DESPERATION: REVISITED
Since the months after publishing this I've had this inner battle raging with myself. I felt the ending was a bit rushed and it showed. I have since gone back into my documents on my computer and reread the story. I have taken some things out, adding some more details and extended the epilogue. These changes are small but I feel proud with them especially the epilogue. Something to keep in mind for those who haven't read the orignal, this was written slightly before Akuma's reveal. Anyway I hope whoever reads this enjoys the revisitation.
The beautiful young mother stared at the newborn baby cradled in her arms as a gentle smile graced her ruby red lips. She listened to her baby softly coo and hum while taking her free hand and smoothing the little one's hair down softly. The love the new mother was feeling was unlike any love she ever felt. It was almost like her heart was overflowing and nothing could hold back the happiness and adoration it held for the new life nestled in her arms. If Kazumi had to pick her greatest achievement it would have to be this very moment, the moment she was able to meet her son.
"Have you decided on a name Kazumi?" came a deep voice from across the room.
The young woman gazed in the direction from which the voice was coming from. She knew exactly who it was she need not ask for the voice's identity. She sighed softly while tastefully pulling her bedding robe aside just enough to let her newborn suckle. The baby had grown a tiny bit cranky and started to whimper and squirm, which was a sign for the young mother to feed her child since it had been a while.
"I have Heihachi." Kazumi replied to her husband, who lurked in the shadows of their elaborate room. The young mother could hear her husband's low grunt as he began pouring a glass half full of warm brown liquid. Even though he was obscured by the shadows and poor lighting of the room; Kazumi didn't have to see what her husband was doing, all she had to do was listen.
"Well, what is the name that you have decided on?" Heihachi questioned as he emerged from the abyss that shrouded him.
Kazumi stared down at her newborn son who was content with his mother breast feeding him for the time being. Another gentle smile graced the beauty's features while she stared down at the life she had hand in creating. It was all a wonder to her really, how only hours before the baby held in her arms now had been nestled within her womb. It was almost like the new mother couldn't believe that she held her son in her arms.
"Kazuya. Kazuya is the name I've decided upon." The mother finally answered as she tenderly lifted her son and placed him on her shoulder then lightly began patting his back.
Heihachi stood watching his wife closely with the newborn while twirling the ice cube around in the brown liquid held within the glass. He wasn't too sure what to make of the situation. The proud man wasn't one for affection but with his son's arrival into this world, Heihachi was content with knowing the Mishima name would not die out, and that the Zaibatsu's future was secure.
"Kazuya? Hmph. I guess that will have to do." The proud man grunted while pressing the glass to his lip before tilting it just enough to have a taste of the brown liquid held within.
Kazumi narrowed her eyes subtly at her husband's response as little Kazuya finally released the air that was trapped in his tiny belly. Once that was done, the young mother cradled her son rocking him back and forth. She knew Heihachi never was one to show emotion and often times the beauty wondered if the man ever felt any. The only emotions the Mishima ever showed were anger and frustration and the occasional bit of satisfaction when things went well at the Zaibatsu.
Normally her husband's lack of emotion wouldn't bother her but this time around it made her feel sullen. She thought a father should be overjoyed with the birth of a son, celebrating the fact the family's name would live on with the arrival of the first born heir. Heihachi showed nothing; no smile, no laughter, the man was seemingly devoid of it. The young mother sat rocking her child with a subtle scowl marring her graceful face.
"When will father come and visit little Kazuya? I miss father, he's always so busy." Kazumi said trying to make small talk and push her discontent aside.
The young woman's husband slowly made his way over to the bed where she sat holding their child. His stocky yet muscular build weighed down the bed making Kazumi slightly adjust her posture while holding their son. The proud Mishima tiger sat the square glass, now empty of the brown liquid, on the bedside table. He sat for moment completely in silence while placing his hand onto his knees keeping his back as straight as a board.
"You know my father is a very busy man Kazumi, I have been trying to take some of the work load off of him. But you know he can be quite stubborn." The new father replied before taking a brief moment to clear his throat.
Kazumi knew all too well how much of a hard working man Mishima Jinpachi was. He busted his back for years to build the Zaibatsu into a reputable place of business. The young woman admired her father-in-law's ambition and drive. She would often have conversations with him and one day mustered the courage to ask him what his reasons were for starting the Zaibatsu. The warmhearted patriarch told her his yearnings behind the aspirations he had, his ideals behind the passion that founded the enterprise baring his family's name. Jinpachi's main causes for spear heading the Zaibatsu were very simple one; he wanted to provide his family with the best life possible, to make the world a better place.
The young woman thought this to be so profound and touching. Jinpachi often spent a lot of time doing charity work and giving donations to organizations all over Japan. Kazumi often told her father-in-law that he had a true heart of gold and that his soul must be one from the shinning heaven's above.
"I would hope father could find the time to visit his new grandson. Kazuya would be very happy to met his grandfather soon. Wouldn't you my sweet sweet little son?" Kazumi responded in an affectionate tone which was mostly directed to the sleeping baby held in her arms.
Heihachi turned his torso slightly to gaze at his wife and the child she held lovingly. It was the new father's first good look at the babe cradled protectively in it's mothers embrace. The child was gifted with a full head of silky coal black hair in a thin blanket across it's head.
Upon further inspection, the father noticed the facial features the child had were a perfect blend of his own masculine and strong physiognomy with Kazumi's graceful and gorgeous visage. This earned the first showings of emotion to spark to life across the proud man's face. It was a tiny smirk and if the lighting hadn't been so dim his beautiful wife would have seen the miniature grin lifting up the left corner of his mouth.
"I'm sure my father will be visiting soon." Heihachi responded tepidly earning a piercing gaze from his wife. He knew what was exasperating her; it was an issue that always irked the young woman from time to time. His lack of emotion and the extreme indifference the young man never could shake. It wasn't in his nature to have big outbursts of emotion not unless it was an outburst of anger.
But it wasn't like the young woman asked for much, Kazumi only wanted to see a smile or muster a laugh from her husband every now and then. She was never the one to ask for anything other than a few conversations and moments of affection. There were a lot of women that would ask for the moon on a string or the sun plucked from the sky above. Women who wanted gold and jewels to adorned themselves with and those kind women only hungered for materialistic things. All his beautiful wife desired was his time and affection along with praying for his strength and happiness.
Kazumi was demure, refined, very traditional; elegant, something Heihachi found alluring about her - something he appreciated greatly. She understood Heihachi probably more than anyone around ever would and she never pushed him out of his comfort zone. She knew he was a man of very few words in moments where there wasn't a need for them. Heihachi loved Kazumi more than life itself, even though he might not show it publicly, he knew she knew that he adored her immensely.
"Heihachi, are you not happy about the birth of our son?" The young mother somberly inquired.
This took the new father off guard briefly, he wasn't used to Kazumi asking such direct; forthright questions, she never did it often. Heihachi knew immediately that she must have been bothered by his quiet disposition. He thought for a moment trying to find the words to express himself in the proper way. The young man wanted to avoid upsetting her by saying something that wasn't very eloquent and could be misconstrued.
"Kazumi, you know that's simply not true. I am very happy with the birth of our son. Kazuya, I know will bring great honor to the Mishima name and will grow up to be a strong man. He's our son… a beautiful combination of the two of us. With strong determination and endless passion he will succeed beyond our expectations." Heihachi articulated effortlessly to the young woman sat quietly before him.
Heihachi was beginning to be thankful for the glass of bourbon he had earlier. Alcohol always seemed to make expressing himself a bit easier because it made the words come forth less strained and awkward. He gazed at Kazumi for a while waiting for her to reply silently hoping his answer conveyed what he wanted to say properly.
The young woman smiled tenderly at her husband; relived that he managed to voice his approval, his words had touched her soul immensely, she was thankful he shared them with her. At times she knew he could be very aloof and sometimes even cold but at heart the young woman understood the man she married. When he spoke no words she understood the language in which his body would say to her. Kazumi never questioned the love Heihachi had for her.
"Sometimes… you can be a bit difficult to read. But I am thankful for your kind words nonetheless. Kazuya will bring honor to this family and to generations to come. With your guidance and with your father's, our son will be a great man. A man to be admired." Kazumi expressed with the voice of a proud mother.
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