Chapter 43: Final Showdown

"So you've come, eh?" Shen turned around and faced them.

"You're a bastard Shen," Airi said coldly. She had finally made it to the top of the tower with Shino.

"…I started this war…out of jealously…" He looked down. "That was…over forty years ago…" He looked back at them. "I hope you're prepared to die!" He charged at them.

"Shino!" Airi threw up her cards. "Protect!" A small barrier formed from the cards. "Any bright ideas Shino?"

"Just one," Shino replied with a smirk.

"And what's that?"

"Let's go all out." The three sprang apart and calculated their next move.

"Shino, I need to combine my cards together. Do you think you can hold him off until I do?"

"No problem!"

"Okay!" She stood in her spot and concentrated.

"Alright Kikai, don't fail me." A barrage of Kikai came at Shen, but he repelled them. "What!" He ran past Shino and was headed straight for Airi. "Airi, look out!"

"Huh!" She opened her eyes and saw a foot coming straight for her.

"Airi, move!" Sino jumped in the way and received the blow. He crashed into Airi and they both fell back.

"Is that all you got!" Shen asked. "This is pathetic!"

Airi helped Shino up. "Great, now I have to start over!"

"Sorry!" Shino ran back into the fight with Shen. Instead of using Kikai, they just fought hand-to-hand. Shino threw out a punch, but Shen was able to stop it, so he came around with an inescapable kick.

"GAAH!" He stumbled backwards but kept his footing. "Don't do this Shino! You can everything you've ever wanted and more if you just do as I say!"

"No thanks."

"All you have to do is kill Airi!"

"Sorry, but she is everything I've ever wanted and more. I'm not going to give up my happiness."

Airi heard this and smiled. Shino I love you… She opened her eyes and the ground under her began to glow. "I call upon the powers of the Three Holy Universes. Answer the call of your master! Gather unto me and become a force of heavenly destruction!" Her cards merged together and formed into a moon shaped staff. "Alright, here we go!" She grabbed it. "Shino, watch out!" He jumped out of the way. "One Moon Orb coming up!" She swung the staff like a sword and a ball of light came out. It made a direct hit with Shen.

"AAAH!" He hit the ground and sat up. "I didn't think you'd be able the master that forbidden art Airi. And I didn't think that the gods would choose you to wield the Luna Staff."

"Well you thought wrong didn't you!" She turned to Shino. "Keep him distracted and then I'll strike when his guard is down!" He nodded and ran at Shen. "I won't fail this time. We will succeed and we will win!" When she saw an opening, she shot another orb of light at Shen. "Got cha!" They continued to use this method until Shen wised up. He dodged Shino and came at Airi. "Wh-What!" He backhanded her across the face, knocking her out.

"Now that she's out of the way…" He turned back to Shino. "It's your turn.

XXXX

Shino tumbled as he hit the ground. Shen put his foot on top of him and chuckled. "Is this all you got Shino? I chose you, but I didn't think you'd be this weak!"

"Actually…" Shino threw Shen off. "I'm a lot stronger than you think." He used his Kikai to attack. Damn, when's Airi gonna wake up? I could use some help!

"Agh…" Airi opened her eyes and shook off her pain. "Okay, I was fighting, right? Right!" She jumped up and watched Shino get knocked down again. "Shino?" She glared. "Shen, that bastard!" She held up her Luna Staff. "I summon the power of the first gate from the Blue Moon Universe! Give power to my Luna Staff!" The moon on the staff began to glow blue. "SUPERNOVA!" A wave of blue light that had small stars in it shot forth from the staff and hit Shen.

"AAAAAHHH!" He flew back and hit the wall.

"You okay Shino!" she asked as she rushed over to her injured lover.

"…I've been better…" He got up and cracked his neck. "That was some attack."

"Thanks! Although, I can't do it again until I regain some of my strength back. These attacks use up a lot of my vital energy."

"Okay. Then just try to rest a bit." He ran back into the fight.

"Phew…man…" She panted. "I can see why the third and final Universal Gate is that type of technique. Phew…"

XXXX

Airi screamed in pain when she hit the ground. "Agh! I…I can't go on…" Her fight with Shen was taking way too long. Shino landed next to her. "Shino!"

He sat up. "Damn him. I almost got to him that time…"

"Look at you two! You're falling apart!" Shen laughed. "You can't beat me! I am all powerful!" He jumped over to Airi and grabbed her.

"ACK!"

"Let her go!"

"She has something that I want!" he ripped off her Nozomi Charm. "There we go!" He threw Airi back over to Shino and brought the charm over to the wall. There was a small containment crystal and he put it in. "With this, I can now have Inochi for myself!" The chamber erupted with light. When it cleared, Inochi was unconscious in the crystal. "Finally!"

"No! Give her back!" Airi yelled.

"It's too late! You failed!"

She looked down. "Shino…we can't do this alone…"

"Then you don't have to!"

"What!" All three of them turned to the door and saw eight ninja and two Nozomis.

Airi smiled. "You guys! You're alright!"

"Of course baby sis!" Aurion said.

"We don't go down so easily!" Kiba added.

"You fools!" Shen shouted. "This is all futile!"

"I'll show you futile!" Airi held up her staff.

"What!" Airas exclaimed. "She has the Luna Staff!"

"I summon the power of the second gate from the Red Sun Universe! Give power to my Luna Staff!" The moon on the staff began to glow red. "INFERNO!" Fire erupted from the staff, pushing the young woman backwards. "Gah!" Fire engulfed Shen.

"AAAAHHH!"

"Way to go Airi!"

Shen fell to his knees. "…Don't you see…all of you…this is…pointless…YOU ALL WILL DIE HERE!"

XXXX

Airi lay on the ground of the verge of passing out. "…Ughn…I used…way too much…of my vital energy…" Sakura landed next to her. "Sa-Sakura? You okay?"

"Yeah!" Sakura replied. "This guy is sure giving us a run for our money, but I think he's finally slowing down."

Aurion jumped to his feet. "Where's Shino!" He saw Shino on the opposite side of Shen. "I got it! Shino!"

Shino looked at him. "Yes?"

"CATCH!" He threw sword at Shino and he caught it. "Kakashi, Kurenai, now!" The two Jonin came from their hiding places and attacked Shen.

"Fools!" Shen moved out of the way, but suddenly stopped when something sharp touched his stomach. "…Ack…"

"This is for the Aburames and Nozomis! Go to hell Shen!" Shino yelled as he drove the sword right through him.

"Sh-Shino…you could've…had…it…all…" Shen fell to his knees, dead.

The group of twelve panted. "…It's…finally over…" Hinata whispered.

"Geez!" Kiba fell to the ground. "That was some crazy battle!" They all nodded.

"Shino," Airi said with a small smile. "We did it. We beat Shen. Now was can have peace of mind knowing that our clans will eventually stop fighting now that there no longer is a reminder of the hatred and jealousy." She hugged him. "Shino, thank you."

Shino rested his head on her shoulder. "I know Airi. Thank you, too, for believing in me…For trusting me…" The tower suddenly shook violently.

"Oh my God, what's going on!" A chunk of the ceiling fell down, blocking the only exit. "Oh God…NO!"

Hey everyone! Alright, this is it! This story has finally come to an end! The next chapter is the last and final chapter! Finale: For The Ones I Love is next! You don't wanna miss it cuz…well, I'll just let you read it! Thanks for staying with this story and reading it. I know it's so long, but I can't help it! Here we go, onto the finale…