Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Eternity ❯ Needle in a Haystack ( Chapter 23 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: rain00205 
Anime/Manga: Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Fantasy / Adventure | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 02.01.2012 | Pages: 4 | Words: 4.6K | Visits: 199 | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Fantasy / Adventure | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 02.01.2012 | Pages: 4 | Words: 4.6K | Visits: 199 | Status: Completed
Kuwabara stood in the ring with the elder Toguro. He was holding a hilt, and San could not understand why, but she was sure that she would find out soon. They were just waiting for the word from Juri and then they would begin. It didn't take long, she declared the match to begin. Kuwabara began to power up, looking like he was electric. His reiki flowed thru the hilt, creating a burst of power. San gasped, along with the rest of them. It was like a super charged spirit sword. His whole body was surrounded by an electrical aura.
"Bet you didn't expect that one did ya?" he said to the elder Toguro.
"The energy drawn in by that sword strengthens Kuwabara's body, improves both his offense and defense. If Toguro doesn't realize that, Kuwabara may actually have a chance," said Kurama.
"What an amazing thing," stated San.
"Hn. I believe I've told before how infuriating that is," said Hiei. She ignored him.
"If there's anyway to bring you down Toguro, I'll find it!" yelled Kuwabara, charging at the short demon.
"That weapon looks awfully dangerous. Try not to slip," said Toguro. The ground under him then began cracking, and it was heading towards Kuwabara. What was he up to? Kuwabara continued his charge and made a direct hit, slicing his enemy in half. While it looked good, San didn't trust it. There was something bothering her about it.
"Hey, um, did Kuwabara just win?" asked Yusuke.
"I don't know," said Kurama.
"Hey, I'm really incredible, I beat a Toguro brother in one attack!" he was basically patting himself on the back.
"No," said San, glaring at the ring.
"San?" asked Kurama.
"Yeah, I know it's hard to believe, but can't you at least be happy for the guy? I mean, use your eyes," said Yusuke.
"No, it was too easy. He didn't even try to defend himself, just stood and waited. He's not dead, he's still out there," she explained.
"Yeah, he's right there, split in half!"
"We shall see," she knew this was too easy. She believed that Kuwabara did have the strength to defeat him, but not that easy. The reputation proceeded them, there was no way he could finish him off that easily. Juri walked up to Toguro and started to declare Kuwabara the winner. Before she could finish her statement, Kuwabara was struck from the back and thru the chest with something sharp. She knew it. They had just missed his vitals, that she was happy about. He dropped the hilt and fell to the ground, the power leaving. When the weapon had retreated, it was coming from the ground, it was... a hand? Hands and hilts, what was this world coming to? The hand pulled the owner of the body to the surface. Was it a surprise that it was Toguro?
"What the?" questioned Yusuke.
"If you've watched any of his battles, you would know that he can extend any part of his body. I don't know how far it can go, but I do know that it makes it hard to hit him directly and actually injure him," San explained.
"You are a very simple minded child, it feels so good to trick you," said Toguro.
Kuwabara grunted, "It's supposed to be one on one."
Toguro began to laugh and he pulled the look a like from the ground it appeared. It turned out that what Kuwabara hit was merely just an extension of Toguro's arm. Bastard, "Oh I do assure you that my decoy and I are apart of the same body. You got me, but when you see the truth of it, it's just a paper cut. I feel the sensation of pain, but it's quite unlike yours. You see I can move my body's vital organs anywhere I please," and he proved it but moving his brain it looked like out and bringing his heart to stick out under the skin from his hand, "When I see your attack coming I simply adjust so that all you hit is flesh. It makes injuring me very complicated."
"All you are is a little freak show!"
Toguro then reached out with his fingers and grabbed the hilt that Kuwabara was carrying, looking at it up close, "It is truly an exquisite sword. You inherit from her?"
"Who?"
"You would think she would leave something like this for one of her apprentices, but I guess Yusuke and the Queen weren't strong enough. Pity."
"You don't know what you're talking about, Genkai is just sick!"
"Oh that's perfectly sad. Your friends have been keeping secrets. Genkai is dead, she has been for two days."
The shock along Kuwabara's face hurt San, "No! It can't be... Why... didn't I see that? I see... Everybody really did know about it but me. They kept me out on purpose, they didn't think I could take it," but Kuwabara's monologue was interrupted by Toguro extending his fingers back into Kuwabara's flesh, striking him near the heart. San gasped.
Toguro laughed, "Don't cry Kuwabara, it isn't your fault the old witch couldn't stay. Go and question her yourself if you don't believe me. Another few inches and I can pick out your heart," and he dug the fingers in further.
"No..." San trailed.
"Kuwabara!" yelled Yusuke.
Toguro retreated his fingers and then started laughing again, "What a sad life when your friends aren't even straight with you. But I will tell you everything about the frailty of your human kind. It's the story of a young impressionable human girl named Genkai. She was the most beautiful girl in all the land," began Toguro, creating an image of a younger Genkai with his right arm. San began to growl, "She was a fighter who wanted to be the very best in the world. Then she met a man named Toguro who also wanted to be the best. He agreed to play with her. They did everything together, so much that he nearly forgot his own brother. The woman and the man were even in love. But then the woman became ugly like a prune and no one wanted to be around her-"
"Brother," the younger Toguro sounded as if he was warning him. San was not happy with this.
"Oh it's okay, he's just a little anxious because this next chapter is his favourite part in the story. You see the man became a demon who would stay strong and never become a prune. The ugly woman became extremely jealous of the handsome man and went to fight him, but she was not strong anymore. So the man was happy to murder her," Toguro finishing by stretching out his left fingers to pierce his own puppet.
"This guy is seriously fucked up," San gritted between her teeth.
"Muttering some final rubbish to her failed apprentice, the womans soul drifted away to some quiet corner of hell. We lived happily ever after," and Toguro laughed after his final words. San was growling, her whole body shaking with anger. How she wished she could sink her jaws into this youki's flesh.
"That's a load of shit! Genkai wasn't jealous, Toguro killed her cause he couldn't have her!" yelled Yusuke.
Kuwabara was on his feet, his energy powering up immensely, "I'm going to kill you, you better know that!"
Toguro put his hand back to normal, "That's very nice enthusiasm, but you must have forgotten that I still have your weapon. I'd give it back but helplessness is more fun."
"You're honourless."
"Yes I am, good thing that's not what this tournament is about!" and he turned his arm into a piercing device, going straight for Kuwabara's chest. It didn't go thru, Kuwabara's power making it unable to break, "What's happening here? I can't pierce your skin!"
"I see! Kuwabara's strength and his resolve appear to be closely related!" said Kurama.
"You have no soul, you're just a nasty little waste of space. Now..." and Kuwabara powered his energy, shooting it in tiny daggers it looked like, "DIE!" The attack sliced at Toguro, separating his limbs from the body.
"That was nice," commented Yusuke.
"Yes, what an-"
"Don't even finish that sentence," interrupted Koenma. San smiled wide at him. Juri began the count, actually doing her job.
"Maybe honour doesn't matter to your kind Toguro, but it does to me," said Kuwabara, turning to walk back to the rest of the team. Just as Juri reached eight, she gasped, Kuwabara turning around in shock. Toguro was still alive.
"Stop counting! Do you really think its over? I was only surprised for a moment, I didn't think you could attack me that way. I should be more careful," said Toguro, beginning to reattach himself.
"What are you?" asked Kuwabara in disbelief.
"Good question, I'd like to know that myself. I suppose you should ask the tournament committee who granted my wish in the first place. I knew I'd become a demon, the rest was just trial and error. You better conserve your energy from now on, you're already hurt and I have yet to be," said Toguro, standing now that he was put together again.
"You're invincible."
"The only chance you have of beating me Kuwabara is to pierce either my heart or my brain. But that's not very fair is it? It's kind of like trying to find a needle in a haystack, except the needle moves when it choses to."
"Just shut up!"
"I think I'll just skip the search and send you straight to your death. Don't forget to tell Genkai how much we miss her!" and Toguro launched his attack, his stupid fingers again. They came around the back and thru Kuwabara's legs and arms. Toguro lifted Kuwabara and then pulled him to the ground. Hard.
"You bastard!" yelled Yusuke.
"Now's your chance to cry and beg for your life just like Genkai did before my brother killed her!"
"Liar," grunted Kuwabara. Juri began to count.
"You can stop, I have other plans for this one that don't include him living to see the end of this match!"
"I'm sorry sir, but I have to count," said Juri nervously.
"Then you will end up next to him!" and she kept her mouth shut after that, "The funny thing is, even if you could stand up, which you can't, there's no way you can beat me. You see there will never be a way to pinpoint my vital organs because they never stay in one place for very long."
"Whether it's in this fight or the next fight Toguro, know this: I will beat you."
"I was going to play with you a while longer, but your voice grows irksome. Perhaps I'll just cut out your tongue," and he changed his unused hand into a blade of sorts. Fuck.
"Kuwabara..." Yusuke trailed.
"Shit..." San trailed herself. She was standing with Yusuke, not liking the way this was turning out.
Toguro was laughing, "My mother always wanted me to become a surgeon. It's a pity I played hookie the day we dissected frogs. Well, here goes," and he launched his weapon at Kuwabara. It looked to San that he was up to something. She looked and then saw it. The hilt. He was trying to reach it.
"Come to papa!" he shouted, using his energy to summon it. Toguro stopped, looking behind him startled.
"Huh? What is that?"
"It's another round of slicing for the bad guy! Good bye," said Kuwabara menacingly. The sword sliced at Toguro once again and landed in Kuwabara's hand. Toguro was down and then Kuwabara told Juri to take a count. She didn't even make it to two.
"There's no need for that young lady," said Toguro, "You are quite the slow learner Kuwabara. I thought we already established that my body doesn't like to go to pieces so it doesn't," and he began to re-attach itself once more.
"Too bad. It's a look you deserve," and Kuwabara lifted the sword above his head.
"I've been very sporting. You know I've told you exactly how to end my life and yet you've been unable to do it."
The sword in Kuwabara's hand began to change. It looked like a huge tennis racket, "I've thought about what you said earlier Toguro, and you're right, I have no way of knowing where your organs are hiding. So I'll just pound everything all at once."
San finally saw fear in the eyes of the enemy. She smiled, liking the look of it on him, "Stay back!" he cried.
Kuwabara walked up to him, "Well since we're sharing here, my mother always wanted me to be an exterminator. So now, it's time to make her proud of me. Spirit fly swatter!" and he struck Toguro with full force. It was truly amazing. When the smoke cleared there was nothing left but a pile of rubble. Juri declared Kuwabara the winner and San breathed a sigh of relief. Kuwabara walked back towards the team, the rest of them walking up to him as well.
Yusuke laughed, "It's about time you won a fight. That was awesome," he complimented. Kuwabara just kept walking with that pissed off look on his face, "You alright there man?" but Kuwabara ignored him and then punched Yusuke across the face. He was knocked back a few steps and then turned back to his friend, "What was that for?"
"I thought we were a team, but I guess I'm just one big joke to you all aren't I? Well this joke has feelings! Genkai meant a lot to me to!" explained Kuwabara, walking up to Yusuke again and grabbing him by the shirt, "Did you all just sit around and laugh about how clueless I was? Is that how you get your kicks Urameshi? Huh?" But Yusuke was silent, "Answer me!"
Kurama walked up, "Kuwabara, listen to me," he spoke softly. San knew that voice, it was the one he used to calm her when she was upset.
"This doesn't concern you!"
"Yusuke did not tell Hiei or me either. We were left to detect her passing for ourselves."
"Yeah, and what about San?"
"Her connection with Genkai is how she knew, and her sorrowful howls were how I became aware of the situation."
"Is that true?" Kuwabara demanded of Yusuke.
"I didn't tell anyone. She died in my arms..."
"Then what?"
"San is taking her place, temporarily... At least, that's what I told myself. I guess I thought if I never said it, it wouldn't have to be real. I'd like to think I know better than that now. The only way to move on is to give her death the reverence she deserves and give grief where its due. But that's why I couldn't tell you. I'm sorry you had to find out the way you did Kuwabara, and I'm sorry you felt like we punk'd you, but I can't apologize for dealing with this the only way I know how," and with those words, Yusuke walked up to the ring.
"Urameshi," said Kuwabara, turning slightly. Yusuke turned to look at his friend, "Win this."
"Right."
...
"This is bullshit, it's been eight years and you still cannot even change into a human form. What kind of legend are you?" the old woman yells at her. It is true, she is still having trouble changing her form, "If you can't even manage a human form, I'm simply just going to release you to the wild, because there is no way Moriko cannot change herself after this long. Okay, so you needed two years to replenish some of your strength, but what's your excuse for the last four years? No wonder you winded up here with dead kids and no mate. If I were you, I wouldn't bother finding him, save yourself the embarassment of showing him what a failure you are!" the old womans words are harsh, and she is stunned that such words would leave her mouth. She powers up in anger, forcing the image of herself in her mind. She releases her power and no longer feels fur on her skin. The old woman smirks at her, "Much better, I knew anger would get you. Now let's see..."
She tries to walk to a mirror, but falls in an attempt to use hind legs again, "I'm me again..." she trails. Something doesn't feel quite right. She no longer has a tail, and her ears have gone as well. She observes her hair, noticing it is not the same colour as before, her voice sounds younger.
"You're an eight year old human girl. You're powers are still weak and cannot return you to your demon form. This is better anyway, at least now when I send you into humanity, you'll be able to blend in better. Now stand up, no leader should ever be groveling on their knees!" the pink haired woman commands. She stands taller than the woman in front of her. The woman walks towards her, and then chants in a language she cannot understand. Her mentor places her hands on either side of her ankles, and a yellow glow surrounds them. She does the same for her wrists, and the power binds them together. She falls to the ground once more.
"What have you done to me?" she asks in confusion.
"Spirit cuffs. If you ever hope to regain your powers, you'll need to keep these on as long as possible. If you release them too early, then your screwed, and it's not my problem. So long as these stay on, they will hide your limitless energy. You're a human for now, so you no longer deal with your demon energy, you instead have reiki."
"So, basically, I will be getting stronger with my powers locked inside?"
"Exactly. Now, you'll need a name. Your hair looks like the sun, and you've been alive for a long time. San Chiya. I can already see you feeding your energy off the sun."
"What do you mean? I feed my energy off of the moon."
"As a human you don't. Now, come see me when you can walk and we'll see how much training you actually remember form your past life," the woman commands, walking away. She is left on the ground, struggling with stand properly.
...
Yusuke was standing in the ring, the moment of truth about to begin. To everyone's surprise, Sakyo had walked up instead of Toguro. He walked up to Juri, taking the microphone from her.
"I'd like to place on last bet before the last match begins. Of course being the team owner, I'm going to wager on Team Toguro. As for the particular stakes, I offer up my life. I'm doing this as a man of the people, and in that fame I must always strive to give the people the competition they desire. Of course this will only work if the team owner and the tournament committee can agree to my terms," Sakyo finished, turning to Koenma.
"His head's gone haywire, who just goes and bet's their own life like that?" said Kuwabara.
"Yeah, I'll do it!" piped up Koenma. San looked at him in alarm. Was he stupid? "I accept your challenge, I am placing my life on Yusuke to win."
"Koenma!" Yusuke yelled at him.
"Now, I know how you feel about me, but please don't let that get in your way. At least look like your trying to win."
"Are you stupid? You do something like betting your life and then get to be sarcastic about it?" San questioned, walking up to him.
"I don't see why your objecting, it sounds like something you would do."
"I wouldn't bet my life and then act like its nothing! My life was in danger unintentionally at the beginning of this tournament and I wasn't going around acting like everything was okay!"
"Enough San," Kurama commanded. She knew it wasn't a suggestion, that stern look in his eye and the tone of voice. He wasn't pack leader, that he knew, but she could only get away with so much with him as her lover. She sighed, dropping the subject.
"Attention everyone!" said the voice over the big speaker, "The tournament committee will take ten minutes to consider this!" and that meant that there was extra time before the final match. Toguro and Sakyo walked away, while her team stayed put. What was the use of leaving? Ten minutes wasn't very long anyway, and it seemed to just fly by. San spent it thinking about this next match, and Kuwabara's fate. She was hoping it wouldn't come down to it, but she knew that it would depend solely on Yusuke. She turned and looked at her mate. He was talking amongst the rest of the team. If he only knew how much she truly loved him, and how upset she was that she might die in the next few hours. It seemed unfair, she had just found him again, but she knew that she had to do this. Kuwabara couldn't die, there was no way she could allow it. She would never be able to live with herself knowing that she had the power to stop this, not again. Toguro and Sakyo had returned. The last fighters were standing in the ring, Juri just about to declare the match to begin when they heard a familiar laugh. No way... It was the elder Toguro, he rose from the stage.
"I'm willing to bet that you weren't expecting to see me. At least not in this life time!" he yelled, continuing to laugh.
"I killed you, I know I killed you, why won't you die!" said Kuwabara in disbelief.
"Perception of death is different from reality. The simplest mind will believe what it wants to. Before my wounds were fatal, I liquefied and seeped thru the stage. I then waited to hear that the betting was closed, just so I could emerge triumphantly. We're going to be rich! You and your pals should know by now that you can't defeat my brother and me unless we want you to. Fortunately my brother wanted to beat Genkai, but we all know what happened there," San changed into her wolf form. She was growling, baring her teeth at this demon. She was sick of his insults towards Genkai, "It's a shame you couldn't have cradled her body in your arms when she was younger. She was a real wild cat those days, and not just in the heat of battle if you know what I mean. The things she did with my brother, hm, I wouldn't have minded having a pass at her myself... back then anyway. You might get a chance yourself, after we send you back to her," San's energy was powering up fast. Fuck this guy!
"Let's go!" Kuwabara was also angry.
"It's not your fight," she heard Kurama say. She was surprised he wasn't there trying to restrain her.
"The hell it isn't!"
"The call is not left to the interloper."
"Huh?"
"Only those two can determine how this match will be fought."
"Huh?"
"You'll see."
"What will it be brother? Any weapon you want. A dagger? A sword? A semi-automatic machine gun? As long as we work together, this competition is in our grasp!" said the elder Toguro. The younger brother was was looking at the menacing tawny eyes of San, she could tell. He walked up to his older brother.
"No," he stated simply, and then nodded at San. The elder Toguro was protesting, but San lunged with demon speed and tore at his flesh. For everything he did to Kuwabara, and all the shit he said about Genkai, she would get her revenge. She then threw the mangled body towards the younger Toguro, who merely kicked him with little force. The demon went flying up towards the top of the stadium screaming. He landed on his feet and then lunged towards San.
"How could you? Letting that bitch attack me! I'm your older brother and you kicked me you son of a bitch! Your own brother! I'm going to kill the bitch and then come for you!" he shrieked. Kurama noticed she wasn't paying attention, she was calm and not moving.
"San!" he yelled to her, hoping she would see in time. But the younger Toguro just punched him, saving his mate. He killed him, his body completely leaving the stadium.
"I'm sorry but blood can only run so thick. This will be a fair fight between us, down to the letter. This time, we fight for real," said Toguro. He looked down at San and then nodded at her again. She ran of the ring and towards her mate, changing back to her human form once she reached him.
"Mind telling me what that was all about?" he questioned her, as she wiped the blood from her face.
"I don't think you want to know, its the worst tasting thing I've ever had the pleasure of massacring," she replied.
"I meant with the younger Toguro."
"You're giving out an awful lot of commands lately..."
"San."
"Alright, it was nothing, just a mutual respect for Genkai. He understood my rage and let me get it out of my system, probably so that I wouldn't fuck up his match with Yusuke."
"I understand. As a wolf you should have more patience than that."
"Yeah well, since when have I ever been an ordinary wolf?"
"We'll need to work on controlling your rage."
"Good idea, let's try that out if we make it alive."
He sighed, deciding not to argue with her anymore. He instead wrapped an arm around her, and held her close. They watched at the match was about to begin, the one that determined their fate.
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"Bet you didn't expect that one did ya?" he said to the elder Toguro.
"The energy drawn in by that sword strengthens Kuwabara's body, improves both his offense and defense. If Toguro doesn't realize that, Kuwabara may actually have a chance," said Kurama.
"What an amazing thing," stated San.
"Hn. I believe I've told before how infuriating that is," said Hiei. She ignored him.
"If there's anyway to bring you down Toguro, I'll find it!" yelled Kuwabara, charging at the short demon.
"That weapon looks awfully dangerous. Try not to slip," said Toguro. The ground under him then began cracking, and it was heading towards Kuwabara. What was he up to? Kuwabara continued his charge and made a direct hit, slicing his enemy in half. While it looked good, San didn't trust it. There was something bothering her about it.
"Hey, um, did Kuwabara just win?" asked Yusuke.
"I don't know," said Kurama.
"Hey, I'm really incredible, I beat a Toguro brother in one attack!" he was basically patting himself on the back.
"No," said San, glaring at the ring.
"San?" asked Kurama.
"Yeah, I know it's hard to believe, but can't you at least be happy for the guy? I mean, use your eyes," said Yusuke.
"No, it was too easy. He didn't even try to defend himself, just stood and waited. He's not dead, he's still out there," she explained.
"Yeah, he's right there, split in half!"
"We shall see," she knew this was too easy. She believed that Kuwabara did have the strength to defeat him, but not that easy. The reputation proceeded them, there was no way he could finish him off that easily. Juri walked up to Toguro and started to declare Kuwabara the winner. Before she could finish her statement, Kuwabara was struck from the back and thru the chest with something sharp. She knew it. They had just missed his vitals, that she was happy about. He dropped the hilt and fell to the ground, the power leaving. When the weapon had retreated, it was coming from the ground, it was... a hand? Hands and hilts, what was this world coming to? The hand pulled the owner of the body to the surface. Was it a surprise that it was Toguro?
"What the?" questioned Yusuke.
"If you've watched any of his battles, you would know that he can extend any part of his body. I don't know how far it can go, but I do know that it makes it hard to hit him directly and actually injure him," San explained.
"You are a very simple minded child, it feels so good to trick you," said Toguro.
Kuwabara grunted, "It's supposed to be one on one."
Toguro began to laugh and he pulled the look a like from the ground it appeared. It turned out that what Kuwabara hit was merely just an extension of Toguro's arm. Bastard, "Oh I do assure you that my decoy and I are apart of the same body. You got me, but when you see the truth of it, it's just a paper cut. I feel the sensation of pain, but it's quite unlike yours. You see I can move my body's vital organs anywhere I please," and he proved it but moving his brain it looked like out and bringing his heart to stick out under the skin from his hand, "When I see your attack coming I simply adjust so that all you hit is flesh. It makes injuring me very complicated."
"All you are is a little freak show!"
Toguro then reached out with his fingers and grabbed the hilt that Kuwabara was carrying, looking at it up close, "It is truly an exquisite sword. You inherit from her?"
"Who?"
"You would think she would leave something like this for one of her apprentices, but I guess Yusuke and the Queen weren't strong enough. Pity."
"You don't know what you're talking about, Genkai is just sick!"
"Oh that's perfectly sad. Your friends have been keeping secrets. Genkai is dead, she has been for two days."
The shock along Kuwabara's face hurt San, "No! It can't be... Why... didn't I see that? I see... Everybody really did know about it but me. They kept me out on purpose, they didn't think I could take it," but Kuwabara's monologue was interrupted by Toguro extending his fingers back into Kuwabara's flesh, striking him near the heart. San gasped.
Toguro laughed, "Don't cry Kuwabara, it isn't your fault the old witch couldn't stay. Go and question her yourself if you don't believe me. Another few inches and I can pick out your heart," and he dug the fingers in further.
"No..." San trailed.
"Kuwabara!" yelled Yusuke.
Toguro retreated his fingers and then started laughing again, "What a sad life when your friends aren't even straight with you. But I will tell you everything about the frailty of your human kind. It's the story of a young impressionable human girl named Genkai. She was the most beautiful girl in all the land," began Toguro, creating an image of a younger Genkai with his right arm. San began to growl, "She was a fighter who wanted to be the very best in the world. Then she met a man named Toguro who also wanted to be the best. He agreed to play with her. They did everything together, so much that he nearly forgot his own brother. The woman and the man were even in love. But then the woman became ugly like a prune and no one wanted to be around her-"
"Brother," the younger Toguro sounded as if he was warning him. San was not happy with this.
"Oh it's okay, he's just a little anxious because this next chapter is his favourite part in the story. You see the man became a demon who would stay strong and never become a prune. The ugly woman became extremely jealous of the handsome man and went to fight him, but she was not strong anymore. So the man was happy to murder her," Toguro finishing by stretching out his left fingers to pierce his own puppet.
"This guy is seriously fucked up," San gritted between her teeth.
"Muttering some final rubbish to her failed apprentice, the womans soul drifted away to some quiet corner of hell. We lived happily ever after," and Toguro laughed after his final words. San was growling, her whole body shaking with anger. How she wished she could sink her jaws into this youki's flesh.
"That's a load of shit! Genkai wasn't jealous, Toguro killed her cause he couldn't have her!" yelled Yusuke.
Kuwabara was on his feet, his energy powering up immensely, "I'm going to kill you, you better know that!"
Toguro put his hand back to normal, "That's very nice enthusiasm, but you must have forgotten that I still have your weapon. I'd give it back but helplessness is more fun."
"You're honourless."
"Yes I am, good thing that's not what this tournament is about!" and he turned his arm into a piercing device, going straight for Kuwabara's chest. It didn't go thru, Kuwabara's power making it unable to break, "What's happening here? I can't pierce your skin!"
"I see! Kuwabara's strength and his resolve appear to be closely related!" said Kurama.
"You have no soul, you're just a nasty little waste of space. Now..." and Kuwabara powered his energy, shooting it in tiny daggers it looked like, "DIE!" The attack sliced at Toguro, separating his limbs from the body.
"That was nice," commented Yusuke.
"Yes, what an-"
"Don't even finish that sentence," interrupted Koenma. San smiled wide at him. Juri began the count, actually doing her job.
"Maybe honour doesn't matter to your kind Toguro, but it does to me," said Kuwabara, turning to walk back to the rest of the team. Just as Juri reached eight, she gasped, Kuwabara turning around in shock. Toguro was still alive.
"Stop counting! Do you really think its over? I was only surprised for a moment, I didn't think you could attack me that way. I should be more careful," said Toguro, beginning to reattach himself.
"What are you?" asked Kuwabara in disbelief.
"Good question, I'd like to know that myself. I suppose you should ask the tournament committee who granted my wish in the first place. I knew I'd become a demon, the rest was just trial and error. You better conserve your energy from now on, you're already hurt and I have yet to be," said Toguro, standing now that he was put together again.
"You're invincible."
"The only chance you have of beating me Kuwabara is to pierce either my heart or my brain. But that's not very fair is it? It's kind of like trying to find a needle in a haystack, except the needle moves when it choses to."
"Just shut up!"
"I think I'll just skip the search and send you straight to your death. Don't forget to tell Genkai how much we miss her!" and Toguro launched his attack, his stupid fingers again. They came around the back and thru Kuwabara's legs and arms. Toguro lifted Kuwabara and then pulled him to the ground. Hard.
"You bastard!" yelled Yusuke.
"Now's your chance to cry and beg for your life just like Genkai did before my brother killed her!"
"Liar," grunted Kuwabara. Juri began to count.
"You can stop, I have other plans for this one that don't include him living to see the end of this match!"
"I'm sorry sir, but I have to count," said Juri nervously.
"Then you will end up next to him!" and she kept her mouth shut after that, "The funny thing is, even if you could stand up, which you can't, there's no way you can beat me. You see there will never be a way to pinpoint my vital organs because they never stay in one place for very long."
"Whether it's in this fight or the next fight Toguro, know this: I will beat you."
"I was going to play with you a while longer, but your voice grows irksome. Perhaps I'll just cut out your tongue," and he changed his unused hand into a blade of sorts. Fuck.
"Kuwabara..." Yusuke trailed.
"Shit..." San trailed herself. She was standing with Yusuke, not liking the way this was turning out.
Toguro was laughing, "My mother always wanted me to become a surgeon. It's a pity I played hookie the day we dissected frogs. Well, here goes," and he launched his weapon at Kuwabara. It looked to San that he was up to something. She looked and then saw it. The hilt. He was trying to reach it.
"Come to papa!" he shouted, using his energy to summon it. Toguro stopped, looking behind him startled.
"Huh? What is that?"
"It's another round of slicing for the bad guy! Good bye," said Kuwabara menacingly. The sword sliced at Toguro once again and landed in Kuwabara's hand. Toguro was down and then Kuwabara told Juri to take a count. She didn't even make it to two.
"There's no need for that young lady," said Toguro, "You are quite the slow learner Kuwabara. I thought we already established that my body doesn't like to go to pieces so it doesn't," and he began to re-attach itself once more.
"Too bad. It's a look you deserve," and Kuwabara lifted the sword above his head.
"I've been very sporting. You know I've told you exactly how to end my life and yet you've been unable to do it."
The sword in Kuwabara's hand began to change. It looked like a huge tennis racket, "I've thought about what you said earlier Toguro, and you're right, I have no way of knowing where your organs are hiding. So I'll just pound everything all at once."
San finally saw fear in the eyes of the enemy. She smiled, liking the look of it on him, "Stay back!" he cried.
Kuwabara walked up to him, "Well since we're sharing here, my mother always wanted me to be an exterminator. So now, it's time to make her proud of me. Spirit fly swatter!" and he struck Toguro with full force. It was truly amazing. When the smoke cleared there was nothing left but a pile of rubble. Juri declared Kuwabara the winner and San breathed a sigh of relief. Kuwabara walked back towards the team, the rest of them walking up to him as well.
Yusuke laughed, "It's about time you won a fight. That was awesome," he complimented. Kuwabara just kept walking with that pissed off look on his face, "You alright there man?" but Kuwabara ignored him and then punched Yusuke across the face. He was knocked back a few steps and then turned back to his friend, "What was that for?"
"I thought we were a team, but I guess I'm just one big joke to you all aren't I? Well this joke has feelings! Genkai meant a lot to me to!" explained Kuwabara, walking up to Yusuke again and grabbing him by the shirt, "Did you all just sit around and laugh about how clueless I was? Is that how you get your kicks Urameshi? Huh?" But Yusuke was silent, "Answer me!"
Kurama walked up, "Kuwabara, listen to me," he spoke softly. San knew that voice, it was the one he used to calm her when she was upset.
"This doesn't concern you!"
"Yusuke did not tell Hiei or me either. We were left to detect her passing for ourselves."
"Yeah, and what about San?"
"Her connection with Genkai is how she knew, and her sorrowful howls were how I became aware of the situation."
"Is that true?" Kuwabara demanded of Yusuke.
"I didn't tell anyone. She died in my arms..."
"Then what?"
"San is taking her place, temporarily... At least, that's what I told myself. I guess I thought if I never said it, it wouldn't have to be real. I'd like to think I know better than that now. The only way to move on is to give her death the reverence she deserves and give grief where its due. But that's why I couldn't tell you. I'm sorry you had to find out the way you did Kuwabara, and I'm sorry you felt like we punk'd you, but I can't apologize for dealing with this the only way I know how," and with those words, Yusuke walked up to the ring.
"Urameshi," said Kuwabara, turning slightly. Yusuke turned to look at his friend, "Win this."
"Right."
...
"This is bullshit, it's been eight years and you still cannot even change into a human form. What kind of legend are you?" the old woman yells at her. It is true, she is still having trouble changing her form, "If you can't even manage a human form, I'm simply just going to release you to the wild, because there is no way Moriko cannot change herself after this long. Okay, so you needed two years to replenish some of your strength, but what's your excuse for the last four years? No wonder you winded up here with dead kids and no mate. If I were you, I wouldn't bother finding him, save yourself the embarassment of showing him what a failure you are!" the old womans words are harsh, and she is stunned that such words would leave her mouth. She powers up in anger, forcing the image of herself in her mind. She releases her power and no longer feels fur on her skin. The old woman smirks at her, "Much better, I knew anger would get you. Now let's see..."
She tries to walk to a mirror, but falls in an attempt to use hind legs again, "I'm me again..." she trails. Something doesn't feel quite right. She no longer has a tail, and her ears have gone as well. She observes her hair, noticing it is not the same colour as before, her voice sounds younger.
"You're an eight year old human girl. You're powers are still weak and cannot return you to your demon form. This is better anyway, at least now when I send you into humanity, you'll be able to blend in better. Now stand up, no leader should ever be groveling on their knees!" the pink haired woman commands. She stands taller than the woman in front of her. The woman walks towards her, and then chants in a language she cannot understand. Her mentor places her hands on either side of her ankles, and a yellow glow surrounds them. She does the same for her wrists, and the power binds them together. She falls to the ground once more.
"What have you done to me?" she asks in confusion.
"Spirit cuffs. If you ever hope to regain your powers, you'll need to keep these on as long as possible. If you release them too early, then your screwed, and it's not my problem. So long as these stay on, they will hide your limitless energy. You're a human for now, so you no longer deal with your demon energy, you instead have reiki."
"So, basically, I will be getting stronger with my powers locked inside?"
"Exactly. Now, you'll need a name. Your hair looks like the sun, and you've been alive for a long time. San Chiya. I can already see you feeding your energy off the sun."
"What do you mean? I feed my energy off of the moon."
"As a human you don't. Now, come see me when you can walk and we'll see how much training you actually remember form your past life," the woman commands, walking away. She is left on the ground, struggling with stand properly.
...
Yusuke was standing in the ring, the moment of truth about to begin. To everyone's surprise, Sakyo had walked up instead of Toguro. He walked up to Juri, taking the microphone from her.
"I'd like to place on last bet before the last match begins. Of course being the team owner, I'm going to wager on Team Toguro. As for the particular stakes, I offer up my life. I'm doing this as a man of the people, and in that fame I must always strive to give the people the competition they desire. Of course this will only work if the team owner and the tournament committee can agree to my terms," Sakyo finished, turning to Koenma.
"His head's gone haywire, who just goes and bet's their own life like that?" said Kuwabara.
"Yeah, I'll do it!" piped up Koenma. San looked at him in alarm. Was he stupid? "I accept your challenge, I am placing my life on Yusuke to win."
"Koenma!" Yusuke yelled at him.
"Now, I know how you feel about me, but please don't let that get in your way. At least look like your trying to win."
"Are you stupid? You do something like betting your life and then get to be sarcastic about it?" San questioned, walking up to him.
"I don't see why your objecting, it sounds like something you would do."
"I wouldn't bet my life and then act like its nothing! My life was in danger unintentionally at the beginning of this tournament and I wasn't going around acting like everything was okay!"
"Enough San," Kurama commanded. She knew it wasn't a suggestion, that stern look in his eye and the tone of voice. He wasn't pack leader, that he knew, but she could only get away with so much with him as her lover. She sighed, dropping the subject.
"Attention everyone!" said the voice over the big speaker, "The tournament committee will take ten minutes to consider this!" and that meant that there was extra time before the final match. Toguro and Sakyo walked away, while her team stayed put. What was the use of leaving? Ten minutes wasn't very long anyway, and it seemed to just fly by. San spent it thinking about this next match, and Kuwabara's fate. She was hoping it wouldn't come down to it, but she knew that it would depend solely on Yusuke. She turned and looked at her mate. He was talking amongst the rest of the team. If he only knew how much she truly loved him, and how upset she was that she might die in the next few hours. It seemed unfair, she had just found him again, but she knew that she had to do this. Kuwabara couldn't die, there was no way she could allow it. She would never be able to live with herself knowing that she had the power to stop this, not again. Toguro and Sakyo had returned. The last fighters were standing in the ring, Juri just about to declare the match to begin when they heard a familiar laugh. No way... It was the elder Toguro, he rose from the stage.
"I'm willing to bet that you weren't expecting to see me. At least not in this life time!" he yelled, continuing to laugh.
"I killed you, I know I killed you, why won't you die!" said Kuwabara in disbelief.
"Perception of death is different from reality. The simplest mind will believe what it wants to. Before my wounds were fatal, I liquefied and seeped thru the stage. I then waited to hear that the betting was closed, just so I could emerge triumphantly. We're going to be rich! You and your pals should know by now that you can't defeat my brother and me unless we want you to. Fortunately my brother wanted to beat Genkai, but we all know what happened there," San changed into her wolf form. She was growling, baring her teeth at this demon. She was sick of his insults towards Genkai, "It's a shame you couldn't have cradled her body in your arms when she was younger. She was a real wild cat those days, and not just in the heat of battle if you know what I mean. The things she did with my brother, hm, I wouldn't have minded having a pass at her myself... back then anyway. You might get a chance yourself, after we send you back to her," San's energy was powering up fast. Fuck this guy!
"Let's go!" Kuwabara was also angry.
"It's not your fight," she heard Kurama say. She was surprised he wasn't there trying to restrain her.
"The hell it isn't!"
"The call is not left to the interloper."
"Huh?"
"Only those two can determine how this match will be fought."
"Huh?"
"You'll see."
"What will it be brother? Any weapon you want. A dagger? A sword? A semi-automatic machine gun? As long as we work together, this competition is in our grasp!" said the elder Toguro. The younger brother was was looking at the menacing tawny eyes of San, she could tell. He walked up to his older brother.
"No," he stated simply, and then nodded at San. The elder Toguro was protesting, but San lunged with demon speed and tore at his flesh. For everything he did to Kuwabara, and all the shit he said about Genkai, she would get her revenge. She then threw the mangled body towards the younger Toguro, who merely kicked him with little force. The demon went flying up towards the top of the stadium screaming. He landed on his feet and then lunged towards San.
"How could you? Letting that bitch attack me! I'm your older brother and you kicked me you son of a bitch! Your own brother! I'm going to kill the bitch and then come for you!" he shrieked. Kurama noticed she wasn't paying attention, she was calm and not moving.
"San!" he yelled to her, hoping she would see in time. But the younger Toguro just punched him, saving his mate. He killed him, his body completely leaving the stadium.
"I'm sorry but blood can only run so thick. This will be a fair fight between us, down to the letter. This time, we fight for real," said Toguro. He looked down at San and then nodded at her again. She ran of the ring and towards her mate, changing back to her human form once she reached him.
"Mind telling me what that was all about?" he questioned her, as she wiped the blood from her face.
"I don't think you want to know, its the worst tasting thing I've ever had the pleasure of massacring," she replied.
"I meant with the younger Toguro."
"You're giving out an awful lot of commands lately..."
"San."
"Alright, it was nothing, just a mutual respect for Genkai. He understood my rage and let me get it out of my system, probably so that I wouldn't fuck up his match with Yusuke."
"I understand. As a wolf you should have more patience than that."
"Yeah well, since when have I ever been an ordinary wolf?"
"We'll need to work on controlling your rage."
"Good idea, let's try that out if we make it alive."
He sighed, deciding not to argue with her anymore. He instead wrapped an arm around her, and held her close. They watched at the match was about to begin, the one that determined their fate.
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