Note: I do not own any of these characters. All Dead or Alive characters are copyrighted by Team Ninja/Tecmo. All Tekken characters are copyrighted by Namco. This is my first fanfic so be gentle, and any sort of useful critique and whatnot will be greatly appreciated. Apology in advance to those who are fans of characters I did not include like Hayate or Raven.
The Dying First Tournament
Chapter 1: The Invitations
Within the confines of the Mishima Zaibatsu, Heihachi Mishima sat in his comfortable, red leather chair, behind his desk, staring out at the night sky and brightly shining moon. Soon, a young, seductive secretary entered quietly, holding a manila folder under her left arm.
"Mr. Mishima," she began, "the invitations for the tournament have been sent out."
"Good," he said, turning around in his chair, facing her, taking the manila envelope in her hands as he looked at the photos of the contestants. Some of the faces he recognized, but some of them were new to him. The new ones had been participants in the world-renowned Dead or Alive Tournament, which In Heihachi's opinion, was a joke when compared to The King of Iron First Tournament that the Mishima Zaibatsu has been holding for years. After the destruction and collapse of DOATEC, however, Heihachi was interested in inviting some of its combatants into this year's special Tekken.
"Also," the secretary continued, "I've just been notified that project BETA-153 should be finished very soon."
Heihachi responded with a simple nod, still looking at various papers and pictures within the folder. Knowing that she had nothing else to say, he waved his hand, sending her away. The respectful woman bowed and left the room. Heihachi finished reading, tossing the papers onto his desk, only to laugh, "GWHAHAHAHA." All was going according to plan.
Jin Kazama was training as always, striking his sand-filled punching bag with all his strength. Anger ran through his body as he remembered the pain caused by his blood and the death of his mother, Jun Kazama. Lightning struck as he delivered a well-honed kick into the side of the bag, tearing it open. He felt the sand fall to the floor and atop of his bare feet. "Damn it," he quickly replied, "that's the fifth one this month."
Tired, Jin grabbed a nearby towel and hung it around his shoulders, drying off his sweaty forehead and chest. Soon, there was a loud, almost thunderous knock on his apartment's door. Jin, always one to be cautious, approached the door and opened it quickly. To his surprise, there was nothing there, nothing but a small envelope, saturated by the heavy falling rain. He opened it, and dread soon filled his soul.
It was an invitation to another Tekken tournament. Every tournament brought him grief: his grandfather's betrayal, the bitter reunion with his father, and the awakening of his devil gene. He immediately wondered what was going to happen this time around. Though he thought of just skipping this tournament, he knew that he had to try to prevent whatever diabolical scheme his grandfather was cooking up, or be forced to be a part of it. There was something strange about this tournament though; he was being partnered up with a mysterious girl whom he'd never seen before. She had long, red hair and an innocent, almost angelic face. There was a time and a location for where Jin was to meet the mysterious girl. He read the name softly to himself as he stood on his doorway, the pattering of the rain all around him, "Kasumi."
Helena woke up in her small, luxurious apartment, hidden high within the Swiss Alps. Helena wanted her life to end with the destruction of DOATEC, but being saved by Zack upon the burning tower's heliport was an epiphany. The former opera singer now tried to reverse all of the problems created by DOATEC and Donovan, not just the Alpha, Epsilon, and Omega projects.
There was a loud knock on her apartment's door. She grabbed the small pistol in her nightstand's top drawer. Though DOATEC was dead, Helena was never safe from the likes of assassins like that insufferable Christie. Helena had defeated her in DOATEC's grand hall before setting the self-destruct, but Christie was slippery like a serpent. The Pi Qua Quan expert slowly inched opened the door, hiding the pistol behind her back, only to find that no one was in sight. She looked at the ground, finding a small, white envelope. She was quite surprised with its contents. It was an invitation to a tournament being held by the Mishima Zaibatsu, one of DOATEC's Japanese competitors.
Helena rolled her eyes, wondering why they would invite her, the former owner of their top competitor. Soon, however, her cell phone rang. She picked it up slowly.
"Hello?"
A muffled, groggy voice on the other end replied, "Mishima Zaibatsu has Donovan's data from project Alpha."
"What?" Helena replied with a worried expression. "Who is this?"
There was no sound except the simple click of the line being cut on the other end. Helena knew of the Mishima Zaibatsu performing some strange experiments in cloning before, but the Alpha project was dangerous, too dangerous to be redone by anyone. With this, Helena knew she had to enter the tournament. She quickly reopened the envelope and looked at the photograph of her partner, Steve Fox. He looked a bit immature, yet handsome. Hopefully his fighting skills, whatever they were, would suffice. Helena knew she would have to stop Heihachi Mishima at all costs.
Lei-Fang, the beautiful phoenix, was walking home from morning, college class, silently with a plaintive attitude. After four tournaments, she was still unable to defeat her rival, Jann Lee. This, however, did not depress her. She loved the challenge, having to better her skills for each of their confrontations. After the destruction of DOATEC, however, Lei-Fang became upset, believing she may never fight Jann Lee again. Soon, however, the young fighting genius made her way to her apartment and found a small, white envelope with her name on it. She scratched her hand through her dark brown hair, wondering what was inside.
Her countenance did not change upon reading its contents. It was the invitation to a fighting tournament. She was to be partnered-up with a girl younger than her, who either just graduated from or is still in high school, named Ling Xiaoyu. She remembered hearing about a Tekken tournament, but was never really interested since Jann Lee never entered. After quickly grabbing her purse from within her apartment, Lei-Fang went to the local market, still wondering if she should enter the tournament or not.
She was reading the invitation, not really watching where she was going when all of a sudden she walked into a stiff, sturdy figure. "Oh," she began, "sorry." Upon looking up, she saw the rigid, strong face of Jann Lee.
"Hey, Lei-Fang," he said plainly with a small, almost unnoticeable grin.
"Oh, Jann Lee," she said with a smile, "I was just thinking about you." Jann Lee rolled his eyes at the statement, hoping she wasn't going to challenge him in the middle of the market. "Did you get an invitation for this Tekken tourney?"
"Actually," he said, pulling an opened envelope from his back pocket, "I did. I'm partnered up with some guy named Marshall Law."
"Really?" Lei-Fang exclaimed with a starry-eyed grin, knowing another chance for her to challenge the fighter had arisen.
"Yeah," Jann Lee replied, backing away slightly, sensing her extreme joy.
"Well, this time, I will defeat you," she said pointing at him, running home like a school girl who's just received an A on a hard test.
Jann Lee shook his head and laughed quietly. He knew she was running home to practice her Ti Chi. She probably forgot all about buying groceries. Jann Lee contemplated buying her some as a favor, but on his measly bouncer's wage, it probably wouldn't be in his best interest. Though they were rivals in fighting arenas, Jann Lee thought of Lei-Fang as a good friend, but she just seemed so obsessed with fighting him all the time. He then looked at the photo in his hand, of the rugged yet powerful-looking fighter, who was also a practitioner of Jeet Kune Do. Jann Lee actually wished he could fight against him instead of be his partner, but maybe being with someone who uses a similar style will help their chances at winning. Jann Lee, never fretting about any fighting tournament, no matter how supposedly dangerous, put the invitation back into his pocket.
Hwoarang weaved in and out of the early morning traffic back to his apartment, the wind blowing against his bright, red hair. Though he kept his eyes on the road, his defeat at Jin's hands during the last Tekken tournament still bothered him. The worse part is that he'd probably have to wait a couple more years to fight him; Jin always disappeared after the tournaments. While thinking about all this, he quickly arrived back to his apartment, parking his bike in the complex's garage. There, in his spot, slightly stained with oil, was an envelope.
"Another tournament?" Hwoarang suspected, "this soon?" Excited, the Tae Kwon Do fighter tore the envelope open. His suspicions were correct: another Tekken. He continued reading while making his way back to his apartment. The rules this time around were a little different; he was going to be partnered up with someone. "Hitomi?" he whispered to himself quietly as he observed the picture of the brown-haired girl. "She doesn't look Japanese," he mumbled to himself as he opened his apartment door, "but she is cute." Quickly forgetting about the girl's pretty eyes, Hwoarang grabbed his things to prepare his training, knowing that a chance to fight Jin had arisen yet again.
Lei Wulong, the super detective, was wondering the packed streets of Hong Kong. The cop was bothered by his failure to arrest Feng Wei, the vicious murderer, during the last tournament. Though he had defeated him, the slippery martial arts expert slipped right out of his grasp. His thoughts were suddenly broken upon feeling someone slip a note in his left hand. The confused copped looked all around, but nobody suspiciously stood out. He looked down at the envelope in his hand and sat down in a nearby bus stop and opened it, only to find an invitation to another tournament held by the Mishima Zaibatsu, another abhorrent organization he hopes to shutdown.
Inside was a picture of a platinum-haired, mustachioed Chinese man by the name of Brad Wong. He was to be his partner in the tournament. Lei knew that with his help, maybe he could put Feng Wei behind bars and expose the infernal Mishima Zaibatsu for what it truly was.
Christie exited the shower, water dripping off her thin, athletic body as she grabbed a towel and entered her bedroom. She looked at the envelope she had found on her doorstep earlier that morning, wondering what its contents were. She placed silky, black lingerie against her pale skin and then began to dry her platinum hair. She then threw the towel aside, letting it land atop the head of her exotic panther's head. She slowly opened the envelope as her pet rubbed itself against her bare leg.
Inside, there was the invitation to a tournament being held by the Mishima Zaibatsu. The She Quan practitioner shrugged, not really interested in entering. She looked through the information, soon finding the photograph of an insane-looking, white-haired man named Bryan Fury. Something about the man's face, his anger and total disregard for death, intrigued her. It seemed as if there was no longer a soul within his eyes. She now desired to meet the mysterious, Bryan Fury and enter. She then began to become excited for another reason. Maybe Helena would be there too, the tournament serving as another chance for Christie to see the innocent angel once more.
Asuka Kazama was walking home from school, hearing the rain drizzle atop her umbrella. She sighed quietly as she entered her father's dojo. Since being attacked by the Chinese martial artist, Feng Wei, Asuka's father had fully recovered; however, Asuka was disappointed in herself for not confronting him when she had the chance to enact her revenge. She felt as if she let her father and dojo down. She removed her shoes and began training, hoping that one day she'd be able to confront Feng Wei again.
Still in her school uniform, Asuka kicked and punched the air around her as she practiced her Kazama style martial arts. Asuka powerful stomped the ground, but suddenly slipped on something, landing face first into the mat beneath her. She rubbed her face and looked down at her socked feet, finding a small, white note. It must have been slipped under the door as she was fighting. "What's this?" she asked herself as she opened the envelope slowly, finding an invitation to the next Tekken. The young fighter was surprised that her chance to face Feng Wei may come much sooner than she originally believed. She studied the contents, discovering the name of her partner, a geisha-in-training named Kokoro. She placed the invitation near her book bag and continued to train for whatever this new tournament may bring.
Feng Wei, dressed in a red suit, was wondering the downtown city streets of Hong Kong. The Kenpo fighter was angered that Lei Wulong had defeated him during the last tournament. Luckily for him, he was able to slip away without being arrested, but he was still distracted by the thought that he lost, and by that fact he could not recover the Dragon Scrolls from the Mishima Zaibatsu.
"Give me your money!" a thief demanded as he jab a knife into Feng Wei's back. The insidious fighter rolled his eyes and sidestepped, pulling the thief's knife-wielding arm forward and then powerful striking him in his spine. The thief screamed in pain and lay unconscious on the dirty, alley floor. Feng Wei walked over him. Upon exiting the alley, he found an envelope addressed to him on the sidewalk. He searched the sidewalk to find its deliverer, but the area was abandoned. He opened it slowly, finding an invitation to another tournament. Feng Wei was always in search of stronger warriors to face, but the fact it was being held by the Mishima Zaibatsu meant it was another chance for him to recover the Dragon Scrolls he desired. He continued reading the invitation, finding a photo of a young boy named Elliot. Feng Wei then remembered hearing about a young martial artist whose mentor was the great master of Xynyi Liuhe Quan, Gen Fu. Feng Wei didn't care about the tournament as much as he cared to face the mighty master. Even if Gen Fu would decline to enter, surely this Elliot could tell him of his whereabouts. With a subtle grin on his face, Feng Wei continued his way through the streets, ready to enter the tournament.
"Come on, Tina, you were a model, actress, and musician," Bass Armstrong complained as Tina was leaving the gym. "I let all three of those slide but now you want to be a painter?"
"Dad," she began, "you can't stop me. I'm going to win this tournament and use the proceeds to fund my career as a famous artist."
Bass rolled his eyes and stomped the ground loudly, "Not if Craig and I stop you." Tina just waved her hand and ignored him, walking into the woman's locker room. Tina Armstrong was a fantastic wrestler, but she didn't desire to stay one forever. She tried so many other things, but none of them seem to please her. However, she believed that maybe being an artist would make her happy; she remember her high school trips to art museums and begin drawn in by all pieces. If only her father would stop trying to interfere in her life. She picked up the envelope that she had received earlier that morning, the invitation to the elusive King of Iron Fist tournament. Her partner was a renowned capoeria fighter named Christie Monteiro. Tina remembered Lisa's style, and knew that Christie and she would make a good team.
Bass Armstrong shook his head, feeling that he was losing his daughter, but at the same time, something in him said that maybe it was time to let her go. An artist wouldn't be that bad, would it? She wouldn't be using her sex appeal to achieve attention or anything. Nevertheless, the champion wrestler wanted to try and stop his daughter as always by entering the tournament. His grabbed the information from his back pocket and observed the photograph of his partner, Craig Marduk, the formidable Vale Tudo expert. Craig and Bass would surely be an undefeatable, powerhouse duo.
Kazuya sat alone in a darkened room, observing the photo he had received yesterday in his father's invitation to the next Tekken. After so many years, the possessed fighter still urged to murder his father. He had received the invitation mysteriously on his doorstep, surprised that another tournament would have been announced so soon, but Kazuya couldn't resist any opportunity to face Heihachi, or even his son, Jin. Kazuya was looking at the photo of his young partner, Ayane. She was a beautiful kuniochi with straight, purple hair. Something about her, maybe the supposed innocence created by the ribbon in her hair, reminded him of his first love, Jun Kazama. Despite his demonic soul, Kazuya still felt that an ounce of purity existed within him because of Jun. He shrugged though, doubting that this Ayane would be anything like her. Growing bored, he grabbed a shirt to cover the enormous scar on his chest that he got after Heihachi through him down a cliff as a child and his coat. He walked outside with the photo in his pocket, ready to meet this Ayane.
Nina walked somberly home from the cemetery after having visited the grave of her father, Richard Williams. She had left flowers there as she used to every year. Though Nina cannot remember all of her past memories, the skilled assassin learned that her and her sister Anna were bitter rivals and blamed one another for their father's death. Nina then held the invitation she received earlier for the latest tournament being held by the Mishima Zaibatsu. She opened it hesitantly, studying the information quickly, finding a photo of a strong-looking man named Bayman. She remembered hearing about the assassin not too long ago and his failure to murder DOATEC's head scientist, Donovan, himself. Through the years of searching for her memories, the discovery of her son, Steve Fox, and the never-ending rivalry between her sister, Anna, Nina still felt there was something missing in her life.
She sighed painfully, putting the envelope away. She wasn't sure if she was going to enter, but she suspected Heihachi was up to no good. Also, she wouldn't have to worry about Anna this time around due to the pyrotechnic "accident" on the set of their movie a few months ago. Something within her though, knew that Anna was going to come back, and when she did, Nina would be ready, but for now, Nina was going to enter.
"Niki!" Zack screamed, running to his gorgeous girlfriend, "I was just invited to another tournament. If I win, I'll get just enough money to open Zack Island II!" Niki rolled her eyes as her eccentrically excited boyfriend told her about the tournament. Their adventure in Egypt had gotten Zack out of debt with a nice chunk of cash left over, but it just wasn't quite enough for him.
She simply replied as she read a magazine, "Just make sure the next one doesn't have a volcano on it, okay?" Niki watched him read the information and energetically pack his suitcase for the latest tournament. Zack was always ready to please his fans and was always hungry for more money and luxury. His plans for a life of leisure always came up a little short though, which obviously could get on anyone nerves after awhile.
Zack studied the information, soon finding out his partner was an American martial artists named Paul Phoenix. "That's quite a hairdo," the green-haired man said as he lifted his sunglasses to get a clearer view of Paul's skyscraper. Without further hesitation, Zack grabbed his suitcase and ran out the door, dragging Niki by the hand for the Mishima Zaibatsu's Tekken.
Yoshimitsu was grieving over the graves of the deceased members of the Manji clan at the hands of Bryan Fury. Yoshimitsu vowed revenged, but was unable to enact it during the fifth Tekken, for Bryan had just escaped his righteous wrath. The mechanized ninja would not rest before finding his rival and making him pay for his sins. As Yoshimitsu observed the graves, he heard the approach of a kunai, flying towards him. He caught it within mid air, before it struck the tree to his left. He dropped it, equipping his energy sword, preparing to deflect more; however, no more approached. Assuming that it was safe, the ninja picked up the note that was tied to the small dagger.
It was an invitation to the Mishima Zaibatsu's next tournament. Though Bryan was a great threat, so were Heihachi Mishima and his infernal creations. Yoshimitsu soon discovered the identity of his partner, Ryu Hayabusa, a very skilled ninja, rumored to have died and been reborn. Yoshimitsu quickly analyzed and remembered the information. He crumpled the note, dropping it to the ground, and ran off into the forest.
Lisa was rummaging through the debris left by destruction of DOATEC's main facility. She was searching for the indestructible safe that contained Donovan's data for the Alpha project. It was probably buried, but she had to find it before it fell into the wrong hands. Suddenly, Lisa heard a helicopter approach. She ran and hid behind a large piece of debris. The men in their black uniforms, armed with high-power rifles searched the debris as she did earlier. From the helicopter came an elderly, but powerful-looking man with wild, white sideburns.
"Sir," one of the men spoke, "we found the safe."
"Damn it," Lisa whispered. Whoever these men were, they beat her to it.
"Good," the man said, laughing quietly. A few minutes later, the men attached the safe to the helicopter and flew off into the sky. Lisa read the words on the side of the helicopter, which read, "Tekken Force." The young scientist immediately remember DOATEC's rival, the Mishima Zaibatsu. They would do anything for Donovan's data on the Alpha project, and they did.
Defeated, Lisa returned home in disbelief, afraid of what Heihachi planned to do with Donovan's data. Several weeks later, however, Lisa found a small enveloped addressed to "la Mariposa". She laughed, thinking it was just another fan letter; however, she soon discovered it was an invitation to the Tekken tournament. Even the Mishima Zaibatsu mustn't have known of her involvement in DOATEC's affairs. She read the information over quickly, discovering her partner was a luchadore named King. "Wow, how original," she said sarcastically to herself.
Before preparing to leave for the tournament though, Lisa grabbed her cell phone and called Helena Douglas's private line. Helena, if she received an invitation, wouldn't enter unless DOATEC was somehow involved, for like her, Helena desired to destroy all of Donovan's creations. The call was quick and disguised, and Lisa soon grabbed her glittery, white mask, readying herself for this latest challenge.
