Kyo Kusanagi

### Fighting

Kusanagi style of ancient martial arts + personal style of Chinese boxing (Kenpō)

### Weapon

Several firearms and explosives (Metal Slug Code J)

**Kyo Kusanagi** (草薙 京, *Kusanagi Kyō*) is the main 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.

He was first introduced as 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, 1,800 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** (草薙の剣, *Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi*), and his family crest is the sun, represented in a stylized halo of fire. His official nickname is **Scion of the Flame** (炎 の 貴公子, *Honoo no Kikoushi*).

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-star alongside Iori in one of SNK's promotional series, Part Time Stories: Kyo & Iori.

## Story

### Clan Background

660 years ago, the Kusanagi and Yasakani clans were once allies. However, due to a horrible misunderstanding, the Yasakani struck a blood pact with Orochi for more power. They renamed their family name to Yagami, and their flames, previously red like their former allies, changed to violet from Orochi's taint. Since then, the clans have waged a generation long grudge with casualties made from both sides. It continues in *The King of Fighters* series with Kyo and Iori Yagami.

### Orochi Saga

The Orochi saga takes place between *The King of Fighters '94* and '*97*. Kyo surpassed his father at the age of fifteen and was designated as the clan's leader. Shortly after the completion of his training, Kyo competes in a preliminary held in Japan to determine the members of the country's representative team in the The King of Fighters tournament. He bests Goro Daimon and Benimaru Nikaido to become the leader of the team, the two becoming his teammates and eventual friends. They reach the finals, where they met the host of the tournament, a powerful fighter named Rugal Bernstein. Rugal boasts his desire to fight powerful opponents and challenges them. After his defeat, he self-destructs his ship in attempt to bring them with him, but the team escapes unharmed. Afterwards, Kyo decides to travel abroad in order to train.

In the following year, Daimon and Benimaru were waiting for Kyo's ship to dock, when they were attacked by a masked assailant. Kyo returns and throws a fireball at the mysterious person, only to destroy her mask and reveal her to be Rugal's secretary. She hands over an invitation letter to another King of Fighters tournament, organized once again by Rugal, who survived his craft's self-destruction. This time, Rugal also brainwashed Kyo's missing father, Saisyu, into attacking his son. Kyo's father regains his senses after he was subdued by the team. To counter the team's strength, Rugal challenges them with power sapped from Orochi. However, Rugal's body was overwhelmed by the power's immensity and he was vaporized after his defeat. Pleased with his son's prowess, Saisyu leaves unnoticed, insinuating that he entrusts the clan's duty to Kyo.

Prior to the events of *The King of Fighters '96*, a mysterious man (later revealed to be one of the "Four Heavenly Kings" of Orochi, Goenitz) challenges Kyo to a fight. Kyo arrives, powered by his overwhelming confidence in his fists, only to be defeated soundly by his challenger and sent to the hospital. In spite of his injuries, his anger and spirit from his loss drove him to invent powerful new techniques (this is the canon explanation for Kyo trading his projectile attack-based technique set for his now trademark flame-laced melee attack strings). He enters the year's tournament to prove his strength to his unknown attacker. In the tournament's finals, he meets the host of the tournament and the younger heiress of the Yata clan, Chizuru Kagura. At the tournament's end, he vanquishes Goenitz with Iori and Chizuru's help. Though he is warned by Chizuru of his clan's destiny with Orochi, Kyo ignores her and promptly departs.

Before *The King of Fighters '97* takes place, he is pestered by fellow high school student, Shingo Yabuki, to teach him how to create his flames. Though annoyed and flustered by his persistence, Kyo partially agrees to mentor him as a means of gaining free meals. He also experiences nightmares of a strange man defeating him at the King of Fighters tournament, but continues to participate. Before the tournament, his girlfriend, Yuki was kidnapped by the Hakkesshu, in order to be used as the last of the sacrificial maidens for Orochi's revival. Though it's ambiguous as to which team he enters during the tournament, it is canonly accepted that Kyo joins with Iori and Chizuru for its conclusion.

He advances into the finals, where he confronts the remaining "Four Heavenly Kings" of Orochi, Yashiro Nanakase, Shermie, and Chris. The Hakkesshu also mention the plan to sacrifice Yuki in order to revive Orochi. Fueled by these turn of events, Kyo fights an emotional and heroic battle. When they are beaten, Orochi possesses Chris' body and attempts to destroy the three clans at once. As was done in the legends of their clans, the trio successfully defeat him. In a last-ditch effort, Orochi (manifested in Chris' body) causes Iori to enter the berserk Riot of the Blood state, expecting him to turn on Kyo and Chizuru. Instead, Iori snares Orochi by the neck, and Kyo obliged his rival by crippling the great demon with one last deathblow, allowing Chizuru to reseal Orochi. Exhausted, Kyo passes out. The last thing he sees is Yuki, saying that she will wait for him.

### NESTS Saga

*The King of Fighters '99* took place immediately after the events of *The King of Fighters '97*. Still knocked out from his previous battle with the godlike Orochi, Kyo was taken by the NESTS syndicate and his DNA was used to make various beings for their purposes. He awoke one day to find himself surrounded by bizarre gadgets and needles. Deciding to search for answers, Kyo broke out of captivity and managed to escape the hidden fortress despite the sedatives. While escaping, he constantly heard references to the NESTS cartel. He tries to personally gain answers from his captors, but is forced to retreat when the base around him begins to collapse. He decides not to come back home before NESTS is taken down and attempts to investigate privately again the following year but learns very little. As the fiasco of South Town's destruction ensued, Iori confronts him and they fight to an unknown outcome.

In *The King of Fighters 2001*, Kyo reunites with his old teammates and Shingo to make a comeback in the Japan Team. They join the now NESTS-sponsored KoF tournament to relive their time together as a team and to fight NESTS. They disband as soon as the tournament is over, leaving Shingo to muse about life. In the official novel, Japan Team makes it to the semi-finals, however he and Iori separate from their teammates and fight elsewhere. Like the fight in 2000, the outcome is unknown.

### Tales of Ash

In *The King of Fighters 2003*, Chizuru appeared to both Kyo and Iori, requesting that they form a team and investigate suspicious activities concerning the Orochi. Kyo initially protested allying with Iori (though Iori apparently did not do likewise), but relented to form the Sacred Treasures team. After the defeat of Mukai, the team then investigated the weakening Orochi seal that they had been transported to after Mukai's defeat, but were ambushed by Ash Crimson, who stole the Yata Mirror from Chizuru, promising to go after Iori next. Ash escaped, and Kyo swore vengeance.

In *The King of Fighters XI*, Shingo has volunteered to join Kyo and Iori, in Chizuru's name. After several attempts, Kyo abides to Shingo's requests and joins forces with his groupie and his rival, in order to stop Ash. However, after he and his team defeat Magaki, the growing presence of the Orochi, caused Iori to snap and enter the Riot of the Blood state, and he landed a surprise attack and trashed Kyo and Shingo in a berserk fit. Ash appeared thereafter and stole the Yasakani no Magatama within Iori's body, along with his flames. The Rival Team (Benimaru, Duo Lon, and Elisabeth Blanctorche) arrived after the incident, to whom Ash tells them that Kyo will be next.

The incident had Kyo hospitalized, but he escapes rather than wait for his recovery. As he wanders the city, he encounters a mysterious boy and his female partner, who try to attack him. Showing them his flames, they hand him the "R" invitation before taking their leave. Soon after the encounter, Benimaru and Daimon find him. Seeing no need to visit the hospitalized Shingo or Chizuru, he reunites with his old team members to relive his past glory days together with them. After Ash disappears and Kyo's team won another tournament, Iori appears and challenges Kyo to a fight. Kyo accepts and the rivals fight to an undecided outcome.

### New Age Saga

When the tournament was announced, Saisyu summons Kyo and his friends, then informs them about a new threat which will cause untold chaos. He and Tung Fu Rue also requests the team to help his new students. Benimaru mentions the 'first generation' KOF champion that appeared while they were away and asks Kyo what he'll do about it. At his fathers request, Kyo enters the tournament once again with his old teammates to deal with the self proclaimed champion and newcomers all at once.

After the tournament's conclusion, Kyo advices Shun'ei to keep training to control his power. At the airport, after sending his teammates off, he heads to Hungary. Chizuru had called him there for his assistance in dealing with a revived, yet weakened Orochi, whom Iori found earlier.

## Appearance

Kyo is often depicted as a young adult Japanese male with an athletic physique and a brown parted haircut. Since in his debut in *KOF '94,* Kyo sported a modified black gakuran, a Japanese male school uniform, as it appeared with his unbuttoned coat with the sleeves rolled up to his biceps and a vest, each with gold buttons, a tucked-in white shirt, a brown/gold belt and white buckled shoes. He often wears a large white headband to compliment this attire, along with a pair of his uniquely designed black fingerless gloves. Originally in *KOF '94*, each of his gloves were cut at the length of his wrists, with a single gold stripe marked around the areas of his palms. In *KOF '95*, while his gloves remain the same of his in-game sprites, his portraits marked a significant update, as the cut extends to midway of his forearms, another gold stripe added near the end of the cut, and an eclipsed sun crest near the area of his wrist. The sun crest is best known to represent the Kusanagi clan, which it also marked on the back of his coat since *KOF '94*. This outfit is considered Kyo's most recognizable look, often deemed this as his "classic" to the fans that it even makes the most appearances on crossovers featuring him. In-canon, Kyo prominently wears this outfit in the entirety of the Orochi Saga from *KOF '94* up to *KOF '98.* Beyond in the main KOF series after *KOF '98*, some of Kyo's clones tend to wear this exact outfit in various colors, including Kyo-1 for a navy blue variant and Kyo-2 for a reddish-brown variant. This classic outfit also appears as an alternate costume in most KOF games such as *KOF Maximum Impact, KOF XIII,* and *KOF XIV.*

Throughout the main KOF series, Kyo is known to change his outfits, depending on each arcs or on occasional new installments. Starting in *KOF '99*, Kyo discarded his iconic uniform for a more casual look that some fans refer this outfit as "Shin Kyo." His *KOF '99* attire consists of a white jacket with black trimmings, a black shirt with a white hollowed cross, a pair of jeans with the rim of the sleeves slightly torn, a pair of black fingerless biker gloves, a small chain that hangs from the back pocket to the belt area, and black shoes. He also discarded the headband, as his Round 1 intro animation in *KOF '99* presents him taking it off of his forehead and burn it from his hands. He prominently worn this outfit throughout the entire NESTS Chronicles, from *KOF '99* to *KOF 2002*. This outfit also appears in *Neo Geo Battle Coliseum, KOF Sky Stage, Neo Geo Heroes Ultimate Shooting, KOF XI,* and *KOF XIII,* with two of the latter games as his EX form.

In *KOF 2003*, Kyo has worn a black racer jacket with the Kusanagi crest marked on the back, white shirt, a pair of dark green jeans, brown shoes, and a long brown belt that hangs out from the side of his hip like a tail. He also worn his classic gloves, though only the single stripe at his hand area are visible, while the Kusanagi crests are hidden in his sleeves. Kyo would wear this outfit again in *KOF XI*. In *KOF XII* & *KOF XIII,* Kyo worn a variation of his 2003 attire, as he replaced the racer jacket into an unzipped black motorcycle jacket with silver metal studs, the dark green jeans into blue jeans, brown shoes into black shoes, and the long belt into a regular sized belt with a large silver buckle. He also had the pocket chain hanging at the side of his hip like his NESTS attire had. The Kusanagi crest on the back of his jacket and his gloves remains on this slight change.

In *KOF XIV*, Kyo sported a half-zipped white leather jacket with four zipper pouches on the front and one on each sleeves, a black v-neck shirt underneath. blue jeans, a pocket chain, brown buckled shoes, a large C-buckled brown belt, and a pair of black fingerless padded gloves. His jacket also has a pinstripe variation of the Kusanagi crest marked on his back, and a on each of his sleeves. The most drastic change on this appearance is Kyo's haircut, which it is known as a commonly popular haircut for the teenage boys in Japan, as most refer to this style as "the J-Pop haircut." This unusual look on Kyo left longtime fans rather divisive, as the staff aimed to appeal to the new fans while making him look less aggressive than his previous appearances. It is noted that in the earlier trailers of *KOF XIV* and promotional images, Kyo's hair was miscolored in shiny black, which it added more bizarre reactions from fans to even go as far saying he was "nearly unrecognizable."

In *KOF XV,* Kyo returns to his proper parted haircut. Along with that, his most recent attire is very similar to his appearance in *KOF XII* & *KOF XIII*, with the unzipped black motorcycle jacket with the Kusanagi crest marked on his back, white shirt, blue jeans, brown belt, and black shoes. However, this attire has some modifications, as according to the main illustrator of KOFXV, Tomohiro Nakata, he aimed to make Kyo's appearance as an amalgamation of some of his previous outfits. Most notably, he wears the white headband again since his classic school uniform attire, having the Kusanagi crest marked on each of the unzipped part of his jacket sleeves and a gold stripe each on a pair of fingerless biker gloves. This latest appearance of Kyo left many fans with an very positive reaction since in his reveal of the trailers for the franchise's most recent installment. This appearance also closely resemble his Extra Striker form in KOF '99, as he also worn the jacket, jeans and the headband altogether.

In *KOF Maximum Impact 2*, Kyo sported a very unique look designed by Falcoon as it consist of a black and white leather jacket with red trimmings and a curved pinstripe marked at the back, a black shirt with a white racing stripe, a pair of two-toned leather gloves with a white side on the front of his hand and a black side on the back, black jeans, white belt, white shoes, and a chained small tasseled flag hanging behind with a white Kusanagi crest marked on it.

In the Chinese CG animated web series, *The King of Fighters: Destiny,* and the mobile game based on the same name, Kyo's attire is very similar to his classic school uniform, but with some significant changes; his coat has silver buttons, quilted padding with brown straps on the shoulders, latch-on straps for the sleeves, and zipper pockets. He also added a pointed circular belt buckle, a pocket chain hanging on the side of his hip. and wears white sneakers instead of the buckled shoes. His iconic gloves were also redesign with the Kusanagi crest now on the area of the back of his hands, and two gold stripes are at the end.

In the mobile dating simulator game, *The King of Fighters for Girls*, amongst various outfits depending on events, Kyo's main attire seems to taken inspiration of his NESTS saga attire, as of having the white jacket, black shirt, jeans, pocket chain, and black shoes altogether. His jacket includes black wing-like decals on the front, half of the Kusanagi crest marked on each of the sleeves, black straps near the open slits of the sleeves, and two white belts on the collar. He also wears his iconic gloves, but as of only the gold stripes on his hands are visible. It is currently unknown this attire contains the Kusanagi crest marked on the back as no existing artwork of his back turned confirming it.

## Personality

Kyo is the over-confident but well meaning protagonist of the series, more interested in enjoying life than having to partake in any particular responsibilities. He is quick to dismiss subjects that don't interest him and will often carry out his actions with a devil-may-care attitude. Despite his seemingly arrogant and rude demeanor, he treasures his friends and family, enjoying their presence and particularly doting on his girlfriend, Yuki. His extreme disinterest in studies has led to his chronic inability to graduate from high school (which has become subject to in-jokes). Although he is confident in his poetic talent, most of his poems aren't considered to be good by his listeners.

Kyo takes his clan's responsibilities on a more personal level, disregarding ancient legends and predestined events as any reason for his actions. His strong sense of justice and his zeal to fight stronger opponents are what he believes to drive him to carry out his destiny. His rivalry with Iori is one of mutual hatred and was hardly spurred by their clans' history. When Kyo and Iori join forces, it is often begrudgingly and as a last resort solution to the conflict at hand.

## Powers

* **Pyrokinesis** - Due to his Kusanagi heritage, Kyo can control fire. He can create fire from thin air, create fire balls, deliver punches of fire, create pillars of fire and put his own body on fire. However, he is neither immune to other types of fire nor able to control other fires that he didn't create. Also, the flames he wields are nothing more than just ordinary fire: it does not have the mystical 'trapping' ability of Iori's purple holy flames.

## Skills

* **Motorcycle Driving** - Kyo likes to drive his motorcycle around the streets of Japan. Some official pictures depict Kyo driving a scooter.
* **Poetry** - Kyo likes to write poetry as a hobby, though his poetry is generally not much liked by his listeners.
* **Ice Hockey** - Although representing the element of fire, Kyo likes ice hockey.
* **Musical Instrument** - Kyo is also an accomplished guitarist, as seen in The Band of Fighters

## Fighting Style

Kyo fights using the Kusanagi style of ancient martial arts, a Japanese style of empty handed combat taught only to the Kusanagi clan members. Like most of the clan members in modern times, these are labeled as Method/Style with numbers; numbers that actually use alternate kanji different from their originals. These examples are 108 Shiki: Yami Barai (Method 108: Darkness Sweeper), etc. with "Reverse Methods" being stronger versions of other attacks such as Kyo's signature DM, Ura 108 Shiki: Orochinagi (Reverse Method 108: Great Serpent Mower) being an example. In some sources, this even applies to his "unnamed" normal attacks.

Kyo also knows Kenpo, and uses it in most of his normal attacks. Kyo's moveset emphasizes Kenpo from *KOF '96* onwards, discarding his 108 Shiki: Yami Barai and 101 Shiki: Oboroguruma (Method 101: Hazy Wheel), making way for a series of completely new techniques which are a series of chain punches (the 114 Shiki: Aragami/Method 114: Wild Bite and 115 Shiki: Dokugami/Method 115: Poison Bite) with several different followups, and thus adds a varying amount of kicks and elbow dropping attacks which are also types of notable moves in Kenpo. The names of Kyo's new moves are anything but vague and simple names (such as 402 Shiki: Batsu Yomi/Method 402: Punish Recital and 125 Shiki: Nanase/Method 125: Seven Rapids), possibly due to Kyo's taste for poetry.

Thus, Kyo is a strong combo character that takes a while to master as his moveset from *KOF '96* and following games explodes to ridiculous levels. Mastering it though allowed players to more easily adapt to use other characters that had more diverse movesets. Kyo made way for archetypes with moves that not only had multiple inputs, but each followup had its own unique features. This would also pave way for powerful mixups and combos if pressure was well-setup. Story-wise, this was possibly due to his initial defeat by Goenitz, Kyo reformed his style into a more-offensive focus.

In the original games (especially in *KOF '95*), Kyo followed the "Ryu and Ken" archetype with Iori, as Kyo's moves differ slightly from game to game in the same manner as Iori, mainly their Desperation Moves. Changes in *KOF '96* and onwards made them vastly different from each other. Alternate versions of Kyo would retain his old movesets from older games for nostalgia's sake, though each alternate version would be notably different from game to game. The 100 Shiki: Oniyaki (Method 100: Ogre Baker) is the one technique both Kyo and Iori still share to this day.

In *KOF 99* onwards, Kyo even applies personal touches derived from his father's techniques of the Kusanagi style, via his Hikigane (Plowing Iron) mimicking Saisyu's Kamukakari (Divine Consult) and even adapting his father's Nata Guruma (Hatchet Wheel) attack in *KOF: Maximum Impact 2*.

In *KOF 2003*, Kyo, Iori, and Chizuru's LDM's are all named the San Shingi (Three Divine Arts), taking after their clans, destinies, and treasures. Kyo's San Shingi no Ichi (Three Divine Arts No. 1) however, is his SDM version Saishuu Kessen Ougi: Mu Shiki (Final Play-Off Secret Skill: No Method), as opposed to Iori and Chizuru's versions being original attacks.

In *The King of Fighters XII* and The King of Fighters XIII, his default self switches back to his old *KOF '94*/'*95* moveset. His Neo Max in *XIII*, the Ama-No-Murakumo (Gathering Clouds of Heaven) is a reference to the original name of his heirloom. His NESTS-Style version uses his traditional "Kenpo chain punch" moveset, and is given a Neo Max named Saishuu Kessen Hiougi: Totsuka (Final Play-Off Hidden Secret Skill: Ten Fists), a nod to the famous Totsuka-no-Tsurugi (Sword of Ten Fists). Another possible nod is his 182 Shiki/Method 182, a powerful flaming punch attack, which may be the finishing blow dealt by Kyo to Orochi in the Orochi Saga's end (though in some other games, the 182 has a different animation, while its SDM version in *XIV* is a combination of its two different animations).

Also, two other new moves in *XIV* that compliment his poetic taste are an overhead finishing move to his new low-attacking Munotsuchi (Six Mallets) followup from Aragami, and his Climax DM; they are respectively known as Tsurube Otoshi (Well Bucket Fall; a term for sinking quickly) and Yaegaki (Double Fences; a term for fences over fences).

A notable trait that makes Kyo stand out in the *Maximum Impact* games is that while the input windows are fairly tight, some of his Stylish Arts are styled akin to a majority of crouching light kick-to-light punch normal attacks in the original 2D games.

## Fanon Appearances

### Game Appearances

* Capcom vs SNK 3: Fighters' Spirit - Playable character
* KOF: Maximum Impact 3 - Playable character
* Neo Geo Battle Coliseum 2 - In his Ash Saga appearance.
* King of Fighters Retrowave - Playable character
* Neo Geo 2: Match of the Century - In his KOF XIV Arc appearance
* Street Fighter X KOF - Playable character
* Capcom Vs SNK Ultimate - Playable character
* King of Fighters Retrowave - Playable character
* The King of Fighters 2000: Re-Bout - Playable character
* KOF: The King of Fighters XVI - Playable character
* The King of Fighters: Random Definition - Playable character
* Neo Geo Battle Arena - Playable character
* The King of Fighters: Crossover Calamity - Playable character
* The King of Fighters XVI - Playable character
* The King Of Fighters: First Kingdom - Playable character
* The King Of Fighters: Second Kingdom - Playable character
* The King Of Fighters: Warriors - Playable character
* The King Of Fighters: Masters - Playable character
* The King Of Fighters: Class C - Playable character
* The King Of Fighters: Begining of the Scourge - Playable character
* The King Of Fighters: Third Kingdom - Playable character
* The King Of Fighters: Disaster in the Story - Playable character
* SNK vs Capcom 2: SVC Clash - Playable character
* MUGENGERS: The Orochi's Origin - Playable character
* The King Of Fighters: The First Step - Playable character
* Playmore Conflict: Dark Legends - Playable character
* The King Of Fighters: Memorial - Playable character
* The King of Fighters Wing EX - NESTS, Classic and ToA versions
* Project × Zone 3: Sacred Destinies - Pair Unit

### Cameo Appearances

* Super Smash Bros. (Reboot) - Background cameo in King of Fighters Stadium Stage and as a Spirit

## Similar Characters

* Kyo-1
* Kyo-2
* Kusanagi
* Cosplayer Kyoko
* Kyo Kusanagi Classic
* Kazanryu Kuren
* Jhonx
* Khriz (Half K' edit)
* Alex Mercer (He was made with his sprites)
* Leon Scott Kennedy (He was made with his sprites)
* Mr. Kyo
* Kazanryu Kuren (Maker)

## Gallery

The King of Fighters '98 artwork.The King of Fighters XIII artwork. (Orochi Saga outfit)The King of Fighters XIII artwork. (NESTS Saga outfit)The King of Fighters XIV artwork.The King of Fighters for girls artwork.

## Trivia

* In KOF Wing EX, Kyo carries all the versions of the KOF saga and in his classic version he carries his KOF 94 moveset, which makes him an All-Rounder character.