Chapter 30: When Fear Knocks, Let Resolve Answer the Door
Before he even realized it, Shirai was dividing the competitors into two categories: the ones who interested him and the ones he wanted to continue forward. The latter may have been small in number, consisting only of Lord Yomi and Miwa, but he found great joy in watching the former too. The warriors Kurama gathered for Gandara were all very interesting, even in their failures.
Rinku was the first to fall, having lost in the first round to a cute girl named Sasuga, but with the way he persistently chased after her like a lovesick teenager, no one around him likened his loss to their own. The rest of the warriors began to fall in the second round. Suzuki and Shishiwakamaru sadly just had no chance of beating their opponents. Shishiwakamaru even had the misfortune to be put against Hokushin, the second strongest fighter from Raizen's country. Of course, no one could say they didn't put up a good fight. Jin and Touya especially fought well and hard against two of Raizen's old friends. Jin fought against a demon called Souketsu, a fighter with dark blond hair and two horns that protruded from under his maroon hat. The fight began evenly matched with each fighter trading blows, and Jin flew about the sky as cheerfully as expected. Souketsu was simply the stronger fighter, but Jin didn't give up. He kept fighting, giving it everything he had until he fell unconscious while standing upright.
The crowd went wild at the time, Shirai remembered. An unconscious fighter still on his feet; someone like that would have been easy for Souketsu to finish off. The bloodlust of the demon audience practically demanded it, but then the unexpected happened. Souketsu slung Jin's arm over his shoulder and helped him leave the arena, leaving the referees no choice but to declare him the victor.
The same thing happened with Touya. He fought against Kujou, the twin brother of Natsume, the woman to whom Chuu surrendered in the preliminaries. Touya started the fight with the upper hand by freezing Kujou's feet in place, draining his energy bit by bit. It took a lot of effort for Kujou to break himself out, and as things turned out, he was so powerful that draining his energy just put him and Touya on the same level. Still, they both fought valiantly, and Touya eventually lost consciousness atop the lake he had frozen. The power displayed in the fight left cracks in the ice, and after Touya fell, the ice around him began to break. Giant chunks formed, shifting and tipping to the side, and Touya would have fallen into the rough waters if Kujou hadn't saved him.
Again, the demon audience jeered, anxious for more blood that would never come. Not from these fights. There were fighters who gave the audience their desired bloodshed, but something about the stronger ones brought out something else. A sense of sportsmanship and mutual respect for their opponent that was extraordinary in tournaments like this, even more so between strangers.
Was this because of Yusuke Urameshi? Could his speech at the beginning have had such an impact on these fights? Shirai had yet to find a category for that strange boy. There were other demons at the tournament that fell into neither category, but to Shirai they may as well have been air. A secret third category whose existence was merely a byproduct of the first two. Those demons were uninteresting, inconsequential to the future of Demon World. Yusuke Urameshi was…neither of those things. He would be up against Yomi in the third round, and that matchup garnered a lot of attention from the spectators. Two former lords of the Demon World face to face, and no matter what, one major contender of the entire tournament would fall. It was the early matchup many demons had been waiting for since the tournament was announced.
To Shirai, Yomi was someone he wanted to continue forward. Yusuke was…yet to be determined.
Meanwhile, Kurama and Miwa cleared the first two rounds with little trouble. They were fortunate enough to be put against opponents that were far below their level. In a sense, fate may have been extremely kind. Or at least, that was Shirai's opinion. Even though Kurama seemed rather reluctant to fight her, neither would have been happy if one of them had been tired out from a previous match before theirs could even begin. It wasn't quite as popular as the battle between Yusuke and Yomi, but Shirai still heard speculation here and there about the eventual battle between former partners in crime. Some thought that there was no way Kurama could possibly lose to the girl who had served him for so long, but those who watched the Dark Tournament remembered what happened to Rikiji. A power like that had the potential to defeat anyone, they'd say.
Shirai laughed to himself when he heard it, and he looked down at his gloved hands. The same was true for his own power. No matter how much time passed, that kind of talk would never cease. Not for her, and not for himself. Wherever he walked, there was always at least one demon that stopped to look at his hands. Yes, the gloves were still there. They didn't need to worry about accidentally brushing against him. Perhaps this was deserved since he so blatantly showed off this power in the preliminaries, but old whispers like that had become a distant memory after he began working for Gandara, and hearing them again, no matter how expected, was not exactly pleasant.
In all his life, Miwa and Yomi were the only ones who had ever willingly offered their bare hands to his own.
He stepped into the elevator that would take him to the top of the Okunenju. This wasn't time to ponder on things he couldn't control. Before any of the highly anticipated matches could begin, Shirai first had to finish his own. And for the second round of the tournament, he would fight against another person who placed into his "interesting" category. Did Shirai even have a chance of winning? He wasn't exactly sure, his thinking leaning more towards it being unlikely. But no matter what, he would enjoy this fight. Winning wasn't the only way for him to walk away satisfied. When Shirai stepped off the elevator, the "interesting" person was already there, and the sight made him smile.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Hiei."
{00}
Yusuke wandered into one of the smaller viewing rooms without much thought. Merely hoping for a spot to watch the next fight, but he was surprised to see Miwa there. The tournament facilities were so big that coming across a friendly face without planning ahead felt like a miracle at times. Miwa stood away from the main cluster of demons crowding around the screen, staring intently at the broadcast footage as if she were searching for hidden codes or something. She was focusing so hard that she didn't notice Yusuke calling out to her until he tapped her shoulder. The simple touch made her entire body jolt, and Yusuke felt a small pang of guilt.
"You okay?"
She glanced around the room a couple times before focusing on Yusuke, embarrassed for being so lost in her own head and tried to laugh it off. "I'm fine, just…thinking about this match, I guess." Miwa pointed to the screen, and the camera followed Hiei and Shirai as they made their way to the starting locations while Koto and Youda's commentary explained their individual accolades and achievements. "This isn't something I ever thought I'd see."
"You worried about your friend or somethin'?" Yusuke asked, huffing playfully. "His name's Shirai, right? He seems pretty tough."
Miwa blinked, suddenly realizing that she hadn't yet told Yusuke anything about what's been going on with her this past year. Keeping Kuwabara and Hiei in the loop when she saw them made it feel as if everyone around her already knew, but back when Yusuke proposed the tournament, she had set the topic aside to focus on their reunion. It didn't feel like the right time to drop all that on him, and in front of all the warriors, no less. "Did you see him fight in the preliminaries?" Miwa asked. "The whole group ended up afraid of him."
"Yeah, that was pretty crazy." Yusuke had seen him talking to Miwa out by the main stage, but he didn't learn the guy's name until he watched the preliminary fight. Yusuke and Shirai didn't meet during his short visit to Gandara a few months before, but by another miracle chance, Yusuke ran into a certain redhead not too long ago and heard the basics from him. At first, he was just curious about the guy from Gandara Hiei would be fighting, but Yusuke ended up learning so much more. "I heard you two knew each other before you even met Kurama."
"Yeah, he helped me out after my parents died, and it's thanks to him that I learned how to fight." She paused, wondering if this would be the best time to explain things properly, but the commentary over the loudspeakers started riling up the audience for the next fight. So instead, she said, "I'll tell you about it soon, Yusuke, but let's just say that I would be in a very different place right now if it weren't for him."
"Sure, I love a good backstory."
The many meanings in her words were completely lost on Yusuke, but his casualness was strangely fascinating. She didn't know how much he knew, but the lack of any scrutiny surrounding her old life seemed unusual after all this time. Would Yusuke be concerned, as Kurama was, when he found out? Or would he be encouraging, like Kuwabara? Miwa honestly didn't know, nor did she know which she would prefer.
"The next match from D-Block is about to begin!" Koto announced from her broadcasting booth. "Hiei versus Shirai!"
On screen, the two men were standing opposite each other on an empty field, the place where their battle would begin. Hiei stood in a near slouch, looking bored despite the sheathed sword in his hand. Shirai meanwhile appeared almost regal by maintaining his usual good posture and thin smile. Hiei drew his sword and tossed away the sheath, sinking low into an opening position. Shirai reciprocated by pulling his long bone needles from a small pouch strapped to his thigh, locking them between his gloved fingers.
"You're not going to remove those?" Hiei asked, staring at Shirai's hands. "Or do you think you can defeat me without your special trick?"
"In due time," Shirai said, his teeth showing a bit more in his smile. His gaze slid over to Hiei's bandages, but then he just as quickly looked away. "I hope to learn a lot from you in this battle."
Hiei scoffed. "Then you'd better pay attention."
In an instant, Hiei halved the distance between them and readied his sword, but Shirai predicted this and raised his bone needles. They collided with the blade in a loud clack and Shirai diverted the sword's momentum enough to sidestep to safety. When Shirai retaliated with a strike of his own, throwing out his fist of needles like a clawed beast, Hiei blocked it just as easily. They exchanged many blows this way, jumping across the empty field as if testing each other. Neither of them was scathed or out of breath, no chips or notches formed in either of their weapons. Perhaps they were waiting for the other to show the first sign of weakness.
"Those're some tough bones," Yusuke snickered, "Hiei's chopped off entire arms with that sword."
"They're not just bones," Miwa said mysteriously.
"I love it!" Koto screamed into her microphone. "Blow by blow, weapons clashing, and neither side backing down!"
The field echoed with the sounds of their clashing weapons, each impact slowing them down just enough for Hiei's sword to flash in the sun, revealing their location to the less-perceptive viewers.
"Are you afraid of my hands, Hiei?" Shirai suddenly asked. His question was calm and in control, as if he were sitting with a cup of tea instead of leaping about to keep pace with Hiei. "Is that why you insist on using your blade?"
Hiei scoffed again. "Big talk coming from the guy who still has his gloves on. What do you expect to learn from fighting this way?"
"I've already learned plenty. Focusing only on me will not keep your memory safe. It just gives me more of what I want."
Then, to everyone's surprise, Hiei was the first to back down. Instead of continuing his assault, he lowered his sword and put distance between them. …So, it was true. Kurama warned him that avoiding Shirai's hands might not be enough. "And what exactly do you want?"
Shirai showed his usual thin smile, which Hiei was beginning to find irritating. "You are an interesting person, Hiei. I am simply curious about those who became pillars in the life of our mutual friend."
Hiei narrowed his eyes, not liking being referred to as a "pillar," but he had a feeling this would've come up eventually. "Hmph. What friend? Everyone in this tournament is my enemy. You, her, everyone."
"...Is that so?" Shirai gathered his bone needles in his palm, and his thin smile showed that he was not convinced. "Then you would fight her just as earnestly as you would me?"
"More, probably," Hiei snapped, "I don't like being taken lightly because we happen to know the same snake. So, take off your gloves and show me what you can really do."
Shirai's thin smile vanished in an instant, the first falter in his composure. But slowly, eerily, that thin smile crept its way back. It was rare for someone to demand his gloves be removed, and a nostalgic excitement welled up. Indeed, Hiei was a very interesting person. Fearless. His confidence towed the line of arrogance. Shirai tucked the bone needles in his elbow and slowly pulled off his gloves. With his hands free, he gathered them back in his palm. "Very well."
For a moment, Shirai's scar was clearly visible. A pink splash of skin spread across the back of his right hand. Hiei had first seen it during the preliminaries, and the implications were clear. Perhaps a fearful enemy's knife was that scar's origin, or a multi-pronged tool that lashed across the surface of his skin. Or perhaps it was self-inflicted? The scar was old, maybe representing a significant moment in Shirai's life, but a scar was all it was. Hiei frowned, curling the fingers on his right hand, feeling the bandages slide against his own skin. At least this was meant to hold back something powerful, something living. Those black gloves held no purpose but to hide, to ease the minds of others.
Shirai's palm closed into a fist, and maroon smoke erupted from the needles, bleeding through his fingers like steam escaping a closed pot. It split itself in the air, branching off into three different directions and looking remarkably like Miwa's water streams until they began to take shape. A head, shoulders, legs; entire bodies were forming in the translucent smoke. There were no faces, no distinguishing features between the three shapes. Hiei couldn't even tell if they were male or female. Just smokey silhouettes appearing before him with only small indentations where their eyes should be. One body, the one closest to Hiei, raised a hand, and a broadsword made of the maroon smoke appeared in its grip. The others materialized a battle ax and a halberd.
"Woah, this is something new," Koto said, "Shirai has summoned smoke warriors to fight on his behalf!"
"They are Phantom Memories," Youda clarified with a smug chuckle. "Here, Shirai is using them to, in a sense, bring back the dead."
Yusuke, thinking this was like something from a horror movie, turned to Miwa and asked, "So wait, those guys were real people?"
Miwa nodded. "They were soldiers who died in battle over a thousand years ago, and their determination to keep fighting imprinted onto their bones."
"Then, they're like ghosts?" Yusuke had never seen a ghost before, other than the time he was one.
"Not quite, but similar. More like a fleeting remnant of consciousness. For these guys, only their desire to fight was left behind, so they have no face." She pointed at the screen, and the camera zoomed in on those hollow indentations that were supposed to be eyes. "But like this, they can fulfill their desire to continue fighting, even if they don't remember why."
Yusuke suppressed a chill as he stared at those sunken eyes. He had already died twice. The thought of something like this remaining was a bit creepy.
The broadsword phantom was the first to act. It sped across the field, weapon at the ready, and the other two phantoms followed. A strange screech made Hiei's ears ring, and he realized that it was their mouthless screams. Their legs moved in what should be a run, but their feet never touched the ground. Instead, they glided over the dirt, moving faster than those legs could have ever carried them in life. Hiei, to his credit, was still faster, and he easily dodged their assault. His instincts screamed at him to not get touched by those things, but he hated how it felt like he was running away. Still, he swung his sword, and as expected, the blade passed right through their smoky bodies. The battle ax missed its mark, passing by Hiei's shoulder with mere inches separating them. But when it hit the ground, there was an undeniable thump, like the sound of a bouncing ball. Those creatures could be solid, at least in certain circumstances.
"Do you like them, Hiei?"
Hiei's attention snapped up. That voice did not come from where Shirai was standing before; it was behind him. Hiei tensed, ready to strike back, but it was too late. Two fingers gently touched the back of his neck. An image…no, a memory flashed across Hiei's mind, brought to the surface through the warmth of those fingers. He - or his memory of himself - was standing on the roof of a building in the Human World, boredly looking over the bustling city. Miwa stood behind him, explaining her most recent discoveries about the security guarding the Artifacts of Darkness.
"At this point," his memory of Miwa said, "all you have to do is choose a day, and we can break in easily."
Hiei smirked, in a good enough mood to feel grateful for the skills of Kurama's follower. "Then bring the others here," he said, "We'll begin tonight."
He expected her to leave; she was so diligently prompt. But that day she had lingered. "What are you going to do with your demon army?" she asked. "Your Jagan can already control humans."
Hiei, still in a good mood, did not even mind the question that was none of her business. "Whatever I want, and I won't let anyone stand in my way."
A third finger brushed against Hiei's neck, adding to that strange warmth, and Hiei leapt away. Without direct contact, the memory of that day faded from the forefront of Hiei's mind, and he turned around to see Shirai standing there, his thin smile very playful. There was only contact for an instant, but the warm tickle of those fingers still lingered, and Hiei reprimanded himself for not wearing his cloak to this fight. His sleeveless black shirt left him very vulnerable to those hands, but then he forced that idea away. The thought alone was cowardly.
"Fascinating," Shirai said whimsically. The phantoms stood still, waiting for their next command. "I think I'm beginning to understand."
Hiei failed to see the significance of that day. "Understand what?"
"Why you were able to do something I never could."
The phantoms attacked again, and Hiei was forced to run away. They gave chase with their eerie screams. Hiei did not yet know if their solidity was freely controlled or it was only for their attacks, but the flat side of the broadsword bumped against Hiei's elbow. In that moment, at least, the broadsword was solid, and a dull pain radiated from where it struck, but that wasn't all. There was no blood or wound, but the skin that made contact stung as if it were burned. Hiei only slowed for a moment to confirm the damage, but then the three phantoms rushed him at once, arms outstretched as if reaching for an embrace. They got close, their smoky bodies covering his entire field of vision, overtaking him completely. Hiei winced, feeling the burning sting all over his skin as their non corporeal bodies enveloped his own. His eyes were closed for less than a second, but the moment he opened them, the phantoms were gone. Shirai stood in their place, still showing that creepy smile, and then two pale hands gripped Hiei's exposed shoulders.
The warm tickle of his power cut through the burning sting from his phantoms. Memories once again rose to the forefront of Hiei's mind, but unlike before, they changed from one memory to the next at incredible speed. The shikigami bird, fighting with Miwa in the Demon World forest, the boy with the Erase power, their many battles in the Dark Tournament, every memory of her. Even Hiei, who experienced those moments himself, hardly had enough time to grasp a memory's significance before it moved on. Maze Castle, the Spirit World Vault, and their fight against Yatsude…
What was Shirai looking for? He could see the same events in Miwa's head; that idiot snake would probably let him look. What did Shirai think Hiei had done?
Then, the rapid search changed course and slowed into focus. Once more, Hiei's mind swam with memories of Maze Castle and its damp stone corridors. Through the eyes of his own memory, Hiei watched as he, Yusuke, and the others walked past those cold walls, wary of potential traps or their next enemy. From sight alone, Hiei knew what moment Shirai was focusing on. This was not long after Byakko had fallen into the lava of his lair. He, Miwa, and Kurama pulled ahead of Yusuke and Kuwabara while talking about Byakko's Tiger Scream, but eventually Kurama fell behind.
"If he used his energy to destabilize molecular bonds, then…" the Miwa of his memory was saying, but Hiei knew. This was the moment his attention diverted behind him, to Yusuke's and Kuwabara's ridiculous ramblings.
He didn't intend to lose focus on what Miwa was saying. He simply overheard Yusuke mention the Spirit World Vault. If those two idiots didn't want to be heard, they severely underestimated a demon's hearing. Miwa did not seem to notice; she was wrapped up in her own thoughts about the Tiger Scream, and Hiei did not turn his head to look back at the others. For all she knew, he was still listening to her. And he was, but that didn't mean he couldn't hear what was being said behind him.
"And about your earlier question," Kurama was saying, "there is someone else that Miwa likes."
A brief silence, but Hiei knew that Kurama silently pointed him out. The motion did not go unseen by his Jagan Eye. Then Yusuke and Kuwabara both started shouting, and Miwa finally noticed them. Kuwabara opened his mouth to scream, "Why would she like an arrogant shri-"
And that was when Miwa intervened, shutting all of them up. Hiei continued looking forward, pretending he didn't know they were talking about him. It was simpler to ignore them rather than getting dragged into their idiocy. And for a time, that was the most thought Hiei put into that moment. He would have forgotten it completely, but the subject came up again while listening to Kuwabara's silly rants about love while attempting to rescue Yukina. That was when Hiei began to wonder what it really meant for someone like Miwa, sworn to follow another, possibly feeling similar things for him.
Hiei sensed Shirai's power following the same thought process, trying to access the memories that would follow this path, and Hiei knew where it wanted to go. A newfound rage surged within him. When Hiei watched Shirai fight in the preliminaries, he thought Shirai wiping his mind into a blank slate was the main threat, like those demons that stood around as useless as lumps of flesh. But becoming a blank slate or having memories erased wasn't what Hiei wanted to avoid the most. He knew now. It was this. This invasive search, to have anything in his mind at risk of being seen and known by an unwanted third party.
Hiei twisted himself free of those intrusive hands, and his bandaged right fist collided with Shirai's torso in one powerful punch. Shirai's body folded around his arm, and then it launched out of sight, trailing a large dirt cloud behind him the moment he hit the ground. The phantoms reacted immediately, either by instinct or by command, and raced towards Hiei again. Annoyed, he ripped the headband off his forehead and opened the Jagan Eye. It glowed bright, and for a second, the halberd phantom turned its eyeless face towards it, as if it were seeing the Jagan. Hiei's Demon Energy burst to life, engulfing his body like bright flames. As the phantoms got closer, his energy reached out to meet them, and they vaporized immediately on contact. Their maroon forms dissolved away, leaving behind only the faint echo of their mouthless screams.
"Wow!" Koto exclaimed. "Hiei's finally gained the upper hand, landing hits on both Shirai and his Memory Phantoms!"
Satisfied, Hiei righted his posture and confirmed that his sword was still within reach. His Jagan Eye could see. Off in the distance, Shirai was neither unconscious nor incapable of fighting. By the time Hiei's eye landed on him, Shirai already stood up and dusted off dirt from his clothes. There was a noticeable smudge and tear in his green tunic where Hiei had punched him, and streaks of grass stains and dirt sullied the rest of his clothes, but Shirai was ultimately unharmed. He reached down to the small pouch strapped to his thigh and pulled out one more needle. This one, also made of bone, was much longer than the last, longer than Shirai's whole hand. He held it up before him, not even keeping an eye out for Hiei's next counterattack. He just stared at this new bone needle, without a frown or smile, contemplating thoughts only he knew.
"Oh…" Miwa trailed off.
"What?" Yusuke asked. "Something wrong?"
Miwa shook her head. "It's just…I didn't think he would use that needle here."
"I'm not sure I like your tone there, Miwa…"
Hiei, on the other hand, didn't want to waste any more time. The sooner he ended this guy's weird game, the better. His signature speed closed him in on Shirai in mere seconds, sword raised and Jagan Eye aglow. Still in mid-leap, Hiei swung his sword down, and he saw Shirai's eyes turn upward, but that was all. The man didn't even turn his head as he raised his longer needle to block Hiei's sword. Shirai's grip changed from before, holding the needle's end like a dagger instead of between his fingers, and from the mere contact through his sword, Hiei sensed something different about this new weapon.
"I have seen inside your mind, Hiei," Shirai said, and he wasn't smiling anymore. "It's only fair if I show you something from mine."
His grip around the longer bone needle tightened, and more maroon smoke erupted from between his fingers. The force threw Hiei and his sword backward, covering the exposed skin of his left arm with that burning sting. But it was only when Hiei landed on his feet that he realized something was different. Instead of enveloping him like those faceless phantoms, this new smoke pushed him back. It had substance. Like before, the smoke slowly took shape, taking on a full-bodied form. But it did not stop at the vague silhouette of a torso or eyeless faces. More and more, details formed on the phantom body. Wide muscular shoulders, pointed claws on thick fingers, a sharp contoured jawline. This new phantom was still maroon in color, but it held a more defined identity than the ones Hiei had dispersed. This one had eyes. There were no irises or pupils visible in the phantom's form, but its eyes glowed a sickly green. Then, a morning star formed in the phantom's hand, and even the weapon's details were distinct. Instead of the typical metal spikes one would expect, this demon had forged his morning star with pointed teeth as spikes. Hiei didn't like how a weapon formed from smoke looked so sharp.
"His name is Sekkon," said Shirai. "He and I met a long time ago, and well…" He held up his right hand and tapped his scar with one finger. "We had a disagreement."
The Phantom Sekkon lifted his morning star and slammed it into the ground. It cracked the dirt surface and kicked up rocks into the air. And Hiei saw something that, until that moment, he didn't realize was missing from the previous phantoms. Sekkon's phantom cast a shadow. Hiei was right; right about two things. This phantom was completely solid, and someone did give Shirai that scar. He could imagine that morning star coming down on Shirai's hand, just like on that dirt, ripping flesh with the sharpened teeth and crushing finger bones under its weight.
"He is perfect. Memory given physical form." There was that thin smile again. "And completely under my command."
Yusuke stared open-mouthed at the viewing screen. "He carries the bone of the guy who scarred his hand?"
"Not just the bone," Miwa said slowly. "He transferred all of Sekkon's memories onto it."
"...All of them?"
"All of them. That's why there's so much detail."
Miwa sighed. In all her time knowing Shirai, she had only seen Sekkon's phantom several times. The first time was after she had already left her tribe, and it was just a demonstration for her. The other rare occasions were when someone raised some kind of fuss about Shirai's ability. Then, the phantom would appear to show exactly what happened to those who gave trouble about his hands. Miwa had never questioned the reasoning behind creating this memento either, or at least not in the way Yusuke did. But maybe after everything Miwa went through over the past year, she now wondered if this needle was Shirai's own "anchor." Sekkon was the reason Shirai began wearing his black leather gloves.
On screen, Hiei dodged morning star swings left and right. Each strike showed its physical weight through the stride and balance of the phantom, and more dirt chunks flew into the air every time it hit the ground. The bright green of its eyes seemed to leave a trail behind it as they moved. It was so different from the earlier phantoms, except for that same high-pitched scream. But rather than letting his perfect creation fight on his behalf, Shirai was right there alongside the Phantom Sekkon, one hand holding Sekkon's needle like a dagger and the other grasping for any part of Hiei's exposed skin. Hiei managed to dodge them both thanks to his speed and sword, but this charade was quickly becoming tiresome, and he didn't like how often he was on the defensive. This wasn't a fight; Shirai was only toying with him to play out some weird investigation. Hiei needed to finish this once and for all.
A well-timed punch from Hiei's bandaged hand was enough to force Shirai to retreat, giving him a brief window to face Phantom Sekkon one-on-one. Hiei paused, waiting for the morning star to end its swing, and he thrust his sword across Sekkon's stomach. The force of the blade colliding with a solid mass made Hiei's arms stiffen, but to his pleasure, he felt his sword sink into the maroon mass. It didn't quite feel like cutting through flesh; more like pushing through soft clay. But Hiei still managed to make a clean strike. His sword exited from the stomach's other side, the phantom's hips and legs immediately crumbled down, and small entrails of the maroon smoke spewed from the exposed stumps.
"Hiei is going on the offensive once again!" Koto screamed, "This time putting his sword to good use!"
The gap between each half of the maroon body grew quickly as the legs fell to the ground, but Sekkon himself did not seem to notice, raising his morning star once more as if his floating torso didn't even need legs. The smokey entrails, at first billowing at the mercy of the wind, suddenly lashed out to grab its opposite half. The upper and lower halves of Sekkon's body pulled itself together with a dull thud, and instantly the seam was repaired. Sekkon, without missing a beat, had his weapon at the ready and swung it down towards Hiei's head. Acting on instinct alone, Hiei raised his left hand and caught the morning star by the shaft. His knees buckled slightly under Sekkon's force, and his palm stung like hell at every point of contact. But finally, finally, that phantom showed the first sign of awareness. Its smokey face looked appalled.
Hiei smirked up at him. This stupid stick was nothing. He had caught Bui's ax with one hand, and it had been three times his size and weight. The Jagan flashed, and Hiei's energy erupted around him once more. Sekkon may be the "perfect" phantom, but a phantom was all he was. An amalgamation of memory and Shirai's Demon Energy, nothing more. The Jagan flashed once more, and Hiei's dark aura crawled over the phantom in its entirety. Its maroon body jerked and quivered, perhaps feeling its own burn from Hiei's energy. Its skin, for lack of better word, seemed to flicker like an old television set, and then, with one last, high-pitched scream, the Phantom Sekkon vaporized before Hiei's eyes.
For a second, an unfamiliar sight flashed through Hiei's mind. It was so fast that he barely had time to grasp any details, but Hiei was certain he had seen a younger Shirai. Hiei had watched, from Sekkon's eyes, the tooth-spiked morning star come down on the younger Shirai's hand, fueled by an indignant rage that wasn't Hiei's own. It was just as Hiei originally imagined it. Torn flesh, broken bones, a splash of red blood, and a pain stricken scream.
And then the image was gone, just as quick as it came. …What in the hell happened?
Hiei didn't have time to think about it. He sensed Shirai approaching him from behind, his usual trick. Instead of leaping away to safety, Hiei boldly turned around, ready with his own counterattack. Shirai's free hand was outstretched, but once he saw Hiei ready and waiting, he shifted his stance mid-air and switched Sekkon's needle to a backhand grip. Hiei anticipated this and whacked Shirai's wrist with the hilt of his sword. But Hiei was right-handed, so his bandaged hand was occupied holding the sword, so he took a chance. He needed to stop avoiding contact if this was going to end. Their eyes met for an instant, the Jagan Eye flashed, and Hiei punched Shirai in the face with his bare left hand.
Again, an image Hiei had never seen before unfurled before his mind's eye. This time he saw, from eyes that weren't his own, a newly purchased black glove being pulled over a pale, bandaged hand. There was shame, but there was also relief. If the gloves were there, no one could accuse those hands of secretly reading memories ever again…
Shirai's body flew backwards from the force of Hiei's punch, breaking the contact between their skin, and the image disappeared. His body skid across the dirt like a loaded sack, and somewhere along the way, a couple of his smaller needles escaped his pouch and rolled across the ground. Hiei didn't waste any time, and the Jagan Eye flashed one last time. Red jagged lines of light wrapped themselves around Shirai's wrists, binding them together like handcuffs. Shirai gained his bearings just long enough to struggle and free his hands, but it was useless. The Jagan Tie Curse, which Hiei hadn't used since his first fight with Yusuke, could not be torn apart by mere force, and Hiei pulled Shirai closer, dragging him undignified across the ground on his stomach.
"This is it folks!" Koto screamed, "Is Hiei about to secure his victory!?"
Hiei pressed his boot over the red ties, holding down Shirai's wrists and keeping him from standing up again. He lowered his sword, tapping the pale skin of those wrists ever so slightly, just short of drawing more blood. "Surrender," Hiei demanded, "or you'll lose both of your hands."
A faint glimmer of fear passed through Shirai's eyes, and that caught Hiei by surprise. But then, Shirai began to chuckle, face down into the dirt, as if he did not want Hiei to see his face. "...Well done," he said and finally lifted his head. There was that thin smile again, but something about it seemed very content. "I surrender."
Koto officially ended the match, declaring Hiei the victor, and Hiei slowly pulled his boot away. The Jagan Tie Curse lifted, releasing those hands just as Hiei covered the Jagan back up with his headband. Miwa let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. At least this managed to end without either of them seriously injured or weakened. Yusuke did not notice; he was busy cheering Hiei's victory with some of the other demons in the viewing room.
Shirai slowly stood up, rubbing his wrists gingerly. "It was my honor to meet you here today, Hiei," he said. "Though, I must say I am surprised. Even though you hate my power, you spared my hands. I thought you weren't going to take it easy on me because we know the same snake."
Hiei frowned. "Don't misunderstand. I just don't want to be lumped in with someone like your 'perfect' phantom." He sheathed his sword and turned his back. Just because the battle was over doesn't mean that his memories were safe. But there was one more thing he wanted to say. Shirai wasn't the only one who peeked into his opponent's mind today. His Jagan's telepathic abilities granted Hiei some insight as well. "You should get rid of those gloves," he said, "The people worth caring about wouldn't give a damn if you weren't wearing them."
He walked away, refusing to look back. He did not say that because Shirai was Miwa's friend. He did not say that because he sympathized with being hated for something bestowed on you at birth. He just hated that someone would blatantly use that ability in the preliminaries and immediately hide it behind some stupid gloves. Hiei not only embraced what made him an outcast, he pushed it beyond his own limits, making his power and achievements uniquely his. To see someone, who was otherwise smart and capable, fail to do such a thing was annoying. Plain and simple.
"Hiei."
He did not slow his walk.
"I won't reveal anything I saw. I have my faults, but as someone privy to many secrets, I know well which ones are not mine to tell."
Coming from someone who shamelessly traversed his mind, that did not bring much comfort. "Do what you will," Hiei snapped. "It makes no difference to me."
Shirai watched Hiei leave, and he did not follow. Not just yet. Before Hiei even mentioned them, Shirai had unconsciously pulled his gloves out of his pocket to put them back on. It was a habit, well-practiced over his lifetime. He looked down at those simple gloves. They were purchased about twenty years ago now. A few scuffs had sullied the black leather, and some of the stitching was coming undone around the hem. Simple gloves formed the barrier between himself and another entity's memories. He started wearing them after Sekkon scarred his hand. At first, it was just to cover up the bandages, but over time, he became accustomed to the sense of relief they gave. The demons he met were more inclined to be friendly as long as his hands were covered, and there were less stares at the ugly scar.
But Shirai's own pride in his abilities betrayed his desire to hide. Even with the gloves, he continued reading memories, including those of the mizuchi girl who became his accomplice. She was the first to raise her own bare hand to his, but even her acceptance was not enough to abandon the gloves completely. When he began to work for Gandara, when Lord Yomi offered his bare hand, Shirai still couldn't give them up. They were the safeguard. The guarantee for anyone who saw him that their minds were safe. Even so, Shirai's skills grew stronger, to the point where no longer needed his hands, but he kept wearing them anyway.
He laughed to himself as he squeezed the gloves. After all his big talk, he had his own anchors too. "Hiei, you are indeed quite the interesting person."
His categorization was correct, and Shirai learned a lot about Hiei from the small batches of memories he managed to read. Just like with Kurama, the mere sight of Shirai brought forth memories of Miwa in Hiei's mind. That was understandable, if not expected. Hiei knew him as "Miwa's friend" or "the one who lied to her." It was only natural that memories of her would be recalled, and that was exactly what Shirai wanted. Meeting him in person, it was clear Hiei was the type to put a lot of distance between himself and others, appearing very self-centered to many. Throughout their whole fight, Hiei had never referred to Miwa by name, so how did someone like that manage to do the one thing Shirai could not?
But that was the key. Hiei didn't do anything. He just existed, straightforward and independent, fighting his way through life to accomplish his goals by any means necessary. And that was the kind of person Miwa needed to meet. Not someone like Shirai, who tried to impart choices and paths for her. Not someone who taught her the mizuchi abilities and legacy. Just someone who knew how to decide their next path, and how to choose them based on selfish wants. Someone to remind her that, underneath every title and duty given to her, there was still a Miwa who could do that very same thing.
Shirai laughed again. How simple it all seemed in the end…
{00}
When the fight ended, several demons left the viewing room to either participate in fights of their own or to get refreshments. Miwa pulled Yusuke to the side, away from the remaining crowd, and explained everything that had been happening with her over the past year. She told him about Shirai's lie, about her seal getting worse and worse, about Fuura, the true nature of her seal's power source, and even her quick visit to see her tribe. He listened, quietly and patiently, only interrupting when he had a question or needed clarification about why a tiny bird could become a giant monster through the power of shikigami. It somehow didn't surprise her that both Yusuke and Kuwabara would focus on that part of the story.
When she finished, Yusuke folded his arms over his chest and leaned casually against the wall. "You've been busy then, huh?"
"It's about time, I say. I've been dragging my feet for so long."
"Sounds to me like you're ready to move forward." Yusuke looked at her pouch, and then up at her hair. The lotus ornament glimmered under the room's fluorescent lights. "Except you still look like this."
Miwa laughed. "Don't worry. There won't be any random core surges."
"I can see that…" Yusuke didn't really know what to expect of this seal, or what it would look like if Miwa was truly okay. But compared to when they reunited at Gandara, it felt far more stable. "I'm glad that you're doing better than before."
"...That's it?"
Yusuke shrugged. "You expected a speech? Cuz I didn't prepare any note cards."
"No, uh…" Now it was Miwa's turn to shrug. "I guess I got used to everyone fussing over me because of this seal."
"...Why are you waiting for your fight with Kurama to tell us anyway?" Yusuke asked. "I love a good surprise as much as the next guy, but I think the anticipation is making him a little antsy."
Her fingers pinched a small lock of her dark hair. "Demons underestimate me because I look like this, so it's actually been kinda fun." Miwa tilted her head, no longer looking at Yusuke as she pondered something. Yusuke wanted to press further, having not heard a reason yet for why she would hide it from her friends. But that look in her eye stopped him. Was that a slight tremor in her fingers?
"...Would anyone think less of me because of what I've decided?" she whispered.
"No, of course not." His denial was immediate, without taking even a moment to think. "Does anyone know?"
"Shirai does. I thought it was only fair that I tell him how I'm stepping off my old path."
"And he supports you, right?" Yusuke already had a feeling he knew the answer.
"Yes, but I-"
He held up a hand to silence her. "They're just fussing over you because they care." He frowned for a second. "Not that I don't, but no one's going to think any less of you. And if it's what you really want, then to hell with anyone who says otherwise." Then he winked. "You're the one who told me to find a path that satisfies me, right?
A faint blush tinted Miwa's cheeks. She wasn't sure she wanted Yusuke to be concerned or encouraging when she finally caught him up on her seal or her oath. In a way, she got neither, just complete faith in her After, even though he didn't know what it was. The response was so undeniably Yusuke. His pure belief in her made her feel shy, having never felt this support from him so directly. …He really was like a hero, able to make everyone around him believe that things would be okay in the end.
"Then," Miwa said slowly, holding up her hand, "if you'll keep it a secret from Kurama, I guess there's no harm in telling you."
Her hand glowed with a calm white light, and Miwa explained everything.
Yusuke understood, and he found himself laughing. "You're seriously keeping this from him?"
The light faded away, as did the proof of her new resolve. "I'm afraid that he won't understand what I want until he sees it for himself."
Yusuke tried to remember a time he ever saw Miwa afraid, but he could only recall the Dark Tournament finals when Kurama was surrounded by Karasu's invisible bombs, and how she would have jumped into the ring to save him if Hiei hadn't held her back. That wasn't what he was seeing now. This wasn't a frantic, desperate fear to stop something from happening. This was dread, like the very thing she feared was going to happen outside of her control. Yusuke couldn't describe it any better than that, but he felt grateful that she was willing to confide something she had shared with only one other person.
Suddenly, an idea popped into his head. "Hey, could you do me a favor?"
Miwa blinked. "Sure. What is it?"
"Introduce me to your friend."
She blinked again, but then a huge smile broke out on her face. "Sure!"
Without a second thought, Miwa grabbed his wrist and practically dragged Yusuke out of the room. He was nearly jogging just to keep up with her. As they walked, Yusuke noticed several demons stopping to look at them, snickering to themselves about the tournament's sponsor being pulled along like a lost child. She led Yusuke to the main arena, finally releasing her surprisingly strong grip so they could push through the spectators watching the giant screen outside. If there was any place he'd be, Miwa explained, it would be out where all the demons gathered. They walked around the ground floor several times, keeping their eyes open and avoiding accidentally stepping on someone's toes, but even with several thousand fighters eliminated, curious demons who lost their fights still loitered around to see the rest of the fights. Yusuke couldn't blame them; many of his friends were now doing the same thing. But it certainly made it hard when he wanted to find a specific person.
"Maybe you should put traces on our friends so we can find each other more easily," Yusuke grumbled.
"But then you would have to find me first."
Yusuke groaned. "Dammit." But she was right.
Then, Miwa gasped and waved her arm in the air. "Hey, Shirai!"
Finally, in the distance, they found Shirai's tall figure in the crowd. Miwa was right again; Shirai was a fighter who would stay behind to see who won. He turned his head towards them, thankfully hearing his name over the noise, and he gently waved back. Miwa and Yusuke sidestepped their way around the crowd to get closer, and Shirai walked towards them as well, but he never had to worry about bumping into anyone. The loitering demons made a point to keep their distance from him, making space for him to walk freely without even being asked.
"Hello," Shirai called once they were within speaking distance. "I hope our battle provided you with some entertainment.
Miwa rolled her eyes. "I'm just glad both of you walked away unscathed." Then her eyes drifted down. "Did you lose your gloves?"
"No." Shirai held up his hands for her to see clearly. Yusuke didn't realize he had such long fingers. "My abilities are no secret, and people look at me strangely when I wear them anyway, so I thought I would try living without them for a change."
Miwa didn't answer right away; so many thoughts were going through her head. She had never questioned his gloves, not once since the day they met. She forced her way through that thin leather barrier because she, as his accomplice, never wanted to be like those demons who would purposefully keep their distance from him. And Shirai had told her, many many times, how much that gesture meant to him. Miwa lowered her head and laughed. She had been wrong. It wasn't the needle that was Shirai's anchor all this time. "Then, I hope the day will come where you won't need them anymore."
He laughed with her kindly and said, "Yes, I hope so too."
Yusuke kept his distance a bit as they talked. He could grasp the significance of those gloves, but it wasn't his place to speak on it here. Still, even though he just learned about those gloves thirty minutes ago, he felt a secondhand pride for Miwa's friend, even if the thought almost made him laugh. He never would have pegged Hiei as a good therapist.
"Anyway," Miwa said, waving Yusuke closer. "This guy asked me to introduce you two."
Shirai's attention turned to him. "Yes, the famous Yusuke Urameshi." He held up one hand to his chest and politely bowed. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you. Forgive me for not introducing myself during your short trip to Gandara."
"Don't sweat it," Yusuke said, grinning a bit bashfully. Politely or not, he was only used to the other monks bowing to him. "I also thought it was time we met. You're a pretty interesting fighter."
"Not as interesting as you, I'm sure."
Yusuke thought for a moment, and then he held out his hand. Open palmed; a universally recognized gesture. He grinned. "I hope we get the chance to fight someday." Shirai hesitated, staring blankly at Yusuke's hand, almost as if he didn't even recognize it, but Yusuke expected that. "Hey, any friend of Miwa's is a friend of mine."
Slowly, Shirai reached out his hand to meet Yusuke's. His palm was cool, and his grip was firm. There were no fearful tremors or small twitches to pull back. They shook hands as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Yusuke didn't know what it would feel like to have his memories read by this man, but just by the look on Shirai's face as they shook hands, he knew that nothing of the sort was happening.
"I feel the same way." There was a light shudder in his voice. Shirai's calm collectiveness was not unlike Kurama's in many ways, so Yusuke knew he had heard something very rare. "Now that I've met someone like you, Yusuke Urameshi," Shirai said, "I hope that you continue to do well in this tournament. Demon World would do well with someone like you at the helm."
"Oh, I don't know about that…"
This time Miwa was the one who pulled herself away. All Yusuke had asked her was to introduce him to Shirai. She didn't know if he had planned this handshake all along or if it was something he decided on the spot, but she was grateful. This was nice. A rare chance for her to introduce one dear friend to another.
She looked over at the giant screen behind the stage. The last fight of the second round just ended, and the screen flashed to the full tournament bracket. Koto happily broke down the progress of the tournament so far, including her own commentary on what the audience could look forward to in the upcoming battles. Slowly but surely, crowd favorites were starting to be put against one another, and the real excitement would begin. Miwa's eyes landed on her own name. A bold white line snaked its way up the bracket to track her progress, and the names of the eliminated fighters were dimmed, emboldening the names of those who remained. Soon, very soon, she would be fighting against Kurama.
Miwa's fingers clenched together, hoping that she would be ready for whatever came next.
{00}
A year after they met, Hiei proposed sneaking into the vault of King Yama to steal the Artifacts of Darkness. Their band of four demons easily broke through Spirit World's defenses. Gouki was their muscle, Miwa gathered information, Kurama formed their plan, and Hiei led their way, promising that the artifacts would be divided among them. No one spoke of how there were only three artifacts, meaning one of them would be left without a prize. Nor did they speak of how, to them, it seemed natural that Miwa would be the one receiving nothing. She didn't mind. It seemed natural to her too. Kurama receiving his prize was more than enough.
Or at least, it would have been if his prize was anything but the Forlorn Hope.
"It's my wish to save her," he had told her. "Offering your life to the mirror would mean nothing."
"If saving her life will save yours, then the mirror will grant my wish too."
He shook his head. "Your desire is to save me. It won't work."
"You won't know that unless I-"
"Miwa." His voice was stern and final. That look in his eye was a rare sight in human form. "If you want to be useful to me, then do what I say."
It was the first time he ever ordered her like that as Shuichi Minamino, and a practiced instinct almost forced her to accept those orders. But a different feeling was burning inside her that overrode everything else: Rebellion. How could he force such a decision on her without even listening to what she had to say? This was her oath to keep, and unless he killed her himself as promised long ago, it would end on her terms. There could have been another way to save Shiori Minamino from her illness. Wasn't that Miwa's role? To track down anything he needed? If he asked, she would have searched the entire Human World for a cure, magical or otherwise, and if that failed, then to the Demon World. She would exhaust every resource in her reach. But instead, Kurama put his faith in an artifact that would take his own life. Miwa decided, right then and there, to conspire against his wishes to the bitter end. …She had failed, spectacularly so, and if Yusuke Urameshi hadn't jumped in, it would have become that bitter end.
After Shiori was cured, that night in the hospital corridor, Kurama promised he wouldn't ask or force her to renounce her oath ever again. He would instead hope she would renounce it on her own. It only took him a year to go back on that promise, once the truth of her oath was revealed to them both, and Miwa felt the fire of rebellion burn inside her once again. How dare he insist that her returning to Demon World was the best for them both? Why did he refuse to see how much she rejected the idea? He blamed her tendency to fall back to her cycle, that if she continued living as Himari Shimizu, she would inevitably revert to old habits. She was the looping snake after all.
Miwa slowly walked down the empty hallway alone, to the Okujnenju arena where she and Kurama would finally face each other in battle. Her hair was still dark, there were no scales on her shoulders, no protruding fangs while she wasn't in combat, and her eyes showed no resemblance to a snake's narrow pupils. This was the form she lived in ever since coming to the Human World, the one humans knew as Himari Shimizu. Every time Kurama saw her looking like this, he was reminded of her oath and everything she had sacrificed to keep it. Miwa held out her hand, and to her own surprise, it was still shaking.
Shirai had seen her before she left for the Okunenju, and he noticed the shaking too. "I admit," he had said, "I do not know if you are excited or nervous."
Miwa had clenched her hand shut and brought it down to her side. "I'm not sure I know either," she told him, forcing herself to laugh.
Shirai smiled. "I will not reveal the private thoughts of another." He had placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. His gloves were still gone, but Miwa did not flinch away. "However, I will say that if you stay true to the After you've decided, then you will find a way to make it work, no matter what it takes."
He let go of her shoulder and started to walk away, but Miwa stopped him. She pulled the lotus ornament out of her hair and held it out to him. "Would you mind holding onto this for me? Just until the fight ends."
Shirai accepted it. "Are you worried it would get damaged?"
Miwa shook her head. "You said that ornament remembers who I used to be. I don't want to bring my past into this fight." Shirai returned it to her for perspective, but she no longer needed it. Not on this day. "I want to face him as I am now."
That was the last thing she said before walking down this hallway alone, but even with encouragement from Shirai and Yusuke, her hands still shook. Was she excited? Was she nervous? Or like she told Yusuke, was she actually afraid once again? The last time Kurama was this firm in his decision, he would have gotten his way if it weren't for a newbie Spirit Detective. What if he wouldn't accept what she decided? What would she do then? Of course, Miwa did consider that possibility, and she knew what she would do. It was her least favorable outcome, but it was also a reality she had to be prepared for. She was determined to make her After a reality, but that didn't mean his denial would hurt any less…
Maybe that was the real reason she kept it a secret from her friends.
For a time, Miwa was freed from her fear of an uncertain future. For a time, she was ready to charge forward with reckless abandon. Ready to emulate the people she admired; her path forward finally cleared. But once the less favorable realities showed themselves from the chasm of infinite possibilities, a new fear rose its ugly head. A dreadful fear of something she could not possibly control. Miwa could no longer hide from this feeling in the confines of her oath. Excitement, nervousness, fear. Maybe she was feeling all those things as she walked into battle, but she couldn't let them stop her. Not anymore. Yusuke believed in her, so Miwa had to face those feelings head on, or she would never be able to explore the infinite.
At the end of the hallway, an elevator would take her to the top of the Okunenju, but it seemed that Miwa had one more visitor before things began. Hiei was waiting for her in front of the elevator, leaning casually against the wall like he was just killing time.
Without even looking up, he asked, "So you're really going to fight looking like that?"
Of all people, Miwa didn't expect that he would be waiting for her, but she answered his question with one of her own. "Are you worried?"
"I was there when Fuura told you about the seal. I'm just seeing this through to the end."
"Well, even though I look like this, I know what will come after for me now." She had no answer for him back in the forest, and it took her almost half a year to find one. Finally, she could stand before Hiei without hiding anything. Miwa took a deep breath because saying what remained was an even bigger act of courage. One more act that she could no longer run away from. "And it's thanks to you, Hiei. You, Yusuke, and Kuwabara… All of you helped me see who I am underneath my oath and obligations."
Hiei crossed his arms. "I don't remember doing such a thing."
"You didn't have to do anything. I didn't know how to make a path for myself until I met you. Even before my oath, before I met Shirai, I had always wanted to be like you, and I didn't know how to do it. But just watching you…admiring what you were able to accomplish on your own, that was more than enough."
Hiei said nothing, and his expression was unreadable, only focused on staring at the opposite wall. As blank and stiff as a mask. Miwa expected this. For a long time, Miwa knew what would happen if she ever told Hiei everything. After all, she had watched him for so long. It was her excuse to keep it a secret; the only way she could be allowed to continue watching him. But now, it needed to be said, or the lingering question would always remain. This too could no longer be hidden in her oath, and Miwa wanted to live without regrets. "Hiei, you already know about my feelings for you, don't you?"
His expression did not change. His only movement was a small nod.
"For how long?"
"...Maze Castle."
Miwa giggled before she even realized it. "I thought so."
"If you know that," he said, finally turning his head to look at her, "then you already know what my answer would be."
She did. Given Hiei's goals and ambitions, his independence and self-reliance, there was only one logical conclusion. "I do, and it's okay," Miwa said, surprising even herself by being able to smile. "Above all else, I wanted to express my gratitude, even if you think you didn't do anything. I couldn't have found my After without you."
Hiei knew all along that she felt an emotion he often called trivial. It wouldn't be out of character for him to make fun of trivial things, and Miwa didn't ask why he never spoke up about it. He pretended that he didn't hear Yusuke and Kuwabara yelling that day, but despite that, he still managed to show her very indirect forms of kindness in the years they knew each other. He scolded her when it was necessary, he silently respected her decision to fight Rikiji without the Fruit of the Previous Life, he saved her from Shou Nishida's Erase power, and he was there to learn the truth about her seal. He treated her just like he would Yusuke or Kurama. This too was more than enough for Miwa.
"...This doesn't change your After?" Hiei asked.
She shook her head, her smile feeling more genuine now. No matter what Hiei said, the path she decided would not change. Miwa thought very carefully about how her After would reconcile with her feelings, and she found that the answer wasn't difficult at all. She may have loved and admired Hiei, but she never wanted anything from him. Not for her feelings to be reciprocated or for him to stay within her reach. She wanted him to stay on his own path, independent and free. The path she wanted did not overlap with his, and she wasn't going to abandon a path she found to follow another's ever again. Hiei would always be special to her, someone to be admired. But over time, she also found that her feelings toward him, no matter how special, were too similar to her feelings for Yusuke and Kuwabara. They were all admirable people who followed their own paths, each with their own wonderful qualities, and Miwa was proud to call them her friends, friends who she loved and cared for dearly. Their individual paths may diverge along the way, but she would still gladly be the idiot who fights if it means saving their lives.
Finally, Hiei's expression relaxed. Was she able to convey her decision, even with so few words? It was not a smile or a smirk, but he did seem content. "That's good to know." Hiei pushed himself off the wall and made to leave. He walked by her without making additional eye contact, his hands stuffed casually in his pockets.
Miwa smiled as he passed, feeling a great sense of relief. It was strange that, just a few months ago, saying all of those things out loud seemed all but impossible. Of course, there was a little sting that her feelings were not reciprocated, but that was fine. In many ways it was the better outcome. One more piece put into place to complete her path to After.
"Miwa."
She turned around at the sound of her name, ignoring the fleeting thought that this was the first time he said it aloud in a while. Hiei still had his back to her, staring straight ahead, but he also stopped walking.
"...If someone like you puts so much value on a life like mine," he said, "then the least I could do is make something of it."
…No words came for her to respond with. This unexpected revelation didn't sound like sarcasm at all. He actually considered her opinion on his life as something meaningful? It may have been the most upfront he had ever been with her, like she was given a glimpse at something deeply important or personal. This was, perhaps, the best answer she could ever ask from him.
She had no words, but on impulse, Miwa held out her hand and asked, "Would you like to see my After?"
Hiei silently looked back. He did come all this way to see it through.
Miwa showed it to him, and just like Yusuke, Hiei understood.
{00}
Miwa entered the elevator, and the doors closed. It was quiet; not even relaxing elevator music played to pass the time like in the Human World. She could imagine the stadium full of noise and cheers. Demons placing bets on who would win. Demons mindlessly cheering for more blood. She imagined Yusuke and the warriors huddled around the screen in one of the viewing rooms, perhaps just as excited and nervous as she felt. She imagined Hiei finding a quieter place to watch this battle, and Shirai meeting with Yomi to watch it together. Miwa found herself giggling, wondering what could possibly be going through all of their minds. Shirai, Yusuke, and now Hiei knew the After she decided. The rest just had to imagine it for themselves.
Or perhaps, they too would figure it out right from the beginning. There was only one person left she needed to convince.
The elevator opened, and Miwa approached the starting area. She and Kurama arrived there at the same time, from opposite elevators. His expression was serious, and the wind kicked up the yellow tunic he liked to wear. Even Miwa wore her usual battle clothes; the hanfu-style white garments with a deep blue trim and belt. The same clothes they wore in the Dark Tournament finals, but now they stood on opposite sides. That was the nature of this tournament: every demon for themselves.
"Alright people!" Koto's voice blared from the speakers, "The first of many highly anticipated matchups in the third round of the tournament is about to begin! Kurama versus Miwa!" There was a short pause, allowing for audience cheers that neither of them could hear from this far away. But the girls on the flying camera creatures zoomed around like flies for the best angle. "For those of you who don't know," Koto continued, "these two have a long history far preceding this tournament, with Miwa serving under the legendary bandit Kurama for decades, and they were both members of the Dark Tournament's champion team. I can tell you folks firsthand that they are both ruthless fighters with many tricks up their sleeves."
Youda cleared his throat. "Until recently, Kurama served as Chief of the Military in Gandara, and Miwa is the proud protégé of Gandara's former Chief of Intelligence, Shirai. Together, they recruited the strongest members of Gandara's former army, many of whom were contenders in this very tournament."
"But now," Koto said, her excitement rising with her tone, "we'll see what happens when these two long-time allies finally face one another in battle!"
Another pause for cheers they could not hear, but the camera girls slowed their frenzy as they prepared to begin. The wind died down, calming the rustling trees surrounding them. Miwa glanced around, knowing any sort of plant nearby could be used against her. But she didn't mind. Just as he knew all her tricks, she knew all of his. And while he may be more clever in strategizing his way to victory, Miwa had always been stronger in brute force. It was just a matter of whose strength could overcome the other first.
"I realized that I still haven't asked you something," Miwa said, grinning at him across the field. "Do you know what you are going to do after this tournament is over?"
Did he really plan to rule Demon World? Would he rule it in a way that keeps his human family safe? Or like Shirai, was he only here to scope out the next king, and he had no intention of winning from the start?
Kurama didn't answer her, and Miwa knew why.
"You're still wondering why I look like this, aren't you?"
"The thought has crossed my mind," he answered.
The camera girls slowed to a steady hover, and Koto shouted, "Begin!"
"Then," Miwa said, putting one hand on the strap of her pouch, "allow me to show you."
She pulled it off her shoulder, over her head, and she casually tossed it away. The black leather pouch bounced twice across the ground. The cover popped open, and the water contents spilled into the dirt where it quickly seeped away. Kurama curiously glanced between her and the discarded pouch, and Miwa held out her hand, knowing exactly how he was putting things together. A faint white light shined just above her palm. A small mass formed at its center, dispersing the light in strange flashes like a glare bouncing off glass. The light condensed, and water spouted from it like a tiny geyser, forming a very familiar coil around Miwa's arm. Kurama gasped, and Miwa delighted in seeing him take a single step backward.
"If you don't want to die, mizuchi, then finish what you started."
Fuura told her the seal was now a part of herself, just as much as her veins and muscles. If she didn't want to die, Miwa had to finish what she started. For so long, Miwa misunderstood those words, thinking that she had to choose between letting the seal remain or killing its power source, her oath. She thought killing it would be the end of everything. The end of Himari Shimizu. But that wasn't what Fuura meant at all. Finishing what she started had more than one meaning. The old witch understood a lot more than she let on, and she told Miwa everything she needed to know, in the most roundabout way. The most important thing was that the seal was part of her, so she was the only one who could fix it, however she chose. This seal was the first step into Miwa's After. To finish what she started, she could either continue the oath she swore long ago, or she could stop being so half-assed about wanting more for herself and become the person Hiei inspired her to be.
"This is the After I've decided, Kurama. One where I can conjure water from nothing, even in human form." Her grin shifted into a fanged smile. The original power source was gone, and a new purpose now powered the seal, putting it under her complete control. "How else can I continue what I started?"
The person Miwa wanted to be would explore the infinite possibilities of the Human World through the life of Himari Shimizu. For the past few years, she made a life and friends around that identity. She lied to Saya and Tsutsumi all the time, but they still considered Himari Shimizu a friend. They witnessed her confront Shou Nishida's Erase Territory; they saw her in one of her most vulnerable moments as her core energy surged. Even though they did not understand what was going on at all, they never ran away. All they wanted to do was help. And without becoming Himari Shimizu, Miwa would have never met Hiei, Yusuke, or Kuwabara. This was the path she chose, and no matter what that path may look like going forward, she would have all her powers on hand, just in case she needed to be that idiot who would fight to save a friend's life.
Kurama didn't prepare any weapons. He just stared at the conjured water stream coiled around Miwa's arm, his emotions carefully hidden. Was he confused? Did he think this was the exact outcome he didn't want? That was how she interpreted the look in his bright green eyes. Good. She would prove to him the strength of her resolve.
She needed him to accept it, or else she could never get what she wanted most.
"Now fight me, and don't hold back."
Notes: I feel a strange urge to hide from those who may have been shipping Hiei and Miwa all this time...
Anyway, Miwa has made her choice known, and I hope that I was able to make her feelings about Hiei clear in its resolution. From the start, I wanted to write about a love that the protagonist knows is not only unreciprocated but also not what she wants for herself. I even decided against putting the final pairing in the story summary because the choice itself is part of Miwa's journey. But that made reading the reviews about everyone's favorite pairing even more exciting. Of course, there is still relationship building to come, even from Hiei's side! I promise!
Also, I really enjoyed the fight between Hiei and Shirai. Rather than someone who could overpower him, Shirai became someone that would offend Hiei the most. A bit different from them going all out against each other. Now, I have to work hard to make sure that Miwa versus Kurama lives up to expectations, including my own. See you then!