Legend of Ashiura (4)
written by Crescent Prince

        Word spread about Gunmeister’s famous victories. Many girls did look her up to plead her to accept them as disciples. She turned them down. “I ain’t as great as you think. I am just plain lucky.”

        “So, you beat the King, what are you gonna do next?”

        “Huh? Come on. Just play King of Fighters! I won’t stop until I can prove the gals’ prowess in fighting games! Jon, you will support me, won’t you?”

        “Well… I am a guy, you know? Should I betray my gender or…” He was cut off his sentence by Gunmeister’s sulk.

        “Er… Gunnie?”

        “Just kiddin’ ya’! I won’t force you to anything! By the way, this lunch is fabulous! Thank you!”

        Meanwhile, Stardust and Crescent Prince are seated on a table just beside the dating couple. They were dressed up peculiarly, like a form of disguise.

        “Chey! I thought Jon- san would propose to my sista.”

        “Hmm? You think it is right to do this? I don’t like this…”

        “Oi, if you don’t wanna help, you can go.”

        “Er… no! I will stay…”

        Then, just before dessert was served, three girls walked up to Gunmeister. They were Kaori, Barb and Brenda. “Coming to plead me to accept you as disciples? Forget it, I wo…”

        “We saw your performance against the King and are very impressed. I am Barb…”

        “I am Kaori”

        “And I am Brenda.”

        Then in unison, they exclaimed, “we are here to challenge you to KOF!”

        Three days have passed and the challenge date was coming close. Gunmeister walked to the regular arcade to train for the competition. But some people had beaten her to the machine. A large crowd was formed around the huge screen to watch the three gals defeat the guys again and again. They were none other than Kaori, Barb and Brenda.

        They showed great skill on each of their individual characters. Barb was great with Athena, Kaori with Benimaru and Brenda with Iori. Barb played first then Kaori with the follow up and finally Brenda. Gunmeister stood aside and looked at their fighting styles. They were good, but she wanted a fair match, so she watched no longer. She played against them.

        “This is just going to be just a friendly match, to get to know you better. I am familiar with Barb and Kaori’s style of fighting. Shall I play a one on one with Brenda?”

        They played a single match. Brenda chose her mastered Iori, and Gunmeister followed too. However, Brenda’s Iori was too quick and skilled that she defeated Gunmeister’s novice Iori perfect!!! She was not stunned, she had let the game go easily. She did not intend to win anyway. But Brenda’s Iori was definitely something! She had to find a way to counter, but how? Jonathan was only skilled in Chang, which was useless against Iori. Her sister was only good in Kula. Crescent Prince was a little skilled in the Psycho team. And Master Kula only taught Kula to people. Who could teach her Iori? She stood up and walked off after shaking the hands of the trio. But Gunmeister was stopped at the arcade door.

        “What poor Iori skills you have. I know you have let the game to Brenda, but with that kind of skill, you cannot get anywhere.”

    Gunmeister looked at the stranger with wide eyes. Was this stranger going to be the mystery hero she had been awaiting?

        “Who are…?”

        “I am The Master Of Iori, one of the the three masters of King Of Fighters. My name is…”

        The stranger was a girl.

        “… Sycia.”


To be continued...

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