A/N; Finally here is the sequel to Devil Rising. I said I was going to do one and now it is here. To be honest this is culmination of about three years work as I wrote two before this but gave up on both. As for this one, it incorporates elements from both. It was originally inspired by a fic by Gwendy called the Kazama-Mishima Chronicles. Short but good. Now this is the full fruition inspiration given both to Razer Athane and M M Richter XIII for their fics. As for why this is called Twenty More Miles, look at the Soilwork song. That song is about Jin Kazama, trust me.
Disclaimer; These characters are the property of Namco Bandai Ltd. and their respective affiliates and I am in no way intending to cause deformation to the franchise. I'm doing this simply to tell a story.
Chapter 1; Awaken
Blood...?
Who's... blood?
His blood, the blood of the fallen.
What's happening?
Sand half-covered the body of Jin Kazama as he awoke from darkness. He could hear... what could he hear? He dusted off the sand from his right ear with a ruined gauntlet before the sounds of destruction blasted through.
What the hell-?!
He heard rumbles of thunder overhead, the cracking of dark lightning rendering the natural world asunder with chaos. He felt that crawling sensation, a sensation of knowing yet not wanting to know because he knew that presence, that fowl darkness... Devil.
I have to do something!
A mistake.
He tried to pull himself up with his hands but he fell back down like a newborn babe still fresh from the womb. Jin gritted his teeth as the pain came in waves like tsunamis, one after the other, constantly crashing into him with relentless force. His vision blurred for a moment. He squinted, the blur was gone. Now he just lay in his own pool of blood, the grating taste of sand in his mouth, and the laughter of the Heavens played into his ears like dark music.
He closed his eyes.
What happened anyway?!
I remember killing Kazuya...then Azazel. Everything was going so well... until...
His eyes opened again.
Heihachi...bastard... he killed Nina...then I died... did I?
But he was still here.
Before he could ponder his continued existence, he heard within the maelstrom of noise a single note of laughter that he recognised so well.
"Heihachi...?" he groaned through his bloodied lips.
It was, yet his laughter sounded so... distorted.
He closed his eyes again, how long had he to live?
I have to know...
It was pushing those endless tides but he clenched his fists as hard as he could. His body started to shift in the sands as he started to bring his mind out of the darkness.
C'mon!
His body started to move through the flames, his slow movements becoming a crawl across the baking sand.
Got to get up.
He climbed to his feet on his legs, a feeling of enflamed nerves running through his body. He started to stumble across the sand towards the mayhem.
What's happening here?!
He saw the madness of the scenario unfolding before his eyes and then he heard the laugh again.
Heihachi... he's causing this?!
No! Not even Heihachi had that kind of power... did he?
The black lightning was coursing everywhere in waves of uncontrolled, brutal power, destroying everything. It was then as one of the waves hit of the Mishima's horrid power that he finally understood.
Devil.
Heihachi.
Oh no...
His last thought as the wave of lightning hit his body with a crack.
Then he was gone.
***
Silence.
For once there was silence.
Asuka blinked.
Was this reality?
A question that she had asked for the last six months of her life. It was always answered with a punch to the arm. She brought her bare foot up in a circling kick and then that instinctive reflex, the rush of blood to the muscles, allowed her to change with dexterity as she rotated her right leg underneath her in a circular motion. Two, three times then...an elbow to the face!
Slam! The impact of her barefoot upon bare wooden planks.
Silence.
No staccato gunfire.
No pounding of shells.
Just peace.
For once she was glad.
"Asuka!" called the mellow voice of her father.
"Coming!"
Her feet padded out onto the veranda as she saw her father staring with sleepy eyes over the large yet fading lawn.
"Shouldn't you be going off to school?" he asked.
"Papa... you're still injured..."
Her father chuckled.
"A sad, old ass like me is not going to fade in one day," he replied, pushing the thin spectacles up on the bridge of his nose.
"But..."
"Listen, Asuka, don't fade, find yourself a new lease on life," he instructed, "education will allow you to pursue your dreams."
The same lecture she had heard countless times before. A same lecture that reminded her one day she must take up her name and fly from the roots that bound her. Still it hurt every time she heard it. Asuka exhaled a long sigh before she headed back indoors. Her father watched her go with a glint of his pride shining in his eyes. The sweet smell that wafted on his scent spectrum turned his attention back to the single sakura tree that grew in the middle of the withered garden, it's vibrant pink petals clinging to the flowers in desperation. He closed his eyes. It was a reminder that if Asuka wouldn't take flight the sakura tree would shed its blossoms...
***
Twenty minutes later, Asuka sat on one of the buses looking out of the dull, scratched window, a result of the war. She considered this for a moment as she looked out of the window. From the tallest of skyscrapers to the smallest of apartments, all had been levelled or damaged with structures that now resembled the Mittens of Time and other such geographical features. Either way as to the buildings the same happened with man.
"Look there's Kauwazuchi-san!" came the cry of a female youth.
Kauwazuchi-san?!
Her head was brought as far forward as possible to see the CEO of a once great company not wearing a pristine grey suit but just burlap rags as he tries to find work for himself among the squalor of the other damned within the city.
No, not the city. The world.
Asuka continued to watch the world her uncharacteristic silence until the sight of her school caught her attention. She pressed the bell and the bus came to a shuddering halt.
"Thanks," she said to the driver as she walked down the steps .
The driver nodded in return and then drove off, leaving Asuka standing in front of her new school. Even after the bombing runs, this school had come off intact, the solid square structures standing stalwart against the world and above all this the muscular, imposing figure that was Heihachi Mishima, his body formed of a gold that would never be tarnished.
She smiled as she adjusted the satchel on her arm and walked in through the iron gates, each one emblazoned with that name in fire; Mishima Financial Group. She heard laughter from children of younger years, a happiness that was a solidity away from the world of pain and hurt that dwelt beyond these gates.
Ain't abandon all ye hope anymore that's for sure.
"Asuka!!"
Ah Xiaoyu was here!
***
Damn photographers!
"Mr. Alexanderson, what are you planning to do now with the Tekken force?"
"No comment," snapped Lars in reply.
The man of bears was not in a happy mood. God he wished he could show them why he is was compared to a bear. Damn press, sticking noses and finger in places that shouldn't be touched.
"Uh, sir?" whispered a voice to his side in the melee of people.
Lars shifted his head to listen to the attendant.
"There's a call for you."
He nodded as he continued to wade through the packs of journalists hungry for his flesh. Then one voice broke through the pack.
"Is it true that you are the son to Heihachi Mishima?"
Silence within this hexagonal dome of blue crystal.
Lars the bear turned to face the man, his eyes the cold ice of frozen shock. He could feel his bottom lip quivering as his eyes saw the man behind him, a being of tall yet thin stature. The journalist surveyed him with his spectacled eyes, each one searching for that answer.
"Why did you...?"
Lars stopped as he shook his head.
"Why do you associate me with him?" he continued, his head downcast.
The journalist adjusted his tie and coughed before replying,
"It was a rumour that I heard."
Lars' mouth was pushed to his upper lip as he stopped himself from snarling like a dog.
"You think that was something to make a story of?"
"Well isn't it?"
He took two steps across to the white tiled floor until the two were nose to nose.
"Let me tell you something," he threatened, his voice becoming cold yet close as the journalist shrank back, "do not associate me or my comrades with that man every again, you hear me? Print whatever the hell you want but never, ever talk about him or us in the same article. He is dead to all of us."
Not one sound was heard as Lars and his entourage walked through the pack of de-clawed journalists, every one dumbfounded and limp. His footsteps could be heard echoing away in the distance, each one harder and faster than before.
I've got no time for this.
Indeed Lars had little time for anyone or anything these days.
Alisa's going to hate me for this.
Fortunately Alisa Boskonovich was one of the those people he did make time for. He let out a very long sigh. Work, work and more bloody work... there's no end! I mean when could he actually get to see her again?!
"Uh... sir he's calling you again..."
Lars took the phone from his assistant's hand with a pained breath. Flicking open the red handset and pressing the call button, he answered,
"Hello?"
***
"So how's your father?"
Xiaoyu's first question picked at Asuka's bones within the sea of mindless chattering.
"He's... fine," she replied after a little hesitation, her voice filled with chirpy benevolence.
Xiaoyu's exuberant smile softened.
"Okay, that's good," she replied.
The two remained in silence within the canteen as they picked and ate at their food, both gazes averted from each other. Xiaoyu picked up the carton of juice next to her, tore open the top before placing the straw into the hole.
Ssslurp.
That long drawn out sound of air howling within a sewer.
Ssslurp.
Slam!
"Damn it, Xiaoyu! That's fuckin' annoying!" exclaimed Asuka, her eyebrows pulled into a scowl as her fist settled back onto the table.
All Xiaoyu did was smile in reply.
"Sorry."
Asuka let out a long sigh with a few muttered words.
"What's wrong?" repeated her friend again.
"Tousan... the Kazama Dojo, it's all falling apart..." her words were of fluid tears.
Her fist slammed on the table again.
Bang.
"Fuckin..."
...Mishima Zaibatsu!
Bang.
"Fuckin..."
…War!
Bang!
"Fuckin'... Kazama Jin!"
The last curse was ejaculated in full fury. Her lips were formed into furious demonic snarls that swore at even the sound of that name. To speak his name was a taboo to her and if it was it would only be in front of an insult. Asuka in her anger only barely noticed the silence that had dropped over this room like an iron curtain at the mention of that man's name.
"What the hell are you lot looking at?!" shouted Asuka to the sea of unanimous eyes.
All gazes averted back to their food, the mouths of the many slowly returning to full volume. She rotated back in her seat to the slackening face of Xiaoyu.
"Asuka..."
"Don't you dare feed me any of your Jin bullshit!" she snarled in cut, "To me Kazama Jin is dead! To our family Kazama Jin is dead and hopefully to the whole damn world, Kazama Jin is dead!"
There were stubborn roots in her voice that would have ended any protest. Xiaoyu closed her eyes for a moment letting out a very long sigh.
"Asuka..." repeated Xiaoyu with a slowly forming smile as her gaze returned to her friend, "everything could be a lot worse."
"They could be a lot better too," retorted Asuka, her perturbed nature sliding off her body on a cloak of red scales.
Xiaoyu shrugged.
"We're still at peace..."
Asuka nodded.
At least no more violence.
"...and the fact that Lars and Heihachi are putting the world back together."
Asuka smirked at hearing their names.
"Sorry, where you talking about Lars?"
Both sets of young eyes turned to meet the gaze of a certain pink-haired young woman.
"Who are you?" asked Asuka, her thoughts intrigued.
The reply was of non-hesitant with a calm smile.
"My name is Lisa B."
***
Lars opened the door at the top of the staircase, his heavy boots walking out onto the small metal gantry amidst the small ocean of blue glass, each small window reflecting fragments of that eternal spectrum of a single colour.
Thump.
I thought he would be up here.
Thump.
Where is he?
Thump.
"Hello, Lars..."
The deep voice resonated in the wind's song as it blew a gale over them. Lars whirled around to face a silver-suited Raven standing on the corner of the railings opposite him. His face locked in calm as his muscles relaxed.
"I expected quicker reactions from you, Lars," chastised Raven with a shake of his head.
"I expected you to get here faster," replied the bear, his manner of a trite bluntness.
Raven snorted.
"Cold isn't it?" he remarked, his ninja scarf whipping about his shoulders.
Lars raised an eyebrow.
"What's with the small talk? You've become social all of a sudden?"
Raven leapt off the railings before bending upwards in slow motions, the sound of that howling wind was a single tone as Raven walked over to Lars side in heavy footsteps. The gloved hands of the ninja gripped against the smooth metal railing.
"It's cold isn't it?" repeated Raven.
Lars stood in silence, unsure what to answer.
Is it really that cold?
"The world's about to get a lot colder," continued Raven, "It's Jin Kazama, his body is missing."
Lars eyes widened in pure clarification.
"What do you mean?" demanded Lars, his voice far more intense.
"We sent out two search teams to the sight of Azazel's temple but we found nothing, only blackened ruins."
Lars took in a very sharp breath as his eyes dilated for a single second.
What the hell?!
"You didn't find anything?!" repeated Lars, his voice sharpened with a bone edge.
Raven shook his head, folding his arms across his chest. Lars massaged the temples of his forehead as the throb of bell inscribed with runes pounded in his head.
Damn headaches.
The small unzip of a pocket as Lars' gazed downwards.
"Here," offered Raven.
He looked up.
"Aspirin?" asked Lars, taking it from Raven's hand, "I thought all your pouches were filled with just weapons."
"It's amazing what a ninja can hide under a jockstrap."
Lars gaze jolted back to Raven to see the faintest flicker of a smirk forming on the stoic shinobi's face before he turned away.
"I'll keep you updated," promised Raven without turning his gaze back.
Lars watched as for a moment as Raven was there.
A jump.
A flash of purple shade.
He was gone.
***
Along corridors of gun metal, deep footsteps trod. Steel-toed boots and leather shoes were bound in unison.
"How is he?"
The gruff voice of Heihachi Mishima.
"He is doing well considering the condition he is in."
The calm relativity of a feminine voice.
The feet turned a corner to the left, pale light of alpine blue illuminating the two creased brows.
"Which door?" snapped Heihachi again.
Julia pushed the glasses to her eyes, only allowing for a slight frown and for her answer to be footsteps. Her hand rested on the smooth, round doorknob before she turned it with a slow and gentle motion. The door squeaked on the hinges as she entered.
Beep.
The high-pitch computer whine of a simulated heartbeat.
Beep.
"I expected worse..." observed Heihachi in a low growl, folding his arms.
Beep.
Uncaring bastard...
Beep.
The thoughts of a masqued woman.
Beep.
The sufferings of a broken angel.
On the smooth metal table, lay a bare naked man, his flesh white and taut.
To a point.
The side face-down was blackened and charred, a remnant of a pyre of cold flames. One white wing lay clasped over his body, the other burnt to a rag of flesh and feather.
The wing twitched.
A sad display of protection for a child. The single right eyeball remained open in a vacant stare that was marked by plains of eternal ice within a sphere.
Silent words are uttered in illusions.
No longer Mr. Kazama who saluted on a million recruitment posters. No longer Mr. Kazama the CEO for the Mishima Zaibatsu. No longer Jin Kazama the beloved child of Jun Kazama.
No longer... anything.
Just a burnt out effigy, cast from the Heavens and left to rot in a grave of monochrome light. Heihachi's eyes hid the demon under the lake as he looked at his grandson.
Only a matter of time now...
Beep.
Patience is the key...
Beep.
Jin, I will break you.
Beep.
Dictionary;
Tousan - Father.
Papa - Affectionate term for father.