Chapter 9

Dilemma and a Psychic

For a very long time, Karen continued staring at Ann with horrified eyes. Mitchel simply looked at the two girls curiously, not sure of what the aspiring reporter said. And all this time, Gotz simply stared out into the distance with an elbow raised.

Eventually, Karen took a step back and blinked a little.

"Wait… you're actually serious? Gotz is supposed to be my father?" Karen checked.

Ann nodded again slowly.

The rich blonde stared at Ann for a little while longer until she unleashed a fit of laughter.

"Oh, Goddess! That's got to be the cheesiest thing ever! Honestly! This guy? My father?! Next you're going to tell me you're really my half-sister or something, right?"

"Uh, no…. we're not related at all. But I checked all my sources. Unfortunatley, you're Gotz' illegitimate child, missy. Sorry to say." Ann frowned.

Karen managed to ease her laughter after awhile.

"No, no. You don't get it. My biological dad is Jeff Masters, a Japanese American with two immigrant parents. And as questionable as her teen years were, Mom isn't the type to be whoring herself in Japan, trust me. I got the papers, the blood samples, and the DNA tests to prove my blood heritage to the Masters name." Karen explained casually.

Ann sighed. "Don't you think a conglomerate as powerful as your family's would have the right amount of influence and power to override any "official" records of illegitimacy and all that? I'm sure it's a common practice among business types who are trying to cut down on potential scandal."

She then turned towards the demonic fighter.

"And YOU! I'm pretty sure you would remember shacking it up with an older version of this hot blonde, right?" Ann shouted while shoving Karen in front of her.

"HEY!"

Gotz replied with a coy gaze.

"The path I walk… is one I walk alone…" Gotz answered solemly.

Ann then pushed Karen aside and proceeded to march towards her potential scoop with little fear.

"Oh, come on! You're just being in denial! Even a guy like you develops "needs", "cravings", and stuff like that! What, did you do the trees to satisfy yourself? Just admit it! You got horny, did Karen's Mom, and she gave birth when you left her because you couldn't handle the idea of raising a child with your Martial Arts Obsession! " Ann concluded.

Gotz shot the reporter an even colder stare.

"Begone, delusional one. I desire only the thrill of battle, and you cannot satisfy me." He growled.

"Oh give me a break!" Ann gripped.

While Ann continued her rant-fest, Karen reached to the side of her gi and took out a cell phone.

"You got a plan to clear up the confusion?" Mitchel asked.

"Oh hell yeah… I don't know what's going on, but I'm making sure I get to the bottom of this. I'm calling some people…" Karen answered.

"Er… who exactly?" Mitchel wondered.

"My parents… and a psychic. I don't trust those lie-detector thingies since there are murderers out there who can tell any lie like it's truth, so I'm calling in a reputed aura-reader to help get the whole truth!" Karen explained.

Mitchel sighed.

"That's going to take up almost another day to get them here, isn't?"

Karen nodded and groaned.

"Well, yes… unfortunately. But I'd rather know what's up first before I beat the stuffing out of that guy. Of course, if he happens to be my biological father, it's going to be a little awkward at first, but at least I get the bonus of ripping to shreds a bastard that raped Mom!"

Mitchel gave her a coy look.

"Okay then…"

"Still, that doesn't quite answer how we'll sustain ourselves until then. Pizza companies don't have all convenient methods of transportation like my family does… and I doubt they'll deliver out here where it can get a little dangerous." Karen said with concern.

"I have plenty of sashimi in the cave." Gotz' dark voice announced.

Both fighters turned towards their archenemy while Ann looked miffed at being cut off from her excessive accounts of research.

"Are you serious? You're offering us food?" Mitchel asked dubiously.

Gotz sighed and tapped his foot.

"Well, as much of a fool he was, you are my brother's disciples… and probably the best chance I have at a worthy fight for a long time. And I can't have that chance impaired by malnourishment so--"

"Okay, we'll take you up on that meal when we get hungry." Karen interrupted.

Gotz nodded.

"Make sure to come eat it before it gets spoiled then…" Gotz warned.

After that, the demonic fighter then went out towards the wilderness to do some more training.

"So… you think the guy's a decent cook?" Mitchel asked.

Karen shrugged.

"I don't know but they say sashimi made by non-poisonous tropical fish are supposed to be one of the best, so it could be good." She believed.

"Well, I'm not hungry right now. Wanna spar or something? We can't let Gotz pull ahead of us in experience even further when we haven't even quite reached his level yet." Mitchel proposed.

"Sure… we haven't fought each other since you got to Japan. The best workout I got was with your fan girl, but that's been awhile now. Have at it, Mitch!" Karen grinned.

After the two disciples began sparring, Ann eventually got over her slump and decided to go explore the island for more photo opportunities and fight off boredom.

--

A day later, the four inhabitants suddenly heard the whirling of a helicopter while they hung out by the cave. After the copter finally landed by the shore, two people left the cockpit and made their way through the island.

Soon enough, the pair found themselves at the cave, and the whole party met each other with relief.

One of the visitors was a middle aged man with neatly trimmed black hair, a pair of beady eyes, and a rather small moustache. He was dressed in a very nice black suit with a sparkling sheen.

The other was a younger woman with fluffy blonde hair fixed in a ponytail, and observant ruby eyes. She wore a flowing red gown that started barely below her chest area and down to her ankle over a white, sleeveless turtleneck sweater. She also carried around a long, yellow shawl that exuded a mysterious power.

Before the heartwarming union could take place, Ann took a glance at the haughty blonde woman, then another one at Karen, and back at the woman again. After a wry glare, the aspiring reporter calmly walked up to her rich companion.

"Wait, that's your Mom? The dignified and brilliant Sasha Silk-Masters with a few prominent businesses under he belt? But isn't she dressed a tad… inappropriate?" Ann inquired.

Karen shoved the girl aside with slight agitation.

"No… that's the psychic I called over from Italy. She's this well-known fortune teller named Eve, and it's rumored that she taps into a special kind of aura called Soul Power to make her predictions. With her kind of insight, she should be able to see blood familial ties between people through their auras." Karen explained.

She then walked over to the man in the suit.

"But yeah… this guy for sure is my Dad, Jeff Masters."

She then rushed up and gave her father a hug.

"Hey Dad! Nice seeing you again!" Karen smiled.

"Karen, honey! I'm pleased to see you again as well! When I heard you won the U.S. Martial Arts Tournament a little over a week ago, I was expecting to get a call from you bragging to your mother and I about the whole tournament, but I heard you left in a hurry! Was…. There something more important you had to take care of?" Jeff said.

"Oh, yeah… sorry for not coming home sooner. Actually, I came here to Japan so I could finally show that Master of mine that I'm not just a bag of hot air, but unfortunately, that guy with the creepy eyes decided to off him in a contest of strength." Karen explained while pointing at Gotz.

"Oh my! S-shouldn't you call the authorities on him or something?!" Jeff exclaimed.

"Yeah, sorry Dad, but things tend to work differently in the Martial Arts world. I feel honor-bound to take on this guy to avenge Shishou. Besides, I seriously think the cops and the FBI stand little chance against him. He's absurdly powerful, unafraid of death, and will kill you on the spot without even flinching." Karen mused.

Jeff gulped.

"You don't even think the Masters' Special Forces can handle him?" Jeff asked.

Karen nodded.

"Not even those mercenaries you hired to be my bodyguards when I was little. Seriously Dad, I'm an adult and a Champion in Martial Arts. And as both, it's my duty to beat the living snot out of murderous jerks who harm those close to me." Karen told her Dad.

"I…see…" Jeff answered reluctantly.

"Say Dad… where IS Mom, anyway? I thought I told you to bring her along for the ride, too!" Karen asked.

"Sorry, Karen. Sasha was busy having to clear up a few complications with a few corporate dealings so she had to stay behind. But she did promise that she'll have a big Welcoming Party ready and waiting should you decide to come back home for a visit." Jeff said.

"Oh, okay. Then… tell her I said hi, and that I might come over once I take care of a few more things with Mitch in Japan." Karen replied.

Meanwhile, Eve was eying Mitchel rather curiously.

"The aura you exude… it speaks to me." Eve said curiously.

The warrior in white stared at the fortune teller awkwardly.

"Are you trying to flirt with me or something?" he asked with his voice raised.

"Why do you say that?" Eve asked in a confused tone.

"It's just the look you're giving me. It's a bit on the sensual side and I'm feeling weirded out by it, you see." Mitch answered.

The haughty psychic stared blankly for a moment, and then turned her head to the side with pink cheeks.

"Er… sorry. My facial expressions naturally work that way. I didn't mean to look seductive or anything." She said in an apologetic tone.

"Okay… no problem." Mitchel answered casually.

"Still, that woman was definitely me out with that intense gaze of hers… what is about my aura that she sensed?" Mitchel thought with piqued curiosity.

He then turned his attention to the Father and Daughter pair.

"So then, why am I here on this exotic island, anyway? And why did I have to bring along that gypsy woman?" Jeff asked.

"Right… well, you see Dad, a snoopy reporter ended up putting her nose into potential Masters Family business. It seems there are rumors in the underground thinking that Gotz guy raped Mom and I'm their lack-of-love child. I figured you deserved to be here to help get everything straightened out along with Eve." Karen explained.

Jeff twitched.

"Wh-wh-what now? You? An illegitimate child? To that madman? But… that's impossible! I was there myself when I did… a few things necessary to trigger your birth… and Sasha assured me nothing terribly wrong happened to her in her youth! Besides, what about all those blood tests and DNA samples we used to assure your relation to us? Everything we've done assures us that you're my biological daughter with Sasha!" Jeff cried.

"Yeah, but Ann did make a good point of the results being faked or altered by Masters Family influence or some fearing outside source. I know it sounds like cheesy daytime soap crap, but she has a point. We're too prominent for our own good to trust generally "sure things", so I opted for a spiritual option." Karen argued.

Jeff sighed.

"I guess that Ann girl DOES have a point. In this case, that girl just might actually grow up to become an Ace Reporter! Oh, and I'm more than happy to go through this little psychic check up to clear things up! But if whatever reason you happen to be Gotz's biological daughter, well… I'll always love you as a father! And I promise not to divorce your mother." Jeff replied.

Once again, the father and daughter hugged each other, which prompted an "Awww…" response from everybody else. Except Gotz, because he couldn't care less about touching moments like this one.

After that familial exchange, Ann marched over to Eve with a miniature notepad and pen in hand.

"So, Miss Eve, is it? Was there any "interesting activity" going on between you and Mr. Masters on the way here? Maybe a little hanky panky to relieve the stress of the married man?" Ann inquired.

"No, of course not, Miss Reporter. As rich as the man is, Jeff just isn't my type. Honestly, despite my looks, I'm not the type to take advantage of a man and have my way with him. These clothes just feel really fitting for some reason." Eve scoffed.

Ann scoffed at contempt and disappointment.

"Aw! Oh come on! I figured I could get one more Masters Scandal story out of this with a sexpot in the picture!" she blatantly shouted.

"Hey Eve! How about we get through with the aura divination already?!" Karen cried.

"Sure, hun. But my ceremony requires a more enclosed space to keep away outside interference. You never know what wandering spirits and outside forces may influence my readings… especially in an island teeming with lost souls like this one. How about we head into that cave?" Eve said while pointing to Gotz's hangout cave.

"Okay! If that's what it takes, then the cave it is!" Karen agreed.

Gotz merely shrugged, then proceeded to lead everyone inside.

Apparently, its intimidating presence made Jeff wary.

".Are you sure the cave is safe? I know that there a few wild beasts roaming around parts of the island, but there's something about that cave that really unnerves me." Jeff confessed.

"Oh, don't worry! It's a pretty sweet hangout, actually! Gotz even has an entire horde of ancient treasure stashed in the cave and makes it all bright and sparkly! Don't know if he'll ever put it to use, though." Karen assured him.

"That's good… I guess. Then, even if you were Gotz's child, you'd still be well off if he accepted you as an heiress, huh?" Jeff pointed.

"I guess so… but only if the jerk was actually decent enough to consider leaving it to me." Karen answered with a hint of doubt.

Just when they reached the cave's entrance, the ruby-eyed fortune teller halted everybody.

"Wait…" Eve uttered aloud.

Everybody else except Gotz looked at her curiously.

"What… is it?" Ann asked.

"It seems Mr. Masters and I aren't the only ones who arrived on the island this day. I sense an intruder…" Eve proclaimed as her eyes shifted about.

"An intruder?!" Ann squealed.

"And I sense violent intent from this presence…" Eve warned.

"Okay, fine! Then let me take care of this SOB before we move on! I don't want him ruining the divination!" Karen declared.

"No, no. Let me handle this, Karen. I've been itching for a fight for the longest time, anyway." Mitchel insisted.

"What?! No way, Mitch! I called it first, so I get to beat the tar of this guy! It'll make a great warm-up before the Main Event!" Karen argued.

Mitchel then sighed and firmly placed his hands on his partner's shoulders.

"Karen, do you realize how many fights in a row you had without my involvement the moment we reached Japan? I didn't even lift a finger against that biker gang we came across on the walk to the harbor!" Mitchel complained.

"Wait a minute… I single-handedly took on a biker gang after that fight with your fan girl?" Karen asked.

"Uh, yeah. Don't you remember? But they were too weak-sauce for us to be considered a worthwhile fight. Heck, it's probably not even amusing enough to be written into a book retelling our journey!" Mitchel reminded her.

Karen blinked for a moment.

"Oooooh…" Karen uttered as she finally recalled the incident.

"So, yeah! I get this fight while the rest of you go inside the cave and find out who the heck is Karen's real Dad." Mitchel concluded.

The others shrugged and simply agreed to the World Champion's words.

"Have fun, Mitch! Just don't waste so much energy to have you pooped for the real fight! I want you in ready condition once the fight with Gotz is on!" Karen shouted.

Mitchel replied with a simple nod and wave before he separated from the group to seek out the intruder.

The young World Warrior didn't have to venture far before he heard rustling some nearby foliage.

"Alright, pal! I know you're out there, so show yourself! It's not use hiding!" Mitchel shouted.

Suddenly, a maniacal laugh echoed throughout the island. Soon after, a figure emerged from tall grasses.

Mitchel carefully scanned the guy and stared in shock.

"YOU!!"