Disclaimer: I don't own The King of Fighters…
A/N: Hello, fellow readers and writers. Well, I've honestly let too much time slip away before getting back, so let's just jump back into it. And here … we … go:
The King of Fighters XVI: Where the Heart is
In the Blood
TICK… TOCK… TICK… TOCK… TICK… TOCK…
Settled in Dubai of the United Arab Emirates for their next match, Hiroshi, Vice, and Mature stood in the roundabout centered on the Deira Clock Tower, a large box clock with Arabic digits inside a structure resembling a hollowed out pyramid. The two women of the team, however, were feeling just … off; they had felt odd ever since they arrived. Vice and Mature experienced weird sensory malfunctions: their muscles briefly twitched with little to no stimulus. Their bodies cooled to the point of shivering then heated back up to the point of sweating, fluctuating from chills to hot flashes. Their hearing also had fluctuations, the clock's ticking seeming to be in stereo surround sound. Even at that moment, they were fixated at the clock, almost mesmerized from all the distortions to it.
Hiroshi, who had been checking the variables of the site to make sure traffic would not be a danger, noticed their fascination and approached…
"Mature-chan, Vice-chan, are you two alright?" Hiroshi called out to them.
Mature and Vice vaguely recognized Hiroshi's voice and slowly faced him, and Hiroshi recoiled momentarily from what he saw. Both, looking to be trembling barely, had slightly blank looks mixed with seeming confusion and almost distress. The oddity of their expression struck Hiroshi with an unease bordering on troubling…
Trying to shake off her trance, Vice responded, rubbing her right shoulder, "What? What did … you say?"
"I asked if … you were okay." Hiroshi reiterated, looking them over and seeing just how 'off' they were.
Mature answered, rubbing her left eye under the patch, "Y-Yeah, we're fine."
Hiroshi voiced with concern, "You two don't look fine. In fact … you've been off ever since we got here. Please, if something is wrong, let me help you."
Becoming annoyed, Mature said as she dropped her hand from her eye, "Kid, we're fine. It's just a weird spell; it'll go away in a minute. It's nothing we can't handle."
Hiroshi stood silent as Mature's eye was visibly red and irritated, then saying firmly, "What in Heaven's name… Look, if you two are sick … then I'm going to call the match. You two are way more important."
"Don't you dare!" Vice protested, " We've waited too long for this, and you're not taking it away!"
Angered, she attempted to grab him but could barely clasp her hand around his shirt. Hiroshi could tell right away, and again voiced his concern, "It won't mean much if you face him and you're not at full strength. I'm not going to let you get hurt over this. Yagami is not going anywhere; you'll have other chances. Please don't risk your long-term health for…"
Mature strongly retorted, "No, today is the day. He's right in front of us, and we've waited long enough… We're not going anywhere."
Suddenly, Vice and Mature had their attention stolen by a loud, steady pounding in their ears. Thinking it was the clock, they turned around … and there they were, him among them. The other team approached: a young man with wild blond hair and an arm brace tattoo on his left forearm, wearing black pants with a long wallet chain, black gloves and shoes, and a pink shirt with white dragons on both sides opened to reveal his chiseled chest; an older man with gray hair, wearing a black suit with a red shirt and black tie, black gloves, black dress shoes, and his eyes hidden behind red round-framed shades; and between them was a familiar young man wearing white pants, a black shirt with a red collar, wallet chain on his hip, and a silver band ring on his left ring finger, his head adorned in his well-known crescent of red hair. The triumvirate stopped across from Hiroshi, Mature, and Vice...
The announcer's voice rang out over the traffic, "Congratulations, teams, on your impressive wins, and welcome to the King of Fighters tournament XVI third round! This match is: the Heaven and Earth team of Mature, Vice, and Hiroshi Amaterasu versus the Yagami team of Shen Woo, Oswald, and Iori Yagami…
All the while, Vice and Mature were distracted by the process they were going through. What was distorted was now hyper-focused, and all their senses were centered on Iori. They could see every twitch, feel every power fluctuation, and heard even his heartbeat, completely keyed into his presence. Both managed a smirk, realizing they could sense everything they needed to even as the rest of the world remained warped to them. Naturally, they did not realize just how intensely they were looking…
Iori asked crossly, "What are you staring at?!"
Mature replied teasingly, "Just as polite as I remember, Yagami. It's been so long."
"Hmph; not long enough…" Iori scoffed as he pointed at Hiroshi, "You hags are old news; my issue is with him."
Hiroshi deftly responded, "I have to be honest and confess something: last time we met, I was simply fulfilling a promise I made. Any grudge was settled that day; we've got no more connection as I see it."
Iori bristled, "Then, you're truly a moron for thinking you could get past me so easily."
Hiroshi pointed out, "If so, we're both guilty of that. You've got some personal demons you've overlooked as well, even though they're standing right next to me."
Iori again became aggravated, saying, "I don't care what they want. The only thing that matters … is you paying for getting in the way."
Vice cut in, saying with false cordiality, "Oh, don't be like that, Yagami. We've worked so hard and come so far … just to see you again."
Iori threatened with the ease of breathing, "If you two have any sense left, you'll leave him to me. You've already seen what happens when I get angry; don't make me show you again!"
Mature retorted with gleeful menace, "Yes, we know too well. But you're forgotten what happens when we're out for blood… We always held our last encounter in a special place in our hearts; what friends would we be if we didn't return the favor?!"
The announcer's voice blasted through the traffic, "Teams, please select your order and send out your first member!"
Vice and Shen Woo stayed out, and the others exited as the Yagami theme, 'No Mercy Given', faded in…
"Now that's more like it." Shen Woo said with a smile as he slammed his fist into his palm, looking intently at his opponent.
Vice smirked and said half-teasing, "What are you so eager about?"
Shen said, still smirking, "You look like a feisty one. It's giving me chills right now."
Vice giggled to herself and replied, her tone remaining oddly in teasing, "You'll be shivering for a different reason soon … like being covered in your own blood."
Popping his knuckles, Shen said, his smirk unmoved, "I like you already! Let's get this show on the road! Give me your best shot!"
As both went into fighting position, the announcer's voice boomed out, "Round 1! Ready! Go!"
Intense, punishing, and unrelenting, Shen Woo was a brutal wildfire, a master of violence. Every move was an attack; there were no tricks, traps, or machinations. He had only two implements, his fists, and they were very effective with him behind them. Vice gave as much in response as she received, showcase in one exchange: Shen, in close to his enemy, grabbed and knocked Vice away with 'Saikou Hougeki'. Vice immediately answered back by grabbing and dragging the hard-charging 'Shanghai God of War' along the ground with 'Gore Fest', throwing him into the air, then following it up by leaping up after him and slamming him into the ground with 'Tranquility'.
However, amidst the cruelty, something else was taking place. The fight was vicious and torturous, but Vice and Shen Woo … resembled 'crushing' in a completely different, opposite way, seeming to enjoy the battle together! Every violent knockdown or brutal blow was not met with a snarl and a growl but a smile or chuckle. Both became visibly more excited as time went on, almost … passionate. Vice in particular progressed from intrigued to pleasant surprise to willingly engaging in the entirety of encounter until she looked almost giddy. Even their attack roars indicated exhilaration more than anything, and brief lulls saw taunting encouragement and … a desire to continue. Truly, it was an unusual and rather disturbing amalgamation of love and war.
The connection was obvious to the other combatants as well, though the happening was lost on Iori. Oswald found humor in it, and simply chuckled to himself in amusement. Mature and Hiroshi, on the other hand, were thunderstruck; Mature was rendered speechless at the improbable and strange discovery, while Hiroshi was disturbed by the method of discovery to the point of digestive unease.
The entire ordeal came to an incredible apex. Shen grabbed Vice and delivered a vicious headbutt, but Vice simply held on to him and gave a similarly vicious headbutt in return. Neither giving in or retreating, both delivered headbutts at the same time so hard that it rattled them and spilt their foreheads. Both staggered backward, and neither hesitated to charge again. Vice dashed with 'Mayhem' and Shen blitzed with 'Tatsu Ken', the two colliding in the middle and getting knocked backward…
Shen muttered to himself with pleasant surprise, "No way…"
Vice let out with subtle excitement, "Did that just happen?"
The announcer's voice rang out, "Double KO! This round is a draw!"
Shen Woo and Vice sat up panting heavily, still shaking from the battle; blood and sweat poured from their gashed foreheads and ran down their faces onto their chests; and both of them … had smiles painted on their faces. Shen soon fought his way to his feet, while Vice distractedly swatted away Hiroshi's aid…
"You fight like crazy!" Shen enthusiastically complimented.
"You're pretty good yourself." Vice rather happily reciprocated.
Shen added, "I haven't had that much fun with a woman in a long time."
Vice admitted in return, "I've never had that much fun with a man before…"
"You and I…" Shen suggested, "We've got to do this again sometime real soon."
"I agree…" Vice quickly accepted, "Just name the time and place…"
Meanwhile, as Hiroshi wretched from the macabre yet touching moment, Mature said, "What do you know? Only at KOF I guess…"
As Vice and Shen as back out of the ring still looking at each other as they smiled and bled, the announcer's voice blared through the street, "Teams, please send out your next members!"
Hiroshi and Oswald walked out, the older lowering his head so that his fedora shrouded his eyes…
Oswald, 'The Wild Card', began shuffling his cards as he said, "You are … Hiroshi Amaterasu, head of Amaterasu Industries and main beneficiary and conservator of the Amaterasu estate, correct?"
Unnerved by the specificity, Hiroshi replied cautiously, "Y-Yes … the last I checked, I was."
As his shuffling became more elaborate, Oswald relayed, "You know… you have a lot of powerful enemies; they don't like your practices among other things."
Hiroshi shrugged and graciously responded, "Business is a merciless profession. Making enemies just means that you're doing something right, especially if it's ethical."
"True, indeed…" The Wild Card stopped shuffling, the cards disappearing in his hands, and said, "In fact, opposition is so strong that certain … drastic measures have been discussed."
Understanding and chilled by the implication, Hiroshi said, "Well, uh… in any case, I have certain countermeasures in place should the need arise."
"That's good to hear…" Oswald took off his hat and sliced it in half with a card, relaying, "I'm just letting you know that you may be seeing me again in a more 'professional' capacity… Just keep that in mind."
As both got into fighting stance, the announcer's voice boomed over the area, "Round 2! Ready! Go!"
In a very rare position for him, Hiroshi was wholly unfamiliar with Oswald's style and attributes. He deduced the long-limbed Oswald had a reach advantage, and the Wild Card's hand speed was evident from card shuffling, but that was all. The lack of knowledge made what happened next all the more surprising…
Fighting the Wild Card was akin to riding a runaway train. Not wasting a single motion, he had uncanny speed when chasing or evading, able to go from a methodical stroll to a blinding sprint instantly. He attacked with precise yet forceful slashes: 'Heart', 'Diamond', 'Club', 'Spade', 'Jack', 'Queen', and 'King', all of which could lead into one another. This unique combination made Oswald able to fire off long chains of stinging attacks often without breaks or hesitation.
Overwhelmed but trying to keep up, Hiroshi chased his adversary with 'Angel Rush' and 'Divine Dive', trying to create openings, while he utilized 'Heavens Brace' and 'Heavens Flare' to defend. However, this proved ineffective due to Oswald's speed, throwing the moves' timing. Ultimately, the battle refined until it came down to both combatants unleashing their best attacks in order to keep the other down.
The Wild Card knocked Hiroshi rebounding off of the boundary with 'Spade' and spun into the air with a spinning slash attack, finishing the sequence with one last forceful slash, 'Ace'. The Amaterasu Son, seeking to recover, built up and fires a massive fireball, 'Reverent Saber', but Oswald emphatically crossed his arms over his chest to form two circles of cards, dispersing the projectile with 'Four Suits'. Taking advantage, Oswald reared back and charged, attempting 'Joker', but Hiroshi had an answer. The Amaterasu Son stretched out his arms, seemingly inviting the attack, and allowed Oswald to initiate the counter: the world went blank as Oswald froze in place. The figure of a woman stood where Hiroshi once was…
"Heavenly judgment befalls those who do evil." The mystery woman stated, her voice pulsating without boundary.
A column of white flames erupted over Oswald, bringing the world back into focus and Hiroshi back to his original place. Seeing his opponent severely damaged but unbeaten, Hiroshi dredged up his last reserves of power, glowing from the activation, and rushed forward with 'Angel Outburst' for a finishing blow … but Oswald had one last trick up his sleeve. Desperately, the Wild Card fanned out a lot of cards in both hands. Hiroshi quickly sped up, trying to head off his preparing enemy, but he simply scattered the cards as Oswald vanished. Suddenly, the cards stopped in mid-air then raced back inward, slicing through Hiroshi! Oswald just as suddenly fell from above to deliver one more devastating slash, completing his 'Dead Man's Hand' Neo Max DM!
It was unclear what the tipping point was. Was it the speed? Was the impact the deciding factor? Was wear from earlier fights? Nevertheless, the outcome was obvious: Hiroshi crumbled to the ground with a pained groan … and didn't get up.
The announcer's voice blasted over the traffic, "KO! Oswald wins!"
"Kid, what happened out there?" Mature asked, as she helped Hiroshi up.
Hiroshi responded with difficulty as he struggled up, "I … made a mistake; that's all it takes. Usually, I'm on the better end of those."
Mature continued, "Yeah. But now I've got quite a job ahead of me."
Hiroshi pointed out as she helped him exit, "The real question is … are you okay? Are you capable? … You'll get through the gambler just fine, but after him… Are you sure you're well enough to take on Yagami?"
Mature exchanged a long look with Vice and answered resolutely, "So what if I'm not?! We know Yagami better than anyone, and we've waited too long for this… We're going to bring him down!"
The announcer soon prompted, "Heaven and Earth team, please send out your final member!"
As Mature stepped back out into the arena, Oswald, obviously still worn from the prior battle, straightened up and remarked, "Ah, a kindred spirit… This should be rare treat."
Mature did not respond; she simply looked over to Iori and got into fighting stance…
Oswald looked over his shades at her, and relented, "One of few words, I see; I respect your business attitude. Your hand, my lady…"
With that, he simply pushed up his glasses with his index finger and got into fighting stance…
The announcer's voice rang out against the speeding metal of the passing cars, "Round 3! Ready! Go!"
Mature wasted no time in getting to battle; she kept him from getting any consistency in pursuit or retreat with 'Ebony Tears', and used her 'Death Row' chain for punishment and interruption, its speed breaking any of his combos or rebuking them before they could even start. Oswald tried to get into a pattern, but his fatigue from the previous battle took an obvious toll, and the similarities between their styles made it much easier for Mature to punish his decreased speed and exhaustion-induced sloppiness. With one last ditch effort, the Wild Card desperately attempted 'Joker', but Mature calmly fired the triple blasts of 'Overjoy', sending Oswald flying back with a pained groan…
The announcer declared, "KO! Mature wins!"
Defeated, Oswald forced himself to stand and exit. Now, the stage was set… Traffic in the roundabout whizzed by furiously, amplified by the sensory conniption. The clock's ticking was even louder, almost thunderous at this point. Mature's sight narrowed on Iori while all other ambient sounds faded out. Vice began shaking her arms and Mature started flexing her hands from anticipation-caused numbness…
The announcer's voice erupted through the area, "Yagami team, please send out your final member!"
It was time. Iori slowly strolled in, his footsteps echoing as sound drowned back in. All the lights turned red in unusual unison and caused traffic to come to an uncanny halt. Intensely focused, Vice ended up in the ring as well for the confrontation…
Her left eye burning deeply but ignoring it, Mature spoke with false cordiality, "Together again at last, eh, Yagami… I can't say how much we've wanted to see you again."
Iori hostilely responded, "Meddlesome women… You should have stayed buried where you would've been safe."
Her right shoulder screaming in pain but also paying no attention, Vice teased, "Oh, Yagami, we know you don't mean that … what with you dreaming about us and all."
Iori bristled, harshly saying, "Stay out of my head; you won't like what you find."
Vice continued her taunting with a devilish smirk, "Trust us, we don't, especially with that tangled mess of a mind you've got."
Iori threatened through bared teeth, "Irritating as ever… I'll send you both back to the graves you crawled out of."
"Oh, you didn't kill us." Mature corrected him before with a much more sinister voice, "No, you send us to a much worse form of Hell. Allow me to send you there, so you can see for yourself."
Mature and Iori got into fighting stance, and Vice leapt out of the ring as 'Reunion', the Heaven and Earth team's theme faded in…
As the traffic came back into focus, the announcer's voice boomed over the ring, "Final round! Ready! Go!"
As he was wan to do, Iori went on the attack, but Mature soon discovered an unforeseen advantage… Her condition had kicked her instincts into hyper-efficiency! She was so keen and aware of his movement that it seemed like she could see what he would do before he did it. Taking hold of the unconventional situation, she easily dodges and blocked Iori's attacks, barely having to move in some cases, and after a while, began using it to punish. Mature started tauntingly with nonchalant 'taps' but quickly started slicing him up with 'Death Row', 'Metal Massacre', and 'Despair'.
The situation came to a peak in one exchange. Iori fired several blasts with 'Dark Dispute' but Mature easily offset it with the projectiles of her 'Overjoy'. He quickly followed it with 'Rage of the Eight Maidens', only for Mature simply flip over his charge with 'Despair'. As soon as Iori stopped, Mature shined as she reared back, glided forward, grabbing Iori on the way, and slammed him into the boundary under a pillar of red energy, her 'Heaven's Gate'…
Her calm cracking, Mature expressed, much more crazed than usual, "Are you ready? Are you ready, Yagami? Are you ready to suffer the way we did? Are you ready to be ripped apart like we were…?"
Iori, however, was not to going to be put down so simply. In the beginning, he was really just swinging wildly to gauge Mature, but was surprised to see that she was a lot closer than he could have imagined. Now, acting with motivation oddly meant he had to calm himself and attack with purpose. Iori utilized his new moves, 'Nueuchi', 'Shougetsu', 'Akegarasu', and 'Earth Camellia', and mixed them with some of his older ones, 'Deadly Flower' and 'Crescent Moon Crunch'. Mature was caught off-guard; she could still tell where was going, but unfamiliarity gave her no knowledge of how to react or defend it. All she could do was counters Iori's older moves while trying to pick up his new ones, taking a beating in the process.
Eventually, she gained some momentum as she became accustomed to his new moveset … when suddenly Iori trapped her. Catching her unbalanced, Iori charged forward and began pummeling her with vicious blows, his 'Rage of the Eight Maidens lvl.2', finishing the Danger Move by holding her to the ground and setting off several explosions at point-blank range!
As Mature struggled to stand, Iori remarked, "Farewell, for the second time. Back to Hell with you…"
Defiantly, Mature stood and gave a subtle signal to Vice and Hiroshi… Going for the kill, Iori glows momentarily and leapt forward with 'Homura Hotogi', and Mature froze. The sight of his attack brought the memory of the former encounter crashing back to the front of her mind, his stance the same as the one he had that day. Fortunately, the counter was already in motion…
Hiroshi jumped in and caught Iori mid-air with 'Heavens Nova', into him with rising spiral kicks. Meanwhile, Vice and Mature prepared themselves: Mature lifted her eyepatch to reveal the energy glowing behind it, and Vice uncovered her shoulders, a mark on her back glowing as well. As soon as Iori hit, both unleashed their 'Awakening Blood' Danger Moves: both became covered in red energy, with Vice resembling a sharp-toothed maw and Mature resembling a long tendril, and both crashed into their enemy with incredible force! However, the amount of energy used and the outburst produced upon impact was much bigger and damaging than usual, so much so that Hiroshi almost hurt by the attack as well!
Having suffered Vice, Hiroshi, and Mature's 'All Guns Blazing' DM, 'Ethereal Collaboration ver.2', Iori hit the ground with a sickening THUD!
"This isn't the end…" Iori choked out as he fell unconscious.
The announcer's voice once again rang out in tune with the chiming clock, "KO! The Heaven and Earth team wins! Please proceed to the next round…"
Iori motionless, Mature broke into a slow laugh usually given by Iori, and victorious, Hiroshi, Mature and Vice began to leave, but Vice looked back…
Seeing her, Shen Woo, as he lifted Iori on to his shoulders, made the 'phone' sign with his pinkie and thumb, suggesting, "Call me…"
Vice simply responded with an intrigued, mischievous grin… Riding in a tournament transport, Vice still held a smile although she still held the back of her right shoulder. Mature also sat with a very pleased look although she too was still holding her left eye.
Hiroshi brought his concern back up, "Okay, the match is over… Can you show me what's going on now?"
Satisfied, Vice and Mature did not fight it. Mature pulled her hand back, Hiroshi gently moved her forelock away … and recoiled in shock at what was there. Next, Vice turned her shoulder to him, Hiroshi now-reluctantly looked as well, and was equally aghast to find the exact same thing: a symbol resembling an inverted sun, formed seemingly by their engorged and inflamed blood vessels! Mature's mark even looked like it started inside her eye!
"What in Heaven's name…" Hiroshi could only say in horror.
Vice quipped nonchalantly, "Actually, it's a little further down than that."
As Hiroshi sat in stunned silence, Mature explained as she put her eyepatch back on, "We figured out what was going on with us, why we've been feeling off, why that last attack was so strong… It seems our group of spanners has been tampering with the seal, and somehow have managed to 'crack the door', so to speak."
Even more shocked and horrified, Hiroshi asked, "So…that means they've already opened the seal?!"
Vice added, "No. In fact, it feels like they only messed it up. That's why we've got more power but it's only causing us pain."
"Great…" Hiroshi said exasperated, "Great… It seems our luck for this tournament is holding steady."
Vice pointed to the in-car TV, adding, "And keeps getting better…"
Hiroshi saw an announcement on the television and swallowed hard; it was a graphic of two teams side-by-side with the words emblazoned under them 'Next Round: Quarterfinals- the Heaven and Earth team versus the Ikari team'!
End Chapter
A/N: There you have it; I hope you enjoyed it. I've finally finished another chapter. Don't look at me like that; I know and I am ashamed. Nevertheless, the next chapter is a big happening in the story, with the next clash obvious. Again, thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed it, and I hope you come back to read more. Please R&R, and as always, Rant, Rave, and Review!