Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Eternity ❯ Death Tree ( Chapter 16 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

"The Reverse Magic Box!" the enemy, Ura Urashima spoke from somewhere inside the smoky dome. San wished that Kurama would just shut him up, and not liking the sounds of the box in his hands, "Anybody other than the possessor who breathes its air will return to their younger years, the awkward teenager, or even the terrible twos, you'll fall easier than a feather!" he opened the box and smoke took over, not coming outside the dome he had created.
"Hey, why isn't that smoke coming towards us?" asked Kuwabara.
"Obviously you don't understand the meaning of force field," said Hiei. He didn't seem phased by the events going on. San was growling, feeling Kurama become weaker. His energy was weak and disappearing. Then, it was gone, completely. That was strange, but the next thing that happened was even weirder. There was a massive power surge, energy she had once felt before. She heard a laugh, one that she would never forget. She gasped, could it be? That scent... It was something she used to smell all the time, something she had been yearning to smell, and yet, she couldn't be sure. There was too much fog, she had to see, she didn't want to be lead under a false hope. She itched her left shoulder blade as she continued to stare at the fog, waiting for it to disperse.
"Do you feel that too?" Kuwabara asked Hiei. At least she wasn't the only one who felt it.
"I think perhaps I've progressed further than you intended, and just as I was coming to accept my human captivity," San picked up the familiar voice from the stage. The same smell, the same energy, the same voice... she still had to see it, there was no way to know for sure until she saw it. She was itching violently on her left shoulder blade as the energy grew. She wished the stupid force field wasn't there, then she could get rid of the fog.
"Youko the spirit fox, Youko the legendary bandit? What did you do with Kurama, I liked him a lot better!" Ura Urashima was right to fear her mate. She smiled, still itching at her shoulder. She looked, gasping when she saw claws on her finger nails.
"Oh he's here, he's me. Only know you've brought me out in full, thank you for that," San was still observing her hands. She felt on top of her head and ears were sticking out. Her tail was there to.
"Hn. It seems the power of your mate has brought you back to your true form as well," said Hiei. It was true, he looked shorter, her hair was no longer sun touched, just tawny, like her eyes. Kuwabara was staring at her while she continued to itch at her shoulder. It began to glow and she looked at it in shock. The mark, his mark, it appeared. Youko really was in there, her mate, her love... The one that she had been looking for this whole time... Where was he? And what happened to Kurama? If only she couldsee!
"There is no room for your fantasies of denial, little vermin. Be assured, I am alive!" she heard his voice, she could almost picture him in the fog, menacing over his enemy.
"But the stories all say your dead! You were caught! You were killed!" cried Ura Urashima.
"Yes. I'm so flattered you've heard of me. But as you can see, the stories were incorrect."
"It's like a thunder storm in there! Where's all that weird energy I'm feeling coming from?" questioned Kuwabara, clearly unprepared for the awesome power of her mate. It gave her power, it brought his mark back to the surface, where it belonged.
"Ha. It's all Kurama, down to the last drop!" answered Hiei.
"But, it's different somehow, and a heck of a lot more powerful."
"Seems that fool he's been fighting has turned him back into his demon form, before he was tainted by you humans."
"What?"
"Fifteen years ago, the spirit fox Youko Kurama and his mate Moriko Chie were thought to have been killed by a burglary gone wrong. In desperation they escaped to your world. She presumably fell to her death, but he hid himself, using a human body to slowly recover his energy. He thought no one would find him. I did. Now, we'll see what the purest form of Kurama can do."
"So wait, Kurama is really this Youko person? But you said his mate presumably fell to her death, what happened to her?"
"Idiot, she's standing right beside me."
"That's Moriko? So you hid inside a human to?"
"Not exactly..." she trailed, not really interested in talking. She was more focused on the fight, the energy, the scent, the voice, the fog that just wouldn't disappear. He was there, he was there, and she couldn't do anything about it, she was stuck on the outside. So close and yet, so far. She strained her ears to hear everything that was happening, trying to create a mental picture for herself, to try and be there with him. Youko...
-Youko, you're here!- she tried to speak to him with her telapathy. It was no use, she wasn't getting a response.
"Let's see. How best shall I deal with my prey?" he was as menacing as ever. There was a scent, one that she knew instantly. How very Youko of him to use this plant, "Each branch of this tree has a mouth, and each mouth of the branch has saliva that will melt your bones in under a minute. The pain will make every second feel like it's eternity to you. I never take anything in battle personally you realize, it's only that I do not stand for trespassers and that my death tree enjoys a good meal."
Ura Urashima was screaming throughout the whole explanation, "Please help me!" he cried, knowing that he didn't stand a chance, "I'll do anything you ask me to, I'll fight for your team. Please, don't kill me."
"Tell me the secret of the Reverse Magic box."
"I don't know anything about that. I just took what they gave me! Ask Shishi, he's the only one who knows!"
"I can smell when you're lying. It makes my tree want to eat you more."
"Okay, I'll tell you everything! It's Onji, him and Shishiwakamaru, they came to us and said they'd give us anything if we fought. I'm not even Ura Urashima! We were all together, Makintaru, Kuro and me. They came to us and they gave us special items and said we can all be high class like them. That's not all! I can tell you who really gave us all the items!" but after all of that Ura Urashiima screamed, and Moriko could smell the plant disappearing.
"Just a lower class beast. Always the easiest of pawns."
"The smoke's going away," announced Kuwabara. Moriko could see a silhouette, it really was him. It looked like Shishi had killed his own teammate. And there stood Youko, just as she remembered him. His silver hair and tails blew in the wind as he stood tall, staring at the corpse of his opponent. His golden eyes showed no emotion, but that was to be expected, since something he was after was taken away. Her ears twitched when Koto began to talk.
"Hold the microphone, I've just seen my personal fantasy! Sexy ears, dreamy tails, who is this love god?" and Moriko bolted over there in an instant, scaring the poor girl. She grabbed her by the tie and pulled her down.
"I suggest you watch the next words that come out of your mouth," Moriko threatened. Koto laughed nervously. Moriko turned her attention back to her mate.
"Kurama is as he should be," said Hiei. Moriko watched as he began to glow, feeling his and her energy become weaker.
"Looks like my time on the outside is short. Don't ruin this, Shuuichi," and he was starting to disappear.
"Youko!" Moriko called after him, noticing her voice was slightly that of San.
"Beloved?" but then he was gone, and Kurama was left standing in his place. San dropped to her knees, he saw her right? She was a human again, her powers disappearing with her mates. But he was alive!
"I can't explain it, my silver haired hunk has transformed into a sadly tailless Kurama. My whole weekend is ruined now," said Koto. San growled and pulled the girl by her tie one last time.
"Say another word about my mate and I will rip you to shreds!" she threatened. Koto laughed nervously yet again.
"Sorry, I-I take it back, please don't hurt me!"
"San!" Hiei yelled at her. Juri announced Kurama as the winner and San snapped her attention back. All this time, he was here, locked inside this boy she had befriended. She looked and just as she suspected, the mark on her shoulder blade remained. She walked up to the red head, who seemed distracted. She still couldn't believe it, but knew it to be true. There was no other explanation, she had finally found him! But why hadn't he noticed her before? She made her human appearance as close to her demon one, so that he could find her easier, and yet... he didn't notice? Or had he? Was he playing a game with her? No, there was no way, or she was sure he would've looked towards her, knowing that she would be there. She decided to wait until after the battle to speak with him about this, knowing that now was not the time. Shishiwakamaru jumped into the ring, looking like he was ready to roll those blasted dice again. He rolled the dice and it was him fighting with a free space. She wondered who would be the one to fight him, and stared at the other three.
"About time I took control. Now, which one of you lovely fighters do I get to beat?" said Shishi, stepping forward. Some high pitched scream was piercing San's ears. She looked around and couldn't believe he had a fan club. He was ugly!
"Hey why doesn't someone cheer for me okay! A real man's attractive cause he's tough, not cause of charming good looks," said Kuwabara, obviously annoyed by their actions. Either that or he was jealous. San could never be sure with this one.
"Yes you, with the inferior face," said Shishi, pointing at Kuwabara.
"Huh? You mean this one?"
"Well of course, who else would I mean? You must be bored as a side show freak, why don't you come fight?"
"I'll show you pretty boy!" said Kuwabara, running towards the ring.
"Hn."
"Seems Shishi's struck a sensitive core," said Kurama. San looked at him, observing, looking for the traces of Youko that she could have missed. He stared back at her, which was unexpected. He looked almost curious as he looked into her tawny eyes.
-I am certain I saw her Shuuichi, heard her voice-Youko spoke as he watched the tawny eyes.
-I felt it as well-
-We need to find out how the box works, fight again-but Kurama turned his attention back to the ring as Kuwabara had fallen down trying to get up there.
"Let me handle this, Shishiwakamaru appears to be their strongest fighter," said Hiei.
"No, I'll fight him. Onji could be unpredictable. Recover your powers for the final match," said Kurama. For once, San was hoping he would fight again.
"You know all you're deciding is the order of defeat," said Shishi, but no one was listening to him.
"Kurama, it's obvious you only want to fight him so that you can learn the secrets of that age reversal. We can't let priorities rank above victory. You let me fight," said Hiei.
"Why are you even talking about it? This Shishiwakamaru punk just insulted me, he's all mine!" declared Kuwabara.
"I will take this fight," said Hiei.
"No, it is mine," said Kurama.
"I'm fighting him!" said Kuwabara. Men.
"Perhaps this can only be decided with a game of janken."
"Oh yeah, bring it on! I'm a rock, paper scissors master!" said Kuwabara.
"Janken? What the hell is that?" ironically Hiei and San said that at the very same time.
"Gee, you two really didn't have a child hood huh?"
"I pursue strength, I do not have time for your trivial-"
"It's a human game," Kurama interrupted, "Scissors is beat by rock, rock is beat by paper, and paper by scissors," he explained, showing with his hands what to do.
"Hn, pitifully simple."
"So, you ready to get beat?" Kuwabara was arrogant.
"Try me."
"Oh, never played before and he's already cocky. First timers can only use rock by the way."
"Don't listen to him. He's pulling your leg," said Kurama. They began, laying down their choice and Kuwabara taking the win it looked like. Until Hiei told him he was slightly slower than the other two. He would know too. So they went at it again. Draw, and it continued to be one for the next five or so minutes. Men. Finally, Kuwabara was the winner. San was impressed. She couldn't believe her fate rested with these people.
"I've won every single game of janken I've ever played, and now I'm going to win against you!" said Kuwabara to Shishiwakamaru.
"Just get yourself in the ring," he replied, eager to begin battle.
"Yeah, you go ahead ladies, scream all you want! I don't need your stinkin' support! I've already got the best fan in the world, and as long as she's watching, I'm invincible."
"Let's get started my defective friend, I've got fame to achieve," said Shishi, probably annoyed with the way Kuwabara kept yelling at the fan girls in the audience. San found it retarded how he had to make a big issue to them. So what if they didn't like you?
"Oh that is so it! You are totally going down! Spirit Sword!" Kuwabara charged at Shishi, making a slash, but San knew that wouldn't work. He was basically attacking in blind rage, making it easy to dodge everything he was throwing at Shishi.
"Shishi can read his every manuever," said Kurama. Wait, didn't she just point that out? Kuwabara continued to slash at Shishi, not making any contact. San wondered what the enemy was waiting for, him and his stupid veil. She wondered if this guy was gay, but then again, perhaps not. That thing must be around for a reason, and she had a feeling it's power was not something she'd ever like to experience. So far this team has come up with some pretty nifty items, and they were not anything like she had seen before. San tried to hold back a laugh when Shishi had used Kuwabara's head to boost himself away from the fighter.
"That's it, my head as a trampoline is where I draw the line!" and he charged him again, missing like always. Shishi jumped into the air and threw that veil at him. It wrapped itself around Kuwabara, and San could feel him fading, "I'm not ugly okay!" were the last things he cried before he vanished completely.
"Nice last words," commented Hiei.
"I've lost all trace of him, it's as if he ceased to exist," said Kurama. The fan club went nuts when Juri declared the winner. It seemed as if the demon girls were no better than the human ones. And here most demons thought they were superior to humans, they seemed nearly the same. Shishi continued on, rolling the dice. They got a free space, Shishi fighting once more, and the masked fighter was to go on, Genkai.
"I'll be happy to go again. How about yourself?" asked Shishi from the ring.
"I said from the start I would be the substitute. I just didn't know it would be this much fun, assuming you don't mind... Kurama," and Hiei took a step forward, but Genkai stopped him. She was weak, San didn't even feel her come around. Yusuke must have completed his training, which would be why she felt so weak, her energy not even close to what it used to be. San knew she was still capable of fighting, but she'd have to be really careful about her power, since she barely had any, "Just who the hell are you? I hope you don't expect me to believe you are the same masked fighter who was on our team before you impostor. She had tremendous power, you're just a weakling."
"Yusuke has it now," she replied to him. San didn't expect Hiei or Kurama to understand what she was talking about. But that was fine, that meant they would soon learn the true power of Genkai, as it was back in the proper state. San was happy that Yusuke didn't die, and that this old woman was still alive. The sad part was coming soon, and she hoped to holy hell that it wouldn't happen. There had to be something she could do, a variable that would change the outcome.
"How very disappointing, I wanted a good match. I can feel your fragility from here. Although... I don't know who you are. What do you say we remove that little mask?" said Shishi, unsheathing his sword and preparing for battle. Shishi charged at her, he was faster than San thought, but Genkai dodged them, every last one. Those who knew her would have noticed that she was weaker just by watching her fight him. It was sad, but necessary, the goal of her life, to keep her power alive. She was ready to die and that made San very sad. This old woman had somehow felt like family, and was until recently the pack leader. That power was now with Yusuke, but Genkai was still important to San, "You seemed to have lost a great deal of strength since I last saw you fight. But more importantly, the intrigue of your identity is stealing my spotlight!" said Shishi, slicing away at her mask. Gankai dropped to the ground, just as San had first seen her. She heard Kurama gasp, and the crowd was protesting. San didn't understand how they couldn't figure this out. With her orb, she was able to return to her most powerful state, without it, she remains as she is. Idiots, "Hopefully I don't need to tell you that's a different person. Their team is obviously using that mask to sneak additional players in to fight," said Shishi to Juri.
"Uh, and that's against the rules right?" wow she was stupid.
"This woman is not the team's substitute, the cute blond over there is. This is cheating, and until proven otherwise, I will be forced to ask for this teams diqualification." San was not expecting that. She looked at Kurama, noticing his stare was kind of icy. She smiled, maybe Youko did notice her before he vanished. The crowd was demanding that they all be killed, while the committee had put up a replay of the first time Genkai was revealed. Koto said they would review it and the fight would be paused in order to make a decision. It didn't take long. They allowed the fight to continue, despite the audience's disagreement. Shishi was not happy about this either, continuing to protest. That's when he stepped in.
"That isn't very polite," began Toguro, "Team Urameshi did not cheat. I wanted you all to know that. To understand why, you merely have to know who that woman is. While employing that technique she's so fond of, the body of the user does a most impressive thing. It's cells return to the moment to when they were strongest. The young girl you saw before and the old woman there now are the same person. The human psychic who created the Spirit Wave. It's been such a long time since we've talked hasn't it? Genkai..." he concluded. The crowd burst out with whispers. None of them seemed to believe that she was really here. Toguro walked away. San watched him, he stood with the rest of his team, that meant Karasu. She could feel his eyes on her, and she pulled Kurama to hide herself. He was startled, but then looked in the same direction she did. Toguro. She had spoken before about a terrible fate that rested in their victory. He was ashamed to admit he finally noticed her again since Shishi's comment. He was so focused on Youko and releasing him again. San observed the team from her one eye. Those evil eyes struck fear into the deepest pits of her heart, but she pushed it aside as best as she could and observed the rest of the team. There stood the elder Toguro, a man in really heavy looking armor, and another man she did not recognize. Karasu was standing beside him, they were relatively the same height. He had short aqua hair and piercing red eyes. He wasn't very big, but San knew he would probably be a problem. Kurama put an arm around her, and San noticed she was shaking. She tore her eyes away, and put her attention back on the fight.
"You're the renown psychic Genkai, so fate smiles on me after all. I won't have to wait for Toguro before I get my celebrity. You seem like just an old woman to me, but your name is known by nearly every apparition and now I will be famous too, as the one who killed you! I won't dally around with you anymore, I'll need to give the appropriate death," said Shishi, as he unsheathed his sword. The hilt began to break apart.
"That weapon..." trailed Kurama. It looked gross, almost like a brainy zombie thing. It had a face, but barely, the mouth and eyes were just black.
"The Banshee Shriek, I think it's such a lovely name for a sword," said Shishi, "It has the power to beckon lost demon souls into the ring with us," he explained, making a circle around himself. San didn't like the sounds or looks of this. He brought it back up to his hand and it started glowing red, "It should be the perfect way to make myself a reputation."
"I've seen a sword like that before and I don't believe he understands the danger of it. It has more power than he does," said Kurama. His arm was still around her and she found that to be nice. It had been a while since she had any physical contact. Genkai took a fighting stance, getting ready for the next attack. San watched, hoping to that everything would be alright. Karasu's eyes on her didn't help, but she did her best to put that out of her mind. Kurama knew that this girl cared a great deal for Genkai, but she was still tense about Team Toguro. Not only that, Youko believed that he had seen Moriko, that she was still alive. Things were getting intense, and the two of them were sure it would all come to a close on the final match, if they survived to see it.
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