Welcome all!!! Anyway, here is another installment of my Ranma ½ - YuYu Hakusho crossover.  From what reviews I've gotten so far, it seems that the story is being taken well.  I do hope that you're all enjoying it as much as I enjoy writing it for all of you.  I won't keep you tied up here, but first the standard disclaimer.

Disclaimer…

*Lights slowly come on and a song plays softly in the background.*

Jayli: Action!

Hiei: Jayli doesn't in any way own YuYu Hakusho, it's characters, themes, ideas, etc.

Ukyo: Jayli also doesn't in any way own Ranma ½, it's characters, themes, ideas, etc.

Kurama: Although, Jayli does own any of her own ideas, characters, themes, etc. that go through this story.

Shampoo: Jayli is borrowing us without permission and Shampoo says we be returned to where we belong, right now.

*Jayli's forehead begins to grow a migraine and a vein pops out, showing her anger.  Jayli holds out a hand to Akane, who promptly places her mallet in it.*

Akane: *whispers* Serves that Chinese bimbo right.

*Jayli stalks up behind Shampoo and right when Shampoo turns around, slams her into the ground.*

Jayli: *tosses mallet back to Akane* Let that be a lesson to all of you.  I will return you as soon as I am done. *stomps back to position behind cameras* Continue!

*Everyone sweat drops and Mousse drags Shampoo away.*

Shizuru: *with a flourish and an obvious smirk* On with the show!!

Shampoo: Aiyaah!! *wakes up angry, very angry* Shampoo give bad writer Kiss of Death!!!

A Ranma ½ - YuYu Hakusho Crossover

Coming Together

Chapter Two: The Test

*this* = someone's thoughts

this = in Chinese or other specified language

:this: = telepathically speaking

~ Vacant Lot – Nerima ~

            Dr. Tofu shifted in his seat as he watched Ukyo and Kuwabara jump away from each other.  Their weapons had clashed and Ukyo's battle spatula was looking a bit singed.  "Rei (spirit energy)?" Dr Tofu adjusted his glasses on his face.

            "Hai, Tofu-sensei," Genkai sat down next to the doctor, "Rei, focused spirit energy, an entity manifested from one's soul, controlled through emotions and concentration, making it's user more adept with skills and in tune with the forces surrounding him or her."

            Tofu turned to Genkai with a bit of respect, "It has been a long time since I have heard the definition for rei put into such eloquent words."

            "It has been a long time since I have met one with your knowledge of rei," Genkai responded with a grin.

            Tofu raised a brow at Genkai's observation and Genkai gestured to Cologne, "She has told me much about you, Tofu-sensei.  I am glad that Nabiki had the foresight to call you to join us.  A healer with your experience with rei and ki adepts would be most welcome on this journey."

            Tofu realized what Genkai was asking of him and turned his gaze back to the field where Ukyo was valiantly trying to defend against Kuwabara's onslaught, "I will think about your offer, Genkai-san.  Nabiki has informed me about what is occurring and as I would be glad to lend my expertise to you I am still unsure."

            Genkai nodded, noticing the doctor's careful avoidance of not looking at the Tendo's eldest sister, "That is all I can ask for, Tofu-sensei."

            Ukyo threw three mini-spatulas to give her room and time to breath and think.  Kuwabara's technique was reckless at most and very unpredictable.  She knew that she wasn't very good at hand to hand combat and that she relied on her spatulas too much, but she couldn't think of any way to land a solid hit on the guy.  The Spirit Sword that he wielded would eventually sear through her battle spatula if they continued to crash against each other the way they did.  Seeing that Kuwabara was once again on the offensive, Ukyo switched stances and prepared to do her best.

            Kuwabara smiled to himself.  The ki, energy he was told that the Nerima fighters used, seemed to be getting weaker around Ukyo.  He knew the only reason his Spirit Sword hadn't demolished Ukyo's bandolier was that she was unconsciously sending ki into her weapon.  It was only a matter of time though before his sword, which was concentrated energy, destroyed her spatula.  As Kuwabara charged his opponent, he swung his sword back.  *It's time to end this.*

            Kai watched with a critical eye as the combatants once again exchanged blows, only this time, Ukyo was able to sweep Kuwabara's legs from underneath him and the nailed him with the wide end of her spatula knocking him away from her.  Kuwabara stood once again, shaking his head to clear the blow.  Kai let her gaze wander off the fighters and towards the Nerima team. 

            Each member had fair amounts of ki at their disposal, Ranma and Ryoga being the most adept at using that ki.  Next came Shampoo, Mousse, Ukyo and then Akane.  Kai shook her head as her eyes fell upon Akane.  She would need the most work.

            "Pondering the situation?" Happosai said as he approached Kai.  Cologne was following him to join them.

            Kai nodded as Kuwabara's Spirit Sword cut Ukyo's spatula in half and then wielding it like a baseball bat, Kuwabara lowered the energy in the sword and swung hard at the young woman.  Ukyo crossed her arms in front of herself last minute to take the brunt of the blow, but was still thrown across the field smashing into a large oak tree.  Ukyo, although not for lack of trying, had lost.

            Kai held up her hand, "Win to Kuwabara.  The next match shall be Mousse vs. Kuwabara.  If the fighters will take their ready stances?" Kai waited until Genkai and the girls had carried Ukyo off to the area they were sitting at and had begun treating her injuries, "Begin!"

            Ranma had watched in fear as Ukyo was clearly beaten by Kuwabara.  His fierce sense of honor was telling him to beat the guy up for defeating his best friend, but another side of him, which he guessed was his common sense, told him that this battle had meaning and his strict oath of not hitting any girls (unless absolutely necessary) would have to be ignored if he was going to face off against Kai.  As the battle began between Mousse and Kuwabara, Ranma glanced over towards Tofu and Genkai's group to make sure Ukyo was all right.  Once he was assured that she was okay, Ranma glanced at Akane.  *How am I going to keep her from getting hurt?*

            On the other side of the field, Yuusuke saw the man they called Ranma stare intently at the woman Akane with the same type of gaze he had given to Keiko many times.  Yuusuke smirked, "They're like us, except their women fight."

            Kurama shook his head at Yuusuke's crude terminology, "You'd be surprised how well our female friends can fight, Yuusuke.  I have a feeling that Kai will soon take them under her wing, so that they will not be totally helpless when the time comes."

            "Kuwabara will not win against this one," Hiei began, "This fighter has an unusual power."

            Yuusuke and Kurama turned to the battleground.  Each man caught the unfamiliar wave of energy.  "He's using his ki to hide something."

            Kai noticed her team speaking amongst themselves as Kuwabara began the offensive against Mousse.  Kai walked over to the young men, "He's a hidden weapons master," Kai guessed at their conversation, "He focuses his ki in order to provide space for all his weaponry."

            "Nothin' can beat our rei anyway," Yuusuke grinned, "Their ki energy isn't a match for rei energy."

            "Actually, rei and ki are counterparts.  Two parts of a whole, or two sides of the same coin, if you will," Kai explained as she watched Kuwabara being caught off guard by Mousse's many spiked chains, "Rei, a force from one's soul, and ki, a force from one's life, are both controlled by the person's emotions and skill, one supernatural, the other natural, both very effective and can be both devastating."

            A loud thud interrupted Kai and she and the others turned back to the fight.  True to Hiei's prediction, it was Kuwabara who had lost.  Kai raised her hand, "Win to Mousse," She waited for Kuwabara to be pulled off the field before continuing, "Next match will be Mousse and Kurama."

            Akane held her hands tightly behind her back.  She glanced over at where her sisters, Genkai and the other girls, Ukyo and now Kuwabara were.  They had been informed earlier at the difference between themselves and Kai's team.  Kurama and Yuusuke were half demons, but through two totally different ways.  Hiei was a full demon that could maintain a human appearance.  Kuwabara and his sister Shizuru were adepts with rei, the energy that this team used.  Keiko, Yuusuke's girlfriend, was learning how to fight and heal with Yukina and Botan.  Yukina, an ice apparition, and Botan, the spiritual guide to the afterlife were the other non-human beings.

            Akane looked down at the ground.  Resolving to try her best, Akane once again looked to the seated observers.  Her eyes widened a bit as she noticed something interesting.  :Why isn't Tofu-sensei acting weird?  And when did he return to Nerima?:

            Kurama made quick work of Mousse, disabling every weapon Mousse threw with his rose whip and then deftly knocking the young man out with a solid punch in the gut.  Once Mousse had been removed, Kai announced another bout, this time Kurama and Shampoo.  With a haughty toss of her brilliant purple hair, Shampoo sauntered onto the battlefield.

            Cologne softly shook her head at her great-granddaughter's over-confidence.  Genkai noticed and smiled at her old friend, "A bit stuck up, isn't she?"

            "It's mostly the way she's treated by the tribe," Cologne watched as Shampoo squared off against Kurama, "Let's just say her ego was well fed."

            "I see that none of our students have progressed into using both types of energy," Genkai thoughts shifted the conversation.

            Cologne turned to Happosai, "Hai, I'm afraid that I don't have the talent with rei that you have.  Neither does Happosai here."

            "We can both use it to an extent," Happosai explained and winced a bit as Shampoo was thrown back, digging a track across the field, "But we never mastered it, thus could not teach it's use."

            Genkai nodded, "I can understand that.  My use of ki is also minimal, as I didn't have a talent for it as you both have.  Fortunately Kai will hopefully correct that, including with us.  We need to be able to help when the time comes."

            "How will Kai be able to correct that?  Are you saying that she's finally mastered using both?  Has she finally been able to maintain the balance?" Happosai's gaze rested upon Kai, who was standing with Hiei and Yuusuke.

            "Hai," Genkai smiled, "It's taken her almost 500 years to find the balance.  The two energies warred in her for so long and father refused to lend any assistance.  But we're going to have to work extra hard with the youngsters.  It's one or the other with them and although they won't be able to achieve a balance like Kai has, they can at least learn to harness some parts of the other power.  Who knows?  Maybe we can achieve more of a balance over our reis and kis with her training."

            Cologne chuckled, "Maybe, Genkai-san.  Right now, I think my great-granddaughter is about to learn a very hard lesson."

            The crowd held its breath as Kurama's rose whip, somehow devoid of it's thorns, ripped Shampoo's bonbori from her hands.  Angered, Shampoo rushed Kurama, determined to deliver a devastating combination of punches and kicks.  Kurama, seeing this, effectively trapped Shampoo within his whip and slammed her face down into the hard ground.

            "Win to Kurama." Kai raised her voice to be heard on the field.  She watched as Shampoo was carried off the field and then turned back to the combatants, "We will break for now.  Follow me."

            Hiei, Kurama, Yuusuke, Ranma, Ryoga and Akane obediently followed Kai to where the rest of their companions were seated.  Kai gestured to the six teens to sit across from the spectators.  Once they were seated, Kai sat at one side in between both groups.  Kai thought for a moment before breaking the silence, "I'm sure from what you've seen today you can almost agree that we are evenly matched." She waited for everyone to nod before continuing, "I'm also sure that you can see where improvement is needed." Again everyone nodded, "Good.  The final matches will begin in twenty minutes.  Until then, I suggest you go ahead and ask what is all stewing in your minds."

            It was a couple of moments later that Shampoo woke up.  Groggily she shook her head and the realization of her loss settled into her mind.  Turning to find her bearings, Shampoo saw that she had been laid next to Mousse and Ukyo.  The man, Kuwabara, that Mousse had defeated was sitting with the others a couple of feet away.  Shampoo turned to the rest of the group. 

            They were talking, but Shampoo didn't pay attention to any of that.  She searched the group for the man that had defeated her.  Shampoo's gaze settled on Kurama's face and rage began to fill her.  Another outsider had defeated her and the epithet her great-grandmother had said of not dealing out the kiss of death or marriage to anyone that might happen to defeat her in this battle went unheeded. 

            Shampoo stood up somewhat shakily and her battle aura flared, "Shampoo no marry anyone but Ranma.  Red-haired demon no be Shampoo's airen.  Shampoo KILL!!"

            The conversation among the group halted at Shampoo's scream.  All heads turned to where Shampoo was now standing and Cologne moved to take care of the situation.  Kai squeezed her friend's shoulder and gently shook her head.  Cologne raised a brow and nodded, allowing Kai to handle it.

            Kai stood and faced the young Amazon, "Are you sure that is necessary, Shampoo?"

            Shampoo let out an unladylike snort, "You no stand in Shampoo's way, otherwise I kill too."

            "I highly doubt you'd be able to do that, especially in your condition." Kai held her arms behind her back, rolling her weight into the balls of her feet just in case talking to the young woman wouldn't diffuse her.

            Shampoo growled and charged at Kai.  Kai held out her hand, "Osaekomu!"  Shampoo's progress was immediately stopped.  Shampoo found that she could not move or speak.  Kai closed the distance between her and the Amazon, "I will release you from this paralysis if you can promise that you will not attack anyone and will listen to reason."

Kai waved a hand in front of Shampoo's face and Shampoo found that she could once again talk, "What you do to Shampoo?  Release Shampoo now!"

"I'm only going to say this once," Kai's voice took on an authoritative tone and she let in some of her dragon heritage as well, making her voice reverberate, "I am testing all of you.  You will not embarrass yourself anymore than you already have by disgracing yourself and your great-grandmother by killing one of your potential teammates." Kai raised her hand once more, "Ugokasu!"

Shampoo was released and collapsed to her knees.  Cologne made her way to her great-granddaughter, Come and sit with us, Xian Pu.

Shampoo nodded and let herself be led to sit in between Cologne and Genkai.  Kai resumed her seat and smiled to the others, "Where were we?"

Tofu turned to Kai, "I think we were finished with most of the conversation.  I suggest we finish the rest of the tests and move on."

"Agreed," Genkai nodded.

"All right.  If Ryoga and Kurama will take their places." Kai stood and ushered the teens back to the field.

"What do you think Ranma?" Akane asked her fiancé about Ryoga and Kurama.

Ranma eyed the beginning of the battle.  It seemed that Kurama was a smart fighter but he didn't have the level of endurance Ryoga had.  "It could go either way."

Soon Akane and Ranma were each lost in their own thoughts as the battle between Kurama and Ryoga started in earnest.

Kurama grunted as Ryoga landed a solid kick into his side, *He's incredibly strong.*

Ryoga moved to connect with a hammer punch and found his fist connecting with the ground, leaving a large indentation in the ground, *Almost as fast as Ranma, maybe faster.*

Kurama winced as he landed ten feet away from Ryoga.  He had to put some distance between this young man and himself.  His more advanced techniques were out of the question, considering that he was out to knock out not kill.  He had already noticed that Ryoga was not as fast as he was, but Ryoga was fast enough to catch him if necessary.  Kurama had to come up with a different strategy. 

*This guy is a bit more cunning, where as Ranma is more of a fly by your pants sort of fellow.* Ryoga circled Kurama, *Maybe I can adopt what I've learned from Ranma into this fight.*  Deciding quickly, Ryoga charged after the red-haired half demon.

Kurama took an open fox stance, seeing Ryoga charge with his left fist cocked back.  Sure enough, Ryoga threw the punch and Kurama easily dodged it suspecting that Ryoga would use the momentum of his missed punch to perform a right spin kick.  Unfortunately for Kurama, his assumption was incorrect.  Ryoga did use his momentum, but instead of a spin kick, he dropped into a handstand and performed a well-executed double heel kick. 

Having expected the spin kick, Kurama was in perfect position to receive the heel kick and was promptly knocked out as he fell to the ground.

"Win to Ryoga!" Kai's voice resounded, "Next match is Ryoga vs. Hiei."

Hiei smirked to Yuusuke as Yuusuke gave Hiei a thumb's up.  Stepping onto the field, Hiei sized up the muscular teen as Shizuru and Botan gently carried Kurama off.  Ryoga turned to the shorter fighter and adopted a relaxed fighting posture.  He could sense a lot of power from this guy's aura and he wanted to be ready for anything.

Kai walked off to the side of the field, just next to where the girls had laid out Mousse, Shampoo, Ukyo, Kurama and Kuwabara.  Kuwabara, who had awoken not long ago, was just lying there to receive attention from Yukina, who happened to be happily supplying him with that attention.  Ukyo was now awake and was now about to sit up to see the match between Hiei and Ryoga.  Shampoo was still lying down, tracks of tears drying on her face and her eyes closed.  Mousse, also now awake, preferred to remain laying down, as he took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes.  Kurama, the newest to their lot, was still out cold.  The heel kick from Ryoga must have struck at exactly the right point with exactly the right amount of force.  Kai assumed he would be out for at least another 15 to 20 minutes, if not less.

Happosai sauntered over to the taller woman, seeing her lost in her own thoughts.  Happosai thought it funny that he had not had a perverted urge in the last couple of days that Kai had been around.  Looking back over the years, the only other three times that Kai had visited him, his perversions were somehow put on hold, yet his ki never changed.  "It's you isn't it?" Happosai blew smoke out from his pipe and watched Hiei confuse Ryoga with his superior speed.

Kai, without removing her gaze from the battle field, nodded, somehow understanding what Happosai was asking, "I had heard about you before meeting you and I couldn't have you distracted by glomping me all the time, now could I?  Besides, part of the reason you're so well behaved is because your fear of me is balancing out your need for bras and panties.  It's the fear that's making sure your ki is well stocked, just in case you have to face me in a serious fight."

"I'm not afraid of you," Happosai denied, astonished that Kai would think such a thing of a master like him.

Kai turned to Happosai and let her draconian self appear through her eyes, "Then think of it as a grudging respect."

Happosai nodded, almost a little too hastily, and returned his eyes to the battle.

Tofu, who had seen the exchange between Kai and Happosai, chuckled.  Surprisingly enough, the medicinal tea he had thought to give himself before was still keeping him in control.  He had already been surprised earlier when Nabiki had called him up late last night in Kyoto.  The middle Tendo must have kept track of him when he had left. 

He still didn't want to risk, looking directly at Kasumi.  He was so in love with her that he wasn't even sure that the tea's properties would be enough.  Tofu had left almost as soon as he had hung up with Nabiki.  Now, being here, he was seriously considering Genkai-san's offer to join them.  Sighing in his indecision, Tofu turned back to the festivities, if it could be called that. 

Hiei's speed was incredible.  Tofu doubted that even Ranma was that fast.  He had seen Happosai and Cologne move at such speeds, but not for the extended amount of time Hiei was.  It was confusing Ryoga to no end. 

"Hiei's tiring Ryoga out," Akane observed from where she stood with Ranma.

Ranma nodded in agreement, "If that idiot doesn't keep wasting his attacks and energy the way he is, he won't stand a chance when Hiei finally attacks."

Akane began to get worried.  If Ryoga lost, Ranma or her would be the next fighter.  There was no possible way she'd be able to stand against Hiei's speed and skill.  Ranma on the other hand, might last, but she knew that he still wasn't as fast as Hiei. 

Ranma was having similar thoughts.  Akane would lose outright to the speed demon.  As for himself, he couldn't believe the speed at which the guy moved.  He knew his Kachuu Tenshin Amiguriken was probably up to speed, but as for bodily speed, Ranma knew he was a couple of notches off Hiei.

Ryoga took a devastating speed combo from Hiei and fell down to one knee.  Hiei stopped moving and stood smirking in front of him, "I was told to be wary of you, but now I see that their warnings were unfounded."

Cologne shook her head at Hiei's statement, "Your fighters are full of arrogance, Genkai."

"Especially Hiei and Yuusuke, Kuwabara is more of a false bravado, while Kurama is as sweet as they come but not without his own sense of pride," Genkai responded.

Ryoga growled at Hiei's words and started to glow a bright blue.  Hiei smiled, "Trying to prove me wrong, human?"

Ryoga stood slowly, a wave of ki building within his hands, "Shut up!"

"A challenge?" Hiei grinned even wider as he felt the power radiate from the young man, "Since you're using a ki attack, I'll just use a rei attack." Hiei's right hand burst into a black flame.

Kai and Happosai strolled a short distance to stand next to Genkai and Cologne.  Not wanting the youngsters to overhear her, Genkai chose English to speak to her friends, We should stop this.  The power they are radiating is immense.  They'll likely injure themselves seriously and we can't have that.

Not to mention the damage it would do to the rest of our potentials, Cologne agreed.

Happosai frowned, How do we stop this quickly and efficiently without causing any lasting damage?

It is my test, Kai smiled at the other three, I will see that their energies are diverted.

"You're going to pay for your insults," Ryoga snarled.  He nurtured the ki in his hands till it was the intensity he needed it to be.

Akane's eyes grew wide with concern, "Ranma, he's going to use a Shishihokoudan!"

"Damn it, Pig-breath!" Ranma shouted, "What the hell are you doing?"    

"Stay out of this, Ranma!" Ryoga bellowed, then glaring across the field at Hiei Ryoga yelled, "You're about to get fried, little imp!"

"Just try it," Hiei taunted.

"SHISHIHOKOUDAN!!!"

"FLAME OF THE MORTAL REALM!!!"

Quicker than anyone could blink, Kai was standing right in between the two oncoming blasts with her hands held out.  The ki blast and rei blast collided with her palms, somehow not affecting the woman.  Hiei and Ryoga instantly released the energy feed into their attacks and stared dumbfounded at Kai. 

As the last remnants of ki and rei faded, Kai dusted her palms off on her pants.  With a frown, Kai stepped back and glanced at the two fighters, "Do you have any idea of what would have happened if those blasts connected?"

Both men stood with wide eyes in pale faces.  Not getting any form of answer from the two, Kai sighed loudly, "I disqualify both of you.  You were told that high level ki and rei attacks were strictly forbidden from this test and because of your disobedience you are now no longer fit to battle." Kai's lips were set into a grim line as the two young men walked off the field to sit with the other observers.  Once they were cleared, Kai glanced at Ranma and Akane then to Yuusuke, "The next battle will be between Ranma and Yuusuke."

Ranma looked to Akane, "Hey, 'Kane?"

"Hai, Ranma?" Akane was surprised to find worry in Ranma's eyes.

Ranma hesitated a moment before speaking again, "I don't want you to worry or nuthin' but I don't want you going up against Kai." Ranma saw the anger creep into Akane's eyes and rushed to continue, "Akane, I'm trying to be serious here and it's hard cuz I can't express myself right, you know?"

Akane nodded, her anger deflating a bit.  Ranma let out a breath and placed a hand on Akane's shoulder, "We both know that you're not anywhere near my level and you've seen what Kai can do."

"What about you?" Akane asked.

Ranma began to walk towards the field with a smile, "I never lose, remember?"

Somehow Ranma's show of confidence comforted Akane.  Once he was squared off in front of Yuusuke, Ranma smirked at the other man.  Yuusuke saw this and returned the smirk, "Let's make this a fun one."

Ranma grinned.  This guy was similar to him.  They both loved the tactics of a fight and Ranma knew it.  Ranma saluted Yuusuke, "Yeah, a fun one."

Kai winked at Cologne, Genkai and Happosai, who then all grinned, "Begin!"

Ranma could sense the power of Yuusuke's aura as they both took ready stances.  Yuusuke smiled cheerily as Ranma let his aura radiate as well.  Figuring Ranma was more of a waiting type, Yuusuke decided to attack first, "Ready?"

"Try me," Ranma found himself enjoying the banter.  Yuusuke waved once and disappeared from his position across the field and almost instantaneously reappeared before Ranma, "What the…"

"What's up?" Yuusuke chuckled and threw a hard upper cut at Ranma during the moment of surprise.

Ranma flew up and back, landing loudly about ten feet away on his back.  "I heard you were quick, Saotome.  That was slow." Yuusuke taunted as he placed his hands in his pockets.

Ranma stood up and dusted off his pants, "Nice one, now try this!" Ranma raced forward and unleashed a Kachuu Tenshin Amiguriken.  To Ranma's frustration, Yuusuke began to dodge his punches effortlessly.

"Hiei's speed, huh?" Yuusuke grinned even wider, "How about this?"  Yuusuke began punching back at Ranma at the exact speed, matching all of Ranma's punches. 

Both Ranma and Yuusuke grimaced as the game of bloody knuckles continued.  At the same time, they jumped apart from each other and regained their ready stances. "Not bad Yurameshi," Ranma had a twinkle in his eye.

"Thanks, Saotome," Yuusuke leaped up and flipped aiming at Ranma with a descending right kick.

Ranma blocked that easily and moved with a quick left jab and a follow up right kidney punch.  Yuusuke blocked both hits and retaliated with a knee headed for Ranma's solar plexus and a left downward punch to the top of Ranma's head.  Ranma read the moves and sidestepped the knee and fell inside the downward punch exposing Yuusuke to Ranma's left uppercut.  Yuusuke felt the hit connect and his body lift up into the air.  Yuusuke prepared himself for his landing when Ranma's shadow appeared above him.

"Didn't think I was done, did ya?" Ranma taunted as he landed a kick right in Yuusuke's stomach.  Yuusuke landed hard on his back and rolled away as Ranma completed his descent.

Kai seated herself next to Dr. Tofu and smiled in greeting, "What do you think so far, Tofu-sensei?"

Tofu watched as Ranma and Yuusuke exchanged blows, their speed almost dizzying to the eye.  He knew that they were restricted in using ki and rei attacks but that did not stop the two teens from channeling ki and rei into their fists and legs.  Tofu turned to Kai and was surprised to find that she had ki and rei emanating from her aura.  Kai smiled at the doctor before concealing her aura once again, "I've heard about your expertise in the area and thought that you might like to see what I had to teach these children."

"Not all of them are children," Tofu pointed out as he nodded his head towards the others, "But yes, it was good of you to show me.  They have a hard road ahead of all of them."

"Take your time deciding what my imouto-chan has asked of you.  It is a hard decision to make." Kai turned her critical eye back to the battle as Tofu thought more on Kai's words.

Yuusuke flipped back, giving himself room.  He and Ranma were now both breathing heavily, Yuusuke bleeding from a cut in his lip and Ranma bleeding from a cut above his left temple.  Yuusuke had been wrong about Ranma's speed.  Somehow, Ranma had surprised him by actually speeding up.  His bodily speed wasn't near Hiei's level, but it was close enough.  Not that Yuusuke was lacking in speed.  He had given Ranma as good as he had gotten from the other teen. 

Ranma's eyes held a gleam that had not been present in a while.  It was the gleam that came into Ranma's eyes during a particularly good battle.  Ranma couldn't believe the strength emanating from this guy.  They had gone at it almost full force, barring the usage of their special attacks.  It was almost as if Yuusuke's style was from the Musabetsu Kakutou, but Ranma could see the differences.  Ranma's style had more finesse in it, while Yuusuke's was more from a street brawl, a very coordinated street brawl, but a brawl nonetheless.

It was then that Ranma saw his opening.

"They're going to knock each other out," Tofu commented quietly as he saw Ranma and Yuusuke rush one another.  The position that they both held as they ran signaled to the doctor that at the exact moment of impact, both teens would land a critical blow.

"They both think that they can handle the other's hit," Happosai said as he sat on Tofu's other side.  Cologne stood quietly in front of Kai nodding in agreement.

Genkai made her way over just as the two teens collided.  Clouds of earth billowed around the point of impact and the crowd waited, anxious for the outcome.  "Ahh, a double knock-out." Genkai whispered to Kai.

Kai stood and made her way closer to the battle scene.  The dust settled and Kai peered down at the two downed martial artists.  "I call a draw!" Kai motioned for the other girls to come and take the two boys off the battlefield.  They were already coming to and Kai did not want any interference in the next bout, "Are you ready, Akane-san?"

Akane gulped, nervousness racking her body.  Forcing herself to calm down, Akane turned to the other woman and nodded, "Hai."

Kai took a relaxed position across from Akane, while Akane opted for a tiger stance.  Kai couldn't put her finger on it, but there was something about this girl that was different from the other potentials.  Each potential had his or her own unique force, but somehow Kai sensed a bit more from Akane, almost similar to what she felt from Yuusuke.  Maybe it was because she had not developed the way the others had, she didn't know.  Kai smiled warmly at Akane, "Begin!"

Akane, despite what others thought, learned much from the many fights she had witnessed.  The exception to this fight was that she was actually a participant.  She hesitantly took up a tiger stance, which was good for both offensive or defensive status.  Akane glanced over to check on Ranma, *Ranma, you jerk.  You said you never lose.*  Akane turned back to Kai as Kai's announcement of the round beginning caught her attention.  *What do I do?*

Kai sensed the inner struggle that Akane was going through and decided that a little encouragement would help.  Using her rei, Kai sent a comforting thought to Akane, careful to make sure that Akane would think that the thought was her own.

Akane took a deep breath and watched as Kai relaxed her stance, *What to do?  Can't telegraph my moves.  She's really skilled.* Akane inched forward, remaining in her tiger stance, *Do my best.  Do my best.  Do my best.*

Kai smiled as Akane took the mental mantra to heart and watched as the teen's ki built up.  Kai raised a brow as she read Akane's battle aura, *Touches of rei?  That's why she's similar to Yuusuke.  She has been touched by death before and then brought back.*  Kai focused on Akane and leapt into the air.

Akane tensed as she readied for Kai's attack.  Kai's downward strike came hard and fast and Akane barely missed being hit as she dodged and rolled off to the side.

From the sidelines, everyone besides Ranma and Yuusuke were watching expectantly as the battle began with Kai on the offensive and Akane on the defensive.  Kai struck at Akane again and again, but seemed to miss by just centimeters every time.  Genkai raised a brow in curiosity as she turned to Cologne and nodded towards the fight.  Cologne caught on to the implication and tapped Happosai on the shoulder with her staff. 

"Hmm?" Happosai answered without taking his eyes off the field.

Cologne motioned to Genkai and waited for Genkai to situate herself on Happosai's other side so that she and Genkai were flanking their old comrade.  Cologne whispered in English, sure that if anyone besides Nabiki would not understand, "Kai sees something."

Happosai squinted and concentrated on both battle auras, "All I can see is that Kai is holding back.  She's purposely giving Akane openings but the girl is hesitant to take them," Happosai looked down at the ground in shame, a light red tinge coloring his old wrinkled cheeks, "I have truly neglected this one."

"You can make up for it later," Genkai patted the old man on the shoulder, "I think that right now we should try to find what Kai is trying to do.  There can be nothing gained from what she is doing unless there is something more to this Tendo than meets the eye."

Akane flipped away from Kai's last combo and stared at her opponent.  Akane watched warily as Kai took another relaxed stance across from her, apparently not at all winded from the last exchange.

"Get away from her!" Ranma's voice rang out as he got up from his position on the ground.  He was about to run towards the battle when Cologne's staff touched the base of his neck, effectively immobilizing the young Saotome, "What the hell, you old crone!"

"You will not interfere, Ranma," Cologne made her way to stand in front of the teen, "Kai will not harm Akane.  I will release you but you will sit down and watch.  Maybe learn something as well."

"I'm fine, Ranma!" Akane yelled to the sex changing teen, "Remember what this is for!"

Kai stood patiently watching the exchange.  Cologne released Ranma, making sure he sat down instead of running out to interrupt the test.  The others and the now conscious fighters were all sitting at attention, curious to see what else would happen.

Akane turned back to Kai, "I'm sorry.  We can continue," Akane said with more confidence than she thought she had.

Kai tilted her head to the side and motioned for Akane to follow her.  She began to walk back to the group and it wasn't until they were closer to the others that she spoke again to Akane, "The test is over, Akane-chan.  You did just fine.  You, more than anyone else, have the most to learn.  You'd be surprised what your actual potential is."

"But we barely did anything," Akane couldn't believe her ears, "How can you judge anything from what little of a fight we've had?"

"I've found out what I needed to know," Kai answered as they came to a halt in front of the large group.  Kai smiled warmly, "I could use all of your help and I would be honored to teach all of you anything I can," Kai bowed then stood up straight, a grim look gracing her face, "I will not lie to you.  It will be a long and very difficult year.  Some will die in the final confrontation, maybe we all will, but what we do is for the good of our world." Kai paused and gazed over everyone's faces, "Do you accept?"

End Chapter Two

Author's Afterthoughts:

Hiya all!  So what do you think?  I'm still picking at my brains for the next chapter, but I hope to have it out sooner than I released this chapter.  I hope you all enjoyed this installment of my story and I hope that you all review so I can find out what you thought of it.  Thanks for reading!! And once again PLEASE REVIEW!!! Without those reviews, I would never know what else is going on in the minds of my readers and it's those reviews that keep me writing.

Thanks again!!! Ja ne! Jayli.

Stay tuned for Chapter Three: Explanations and Choices