---- Chapter 40: Succession Battle ----

Wind circled around Shinrai, as he thrust both hands forward and clapped them together in a gun shape. Energy flowed from all over his body into his two fingertips, as a semi-large ball of energy formed at its tip.

Yusuke chuckled. "A super-powerful Rei Gun? I guess I can counter that with one of my own.... with a twist." And he placed his hand in a gun shape, pointing it into the air. As the energy started to gather, Shinrai gave a puzzled look at his sensei.

"Rei...."

"Hou!!!!" (Spirit Cannon)

The energy blast burst towards Yusuke, who was seemingly unconcerned.

"Rei Gun.... Clean Hit!!"

Yusuke fired his Rei Gun into the sky, which went in an arc through the air and slammed into Shinrai's chest, sending him reeling. Just as the blast was about to hit the martial arts master, Yusuke dodged effortlessly, allowing the blast to fly into a nearby mountain.... destroying it with one hit.

Shinrai wiped the blood from his mouth, and spat a little out to the side.

"Awesome.... That was brilliant, Yusuke-sama."

Yusuke just scoffed. "Don't call me 'sama....' It makes me uncomfortable."

For a moment, each fighter was silent, until they charged forward again. They struck violently, the earth shattering under the impact of their blows. Shinrai disengaged, and drew his hand back.

"Reikou...."

"Shou Dan!!" (Aura Fist Bullet)

A blast of energy shot from Shinrai's fist, and struck Yusuke hard in the face. The martial arts master skidded backwards, but shook off the blast and shot out a Shotgun attack. Dodging swiftly, Shinrai responded with....

"Rei Gun!!!"

It hit Yusuke roughly in the chest, causing a massive explosion and sending him flying backwards. Just as he was about to hit the ground, he flipped to his feet and released two Shotgun attacks. Shinrai barely dodged the first, but the second sent him backwards into a nearby forest. The trees exploded upon impact with the young fighter, and Shinrai lay there, seemingly unconscious.

"Get up!" called Yusuke with a grin. "You ain't fooling anyone here."

A chuckle came from Shinrai's body, as he sat up. Smiling, he mused aloud, "Heh.... I expected as much. A feint won't work with you. Then try this...."

Shinrai rose to his feet, and made several hand motions. Thrusting his hands forward, his aura burst into flames.

"Ensatsu...."

The ground started to crack slightly.

"Hadou...."

Bursting upwards, the ground exploded into pieces.

"Juu!!!" (Burning Wave Pistol)

An enormous ball of fire burst from Shinrai's hands, shooting directly for Yusuke. The warrior easily dodged.... and yet was surprised when the blast changed direction and slammed into him. And the resulting explosion lit up the sky, as Shinrai smirked.

"You aren't fooling anyone either. Let's do this for real."

In the sky, Yusuke chuckled. The blast had mostly done no damage, and he was smiling. Floating back down to the ground, he spoke again.

"Your power is truly magnificent. Ki-Chigaii is stronger, but you're still incredible. Not even he matched me so brilliantly. But now, it ends...."

Darting forward, Yusuke exploded into an offensive flurry of attacks, kicking, punching, and kneeing with incredible strength. Shinrai responded by blocking the onslaught, but several attacks got through. Suddenly, Yusuke was surprised with a quick knee to the stomach, as Shinrai jumped up slightly and kicked him into the air. Leaping high above Yusuke, he kicked him to the ground and began to rotate.

"Senpuu Shugeki...."

"Reikou Dan!!!" (Hurricane Strike Aura Shot)

Multiple blasts of energy spiraled downwards, crashing into Yusuke with tremendous force. Shinrai then dived downwards, crashing into Yusuke's chest with his knee. As he leapt backwards, he extended his hand and fired a Rei Gun.

The explosion rocked the entire demon plane, shattering lesser demons from several miles away.

Yusuke rose to his feet, battered, bloody, and very worn out.

"Hahh.... Hahh...." he panted heavily, his face smirking. "I can't go for much longer.... So I'm gonna put everything I got into this one last shot. You better too, or you'll die."

Raising his right arm horizontally, he gripped it tightly with his other hand and began to charge up. A small ball of energy began to form, slowly growing to massive proportions.

"Okay.... I'll honor you with my ultimate technique. I won't counter with the Rei Gun Zero Type - rather, I'll use my own greatest attack - the Lifeforce Fist!!!"

Clutching his hand to his side, Shinrai flared his aura and pushed his energy to the max.

"Rei...."

"Gun...."

"Zero...."

"Type!!!!"

The blast shot forward, heading directly for Shinrai.

"Reikou Ryoku Shou!!!!!!" (Aura Force Fist/ Lifeforce Fist)

Shinrai's punch collided heavily with the attack, shattering the ground even further. He pushed with all his might, but was still being shoved back by the massive beam. All his efforts seemed to be for nothing. The seven warriors he had beaten to get this far.... had the whole test been meaningless? Was he going to die? Was this the end? Just as he seemed to lose all of his strength, he remembered Genkai's words....

"Now go.... and win the successorship from that dimwit apprentice of mine."

And he also remembered Kazuma's dying words....

"Fight him.... and make.... me.... proud.... You always were.... like a son to me, while I trained you.... Don't die, Shinrai.... Live on, and always remember.... You hold in your hands the very essence of Kazuma Kuwabara.... Good-bye...."

For Master Genkai.... and Master Kazuma.... and for the honor of my family.... I.... I....

"I WILL NOT DIE!!!!"

With one final swift stroke of his fist, Shinrai broke through the blast and charged forward, slamming into Yusuke with the Lifeforce Fist. Yusuke was knocked to the ground, nearly unconscious.

As ge fell, he murmured, "Excellent...." And then he collapsed, unconscious.

For several hours, Yusuke was out cold. When he finally came to, he shook himself awake violently.

"Whew...." he breathed. "That was a good one! You've earned this.... the Aura Orb...."

Holding his hands in front of his chest, Yusuke drew out a small glowing ball. He handed it to Shinrai, and warned, "When you put it in, it'll hurt like hell. But just stick with it...."

And, indeed, the second the ball passed through Shinrai's chest, it felt like he'd burst into flames.

"Ah.... AH!!!"

Shinrai collapsed, shaking violently from the pain he was under. Solemnly, Yusuke stretched out his hand in the shape of a gun.... and pointed it at his head. Seizing upon the last bits of strength he had, Shinrai looked up, in shock.

"Wh.... ?!"

Yusuke just chuckled.

"Hey, I did my part for the old hag and made sure I passed on her techniques.... There couldn't be a more worthy successor. Don't worry 'bout me.... I've been planning this for a long, long time.... ever since my Keiko died. Without her, my life is.... empty. I won't live like this any longer. Without Kuwabara, it just wouldn't be the same.... and Genkai.... so I'll join all of them. Never thought I'd be talking like this, but you know.... Good bye, Shinrai, true successor to the secrets of Reikou Hadou Ken. Good luck.... and do your best to beat Ki-Chigaii in the God of Fighters Tournament.... I know you'll make me proud."

And he 'pulled the trigger.'

"Y...."

Shinrai's aura began to contract wildly. The nearby mountains and forests exploded violently, as he let out a godawful scream.

"Yusuke-sama!!!!!!!!!"

=== At the Gates to Reikai ===

"It's time, Yusuke...."

Botan dropped off the martial artist at the gates to Heaven, and flew away with tears in her eyes. As Yusuke walked towards the doors, he smiled at the sight before him. A young Genkai, Kuwabara not looking a day older than 16, and Keiko.... Oh, how beautiful she looked. With tears in his eyes, he ran forward.

"Keiko!!!"

"Yusuke!!!"

Both met in a deep embrace, locking lips sensually. Keiko broke off the kiss, staring deep into Yusuke's eyes.

"Welcome back, Yusuke...."

And together, the four of them walked off into the gates of Reikai, and thus were Yusuke and Keiko reunited. But elsewhere, things weren't nearly as happy.... The world of Ningenkai was under attack!

[ Author's Notes: Well, I finally made it to 40 chapters. This is quite the milestone, I do think. Anyway, I hope the story so far hasn't been too bad. I'm planning on two more arcs of the story, and the next one should only go for about 10-12 chapters at most. The one after that'll take about the same, so in about 60 chapters the story will be finished. Take care, everyone! Later! ]