Rock Howard looked into the eyes of his enemy and saw nothing save for intense hatred. Coming from Kim Jae Hoon, this was a surprise--and a frightening surprise at that. To say the least, Rock was scared. He was afraid for his life, and afraid that Jae would make good on his promise that there wouldn't be a next time. The Little Boy With Horns Pet Emporium was in ruins around the two young fighters. Jae had been sent careening through several shelves upon his entrance, and Rock had done his part to knock more over in his fit to remove his 'armor'. Ico, the little boy with horns who owned the shop, held his face in his hands. "There there. It isn't going to be so bad," said the caged beast on the counter behind Ico. The pet shop catered to some odd customers (really, who buys pet worms?), so having the last warrior from a race of dog-like animals wasn't so odd. Red XIII, with his red fur, tattoos, and mohawk, was easily the rarest pet in the store. "I don't know if my insurance is going to cover this," pouted Ico. [---] Somewhere far removed from the scene, Goenitz smiled smugly while he posed infront of a 'Yamata-No-Orochi Insurance Society' sign. 1-800-546-OROCH1 flashed at the bottom of the screen. [---] Jae held Rock pinned to the wall with his left hand. The son of Kim Kap Hwan seethed with anger. Suddenly, Rock's hatred for Jae was forgotten. His face paled and turned pained as Jae squeezed and bruised Rock's neck. "Please..... Jae...," the blond boy pleaded. His voice was almost inaudible. With great effort, Rock lifted his hand a took a soft hold on Jae's wrist, but he couldn't hope to budge Jae's grip. After such a long time of only staring vengefully at Rock and doing or saying nothing else, Jae's quick response to Rock's futile grasping was an indication that the Tae Kwon Do student was not reconsidering killing Rock. In a flash, Jae crushed Rock's arm with a brutal kick. The half-naked boy cried out in pain, spitting drops of blood from off his lips onto Jae's face and dobok. Rock's grip fell free, and his broken arm dangled at his side. "Murderer," Jae said softly, his lips barely moving. The sound of the word chilled Rock's heart. The voice was so unlike Jae's normal tone. From a forgotten corner of the shop, Daniel D'Arby played with a deck of cards in his hands while he watched Kim Jae Hoon face down Rock Howard. [---] In his own personal Hell, Blackheart turned his attention to the scene playing out before D'Arby's eyes. The gambler had found his quarry quickly, as Blackheart could see the ethereal manifestation of the fire elemental within the dobok wearing young man. However, what truly intrigued the Prince of Hell was the slowly growing aura of hatred and evil around said boy. Blackheart's keen senses allowed him to practically see and taste the blackness shrouding Jae's heart. This could be useful. [---] Jae was lost in himself. Horrible, twisted memories played out in his mind's eye. The sight of his father's murder. The imagined scene of Choi's gruesome death. The image of a scarlet haired psychopath with his arms outstretched to the heavens. Something had to be done. This pathetic creature before him, his old friend Rock, had to be made an example. Evil could not be given such free reign over the lives of others. No one at all would mourn the passing of a murderer, yet his death could possibly save others. It made so much sense to Jae, now that he looked at it in this light, that he wondered how his father had never come to this same conclusion. His father. A hand took hold of Jae's shoulder. It was the hand of his father. Jae's eyes went wide with shock. The hand was real, it was physically there. With his mouth hung open, Jae turned to face-- --Dong. "Hey there, little brother," said Dong. His voice was hushed but at ease. Jae's mouth worked soundlessly, the words failing to come to him as he tried to piece together where he was, what he was doing, and who he was seeing. "D- Dong?" "Yeah. Hey. What's up?" Dong's eyes quickly changed focus, looking further back at Rock, then back to Jae. Jae hesitated for a moment, taking in his brother's face. It'd been awhile since he'd seen him last. Then, sensing that he was about to be in trouble, he tried to explain himself. "He killed Choi," Jae told his older brother. Dong nodded once, slowly, then took his brother's other shoulder and turned him fully around. Without thinking, Jae let go of Rock and let him slump to the floor. Jae didn't dare look up into Dong's face. When he realized that he couldn't lift his head to do so, tears began to fill his eyes. "What was I doing?" Jae asked quietly. "That wasn't like you, little brother," Dong explained. "You remember when we were kids?" "I think about it every day," replied Jae. "When dad was alive." "Good ole dad. I... don't think he'd want to see a scene like this. Remember how the three of us--you, me, and Rock--used to all hang out together. Used to go down to Burger Time everyday after school." "Heh, yeah," Jae said. Dong let go of his brother's shoulders and took a step back to let Jae stand on his own. Even still, Jae didn't look up at his brother. During this quiet pause, Rock forced himself to stand up and began inching along the wall towards the door. Dong watched him go, but when their eyes met Dong had a hard time believing this was the same Rock Howard he'd known in his younger days. Through the pain and hatred in his eyes, Rock looked like he'd changed a lot. Jae sensed Rock's absence, but didn't react. Dong continued, "Burger Time had some fantastic burgers. Too bad they aren't around anymore." As if on queue, Dong's stomach growled. Jae couldn't help but chuckle. "There ya go," said Dong. Jae interrupted. "You know, Burger Time is still open. They just moved the store. They're down on Fifth now." Jae finally regained the courage to look up at Dong. "We could go down there--" he began, but all that was left was a cloud of dust in the vague shape of his brother. [---] Halfway down the block already, Dong jumped up and clicked his heels together. "Yeah! Burger Time!" [---] FORGOT ABOUT JAE Chapter 28: South Town Tour Story launched into the sun by The Darkheart One. Chapter ridden like a pony ride outside the local convenience store by OgOpOgO-. [---] Last time on Forgot About Jae: - Megaman had that dream again. - Donovan Baine let some zombies know that they do not know who they are fucking with. - Elias was mostly vague and C.C. Bounge just said 'no' to reformation. - The Driver met his longtime rival, Max Payne. - The Anubis Edge was created. It's better than disco. - Shang Tsung revealed he drinks his coffee black. Whoopee. - Leona is having Chang's baby! Kill me now! - Oh, and some nonsense about Rock completing his armor and going after Jae. Then there was a big cliffhanger. The suspense is killing me! What'll happen next!? Oh wait. [---] Jae stood still in the debris scattered around the pet shop. He was still almost in shock over the events of the day and meeting his brother. Finally, his Nameless Everpresent Girlfriend arrived at the store front. "Jae, what happened?" she asked, concerned. "Nothing. Nothing. We'll talk on the way home," offered Jae. He put his arm around her shoulder and prepared to leave. As he did so, though, Stone Krauser appeared in the doorway. He looked battered and bruised, but the fact that he was there and C.C. wasn't indicated that he'd won his battle. However, Jae Hoon wasn't Stone's problem. Quickly, Stone saw Rock making his way slowly across the room. He gave Jae and NEG a nasty look, but didn't stand in their way as they left. Stone rushed to his cousin's side, and Jae never looked back. Rock's red eyes followed Jae's retreating figure. "I won't ever forgive you, Jae. I'll come for you again. I swear I'll kill you," Rock vowed, but he didn't say it loud enough for Jae to hear. His beating was too sound to be forgotten. Stone heard him, though. "Don't worry, cousin, we'll get you back on your feet in no time. Then he'll pay for what he did to you." Stone paused and thought for a moment. "Er, what *did* he do to you?" From his corner, Daniel J. D'Arby nodded at the scene, then drew a single card from his deck. The king of spades. However, the king was replaced by the profile of Blackheart. "I'll follow him, now," D'Arby said to his master, "I'll learn what a can about him, so that I can challenge him to the proper game. However, I don't think it'll be too difficult. The boy doesn't look like a challenge, and he surrounds himself with people he cares about." Daniel smiled. Having an opponent with plenty of loved ones was always the best. Loved ones made the best betting pieces. Blackheart spoke through the card, "That is acceptable, D'Arby, but do not keep me waiting." As D'Arby slipped the card back into his deck, Blackheart changed his focus of attention to Garuda, his other hunter. "You've lost your target, my servant. Daniel can only follow one of the boys. Find me my elementals. Do it now." From the ledge of the skyscraper Garuda stood upon, It surveyed the city of South Town. It nodded once, affirming Its devotion to the mission for Its master, then the demon began to concentrate again on the many magical forces lost in the vast city. Somewhere out there It'd find a trace of the powerful elemental magic which It sought. Suddenly Garuda's acute senses focused on something. A powerful water elemental. If Garuda was capable of the emotion, It was pleased with Itself. Without a wasted moment, the oni leapt from the edge and ran straight down the side of the building It was on. Halfway down Garuda passed Vamp, who was on his way up the side of the building. But Vamp didn't pay him any mind. Garuda wasn't his type. Besides, he was about to miss his favorite show. Vamp finally reached his floor, and entered through his open window. He jumped into his couch and turned on the television. He smiled when he realized he hadn't missed anything. Judge Joe was just beginning. The bailiff, Hinako, began her announcement of Joe Higashi. "All rise!" she paused, "The honorable Judge Joe Higashi presiding!" Music began blaring through the courtroom, and the Muay Thai fighter entered the room shadowboxing. He wore a tiger striped robe, which he flipped the hood down on, and jumped into his high-backed chair. The top of the chair was engraved with the word "CHAMPION". "Alllll-right!" cried out Joe. "Hina-baby, lay it on me. Who's the sexiest courtroom judge alive?" "You are, Joey!" Hinako giggled. "That's right. Who we got, honey-cakes?" "The next case is Ayane versus Mai Shiranui." Joe cried out, "Mai Shiranui!?" and looked to the defendant's seat. "Mai, do that thing you do!" Mai crossed her arms. Joe was going to be a sexist pig again. Just her luck he'd be presiding over this case. "What thing, Joe?" "That's 'your honor'," Joe corrected. "Now, do that thing you do." Mai narrowed her eyes and stood up, then slammed her hands down on the desk before her. As she did so, her ample anatomical assets jiggled and danced about. "What are you talking about?!" she demanded. Joe just smiled into her chest and said, "Nevermind." With a huff, Mai sat back down and Hinako continued. "The plaintiff accuses the defendant, Ms. Shiranui, of public disorder, indecency, and--" Hinako studied the paper she was reading from, then added, "bouncing?" In her own chair, the ninja Ayane crossed her arms and stuck out her tongue at Mai. Bringing Mai to court wasn't the normal way for a ninja to deal with her problems, but the fight with Mai didn't seem to ever want to come to an end. Unfortunately, the cardigan that Ayane was wearing was a bit too much for the stuffy courtroom. She was sorry that this schoolgirl outfit was the only thing she had to wear other than her ninja uniforms and a few bikinis. Joe pointed his gavel at Ayane. "State your case." Ayane stood and said, "Your honor, the code of the ninja is a very sacred and long standing tradition. This--" During this speech, the honorable Thai fighter was looking at Hinako. Finally, he made a phone with his thumb and pinky, wiggled it by his ear and mouth, and mouthed the words 'call me'. Then he turned his attention to Ayane and immediately jumped out of his seat. "Hotchi motchi! Damn girl, you're looking fine!" Ayane stopped dead. She carefully considered how she would murder Joe Higashi. Poison. Blade. Arrow. Strangulation. Finally, she decided that it might be best to finish the court case, so she said "Thank you" in a voice icy enough to kill a normal man. Joe isn't a normal man. "Look, sweetness, this case doesn't have to get dragged along like this. Why don't you, me, and Hinako here go back to my place and make with the naughty fun time? Sound good?" Mai's lawyer, the samurai Haohmaru, stood up and cleared his throat loudly. "Ahem! Your honor, I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask that--" "Sit down, cock-blocker," Judge Joe demanded. "This court finds in favor of the plaintiff, Ayane. Now it's time for sweet lovin'!" Mai decided she'd had enough, and she jumped up out of her seat. "Now wait just a damn minute, Joe--" she yelled. The Muay Thai judge cut her off. "Don't get carried away, asshole! Judge Joe is going to show you what this is all about. Screw! UPPA!" Mai made a sad face. Then she made a hole in the ceiling as the fiery tornado lifted her into the air. Haohmaru, mostly untouched by the attack, dusted the bits of wood and plaster off of his designer suit. The case was lost. He collected a few papers into his briefcase, then shut the case, adjusted his glasses, and left the room. Joe laughed out loud, than jumped onto his desk and took a seat there. "So, cutie, how about that invitation?" Ayane sighed. Then the right side of the back wall exploded inward and a pirate ship stuck its bow in through the hole. "Arr, there she be! Take the wench and string her from the yardarm. Make her walk the plank!" cried out captain Cervantes. He pointed one of his blades at the purple haired ninja girl. Ayane didn't even have the time to look worried or attempt to teleport herself away. Immediately after Cervantes finished speaking, the left side of the back wall exploded inward and a long Viking ship 'sailed' into the courtroom. "Ah ha ha!" laughed Bass, the large wrestler turned Viking. He readjusted the horned helmet he wore on his head, then pointed at Ayane. "There she is, men. I knew I smelled a schoolgirl!" The various Viking warriors on the ship cheered aloud and raised their weapons into the air. "Wait a damn minute, chump," shouted Ruby Heart, "That isn't a schoolgirl. That's a ninja. She's *ours*!" Joe Higashi decided this was his chance to make an exit, before things got ugly. With a cry of "Sexy Kick!" he flew out the main doors with a flying attack. "Rape and pillage! ... I mean, you're nuts!" Leif the Viking declared. "Look at that skirt. Look at those sexy legs. That is obviously a schoolgirl." Bass gave his man a bewildered look and asked, "Sexy legs? What are you talking about? She's a schoolgirl. Our sworn enemy!" Leif looked around for support, but after getting none from the Lost Vikings he just gave a half hearted shrug and offered, "I think their sexy." By this time, Ayane had already taken to hiding under her desk. Ninja's are so totally sweet. They can hide *anywhere* and never be found. "Avast, ye scallywags! The ninja has escaped!" cried out Cervantes. "You mean the schoolgirl has escaped!" yelled Bass. At that moment, a spear dug itself into the wooden deck of the pirate ship. An oddly dressed young man slid down the attached rope and landed on the deck. "I'll find her!" declared Vyse, renowned air pirate. Immediately he put a finger to the side of his strange 'eye-patch', which functioned as a telescope and basic scanning device. "Oh good lord, who are you kidding?" laughed Bonne Jenet. "You look priceless. Like a kid sitting in class and daydreaming about being a pirate!" Vyse frowned, "I *am* a pirate!" "Kid, who dresses you? And did you forget to comb your hair this morning?" asked Johnny. Just to show he knew what he was talking about, he indicated the pirate girl he had under his arm. "Aika!?" cried Vyse. The redheaded girl in the yellow one-piece shrugged. "Arr. We can'na be arguin' like this now." commanded Cervantes "We must find the ninja girl! Now, before the--" He was stopped by his lower jaw becoming unhinged. He readjusted it with his gloved hand, but Jenet took this moment to point out something that had been bothering her. "Captain, you haven't been looking very healthy lately. Why is your skin all grey like that?" The pirate, who was once immortal thanks to the power of the Soul Edge, and who was later revived by its power, opened and closed his mouth a few times to test it out. But before he could answer Jenet, another figure made his presence known. "Because," the voice boomed from the back railing on the stern of the ship, "he is undead." Donovan Baine turned around dramatically to face the assembled mass of pirates and Vikings (not that the Vikings cared, they were searching for Ayane). Baine sniffed the air twice, then added, "I could smell him from a block away." Ruby and Jenet both took a tentative breath through their noses, then backed away from the decaying Cervantes. Baine launched himself into the air, and his living blade circled around from his back and lashed out at the pirate. "Now, zombie, tell me where I can find Megaman X." Cervantes blocked Baine's sword by crossing his blades in front of himself. "Wow, zombies. That's neato," said Vyse. "Almost as keen as vampires." He added this because his goggle had picked up the signature of vampires in the area. Nearby, infact, was the ice cream shop that Dio and Vanilla Ice inhabited. Dio's number one man peeked out the front window at the courthouse with the pirate ship sticking out of its side. "Wow, don't see that everyday." The bell positioned above the front entrance rang, indicating that a customer had just entered. Without hesitating, Vanilla Ice hopped the counter to take the customer's order. He was immediately surprised by the customer's immense girth. "Can I help you, sir?" asked Vanilla Ice. Vanilla Ice, and his Stand Cream, were working the counter at the ice cream shop in order to keep the cover of Dio's hideout. However, Vanilla was still feeling bad about not winning the heart of Pantsless Yuri yet. "I'll take a mint chocolate chip in a sugar cone," said Chang Koehan. "Yes sir, anything else?" asked Vanilla. "Oh yeah, don't think you're getting away that easily," Chang clapped his hands and rubbed them together. "Now, do you have enough flavors, or am I going to have to start mixing some together to fill up my belly?" Vanilla Ice raised an eyebrow and asked, "Wow. Tough day?" "You said it, pal." "Ice cream always makes me feel better too." Vanilla Ice was about to hand Chang his cone, then he rethought it and instead picked up the entire gallon of ice cream and came around the counter. He grabbed a couple spoons from the condiment counter and sat down in one of the booths, indicating for Chang to sit with him. "What do you say we drown our problems in some ice cream?" offered Vanilla Ice. Chang didn't turn down an offer like that, but he felt the need to add one thing. "I'm straight. Yup. Straight as an arrow." Vanilla Ice thought this over for a moment, then gave Chang a thumbs up. "Good for you. Me too." "Oh. Sorry, I just thought... you know." "Yeah, I've been getting that a lot lately." "Well, you know... you don't have any pants on." Vanilla Ice took a spoonful of ice cream, then said, "Funny thing about that. I fell in love with a girl with no pants." "Ah, love troubles. Is that what has you down?" "Yeah. What about you?" Chang dug his spoon into the container and sighed. "My best friend died recently." "Oh no. I'm sorry." The oversized Korean smiled and shook his head. "No need for you to be sorry. It isn't your fault that he is dead." Vanilla Ice took another bite and added, "Well, no. I guess not." "In fact, I know who did it. But that isn't who I'm after. I'm feeling down today because I can't find the people who destroyed Park World. The people who destroyed my only chance of saving Choi's life." Vanilla Ice choked on the ice cream he was swallowing. "Whoa, careful there," said Chang. The Stand wielder stood up, and backed away from Chang slowly. In doing so, he accidently bumped into N'Doul as the blind man exited the back room of the ice cream parlor. "I'm sorry," said N'Doul, "Is that you Vanilla Ice?" Chang cocked his eyebrow in thought. Vanilla saw this. "Sh- shut up, N'Doul." "Hmm, well then," said the blind Stand wielder, "I'll visit again later. Tell Dio I'll see you both then." "Dio?" asked Chang in surprise. N'Doul didn't pay Chang any mind. He exited the building and stepped out onto the sidewalk. And at that exact moment he was cut down by one of Garuda's many blades. The demonic pawn of Blackheart looked down at the dying man with soul-less eyes. Carefully, It considered the man It'd mortally wounded. It could feel it, the water element within the man. At that moment Geb, the Stand N'Doul controlled--a Stand made of water--lunged out of N'Doul's dying body. Garuda was faster. It dodged back, letting the attack sail into the air, then the oni plunged another blade deep into N'Doul. Garuda was displeased that this wasn't the right Prey, but It'd find who It was looking for soon enough. But It could pick up the scent of Prey later. For now, Garuda felt the presence of someone It'd battled once before. The back of the ice cream parlor. Yes, Garuda would carve a path to Its next target through there first. "Wow, demonic pin cushions," said Vyse as he watched the action down the street. "That's spiff." Finally, Cervantes pushed Baine off of himself for a second and cried out, "Why aren't ye all fightin' with me?" Cervantes fellow Bootleg Buccaneers gave a collective shrug. "Arr! This won't do. I don't know how to help you find this accursed Megaman X, landlubber." "Why don't you try a phone book?" asked Jenet. "How many 'Megaman's could be in there?" With a swift motion, Baine's blade reseated itself behind its master's back. "Why didn't you say that before?" asked Baine, and he hopped over the side of the boat and went to the nearest payphone. Sure enough, Megaman wasn't that popular a name. Donovan Baine dialed the first number in the book. The phone rang. "Hello?" answered a young female's voice. Beside the young girl, a brown haired boy stirred. "No I'm sorry," continued the girl, "you have the wrong house. This is Megaman. Megaman X doesn't live here." She hung up. "Who was that, Roll?" "I dunno, big brother," she began to massage Rock's shoulders. "Now, go back to sleep." [---] Author's Notes: I think that should just about do it, to be honest. Sure, I have a lot more ideas, but I have no time to figure out how to get them to all link together. That was the fun I was having, getting all the scenes to flow like that. Let me know if it was interesting or annoying. Well, thankfully, since I didn't get to use half the ideas I had I can probably use them again next time. Anyway, give me some feedback on the message board. This chapter, I realized, isn't a very funny chapter... but I'm okay with that, which surprises me. Hopefully, you all found it entertaining.