To the Darkest of Nights We Go

~Dystopian AU ~

Chapter 76

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


When Kyo Kusanagi slid open their classroom door and stood by it without entering, it was late afternoon. Weariness lingered on him like a stain, his expression hollow and distant. To Rock, it was terrible and painful seeing the war's effect on Kyo, which appeared to be permanent. From where he sat upon his desk, he slowly shifted his position and observed as Terry and Joe stood, approaching Kyo. To his right a few rows down, Mary and Mai, sharing one desk, exchanged a concerned glance.

Terry took a cautious step forward.

Kyo stepped inside, sliding the door closed behind him.

"Kyo, you need something?" His dad's voice was warm and welcoming, but it was impossible to miss the disquiet behind his words. "Food? Water? Do you want to talk?"

All Kyo did was stare at them, unblinking.

Another exchanged glance between Mary and Mai, the women's feelings obvious. Behind Terry, Joe moved closer, the lines of his body braced for a possible fight. Icy unease stabbed Rock's stomach; he struggled to overcome it, not wanting to contribute to the changed mood in the room. The sudden alteration because of Kyo's appearance and disconcerting lack of…anything.

"Kyo, you okay?"

He wasn't. Anyone could tell by looking at him; yet, what else could Terry say? Tension hovering and still, Kyo didn't say a word. Just that terrible stare, as though seeing them and yet, not.

They weren't strangers – Kyo certainly wasn't to Dad and his friends – but whatever he'd suffered had put a chasm between them. Rock wasn't sure how to cross it and from Terry's apprehension, he wasn't the only one.

Then, Kyo made a sound.

"Kyo? Did you say something?"

Terry remained standing right where he was, unmoving.

Joe, too, watched without making any obvious movements.

Kyo's stare swept the room – going from Terry, then to Joe, then to Mary and Mai, and then settling on him – and then reversed. Life returning to those eyes but it didn't lessen the growing unease making a home in the pit of Rock's stomach. He's counting. He's noticed something off and he's…did he realize…

"Where's…" Kyo made a choked sound. "Bogard…where's your brother?"

Kyo Kusanagi was only a few years older than him. He sounded aged, broken by the loss of his teammates and if it wasn't for the fact Rock knew he was a fighting champion, he would've disbelieved it. Whatever youthfulness Kyo had was gone, at least in this moment. No triumphant champion here – only a traumatized veteran.

"Andy's gone, Kyo."

Delivered quietly, stated simply. It was how Terry did things.

To his right, Mai choked back a sob. Mary moved to embrace her, to hold her close. Andy was ashes in a jar somewhere in this room, but Kyo wouldn't know that. Why would he?

Kyo's complexion went pale. The man took an unsteady step back, as if retreating from a dangerous cliff edge. "How'd he…how'd he die?"

"He went on a food run with Mai. They encountered soldiers on the way back."

"Did he…"

"They fought and he got injured. Came back. We thought he was fine, but…" Terry's words trailed off. A few seconds of silence before he resumed. "The wound got infected. We…there was nothing we could do about it."

Horror contorted Kyo's visage, misery deepening. "When…" The man swallowed, Adam's apple bobbing. The faintest glimmer of tears. "When did this…?"

"About a week ago."

"Infection?" There was something in Kyo's tone Rock heard but couldn't figure out.

"It was a knife wound. He didn't suffer at the end. We made sure of it."

"Did you –"

"We had sedatives. Gave it to him before it got worse."

Kyo swallowed again – Rock saw him hold back those tears – and nod. "I'm…glad to hear that. That he…that you didn't have to…"

"Wouldn't be able to. To live with that."

Grief, always there, resurfaced in Kyo's gaze. He glanced from Terry to Joe and then back to where Mai and Mary sat. Rock saw himself noticed on Kyo's periphery – the other's quick glance flicking towards his direction – and then the focus went back to Terry and Mai. "I'm sorry. About Andy."

"You have nothing to be sorry for."

"This food run…was it because…of us?"

"No. It wasn't, Kyo."

It was, but who was going to tell Kyo the truth? Certain truths were better left unsaid – would do more harm than good – and Kyo teetered on unstable ground. He didn't need to know. Joe didn't say anything to contradict Terry and neither did Mary or Mai. Rock, too, kept his mouth shut. Kyo was already shattered – didn't need to crumble apart and break further.

Another nod, yet misery remained entrenched in Kyo's expression. "Then…"

"We needed more supplies. Food was running scarce."

A bitter sound from Kyo. Rock couldn't tell if it was a laugh.

"Sounds familiar." A question forming from that comment, but before any of them could raise it, Kyo continued. "O.R.O.C.H.I. targeted them?"

"It was unexpected. They didn't see those soldiers coming."

Kyo's eyes widened in shock and the man stumbled backward, striking the door with his back. "How many?"

"How many?"

"How many soldiers? Did they…did they get the jump on them?"

A swift glance from Terry to Mai, with Mai returning it, a wordless communication. She was the one to reply. "There were eight." Tear streaks on her face, a soft wet shine in the mild sunlit room. "The last two gave us trouble."

"Shit." Kyo's curse, spoken softly, was loud in the ensuing brief silence.

Terry was the one who broke it, surprise evident in his tone. "Kyo? Did you know? About these soldiers?"

"They're special forces."

"What was that?"

"Special forces, or elite. That's what Yagami called them." Pain twisting and wrenching in Kyo's voice, a knife unveiled. "Did they sneak up on you, Mai?"

"Yes."

"You and Yagami fought them, Kyo?" Astonishment in his dad's voice, unmistakable. "When did this happen?"

"Don't remember. Several nights ago. Last week?" Kyo shook his head, as if rattling the memory loose; Rock saw him grimace. "We were trying to cross over into Nishinari, but…we were surrounded. Yagami sensed them first."

"What happened?"

"They tried to kill me first. Yagami, he…" Kyo made a broken sound. "We fought back and they nearly killed us. Yagami was…he was injured. Badly. We…we made it through, but he…almost lost him."

Silence descending, heavy.

"I'm so sorry, Kyo."

This time, Kyo laughed. The sound was bitter, full of agony and made Rock's hair stand on end.

"Wait." To his right, on her desk, Mary uncoiled, although she didn't loosen her hold on Mai. "Just you and Iori? Where was Chizuru?"

"That's right," Terry said, as though Mary's question jolted his recollection on something important. "You know…the soldiers here…they referred to you guys as the fugitives from Shinsaibashi. Did something happen there?"

Like that, Kyo's expression became guarded, barriers rising through the wary and hardening lines on his face. It was akin to a gate slamming down, all locks bolted. The man's mouth flattened into a line, lips sealed.

"Kyo, was she…" Mary like a bloodhound, yet gently asking. "Was she already dead?"

Heavy silence.

There was no answer and looking at Kyo, Rock didn't expect one. Kyo's lack of confirmation could be taken as affirmation that yes, Chizuru Kagura was already dead prior to their fight with the stealth patrol. Kyo's body language betrayed him, giving away as much. Yet, he noticed Mai gently tugging Mary's arm, drawing her attention and then, Mai shook her head. While consternation continued darkening Mary's face, Mary bit her lip and then leaned back, closing that part of the conversation.

Rock saw the lines of Kyo's body loosen the slightest bit, though the man's shoulders remained stiff. The blood on his shirt had dried black and he thought he saw scarring on his arms. Sitting on his desk, Rock readjusted his feet on the chair and watched, keeping his movements small. Kyo was like a cornered animal, afraid and alone, and the shields being kept up told him the other wasn't ready yet to share all.

Maybe never would.

"I'm sorry again…about Andy." Kyo's voice was thin; the words seemed stuck in his throat. "I shouldn't have…I'll be off."

"You won't be leaving us?" Concern in Terry's voice. His dad took a step forward, carefully so not to spook Kyo. The other man appeared brittle – a horrible thought – prone to a re-shattering if pushed too far.

"I just need…" A hand on the door. "I…"

Kyo slid the door open. Exited, swift like an escape. He didn't look back.

Footsteps heading towards the stairs and then down before that, too, faded. His dad looked stunned. Turned to them, as if seeking confirmation he wasn't the only one feeling the same. Unease in his stomach, residence made, and Rock felt the kinship between Terry and him, for something had occurred during that conversation and he wasn't sure what. Behind Terry, Joe shifted and cleared his throat.

Everyone refocused their troubled gaze on him.

"So…do we go after him? Is it safe?"

Joe suggested, in as few words as possible, that Kyo might've cracked. Gone off the deep end. Went or was going insane.

Was it safe? No one knew or could guarantee it was.

"Something happened to them in Shinsaibashi." Mai wiped the tears from her cheeks, straightening. "To Chizuru. To all of them."

"And? What should we do?"

"When he comes back, I'm talking to him."

Joe balked, incredulous. It was clear on his face. "Can you reach out to him? Will he listen to you?"

"Won't know till I try. Unless you oppose?"

Joe winced, Mai's cut going deep. "It's not that I…Mai, he's not in a talking mood, ya know? What if he…does something?"

"He's not crazy, Joe. Just hurting."

"And if he lashes out?"

"I can protect myself, but I don't think it'll come to that. Kyo's in pain, but he's not going to attack us. You saw him leave, Joe. Does that come across as violent?"

Joe shook his head, a concession to Mai's reasoning.

"I'll wait for him by the stairs. Bring some food and water. I don't think he's eaten." Mai moved and Mary removed her arm from around her. A small grateful smile and then Mai was at her desk. A few foodstuffs and a container of water were removed from her bag. Under the desk was the sealed jar containing Andy's ashes, safe from being knocked over. "I'll be fine. Don't worry."

This despite Mai being injured. Despite her continuing recovery.

Light of step, the woman crossed the room and approached the door. Slid it open and exited. Rock couldn't hear her footsteps and wondered if she was going to wait on this floor or at the bottom. Encountering Kyo was more likely on the first floor, he guessed. Maybe Mai wanted to do that.

"If she can get Kyo to talk…"

Mary and Terry exchanged a knowing glance between them. "If she can, we are indebted to her," Terry said, walking over to join Mary where she sat. "I think Chizuru died long before they had that fight with the soldiers."

"Same." Mary reached out to draw Terry close. It warmed Rock's heart to see the familiar and comforting gesture. "If that's the case, maybe that's why Kyo and Iori became close."

"Because without her –"

"They only have each other. Against O.R.O.C.H.I."

"Damn."

"I think only she can reach out to him." Mary's voice was soft and quiet. Even Joe listened, shifting weight off his injured foot. "Because they have something in common."

"They both lost someone dear."

"Yes. We all did, but Mai…we know why it hurts more for her. Kyo…I won't say I understand, but if they became like family to him, then…"

"He's still mourning Iori."

"Which is why Mai's best suited to this. Approaching him."

A temporary silence descended.

"Poor Kyo."

"Poor Mai. She's still grieving. Maybe…"

"You think this'll help her?"

"Perhaps. Guess we'll wait to find out."

Terry sighed. "Suppose we can take a break as well. O.R.O.C.H.I.'s still quiet and we're all recovering. Mai's on a mission. We're better off staying out of it until it's over."

"Terry?"

"Hm?"

"Hope we make it out of this alive. So that you can…"

Rock watched as Terry enfolded Mary in his arms and leaned forward to press a kiss to her forehead. "I know. Andy, too, right?"

"Yes."

"Guess we'll find out, babe."

"Yes, I suppose you're right."