The Colour Purple Chapter 58: We are all Slaves, 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]

ORIGINAL CHAPTER.

Mayhaps my meeting you, Ninja Captain Yamashita, has meaning – for every time my dearly departed wife smiled, when instead, she wanted to scowl – a day was taxed from her and in exchange, another day was gifted unto you.

…

We are all slaves to the world. Slaves to vanity, slaves to fear, and slaves to hypocrisy. The only way to be free, is to become your own God, and become a TYRANT to every thing.

Showa yon-jyu-go nen (Year 45 of Showa). The year was 1970. Autumn.

"I like the look in your eyes, miss." The square shouldered, gruff ninja man said looking down at the young girl beneath him – she – who could have been no more than 10 years of age.

That. That is the one thing I hate!

"My name is Masao. The 8th Ninja Captain of Yagami palace. 20 years old." He said plain; crossing his arms and pulling his shoulders back proudly.

WE are ALL slaves.

…

Mayhaps my meeting you, Ninja Master Yamashita, by some cruel God orchestrated poetry, is profound; for your existence is the embodiment of Kaori's RAGE. Of all the times she smiled but instead hid a venomous killing emotion.

Ah – I understand it now… you have come to face me now…

…to punish me.

…

Autumn. It didn't matter, because starting tonight – tomorrow will be meaningless.

Choose. WILL YOU BE A SLAVE? OR, WILL YOU BE MY SWORD?!

…

"Hik.. HiKYOUna…" Eiji snarled as he was already racing backwards trying his best to return his center of gravity forward and not simply fall back.

"Captain! That was fighting dirty!" 6 repeated Eiji's cuss, trapped in denial.

…

If you choose to become a slave, then leave and walk through that door behind me. You will be guaranteed safety - nights with sound sleep – and perhaps you will simply live your entire life dreaming that a handsome prince will rescue you some day. Then, amongst all that longing, one day you may wake up a haggard, ugly old woman, thinking of this afternoon.

Masao bent at the knees and squatted down low to meet eye to eye with the little girl in front of him now who said nothing and looked to the side, silent and stunned.

By that time, even if you do remember my name and curse this Ninja captain, it will be too late, because I will be long dead, young lady. When the girl mustered enough courage to grit her teeth and look Masao up in the eye, the look she expected wasn't there. Instead of a cruel, bullying adult she always was accustomed to – the adults who wanted to make farmers' daughters feel weak – with sneering, maybe seething eyes, instead, the picture was a calm look filled with fleeting melancholy.

"When we cross the first gate of Yagami palace we lose our old name, but… but in exchange," Masao said, "we are given the freedom to make one choice."

The ninja looked over his shoulder at the tall arches and huge gates that would probably take 4 men to open. "Once you cross the second gate of Yagami palace, you will never see me again." He promised. "So choose… will you be a SLAVE? Or, will you be my SWORD?"

A short pause, then a heavy painful silence was broken with the sounds of black ravens cawing madly just as the unkindness exploded into flight, leaving a trail of black, spent feathers in their wake. The girl's mouth parted, and silent words we couldn't hear was only for Masao. Our dear friend Masao who everyone remembered despite his only wanting to be forgotten. Her murmured reply, her lips moved faster and faster, fists fearfully trembling like a silent movie.

Masao couldn't hide the look of awe in his eyes, but that too was replaced with a calm sense of comfort. "A SAD choice, a very unfortunate, sad choice, but - I like the look in your eyes, little lady. Very well, forget the name you once knew, and grant yourself a new one…"

In a flash it was over. If you asked a ten year old girl to walk away or to jump over a wide ravine, how would she look and feel – what expression would she have on her face once she found herself on her hands and knees as she safely leapt to the other side of a deathly pitfall? "Ah... ah…" she stammered ever slightly. Behind Masao was a stack of old wooden crates - dirty, hidden under the dark eaves of the one storeroom that cluttered the backdrop of her story. On them, with simple, bold font was painted on every side – YAMASHITA Fresh Produce Co.

…

Chapter 58: We are All Slaves: a Sequence of Uneventful Mornings part 4

The one thing I hate the most – is to be a slave.

…

Yamashita disappeared from view and at the next instant her double-footed flying kick planted themselves deep into Eiji's unprotected midsection. At first she was flying head height only to disappear and suddenly come at a different line of attack to his stomach. Eiji gawked when he felt himself expel his insides after the sudden, clean hit.

Eiji was unable to maintain his curled reverse recovery. Tumbling helplessly backwards, the old man did his best to soften the impact but it was not enough and his back hit solidly onto the tree behind him. Eiji groaned painfully as he bolstered himself onto the wooden trunk, and all the while Billy's face was still poised upwards, taking a handful of seconds to realize that Eiji had helplessly flown past him without him even noticing.

Eiji didn't even have the pleasure of deciphering what had just transpired. Did Yamashita propel herself like a torpedo head height, only to stand upright, leap backwards and instantaneously launch to a running start for a second midsection attack before Eiji could recover from the first high hit he blocked? It didn't matter because now Eiji had to negotiate another attack.

An attack from a Yagami ninja who was relentless – and remorseless.

"Oi, Eij…" Billy was about to call out when his companion's body tumbled heel over heads under him, only to roll sidewards when Eiji was unable to maintain his curled reverse recovery. The old man did his best to soften the impact but it was not enough and his back hit solidly onto the tree behind him. Eiji groaned painfully as he bolstered himself onto the wooden trunk, and all the while Billy's face was still poised upwards, taking tens of seconds to realize that Eiji had helplessly flown past him without him even noticing.

Eiji was barely able to shimmy up the tree trunk by pushing his back up in a very meager effort to stand. He put both claws behind him and with his arms bent at the elbows reminiscent of a gecko slowly correcting his posture by purposely climbing up the tree.

She will attack high again. Eiji deduced almost on instant. His mind, taken completely by surprise was in chaotic disarray. There was no time to think, no time to rationalize or consider all the permutations. But, before she attacks high, she has to…

In a few short strides, Yamashita's long shadow was already looming over Eiji's slumped body. As the dark brooding gloom shut out the sunlight, Eiji kept his vision downwards – watched and waited silently, intently. That ceramic cup of hot tea spilled on the table and we felt our bodies petrify as we slowly watched the pool of liquid grow, we watched the miasma spread outwards and we were powerless. We did so – until the last moment just before the edge of that mass of dread were to flow off the edge of the table and scald us.

NOW!

At the precise moment, Eiji's right foot cocked up and dug deep into the wooden abutment behind him – then, the fragmented splinters exploded as he launched his body off the tree. The 2nd second and the 6th second became indiscriminate and identical, as if the time in between was totally cut and thrown aside – the Kusanagi Ninja disappeared – the TYRANT freed himself from the binds of existence. Eiji heaved his upper body down and forward the distance that spanned two kicks long as if to attack Yamashita with a quick and compact shoulder check into her midsection. However, it wasn't a shoulder ram to her stomach he was after; Eiji's left foot darted forward, his upper body was canopied over forwards and covered his footwork from Yamashita's vision up above.

It was useless to observe her upper body, Eiji instead focused on her shadow and in finality, her right foot that was trailing behind and supported her entire weight as she ran to him. When her right toes were within range Eiji forced himself into her body and stomped down as hard as he could with enough force to lift the clumps of soil beneath and crush her tiny bones and trap her. Eiji grit his teeth and snarled. With his left foot immobilizing his enemy's own – just like that childish and SADISTIC game we played in the park when we were children, Eiji twisted his shoe to further, violently crippling Yamashita like a spent cigarette butt. Eiji's upper body contracted even deeper – he put his left forearm up to cover his face like a Spartan shield and now had completely closed the distance between himself and the Captain into nothing. Illegal in boxing, and frowned upon in most contact sports, this affair was clearly beyond ethics now. With her right foot trapped she could no longer advance, and even if she had the faculties to react, if Yamashita moved any sideward direction to strafe or even retreat, her ensnared ankle would break and destroy her. Those rusty jaws snapped shut merciless – like a cruel bear trap.

So close they could hear each other's heartbeat. The ringing of their ears mixed with the rapidly thumping bloody beat like a raging engine. The indecent distance where they would both enslaved. But – even this close, when a man and woman would be unable to move as their hearts beat beyond incomprehensible imagination – this! THIS! was enough distance for Eiji Kisaragi.

Our breaths were ever so close, we couldn't help but – touch. It is 1993 now, I remember your name, Captain Masao. Am I? Have I become a haggard old woman now? You are my sweetest [dream]; come true. A sharp sensation with a slight tap, Yamashita looked down to see before her very eyes Eiji's open "chopping" hand with fingers extended touching the warm flesh on her body. Eiji's outstretched right hand was a spear, and the tips of his fingers placed themselves tenderly into the hollow cavity just under her chiseled, concrete centerline.

…

In 1969. Before Photoshop, before the CSI television show, and just when the Beatles disbanded to the world's disdain – On cloudy, scratchy, recorded tape, in black and white, an oriental man named Bruce Lee revealed to the world an incredible superhuman feat. While some still believe in the conspiracy of "the magic bullet", Bruce Lee revealed to the world something reminiscent of the blurry pictures of "Nessie" and the UFO. In 1969.

In 1969 – for all the world to witness… whether you believed or not – Bruce Lee…

…

"The one inch punch!"

As the sound of the throttle reached its apex, the noise ceased. Eiji unsprung the tension in his body and propelled his trembling right fist into an instantaneous atomic blow within a tight confined space. Arm fully extended now, chest high, an unbelievable shot DROVE itself directly THROUGH Yamashita's unprotected diaphragm.

In 1969, 24 some aught years before [today], the one inch punch from a small oriental man drove a likewise unnamed adult oriental male 5 feet backwards into a waiting chair.

…

"Yamashita?" Masao repeated. Quite a plain name. A twinkling piano keys resonated amongst the falling leaves in that quaint place surrounded by walls that towered so very high.

When a man a woman's bodies come so close, when their flesh touch they are overcome with a paralyzing, intoxicating emotion. Unable to attack, unable to defend, and unable to move – there is a 'closeness' where everything stops, and we all give in to a paralyzing passion as it boils up from the center of our bodies. Even if she closed her eyes, she could see.

…

"Ah!" 6 gawked from the side as the audience all stood stunned.

"A!" Eiji mimicked the gallery's reaction. In the instant he propelled his one-inch punch and it passed across his downward vision, Eiji saw that his left foot had totally missed Yamashita's. Yamashita's rearward right foot had twisted to the side and precisely evaded the trap – even if Eiji was sure he had completely concealed his line of attack.

A loud boom penetrated both their bodies when Eiji's knuckles finally met flesh. Instead of his expected reaction, Yamashita instead pushed both palms down at Eiji's special punch and with her entire weight behind it, threw both feet back behind her as if dodging a sword slice aimed at her ankles and propelled her body into the air. In the slow unraveling moments Eiji watched as Yamashita's feet floated upwards in a coy position that looked like that childhood playground scene when a little girl would command her entire body relaxed and leapfrog in reverse over her friend's body. Instead of taking the full brunt of the impact she slowly folded her arms and legs by the elbows and knees, then like an uncompressing spring, floated backwards, gradually she accordioned outwards - dissipating the force as she flew effortlessly.

Eiji looked on at the spectacularly improbable defense he had never seen before. In reply Yamashita's hard scowl didn't change. "The first thing you need to know, Eiji Kisaragi," Yamashita whispered to herself under her breath, "is that I am NOT as weak as you think…"

From the edge of the Ninja captain Yamashita's toes – a hard snap and as it was followed by silence… a SONIC BOOM erupted from her BLEEDING toes.

…

"This is madness!" The ninja, 1, leapt up a stand with his clawed hands splayed open by his sides in disbelief. "Eiji-dono, is, he is actually being pushed back."

"Not just pushed back…" 6 interjected absentmindedly, I knew the Captain was good, but, she was able to stop his blind attack!"

The one other boy, 3, pushed up his brass antiqued spectacles along the bridge of his nose. "Our Captain, the 8th Ninja captain of Yagami palace. This is indeed insanity…"

"3!" 1 turned behind him and roared in disbelief. "This is impossible! 3," he repeated. "Is Eiji really this weak?" he stammered, catching himself in mid question.

"In Yagami palace," 3 droned to himself, "for every ten soldiers, is 1 captain." He said pushing one index finger out. "There are ten Ninja captains," now all ten fingers stretched radiantly, "to which Captain Yamashita is the 8th…"

The 8th Ninja captain of Yagami palace.

"I do not need a refresher, 3! What in the world is going on?" 1 cut in.

Ignoring his seniour's convoluted rants, 3 continued. "For all the Ninja captains, three Ninja masters, including Master Makoto-dono exist under Hajime Yagami-dono." 3 plucked his three middle fingers upwards now in Japanese fashion.

"Then." 1 wouldn't let himself be ignored as the rapid beat continued to keep the pace. "Is Eiji-dono really that WEAK?"

"NO!" 3 pointed at the old man just as his right arm reached the end of its journey. "Eiji Kisaragi, out of all of Yagami palace, far overpowers ALL the Ninja masters, and they say, even the abilities of Ninja master Makoto-dono."

"Eh?!" 6 couldn't help the shriek escape his lips.

"Then," 1 came to a terse deduction. "Is Captain Yamashita even stronger than all the Ninja masters, and as strong as Hajime Yagami-sama? Even stronger than…"

Is the 8th Ninja captain of Yagami palace… even STRONGER than Iori Yagami-dono?

…

The ranking of the captains have no relation to their physical ability, you know that.

The one other boy, 3, pushed up his antiqued spectacles along the bridge of his nose. "For every ten soldiers, is one captain." He said pushing one index finger out. "There are ten Ninja captains, to which Captain Yamashita is the 8th…"

"Then, if ranking has no bearing…" 4 in turn said his piece. "Ten captains and three masters - Is Captain Yamashita the most powerful fighter in Yagami palace?"

…

In the slow unraveling moments Eiji watched as Yamashita's feet floated upwards in a coy position that looked like that childhood playground scene when a little girl would command her entire body relaxed and leapfrog in reverse over her friend's body.

"My name is Masao. The 8th Ninja Captain of Yagami palace. 20 years old." He said plain; crossing his arms and pulling his shoulders back proudly.

A boom and a hiss when the pressure relieved itself from our ears as Eiji's blow was harmlessly released from the Ninja captain's toes that were free, and never enslaved by the Earth the would seek to imprison her.

Yamashita was the now known as the 8th noble Captain of the Yagami palace.

"Even if no one else remembers you – I DO. Masao." Yamashita said.

I remember you SO much – and I do remember the one GIFT you, in your cold senseless world, had bestowed unto me…

"Out of all the three masters, and ten captains of Yagami palace…" 3 concluded, "In terms of physical, mental, and tenacious ability… Captain Yamashita-dono…"

"I remember you! 8th Captain of Yagami palace."

…Yamashita is actually, of all the Ninja captains, the most WEAKEST.