The Human World: Gouki

Landing on the ground of Human World, Tom hopped off Charlene's broom. Walking ahead, he moved out of the alley they had left from and walked further into town. Charlene hurriedly followed.

Tom had received some papers from George as they left the meeting with Koenma. These papers had all relevant information Spirit World was able to scramble in this short period of time. Other than a few useless pages, Spirit World had obtained some pretty decent information from their Demon World confidantes.

One of the first few papers he had browsed had data on a particular demon responsible for the break-in. The demon named Gouki has no regards for human life and will actively look for trouble without care for the trouble it brings.

Out of the three Artifacts of Darkness that were stolen, it is likely that Gouki would keep the Orb of Baast. If for no other reason than making human children into delectable snacks.

Tom didn't like the idea of a demon eating the souls of children. So he figured that the less time Gouki was out there, the better.

Unfortunately, Gouki was a massive brute that is now out there to the wind. If Tom wanted to bring him in, he will need the help of the actual Spirit Detective.

Flipping through the papers, he found what he was looking for.

"Yusuke Urameshi."

A high-school delinquent. After dying while saving a child, Yusuke Urameshi was given an opportunity to be given life again. This test showed he had high potential to do good. Koenma gave Yusuke Urameshi the job of Spirit Detective.

"I should find him at once."

Thus, Tom hurried to find the Spirit Detective. Good thing there is a map included to his school.

With some navigation, Tom found Sarayashiki Junior High School. School had just finished and students in blue uniforms were on there way home.

Tom waited a few minutes but Yusuke was nowhere to be seen.

Tom frowned. Did Yusuke decide not to show up at school? The kid had a rare chance at a second life and he uses it playing hooky? He doubted that Koenma was a bad judge of character given his position, even if he looks like a toddler.

"Do you need something?"

Tom found a girl and her friends looking at him in interest. When a stranger loiters outside of a school, it is sure to stand out.

"Work just hired a new worker. Making sure he is coming in."

"Oh? What kind of job?"

Tom smirked. It's a landmine question. Might as well answer as close to the truth as possible.

"Investigator. New assistant today so best the boy here comes in on time."

The girl flinched. Her friends gave each other some nervous glances. Tom was about to push it forward when he saw something green flash in front of his eyes.

Looking over, Tom say a teenage boy in a green jumpsuit with gold buttons wearing black shoes. His slicked-back black hair glistened in the sunlight. He turned his skinny and muscular body to look Tom in the eye.

"Who are you supposed to be?"

"Tom Bell, Mr. Urameshi."

This kid is Yusuke Urameshi, the Spirit Detective.

Yusuke glared.

"So I take it you are my assistant?"

Tom laughed. The girls stared at the two nervously. One was a stranger and the other was a famous delinquent that even death wanted nothing to do with. Staying here would be courting death.

As the two talked, the girls ran in the other direction.

"I take it that Koenma told you about me."

"He did, but I'm more interested in this new case. Fill me in."

Tom frowned. The Spirit Detective is making full use of the assistant he's been given.

"We are tracking three demons that have stolen some dangerous items from Spirit World. Criminals are suspected to be in the Human World now, testing their new toys."

Yusuke may be a troublemaker, but he does have a heart. Hearing about the chaos the demons might be causing right now.

"Any ideas?"

"I do. There's one that seems to be a loaded weapon looking to be used."

"So, he'd be looking for some easy picks."

"One that has plenty of children would be most likely. Seems like he just loves kids."

"What?!"

Yusuke walked away at a brisk pace. Tom followed after him, thinking he has a lead.

Yusuke led Tom over to a playground. The two sat on a bench and started staking out the playground for their target.

Dusk started to fall when they found what they were looking for.

A child that was chasing a ball had wandered away from the playground. As he reached for the ball, he started to stagnate and fell to the ground unconscious. Yusuke jumped to his feet and Tom followed. Out of the child, a translucent blue orb flew out. The orb flew into a nearby alley with Yusuke and Tom in pursuit.

The route took them into a nearby forest. The two went as far as a clearing before hiding behind a couple of trees.

Inside the clearing were three men; A muscle-bound behemoth in a green top, a red-headed long hair pretty boy in a pink school uniform, and a lean shorty in white-headband and black spiked hair matching his black-robed jacket and pants.

The muscle-head in green was bouncing a glowing green ball in his hands with glee.

"This Orb of Baast is fantastic! Now, all I see on the streets is a walking buffet. Bwahaha."

"I can see that you're happy Gouki, but I will have no further involvement."

"What?"

The pretty boy was going to bow out? Tom was stunned. Yusuke leaned around the tree to try and get a better look. His foot happened to be near a tree branch.

"Snap."

"Who's there?"

All three of the criminals turned in Yusuke's direction. Two of which then disappeared into the forest in the other direction, leaving Gouki oblivious. The demon was just itching to tear someone with his bare hands.

Tom moved to help Yusuke but Yusuke motioned him to stay put. Yusuke is the Spirit Detective here with Tom being the assistant. Tom should only be on the front-line when Yusuke needs a hand.

But will that impact the mission, Tom worried. He might have to chance getting involved early if that's the case.

Yusuke walked over to Gouki like he's the biggest guy in the room. Having been beaten and bruised in a lot of fights, Yusuke has a lot of experience beating the odds.

The two stood a few feet across from each other.

"What brings you here?"

"Was in the neighborhood and felt like going for some exercise. Mind lending your head for a few rounds? I'm in need of a new punching bag."

"We'll see about who's going to be the punching bag!"

Gouki lost his cool first. He wound up his arm and punched at the Spirit Detective.

Tom watched the conflict while being weary of Gouki's accomplices. They might be in the area still and were just playing at leaving. He considered chasing after them but considering the power these three must have, Tom would stand no chance on his own.

Yusuke side-jumped Gouki's punch. A huge gust of wind flung out from the demon's punch and flung Yusuke to the side. A crater now stood where Yusuke was standing.

"Damn it! What's with this guy?! He's like a tank!"

Tom shivered. How were they going to take Gouki out? [Spirit Blast]? He only had one shot!

"Argh!"

Yusuke gave Gouki a swinging kick to the head. Jumping off the brute, he swung his foot down on the gorilla's noggin.

Gouki staggered for a bit and held his head.

"Ah!"

Gouki screamed. It wasn't a pained scream but one of frustration.

"I'm going to kill you, you little brat!"

"I'd like to see you try!"

"Hahaha! You're going to regret messing with me!"

Gouki let out a wild laugh as his skin started to morph in an unsightly shape.

The skin started to darken and his bones wiggled in place. The demon grew bigger as steam spilled out of his skin. His teeth sharpened into fangs. Two horns grew out of his temples.

Yusuke gazed up at the giant but that confidant smile of his was still there.

"Think you've got a chance still?"

"Please. This just means I need to get even more serious."

Yusuke may be confidant but Tom was feeling worried. The fight will not end without some bruises or broken bones.

Looking around, Tom noticed Gouki was ignoring his back. He circled around as Yusuke had Gouki's undivided attention.

A fist rammed into Gouki's face. Yusuke peddled back and shook his hand.

"Ha ha ha."

Gouki laughed as he kneed Yusuke's stomach. Blood flew out of Yusuke's throat as he went into the air. Gouki backhanded the young man back to the ground and gave him a stomp.

"Ah!"

Yusuke cried out in pain.

Almost there Yusuke! Tom urged Yusuke in his mind to not die. He came up to the trees behind Gouki before surveying his surroundings. No sign of the accomplices. Means they weren't lying.

Yusuke propped up his elbows but failed to get up. Gouki laughed as he set his foot down on the Spirit Detective's back. Cracks rang out as Yusuke's screams rang in the forest.

Tom couldn't wait anymore. He dashed as fast as he could to Gouki's back. With a leap, he wrapped his arms around Gouki's neck and tugged.

"Gurgle."

Gouki struggled to breath with his throat suffocated. In a panic, he peddled away from Yusuke. He grabbed Tom's hands and pulled him off in a single motion. Tom was too surprised to put up a struggle before he was tossed to the ground.

Tom cried out as he lay on the ground next to Yusuke. He barely managed to climb up before a bare-foot entered his vision.

"Bang!"

Gouki held Tom down by the shoulder. He had nowhere to run.

"Now comes another pest? Looks like Spirit World sent some more weaklings after us. All the more to torture I'd say."

"Crack!"

"Ah!"

Gouki ground his foot into Tom's shoulder and bones broke. Tom cursed himself for playing it safe. He should've used [Spirit Blast] but is it now too late? How does he use it anyway?

"[Spirit Blast] active."

Tom saw his hand glowing blue. His strength started to drain fast. However way he did it no longer mattered. Tom wanted to use the [Spirit Blast] before Gouki knew what hit him.

With a swing, Tom hurled the fist at Gouki. With an audible thud, Tom's fist collided with Gouki's inner thigh.

"Bang!"

"Ah!"

Gouki's scream was heard all over the forest.

The [Spirit Blast] exploded in a wave of blue energy upon making contact. The energy ate up Gouki's inner thigh and crawled through the legs and waist. By the time it finished, there was a hole in Gouki from the end of his legs to his arms. All that was left was a remnant of the enormous demon.

Gouki fell to the ground. His breathing stagnated into rasps.

What went wrong? He was on top but all of a sudden, he was dying now. Gouki's dying thoughts were nothing more than confusion about his situation.

Tom was flabbergasted. [Spirit Blast] had that much power? He didn't think about how much trouble he'd be in if they couldn't move. He was just glad that they had survived.

Yusuke was out cold. Gouki's thrashing was more than his body could handle. Tom wanted to get up but [Spirit Blast] was too taxing for his already weak body to handle. Now all that the two could do was wait for some help.

"Rustle."

So help did come. Outside of the clearing, steps can be heard coming closer to them. A couple of voices can be heard in the distance.

"Hurry. Hurry. We might be too late."

"I still can't believe Lord Koenma would send them on such a dangerous mission this early."

"What else could he do? It was either this or King Enma would have destroyed the Human World in his search for the Artifacts of Darkness."

"Doesn't mean I'll be content with that decision!"

"Shush! We're getting closer!"

"Sorry."

The footsteps stopped moving. Tom looked over in the direction the sounds emanated from and saw two beautiful women gazing into the clearing fearfully.

"Tom!"

"Yusuke!"

""You're alive!""