The Colour Purple Chapter 48: Love Love Policy, a king of fighters fanfic

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

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

"Which Character are you?"

Note to self: Legacy chapter numbering (32- - -), does not match. [Original chapter written 2013]

In polite fashion those eyes stared back, and kept him imprisoned. Their faces, their lips, inches from each other, Robert couldn't break away from that poisonous attraction.

Then in a flash, the prince's eyes fell – fell as if he had simply walked off the edge of a skyscraper. The top of his dirty yellow blond bangs that were hidden by his hat thrust abruptly downwards, leaving only an afterimage of glitters from what had passed… The prince twisted his motion and hunched to one side at an immediate instant - and when Robert willed his perception to follow and break away from his tunnel-vision focus, there was left for him – nothing.

Robert's enemy was gone. The memory, taken out of context, reminded us – and anchored us as we sat in another place and another time. The world flashed white and focused again…

…

"It's 1 PM, sir. You are in a nightclub." The boy responded flatly to Robert – in a dry, raspy voice that was fearfully taxed a long night before.

…

King grew tired of standing behind the bar, it was already again past noon and still she had instructed her bouncer to keep all the blinds closed until sunset. Sunlight was never to invade this downstairs world at all costs. She stood behind the bar and carefully nursed her cup of coffee, focusing on its warmth and familiar, bitter flavor – hoping that it would soon wash away the groggy feeling in her head.

"Hey." King broke the silence. "Say something. It makes me sick looking at you." Shuffling both hands with her familiar chore, she looked up. "Did you sleep okay?" She said to Robert who laid motionless with his left arm curled behind his neck, his telltale right arm immobilized in a cast - he looked up to the ceiling, daydreaming.

"Oh. Yeah. I slept fantastic." Robert smiled. "It's lonely back home. It's much more fun here, in this dark place." Despite the darkness, the voices of an arrogant Prince, and a generous King, and a piece of me I never knew before, keep me warm and in good company.

…

Chapter 48: Love Love Policy

"How's your arm?" King asked the young Robert Garcia, trying to distract herself from the uneasy feeling that made her stomach want to curl up into knots. Say something – anything to break the silence.

"Ah, this?" Robert smiled, looking down at his paralyzed arm. He hid a shy, weak feeling, but his vestigial appendage was in his own way, a trophy of pride for him. Perhaps a token to remember his one night stand that he wished – would have lasted for a little bit more. "The doctor didn't really know what to say. He wasn't very optimistic at first. Guy didn't believe me when I told him a SINGLE kick caused this much damage." That it had broken it in over 4 places, disintegrated my ligaments and caused severe nerve damage. Robert relayed the grave news so matter of factly without even stammering or skipping a beat. "You were right, you made good your promise, King. The doctor said that I may lose my right arm."

King didn't have any reply, and she bit her lip for a moment. She wondered if she would have felt differently if she had instead said nothing and didn't as ask to begin with. I PROMISE YOU. IF YOU CHOOSE TO FIGHT ME, THEN I WILL MAIM YOU. DESTROY YOU.

She put her coffee cup down and curled both fists when she put them knuckles first onto the cold countertop to balance her body when it slumped down. A shadow of an unfamiliar feeling loomed over her. Claws began to tear into her shoulders, push her down and she couldn't understand, she didn't understand why she could hardly breathe and why her heart seemed to twist into a jumbled mess. She didn't understand what this dark feeling was because she had never felt it before. Was this the feeling a person experiences when, by their own actions cripples another and prevents them from walking one step closer to their dream.

Was this how it feels to cripple someone?

"Don't worry though." Robert was quick to append. "My Dad's doctor said that it may take a year… or two, but they can get this arm moving again with surgery and rehab."

"Huh?" King looked up after clearing her throat.

"Sorry. I'm going to be okay." Robert grinned. "You didn't MAIM ME after all!" He teased, imitating King's stern, boisterous face.

"You asshole!" King screamed. She grabbed a heavy steel coaster by her side and propelled it straight at the helpless Robert.

The answer was a solid hit. Still laying on his back, Robert's midsection twisted immediately and on instinct his lower body deshelved itself independently from the rest of his body and kicked the hurtling object to the side effortlessly, and in its wake, he left his contorted leg up, without even moving his upper body that still lay comfortably at rest. He smiled.

As King followed through with her throw, she held her gawking face still. She was still in complete denial at how Robert was able to deflect her attack so effortlessly despite his condition.

"Actually, Master was quite happy when he heard the news. 'Wonderful' he said." Robert folded his left arm in a V and put it now by his side, still lying down – not paying any attention at his perfectly executed counter he performed in second nature. He strutted his upper body back and forth to mimic Takuma's preposterous laugh. "He said that in the one or two years I couldn't use my arms, I'd have no choice but to work on my footwork, kicks and cardio."

'Yuck!' Robert stuck his tongue out and made a strange face, crossing his eyeballs, making them meet at the bridge of his nose. With his open left palm, he put it in front of his mouth in a cup to catch his imaginary vomit of disapproval of his master's wishes.

Robert wasn't sure at first, but he could have sworn that he heard a snort and a short chuckle come from the other side of the dark room. He immediately turned his gaze to King, who calmly sipped her coffee, eyes closed, savouring each drop. Perhaps Robert had just imagined it.

"Your Master seems like a prudent man." King responded in between sips.

"Yes. Yes he is. I can never catch up to Ryo-chan with his upper body strength. This way though, maybe I can measure up in my own way. I'll one day fight you again, you know."

"Sure." King scoffed, taking a sip. "By the time you DECIDE, I'll be an old hag."

"Wait for me King," Robert said out loud, looking absentmindedly into the dark room. "One day I'll be good enough. I WILL fight you again."

I will not stop. UNTIL the day I can change your mind. One day I will make myself good enough for you. I looked away for a moment, and heard some murmured sounds, but when I looked back again, I realized that I didn't hear what Robert said to me afterwards. It seemed like he said something important. Something dear and sincere. "I…"

"What the hell do I need a lame bouncer for? Do you think anyone'll be scared of a cripple like you?"

"Don't worry. I'll build up on my legwork. Before you know it people will be lining up in front of your nightclub, to fight the legendary one arm bouncer! Mark my words!"

"You Idiot! Do you even know what you're saying?" King put her cup down before she lost all control and threw it directly at the bumbling stupidity in front of her. "Do you even know what being a bouncer means?! It's a deterrent! A deterrent! You're not supposed to fight! I don't want fighting in my nightclub! THAT'S THE POINT!"

"Calm down." Robert replied with a calm smile. He closed his eyes and slung his left arm behind his head as he laid on the couch. "You've got a kind bouncer who works for you for free. What more can you ask for?"

King's reply was terse and sharp. "I don't want to hear it." She said. "Promises men make to women have no meaning." Your kind of chivalry only exists to hope to impress women. Empty, hollow, and worthless. I want NONE of that.

King's last word ended with a sharp point that further silenced the world around them uncomfortably. Robert made no move and remained relaxed in place, his legs were crossed up high over each other and his left arm still rested behind his head. He opened his eyes from his lazy pose and simply looked outward. It was an expression that was neither defensive, neither enraged, nor any bit confused. It was calm, collected and just plain. After a bout of silence Robert's lips parted the same time King's cup placed itself on the table in front of her.

"Remember this." Robert said, and the audience could only see his lips move on its own as it filled the television screen we watched. "I have a policy," he continued with a calm, lethargic face that seemed like he was simply talking to himself, out loud. "If you were to ever doubt a man's [sincerity], all you need do, is ask yourself this simple question…"

…Remember each single detail, and answer the question honestly.

…If you beat me... I… Then – Then – I will devote my life to YOU

"If you were to walk your life and one day doubt a man's sincerity. All you need to do is ask yourself [this] question… Would he have acted the same way, had he been in the audience of another man…?"

You have to take me to the Prince. I promised... that if [he] fought me – THAT if he gave me just even one CHANCE at greatness… I PROMISED that I would serve him.

…this is another ULTIMATE TRUTH.

"I have a policy, my Prince." Robert said flatly, wistfully to anyone who would listen to him in that room that was protected from the midday sunlight. "My promises to you, every single word – no matter how much you cover your ears and deny… those words… they were blind to your gender."

…and while I can accept that your Godly fighting ability may never see me as your equal, after today I wish you never DARE question my sincerity ever again.

…and THIS is what these promises are made of.

…

"FACK!" King cussed as she threw her coffee cup at that black leather sofa. It turned as it hit the soft backrest, the steaming liquid splattered all over before the porcelain rolled down harmlessly. The couch was empty save for the dripping liquid that she would have to clean up.

"Hey…" a low voice called out after closing the door behind him. "Are you okay?"

"Ah." King pulling herself back embarrassed, said. She walked around the bar and made her way to the sofa with a towel in her hand now. "It's nothing, I thought I saw something."

"Oh… okay." The blonde haired man said after hanging his coat oh the rack by the entrance of La Bijoux. "Good afternoon, King."

"Good morning, Clark." King smiled timidly in reply. She wiped the coffee from the empty couch before it could seep into the cracks, and fall away to be forgotten.

…

La Bizarre Love Pentagon

…

Instead of taking the impact of Joe's attack, Clark simply twisted his body to the side, and, instead with familiar hands angled upwards – palms open in a limitless surrender, completely let Joe's flying body pass his own. Before Joe could realize what had happened, Clark grabbed a hold of Joe's shin in mid-flight with both hands weaving amongst each other. He heaved with all his strength over shoulder and hammered Joe directly into the floor with a disgusting crunch.

…

The remnant memories presented themselves as still frames taken out of context, presented out of sequence, and all the while, heard without sound. The pictures shuffled without an apparent order, that much Joe could suppose, but ever so often a strange vision would insert itself amidst the rapidly changing pictures. "Hey… you need to eat. Say ahhhh…" a woman's voice made everything bright, blurry, out of focus and…

There was once a time when I thought that smiling and laughing would solve all my woes. Somewhere in between I had suddenly begun to learn how to fight. Fight – everything.

…

"Hey… you need to eat. Say ahhhh…"

Blinking once, then twice… When the world came into bright clarity once again.

From an eternity of darkness, Joe breathed a sigh of relief when he finally saw colours. Despite Joe's best efforts, he couldn't even pretend to look away from the sight that greeted him.

Without any bit of shame – her clothes were definitely 2 sizes too small, and the much too revealing nurse uniform was busting at its seams. Mai leaned over and enticed him without even a care. He lowered his blushing head into his shoulders and pulled himself back in an anxious feeling. Mai's face came to clear view and in her hands was a small piping hot bowl of white. "Juk (Chinese porridge) with steamed grouper…" she smiled, "and Niiman ranch beef." Mai said. "It's the best to help your body recover!"

"Mai!"

"Yes?" Mai said innocently, titling and twisting her body to the side – further accentuating her lascivious getup.

Joe's eyes were flat and cold. His forehead was bandaged, and his neck was in a brace. Just looking at Joe's face revealed his high degree of agitation. It was the only way to guess because the rest of his body was totally mummified with hard plaster and white bandages. Joe's entire body was slung up with steel wire on a steel skeleton frame around his bed. His legs, torso, arms all of it was completely immobile. It looked rather pitiful, if it weren't for the fact that the sight was so hilarious to his friends.

"MAI! I'm over here, you need to be feeding ME, not Andy!" Joe yelled flailing his helpless arms up and down like a robot.

"What?" Mai replied incredulously, putting the end of the spoon into Andy's mouth with endearing care. "I don't want to."

Maybe it was the combination of Mai's defiance, or simply just her ignorant reply that simply made Joe fume. His ears were ringing but there was little he could do but shuffle like a turtle on its back while trapped in bed. "Mai! Do you know what this means?! I'm your boss, your employer dammit!" Joe reminded. "Without Joe, there IS no Joe's Diner. Without Joe's Diner, you're gonna be without a job."

"Then…" Mai looked up and wondered. She pouted her cheeks and put her finger on her chin in deep thought. "I know! We'll just call it Mai's Diner!"

"WHAT!? Do you even know what you're saying!?" Joe screamed louder and louder. It seemed that tying Joe up like a Christmas turkey had the opposite effect and made his voice wilder and louder. "Are you threatening me!? Haaah?!"

"Maybe they should have bandaged his mouth and jaw too, Terry?" The young boy, Tony looked up at Terry Bogard.

"I heard that!" Joe turned with an evil glaring gaze at the boy.

"Eep!" Tony retreated behind Terry.

"Hey, Mai. Andy doesn't NEED your juk, Mai!" Joe yelled. "He's not the one in a full body cast damn it!"

"I said I don't wanna!" Mai cut Joe short. "If you want it so bad, why not ask KING to dress up and FEED you!"

"Ah!" Andy breathed deep and the shock made him forget how to exhale. His eyes were glazed over and it seemed like all the hairs on the back of his neck were all standing on end.

Terry felt it too, felt [it] tying his stomach into knots, and when he looked at Joe, he gazed upon a sight he thought he would never see even until the day he died. Joe's face was pale, and for once in his life… Joe was dead silent. His mouth was frozen open – as if a sword had cleaved his head from his shoulders without a drop of mercy.

…

A DEAD of silence. Ah yes, it was a familiar feeling I never ever wanted to see surface again.

I was raised plainly. I was raised as a good boy. A simple Japanese boy in Thailand so I thought. Whenever I raised my voice, it was met with a raised palm. To defy authourity – to go against my enemies was a preposterous thought. It was such a foreign concept to me – to fight, because I would be eventually cut down. Cut down by those stronger – by those who fed me and clothed me. It was okay, I didn't mind, because the way I was raised was right. I am a good son.

Eventhough I could do no right – because I never measured up to my young parents, fighting against the rules of the world was always rewarded with punishment. So I laughed.

Those who clothed me, those who fed me – would have to bear the burden of being my enemies.

…and that BURDEN would be the price to be exchanged for their original sins.

We LAUGHED… as children. Even when our parents were screaming. Because they wondered why they were a slave to the world, procreating and succumbing to the will of nature.

We LAUGHED… as children. I would break this chain of horror with a smile.

But now, even if just this once, I am done with laughing. I am sick, and I am tired.

Laughing won't EVER take back those regrets I let slip through my fingers.

With his target in clear vision, Joe recalled himself turning his waist past the limits of his mechanical body. HE pulled his arm back and before he unleashed hell, thirteen swords floated behind him. They floated and remained there up until the precise moment, when he would…

Thirteen HUNDRED swords floated ready and waiting…

UNLEASH HELL. To the man I hate more, I hate more than I love myself!

Creaking – a tension of the cocked hammer from that revolver that was about to break.

A hundred punches. A hundred thousand screams. I am DONE with laughing. I am DONE with corny, foolish, stale jokes. I am DONE with it all. A hundred – thousand – million punches released from their prisons and roared with fervous determination at his enemy, Clark.

…a hundred THOUSAND MILLION screams once denied voice, was now…

…as if a hundred million punches could turn back time, and reverse this feeling of regret.

…even as Joe felt the cold concrete break his body ever so effortlessly…

There was once a time when I thought that smiling and laughing would solve all my woes. Somewhere in between I had suddenly begun to learn how to fight. Fight – EVERYONE and everything.

…

EVERYTHING.

…

"Hey Mai," Andy reasoned with his girlfriend. "That's a really mean thing to say. You really should apologize to Joe."

"Okay okay, I was just kidding." Mai shrugged when the wave of guilt flushed her face. "I'm sorry Joe." She said, walking slowly over and offering some of the hot porridge to him.

"I'm ok." Joe looked to the side. "I don't want it anymore. I don't need a slutty nurse feeding me."

"Ooo ouch." Terry grit his teeth, squinted his eyes and jerked his head back at the snippy remark from his friend.

"I agree…" Andy said in turn. "You really should try something more… more modest." He suggested.

"Uhm.. I don't think that's what he meant…" Tony said out loud to Andy, who was more than likely more clueless than Mai at this point.

Mai put the hot bowl down by the nightstand and pinched her white nurse blouse with both hands and looked over herself from top to bottom, tilting her head to the side because the tight fitting outfit made it difficult for her to examine her skirt due to slight obstructions.

"Hmmm…" Mai wondered. She grabbed the white bed sheet by the side of Joe's bed and curled it over her head, wrapped it over her body and spun around in place. With a magical twirl she pulled the bed sheet aside and instantly her outfit had changed to a totally different, yet no less sultry fashion. Mai winked as she held her fingers out in a V by her face. "How about French maid?!"

The mere fact that Mai had completely changed her outfit with a simple twist and hocus pocus seemed to pale in comparison to the room of men, as her now black and white maid uniform. Her skirt was so short it barely covered her underwear and Terry, Andy and even Tony couldn't help but find their heads tilting unconsciously to the side convincing themselves valiantly that their bodies were moving on their own and they were not desperately trying to take a picture of what was hidden underneath.

Andy's eyes darted open once again from its half slit glazed demeanour. He stood up and covered Mai's body with the bed sheet once again. "No no... Mai…"

Terry's face was still frozen, his eyes were in pinpoints and his jaw was locked permanently in the open position. With both hands he purposely held his head and twisted it back up in proper orientation. His face still petrified, he walked over to his friend Joe and twisted his head upright once again before it fell off for good.

"Oh... ok…" Mai put the sheet over her head again like a hoodie and twirled once again in magical fashion. "How about… Geisha!" This time, Mai's flowing traditional Japanese gown covered about the third of the hospital room floor. However the top of her kimono slipped down her shoulders. She turned round innocently and hid her bare top, leaving only her bare back for the others to see.

"No, this won't work… How about, Stewardess?!" Spinning around in place, the large kimono that covered most the area had disappeared and Mai was now in a pinstripe flight attendant suit. The terribly short skirt left nothing to the imagination and while her gray business suit jacket was formal and proper, her black lace bra underneath, and nothing else would indeed stop traffic without a second thought.

"No? How about, Ultra Apron!"

One last twist and whimsical light transformed her outfit into a white ruffled apron… and… and nothing else underneath.

"Ah! Don't look, Tony!" Terry covered the boy's eyes with both his hands.

Surprisingly, Terry mused, Andy had not made a sound or any motion of disapproval. When he looked to the side, Andy's face and hair had turned the colour of concrete and he had lost consciousness while sitting down.

Turning his gaze to the bed, Joe, in like fashion had also lost consciousness and his bandaged chest was completely painted red with blood that had erupted from his nose with great pressure.

…

No matter how much I decided it, no matter I thought to myself, "There was nothing I could ever do to change the way the world turned…" To fight – I can simply LAUGH.

When the joke and the pain became ever so much to bear – just laugh…

…

Terry looked up and grinned. His good friend, Joe, his chest drenched in red blood slowly began to move with every breath - Joe chuckled, Joe's telltale fang that Terry knew once, time and time again ripped into his lip and he roared now with an incessant cackle. Joe laughed. Breaking away from everything else, he laughed. Andy, his brother shivered when he couldn't take it anymore – in due turn he responded with a louder roar.

…then Terry. Then Tony laughed, in a proclamation they could not hold back. Even when Mai stood with severe purpose amongst them just replied with a confused stare. Joe. Andy. Terry, and Tony. They innocently blew their insides without care.

Terry Bogard's hard smirk couldn't hold back himself, and he simply joined in hurrah.

TO have friends…

Is that SO IMPORTANT? Those we shared our pains with, those we shared our hopes with, those we clung to – when we thought all was lost? Perhaps the instances that made us want to give up – were ones that made us STRONGER.

Joe Higashi, a Japanese boy, who grew up, as we did, all ALONE, in Thailand.

Joe, who one day thought fighting could be overcome by laughter… Perhaps, he, who was once a FOOL – Was a FOOL no longer…

Yes, FRIENDS are always important.

THIS… is my policy.