---- Chapter 25: Beginning of the Turbulent Trials ----
=== Tokyo - Reikou Hadou Ken Dojo ===
Young, eager students looked on attentively, listening to their sensei, Kazuma Kuwabara.
"The Rei Gun is simple, but very, very powerful. It's beaten some of the toughest opponents you could ever hope to face. But, one thing must be kept in mind - each person has only a certain number of Rei Gun shots each day, before having to rest and replenish Reiki. That number, even for Yusuke Urameshi himself, was only four shots per day. No amount of training could increase that number.... but he did find ways around it. By burning up about twice as much Reiki as normal, several Rei Guns could be fired in succession without rest in between, but such an attack uses up most of a person's Reiki. Okay, any questions? Hmm?"
Standing inside the doorway was Shinrai, staring over at his former teacher with a strange ferocity. Kazuma dismissed his students, and as they left, he took on the same look. "So," he said simply, "you've finally decided to succeed Yusuke as the master of Reikou Hadou Ken." Nodding, Shinrai replied, "I'll need more strength for the upcoming battle...." Kazuma was silent for a moment, and nodded. Taking up a fighting stance, he motioned for Shinrai to attack him. Shinrai looked at him, puzzled, saying, "W-What? Sensei? Why would be fight?" Resuming a normal position, Kazuma straightened up.
"So.... you don't know about the new rite of succession. Let me explain, then. Yusuke Urameshi, besides being the master of Reikou Hadou Ken, is also the current 'God of Fighters.' That complicates matters. To fight him, or even to meet him, you must prove your worth first in battle. A total of seven artifacts is required to fight Yusuke - the Holy Sword Fragment, the Teardrop Gem, the Shard of the Mirror of Darkness, the Reikou Hadou Ken Emblem, the Emblem of Storms, the Emblem of Frost, and the Emblem of Suiken. A powerful fighter holds each of these items, and you must find and defeat them all to prove yourself worthy of a match with Yusuke. I hold the Holy Sword Fragment, but I'll need to see the other six items before you fight me. Kurama has the Shard of the Mirror of Darkness, but he doesn't usually fight much. Jaganshi Hiei possesses the Teardrop Gem.... good luck getting that from him. Touya, master of ice, holds of Emblem of Frost. Jin the master of wind holds the Emblem of Storms. Genkai, the creator of Reikou Hadou Ken, has the Reikou Hadou Ken Emblem.... but she's dead, so Koenma must give permission for you to pass through and fight her in the afterlife. And, lastly, Chuu holds the Emblem of Suiken. You'd best get started if you want to get all seven before.... the next mission."
Bowing respectfully and murmuring a quiet, "Yes, sensei," Shinrai turned and left the dojo, running off as fast as he could. Solemnly looking on, Kazuma muttered, "It's almost time.... You know it too, don't 'ya, old pal? Not long until a new successor is chosen...."
=== Tokyo - Kurama's Residence, Bedroom ===
A seductive laugh echoed through the room, as a very naked Botan crawled up next to Kurama in their bed. "So, fox.... What d'ya wanna do? We could always do your favorite...." The redhead chuckled, replying, "Anything you want, my angel." As the two shared a passionate kiss, a new voice called out, "Am I interrupting anything?" Botan shrieked, and Kurama leapt to his feet, brandishing his Rose Whip in less than an instant.
Flipping down from the ceiling, where he'd been hiding, Shinrai waved. "Yo, Kurama. Long time, no see." Dissipating his Rose Whip with an irritated grunt, Kurama sat back down and snapped, "What is it, Shinrai?"
"I'm going to succeed Yusuke as the master of Reikou Hadou Ken."
A long silence reigned, until Kurama finally spoke. "You're.... I see." Planting one last kiss on Botan's lips, Kurama rose out of the bed, reaching to gather his clothing. After he was fully dressed, Kurama said solemnly, "Let's go, then. To the roof."
"Wait, fox.... !!"
Turning to see Botan reaching out to him, a faint, warm smile crossed Kurama's face. Taking her hand in his, he kissed her hand gently, looking deeply into her eyes. "Wait here, love," he said. "I'll be back soon." And with that, the two warriors left.
=== Tokyo - Kurama's Residence, Rooftop ===
The wind blew fiercely, threatening to tear apart the multiple plants growing in planters on the rooftop. Clearly, this is where Kurama spent most of his time. Both fighters faced off against one another, as a long silence ensued.
"Shuichi Minamino, also known as the Makai bandit Youko Kurama.... A pleasure to meet you in battle at last, Shinrai. Are you ready for my challenge?"
".... Bring it on."
"You know that I will not go easy on you - death will be part of this test, in one way or another."
"...."
"I see.... Then brace yourself!!!"
Summoning his Rose Whip once more, Kurama darted forward, his speed surprising even Shinrai. His swing narrowly missed Shinrai, cutting deeply into the roof. Using the momentum of his first strike, Kurama once again swung at Shinrai with the Rose Whip, and managed to cut a deep gash in his chest. As Shinrai gasped and clutched his wound, Kurama returned his weapon to a normal rose, and told Shinrai, "If we hurry, then that wound won't be infected. Now, stop holding back and I will too." Chuckling Shinrai nodded, and resumed standing with his hands at his sides. Kurama crossed his arms in front of himself, as a white mist thickened the air.
".... I've never willingly done this before. Please, bear with me."
".... !!! Y-You're going to.... !!!!"
In a bright flash of light, Shuichi Minamino vanished, and the piercing howl of a fox heralded the arrival of a new combatant....
Standing firm, proud and tall, Youko Kurama had arrived. Snapping his fingers, the flowers growing on the rooftop sprung forward as large, thorny protuberances. Clearly, there would be no way out.
"So," said Kurama, in a newly cold tone, "are you going to reveal yourself as well? Your true power?"
Grinning, Shinrai began to laugh quietly. Looking up at his opponent, he warned, "Brace yourself."
Crying out loudly, black markings began to appear on Shinrai's face and arms, a long flowing cape draping down his back. On his hip, a broadsword materialized, sheathed in fine leather. Armor covered his torso, and the wound that once marked his chest healed itself easily. A demonic glare covered his face.
"Let's rumble, Youko...."
=== Tokyo - Reikou Hadou Ken Dojo ===
Young, eager students looked on attentively, listening to their sensei, Kazuma Kuwabara.
"The Rei Gun is simple, but very, very powerful. It's beaten some of the toughest opponents you could ever hope to face. But, one thing must be kept in mind - each person has only a certain number of Rei Gun shots each day, before having to rest and replenish Reiki. That number, even for Yusuke Urameshi himself, was only four shots per day. No amount of training could increase that number.... but he did find ways around it. By burning up about twice as much Reiki as normal, several Rei Guns could be fired in succession without rest in between, but such an attack uses up most of a person's Reiki. Okay, any questions? Hmm?"
Standing inside the doorway was Shinrai, staring over at his former teacher with a strange ferocity. Kazuma dismissed his students, and as they left, he took on the same look. "So," he said simply, "you've finally decided to succeed Yusuke as the master of Reikou Hadou Ken." Nodding, Shinrai replied, "I'll need more strength for the upcoming battle...." Kazuma was silent for a moment, and nodded. Taking up a fighting stance, he motioned for Shinrai to attack him. Shinrai looked at him, puzzled, saying, "W-What? Sensei? Why would be fight?" Resuming a normal position, Kazuma straightened up.
"So.... you don't know about the new rite of succession. Let me explain, then. Yusuke Urameshi, besides being the master of Reikou Hadou Ken, is also the current 'God of Fighters.' That complicates matters. To fight him, or even to meet him, you must prove your worth first in battle. A total of seven artifacts is required to fight Yusuke - the Holy Sword Fragment, the Teardrop Gem, the Shard of the Mirror of Darkness, the Reikou Hadou Ken Emblem, the Emblem of Storms, the Emblem of Frost, and the Emblem of Suiken. A powerful fighter holds each of these items, and you must find and defeat them all to prove yourself worthy of a match with Yusuke. I hold the Holy Sword Fragment, but I'll need to see the other six items before you fight me. Kurama has the Shard of the Mirror of Darkness, but he doesn't usually fight much. Jaganshi Hiei possesses the Teardrop Gem.... good luck getting that from him. Touya, master of ice, holds of Emblem of Frost. Jin the master of wind holds the Emblem of Storms. Genkai, the creator of Reikou Hadou Ken, has the Reikou Hadou Ken Emblem.... but she's dead, so Koenma must give permission for you to pass through and fight her in the afterlife. And, lastly, Chuu holds the Emblem of Suiken. You'd best get started if you want to get all seven before.... the next mission."
Bowing respectfully and murmuring a quiet, "Yes, sensei," Shinrai turned and left the dojo, running off as fast as he could. Solemnly looking on, Kazuma muttered, "It's almost time.... You know it too, don't 'ya, old pal? Not long until a new successor is chosen...."
=== Tokyo - Kurama's Residence, Bedroom ===
A seductive laugh echoed through the room, as a very naked Botan crawled up next to Kurama in their bed. "So, fox.... What d'ya wanna do? We could always do your favorite...." The redhead chuckled, replying, "Anything you want, my angel." As the two shared a passionate kiss, a new voice called out, "Am I interrupting anything?" Botan shrieked, and Kurama leapt to his feet, brandishing his Rose Whip in less than an instant.
Flipping down from the ceiling, where he'd been hiding, Shinrai waved. "Yo, Kurama. Long time, no see." Dissipating his Rose Whip with an irritated grunt, Kurama sat back down and snapped, "What is it, Shinrai?"
"I'm going to succeed Yusuke as the master of Reikou Hadou Ken."
A long silence reigned, until Kurama finally spoke. "You're.... I see." Planting one last kiss on Botan's lips, Kurama rose out of the bed, reaching to gather his clothing. After he was fully dressed, Kurama said solemnly, "Let's go, then. To the roof."
"Wait, fox.... !!"
Turning to see Botan reaching out to him, a faint, warm smile crossed Kurama's face. Taking her hand in his, he kissed her hand gently, looking deeply into her eyes. "Wait here, love," he said. "I'll be back soon." And with that, the two warriors left.
=== Tokyo - Kurama's Residence, Rooftop ===
The wind blew fiercely, threatening to tear apart the multiple plants growing in planters on the rooftop. Clearly, this is where Kurama spent most of his time. Both fighters faced off against one another, as a long silence ensued.
"Shuichi Minamino, also known as the Makai bandit Youko Kurama.... A pleasure to meet you in battle at last, Shinrai. Are you ready for my challenge?"
".... Bring it on."
"You know that I will not go easy on you - death will be part of this test, in one way or another."
"...."
"I see.... Then brace yourself!!!"
Summoning his Rose Whip once more, Kurama darted forward, his speed surprising even Shinrai. His swing narrowly missed Shinrai, cutting deeply into the roof. Using the momentum of his first strike, Kurama once again swung at Shinrai with the Rose Whip, and managed to cut a deep gash in his chest. As Shinrai gasped and clutched his wound, Kurama returned his weapon to a normal rose, and told Shinrai, "If we hurry, then that wound won't be infected. Now, stop holding back and I will too." Chuckling Shinrai nodded, and resumed standing with his hands at his sides. Kurama crossed his arms in front of himself, as a white mist thickened the air.
".... I've never willingly done this before. Please, bear with me."
".... !!! Y-You're going to.... !!!!"
In a bright flash of light, Shuichi Minamino vanished, and the piercing howl of a fox heralded the arrival of a new combatant....
Standing firm, proud and tall, Youko Kurama had arrived. Snapping his fingers, the flowers growing on the rooftop sprung forward as large, thorny protuberances. Clearly, there would be no way out.
"So," said Kurama, in a newly cold tone, "are you going to reveal yourself as well? Your true power?"
Grinning, Shinrai began to laugh quietly. Looking up at his opponent, he warned, "Brace yourself."
Crying out loudly, black markings began to appear on Shinrai's face and arms, a long flowing cape draping down his back. On his hip, a broadsword materialized, sheathed in fine leather. Armor covered his torso, and the wound that once marked his chest healed itself easily. A demonic glare covered his face.
"Let's rumble, Youko...."