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. The fanfiction also assumes that Garou: Mark of the Wolves happens in 2006.
Author's Note II: Note the Gundam SEED-Destiny reference.
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Chapter 9: Rock Howard
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"Honestly…" Alex Dino said, as they neared the apartment where Hotaru Futaba lives.
"Excuse me, let me get my key out… Honestly, what?" Hotaru asked.
"I knew I had a reputation of some sort," Alex said, rubbing his head, "But 'Blue Streak'? Not the best name I would've picked."
"You mean you didn't choose that name out for yourself?" Hotaru was amused at how strangely put out Alex was.
"Actually, I think a name attracts too much attention," Alex said, his shoulders looking much more relaxed as he and Hotaru entered the apartment complex.
"Dealing with the criminal element in the dead of night is kind of attracting attention too, isn't it?" Hotaru closed the door behind them, and looked at him, waiting expectantly for an answer. Alex sighed, relieved. "Feel much safer now that we're off the streets?" Hotaru asked, waving to the manager.
"Kind of… Southtown has a habit of being very unpredictable though. As for getting too much notice, that usually doesn't happen. Most people don't see my face before, well…"
"But why are you doing all of that?"
"… I have a moral obligation to do so. I've lived in this town for eight years." Alex said, his hand sliding over the railing as they climbed the stairs.
"Hmm… that's a noble cause, I suppose…"
"That, and my old master would've wanted it."
"Your old master…?"
"He's dead now."
"Oh, I'm sorry for prodding…"
"Ha, don't worry about it!" Alex said, laughing softly. "I'm sorry for rambling on about myself. I really should ask questions about you, Ms. Futaba…" Alex stopped. "What number did you say was your room?"
"I don't think I ever told you- 305."
"I thought so, because some blonde guy in blue pants and a jacket that looks WAY too small for him is leaning on your door."
"Oh no…" Hotaru muttered, covering her face with both hands. "Not now…"
"You know," Alex said, "I never got to meet Rock Howard in person."
"He's a nice guy, really… He's just-"
"Annoying?"
"I suppose."
"So what is he to you?" Alex said, staring at Hotaru. She stared back at him.
"Well, after the first King of Fighters Maximum Mayhem we… Well… We both had a slight interest in each other at the time. People thought it would be nice if we were together, so they pushed it, we felt mutually about each other, and at first it seemed like the start of a good relationship. But then things soured…"
"Does it have anything to do with Rock working for Kain?"
"Yes..." Hotaru said sadly. "I don't like the way Kain is treating this city… But Rock is willing to work with him as long as Kain can tell him more information about his mother."
"Marie Heinlein."
Hotaru nods. "It's just that I hurt his feelings when I told him he should think of what Kain's doing to Southtown. He thought I was calling him selfish."
"Maybe you were."
Hotaru sighed.
"I didn't mean it like that, what I meant was perhaps he was being selfish and he was refusing to accept that."
Hotaru smiled. "Maybe- in any case, we broke up. A lot of people think we haven't, though, and I'm not sure why. I think it's because Rock keeps sending money-"
"Out of guilt! Hell, he certainly sounds selfish!" Alex said accusingly. Hotaru giggled, and this was enough to catch Rock's attention.
"Yes, money… It's so I can pay off Yamazaki (or anyone else who wants to collect money from me)… But I always send it back. He doesn't need to patronize me like that. Oh, he's coming…"
Alex watched the son of Geese Howard notice them- or rather, Hotaru. Rock was focused only on her, apparently. He ran over to them. Oh yeah, sure, ignore me blondie. Alex said, mentally rolling his eyes.
"Hotaru…" Rock said, out-of-breath.
Hotaru rolled her eyes. "What do you want, Rock?"
I like her already, Alex thought.
"Look… Hotaru… I keep getting these back." Rock pulled out some envelopes from his jacket. Alex knew Rock's envelopes were carrying the money that Hotaru already mentioned. His first reaction was to go PFFFT! But he didn't want to interrupt them… Not unless he needed to.
Rock was looking at her, as if wanting her to say something. After a while, Hotaru finally shrugged.
"… What do you want me to do?"
"I want you to be protected…"
Oh dear… Hotaru said, groaning inwardly. Time to have this whole discussion all over again. Why do I have to appease him every time? I don't need this… "I can take care of myself, Rock."
"Look, don't be ridiculous-"
"I'm not, Rock. Why are you doing this? You don't have to do anything, I'm telling you again-"
"Like hell I don't have to do anything. Hotaru… Look, I'm sorry things haven't working out between us. Please just take it-" Rock said, grabbing her wrist.
"Rock… Please let me go." Rock wasn't willing to do that. Okay, so this is going to be harder than I thought, Hotaru muttered to herself- before Alex suddenly grabbed Rock's arm and gave it a hard squeeze. Rock, caught unaware, pulled his hand back and glared at Alex.
"Who the hell are you!?" Rock said, angrily, wringing his arm away from Alex.
"Can't you tell when a woman says no? Guess you didn't learn woman skills from Bogard, eh?" Alex said, smiling and standing in front of Hotaru.
"Oh, Alex…" Hotaru said, about to grab Alex by the shoulder and tell him it was unnecessary to interfere.
Alex laughed. "Please don't worry, Ms. Futaba. I know exactly how to deal with this situation." Actually that's pure BS. Ah, well.
"Hotaru, you know this guy?" Rock said, taking on a defensive stance.
"Yes, he's Alex, and-" Hotaru was interrupted by Alex.
"Look, Mr. Howard…" Alex said, trying to sound as politely as possible- but ending up sounding a little sardonic, "Do Ms. Futaba a favor and move along. Really."
"Alex? Tcheh…"
"Alex Dino, for your information."
"Whatever. Look, this is between Hotaru and me."
"That's not exactly friendly, trying to shove things down a woman's throat. Really, now."
"Okay, you're starting to piss me off, prettyboy!" Rock exclaimed.
"Heh, pot calling the kettle black. Yamazaki called me that, too."
"Yamazaki!?? Hotaru, what's the meaning of this!?"
"I can explain." Hotaru said, hoping that this doesn't get violent.
"Yep. Ms. Futaba nearly got in a tussle with Yamazaki. Hell, I didn't even need to be there, I'm sure she could've ripped him a new one. She wouldn't have to if you were around, though. Guess that's the difference between you and me?"
"Okay, that's it, you arrogant bastard!" Rock said, rushing forward.
"Eh, what can I say?" Alex said, winking good-humoredly at Hotaru. She blushed a little as he did this. "I'm not arrogant." He went on, turning back to Rock, taking a stance. "I'm just a sarcastic ass."
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"I'm glad you decided to meet with us, inspector."
There was a man sitting at a table, under a lamp which lit the darkened room he was in- the man had the look of a goof about him, and there were a couple of nunchaku holstered at his belt. However, his face was quite serious- he merely motioned for the two men in front of him- one, a black-haired young man in a blue and white training outfit, the other a similarly black-haired young man with wavy brown hair at the front, in a black and red training outfit. The former looked sober, while the latter looked angry.
"Jae Hoon," The man with the nunchaku nodded to the one in the blue and white. "Dong Hwan," He said, nodding to the other.
"So tell us what we want to know already," The one acknowledged as Dong Hwan said.
"Patience, Dong. Inspector Hon-Fu, if you could…" Jae Hoon said, watching Hon-Fu, the famous Hong Kong cop (who had recently been promoted) stand up.
"I'm afraid that you guys are dealing with ancient history." Hon-Fu said, looking away from them.
"I don't understand what you mean by that." Jae Hoon replied quizzically.
"Yeah," Dong Hwan said, gritting his teeth, "Our dad only died two years ago! So stop pussyfooting around and tell us what you found out about Freeman!?"
"You guys know that Freeman, the one who killed your dad, he's a serial killer, right? Well, we found out his pattern last year."
"We already know this…" Jae Hoon said, sounding very tired. "… But our dad didn't exactly fit in with his pattern. He was… An anomaly, as the last official told us."
"Yeah… It turns out that guy was right. Your dad was killed by Freeman because of something bigger than satisfying his own twisted pleasures. In fact, you guys are digging into something the old guys of Southtown have dealt with before… In a sense. It's literally ancient history, I say."
"Okay, stop, explain right now." Dong Hwan said.
"Stop getting testy, bro." Jae Hoon whispered.
"No, he's right, I guess I'm not really making any sense. Freeman was hired by someone else, this time."
"What!?" Dong Hwan yelled, stamping his foot so hard that he shook the whole room. "Who's his employer so I can crush his face in right now!"
"… We don't know yet."
"WHY ARE WE HERE THEN!" Dong Hwan said, glaring first at Hon-Fu, then Jae Hoon.
Jae Hoon sighed. "If you don't know who contracted Freeman to kill our father, then-"
"I've got more than that. Freeman was the son of a Karnak Freeman, a civilian who was killed quite some time ago. Want to know who Karnak was murdered by?"
"Stop giving us riddles and just say it out loud," Dong Hwan spat. Hon-Fu sighed.
"Karnak Freeman was killed by Jin Chonshu."
"… Chonshu...!" Jae Hoon said. "I remember that now! I thought that name was familiar-"
"And," Hon-Fu went on, "He took the job to go after your father because he (and for reasons unknown, his employer) wanted to force the whereabouts of Jin Chonshu out of Kim Kaph Wan."
"But he didn't!" Dong Hwan said, his face filled with disbelief. "We asked him so many times…"
"Remember what Freeman is, Dong Hwan- a man who revels in murder and violence. He either killed your father anyway because he enjoyed it, or because he didn't believe him."
Jae Hoon stands up. "… Inspector."
"Jae Hoon?" Hon-Fu says, looking at Jae Hoon in surprise.
"… Please continue to look for information on Freeman. Dong Hwan," Jae Hoon said, looking at Dong Hwan. Dong Hwan was surprised to see the righteous fire that he had once seen in their father's eyes.
"What are you planning, little bro?" Dong Hwan asked excitedly.
"We're going to find Jin Chonshu."
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Odd. I just felt the sense of impending doom. Oh well, I'm in enough hot water as it is… "You're not bad, Rock Howard!" Alex said, wiping some blood off his mouth- he had been a minute into fighting with Rock Howard, and he looked a little worse for wear. Then again, so did Rock Howard, who was clutching his chest in pain, but was grinning, enjoying this little bout.
"You aren't too shabby yourself, Alex Dino."
"Stop this, right now!" Hotaru said, standing between the two fighters. "You guys are fighting for absolutely nothing!"
"I'll stop when he does," Rock mutters.
"Heh. I know what I'm fighting for…" Alex retorts.
"Get rid of that attitude!" Rock said, standing up again.
"What attitude? Or are you just hearing what you want to hear!?" Alex said, also getting on his feet.
"STOP! RIGHT NOW!" Hotaru said. Suddenly, Alex took her by the hand and set her to the side.
"Hey!..." Rock said angrily.
"It's not like we're going to kill each other. I hope." Alex said, smiling.
"But…" Hotaru tried to say something, but then sighed. Alex turned to Rock.
"How do you intend to finish this, Howard?" Alex asked.
"Like this. Haaa…" Rock said, his fist suddenly alight with a purple fire.
"Hmph. Reppu-Ken!... I guess the Hakkyokuseiken'll never stop bothering me." Alex said, lifting up his hand in the air. Hotaru noticed that faint light began to resonate from his hand.
"Keep that trap shut!" Rock yelled out. "Take this! REPPU KEN!" The wave of purple energy moved rapidly over the floor, coming at Alex…
"Rock, no! Look out, Alex!" Hotaru called out.
"I'm fine… TENGAN KEN!"
"Tch!" Rock narrowed his eyes.
"Wh-?" Hotaru was confused at this sudden technique.
Alex had thrown a coil-like fireball of energy to counter Rock's Reppu Ken.
"…" The projectile and the wave clashed, and the room was showered in a brilliant light… Hotaru shielded her eyes…
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End of Chapter 9.
Author's Note: Which is victorious? The Tengan Ken or the Reppu Ken? Perhaps some rivalry between the practitioner of Hakkyokuseiken techniques and the practitioner of Jin techqniques will develop…