Weak Executioner

Title: Weak Executioner
Fandom: King of Fighters
Characters:Iori Yagami, Goeniko, Kyo Kusanagi
Pairing: Bliss!Kyo x Bliss!Iori
Summary:

Ioriko’s cursed blood has taken her over again. However, after waking up, she realizes that this time she has a big price to pay…
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Another year, and another tournament King of Fighters has been announced. However, if it wasn’t for Kyoko participating this year, one redhead wouldn’t show any interest in that.

More so, this year, she had no other choice than team up with the other two Sacred Treasures. Otherwise, Kagura may have nagged her to death about the importance of their mission to stop the great evil known as Orochi from causing havoc and the world’s destruction.

Therefore, it cannot be helped. If that is the only way to catch a break and settle her business with her long-time rival, Ioriko has to do it.

By far, until reaching the finals, everything went smoothly. And thus, the redhead is convinced this is just a waste of time. Unfortunately, the very little she knows is that everything will change soon, and not how she is expecting.

There is still plenty of time before the next match. Yet, there is something that Ioriko needs to investigate to make sure that it’s only a coincidence.

That’s right, after briefly spotting one familiar blonde nun in the crowd, she widens her eyes and freezes in the same spot.

Of course, it can be just her imagination playing tricks on her. After all, the dead do not walk on this Earth.

Yet, that ominous presence alone tells there is no mistake - it is one of Orochi’s most loyal servants. It’s not important how she got there. But what the hell is she doing here?

When the Hakkesshu woman stops walking and turns around, she smirks, and her blue eyes give an inviting look for her opponent before she disappears into the crowd.

Suddenly, the redhead tries to reach for her “WAIT!”. However, there is no answer nor the sigh of the nun.

Therefore, she must chase the mysterious woman. More so, there is no time to waste on looking for her teammates and tell about this encounter. More importantly, she cannot let Kyoko get involved in this, not this time.

She won't let her rival stick her nose into the business where she shouldn’t interface and worry for no reason again. Or so Yagami thinks while grinding her teeth and desperately searching for the Hakkesshu woman’s traces.

Several minutes pass by. Finally, the redhead reaches a more desolate place and notices one nun leaning against the tree.

After the blonde lifts her head, she gives a calm, yet at the same time piercing look “Oh my… what do we have here? Did you come all this way just to see me?”.

“What the hell you’re doing here? Aren't you supposed to be dead? Either way, I’ll put you back to your grave!” Or so Ioriko asks as she approaches her opponent.

When the blonde gracefully pushes her hands from behind and takes a step forward, she politely replies “My my, biting into a hand that wants to help you to get into a straight path… Fret not. I’m only here as a bystander to observe the inevitable. ”.

As Yagami frowns and bares her nails, she growls “The hell with you and you bullshit!”.

Meanwhile, Goeniko is not affected by Ioriko’s intimidating stance and keeps her proud look “Don’t worry, soon, very soon you will be awakened, my dear child.”.

“What are you!?-” Unfortunately, Ioriko’s speech is interrupted by the ringing heartbeat inside her head and an awful headache. As Yagami widens her eyes and covers her eye, her voice trembles “Shit… why… why it must happen now!?”.

While her vision synchronically dyes in red within each heartbeat, she only trembles in great pain. When she covers her mouth with her palm, the blood gushes through the gaps.

Meanwhile, the blonde stands close to her and remarks on the suffering creature in front of her “It already began. Don’t resist to it, embrace it. Accept the orochi blood running in you veins!”. When she strokes Yagami’s hair, she declares “Now, go and fulfil you fate. Then, we shall meet again.”.

Despite slowly losing consciousness and her corrupted bloodline taking control, she still sees Goeniko walking away with noble elegance. Lastly, the blonde raises her hand and disappears with the whirlwind.

At the last moment, Ioriko sees the last ray of light, which appears as Kyoko. Yet, she doesn’t question it and desperately tries to grasp it and calls her name. Unfortunately, this warm illusion instantly shatters. And thus, she is swallowed by the darkness, and the creature deep inside takes over her place.

In the end, Ioriko howls like a ferocious beast while baring fangs and claws. And thus, once the bright, festive mood in the air is silenced and replaced by the fear and despair spread by the red demon wielding a corrupted flame.

---

Some time passes by. Finally, the blood riot leaves Yagami's body. Unfortunately, it has strong withdrawal effects.

Suddenly, the redhead groans and grimaces in pain as the wave of terrible, burning ache spreads all over her body. Even so, she is too weak to move a single muscle.

Strangely, this is something new, and usually, when Ioriko’s cursed blood calms down, she doesn’t feel anything aside from a mild headache, nor remember anything.

But for now, Ioriko sits and slowly opens her eyes to look around. However, it doesn’t take long enough to realize who is responsible for the countless heavily injured people and the ones with either missing various limbs or still smoking corpses under the buildings' ruins.

Was it all done by her hands? Why no one didn't stop her? Or so the redhead wonders while wandering around.

After looking down, she notices a glass shard reflecting her being covered in red and cinder and her tattered outfit. More so, she is indifferent while her eyes are dimmed.

After she closes her eyes, she sighs “Well, whatever. I need to get out of here. That idiot is probably in the hospital too. So, I need to find her.”.

As she opens her eyes and stares in the distance, she widens her eyes while her palms are shaking “Kyo… Kyoko…”. Lastly, she rushes towards the unconscious woman leaning against the building’s wall.

After the redhead kneels next to her rival, she brings her body closer to her.

For sure, seeing the once energetic and arrogant brunette whose eyes always sparkle with life and passion as nothing more than a broken, weak doll, is hard for Ioriko. More importantly, the little flame in her captivating amber eyes is dimmed and dull.

Right now, Yagami’s heart aches by knowing that these heavy injuries are done by her hands.

Despite that Kyoko puts her remaining strength to extend her trembling hand and stroke Ioriko’s cheek while giving her a comforting smile “You are back… I’m so glad that it worked… It’s… it’s okay… it’s okay… You are safe now… No one will… no one will hurt anymore.”.

“Don’t speak, you fool!… You must save your strength now. Shit… we need to leave!” Or so the redhead objects while the Kusanagi woman keeps the same smile.

“Hey, you know… I kinda feel sleepy. So, let me… let me rest for a bit. But as soon as I wake up, let’s have…. have another match together, Yagami.” Or so the brunette manages to reply before her life thread is cut.

While Ioriko observes her rival in denial, she suddenly hugs her and closes her eyes. When she weeps, she lifts her head and screams “KYYYOOOOOOOOKOOOOOOO”.

---

Somewhere in another time and place. Suddenly, the red-haired woman wakes up and sits on the bed.

When she leans forward, she grasps her bloating chest and deep breathes. For now, through the placed palm, she can feel how her heart can break her ribcage with such a violent, loud heartbeat.

As soon as Ioriko begins to calm down and settle down in this world, she realizes she is in a dark room. She is uncertain if that is another dream or is this reality. Without wasting time, she turns to the side and stretches her arm to reach the light switch.

However, when she lands on something soft, which starts to murmur and struggle under her, the redhead stops moving.

“What is it? Get off me.” Or so the sleepy voice under Yagami speaks up.

After a certain brunette notices frightened Ioriko, she sits up and gives a genially concerned look “Hey, did anything happened? You look terrible”.

The redhead only turns her head away while she rests on her partner’s lap “Nothing. You’re just imagining stuff.”.

“You’re lying.” Kyoko instantly comments. After almost a minute lasting pause, she breaks the silence “Then, tell me this again but facing me, Yagami.”.

However, Ioriko only lowers her gaze “You worry too much, idiot. ...It’s fine now.”. Suddenly, she widens her eyes and frowns as her partner strokes her hair “Oi, the hell you’re doing? Or do you have a death wish, you fool?”.

After Ioriko turns her head and leans on her elbows, she tries to keep an indignant look on her face. Unfortunately, it’s a difficult task when your rival gives a warm look and smiles.

“Whatever. The weather outside might be fine. Besides, I need to get some fresh air.” Or so the redhead adds as she gets up and walks towards the closet. While her partner gives a dumbfounded look, Yagami adds while she picks a couple of bathrobes “What are you doing? You’ll catch a cold if you stay in this. So, you’re going with me.”.

When Ioriko tosses one of the picked pieces of clothing, Kyoko picks it up and hugs it before putting it on. Lastly, the redhead walks towards the bedside and extends her hand. After the brunette takes it, Ioriko helps her to stand up, and both walk outside.

In the end, both gals end up star gazing and enjoying each other’s company. No matter how it’s hard to admit for Yagami, she is secretly relieved and glad that what she saw earlier was nothing more than a twisted dream. More so, the brunette leaning on her shoulder is the needed proof.

But for now, Ioriko turns to face Kyoko and places her palms on her throat while keeping her poker face.

This gesture surprises the brunette, who only gives a questioning look “Yagami?”.

Instead of saying anything, the redhead only fixates her eyes on the amber ones and moves her hands on her cheeks. Suddenly, she pulls Kyoko into a tight hug and closes her eyes while confessing in a shivering voice “Just never die on me! I won’t forgive you if dare to do that, got it? That’s all I ask for.”.

In the end, the Kusanagi woman closes her eyes and wraps her arms around Ioriko’s shoulders “I understand. It’s a promise, then.”. Even the moon shining above gives his silent blessings to this couple at this serene moment.