It was such a strange sight, or rather the lack of one. For when Asuka finally woke up from her long slumber, her thunderous headache took a backseat to her alarming confusion as all of her surroundings were shrouded in darkness. "Ngh...w-what..."
Asuka traced her fingertips along the floor, trying whatever she could to make sense of her mysterious location. The ground gave off a gentle feeling...Tatami, perhaps? Certainly some kind of building. Her thoughts dispersed as her ears perked up at the sound of the floor now creaking...more specifically, the sound of footsteps. "H-huh? Who's there?!" Asuka blurted out.
Asuka normally was not one to be scared but this was certainly quite the freaky situation. Nevertheless, only one option came to Asuka, who hastily got into her fighting stance and rushed toward the source of the noise with no hesitation. Asuka shouted a fierce kiai. "Hyaaah!"
"W-wait!" A voice croaked out as Asuka then looked on with a horrified face as the lights of the building turned on to reveal the footsteps only belonged to her very own father. Asuka tried her best to halt her soaring kick but ended up nailing Mr. Kazama with a solid kick to the abdomen.
"Euuughhhck..." Mr. Kazama winced as he rubbed his torso. Asuka felt absolutely dreadful. "Dad! I'm so so sorry!" Asuka wailed out. "Are you okay?!"
Fortunately her father was not hurt too badly and he soon emitted a chuckle. "Ohohoho, you certainly pack a punch girl, that's for sure!" He rubbed his sore spot with a smile. "Heard you groaning so I came over to turn on the lights. I don't blame you for rushing in headstrong. I was right to never believe in those silly reviews...I've taught you well." He nodded with delight.
A smile soon came onto Asuka's face, with her scratching her head with a chuckle. "Thanks, Dad." Asuka took in her surroundings and realised she was in fact back in her and her father's dojo. Asuka's smile faltered as she remembered this was technically Lili's dojo now, with the rose petals adorning the walls exacerbating Asuka's displeasure.
"Damnit...Lili!" Asuka fumed as she recollected her memory and the moments she was last conscious.
"Ah. Aren't you lucky to have a friend like her?" Mr. Kazama smiled.
"I'm the unluckiest person in the world." Asuka lamented with a grumble. "She's the reason my headache's worse than the time I lost to that Fury maniac..."
"Oh dear." Asuka's father frowned as he gently rubbed his daughter's head. "I don't know the details, but if it is any consolation, Lili told me she felt pretty bad about the whole thing."
"Yeah right." Asuka scoffed as she crossed her arms.
"Lili and her friends brought you back here." Mr. Kazama stated. "The one named Julia wanted to apologise. Said her livestream egged her on, whatever that means..." Mr. Kazama creased his forehead in confusion.
Asuka mithered for a moment before tapping her cheek in thought. "I guess I can somewhat understand her blitzing approach...Whatever, it's that idiot Lili's fault anyway." Asuka whined. "I'm gonna go and have a good rest. But I'm sure she'll be right back to interrupting my day tomorrow!" She crossed her arms with a pout.
"I believe that is not the case." Mr. Kazama nodded.
"She's always gettin' in my business!" Asuka chided. "Tomorrow will be no different."
"Miss Lili has flown out of the country." Mr. Kazama stated. "She has returned to Monaco."
"WHAT?" Asuka's gasp echoed throughout the dojo. "Ahah...that's gotta be some kinda joke. If she told ya that, she's pulling your leg, Dad."
"In fact she requested me chauffeur her to her jet." Mr. Kazama nodded. "Witnessed her leave Japan with my own eyes."
Asuka let her father's statement sink in for a good moment, before she suddenly burst out in a mega jump of bliss. "Irritating Lili is finally outta here! Yahoooooo! Aw yeees!" Asuka did a small happy dance before stopping quickly. "Did she leave her cat here?" Asuka asked excitedly.
"No. Salt joined her too." Mr. Kazama tried with might to hold back a tear.
"Ah well. No more Lili!" Asuka cheered before shooting a wave to her father. "I'm gonna have a fantastic sleep tonight! Goodnight, Dad!" Asuka acclaimed.
Her father smiled and gave Asuka a hug before retiring to his own room too. "Interesting way she talks about her friend..." He muttered to himself as he left.
"Not friends!" Asuka pouted but shook it off and happily hopped into her bed for a satisfying sleep.
And thus the night went by without a hitch and Asuka woke up to a bright new day. Her headache had disappeared and she was in high spirits. "Alright! Teachin' some classes at the dojo...then I'll bring peace to the streets for a bit...Ah! Then a nice relaxing bike ride around the park! All without that vexatious rival of mine!" Asuka loquaciously rattled off before scoffing to herself. "Ugh...vexatious...sounds like something that nimrod would say. But she ain't here!"
Asuka proceeded to go about her day as per her list, starting with some dojo classes. Asuka did her best to ignore the tacky rose decorations and soon she would not even bat them an eye as the amount of new students that began to flood in completely took her by surprise.
"Wow...it's like a new attendance record...Thanks for coming everyone! Let's all line up!" Asuka nodded with delight. She drilled a few basic techniques down into the students as booming kiai filled the air. "This is going too greatly." Asuka smiled to herself.
Asuka then suddenly got into a quick stance as the door burst open. "Knew you'd show yourself, Lili!" But Asuka would soon loosen up as the person entering was not Lili, but it was just a late student to the dojo. This was not a new student either - Ran Hibiki had returned. "Sorry for my absence, sensei." She bowed deeply as she took her place.
"Not a problem!" Asuka gave a thumbs-up as she resumed the training session. Was this really the end of the rivalry? Lili truly seemed to be gone for good.
Once classes ended at the dojo, Asuka had a pleasant time patrolling the streets of Osaka. There were not many dodgy delinquents about and those who were around settled rather quickly once Asuka showed up. Even though not much crime seemed to be about, the young woman was getting a good deal of compliments for her work. Much more than she would usually get.
"Wow! Take the obnoxious princess away and my luck has shot up to the sky!" Asuka cheered to herself.
To top the day off, a refreshing, relaxing and rejuvenating bicycle ride around the park. Asuka never really took the time to appreciate the beauty of it all and she was having a wonderful time. She had planned to tour around the park yesterday evening before her interview, but Lili ultimately messed that plan up. "I don't have Lili wrecking my plans anymore!" Asuka grinned as she rode her bicycle. "This is the life!"
Days and nights came and passed as Asuka got on with her life with joy. Dojo. Peacemaker. Cycle. Peacemaker. Cycle. Dojo. Cycle. Dojo. Peacemaker. Cycle. Peacemaker. Dojo. Peacemaker. Dojo. Cycle. Dojo. Cycle. Peacemaker.
Day by day, Asuka's smile ever-so-slightly began to falter as she was starting to succumb to a feeling of boredom of her monotonous life. One day, Asuka was riding her bicycle around the coast as the young woman looked rather dreary. "I think...I just can't be assed doing this today..." She lamented to herself.
Cycling was one of Asuka's favourite activities, how could she think like this?! Sure maybe the activity was just getting old, but it was as if her whole life was feeling lackluster. Something was missing.
Asuka felt like she needed a little bit of spontaneity in her life to light her fires once more. It had been approaching two weeks since Asuka last saw the ever-so barging Monegasque princess, which just so happened to be the last time Asuka felt invigorated inside.
Asuka sighed as she laid in her bed that night. After some time she drifted off to sleep, only to be interrupted by her door swinging open. At the door stood Lili, who gave a sultry smirk as she flipped her hair. "Greetings, Asuka."
"Lili." Asuka stated as she cocked her head and patted the empty space on the bed next to her.
The graceful Lili shook her head with a soft giggle as she confidently strutted to where Asuka was laying. Then, Lili placed a finger up to her lips. "Please don't tell my father." She chuckled as she proceeded to lean down towards Asuka's lips. Lili and Asuka were breathes apart, as Asuka slowly began to lean in, only for Lili to wag her finger as she shook her head. Lili gently let out a whisper. "Wake up."
AHH!
A bright new sunny day dawned upon Asuka as her eyes shot open, with not an inkling of Lili in sight. "Oh...it was a dream...I m-mean a nightmare!" Asuka blurted as she quickly got up and got ready for the day.
"Hooray. Another fun day awaits me." Asuka stated with meager enthusiasm as she zipped up her jumpsuit.
Asuka went on to teach her students at the dojo. "You lot have really made a remarkable improvement. Amazing." Asuka nodded with a polite smile as her bountiful number of students bowed in gratitude. Despite her smile, Asuka did not feel truly blissful inside.
A similar sentiment would be shared as the Kansai Peacemaker went about her rounds. She still received a plethora of compliments and well-wishes but she just shrugged with a polite smile. "Just doing my duty."
It was later on in the evening that Asuka's inner boredom caught up to her. Riding her bike through the breathtaking park, Asuka felt she had to blink rather rapidly lest she fall asleep while riding.
She rode over to a water fountain to refresh herself. After drinking up, she turned her head and noticed a large crowd gathered within the park. Asuka was not too concerned, until her ears immediately perked up to the sound of a woman speaking with a clear French accent.
"Lili?" Asuka walked over with what she'd never admit was a faint smile.
That faint smile would eventually dissipate as Asuka made her way through the crowd only to see it was some flashy model named Manon instead. The crowd hooted aloud as they were witnessing Manon the model take down some other street fighter. Asuka just looked on, unimpressed.
"Lili's moves are hella more enticing." Asuka thought to herself but quickly shook that thought away and returned to her bicycle.
Just another unexciting evening at the park. Asuka began to ride her bicycle back home, only for an immediate tall figure to leap in front of Asuka. "Oi!" The figure made a shouting Asuka spin her bicycle outta control and crash into the ground. Asuka looked on as a bento box fell out of her bag and spilled onto the ground.
"My dinner!" Asuka shouted. The karaage, the umeboshi, the rice? All ruined.
Asuka was snarling like an enraged bull. This punk was gonna pay! "What do you think you're doing?! Are you some sort of idiot-" Asuka's eyes widened in shock with a gulp as she saw who the tall figure was - of course, it was none other than Lili Rochefort.
"Well, it is certainly most delightful to see you too, Kazama." Lili gave a giggle.
"HUH?! W-what the fu...!? W-what are you doing here?! Thought ya buggered off to Monaco!" Asuka yelled in total disbelief. "H-how do you even know I'm here?!" The young fighter flared.
"Well you are rather easy to predict." Lili clasped a hand to her mouth with a chuckle. "There's no improvisation in any of your routines."
"Damnitttttttt...shut up!" Asuka whined and rolled her eyes. "I've been having suuuuch a blast since you've been gone! It's been so fun without ya around!" She stated with a grumble.
"Oh my." Lili pouted a little before chuckling. "Well I am glad to hear that. But alas, now it is time for a real adventure!"
Asuka's sudden rage simmered down a little as Lili was just now sending her into confusion. "Eh?" Asuka tilted her head as she narrowed her eyes. "Better tell me...why are you here, Lili...?"
Lili haughtily clapped her hands in the air with glee. "Now that you are well-rested after all those knocks to the head, I have a proposition for you."
"Of course you would make your return..." Asuka sighed. "What do you want?"
"A mystical and enchanting box has crash landed into Antarctica, Pandora's Box. It seems to have giant unyielding power and many a fighters in the globe are gathering to try locate the box." Lili stated. "I will retrieve this box for my father."
"Ah, I did see this on the news." Asuka put a finger on her chin. "What's it got to do with me?" Asuka clenched her teeth. "Ergh...don't tell me..." Asuka sighed, knowing what was coming next.
"It's said that you need more than one person to open the Pandora." Lili nodded then adopted a twirl pose with a curt bow as her face became all puppy-eyed. "Miss Kazama, let's put our differences aside and combine our strength. Your primitive violent tendencies will be an excellent compliment to my refined fighting prowess!" Lili cheered.
Asuka flared up with detestation. "What the hell kinda invitation was that? You wanna fight or something?!" She fumed and began to walk away.
Walking away, Asuka was quickly reminded of the mundane and mind-numbing life she'd walk back into. Now, all of a sudden Lili made her ever-so-grand appearance to spontaneously drag Asuka along on a big journey? "Damnit, Lili..." Asuka thought to herself as she knew this was just what she needed again.
Asuka ultimately turned back around to Lili with a big sigh. "...Fine. I'm coming, whatever...I wanna check out this box anyway." Asuka muttered. The mystery behind Pandora's Box sure seemed cool as heck, and that is the reason Asuka told herself as to why she's suddenly tagging along. Not because she missed Lili or anything...
"W-we're not partners, and we're not friends." Asuka crossed her arms. "We're just two people going to the same place, got it?" Asuka frowned as she timidly looked to the side.
"I knew you'd come around!" Lili spun around with a cheer. "Soon we will be the greatest fighting duo in the world!" She giggled as she skipped away along the park.
"We are not a fighting duo!" Asuka whined as she followed along. "You're not even listening to me are you?" Asuka moaned with a pout.
Henceforth, Lili & Asuka set out on the colossal quest to retrieve Pandora's Box. It would not be easy with plenty of arduous battles awaiting the duo. The first of which the two would not need to wait for at all, as it turns out.
While Lili and Asuka were leaving the park, a pair of eccentric characters who certainly stood out were eyeing the women out curiously. "I think those two might be on the quest for Pandora." One of the pair stated.
The other proceeded to let out a guttering roar with a charge. This immediately caught Lili and Asuka's attention, and the two pairs locked eyes with each other. The journey begins here.