Authors Note: This opening scene, I loosely based off of what happens between Aerith and Zack, towards the ending of FFVII Crisis Core. When Zack dies, Aerith feels it. That sort of bond can only be between true love, and I see that sort of bond between Jin and Xiaoyu, no matter how undermined she is in the actual game. The lines are from the game; English subtitles since I can't write Japanese.

Short chapter, just as a sort of interlude.

Abolished

Chapter 1: The Ghost of You

Just as Azazel crawled out of the hole it had rectified within the ground, Jin found his thoughts, his predictions, all coming true. Keeping his features emotionless, both he and Lars turned to face the revived Azazel. Although it could be argued that the monster had never died. "Good," Jin mumbled, trying to sound satisfied. But really, his heart was beating rapidly. He knew he had to do this, to rid himself of the wretched devil gene. But he didn't want to. He was being selfish this way; ruining everything he had planned for so long now. "I've been waiting for this," he continued, expecting some input from Lars. He wished Lars would do something; he wanted desperately to be out of this. Why did he have to die saving the world?

To get rid of the devil gene, one side of his mind kept saying. But that side of him was thoroughly overpowered by another, more strong side. He knew exactly why he went through the trouble of giving up something he treasured like his own life. It was to protect the world his mother had once loved; his mother who had meant the world to him. It was, more than that, for a certain girl he knew as at school who was always happy. In his mind, he could remember how easily she had become a part of his life. The little smiles she had, the way she seemed to always be strong enough to do anything. He knew exactly why he had gone ahead and devised some plan to stop Azazel that could cost him his own life, when he was sure he could have let it wreak havoc on the world that never once did anything for him.

She was why he was stepping forward slowly; each stride confident and assured. "I told you before," he said, wording himself carefully. Another step. He could feel Lars's eyes on him, the man almost perplexed by Jin. "Only someone with devil gene, can defeat him." But Lars remained disbelieving; Jin could tell by the silence from his uncle. He didn't care; not if it meant protecting her, his one true friend, and his one true love.

"I exist in a higher plane than your earthly laws!" Azazel bellowed, its body stretching out and widening. "No one can stop me!"But Jin stood still infront of it, his eyes trained on the large mass before him. He could see the demon, but his mind saw the smiling girl in their school uniform near Mishima Zaibatsu; her pig tails, her signature grin. Her happy voice that always called out his name. Was it possible for a monster like him to love someone so innocent? He admired her, adored her; and this was all for her and only her. "No one, except me," he answered back, a hint of a smile on his face at the moment. But the demon continued to speak words that made him nervous, "Fool, you will destroy yourself as well!" It was correct. He would die along with it.

But he would die with the chance to protect the beautiful Xiaoyu. Her life was worth more than his own. He slowly lifted his hands infront of his face, tightening his fists. "Let's put an end to this," he mumbled. Slowly, the venomous feeling of the devil gene dripped from him, surrounding his body in an almost physical, dark way. It enveloped everything, shooting around Azazel and even Lars. When it stopped, Jin lowered his hands and stared forward impassively.

"Stop! What are you doing?" Lars shouted. He was being protective. Jin had every confidence that Lars, unlike his father Kazuya, was a just and kind man. If Lars lived, the world could be cured of its hate. Jin was only doing this to give Lars that chance, and to protect the woman he had learned to love over the years. Azazel began shooting rays towards him, the monstrous things aiming to strike him. But as he expected, the devil gene stopped this. Without waiting another moment, he sucked in some breath, and rushed at the monster.

His hand raised up, fisted still, and he struck it in the chest. The monster screamed out in pain, obviously being affected by the devil gene, however Jin continued shoving it forward until they both fell into the hole. As he jumped, he remembered one thing that really brought this horrible ending to a much better ideal.

Xiaoyu… have I become your hero yet?

.s.p.-.a.-c-.e-r..-.d-.o-.o-m.

Xiaoyu was staring at her mirror, her eyes partially lidded, as she stared at it increasingly. There was a bad feeling in her stomach. She had just come home from school, still partially suffering wounded pride from losing that battle with those two people. But that wasn't it. This feeling in her stomach was something else that worried her too much. She shifted uncomfortably, and reached out for her bracelet. These bracelets, she had bought when she, Jin, and Miharu were best friends in high school. They were visiting a fair when Jin spotted the pink ones and forced her to try them on. She hadn't liked them at first; they were unusually colored, and a bit bulky. But the way he seemed to think they suited her made her want to buy them anyway.

"Aren't they a little… big?"

"Nonsense… I think, they look perfect for you. See?"

"Well… I'll wear them for you, from now on!"

She had loved them afterwards, wearing them at any given chance. However, suddenly, she felt strange. Like she needed to hold them close or something bad might happen. She reached out, her fingers clasping around them tightly to pull them closer. However, just as she was about to, the right bracelet cracked. She gasped, as the piece dug into her fingers, her palm. She withdrew her hand, and just as she released both of them, the crashed to the ground. Each bracelet broke; tiny pieces laying on the ground. Her hand raised to her mouth, her fingers pressing to her lips, as her eyes widened. "Oh," she mumbled. Her eyes watered over, as she stared down at the beloved mess of her beautiful bracelets. Was this a bad sign? Her hand shook, and she found her lip quivering. The feeling in her stomach, like angry moths, intensified. Did something happen to him?

She didn't reach down for the broken pieces. She stood up slowly, backing away from the pieces like she had been burned. Turning kept walking back, until eventually she was a few feet away from the pieces. Her hand lowered to press to her chest, while she felt the tears dribble down her cheeks now. This feeling only got worse, and worse. Something did happen to Jin. She didn't know what to do, she didn't even understand where this feeling came from. She continued to walk back, cautiously, until her back struck into the wall, and she slowly lowered down onto her knees. Closing her eyes, she wept freely.

No more could she feel Jin in every pore of her being. Before, she could feel Jin even if he wasn't here. Right now, there was no Jin there. Just her, all alone, with no one to help her out. She whimpered unhappily, and tried to control the tears, but it just wouldn't happen. Why was this happening? "Jin! Wh-what happened.. a-are.. y-you can't be," she mumbled, still crying. But her heart was sullen, it kept telling her he was dead. But she didn't want to believe it. How could Jin die? Her fingers shook as she buried her face into her hand and cried freely. Nothing was making this easier. Slowly, she looked up from her palm and looked at the door, where she recognized that one of the two people who had defeated her earlier that week was standing. It was the man, with his eyes so similar to Jin. She didn't understand why he was here. She didn't need a fight, she needed Jin's reassurance that he was still alive.

"You're, Xiaoyu," the man said, quietly enough. "I was speaking to Wang-sama, he said… you were close to Jin Kazama." She stared up then, her eyes still watered up. Did he know where Jin was? She had to know, desperately. "Do you know where Jin is? Is he okay? Please, please tell me," she asked, almost begging. She hadn't been this desperate in years. Never had she begged for someone's whereabouts. She hadn't begged in her whole life for anything; always took it herself. So now, she was begging for the one thing she treasured most in her life; Jin Kazama.

"I'm sorry… he, gave up his life to kill Azazel."

With that, her world was crushed. Ling Xiaoyu, who never once felt this empty in her life, felt as if she was dead herself. No more Jin, meant no more Xiaoyu.

.s.p.-.a.-c-.e-r..-.d-.o-.o-m.

"Grandpa… I want to, go back to stay with mom and dad in China."

At once, her Grandfather looked up at her with shocked eyes. "But Xiao, I thought you preferred it here," he said. But she shook her head sternly. She couldn't be here, not with what she had just heard. She didn't even feel like being alive, let alone being in her room where she constantly remembered Jin. Now that he had died… she just couldn't remain here to mourn over his loss. She was adamant on going now.

Wang sighed at the loss of a loud, happy answer from her. "But, Xiao… don't you, think this is too much?" he asked. She remained adamant, still. She couldn't stay. Her mind felt empty. "I'm sorry, grandfather. I just can't," she finished. Turning herself to look away, she dropped her chopstick onto the plate of neat rice. "You'll be fine alone. I just won't stay, you know mother said she wants me there, and dad isn't healthy either," she continued. Truthfully, she just needed to get away from this identity she had created these past few years. Her life was built on her love for Jin. But he was dead now, and thus, this love she felt for him would no longer hold up as the basis for her life.

She bit on her lower lip, just as she felt like crying again. He died, I just need to forget him now. There's… no point in being a whiny little girl if Jin isn't there to tell me I was cute… no point in being a martial arts master if Jin isn't going to fight with me sometime. There's no point in being me unless Jin is there.

She stared up when she found Wang beside her, his aged hand on her shoulder. He smiled kindly. At that moment, her stomach welled up. She had such a loving, caring, grandfather. She let out a heavy cry of pain and wrapped her arms around her grandfather, crying out loudly. Wang continued to hug back quietly. "I suppose even I am getting too old to stay here alone," he offered. "We will both go to China." She was surprised at this. Her grandfather loved it here. He enjoyed being free to do as he pleased. Even if he was old.

"I am an old man, maybe I need some family and rest as well," Wang said. "We will pack up today, and leave within two days." Xiaoyu nodded and smiled over at her grandfather. "I'll tell your parents, you just rest," he said. "Throw out whatever doesn't suit you, and take anything that you need."

.s.p.-.a.-c-.e-r..-.d-.o-.o-m.