+----+ Chapter 4: The Makai Bandit Kakitome - An Undefeatable Foe? +----+
All eyes turned to the rift, which was now fluctuating wildly. From out of it, a huge creature fell from the sky and crashed into the ground near where the Tantei stood. Rocky gray skin covered his body, wings of flame sitting proudly from his back. A gut that made beer-bellies across the world seem tame jutted from his stomach. And cold, red eyes narrowed at the Tantei. Hazumi muttered something unintelligible, but Shinrai caught one word in particular - 'Kakitome.'
The demon cackled madly, speaking in an earth-shaking voice, "You defeated my Wingscale army. Well done, humans.... and demon traitors" - the demon glared over at Kiyou and his unit, who flinched slightly - ".... but it isn't going to be enough to stop my invasion. I am Kakitome, the greatest fire demon to ever live, and the last thing you'll ever see."
Kiyou's fist clenched, his eyes narrowing. He dashed at Kakitome, crying out, "Honou Shou!!!" His flame-covered fist hit Kakitome's chest with a loud -bang!-.... and it had no effect other than Kakitome chuckling to himself. "Was that it?! Pitiful!!" He backhanded Kiyou in the face, dislocating his jaw and sending him flying backwards. As he soared through the air, he muttered, "I'm sorry I couldn't stop him from falsely claiming your title, Hiei-sama...." before crashing limply to the ground.
The rest of his unit charged at Kakitome, but he simply extended his hands and spoke the words, "Honou Hadou," and a sheet of fire burst from his fingertips. The rest of Kiyou's unit was heavily burned, but not killed, and fell to the ground in excrutiating pain.
Hazumi gulped, in fear at the power of the demon, but readied her staff and ran for Kakitome. With a single swipe of his hand, a ball of fire shot towards Hazumi, hitting her squarely in the chest and sending her flying backwards, falling to the ground. She groaned and tried to rise, but lacked the strength.
"Hazumi! You'll pay...." Taisho raised his hand and pointed his index finger in a gun-like shape and a small green light started to shine on the tip of his finger. "Ah," said Kakitome, chuckling lightly, "the Rei Gun of the Reikou Hadou Ken-ryuu. That could hurt.... pity I won't let you use it." Kakitome's flaming wings flapped loudly, as he soared at Taisho. Finally, when enough Reiki had been gathered, Taisho called out, "Rei Gun!!!!!!" and shot the blast at Kakitome. The demon opened its mouth and breathed, blowing flames out. The flames hit the Rei Gun blast head-on, and dissipated it before reaching Taisho. Before Taisho had time to react, the flames hit him harshly, sending him falling to his knees, burned severely.
Shinrai was frozen where he stood, unable to help his friends out of his fear. He was furious with himself - was he really so unsure of his abilities that he couldn't even stand up for his friends? Swallowing his fear, he charged for Kakitome. And, with a leaping kick, he shouted, "Kou Kyaku!" His foot glowed brightly, and the kick connected with Kakitome's head.... but it had no effect.
Kakitome breathed fire again, making Shinrai cry out in pain as he was burned, and he fell to the ground wounded. Still, he recovered quickly and unleashed a barrage of punches and kicks, each not moving the fire demon an inch. With little effort, Kakitome reared back and punched Shinrai harshly in the head, sending him deep into the ground. Kakitome roared victoriously, crying out, "Bring out all the martial artists in the world, and they'll still never defeat me! Martial arts are a waste of time and energy, foolish humans! Hah-hah-hah-hah!!!"
Deep in the ground, Shinrai's eyes snapped wide open and a low, feral growl escaped his lips. Kakitome noticed that something was wrong, but had no time to react before the ground split open and Shinrai leapt out, delivering a crushing uppercut to Kakitome's chin. The large fire demon was knocked high into the air, but managed to recover and land a few feet away. As he wiped the blood from his face, he said, "You asshole! 'Ya should've stayed down! Now.... DIE!!" Kakitome raised his hands and called out, "Honou Hadou!" as the attack burst from his fingers.... and bounced off Shinrai harmlessly. "W-What?!" Slowly, Shinrai took a step forward as Kakitome took a step backwards. "Y-You...."
With a loud scream, Kakitome hurled more Fireballs at Shinrai, who deflected them with a single hand. "Now.... Alright! My best attack!" Kakitome began to slowly turn around, and gradually sped up, spinning at a lightning-fast pace with his hands extended. Shinrai merely kept walking towards him.
"Kaiten Honou!!" Flames burst from the spinning Kakitome, flying straight for Shinrai. The young boy stopped, and cried out, "Kiai!!!!!".... and the flames were dispelled. Kakitome, who by now had stopped spinning, stared blankly in shock, only able to whisper, "My.... my best attack...." With amazing speed, Shinrai charged at Kakitome and his fist began to shine. He then spoke out the last words that his opponent would ever hear - "Never insult martial arts! Reikou SHOU!!!" The shining punch connected with Kakitome's head, piercing the skull and causing the entire head to explode. As smoke rose from Shinrai's clenched fist, the lifeless carcass of Kakitome fell to the ground with a loud -thud!-. "Martial arts," said Shinrai, panting hard, "are very precious to me. They let me protect people from.... demons like.... you...." And at that, he collapsed to his knees, breathing heavily.
The battle was finally over, and the rift in the sky closed without any fanfare. Hundreds of Wingscales lay dead, and the Reikai Tantei, though wounded, were now victorious.
=== At Reikai ===
"W-What happened, Koenma-sama?!" cried out George.
Koenma stayed silent for a moment, before saying, "They won, that's what. Let's just hope they can handle their next assignment.... Because it'll be much more dangerous. The Reikai-Kakumei have been acting up again lately, and I'm afraid that they'll strike sometime soon.... Bring the Fyushigi and Rikutsu Units back here, George, and get them treated up. Send a team to erase the memories of the citizens, too."
George saluted, saying, "Yes, Koenma-sama." as he ran out of the room.
Koenma sighed, thinking to himself that Reikai may soon fall.... but he couldn't let that happen.
All eyes turned to the rift, which was now fluctuating wildly. From out of it, a huge creature fell from the sky and crashed into the ground near where the Tantei stood. Rocky gray skin covered his body, wings of flame sitting proudly from his back. A gut that made beer-bellies across the world seem tame jutted from his stomach. And cold, red eyes narrowed at the Tantei. Hazumi muttered something unintelligible, but Shinrai caught one word in particular - 'Kakitome.'
The demon cackled madly, speaking in an earth-shaking voice, "You defeated my Wingscale army. Well done, humans.... and demon traitors" - the demon glared over at Kiyou and his unit, who flinched slightly - ".... but it isn't going to be enough to stop my invasion. I am Kakitome, the greatest fire demon to ever live, and the last thing you'll ever see."
Kiyou's fist clenched, his eyes narrowing. He dashed at Kakitome, crying out, "Honou Shou!!!" His flame-covered fist hit Kakitome's chest with a loud -bang!-.... and it had no effect other than Kakitome chuckling to himself. "Was that it?! Pitiful!!" He backhanded Kiyou in the face, dislocating his jaw and sending him flying backwards. As he soared through the air, he muttered, "I'm sorry I couldn't stop him from falsely claiming your title, Hiei-sama...." before crashing limply to the ground.
The rest of his unit charged at Kakitome, but he simply extended his hands and spoke the words, "Honou Hadou," and a sheet of fire burst from his fingertips. The rest of Kiyou's unit was heavily burned, but not killed, and fell to the ground in excrutiating pain.
Hazumi gulped, in fear at the power of the demon, but readied her staff and ran for Kakitome. With a single swipe of his hand, a ball of fire shot towards Hazumi, hitting her squarely in the chest and sending her flying backwards, falling to the ground. She groaned and tried to rise, but lacked the strength.
"Hazumi! You'll pay...." Taisho raised his hand and pointed his index finger in a gun-like shape and a small green light started to shine on the tip of his finger. "Ah," said Kakitome, chuckling lightly, "the Rei Gun of the Reikou Hadou Ken-ryuu. That could hurt.... pity I won't let you use it." Kakitome's flaming wings flapped loudly, as he soared at Taisho. Finally, when enough Reiki had been gathered, Taisho called out, "Rei Gun!!!!!!" and shot the blast at Kakitome. The demon opened its mouth and breathed, blowing flames out. The flames hit the Rei Gun blast head-on, and dissipated it before reaching Taisho. Before Taisho had time to react, the flames hit him harshly, sending him falling to his knees, burned severely.
Shinrai was frozen where he stood, unable to help his friends out of his fear. He was furious with himself - was he really so unsure of his abilities that he couldn't even stand up for his friends? Swallowing his fear, he charged for Kakitome. And, with a leaping kick, he shouted, "Kou Kyaku!" His foot glowed brightly, and the kick connected with Kakitome's head.... but it had no effect.
Kakitome breathed fire again, making Shinrai cry out in pain as he was burned, and he fell to the ground wounded. Still, he recovered quickly and unleashed a barrage of punches and kicks, each not moving the fire demon an inch. With little effort, Kakitome reared back and punched Shinrai harshly in the head, sending him deep into the ground. Kakitome roared victoriously, crying out, "Bring out all the martial artists in the world, and they'll still never defeat me! Martial arts are a waste of time and energy, foolish humans! Hah-hah-hah-hah!!!"
Deep in the ground, Shinrai's eyes snapped wide open and a low, feral growl escaped his lips. Kakitome noticed that something was wrong, but had no time to react before the ground split open and Shinrai leapt out, delivering a crushing uppercut to Kakitome's chin. The large fire demon was knocked high into the air, but managed to recover and land a few feet away. As he wiped the blood from his face, he said, "You asshole! 'Ya should've stayed down! Now.... DIE!!" Kakitome raised his hands and called out, "Honou Hadou!" as the attack burst from his fingers.... and bounced off Shinrai harmlessly. "W-What?!" Slowly, Shinrai took a step forward as Kakitome took a step backwards. "Y-You...."
With a loud scream, Kakitome hurled more Fireballs at Shinrai, who deflected them with a single hand. "Now.... Alright! My best attack!" Kakitome began to slowly turn around, and gradually sped up, spinning at a lightning-fast pace with his hands extended. Shinrai merely kept walking towards him.
"Kaiten Honou!!" Flames burst from the spinning Kakitome, flying straight for Shinrai. The young boy stopped, and cried out, "Kiai!!!!!".... and the flames were dispelled. Kakitome, who by now had stopped spinning, stared blankly in shock, only able to whisper, "My.... my best attack...." With amazing speed, Shinrai charged at Kakitome and his fist began to shine. He then spoke out the last words that his opponent would ever hear - "Never insult martial arts! Reikou SHOU!!!" The shining punch connected with Kakitome's head, piercing the skull and causing the entire head to explode. As smoke rose from Shinrai's clenched fist, the lifeless carcass of Kakitome fell to the ground with a loud -thud!-. "Martial arts," said Shinrai, panting hard, "are very precious to me. They let me protect people from.... demons like.... you...." And at that, he collapsed to his knees, breathing heavily.
The battle was finally over, and the rift in the sky closed without any fanfare. Hundreds of Wingscales lay dead, and the Reikai Tantei, though wounded, were now victorious.
=== At Reikai ===
"W-What happened, Koenma-sama?!" cried out George.
Koenma stayed silent for a moment, before saying, "They won, that's what. Let's just hope they can handle their next assignment.... Because it'll be much more dangerous. The Reikai-Kakumei have been acting up again lately, and I'm afraid that they'll strike sometime soon.... Bring the Fyushigi and Rikutsu Units back here, George, and get them treated up. Send a team to erase the memories of the citizens, too."
George saluted, saying, "Yes, Koenma-sama." as he ran out of the room.
Koenma sighed, thinking to himself that Reikai may soon fall.... but he couldn't let that happen.