Chapter Summary: Akira travels to England after hearing about her father winding up in hospital after he was attacked, and she meets a mysterious boxer…
Disclaimer: I do not own Tekken but I do own my OCs and plot. If you steal, be prepared to suffer.
Chapter Warnings: None really this time, again. Rating will go up after a few chapters or so.
Notes: Well, got my exam result and they aren't as good as I hoped so I'll have less time, meaning I won't be uploading as much
Extra Notes: I've started watching Junjou Romantica and Monochrome Factor and I love them both so much! Look out for possible "borrowing". Keep an eye on my account as well, I will be uploading stories on there they can't be posted onto .
Chapter 11 – Shattered World will up soon!
A Tekken Story: Through the Years
The art of war is simple enough. Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike him as hard as you can, and keep moving on
Ulysses S. Grant
Chapter 10 – Attacked
January 25th 2011
The worst day of my life…
I had finished school after my shift at work (I now worked at the Mishima High School Café which had opened a few weeks ago after a students came up with the idea for a student café on campus) and my stupid cell phone had died, which I was pissed about.
Ichigo hadn't been at school since the 'make-up incident', but I still phoned, texted and visited him whenever I could (the black-eye had faded, but Ichigo was forced to cut his hair since the dried paint was too stubborn to remove, so he now looked like Pai from the Tokyo Mew Mew manga and anime series with one plait on the side and the rest of his hair short). Satomi had returned from Chūō for her Rhythm Gymnastics tournament with 2nd place and Shin had somehow integrated himself into our group (at first, Ryo was pretty mad and annoyed, but he soon warmed up to him and they even hung out after school).
The minute I stepped onto the path leading up to my house, a dark, uneasy edged itself into my stomach, sending tremors into my heart. My feet picked themselves up without me realising, carrying me to my straight up to the front door. My hands were already reaching for my keys, but they were trembling as I slotted the key in the lock, my breath ragged.
What? What is it?
I shoved the door open after unlocking, throwing my bag in the corner and slipping off my shoes hurriedly into a scrambled heap, dashing through the genkan into the living room.
"Mom?"
The main light wasn't on so I could barely make anything out through the complete darkness. The whole house was eerily quiet and still, as if no-one habituated it. All the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end.
"Mom? Are you here?"
I quivered when I heard a whimper like an injured animal come from the sofa. I could see a form concealed by the shadows crumpled on the cushions.
"Mom?"
"Akira…,"
Mom's voice was cracked and thick, like she has been crying.
"Mom, what's the matter?" I stepped over to her and touched her shoulder.
"Oh, Akira…," Mom whined and started sobbing.
"Mom? Please, stop crying. Why are you upset?"
The dimness was obscuring me from seeing Mom's face properly, but I knew she had been crying for a long time. She sniffed and heaved herself up so she upright, so she was looking right at me.
"Akira, I just got a phone call…," she pushed out a heavy sigh,"…it's about your father,"
My heart sunk from her words.
No…
"H-He was locking up the dōjō when he was a-attacked…," Mom burst into heartfelt sobs again.
"W-What…?" Dismay hit me like a thunderbolt.
"He-He's in critical condition, or so the police told me…,"
The police?
"D-Dad…?" I tried to speak, but the words fell away from my tongue like oil.
Dad's been attacked…why? Is he alright? What should we do?
My father…my teacher…my most precious person to me…had been…?
I have to go; I have to be with him!
My fist tightened," Mom…I have to…be with him…,"
My fringe limped forward so it curtained my eyes and I couldn't see her reaction, but I knew she sat upright suddenly, her eyes widen, tears still falling from her eyes down her cheeks," Akira-chan, what do you mean?"
I didn't answer her. Like my body was on auto-pilot, I twisted around tightly and rushed out of the room, up the stairs and into my own room, grabbing the home phone on the way. As I tousled around my bedroom and crammed things into my gym bag, I ordered a plane ticket for the next flight to London using my University savings. Once I had stuffed everything I needed and I had ordered my ticket, I changed into more comfortable clothes and headed back downstairs, deciding who to call for a lift to the airport.
I could call Ryo and ask if Ai or Kinnosuke could drive me, but then Ryo would have to get involved, meaning he would become concerned and try to convince me to change my mind. Me nor my friends were old enough to drive yet.
Who could I ask?
Jin.
His name said aloud in my mind alarmed me, making me freeze mid-step on the stairs, my eyes expand slightly.
Why? Why Jin?
Well…could it be because he has a super-rich Grandfather with at least four limos and a driver?
Of course it is! Haha, I should stop being so stupid!
I dialled Jin's cell and waited, sitting down on the last step of the stairs, resting my bag on the floor. The dial tone sounded only twice before Jin picked up.
"Hello?"
That soft, velvet-like voice…why did my heart just skip a beat?
"Hey Jin, it's me,"
"Akira? What's wrong? Has something happened?"
I didn't realise that tears had been building up in my eyes until they smeared my vision. I tried to blink them away and tried to push the large, hard lump in my throat back down.
"Akira?"
"Jin…,"
My mouth was quivering. I was struggling to speak.
"J-Jin, something's happened…something's happened to my dad…,"
"What do you mean? Is he OK?"
"He was a-attacked…he's in the hospital…,"
"…I'm coming over,"
"No!" My heart was beating so fast I through it would burst at the thought of seeing Jin…letting him see me like this," Please…don't. I just need to ask you for a favour,"
"Of course. Anything,"
"Do you think…maybe…you could give me a ride to the airport?"
Jin's silence on the other end of the line seemed to stretch on forever and an eternity,"…Sure. I'll send a driver round as soon as possible,"
"Jin…thank-you,"
"It's the least I can do. I hope your father is alright,"
I hung up. I just couldn't, wouldn't…
I spent my time waiting for the limo to turn up cradling my head in my crossed arms, letting the cold tears ooze down my cheeks, damping my face and sleeves, choking back the silent sobs.
Then the doorbell rang.
I slung my bag over my shoulder, peering down the genkan for any signs of Mom, and opened the door.
"Jin?"
He was standing infront of me, dressed all in black, his eyes…vacant.
"I had to come and see you…," he was unable to look me in the eye,"…before you left,"
My legs shifted of their own accord and carried me towards him, towards his inviting arms which bounded me to his chest, his chin propped onto my head, his hands on my back pushing me closer and closer him.
"It will be OK…I promise,"
No…No, I can't…
I peeled myself away from his embrace, swiping my eyes quickly with the back of my arm so he could not see the forming tears," Thank-you…can I…ask you for another favour?"
Both his hands were clasping my shoulders, supportively," Of course,"
"Can you keep an eye on Mom for a little while? I don't mean stay here with her or anything…just until I get back…,"
His thumb brushed away the unshed tears settling on the corner of my eye," Sure, don't worry,"
"Thank-you," I whispered, squeezing my arms around his waist swiftly again before making my way out the front door, and not looking back.
Jet-lagged from an eleven-hour flight and the nine hour time difference, I stumbled out of the airport after claiming my bag and hailed a taxi.
Thank God I had paid attention in my English classes so I could speak the language alright. I told the driver the address of the hospital my father had been admitted to and hopped in when he nodded with clear understanding.
The driver dropped me off just in front of the hospital after a quiet journey, making me feel even more lonely on a completely different planet rather than a completely different country. I handed the driver his money, told him to keep the change and stared at the daunting building before me for a minute or so before walking in.
I asked at reception where my father was being treated, confirming that I was his daughter with my passport and took the elevator to the third floor.
I turned the corner and walked into Intensive Care, my skin prickling from the disturbing atmosphere. I peered around all the beds and walked up to a nurse who was jotting on a clipboard.
"Excuse me; I'm here for my father, Naoya Oshimaki. I was told he was on this floor," I asked.
"Ah yes," said the nurse and led me to the bed closest to the door at the opposite end of the corridor.
"Thanks,"
"No problem,"
I pulled the curtain away and inhaled a shocked breath at the sight before me.
Dad was lying on a nursing bed, an IV and bundles and bundles of wires snaking from his arm, an unusual stillness in the room, mixed with an unfamiliar beeping noise. He was still unconscious, both his eyes blackened, blossoming bruises and fine cuts ornamented his face and his exposed forearms.
"Tou-chan…," I whispered, renewed tears springing into my eyes.
I failed to notice the discontinue of oncoming footsteps coming from the doorway until I heard a voice with a foreign but clear British accent asked," Excuse me, but can I help you?"
I whirled around, not expecting anyone to be here, waiting at my dad's side, but the person I saw I did not expect at all.
It was a boy around my age and around Jin's height, with pale skin, platinum blonde hair slicked back and piercing eyes, almost as blue as a clear, summer sky, dressed in jeans, a purple cotton shirt and a brown leather jacket, holding a cup of coffee in his hand.
"I…um…," I treaded into the room, closer to Dad, making me feel safer, protected," I am Naoya's oldest daughter, Akira. Who are you?"
"Oh, I'm sorry," he glanced at my comatose-rendered father before looking back at me," My name is Steve Fox, I'm a student of Naoya's,"
My brow furrowed," You are a student of my father's…a fighter?"
Steve nodded," Yes. Your father has been teaching me boxing for the last six months,"
I fixed my eyes on Dad," I see,"
"I take it that the police got in touch with you?" Steve took hold of the chair on the far side of the room and placed infront of me, right next to my dad.
"Thank-you," I lowered myself into the offered chair and dumped my bag a little bit under the bed," They got in touch with my mother, and I guess she tried to phone me while I was at school, but my cell phone died, so…,"
"You got on a plane straight here?" Steve dragged another chair over and sat opposite me.
I nodded and glanced at my watch. That was over twelve hours ago…
Steve smiled kindly at me, keeping his eyes on me," Naoya talked a lot about you, you know…he talked a lot about his family, but mainly about you. His martial arts daughter…,"
My cheeks flared red and my hands tightened on my lap," R-Really?"
He nodded and chuckled casually under his breath," He spoke very proudly of you…it was very heart-warming,"
I had no idea. Dad was the type of person who preferred to keep his feelings bottled up and never exposing them as a sign of weakness. When we trained together, Dad would always give me a report at the end – what I did well, what I didn't do well, what he thought I needed to improve – but no out-right praise that Steve had just spoken about.
Ironic to be told by a stranger.
"U-Um, have you been here long? At the hospital, I mean," I uttered, clueless on what else we could talk about.
"I was contacted when he arrived at the hospital. I've been at his side since," he leaned back against his chair, fingers laced together and poised on his lap, his chin digging into the centre of his chest.
"I-I see. Thank-you for being here for him," I was relieved. The thought of Dad being alone, unconscious in another country, it made my stomach churn.
It was getting late so I only stayed for a few hours with Steve in the silence, waiting and praying, before I decided that I needed a shower and sleep.
"Do you have a place to stay?" Steve rose to his feet as I did the same, picking up my bag," We have a guest room if not, I'm sure my parents wouldn't mind,"
I smiled at the kindness of a stranger," Thank-you, but do not worry. My father gave me a copy of the key to his flat above the dōjō, so I will stay there,"
"If you're sure,"
"Yes. Thank-you anyway,"
I felt the hospital, treading on alien soil, praying to the great Kami-sama that in the next few days, my father would open his eyes and we would be on plane back home, together.