The
King of Fighters 2k3
Chapter One:
Forming of teh
team
The King of Fighters.
The worlds most elaborate, most well know, the most likely-to-have-something-to-do-with-the-end-of the-world tournament. The fighting competition of the highest standards, on the greatest scale in the world -
"The King of Fighters."
Here on this stage Rugal was defeated, the Orochi were contained and sealed away, and the mighty NEST cartel was taken down. Yeah, that's a lot of stuff to happen over the last nine years. Somehow, through, the media never learned of these epic, dangerous, and just plain weird events.
Even with such a history, the opening of this year's King of Fighters was decided to take place as usual. The sponsor, as usual, was as mysterious as ever. No name is ever given, and the public never asks questions. Still, veterans who know of the things that take place yearly continue to enter. Is it the thrill of the fight? Or do they want to know what evil bad guys will appear next?
So, of course, the various veterans were almost automatically accepted. But, this year, even they will be new to the rules. This year is different, with the announcement from this KOF tournament of the new "multi-shift" rule, allowing competitors to freely tag off during battles.
" With this new focus on teamwork, the fighters will have to work together...or be torn apart." Reads a newspaper.
"This will show the true strength of the teams, some of which show failing in terms of trust (such as any team Iori Yagami has belonged to)." Reads another.
"Of course, there is still an awesome bunch of fighters in the world. And quite a few are joining this years tournament," Reads a third. "Some names found on the online roster are;
The
world famous martial artist, Gato.
The mighty masked griffon,
Tizoc.
Shanghai's 'Battle God', Shen Woo.
The mysterious
Duo Lon of the Flying Brigand
...And Ash Crimson, a mysterious
fighter from France."
Would these contestants be able to become the new stars capable of shaking up the KOF tournament, like Kyo Kusanagi, Iori Yagami, and K' did?
There was only one way to find out.
December 2003. The day the tournament began.
The Time has come.
Now,
the portal to a new punch fest opens...
-
"Shin...that is the most corniest thing you have ever said. What do you plan to accomplish, writing that report for class?"
Shin Hikawa laughed. "I plan to get a good grade, of course." He slipped the paper into a binder with a grin. "I don't believe you did anything better."
"Dude...its December 1st. The sign ups are beginning. What, do you plan to follow the tournament until it's over?" James Bryant asked with a sarcastic tone. Shin laughed, leaning back in his seat. The two sat in the a coffee house in New York City, a smug grin on Shin's face as James continued to read the paper. He briefly scanned over the bio's of all the fighters, looking up at Shin every once and a while to see if he was still watching him. "So...what are you planning, Shin? This paper isn't due till the end of the semester. You must be scheming something to show it to me now..."
"Maaaybe..." Shin laughed. "You'll only know if you keep reading."
"How did you get all this information anyway?" James asked. "I mean...how could you possibly know their exact measurements, their favorite foods..."
"I've been following the tournament since 1995, Bryant. I make it my business to find out everything that happens in the tourney through... well, I have connections." Shin smiled. James scoffed, still reading...until his eyes stopped on a single line.
"...What the heck is this!" James' eyes widened. Looking up at Shin's smug grin, he looked back down at the paper, making sure he read this correctly. "'I will be conduction a study on the tournament first hand this year...for I will be entering with a team of my choosing!'" James looked up at Shin. "You can't be serious."
"Dead serious." Shin smiled.
"But...but you've seen the fights! Those guys...they're not normal! I mean, it's even in this report! This guy uses flames!"
"I know."
"This guy's a psycho! I mean...blood rages?"
"Yep."
"SHE'S A PSYCHIC, J-POP IDOL!"
"Uh-huh."
"Okay, then explain to me how you plan on doing this. I mean...you can fight, but these guys are pros..." James blinked. Shin grinned. "You must have something up your sleeves..."
"Just wait a little longer and I'll tell you." Shin leaned back in his seat. "Don't worry, this is all planned out. I know what I'm doing..."
"Jeez...if I believed you, I might have asked to go with you..." James flexed his muscular arms. Compared to his friend Shin, he was much more closer to the type of person you'd expect to enter the KOF. Where Shin, with his long black hair and big blue eyes, had the body of a runner or something with not much athletic use of muscles, James was built like a boxer, wrestler, and the kid who steals your lunch money all rolled into one.
"Well..." Shin began, running his hand through said black hair. Before he could speak, a girl walked past them with a note in her hand, scanning the coffee house. "Ah, here we are..."
"'Here we are?'" James looked up at the girl. It wasn't much to look up for, as she wasn't very tall. A single, long black and red ponytail, pinned with sticks of some sort, ran down the back of her hair, hanging only an inch or so off the ground. Her red bangs covered her golden brown eyes, which narrowed as she heard Shin speak. Turning, she looked the two over. "Shin Hikawa and James Bryant?"
"I am he." Shin smiled. "That's James." The girl took a seat next to them, crossing her left leg over her right. "Now that we're all here..."
"Wait. Who is she?" James asked. The girl gave him a look, then focused her attention back on Shin.
"Lei Aiko, if I'm not mistaken." Shin smiled.
"Aiko Lei." She corrected.
"Huh?"
"Its customary to say the family name, then the given name in Japan." Lei explained, looking down at her nails. "So I prefer you say it correctly if you're going to call me by my whole name."
"…" The two stared at the girl in silence as she drew a bottle of purple nail polish. "Um…so who is she?"
"She's an exchange student from Japan. And, surprisingly enough, skilled in most combative martial arts and the use of acupuncture needles." Shin smiled. James looked to the girl, seeing the two needles in her hair. The girl noticed his gaze, drawing them out of her braid. The hair cascaded down as she set them on the table.
"Correct." She stretched. "Not lethal weapons, nor are these painful, but they are quite effective." She stated. James blinked, then looked back at Shin.
"Once again," he said. "What is she doing here?"
"Yes, about that," Shin smiled. "We're going to need her help. After all, the KOF is filled with expert fighters…"
"We?"
"You're entering too aren't you? On my team?"
"I'm what?"
"You just said 'if I believed you, I might have asked to go with you,' did you not?" Shin asked. "And, as I have stated numerous times, I'm dead serious. I want to enter, if not for research but for the chance to compete."
"… Um…" James grabbed the stack of paper in front of him once again. "Did I mention the Psychic J-pop idol?"
"Yes. I believe you have."
"Is there some sort of problem here?" Lei asked. "I mean, if you said you would join, then there's nothing to talk about…"
"Who asked you? And besides, how the heck did you manage to get on Shin's team? I mean, you're new at school, aren't you?"
"Yes. But he contacted me." She explained. "I have my doubts as well as you do, but I'm here for the KOF and not his well being."
"I'm not here for his well being either! I mean, I hold my own in a fight. What can you two do?" He asked, pointing accusingly. His question was quickly answered; in a motion faster than he could see, the girl suddenly held his wallet, his cell phone, and his belt in her left hand. Reaching to pull up his now plummeting pants, he looked to Shin.
"And what about you? I mean, I've seen you box every once and a while, but nothing on King of Fighter's quality."
Shin, however, gave a mischievous grin as he peered out the window. "…You want to see what I can do? Follow me then." He smiled, standing up. Walking to the door, he left a puzzled James and a less than interested Lei. Following after, the boy stood before a large fountain, a statue of an angel cradling a baby in the center.
"So, yeah, what're you." James began, but Shin raised a hand to silence him. With a loud shout, he punched the statue. At first, nothing of notice occurred…then the two noticed a spreading crack along the surface.
"Nice." Lei smiled. James blinked.
"Yeah, but he didn't break it like I expected…"
"I'm getting to that." Shin smiled. Taking a few steps back, he stood next to a large tree in the park across a sidewalk. Raising his hand, he adopted an unusual pose: two fingers extended and thumb raised like a gun.
"…Huh?" James didn't want to believe it; a rei gun pose. "You're not serious, are you?"
"Mister Hikawa…that's a bit unoriginal, isn't it?"
"Just watch!" He called to them. They watched all right, as he grit his teeth. A bead of sweat rolled down his forehead as the ground began to quake at his feet. Stones rose around him, floating as if the laws of gravity no longer applied. Then, it stopped in an instant…
And a translucent black ball hovered at his fingertips.
Shin smiled, suddenly pointing his fingers at James and Lei!
"ACK! WHAT'S HE DOING!" James screamed.
"I believe he's about to fire on us…" Lei said tonelessly, reaching in the slit of her dress for something. Shin smiled. His lips moved to form two words.
"Gravity Shoot!"
Jerking upwards, there was a low, gunshot-like bang as the ball fired with the force of a bullet. It arced between the two, flying upwards in a 85 degree angle…
And smashed into a speeding car to their left. The car crumpled, slowing to a halt behind them as police sirens came wailing from down the road.
"…He just barely kept it from being another team's opening…" James spoke out of character for a second. "…So, uh, when the hell did you learn that?"
"About…" Shin thought about that. "A week ago."
"A week ago?" James jaw dropped. Lei cleared her throat as the police sirens grew louder.
"Gentlemen…I don't think it is wise to remain here after that little stunt." She said. "The authorities would probably want to know how that car became a sardine can…"
"Uh…yeah. So, um, where do we sign up for the King of Fighters? After seeing that, I can't help but want to enter!" James smiled.
Shin grinned. "Well…if you'll just follow me to the subway station, its only a thirty minute ride…"
Chizuru Kagura sat at a desk, fingers folded in front of her face as a temple throbbed in her head. The last few hours led to the appearance of a few newbie teams she refused to let enter the tournament, along with a few she had to, pardon the slang, 'smack down'.
Stupid, she thought, checking her nice watch. Five thirty eastern. "Time to go, then..." She sighed, stretching. Standing up, she began to pack up...before three teenagers came charging in the room.
"Miss Kagura!" Shin shouted. "Please, don't leave! One more team would like to enter the tournament!" Chizuru sighed. 'Not again...' She said, already feeling a headache coming.
"Sorry, but you missed the deadline. And besides, you all look like school children," She added. "You would be putting yourselves in dange-"
"The High school girls team, consisting of Athena, Hinako, and Malin, are all still in school, but you let them enter." Shin said boastfully, showing his knowledge of the entrants. "So what's the real excuse?"
"Too many losers, huh? Your bio suggests that your annoyed with all the idiot teams who enter each year." Lei muttered. Chizuru sighed.
"Alright. What're your names, what do you do, and why shouldn't I smash you into the ground."
"Shin Hikawa, Control of Gravity, and I know far too much about you to let you." Shin grinned.
"James Bryant, Massive strength, and...Um...because it seems against your sophisticated manner?" James shrugged.
"Aiko Lei, knowledge of all martial arts and use of acupuncture needles, and I refuse to let you attempt to do such a thing without a fight." Lei spoke in a serious, dangerous tone. Chizuru, already too tired to argue, drew a small pad of paper, scribbling this information down.
"You'll all be sent plane tickets to go to the KOF meeting grounds. There, you will be told your first matches and issued all information that will be needed. Any questions?"
"One."
"And that is."
"Where are you, really? Do you think you can fool me? This is obviously your mirror form." Shin smiled, folding his arms. "Only a true KoF fan knows the difference between a mirror copy and the real, beautiful Chizuru Kagura." His teammates gave him a confused look as the woman put on a quick startled look, which quickly melted away.
"Interesting." She smiled. "I wouldn't really be able to appear in every country in the world, would I?" She ran her hands through her hair...and slowly began to shimmer out of existence. "I will be looking forward to your entrance. Farewell children." She said, disappearing completely. James looked his friend over.
"How...did you know it was a mirror form?"
"I didn't. But I always wanted to say that." Shin grinned. "Good guess, huh?" He smiled. Picking up the pad of paper, he drew three plane tickets from the pad. "So...the plane flies off this Friday. You'll all be there, right?"
"Hmph." Lei took a ticket. "Of course. You know my reason for entering with you better than anyone else." She waved, turned on her heel towards the door. "Ciao."
"Her reason?" James blinked. "Aw, whatever. I'm in." He said, snatching a ticket. "See you Friday, Shin. Don't let this tournament disappoint me, dude." He waved as well, leaving Shin behind in the room.
"Heh heh...ha ha ha!" Shin laughed. "I don't believe it...I'M IN! This is a dream come true!" He grinned, looking over the KoF symbol emblazed on the ticket. "Now...er...how to explain this to my parents..." He thought, scratching his cheek. Little did he know that, as per usual of KoF, something terrible was brewing...
