Chapter XXVIII: Renkotsu's Test of Will

Nightshroud: Sorry if anyone got confused if they went to read the last chapter and it ended shortly and abruptly. I had some technical difficulties, but the whole chapter is up. Anyway, on with the chap.
"Kai, I presume?"

"Yeah, who wants to know?" Kai countered.

"I am Renkotsu, a memeber of the Organization that you have betrayed."

"If you think this is earning points with me, it's not."

Renkotsu frowned. "Kai, with you we can defeat Bankotsu, lord of the castle, and rule. We can even take over the Organization. Why don't you meet our other members?"

"Sorry, not interested."

"You can't be seriously trying to pursue the light. I wonder, how strong is your resolve?" he said cunningly.

Kai smirked. "Get in my way, and you'll find out."

He pulled Soul Eater out to make a point. Renkotsu laughed and got ready.

"If you're looking for a fight, then I'm ready."

Kai ran at Renkotsu and cut down at him. Renkotsu jumped back and shot steel wires from his hands that wrapped around Kai's feet. He then pulled on them and tripped Kai to the ground.

"Fire Tooth!"

He shot a large fireball out of his mouth at Kai, who rolled back to avoid it and pulled on the wires, throwing Renkotsu forward. Still on the floor, Kai planted both feet in Renkotsu's stomach and flipped him over him. Renkotsu turned and shot another fireball out of his mouth at Kai, who rolled back and then cut the wires around his feet.

"Not bad, Kai. But let's see what you can really do."

Kai growled and ran at Renkotsu.

"Phoenix Flower!"

Renkotsu jumped back and unleashed a flurry of smaller fireballs from his mouth. Kai put up his arms to block the attack as he ran through, surprising Renkotsu, who was kicked in the stomach and knocked back. Renkotsu got up and used Phoenix Flower again. Kai put up his arms to defend himself, but he didn't see Renkotsu sneak around behind him. He elbowed Kai in the back, causing him to fall to his knees. Then he grabbed Kai's arms and pulled them back while pressing his foot to Kai's back. As he puleld harder, Kai cried out in pain.

"Hehe, you're never going to find the light, Kai. You might as well join with us."

Kai charged his hands and shouted, "Dark Aura!"

He blasted Renkotsu back, freeing himself. Kai ran forward and rammed his knee into Renkotsu's stomach. Then he turned and slammed him with both fists interlocked into the ground. Renkotsu jumped back as Kai slashed with Soul Eater.

"Steel Wire Snare!"

Renkotsu unleashed steel wires that wrapped around Kai and bound his arms to his sides.

"Now, I'll roast you alive. Too bad, you could have been useful."

Renkotsu shot a blast of fire onto the wires, which caused them to catch fire, rapidly racing towards Kai. Kai gathered his dark energy and surged it through his body and into the wires, which engulfed the fire and blasted back Renkotsu. Then the wires disintegrated off Kai.

"Got anything else?" asked Kai confidently. Renkotsu got up weakly and laughed.

"For all your resolution to search for the light, you still need to rely on darkness to fight. Don't you see the hopelessness of your situation? Shame."

Renkotsu teleported from the room, leaving Kai to ponder his poisonous words.

Renkotsu teleported back to Dr. Veinslay's lab, where he and Sommelier were waiting.

"Well, what happened, Renkotsu?" asked Sommelier.

"He is stronger than I expected, even while he is fighting internally against the darkness. To many things are happening that are conflicting with our plan. I need to go back up to the top level. I'll trsut you two to take care of this."

The two nodded, and Renkotsu left the room.

"I think it's time your little creation gets another bout," said Sommelier. Veinslay nodded.

Kai entered the next world, which he recognized well.

"Beast's Castle...somehow I didn't think I'd be coming back here."

He walked up the bridge and entered through the gate. As he reached the courtyard, Shadow, Soldier, and Lancer Heartless appeared. Kai cut through a Shadow, the stabbed a Soldier before slashing through more Shadows. A Lancer Heartless flew at him, but he waited until it got close before he leaped over it, causing it stab into another Lancer, killing both.

"Dark Break!"

Kai leaped into the air and rained down blows on the Heartless. In a matter of moments the courtyard was cleared. Kai ran up to the doors of the castle and gingerly pushed them open. He walked in slowly, half-expecting the Beast to jump out and shred him. As he approached the steps, Defenders and Soldiers appeared. A Soldier jumped at him and kicked at him, but he blocked with Soul Eater and slashed through it. He was suddenly knocked off the steps by a Defender's shield, but he used Dark Raid to cut off its arm and thus deshield it. He blasted some Soldiers with Dark Aura before stabbing through the helpless Defender. The other Defender shot a fire spell from its shield, but Kai countered with Dark Shield. Then he leaped over the shield and slashed through the Defender. He stopped and heard struggling coming from the ballroom. He ran in and saw Belle struggling against Gaston (in his mutated form from chapter 8).

"Hey, let go of her!" said Kai. Gaston saw him and shoved her away before grinning crookedly. Kai made a mock disgusted face, causing Gaston to get angry. He roared and ran at Kai, who jumped over him and threw Soul Eater at his back, knocking him to the ground. Gaston got up and slashed at Kai, who had just managed to retrieve Soul Eater in time to block the claws. Gaston then used his free hand to throw a hook punch and knock Kai across the floor. Kai looked up and saw Gaston jump at him, ready to slam his fists into him.

"Dark Shield!"

Kai quickly put up his Dark Shield in time to block the attack, then blasted Gaston back with Dark Aura. Kai ran at Gaston, who threw a punch at him. Kai sidestepped it and slashed his side, then kicked him down. Gaston grabbed him and held him in the air, then punch him continuously with his free hand before slamming him into the ground. Kai weakly grabbed for Soul Eater as Gaston rushed at him. In a flash he stood and stabbed Gaston backwards in the stomach. Gaston staggered back, then groaned before vanishing. Belle walked over and thanked Kai for helping her.

"You need me to break the next shadow seal, right?"

"Yeah, I think so." She smiled and placed her hands on his heart. There was a bright flash and Kai felt a seal break. He could also feel a difference, because this time it didn't hurt like the last times.

"You're getting closer, Kai. Just keep searching for it."

Kai was engulfed in light, and he barely made out the frame of the doorway. He made his way to it and found himself back in the castle.

"Three worlds down, four to go."

He went up the stairs and followed the hallway to the next door, where someone was already waiting for him.

"Ugh, you."

Voldo smirked. "What, unhappy to see me?"

Kai frowned. "I could do without."

Voldo licked his claws and grinned evily. "Don't tell me you're afraid."

"Actually, your appearance just disgust me. Now let's say we remedy that."

Kai pulled out his Soul Eater and got ready. Voldo hunched down and got ready as well.

"Then let's go."

Nightshroud: Another Kai chappie! Yay. And Voldo is back for more! But, we must now turn our attention elsewhere. Next chapter will be unusual, in that a good majority of it will be between two certain Org. members. I'm sure the title will give it away. Anyway, review and show the love!

Next chapter: Brother vs. Brother: Fanning the Flames