SFU's Fan Fic Archive

" HURRY!"

A young girl shouted frantically as she pulled an even younger boy from the ground. He fell after tripping on a tree trunk that laid obliviously between the blades of grass. The boy was about 7 years old, his dark brown hair as well as his clothes were soiled with earth. As he got up to his feet, bruises and cuts was evident on his legs. His brown eyes were filling up with tears, but it was also burning with determination, to prevail over whatever threat that was in pursuit.

The girl quickly dragged the little boy through the forest of grass which blocked their path. Clad in a crimson dress, the 10 year old girl fiercely pushed away the sharp grass which grazed her in return but she didn't care. Her only concern at that time was the little boy. She has to keep him running; running away from the terrible fate that would befall him if they failed to escape.

Suddenly, the girl's brown eyes widened, and she gasped in shock. Their movement ended in an immediate stop. What stood before them now was a view of the sea from the cliff they were standing on. Pebbles fell into the raging waters below, the waves roaring angrily as they crashed onto the shore. The girl looked on with disbelief as the wind swept her brown ponytail across her face. She began to tremble as she held onto the equally terrified boy.

It was then a rustling sound was heard from behind. Surprised,the girl turned and instantly held the boy closer. Amongst the grass were two sinister figures, lurking in the dark like predators. They were ninjas, wearing their traditional black garb. Their faces were almost hidden under a mask, and their eyes shone with malice.

" Hand over the boy, little girl," one of them spoke, his hand motioning the girl to do as he had commanded.

" NEVER! You...you take a step closer, and I'll...I'll...," the girl stammered as she shouted at the antagonists.

" You'll what, girlie? Call your daddy to help you?" the other ninja jeered, " He's not here!"

The girl stared menacingly at the ninjas as her arms hugged the sobbing little boy tighter. " If...if you take my brother away, I'LL KILL YOU!" she screamed in rage, her voice even surpassing the sound of the frightening waves below.

One of the ninjas started to laugh. " Are you trying to scare us with petty threats, little girl?". He then started to crack his knuckles, and his eyes squinted wickedly, " I've had enough of this. Let's take him.". The ninjas began to march slowly towards the girl and her brother, their eyes focused on them like a predator would his prey.

The boy began to panic when he saw the incoming threat approaching them in slow degrees. " Ne-chan(sister)!!" his shout was filled with fear as he looked up into his sister's face. He tugged desperately at her sleeve, begging for her to do something. The girl was confused, she didn't know what to do. They were both trapped, and it seemed clear that there was no way out for them...and the ninjas were walking nearer and nearer...

Suddenly, the girl grasped the boy's shirt with her palm. The boy, surprised, could only hear his sister's whisper. " I'm sorry," was her words. In a flash, the boy felt he was no longer standing on the cliff. He was floating in the air, then succumbed to the forces of gravity what pulled him down...to the cold waters of the sea. He realised that in horror as he saw the image of his sister on the cliff, raising her hand which exploded into flames. A bright flash followed after, and the last sound the boy heard before he splashed into the water was a roar saying "OROCHINAGI!!!". " NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!"

Kyo screamed and jolted from his seat at the same time. He panted as he crouched over the desk, his sweat dripping down from him like a leaky faucet. Soon, his breathing slowed down, and he slowly raised his head. Kyo then realised that many pairs of eyes were staring at him.They belonged to other students who were sitting around him, all of them bewildered and surprised. And the most surprised of them all was the professor, who was standing in front of the class. The middle-aged bald man's astonishment however soon turned into annoyance.

" Did you sleep throughout my lecture again, Kusanagi?" the man questioned firmly with a frown. The grey-suited man certainly took pride in his teaching, and learning that his work was not taken seriously by this particular student didn't please him at all.

" Uh...er...yeah, I guess so," Kyo said meekly with a grin, realising that he had dozed off while the professor was explaining about...something. He remembered that he was tired from jamming with his friends at a local studio all night long.

" See that this never happens again, Kusanagi," the professor said again, "...or expect to see an F in your exam.". With that, he turned back to the white-board and continued to scribble the notes of his lecture.

Kyo slowly lowered himself onto his seat. Sighing, he quickly grabbed a pen and took down the notes in his book.

" Yo, Kyo!!"

Kyo stopped in the middle of the hallway and turned to see who was calling him. He could see a bespectacled young man trotting over with an armful of books. He was about Kyo's age, with really short hair, wearing a black T-shirt with a slogan saying ANARCHY and faded blue jeans. It was one of his pals, Daishi Kitayama. " Hey Kyo, my man! What happened back there?" Daishi shouted as he slapped Kyo's back with his hand, making the latter wince in cartoon-like fashion.

" OUCH! Watch it, will ya?!" Kyo barked in slight disgust, his dark brown eyes squinted at his friend. The handsome Japanese youth was wearing loose black slacks, and a brown vest over his white T-shirt which failed to hide his muscular frame. His straight, brown hair was kept off his face with a white bandanna.

" Sorry!" Daishi grinned apologetically," You looked really freaked out when you woke up in Mr. Yamada's class. Anything wrong, Kyo?"

" It was just a bad dream, that's all," Kyo grimaced.

" You sure? 'Cause you looked like you saw Satan himself when you screamed at the top of your voice like a lunatic, y'know?" Daishi asked while trying to visualise his words with his face. Literally. If there's something Daishi was truly incapable of, it must be his inability to use his words with discretion.

" Yes, I'm sure...and will you stop talking about it...?!" Kyo was starting to get annoyed when he suddenly chanced upon a mysterious figure standing next to a nearby beverage machine. It was a woman, a familiar looking one; short cropped brown hair, dark brown eyes, fair skin, dressed in a red pantsuit. She smiled as she beckoned him to follow her, and then turned to walk away. Kyo, sensing that something strange was going on, threw his books into Daishi's arms.

" Hold this for me, Daishi," Kyo uttered sternly," I have to go, and don't follow me." Kyo quickly followed the path the lady took, leaving Daishi standing alone in the hallway with a ton of books in his aching arms. He stood there bewildered for quite a while.

" HEY!! DO YOU THINK THAT I COULD FOLLOW YOU EVEN IF I WANTED TO WITH ALL THESE HEAVY BOOKS?!!" Daishi finally protested.

Kyo's trek ended in the car-park.

Where did she go?, Kyo thought to himself when he found himself standing alone in the now unoccupied area. It was nearly dusk, and by the looks of it students and teachers alike had left the college's premises. Kyo decided to stay back longer to do some catching up on the classes he missed in the library. It was a boring day, but now it has started to simmer with things that are puzzling him. His concern now was the whereabouts of the lady who brought him there.

" KUSANAGI!"

Kyo gasped, surprised to hear the shout. He quickly looked around to find the source of the voice. All he could see, however, were only the buildings and trees that loomed over the area. " Damn...," Kyo muttered," Show yourself."

A gust of wind blew past Kyo as he stood, sweeping his fine locks across his face. At the same time, Kyo heard the sounds of footsteps coming from behind him. He turned cautiously, and it was then he got to glimpse at the face of the person who had been waiting for him. Before him stood a man probably in his mid-twenties. He was quite tall, and although he was wearing a dark denim vest over his long-sleeve turtleneck, anyone could clearly see that he was very well built. His hair was short, its color black with a greenish hue that complimented his golden complexion. His green eyes were slit-like, and they enhanced his exquisite boyish features that could drive women insane with lust. A golden earring hung from his right earlobe, adding a touch of ruggedness to the aristocratic creature. Even Kyo felt a touch of envy towards the man. Behind the man stood the very same woman that led Kyo there. His assumptions were right; she was familiar. He remembered seeing her roughly a year ago when he entered The King of Fighters 1995 tournament. She was...Rugal Bernstein's secretary.

" What the...," Kyo exclaimed when he realised this.

" Good evening, Kusanagi," the man spoke out with a voice that clearly matched his face, suave and youthful. " It's good to see that your curious nature has not mellowed. But..."

" Who are you...?!!" Kyo stopped short of finishing the question when he saw the man suddenly dive towards him at lightning speed. Anticipating an offensive, he quickly moved to parry it with his arm. True enough, a sweeping punch that was meant for his face was delivered. And another one landed obliviously on his stomach. " Guhk!" Kyo spat at contact. He quickly reversed a few steps with his hand grasping hid belly. He was about a metre away from the man standing with his hand on his hips as he flashed a wicked smile across his face, mocking Kyo. Kyo clenched his teeth, and with his eyes burning with animosity, he immediately dashed forward with a roar. The man's smile remained as he reverted back to his fighting stance, ready to face Kyo's assault. Kyo's arm was already pulled back in a fist, so the man quickly ducked as he delivered. He retaliated by launching himself upon Kyo, grabbing his form with his arms. Kyo cursed when he realised what has happened, but before he could react, the man threw himself backwards and bashed Kyo's head onto the cold, hard asphalt. " AAGH!!" Kyo howled, and was promptly released by the man, letting him fall down.

Slowly Kyo raised himself off the ground, grasping his head in pain. Kyo looked up, and saw the man with his arms folded. " Had enough, Kusanagi?" he sneered.

Kyo, infuriated by the man's mockery, swiftly move forward for another offensive. Kyo forced a punch aimed at the man's face, but it missed as he side-stepped easily. Without any delay, Kyo immediately brought out his other fist, this one charged with crackling flames, and thrust it towards the man. Caught by surprise, the man barely raised his arms as Kyo jumped up with a blazing trail of flames following him, yelling " ONIYAKI!!!!".

The man staggered backwards from the impact just as Kyo landed on the ground. He quickly assumed his defensive stance, dismissing his chance to attack. The man slowly raised his face, much to Kyo's annoyance to note that he was still smiling.

" Very good, Kusanagi!" The man remarked, wiping his sleeves. " I didn't expect you to launch that nasty move of yours with the flame. I'm impressed."

" Who are you?" Kyo asked, maintaining his stance with caution, " And why did you attack me?". Kyo then motioned his head towards Rugal's secretary, " What's she doing here?"

" My, you have lots of questions, don't you?" The man grinned with amusement.

" ANSWER ME, DAMMIT!!" Kyo yelled, getting flustered.

The man's grin turned into laughter at seeing Kyo's anger. It was scornful, grating on Kyo's nerve even further. It soon died down, and the man returned to smile at Kyo again. " I have a reason for my presence here, Kusanagi," he said, " I've come to test you, to see if you were still fit enough to fight, and by the looks of it, I think that you haven't lost your touch."

" What's all this shit, huh?" Kyo seethed, " Cut the crap and get to the point!"

" Alright, alright! If you wish..." The man sighed as he threw his arms in the air, " Vice, be a dear and give Kusanagi-boy here the envelope."

Rugal's secretary nodded in compliance, and drew out an envelope from her sleeve. She proceeded to walk towards Kyo and handed him the envelope. " Here you are, Mr.Kusanagi," Vice said with a smile, her seductive brown eyes watched on as Kyo plucked the envelope carefully from her hand. Kyo slowly opened it, taking out the card inside. Flipping it open, his eyes began to read through the words printed on it. After a while, Kyo raised his face to Vice, his eyes wide open and bewildered. " K...King of Fighters'96?" he uttered.

" Yes...you're invited again, Mr. Kusanagi," Vice said with a smile.

" Surprised, Kusanagi? The man grinned as he approached Kyo, " It's all up to you to choose whether you want to participate or not, but it would be best if you entered again. You might get your questions answered, such as why that nasty dream of yours have resurfaced again."

" Huh? How did you know...?" Kyo exclaimed in surprise. It was true; the nightmare he had when he slept in class had occured repeatedly during the past few days, and he had never disclosed any description of it whatsoever to anyone. Yet, how did the man know?

" Heh...an Orochi knows these things, Kusanagi," the man glanced at Kyo as he walked passed him. Vice followed suit, and they both walked on.

" Orochi...HEY!" Kyo called out, realising that the man was no ordinary person. If what he said was true, the man belonged to the Orochi clan, an evil clan that has been a threat to society ever since the olden days. The Kusanagis have fought against them for centuries alongside the Hasshakus, whom they share together the knowledge of the deadly arts called Magatama. That is, before the Hasshakus broke off legion with them after a bitter dispute, and forged an alliance with the Orochis as they provided the Hasshakus with what they desire; power and destruction. Assuming the name Yagami, they rose like a plague that threatens to destroy anything that stands in their path. " Why are you doing this?!" Kyo continued.

" One more thing, Kusanagi," The man said without looking back, " You should know that Iori would also be in the tournament this year." He and Vice soon disappeared from view, leaving Kyo standing alone in the carpark.

Iori...., Kyo thought to himself as he looked at the invitation in his hand. Iori Yagami was the dreaded hellspawn of the Kusanagi clan's dreaded enemy. Evil was too mild a word to describe Iori as a whole; he was a demon who's only concern was himself and his quest for power. Anyone who dared to defy him would suffer greatly as Iori was merciless and cruel as he was powerful. Kyo fought him in KOF'95, and he will again in KOF'96. Yes, Kyo had finally made up his mind. Whatever the reasons Iori may have in entering the tournament that year, it's sure as hell he's up to no good. Kyo must be there to stop him, and at the same time find the reasons to why the dreams have begun to haunt him again. In his hand, the invitation burst into flames...

" I'm baaaack!"