Tokyo-to High: Year of the Dragon
Chapter 16!!! Woo I never thought I'd actually write a Fanfic this long much less a Fanfic at all X'D. Even though the story kinda focuses more on my original characters hopefully others will feel that fit into the World I've created.
As some of you have noticed I've introduced a new character, Ash Crimson. He originates from King of Fighters 2003, however not much has been released about him. What I do know about him is, he stole the Seal of Orochi from Chizuru Kagura, and for some reason yet to be released he desires to break it and gain the power of Orochi.
Now... I just added a little more to his personality and etc, so if you don't like it Gomen! But he's still a new character so not much information has been released. So if my story ends up conflicting with later KoF Storyline just omit it .;
Well onto chapter 16! Here comes Ash to ruin the day! Dun dun dunn!!!
Akito Yagami & Nova Yagami © me, Tsunami is © my lovely Tsu-chan, all other characters are © either Capcom, SNK, Sammy, or any other company I have borrowed existing characters
Chapter 16 – The Crimson One
Akito gazed cautiously at the young man before him. His flowing ivory hair hung carelessly from his face. His azure eyes seemed to pierce deep into Akito, shaking his foundation of security and confidence.
Akito instinctively took a few steps back. Nova, who Akito had never known to take his side, stood by him with a rather smug look contempt for Ash. Could Nova sense his fear of Ash? And if he could, why was he helping him?
"Now now Ash, No need to get Akito all worked up. That's my Job don't you know!" Nova spoke up in a playful manner. Ash managed a sweet smirk back and retorted in the calmest of voices. "Oh dearest me, did I frighten you Akito?"
Before Akito could muster a retort, Ibuki and Akira had quickly taken fighting stances and were standing ready next to Akito. Hibiki, who hadn't brought her weapon on this outing, was protecting Tsunami.
"Akito... What's going on?" He heard Tsunami's voice from behind him but he just shook his head and looked back at her. "I don't know..."
"My my Akito quite the little harem you've got going on here. Do you own or lease?" Ash said with a tone of condescending tease. Ibuki's eyes narrowed at this comment. "We're his friends! And Akito just got out of the hospital, how brave are you picking on someone who's injured?" Ibuki spat him in a rather repulsive manner. Ash maintained his look of composure and waved his finger carelessly at Ibuki. "Now now little vixen, Men are talking. You have to stay quit until you're spoken too."
"Little Vixen?! I'll make you regret that remark!" Ibuki dashed towards Ash the comment left her lips. She leapt into the air and landed with great force lining up her elbow with his head. Ash stumbled back a few steps but managed to keep his composure, despite searing pain running through his mind. He quickly took a fighting stance and deflected Ibuki's barrage of short concentrated attacked.
"Ibuki Stop it!" Akira called out at her. Nova watched with an unusual amount of concentration. Akito snapped out of his daze of shock. "Hibiki Get Tsunami out of here! Find Leona!" His sister nodded and quickly darted off with Tsunami.
Akito turned back to the fight and after a few moments of watching Ibuki blindly assault Ash, it seemed he had grown bored of toying with her. Ash parried one final attack of hers and rolled backwards smirking as he created an emerald flame in his palm. "Enough practice little vixen." He heaved his arm outwards sending the emerald flame towards her.
Ibuki's eyes widened and she leapt over the flame landing on her feet. "That all you got?" She said in a playful tone. It was obvious she was enjoying this fight. She hadn't challenged anyone since Akito had been put into the hospital.
"Oh little vixen I'm just getting warmed up." Ash removed his jacket and tossed it to Edge who had been watching with mild interest as the fight took place. Ash dashed towards Ibuki and lined up a series of fierce strikes. Ibuki blocked them the best she could but after a few strikes her guard was broken.
She leapt back and landed on her feet rubbing her arms. They ached terribly from Ash's strikes, but she knew she was far from giving up. She reached behind her and pulled out a few throwing knives
"Try this on for size!"
She launched herself up into the air. She focused for a moment and released a steady assault of her throwing knives against Ash. Ash effortlessly deflected the flying projectiles and leapt up into the air himself. For a moment his eyes locked with Ibuki's. She felt herself suddenly ache with fear and she knew it was over. A devastating kick lined up with her ribs. Air left her lungs and she felt herself descending towards the earth.
Ibuki hit the ground roughly; slamming into a few tables before skidding to a stop. The few people who had been at the Café now fled. Akira quickly ran to Ibuki's side and shook her. "Ibuki! Ibuki!!"
"Not bad, but anyone can beat up a girl!" Nova said with condescending manner. Akito watched as Nova left his side and dashed towards Ash. Akito was now thoroughly bewildered. Never had Nova ever fought by his side, never had Nova ever allied himself with him.
Nova's fists ignited with ebon flame and Ash's with emerald flame. After a series of well placed strikes both Nova and Ash were holding their heads in pain. "You're good." Ash said managing a smirk. "But I'm better!" Ash extended his leg and swept Nova. Nova landed hard on his back and winced in pain. He opened his eyes to see Ash quickly descending on him. He quickly rolled aside and Ash landed against the concrete very forcefully.
Nova quickly got to his feet and laughed. "You're over confident! It will be your down-"Nova was interrupted by a searing fist striking his stomach as he felt himself writhe in pain and cling to the ground. Ash with drew his fist and smirked. "You're over confident; it will be your downfall."
Akito could feel his chest heaving up and down as he struggled to take in breath. He shook with fear and anticipation. If Ash had easily beaten Nova, he knew he was no match for him.
Ash smirked and took his jacket back from Edge and put it back on. Akito watched cautiously but maintained his defensive stance. "This is your warning Yagami." Akito's eyes narrowed. "Warning for what? What do you want?"
Ash looked back at him, and for the first time his playful attitude was replaced with contempt and anger. "You Yagami's and your arrogance. You've been hording the Orochi power for centuries, treating it like a fickle mistress you can call upon in a time of desperation." Ash took a few steps towards Akito, his aura unchanged. "I'm here to take what is rightfully mine..."
Akito's mind raced; Ash meant to take his Orochi blood but, that was impossible. A transfer of power was too unstable and often times destroyed the recipient. His cousin Iori had told him what had happened when he the man known as Rugal Bernstein attempted to contain the Orochi blood bestowed on him by the Orochi Priest Goenitz.
"You know that's impossible!"
Ash smirked once again taking a playful tone on his face. "Is it now? We'll just have to wait and find out now won't we?" Ash took a few steps towards Akito and spoke in tauntingly sheepish voice. "I'll enjoy bleeding you dry Yagami. Once you're bleed dry, then it's your Aunt, then your cousin. The purest of power will be mine."
Akito pushed Ash away from him and rolled back getting back to his feet. "Now now Yagami, no need to fret now. You're wounded after all. There's no sport in hunting an injured animal. I want you in top shape; I want a full demonstration of your power after all." Ash laughed softly and turned his back to Akito.
Akito could feel his blood boiling. How dare he advocate to him. "Don't you dare underestimate me you pompous prick!" Akito could feel his body move on its own, he leapt and struck downwards aggressively, sapphire flame instantly surrounding his fists. In a movement that was so fluent almost undetected by Akito, Ash lifted his head and deflected his attack gripping his hand tightly around his throat. Akito clawed frantically at his arm struggling to muster breathe.
Ash lifted his eyes to meet his and smiled. "Come now Akito, I said I wanted a full display of your power. Not a sorry attempt to catch me off guard." Akito struggled and slammed his fist into his elbow which caused Ash to release his grasp. Akito hit the ground and rolled away taking in harsh desperate breathes. "Rest up now Yagami."
Akito lifted his gaze as it blurred watching Ash and Edge fade into the distance. He was sure Edge was complaining that Ash should have finished him off. Akito rose to his feet still rubbing his neck where Ash's grasp had been. "So the plot unfolds..." Akito looked over at Nova who still hadn't gotten up and went over to him. "Nova... You... ok?" He never thought he'd be concerned about Nova's well-being. In fact he always thought he would be ecstatic if something terrible befouled him.
Nova sat up and grumbled angrily. "Yea I'm fine... the little fucked just sucker punched me..." Akito looked over at Nova and for a moment pitied him. He could see past his macho façade, he was scared and trembling. He much reminded Akito of a small child who had tripped and scrapped his knee, yet instead of calling for his mother he was trying to toughen up to seem big in front of his friends.
Akito helped him to his feet, sure he hated Nova with a passion but it appeared they had a common enemy for the moment. Even if it was temporary, even if they didn't like it, they were allies.
Once Akito was sure that Nova was alright he walked over to Ibuki and Akira. "I'm fine I'm fine, stop worrying Damnit!" Ibuki said in an agitated tone. Loosing the match against Ash obviously hurt her pride, but it appeared that she wasn't use to people worrying about her. Akira released a sigh and looked over at Akito. "I was going to warn you about Ash, he transferred to our school while you were unconscious, but I didn't think it was relevant to you. I see now it was..."
Akito put his hand around Akira and pulled her into a one armed hug. "Hey it's alright you didn't know, besides everyone's ok." In a few moments Hibiki returned with Leona who instantly took to Akito in a motherly tone. "Are you alright? I came as soon as Hibiki got me!" Akito tried his best to smile despite his embracement. "I'm fine just wasn't expecting a tiff today."
Akito looked around at the almost totaled café and laughed nervously. A Tiff had been an understatement, sure the café was outside and it would have been easy to repair, but still it seemed that collateral damage followed Akito like puppy eager to hump his leg.
"Where's Tsunami?" Akito asked curiously and looked at Hibiki. "She's fine... she's in the car waiting for us." Akito breathed a sigh of relief and whipped his forehead. "good..."
Leona looked around the area then said in a soft voice. "Maybe we should leave before someone asks us to pay for damages..." The group readily agreed and proceeded back to the book store where the hummer was parked.
Hibiki looked up at her brother as they walked and began to speak softly. "I'm sorry I wasn't of more help brother... I didn't bring my weapon... I thought today was going to be peaceful..." "What? No don't worry... I wouldn't be able to live with my self if that bastard hurt you too." Hibiki sighed and clenched her hands together. "I should be the one protecting you, not vice versa."
The Akira and Ibuki bid farewell to Akito and Hibiki. Before turning and proceeding down the street to the student dormitories. During the ride back to Iori's house, everyone remained silent. Nova who had just hours earlier been trying to get Leona to submit to a thoroughly chest massage, was now sulking in the front seat. Hibiki looked out the window and sighed from time to time, not being able to offer her brother more help obviously bothered her. Tsunami clung to Akito's arm tightly and rested her head against him. He couldn't tell if she was frightened or just worried due to the silence.
Akito closed his eyes and heaved a sigh. The crimson one had arrived. His mind was full of scenarios, all ending with his submission to Ash and the lose of his own life. Was he that afraid of him? He opened his eyes and looked over at Tsunami who kept her gaze to the ground. Ash was suppose to steal the key, what did that mean exactly?
Akito held in an agitated growl. Under his breath he cursed that little prophet Miu. He would have been much happier living in ignorance and taking things one step at a time instead of living in a state of paranoia.
Why was his life suddenly becoming so complicated? He was satisfied just trying to understand Tsunami. Now he had to worry about his own sister's advances towards him, his cousin's homosexual encouragements that he had to admit were starting to get him curious. The overall concept of Nova being his ally for the time being positively confused him and only added to the immense stress on him. And now he had someone who wanted to kill him and bleed him dry, and to top the icing on the cake, he had school Monday.
He opened his eyes and looked out the window at the passing the trees and muttered to himself. "God I hate my life..."