Here's the next chapter! I was actually brainstorming all day long...hehehe. Anyway, here's the result of my 'so-called' 'brainstorming'. lol As you probably already guessed...I really don't know where it's goin'...yet. If anyone knows the right theory about where Ash is really headed to...PLEASE tell me. lol I'll grately appreciate it! Note, this IS my dumb version of this KOF thing...so if characters seem out of character-you'll know why. Please read and review!

Thanks to Silverquickstar, LegendarySuperNamek, Axel, and Ras Frostwhisper for reviewing! I really, really thank you guys...without you guys-there wouldn't be anything of this story...it might have turned out to be a yaoi one. So thanks! You guys rock! XD

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the SNK characters...I think I forgot to put a disclaimer on the last chapter...I'm not too sure. Meh...

Note: Translations(Like in the last chapter) are at the very end. The words are italicized throughout the chapter. Enjoy.

Chapter 18: Secondary Starmark...

"So...tell me again why Kyo is going to fail?" Benimaru murmured.

"He's going to get in the way...that's how." Ash responded.

"Hmm..."

"What? You don't think he will?"

"Of course I think he will...just something wrong with the feeling I have." Benimaru stood up from the couch he had been sitting in.

"Oh really? How is that?"

"I don't know. I just have this feeling." He paced around the room for a moment.

"Well...you better get it straightened out..." Ash trailed off, a mischievous smirkformed on his lips as he looked at his newly painted nails. He flipped his hair aside from his face, so that Benimaru could look into both of his eyes. "...Now..." He walked up to him, then pressed something into Benimaru's hand. He leant up to whisper something beside his ear. "...Go...Allez entreprennent votre démarche." Benimaru snapped his eyes shut, a small quivery breath escaped his lips. He only nodded, and Ash backed away. Benimaru quickly headed out, not glancing back...not to glance back into those devilish eyes.

XDXDXD

(Is it wrong? Are Kyo...and Duo Lon right about Ash? I don't know...I'm so confused...) Benimaru held his head in-between his arms.

"Make it go away...I want to forget about the past..." Benimaru whispered as he rode the bus, clutching the object in his hands while no one was looking. He had to do it...he had to.

Moments later, he arrived at his destination. He entered without precaution. He acted like he was one of them. As he neared the front desk, where a plump woman with glasses sat, with a small smile on her face upon his arrival. His hand moved to the object inside his coat pocket, and the smile suddenly turned into a panicked motion. Benimaru pointed the object, the woman screamed, and held up her hands.

"Give me the money, now!" Benimaru yelled out. The woman didn't move. She was stiffened with fear. Benimaru suddenly pointed to the ceiling. A loud bang filled the room. Now everyone was on the ground. The police making their way to the front. Benimaru wasn't really looking for the money-as far as he was concerned, they had the thing Ash wanted in his hands...and what better way to hide it then in a bank?

"Drop the gun!" The police yelled out behind him. Benimaru smirked, laughing slightly.

"Why should I?" He questioned.

"Just drop the gun!" The police had his own gun pointed to the blonde's back.

"Fine!" Benimaru turned suddenly, then threw a sudden charge of lightning at the three policemen. They were suddenly on the ground, twitching. Some screamed. Benimaru laughed. It echoed through the building. He turned back to the woman, who had already taken out most of the money. Benimaru shook his head, then slapped the money off the desk, startling the panicked woman.

"You know what I want. It's in the back. Just give me the key."

"I-I don't have it sir! I don't even know what you're talking about." She stammered.

"I'll go find it myself, then. Thanks for your help." He aimed the gun at her. He looked into her eyes. For a moment, he hesitated, but then the deafening bang filled the building once more. The people on the ground screamed out. Blood splattered on Benimaru's face. He felt sick. He quickly ran to the secured part of the building-where he would find what he was looking for.

He spotted it. A small smirk on his face appeared. There, in front of him stood the metal door. The only thing that held him back from completing the mission. An echoing bang filled the hallway he was in, then a sharp pain filled his arm. Dropping the gun, the object Ash had handed to him, he clutched his arm. It oozed with blood. He turned around slowly. There stood someone Benimaru had not met before. Somehow, he knew her. She stood there, a gun in one hand, and a blue whip poised in the other.

"Stop right there, Nikaido, Benimaru." She smirked.

"Hmm...I must've missed your name, miss..."

"Whip."

"Quite an obvious, Whip..." Benimaru managed to hold in his pain. Whip watched as the blood dripped onto the marble floor.

"Don't you remember me, Benimaru? I was sure you had..." She let her whip fall to the ground. Benimaru gripped his throbbing arm.

"No...but have you come to stop me?" He managed to say.

"What do you think?" She neared him slowly.

"I think yes." Benimaru made his move, punching her ribs. She lost her breath for a moment, but quickly recovered, using her whip to capture him.

"Hiya!" She kicked him into the wall. Benimaru got up angrily. Was it destined that he was going to fail? No...he couldn't. He rushed at her to attack her. He caught her with his lightning, and she was sent back into the metal door. Benimaru realized that it had dented. She fell to the floor.

He was suddenly thrown against the wall, his head hit first. He saw stars, and a big man, picking him up, and crushing him against his body. Benimaru felt as if every bone in his body had broken. There was a sudden lack of air, then he was dropped back onto the ground. The man looked at him on the ground, and ruffled his sideburns.

"K'...looks like we've got an old teammate here." The man stepped aside, then another man, with silver hair appeared, smoking a cigarette. He took one last drag before he threw it aside, walking up to the blonde on the floor.

"You..." K' shook his head. "And you thought we had betrayed you..." K' trailed off. Benimaru shook his head, trying to rid of the dizziness going through his head. Maxima helped Whip up.

"Hey!" Ralf and Clark entered.

"Well you're a bit late..." Whip grumbled.

"We saved you the hassle." K' spoke to the two soldiers.

"That's our job. What are you doing here?" Ralf demanded.

"Taking care of the intruder." Maxima pointed to the ground, where Benimaru was on his knees, looking at them all with a confused look on his face. (This isn't supposed to happen...) He held his head.

"K'?" A blue-haired girl suddenly appeared next to K', holding onto his arm. She looked almost too innocent.

"Kula. I thought I told you to stay away." K' said to her without looking at her, but rather, at Benimaru, who looked back at him.

"Enough chat. How do I know you guys aren't in this one, too?" Ralf questioned. K' grunted, then slipped on his sunglasses.

"We're out of here. We've done our part. Come on, Kula." He headed for the exit. Benimaru made his move. He ran for the metal door, now weakened, then charged into it. Amazingly, it broke down. There was what he was looking for-the suitcase. He took it-but now, it was the exit that was going to be hard. He was suddenly surrounded by them all.

"Nice try, Nikaido. But you're not getting away this time." Whip, now fully recovered pointed her gun at him once more.

"Guess again." Benimaru looked relieved.

"My, my...quite a crowd you've got here, Benimaru-kun..." Ash's voice suddenly echoed inside the room. Benimaru still held the suitcase in his hand. They all turned around to Ash, who walked over to them with a small smirk on his face.

"Ash Crimson. Is this your bidding?" Whip smirked.

"Hmm, if you say so." Ash stood there for a moment, then the next, he had taken hold of the suitcase.

"Bon voyage, tout le monde." He disappeared. Benimaru was left on his own. Of course, he expected this. He was merely the bait for Ash's enemies. He quickly made a desperation exit. He had only made it to the door down the hall when another sharpened pain hit him. His leg felt paralyzed. He fell to the ground, unable to get up. He felt someone in front of him. He looked up, and gasped. It was Kyo, his crimson flame burning in the palm of his hand.

"Get up." Kyo ordered. Benimaru scrambled to his feet, ignoring the pain in his leg. Kyo pressed the button behind him.

"Kyo! What are you doing?"! He heard Ralf and the rest yell as the door shut closed, and enabled Benimaru to escape. Before the door closed shut, Kyo had looked Benimaru in the eye. Why? Why did he help him?

Benimaru thought as he got away...possibly with murder. That woman...he shot her...and for what? All for pleasing Ash? Just so he could get what he wanted.

Moments later, he limped inside the house, out of breath.

"Benimaru. You made it out alive...and just as I suspected...Kyo indeed got involved." Ash's smirk was still present. Benimaru held his arm. The bullet had gone through his arm, he saw. The blood still dribbled from both of his wounds. He felt dizzy, the world seemed to darken.

"Don't worry, Benimaru-kun...you'll get medical attention..." He trailed off, then he heard Ash whisper something in French before he blacked out. "...Bon travail."

XDXDXD

Whew! Well, that's this chapter! I hope you guys liked this one...and...I wonder what's in that 'suitcase'? Well, I know...I'm dumb. lol More KOF characters there. Even if I think most of them weren't even in-character. If they were, though-then good for me. I actually got something right.

Anyway, please review...and tell me what you thought about this chapter! Thanks! Later peace! XD

Translations:

Go make your move: Allez entreprennent votre démarche

Everyone: tout le monde

Happy Voyage: Bon Voyage

Good work: Bon travail