KALOPSIA Chapter 3: AWAKENING, a Tekken + Dead or Alive Crossover fanfic

CHAPTER ONE: AWAKENING

❝Trust the vibes you get, energy doesn't lie.

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The wind blew softly, making her salmon pink bangs sway slightly due to the soft current. Everything around her was a paradise. Her paradise. The sky was a beautiful shade of dark blue, along with the stars that shined brightly. She let out a deep sigh, enjoying the atmosphere that circulated around her. A small giggle escaped from her lips as the puddle of clear water flowed around her bare feet.

"Wow... It's so quiet and peaceful here." she exhaled, closing her eyes as she continued to walk around in the crystal clear water. "I wish I can stay like this forever."

"Honoka..." sounded a faint voice around her, making her eyes snap. "Honoka..."

As she heard her name being called out a few times, her eyes started to search around her for the voice. "Hmm? Who is that?" she questioned as if she'd get an answer.

"I'm here...Honoka..." said the voice. Honoka shifted her head from left to right in desperate need of finding the voice. "I'm here..." whispered the voice.

'Who's there? Who is calling my name?' Set on finding whoever was calling her, she decided to follow the sound of the voice.

Her name kept being repeated to her ears as she allowed her feet to carry her to a sea of dark trees. She examined the tall trees in front of her and swallowed hard. Growing up, her grandmother always told her to never enter into areas such as woodland places for people like her to get easily lost within the trees. Terrible things tend to happen to those who dare decide to explore the forest, especially when they have no one to accompany them. She always watched it happen in scary movies.

On the other hand, despite this, Honoka was still determined to find the person calling out to her. She exhaled sharply before moving forward towards the entrance of the forest.

"Honoka..."

She heard once more as she walked along the soft soil of the grass. The feel of the wet grass peeked in between her toes. She resisted the urge to reach down and scratch at her ankles due to the prickly grass tickling her skin. A shiver harassed her spine as she passed the dead trees that seemed to be glaring down at her. The sky that was once a light blue was now a dark color. The fog that had filled the landscape didn't seem to help her as well. The darkness gave off a cold chill, causing her to tremble.

A startled gasp left her lips at the sudden sound of a haunting hoot coming from a woodland bird. "Oh...it's just an owl. Scary," she reassured herself, holding her chest with relief. Regardless of it just being an owl, the fear still lingered in her body. She was in a dark forest with someone calling out to her.

There were only two choices for her to make; go back or continue.

She took a glance behind her and saw nothing more than thick mist. Honoka considered going to where she started; however, seeing as she came this far within the forest, she knew it'd be impossible to do so. To be perfectly honest, she didn't know what place she was heading to because of the fog.

"Honoka..."

Her head snapped forward at the sound of her name once again. A sudden warmness in her hand came. Her eyes widen in both shock and concern as she stared at a red-colored aura releasing from her hand.

"W-Wha...what's happening?" she questioned to herself, her voice quivering with pure fear. "Why am I...so hot all of a sudden?"

"Honoka..."

She turned her attention to the voice she heard in front of her. A gasp left her mouth at the sight of the person who was calling to her.

"Who...are you?"

"Honoka."

Called a stern voice from within the quiet classroom. Not one single person amongst the students gave a response to their teacher.

Including one particular student.

"Honoka."

Once again, there was no answer. Instead, soft snores were being heard from the back of the small room. He strolled to the back of the classroom and much to his displeasure, her head was buried in her arms above the desk.

"Honoka," he said, outstretching his hand to shake the girl awake. "Wake up!"

With a slight slurp, Honoka waved her teacher away. "Mmmm...go away, Grammy," she mumbled in her sleep. "I'll just take...zzz...two eggs...with three waffles..." A sigh came from the teacher. He was growing tired and frustrated with these constant antics from one of his favorite students. If it was one thing teachers had a low tolerance for, it was students napping in class in broad daylight.

With narrowed eyes, he lightly, but not softly tapped his knuckles on the hard surface.

"Come in!" she exclaimed, bolting her head up from the desk. She took a look at her surroundings and saw that she wasn't in her bedroom, let alone her house. "Oh...it's not breakfast time, yet?" she sheepishly laughed as she rubbed her tired eyes.

The class erupted with silent laughter at the small scenario that was taking place. Her appearance was disheveled than before when she first arrived at school. Her hair was a bit tousled, while some of her drool was stuck to her face.

"No! Breakfast was four hours ago when you came to school and for goodness sake, wipe your face." the teacher commanded sternly with a frown. Honoka quickly did so and stood up straight, not wanting to embarrass herself any further. She watched his face scrunch from annoyance to calm and rational. "Honoka, if you're going to sleep in my class, then you might as well not come to school at all."

Honoka hung her head in shame and took a bow to the teacher. "You're right. I'm sorry, Mr. Hamada."

Hamada shook his head with disapproval and frowned. "I don't feel that you genuinely are this time. I'm afraid you'll have to stand in the hallway to think it over."

The girl's eyes widen in shock and disbelief. "But-" Honoka went to protest, but the educator wasn't going to have it.

"I don't wanna hear it. You are to remain in the hallway until class is over. Understood?"

Honoka resisted the urge to try to defend herself and just reluctantly nodded. "Yes, Sir." she complied sadly, removing herself from her desk and walking to the hallway.

'My hand.' Honoka wondered as she leaned against the wall. Her eyes were focused intensely on her right hand that was hidden behind a glove. 'It was glowing again...and it was warm. But why?' Out of curiosity, she continuously opened and closed her hand to see if she could stimulate the warmness she felt in her dream.

Her mind started to drift back to the time she had entered in her very first tournament. Before being rendered unconscious during her second match, the last thing she remembered seeing was a strange red light bursting from the same hand she would feel warmness through.

To make everything entirely complicated, she couldn't remember a single thing that happened and how it happened.

'I don't get it. How did I do that?' she pondered, still examining her right hand.

Before she could think to herself any longer, the sound of the bell rang to signal the end of the second class for all students. Honoka stayed where she was as she patiently watched students scatter into the hallway to either socialize with one another or to head off somewhere to have lunch.

She was so busy with her thoughts that she barely noticed the teacher poking his head out through the door of his classroom. "Honoka, could you come in here, please? I'd like to have a word with you," he declared before descending back into the classroom.

Honoka swallowed hard in fear. With the tone in his voice, whatever he wanted to discuss with her couldn't be good. For all she knew, it would be about her constantly sleeping in class or worse. Taking in a deep breath to calm her nerves, she silently walked into the classroom to find Mr. Hamada waiting for her. "Have a seat, Miss Kimura." he offered, politely gesturing to a desk in the front row.

Not having a wish to upset him further than he once was, she instinctively did as she was told. She positioned her arms and hands on the desk to make herself look presentable. Unfortunately for her, Mr. Hamada saw right through her act. She wasn't fooling anyone with that facade.

There was silence in the room for a minute, so the teacher decided it was time to break it. "I honestly don't know where to even begin," he spoke, putting a hand to his head with exhaustion.

Disappointment.

No mistake. She could hear it in his voice. It not only made her feel ashamed to have her teacher scold her but embarrassed to have slobbered in her slumber around everyone. "Honoka, tell me," he paused, giving her his full attention. "Is there anything going on at home?" Honoka blinked before slowly shaking her head. "Do you ever get enough rest at home than you do here, at school?"

"U-Uh...yeah, I am," she replied with a sheepish chuckle.

The teacher raised an eyebrow at her answer. "Are you certain? Because this is the fourth time this week that you've slept in my class and on the important lesson of your exams-"

"H-Hold on, exams?!" stuttered Honoka with surprise.

Hamada nodded in response. "Yes. Which are supposedly approaching in three weeks," he confirmed.

"Okay." Honoka sighed with relief, holding a hand to her chest. "Then that means I still have a lot of time left to study for them." she mused to herself before turning her attention to the high school instructor. "You don't have to worry, teach because I'll ace the exams without a sweat." Honoka declared with a cheerful smile and a wink.

Hamada blinked twice before releasing a chuckle from his throat. "That isn't the issue, Honoka," he said, shaking his head. "While I do appreciate your enthusiasm for the upcoming exams, I'd hate to inform you that there's much more I'm worried about besides you passing the exams."

Honoka tilted her head to the side in confusion. "Hmm? What do you mean, Mr. Hamada?" she asked, blinking a few times. "It's because of me sleeping, isn't it?"

"I'm afraid that's not the only thing I'm worried about..." he said, walking over to the desk she was seated in. "Honoka, despite the other things students say about you, I believe you're a very bright and intelligent student. Unfortunately, I can't say the same about your schoolwork."

"Oh..." was all Honoka had to say since there was no excuse to deny it.

"Well, you obviously understand what I'm trying to say here," he said, taking a seat next to her. "I'm becoming very worried about you, Honoka. Not only has your class participation been lacking, but your grades seem to suffer as well." As her teacher explained this, Honoka hung her head down in shame. She shouldn't be surprised, considering the number of times she forgot to complete some of her homework and failing to turn them in on time. Not to mention, instead of studying for necessary tests like any responsible student would, she would spend all her spare time out of her day playing video games.

~Flashback~

The sound of rapid button mashing was heard from underneath the sheets. The only thing that could light up the darkroom was the brightness of Honoka's hand-held game. "Ugh...stupid Meta Knight! Why don't you just freakin' die, already?!" she ranted, furiously mashing at the buttons. Her concentration was so deep in the game that she didn't even hear the announcer say "TIME!" on the tiny speakers of the hand-held game.

Honoka patiently waited for the screen to show the results. Her face twisted from calm to disbelief and annoyance at the symbol of her opponent appearing before her eyes, declaring her armored enemy the victor.

"ARRGGHH! You gotta be freakin' kidding me! This game is rigged!" roared Honoka, her face red and swollen from frustration.

~End Flashback~

Nothing about Honoka was responsible.

Honoka then placed her hands in her lap. "I'm sorry, Mr. Hamada," she said apologetically. "It's just, I've been really tired lately and I had a lot of stuff on my mind and-"

"You just told me you get enough sleep at home, Honoka," he interjected, quickly catching onto her lie. "I do hope we didn't stay up all night playing video games, am I correct?"

Just as he brought up the primary source of her issue, her entire body became rigid. Being an honest person was more of a curse than a blessing to Honoka, as she was never good at lying, especially when trying to get herself out of trouble. She played with the hem of her skirt and bit her bottom lip in guilt. "Fine. I didn't get much sleep," she mumbled as she kept her head lowered.

"I thought so," he replied, removing himself from the desk.

"W-Well, Grammy hasn't been feeling good lately, so I've been looking for a part-time job to help her with the bills."

"Honestly, Honoka." said the teacher, bringing a hand to his face in slight frustration. "I can understand that you probably have a lot going on with your grandma and trying to take care of her, but that does NOT give you an excuse to stay up all night to play video games so that you can come to school and sleep. I'm afraid I'll have to contact your legal guardian about this."

Honoka's head immediately whipped around to face her teacher. "Oh, please Mr. Hamada, not that!" she pleaded, her crimson eyes widened in fear. "I mean, can't you just gimme detention instead? The only thing I did wrong was sleep in class, right?"

"This just isn't about you sleeping in my class, Honoka. It's about the fact of you applying yourself more. You're already in your last year of high school and I don't want to see you fail this class. That's why I'm coming to the decision to make a phone call to your grandmother to inform her that I'm assigning you a tutor for the remainder of the year."

"Mr. Hamada, please, you can't! If grandma finds out my grades are really REALLY bad, I'm dead meat. She'll take away everything. A-All my movies, my manga, and my video games and I won't be able to finish that new game that just came out." she fretted, clasping her hand hands together.

"Well, young lady, maybe that what needs to happen if it'll get you to shape up and take your studies more seriously," he admitted as he adjusted his glasses. "Besides, you shouldn't stay up late at night playing such games. You should know it's not good for your nightly sleep, judging by your actions this morning. After I have a talk with your grandmother, I expect a drastic change in your behavior for the rest of the school year. Understood?"

Honoka tore her gaze away from the teacher with a slight frown. A small part of her wanted to negotiate to spare her from her grandmother's wrath that will await her at home. However, as much as it pained her to admit it, she knew it would be for her own good.

"Yes, Sir."

"Haaah...man, this sucks." Honoka groaned, sliding down onto the ground against the railing of the roof. "Grammy's gonna kill me when I get home." she sulked as she buried her head in her arms.

"You really shouldn't be so surprised." shrugged a girl. "It's not the teacher's fault your grades are so bad. They don't get paid enough to teach students who are THIS mentally challenged, you know."

Honoka merely stared at the said girl in confusion and bewilderment in response.

"Um, hey, Nanako?" spoke up another girl in their group. "I know Honoka's dumb and all, but don't you think you're being a little harsh with the mentally challenged comment?" she questioned out of slight concern.

"Oh, c'mon, you know it's true," Nanako replied, folding her arms. "Sometimes I wonder if all her blood goes straight to her boobs, 'cause it obviously can't be going to her brain if she's screwing up almost everything in school." she snorted, causing the two other girls beside Honoka to snicker silently.

A sheepish laugh came from Honoka's throat. "A lot of people say that!" she chuckled, giving herself a little bonk on the head.

"Tch, pleeaase. Your brain'll be dry by graduation." teased another girl in Nanako's group.

"No, kidding. With F cups from the early age of 14, it makes me wonder how you didn't set a world's record." added the other girl.

Nanako continued to stare blankly at Honoka, who seemed oblivious without a single care in the world. Her stare on the airheaded girl became tense with silent rage and envy. Even though Honoka was a part of their popular clique, Nanako genuinely didn't care for her or considered her a friend like the other two girls, Sachiko and Asami.

In actual truth, she deeply despised Honoka. It wasn't just her ditzy and cheerful nature that got under Nanako's skin; it was much more than that.

As much as it greatly pained Nanako to admit it, but Honoka was perfect. Adorable, sweet, yet naive blessed with the most prominent bust out of all the school's female students. To call Honoka fat would be an understatement, considering that all of it went to just about the right places of her body.

Honoka was way too good to be true. Even though Nanako didn't have what Honoka had, she immediately saw her as someone she could easily manipulate and, as leader of the clique, offered her a spot in her famous lady squad. In her own little mind, having the second most beautiful girl following her around would boost her image and popularity that much more.

Unfortunately for Nanako, that decision would soon return to haunt her.

After the flawless three had become four, it didn't take long for the school's male students to notice the ideal group and immediately worship the ground they walked on. Boys longed for a romantic date with them, while girls practically longed to be them. Much to Nanako's surprise and dismay, it wasn't because of her, and it definitely wasn't because of her other two minions.

Honoka Kimura.

She would be the first thing that came to mind when students see them walking down the hall. At first, people found her rather strange, and due to her lack of intelligence and child-like demeanor labeled her Japan's very own Karen Smith. But luckily for Honoka, guys found her cute and alluring and thanks to her enormous breast, she was popular with the male population way more than Nanako and her two followers.

This did not bother Nanako at first. Either way, she was still getting the popularity she ever desired...or at least she thought she was.

Just about every day, there were times where her ears picked on the sound of boys constantly complimenting and swooning over Honoka. Sometimes, Nanako and her two sidekicks would still receive compliments and praise for their average beauty to which she was grateful for, but when it came to Honoka, the other three would be left in the dust entirely. They even went as far as admitting they'd rather be in the company of Honoka of all people than ANY of them.

Nanako couldn't believe what was happening all around her. They'd prefer Honoka over Sachiko, Asami, and even her, the leader of the group? She had hoped and prayed that it was all just a big nightmare or a setup for a television show or something, but no...it was all real. Honoka was WAY more popular than the queen herself.

How was that possible? Who would want to hang out with Honoka, of all people?

Honoka was dumber than a box of rocks. A complete klutz with two enormous breasts and to make it even worse, people loved her for it. The size of her breast wasn't the only thing that made her beloved by her peers. Despite being in the most popular and feared clique in school, Honoka was a sweet, easygoing, yet naive girl just about anyone could get along with. A complete angel. While they feared Nanako throughout the school for her vindictive and cruelty, Honoka was beloved by students and teachers alike for her kindness. What made people love Honoka even more was that she was a tomboy, yet feminine on the outside. Not only was she an avid gamer, but a massive fan of martial arts films and pro wrestling. Regardless of her being a total airhead, she made her knowledge of different fighting styles known by constantly talking about different fighters familiar with.

It made Nanako feel bitter than before.

"Graduation? That is if she ever graduates at all with what little brain cells she's got." Nanako scoffed. "Even if she were to graduate, what college would even take peons like her, anyway?"

Honoka tilted her head in confusion, not understanding the newfound word. "Peons? What's that? It isn't bad, is it?"

"I was giving you a compliment, Honoka," Nanako responded with a silent malicious smirk. "It means princess."

"R-Really?" exclaimed Honoka with a light blush. "Wow! That's really nice, Nanako. Thank you."

Unknown to Honoka, sadly, it wasn't a compliment.

"Dim bulb city, big time." snorted Asami, earning a laugh from Sachiko.

After school had finally let out for the exhausted students, Honoka decided to stop by a convenient store to pick up a few groceries for her grandmother before getting on her bike to head home.

She stayed silent, pedaling on her bike in deep thought about the dream she had. 'What am I gonna do?'

~Flashback~

"Oh, please Mr. Hamada, not that!" she pleaded, her crimson eyes widened in fear. "I mean, can't you just gimme detention instead? The only thing I did wrong was sleep in class, right?"

~End Flashback~

'How am I gonna tell Grammy I'm failing almost everything and in my last year of high school too?' she pondered worriedly.

Honoka didn't even want to think about what her grandmother had in store for her when she arrived home. Her grandmother was a gentle and loving woman, but once her anger settled in place, she'd be an entirely different person than she'd usually be—a demon.

Like any other adult with children, coming home with poor grades was unacceptable. But their genuine horror was their child failing a grade and having to repeat it because of it. Honoka knew that, judging from her experience of being punished as a kid for her bad marks, for a fact. Thankfully, being a sweet woman, her grandmother had no belief in corporal punishment. She'd never forgive herself for bringing physical harm to her only grandchild.

There was a time when she was eight years old, she got all her toys and television confiscated for three whole months for bringing home an F on her math test.

At age thirteen, her grandmother threatened to disallow her from attending any extracurricular activities for the rest of the school year if she brought home another bad report card.

At age fifteen, her collection of martial arts DVDs and video games her grandmother ever got for her nearly came close to being pawned off to a random stranger for failing the final exams of the first semester of school. Still, luckily for Honoka, she managed to talk her out of going through with her threat by promising her she'll do much better on the final come second semester.

At age sixteen, the punishment she received hurt her heart the most and was still fresh in her mind to this day. After learning the Honoka failed her final exams of the first semester again in her junior year this time, she mercilessly tore two tickets she had got for the two of them to see a Bass Armstrong match into shreds.

Angry with her grandmother doing that to her, Honoka cried that night in her room. She was a big fan of Bass Armstrong, one of her favorite fighters next to his daughter, Tina Armstrong, and Kasumi, and to have that opportunity to meet him in person snatched away from her because of her poor grades pained her. But, it pained her grandmother more having to do that to her only grandchild.

A shiver crawled its way up her spine at the image of her once more angry grandmother scolding her not only for doing poorly in school in her senior year, but for sleeping in class.

When she finally arrived at her house, she gently pulled on the brakes of her bike and removed herself from the seat. Taking the groceries from the tiny little basket of her bicycle, Honoka made her way inside the front door.

"I'm home, Grammy!" she exclaimed, her light voice echoing through the house. She waited for a few seconds for a response from her grandmother, but received nothing more than silence. "Grammy?" she called once more, stepping inside the house. Still no answer. "Maybe she's sleeping."

Or in this case, probably already got a phone call from her teacher and was using silence as a tactic to put fear in her before coming down extremely hard on her for her performance in schoool. The only thing Honoka could do now was at least plead her case and hopefully she could be more understanding about her struggles in class. "Um...listen, Grammy." started Honoka as she slowly sauntered her way to the kitchen where she thought her grandmother would. "I'm guessin' Mr. Hamada already told you about today...but I promise you that I won't disappoint you this ti-" her voice abruptly fell short, the grocery bags falling from her hands to the ground.

Her scarlet eyes widened at the horrid sight before her. A sight she'd wished she never had to see in the eighteen years of her existence.

There, lay her grandmother, collapsed on the floor. Her skin was pale as a ghost, her normal skin color no longer there. Next to her lifeless, bloodied hand was a teacup that was once delicately made, now shattered on the floor. What made frightened Honoka the most was the amount of blood pouring from the old woman's mouth. Blood also painted her clothes, letting Honoka know of her grandmother's struggle with trying to breathe before passing out.

"G-Grammy...?" Honoka uttered, her voice quavering with fear and sorrow. Unfortunately, her grandmother wasn't conscious to answer her back, let alone greet her with a smile. She was still glued to the floor, unconscious. She immediately bolted to her grandmother's side. "Grammy! Grammy! Wake up, please!" pleaded Honoka, tears threatening to spill from her eyes as she desperately tried to shake her grandmother awake.

TO BE CONTINUED...