He stood, silently waiting for his foe. The Sakura trees offering momentary shelter from the unrelenting rain, their rustling whispers unnerved him, were it not for the fact that he was afraid, he may have been relaxed here. He had never really felt fear, the feeling brought with it a sickness, but he knew that he had to fight. He closed his eyes, leaning against a statue, listening to the rain hitting the soft, muddy ground. "Yagami…" His eyes shot open, scanning the surrounding semi-darkness, the shadows seeming to jump out at him, clawing at his mind, like his own emotions. "Yagami…" He turned looking at the statue he was leaning on, taking in every detail. He backed away towards the path, no longer wanting to be in the dark, despising the trees, wanting the safety the path brought with it. Laughter tore through the silent night, penetrating deep into the dark forest beyond, Iori stopped dead. A chill ran up his spine as a large shadow broke from the dense vegetation and walked towards him. Orochi stood before him, a mocking smirk adorning his semi-transparent features. He extended a hand towards Iori, "Join me, Yagami. We can rule this world together. Think of all the power you will have." Orochi smiled, Iori raised an eyebrow, "I don't want your lies." Orochi's face twisted with his anger, "Then I'll just have to destroy you!" The statement cut through the distance between them, bringing with it waves of silence. A cold wind tore through the trees blowing Iori's hair into erratic disarray, as they both stood, silent, still, waiting for the other to make the first move.
Iori watched Orochi, knowing he'd make the first move, knowing he'd have to be ready for it. Orochi vanished, Iori blinked, not quite believing what he saw, searching the scene for his foe. Orochi's cutter kick struck the back of his head, he lurched forwards, fighting for balance, another blow from Orochi sent him crashing into the ground. Iori's hands sank into the mud as Orochi's laughter echoed in his ears, "Pathetic!" His voice made the statement seem more like a command than a taunt. "You know as well as I do that you can do better than that! Otherwise why don't you just let me kill you?" He approached menacingly, hovering over the red haired man, watching him pull himself to his knees with keen eyes. Iori, now on his feet, turned with lightening speed, quickly releasing the mud in his hand. Before Orochi knew what was happening, the wet earth flew into his face, masking his vision, his hands going to his eyes as he instinctively stepped backwards. Iori took his chance, running at Orochi, before fully releasing the power of his Oni Yaki (Demon Scorcher). Orochi cried out in pain as he was engulfed in purple flame, his unstable form loosing it's density momentarily. Iori landed steadily, not waiting for his foe to do the same, he hurled out the Ya Sakazuki (Eight Wine Glasses), the huge pillars of flame touching the clouds as they swiftly travelled ahead of him. They caught Orochi inches from the ground, freezing him in mid-air, while slowly burning his fragile body. Iori dashed forwards, driving an elbow into Orochi's gut, before smashing his face into the ground, a smothered scream escaping his lips as searing flames drove him deeper into the mire.
"You're the one who's pathetic," Iori half mumbled as he returned to his usual upright stance. He ignited a flame in the palm of his hand, ready to throw at the disabled Orochi, slowly he brought his hand back, but before he could release it surging pain blasted through his body as he was blown away by a blue pillar of fire. Iori sailed through the air, a tree forcefully put an end to his flight, as it smashed into his back, "Kisama!" Iori spat the words as he fell to his knees, his hands retreating to his painful spine; he glanced up, seeing Orochi floating towards him.
Orochi stopped a few feet from where Iori crouched, more cautious of getting too close. He extended an arm towards Iori, pointing a finger at him, before releasing a ball of energy, the force sending his own arm backwards like the recoil on a shotgun. Iori saw the bullet of blackness hurtling towards him; he rolled sideways, the shot only just missing him. The tree exploded as the negative energy hit it, Iori looked at it, shocked at the sheer power of the attack. Give him what he deserves!Iori stood, ignoring his protesting back. A new flame ignited in his hand, "Raku ni wa shinen zo!" He shouted as he flung it forwards, the first pillar of flames sending shockwaves in all directions. The full force of the forbidden Ya Sakazuki (Eight Wine Glasses) rumbled as it burnt a path through the vegetation, turning the wet mud into concrete.
Orochi had little time to react, moving as quickly as he could to escape the flame, but not quick enough. His arm caught by the flame, he was sent into the ground, skidding across the gravelled surface of the path, the fire still burning him, as he rose to his feet.
The symbol on Orochi's chest began to glow, his body turning blue. Iori's feet slid forwards through the mud, unseen forces dragging him towards Orochi, there was nothing to stop his unwilling movement. Iori smiled, dashing towards Orochi, performing the Oni Yaki (Demon Scorcher) into the air in front of him. Orochi teleported quickly. Tsk, tsk, tsk.The voice began, almost disappointed, I thought you'd know better than that. Oh and look behind you…Iori swung around only to be hit with what he was trying to avoid in the first place. Orochi grabbed him, ripping flesh, while securing him to the spot, he looked into Orochi's eyes. Orochi saw Iori's fear flicker behind the faltering barricades. Orochi grinned, his hand engulfed in a purple glow, he clenched his fist, causing an explosion where he'd grabbed Iori. Iori screamed, his whole body felt like it was burning, as he smashed through a tree, landing awkwardly on jagged rocks.
Orochi's low laughter made him raise his head; he floated in front of him, coaxing him to get up. Slowly he rose to his feet, the voice telling him how weak he was, the pressure in his head mounting, to join with his anger. The pain would follow soon, he knew that, then he would never have a chance. Iori charged at Orochi, his hands connecting only a few times with the floating assailant. The voice laughed Can't hit something that's stood still? Iori growled, the pain striking him now, he held his head, but it was no use. Knees collapsing from beneath him, he fell to the floor, blood filling his mouth as he hit the wet surface. His eyes now blind and full of fire. Orochi stood and smiled, as he watched Iori get to his feet. Iori reared back, a scream escaping his bloody lips. He lunged forward, attacking Orochi, only to be pushed back with what seemed to be minimal effort. "Fool!" Orochi said as he raised his hands into the air, crossing them. The sky changed to a beautiful blue-green. Iori stood still, not quite sure what was going on, until the first invisible swipe hit him. Pain coursed through his body, as the continued onslaught brought another fifteen devastating hits. A high-pitched scream escaped Iori's lips, as he went crashing into a stone statue.
The world turned black.
Distant voices echoed through the darkness, "Is the creep…dead?"…. "I wish he were. We couldn't kill him before. Containing him…that's all we could do."…. "That's right…..I am invincible!"…. "I thought so! But after that attack! How?"…. "He can barely stand. You don't have the stuff! And your followers are gone!"…. "As long as the Orochi live, I'll be around!"…. "What!"…. His own screams, instantly recognisable… "Kill Kusanagi and Yata! Break the Shingi Troica! Fight, my Orochi son!"…. The voices faded.
A hand intruded in the blackness, his vision moved to it's owner, his father loomed over him, a look of sheer amusement on his face. "You'll never get anywhere if you keep landing on your face!" He reached out for his father's hand, upon gripping it everything changed. He was in the temple, his father dying, on the floor in front of him. His father clutched his arm, "You…will…always…be…more…powerful!" Convulsions rippled through his body, his grip becoming firmer around Iori's arm. "At…the… age…of…reckoning…end…this…madness…once…and…for-all!" The blackness returned, his mind reeling, trying to make sense of everything that had just happened.
Suddenly it all clicked into place, the reasons why he was still alive and why it had all been so easy. Orochi needed him, needed him to keep coming back to this world, needed him for the power to destroy the human race…But he didn't need Orochi! Now he truly understood what his father had meant.
He opened his eyes.
Slowly he raised his body from the ground, his back towards Orochi. He reached into his pocket, taking out a cigarette packet. He turned towards Orochi, placing a cigarette between his lips, flames from his fist igniting the tip. He drew deeply on it, a smile creeping across his features, as he removed the cigarette. He could contain it no longer, his psychotic laughter rippled through the silence, his whole body shaking from the exertion of it. A hand combing through his hair to rest on his head, the action more for balance than anything else. Orochi stared blankly at him, his laughter slowly sub-siding, as he took another drag from the cigarette.
Bells chimed in the distance, marking the end of the hour, and the end of the day. Iori dropped his cigarette, crushing it into the ground, "I now know your little secret…" Orochi watched him, not moving an inch, "Now I'm going to tell you mine…" Iori reached inside his pocket, retrieving another cigarette, a purple flame igniting in his hand. "I'm 30…" The last chime echoed into the silence that surrounded the two men, Iori lights the cigarette; he looks up at Orochi while he breaths in the smoke. He smiles, his body now rising into the air, powered by imaginary winds. "Kimi no shine basho wa koko da!" Iori's monotone voice rumbled, as he extended his arms out to his sides, his body suddenly engulfed in masses of violet flames. The cigarette dropped to the floor by Orochi's feet, closely followed by the Kusanagi sword, which barely missed him. The Yasa mirror came hurtling towards the ground, from the flame engulfed form of Iori, shattering as it hit the floor, sending it's glittering shards into the air around Orochi. He looked up at Iori.
