[Disclaimer: I don't own King of Fighters or any of the characters used in this fic. Hope you enjoy chapter 5 to the KOF Take 2 Saga! I you have any critiques, comments, or just any random love send me a message! Vice finally cannot suppress Orochi's influence on her body, enter Yamata! Will Iori be able to stop Orochi and save Vice without his flames? HAPPY HOLIDAYS!]

Trying hard to speak and
Fighting with my weak hand
Driven to distraction
It's all part of the plan
When something is broken
And you try to fix it
Trying to repair it
Any way you can…

The King of Fighters

Orochi Saga: Take 2

Final Chapter

"Yes, may I speak to Rugal Bernstein? Yes…this is Mature…"

….

Iori rose to a harsh sun beating upon his face. "Uhh…" He covered his sensitive eyes. He turned around to meet Vice's face. "Vice?" She sat up, her head hanging low, tears falling from the soft edges of her cheeks. Iori rose up. "What's wrong with you? Vice?" She didn't answer. "Answer me dammit!" She looked up into his eyes. They pierced a fearsome golden shine, straight into his eyes. He gasped. She tried to speak as she cried hysterically, "Iori…it's happening! I-I can't fight it any longer!"

He grabbed her shoulders and shook her ferociously. "Don't give in Vice! Fight back!"

The last words she heard before her body ceased to be her own. And in an instant, Orochi had taken over.

She grunted loudly, "Arghh! Release your hands from me you Yasakani scum!" She blew his body back against the wall with one swift blow. Iori held his head "Tch…" Yamata stood up and walked toward Iori. "Hmm, it seems her body is quite strong…she also does one hell of a job fighting to get it back. Pipe down in there Vice!" She screamed aloud. Mature blasted through the door. "GASP…Ya-Yamata? This can't be!" Yamata laughed. "Ahh but yes it is! I have finally found a suitable vessel to make my timely entrance. Vice, she does quite well." Mature looked at Iori and mouthed, "Get out…NOW."

Just as she said this, Yamata sent a huge wave of flames over Iori's body, to which he swiftly dodged. Mature charged at Yamata and fought her with all she had. "Iori, you're not strong enough to fight her in your state! Leave now!" He got up, "NO!" He charged at Yamata as the two exchange blows against this formidable form of Orochi. When Yamata grew weary of the back and forth, she leaped back.

"Enough of these games! Iori, you so greatly wanted your Magatama! Here!" She grabbed Iori with one hand and held him high in the air. Mature charged at her and was blasted back by another onslaught of fire. "Ahh!" Yamata charged Iori's body with Orochi energy, and threw him to the ground. "Now, SHOW ME THE RIOT OF BLOOD!" His eyes glowed the same golden as hers, and a violent smirk crept across his face. Iori let out a beastly, blood curdling scream and ran at Yamata, his hands once again holding the Blue flames of Orochi.

It wasn't long before they destroyed the building they were fighting in, and their battle took to the surrounding rooftops. "Hahahaha! Very good Iori! Alas, I've no more time to play with you. A taste of your old power no? Haha!" As she said this Iori's blue flames vanished, and he regained himself. He continued to swing his fists in the air, against nothing, until he fully caught his conscious. She went after the remaining Hakkesho. "Huff..huff..huff…Vice? VICE!" He looked around desperately. "No, no, no…NO!" He fell to the ground and banged his hands harshly against it. "Arghhh!"

For once, for once he let the tears fall from his eyes. She was gone, and there was nothing he could do. The one person he thought he loved, the one who understood him, and felt his every pain…gone. He had nothing else to live for, his Magatama, Vice, all gone. The only thing that still stood in his way, was Ash Crimson. Perhaps killing him and recovering his Magatama would make it all better. And then Vice could- no, she's gone. She's gone! These thoughts crazily perused his mind. What would he do without the Hakkesho warrior that stood by his side for every battle?

"C'mon Yagami!" "Huh?" He turned around. Mature! "Are you just going to sit there and do nothing? You're not that much of a selfish bastard. Vice is gone! We've gotta get her back!" Iori stood up.

…

Now he had something to fight for, and in this newfound spirit, he'd become a force to be reckoned with. "Let's go Mature, Ash Crimson is going to die before the rise of the full moon tonight." He had so much resolve, she knew the words he spoke were true. Iori Yagami would have his Magatama back.

He knew exactly where to find Ash. He remembered everything Vice told him. And her keen instincts always lead him in the right direction. Mature followed right behind, not leaving her friend for a minute. "Is this it Yagami?" They came to a large, ornate, abandoned mansion that seemed to glow against the rays of the setting sun. "Yeah, this is it…" They walked inside.

To his surprise, there stood Yashiro and Chris. "What the hell kind of business do you two have in here?" Yashiro turned around, "As much as we don't like you Yagami, Vice is just as much our friend as she is yours, and we know how to better handle this situation with Yamata No Orochi than you ever will. So put your pride aside and let us help you defeat Ash so that we might together defeat Yamata!" Iori readied to charge at him, but Mature firmly grasped his shoulder. "Iori, do this…for Vice." "Humph, fine. Get in my way, and die Nanakase." "Fine! Same to you Yagami! And don't think that you'll have Vice's heart more than her family will!" Chris nodded his head firmly. Iori laughed, "Let's just get this over with, I'm tired of hearing you talk."

They walked to the center of the mansion where a large blue pillar stood, a red sphere shining light on top. Yashiro walked toward it. "So…that's how they did it." "Speak Nanakase, what's all this shit?" He turned around, "It seems Ash and his clan were trying to reawaken Orochi, and they succeeded. But they failed to understand that Orochi listens to no one, and rather than him following their orders as a slave, he went to the strongest vessel he could find; Vice, so that he might exist again in this world." Chris spoke, "Ash took your Magatama because he knew that when they did awaken Orochi, he might retaliate. He knew he wouldn't be strong enough to handle it on his own. And he also knew that you wouldn't be strong enough to defeat Oro- I mean, Yamata, on your own." "So you mean to tell me this little pissworm is getting involved in Orochi affairs as well?"

"Now, now Monsieur Yagami, that's no way to talk to a fellow comrade." Ash appeared from the shadows. "There you are Ash! Are you ready to die, you pathetic scum?" Ash gasped, "What have we here? Two of the former Heavenly Kings? Since Vice saved you of your powers, I suppose that does make you former right? Haha, boy did she do a dumb thing. Now Yamata is near to unstoppable! I really thought the famed Hakkesho smarter than that…" Mature folded her arms, "Crimson, give it up now and maybe we might just spare you." "No! I'm not sparing this fool! He'll regret ever crossing paths with me long after he's in his grave! There will be no mercy for this clown!"

Ash rolled his eyes, "I expect you all think you're going to jump me? That's nice." Yashiro laughed, "You know, you're a sad kid. You've got yourself in a world of trouble with the wrong kind." "Oh? But you all forget! I have the Magat-" As he said this a serpent body wrapped around his legs and traversed his body. "Huh? What's this?" They all stood back. The serpent dragged his body to a dark corner. "AHHHHH!" Chris gasped, "Was that?" Just then, Ash's body was flung to the center and caught by Iori. He hemmed Ash's small frame to the air. "Where is it punk? Where's the Magatama?" Ash could barely speak, "Or…Orochi is co-ming, coming for you..." "Tch.." He dropped Ash to the floor. Yashiro ran to him. He placed his hand over Ash's body. He looked up at Iori. "It's gone."

Iori walked toward the dark corner that the serpent lay in. Mature jolted, "Iori, what the hell are you doing?" He stopped in his tracks. "Vice?" Vice lay on the floor, her body used and beaten. "He picked her up. He mumbled under his breath, "Open your eyes…please…"

The cast stood and watched as Iori's last hope for Vice's survival hung in the balance. He dropped to the ground. Mature ran to him, Chris and Yashiro followed behind. The young boy began to sob, "Yashiro!" He buried his head in Yashiro's arm. As they all cried over Vice, Orochi made his entrance.

"This is terrible, I'll miss her dearly."

Iori looked up to see the white haired Deva that made his life a living hell. Orochi himself. "She was useful. I've now regained my form through her. It's sad that cost her 'human' life. She was always an asset that Vice. The mightiest of the Hakkesho." "Arghhh, shut your mouth!" Iori stood up. "If you think you're leaving this place with the Magatama, you're pathetically mistaken. I don't care what you are, I'll send you straight to hell!"

Orochi looked at all of them. "Three Hakkesho, and a Yagami. I've been betrayed? What's the meaning of this Yashiro?" Yashiro slowly walked before Orochi, "Vice, you know, you should've given the title of Heavenly King to her." "Hmm?" As Yashiro said this, Vice rose up and pierced her hand through Orochi's body. "Because she's much more resilient than I am." She withdrew her arm with the Magatama in hand. Orochi fell to the ground. "I'm…still not ready to live in this world it seems…blast you Vice! You'll reap what you sow when I see you.., his voice began to fade, "In Naraku!" Vice held the beautiful Magatama gem in her hand and walked over to Iori. "I believe this is yours." She held her hand out. He looked at the Magatama long and hard.

They all stood around wondering why he was taking so long recovering his treasure. Vice raised an eyebrow. "Uhh, Iori, are you alright?" He snatched the Magatama, "Yeah, I'm fine…haha, HAHAHA!" Blue flames flowed through his palms. He smiled. Yashiro chuckled, "Look what you brought back Vice." Iori tested his ability on random objects in the Mansion. She laughed, "He just wasn't the same without it." Mature watched Iori as Yashiro and Chris walked to Vice. "Well Vice, how's the plan going?" She smiled, held her hand out, and revealed all the sacred treasures of each Hakkesho member. Chris held his mouth, "Even Goenitz? But how Vice!" "Yamata."

A look of relief crept over Yashiro's face. "So, we're going home?" Vice nodded, "Yes we are!"

Iori threw flames at Vice to which she expertly dodged. "Haha, you're back Yagami!" she yelled across the Mansion lobby. He smiled and nodded.

"What about him Vice? What's he going to do when you're gone?" She sighed, "I don't know…"

…

A few weeks later…

…

Vice sat on Iori's bed perusing a magazine. He sat below, tuning his guitar. She thought, "Today's the day."

"Hey, Iori, look how beautiful it is outside! The sun's setting! Wanna go to that big hill at the edge of town and watch is set?" He got up and picked her up, "Let's go!"

…

They sat on the hill, watching the gleaming sun slowly set. She rested her head on his shoulder. No one said a word. It's as if they sensed that this would be their meeting. But he was comfortable just with her for this small amount of time. She understood him, and he her. And that was what pained him. Going on without her he'd have no solace, no peace of mind. As he pondered these thoughts, he looked at her legs sprawled out in front of her. They began to vanish. It was starting.

He gently put his hands against her cheeks, a pained expression on his face. "Vice?" She looked up at him. Her face was weak, her eyes a beautiful ruby. "Iori…I-I always loved you." "Vice, no…" He tried to hold back the tears, "Don't go just yet!" She smiled. A strange force took over her body and lifted her to the sky. Iori grabbed her hand and was brought in the air by this same force. The sky a beautiful orange, they floated in the air, higher into the sky. He looked into her eyes, and kissed her. "I've always loved you Vice."

I'm diving off the deep end
You become my best friend
I wanna love you
But I don't know if I can
I know something is broken
And I'm trying to fix it
Trying to repair it
Any way I can

He grabbed her close to him. She said, "I… know…" She kissed him again, her energy surrounding him. He thought, "Please, don't let this end…" As he thought this, his body fell down to the ground. She was gone.

He looked up to the sky, "Vice." He could see a band of eight serpents slowly whisking through the air, toward the sun. One serpent made its way down to him, and circled his body, brilliant sparkles and shimmers trailing behind. The serpent brushed itself against his face, and he gently stroked it. "Vice…" The serpent took off into the sky, into the sun, into a higher realm.

He stood up and smiled. "You're free now."

His crimson hair blew softly in the fleeting wind. Tears escaped his eyes and crept along his smile. He closed his eyes. "Goodbye, Vice."

….

"Next up, the Yagami Jazz band led by Iori Yagami on Bass!" The crowd in the small club cheered feverishly. The band played.

Iori played, his solo filled with energy. A woman walked through the entrance of the club. She caught his eye. She was wearing a silky red dress and black stilettos, her copper skin exposed. He couldn't quite make her out, but he could tell; she was gorgeous.

As the band finished their tune, they made their way backstage to the dressing rooms. Iori continued to play his guitar, thinking of that copper colored woman he'd seen earlier. A knock on the door jolted him out of his thoughts. He opened the door.

"Long time no see Yagami."

Coming Soon ;)

The King of Fighters: All Hallows Saga