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The
figure of her elder sister, presumed
murdered, is always nearby.
This is not expressing things poetically.
Those who were to head the House
of Kagura were always meant to be
these female identical twins - Chizuru
and Maki Kagura.
In the windows of buildings, in a
car's rearview mirror, in a city
shop's show window, even on the surface
of a pond - Chizuru's own reflection
was the spitting image of her departed
sister, with lavish and long hair
tied in back, its length flowing
down to her waist, and that same
distinctive bearing.
"Yagami...Uh, begging your pardon,
Master Yasakani has arrived."
"And Kyo Kusanagi?"
"He has yet to grace us with his
presence."
"Really, that is exquisite. It would
be highly unlikely for those two
to meet cordially with each other
anyway, don't you think?"
Chizuru Kagura responds from the
other side of a shoji screen. Her
sigh dissipates into the air of this
building that suggests a grand and
tranquil Shinto shrine.
"Please tell him that I will be right
there."
"Wouldn't it be preferable to let
him wait a tad longer?"
"Whatever for?"
"......"
"If you're worrying about me,
I'm fine. I've just been a little
fatigued
recently - that's all."
"Then I suppose I have nothing to
worry about."
"I'm fine.... Yes, quite fine."
* * * * *
When he leaves the grand entrance
of the Kagura house, Iori Yagami
refuses the car waiting for him,
ignores those seeing him off, and
hoofs it out the gate.
The cobblestone road running through
this neighborhood of established
families is paved with well-beveled
stones, and not only is it well-kempt
it is regularly rinsed to keep it
immaculate.
But Yagami, oblivious to his elegant
surroundings, continues to press
on homeward.
With his well-tempered body poised,
his red hair complements the keen
glint in his eyes.
(Bah!)
As he remembers the previous discussion
at the Kagura house, an inexpressible
anger with no target to unleash it
on wells up within him.
After a five-minute walk, he reaches
a railway that cuts through the rows
of old houses.
His gaze sets upon a lone figure
astride a motorcycle on the other
side of the train tracks.
Yagami freezes to a halt.
The man wears a helmet with a full-face
visor, making it impossible to discern
his identity.
But for Yagami, there's no question
as to who this person is.
(......)
The two stand motionless on opposite
sides of the track. Only the motorcycle's
engine dares to make a sound, producing
a low and well-regulating purr.
Before long a train nears and warning
bells ring out.
The yellow and black colored railroad
crossing gate slowly descends between
the two.
The man on the motorcycle raises
a hand to the visor of his helmet.
At the instant Iori thinks he can
make out the rider's face, the train
rushes between them.
(It's him all right.)
That instant was all that was needed.
Another train passes by from the
opposite direction, and although
the line of vision remains obstructed,
Iori needs no further confirmation.
When the trains pass on, the figure
of the motorcycle rider is nowhere
to be seen.
Iori can make out the noise of a
motorcycle engine fading away in
the distance.
(Who'd believe me teaming up with
that clown? Bah!)
Yagami's face, bordered by his red
bangs, breaks into a, for want of
a better word, "smile."
History, deprecation, cynicism, hate,
madness, disdain, and fate.
A variety of inexpressible emotions
fill Yagami's soul when he faces
off against his nemesis. The only
thing that can expunge these overwhelming
emotions he finds impossible to handle
is the act of fighting.
* * * * *
"So you haven't been riding recently
I gather, have you?"
Kyo Kusanagi, led into the inner
rooms of the Kagura estate, poses
this question to his host as he comes
face to face with Chizuru.
Kyo had noticed two bikes left idle
next to him as he parked his motorcycle.
They were carefully maintained, but
he could tell that no one had used
them for quite a while.
"No, not recently. You haven't changed,
I see."
"I wish I could say so. I've had
quite a lot on my plate recently."
Chizuru kneels before him with impeccable
posture. For Chizuru, who sits perfectly
still, this is the manner of natural
dignity befitting the leader of the
House of Kagura. But in all honesty,
Chizuru is not exactly Kyo's cup
of tea.
"I saw Yagami just a few minutes
ago."
"......Oh, really?"
"So, to what do I owe the pleasure
this time? What pressing matter would
call for you to simultaneously summon
not just me but Yagami as well to
your humble abode?
"It appears that I should just be
frank with you."
"You can be whoever you want, just
give it to me straight."
"I would like you to join the "Three
Divine Vessels" team in this years
King of Fighters tournament. That
would mean the three of us Ð Me.
Kyo Kusanagi, uh, that's you, of
course. ...And Iori Yagami."
"Are you bonkers? Regardless of what
I'm about to say, there's no way
that Yagami-crud would agree to such
a proposal."
"He already has."
"...Are you yanking my dangly?"
Unbelievable. Yagami himself had,
of all things, already acceded to
Chizuru's request.
"Hey, just what sort of spell did
you cast on him anyway?"
"If Yasakani had not lent us his
strength..."
"If?"
"Both the Kusanagi and the Yata are
sure to suffer defeat."
"......"
"It was probably too much for him
to stomach: someone beside himself
defeating the Kusanagi."
"Now you're just being wack. Just
who would defeat whom?!"
Chizuru shuts her eyes.
"Answer me! Are you telling me that
I'm someone who can't win without
Yagami's help?"
"Perhaps...that is the case."
"Kagura!!!"
The atmosphere becomes tense between
the two.
Then for some reason, the image of
the two motorcycles comes to mind.
They are two models of the exact
same type of motorcycle which appear
to have been abandoned.
"...Nuts, well, whatever. Anyway, the
whoopla keeps me from becoming bored
out of my skull every year."
"Thank you...I'm grateful."
Kyo snatches up his helmet resting
at his side and stands up.
"I told you it was a way to relieve
the boredom, didn't I? There's no
need to thank me." |
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SNK
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