The Colour Purple Chapter 6: Formula For Love in the Modern World, a king of fighters fanfic

The Colour Purple... The King of Fighters '95

pointblankassassin . com

This (chapter) fanfiction was originally written circa: [XX.96] (Thank you)

"Which Character are you?"

To [love]; or to [be] loved, more than you love your own self. Oh! What a wonderful feeling it is indeed. This is why, in some ways, dogs are superior to men.

-08.28.04

Chapter 6: Formula for love in the modern world…

"I love her..." the cloaked figure pleaded.

"So you do... but you have to prove yourself worthy first." The wise master replied, his back facing the servant. "I can't have an outsider, moreover, a common person to marry into my family." Yoshiki Kusanagi exclaimed.

"I will do anything... anything you ask... just name it Kusanagi-sama... (Lord Kusanagi)," said the figure hiding in the shadows. "ANYTHING! Anything at all, just for her sake..."

"Very well, if you want to have my daughter, then do me this 'favour'..." Yoshiki Kusanagi sneered as he flashed a sly smile... "Kill him... Kill Iori Yagami and if his father gets in the way, do away with him as well..."

The Yakuza, a feared, almost legendary organization. Some say they are nothing but big time thieves, others say that they are honourable individuals who go against the government, in the hopes of setting the people free from their dictatorial authourity. However you might see them, there is one evident fact. They have been around for as long as the individuals who remember them do.

Shadowy and mysterious, they even fight wars amongst themselves. True, the world fights wars with new rules now... Through politics and other such seemingly harmless means, and now instead of bullets and blades, warriors use paper, words and money. The Yakuza have adapted to this change in society, but have not completely forgotten about ancient means of war, through assassination, and this is why the Ninja still exist in this modern world, to fight the selfish wars these so called criminals lead.

This man, who stood before Yoshiki Kusanagi; he is a ninja, an individual who trained since birth in the Ninja ideals... Discipline, Loyalty, Honour, and Faith in one's physical ability. Unfortunately he had one downfall... He has not been exposed to the modern world, and interacted with the characters who play this deadly game of chess. Since birth he had been secluded in the mountains as well as his fellow brothers who studied under the deadly art of invisibility. Those were the only people he knew, he had the false comfort that all people were like this... Honourable, good hearted, disciplined, and full if hope and desire.

As a Ninja, he had been trained under harsh conditions, so that he could overcome the weaknesses of his own human body, after 27 years, he had learned to conquer 'insignificant' weaknesses such as hunger, fatigue, and other such human inhibitions. However he is still a human, a man at that. No matter how many times he gambled his life, dodging shuriken (throwing stars), dashing through mine fields, and leaping from one tree to another, he cannot conquer one flaw in human nature. Love. Nothing in this world can ever deprive or erase this emotion from your being. There is always one true love that can either make you a man or will utterly destroy you.

"Eiji Kisaragi... If you can kill both Iori Yagami and his father, I will grant you your worldly wish... such is the true power of a Yakuza." bellowed Yoshiki Kusanagi. "Here take two of my finest Ninja guards, I am not a fool, and I know that you alone cannot hope to survive in the Yagami stronghold."

With that, Eiji's silhouette became a blur and he was gone. Kusanagi snapped his fingers and suddenly two shadows dropped in an instant from the beams on the ceiling.

"Accompany him, and do not fail me, the both of you. Mikaido, Masa... Go..." Kusanagi pointed outwards and with his leave, the two ninja guards disappeared into the dark moonlit night.

...

The wind was cool and sweet smelling, the grass waved as if they were alive and the moonlight gave them the distinct silvery glow made them radiate with beauty. Occasionally a blade of grass would fly up, but you could see no one, only a sudden gush of wind, but if you had a trained eye and looked very closely, you could barely see faint shadows twitching in the moonlight, appearing, only for a moment, then disappearing as quick as the mirage took view. Three ninja guards moving as swiftly as shadows in the night... Doing what they were trained for, the only PURPOSE of their existence... Discipline and loyalty, but something else was driving Eiji Kisaragi. He had fallen in love with Kaori Kusanagi, daughter of Yakuza god Yoshiki Kusanagi, and would do anything physically conceivable to win her father's blessing. For generations the Kusanagi and Yagami clans have been at war. Neither ever gaining the upper hand. Up until it struck them. Destroying another clan all at once would take forever, may it be through ancient warfare, or modern political methods, and also, assassinating a mafia god is almost as easy as threading a needle with blind eyes. So they thought, why not kill the next generations, and maybe if they did away with the future Yakuza god, then maybe the clan would die away.

{Iori Yagami... Who is this man? I wonder if I am powerful enough to defeat him...} Eiji was a simple man who lived his life in the mountains and didn't know such tactics the Yakuza play. He had only one goal, to prove his love by defeating Iori Yagami, and the situation arose, his father as well.

And behind him, the two Ninja guards Kusanagi had sent with him followed on...

...

Yagami Palace, isolated from the rest of Japan, hidden in the high mountains. It was located in a rural area, away from civilization. For generations it has withstood numerous wars and showed of nicks and cracks in its walls to prove it. Climbing up the mountain was no difficult feat for the three Ninja guards, it was as simple as jumping from one building to another. The way they leapt great distances took then as much effort as a walk in the park to any everyday individual. The first obstacle was the moat, at least there were no electric fences, but undoubtedly there were numerous inside. Yakuza palaces have shunned away modernization, and they think it unhonourable to rely on such technology to guard their strongholds, they prefer to use the traditional archers and Ninja guards.

As if on queue, a whiz came through the air, Eiji's trained senses kicked in as if by reflex and he sent his arm up to cover his neck. In a twinkling, there were 5 blunt thuds and when he looked at his arm he saw 5 steel darts. Darts that were as big as pencils and had red silk tails on them.

"Five!" Eiji whipered as forcefully as he could, and in a blinding instant, five thuds were heard... either falling as leaves rustled or with a loud splash. The two ninja guards walked next to him and knelt down.

"Daijyobu kai (are you all right?) Check your arm, the darts were probably poisoned..." Mikaido whispered in a grim tone.

Eiji unwrapped the bandages on his arm and wrist and unveiled a wooden block with five spikes sticking into it.

"Daijyobu desu... (I am fine)" Eiji said. "They all hit the wood."

Without words, Masa offered another wooden block with a shrug. "Hurry up, we don't have much time, they probably know we are here already. But if we are lucky, they will underestimate us and did not bother to call for reinforcements..."

"Uz (okay).." Eiji confirmed, as he nodded his head.

Masa licked his bloody fingers and threw the severed Ninja guard's head over his shoulder...

"Heh, Yagami guards are so arrogant, I see nothing has changed since I was one..." Masa smiled.

The wall was easy to scale, the occasional arrow gave them some trouble but then they were prepared for this. The Yagami Ninja guards they assumed, were arrogant and overconfident. According to their knowledge, Yagami Ninja guards would not inform their superiors of intruders because such action just bothers their masters and it was seen as an act of weakness, and most of the time the Guard who spoke of bad news was executed. This, the trio thought could make their mission easier.

Once over the wall, they checked their wounds and pulled out the wayward dart or arrow that they failed to dodge while scaling the wall. The first wave of Ninja guards came, a dozen of them. Eiji, Masa and Mikaido were prepared, and what ensued was a magnificent battle. It was as if you were watching a ballet. The shadows played the role of the dancers, so gracefully leaping, spinning and prancing. In instances, could see eyes in the darkness as a dancer dashed across the moonlight. Eyes that showed grim discipline and determination. There was the sudden sound of rushing wind and the sound of metal kissing. When their skills failed them the steel would drink blood and radiate with the warm crimson, but the Ninja guard would not call out or scream in pain, for fear that his weakness would endanger his brothers who's position would be exposed.

A phantom would fly across and glints of light flew through the air. Moving as one soul, one mind and body, the trio cleaved through the barrage of Yagami guards. Masa being one of them one time in his life knew that the Yagami Ninja guards were the most feared assassins in Japan, but they were conceited bastards and were too overconfident, unlike the Kusanagi guards who would work as teams, the Yagami guards would never resort to such 'weak willed methods' and attacked chaotically as individuals. Slowly the Kusanagi Ninjas took down the wave, and stood in a moment to admire their work and pray for the souls of their enemies who neither hated them nor wanted to kill them for sport, it was all duty, the loyalty that was their downfall. Eiji looked on, seemingly unfazed by the pile of bodies scattered over the courtyard and decorated the walls with blood. Mikaido took the time to lay them on their backs, and cross their enemies' arms in their final rest, and Masa cried softly as he unveiled their masks one by one and burst into tears when he recognized an old friend that he had killed in the line of duty.

{Why,} Masa thought to himslef... {I left this damn place because I knew it was evil, and that evil destroyed us slowly. Our sacred ideals were corrupted by the Yagamis... but I guess this is my punishment from the gods for breaking my word of honour, for breaking my loyalty to Yagami... Will I have to live with the guilt and the blood of my friends soiling my hands.}

Eiji seemingly confused with their actions came over and put his hand over Masa's shoulder.

"Let's go..." Eiji said quite forcefully, "We don't have much time and we have to do away with Iori before sunrise. We can't waste our time here."

Masa snapped and collared Eiji as he rose. "What the FUCK do you think you are you SON OF A BITCH!" Masa whispered in an angry tone. "You don't understand what it feels to kill your own brothers... People you laughed, got drunk with, shared your pleasures and pains with. What are you? Some animal?! Don't you have any speck of remorse in you?"

Eiji slithered both arms under Masa's arms and broke the hold on his collar. "I have my own reasons for doing this. Do not forget that a Ninja's code of loyalty supercedes all else, and if a ninja cannot even accomplish that, then you are not even qualified to become Shinobi (Ninja)."

Masa's eyes narrowed and the veins in his temples fumed, as he pulled out his katana (sword) from it's home on his back and slashed at Eiji's throat, there was a glint of light and a ring of steel. As their eyes focused in a matter of less than a second, Eiji saw Mikaido's blade up at Eiji's throat blocking Masa's katana, and his left hand held firmly onto Eiji's, guiding Eiji's own already exposed blade from Masa's intestines.

"There is no need to do this," Mikaido said calmly. "We all have our own ideals, and we will have to settle our differences later, but Eiji is right, a Ninja's code is bound in Loyalty. You should know that most of all MASA."

Masa only grunted and resheathed his katana back, and Mikaido guided Eiji's back in turn. The trio disappeared and appeared on a rooftop to tend to their wounds.

...

"Why are you doing this Kisaragi?" Mikaido asked Eiji.

"For love... I fell in love with Kusanagi's daughter and I would do anything for her..."

"You do realize that Kusanagi would not easily let an outsider take his daughter, more less a lowly Ninja guard like ourselves." Mikaido reasoned. "He won't let you get away with it. Come on, my family has been serving Kusanagi for generations, and I know these things... There is still a chance, find another lover, finish your loyalty by doing one last admirable mission. If you kill Iori you will surely gain the admiration of Kusanagi and he may even grant you your freedom. But please don't go and chase these silly dreams."

"That's what makes men weak I guess..." Eiji muttered, as he slowly dropped to a squat by Mikaido, leaving the volatile brute, Masa to his own devices wrapping his giant forearms by a tree in a secluded edge of the complex. "You are calm and calculating, Mikaido. But no matter how much training I undergo I cannot deny this feeling in my heart. Remember that loyalty drives you and I feel the same way. Loyalty above all else, but for once, I just want to do something I want, I want to believe in my dreams, and do not want to spend my whole life making my masters' wishes come true. Just this once, I want to prove that I am a human, and have dreams of my own."

"Loyalty you say?" Masa finally uttered. "You are a strange Ninja guard Eiji... Faithful and Loyal yet a dreamer as well. I am sure Mikaido envies you, but he is too practical to think of such dreams,"

"and I on the other hand have been a rebel all your life?" Mikaido couldn't help but jeer.

"I am tired of being a Ninja guard," Masa continued. "…and Kusanagi gave me one more mission, this one, if I accomplish this he said; If I can finish this one mission and accomplish killing Iori I can be granted my freedom. I know that I am very important to them, since I was once a Yagami guard, and they question me, they are afraid I might join another clan, and divulge their secrets. I would be happy to become a farmer in the Kusanagi fields. I am tired of killing."

"A farmer you say?..." Eiji scoffed at the rather preposterous and peonic idea... "I just want to live forever with Kaori Kusanagi and it doesn't really matter what happens... or WHO I have to fight."

Masa smiled a bit under his mask, and his eyes radiated a soft glow for a moment. Just a moment.

In an instant, an arrow sliced through the air and was headed towards Eiji's forehead. Mikaido was around 10 meters away, and he knew from Eiji's actions that he was too engrossed with his fantasies to ever dodge the blow. In a blinding motion he reached for a throwing star and threw it towards the arrow. The world slowed down as Mikaido saw the Shuriken (star) spin, and to his horror, it missed the arrow, by only a few millimeters. Mikaido's eyes widened in shock as the arrow bit flesh. Masa was standing in front of Eiji as the arrow shiverred in Masa's shoulder. Eiji quickly grabbed the arrow and pulled it out as if it was a speck of dust and as the arrow exploded into a fountain blood in all directions as it tore flesh, Masa couldn't help but call out softly.

Two rooftops away, a cloaked Ninja guard stood with an empty crossbow in his hands.

"So, it's the traitor himself... HAHA! It looks as if your new master sent you back to your grave."

"MAKOTO! You... damn you! Why did you speak, now I know who you are... I cannot fight you this way." Masa called.

"Idiot, it was you who's the blabbermouth. I have watched your party since you scaled the wall, and when you called out when he pulled the arrow free, I knew it was you for sure... Never mind, I will have no regrets when I kill you. This is for all the friends you BETRAYED you bastard. You left us and now you came back to kill us all. URAGIRIMONO! Traitor!"

"Teme.. You son of a bitch!" Mikaido called out as loud as he dared to and threw 5 Shuriken (stars) almost simultaneously. Makoto merely pulled out his blade to deflect the first 3 then stuck out his forearm to catch the last 2. Mikaido just stood in awe, as he knew this Ninja was not a simple foot soldier unlike the earlier ones they encountered. "Masa never wanted to betray you. The man who killed your brothers isn't him, but Kusanagi. You should know more than anything what a loyal Ninja has to go through."

"Shut up!" Makoto yelled. "I do NOT care, all I want is compensation, revenge and blood for my comrades."

"Soyuunara, ore ga, kisama no aite da. Then you will fight me!" Mikaido called, as he stood and with a flick of his wrist drew out more of his shuriken (stars) clipped between his five fingers like a hand of cards. As he stood, Masa grabbed on to his arm and pulled him down.

"No, this is my fight... The gods' plans have come full circle and their punishment for me has come... I have to defend my honour and atone for my sins..." Masa said calmly. "Mikaodo, if I do not make it out alive, I want you to know that I have loved you more than I would have my own brother. He pulled Mikaido's masked face towards his and kissed his lips and remembered the feeling of his cloth mask on his own. NOW GO! Both of you..."

"Un.." Eiji said as he grabbed Mikaido by the waist.

"MASA! You bastard! Don't do this!" Mikaido yelled with an open, outstreched palm.

Masa refused to turn around and arched his spine backwards proudly and defiantly. "Humph, didn't I tell you I was tired of killing? Maybe this way my soul can rest easy in [heaven]." Masa muttered out as the images of Eiji and Mikaido diappeared into the shadows.

In heaven we will be waiting, and you will know the sound of ultimate sacrifice.

Masa pulled off his mask and cloth that covered his hair. It was dark brown and in spikes he had a firm face and his eyes had long scars racing down them. He ripped off his shirt and took off all the peices of wood on his body and threw all his spiked balls and shuriken on the courtyard. Decorating the grass with spikes which would easily immobilize an individual who dashed through them.

"Take off your mask... We have nothing to hide... Let me see your face and your eyes. Fight like a fucking man." Masa called.

"Very well," Makoto answered. He pulled off his mask and shirt and did the same and studded the courtyard with his own weapons. The pair pulled out their swords and it glistened in the moonlight.

There was no more talk.

The only dialogue would be the song of metal on metal, and the argument would be settled with death. One second they were there, and in another all that was left was the glowing sweat that had been in place of their bodies. The pair moved in perfect unison and harmony. Running like squirrels on the rooftop, jumping up and over obstacles, all the while staring each other down, and their steel would resonate and sing out a lovely ballad. The pair reached the end of the roof and leapt off. They took care not to drop all the way to the ground or their feet would be torn to shreds. Even in mid-flight their swords danced. Masa arched his shoulders back and he braced his heels on the wall behind him and he used his momentum to send him to the opposite wall and then repeated the action back. Like a rubber ball he bounced back and forth on the parallel walls and he slowly made his way up the rooftop. Makoto on the other hand used his fingers to grab hold of the stone and slowed his descent, he then sent his feet perpendicular to the wall and to Masa's admiration, started to run up. With one more leap, Masa was on the roof and Makoto followed suit. Tirelessly the two slashed at each other mercilessly, and they slashed so swiftly that the cut on their bodies opened and dripped blood tens of seconds after it was made. Suddenly there was a shrill whistle from somewhere, and Masa knew that Ninja guards were alerted and would soon scatter the whole complex, and discover them all. Masa was going to take the fight elsewhere but as he prepared to leap to the next roof, an arrow buried itself in the back and he fell like a lead weight down towards the ground. The pain ran throughout Masa's body, but he bit his lip, and tried with all his might to stand. Makoto scaled down the wall and walked calmly towards him making sure not to act so hasty as to step on the spikes. Behind him a dozen archers came.

"Such a good fight, but I grow weary, and I am sure Yagami-sama is too, so I will end it for all of you." Makoto said apologetically..

"Humph, this sucks..." Masa smiled, before he bellowed an echoing primal scream that resonated through out the complex.

"You bast..." Makoto stuttered...

...

Eiji and Mikaido looked behind them as they ran to the main complex.

"Mikaido, what the hell is he doing... He's gone insane!" Eiji said.

Mikaido only closed his eyes in sadness... "He isn't... Have you wondered why we haven't met any Ninja Guards? It is because he is drawing their attention. He's sacrificing himself for our sake."

"Masa..." Eiji whispered...

Eiji and Mikaido knelt for a moment in the bushes outside the protective walls of the main complex.

…

"Mikaido, I always wondered. Your mask isn't like a normal Ninja's. Your hair is sticking out. Did you cut the top of your mask on purpose?" Eiji asked.

"Heh, this?" Mikaido pointed to his hair that was exposed from the top of his mask.

"I've been loyal all my life, but like you said, we're all human... I have a rebellious streak in me, and this is the only way I can express it. But what the hell, we've come too far, let's not waste Masa's sacrifice and kill that pig, Iori."

A barrage of arrows and darts attacked the pair, and without movement, the weapons tore through cloth, and if you looked at it closely, it was just logs wrapped in cloth... an ancient Ninja technique. The two looked back and forth to spot their assailant, but there was nothing to be seen.

"Let's get out of here..." Eiji said as he recklessly got up from the bushes.

"You idiot!" Mikaido called, but it was too late and all that Mikaido could do was take the berrage of darts square on his back.

"Mikaido..." Eiji said as he caught him from falling.

"Fuck, you're reckless, Eiji, heheh..." Mikaido smiled, "I guess it must be your youth, but I envy you for that. Just go, I willl draw their fire." He pushed Eiji away.

"Mikaido... I..." Eiji stuttered.

"If you won't go, you wont be able to get Kaori." Mikaido said as he threw a flare a few meters from him... "Soon you will see [it] too."

"You fool," Eiji said. He knew that the guards would be on to them any minute now because of the flare, so he just hugged him and helped him on his feet.

"GO!" Mikaido put his hand on Eiji's chest and pushed the ninja back. Eiji took a step towards he wounded comrade, but Mikaido's answer was the point of his sword. "KURU NA! (DON'T COME ANY CLOSER)" He roared, his once polite tone changing. "I won't die on my back. Get AWAY FROM… from me." The last few words broke Mikaido's firm tone. "Get away from me. Please." Mikaido turned around and slowly walked towards the advancing enemy. Mikaido mumbled something indistinguishable.

Eiji bit his lip and turned around. In an instant he was gone.

"Live. So that our dreams may live too."

...

Eiji crawled on the beams that criss crossed the ceiling and like a mouse made no sound and weaved his way through it. {This should be it. Eiji thought. Iori Yagami's quarters.} He saw a shadow kneeling in front of a purple candle staring blankly, and to his awe, saw the individual's fingertips erupted in faint purple flame. {It is him... but wait...}

The figure stood up, and to Eiji's horror, it was only a child, probably 8 years old. {GOD DAMN YOU, Yagami! Eiji cursed, You sent me to kill a child... But... Kaori...}

Eiji contemplated for a few minutes, which seemed like hours. He questioned what was more important, his love or slaughtering a child. He put his hand to the pockets in his robe and held his darts in his hand. {Quickly and suddenly, he thought, this way he won't suffer.} Eiji's hands shook as he aimed for the back of Iori's neck. {...Kaori... Eiji muttered} The next moment, a dart clanged on the floor right behind Iori. Iori turned around deathly calmed and grinned a wicked glare. Eiji was standing behind the child ashamed of himself.

"Please, do not fight back... I will make it as quick and painless as possible." Eiji apologetically said.

"Idiot!" Iori sneered out loud.

Eiji was taken aback and suddenly noticed a figure step out of the shadows behind Iori...

"Kisaragi-kun," Yagami-sama, Iori's father said as he put his hand on Iori's shoulder. "I admire your honour... If you had attacked my son from the back my archers would have struck you down in an instant."

Yagami-sama snapped his fingers and around 30 archers revealed themselves from the dark shadows... {My GOD! Eiji said to himself...}

"Now Kisaragi-kun," Yagami-sama said, "I know you come here because Kusanagi promised to grant you your inner most desires, such is the way of the Yakuza. But are you sure you owe him your loyalty?"

"Yagami-san," Eiji said. "I have come here because he promised his daughter to me. I cannot bring myself to kill a child, but I challenge you to a duel. Prove yourself to me, and fight me on equal terms. If I defeat you, I promise not to take your son's life, and I will stop fighting and become...a... a.. I...I won't become a Ninja anymore."

"Oooh?" Yagami-sama smiled... "You? Defeat me? A lowly Ninja guard hoping to defeat a Yagami? You must be joking. But then I must admire your skills if you got this far... You must realize that if you kill me, you won't leave here alive, and besides you must thank your friends for their final gift to you."

As if on queue, two bodies fell from the ceiling. It was the dead bodies of Masa and Mikaido. Eiji stood calm and shed no tears, since he knew that they died honourable and willfully.

"Now, Kisaragi-kun, do you believe that Kusanagi will grant you wish?" Yagami teased as he pulled a letter from Mikaido's pocket. It was stained in blood and Yagami-sama tossed it to Eiji. Eiji picked it up and read it... [Masa, Mikaido, Remember my promise to you, I will grant you both your freedom, upon the completion of your final obligation... Accompany Kisaragi to Yagami palace and after he kills Iori and if he succeeds in doing away with Yagami, kill Kisaragi, and then I WILL GRANT YOU YOUR FREEDOM... -Yoshiki Kusanagi.]

"Well, it seems that I admire or should I say, pity your friends... HAHA... It looks like they were given the same proposal as you HAHAHAHAAAA!" Yagami-sama laughed. "Why don't you join me? I could use a man like you..."

"Loyalty huh..." Eiji said to Masa and Mikaido's motionless bodies... "No, I didn't lie to them when I said I was loyal... Please, grant me a duel with you..."

"Very well, but I do not want to soil my hands with your blood..." Yagami-sama said as he pushed Iori slowly towards him. "Saaa, Iori (now, Iori), kill him for me.

Eiji saw but could not believe as the 8 year old took of his cap, that exposed his maroon hair, and shredded his kimono. He wore dark purple jeans and a black studded leather jacket. In an twinkling, Iori instantaneously burst into purple flames...

…

Live, so that we, our dreams, in turn, can live forever.