The following story is a sequel of the previous stories - KoF The Cult and KoF: Crisis of The Mirror World.
Dialogues with the next symbols ** Are sound effects
Chapter 1 - A Second Chance
Some months ago - Outskirts of Tokyo
In the calm night on the middle of the forest where nature calmly sleeps...
*Crack* - A strange sound is heared suddenly as what appears to be a strange luminous crack starts appearing in the middle of the air
*Crack* - The strange cracks continue appearing as the animals closer run away afraid
*Crack* - The dimensional rift has finally open itself revealing the strange figure of a woman of long white hair, with a ponytail and the pupils of a snake, a tatoo covering her pectoral. Wearing what appears to be a white and blue kimono crosses the rift finally landing on the ground.
*Swoosh* - Once the woman lands the strange dimensional crack closes itself with nature being once again in calm
Until...
"I-I'm free! Free from that seal." - Said the strange woman glaring at the forest with a supernatural echo that could be heared in the entire place
The strange woman starts walking through the forest noticing the city of Tokyo in the distance
*Bird noises* - Suddenly the woman looks up with her having visual contact with two birds who land on her arms
"Do not be afraid!" - Said the woman grabing the head of one of the birds with softness
"Mmmmmmh..." - The woman slowly closes her eyes and extending her arms starts meditating on the ground
"..." - The woman opens her eyes surprised
"Nothing." - Comments the woman
"I can't get in contact with nature." - Says the woman surprised
"Maybe I can get in contact with earth's habitants..." - The woman puts her hand on her head trying to read the minds of any inteligent being close
"Still nothing." - Says the woman getting up
The woman would continue walking throught the forest. Seeing herself more closer to Tokyo now
"(Strange, I can still felt the chis of the livings beings closer but I can't read their minds.)" - Thought the woman feeling the chis of the habitants of Tokyo
"(Impossible! That chi is... Her!)" - Thought the woman feeling a very familiar chi
The woman's body would emit a strange blue aura as she starts levitating.
"(That chi belongs to one of the three Unholy Treasures!) - Thought the woman as she flies throught Tokyo's skies
"(The three Unholy Clans who sealed me after they realized they couldn't contain me and steal my power... )" - Strange woman
"(If the seal hadn't be weakened, I would still be trapped. Whoever clan this person belongs to. I must eliminate it at all cost.)" - The strange woman finally finds the source of this strange chi and is totally decided to teleport there until...
*GRRAAOO* - A strange scream was heared by this woman's ears
"DAMN YOU!" - Said the strange voice filled with echo managing to catch the attention of this woman
"W-What was that?" - Said the woman turning around searching for the source of the sound as suddenly everything returns to normal
"This chi, where did it came from?!" - Strange woman
"It was filled with hate and resentment. But it disappeared suddenly..." - The woman tries to localize this strange chi but is useless
"Is useless." - The woman then teleports away continuing her mission
Hospital
"Are you sure about that?" - Said a young man of brown hair wearing blue jacket and pants. With two gauntlets with the symbol of the Kusanagi clan on them
"I'm sorry, Shingo. But Ms. Kagura's healt is getting worse, I doubt she will ever wake up from this coma." - Said Dr. Katsu to Shingo
As both men abandoned the place suddenly the room where Chizuru was is filled with a strange light
"(Maki Kagura! The Heir of the evil Yata Clan, owner of the cursed Yata Mirror.)" - Commented the strange woman in her mind when seeing Chizuru on the bed of the hospital
"..." - The Strange woman approaches Chizuru with the intention of killing her but suddenly
"(This isn't Maki Kagura.)" - The strange woman realized Chizuru didn't had the Yata Mirror with her
"(Her body is in a coma state. Who is this woman and why she looks alot like Maki Kagura?)" - The strange woman puts her hand on Chizuru's forehead wanting to know more about her
Focusing energy on her palm, the woman would start seeing small flashed of Chizuru's memories
"(It appears I can still read minds but I must be really closer to any person to do it.)" - Thought the woman realizing she could only read minds when being really closer to any person but not from very far
"(Chizuru Kagura? She is the sister of Maki Kagura...)" - Commented the strange woman by seeing the past of Chizuru with her eyes
"(Lets play together, Maki?!)" - Commented a young Chizuru to her sister as the strange woman sees her memories
"(I'm sorry sister but right now I can't! I have to fill those papers and pay the debts. Now that dad is gone, I need to take care of the home.)" - Commented Maki as she was unable to play with her sister
"(C'mon! Just a quick space lunar princess game. I'll let you be Clara White now!)" - Said Chizuru trying to make Maki grab the toy wand
"(No, sorry I can't.)" - Maki
"(Come on! Just a little game.)" - Chizuru continued insisting
"(Grrr.. Will you leave me alone!)" - Said Maki slaping Chizuru in the face
"(Argh!)" - Chizuru falls on the ground hurt
"(*Gasp* I'm-I'm sorry, sister. I didn't mean to do it-)" - Said Maki crouching helping her sister to get up as she realizes her mistake
"(I'm sorry!)" - Maki looks at Chizuru almost wanting to cry
"(I HATE YOU!)" - Screamed Chizuru crying to her sister Maki
"(I WISH YOU WERE DEAD, MAKI!)" - Screamed Chizuru to Maki's face before leaving the room
"(Later that day Maki Kagura apologized to her sister when the situation was more calm...)" - Commented the Strange Woman as she sees Maki making things right with Chizuru as both sisters hug each other after Maki apologizes to her
"(But her fate was already sealed... Maki died a few hours later at the hands of Leopold Goenitz? One of my hakkeshu, not this man's aura is very different from my dear follower.)" - Said the Strange Woman seeing the memory of the day Maki died and commenting about Goenitz's appearence
"(Losing her sister forced Chizuru to take things seriously. Making her promise to her sister in her grave to never let Orochi be free ever again.)" - Strange woman
"(Interesting!)" - Commented The Strange Woman as she continues seeing Chizuru's memories
"(Chizuru Kagura ended up graduating with honors and became a successful business woman.)" - Strange woman
"(But she never forgot about her clan's mission and the promise she made to Maki.)" - Strange woman
The strange woman continues watching Chizuru's memories with her being surprised of all things Chizuru has going throught and how she ended up in coma because of a woman named Reas, the sister of the same man who took the life of her sister
"(So that's how she ended up in this state?)" - Strange woman
"(What is this world? Is almost like a mirror reflection of the world I know...)" - The Strange Woman removed her hand from Chizuru's forehead. With her realizing this place was more different from the world where she came from after seeing Chizuru's memories
"(This poor woman, despite being related to one of the three unholy clans, there's no evil in her heart.)" - Said the woman looking at Chizuru again
"Grr!" - Suddenly the strange woman spits blood on the ground
"(My host. She is slowly dying! It is because of all the time we spended trapped in that seal? GRRRArg!)" - The woman falls to her knees spiting blood again
"(I need to get in contact with Gaia again but my current host's is about to die. I can felt it... What should I do?)" - Thinks desperately the woman as she realizes her current host will die in a matter of seconds.
"(This woman. Chizuru, would she allow me to enter in her body?)" - The Woman looks at Chizuru's comatose body
"(... I. Really don't have more options. I just hope this descendant of the Yata can understand it.)" - Without thinking it twice the woman puts her hand on Chizuru's forehead again
The Astral Plane
"The Astral Plane." - Strange Woman
"The place where souls can interconnect with each other." - Strange woman
"Who are you?" - Suddenly a voice called the strange woman
"Chizuru!" - The Strange Woman turns around to see Chizuru standing in front of her
"..." - Chizuru stays silent for a moment looking firmly at this woman
"What are you doing here? You're not Athena, how could you enter in this place and what do you want with me?" - Chizuru throws alot of questions at the Woman
"Listen, I know this will surprise you after everything you have live throught but-" - Strange Woman
"My name is Orochi, the will of gaia!" - Says the Woman for the surprise of Chizuru
"Orochi!" - Chizuru goes into her combat stance prepared to attack the woman
"Wait, I'm not here to fight with you." - The Woman who claims to be Orochi approaches Chizuru with her hands up
"I'm not the Orochi you know about. I'm from another world." - Orochi tries to explain herself to Chizuru
"Another world?" - Chizuru asks confused
"Yes, allow me to explain you in the only way I can." - Said the woman extending her hand to Chizuru
Chizuru wasn't sure about trusting this woman but she ends up grabing her hand after thinking about it for some minutes.
Flashing in Chizuru's eyes. Alot of images pass making the young priestess confused as she sees the world where this Orochi comes from and how for Chizuru is almost like a mirrored version of what she knows.
"Impossible!" - Exclaims Chizuru
"Anything is possible if you see beyond the barrier, Kagura." - Orochi
"I am Yamata no Orochi. In my world, I serve only to protect humanity by the law of my mother Gaia." - Orochi
"However my mission hasn't been easy." - Orochi?
"The Three Unholy Clans. My mortal enemies have always try to steal my power for their evil proposites." - Orochi showed images of members of the evil clans to Chizuru
"The Kusanagi, Yasakani and Yata clans. Nothing but terrible people who see themselves as something beyond human." - Said Orochi
For Chizuru's surprise Orochi shows images of the current leaders of each clan appearing in her mind
"Wait a moment! That's-That's Maki?" - Chizuru comments as she sees a woman who looks like herself
"Indeed. From where I come, your dear sister was anything but good. She survived but she sacrificed her sister Chizuru for more power." - Orochi
"ARGH!" - Chizuru grabs her head as she felts a strong headche after everything she has seen
"But I don't understand it. Why are you showing me this-this awful backwards world?" - Asks Chizuru confused
"Because I need your help, Chizuru Kagura." - Orochi
"And I know just telling you my story wouldn't convince you. So I made you see everything with your eyes, and what you saw is nothing more than the truth. My truth!" - Orochi
"You need my help?" - Chizuru
"Yes. My current host is dying. I need someone who can become my host until I can return to my own dimension." - Orochi
"So. You want me to become your host?" - Chizuru
"That's right. You're my only hope to survive in this world." - Orochi
"But my body is in coma right now. How could that even work?" - Chizuru
"That's not a problem for me. I can get you out of that state if you allow me by becoming my hostess." - Orochi
"..." - Chizuru stayed in silent for a moment. The idea of letting a apparently good version of Orochi to use her body as a host was something crazy
"... Are you sure I can trust you?" - Chizuru
"You can trust me. For it is my mission to protect humanity." - Orochi
After thinking about it for some more minutes Chizuru ends up looking back at Mirror Orochi
"I'll become your host but with only one condition..." - Chizuru
"Speak." - Orochi
Hospital Room
The Strange Woman would remove her hand out of Chizuru's forehead
"Let us hope this works." - Says Orochi removing the respirator from Chizuru's mouth
The strange woman inclines her head leaning towards Chizuru's as slowly the lips of both women clash with their bodies enveloping together in bright white light
Suddenly the women of white hair looks different after the light goes away. Revealing a very weak red haired woman wearing a kimono
"..." - The woman suddenly falls on the ground hard
*Beep* - Suddenly several hearbeats are heared in Chizuru's body as the young priestess opens her eyes
"Where I am?" - Said Chizuru confused as she looks at herself being on a hospital bed and the hospital room
"(In a hospital!)" - Said a voice inside Chizuru's head
"What? Who said that?" - Chizuru
"You're not in the astral plane anymore, as I promise you." - Orochi
"Orochi." - Chizuru
"So it wasn't a dream..." - Said Chizuru sitting in her bed
"No." - Orochi
"*Gasp*" - Chizuru sees a strange woman of the ground in the room dead
"My old hostess Shermie, gave all the energy she had left to transfer my spirit to your body. She was a Priestess just like you." - Orochi
"Shermie." - Chizuru is surprised by seeing what appears to be a different version of one of the four heavenly kings from Orochi dead in the ground of her room
Suddenly someone enters in the room
"Chizuru? You're awake!" - Says Shingo surprised by seeing Chizuru awaken
"Shingo!" - Chizuru
For the surprise of Chizuru who was confused to see Kusanagi's apprentice. Shingo runs to hug her happy to see her awaken again
"I can't wait to tell Kyo and Athena about this. They are going to be happy to hear you're back!" - Shingo
"Wait a moment. Who is that woman?" - Shingo then realizes there's a strange woman dead on the ground making Chizuru felt nervous
For the surprise of Chizuru and Shingo, Shermie's body starts disappearing consumed by a strange white light leaving only her kimono behind
"(What happened to her?)" - Asks Chizuru in her mind after seeing Shermie's body disappear
"(Do not worry about it, she is finally free.)" - Said Orochi to Chizuru
"Shingo." - Chizuru
"Yes, what happens?" - Shingo
"Sit down for a moment. I need to explain something to you." - Chizuru
One hour later.
"Are you sure about this?" - Asks Shingo after hearing Chizuru's story
"Yes, don't tell Kyo, Athena and Yagami about this. I'll explain this to them once they return from Italy." - Chizuru
"Sure." - Shingo goes out of the room
"(That young man. He has the crest of the Kusanagi in his gloves, is him a member of the Kusanagi clan from this world?)" - Orochi
"(No, Shingo isn't a Kusanagi by blood but he certainly has the spirit of one.)" - Chizuru
"(I felt an indomitable spirit and good heart coming from him.)" - Orochi
"(True. He is a good man...)" - Chizuru
"(Tell me more about your world, Chizuru?)" - Orochi
"(What do you want to know.)" - Chizuru
"(Everything.)" - Orochi
Three Days Later.
Athena and Kyo arrive to the hospital where Chizuru is
"Chizuru!" - Comments Athena with a smile seeing that Chizuru is awaken again
"Athena. Kyo. Is so nice to see you two again, it felt like an eternity since the last time I saw you." - Chizuru commented
"How are you feeling, Chizuru?" - Kyo
"I'm feeling better, thanks for asking, Kyo." - Chizuru
"So it is truth what I hear from the news. About the sons of gaia." - Chizuru
"Yes, their leader Reas was the one who put you into a coma, Chizuru." - Athena
"She was Goenitz's sister." - Kyo
"Goenitz... Has a sister?" - Chizuru was baffled after hearing that.
"He had a sister. Reas is dead, Chizuru. She gave her body to Orochi as a way to escape out of the seal taking advantage that the seal had weakened with you in a coma." - Kyo shows a small notebook where Reas had written all the parts of her plan to bring Orochi out of the seal by offering her body as a way to escape from the weakened seal
"However, Reas's plan backfired as she not being strong enough to handle Orochi's power led us to be able to seal Orochi again." - Athena
"(Interesting.)" - Comments Orochi in Chizuru's mind
"So. I suppose that means we won't have to worry about Reas and her followers for the time being." - Chizuru
"I suppose. Orochi killed all her followers, we wouldn't have survive if Athena hadn't protected us." - Kyo
"I'm proud in you, Athena. But I'm also sorry for forcing you to participate in this, Athena." - Chizuru
"There's no need to apologize, Chizuru. I guess is time to return what belongs to you." - Athena shows the Yata Mirror to Chizuru
"Athena, thank you. I know I could count with you and Kyo." - Chizuru happily accepts the Mirror of Yata, the treasure of her clan back
"We also brought you a gift." - Athena gives a small box to Chizuru
Chizuru opens the small box surprised to see a small crystal sphere with the Leaning Tower of Pisa inside.
"Wow, is beautiful." - Chizuru
"Thanks." - Chizuru
"By the way, what happened to Iori?" - Commented Chizuru interested wondering if Iori was outside the room
"You know how he is, he didn't want to come with us after we returned." - Athena
"Ah, true." - Said Chizuru a bit sad
"Don't worry about him. He will come to see you probably later." - Kyo
"(I hope so...)" - Commented Chizuru in her mind
"So when are you going to return home?" - Athena
"The doctors said in three more days." - Chizuru
Some minutes later
"Thanks for coming, Kyo. Athena." - Chizuru says goodbye to Kyo and Athena as both fighters leave her room
"(Those two..)" - Orochi
"(Yes?)" - Chizuru
"(Those two are the heir of the cursed Kusanagi clan and the descendant of the Evil Princess Athena?)" - Orochi
"(Yes. I suppose they are very different in your world.)" - Chizuru
"(The Kyosuke Kusanagi and Athenea Asamiya from my world are total bastards but this two...)" - Orochi
"(This two. I don't detect any evil in their hearts. I can't believe they are the same persons.)" - Orochi
"(I know it probably will be hard to get used to work with the people you hate the most.)" - Commented Chizuru for both she and this different counterpart of Orochi
"(And this Iori Yagami, are those thoughts that I saw in your mind about him true?)" - Orochi
"(Can we not talk about that?)" - Chizuru
"(I'll take that as a yes.)" - Orochi
"..." - Chizuru stays silent until suddenly
"So you finally woke up?" - Said Iori entering the room
"Iori..." - Chizuru
"Yes, I finally woke up." - Chizuru
"..." - Iori approaches Chizuru's bed
"That woman who did this to you is dead. I suppose Kusanagi and Asamiya already told you that." - Iori
"Yes." - Chizuru
"Tell me something, Iori?" - Chizuru asks
"Hmph! What?" - Iori
"Reas awakened the Riot of Blood in you, right?" - Chizuru
"Hmph! Don't tell me it was Kusanagi who told you that!" - Iori
"No. I just took a lucky guess." - Chizuru
"Asamiya returned the mirror to you?" - Iori
"Yes. She did a good job, I needed someone who I could trust to watch over you two." - Chizuru
"I'm happy that you made your hate aside at least once to work with them..." - Chizuru
"And I hope it doesn't repeat." - Iori
"How are you feeling?" - Said Iori in a dry tone
"Fine. I feel almost as if I had been reborn." - Commented Chizuru
"..." - Iori
"Then I suppose I better go." - Iori starts walking away
"Wait, Iori." - Chizuru
"What?" - Iori turns around
"..." - Chizuru was going to say something but she was unable to say it
"Nothing." - Chizuru
"I wish you a goodnight." - Chizuru
"Whatever." - Iori
Chizuru stays silent looking down
"(Why you didn't tell him?)" - Orochi
"(I don't know... I imagined he would have said no anyway.)" - Chizuru
Chizuru gets up looking at Iori walking alone in the streets from the window of her room.
To Be Continued...