Blizzard
Blizzard roars and the flash of a lightning breaks the silence of the night. Snow pours onto earth, creating a cold white blanket, and strong winds try their best to topple everything not nailed on the ground. But even with all their loud rumbles, a lone man slowly walk in the snow. He seen lightnings as merely a dim flashes, and the sound of thunders dulls in his ears. Deep in thought, he seems oblivious to all his surroundings.
He look at a dulling piece of paper he keep in a waterproof lamination. It was a Christmas card with simple photo of a small family, consisting of the parents and a rather young teenager son, flanked by cartoonish pictures of Santa Claus and Christmas Tree. The family pictured here clearly radiate both happiness and friendliness. He slowly caress the printed letters, "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Martin, Emma, and Steve Fox."
Steve still can't believe, that this Christmas card is the last thing he do with his parents. He tried to swept away the tears from his eyes, but he can't keep up.
"Why God… why…" is all he can speak between his silent cry under the rain.
He still remembered the moment when Martin and Emma Fox, the middle-aged couple who often frequents and gave charities to the orphanages he lived in, decides to personally adopt him as a son. Yes, he was still around three to four years old then, but he's old enough to treasure the moments when Martin hold him high and Emma hugs him, proudly announcing that they'll took him as their son. He can't remember his previous life well, but he still remembers that live at the orphanage is hard, and he clearly remembers, and treasure the ten years spent as the beloved son of the Fox family.
Of course, everything seems well until that day… a day when huge blizzard occurs, Emma suddenly had stroke and Martin, after futilely tried to call 911 due to broken telephone line, decides to carry her to the hospital by car. Steve want to go with them, but Martin forbid him, ensuring him that everything will be alright, and they will be together by the new year. They did not make it.
The next thing Steve knew is two policewomen bring the ill news of their accident, his parent's car was hit by a truck. Emma dies on the site, but Martin is still alive and dying. They took Steve to the hospital, where he speak with his father for the last time…
He recalls that he literally begs the doctor to save Martin's life, but his father himself shush him, and told him it would be futile. Martin said he already feels it and the doctor basically confirmed it by saying that he has extreme internal bleedings and his body below the chest was crushed, it was nothing short of miracle and willpower to see him still alive and speaking till now.
Steve regrets that he didn't clearly hear what his father said due to his own hysterical cries, but he remembers that Martin definitely say something about finding his birth mother and to show her as much respect as he has shown to the Fox family. Steve tries to ask why, but Martin only said that they only knew that his mother was supposed to be an unmarried young girl who gave him out because of her 'personal tragedy'. Martin then make Steve promised to found her and gave his respect to her… After that, Martin finally passed away and freed from his misery.
Martin and Emma is neither rich nor poor, at least they leaving Steve with an enough amount of money, as well as loving extended family to depend on while he studying at the high school. While this was true, that he started to took up boxing in Senior High, at least he didn't do this out of monetary need, but he did this out of his innate fighting talents as well as to smash away is sadness. Still, he always remembers Martin's last words to him…
"Papa… why? why you make me promised this to you? Blessed your tender heart… You think that my birth mother must be a poor woman who needs supports and protections don't you? A lonely woman who didn't really have any family huh? But well… I… I just can't believe who she's turned out… most likely… but…"
He's looking another paper from his pocket, thanks to a certain supercop detective who helped him investigating his own orphanage to the point that it points out toward a certain Mishima Zaibatsu. He now knew that his birth mother ain't some poor girl who got raped, or worse left behind and rejected by her lover… but someone worse…
There's three subjects who enter the cryosleep program, and all aren't what did you expect for a mother… no matter who…
Subject 1 : Nina Williams
Subject 2 : Kunimitsu
Subject 3 : Anna Williams
"God… these three are notorious assassins… and now..." Steve can only hold his head down and swept his tears…
Little does he knew that behind him, a certain brown haired woman walked under the snow covered trees, slowly towards him…
