A/N: Omgosh……it's been like 5 months since I put up the last chapter of my first fanfic! O.O

It's about time I got started on the sequel to Apocalypse :D

Well…here it is! I'm still not entirely sure in which direction I'm going with this or if I'll keep the title but I suppose that time will tell :]]]

p.s. Tekken Characters belong to: Namco Bandai! Not me :/

Ethereal Bonds

By: OnyxAngel3

1: Icy Reception

Whoosh. The frigid wind swept fluffy white snow around to form miniscule cyclones in the dark alley between the warehouses. A distant streetlight effused a dim light creating jagged shadows at the far end of the massive buildings. In the direction opposite the waning light was an empty lot that led up to the concrete wall that dipped down into the semi-frozen bay. At the edge of that thigh-high wall was a dark-haired figure that sat as if contemplating the curious icy slivers of frozen beauty that drifted in the cold water.

"I thought I might find you here," said a voice from a few feet behind.

The figure looked over her shoulder and lay her dark brown eyes upon the man who had arrived without seeming to make so much as a sound. She blinked a few times in surprise.

"Wow. I didn't even hear you walk up."

He smirked and took a few more steps forward, his boots making a clearly audible crunch as he stepped across the frozen ice, "I guess that means your mind is off on some other continent or something because the last time I checked I was no ninja."

The woman shook her head and pulled her fur-lined leather jacket more closely around her. Turning her sight back to the water of the bay, she smiled slightly.

"What are you doing here, Jin?" she said, "I was under the impression that you'd be off at home babysitting."

Jin laughed, "Yeah well, I decided to come find my renegade sister since it seems she has decided to disappear again." He sat on the wall and swung his legs over the edge so that he too could take a look at the sluggishly moving water.

"Is that so?"

"Yup."

"Have you found her?"

"Well it seems that I have found her body but I don't know if her mind is in there too," he gave a small grin as her glanced at her. The woman turned to him with a sour look on her face.

"Har. Har." she mocked a laugh and turned back to the water.

Jin chuckled, "Sheesh Jaez, lighten up. I'm just trying to state the fact that you of all people didn't hear me sneak up on you. You always hear me. Even if I try to be stealthy."

Jaez couldn't help but smile, "That is very true."

"So. What are you doing out here on the edge of this concrete wall freezing your butt off? Freezing it off quite literally I might add. Wouldn't you much rather like to be at home sitting in front of a crackling fire while drinking hot chocolate or something?" Jin looked at Jaez.

She let out a few chuckles, "And also become your sons' favorite plush toy? Thanks but no thanks. I use up all of my energy trying to convince those two to let go of me when I am home. I still don't see why they find me so fascinating that they want to spend all day with me." Jaez gave her brother a wry look.

Jin could do nothing to keep the grin from appearing on his face, "Well. I don't know either but it makes my job as a dad a whole lot easier. The twins are a handful and getting someone else to look after them makes my life, and not to mention Julia's, a little easier."

"Yeah, Yeah. So you get your unsuspecting sister to be babysitter while you go off and enjoy life?"

"Of course."

"Very funny."

Suddenly there was the sound of numerous feet crossing the ice-crusted lot. Jin and Jaez stopped talking and turned to look behind them. At least a dozen men were lined up side by side. Each one of them seemed to have some sort of weapon concealed behind their jackets since there was a slight bulge at their sides.

Jin whispered to Jaez, "Do you know these guys?"

Jaez whispered back, "Not at all. You?"

He shook his head and looked back at the line of men. They were all wearing hoods, making it impossible to look at their faces from their position. They stopped about fifteen feet away from them and then one of the men in the center stepped forward.

"Jan-Izumi Kazama-Mishima?" he said in a deep voice.

"Yeah?" Jaez said bluntly. At the same time, she and Jin swung their legs back over the ledge and stood up. The man took a step back as they did so. The frosty wind picked up; Jaez' pin-straight, elbow-length jet-black hair whipped around and Jin's leather trench coat and bangs did the same. A few of the men glanced at each other quickly before making a motion to reach for whatever it was they were hiding underneath their coats. The siblings frowned at the men.

"What do you want?" Jin said starkly.

The man who had stepped up looked at Jaez and spoke again, "I'm here to deliver a message."

"Really? I never would've thought that," Jaez responded; her voice laced with sarcasm. The man tightened his fists at her careless jibe and continued.

"You are to stay away from the NorthHouse. We've given you plenty of warning and this is your last. The next time you are spotted anywhere near it, you will be shot down."

Upon saying this he took several steps back, until he was lined up with the rest of his companions. Jin gazed onward at them with a slight look of confusion on his face. Jaez, however, glared at them with fierce eyes and a hard scowl. After putting several yards between themselves and the Kazama twins the men made a quick departure.

"So. You don't know them, eh?" Jin remarked while crossing his arms. Jaez said nothing and continued to look in the direction the men had taken off. "Who were they Jan-Izumi? And what's the NorthHouse?"

"Something you don't need to know," Jaez quipped. She turned her back to him and looked back out over the inky black water of the bay. Jin was about to ask again, but knowing his sister, he knew that she wouldn't say another word on the subject. He would have to get it out of her some other time.

"Fine. Don't tell me. If you have issues with these guys I guess it's not my problem but don't go get yourself killed. I don't want to have to bring you back. Now, could I somehow convince you to come back home?" Jin once again questioned.

Jaez continued to stare out into the open bay for several moments before answering, "Not now." Jin shook his head in defeat and turned to leave. He walked several feet before glancing back.

What are you hiding Jaez. Lately you've been rather distant. Not just with me, but with everyone. Why can't you tell me what's bothering you?

a/n: Well there it is! The first chappy! Let me know what you thought of it! :D