BACK AGAIN, EVERYONE! DID YOU MISS ME? BEEN WORKING ON YOUTUBE, COLLEGE, AND OTHER STUFF RECENTLY. GONNA TAKE A BREAK ON MY BOOK UNTIL I GET THE MONEY TO PATENT IT. UNTIL THEN, IM GONNA KEEP WORKING ON RIVALS. THIS MIGHT BE THE LAST FILLER CHAPTER OF THE FIRST ACT. I DON'T KNOW YET! ENJOY!

GET READY FOR THE NEXT BATTLE!

Josie Rizal took off her t-shirt, revealing her red bra, "Oh man, I really blew it this time. And not in the way I would've liked."

Asuka Kazama lay on her hotel bed, chewing on a piece of caramel, "It's fine, Josie. Boys are overrated anyway."

The Filipino slid off her skirt, revealing matching briefs, "You only say that because Stevie got to beat you up." The girl began to blush, "Lucky."

Asuka looked over at the girl, "I don't kink shame, but I can't quite understand how getting hit in the face makes your lips quiver." The President shook her head, "In other news, did you ever get a glimpse at that chick in the hat?"

Rizal shrugged, "Nope. As soon as I woke up, I sprinted to the van. Do you think someone is stalking us?"

"If they are, it's likely they were from Halo Initiative. Which is why I challenged Steve to a fight in front of all those students. Feng probably doesn't want his operations publicized, so chances are that he'll most likely at least be watching the exhibition closely when it arrives in a couple of days. He's already stolen from me and attempted to murder both me and…" she hesitated, "…Lili…" Asuka shifted on the bed, her blue pajamas adjusting along with her frame, "…If someone from the media caught hold of Halo's schemes, he'd be in trouble."

Josie snapped her fingers, her white nightgown sparkling along with her bright grin, "Oh, I get it now! With Feng distracted, Delta Team can focus on getting that Mock Gene for you!"

Asuka nodded, "Right. This can work out as long as everyone does what they need to do. That means your fish-loving boss and my crazy-haired cousin need to keep their acts together."

Josie knelt down to rummage into the mini-fridge, "I'm sure Commander Mishima and Commander Alexanderson have good intentions."

Kazama shook her head, "That's what I'm afraid of." Asuka turned on the television, revealing a news anchor that had just started her report.

"In other news, Jin Kazama – former CEO of the Mishima Zaibatsu was seen today in what appeared to be his "Devil" form. This form was used also by his father months prior just before his father Heihachi Mishima's disappearance. Many of our journalists believe that Heihachi is finally gone this time, though some of us are still speculating over this. With the Mishima Zaibatsu gone, and Jin now on thinner ice than before, what lies in store for the rest of the Mishima family. Some officers question the integrity of Lars Alexanderson: Co-Commander of the Tekken Force Private Militia.

Asuka rubbed her forehead, a tired look on her face as the news lady continued, "The Commander states that his partnership with Kazama Organization is proof that his ties with the Mishima Zaibatsu are far behind him, and he'll be dealing with Jin's outburst personally once he's back home in New Baltimore. Currently he is staying in a San Francisco hospital, recovering from his fight with fellow squad members."

Josie smiled, "Well, at least Beta Team is together. Are you planning on letting them rest, or did were you going to send them to do something else?"

Kazama turned the television volume down, "They can rest for now. I can't have Jin earning strikes so quickly like this. They might start questioning me or something. The last thing I need is the police thinking I have the Devil Gene too."

Rizal opened a can of diet soda, "Well…do you?"

Asuka shook her head, "I can't have the Devil Gene. I don't have the Devil's Mark," she revealed her right arm, "See? Nothing."

"Are you sure that's a trait you have to have? I forget who got the Devil Gene firsthand. Was it Jinpachi?"

The President shook her head once more, "No. I assumed Jinpachi had, much like everyone else. It was a spirit. A vengeful one seeking retribution." Kazama walked over to the window, peering out at the night sky, "Though, I've been theorizing something: What if the vengeful spirit was a Devil Parasite?"

"Devil Parasite?"

Asuka nodded, "Violet had talked to me a bit while you were in the shower. I asked him if he already knew how the Devil Gene – or Devil Parasite – worked. He told me that he did, and that it was one of the reasons Heihachi disowned him after the earlier tournaments. The Devil Parasite isn't simply a genetic trait. It's something that stays dormant in the host's body until the natural will of the holder is broken. For example, if you're thrown off a cliff at five years old or shot in the back of the head with a pistol."

"That seemed very specific." Josie scratched her head.

Asuka snapped her fingers, "Stay with me, Lieutenant. At that point, the brain is incredibly weak and prone to lowering the person's overall defenses. That's when the Parasite starts to take over. Sometimes fully – like with Kazuya. Sometimes partially – like with Jin. And sometimes, the host gives into the power and can turn the transformation on and off – like with Kazumi and the Hachijo Clan."

Josie folded her arms, "This all really confusing. I'll just assume you know what you're talking about. You are a higher rank after all."

Asuka scoffed, "It's not like I wanted to. I had to read up on the dossiers of all my employees beforehand, so I learned quite a bit about the Mishimas in the last week or so."

Rizal sipped more of her soda, "Is Lili still doing okay?"

"Still in a fucking coma, if that counts as okay to you," Asuka covered her face, "Sorry, that was uncalled for. It's not like you blew her up."

Josie sniffled, tears already flowing from her ducts, "N-no, that was insensitive. I'm sorry, senpai."

Asuka panicked and turned around, waving her hands, "No, no! It's okay, really! Umm, please don't cry!"

Rizal started bawling, "I'm a bad Lieutenant! I should've just stayed in the Philippines! I just mess everything up!"

Kazama pounded at her temples. What would fix this? What could make Josie laugh? She searched the room and her eyes landed on the bed. There was a couple of pillows laying there, which gave her an idea. Asuka picked up the pillow and tossed it at Josie's face, the latter ceasing her waterworks immediately.

Josie watched Asuka as she picked the other one up and held it at the ready, "Just gonna stand there, dummy? Or are you ready to catch these hands?"

Rizal looked down at her own weapon, then up at Asuka who charged at her. Josie smirked and picked up the pillow, shielding her face with it. Asuka smacked her once, which was blocked. Josie found an opening and attacked, feathers flying in the air. Asuka then retaliated, smacking Josie in the breasts.

"Hey, those are sensitive!" Josie returned the favor.

Asuka stuck her tongue out, "Wrong pillows, stupid!" They both continued hitting each other as the filling flew in all directions. Josie jumped onto her bed, missing Asuka's downward swipe. The Filipino's gown rose dramatically, which Asuka catcalled in response to.

"I see London, I see France!" Kazama also jumped onto the bed.

Josie blushed and looked at Asuka's pajama bottoms, seeing her chance at revenge, "Oh yeah, Prez? Well two can play at that game!" Rizal smacked the pillow against Kazama with enough force to knock the pillow from her hand. She then wiggled her fingers and grabbed Asuka's pajama pants down around her ankles and pushed her off the bed.

Asuka cried out but could help snickering, "Hey, what's the matter with you!? I could've been going commando!"

Josie cackled triumphantly, "I am the queen of the hill! Bow before me, peasant of the blue and white stripes!"

Kazama playfully bowed, "You have bested, great queen! You are the champion of pillow fights! Long live the queen!" When she looked up, Josie had pounced on her, causing both of them to laugh, their underwear exposed to the warm air.

Asuka took a deep breath, "That's the happiest I've been in a while."

Josie rolled her eyes, "Oh, come on. Doesn't Howie make you happy?"

Kazama was about to say something, but then looked around to see if anyone was listening, "If I tell you, you have to keep it a secret."

Rizal saluted her higher-up, "If I say anything, feel free to fire me. My lips are sealed!"

"Well…I suppose…he isn't exactly ugly…"

Josie squealed in Asuka's ear, causing the latter to cover them as she sat up, "I knew it! You do like him! I was right!"

Asuka covered her mouth, "I didn't say all that, dummy! And shush, we don't know how thick these walls are!"

"Oh relax. I think Hwoarang is taking a shower. He can't hear us." Josie stretched her arms, readjusting her gown and held onto Asuka's pajama pants that Asuka began reaching for.

The President pouted, "Hey, gimme those! My legs are cold!"

Josie stuck her tongue out, "Nope, loser! You don't get them back until I, the champion of the pillow fight, lets you have them. I'm the queen, remember? Besides, we're not done talking about boys yet!"

"How so? I already said Hwoarang was…cute…And you already fawned over the idea of Steve beating your face in. What else is there to say?"

"Well, what do you think of your cousin, Jin?"

Asuka pressed her fingers together, "I-I have no idea what you're talking about. He's my cousin. That's all there is to it."

Rizal winked, "C'mon, Asuka. I've studied Japanese culture before. Incest isn't a crime there. That's why it's depicted so often in media – because it isn't a big deal. If you like him, I'm not gonna shun you just because we're in America. Hell, in the Philippines, it's the same way. I'm not sure about South Korea, though."

Asuka shook her head, "Look, if you're asking me if I'd smash, then maybe. But he's a prick and Xiaoyu already has his eyes set on him. I wouldn't even think of getting in the way of that."

Josie sighed, "Yeah, Jin's pretty cute. Though he can be a bit of a butthole." She looked at Asuka and took her shoulder, the latter looking up in surprise, "Hey Asuka...Are we friends…?"

"Josie…" Asuka was taken aback.

"I ask this because, well. I look up to you. Lars and Kuma are great leaders…But they aren't my friends. And now that I'm stationed here in the States, I don't get to see my old buddies all that much. And most of them were kids anyway. Yet with you, I feel like we might be able to get along…I know I can never replace Lili, but I don't like it when you mope around the way you have been. You have such a beautiful smile."

Asuka smirked, her face red, "Gee. Hwoarang might have some competition the way you're flattering me tonight."

Josie smiled as well, "So…are we friends?"

Kazama pushed her in the shoulder, "I wouldn't have let you pants me like that if we weren't!"

Rizal's eyes widened, tears beginning to flow again, "R-Really…? I'm so happy!"

Asuka smacked herself in the head, "Not again!" Both girls jumped when they heard a knock at the door. The President sighed and stood, forgetting about her lack of pants.

"Who is it…?" Asuka's eyes went straight for Hwoarang's chest, the latter holding a towel around his waist.

"I can hear-" He looked at Asuka and noticed her line of sight, taking her chin and pushing it upwards so that Kazama was now looking in his eyes, "I can hear you two all the way in my bathroom. Could you both go to sleep already?"

Asuka searched for words, her eyes darting back down to her Treasurer's chest, then back up at him, "Umm, sorry about that. We'll head to bed soon."

"Asuka?"

"Yeah Howie – I mean, yeah?"

"Where are your pants?"

Kazama mentally made a note to drown herself in bleach after the man left. She totally forgot about that and felt air rush against her bare legs. She attempted to cover herself, but was instantly assaulted by Josie, who wrapped the girl's pajama pants over her face.

"Here they are!" Josie yelled.

Asuka panicked, not immediately realizing what was happening and flailed her arms a bit, knocking Hwoarang away. She then lost her balance and fell forward, hitting a wall. Seeing stars, the President fell down and landed on something solid. Asuka pulled the pajamas off her face and instantly looked back at Josie, "You idiot, you made me think I was getting kidnapped or something! I could've died!"

Josie covered her mouth, her face red, "Umm, Asuka, I think you might want to look in front of you."

Kazama whimpered, something hitting her in her front. She kept doing so, not wanting to look at the man she landed on. Slowly, she turned, noticing the towel on the ground. She kept turning and finally landed her sights on Hwoarang, who was sitting before her with a flustered look on his face.

The Treasurer coughed, "You're kinda heavy…"

Asuka was frozen, every fiber of her being telling her not to look down.

She did anyway.

Asuka immediately regretted it, "Well, looks like you weren't lying…" She looked up at him, "Not bad…"

Hwoarang looked around, noticing others in the hotel had come out to see what the commotion was about, "So, you wanna take this to my room or yours?"

Asuka lied through her teeth, "Actually, I'd rather just slit my own throat."

They both looked up to see a young blonde man with a German accent walk up to them, a bag of groceries in his right hand, and an apple in his left. He took a large bite out of the fruit, then turned around, walking in the other direction, "Weird, weird Japan..."