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.
Chapter 12: Exeunt
"Amazing," Hotaru gasped, as Chonshu's wounds, noticeably in places where Yamazaki had slashed into him, seemed to be closing up. He was shaking, but still unconscious. Hotaru wanted to keep him awake, but she knew that disturbing him in- well, whatever he was doing- wouldn't do any good, and would probably harm him.
"…" Hotaru examined the area around her again. "This doesn't look like anything even remotely near Southtown. I wonder if I'm imagining it…?"
She walked over to the side of the platform, and poked one of the dragon statues.
Hotaru took a step back when she heard a low growl emanate from the statue. She watched as the statue changed from a deep red to a bright blue color.
"… Hmmm." Hotaru examined the water next to the statue. There were some harmless fish swimming there. "Itokatsu would enjoy this place. It's really beautiful."
She was possessed by a sudden need to dip her finger in the water… Unable to resist this urge, she did so. The water rippled across the whole river, and the whole scene began to change in a similar ripple, an invisible wave washing over the whole room. Hotaru blinked as she heard someone speak in Chinese. Good thing I paid attention to father when he taught me language…
"There you are… My two little emperors…"
"They're so beautiful, Ji."
"I know, Lei."
The environment had changed from a forest surrounding a slow-moving river and falls, to the inside of a building. Hotaru and the still unconscious Chonshu were inside a room with a stone floor, green walls, many pillars, jade pedestals, and lanterns. Hotaru came to the conclusion that it was some sort of palace complex- noting the Chinese wall-scrolls and the dragon sculptures that circled the pillars, it was a Chinese palace of some sort. There were a set of open doors, and on the opposite side was a stepped platform on the top of which was a large throne. Hotaru noted that it looked strikingly similar to the one that Chonshu was resting on. She noticed a man and a woman, wearing blue and red silk clothing. They hovered over the throne. Hotaru leaned forward to take a look, afraid to step off the platform she was already on. She caught a glimpse of two baby children.
"Lei, what will we name the children?"
"Ji, I'm not sure at all. I once had many names in store for my child before he was even before. I was so shocked when I found out they were two… That I've forgotten what it was I planned to choose.."
"Oh, alright… Do you mind if I select names for them?"
"If you wish, Ji. I don't mind if you do it, at least pick suitable names."
"… The eldest one," Ji, the woman, said as she poked lightly the chest of one very black-haired child who had two streaks of yellow in his hair, "He will be Chonrei. The younger one," Ji said, rubbing the cheek of the other, who was brown-haired, "He shall be Chonshu."
Another ripple…
The scene changed again.
"How did it come to this…"
"Is that Alex- I mean, Chonshu?" Hotaru held a hand over her eyes. The sun was exceptionally bright… They were in an outdoors environment again, but this time it was a clearing surrounded by forest.
There were two young children standing over two mounds. A spiky-haired one in blue, and a brown-haired one in red… Both wore clothing with a similar butterly pattern on the front… The one in red was on his knees, and it looks as if he had recently finished weeping. The other was trying to be strong, holding back his tears.
"Chonrei… Why did this happen…?" The brown-haired one asked.
The one addressed as Chonrei turned away from the mound. "Isn't it clear to you, Chonshu?"
"B-Brother?"
"Man fails to understand the need for a mighty ruler. They fear what they cannot understand, what they cannot be! Chonshu!" Chonrei turns.
"What are you talking about, brother? Are you alright-"
"I am quite alright!" Chonrei said, laughing, almost manically. "These fools, idiots, morons… They murdered father and mother, and make no mistake, Chonshu, they shall feel our retribution. We will realize father's dreams, Chonshu… You remember what father's dreams were, yes!?"
"The Middle Kingdom!" Chonshu stood up. "He wanted the whole of China…"
"Exactly! But father couldn't take the rightful land of the Jin because he didn't have the source of our power!"
"The Jin Scrolls! Mother mentioned them before-"
"With them, we can accomplish what no leader has ever dreamed of, Chonshu. Think of the possibilities. We will not just be immortals, we'll bask in the glory of power and all the people of the Middle Kingdom will feel our strength. Villages, townships, districts, cities…!"
"He's getting ahead of himself," Hotaru said loudly. She clapped a hand over her mouth. Can they hear me?
"But Brother… Where are we to begin?" Chonshu went on, not hearing her. "We don't know where they are, no clue at all…"
Hotaru sighed, relieved. Whew.
"We have our ways, Chonshu. We will take Tung by surprise…"
Another ripple, and the scene begins to distort into another scene…
"…" Hotaru glances to Chonshu.
His wounds were healing, but his overall condition hadn't changed. He groaned, and murmured quietly, "I was a fool… We were, brother…"
"… Mother always said that strange things could happen in the world. This must be one of them…" Hotaru rubbed her chin. "Am I inside his dreams? Inside his mind? Is it how this place works?"
"So concludes our transaction, sirs."
They were in another place now… A room not far in style from some kind of boardroom, and one side were a group of men in suits, and on the other side was Chonshu, again as a child. He was wearing the red clothing with the butterfly pattern from before, but this time he also wore a blue cape over it. Both sides were seated, except for Chonrei who stood on Chonshu's side.
"Eye shadow," Hotaru noted, "He really wasn't kidding."
"On the contrary," Chonshu said, "We're missing something that you seem to have conveniently forgotten. We asked for the records of all recorded belongings under every person listed under a certain level of wealth within each country in Europe, as well as all recorded possessions of trusts, corporations, estates, etcetera…"
"Yes?" One suit on the other side replied.
"We seem to be missing some of the Eastern European bloc."
"… Ah. That."
"More specifically, all of Germany! Tell me," Chonshu slammed a small folder on the table, "What could possibly be in there that's worth risking your life?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"I mean," Chonshu said dangerously, "That if you do not hold your end of the bargain and give us what you're holding back, I'm afraid this can only end tragically. For you, anyways…"
"… Ha!" He snorts. "Even if we were withholding something, what're you going to do about it?"
"Chonrei," Chonshu tilts his head towards his brother, "This will be quick, I promise."
"Don't overdo it, Chonshu."
Chonshu suddenly teleports in front of the suit, and swipes at him, his fist suddenly glowing with a blue fire. The suit cries out, bursting into flames, and sent into the air. Chonshu chuckles and teleports up to him in mid-air, and starts landing several kicks, punches, and other attacks on him, all of them blurred to the naked eye. As each one lands, they seem to be teleporting in a different location each time, but this is an optical illusion… Chonshu is beating on him so fast that no one else can really see each movement. Hotaru was shocked by the level of speed Chonshu was using…
"Uggggh…" The suit lands on the table with a solid thud.
"Sigh… You've ruined the tarnish on the table." Chonshu landed on his feet.
"Boss! … You BASTARD!" One of the other suits lunged at him.
"I don't think so, mousse heads! Jin SokuKen!" Chonrei zipped into the fray and slammed his elbow into the suit's stomach.
The rest rushed Chonrei…
The ensuing carnage was enough for Hotaru to divert her eyes.
"Hehehehe…" Chonshu chuckled, smiling at the fallen group in the room. He and Chonrei were still standing, while the suits were all beat-up and broken. "Weaklings… They couldn't match conquerors like us."
"We'll be taking this." Chonrei snapped, grabbing a folder from the hands of the one Chonshu had beaten. "… Listed and everything. Chonshu, take a look. There's one estate, marked in red. It belongs to a Wolfgang Krauser."
"Ah… The illustrious Baron Wolfgang Krauser. I have heard of his many deeds, the tales of woe from the fighters he demolished in battle."
"… Hmmm. A set of un-named Chinese scrolls is listed under his name. It's probably what we think it is. This guy," Chonrei kicked the leader of the suits, "Knew this was what we were looking for."
"Intending to make us pay more for the information, no doubt."
"In any case, there's a newspaper clipping here. 'Krauser's Castle Robbed of Items'. Mentions some Englishman who's an American citizen… He wields a pole- Billy Kane."
"Geese Howard installed him as the king of fighters in the first tournament of the same title…"
"Geese Howard? The infamous world-renowned crimelord from Southtown?"
"That's the one."
"Chonshu…" Chonrei said, staring at his brother, "You sure are immersing yourself into a lot of things."
"This is part of my idea, Chonrei."
"Your idea?"
"Yes, you see, we're going to do what father never dreamed of."
"Chonshu?"
"We're not going to stop at China. I have been collecting contacts, making alliances, and conducting business with many shadow groups, political organizations, and others around the world. Look at our potential, Chonrei! We're emperors… The Middle Kingdom is a good place to start, but for people of our stature, we can take the whole world!"
Chonrei was clearly taken aback, and so was Hotaru. Though she really shouldn't have been surprised, all things considered.
"Chonshu, restraint is a part of-"
"Forget restraint! It makes a person weak!"
"…" Chonrei was silent. Chonshu didn't seem to care, and grabbed the folder.
"… And we'll remain weak as long as Geese's lackey carries the Scrolls with him. Chonrei, are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Chonshu grabbed Chonrei by the shoulder.
"Southtown it is, brother?"
"Exactly."
Yamazaki's eyes snapped open.
"Ow. Aw, hell… My head…! Damn. That Chonshu brat…! Now that Yuan asswipe isn't going to pay me either… Hey. Where the hell am I?"
As Yamazaki became less disoriented, he was beginning to realize where he was. He was standing in complete and utter darkness, and he was wearing a green coat. Something was smeared on it, but with this lighting Yamazaki couldn't tell what it was.
"What. The. Hell." Yamazaki was not in the mood for this. Not after suffering from a defeat by that Jin bastard. Speaking of Jin bastards…
"I'm… Disappointed in you, Orochi Hakkeshu… If I can even call you that. Yamazaki, you fail as a fighter, as a leader, as a man of your ancestry. It is a shame that I have to do this." The misty shape of a dragon appeared in front of Yamazaki. "Look, Yamazaki. Your hands… They are covered in anger, failure…!"
"Huh…" Yamazaki stared down at his palms. They were covered in blood. "Yuan! What's the meaning of this! Don't screw with me, asshole!" Yamazaki said, swiping at the dragon-shape, the representation of Jin Yuan. The mist scattered, and reformed. A background was taking form, but the room was covered in blood and rust. This didn't faze Yamazaki as he angrily stormed forward into what seemed to be the next room. "You… I should've killed you instead. Your procreation led to the little shit."
"Kill me? Quite impossible, Yamazaki. You see, this is where we hit a little snag- your mind is weak, and I can have you dead before you even realize it. Besides, is that any way to thank the man who released the Orochi power in you? Of course not, but you never seemed to be a man to provide proper respect. As for your performance at that café, my, you could've done so much better. You wasted everything on the insignificant… You lacked the wisdom to target Chonshu first."
"Shaddup shaddup shaddup!" Yamazaki said, his fist punching through the cloudy mist. Again, the mist scattered, and rematerialized into a hall outside. "You're an evasive little bitch...."
"This is all in your mind, Yamazaki," Yuan said, with an undertone of amusement. "At least, I am. Your actions are not altogether restricted to this metaphysical plane."
"What the hell are you babbling on about!?" Yamazaki halted, knowing that what he was doing was utterly futile.
"Take a look at your hands… Doesn't that blood seem real?"
"…" Yamazaki glanced at his hands… Then the room he was in. He had chased Yuan's representation down the hall, into a circular room… There was desk, like something a clerk would sit at, and a few chairs… There was a whole wall of sliding doors… It was like some sort of lounge… Then a body appeared. It was dressed in a white coat, indicating that he was some sort of doctor. There were slash marks all over him. Then there was the body of a woman, her purse ripped apart, and someone had bludgeoned her. Yamazaki took another look at his hands. Then the coat he was wearing. The smears smelt of blood.
"FREEZE! SOUTHTOWN POLICE!"
Yamazaki looked up. A squad of no less than twenty police officers stood there, pointing a gun at him.
"Oh, shit…" Yamazaki said- he was standing in Southtown Hospital's first floor waiting room, at the center of a bloodbath of dead people. "No wait, I didn't-"
"HANDS UP!"
"Stop, oh crap, I didn't kill these-" Yamazaki's hands shot up, stepping forward. That was a mistake…
Yamazaki heard one last thing from Jin Yuan as each officer unloaded bullet after bullet on him: "What an ignominious way to die."
Hotaru watched as the scene changed again. She was unsure what to make of this.
"He's a villain, alright…"
The Chonshu of the present groaned again. "… Why must I be reminded…"
Hotaru frowned. "Or was one… I hope." I may be in a very dangerous position… This is the man that supposedly murdered Wolfgang Krauser, after all… And he's been known for his nefarious acts. But! He was kind to me… That kindness was genuine. And the tone he speaks in, within his sleep where a man is bothered by nothing but mind and memories… I won't believe that he's the man he was before. I can't accept that.
The next scene showed Chonshu standing before a table, holding something up- two strange orbs, each one projecting an image… In this image was Terry Bogard, but not the brown-jacketed Terry Bogard that Hotaru knew, but the Terry Bogard of previous years, who wore a red jacket and a certain trademark cap.
"Cough it up Yamazaki!" Andy and others, including Mai, Joe, Franco, Mary (basically all of the Lonely Wolves and the heroes associated with them) confronted a bruised Yamazaki. Hotaru thought of the café incident. Very different from recently.
"No, not the blood!" Andy went on as Yamazaki coughed and hacked. "Tell us about the scrolls!"
Chonshu grinned- he wasn't looking at Andy, but Terry. "Terry Bogard. It is about time we met. I've heard so much about you…."
Then Chonshu looked in the other orb… Geese Howard was standing in his office, getting a report from Billy Kane on the status of the Lonely Wolves' battle with Yamazaki.
"The Sultan of Southtown, Geese Howard. Back from the dead, huh?" Chonshu said.
Suddenly, both orbs shone brightly, illuminating the whole room. Hotaru closed her eyes to keep from being blinded.
"… Where in the blazes am I?"
"W-What… Terry Bogard!"
"Geese!!" Both Geese and Terry had suddenly materialized in the room, and the two fated enemies glared venomously at each other.
"Ah, gentlemen. Welcome."
Geese and Terry turn to Chonshu, obviously surprised by his presence.
Terry was wondering what the hell was happening. Hotaru could tell just what he was thinking: "A kid??"
Geese threw back his head and laughed. "Why if it isn't the king of the weasels. And just the right size, too!"
"Who are you, and where are my friends!?" Terry said, tensing up. It was obvious that he didn't like being near both the stranger that was Jin Chonshu, and his mortal nemesis Geese Howard.
"Wow, you sure knocked Yamazaki senseless," Chonshu rubbed his chin, "But he was weak. I am not. Call me, Jin Chonshu. Why? Cause that's my name, fool!"
As Chonshu spoke, six candles were lit, giving the dark room some much needed light. Hotaru squinted, and she saw the same twin doors she herself had entered to get here, a short distance behind Chonshu.
"This kid sure has some spunk," Geese said.
"So you're Geese Howard?" Chonshu sizes Geese up, "The pleasure is all mine. As I said before, call me, Jin. Jin Chonshu. I like this town and plan to make it mine. Any objections? As you know, the scrolls you hold are the property of my ancestors. Return them, now. Oh come, Geese. Don't play the fool, even if you do it so well, hand them over. Your battles with Tung and Krauser led you to our secret. Now come, hand me the scrolls! Finally, they're mine! Mine, after waiting for so many long years! The world will all be mine… But first, to take care of you!"
The doors behind him opened, and the room was again covered in light…
"I sensed him here. But… He's gone now," Grant said, walking away from the Port.
Billy Kane grabbed his shoulder. "Oh no," He began, "You're telling me that we went on a wild goose chase based on your hunches, and you just tell me that he's not here!? Well, what if I don't give a shit what you think, and I decide that he's still here??"
Grant shook Billy's hand off and strode away. "Then I guess I'm going to look somewhere else, where I can't listen to a buffoon like you."
Gato Futaba chuckled. "Leave him be. You are in no position to threaten him."
"Ah, why don't you just go suck a fat one, you bloody bastard?" Billy replied.
"Bah, I don't know how anyone can stand you."
"Hey, my sister and brother-in-law like me just fine. Can't say the same for your sis, eh?"
"…" Gato left as well.
Billy grinned, watching these two too-sober (at least in his eyes) men leave. Not in the port! Ha, the bloody sap! I'm the smoothest trash-talker there is.
Hotaru watched the next setting unfold.
Just like her, Geese and Terry had been transported to some sort of other dimension… This time, their surroundings were covered in trees, grass, shrubbery… A thick forest, basically. A sun shone over it, shining exceptionally through several holes in the forest's canopy. There were three jade dragon statues, one behind the throne, and one on each side of the platform. Geese and Terry were fighting Chonshu on the same platform that Hotaru and the present Chonshu were on… Although it was quick to become 'just Terry' as Chonshu took the initiative in a way only he could- teleportation. Had Geese been prepared for it, he probably would've lasted much longer than the attack Chonshu had in store for him.
"Teio Rojin Ken!" Chonshu sent a small orb of chi energy that hit Geese in the chest.
"Grrraaaaah! Damn you…!" The orb seemed to grow bigger and bigger- finally, Geese was sent backwards and the orb flew towards Chonshu, who absorbed it.
Chonshu yawned, and Terry gritted his teeth.
"You put Geese out of the picture a little too fast for my liking."
"I suppose I did. But enough about him, I think it's time you and I fought, Terry."
"… Sound good," Terry said, putting up his fists.
"Then let's begin." Chonshu threw off his cape.
Joe hauled out a broken table. "Hey, Mai. Wanna know something? This week has gone to the dogs. Let's see, for one, Joe the Champ IV got 4 out of 5 stars from the critics, not the usual 5 out of 5 it usually gets. Then my wife's brother suddenly ups and goes back to the criminal business, seriously, what the hell is wrong with Billy Kane? If that wasn't enough, Yamazaki comes around and decides to go ape on us! To make matters worse, the Jins are back!"
"Not the Jins…" Mai said slowly. "A Jin."
"And why does it matter!?" Bob snarled, sweeping up some glass. "If there's one Jin, the other isn't far behind!"
"Shame I wasn't around for the fun," Axel Hawk said, examining the windows. "I was out taking part in some boxing championships for the whole year. Bob, this is going to cost a pretty penny."
"… Three years since Kim died."
"Mai?" Joe looked at her, puzzled.
"Remember eight years ago? Krauser and Tung died? Kim was arrested?"
"Yeah… How could we forget? That's what has me so pissed about that Chonshu-"
"Isn't it weird, though?" Mai went on. "How a child in his preteens could manage to murder Wolfgang Krauser, the greatest fighter of Eastern Europe, and Tung Fu Rue, the only real master of Hakkyokuseiken in the world?"
"The Jin have their ways. I'm not stupid, Mai. I know about the history of the Jin family. Well, a little," Joe said, wiping the sweat off his brow as he and Axel carried off the machine that one of the Kim brothers had landed in.
"Even so, that whole story in the media was… Fishy. I need to talk to Andy when I get back to Japan. Bob, where's Mary?"
"She and some of the others went over with Hon-Fu to the hospital. Why?"
"Tell her to get in contact with Terry when she comes back?"
"About this whole incident? Hell, I was thinking of doing it myself. Oh man, speaking of hospital…" Bob said, pointing to the TV above them. It was the only thing that Yamazaki had managed to not damage, and the news was reporting Yamazaki's death, shot by at least thirty-two bullets.
The fight had concluded…
Although Chonshu was very fast and quite powerful, how much more powerful would his fists be than Terry's? Chonshu still had the physique of a young kid, as per the result of his immortality. Terry was able to keep up with him impressively, and also had much recent battle experience, and wasn't falling for any of Chonshu's teleportation tricks. Eventually Chonshu got a little rash, and jumped, intending to use a mid-air version of the Teio Rojin Ken.
That was when Terry slammed his fist into the ground. "POWER GEYSER!"
Chonshu had lost. "BAKA GAAAAA!!!!" He landed with a distinct thud on the pavement.
Hotaru watched anxiously as Chonrei entered the room.
"… Brother? Chonshu? What in the…" Chonrei crouches over Chonshu, examining him. There is a look of utter shock on his face… His expression changes to pain, then to distorted anger… "How could you do this to my brother…!? YOU'LL NEVER LEAVE HERE ALIVE, MOUSSE HEAD!"
The whole area exploded in a blue fire, as the dragon statues were no longer statues, but rather large skeletons… The fire danced around them, and Terry locked into battle with the older Jin brother.
The scene began to fade.
"… Why are we skipping this? Oh… Because he's knocked out…" Hotaru sighed.
"Huh!?" The scene was now inside a broken-down shed. Young Chonshu awoke, surprised to see himself in such a run-down place. "Where am I?"
"Chonshu!" Chonrei entered through a door in the shed.
"Chonrei… Where are we? The last thing I remember is that I lost to Bogard and- THE SCROLLS!" Chonshu said eagerly. "Did you get them!?"
"… I'm afraid not. Bogard and I fought to a draw before his friends came by, and Geese escaped in the confusion. Then again, so did we-"
"Chonrei… We have to get them! We absolutely must! Our destiny depends on it!"
"Brother, you…" Chonrei and Hotaru were both worried by the eager glint in Chonshu's eyes. Chonrei sighed. "You don't need to worry. We'll remove it from Geese's hands eventually."
"So, have you enjoyed watching my life story, Hotaru? Delta Park can do special things like this."
"Ack!" Hotaru whirled around- the present Chonshu was up, now. "You… Shouldn't you be lying down…?"
Chonshu stared down at his clothes. Although torn and ripped, his body looked good as new. "… I'll be fine."
"… I'm sorry," Hotaru bowed her head, "I really shouldn't have been-"
"Being a voyeur to my previous villainy? That's alright… Sit down, we'll watch the rest. It'll be a good way to pass the time, since all of Southtown is on the lookout for me, probably…" Chonshu sat down, whistling.
Hotaru cautiously sat down next to him.
The scene changed again. This time, there were two people yelling…
"What is this, now?" Hotaru said, watching Geese Howard and Terry Bogard fight in an epic battle.
"A battle of two fighting demigods… It's also the last battle of Geese Howard. We're reaching the point where Geese is going to fall off of Geese Tower.
"RAGING- Urrgh…"
"POWER GEYSER!"
"GUWAAAAHH!" Geese nearly fell out of a window completely, before Terry caught his hand.
"Geese! I've won… Now get out of Southtown!"
"Fine, Terry…" Geese said, hacking. "I've lost completely, now. But before I leave, there is something I have that I want you to take care of, for me." Geese releases Terry's hand.
Hotaru claps a hand over her mouth.
"You heard that Geese was knocked off the tower, right? That was only partly true- Geese willingly let himself die…" Chonshu said quietly.
Terry watches painfully, as Geese makes his second and final landing from Geese Tower. Chonshu and Chonrei are seen sneaking towards a set of scrolls resting on a pedestal…
"No!" Terry finally notices them. "Damn, the Jin…!"
"Terry Bogard! You fought well, but it's all over!" The young Chonshu said, taunting Terry.
The present Chonshu shook his head. "I look… So stupid."
"More like silly. You even sound the part, too."
"Maybe when you look back at it, yes… But I can't imagine what I would've done had Chonrei did what he did right… About… Now.
RIIIIIIIIP!
Young Chonshu turned to Chonrei, horrified… Chonrei had torn the Jin Scrolls to pieces, without even a second thought.
"… Chonrei… CHONREI! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!"
Even Terry was absolutely shocked by Chonrei's actions.
"… Chonshu…"
"Chonrei, what madness possessed you to do that!? The whole world! THE WHOLE WORLD WAS OURS!" Chonshu grabbed Chonrei by the collar. "YOU IDIOT! YOU STUPID, STUPID ASS! WHY, I SHOULD-"
"Chonshu, enough!" Chonrei smacked him squarely on the cheek. Chonshu collapsed on the floor, crying.
"… Chonshu. Please understand me- the power of the Jins was eating away at our minds. Not just our minds, but our very souls. The power, and the need for power… It begets nothing but one's own destruction. Chonshu, look what happened to Geese! I've learned so much after participating in Geese's little game to get us all to fight each other… And with that, I've learned that the world really means nothing when you lose out on so much else. Chonshu… We've been wasting our lives away, and we need to live them normally- as just kids, and as adults as well. Chonshu… Don't you feel it?"
Chonrei helps Chonshu up.
"You're free- free from the burden of power."
"… Chonrei…" Chonshu's tears disappear. "Hey, Chonrei… You're right! It's gone… That thing tearing me apart, pushing me on to conquer the world…"
"Mousse head." Chonrei pointed at Terry.
"… Brat?"
"Wait for our rematch, when I'm better prepared."
"I, as well." Chonshu bowed.
Terry smiled.
The scene faded rather quickly- probably because Chonshu was in control of it, now.
"… Chonrei never got that rematch."
That's right! Hotaru suddenly remembered- Chonshu had mentioned that Chonrei had died.
"… My ancestor killed him."
"Your ancestor?" Hotaru said quietly.
"… It happened three years after being under Master Kim's tutelage. Those were fun times…"
"Hey, Chonshu! Help us out with this!"
"Dong… You guys need to stop playing 'throw the pan like a discus'."
"Dong Hwan? Throwing a pan like a discus?" Hotaru laughed.
"I'm dead serious on this, Dong Hwan wasn't just problematic now, he was always like this. He had a habit of dragging Jae in his antics, too. I always helped them out whenever they messed something up. I don't remember the visual details too much, that's why you don't see anything… But I do remember teleporting onto the tree and getting the pan… But then I nearly fell off."
"Oh, that must've been bad."
"It wasn't, for I didn't land. And die. Heh."
"That's not a laughing matter."
"… Sorry. It was around this time that the brothers crashed an electric model plane into Master Kim's bedroom. They broke the plane then ran for it… I had to apologize for them so that they didn't get in trouble. Man, I did a lot for them. Me and my bro decided to take that plane and fix it… Oh, and improve on what the Kims did with it as well. See, there it is."
"Hmm?" Hotaru spots an altar to the side of the platform, and on it was something wrapped in two pieces of paper, as well as a pile of no less than three dozen opened envelopes. "I see, so it's in there. Hm? There's a broken wing, here."
"We kept sending it to each other over the mail, as well as letters asking each other how we were doing. The correspondence is right there. But… We never finished the plane."
"… What happened?"
"…" Chonshu couldn't speak anymore. Instead, he let Krauser do the explaining, as he materialized in another scene. It was the same scene at the bar, where Karnak Freeman appeared…
"Kain."
"Yes, Rock?"
"… Something fishy's going on here. You've been listening to all night, and you know what I'm talking about." Rock was talking to Kain, pointing to the television that was still reporting the news of Yamazaki's slaughtering and his demise.
Kain had his back turned to Rock. "You think Jin Yuan may have something to do with why Yamazaki went insane?"
"Exactly… Kain, he's bad news."
"He'll be taken care of, soon enough. Trust me, Rock- when have I ever steered you wrong?"
"…" How about now?
"Ah, Grant, Gato… Where is Billy?" Kain said, as his friend Grant along with Gato Futaba entered.
"… That fool is grasping at straws in the Port." Gato said gruffly.
"… Oh dear."
"… Yes… All that stuff Krauser just dumped on me, Freeman attacking us… It gets worse," Chonshu told Hotaru.
Hotaru could've sworn that Chonshu struggled not to sound like he was choking.
"Chonshu?"
"… He kills Krauser."
Hotaru watches as the shadow of another man appears. "That's… Jin Yuan?"
Chonshu growled. "Yes. That arrogant bastard…"
"KAISER… WAAAAAAAAVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"FOOLISHNESS! HERE IS THE MIGHT OF JIN! SHIN TEIO SYUKUKYO KEN!"
Hotaru watched with horror as Wolfgang Krauser was taken out by the four dragons…
"Oh my God…" I was right… He didn't kill Krauser, he was framed. Krauser wanted him to live.
Chonshu gulped. "Yes… That's exactly what I thought. He flew so far, even considering how far I had ran already… I still need to speak to his son…"
"Leo? Leonard Krauser?"
"That would be him. I have no idea how I'll face him…"
Hotaru watched as young Chonshu haplessly had a bridge collapse under him. … She looked at Chonshu. He had buried his face in his hands. She watched as the scene skipped… Chonshu was kneeling on the floor… Beside him…
"Brother…"
"Chonshu…! It is 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!" Both young and present Chonshu screamed.
"Chonshu!" Hotaru said, wrapping her arms around him.
"Chonshu… My time 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!"
"This isn't the little brother I know… The ambitious little brother that I had… Chonshu. You must… You must do what I could not."
"But I can't," Chonshu said, gulping again. "I'm too weak. I'm nothing like him at all."
"… You are not. He gave his life for what he thought was right, and he didn't entrust you with a task if he didn't think you could do it."
"But… He couldn't even do it."
"Chonshu," Hotaru said, lifting up his chin, "From what I can tell, you guys were very close. He's your big brother, and I doubt he would do something as stupid as leave you with something you couldn't do. Maybe you were meant to do this at the right time. I think that's now, Chonshu."
"…" Chonshu looks at her. "… Do you believe in me, then?"
Hotaru nods.
Chonshu stands up. "… I'm going to leave Southtown."
"…"
"And find the pieces of the Scroll before Yuan does."
"I'll come with you."
"… Hotaru? I can't risk you-"
"Look," Hotaru said, her chest puffing up, "I know how it feels to do things alone. I'm sure your brother would've wanted a companion with you."
"But-"
"No buts, I'm coming with you and that's final- there's nothing left for me in Southtown, anyway."
"Your brother, Gato-"
"He can wait; he's too hard-headed to talk to me now. Chonshu, please."
"…" Chonshu heads over to the alter and grabs a large case to the side. He then stuffs the plane (along with the pieces of the Jin Scroll wrapped around it) and the letters between him and Chonrei.
"… Hotaru, if you're going to be with me, you'll have to stick with me through thick and thin."
"No problem."
"Alright, it's settled. Take my hand."
Hotaru holds on to Chonshu's hand.
"We'll have to go somewhere else, anywhere but here."
"How strong is your Japanese?"
"I've learned thirteen languages in my few centuries here, and they're still firmly stuck in my head."
"Good. Because as I remember it, there's a trip to Japan and the ship is due fifteen minutes."
"I want to make a stop first before we leave."
"So do I."
"… Two teleports coming up."
"What, you mean you can teleport both of-"
Hotaru and Chonshu had teleported out of Delta Park, and onto one of the taller buildings outside.
"So-"
"Yes." Chonshu said, smiling to a breathless Hotaru.
"Ikotatsu! Come!" A small yellow ferret crawled onto Hotaru and perched itself on her shoulder. Chonshu looked around. He couldn't help but see how many… Ribbons, were in this room. Purple, blue, green, red (particularly red), polka-dotted, laced, etcetera. I wonder how many she's got… Lots in here… More in the kitchen… Jesus, even the bathroom.
"I see you're looking at my silly collection, as Rock called it."
"Bah… Silly? He's an even bigger idiot now."
"Teehee… So, I'm done."
"Just the ferret?"
"I'm not bringing him. I left a note on the door… The laundry lady will feed her, she's a nice woman. I also brought some money, a journal, my clothes…" Hotaru said, lugging around her own bag.
"I have to pick up my clothes from Cheng as well. That's my stop. Do you need me to carry those for you?"
"No, I'm fine."
"To Cheng's then."
"Alex Dino! Kain's top man, Grant was just here! And so was your brother, Ms. Futaba! What're you two up to now…?!?" Cheng Sinzan said, glaring at the two as they entered Cheng's hotel.
"Just here to pick up my clothes. By the way, Cheng, you'll never see me again- and my name's not Alex Dino… It's Jin. Jin Chonshu."
"Ohsweetmotherof-" Cheng facefaulted.
"So he lends you a room, but you don't use it?"
"He lends it for his best employees. Considering that he found out who I am, I'm probably not allowed in here anymore. Oh well, I barely keep anything in here."
"… That's true… Just white shirts… Red pants… A dozen pair of this kind of set… What's this?" Hotaru holds up a Tae Kwon Do uniform that is colored in red.
"… That's the uniform I was going to use in the tournament that Master Kim was going to have me participate in, the one that was around the time Second Southtown was just getting built."
"Yeah, I heard that… And this… I recognize this." Hotaru grinned at the red silk clothing with the butterfly pattern that Chonshu had often worn in his younger years.
"Just give that to me!" Chonshu said mock-irritably, stuffing it in his case. Hotaru was still grinning. Chonshu rummaged through some drawers and grabbed some of the money he kept stashed away from working with Cheng.
Both of them turned- they heard footsteps.
"Right, we're out of here."
"… Right… Nearly there… Sorry- I can only teleport so many times…"
"That's alright, we're nearly there anyway-"
"HALT!"
"Oh, no." Hotaru and Chonshu turned slightly- Bonne Jenet, the Kim brothers, and everyone else from the café… They were all chasing after the two.
"Hotaru! Whatever he tells you, they're all lies! Get away from him-" Jae Hoon cried out.
"Chonshu, get your ass back here!" Dong Hwan said, cutting off Jae Hoon.
"I thought you said I was cool! You break my bleeding heart, you lying bastard!" Chonshu replied, not stopping at all.
"Yeah, that's before I figured out who you were! Get over here right now so I can give you a proper beating!"
"I could always run faster than you, Dong! You'll never catch me alive, hahahaha… Oh, crap."
"See what they mean by not tempting karma, fate, whatever?" Hotaru said, as she and Chonshu skidded to a halt. They were at Southtown port's entrance, but blocking their way was Kain's group- Rock, Grant, Gato... and Kain R. Heinlein himself.
"Ah, Jin Chonshu. Holding miss Hotaru Futaba hostage, no less!"
"I'm sorry I wasn't around before, Hotaru… But you can stop running now, you'll be fine-"
"Rock, please be quiet." Hotaru snapped. "Now do you mind? Me and Chonshu have something important to do-"
"You and Chonshu… You! What have you done to her?" Rock's red eyes glowed intensely at Chonshu.
Chonshu grinned and responded in kind, his own brown eyes staring back. "Nothing. This is of her own free will, I guarantee it, Howard. Do you mind listening to the lady, Heinlein?"
"I do, actually. I could let you pass, but you have to give me one thing: the Jin Scroll pieces! Hand them over!"
"Jin Scrolls!" Mai said, as she and the rest caught up behind Chonshu and Hotaru.
"Jin Scrolls? Even if I had pieces of them, why should I?" Chonshu asked, raising an eyebrow. "Isn't running this city down a second time enough for you?"
"Running it down a second time? Me?" Kain said, smiling mildly. "No… This town is bringing about its own ruin. The people are self-defeatist, and they do not even realize it. I only bring out the emotion in people by making Southtown the boiling point of emotion- it is the peak that those who maintain normalcy will ever reach, it is ever-consuming sorrow, it is mediocrity and weakness. Humanity should not be so dependent on feelings, but rather strength. If the peoples of our times cannot defend themselves from me, they simply lack the strength to do so. They don't deserve to exist-"
"And you actually put up with this bullshit on a regular basis!?" Chonshu interrupted Kain.
Kain scoffed. "Don't you know never to interject in a person's monologue-"
"Oh, right," Chonshu said loudly, "I forgot to wait for you to finish talking about how big your psychoanalytical penis is- excuse me, but I'd like to cut that part out altogether, and I mean that figuratively AND literally-"
"Grant." Kain gestured to Grant, who stepped forward.
"Enough with that, smartass. Now you'll feel the transcendent fist of Dark Karate."
"Grr… Stick with me, Hotaru?" Chonshu said, readying into a defensive stance.
"I've got your back…" Hotaru did likewise.
Rock stared at her. "Hotaru, you're really…"
"Hotaru, fight this foolishness!" B. Jenet said.
"What do you think I'm doing?" Hotaru retorted.
"I don't believe this…" B. Jenet shook her head.
"No need for violence, kids! I've got plenty of it! WOOHOO!"
"Billy Kane!?" Billy, coming from nowhere, landed between Chonshu and Hotaru and Kain's group.
"Billy! What's the meaning of this!?" Joe said, stomping his feet, irritated.
"Start running, now! DIYERIYERYERI… FIYAHHHH!" Billy sent a wave of scorching fire at the feet of Kain's posse, causing them to jump back. Billy ran past them- Chonshu and Hotaru followed without skipping a beat.
"Hey, wait! Kachousen"
Billy turned, and without wasting slammed his pole through the fan that Mai Shiranui had sent at him, and then, with a waving motion, covered the width of the street in flame. "That won't stop them forever! C'mon!"
"The ship's already left!"
"Not if my sister could help it!"
Chonshu and Hotaru, both wondering what the hell was going on, followed Billy onto the pier. The ship was still there, thank goodness for the two (now three) of them.
"Wow. Your sister's good… We're a few minutes late… And Southtown's usually stringent-"
"Oh that's bloody great, a talkative one-JUST GET YOUR ASS IN THERE!"
"Why are you helping us?"
"I'm doing it under orders of someone who was a friend of Tung's."
"You aren't kidding?" Hotaru said, looking a little surprised.
"I am not, bloody hell, just because I used to be a villain…"
"Billy, come back here!" Rock yelled.
"Wotcher, young Howard, you duffer! Don't worry, maybe you'll eventually smart up and join us!"
"Billy, what in the hell are you talking about!?" Joe yelled.
"I can't hear you!! The ship's horns are too loud!!!!" Indeed they were- the ship, a full-fledged cruise boat, bellowed enormously, and the ship accelerated out of port. "See you all later, you suckers! Gahahahahahahahahaha!"
"… That was a close call." Chonshu said, taking a deep breath.
"… Excuse me, Mr. Kane…" Hotaru said, poking Billy, "Why are you helping me?"
"I'll explain that later. But you know what? You kids have had a rough night." Billy whistled, and headed off into one of the ship's corridors. "We're not going to argue the toss on this one, I need sleep and so do you- I'll tell you all about later, g'nite. Your rooms are… Err… What'd Lily say- oh yeah, 26. Ha! Funny, that, you'll have to share! Your's is that way! Later!"
"… Guess we'll be sleeping in the same room." Chonshu said, sighing.
"Oh, come on. You can't be all that bad of a roommate. Besides, I'm beat… I don't care about anything but resting right now," Hotaru smiled, heading in the direction Billy indicated.
"So am I… This must be the most intense night I've ever been through." Chonshu said, rubbing his head and following after her.
End of Chapter 12.
Author's Note: That sure was a long chapter, wasn't it? Took me… Quite a while to do it- oh, and much of the dialogue between Geese, Terry, and Chonshu in that scene where Chonshu transfers the two to Delta Park is taken straight out of Fatal Fury 3. I had to replay the game twice just to make sure I was getting it right. I did edit some of it, of course. Thanks for reading, happy holidays!