Chapter One: Rivalry
Notes: See Intro
-Junior Martial Arts Competition, Chiyoda District, Tokyo...-
Standing on a raised platform, Kirina Houshi faced her opponent. Her opponent was also a kendoist, dressed in a white and black hakama, while Kirina's own hakama outfit was black and grey, her Murumasa sword strapped to her side.
Her opponent, the reigning champion by the name of Mitsuko Toyotomi, looked at her, obviously unimpressed. "I'm surprised you made it to the final match, scrub. What's your name?"
Kirina smiled meanly. "My name is Kirina. And you are going to lose your title."
Minako unsheathed her sword. "Aren't we confident?"
Kirina pulled out her own weapon. "Not confident, Mitsuko. I just know."
Mitsuko went into her stance. "Okay, rookie. You wanna play with the big girls? Let's dance."
Kirina went into a one-handed stance. "Fine. I'll lead."
Then the match began. Mitsuko moved in, hoping to put Kirina away early. However, Kirina had other plans.
Watching the match from the sidelines, was Kirina's father and aunt, the Shotokan warrior known as Ryu Hoshi and the former Japanese doll--and Ryu's estranged sister--Satsuki. Ryu was in his mid-thities, while Satsuki was younger than he was. Ryu was dressed in his usual grey-blue karate gi and trademark red headband, while Satsuki was dressed in a simple black hakama.
The two martial artists were watching Kirina fight, analyzing her moves.
"She's improved," Ryu noted.
Satsuki grinned. "She has a good teacher, oniisan."
"You think too highly of yourself, Satsuki," Ryu replied.
"Not everyone can be like the great Ryu Hoshi," Satsuki said. "Not even your own daughter."
"I know," Ryu responded. "I want her to be better than me."
"She's geting there, oniisan," Satsuki replied.
In the audience, someone else was watching Kirina, only there was no admiriation in her eyes. There was only malicious intent.
Riona Howard scanned Kirina, watching the young girl with borderline interest. Like Kirina, Riona was part Japanese and European, but her father was Geese Howard, president of Howard Construction Incorporated and head of Southtown's criminal underworld.
Like her father, Riona was trained in the family style of Kobujitsu and Hakkyokusaken in order for her to prepare her for taking over the Howard family's criminal empire. At the age of fifteen, Riona was a rising star in the martial arts world, with a perfect winning streak, until a chance encounter with Kirina Houshi while visiting Southtown with her father had all but tarnished her record.
Worse yet, Kirina was a praticioner of Shotokan Karate, the same style that had critically injured her father back in the Millenium Contest tournament eight years ago. Upon finding this out, Riona now trains to avenge herself, as well as her father.
Watching the match alongside Riona was the infamous pole master William Kane, who was Riona's bodyguard, not to mention her 'uncle.' Billy was still wearing the red-and-white bandanna he was famous for, and a black suit, his red pole in three seperate pieces and concealed.
Billy watched Kirina fight. "Is that her? The one in the black and grey?"
Riona nodded. "That's her. Her name is Kirina Houshi."
"She's pretty good with a sword," Billy noted.
Riona glared at her bodyguard. "She is nothing but an upstart who screwed me over and tarnished my perfect winning streak. And to top it off, she pratices Shotokan Karate, the same style that mauled Dad."
Before Billy could say anything, Riona continued, "I was there that day when Dad challeneged the dark fighter back in the Millenium Contest. I was hiding, watching the match..."
-Flashback, an empty field, near Osaka, eight years earlier...-
Seven-year old Riona watched from her hiding as her father stood before his opponent. The other man was Japanese, with fiery-red hair done in a samurai topknot, the sides adored with gray streaks. The man was pure muscle, and it showed through the tattered coal black karate gi that he wore. From Riona's point of view, she saw the red Japanese kanji that translated as 'Ten.'
A thick cord of brown rope was tied around his waist and a pair of leather sandals adorned his feet. Around his neck was a set of huge rosary beads. Had Riona looked at his face she would have seen his blood red eyes, which matched his hair and his sharpened teeth.
Geese Howard looked at the demon fighter, dressed in his own white-and-orange hakama, his brown coat slung over his shoulders. "So you're the so-called 'Supreme Master of the Fists?' I'm not impressed."
Gouki Akuma looked down on the crimelord. "You should not be impressed with me. You should be afraid. Afraid for your life. Your style of fighting is no match for me. I alone have embraced the murderous intent of Shotokan Karate and you will get an example of my power. When I get through with you, you will beg for death, as many did before you."
Geese threw his overcoat off his shoulders, which landed in a heap at his feet. "Talk is cheap in this tournament. When I get through with you, my hands will be stained with your blood."
"Then come!" Akuma beckoned the crimelord, going into the horse stance, his aura flaring. "Come and face the true nature of Shotokan Karate!"
As Riona watched the ensuing battle, she saw that her father was an excellent fighter, but unfortunately, so was Akuma. Not even the Raging Storm could stop the demon fighter's onslaught. As Riona watched in horror, Akuma began to pummel her father with ruthless efficency.
Geese was thrown into the side of a tree. He bounced off the tree trunk and landed facedown on the ground. Akuma, although bruised and bloodied, stood tall as Geese made it to one knee, coughing up blood.
Akuma looked down on the crimelord. "You weakness in battle is the disease. Death's sweet release is waiting for you."
Geese got back to his feet. "The...battle is not over yet. I still got one more trick up my sleeve. DEADLY RAVE!"
Geese charged at Akuma preparing to pound him into oblivion. Akuma merely teleported behind him and when nailed Gesse in the back with a hard straight punch, which was then followed by...
"Mesatsu...GOUHADOU!"
The massive fireball smashed into the small of the Southtown fighter's back. Gesse felt something in his back snap out of place. He screamed as he fell to his knees.
He was defeated.
Akuma cracked his neck muscles. "Now you see your Hakkyokusaken style is no match for the murderous intent that runs through me! You have fufilled your purpose in life...now it is time for me to end it!"
Akuma raised one fist, preparing to finish the fallen fighter off when Riona came running from her hiding place, screaming out, "NOOOO!"
Geese looked over to his daughter. "Riona, get back!"
Akuma was about to punt Riona into next week when Geese's henchmen, Billy Kane, Hopper and Ripper appeared. Billy grabbed Riona and pulled her to the side, while the other two henchmen pulled out their pistols. Akuma teleported behind them just as they opened fire and knocked both men out.
Turning back to Geese, Billy, and Riona, Akuma studied all three with his burning red eyes. He studied the female Howard. "Remember this day, little one. I have spared your father so that he can live in shame and defeat. Next time...if he challenges me...then I will kill him."
-End Flashback-
"That day has stayed with me for the last eight years," Riona said. "I remember it so clearly. That psycho fighter's eyes...now Kirina has wrecked my winning streak and I find out she pratices that bastard style of karate...oh, I have waited so long for this day."
Meanwhile in the match, Kirina had Mitsuko on the defensive. The reigning champion had clearly underestimated the young upstart and was paying for it under Kirna's onslaught.
In desperation, Mitsuko tried an overhead swing of her own sword.
TING! TING! TING!
Kirina swung her Murumasa sword three times, each time, cleanly slicing a section of Mitsuko's blade off, until she was only holding the handle.
Ryu and Satsuki watched in amazement. "Did you teach her that?" he asked.
"She saw me do it once," Satsuki replied.
Mitsuko was in disbelief. Kirina had destroyed her weapon. As the younger kendoist moved in for the kill, Mitsuko raised her hands. "Wait! I give up! I give up!"
Seeing that she had conceded defeat, Kirina lowered her weapon and sheathed it. Bowing to the judges, she turned and made her way to her corner. Furious at losing to suh a young fighter, Mitsuko charged at Kirina, hoping to attack her from behind.
That was a big mistake.
Kirina quickly stepped to the side and raised her arm, catching the defeated Mistuko and making her flip a complete somersault before hitting the ground.
Once Kirina made it to her father and aunt, someone else jumped into the ring.
"KIRINA HOUSHI!"
Kirina stopped and turned around. Riona Howard was standing there, dressed in a designer's overcoat. Billy was behind and to the side of her, with a worried expression on his face.
"Oh, it's you," Kirina replied dryly.
"Where you think you're going?" Riona demanded. "You and I got some unfinished business!"
Kirina scoffed. "If you mean that fight in Southtown, it ended in a standoff."
"No!" Riona shouted. "You made me lose face! Now people there--especially that blonde bitch Bogard--say that I was uprooted by a little sprat."
Kirina meanly grins. "So maybe you were."
Riona raises one fist. "I'll kick your ass here and prove that I am better than you, and that Shotokan Karate is nothing but a joke!"
Kirina pufffed a bit at that. One thing you never do is say that one's fighting style is a complete joke.
Riona then continued. "My father was a good man. He was the best fighter in the world. Then eight years ago, some psycho praticing Shotokan crippled my father for life!" she nearly ranted.
Kirina folded her arms across her chest. "Well, if I remember correctly, MY dad kicked that Shotokan-praticing psycho's ass from here to Eternity! So stop talking and bring it on, little spoiled girl!"
In a flash, the overcoat that covered Riona was off, showing off her own outfit, which was a black-and-purple hakama. Kirina simply pulled her own hakama jacket from her shoulders, until it was hanging at her waist, revealing her black tanktop.
The crowd was on its feet as they started to take bets on who would win this improptu battle. It wasn't surprising that the majority of the audience had placed their money on Riona Howard.
Kirina bowed to Riona, showing respect to her opponent, eventhough what she really wanted to do was Hadouken her like crazy.
Riona merely shrugged her off. "Save the honor crap for someone who cares. Jaei--"
She was cut off from her move when she felt the coldness of Kirina's sword at her neck. Apparently, Kirina was fast when it came to getting her weapon from its sheath.
Billy was watching this with a worried expression. He knew that this was a bad idea.
Kirina, on the other hand, was enjoing herself. With an evil grin, she sheathed her sword, then threw it behind her, where her father had caught it.
Both girls hopped back to a safe distance and assumed their fighting stances. Riona attacked first with a jab, followed by a spinning back kick to test Kirina's defenses. Kirina parried the first blow and when Riona launched the spinning back kick, Kirina ducked and swept Riona's legs out from under her in a foot sweep.
Riona took the sweep and rolled backwards. When she got back up, Kirina was moving in. 'Perfect,' she thought.
When Kirina threw a punch at Riona's breastsplate, Riona executed her Chuudan Atemi Nage, the Middle Counter Throw. She caught Kirina's fist and using her momentum against her, flipped Kirina over her hip, slamming her to the mat.
"Pathetic," Riona sneered as she brought her leg up, then slammed it down, hoping to smash Kirina's nose into her brain. But Kirina caught her opponent's heel and snapped her own foot upward, catching Riona in the face. Riona was sent staggering back while Kirina jumped to her feet.
She then cocked her fist back and swung. When Riona attempted her counther throw again, she saw that Kirina had stopped her hand and brought the other one in the form of a vicious uppercut.
Biut Riona came back with a solid blow to Kirina's midsection which was followed a right cross to the face. Kirina ducked the blow and when she came back up and launched a forward cresent kick which connected to Riona's face.
Riona avoiced the second cresent kick and countered with the Jaeiken, the Evil Shadow Smasher. A rght cross, follwed by an uppercut and ended in a power punch to the torso. Kirina took all three blows and was forced to regroup.
Riona, on the other hand was gloating. "You see, little girl?" she sneered. "I know all of your tricks. This time, you won't win."
Kirina felt blood inside her mouth. She spat out a wad of it and faced her opponent. "You don't know all of my tricks, Riona. Let me show you my next one."
She then switched stances. Ryu and Satsuki saw that she changed form Shotokan Karate to Shadowlaw Commando, a style that Riona knew nothing about.
Riona wan't going to wait. "Deadly Reppuken!" she cried out, sweeping the ground twice with her hands, causing a bolt of blueish-white ki to skitter along the ground towards her opponent.
Kirina merely performed a front handspring and flipped into the air, sailing over the projectile. Rathen than finishing off the Hooligan Combination, she landed directly in front of Riona.
Grabbing a handful of Riona's hakama top, Kirina began to drive her knee into Riona's midsection. Once, twice, three times before kicking out with her left leg then her right. Only she didn't stop there. When she lashed out with her right leg, Kirina showed off her amazing leg strength by lifting Riona into the air until she was doing a vertical split, right before flinging her to the ground.
Satsuki let out a low whistle. Aside form Kirina, Bison was the only person who knew how to do the Scissor Leg Throw. Now Kirina was the only one to use that move.
Riona bounced onto the floor. She got back to her feet and carefully attacked Kirina. Riona may have known Krina's every move when it came to Shotokan Karate, but she had never seen her nemesis fight using the Shadowlaw Commando style, which is a very effecitve style.
Riona tried to knock her off her guard with the Jaeiken again, but Kirina countered with her Sniping Arrow. When Riona saw the move coming, she attempted her counter move again, but Kirina's own move came too fast for her and crashed through her defenses.
The blow had caught her in the chest and Riona was knocked back. Riona got back to her feet, blood trickling from the side of her mouth as she watched Kirina, who was just as bruised.
'She fights with another unarmed fighting style?!' Riona's mind was screaming. 'How...?!'
Losing all her marbles, Riona charged, uttering the words, "Deadly Rave," in an attempt to take down Kirina, who was at the moment, waiting for her.
When Riona was close enough, Kirina made her move.
"Fatal..."
Her left fist caught Riona in the ribs, effectively stunning her. Kirina then struck Riona three more times with her other fist, each time striking a pressure point.
"Dragon's...Kiss!"
Kirina then went into her trademark move, the Rising Dragon's Kiss. Unlike her father's own move, the Shoryuken, Kirina executed the move with her right fist, launching herself--as well as Riona into the air. Kirina then finished her move by driving her heel into Riona's torso, sending her back to the floor, while Riona landed on her back hard, while Kirina landed on her feet.
It was over. Riona Howard was defeated. Thost who had lost money on Riona were equally upset. Only two people had betted on Kirina to win, and Satsuki was one of them. One of the refs handed Satsuki her winings, which she slipped inside her hakama.
Billy was there, helping Riona to her feet. Riona had suffered several injuries, not to mention a concussion from her fight with Kirina.
Ryu and Satsuki were now standing behind Kirina. Ryu placed a hand on his daughter's shoulder. "It's over Kirina. You've won."
Satsuki handed Kirina back her sword as she addressed Billy. "Get your charge looked at."
"I'm...not done yet!" Riona spat out.
"It's over for now, Riona," Billy said. "If anything happened to you, your father will have my head on a stake."
Riona knew that he was right. As much as she like being around Billy, the last thing she needed was to find another bodyguard. Breathing hard, she glares at Kirina. "Round Two goes to you, Kirina. It's now over yet."
"For you, Howard, it never is," Kirina deadpanned. "I'll be waiting."
-About 20 minutes later...-
Ryu and Satsuki were waiting for Kirina to finish changing inside the girls' locker room. "So who was the girl, oniisan?" Satsuki asked.
"Have you ever heard of Geese Howard?" Ryu replied, holding Kirina's trophy.
"The Southtown mobster? Yeah, I've heard of him. Several of his men approached me and some of the other dolls with a job to take out a rival martial artist some years back, but we turned it down."
"The girl that Kirina beat was his daughter."
"Daughter? I thought he had a son."
Ryu nods. "He does have a son, but fortunate for him, he's on the side of good. The daughter, on the other hand, is a different story. Her name is Riona Howard. Kirina fought against her when I took her and Mel to Southtown on a training trip. The match ended in a standoff there. But it appears that Riona despises anyone praticing Shotokan Karate."
"Why?" his sister asked.
"Her father was crippled by Akuma back in the Millenium Contest eight years ago."
"Ouch."
At that moment, Kirina exited the dressing room. She had a bandage above her left eyebrow. She was dressed in her ususal outfit: a red halter top, black denim jeans and matching jacket, her hair in her usual style (Samanouske from Onimusha 3, only more feminine, remember?). In one hand was her sperts bag, her sword sticking out from within.
"I'm ready," Kirina said. "Let's go."
"Before I forget," Satsuki cut in. "This is for you." She tissed the small bundle of cash to her niece. "They were taking bets on your match against Riona, and I took advantage."
Ryu frowned, but said nothing.
Kirina hugged her aunt. "Thanks, Auntie."
Ryu simply shook his head.
