Chapter 5

The last years of Shin's "normal" life as a Kai were not only long, but tedious, strenuous, and frustrating. However, Dai Kaioshin was more than impressed, to say the least, at how far such a young Kai had come in only a matter of twenty years since he had arrived on Kaioshin-kai.

There was only one thing left to do. Young Shin would have to fight someone he had never met before and win. He remembered the day Shina, (now called West Kaioshin), had passed her test. She had fought a dead man that had spent the past four-hundred years training on the Grand Kai's planet, located on the opposite side of Other World.

Shin thought the task would be simple; that is until he saw who he was fighting. "Sir, I won't be fighting one of the deceased from the Grand Kai's planet?" He asked East Kaioshin.

"Every so often the Grand Kai has a silly tournament on his planet, and this year happened to be host, so all of the dead warriors are busy with that nonsense," East Kaioshin explained. "Kibito is an excellent fighter and has a great many powers that some Kais would give their right hand for."

"He sure is…big…" Shin said to himself as he watched the tallest Kai he had ever met walk towards him and his master. Shin had always thought South Kaioshin was the tallest Kai in the universe; however, this Kibito surpassed the god of the south by at least five inches.

Kibito seemed to be at least twice as tall as Shin, and his bulk matched his height. He seemed very old, his pink face wrinkled and stern, but Shin could feel that Kibito wouldn't harm a fly. His smoothed back white hair seemed to only give him more of a sense of intimidation for those that didn't know him, but the way he walked—straight and hands behind his back—Shin could tell that Kibito would be a good person to turn to if he were ever in need of help.

"Shin, meet Kibito," Dai Kaioshin said. Both Kais bowed, Shin having to look back up with his head bent back so he could see Kibito eye-to-eye. "The match will not end until there is a victor. Shin, know that Kibito has been told not to hold back any power, and he's not one to underestimate."

"I understand, Dai Kaioshin," Shin replied, never taking his eyes off of Kibito.

"Alright then," Dai Kaioshin said. He snapped his fingers and instantly a lawn chair appeared for each of the spectators, which included all the present Kaioshins. "You two may begin when ready."

Shin walked passed Kibito, knowing that the black eyes of this large man were watching his every move. "I think we should start a little further out," he said when Kibito hadn't moved. He was wondering if his opponent would attack him now while his back was turned, but instead Kibito followed Shin until the short god-to-be stopped.

"Whenever you're ready, sir," Kibito's deep voice announced, causing Shin to raise his white eyebrows in surprise.

This Kibito is waiting for me to start, although he was told not to go easy on me, Shin thought to himself. Perhaps I won't have to worry about his size after all. I'm beginning to think I won't have much of a problem with him. He is strong, but not as strong as me—

Shin had barely finished his thoughts when Kibito disappeared. Shin looked around, shocked at the action, and ultimately stunned that he hadn't been able to make the first move. Foolishly, he used his common sense of sight to look around helplessly for his opponent, wondering where he had gone.

"Use your head!" Shin heard East Kaioshin yell at him.

Shin looked blankly in the direction of his master, causing him to be completely taken by surprise when an elbow connected with the back of his shoulder.

Shin's small body went flying low to the ground for about fifty feet, skidding to a halt on his knees, and his palms already scrapped and bruised from the force of the impact they had with the ground.

Now on hands and knees Shin looked over his shoulder to see Kibito calmly standing where Shin had been only moments before. He couldn't believe that such a thing had just happened to him. He refused to be made a fool of, especially when this was the test that would prove he was ready to take over East Kaioshin's position.

Shin got up quickly and waited but a split second to jump from the ground, using his knee to repel him back to Kibito, his right arm holding back to deliver the hardest punch he could muster. This time it didn't surprise him when Kibito disappeared. Shin wouldn't let the same thing happen again.

When Kibito appeared behind the young Kai, Shin was ready. He quickly spun around, his leg outstretched and successfully hitting Kibito's knee. The large Kai faltered for a moment before disappearing again, with Shin following.

In the air they went, throwing punch after punch, kick after kick, and soon blast after blast of energy. The only thing that would stop Shin from his attacks was something unexpected from his opponent, but he refused to let that happen.

Kibito's serious face never twitched as they parted, both breathing heavily and sporting a bloody lower lip.

Shin was enjoying the fight, to say the least, but he didn't want to let this linger all afternoon. He wanted to prove himself to the others and show them that he could handle anything that came at him.

"Enough playing," Shin said to Kibito. He brought his hands together, his eyes fixed on the blacks of the challenger. Shin began to feel a rush of energy flow through his chest and arms, coming together into a ball between his hands. He held it only for a moment, releasing it towards Kibito.

Disappointment fluttered in Shin's heart when Kibito easily dodged the blast and hovered several miles above Shin. "Blast," Shin said aloud, flying higher to meet Kibito.

However, before Shin could meet his foe face to face once again, his mind picked up energy building above him. Kibito was starting his own attack, and let it fall at a fast speed towards the upcoming Kai.

Shin took a deep breath before spinning around, catching the bright, hot energy ball with a force that kept it from touching his skin. Shin impressed even Kibito with the catch and even more so when he spun around yet again, flinging it back to where it came from.

Shin had seen, heard, and sensed Kibito's life force flying back down to the ground. And he was there to meet him.

Before Kibito finished his intense speeding flight back to the ground of Kaioshin-kai, Shin had not only stepped on the grass but had been able to get enough of a bounce with his feet to congregate a head-to-head greeting.

Kibito came to a skidding halt, hoping to stop himself before he was clobbered with the impact of Shin's fist into his stomach, but that wouldn't be the cast. The young Kai hit him with a powerful force that made Kibito feel like his stomach was being pushed through his back. And it didn't stop there. Shin finished the fight effortlessly with another unexpected blow to Kibito's back, kicking him down with his left foot to make an impressive indent in the hollow ground of the planet.

Shin hovered in the air, his chest heaving from the energy he used, although he was barely tired. He had never experienced such a fight where he knew he had to win. Deep down he knew that no harm would come to him, knowing that Kibito wasn't there to kill him. But the fact that if he didn't win he wouldn't become the god he had been training to be his whole life would have been devastating.

Kibito, on the other hand, was busy thinking of how many ribs could be broken as he lifted himself to his feet. Shin was looking down at him, a smile on his face. The fight was over, and there was no longer a need for them to act as foes, but instead as friends.

Shin flew down to Kibito and hovered high enough so he could offer a hand and still be of some assistance. "That was an excellent brawl, Kibito," Shin told him with a small smile on his face. "I enjoyed it."

"And so did I," Kibito admitted as he took Shin's hand and returned to his feet.

"Impressive! Excellent work, Shin!" Dai Kaioshin said. "You still have much to learn in your young age, but you handled yourself brilliantly against Kibito."

"Thank you, Dai Kaioshin," Shin replied, bowing respectively.

"And now its time for me to rest," East Kaioshin said merrily as he held out his hand to Shin.

Shin took his hand, having the thought that he was just being congratulated on his efforts. What he didn't expect, was to feel a wave of warm and comforting air wash over his entire body. He could feel his muscles shudder, his hair swish to the side, and his heart race. For a moment, everyone seemed to be distant, his mind somewhere far away.

When Shin opened his eyes, everyone was staring at him; everyone except East Kaioshin, who was no longer present. No one had to tell Shin where East had gone. The elder Kai had vanished and started a new journey to the Realm of the Elder Kais, where he would spend eternity in comfort with no worries.

Shin's body felt different, although he knew he was still the same person. He felt stronger, lighter, and smarter than before. He noticed his clothes had changed to the same attire as East Kaioshin wearing—a royal blue vest topping a light blue top and pants. Around his waist was a tightly wrapped orange sash, and when he moved his head to look himself over, he felt something swinging from his ear lobes: the Potora Earrings, a trademark that every Kaioshin wore.

"Well, East Kaioshin, how do you feel?" West Kaioshin asked, her sharp black eyes looking over the newest god.

"I…I'm not quite sure," East Kaioshin replied, his eyes still studying himself.

"Well, now that you're a god, you'll have to start taking on the responsibility of one. You know what you have to do, I'm sure," Dai Kaioshin said. "But this calls for celebration! A feast, in the dinning room has already been prepared by our wonderful servants. I'd think it a shame to let it all go to waste."

Dai Kaioshin, along with North and South walked towards the mansion, not far from where the fight had taken place. West gave the newly named East Kaioshin a sweet smile and she too left to enjoy the food waiting for everyone.

"Kibito," East Kaioshin started when he saw the tall pink man turn to leave. "Will you not join us?"

"It is not my place to join the Kaioshins," he said. "My place is on the Grand Kai's planet."

"You're welcome to come, my friend," East Kaioshin said smoothly. "I'd be most honored if the Kai who determined the outcome of my lifelong quest enjoyed himself. Might I add that the cooks here are excellent?"

Kibito smiled. "If the East Kaioshin wishes it, than I can not reject the generous offer."

Long after the fascinating dinner was over, East Kaioshin stood on the balcony of his bedroom quarters. He looked out into the distance of Kaioshin-kai, the landscaping a sight to behold even to someone who has lived their entire life at the same location.

Twenty-two years old, East Kaioshin was the youngest Kai to ever become a Kaioshin. Even North Kaioshin, whose predecessor had died in a sudden war between the two largest planets in the northern quadrant thousands of years ago, had trained for fifty years before he was given the honor of becoming a Kaioshin.

East wondered if he would be of any use to the universe in the future, knowing that he hadn't been fully trained on everything there was to know. He knew what he had to know—the fighting, the planets, the races, and how to handle it all at the same time, but was he up for what life would throw at him?

In time, he knew he would find out.