Curse of the Jin
Disclaimer: I own none of these characters. All characters that come from Fatal Fury, etc. come from SNK.
Author's Note: Important. This fanfiction assumes that Real Bout Fatal Fury (and all events associated, including stuff that happened in RBFFS and RBFFS to an extent) happened in 1996. Also, a lot of things are going to be taken from the movies and other non-canon sources. This will become more apparent as time goes on.
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Chapter 5: Jin Yuan Part II
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"… Is it because you've heard all of this before?" Chonshu said, still counting on his fingers the number of bags each under Krauser's eyes… He was up to six.
"... Hm?" Krauser said, shaking his glass. "Yes, I've heard this before. It is not why I look as if I haven't had any sleep, however."
"What's with that look, then?" Chonshu said, taking a swig of his drink. He found it revolting and spat it out. The establishment's owner threw him a glowering look. "Nevermind, it's probably none of my business. You sure are telling me a lot about my own past, though… Much of it I didn't even know. Probably because I'm the youngest Jin… I've only been here for two-hundred years and they only told most of the history to Chonrei… And you must've been really patient to listen to this much if you wanted to shake down Tung Fu Rue for information on-"
"Shake him down for information? It was impossible for me, at the time, actually… He was actually forcing it down my throat. But there's another time for that story."
"I see," Chonshu said, standing up. He wished he didn't have to listen to Krauser, like this, as interesting as this story. The most important thing on his mind was getting to Chonrei, and they were on the border between Guangdong and Hunan. "Damn this impossible weather."
"I'm sorry that the elements are working against us, but we must rest, we have much longer to walk."
"… I know… I don't have to like it." Chonshu said, sitting in his chair.
"What I'm telling you is very important… We haven't much time." Krauser said, watching Chonshu adjust his chair.
"Why? What does it have to do with anything??""
"Your brother's attackers are deeply involved in the Jin's past, Chonshu. Chonrei resisted, and the ones who attacked him did so to make him pay for it."
"You still haven't told me how my brother is doing."
"I have been quiet because you need to see it for yourself. Please, hear me out Jin Chonshu."
"… Okay. Alright. It's just… Really hard to think right now."
Krauser nodded. "… Jin Yuan hid out, and continued his own line. His offspring were also immortal. However, although their lives were much longer, they often suffered curious deaths such that there was still a requirement for each generation to have new children. Regardless, his family's influence in China began to grow into tremendous proportions. In the second century AD, it was finally time for Jin Yuan to make his move. The Prime Minister of the then-installed child-emperor of China, the lord Cao Cao, made overtures and offerings to the first documented ruler of Japan at the time, the Empress Himiko. A corrupt official was said to have given gifts of food to the Empress. However, these foods were tainted by the official… He was none other than Jin Yuan, just under a different name. His plan was to take out the Mikado and use Japan as his base of operations with which to rule the rest of the world, starting with China. Japan as a springboard, Jin Yuan could possibly attack China and retake the Jin Scrolls. However, a group of sorcerers under the Empress knew immediately that there was something wrong with this 'gift'. With their advice, Himiko had the food thrown out. Do you know who these Japanese sorcerers are…?"
"… Could it be? Sokaku's family, the Mochizuki?"
"The very same."
"Urgh…" Chonshu rubbed his head. "Chonrei mentioned that they were our mortal enemies… I didn't know it went this far back!"
"Some of the Mochizuki followed Jin Yuan to China. Jin Yuan himself was remonstrated by Cao Cao for souring relationships between China and Japan, and the Prime Minister sent away Jin Yuan, and soon after enlisted the help of assassins. The rivals of Jin, the Hakkyokuseiken, were the assassins he specifically used. However, they were no match for Jin Yuan. Although he was but one man, the Hakkyokuseiken had weakened over time, for whatever reason... They had weakened so much that other rival schools could easily disperse and eliminate them if they so pleased. Only the descendant of Tung, whom the Hakkyokuseiken had taken in, could stand a chance. However, it wasn't enough. Right before the final blows could be landed, the Mochizuki appeared and assisted the Hakkyokuseiken, and together Jin Yuan was finally defeated. Tung, finishing the work that his predecessor had done, vanquished Jin Yuan's essence into the Jin Scrolls. The Mochizuki, figuring out what Jin Yuan had done in the past, requested that the Jin Scrolls be burnt immediately. Tung said that the Jin Scrolls would simply manifest again in some form if not properly disposed of. The Mochizuki asked why this was- Tung replied that the essence of a man can never truly be destroyed, and if so determined can linger and even revitalize itself. The Jin Scrolls were only a way to lock the power of Jin, and apparently burning it would only release it. The only way to truly get rid of Jin Yuan was to have one of Jin's family members to do some damage to it- rip it, tear it, cut it in half, or even out-right destroy it. Anything left, another could dispose of by the 'burning' that the Mochizuki suggested. Any improper way of dealing with the Jin Scrolls could result into something calamitous. The possibility of a Jin destroying the Jin Scrolls was ludicrous to both Hakkyokuseiken and Mochizuki- if the Jin Scrolls were to reunite with a Jin family member, he or she could do one of two things with it- destroy it, as was the only way to deal with it… Or meld its powers to their own essence, and thus become as powerful as Jin Yuan was before the Jin Scrolls had been created. The Mochizuki opted to let the Hakkyokuseiken keep the Scrolls. However, the Jin were ever bothersome in trying to reclaim the Jin Scrolls. Eventually, the Hakkyokuseiken had it sent overseas to a secret location. Geese however…"
"Yes…" Chonshu said, quiet after a long while. "He discovered where it was. We're getting close to current time."
"Geese managed to discover the location after fighting both Tung and myself."
"You?"
"Yes… You see, after Tung Fu Rue was finished giving his history lesson, he asked me to defend the Scrolls. Apparently, the Tungs had a Dutch merchant make sure that the Jin Scrolls went to a safe place, where it's purpose could never be found. Napoleon Bonaparte had somehow gotten a hold of it in the eighteenth century and it was eventually sent as a present to someone that was part of the Hozenhollern dynasty."
"Germany… It was Strolheim, wasn't it? It took the Jins a long time to find out that you were holding on to them, Krauser."
"Yes. Strangely enough, it had fallen into my hands of all places. Geese, my half-brother was in no condition to fight me. However, during the King of Fighters tournament that I hosted, he had Billy Kane steal it away. Of all the deception…"
"… But you didn't go after Geese…" Chonshu said, narrowing his eyes (though not angrily), "… I never saw you in Southtown throughout my whole time there."
"It's because I still didn't believe Tung. After leaving China, however, despite how overly spectacular it seemed, for some reason I was still worried. However… An event brought peace to my mind. It was that unlikely event that I thought would settle everything."
"When Chonrei tore the scrolls in half." Chonshu guessed- and correctly, as Krauser nodded.
"Yes. Then Sokaku Mochizuki burnt it. I thought that was that… But late one night, Tung Fu Rue came to me. None of my guards were able to stop him. My servant, Laurence Blood, had barely been holding out until I arrived. Tung only wished to speak to me. It had only been a little bit of time after this year started, and I was tired and extremely exasperated by his presence. I learnt something that bothered me- no, chilled me… Your brother had destroyed the scrolls, and Sokaku apparently took care of the rest. Or so, we thought. Sokaku, it turns out, had not burnt EVERYTHING. The Mochizuki head leader asked Sokaku to bring back pieces of the scroll as proof that his mission had been accomplished. The Mochizuki were shocked to find that the pieces that Sokaku had intended to show the Mochizuki head… were gone."
"Oh my God." Chonshu said, bluntly.
"They kept this quiet for four years… They thought that Sokaku had sufficiently dealt with the Jin Scrolls in any case, and that the other pieces that were lost out of carelessness, were of no consequence. In January, it hasn't been reported yet, but half of the Mochizuki have been murdered in cold blood. The same person who did this is the same person who attacked your brother."
Chonshu felt his whole body chill, and an invisible thing lump in his throat.
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End of Chapter 5.
Author's Note: Chonshu's in big trouble, no doubt. I'm sorry for all of the previous errors, taking a look back there were SO many of them in the chapters before. However, I believe that if I hadn't written them so quickly I would've lost the ideas put in them. Forgive me.