Blood

Chapter 3: Management

By Fool's Gold

Disclaimer: Garou Densetsu (Fatal Fury), Ryuuko no Ken (Art of Fighting) and all related characters are the property of SNK-Playmore. No profit has been made from this fic. (And a good thing too, because I'd probably end up having to pay people to read this stuff anyway.)


The morning's headlines screamed out at Rock from out of the front page of the newspaper: there was no way he could have missed the news regarding the previous night's smuggling attempt, foiled by a public-spirited citizen of Second Southtown named Kim Jae Hoon.

Intrigued, he bought a copy from the newsstand, wondering if he should pay the Kims a visit.

Why not? After all, I've got time to spare, and Jae Hoon can't be teaching the classes if he "managed to chase the pirates off in spite of his twisted ankle", as the newspapers wrote.

He tucked the newspaper under his arm and began to walk briskly in the direction of the Korean district, wondering what other things the new day would bring.


Rock arrived at the Kim residence a good fifteen minutes later, mildly puzzled by the absence of the media. Southtown didn't appreciate her heroes very much, or so it seemed... but then again, that had always been the case. The town had a peculiar, stifling atmosphere that made it so easy to forget things; few people cared to remember the events from the past, skeletons in the town's collective closet that remained hidden even until this day. If the citizens of Southtown objected to crime kingpins ruling and ruining their fair city, they hadn't shown it back then, and they certainly didn't now. It didn't affect their normal life – why should they care who called the shots?

He kept his bitter thoughts to himself, memories of crimelords past and present springing to mind: his father, his uncle... Snap out of it, Rock. There's no sense in bringing your personal gloom and doom to the house of an injured friend. He dispelled them with a hard knock on the front door.

It was Dong Hwan who answered the door, much to Rock's surprise. The elder Kim brother grinned from ear to ear at Rock's arrival, remarking, "Yet another of my brother's adoring fans has arrived. Come on in, Rocky!" He slipped aside, holding the door in a mischievous show of false deference.

"Shouldn't you be working, Dong Hwan?" Rock admonished, slipping his sneakers off at the entrance of the house and stepping quietly through the doorway.

A mock look of hurt on Dong Hwan's face promptly appeared, much to Rock's reluctant amusement. "Mrs. Sakazaki's not opening the bar 'till tonight. She's entertaining guests today." He closed the door behind him and followed Rock into the living room.

Jae Hoon and Jun sat on the couch, too lost in their conversation to notice the guest who had entered the house.

"Yo, bro! Get a room already..."

The gagging sounds that echoed from the direction of the entrance were met by Jae Hoon's indignant yell of, "Quit it, Dong Hwan!" Jun buried her face in her palms, barely smothering a giggle.

Rock shook his head bemusedly. Even if Jun was amused, Jae Hoon obviously was not, and he made no bones about voicing his displeasure.

I wonder when the kicks start flying, Rock thought perversely. Terry always got into fights with his brother over the smallest things... or at least, that's what he said.

He wouldn't get his wish this time.

The sight of their guest instantly sent Jae Hoon from his annoyed mood into one of shock, his jaw slamming shut in a flash.

He'd expected Rock to show up sooner or later, of course, but there was no way he could have prepared for the delivery of the news: he didn't want to have to tell Rock that Kain was involved in yesterday's attack. After all, he knew about Rock's desire to leave the underworld behind; to tell the youth about his uncle's latest misdeeds would have been dangerous for all their sakes. The last thing they needed was any trigger that could send Rock spiralling down the path of violence and darkness... a path that would definitely lead back into his uncle's welcoming arms.

Thinking fast, Jae Hoon opted for the more attractive option of damage control. In spite of Rock's unexpected arrival, he managed to force out a greeting that sounded relatively natural – or, at least, a response that seemed suitable for a boy caught with his girlfriend on the couch, even if they weren't doing anything particularly compromising.

"Hey, Rock." He gave their guest a sheepish smile, shifting his weight slightly to take the burden off the injured foot. "What brings you here?"

Rock didn't seem to have caught the brief expression of surprise on Jae Hoon's face, as he replied simply, "Heard about that fight of yours last night. It's all over the news." He held up his copy of the morning papers, letting Jae Hoon have a brief scan of the article.

No news about mysterious men or Kain Heinlein. Good ol' Kevin. He allowed himself a secret sigh of relief; he had told no others aside from his brother and Kevin about the man who had attacked the pirates. The news would remain a secret to everyone else – and most importantly, from the young man who stood in their house even now.

Aloud he replied, "Well, thanks for coming by. Have a seat – it's not like I'll be going anywhere anytime soon."

Rock obliged, pulling up a chair from the nearby table and sitting heavily on it. The young man's demeanour had changed significantly since the day he'd turned up in the Korean sector – there was a more relaxed air about him, and the tension had bled from his face long ago.

"It's funny," he remarked, "but where did the paparazzi go? I thought they'd be swarming your house by now."

Jun giggled. "Mr. Kim got out this morning and gave them one of his speeches. They certainly won't be coming back in a hurry!"

There was a groan of agony from Dong Hwan's lips. The merest mention of Kim Kaphwan's rants about justice sent chills down the spine of all evildoers, and Dong Hwan's as well – any fool who cared to listen would have been bored to tears before the half-way mark. He idly wondered how Jae Hoon and Jun were able to stand it.

Then again, they're all a bunch of justice freaks. Figures.

Jae Hoon continued, "Anyway, Dad's teaching the taekwondo classes today in my place – the doctor said I should be back on my feet in a couple of days. But until then..." He shrugged, gesturing to his injured ankle, and leant back against the backrest on the couch. "Looks like I'm sidelined for the time being."

Rock looked down at the ankle, a swollen, red mass, and a vague hint of suspicion began to cloud his mind. Something was wrong: how could a skilled fighter like Jae Hoon have sustained such an injury? It certainly couldn't have been from slipping on the docks...

He said as much, only to receive an uneasy silence from the three Koreans.

"Hey, what's with the scary faces?"

There was no response.

It was Dong Hwan who eventually saved the others from damning explanations, muttering, "...you have a point there."

He rose from his seat, continuing smoothly, "He should have watched where he was going," even as Jae Hoon's mouth gaped in complete astonishment.

"B–"

And Dong Hwan suddenly cut into Rock's line of sight as though it was the most natural thing to do, giving Jun a wink and simultaneously jabbing Jae Hoon sharply in the ribs with his elbow. He mouthed some words noiselessly – shut up – before turning back to Rock, diverting their guest's attention to other, more scandalous, matters.

"Let that be a lesson to you, Jae. Next time –" he picked up the pace, now well in his element, "– keep your eyes on the pavement, and your hands off your girlfriend!"

The clouds of doubt that had hung over Rock's face quickly disappeared, replaced by his typical red-faced bashfulness. "Yeah, you should," he murmured, completely overcome by the sudden change of topic to his weak point. "Er..."

"Come on, Rock. Let's give them some privacy, whaddaya say? It looks like they need it." He gave Rock a wink, nudging him in the side. All he needed was a slight push in the right direction to send Rock over the edge with embarrassment...

...and that did it. Rock looked over to the couple, whose situation suddenly looked rather suspect, and cold beads of sweat instantly began to trickle down his forehead. There was the sound of nervous shuffling; Rock nearly tripped over his own feet as he sidled nervously towards the front door. "Thanks, but I'd better be going... er... don't want to intrude or anything... eh... have fun, see ya!"

There was the sound of a door opening and slamming shut, and Rock was gone before any of them could say another word.

And then, the only sound in the room was the sound of Jae Hoon's knuckles cracking.

"If I could stand up, Dong Hwan, I'd kick your ass into next week," Jae Hoon growled. "Last night's fiasco was bad enough, but do you have to make Rock think that I'm some lust-crazed maniac as well?" He shot Dong Hwan a glare that would have withered grass.

His elder brother raised his hands in defence, seeing the looks of pure rage that had been turned on him. "Look... it's all for his own good – I mean, anything to save him from himself, right?"

A conveniently-located roll of newsprint slammed into Dong Hwan's stomach, much to his severe discomfort.

"Owww..."

"Thanks, Jun."

"My pleasure."


"What, no Ferrari? You disappoint me, Robert."

Ryo Sakazaki folded his arms across his chest as he leaned against the counter, casting a critical eye upon the couple who had just entered the bar. One always did that when it came to the in-laws.

Never mind that Robert Garcia, in addition to being the sponsor of their school and the head of the Garcia foundation, was Ryo's closest friend and fiercest rival. Never mind that the man was a master of the Kyokugen style of karate, just as Ryo was. And never mind that Dad could never decide on who the Dragon and Tiger were, or even figure out whether Robert was Spanish or Italian.

The simple fact that he'd married Yuri instantly shot him to the top of Ryo's list of suspicious characters.

"Can it, Ryo." The woman in question walked over, slapping her brother on the bicep. "I'm sure Robert would have loved to drive over here – you know how dearly he adores his cars! Sometimes, I think he loves them more than he loves me..." She sat down on the nearby barstool and pouted sulkily, much to the alarm of her spouse, who began to sweat nervously under the chill of Ryo's grim stare.

A deathly hush fell over the bar.

King looked up from her spot at the far end of the counter, instantly sensing the killing aura that had descended in the room.

An eternity passed...

"Just kidding." Yuri grinned. "Anyway, we sent the chauffeur off a couple of streets ago. Robert wanted to walk."

There was an audible sigh, courtesy of Robert, as the pent-up tension suddenly evaporated.

Ryo finally turned off his death glare, much to Robert's relief; Yuri's capriciousness was something he'd never had the chance to get used to. Not that he minded, though; life was more exciting – if a little shorter – that way.

"Hey, Ryo. How's everything going?" He straightened the folds of his jacket, regaining some of his lost composure. "We heard about the good news, you lucky dog, but we weren't able to come over until now. Congratulations!"

"Thanks. How are the kids?" replied the father-to-be.

"Well, Dad's taking care of Giovanni and Shintaro back home, so things should be fine... How many months now, King?"

"It's only the fourth month, Yuri, so you can get your head away from my stomach now." She gave a downward glance, receiving a cheeky grin in return. "You never change, do you?"

"Nope!"

I guessed as much, she mused, sidling away from her sister-in-law. Yuri's childish streak had abated with age – not that she'd ever admit to having one in the first place – but it still showed from time to time.

"Drinks, anyone?" King brought out a bottle of wine and began pouring out the liquor, choosing not to partake of it herself. "How's business, Robert?"

"Thanks, King. Things have been pretty stable recently," said Robert, accepting the proffered glass of wine. "As a matter of fact, we were in the middle of a business trip when we received the news, so we weren't quite able to come down. But Southtown was on our itinerary..." He took a shallow sip from his drink. "Yeah, so anyway, we decided to come down to pay you two a visit."

"Is that so..." Ryo's brow furrowed, even as he accepted his own glass of wine. There was something in Robert's tone that just didn't feel right, as though the man was trying to hide a secret or two.

It's just the jitters, Ryo. You're going to be a father soon, and your nerves are getting to you, he convinced himself. But try as he might, there was no shaking the odd premonition that had entered his subconscious.

He decided to change the subject before the feeling got any worse. "So, Yuri... how's married life?"

"Cushy." She shrugged. "Robert's been letting me help with the finances a little –"

"– which is why we've been losing money these days," finished her husband, and quickly ducked under her hastily-flung punch. "Okay, seriously. She's been pretty good at making good deals on the stock market, so she's been making a bundle recently. Never doubt a woman's intuition for bargains."

"Much better." Yuri slumped back, resting against the polished wooden counter. "Southtown companies have been doing very well recently, despite our fair town's prior reputation for being the crime capital of the US. They say you can even walk around at night without getting mugged... or kidnapped."

It all seemed so long ago. The time had passed, when another crimelord had ruled this town and the streets were unsafe for honest men and women. Yuri had been a victim of the times, and none of them would easily forget her kidnapping and the subsequent events that followed, or how Ryo and Robert had fought their way through countless opponents to get her back. But those were bygone times...

"It certainly is quieter these days," agreed King. "The old gangs don't seem to be causing much trouble these days, and as for the current head of the underworld... goodness knows what he's up to, but at least it's not causing any trouble."

With that, she leant forward, a conspiratorial glint in her eyes. "Incidentally, I'll let you in on a secret: we hired the unlikeliest bouncer a couple of months ago. Any guesses?"

"C'mon, King. Everyone knows they don't come any more unlikely than you," Yuri guffawed, which caused the bartender to bury her face in her gloved hands. From her palms, a muffled voice could faintly be heard.

"Okay, I was setting myself up for that. Anyway, we hired Terry Bogard's protégé. You know, the son of..." King paused, half expecting Ryo and Robert to come up with some bad joke about domestic fowl.

She certainly hadn't expected the ensuing silence that descended over the bar.

"...Geese Howard."

Robert and Yuri looked at each other, their expressions suddenly sober, and began to talk to each other in nervous whispers. King strained to catch the conversation, and only managed to pick up the last scraps of the discussion.

"...tell them?"

"We'd better." Robert raised his head, turning to Ryo and King with a concerned look on his face. "Okay, I think you'd better brace yourselves for this." He cleared his throat, and proceeded, "You know that we were due in Southtown for some business, right?"

"...yeah..."

"That deal was with Kain."

The clink of glass was clearly audible, even amplified by the damning death of the conversation. A crimson stain splashed across the ground from the contents of Ryo's fallen wineglass, but he didn't even think of picking it up, stunned as he was by the terrible revelation.

"That was warranted."

It was King who broke the silence, her gaze honed into a lance of sharpened steel as she stared at Robert. Yet she gave no other verdict, her face revealing nothing except an expression of controlled neutrality.

But the sound of that name had an electric effect on Ryo. The veins on his temples throbbed in anger as the blood rushed to his face, colouring it a furious scarlet. In his fury, he bellowed, "How could you, Robert? After all we've been through, is that how you regard our ties? This is inexcusable!"

"Calm down, Ryo," Robert replied smoothly, "it's not what you think it is..."

"Then you'd better explain things clearly before I decide to throw you out of this place!" The Kyokugen master slammed a meaty fist down onto the counter in his anger, the hurt of betrayal showing clearly.

"Right. I'd better start from the beginning," said Robert. "We've already told you about the fact that Southtown was next on our itinerary. Well, we were planning to invest in the expansion of some of the local industries – you know how well they've been doing recently, considering that things have settled down considerably since the turn of the century."

"What are you driving at, Robert?"

"Hold on, I'm not finished." He walked over to Ryo's side and took him by the arm, trying to calm his enraged friend down. Fortunately for him, Ryo's self-control was still barely good enough to avoid inflicting any grievous bodily harm upon his person.

"Okay, so one day, the CEO of the local consortium decided to invite us down to negotiate an investment," he continued. "Well... at least, we thought he was the boss around here. So, we came down, all ready to cut a deal."

"Big mistake." Now Yuri cut in, following up on Robert's account. "Somebody forgot to tell us that our friend, Kain, just happened to have a really big say in what goes on in this town. I had to get the word from some old lady who was walking down the street."

Robert resumed his narrative to the perturbed couple, his voice now taking on an unnaturally serious tone. "You can imagine my surprise when Kain showed up in the room." He shook his head wearily; for a moment, Ryo thought he saw strands of silver in his friend's hair, and uneasily dismissed it as another part of his overactive imagination.

"To cut a long story short, he tried to get the Garcia Foundation's backing in some of his businesses. It all looks legal, of course, but we've had our fair share of dealing with slimeballs. I told him that he could take that deal and shove it... well, you get the idea, only I said it politely." Robert finished explaining and took a seat on another barstool, his mood sombre. "And I swear, that's all there was to it."

The silence descended over the room once again.

"You said he tried to gain your financial backing? What for?"

Robert shrugged. "Ostensibly, he wanted us to invest a huge amount of capital in a project to 'remake Southtown', or so he said. I didn't like the way he said it, though. He's got something up his sleeve."

After what seemed like forever, King finally spoke up.

"It's been quiet around here these days... far too quiet." Her voice was foreboding.

"What's that supposed to mean?" queried Yuri.

"Look at it this way. You all know about the reigns of the previous two kingpins who ruled the town... I don't need to go into details."

The other three nodded in agreement. Mr. Big and Geese Howard had ruled Southtown with fists of iron – no law-abiding citizen had been safe under their rule. It had been a given fact that gang wars, murders and all sorts of foul deeds had been condoned, even supported, by the big bosses of the town; Yuri's kidnapping and the death of Jeff Bogard had merely been two of the more prominent incidents. The city had been rife with violence and perfidy, and strangely enough, the people of Southtown had accepted it as their lot – an outcome that none cared to notice.

King jabbed a thumb in the direction of the entrance, pointing at the street outside. "Now, it seems, we're under new management. And how does the new boss start his reign? Sure, he holds a tournament, like they always do. And he starts building up his little empire by subjugating the rest of the gangs. Fair enough." She paused for emphasis, letting the words sink in. "But all of a sudden, he retreats, and there hasn't been a single incident in the news that even suggests his presence! Of course, that's unless you assume that he's going into the liquor industry, judging from yesterday's smuggling case."

Yuri ran a finger down the slick surface of the counter, piping up, "Not likely, but I think I know what you're getting at."

"Good." King didn't smile, although it was gratifying to note that Ryo's once-airheaded sister had finally grown up. "Then you'll realise that it's too much to hope that Kain has given up his evil ways and turned his back on the underworld. Otherwise, the smaller gangs would have risen up against each other long ago."

"Meaning, of course, that he's obviously up to something big. He's probably biding his time, waiting for the opportune moment, as they say. You do that a lot in business. What do you think, Ryo?"

Robert turned to his friend, waiting for a reply, but none came. Ryo merely bent over, retrieving his fallen glass from the floor, and contemplated it quietly for a long while.

A full minute elapsed before he spoke.

"I'll clean the mess up later, King." He set the glass quietly down on the counter, and returned to the subject at hand. "Sorry, Robert... I overreacted. Personally, I trust Kain about as far as I can throw a Ko-ou Ken. If he's really up to something, then we've got to take him down..." There was a crackling sound as he clenched his fists hard, hoping that it would relieve a small part of the worry that clouded his mind. It didn't help.

"But if he hasn't done anything, we can't do anything either." Ryo sighed. "These are different times, you know; we're not living in the good old days when you could simply barge into an evildoer's lair and beat him senseless. Nowadays, they'll sic a lawyer on you if you so much as even breathe on them. And we can't prove anything."

It had seemed so much easier in the old days, when the bad guys would simply retreat in the face of a fighter greater than they, and almost all problems could have been solved by the judicious application of physical force. But none of the people in the bar had been fooled; the kingpins drew their power not only from their might, but from other sources...

"Let's face it. If Kain's power was limited to the sphere of fighters, anyone would be able to take him out. But I think we all know where his true power lies – it's in the way he can manipulate all forms of things aboveground from his place in the underground. That's how it goes." King's voice was grave now, jaded with years of experience gleaned from the shadier streets of Southtown. "But even if he's plotting something, what can we do?"

After another moment of dreadful silence, a timid voice spoke up: it was Yuri's. "You could leave Second Southtown..."

"No." The steel in King's personality came to the surface once again, fighting off the despair that had drifted into the conversation. "You won't believe how long Duck King and I had to fight to be allowed to keep this bar running – Kain has taken out all sorts of legal action against this establishment. He's trying to close us down; I'm not giving it up without a fight... but it's getting harder and harder each year," she admitted. "But I'll be damned if I'm running away from a scumbag like Kain."

"We never have, and we never will," Ryo added. "You don't expect me to leave my students in the lurch... and what kind of message would I be leaving them if I suddenly fled town?"

"What message?" retorted Robert. "Didn't you tell us that you relinquished the teaching duties to your top student? And what good is a dead fighter to Kyokugen?"

The last words struck Ryo as heavily as a punch to the solar plexus – the possibility of death had never crossed his mind until now. "You mean..."

"Yeah. Whatever he's coming up with... it's going to consume the whole of Southtown, and we can't do anything about it. I don't know what exactly he has in mind, but it's going to cost lots, and knowing crimelords, the payment isn't just going to be in terms of money."

"In lives..." Ryo mouthed the words bleakly, still coming to grips with the thought that there was now a battle that could not be fought with fists alone.

"Ryo, we've lived in Southtown for most of our lives, and I don't like the idea of running away any more than you. But what choice do we have? As you mentioned earlier, we can't do anything, and I wouldn't want you guys to get caught in the middle of anything as big as the things he seems to be planning. Look." Robert placed a hand on each of Ryo's shoulders and looked him squarely in the eye. "I trust King's judgement on the matter – we were going to warn you about this earlier, but we needed confirmation. And when she says that trouble's brewing..."

He stared firmly into Ryo's eyes, confronting him with the choice that had to be made.

"You have three lives to take care of, you know."

Ryo's gaze flickered briefly to his pregnant wife, who looked back with a stoic expression that failed to hide the doubts within.

"We'll think about it."


For a man who had just failed to close a multi-million dollar deal, Kain was in a remarkably good mood.

Garcia had backed out on the contract, as expected. But Kain had won more than mere money; if his predictions were correct, the millionaire would have returned to his friends at the Illusion bar and given them the news.

And that, he noted, should be another problem out of the way.

He didn't really like the idea of chasing them out of the neighbourhood – these Kyokugen fighters were strong, after all, and they had years of experience on their side. He would have loved to watch them fight, given an opportunity. He would even have accepted the risk of fighting one of them just for the thrill of combat and the chance to prove his skills. But if they stayed on, there would be the chance that one of them would ruin his plans... and that would simply not do.

There was no way he would let them confront him before the appointed time. The road to victory was littered with the corpses of such men, men who'd underestimated their opponents and paid dearly for it. His predecessor had been one such man – and he'd so nearly become another, but for the aid of a mysterious stranger.

Kain's thoughts turned to his newest right-hand man. He regretted Rock's loss, certainly, but the boy would have to return sooner or later. Until then, the mystery man had filled in his place admirably, executing his duties with a stealth and precision that terrified his enemies into fearful silence. A fine man for the job, even if he did have some family problems... He made a note to discuss the issue with his employee later: family problems were the downfall of many men. His experience two months ago had reinforced that opinion.

There was a knock on his office door.

"Enter," he called out nonchalantly, knowing well that his bodyguards would not have admitted anyone save a trusted employee. But the man who entered was trusted by no one, and feared by all of them... yet he walked into the office with calm abandon, and none cared to stop him.

Kain smirked. Speak of the Devil... "So, how was the raid, Mr. Futaba? I trust the Lilien Knights didn't give you any trouble?"

The older man removed his hat, revealing his face, and replied in an equally-relaxed tone, "They were pretty easy to deal with. I don't think they'll be coming back any time soon."

And then he flicked his queue of hair behind his back, and spoke in the manner of an indulgent grandparent admonishing his grandchild, "You really should have let me wipe them out. It would be so much easier..."

It was the casual way he'd said it that intrigued Kain. The face he stared at was not an ugly one, and certainly not one that inspired fear in the hearts of men; it was impossible to believe that a heart of ice lay behind that round, smiling face with its almond eyes. That only made him even more terrifying to those who knew his reputation. And among the ranks of Kain's unimaginative subordinates, the name of Goto Futaba, the "Smiling Killer", was mentioned only in the most timorous of whispers.

The man is a cipher, he thought. I can read anyone's emotions from their faces, their body language, and even their eyes. But this man... I can't see through the mask he presents; I see what he allows me to see, and nothing more. And all I can see is that smiling face.

An interesting man.

Kain leant back in his seat and waved his hand, as though he was banishing the very idea. "You know how I hate messy jobs, Mr. Futaba. A slaughter would only leave me with too much explaining to do. Besides..." He smirked. "Their leader is rather charming, even if she does seem a little... how would I put it, air-headed?"

"I can attest to that last part, and she obviously doesn't think very highly of you." The smile never left Goto's face, even as he took a seat opposite his boss and broke the bad part of the news. "Actually, there was this boy who turned up. Korean, from the looks of things, and he's got a good kick – he could have caused me a little trouble in a fair fight."

So, the Kim boy had come into the picture, had he? That would be trouble... "So, does he know of our involvement?"

"Hard to say." A noncommittal shrug. "The pirates could have said something about you. I can't be sure, but it isn't in the news. It shouldn't matter."

It didn't, Kain knew. For all that the Kim family could do, they would be no impedance to his plans. He hoped they would put up a good showing when the fighting started.

But one could never be too careful...

He made a note to deal with the Korean problem later. For now, his main priority was to pick the brain of the man sitting opposite him. But it was Goto who made the first move, remarking with a surprising frankness, "You are a forgetful man, Mr. Heinlein."

Any other underling would have been eliminated swiftly for such impudence. But Goto Futaba just sat there like a simpleton, seemingly unknowing of the potential danger of such remarks.

Or perhaps he just didn't care.

Kain decided to humour his forthrightness. "Really? And why would you say that, Mr. Futaba?" he replied, the faintest trace of malice creeping into his voice.

The Oriental man seemed not to notice Kain's violent intent, and elaborated with the irritating patience of an experienced teacher.

"Have you forgotten your dreams? I remember a day, three years ago, when you announced your plans for Second Southtown..." Goto paused, sensing Kain's discomfort, and continued to explain. "Yet for the past three years, those plans have been shelved while your organisation continued to assimilate the other gangs. Now, your precious nephew has left you –" he caught the flicker of anger in Kain's eyes "– and you are practically the ruler of the underworld... yet you still waste your time. What happened to the man who wanted to put an end to decadence in this city? Or has the revolutionary turned soft from luxury? I had such high hopes for you..." he needled.

So that's his concern. Kain allowed himself a short laugh, which Goto did not respond to.

"Come, Mr. Futaba. If that is all you are worried about, then you have nothing to fear." He placed a slight accent on the last word, taunting the other in turn for his lack of faith. "As a matter of fact, everything is in place except for the East Wind, as the Chinese would say."

The older man nodded. He was familiar with the phrase, even if it had lost something in the process of translation. "And so you would aim to set Second Southtown ablaze with the fires of violence."

"Perhaps. Anyway, Mr. Futaba," Kain countered, "why are you so interested in the fate of Second Southtown? Surely, you didn't decide to come to my aid on account of pure charity..."

Goto laughed unabashedly. "Certainly not, Mr. Heinlein. As a matter of fact, it just happens that we share the same ideals."

"Really..."

"Of course. Since you are obviously familiar with the Chinese culture, then you should know that the word 'underworld' carries a different meaning in the East."

Kain nodded. "The term refers to the pugilistic sphere, doesn't it?" His eyes locked onto the older Japanese man, realising the import of the words. "So, you would see both underworlds joined – the world of crime and the world of fighting, fused together into one entity..."

"Correct. You seek to free this town from its chains of weakness by turning it into a battlefield; I seek that battle." Goto pointed out at the office window, towards the skyline.

The buildings of Southtown stood framed in the morning light, dark towers against the pale blue sky. It should have been a picture of success, the triumph of the human spirit against the odds. After all, had they not built this city from the ashes of the Zero Cannon's assault?

Yet all that Kain felt was a sense of sheer apathy, emanating from the very core of this city. There was no life, no soul to her; the people of Second Southtown only cared about living from day to day. Their ambition had died, and the rot of complacency had eaten away at the heart in its place, touching all who lived in this town... even him.

Maybe that's why I haven't done anything yet...

"You felt it too, didn't you, three years ago? This town is dying. It needs some... action."

Goto's voice rang out clearly in the room, breaking the spell. "Your vision was a grand one, Mr. Heinlein. It showed promise. And I swore to you then that I would do whatever I could to make it a reality..."

"Rubbish," coughed Kain, abruptly interrupting his subordinate's dramatic speech. "Seriously, what's in it for you?"

Goto's eyes narrowed into thin slits, suddenly making his smile seem far more sinister, but the voice he projected was still guileless and clear.

"Mr. Heinlein... how can you even suggest that my intentions are less than honourable?" He almost sounded hurt, the way he'd phrased it. "But you have a point there..."

There was something in that tone that made Kain turn around to face the speaker.

"Don't get me wrong: I want to see your dream fulfilled, to see Southtown transformed into an underworld of its own – a place where the mighty rule..."

Goto's smile had transformed into a disturbing grin.

"...after all, we are the mighty ones."

Kain only smiled back cautiously.

"So we do see eye to eye after all."


Notes:

Ages have been retconned to fit the KOF series. (There is no way I'm going to make King a 60-year-old pregnant woman.) So has Ryo's "fireball".

Takuma's predicament is a common one: I still don't know whether Robert is Spanish or Italian, and despite all of Ryo's "tiger-named" moves, he's still called the "Invincible Dragon", a title that Marco Rodriquez has since claimed. shrug (Don't bother with the explanations.)

Edited 04/10: Since Robert's nationality is most definitely Italian, there has been a minor change made to this chapter. Inconsequential, but annoying.

The actual Chinese phrase quoted by Kain goes something like, "Ten thousand things have been prepared, all that is lacking is the East Wind," if I remember correctly. Read "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" for more details. (Why would a Japanese national and an American be referring to the Chinese? It's a long story. I'll elaborate more in the next chapter.)

Okay, I'll admit that I'm tired – I can't write my fic and proof-read it too. If the quality has dropped... well, I don't suppose anyone else noticed this fic, so it doesn't really matter. To the one person who bothers reading it, sorry. But I'll complete it, come hell or high water. And if anyone should come across it and find it lacking in terms of content and plot consistency, please give me suggestions on how to patch it up. Your advice will be greatly appreciated.

No pre-readers have been harmed in the making of this chapter...