A Tale of Two Sisters
Author's Notes: A chronology of events has been added to the website. The chronology explains in cursory detail most of what has happened leading up to the tournament and hopefully provides some much-needed background information. Also, I've coded the tourney bracket page so that you can submit your guess on who you think will win this tournament. So get those entries rolling!
Noctorro: You really think so? One of the biggest problems I have with this fic is trying to flesh out every character - no easy task when dealing with 50+ of them. So, unfortunately, only those who are really crucial to the plot are going to get any sort of exposure. But I do hope that you enjoy reading the story.
Osaka, Japan
About the same time
"You know, Ryu, ten P.M. isn't meant for training," Ken Masters grumbled as he hauled himself over a large rock, landing into one of the local parks. The grass here was green and luxuriously thick, the cherry trees in full bloom and pink flower petals scattered everywhere. Overhead, the full moon provided bright illumination of the park grounds. The whole setting was bathed in a surreal blue glow. To Ken's right, Guy scanned the park grounds with a practiced eye before nodding his approval. "This is good ground," was all he said before adopting a fighting stance.
Ryu adjusted his red headband as well as his wristguards. All three of them wore their respective combat uniforms, making themselves easy to distinguish in the moonlight. "Sagat is still at the restaurant and Kirina already trained. I had to make time for you two somehow. Shall we?"
"Wait." The warning came from Guy. "That ominous sensation ... do you feel it? There's danger around ... more than one. Dr. McGrath warned us of three assailants who waited in the dark. Perhaps they will show their faces tonight?"
Ken frowned. Now that Guy mentioned it, he could feel an unsettling presence also. While his spiritual senses weren't as developed as Ryu's or Guy's, it was plainly obvious that whatever had been at the bar two nights ago was here. He suddenly felt vulnerable. Pah, look at yourself, Ken. Guile would split his sides laughing if he saw you now. Nobody defeats the great Ken Masters.
As if on cue, three shapes emerged from the shadows, all three of them wearing karate gis, and all three of them masked. Their leader wore a tan uniform, the man to his left wore a pale green version, and the one on the right wore a dark green outfit. Each one strode slowly towards the warriors, covering the ground at a fixed, steady pace. When there was only a meter's seperation between the man in tan and Ryu, they stopped and crossed their arms. For a long, tense moment during which Ken scarcely breathed, no one said anything. Then the silence broke.
"Hadouken!"
Ryu and Ken dodged to the side; the warrior in tan launched a blazing energy projectile which soared through the space where Ryu had been but a moment before. Guy, more accustomed to seeing fireballs and certainly less surprised by them, launched himself through the air in a somersault. He unfurled at the height of the jump and came down with a powerful elbow strike, doubtlessly intending to hit the attacker's neck. He never made it.
"Shoryuken!"
Guy tumbled backwards, blood streaming out of his mouth as the tan warrior's fist smashed through his jaw. The classic rising uppercut of Ansatsuken had caught him squarely in a vulnerable position. Ryu and Ken stopped only to trade looks of surprise, but there was no time to think. The man in light green singled out Guy as his opponent and his companion in dark green did the same towards Ken. That left Ryu to deal with the fighter wearing tan.
He uses the Ansatsuken style of combat, Ryu perceived as he traded blows with the man. I've seen this particular style before - Akuma's? No, it lacks the power and precision that characterize Akuma. Haivng overcome his initial shock, Ryu was rapidly discovering that his opponent wasn't so formidable after all. He easily dodged another Hadouken and threw a lunging kick that clipped his opponent's shoulder. That voice ... where have I heard it before? When his opponent rolled safely to the ground and launched another fireball, Ryu decided that he'd save the questions for later. Another Ansatsuken fighter ... most intriguing ...
Ken, for his part, was having more problems. An attempt to strike from the air had been solidly countered by a rising knee straight into his solar plexus; Ken landed hard with a gasp, all the wind knocked out of him. His opponent followed with a straight punch that collapsed into an elbow strike when Ken blocked the fist. Snarling, Ken retaliated with a powerful Shoryuken that tore through his opponent's shirt and left the man bleeding behind his mask. The advantage was momentary, as the man recovered more quickly than Ken expected and retaliated with a pair of merciless knee strikes. Ken rolled back and tried to get some air. A Muay Thai fighter, no doubt. Haven't faced one since losing the tournament to Sagat five years ago. Whoever he is, this guy's good ... but I'm still better. He rushed in; the man in dark green swung an elbow at shoulder height, only to clip empty air as Ken rolled along the ground. Cherry petals scattered every which way; Ken burst off the ground with another mighty Shoryuken, this one impacting solidly in his opponent's chest.
More cherry petals scattered as Guy exchanged blows with his attacker. His Miracle Slam was countered by a flying Triangle kick, while attempting to rush his opponent down proved futile when he ended up eating a chain of swift attacks. Guy shook his face clear of blood; that single motion nearly cost him, as his opponent covered the distance between them with remarkable speed and launched a flying kick. Guy ducked; as his opponent passed overhead, Guy sprang off the ground, caught his foe, and planted the man in dark green into the ground, hard. His opponent recovered quickly and tried to rush him; with some surprise, Guy finally discovered what was troubling him. This man uses the Bushin style of combat - but I thought that only Maki and myself still practiced it ...? Guy dodged to the side; before his foe could recover, he laid into his opponent with the Marathon Barrage, striking viciously at his enemy's chin and chest. The attack ended with a powerful flying kick that sent the man crumpled into a heap at the feet of the tan warrior. At the same time, Ken Masters announced "Shoryuken!" and the man in dark green also rolled backwards to land next to his companion.
The tan warrior snarled and cupped his hands, flames bursting from them a moment later. As Guy glanced to his right, Ryu did the same. His eyes narrowed, taking on a calculating aspect. The moment they strike, I'll rush in and end this fight. He tensed up, noting that Ken was doing the same. Near the feet of the man wearing tan, the two assailants dressed in green stirred and sank back into fighting stances. The man in tan brought his hands back just a bit further. It was, Guy realized, the same movement that had always given away when Ryu was about to launch a projectile.
"Ashura ..." The tan-clad warrior whispered.
"Shinkuu ..." Ryu's hands were glowing more brightly than ever.
"Hadouken!" At the same instant, both men launched their deadly energy projectiles. Ryu's took the form of a mighty blast of white light, a single continuous stream of energy that poured forth from his palms. The tan warrior released a gigantic sphere of flames the size of his whole body. Their two attacks collided in midair, but only for a moment; at that instant, the sphere of flames split apart and Ryu's beam cannon of a projectile continued onwards. There was no time to dodge; the man wearing tan took the attack head-on and an explosion of cherry petals obscured the sight of all present. When the dust subsided, all three of the men had been laid flat on the ground, the fight obviously knocked out of them.
"Time to get us some answers," Ken growled. He stepped up to his opponent and laid a hand on the mask. All three were still conscious, but the fight had already ended. Ken tore the mask off in one swift motion. "What the - you're alive?!"
"This cannot be ..." Guy whispered as he removed the mask of his assailant.
For Ryu, there was only a moment of stunned silence. Now that the masks had come off, he recognized all three of the attackers. They all did. The man in tan gazed back at him with intense eyes, but devoid of any hint of malice. Rather, those eyes shone with pride and satisfaction. He was balding and wore a thick beard. The man in bright green had long, wild hair, while the third fighter had tied his back into a ponytail. "Master Gouken ... Master Zeku ... Master Hibiki ... all of you are still alive? But how?!"
Gouken, for indeed it was him, sat up and smiled. "I don't know either. I awoke one morning and realized that I was still alive - called back, perhaps, for some purpose. But ... heh, look at you, Ryu, and you too, Ken. You've both grown so much ..."
Ryu sat down heavily upon the ground. "But ... all three of you, alive at this time?! This just gets stranger and stranger ... how did you know we were here?"
"We were led here," Go Hibiki answered. "Perhaps it was intuition, but it felt as if we were guided here, to you. It was a good fight," he said, and winked. "We heard about this tournament less than a week ago, and we figured that we'd find you around here."
"Been a long time, master," Guy said, sitting down.
"No, you are the master, Guy," Zeku replied, fondly ruffling Guy's hair. "You beat me fairly in that fight. How has the world been?"
"Actually, I wouldn't know either," Guy admitted. "Two years after you were murdered, I too was killed fighting against Shadowlaw. I myself have only recently returned, knowing nothing except that I was dead but now am alive. We both have plenty of catching up to do."
"This is too much for my poor brain," Ken commented. "Maybe we ought to ask McGrath - he'd surely find a way to explain everything."
"I've seen him here," Gouken stated. "Does he still train as hard as ever?"
Ryu nodded. "Certainly ... Dr. McGrath intensified his training after your fight with Akuma. Ken and I both asked him to continue our training, except he refused. He said that he had joined this organization, the IDC, and did not have time to continue our training. He told us to find our own ways; as luck would have it, after hearing nearly nothing about him for the past ten years, he's also participating in this tournament. You would not believe how incredibly skilled he has become." Ryu winked at Gouken.
"Some things never change ..." Gouken muttered to himself. "Eh, who's that?"
Ryu eyed the figure running towards them. "My daughter."
"Oh, congratulations."
Quite out of breath, Kirina skidded to a halt in front of the warriors. "Dad, Nunky, Guy ... what just happened here? I've been looking everywhere for you."
"Why? What's going on, Kirina?"
Kirina tossed a thumb over her shoulder, indicating the general direction of the hotel and the nearby restaurant. "It's Master Gen - he's called a meeting. Seems like they finally found a clue as to who M. is."
"Somebody knows who M. is?" Ken asked, jumping to his feet. "Oh boy, this I can't wait to hear."
"Who's M.?" Zeku asked.
"Who are these guys?" Kirina wanted to know.
Ken sighed. "It's a long story on both sides. C'mon, there's time to tell it before we get to the restaurant."
Osaka, Japan
Forty minutes have passed
"We all here?" Bison muttered out of the corner of his mouth to Gill. "Good. Maybe we'll finally get a heads-up as to what this is all about." He glanced to the side, noting where Ryu and Ken were seated with their master. "Hmm, that's a face I haven't seen in years. Looks like Gouken is still mad about what I did to him two decades ago. Bah, all I did was beat him within an inch of his life - that's not a capital offense, is it?"
The restaurant was crowded and rightfully so. Barring the still-absent Darkstalkers' Alliance, every team was present, as were a number of acquaintances not actively participating in the tournament. Every spare table had been occupied - though no definite announcements had yet been made, word had rapidly spread that someone had appeared who had connections to M. "Everyone's here," Sagat declared, scanning the room with his one good eye. "Even people that I'd never thought I'd see again. Except Dadallent - he isn't here."
"That man is impossible to track," McGrath replied. "It's not like we're missing anything with his absence at any rate. Showtime." He stood up and walked to a raised stage set against the back wall of the restaurant. Here, where he was a meter above the floor and conspicuous in his tuxedo, McGrath rapped a spoon against a glass. "May I have your attention, please?" The room swiftly quieted.
"You all have been called here tonight because at last someone who knows the identity of M. is here. Without explaining the circumstances of how she came here, I present to you ... Regina." He gestured to his right; when nothing happened, McGrath indicated the stage with a toss of the head. "Come on, don't be shy."
Regina drew audible gasps and cheers from the crowd as she hesitantly stepped up to the stage. Even though her wings were no longer visible, her beauty and her presence still shone around the entire room. McGrath held out the microphone to her; she took it as well as his position. When McGrath had comfortably retaken his own seat at the vet table, Regina cleared her throat. "Um ... well, I don't know how to begin. First off, I'm very glad to be able to be with all of you tonight. I hope that there will be plenty of time for us to become friends. About M. Her real name is Marin and she is ... my sister."
The crowd murmured with surprise. "Then that means ... are you ...?" Kirina asked.
Regina smiled sweetly. "Yes. Marin and I are both goddesses. My dear older sister taught me nearly all of what I know. It's difficult to stand here and explain in words - perhaps it would be better if I actually showed you." Regina set the microphone down. Then she raised her hands high and a vision blotted out the sight of all present. The restaurant, Regina herself, everything ... all of it faded away. In its place, those assembled saw another scene in another time. Two figures walked through a sunlit park, tiled stones paved in front of them. The sun shone merrily upon their backs; everywhere, trees and flowers were in full bloom. One of the figures was obviously an angel - he wore white robes, had the stature of a Greek god, and a pair of wings sprouted from his back. The woman walking by his side was shorter. Her hands were folded behind her back and the first thought that occurred to many was how much she looked like Regina. Her hair was a seductive auburn. The vision zoomed in, allowing the viewers a clearer look at Marin's face.
"Lady Regina should be waiting for you at the manor," the angel said. "I am certain that she will be most overjoyed to see you, Lady Marin."
"Two years," Marin said thoughtfully. "It's been two years since mother passed away, yet I could not return to watch over Regina until now. I trust that you and the others have taken good care of her? I wonder how she looks - this will be the first time I see her." Suddenly a strange sound caught her attention and she glanced off to the side. "Eh ... who is that?" She indicated a clearing to her left; a young girl, perhaps six years old, was crying. As Marin drew closer, she saw that the girl was also slightly dirty and seemed to be holding something in her hands. Tear tracks ran down her lovely cheeks.
The angel sighed. "That would be the Lady Regina." He stepped off the path and towards the clearing; Marin followed him. "Lady Regina, look at yourself! Today is the day when your sister comes and you present a terrible appearance!"
"No, 'tis alright." Marin stepped past the angel and motioned; obediently he withdrew and watched from a distance. She knelt down to put herself at the same level as her sister. "Good morning, Regina. What are you weeping about?"
"I - Lady Marin, I found - I found this ..." Regina opened her hands, revealing a motionless spread-winged dove. "I think - I think - I think it's dead!" she sobbed.
Marin studied the bird with a considering eye. "Look more closely, Regina. She may not be moving, but she still draws breath. All she needs is a little encouragement." Marin opened her palms and placed her hand above Regina's; a moment later, a spark of light dropped down into the body of the dove, which instantly stood up, chirped merrily, and then took wing and soared away. Regina immediately burst into smiles. "Incredible! Thank you, Lady Marin!"
"Please, just call me Marin, dear sister," Marin replied, extending her hand to Regina.
"That was the first time I met my sister," Regina said thoughtfully, once more picking up the microphone. "I do not know why Marin hosted this tournament, though I am sure she has noble intentions in mind. Thank you all for listening tonight." She stepped off the stage and returned to her place at the veteran's table. "Greetings, Gill," Regina said, nodding in his direction. "I hadn't realized that you were also here."
"I only just entered, my lady," Gill replied, bowing to her before taking his seat.
"You seem to know each other," Bison commented. "Care to enlighten us?"
Regina smiled warmly. "Gill is a seraph, created by one of the gods. He served under both Marin and myself at one point, before coming down to Earth and trying to establish Utopia here. I hear from both Rose and Gen that he did not recognize Marin's voice - rather surprising for a seraph as accomplished as he is. I gave him a bit of my power in order to help speed his way. It's a commendable dream - any progress, Gill?"
"We shall have heaven on earth by the year 2200," Gill replied smoothly. "My lady, you will always have a home within the Illuminati at any time."
"I appreciate your generosity," Regina replied. She leaned back into her chair; meanwhile, Mason Storm had ascended the stage and was busy making a flowery speech about the tournament. "I have heard much about this tournament. But even I can only guess at my sister's motives this time - I do not know what she intends to accomplish by this."
McGrath consulted his watch. "I entered this tournament with suspicions that there was some sinister force at work. The attack on Rose has only deepened these suspicions. Regina, is there some other agent who would seek evil through this tournament? Because I for one am still not reassured about your sister's benevolence."
Gill growled; Regina merely nodded. "I understand, Ernest, but I cannot believe any evil of my sister considering how we grew up together. She was the one constant companion by my side from childhood all the way to when I became a certified Class SA goddess. Marin has never been any less than kind and considerate towards me. Of us two, she has always been the stronger and the more driven one, yet Marin is a soft and gentle soul."
"I see," McGrath said thoughtfully, his tone indicating that he plainly did not.
"If I may have a word in private with you, doctor?" Gill muttered. He and McGrath stood up and left the table, slipping out of sight into an unoccupied side room. Gill quietly closed the screen door behind himself.
"And watch the sparks fly ..." Sagat commented.
"I am sorry, did I say something I should not have?" Regina asked. "Gill has always been rather ... overzealous. He will not attempt to hurt Ernest, will he?"
"Don't worry about it," Sagat and Gen advised simultaneously.
While Yun crooned out a love song on the stage, Regina, appearing lost in thought, suddenly brightened. "I may know what Marin intends. She and I spoke often about the sufferings that living creatures endure. Watch carefully." That last bit was directed at everyone present in the room. With those words, again reality disappeared and was replaced by the ghostly vision of events in the past.
"Open your eyes, Regina ... do you recognize this place?" Marin indicated the surrounding landscape with a sweep of her arm. They were both standing atop a mountain peak; looking down, Regina saw a large arch supported by two circular columns constructed of polished marble that shone in the sunlight. It was set up in the middle of a flat plain, wind merrily breezing amongst the tall grass that grew this season. The structure towered above the surrounding landscape, in all looking very much like a doorway that led from nowhere to nowhere. From her vantage point, Regina had an excellent view of the entire scene.
"Why ... the legendary Gate of True Hearts!" Regina exclaimed.
"Yes," Marin replied, "but it is no legend. Look below you." Regina peered intently; at the base of the gate, dwarfed by its massive architecture, a man and a woman were holding hands. As Regina's eyes focused, she observed that the woman was actually an angel. They shared a long, passionate kiss. "This is indeed none other than the Gate of True Hearts. Do you know the purpose of this gate, dear sister? Many beings from one world fall in love with those of another. As a trial of their love, they must all eventually face this dread test. Here they walk past the gate together, should their love be true - but if not, if there is even the least insincerity or doubt in their hearts, then they are separated, forever. We may all walk this gate one day, and perhaps more than once. Look." Marin pointed; the two of them, angel and man, clasped their hands and bravely, determinedly, strode through the doorway. But only the angel reappeared on the other side; glancing around and missing her beloved, she immediately broke down into weeping, sobbing into her hands.
Regina felt tears welling up within her own eyes in sympathy with the angel. "Sad, is it not?" Marin asked, sighing. "Very few of those who meet this trial pass it successfully. From this vantage point I have seen many lovers attempt the ultimate test of their bond; I too share the pain of those who failed." Marin sighed, then continued in a voice both louder and stronger. "Why - why do we gods impose such trials on other lesser beings? Do they not have the same privilege to joy that we take for ourselves? Are we so cruel as to deny them happiness? Where is the justice?!" Marin raised her hand; it took on an ethereal glow, and then, in a gentle voice, she said, "Regina, bring that angel away from the gate. However brokenhearted she may be right now, she need not suffer more."
Regina nodded; a moment later, she had teleported herself beside the gate. The angel looked too shattered to observe the proprieties due to a goddess, but Regina could feel only sympathy for her. As she took the angel's hand and softly led her away, Regina could not help but wonder if she herself might one day experience the very same emotions. When they were sufficiently far away, a burst of energy descended from the heavens and impacted on the doorway, hard. There was an explosion that blinded Regina for a moment; when it cleared, she and the angel both looked back. The doorway, once imposing and magnificent, had been reduced to the level of a ruin. Half of the arch was gone, as well as most of the top of its supporting column. Bits of marble had been blasted everywhere, yet the Gate of True Hearts still stood. A moment later, Marin appeared beside her sister and the angel. "Even I cannot destroy it," Marin sighed regretfully. "I would gladly spare anyone the prospect of facing this trial, but it seems that I cannot. I am sorry." She looked into the angel's eyes. "Courage, dear heart. You may yet love again; may you meet with better fortune then."
"Please remain focused," Regina requested. The vision of the gate vanished and was swiftly replaced.
"And graduating first in her grade ... presenting Class SA goddess, Regina!" While Regina stepped onto the platform, shocked, elated, and surprised, Marin watched from the sidelines. The crowd that had gathered for the graduation ceremony was enormous, as it always was. Marin smiled, a little sadly, as Regina received a bouquet of flowers. All those hundreds of years when she had first met Regina and then devoted every last hour of them to training her little sister - they'd passed so quickly. And while she herself still outranked Regina at Class SX, she was both proud and saddened to see her beloved younger sister graduate.
"Dear Regina ..." Marin whispered. "You have a kind heart and a gentle soul. I fear that the realities of the mortal world may sorely test it. I could not stand to see your heart broken, as I am certain it will be. When I see you again, will you still be the same sister I have always loved? Or will I grieve for another changed soul, as I grieved for Eldrin long ago?" Sighing to herself, Marin slipped away through the crowd and to the back of the enormous temple complex. There were still preparations to be made for her sister's surprise party.
"Your sister must have been very close to you," Gen observed, stating the obvious as the scenery faded away.
"So she was," Regina replied. "After my graduation, her sense of right and wrong only intensified. Many nights I have beheld how her heart struggles between propriety and compassion. I believe that she called this tournament in order to find an able helper - one who will assist her in bringing heaven to this world. What I do not understand is why she would host a tournament, of all possibilities, to do so."
"Neither do we," Haggar said. "Thankfully, our friends have been resurrected - did you do this, Regina?"
She shook her head. "No. I suspect that my sister did so. Only a god or goddess can restore life to the dead, but ... we believe in the natural order of things. 'Tis only in extreme circumstances that I would resort to resurrection, and I know that my sister felt the same way. One of my questions was how she could be pressed into employing such a desperate measure. I apologize if what I say is cruel, but if it were my decision many of your friends would not be here. Again, I apologize," she added when Gen and Bison gave each other telling looks.
"What do you plan to do?" Commando asked.
"I will stay here for the time being," Regina replied. "I wish to speak with my dear sister once more. And I do hope that I can make new friends here." She looked up as an obviously drunk Mitsukake Kagatoshi staggered down from the stage and pressed the microphone into her hands. "You wish to hear me sing? How flattering of you." She helped Mitsukake into the seat that she had vacated and glided onto the stage.
"Regina sings beautifully," Ken Masters sighed at his table. He glanced craftily at the table's other occupants, winking at Gouken. "I wonder if she'd be willing to go out with me later. Hey, you're only in trouble once caught, right?"
"You never will grow up, will you?" Guy ribbed.
"By the way," Go Hibiki inquired, "where is my son Dan?"
Ryu and Guy looked away. After a long silence, Ken said softly, "He died in combat with Dadallent."
"What?!" Shock and dismay spread across Go's face. "That same shrouded ninja - he killed my son?"
"He killed me, too, in the past," Zeku added. "Be careful; he was a dangerous opponent even while I was alive, and I believe that time has only strengthened him. You have fought him before, haven't you?"
"Yes," Ryu replied. "He came by once while Ken and I were training together. That particular fight ended in a draw, but I doubt we could take him, even together, in a rematch. Time will tell, though; I suspect that he and I are not yet finished with each other."
At another table, Edgar laid down a card and tried to play with half of his mind while the other half listened to Regina's song. "Dark Magician. Your move, Kikoken."
"Alright. I'll lay a card face-down in defense stance." Kikoken slipped a card onto the table and leaned back.
"Hah. My Dark Magician attacks your card. Show it!"
"Edgar, you really ought to pay more attention to the game." Kikoken revealed a trap on the field. "Holy Mirror, Reflection Barrier. There goes your circus act." She smiled innocently as Edgar grumbled while placing his card into the graveyard. "My move. I think I'll turn this card face-up and attack with it." Kikoken revealed the card. "Blue-Eyed White Dragon attacks you directly. Game over."
Edgar muttered something to himself and gathered his cards. Chan, who had been on edge all night, finally stood up. "Excuse me, you guys, but I'm going to go talk to Hiryu, okay?"
"Don't," Edgar advised, shuffling his deck. "That boy is nothing but trouble."
"How dare you?" Chan replied indignantly. "Hiryu is a sweet, lovable man."
"Don't let him blind you to the truth. He's an assassin and would kill his own mother for a nickel. Hey!" Edgar raised his voice as Chan began to walk away. "Chan! Listen, stay away from him! I'm warning you!"
"At least you're not doing it anonymously," she shot back as she strode off.
"You know," Kenneth Feng commented to his friends, "I've seen a lot of weird stuff in my days, but a goddess? This is too much." He sighed and reached for a bottle of alcohol. "Life was so simple back in the day." Rather than drinking another glass, though, he laid his head on the table and fixed his eyes on Regina.
"Yeah," Yun commented, staring at Regina. "I understand what you mean; for the longest time I thought that Gill was at the pinnacle of the natural order. Now, to overhear that he's still far below people like Regina and Marin - kinda screws with your head, doesn't it? I wonder if we'll be seeing many more surprises in this tournament? Fate knows I was surprised enough to meet Uncle Gen again." He shrugged his shoulders. "Still, this Marin can't be all that bad. I can't wait 'til the finals when we actually get to see her."
"Yeah, big bro, let's win this tournament and do something good with the money - and our newfound powers," Yin added.
"I'd be gratified with just the title," Darrell chipped in.
"I personally don't care for any of the rewards," Kirina noted. "For me, it's about fighting a worthy adversary and learning all that I can from the fight."
"School bills still have to be paid," Sakura reminded her. "That, and house bills, and food bills, and ... everything. It was very nice of Marin to make the tournament completely free and even pay us to attend, though. We'll survive for another year just on the entry pay alone."
"Yeah, and all this media attention is great, too," Darrell commented, leaning back in his chair. He traded a quick kiss with Sakura; Yun and Yang simply looked at each other. Kenneth tried to do the same to Kirina but somehow found himself intercepted by Yun at every turn.
"... Well, I have a joke if anyone wants to hear it," Jill Valentine said, glancing at the Phantoms as well as her own squadmates and a few American Vigilantes. She forged ahead when all present nodded in approval. "It's kinda long, so bear with me. Oh, and it's actually made up of four separate and distinct stories. The first story is this: A man and his wife are driving down a highway. The guy's driving, but his wife keeps nagging him - 'Speed up! Turn on the headlights! Hey, nincompoop, you missed our exit!' Finally the man has had it, turns around, and slaps his wife, saying, 'Are you driving or am I?' The second story: They've arrived home and now the wife is preparing dinner. Unfortunately, the husband keeps pestering her, saying, 'You ought to turn up the fire. Add more salt! This junk tastes horrible!' With that, the wife loses her temper and smacks her husband, yelling 'Are you cooking or am I?' The third story: after dinner, the wife is gossiping on the phone, but her husband keeps trying to cut in - 'How are the relatives? Is Tim back from school yet? Can they come over for Christmas?' The wife finally loses it, turns around and slaps her husband, saying, 'Are you trying to talk or am I?'" Jill placed her hands flat on the table. "Well, there you go."
As expected, Blake Wallis immediately fell for the trap. "Hold up, what happened to the fourth story ...?"
He drew back as Jill slapped him solidly across the cheek, at the same time shouting, "Are you telling this joke or am I?" Charlie and Mason roared with laughter, while Samantha shook her head in disapproval at Blake. Blake rubbed his cheek with one hand and tried to look rueful. A moment later they all burst into uncontrolled laughter. The audience trying to listen to Regina's singing shot them dirty looks.
As Regina finished her song and resumed her seat, Dr. McGrath and Jedah Dohma both simultaneously glanced at the entrance of the restaurant. The door was wide open, as Gen often liked to leave it, but that was not what had drawn their attention. McGrath's eyes narrowed as his highly refined spiritual senses picked out very faint traces of energy that had been left lying around. Jedah, studying the same entrance, also felt a slight twinge of unease. "Jedah, did you also feel ... that we were being watched?"
"Yes, I did."
"Is something wrong?" Regina asked politely.
McGrath indicated the entrance of the restaurant, where the residual energy had nearly faded into oblivion. Still, that sense of unease remained in the back of his mind and now he realized why. McGrath and Jedah traded concerned looks before the former turned to address Regina. "Just a moment ago ... Jedah and I are certain of it ... he was watching you. Dadallent."
Author's Notes: A chronology of events has been added to the website. The chronology explains in cursory detail most of what has happened leading up to the tournament and hopefully provides some much-needed background information. Also, I've coded the tourney bracket page so that you can submit your guess on who you think will win this tournament. So get those entries rolling!
Noctorro: You really think so? One of the biggest problems I have with this fic is trying to flesh out every character - no easy task when dealing with 50+ of them. So, unfortunately, only those who are really crucial to the plot are going to get any sort of exposure. But I do hope that you enjoy reading the story.
Osaka, Japan
About the same time
"You know, Ryu, ten P.M. isn't meant for training," Ken Masters grumbled as he hauled himself over a large rock, landing into one of the local parks. The grass here was green and luxuriously thick, the cherry trees in full bloom and pink flower petals scattered everywhere. Overhead, the full moon provided bright illumination of the park grounds. The whole setting was bathed in a surreal blue glow. To Ken's right, Guy scanned the park grounds with a practiced eye before nodding his approval. "This is good ground," was all he said before adopting a fighting stance.
Ryu adjusted his red headband as well as his wristguards. All three of them wore their respective combat uniforms, making themselves easy to distinguish in the moonlight. "Sagat is still at the restaurant and Kirina already trained. I had to make time for you two somehow. Shall we?"
"Wait." The warning came from Guy. "That ominous sensation ... do you feel it? There's danger around ... more than one. Dr. McGrath warned us of three assailants who waited in the dark. Perhaps they will show their faces tonight?"
Ken frowned. Now that Guy mentioned it, he could feel an unsettling presence also. While his spiritual senses weren't as developed as Ryu's or Guy's, it was plainly obvious that whatever had been at the bar two nights ago was here. He suddenly felt vulnerable. Pah, look at yourself, Ken. Guile would split his sides laughing if he saw you now. Nobody defeats the great Ken Masters.
As if on cue, three shapes emerged from the shadows, all three of them wearing karate gis, and all three of them masked. Their leader wore a tan uniform, the man to his left wore a pale green version, and the one on the right wore a dark green outfit. Each one strode slowly towards the warriors, covering the ground at a fixed, steady pace. When there was only a meter's seperation between the man in tan and Ryu, they stopped and crossed their arms. For a long, tense moment during which Ken scarcely breathed, no one said anything. Then the silence broke.
"Hadouken!"
Ryu and Ken dodged to the side; the warrior in tan launched a blazing energy projectile which soared through the space where Ryu had been but a moment before. Guy, more accustomed to seeing fireballs and certainly less surprised by them, launched himself through the air in a somersault. He unfurled at the height of the jump and came down with a powerful elbow strike, doubtlessly intending to hit the attacker's neck. He never made it.
"Shoryuken!"
Guy tumbled backwards, blood streaming out of his mouth as the tan warrior's fist smashed through his jaw. The classic rising uppercut of Ansatsuken had caught him squarely in a vulnerable position. Ryu and Ken stopped only to trade looks of surprise, but there was no time to think. The man in light green singled out Guy as his opponent and his companion in dark green did the same towards Ken. That left Ryu to deal with the fighter wearing tan.
He uses the Ansatsuken style of combat, Ryu perceived as he traded blows with the man. I've seen this particular style before - Akuma's? No, it lacks the power and precision that characterize Akuma. Haivng overcome his initial shock, Ryu was rapidly discovering that his opponent wasn't so formidable after all. He easily dodged another Hadouken and threw a lunging kick that clipped his opponent's shoulder. That voice ... where have I heard it before? When his opponent rolled safely to the ground and launched another fireball, Ryu decided that he'd save the questions for later. Another Ansatsuken fighter ... most intriguing ...
Ken, for his part, was having more problems. An attempt to strike from the air had been solidly countered by a rising knee straight into his solar plexus; Ken landed hard with a gasp, all the wind knocked out of him. His opponent followed with a straight punch that collapsed into an elbow strike when Ken blocked the fist. Snarling, Ken retaliated with a powerful Shoryuken that tore through his opponent's shirt and left the man bleeding behind his mask. The advantage was momentary, as the man recovered more quickly than Ken expected and retaliated with a pair of merciless knee strikes. Ken rolled back and tried to get some air. A Muay Thai fighter, no doubt. Haven't faced one since losing the tournament to Sagat five years ago. Whoever he is, this guy's good ... but I'm still better. He rushed in; the man in dark green swung an elbow at shoulder height, only to clip empty air as Ken rolled along the ground. Cherry petals scattered every which way; Ken burst off the ground with another mighty Shoryuken, this one impacting solidly in his opponent's chest.
More cherry petals scattered as Guy exchanged blows with his attacker. His Miracle Slam was countered by a flying Triangle kick, while attempting to rush his opponent down proved futile when he ended up eating a chain of swift attacks. Guy shook his face clear of blood; that single motion nearly cost him, as his opponent covered the distance between them with remarkable speed and launched a flying kick. Guy ducked; as his opponent passed overhead, Guy sprang off the ground, caught his foe, and planted the man in dark green into the ground, hard. His opponent recovered quickly and tried to rush him; with some surprise, Guy finally discovered what was troubling him. This man uses the Bushin style of combat - but I thought that only Maki and myself still practiced it ...? Guy dodged to the side; before his foe could recover, he laid into his opponent with the Marathon Barrage, striking viciously at his enemy's chin and chest. The attack ended with a powerful flying kick that sent the man crumpled into a heap at the feet of the tan warrior. At the same time, Ken Masters announced "Shoryuken!" and the man in dark green also rolled backwards to land next to his companion.
The tan warrior snarled and cupped his hands, flames bursting from them a moment later. As Guy glanced to his right, Ryu did the same. His eyes narrowed, taking on a calculating aspect. The moment they strike, I'll rush in and end this fight. He tensed up, noting that Ken was doing the same. Near the feet of the man wearing tan, the two assailants dressed in green stirred and sank back into fighting stances. The man in tan brought his hands back just a bit further. It was, Guy realized, the same movement that had always given away when Ryu was about to launch a projectile.
"Ashura ..." The tan-clad warrior whispered.
"Shinkuu ..." Ryu's hands were glowing more brightly than ever.
"Hadouken!" At the same instant, both men launched their deadly energy projectiles. Ryu's took the form of a mighty blast of white light, a single continuous stream of energy that poured forth from his palms. The tan warrior released a gigantic sphere of flames the size of his whole body. Their two attacks collided in midair, but only for a moment; at that instant, the sphere of flames split apart and Ryu's beam cannon of a projectile continued onwards. There was no time to dodge; the man wearing tan took the attack head-on and an explosion of cherry petals obscured the sight of all present. When the dust subsided, all three of the men had been laid flat on the ground, the fight obviously knocked out of them.
"Time to get us some answers," Ken growled. He stepped up to his opponent and laid a hand on the mask. All three were still conscious, but the fight had already ended. Ken tore the mask off in one swift motion. "What the - you're alive?!"
"This cannot be ..." Guy whispered as he removed the mask of his assailant.
For Ryu, there was only a moment of stunned silence. Now that the masks had come off, he recognized all three of the attackers. They all did. The man in tan gazed back at him with intense eyes, but devoid of any hint of malice. Rather, those eyes shone with pride and satisfaction. He was balding and wore a thick beard. The man in bright green had long, wild hair, while the third fighter had tied his back into a ponytail. "Master Gouken ... Master Zeku ... Master Hibiki ... all of you are still alive? But how?!"
Gouken, for indeed it was him, sat up and smiled. "I don't know either. I awoke one morning and realized that I was still alive - called back, perhaps, for some purpose. But ... heh, look at you, Ryu, and you too, Ken. You've both grown so much ..."
Ryu sat down heavily upon the ground. "But ... all three of you, alive at this time?! This just gets stranger and stranger ... how did you know we were here?"
"We were led here," Go Hibiki answered. "Perhaps it was intuition, but it felt as if we were guided here, to you. It was a good fight," he said, and winked. "We heard about this tournament less than a week ago, and we figured that we'd find you around here."
"Been a long time, master," Guy said, sitting down.
"No, you are the master, Guy," Zeku replied, fondly ruffling Guy's hair. "You beat me fairly in that fight. How has the world been?"
"Actually, I wouldn't know either," Guy admitted. "Two years after you were murdered, I too was killed fighting against Shadowlaw. I myself have only recently returned, knowing nothing except that I was dead but now am alive. We both have plenty of catching up to do."
"This is too much for my poor brain," Ken commented. "Maybe we ought to ask McGrath - he'd surely find a way to explain everything."
"I've seen him here," Gouken stated. "Does he still train as hard as ever?"
Ryu nodded. "Certainly ... Dr. McGrath intensified his training after your fight with Akuma. Ken and I both asked him to continue our training, except he refused. He said that he had joined this organization, the IDC, and did not have time to continue our training. He told us to find our own ways; as luck would have it, after hearing nearly nothing about him for the past ten years, he's also participating in this tournament. You would not believe how incredibly skilled he has become." Ryu winked at Gouken.
"Some things never change ..." Gouken muttered to himself. "Eh, who's that?"
Ryu eyed the figure running towards them. "My daughter."
"Oh, congratulations."
Quite out of breath, Kirina skidded to a halt in front of the warriors. "Dad, Nunky, Guy ... what just happened here? I've been looking everywhere for you."
"Why? What's going on, Kirina?"
Kirina tossed a thumb over her shoulder, indicating the general direction of the hotel and the nearby restaurant. "It's Master Gen - he's called a meeting. Seems like they finally found a clue as to who M. is."
"Somebody knows who M. is?" Ken asked, jumping to his feet. "Oh boy, this I can't wait to hear."
"Who's M.?" Zeku asked.
"Who are these guys?" Kirina wanted to know.
Ken sighed. "It's a long story on both sides. C'mon, there's time to tell it before we get to the restaurant."
Osaka, Japan
Forty minutes have passed
"We all here?" Bison muttered out of the corner of his mouth to Gill. "Good. Maybe we'll finally get a heads-up as to what this is all about." He glanced to the side, noting where Ryu and Ken were seated with their master. "Hmm, that's a face I haven't seen in years. Looks like Gouken is still mad about what I did to him two decades ago. Bah, all I did was beat him within an inch of his life - that's not a capital offense, is it?"
The restaurant was crowded and rightfully so. Barring the still-absent Darkstalkers' Alliance, every team was present, as were a number of acquaintances not actively participating in the tournament. Every spare table had been occupied - though no definite announcements had yet been made, word had rapidly spread that someone had appeared who had connections to M. "Everyone's here," Sagat declared, scanning the room with his one good eye. "Even people that I'd never thought I'd see again. Except Dadallent - he isn't here."
"That man is impossible to track," McGrath replied. "It's not like we're missing anything with his absence at any rate. Showtime." He stood up and walked to a raised stage set against the back wall of the restaurant. Here, where he was a meter above the floor and conspicuous in his tuxedo, McGrath rapped a spoon against a glass. "May I have your attention, please?" The room swiftly quieted.
"You all have been called here tonight because at last someone who knows the identity of M. is here. Without explaining the circumstances of how she came here, I present to you ... Regina." He gestured to his right; when nothing happened, McGrath indicated the stage with a toss of the head. "Come on, don't be shy."
Regina drew audible gasps and cheers from the crowd as she hesitantly stepped up to the stage. Even though her wings were no longer visible, her beauty and her presence still shone around the entire room. McGrath held out the microphone to her; she took it as well as his position. When McGrath had comfortably retaken his own seat at the vet table, Regina cleared her throat. "Um ... well, I don't know how to begin. First off, I'm very glad to be able to be with all of you tonight. I hope that there will be plenty of time for us to become friends. About M. Her real name is Marin and she is ... my sister."
The crowd murmured with surprise. "Then that means ... are you ...?" Kirina asked.
Regina smiled sweetly. "Yes. Marin and I are both goddesses. My dear older sister taught me nearly all of what I know. It's difficult to stand here and explain in words - perhaps it would be better if I actually showed you." Regina set the microphone down. Then she raised her hands high and a vision blotted out the sight of all present. The restaurant, Regina herself, everything ... all of it faded away. In its place, those assembled saw another scene in another time. Two figures walked through a sunlit park, tiled stones paved in front of them. The sun shone merrily upon their backs; everywhere, trees and flowers were in full bloom. One of the figures was obviously an angel - he wore white robes, had the stature of a Greek god, and a pair of wings sprouted from his back. The woman walking by his side was shorter. Her hands were folded behind her back and the first thought that occurred to many was how much she looked like Regina. Her hair was a seductive auburn. The vision zoomed in, allowing the viewers a clearer look at Marin's face.
"Lady Regina should be waiting for you at the manor," the angel said. "I am certain that she will be most overjoyed to see you, Lady Marin."
"Two years," Marin said thoughtfully. "It's been two years since mother passed away, yet I could not return to watch over Regina until now. I trust that you and the others have taken good care of her? I wonder how she looks - this will be the first time I see her." Suddenly a strange sound caught her attention and she glanced off to the side. "Eh ... who is that?" She indicated a clearing to her left; a young girl, perhaps six years old, was crying. As Marin drew closer, she saw that the girl was also slightly dirty and seemed to be holding something in her hands. Tear tracks ran down her lovely cheeks.
The angel sighed. "That would be the Lady Regina." He stepped off the path and towards the clearing; Marin followed him. "Lady Regina, look at yourself! Today is the day when your sister comes and you present a terrible appearance!"
"No, 'tis alright." Marin stepped past the angel and motioned; obediently he withdrew and watched from a distance. She knelt down to put herself at the same level as her sister. "Good morning, Regina. What are you weeping about?"
"I - Lady Marin, I found - I found this ..." Regina opened her hands, revealing a motionless spread-winged dove. "I think - I think - I think it's dead!" she sobbed.
Marin studied the bird with a considering eye. "Look more closely, Regina. She may not be moving, but she still draws breath. All she needs is a little encouragement." Marin opened her palms and placed her hand above Regina's; a moment later, a spark of light dropped down into the body of the dove, which instantly stood up, chirped merrily, and then took wing and soared away. Regina immediately burst into smiles. "Incredible! Thank you, Lady Marin!"
"Please, just call me Marin, dear sister," Marin replied, extending her hand to Regina.
"That was the first time I met my sister," Regina said thoughtfully, once more picking up the microphone. "I do not know why Marin hosted this tournament, though I am sure she has noble intentions in mind. Thank you all for listening tonight." She stepped off the stage and returned to her place at the veteran's table. "Greetings, Gill," Regina said, nodding in his direction. "I hadn't realized that you were also here."
"I only just entered, my lady," Gill replied, bowing to her before taking his seat.
"You seem to know each other," Bison commented. "Care to enlighten us?"
Regina smiled warmly. "Gill is a seraph, created by one of the gods. He served under both Marin and myself at one point, before coming down to Earth and trying to establish Utopia here. I hear from both Rose and Gen that he did not recognize Marin's voice - rather surprising for a seraph as accomplished as he is. I gave him a bit of my power in order to help speed his way. It's a commendable dream - any progress, Gill?"
"We shall have heaven on earth by the year 2200," Gill replied smoothly. "My lady, you will always have a home within the Illuminati at any time."
"I appreciate your generosity," Regina replied. She leaned back into her chair; meanwhile, Mason Storm had ascended the stage and was busy making a flowery speech about the tournament. "I have heard much about this tournament. But even I can only guess at my sister's motives this time - I do not know what she intends to accomplish by this."
McGrath consulted his watch. "I entered this tournament with suspicions that there was some sinister force at work. The attack on Rose has only deepened these suspicions. Regina, is there some other agent who would seek evil through this tournament? Because I for one am still not reassured about your sister's benevolence."
Gill growled; Regina merely nodded. "I understand, Ernest, but I cannot believe any evil of my sister considering how we grew up together. She was the one constant companion by my side from childhood all the way to when I became a certified Class SA goddess. Marin has never been any less than kind and considerate towards me. Of us two, she has always been the stronger and the more driven one, yet Marin is a soft and gentle soul."
"I see," McGrath said thoughtfully, his tone indicating that he plainly did not.
"If I may have a word in private with you, doctor?" Gill muttered. He and McGrath stood up and left the table, slipping out of sight into an unoccupied side room. Gill quietly closed the screen door behind himself.
"And watch the sparks fly ..." Sagat commented.
"I am sorry, did I say something I should not have?" Regina asked. "Gill has always been rather ... overzealous. He will not attempt to hurt Ernest, will he?"
"Don't worry about it," Sagat and Gen advised simultaneously.
While Yun crooned out a love song on the stage, Regina, appearing lost in thought, suddenly brightened. "I may know what Marin intends. She and I spoke often about the sufferings that living creatures endure. Watch carefully." That last bit was directed at everyone present in the room. With those words, again reality disappeared and was replaced by the ghostly vision of events in the past.
"Open your eyes, Regina ... do you recognize this place?" Marin indicated the surrounding landscape with a sweep of her arm. They were both standing atop a mountain peak; looking down, Regina saw a large arch supported by two circular columns constructed of polished marble that shone in the sunlight. It was set up in the middle of a flat plain, wind merrily breezing amongst the tall grass that grew this season. The structure towered above the surrounding landscape, in all looking very much like a doorway that led from nowhere to nowhere. From her vantage point, Regina had an excellent view of the entire scene.
"Why ... the legendary Gate of True Hearts!" Regina exclaimed.
"Yes," Marin replied, "but it is no legend. Look below you." Regina peered intently; at the base of the gate, dwarfed by its massive architecture, a man and a woman were holding hands. As Regina's eyes focused, she observed that the woman was actually an angel. They shared a long, passionate kiss. "This is indeed none other than the Gate of True Hearts. Do you know the purpose of this gate, dear sister? Many beings from one world fall in love with those of another. As a trial of their love, they must all eventually face this dread test. Here they walk past the gate together, should their love be true - but if not, if there is even the least insincerity or doubt in their hearts, then they are separated, forever. We may all walk this gate one day, and perhaps more than once. Look." Marin pointed; the two of them, angel and man, clasped their hands and bravely, determinedly, strode through the doorway. But only the angel reappeared on the other side; glancing around and missing her beloved, she immediately broke down into weeping, sobbing into her hands.
Regina felt tears welling up within her own eyes in sympathy with the angel. "Sad, is it not?" Marin asked, sighing. "Very few of those who meet this trial pass it successfully. From this vantage point I have seen many lovers attempt the ultimate test of their bond; I too share the pain of those who failed." Marin sighed, then continued in a voice both louder and stronger. "Why - why do we gods impose such trials on other lesser beings? Do they not have the same privilege to joy that we take for ourselves? Are we so cruel as to deny them happiness? Where is the justice?!" Marin raised her hand; it took on an ethereal glow, and then, in a gentle voice, she said, "Regina, bring that angel away from the gate. However brokenhearted she may be right now, she need not suffer more."
Regina nodded; a moment later, she had teleported herself beside the gate. The angel looked too shattered to observe the proprieties due to a goddess, but Regina could feel only sympathy for her. As she took the angel's hand and softly led her away, Regina could not help but wonder if she herself might one day experience the very same emotions. When they were sufficiently far away, a burst of energy descended from the heavens and impacted on the doorway, hard. There was an explosion that blinded Regina for a moment; when it cleared, she and the angel both looked back. The doorway, once imposing and magnificent, had been reduced to the level of a ruin. Half of the arch was gone, as well as most of the top of its supporting column. Bits of marble had been blasted everywhere, yet the Gate of True Hearts still stood. A moment later, Marin appeared beside her sister and the angel. "Even I cannot destroy it," Marin sighed regretfully. "I would gladly spare anyone the prospect of facing this trial, but it seems that I cannot. I am sorry." She looked into the angel's eyes. "Courage, dear heart. You may yet love again; may you meet with better fortune then."
"Please remain focused," Regina requested. The vision of the gate vanished and was swiftly replaced.
"And graduating first in her grade ... presenting Class SA goddess, Regina!" While Regina stepped onto the platform, shocked, elated, and surprised, Marin watched from the sidelines. The crowd that had gathered for the graduation ceremony was enormous, as it always was. Marin smiled, a little sadly, as Regina received a bouquet of flowers. All those hundreds of years when she had first met Regina and then devoted every last hour of them to training her little sister - they'd passed so quickly. And while she herself still outranked Regina at Class SX, she was both proud and saddened to see her beloved younger sister graduate.
"Dear Regina ..." Marin whispered. "You have a kind heart and a gentle soul. I fear that the realities of the mortal world may sorely test it. I could not stand to see your heart broken, as I am certain it will be. When I see you again, will you still be the same sister I have always loved? Or will I grieve for another changed soul, as I grieved for Eldrin long ago?" Sighing to herself, Marin slipped away through the crowd and to the back of the enormous temple complex. There were still preparations to be made for her sister's surprise party.
"Your sister must have been very close to you," Gen observed, stating the obvious as the scenery faded away.
"So she was," Regina replied. "After my graduation, her sense of right and wrong only intensified. Many nights I have beheld how her heart struggles between propriety and compassion. I believe that she called this tournament in order to find an able helper - one who will assist her in bringing heaven to this world. What I do not understand is why she would host a tournament, of all possibilities, to do so."
"Neither do we," Haggar said. "Thankfully, our friends have been resurrected - did you do this, Regina?"
She shook her head. "No. I suspect that my sister did so. Only a god or goddess can restore life to the dead, but ... we believe in the natural order of things. 'Tis only in extreme circumstances that I would resort to resurrection, and I know that my sister felt the same way. One of my questions was how she could be pressed into employing such a desperate measure. I apologize if what I say is cruel, but if it were my decision many of your friends would not be here. Again, I apologize," she added when Gen and Bison gave each other telling looks.
"What do you plan to do?" Commando asked.
"I will stay here for the time being," Regina replied. "I wish to speak with my dear sister once more. And I do hope that I can make new friends here." She looked up as an obviously drunk Mitsukake Kagatoshi staggered down from the stage and pressed the microphone into her hands. "You wish to hear me sing? How flattering of you." She helped Mitsukake into the seat that she had vacated and glided onto the stage.
"Regina sings beautifully," Ken Masters sighed at his table. He glanced craftily at the table's other occupants, winking at Gouken. "I wonder if she'd be willing to go out with me later. Hey, you're only in trouble once caught, right?"
"You never will grow up, will you?" Guy ribbed.
"By the way," Go Hibiki inquired, "where is my son Dan?"
Ryu and Guy looked away. After a long silence, Ken said softly, "He died in combat with Dadallent."
"What?!" Shock and dismay spread across Go's face. "That same shrouded ninja - he killed my son?"
"He killed me, too, in the past," Zeku added. "Be careful; he was a dangerous opponent even while I was alive, and I believe that time has only strengthened him. You have fought him before, haven't you?"
"Yes," Ryu replied. "He came by once while Ken and I were training together. That particular fight ended in a draw, but I doubt we could take him, even together, in a rematch. Time will tell, though; I suspect that he and I are not yet finished with each other."
At another table, Edgar laid down a card and tried to play with half of his mind while the other half listened to Regina's song. "Dark Magician. Your move, Kikoken."
"Alright. I'll lay a card face-down in defense stance." Kikoken slipped a card onto the table and leaned back.
"Hah. My Dark Magician attacks your card. Show it!"
"Edgar, you really ought to pay more attention to the game." Kikoken revealed a trap on the field. "Holy Mirror, Reflection Barrier. There goes your circus act." She smiled innocently as Edgar grumbled while placing his card into the graveyard. "My move. I think I'll turn this card face-up and attack with it." Kikoken revealed the card. "Blue-Eyed White Dragon attacks you directly. Game over."
Edgar muttered something to himself and gathered his cards. Chan, who had been on edge all night, finally stood up. "Excuse me, you guys, but I'm going to go talk to Hiryu, okay?"
"Don't," Edgar advised, shuffling his deck. "That boy is nothing but trouble."
"How dare you?" Chan replied indignantly. "Hiryu is a sweet, lovable man."
"Don't let him blind you to the truth. He's an assassin and would kill his own mother for a nickel. Hey!" Edgar raised his voice as Chan began to walk away. "Chan! Listen, stay away from him! I'm warning you!"
"At least you're not doing it anonymously," she shot back as she strode off.
"You know," Kenneth Feng commented to his friends, "I've seen a lot of weird stuff in my days, but a goddess? This is too much." He sighed and reached for a bottle of alcohol. "Life was so simple back in the day." Rather than drinking another glass, though, he laid his head on the table and fixed his eyes on Regina.
"Yeah," Yun commented, staring at Regina. "I understand what you mean; for the longest time I thought that Gill was at the pinnacle of the natural order. Now, to overhear that he's still far below people like Regina and Marin - kinda screws with your head, doesn't it? I wonder if we'll be seeing many more surprises in this tournament? Fate knows I was surprised enough to meet Uncle Gen again." He shrugged his shoulders. "Still, this Marin can't be all that bad. I can't wait 'til the finals when we actually get to see her."
"Yeah, big bro, let's win this tournament and do something good with the money - and our newfound powers," Yin added.
"I'd be gratified with just the title," Darrell chipped in.
"I personally don't care for any of the rewards," Kirina noted. "For me, it's about fighting a worthy adversary and learning all that I can from the fight."
"School bills still have to be paid," Sakura reminded her. "That, and house bills, and food bills, and ... everything. It was very nice of Marin to make the tournament completely free and even pay us to attend, though. We'll survive for another year just on the entry pay alone."
"Yeah, and all this media attention is great, too," Darrell commented, leaning back in his chair. He traded a quick kiss with Sakura; Yun and Yang simply looked at each other. Kenneth tried to do the same to Kirina but somehow found himself intercepted by Yun at every turn.
"... Well, I have a joke if anyone wants to hear it," Jill Valentine said, glancing at the Phantoms as well as her own squadmates and a few American Vigilantes. She forged ahead when all present nodded in approval. "It's kinda long, so bear with me. Oh, and it's actually made up of four separate and distinct stories. The first story is this: A man and his wife are driving down a highway. The guy's driving, but his wife keeps nagging him - 'Speed up! Turn on the headlights! Hey, nincompoop, you missed our exit!' Finally the man has had it, turns around, and slaps his wife, saying, 'Are you driving or am I?' The second story: They've arrived home and now the wife is preparing dinner. Unfortunately, the husband keeps pestering her, saying, 'You ought to turn up the fire. Add more salt! This junk tastes horrible!' With that, the wife loses her temper and smacks her husband, yelling 'Are you cooking or am I?' The third story: after dinner, the wife is gossiping on the phone, but her husband keeps trying to cut in - 'How are the relatives? Is Tim back from school yet? Can they come over for Christmas?' The wife finally loses it, turns around and slaps her husband, saying, 'Are you trying to talk or am I?'" Jill placed her hands flat on the table. "Well, there you go."
As expected, Blake Wallis immediately fell for the trap. "Hold up, what happened to the fourth story ...?"
He drew back as Jill slapped him solidly across the cheek, at the same time shouting, "Are you telling this joke or am I?" Charlie and Mason roared with laughter, while Samantha shook her head in disapproval at Blake. Blake rubbed his cheek with one hand and tried to look rueful. A moment later they all burst into uncontrolled laughter. The audience trying to listen to Regina's singing shot them dirty looks.
As Regina finished her song and resumed her seat, Dr. McGrath and Jedah Dohma both simultaneously glanced at the entrance of the restaurant. The door was wide open, as Gen often liked to leave it, but that was not what had drawn their attention. McGrath's eyes narrowed as his highly refined spiritual senses picked out very faint traces of energy that had been left lying around. Jedah, studying the same entrance, also felt a slight twinge of unease. "Jedah, did you also feel ... that we were being watched?"
"Yes, I did."
"Is something wrong?" Regina asked politely.
McGrath indicated the entrance of the restaurant, where the residual energy had nearly faded into oblivion. Still, that sense of unease remained in the back of his mind and now he realized why. McGrath and Jedah traded concerned looks before the former turned to address Regina. "Just a moment ago ... Jedah and I are certain of it ... he was watching you. Dadallent."