To the Darkest of Nights We Go
~Dystopian AU ~
Chapter 77
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
His mind was awhirl, staggering and bewildered. If he stumbled out of that classroom like a drunk, Kyo wouldn't be surprised. If he hadn't, he'd be even more surprised. He was down two flights of stairs and out the front door without registering it. His sneakers slapped against asphalt, numb feet carrying him towards the back and he sought escape. Release, away from the pain and sorrow and the dull endless days without promise of victory.
He couldn't scale the front gate – wouldn't even try – but the back led to a small barred exit and roads behind the school. He'd seen them the night he cremated Iori. Seen them and remembered, a growing ache as his friend and war brother burned.
Burn scars on pavement. Kyo grimaced and turned his head aside, seeking the barred exit. Even with his injuries, he could surmount this minor obstacle. Outside, the world was perilous – O.R.O.C.H.I. undefeated, only suffering a temporary setback – and he didn't know what he'd encounter. But he couldn't continue staying within the school walls, within this immediate area, knowing and breathing agony and guilt with each passing second.
He couldn't.
The South Towners had lost Andy Bogard. Stab wound, inflicted by one of the special forces units. Infection, a horrible way to die. Yagami's internal rot, his double stab wounds, bleeding and draining and Iori had chosen a different death for himself. Andy…Andy Bogard hadn't been so lucky. Had needed sedatives at the end before he died screaming in pain.
A food run gone bad on the way back.
A run to city hall brutally interrupted by Goenitz.
Deaths from both – both delayed. Both cruel.
Kyo climbed over the low bar and entered the back street. The roads were empty and long time ago, Yagami would've approved of this type of location. Quiet, with only his presence here. The thought speared through him, brought fresh pain; Kyo groaned, giving his head a deft shake. Stumbled towards the first branching street, towards an unknown destination.
There was nowhere he could run to escape this…this…
Unless he wanted to die, but that…
Was this what Yagami felt? Afterwards?
O.R.O.C.H.I.'s soldiers weren't here. He didn't see any patrols, regular or special forces. Just him and the chaotic thoughts rushing through his mind, jumbled like broken glass. Kagura-san dying in Shinsaibashi, sending them to safety, knowing and accepting that. Yagami dying in Ikuno, fulfilling his promise to cross the border together but with heavy regrets and all sense of worth lost. The South Towners…his tournament friends, losing one of their own. Andy Bogard, Terry's brother and Mai's lover. A life lost here in Osaka, Japan and not in Southtown, America. Death in a country that couldn't be called home.
The magatama in his pants pocket. He wasn't ready yet to…
When O.R.O.C.H.I. regrouped and retaliated, what was he to do? What could the South Towners do?
His dream in disparate pieces, words scattered.
Mortal vessels are weak, Kusanagi-san, yet you carry the divine…
You're the only one left.
It's all within you. You decide, Kusanagi-san.
Orochi cannot come back.
All that weight – destiny merciless, no matter how he resisted – and the treasures were just metal and stone, purpose yet unseen. Decide what? He didn't even know himself now. A wanderer, lurching from one empty street to the next, seeking…what? Solitude? Madness? Answers to questions he'd never receive?
Iori's haunted expression. Shame.
There was a different use for me.
Both of them broken by this war. Had Orochi won, in some way, because of that?
All the buildings here looked the same. War-torn, demolished, with the ones still standing damaged and weather-stained. All the streets looked the same. Painted markings disappearing or part of the rubble here and there. The streets were once clean, free of litter. It used to be that way at home when everything was normal. A high sky above him, an appalling light blue that seemed to mock everything beneath it. The sun – his clan's crest – was just as bright, exposing all the ugliness down here as it was, as if contemptuous of it.
Kyo stumbled, letting his legs carry him. Although he knew the general direction of the school and how to return, a part of him didn't want to. Not right now. Too much death and grief. He hadn't even asked what they did to Andy afterwards, but he didn't want to know.
It was too much.
All he needed was some time to himself. Away from people.
He understood Yagami better now.
Maybe if he had, the other man would've…
Kyo sank against a dilapidated wall, drew his knees inward and buried his face in his arms. Silence settling around him; yet, it was no comfort. A warm breeze – a mild day – but its normalcy twisted inside him like a blade, widening that ever-present wound. He heard and saw; yet, he didn't. Nothing felt right anymore. Not since…
His jaw ached. His throat tightened.
He sat there. Didn't permit himself to cry.
By the time he lifted his head and gazed tiredly at the sky, the mockery above had darkened. Soon, twilight would end and darkness would fall, which Kyo thought perfectly apt for his own mood. He considered staying here – it'd been safe for the last few hours – but knew if he did, Terry and the others would start looking for him. He never meant to become a burden and he couldn't endanger them. Sighing, he unfolded himself and stood, muscles stiff.
There were some minor sensations in the soles of his feet; he dragged himself along, unsure if he could commit to a full walk back. He wasn't even sure how he got this far. Everything blurred; Kyo was exhausted, yet rest seemed elusive. Sleep was simply another temporary escape – it wouldn't solve anything. His stomach tightened and twisted, a sharp reminder of hunger. He last ate when…
Didn't want to think about it. It only brought pain.
Overhead, there were stars. Only a few nights ago, there were flames.
His mind kept circling back to what hurt and he couldn't stop it. Memories coming unbidden by the smallest thought – the briefest association – each one bleeding him dry. How did…how did Yagami continue, dealing with agony like this?
Because of him. Because he was there.
What he suffered wasn't even – probably wasn't – half of what Iori did while he was alive. Kyo couldn't forget his last words and the look of shame the other had in the concourse. Yagami with that expression? Unthinkable a year ago.
He had no right to complain, yet…
Nothing would resolve the hurt. Make it go away.
Kyo looked for the school's surrounding wall and back exit. There was still light, enough to see by. He placed his hand upon exterior walls, holding himself upright despite the limp. It was a slow trek back. Just as well there weren't any patrols – treasures or no treasures, he'd put up a poor resistance right now.
Eventually, after a few crossed streets and some sheer luck, the school came into view. Twilight was gone, sky turning a dark inky blue bleeding into black and the stars were brilliant. Once, it would've been beautiful, but that was before everything went so wrong.
Kyo sighed heavily and forced his weary body over the exit's bar.
Stumbled and almost tripped doing so.
His stomach rumbled, a definite sign of hunger. Any longer and he'd start feeling discomfort of a different sort. He passed the location where he'd cremated Iori – a sudden glance at where he'd buried the bones – and Kyo clenched his jaw. Continued towards the school's front, towards the main door.
When he entered, the interior was dark, like one of those horror movies set in a high school. While he never believed in ghost stories, his aversion to dark places lately had increased. A flame in hand seconds later and Kyo headed for the stairs. Dragging his feet upward, he surmounted the first flight, while pangs of hunger sharpened in his gut. He had food in his bag – the gifts from Saya and Yoshiro – which meant a quiet small dinner.
He'd eat in the classroom where he first awoke. Less chance of seeing bloodstains – of bringing back memories.
Kyo moved towards completion of the second flight, but stopped upon sensing someone at the top of the stairs. He raised his hand higher, brightening his flame. As the light spread, the person stepped down to meet him halfway. Long dark hair, dark eyes, a stained T-shirt, and a sway in their step. He lowered his hand, surprised. "Mai."
"Kyo."
"What are you…were you waiting for me?"
"Yes. Have you eaten?"
A sharp sensation in his stomach. His throat was also dry. "No."
"I have some food. We can eat while we talk."
"I don't…" Kyo dropped his hand to his side, only the slightest rippling flame on his arm illuminating the narrow space. "What about?"
"You, Kyo. You're…"
"Different?" His tone was bitter. "Does that surprise you?"
"No, it doesn't." Mai stepped down, approaching him. Now that she was closer, Kyo noticed the determination – also sorrow? – in her face. She was lovely; yet, it was evident unseen scars marked her as well. "Terry told us you cremated Iori. I'm…sorry for your loss, Kyo."
"But why –"
"I did the same for Andy."
He stared at her, understanding, and the walls he'd built around himself started showing cracks. He didn't advance upward but there wasn't any need to. His throat was parched and he was hungry. "You mentioned food?"
"Yes."
"Do you also have water?"
"Yes." Mai smiled; Kyo sensed sadness behind it. "I do, Kyo. You want to eat here or in a classroom?"
"Here."
"I'll bring them down. We can eat at the landing."
Because there wasn't any light besides him – he knew Mai had fire, but it was linked to her ninjutsu – Kyo went midway and illuminated the area around the stairs for her. She didn't carry much and soon, they sat at the landing, sharing non-perishables and a container of water. He wet his throat first and then started in on the food, eating slowly. Too much right now could kill him.
Mai nibbled on a cracker. "Thank you for…what you said before, Kyo."
"About Andy?"
Mai nodded. "You couldn't have known. And yet, you…noticed and…"
"I didn't realize O.R.O.C.H.I…" Kyo paused, fighting back a swell of grief. "I didn't realize your group was…had suffered…"
Silence.
"Andy protected me from a surprise attack. He took the wound for me. That's why…that's why he died, Kyo. Because of me."
"He died protecting you. He…would do that, I think."
"And Yagami? Chizuru? Kyo, what happened at Shinsaibashi?"
Kyo hesitated, the flame in his left hand flickering dimmer for a span of seconds. With his right, he grabbed the container of water and took a drink. Put the container down between them and stared ahead at the wall. It brought to mind Iori doing the same in the subway station, that terrible empty gaze which looked upon nothing. Demons in the mind.
He grimaced. Dropped his head, seeing the landing at his feet.
"Kyo?"
"O.R.O.C.H.I. ambushed us two days after our last contact with Terry." His voice sounded disembodied, as though distancing him from the memories. "They managed to capture Yagami. Kagura-san and I…we were targeted for immediate execution."
"At Shinsaibashi?" Mai sounded horrified. He could only imagine how she pictured it.
"Yagami went for a final run. He never made it back."
"And you and Chizuru?"
"O.R.O.C.H.I. sent two generals against us in our own headquarters. Nearly killed us there."
"What happened?"
"We killed the two generals." A smile without mirth; Kyo didn't look up. "Took us a while to recover."
"Yagami?"
"He wasn't the same. After." His voice had fallen into a low hush. The flame in his left hand wavered, casting uneven shadows. "What they did to him, I…"
"Was he at Shinsaibashi?"
"Yes."
"So you and Chizuru went to Shinsaibashi to rescue him."
"We did." Kyo stared at the space between his feet, remembering. "We lost Kagura-san there. She…she got us out before…"
"Chizuru died there?"
"She did."
Kyo fell silent, unable to say much more. He closed his eyes, suddenly hit hard by a torrent of memories – Kagura-san's smile; Iori's injuries and panic-stricken behavior; his tears as they were teleported away – and took a sobbing breath, dipping his head lower. He heard the container of water tip over as Mai rushed to his side, enfolding him in a gentle embrace.
"It's okay, Kyo. It's okay. Let it out."
He hadn't meant to cry. Hadn't meant to…break in front of her…in front of…
Tears spilled down his face, over his fingers, and there was darkness and grief and turmoil; yet, Mai was here, offering comfort where there had been none before. Kyo wept, the rawness of his emotions pouring forth. Guilt at being unable to save Iori, at being unable to prevent Chizuru's demise, and at being the last one standing in their group. If he'd been wiser, sharper, more able to plan and inspire, then…he wouldn't be here right now, the sole Sacred Treasure. The Yata mirror, the Yasakani magatama, and the Kusanagi sword.
All his, but he still didn't understand.
Darkness and then light – the smell of smoke in the air.
"It's okay, Kyo. Just some fire."
He raised his head slightly, glancing over and saw flickering tongues of flame on the tips of Mai's fingers. Her eyes were also wet.
"I'm sorry…I…"
"Don't apologize, Kyo. You need this."
His face felt strange, tear-stained and while drops continued to fall, the gut-wrenching agony no longer consumed him. Mai's arm around him, holding him together. For the longest time, he tried to keep himself strong – for Yagami, who couldn't afford to see him be less – and all he felt were his own inadequacies and failures. There was no one else for him to turn to – to speak about his growing fears and despair. So, he soldiered on, trying to be strong.
Then, Iori died and…
"Kyo, we're still here," Mai said, her voice a soft whisper. "You're not fighting this alone."
"I wouldn't…" A hitch in his voice. He swallowed. "I didn't want…"
"You don't want us involved. We know. But, Kyo…if going it alone means being like this, wouldn't it be better to –"
"It's still my fight, though. I have to…I'm the Sacred Treasure. I have to…"
"And you don't need to do it alone."
"Your team doesn't…not for me…not…"
"It's a risk we've always taken, Kyo." Tears streaked Mai's face. "You're not responsible for us. Please don't do that to us or yourself."
Kyo opened his mouth and then closed it. Looked down.
"How did Yagami die?"
"Broken. They broke him and…" Kyo shuddered, remembering blood and flame and the way how Iori cried out in pain before the end. "He…used everything he had to get us out. It was…we made a promise to cross the border together."
"He died afterward?"
"Yes." An ache in his voice; his throat swelled anew with threatening tears.
"I'm so sorry, Kyo."
"It's…I shouldn't…. You shouldn't be…I'm not the only one –"
"Mary and Terry have done what I'm doing for you. Don't worry."
"You…" Kyo paused, thinking of Yoshiro and the talk he'd had with the man during what he thought was his lowest point at the time. "You remind me of someone."
"Who?"
"There are a group of survivors in Nishinari. They found an empty subway station. A brother and sister found us when…they saved us."
"There are survivors in Nishinari?"
"Yes. Sounds strange, right?" He decided not to tell Mai about the executed family he and Iori nearly shared fates with. "The brother, Yoshiro, had a talk with me. I needed it. You…kinda remind me of him. Trying to lift my spirits up."
"Everyone needs someone like that, Kyo."
"I know. I was that person for Yagami."
Silence. Shadows darting about in the stairway, black against the bright wisps of orange flame still hovering on Mai's fingertips. She hugged him – one grieving soul to another – and released him. "Everyone's probably asleep by now. You can join us or…do you want to be by yourself?"
A choice.
He was exhausted now that most of his tears were shed. Kyo hadn't realized just how tired he was, carrying all of that weight. He looked at Mai, considered the offer she made, and gave a weak smile. "Guess I can join you guys."
Mai picked up the fallen container of water and the leftovers of their shared meal. "Let's step lightly, then. Don't want to wake them up."
Kyo stood. Swayed on his feet. "Of course."
