Please Read and Review ^___^

The King of Fighters: Regulation Blue
by Natsuke Takeda

Description: A new KoF tournament has begun! But with Chizuru now rejoining the Sacred Treasures Team with Kyo and Iori, Shingo is once again left without a team. However, Shingo finds himself at evens with an unexpected partner... Kasumi. Although their goals are worlds apart, he soon realizes they couldn't be any closer. [ShingoxKasumi/KensouxAthena]

Chapter One

"The Prideful Declaration of Shingo"

"No way. No way No way No way!"

Shingo lifted the envelope he had just taken out of his mailbox, extending it to the sky as he looked at the familiar envelope with the obvious red seal.

"It's here already! Another King of Fighters tournament!" He quickly looked up in the sky with a determined and firey look on his face. "And another chance to prove myself to Kusanagi-san!"

An entire minute was devoted to his determined and dramatic pose, causing an awkward silence as he stood in front of his traditional Japanese home. A boy and his cat riding a bike slowed down to look at a still-life Shingo posing like a willful hero before pedaling again, the boy and the cat shaking their heads.

"What an idiot."

"Nya~~" the cat meowed in agreement.

"All riiight!" Shingo suddenly moved, pumping a fist forward. "I've gotta talk to Kusanagi-san!!!" He started hyping himself up, ready to go like a bolt of lightning!

"Here... I.. GO!"

He stepped into his house.

"Ma, can I borrow the moped?"

"Use your bike, Shingo. It saves us money on gasoline."

"..."

------------------------------------

"Pedal Shingo! Pedal like the WIIIIIND!" He laughed as he pedaled his way to the Kusanagi estate. A smile was etched on his face as he felt his hair flow with the wind, a breeze hitting his face. "I'm so hyped up..!"

"...I get to fight in the KoF tournament again!" He gave a cheesy smile, realizing that because of his past success, he could very well be a favorite to win the tournament. "I already have a KoF crown under my belt when I fought along with K', Maxima and Nikaido-san. With Kusanagi-san and Yagami with me, we're sure to be the ones to beat this year!"

"I can't believe it!!!" He was excited beyond measure. Turning the corner, he reached the Kusanagi estate and hopped off the bicycle, letting it drop to the floor on its own as he dashed toward the front door. "Heeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrre's SHINGO!" He slid opened the front door as he spoke his name, leaning his head forward with a bright smile, his running/track suit on along with a headband for good measure on him as he looked forward. "...Huh?"

"....-erstood. But I don't get why I have to team with this psycho again."

"Hmph. I only want my powers back... It's not like I need them to rip you apart, Kyo. I can easily do it now."

"If it was so easy, Yagami, I wouldn't be here, don't you think? You stalking freak of nature."

"Too many distractions. It's hard to kill someone when everyone else is in your way."

"Hmph, that never stopped me from kicking your ass, now did it."

"If it wasn't for Chizu-"

"Kusanagi-saaaaan!" A sudden echo was heard as Kyo and Iori turned their heads toward the door, seeing Shingo in all his running suit glory. His smile faded, however, as he saw the two at each others throats, both of them grabbing the others shirt in a threatening manner. Blinking a few times, he looked around, noticing Kyo's father at the very back, sitting, and Chizuru next to him doing the same. Kyo let go of Iori's shirt, pushing his away as Iori snarled at him. But the purple-flame user eyed Shingo for a moment before turning his back on everyone else, walking towards the other exit leading to the inside of the Kusanagi estate.

"...Tell it direct and blunt, Kyo. It'll be too embarrassing to kill a sugarcoating pussy."

"Screw you." Kyo snapped back as Iori disappeared from sight, the sound of his footsteps fading away as Kyo turned towards Shingo. A long moment of silence occured as Shingo looked out the other exit before he turned to his 'sensei,' "Kusanagi-san.. What's going on?"

"..." Kyo turned to his father, then eyed Chizuru. She gave a small nod, and Kyo sighed, turning his head back to Shingo. "Good news!" He smirked, "Chizuru's fully recovered!"

"That's fantastic!" Shingo beamed in delight, dashing towards Chizuru and sitting in front of her in a traditional-style, bowing. "I hope I kept my promise well, Chizuru-san!" [Note: He is referring to the promise to keep Kyo and Iori from tearing each other apart while she recovered, having lost to Ash Crimson and getting her Yata Mirror stolen.] Chizuru smiled and bowed back in respect, "Yes, you did very well, Shingo." Shingo looked up, smiling. His smile faded again as he saw Chizuru's face.

"C-Chizuru-san?"

Her face was solemn. Looking towards Saisyu, his face too was sad, but Kyo's father quickly turned his head away. "..I'm sorry, Shingo."

"Why the hell's everyone so sad for?!" Kyo yelled. Shingo quickly turned to Kyo, his look clearly irritated as he stared back.

"Since Chizuru's recovered, that means you can't be in our team this year, Shingo. I'm sorry." Kyo said directly and bluntly as Iori asked. Shingo took a minute to digest before realizing what he just said. "O-oh..."

"You've gotten very strong, Shingo." Saisyu added, "But with Ash targeting Kyo, he needs the two other original members with him. Progressing strength is not enough this year, Shingo. We need strength and experience. We also need Chizuru and Yagami to be able to take thier powers back when Ash arrives. Plus, we have to worry about Orochi as well."

"Also..." Chizuru spoke, "We aren't sure of who Ash's partners are. From what Kusanagi-kun told me, it will most likely be Shen and that card shark, Oswald. Though me and Yagami-san's powers are gone, our styles fit well against the two. We, especially you, are no match for Ash. As much as Yagami-san hates to admit it... both him and I need Kyo to get to Ash."

A small silence hit the room as Shingo tried to find the words. None came. He merely said "I understand." And stood up. Kyo sighed, "Look, Yabuki. I'm not saying you're not strong. You've grown. But right now, it's too dangerous. It's not about KoF this year, Yabuki. We honestly do not care about a title right now!" Shingo merely nodded, angering Kyo. "What the hell?! We're looking out for you, don't you get it?!"

"I get it already." Shingo gave a neutral tone, very unlike him. Kyo blinked as Shingo turned and walked away.

"..I'm sorry, Shingo." Kyo said sympathetically. But Shingo was already out of the room.

------------------------------------

Shingo walked down the hill, lugging his bike with him.

"...I finally get a chance to win a title with the famous pair of Kusanagi-san and Yagami, but what bad luck." He sighed. "I understand that this year isn't about the title, and that Ash is still targeting Kyo... but still." He grip on his bicycle handlebars got tighter, his eyes fired up. "I've never wanted to fight so much as this year! I can't stand it! There's got to be another way!"

"Maybe I should ask the head of the KoF tournament this year to put me as a single entry and- eh?" He suddenly tripped on a rock and tried to find balance, but the downhill made it too hard. Gripping his bicycle to hold him up, it made no use as the bike wheeled forward, sending Shingo tumbling along with it. "Oh shi-!" He braced himself for impact as he started rolling downhill. "This is gonna hurt!"

"Sesshin Inshuu: Chuudan Atemi!" A girl's voice shouted out. Shingo suddenly felt a force stop him dead cold., the sudden stop causing him to look up. A blue-haired girl wearing a traditional all-blue kimono stopped him, her eyes locking with his as Shingo felt a familiar aura about her.

"K-KasumiiIIIIIII!!!!!" He was suddenly thrown, throttling towards the a quartet of trash cans [In Japan, there are four cans/bins; paper, bottles, wrappers, etc. This is because the Japanese are very strict with their sanitation. Aside from Tokyo, Osaka and Okinawa, it's nearly impossible to see any trash on the ground]. A loud noise followed as he crashed onto them, his head spinning as he looked up at the sky, then tilted up to look from a distance at the girl wearing an everyday kimono.

"W-WHY THE HECK DID YOU THROW ME?!"

"It was a force of habit! Why were you rolling down the hill?"

"I.. I... um..." Shingo's eyes moved around (Stay cool, Shingo. Think of something cool.)

"I tripped on a rock!"

Silence. A boy with his cat riding a bike passed by, slowing down as he saw the two look at each other for no apparent reason, Shingo still lying on the rummage that was his crash landing site. He and his cat merely shook their heads.

(IDIOT! THAT'S WHAT REALLY HAPPENED!)

"Hmph! You have no balance at all! ...You look familiar."

"It's me! Yabuki Shingo!"

"Yabuki?" She blinked, squinting as he looked at him, his body all bruised up from the fall and the landing he took on the trash bins. "Oh! You are Kusanagi-san's student!"

"Yes!" He wiggled frantically, trying to push the bins away, but only making him fall on the hard concrete floor. He slowly got up, his body aching as he tried to straighten himself up. Kasumi merely puffed her cheeks. "You're a former KoF champion, yet you so easily lost your balance!"

"I hit a rock!"

"Even on a downhill, a warrior with sharp senses can easily roll and gain his or her footing! Father taught me that."

"Look, just cause I lost balance doesn't mean I'm not a warrior. I didn't win KoF out of a fluke, you know!"

"Hmph!" She puffed her cheeks again, "Maybe, or maybe it was your teammates who won it for you?"

"What did you say?!" He was fired up from her taunting words, his hands curled into fists. "I may have tripped on a rock and fell, but you'll never know how good a fighter I am until you fight me!" He slid his left foot back and got into a fighting stance.

"Hmph. Can't you see I'm not even ready to fight? Besides, I'm too busy to fight you."

"What?! You make fun of my accomplishments and then back out?!"

"I'm not backing out!"

"You said you were too busy!"

"I am!"

"Then don't make fun of me! I promise you'll pay dearly for it!" His eyes narrowed, his body burning with a fighting rage as he clenched his hands tighter.

"Pay dearly for it...? This coming from a guy who was too busy reading his diary to fight the first time our teams met."

"D-DAIRY?! IT'S A REVIEW BOOK! And what about you with your Japanese to English dictionary?!"

"W-wha... I just have a little trouble speaking english!"

"Little?! You told Terry-san's team to SURRENDER THEIR PANCAKES!!!!"

"E-enough about me! I told you I'm too busy!"

"Then don't make fun of what I've done! I worked hard to earn my championship crown! I'll say it again, you can judge my strength until you fight me!"

Silence. Kasumi puffed her cheeks in annoyance, but watching Shingo get into his stance once again, his eyes ready and willing to defend his honor, she couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity with her father within him; a burning sense of pride passionately kept aflame, and her cheeks went back to normal. "...Fine."

"Alright!"

"But not here!"

"Huh?"

"As I said before, I'm not properly dressed to battle. My father bought this kimono for me, you know. I'd like to be in my proper attire." She casually whisked away the hair that blew in front of her to the side. "Meet me at the front of my estate at sunset! Got it?"

"Agreed!" He nodded, his face serious as he looked at his opponent. She merely "hmph"ed and started walking away towards the hill he fell down from.

"WAIT!" Shingo spoke clearly and loudly, catching Kasumi's attention as she turned around. "What? I already agreed to your battle."

"Todoh. Do you have a team for this year's King of Fighters tournament?"

"What's it to you?" She demanded, her eyes narrowing.

"I want to place a stipulation on our match!"

"What...?"

"If I win this battle.... I want you to join my team for this year's tournament!"

Kasumi's eyes widened, shocked at his proposal, taken aback even. "W-No way! I already have a team!" She said, almost spitefully. Shingo's firey aura toned down into disappointment, looking down at the floor. "Oh. Alright then. I'll see you at sunset then."

"Why would you even ask that?"

"Huh?"

"Aren't you in Kusangi-san and Yagami-san's team? You're the heavy favorites to win this year, in spite of what's occured last tournament."

"..." Shingo stood silent as he turned toward the empty street, then eyed the trees. "...Chizuru-san has recovered already and is taking my spot this year."

"Oh, I see. So you got replaced."

Shingo's head suddenly snapped back in fury. "Just what the hell do you know?!" Kasumi was taken aback again; Shingo's fighting spirit replaced by blind fury. "Well, there's no other way to put it, isn't the-"

"FINE! I'll definitely prove my strength when we battle! If I lose, I'll withdraw from this year's tournament!"

"You'll what...?!" Another surprise for her as he placed his wager. "Are you crazy?! This is just a match! If you lose you can't enter the tou-"

"I WON'T LOSE!" He yelled back. "If you doubt why I was a member of Kusanagi-san's team, then my championship titles mean NOTHING!"

Shingo's declaration created another moment of silence as he looked up at her, the sun up behind her, the wind blowing her hair freely in the air. Kasumi closed her eyes, muttering to herself.

"Agreed, then. If you lose, Yabuki, you will withdraw from this year's tournament."

"Agreed!" He said, his hands shaking. (I wonder if I made the right decision.. betting my entry...)

"And if I lose... I will be your teammate this year."

"Agr-... HUH?!" Shingo's eyes widened, "I thought you had a team already!"

"I do. But I cannot find a suitable wager to equal yours. Hence, I will wage my team entry."

Shingo was shocked that she agreed, but as it started to sink in, he was ecstatic, jumping in the air for a moment. "YES!" He started laughing in victory, all smiles suddenly as Kasumi watched. "Relax. You didn't even win yet!"

"I know! But still, if I win, I get a strong teammate!"

(Strong?) She thought to herself. She looked down as he ran around in circles in jubilation. (Idiot. He'll be disappointed.) But she couldn't help but smile from his sudden surge of optimism. (But he has quite the upbeat attitude.) She turned, continuing the climb the hill. "I'll see you at sunset."

Shingo stopped celebrating, putting on a determined face as he pumped a fist towards her. "You can count it!"

She walked away. Soon after, Shingo walked away as well.

"...Wait a second... where's my bike?"

------------------------------------

Kasumi stopped, blinking as she looked down at the item she was rolling along with her.

"...I wasn't using a bike today."

She giggled as she sat down on the bicycle's seat, making sure her kimono wouldn't get caught. "It's his." She smiled, getting a feel for the handlebars before gripping them tightly and moving the pedals, pedaling away.

"Smooth ride. And it's blue, too."

------------------------------------

Shingo ran around town.

"WHERE THE HECK IS MY BIKE?!"

------------------------------------

End Chapter One

Next time:

The Showdown between Shingo Yabuki and Kasumi Todoh begins as Shingo stakes his tournament entry on the line! Will he be eliminated from KoF before it even begins? Or will he find a new partner in Kasumi? Also, Kensou has a heated argument with Athena that causes a large rift between the two. With the tournament fast approaching, will Kensou and Athena patch things up with each other? Or will the Psycho Soldiers enter another year without the original team?

All this on the next Chapter of The King of Fighters: Regulation Blue!

And now, a small side story...

"Finally! After all this time, I have you cornered, Kyo!"

"T-this can't be..."

"After all these years, nothing can stop me now from destroying you! hahaha... hahahahahaahah.... HAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"N-no... I.. I can't go out like this..."

"AND NOW! THE FINISHING BLOW! DIE, KYO!"

"NOOO!"

"Jump Jump Jump! THREE JUMP COMBO! And now I have capture all your pieces! HAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAAAAAAA!"

"....."

"What's wrong, Kyo? The feeling of being destroyed killing you?! Feel it... SEETHE in it.. This will be the feeling when I rip you limb from limb!"

"....THIS IS CHESS, NOT CHECKERS YOU MORON!"

"...."

"IDIOT!"

"O-oh no! My Orochi blood is boiling! I'm going into Riot of Blood which is making me think this is English Draughts instead of Chess!" *Starts to walk away all woozy*

"OH PLEASE!"

"Rawr! I am Riot of Blood Iori! Hence this Chess game is now considered null and void!"

"YOU FREAKIN' CHEATER! YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE YOUR POWERS!"

"I SAID RAWR DAMNIT!"