Disclaimer: I wish
Slightly A/U since Rock exists at his present age of 17. Don't say I didn't warn you!
Chapter 3: End of the Weekend, Beginning of Torture, Romance, And Maybe Blood Loss
"Okay, I got Chizuru on the other line and I've convinced her to lend a hand!" Rugal shouted from across the room. "She can resurrect Orochi if we can get the energy needed!" "How pray tell did you convince her to help us?" Chris asked. "Easy. Either she'll help us out, or by God I'll blow up all her mansions!" Rugal shouted and then cackled insanely. ::All:: "Ooohh." "Figures." Geese muttered. "You ought to try to negotiate a little. Try a little finesse. Maybe a hostage situation or kill a close family member." "Whatever!" Kasumi shouted. "What's done is done and we have almost everything we need so no more bickering!" "That's great! That means I can attend Kyo's restaurant opening! You guys wanna come too?" Athena asked to everyone else. Everyone but the bodyguards agreed to show up. "Sorry, we have another job in a few hours. Something about a bank robbery and needing strong but dumb goons." Tony number 1 said. Tony 2 through 5 nodded. ::Everyone looks at them funny::
"Shingo! I told you already, don't let those news reporters push you around! No one goes inside but family and friends. We open at 7, sharp! They can do what they please afterwards!" Kyo yelled into the speakerphone as he tried to make his tie look quarter way decent. "But. they're vultures!" Shingo cried. Kyo sighed as could practically see Shingo biting his nails. "Ask Beni and Daimon to help you out then. I'll be there shortly, so take care of things will ya?" Shingo sighed as Kyo used that tone of voice. It was either do or die, or just all together get the stuffing beaten into him by Kyo should he fail. "Gotcha'" The line went dead. "The way he's treating this, he acts like I'm asking him to prevent Armageddon with a pencil sharpener!" Kyo muttered. Suddenly the tie ripped after his last tug. "..WHY ME?!" "Something the matter dad?" Kenji asked as he popped into view. He already dressed before hand. He was just as bad as Kyo was at fancy dinners so he put on his tux 3 hours earlier. "It's this damn tie!" Kyo said as he threw the broken cloth away. "So I see. Just go without one." Kenji supplied. "Better yet, take mine!" He started to take off his own until Kyo stopped him. "It's okay, I'll go without one. Besides, your mother wants you to look nice." He stated. Damn. Kenji winced in disappointment. What he hated worse than school were ties, especially the non-clip on ones. "If you want to help me, find your sister and bring her over." Kyo checked himself in the mirror. He work white slacks with a matching blazer. His silk black shirt offered a striking contrast. He wore his trusty silver chain in his pants the same way he had worn them in the King Of Fighters 1999 tournament. Kenji however opted for an all black look save his gray sweater. His denim jeans, steel toe boots, overcoat that reached to his calves, and even his gloves were all matt black. "I'm on it. I'll meet you and mom in an hour or so!" Kenji rushed out, hoping to try out his new upgrades to his bike he had just installed after his 'premonition of impending doom and blood loss'. "An hour huh?" Kyo pondered to himself as he looked at the clock on the wall. It was 5:47. "Plenty of time. In the meantime maybe I can find one of Kenji's old clip on ties."
"Do we have to go?" Iori complained as he wore his traditional attire consisting of red pants, a white shirt and a black jacket with a crescent moon on the back. He'd be damned rather than be caught in those 'vile and offending piles of cheap black and white cotton.' "Yes!" Kasumi snapped as she fixed her hair into a bun. She had on a tight fitting red dress that Iori had happened to like and was currently staring at. "What about Rina?" Iori asked grumpily. "She'll be there too, hon." Kasumi smiled at Iori. "And stop pouting. You look cute and all, but it's just not you." "I'm not pouting! I'm sulking! There's a difference." Iori stated as he crossed his arms. "Can't you say I had things to do? People to kill? Some sort of unknown and highly contagious disease?" Kasumi snorted in response. "Why are you so resistant against going out to eat?" she asked. Iori leaned forward and held up 4 fingers. "There's only 4 things I rather do on my weekend. Train, eat, sleep, and SLEEP." He said the last one while raising his eyebrows at Kasumi who only rolled her eyes. "Going to ANOTHER one of Kusanagi's restaurant openings is not my idea of fun. And it's annoying that he has restaurants, bars, and even shopping centers popping up everywhere like a fast food franchise gone horribly, horribly wrong!" "Stop exaggerating!" Kasumi admonished. "He even has his own toy line and t-shirts!" Kasumi paused to think about it. "True. but they're only limited to certain establishments he opened." Iori grabbed a newspaper on a nearby dresser and showed her the headlines. "'Major Corps. Badgers Over Kusanagi Products: From Bill Gates to Martha Stewart, are publicly competing to be official pusher of Kusanagi Products Worldwide.' Wow, who knew." "Told you so." Kasumi only shrugged. "Okay, so I'm wrong for the very first time in my entire life. You're still going." "..Damn." Kasumi sighed. She hoped it wouldn't have to come to this and hoped Iori wouldn't be so stubborn but he asked for this. Kasumi slowly, deliberately, and seductively walked up to Iori. She made sure to sway her hips and wet her lips. As Iori became entranced ever so slowly, he never even noticed Kasumi unbuttoning the top of her dress. She leaned over with her hands resting on the arm rests and made sure his line of sight fell on her chest. Iori then made the biggest mistake of looking into her eyes and her pouting lips. "I'll promise you'll be smiling by tomorrow morning if you go with me and Rina tonight. How about it?" Kasumi purred as she nibbled on his ear. Iori's mind went into overdrive. Brain cells scrambled to and fro and tried to formulate a plan of escape but Kasumi was well versed in the arts of female trickery, meaning Iori would be doomed unless someone would accidentally walk in on them. Unfortunately no one else was home at the moment. Must. Resist. Can't give in! I'm Iori Yagami! The greatest thing since sliced bread! It can't end like this! The thought rolled through out his mind over and over. Wow. I can't believe he has lasted this long already. Did he build up an immunity or something? I better consult my handbook on this one. Kasumi was just about to give up until Iori roared with rage. He quickly pushed Kasumi onto the bed and loomed over her. "FINE THEN! YOU WON THIS BATTLE, BUT YOU HAVEN'T WON THE WAR!" Iori then huffed away into the bathroom and immediately the shower went off, soon accompanied by yelps and curses in several languages. "Do those even work?" Kasumi quietly laughed to herself as she finished buttoning up her dress. "NO BUT IT'S GREAT FOR THE NERVES!" Iori hollered from behind the door.
"Prepare to die, Bogard!" "Hey!" "Oops. Prepare to die Yusuke?" "Better!" Yusuke only groaned. He turned over in his bed and looked out the window of his window. Hikari was standing downstairs and waving her fist in the air while shouting several obscenities. Jenny only waved happily. "Hey cousin!" "Face me you coward!" "Oh shut up! Go find a hobby! Just stop harassing me before I get a restraining order!" Yusuke yelled. He then stopped to think about his last statement. "Scratch that. Just leave me alone, at least until I can move without the use of a crutch!" Yusuke almost laughed. Why would he put a restraining order on the girl she respected as a warrior and sorta..almost. kinda but not totally. like? Not that I don't like her. Not that I like her romantically and stuff. I just like her. He quickly amended. "I said fight me, damn it! I've trained all day so that I can finally destroy you and you can't just tell me you're sick or too injured! That's not fair!" Hikari said as she stomped her foot on the ground. "Life ain't fair, so deal!" he pulled his eyelid down and stuck out his tongue. He quickly pulled his head inside. "If I'm lucky, she won't be desperate enough to smoke me out." he murmured. 10 seconds later he looked out the window, but slowly. And amazingly, Hikari was trying to scale the side of the house by latching onto the gutter! "She really is gonna kill me!" The instinct to survive flared within Yusuke and grabbed the closest things to him and threw them at Hikari. "OW!" Hikari glared at Yusuke after he had thrown a sneaker at her. "That hurt!" she exclaimed. She continued to climb but then was hit with an action figure. "What the--!" Suddenly more items were thrown. Action figures, comic books, shirts, shoes, a comb, everything in Yusuke's room had become a grenade ready to be thrown. "Hey! Ah! You threw a dead thing at me?! Ow! Damn it, you're really gonna get it now! Stop! Quit it! QUIT IT! QUIT IT! QUIT IT!" Hikari screamed as she held onto the gutter for dear life and shielding herself as the same time. Jenny could only shake her head at the scene displayed before her. But it wasn't to last as a figure on a black and silver motorcycle came roaring by and stopped in front of the house. The figure looked ominous as his coat swirled behind him. He removed his helmet, revealing to be Kenji. "Where's Hikari?" he asked as he looked around the house. Jenny only giggled and pointed up. Kenji looked up and his eyes widened. His baby sister was latched onto the gutter of the house while having personal things of Yusuke thrown at her. by Yusuke. He finally stepped in when he tried to shove his bike out the window. "STOP IT, NOW!" He screamed. Hikari looked over her shoulder in embarrassment as Yusuke looked paler than usual. "Hikari, let's go. We have to get to dad's restaurant opening before we're late!" he said as he looked her over. She wasn't that bad off if you ignored the insane glint in her eyes. He then turned to Yusuke with the same hint of malice. "As for you. WHAT IN GOD'S NAME POSSESED YOU TO THROW STUFF AT MY LITTLE SISTER?!" Yusuke just gulped. "She was trying to kill me!" Kenji only sighed. "C'mon squirt. Let's get you cleaned up quick." "But oniisan!" "No buts! Let's move it!" He tossed her a passenger helmet, which she caught easily. She glared at Yusuke then Kenji, then back at Yusuke again but with enough force to make him fall over in shock. She climbed up on the motorcycle and held on to Kenji's coat. "I'll see you later Kenji! I'm going to your dad's opening too!" Jenny said as she snaked her arm around Kenji's. He only regarded her strangely for a second but shrugged it off and Jenny's arm. "Okay then. Later." he quickly sped away leaving a dazed Jenny behind. "Wow, he's so cool!" she giggled. She went inside the house since she had a spare key and made a call to her parents. She didn't have much time to really sweet talk them into going to the restaurant but what time she has will have to suffice.
"Nasakenai." Rina murmured. As soon as she stepped foot into the Yuuhi to Tsuki Palace, owned by Kusanagi-san, she'd been hit on by many of the personnel. "As much as I hate to upset Kusanagi-san, I'll have those idiots pushing up daisies six feet under if they keep this up!" she snarled. She could have avoided them if she had stayed with the rest of the adults but she liked to be alone once in a while which happened to be now. Aside from that, if she had stayed any longer she would have to hear about Kenji this and Kenji that, and how she and him would be great together. "As if!" she snorted. "Talking to yourself now?" she spun around and found herself face to face with Takashi, the best friend of Kenji. "That's not a very encouraging sign of mental stability." "Takashi.When did you get here?" she asked as she turned back to face her drink. She still felt uncomfortable being around him as the two had been dating for a while without anyone knowing. Rina broke it off with him some time ago but the two had agreed to become good friends no matter what.
"My mom dropped me off. Some bakayaro saw fit to destroy my car!" he said grimly. Rina could only grin at his comment. As Kenji would have his motorcycle, Takashi's car was his pride and joy. "Anyways, just thought I should let you know everyone's arrived already so we should stop hiding out here." ".Yea, I'll meet you downstairs soon." Rina said. Takashi wanted to protest but he left. He'd known over the years when she meant business, and that's pretty much most of the time. "Just beautiful. I swear, if I hear one more thing about Kenji." Suddenly she had a sudden burst of inspiration. "NO ONE can talk me into liking Kenji if he ALREADY has a girlfriend." Her smirk began to turn into an insane grin and slowly she was laughing just like her father would have done over a beaten opponent.
"HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!" Everyone turned their heads at the sound. "What was that?" Shingo asked nervously. Everyone looked to Iori and Kasumi since the laugh sounded awfully familiar. "It's probably just Rina." Kasumi just shrugged. Iori only nodded. "That's my little girl!" Iori said as he grinned from ear to ear. Meanwhile most of the friends and family of the Kusanagi and extended family were eating, relaxing and mingling. "GEESE!" Geese Howard who was currently sampling the fried calamari turned around. Terry was glaring at him. "What? Can't a guy eat some seafood without getting harassed?" "You killed my father!" Terry said as he pointed an accusing finger at Geese who was calmly chewing on the fried calamari. "What of it?" he said as he kept chewing. Terry suddenly broke out into a grin, feeling the seriousness ebbing away. He had long ago made peace with Geese. To Terry, it felt like an inside joke which annoyed Geese and Andy to no end. Terry engulfed Geese in a hug, almost making him choke on the calamari. "How have you been? You never show up for our Friday night poker games!" "Yes well losing a few million to Yagami every week can really ruin a guy's mood to play poker!" Geese said as he rolled his eyes. Terry only chuckled at that. "So where's Rock? I figured he'd be here tonight." "Should be. And Jenny?" Terry only shrugged. "She should be here soon, since she's the one that convinced me to stop by. Mary couldn't make it. Seemed that there's some big bank heist and all. Hey, duty calls eh?" ::Geese sweatdrops::
Meanwhile Kenji stood out at the front door, ready to greet guests and regular customers alike. Kyo was busy handling reporters inside after the initial ribbon cutting ceremony. Suddenly a man with a dark tan and white hair came up to him, accompanied by what looks to be his family. There was a woman in her late thirties with blue hair, wearing a deep purple dress. Two identical looking girls walked behind them. Both had an odd coloring of blonde hair that almost seemed white and almost had an eerie glow. Obviously their children since they looked much like the older woman only with the man's ever- present smirk. "Hello! Welcome to the-" "Save it Kyo. By god you haven't changed, except what's with the all black look?" The white haired in the Armani suit asked. "Did you have plastic surgery or something?" "Wha.?" Kenji muttered. "It's us, Kula and K'! You've forgotten about us already?" Kula smirked. "Fame really does go to your head." "Wait a sec. I know you!" "Damn well you should, bro. How do you forget your own freakin' clone?" K' asked crossly. "No, I mean, my dad told me about you guys when I was young! He's inside right now!" "Your dad?" Kula and K' echoed. "I'm Kenji, his son!" he chirped as he put his hand out. K' took his hand and grinned to Kula. "I bet you Kyo married that Yuki girl!" Kenji suddenly tensed at that name. "Wrong answer!" Kula said as she stuck her tongue out. The twins behind them giggled. "Um. wow. That was unexpected." Kenji shook his head. "Never mind my lineage. I'll take you to my dad, he'll flip!" The family followed Kenji and into the restaurant and up the stairs. K' and Kula almost gasped in shock as a girl that looked almost like Iori came down the stairs. "Hey Rina, glad you aren't being anti-social!" Kenji grinned. "Shut up, drink acid, keel over, and die a slow painful death!" she replied back. She continued down and met up with her father and mother. "Iori's daughter?" Kula asked. "No kidding. What gave it away?" "Personally, I'd say her looks but the insult was a dead giveaway." K' replied. They finally reached the second floor to see Kyo, Benimaru, and Daimon having a toast. Kenji took the moment to take the girls with him downstairs so the adults can have their reunion to themselves. "Got room for 2 more?" K' said with a smirk. Kyo turned around. "K'? When did you come back?" he asked. He poured two cups of champagne for him and Kula. "Who're they? Your daughters?" he motioned over to the girls as he and K' and Kula looked out the window that surveyed the entire ground floor. There were the twins with Kenji engrossed in a conversation. "Well, it's been a long trip and story. But basically we left the 2001 tournament to destroy N.E.S.T.S. We've wiped the floor with the bastards once and for all. They've been cleared out all over the world and in the meantime, we found each other!" Kula winked as she snuggled towards K' who rolled his eyes. "Never talk to her about family. She gets too mushy for her own good." K' muttered as he down the glass of champagne. "Obviously you haven't seen Athena and Kasumi when they're in family mode." Benimaru replied. "They're here too?" K' wondered to himself. "Yep. Athena's never missed any one of Kyo's openings. Kasumi is always along for the ride as well." Daimon rumbled good-naturedly. "You STILL have that pop star following you?" K' whistled. "What happened there?" Kyo only grinned and held his right hand up to show his wedding band. "Whoa." Kula muttered. "We really have been gone for a while." "Yea well, you're here now, so let's enjoy ourselves while the night's still young!" They small group made another toast as they joined the others down stairs.
Downstairs, most of the younger fighters were hanging close together away from most of the adults. All except Yusuke and Hikari.
"Sometimes I still think it was a really bad idea when dad taught her how to fight." Kenji muttered, as Yusuke zipped by with Hikari hot on his trail. "Get away from me!" "SHI-NE!" ::Group sweatdrops:: "Hey Kenji, who're they?" Takashi asked as he pointed over to the twins. "Well. Actually I don't know." he turned to them. "Hey girls, I didn't catch your names." "I'm Fio!" exclaimed the one on the left. "And I'm Felicia!" the one on the right exclaimed. Kenji shook his head. "How do we tell you apart?" "Simple." Fio stated. She grabbed a plate from a stack of empty ones and froze it with her right hand. She then tossed it over to Felicia who then defrosted it with her left hand. "Felicia has a mole on her right cheek if it helps any." Fio pointed out. Her twin suddenly became embarrassed at the close scrutiny. Jenny became the first to speak. "Well, it's obvious your parents were in the KOF tournaments huh? Lemme guess. K' and Kula?" the twins nodded. "I'm Jenny Bogard, Terry Bogard's daughter." Soon everyone had introduced them selves. "What's up with her?" Fio nudged Kenji. He looked over towards what she was staring at, and there was Rina with a wicked gleam in her eyes. "Uh oh." "What?" Felicia started to become nervous. "Is she gonna go blood riot or something? I heard those can be painful! I don't wanna be in lots of pain!" "I really don't know but I don't like that look in her eyes." Kenji said. Then suddenly for the third time that day Rina began to laugh. But disturbingly, it wasn't her father's laugh. It was actually a genuine one! Almost sickeningly sweet. "Whoa. Now that's creepy..." Takashi said as he backed away. Jenny only latched onto Kenji while Fio and Felicia had his arms. "Save me Kenji!" They all cried at once. He only rolled his eyes. "No wonder dad said to never had women around during a dangerous situation, they tend to cling. Curse my perfect genes and good looks. Anyways, get offa me, she's just in a good mood is all." Kenji shook off the girls but had a lot harder time doing so with Fio and Felicia. "Yea, can't a girl laugh without persecution?" Rina asked with a sinister smile.
Across the room, Athena, Kasumi, Rugal, Geese, and Chris were watching the little group. "I don't like the looks of this." Athena thought. "Those 3 could be trouble." Kasumi said. "I say we eliminate them." Geese replied "Agreed!" Rugal said. "Whoohoo!" Chris cheered and led the charge. The three were just about to charge up their attacks until Athena appeared before them. "No eliminating! We'll improvise. I just hope those 3 don't interrupt our plans." "To resurrect Orochi?" Chris asked. Geese and Rugal crowded around. "No, baka! To get Rina and Kenji together!" The 3 of them groaned and left for the favor being where the food is. ::Athena and Kasumi sweatdrop:: "Can you believe them? It's always about 'Rina and Kenji.' Bah, what's so special about them?" Rugal growled as he sipped some wine. "Maybe because the two are their children and want to get them hooked up?" Chris ventured. "I don't see what's the big deal either, but we get to wreak havoc, and they won't get in our way!" Rugal brightened a little. "True enough." Rugal suddenly looked over to Geese. "You're a bit quiet, Howard." He mentioned. Geese only glared at Rugal. "What do you expect? I'm being pushed into resurrecting an ancient demon of evil and you think I'm supposed to be celebrating?!" "Well he is." Rugal said as he pointed to Chris who was now wearing a party hat and trying to drink himself to a drunken stupor. "Yea well, I'm not too peachy on it. Besides, he's allowed to, he's a minion. Minions are supposed to celebrate the return of their masters." "If you're so touchy about destroying the world, you should leave. Chizuru should have enough money to handle our financial needs." Geese only shook his head. "Athena made me sign a contract. Boy, she really has gotten ruthless over the years." "Being a mother with super powered brats does that to you." Rugal said. "Amen to that." Geese said. As the others had fun, Rina was deep in thought. If she manages to dupe Kenji and some baka onna to fall for each other, she'd be home free! But the question is. Who's gonna do the falling? Rina wondered. Jenny seemed the obvious choice. Already smitten with Kenji and constantly hanging onto his arm, it seems it won't take much convincing. The newcomers Fio and Felicia are on the verge so it might be some sort of work involved. Then there's our bachelor himself. Kenji had an honor system, so basically it'll be hard for him to consider any one of the girls as girlfriend material seeing it that they're all 2 years younger than him. I can't fail! My life depends on my success! No way am I getting tied down with that arrogant jerk! Rina seethed. To her, Kenji seemed the stereotypical pretty boy with the money, the girls, and the fame, but no heart underneath it all. Suddenly a scream interrupted her thoughts and then the sudden realization that her punch was spilled onto her favorite white blouse. And she had just happened to decide she didn't need to wear a bra since it was so loose fitting. Kenji and Takashi looked over to see what's the commotion but saw Rina and her white blouse now clearly see through for all. THUD! THUD! Both Kenji and Takashi fell on the floor, twitching and blood spurting from their noses like a fountain. Rina looked around to see if anyone else noticed. "Perfect. No witnesses." She mumbled. "Brat, you're dead!" she said as she turned towards Yusuke who already had a head start. Hikari who had stopped just in time before she collided into Rina overheard what she said and quickly followed the two. "Hey! Only I get to kill him! Get back here! His carcass is mine!" "AAHHH!" Yusuke screamed as he ran out of the restaurant. "SHI-NE!" "Wait for me!" A portly man only shook his head. "Always something new at every grand opening." Sighed the patron.
TBC
Rina is determined to get Kenji hooked up to anyone but her! How will this affect Athena and Kasumi's plan? Will Orochi be resurrected? Will Geese cheer up? Much more next chapter!
Okay, might be kind of slow, but more to come next chapter, I promise! Relationship hijinks and action, and maybe even Armageddon as soon as next chapter! Maybe.
Slightly A/U since Rock exists at his present age of 17. Don't say I didn't warn you!
Chapter 3: End of the Weekend, Beginning of Torture, Romance, And Maybe Blood Loss
"Okay, I got Chizuru on the other line and I've convinced her to lend a hand!" Rugal shouted from across the room. "She can resurrect Orochi if we can get the energy needed!" "How pray tell did you convince her to help us?" Chris asked. "Easy. Either she'll help us out, or by God I'll blow up all her mansions!" Rugal shouted and then cackled insanely. ::All:: "Ooohh." "Figures." Geese muttered. "You ought to try to negotiate a little. Try a little finesse. Maybe a hostage situation or kill a close family member." "Whatever!" Kasumi shouted. "What's done is done and we have almost everything we need so no more bickering!" "That's great! That means I can attend Kyo's restaurant opening! You guys wanna come too?" Athena asked to everyone else. Everyone but the bodyguards agreed to show up. "Sorry, we have another job in a few hours. Something about a bank robbery and needing strong but dumb goons." Tony number 1 said. Tony 2 through 5 nodded. ::Everyone looks at them funny::
"Shingo! I told you already, don't let those news reporters push you around! No one goes inside but family and friends. We open at 7, sharp! They can do what they please afterwards!" Kyo yelled into the speakerphone as he tried to make his tie look quarter way decent. "But. they're vultures!" Shingo cried. Kyo sighed as could practically see Shingo biting his nails. "Ask Beni and Daimon to help you out then. I'll be there shortly, so take care of things will ya?" Shingo sighed as Kyo used that tone of voice. It was either do or die, or just all together get the stuffing beaten into him by Kyo should he fail. "Gotcha'" The line went dead. "The way he's treating this, he acts like I'm asking him to prevent Armageddon with a pencil sharpener!" Kyo muttered. Suddenly the tie ripped after his last tug. "..WHY ME?!" "Something the matter dad?" Kenji asked as he popped into view. He already dressed before hand. He was just as bad as Kyo was at fancy dinners so he put on his tux 3 hours earlier. "It's this damn tie!" Kyo said as he threw the broken cloth away. "So I see. Just go without one." Kenji supplied. "Better yet, take mine!" He started to take off his own until Kyo stopped him. "It's okay, I'll go without one. Besides, your mother wants you to look nice." He stated. Damn. Kenji winced in disappointment. What he hated worse than school were ties, especially the non-clip on ones. "If you want to help me, find your sister and bring her over." Kyo checked himself in the mirror. He work white slacks with a matching blazer. His silk black shirt offered a striking contrast. He wore his trusty silver chain in his pants the same way he had worn them in the King Of Fighters 1999 tournament. Kenji however opted for an all black look save his gray sweater. His denim jeans, steel toe boots, overcoat that reached to his calves, and even his gloves were all matt black. "I'm on it. I'll meet you and mom in an hour or so!" Kenji rushed out, hoping to try out his new upgrades to his bike he had just installed after his 'premonition of impending doom and blood loss'. "An hour huh?" Kyo pondered to himself as he looked at the clock on the wall. It was 5:47. "Plenty of time. In the meantime maybe I can find one of Kenji's old clip on ties."
"Do we have to go?" Iori complained as he wore his traditional attire consisting of red pants, a white shirt and a black jacket with a crescent moon on the back. He'd be damned rather than be caught in those 'vile and offending piles of cheap black and white cotton.' "Yes!" Kasumi snapped as she fixed her hair into a bun. She had on a tight fitting red dress that Iori had happened to like and was currently staring at. "What about Rina?" Iori asked grumpily. "She'll be there too, hon." Kasumi smiled at Iori. "And stop pouting. You look cute and all, but it's just not you." "I'm not pouting! I'm sulking! There's a difference." Iori stated as he crossed his arms. "Can't you say I had things to do? People to kill? Some sort of unknown and highly contagious disease?" Kasumi snorted in response. "Why are you so resistant against going out to eat?" she asked. Iori leaned forward and held up 4 fingers. "There's only 4 things I rather do on my weekend. Train, eat, sleep, and SLEEP." He said the last one while raising his eyebrows at Kasumi who only rolled her eyes. "Going to ANOTHER one of Kusanagi's restaurant openings is not my idea of fun. And it's annoying that he has restaurants, bars, and even shopping centers popping up everywhere like a fast food franchise gone horribly, horribly wrong!" "Stop exaggerating!" Kasumi admonished. "He even has his own toy line and t-shirts!" Kasumi paused to think about it. "True. but they're only limited to certain establishments he opened." Iori grabbed a newspaper on a nearby dresser and showed her the headlines. "'Major Corps. Badgers Over Kusanagi Products: From Bill Gates to Martha Stewart, are publicly competing to be official pusher of Kusanagi Products Worldwide.' Wow, who knew." "Told you so." Kasumi only shrugged. "Okay, so I'm wrong for the very first time in my entire life. You're still going." "..Damn." Kasumi sighed. She hoped it wouldn't have to come to this and hoped Iori wouldn't be so stubborn but he asked for this. Kasumi slowly, deliberately, and seductively walked up to Iori. She made sure to sway her hips and wet her lips. As Iori became entranced ever so slowly, he never even noticed Kasumi unbuttoning the top of her dress. She leaned over with her hands resting on the arm rests and made sure his line of sight fell on her chest. Iori then made the biggest mistake of looking into her eyes and her pouting lips. "I'll promise you'll be smiling by tomorrow morning if you go with me and Rina tonight. How about it?" Kasumi purred as she nibbled on his ear. Iori's mind went into overdrive. Brain cells scrambled to and fro and tried to formulate a plan of escape but Kasumi was well versed in the arts of female trickery, meaning Iori would be doomed unless someone would accidentally walk in on them. Unfortunately no one else was home at the moment. Must. Resist. Can't give in! I'm Iori Yagami! The greatest thing since sliced bread! It can't end like this! The thought rolled through out his mind over and over. Wow. I can't believe he has lasted this long already. Did he build up an immunity or something? I better consult my handbook on this one. Kasumi was just about to give up until Iori roared with rage. He quickly pushed Kasumi onto the bed and loomed over her. "FINE THEN! YOU WON THIS BATTLE, BUT YOU HAVEN'T WON THE WAR!" Iori then huffed away into the bathroom and immediately the shower went off, soon accompanied by yelps and curses in several languages. "Do those even work?" Kasumi quietly laughed to herself as she finished buttoning up her dress. "NO BUT IT'S GREAT FOR THE NERVES!" Iori hollered from behind the door.
"Prepare to die, Bogard!" "Hey!" "Oops. Prepare to die Yusuke?" "Better!" Yusuke only groaned. He turned over in his bed and looked out the window of his window. Hikari was standing downstairs and waving her fist in the air while shouting several obscenities. Jenny only waved happily. "Hey cousin!" "Face me you coward!" "Oh shut up! Go find a hobby! Just stop harassing me before I get a restraining order!" Yusuke yelled. He then stopped to think about his last statement. "Scratch that. Just leave me alone, at least until I can move without the use of a crutch!" Yusuke almost laughed. Why would he put a restraining order on the girl she respected as a warrior and sorta..almost. kinda but not totally. like? Not that I don't like her. Not that I like her romantically and stuff. I just like her. He quickly amended. "I said fight me, damn it! I've trained all day so that I can finally destroy you and you can't just tell me you're sick or too injured! That's not fair!" Hikari said as she stomped her foot on the ground. "Life ain't fair, so deal!" he pulled his eyelid down and stuck out his tongue. He quickly pulled his head inside. "If I'm lucky, she won't be desperate enough to smoke me out." he murmured. 10 seconds later he looked out the window, but slowly. And amazingly, Hikari was trying to scale the side of the house by latching onto the gutter! "She really is gonna kill me!" The instinct to survive flared within Yusuke and grabbed the closest things to him and threw them at Hikari. "OW!" Hikari glared at Yusuke after he had thrown a sneaker at her. "That hurt!" she exclaimed. She continued to climb but then was hit with an action figure. "What the--!" Suddenly more items were thrown. Action figures, comic books, shirts, shoes, a comb, everything in Yusuke's room had become a grenade ready to be thrown. "Hey! Ah! You threw a dead thing at me?! Ow! Damn it, you're really gonna get it now! Stop! Quit it! QUIT IT! QUIT IT! QUIT IT!" Hikari screamed as she held onto the gutter for dear life and shielding herself as the same time. Jenny could only shake her head at the scene displayed before her. But it wasn't to last as a figure on a black and silver motorcycle came roaring by and stopped in front of the house. The figure looked ominous as his coat swirled behind him. He removed his helmet, revealing to be Kenji. "Where's Hikari?" he asked as he looked around the house. Jenny only giggled and pointed up. Kenji looked up and his eyes widened. His baby sister was latched onto the gutter of the house while having personal things of Yusuke thrown at her. by Yusuke. He finally stepped in when he tried to shove his bike out the window. "STOP IT, NOW!" He screamed. Hikari looked over her shoulder in embarrassment as Yusuke looked paler than usual. "Hikari, let's go. We have to get to dad's restaurant opening before we're late!" he said as he looked her over. She wasn't that bad off if you ignored the insane glint in her eyes. He then turned to Yusuke with the same hint of malice. "As for you. WHAT IN GOD'S NAME POSSESED YOU TO THROW STUFF AT MY LITTLE SISTER?!" Yusuke just gulped. "She was trying to kill me!" Kenji only sighed. "C'mon squirt. Let's get you cleaned up quick." "But oniisan!" "No buts! Let's move it!" He tossed her a passenger helmet, which she caught easily. She glared at Yusuke then Kenji, then back at Yusuke again but with enough force to make him fall over in shock. She climbed up on the motorcycle and held on to Kenji's coat. "I'll see you later Kenji! I'm going to your dad's opening too!" Jenny said as she snaked her arm around Kenji's. He only regarded her strangely for a second but shrugged it off and Jenny's arm. "Okay then. Later." he quickly sped away leaving a dazed Jenny behind. "Wow, he's so cool!" she giggled. She went inside the house since she had a spare key and made a call to her parents. She didn't have much time to really sweet talk them into going to the restaurant but what time she has will have to suffice.
"Nasakenai." Rina murmured. As soon as she stepped foot into the Yuuhi to Tsuki Palace, owned by Kusanagi-san, she'd been hit on by many of the personnel. "As much as I hate to upset Kusanagi-san, I'll have those idiots pushing up daisies six feet under if they keep this up!" she snarled. She could have avoided them if she had stayed with the rest of the adults but she liked to be alone once in a while which happened to be now. Aside from that, if she had stayed any longer she would have to hear about Kenji this and Kenji that, and how she and him would be great together. "As if!" she snorted. "Talking to yourself now?" she spun around and found herself face to face with Takashi, the best friend of Kenji. "That's not a very encouraging sign of mental stability." "Takashi.When did you get here?" she asked as she turned back to face her drink. She still felt uncomfortable being around him as the two had been dating for a while without anyone knowing. Rina broke it off with him some time ago but the two had agreed to become good friends no matter what.
"My mom dropped me off. Some bakayaro saw fit to destroy my car!" he said grimly. Rina could only grin at his comment. As Kenji would have his motorcycle, Takashi's car was his pride and joy. "Anyways, just thought I should let you know everyone's arrived already so we should stop hiding out here." ".Yea, I'll meet you downstairs soon." Rina said. Takashi wanted to protest but he left. He'd known over the years when she meant business, and that's pretty much most of the time. "Just beautiful. I swear, if I hear one more thing about Kenji." Suddenly she had a sudden burst of inspiration. "NO ONE can talk me into liking Kenji if he ALREADY has a girlfriend." Her smirk began to turn into an insane grin and slowly she was laughing just like her father would have done over a beaten opponent.
"HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!" Everyone turned their heads at the sound. "What was that?" Shingo asked nervously. Everyone looked to Iori and Kasumi since the laugh sounded awfully familiar. "It's probably just Rina." Kasumi just shrugged. Iori only nodded. "That's my little girl!" Iori said as he grinned from ear to ear. Meanwhile most of the friends and family of the Kusanagi and extended family were eating, relaxing and mingling. "GEESE!" Geese Howard who was currently sampling the fried calamari turned around. Terry was glaring at him. "What? Can't a guy eat some seafood without getting harassed?" "You killed my father!" Terry said as he pointed an accusing finger at Geese who was calmly chewing on the fried calamari. "What of it?" he said as he kept chewing. Terry suddenly broke out into a grin, feeling the seriousness ebbing away. He had long ago made peace with Geese. To Terry, it felt like an inside joke which annoyed Geese and Andy to no end. Terry engulfed Geese in a hug, almost making him choke on the calamari. "How have you been? You never show up for our Friday night poker games!" "Yes well losing a few million to Yagami every week can really ruin a guy's mood to play poker!" Geese said as he rolled his eyes. Terry only chuckled at that. "So where's Rock? I figured he'd be here tonight." "Should be. And Jenny?" Terry only shrugged. "She should be here soon, since she's the one that convinced me to stop by. Mary couldn't make it. Seemed that there's some big bank heist and all. Hey, duty calls eh?" ::Geese sweatdrops::
Meanwhile Kenji stood out at the front door, ready to greet guests and regular customers alike. Kyo was busy handling reporters inside after the initial ribbon cutting ceremony. Suddenly a man with a dark tan and white hair came up to him, accompanied by what looks to be his family. There was a woman in her late thirties with blue hair, wearing a deep purple dress. Two identical looking girls walked behind them. Both had an odd coloring of blonde hair that almost seemed white and almost had an eerie glow. Obviously their children since they looked much like the older woman only with the man's ever- present smirk. "Hello! Welcome to the-" "Save it Kyo. By god you haven't changed, except what's with the all black look?" The white haired in the Armani suit asked. "Did you have plastic surgery or something?" "Wha.?" Kenji muttered. "It's us, Kula and K'! You've forgotten about us already?" Kula smirked. "Fame really does go to your head." "Wait a sec. I know you!" "Damn well you should, bro. How do you forget your own freakin' clone?" K' asked crossly. "No, I mean, my dad told me about you guys when I was young! He's inside right now!" "Your dad?" Kula and K' echoed. "I'm Kenji, his son!" he chirped as he put his hand out. K' took his hand and grinned to Kula. "I bet you Kyo married that Yuki girl!" Kenji suddenly tensed at that name. "Wrong answer!" Kula said as she stuck her tongue out. The twins behind them giggled. "Um. wow. That was unexpected." Kenji shook his head. "Never mind my lineage. I'll take you to my dad, he'll flip!" The family followed Kenji and into the restaurant and up the stairs. K' and Kula almost gasped in shock as a girl that looked almost like Iori came down the stairs. "Hey Rina, glad you aren't being anti-social!" Kenji grinned. "Shut up, drink acid, keel over, and die a slow painful death!" she replied back. She continued down and met up with her father and mother. "Iori's daughter?" Kula asked. "No kidding. What gave it away?" "Personally, I'd say her looks but the insult was a dead giveaway." K' replied. They finally reached the second floor to see Kyo, Benimaru, and Daimon having a toast. Kenji took the moment to take the girls with him downstairs so the adults can have their reunion to themselves. "Got room for 2 more?" K' said with a smirk. Kyo turned around. "K'? When did you come back?" he asked. He poured two cups of champagne for him and Kula. "Who're they? Your daughters?" he motioned over to the girls as he and K' and Kula looked out the window that surveyed the entire ground floor. There were the twins with Kenji engrossed in a conversation. "Well, it's been a long trip and story. But basically we left the 2001 tournament to destroy N.E.S.T.S. We've wiped the floor with the bastards once and for all. They've been cleared out all over the world and in the meantime, we found each other!" Kula winked as she snuggled towards K' who rolled his eyes. "Never talk to her about family. She gets too mushy for her own good." K' muttered as he down the glass of champagne. "Obviously you haven't seen Athena and Kasumi when they're in family mode." Benimaru replied. "They're here too?" K' wondered to himself. "Yep. Athena's never missed any one of Kyo's openings. Kasumi is always along for the ride as well." Daimon rumbled good-naturedly. "You STILL have that pop star following you?" K' whistled. "What happened there?" Kyo only grinned and held his right hand up to show his wedding band. "Whoa." Kula muttered. "We really have been gone for a while." "Yea well, you're here now, so let's enjoy ourselves while the night's still young!" They small group made another toast as they joined the others down stairs.
Downstairs, most of the younger fighters were hanging close together away from most of the adults. All except Yusuke and Hikari.
"Sometimes I still think it was a really bad idea when dad taught her how to fight." Kenji muttered, as Yusuke zipped by with Hikari hot on his trail. "Get away from me!" "SHI-NE!" ::Group sweatdrops:: "Hey Kenji, who're they?" Takashi asked as he pointed over to the twins. "Well. Actually I don't know." he turned to them. "Hey girls, I didn't catch your names." "I'm Fio!" exclaimed the one on the left. "And I'm Felicia!" the one on the right exclaimed. Kenji shook his head. "How do we tell you apart?" "Simple." Fio stated. She grabbed a plate from a stack of empty ones and froze it with her right hand. She then tossed it over to Felicia who then defrosted it with her left hand. "Felicia has a mole on her right cheek if it helps any." Fio pointed out. Her twin suddenly became embarrassed at the close scrutiny. Jenny became the first to speak. "Well, it's obvious your parents were in the KOF tournaments huh? Lemme guess. K' and Kula?" the twins nodded. "I'm Jenny Bogard, Terry Bogard's daughter." Soon everyone had introduced them selves. "What's up with her?" Fio nudged Kenji. He looked over towards what she was staring at, and there was Rina with a wicked gleam in her eyes. "Uh oh." "What?" Felicia started to become nervous. "Is she gonna go blood riot or something? I heard those can be painful! I don't wanna be in lots of pain!" "I really don't know but I don't like that look in her eyes." Kenji said. Then suddenly for the third time that day Rina began to laugh. But disturbingly, it wasn't her father's laugh. It was actually a genuine one! Almost sickeningly sweet. "Whoa. Now that's creepy..." Takashi said as he backed away. Jenny only latched onto Kenji while Fio and Felicia had his arms. "Save me Kenji!" They all cried at once. He only rolled his eyes. "No wonder dad said to never had women around during a dangerous situation, they tend to cling. Curse my perfect genes and good looks. Anyways, get offa me, she's just in a good mood is all." Kenji shook off the girls but had a lot harder time doing so with Fio and Felicia. "Yea, can't a girl laugh without persecution?" Rina asked with a sinister smile.
Across the room, Athena, Kasumi, Rugal, Geese, and Chris were watching the little group. "I don't like the looks of this." Athena thought. "Those 3 could be trouble." Kasumi said. "I say we eliminate them." Geese replied "Agreed!" Rugal said. "Whoohoo!" Chris cheered and led the charge. The three were just about to charge up their attacks until Athena appeared before them. "No eliminating! We'll improvise. I just hope those 3 don't interrupt our plans." "To resurrect Orochi?" Chris asked. Geese and Rugal crowded around. "No, baka! To get Rina and Kenji together!" The 3 of them groaned and left for the favor being where the food is. ::Athena and Kasumi sweatdrop:: "Can you believe them? It's always about 'Rina and Kenji.' Bah, what's so special about them?" Rugal growled as he sipped some wine. "Maybe because the two are their children and want to get them hooked up?" Chris ventured. "I don't see what's the big deal either, but we get to wreak havoc, and they won't get in our way!" Rugal brightened a little. "True enough." Rugal suddenly looked over to Geese. "You're a bit quiet, Howard." He mentioned. Geese only glared at Rugal. "What do you expect? I'm being pushed into resurrecting an ancient demon of evil and you think I'm supposed to be celebrating?!" "Well he is." Rugal said as he pointed to Chris who was now wearing a party hat and trying to drink himself to a drunken stupor. "Yea well, I'm not too peachy on it. Besides, he's allowed to, he's a minion. Minions are supposed to celebrate the return of their masters." "If you're so touchy about destroying the world, you should leave. Chizuru should have enough money to handle our financial needs." Geese only shook his head. "Athena made me sign a contract. Boy, she really has gotten ruthless over the years." "Being a mother with super powered brats does that to you." Rugal said. "Amen to that." Geese said. As the others had fun, Rina was deep in thought. If she manages to dupe Kenji and some baka onna to fall for each other, she'd be home free! But the question is. Who's gonna do the falling? Rina wondered. Jenny seemed the obvious choice. Already smitten with Kenji and constantly hanging onto his arm, it seems it won't take much convincing. The newcomers Fio and Felicia are on the verge so it might be some sort of work involved. Then there's our bachelor himself. Kenji had an honor system, so basically it'll be hard for him to consider any one of the girls as girlfriend material seeing it that they're all 2 years younger than him. I can't fail! My life depends on my success! No way am I getting tied down with that arrogant jerk! Rina seethed. To her, Kenji seemed the stereotypical pretty boy with the money, the girls, and the fame, but no heart underneath it all. Suddenly a scream interrupted her thoughts and then the sudden realization that her punch was spilled onto her favorite white blouse. And she had just happened to decide she didn't need to wear a bra since it was so loose fitting. Kenji and Takashi looked over to see what's the commotion but saw Rina and her white blouse now clearly see through for all. THUD! THUD! Both Kenji and Takashi fell on the floor, twitching and blood spurting from their noses like a fountain. Rina looked around to see if anyone else noticed. "Perfect. No witnesses." She mumbled. "Brat, you're dead!" she said as she turned towards Yusuke who already had a head start. Hikari who had stopped just in time before she collided into Rina overheard what she said and quickly followed the two. "Hey! Only I get to kill him! Get back here! His carcass is mine!" "AAHHH!" Yusuke screamed as he ran out of the restaurant. "SHI-NE!" "Wait for me!" A portly man only shook his head. "Always something new at every grand opening." Sighed the patron.
TBC
Rina is determined to get Kenji hooked up to anyone but her! How will this affect Athena and Kasumi's plan? Will Orochi be resurrected? Will Geese cheer up? Much more next chapter!
Okay, might be kind of slow, but more to come next chapter, I promise! Relationship hijinks and action, and maybe even Armageddon as soon as next chapter! Maybe.