Monday, less than one week before the Second Iron Fist Tournament that would begin Saturday...

Late in the evening after his work and his training with Wang Jinrei, Lee was coming back to his apartment. After getting out of the elevator, he suddenly noticed some letter in front of his door.

Please meet me at Toho Cinema Shibuya

-Hum... It's written in a not too good Japanese... The hiraganas are clumsily written, not fluid... So it's someone from elsewhere... or a child. Or a trap.

With all the late events, Lee had developed a small distrustful and paranoid side. It was not long ago that Kazuya had been victim of a murder attempt and Kazuya himself could try something on him as Wang warned him... He didn't seem so already, since Lee had been more quiet over his recriminations, waiting for the Tournament to change things, they kind of were getting along not too badly but Kazuya was sometimes so unpredictable... Beside he wouldn't warn him of some murder attempt if he wanted to kill him. And Kazuya had turned quite paranoid himself since the attack, and security had been increased a lot both at the office and at his mansion. Because not only could assassins try to come and kill him but there was also always that Manji Clan who still roamed around the Mishima Zaibatsu and their father who was somewhere, in fact Lee had no idea where Heihachi was now, but who could be dangerous anyway. Yet despite those dangers threatening both him and his brother, Lee had not completely lost his carefree side...

-Maybe it's a beautiful girl too shy to directly ask me out... Well, it doesn't cost anything to go take a look... I'm not supposed to date for now, I'm not even supposed to go out this late but... I'll just go take a look. The person didn't specify any hour, maybe she's not even there anymore but whatever...

So Lee took his car and drove to the cinema. Once there, he wandered around, trying to notice any person who could be looking for him.

-I hope the person manifest herself soon because I want to go to sleep... Maybe I shouldn't have come, I work early tomorrow... It's probably a joke...

Deciding to wait a little more, seeing if anyone would manifest himself or herself before he would leave, Lee took a cigarette from his wallet and put it to his mouth. Lee knew it was a bad habit, Wang scolded him about it, even his father scolded him over this (probably more for the heck of scolding him than for any actual concern for his health though), Kazuya told him he stank but whatever, he had a lot of bad habits, it was no big deal... and he was trying to stop but just needed it sometimes... But before Lee could light his cigarette, a blond woman approached him and tapped his shoulder.

-Hi, Lee Chaolan. I'm sorry but I need to speak to you...

Lee turned around. It was indeed a beautiful girl but despite her blond hair, Lee recognized her straightaway: Michelle Chang. She was still wearing a wig.

-Michelle Chang? What are you doing here?

-Please follow me over there. It'll be more discreet.

Michelle led him to a discreet corner where they could speak more freely. She then began to talk:

-I had to look for your address in the phone book but I finally found you. I guess there are not too many Lee Chaolan around Tokyo...

-Indeed. I'm the one and only yours truly.

Lee slightly bowed to her before he asked:

-But what is it? What are you doing in Japan? And disguised?

Michelle looked troubled and said:

-I'm sorry but you are somehow the only one I can count on... You helped me last time without asking anything in return, so I trust you.

-Count on for what? Does it have anything to do with the amulet? It's been stolen or something?

-Far worse. You don't know what happened to my mother? Are you still working for them?

Lee gazed at her with a worried expression: Had madam Chang been murdered like her husband?

-Something happened to her?

-The Mishima Zaibatsu captured her. They want me to fight in the Tournament for the amulet... The new boss, Kazuya Mishima, said he wanted to win it fairly and confront me for it but they captured my mother to force me to come...

Lee was angry: So his evil brother kept abducting people... Lee had let his father do many crimes out of respect he previously felt he owed him but Kazuya did not deserve that respect. Lee still somehow considered that, despite being the eldest and the real Mishima, Kazuya had usurped the 'throne' from him, mostly now that he had a supporter on his side in the person of Wang Jinrei... And if it was to only do crimes as worse or even more than Heihachi's... Kazuya didn't deserve the Mishima Zaibatsu at all... Still troubled by everything happening to her and her mother, Michelle added:

-I don't have much freedom either. He forced me to take a room in one of the Mishima Hotels so I can't be out for too long without anyone knowing. That's why I disguised myself once more to try to meet you. Don't worry, I really checked to see if I was not followed... and put my wig only later of course...

Lee was so exasperated right now at his brother's incessant evil deeds... Unlike their father, who sometimes committed crimes, Kazuya never seemed to stop... It somehow seemed to be his main motivation... It seemed he really was possessed... Lee had tried to undo the damage done to the Changs as much as he could and Kazuya was now destroying all this... Knowing Kazuya, he could kill madam Chang anytime, that Michelle participated in the Tournament or not. He was as bad as their father and even worse... Maybe he should really have died with that murder attempt...

Lee thought he should be more active in trying to overthrow his brother... Yet that Tournament may change everything, so Lee didn't want to spoil everything either by getting caught for treason and incriminating himself before the Tournament... Yet maybe he should arrange for something should he lose the Tournament... Nothing was assured, with how he was beaten last time, Kazuya was maybe really stronger than him... Maybe he had to somehow wrestle the Mishima Zaibatsu legally from his brother, but again he did corrupt himself by accepting that job at the Mishima Heavy Industries... He could not use the legal way while not incriminating himself as well... Lee regretted once more to not have won the first Tournament... He should have had the Mishima Zaibatsu... Yet despite all that revolt he had inside, he answered on a calm tone:

-I didn't know about all this. But I'll help you. Yet let's do it safely, you do as he asks, participate in the fights as long as you can...

Michelle interrupted him and said on a slightly nervous tone:

-It may not be for very long. With my wound last time, I fear I won't be able to offer much challenge and I fear Kazuya Mishima will then hurt my mother since he said he wanted a challenge...

-We'll act fast. I'll try to find where your mother is to try to free her. I still work there so I can access the computers. I'll try to do it very discreetly...

-So you will help me? asked Michelle who seemed relieved by his answer. She really didn't know anyone else around here... She really felt lost and powerless... Just the fact to know that she was not alone anymore gave her much courage and the strength to go on.

Lee had helped Michelle flee Japan last time and he would not let her or her mother be harmed as well now. He reassuringly smiled to Michelle and said:

-Yes. Everything will be okay. Do not worry. So just keep a low profile and do as he asks, prepare for the Tournament. I'll try to contact you if I find something on your mother.

-We should decide for some rendez-vous spot. To meet or to simply leave some notes to the other since I don't think we will always be able to meet.

-Excellent idea!

And quickly deciding for a meeting point, as discreetly as they met, they discreetly left each other.

The next day, late at night, still at the Mishima Zaibatsu office, Lee was trying to access the computer network from his desk. Appart from the many guards patrolling, almost no one was at the office and with the ton of work Kazuya gave him, Lee was used to often work alone that late, so he didn't look suspicious to the security guards... Luckily, he didn't leave his job at the Zaibatsu this week as he thought to do... Having paid his whole rent, debts and all for the month, he could now afford to do so if he didn't spend for anything else but his food. Those debts and bills had kept him from doing so too soon but now it was possible... yet he had remained in post just to get some more funds should he somehow need it. It was a luck that Michelle asked him now because in one week, once the Tournament would begin, he would definitively be gone from here, that was for certain, because despite only telling him he wouldn't want to see him once he lost, Kazuya would probably not want to see him anymore already and their relation would probably turn really bad. Yet it was another training evening that had fallen through to look for those informations...

After a while, he had finally succeeded to access Michelle's file. Maybe more about her mother and her location was in it... If not, he would have to look elsewhere... He really hoped some hint was in it, he already had enough work like it was...

Lee was reading the files when he suddenly felt a presence beside him. He turned his head and saw that sumo guy, Ganryu, one of his brother's bodyguards. Was Kazuya having one of his secret meeting with those crime organisations like sometimes in the conference room, right now? Lee thought that he definitively did not chose the right time to look into the computer... For a moment, he felt troubled since Ganryu would report to Kazuya... Yet he was only a bodyguard, he probably didn't know the work Lee had to do, so if he acted normally, Ganryu wouldn't feel the need to report what he was seeing right now...

-Wow... She's so beautiful... Who is she? suddenly asked the sumo wrestler as he gazed lovingly at Michelle's I.D. photo in the files.

Lee was annoyed, he wanted him to leave but he simply answered on an slightly annoyed tone so that Ganryu realized how busy he was:

-A participant in the Tournament.

-Really? But she's so beautiful... I wouldn't want anyone to hit her pretty face...

-Yes she is beautiful but she can participate anyway.

-I didn't say the contrary but she is still so beautiful...

Ganryu kept looking at the files and sighed on a dreamy tone while reading her name:

-Michelle Chang...

He then quickly addressed Lee:

-Can I get a photo of her? The printing machine is opened...

Ganryu quickly ran to the small printing room just beside Lee's desk and pushed on the button to open the printer that started making some horrible loud sounds as it started. Lee was now really annoyed, someone else may come... They knew he was working late but Lee still didn't want to be too noticed... and mostly Michelle who was now noticed personally by that guy... He wanted to face palm but he remained calm and composed as he simply answered:

-No.

Lee didn't want to leave traces that he went into those files. It was already annoying that Ganryu already saw him and now seemed enamoured with Michelle... What if he talked about his crush to Kazuya? Yet he wasn't a close friend like Bruce Irvin, so he probably wouldn't... Even Bruce Irvin wouldn't, since he was a so manly man... Lee didn't think Kazuya and Bruce talked very much about their feelings together... But... who knows? Yet Ganryu insisted:

-Please, just one photo! I need to see her!

-No. You don't even know her and I do not give a lady's personal info or picture like this without her consent.

-Oh, I'm sorry...

Now blushing, Ganryu felt embarrassed by his lack of gallantry before he added:

-So, she is a contestant?

-Yes. But she's not here already, she'll arrive in Japan some other day. Wait until the Tournament to speak to her.

Lee wondered if he made a mistake to lie but that guy would now go after Michelle... She didn't need that. At least, he hoped he delayed the moment that annoying guy will go after her... Maybe she will have been able to get back to the United States by then... If Ganryu believed him...

-Well, if she's not here already, I'll have to wait...

-Please, leave now. I have a ton of work.

Ganryu gazed lovingly at Michelle's picture for a while, then told Lee:

-Fine, I'll leave you to work now. Oh! You don't know what she likes? What she would like as a gift?

-I don't know her. It's only her files for the Tournament, not her personal diary.

-Fine. I'll get her flowers. You think it's good?

-Probably.

And Ganryu left while Lee sighed in annoyance.

Wednesday, Kazuya asked Ganryu to come to his office. Once Ganryu arrived, Kazuya told his Sumo wrestler bodyguard:

-I have a special mission for you. I need to retrieve a special objet, an amulet. A woman named Michelle Chang has it. You need to go after that woman. Your pay will be doubled if you succeed.

Michelle Chang... The lovely girl from yesterday... thought Ganryu as he still had her dreamy image in his mind.

-Go after her? asked a blushing Ganryu, thinking of another way to go after her than what Kazuya intended. His boss didn't notice the apparent sentimental feelings Ganryu seemed to have for her since he was mostly looking at the cityscape from his 54th floor office, enjoying his power over the city and turning his back at Ganryu.

-Yes. Take her amulet. Bring it back to me. We captured her mother and forced her to come here in the Tournament but you will take that treasure by force. She resides in one of our hotels so you take the keys and take the amulet. And take care of her as well.

Take care of her... Ganryu knew what kind of care Kazuya meant... yet he still thought another way...

-But, huh... why ask her to participate if I am to 'take care' of her outside? And why not just ask the amulet in exchange for the mother?

-In case you failed. She had to come in Japan, so we took the mother.

Kazuya then turned toward Ganryu with an evil expression and continued speaking:

-Don't try to think too hard, just do as you are told. Take it and bring it back to me. And kill her.

Trying to not show his concern for his future 'victim', Ganryu took a tough air and bowed to his boss.

-Hai! Wakarimashita! (Yes, got it)

Ganryu then left the office. Noticing Lee typing, he thought: That monster... He took all the files on sweet Michelle yesterday to give to his brother... And Kazuya Mishima wants to kill her... It's up to me to save her... and her mother...

Ganryu became very distrustful of Lee toward whom he had nothing before yet now he was determined to help his sweet Michelle. Kazuya and his constant dirty schemes began to disgust him... There were limits... Kazuya had been kind enough to hire him after he got all his (not to honestly earned) money stolen by those dirty Manji Clan ninjas during the last Tournament and gave him quite a good pay but somehow, Kazuya was going too far, money wasn't worth what he was asking of him now... Ganryu still couldn't understand why Kazuya didn't just exchange the mother for the amulet... He probably wanted to make them suffer for some vengeful reasons maybe... But Ganryu had never killed someone before... Beaten someone, of course, beaten quite roughly, yes, even beaten some with pleasure, but he mostly would not kill a lovely girl like Michelle! No, that Kazuya Mishima was evil... Far too evil...

Ganryu thought that he would have to help Michelle and then flee Japan to escape Kazuya's retaliation... Ganryu knew some nice place in Hawaii where he and Michelle could go to hide from the Mishima Zaibatsu. They could be happy together, happily married... Once he rescues her mother, she will give them her blessing... and maybe live beside them... Hawaii was such a nice place, they will all be happy... He will open a successful restaurant and he will protect them all from any dangers...

Meanwhile noticing Ganryu getting out of his brother's office, despite trying to hide it, Lee was slightly nervous: What has that annoying guy just told Kazuya? Did he spoke about last night and Michelle? Lee had not found anything useful yesterday but he didn't want to be punished by his brother who seemed even more ruthless than their father... If attacked by Kazuya, Lee knew that he could fight him with his fists even if Kazuya may have become slightly better than him as he experienced in the last Tournament but if it was to fight for his life, Lee knew Kazuya would certainly not get away in one piece either, maybe he would even lose since Lee was now also training with Wang, so he was better than last time... He should stop underestimating himself, he probably could beat his older brother in a brawl...

But Lee also knew that Kazuya now permanently wore a gun on him like his good friend Bruce, who was a gun fanatic... and Lee wasn't too fanatic about owning a gun himself... It wasn't as elegant as using martial arts even if it could have its uses... Beside with the tight security around now, even if he wanted a gun, he would get it confiscated and Kazuya would find him suspicious...

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