in learning it, I won't stop you, since probably Yusuke will be demanding to learn more about it when this mission is over." Rando replied as he could see how Hiei's desire to be stronger came to him, since knowing his whole story from watching the anime. Hiei really felt sore when Koenma said he was weak, which the baby of the spiritual world could have worded out a bit better since the events of the next arcs would require them to be way stronger than before. "But now that we have only 2 Saint Beasts remaining, I won't be surprised if Senryu will be the next to appear."
"Humph, if he wants to appear, it will be easier for us to take him down quickly." Hiei said as he could see the implying from the yokai. "You said he is fast and can use his punches to freeze whoever would be near him. What would be his weakness?"
"Probably the same as the others, thinking that we are the weakest." Rando simply gave a comment that made Hiei raise his eyebrows at him. "He thinks he is the fastest demon around; the only way to kill him is by being faster and having no hesitation in killing him."
"Huh, is that so?" Hiei said as he simply turned his back and walked away. Knowing that he wasn't going to get any information from the yokai in front of him, he left only Kurama and Rando in the room as the boy was changing his clothes.
"I'm sorry about Hiei." Kurama said as he tried to be a polite one, but Rando shook his head.
"You don't need to apologize, and neither does he. It's the way we are, and how we will always be." Rando commented as he gave a slight glance in the mirror. "I was expecting this reaction from him. Still, it's not going to diminish my respect for him."
"Do you respect him?" Kurama said as he blinked in surprise, for seeing the yokai actually not even making fun of Hiei, that soon made sense, since Rando didn't do a joke or neither tried to get on the skin of the black-haired yokai.
"I would call you an idiot if you didn't." Rando commented, as he could recall, on the time when Hiei laid the foundations of what would be the edgy character, but an edgy character with true potential and great backgrounds for the future generations of anime. Itachi Uchiha, Sasuke Uchiha, Feitan Portor, Levi Ackerman, Fushiguro Megumi, Alucard… They were the future children created after the patriarch of the Edginess and Badassery. "A yokai born from a forbidden love between an ice yokai and a fire yokai, launched away as a death sentence for only being born among the ice-cold yokai bitches, excluding a mom who actually loved him with all her heart… to the point of committing suicide, thinking on how the boy was killed in such a brutal way… growing up in a group of bandits, with nothing more of desire to get stronger, fighting whatever demons who wanted to take what it's his. There is a very powerful yokai who would love to have him in their army. And Yusuke saw his true self, a yokai who actually needed allies and friends, and Yusuke decided to be one of his first friends, in the same way as you."
Kurama had his eyes wide open, seeing how analytical Rando had been, and instead of saying snarky things or even making jokes about it, Kurama then remembered that instead of joking around, after dealing with Byakko, he didn't even say something funny or make a joke about it. Showing how serious he had been when someone talked about his height.
But to say that he gathered all the information about the 4 Saint Beasts and how he knew the background check of Hiei? He wouldn't be surprised at how much he knew about him, not only as Suichi Minamino, but also as Kurama Yoko. And he couldn't help but wonder what if other yokai also knew about his human parents and what he should do in case someone tried to threaten them?
"Kurama." Then a voice snapped him from his thoughts, and he saw from the reflection of the mirror Rando staring at him intently. "If you or Hiei needs some kind of information in the future, I can try to gather some information about it; from rumors or from experience, I can at least give it a try. Just promise that some information you must be sure to not tell around Koenma's office, since those walls are thin, and the ogres could be using that to tell someone that Koenma doesn't want to know."
"So you knew about my deal with Koenma." Kurama said he wasn't surprised at how good the gathering of information was over him and how the boy in front of him didn't seem to mind revealing his tricks or speaking the truth.
"Yeah, I know that I can trust Koenma, and one of the reasons why I trust both you and Hiei is something that we both know that's the same reason why you trust me and Kuwabara." Rando said as immediately the red-haired yokai nodded his head at him.
"Yusuke," both yokai said in unison, knowing that boy had simply managed to give his trust to them both, and since Yusuke was the reason for their trust in each other and the friendship they have with him, why should they both distrust each other?
"You are clearly an enigma, Rando, something that I'm not sure why I shouldn't raise my guards up against you." Kurama said, but then Rando simply turned his head, showing no single look of rage, disbelief, or anything but resolution and solemnity.
"Because you know… you really know." Rando said as he approached the yokai of the plants, still looking at him like someone who knew exactly how he felt. "You know how it was like having a life completely changed because of a human."
Kurama blinked, as he understood what the boy had said. Koenma told him about his change over a woman who made him grieve from the mourning process of losing someone who he loved. As he also would have felt if he hadn't managed to save his mom from the sickness.
"Yes, I do. And Yusuke was the reason I managed to save my mom but also have my life saved. "Ouch." Kurama understood what Rando was commenting on, but suddenly a finger slap over his forehead made him snap and look at the boy who was glaring at him.
"For a yokai who was supposed to be the smartest of our group. You're an idiot." Rando commented as he saw the look of surprise and shock coming from Kurama. "Don't give me that I must sacrifice myself to make my mom live crap. Do you have any idea how much your mom would ground you for being stupid like that?"
Kurama had his eyes twitching, and he gritted his teeth. Surprisingly, the old Rando returned, but then he paused as he saw Rando was talking seriously to him.
"You talked as if your life didn't have any value and wanted to commit suicide in exchange for giving your life to your mom." Rando commented as he didn't let himself be interrupted. "It's a noble sentiment, sure… But you forgot that you are not the only one in the family, Kurama… But do you really think your mom would live the life as you gave your life for her?"
"Wh-" Kurama was about to ask, but then Rando shut him down.
"Kurama, there are 5 things that I fear most in the world or even in the universe, if that's possible." Rando explained as he raised his hand. "The wrath of a gentle man, the life inside of the void, one of the three kings of Makai who is constantly watching us, the spiritual detective who discovered the truth of humanity, and the worst of all…"
"…" Kurama listened in silence as he waited for something terrifying to explain, but what he didn't expect was…
"A mother going berserk." Rando commented as he could see the disbelief coming from his eyes but decided to explain further. "I once was in a situation when I was asked who I would rather fight. A 200-pound man who is mostly muscle and has stolen a loaf of bread and knows he's done wrong… or an 80-pound woman who believes—however wrongly—that you have stolen her baby?"
That question alone made Kurama stare at Rando, who seemed to be very certain of one thing.
"I would run from that woman." Rando commented as he recalled his memories. Yor Forger, Kushina Uzumaki, Hinata Hyuga, Irene Belserion, Android 18, Izumi Curtis. Those women, if something happened to their children, nothing, NOTHING would have saved him from getting his ass kicked. "Kurama, what would you think if your mom found out that you stole the spiritual treasure and gave your own life just to save her?"
"I don't know…" Kurama simply commented as he blinked, not sure what to say.
"She would find a way, go to whatever she needed, and try to demand from Koenma himself to give her little boy back." Rando said as he stared at Kurama, who simply doesn't understand. "Ugh, you just don't get it. Don't you?"
"What?" Kurama said he never thought Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Hiei were taking too long just to do something. But seeing the white-haired boy deciding to be serious with him, he felt like he opened a Pandora's box, and he doesn't know how to close it.
"You're wearing a mask," Rando commented, as he noticed the look of confusion from a yokai who would be treated as the smartest strategist over the anime. But still. "You felt like you didn't know who you were… Firstly, the legendary fox yokai, a thief who was cold-hearted and couldn't care for your own squad and friends, then you became a human and discovered for the first time the love of a mother, but something that you couldn't show your true self to her, and then finally you… Kurama, with us, the yokai who works for Koenma and is helping us to save the world. But still you felt empty because you were pressured into deciding who you could be next."
Kurama remained in silence because it clicked. What Rando had said made perfect sense, since he felt the pressure of not knowing who he was. It had been something that he always thought about in what he should be planning for the next day, but still. It feels like most of his mornings would be empty of his ordinary life living in the human world.
"She knows…" Then Rando made a comment that in that instant Kurama had his eyes wide open and staring at the boy with all the anger he could muster. "And don't think I said something or that shit. No… one thing that I learned from all my years living is that a good mother always knows that her children are hiding something from her."
"Huh?" Kurama blinked as he tried to understand the point given by Rando, who simply snorted.
"A funny fact about human mothers. They have some kind of instinct to tell when their children are hiding something from them. Ask Yusuke; his mom would literally beat the crap out of him at the moment she finds out that he had been working as a spiritual detective after his death." Rando explained, as he potentially could imagine Atsuko Urameshi sneezing after he talks about her. "But my point is Kurama, your mother knew that you were different; she knew that you were special to her…"
"How can you be sure? I'm just a yokai who took the body inside of a womb of a woman." Kurama said as he narrowed his eyes, knowing that he had been inside of the human and taking the place of a child who was supposed to be for her.
"Did you actually study human sexual reproduction?" Then such a question made Kurama immediately fall on the floor, as he looked exasperated and in disbelief as the white-haired yokai rolled his eyes.
"I'm not going to talk about my mom having sex." Kurama said as he looked outraged, but suddenly he noticed the smirk coming from Rando, as he just got the victory in his hands.
"Exactly, your mom." Rando said as he could see the smartest yokai remained quiet. "You were faster; you took the body of the winning sperm, Kurama. It was you. And your mom passed months waiting, hoping, and dreaming about giving a life to you. And look at you now, sacrificing your life to make sure she would be cured but not realizing how much she would die on the inside upon finding out that you, her son, died for her. Without even telling the truth?"
"Can't you just be quiet? What do you want from me?" Kurama said as he looked very annoyed, realizing that even his cold mind was on its limit. But what makes it even worse was that the tone said by Rando, he wasn't saying it in his usual tone to get him under the skin; no… he was very serious about what he was saying.
"Be yourself, Kurama…" Rando said, which immediately made the red-haired yokai pause and stare at the Rando who finished dressing himself. "I envy anyone who had a good mother like yours, Yusuke's, Hiei's... Heh, I passed my life being an orphan, without someone to take care of me; it always had been the other way round; I had to take care of someone."
Kurama remained in silence as the white-haired yokai placed the chains around his arm to hide for a surprise attack on his enemies, but still having on guard as a protective way for himself and his friends.
"Differently than you and the others, I and Kuwabara's sister had to act as the parental role to make sure that they are loved and cared for in their safety, while we didn't have such a luxury... the nearest experience I had of having some sort of comfort was my wife. And I lost her." Rando said as he reflected on his past life, and knowing that he never would have the chance to meet Helena ever again, he wished that he could tell her what happened, or even his little brother Miguel; he was in Yu Yu Hakusho, he was being a yokai, and was helping Yusuke and his friends; he wanted them so much to see him where he was now... "She didn't know about me, who I am, and I regret every single minute for not telling her. Of not being nearby her side, to tell her good morning, the sweet carnal desires we had when she… never mind, the point is. Sometimes I had a feeling that she knew I was hiding something from her, and she was waiting for me to open up. And when that time passed, I couldn't stop thinking about what I could have said and if she would love me for who I was. Or who I now became."
"…"
"Listen to the experience of this yokai, Kurama… Shuichi, or whatever name you want to give yourself. Your mother will always love you, no matter if you are a human or a yokai, if you were a thief or an assassin. Rando said that instead of slapping the forehead of the red-haired boy, he passed by him and gave a few taps behind his back. "She would go berserk or even take her own life because she loves you as her son. You're her son, and that's final if you don't believe me. Go ask her if you're not a chicken… wait… even better, a tanuki."
"Oh, you bastard." Kurama suddenly said that word, which immediately made Rando pause and look at Kurama glaring at him. As he seemed to be touching a nerve from the calm mind yokai.
"Wow, is that what it takes? Okay, I will keep that in mind." Rando commented that he never thought that bringing a rivalry between foxes and tanukis from another anime was even before that; he doesn't know Kurama's reason for why he hated such an insult, but he could guess it was a rivalry between foxes and tanukes since before Naruto happens. He is now feeling ready for the next part of the challenge. Now that he was dressed accordingly for the next 2 fights. Wearing a Buddhist monk attire, a necklace, and black pants, and behind the monk attire, there was a Spider Stamp with a number 0 on it.
"Hey Rando, are you done? You are taking way too long on there." Then the knocking coming from one of the doors made Rando simply roll his eyes, but he smiled at the yokai behind him. He opened the door.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm done. Let's just finish this mission." Rando said as he saw both Yusuke and Kuwabara refreshed and even relieved from the scorching place. "Let's go, boys."
"So let me see if I got everything?" Atsuko said, smoking after passing half an hour, recovering her senses, and even apologizing for her acting like a drunken crazy woman to Botan and Shizuru, but after hearing the information from both of them, both looking through the windows to see if there was some movement that could be happening across the neighborhood. "These kinds of insects that are going around the city are from hell, and they seem to be spreading some kind of mental control over the people whom they infect." Because there is some sort of a demon who is controlling them by some sort of flute, Yusuke and his friends are going to hell without dying, just to kick some asses and make sure to destroy the flute and save the world. Is that you two telling me?"
"That summarized everything," Shizuru said as he was checking at the time she turned on the television, and suddenly on the news, Atsuko blinked as she saw the news over the reception of the problems happening in the city, the local news interrupting what they were broadcasting just to show little by little a group of men and women with blue skin having some rampages and doing vandalism across the town. "If you don't believe in me, here's your proof. We managed to take down a lot of bastards who were causing a ruckus around, and some even weird pervs who were around the playground."
"Playground? Wow, doesn't the police do something?" Atsuko asked as she slowly walked on towards the television until she noticed someone on the television as her eyes went wide open in disbelief. Atsuko looked in horror at seeing a few people breaking a few windows. Someone she recognizes: "Is that Yuto?"
"As the time progresses, the Makai Insects are infecting dozens and dozens of people, and the vandalism could cause the destruction of the town." Botan explained she wasn't sure what she could say in that moment, since she wished she could have destroyed more insects; however, there were too many for her.
"No, no, no, NO, NO, YUTO, YOU IDIOT, THAT STORE IS UNDER DOJIMA'S CLAN PROTECTION. IF TOJO FINDS OUT, YOU ARE SCREWED." Atsuko said as she clearly went on a rant, which immediately made both girls stare at the smoking woman, looking very annoyed. "Damn it, this is going to be a pain in the ass."
"Dojima? Tojo?" Shizuru slowly commented as she felt that the names would ring a bell, but she isn't sure where.
The duo gave space for the drunken mother to go straight to the telephone.
"I hope he grabs the pager at the time he sees it." Atsuko said as she tapped her foot impatiently while Botan and Shizuru watched the mother look very annoyed but also in concern. "Koraru, it's Atsuko; call me right now."
And with that, it didn't take a minute until the telephone finally rang, and the brunette woman took the telephone.
"Koraru, what's the situation?" Atsuko said as the girls saw the posture of the woman change, as even her drunken tone seemed to change for a more complete voice. "Yeah, Yuto is trashing one of the places… Wait, what do you mean Nishima is also acting crazy? What? Damn it, this is not good. What? Oh no, no way. Y… dammit, really? Fine, but you, the family, are going to owe me a big one after that."
As she was about to say something else. Atsuko suddenly sneezed, but she didn't mind that situation.
"Yeah, yeah, talk all you want behind my back, but still. But mark my words, Koraru, I know that in a few days this is going to have several consequences. Are you even watching the news?" Atsuko said, as Botan stared at Shizuru, not knowing what they were even going to do. "Okay, I will be heading right there."
As Atsuko finished the call, she let out a sharp exhale, a mixture of frustration and resolve tightening her features. Without hesitation, she removed her blouse, leaving only a simple white bra. Her movements were purposeful as she strode toward Yusuke's bedroom, leaving Botan and Shizuru to exchange puzzled glances before trailing after her.
In the dimly lit room, Atsuko paused by one of the walls, pressing her palm against its surface as if searching for something. With a sudden, forceful punch, she cracked open a concealed compartment hidden within the drywall. Dust puffed into the air, revealing a dark blue traditional Japanese dress neatly folded inside. The dress was adorned with a pattern of intertwining flowers, their delicate shapes curving elegantly across the fabric. Next to it lay neatly wrapped bandages and a small lacquered box.
Botan and Shizuru stood in stunned silence, watching as Atsuko picked up the dress with reverence, setting it aside before reaching for the bandages. She removed her bra and, with swift, practiced precision, began wrapping the bandages tightly around her chest, flattening and securing her figure. Her movements spoke of ritual and preparation, as if this wasn't the first time she'd performed such an act.
It was then that the two women caught sight of something astonishing: a tattoo sprawled across Atsuko's back. At first glance, it seemed like a chaotic tangle of ink, but as the light shifted, its details became clear—a fish devouring a rose, while a dragon loomed above, its jaws locked around the fish. The tattoo's design was intricate, almost alive, telling a story of dominance and survival.
Botan and Shizuru exchanged wide-eyed glances, their shock palpable. It wasn't just the tattoo—it was the realization that Atsuko had lived a life far removed from the one they'd assumed. Whatever they thought they knew about her, this changed everything.
"She's from Yakuza? No way." Shizuru had her eyes looking in shock, but then something appeared on her mind. "Oh, maybe that's why Yusuke had the knick for being a delinquent. Huh, wow, Kuwabara is going to lose his mind when I tell him that."
"How… how does she even hide that?" Botan whispered to Shizuru, but her companion could only shake her head, equally mystified.
Atsuko, seemingly oblivious to their reactions, slipped into the dress. The deep blue fabric clung to her frame with a quiet elegance, the flower patterns almost glowing under the room's faint light. She reached for a hashi, deftly twisting her hair into a tight bun and securing it with the hairpin.
Her expression hardened as she adjusted the final touches, her lips curling into a wry, determined smile.
"And when I think those idiots wouldn't try to pull this on me." And here I thought those idiots would have the sense to not put anything more on my plate." she muttered, her tone laced with irritation. "Sorry girls, I wish I could talk to you all, but it seems that a little employee from a friend of mine needs to go home,"
"AS IF IT WAS TRUE." Both Shizuru and Botan shouted as they clearly saw Atsuko had an actual story with the Yakuza.
Atsuko smiled sheepishly, but she ignored them both. She took her trustful pocket knife and a brass knuckle. And even as she had to raise her own boy for years and give birth to him at 15 years old, she knew she was still sharp. And some people just need to get beaten to wake up.
"Anyway, don't drink my booze, and please lock it up when you two get out." Atsuko said as she didn't even let the duo answer, and she walked outside.
"Oh no, we are coming with you." Shizuru shouted, as Botan knew that was probably the Makai insects, so she didn't have another choice but to also help.
"GIRLS, WAIT FOR ME." Botan said as she took the keys to the house and locked it as she went after them. "Why can't Yusuke's family be normal?"
The group ran upstairs, even as exhausting as it could be; they had been running around the castle for the next challenge, but at the time Yusuke and the squad finally reached the next level of the castle, Yusuke was surprised as the group stopped after finding out a new challenge ahead of them.
"What the… what is that?" Yusuke said as the group looked around and found out they were in a room surrounded by doors. Each door was made of metal but with a yellow brass color in the same room made of bricks.
"Did you forget that we are in a castle maze?" Hiei commented as Yusuke blinked but then turned his head toward the yokai nearby him.
"Castle maze?" Yusuke asked as Kurama nodded his head and decided to explain further.
"That's right; also, you should be paying attention to this." Kurama said as he decided to give further information for the group who seemed to be listening to him. Yusuke and Kuwabara, who didn't know much about the castle, waited for the red-haired yokai to explain to the humans about the castle. "To reach the top of the castle, there's only one exit door. I heard until this day, nobody chose the right door, meaning if you choose the wrong door, you will not be able to get out alive."
"Traps, spikes, flames, poison—there are all kinds of possible ways to kill someone stupid or not sensitive enough to identify the way." Rando commented as he immediately made his way directly to Kuwabara. "Thankfully we have an easy way to find the right door."
Yusuke heard from both Rando and Kurama, and he already knew where this was going.
"Alright, Kuwabara, what door would you choose, huh, smart guy?" Yusuke said as he gave a slight provocation, which Kuwabara knew where this was going, and since he knew about one of his talents, both the trio of Genkai's trial knew one thing they could trust.
Kuwabara's spiritual sensitivity. It had been one of the things that Rando and Yusuke had to give to him, a way to find traces of spiritual energy without wasting any of his body. And Kuwabara narrowed his eyes, and one by one, he looked to see if there was something different on there. Until suddenly, he felt a slight shock from sensing on the second door on the left.
"Huh? There's a powerful spiritual energy from there; the 2 yokais must be behind that door." Kuwabara said, but after that, he narrowed his eyes. As he felt a slight shiver on his body, and many times his guts managed to take him out from the terrible dangers when it came to dangerous places. So much so that he was the first to reach the tree after Genkai's trial. He knew which door it was. "It's the second on the left."
"Alright." Rando said as he nodded his head carefree.
"Then that's good; let's go then," Yusuke agreed with Rando, as he himself felt relaxed, knowing such a challenge actually had been something that he wouldn't need to stress out about.
"Are you sure that we should trust him?" Hiei asked suspiciously which Kuwabara walked past the group and was ready to push the door.
"Yeah, yeah, I know. You may be thinking I'm an idiot, isn't it? I may not seem like it, but passing around mazes and escaping from traps is my specialty." Kuwabara said as he confidently pushed the door with one hand, but what he didn't imagine from all the places, even in hell, there were still mice. Which, at the time, he just saw a little mouse squeaking and running away, he could help but be spooked and fell down with his butt on the floor. "Ah, a mouse."
The group blinked, as Rando facepalmed at seeing such a reaction. Yusuke, on the other hand, sweat dropped and even decided to make fun of it.
"Okay, you gotta be kidding me. The boy fights a giant monster and has fear of a little mouse. Isn't that crazy?" Yusuke said as Rando chuckled from the antics of his friends.
And over the top of the castle, which is slowly decaying from the destruction, the brownish clouds show nothing more than the illusion of there being the night or the day; nobody knows and nobody cares. The ominous devil energy surrounding the top of the tower, 2 yokai were watching the group in the shadows, seeing from the crystal ball the quintet moving inside of the said path where it's the safest over the Castle Maze.
"They are intelligent. They found the right door. It seems one of them has a strong spiritual sensitivity; they are crossing the quickest path and avoiding all the traps." Suzaku said, as he looked in amusement at the group simply walking on the path. Now understanding the group was reaching near to their direction. He didn't seem to be bothered by them; he felt some sort of entertainment walking towards them. "Huh, in any case, it seems there's only us 2, isn't that right, Senryu?"
Suzaku, as his shadow appeared and silhouette looked over the crystal ball, there was a red glow coming from his eyes as he felt something very interesting to talk towards the only beast remaining. The yokai who had a blue glow in his eyes. Showing nothing more than his shadow as well.
Senryu was kneeling in the shadows while he still showed good loyalty towards the yokai nearby him.
"Don't be concerned, Master Suzaku," Senryu commented as his shadow slowly disappeared, showing a glimpse of his face, nothing more than determination and loyalty over the yokai who had the Makai Whistle on his hand. "The other 2 weren't anything more than subordinates. Let me take care of them. And then we can invade the human world together."
Senryu said as the group looked at the quintet walking towards their next challenge.
While in the human world, it seems the chaos was slowly spreading up; even at the start at 2 in the afternoon, the sound of horns and the traffic happening across the town, there was still some movement over the humans who didn't seem to realize the chaos happening little by little.
As one of the corners of the street, one salaryman was not feeling well, as he went inside of an alley and felt his entire body change, as he was knocked out, but then his skin started to change color to grayish blue, and his eyes got into a red color, and at the time the human infected got up, it showed nothing more than the desire for destruction. But as soon as he was about to get out of the alley. A woman simply jumped and gave a kick on his head.
"GET OUT OF MY WAY." The woman roared as she immediately started running in a direction, leaving the man knocked out on the floor.
As soon as the insect understood how its host got defeated so quickly, the insect tried to get out of the body.
"Wow, what a coincidence." Another voice came as the insect didn't even have time to take flight, but the sound of the spray was enough to destroy the entire conscience and erase its own life. Botan blinked in surprise at how a human got defeated so easily as she saw Yusuke's mom continuing to sprint towards a direction. "HEY, WAIT FOR ME."
"Wow, that woman is fast." Shizuru commented as she also couldn't believe how Yusuke's mom went ahead and simply knocked down whoever was on her path, being human or being the man in a blue skin. Atsuko wasn't stopping for nothing. And seeing Botan was also trying to run after her, it seems they're still going to have a long day around.
.
.
.
In the shadowy alleys of a city under the Makai insects' influence, chaos unfolded as pockets of the infected wreaked havoc. Among the infected, Yuto, a subordinate of the Dojima Clan, led a group of two others through the streets, their actions defiling the very territory they once swore to protect. Shops with shattered windows lined the streets, their neon signs flickering erratically. The ground was littered with broken bottles, shattered wood, and scattered merchandise, all testaments to the trail of destruction they left in their wake.
Yuto, with a twisted grin, kicked over a street vendor's stall, sending produce scattering across the asphalt. His two lackeys followed suit, throwing rocks through windows and overturning tables as shopkeepers and pedestrians fled in terror. The trio's laughter, now guttural and inhuman, echoed ominously through the streets, fueled by the dark influence of the Makai insects.
But the Yakuza were not a group to tolerate dishonor, even in the face of such unnatural circumstances. A handful of Tojo clan enforcers arrived, their tailored suits pristine and their expressions a mix of anger and disbelief. These men, loyal to the code and their boss, moved swiftly to subdue the vandals, intent on restoring order. As they confronted the trio, one stepped forward, his voice sharp like a blade cutting through the chaos.
(YAKUZA 0 - TWO DRAGONS OST)
Before the confrontation could escalate, a blur of motion disrupted the scene. From seemingly nowhere, a woman launched herself into the fray. With the precision and ferocity of a seasoned fighter, she drove her fist into Yuto's face, the force of the blow sending him sprawling backward into the debris. The remaining two vandals froze, stunned by the sudden intervention. But the woman didn't stop.
"YUTOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO," And just like a screech, the whole group of enforcers had their eyes. The deep blue fabric clung to her frame with a quiet elegance, the flower patterns almost glowing under the room's faint light. And the hair bun, and the slight show of the tattoo on her back. She walked towards the man who was still down, and by grabbing his collar, she pulled her head, and with all her strength, she headbutted the face of the boy, which made the whole area silent. "YOU IDIOT,"
As the powerful headbutt made the grayish-blue human drop blood from his nose, it was clear the woman with her furious nature had broken his nose with nothing other than her head, as she released her victim and slowly turned her head towards the other 2 vandals who just saw for the first time the definition of a monster in front of them.
"Atsu-Taicho." One of the Tojo's clan whispered, as the other members of the said clan also couldn't believe their eyes, seeing such a woman appearing in front of them, still fierce as usual. They thought such a woman had retired and left her old life for the sake of taking care of a boy, but still, why was she returning for a reason? It seems the situation was more serious than they were expecting.
"Atsu-Taicho."
"ATSU-TAICHO IS HERE." Another member of the Yakuza shouted as the group now looked even more serious and even surprised to see here. They called Taicho as a way to respect their former lieutenant, captain of their squad, when situations needing a rescue or even some good fistfight arose. Those who were causing confusion at the moment, it doesn't matter if they are going to wake up hurt on the next morning; those who caused such problems will need to shave their heads, beard, and body, or even lose a finger or two for their mess up.
"The captain is here." One of the Tojo said as immediately they could see Nijima, the chairman of the family of a subsidiary, walking towards the said woman.
"Wait, something is also coming from the other side. DAMN, THE DOJIMA'S CLAN IS ALSO COMING, AND THEY LOOKED LIVID." One of the Tojo members said as slowly the group watched 5 guys approaching the direction of the destroyed stores.
"What's going on here?" The leader of the group walked past, and then the 5 members of the Dojima Clan stopped, seeing one man with blue skin and red eyes walking towards his direction.
"KILL," the man said as he immediately jumped on the person who walked in his direction. But suddenly a punch made him be launched far away, and the same person who did the punch grabbed the infected man by the ankle and launched him on the floor, and then from nowhere, a bicycle was slammed on his face. And then at the time he got up, he felt a great slap on his face. Launching him a few meters away.
"SHUT UP." The leader roared as he gave a slight glance towards the woman nearby him. As he blinked for a few seconds. "Urameshi?"
"Kazuma," Atsuko commented as she cracked her neck, staring down over the blue people. "Still on Beast mode?"
"Tch..." The man clicked his tongue as both walked in the direction of the destroyed store. "Aren't you supposed to be in retirement, old rag?"
"You punk," Atsuko said as she stared at the members of Tojo taking out the bodies of 2 members of the yakuza, knowing they are clearly going to be punished for that. "I didn't know you were coming."
"Koraru asked you for a favor then?" The person said as he saw one of the members of Tojo immediately bringing a bottle of sake for the lady who appeared to take care of the service.
"Obviously, but still there are a lot of people causing a ruckus on here." The mother said that as she could see both Botan and Shizuru appearing towards the group of dressed men, she then saw another man with blue skin jumping in her direction; as she furiously gritted her teeth, she then used the bottle, and with all her strength, she slammed the person in the head, and with the strong force, she smashed the bottle, making the person fall down knocked out and even bleeding on the street. "PUNK, RESPECT YOUR ELDERS."
"Hey, both of you shouldn't be here." One of the men said as the duo stopped.
"They were with me," Atsuko said as she pointed at the 2 bodies. And Botan clearly went there to use some sort of spray, which made some of the suited men stare at the girl in confusion. "It's complicated, but from what I heard on the news, there are a lot of others who are causing confusion now."
"It's not our problem." The boy said as he could see Atsuko raising her eyebrows at him.
"Oh? You're learning well, but that's going to be since those vandals are happening to be whatever person with blue skin; I don't know what happened, but I don't want to see some cretins trying to destroy places that are from Tojo's protection." Atsuko commented as she offered the bottle of sake to the leader of the other clan, who immediately refused. "You're up to kick some asses and make them recover some sense?"
The person remained quiet, as he could see his group staring at him. The sharp eyes, staring at the group of girls behind the woman who seemed ready to fight.
"They're your subordinates?" The man asked, which immediately made Atsuko laugh.
"Oh no. They are just Yusuke's friends." Atsuko smiled as she could see the boy in front of her and gave a small smile. "Thank you for your help, Kiryu."
"I know that you would have done the same for me, but still... Congratulations on having your son back." Kiryu remained with his serious face as both the woman and the man walked in the direction as he narrowed his eyes, "It seems there's more of them."
"I'm counting 7." Atsuko nodded her head as she cracked her knuckles. "You think you can keep up with me?"
"You're still a retired woman; being a mother must have slowed down your progress." Kiryu wasn't afraid of a single banter, which made Atsuko spit on the floor.
"Changing Yusuke's diapers was far more scary than actually taking the whole Tojo clan; you're still too slow for me." Atsuko said as she gritted her teeth as the duo walked past everyone.
"OH MY GOD, WE ARE GOING TO SEE HISTORY HERE. THE DRAGON OF DOJIMA AND TOJO'S LEVIATHAN ARE GOING TO FIGHT TOGETHER." One of the Yakuza grunts said as the other members of both Dojima and Tojo gave space for Kiryu and Atsuko to walk towards the blue-skinned infected people. Kiryu took out his shirt and suit while showing on his back a powerful and incredible tattoo of a dragon behind his back. Atsuko took her pocket knife and brass knuckles, showing that she was ready to give some painful punches as well.
And both Dragon and Leviathan ran in the direction of the infected human; as soon as they were near, Kiryu jumped to give a flying knee, and Atsuko jumped to give a kick in the direction of the blue-skinned people.
(KAZUMA KIRYU - FIGHTER OF DOJIMA CLAN, TOJO CLAN SUBSDIARY - DRAGON OF DOJIMA)
(URAMESHI ATSUKO - RETIRED TOJO CLAN LITEUNANT, TOJO'S LEVIATHAN)
Yusuke came to an abrupt halt, his senses suddenly alert, as though a powerful force was tugging at him from a distance. Kurama, walking beside him, furrowed his brow, sensing the shift in his friend's demeanor.
"Yusuke, why did you stop?" Kurama's voice was laced with curiosity and a hint of concern, his eyes scanning Yusuke for any signs of distress.
Yusuke stood still for a moment, his gaze distant, as if he were searching for something just out of reach. "Have you ever had a feeling that something… awesome is happening, but you're not there to see it?" He frowned, as though the question itself troubled him. "It's like a my entire being is screaming that I should be there, but I have no idea what it is. I can't shake this feeling... like I'm missing something huge." His voice wavered slightly, unease creeping into his tone.
Kurama paused, considering his words carefully. "Sometimes," he replied, his voice calm, but there was a flicker of understanding in his eyes. "It's as if the world itself is shifting, and we can sense it, but it remains just out of reach. It's frustrating."
Kuwabara, who had been walking behind them, scratched the back of his head, clearly confused. "Yeah, I get what you mean," he chimed in, his usual bravado subdued by the odd sensation. "But it's not like we can do anything about it. We've got our own mess to handle, right?"
"That must be a strange feeling." Rando, walking just a few steps ahead, also turned to face Yusuke, his expression unreadable. "Well, what the eyes can't see the heart won't feel it. Now let's go, we have are almost there."
Yusuke clenched his fists, frustration mounting within him. The feeling gnawed at him like an itch he couldn't scratch, but deep down, he knew Rando was right. Their mission was their responsibility, and they couldn't afford distractions, no matter how enticing they might be.
"Yeah, yeah," Yusuke muttered under his breath, forcing himself to push the strange sensation aside. "I'll figure it out later." He squared his shoulders, the weight of his resolve settling in. "For now, we focus on this. But damn, I swear something's going down somewhere… And I would have liked to be there at this momment."
The group continued on their path, each of them carrying the weight of their own burdens and thoughts. The road ahead was uncertain, but as they pressed on, they couldn't shake the feeling that the world itself was about to shift in ways they couldn't yet understand.
And somewhere, on the human world, the echoes of an epic battle were unfolding, a story far greater than any of them could imagine. Something that would be craved on the history of Yakuza for years.