Mai slid through the crowd of people, keeping her eyes on the man in full ninja costume ahead of her.

She paused only once in her approach; sitting down in front of K', she spoke to him without letting her eyes leave Eiji, "K', I need to ask you a question."

"Shoot."

"As long as I've known him, Iori's gaydar has been spot on; one hundred percent. So I'm a little surprised he started working on you. I mean, you've never really shown any indication before-"

K' looked up at her. "I'm surprised the nature of my sexuality is such a big deal for you."

"Well, it's not, but I'm just curious."

"Heh. Well, not that it's any of your business, but when I was, um, I made /I , the chemicals affecting psychological sexual preference weren't designed to make any specific choice."

"Iori doesn't think much of bisexuals."

"I think everyone's slightly bisexual in some little manner. But, heh, I'm not bisexual in any traditional way. Just… sexual."

"You sure are. Any reason to shoot Yagami down so fast?"

K' blinked, then laughed, and looked away. "Yeah. I'm not in the Goddamn mood for his or anybody's shit. What, make small talk with him until the wee hours of the night? The awkwardness of sex with him? Sex is never casual, no matter what we're told."

Mai parted his lips slightly into a small smile. "Oh, I don't know about that," she said. "Don't knock casual sex until you try it."

"Well, there's your answer," K' replied. "Yagami just doesn't think ahead when he tries to pick people up. What does he want? Does he want casual sex? Or does he want a damn relationship? Who does he think I am? He thinks we'll walk around, having breakfast together, holding hands?"

Mai laughed, and for the first time drew her attention away from Eiji to look at K'. "Knowing Yagami, I think his relationships are a bit more distant then that. More Merry Men camaraderie and less intimacy, I think."

"And if he wants a one night stand, can he do it properly?"

"What's properly?"

"Completely unattached – two people making love, reveling in the act of it but not in each other – no bullshit before or afterwards; I wake up and he's gone."

"I know a lot of people who don't like it when they wake up and they're gone."

"Then they weren't looking for a one-night stand."

Eiji walked by, close enough that Mai could lunge for him. She flashed K' a farewell glance, and marched over to Eiji.

"We have to talk, Kisaragi," she snapped.

Eiji turned slightly and the puppy in his arms looked up at Mai with frightened eyes, affected by her mood. "Then talk," he said.

"What the hell were you thinking, inviting Ash?" she snapped. "That was the last straw – Yagami deserved the party, sure, and he may have deserved you inviting Athena, but who next? Vice and Mature?"

"Already done," Eiji replied. "You'll find them by the corner."

She turned slightly and caught a glimpse of a brunette and blonde slinking along the far wall. She imagined Iori's expression when he found out they were here. "You have some explaining to do, Kisaragi," she said.

"I think you do," Eiji replied, peering out at her from within his ninja mask. "I think you should explain this whole party's existence. All of you come together year after year to pummel each other senseless and from this you all become friends? You and Yagami were never on the same team, yet here you are, defending him."

"Yeah!" Mai snapped. "Yeah, we're friends! I know what Iori did was horrible, but that was years ago, and he's apologized for it! Hell, that was a competition for Christ's sake! You do what you have to to get ahead in a competition!"

"You don't do what he did to me," Eiji replied. "That was dishonourable in the extreme."

Mai blinked, then leaned forward. "Kisaragi, dumbass, you're a I ninja /I . Ninjas don't have honour, you idiot! We're the opposite of honourable! We're assassins!"

"I felt dishonoured," Eiji said, and shrugged. "This, and the rest of the night, will be my vengeance upon him."

"Had to throw it together quickly, didn't you? He calls you up, stupidly thinking you guys were pals, and then you came up with some revenge plan?"

"I improvised."

"You're an idiot."

"How does the saying go? Sticks and stones-?"

"Iori said he bought you a drink and made up."

"Yagami invited me for a drink, then left me to pay for it when someone he knew caught his eye and he left."

"Urg, that idiot. Listen, Kisaragi, you've got to make up with him properly. Iori's a huge jerk, sure, but he's also- well… it's hard to describe. You have to look beyond the selfish, arrogant manchild."

"And see the selfish, arrogant manchild beneath?"

"Yes, but he's less the selfish, arrogant manchild!"

"Tonight will be my vengeance, Shiranui, and you cannot stop me."

"Ah, piss off, Kisaragi."

As she walked away, Eiji kept his eyes on her – mainly on the way her hips and posterior moved – then returned his attention to the couple he'd been watching all night – Iori and Athena.

Over at the bar, Ash Crimson poured himself another drink. "Iori," he said. "I did not expect you to be with such esteemed company."

"She's not esteemed," Iori said. "Get off me, Asamiya!"

Athena clung to his arm and tried to dab Iori's bruises with a swab. "Hold still!" she said. "You're bleeding-!"

"Give me one reason why I shouldn't kill you where you stand, Ash," Iori said. "Why the hell did you even show up here? You just crash the parties of people who hate your guts?"

"Ze knock to your head may have scramble your memories," Ash replied, serenely. "I am here because Kyo Kusanagi will be here. C'est pourquoi."

"So why don't I just organize this mob into a Ash-kicking contest?"

"I do not zink this hotel could withstand such a zing, no?"

"Ah, mais oui," Iori sighed. "It'd all get burnt to the ground, wouldn't it?"

"Oui," Ash replied. "Zo I zink it best we both be on our best behaviour tonight. No warning Kyo of his imminent defeat, hm?"

"Hold it. Are you threatening me?"

"I believe zo."

"Do it again and I'll bury you in the smoky ashes of this Goddamn hotel, hear me?"

"Loud and clear, Yagami- san."

"Iori," Athena said, firmly. "I know there is some weird unspoken tension between us-"

"Unspoken!" Iori snapped.

"- but I feel that we need to move past that. I'm willing to make the first move here. I know I've messed this up before in the past, but I know we can be happy together. Let me start again."

"Not interested. I'm gay, Athena."

"Then why do I see those pinpoints of desire swirling around like fireworks in the back of your eyes, huh?"

"It's just your Goddamn reflection!"

"I'm starting fresh here. Iori, listen to me."

"No, not listening."

"Don't be such a baby. It turns me off."

"Then allow me to shit my pants and make bubbles in my milk."

"I have a concert this Friday-"

"Lucky you."

"-and I'm wondering if you would join me on stage. You're a fine musician, after all. Wouldn't that be a totally awesome date?"

"Ohhh God," Iori said, bending forward and burying his face in his palms. "I'm not interested in you, Asamiya!"

"Don't be so shy around me."

"Athena," Mai said, walking up to the bar. "Can I talk to you for a moment?"

"Sure!" Athena replied, and bounded after her.

Mai went up the first set of stairs and opened the back door. The roar of the rain outside thundered in, and the air turned chilly and wet. She stepped out onto the fire escape and listened to the rain crash on the little metal roof above.

Athena stepped out beside her and closed the door. "Iori is totally being a jerk to me tonight, Mai!" she said. "What is it? Am I spacey tonight? Do I look like shit? What's the deal?"

"Athena," Mai said, calmly, wondering how to choose her words. "How long have we been friends?"

"For five, six years now, I guess? Maybe longer?"

"And I usually respect you – I mean, anyone who can juggle their career, keep themselves in shape, and fight crime has to be a pretty special person."

"Well, I don't like to boast, but-"

"But what the hell is this obsessive infatuation with Iori Yagami? Eight years and you never even look at him, and suddenly he puts his foot nearly through your face during a tournament and you're all over him!"

"We're in love," she replied, quietly.

Mai blinked. She suddenly had the sensation that she was talking to a twelve-year-old girl. This sensation transformed into a memory of her ten years ago – young, stupid and utterly convinced that she was in love with Andy Bogard. Urgh. But that was different – Andy and she were together in training. There were all sorts of stupid sexual tension moments that a young idiot might romanticize. Andy Bogard lifting her up after a match and smiling at her. That shit was in those stupid girl books she used to read – no wonder she thought she was in love.

This, though, was brain damage. Iori – gruff, stupid, selfish, vaguely homosexual Iori – kicks her in the face, and suddenly her eyes turn into pulsating hearts.

"You're not in love!" Mai snapped. "What I think this is is some messed up infatuation coming about to make up for the fact that you lost to him! You can't deal with the fact that he was better than you, so you make yourself think you're in love with him! This is a classic example of-"

Something that I did with Andy, she thought, suddenly, and bit her lip. Jesus, Athena, don't go down that path.

Proof positive, though : Athena was so insecure about her feelings for Iori that she immediately leapt onto the defensive, "What the hell do you know?" she snapped. "Stupid, saggy-titted old lady thinks she can talk to me about my love? As if you know what I feel! How dare you!"

Classic teenage girl argument tactics. You don't know how I feel, blah, blah, blah. Mai blinked at her and wondered if falling in lust with Iori Yagami made you stupid.

Mai laughed in her face. "Oh piss off, Athena!" she said, chuckling. "I don't really have to give you my credentials, do I? I think a woman in her late twenties can make educated guesses on the subjects of anything sexual, don't you?"

"Oh? Have you ever been in love?"

"Yeah," Mai replied, smiling wistfully. "I think I am. I know I used to think I was. Now I think I really am."

Oh, Andy, she thought. When can we start acting like adults when it comes to our relationship? My God, we're been both as stupid as Athena's been, haven't we?

"I know I'm in love," Athena snapped. "I'm in love with Iori Yagami. Not to mention the fact that I'm young, lithe and beautiful as hell! I've been being forthcoming as hell, not playing hard to get at all! My friends probably think I'm a slut by now, and I still /I he doesn't notice me!"

Mai blinked. You still have friends stupid and immature enough to still be calling people sluts? Jesus, Athena.

"Well," she said. "The fact is that Iori's not really into gir-"

"I'm going to give him an ultimatum right now," Athena said, throwing open the back door and stomping in.

Mai bit her lip and wondered whether she should be irritated or amused.

Had she been at the top of her game, Athena would've noticed the way Eiji Kisaragi was shadowing Iori as the latter moved around the room (Iori had definitely noticed). Unfortunately, Mai's conversation with her had shaken her up enough to give her tunnel vision – Iori, and only Iori.

She was vaguely aware of the crowd around her that she pushed through, vaguely aware of how Mai followed her.

Iori had finally noticed the presence of Vice and Mature and couldn't believe his eyes.

"Eiji invited you, huh?" he said, as they sat at one of his tables and smiled at him.

"No," Mature replied. "We've been keeping every King of Fighters contestant's phones tapped, just in case we have to report anything."

"How wonderful," Iori replied. "So I have to get new phones, is that it? Just had to come check out the party?"

"It's marvelous to say the least," Mature replied.

"Why are the four people I hate at this party?" Iori replied.

"Aw, baby," Vice said, playfully sticking a long needle through her earlobe and gasping in mingled pleasure/pain. "You don't really hate us, do you?"

"Didn't I kill you two in some blood-crazed rage?"

"Theoretically," Mature replied. "But you'll recall Rugal and Saisyu Kusanagi died a few times as well."

"So what, do we fight now?" Iori asked.

"No, silly!" Vice said, laughing. "We want to be friends, honest. I was honestly turned on by your manly rampage. Mature, here, I think, is a little afraid of you."

"I like men who scare me," Mature said, licking her lips.

"You'll be surprised to know that you aren't the craziest women here," Iori replied. "And if the craziest grabs onto me one more time-"

Athena reached Iori and took his hand and said something.

Iori turned to her and shouted something so angrily and loudly that all eyes turned to look at him.

This was the moment Eiji had been waiting for. In no way should it really get across that this plan was anything Kisaragi had been planning for for a long time. Eiji's master plan had been to merely face off against Iori and defeat him publicly with new moves, the result of more training, et cetera. Tonight's plan had formulated in Eiji's head the moment stupid, trusting Iori had phoned him and asked him to beat up Terry Bogard.

It was a plan born from watching Iori, how he moved, what he did, and mainly how he reacted from irritation. Ninjas, especially of the Kisaragi clan, were trained to study people, and notice their quirks, their tics. Yagami acted all cool and calm, but his temper was a rising tempest, and eventually the dam broke and Iori acted with anger. This had happened the last time Athena worked on Iori – badgering and badgering and badgering until Iori had screamed at her and walked out. Eiji hadn't thought about it much until Iori had called him. Now, his plan was put to work.

At the very cusp of Iori's scream, Eiji moved liquidly, grabbing Iori's fist and putting enough force behind it to drive it full-on into Athena's face. Athena's head and neck snapped back, and her right cheekbone and nose gave, cracking. She fell back with a pained cry and landed on her back.

Iori stared at her in stunned silence, then at his fist, then at the crowd with all eyes on him, then at Eiji. "I-" he said.

Athena stared up at him, hurt and in shock.

"What the hell are you thinking?" Eiji cried, theatrically putting emotion into his voice for once. "Striking down a defenseless woman?"

Iori didn't quite know what to say. Defend himself? Accuse Eiji? Run?

All eyes were on him. The crowd had boxed him in, and a small clearing was made around Iori and the fallen Athena.

"What a jerk!" Eiji continued, loudly. "You woman-beating asshole!"

Eiji waited for the inevitable person to take up the cry, and the crowd to form mob-mentality, to turn on Iori and destroy him.

"Jesus, Iori," Mature said, crossing her legs. "Nice punch."

Eiji blinked. No one seemed to be doing anything.

Iori turned and glared at him. "You're such an asshole, Kisaragi."

He bent down to help Athena up.

Eiji sputtered, "Y-you're the asshole! Hitting a defenseless woman in the face!"

"Why do you keep saying that?" King said. "Why 'defenseless woman', not 'defenseless person'? You saying women are defenseless?"

Eiji blinked.

"Good for you, Iori," Mai said, also helping Athena up. "She deserved that. I'm glad you were the one that did it. I was about to punch her too."

People were starting to turn back to their drinks. Some were congratulating Iori.

"Darling," Shermie said, peering down at Athena. "I didn't think you had the guts for that."

"B-but-!" Eiji snapped. "But he's a big overgrown asshole who just hit a woman in anger! Aren't you angry!"

"Well, I guess Athena will be," Mai replied. "But she kind've had it coming to her. I'm surprised Iori hadn't done that before now."

"Why're you so stunned by this, Eiji?" King asked. "Never thought you were so conservative. We beat up women all the damn time in the tournament remember? Never thought you were so sexist as to think women can't fight. Reminds me of the jerks in Thailand."

"I didn't actually-" Iori said. "God, Athena, are you okay?"

"My face hurts," she said, peering out from a mass of bruises.

"Ah," Ash Crimson said, appearing with a collection of ice cubes in a cloth. "I never zought we'd get zo far into ze night without a fight. After all, we are all zo violent normally."

"I'm kind've disappointed in Athena," Mai said. "All those psychic powers; you'd think she'd be able to deflect that punch. Give Iori a swift kick to the-"

Eiji couldn't believe his ears. Iori should've been lynched by now. Eiji couldn't take such a humiliation – he'd have to take his revenge now. He drew his hands to his sides and removed his knives from his sheathes.

Yagami doesn't have all his powers back yet, he thought. I'll just have to be silent and swift.

Except that King was suddenly standing in front of him. "Never thought I'd see such a chauvinist pig in my presence," she snapped.

"Now honey-" Ryo cautioned.

"Back off, dear," King threatened. "Listen, Kisaragi, I don't know where you're getting your antiquated ideas but-"

"Out of my way!" Eiji snapped, some rare anger coming into his voice.

King decked him, hard enough to send him up and over two tables and into a third. "Sexist bastard," she muttered, rubbing her fist.

Iori took the ice from Ash and they both helped Athena to a table and applied the ice. Iori was much too distracted by Eiji's treachery to notice that Athena wasn't really in as much pain as she pretended. She just liked having Iori's arm around her, and that concerned expression on his face. That was definitely worth a few punches to her face.

Then a commotion went up. Flanked by Benimaru and Daimon, Kyo Kusanagi had entered the hotel.

Iori thought briefly of abandoning Athena and hiding Saisyu somewhere, but he knew it was too late. By the expression on Kyo's face, it was plain that he had already seen his father.

It wasn't a very good expression.