"Like Minds, Chapter 5"
=South Town, Japan=
Duck King's voice fired another hollow-point round of auditory assault throughout the KOF stadium's speakers...
"Alright, Ho's and Bro's! We got ourselves a newbie breaking in his chops for the first round of the KOF... Can hopeful newcomer Redford Firefox hold his own against veteran Billy Kane? And what of Billy's teammates, Kisaragi Eiji and Ash Crimson.....? We'll find out soon, folks! The first match of the King of Fighters Tournament will soon be underway!"
Red sat near the entry to the ring walkway, wearing a replica of his Solarfox uniform made with terran fabrics. He was still trying to get used to the slightly loose fit, watching the fire from a disposable lighter dance.
A tap on the shoulder snapped Red out of his reverie.
"You ready?" The vulpin looked up to see Benimaru, smiling one-sided.
"Of course, I'm just...thinking about someone..."
"Oh. She have a name?"
"Yeah, it's Scarlet, and she also has one hell of a temper. I hope she's alright without me..."
=Alden=
"Kyo, Get DOWN!" Scarlet shouted, hammerpunching yet another Hunter into oblivion. Kyo and she were at a nearby club when the aforementioned Hunter attacked tonight's attendants. They had driven the fight into an open alleyway, and it had called in a few reinforcements, about 5 more. Another Hunter leapt forward, attacking Scarlet from behind. Kyo had just enough time to grab it by the collar, torching it. Even titanium-carbon alloy couldn't stand up to an Orochi Nagi, it seemed...
A third Hunter opened fire, narrowly missing Kyo's right shoulder, a passerby gatling round grazing his glove. The Kusanagi heir felt the sting of the bullet's heat, and spun around slamming a fiery left heel into the aggressor's skull-painted head. Scarlet finished it off with an axe kick that tore through the now-malfunctioning CPU like a hot knife through butter. One of the last two hunters, an Omega type, slammed it's hand into her back, tossing her in front of Kyo. He turned around just in time to see the bolt-bag come flying at them like a T-850 on steroids. His hand glowed with his family's flames...
"Neo Serpent WAVE!!!"
=KOF Stadium, South Town, Japan=
Billy whipped his cane around into Red's shin, the latter deflecting the attack, but leaving one hell of an ache. Red used the momentum for a forward somersault, twisting around to x-block an overhead shot upon landing. The newbie was surprisingly "pwning" the veterans, including Ash and Eiji, but Billy was holding his own just by a hair. Red flipped backwards, kicking Billy's cane back at it's owner, who whipped it into yet another festival of twirling crimson, occasionally snaking out to strike. Red deflected a few shots, then one caught him in the side, breaking a rib. He yelped as the pain flared up, then rolled a couple feet away from the force built up by all that twirling, stopping on his side a yard or so from the ring's edge. Billy smirked, then the sections on his weapon broke apart, the chain on one side extending as it dive-bombed toward Red, who barely dodged it as it made a divot in the porcelain, revealing thin padding below as the vulpin's hand fired up, the flames burning bright. Billy saw the fire and smiled arrogantly, extending his hand, gesturing. Red launched himself towards his opponent, hackles rising and ears flattening. Billy swung his cane, but Red deflected the incoming blow, knocking the weapon away, then clawing upwards with his hand, burning Billy's face and upper torso. His cane clattered to the floor, soon to be followed by it's defeated owner...
=Alden, The S.S. Solarfox=
Scarlet grunted as Foxy applied peroxide to the rest of the minor injuries. Kyo sat at the weapons system control panel, watching with morbid interest, or just staring off into nowhere...
Scarlet screwed her eyes shut as a fresh river of anti-infection seared through. She glared over her back at Erica, snapping, "Are you sure that's all you could find for medical supplies!?"
"Well, that and some roll bandages, but these are so small you won't need 'em. Hey, Kyo, did Sly get back from fixing that loose transistor yet?"
Kyo shook his head. "Don't think so. Want me to go find him?"
"If you can. Try and get him to hurry the kenal up while you're at it. He should be done by now."
The human nodded, and walked off to look for Greytail...
=South Town, Japan=
Benimaru slapped Red on the back, grinning as he congratulated the vulpin on a well-fought first match...
"That was one hell of a finish, Red!"
Red snickered, then slapped a hand to his newly taped-up rib. "Yeah, but we're not out of the woods yet. It's only going to get harder from here.....right, Chizuru?"
Chizuru nodded, but her thoughts were elsewhere. She was thinking about where Kyo might have gone. Something was scratching at the back of her mind, distracting her...It read like an Orochi presence, but it was really far away, almost like it was in another world...Her thoughts drifted back to her vulpine teammate, thinking about where he came from, and if it had anything to do with this newfound evil...
=Alden=
Kyo wandered through the Solarfox's hangar, still searching for Sly.
"It's almost like he disappeared...Come ON, you emo fox, where the hell are you?" Kyo mumbled, his voice taking on a slightly annoyed tone under his breath. He glanced over at a large toolbox, and saw a dim purple light...only the lights in the hangar were yellow-white...He made his way over to the toolbox, igniting his hand as he moved closer to the purple light, hoping the whispery voice in the back of his mind wasn't right...
"Sly? Is that you?"
A low growl reached Kyo's ears before Slyvester slammed into Kyo, purple flames coursing around the fox's body. Kyo saw the look in Sly's eyes, and knew right away.
Somehow, the Riot of the Blood had taken hold of Slyvester Greytail.....
=Earth=
Goenitz's eyes snapped open as he was jarred from his meditation. Minutes later, Vice, Mature, and now-human Xenif came bursting through the doors to his quarters, the last of the three smiling triumphantly. He held a shattered chunk of the destroyed idol, the spell broken. Xenif was exhausted from the effort, but he didn't let it show as he tossed the chunk to the stone floor. Goenitz smiled, rising to his feet.
"I believe there is a more important matter at hand at the moment...I have sensed a new presence, much like our own...You have earned what I am about to give you, Xenif...I daresay I might have another use for you very soon...Follow me."
Goenitz led Xenif through the corridors of the cathedral-like building, to a large set of blood-red doors. He pressed his palm to the left door, pushing it open and inviting Xenif inside with his other, shutting it behind him...
It was pitch black inside. The floor was surprisingly warm, the air around him misty. He heard a loud hiss, and ignited his hand, the dark flames lighting the room in black. A large snake's body coiled around his limbs, pinning them to his sides, the head rising up to gaze into his eyes, fixing them to it's own...
Xenif didn't fight any of it. He was ready to receive what he had earned, whatever it may be...
Vice and Mature waited outside, Mature standing by a set of torches, while Vice leaned against the side of the red doors' entryway, wearing her standard "Piss Off" expression.
Hours passed by with nothing coming from inside the chamber...Finally, the door cracked...
Mature was the first to notice Xenif step from the darkness. He stretched his wings, realizing how much he'd missed them as a human. His suit was in tatters, just barely keeping him decent through the transformation he'd undergone in the chamber. Mature's eyes traveled up the reformed pheonix's form, blinking as her gaze met his.
"My, How I missed this form..." Xenif mused as he cracked his neck.
Vice stepped out from the doorway, laying a hand on his wing. She ran her fingers through the feathers, and said,
"That beak sharp enough to cut?"
"Yes, but I don't think I'll be biting things anytime soon. Which reminds me...We'll need to find some good pebbles if I'm going to be able to eat now..."
Mature cut in, "I think we've got a zen garden nearby, if you're feeling up for sacrilege with your supper...We'll need to be quick, though...we're supposed to be in the next tournament match in a half-hour..."
The avian smiled darkly, as best as his new beak would allow. "Finally, some action..."
=Alden=
Kyo threw Sly off him, springing out of the roll to his feet. Turning to face the now-orochi-crazed fox, his hand burst into flame while he quickly weighed his options. One...Kill him outright, but Erica wouldn't exactly be in favor. Two...Fight him, hoping his flames would have some sort of purifying effect, and eventually exorcise the demon in control...Not likely, but worth a shot in a pinch. Three...Well, Chizuru wasn't around, so getting her to do it was out of the question.......Then Chizuru's voice shot through Kyo's head.
*Kyo? Can you hear me?*
Kyo nodded, trying to channel his thoughts...
*Yeah...you know where I am? Holy ass-crack of Amaterasu, it's good to hear you again...*
Chizuru's reply was delayed. *No, but I sensed an Orochi presence. I followed it, then I found you along with whoever it's controlling. The feeling's mutual, by the way. I'm working on an exorcism, but it'll be hard relying on only the mind's eye.*
Sly attacked Kyo mid-thought, clawing downward. Kyo caught his arm, whipping him into the air, launching Sly downwards into the floor with an R.E.D. Kick. Sly bounced low once, handflipping onto his feet, foaming slightly at the mouth before leaping towards Kyo again, as he tried desperately to keep the new mental connection going while he also focused on the fight...
Scarlet stepped outside, glancing around before noticing the battle, and the purple flames coming from Sly. Something wasn't right, she could feel it...
Kyo saw her out of the corner of his eye, and screamed frantically, "Scarlet, GET BACK IN THE SHIP!! GO!!!"
Sly caught her scent, whirled and pounced.
About a half second for her to react.
It wasn't enough.
Slyvester slammed into his cousin's lover, pinning her to the wall with his hands around her neck.
Kyo was right behind him, slamming into Sly, wrapping flaming arms around him in a choke hold. The male fox screamed as the fire lashed his torso and neck, he tore away from Scarlet. Kyo hung on for all he was worth, his thoughts screaming Chizuru's name, hoping she would answer.
Sly's body weakened with each thrash, then slumped to the floor just as Foxy ran over, her eyes tearing up from the sight of him. Kyo released his hold, and an otherworldly scream tore into the three's ears, echoing throughout the hangar, then dissipating into silence...
=Elsewhere...=
Phenix jarred awake, her eyes snapping open from a dream turned nightmare. She closed her eyes, sensing her other half awaken in her mind from a far off location...
".....Oh, Goddamnit..."
=South Town, the local Starbucks=
Benimaru sat with Red at a table, browsing away on a laptop while Red sipped at a small mocha latte.
"You think Chizuru will be back soon, Beni?"
"Dunno. When she disappears, she doesn't come back til she's ready. She probably had some important stuff to attend to..."
"Yes, it was important, but you may need to know about it..." Chizuru said, her body language and voice appearing drained as she scooted over near Beni, toting a large iced espresso. After that interdimensional talk with Kyo, she definitely needed the energy.
Benimaru heard the small hint of urgency under the exhaustion, and closed the laptop with a click, concern etched on his face. "Don't keep us in suspense, then..."
She sighed, then said...
"I found Kyo."
Beni came close to deep-frying the Gateway under his hand. "WHAT!?"
"I think you heard her right Beni. She found your friend..."
"Where the hell did he go!?"
"I don't know, but I'm working on it. From how far off his mental signal was, I'm guessing he was on another planet, maybe even another dimension. There was...another being with him. Last I checked, it was possessed by the Riot of the Blood..."
"Shit...And we're stuck here, no way to help him. Without you, or even Iori, he's fucked."
"I was able to get a signal from another. I searched her mind, and... she seemed to know Red..."
Red's ears perked up. "Did you manage to get her name?"
"No. But when I can get the energy, and perhaps the time, I'll attempt to contact them again..."
"OK, but I want to be with you."
"Wha--why?"
"If I can get the chance to contact my friends again, Benimaru, I'm damn well going to take it..."
"...Alright. Let's get back to the stadium, we don't want to be late for the next match. Even if we're not fighting, it'll be good to see what we're up against..."
ebonyleopard
