[Disclaimer: I don't own King of Fighters or any of the characters used in this fic. Hope you enjoy chapter 4 to the KOF Take 2 Saga! I you have any critiques, comments, or just any random love send me a message! Iori and the Hakkesho make their way to Japan to meet up with Ryuji Yamazaki, but Yashiro, Shermie, and a reluctant Chris turn on Vice at the last minute! Sounds like a showdown!]
The King of Fighters
Orochi Saga: Take 2
Chapter 4
Mature waited for her teammates outside the club beside Yashiro, Chris and Shermie. Yashiro stood angrily, his arms folded and upset with Vice at the current situation. Vice and Iori finally walked outside the club.
"Good, now Vice, we're headed for Japan right? Yamazaki…" Vice nodded, "Yeah." Mature smiled and motioned for Iori to follow her as they made their way back to their apartment. As he walked away, he looked back at Vice, wondering why she didn't follow them.
Yashiro exploded, "What the hell Vice? What is Yagami doing here? He's not supposed to be a part of this! I'll kill him if I have to, I swear I will!" Shermie placed a hand on Yashiro's shoulder. "What we want to know is why you enlisted his help if your problems pertain to Orochi. And why does he care?" Vice quickly grew impatient. "Look, don't question me. If you want to help then do so, if not, then we can end this pointless shit right here!"
"STOP!" They all looked at Chris. He walked to the center of the circle of argument. "We just want the truth Vice. Why did you ask for our help, because it doesn't seem like Iori is the ally that's out of place. It seems like we are." Vice looked into Chris's eyes. He looked deeply troubled, and his words had an effect on her. She hung her head down and thought, "This can't go on…" She felt her body slowly losing control as her hands feverishly shook. Chris jumped back beside Yashiro and Shermie as they looked on in astonishment. Orochi was really entering her body.
"Arghhhh!" She let out a painful cry as the trio took a few steps back. She flailed and huffed violently. "NO..OR-ORROOOCHII!" She grabbed her chest and fell to the ground on her knees. Chris started to run to her but his arm was quickly grabbed by Yashiro. Vice heard a voice going through her head, "Vice, they will only get in your way my child. You must destroy them…" In an instant her eyes fixed robotically on Chris. She charged toward him as Chris flipped over her and let waves of flame depart from his hands. Vice dodged. Yashiro and Shermie ran to Chris and they stood side by side; ready to fight the Riot possessed Vice. "This is a test Vice, I want to see if your body is strong enough for me use. Can you defeat the Heavenly Kings..." The voice kept persisting through her mind. She held her head, "ARGHHH!" Yashiro, Shermie and Chris charged for Vice.
Iori turned around. "What's the matter Yagami? We're almost there." He walked in the opposite direction of Mature. "Vice…she's in danger." He ran back. "Yagami! Yagami wait!" She ran after him.
The Orochi team put up a brilliant fight against the raging Vice, but her power, controlled by Orochi, proved too much for them. Shermie quickly fell to it. Vice stood, her arms hanging zombie like. Chris and Yashiro ran to Shermie. "Urghh…be careful…"
Vice held her hand out. Streaks of blue lightning ran across her body. Her eyes a glowing bright yellow, she had captured Shermie's power. Chris held back tears. "Shermie!" Yashiro stood up. He looked at Vice who was a mere shadow of her normal self. "Chris, you stay here."
…
Every step he took toward Vice reverberated an energy in the earth. The ground shook.
"I don't know what you've done to Vice, but you will not use another one of my friends as a toy!"
His eyes glowed, a fearsome passion seen within. Vices stood as he quickly approached her. He grabbed her by the neck, and clenched his heavy fists around her, as she made no attempt to break free.
Yashiro let his anger get the better of him as he tightened his brow and his grip. Chris cried out, "Yashiro, stop it!" As if he heard not a word his hold tightened still. Vice's eyes began to regain their former appearance, and sensing Yagami energy, he snapped out of it and dropped Vice to the floor. He ran to Chris, swiftly grabbed him and Shermie, and ran to the nearest alley. Vice lay on the ground trying to come to.
Iori ran to her. "Tch…What happened here..." She opened her eyes. He could see her growing weary of possession, much like he used to. He helped her stand to her feet. "Iori…I'm becoming nothing bu-but a burden to you…" He walked toward the dark alleyway. "No…" He peered around the corner, "…I never knew you to be so submissive…" He walked in the alleyway. No sign of Yashiro. Vice trailed behind him. He turned around. "Where's your fight Vice? Where's your vigor? You're nothing like I knew you to be! Are you just going to lay down as Orochi tries to take you body over? I would have him do that to me, but never you!" He grabbed her arms and stared intently in her eyes, "You wait and see, when the Magatama is once again mine I'll give them all a burning hell they'll never forget!" She looked into his eyes, she knew his anger was at its highest degree.
He loosened his grip on her and pushed his back against the brick wall and slid down to the ground. He held his head. She thought, "I wish this would all just end!" She heard slight footsteps. She and Iori turned around in unison. Chris emerged from the shadows of the night. He walked slowly towards them, his head hanging low. "I know what you're after Vice…" She raised an eyebrow as Iori got up and poised to fight. "You can have it, I don't want all this trouble anymore…" Flames rushed through the young boys hands. As he walked slowly his feet lifted off the ground, his body gently being carried in the air. Vice stole herself for the fight ahead. "Iori, go." He turned to her in confusion. "Believe me, just go!" Hesitantly, he made his way out of the alley, and left Vice to fight both Heavenly Kings; Yashiro, and Chris.
…
…
Yashiro held Chris, his back to the wall with Vice crouched next to them. Chris: unconscious, Yashiro: relieved. Through his pain stricken face, he mustered a smile. "Thank you Vice. We're finally freed from this god forsaken curse. I don't think Chris has lived a normal day in his life, but now, he, Shermie and I can." Vice held her hand on his shoulder, "We've dealt with it for centuries, I think it's time for it to come to an end." She stroked Chris' hair. Yashiro pursed his eyebrows, "Are you holding all of the powers within yourself?" She nodded, "Yes, and once all of the Hakkesho powers join, we can properly seal ourselves away." Yashiro nodded, "Right. That leaves Goenitz, Yamazaki, and Mature right?" "Yes."
He smiled, "What will become of us once you have all our powers in unison? Where will we go once we're sealed?" She looked into his eyes, "Well…I'd like to think that we'd go someplace peaceful for a change. And live free of shackles. That's what I'd hope Yashiro." He closed his eyes, his glowing smile still holding its place. "I've gotta head out now…" She kissed Chris on his cheek. "And Yashiro…" She ran her hand along his face. "Shermie will be alright." She gently kissed his forehead. "I'll be seeing you on the other side." He smiled, "Take care…Vice…" She walked away.
…
Back at the apartment, Mature lay on the couch perusing newspapers trying to find leads on Yamazaki. Iori, waiting impatiently for Vice scoffed. "You can't sense energies as she can huh?" She chuckled, "What do I look like Yagami?" He laughed, "A Hakkesho." She balled up the newspaper and threw it at him. He smirked. Vice came through the door. "Goodness Vice, you look worn out! Why don't you rest?" She plopped down beside Mature, "No, there's no time for that." Iori walked over to them. "I'm so close, so close to ending this all Mature, I can't rest now." Iori sat next to Vice, "Even you deserve a break, come on." She followed him to the back room. Mature laughed and called out as she dialed the number of a certain Bernstein, "Have fun you two, ha-ha!"
Iori picked Vice up and laid her to the bed. "Close your eyes…rest…" He touched her face. "She reached up to meet his eyes. "Iori, I promise I'll make this all better. I promise I'll make your life better…" "Humph, I sure as hell don't need you to make my life 'better'….but-" He kissed her gently, "I need you to be by my side, so…don't ever leave me…" He hugged her tight. She pondered his sudden change of emotion. "Don't let your ambition drive you to the end, especially when- when I need you." He stroked her short ruby hair and kissed her forehead. "I won't Iori…I need your strength as well. Promise me we'll always be a team." He nodded. They lay side by side, until the strong waves of sleep came over them.