Soyboi explores insanity.

Benimaru Nikaido didn't know Chizuru Kagura very well. He knew some things about her though. He knew she was apparently an amazingly kind woman who happened to run the world's largest Pharmaceutical company with a ruthless efficiency. (Benimaru found it suspicious that one could be so high-powered without being an utter asshole). She had also hosted the King of Fighters tournament a few times. He'd seen her gathering up Kyo and Iori, and somehow coaxing them into working together to keep Orochi caged. But these days, with the demon safely sealed away, she kept herself quietly busy, as was fitting for the CEO and majority shareholder of the enormous Kagura Conglomerate.

But one thing he was quite sure of was that, contrary to whatever Sylvie Paula Paula said, Chizuru was -not- running a secret conspiracy against the ... people from the past...?... the entire thing is impossible.

"Ok, Sylvie..." Benimaru began, while the eyeful girl fiddled with her new-found toy, Iori's very, very, very expensive watch. Benimaru placed his scotch on Iori's coffee table as massaged his temples as he evaluated his options. What do you say to someone that's clearly off her rocker?

"Listen, um, is there someone who's in charge of... you?"

"Nope! Before, it used to be NESTS, but I think Kyo killed him. One of the Kyos, anyway, I'm not sure which one."

Benimaru blinked. Multiple Kyos...?

"Ahem. Anyway, maybe we should call and let, uh, someone know about what we've found out about... time travellers."

"Those From the Past aren't time travellers," Sylvie pointed out. "Well, except maybe Ash, who's trapped outside of time because he prevented himself from being born."

The line was so ridiculous that Benimaru couldn't help but ask.

"Who's Ash? What're you talking about?"

"You don't know him? He won the King of Fighters!"

"What? There was never an Ash in King of Fighters!"

Sylvie covered her mouth. "Oh no, the chemfets've gotten to you too!"

The next thing Benimaru Nikaido knew, he had an... eyeball stuck in his mouth.

"Time for Eye SCREAM!"

"You gotta help me, Goro. She's talking about some guy named Ash and about how he took all the powers from Iori and Chizuru and now Chizuru wants to give everyone flight so that they can fight Orochi!" Benimaru babbled into his phone in Japanese.

It'd taken some doing, but once Benimaru was able to free himself from a mouthful of eye (mostly by smiling, nodding, and agreeing when Sylvie asked if he'd seen the light), he had hightailed his way out of Iori's trashed apartment and onto one of his father's private jets, which was sitting in the SouthTown's international airport - waiting to take off. Normal plebeian airplanes didn't have internet or phone access, but the Nikaido group spared no expense.

Benimaru sighed and swirled his Martini. He had left Sylvie searching through Iori's closet ("For evidence of Miss X! She lives here, I know it! I've seen the lease!"). And upon finally extricating himself from her strange plan, Benimaru had to called the only reliable person he knew.

[Mmmhmm.]

"I swear, cross my heart, this isn't about Iori trying to steal Kyo's heart again, okay? That's a different issue, but Sylvie is completely nuts. What am I supposed to do with this kind of crazy?"

Goro's voice was dry and calm, like a long-suffering patient man trying to find something -nice- to say. [...Well, you have to admit, you both have some interesting... alternate theories about why things happen the way they do.]

"Interesting? Me? Well, there is overwhelming evidence supporting mine, Sylvie's claims are entirely unfounded. She's been going on about 'Those from the Past' doing things with the Sacred Treasures!"

[What...? Wait. Those From the Past...?]

"Yes! Ridiculous righ-... Wait, you've heard of them...?"

[Kyo mentioned it once, but I never really thought about it, since it was taken care of.]

Benimaru was suddenly indignant.

"What?! He never breathed a word to me about it!"

[You, uh, had enough on your mind at the time.]

"All right, all right, so what do you know?"

[Just what Kyo told me. That someone stole Chizuru's and Iori's treasures, and he had to help get them back. Now that I think about it, I think they found out the guy's name was Ash.]

Benimaru was flabbergasted.

"Fuck. You telling me she actually found out some conspiracy?"

[Not exactly. From what you told me, their stories don't match up exactly. Then again, the fact that your weird girl knows something only a few people knows is... concerning.]

"So what would... hm. Wait, that means the best place to get answers are from..."

[Kyo, Iori, Chizuru.]

"I'm not calling Iori. Kyo..."

[... is on vacation with Yuki. Don't think about it.] Goro's voice was strong and firm.

"I've got to call Kagura-san, don't I?"

[Yes- if you want answers that is.]

"She might be annoyed with me."

[She's apparently very nice… but then again, she bosses Kyo and Iori around - which is no easy feat. You'd best tread carefully]

"Okay, what do you thi-"

[Sorry Benny, I have something to do.]

"Wai-"

*CLICK*

Goro, clearly fed up, hung up the phone.

Chizuru Kagura was quite good at controlling her expressions. At one time in the past, she had cracked and let her true thoughts shine through - leading into a real mess on the icy rock of Iceland. Now that that unpleasant situation was settled and buried, Chizuru had been unusually careful about maintaining pretenses.

Even so, she couldn't help by grind her teeth when the name 'NIKAIDO.' flashed up on her work phone. The Nikaido banking group had already given her enough trouble by shorting her stock - and they had turned a tidy profit betting her into the ground during the Ash Crimson incident. Luckily with the return of her mirror, she had made a clean recovery - yet she still held a grudge. Several months ago the Nikaido group had offered to purchase one of her company's offshoot companies at a generous price. Of course, she sold it - but had loaded it with as much debt as she could (without being detected) before sending it off. Hopefully they were feeling the sting.

Technically illegal, but if they come suing, at least the Lawyers on payroll will have something to do…

She sighed and drummed her fingers on the conference table until they began to ache. Before her sat her team of notoriously fussy accountants who insisted on her presence whilst they presented their increasingly complicated reports. They were currently loudly criticizing each other's formats and it was beginning to cause a painful thudding between Chizuru's eyes.

The secretary knows I won't talk to Nikaido… why in the world would she send me this call… but then again, it might be better than listening to this squabble.

She stood up and politely excused herself to the hallway, holding the phone's base in one hand, and letting the cord drag on the floor behind her. Although she was unhappy with the firm, she would maintain the appropriate business-formal pretenses.

"Hello, Kagura speaking. How can I help you, Nikaido. I hope the subsidiary is doing-"

A voice much higher than she had expected replied. She almost emitted a surprised noise as, instead of the father, the Nikaido group's fashionista son began chattering over the phone like an excited teenager. Benimaru Nikaido, the utter definition of 'bimbo'. The brat probably didn't have enough brain capacity to power a lightbulb, much less understand his father's business.

"[Sorry to call, Kagura-san, but uh, I've got a weird girl here claiming that there's a conspiracy involving you and Those From the Past.]"

Chizuru blinked a few times and leaned against the wall as she was bombarded with mostly nonsense. The brat hadn't even introduced himself. What sort of idiot dared call her without an appropriate greeting? Wait… what did he say?

"Benimaru? What are you tal-"

"[She used to be a NESTS person, she said, before she left and started working with Whip.]"

Chizuru's placid expression almost snapped right there. She hurriedly repressed the feeling of panic which flooded her chest. Her fake smile had turned into a snarl - she fixed that as well.

NESTS? What...nobody should know anything. Whip... isn't she one of that damn Heidern's people? No way… has he found something on me?!

She controlled her tone as she spoke, fighting to keep the snarl out, and the 'compassionate lady' in.

"Pray tell, Nikaido, Who is she?"

"[Her name's Sylvie Paula Paula. Know her? She's been in some local tournaments. Not KOF yet.]"

"No, not yet that is. Do me a favor and introduce me?"

Benimaru ignored her and kept jabbering. Chizuru made a fist, squeezed until her nails imprinted on her palm, then relaxed. She took deep breaths. She needed to be controlled. If anything, she didn't need this primadonna loudmouth going about spreading any nasty rumors about her.

[She also claims some guy named Ash exists outside of time, and that you've been fighting some war against Those From the Past.]"

ASH! Nobody was supposed to know about that but Kyo and Iori… who is this woman!

[So I just wanted to ask you if any of this is true because I've been super worr-]

"Bring her here!"

[-ied abou-... wait, there? But you're in Japan right now, aren't you? I just flew out of Southtown.]

Chizuru blinked and exhaled. When she spoke again, the edge was off her voice.

"Nikaido. I just need to confirm a few things. I'm a bit concerned about her mental state, especially since she's under the care of an old friend. I'd like for my doctors to examine her. Would you help me?"

[Wait what abou-]

"Bring her to me and I'll give you the answers you want. It will be worth your time, I promise. You don't mind do you? Do you need a plane?"

[Uh… no but... ]

"Then please, Tokyo - as soon as you can. Thank you."

Then Chizuru hung up.

Benimaru eyed his phone after Chizuru hung up on him. She was lucky he hadn't taken off yet, as she clearly expected him to bring Sylvie to Japan. He sighed and phoned the limousine driver. In half an hour, he had arrived back at Iori's - now completely wrecked - apartment.

As he entered the residence, he found Sylvie emptying all of Iori's various shampoos down the sink. He just leaned against the doorframe and stared silently. Somehow just being in her presence was exhausting.

"BROOMHEAD! Pass me that! I need to test it from Chemfets!"

She pointed insistantly at the tin of hair gel on top of the cabinet. Benimaru reluctantly passed it to her. She recieved it happily and began emptying by globs down the drain. She nodded solemnly at him.

"What's wrong Brushroom?... what are you wearing that look!?"

The blonde man deadpanned at her.

"What look?"

"The one where the scientists were bringing a straitjacket and helping me put it on."

... if only...

Sylvie is a treat as always.

All credit to David Tai per usual.