The Colour Purple Chapter 93: Stargazers, 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 2016]

"Ah… Captain Jackson."

…and so they could not help but the two men walked in a slow pace into the jaws of death. The tension in Jackson's eyes slowly relaxed sense of realization – from denial, to acceptance. This was something they had accepted many decades ago. "A." Jackson sighed.

He did not realize it then, but at that time, a slight yellow mist began to rise from his shoulders. In the same way, the warmth manifested itself in similar colours on the spectacled boy's own body.

Let us return to our families. And to… the void.

One then two tall yellow pillars launched up into the sky like spotlights piercing the sky.

"THERE IS NOTHING LEFT!" A single boy's voice said.

"Ehhh?" The spectacled boy whispered lethargically.

"We have no more families to return home to."

"Our family is here." One voice and another followed. Every single day – an existence of bland, tasteless indifference. Another young voice held his tracks, stood fast, turned around…

I will be your sword.

WE will be your SWORD.

But… in exchange…

The emotion on Jackson's face – from despair and torment, began to twist and turn into one of sorrow, when his eyes began to melt into a mass of confusion. "No… not…"

"Do not you back away now, Jackson." The spectacled boy hunched down and ripped his left hand into Jackson's bicep. Immediately, he turned his Captain around and with his right hand, grabbed Jackson's collar and pulled his captain's face in. "You SAID, that you would take responsibility… for ALL of us."

Beyond his control, a spiraling wind, from the balls of his feet, up his ankles, his shins, thighs, torso and in his face – a yellow glow had replaced the crimson red flame that once enveloped each of them.

"Sat…" Jackson said.

"Do NOT give up on us now. If you dare gamble your life," the boy said, ramming his forehead into his captain's. You will not be let free, so easily, "If you gamble [it]…"

Then you will gamble with each – and - every one of our lives.

…

A Sequence of Uneventful Mornings 28. A sweet pain.

…

One by one. One then two, four eight sixteen and twenty-two. "Show us."

Twenty-eight red Kusanagi flames, tested and tried for over a decade – finally thirty-three red-orange flames extinguished themselves, and a mob of boys stood waiting with a yellow hue wrapping itself around them in a mix of hot and cold.

"IN exchange, Captain Jackson… Show us…"

For what reason we squandered our youth for you and Captain Miura. Show us.

That our lives, like every English word, had meaning. Only then…

…can we have no regret. As we follow you to hell, to die with noble purpose.

…

in 1980 in the underground tournament of the King of Fighters '80.

The chunks of dismembered appendages, flesh, blood and bone, decorated the walls.

Saishyuu Kusanagi, Ivan-Vladm'hr Von Krauser, and… R.

"Do you dare face the Kings of Fighters?" R. said with a snide grin, he could still remember that summer, when he and his friends were still young men – unafraid of the future - oblivious to the horrors of the world. They wished that everyday would be nineteen eighty.

…

"Today, do we go to the Princess' tower?" One ninja asked.

"Princess Kaori's tower," the spectacled ninja repeated.

…

The fourth, third, seventh, ninth, sixth, and the remnants of the first and second Kusanagi brigade stood uneasy in guard outside the cold, completely surrounding the concrete building that housed Kaori Kusanagi like ants. A force easily seventy strong stood on edge around that building peppering the grounds around it.

"Master," a ninja boy looked up to his leader in an uneasy gaze. "Master, if the 6th and 8th…?"

"They will come. They will come quick, and they will come sudden, boy." The Ninja Master drew his sword at the ready. "Just as we stand here, ready and waiting, I am certain…"

That they will not run. They will come. And we will kill each other.

"Master…"

"We will destroy them," the master said. "Defend the Princess. This is the duty you have prepared for, these last ten years, my boy. You must defend the Princess at all costs."

I am certain that they will not run. They will come. And we will kill each other. It is that simple.

Beep Beep... Beep.

That sound once again, a dark shape floated up in the sky. A dark God who watched.

…as everyone suffered. As everyone died – for his sins.

…

Yoshiki Kusanagi weaved all 10 fingers in between each other, nestling his chin on its perch uneasily. The Ninja Master who stood behind his lord stared uneasily, as every moment passed, he wanted to say something, something – but with every breath he took, his voice would not dare escape his lips.

"How. Why…" Yoshiki Kusanagi, the patriarch of Kusanagi palace broke the silence…

"Kusanagi-sama," the Master addressed his lord.

"Send more of your men to the Princess tower." Kusanagi instructed.

"The fifth and the tenth must remain around the palace. Our best men must protect you. The rest can defend Princess Kaori."

"No, no, master." Kusanagi droned, whispering to himself. "We have to stop Eiji at all costs. He must not succeed – or else, our honour…"

"No, Kusanagi-sama," the master replied again. "There is no need to send more troops to the tower, those men are enough. If…"

If… I… He held his breath and along with his voice, his thought stretched out – only to be captivated and entranced all of a sudden by the uncertainty of the darkness.

If?

The master felt a strange feeling in the back of his neck. The familiar sensation when two rusted gears, iron teeth caught amidst each other, had all of a sudden, stopped a once well oiled machine.

Yoshiki Kusanagi looked over to his loyal servant who stopped in mid speech and simply looked outwards into the edges of darkness at the far reaches of the Kusanagi throne room – to the end of the long corridor. Into a void of realization. "What? If? If what?" Yoshiki Kusanagi asked.

Into the void the ninja master stared – and as a calm reply, the monster that lay deep in the dark bloody unknown, two savage slit eyes stared back at him…

…

"NNNG…. HAGGHH.. NNNGGG!" the ninja boy grabbed his right wrist with his left, pressing down hard in the vain attempt to stop the blood from erupting through his fingertips. Is inner arm was now cut wide open and it was only a matter of time. "Go, there is no time…" he said.

His enemy rushed in from the cloud of 6 ninja soldiers.

The ninja boy was able to unsheathe his short sword to save his life, but the blade was still able to deflect the blow, and still, the edge of his enemy's sword still dug deep into his left collarbone. His wounded right hand gushed red blood down his arm that collected into a deep pool by his feet, and the sword that was in his neck in due time also opened up into a geyser that painted his enemy's face in red.

But that enemy's face was not twisted in hatred nor did it reflect malice. Instead, under that mask his eyes had drooped into a trembling agony. "I… I am sorry. I am so sorry." His enemy pleaded.

"I am sorry as well."

"Are you prepared?" I am prepared my friend. Then the things fell from the sky.

Glorious, brilliant, wonderful things…

His enemy pulled his sword up, clouding their entire world in a red fog that intermixed with the tears that ran down his trembling face. A face that was a different kind of hatred. It was a picture that asked a question – twisted in rage – as to just ask why – why was he here, to kill his friend. "I am SORRY! FORGIVE ME!"

"A…" The boy's arms dropped down when the blood pressure dropped so low he could hardly hold himself up.

"NO!" Another sword cut in a rising diagonal arc. The ninja from the 8th Legion rushed forward to deflect the neck height execution and rammed their assailant's body away.

We have come – to kill each other.

"Saotome!" The ninja from the 8th legion reached out. It was all too late when his comrade dropped to the ground. KIISSSAAMMMAAAA! GOD DAMN IT! He was unable to save his comrade.

"A?" It was the last thing his enemy said. He, of the 10th legion had killed his friend, Saotome, and in exchange a short dagger drove itself violently into his right eye. In his dying breath he gripped his sword tight and began to pull it up to at least take the life of the 8th legionnaire who drove the knife into his face. A. He breathed out, it was okay, this was indeed penance. The sword dropped to the ground, and in the next instant, his wish was granted and he joined his friend on the ground, a mixture of salty wet tears and blood ran down the handle of that knife. Ryuuga…

"DAMN IT! GOD DAMN IT!" The echoing voice was cut abruptly by a bubbling viscous goo that rose up his throat. Looking outwards in confusion, a sword's tip floated in front of Ryuuga's face – like a blossoming flower, the tip of a long blade rose from his chest, an enemy had driven a sword, hilt deep into his back.

"Ryuuga." A familiar voice whispered behind him. "I am sorry."

"NNNNNNNGGG…" Ryuuga, of the 8th legion wheezed.

"Aghhhkkgh."

"Ryuuga, we have to stop, stop killing each other." The ninja begged.

…

"A." Eiji gasped in labored breaths as he stumbled when both his legs were broken and barely able to keep himself upright. It was very early morning, and the sun was just about to break at dawn. However for some peculiar reason, for a manner of confusion – one he could not comprehend. Just as the sun was about to rise and paint the morning in a warm bright glow, for an instant, the sky had become cold and once again been enveloped in a reversal of darkness.

One by one, gems appeared in the black canvas, from dusk, the heavens reverted back into twilight by some peculiar reason, the dark sky began to sparkle – with small studded jewels. Then, one of these stars twinkled so brightly, before it shook violently and fell from the sky, a glittering tail streamed behind it.

"A shooting star?"

…

"Ryuuga?" The ninja said again when he felt a hard impact drive into his chest like he had been hit by an automobile. Around their feet, were the scattered bodies of a half dozen ninjas from the 5th and 10th legion.

Ryuuga, at the edge of consciousness reversed the hold on his sword from sabre grip to reverse hammer grip and drove it with all his might behind him. In the end, in exchange, he was able to deal a fatal blow to the friend who had stabbed his sword, hilt deep into his back.

"Ah..." It was first a look of horror accentuated by the rising breaking dawn, then with a cool wind the sunlight cowered in fear and surrendered to the dark of the sky that had slowly turned the morning dark like an oncoming typhoon. The world became powerless as it faced its end. "Ah… Ryuuga." The torrid horror was replaced with a reassuring smile. His opponent was able to counter at his dying breath – as was expected from a great and powerful ninja of the greatest Kusanagi 8th legion. Even when he knew he was dying, he put his left hand and grabbed a handful of Ryuuga's uniform at his shoulder and pulled his friend in. This was his penance – selfishly he would not continue to live in sin. He pulled his friend in tight without remorse.

"AGH!" Ryuuga grunted one last time. A sword punctured his left side in between his ribs. Then two, three and four. Six ninjas from the 5th and 10th legion in quick succession torpedoed head first, and skewered Ryuuga where he stood, their swords decorating his body with steel ornaments that resembled an asterisk.

Ryuuga took one last deep breath, the cloth of his mask suffocating his mouth as it was sucked in. He closed his eyes, and silently his thoughts were thrust up into the heavens. Eight swords stabbed him from all directions.

Is this… what you wanted to show us? This.

This – great – wonderful thing?

The camera that saw the world rose up to the sky, then twisted round and round – and in those moments Ryuuga – of the 8th Legion saw himself, his own body at its dying moments as his soul rose fearlessly to the sky above.

…

"Falling stars?"

In the dark velvet sky two three four and eight stars dropped as comets in rapid succession. As many beautiful stars that peppered the sky, soon Eiji was afraid that they would all disappear and would no longer be able to guide his way.

"Everyone… you…" Eiji said with a longing stare. "…all of yyo…ou…"

Do not pity a falling star…

…for a falling star's soul purpose… Yuri Sakazaki clasped her fingers in prayer.

…

"Mister star…" Yuri, 4 years old, begged. "Mister star in the sky." Hoshi-san, yo.

…and now twenty six stars came dislodged from their thrones in heaven and streamed down in a beautiful, silent parade across the morning sky that had turned back into night. Tonight, tonight, we will be riding home together. Together.

…

Into the void he stared – and as a reply, the monster that lay deep in the dark bloody unknown, two savage slit eyes stared back at him…

"What?! IF WHAT!?

Kusanagi palace. "Kusanagi-sama." The ninja master's voice finally bubbled up his throat and ebbed from his lips that hid under his mask. Despite it all, he could not hide the horror of realization in his eyes. "If I were Captain Jackson… I would…"

…

"Master…" the boy said uneasily taking a step… A horde of ninja soldiers surrounded the Princess' tower.

"MASTER!" one of his soldiers drove his upper body out and over the topmost window of the Princess Tower. "The princess!, she has… MASTER!"

WHA-BOOOGHOOM!

The full, hard, low frequency tremor forced a fourth of the ninja army two steps back. The explosion from the gun powder kegs locked deep in Kusanagi palace's armory roared so violently all at once, it seared the flesh from their cheeks even from so far away.

The boy twisted his heels on the ground below and swerved around in fright. "Master!"

From the gaze of an ant beneath his toes, the camera of the world hurled itself like a flaming automobile into his ankles, the vision running up his thighs, hips, waist, torso, round and round his body. Neck and head, and in the finality of it all, that ant's frame of vision locked itself with the ninja boy as his head tilted up in the sky. A large chunk of Kusanagi palace had been blown apart from the tremendous explosion.

"They…"

They are attacking KUSANAGI PALACE!

"Master, what do we…" the boy tuned around, but his Master was already in flight, running across the front yard of the tower and with a superhuman ability, drove his foot into the concrete wall in front of him – without any assistance he was already half way up the tower wall. An ability, a superhuman strength drove him past his peers up that concrete wall.

"Master!" Another boy reached out from the Princess' window to grab the master at his forearm. He tilted back and pulled the body up and into the dark room. "Maste…"

The third Kusanagi ninja master, drenched in cold sweat did not even care to acknowledge his subordinate's plea when he stumbled into the room, his face skidding on the wooden floor. He pushed his boy's body aside to steady himself and continued to launch himself towards the Princess' bed.

Master. The Princess.

The Ninja Master, with both arms pulled back the sheets.

"NNNGGgmmPPGHHHHH." A muffled voice was what greeted him.

"You… youuseless…"

Instead of his Princess' sleeping body, the master found instead the squirming body of an old maid under the sheets, her mouth gagged and her hands tied behind her back. The old crone had failed, and they were protecting a nothing instead.

"Ehhhh…" The master snarled, feeling a chainsaw rip the soft flesh in his throat, making his invisible blood splatter across the room. HE pulled his mask down in rage. "Eiiighhh…"

EEEEiiiiIIIIJJiiiIIIIII! EIIIIIJI KISARAGIIIII!"

…

"Hegh…" The young Eiji laughed.

Kaori Kusanagi stood in her tracks and heaved her one and only true love over the shoulder of her small body as the couple stumbled to escape from the Kusanagi stronghold. Eiji's body slowly became warm ad its life began to seep back. Despite the difficulty she faced walking with about half of Eiji's weight on her shoulders, she cared not for the fatigue and continued to support her love away from the fiery picture behind them. "Darling... are you…"

"I am here… Kaori…" Eiji said. "Dou da…" What now? Eiji mocked.

What shall you Do?

…

"Today, do we go to the Princess' tower?" One ninja asked.

"Princess Kaori's tower," the spectacled ninja repeated. "No."

"No?"

"NO. That man does not need us. No. We attack Kusanagi Palace."

…

"What?! IF WHAT!

"Kusanagi-sama." The ninja master's voice finally bubbled up his throat and ebbed from his lips that hid under his mask. Despite it all, he could not hide the horror of realization in his eyes. "If I were Captain Jackson… I…"

If I were Jackson…

The master looked outwards into the void, and in response, four eyes looked back, slashing slits in the dark cloth and looked back.

"Kusanagi…" Jackson said. WAHHHABOOOGHHHMM! The building rocked underneath their feet when the master steadied himself from the soul-ripping tremor that made him lock his grip on the Kusanagi throne.

…

"Eiji, your friends…" Kaori turned her face to Eiji's, begging – PLEADING. "Your friends. We have to go back. Eiji."

"No." Eiji replied. "No. NO! Keep on going." Keep on walking.

Instead, a star should be ENVIED. For it was able to fulfill its one lifelong obligation.

"Darling…" Kaori twisted her hips to pull her lover up on her small shoulders.

"Do not pity them…" Eiji growled. "Look forward. Keep on walking."

For as many stars there are in the sky…

Please. Keep walking my love.

She was never able to convince the man otherwise, once he had made a decision, so Kaori Kusanagi continued to carry Eiji's arm over her shoulder and at a turtle's pace, her face twisted in a sour look, her eyes closed in sadness continued to walk away. Accepting in her selfishness, a penance that would one day come to collect in a life of borrowed time.

That dark sky – supported them. The dark sky was now aglitter with a sparkling glow – now – a decade of stars of forty-nine had begun to fall.

…

Grasping his beloved textbook he recalled one thing. If you are Jackson and he is Miura, then it is only fitting…

"Kusanagi…" Jackson said. WAHHHABOOOGHHHMM! The building rocked underneath their feet when the master steadied himself from the soul-ripping tremor that made him steady himself on the Kusanagi throne.

A chuckling sound, the young spectacled boy pushed his master back and took two steps forward. Unconsciously, as he always did without his knowledge – he looked upon Yoshiki Kusanagi. Face to face – and eye to eye.

"Do you remember my name? Yoshiki Kusanagi?" The spectacled boy growled.

~The Sum of Uneventful Mornings. ~ This was the first end of the world.

Chapter 93: Stargazers