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King of Fighters II
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King of Fighters '96
England. Mai Shiranui energetically bursts into King's bar "Illusion."
MAI: "K-King! We're in a real pickle!!!"
King, in the midst of closing up her bar, is struck dumb by Mai's outburst but manages a response.
KING: "Wh-what's all this then, Mai?!"
MAI: "I-it's...this year's King of Fighters! Yuri won't be teaming up with us!"
KING: "What?! Yuri?!"
MAI: "Yeah! It seems that Yuri is a part of her father's designs, so if we don't find a replacement, we won't be able to join the competition."
KING: "...Really? Well, it looks like things are working out to my advantage...."
MAI: "Huh...?"
KING: "...Mai. As a matter of fact, this is a little hard to say...."
MAI: "What is it?"
KING: "I want out of this year's tournament."
MAI: "Huh?! What did you say?"
Mai can't believe her ears.
KING: "...My younger brother was in an accident just the other day."
MAI: "Your little brother?!"
KING: "Yeah, it was no big deal, but he's my only kin. I'd like to be by his side. ...So this time around, I'm sorry but...."
MAI: "O-OK, I understand. I hope your brother gets well as soon as possible. I'm sure this must be tough on you, so hang in there, OK?"
KING: "I'm sorry, Mai. I'm sorry I can't help you. Hey, isn't your boyfriend...yeah, it's Andy, isn't it? How's he doing?"
MAI: "...Andy always enters as one of the three stooges..."
KING: "Oh...is that so.... W-well, how about staying the night here?"
MAI: "...No. I've reserved a hotel room nearby, so don't put yourself out. See you...!"
And with that, Mai bursts out of the bar.
KING: "Ah, Mai!"
Mai looks heart-broken as she walks through the town.
MAI: "Looks like I'm all alone again...."
Feeling pathetic, Mai's face flushes red and she loses her composure.
When she comes to her senses, she realizes that tears are flowing down her cheeks.
After Mai leaves, King remains alone in "Illusion."
KING: "The King of Fighters, huh...?"
King gaze fixes onto a flashy ad broadcast on her bar's tele.
The next day, Mai packs her bags in preparation to return home to Japan.
MAI: "Sigh. I've exhausted all my options; they didn't pan out.... So much for this year's KOF."
Mai heaves a sigh of disappointment.
"Bing-bong."
The doorbell to Mai's room rings.
MAI: "Yeah. Is it the bellboy? I'm coming!"
But just at the moment Mai opens the door, "BAM!" A stinging fist comes toward Mai's face.
Mai barely avoids it.
MAI: "Wh-what the?"
Mai is momentarily dazed but she realizes her opponent's a woman and her mode of combat appears to be some sort of ancient martial art. She closes in on the retreating Mai, gradually pushing her out into the hall.
MAI: "Uh!"
As she grunts, Mai repeats a series of kicks. The woman slips by the attack.
MAI: "There's a lot more where that came from, sister!"
Mai adds a special move to her attack.
MAI: "Dragon Flame Romp!"
The flames alight on the hakama-wearing woman.
This attack catches her off guard, but the woman in the hakama manages to guard against the attack and winces.
"Now!"
MAI: "Ahh!"
Mai rushes toward the woman in the hakama.
She unleashes her Deadly Ninja Bees.
"Gashee."
Mai guards against the onrushing woman. She grabs onto Mai.
At that moment...
"OK, that's enough!"
The two look in the direction of the voice. A single woman stands in the doorway.
MAI: "K-King!"
Seeing the figure of King, the woman dressed in the hakama releases Mai and begins to speak.
WOMAN: "Forgive me for being so rough. I am Kasumi Todoh. King told me all about you and I felt I had to come and greet you, Mai."
MAI: "Huh? King? And why couldn't you just settle for a simple ŽÔhello' or something?"
KING: "That's right. I directed her here. She's our new team member."
KASUMI: "That's right. I've been dying to enter King of Fighters. But along with entering the tournament, I'd sure love to win it. This little scuffle tells me that you've got what it takes. With you on our side, I know winning the competition is no mere pipe dream."
MAI: "H-huh...? So why are you here, King?"
KING: "Uh-yeah. My kid brother saw right through me. He said he didn't want to see his sister without her usual glow. He prefers to see me in action and told me he's so proud of seeing me fight. When he told me he wants me to enter the competition, battle it out, and win, I realized then I could do more for him winning KOF than sitting by his bedside.
MAI: "Th-then, King..."
KING: "Yup...! I'm in, of course!"
MAI: "A-all right! If you're with me King, I have no complaints!"
KING: "Well, that's settled then! Mai! Kasumi! We're going for the top!"
KASUMI: "You said it."
MAI: "Naturally! This one's for King's kid brother!"
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Has imparted some or all of their fighting prowess upon another.
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King of Fighters '99
An early afternoon in Southtown.
The city dwellers have had it with this year's sweltering heat.
With the heat bouncing off the asphalt, there's one shop that people rushing to get out of inferno naturally stop.
The name of that establishment is "Bar-Illusion."
It's a shop with a refreshing and relaxed atmosphere.
Cling, cling rings the bell at the entryway and a lone woman enters the bar.
"Welcome. Oh?! Why if it isn't Mary?!"
The bartender who receives her seems to be an acquaintance.
"Have you come here on another investigation? Nose to the grindstone, eh...?
"The bartender's name is King.
She's the well-known woman fighter who's so famous in Southtown that everyone knows her name.
"Yeah, I guess. It's my job, you know?"
Mary mutters this as she takes a seat at the counter.
"Well, yeah, I suppose. So, how's tricks?"
"Ah, the usual end of the world stuffÑregional conflicts, refugees, famine."
"Yeah, there's not a lot of happy news these days, is there? So, do you have any business with me? You're not the type of person who'd come here on a social call now, are you?"
"A most acute observation. Take a gander at this."
Mary flips her laptop computer open.
"Well, take a look at this."
"What is that?!"
King seems surprised when she sees the message.
Displayed on the screen is an invitation to this year's King of Fighters tournament.
"I knew there'd be another competition this year, but in spite of that there doesn't seem to be any advertisements for it...."
"Yeah, that does seem fishy, doesn't it...And the invitations have been individually sent in all types of formats...."
"And that's what's fishy, is it...?"
"So, you've probably got one then, haven't you?"
"What? Are you telling me to enter with you?"
"What are you talking about? You've got this invitation, haven't you?"
"Whoa, you are quite the investigator, aren't you? You never change...."
"So, are you going to enter?"
"Well, I guess I could. But we can't get enough members this year, can we? It says we'll need four fighters on a team. This time around Mai's teaming up with Andy. And I'm sure Chizuru won't be entering...."
"You don't need to worry about that: I've got some other teammates in mind..."
"You've prepared everything, have you?"
As her words leave her lips, King hopes that this year won't be as "exciting" as previous ones.
The scene changes to the hustling and bustling of Southtown's Chinatown.
"Yah!"
"Doh!"
A pair of vigorous voice echoes on the streets. Gapers gather as if summoned by the voices.
"Go! XiangFei!"
"Hang in there, Kimono lady!"
It seems that the passers-by are enjoying a little rumble between a waitress from a Chinese restaurant and a young woman dressed in a hakama, a type of Japanese skirt for formal occasions.
"Run away without paying your bill, will you! I'll make you pay!"
"I'm telling you I didn't eat and run! I'm just going to the bank to withdraw some money!!!"
"Do you expect me to swallow a crock like that?! You may not believe it looking at me, but I've never let anyone leave my restaurant without paying, deadbeat!"XiangFei.
She's a part-time waitress/bodyguard who happens to be on the job at her Chinese restaurant today.
She's usually able to subdue offenders in two or three minutes, but today, for some reason, she has her hands full.
Today's deadbeat has been able to defend herself against whatever attack Xiang makes.
It appears that this opponent is one tough customer.
"Huff, puff...now just...come quietly with me...."
"W-Who...I didn't do anything wrong..."
The battle between these two seems to be locked in a stalemate.
"Oh, it's over there."
People are gathered haphazardly in front of the place that Mary points out.
"There? It looks awfully crowded over there."
Mary has pulled King out of her shop for a while and the two have just arrived here in Chinatown. Although it's a part of Southtown, Chinatown seems like the other side of the world. And there among the gathered throng...just what is going on?
She goes to check it out with her own eyes.
"Uh, excuse me."
King tugs Mary along with her and they elbow people aside, making their way to the center of the crowd.
They're slightly taken aback when they see the cause of the commotion.
The face of the woman dressed in the hakama looks familiar.
"Kasumi! Just what do you think you're doing?!!!"
"Oh, King! Fancy meeting you here!"
"Now's my chance!"
XiangFei sees her chance and makes a move to striker her opponent.
Her attack seems destined to strike Kasumi. But then...
"Ah..."
Mary grabs XiangFei's hand the second before she hits Kasumi.
"OK. That's enough. I'll pay the bill, XiangFei. More important, we've come to recruit you for our team. How about it?"
"Huh? Do you mean the King of Fighters?"
XiangFei shoots a surprised look at Mary.
"Yup, that's what I'm talking about. You should have gotten an invitation delivered to your place."
"Yeah, but Grandfather Pai stopped me from entering."
"I'll talk to your grandfather. How about it? Will you enter with me?"
"Uh, sure! Yeah, I'll do it! I love a good fight!"
"OK! Then it's decided. And...you, too, Kasumi. You got one, didn't you? An invitation."
"Huh? You'll let me join your team? I-I have just happened to be looking for some fellow fighters who would allow me to join their team in the tournament! I'm so happy!"
"Of course! How could we ignore such experienced talent if we plan to enter the tournament?"
"Huh...? You mean this eat-and-run deadbeat, too...?"
XiangFei purses her lips as she makes her chiding comment.
"Look, I told you I'm not a deadbeat!"
"Ah, I've got a bad feeling about this...!"
Just thinking about what's about to unfold is beginning to give King a migraine.
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King of Fighters '00
Yuri and Mai sit on a couple of chairs on the train platform. They appear to be in the middle of an argument.
YURI: "Aw, come on, Mai. Are you still angry?"
MAI: "Why did he boot me off the team? I can't believe it! Oh, Andy!"
YURI: "He said that he had to let Mary on the team for her to complete the job she had, so what are you going to do?"
MAI: "What are you going to do? If it were that simple, than why would you need a cop on your team?"
YURI: "Don't take it out on me, Mai. More important, if we don't get cracking and find some new team members quickly we'll run out of time."
MAI: "I know, I know! There's nothing we can do so we have to make another team!"
YURI: "Geez, why are you getting all snippy with me?"
Yuri eyes dart around the surroundings as she gets off one last shot.
MAI: "Hey, Yuri. Are you expecting someone?"
YURI: "Heh, heh. I just got an idea about a possible team member."
MAI: "Really? Who is it?"
As Mai finishes her question, a train slides up to the platform.
YURI: "Ah, this is the train. She's supposed to be on board."
POOH-SHAW!
The train comes to a stop and the passengers file out. Among them is a young woman dressed in a traditional style that seems out of place and carrying an umbrella.
MAI: "Hey, isn't that...?!"
YURI: "Heeey! Kasumi-eee! Over here, over here!"
KASUMI: "Oh, Yuri-eeee!"
MAI: "Why if it isn't the girl who traveled 12,000 kilometers to see her father."
YURI: "Hey, back off, Mai. ...Ah, Kasumi. It's been ages."
KASUMI: "It sure has. Thank you for inviting me onto your team."
MAI: "Hello, Kasumi. So you found your father, I take it?"
YURI: "Mai! Put a sock in it, would you?! I'm sorry. Mai's a little touchy now. Pay her no mind, okay? So, since you're here, all we have to do is find one more member."
KASUMI: "Yeah, speaking of that, I have an idea!"
MAI/YURI: "An idea?"
"Hey, this is an audition hall, isn't it?"
A young girl obviously the product of well-bred family, gets out of a posh car in front a Japanese-style mansion.
On the gate to the house is a sign written in large letters, WAY OF TODOH DOJO-GYM.
The woman walks briskly through the gate and enters the mansion.
YURI: "Whoo!"
MAI: "Well, Yuri, did you find any good candidates?"
Yuri plops herself down on a piped chair while she wipes the sweat from her with a towel.
YURI: "How did it go...I don't mean any disrespect to you, Kasumi, but no one really had what it takes, Mai. I hope it all works out, though, and we can find another teammate."
KASUMI: "Really...I thought that a general audition for a teammate wouldn't be such a bad idea, but...Mary helped me when I last tried it, and I think she used something called the Intertrap to do it."
MAI: "That's Internet. Yeah! Yeah! So just why does someone like Mary have to join Andy's team anyway! Geesh! ...I got it! It's a conspiracy, a conspiracy carried out by this year's sponsor! The harmonious relationship I had with Andy was too much for them!"
YURI: "Not again, Mai...I told you to put a sock in it. ...But if this is the way it's going to be, I wish I hadn't introduced King to Ryo and the gang."
KASUMI: "I guess that's true, but, for the time being, there are still people waiting at the general auditions, so let's get on with it? Yuri?"
YURI: "Yeah, you're right. For the time being, there are those who've come to be on our team, so we should really meet them."
MAI: "OK, next!"
The next contestant enters the practice hall. She's the person who had gotten out of that posh care shortly before.
"Hello, my name is Hinako Shijo. It's a pleasure to meet you."
All three rise up as she enters and their jaws drop to the floor.
She has blond hair, an elegant and charming face, and a sailor uniform that seems like that of a high school student to boot.
It appears that a girl who has nothing to do with the martial arts is standing before them.
MAI: "Uh, excuse me, Hinako, is it? So you'd like to enter this year's KOF tournament, would you?"
HINAKO: "Yes. By all means I'm hoping you will grant me the opportunity to audition for the open position on your team. The honor to be here is all mine."
YURI: "Um, have you ever participated in a fighting tournament before, Hinako?"
HINAKO: "No, this is my first time."
YURI: "Ah, oh, let's see...(Mai! She's a freaken' amateur!)"
MAI: "(I know!) So, well...uh, yeah. Well then, I know it's a bit sudden but would you care to spar with Yuri here?"
YURI: "Say what?! (I'm not going to be the one to slap some silly kid around!)"
MAI: "(If you show her the difference in our abilities, she'll run right on home!)"
KASUMI: "(And it would be just plain rude to send her on her merry way without giving her a chance.)"
HINAKO: "Uh, is there a problem here?"
YURI: "Uh...no, no problem. Well, then, shall we have a little match then?"
HINAKO: "Yes, please."
The match begins.
At that moment Hinako immediately begins to stamp the ring to warm up.
MAI/KASUMI: "What the...?! Ah! That pose...!! It can't be!"
YURI: "S-Sumo?!"
Seeing a chance for an attack, Hinako stomps down on the canvas and lunges toward Yuri.
YURI: "(Oh, Oh no! She's got my waist!)"
MAI/YURI: "Aaaaaah!!!"
And the moment Yuri becomes aware of her predicament, Yuri goes falling to the mat.
MAI/KASUMI: "An overarm body slam!"
Hinako's sumo moves are masterfully applied to Yuri.
MAI: "N-No way...."
KASUMI: "Wow! You tossed Yuri on her caboose in no time!"
HINAKO: "How did I do?"
The serious look in her eyes during the match has already vanished, giving way to her unassuming visage.
MAI: "W-We got a good idea of your abilities. I just have a question for you: why do you want to enter the KOF tournament?"
HINAKO: "Uh-huh. If I go into to much detail it would become quite a long story, but if I win a well-known tournament, the school that I go to says that they would help me make a sumo team at my school, so I thought KOF would be the perfect opportunity."
MAI: "Uh, huh.... (I'm not sure I'm following her, but I really think we've hit paydirt this time...but there sure is a gap between her style of combat and her looks, isn't there...?)"
HINAKO: "If we're able to win the KOF tournament, I won't have to practice alone anymore. I wonder how many people would sign up? And I'll have to get the school to make a suitable training gym, too. Maybe that space at the right of the school gym...?"
YURI: "Uh, Mai...She seems to be getting all worked up alone over there...."
KASUMI: "But she's really something. With a body like that, what refined technique! And she must be the same age as I am, so it looks like she'll make a fine teammate! I want her on the team."
YURI: "That's fine with me. I'm a little humiliated that she could throw me so quickly, though...."
MAI: "Y-Yeah, she's a bit , though, isn't she? But she does have ability...Uh, Hinako?"
HINAKO: "And I'll have them make a window with a beautiful view of the hill outside...Uh, yes? Did you call me?"
MAI: "We'd like to welcome you as the new member of our team. We're looking forward to having you with us."
HINAKO: "Yes! Thank you so much. I won't let you down, and I look forward to receiving your kind guidance. Whooo-hoo!"
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King of Fighters XI
The ultimate defeat of the Kyokugen school.
In pursuit of this goal, Eiji Kisaragi imposed extremely harsh training on himself.
He had withdrawn from civilization, raced across the fields and climbed mountains, and inflicted untold suffering on himself in the process.
None could say how long this training had lasted.
Eventually, Eiji felt the time was right, and left the mountains.
KOF was the only place where he could regain his lost honor.
In order to participate, however, he would need to find two others of like mind.
(Yes, they must believe as I do.)
Though he was confident in his own abilities, KOF was only for teams... and that would require that his teammates also be enemies of the Kyokugen dogs.
In other words, his efforts would come to nothing if his comrades didn't hate the Kyokugen school as much as he did.
(Perhaps others suffered defeat at their hands...)
At that, one sprang to mind instantly. Kasumi, the daughter of the Todo Style-user, Ryuhaku Todo.
Eiji immediately set off in search of her, and upon finding her, explained his goals in an attempt to win her over.
"If you were to win the KOF tournament... or rather, if you were to shame the Kyokugen School, you could rest assured that the boost to your reputation would reach Sir Ryuhaku's ears."
"You're right! All right, you can count me in!"
And so, since her purpose had been the same as it ever was, Kasumi joined KOF quite willingly.
"If we're going to do this, there's something that I want to be sure of first."
"What is that, Lady Kasumi?"
"I heard a rumor that Takuma Sakazaki was beaten up by some mysterious thugs, and I want to find out if it's true."
"Hmph, that can't be..."
Eiji was initially disinclined to believe such tales, but he had to admit, he had been out of touch, while Kasumi had been living a more normal life, and had heard the rumor over and over again.
Kasumi went to the area around the Kyokugen dojo to get more information.
"Yes, Mister Takuma was assaulted by some thugs and put in the hospital."
The truth of the situation quickly made itself evident.
After hearing this from the housewife next door, Kasumi rushed to the hospital.
***
"I'm sorry, Yuri... if only I were in better health..."
"You don't need to worry about that, Dad."
"I have only one regret... that I never got to see the third generation of the Kyokugen School's family..." He broke into a fit of coughing.
"Master, you really should take it easy," said Robert.
(H-how could this be?!)
Kasumi hid in the shadows of the nurse station and slowly absorbed the shock of the situation. Takuma Sakazaki could very well never see tomorrow morning.
"Oh no, what should I do...? Father won't be pleased to hear about this."
"He's faking it."
"Yes, his fake must be in critical--, huh? Faking it?"
"Sssshhh! You're being too loud!"
Unlike Kasumi, whose clumsy attempt at concealing herself in shadows could be described as "unsteady" at best, the girl who spoke was as lithe as a cat, molding her slim body to the wall and remaining remarkably inconspicuous.
Kasumi received all sorts of strange looks from nurses and patients alike, but this other girl had escaped their notice entirely.
Kasumi didn't really understand what the difference was.
"You're the girl who was teamed with Athena and Hinako in last year's KOF, right?"
"Yep, the name's Malin. Nice to meet you, Miss Kasumi."
***
"Lady Malin! You would agree to assist us, then?"
"Yeah. I've also been looking for others to take on the Kyokugen twerps."
And so Eiji, Kasumi and Malin left the hospital to congregate at a nearby coffee house and discuss the situation. Moreover, it was Malin who proposed that they join forces, and register as the "Anti-Kyokugen Team."
"That sounds fine to me, but are you sure about that whole faking being sick thing?"
"Huh? Yeah, I'm really sure."
Could this girl really have fallen for such blatant trickery? One had to wonder if she was completely right in the head.
Malin was obviously a very forthright individual, but her mannerisms were a bit brusque, to put it mildly.
"I did plenty of investigating. I'm sure of my facts."
Malin picked up a paper from the nearby magazine rack, and as she looked over it, a crease marred her smooth forehead.
On the first page was a compilation of photographs of the teams who were expected to participate in this year's KOF tournament.
"So then, why would Takuma do such a thing...?
"I have no idea."
Malin produced a ball-point pen and began writing here and there all over the magazine.
"Oh yeah, Malin... why is it that you hate the Kyokugen school?"
"Because they complained about my fighting style, since I use concealed weapons."
"Hmph, how pathetic," said Eiji.
A glance at Eiji's half-covered face revealed that he was smiling.
"I cannot speak on about the validity of using heavy weapons, but the use of weapons in general is part of the essence of combat. Ryo Sakazaki certainly never showed any aptitude in that regard."
"Oh, it wasn't him. It was his little sister."
As she spoke, Malin continued scribbling furiously.
On the magazine's picture of Yuri, she had added a cross-shaped scar on her cheek and some greatly-exaggerated nostril hair, which had arranged itself into a fairly spectacular pattern.
"Y-yes, well, we all have our own reasons to fight.
At any rate, we shall be as one force until the tournament is over. Agreed?"
"Agreed. For the honor of the Todo School!"
"Okay. You can count me in."
And that is how the Anti-Kyokugen team was formed, with surprisingly little effort.
Just as with the last time Eiji Kisaragi had participated, he found himself teamed up with others who were hardly worthy, but for now, he was satisfied.
The other two would suffice, as they were ultimately unimportant.
He was fully prepared to take all of his enemies down on his own.
"Heh heh heh... get ready, Kyokugen dogs... you're in for a surprise of mammoth proportions."
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