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EPISODE TWENTY-SIX: AN INVITATION TO THE BLACK MARTIAL ARTS TOURNAMENT

After managing to break into Tarukane's mansion and defeating every guard that faced them, Yusuke had successfully completed his mission into freeing Yukina. He, along with Hiei and Kuwabara, watched Yukina as she vanished to the icy mountains on her way to her home. Kuwabara thought of their parting ways even at school, and caused him to be listless. His friends didn't help, who had betted on Kuwabara's affair. They paid the winner and said that the girl Kuwabara had been crushing on didn't like him back, which isn't really what happened.

Yukina had told Kuwabara that she had to go back and it's a thing she must do. As Kuwabara passed by Yusuke and Botan (whom he must have not recognized in his dream-like state) Botan told Yusuke that love is hard at first, but the pain must be accepted as part of it. Yusuke blamed Hiei for all of this. He reasoned that Yukina wouldn't have left if Hiei had told her who he really is. He remembered their talk as they watched Yukina walk away. He had asked Hiei if he's going to let her go without saying anything and had said that Yukina needed him, but Hiei dismissed his words, saying that it doesn't matter, because they have different mothers. He continued that Yukina wouldn't be happy knowing that her brother is getting punished in Rei kai and that he's contented knowing how she's doing and that she's safe. Yusuke then concluded aloud that even if just for a little bit, Hiei was looking out for his sister, which Hiei denied before he walked away. 

Later, after school, Yusuke and Botan continued to talk about Hiei. Botan told him that it was very good for Hiei to have stopped himself from killing Tarukane, because if he did, she would be forced to order Yusuke to arrest Hiei and bring him back to Rei kai. She reported that there were talks in Rei kai about letting Hiei know what's happening to Yukina, and it's been decided that he should bring the tape to Yusuke. Yusuke said that then, Rei kai would see if Hiei would discover what's on the tape and called it foolish. Botan sensed that Yusuke was probably just tired and said goodbye, telling him to take it easy before his next mission comes. Right after Botan disappeared from view, he heard a voice call him. It was Keiko.

Back at Rei kai, Botan demanded to know why Koenma had sent Yusuke and Kuwabara to face such a deadly opponent. She said she was so unsure of what would happen there, but Koenma assured her that it was at his best interest to make sure they wouldn't die on the mission. Jorju then chose that moment to ask Koenma what he should do with his formal clothes and money for the burial. Botan lost her respect to the prince and lifted him close to her face, gritting her teeth as she asked whose burial it was. Koenma made lame excuses about the "burial" and was saved by one of his staff who carried the tape of the entire match in Tarukane's house. He broke the news to everyone in the room. They were mistaken: Toguro Ototo is very much alive!

As they pushed the tape inside the VCR, they watched as the rei kan embedded on Toguro Ototo's stomach popped off and disappear into thin air. Sakyo's face appeared on his screen and he watched as Toguro Ani transformed back to his original form and Toguro Ototo stand up. He then congratulated them for their excellent acting. Toguro Ototo said he had heard the carried conversation through telepathy and that it was hard to pretend to lose in a battle. He then asked Sakyo if he's going to let Yukina walk away, since after all, she's a good source of income and would come in handy. Sakyo told him no, since he had other money-making plans. Toguro Ototo understood what he was saying and said he wanted to fight the two again (Yusuke and Kuwabara) and finish them up for good. Sakyo told him that he has two months to prepare. They will be the special guests invited by Rei kai on the upcoming tournament and Toguro Ototo said that Sakyo can place his bet during their fight, then. When asked what he learned from the previous battle, Toguro Ototo said that the more Yusuke loses, the stronger he gets. Sakyo said to Toguro Ototo that he must be careful not to make a mistake around Yusuke then, and that he can now take care of the "trash" upstairs. With that, he was gone.

The "trash" is Tarukane, who had physically recovered from Hiei's punches, though not mentally. Botan winced as Toguro Ototo did as he was told and turned to Koenma. He confirmed her questions, saying that Yusuke and Kuwabara are indeed the special guests for the tournament. When she asked what will happen then, the only reply Koenma gave her was a silent, thoughtful stare. 

Since he was caught by Keiko, Yusuke was stuck in hours of shopping with Keiko. As he impatiently waited outside a dressing room, he asked her to hurry it up. Keiko said that he shouldn't complain, and that they will eat outside before going to a nearby amusement park. Faced with hours with Keiko, Yusuke decided to make a run for it. Before he could go on any further, the curtains parted and Keiko caught him, again. Yusuke denied that he's leaving and agreed to her plans.

When they emerged from the shop, they saw a commotion at the intersection a few meters away from them. Wondering what's happening, Yusuke went there, followed by Keiko. Yusuke pushed himself in front of the crowd and saw in surprise a building with two holes in it. A few feet behind him, someone pushed the kickstand of his motorbike up and gunned the engine a few times. Yusuke carefully inched his way out of the crowd and noticed the motorbike. He asked the driver who he was and a chilling familiarity to his voice rooted Yusuke to the ground. It was none other that Toguro Ototo. He asked Yusuke to come with him and leave his friend (Keiko) there. Left without a choice, Yusuke followed.

Kuwabara happened to pass by the same intersection and had noticed the building. He spotted Keiko among the onlookers and smiled. He looked around for Yusuke and saw him walking away. The man he was following had his back turned to him so he couldn't very well see who it is. In a hunch, he followed them, too.

It was sundown and inside a building in a construction area, Toguro Ototo told Yusuke he's here to deliver a message. He noticed Yusuke shaking and laughs on his fear. Yusuke puts on a tough guy act, but it didn't work on the man before him who says that he gets his strength from the other people's weaknesses. Yusuke listened as Toguro Ototo told him that he had used only 20% of his total capacity during their fight. He now wants to him what he can do in full power. In a flash, Toguro Ototo started to randomly destroy the pillars holding the building together until it collapsed. Yusuke was too paralyzed to move and it was nighttime before he managed to unearth himself from the wreck site. As he pushed the last boulder away, he noticed that Toguro Ototo was standing in front of him. He told Yusuke that he was so afraid that he hadn't been able to move an inch and escape. In an instant, Yusuke found him standing directly behind him, adding to the tension building up inside him. Toguro Ototo then chose to deliver his message to him.

Yusuke learned that he was invited to come to a tournament, the Ankoku Bujutsukai, where all sorts of youkai and selected humans come to participate. This has been arranged by influential businessmen who see this as a chance to earn money by making bets on the participants and the participants see this as a chance to increase their ki. Now, he and Kuwabara are the selected guests. Declining the offer would mean death to Toguro Ototo's hands. 

When Toguro Ototo left, Yusuke fell down to his knees, angry for not being able to move in front of Toguro Ototo. Kuwabara witnessed all of this as he stood on a nearby bridge. As Toguro Ototo walked to an alley, he felt eyes following his every move and looked up to a nearby building. He saw Hiei and Kurama standing above and met their stares. He told them to go join Yusuke's team and join the tournament, before he walked on and away from earshot. Kurama observed that he is a strong being, but Hiei said that he couldn't be too sure.

After hearing getting an invitation he couldn't refuse, Yusuke approached Genkai, and asked her to make him stronger as soon as possible. Genkai had agreed and while Kuwabara was being trained by Hiei and Kurama, Yusuke was jumping at rocky cliffs with Genkai, whom both had cannonballs chained to their ankles. Flashes of their conversation when Yusuke asked her for help came back to Yusuke as he fell from the cliff and the weight on his feet dragged him down. Genkai went to him and began punching him, her  mocking voice asking if it hurts and if it does, he must be ready for it. Yusuke remembered saying that he is and resumed to his training.

Kuwabara was under the hands of Hiei, who used a bamboo stick as substitute to a sword. Kuwabara did his best with Hiei, even if listening to Hiei say that he'll always be better than him isn't his favorite pastime. When he was surrendered to Kurama's hands, Kurama began by being honest with him. Hiei had been too soft on him because he's human, but with him, it's different. Kuwabara was told to expect extreme training with Kurama.

Finally, two months had passed. Under the light of the full moon, the participants (two humans and the rest youkai) had gathered around a bon fire. The youkai(s) were muttering about what pities the humans will be, coming to a tournament just to be killed. However, they weren't paying attention to the comments and Kuwabara was very agitated at the fact that Yusuke isn't there yet. A ship awaits them at the dock to go to the island where the tournament is help and the captain said it was time to go. Kuwabara asked the man to wait for just a few minutes and their talk had given the minutes Kuwabara asked. Yusuke arrived in a nick of time with a small masked man which Kuwabara regarded as a kid. Yusuke apologized for being late, saying he had just finished his training. Hiei called Yusuke in a low voice before he drew his sword out and started slashing Yusuke. Quick and alert, Yusuke had managed to avoid each of Hiei's strokes until he caught the blade between his two fingers. He commented that Hiei's greeting at him wasn't that so good, but Hiei said he wants to see if Yusuke is worthy enough to be part of the team. He then turned to the masked kid which he asked if he's the fifth member. Yusuke assured everyone that the masked kid is worthy of the team, but Hiei said that Yusuke and him around will suffice for the whole team. Then they were off.

Again, they're headed for another tournament. This time, they had Hiei, Kurama and the masked kid with them. What challenges would await them? This is certainly going to be a long tournament. Will they be able to surpass this one?

 

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