Again much love and thanks to the awesome reviews! Giving me life right now as you can see with a quick update! This chapter's title comes from yet another DIR EN GREY song dubbed THE INFERNO from their Arche album. Again, the song title was more of a prompt than the lyrics were. Real credit goes to the Tekken 7: Fated Retribution Mishima Building stage track! Listened to it the entire time I was writing this up. This chapter also is a JIN chapter! I felt it important to add this bit in because well... I like this bit. I like it a lot and I hope you do too! ENJOY!
THE INFERNO
After a long grueling training session with his grandfather and the uncharacteristic brawl with his sister, Jin found himself being bandaged by the deeply apologetic Kazue. He tried telling her that he was fine but she kept insisting on tending his wounds. The younger sibling sat quietly as she cleaned the scrapes and scratches while muttering 'I'm so sorry' every time she patted a cut with alcohol.
Once she was finished, Jin grabbed his sister's hand and held it for a moment before looking her in the eye and smiling.
"It's okay, you know? There's nothing you can do that would make me angry with you or make me turn my back on you," He replied gently. The young man held Kazue in such a high regard - he adored her and had such profound affection for his sister. She was all he had when he actually thought about it - the only thing left from their quiet life in Yakushima with their mother.
The older sibling stared wide eyed at the younger for a moment not sure how to react to his words.
"Beat me up all you want Kazue, I'm never leaving your side. We have to stick together anyway... we promised mother..." His voice slowly veered off, becoming inaudible as he released his hold on Kazue's hand.
The older Kazama smiled somberly patting her little brother's hair. She knew the mere thought of their mother would always send him into a deep sadness – something she hated seeing.
"Thank you Jin. I'm not going anywhere anytime soon alright? Don't you worry," Kazue said, trying to comfort her brother. She patted his shoulder - and then set about cleaning up the first aid mess she had made.
Jin continued to sit in silence watching absently as his sister busied herself with putting away the alcohol and bandages. Try as he might. the young man couldn't take his mind off his mother and the final images he had of that night – the last time he saw her alive.
Growing tired and agitated with the constant flashes of Kazama Jun's last stand, Kazama Jin stood up, releasing an exasperated sigh. Kazue looked up from her busy work and immediately knew what was bothering her brother, but before she could speak he muttered that he was going to bed then headed to his room.
"Sleep well Jin. I'm sorry... for everything." She mumbled, finishing up and heading to her own room for the night.
XxxX
The youngest Kazama began his bedtime ritual of brushing his teeth, changing, then turning down the blankets for sleep. The Japanese youth sat on the edge of his bed as he set his alarm, making sure to be up early for his training. Once he was finished, he laid down.
Falling asleep wasn't an easy task for Jin - his mind was constantly filled to the brim with racing thoughts and sudden memories demanding to be acknowledged. It often kept him awake until the wee morning hours just before it was time for his training to begin. To say Kazama Jin had sleeping issues wouldn't be enough. No, it was combination of several things that kept his mind active – insomnia was the result.
When his eyes finally grew heavy and he could feel that sleep was approaching - Jin welcomed the darkness, hoping it would silence the intrusive thoughts.
X
The sounds of joyous laughter could be heard ringing all around. It brought a smile to the dark-haired youth's face as he turned around to see the two people he cherished most in his life. His mother and sister sat in a field of white and yellow flowers. The young mother looked at her son with such adoration while she braided flowers in her daughter's hair.
"Come sit with us Jin!" she called out to her son.
Jin smiled brightly at his mother, who laughed as his sister took a flower and held the stem under her nose.
"Jin!" Kazue giggled while wiggling her nose - with the flower firmly held in place.
Chuckling quietly to himself, the Japanese youth began to make his way over to his mother and sister. He started walking and then began a slight jog through the morning field – but something wasn't right. He wasn't closing any distance, he wasn't getting nearer.
This sent a wave of crushing fear through the younger Kazama as he finally began a full run to try to reach his family.
"Mama! Kazue! Wait!" He shouted desperately, reaching out in hope he would draw nearer - but it was as if he was running in place.
He kept pushing forward, trying to break the seemingly never-ending distance until something caught his eye. A shadowed figure, an ominous specter looming in the background just behind the serenity of his mother and sister. It was completely blacked-out in its silhouette, with what seemed to be bird's wings erupting from its back.
It horrified Jin to see the fiend looming over them - and he was worried that the specter would try to harm them. The Japanese youth tried running again, shouting for his mother and sister to get to safety – but all that answered back was mocking laughter as the field went up in flames.
Kazama Jin now found himself standing in a charred burning prairie with the silhouetted figured across from him – his mother and sister nowhere to be found. He could feel its blackened eyes staring deep into his soul, his very essence of being - and it made his blood run ice cold.
"Who are you? What do you want?" Jin questioned the shadowed figure, demanding to know what its intent was - but all the Japanese youth got in response was laughter. Its sinister cackle echoed everywhere, bouncing off unseen walls, mocking Kazama Jin.
"You'll find out soon enough..." the figure replied as two glowing red eyes opened - contrasting with the effigy's darkened profile.
The younger Kazama could only let out a silent scream as the shadowed being reached out for him.
X
Jin shot upright in his bed - his breathing ragged with sweat dripping from his forehead. His eyes were wide with fear as he tried to calm himself down enough to form rational thought. Yet no matter how he tried to piece his mind together, the dream still felt all too real. His body felt as though it was ablaze – as if the heat of the sun that had shone down on him was real. It was as if he stood in the field of flowers, watching everything turn to charred ruin. For just a second he struggled to put everything into perspective. That place – it didn't feel like an illusion.
The happiness was real, his mother was real, and the flowers she braided into Kazue's hair was real. It was REAL and so was the silhouetted figure.
The Japanese youth yanked the covers from his body and rushed into his bathroom, heading directly to the toilet. He grasped the porcelain and began to heave violently - expelling everything, he had taken in for nourishment.
Once his body calmed, the youth slumped down onto the floor, pressing his back against the cool wall. His focus quickly slid back toward his nightmare. It baffled him, how could a dream feel so intensely real? What bothered him even more was the specter telling him he'd 'find out what it was soon enough' - and how it felt when the being reached out for him. Jin could have sworn he felt the dark creature reach into his chest, latching its grip firmly on his heart - causing it to sear with unspeakable and unimaginable pain.
He couldn't understand it, he couldn't wrap his mind around it - but whatever it was, Kazama Jin knew it was an omen – one he decided to ignore.
The Japanese youth slowly picked himself up from the floor and walked over to the sink. Turning the faucet letting the cool water run before cupping his hands and splashing some over his face.
"It was just a dream." He mumbled to himself, trying to ease the tension he felt before training was to begin. Jin kept repeating those words like a holy mantra, staring at his reflection in the mirror until he convinced himself. There was little time left to reflect. It was time to start his day.
~XxX~
