A/N: Next chapter. Up faster, eh? And in other news, I need to stop reading the shoujo-ai… you'll find out why far enough into this. Tell me if it's too sappy… I'm trying not to ruin this with romantic angst.
"I blew it, it's true," Sie said as he sat down on a park bench with Shingo. "We had it won and I just thought I would be stronger after… well, after everything…"
Shingo shook his head before taking a sip of pink lemonade. "You're beating yourself up about it. You want to get better, right?"
"Well, yeah…"
"Then don't let it bother you!" Shingo said as he flashed the Chinese boy an inspirational smile. "I mean, Bogard took me down faster than I could blink, but I'm not feeling depressed about it. You just gotta keep working with it. Effort can pay off if you're patient."
Sie shrugged. "Sure, maybe. But I train my ass off to impress Athena and for what? She ends up being with Kyo anyways. And in the end, I still screw up."
Shingo sighed as he leaned back on the bench. "Sie, if you never have the resolve to get better, you never will be and you'll maintain your seemingly worthless position in life. Willpower is the greater part of the battle, Sie." He stood up, stretching before looking down. "You gonna come and cheer on Benimaru in his rematch against Clark Steel?"
Sie looked up at him and shrugged. "Why not?"
Benimaru quickly ran through a number of stretches as he recalled his rather unfortunate defeat at the hands of Clark two years ago. Considering how well he felt he was going with this tournament, in spite of the fact his team had lost early in the competition, he had smoked Bogard for the second time in two years and was looking forward to settling an old score.
True, Beni really didn't hate Clark or anything of that nature… by being incapacitated, Heidern took his spot and wiped the floor with Rugal, more or less effortlessly. But there was the principle of the matter that if he beat Clark, then he could get his rematch with Robert and hopefully get his shot at fighting Kyo again.
The mere thought of evening up his entire track record, more-or-less, for the past four years was almost enough to make him jump for joy, and he quickly straightened his hair with a bit of electricity as he strolled out to face Clark, Leona and Ralf on the sidelines, leaning back in their chairs and just willing to enjoy the fight.
"Ready?" Nikaido asked as Clark adjusted his hat.
"Oh, yes I am," Clark answered. "And I'll crush you in my grip before this fight is over!"
Beni shook his head as sparks let loose from his hands. "You're crazy. I came up with a few grapples of my own since our fight."
"Let's see who's better then!" Clark answered, charging at Benimaru. The blonde raised his defense, but countered at the last second with a hard-hitting kick to the face. Clark spun with the attack, his hand hitting the ground as his left leg moved out and caught the back of Beni's. Both fighters hit the ground at the same time, but Clark, having prepped for this, rolled back to his feet much faster and pounded his elbow into Benimaru's stomach.
Benimaru countered as fast as he could, punching up as electricity crackled around his fist. Clark bent backwards and jumped back a bit, but it gave Beni the opportunity to back off and catch his breath.
The Ikaris were good… always had been, always would be.
Clark's next charge was punished, though, Beni spinning around on one hand and kicking out Clark's legs before jumping back to his feet. Benimaru knew he had an opening, and opening had to be exploited to win the fight.
A quick thrust-kick to the stomach, then a jack-knife-fast kick to the leg. Clark barely escape Beni's conclusion to the sequence, flipping up into the air as a bolt of electricity shot down, and retaliated forcefully.
The still-airborne Shooting fighter suddenly yelped in surprise, Clark having grabbed his arms, and another steel-grip hand clamped down on his legs. Beni screamed in pain as Clark's knee pounded into his backside, only for Clark to throw him up into the air and then pound Benimaru against his back.
"BENIMARU!" Shingo shouted from the sidelines as the blonde was thrown off to the side, slowly getting back up to his feet just in time to see Clark charging with a flurry of punches. His back felt like a trainwreck, but it was a damn good thing his arms still felt decent.
"RAIKOKEN!"
The words echoed in Clark's ears as the mercenary reached Benimaru at just the wrong time for him, an intense pulse of electricity zapping him.
Benimaru knew that Blanka would be proud. Yet he also knew that Clark was sturdy enough to survive that kind of force, and quickly slipped behind him and followed-up with an Electrigger that returned all the damage Clark had done with interest.
"And one thing more for the playbooks!" Beni shouted as he flipped backwards, ignoring, at least for the moment, the intense pain in his backside the ploy had caused and then launching himself forward… yet at the same time leaving himself back where he had been. It really didn't seem to obey the laws of reality, yet the punches and kicks Clark experienced were more than enough to let him know that it was happening, and the last strike; Beni blowing by him with a crackling fist, sent him skyward before landing hard on the ground.
The ref quickly announced the fight over, Benimaru shouting with joy before vowing that whatever winnings he'd get in this tournament, they'd go for medical bills.
God I'm going to need them, he thought as he winced in pain.
"Well… this is it," Kyo said as he, Iori, and Athena walked out. "Just one more fight, and we'll be the champs of the Winner's Bracket."
"What's the match going to be?" Iori asked. Kyo smirked at the question.
"What else? One on one. Any takers?"
Iori nodded at the comment. "Yeah. Shouldn't be too tough… any of them."
"Well then," Athena said cheerfully, "Shall we?"
"She's obviously Hydra," Elisabeth said as she watched the two teams enter on her penthouse big-screen TV. Ash, as usual, was angsting next to her. "It's almost too much of a coincidence, if you ask me."
"What? Her Greek name, her psychic healing powers, the fact she'd be so damn close to Kusanagi? Wow, boss, you are so right."
"You're about to earn another lashing," the Frenchwoman scolded. "I've put Chris under lock and key for safekeeping. When all Hell breaks loose, we throw him into the mix and hope for the best."
"THAT'S the plan?" Ash asked, turning to her in shock. "Isn't that a little… risky?"
"Hey, when there's a fire in an oil field, you blow it out with nitro," Elisabeth countered. "We drag Mukai and the other Past Coming People out here and we blow them away, one, two, three. Between the infighting between all the superpowers, most will be disposed of, and those that remain are exhausted. In a nutshell, everybody saved and onigiri to all knowing parties."
"Jeez… some mastermind you are."
"You make due, Ash."
"It feels so good to be at the top of my game," Billy said as he did a few stretches, taking a look at his watch. "When's Boss's next round?"
"You mean the rematch against the Kyokugenryu team?" Joe asked as he and Mary pulled up a pair of ringside seats. "I think in like an hour or so."
"Good then… I don't think this fight will last to terribly long…"
"Oh, for once, I agree with you."
Billy turned to see the imposing six-foot high stature of Iori standing before him, although if he was scared by it, Kane didn't show it. "Good we have some even ground," Billy sarcastically said as he spun his staff around a few times. "Fight'll be more fun this way."
"Fun?" Iori repeated, looking at Billy before walking away and doing a few warm-up stretches. "Don't fuck with me. This whole tournament is about doing just one thing: beat the living snot out of everybody here and not having to think 'Well, I might be facing Kyo this year, so I have to same some energy for next round'. Not this time. I'm just going to smash and bash through everyone that is such an unlucky son of a bitch that they have to fight me. It I lose, boo-hoo. Kyo goes down with me and I get my fight anyways. But if I win… oh… if I win, the spectators are going to have on BITCH of an exhibition."
"Suit yourself," Billy said as he charged.
I love you… the words had been what Vice thought would be the last words she ever heard in her whole life… yet death seemed rather… sluggish… to claim her.
True, she found herself in nothing but a void… a cold limbo where she could not see, heard, taste, smell, or touch, but she could think. And those three words stayed in her mind as she thought about the blonde, her friend, that had spoken them.
Mature… Emily… had loved her? Vice was rather surprised by it all. They had spent a lot of time together and all… 'working' for Rugal, and at first, Vice had thought nothing of those memories where Emily had protected her.
But then she remembered the moment that Ana and Hermione had seemingly killed her, Mature had been quite vengeful, much like after her defeat from Chin. There was always a sense of camaraderie between them… it finally dawned on Celia that to Emily, there was more than just being close friends.
And then she blinked… finding herself in a hospital bed. She looked around, seeing a nurse staring straight at her. Vice turned to her side, seeing Mature also coming out of it… they certainly found a way to jump through hurdles at the same time.
Before Vice could even say a word, the woman ran out of the room, calling for a doctor as Mature groaned, looking over at the brown-haired secretary.
"Celia…"
Vice turned nervously, forming eye contact.
"Vice," Mature said as she turned away, her voice obviously pained. "About what I said… I-I'm sorry."
Vice didn't know what to say… and the silence seemed as if it might last forever. Mature continued quickly, however. "I know we've known each other for a long time… gosh, we're almost thirty and all, and in all the time I've known you… I've always cared for you, a lot. I mean, I'm usually the one looking on the bright side of things and I try to keep my hopes up, and you're the one that seems to constantly end up being frustrated and pessimistic. But you were kinda like an inspiration for me… showing me that no matter how bad you felt something was, you always had the choice of standing up and working for something wonderful. It… I mean, you really meant a lot to me and I'd understand if you didn't feel the same way. When Iori went berserk, I thought we were going to die and I wanted to let you know."
Mature crossed her fingers. Oh, please God, she thought desperately, Please, no matter what, don't let her hate me… I'm not some crybaby teen-drama bitch, there's such a thing as unreturned love… just don't-
"I'm sorry," Vice answered, her voice quiet and even more hurt than Mature's.
"It's not your-"
"Yes, it is," Vice said as she wiped a few tears from her face. "You, you're my best friend. You put up with my bitching so much over the years, all the times I could only see the glass half-full. And through it all, you… you even found a way to really, truly care for me like no other. And I'm not sorry for that… I guess I love you, at least in some way, for that. But what I'm apologizing for is that I just don't love you in the way you love me."
Mature heard the words, and smiled. Technically, nothing had come out of this confession. On the other hand, she felt as if there was one less problem in her world now.
"Amazing you've recovered so-" the doctor said as he came in, but before Vice shouted to him.
"Get a phone already, dammit! And dial it to Geese Howard's number!"
"Excuse me, ma'am, but are you sure you should be walking around?"
Yuki froze when she heard the voice behind her. She didn't recognize it… just who could it be?
Turning around to see just one of the private security officers standing there. "You were the girl that got nearly killed last year, right?"
"Oh… yeah," Yuki answered, nodding honestly. "But two of my best friends are here so I thought I'd take a look. I assure you, I'm perfectly fine now."
Waiting around in a modest sized room with more security than Fort Knox was not the kind of thing Chris had really wanted to do to kill a few days. At the very least, he was playing his new Nintendo BS.
The Swiss boy was just closing it down when he felt something go through him. The hairs on the back of his neck went straight and a chill went through his body.
He knew what this meant.
Walking over to the intercom, Chris turned it on.
"Need something?" Elisabeth's voice came through.
"She's here."
I am SO getting a new staff and jacket after this! Billy thought as he used his trademark weapon to pole-vault away from Yagami. The fight was close… too close. But Billy had the feeling that Yagami wasn't as low on steam as he was.
Iori himself was rather surprised by the turn of events of the fight, Billy showing himself to be… competent when it came to fighting with his staff. Of course, it was only a matter of time now. Iori charged, diving sideways to avoid Billy's strike and then letting loose a stream of purple flames. The attacks baked Billy quite well, but damage wasn't their purpose.
The pain was still there, however, and Billy, on reflex, almost let out a yelp of pain… except he couldn't.
He was totally paralyzed.
Iori went to town with a flurry of slashed and smashes, turning Billy's jacket to ribbons and cutting him up modestly before a final spin up into the air, flames streaming from his hands, knocked Kane away. "Like I told you," Iori said as Billy regained motor functions, "I'll beat the snot out of anyone here."
Billy slammed his staff into the ground, trying to catch his breath as Iori just stood there, watching.
"You sure he's not going to kill him?" Athena asked Kyo on the sidelines, who just shrugged.
"The guy works for Geese Howard. Medical bills won't be a problem. As for the kind of injuries he's been getting… they're not that bad. Iori's one psycho in fighting, but his attacks aren't that life threatening." Well… except like when he went psycho…
Back in the arena, Billy raised his staff up, wiping some of the blood from his face. This sure hurt a lot… but it wasn't like he was the only guy with flames here. He ran, full sprint, at Iori, slamming down with his staff. Iori, predictably leaned to the side. Billy continued by whapping his staff into Iori's side. It wasn't going to win the match, but it was a start. "Go…" Billy spun the staff clockwise, his weapon catching Iori on the chin and knocking Yagami back a few paces. "To…" A wheel of flames erupted from his weapon, "HELL!"
He launched the attack out, Iori looking at the move coming. Piece of cake. He still had enough in him for a little more toying and-
IORI!
Now THAT was Athena.
WIPE HIM OUT! NOW!
It wasn't a request. But Athena probably had a good reason for all this, and on second thought, Iori figured the quicker this fight went, the better.
Iori launched another stream of fire across the ground just as the wheel hit him, and it promptly caused a gigantic plume of purple flames to shoot up. As soon as it subsided enough, Iori charged at Billy, unleashing the dreaded Ya Otome… the brutal sequence of seven sequential hits finished by grabbing one's foe and lighting them on fire.
There was a burst of flames before Iori tossed Billy's unconscious body onto the ground. He then looked over to Joe and Mary and shrugged. "What? He wasn't worth killing or anything like that…" He walked away, noticing Athena looked a more than a little worried.
She's here… Athena heard a voice say. You know you have to kill her.A/N: With the King of Fighters '97 down to its last few matches, things are nearing critical mass. And when things blow, fists will fly, lives will be at stake, and it may fall down on The Few that Fight for Many.
Omake time! (damn, it's been awhile)
Jubei vs. Goro -or- Yeah, Like Cookies can beat Explosive Footsteps
"Ladies and gentlemen!" shouted the announcer to the modest-sized crowd. "I would like to thank you for choosing this dignified competition of Judo over that exotic and rather over-the-top competition the King of Fighters! Of the countless competitors that have engaged here… only two remain!"
The audience went wild as one of them entered… a solitary figure, the large yet not imposing figure of Goro Daimon, headband fastened around his brow and ready to win one final tournament before retirement. "A pioneer and hero of the sport," the announcer continued, "His team has won the King of Fighters, which I must now say is a rather modest and not over-the-top competition, and he has decided to engage in one final solitary competition before letting a younger generation take over. So please, give a hand for……….. Goro DAAAIIIIMMMOOOOOOONN!"
The applause was deafening, and Goro smiled. Finally… just a normal tournament, no evil geniuses or anything. Just good old fashioned Judo.
"And his opponent… also a pioneer and hero of the sport…" the announcer began as a much smaller and older figure came in. "A competitor at only one King of Fighters, a career tragically cut short due to his learning to not grope blonde Americans, and I don't mean Terry Bogard here, Jubei Yamada!"
An equally loud applause was let loose as the two competitors stepped into the ring, Yamada chowing down on a cookie before nodding to the referee that he was ready.
"Those things aren't really good for you," Goro pointed out honestly. "Well, at least not before a big fight like this.
"Ah, you're no fun, you big stupid virgin," Yamada shot back.
"You're the second person to think that of me," Goro said with a smile on his face, "The last guy is dead. Besides, I don't flaunt myself around with a number of women while waiting for my STD tests to get back."
Jubei choked nervously, coughing out part of his cookie before shooting a dirty glance at Goro. "You are so dead for that."
The match began… and Jubei did the only thing he though would be appropriate for this kind of match… throw a load of cookies at the asshole.
Goro didn't flinch at all, instead just smashing his hands into the ground, the pure, seismic force knocking the tiles into the air and smashing into the cookies. Jubei, due to his light weight, also was knocking into the air…
And then Goro was right in front of him.
Oh shit, Jubei thought as Goro grabbed him by the neck and threw him skyward. The smaller, older man hit the ground hard, and the match was immediately awarded to Goro. The winner was relieved, and did his trademark "slam my foot in the ground while there's an explosion" move.
Jubei, barely awake still, noticed Goro standing right in front of him as the trophy was being brought out. His hands drifted towards Goro's pants…
"And the winner in a quick and fast paced battle…" the announcer began, "Goro Daim-"
"I KNEW IT!"
Goro suddenly looked down, Jubei having rolled up Goro's pants a little bit to reveal a tape player and a large speaker system, all hidden under the baggy pants.
Goro's eyes looked around in horror. How… no…
Goro took off screaming and crying towards the exit.
"It's Just not Fair!" -or- Capcom Brothas gotta stick Togetha!
"IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT!" M. Bison screamed at the top of his lungs as he downed another beer. "She stole my move and everything!"
"There there…" soothed Pyron. "I know how it is… you think yourself some big bad guy… and then-"
"Yeah, and then you get replaced by not one, but two guys cooler than you!" Bison sobbed pathetically, his cape ruined and his red military outfit forever ruined. "I mean, that damn Gouki kills me in Super Street Fighter II Turbo and in Street Fighter 3… there's that stupid Gill! It's horrible! At least you never had to worry about that kind of thing…" Bison didn't notice tears welling up in Pyron's eyes. "Being such an awesome boss character that players waste tens of dollars on beating… and then comes this new guy for the new game! And everyone forgets about you or thinks you're a total loser!"
"But… but I do understand that!" Pyron screamed out as he slammed his hands against the counter, yelling for the bartender for another round of beers. "That stupid Jedah robs me of everything! And he's just a tribute to Devilman!"
"Well, not just a tribute," Bison pointed out. "It's more a facial comparison between the two more than anything else."
"But that's not important! You think Demitri's got it bad? That guy's a total wimp! Only reason I lost to him was that I was too busy gawking at his manly che- I mean, Morrigan's breasts!"
Bison slowly inched away from Pyron.
"Hmph… you two are pathetic Capcom villains."
Pyron and Demitri turned as an imposing, 65-year old man walked up to them. His voice was German, and his very elaborate suit emanated power. "Imagine having a 40-year career as a lawyer, only being penalized once. And then you get to kill the guy that did that to you and raise his own son as your own, treating him like dirt and planning a final revenge since he believes himself guilty of his father's murder." The man suddenly called over another beer as he wiped a few tears from his eyes. "Then… then you face that damanbale Ace Attorney, Phoenix Wright… AND HE HUMILIATES YOU IN COURT!"
"Manfred…" Pyron started to say.
"Von Karma?" Bison finished. Manfred nodded.
"But you're not even the final boss of Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney!"
"I WAS BEFORE THE WHOLE DS REMAKE!" Manfred screamed in sorrow. "And then my daughter loses two cases to that bastard in the sequel!"
"Wow… you think you got it bad?" announced another old man as he walked up to the bar and ordered a beer. "Imagine almost 20 years of evil schemes all going down the drain. All because of that STUPID MEGA MAN!"
"You mean…" Bison began.
"Doctor," Pyron started to say, but Manfred cut him off.
"Willy?"
"WILY! WILY, YOU IDIOTS!" Dr. Wily shouted. "EVERY time I try to defeat that stupid Mega Man, something springs up! And now that they've more-or-less phased out the original series AND Battle Network, I have no chance of beating him! It's all about 'Mega Man Zero' now… and that's like 200 years in the future! And Mega Man ZX too… but that's all about stuff that happened in Zero! You guys got it easy. You're either dead, sucked up into a vampire, or in prison! How the hell do I jump into the future?"
"Well…" Bison started to say, "They do have those Flux Capacitors down at the local hardware store…"
"I saw them. But we're all broke."
"Shit."
