Chapter 15: Sword and Dragon
The second fight in the Dark Tournament finals safely ended. Team Urameshi was announced as the victor, and they received their first point on the board. Three more wins, and they could go home. But, Miwa's victory still took a heavy toll on her, even more than her broken arm. Using her Life Energy to gain control over all the fluids in Rikiji's body, Miwa's Extraction technique completely depleted her of energy and consciousness. It was clear the remaining life force she had was just barely keeping her alive. Kurama managed to stay conscious despite using a similar method, drawing from his old powers as Youko Kurama. Even if, like Kurama, Miwa retained some after-effects from testing the Fruit of the Previous Life, a large majority of her old powers were still trapped behind the shikigami seal on her back. But, for the time being, all Miwa needed was rest. In time, her energy should regenerate.
"Is she alright?"
Yusuke waited expectantly as Kurama returned to the team. Hiei, Kuwabara, and Koenma were by the ring, listening to Koto make some announcements to the audience.
"She is resting, but her arm should be treated properly later."
"Maybe I can flag down Botan to help with that," Yusuke said, taking a quick glance up to the audience stands. "How are you doing?"
"Me?"
"Yeah, you looked kinda...upset with the stuff Rikiji was saying to her earlier."
"...Both of you, wallowing in your own guilty conscience as you pretend your relationship is something more than master and slave..."
Kurama smiled bitterly and chuckled. Despite everything she had done, Rikiji was, in fact, quite an incredible demon. She and Miwa had never met before this tournament, but just by knowing Miwa's reputation, having a background in shikigami, and some face-to-face interaction, Rikiji was able to see through Miwa's situation in more detail than anyone Kurama had ever seen. Rikiji easily figured out exactly which buttons to press to provoke Miwa, and exactly what to say to make him - someone she had never spoken to, no less - retreat within himself from the immense guilt he had been carrying for years.
"I'm fine," Kurama said, "Rikiji is just good at...choosing her words."
Yusuke frowned and folded his arms in front of his chest. "You think? I thought she was just full of crap."
"...What?"
"That whole 'guilty conscience' stuff," Yusuke said, waving his hand as if to dismiss the idea entirely. "I doubt anyone who only feels guilt would get as upset as Miwa does when you're hurt or in trouble." Then, Yusuke smiled. "Same for you."
Kurama heard from Yusuke about what Miwa had done when they were up against Team Masho. He even witnessed some of it firsthand, through Touya's ice dome. The way she screamed at him that he was going to kill himself. Her anguished face as she watched him bleed. The marks on her hands from clenching her fists so tightly. She was ready to rip through that dome and drag him away, if she had to. And when he fought Karasu, Kurama faintly heard some kind of commotion from his team, suggesting Miwa was about to actually jump in the ring that time. Did she feel guilt then?
Did he?
...Maybe he did, but there was something else there too: He had looked back.
Just before he used every last drop of his remaining energy to summon the blood-thirsty plant that killed Karasu, Kurama took a moment to simply look back at her. He knew time was of the essence. He knew that Juri was about to start the ten-count, but if using that technique would end his life...then he just had to. His glance was brief, not even half a second, but it was enough. With the commotion over, Miwa had begrudgingly resigned herself to whatever fate would befall him. She looked scared. She looked sad. But nothing in her face resembled guilt, or even thoughts of her oath. And Kurama...all he remembered from that moment he looked back was thinking he would miss her, and it could be the last time he would ever see her face. No guilt. No thoughts of oaths or past sacrifices. Just...the desire to see her face one last time.
Kurama chuckled. "Perhaps you're right."
Rikiji was certainly perceptive, but in his own way, so was Yusuke.
"Of course I am." Yusuke's smile turned into a grin. "I'm the dimwit who saves the day once the bad guy pisses me off." He laughed lightly and moved to return to his other teammates. "I could write a book about how bad an idea that is."
Kurama joined him in laughter, and they returned to their team's side. Kuwabara also asked about Miwa's condition, and Yusuke assured him that she would be fine. Kuwabara grinned optimistically at them and turned back to Toguro's team, and his optimistic grin turned into one of pride.
"They may have stolen a win from us earlier, but at least everyone on our team is alive," he said.
From across the ring, a cold, chilling voice taunted them.
"You just don't get it." The Elder Toguro, still perched on the younger brother's shoulder, stared at them with his usual creepy smile. "Even if by cruel cosmic joke you survive your matches, you forget the champions are each granted a wish."
Kuwabara's hand balled into tight fists. "What do you mean?"
"Once our team wins and mine is awarded, I will wish for the death of all your friends."
The audience cheered for the Elder Toguro's ominous threat. Kurama did not know just how strong the Elder was compared to the Younger, but from what he had been able to observe, the Elder was certainly crueler.
But then, Hiei stepped up.
"Want to know what I'll wish for when we beat them?" he said, grinning right back at that cruel brother. "The bloody death of every member of that corrupt tournament committee, so I'll never be pulled into one of their carnivals again."
But Sakyo, the owner of Team Toguro, chuckled to himself. It seemed that Hiei's wish was preemptively granted.
And the final round continued on.
From Team Toguro, a tall, armored man stepped into the ring, overtaking Elder Toguro's initial stand to fight. Each heavy footstep made the gray armor rattle against its pieces. The armor was spiked at the shoulders, gray like a hardened stone, easily protecting Bui's arms and shoulders. His helmet, donning a skull decoration at his forehead, had an orange piece of fabric covering the sides of his face down to his neck, and two yellow flame-shaped adornments stood out like the horns of a beetle. Like Karasu, Bui also wore a mask over his mouth, but his eyes were shielded in the shadows of his helmet, concealing the entirety of his face.
"Yusuke," Hiei said quietly. "I'd planned on taking the big thug with sunglasses for myself, but after what he did to Genkai, I believe vengeance belongs to you."
Yusuke stared at him, wondering where this declaration came from. "Thank you," was all he could say.
With his signature speed, Hiei seemed to teleport up to the ring. "But this thug will do just as well," he finished, and started walking forward.
Kurama watched carefully as Hiei stood face to face with Bui. The silent, armored fighter literally towered over Hiei, standing at nearly twice his height. Really...Hiei was such a puzzle sometimes. Hiei was the type of man to do whatever he wanted, in whatever way he wanted. But, just like he did in Maze Castle, he decided to entrust the defeat of their greatest foe to Yusuke. And by his words, it sounded as if he were just settling for Bui instead of preparing for a challenge. Kurama glanced at Hiei's hands, which had conspicuously been kept hidden by his cloak and pockets since the finals began. Just how much control had he mastered over the Dragon? Bui had swung around a giant axe like paper during the semi-finals, so he was more than just his tall size. Hiei, on the other hand, could not seem to care less. The way he walked across the ring was seeping with self-confidence. Instead of the impending dread that loomed over Kurama or Miwa's fights, for Hiei, it was replaced with a cautious optimism, like Hiei's confidence was spreading to everyone else. Hiei met eyes with the giant as if it were any other opponent, and not the most dangerous battle he would ever have in this tournament.
{00}
There were no dreams. Just a grey, murky darkness of which Miwa was barely aware.
Was she alive? ...The fact that she even asked that question should be proof enough, but Miwa knew an Afterlife existed, after all.
No...there is pain…
Through the murky grey darkness, Miwa felt the dull sensation of pain grow stronger within her hazy awareness. A pulsating pain that radiated slowly through her dulled senses, as if it wanted her to wake up. Damn, she just had to notice it. In the grey darkness, the pain had felt subdued; she wanted that again. Miwa reached for the darkness, hoping for the pain to go away once more. She wanted to rest. Her whole being felt so tired and exhausted. She'll get up once her strength is back...
But then, Miwa sensed something: Power. Spirit Energy. A rumbling in the earth beneath her fingers of flesh and blood. Danger. There was something dangerous happening around her. Danger...danger… Did she need to flee? With her weak body hindered by pulsating pain, any danger was too much, and her instincts told her to escape for her own safety. Run...run...escape the danger…! The pulsating pain grew stronger, coursing through her body and focusing Miwa's consciousness back on reality. Colors appeared in Miwa's field of vision, slowly overtaking the murky grey darkness like drops of colored dye falling into clear water. ...When did she open her eyes? Fuzzy noises broke their way through her hazy mind, and they slowly sharpened into distinguished sounds and voices. What were these sounds? What were they saying? Destruction...screams...the roar of a terrifying monster… The sharpened sounds helped Miwa build more context of the danger around her. Someone was fighting, and he was getting more and more powerful. Escape...escape...she would not last against someone of this power with her current body. Like the sounds, the colors in Miwa's vision began to sharpen and take shape. Then, Miwa smiled. She knew exactly where she was, and immediately she remembered the power she should have recognized much sooner.
{00}
The Dragon.
How could Hiei have possibly mastered the Dragon of Darkness Flame so quickly? Kurama watched Hiei's battle against Bui with heavy anticipation. With only one hand and a burst of the Mortal Flame, Hiei easily disintegrated the largest, heaviest axe anyone had seen Bui create. The silent warrior finally revealed his voice and his thin, blue-haired appearance under the armor. Bui's true armor was not the heavy pieces he wore, but something he created with his own Spirit Energy. Bui was a proud, powerful fighter, and he yearned for the chance to test his Battle Aura against the might of the Darkness techniques.
Hiei, the type of demon who always rose to meet any challenge, revealed the bandages on his right arm. But the bandages were not the same as before. Instead of just the simple wrap, the white bandages looked tighter than ever, clinging so closely to his skin that it was a wonder blood could still circulate through his system. In addition, circular clasps, seals, and a small bell bound the bandages to his arm, keeping them locked in place. Kurama recognized the bindings immediately. Those bandages were not meant to heal Hiei's wounds. They were meant to hold something back, just like how Bui's armor restrained his overflowing Battle Aura. With just as much confidence as when he first walked into the ring, Hiei slowly, and deliberately, removed the seals on the dreadful power resonating from beneath his bandages.
"This is dangerous…" Kurama said aloud.
"What's dangerous?" Kuwabara asked, and Yusuke and Koenma turned to him anxiously.
Underneath those white bandages, Kurama saw the striking black mark of a dragon branded on Hiei's skin. His instincts were going haywire, warning Kurama that the growing power about to be released was not something he should be near. Hiei barely grasped any control over the Dragon in his first fight against Zeru, resulting in his dominant hand becoming horribly burned and crippled. Against Kuromomotaro, Hiei could only spare another arm by making a weaker version of his attack and offering a broken sword as a vessel. The same tactic would not work against Bui's Battle Aura. An aura restrained by armor to protect an opponent would likely need a similar inundating power to match it in strength, but could Hiei control such a thing? If he couldn't…
A quiet voice spoke up from behind.
"If two powers without their limiters were to clash in the ring, this entire stadium could collapse and kill us all."
Team Urameshi turned around, shocked that an unexpected voice joined their conversation. Miwa was awake, on her feet, and weakly hobbling towards them as she struggled to keep her balance. ...How could she be conscious? Even as she stumbled before them, Kurama could still sense her dwindling Life Energy. The fact that she was conscious, let alone walking, was unbelievable. Did Miwa sense the power of the Dragon, even while unconscious?
But...she didn't have to stand.
Kurama pushed all those thoughts aside and reached out to support Miwa before she fell down. He carefully placed her left arm over his shoulder, supporting her weight and keeping her broken arm safe in its makeshift sling, but Miwa barely even made eye-contact with him. Her attention was focused completely on the fight before them all. Her eyes were wide and bright, burning with an emotion that Kurama realized was difficult for him to name. Was it awe? Admiration? Excitement? ...Affection? Hiei's bandages were completely removed, and the terrifying power of the Dragon of the Darkness Flame radiated from the black mark circling Hiei's arm. Hiei grinned, eager to unleash his newfound power. His confidence overflowed. No matter how destructive this attack could become, Hiei didn't really care. He just knew without a shadow of doubt that he could defeat Bui with this power.
"Once your own doom has been unraveled, I assure you there is no turning back." Hiei said, holding up his arm for the entire stadium to see.
And for a moment, Kurama wondered if Hiei's confidence was a reason Miwa's priorities and attention were beginning to shift, just as Hiei's own demeanor towards them all was slowly changing.
The aura created long, black flames that lashed out at the audience. The heat rising in the air blurred Miwa's vision and stung her skin. The power generated electricity that crumbled the ring and pieces of the stadium wall. Debris fell to the ground and cracks formed in the white arena stone. No longer was it just Bui's Battle Aura that filled the stadium with its presence. The power of the Black Dragon revealed its own presence, making the stadium feel as if something big was standing right next to you, dominating the entire space with its size, but all you could see was energy crackling through the air. This was nothing like when Hiei first released the attack on Zeru. The comparison was just laughable. The first attack turned Zeru's body into an ashen shadow on the wall. This attack…would do far worse than that. Miwa shivered, but she noticed that for a long time now, she had been grinning.
All on his own… Hiei, you're amazing…
"Shouldn't we hide under something?" Kuwabara said, his voice shaking with anticipation.
"Wait, give him his due time," Kurama said, "This could be advantageous after all."
Koenma turned to him. "Hold on. Miwa said it'd kill all of us if he lost control like last time."
"Yes," Kurama said, still staring gravely at the ring. "But it appears in his short training since then, he has learned to master it better."
"Oh, better? That's reassuring, yeah."
Koenma frowned. "Yusuke, shut up."
The very sky above them turned red, and the clouds became black silhouettes in the red sky. Red lightning struck the spot where Hiei stood, giving even more power to his arm. Hiei ran forward, and the dragon tattoo shifted and opened its mouth, as if it were about to come alive. The insane energy concentrated in one place, and with one swift punch, Hiei unleashed the Dragon of the Darkness Flame once more. It's terrifying shriek pierced everyone's ears. It was much larger than the dragon they saw the first time, and the Darkness Flame actually materialized into a dragon with a bright red glow. It barreled forward, grabbing Bui with its giant mouth, and pushed him backwards with ease.
But Bui stopped it.
Hiei easily added more strength to the dragon, and its red glow turned white. The Dragon picked up Bui again and carried him around the stadium, but Bui stubbornly held it's mouth open so it could not bite down. The two powers without limiters were at a stalemate, and it was all a matter of what would give in first. The Dragon took to the sky, and the stadium caved in first. The dragon made a giant hole in the stadium's ceiling, and nearly half of the wall was obliterated. The Dragon took Bui along with it as they travelled outside, and the immense power of the Darkness Flame caused weaker audience members to spontaneously combust. The Dragon crashed Bui into a curved mountain outside, drilling him into the hardened rock. Hiei actually left the ring to watch his work from the hole the dragon created, and Miwa was positive he was smirking proudly to himself. It was impossible for anyone to see Bui from so far away, but all they needed to see was the flash of his Battle Aura's green light. It pushed at the Dragon's mouth, actually diverting its assault. The Dragon turned around, and the first new target in its sight was Hiei. With its large mouth, it returned to the stadium and effortlessly swallowed Hiei up. Miwa yanked herself away from Kurama's grasp, and there was no stumble.
"Hiei!"
Hiei was gone, the Dragon took to the sky again, and it's shriek echoed throughout the island mountains. The bright red glow in the sky disappeared, and the flame that created the dragon was slowly fizzling out. Bui landed back in the ring, alive, well, and laughing.
"What happened?" Kuwabara yelled, frantically looking around as well. "Where's Hiei?!"
Miwa searched the remnants of the stadium, looking for any sign of Hiei's survival. Something about this just...didn't seem right. The flames of the Dragon were fading, but Miwa sensed its power wasn't getting weaker. Carefully, she watched the last remaining flames floating in the sky. The flames were fading, but the power of the Dragon wasn't leaving. Something in that flame was changing...merging.
Miwa clenched her fists. "He's not done yet."
Juri pulled herself out of her terrified stupor and began to make the official call. "Hiei can't compete without a body, so…" She composed herself and gestured towards Bui. "The official winner can only be-"
But she was interrupted. The remnants of Hiei's Darkness Flame clustered together and returned to the ring. It exploded in a flash of light, disrupting the official call, and crash-landed in a cloud of white smoke.
"This brings up my next attack…" said a deep, familiar voice within the smoke, and Hiei's figure slowly became visible in the smoke and light. "It's a little different."
Hiei was alive, unharmed, and smirking. His arm no longer bore the mark of the Dragon, but somehow, it's presence still weighed heavily in the air, as if his smirk was the Dragon itself.
Yusuke grinned. "Now that's cool."
The audience around them thought Hiei was done for. They thought the Dragon was defeated, but they were wrong. They just didn't have the awareness to sense just where all that power had gone. Hiei had managed to do what no one before him had ever done before. He realized the only way to fully master the Dragon of the Darkness Flame and wield its true power was to absorb it into his own body. The giant presence still remaining in the stadium was all emanating from Hiei himself. The entirety of the Darkness Flame was under Hiei's full control, and there was nothing Bui could do to stop it. Hiei's stare only provided a window to the power within, and he brought words to the new reality.
"I have the power of the Black Dragon, because now I am the Dragon."
Bui tried his best to fight back, beating up Hiei's body like it were a rag doll, but all of his desperate punches, kicks, and throws just rolled off Hiei's body, leaving absolutely no damage. It only took a small burst of power for Hiei to blow Bui to the sky, and when Hiei leapt after him, his whole body was momentarily engulfed in energy, embodying the Dragon for the last time. With one punch, Hiei knocked Bui out of the ring, crash-landing like a meteor in the audience stands. Bui did not get up. Juri began the Ten-Count, and Hiei and Bui spoke to each other for a short time. Bui asked to be killed, since he was defeated at his maximum, but Hiei refused, leaving Bui to die by his own hand if he wanted it so desperately. Hiei returned to the ring within the allotted ten seconds, just as smug as ever.
"I don't take orders," he said, "Especially from those I've beat."
The count finished, and with the ring reduced to rubble, Team Urameshi won their second point in the Dark Tournament Finals, breaking the tie and finally putting them in the lead.
Hiei returned to the team, and announced that his attack "expired." The only drawback of wielding the power of the Darkness Flame was the enormous toll it took on Hiei's own energy, and he would need to "hibernate" in order to recover properly. After all that badass destruction and grandeur, Hiei was now wobbling on his feet, and he clearly had trouble just keeping his eyes open. Miwa recognized the similarities to her Extraction technique, and she smiled, knowing exactly what would come next. Hiei pointed at Yusuke and Kuwabara, the only two fighters who remained.
"Listen to me as closely as you can, you two. I'm trusting you against my better instincts only because I have no other choice. Take care of the Toguro brothers. If I wake up and we've lost, I...swear I'll kill...you...all."
Ending with that seemingly baseless threat, Hiei collapsed to the ground with a loud thud. Miwa, Kurama, and Yusuke all started laughing. That was just like Hiei. He would always have the last word, even if he were about to pass out. And something about his peaceful sleeping face just added to the hilarious contrast. The mighty, powerful Wielder of the Dragon finished his battle with the face of a sleeping, innocent child. It just made Miwa smile all the more, but she believed Yusuke and Kuwabara would live up to Hiei's expectations even without his last threat. She wondered if Hiei truly meant his trust in them was against his better instincts. She wondered if Hiei would really leave the brothers to someone whose strength he didn't fully trust. Her past experiences told her otherwise. With the adrenaline of the fight and looming danger of the Dragon gone, Miwa was also beginning to feel the effects of total fatigue on her body, and she suspected she too would soon join Hiei in hibernation.
But most of all, Miwa just felt complete admiration for the amazing strength Hiei managed to acquire all on his own, without relying on anyone else.
Hiei...
{00}
After the complete chaos and destruction of nearly half the entire stadium brought about by the Dragon of Darkness Flame, an extended intermission was announced so the ring from the previous stadium could be flown over as a replacement. Of course, flying over a giant circular piece of stone was no easy task, and there was no way to properly estimate just how long it would take. It could be hours, or it could be days. Team Urameshi moved to one of the locker rooms to wait, and Kuwabara carried Hiei's unconscious body to their new location and laid him on one of the large benches inside. Miwa managed to stumble her way there on her own, refusing Yusuke or Kurama's assistance. She claimed another bench for herself and quickly went to sleep before anyone could stop her. Perhaps being temporarily relieved from the final round would help them all recover their strength, rethink their plans, or just mentally prepare for an inevitable battle.
"Why don't you go enjoy your life for a while? You don't want to have any sickly regrets…"
The Elder Toguro's last words to Kuwabara followed him, bringing along with it only paralyzing fear.
Could they actually win? Or was this brief reprieve their final moments at life? The brothers were the only real fighters left on Team Toguro. The overwhelming threat they posed loomed over Team Urameshi like a dark shadow, but that shadow was cast over Yusuke and Kuwabara ever since they infiltrated Tarukane's compound. What they had to do to survive this tournament weighed more heavily on them than anyone else. But whether it was his heightened Spirit Awareness or the anticipation of fighting the Elder Toguro, Kuwabara had never looked more scared. If he won, then they only needed one more victory from Yusuke to go home. If Kuwabara lost, then at best, assuming Koenma didn't ditch them with his jetpack, Team Urameshi would end the final round with a draw, and there would just be more fighting among those who survived to decide the victor. It was a heavy burden. Koenma had already said any fight he participates in is an instant loss. Kuwabara had no choice. He had to win if their team were to survive this tournament. The girls joined them in the locker room some time after the intermission was announced, but even Shizuru, the one most harsh on Kuwabara, had noticed his fear and relented her spirited pep talk.
Then, as if to add amplify the already tense atmosphere, literal earth-shattering footsteps drew Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Koenma outside. The Younger Toguro had decided to speed up their wait time by carrying the old stadium's ring on his back. No helicopters, no straps to secure its position, and not even any extra hands. Just his large body completely dwarfed by the gigantic arena balancing on his back. Every step he took formed cracks in the dirt and made the ground rhythmically shake. Alone, that monstrous demon carried a stone ring at least twenty times his size without even using his full strength.
Without a doubt, this man was a monster. Could Yusuke really beat him? After that grand spectacle, even Yusuke wasn't too sure anymore.
They were just more afraid.
{00}
Complete unconsciousness turned into deep sleep, but the tension in the air could not be ignored. Even in his sleep, Hiei could sense the apprehension around him, but it wasn't until his strength returned that he could open his eyes. He was inside an unfamiliar room, and by the outside light alone, he could not know how much time had passed. Miwa was sleeping soundly on the bench beside him, and beside her, Kurama was calmly reading a book. Koenma was standing silently behind them both, doing and saying nothing. But, the fox quickly noticed Hiei's return to consciousness and calmly smiled at him.
"Ah, you're finally awake?"
"Where am I? How long have I been out?" Hiei asked, forcing himself to sit up.
"We're in the locker room, and you've been hibernating for a little over six hours."
"Six hours?!" Hiei's eyes widened. He knew time had passed, but that much? "Well, who won the tournament?!"
"I'm afraid I can't answer that one," Kurama answered, "Nothing's changed since you were last up. Yusuke and Kuwabara got bored and went for a walk."
Hiei angrily stood up. "You're not making sense!"
"It's taken time to organize since you leveled half the stadium," Kurama continued, without missing a beat, "I heard they were going to fly in a carrier plane to transport the ring from the old stadium, but Toguro carried it on his back, so we can begin shortly."
"...What?"
Hiei couldn't believe what he had just heard, and Kurama's casual delivery of this information did not make it any better. Even though Hiei could boast that he more or less destroyed the stadium single-handedly, Toguro carrying a full-sized ring on his back was such a blatant display of raw strength that any momentum gained from Hiei's victory would be wiped out in an instant. Just what kind of monster were they facing? He was no man, no demon...just...absolute force given a physical form. Truly, it was insane, but Hiei decided it was not worth his time getting nervous or worried about something like that. He had done his part for the final round. The rest was up to Yusuke and Kuwabara. To more victories, and they would win.
Hiei shifted his attention instead to Miwa, who appeared to just be sleeping peacefully behind Kurama. With Hiei's victory, the tie Miwa created was broken in Team Urameshi's favor. After hibernating for six hours, Hiei was recovered enough to at least stand and walk on his own. Kurama was in a similar state of slowly progressing recovery. But as for Miwa...even six hours later, Hiei could still sense just how weak her energy was. Almost no change since he was last awake. Recovering depleted Life Energy was not as simple as taking a nap, after all.
Koenma, somehow, took the brief silence as a cue for something and said, "Well, if we're starting soon, I'll go find Yusuke and Kuwabara; make sure those two didn't get lost or something."
Then, the tall, teenage ruler of the Spirit World exited the room, and his flashy red cape trailed conspicuously behind him. Hiei was reminded of how ridiculous he thought the whole outfit looked, especially since a jetpack was hiding underneath the cape. But, since Koenma was still doing the team a huge favor by filling in Genkai's place, Hiei couldn't say anything. Not out loud, at least.
Instead, he asked, "So...how is she doing?"
Hiei folded his arms across his chest as he continued standing; he did not want to be sitting anymore if he was out for six hours. Miwa was still asleep, despite their conversation, and it looked as if her arm had received better treatment then a crude fabric sling he saw outside. It was properly bandaged with splints to keep her arm steady, clearly tended to by someone who actually knew what they were doing. Maybe Yukina, or even that blue-haired assistant woman. Any redness or swelling was gone, and Miwa did not look to be in any pain. She just slept there soundly, peacefully, but still undeniably pale and weak.
Kurama smiled and set his book aside. "She will be alright. She's been resting almost as long as you."
"...But she used far more Life Energy than last time."
Kurama's smile faded ever so slightly. "Yes, but she still had the strength to watch you fight."
Hiei remembered seeing Miwa hobbling on her feet during his battle with Bui, even though she had fallen unconscious not too long after her own match. He did not know what had woken her up, or why she felt the need to stand, but he did see her face and that strange expression of excitement and awe. Initially, Hiei had assumed that very early on, Miwa recognized the power of the Black Dragon, but...when he thought back on it now, there was something else there as well, something other than respect for the Dragon. It reminded Hiei of the times Miwa tried to help him in the tournament. Like when she followed him around in the forest, offering to apply salve to his burned right arm, or when she insisted on wrapping his wound from Kuromomotaro. She was so nosy, meddling in other people's business just because she wanted to help. If she focused more on herself, or reorganized her priorities, her battle with Rikiji may have gone more smoothly.
"...She's such a fool."
Kurama chuckled. "She is reckless, without a doubt. But Hiei, you knew she was going to fight without the potion, and you didn't stop her."
Hiei frowned and shoved shoved his hands in his pockets. For a moment, he wasn't sure how to answer that, and Kurama's knowing smile was beginning to piss him off. "I'm just not nosy, like she is," he said, avoiding Kurama's eyes. Kurama's knowing smile did not falter, but he said nothing, and Hiei resisted the urge to punch him.
"I've just received the official word. The ring is now in place and we'll be ready to start in thirty minutes!" Koto's voice echoed excitedly from the loudspeaker. "Please make your way to the seats in an orderly fashion, and Juri, if you can hear this, get over here!"
Hiei had woken up just in time. Their long intermission was finally over, and the next round would soon begin. The remaining fights would be in Yusuke and Kuwabara's hands. Hiei just hoped that the last threat he gave them still held its weight, despite all that happened in the time since then.
"Damn...that speaker is loud," said a quiet, groggy voice.
Kurama and Hiei both turned their attention. Miwa slowly sat up, rubbing her sleepy eyes with her good arm. She stretched her back, paying absolutely no attention to her two friends staring at her cautiously. Hiei honestly did not expect her to be so mobile, not after her frequent tripping during the semifinals after just manipulating a plant. Taking over the fluids in Rikiji's body should have taken an even bigger toll on her. Yet there she was, rising as if from an afternoon nap. Finally, Miwa glanced over at Kurama and Hiei, and she raised an eyebrow at them.
"What is it? If you're worried, I'm totally fine, aside from this stupid thing."
She lifted her wrapped arm up and down just to prove her point, without wincing or showing any signs of pain. Hiei did not know to what extent her arm was healed or treated, but she was trying very hard to prove that she was okay.
Kurama stood up. "Can you walk?" he asked.
"Yeah, no problem."
Miwa swung her legs over the bench and quickly rose to her feet. Hiei rolled his eyes. Yeah, she was definitely fine. That very obvious stumble when she hoisted herself up was no big deal. This fool was perfectly okay. Kurama had held out his arms, just in case she fell again, but she did not even look at them. Miwa was determined to make it outside, all on her own, even though her complexion was ghostly pale, and she was clearly depleted of her energy. How was she even standing? Her and Kurama both. Kurama said something about how he retained some of Youko Kurama's powers, even in his human body. That could explain why he survived his ridiculous suicide attack, but Miwa's powers were supposedly blocked by the seal on her back. As far as Hiei could tell, it was as strong as ever, so how did Miwa retain any of her old powers? What in the world was the Fruit of the Previous Life?
Such a fool...
Hiei scoffed. "Then let's go. I intend to keep my word if those two idiots fail."
Miwa giggled.
They returned to the arena, and Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Koenma were all there waiting. The new ring was in place, the audience members were back in their seats, and Team Toguro stood opposite Team Urameshi, waiting patiently as if nothing was ever wrong. As Koenma was so fond of pointing out, Kuwabara still looked extremely nervous about fighting the Elder Toguro. He was so desperately clinging to the hope that Genkai would magically recover from illness - ignorant of her death as he was - so he would get to fight Sakyo instead. But that fool needed to pull his own weight from now on. They wouldn't get anywhere if they started running away, and since when was Kuwabara that type of fighter? What happened to his ridiculous honor code?
Kuwabara took a final deep breath and walked to the ring. "In case I don't make it, take care of my cat."
Eventually, without Genkai to save his ass, the fool did finally step into the ring. The Elder Toguro jumped down from his brother's tall shoulder and entered the ring. He was such a short, skinny man at roughly half Kuwabara's size. It was hard to believe he could be a fearsome presence in the ring with his muscle-head younger brother standing not too far away. But Hiei knew that there is more to a fighter than his size or their first impressions. It was all about what their abilities brought to the table, and how well they used it against their opponent. Kurama had seen some of the Elder Toguro's skills in the semifinal round, and Kuwabara even faced the brothers once before. Each fighter should know some of the other's skills, at the very least. Utilizing their known skills strategically was Kuwabara's only choice.
But the way either of them handle any sudden surprises, on the other hand, would be critical in deciding this fight.
Kuwabara pulled a hilt with no blade from his pocket and immediately channeled his Spirit Energy inside. It looked nothing like summoning his Spirit Sword. Rather than Kuwabara creating the weapon himself, by the way he moved and grunted, it felt more as if the hilt was taking energy from him to create a weapon of its own. A bright, sparking energy blade burst from the hilt, surrounding Kuwabara with an electrical aura unlike anything they had seen before. It was like his Spirit Sword, but it was doing so much more. The white energy popped and crackled, showing slight hints of color inside its light, and as Kurama noted, the energy actually increased the offensive and defensive abilities of Kuwabara's entire body.
Without a doubt, another strange item from that ridiculous clown had come into play. Hiei was certainly impressed with the boost it gave, but he trained Kuwabara in that bamboo forest for two months. True, the human boy improved a lot just within the week of the tournament, but for a long time, the Toguro name was like an ominous shadow hanging over the apparitions in the Living World. Respected for their strength, but also feared because of it. When Hiei first sensed their presence back in Tarukane's compound, even he had to take a fearful step back.
It would take more than just a fancy tool for Kuwabara to win. If Kuwabara wasn't smart about this, he would still be killed.
{00}
It was through a horrible, grotesque puppet show that Kuwabara learned the truth about Genkai.
Elder Toguro demonstrated the ability to contort his body to not just extend his appendages, but he could also create accurate likenesses of himself or other people with his skin. He created a puppet of himself to dodge an attack, and then later of Genkai, exposing the circumstances of her death that no one had yet been able to put into words. He stole Kuwabara's Trial Sword and strung together an awful, twisted story, blaming Genkai's death on herself due to some ridiculous jealousy over the Younger Toguro's strength. His sadistic puppet show pierced the likeness of Genkai with his own fingers, and the blood running from the fake Genkai's mouth was all too real for Kuwabara. Elder Toguro taunted him, blaming the other members of Team Urameshi for keeping secrets from Kuwabara, and while his teasing words were hurtful and cruel, he wasn't wrong either. All of them knew, through whatever means of their own, everyone knew about Genkai, and no one told Kuwabara.
So, he had to find out from the elder brother of her murderer, and see her likeness bleed with his own eyes.
Tears fell without reservation, leaving small puddles of salted water on the newly-replaced ring. Kuwabara's Spirit Energy grew, building stronger with every surge of emotion he felt in his grief. He threatened to kill Elder Toguro, called him honorless, and any fear he felt before going into this fight was replaced with rage. The Elder Toguro, unafraid of Kuwabara's new strength, formed his hand into a drill and extended it towards Kuwabara's chest, intending to impale him straight through the heart. However, to everyone's surprise, the deadly strike was blocked by nothing but Kuwabara's energy.
"What's happening here?!" Elder Toguro exclaimed, and finally a waiver of emotion infiltrated his otherwise sinister voice. "I can't pierce your skin!"
Miwa's eyes widened. Kuwabara was often made fun of by his teammates. He could be foolish, inexperienced, and even pitiful. Of their entire team, he had lost the most fights in this tournament. But Miwa knew ever since they infiltrated Maze Castle that there was much more to Kuwabara than all of that. Kuwabara was a man who would always rise to the occasion when the moment really mattered. The one who would never back down if people were truly depending on him to follow through. Even with his fear, he stepped into the ring to fight a most fearful enemy, so he might be the bravest fighter of them all. His resolve to take vengeance for Genkai strengthened his body, and his spirit, allowing him to stand tall without fear and take the brunt of Elder Toguro's attack, and his white jacket did not even tear.
"You have no soul," he said, "You're just a...nasty little waste of space!"
Even without the Trial Sword in his hands, Kuwabara was never truly weaponless. He thrust his hand forward, and hundreds of orange blades erupted from his palm. He created small versions of his Spirit Sword, spraying them out in all directions so Elder Toguro would have nowhere to escape. If Elder Toguro could manipulate his internal organs to avoid a mortal wound, then it was best to hit him in as many places as possible. Elder Toguro was taken aback by this never-before-seen skill, and his dismembered body flew backwards and landed in a pool of his own blood and torn limbs. His body and its parts lay still, unmoving, and Juri began the official count.
Unfortunately, Elder Toguro wasn't out just yet.
Thick threads of red muscles and tissue reached out from the stumps and intertwined, reconnecting the dismembered limbs once more. The threads of his clothes weaved together the rips and tears. Even his blood began to recede back to his body. His freakish body could only be killed if his heart or brain were struck. But, as a monster that could freely move his internal organs wherever he pleased, killing him seemed next to impossible. He stretched out his long fingers and captured both of Kuwabara's arms and legs, lifting him into the air like a sadistic, human kite. Elder Toguro pulled back his hand to slam Kuwabara into the ground, using his fingers to keep the boy held down against the concrete. With his free hand, Elder Toguro formed a giant blade, making jokes about becoming a surgeon and intending to kill Kuwabara once and for all with one swift stroke.
Was this man really once a human? Miwa asked herself.
Of all the demons in this tournament, none were as cruel or maniacal as Elder Toguro. Demons were known for their aggression, their bloodthirsty nature, or how strong they were in battle. Humans, on the other hand, were known to be weaker, even foolish creatures, with a curious potential to be either overly kind or evil incarnate. Was Elder Toguro, who was once a human, always this cruel? Even as a human? Or did his fake, manufactured demon body given to him by the tournament committee twist him to be the most horrifying contestant in this stadium?
Can Kuwabara really win against a monster like this?
However, Kuwabara wasn't ready to give up. He reached out his hand towards the discarded Trial Sword hilt. That same white, electric energy from before jolted across the ground, finally connecting Kuwabara with his new weapon. Without it even touching his hand, Kuwabara held the sword in the air and sliced Elder Toguro's body into pieces once again. The dismembered limbs fell to the ground with a wet plop, and the Trial Sword continued its journey through the air, back into Kuwabara's hands. Unfortunately, just like before, it wasn't enough to defeat Elder Toguro. Kuwabara did not hit any vital organs this time either, so the separated limbs just stitched themselves back together with ease.
But Kuwabara's resolve did not waiver. The Trial Sword in his hand, which until then glowed with white electric light, morphed and changed both shape and color, as if it were responding to a new idea. The white light turned into a deep purple, and the blade spread itself wider into a flat, purple disk.
"I thought about what you said before, Toguro," Kuwabara said, holding up his new weapon. "And you're right, I got no way of knowing where your vital organs are hiding. So I'll just pound everything all at once."
Then, with one swing, Kuwabara brought down his Spirit Flyswatter down on Elder Toguro's entire body. The impact caused an explosion of dust, debris, and purple light. There was a small crater left behind, but Elder Toguro's body was nowhere to be seen. His energy signature was nowhere to be found. The Trial Sword turned into a weapon that could strike everywhere, and the internal organs had nowhere to hide. It was the one method that could defeat Elder Toguro, and Kuwabara came through.
Juri called the fight. Kuwabara was the winner of the fourth round of the final match, lengthening their lead against Team Toguro with three wins and one loss. One more win would clinch their team's victory.
Kuwabara returned to his team's side, and Yusuke excitedly went up to meet him. "It's about time you won a fight! That was awesome."
Kuwabara approached Yusuke, but he did not say anything.
"You alright there, man?" Yusuke asked, but his only answer was a hard punch to the face. Yusuke stumbled back, not even trying to dodge, and a distinct red mark formed on his cheek. "What was that for?"
"I thought that we were a team, but I guess I'm just one big joke to you all, aren't I?" Kuwabara said, and in his eyes burned an anger none of them had ever seen before. Like the eyes of a man who felt betrayed. "Well, this joke has feelings! Genkai meant a lot to me, too!"
He continued yelling. He was angry, as he very well should be. He wanted to know if any of his so-called teammates were laughing behind his back every time he brought Genkai's "illness." Every time he, the only one ignorant of what went on outside the stadium, was left out of such crucial information. Were they looking down on him? Did they think he couldn't handle it? Did they think he would run away in fear when he heard one of their strongest members was killed by Toguro?!
"Answer me!"
Kuwabara reached out to grab Yusuke's collar, but a pale hand appeared before him and purposely blocked his way. A smaller, weaker body hobbled between him and Yusuke, but her determination to stop him from hurting Yusuke was far from weak.
"Get outta the way, Miwa. I don't wanna hit a girl." Her bandaged arm caught his eye.
"Yeah, I know." She was doing it on purpose. The little snake...
Kurama slowly approached them from behind Yusuke. "Kuwabara, listen."
"Ugh," Kuwabara grimaced. Everybody and their distractions. "This doesn't concern you!"
"Yusuke did not tell Miwa, Hiei, or me either. We were left to detect her passing for ourselves."
Kuwabara recoiled. The tension in his arms and shoulders left his body and he relaxed ever so slightly. Miwa could see that his feelings of betrayal were subsiding, and she slowly stepped away, leaving the two boys to talk out what had happened that day in the forest. Kuwabara's anger was abating, but the hurt was still there. "Is this true?" he asked. Not being told about Genkai was one thing, but being the only one who failed to sense it was another.
"...I didn't tell anybody," Yusuke answered quietly, staring at the ground. "...She died in my arms."
Yusuke was the only one who saw what happened that day. But at that first admission of her death, it was clear Yusuke was swimming in memories of the day Genkai died. It was hard for him to say out loud. That's why he never did. If he never said it, if he never put into words what happened then maybe by some stupid miracle, it would actually be true. She could just...appear again, calling him a dimwit and smack him on the head one more time. After all, he came back once, right? Death wasn't always permanent, but this time...this time it was. It was unfair for Kuwabara to find out the way he did. It's terrible to receive such news from a hated, loathsome enemy. And it's terrible to think your friends were laughing at you behind your back. Genkai was gone. Killed by the man Yusuke would have to fight next, but keeping quiet was the only way he could cope. Yusuke apologized in one of his rare moments of humility, and walked to the ring. Toguro was waiting.
"Urameshi."
Yusuke stopped, and the two friends stood with their backs to each other. They understood, even without seeing.
"Win this."
"...Right."
Win this, and they could finally go home.
Notes: Two fights in one chapter. The Dark Tournament is coming to a close. I did consider whether Miwa would be unconscious for the rest of the finals after using her Extraction technique, but I feel like doing that is just lazy, and Hiei and Yusuke's fights would be good for her development, so I just couldn't leave her out. And if she were in the actual canon, I'm sure there would have been some crazy reason she could continue observing the fights. But she is definitely in worse shape than Kurama, even though they ended their fights with similar methods, so I hope her little nap is enough to offset her continued consciousness (Kurama and Yusuke's talk was originally going to take place during her nap, but I realized that it wouldn't work with the others in the room).