To the Darkest of Nights We Go

~Dystopian AU ~

Chapter 78

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

Note: Heavy stuff ahead – just a heads up.


"They tortured him." Kyo was subdued, in manner and voice; the man didn't look at them while answering Mary's question. Instead, he gazed down at his interlinked hands, which rested on top of his desk. "I...didn't realize the full extent until later. I still don't know all."

The room became eerily silent. This morning, with the exception of Mai, the rest of them got a surprise upon awakening to find Kyo in their midst. Joe had raised both eyebrows in astonishment and looked at Mai. Mai had nodded and then raised a finger to her lips, for Kyo slept on. They had moved to another classroom to check and reapply fresh dressings to their healing wounds – Joe's ankle looked ugly, the gash swollen – and Terry, after Andy's death, made sure none of them suffered infection. It took time and after a while, they were hungry.

Mai, having been the one to coax Kyo over, went to check on him. Their food supplies were in their designated classroom, but none of them wanted to break their fast and wake him. Yet, excluding him felt wrong. They finally decided to eat first and maybe later, have Kyo join for an afternoon meal. Rock had brought Kyo's bag over from the other room and placed it beside him.

Afternoon arrived and Kyo awoke, groggy and disoriented. After he recovered his bearings, Mai had shared her food with Kyo – continuing what she'd done the night before, apparently – and Kyo had eaten in silence. They started talking to him, easing in with general topics, but eventually, certain questions were asked.

Kyo didn't say anything at first. It was unsettling compared to the Kyo they knew: cocky, arrogant, and pleased to say so. Rock recalled the brief time he'd seen him and how pompous Kyo was. Flippant, almost but with the skill to back his boasts. Kyo now was…this wasn't the Kyo any of them remembered.

Then, Mary had asked what O.R.O.C.H.I. had done to Iori Yagami and…

"Kyo, you don't have to elaborate," Mai said. It felt like Mai, having won Kyo's trust, decided to smooth his transition into their team. Rock sensed, however, that Kyo still carried some personal burden that kept him separate from them. That some part of him needed that, if only to guard himself from further hurt.

Kyo didn't say anything, a look of uncertainty on his face.

"Kyo, what is it?"

There was a momentary silence before Kyo spoke, still looking unsure. "Yagami said something the night before…" Pause. "I asked him what else they did to him. He said…" Kyo's brow furrowed as the man hesitated. "He said one of the soldiers had a different use for him."

"He said it like that?" Mai's tone changed. Rock noticed the exchanged glance between her and Mary, feeling like he'd missed something.

"Yes. Something else about…it amused the soldier in a different way."

Mary's expression became grim; Mai's mirrored hers.

"Did he say anything else?"

"No." Kyo looked as bewildered as Rock felt. The man glanced from Mary to Mai, as though trying to comprehend the reactions of both women. "What is it?"

"If Iori didn't explain it to you…"

"Kyo, you sure you want to know?"

"Know what?" From Kyo's tone, he was just as confused as the other men in the room. Joe was baffled, staring at Kyo, Mary, and Mai as if doing so would give him the answer. Rock looked at Terry and noticed his dad's puzzlement change to understanding, which quickly turned to horrified realization.

"Oh shit!"

"What is it?" Kyo asked, sounding lost and afraid. "What did –"

"Kyo…what would you think if I told you the soldier used Iori?"

"Used him?"

"There's a reason Iori phrased it like that." Mary's tone was sympathetic, despite the look on her face. "He didn't want to tell you outright, so he hinted it. Maybe he was hoping you'd get it. Or not."

"Get what? I don't understand."

Rock saw Mai inhale and brace herself, the bearer of bad news. "Would you believe me if I told you it's possible he was raped?"

Silence unlike anything Rock had ever heard.

Kyo stared uncomprehending at Mai, as if her words had flown over his head. "What?" Or maybe not. "What do you…? How?" Kyo had risen to his feet, palms flattened against his desk. "Why would they need to…?"

"You said O.R.O.C.H.I. broke him."

"But he…they didn't…"

"No, they didn't have to. But it seems like they did." Mai sighed and leaned back against the edge of her desk. "It's not necessary, but it's a guaranteed way to break anyone. Even someone like Yagami."

"Especially someone like Iori."

Rock felt sorry for Kyo, watching him struggle with the notion that Iori had undergone that particular torment while prisoner. Joe had only just closed his mouth, also stunned by the likely possibility. Terry appeared thoroughly disturbed, and as for himself? Rock tried to – couldn't visualize, which was a blessing – Iori (Murasaki) suffering and being completely helpless, unable to free himself. It would break someone – anyone – and it made sense why Iori Yagami decided not to tell the whole truth to Kyo.

A small sad laugh escaped Kyo. "If only he…but I…"

"Kyo?"

"Yagami…he was afraid…" Kyo's hands clenched into fists. "He wasn't afraid of pity. He was…he thought…" The man looked up at them, face twisted in anguish. "He thought I'd despise him. Because of that."

"Would you?" Mai asked, a little too quickly.

"No. But…" Kyo faltered, his voice dropping low. Rock almost couldn't hear his next words. "But that means…. That means he despised himself. So he thought…"

Silence. Even the air seemed to go still and sunlight ceased moving.

"So he thought I'd do the same. He couldn't…"

"Kyo…"

"He'd sooner die than tell me. Because he believed…if I…" Kyo lowered his head, as though suddenly unable to face them. "If I despised him, I'd reject him. And he…he wouldn't be able to live with that."

"Kyo," Mai said, as though trying to reach through to him.

"I should've seen it. But I…" Kyo had started trembling and Rock wasn't certain if it was from rage or grief or both. "I didn't think they'd do that. That it was…possible. But it…" Kyo broke away from his desk, the abrupt movement startling. Terry stepped forward and then stopped. "It explains everything. Why he…the gun…why he wanted to die."

"Iori was suicidal?"

"Yes." Kyo hadn't turned around. Continued looking at the wall facing them. "I was the only reason he didn't die sooner."

"Kyo…"

"And I was trying to understand him, but all this time…" Kyo shuddered and seemed to deflate, shoulders slumping. "I never knew. So of course I couldn't help him. He knew that."

Sunlight in the classroom. Light shifting, subtle and soft.

"It's not your fault, Kyo." Mai again, voice gentle. "You did what you could."

"I…he became a brother to me. I wish he…trusted me. But…Yagami's Yagami. I can't…he's not to blame."

"No one's to blame. Only those who hurt him."

"Kagura-san would've –"

"You don't know that."

"He always listened to her."

Kyo looked dejected, everything about him downtrodden and Rock wondered if it was wise telling him what Iori meant. Kyo had raised the subject first; yet, once Mary and Mai realized it, perhaps it would've been better to leave it unspoken. However, Kyo had seen their expressions, so it was unavoidable. Maybe, it was even something he needed to know. Or else, why would he mention it?

"He stayed with you through the border. He did trust you."

"I know." Kyo's head lowered. "That's what makes it worse."

"Kyo." Terry spoke and it was like a string pulling Kyo's attention elsewhere. The man turned, again wearing misery like a mask. "Mai's right. You did what you could for him. You couldn't have done less with what you knew."

"But if I –"

"Maybe that's why he didn't tell you. So that you didn't have to worry."

"But I could've helped him."

"Maybe you could. Or maybe not."

Kyo stared at Terry with such despair that it was palpable from where Rock sat. It was uncomfortable, seeing how quickly Kyo's spirits dropped and how low. "I just…he died regretting. He thought he was worthless. If I knew, then…"

"If you knew…" Terry shook his head. "Kyo, you can keep going around like this in circles. If, if, if. If we did that after Andy died, would we be here? Would we have fought, trying to clear the way for you and Yagami? Would we even be talking right now?"

"But…"

"You're driving yourself mad, Kyo. If Mai hadn't talked to you, would it have happened? Today? Tomorrow?"

"But you don't…I was…"

"What I understand, Kyo," and it gently spoken, for Terry had known Kyo from long before O.R.O.C.H.I. dragged all of them into this war, "is that you tried your best and you think it's not enough. You think you could've done more, but you know you can't. And because of that, you're unable to forgive yourself. You did nothing wrong."

"But I…" Kyo's voice cracked. "I wasn't able to…Yagami died…he didn't…"

"And it was nothing you did."

"I let him down."

"Did you?" Terry stepped closer into Kyo's personal space. "You weren't the one torturing him. You and Chizuru got him out. When he needed you, you were there. How did you let him down?"

"I was supposed to cover him."

"When was this?"

"A few nights ago."

The border garrison battle. Orange and violet flames flickering, twisting, and crackling in the air, setting the sky ablaze. While they fought outside, caught up in their side of the war, Kyo and Iori had fought inside and something had gone wrong. At least, that was what it sounded like to Rock.

"What happened?"

"Yagami asked me…" Kyo swallowed, visibly shaken. "He asked me to cover him. It…went all right at first, but then…"

Light shifted. Shadows moved, scattered and translucent.

"We got split up. Somehow. Yagami ran and I…I didn't notice until…"

"Why did he run?"

"There were too many soldiers. He…panicked."

No movement. No words. All of them listened, reactions varying to Kyo's telling of the Sacred Treasures' side of the story. Of the battle that unfolded several nights ago.

"It all makes sense now. I…just didn't see it."

"What happened after? When you realized?" Terry guiding Kyo along, gently prompting.

"I went to find him. It took time. I had to fight." Kyo stopped, a strange look on his face. His fists were clenched, the whites of his knuckles a shade darker than the multiple scars on his forearms. "When I did, he…" The man took a deep breath, jaw tightening. "He killed so many, but…they…"

"Kyo?"

"They injured him. He was…there wasn't anything we…I…"

Terry remained motionless. Silent.

"He was going to die. And he still…everything he had left, he…"

"Kyo…"

"I was weak. I couldn't…protect both of us. So he…he killed himself doing that. For me. To get me through. Because…he promised that as well. To make it into Ikuno."

"It's…it's not your fault."

"I could've helped him!" Rage burst out of Kyo, deepening the grief in his face. The lines of his body were rigid. Taken aback, Rock flattened himself against his chair, leaning away. "I should've known he was gone! I didn't cover him like I should've. Because of me, he…"

"Kyo…"

"He died because I wasn't there. When he needed me."

There was no sound. No wind outside. The world had stopped, hanging on this moment.

"You did what you could, Kyo. You can't expect yourself to do much more."

"I failed. In everything."

"No, you didn't." This time, Terry stepped closer and reached out, laying a hand on Kyo's shoulder. Tears on the other's face; Rock hadn't noticed when Kyo began crying. "You didn't fail. You made it through with Yagami. You got yourselves this far. You managed without Chizuru. You're still here and O.R.O.C.H.I. has been quiet for the past few days because of what you guys did. We haven't failed. Neither have you."

Stillness. Seconds slipping by.

"Kyo…Mai told you we're in this together. You don't have to go it alone."

"I…"

"You can forgive yourself, Kyo. Until this is over, we're not defeated, okay?"

Rock had never seen anyone look so alone. Even among them, Kyo seemed isolated. The man gave a shaky nod, expression still drawn and tight. As he watched, Terry gave Kyo a brief hug and then released him.

"If you ever need to talk, we're here."

Another nod.

"You don't need to stay here right now. Where can I find you later?"

Kyo hesitated – a slight tremor through his body – and then jerked his chin upward.

"The rooftop? Do you need binoculars?"

Kyo shook his head.

"Stay there as long as you like. If anything happens, let us know."

A moment's hesitation and then Kyo nodded again. As they watched – all eyes following Kyo – the man headed for the door, slid it open, and left. Joe opened his mouth, shaping a non-vocal "What the fuck?" at Mary and Mai, still disturbed at what the women revealed. Terry sighed, rubbing his face with one hand. Rock stood, the muscles in his back and legs stiff.

"That…was unexpected."

"What was that about?" Joe made a wild gesture directed at no one. "Did…you think that happened?"

"It's possible, Joe." Mary shifted her legs, crossing them. "O.R.O.C.H.I.'s not merciful."

"If they considered Yagami a traitor…"

"Jesus fuck."

"Maybe he was right in not telling Kyo." Terry glanced at the classroom's ceiling. "I hope he's okay. After that."

"You think you got through to him?"

"Don't know. He needs time to think. To understand."

"So what should we do?" Joe asked, also directing his attention upward. Towards the direction of the rooftop. "Should we just stay here? Out of his way?"

"That might be best, yes."

"Okay. I'll be in the hallway."

"See you later, Joe."

While Mary, Mai, and Terry decided how to plan the rest of their afternoon, Rock stretched, all the while considering what happened here. Considered and then decided, making a choice. Kyo looked lonely, adrift without his teammates around. Iori Yagami was dead – he'd so wanted to speak to him – and Chizuru Kagura was gone as well. But Kyo still lived – a changed and broken man – and Rock never got to know him from before.

It wouldn't hurt to speak to him.

He just needed to be careful.