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Enjoy the chapter!
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It had been two days since Astaroth had fallen, and the Tekkenshu Sentai Shinkenger had once again prepared to resume their search for the beast's lair. The day of rest that followed Astaroth's demise at the abandoned factory had done wonders for the sestet's health. Not only did it allow them to recover from their wounds, but it also allowed them to form a plan as to how to go about combating the mysterious foe should they find his lair.
They certainly weren't going to split up in the same manner they did earlier: Astaroth claimed with his dying breath that their enemy had someone waiting for them far more powerful than even the golem, and it took everything the team had to stop the golem. If it took that much just to stop the golem, going up against their mystery foe at anything less than full strength would be suicidal.
That's why we're going to go in as we should have gone in from the very start, Xiaoyu thought as she happily entered the doorway of the Mishima Mansion, we're going to end this…together!
Even though she was an active combatant in the fight against the mysterious enemy as the lithe ShinkenYellow, Xiaoyu still had obligations as a high school student and as a key figure in the Mishima Financial Empire. Sometimes she found it difficult to remain constantly alert for a monster attack or Lizard-man parade, the youthful woman enjoyed school and didn't see any need to shirk her duties as a student.
It seems weird, though, she thought as she placed her bookbag down on a nearby couch and sat down. The day that Astaroth first attacked was just a day just like this one, with me coming from school. Xiaoyu looked up at the ceiling and reminisced to that fateful day. Jin was in the library looking at the morpher that his mother had given him before she left to go to the United States, and Asuka had just arrived from Osaka to visit Kenichi.
Xiaoyu stood up from the couch and walked into the library, where her sense of déjà vu was further confirmed when she spotted someone. However, rather than seeing Jin sitting at the desk pondering over his morpher, Xiaoyu witnessed Kenichi performing a smooth, flowing kata that left Xiaoyu awestruck. In the past days, Kenichi's katas were sharp and forceful like something was bothering him. However, now that Astaroth had been defeated, he had regained his confidence and his poise.
Well, I can certainly see why Asuka finds him hot, Xiaoyu thought when Kenichi noticed her and ended his kata. He might not have Jin's muscles, but he sure is cute! Quickly regaining her composure, Xiaoyu brushed her hair back and handed Kenichi the water bottle that was sitting on the desk. "Sorry if I was interrupting, Kenichi-san!"
"Of course not, Xiaoyu," Kenichi bowed politely as he took a quick swig of the bottle in his hand. "The others are out right now, but I think they'll be back in time for our meeting." Sitting down in the lounge chair on the other side of the library, Kenichi took a deep breath. "Xiaoyu, can I ask you something?"
Xiaoyu tilted her head in curiosity as she pulled up a chair and sat next to Kenichi. "Of course, Kenichi, what do you want to know?"
"…does Asuka resent me?"
"Why would she resent you?" Xiaoyu didn't really have any idea why Kenichi would think such a thing, especially given the conversation she had with Asuka the week before about their relationship. However, she certainly wouldn't mind knowing why Kenichi felt that Asuka had been giving him the cold shoulder.
"These past two weeks we've been reunited, I've done little to show how much I care about her," Kenichi began solemnly. "Just three weeks after we shared our first kiss, we were separated when she went back to Osaka when I decided to stay here to train with Yoshi-sensei."
"Oh yeah, I remember now," Xiaoyu smiled, remembering speaking to Yoshimitsu prior to Asuka's arrival to Tokyo. "He's really proud of the progress you've made, Kenichi. I'm sure it's worth the heartache if it'll make you a better person for Asuka."
"That's what I keep telling myself, but I still feel that I'm rejecting Asuka's advances and giving her the wrong impression," the Japanese youth took a deep sigh before continuing. Clearly he was lost, and didn't know what to do. "I suppose I didn't notice this until we had that argument about Feng joining the group. I still can't get over how upset she was when I sided with the others."
"Look at how it all turned out though," Xiaoyu pointed out, hoping to cheer her friend up. "Feng has helped us out a lot this past week: he even helped save both my life and Asuka's when we were dealing with Jean." Suddenly, a metaphorical light went off in Xiaoyu's head as she once again when she spoke to Asuka about Kenichi. "That reminds me: when we went to Tokyo Tower, Asuka actually spoke to me about you two."
"Did she now?" Kenichi lifted his head from the cushioned lounge chair and raised an eyebrow. "What did she say?"
"She said that she's afraid that if she shows you how she felt, she might drive you away," Xiaoyu answered, silently grateful that Asuka didn't have her sworn to secrecy and thus leave Kenichi in the dark. "To be honest, it sounds to me like you have a similar stand on your relationship."
Kenichi nodded his head before standing out of the lounge chair and slowly pacing the library. "I'm worried that if I decide to capitalize on our relationship and show her how I feel, it will make leaving her that much more painful." Kenichi turned his head to Xiaoyu as he explained further. "Once we defeat this enemy, Asuka will have to go back to Osaka and I'll have to return to Mt. Fuji to train. I don't want to do anything that could break someone's heart, but for her sake I have to continue learning from Yoshi-sensei…"
"Why did you ask him to train you, Kenichi?" Xiaoyu asked as her interest piqued after listening to Kenichi's moral dilemma. "You obviously want to stay with Asuka, but at the same time Yoshimitsu-san is helping you do something that will benefit her." The Chinese woman noticed Kenichi's troubled expression upon hearing her ask that question, so she quickly apologized. "Oh, I'm sorry Kenichi, I'm sure it's none of my business!"
Before Kenichi could respond, a buzzing was heard that rang through both his and Xiaoyu's ears. Xiaoyu went to the desk and pressed the intercom button asked with sincerity and politeness, "How may I help you?"
"Hey there, sport," a deep male voice responded over the speaker. "I was wondering if Heihachi was home: I'm an old friend of his who he hasn't seen in a long time."
'An old friend of Heihachi,' Xiaoyu repeated in her mind as she headed to the nearby window to see who this mystery guest was. Heihachi said he was going to return home later today, but he didn't say anything about company. Looking out the window, she witnessed a tall muscular figure with long, stringy white hair wearing dark teal hakama pants and gray gi. An Aikido uniform, similar to the one that Asuka has, Xiaoyu stroked her chin thoughtfully. I wonder if he knows the Kazamas. "I'll be there in a moment," she finally said after pressing the intercom button yet again. "You're welcome to stay here and wait until he gets back!"
Xiaoyu walked to the front door and opened it to reveal the man: he was obviously Japanese, and she noticed that his skin was almost as pale as Bryan Fury's. This guy's aura…, the youthful woman took a few steps back as the man walked inside, it's so powerful: it's like I'm staring at strength personified! Quickly regaining her composure, Xiaoyu bowed politely, "Welcome, sir: my name is Ling Xiaoyu, and I'll do everything to make you feel at ho-ACK!"
The stranger suddenly lashed out and grabbed the girl by the throat, squeezing so hard that she couldn't even scream. "My name is Ryoku Kazama, kid," the stranger said as he lifted Xiaoyu off her feet and slowly carried her to the library. "I'm pleased to make your acquaintance. How about you introduce me to the rest of your-"
Not ten seconds after he cut off Xiaoyu's greeting, Ryoku's rambling was halted as he received an aerial boot to the face, forcing him to drop Xiaoyu and run up next to Kenichi who had just landed from his attack. "We invite you as a guest, and yet you attack us without warning?" Kenichi said as he and Xiaoyu assumed their respective fighting stances. "Just who are you anyway, and what do you want?"
"You must be Kenichi Masamune," Ryoku said as he rubbed his jaw where he had been struck and sent both the boy and Xiaoyu spiraling backwards with a leaping spinning kick. "It's just as I said before: my name is Ryoku Kazama, and I'm here for Heihachi. However, if he's not here I'll be more than happy to warm up with you two teenage heartthrobs!"
"Wait a second," Kenichi flipped back onto his feet and help Xiaoyu onto hers as he absorbed what Ryoku had claimed. "You're a Kazama? Does that mean you're related to Asuka and Jin?"
"Right you are, kiddo," the elder man applauded with mock enthusiasm before biting his thumb until it bled. Once he did that, he smeared his blood on the floor and stomped his foot. Almost immediately afterward, a blue-skinned Lizard-man popped up from the floor and grabbed Xiaoyu from behind while covering her mouth. Kenichi turned around, but Ryoku grabbed him by the collar and dragged him into the center of the lobby before he could come to her aid. "I figure that you're my granddaughter's main squeeze so I'll tangle with you first," the madman cracked his knuckles before assuming a fighting stance. "Let's see if you're worthy enough to help make me a great-grandfather!"
Kenichi got into his own fighting stance and observed Ryoku carefully. This man was clearly a master simply by looking at how flawless his stance was. It's just like Kazama-sempai's stance, he thought to himself before rushing towards the muscular martial artist to make the first attack, perhaps I can use my experience against Kazama-ryu fighters to my advantage.
When Kenichi began the fight with a forward punch, however, Ryoku put that strategy to rest when he lifted the boy off of his feet and spun him around vertically before tossing him over his shoulder with a swift Vacuum Throw. However, rather than letting him land on the ground, Ryoku decided to bend over backwards and grab onto Kenichi's ankle in mid-air to stop him from spinning. Like a rubber band shooting back, Ryoku righted himself so that he could beat Kenichi into the ground like a whip. Letting go of the boy, Ryoku drove his foot into his back, eliciting a scream of agony from Kenichi.
"You got nice lungs, kiddo," Ryoku stroked his chin before letting Kenichi roll back onto his feet to catch his breath. "However, let's see what you can do when someone is trying to beat you up…much like I'm doing to you now!" Taking advantage of Ryoku's ramblings, Kenichi jumped into the air and kicked Ryoku in the jaw as he came down with a diving kick. Ryoku reeled back in pain, and Kenichi saw another opening and took advantage of it by stomping his foot on the ground while simultaneous shooting out his fist forward to send him rolling backwards into a couch.
Kenichi pursued his foe and leapt up high into the air with his hand raised in preparation for a falling vertical chop. Unfortunately for him, Ryoku rolled out of the way to leave Kenichi to instead attack the couch. With his hand stuck between the cushions for an instant, Kenichi was left vulnerable to Ryoku's cartwheel kick that landed on the young man's spinal cord. "No cracking sound after that," the white-haired behemoth said as he grabbed Kenichi by the neck while he gripped his back in pain. "You're tough as nails, and you have a nice face." Ryoku tossed him away like a rag doll before turning to Xiaoyu. "You'll be a decent in-law…if you survive today."
Ryoku snapped his fingers, and the Lizard-man holding Xiaoyu responded accordingly by letting go of her and burrowing into the hole in created in the floor. The Chinese girl quickly began running towards where Kenichi lay groaning, but Ryoku stepped in front of her. The speed she had been running at was so fast that she bumped off Ryoku's chest and screeched across the floor. However, Ryoku simply brushed himself off before motioning his finger towards him. "Come on, sport: you're next."
Tossing aside her doubts, Xiaoyu leapt into the air and struck Ryoku with her own aerial kick. However, rather than ending it with a single kick, she used the propulsion from the first kick to land a second, and then a third. Ryoku put his hands up in a blocking position to protect himself from the resulting flurry of kicks that showed skill beyond Xiaoyu's years. Putting extra force in the concluding kick, Xiaoyu flipped away while Ryoku's feet slid across the floor from such momentum.
"Hey, you're not too bad either," Ryoku let down his guard just in time to catch Xiaoyu, who had leapt into the air for another flurry of kicks. "Let's see how well you take the pain, though." With both his hands holding on to his foe, Ryoku tossed Xiaoyu head-first into the ground with devastating counter-attack. However, Ryoku wasn't about to let her have any respite. Lifting her off the ground, he repeated the maneuver for a second slam. This time, Xiaoyu left a crack into the hardwood floor.
When Ryoku attempted for a third toss, however, Xiaoyu kicked Ryoku in the stomach. Still crouching down, Xiaoyu attempted a new flurry of kicks: one which gradually made its way up Ryoku's body. Once her legs had gotten up to his chin, Xiaoyu completed the flurry with a powerful thrust that sent Ryoku rocketing into the air. That did the trick, Xiaoyu thought as she prepared to continue the onslaught of attacks. If I can just keep pressing the assault maybe he'll tire-
Ryoku quickly put such a hope to rest when he righted himself in mid-air and lifting his palm into the air. The said palm glowed fiercely as he began to fall back down to the floor. Swinging his arm in the same fashion a baseball player would throw a ball, Ryoku's metaphorical pitch came out as a blast of ki that forced Xiaoyu to abandon any ideas of attacking. The teenage martial artist quickly rolled out of the way and watched the blast hit the wall and blast a hole in it.
Finally realizing how outmatched they were, Xiaoyu ran over to Kenichi and helped him onto his feet. "Did you see that, Kenichi," she said as Kenichi dusted himself off. "He's definitely not a normal human. I wonder what Heihachi's history is with him."
"I'm more worried about how he claims to be a Kazama," Kenichi stepped forward and pointed an accusing finger at Ryoku. "Kazamas are said to be warriors of justice: how is it that you're a Kazama when you seem to act like anything but?"
"Life is just full of surprises, kiddo?" the man cracked his knuckles before rushing towards the teenagers with inhuman speed. "Why do you ask: are you surprised to find out that your hopeful grandpa-in-law is a psycho like me?" Ramming his shoulder into Kenichi, Ryoku followed up with a devastating punch to his stomach and concluded the brief but powerful combo with an open-palmed blow that sent the boy crashing through the plaster wall and into the next room. Turning his attention to Xiaoyu just in time to catch her hand, Ryoku tossed her high into the air. He then took a sharp breath as he slowly rotated his arm while Xiaoyu literally hit the fan on the ceiling and proceded to freefall back down to Earth. Just before she hit the floor, Ryoku blasted her with a sudden burst of energy.
The resulting attack sent Xiaoyu crashing through the wall in an explosion of plaster and wire. She continued to soar helplessly until she crashed into a television set, shattering it in a shower of glass that cut at her smooth skin. "Oww," she whimpered quickly as she struggled to get back onto her feet. "I hope the others get here soon." Turning her head to see Kenichi flip back onto his feet while glowing with white light, Xiaoyu charged her ki until her morpher shined yellow.
"Until they do come, Xiao," Kenichi said once his ShinkenSilver suit fully formed across his body and his helmet materialized over his head, "we have no choice but to fight."
"Ah, it looks like you kids have found your second wind," Ryoku whistled and applauded upon watching the two youths complete their transformation. "ShinkenSilver and ShinkenYellow…I think it's time we start round two!" As they came charging towards him with their hands sparkling, Ryoku resumed his fighting stance. "Ready…FIGHT!"
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Outside of the mansion however, Hwoarang had just pulled his motorcycle into the curb and noticed that a second motorcycle was parked there, as well. He had just come back from the local cemetery to pay his respects to his two late friends Jae and Choi. Now that he had finally avenged their deaths, he could fully focus his efforts on the mysterious enemy. However, he did not yet know of the trouble that Xiaoyu and Kenichi were in. "What the hell is this?" he said out loud as he looked at the mysterious vehicle. "Do Xiao and the rookie have company?"
Hearing the slamming of doors behind him, the Korean martial artist turned around to see Jin and the others getting out of their limousine and joining him in observing the motorcycle. Whereas Hwoarang had been a the cemetery, a place of death, the others decided to head to a grocery store so that they could have something healthy to eat before their big assault. "Hey Hwoarang," Jin said as he walked up to his rival, "did you know that we were having company?"
"As if I would invite someone in this crazy place," Hwoarang rolled his eyes before beginning to walk up to the front door. "Maybe it's one of Xiaoyu's friends or some Manjitou nut that Kenichi is acquainted with…"
However, before Hwoarang could reach for the knob, the door exploded in a shower of wood and splinters to reveal Xiaoyu in her ShinkenYellow suit flying towards them. Jin caught Xiaoyu in his arms and then planted her feet on the ground. "Xiaoyu, what's going on?" he said as he prepared to morph. "Where's Kenichi?"
"He's still inside fighting Kazama-sempai," Xiaoyu shouted as she ran up to the front door to watch Kenichi continue to combat his foe. "Come on, we have to help him!"
"Wait a second," Asuka stepped up and raised an eyebrow in curiosity, "What do you mean 'Kazama-sempai'? The only Kazamas here are me and Jin: did my dad decide to show up or something? And why would he be trashing Kenichi?" When she gently pushed Xiaoyu aside to look inside though, she saw that the Kazama she was referring to was not her father. "Holy crap," she muttered as she quickly opened the door and morphed into ShinkenWhite. "It's like a pro wrestler decided to don an Aikido uniform!"
"I'm glad you can find the time to joke around, Asuka," Kenichi said as he backflipped away from a roundhouse kick and landed next to his comrades. "Your family tree is certainly formidable: I thought your grandfather died before you were born."
"You don't have to think about it," Jin stated as he and the rest of his comrades were engulfed in power before their respective Shinkenger suits formed across their bodies. "I know for a fact that my mother's father is dead and has been for some time." The Japanese youth pointed a gloved finger at Ryoku before assuming a fighting stance. "Why do you claim that you're a Kazama; are you trying to taint our name!?"
"You can believe what you want, Jin," Ryoku replied casually, a smirk creeping upon his face as he watched Jin jump back in surprise. "Your mother actually said the very same thing you said just now." The madman cracked his knuckles and resumed his fighting stance before continuing. "You're definitely her son…and my grandson."
"That stance," Feng stepped forward to get a closer look at their foe. "There's no doubt about it: it's the same stance that Asuka's father uses. He truly is who he claims to be…" However, Feng's tone of voice quickly changed as he clenched his fists. "If you are truly Asuka and Jin's grandfather, then I cannot forgive you: attacking the friends of your family deserves nothing less than a most brutal punishment!"
Feng rushed at Ryoku with violent intent, taking to the air to try and strike him with a flying kick. "You have got to be kidding me," Ryoku rolled his eyes as he raised his arms up to block the attack. "What is it with you guys and jump kicks?" As soon as Feng landed, his left palm burned red while the ruby on his chest did the same. However, before Feng's burning hand could harm Ryoku, the Kazama-ryu master rammed his shoulder into the Kempo warrior. Stunned, Feng was helpless to stop the resulting stomach punch and palm thrust that had him flying backwards and careening into a wall.
"You don't like jump kicks, mate?" Steve gently bounced on the back on his feet before stepping forward to confront Ryoku. "In that case, how you we play with our other limbs?"
Ryoku raised an eyebrow just before Steve's arm shot out with lightning agility sent him flying into the air with a Sea Hawk Upper. Pressing the attack, Steve juggled him the air with a pair of lefts, a right hook, and another left punch that sent Ryoku flying backwards. Unfortunately for him, Ryoku landed on his feet with no noticeable damage. "I've always wanted to face a boxer," the madman cracked his knuckles and crouched down. "Come on, kiddo: let's see your Dempsey Roll!"
"Guv, you don't want to my Dempsey Roll," Steve shrugged before resuming his fighting stance. "If I show it, the very next thing you'll see is a hospital room, along with a lot of hoses in your body!"
"Don't be a killjoy," Ryoku shouted before advancing towards Steve with violent intent. "Make me work for my win!" Obliging to Ryoku's challenge, Steve crouched down and began to sway rapidly from left to right. Once he was in range, Steve proceded to chop at Ryoku's abdomen with vicious left and right hook. The elder Aikido practitioner grunted with every blow he suffered while Steve pressed on the assault.
When he decided that he had enough, Ryoku grabbed Steve by the neck and lifted him off the ground. Steve desperately stuggled to break free of the hold, but could not stop his foe from lifting him high in the air and driving his body down into the ground. "What's wrong, Englishman?" Ryoku taunted as he lifted the boxer off the floor to toss him down again. "I'm not seeing any hospital rooms!"
Ryoku turned around just in time to avoid a spinning kick from Hwoarang. Before the Tae Kwan Do ace could follow up on the attack, Ryoku pummeled him with a low kick and a spinning backhanded punch, following with an open palm to his face and a standing roundhouse kick to his neck that sent him spiraling backwards. "Easy there with those death feet, hotshot," the madman let out a manly laugh before crossing his arms. "You might hurt someone…namely me!"
However, Ryoku noticed that Hwoarang wasn't the only one getting back up. Feng, Kenichi, Asuka, and Steve were beginning to advance on him as well. Suddenly, the quintet rushed towards him with violent intent, preparing to attack him as a team. Spitting on the ground before raising his arms high into the air, Ryoku's body burned with green power.
The five Shinkengers took to the air simultaneously, soaring towards Ryoku in an attempt to pounce upon him. However, just when it seemed like their ploy would be successful, the madman threw his hands down to floor and his body became enveloped in a cocoon of energy that ripped through the attack like it was paper. Jin and Xiaoyu, who had hoped to attack Ryoku while the others held him still, watched the ploy fail terribly while their comrades were knocked from the sky and fell to the floor like rain.
Once the energy around him faded, Ryoku lifted his hands off the ground and returned to a full standing position to admire his handiwork. "That worked out even better than I thought it would." He suddenly turned to Jin and Xiaoyu just in time to bend over backwards to avoid their kicks, and then come back up to shove him palms in their abdomens. With a flash of green light, the couple crumpled to the ground an instant later: a sign that they had just been hit with the Kazama-ryu Inner Strength technique. "Now as for you two," Ryoku lifted the duo up by their necks as he spoke, "what do you have to say for yourselves?"
"…I can't believe my mother could possibly be related to a scumbag like you," Jin hissed.
"Believe it, sonny: Jun actually helped bring me back," his grandfather retorted before tossing both Jin and Xiaoyu into a couch. "But enough about that: you and I can have a nice family chat about it…after I put you in a coma for a couple of days!"
Before Ryoku could raise his fists, however, he was unexpectedly sent sprawling backwards from a blue bolt of lightning. The madman landed on his feet and quickly turned to the direction that the bolt came from, while everyone in the room who was still conscious did the same. Standing in the doorway was a muscular man clad in dark blue with a suit very similar to the Shinkengers' own.
"That is enough, Ryoku," the man said before assuming a proper fighting stance. "You have done enough damage to my home as it is."
That voice, Xiaoyu thought as she got up from the couch and ran up to the mysterious man's side. "Grandpa Heihachi, is that you under that helmet?"
"Indeed, Xiaoyu," Heihachi nodded before turning back to Ryoku, who had just resumed his own stance. "Now go and tend to your friends…this could get ugly!"