Here we are, at the next "break chapter". Much like Kim and Jhun's thing, the purpose of this chapter is to conclude the "Kensou owes Malin money" plot once and for all. Just a warning... it's not pretty. It's a product of fatigue, from having to deal with so many plots in this story. Whether you like it or not, I'm sorry I couldn't deliver a better quality product... and thank you all for your continued support.

EPISODE 1: MALIN


Malin was getting impatient in the twilight of things. She'd gotten her hands plenty dirty, then politely backed off when she got her ass handed to her. Since then... she'd just been lingering. Waiting for the next fortune to come her way. She hoped this wasn't her peak, as she had admittedly had an AWESOME week. She did a paying job, nearly pulled off a heist, got to flirt with her crush... and perhaps most impressively, she got plundered by Bonne Jenet.

Probably the best thing that could happen at this point was if she ACTUALLY got paid her $25,000. For this ambition... she would not quit.

With a resolute heart, she sought out the key to her objective: Yamazaki. He was pretty hard to find, but she checked all the areas of town a guy like him would probably be interested in. After getting thrown out of most of them, she ventured around... until she finally chanced upon him, sitting on a bench. The man had finally found some clothes (to her disappointment), once again wearing a comfy black t-shirt, and a pair of black gym pants. He was wearing flip flops, amusingly.

"There's my gorgeous kneecap-buster."

Yamazaki looked up to acknowledge her voice for only a second... before he, with an uninterested look, turned back the other way and resumed puffing on the rolled-up white object in his mouth, sucking deep, puffing his cheeks... before expelling with a few coughs.

Malin fearlessly approached, and plopped next to him. "Whatcha smokin'?"

Yamazaki didn't look at her, but did respond. "Just a little somethin' to take the edge off. You don't know true pain until you've been burned by sacred or cursed flames. Both are equally shitty, I assure you."

"Can I have a puff?"

Yamazaki looked at her a moment... then shrugged, handing the joint to her. "Sure, knock yourself out."

Malin took the object, inserted it in her mouth, sucked deep... her eyes watered all at once, and she spat out smoke, immediately breaking into a hacking, coughing fit. She finally handed the thing back to him, using her now-free hands to wipe tears from her eyes.

That got Yamazaki laughing. "Hahahahahahahahaha! Well thanks, girly. That cheered me up a bit."

Malin coughed and wheezed for several more seconds, but managed a smile with glassy eyes. "Glad I coul-HAAGHHHKKK COUGH COUGH COUGHHH- help."

Yamazaki resumed his consumption, while Malin cleared her throat. Finally, when liberty of speech is restored, she got down to business.

"Um, listen, do you think you could possibly... ummm... beat up Kensou again? He's kinda holding out on me at this point, and the tourney is almost over, and I might not see him again in a while, and-"

"Nah."

Malin had to do a double take when she heard Yamazaki's refusal. "Wait, wha?! WHY NOT?!"

"I'm tired of that shit, dude." Yamazaki expelled smoke with words. I'mma just go eat some snacks and chill."

"B-but I'm paying you to beat Kensou for my money! Remember?! Ten percent?"

"Eh, you can keep it."

Malin threw her arms up. "Oh come ON! You're seriously gonna bitch out on me when I need you the most?!"

"You don't need me."

...That startling revelation piqued Malin's curiosity. "Wh-what do you mean?"

Yamazaki removed the joint from his mouth, turning to face her. "Look, tiny tots... you're a tough, scrappy girl. You weren't born with a rocking pornstar body, so you've had to fight and claw your way in this world. That makes you stronger than most. Self-sufficient. You don't need to rely on a big, hunky man like me to fight your battle. You've got the strength in you to go and get your motherf***ing payment. Okay? Are you hearing me?"

...His heroic words nearly brought tears to her eyes. Despite how much or how little he genuinely put into that speech, it was enough to send Malin's spirit soaring. With a slap of her cheeks, she leapt from the bench, proudly drawing her dagger.

"Yes! Yes I will go get my motherf***ing money!"

Yamazaki turned away, folding a leg over the other. "Good. Now leave me alone. Or go get me some chips or something."

...Yamazaki didn't get his chips. What he DID get, was a giant kiss on the lips, that sent his eyes wide.

"MMMMWAH~! Thanks, Ryuji! I hope you call me someday!"

Yamazaki was slightly jarred from the sudden attack, not expecting it in the least. He knew the girl had spunk... but didn't expect her to have the balls to do THAT.

...Eventually, the situation became boring, and ten seconds later, he resumed his self-medication.


CHAPTER 2: KENSOU

"And so Mignon said, 'Your reign of terror at this grocery store has come to an end!' and the man tasted the purifying power of Mignon's white arts! It was epic."

Kensou, who was only half-listening to Mignon's mindless drivel, continued to pick at the sandwich on his plate, courtesy of leftovers at Krauser's castle. The Lord in question wasn't feeling very hospitable, having suffered a brutal loss to Terry, so he and the rest of Castle Stronheim's staff were letting the fighters fend for themselves tonight. Thus, some people who weren't even competitors had been allowed to infiltrate... such as one annoying poofy-haired white witch.

"Yes, I've been improving my magic more and more each year. Mignon's only regret is that I never got to compete in the Cummity!"

"...The what?"

"You know! The Cummity? Duhhh! The big fighting tournament! The Cummity!"

"Okay, stop saying that. Please."

Kensou reached for another bite of his sandwich... but he felt a chill in his spine: a chill so powerful, the food fell from his fingers. For someone like Sie Kensou... that was a truly horrible sign of things to come.

"...I can feel her."

Mignon spawned little question marks above her head. "Huh? What? Who?"

"She's near..." Kensou shivered in his seat. "How did she get back to the Castle?!"

"Who is it?!" Mignon was on her feet, a hand on her forehead, scoping the area. "Is it an agent of darkness? MIGNON WILL MAKE THEM SEE THE LI-hhrrmph."

Kensou pressed Mignon's forehead; a speaker emoji with a red X appeared above her head, indicating a mute button. He got up from his seat, began slowly scanning his surroundings... left, right, north, south... she was nowhere to be found.

...Wait. ABOVE!

Kensou looked up; it was too late.

"GAAAH!"

Before he could get a running start, Malin dropped down on him from above, tackling him to the ground. Knife in hand, she pressed it against his cheek and hissed threatening words:

"Gettin' real tired of you ducking me, bro! You're over here cramming your fat face when you should be out there finding my f***ing money!"

Kensou tried to rise up... but the tip of the dagger dug into his cheek, and Kensou let out a pained yelp as he felt the blood start to trickle. "I-I-I'm working on it, damn! I have my next course of action planned!"

"Oh yeah? Let's hear it." Malin demanded.

"W-well... I'm gonna take out a loan!"

Malin grinned. "A loan, eh? From Big?"

"Does it matter?" Kensou frowned.

Malin shrugged. "Guess not. Welllp, you better hop to it. I'm getting tired of waiting. I'm about to be on you like a botfly laying larvae in your head. You can squeeze and squeeze, but I'll be embedded right in there. Right in your BRAIN, motherf***er. So be prepared."

With no proper comebacks to offer, Kensou reluctantly held that position... until Malin, content that she got her point across, dismounted and scampered off into the castle. The boy rose back to his feet; his hand found his cheek, and he felt the wetness of blood. He cursed aloud, both at the stinging, and his recent misfortune.

It was ironic... Athena came into this tournament with beef, while he had none. Now, the script was flipped. He had made a true nemesis in Malin.


"What happened to your cheek?"

Athena later asked Kensou, who was nursing the afflicted area with several layers of tissue, which she could notice darkening with red.

"It's nothing." Kensou tried to brush off. "Malin just... cut me a little."

Athena gave a genuine look of worry; Kensou turned away quickly, trying to tear his eyes from her as swift as possible.

"Kensou, this is getting ridiculous." Athena finally spoke again. "Look, how much do you owe her? I'll just-"

"No!" Kensou shot her down. "No. I'm not taking the cheap way out after getting this far. I'm close to solving this, Athena. WITHOUT your help."

"But she's hurting you!" Athena argued. "And she already got Bao and Momo kidnapped one time..."

Kensou waved at air. "Ahhh Yamazaki wouldn't hurt kids anyway..."

"KENSOU!"

"Look, I'M HANDLING THIS." Kensou raised his voice. "It has nothing to do with you, or Bao, or Momo, or Chin, or anybody else. I'm not going to let it be anyone's problem but mine. End of story."

Athena tried to reach sympathetically for his shoulder... but Kensou's body was not there to recieve it, as he blew her off coldly, making for the door, slamming it behind him.

Athena sighed. "Oh Kensou... I can't tell if you're being responsible, or an idiot."

"Maybe both."

"EEK!" Athena squeaked, jumping at the foreign voice in the room. She turned, only to see Chin chilling in the corner of the room, sitting on the floor, his trusty wine pot in his hand.

"M-Master Chin! You've been here this whole time?!"

Chin hiccuped. "Technically, I was here before you. You just didn't see me. Anyways, Kensou and you are entirely different beings. He's brash, headstrong... maybe doesn't think about things on as complex a level as you. Everyone's got their own... levels... to things."

Athena frowned. "I could have solved this problem in a matter of minutes."

Chin shook his head. "It doesn't matter. What matters is that Kensou is stepping up to solve his own problem, his own way, on his own time. You two may be partners, but that doesn't have to encourage co-dependency. You can be strong as individuals, and still be strong as a team.

"So I should just back off, huh?" Athena grunted. "Back off, and let Kensou put himself in peril?"

Chin widened his lips, revealing his goofy, tooth-deformed smile. "Well, it's sure to be a fun episode."


EPISODE 3: MR. BIG

"I was the king, Ryuji..."

Mr. Big drunkenly confided in his pseudo-partner, from their exiled headquarters in the city. They had been banished from the Castle for the remainder of the week, after Big's organized treachery... and his ultimate downfall in the Battle Royale. Now, the bald man had nothing left, but to drown his sorrows and lament about better times.

"That f..ughhin Geese Howard... he came along... and fugghed everythn up..." he slurred between gulps of his Heineken. "I used to BE somebuuhy... I wuz fearred... rezzpechhhed... worshipped..."

Yamazaki, who was mellow and not really interested in things, gave a shrug and took another drag of his cigarette.

"Whaddo I have now, huh?!" Big grabbed his shoulders, shaking him desperately. "WHAADOIHAVENOWWWW?!"

Yamazaki winced at his alcohol-riddled breath. "Well, you got a new crew."

Hwa Jai stepped up. "Actually, we're starting to think this isn't working o...?"

Yamazaki shot them the most demonic glare he could muster. Raiden, Jai, Chang and Choi immediately suppressed even the slightest thought of abandoning the sinking ship, for the time being.

...Suddenly, the blonde man noticed something else out of the corner of his eye. A shadow. Footsteps approaching. A taller, more built figure... had to be a man.

...The body came closer out of the darkness, and he recognized more features. Brown hair. Sneakers. An urban-looking outfit.

He grinned wide. "Hey BIG! We got company!"

Big's sunglasses were wobbly, as he struggled to even set the bottle down. "Whuuu...?!"

Yamazaki snatched the bottle, splashing the alcohol in his face, to sober him up slightly.

"H-HEY!"

"I said we have company. The Kensou kid."

Big straightened up, fixing his coat, his sunglasses. He smiled wide when Kensou came into their vicinity. With a gesture of two fingers, his "troops" mobilized, surrounding the boy all at once.

"Well, well..." he chuckled. "The Psycho Soldier has come out to play. How'd you find us?"

Kensou, despite the overwhelming odds and the desire to puke up all his meals today, maintained a tough facade, folding his arms. He leered at Big. "I have psychic powers, remember? I simply sniffed out the scent of LESSER evil. Weak, neutered, humiliated evil."

Big growled. "H-hey, you have a lot of nerve coming in here and badmouthing me in front of my boys. Maybe they oughta teach you a lesson!"

Kensou unfolded his arms, brandishing clenched fists. "You can try... but do you think I was stupid enough to come here alone? Your boys try to move on me, and I might just call in some backup of my own!"

Yamazaki leaned over. "He's bluffing."

"Is he?" Big whispered.

...Out in the distance, a lone figure cowered behind some conveniently-placed trash cans. Her poofy pink hair could barely be concealed, as well as the utter flamboyance of her goofy outfit.

"Ugh, Mignon can't believe she gets herself in these situations... but Mignon can't say no to Kensou. He's such a cutie..."

Back at the "meeting", Kensou showed no fear, and stepped forward. "Big, I'm here because I need your help. Financial... help."

Big shook his head a few times, to make sure he was lucid. "R-really? You need my help?"

"He probably wants a handout to pay a certain someone." Yamazaki suggested, knowing more about the situation than most.

Big scratched his head. "Is this true, boy? You coming to Big looking for some quick cash?"

Kensou nodded. "Yeah... I need $25,000. And I need it NOW."

"...Mmkay."

Kensou's eyes lit up with a hope like no other. "R..really? Just like that?"

Big smiled. "Well yeah! Big is always willing to lend a helping hand to the less fortunate."

His insides welled with that warming hope. "W-wow... I can't believe this! I... I can really have 25 grand? No strings attached?"

Big's sunglasses shimmered. "You make it sound like it's such a surprising thing. Like I'm not a patron saint, that is willing to spread my angelic wings once in a while! Ryuji, write up the boy a check."

Kensou was so excited, he started shaking. All week he had dealt with the adversity... trying to avoid Malin, trying to fight her off, like some persistent, pissed off yellow jacket, always aiming to sting him in the ear. But with this... it was over. It was finally OVER?!

Yamazaki finished scribbling the juicy details, before ripping off the paper and graciously extending it to Kensou. The boy's hand wobbled... like he was touching some majestic treasure... his fingers could barely wrap around the thing. He snatched it, nearly dropping it a few times, before securing it with both hands.

With a grin, Kensou raised it up high... to the heavens themselves. He could have sworn there was a glow about it.

"Yes... yesssssss! This is it! 25 grand... in my hands! YES!"

"...Now you just pay me back by the end of the week of course."

Now was an appropriate time for a record scratch.

Kensou lowered the thing like his arms were anchors, as his head turned, baffled, to the smirking bald man. "O-ONE WEEK?!"

Big chuckled. "Heheheheh... well yeah! Every week, the interest rate goes up by 10 percent, and you get a beating. So yeah... one week, 10... two weeks... another 10... in ten weeks, you'll be paying me back double. And if that day comes, you get a SUPER special beating!"

Kensou started shaking violently, his face devoid of all color, like the boy was malnourished for once in his gluttonous life.

"Oh, and midway through the week, you qualify for what we call a 'reminder beating'... it's kinda like a text message or a notification on your phone, except it's physical. One day away from the end of the week, you might also get a slightly less intense reminder beating. Just to make sure your legs work enough to deliver the payment."

...Kensou immediately balled up the check, and threw it back at them. "There! T-take it! I don't want it!"

Big's eyebrow raised cockily. "Hehehehehe! Welllll that's fine and all, but you see, Mr. Big charges a 10% borrow fee. So now you owe me 2,500! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"N-NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Kensou wailed so loudly, he expelled bits of food in his teeth that he'd been saving for later.

Mr. Big was cackling at this point. "And, just as a consolation prize... ah what the hell. Ryuji, go ahead and beat him one time! It's on the house!"

Yamazaki snickered evilly, tossing his cigarette aside. He flexed his fingers, complete with a series of cracks.

"Well, I never get tired of beating Kensou's ass."

At this point, Kensou was in retreat, inching away from the slowly approachg pack of wolves. "N-now wait just a minute. Y-y-you can't do this to me! I can't make the money if you break stuff, just remember that! M-MIGNON! MIGNON HELP!"

...Kensou turned around, only to see a dust trail in the distance, and Mignon retreating with the speed of a cartoon road runner.


After catching yet another solid beating, Kensou found himself at a restaurant, playing out the night the best way he knew how: stuffing himself with food and wine. Every bite, every gulp, released the endorphins he needed to null the pain... and drown out the grief of knowing he was back to square one.

It was at this time... Kensou found his resolve waning. He thought about going to Athena, showing her what they did to him... she would immediately jump to his aid, giving the money without quest-

...NO! How would she ever respect him? How would she ever... ADMIRE him... if he bitched out and ran to her, crying? In all things he did, there was always that intent... making her see him. He wanted her to see him in the best light possible... like when he fought Krauser last year. He craved it.

...But right now, Athena felt farther away than ever. It was clear what she was into, and it wasn't him... maybe this time it didn't matter what she thought of him...

"Hey dude. What happened to your face?"

Kensou turned his head to see what voice disturbed his personal bubble: naturally his eyes fell on the cleavage first, before they scrolled upwards to find the face it belonged to.

"Did Malin do that?" the woman, revealed as Bonne Jenet, asked with a pitying grin.

Kensou frowned, turning back to his drink. "No... the goons I tried to borrow money from did."

"Oh. Sorry dude. That's rough. Can I sit?"

Kensou didn't WANT anyone bothering him right now... but he couldn't exactly say no to a smoking hot babe like Jenet. At least now he had something good to look at. Of course, getting horny right now would probably serve to frustrate him more, thinking about Athena...

Finally, with a sigh, Kensou offered her the seat next to him. The pirate babe flashed a sultry wink and plopped down. "Can I get some grog over here?!"

As she waited to be served, Jenet turned her attention back to the boy. "Malin's told me all about what's happened. We've... been hanging out lately. Ehehehe~"

Kensou blew sarcastic air. "Great. So you two are just having a grand ol' time, as Malin shares her stories of physical abuse."

Jenet snickered. "Well, it IS kinda thrilling to listen to... ehehehe... "

"So you're clearly not on my side then." Kensou frowned, as he finished off his drink.

Jenet shrugged with a grin. "Hey, I have no stake in this, dude. I'm just along for the ride."

"Then take your banging buccaneer breasts somewhere else!" Kensou blew her off. "Leave me to wallow in food, drink, and pain..."

Silence. She didn't appear to be moving, as her face carried a hint of sympathy, and the distinct look of a personal dilemma. She seemed to be pondering something... what it was, Kensou could only HOPE. Her eyes looked up, bobbing back and forth a few times, her head nodding, in the midst of some kind of ultimatum.

...Finally, with a sigh, Jenet smiled and scooted her stool closer to him. She leaned in close, nearly against him, as her voice went low.

"Okay dude. Look. Malin's my girl and all, but I don't want to see you get hurt anymore. And she doesn't realize how this is creating a huge rift between her and Athena, which was ALREADY pretty wide, and it's sad, because Malin's super into her. So... I'm gonna help you put this thing to bed already."

Kensou cocked an eyebrow, understandably responding with skepticism. "Oh really? So what now, I borrow 25 large from you, and if I don't pay you back, you'll strap me to a cannon?"

A hand wrapped around Kensou, and pressed his body against hers, as her mouth found his ear. "Okay, I really shouldn't be saying this... but Malin is really insecure about herself, especially with boys. If you want to get out of paying, then you need to..."

She whispered.

...Kensou' s skin turned crimson, in the same way those ancient warriors from Samurai Shodown tended to do.


CASTLE STRONHEIM

Kensou had done some strange, unorthodox things in the name of combatting evil... but in some ways, that felt a lot simpler now. There was hardly a playbook to defeating the forces of darkness; just defeat them!

Right now, he craved that simplicity. He wanted to go back to that.

Slowly, hesitantly, strolling through the hallways of Castle Stronheim, he sought out his new enemy, the object of his week-long torment, the fly in his ointment that had never let up. He now had all the information, all the know-how needed, to put an end to this feud once and for all.

It was funny... the solution to this problem had offered many corners to cut. Simply ask Athena. Simply ask Big. Simply win the tournament. Even now, he found himself with a shortcut, an easy detour to end this... but he wasn't sure he wouldn't rather just work for the money.

Every step he took towards the fateful door, the more his insides swirled in a whirlpool of uncertainty. He knew for SURE he didn't want to do this... right? Then why was there uncertainty?

...Maybe he did want this. Maybe he wanted to spite someone. Maybe this was a situation in which he won in more ways than one. Maybe, thinking about Athena, even now... is what drove him towards this door.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

He banged on the door, of where he almost certainly had located the scent of "mischievous, misguided, gray" that could only belong to her. He waited, gulping... his stomach doing backflips... as the doorknob turned, and the door flew open.

...Malin was standing there, slightly drowsy, having donned night clothes after a long, long day. Her hair was down, not in its usual bandana (it was quite pretty!) and she was wearing a white T-shirt a few sizes too big, and a pair of black cotton shorts.

Despite looking and being totally unprepared to intimidate someone, Malin tried her best.

"Oh look who it is! My Bitch Bun Boy! You got my money, Bitch? If not, then we're gonna have a lot more fun tomorro-MMMmmmphhhhhhhhhh?!"

Kensou closed his eyes and snatched her up with raw physical strength, his lips smashing against hers without hesitation, without a moment of testing her temperament. A total gamble...

...A gamble that paid off, as Malin's legs wrapped around his waist, her lips deepening on his with consent, her arms finding the back of his neck and pulling him against her.

They stumbled into the room, where Kensou kicked the door shut.


ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER...

Kensou lay in bed, up to his waist in covers... his body drained, feeling like a breathing corpse. He didn't have the energy to close his mouth, or even tear his eyes from their fixed position on the ceiling.

What. Did. He. Just. DO?

"Hahahahaha... wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwww..." Malin almost drunkenly expressed her satisfaction over the past half hour, her blonde hair in a messy spread on the pillow, one hand keeping her bare form concealed with the covers, while the other hand reached over to grab a colorful box. She opened it, bringing a white object to her mouth.

"Good thing I never gave these to Yamazaki." she spoke, cigarette in her mouth. With a light handy, she ignited it and starting taking deep puffs.

The two lay there, covered in sweat and shame, sharing a bit of a silence, perhaps to cool down over the confusing and wild heat of the past moment. Kensou's head, spinning though it was, constantly attempted to measure the weight of what he'd just done... desperately trying to justify the causes. Some of it was righteous. Some selfish. Maybe the scales lay even.

"This.. week... was f***ing awesome." Malin giggled gleefully, removing the cigarette and putting it out. She shifted in the bed, turning to fixate her blissful gaze on him. Kensou blushed, seeing her look at him so... happy. She was kind of cute.

"I never thought I'd lose my girl AND boy virginity in the same week. God, I love King of Fighters~"

Kensou chuckled nervously, as his eyes turned back away from her and resumed the ceiling gaze. He was, understandably, LOST in emotions right now... and the act of thinking was exhausting.

"W-was it good?" Malin meekly asked, her cheeks flaring up again. "I mean, you were GREAT but..."

"Y...yes. You were good." Kensou stammered, not even sure if that was a lie or not.

"Whew... wow..." Malin continued her far-out giggles.

"So this means I don't have to pay you now, right?" Kensou made SURE to cement that this ordeal was over.

"Oh yeah, yeah, that shit's done. I don't care anymore... ahahahahahahaaaaa... whewwww..."

Kensou closed his eyes, letting out a relieved sigh. That was it then... it was over. Finally... over. That alone had to be worth it. Just knowing this now... it made the bed feel warmer. More comfortable. The release of all his burdens... what else was there do to now, but lay here, in celebrated freedom?

"Kensou." she mumbled. "I know... I know you did this just to get out of paying. But I'm still thankful, cuz this means a lot to me. So... thanks dude. You really made my day."

"N-no prob..." Kensou responded... now feeling a lot more self-conscious about what just happened. Now, he felt SLIGHTLY dirty: what was a cheap shortcut for him to get out of this predicament, was something special to her. He found himself questioning things now... whether he put his heart into it, whether he performed adequately... and the more he thought about it, the redder he got.

"I just got one more favor, and this is... kinda embarrassing, but..."

They shifted in the bed again, their eyes making contact... Malin looked pitifully meek.

"Could you... snuggle with me until I fall asleep? You can leave after that if you want but... just let me fall asleep."

Kensou sighed deeply... not out of annoyance, but because he knew he could do that much. He knew now, what this meant to her, and, in some twisted way, he felt an OBLIGATION to please Malin now. After everything. After she jumped him, stabbed him, sent Yamazaki to beat him, kidnapped Bao and Momoko...

Kensou was a good guy. This was all the self-affirmation he needed.

"Cmere." Kensou beckoned her close, lifting up the sheets, so she could shift over... he felt the warmth of her body press against his, her head find his chest, and a content moan expel from the girl...

"Mmmm... thanks~" she mumbled, as she placed her hands around him, and breathed her last lucid breath...

In minutes, the two of them were out.

And that is the end of the Kensou/Malin arc! Yeah... I'm really iffy about how I ended this. It's not my finest hour, I will admit. But guys, I have had to juggle SO MUCH in this story, and there's STILL side plots to be finished. I've got to do the Kasumi thing at some point, and then there's a couple other things... which will come to light. Gah. It's exhausting. Have mercy on me, please.

NEXT CHAPTER: Before we get to the Quarterfinals... Winter is Coming.

But first... BONUS SCENE!


BONUS SCENE

"YOU DID WHAT?!"

Athena had such a powerful influx of emotions, her powers had actually manifested and trashed most of the bedroom appliances.

Kensou, meanwhile, was sitting there with a goofy grin, his clothes back on, but his hair a mess.

"I win."

"WHAT?!"

"I... win." Kensou grinned wider.

"YOU SLEPT WITH MALIN!"

"Yeah. But I still did it." Kensou beamed. "I solved my own problem. I cleaned up my own mess."

Athena was so lost in the shock of this reveal, that she stumbled backwards... eventually plopping on the bed. Kensou... Sie Kensou... to imagine him with another girl was like something in an alternate universe. He had always had eyes for HER. Her, and nobody else. It felt like an infinite continuity, that he would never pursue another female on the planet besides her. So to hear, that he so casually did that... with Malin nonetheless... she couldn't help but question reality.

...Where did this double standard come from? Why was it so easy for her to... but to imagine him...?

Was she also breaking the rules? Was she supposed to be only known for Kensou? Was he the only constant allowed in her personal life?

This was confusing. And exhausting. She didn't want to think about it anymore. She just wanted to celebrate that his problems... and her problems... were at last over. The slate was clean.

"Kensou... congratulations." she bowed.

"Huh?" Kensou was slightly puzzled by that response. He was expecting a LOT of things... maybe anger, maybe jealousy, maybe spite... or maybe he was just hoping for those.

Athena reiterated, with a smile. "I'm happy that you were able to solve your own problem. Now we can move on."

...Kensou couldn't deny the slight disappointment in her indifference. He selfishly WANTED something out of her: something she wasn't biting on. With a frustrated huff, he excused himself from the room and made his way towards the door. He stepped out, but before closing, he had a few more words for her.

"SHE WAS BETTER THAN YOU!"

He slammed the door.

...Seconds later, the door opened.

"OKAY, THAT WAS A LIE! BUT SHE WAS STILL GOOD! I ENJOYED IT! HMPH!"

The door slammed again.