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Kyo Kusanagi (Japanese: 草薙くさなぎ 京きょう | Hepburn: Kusanagi Kyo) is the titular protagonist in SNK's The King of Fighters video game series. He was first introduced in The King of Fighters '94 as the leader of the Japan Team. He is the rival of Iori Yagami. Kyo is a cocky delinquent high school student who is the heir of the Kusanagi Clan, one of the three clans that sealed the legendary snake entity, Orochi, 1800 years ago. His clan wields pyrokinetic powers, an inherited power that few members obtain. They, along with the Yasakani and Yata clans, keep one of the Three Sacred Treasures used to contain Orochi long ago. His family's treasure is the Kusanagi Sword (草薙くさなぎの剣つるぎ), and his family crest is the sun, represented in a stylized halo of fire. His official nickname is "Scion of the Flame" (Japanese: 炎ほのおの貴公子きこうし | Hepburn: 炎の末裔 | or "The Cleansing Exorcising Flame" (Japanese: 火炎かえん 祓はらう 濯ゆす | Hepburn: Kurenjingu Ekusosaijingu Fureimu). Aside from the main series, Kyo also has a spin-off manga story based on his adventure in The King of Fighters '96, entitled The King of Fighters: Kyo. A video game under the same name was also created to further expand his character. In addition, a number of image songs and audio dramas featuring Kyo's character have been released, including the contents of his own character image album consisting of all of his theme songs. He is a member of SNK's character image band, The Band of Fighters, and also co-stars alongside Iori in one of SNK's promotional series, Part Time Stories: Kyo & Iori.
Near the end of the fourth tournament, Nixon had defeated K2, officially becoming the winner of the fourth tournament. However, he did not care about this, as Nixon suddenly ran off to the Orion building shorly after the announcement. After taking down a handful of Orion’s guards with his bare hands, Nixon stormed into Ranzou Kihara’s office so he could spill out everything that he knows. Upon encountering Ranzou Kihara in his office, Nixon went face-to-face with the CEO. It was then that Ranzou told him the truth that he was looking for. Nixon was actually a failed experiment by Orion. A guinea pig for testing out the “perfect fighter” DNA on live subjects. He, alongside several other people, were stripped off their previous memories and then geneticaly reconstructed as “perfect fighters”. However, the experiment on him failed, as his body did not accept these changes, thus only giving him half of the effects of the experiment. Ranzou also told Nixon that his sister still works for Orion, now known as the psychotic assasin Mira, which explained her comparatively mellow behavior when fighting him. Nixon was shocked to know all of these revelations, that he did not notice the guards behind him. The guards then proceeded to escort Nixon out in the building, his mind still in disbelief. Nixon then spent a three-year interim under the custody of the Ikushimas after they offered themselves to take care of him. During this time, he also developed a romantic relationship with Kei, whom he had once met in the tournament. It all seemed like Nixon was now living the peaceful life that he had always wanted. Until one day, another series of attacks and kidnappings took place in several places around the world. All of them involving Orion. Rumors regarding these attacks trickled once again, but one thing was confirmed: Orion was definitely planning something. Realizing that it was the perfect time, Orion brings themselves back to the public consciousness once again by suddenly announcing the fifth Sentoki: Global Martial Arts tournament. With the promise of a much bigger prize pool than ever, the tournament attracted lots and lots of participants from all over the world, and interest in Orion skyrocketed once again. The announcement that Ranzou Kihara himself would be the last adversary that the participants would face in the final round of the tournament only added more fuel to the fire. To Nixon and the Ikushimas, it was like the golden opportunity that they have all been waiting for. The chance to finally crush Orion once and for all. Thus, the three of the decided decided to join the tournament. Each for their own reasons: Shin, to finally exact his long-awaited revenge for his deceased mother. Kei, to find out the whole truth about her relationship with Ranzou. And Nixon, to save his sister and regain their past memories.
