Notes

Well, here it is. My third long-running series, and by far my most successful story, comes to a close. Going to miss this one, not gonna lie. I've been working on it for the last two months, after all, and I've had most of it outlined for most of that time. I'm pretty proud of it, especially since I was able to keep a schedule despite a long-ish chapter length, and of course I'm thrilled with the response. Only thing I'd change is to make the last chapters shorter; seemed to lose a few readers with those.

A warning of sorts for this chapter: the cliffhanger from the last one is resolved pretty quickly, so most of the chapter is the ending itself. You know - epilogues, tying up loose ends...that sort of thing. (Lord of the Rings editing strikes again!) I don't like the structure much, but the writing is some of the most satisfying stuff I've ever done, so if you've made it this far you'll probably like it anyway. :)

Hope you enjoy!


Chapter 9 - The Conclusion

Some time after midnight, a loud knocking at Athena's door shocked her awake.

...well, awake might not be the proper term. She hadn't fallen asleep; she was simply lost in a daze, thinking nothing and only feeling a vague despair. The knock definitely shocked her, though, scaring her out of her wits. It took her a second to recover, then another to wonder who it was - and then she realized the only person it could possibly be.

Her heart racing, she flung herself out of bed and Teleported to the door. It actually took her longer to undo the latches than it did for her to get there. Finally, Athena threw the door open to reveal Sie Kensou, breathing hard and looking frazzled.

"I couldn't do it," he said immediately, shaking his head. "I couldn't go through with it."

"...oh, Sie...!" she cried, throwing her arms around him as her heart became whole again. Kensou looked down at her in surprise for a moment...then realized what it meant and smiled, putting his arms around her in turn.

"She really was something," he said quietly. (She started to stiffen, but he went on too fast.) "If I hadn't met you, I could see myself being with her...having a life with her. But I met you first. I met someone better first, so much better. And as long as we have any kind of chance - "

That was as far as he got before she kissed him, somehow both desperately and tenderly. He responded at once, and for quite a while they stayed that way, melting away the last dregs of conflict between them.

" - I'll never want anyone else," Sie finished, when they broke apart.

"Thank goodness," said Athena, laughing even as she wiped a tear from her eye. "I am such an idiot, Sie. I did get jealous, more jealous than you would believe. What does it matter if there could be someone else? If you're happy with me, and I'm happy with you...well, let's just be happy together, okay⁇"

"Okay," Kensou laughed back, kissing her on the forehead.

They held each other for a few seconds more - until she abruptly broke away from him and clutched his hand. "C'mon," she told him eagerly, pulling him into her apartment and closing the door.

"You want me to stay the night?"

"Oh, I want a lot more than that."

His eyes blinked...then widened. "Wh, what...?"

"Well," she said, curling back up against him, "you could've gone all the way tonight, right...?" She fingered his collar with what she hoped was a sultry smile. "No reason you can't still..."

"B-b-but - but you're not ready," he stammered.

"Oh, I'm ready." As if to prove it, she took his hand and started pulling him again, this time towards the bedroom. "I'm more ready than I've ever been."

And she was.


The next day, the couple truly began their new life.

They spent the whole day together this time, even though Athena still had business to attend to. Sie went with her to all three of her meetings, joining her in two of them and waiting in the lobby for one. In between they were inseparable again, spending their time hitting cafes, sneaking kisses, and just walking and enjoying the city.

It was on one of these walks that some stray paparazzi caught sight of the two. Shouting excitedly, they raced across the street to get to her, much to the chagrin of those trying to use said street to drive. "Oh, brother," Athena groaned as she saw them, rolling her eyes.

"Guess we're caught, huh?" Kensou said sheepishly.

"Let me handle it," Athena said back coolly.

Rather than try to escape, they stopped and let the men catch up to them. There were three, and each had a different role. One snapped still photos furiously, a gentle flash going off each time; one pointed a wobbly videocamera at the two. The third, the most professional-looking one, stepped up right next to them, microphone in hand.

"And here's Asamiya-sama and Kensou, together again!" he said to the camera. Then, to Athena, "You've been seen a together a lot lately, Athena-chan. Does this mean your competition is over?"

"Nope, sure doesn't!" she chirped, to Kensou's shock. "This is just hanging out together. We're still playing the game."

Before his face could change, though, he heard her voice in his head. I'm lying, she told him. Just play along.

"Oh, wow! Incredible‼" the reporter exclaimed. But then he smirked and added, "But what about the people who've seen you kissing, hmm? There are pictures..."

Internally Athena winced - but outside she played it just as cool. "Well, if anyone had seen that, I'd tell them, 'Maybe that's just something we do when we hang out, hmm⁇'"

The reporter couldn't help but laugh, knowing this was pure gold. "Then when will the game be over?" he asked.

"You'll find out soon," she promised, winking. Then she struck a quick pose and added, "That's all today, guys. Psycho Soldiers, Out!" After that she grabbed Kensou's hand and Teleported, zipping them down the street in a flash. The paparazzi tried to keep up, but they didn't stand a chance.

Once they'd escaped, Sie gave her a weak smile. "Still not ready to go public, huh...?" he accused.

"Not quite," she admitted, with a shy smile of her own. "But don't worry, Kensou. I have a plan..."


The next day, Kensou still hadn't learned Athena's plan.

But they were both about to get a different surprise.

Sie was escorting Athena home that night as she entered her building, then checked her mailbox at the front. In it she found a letter with a handwritten address, no return address at all, and no stamp. Her eyebrows raised, she opened the letter and started to read...and her eyes got wider with every word.


Hello, Asamiya-SAMA.

After a little reflection, Mignon decided that trying to steal your boyfriend might've been a BIT much. Mignon is better than that, and she's sorry. She hopes you two have many happy times together.

...but you can't really BLAME her, yeah? Do you realize what an opportunity you blew for her⁇ Mignon was on her way to the top - and now she's practically gotta start over! And all because you had to have a silly little nervous breakdown. The nerve‼


"Did you know about any of this?" Athena asked Sie, who was reading over her shoulder.

"Not a clue," Sie replied, feeling a little deflated. So much for making a connection. Had this girl even liked him at all...?


Mignon won't go for the throat anymore. Promise. But she's not giving up. She'll haunt you with little things instead...over and over...until you're begging for mercy. You and Mignon are rivals, now...and Mignon's gonna WIN.

- Your eternal rival: BEART-SAMA

P. S.: Are you enjoying the sneezing powder? Hope you're not allergic~!


"Wh - what⁇" Athena turned over the letter to find her fingers covered in a fine, white powder. Her mouth dropping open, she looked around her to find traces of the powder already swirling in the air; she had surely already breathed it.

"Get away!" she shouted at Kensou - but he hadn't read the end, yet. Frantically, she hit him with a Super Psychic Throw, tossing him ten feet backwards without touching him. She then dropped the letter and Teleported ten feet the other way...but when she looked down, the powder was still on her hands.

"Great. Just great," she muttered, trembling. "Now I've got another stalker..."

"Athena, what's happening!?" Sie cried as he sprang to his feet.

"She hid powder on the letter. Sneezing powder," she explained, still hardly believing it. "...of all the petty, ridiculous..."

"Okay, just calm down," he broke in. "We don't even know if it's real - "

*chu!*

"...oookay, maybe we do," he corrected with a grimace.

"I've got to go - *chu!* - wash this off," she told him, heading toward the blessedly close restroom. "Kensou, get your - *chu!* - phone, and look up how long sneezing powder lasts before you - *chu‼* - need to go to the doctor. ...assuming this is just sneezing - *chu‼*...damn it!"

"Seriously, Athena," called Sie as she stomped into the restroom, "it's not that bad!"

Then he looked back at the letter - sitting on the floor, under some swirling wisps of white - and realized it had one more line that Athena hadn't gotten to. He walked toward it very carefully, stopping the instant he could read it.


P. P. S.: Mignon really did have a good time the other night, Sie. You call her when this goes in the pooper, okay? She'll be waiting~!


"...oookay, maybe it is," he corrected with wide eyes.

A moment later, and the instant Athena came out of the bathroom, Kensou kissed her. But this was no ordinary kiss: he'd formed a tight seal around her lips and was breathing in through his mouth. It was like he was trying to take her breath away - literally.

Athena broke off from him and gasped a few seconds later; she had already run out of air. "...what was that, Sie⁇" she complained, just before another sneeze.

"Just showing you she'll never come between us again," he said, smiling. "And that we're in this together. Forever."

...*ACHOO!*

It was the most weirdly romantic thing she'd ever seen in her life. For a few seconds she grinned, a tear coming to her eye; then she pulled him down and planted another one on him. From there they went to her apartment, and then to her bedroom, kissing and sneezing all the while.


Two days later, Kensou still hadn't learned the plan.

But that was the least of his concerns.

He and the others had been scheduled to leave today. But the night before, Athena had called Chin and told him she wanted a few more days. Grumbling, he'd listened to the explanation, then reluctantly agreed...but he'd insisted that some of the time be used for training. After the call, Chin had told Kensou they'd be extending their stay and visiting their usual practice space the next morning. When Sie had asked why they were staying, Chin had waved it away.

In the morning, Kensou's alarm didn't go off. When he finally woke up, he saw that Chin had left him behind; now he really regretted not spending the night at Athena's again. He got to the building about fifteen minutes late, cringing as he sprinted for the door. He threw it open and raced down the hallway, expecting to see Chin working with Athena - and then both of them glaring at him - when he reached the practice space.

Instead he saw, in front of a newly-installed pillar, possibly the last person he would've ever expected.

"...whawhawha...R-R-R-Rugal!?"

"Well, well, well...Sie Kensou," the man boomed with an evil grin. He was indeed Rugal Bernstein - or, to be precise, Omega Rugal, looking imposing as ever in his mesh shirt, crimson pants, and cybernetic eye. "I've been waiting for you."

"Why!?" Kensou exploded in disbelief. He'd have been less surprised to see Kyo and Iori making out. "And how!?"

"I've captured your little girlfriend," Rugal sneered, ignoring him. "Her power is just what I need to come back to life for good!"

"...what!?"

"And I've already dispatched that old fool, Gentsai," he went on, adjusting his gloves. "Now it's your turn, boy...because you're the only thing that can stand in my way."

With that he rushed him, starting things off strong with a Gigantic Pressure. Kensou dodged aside with a yelp, then had to immediately fend off a dizzying series of strikes. Rugal finished it with a Genocide Cutter, crushing Sie's guard; then he used a stronger Cutter, throwing Sie halfway across the room.

"Too easy!" he yelled, as he charged up a Kaiser Wave. Scrambling to his feet, Kensou leapt it just in time - then swooped toward his foe with a Ryuu Sou Geki, finally getting his head in the game. But Rugal recovered in time to block it, along with Kensou's followup strikes. Soon Sie left himself open, and Rugal punished him with a God Press, dragging him all the way across the room and slamming him into the wall.

"What's wrong, boy?" the big man taunted. "Too worried about her to fight⁇"

Groaning, Kensou didn't respond as he stood...but he turned back to Rugal with a growl.

He flew forward in a Shiku Zanryukyaku, bouncing off Rugal's guard again with the kick. But before the villain could counter, he had to dodge a Ryutouda punch combo, coming in faster than he expected. More focused now, Kensou pressured him with one move after another, eventually tagging him with a Ryugaku Sai whirlwind kick. When he tried to follow up, though, Rugal crowded him out with a third Cutter, abusing the move as usual.

"You'll need more than that to save her!" he shouted, throwing a Reppuken Sie's way.

"Then you're gonna get it!" Sie shouted back, rolling aside and throwing a Chokyudan in turn.

Rugal evaded with a high leap, then barrelled down with a Gravity Smash. Not expecting it, Sie took the flying fist right in the forehead, then ate a brutal followup combo that threw him to the floor. Laughing, the villain stalked in for the kill - and an enraged Kensou caught him off guard with a Shinryu Seio Rekkyaku. The kick combination left the big man reeling, but seemed to exhaust Kensou's strength; Rugal actually recovered before he did. Smirking, he took advantage with another Gigantic Pressure, nailing the move this time - and nailing Kensou to the wall.

As Sie fell slowly to the floor, Rugal stood still and laughed again, dusting off his hands. "You're weak, boy. The girl is mine, and you can't stop me."

"...shut up," Kensou groaned, shaking his head as he struggled to his hands and knees.

"I'll take every last bit of her power," Rugal went on. "And then I'll toss her out like garbage!"

"Shut up," Kensou growled, rising up to a kneel.

"And don't think it's going to be easy," Rugal added with a grin. "Mark my words: she's going to suffer."

"SHUT UP‼" Kensou roared, springing to life with a Zesshou Chirinshouha. Rugal easily dodged the massive kick - but Kensou was practically moving again before his feet hit the floor. He laid into the big man with the Shinryu Seioushou, pistoning punches into him over and over...but instead of the launcher, he went right into the Seigan Rairyu, a super-charged Rekkyaku that juggled Rugal in midair for ten seconds.

Finally, the villain hit the floor, defeated. The instant he started moving, Kensou was on him, his fist reared back. "Where is she!?" he screamed.

"Enough," Rugal said instead of answering, just a hint of fear in his eye.

The strange answer confused Kensou, but only for a second. Then he heard the sound of a body hitting the floor, along with a choking gasp of relief. He looked up with a start to find none other than Athena, on her hands and knees in the exact spot the pillar was before.

"I'm right here, Sie," she struggled out, looking up and smiling weakly.

"...what...?" Now completely confused, Kensou looked around, looked down - and found himself on top of Master Chin. "Whaa - !" he cried out, scrambling off of him.

"Well done, Sie," Chin told him - and then winced. He got up groaning to his feet, looking just as weak as Athena. "You can still get there, alright..."

"Okay, what the hell is going on?" Sie demanded as he stood.

"This was a test, my boy," Chin revealed, his eyes twinkling. "What you saw was a series of illusions, created by your partner. My appearance, my voice, the pillar hiding her...all fake."

"But - but you threw a Kaiser Wave!"

"Another illusion. Didn't hit you, did it?"

"You used the Genocide Cutter."

"My own imitation. I've been at this game a while, you know."

He stared at Chin a bit longer. He turned to Athena; she smiled and nodded. "...then why did you do this⁇" he yelled at his teacher.

"To push you to your limit," Chin replied. "When you two started dating, I worried you'd lose motivation. But when you fought in Philadelphia, you were more motivated than ever - and for your own sakes. I wanted you to reach that level of strength again...and it occurred to me that having you fight for each others' sakes might do the trick. Soon, Athena will face a similar test; once you've both reached that level, we'll scale things back slowly, until you can do it at will."

"You...you made me think she'd be murdered, just for a workout!?"

"You know better than that, Kensou," said Chin, his eyes narrowed. "This is not about workouts. We're doing this for the world."

Kensou groaned, rubbing a hand down his face. He looked at his teacher, knowing he believed it; he looked at Athena, knowing she'd agreed to it - even though it meant facing this torture herself. Slowly, the young man looked down and sighed.

"Just one more question, then," he said in defeat. "So, you had us fight with all our power, tearing each other apart...while the one who could put us back together used up every bit of hers?"

Chin blinked.

"...oh my gosh - he's right!" gasped Athena (who hadn't even gotten up yet). "I...I won't be able to heal you for hours...!"

"Hmm. ...well, then. ...shall we call it an early day?" asked Chin.

He then fell to the floor, and tried not to move for a while. His pupils quickly followed suit, each of them agreeing with "Rugal": he really was just an old fool...


Two more days later, Kensou still hadn't learned the plan.

But his own plan had come to fruition.

Kensou brought in the mail when he came to Athena's apartment, just as he had every day since Mignon's surprise. He was pretending to be a gentleman, but secretly hoping for something. Today he found what he was after: another handwritten letter, this time with return address and stamp included. Grinning, he raced to the apartment and knocked on the door; Athena greeted him and thanked him for the favor - but he was barely listening.

"Take a look at this one, Athena," he asked her, holding up the handwritten letter. "I want you to read it now."

Curious, she took the envelope from him and looked at it with eyebrows raised. "To Athena Helene Asamiya," she read in surprise, "from Takashi and Youko - "

And she froze.

"It's from your parents, Athena," Sie confirmed softly. "They had their surnames changed for privacy. ...they weren't easy to find."

"Did you talk to them?" she whispered.


"Do you have any fucking idea what you did to her!?" he shouted, pacing in their living room as they cowered on the couch. "You scarred her for life. She's been hurting for years! And she never even told anyone...!"

"We didn't know, Mr. Kensou," her father tried to explain. "We - "

"And you know how she lived," he went on, "after she threw out your little 'gift'⁇ She worked at Hiroshi's. A men's club with singers - underage singers. She did it for half a year, you goddamn... She could've been raped! She nearly was raped! And you know how she stopped it⁇ With her powers."

Her mother burst into tears.

"That's enough!" her father shouted, suddenly furious. "You need to leave here, immediately!"

"Not until I've said my piece," Kensou snapped.

"Then I'm calling the police," the man warned him. He took out his phone, started to dial -

- and it flew out of his hand.

"I am saying. My piece," Kensou growled, as they stared at him in horror.


"A little bit," Sie said nervously. "But I didn't tell them to write you. I asked them. Politely."

"...this is terrible, Sie," she mumbled, trembling again. "You had no right...I didn't want - "

"But I wanted it," he told her, touching her shoulder - and wincing when she shrugged it off. "Please, Athena...just see what they have to say."

She stood there a moment more, staring at the letter and shaking. Then, finally, she opened it, taking it out and reading it silently.


To our dearest daughter:

We cannot begin to tell you how sorry we are. Your friend told us what happened to you after we left, and how you suffered. We had intended to support you for the rest of our lives, and we worried for weeks when you stopped letting us. But we should have never left you to begin with.

You frightened us, Athena. But you only gave us reason for it once, and only after we pushed you. We were scared because you were different, and we didn't know what to make of you. Now we realize that's no reason to fear someone. Now we see what a beautiful, talented, wonderful woman you've become...and that your differences have only made you stronger.

We know you're well off financially, and you have many connections. We don't want any of that. We only want to talk to you, to make sure you're well inside. We'll never forgive ourselves if we find out we've truly scarred you - but we'll do everything in our power to make it right.

We still love you, and we miss you.


After that came their address again, along with several phone numbers.

She stared it a moment more, her eyes filling with tears. Then she turned and looked at Kensou - her expression utter, utmost misery. "...Sie..." she moaned simply, before falling over him and weeping again. Sie held her tight and let her work it out, grimacing; he hadn't read the letter himself, and it didn't look like it was good.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I had to try."

"It's okay," she mumbled into him. "They want to, too."

She held up the letter for him to see. He took a quick look at it, then grinned for a second - until he realized she was still weeping. "Then...what...?"

She pulled back from him with a scowl. "Don't you ever do something like that again without telling me," she seethed...but then her face softened. "...but I'm glad you did, I think."

She then turned and flung the letter and envelope into the trash.

Now Sie winced. "You don't want to try?" he asked.

"I don't need to try," she answered, shaking her head and finally smiling. "I have another family now."

Then she embraced him again - first hugging him like the brother he used to be, then kissing him like the significant other he'd become.


And then, finally - on their last day in Japan, a full week after Sie's last date - Athena put her plan in motion.

But she still didn't tell him what it was.

He got a big clue when she called her agency, though. She told them "it was a go", and for them to "spread the word". And they spread it, alright, putting out messages on social media and even an "unofficial" press release. Kensou had to read one of them to find out what was up: apparently, he and Athena were having an impromptu street fight, free to watch in Osaka's biggest park at sunset.

"You...you want to tell a whole crowd⁇" he exclaimed.

"Something like that," she replied with a wink.

"Oh, that's awesome!" Kensou gushed, wrapping her up in a hug.

Just you wait, Athena thought, grinning behind his back.

The word got around fast, both online and off. Soon fans began to trickle into the park, willing to wait the rest of the day to keep a good seat. Once work let out, it turned into a mob scene, and security (hired by Athena herself) had to rope off a clearing for the two of them to fight in. The traffic was a nightmare by that time...but luckily Athena had thought ahead, and the two had arrived long before in an unmarked car.

As they sat there, waiting for sunset, Athena finally told Kensou the plan...


A half-hour later, it was time.

Three of the security guards moved toward the car, and a sizable chunk of the crowd noticed. Thus the whole place erupted in cheers when the door opened, revealing the Athena Asamiya. She got out of the car looking happier than she'd ever been, smiling and waving to her fans as she walked across the clearing. In a moment, Kensou scooted out after her...looking downright pissed.

The plan, he'd learned, was no plan at all. Athena really did want to keep playing the game. Tonight's match would be for Sie's next date; the public setting was just so the fans could get in on it for once.

Kensou felt hurt. Insulted. Betrayed. His scowl was broken and dark, actually unnerving some of the crowd that saw it. After all that...after all they'd been through in the past week, past two weeks, past month...Athena still wasn't sure? Would she ever be sure⁇

She kept saying, of course, that her uncertainty was for him. That after so much lost time, he needed to explore his options, to make sure she was the one. ...but he couldn't have possibly cared less. He was certain, dead certain...and she liked him too, so why explore? She had said that, less than a week ago - yet somehow she'd managed to forget.

Well, he thought grimly. She's not gonna forget this...

By now Athena had taken her place on one side of the clearing. She didn't have a microphone, so she asked for quiet instead, and eventually the audience complied. "All right, everyone! Despite what you may have heard, our contest is still going on - and this match is a part of it, okay⁇" She let the crowd cheer for a second before continuing. "And don't worry! We won't throw any fireballs, so you won't have to duck and cover!"

As part of the crowd laughed, she turned towards Sie and got into her fighting stance, not seeming to notice his attitude at all. "All right, Kensou," she called. "You ready?"

"...no."

Athena blinked. "...huh?"

"No, I'm not," he told her loudly, shaking his head, as part of the audience started to murmur. "I'm not doing this again. This isn't working for me, Athena. ...the deal is off."

The crowd gasped, and Athena started to squirm. "...erhm, Kensou...can we maybe talk about this in private...?" she murmured, blushing furiously.

"I made this deal," Sie went on, ignoring her, "because I had nothing to lose. Being with you or fun times with girls? How could I refuse⁇ But now I am with you, Athena...and I've got nothing to gain. I've had some of the best times of my life these last two months - and it seemed like you did, too! And if that's not worth more to you than giving me options I don't want...then I don't know what else to say.

"So the deal's off, Athena. But nothing's changed. ...I still love you."

Athena's hands flew to her mouth, and the crowd gasped even louder.

"...do you hear me!?" he said, shouting now, all the years of waiting behind him. "I love you, Athena Asamiya‼ ...now how do you feel about me⁇"

Athena looked around frantically, her cheeks cherry red. The audience was beside itself, ecstatic about this turn of events...but she seemed the exact opposite. Her hands were practically clinging to her chin; her eyes were darting around as if she was caught in a bear trap.

...what is she thinking? Sie wondered after a moment. Is this really that hard? Is she playing to the crowd⁇ ...is she thinking of a 'nice' way to reject me in front of it!?

Then, suddenly, she froze. The extra color drained from her face. She turned back to face him; she looked into his eyes. And then she smiled.

"I love you too," she realized, and the audience exploded.

Kensou's mouth dropped open in shock. Then it became a grin - a beam - a beacon...the happiest expression Athena had ever seen or ever would. She couldn't help but laugh, her heart filling up with joy. In unison they ran for each other, and they embraced in the middle to a deafening roar.

"I love you, Sie Kensou," she whispered in his ear.

"I love you too, Athena," he whispered back.

She moved back, smiled again, and pulled him down and kissed him.

They'd have wished for earplugs, if they'd thought about it. They were at serious risk of hearing damage at this point. ...of course, neither one of them was thinking about that. They thought of only this moment, a moment neither of them had ever seen coming but had both waited for for all their lives.

...and then...as soon as they'd broken it off...Athena leapt away from him, landing back on her side of the clearing.

"All right, Kensou!" she called out, as she got back into her stance. "Now you ready!?"

"...what!?" Sie all but screamed.

"The game may be over now - but I'm still a performer!" Athena cried. "And we promised these people a show‼"

As the crowd roared yet again, Kensou let out a massive groan. "...oh, for the love of..." he wailed to himself, his head falling back against his neck. ...but this was, after all, one of the things he loved about her.

Dutifully he hopped back a few times, then got into his stance. "You asked for it, Athena!" he called back, smirking. "New Kensou, comin' at ya‼"


Over time, Kensou forgot most of what happened that day. He certainly didn't remember who won the match. He only remembered that moment, the one he and his love had shared before it.

And it was still the greatest day anyone had ever had in their life.


End Notes

...I did not realize, while I was writing that, that I was scripting a potential match intro for a future KOF. :P

Seigan Rairyu is Kensou's Dream Cancel from XI, and it really is just a better Rekkyaku. (Athena's is the Phoenix Infinity. ...how lame is that!?) The team should've probably called an ambulance after that boss fight; I don't think I really described just how messed up they got. And the parents' names are complete crap, and I'll be happy to replace them if anyone can find out the real ones. (Helene is also crap, but it's inspired by one of Athena's side games. Other Athena fanboys will know which one. ;)

Okay, peoples, I guess that's a wrap! I'm afraid I'll be pretty scarce for a bit - I've decided to finish the next series before posting it, like I did with Botan. The writing bug comes and goes these days, and I do not want another abandoned story under my belt. I'll try to put out some side stories once in a while, but I'm also thinking about doing some original material, and if I can get that going it'll come before anything else. Once again, we'll see how it goes. :)

In case I don't come back for a while, huge thanks to everyone who's read through this and my other stories. RobertCop, Nanomemes, and Shikou_Arata in particular have given me lots of great feedback, and I greatly appreciate it. And a special thanks to illyrilex, who's given me tons of great feedback (both on- and off-site), actually plugged me in sideblogs, and generally become a good friend. ^_^ Go read her stuff. Or I will find you.

See you next time!


"So what is it you're planning to do...?"

"Well the street fight's just a setup, of course. We're gonna pretend it's just another contest match...but it won't really be for a date. Instead, whoever wins the match gets to tell the audience we're a couple!"

"A couple, you say."

"Yup! He's gonna love it!"

"Hmm. Perhaps. ...have you told him about this?"

"No, I've been keeping it a surprise. I'll tell him right before we go out there."

"I see, I see. ...I'm sorry, child - can I call you back in a moment?"

"Huh? Um...okay..."


"So what is it that she's planning to do...?"

"Oh, it's so cool, Teach. She's getting a big crowd together, pretending we're going to fight - but instead she's gonna tell the whole world we're in love!"

"In love, you say."

"Yep! It's gonna be great."

"Hmm. Perhaps. ...has she told you this?"

"Well...not in so many words..."

"And if you're wrong? If she does want to have a match?"

"Aw, c'mon, Teach. This isn't about - "

"But what if it was. What would you do, m'boy, if she wanted to keep the contest going...?"

"...I...don't think I could go through with it. I'd have to tell her how I feel."

"Hmhmhm. I suspected as much..."


"Master?"

"Indeed. Apologies for the interruption."

"No worries!"

"So you intend to announce you're a couple, hmm?"

"Just like Kensou's always wanted!"

"Is that really what you think you are?"

"What do you mean...?"

"Tell me something, child: how do you feel about Kensou?"

"Well he's a great guy, of course. He's funny and sweet, and he can be so strong and smart. Sophisticated, even. And he's always there for me. ...I can't imagine life without him anymore."

"Hmhmhm. Is that all...?"

"Err...what else is there?"

"...may I offer some advice?"

"Always, Master."

"Perhaps you shouldn't tell Kensou your plan. Let him think it's just a contest match, like everyone else. Only tell him he can make the announcement if he wins."

"Really? You don't think he'll be mad?"

"Oh, I think it'll work out just fine."

"Alright, if you say so. Thank you, Master."

"Think nothing of it. Good luck out there..."

With that, Chin hung up the phone, chuckling to himself. Athena was still pretty bright...but she didn't know everything. Kensou didn't want an announcement - he wanted a confession. He wanted one of them to declare his-or-her love, and get it back in return.

The problem was, she didn't know she loved him yet.
Luckily, her Master did...and he knew just how to push her.

He pocketed his phone with a knowing smile, wishing he could see it happen. He may not have wanted this...but he didn't mind helping it along.


- Kensou's Score: win!