IMPORTANT NOTE: I do not own anything
CHAPTER 12
Japan…
Kazama Family Shrine…
Two hours after their last stop, the two cousins found their way just outside their family's shrine. They were terrified in the thought of what was going to happen inside there. How they wished to be completely ignored? But no…Her father definitely told them that Jin was coming in his place and to make sure they treat him nicely. How come this boring guy attracts so much attention?
Jin placed both his car keys and cellphone inside his pants' pockets. He didn't take anything else with him…Oh…He left his wallet inside the car. Who cares? In the same time, Asuka frowned determinately and tightened her fists on her backbag's straps. That was it…No time to escape…They sighed in unison after looking at the ground and then back in front of them…
"We're here…" whispered Asuka…
"Let's wish ourselves luck." Said Jin crossing his arms. He just realized that he shouldn't have accepted his uncle's request. Asuka was right. He didn't ask him a favor…He just tricked him into it. He should have known sooner, when he arrived in Osaka to fetch Asuka. The man was there having his usual morning meditation…He gritted his teeth in anger. No, no…His uncle did that because he wanted to make him a part of their family again…Or at least that was what Jin wanted to believe to not make himself look like a complete moron…
Asuka rolled her eyes when she heard him… "Let's wish for them to pay us no attention. Drink the fucking tea and go back."
The two nodded at each other and walked to the double wooden door. The young girl raised hesitantly her fist and knocked calmly on the door. Jin raised an eyebrow… "Like they are gonna listen to this."
She slapped him at the back of his head… "That's the point, you moron." In the end, someone called him a "moron"… "We'll go back with no guilt and just say to my old man that they didn't open the door for us."
It was true that the Japanese man actually liked the idea. However, Asuka's newfound plan was crushed when the door opened widely…
…
A dark browned haired short woman appeared right in front of them. She was wearing a light blue kimono with pink cherry flowers at the edge of the sleeves. She bowed in a formal way making Asuka sick to her stomach. That brought up one of her childhood traumas. She remembered when some old women of her family were trying to teach her those tea ceremonies, flower arrangements and etc…Like hell…The only thing Asuka did back then was to break the tea set and stomp on the flowers. They tried and tried again but the young woman's situation was hopeless…Someone could say that it was just Asuka being stubborn or better that she had a stronger determination, which the members of the Kazama Family could not handle…
The woman raised her body and smiled at Asuka, who bit her upper lip… "Oh Asuka-san…You're here…" for a moment, she glanced at Jin and then back to the young woman… "And…with Jun's son."
"Uh…Right." That was the only thing she said and watched the woman in front of her stepping aside to let them walk inside…
"Come in, come in…We were all waiting for you."
The two sighed and thought in the same time… "That's what we were afraid of."
…
Inside the Kazama Family Shrine…
As they made their way inside the shrine, their family member excused herself for a moment telling them that she would be back shortly. It wasn't like they were particularly happy about it. Suddenly, Asuka remembered something and looked at Jin…
"Jun's son, eh?" she chuckled… "Things are way worse than I expected."
Seeing her expression, the man got irritated as he remembered how the other woman looked at him. Good thing Xiaoyu didn't come, since if she did…Well, that woman would have become the "welcomed carpet" of the Kazama Family Shrine…
"Tell me about it…" he punched lightly her shoulder… "And I have a name, by the way."
Asuka cursed under her breath and started rubbing the spot where she was hit… "Who gives a shit about that?"
For a moment, he opened his mouth trying to say something back to her. However, even himself realized the same thing…
"I noticed…No one…" he thought…
…
Soon enough, the same woman came back…
"Let's go further inside…" she said motioning for them to follow her… "We have already prepared your seats."
Asuka faked an excited grin while walking to her place with Jin being behind her some steps away… "We're coming, auntie!" she called her…The woman was left dumbfounded. She raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms…
"Actually, dear…We're cousins." She said being annoyed. Did she look that old?
The young Japanese woman placed her hand on her shoulder and giggled. She shouldn't have said anything. Just give a damned nod and play in safe mode… "R-Really? Come on…Hehe…I knew that…I was just joking." The woman didn't seem convinced and Asuka said again trying to use some flattery… "The kimono looks awesome on you."
"Idiot…You have to realize already that you're from the people, who is better to keep their mouth shut." Thought Jin covering his face with his hands…
A smile on the woman's red colored lips showed that she actually accepted the compliment. She extended her hand and grabbed Asuka's gently, who didn't know how to react… "Oh thanks! We all wear one…And as expected, I have prepared one for you, as well…Follow me, I'll help you put it on."
Asuka frowned when she heard that. She hated the idea of spending time with them…How did they think that she would want to spend time with them wearing a kimono? She pursed her lips trying to decline in a polite way… "No thanks…I definitely hate…I mean, I won't look good in that…so…"
However, what she heard next made her not being able to control it…
"But you have to."
These four words tingled inside her simple mind. Have to? Who did she think she was talking to? You were waiting for her? Then, make sure you know who you actually wait for. If they did, Asuka knew that she would be last on the list. That was something that she was going to make her very happy if it ever happened. Who knows? Being here today might give her a chance to be the new "black sheep" of their family…
With her other hand she grabbed tightly the woman's wrist and tightened it causing her to release her. The red color around the woman's wrist was the obvious proof of how much strength she placed in her grip. Hphm! As expected of the self-proclaimed heir of the Kazama Style Karate. Asuka knew she was the strongest of all…Well, until Jin was to give her a punch…It was true that he considered in proceeding with this a lot of times…But to hit a woman…well, she had the genitalia of one, at least…it would be an unforgivable act…
"Eh? H-Have to? You must be fucking kidding me." She thought… "Hphm! Good thing you released me already. You're still in danger, though…Make two steps away from me" the woman did as she was ordered. Asuka nodded to herself…She tightened her fists and said looking at the floor… "You have to know that I'm the violent type and making me do things I dislike is like bringing up my other side. In other words, if you don't want a beat up…You won't show that gross thing in front of me."
Jin rolled his eyes as he was listening to her… "It's not difficult to bring up your other side, since that's the usual one…Now, it's the time you're faking."
Suddenly, Asuka raised her head and looked at her right and left. Where did that woman go? She turned her head to face Jin, who stood there emotionless… "Hey, where did she go? I haven't stopped threatening her."
"Exactly…She was smart enough to make a run for it."
"Hphm…Chicken…" she mumbled irritated…
Jin smiled to himself and placed his hand on her shoulder… "Let it slide, ok? The faster we go in there, the faster we leave."
At first, she was silent…The rage she had inside of her and didn't know where to direct it…What was she supposed to do with it? And she wasn't that "sick" in starting taking photos…her kind of photos…of her relatives…Having a man of her taste to photograph would be such a nice stress reliever…But no…She was stuck here…In the end, she agreed with Jin and made their way inside…
…
Sometime later…
"But Jin…You don't look like us at all…" said a man, who was, actually, her father's second cousin…Talk about a big family…
For some time now, all of their relatives were trying to have a conversation with him. As it seemed they, indeed, wanted to welcome him back into the family. However, Asuka knew that it wasn't like he was happy about it. Maybe, he would bear it as a favor to his mother, who loved them so much…
"Isn't he just lucky?" said Asuka in a low voice making sure though that she was heard…
Jin cleared his throat. He didn't know in which question to answer first and which one to ignore "accidentally"…
"I've been said that I look like my father." He decided to say the truth. Even himself could tell this…
"Indeed…" they all agreed exchanging glances…
Asuka was surprised with what she just heard. Definitely not! And they all agree?! She raised her body and placed her hands on the table for support… "Huh!? Like hell he looks like his father!" she, then, pointed and looked at Jin… "Kazuya Mishima is hot, you're not."
"Is she really her father's daughter?" there were whispers between them but she wasn't bothered. Maybe, she should proceed with her plan. This was a good chance, wasn't it? A smirk crossed her lips and she tried to sip some of her tea…
"And anyway…" said the man, who was sitting opposite them in a loud voice to gain all of their attention. He pointed at both Jin and Asuka, who raised an eyebrow suspiciously. There's something fishy here… "We have to make the Kazama family stronger. Why don't you two marry each other?"
Their eyes widened in terror. What was that?! So sickening! Their faces turned blue and with the corner of her eye, Asuka could tell that Jin was shivering…Poor guy!
"That's why I hate tea. A few times when I decide to have some, always bad things happen." After this thought of hers she spit out the tea and threw the cup on the wall causing it to break. She smashed the wooden table with her fists creating some cracks…"At least, inform us whenever you're supposed to spout such a disgusting thing!" she grabbed Jin by the collar of his shirt, who stood there still lifeless… "Look at him! You just caused him a stroke. What am I gonna say to his girlfriend?" she released him… "And anyway, our family is already gross, why do we have to make it grosser?" Asuka shook her cousin on his shoulder… "You, Jin, say something, too."
"I'm way too frightened and appalled to say some something…I leave it to you." That was the only thing he managed to say in a low, almost like a whisper, tone in his voice
The same smirk as before returned on the young woman's lips… "Leave it to me, eh? I'll use my talent and make them think of us as two hopeless creatures, who doesn't deserve to bear the "sacred" Kazama name."
"Jin has a girlfriend?" said one of their other cousin's out of nowhere…
"Sure he does…And she has quite the personality…If that woman was gonna be here today…Truth to be told she wanted to come but…she understood the fact that it was a family meeting." She stopped for a moment and breathed out… "To get to the main point…You wouldn't like to meet her."
"Why?" they asked looking between each other…
Asuka sighed knowing the kind of person Xiaoyu is. Looks like, being a bitch like her comes in handy after all. She laughed in the inside after this thought of hers. "She's the kind of person that even aunt Jun wouldn't be able to "purify". She's the ultimate devil dressed in a pretty face." At least she admitted that she's pretty…
"Hey!" Suddenly, he regained his strength, after the mention of his girlfriend… "Be careful at how you talk about her."
"Shut it! I have to make them believe that she already doesn't think the best of us." She said at him in a low voice making sure the others didn't hear them…
"You said something that's true…" he mumbled and Asuka nodded…
Her attention took the woman, she was their aunt, who was sitting next to the old man, who made this "amazing" proposal… "And why is she with Jin?"
The young woman rolled her eyes and stood up trying to make Jin stand up, too…That guy…Why was he so heavy?
"Seriously, guys? Didn't you consider him an outcast just some time ago? Right?" she said and looked at all of them. She noticed as they were trying to find something to say…
"Well…"
Finally, she managed to make him stand up even though he was still wobbling…
"That's enough! Her name is Ling Xiaoyu and Jun's son likes her. End of story."
Their eyes widened… "But she's Chinese?"
Asuka's eyes widened as she was trying to support him… "So what?! He likes her…" For a moment, she blushed and touched her chest… "And for your information, I, also, have a boyfriend."
To her annoyance, Jin managed to reply here… "You have a what?"
She grabbed him from his ear and started walking to the exit… "Shut it! We're leaving."
…
Outside the Kazama Family Shrine…
As soon as, they exited the room where their family was sharing the tea, they started running through the exit. When they found themselves outside it felt like they were lighter. That came to an end…Phew…
They tried to catch their breath for a moment and, finally, they made their way to Jin's car…
"We did it!" shouted Asuka raising her arms in the air…
Noticing that Jin didn't say anything and was just walking, she frowned and punched his shoulder…
"I mean, I did…You were there just shivering, you useless idiot."
Jin's eyes widened as he remembered the whole thing… "But didn't you hear them?" he sighed… "I have to say that I really admired you back there."
Asuka nodded to herself when she spotted the car… "Well duh…" she glanced at him for a moment… "Let's go back now or else I'll start getting shivers, too."
Thanks for reading!
