Before we start this finale, I want to get all my messages out of the way. First and foremost, my scrapped ideas: my original plan for a long time was to have an Ending B, where Kula won, and then alternate scenes with her as the victor. Unfortunately, this just wasn't meant to be. I'm 80 chapters into this thing, and I'm. So. Tired. I gotta move on already. It's not the first idea I had to scrap, and it sucks, but everything just worked out as it did. I'm ending this thing here and now.
Secondly, I have to thank everyone who went on this years-long journey with me, and stayed invested in the story. I'm so grateful to all of you for your reading and reviews, but there's a select few I want to particularly thank: illyrilex and Robertcop, these two are more than just readers, but have been friends of mine for years now. They've helped me out with SO much, from motivation to workshopping ideas, to even contributing to the story themselves. I want to also give a special thanks to Writerperson, who was not here at the beginning, but is here now, and has also become a close friend of mine. She also helped me out more than I can ever repay, with motivation, bouncing ideas, and contributions. I can safely say I could not have finished the fic without these three. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
Lastly, I won't boast that this final chapter is my best work. The fatigue might show, as some characters are missing and maybe I didn't ask the most interesting questions. But it's just... time. I can't pour anymore energy into this. Without further ado, enjoy the finale.
My name is Alexey Kyvlenko. I've been hired by a wealthy individual to gather pertinent information on the current fighters, and determine who among them is worthy of an invitation in the future... I have it on good authority that very soon, King of Fighters will be in my employers' hands, and those hands will shape the destiny of the sport to come. That's why he's hired certain qualified individuals, like myself and Clemence Bellamy, those with a knack for journalism, to gather data.
I'm very good at my job. I was there for it all... I was there for the first assassination attempt on the Bernsteins' lives. When an unhinged serial killer threatened to destroy the foundation of the tournament and engulf all of Germany in terror. From the great battles waged in Odeonsplatz, to the fight for survival in the walls of Allianz Arena. I know it all, because it's my business to know.
The tournament is finally over, and the fighters will be returning to their normal lives soon. It's my job to seek an audience with as many of them as possible, before they're given a chance to return to their countries. It's tough, strenuous work...but I've been well-paid now, as I will be in the future, when my employer sits on the throne of King of Fighters.
1: SHEN WOO
"Another year of the singles tournament, another crushing defeat."
"Hey, I did better than last year! At least I had a hittable opponent! Stupid Athena and her psychic mumbo jumbo..."
"Give me your thoughts on your opponent, Yamazaki."
"I know Ryuji from the Chinese scene, dude's bad news. But I thought he was just a man, I could beat him same as any other...but he's got some kind of dark power, something i wasn't expecting. He's no back-alley thug: he's something I don't even know how to describe."
"Did the lack of attendance from all your friends affect your motivation at all?"
"Hell yes it did! I know they all have their reasons, Duo with his dad issues and the two Frenchies... rekindling and stuff... but this is King of Fighters, it comes around once a year. It wouldn't have hurt them to show up and give some support, even if I was the only one interested in entering!"
"Do you resent them for it?"
"Nah, it's just a fighting tournament at the end of the day. They mean more to me than holding a petty grudge."
"Despite losing twice, do you plan to enter if a third tournament comes around?"
"Hell yeah! I'm just a victim of bad luck and circumstance... I'll show my real stuff next time, swear to god."
2: YURI SAKAZAKI
"How are you healing up from your gruesome injuries in Round 1?"
"The cuts have closed up pretty nicely. I don't start bleeding every time I stretch now."
"Describe your opponent, Mature. Were you afraid? Did you feel like you had a chance of beating her?"
"First of all, Mature is batshit INSANE. She's a sadist, a disgusting sick monster who derives pleasure from pain. The world's a better place with her dead, and that goes double for Vice. Secondly, I thought I had a decent chance of beating her, since she's not exactly news to me. We've been in some tourneys before. Lastly, I wasn't afraid after the first cut, but when she got me across the abdomen... yeah, I started shaking a little. By the end, when she cut me so much the pain made me lose consciousness, I was afraid I wasn't gonna wake up."
"Onto another subject, can you explain what happened with Kasumi Todoh this week? Do you harbor any bitterness for what she did to Robert?"
"Look, Kasumi is just... complicated. She hasn't had the easiest life. But neither have I, and that's why I'm able to show empathy and understanding about her situation. She just had a bit of a relapse, and she did something she regretted. I'm not gonna hold it against her; she's not a bad person, like Mature was. She's my friend, and she always will be."
"What went down with Mr. Big after you and your brother went after him?"
"We had Big on the ropes, but there was an accident and... we nearly didn't make it. We got saved by an unlikely source. Big got away."
"Are you afraid of what this means for Southtown, that Big got away with considerable wealth and a posse of supporters?"
"It does concern me, yes. Mr. Big has especially targeted my family with his aggression, and I'm afraid he has something particular in store for us if he rises to power in Southtown... but I'm not gonna take it lying down. Me, Papa, my brother, Robbie, my friends... we'll fight to the bitter end to protect what's ours."
"How was being here this year without your father present?"
"Well, I love Papa-san, but... I gotta admit, it was a bit of a relief not having him over my back. It felt nice to be able to sleep with Robbie without worrying about his looming presence."
3. ANDY BOGARD
"Are you content with neither winning nor losing this year?"
"It doesn't really make a difference to me. I'm not gung-ho about competition like the old days."
"Because of Mai?"
"Mai is partially the reason, yes, but I mainly just feel like I've grown up as a person... I used to be all about besting my brother, and to that end, I wasted a lot of years. I took Mai for granted. I reflect harshly on that wasted time and... it does kinda sap my motivation to compete. To be honest, I'd rather just train my student, Hokutomaru. Mold him into something better than I was."
"Does this mean this could be your last tournament?"
"Hmmm hard to say... I'm definitely not a fan of the singles format. I might be motivated better if I had the comfort of a team supporting me. Maybe I'll just wait until it goes back to trios."
"Can you share any details of what happened when you and several others took a hot air balloon up to the Sky Noah?"
"Uhhhh sorry, I don't think I'm at liberty to discuss that."
4. JOE HIGASHI
"How does it feel to lose so early this year, after making it to Round 3 last year?"
"It sucks! What do you think?!"
"Describe your fight with Gato."
"The guy was relentless, fighting on pure rage power. He obviously had something to prove. That can make a dangerous fighter out of a person."
"Does this affect your motivation going forward?"
"Nah, it's a sport of ups and downs. Just as soon as I lose this one, I'm bound to do better next year."
5: ROBERT GARCIA
"Do you feel that what happened with you and Andy was the proper outcome?"
"Well I guess it must have been... I remember waking up in the hospital, which usually means one thing. Typically, you didn't win a fight if you went unconscious. I wouldn't have felt like the winner, regardless of what happened to Andy."
"Yuri suffered some pretty gruesome injuries this year. Were you concerned for her life at all?"
"Of course I was! It took a lot of restraint not to race out there and rescue her from that bitch, Mature. The only reason I didn't is because I didn't want to disqualify her in case she had a chance of bouncing back. Yuri's a scrapper... even being sliced up, she still had Mature on the ropes."
"Another notable thing happened this week... Kasumi Todoh acted rather rashly, resulting in you suffering injuries yourself. Describe your encounter with her."
"Man, Kasumi was... motivated. Like a demon possessed her. I thought I could beat her easily in a fight, but I made a mistake on my very first kick, and she made me pay for it. She never let up, never gave me a chance to get back in the fight. I was overwhelmed."
"Any hard feelings for what she did to you?"
"Nah... if things were different, I might, but I gotta think about Yuri. She's my heart and soul. If I held a grudge, it'd affect us, and I don't want that. Besides, I understand that Kasumi's young and... confused. She just channeled her emotions in the wrong way."
"Mr. Big escaped judgement, with a 2.5 million-dollar fortune in his grasp. Are you concerned for what this may mean for Southtown in the future?"
"I am yes, especially because Big particularly doesn't like me and the Sakazakis. I have a feeling things are gonna get rough for us in the coming days... but as long as we band together, Big can't break us. He's a coward to the end, and in the face of a united front, he'll back away."
6: RYO SAKAZAKI
"You were able to stifle Athena's psychic influence and defeat her soundly. How?"
"Her abilities worked on Shen because he's more... weak-minded, and I don't mean that in an offensive way. He's not as attuned in body and spirit. His chi, not aligned. That's how I was able to nullify Athena."
"You were a betting favorite to enter the quarterfinals, but you were overcome by Gato's fierce power. What kind of message does it send that anger and rage can defeat a sound body and spirit?"
"I think what it really came down to was... motivation. A peaceful mind and spirit can breed complacence, and I think I was guilty of that. Gato fought with a goal, and that made him dangerous. Or maybe the big softie just wanted to get me back for whooping his sister, hahahaha!"
"Can you explain what all happened with Mr. Big this week? How was he able to get away, with the prize money?"
"Big was just...an asshole all week. Its bad enough he wouldn't shut up about wanting to take over Southtown with Geese gone, but he crossed the line when he started playing dirty to win. He jumped Yuri days ago, and she was recovering from injuries to boot! So a few days later, we decided to go after him, and give him what he deserves."
"But he got away?"
"He got LUCKY. We nearly had him beat, but the roof collapsed on us, and then..."
"Then what?"
"...He just got away. Okay? I don't know how, but he did. He's... still alive."
"Changing the subject, what happened with Kasumi Todoh? Do you resent her for what she did to Robert?"
"Yuri straightened all that out, go ask her. I have...my own feelings about it...but for the sake of peace, I'm letting it go."
7: VANESSA
"You were defeated by Shermie in Round 1, but you were doing pretty decent. How confident were you?"
"Shermie couldn't beat me in a striking match in a thousand years. I thought I could knock her out, but she dropped me on my head and badly hurt my neck; if it wasn't for that, I'd have won easily."
"Do you know anything about the serial killer that terrorized the city for a couple days?"
"I don't, no, but Mary seemed to have some personal history with the guy..."
"Were you afraid that Mary's reckless determination to stop the killer would lead to her demise?"
"Yeah, Mary was scaring me for a good while. I wish I could have done more to help, but my damn neck..."
"Can you share any details of the huge battle that went down in Odeonsplatz square? Were you involved?"
"Yeah I was, and it had something to do with murdering the Bernsteins...there was some kind of price on their heads, and we were hired to protect them. God, what a mess..."
"Were you afraid some of yours wouldn't make it out of that alive?"
"Well, we came damn close! With all due respect, I'd rather stop talking about it."
8: BONNE JENET
"You were scheduled to face Ryo in the first round, but you instead found yourself standing opposite Krauser. What were your thoughts on this mishap?"
"I thought there was either a mistake or someone had it out for me. My...infamy... does travel far and wide~"
"Did you ever figure out the cause of this error?"
"Oh yes, it was Malin. She changed the brackets around."
"Why?"
"I don't feel like explaining it, just ask her."
"Do you harbor any negative feelings for Malin causing this?"
"Well if I'd known about it a little earlier I might've, but I couldn't possibly hold a grudge to Malin now. She's my sexy lil troublemaker~"
"In the official tournament rankings, you were ranked dead last, for running away from your only fight without attempting a single strike. Does that bother you?"
"Pffffft. Martial arts is a hobby, but I'm not obsessed with it. I don't care how well I do, I just like to show up~"
"After the first night, you and Malin conspired to steal entry cards and sell them, but this was met with failure. How does it feel to have your second heist foiled?"
"Well technically, it was Malin's idea, so it doesn't count towards me. But again, it's not about winning or losing, I just like to play."
9: MALIN
"How close were you to defeating Mai in the first round?"
"I had that milk-peddler dead to rights, until she pulled some bullshit super move out of her loose asshole."
"I've obtained a testimony that said you were responsible for changing the brackets in Round 1. What was your reason for this?"
"Well I'll tell you, since I do love getting recognition. Basically, I was hired by Kensou to save Athena from having to face Big Purple, because he had a rage-on for her for what happened last year. You had to be there."
"What was the payment?"
"He agreed to give me a cut of the prize money if he won, but if he lost, I demanded a more reasonable amount."
"I understand that you orchestrated a series of shakedowns targeting Kensou. Was this over a pay dispute?"
"I had to play a little hardball with him yeah, but...lets just say everyone was satisfied in the end~"
"I did notice your disposition towards Kensou changed later in the week. So there's no tension or hard feelings?"
"Hard feelings towards Kensou? No way! I'd never harm a hair on his cute little head. Gotta keep my boytoy in mint condition."
"Your, uhhh...?"
"Uh, yeah! Kensou's my slam piece."
"But what about Athena?"
"Hey, she can join in."
"Lastly, tell me about Bonne Jenet and your role together in yet another failed heist."
"We tried to steal a few entry cards and pocket some easy paper, but I made a tactical error trying to steal from the ice terror. If I had known she was as strong as Iori...hoo boy. Hindsight."
"You and Bonne Jenet don't seem to work very well together."
"Maybe not in application, but we make sweet, sweet harmony in the sack."
10: SIE KENSOU
"Can you explain your side of what went down with the Athena/Malin controversy?"
"You know about that?! Jeez...okay. Krauser was angry at Athena over something that happened last year; I overheard him demanding that the Bernsteins feed her to him in the first round. I...I couldn't let her get hurt! I had to do something!"
"And that's when you hired Malin to switch the tournament brackets."
"...Yes."
"You didn't trust Athena to be able to handle her own business?"
"He's ten times her size and was looking for vengeance. I wasn't taking the chance."
"You were unable to pay Malin the agreed amount, and this led to a series of threats and intimidation targeting you. How were you finally able to appease her?"
"I...don't want to talk about it."
"When I interviewed Malin, she referred to you in several strange terms. Boytoy, slam piec-"
"I SAID DROP IT!"
"You were significantly injured in your first fight against Choi Bounge. How did this affect your match with Yamazaki? Is your leg feeling any better?"
"I was definitely compromised, no way around it. But even with a healthy leg, I'm not sure I stood a chance against that psycho... and my leg is better, thank you."
"I guess the most important thing I want to ask is...where are you and Athena now?"
"Ah, Athena...I try so hard, but nothing seems to work right. I tried to be a confident badass. I tried to be a chivalrous hero. I just...don't know what to do. We're not in a worse place, but... not in a better one either. But one thing I do know... she'll always have my heart, tight in her grasp."
11: MAI SHIRANUI
"You seemed to struggle in your match with Malin. What exactly happened, and what led to your last-second victory?"
"Malin was just a sneaky little rat, that's all. I could easily overpower her in hand to hand, but I wasn't properly prepared for her tricky arsenal. She caught me by surprise with gadgets, then tried to use me as an outlet for her titty envy. Insecure little runt..."
"How did you win?"
"I was desperate, and pulled a bit of a sloppy move...I unleashed all my fire chi at once, uncontrolled, and just the blast alone was powerful enough to knock her out. Unfortunately, I sapped the moisture from my body and nearly dehydrated myself to death... stupid!"
"You prevailed against Malin, but were eventually defeated by Shermie. Did you feel you were close to winning that fight?"
"Shermie's not that good of a fighter. I was dancing circles around her until she pulled out her second form, which frankly, I feel is cheating. Id have won if not for that. Stupid Shermie...she's not a better fighter or sexier than me!"
"You were granted a second chance by placing in the final four of the Battle Royale. What was your strategy? Did you feel you squandered your opportunity after losing to Benimaru?"
"Nah, I was just having fun at that point. I knew if I beat Beni I was likely going against someone pretty gnarly in the quarterfinals. Chizuru, or Kula, or god forbid Iori. Losing was probably for the best. I probably avoided getting frozen, mangled, or having to torch Chiz's beautiful raven locks."
"You live in Southtown, along with your lover Andy. Are you worried for what the future might hold, with Mr. Big acquiring a wealth of millions and Geese Howard nowhere to be found?"
"Hey, Southtown doesn't belong to them. It belongs to we the people! If anyone doesn't have Southtown's best interests in mind, I'll roast them, and go home to Andy for some quality time."
12: BENIMARU NIKAIDO
"How satisfying was it to defeat Mr. Big in Round 1?"
"I just wish I'd known ahead of time, all the things he was going to do that week. If I had a time machine and could go back, ooooh... the pounding would be ten times as bad, I promise you."
"You came up short against Terry, but were granted a second chance by placing in the final four of the Battle Royale. Were you satisfied with making it to the quarterfinals, or do you feel you squandered your opportunity?"
"Obviously, I want to go all the way. But given who the semifinalists were, I'm content with how far I made it. Even if I had prevailed against Chizuru, the possibility of having to face Iori..."
"Do you bear any harsh feelings towards Iori for what he's done to your friends in the past?"
"I...am not as forgiving towards him as others...but I tolerate him, for Kyo's sake, and Shingo's, and Chizuru's."
"You seem to take on a protector role towards Shingo."
"Well, when Kyo's not here, I feel a strange obligation to watch out for his well-being...why, I'm not entirely sure. He just feels like family."
"With Kyo not showing this year, did you feel compelled to step up and fill his shoes?"
"I'm not a Sacred Treasure, but doing the right thing means as much to me as it does them. So yes, I was happy to have Chizuru and Pops's back while he was away."
"And Iori?"
"... And Iori."
13: ANGEL
"You seem to relish in causing suffering to others, especially Kula's clique. Why is this?"
"Because I can't stand those goody little jerks and their shitty family values! I didn't respect them back then and I sure don't now."
"Why?"
"Because we were NESTS...a group to be feared. A group to be heralded. But they turn the whole thing into a freaking joke! Me and Nines were the only ones willing to do what it takes back then, but all her and Diana and Foxy wanted to do was hold hands and snuggle."
"You generally repel and shun the affections of others, but you've found a trusted companion in Ramon. Why him?"
"Ramon is...not like the rest of them. Moving on."
"But why did you-"
"I said moving on!"
"After losing to Kula in Round 2, you weren't seen or heard for several days, but eventually came back. Where were you?"
"Trying to find a bathroom."
"You're not serious."
"You wanna see how serious I can be? Keep pushing me, nya~"
"So what's next for you?"
"I got a pretty rad offer from the big Dino, and I'm gonna take it. Time to earn some gold!"
14: RAMON
"You were defeated in Round 1 by Angel, a fellow wrestler. There seemed to be some bad blood between the two of you."
"I was just... angry at her. I said some things I regretted. My mind wasn't clear in the fight, and that's probably why I lost to her."
"Why were you angry? What's the nature of your relationship with her?"
"Angel is...sigh... she's stuck in the past, trying to relive her NESTS glory days, because that's all she knows. She doesn't realize how talented and how much...more she could be in life. She'd rather bully and harass others, to feel better about herself, and I want to...save her from that life. I just lost patience with her a bit."
"Were you worried when Angel disappeared for several days?"
"Of course I was... but I had other things to worry about as well. Mary going after a serial killer, assassins trying to murder the tournament hosts... hell of a week."
"You were grievously wounded by Genjuro in the Battle of Odeonsplatz. How did you survive?"
"Someone... saved my life. I think you know who."
"Are you still determined to see the good in Angel, despite none of your friends having any fondness for her? Are you afraid this will cause a rift?"
"I believe what I believe... that's all that matters. My friends accept me, no matter what choices I make. That's why they're so dear to me."
15: KING OF DINOSAURS
"You abandoned your babyface persona and turned heel after your questionable Round 1 victory. Why?"
"I lost faith in my abilities after that fight with Kim! I needed to reset: to shed my shell of old, and emerge as a newer, stronger, deadlier, more decisive warrior! Someone who wins with no questions or controversy! From now on, I'll show NO mercy to any of my prey, and there will be no doubts as to who the superior fighter is in the ring!"
"Are you remorseful for the teammates you left behind?"
"Gato has no friends anyway! The two of us only hold each other back! As for Bonne Jenet, she is pleasing eye candy, but I could do without such distractions... at least while I'm on tour. There is plenty of time for indulgence when I'm not consuming my prey and licking their blood off my teeth, atop a mountain of title belts!"
16: KING
"Did you ever consider taking Mr. Big's offer and joining his group?"
"No way, screw Big. Getting OUT of that was the happiest time of my life, why would I ever wanna go back?"
"Did you feel a particular lust for vengeance when facing against Vice in Round 2, after what happened to Yuri?"
"Absolutely. It felt damn good to get that win back. Those bitches had it coming."
"You seem to admire Chizuru greatly, almost to an extent that you feel intimidated by her abilities. Do you feel any sort of inadequacy compared to her?"
"Chizuru is an amazing fighter. The things she does... sometimes I felt like she's a better leader figure for the team that I built. But she told me something... she told me that being a leader is about more than being the best fighter. Chizuru may be better than me, but I think I'm a damn good leader for my girls."
"Before the stadium was attacked by a strange creature, you had lost contact with Ryo and Yuri. Did you know what they were up to? What is your opinion on the choice they made?"
"Ryo and Yuri... they're the dearest people in the world to me, besides my brother. But they made a stupid, rash decision to go off on their own after Big. I hate his guts, and he deserves every ounce of pain he got and more, but... they shouldn't have ran off after him without telling anybody. I was scared to death for them. I know they had no way of knowing the stadium was about to be half destroyed, but... still."
"Are you concerned for what Big will do next, now that he's escaped and got the money?"
"If ANYONE'S not scared of Big, it's me. I've beaten him before. I've seen and taken the worst of him, and I prevailed. If he tries to threaten my home or my people... I'll shut him down."
17: TERRY BOGARD
"Was it hard to maintain your motivation in the tournament, with Mary risking her life so recklessly?"
"Mary is everything to me. Fighting's my blood and my passion, but my love for her supersedes everything else. So yeah, it was hard to get my head in the game with everything that was happening."
"How did it feel to see Mary run off and fight another battle in Odeonsplatz after surviving the Freeman Incident?"
"God, Mary... she's so damn impulsive. I'll probably get premature gray hairs after this week."
"You were on the verge of losing to Benimaru, but you bounced back at the last second and defeated him with a rather brutal super move. What compelled you to find that fire and come back to win?"
"Ah it was just Krauser... he wanted his grudge match this year, so he was egging me on, trying to get me riled up. It worked."
"Now that you've settled the score with Krauser, is there any bad blood left between you?"
"Nah, I think we've finally put all that behind us. Krauser's had it out for me for a long time, but... he's never personally affected me on the level Geese did. There's no reason to hate the man, and he has no reason to hate me."
"How do you feel about Geese being away? Did you miss him during all this?"
"Well, me saying "I miss Geese" is probably words that'll never come out of my mouth... but I will admit, sometimes the thought found my brain. I wondered what Geese would think of all this. I wondered what he would have done in these situations. With the tournament, with Freeman, with Mr. Big's scheming, with superpowered freaks attacking us... I couldn't help but think hypothetically. But don't mistake that for me MISSING Geese Howard."
"You lost rather quickly to Iori in the Quarterfinals. What attributed to this? Also, do you hold any grudge for him excessively attacking you afterwards?"
"Aw man, I was dead exhausted after Krauser. Not just physically, but mentally; I really felt complete after that, like I had nothing left to prove. At that point, I really just wanted to be done and ride off into the sunset, with Mary safe and sound. As for Iori flipping on me... ha. Been there, done that. I wasn't too worried about it. I know how he is. A few extra shots didn't hurt me none."
"Lastly, when's the last time you've heard from your adopted son, Rock Howard?"
"Ah, Rocky's on the road, training, seeing new places, just living his life. I think he likes to get out a lot, to sorta take his mind off of... everything. I'm sure he'll turn up again soon."
18: SHINGO YABUKI
"How did you feel about Kyo being away this year?"
"Aw man, I missed him! I wanted to see him fight this year, and maybe fight him myself! So much valuable learning experience, wasted! At least I got to watch Papa Kusanagi work, though."
"You were well on your way to losing to Jhun Hoon, until a certain... incident happened. Do you feel that you caught a lucky break?"
"Nah, I would've won regardless. Hahahaha!"
"You fought Iori in Round 2. Did this fight have any personal ramifications for you? Perhaps as a result of Iori's past actions?"
"I don't hold a grudge for what Iori did... that's not who I am. When we fought, it wasn't for revenge... I just wanted a battle of mutual clarity. To put it all behind us, clear the waters. That's how fighters handle their business, ya know. All our emotions, our baggage... we pound it out with our fists. I dunno if I was able to help Iori any, but I hope that fight went a long way towards his path to mental peace. The less he has to weigh on him, the better."
"So you don't harbor any negative feelings towards Iori? Even when he swears to kill Kyo?"
"Aw cmon, hahahaha! We all know he's never gonna do that! And nah, I like Iori. We're buds!"
"Benimaru doesn't seem to think so..."
"Ah, Beni worries too much! He wants me to stay away from Iori, but that just makes me want to hang out with him more!"
19: KASUMI TODOH
"Your rivalry with the Kyokugen practitioners is well known, but you were... abnormally motivated this year. What spurred this on?"
"I...go through things sometimes. A lot of the time I'm able to stay strong, but sometimes I...relapse. It's a hard thing to live with."
"What exactly are you referring to?"
"Family issues. I'd like to leave it at that."
"You badly hurt Robert in an unsanctioned street fight. Were you concerned about how Yuri would react to this? Did you intend to seek her out as well?"
"NO. N-no... Yuri was...a mistake. Yuri was the one I didn't want to raise a hand against. I intended to lure Ryo out by wounding Robert but... she came instead..."
"Your rivalry seemed to evolve into hatred. How do you really feel about them?"
"I'm not like the other two! I don't...hate them. Especially not Yuri. She's my best friend...and Ryo and Robert are kind people. They'd never wish me any harm. I was just going through things, and I chose an unhealthy outlet to channel my emotions, and when King defeated me, I just... snapped. I wasn't myself. What I did to them... it'll weigh on me for a long time. I can only pray they'll all forgive me."
"How do you feel about your teammate's dispositions? Does their hatred of the Kyokugens put you at odds?"
"So far it hasn't. Malin's my friend, and Eiji...keeps to himself. Maybe a day will come when it does, I don't know."
"How are you able to maintain a friendship with both Yuri and Malin, despite the two being sworn nemeses?"
"I just... play it smart. I know not to mention one in the other's presence. It's just a delicate balance I have to maintain."
20: ATHENA ASAMIYA
"You came into Germany with a chip on your shoulder. Were you concerned with Krauser seeking revenge for what happened last year in Milan?"
"I knew what to expect, and I was prepared to face it. I was terrified, yes, but that didn't give Kensou and Malin permission to..."
"I would like to hear your side of the Kensou/Malin Incident."
"Whew... okay. I was slated to face Krauser in Round 1. Kensou, fearing for my safety, intervened by hiring Malin to switch the tournament brackets around so I wouldn't have to face him. Krauser ended up fighting Bonne Jenet instead, and I was defeated by Ryo. Issues arose when Kensou apparently didn't have enough money to pay Malin back for the job, but instead of asking for my help he... "solved" the problem his own way."
"Are you bitter towards Kensou for everything that went down? What about Malin?"
"Sigh... at the end of the day, Kensou meant no harm. He was just doing what he thought was right, even though I didn't ask for it. If anything, I'm just frustrated by all the craziness that went down. One thing led to another, led to another, led to another, and the whole thing left me exhausted. As for Malin, I'm really, REALLY not happy with her hand in this."
"It's my understanding that Malin is a huge fan of your music, and even holds an administrative position in your fanclub. Does her actions at the tournament affect her standing here?"
"Urghh... it's... complicated. While I am very, very frustrated with Malin, and she does a LOT of things I don't like, business must go on and... Malin has her uses."
"You had a rather unfortunate wardrobe incident in Round 1. How did you recover from such public exposure, and did you hold any particular ire towards Jhun Hoon for it?"
"I mean, I've modeled in bikinis plenty of times, so I guess it didn't affect me TOO bad... as for Jhun, I'm sure it was just an accident. No reason to hold a grudge, especially against one of my biggest fans not named Malin."
"Describe your fight with Ryo. What caused you to lose so soundly?"
"He was a better hand-to-hand fighter than I was, plain and simple. I tried to establish a psychic uplink and make his attacks miss, similar to what I did to Shen Woo... but Ryo was far too disciplined. He has a sound mind and body."
"You put on an impressive musical performance before the Battle Royale, alongside Iori. Have you ever thought about doing a record with him?"
"O-oh uhhh... eheheh... I uhh... really shouldn't tempt myself with Iori... ehehehe~"
"I guess the ultimate question I want to ask is... where do you stand with Kensou now? Has this week put a strain on your long friendship?"
"Sigh... oh Kensou... we'll be back to normal soon, I'm sure. The sooner we put this year behind us, the better."
21: HOTARU FUTABA and GATO
"I'd like to interview both you and your brother, if that's okay."
"Of course! This is so exciting, right onii-sama~?"
"Hm."
"What was your main motivation for entering the tournament this year? Did you care about becoming a champion or acquiring the prize money?"
"No...I only entered the tournament so he would notice me. That's all I cared about. I thought that maybe, if I proved myself a strong fighter... then maybe... he would respect me..."
"And you, Gato? What was your motivation for entering?"
"...I wanted to prove myself worthy. If I could win this tournament and defeat all my opponents, then maybe... I was strong enough to hunt down that man."
"Gato onii-sama..."
"Can you tell me anything about the man you seek so dearly to destroy?"
"U-umm..."
"Quiet, Hotaru. That man... he wore two distinctly different faces. One, the guise of a loving, caring father and husband. And the other... a demon, with an insatiable lust for blood. I was unfortunate enough to bear witness to the latter, and it changed me..."
"Do you feel like you'll never achieve closure until you destroy the man?"
"...No. Things are different now. It's time for me to open my hardened heart back open, and accept my sister in. She's what matters to me most... not revenge."
"Gato onii-sama~!"
"This next question is for Hotaru; when you were lost and alone, you found a new friend in Kula Diamond. Describe your relationship with her."
"Kula-chan is incredibly kind and caring. We found each other when we were both on the edge... it felt good to have the warmth of a friend, filling the void inside me. I may have my brother back, but my friendship with Kula will always remain. She was there when I needed her most and... I love her."
"There was a time after the Quarterfinals where you were angry with Kula, for what she did to Gato. Do any negative emotions still remain?"
"Kula-chan just lost herself a bit. She was in a dark place, and unleashed her emotions in the wrong way! But I can't hold that against her, because..."
"...Because I was the same way."
"Life's about compassion and mercy, not holding grudges. I forgave my brother, and I forgave Kula-chan too. She got back the people she cared about, and so did I. So everything's okay now~!"
22: BLUE MARY
"It seems you had a longer week than everyone else."
"I'll say. Let's get this done fast, so I can finally relax."
"You're known as a superior grappling talent, but you were soundly defeated by Clark in Round 1. What about him surprised you?"
"I'm usually good at handling people twice by size, but Clark is an elite wrestler. He knows how to use his weight to really establish top control. My bag of tricks just didn't work on him."
"How were you able to get back into the tournament, despite losing in Round 1?"
"For the record, I never "got back in". It was all a setup by that bitch Rose... and yes, you can put me on record saying that!"
"Can you tell me more about the serial killer Freeman? What compelled you to go after him so intensely?"
"First of all, I couldn't have cared less about Rose offering me a spot back in the tournament, though I didn't say no to the money. As for Freeman... he wasn't my obsession. He was my cousin, Kevin's. He relentlessly hounded Freeman, to an unhealthy extent, and he ended up paying the price for it with bad injuries. I wanted to finish what Kevin started, and catch the bastard for good... but when I finally confronted Freeman, and saw what he was capable of... I started to understand. I hated him instantly. I wanted to end his life."
"You fought with Freeman, multiple times, but he escaped in the end. How badly will this haunt you?"
"It's hard enough to live with, so I'll THANK YOU not to bring it up! I've seen some shit this week... more than the others did. Everyone just conveniently forgets the fact that people DIED. But that's okay... I'll remember for them. I'll take that burden on, for everyone else."
"Despite your hatred of Rose, you volunteered to fight on their behalf in the Battle of Odeonsplatz. Why?"
"I didn't do it for Rose... I did it to protect my friends, and because it was the right thing to do."
"What compelled you to sacrifice yourself so much? To push yourself so intensely?"
"Look... I'm not special, alright? I'm not a hero. Seth, Vanessa, Ramon... they all fought and bled just as hard as me. I just wanna be proud of the person in the mirror, and feel worthy to come home to Terry at night."
"Your dislike for Rose is apparent, but what's your opinion on Adelheid?"
"Oh man, he's SO different from her. Adelheid's an awesome dude. I enjoyed working with him."
23: SAISYU KUSANAGI
"How did you feel about your son deciding not to show for King of Fighters this year? Do you feel he shirked a responsibility?"
"I see both points of view: the duty-driven ideals of the Sacred families, yet also the youthful desire to take a vacation, and get away from it all. I can't wholly condemn or absolve Kyo for the decision he made...but it doesn't matter anymore. The tournament is over. The threat is over. We handled it."
"Adelheid was the target of your deep-rooted vendetta against the Bernstein family. Why would you go after the son of the man who wronged you so egregiously back then? Do you feel he inherited Rugal's sins?"
"I... am an old fool. Perhaps it was a moment of clarity that Kyo is better off leading the Kusanagi clan forward. I did what I did, targeting the lad, out of pure, foolish, mindless vengeance. I felt cheated, that I never got to strike the final blow against Rugal, that I wasn't conscious to see him draw his final breath. And looking at that kid... it reminded me so much of him... and it made me angry. Irrationally angry. I didn't want to kill him, of course... just defeat him in combat. A clean, fair defeat, to send a message to Rugal in the afterlife. I thought it would finally settle the account... but after Adelheid beat me, he snapped my mind back to reality. I realize now what an ass I've been... Adelheid did nothing wrong. He shouldn't be punished for bearing that man's blood. I hope he can forgive me one day."
"How did you fare in your battles against the Hakkeshu? Did you feel in danger of losing at any point?"
"There were moments when that little devil-spawn surprised me, yes. He was a dangerous opponent. That scoundrel Yamazaki had a few tricks up his sleeve, but I thoroughly thrashed him. In the name of the Sacred Clans."
"You didn't participate in the final battle against Goenitz and Yashiro. Why?"
"I wanted nothing more than to stand along Chizuru and Iori, to unite the clans, and strike down the evil of Orochi... but that dastard Goenitz's wind attack blew me into the Stadium wall, and dislocated my shoulder. I was later diagnosed with a broken collarbone as well. But I had faith in the power of those youngsters... they're strong. Perhaps my time really has passed."
"Do you feel this tournament was your final ride to glory? Do you ever see yourself entering another?"
"I'm in my 50s, which is a troubling threshold for many martial artists: still not quite at that age to be an old man, but well past youthful prime. If losing to Adelheid wasn't an eye-opener for me, then getting incapacitated by Magaki and Goenitz surely was. There's a good chance I'll hang up my gloves from here on; my son is far wiser and more powerful than I could ever hope to be."
"You seemed a little flirtatious with Chizuru. Do you have any romantic feelings for-"
"NO no no no no. No. Chizuru is a beautiful woman, no doubts about that. But I'm a happily married man. She only kissed me because she thought I might die in battle against Chris. I'd rather we... not talk about that, thank you."
"Are you going to force Kyo to attend the next King of Fighters?"
"There's a good chance I won't have to. I think Kyo got this strange funk out of his system, and realizes that he has a sacred duty to protect the honor and integrity of the tournament every year. If not, then Chizuru and Yagami will keep him in check. He doesn't need his father bearing down on him."
24: WOLFGANG KRAUSER
"You entered this tournament with a burning desire to exact revenge on Athena, even going so far as to demand her as your first opponent. How badly did you want to punish her?"
"It wasn't about revenge, or punishment...it was about righting a wrong, simple as that. I am inarguably a superior fighter to her, and I deserved the opportunity to defeat her in just, honorable, single combat, to amend the mistake that happened in Milan."
"Were you aware of what happened with the brackets being changed? What was your reaction to facing the wrong opponent?"
"When I saw that my opponent wasn't who I asked for, I was so furious, I was prepared to destroy something. You say somebody changed the brackets? Does this treachery know no end?!"
"Are you still burning with unquenched vengeance over the matter?"
"No...not anymore. I was furious, and the desire to put my fist through her knew no end...but when the Asamiya girl approached me without fear, and stood by her ideals with an unshakable resolve, I found myself looking at her with newfound respect. She did what she did without shame, because she believed in something. I can't condemn a person for doing whatever it takes, for what they believe in."
"And Terry?"
"I settled the score with Terry once and for all. He proved himself my superior in combat. He's a fierce warrior, worthy of my respect."
"So you can safely say you settled all your accounts this week, besides..."
"...Yes. The one that got away."
"Do you think you'll ever get that grudge match with Geese that you've long-sought?"
"My ideal tournament... would have been crushing Athena, defeating Terry, and then facing that man in the finals... but that dream feels so far away. I don't know if I'll ever get the picture-perfect, fairy tale battle that I yearn for with my brother. It's a dream that grows dim, but never truly flickers out."
"You graciously provided lodging for the contestants this year. Were they respectful guests?"
"Respectful... hah! A pack of wild hooligans is more like it! Trashing my rooms, eating my food... and I'm pretty sure some of them used my private hot tub. Not to mention two of my cars got stolen! It'll be a cold day before I ever let them in my castle again!"
"On the bright side, you seemed to have picked up some new staff members. Are they going to work out?"
"I've dealt with Silber before; he's a wild card, but he's a ferocious fighter. Hein brings some much-needed etiquette to my castle staff, and Iroha... umm... she's very, very qualified."
"Qualified in what-"
"SHE'S JUST QUALIFIED!"
25: CHIZURU KAGURA
"You were the runner-up in perhaps the greatest singles martial arts tournament of all time. How does it feel?"
"...I was?"
"Uhh... yeah. Iori and Kula forfeited."
"O-oh! Yeah! You're correct. Well I uh... it feels good?"
"At one point you were a massive betting favorite to win the tournament, but you seemed to struggle near the end before a shocking loss to Kula. What caused your decline?"
"Sigh... near the end I just... got tired. Lost focus. I had a lot on my mind. A good percentage of fighting is mental, not just physical."
"Did it have to do with your duty as a Sacred Treasure?"
"You know about that? You've done your homework. Well... yes. To put it simply. It was a combination of the threats we had to face, and..."
"Your relationship with Iori?"
"Ulp!"
"Sorry, am I overstepping?"
"No... no. I might as well confide to a complete stranger than nobody. Iori is... so complicated. He hates himself, and pushes away the people who care about him, because he wants nothing to lose. But its a horrible, sad way to live. I try... so very hard... to get him to let me in. I guess sometimes, I push too hard, and it causes him to back away more. But I do it because... Kyo and Iori are important to me. Not just on a duty level. I want to be their friend, not just their teammate."
"Does it bother you that Iori finds solace in the presence of Mature and Vice, two sworn enemies of yours? Is there an element of envy, or jealousy?"
"...I'd be lying if I said no. I've never understood his... bond... with those two specters. It's like they have some sort of... brainwashing effect on him. They trap him in some kind of cloud of debauchery, and it distracts him, or something. They're like succubi."
"Have you tried to convince him to leave them behind?"
"We've argued about it multiple times in the past... but ultimately, I can't dictate how Iori lives his life. I don't understand it, but he has his reasons, and at the end of the day, I know where his loyalties lie. I trust him, with all my heart."
"So you're not scared of him? His destructive tendencies?"
"No, I'm not. Iori would never hurt me. I'd bet my life on it."
"Moving on from Iori, how do you feel about Kyo shirking his duty this year?"
"Oogggh, Kyo is... a whole other frustration. I value Kyo as a friend and teammate, but sometimes he can be so stubborn and irresponsible! Gah, between the two of them I just want to...urrrghhh!"
"Suffice to say, you were not happy with him sitting this one out?"
"In hindsight, I sure could have used his help... but having Saisyu-sama here helped a lot."
"Speaking of, there was a strange moment where you kissed him. What was that about?"
"I-I-thought he was gonna die! It was supposed to be heroic encouragement!"
"Between Geese and Saisyu, that makes two middle-aged men you've kissed. Is there some fetish you'd like to share?"
"Stop teasing me, or this interview's over!"
"Okay okay, sorry. Next question: how did it feel to settle the score with Goenitz, your hated nemesis who murdered your sister?"
"It was a liberating feeling... Maki's soul can finally be at rest."
"Did you enjoy being a participant this year, or did you prefer your role last year as hostess?"
"Oh I never want to host again. It's EXHAUSTING. At least as a competitor, I can focus on fighting and winning, mainly."
26: IORI YAGAMI
"A lot of people are calling you the uncrowned champion, after defeating Adelheid Bernstein. Why did you forfeit?"
"Because I felt like it."
"If you didn't care about winning the tournament, what was your motivation for entering this year?"
"Chizuru FORCED me to enter, okay? I never wanted to. It was all her damn idea. I only stayed in because I wanted to get her off my back. Lot of good that did..."
"When I spoke to Chizuru, she said that all she really wanted was to get you to open up more, and quit pushing people away."
"Well that's her MO... always the goody goody. She thought this tournament was going to be some rich cultural experience for me, but in the end, all it really amounted to was business as usual. More shit hit the fan, and I was standing in front without an umbrella. We go home, no better or worse for it. Do it again next year."
"So you'll keep coming back, even if you don't care about the tournament?"
"My job's not to win a tournament... it's to take down any evil that tries to f*** with us. That's what I'm here for. You're welcome."
"I'd like to know more about your relationship with Chizuru, from your point of view. She wants you to let her in, but you push her away. Why?"
"Listen asshole... it's been a long week. I'm not about to bare my heart to you with a bunch of personal bullshit. Just keep it professional."
"Okay, can you at least tell me about Mature and Vice? They're agents of the evil cult you're sworn to destroy, two people who died by your own hand nonetheless, but you keep the company of their spectral forms. Why? Is it remorse? Penance?"
"Sighhhhhhhh... god dammit. I don't know why I'm telling you this. Look... their deaths do weigh on me. Okay? They were my teammates in 96, and nevermind who they were, I went nuts and slashed their guts out and... dammit, something about it's never sat right with me. I don't know why they want to hang out with me all the time, Chizuru hates it, but... they just want to be around me. They're insane. And I guess I am too."
"Weren't you the least bit suspicious that they were plotting a conspiracy this week? Why didn't you act?"
"GOD DAMMIT... you just don't f***ing understand."
"Chizuru said the same thing."
"Well she doesn't get it either! Okay, no more questions about Mature and Vice, okay? I am done talking about them. DONE."
"Then let's talk about Kyo."
"Kyo is a lazy asshole, and I had to pick up his slack. I'm not happy with him about it. Next year, if he tries to pull that shit again, I'll drag his ass personally. He made his dad come out of retirement to fill his spot, I mean how shitty can you get?!"
"Does your murderous hatred of Kyo carry over to his father?"
"The old man's a non-factor. But I will go on record saying he's not as big a shit as his son."
"Describe your battle with Adelheid Bernstein. Many are calling this the most epic fight in history."
"Besides Kyo... I've never faced a finer opponent. My only regret is that he wasn't at 100%."
"You don't have the slightest regret that he was declared the winner of the tournament?"
"Read my lips: I Don't. Give. A FUCK."
27: KULA DIAMOND
"You certainly surprised a lot of people this year, Miss Kula."
"If you say so. Can we hurry this up, I have a pint of Haagen Dasz I really don't want to melt."
"You defeated Chizuru in a massive upset. Were you surprised?"
"Kinda. I know she's really, really, really, really good, but maybe she was just distracted with all her Iori issues and stuff."
"What do you know about that?"
"Not much, but I did have a talk with Mr. Yagami at a bar, and I learned some things... hey wait a minute, you're interviewing me!"
"Sorry, sorry. Did the weight of not having your friends here to support you affect your performance in the tournament at all?"
"It did... and not in a good way. I did some things this week that I regret. I hurt people. It almost cost me a friend."
"Do you think your anger and rage caused you to be a more powerful fighter?"
"Even if it did, that's not the person I wanna be. I'd rather be happy and lose in Round 1, than be miserable and make it to the Finals."
"Is that why your forfeited?"
"Bingo. Hey um, if we're gonna keep talking, I'm gonna start eating this. Nom... nom..."
"You found a new friend in Hotaru Futaba. What caused you to hit it off so well?"
"Nom... we were both the same. Both missing people we care about. It felt good to have a friend to help me through that time... I hope I was able to do the same for her."
"You say you nearly lost a friend... Hotaru wasn't happy after what you did to Gato, was she?"
"Nope. On one hand, I regret doing it, on the other hand, beating him is what snapped him back to his senses... life's so complicated. Nom~"
"How were you able to patch things up with Hotaru?"
"Well I gave her th- ULP! COUGH COUGH COUGH!"
"Are you okay?"
"Y-yeah... anyways, I gave her a hug and told her how sorry I was. She was happy for me getting my people back, and she had her brother back, and everything was okay finally. There was no need to hold grudges."
"Speaking of grudges... what did you have to say to K' when you were finally reunited with him?"
"Sorry, but what I said was for me and him only. Ahhhh, that was tasty~!"
"You could have faced Iori in the finals, but you forfeited after beating Chizuru. Don't you wonder what could have been? You could have won it all."
"Tee hee hee..."
"Did I... say something funny?"
"No, just thought of a funny joke."
FINAL INTERVIEW: ADELHEID BERNSTEIN
"Adelheid Bernstein... the man who started it all. Thank you so much for sitting down with me. King of Fighters Champion."
"Please... don't call me that. I don't feel like a champion."
"You feel that Iori and Kula forfeiting at the end was anticlimactic? That the world never truly saw the real winner of the tournament?"
"I personally don't care about such things... after a week of conspiracies, assassination attempts and terrorist attacks, I'm grateful to see this doomed tournament come to an end, however which way."
"You sound like a man who's bitter and jaded about the greatest martial arts competition of all time."
"Is this interview going to be a matter of public record?"
"No... the only one who will see this is my client."
"In that case... yes. King of Fighters is a corrupt tournament, that breeds greed, malice, hatred, and madness. The forces of darkness converge to achieve their twisted plans, and they threaten the existence of the rest of humanity, those too weak to defend themselves. Rose considers it our heritage, to continue the tournament our father helped bring to the mainstream... but I told her from the first day it was a mistake, and it concluded with more tragedy than fanfare. If it weren't for the others... good men and women, who believe in the purity of sports, and fight with virtue in their hearts, I would condemn this tournament to fire and brimstone."
"You'd want to see King of Fighters come to an end?"
"...If things were different, yes. But I realize that's a foolish thing to ask. King of Fighters is too vital to the world's economy; it's the biggest sporting event of the year. And as I said... there are good people here. They don't deserve to lose that piece of them."
"If you hate the tournament so much, then why did you enter?"
"Because I was too weak to stop my sister... she started this monstrosity, and the least I could do was make myself a part of it. Do my part, to see it to its conclusion. Try to protect people, as best I could."
"So you resent your sister for ever putting you up to this?"
"It's my fault as much as its hers. I'll own up to my own mistakes, not push it all on Rose."
"In the end, Rose got what she wanted: her brother as Champion. Do you feel this victory sends the wrong message, perhaps fuels her ego even more?"
"It won't... from now on, I'll handle Rose. I've let her get away with a lot, because of our life circumstances... but no more. I love Rose, and because I love her, I'll protect her. From herself, if need be."
"Does this mean the Bernsteins are truly done with King of Fighters?"
"I have no desire to ever host a tournament in the Bernstein name ever again. We've left behind enough of a spotty legacy. But I WILL be a presence, regardless... to atone for our sins, I'll fight to defeat evil and protect the innocent. Whenever the tournament goes off the rails, I'll be there to help reign it in. I consider it my duty."
"What about Rose?"
"I'll be at Rose's side always, to protect her with my life... and to keep her out of trouble."
"A lot happened to you this year, notably you and your sister targeted for assassination. What was that about? Old enemies of your father?"
"No... it was something different. It's a bit complicated to get into..."
"Did it have to do with awakening ancient gods?"
"You're no average reporter, are you?"
"My client knows more than you think. But moving on... aside from the assassins, a serial killer named Freeman also terrorized Munich. You took it upon yourself to go out and face him. Why?"
"Rose wanted to do it, to earn some cheap clout... my main concern was ending the bloodshed, and destroying that menace before he could hurt anyone else. Mary Ryan and myself stopped him."
"How do you feel about Mary?"
"She's a formidable ally, and she has a strong spirit... I admire her greatly. We share many of the same ideals."
"What can you tell me about the Battle of Odeonsplatz?"
"This is the kind of evil King of Fighters breeds... but I ended it. For good. That's all you need to know."
"After everything that happened, there was a strange occurrence where the Sky Noah took off in the skies above, without you in it. What happened?"
"I'm sorry, but I won't be talking about that. Even if this isn't public record."
"Saisyu Kusanagi seemed to hold a vendetta against you, for your father's past actions. How did the two of you settle the score? Is this animosity behind you?"
"I try as hard as I can to be different, but there seems to be no way around carrying the sins of my father with me... but its okay. If my duty is to correct the mistakes of the past, then I'll do everything I can. As for Saisyu, he had every right to be angry... I'd have probably been the same, in his shoes. But we solved our problem the way fighters do: with our fists."
"Regardless of your feelings, how was your battle against Iori Yagami?"
"It was... exhilarating. He truly was the greatest opponent I've ever faced, and, just for a MOMENT... I felt it."
"Felt what?"
"Levity. All my troubles, burdens, sins, float away... and the fight was all that mattered. For a moment, I remembered what it was like. I began to understand why they do it every year. Why, despite all the awfulness... it's worth it. That feeling... I'd give anything to recapture it."
"Now that the tournament is truly over, do you have any last words to say?"
"King of Fighters... is a complicated mistress. It's the centralized binding force that glues our universe together. It breeds tragedy, but also unity. Hatred and revenge, but excitement and joy. Man wages war against man for their twisted ideals, but it also brings us closer together as human beings. King of Fighters is not perfect, and it's not even the life we choose for ourselves... but its the one we've got. We were born for this, and we're a part of it. All we can do is choose the reasons we fight, and defend those reasons with all our might. That's what it means to be a King of Fighters."
And that does it! All that's left now is to address the future: will there be a Kumite 3? Yes. All good things need a trilogy, and I can't very well end the series with Geese on a mountain and Mr. Big winning in the end. This is technically supposed to lead into KOF XIV, even though I screwed up some things, and KOF XV is out now, so for the record, Kumite is officially outdated. If I go through with Kumite 3, it will be outdated as well. But I have a vision, and I'm sticking to it, and even now there are still characters and arcs I want to explore and put my own take on. So stay tuned!
But for now, thank you all, goodbye, and here's a BONUS SCENE that I think we all can enjoy. Cuz it's my dude.
BONUS INTERVIEW: RYUJI YAMAZAKI
"How the heck did you find me?"
"I knew you weren't able to get out of the country with Mr. Big, so there was a good chance you hadn't left yet."
"Well congrats... now what? You know, I could shut you up pretty easily."
"P-please sir, my client is extremely wealthy and powerful. The future of King of Fighters is at stake."
"That just makes me wanna kill you more, HAHAHAHA! Ahh just kidding. I can't screw with KOF, it's my main source of entertainment every year. Go ahead, ask your questions. I'm an open book."
"You were working two different sides this week, pledging allegiance to Big's Crew, while also helping the Hakkeshu with their sinister ambitions. Whose side were you really on? Did helping one side cut into your efforts with the other?"
"It was actually a lot smoother than you'd think. The Hakkeshu kept fighting amongst themselves, so I really didn't have to do much of nothing except watch that dumpster fire burn. Big's just a dumbass, so I went along with whatever stupid idea he had, because he's too arrogant and egotistical to hear anyone else's pitch. Most of his plans failed, and I took none of the blame for it."
"What motivation compelled you more to fight in the tournament: winning the money for Big, or achieving victory in the name of the Hakkeshu?"
"Well see, that's the beautiful thing about it... motivation is overrated. At the end of the day, I really don't give a shit how far I get. I'm a terrible person to count on, because I don't care if I win or lose. I bust a few heads, call it a day. That's my idea of fun. Those other losers... they're too damn serious. They treat winning KOF like it's some big life-altering universal event, and it makes me laugh. Sorry, but I got better things going in my life than winning a martial arts tournament."
"But generally, when King of Fighters tournaments are fought, the fate of the world tends to be at stake. You don't take that seriously?"
"It's a problem that they create for themselves, and THAT'S the problem. I don't have to care, because it's not my place to care... everyone is assigned their role in life, the same way some people are meant to be soldiers, or policemen, or medics, or lawyers. These jokers... they can't live without their silly little war of good and evil that they themselves created. Every year they clash, and clash, and clash, and clash, and it neeeeverrr endsssss... it's just a never-ending sitcom, that stays consistent with good ratings."
"But you yourself are branded a follower of the ancient god. A Hakkeshu. One of the God's chosen people. You rebuke that?"
"It just means my role on Earth was to be the one who's smart enough to see how fucking stupid it all is, and bail out. And to add to that note, have you noticed I'm the only one who's STILL ALIVE? Case in point, hahahahahaha..."
"During the Hakkeshu dissension, you seemed to side with Mature and Vice. Why?"
"Because I don't like the Heavenly Kings, as they so pompously call themselves. I wanted to show them what a joke they truly are, and in the end, they got what they deserved. Little Chrissy Boy didn't even make it to the climax, hahahahahahahaha..."
"If a moment came where you'd have to choose between the Hakkeshu or Big, what would you have done?"
"Chose Big. His advantage is that he's just a tiny, insignificant little human being in the grand scheme of things, and even the people that are SUPPOSED to take him seriously seldom do. At least with him I wouldn't have to worry about getting roasted by Sacred Treasures, or my insides exploded by a blue pineapple head with nice tits."
"Changing subjects, what was your role in the Athena/Malin/Kensou controversy?"
"Well from what I care to remember, Malin did a job for the bun-stuffer and he didn't pay her back, so she hired me to kick his ass a little. Ironically, I also kicked his ass legally, in the tournament. Heheheh."
"This led to you kidnapping Bao and Momoko... to hold them for ransom?"
"No no no, see actually, that was for something completely different. It's confusing, I know."
"Are you worried about Athena or the other Psycho Soldiers seeking retribution for what you did to them?"
"Day at the office."
"How did you heal up from your fight with Saisyu?"
"Well this was my second year in a row getting burned, so I was somewhat calloused for it. Pops's flames hurt pretty bad, but they were NOTHING compared to Yagami last year. That was hell on Earth. I hope I never fight him again."
"The tournament is over. The Hakkeshu are no more. Mr. Big escaped with the money. What's next for you in all this?"
"Ah I'll probably go rejoin Big. That game hasn't quite played out yet. In fact, I'd say it's just getting started."
"What does this mean for the future of Southtown?"
"I don't know, but it's sure to be fun. Don't miss it!"
THE END