Chapter Summary: Akira starts her training with Jin and she may think it's like riding a bicycle, but she's in for a shock…

Disclaimer: I do not own Tekken but I do own my OCs and plot. If you steal, be prepared to suffer.

Chapter Warnings: Swearing.

Notes: Hello again! I apologise profoundly on how late this is! (gomenasai, gomenasai!) Everything will be back on track when I start my second year in October but I am hoping to finish off before that. Fingers crossed!

Extra Notes: Hajimeru Deshou actually means 'let's begin' in Japanese. Thought I would put it in there in case anyone was wondering.

Chapter 28 – Ghareeb will be up soon!

A Tekken Story: Through the Years

The purpose of training is to tighten up the slack, toughen the body, and polish the spirit

Morikei Ueshiba

Chapter 27 – Hajimeru Deshou!

"Kick his ass," was what Ryo told me before I headed off for training the following Tuesday afternoon after school. I couldn't help but smile.

When I got to the school gym, I found it was pleasingly empty. I changed out of my school uniform and into my white camisole, black grey cuffed sweatpants and blue zipped jacket. I stashed my uniform in mu usual gym locker and headed out to the main gym area. I still had some time so I stretched out my muscles precisely (it had been some time since I last trained) and performed a few katas to 'get me in the zone' as my father would say. Jin appeared on time just as I was tying the last knot of my hand wraps with the metal plate protecting my knuckles. He was out of his uniform too, kitted in black pants with a yellow to red flame climbing up his right leg, red gauntlets that were similar to his school gloves and red foot protectors. In a way I wasn't surprised that he remained shirtless, but in another way I was.

Despite being nearly seventeen at this time, Jin's strict training was obvious, if not prominent. His skin was smooth apart from the places were his muscles had developed rapidly – mainly his torso and arms. His skin acted as if they were strained in those places, as if the muscles were…striving with power.

Oh boy…

No, I mustn't think of that now! I'm training. I'm training…with a Mishima.

The excitement circulating my body turned cold and was replaced with fear. The Mishimas were well known in the martial arts circle and no-one but a Mishima so far had won The King of Iron Fist Tournament. Need I say more?

He bowed after he entered and I distracted myself by removing my jacket and dumping it on the floor.

"I've done my stretches so I'm ready to go whenever you are,"

"I know it's been a while, so I'll go easy on you," he raised his fists level with his shoulders.

A twinge of anger swept through me. I wasn't expecting Jin to say something as rude as that. I didn't show it as I didn't want him to know he had upset me – even if it was for a fleeting second – and relaxed my body into my stance. We stared eachother out before Jin cocked his head back, "Ladies first,"

3…2…1…I dashed towards him, my fist clenched and ready but he easily sidestepped, twirling around in a full circle as I slipped past him. I faced him again as I stand where he was previously standing. He displayed an arrogant smirk and motioned his hand at me, "Come on,"

With my anger ripening, I ran at him again and this time he didn't move away. I went use the attack I wanted to use previously but he simply shoved my arm away so I used my other fist but he blocked that one too. I built up to a speedy flurry of punches and strikes but Jin pushed every attack away. With better judgement, I lifted my leg closest to him. He saw my plan and with his advantage, he stomped my leg back down and tangled with his own while delivering a smack to the side of my head with the back of his fist, sending me to the ground.

That it's…

With rage acting like petrol and burning fire through my veins, I darted towards him for a third time and land a jumping kick between his neck and shoulder. As he absorbs the blow, I leapt up again, hooking both feet on his shoulders before my feet touched the floor again and wretch him to the floor. I gained my posture by back flipping onto my feet and entering my stance once again. Jin took his time to get back onto his feet and when he did I blow a strand of my hair that had escaped the restraint of my hair tie and smirked back at him with the same air of overconfidence. He ignored my gesture and while maintaining his stoic presence, ducks and socks me with a raising uppercut, causing me to stumble back a little. I recover quickly and Jin tries to close the distance between us with a spinning high kick but I whirled around in time with his attack, chopping him on the back of the head for good measure. I muster up my ki and with both palms I rammed his fully turned back, just outside of his shoulder blades. It only affected him a little bit or at least he composed it so it looks like it doesn't and rotated to me again. Without hesitating and giving him a chance to regain himself, I send a flying kick into the middle of his chest but before I have the chance to retract my foot, Jin grabs it and forcefully jolts me away from him. I rolled across the wooden floor, skidding to halt when my back slammed into the wall.

Damn it, I knew he was strong but…

"…we have higher levels of energy than normal people, we're faster at healing ourselves, we have increased strength and agility, we don't feel as much pain as the average person would do, but…,"

Are the Mishimas really this strong?

I struggled to my feet, using my elbows to support me, just in time to catch Jin poised above me, ready with an overhead kick. I blocked it with my wrists crossed over one another and involuntary thrusted his leg back painfully. He grunted and I drove my own foot directly into his knee. I released his leg and steadied myself onto both feet before assaulting his torso area with a series of punches, reserving a burst of strength the battering had built up enough for a final blow. I drew my right hand back, clenched into a constricted ball, ready to deliver a heavy punch. However, the attack didn't connect because Jin grappled my outstretched arm, wretched it and flipped me over his shoulder. I settled on my side, slightly winded, but once again I recovered in an instant. I kicked the insides of his legs, causing him to involuntarily do the splits, and releasing an opening, I shot my foot into his gut. As I heaved myself up, I caught him on the cheek with my heel. Jin stood fully, rubbing his cheek.

I need to plan my next move…what can I do?

I recited my father's teachings.

"Fighting is not just about pulling punches and kicks, Akira. It is also about your environment, using what is around you,"

I recalled discarding my jacket not far behind me. Promptly, I seized it, sprinted towards him and hurled it into his face, effectively blocking his sight. He resisted with it so I tackled him to the ground before he could remove it. With Jin on his back, me straddling his lap and clamping his legs, I managed to pummel him a few times. He eventually lifted the jacket off his face and flipped me over, reversing our positions. I fidgeted underneath his compact bodyweight in hopes to free an arm or a leg but went I don't, I head butted him instead. It hurt me a little bit too however as Jin winced, I freed a leg and kicked him away. I rolled backwards to gain a little distance as Jin wearily got to his feet. I performed a short kata to steady myself. We both fell into our stances, regarding eachother passively and secretly encouraging the other to make the first move. More or less at the same time, we rushed at eachother. I decided to use an open palm move, spreading my hands out to prepare myself but before I know it, Jin delivers a full throttle punch to my gut, his ki impacting my stomach like a swinging wrecking ball, his blue electric current spitting on my skin. I went flying across to the other side of the gym, whining from the electronic sting on my body.

"Akira!" I heard Jin shout out but I couldn't see him. Everything was a blur until I crashed into the wooden climbing frame used in P.E.

"Dammit!" I heard Jin's fleeting footfalls come into my direction.

Fuck, that hurt. I could still feel the little zaps of electrocution run along my arms and partly on my belly nevertheless I shakily moved onto my back. I wiggled my fingers and toes. Yep, I could still move them. A good sign.

"Akira, are you OK?" Jin's urgent voice sounded above me and I could see his eyes also as wide as dinner plates.

"Yeah…," I croaked. I could talk as well. Another good sign.

"Can you move?"

I wobbled both my arms, "Yeah, I think so,"

"Here," he threw my arm over his shoulder and helped me sit up.

"Thanks," I probed my fingers under my ribs. Ouch, it was a little tender, but nothing I wasn't use to. Or would progressively get use to again.

"I'm so sorry. Are you OK?"

I nodded, "Trust me; I've been in worst situations. Dad once trained me ontop of a hill and I nearly fell down a few times. I got my own back by doing the same,"

Jin sort of chuckled but he seemed a little stiff. He wiped the corner of my mouth with the backs of his knuckles. Blood smeared them.

Wow, I really need to get my A-game back.

"I think our training session is over,"

"It was a draw though, right?" I grinned, trying to reassure him.

I skipped a shower at school, favouring to have one at home instead, and a visit to the school nurse (she probably wouldn't have been there anyway) and headed home.

With Jin.

"I should at least explain to your mother what happened and apologise,"

"Jin, you already apologised to me. Besides, my mother is used to this. She's probably expecting it when I get home,"

"I really should,"

"There's no need,"

"Akira," Jin pleaded and hauled on my hand, yanking me back, "What happened today…I really am sorry. I just lost control and I…I…,"

I gave him a sympathetic glance and smiled kindly, "Jin, believe it or not, I'm not made of glass, so I'm not gonna break. I forgive for you for what happened, it wasn't your fault. We were just training,"

I squeezed his hand when he didn't look at me, "Hey, I'm still alive, right?"

"Barely,"

"Seriously Jin! Stop it otherwise I'll beat you into the ground," I sternly warned.

Amusingly, he raised an eyebrow, "Would you?"

"I think we both know I had the upper hand in that spar. One more minute and I would have had you begging for mercy,"

"I should still explain it to your mother,"

I shook my head, "You don't need to explain anything to her,"

"You have got to be the most stubborn girl I have ever met," Jin said disbelievingly but a faint delight danced in his eyes.

"You better get used to it," I leered.

"I'm still coming,"

I rolled my eyes, "Whatever,"

I continued walking down the path but I didn't hear Jin following me. I turned around and saw him still fixed to the spot, his head tilted to the left.

"Are you coming or not?" Mom wouldn't mind, Jin was a usual visitor nowadays.

Jin held up a finger to indicate a minute as he listened. Listened for what?

"Can you hear that?" he asked.

I frowned and stepped towards him a little, trying to get a better idea of what Jin was hearing. I heard a weak mewling, almost wailing.

"What is that?" I asked.

Jin shook his head, his eyes darting around to pinpoint the source of the noise.

"I think it's coming from that garden," I trudged to the next garden over.

Yes, it was definitely coming from this garden. Jin bent down beside me as I viewed the house. No-one was home. Jin pried a long-leaved weed and there was a black kitten, dirty and wet.

"Oh you poor little thing!" I cooed as Jin picked it carefully with both hands. On a closer look, the kitten had white smudges under his chin and on his paws.

"Looks like he's been out here for a few days," Jin stroked his head with two fingers. God, it looked so tiny compared to him.

"We better get him inside, he's probably hungry," Jin nodded and we all but ran to my house.

"Ah Akira-chan!" Mom called out when I pushed the front door open, "You're back! How was your day?"

She entered the genkan as we were dumping our bags and toeing off our shoes.

"Oh Jin-kun, I didn't expect to see you here too," she didn't sound angry, more glad.

"Mom, we just found this kitten outside all by himself," I said hurriedly.

"Let me see. Oh dear! He can't be more than a month or so old. Quickly, get him into the kitchen. Akira, get a towel while I warm up some milk,"

Mom waddled back to the kitchen (she looked like she was about to burst but she still had about a month of her pregnancy left) with Jin while I galloped upstairs to find one of my fluffy towels on one of the radiators. I whipped it off and handed it to Mom once I was in the kitchen. She wrapped the kitten in it and handed Jin a syringe full of milk.

"Carefully, not too fast otherwise he won't digest it probably,"

Two syringes and a half later, the kitten was asleep on Jin's neck.

"He certainly seems to like you," Mom commented.

"Perhaps you could keep him," I suggested, "That's if no-one claims him,"

Jin half-smiled, "I would, but I don't think he would be suitable in a mansion," he looked hopefully between me and Mom but she didn't need any persuading.

"Of most we'll take him! I wouldn't want to leave a kitten all by himself," Mom stroked his sleepily head.

"Really?"

"Of course! I'll take him down to the vets tomorrow, see if anyone claims him and give him a check-up to make sure he's alright. I'll pick up some kitten milk and other things too,"

"Thanks," Jin nearly beamed at her he was so pleased.

"Hana will have a field day," she chuckled and poured more tea into our cups," You'll have to think of a name for him,"

"Michi," Jin answered almost straightaway.

"I like that," 'Michi' meant 'wanderer' in Japanese. That would definitely suit him.

"Well, despite all the commotion, how was your day? Did your training go well?"

Jin stared at me so I answered before he said anything, "It was good, thanks. Hopefully we know where we're going now?" I asked him.

Thankfully, he nodded, "I have an idea now. I suggest you come and train with me at the mansion two or three times a week. We'll work on your ki and executing attacks,"

Mom sighed, "Oh, if only your father was still alive. He would have jumped at the chance for you to train with professionals,"

I smiled, "OK, I think I'll do it,"

Jin didn't apologise in the end. In fact, we didn't really talk about it.

It also turns out that Michi is really a she.

"What the hell happened to you two?" Sakura practically screeched in kumi.

OK, so maybe one or bruises had blossomed overnight. For both of us.

"Akira kicked Jin's ass is what happened," Ryo piped proudly.

I smiled at him, "Actually, it ended in a draw,"

"But I'm sure Akira would have if she had the chance," I expected him to wink at me, but he didn't.

"What the hell is wrong with the both if you?" Sakura yelled, "You both look awful,"

I didn't say anything as Sakura examined the wounds on Jin's face. I should have shown her the almost black bruise on my stomach.

Good job my classic silk kung fu uniform can cover it up.