Enjoy the epic, action packed climax! It's full of blood, sweat, tears, and kisses. Enjoy, and be sure to keep reading. This is only the penultimate chapter.
Even after morning passed, the two of them didn't leave the bed. They just laid there, feeling lazy and cuddly and in love. Not even the power of the Devil Gene could separate the two of them right now.
"Unghhhh... we really need to get out of bed now." Miguel groaned. He shifted his weight a little and rolled over to face Josie. Their bodies were still against each other like glue, and their faces were touching.
"Can't we just lay here all day?" Josie whispered with a giggle.
"What about my fun distraction for the day?"
Josie smiled and planted a tiny kiss on Miguel's lips.
"I wanna be your fun distraction."
Miguel just closed his eyes and enjoyed Josie's mouth working magic against his. He ran his hands up and down her waist to caress her smooth skin while she used her finger to twirl his chest hair. There were no words between them; the only noise in the room was their lips smacking and Josie's soft moans. After one night of snuggling, Miguel's fear and doubt had finally left his mind; Josie's love had made him confident again.
"So how do you feel?" Josie whispered between kisses.
"This is the best day so far." Miguel whispered back.
"Oh really?" Josie whispered in a seductive tone. "Would it be even better if I took off my-"
Suddenly, Josie's cell phone rang. Josie pulled away from Miguel with an annoyed sigh as the Tekken 7 Character Select Theme engulfed the room.
"Sorry, I gotta take this."
Josie got out of bed with a groan and tugged at her shorts a few times, then grabbed the cell phone from the lamp table and walked over to the corner of the room.
"Yeah? I appreciate that very much. Wh-what? Damn it... so you really can't buy me a few more days? So they are SERIOUS? Great... okay. Okay. Yes. I'll tell him. He's gonna be really mad though. He takes his teaching seriously. If I miss so much as a day I'll... well you're gonna have to handle my travel expenses then! I KNOW taking a private Muay Thai class was my idea, but... look, you don't know Bruce like I do. Okay, I'll try that then. He's a busy guy though, being commander of G Corp's armies and all. Okay. If he says no I'll drop it then, ok? Ok. Bye.'
Josie hung up and plopped onto the bed with an annoyed grunt.
"UGGGGGH!"
Miguel suspected that Josie wasn't in the mood for cuddling anymore, so he finally got out of bed and slipped his shirt back on.
"So what happened?" Miguel asked.
"Miguel, sweetie... I can't stay here anymore." Josie said with a sad face. "I absolutely have to be on a plane to Sydney today if I'm gonna make it to this photoshoot."
"I see... I guess Bruce isn't gonna take it well, huh?"
"Well, that's what I'm fixing to go find out. I was hoping to avoid this for a few more days until I had a plan... but what the heck. Just let me get dressed and we'll head over there."
Miguel didn't say anything as Josie went to the bathroom to change. He was lost in thought right now. This was it; Josie was leaving, just like that. Suddenly, everything felt so confusing. What would Miguel do now? What about his therapy? Will he be able to exist in society without her holding his hand? And what about... THEM? Was this all just a game to her? Just a way to blow off steam?
Josie came out of the bathroom finally, dressed in her classic golden top and blue shorts. Finally, she tied her weird red bunny ears onto her head.
"Welp, let's get a move on!"
Miguel was completely silent during their walk to Bruce's dojo, much to Josie's annoyance. But Miguel was lost in thought, and the fact that Josie wasn't was quite troubling to him. He was starting to slowly believe that Josie didn't care about him after all. Why would she just barge into his life, give him a reason to live again, and then just leave? What sick satisfaction did she get out of building him up like this, only to tear him down?
"Josie..." Miguel finally managed to utter.
"We're here!" Josie exclaimed. "So what do you think? Pretty small, huh? I'm actually impressed that Bruce has the downtime to run and maintain this place."
The two of them entered the tiny dojo. Sure enough. Bruce Irvin was near the back. He was frantically raining kicks on a sandbag with Jin Kazama's face painted on it. Sweat flew from his locks and stained his white tanktop as he threw kick after kick.
"Bruuuuce! Hey Bruuuce!" Josie called out. She ran towards him excitedly as he finally stopped kicking and turned to face her.
"What are you doing here? Class isn't until tonight." he said gruffly.
"Weeeeell... about that... listen, Bruce. I can't take weekly classes with you anymore." Josie said with a shrug.
"Why not?"
"Sorry Bruce, but I have a job to do. I got runways to walk and beautiful beaches to pose half naked on."
"But... you are my best student!" Bruce yelled. He turned his head to hide his blush.
"Excuuuuse me? Did I just hear that right?!" Josie asked excitedly.
"You heard me... out of all the soldiers I've whipped into shape, none of them came close to you. You're a badass, babe."
"YES! Thank you, Brucie!"
"In fact, I think you should represent the Muay Thai style in the King of Iron Fist Tournament 7."
Josie nearly fell backwards when she heard that. "Are you serious?!"
"Dead serious. You know, I'm getting to old for this shit. It's time for someone to carry on my legacy. I think you'd be perfect."
"Aw, Brucie! You're gonna make me cry!"
"Do. Not. Cry. In. My. Dojo."
"Okay, okay. Soooo... is it okay if I call you and schedule specific training days in the future?"
"Well... to be honest, I'm not sure. You know, I'm a busy guy. I can't just shirk my duty as a G Corp military instructor to train with you whenever YOU want."
"But Bruuuuuuuuce!"
"SILENCE! Okay, okay. Look, I'll do the best I can. Anytime that you're free, just give me a call and I'll see if I can't take some time off to train with you."
"Thank you!"
"Not so fast. I want double what you originally paid me. And I want it PER DAY."
This time Josie really did fall backwards. Luckily Miguel was right there to catch her.
"You...you... YOU DAMN CROOK!" Josie whined.
"Hey, this ain't a charity. I told you, I'm a busy guy. If we have to do this on YOUR schedule, then I expect to be paid extra."
"You're quite a mercenary, you know that?"
"Yup."
"Cmon, Bruce! If you want me to represent you in the tournament, maybe you should treat me nicer!"
Suddenly, Bruce turned around and stroked his chin as if deep in thought.
"Hmmm..."
Finally, he turned back around with his arms folded.
"Alright. I'll make a deal with you. If you can prove to me right here, right now, that you're serious about Muay Thai... then I'll train you for free."
"Free?"
"Yep. Anytime you want, for free."
"Okay, so what do I have to do?"
"Fight me."
Miguel prepared to catch Josie if she fell back, but she did the opposite. With a determined look, she kicked off her shoes and got into stance.
"Sounds good! I've been meaning to get you back for yelling at me so damn much!"
"Heh heh... let's go then." Bruce replied coolly, getting into stance as well.
"Miguel sweetie, I have to kick Bruce's ass real quick, then we'll go get some lunch. Kay?" Josie called out. Miguel just gave a slight nod.
"Let's GO!" Bruce yelled, throwing a powerful kick to Josie's thigh. The kick caused her to go numb in her left leg, but she could still move it. Bruce threw another kick, but Josie lifted her leg to avoid it. She threw a couple of straight jabs, which Bruce easily swayed to avoid. Josie kept him feeling comfortable with a couple of jabs, then came out of nowhere with a spinning elbow.
"Shit!" Bruce cursed as he raised his arms to absorb the impact. It still caused him to stagger a little, giving Josie just the opening she needed to take initiative.
She lunged at Bruce and started putting it to him, wearing his arms out with a flurry of left and right elbows. She swung and swung, looking for the slightest falter in his defense. She threw one last elbow, and Bruce's left leg gave way; this is it! Gathering all of her might, Josie threw a knee of bone crushing proportions directly at Bruce's chin. Unfortunately, Bruce's agility was not to be undermined.
"What?!" Josie yelled as Bruce backflipped just out of range of the knee. An even bigger surprise came when Bruce's foot came launching forward and directly into her gut.
"Augghhh..." Josie wheezed as she tumbled to the floor. "Shit, how can he escape my attack and counter so fluidly..."
"Cmon, girl! Get up!" Bruce encouraged.
With a determined look, Josie leaped to her feet and faced Bruce once again.
"Get ready to fly... you bastard!"
Josie leaped forward with a flying knee that caught Bruce in the chin, sending him staggering, but not enough to knock him down.
Bruce cursed as he shook the blurriness out of his eyes and came face to face with Josie. She bent her leg slightly and came forward with a high kick, her shinbone crashing against Bruce's bicep. Bruce shoved her leg out of the way and threw a knee to her gut, bringing her to her knees.
"Cmon, that's twice you've went down. Are you done already?" Bruce teased.
Josie growled and shot to her feet, then began to rain an onslaught of elbows on Bruce's body. Bruce kept his arms high and tight to intercept most of the blows, but some were still coming through. One elbow caught his rib, causing him to stagger slightly. This was her chance!
"YAAAAHHHH!" Josie screamed as she leaped high and came down on Bruce's head with an explosive elbow strike.
Bruce entire world became a blur as he felt his head hit the mat. He was down.
"Yaaaaaaay I beat Bruce!" Josie squealed. She ran up to Miguel and leaped into his arms, giggling wildly.
"Good job, Josie. I'm proud of you." Miguel said with a smile. He squeezed her tightly and gave her a few tiny pecks on the neck.
"Ughh... I guess I am getting to old for this..." Bruce groaned.
"Um... do you need me to...?" Miguel asked, extending his hand.
"Nahh. Just let me lay here for a while." Bruce said with a chuckle. "Josie... you are worthy of being my heir. Enter the King of Iron Fist Tournament 7 and whoop some ass!"
"Eh heh heh... but it has to be announced first."
"True. But you'll be ready when it is."
"Uh huh. Welp, I got a plane to catch. Bye, Brucie! I hope I see you again soon!"
Josie grabbed Miguel's hand and the two of them hurried out of the dojo. Bruce smiled and gave one little thumbs up before falling asleep right there on the mat.
"Whew! That felt good." Josie said with a giggle. She turned to face Miguel. "So... you wanna grab a bite before heading back to the hotel to pack my bags?"
"I'm... not really hungry." Miguel mumbled.
"Suit yourself. Cmon, let's head back."
The two of them hurried back to the hotel, Josie practically dragging Miguel along. As soon as they made it back, Josie began piling her stuff into briefcases.
"Hey Miguel, would you be a dear and help me pack? Don't worry, I'll get the intimate stuff."
"Josie... can you please wait a second?" Miguel finally said. It was his first word since the dojo.
"I don't really have a second, baby. I REALLY should have been packed already..."
"JUST ONE GODDAMN SECOND!"
Miguel's loudness startled Josie so much that she dropped her bag. She stood up and faced Miguel, who was looking quite angry.
"Okay, you got my attention. What's on your mind?"
"What am I to you, huh?!"
"What does that mean? You know you're my big, muscular cutie bear."
"Just... quit with the mushy shit for a second. How can you be like this?! How can you be so happy? You're gonna leave and I'll never see you again! And you... you don't seem that shaken up about it. Everything that we've been through these past few days has changed my life. YOU changed my life. You reminded me what it's like to be loved and supported! And now you're just gonna leave and-"
"Did you really think I was leaving you here? HAHAHAHAHAHA! Aw Miguel, you crack me up."
"Wh...wha...?" Miguel was really confused now.
"You're coming with me, silly!"
"Coming... with... you?"
"YES! Come live with me in The Philippines! You can stay at my place, and I can get you a job somewhere if you like. You would be a nice security guard or maybe a bouncer. And hey, if you don't wanna be apart from me then I'll get you a job at my modeling agency! You're pretty sexy, and I know some people who would be more than happy to point a camera at you."
"You really... mean all that...?"
"Of course. You just stick with me, and I'll take care of you. You're my charge, remember? My hot, muscular charge."
"I...I...don't know what to say..."
"Then why don't you stop talking and help me PACK?"
Josie turned away from Miguel and resumed her packing, while Miguel just stood there and took in everything. He couldn't believe this was happening; this was a new beginning for him. He was going somewhere where nobody knew his name; where he had a clean slate and someone who would support him all the way. Josie had done exactly what she promised she would do; fix a violent, deadbeat, broken shell of a man.
"Josie..."
"WHAT? Why aren't you packing?!"
"Can I just... kiss you real quick like?"
Josie stared at him for a few seconds, bag in hand. Suddenly, a big smile spread on her face as the bag fell out of her hand. She walked up to Miguel and spread her arms out.
"I'm all yours."
Miguel grabbed Josie in a bear hug and gave her a deep, wet kiss that lasted almost an eternity. Josie melted in his arms as she moaned deeply at the sensation of his lips on hers. It was a tingling, burning, chilling, blissful feeling that coursed through their skin and gave them goosebumps, yet at the same time brought sweat to their bodies. When Miguel finally broke the kiss, Josie turned into a puddle and collapsed onto the bed.
"Holy shit! That. Was. The. Best. KISS!" Josie panted.
"Heh heh, I've been holding out on you." Miguel grinned.
"Forget the bags. Just take me on this bed right now!"
"There's plenty of time for that once you've gotten me out of this crappy place. Cmon, let's finish packing."
"Oh, you're gonna help me finally?"
Josie got back to her feet with a giggle and the two of them finished packing the rest of Josie's luggage. Their smiles never left their faces.
OUTSIDE THE HOTEL
"Alright, if you can carry the bags then I'll get us a cab."
Miguel stood on the sidewalk, bags in hand, while Josie frantically searched for a passing cab. Suddenly, he heard a familiar noise in the distance. It was a deep rumbling, almost like a motorcycle. But accompanying it was a far more terrifying noise...
"Siren." Miguel muttered quietly. "Shit... please please please don't come this way..."
But Miguel's prayers fell on deaf ears as the sound grew closer... closer...
"Hey! Is that who I think it is?!" Josie asked, also spotting the vehicle in question.
"Yes it is..." Miguel muttered.
Sure enough, a black and white motorcycle with sirens blaring came speeding up to Miguel and Josie. And off of that motorcycle stepped a man whom Miguel wished he had seen the last of. The only man who could stop him... the only man who was standing between him and his new life with Josie.
"Officer Lei Wulong." Miguel said with a grimace.
"You don't seem to happy to see me. HEEYA!"
Lei leaped off of his motorcycle with a backflip and landed perfectly on one foot, smoothly transitioning into his Crane style.
"Do you remember my Crane style?"Lei taunted.
"Wulong... listen to me. I don't need this right now." Miguel replied, dropping all of the bags.
"You cannot outrun the law, Miguel Rojo. You've done terrible, terrible things while you've been here. Now you will face retribution!"
"EXCUUUUSE MEEE!" Josie interrupted, getting in between the two men.
"Who are you? Get out of my way, civilian!" Lei commanded.
"For your information, my hot hunky boyfriend is a new man now. He's not the same bad man who hurt people. So why don't you just hop on your little tricycle and go give someone a parking ticket, ya lousy pig!"
"Miguel Rojo is responsible for the serious injury of over 50 police officers, and twice the number of civilians! He must be brought to justice. Now stand aside, or you will be charged as an accomplice."
"Okay Miguel, stand back while I give this guy a-"
"No. YOU stand aside." Miguel interrupted.
"Wha-?"
Miguel forcefully lifted Josie and set her aside, next to the pile of bags.
"You focus on getting a cab. This is something I need to do." Miguel said, his eyes not leaving Lei's for a second.
"But Miguel..."
"Trust me, I won't lose. I have a REASON to fight now. That reason is you."
"Awwwww... well in that case, kick his Chinese ass!"
Miguel got into stance and faced Lei. For a few seconds, their eyes just stayed locked and no movements were made.
"I'm a different person now, Lei. I'm going to start over... and get my life back on track. The only thing in my way is you."
"Unfortunately for you, the law doesn't forgive or forget. I don't care if you became a priest! It is my job to bring you in and I WILL do it!"
No other words needed to be said, and the two of them charged towards each other with a battle cry. When they closed distance, their fists began to fly with the force of a bazooka and the velocity of a machine gun.
"YAH! HAH! HEEEEYAAH!" Lei yelled as he threw several venom strikes at Miguel's face. Miguel swayed back and forth to dodge them, but a few caught his chin and one caught his nose. Lei switched it up by coming around with a backfist, but Miguel caught his hand and brought his heel down on Lei's toe.
"GYAH!" Lei winced.
Miguel grinned as he drew his head back and came forward like a catapult, slamming into Lei's forehead hard enough to split a melon. Lei was completely dazed, the only thing holding him up Miguel's grip on his hand.
"Here... lay DOWN!"
Miguel balled his hand and wildly thrust his arm upward, his fist connecting with Lei's chin and sending him skyrocketing to the hard concrete. For a second there, Miguel actually thought Lei was out cold. Unfortunately, Lei got back to his feet.
"Crane style!" Lei announced as he got into Crane stance. Miguel tensed up and slowly crept towards Lei, carefully planning a strategy. But Lei wasn't going to wait for that; instead, he went on the offensive.
"FAKE OUT!"
Lei suddenly transitioned into a tornado kick which brought him much closer to Miguel. With a grin, Lei spun around and did another tornado kick, his foot whizzing past Miguel's head. Lei spun around once again and appeared to do a tornado kick, but this one hit low directly into Miguel's gut.
"Ooof..." Miguel grunted as he fell to his knees. Lei quickly jumped to his feet and lunged forward. With a battle cry, Lei swung his foot in a reverse horizontal arc, smashing into Miguel's cheek and sending him sprawling across the pavement.
"Cmon, Miguel! Fight for my sweet ass!" Josie cheered.
Miguel slowly got to his feet and spit a tiny amount of blood. He twisted his head a few times before getting back into stance. He made a "come" gesture with his hands to provoke Lei.
Lei charged forward as Miguel lunged as well. Miguel swung wildly, Lei swaying through his punches and connecting with strikes of his own. Miguel took one to the face: his vision blurry. He took another: his left eye went dark. Another: he could feel blood trickling down his lip. He took in every blow; the pain was only fueling his next blow to be that much more devastating. This was it... just a few more hits to fuel his power... his determination... he was taking everything Lei threw and was about to give it back tenfold.
"GO! DOWN! ALREADY!" Lei yelled between punches. "That's it... I know one move that'll floor you!"
Lei got into Crane stance and prepared for his dreaded Crane kick. Miguel smiled... this was it.
"GRAAAAH!" Miguel howled as he slammed his heel into Lei's one leg holding him up. Miguel's foot felt like a tree trunk slamming into Lei's shin as Lei was swept off his foot and brought down to the concrete. As Lei hit the ground, his chin connected with the pavement and his entire world went blurry.
"Now you're mine, little man." Miguel taunted as he grabbed Lei by the ponytail and raised him high.
"Ugh... put me.. down... you're under... arrest..." Lei mumbled.
Miguel drew his fist back and gathered every ounce of strength in his body into one blow. His fist flew forward like a speeding train as it collided with Lei's face and sent him flying backwards into his own motorcycle. Lei's body hit the motorcycle and toppled it like a domino, with him laying on top of it. He didn't get back up.
"WOOOO! You go, Miguel!" Josie cheered. She ran up to Lei and hugged him tight. "Ummmm is he dead?"
"No... but he'll be hurting in more places than one when we wakes up." Miguel said with a grin.
"Heh heh. Ooooh, look! TAXIIIII!"
Josie leaped up and down and waved wildly to flag down the cab that came into view. Finally, it pulled up to them and skidded to a halt.
"After you, madam." Miguel said with a grin. He tossed the bags into the car and grabbed Josie's hand to help her in the car.
"Why thank you, good sir." Josie giggled. She scooted over and motioned to the spot next to her.
"Now get in here, you big lug."
Miguel couldn't have gotten in the car faster. The door slammed, and just like that... it was all over. This cab ride was the the end of the old story, and the start of a brand new one.
TO BE CONCLUDED
