Chapter 11

Toshiro had been sitting; watching Yuki and Heihachi's fight for some time now, and neither seemed to have an overall advantage. He shrugged his shoulders and decided to do some scouting for the other zodiac members. The Main House seemed to be the best spot to start, so that's where he decided to go. Turning to face Yuki and Kyo, he smirked, realizing the boundless potential they carried, and how Heihachi would certainly have his hands full fighting both of them at full strength. The thoughts just made him laugh more as he disappeared, the Flute of Mysticism in his hands.

Yuki and Kyo had been fighting Heihachi for the past hour and neither side seemed to falter in their attacks, Heihachi's wisdom and experience countering the talents of Yuki and Kyo's youthful vigor. While Yuki's style was swift and powerful, equally balanced by Kyo's impulsiveness and strength, Heihachi seemed invulnerable, even their strongest attacks making little effect on Heihachi, whose body seemed made of steel. But Kyo kept the offensive, allowing Yuki to attack from behind, but yet again the attack failed, Heihachi taking the full force, grasping Yuki's leg and slamming him into the ground.

Kyo grabbed Yuki as Heihachi smashed the ground in two with his fist. Kyo narrowed his eyes and shook Yuki awake. Yuki looked up at Kyo, who still maintained his aloof nature, though he was fighting with his sworn rival.

"Kyo…I…I have a plan…"

"What is it?"
"…"

Kyo listened intently as Yuki whispered into his ear. He nodded and dropped Yuki, seemingly leaving him behind as he grinned and yelled at Heihachi.

"Hey gramps! You wanted a real fight, so let's just leave the pretty boy behind and do this one on one!"

Heihachi's fists clashed together and he simply laughed, pulling out two metallic gloves and sliding them neatly on his hands. Working out the stiffness, he again smashed his fists together and spoke, nearly exploding with confidence

"Fine by me! Even if you both fight me at full power, there's no-"

He stopped at the sight of Kyo's fist in his vision, suddenly reddened by his own blood. Kyo's speed had enhanced twofold, allowing him to catch Heihachi off guard, adding his own strength to the newfound speed.

Realigning his broken nose, Heihachi stood up, punching the ground, a tremor striking Kyo. Kyo then crashed to the ground, barely able to stand up after his fall.

Yuki held out a hand and spoke, "K-Kyo…let me help you…"

Kyo turned and yelled back at Yuki, his eyes flaming orange, "Shut up! I don't need your help and I never did! When I kick this geezer's ass, that'll show everyone that I'm the strongest, and you'll be nothing!"

Kyo again turned to Heihachi, who slapped him across the face, the metal breaking his jaw. Yuki was then left alone, as Kyo was at the foot of a tree, now putting all his efforts into getting rid of the pain. Yuki looked up, fear in his eyes as Heihachi raised a fist and spoke.

"This is the end, wimp! Now…die!"

Heihachi struck the ground and saw crimson across his entire glove. He laughed and spoke again, full of bloodlust.

"Hahahaha! I hit the boy so hard, there's nothing left…"

But Heihachi stopped at Yuki's laughter behind him, cunning in the chuckles as Heihachi suddenly felt weaker. He saw Yuki striking every pressure point in his body all at once, his hands and feet blurs as he ended the attack with a burst of energy. Heihachi was amazed at this new power and could do nothing as Kyo dashed his fist into Heihachi's face, leaving the titan battered on the ground, paralyzed indefinitely for the rest of his days, never able to be a fighter again.

Yuki and Kyo turned to walk away, but stopped at the sound of Heihachi's voice.

"Stop! …I'm…so sorry… I know how much you cared for your master. Just…help me up and I'll take you to the Hanajima inn… That's where Nanashi and the others are… It's…in the far south of Tokyo… Now please…help me…"

Yuki and Kyo's guilt overtook them as they picked up Heihachi, guiding him to a resting place. But they never got there, as Heihachi unveiled his power again, breaking Yuki's paralysis and overcoming the pain with a new burst of adrenaline. Yuki and Kyo were stunned at Heihachi as he stood over them, twelve feet of muscle and power, the gloves torn apart by his sudden size increase.

But again, Heihachi was in pain, this time by his own powers. He collapsed on the ground, his heart failing him and every muscle in his body torn by the new power he had acquired.

Yuki and Kyo stood over him, Yuki speaking first, followed by Kyo.

"You see…power is nothing…"

"If you don't know how to control it…"

"And at your age…"
"It was inevitable that your feeble body would fail even your noble warrior's power…"

"And now…"

"We must bid you farewell…"

"And we've gotta thank you…"

"For betraying your family…"

Heihachi held his hand out and attempted to pull himself forward, only meeting further pain as every muscle tore again at the new strain. In time, Heihachi died, but he also realized the truth of a warrior. And that was that power only got someone so far, before wisdom and skill overcame that. And he was too late to realize that… But he was still happy…for now…he would have retribution…by Enma…

Haru and Kagura arrived at Saki's house, where they assumed they would find something of a clue as to where the others were. But they only found Gennai and Kaori, who simply stared at them, uncaring as to what reason they were here for. Kagura was the first to speak, her hands clenched into fists.

"Who are you? And where's Natsuko?"

Haru chimed in, his eyes as dead as Gennai and Kaori's, "She wasn't at the main house, so we assumed that you kidnapped her. So…you know where she is?"

Gennai and Kaori simply stood, unmoving. Hatsuharu clenched his teeth and his Black persona took over.

"Listen to me, you zombie eyed freaks! Tell us where Natsuko is, or I'll tear you limb from limb!"
Kaori spoke to Gennai, still looking forward, "Well…who do you want to fight, husband?"
Gennai simply grinned and replied, removing his glasses, "I think I'll take the chick. Much less feisty than her friend…but so intriguing…"

Kagura closed her eyes and opened them again, her power affecting Gennai, but not for long…

"Hehehehehe…so…you can change my emotions… You picked the wrong person to fight that with… With my telepathy…I'll just beat you to a pulp from the inside out…"

Kagura then gasped as a powerful headache struck her, seeming to tear her mind apart with a blade cutting her psyche asunder. She collapsed instantly, leaving Haru to face Kaori, whose eyes glowed violet as countless orbs of purple surrounded her.

"What kind of power is that, you crazy bitch?"

Kaori closed her eyes and said only two words, "Spirit channeling…"

Haru rushed forward, his eyes blazing red and seeming to only see anger as he struck Kaori. But a barrier stopped him, Kaori glaring at him.

"You…cannot defeat me so easily… Goodbye…"

Haru flailed backwards as two of the spirit orbs hit him in the chest, leaving him on the ground. He looked up, his vision blurring at his sudden loss of consciousness. He heard Gennai and Kaori talking and then fell asleep.

"I can handle any intruders, Kaori… You go find Toshiro…"

"O…Okay…"

As Kaori left the house, she saw a flash of Toshiro's face and then realized that the key here was his father. She sent out spirit scouts to seek out his unique signature, and then floated into the clouds, heading for Shigure's house.

Toshiro headed back to Shigure's house, Rin and Momiji in hand. He thought of how weak they were and then had a strange sensation as he landed in Shigure's lawn. But it faded and he walked into the house. He placed Rin and Momiji lightly onto cots, letting them rest as he saw the state of the Sohmas. Shigure, Ayame, and Kazuma were all severely hurt. Kureno, Haru, Ritsu and Kagura were the only Sohmas left. Yuki and Kyo were injured as well, but Hatori turned to him and smiled lightly.

"Seems these two are much stronger than we gave them credit for. If I can use this magic that Natsuko gave me, they'll all be healed shortly… Heihachi is dead… His heart gave out on him, and every muscle and tendon is torn. He had great power…he just didn't know how to use it…"

Toshiro then looked around the house suspiciously and faced Hatori again, "There's someone here… A Hanajima…"

"Where?"

"…Right in front of you…" Toshiro said, a grin across his face. Hatori looked on in shock and finally realized the truth.

"You…you can't be!"

"That's right…" Toshiro said as he walked towards Hatori, the Flute of Mysticism in his hands, "And this is the proof… This flute has the ability to seek out both the Sohmas and Hanajima's unique spirit powers… And now…"

"Toshiro, stop!" The treasoner stopped at the familiar voice and turned to see Kaori.

"Mother…what are you doing here?"

Kaori held out a hand and spoke, "I'm here to help you… And tell you the truth… You…you're half Sohma!"

Toshiro's eyes widened and he glared, his teeth grinding, "You…you're lying! It can't be true!"

Kaori pleaded to Toshiro, sending another spirit orb towards the person she remembered in her visions, "I'm telling the truth… And there's another person who knows the truth… And he is your father… Kazuma Sohma!"

Toshiro was frozen in place at the new revelation. Kazuma then sat up in his bed and turned to Kaori, speaking as if woken from the dead.

"Kaori…what…what are you doing here?"
"I'm here…" She said, looking determinedly forward, "To stop this war… And…to…to kill Toshiro…"

Hatori and Kazuma were in shock as Kaori faced Toshiro, a blue aura surrounding her as she held out her hands. Toshiro pulled out the flute and grinned, the same psychotic smile on his face as he spoke.

"You can't stop me, mother… No one can… And I'll prove it to my father… That I am superior to all…"

Meanwhile, at Shigure's front door, a single person fell unconscious on the steps. But in his hand was a note that said this.

Dear Sohmas and Hanajimas,

This is Ritsu Sohma, giving a message to all who will listen. Natsuko Sohma, the head of the family has been kidnapped by Nanashi Hanajima, the head of the Hanajimas. I know this because I was told by the ones called Megumi and Saki Hanajima, who will arrive at Shigure's house in three days. I plead to you; stop them, as they are the strongest of the Hanajimas. The powers of curses and denpa waves crush even the powers of their father, Gennai's telepathy and their mother, Kaori's spirit channeling. I know all of this because they told me, making me the messenger of doom for the Sohmas. I beg of you…use all your strength, for if you can stop Gennai, Kaori, Saki and Megumi…then this conflict will be at least half over… But…there are two other threats… Nanashi…and her half brother…Toshiro Jimaso…

Ritsu Sohma