Curse of the Jin Chapter 10: Growing Tension, a fatal fury fanfic

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.

III

Chapter 10: Growing Tension

III

"… What happened…" Rock said, coughing, on his knees, waiting for the smoke to clear. "… Did I get him?..." Wait…! Rock said, sweating. Did I hit Hotaru!?

"Ech…" Alex said, sputtering as he surfaced from the smoke.

"Grr… You…!"

"Whoa, just calm down. Enough of this… That evil blood takes too much out of you. Hotaru's right anyway, this fight is useless." Alex said, stretching a hand forward, offering to help Rock up.

"It isn't over yet," Rock said, standing up by himself. Then he remembered- "Did Hotaru get-"

"No, she did not." Alex tilted his head to Hotaru, who appeared as soon as the smoke cleared. "But see, a place like this isn't appropriate for a fight. I'm not sure either of us wants to have Hotaru evicted from her apartment just because this place was the site of our dispute. How about we take a rain check?"

"You two aren't still fighting?" Hotaru said, walking over to the two of them.

Rock grudgingly assented. "Fine. Some other time then, Alex Dino."

"Anytime, Rock Howard."

As Rock decided to leave the building, he said as an aside to Hotaru, "Stay away from him, Hotaru… He's bad news," and quickly strode off.

Alex snorted as soon as he knew Rock had left. "Bad news, indeed. That boy is full of hypocrisy."

"Alex… What was it that you just did?" Hotaru said, turning to him.

"Hm?"

"Don't hm me… I know what you just did… That… 'Tengan Ken'."

"I… I wish I could tell you. It's kind of personal."

"Another mystery man. Gato is like that, and so is Rock…" Hotaru said. Alex could've sworn that she sounded both disappointed and insulted. Her next statement confirmed it. "I'm just another woman to them. Thank you for running off Rock, goodbye."

"Wait just a minute," Alex said, taking her arm.

"Oh, so you're going to do the same thing he did?" Hotaru said, turning on him angrily.

"Look… Could you please hear me out, Hotaru?" Alex asked. Unlike Rock's grip, Alex's was remarkably light.

Hotaru sighed. "I'm sorry for snapping at you."

"Forgiven," Alex replied. Before Hotaru could reply, he went on to say, "I just want to tell you that I'm nothing like them. My reasons for being more secretive are different- if I tell anyone that I can use techniques like that, then I put them in danger. It's not for my own benefit that I'm being surreptitious, it's for others. Please believe me.

"… …" Hotaru nodded. "I understand."

"… Sorry… You seem to be having problems with the males as a whole, as of late…"

"No, no, you're fine, Alex," Hotaru said.

"Thanks." Alex said, smiling.

Hotaru blushed briefly. "Ehm… What I meant was that you're much more direct than others-"

"Other men-"

"That's right, I guess. Look, I got mad for reasons that have nothing to do with you… That was unwarranted, and I'd like to make it up to you."

"Now that's-" Alex said, but Hotaru stuffed something into his hand.

"Tomorrow is May 11th."

"The 11th?" Alex said curiously. What special occasion is on that day?

"It's my birthday, and my employer, Mr. Wilson, is throwing me a party at the Pao Pao Café 3, and all close friends are invited. Would you do me the honor of coming?"

"Your birthday?"

"You don't have to come, of course."

Is that a pout? "No, of course I'll come. I just thought… We haven't known each other long, and…"

"Well, maybe we can associate with each other better if you go?"

"Alright… I'll be there then. Thanks, Ms. Futaba."

"Call me Hotaru- you did before."

"When?"

"When you tried to explain yourself before." Hotaru slipped into her apartment. "Good night, Alex Dino."

"… Good night, Hotaru Futaba." Hotaru smiled warmly at him and then closed the door. Alex looked at the paper that Hotaru stuffed in his hand. 5:30 PM. I'll be there, Alex thought, grinning to himself even as he walked downstairs and out into the streets of Southtown.

III

"Tch… Hotaru… She's interested in some new guy, unbelievable!" Rock murmured angrily, as he entered the Heinlein Tower, a spiraling complex that rivaled the Geese Tower, itself. It was an enormous purple building that reached no less than twelve-hundred feet in height. Rock thought that it was a little unnecessary, and a bit too extravagant. Kain told Rock that Heinlein Tower was meant to be a striking inspiration to the 'dispirited masses' of Southtown, and also told Rock that Geese's own tower was actually fourteen-hundred feet tall. Rock didn't really care, though, as long as Kain held to his promise… Kain would tell him about his mother. But in due time, Kain claimed…

Something seriously bothered Rock about that Alex guy. There was something else about him, and he didn't know exactly what it was. He'd find out everything he knew about him, no matter what it takes. Hotaru may not believe it, but Rock cared about her, even after that time…

"... The hell?" Rock said, noticing the pile of bodyguards lying at the stairs. Rock quickly made his ascent… Floor after floor, guards were knocked out… Or worse than that. Who could've done this… Kain…

III

"Grant. Billy. A minor question…" Kain said, looking at the man who had managed to take out every guard that he had in Heinlein Tower. Well, almost every guard. Only Kain's personal friend and protector, Grant, and Geese's old henchman, Billy Kane, who had recently decided to join Kain, had remained. "When did I let this person in?"

"Hehehe… This guy sure has a lot of nerve!" Billy said, spinning his pole around. "Want me to mess him up?"

"This man…" Grant said, standing still as a statue.

"Grant?" Kain said, looking at his friend.

"Kain, he's not normal. No, I sense something otherworldly about him, yet it is strange- he himself seems to be of this world. He is… Some kind of-"

"Abomination, yes, the first Tung told me that," The man in front of them said. He was an odd man, wearing oriental wear- flowing green robes, a paled face and white hair… This man seemed young, yet there was also something ancient about him… "But in all seriousness, I wish an audience with the man in control of this city-"

"Have an audience with THIS- DIYERIYERYERIYERI FIYAHHHH" Billy screeched, performing the Cho Kaen Senpu: Kon, spinning his pole and sending his infamous flaming whirlwind of devastation at this stranger. The stranger lifted his hand, summoning a ball of energy, and threw it at the whirlwind. It went through the whirlwind, dispelling it- and slammed into Billy's stomach, flooring him.

As Billy lay on the floor gasping for air, Grant stepped up. "Feel the fist of the Dark Karate! KOKUEN-RYUU!" Grant used an uppercut motion, sending off a blast of purple energy from the ground at the stranger. The stranger shook his head and with a back-hand motion, dispelled the blast. Then, too fast for Grant to reach, the stranger quickly closed distance with the giant Martyr of Might and sent a shoulder blow to Grant's chest. Grant grunted- the stranger, despite his appearance, was extremely powerful. The stranger proceeded to slam Grant's face with a palm-blow, then kick him several times, backing Grant into the wall.

"Stop!" Kain commanded. The stranger backed away from Grant, who fell to his knees, rasping.

"Kain!" Rock said, dashing into the room. "Damn it…!"

"Rock. Stop, this instant. It seems we have no choice but to speak to this person. I would hate for there to be anymore unnecessary fighting- state your purpose, guest."

"How rude of me," The stranger said, bowing. "My name… Is Yuan Chonshu. By the looks of your ignorance, you are unfamiliar with that name. I was once known as the greatest fighter of China, and wish to once again regain that title."

"That's a little pretentious, isn't it?" Rock said.

"Calm yourself, Rock. And to what reason do I owe such an ambitious personage?" Kain said, in that annoyingly polite sense that Rock found bothersome.

"It is but a simple thing- I once had a… A grandson, if you will-"

"You seem too young for such things," Kain said.

"Never you mind. Regardless, he has something of mine, and I am sure that he is in this city."

"What is it that he has?" Kain replied.

"… The Scrolls of Jin."

"It can't be," Kain said, his polite façade slipping briefly. He regained his composure. "Yuan Chonshu… You are…"

"Part of the Jin family? Oh yes, quite, you are catching on quickly, my friend."

"Ahem. You say that your… Grandson. He is in Southtown, and you wish that your property that he has is to be returned?"

"No need to repeat me."

"Ah, well… We shall be glad to support you in any way we can, Jin Yuan."

"You can't be serious, Kain! There's no way we can trust this guy!" Rock shouted, looking at Jin Yuan suspiciously. "We've known him for all of ten minutes!"

"Ah, Rock, Rock, Rock…" Kain said, walking past Jin Yuan and pulling Rock away. "I don't intend to do anything more than help this man on his way. And, of course, find a way to keep the item he requests out of his hands. Trust me on this, when have I ever led you wrong?"

Rock glanced from Kain, to Jin Yuan, to Kain, to Jin Yuan, and finally back to Kain. "… Whatever."

"So!" Kain said, stretching his arms out in welcome. "How shall we begin our search?"

"Oh, I have already found him. Your Yamazaki has already encountered him once. Or should I say, twice? He has had a grip on Southtown before, and Yamazaki worked with him at that time."

Rock started to get suspicious.

"Ah… This grandson… It would not be one of the Jin twins, would it?" Kain asked.

"One of them. He is Jin Chonshu, and has foolishly taken on a nickname that could never have eluded me forever- Alex Dino, the Blue Streak."

"So it IS him…!"

"So you've met the Blue Streak as well, Rock!" Kain said, crossing his arms. "Then here, we slay two birds with one stone."

"If Yamazaki fails, Kain R. Heinlein- you are to deal with Chonshu personally, instead."

"It shall be done." Kain said, bowing.

III

"5:35. Wow, five minutes and they're already deep into the festivities," Alex said, his widening upon sight of the enormous banner that says, HAPPY BIRTHDAY HOTARU, not to mention all the chairs, the blasted confetti, and all the noise that he could hear even from outside. He warily entered the Pao Pao Café, and was welcomed by about a dozen people.

"Hello, and welcome to the Pao Pao Café! Hotaru told me that there'd be a handsome man out to woo her, coming around this time- are you it?" Bob Wilson said, gruffly grabbing Alex around the neck and leading him in.

"Ah… I wouldn't exactly call it handsome-" Alex tried to say, before someone cut him off.

"Handsome is right!" A beautiful blonde woman in a very revealing blue dress that showed off much of her leg (along with an insignia of a skull and crossbones, which Alex looked at with apprehension) said. She spoke with a light British accent and was surrounded by a motley crew of men dressed in striped outfits.

… They look like… Pirates??? This has to be the the modern pirate-

"I am Bonne Jenet, please to meet you. And this group here, are my Lilien Knights."

"Yes!" A particularly fat one said. "We go around the world…"

"Looking for the best fight and brawl…"

"And the richest money and treasure."

"No one can stop our will!"

"Our determination! Our leader!"

"Bonne Jenet! And the Lilien Knights!"

"O!" All of the Lilien Knights, including B. Jenet, downed a glass of wine and nearly threw their glasses to the floor before Bob stopped them.

"Guys, GUYS! I'm not cleaning that up, and neither is Hotaru!"

"Oh… Sorry, Bob." B. Jenet chuckled and waved over to Hotaru. "Hey, Hotaru! Your boyfriend is here!"

"Ah! Alex, how are you!?" Hotaru said, getting up from her table and running over to him. "Please ignore her, she's being silly… And blonde."

"Oh, what's that supposed to mean!" B. Jenet said, faking being indignant.

"Heh, no sweat. You've… Quite a crowd." Alex said, noting the amount of people here. Some who might be able to recognize him. Telling by the way they were smiling at him, however, he figured that, until now, they didn't have a clue who he was. There was the famous DJ of both Southtown and Second Southtown, the one who could put everyone into a party craze, Duck King. Axel Hawk and Franco Bash were there, in the middle of an arm-wrestling match. Sitting at another counter was Hokutomaru, speaking to an unmistakably recognizable female ninja, who could be none other than Mai Shiranui. Joe Higashi was also present, telling jokes to a group of Hotaru's giggling female friends. Blue Mary was there, a little more distant, but also listening to Joe's jokes, not looking as amused but still smiling.

Jae Hoon and Dong Hwan were also there, and Dong was whispering to Jae and pointing at Mai. Jae elbowed him.

Alex felt very bad when he looked at them… Hotaru regarded Alex curiously, but Alex shrugged it off.

All turned to Alex and waved. As Axel Hawk also turned, Franco took this opportunity to slam Hawk's fist into the table.

Alex blinked, and Hotaru calmly led him to a large table where the birthday cake was, remonstrated Franco, then called everyone there.

"Please welcome Alex Dino to the party!"

"Hi, Alex!" Everyone said, waving.

"Err, hello there," Alex said sheepishly, sitting down.

"So, Alex, how do you know our dear Hotaru?" Mai said, looking at Alex in a way that really made him nervous.

"He helped me out against a problem, actually." Hotaru said, sitting down opposite from Alex.

"Really now? In what way? She save your pet rat?" Dong asked. Jae elbowed him again.

"It's a ferret, Dong Hwan. He actually helped me in a different way- beat up someone for me."

"Oh? Now I'm interested, some thug tried to attack Hotaru? I guess you aren't such a bad guy after all, Alex. Didn't think anyone could replace Rock Howard for Hotaru-"

"MARY!" Hotaru snapped.

"What? It's true, isn't it?"

"What, me being such a bad guy?" Alex said, knowing what Mary was really trying to say.

"Look… Just shush about that, Mary. Anyways, Alex did the impressive feat of beating up Yamazaki."

"Whoa!" Joe said, looking very impressed. "Yamazaki!? That's not bad, kid!"

"Eh, that's not too impressive…" Mai said, rolling her eyes. "Yamazaki's Orochi power is barely active. He's just a common criminal with a few tricks up his sleeve now."

"Still, Yamazaki is a battle-hardened fighter, Shiranui oneechan!" Hokutomaru said, excitably. "How did you do it, Dino-san?"

"Well…" Alex said, laughing nervously. "Just a few things I learned here and there." Hotaru stared at him.

"Uh-huh. Right." Mary said, raising an eyebrow at Alex. "Here and there, eh?"

"Yes… Here and there. A little bit of Tae Kwon Do, that kind of stuff."

"Whoa, Tae Kwon Do! You da man." Dong said, two thumbs up for Alex.

"… Now that I think of it, I think I've heard the name Alex Dino before!" One of Hotaru's other friends said. "Yeah! The cute brown-haired Chinese guy that's so helpful!"

"So you're him!" Said another.

"Good choice, Hotaru!"

"Ugh… Guys, please don't embarrass me…!" Hotaru said, covering her face in her hands.

Alex scratched the back of his head. "Oh man… I don't deserve this attention! Really!"

"Okay guys! Stop talking now!" Bob said, bringing up a lighter and alighting each candle on Hotaru's birthday cake. "Time to blow them out, Hotaru. Make a wish!"

… Sigh. I wonder what there is to wish for. There's not much I could want in this place… Hotaru thought to herself. It's the only place I know, but… I sure would like to see the rest of the world. There's only one reason I'm still here… And that's barely a reason.

Alex saw Hotaru smile slightly, and then watched as she blew out the candles. Everyone cheers.

"Alright, who wants a piece of the cake!? I'll cut it!" Hotaru said, taking a knife from Bob.

"I'm starving!" Dong said, handing over his plate.

Alex sighed… He hoped nothing would spoil this night… He hadn't been at such a gathering for a while now, and he was rather enjoying it. Self-isolation had it's drawbacks, of course, and for today he would instead enjoy company.

III

"Yamazaki!" Hon-Fu said, twirling his nunchaku around. It was only Hon-Fu and the criminal he had been chasing for ten years... Ryuji Yamazaki. Yamazaki was hunched down oddly, but Hon-Fu didn't notice. "Time to bring you in, once and for all! Don't try to escape- you've waned since the past, and now is my time to take you in! You'll just delay me for a party!"

Hon-Fu aimed a jump-kick at Yamazaki… And suddenly Yamazaki exploded in a pillar of red, grabbing Hon-Fu by the shin…

"No way!" Hon-Fu cried.

III

"So," One of Hotaru's giggling friends said, after Alex had lost some inane game involving looking at a person's palms, "Tell us something about yourself."

"Err… Like what?"

"Something embarrassing!" Hotaru watched Alex with interest.

"… Err… Well… I was a really weird kid."

"Like how?"

"Please tell."

"I once wore some slight eye-shadow, for instance."

"Ooh…"

"I wonder how you'd look with that."

"We've got some right here-"

"I don't think he wants to, thanks girls!" Hotaru said, dragging Alex off to another table.

"Aww, Hotaru, don't be such a party crasher!"

"Technically, it's her party."

"Ooh, Rock's going to be jealous."

"GIRLS! I'm not with Rock anymore!" Hotaru yelled as she and Alex took a seat.

"You really aren't?" Alex asked.

She didn't respond for a moment. Finally, she shook her head. "… No. No, I am honestly not."

"… Good."

"Hm?" Hotaru looked at him questioningly.

"You deserve better than him," Alex said, laying back.

"… Thanks."

"I'm serious, you really do. So, Ms. Futaba. Tell me about yourself."

"There isn't much for me to say, really."

"Oh? How about you met all these people?"

"Most of them I met in the Maximum Mayhem tournaments."

"Ah… How about any family?"

Hotaru looked rather sad when Alex said this. "… My mother and father are dead… My brother might as well be dead, too…"

"Hmm? I hear that your brother is actually Gato Futaba, isn't he?"

"Kain was right…"

"Huh?"

"Gato, my brother… He wasn't what he used to be. You see, in the last few tournaments, looking for him was my only goal, when my mother died. I was looking for my only family. I knew he was alive somewhere… But Kain told me that the brother I knew will never come back again…"

"Hotaru? Are you sure you want to talk about this? I mean… It was really a simple question…"

"You're right. I started rambling, sorry-"

"Though, if you want to talk about it, we can?"

"… …"

"I'll listen."

"… Well…" Hotaru said, looking at everyone else in the room. She had never talked to anyone about Gato, before… "… It's… Gato was… He doesn't exist anymore. I don't know how to describe him- he's either a shell of his former self, or he's become a man that cares for nothing but Kain's ideals. He… He found out that our father was also in last year's tournament, and went to seek him out. I saw it myself."

"… Saw what?" Alex said, noticing a tear streak down Hotaru's cheek.

"… Gato killed him. He killed our father. I don't know why he did it… But now Gato serves Kain. I don't think he's even concerned about me now. One day, I hope that he'll come to his senses and come back to me again. But it's hopeless. I'm just another citizen of Southtown, to him."

"… He'll come around. He's a big brother." Alex said, confidently. Hotaru looked up at him.

"But-"

"You know, I once had a big brother too."

"Where is he now?"

"He died eight years ago… But he did some very important things that changed my life. He first took me in a direction he thought was appropriate, but he was able to eventually realize the error of his ways, even if I didn't… He came around, and took us on the correct path. Don't worry, Hotaru… Gato's just like any big brother… Someday, he'll come around. Just wait for him to be less pigheaded."

Hotaru sniffled… Smiled… Then hugged Alex. It was his turn to blush, as this was completely unexpected. This seemed to catch other people's attention.

"Oh, hey, the two lovebirds are having a special moment!" B. Jenet said, grinning at the two of them.

"Ha… Rock's going to be really jealous!"

Hotaru let go of Alex, still smiling, but looking rather abashed. "Thanks Alex," She whispered quietly.

Alex grinned.

That's when Hon-Fu came crashing through the window.

III

End of Chapter 10.

Author's Note: LewdaKris! I'm glad you liked this! I'm disappointed in SNK fandom for not writing more Jin twins fanfiction, especially for my favorite, Chonshu. I tell you man, NGBC is going to blow CFE out of the water. Not that it's going to be difficult to do, CFE just plain sucks… I was really hoping for a lot out of it considering it had Nool/Hydron. As for Ambrosia, you COULD try leaving it to the reader's imagination as to what Ambrosia looks like and leave her as ambiguous as possible, unless it's critical to the story. My God, they've only got a few slots left- hoping for Crawley, Kisaragi, hell, even a Kizuna Encounter or Waku Waku 7 character! Oh, and PLEASE PEOPLE, FEEDBACK HELPS A WRITER! POST REVIEWS IF YOU'RE READING! ;;