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BENIMARU NIKAIDO                                                             
"The Two-Story Shrine of the Sun"
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Birthplace:    Japan (of American heritage)                              
Birthdate:     June 6, 1976 (23 years old)
Height:        1.80 m (5'9")                                                            
Weight:        70 kg (152 lbs)
Blood type:    O                                                                               
Hobbies:       Being the center of attraction
Favorite food: Sashimi                                                               
Favorite sport:   Clay shooting
Most valuable: Himself                                                                
Hates the most:  Otaku
Fighting style: 'Shooting' (Japanese variation of Muetai)

*Otaku = Japanese animation fan
*Sashimi = typical Japanese dish, similiar to sushi

	Benimaru Nikaido presumed himself, for a lot of years, to be not only the 
most skilled fighter in Japan, but also to be the most handsome! Being a half-
American, Benimaru combines the best of both worlds, and besides being a very 
good looking fighter on the outside, he dresses well too, also doning several 
hairstyles. The problem is, since he always presumes his own beauty, women, 
instead of finding him attractive, find him to be very annoying!
	A few years ago, Benimaru finally found someone to object about his so-
called "beauty". It was a man named Kyo Kusanagi who began to steal his crowd, 
and was enfuriated at it. He challenged Kyo to a fight and define who would be 
the most popular student. Kyo shrugged and said he would only accept a challenge 
if he participated in the national martial arts tournament, which was taken 
place in order to decide the three members of the team that would participate 
for Japan in the next King of Fighters tournament. Benimaru promised Kyo he ould 
be there, and then, he would proceed to humilliate him.
	Being a master of 'shooting' boxing, and able to channel his inner power 
into bursts of electricity, Benimaru had no problems in confirming his 
superiority among other fighters, and advanced up to the finals. In the final 
match, Kyo was waiting for him. Both already had a place in the Japan team, but 
Benimaru desired so badly to be number one. So, he took on Kyo. But since 
Benimaru never did polish his skills against real fighters, he was no match for 
the sheer power and the crimson flames of Kyo! Benimaru had no choice but to 
accept Kyo's victory, and although they wouldn't talk to each other at first, 
they then became the best of friends, and hence, along with third team member 
Goro Daimon, made quite a powerful team that would be champion of the King of 
Fighters tournament several times.
	Even though Benimaru respects Kyo a lot, he has always disliked being 
second place. That's why he always trains hard to become better than Kyo and 
eclipse the Kusanagi sun. He also loses no time in praising himself to the women 
in the tournament, although they too, think Benimaru is nothing more than a 
pushover!  Since he goes to school along with Kyo as well, it's pretty tough to 
try and surpass your own best friend when he's so popular!
	In the last tournament, Benimaru fought against the Orochi menace to the 
very end along with Kyo. They had been together in very tight situations, and 
now, they would fight together, and Benimaru finally lost his obsession to be 
number one, and decided to fight against the most powerful enemy of mankind. 
After the faithful battle, Benimaru ventures throughout the world and becomes a 
very popular fighter among the people. Whether he has become better than Kyo has 
yet to be seen, but for now, Benimaru takes the limelight, and loves being the 
number one!
	Benimaru sees the King of Fighters '99 as his big chance to be the number one 
fighter for one huge reason: Kyo was nowhere to be seen, and although Benimaru 
worries for his friend, it's no time to worry about where he is. It's about time 
that the whole world would see the power of the most beautiful fighter of them all! 
Suddenly, Benimaru is met by Shingo, who is more than willing to help Benimaru out, 
and by two mysterious man, whose roles would be very important until the very 
end...their names: K' and Maxima. 
	As his wish would have had it, Benimaru arrives to the final match, but after 
seeing K' and Maxima in action, he wonders what is it they really want. Not before 
long, Benimaru receives answers in the form that Krizalid, the host of the 
tournament, had been using them for his own ambitions, and that K' and Maxima were 
his aides! Benimaru decides to fight Krizalid head-on, but realizes he needs the 
help of K' after all. There was something in K' that reminded him of Kyo...and is 
there were Benimaru realizes he should have fought for himself, not just for 
overcoming Kyo. And as of fate would have had it, Kyo appears in the nick of time 
to save them from Krizalid's final assault. However, the reunion is cut short when 
the Nests cartel brings the whole underground HQ down. Benimaru helps Shingo to 
escape as Kyo, K', and Maxima are trapped. He knows that his friends may have been 
lost for now, but he would practice a lot more, for the true battle is yet to 
begin....
	Benimaru likes being payed attention, and hates those who steal his 
popularity. Although Kyo has stolen much of it, he has developed a very stable 
friendship (despite their constant quarrels!). Benimaru mostly likes to be 
praised by women, but as said, he just is more of an arrogant man than anything 
else, but he always concludes that they can't resist him!  Benimaru, despite 
always wanting to be number one, will always support Kyo in the very end!

*Fun fact = Much rumors have surged that Benimaru is supposed to be gay (maybe 
due to his kiss-blowing and "Airabyu" statements). But he is not. Not only is he 
attracted to women (or he either wants them to be attracted to him!), he is a 
narcissist, which means, he praises himself. Narcissists have been commonly (and 
mistakenly) taken for gays, also taking the example of Samurai Shodown's 
Amakusa, and Street Fighter's Vega.
*Cloth changes = In the past KOF, he wore a sort of tight shirt (with no sleeves 
at all), which has changed slightly from KOF '94/'95 to KOF '96 (it had a 
separate collar from the shirt in KOF '94/'95, while his KOF '96 shirt has the 
collar attached to it). In KOF '98, he has a sort of gym shirt (which reveals 
his abdomen), and which suspiciously has an opening in the middle of the chest. 
Was it that the shirt was originally designed for women?

Appearances: The King of Fighters '94, The King of Fighters '95, The King of 
Fighters '96, The King of Fighters '97, The King of Fighters '98, The King of 
Fighters '99