Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ The Demon Summoner ❯ Going Back to Earth ( Chapter 2 )

And train for 12 years they did. But within those 12 years, time did change and not for the better. As the fighters were in Spirit World, training, the rest of the humans remained down on earth which had become a living Hell in more ways than one. Midori was beginning to wonder if there were still humans down there on earth every night as she looked down at the world from Koenma's office. Placing his hand on her shoulder for reassurance, the Spirit World leader stared out past through the same windows as she, “Don't worry. The human race is strong in times like these. They are pulling together to help one another out as we speak.”

 

“Are you sure?” Midori asked looking up at him past her back braided brown and white streaked hair.

 

Koenma offered her a sincere smile at most, “Midori, you will be the hope for this world. It's best not to be pessimistic.”

 

A brief nod was all the woman could offer him before she left his room to walk about the many halls of his castle to the room she was put in. It was originally for storage but Koenma cleaned it out for her and the others since he had nowhere else for them to stay with earth so dangerous to travel to now. As she opened the door, she found Yuske sitting on his bed in the far top right corner in the medium square sized room, lost in thought it would appear. Midori said nothing at first as she stood there in the doorway comparing him from how he used to be to what he had become now. He had gotten a lot bigger and more powerful from when he was just a teenager. His Spirit Energy had matured as had he. Gone from being a knuckle headed 14 year old to an angered 26 year old. Yuske had damned himself for all those years because he felt responsible for not being able to stop what had occurred. It wasn't that he had turned cold he just seemed angry all the time and most times had a hard time controlling it. Feeling that someone was there, Yuske looked up through his black hair that was touching his ears and no longer gelled leaving it to hang freely over his sculpted face. He had parted it in the center so his hair wouldn't block his sight. “Midori?” He questioned as he got to his feet, walking over towards her. “What are you doing? You need to get ready for us to hit the road already.”

 

This was the last day of their training and now it was time to go down to earth to do something. Needless to say, Midori was nervous about it and trying to postpone getting ready. But as she was about to voice her mind, Midori's hand ran across the pouch that was tied to her right hip. “I—I'll be ready in a moment, Yuske. Just give me 20 minutes.” Yuske nodded once passing by her so he could check on everyone else. The black trench coat he was wearing flared out behind him as he passed by her. The armor that he wore underneath the coat was given to him by King Yama. He said it would protect Yuske from most attacks from demon levels of all kinds except for S class. But in order for it to work, Yuske would have to spare some of his Spirit Energy sometimes leaving him drained depending on how long it had to function. The armor wasn't anything special looking at it from the outside. It outlined Yuske's body perfectly and was colored silver. Every time Midori looked at it, it reminded her of the armor back in the medieval times but it wasn't as large in the chest area as those old armors.

On the Spirit Detective's way down the hallway, he ran into the others that were dressed a bit more casually than he was. Botan stood there in a cute little outfit. It was a sleeveless maroon top with pink jeans. Her sky blue hair was tied back out of her way as she kept this large mallet over her shoulder. The mallet was fairly large—bigger than Botan herself and was created out of limestone. Small intricate designs decorated her weapon being swirls, circles, and other squiggly lines. She could smash the thing downward either on an opponent or on the ground to send her Spirit Energy outward taking out those she wanted to and were close by. It took a few years for her to learn to use the thing properly due to its incredible size and weight but thanks to 12 years of practicing, she is now the only one who can use it. Her outward appearance didn't change due to the fact she was already a spirit and it didn't modify itself when she took a human form either.

 

Then there was Kaitou who had possibly trained as equally hard as Yuske. Just like Yuske when it came to his demonic friends and Kuwabara's death, Kaitou had revenge listed on his things as well thanks to Miya's death. He learned how to get past the obstacle of just taking souls by his challenger producing a sound or word and learned how to just tear the souls from the person's body at will. However, the power was extremely limited. Kaitou could only perform this task once depending on the strength of the demons. If lower class demons, he could do several at once—if higher, he could only do one and then become powerless. It was quite the risk but one he was willing to take. His black eyes lay upon Yuske's brown making the two exchange glances for awhile realizing that their time had finally come. The former straight A student stood there wearing a normal short sleeve white shirt with jeans and tennis shoes. He wore a coat over his shirt that was colored externally navy blue. On his left wrist he wore something that looked like a bracelet with a circular object that could be touched once to produce a shield large enough to conceal all the team members. But as far as how well the shield worked, it had its limits. The flaw in the shield, somewhat, was nothing could get in but nothing could get out either. As far as his external appearance, there was no major difference. Maybe he looked a bit more intimidating due to being forced to work a lot harder than usual but that was all. He still wore glasses that had that annoying habit of sliding down his face and the same curly coal black hair.

 

Yana stood next to Kaitou. Yuske looked him up and down for a moment as he passed by, grateful at his new haircut he got four years back being that he finally gotten rid of that tall hair of his and cut it down so it would frame his face better. As far as his copy technique, Yana was given a pendent that he wore around his neck that could remember every person he ever touched. This would make it easier for the others if they managed to snag a higher classed demon and had Yana take its outward appearances. Other than that, he wore an un-tucked button up gray long sleeve shirt with pants that flowed over his sneakers just a bit. In order to hold his foes down so he could get their ability if they decided to struggle, Yana was also taught to use double whips that would allow him to hold down the creature if need be.

Next and last in the line was Kido who hadn't really changed much at all in appearance either. Sure, he looked a bit older in the face but that was all. King Yama blessed him with a special item as well which was the velvet cape he wore over his black shirt. The cape could deflect attacks but could only be hit so many times before being destroyed, so Kido had to use it wisely. His jeans were slightly torn in the knee area from all the kneeling he had done by praying for things to go well on earth while they were training. As far as his technique, he could still paralyze things by stepping on their shadow and that never changed. Genkai could not find a way for that to get any stronger which was why she sent him to go see King Yama for assistance; thus blessing him with the cape. “So,” Kido began putting his hands behind his back, “This is it?”

 

“This is it,” Yuske assured him, joining him as he leaned against the wall.

 

“Where is Midori?” Botan asked, putting the mallet down gently so she could lean on it out of pure boredom.

 

“Getting ready,” The Spirit Detective answered closing his eyes, crossing his arms over his armored chest, “Which means, going to see King Yama.”

 

Midori got on the attire she was asked to wear. She felt a bit offended to wear it since it didn't seem like battle mode material but it was something other than her old clothing that she had worn out during training. It was a high slit sea green dress with a strapless top. Another piece of clothing draped over the dress which was colored a darker bluish green color. The shoes she wore were odd looking boots being that the straps looked like they came from fancy high heel type shoes; wrapped about her leg in straps, clipping under her kneecap. Having to braid back her knee long hair, Midori chained the end of her long braid with a heavy circular, golden ring. Wearing it did put a bit of pressure on her body but she did it for the sake of everyone else. Looking at it in the mirror she sighed softly, “For all the burdens you have bore through these years, I will bear this one thing and try to keep my head held high like you few surviving humans have…”

 

Looking back over at the pouch she had taken off for a moment so she could get ready, Midori sighed yet again as she reached for it. Opening it, she brought out a few of the ice shards that had refused to melt or min back together. Thinking back on the ice rose it once formed was brought to a quick close as there was soon a knock at the door. Looking over her shoulder quickly, closing her hand at the same pace looking startled, Midori saw it was Koenma. “Midori,” The Spirit World Leader began as he walked towards her, “My father wishes to see you. I will guide you to him.”

 

Midori followed behind Prince Koenma nervously since she had never seen King Yama in all her years and didn't expect to see him before her dying days. This was the highest honor and she feared she would make a fool of herself, forcing her heart to pound quickly. Koenma stopped just outside of the large doors. Standing to the side he outstretched his left arm, “After you.”

 

Midori nodded once as she entered the dark room to see a large figure sitting before her. Knowing that it had to be King Yama, the young woman quickly got to her knees, bowing before him respectfully. “Midori Chino,” His low voice bellowed throughout the room, “It is the last day of your training and I wish you and your guardians well on your journey. Before you depart, I have this one item to give to you.” Walking to her side again, Koenma placed a staff in front of Midori. She could hear the clanging sound it made once it hit the floor gently. Looking up from her bowed pose, she saw the golden staff and at the end of the staff was a circular object colored sky blue. The orb branched out into what looked like sky blue wings making the weapon look like it would take flight. “Use this staff to call forth the souls you will in turn release from imprisonment. Also, use the training you learned to defend yourself with it as well, when your guardians are unable to protect you.” He was referring to the martial arts Genkai taught her. Since she didn't have Spirit Energy like the others, she had to do something to defend herself.

 

Getting to her feet eventually, taking the staff with her, she kept her head bowed before him. Not knowing whether it would be alright or not, Midori thanked him softly, “Thank you, my Lord…I won't let you and the others down.”

 

The guardians waited patiently for Midori to make her entrance just outside of Spirit World. “Here she comes,” Kido replied seeing her and Koenma walking down the road that the team was waiting on.

 

Midori soon made it to the group, heading straight towards Kido since she felt safest around him and was still feeling fretful about this adventure. Koenma stood before the team trying to put on a smile as he was internally frowning in worry. “You all know what you must do. Protect Midori when she herself cannot. She is the only one who can release the demons' souls…I made sure of that.”

 

“Where are these demon spirits?” Midori asked unaware unlike the others.

 

“They are in temples spread throughout the earth,” Yana answered for her. The guardians had to be aware of what was going on so they could protect their charge. Midori was merely trained to summon spirits and that lasted a good long while from 12 AM to 12 PM and not giving her much time to brush up on what was happening down below.

 

“Temples?” She asked a bit baffled as to how those were erected.

 

Botan nodded once, digging into her front left pocket to pull out a map as she picked up where Yana left off, “Yes. Over the years the people on earth bound together and constructed temples around the statues in honor of the demons who sacrificed themselves to save mankind. Not to mention in order to preserve them in hopes that they would come back to help yet again, and that is where you come in. The statues are separated all over the world so we have to make at least 9 stops in different places.”

 

“Where is the first stop?” Yuske demanded to know as he looked down through the clouds that surrounded the area beneath the road.

 

“Right here in Tokyo, Japan,” The messenger girl answered putting the map back into place.

 

“All of you…please…everybody is counting on you,” Koenma begged with a now saddened expression, “If you cannot accomplish this task set for you…it is over for the human race.”

 

“We will try our best,” Midori proclaimed as she readied her staff. Turning to the others she nodded once prompting them to do the same. “Let's go—we are ready.”

 

Koenma stayed put near the Spirit World doors watching as the team that had trained went off to stop the madness that had consumed the world. Please…let them succeed.

 

----

 

Japan was a complete mess. Buildings had fallen and rotted away as broken glass, trash, and bodies of demons and humans alike littered the ground. The smell of blood was repulsive, causing Midori to cover her mouth in fear of vomiting. The sky was a constant shade of gray and the clouds always bellowed in thunder, seeming to threaten that it would downpour soon. Sounds of all kinds echoed throughout the dead city but no demon dared to show up.

 

“It's a ghost city…it's really creepy,” Botan whimpered slightly as she kept her mallet near to her.

 

“Be cautious, Botan,” Kido warned as he continued walking at Midori's side, “Just because we cannot see the demons doesn't mean they are not out there.”

 

Botan nodded once in agreement as she pulled the map back out again to pinpoint their location. “Okay, according to this, the temple should be just up ahead.”

 

As the group managed to pass over the destroyed buildings that were blocking their way, they eventually stumbled upon the temple Botan was referring to. It was the only building that was in tact and constructed from possibly destroyed building parts that were recyclable. It was amazing needless to say. It reminded Midori of The Temple of Time from the Legend of Zelda game she used to watch Kido and the others play when it came to looking at it from the outside at least. “It looks like a church,” Midori remarked gazing at the outside.

 

“Temples are holy places,” Kaitou replied as they headed towards the front doors to be let in, “Of course it would look identically to a church.”

 

Getting to the large doors that seemed to go up to a mile high, Kaitou pushed open one of them slowly to make the door creak loudly upon their entrance. The temple on the inside was lit by candles. But as the door opened a bit wider, the people inside turned their attention towards the intruders. They were all kneeling in front of multiple statues of a familiar face but she had a hard time pinpointing what the name was. “She is here!” A woman exclaimed getting to her feet and hurrying over to Yuske and the others.

 

“You have brought the summoner with you?” The same woman asked. She looked the age of 30 or so and hand long shaggy brown hair that was tied back in a down ponytail. Her dark green shirt and jeans look pretty worn out thanks to the years of her having no other attire to wear.

 

“Yes,” Yuske answered, stepping aside to reveal Midori, “She will awaken the demons that once stood up for us.”

 

A man soon showed up, removing himself from where he was kneeling in front of the statue he was praying at. Folding his hands in front of him, he walked over to the guardians and the summoner. “Please—release his soul once more.” Taking Midori's hand into his own, he lead the young woman towards the steps that led up to a door with a rather odd symbol on it. It was circular with a line only outlining the full circle halfway. “We hid the statue in here and have been guarding it very well awaiting your return.”

 

“My return?”

 

“Please enter,” The man begged, “He will explain what you need to know.”

 

Midori was about to ask what and who this `he' was but decided against it as she entered the doors that slid apart for her. Knowing she had to do this alone, Midori went into the small circular room that held the true statue of the demon that was trapped inside. It was a small boy and the statue, if she were to stand next to it, would come right up to her shoulder. It wasn't in a normal pose-the pose that the boy was looked as though he was begging from something from above to not attack him. Obviously, the statue had caught the last pose they took when their souls were sealed away, making the poor child look frightened.

 

The young woman walked over to him and started touching it gently with the tips of her fingers. Looking about the small room, she saw a plaque down on the floor near the front of the statue forcing her to kneel before it to read it first. Running her fingers over what was engraved in it she read aloud, “Rinku.” Staying kneeled before it, Midori intertwined her fingers, bringing them close to her mouth as she closed her eyes to lock herself in silent prayer.

 

She prayed for what felt like hours to her hoping there would be a response as she was promised from Koenma. As soon as she was about to stop, there came a voice, “Why do you cry?”

 

It was the voice of a little boy which prompted Midori to open her eyes quickly to the person speaking to her. Looking up above the statue she saw the soul of the young demon boy, Rinku making her inhale quickly surprised to see him there. It worked! She thought to herself remaining on her knees. Wiping away the tears that had formed during her prayer, Midori lowered her hands down to her chest. “I need your help in restoring this world back to its normal order…”

 

Rinku stood there looking down at her while he played with the one yo-yo in his right hand. “I told Koenma I would help and I will continue to do so,” Rinku replied with a smile.

 

“But there is one thing I don't understand,” Midori remarked looking up at him still, “They said you have been waiting for my return…how did you know about this when you were sealed away before I started my training?”

 

Rinku was silent until a minute or two later when he actually opened his mouth to speak, “I am sorry but there is only so much I can tell you. The other demons will tell you more as you set them free.”

 

“Then…what's with all these people? Why didn't the rogue demons get them?” Midori asked seeming to make the demonic spirit smile.

 

“Ah, you asked the right question,” Rinku replied as he landed right in front of the statue of himself so he could look her in the face. “You know how Yana, Kido, and Kaitou got their abilities?” Midori nodded at his question remembering that once the demon portal began to slowly open, selective few humans began to gain powers. “That is why these humans are here and protecting my soul. Each one of them owns a special power they can use when desperate times call for desperate measures. They have awoken all over the world due to the numerous tears that happened in the world. So, the human race isn't dead yet…it is merely hanging on for someone such as you to arrive. Will you let me join you?”

 

“Please!” Midori begged as her eyes widened at his last question. “I need your help!”

 

“Then I will,” Was the boy's last words as he disappeared into Midori's body making her feel extremely weak and extremely odd.

 

“I sure hope this works,” Botan muttered as her eyes remained on the doors Midori had vanished through.

 

“Koenma would not steer us wrong!” Yuske eventually barked from where he was sitting down near one of the Rinku statues that had been formed in his honor.

 

Before anybody else could open their mouths, the doors finally opened prompting every person in the room to turn Midori's way. She was exhausted—that much could be seen and they could only wonder why. Seeing his childhood friend lean against the doorway prompted Kido to hurry towards her side as his cape flared out behind him. “Are you alright?!” He asked quickly helping her stand.

 

Midori looked up at him smiling softly at his gestures as she nodded once before looking to everyone else who wanted to know if it had worked or not. Holding her staff before her that King Yama blessed her with she nodded again towards everyone else. “It worked…I know have the power of my first demon.” Everyone was relieved and started clapping as some went back to praying to offer their thanks that way. But inside, Midori was a bit worried as her thoughts wondered about her mind. Now…how do I make him protect us?