DESPERATION: REVISITED
-A FEW YEARS LATER-
Kazumi watched her son grow into a compassionate five year old boy although he was timid and frail he was healthy nonetheless. He had begun his training in the ancestral art of Mishima Ryu with his grandfather and father in the afternoons and in the mornings the young mother took him to school and helped him with learning kanji. When her son wasn't training or at school he was like her shadow following the young mother where ever she went, his small hand firmly attached to the white kimono she wore.
The young mother found it very sweet that her son stayed by her side whenever he could. In all honesty Kazumi never wanted Kazuya to leave her side. She hated watching him reluctantly go with his father to train. Although the sweet boy never seemed to mind when it was his grandfather Jinpachi that came and ushered him off to train. Kazuya was always overjoyed to see his grandfather and was more than willing to train with him.
She found it exceedingly unusual how the boy seemed so distressed by training with Heihachi. She often times would push the recurring thoughts back from the forefront of her mind. But she knew because her heart wouldn't let her forget. Heihachi had started to be very cold to her and their son; and speculations as to why began to form.
He knew of her powers but as the days went by Kazumi had a feeling that her husband had seen their son exhibit the very same abilities while training with the young boy. If he had it would explain the man's increasingly cold demeanor and rising anger.
The matter bothered her immensely so much so that she decided to speak with her father-in-law about her speculations. After safely tucking her precious son in bed, the young mother quietly began walking through the vast corridors of the Mishima Estate to reach the quarters of her husband's father. She gently announced her presence by tapping on the heavy wooden door.
"Now I wonder who that would be knocking as quiet as a mouse. Would that happen to be Kazumi?" The gentle elder Mishima called from inside with a warm chuckle.
Kazumi slowly pushed the heavy door open and entered the room making sure to bow to her father-in-law respectfully.
"My my dear child you seem very upset. What is troubling you?" Jinpachi asked after seeing the expression his daughter-in-law wore after rising from her bow. Her heart seemed to be heavy and her beautiful visage concerned wanting answers to the questions that caused her to ache.
"Father… I'm concerned." Kazumi began while keeping her gaze directly to the floor. The young woman seemed to be trying to find the right way to verbalize what was causing her emotional discomfort and it was proving difficult.
"You seem to be having a hard time trying to say what it is. No matter, take your time until you're ready." Jinpachi stated with empathy.
She sat quietly for a moment longer, still trying to formulate words to explain her plight. The young mother didn't want to accuse Heihachi of mistreatment of their son out of fear for their safety. She knew that her husband was someone more than capable of doing harm, she had seem him do it before. The young mother knew no matter how much her loved her or their son, he possessed the power and the psyche to hurt the ones he loved.
This was why Kazumi decided to tread lightly on the subject because the mother wanted to make sure her son was out of harm's way. Her well-being mattered little as long as he was guaranteed safety. If Heihachi were to find out she had accused him, he would feel that she slighted him which would only fuel his rage and he would take it out on her and their son.
"Father… Have you noticed Heihachi's behavior as of late? He seems very despondent and angry. More than usual..." The young woman finally put into words.
Kazumi was quick to avert her eyes to the polished wooden floor mostly out of sadness due to having to pose such an inquiry to her husband's father. The beauty also was in distress and very apprehensive to catch a glimpse of her father-in-law's disapproval if he had figured out the nature of her true question.
Jinpachi wasn't a feeble-minded man nor was he senseless in fact he was a wise, reasonable and a just man. A man with a kind heart and understanding nature. He was no fool and knew exactly what his daughter-in-law meant when posing her question, the elder's suspicions were further confirmed by the way she wouldn't bring herself to gaze at him. The young woman was in conflict and it pained Jinpachi to see her hurt in such a way.
"Kazumi, if you are wondering if my son has mistreated Kazuya… he has not. In the physical sense I have not witnessed any. He has been very cold to him and has said things one should never say to a child." The gentle elder replied to the concerned mother.
His gracious yet thoughtful demeanor surprised the young mother and was thankful for his willingness to be truthfully answer her question. She could feel the slight alleviation of the weight she bared upon her shoulders but she still carried the worry deep within. The woe sat heavily on her chest was still there. That little ache and the knowing that her family could be on the verge of falling to pieces.
The Elder Mishima could see the worry and hurt written in the expressiveness of her eyes. His heart hurt not just for her but for Kazuya, the grandson he adored. Heihachi's verbal mistreatment of the young boy had largely to do with why the grandfather himself took on Kazuya's training.
"I suppose now would be the time to warn you my dear. Heihachi has his suspicions and you know how ruthless he can be when he thinks he's close to finding a factual answer." The considerate elder cautioned.
Kazumi slowly brought her eyes to meet her father-in-law's sympathetic gaze. Her heart began to restlessly beat within the confines of her chest rattling the cage of bone it was held captive in. The palpitating muscle spoke to her in a rhythm of fear and angst while her head was telling her to form a plan of action.
"Father, what should I do? If Heihachi were to..." Kazumi asked hoping that the elder man could give her advice.
Jinpachi shifted and straightened his posture while pondering her query for a moment. This situation was a precarious one and it needed a clear and concise way of handling it. The last thing the kind man wanted was for this to end in tragedy. He didn't want innocent blood to be spilled especially if that blood happened to be that of his beloved family.
"I have already taken necessary action regarding Kazuya. I will be the one training him from now on. I promise you nothing ill will befall that boy as long as I am alive and breathing on this earth." The Mishima declared to his daughter-in-law.
The sense of relief was building within Kazumi, the young mother felt comfort in knowing she had an ally in her father-in-law. Even though initially the beauty never thought he would be so willing to take her side in any matter but the two had a common understanding of Heihachi.
"Heihachi is more powerful than you realize." Kazumi replied softly as her eyes began to fill with tears. It hurt her to say it more than it did to come to the revelation.
Jinpachi eyes hardened as his daughter-in-law let her guard down to speak the truth that both of them tried to deny for many years.
"Do you believe Heihachi will harm Kazuya?" The grandfather questioned the young mother while his gaze slowly turned to the wooden floor. His eyes seemed to convey a concerned man deep in thought.
"Who knows… what Heihachi will do to Kazuya. Or to countless others." The young woman closed her eyes slowly as the tears silently fell down her cheeks.
The thought of her dear husband harming their son was one she never wanted to consider or fathom ever coming to pass. She wanted to deny it but now it was becoming a real possibility and she knew how much he hated her powers.
The powers he deemed dangerous not just to him or to her but to the entire Mishima Bloodline. He knew she had them from the moment they met all the way to the day of their marriage.
"Never in my life have I ever been faced with such an ordeal before. I want you to know Kazumi that this isn't your fault. Your bloodline isn't something to be ashamed of." Jinpachi reassured her.
"Heihachi will soon realize he was born with my powers. That boy… is still too young." The mother seemed as though she wasn't only speaking to the man sat before her but to herself as well. Little did the elder know how much the woman before him was at war with herself. Every aspect of Kazumi was in conflict, her heart and mind, everything was at war within.
Jinpachi wanted nothing more than to offer her comfort and support but he knew a battle would be on the horizon. One he didn't not want to fight but one he would have to partake in to save the life of a child if it came to that.
"If I die, If I can't stop Heihachi you must do it for me. Even if this power consumes me and kills me in the process." Kazumi professed making direct eye contact with her father-in-law. Her resolve hardened to do what a mother must do to protect her child.
The Elder Mishima could only tighten his jaw and nod to his daughter-in-law. The kind man would do what it took to help keep his grandson out of harm's way even if it meant going against his own son. No harm should ever come to a child, a child's blood should never be spilled regardless of how destructive the child might be. Jinpachi resolved to protect his grandson and stop Heihachi and honor his promise to Kazumi.
"Then we must formulate a plan and move before my son does."
XxX
