..."Computer!" Locke began, "Begin releasing Virus #27."

"Yes sir," the computer opened up a file that began erasing it's harddrive.

Locke sighed, this hide-out hopping better stop soon. He had just picked up the final kidnapee and threw Zero1's body into the backseat. Locke had admistered extra medication to render them extremely unconconscious. Locke wasn't a doctor and he knew what was too much, he just didn't know how long it would last. After turning out the lights in Acinomia's former room, Locke hesitated, "I have some time." He took out a long wire from his pocket and smiled, "Bison, you can make me run, but I'm atleast going to go out with a bang." In that, he punched the wall so hard a hole created and Locke began sticking the wires together, then reached in his other pocket for a small package of Carbon four.

 "Ok people listen to the pretty in pink!" Victoria yelled across the room motioning everyone listen to Lilly.

Lilly smiled standing on a little stool, even then Shockwave stood right beside her and beat her at the height difference.

 "Ok, you go sit down!" Victoria told Shockwave whose nickname now became "Shockie-poo!"

"With a name like that, who'd not want to run away from you guys?" Yun smirked.

 Shockwave walked passed Yun and elbowed the man in the process.

 "Bring it on stick boy!"

 Shockwave turned around taking out his stick, "Come on little boy, I'll shove this stick so far up your-"

 "Shut-up!!!" All the girls yelled. -And there was silence because girls are that cool.

 It was obvious there wasn't time for a p*ssing contest.

 "Ok," Lilly began with her nice voice, "Since there is great concern about the whereabouts of Kay, Zero1 and Crimson, we've decided to break into little search groups and go find them."

 "Whose we?" Shockwave asked?

 "As a group of loyal friends!" Meliza glared at Shockwave

 A light knocking on the door allowed for a brief distraction.

 "Guy! Cody! Hello! What brings you guys here?"

 Guy cleared his throat, "We heard Crimson hasn't been seen around generally for a couple of days, so we're here to help with the search party."

 "That's great," Lilly chirped.

 "Don't forget us!" Ken and Ryu entered.

 Suddenly the room became silent, many admired these two beings with great honor. They were role models to some, but to Iwa...

 "Ryu-sempai!" Iwa ran over and hugged her unofficial father. She hadn't seen him for a awhile now and she didn't realize how much she missed him until she saw him.

 He hugged her back and the room smiled as this Kodak moment occurred.

 "Where's mom- I mean Chun-Li?"

Ryu frowned, "She called me and said to stay as far away as possible. I don't know. I heard screaming in the background at this 'Miko' person." He shrugged.

 The room had no idea who this Miko person was either and they thought nothing of it.

 "Great! Wonderful!" Lilly began, "Mr. Guy, Mr. Cody, Shockwave and Yun can check the front of the island where most of the media is."

 All the men nodded, Yun though raised an eyebrow at Shockwave. He really wanted to break that d*mn stick of his.

 "Mr. Hoshi, Mr. Masters, Iwa and Kumori can check the tournament area."

 Kumori jumped up and gave both men a hug. It's been awhile since she has seen them as well.

 "Yang, Victoria, Meliza and myself can check the wooded area," Lilly concluded.

 All eyes, then focused on Heagy. He sat cozy on the couch sleeping silently.

"Awe, let the man sleep, he's been through a lot," Kumori suggested.

 Everyone nodded and departed.

John mumbled and clutched the pillow tighter, "Double cheeseburger..." What a very provocative dream.

 The music blared. She recognized the tune. She loved dance music. "Sky! My favorite!"

 ~*~ Remember! You're not here to dance! You're here to finish the unsettled business! ~*~

"Oh bite me," she snapped.

 A large man stood between her and the bar, "Excuse me miss, you don't look 21."

 "Of course not! I'm 3,746! Gawed, how pathetic can you be?"

 The bartender laughed, "If she's already this drunk she's of age, DJ."

 The man smiled, "Enjoy yourself miss, but please don't get hurt. It'd be a shame to see a pretty little thing like you go through a bad time."

 "You're too late for that!" She spoke aloud. She sat down, "Why am I here? Did I want to come here? Nooooo, I wanted to stay up there on the immortal plane and live life until my turn was supposed to come up. But No! That Crista just had to break her d*mn arm bands and what ya know! Oh Nis-Nis, it's your turn to save the world!"

 ~*~ Nisshoku! For crying out loud! Shut up! You'll blow our cover! ~*~

"-And of all things, my brother has to follow me around as my shadow!" She threw her arms up, "Can you stop your b*tching!"

 The bartender finished drying the glass and shook his head, "Sorry little lady, you aren't getting any thing else to drink tonight."

 "Oh please, do you think I want earth drinks? The only decent shot is sake and it isn't even big enough. You mortals are so weak! You should try some Ambrosia! Straight up! You'll be sleeping like a baby for a millennium!"

 A man couldn't help realize how much sense she had made. She could be assumed drunk, but… he glanced at her eyes. "My gawed," he gasped, "no color… just a fire background." He knew the technological advancements made in today's eye wear were extraordinary, but fire burned in her eyes as if it were real. Fire… where else have I seen… His eyes widened, "Phoenix!"

 Nisshoku immediately ceased her speaking, "D*mn." She quickly got up and left the bar. She decided to get lost in the flood of dancers in that club.

~*~ You idiot! The sun hasn't even set for an hour and you're spilling our secret! Gawed, you should have been the man! ~*~

"Oh shut up, you think I want to be a weak man?"

 "Better than a nagging b*tch."

 She glared her eyes then snapped her fingers. Her shadow disappeared and now appeared a dangling jewelry upon her forehead. Inside she could almost feel the power that surged from the glowing ruby. She smiled, she was now in her prime and her annoying twin was gone. Bad thing was, he was now in the flesh where she last left him and if she lost the jewelry her power would be decreased by half. Honestly, she didn't care. She danced the night sky away at the club reminiscing of her mission and how the trips been so far.

 "Elisa! Where are you?! ELISA!!!!!!" Henry cried real tears and yelled for his fiancée.

By that time Nis-Nis was fed up, "Oh shut-up you!"

 Henry, surprised at stranger voice, glanced up at the woman. Suddenly, happiness graced his face, "Elisa!" He struggled to stand, but gravity and a weak system failed him. He collapsed back to the sand right at Elisa's feet.

"Um, Elisa?" He felt awkward. She just stood there. Knowing Elisa she would have called an ambulance and propped his injury up with her CK backpack. Also, he had to ask her, "What are you wearing?"

 "I believe the term you earthlings use is vetements. -wait that's another language. Clothes? Yeah! It's clothes! Yes, I am wearing clothes!"

 He raised his arm, "A little help dear?"

 She scoffed, "You wuss."

Another voice in the midst of the clearing spoke, "Nisshoku, don't you dare scare him away! I need his body!"

 "You want every males body Shizukesa!"

 "Nisshoku! Not right now! Finish the job! I took care of the woman, now you take care of this man!"

 Henry stuttered in fear and in desperate curiosity, "A-Are you talking about Elisa?"

Nisshoku kneeled down with a wide grin on her face, "Don't take this personally, but how would you feel knowing that your death would save the world?"

 "M-My death?"

 She nodded by raising her eyebrows, "To be oh-so blunt, yes. My brother and I are incarnates of an essence. We need mortal bodies to defeat this immortal. We must travel separately or detecting the death essence would be much easier and if we are gathered w/ the other essences we are easy to be used by the enemy or this rumored mortal psychopath, M. Bison."

 "Bison? I worked for the man!"

 Her eyes widened, the fire in them illuminated her entire body. She was indeed glowing, "You dare support the enemy!"

 Henry raised his shaking hand, "N-No… please, I-I didn't know he was… please! Our relationship is purely professional!"

 "That's odd, Elisa didn't resist."

 "That's because you snuck up behind her before she could speak, brother dear."

 "E-Elisa? Y-You killed Elisa?!" Henry felt as if the mad had fallen out of heaven. His heart sunk, his jaw dropped and he cried a fresh set of tears. "My joy in life… is gone?"

 Shizukesa blew a gust of wind against Nisshoku to kill him instantly, but she ignored her brother's demands and stared deeply at this fellow to be used as a shell for Shizukesa.

 Henry Son searched his entire life for his other half. He searched for the woman to complete him. He met her; she was indeed all he had hoped for. She wasn't him and he loved her for it. "She was everything I'm not! She was everything I always wanted! She completes me! -And you killed her so you can play what-ever d*mn game you have going! You killed the person that means most dear to me!" Henry now could not feel his physical pain for his internal pain cried blood and all for some arrogant pagan worshippers.

"Nisshoku! Now!!"

 "Zuke! No! Listen to him! Feel his emotions!" She felt his hurt. She felt his pain. She felt, if anything most responsible. She is the reason why these two had to be parted. She is reason why he could never experience a full life with the woman he loved. -But she could guarantee one thing, "Henry." She fell to her knees and wrapped her arms around him. "Y-Your wife isn't dead. She's sleeping within me and in a day her soul will pass to live amongst the Gods on the immortal plane b/c she has made the ultimate sacrifice for this planet."

 "You stole her from me! You stole her from this world! You thieves! Vultures! You aren't worthy to be mortal!!"

 Shizukesa couldn't believe what his sister was doing. She's really enjoying this human gig. He knew, though, this was another her ways on killing the man softly. By being killed by an immortal, by the immortals permission, you can live as on of them on the immortal plane and live an eternity of happiness. Nisshoku was doing just that to this Henry mortal.

"You and Elisa are going to be very happy together and for the rest of eternity."

 Henry lifted his head to look into the woman that stole his wife's body, "What makes you say so?"

 Nisshoku smiled and she allowed her fellow counterpart to wake briefly with the full knowledge and understanding, "Hello my dear."

 "Elisa," Henry smiled, "Elisa you're back with me." He hugged his wife and he felt at peace."

 "Henry, dear, lets be happy together forever."

 Henry nodded, "As long as I'm with you, I will be happy forever."

 Elisa kissed her husband and at that moment Nisshoku reached for an arm wrap that encircled her arm presumably for design. As it untangled it held three dimensional form and became a certain type of rope. With that rope she held Henry until the two mortal spirits made it to the immortal plane and lived the life they deserved.

 Once the two spirits left the earth, Nisshoku fell to the white sand crying. She cried louder each time she thought about what Henry specifically spoke to her. The man wasn't thinking, he was borderline insane, but he spoke with all his heart and that made him a mortal worthy to enter the plane of the Gods.

 I have to check up on them when I get back when this is over.

 "Oh please, you love this life so much, why would you want to go back to being another number for the Phoenix God?"

 Nis-Nis stopped her dancing and looked at Zuke, her dear brother. "You run fast and it's at night too."

 "Especially when I'm wearing this." He flashed the energy bracelet that served the same purpose as Nisshoku's forehead jewelry. "Now come with me. We need to find atleast one of the other eight." He reached for her hand but she became translucent and wouldn't allow him.

"Don't you dare make me use drastic methods. I don't have time for this immaturity."

Nisshoku raised an eyebrow, "Oh? What would I say knowing that the killer of Crista is nearby? I can sense Acinomia's presence. It's weak, but it's nearby."

 "We're not here to avenge Crista's death! We're here to stop Naar from taking over this plane and soon taking over ours. Don't you remember the Phoenix God's paranoia. If Naar takes over this plane what's to stop him from taking over the Immortal plane?" He paused, "Answer me Nisshoku! Answer me!!!"

 "One, two, three, four! Two, two, three, four! Three, two, three four!"

 "Ok, shut-up now," Meliza spoke.

Victoria raised an eyebrow, "Lilly is just trying to make things a bit more interesting? Walking in the woods at night can get rather boring rather fast."

 Yang yawned, "We've been walking for hours though. The whole night part doesn’t really help much either."

Meliza took a step toward one of the many dark areas of the forest, "Ever walk into danger on a woman's intuition?"

 "What man hasn't?" Yang questioned.

 "Good," Meliza began, "Because we're walking in this cave."

 Lilly frowned, "I don't see any caves."

 Meliza took out the lighter she stole from Locke and grabbed a dead branch, She lit the thing on fire and threw it directly infront of her. It didn't surprise her that the cave was mere inches from her, it surprised her that the stick landed on an automobile.

Victoria and Lilly gasped. Meliza smiled, "Bingo."

 The four began to walk in slowly making sure they didn't even step on a twig… until

 ***BOOM***

 Three motorcycles flew from the cave causing Lilly and Yang to duck to the side while Meliza and Victoria duck and cover eachother.

 Laughing from the men echoed and the strangest moment occurred. Vega and Balrog appeared with an unknown character who they assumed was there for same purpose as Vega. They just plain assumed his reason for being was not to be on their side.

 "Look what we have here, Jin," Vega began, "Two lovely ladies that we can have fun with. Aren't they lovely Balrog?"

 Balrog nodded and smiled.

Jin, silent, walked forward fists clenched. A smile on his face and finally his glowing fists raised straight at the two.

Locke, seeing this in just a few covert feet off, stared surprised. His heart skipped a beat and he hesitated, "Meliza…" He glared at the two men infront of him and decided to test their strength against a vehicle. He turned on the ignition and before the two villains turned, Locke ran straight into Vega's back causing him to fall cracking the windshield and he drove straight into Jin, the man that took his place.

Victoria was quickly grabbed by the three men on motorcycle and dragged into the depth of the woods. Yang and Lilly ran quickly off after Victoria. Meliza would have sprinted that instant when she saw his face and stared into his eyes, "Locke."

 Locke opened the door and stood up, "You ok?"

 "Isn't that an odd statement?" She questioned.

 He couldn’t disagree. Coming to this island has changed his life. He wished he never came here. He wished he never met her. Ok, a little part of him wished that, but most of him felt something he had never felt before. He was worried about her?

 Before he could think again, Meliza interrupted his thoughts, "Locke look out!"

 The Spanish assassin yelped flying through the air straight at Locke, "Die you b*st*rd!"

 Locke dove into his front seat and Vega's claw ripped through the rag top of the sports car stopping at the nose of the man's face.

Meliza knew she owed Locke. She grabbed a branch and lit it on fire, "Take this you Prince wannabe!" She heaved the fiery stick at Vega and caught his hair on fire.

"Ahhhhh!!!" Vega screamed. He quickly cut off his hair in a quick act of desperation.

 He panted as he looked at his hair in his hand and threw it down as it burned up. The ashes, the smell of his beautiful hair.

Locke took this chance and reached through the rag top of his car grabbed Vega and threw him on the front of his car.

By this time Victoria, Lilly and Yang, knowing Meliza was at the wrath of two psychopaths, arrived to her aide.

 "Get the h*ll away from her you pansy *ss sorry excuse for Spanish blood!" Victoria ordered to Vega.

 Victoria, Lilly and Yang scattered, then took up formation of a triangle as they boxed Vega and Balrog in the middle. Vega instantly picked his target, his claws swiping by Victoria's head with astonishing nimbleness. Victoria's guts lurched inside with shock as instinct alone told her to get out of the way. The claw whistled through the air, skewering a piece of cloth from her green tank top.

 Cold eyes pierced Victoria from behind the mask. "I believe we have a score to settle."

 "What a coincidence," Victoria's tone was tinged with sarcasm. "So do I..."

 The deadly claw flashed again, forcing Victoria to draw her twin daggers. A metallic 'ting' rang out as steel met metal, both the claw and dagger pushed away from their path of movement. Victoria staggered back, the force of the blow sending a numbing pain up her arm.

 'It's him, all right.'

 A high-pitched yell was instantly followed by a violent kick to the mid-section, bodily lifting Victoria into the air and sending her crashing into a tree trunk. She groaned, and blinked. Vega was flying towards her again, the claw held back in readiness to skew through her throat. Victoria grimaced.

 "Soul UPPERCUT!"

 She missed. But she did manage to move herself just enough to escape the tool of death hurtling towards her. With a soft thud Vega embedded his claw right into the tree, amidst a flurry of Spanish, as he tried to tug his weapon free. Behind him, Victoria landed.

 "Watch your language, dear."

 Leaping into the air, she turned once, stuck out a leg and slammed her ankle into Vega's Adam Apple with as much force as she could muster. Vega croaked as the impact

 pulled his claw right out of the tree, and sent him flying.

 He landed on his feet. Victoria raised an eyebrow in surprise. "How..?"

 Vega merely chuckled. "So the prey can fight back..."

 He lunged again.

 "... interesting."

 *thud*

 The fruit overhead dropped off, conking Zero1 on the head in the process. The dark Taekwondo expert stirred gently, mumbling unintelligibly under his breath. He shook his head twice, but didn't have to think twice. On almost all sides of him he found fighting friends versus really ugly enemies. He saw Crimson next to him and remembered all that happened. "Got to get out of here… quietly…" He grabbed Crimson and slowly crawled to a safe distance. He had to go get help, but Crimson was still unconscious and wasn't getting any lighter.

 Balrog looked around. Yang to the right. Lilly to the left. He grinned. No problem. Taking a quick warm-up swipe at his opponents, he was amused to find them both taking a step backwards to put themselves out of range. This was almost too easy.

 Locke quickly viewed his environment, everyone was distracted. Everyone, but "Meliza." He smiled and that was enough. Quickly he snuck up behind her and wrapped his arms around her neck in a head lock, "Don't you dare try anything…"

 "Are you kidnapping me again?" Meliza questioned in a whisper.

 Before he answered she was fast asleep. Locke knew exactly how to do the sleeper, h*ll he was paid to teach it to all those wrestlers.

Yang was thinking.

 He was in no hurry to face Balrog head-on, for he knew the boxer and his punches well. He was content to simply stay out of Balrog's reach and wait until he saw an opening... for now. A quick glance to his right told him that Lilly was having the same idea. Absent-mindedly he jumped, then dropped into a roll as a gloved fist came within inches of hitting him.

 "Stay still, d*mm*t!"

 "And let you hit me?" Yang retorted under his breath. "Thanks, but I'm smarter than you are."

 Then, suddenly, he found his back against a tree.

 Yang barely managed to dive aside as Balrog drew back his fist, then sent a wild, powerful punch that instantly reduced the trunk to splinters at the exact spot where Yang's head was a split-second ago. Yang gulped. Roaring, Balrog rushed towards him, hitting blindly at Yang's general location, hoping that one of the punches would make contact...

 "Kikou Ken!!"

 A blueish light flared behind Balrog, followed by a roar of pain from the boxer. Yang grinned as he saw his opportunity arise. He rushed.

 "Tourou Zan," he whispered...

 Balrog took the blows solidly as Yang struck him thrice, the final hit knocking him off-balance. Yang grinned, launching a foot into Balrog's chin. The boxer was sent into an involuntary flip, and landed heavily face-first.

 Lilly grinned. "Nice."

 Yang returned the smile, but both were quickly cut short when Balrog calmly climbed to his feet, dusting himself. "My, that tickles."

 "Oops.."

 Balrog nodded in agreement, then raised a fist. Yang crouched, and the swing flew right overhead. Before Balrog could recover from the force of his own blow, Yang sprang up and rushed towards the boxer, aiming for his vulnerable torso.

 Or so he thought. From above Balrog's other fist descended, slamming into Yang from above, and following through with the blow until the Chinese fighter met the ground. Laughing, Balrog secured a grip on Yang's collar, then bodily flung him towards a tree.

 "Yang!!!"

 "Took care of lover boy, that," Balrog laughed as he turned to face Lilly. "Now it's just you and me..."

 "We're going!"

"Oh no we're not!"

 "Yes we are!"

 "B*tch you better let go!"

 "Nis-Nis, stop acting selfish and lets go!"

 "Make me Zuke!"

 With that invitation, Zuke slapped his sister with a bit extra energy.

 Nisshoku landed hard on the concrete. She noticed, though, she landed right at a stranger's shoe.

 "B*st*rd!" She heard a strange voice.

Kumori glared at the man who had just hit the girl.

 Iwa offered her hand to help up the girl.

 "Oh, we're just fighting," Zuke began, "It happens all the time, unfortunately."

"That doesn't give you the right to hit a girl! Where are you manners and decency!?" Kumori hollered.

 Nis-Nis smiled at Iwa, "Thank-you, but really, we're just fighting. -And it does happen a lot."

 "So he hits you a lot?" Iwa questioned.

 "No, I dared him and he goes along with it. You should see the dares he dares me to do. He's almost in a coma."

 The two friends didn't know what to do about this strange duo.

"Um, ok," Kumori stuttered, "Well… um… have you seen three guys around here? One of them with hair to their ears, another one wearing mostly black… bad attitude, and a really happy one that has a great chance to be wearing pink?"

 "Uh, no," the siblings answered. This indeed was the strangest pair of humans they've met. Of course, they've only been mortals for about three hours.

Shizukesa had a feeling about these two and he knew his sister shared the same. He almost wanted to say it, but didn't know what was decent. If hitting your sibling wasn't decent because she was of a more fragile gender, supposedly, then what of asking about the 9 essences?

 Nisshoku didn't really care about decency, "Are they essences?"

 The entire situation became silent.

 Iwa and Kumori didn't know how to answer to that.
 "Um," Iwa began, "H-How do you know about essences?"

 Shizukesa and Nisshoku had their answer and grinned. Zuke raised his bracelet and Nis-Nis adjusted her head piece. In unison the ruby gem opened up revealing the Phoenix eye.

 Iwa and Kumori didn't know how to react or what to say. They just stood there.

 Ryu and Ken walked up to the two pairs.

"No such luck," Ken spoke.

"Who are these people?" Ryu spoke

 Nis-Nis and Zuke raised their hands to shake Ryu and Ken, "We're the death essence."