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. Many liberties with the stories will be taken. This will become more apparent as time goes on.
Author's Mistake: My apologies, I had meant to say that the Jin Scrolls had been torn to pieces by Chonrei, not torn in half.
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Chapter 6: Fade
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"… Was this the same person who had Michael Max waylay me?" Chonshu said, very still at this point.
"Yes. To be truthful, I didn't think he'd be successful. You really should have escaped as soon as possible…" Krauser said.
"… And this is all happening because Sokaku failed to dispose of the Jin Scrolls." Chonshu continued, trying to make his voice very even.
Krauser closes his eyes. "I don't know why, but I believed Tung Fu Rue this time, and went to find out what had happened. The man who killed so many of the Mochizuki and attacked Jin Chonrei… Tung knew immediately who he was. As the Tungs of before had predicted, the power of Jin was remanifested… The world was once again tainted by the physical presence of Jin Yuan."
"IMPOSSIBLE!" Chonshu literally screamed. "Why!? WHY CHONREI!? He's Jin Yuan's heir!"
"Because Jin Yuan knew that it was Chonrei that ripped apart the scrolls. But something went wrong when Jin Yuan rematerialized on the physical plane- he didn't have full power. Apparently, he remained the same way that he after the Jin Scrolls had been created and before he had been sealed in them- his power remained locked. What also began to rematerialize were the Jin Scrolls themselves. However, it was in the same form Chonrei had left them- scraps. The two that Sokaku had accidentally lost had suddenly come back into his possession- and on his deathbed-"
"Sokaku Mochizuki is-"
"Dead. On his deathbed, he gave one of the two, to me on Tung Fu Rue's request." Krauser reached under his raincoat, below the breastplate of his armor, and pulled them out. Chonshu stared at them.
"What do you intend to do?" Chonshu's eyes fixed on the pieces of the Scroll. He felt something strange stir in him.
"The pieces of the scroll seem to be appearing in some pattern. When we meet with Tung Fu Rue and see to your brother, maybe all of us can-"
"You're not going anywhere…" Krauser and Chonshu turned to the entrance of the building, and saw a creepy red-haired man wearing a gold-colored mask. His body was wrapped in a black robe with yellow-lining.
Who is this joker?? Chonshu thought as he noted that this man's clothes were similar to that of a cultist. "… You're with Jin Yuan, aren't you!?"
"Hey buddy, you're causing problems with my business," The establishment's owner said, walking towards the masked man. "If you're not going to buy a drink, then maybe you should AAAGGGGHHHHH" The masked man's hands shot forth, as if clawing at the owner. His whole body was slashed and mangled with one swipe. Everyone except for Chonshu (who stood up) and Krauser (who remained sitting, though his fists clenched and the cup in his hand broke) screamed and fled out of the building. The owner gurgled, coughing up blood, and then died soon after.
"The boy must come with me. My contractor wants him, and he's not very happy that the previous hirelings failed miserably," The masked man said. "Well, child? You know my power- now come with me, or shall I drag you along?"
"I'm not going anywhere. You… You bastard, you just killed that man!" Chonshu said. Kim had certainly done a good job instilling justice in Chonshu, as the same righteous anger was burning in his eyes. "He wasn't even doing anything wrong- I'll make you pay!"
"No, Jin Chonshu!" Krauser said, throwing off his coat. "I'll handle this. What's your name, mörder?"
"Call me anything you want. However, if you'd like a universally accepted designation, Freeman would be fine," The masked man replied curtly.
"Okay, Freeman…" Krauser said, casting off his armor. "Let's burn it up!"
"I live for the violence…" Freeman said, laughing. "Come, noble Strolheim! If you want to die, that is!"
Freeman leapt outside. Krauser harrumphed, and both he and Chonshu followed him.
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Freeman stood at the center of the road, the rain beating against his robes. "Your move."
"Gladly- Blitzball!" Krauser said, throwing a fireball out of his hands.
"Tengan Ken!" Chonshu concentrated his energy into his hands and threw a projectile at Freeman.
"Boring," Freeman said, dancing around both projectiles.
"I'll handle this!" Krauser said to Chonshu, pushing him away.
"But-"
"Honor my request, Chonshu! It is for your own good!" Krauser said, as Freeman suddenly closed in on the German nobleman.
"CHEEYEAGGGH!" Freeman leapt into the air and slashed at Krauser.
"Nggh!" Krauser blocked with his arms, and Freeman clawed deeply into them. In retaliation, Krauser grabbed Freeman while in mid-air and flung him into the floor.
Freeman let out a screech before he hit the dirt. As he got up, rubbing his head…
"Rising Tomahawk!" Freeman rolled away before Krauser's foot could slam into his face.
"Fool!" Freeman spat, suddenly running towards Chonshu.
"Chonshu!" Krauser yelled out. Before Freeman could get close, however, Chonshu teleported right behind Krauser.
"Did the man that hired you forget that I could do that?" Chonshu said, chuckling.
"Hmph. He said you would be easy- after all, your brother wasn't so tough."
"… YOU!? IT WAS YOU!??"
"Ha, I wasn't the one that gave him a beating. I only contributed a little. The bastard put up quite a fight, though. He managed to escape though- no thanks to you and that old man!" Freeman said, glaring at Krauser.
"I'm going to kill you!" Chonshu cried out.
"No! I will handle this!" Krauser said, holding Chonshu back.
"You're annoying me," Freeman muttered. "KYEAAGH!"
Krauser was nearly caught off-guard as Freeman closed distance between them, and swiped several times at Krauser, howling manically. Krauser blocked again… He knew if this kept up, Freeman would get through his defenses… He'd die of bleeding from the arms if he didn't do anything quick… Krauser saw his chance.
"HYAAH!"
"URGH!" Krauser, in an opening, slammed his huge fist into Freeman's stomach. Krauser proceeded to punch Freeman in the face, then slam his foot right into his mask, breaking it.
"You… You ing asshole…" Freeman said, struggling to get up…
"Weak!" Krauser said, beckoning to him.
Freeman stood… Chonshu noticed that a slight shadow was trailing behind him. He walked forward…
"Fool. Leaving yourself open like this!" Krauser said, throwing a punch.
"No! Krauser-" Chonshu was too late to warn him. Krauser seemed to hit Freeman, but everything darkened… The heck is going on?-
Chonshu heard Freeman say ominously, "Ikuzo…!"
"HWARRRGH!" Chonshu panicked when Krauser cried aloud in pain, and Freeman began to laugh manically, his own voice drowning Krauser's out. Chonshu could barely make out Freeman, slashing Krauser again and again, the heir of Strolheim unable to retaliate. Chonshu had only one option, quickly recovering from his panic… He sneaked over to Freeman's side as he wasn't paying attention (seeing as the psychopath was busy rending Krauser into oblivion), focused all his energy…
"Teio Syukukyo Ken!" A sphere of fire shot forth from Chonshu's hands, engulfing Freeman.
"AUUUGHHHH!" Freeman's body went flying towards the side of the road. Chonshu took a deep breath as the sphere slowly dissipated.
"GODDAMN IT!" Freeman, burned all over and with several bones broken, tried one last time to attack. This time, however, his focus was diverted to Chonshu. Chonshu seemed to wait for Freeman to attack… Freeman jumped at him, his body spinning around and preparing to rip out Chonshu's eyes…
"Hi En Zan!" Chonshu's whole body also spun, his leg kicking upwards… A trail of energy shaped like a dragon followed his foot…
"OOF!" Chonshu's foot connected with Freeman's stomach. Chonshu landed on his feet, and Freeman landed on his side, unconscious. The darkness was beginning to recede.
"Krauser!" Chonshu said, running over to Krauser, who was on his knees and clutching his chest. "Are you alright? We have to get you to a hospital… Damn, we're so far from the nearest city…"
"… Chonshu. Take this and run." Krauser said, thrusting the Jin Scroll piece into Chonshu's hands.
"What!?" Chonshu said, a little taken aback.
"He's here…" Krauser said, standing. Chonshu's head turned around and a near-breakneck speed. There was a silhouette of a man in long flowing robes… Chonshu couldn't make out much with this weather, but the color of this man's robes was green, and he looked quite young, except for his white hair. The man threw his head back and laughed.
"Hakkyokuseiken fool…" The man said, rubbing his chin, looking at Krauser with disdain. "Freeman did quite a number on you- however, my descendant did an impressive job, however disappointing he may be."
"Jin Yuan Chonshu!" Chonshu yelled, over the pouring rain. "Why did you attack Chonrei!"
"Hahaha… You catch on quite quickly. I am indeed Jin Yuan Chonshu… And your brother should've been wiser than to disobey me. Tearing up the Jin Scrolls! Thank goodness for the Mochizuki incompetence, though… Because I have returned. After so many centuries, I again rise to claim my birthright, and conquer this world!"
"Once my ambition- you'll be stopped! Here and now!"
"No! Jin Chonshu… You must escape…" Krauser said, standing between Chonshu and Yuan.
"Foolish mortal! You wish to test my might!?"
"I am more than a match for you." Krauser said.
"Brave words. Prove them."
"HAAAAAH!!!!!!" Krauser said, gathering up energy in his fists, stretching his arms out to his sides.
Chonshu stepped back. Such immense power… Could it be? He kept backing off… But Yuan did not move, and merely laughed again.
"MNNNNNHHHH!!!!!" Yuan also began to gather his own energy. Chonshu felt that he should turn away, but he couldn't… His eyes were locked in place… The earth rumbled, and the sky shook. It was as if the world was about to be torn apart. Chonshu continued to stare at Krauser and Yuan, but now he broke into a run. Finally, Krauser unleashed his final attack.
"KAISER… WAAAAAAAAVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" An enormous purple wave of energy that took the width of the whole road shot forth at Yuan... Chonshu decided to keep his eyes on the road ahead of him, this time.
"FOOLISHNESS! HERE IS THE MIGHT OF JIN! SHIN TEIO SYUKUKYO KEN!" Yuan flung his hands in front of him. Four dragons seemingly made of fire shot forth from his hands… All four dragons clashed with Krauser's Kaiser Wave… The conflict of energy looked as if it were tearing the very fabric of existence… But the Shin Teio Syukukyo Ken eventually won out, and to Chonshu's horror, Krauser was thrown dozens of feet forward, until he landed right in front of Chonshu.
"… … Krauser!!!" Chonshu cried, getting over his initial shock.
"… … J-… Jin…." Krauser rasped. "… Chonshu… You must… Head north… Run… Don't stop… Go… … Tung will meet you… And I… … I must meet my maker. Chonshu… If you could ever get the chance… Tell Leo that I am sorry…" With that, Krauser raised a hand to the heavens… Then the hand slumped down onto his chest, the spark of life leaving him.
Chonshu stared at Krauser's dead body, open-mouthed.
Then he broke into a run… As fast as he could… North, north… This wasn't north… Chonshu kept running… His breath leaving him… He passed a woman by… She waved for him to stop, but he didn't stop for her… He encountered a flooded ditch over which a rickety bridge had been built. Chonshu ran on the bridge, but it fell out under him. Chonshu grabbed onto a rock on the other side, however, and scurred up… He kept running. Keep heading north, keep heading north…
He ran for hours and hours on end… His brain had completely lost all sense of time… All he knew was that he had to run north, the image of Krauser's body permanently etched in his mind.
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Jin Chonshu finally reached a clearing… There, he nearly collapsed. He was so out of breath... When he finally had the ability to see clearly, he saw a small hut there… Tung Fu Rue was standing there, as if waiting for him all this time. Tung looked at him sorrowfully. It was as if he already knew what happened. Tung stepped into the hut, and Chonshu ran in after him, past him, yelling, "CHONREI!"
Chonshu heard a cough, and there was his brother, Jin Chonrei… His face was bruised, battered… He had a terrible cough… Chonshu didn't notice it, but a tear flowed down Tung's cheek.
"Brother…" Chonshu said, kneeling down next to Chonrei.
"Chonshu…! It's good that I get to see you in my last moments…"
"No Chonrei… Please, by the heavens and all that is holy, PLEASE don't SAY THAT!"
"Chonshu… My time is up…"
"Nono, Chonrei… We've been through everything together…"
"This path, Chonshu… I'm sorry… Maybe it's all my fault!"
"No it isn't!" Chonshu cried through pain, anger, and tears.
"That isn't the little brother I know… The ambitious little brother that I had… Chonshu. You must… You must do what I could not."
"Chonrei!"
"... Heh…" Chonrei said, looking away from Chonshu. "… I'm sorry… But I never was able to attach that wing. Chonshu…" Chonshu felt cold when Chonrei nearly sobbed his name. "Chonshu… Goodbye."
"Chonrei?..." Chonshu said, shaking Chonrei. "Chonrei!? CHONREI!?!?? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!" Chonshu wailed loudly for what seemed like an eternity.
Tung fell to his hands and knees… "Oh… I have been an irresponsible master… Jin Chonshu…"
Chonshu couldn't halt his tears… They just kept coming… He wailed, and raged inwardly at his helplessness. Finally, he turned to Tung… He had gotten a hold of himself, but it was difficult to stop shaking.
"… Take this." Tung placed in Chonshu's hands the piece of the Jin Scroll he was keeping. "… Jin Yuan is nearly here. I will… I will hold him off. You, Jin Chonshu... You must head to safety… And find the rest. Now go!"
"But…" Chonshu said, glancing at Chonrei's body.
"GO!" Tung said.
Chonshu got up reluctantly… The tears still there, he nodded…
He saw the letters that he had sent to Chonrei… For fun, he had carried the letters Chonrei had sent him… They would've compared it, but now… Chonshu took the whole pile of letters and stuffed it in his uniform. He also saw the plane. There was no way to bring it with him without it suffering water damage… Unless…
Chonshu took the plane and wrapped the pieces of the Jin Scroll around it.
Then ran out of the hut, and headed towards anywhere… Anywhere, but there…
Time passed.
Tung Fu Rue said rites for Chonrei… Then began to meditate.
He sensed his presence.
It was time.
Tung Fu Rue stepped out of the hut. There was the Tung's mortal nemesis… Jin Yuan Chonshu.
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"Who is that kid?" One of the sailors of a ship heading for Second Southtown asked.
"Oh, the one over there in the storage room? I don't know… But every time I come in here, he keeps sniffling."
"I feel kinda sorry for him. He seems to have no friends or family to speak of… Did he stowaway on this ship?"
"I think so…"
"Just leave him alone, guys…" Another sailor said. "He seems to have had it rough. He cries in his sleep, when I go in there at night."
Jin Chonshu was huddled in a corner, his Tae Kwon Do outfit still on. He carefully unwrapped the Jin Scroll scraps from the plane… He stared at it.
The tears came surging back. He began to cry, cold, lonely, alone.
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Jin Chonshu would get help from Master Kim… Yes, that was it. Master Kim had already arrived in Second Southtown, most likely.
… But then he took a newspaper from some child passing them out on the docks of Second Southtown…
Chonshu's eyes widened at the horrifying headlines:
KIM KAPH WAN, ARRESTED
Kim Kaph Wan was arrested earlier this morning, for his possible link to the murder of Wolfgang Krauser, the second-to-newest heir of the Strolheim blood… Tung Fu Rue, a participant in the very first King of Fighters tournament and the master of Jeff Bogard and the infamous Geese Howard… And a civilian named Karnak Freeman. For his association with the suspected murderer, a student in Kim Kaph Wan's school, supposedly a Tae Kwon Do prodigy named Jin Chonshu-
"ARGH!" Chonshu yelled, flinging the paper into the ocean.
"Hey, you have to pay for that," The child said. "HEY!"
Chonshu ran far away, into the streets of Second Southtown. He didn't even notice all the construction crew, the skeletons of the new buildings… He ran into a dark alley, and tripped over a trashcan… He lay there, sobbing… There was nowhere else to go…
Unless... Chonshu looked up at the sky. Could it still be there?
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He had dragged it out of the ruins of Southtown… It was the two doors that led to Delta Park, an abode that the Jin Brothers had abandoned long ago… Delta Park itself could never be truly destroyed… Chonshu knew this. The doors were portals…
Some years passed.
Half of Second Southtown had been built.
Some buildings had already been wrecked, made as homes for the old gangs from the first Southtown. They became condemned, destroyed, abandoned… Chonshu decided to use one of these buildings…
He dragged the doors inside one of these buildings, and set them up next to a wall. He made sure both doors were attached firmly to the wall, and then opened it. It was as Chonshu expected, the doors opened…
Chonrei… I'm sorry… If you wanted me to find the rest of the Jin Scroll pieces… I don't think it's in me. With that, Jin Chonshu entered New Delta Park.
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End of Chapter 6.
Author's Note: A very angsty piece, here. Next chapter, we're moving into the Garou: Mark of the Wolves timeline.