Before we go any further: I know it can be intimidating to see a large word count, but it's mainly the fight scenes that jack it up so quickly. I try to write fights to be a smooth read, so you can follow the action and not feel like you're getting bogged down. There is a pretty large one at the end, which is why you'll see a rather alarming word count for this chap.

Shoutout to my reviewers, the bots. Hey if you wanna be helpful, then bloat up my Kumite 2 reviews and get it to 500 already! I've been itching to see it get there for years now lol.

Enjoy the action. And Bonne Jenet. She's great.

When she got back in that night, Robert was understandably livid. It took all her feminine wiles to calm him down and convince him to just let them go to bed and revisit the issue in the morning. That was without even going into details about the dashing hero in black that had rescued her.

"Oh my god Yuri, look at your face!"

A swollen-cheeked Yuri sighed loudly, expecting this fiery reaction from her big brother, which was drowning out her dad's own loud disapproval. She knew it was coming, so she simply took it. Was her own fault anyway.

"I'm gonna kill em. I swear to god they're not gonna get away with-!"

"Oh give it a rest, Ryo." Yuri finally shut him down. "The problem's already solved."

"In any case, nobody else goes out by themselves anymore." Takuma commanded. "I MEAN IT. Not even to get milk."

"Okay, so," Robert interjected, "Tell us again... about who rescued you?"

As the subject finally hit that, Yuri got googly-eyed and grabbed her blushing cheeks. "Oh my god, it was amazing! I was getting beat up, and then out of nowhere, this caped crusader threw a rose and then jumped in and beat the shit out of everybody! Ahh...he was so handsome~"

"He?" Robert's eye cocked.

"Well actually, they had a G Mantle mask on...he, she, I don't know what they were, but...ahhh it was magical! It was straight out of Sailor Moon: a dashing hero throws a rose and saves the beautiful maiden from danger... ahhhhhhh~"

"Do you seriously hear yourself right now?" Ryo deadpanned. "Are you still my sister?"

"Shut up Ryo, it's not against the law to be a romantic sometimes."

"Well Robbie, I hate to break it to you," Ryo slapped him on the back, "But it looks like you lost Yuri to some G Mantle-dressed vigilante."

"I STILL WANT ROBBIE!" she screeched. "It's just... they were amazing. Just swooped in, beat the bad guys, then disappeared into the night. A silent hero...one that Southtown doesn't deserve, but needs right now."

Takuma, throughout all this, had a hand on his chin, deep in thought. He spoke up. "This masked hero...did you study their moves at all?"

Yuri put a finger to her chin, looking upwards. "Umm well no, it happened too fast. It was night time. All I really saw were some fireballs, a flying kick, and a nifty knee and elbow strike."

Takuma, eyes closed, nodded. "It sounds familiar..."

Robert was also putting it together. "Well, there is one person I know that owns a G Mantle costume."

...When the revelation hit her, Yuri's face became a crimson mask.

Mary lounged around in a tanktop and shorts, as she had gotten accustomed to, a half-empty can of beer in her hand, and could barely muster the courage to leave the couch. A few more cans, she feared she'd become like her red-haired bestie, boxer and fellow agent who famously loved to throw them back.

Regardless, this was the reality she lived in. She'd popped an asshole's kneecap, to accompany the already-wearying depression and jadedness she felt from events that transpired last Kumite. Now, being oppressed by a kingpin ten times worse than Geese... it was enough to reduce her to a couch potato who had few motivations beyond food, drink, and affection.

Luckily, affection came through the doorway to give her a boost. "You drinking already, babe? I should call Vanessa, she'll be delighted. Probably try to come over and join in."

Mary flashed a coy smirk. "If Vanessa comes over, you'll be making two or three convenience store trips minimum."

He chuckled. Mary scooted over enough for him to join her, and they sat together, watching pointless news drone on. Things they didn't care about, because they had much bigger problems.

"...You mad at me for last night?" he laid out the dirty laundry.

"I'm not mad... just think you're slightly hypocritical." Mary relentlessly responded. "Weren't you the one preaching about how we had to be smarter? I told Rock that, and then you drag him into a restaurant brawl."

"I didn't let him get involved." Terry emphasized. "I'm trying to... keep his profile low."

"Well, beating up a gang of Big soldiers isn't the best way to do that."

He looked down. "I know... I was wrong. It was just... dammit, it was heat of the moment. It just...HAPPENED, and I couldn't back out of it! Maybe I'm just better off not leaving the house either."

She felt bad for laying into him so harshly. A short silence trickled, until she grinned and tried to reverse the mood. "Well, on the bright side... if you stay home, you can spend more time with me."

That caused a smile to peek through. "Well, there are worse ways to spend a day."

Terry turned on the couch, facing her, both wearing wide smiles now. They leaned in, and their lips touched; Mary deepened it, and threw her arms around him, collapsing backwards, pulling him atop her. They held the kiss for a moment before Mary broke off to breathe.

"Things suck lately, Ter Bear. But as long as I have you here, I can keep going."

Terry pressed his forehead against hers. "That's exactly how I- OHSHITROCKY!"

Their impromptu moment of intimacy was interrupted when Terry's peripheral vision picked up a third body, and they turned their heads to notice an extremely flustered Rock Howard, blushing as his red eyes darted around everywhere but them.

"H-hey Rocky... I'm sorry." Mary nervously chuckled. "I'm still getting used to you being-"

"It's fine it's fine it's fine." Rock stammered, with equal nervousness. "I'm headed out anyway, so you can guys can... be all lovey-dovey as much as you want."

"You're heading out?" Terry's brow furrowed.

"I'm NOT gonna get in any trouble." Rock put his hands up. "I just wanna catch up. It's been a while."

They looked at each other, then back at Rock, their expressions unchanging. But they knew they couldn't hold him captive here- especially not as long as he'd been away from Southtown.

"Rocky just... be careful. Please." Mary pleaded.

"I will. I promise."

"Feed Anton on your way out, will ya?"

Rock was eager to hit the town today: to get re-acquainted with the place he'd left behind for years, in his journey of self-discovery. He did desire to go out with honest intentions... but truth be told, it would be a lie to say there was no latent desire to run upon Big's thugs, and give them a thrashing or three. In just one day, enough had happened to get his temperament to boiling, and he felt like he hadn't had a proper chance to truly unleash his wrath on the bullies that were abusing the people he loved.

Of course, Terry and Mary wouldn't approve. He didn't care.

His stroll down the streets took him past Pao Pao Café, where he couldn't help but peer inside...the place looked so bland. So miserable. Only a few bodies lingering, no live music playing... what were they even using the place for? It was an absolute waste of the most rocking joint in all of Southtown.

His fists trembled, as he tried to suppress the urge to just storm in there, and liberate the place that had brought so much liveliness and energy to their fair city. He finally tore his eyes away, took a deep breath... and walked on.

"Just keeeeeeep walking, Rocky... keeeep walking."

He spent the next hour hitting up the closest places: a few food stands, a clothing shop, a videogame store. He tried to find something that he could play with Terry and Mary. Anything he could do to restore the feeling of normalcy, if only in his brain. If ever a moment passed that he was taken away from his stimuli, he would always go back to those same grim places: back to the reality they were in. Back to wondering what the alternatives were. Back to thinking about who wasn't here right now, and whether things would be... "better" with him here.

"Gasp... Rock? Is that you?! ROCK! HEEEEY ROOOOOOOOOOOCK!"

Just before his brain's perilous plunge back to that dark place, he was thankfully snapped out of it by a familiar female voice... one he couldn't forget if he tried. Distinct as it was, her appearance was just as so, and Rock knew he'd be able to pinpoint her quickly, even in the crowd. He scanned around for a minute, until his peripheral caught a moving white object...

...Sure enough, there she was, beautiful aqua eyes lit with joy, as she leaped up and down, waving at him. Her blonde hair flailing behind her.

Bonne Jenet. Oh boy.

Rock scratched his head nervously as she came jogging over there, drawing a crowd with the embarrassing amount of bouncing happening in her top. She wasn't dressed in her normal purple pirate dress; she looked actually dolled up for a legitimate day on the town. Pink lipstick, pink pumps, a pair of transparent pink sunglasses... the white stick of a lollipop hanging out of her mouth, probably pink as well. The only thing non-pink about her was her clothes: a matching set of white cotton drawstring slacks, and a knotted white blouse that was tied well above her navel, and displayed an excessive amount of cleavage... but perhaps most flustering to the boy was the fact that her pink undergarments were bleeding right through her white fabric, and the strings of a thong were peeking out of her waistband.

Despite being the most attention-attracting thing on the block, the pirate queen ignored all spectators. She took the sucker out of her mouth (yep, pink) and approached her old colleague, arms wide in a hug. "I missed you! Cmere, cmere~!"

Rock just smiled uncomfortably and backed away, repelling hands sticking upwards. "Uhhh hey Jenet. Been a while. I really wasn't expecting to see you here."

"Well, sometimes I like to drop anchor and come hang out in my little home away from home away from home~" Jenet winked, deliberately saying that as confusing as possible, since she resided in the UK, and a pirate ship, and sometimes this place. "But how are YOU? I haven't seen you in years now! You missed two tournaments!"

"Yeeeah, I know about the Kumites. How'd you do?"

A humble giggle. "Eheheheh, wellllll... I lost big time. Both years. But, I had a great time! Even made a special friend."

"A special friend, eh?"

"Yep! We went on heists together."

"...Lovely."

The pirate queen did a playful twirl, and clapped her hands. "We should hang out! You wanna go do something? Do ya? Do ya?"

He scratched his head. "Well, I don't have anything planned. Do you?"

"Nope, I'm totally free! Wanna go walk on the pier at Sound Beach?"

He smiled. "That'd be nice, actually."

SOUND BEACH

Rock's desire for stimuli brought him to the company of Bonne Jenet, his old acquaintance from a past fighting tournament. Say what one will about Jenet- and there was plenty to say- she knew how to have a good time and capture a room better than anyone he knew. She was so vibrant, so exuberant in her every mannerism... just a short time with her, Rock could feel his spirits lifting, reminding that there was still beauty to be found, even in the murkiest waters.

On Sound Beach, surrounded by the azure waters, and the colorful attires of the beachgoers on the pearly sand, everything felt alright for a moment.

"So where all'd you go?" Jenet walked beside him, catching up on all their endeavors.

"I mostly stayed in Japan, but I trickled into Europe a few times, visited Turkey, Georgia, Bulgaria. Just wanted to see the other half of the world... the part of the world away from all this. If you catch my drift."

"You went to Europe and didn't join the Kumites? Jeeez, Rock! I bet you could have dominated the competition with your skills!"

He blushed at bit at the compliment. "Ahhhh I'm not that good... probably not good enough for the likes of Kyo, or Iori."

She playfully pushed him. "Aw, don't be so humble, you cutie! You know you're an awesome fighter!"

"Welllll I guess I-"

Their conversation was halted when Rock spotted something in his peripheral: several bodies were in motion, and it didn't look like fun.

"Hey, what's going on down there?"

They raced off the pier, down onto the beach where the commotion was happening. There were several swimsuit-clad women, and they appeared displeased to be courted by a group of sketchy-looking men not dressed for water. They looked to be arguing; at least one extended his hand to grab one of the ladies, but was shoved away. Eventually, one man in swimming trunks approached the group and tried to intervene- one of them must have been his girlfriend- but as soon as he tried to step in, one of the men stepped forth and punched him in the face, knocking him into the sand.

Rock's fighting fury blazed once more.

"HEY! LEAVE THEM ALONE!"

Once the duo got into range, the unpleasant men turned their attention away from the ladies, who took the opportunity to help the man up and retreat. Thankfully, they had eyes for a new girl now; in this case, Jenet's loud attire benefited them.

"Hey heyyyyy, if it isn't Bonne Jenet." one of them recognized her. "The Bangin' Buccaneer herself."

Jenet rolled her eyes and groaned; she must have them as well. "Ughh, not you guys again. Out scoping more talent?"

Rock turned. "Talent?"

"Yeah. Some of the gangsters like to go around, soliciting women to 'work for them'. Especially on beaches. This group has actually approached me two or three times now."

The thug in front, with an obnoxious combover and a blue button-up shirt, stepped forth. "I keep waitin' for you to wise up and join the club, pirate babe. You roll with Big's Crew, you're set for life. All you need's 30 minutes and a camera, and we'll make you a movie star."

Jenet gave a coy chuckle. "Well, I'm not exactly camera shy, but the idea of working for you stinking thugs doesn't exactly get my seas foamy, if you know what I mean."

"How about being a millionaire, would that do it?" he sneered. "Join up with us, and you can RULE this town! It'd be a waste not to put that ass on the market; you got it, you might as well use it."

A loud, booming laugh was her response. "Ahhhh HAHAHAHAHA! Well you see, my friends, this is where you've screwed up. You're so focused on my arse that you haven't noticed... my chin is up... my tits are out... and you have failed to..."

...Rock literally jumped as she got the most maniacal look on her face and screamed:

"WATCH FOR THE SHOEEEEE!"

The thugs were so thoroughly confused that they had no chance of seeing the next move coming: Jenet threw her leg up in a front kick, which appeared to miss... but her shoe dislodged and flew out, smacking the man before her directly in the bridge of his nose.

As he fell down, the shoe ricocheted back into her hand, and she caught it and swung it to the left, clobbering the next man in the temple, before bringing the shoe back the other way and smacking the man on the right.

The thugs finally realized they were in a fight, and mobilized. "B-bitch! GET HER!"

She knelt down to put her shoe back on, and they thought they had an opening; they quickly forgot who was standing beside her, and when they tried to swing, Rock showed no mercy.

"AGH!"

"UGH!"

His fist found the stomach of one, who folded into him, and he used the guy's body as a shield to shove him into the charging group behind him, stunning them all long enough for the fighting duo to really put in their best work. He rushed forward with a charging fist, laying out another with a clean straight, He blocked a punch and punished the dealer with a body blow, into a stabbing elbow, tip aimed between the eyes. None of them could stand up to the boy's power; even his half-strength blows toppled them easily.

Jenet brought her foot down on the toe of a sandal-wearing idiot, getting him hopping in pain, before pumping out a cheeky backhanded slap to his nose that felled him to his knees. She spun around with a back kick, burying that deadly heel of her shoe into the stomach of an attacker, hard enough that it probably turned his navel inwards. Her body moved as fluid as the waters she sailed upon, as a fist passed by her head and she was able to knee the perpetrator in the stomach, grabbing his head and shoving him backwards before he could fall all the way, to deliver a coup de grace: a kick so powerful it unleashed her gale chi, and blew him into a giant sand pile.

"RISING TACKLE!"

Rock finished off the last one in style: his dad's trademark move, a missile-powered upkick that devastated the chin of the unfortunate final thug, and sent him flying into a collision with the mercifully soft sand beneath them.

"Show ladies with respect!" Jenet thrust her finger out, addressing the now laying, groaning bodies of the felled thugs, who'd gotten a lesson in manners. With a smile, she presented her hand to her face, and blew a kiss, delivering a few parting hearts, before swinging around and throwing an arm around Rock. "Whew, that was a nice workout! Wanna go for milkshakes?"

Rock couldn't help but smile either; he was feeling that tingle. The high of a full-contract street fight, the rush of dropping his enemies with powerful efficiency... it reminded him why he was who he was. Terry may not have been his biological dad, but he was his father's son. "Yeah, I could go for a treat."

After their thrashing duet, they hit up a burger joint. Rock was still buzzing with the sensation of having finally gotten to put his hands on the bad guys; only the cool, creamy sensation of a hand-spun vanilla shake could cool him off. He knew he had to keep it to himself, lest Terry and Mary give him the chewing of a lifetime... but god, it felt good.

Walking down the street, the Garou duo's conversation continued.

"So how long have things here been...the way they are?"

Jenet took the finishing sips of her strawberry shake, moving the straw around to gather remnants. "It's been close to a year now. People were surprised how quickly it happened...but Mr. Big had powerful friends and newfound wealth, which he was able to turn into a massive operation. Now he runs the gamut: drug deals, weapons, prostitution... without Geese here, people are looking to him now for their vices. With his manpower and his posse of fighters, even the police don't dare oppose him. Lots of payoffs, looking the other way, etcetera."

"And it's like this everywhere? What about Second South?"

Jenet's face suddenly took a serious turn, as if giving some ominous message. "Well, funny story...he tried annexing Second South before with his men. But when several Big soldiers wound up dead, and in gruesome ways, and they could never pinpoint the perp...he wised up and backed out."

Rock felt a creep in his spine, talking about the subject of wanton murder; he had a feeling who she was talking about.

"It's funny," she half-chuckled, crumpling her spent cup. "After all the horrible things he's done, who knew Second South would have a silent guardian? Perhaps it was his way of defending his turf... letting them know they weren't welcome in his playpen."

Rock silently exhaled. "Who knew..."

She then abruptly went back to whimsical. "B-but make sure you don't bring that up! Especially around Mary, ehehehe~"

They found a trashcan, and with it, a bench to rest. Tossing their empty cups, they sat down with a large sigh, their first real respite from their feet... somehow, all of Rock's sobering emotions came flooding back, as if all they were waiting on was a moment for him to sit, and slow his roll.

"Sigh... I left to go out on my own for a while, to get away from Southtown, my old man, all this drama that happens every year. But now that I'm back, and I see what all's happened, I just can't shake this guilt. I was off, having my own adventures, while Dad, Mary, Mai, Andy, you, were all being..."

"Hey, cmon. How could you know?" Jenet nudged. "And don't worry, I've been fine! B-besides all the solicitation attempts, ehehehe..."

Rock raised a fist outwards, clenching it in air. "I've got to make things right. I'm not leaving again until this is all over. I promise you that."

Jenet smiled. "You know, if I didn't know you...I would think you were Terry's own. You're both so much alike. You've got caring, valiant hearts. It's an attractive quality to have. Maybe that's why I've got it so bad for the big Wolf~"

Rock's face flushed after hearing that. Jenet just laughed. "Ah, but don't worry, I know that ship has sailed. Cmon, let's go hit up some more stores!"

He shook his head. "I better go check on my folks. Things being how they are, it's uncomfortable being away from em for long periods."

Jenet gave a huge pout. "Awwww but I was having fu-"

Her words stopped. Rock raised an eyebrow as she looked out into the distance, having caught something. Another altercation? He could only turn and try to see it too. "What? What'd you see?"

"Is that...GASP!"

Without warning, she broke into a small jog, in the opposite direction they'd been going. Rock, confused, followed behind her, with still no idea of what exactly she'd seen. Thankfully, she gave him his answer, as she blurted to the top of her lungs:

"BIIIIIIIIIIIILLLLLLLLLYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!"

Now he saw it; he was looking for a single person, not a gang. Sure enough, in the distance, the telltale sign was the long red weapon he carried with him always, like an extension of himself. Denim pants, an unzipped blue jacket that fluttered in the breeze, his bare torso out for all to see...and of course, the Union Jack bandana always atop his shaved head. If the son of Southtown had made his return...so too, did the godchild, the man always at his side, closer than any immediate family.

"Billy Billy Billy BILLY! Wheeeee~!" Jenet caused him to drop his staff as she threw herself onto him in midair, legs wrapping around his waist, arms around his neck. By the time he had a firm grip on her, she was planting kisses on his face. "Mwah! Mwah! MWAH~!"

"Ello to you too," Billy said in a deadpan, if not flustered tone. He finally planted her feet down, but she didn't let up, immediately glomping him again.

"Where have you been?! I haven't seen you around!"

"Just been layin' low, me sis and I. Things haven't been the same lately, obviously."

The staff-wielding Brit finally became aware of the third person present, and this caused a very awkward strain of tension to weigh the air around them. Rock was speechless, as was he, and the two were trapped in a staring contest of sorts, with eyes that teetered the line between confusion and vitriol. He wondered if Billy was caught in the same tangled web of questions that he himself was... not knowing exactly what to say first, because there was so MUCH to say.

This standoff was interrupted by their heads suddenly being pulled into the pirate queen's bosom, her arms around their necks. "We should do something together! Cmon, let's grab a movie!"

Rock was too polite to forcefully break her grasp, but Billy didn't share that same sentiment. "Can't. I got things to do, love."

Jenet, finally releasing her hold, stomped her deadly shoe and frowned. "You guys are being lame! Are you really gonna make me go and hunt a date? It's dangerous out here for a beautiful young lady!"

"I'm terrified for the other blokes." Billy spoke with perfect deadpan.

Realizing she was getting nowhere, Jenet pouted. "Well fine. Have a nice afternoon, you guys. Try to play nice." She walked off and got a fair distance, but stopped and turned back around, with one last parting message. "And I'm coming back for you later Billy, so don't you dare skip town! You're not getting away from me again!" She pressed her hands to her lips and blew a kiss, producing a pink heart that floated all the way to where Billy stood. It faded right before reaching him.

With Jenet gone, this left the two of them standing there, resuming the stare that the zesty pirate had interrupted. There remained a confusing maelstrom of emotions, standing across from the very man that he trusted, above all others, even family. It wouldn't be a stretch to say he was an extension of Geese himself...did that mean Rock was supposed to hate him? Did that make the man before him his unconditional enemy? Perhaps even arch rival? But the more he thought that... the less right that felt, too.

What seemed like an eternity of awkward, suffocating silence, was finally disrupted by Billy casting the first words.

"So yer back, eh?"

Rock looked at the man, then down at his feet, then back up at him. With a deep nasal breath, he responded. "Yeah...I'm thinking I'm back."

Billy gave a weird clicking noise from his teeth, which Rock couldn't measure. Swiping his foot across the ground, his shoe dipped under his fallen staff, and he kicked it upwards, back into his grasp. "Well, I'm back too."

"Whose side are you on?"

That spontaneous question caused Billy's eyebrows to widen. Rock himself was surprised at how boldly those words escaped his own lips.

With a smirk, Billy draped his staff across his back and turned away. "You should know that answer, kid: only one bloke whose side I'm on. That'll never change."

KYOKUGEN BBQ

Kyokugen BBQ wasn't back up and running at 100% capacity...but then again, it hadn't been to that point, anyway. Therefore, after cleaning up the joint best they could after yesterday's destructive brawl, they reopened the doors and continued to serve anyone brave enough to come seeking tasty Japanese food. They even got a few more customers than usual; perhaps Mickey's words had gotten through to the untamed thugs after all.

The establishment was alive with the sizzle of grilltops, the wafting smell of sweet and savory beef filling the air, accompanied by the warm caress of steam emanating from hot rice and noodle bowls. Despite all the hardships...this was Takuma's pride and joy. Ryo liked it too, though he'd rather devote all his time to Karate training. But this was his father's dream, and he supported it.

"Hey Kemo! Double down on that grilled shrimp miso! Emma, take this to table five." Takuma was as shrewd an instructor in the kitchen as he was in the dojo.

Ryo, meanwhile, was just about done scrubbing the dishes. The frown on his face hadn't dissipated the entire morning, and even now, well into afternoon, there was still but one thing on his mind.

Just a few more rubs. This plate was spotless. He put it down and reached for the final bowl, submerging it into the water with the accompanying rag, swirling it furiously. One more rinse...done.

"I'm calling it a day." With a dismissive toss of the dishrag and his apron, Ryo turned and began to walk off, not even intending to share any further parting words. Takuma sensed his off attitude, and spoke up.

"Leaving in such a hurry?"

"Yuri and Robert's shift is in 20 minutes. I got things to do."

With that blow-off, he kept walking. A savvy Takuma spoke again. "Ryo."

He stopped. Didn't turn.

"I know what you're thinking about. I know what you wanna do. You need to let it go...before you cause more trouble."

With no response, Ryo walked away from his father.

The battle of conscience waged in his head as he walked down the street, destination in mind. There were better things he could be doing. He could clean the dojo, which no longer had any students, as Big's crew chased them off. He could go visit King, and interrogate her about the mysterious G Mantle-dressed figure that rescued Yuri.

But no. He had different plans. Unwise, perhaps even stupid plans.

He finally reached his destination: a fast food joint with open tables, with a humble speaker box and single door to receive orders. On a beautiful, sunny day, it was easy to find Big's thugs hanging out at it, of course not paying for their meals...but he didn't care about them. The one he wanted to talk to was here.

"Heya Mick."

The tall boxer among them picked his head up from his soda and casually greeted. "Ryo. What brings you here?"

"What are YOU doing here?" Ryo redirected.

The boxer took a long sip. "I'm staking out your restaurant, making sure no more mishaps occur."

"Making sure we don't beat your ass again?"

A frown. "No... I'm making sure the men behave, and leave you guys enough customers to stay running."

"Well there is a simple solution to that, you know...you could just leave us alone."

Mickey shook his head. "You know Big's not gonna do that. He's having too much fun with you. You're his playthings; he wants you to know that he holds your fate in the palm of his hand, and can end you whenever he wants."

"And you're right along for the ride. You and the rest of those traitors." Ryo spat. "That makes you no better."

"...Do you know what Big's managed to do for me?"

Mickey took a long, deep gulp, slurping the lingering liquid from beneath the ice bed, before setting his cup down and continuing. "He was able to license me to box again. He did that for me. Raiden's the champ in nearly every wrestling promotion in the south. He and Abobo have even more tag belts. Hwa Jai's a Muay Thai champ ten times over in America now. Mac's Bar got bought, and now it's JACK's Bar."

Ryo scoffed. "So he throws his money and power around a bit, just to keep you guys wiping his ass, and you don't care how far in the depths you sink."

Mickey squeezed his cup forcefully, enough to crumple the plastic top. "You've never known what it's like to be a bum. A nobody. A loser. Nobody gave us the time of day until now...well now we're the ones on top. For the first time, we're respected. We're FEARED."

"Only the ones who can't fight back are scared of you." Ryo shot back. "We can. And we WILL."

Mickey scooted his seat back, and slowly stood up... this caused Ryo's nerves to sharpen. "So what you sayin'? You callin' me out?"

Ryo didn't back down; rather, he stepped forward. "I only want the ones who jumped Yuri last night. All of them. If you want to get involved... I'll take you down too."

Mickey snorted, tiny smile forming. "I'm a capo now, Ryo. I can't just willingly serve my men up to you to be slaughtered. You fight them, you're gonna have to deal with me, and many others too. Think about that."

There was a short silence among them, but Ryo's mind was already well-made. He was too angry to back down. Thus, he stepped forward once more, until he and his old foe were nose to nose.

"The park. Nightfall. Bring whoever you want; I'll smash em' all."

The standoff lasted a few more seconds, before Mickey backed away, sat down, and returned to his drink. "We'll be there. You better NOT be."

SOUTHTOWN PARK

The sun dipped just below the atmosphere, turning the dark orange into a purple hue... that would slowly complete its journey to the dark blue, finally to black of night.

While the majestic violet still lit the sky, Ryo stood on the grassy clearing of Southtown Park, where a concrete path for walking and benches formed a perimeter around the open greenery, forming a perfect pseudo urban arena- almost as if the natural composition of Southtown were designed with fighters in mind. This place would serve perfectly for Ryo's intentions... though it went against his father, and the art he dedicated his life to, the man who bore the title Mr. Karate awaited the arrival of Big's finest, to enact revenge on the cowardly act they made against Yuri the previous night.

Right now, he was no Karate master. He was a brother, seeking to avenge his sister, and his friends. For tonight, he would shed his artificial prestiges, and act only as a passionate family member.

"Come on you bastards... come on... there you are."

Cowardly as Big and associates were, they actually made good on their word: Ryo only had to wait a few minutes before he saw the familiar height- and short black haircut- emerge in the distance, headed his way.

True to his word, he wasn't alone.

"So you showed up after all, old chum." Mickey Rogers smugly stated, as he arrived with no shortage of confidence to this fated meeting.

"Mickey." Ryo nodded. He then turned to the two others flanking him: a rotund biker-looking man in blue, and a disgraced commando in green.

"John. Jack. The gang's all together again." Ryo sarcastically wiggled his fingers. Jack Turner was chewing a wad of pink bubblegum, as always, which he used to blow a hearty bubble. John Crawley's aviator sunglasses shimmered, even in the imminent darkness.

"I also brought my new friend." Mickey turned and pointed to the distance. "Meet Earthquake."

In the distance, he could hear a distinct noise: the chilling rattle of a chain, undoubtedly belonging to a weapon. The noise grew closer... and with it, came a figure Ryo was not familiar with: a HUGE, hulking man, bigger than Krauser, rounder than Jack, dressed in pink, face adorned with blue war paint. This man was no doubt a mercenary, maybe even a contract killer.

"GEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEH!" he guffawed obnoxiously. "I'll slice you up into teriyaki, Japanese boy!" He brandished his fearsome kusarigama as he delivered that threat.

"He's one of Big's favorites." John spoke with a menacing glee, his sunglasses shimmering.

"Well that's great and all," Ryo spoke, bemused, "but you know who I'm really here for. You bring em, Mick?"

"Oh I brought em. COME ON OUT, FELLAS!"

The next to emerge looked more in line with basic foot grunts. The first three arrived by themselves; Ryo couldn't recognize them, since he wasn't at the restaurant when it happened... but he deduced that they had to be the ones responsible for the entire fracas. The helping clues were the fact that these three had battered faces: one with a broken nose, in line with the story Yuri told of punching the man who spanked her.

"This them?!" Ryo's fists clenched.

Jack grinned evilly. "Ah ah... that's not all."

"You said you wanted us..." John grinned. "Well here we are!"

Before Ryo's eyes, three guys became six, which then became ten... which doubled to twenty. In seconds, his sister's butt-smacker, and the guy who scared off that customer, became lost in a sea of bodies that all blended together with the same ill-intent: to hurt him, for daring to challenge Big's Crew. Nothing short of a garrison stood before him now... and at their helm, were the original Three Musketeers who remained loyal to Big above all others. Along with a huge pink guy with a bladed chain weapon.

Mickey stepped forth. "Well Ryo... I told you what'd happen if you challenged us. I spoke to Big about it, and he said to spare no expense. Now, he doesn't want us to kill you, but-"

"I DON'T GIVE A DAMN WHAT THAT BALD DOOFUS SAYS!" Earthquake stomped forward, defiantly. "MY BLADE CRAVES JAPANESE BLOOD!"

"You're bald too, dude." Jack pointed out.

"AND YOU'RE A FATTY TOO!"

Ryo showed no cowardice. "It doesn't matter how many of you there are. I came here to prove that we Southtowners are not defeated yet. No matter how many bodies you throw at us... we're Kings of Fighters! We don't let people push us around!"

"Is there nothing I can do to talk you outta this?" Mickey gave one last warning.

"Nothing."

"Then in that case... sic em, boys." Mickey thrust his hand out, to his goon squad.

The butt-smacker cut his head over, looking displeased. "Wait, you're not gonna help?!"

"We'll back you up," John cut in, "but you're going in first."

"WHAT? That's bullshit!"

"Hey, you made this bed." Mickey pointed. "You're the reason we're out here wasting our night right now. You go first."

"Don't sweat it. We got your back." the third guy from the restaurant brawl nudged his buddy. "LET'S GET HIM BOYS!"

All 20 men charged at him, in a frontal assault. Ryo scanned their hands and observed several weapons mixed in: knives, crowbars, at least one baseball bat... and what looked like a broken piece of wood with nails in it. It would've been the perfect moment for a Haoh Sho Kou Ken... but he couldn't expend such massive chi yet, as that would leave him vulnerable against the more dangerous four.

In that case... time to do this the hard way.

Ryo stepped in with a piston straight left, and met the first charger directly in the face; the force knocked him back hard enough to topple some behind him, which freed Ryo enough to deliver a front kick to another closing in, before shifting left and blocking a knife strike with his forearm, sending the weapon flying out of the goon's hand, opening him up for a counter body punch that felled him. As that man fell, another emerged behind him, thrusting another knife; Ryo caught his arm and hip tossed him to the ground, then slammed his fist downwards into the man's esophagus, producing a gargled whimper.

This momentary opening allowed the bat man to swing, cracking him in the left shoulder. Ryo winced in pain, but was undeterred; he grabbed the bat and delivered a vertical chop, severing it in half, before bringing that same hand back up to smash the bewildered man's nose with a palm. He twisted and fired a combination body palm to straight face punch, dropping another from the right, then got his legs back in the action with a front kick to the face of a left enemy, spinning around with a reverse kick that dropped two others. He had just enough time to get his foot back down, and twist around with a side kick that torpedoed two more trying to ambush him from the left.

"Guh!" Ryo cried out, as he was suddenly caught with a sucker punch from the front. It was the Butt-Smacker.

"How do you like that, Karate Nerd-OOOOOOOoooouuuuufffffffffff..."

Ryo didn't like it... so he repaid by ramming a straight fist into his stomach so powerful, the man who copped a feel of his sister collapsed to his knees and vomited where he sat.

His buddy- the one who scared that innocent family off- tried to retaliate with a swing of his knife, and he managed to nick Ryo across the ribcage; this was the most he'd accomplish. He tried to follow up with a thrust... Ryo abruptly caught his arm, brought him to his knees in a standing armbar... and didn't hesitate.

CRACKKKKKKKKK!

"AAUUUUUUUUUUUUUGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" It was ironic, the one who DIDN'T smack his sister's backside being the one getting his arm broken...but that was the chaotic, unpredictable nature of a fight.

Ryo didn't look back. He was busy battering a foe with a 3-hit combo, driving a fist into his gut, before bringing his left hand up in a short uppercut, finally sending him away with a front kick to the chest. As that man fell, he spun around with a back kick to the stomach of a rear attacker, then was able to bring that foot back forward to kick that wooden nail board to pieces, and punish the man who wielded it with an inside leg kick that buckled him to one knee... then a devastating, executing chop to the back of the head that laid him out cold. He didn't have time to reset his body, so he wisely expended chi, thrusting his hand out. "KOUKEN!" Launching a fast orange fireball that soared and struck two more.

"HE'S ONE MAN! SWARM HIM!" They regrouped and tried their best to rush him, but their numbers had already dwindled, and Ryo had plenty of chi to utilize.

"HIEN SHIPPU KYAKU!" He soared with his trademark flying kick, forceful enough to plow through the entire group at once. Though the one who received the kick had it worst, most of the bodies were pushed back or felled by the domino effect. This gave Ryo ample time to get his defenses up and deal with the scattered forces: a spinning hook kick crashed across the jaw of one, while another swung a crowbar and managed to strike him on the bicep (he'd feel that in the morning) before he was subsequently disarmed and sent on his way with a straight right. He spun around just in time to catch a knife trust, and pumped a short jab into his kidney, stunning him just long enough for a knifehand that busted his nose wide open, and took him instantly out of the fight. He spun back around; had to launch another "KOUKEN!" just to drop the guy coming in.

The next guy in front of him, once again Ryo recognized as the suspected Butt-Smacker... though his counterpart was laying on the ground with a broken arm, he himself was ready to fight again despite the punishing body shot he'd taken earlier. Ryo didn't mind one bit. He'd love to knock this guy down again... and again... and again.

The man who did the deed crept forward, knife in his hand... but he would go no further.

WHIZZZZZZZZZ!

Ryo was confused for a moment as to what happened; all he'd heard was the rattle of a chain and the whistle of a soaring weapon... the next thing he knew, he saw blood from the Butt-Smacker... and to his surprise, the man fell down. He was unresponsive, a massive amount of blood loss from his neck and collarbone area, as a huge gash now resided there.

"You killed our guy, dumbass!" John chastised the doer, Earthquake, who showed zero remorse.

"He got in the way! LEMME AT THIS PUNK!"

Now Ryo got it. They were no longer content to stand on the sidelines. He had to get serious now.

The chained weapon flew again; this time, it was the heavy iron end, which smashed into the ground as Ryo dive rolled at the last second to avoid it. Unfortunately, this left him open, as two goons stepped in and rained punches on him. He had to regain his composure and fight them off, but the chain reaction had already started.

"GRRAHHHHHHHHHHH!" he looked up, and saw Jack's humongous body come SOARING at him, with his trademark Super Dropkick. Ryo had no choice but to flop to the ground to avoid it; if that had hit him he'd be done. As soon as he hit the ground, more thugs ganged up on him and started stomping and kicking him. He was starting to wear... and FEEL the damage now.

'Hnnnghh... GET OFF ME!" Ryo muscled his way back up and pushed the attackers off, sending them away with his best strikes; that's when the kusarigama soared once again, and he leaped to the side in just enough time for the iron end to come sailing past him like a speeding train, and again deal friendly fire to those in its path.

Turner was back up, and on him; the giant unleashed his Knuckle of Fury, but Ryo easily ducked it and drove a fist into his sturdy belly. This wasn't enough to drop Jack, but it stunned him just long enough for Ryo to go airborne, and blast a flying kick into his jaw that sent saliva and his jiggling jowls to the ground. He turned back around... and Mickey was there, with a body rip that legitimately floored Ryo for the first time in this battle.

"Unngffff..." Ryo groaned, on his knees... Mickey stood over, and began winding his fist up, for his most devastating attack, the Chopping Right, but Ryo was smart enough to utilize his position and chop Mickey's legs down with a sweep kick. Ryo rolled backwards and leapt to his feet, just in time for Crawley to come barreling in with his ferocious Flying Attack.

"Aghhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Ryo took the full force of it, as John tore through him with a tornado of yellow chi, the ex-soldier landing on his feet in style, as Ryo was put down for the second... and perhaps last time.

"You're not done are ya, old buddy?" the shades-wearing soldier taunted. He laughed cruelly, as the Karate master struggled back to his feet, looking very labored...

"I warned you this is what would happen!" Mickey harshly declared as he stepped in and threw a left hook that impacted on Ryo's raised forearms, but still sent the Sakazaki backwards as if a clean hit. Ryo stumbled, and felt himself hit from behind by a footsoldier, but couldn't muster the energy to turn behind him and deal with the guy. He had to keep his focus forward, on the dangerous ones.

"KOUKEN!" he launched a fireball in desperation, but was met with Mickey's own "BURNING UPPERRRR!" and the two cancelled out. John rushed in and fired a body punch, which Ryo shelled up and defended, but the foe spun around and went high with a backfist afterwards, that Ryo had to sway back to barely dodge. He managed to thrust a push kick to send John backwards for a second, but this caused him to be punished by a vicious body-head combo from Mickey, that sent his head sideways and his lights flickering...

...Finally, the conclusion came from behind, as Ryo heard a chain rattle, and he felt his neck snatched up, his air supply quickly cut off.

"GGGHHHkkkkkkkkkkkkkk...?!" Earthquake had him from behind, wrapped in his chained weapon, no way to move except his flailing arms and legs. This was it... they had him.

"Hold him there, Earthquake," Jack commanded, cracking his knuckles. "I gotta get my lick BACK!"

Ryo cried out in agony as Jack, the most powerful puncher among them, demonstrated so with a mighty fist that burrowed into his stomach, and made him beg for release, so he could simply collapse to the ground. But he received no such mercy.

All bodies still capable of standing now surrounded him, laughing, taunting, high-fiving each other... it felt like a public execution, with everyone gathered around to see him die. And perhaps that's what was next for him... as his oxygen waned, his vision blurring, he thought of everyone. His father and Robert, nagging him beyond the grave for making a foolish decision. His sister, the girl he had fought to protect since she was little, crying, as she mourned the reality that her brother had finally fallen.

And he thought of her... the woman he-

"What the-OWWW!"

In a puzzling move, Ryo felt his breathing become easier, as if Earthquake had loosened his grip. It was enough even to return to his feet and, after a series of coughs, he turned to see what was the matter; the huge killer was now nursing a gash on his left arm, not bleeding profusely, but well-red.

His eye caught something in the darkness, and he looked down to see an object that might have been the culprit... and he gasped.

A red rose.

In a flash, a purple fireball flew out of nowhere and blasted one of the generic soldiers, felling him with a scream.

"What the hell was...?" that guy couldn't finish his question, as another fireball came behind it and put him away as well.

"We got company! FAN OUT!" John ordered, thrusting his hand to break up the crowd.

Ryo was still lost in the bustle of bodies to see what was happening... but he could hear the screams, one by one. They were falling.

...THIS WAS HIS CHANCE!

Ryo spun around with his best wheel kick, clobbering Earthquake and sending the human whale into a large crash. He spun back around and unleashed his chi again.

"HIEN SHIPPU KYAKU!" He flew forward and tore through his three tormentors, right down the middle, and advanced forward to try and aid his mysterious ally. He felled one... felled another... and it was just enough to clear the bodies and catch a glimpse of the hero who had arrived.

...Just as Yuri had spoken of... it was a dashing hero in black, with a contrasting white mask that shone brilliantly in the moonlight, with painted eyes and a smile of red.

Ryo smiled, and felt his fighting spirit re-ignite. Along with the black and white hero, they unleashed a fury on Big's Crew unlike anything that had come before: Ryo folded one with a body punch and then struck him with a straight right, stumbling him into the waiting leg of the G Mantle hero, who kicked him in the face with a well-polished shoe. The majestic cape fluttered around, and the stranger went airborne with a chi-fueled flying knee, battering two chins at once, before landing on their feet and spinning around with a graceful back kick that leveled one guy, before using their free foot to kick upwards with a purple fireball that blasted another. One tried to rush the caped crusader with a crowbar; Ryo jumped in with a flying kick, in the nick of time.

The two allies went back-to-back. Able to cover each other's 6s, there was no fear as they unleashed the truest extent of their fighting fury... and not one of Big's Crew were able to stand up to it. Their kicks, in harmonious unison. His punch, the masked hero's curving elbow. They both threw fireballs- one orange, one purple- and dropped assailants in perfect sync.

When the fury had been wrought, there was nobody left standing but the Three themselves: Jack, John, and Mickey. Earthquake was still down for the count, as he had landed on his face and went unconscious.

The two heroes stood, triumphantly, fearlessly... even outnumbered 3-to-2, no thought of retreat entered their valiant hearts. They stood, and stared... facing down the orchestrators of Big's tyranny, who stared back.

"You know, if you are who we think you are..." John accused, "...we're gonna have to have a loooong talk with the boss about this."

"Gonna be hard not to convince people to retaliate after this." Mickey added. "So, whatever happens to your businesses... it's on you. Big can't control everyone. Neither can we."

The masked hero, unshaken by their subtle threats, had only one response... reaching into their shirt, they tossed a calling card at the feet of Big's lieutenants: another red rose.

Jack scoffed, kicking it away, then turned and walked. "Let's go, fellas. AND SOMEBODY GRAB EARTHQUAKE!"

Their battered forces slowly trickled out of the park, with a few exceptions being the unfortunate ones tasked with lugging the unconscious Earthquake out of there (they'd have to come back later with Raiden and Abobo) and the now-deceased thug who had placed his hand upon Ryo's sister the previous night. It was something of poetic justice that he would be the only fatality here... and Ryo didn't even have to get his own hands dirty to do it. Needless to say, Big's forces had a lot of cleanup and collaboration with the police department to do.

But there was one thing on Ryo's mind more important than this... as he turned to face the hero who had rescued his sister and now him, his eyes widened when he looked in the distance and saw them beating a hasty retreat.

"W-WAIT! COME BACK!"

He raced after them, as fast as his aching body could carry him. They were a lot more slender, faster... they finally rounded a corner, and Ryo stepped up his pace to laborious efforts to try and catch them.

"KING! WAIT!" he called out the name of who he was certain had to be the identity of the mysterious warrior. There were just too many clues: the perfect kickboxing, the familiar chi-fueled attacks, their affinity for rescuing the Sakazakis... and that figure, which surely couldn't be a male's...!

He rounded the same corner and looked around: nothing. Damn. This vigilante... whoever they were, they strong, fast... obviously had the theatrics down. They could appear like a shadow cast by the passing sun, then disappear as quickly as a concealing cloud.

Ryo was just about to give up the ghost when he heard a faint rustling noise nearby: could that be?!

"Hey! Are you here?!" he looked around, trying to pinpoint the source... it carried him to a nearby phone booth. If they were in here, they had nowhere to run.

He gulped. More saliva quickly replaced it. He gulped again, took a deep breath, inched closer... and jumped out.

"There you... WHAAAAAAAAAA?!"

He yelped, face turning a mask of crimson, when he saw the current state of affairs of the so called "G-Mantle vigilante" who had bewildered and dazzled so many with their swift, magical heroics.

He saw a mask and a hat... and it belonged to a voluptuous female body, which was currently stripped down, to nothing but a black push-up bra, and very high-cut black lace panties. He... RECOGNIZED that lingerie...!

"K...Kuh... KING?!"

Ryo's last sight in the world of the conscious was a bare foot sailing into his face.

This chapter's big fight was inspired by pretty much every kung fu movie from the 70s/80s, where the hero takes on large groups of enemies at one time, many of them wielding weapons. One of my favorite mob-fighting scenes is from Bruce Lee's first film, The Big Boss, that part where Lee's friend tries to expose the antagonist for having a couple of the factory workers murdered, and the guy ends up sending a large group to ambush him outside. It's a brutal scene. I love it.

"Yeah... I'm thinking I'm back" is of course inspired by John Wick. How could I not take inspiration from one of the greatest action movies ever made?

By far my favorite reference I'll ever make, Bonne Jenet's "chin tits shoe" comment was inspired by Toni Storm, current and 4-time AEW Women's Champion. She's the best. My pal illyrilex also made the reference in one of her fics. You go girl! Lastly, credit to Tedbob84 for making art of it as well, which might have started this chain lol. Check them out on Bluesky.

The next blood in the Southtown Civil War has been spilled. How will Big's Crew retaliate? And who is this mysterious G Mantle vigilante with a smoking hot body? FIND OUT NEXT TIME!

...And that's it. No bonus scene. See, I don't ALWAYS do that lol.