Redheads at Play=Breath of the Wind

AN= I do not own any of the YYH characters. The scene of Yusuke & Kurama are talking before the fight with Jin is quoted from the Japanese subbed DVD, which I do not own.

ch 3 Revelations

An angry red haze filled his sight. It hurt to talk, much less breathe. Botan helps him down to the ground as the others are called back to the ring. The damnable council that oversees the Tournament has decided to have the next round today, right after they just defeated Dr. Ichigaki's team not even ten minutes ago. So now the council wants Team Urameshi to fight their next round -- without any rest! Kuwabara Kazuma watched as the others were approached by the Team Mashotsukai. All five members wore robes that concealed much, the only thing one could tell was how tall they were, give or take about five inches due to the pointy hoods.

As Team Urameshi watches, one of the robed figures started to have energy swirl about it's figure, within one minute a wind picked up, also circling the figure. Kuwabara thought the energies were familiar but in his weakened state he couldn't confirm it. after only a minute of swirling about it's master, the winds lifted the robes off the figure who never lifted his arms or made any sort of summoning movement. There in front of all stood a humanoid type of demon. He looked quite human with his red hair and wide, energetic eyes. Only the pointed canines and the horn in the middle of his head showed he was not human at all.

Kurama observed as the opponent used his winds to reveal himself. 'What -- he has excellent control of the winds. Could he be the one that ravished Kuwabara-kun?' His thoughts were interrupted when out in the crowds came the yells of "It's Jin, the Wind-Tamer!"

The name struck a memory within Kurama's mind, from a time before the Hunter shot him. Memories from his time before the rebirth as Shuuichi, of the dark games that are involved with the politics of Makai. "Jin, the Wind-Tamer? If that's the case---then don't tell me, those guys are...?"

"You know them?" Yusuke asked in an almost casual way, lifting an eyebrow , showing interest but still facing the enemy.

Staring straight ahead, Kurama answered his team captain without ever taking his eyes off the only revealed member of the opposition. "Yeah, they're famous Youkai. Mashotsukai would seem to be an assumed name. Their identifies are among the Stealthy Figures of the Demon Realm."

That had caught Yusuke's full attention. Turning to face Kurama, he asked "Stealthy Figures? You mean ninjas?"

"There are groups that work behind the scenes among the power struggles between various Youkai, they are known as Demon Realm Ninjas." Kurama thought of who else could be here besides Jin, most of the time this particular group went on missions with a five manned-team. However this faction of the Demon Realm Ninjas have more than several members and not all are male. "These guys are the most feared among them, 'The Specters of Asura.'"

~~~Thirty minutes later~~

Anger and uselessness, those are the two emotions that dominated Kuwabara Kazuma at the moment. Confusion followed close behind. He felt anger at the power-players behind the Dark Tournament, for they not only made his team fight a second time today. Then they interrupted Yusuke's round with Jin for a so-called "medical check" which was a ruse for this Ruka chick to imprison Hiei and Mask. "Ruka called herself 'the Keikai-Master'. Touya is called the Ice-Master, Jin is the Wind-Master." Kuwabara mumbled to Botan from his resting spot in her lap. She had to strain to hear him. "What you wanna bet that Ruka is part of their group?"

Kuwabara felt useless as he watched Kurama fight in three rounds. Kurama won against Gamma and Touya. He was already unconscious when Bakkan entered the ring. Urameshi dealt with that honorless brute, now in his second round, he now faces this 'Wind-Tamer'. Jin is a strong opponent, if it takes all Urameshi's strength to fight Jin --- Well there is still Jin's team captain left, who will be able to fight him? Silently, Kuwabara prayed to the gods for his healing ability to work faster. "The gods help those who help themselves." He silently mumbled as he attempted again to focus his attention on speeding up his healing, using some techniques his family has developed over the generations for accelerated healing.

He attempted to forget about the confusion as the he tried to heal. The confusion centered around Jin. Kuwabara watched as Jin demonstrated the fine control he had over the wind as a miniature tornado formed around his fist. With wide eyes, Kuwabara turned his head to look at Kurama, who nodded his head. Both had no doubts now, it was most likely Jin that Kuwabara encountered a few days ago on that beach. A crimson stain flushed over his face, catching Botan's attention.

"Kuwa-kun, are you okay?" Her question went unanswered as they both watched Urameshi send Jin into the stadium and he fell into the seats Shizuru and Keiko had just abandoned moments ago. Thank the gods for the small bit of precognition that Shizuru does have. Tense moments seemed to stretch as they waited for Jin to reappear. Slowly Jin got up, staggering as he said something along the lines of what a great punch that was, or was it a fight? Kuwabara couldn't hear him all the way from there.

When the damned speakers came to life with that faceless voice again, Team Urameshi was shocked. They claim that Urameshi can't fight in the round against the team captain, Risho! Hiei and Mask are still trapped by Ruka, though Hiei looks ready to break out soon. Kurama is no shape to fight. Kuwabara knew he wasn't in any shape either, but he pushes the limits of his body more often then the others does. That how he gets stronger, Kuwabara would push his body to the limit, then let his healing ability kick in, 'the regenerative powers' as Hiei refers to it. It's how he can increase his strength and endurance so much. 'That's why I always pick fights with Urameshi, his punches are powerful, even before this reikai stuff started. That old saying is true for me= "What doesn't kill me, makes me stronger."" Kuwabara struggled to stand, brushing off Botan's hands. 'I would get stronger if I survived this tournament, but I have to think about the team. If I can bring this bastard, Risho down with me, then this round will be a stale-mate. My friends would have another chance to live. One of those fighters we freed from that sicko doctor, one of them can replace me.'

~~Later, in the 'locker room' for team Masho~~

"Jin, give it up. I know you are awake." Touya watched his friend with amusement, knowing full well about Jin's antics. On the rare times that a mission failed, Risho would go on a rampage. Jin would respond by acting as if he was asleep or knocked out, thereby ignoring Risho. "Jin, Risho is still unconscious himself." Touya grinned as Jin's eyes popped open as he bolted up off the cot.

"Wha'? Where? How?" Jin 's head shot side to side with uncontained eagerness. Quickly he saw the retched leader lying on a cot on the opposite side of the room, next to him was another cot that contained Bakken. Both were knocked out. Ruka was changing a bandage around Risho's abdomen. Jin was curious to look and hurried to get out of bed. Obviously, he got up a tad bit too fast, since the room spun around him. "Whooho!" Jin cried as he grabbed his head. "Tha' Urameshi sure knows how to throw a guy down." Jin shook his head clear as Touya grinned. Peering over at Risho, Jin saw burn marks on his belly. "Whoah, wha' did Urameshi do to him?"

"Nothing." Ruka spoke up as she finished bandaging Risho's stomach. "It wasn't Urameshi that dealt this blow. It's amazing, Touya, just as I thought. That big guy's sword is actually a physical, SOLID, object! Both of you two know how hard it is to have that sort of effect with spirit energy, whether it's reikai or youkai. It's nearly unheard of." Turning to face them, she went on. "Although concentrated energy can cut or blast your target, it's not the same as solid energy. That is nothing less than creating matter from energy. I have to say the rumors are true."

"Wha' rumors?" Jin cut in. "And wha' happened to Urameshi?"

Noting the confusion on his friend's face, Touya decided to clarify. "After he defeated you, the idiots that oversee the tournament came up some trumped up idea and had Urameshi disqualified from fighting in the final round."

With his head tilted to the side, Jin scratched the back of his head, completely confused. "Wai' a minute! Tha' match started with Kuwabara badly injured from the match with the 'mad doctor's' team, tha's one of of five. Ruka trapped Hiei and the Masked one, tha's three out of the fight, leaving two. Kurama won against Gama, then exhausted himself fightin' you. There's four out of five. Only Urameshi was left, he beaten Bakken and me. If he wasn't able to fight, then why is Risho like tha' and why do I have the feelin' tha' we lost?"

Touya and Ruka followed Jin as he lead the way to their quarters. "Gama was correct about Kuwabara. They do have a lot in common, primarily the trait to give their lives for the sake of their team." Touya stopped for a moment as Jin's head whipped around. "No, Jin, your newest plaything isn't dead, however he was willing to die. Despite his grievous injuries, Kuwabara still entered the ring. He was so injured that he was not able to create that sword, his signature move. All his spirit energies were focused on healing. He was intending to at least pull Risho down his him so the match would be a stalemate."

"Heh, a stalemate would have bought Team Urameshi some time at the least. Okay tha' explains about Urameshi. How about those rumors you mentioned. And if Kuwabara couldn't form his sword, then how did he win?" Jin was persistent, he wanted to know what happened.

"The rumors that say that when Urameshi and Kuwabara were competing in Genkai's Tournament was when he first summoned the Reikan. Rando was there in that and overheard what Genkai had to say about it. It seems that Kuwabara can create the Reikan due to a power that no human ever had before him, the Power of Materialization." Ruka walked off as Jin and Touya were shocked.

"A human with the Power of Materialization, that is equal to a demon in the Quest Class. The ability to create objects with spirit power. That power is rare,very few demons have it and no human has ever had it before." Touya whispered.

Jin was not so quiet. "You mean that Kuwabara was the one to do tha' to Risho? Those burn-like injuries were caused by his sword?" Jin smirked as Touya nodded his head. Then something dawned on him. "Wait a minute! Kuwabara was badly injured, he could barely move! Wha' happened?"

"It seemed as if Risho was going to deliver a final blow when a small female demon cried out for 'Kazuma-san'. One hearing that, Kuwabara took notice of her and gained all his strength back. It's odd but I'm certain that the female is a Koorime, who hate males, but she seemed quite fond of the human. Actually, it's ironic. She's not only demon but Koorime and he's human and male." Touya mused at such an odd pairing until Jin poked him in the ribs.

"We can talk about the girl later. Wha' did Kuwabara do to Risho!"

"Ah, at the girl's appearance, Kuwabara regained his spirit energies and formed his sword. He swung once hitting Risho so hard that he flew out of the ring and into the audience. Risho fell unconscious and Kuwabara was posturing in front of the girl." Grinning Touya sat down in their room. He had to wait to say anymore since Jin was laughing loudly.

"Haha, Risho was taken out with only ONE blow? Are you teasin' me Touya?" Jin doubled over in a fit of laughter when Touya insisted he was saying the truth. "One blow to Risho and he's ou', while Kuwabara took several hits from Risho and was still standin'!"

"It is obvious that from his teammates expressions that such a scene was not out of the ordinary." Touya grinned as he carefully watched Jin for any reactions. " I suspect that he's very fond of the demon girl. At least you know he's not turned off simply by someone being a demon. And he's friends with his teammates, so Kuwabara is not hostile against all demons."

"Did you just now figured tha' one out?" The grin plastered on Jin's face would make the Cheshire Cat envious. "I knew that when I used my winds on him. He did sense me. He knew a demon was around but he still enjoyed it. And I can tell tha' he doesn' have a life-mate, so the demon girl hasn' took him for her own."

Form the years of friendship and working together, Touya could tell that Jin was up to something. "What are your plans about the human?"

"Well I DID make a promise tha' if he survived today's match tha' we could meet face to face......" Jin grinned in anticipation. "I'll give him a day to recover....he'll need it!"


TBC
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AN= In the subbed version Jin is called the Wind-Tamer, not Wind-master. If you are wondering why it jumps between saying Yusuke and Urameshi when I'm describing the same character, it's because it's a different character's viewpoint. In the beginning, Yusuke Urameshi was talking to Kurama, who calls him by his given name =Yusuke. Later when Kazuma Kuwabara was thinning of the team, he's Urameshi since the two boys call each other by the family/clan names.
The demons either call him by his family name or by the full name.

>>He silently mumbled as he attempted again to focus his attention on speeding up his healing, using some techniques his family has developed over the generations for accelerated healing.<<
Hehe It's obvious that psychic abilities run in the Kuwabara family. Both Kazuma & Shizuru has some mental powers, ESP, and enhanced strength, so I thought along those lines that Shizuru may heal fast too, she was never shocked to find him healing faster than a normal human should. If both siblings have similar or same powers then it's natural to assume that it runs in the family. The only thing I insist on that only Kazuma is capable of and not Shizuru is the Reiken, the spirit sword. Genkai said that Kuwabara (as in Kazuma) is the only person, human or demon, that has the power of Materialization. That power is the reason he can form the Reiken.