Part 5: The Champion's Reign
Kuwabara stepped up against the Elder Toguro as the third match began. It was a disgusting and repulsive fight, especially when the brother decided to put on a little puppet show for Kuwabara, revealing that the fith member of Urameshi's team really was dead, which everyone seemed to know except Kuwabara. The Elder Toguro kept peicing himself together as Kuwabara sliced him apart but Kuwabara actually won after literally squashing Elder Toguro like a bug.
The victor came off stage and showed his depreciation towards Yusuke for not informing him of Genkai’s death with a punch in the face. He held Yusuke by the collar until Kurama explained that Yusuke didn't tell anyone and the others detected her. passing on their own. With the truth in the open, Leilani brushed her hands together like she had just completed a hard day's work.
“Well as far as I’m concerned, your team just won the whole tournament,” Leilani told them.
However, her statement fell on preoccupied ears as Juri announced the match, interrupted by Sakyo who had a proposal to make. He asked that between him and Koenma, they would offer up their lives so that whoever’s team lost the next match would die, making the team captains' fight worth two points. Despite Team Urameshi’s protest, Koenma agreed.
Leilani grabbed Koenma's arm and pleaded, “You don’t have to agree to this. You only need one more win for their standards. If you loose, there’s still a chance to fight back.”
“But Sakyo’s right,” he reasoned, “It would be anticlimactic for us to fight afterwards and personally, I have no intention to fight.”
“But he’s just as much as a fighter as you are. It would be as amusing as when the old wizards were fighting in Lord of the Rings where Suraman went ‘Hah!’” Leilani began to act out, “and Gandalf went, ‘Ah!’ then…”
“Leilani,” Bob reminded.
“But it was hilarious,” Leilani defended herself then looked around at all the eyes in the stadium giving her quizzical looks, “Geez, the only amusing fight and no ones interested. OK then, back up, what if I said ‘At least you’re taking this lying down!’”
“Now Singing in the Rain? These movies aren’t even animated!” critiqued Bob.
The embarrassing moment was soon forgotten as no objection was received by the tournament committee and Yusuke and Toguro began their match. Their matched powers amazed the crowd. Togurowas pleased that Yusuke could put up so much of a fight and powered up to 80%.
“Ewwww!” Leilani made a face, “How disproportional! That’s just sick and wrong!
“If you think that looks bad, you have no idea of the true horrors that the Demon World possesses,” smirked Hiei.
“Oh, I’m so envious,” Leilani replied sarcastically.
Eventually, Toguro powered up to his full strength. His body began to absorb the weaker audience members. Koenma was able to shield Team Urameshi and Leilani from the monstrosity. Yusuke could no longer provide him a challenge, even with him unleashing the spirit cuffs that Genkai had weighted on him.
Then Puu was possessed by Genkai’s spirit and flew into the area where the ring had once stood. She told Toguro that to unleash Yusuke’s full power all he needed to do was kill a friend and make sure that he watches. Toguro smiled and set his sights on Kuwabara while the possessed Puu sat on the side, looking like a very grumpy blue penguin.
Everyone was astounded at the level the fight had reached. Already it was a fight to the death, seeing as the ring was again demolished and all boundaries gone, but purposely killing an individual who wasn’t currently fighting was absurd. Kurama and Hiei assumed stances to ward of the Younger Toguro as he stepped closer to the group.
“I don’t get what everyone is so worried about,” Leilani shrugged.
“Apparently your ears aren’t working,” Hiei notified, “Toguro plans to kill one of us.”
“Yeah, and…” Leilani ensued.
“Does ‘death’ have no meaning to you?” Hiei almost sounded impressed.
“Sure, but I heard you mention something about wishes earlier. Can’t we just wish him back?”
“Leilani,” Bob clarified, “They don’t have Dragonballs where they can just wish anyone who dies back.”
“But don’t the wishes cover life?”
“I wouldn’t waste my wish on the life of a moron!” Hiei huffed.
“But there’s a wish to everyone who survives gets a wish, so if someone could wish him back, then he would be a surviving member of the team and be entitled to a wish as well. He could use his for whatever the person wanted.”
“Leilani,” Bob pulled her aside and whispered, “It’s already been established that the sponsors have been done away with, there will be no wishes.”
“But aren’t there other ways to bring him back to life?” Leilani pointed to Yuske, “He used to be dead, but he’s not now is he?”
“Those were special circumstances.”
“Yeah, real special!” Leilani scoffed.
Kuwabara stepped forward to face Toguro head on. He went in and sacrificed his life so Yusuke could win. Yusuke was so startled that an amazing thing happened with his spirit energy. His emotions flooded the stadium as if to protect the survivors. At last he could overcome his opponent, which is what Toguro had hoped for as well. After the final attack, both fighters were sprawled on the ground as the hushed crowed awaited the verdict. Toguro's body looked like a withered log burn in a campfire. Yusuke stirred and was proclaimed the winner, earning his team the championship.
However, Yusuke did not celebrate his victory and started bawling over letting Kuwabara die. When he found out that Kuwabara’s death was only faked, he became more emotional and started to beat Kuwabara up for fooling him.
