Chapter 7
Mia and Jin had returned to his apartment, with a arsenal of weapons Lars generously lent them, in case of emergency. Jin slung the heavy bag over his broad shoulder, and pulled out his keys to unlock the door. Mia leaned on the wall beside him, and watched him tussle with the knob.
"Need some help?" She asked, reaching to take the bag from his shoulder.
"No. This is too heavy for you." Jin shifted away from her, preventing her from taking the bag.
"I know you haven't seen me in action yet, but I've beaten up men bigger than you." Mia smirked, crossing her arms over her chest like she was sizing him up.
"What's your point? Are you challenging me?" Jin swung the door open, tossing the bag inside. He began to unbutton his shirt.
"Nah, but if you want to tussle, we can do that." Mia straightened up from the wall, bending her legs, and raising her fists.
Jin ripped his shirt off, cracking his neck to the side. " You asked for it."
Mia charged at him, swing a right hook at him. Jin grabbed her arm, and threw her over his shoulder. He ran inside, kicking the door closed behind him, and flipped Mia unto the couch. He jumped in the air, raising his elbow to drive into her, but met the couch instead. Mia had rolled out of the way, but scrambled back to her feet, capturing Jin in a strangle hold. They fell on the floor, and Mia tightened her grip. Jin stood up, pulling her arms from his neck.
"Nooooooo!" Mia whined, as he loosened her hold. He twisted her arm, and shoved his knee into her gut. Mia flopped onto the ground, feeling as if the wind was knocked out of her. She turned onto her stomach, gasping desperately for air. She had honestly not considered the risk of sparring with Jin, and instantly regretted it. Black leather shoes came into her view, and she quickly prayed that Jin would tone it down a notch. She sprang up, dropkicking Jin into the wall. She followed up with a sliding kick, then a palm strike to his abdomen, and finished the combo off with a scissor-head takedown. Jin lay sprawled on the floor, catching his breath.
" You're better than I thought you were." He remarked, pushing himself up.
Mia looked satisfied at flooring the man, but her smile faded as quickly as it appeared. Jin tripped her off her feet, with a swipe of his leg.
"Never get distracted. That's a number one rule." He joked, standing over her, and wagging his finger in her face.
"Dammit, shut up and fight." Mia spat, throwing a barrage of punches at him, which he effectively blocked. She was beginning to get frustrated, and he seemed to be enjoying it. He side-stepped her, tripping her again with his foot. Mia pounded her fist into the ground, aggravated. She rose to kick him in the face, but he grabbed her leg. He slammed it into the ground with his foot, then quickly countered with his Savage Sword. Mia crashed into the wall, feeling pain sting her back, but she ignored it, rising to her feet. Jin rushed her, aiming a punch at her chest, but Mia was quicker this time. She ducked under it, grabbing his head. She pulled him back, and flipped him over her shoulder. Mia dropped to one knee, exhaling loudly. This was no longer a playful fight, it hadn't gotten competitive too quickly. She just wished that Jin would stop pressing her, and end it already. She admired his strength and endurance, which tested Mia to the limit. If anything, he was a great sparring partner to improve her skill with.
She looked up, but Jin was nowhere to be seen. "Where could he have disappeared to so quickly?" Mia thought, frantically searching the room.
"Behind you."
Mia whipped her head around, and there stood Jin, a sick smile on his face. Before she could even react, Jin lashed out a fury of attacks that sent her backing into a corner. He flung her into the air with an uppercut, then countered with a spinning right leg. He punched her face with a right hook, then swung it back around in a backhand. He sent her flying into the wall with a tornado kick.
Mia slumped to the ground, feeling like a truck had hit her. A soft groan escaped her lips. It felt amazing just to sit, and give her aching muscles a rest. She sprawled onto the ground, shutting her eyes.
"Yow won this one." She muttered, not bothering to look up.
She felt strong hands grip her shoulders, and rub them gently.
"Did I hurt you badly?" Jin asked, kneeling by her side to check for any injuries.
"I'm great. Feel like a thousand bricks dropped on me all at once." She replied sarcastically, sitting up a bit too quickly.
She felt her head begin to throb, and fell back to the floor.
" Sorry about that. I got too carried away." Jin apologized, scooping her up into his arms.
"It's not your fault. I went crazy too, so we're both to blame."
Jin carried her to his bedroom, laying on the soft mattress.
"Get some rest Mia. You need it."
" And what about you?"
"I need a shower. I smell horrible." He laughed to himself. He took one last glance at her, then headed for the bathroom.
Both of them slept peacefully, until a loud bang jarred Jin from his sleep. His eyes shot open, and lifted his head to look toward the door. He had brought the weapon bag in before retiring to bed, so that in was in reach if anything happened. There was another loud bang. Jin slipped out of bed grabbing a pistol from the bag. He was careful not to wake Mia, who had not budged. He crept to the door, cracking it open, and peeking through. Nothing. Jin was sure he wasn't going crazy. He swore he had heard something. Just as he turned on his heel, dismissing it as his imagination, he heard something kick the front door open. Jin clutched the gun tightly, and ran to the bed to wake Mia.
He shook her violently, but it failed.
"Dammit Mia! Wake up." Jin picked her up, and hid her in the closet. He heard a hoard of footsteps tramping into the house. Who the fuck could possibly be breaking in his house at midnight? Jin crept silently to the door, and heard a deep voice barking orders.
"Check every room until you find him. I want this whole place turned upside down."
Then the sound of drawers slamming, and glass shattering reached his ears. Jin peered cautiously from behind the door, and saw the white frilled jacket of what seemed to be the leader. Soldiers clad in black trench coats, and bird-beak masks scattered everywhere, searching for him. Jin didn't recognize the man, nor did he remember giving his address to any random person. There were only a few people that knew where he lived, but which one had stabbed him in the back, and given his secret away to the enemy? One of the soldiers was approaching his bedroom, and Jin quickly hid behind the door, holding his breath. The soldier looked around a bit, before reaching the bedroom. He slid inside, shining a flashlight around to find anything. Jin quickly seized him, snaking his arm around his neck, and snapped it. The man yelped, then dropped to the floor. Unforntunately, the sound caught the rest of the intruders, and they jerked their heads toward the stairs.
"Up there! He's up there, go!"
Jin cursed under his breath, having blown up his spot, but aimed his gun anyway. The soldiers sprang up the stairs to attack, and Jin shot them down one by one. Although he was a skilled martial artist, he had learned to use a gun back when he was training with Heihachi. The men tumbled to the floor in a heap of bodies. Jin quickly reloaded as another swarm of soldiers ran up the stairs.
The noise stirred Mia from her sleep, and she looked up through blurry vision. She saw Jin firing bullets at masked soldiers. When realization hit that they were being attacked, She sprang to action.
Jin managed to get most of them down, but was running out of bullets. He noticed Mia had awoken, and was making quick work of the soldiers.
She kicked down the last one, then rushed over to Jin, who was unloading his gun.
"What the fuck is going on?" She asked.
" I'm about to find out." Jin replied, stalking to the top of the stairwell
The leader peered up at him, smiling sardonically.
" Jin Kazama. Finally out of your hiding place. You impress me actually, considering that you took out half of my men."
" Nothing new. Who are you, and how did you find me?"
The man brushed his black hair back with a gloved hand before responding. " I am Claudio Serafino of the Sirius Marksmen, and world's most powerful exorcist."
Mia, who had hid in the room, was listening intently from behind the door. She gasped loudly at the name.
" An exorcist? Who sent you here?" Jin was more confused than angry. Obviously, whovever sent the attack up, had intended on dissipating the devil gene.
"Well, let's just say I was working with your grandfather to help him kill Kazuya. But he ended our deal rather abruptly. He was initially going to capture you for his purposes, but failed to do so. By the way, I despise your father just as much as you do, so don't worry, I'm not here on his behalf." Claudio laughed stupidly, which angered Jin some more.
" I don"t give a fuck about who you worked for in the past, who sent you here right now?"
Claudio's face turned into a scowl. " Since you want to know so badly, I'll just show you."
He snapped his fingers, and one of his soldiers dragged xiaoyu to him. She struggled in his grip, clawing desperately at the rope that bound her hands and feet. Her mouth was sealed shut with duck tape, so her screams came out muffled.
Jin's eyes widened in shock, and he felt rage gnawing at his insides.
"What the fuck did you do to her?" He hissed, venomously.
He was about to charge down the stairs to attack, but Mia ran out to hold him back.
" No, don't do it. They might try to tranquilize you." She grasped his shaking shoulders, pushing him gently back.
Mia spun around on her heels, and descended the stairs slowly.
" Claudio, what the hell do you think you're doing?"
Claudio glared at her as she came closer. " Mia. Never thought I'd see you again. You've sided with the enemy. I thought I taught you better than that."
Mia glanced up nervously at Jin, knowing he would hammer her for an explanation. She turned to face Claudio, her eyes level with his.
" Your teachings were nothing more than twisted black magic to give yourself more fame. Funny that you're the one hiding."
Claudio narrowed his eyes, and smacked her across the face.
" You should be thanking me that you can even hone you magical abilities."
Mia rubbed at her stinging cheek, and smacked him right back. "I never had to come to you, it was always a part of me."
" And you've resorted to harming innocent girls to carry out your resolve?" She gestured to Xiaoyu.
" I didn't harm her. I simply used her as bait." Claudio stood up.
" That's not any better. She's still a victim, being forced to do your biddings." Mia protested.
" I didn't come here for you anyway. I came here for Jin. I won't leave without dragging you with me." Claudio's eyes flashed to white, and he slipped into his fighting stance.
Jin charged down the stairs. " So be it." Tattooes appeared across his face, and a purple aura surrounded his body.
The two jumped at each other, kicking and punching, trying to knock the other out.
Claudio seized Jin by the throat, And held his hand up to his face, blue light emanating from it. Jin's face reddened from struggling, white pupils replacing his brown ones. He bared his teeth, which had lengthened into fangs. A low growl escaped his mouth, causing a shockwave to ripple through the room, blowing Claudio back into the wall. Mia dove to cover Xiaoyu from the impact of the furniture that flew through the air.
Jin roared loudly as long talons tore from his hands. Then he pounced. He viciously slashed at the soldiers, and their blood splattered unto the walls, staining them. Xiaoyu screamed in horror, covering her face at the gruesome sight. Mia took the opportunity to rush her outside, and untie her ropes.
"Listen to me, leave while you still can. It's dangerous here."
Mia urged.
Xiaoyu shook her head, tears streaming downing her face. " I have to help Jin. I can't leave him like this."
Mia shook her by the shoulders. " No! You can't help him while he's like that. You'll only get yourself hurt. Leave, NOW."
Xiaoyu struggled to her feet. Whispering a quick thanks, then ran off down the street.
Mia watched her leave, then hurried back into the apartment. Soldiers lay shredded across the floor in a pool of blood.
Jin stood in the middle of the cess pool, telekinetically levitating Claudio in the air.
The exorcist writhed in pain, as Jin applied pressure to his body.
" I'll teach you what it means to fear me." He snarled, raising the man higher into the air.
"Ahhhhgggg, I was only trying to do you a favor." He managed to spit out in a raspy voice.
" You made the wrong approach by breaking into his house. If you really meant well, you would have done things differently." Mia shot back.
Claudio growled at her, unable to speak as jin grabbed his throat. Jin squeezed the air out of him, and he passed out
Jin tossed Claudio through the window, shattering it to pieces.
He fell on the floor, convulsing violently, as the devil gene wore off.
" Jin, are you ok?" Mia ran to his side, and grabbed his face in her hands.
Jin leaned back against the couch, breathing heavily. The devil gene had taken over him, causing him to go on a killing spree yet again. He clutched his head in his hands, cursing at himself.
" Jin, look at me. Stop beating yourself up over this. They would have eventually killed you anyway."
" They would have killed me anyway? How are you so sure? How do I know that you weren't in on this attack too?"
Mia sighed heavily, running her fingers through her tangled hair.
" I didn't even know he was planning to break into your house. I swear to God that I am not affiliated with him. Please just trust me on that. I'll explain more later, but right now, we have to leave."
Jin pushed himself off of the couch. The two quickly gathered only necessities, and the weapon bag, and left the wrecked apartment. Jin shoved everything into the trunk, then slid into the driver seat. Mia came up to the door, and knelt down to look in his eyes
"Let me drive, so you can clear your head a bit." Jin didn't answer, but he slid into the other side, and let Mia take the wheel.
