Time for this story to live up to it's tag.

Lol, Rock is an angery boi.


The sun was breaking through the clouds.

It sent beams of light down on the damp city.

Rock Howard bounced on the balls of his feet. His brow was furrowed as he stretched. He cracked his knuckles and threw a few practice punches into the air. The nervousness in his stomach was only matched by the excitement in his heart and the dread in his brain.

He's not fighting to kill right?... I mean, He's not in jail… and he never killed anyone during the tournaments… I won't die, right?

Terry said he was on his way. He must have been hanging out at Mary's workplace if he was borrowing her patrol car. Her office was in SouthTown's central district. At best, Terry would arrive in ten minutes - seven if he was speeding. Rock eyed the corner of the building. He expected Iori to come back at any moment.

He closed his eyes and exhaled forcefully. The air was thick with humidity and stuck in his nostrils. He was feeling sick with anticipation. He tried boost his confidence with a pep-talk. It wasn't really working.

Alright man. You got this. Just hold out for a little, ok? Then Dad'll get here and he'll sort this mess out… You can do this. He's just another fighter okay? He's no big deal. You've beaten tons of guys. You're strong alright? You got this Rock Howar-

*BEEP BEEP*

Rock looked up.

God, Please save me-... why did he bring... is he gonna run me over?!

Iori had rounded the corner in a car and was honking at him. Rock would've smiled at the sight if he wasn't afraid for his life. He was preparing to dive out of the way of the car, but thankfully it seemed Iori wasn't interested in hit-and-run today. The man was sitting in an adorable little black Volkswagen hatchback that was far too small for it's driver. He stuck his head out of the window and began yelling instructions.

"Park your bike over there and hop in. We're headed to the park."

Rock opened and closed the mouth a few times before words came to him.

"... Wait! the park? Why!?"

"What do you mean, why? Get going!"

He pulled his head back through the window and watched Rock through the tinted windshield. He tapped his steering wheel impatiently, then twisted around to shovel around a few things in the back.

Shit…

Iori was changing the fight's location. This was a problem. They needed to fight here if Terry was going to find them. If Terry didn't find them, Rock was going to either die, or spend the next month in the hospital. Iori began yelling at him again.

"What's wrong with you! Let's go… hey… hell-o?"

Rock Howard needed to stay on Knight street until Terry arrived. Terry had left his cellphone in Mary's police station. Good going Dad. Hurry up and bail me out… god, why did I do this?

The young man gritted his teeth and jogged up to Iori's window. He stood there with a grim expression on his face. Iori looked confusingly up at him.

I need to get him to fight me here... I've gotta rile him up... ohh God.

He exhaled, then put on his most authoritative voice. He was glad his speech wasn't shaking as badly as his hands were.

"Let's do it right here. Get out of the car."

Iori frowned and looked down the street. Evidently, whatever he was searching for wasn't there. He looked back at Rock. His expression was blank.

"... do what?"

Rock clenched his fists. Just a few more minutes… okay? Iori had fixed him with that same wide-eyed, searching stare. They eyed each other in silence. Rock summoned his courage once more. He was feigning anger, but dread filled his chest as he spoke.

"Stop playing dumb and get out! Are you scared? Stop being a pussy and fight!"

Oh my god. I'm finished.

Iori blinked at him. He seemed to realize something. A mischievous glint appeared briefly in his eyes before it was replaced with opaque rage. Rock noticed the man's strange behavior, but was too nervous to dwell on it.

... is he... taking the bait? What was that? Dammit Dad, drive faster please!

Iori emitted a soft hiss. His countenance was dark, and his teeth were bared. He spoke slowly.

"Say that again. Go on, Rock Howard. I dare you."

Fuck my life. Haha... ho-oly shit. What am I doing?!

He was almost smiling as he delivered the line. The scene was so comical, and the grave he was digging for himself was so absurd, that he had stopped taking things seriously.

"I'll make you eat asphalt, dipshit! Stop hiding in there! Your little car isn't gonna protect you! You were itching for a fight earlier, right? Are you backing out now? Spineless coward! Get out here!"

The sun was shining down on him. Rock was enjoying the warmth on his skin. He was convinced this was the last time he would feel it. He closed his eyes and strained his ears for the sound of sirens in the distance. Nothing.

Dad! Where are you… I think I'm gonna die.

Guttural snarling emitted from the vehicle. Rock's heart shook within him. He looked up and squinted at the sun. He noticed the snarling was punctuated with a strange choking noise. What's wrong with him! Oh god... somebody get me out of here...

He felt a flick to his elbow. He snapped his chin down to look, terrified, at the red-haired man. Iori looked appropriately terrifying. He growled at Rock.

"You know who I am, brat?"

If I'm gonna die anyways...

"I'm not scared of your gay-ass purple fire. Get out here, worm!"

Iori was searching Rock's face. He seemed to be amused by something, but his voice came out dark and threatening. He think's I'm too weak right? Shit... No I'm not! I'll... uh...

"...You're a dead man."

Rock believed him. He slowly backed away from the car and waited for Iori to come out. He thought he heard a siren in the distance, but it might've just been wishful thinking.

Iori was taking his time. He turned his face away from Rock's line of sight and stayed like that for a long moment. Finally, he turned around, threw the door open and climbed out. Rock backed further away from the car. He definitely heard a siren. That siren was his hope.

Timer starts now… You can do this Rock.

Iori looked more like a normal person with a shirt on, but the expression on his face was nothing short of bestial. His teeth were bared and clicked with each breath. His eyes burned like two live coals in his head. He slammed the door shut and fell into his fighting stance. He spoke from behind those terrible hooked claws.

"I hope you said your prayers, Howard."

Hurry up Terry!

Rock gulped and put up a guard. Adrenaline was rushing through him. He was feeling a bit light-headed. He bounced up and down on the balls of his feet. He spoke loudly, moreso to bouy his confidence, than to insult Iori. The man seemed to know this. The corner of his mouth twitched as Rock yelled at him.

"You're nothing to me, Bitch!"

Iori's facade began to crack. Rock wasn't paying attention.

A chin strike… I can end it. Or the temple, It'll knock him right out…

Iori watched him calmly from behind raised arms. Rock eyed those hooked fingers warily. He had seen them carve into steel before - they could certainly cleave through bone. I'm dead, I'm dead. This isn't fair at all!

Nevertheless, the young fighter gritted his teeth and lunged in to hurl a punch at Iori's face. The redhead stepped backwards and watched almost mirthfully as Rock's fist grazed the tip of his nose. He smacked his opponent's extended arm to the side, cracking open his guard.

Dammit!

Rock panicked as his arm was flung away. He guarded his face with his other arm, but his stomach was wide open. He tensed up, ready for a fist, or worse, a stab to the gut. He involuntarily squeezed his eyes closed.

Shit! Dad, where are you!

His knee buckled from a low kick. A shove to his chest sent him reeling. Rock shouted as he fell. He landed flat on his behind, he quickly turtled up- expecting kicks.

None came.

Rock opened his eyes at the sound of unpleasant laughter. He kept is guard up as Iori turned around and started walking away from him. He stared incredulously as the insane musician opened his car's back door and began digging for something. He shouted at Rock from within the car.

"You violent little brat! You're crazy, you know?"

What's going on… is he gonna shoot me now?

Iori didn't pull out a gun. Rather, he produced a basketball. He tossed it at Rock and cackled as the confused teenager caught it with his forehead. Iori's gums were bared in his horrible trademark grin, but his eyes were smiling. He spoke to the seated teenager as he walked over.

"The fuck you think you're doing? Trying to fight me."

The anger in his voice was gone.

Rock was shaking like a leaf by the time Iori stopped in front of him and squatted down to his eye-level. The teenager held the ball in his hands, he didn't know what to do with it. His forehead stung where the ball had bounced off. There was too much adrenaline in coursing through his brain for him to think straight.

He stared dumbly at Iori and emitted a weak, "...what?"

Iori was still grinning as he spoke. His teeth had stopped clicking. Rock just stared at the top of his head. The man's chosen headgear didn't make the scene any more believable. Iori had opted to dress normally, but had pinned his hair back with an exercise headband. He looked like a girl. Rock gulped air like a goldfish out of water.

Am I saved? What's happening? I don't know-

"A few years ago, I got tired of my band-mates kissing ass. I installed a little tradition. Whoever joins has to beat me in a sporting event. A little bit of victory helps people's nerves." he gestured vaguely, "Confidence. You know."

Iori produced a cigarette and a lighter. He lit it, then continued talking.

"Besides you, there were two other guys who came to audition this morning. One was complete garbage in baseball. The other couldn't sight-read for shit. Neither of them were afraid to challenge me 'cause they did. their. research."

He tapped the basketball to punctuate his words. It made a hollow noise.

"You hadn't."

Rock stared down at the ball in his hands, his thoughts were swimming. The situation was so strange, it felt almost like a weird fever dream. Rock slowly raised his eyes to meet Iori's mirthful gaze.

"A-Are you serious?!"

"What! You think I'm gonna murder everyone who tries to talk to me?! I'm not insane you know!" He chuckled to himself. "That's rich... ppft..."

Rock's head was beginning to clear. He squinted incredeously at the red-haired man.

"You... Wait! Why were you were all excited to figh- I mean… uh. You know! When I challenged you!"

Iori cackled.

"Well you said you were gonna make me cry! I'm pretty damn good at sports, I'm hard to beat, but I'm an even better fighter. If I made everyone fight me, I wouldn't have a band. I mean, shit…"

Iori stood, he motioned Rock to his feet. "Even I don't wanna fight against myself. I'm really glad nobody cloned me. Kusanagi's a nutjob so he seems to enjoy it. Anyways, you've got some serious guts, kid…" He turned to walk toward the car.

"Or you're just crazy... both are fine. I don't judge. Get in, we're going to the park. Let's see if your basketball is good enough to get me sobbing."


If you join Yag's band, you'll eventually end up playing paintball with Riot.

Where's padre?