The Final Struggle (For King of Fighters)

~Chapter Nineteen: Sour Dreams~

"What is this place?" Kyo whispered as he examined his current surroundings, then he felt someone pressing against his back.

"Oh, Emi..."

"Yes, Master Kyo?" the young girl quietly whispered.

"I don't know what's happening here, but you should keep your guard up."

"I understand, but you should know something."

"What's that?"

"I'm not Emi, you fucker!" she screamed as she violently kicked the Kusanagi heir to the floor, causing a small amount of blood to seep from the corners of his mouth.

"What have you done to her?!"

"I haven't done anything to your precious girlfriend... but Master Kusanagi had the pleasure of doing that. Here, you can have what's left of her." Tsuki said as she grabbed Emi by the neck and slammed her to the ground.

"Emi?! No... this can't happen..." Kyo said as he took her into his arms and looked into her half-closed eyes.

"Don't you dare die on me..."

"It's okay, Master Kyo." the Tsuki heiress whispered as she weakly wiped away a tear from her lover's face.

"You... bastard..." the Kusanagi heir growled, glaring into the clone's lifeless eyes.

"I presume that you'll be joining your girlfriend shortly, but until then, let's have Master Kusanagi perform the honors for you."

"I don't care... as long as I'm with Emi, that's what truly matters to me..."

Then Kyo simply closed his eyes, waiting for his death sentence...

But it never occured. It only caused the Kusanagi heir to scream as he shot out of his sleep, sweat trickling down his face and muscular body...

And Emi simply groaned as she turned to face him and opened her eyes that were clearly seen with drowsiness.

"Master Kyo... what's the matter?" the Tsuki heiress asked as she held her lover's arm.

"It's nothing. Just go back to sleep, Miss Emi."

"Are you sure? I mean, you were screaming... and is that sweat?"

"Yes, it is."

"Oh, it's just another one of your nightmares. If you want, I can comfort you..." Emi whispered as she used her hand to wipe his sweat away, then she slowly planted a loving kiss onto his lips.

"Miss Emi... I..." Kyo muttered as he let a quiet sigh to barely escape from his lips.

"Don't worry, it'll be alright. Just rest now..." the young heiress whispered before she drifted back to sleep.

"Arigato, Emi-chan." he whispered back as he did the same.

The next morning, Kyo slowly opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling, trying to replay the dream that had occured last night. Unfortunately, before he could figure anything out, he heard a few words that were being whispered to him...

"Kusanagi Kyo... you will pay for shunning me..."

"Oh god, not this shit again..." the young heir muttered as he threw the bedsheets off of his bed, and that action caused his young pupil to wake up.

"Nnn... Master Kyo..."

"What do you want, Emi?" he rudely growled, causing her to say nothing in response as she grabbed her school uniform and left the bedroom... and in a split second, he immediately recognized the tone of voice that had escaped his lips not too long ago.

"Damn it... Miyuki was right about that tournament..." Kyo mumbled, then he softly sighed as he stared out of his bedroom. And almost as if she were on cue, the sporty girl decided to take the time to make her entrance.

"Oh, Kyo-san..." she whispered, triggering a feeble grunt from the flame-user... "I know you've been through this before, but you shouldn't let this one get to you, knowing that this is probably Kusanagi's plan and all."

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

"Okay, then let's head out. You can't start a good day in that sour note of a mood that you got there."

And with those words, the young heir gradually opened up to a brighter mood.

But that was this morning.

Now he was sitting in class, letting his mind wander...

It was far away from reality...

And so, he thought about her, regretting the rude voice that he sent to her earlier and imagining a better mood with her... holding her in his arms as she did the same, and gazing into her eyes as she performed that action.

But there was a problem...

Her eyes... they showed very little emotion.

Very little emotion.

And the sweet smile on her face slowly evolved into an extremely twisted smirk.

"You... you're not Emi..."

"My, you catch on pretty quickly..." the twisted clone whispered as she readied herself... "Ima, Kusanagi Kyo... shine."

"Nani?!"

And before he knew it, her sharp nails forced themselves to drive into his back, sending him into intense pain...

But that was only his dream.

However, in reality, the young heir let out a howl that was filled with pain as he threw his head back and his eyes shot open... then he slumped forward as he slowly lost consciousness.

"I told you that you would pay..."

Then a few hours slowly passed, with the young heir slowly slipping back into reality in that time... then he let out a faint moan as he opened his eyes, and came face to face with his young pupil.

"Ah... Emi..." he quietly whispered as he attempted to sit up, but she stopped him from doing that.

"I'm sorry about that, but Miss Remi said that you shouldn't move for a while."

"Tch... I'm fine, I don't even need any more rest. I had enough of that when I was knocked out in the first damn place."

"Oh, will you stop being stubborn for once, Master Kyo?"

"Hey, I'm not being stubborn, I'm just telling the truth. I'll be fine, and you know that. Now give me a little kiss, and stop worrying so much."

"Okay... if you say so..." the young heiress whispered as she leaned forward, then she stopped as soon as she noticed something...

"What's the matter?"

"Master Kyo... your right eye is red."

"That's probably nothing."

"No, I mean... it's blood red."

"What? You have got to be kidding me..."

"I'm not kidding about that... Kusanagi..."

Then she heard the young heir's silent laugh as he slowly shut his eyes...

"My, you're a smart one, Emi."

"What do you want?"

"I want you to know this one simple thing..." the controlled heir hissed as he grabbed her arm and pulled her down.

"What?"

"This tournament... will be your death sentence if you wish to partake in it."

"Hmph, that's what someone like you would definetely say. Now let me go."

"I will, but under one condition. Where's that kiss...?"

"It's not coming to you."

"Really? Then I guess you'll have to feel it for yourself..." he whispered as he grabbed her shirt and pulled her into a lust filled kiss... and to make sure that she didn't leave him, he used his free arm to wrap around her waist and pinned her down towards him.

"Naze? (Why?)"

"I'm only doing this to give you a warning."

"Well, this 'warning' isn't going to phase me one bit."

And with those words, she was released and was roughly shoved to the floor...

"Emi... you are one amusing little girl. Would you care to try that heroic attempt again?"

"Maybe, if you didn't try to kill me before the tournament began." Emi muttered and attempted to strike with a flaming fist, but it was easily grabbed...

"You little wench, did you forget that I am still controlling your master like the little puppet that he is?" the controlled Kyo growled as he tightened his hold on the young girl's hand, causing her to flinch slightly.

"Ah... I..."

"I knew you haven't changed when it came to strength... and before I leave, remember this one other thing. There is no place in this world for the weak to exist... and you were lucky enough to be spared for this long. Sayonara, kawaiinochan."

"Yeah, whatever." the young heiress grumbled as she saw that familiar twisted smirk slowly fade... and in a few moments, she stared into the calming tone of dark brown eyes.

"Ah, Master Kyo..."

"You're still here, huh? I thought you left as soon as I fell asleep again."

"Well, um... that was caused by Kusanagi... he controlled you again."

"Teme... (Bastard...) I think that he used up the rest of my energy, too."

"Should I stay with you a little longer?"

"No, you don't have to. You probably have to go back to class anyway."

"Yes, that's true..."

"Go ahead, then. And you better not be late this time. You know that you don't want your sensei giving you that long-ass speech on why you shouldn't be dating me." Kyo said as he gently held his lover's hand, watching a small smile seep onto her face.

"Heh, I guess you're right about that."

"I didn't guess, I know that I was right about that. Now go back to class. I'll see you after school, okay?"

"Alright." the Tsuki heiress said as she gave him a quick kiss before leaving for class.

"Kyo, who was that person that just visited?"

"Oh, that... was just Emi, Miss Remi." Kyo said as he let out a small yawn.

"Heh, I didn't even hear her enter or leave. At least it was sweet of her to take her lunch break to see you."

"Yeah..."

"Hmm, you're looking a little tired. Maybe you should rest for a few more hours..."

"Um, Miss Remi?"

He knew it wasn't her, thanks to the twisted smile that was beginning to form on her facial features...

"Tsuki... it's you, isn't it?"

"Oh, that's a lucky guess, Kyo. And I'm seizing this chance to perform some damage. Since everyone else is in class... nobody will be able to hear you scream in this hallway..."

And there was nobody to even stop the female clone's assault, as she sent the young heir screaming into another state of unconsciousness...

~end of chapter nineteen~