CHAPTER 4: RAGE
He arrived a bit early, and proceeded into his room. He dropped his schoolbag on the desk and started to undress, throwing his uniform jacket into the laundry bin in his bathroom. Next went his socks and pants. The white undershirt he wore stayed on and he jumped on his bed trying to rest a bit. The day had been awkward, with Misaki's presence. He felt… terribly uneasy.
Stretching a bit on the mattress, the dark-haired student gave out an anguished sigh. Others probably had it better, he thought, remembering a few of his classmates who didn't have a care in the world. Momentarily, he remembered of his unfinished assignment and decided to get things done.
After fifteen minutes he had completed his report. It was a bit hurried, as he was running low on time. He hooked up his printer and left his laptop on, pressing the print button on his notebook. The whirring sound of the printer was audible even as he closed the door. His stomach grumbled a bit and he was eager to appease it.
He had his own personal refrigerator at the hallway near his room. It was usually stacked with fresh fruits and water but had the occasional candy bar. Grabbing 3 large bananas, he went back into his room, passing a housemaid who cowered before him and respectfully called him the Japanese equivalent of "Master". He gave her a slight acknowledgement and proceeded to his quarters.
Later, the same maid knocked on his door, informing him that his grandfather would not be joining him for dinner but the training would still be unaffected. He would meet him in the Honmaru shrine at 8:15 sharp. Jin nodded at her and quietly closed his door.
He would be on time…
He met his grandfather at the Honmaru at exactly 8:15. Heihachi has always been a stickler for punctuality. His graying hair and hairstyle made him look a bit like a certain comic book character. But at his age he was still awe-inspiring. His tough, muscular physique wasn't hidden by his choice of training wear. The bare chest and hakama pants with his traditional Japanese wooden slippers suited him well. Jin, for his part, wore a Karate gi and another pair of instep and arm guards.
The older warrior looked at what his grandson was wearing and gave a nod of approval. "Are you ready, boy?" He asked his pupil, his face confident and even condescending. Jin didn't show any outward reaction although he hated it when people look at him with those eyes.
He nodded, psyching himself up. "KOI!" He answered, assuming his stance. His eyes glinted of determination and fighting spirit. He was ready…
Heihachi looked at the younger warrior, and smiled to himself. "The boy was confident…" he thought, scrutinizing his opponent. But that stance… was not of a true Mishima-ryu exponent. Though it was more or less a good stance, it was not one that a proud Mishima would take. He would lecture him in this after. Heihachi widened his stance, left arm extended into an open palm and right fist at his side: The true stance of a Mishima. It was time…
Jin dashed forward then went to Heihachi's side, aiming an uppercut that his mother had taught him. He hoped that this would teach his prideful grandfather not to underestimate him. But this was evaded effortlessly by the aging tiger of a man. Not even close…
Heihachi knew that he would attempt that move because he had seen Jun do that move once and often kept tabs on other's techniques. Jin was too much of his mother's son, and would suffer for it…
Heihachi crouched into his hellsweeps, knocking young Kazama off his feet. He would have been seriously injured had he not rolled away from the incoming stomp that his grandfather delivered. Quickly resuming his stance, Jin tried to shake off the pain from his legs, which were hit with brutal force.
Heihachi took two steps towards Jin then delivered a leaping kick, followed with another from the opposite leg. Jin gritted his teeth while blocking, the force of his opponents attack inhuman. He was still trying to recover from the assault when Heihachi grabbed him by his head and delivered a head butt. Jin felt his skull rock a bit by the force, but managed to give Heihachi a counter head butt.
The elder Mishima grunted, as he was not expecting Jin to be able to stand from that attack, much less retaliate. But Heihachi would not be beaten at this, if his head was anything, it was hard. Grinning toothily, He grabbed Jin's head once more and delivered a harder head butt, knocking Jin back a few feet. "Foolish boy…" He muttered at the grounded Kazama.
Undaunted but with a huge headache, Jin managed to kick up and back on his feet. He started off in a run, tackling Heihachi to the floor. Heihachi tried to defer this attack but he was a bit too late. This was Jin's moment.
He mounted the veteran fighter and started raining fists. Striking four blows, he grabbed the Heihachi's right arm and attempted an arm bar. If he could get him to submit, this match would be over.
Heihachi knew that he would be finished if the arm bar would connect, so he struggled until he had his arm loose, just seconds before his arm was fully locked. "Some effort…" He smirked, reveling in his grandson's initiative. He might not be as spineless as he thought.
Jin smiled a bit, as he had made his grandfather take this match a bit more seriously. Jin started to deliver hook fists aimed at Heihachi's midsection. Heihachi anticipated the move, and blocked both strikes. "Ah, that was your father's favored move, but with a little modification I see…" He commented, in between blocks. Jin grunted and tried to finish his technique with a straight striking fist. But at the last moment Heihachi sidestepped the move and delivered a charging straight palm strike. Jin flew across the floor from the strike to his chest, desperately trying to break fall and evade further injury. Yet just as he started to recover, he met his grandfather's heel, which dug into his gut, pushing him to the walls of the Honmaru.
Stunned, Jin could not do anything as his grandfather delivered a signature technique of the Mishima-Ryu Karate: The Thunder God fist. An uppercut done from a semi crouched position and aimed at the chest and jaw. Jin was airborne for a moment before landing painfully on the dojo floor. If he had not undergone training in break falls and muscular development, his body would not survive from that technique. And only a very few have ever lived after this brutally violent technique.
"Is that the extent of your capabilities? Worthless wretch… If you do not rise I will put you out of your misery!" Heihachi roared, angered that someone who possessed his blood would fall from an attack that he considered of moderate damage. "Just like your father…Pathetic…" He muttered, turning his back on the fallen warrior.
Jin heard his last remark and his blood began to boil. He had always wanted to know of his father and his mother had told him that his father had a noble character. Enraged, he ran towards the seemingly vulnerable fighter with bloodlust screaming from within. That was when Heihachi turned around, grabbing Jin by the throat and lifting him off his feet. A smile was on his face.
"Finally! That hatred and killing intent!" He gloated, as Jin struggled from his grasp. Even though he was getting choked, Jin's eyes still glinted of a certain viciousness and violent intent.
Heihachi laughed and, with a twist from the hips, flung Jin to the wall of the Honmaru, splintering the wood. Jin hit the wall hard, knocking the wind out of him. He was spent. Every muscle in his body ached and his head felt like a bunch of coconuts had landed upon it.
"Rage is an indispensable tool to increase your strength. But only a fool would let his rage overcome him. Do not make the same mistake boy…" Heihachi lectured, shaking his head in disapproval. "But more than rage is a clear head. If you fight in a state of emotional instability, you will be defeated. You let your enemy's words cloud your mind. Fool!" berated the Mishima-ryu grandmaster.
Jin sprawled to the ground, leaning upon the splintered wood. He had heard his grandfather's words and they had stung like his strikes. He was still too emotional in battle.
He slowly got off the ground and went to his grandfather. Bowing slightly, he gave his respects to his teacher. "Arigatou Oji-san, ie Sensei…" Jin muttered his respects, being respectful as he was.
Heihachi nodded to the boy. "A few more years and you might stand a chance against me… I look forward to it…" He answered, feeling proud of his "work in progress".
Jin crawled into bed and subsequently passed out, exhausted to the bone. His grandfather was in all respects, invincible. It would take many more years of training to even dream of being at par with him. It would take more than rage to beat him. It would take the devil's might to beat him. Something that, unknown to him, his father had earlier possessed…
Chapter 5 later…Review if you wish…