---- Chapter 18: Reikou Hadou Ken Showdown! Taisho vs. Hitai ----
Shinrai descended to the ground, his breath coming in ragged spurts. Across the stadium, Hitai's fists were tightly clenched in anger. This.... RUNT was showing him up. Him - a master of Reikou Hadou Ken. Something inside him just snapped, and he rushed at Shinrai, letting out a vicious roar of hatred. Shinrai stood his ground, and turned to face his new opponent, and the punch was only feet away from Shinrai's face.... when it was caught by Taisho. Grinning, he said, "You wanna fight, then fight me. We have a score to settle...."
Scoffing, Hitai flipped backwards, and reached his hand behind his back. One would think he was reaching for a weapon, but what he was really reaching for was.... a small jug with the symbol for 'saké.' Shinrai nearly face-faulted, but maintained his balanced. "Heh.... a bit lacking in suspense," he mused. "Then again.... This may get interesting. Never thought of seeing THAT style blended into Reikou Hadou Ken...."
Taisho pushed his glasses back up to his eyes, and readied himself as well in a fighting position - both legs spread about shoulder width, while his arms were crossed in front of him. Hitai gulped down the contents of his saké jug, as Kazuma watched intently on the sidelines. Folding his arms in front of himself, he muttered, "Now we'll see which of their philosophies prevails...."
=== Six Years Ago - Reikou Hadou Ken Dojo ===
A glass fell to the ground, shattering loudly. But the room was frozen in silence, as two young men faced each other tensely. "The Reikou Hadou Ken is a tool - a tool for battle!" cried out one, a young-looking man with spiked brown hair and soft, almost sad eyes. "You're wrong! Reikou Hadou Ken is meant to protect - to shield those weaker than oneself!" called out the other, a younger boy with blonde hair and thick black glasses. Kazuma stepped between the two, raising both hands to signal an end to the conflict. "Hitai, Taisho," he spoke harshly, "stop this bickering. Reikou Hadou Ken is what you make of it - nothing more, nothing less. Lady Genkai said as much herself. It is neither good nor evil, not meant to protect or destroy."
Both of the students turned away from their teacher, arms folded tightly across their chests. After a short while, Hitai spoke up. ".... If you fools don't know enough about Reikou Hadou Ken to realize I'm right, then I have no need to remain at this dojo." He turned to leave, but stopped, and looked back over his shoulder at Kazuma. "Stay well, sensei," he said. Kazuma merely sighed, and nodded his head, allowing Hitai to walk out the dojo's doors. Taisho followed him, passing his sensei before stopping suddenly. Glancing over at the man who'd taught him Reikou Hadou Ken, Taisho only said, "Later, sensei." And with that, he left the dojo as well.
=== The Present - Hanging-Neck Island ===
The jug of saké fell to the ground, cracking open and shattering into dozens of pieces. Hitai awkwardly raised his fists, almost like a boxer would, and spread his legs ever so slightly. A bright aura surrounded him, light green in color, as a cocky grin crossed his face. "So, Taisho...." he slurred, "are 'ya ready for my attack? Or are 'ye gonna chicken out like I know you will?"
A similar smirk appeared on Taisho's face, as he clenched his fists tightly. "I won't run.... not this time. Ready for this?" Both warriors leapt towards each other, letting out a fierce battle cry, and when their fists connected in mid-air, a shockwave echoed throughout the arena, tearing through what little was left of the stadium. Fists and feet flew furiously in the next moments, as the fighters clashed brutally against each other. Taisho's glasses shattered under the force of the blows, but he continued fighting without any hesitation.
On the sidelines, Hazumi commented, "They're toying with one another.... their Reiki output is at less than 5,000 waves. But still, they're fighting so brutally, so.... unrestrained. I never thought I'd see a battle like this one." Kazuma nodded, adding, "My students can control their Reiki output at will. Right now, it's just a warm-up."
The fighters disengaged, each leaping to one side and readying themselves once again, in the same stances as before. Hitai belched loudly, and said, "'Bout time we got serious, eh?" With a chuckle, Taisho responded, "Seems like as good a time as any. Now - let's go!!!"
Auras flaming, both warriors crouched down and began to flash slightly, muscles tensing rapidly. Screaming loudly, the auras of the fighters multiplied in size several times, growing thicker and larger every moment. The sidelines were silent, spectators in awe at the powers being released. With a gulp, Hazumi spoke up.
"T-Their powers.... are at 30,000 waves of Ki and rising. They're nearly equal.... I-I've never seen anything like this before...." Even Kazuma was in awe, staring wide-eyed at the power of his students. A few moments passed, and the fighters' auras stopped growing, both warriors staring intently at one another. Shaking slightly, Keyaku managed to eke out the words, "O-Over.... 70,000 Ki waves.... A-Amazing...."
As the spectators looked on, Hitai held up both fists, and began to speak in a calm, cool voice. "You know of the battle between Master Yusuke Urameshi and Jin, the Wind Master, right? Even Yusuke-sama had difficulties against the wind powers of Jin. Things go so much smoother, though, when his fighting style and the power of the wind is combined.... Heh-heh-heh.... Time to end this in a single blow, Taisho!! I'll prove that I was right - and that Reikou Hadou Ken is meant only for battle, no matter the cost!!!!"
Energy swirled around his hands, his aura slowly draining into them. He pulled his fists back, towards his hips, and began to scream, the power of his aura almost doubling in size. The very air itself was affected, being drawn in towards his clenched fists.... and making the aura in his hands shine even brighter. Taisho stood solemnly, watching as Hitai prepared his assault. For a few more moments, he did nothing, but then....
He raised his arm up, index finger extended. As the energy for the Rei Gun began to form on his fingertip, he cried out, "Let's end this, Hitai! Once and for all! I'll protect my ideals.... and my friends.... with this Rei Gun! Come on!! Let's finish it!!!!"
Shinrai descended to the ground, his breath coming in ragged spurts. Across the stadium, Hitai's fists were tightly clenched in anger. This.... RUNT was showing him up. Him - a master of Reikou Hadou Ken. Something inside him just snapped, and he rushed at Shinrai, letting out a vicious roar of hatred. Shinrai stood his ground, and turned to face his new opponent, and the punch was only feet away from Shinrai's face.... when it was caught by Taisho. Grinning, he said, "You wanna fight, then fight me. We have a score to settle...."
Scoffing, Hitai flipped backwards, and reached his hand behind his back. One would think he was reaching for a weapon, but what he was really reaching for was.... a small jug with the symbol for 'saké.' Shinrai nearly face-faulted, but maintained his balanced. "Heh.... a bit lacking in suspense," he mused. "Then again.... This may get interesting. Never thought of seeing THAT style blended into Reikou Hadou Ken...."
Taisho pushed his glasses back up to his eyes, and readied himself as well in a fighting position - both legs spread about shoulder width, while his arms were crossed in front of him. Hitai gulped down the contents of his saké jug, as Kazuma watched intently on the sidelines. Folding his arms in front of himself, he muttered, "Now we'll see which of their philosophies prevails...."
=== Six Years Ago - Reikou Hadou Ken Dojo ===
A glass fell to the ground, shattering loudly. But the room was frozen in silence, as two young men faced each other tensely. "The Reikou Hadou Ken is a tool - a tool for battle!" cried out one, a young-looking man with spiked brown hair and soft, almost sad eyes. "You're wrong! Reikou Hadou Ken is meant to protect - to shield those weaker than oneself!" called out the other, a younger boy with blonde hair and thick black glasses. Kazuma stepped between the two, raising both hands to signal an end to the conflict. "Hitai, Taisho," he spoke harshly, "stop this bickering. Reikou Hadou Ken is what you make of it - nothing more, nothing less. Lady Genkai said as much herself. It is neither good nor evil, not meant to protect or destroy."
Both of the students turned away from their teacher, arms folded tightly across their chests. After a short while, Hitai spoke up. ".... If you fools don't know enough about Reikou Hadou Ken to realize I'm right, then I have no need to remain at this dojo." He turned to leave, but stopped, and looked back over his shoulder at Kazuma. "Stay well, sensei," he said. Kazuma merely sighed, and nodded his head, allowing Hitai to walk out the dojo's doors. Taisho followed him, passing his sensei before stopping suddenly. Glancing over at the man who'd taught him Reikou Hadou Ken, Taisho only said, "Later, sensei." And with that, he left the dojo as well.
=== The Present - Hanging-Neck Island ===
The jug of saké fell to the ground, cracking open and shattering into dozens of pieces. Hitai awkwardly raised his fists, almost like a boxer would, and spread his legs ever so slightly. A bright aura surrounded him, light green in color, as a cocky grin crossed his face. "So, Taisho...." he slurred, "are 'ya ready for my attack? Or are 'ye gonna chicken out like I know you will?"
A similar smirk appeared on Taisho's face, as he clenched his fists tightly. "I won't run.... not this time. Ready for this?" Both warriors leapt towards each other, letting out a fierce battle cry, and when their fists connected in mid-air, a shockwave echoed throughout the arena, tearing through what little was left of the stadium. Fists and feet flew furiously in the next moments, as the fighters clashed brutally against each other. Taisho's glasses shattered under the force of the blows, but he continued fighting without any hesitation.
On the sidelines, Hazumi commented, "They're toying with one another.... their Reiki output is at less than 5,000 waves. But still, they're fighting so brutally, so.... unrestrained. I never thought I'd see a battle like this one." Kazuma nodded, adding, "My students can control their Reiki output at will. Right now, it's just a warm-up."
The fighters disengaged, each leaping to one side and readying themselves once again, in the same stances as before. Hitai belched loudly, and said, "'Bout time we got serious, eh?" With a chuckle, Taisho responded, "Seems like as good a time as any. Now - let's go!!!"
Auras flaming, both warriors crouched down and began to flash slightly, muscles tensing rapidly. Screaming loudly, the auras of the fighters multiplied in size several times, growing thicker and larger every moment. The sidelines were silent, spectators in awe at the powers being released. With a gulp, Hazumi spoke up.
"T-Their powers.... are at 30,000 waves of Ki and rising. They're nearly equal.... I-I've never seen anything like this before...." Even Kazuma was in awe, staring wide-eyed at the power of his students. A few moments passed, and the fighters' auras stopped growing, both warriors staring intently at one another. Shaking slightly, Keyaku managed to eke out the words, "O-Over.... 70,000 Ki waves.... A-Amazing...."
As the spectators looked on, Hitai held up both fists, and began to speak in a calm, cool voice. "You know of the battle between Master Yusuke Urameshi and Jin, the Wind Master, right? Even Yusuke-sama had difficulties against the wind powers of Jin. Things go so much smoother, though, when his fighting style and the power of the wind is combined.... Heh-heh-heh.... Time to end this in a single blow, Taisho!! I'll prove that I was right - and that Reikou Hadou Ken is meant only for battle, no matter the cost!!!!"
Energy swirled around his hands, his aura slowly draining into them. He pulled his fists back, towards his hips, and began to scream, the power of his aura almost doubling in size. The very air itself was affected, being drawn in towards his clenched fists.... and making the aura in his hands shine even brighter. Taisho stood solemnly, watching as Hitai prepared his assault. For a few more moments, he did nothing, but then....
He raised his arm up, index finger extended. As the energy for the Rei Gun began to form on his fingertip, he cried out, "Let's end this, Hitai! Once and for all! I'll protect my ideals.... and my friends.... with this Rei Gun! Come on!! Let's finish it!!!!"