To the Darkest of Nights We Go

~Dystopian AU ~

Chapter 49

Written By: RinoaDestiny

King of Fighters, Chizuru Kagura, Kyo Kusanagi, Iori Yagami, Terry Bogard, Andy Bogard, Mai Shiranui, Blue Mary, Rock Howard, and Joe Higashi all belong to SNK


Setting the diversion wasn't difficult. After trekking some distance away – an estimated hour or so – Kyo found an unsalvageable building. It was empty, which was good, and the inside was stripped bare. The walls were falling apart, he could see through the upper floors, and there was the dry dust odor of staleness and slow decay. When he presented his findings to Iori – who stayed watch by the main door – the other man agreed.

This was ideal for their purpose.

Kyo set the building on fire, unleashing his strongest flames. Once they confirmed the first floor was burning and the flames would gain momentum, they left. It was meant to draw attention but they didn't want to be around when that happened. Nishinari's soldiers would converge – hopefully away from the survivors in the subway station – but that also meant their generals would follow.

If they were Goenitz and Chris…

No, they didn't want to be around when they arrived.

Tonight, Iori was vigilant. Kyo sensed it, for the other's anxiety bled into his awareness. He asked only one question: Was it regarding the special forces? Yagami nodded, wary and glancing around. Kyo couldn't blame him. Those elite troops had emerged from the surrounding darkness last time – similar to their historical spies and saboteurs, the ninja – and almost succeeded in killing them.

If they were present in Naniwa, then they could be in this ward, too.

It was a frightening possibility.

He didn't say any of it to Yagami, though. Iori was already high-strung – tension in his silence and no doubt, thought the same. He stayed close by, keeping his promise. As long as he was here, Yagami didn't have to worry.

They continued this way, the faint sounds of their steps, breathing, and shifting bags accompanying them. Broken pavement crunched beneath their shoes and abandoned apartment complexes, office buildings, and temples greeted them like ghostly strangers. Steering clear of the operational streetlights, they used the illumination in the distance to judge their bearings.

Kyo knew the streets, but it was different at night. With signs broken or non-existent, they had to go off what they remembered. Several times, reorientation was needed and Iori's nervousness increased. He had to remind the other of his presence and acknowledge his fear.

Patrols. There were always patrols; yet, more were here.

They were the hunted; O.R.O.C.H.I. was the hunter.

Would the prey slip the predator?

"Let's get to Abeno, okay?" His voice was a whisper. His hand on Iori's shoulder. "Yoshiro said it'd take a few hours. We can make it tonight."

The other remained silent.

"Yagami…it's not impossible."

"I know it isn't."

Terror was the manacle and chain binding Iori. He heard the other's breathing, the tightening of the bag strap in his hand. They were in the shadows, in between buildings and although he couldn't see Iori's face, Kyo knew. What had passed between them in the subway station – the time spent recuperating there – had helped. Before, Iori would've fallen apart. Now, he was active in fighting off his panic attacks. Or trying to.

Kyo empathized. That'd been him once.

It was a lonely feeling.

"Hey," he said and heard Iori look up. "Once we get to Abeno, we'll rest. I'll take first watch. Sounds good?"

Silence.

He glanced towards the area past the buildings. A tall rectangle of half-lit ruined city – enticing and also dangerous to venture into. The dark sky above them, unlit by moon or stars. A sharper wind tonight; he shivered, goosebumps rising. Soldiers patrolling, sweeping through the land like a plague. Looking for them. For fugitives from Shinsaibashi to kill.

Kyo Kusanagi.

Iori Yagami.

Sacred Treasures with one objective to fulfill.

He cranked his head back, gaze meeting the flat expanse of sky.

Iori's hand settled upon his upper arm. He looked back down, hearing the other's breathing slow and even out. "Ready, Yagami?"

"Yes." Also a whisper.

He dropped his hand from Iori's shoulder. Yagami, taking his cue, did the same. Kyo hoisted his bag higher, adjusted the weight so that it leaned forward and took a step towards the back. They could sneak in between the shadows there rather than risk themselves in the wide open. It'll take more time, but at least they'd end up in one piece at Abeno.

Behind him, his dragging limp the only sound, Yagami followed.


An hour later, the situation underwent a rapid and chaotic change.

Iori peered out from around the corner of a broken-down temple, face pale in the dim light. Kyo gestured, a quick signal. Not yet. Around him was the sudden stir of activity – of troop movements, of units rushing past – and he'd no idea if it was their earlier distraction or something else. He hoped it was the diversion. Something else could mean serious trouble for them.

Somehow, in the chaos, they got separated.

Iori's hobbling gait also played a significant part of it.

The redhead disappeared back into the shadows surrounding the temple. Good. Kyo worried for him, but it appeared Yagami kept his head on straight and was doing his own situational assessment. So long as the other man remained hidden and didn't get caught, he'd find a way to reunite them.

He wasn't far, but with soldiers in between and it being nighttime…

Well, anything could go wrong if they misstepped.

Clattering body armor, guns, kits, and the constant heavy footfalls on rough pavement. There were multiple units here and all converging towards a single point in the distance. Kyo glanced out, careful of the office complex's exterior lights and observed. Began counting and estimating. Eventually, he stopped. The numbers surpassed a hundred and continued going.

How many troops did O.R.O.C.H.I. station here between Nishinari and Abeno?

He knelt, shrinking his profile. Glimpsed Iori again, a pale spot in darkness.

Motioned when the other looked his way. Get back. It's not safe.

Again, Iori vanished from sight.

This was worse than that night in Nishi. More and more soldiers. All for a single conflagration? It didn't make sense. Wouldn't they split and send recon units to investigate? Why would everyone – it felt like everyone – be leaving?

Unless…

Oh no no no. Shit! We have to…

He had to cross to Iori. With his handicap interfering, Iori wouldn't be able to cross the distance at great speed. He'd be caught. Killed. Unless…unless the soldiers had other plans for him and none of them good. Kyo hoped his assumption was wrong, but if it wasn't…

If it wasn't, then they had to get into Abeno fast.

Yoshiro mentioned the possibility of the army's movement being two-pronged. One further south deeper into Nishinari. The other moving towards Abeno. Was the vanguard headed in this direction? Headed by Goenitz? After all, he'd interpret a building suddenly burning in the middle of nowhere at night to be suspicious. It was what they wanted, right?

But it meant staring their enemy in the face and…

Kyo drew in a silent breath. Counted. Waited.

Waited for the opportunity to move.

Don't make any sudden moves, Yagami. Wait for me.

Boots on the ground. Commands being issued. He understood none of it. Bent even lower, submerging deeper into shadow. Was Yagami hearing the same? How was he doing? Keeping a hold of himself or succumbing to terror and panic? There weren't any noises besides the soldiers but panicking could manifest in other ways. He didn't want to get there and find Yagami catatonic with fright.

More time passed.

The muscles in his legs cramped. Shit.

Kyo stood, wincing and flattened himself against the exterior wall. Brought the bag around and placed it in front of him like a useless shield. Food, drink, and medical supplies. A single pistol with eleven bullets. Flames he couldn't use now, unless he wanted to draw unnecessary attention. A teammate and fellow brother injured, fighting capability diminished. Mental and emotional trauma. Flames that hurt, but actually burned the other man now.

Three treasures. What could be done with them.

This was what they had. What they had to work with.

He looked past the wall. Saw Yagami doing the same. Fired off a rapid salvo of hand signals. I'm coming over. Wait there. You doing okay?

Iori read his signals and responded, his movements frantic. When? I can't wait much longer. Hurry.

Kyo closed his eyes for a brief second. Opened them and motioned one final time. I'll be there. Ducked back into the shadows and not a moment too soon, for there were voices carrying from afar. He needed them to pass – this unit – and then make a run for it. Delaying any longer would be detrimental to Iori; he wasn't going to let it happen. He took another deep breath. Steeled himself.

Voices. Male.

The language they spoke wasn't Japanese. Was it English? Or one of the European variants? He couldn't tell.

The soldiers walked past, still conversing. A back-up unit, then.

Kyo waited. Startled when a particular name was spoken by one of the men.

Goenitz.

Was that why the soldiers were…? Meeting the leading general? Getting issued their orders? For what? Widening the scope of their manhunt? Here?

Several hundreds. Perhaps a thousand.

Two companies. A battalion. In addition with the soldiers already here, O.R.O.C.H.I.'s numbers would be…

Shit. They had to get out now.

He counted to ten until the footfalls faded, held his bag close to his body and bolted. Shoulders hunched, tense, dreading the worst. Voices raised. A storm of bullets. His life ending, crumpling to the ground in a growing pool of blood. It can't happen. Cannot. Because if it did, Yagami would see it and Yagami would…

Iori would die. He would.

Would be captured and killed. Or lie down and die. Or instigate his death by attacking the soldiers, knowing their trained response.

Or Yagami would go crazy. Lose whatever sanity he had left.

It wasn't much better, ending that way.

Kyo dashed for the temple – wordless prayers to any deity listening – and to him, all the noise he made was amplified. The slap of his sneaker soles against the war-scarred road, the jangling of his bag and holster, his breathing. He still expected a bullet between his shoulder blades. Or for the special forces unit to surround him when he least expected it.

Something.

But he reached the temple's exterior wall without incident. Iori yanked him into sheltering darkness, borderline hysterical. "Where were you?"

"Soldiers." He moved and Yagami released him, stepping back. "We have to reach Abeno. Goenitz's here."

"What?"

"One of the soldiers mentioned his name."

"He's here?" Iori's tone was fearful, voice strained.

"He is. We need to move."

"But how…?" The other fighter gestured, agitated. "Kyo, he can find me. He can…"

"How?"

"The Riot. If he wants to, he can…" Iori swallowed. "I'll go into it. I can't stop it. He'll…he'll find us and…"

Shit. If Yagami went into the Riot of Blood, his howl alone would give away their location. Goenitz was the leader of the Heavenly Kings – ran O.R.O.C.H.I. for the accursed god – and there was that singular connection between him and the other Hakkeshu. While Yagami wasn't one, his clan's ties to Orochi marked him and Goenitz knew it. Took complete advantage of it.

Iori knew it. Kyo knew it.

Which was why…

"Isn't there anything we can do?"

"You can't. It's part of my curse."

Part of his curse. Kyo started moving, afraid their inaction would lead to their discovery. Remaining silent, he slipped past the back of another building, scanned their surroundings and continued. Behind him, Iori followed close like a second shadow. He heard the footfalls, the other's breaths. Sensed fear and anguish closing around him like a vise.

Part of his curse. Of Yagami's…

Wait.

He stopped. Iori halted, forward step soft.

Part of his curse. Of Yagami's lineage. Of his clan's pact with Orochi. But didn't Iori say something earlier about his…

Kyo turned, his sudden move surprising Iori. The redhead backpedaled, staring at him. "Yagami, your magatama."

"What about my –"

"You said your curse comes with it. What if you didn't have it?"

The whites of Iori's eyes were like lanterns in the dark. "But my bloodline. It still…"

"We can try. If it works, Yagami…if it…"

He sensed the other's hesitation. Read his silence.

"Are you afraid it'll fail?"

"When am I not afraid, Kyo?"

A huge admission from Iori and one he thought he'd never hear. "Trust me, Yagami. If it doesn't work, we'll find another way."

Iori took a shaky breath. Approached him. Pressed something into his hand.

Kyo looked down. Iori's magatama.

"If it doesn't work, run."

"You won't attack me. I'm not leaving you to him."

"But he –"

"He won't." The magatama went into his pants pocket, tucked deep. "He won't, Yagami. Let's get some distance from the bastard, okay?"


"Disobedient dogs must heel to their master or be put down. He and Kyo Kusanagi are around here. Find them. Bring Iori Yagami to me. Kill the other."

From their hiding spot, they heard Goenitz loud and clear. Iori shuddered; Kyo reached out, reassuring him with a brief touch on the shoulder. With soldiers searching – they had to keep moving – and the O.R.O.C.H.I. wind general in close proximity to them, spoken words were dangerous now. Kyo took Iori's hand, turned it and wrote the characters on his palm.

Don't worry. I'm here.

Iori glanced upward – seeing the same sky as him – and shuddered again.

We need to move. You ready?

The redhead's gaze lowered. He nodded.

Let's go.

They had slipped inside an empty building the moment Yagami's instincts screamed an immediate warning. Within minutes, Goenitz arrived and his vanguard split into units awaiting orders. Those orders had been given.

Time to thwart them.

The building wasn't large; however, its open windows helped them now. The ones in the back, he quickly wrote on Iori's palm before taking the lead. Yagami glanced behind him before following, quick on his heels. Mindful of their injuries, Kyo peered out one of the windows, dropped his bag by the exterior back wall, and eased himself outside before aiding Iori. He didn't want the other man's knife wounds to rip open – problematic if they did – and with his injured leg, he needed support.

All the while, he remained alert.

Once they were both outside, Kyo scanned the area. They had to keep heading towards Abeno, which meant east. But with the soldiers circulating in units, there was a serious issue. This section of Nishinari was residential, which meant clustered neighborhoods and narrow roads. Unless they wanted to keep dodging inside of homes – risky with entering and exiting – they had to navigate the streets. Find the main roads. But soldiers would be there, too.

Goenitz had brought enough troops to overwhelm them. To swarm this place. Their only counterstrategy was to bottleneck them in these smaller streets. Outmaneuver them. Wait in places considered safe and then jump from location to location until they finally hit Abeno.

Their resources were limited. It was late evening. They needed rest.

If the soldiers did thorough searches, then where could they hide?

He studied Iori. The redhead was wan. Whether it was from exhaustion, fear or both, he couldn't tell. It was an improvement from their time in Nishi, but Yagami still had a long way to go. He was here, though, and refusing to quit – facing these flesh-and-blood demons of his – and it was only two weeks since the situation escalated and dived straight into hell.

Two weeks, just about. Ever since that day.

Iori looked at him – color off in the dim backlit alley – and didn't say anything. Instead, turned his attention towards the side street.

Kyo followed the direction Yagami's gaze tracked.

Strode past him and pulled him along by the arm in the opposite direction.

There were soldiers at the other end. They hadn't been spotted, which was fortunate. But they had to keep moving.

Recognize this neighborhood?

Iori's bandaged finger wrote along the width of his palm. No. Never been here.

Then we need to find landmarks.

If they're still standing. His palm itched; it was a weird sensation.

This way. Need to keep distance.

The other man gave him a slight nod. Was he…did Iori look ill?

Kyo put that thought aside. Crept along the edge of the adjacent building's exterior wall, listening and observing. He heard activity in the distance, but that was behind them past the row of houses. He didn't hear anything before them.

Got to the end – Yagami right behind him – and peered out.

The street branched in two directions. There was a side path to his left. A winding path ahead of them hemmed in by houses. Some of the doors gaped open, as though waiting for the original occupants. It brought back memories of the platform gates in the Shinsaibashi subway station; Kyo shivered. The dead. What if there were corpses here?

"You okay?" A deep whisper. Concern.

"Just remembered something."

The silence that ensued felt endless. Like a stone falling into an eternal well.

Yagami took his hand, turned it and began to write. If I could forget, I would. Same?

Focused on the branching paths, Kyo nonetheless understood. Without taking his eyes off the inner roads, he answered. "Not everything."

Iori released his hand. No response.

Left or straight? If they went left, they'd end up at the exact street where the soldiers were. If they headed straight, would it lead to other smaller streets or would it take them to the main road? Was it life or death waiting for them at the end?

"Go straight."

He turned, facing Iori. The taller man was paler. Looked unwell. "Yagami?"

"Straight."

The left would lead to…. Kyo stepped forward past the wall they hid against. Doors open like gaping mouths, like missing teeth, like…. He continued walking, keeping several steps away from the entrances. Sidestepped the barred windows that jutted out. Even as Iori followed, the other's perplexed expression intensified at his strange avoidance.

He just didn't like it. There was an inherent creepiness here.

The winding street kept going. Alleyways on both sides.

They heard voices sometimes. Hid, dodging into said alleyways. Waited. Waited and then returned to the path, forcing their tired bodies along. Rubble appeared on the street – shattered asphalt, scattered roof tiles, twisted metal gates flung up against the walls – along with darker stains where dimly illuminated. Kyo stopped, stomach twisting; Iori glanced up, a sudden sharp motion.

None of them spoke.

A ruined city was quiet. A destroyed neighborhood was quiet. An empty street was quiet.

But this? This was…too quiet.

Kyo backpedaled, bag swinging. Yagami swung around, dragging his wounded leg. The redhead's gaze raked the houses. Stopped on the closest one. Without words, Iori grabbed his arm and pulled. Kyo got the message. Hide. Now.

He didn't like the houses. What they could find inside.

But they didn't have a choice.

Following Iori's lead, Kyo slipped inside the nearest house. Kept the door open, because a closed one would stand out. Silence within; the eerie quietness without. It was a single floor residence – the second level another occupant's – with a bathroom, separate eating room, kitchen, and a single bedroom with a barred window, nightstand, and futon closet. It was in the bedroom where they hid, for it was the furthest from the entrance.

In this silence, this darkness, they communicated.

He's here. He's… Iori's finger paused in mid-motion. How are we going to…

He wrote back, scrawling on the other's palm. We will.

But how? If the soldiers come…if they…

We will, Yagami. The characters took shape, invisible stroke by stroke. We're not going to die here. This won't be our grave.

You heard him. The bandage on Iori's finger was rough. Only you die, Kyo. He wants to…I'm a dog to be put down.

Yagami…

He wants to take me back. Give me to them. I'll…

A sound outside. Iori jerked back, shoulders bumping against the wall. Kyo rose to his feet and crept towards the sliding door, which was slightly open. He looked out, but that wasn't the important part. Instead, he leaned closer to listen. Did so and his blood chilled.

Even from here – from inside – the voice was unmistakably Goenitz's.

"His presence is close. So he persists in hiding, hmm?"

The hairs rose on the back of Kyo's neck.

"He belongs to us. To Orochi. When I call, he answers."

He shot a look behind him towards Iori, but in the dark, his expression went unseen.

The Riot of Blood. Just like Yagami predicted. Would his guess hold true? Or would…

"Wild blood arouse, spawn of Orochi. For that is what you truly are."

The magatama in his pants pocket burned. Kyo glanced down, bewildered at the faint green glow shining through the thick fabric of his jeans. In the illuminated darkness, he glimpsed Iori's stunned face. For the Riot of Blood had been summoned – should've worked. However, without the magatama being in Iori's possession, the Riot had no power over him.

Yagami didn't know that, of course. He hadn't heard Goenitz.

Yet, the jewel's glow showed manifestation of power. Of something occurring. Occurring without Iori's direct control.

It could only mean one thing.

Then, as Kyo watched, the glow faded. Vanished. Leaving them once again in darkness. The moment had passed. Was over.

He sighed in relief. Stepped away from the door.

A different sound, then. Behind him.

He whirled. Iori whimpered. A thick bubbling noise.

No, no, no. Oh shit, no!

Kyo crossed the room. Dropped to his knees besides Iori. "Yagami," he whispered, reaching out in the dark for the other man. "Yagami…"

It wasn't the Riot of Blood. It was…it was because…

"Yagami, why didn't you…"

He thought it wasn't serious. Didn't want to burden me. Didn't want to…goddammit!

"Yagami…"

Iori shoved him aside. Shoved him aside and stumbled away, wet splattering in the dark. The whimpers increased and before Kyo could move, could get by his side, there was a gruesome squelch. Wet muffled screams.

Yagami!

A loud banging sound outside.

He shot to his feet.

"Find them! You know your orders!"

The magatama in his pocket. The mirror around his neck.

Kyo clenched his fists. Spread his feet. Braced himself.