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The Angel Within
Chapter 11: Calm Before The Storm
[Day 21]
Saturday, 1:02 UTC (09:02 in local time)
Chengdu, Seichuan, China
"Welcome, Ms. Ling." A woman in her mid-30s greets the younger one entering the room. "Please make yourself comfortable."
The room isn't too big or too small. It has a chair in front of a table, in which the older one is sitting by on the other side; to Xiaoyu's left, there's a two-seat couch near a window, and it is where she chooses to sit.
The older woman brings her chair with her and sits facing Xiaoyu, with a polite distance. "So, as our first session, why don't we start with introductions, to make things less awkward?" The older woman suggests. "I am Wu Meili, and I graduated as a psychologist nearly 10 years ago." She makes a pause. "I see you've mentioned while booking this first appointment that you've never done therapy before… let me assure you can talk about everything you want, and that I will never judge you for those things. Also, you don't have to talk about anything you don't want to."
"Okay." Xiaoyu says, sounding uncertain, her gaze to the ground. She takes a deep breath, eyes closed, as she slowly raises her head. "I am Ling Xiaoyu." Only now she opens her eyes, continuing her introduction. "I am 19 years old. I was born in Shanghai, although I never actually lived there, as I was raised for most of my life by my grandfather Wang Jinrei. My mother passed away while giving birth to me. According to my grandfather, my father loved my mother, but didn't really care about having a family, and soon forgot about me."
"How does that make you feel?" The therapist interrupts her train of thought with a question.
The younger one ponders for a moment. "It has made me feel different ways along the years." She says, still not too eager to open up so soon and suddenly. The therapist gives her a reassuring smile, and Xiaoyu decides to put in some effort.
"When I was a child, I would feel worthless. Why would someone dislike me so much to leave me behind? Why couldn't I have a father who didn't love me?" Xiaoyu says, then makes a short pause. "As I reached my teenage years, I would feel anger. How dare he didn't love me? How dare he never cared? I deserved as much." A frown comes to her expressions as she vividly remembers her feelings from a few years ago. "Now, as I slowly drift into adulthood, I feel… guilty. For focusing so much on someone who never focused on me. I've always had my grandfather. I should've focused on him instead, even if he has his flaws too."
The therapist nods, and starts writing something on a notepad. "I see. Would you say you have a good relationship with your grandfather?"
"Absolutely." Xiaoyu says in a heartbeat.
The therapist nods once more, and seems to be done with her notes for the time being. "So, continue telling me about yourself."
"Well…" Xiaoyu ponders. "Like I said before, I was mostly raised in Chengdu. But when I reached my high school years, I had this strong objective of having an amusement park of my own. And as I'm a martial arts fighter, I decided to join a fighting tournament in Japan to take the prize money to invest in my dream."
If the therapist had any suspicions that said-tournament was Tekken, she didn't show. "And how did that go?"
"I lost early on, not enough even for a booby prize." Xiaoyu chuckles. "I was too naïve. Most still say I am, to this day." She reflects, turning her gaze to the window. It's a sunny morning outside. "That is probably the main reason I'm here. I want to grow up."
"Why?"
"Because I should have already had."
There is a silent moment before the therapist makes another question. "And why, to you, is naivety so unwanted now, when it wasn't before?"
"Because… I've suffered."
"In what sense?"
Xiaoyu brings her gaze to her feet. "My feelings. My pride. My health."
"What caused that?"
"Someone."
…
After 3 hours, Xiaoyu is headed back home. Every morning, for the time being, she will be having 3-hour sessions with a therapist. She still doesn't know exactly what lead her to suddenly decided she needed it, but so far it has been the best decision she's ever made. In 3 hours, she has understood much more about herself and her past than in the last 3 years.
Of course, most details need to be left aside. Her and her grandfather's safeties could be at stake if she ever reveals her connections to the Mishimas. The average person won't care that she was never taken serious by them. For them, she would be just another monster.
In fact, that is the real reason why she never applied for any universities. It's hard to get education when you're from Mishima High School ever since the war started. Shin never said it out loud, but Xiaoyu's pretty sure he had to lie to a certain extent about his past so that he could continue his studies.
Xiaoyu enters her house after unlocking the door. She locks it back before going upstairs, then crosses the living room and goes straight to her bedroom. She drops her backpack on the floor, on a corner of the room, and stares at her reflection in the mirror of her dressing table. Her hair is down today. She used to hate how ordinary she looked with it like that, but today it feels just right.
Suddenly, a thought crosses her mind. She walks towards the guest room and nocks. Mr Feng opens it and seems surprised to see Xiaoyu looking for him.
"Could you train me?"
[Day 21]
Saturday, 1:02 UTC (05:02 in local time)
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States of America
At the same time, on the other side of the world, Julia is heading back to her temporary home as the sun rises. After a long day and night of illegal fighting, she sure needs some good sleep.
Someone stops in front of her suddenly, and she can't help but be startled, her tired mind not having sensed the movement of anyone else nearby.
"I know who you are."
She frowns at the person. It has a male voice, but the face of an animal. "I know who you are, too."
"Do you?"
"Yes." She is visibly confused, and makes no effort to mask that.
"You are mistaking me for someone else."
"There aren't many people in this world who have the face of a jaguar, you know." She says somewhat sarcastically.
"You're right, there aren't many. There are only two."
…
After about half an hour in a café, the two fighters seem to have understood each other. Julia never knew much about Armor King other than the mention of his name a couple time during her tenure under Kazuya's orders.
Both have come to the same conclusion, though. Together, they are stronger. And it's about time someone stops the Mishimas.
[Day 21]
Saturday, 05:20 UTC (07:20 in local time)
Cairo, Egypt
After nearly a week of reading and re-reading, Zafina seems to have come up with a summary of all that she has gathered so far.
Her long-time premonitions are correct. There are indeed two evil stars. Those were proved to be Kazuya and Jin, as they clashed and unleashed Azazel during the previous Tekken tournament.
However, there are other stars. As it seems, each star is a person.
One of the other stars is one of duality, just like Chinese yin and yen, there is both benevolence and evil on that one. Zafina doesn't know who could this be.
Another one is a benevolent star forced into evil. What force could be behind that, is beyond Zafina's understanding. Also, she has no clue who could it be.
The fifth and last star is evil, but according to the books, not evil like the other two. She knows for a fact that Kazuya and Jin have demons within them. The only person she can think who is evil, and presumably has no demons attached is Heihachi Mishima – that could be the only explanation as to why those stars are different.
On the books, there is also the telling of a secret society, that has existed for thousands of years, with the sole purpose of protecting the world from spiritual evils. The next step now is to seek them out.
How to do so, however, is another question. As they're secret, there's no telling where they might be. The book mentions they migrate from time to time. She doesn't even know where to start.
I wish guru was still here, she thinks sadly as she remembers her mentor. He would always give good advice. But again, what could he tell her now, if he were here? He also would have no clue about the secret society.
Should Zafina look for help? Or would that be risky? Should she re-read the books yet again to see if she has missed any information? Or would that be a loss of time?
The clock is ticking.
Figuratively and literally, as there is a clock hanging on the wall of her home office.
Each tick that passes, it hurts.
Figuratively, as she feels frustrated not to be more ahead on her plans to save the world.
And now literally, as suddenly her head starts aching more and more after each tick.
The pain grows exponentially, and she starts feeling dizzy as a strong light seems to form in front of her eyes, nearly blinding her. She's never had migraines. And for some reason, the light seems… odd…
[Day 21]
Saturday, 08:55 UTC (17:55 in local time)
Tokyo, Japan
"Have you send the message?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Don't call me ma'am."
"You're the boss now, I should refer to you as such."
"Don't."
Silence.
"When will it be out?" She breaks the silence.
"18:00, as per your request. In other words, in five minutes."
"Good. We must be quick."
"Why?"
"As our newly-acquired sources have informed us, many are forming alliances to defeat the Mishimas. And that is exactly what we need." There's a pause. "Kazuya is weakened. So is… Jin. Heihachi has no resources yet."
"…"
"I feel guilty for using their filthy assets, which they built upon lies, death, and destruction, but I suppose it should be worth it if it brings them to face their fates."
"And what are their fates?"
"That is not up for me to decide."
"How so?"
"Redemption or death." She says coldly. "It is their choice to make."
A short silence again, before her loyal associate turns on the office television. "It is time, Kazumi."
Kazumi, who so far had been facing the window with her back turned to her companion, walks towards his side. She holds his hand like a mother would hold a child's. "Whatever it may be, Akuma."
…
We interrupt this broadcast to deliver a special bulletin from the Mishima Zaibatsu.
Effective immediately, we announce a ceasefire on all locations.
In 24 hours, all Mishima Force troops should have surrendered.
The Mishima Zaibatsu is available for further clarifications to all states around the world.
This decision has been made by the new leader of the Mishima Zaibatsu, Mrs. Kazumi Mishima.
…
Akuma turns the television off.
"Have the messengers been sent?" Kazumi asks.
"Yes. All former Tekken competitors whose whereabouts are known should be aware of Tekken 7 within the next 24 hours. The tournament should commence in 96 hours."
Author's notes: Hello, I'm back. If all goes right, I'll be ending this story once and for all. I experimented with a short chapter this time around. Clarifications about certain elements of this short chapter should come up in the next ones.
Also, I plan on eventually spell-checking previous chapters as I noticed a few mistakes here and there.
Thank you for reading.