The building was easily the tallest in Southtown, towering over the others by at least two hundred feet or more. It was truly an intimidating sight to the majority of the population; not so much for its height, but for what everyone knew went on inside. It was here, the rumors indicated, that the crime syndicate controlled by the infamous Geese Howard ruled the city with an iron hand. Nothing was outside of his reach within this town, but he wasn't satisfied with mere control of a single city.
Geese stared outside the window of his suite, located at the corner of the topmost floor. With his newly acquired assets nothing would be able to stand in his way. He relished the thought as his eyes panned towards the Scrolls of Immortality in his hand. The Jin twins hadn't even realized what had happened before it was too late. It was simple enough to twist the rumors and the stories. He had caused enough confusion with everyone fighting each other for control of the scrolls that its true guardians were kept amply busy. At the height of the confusion it was easy to make off with them himself. By the time anyone realized that they were gone, he was already safe within his tower. The ultimate power of the world was in his grasp. He hefted the scrolls once again. Both fit easily into his palm.
It truly is unwise that such power be contained in something so small, he silently mused to himself. He reached for the strings that held the first scroll together. I guess I'll just have to change that…
Terry Bogard gazed up at the building before him. This had been where it had all started. The death of his adoptive father, the overrunning of Southtown, and Geese's first defeat at his own hands had all come to pass here. It was ironic that he would be brought here yet again to fight his father's killer. Terry only hoped there was still time. Geese had had more than enough opportunity to gain the power that the scrolls had to give. The fight could very well end differently now, but he was determined to erase the ghosts of the past. This time, Geese, he vowed to himself, I won't make the same mistake.
"Terry, you ready?" Andy stood beside his brother, full of fire as usual. Terry could almost see him twitching at the thought of finally being able to confront Geese himself. "Scroll power or not, he can't defeat us both. We'll stop him."
"Yeah, besides, lady luck's on our side today." Joe Higashi came up from behind them and placed his arms around the both of them. Despite his flippant attitude Terry could still tell that the seasoned warrior was tense. "After they lost control of the scrolls, the Jin twins weren't so hard to take down, and if Hon-Fu hadn't caught up with us, we might still be fighting that Yamazaki freak. Considering what we've been through these last few weeks, we're still pretty rested and ready."
Terry turned to Joe, lightly pushing his arm off his shoulder. "You know Joe, you don't have to do this. This is our fight after all."
Joe feigned mock offence. "Terry, I'm hurt; after all we've been through together?"
Andy laughed at the comment. "I'd have thought that you've received enough broken bones following us around. Surely you must be tired of it all by now."
"Hey!" Joe turned his scorn on Andy. "You of all people should know that I'm not one to back down from a good fight." Joe replaced his arms at their shoulders, drawing them in a friendly embrace. "We started this thing together, it's only right that we end it together."
"Thanks, Joe."
"You got it." Joe motioned towards the building. "Shall we show Mr. High-and-Mighty that immortality is not something so easily gained?"
"Right." Terry faced the tower once more, feeling better in spite of himself as he and his companions approached the massive structure; but before either of them could enter it the front doors burst open and a svelte, yet well built young woman strolled outside; a striking woman with short blond hair dressed in a red turtleneck tank top and a pair of combat boots. She looked a little ruffled, but otherwise no worse for wear as she idly, almost dismissively, made her way towards the group.
"Mary! What are you doing here!" Terry asked, quite surprised at the young woman's appearance, considering the circumstances.
"Oh, just waving my authority around," she said giving Terry a playful wink.
"You shouldn't have come here alone, Mary, you might have been seriously hurt!"
"Hurt?" Her lighthearted attitude turned nigh vicious as she turned on the bigger man. "You don't think I can take care of myself?" She accused him, shoving a finger roughly against his chest. "I know more of the criminal system than any other person in this city. I can easily make my way around the underworld when I have to, so don't tell me that it's too dangerous, hun."
Terry raised his hands in defeat, putting on the most submissive face that he could. "Alright, you win, I'm sorry. I just… worry too much, that's all."
Mary's face softened and she gave him a coy smile. "I forgive you," she said, placing a quick peck on his cheek. She stood back and looked at the three of them. "You'll find most of the security on the bottom floors out of commission, and most of the daytime workers have already gone home for the night, so you shouldn't have too much trouble getting in. Still the upper levels and any personal security you'll have to deal with yourselves."
"Wow, that'll make our job a whole lot easier," Joe said. "I told you our luck would hold out."
"We're not in the black yet, Joe," Andy admonished. "Anything could still happen. It's not over 'til it's over."
"Yeah, yeah, you're always so high-strung, Andy. Just like that one time when…"
Terry left the two to bicker. It was just another game for them. Instead he turned to Mary. "Thanks Mary, you've really helped us out."
She shrugged. "Hey, it was all kinda my fault to begin with. It's the least I could do. Just come back alive, Terry. I don't know what kind of power was in those scrolls, but I know your heart, I only hope it's enough."
"We won't fail. We haven't yet."
"You'd better not."
"Hey, with a girl like you waiting for me, you'd better believe I'm coming back. If I didn't, you'd kill me."
She laughed despite it all, then looked up at him. "I know this is a personal thing, and I know you're probably the only one who can stop him now. I trust you enough to finish this but don't think that it will be easy for me to just sit out here and wait for you. Be careful, Terry."
He could only give her a reassuring nod, and before his emotions got the best of him he promptly turned to his companions, who were still bickering. "Andy, Joe," he interrupted. "Let's go."
The three walked towards the building and disappeared inside, leaving Mary alone with her fears and hopes.
"Wow, she wasn't kidding, this place is empty." Joe's voice echoed throughout the massive hallways as they made their way towards the elevators. Though occasionally they would pass a guard or two with severely broken appendages, the halls were more or less vacant. "That girl sure knows how to do her job."
"It's been her life just as much as it's been ours." Terry interjected. "Even more so, it's her job." They reached the elevator without incident and began ascending. Terry thought once again on the circumstance that had brought the three of them together in the first place. The things that had happened since then had made his life much more interesting than he had imagined it could be. After knocking Geese out of this very same tower at the end of the first King of Fighters tournament, Terry had instantly become a celebrity throughout the fighting world. This had lead to many challengers and ultimately brought him to his first encounter with Wolfgang Krauser.
He remembered that first fight, and how Krauser had very nearly killed him; sparing him at the last second. Krauser had used that moment to announce his hosting of the second King of Fighters tournament, this time throughout the world. Though Terry knew that Krauser was much more powerful than himself, he wasn't going to stand still for such an opportunity. He met a lot of new friends during that time, though he never thought that he would fight the German noble once more; but when the dust had settled he was the only one left standing to challenge the fighting Kaiser. Terry had surprised even himself in the concluding match, wearing down and ultimately overpowering the giant of a man in his home castle in Germany.
After reaffirming his position as the King of Fighters a second time he figured he could relax for a while, but only a few years had passed when rumors of scrolls of immense power began to circulate the city. Terry would have passed it off as insignificant had it not been for the whispered name that Geese himself was searching for them. He felt it was impossible; he had seen the crime lord fall off the tower with his own eyes, but it was just too dangerous to ignore.
Terry remembered the first time that he had met Mary. He'd made such a horrible attempt at a first impression that she mistook him as an agent for the other side. She had very nearly ripped the joints from his sockets in the ensuing melee; it took him a while to reassure her that he was indeed one of the good guys. He had to laugh at himself. Despite his fighting title and apparent good looks, he still wasn't the most comfortable person around the womenfolk. Still, she accepted his help in her investigation and since then they had found themselves quite compatible. He knew he couldn't have been luckier.
Still ascending in the interior elevator, his thoughts were interrupted as a loud grating noise filled the small room and the box jarred to a halt.
"Not good," Joe said.
"Stand back." Terry pushed him out of the way before balling his fist and driving it straight into the elevator doors. His fist swirled with visible blue energy as he slammed it into the metal surface, blowing half the door out of its frame. All three quickly jumped out as the elevator suddenly plunged into the darkness of the shaft. Good thing that we weren't stuck between floors, or I might not have been able to get the door open.
"Looks like the ride stops here boys." Joe wasn't about to let an opportunity for a snappy comment slide, no matter how dire the situation.
"Hey, hey, hey! The fun's jus beginnin'." With its thick British drawl and nasty sharpness, the voice was instantly recognizable. All three turned to see Billy Kane, familiar leather jacket on his back and cane pole in hand, barring their way further.
Joe scoffed. "Seriously, Billy, you'd have your hands full with just one of us. Do you honestly think that you can take all three of us?"
Billy smirked. "I don' need t' beat you. Merely need t' slow ya down some. Once our time's up, the boss'll take care o' you good."
"We don't have time for this," Terry growled. "Andy, Joe, let's plow through this can-head and get moving.
"Don' think it'll be tha' easy, Bogard." In a complicated series of maneuvers, Billy began spinning his staff wildly around him, striking several parts of the hallway in his vicinity. Each time the staff made contact the piece of wall or furniture burst into flame, effectively creating a wall of fire that cut the room off from the stairwell. "I don' plan on lettin' you get past me all that quickly."
Terry looked at Joe and Andy, each nodded in turn, not even needing to ask what he had planned. They split up, effectively surrounding the lone Billy. He kept his back to the flames, keeping them from getting behind him. Through the confident façade, a single bead of sweat broke out on his forehead that wasn't due to the heat.
Billy boy, the things you do for tha' Howard freak. There's no use waitin' for 'em to attack me. If I live through this, I'm goin' back t' England. With that final thought, he lunged forward at the middle man, Terry, swinging his staff in a downward arc at his foe. Terry didn't even bother to block, but merely sidestepped as the staff slammed into the ground, then using the break he deftly rolled past Billy, jumping back just in time as Billy swept his cane behind him in a horizontal slash. Terry got to his feet and was rejoined by Andy and Joe, who had merely looped behind the two as they sparred. The three now stood between Billy and his wall of flame, and Terry couldn't help but laugh.
"You three plan t' play with me? Fine, it's your own time you're wastin'."
"Well, then, I guess we should quit 'screwing' around and finish you off." Joe cocked his fist in a ready position, which began to glow as he concentrated on it. "Screw…" as he brought his fist up to finish the attack, he quickly spun around to unleash the attack behind them, "…Upper!" The hurricane force winds swept down the hallway, instantly extinguishing the flames that sealed the room, leaving the hallway passable, albeit structurally unsound, but now was not the time to worry about commercial safety. Billy merely stood there, not quite realizing that he had just been played.
"Well, we got past you, Billy. You'd better hope now that we kill Geese after all, 'cause I don't imagine he'll be very pleased with you after this."
"I don' think so!" Billy screeched as he jumped once again towards the three combatants.
"Slash Kick!" The sensation of Joe's heel against Billy's gut at high velocity was none to pleasant for the Englishman, and he doubled over as the force of the kick sent him back to his starting position. Joe stood over him defiantly. "Terry, Andy, you two go on ahead. Let me take care of this."
"You sure, Joe?" Andy asked. While he was more than confident in Joe's fighting ability, he knew full well that Billy was not one to take lightly; the British fighter was undeniably skilled, and was well known to fight dirty.
"I'm sure. You two have to stop Geese. We can't afford this guy coming in behind us to help him out. I'll keep him busy here."
"But…" Terry interrupted Andy's complaint, grabbing his brother's arm and jerking him down the hall.
"C'mon. The structure here might not last much longer. Joe can take care of himself."
Andy nodded and matched pace with his brother as they sprinted off down the hallway, leaving Joe and Billy to settle their own differences.
Joe glanced back as the brothers disappeared around a corner before turning his full attention to Billy, who was slowly getting back to his feet.
"Was that enough of a demonstration, or do I have to show you more of this martial arts goodness?"
"You caught me by the quick, lady, but don't think I'll let it happen again. You've made a big mistake in lettin' your friends leave you alone wit' me. Oh yeah, I've got a score to settle wit' you."
"What are you talking abou…"
"Don't try to play coy wit' me, Higashi! You wanna learn th' hard way? Lemme Teach'ya!" Billy charged, jabbing his staff forward and catching Joe full in the chest as he did so. Not wasting a moment, he forcefully attacked the reeling kick-boxer, swinging his staff over his head and around, landing a heavy blow to the other's side. Joe was knocked back onto a nearby table and barely managed to roll backwards off the tabletop as the red pole struck the flat surface, breaking the table in two.
"Fine, let's get jiggy with it!" Leaping up over the table's remains, Joe spun around and brought his heel downward with such force that it seemed to be glowing with friction from the air. "Gold Heel!"
Billy raised his hands and caught the oncoming leg square in the middle of his staff. Immediately he separated its three segments; wrapping the outer two sections together and trapping the leg tightly within his grip, he used Joe's own momentum to swing him around, letting go at the right moment to send Joe careening towards the nearest wall. The ensuing contact was solid.
Joe was slightly dazed He shook his head several times before the stars finally began to fade. Ouch… concrete and I do not mix.
"That'll teach you to go snoopin' around wit' my sister!"
Joe looked at the other man, blinking absently. I took a moment for the comment to register fully. "…Wait a minute, how did he know about that?
"Tha's right! I's known about you for a while now. Wuz jus' lookin' for a moment t' give you my blessing. No better time than now I guess. In case you were wondrin', I don't approve."
Joe rubbed his sore head. "I think she's old enough to decide that, bub."
"So blame an older brother."
Joe grinned. "I don't blame you. Imagine I'd do something similar if the circumstance was reversed," he regained his composure, "…but neither will I let you dictate what I can and can not do!" With a cry he took the fight to his opponent, letting his Muy-Tai instincts kick in and fighting Billy his own way. With a series of quick jabs he initiated his dynamite punch technique, keeping Billy on the defensive until he finished with a low sweeping kick at his opponent's shins. Billy moved to block the attack, but was surprised when Joe planted the offending foot early, using it as a pivot to swing himself around backward as he brought his other foot to bear on Billy's unprotected side.
"Slash Kick!"
The slashing roundhouse kick landed heavily across Billy's face, knocking his trademark bandana off his forehead and sending him to the floor.
"See? Is it no wonder she likes me? Now she don't have to be afraid of her big bad brudder anymo'," Joe said mockingly.
"I won't have my sister wastin' her life with some punk like you! I love her too much to let tha' happen!"
"Well, you'd better just get used to the idea, 'cause I love her too much to let her brother get in the way!"
"I'll show you 'gettin' in the way'!" Billy screamed as he charged Joe. "Go ta hell!" Billy extended his staff threefold, swinging it in an upward arc as one would swing a baseball bat. The staff burst into flame as it came at him, causing Joe's last minute block attempt to become a last minute dodge attempt which he ultimately failed. The pole caught him in the ribcage, throwing him into the air as Billy brought it around; finishing the attack with a downward swing that left Joe bruised, burned, and covered in rubble. Joe's attempt to get back to his feet was interrupted as Billy slammed his foot down on the other's back, jabbing the stave into the back of his neck.
"Y'see…if you're dead, she won' have no choice but to find someone else."
"Billy, no!"
Joe's eyes snapped open as the voice registered. Lilly!
Billy was equally surprised. "What th… Lilly! I thought I told you t' wait in the loo."
Lilly Kane's eyes revealed a fierce anger. "Billy, that's not fair! You're always like this. Every time I find a decent boyfriend you always have to chase him away! Do you plan on controlling my entire life?"
Billy was taken aback. "Lilly… I didn't mean to…"
"Of course you didn't mean to, you never mean to. I've been perfectly happy with Joe, he's a true gentleman and he treats me like a true lady, unlike a certain brother that I know of."
"Hey… I've treated you as well as any brother could have."
Lilly ignored him. "…but just because you and he have one single difference of opinion…"
That's a mild way of putting it, Joe thought to himself.
"…you think you have every right to mark him off as worthless and leave me with another broken heart! Well I've had enough, now listen to me…!"
"Yeah, Billy, listen to her!" Joe had been slowly buying his time, and now he twisted; bringing his left leg up and around and knocking Billy off his back. Once the dead weight was gone, he leapt to his feet, ready to continue the assault.
"Joe!" The voice of a horrified Lilly stopped him in his tracks. He looked over to see her astonishment quickly turn to anger. "Just because I was defending you doesn't give you permission to hit my brother! I'm not going to stand here and watch the two of you fight each other."
"Well, he started it!"
"Bull!" Billy countered. "If you three punks'd leave well enough alone we wouldn't be havin' this li'l problem now would we?"
"Oh, yeah? We're supposed to just sit back and watch as that boss of yours makes his hostile takeover bid for the city? No way I'm gonna do that you evil sonuva…"
Lilly could only watch helplessly as the conversation deteriorated from that point until once more blows were being thrown. Despite her repeated attempts to keep them apart, they could no more refrain from fighting than they could refrain from drinking or sleeping. She knelt in hopelessness and cried as the two men she loved most continued to beat each other senseless across the room, a slow lesson being learned that old hatreds die hard and young loves must endure.
Terry and Andy sprinted up the stairs towards the VIP Suite, moving as fast as they could towards what could inevitably be their doom. Still, Andy's thoughts could not help but linger on his friend down below.
"Are you sure it was such a good idea to leave him there alone?"
"Joe will be fine, Andy. You can't let that distract you. He's got more than enough experience and talent to keep Billy at bay."
"I know you're right, but still, I'd feel safer to have him at my side."
"I don't disagree with you there, but this is our fight, and we have no right to drag him into this and possibly get him killed."
"You're right, this is our fight."
"You better believe it." They stopped outside what they knew to be the final door. "Are you ready to finish it?"
"We'll fight as one… as brothers!" Clasping hands the brothers braced themselves for whatever might be behind the door, then, after a brief respite, the simultaneously kicked it down and strolled into the room. It seemed empty for the most part, but otherwise not much unlike any other suite, notwithstanding being much more spacious. Silk curtains hung around the walls and windows and the furniture was elaborate and detailed. One end of the room lead into a wooden balcony that looked out from the roof of the building onto the streets below which was likewise elaborately adorned with wooden statues and railings It hasn't changed much, Terry noted. I guess he didn't have much time to redecorate while in hiding.
The brother's eyes crossed the room at the same time, instantly recognizing the figure that stood there and stared back at them. Geese was waiting.
"You Bogards have always been persistent. That is one trait of your family that I will not miss."
"Geese!" Terry growled, raising one of his fists to eye level in challenge, "I'm not going to let you win!"
"Ha! As if you had a choice. You can't possibly hope to stop me now, Terry. I have gained more power than you could possibly imagine. If you give up now, I might spare the lives of you and your friends."
"Forget it, Geese. Your reign ends now! Power Wave!"
"Hishou-Ken!"
The brother's twin attacks blazed across the room and slipped easily through empty space, surprising the both of them. Geese stood a few meters from his original position, neither of them had seen him move.
"You see how futile it is now. You can attack me all day, and you won't get anywhere. I should use you to test my new abilities, but seeing the Bogard brothers in all their hatred utterly struck down is just too much to resist. Come at me if you dare!"
Andy was only too willing to oblige, and before Terry could react he had charged at Geese, ready to give everything that he had to bring him down. Terry swore under his breath.
No! Blast it, Andy, we have to work together on this! But it was too late. Geese deftly avoided Andy's initial attacks and countered with a series of blows of his own. Andy took the hits defiantly but Terry wasn't about to sit around and watch his brother be beaten like a rag doll. "Burn Knuckle!"
Geese saw it coming. At the last minute he ducked underneath Terry's blow, grabbing his forearm as he went and flinging Terry across the room. In the same fluid motion he swung his arms around himself, charging his own energy and preparing to blast Andy as he was also grasped in an invisible grip and inexplicably flung up over Geese's head.
Terry, however, was not about to let it happen. Quickly pivoting around he hit the wall feet first and immediately launched himself back towards his opponent. He landed behind Geese in time to jump towards him once more, attacking at an upward angle.
Geese again dodged the strike, but had been forced to interrupt his own in the process, sparing Andy the worst of his Shinkuu Nage attack. He instead landed heavily across the room, though no worse for wear.
Terry looked over as his brother got back to his feet and readied himself again. He's trying to keep us apart, he realized. His brother had never before fought Geese directly, and the crime lord seemed to be aware of that. Andy's unfamiliarity with Geese's technique and Geese's newly acquired power was not working in their favor. If they didn't shape up and start working together as brothers they would not survive this encounter. He was powerful to begin with, but he's gotten a lot faster. Still, if we synch our attacks, we just might get through his defense. He only hoped Andy would see that as well.
"What's the matter, Bogards? Are you a little hesitant now that you've gotten a taste of my power?"
"I don't care how much power you've acquired, Geese," Terry shot back. "You cannot win on ambition alone."
"Words do so little to express the truth," Geese responded, raising his arms in an open invitation. "Show me!"
Terry gripped his cap and set if firmly on his head. If it was action that he wanted, it was action that he was going to get. He charged Geese and used his Fire Kick, sliding across the ground at his enemy's feet. Geese nimbly hopped over the attack but Terry cancelled into the Rising Tackle as he did so, leaping upward feet first at where Geese now stood helpless in mid-air. But all did not go according to plan. Geese shifted his weight, almost defying the laws of physics as he avoided the oncoming attack to once again grab onto Terry's protruding limb and swing him around. Terry suddenly saw the floor rapidly approaching his head.
"Chou-Reppadan!"
Andy's feet slammed into Geese's chest, causing him to loose both his momentum and his grip on Terry's leg. Instead of hitting the ground, Terry found himself flying across the room. Andy had gotten the message! It was clear that Geese was not used to fighting more than one person at time, and if Andy was unfamiliar with Geese's technique, the same held true for the crime lord himself. It was an advantage they had to use for as long as possible.
Terry managed to recover enough to land well, albeit awkwardly, and avoid any broken limbs. Geese had likewise recovered, and looked none too happy that one of them had actually managed to land a hit.
"Hmm… so you're going to do this the hard way then?" he glowered. "Very well, I'll show you the full extent of the power of the scrolls!"
Joe, meanwhile, had his hands full of an angry brother. Billy was only wearing him down and he was using everything he had to keep away from that cane pole. Blocking Billy's attacks was quickly ceasing to become an option as the bruises accumulated, so he concentrated on keeping him on the defensive.
"C'mon! You call y'self a champion? I'll have you givin' me that belt o' yours," Billy taunted, whirling his staff around him to keep the enemy at bay.
Ducking under the cane, Joe jumped back for a brief respite, cocking his arm and sending two blasts of air with his Hurricane Uppercut attack. Billy had been so busy trying to press his attack that he was surprised as the hurricane wind came at him, moving so fast that when it hit him it might as well have been a brick wall. As soon as Joe saw the whirls connect he leapt forward, bringing his heel down hard on Billy's left shoulder. Billy grunted under the assault, but chose not to resist it; he fell with the blow, following it to the ground and using his momentum to roll clear, swinging his staff outward as his did so to ward off the attacking Joe.
Joe, on the other hand, didn't follow up. He knew that he had connected solidly. Billy would not be able to use that arm fully for a while. A small smile played across his features as Billy got back to his feet, notably hurt. Nevertheless, he wasted no time in continuing the battle, determined to see the object of his anger beaten as his feet.
Joe took it in stride, attacking Billy's left side and using his advantage to the fullest.
"Billy, Joe…" Lilly sat on the sidelines, weeping quietly as the battle raged around her. She knew that there was no stopping them, and it tore her apart inside. She wasn't quire sure who she wanted to win. Though she knew that her brother's lifestyle was far from a positive one, and that he had done many evil things in the services of Geese Howard, she also knew that he genuinely loved her, and only wanted the best for her. Joe wasn't exactly the best of examples himself. Ever flashy and boastful the Muy-Tai champion was only more than willing to flaunt his strength and ability; but he also genuinely cared for her and despite it all she knew that he was a good man, willing to do what it took to help the good prevail. It was all she could do to keep from disowning them both and leaving outright, but they were members of a very small group of people that she loved.
Joe, however, was more than ready to write off this match as another victory for him. Billy's attacks were nowhere near as forceful as they had been, and Joe's confidence was growing. Even deflecting the blows was not nearly as painful anymore. Joe decided he could take it if it helped him get in close enough for another hit, but after he blocked the first few strikes a heavy attack from the left surprised him when the outer edge of Billy's staff suddenly bent inward, past his block, and struck him in the kidney. Billy quickly snapped the piece back in place while reversing the momentum of the cane, unhinging the other side and catching Joe in a heavy cross to the face. Jumping in he continued the combo, leaping upward while spinning the stave to knock Joe into the air, only to strike him several more times as they returned to the floor, Joe landing heavily on his back. Billy wasted no time in using the opportunity presented to him. He attempted to smash the end of the pole into Joe's face, but a quick reaction saved the kick-boxer. Grabbing the end of the staff, he pulled on the stick and planted his foot into Billy's gut. Kicking outward he heaved Billy up and over behind him. Billy landed on his back, cane pole overhead. He rolled onto his stomach and jumped back to his feet, prepared to finish the fight.
…but Joe was faster.
"Tiger Kick!"
Joe slammed his knee into Billy's gut with all the force he could muster and an immense feeling of satisfaction spread over him as he felt a few ribs crack under the assault. That was it, as far as he was concerned. It would be suicide for Billy to continue. With an injured shoulder and a damaged ribcage Billy would be about as helpless against Joe as a ten year old girl.
"Give it up, Billy. You can't possibly win now. There's no more in this for you but complications."
Billy slowly got to his feet, coughing up droplets of blood as he did so. He knew as well as Joe did that this fight was over. That left only one more option, he'd kill the scum before he could get away.
"Sc-Screw you, Higashi." Billy screeched, his voice taking on a wild edge. "I'm not gonna lose t' you! I'll see you in Hades first!" Bringing his stave over his head, Billy began to spin it wildly, faster and faster until it became nothing but a blur.
What is he doing? He can't keep that up forever, he's gonna kill himself!
As if to prove his point, flames suddenly erupted from the ends of Billy's staff, promptly engulfing him and his cane as he continued to spin it furiously.
"Hurricane…"
The Hurricane Fire! He… He's trying to kill me! Joe knew then that his hand was drawn. It was kill or be killed. It saddens me to do this, Billy, but you leave me no choice.
Joe cocked back his arm once more, focusing all his energy and might into that one appendage. In the heat of battle he could usually pull this off a lot faster, but the result was a much weaker version. If he wanted to repulse this onslaught, he would need all the force he could gather. When he felt ready, he stepped forward, ready to unleash a tornado of vast proportions.
"Screw UPPE-"
"Joe, don't! You'll kill him!" Lilly ran towards him, latching onto Joe's arm as he brought it forward.
No! Lilly! I can't stop it!
With or without his consent his arm swung upward unleashing the fury of the wind held within. Lilly was the first victim. Even at the edge of the storm, the force was enough that she was immediately torn from her grip on Joe's arm. The wind hurled her behind Joe with such strength as to send her flying clear across the room. Joe never saw where she landed.
Billy, however, did.
The sight of his sister being tossed like paper in the wind was horrifying enough, but Billy's world froze outright as he saw his little sister slam against a concrete wall and hang limply before slowly sliding to the ground, leaving a visible indentation and a small trail of blood as she did so. All pain and hatred were forgotten in that instant. His flames dissipated harmlessly around him and his mind went into automatic. His only urge was to reach out and protect his little sister. He dropped his staff and started towards her, gaining a full two steps of ground before remembering that a very dangerous object separated him from her; but by then it was far too late.
Joe's screw attack was upon him before he could react. Billy larger frame was not nearly as light as his sister's, and as such it was not flung aside so easily. Instead the vortex hefted him bodily up into the air, battering his already weakened frame with tables and chairs and several other objects that it had acquired in transit. It then smashed him headfirst into the ceiling and tossed him aside. Its mission virtually accomplished, the whirlwind continued to lay waste to the room, throwing anything and everything into disarray before ultimately exhausting itself. When the dust finally settled, both Kanes lay motionless on the floor.
Joe stood frozen in place, unsure how to react before dropping to his knees in despair and covering his face with both hands.
"Wh…what have I done?"