Trying to not be seen by Kazuya, Lee left the throne room and went outside for a cigarette once more. Yet while taking a cigarette out of his pack, he didn't know if he should leave Sep with Kazuya like this... Though they were talking business but he would probably have to tell Kazuya he would see Maeda a bit later in the evening... Lee put his cigarette back in his pack and went back toward the door. Sadly he wouldn't be able to dance once more with Sep, but maybe he would have time to think of something convincing to say to Maeda... And he did enjoy his dance... Those people didn't spoil it - they spoiled the rest of the evening - the dance was still excellent... Maybe he should invite Sep to another place when possible... He was a bit troubled by the Triad thing but he already knew Sep was in a gang... And again, he could not condemn Sep for being in some gang to survive... Sep certainly didn't have a choice... Or not much… When he came back from outside, he noticed Maeda was not in front of the portrait anymore. He looked around a bit, but didn't see him… Lee thought the man would probably come back to the portrait later, since it really seemed to be why he came here, so he decided to go back to Kazuya. He'd return for Maeda later...
When Kazuya saw his brother approaching, he hushed up the end of his conversation with Sep. Sep looked where he was looking, and his face broke into a smile when he saw Lee. He took a step back to make space for him, and regarded him with warmth. There was also something strained in his expression though, and difficult, though his smile was no less genuine.
"Well, Chaolan?" Kazuya asked, fixing his brother with his gaze. "Will our associate continue to do business with us?"
Lee bowed to Kazuya then gave a small smile back at Sep.
"Not exactly... I'll try later. He was a bit obsessed by our father's portrait and didn't really want to talk... I'll find what to tell him later in the evening... Yamamoto-san was on my side though so it may also make Maeda-san think a bit... I'm sure I'll be able to convince him later..." Though Lee gazed around again, wondering where Maeda was... He then looked at Kazuya in an uncertain way before he glanced at Sep from the side.
Kazuya's expression fell, and he regarded Lee with some coldness. So Lee dared to return to him with that half-attempt to do his duty? 'Try again later' and 'didn't really want to talk'? It hardly sounded like Lee had been trying. After all the trouble his brother had caused him earlier, Kazuya had at least expected him to try hard to please him now. And now he was smiling again at that Triad guy. Kazuya fumed away with these thoughts in silence for a long moment. Then he gathered himself. He'd planned for this eventuality, and honestly he wasn't surprised by Maeda's persistent reluctance. Looking at Lee, he seemed tired and worn by the day's events. His pride was probably struggling, and Kazuya knew he'd been pushing him to go on display and win him allies whilst he was resentful and humiliated. Kazuya still wanted more from Lee, but he also didn't want to drive him to despair and rebellion. Lee was a useful weapon in his arsenal... and still his brother. Even if he had fought against him and tried to steal the Zaibatsu from him. And somehow Heihachi was really to blame for that whole situation. Kazuya's expression softened towards Lee.
"You've done enough for today. You've done good work," he said more gently. Sep meanwhile had dropped his gaze as soon as Lee mentioned that he hadn't exactly been successful. He didn't look at Lee, and his shoulders sunk. "Mr Yau." Sep did look up when Kazuya addressed him though. "You may leave. I believe our order of business is concluded and you know my terms. See that you fulfil my demands and I will give the Maa Tau Hing Dai primacy over Mishima Zaibatsu shipping traffic in East Asia."
Sep bowed low to Kazuya, then bowed to Lee. When he looked at Lee, there was something unspoken and tugging in his gaze. Kazuya was watching them intently. Sep gave Lee another small bow, and said quietly,
"Goodbye, Chaolan." He glanced at Kazuya, then back to Lee. "I just have some business to take care of." He gave Lee a small smile.
Lee felt a bit embarrassed by the cold gaze Kazuya gave him but he was relieved once his brother addressed him in a gentler way. Yet he wondered why Sep suddenly looked so sad. What did they talk about? When Sep looked at him, Lee looked back with a slightly interrogating and panicked gaze. He gave Sep a small bow as well but he still looked at him in the same way as before. He wanted to ask where he was going, but Sep then said he just had some business to take care of. Small business? Was he leaving? But Lee didn't want to let him go now, Sep seemed sad... and Lee wanted to spend more time with him... He wondered for a second if he should stop him and tell him to push back his business for a moment but he didn't want to insult Kazuya after having failed his mission. For now... Anyway he'll try later but again, he could not talk to Sep before he talked to Kazuya, he needed to be polite and respectful, so he bowed to Kazuya and asked him,
"Oh... Mishima-sama, can I talk with Sep for a moment?" He needed to at least ask him his phone number... Kazuya may only give it to him on certain conditions, Sep could not leave the party now...
"Sep has business to get on with. You may stay with me, Chaolan," Kazuya said. Lee had that troubled look in his eyes that meant he was likely to get himself in the way of things. Kazuya wanted him removed from this mess as soon as possible. He also didn't want to keep his brother on a leash though... "You may have two minutes. Don't keep me waiting." Kazuya walked a few paces away to give them a moment.
Sep paused and looked gratefully at Kazuya. He turned to Lee and stepped closer.
"Everything will be alright," Sep said to Lee. "I worked things out with your-" He wasn't sure if Kazuya was still in earshot. "- With Mishima-sama. And anyway, like you said, it was worth it to dance so freely." Sep gave Lee a grin, even if it was a slightly shaky one. "Keep that pride it gave you. That's untouchable, okay?" He moved his hand slightly towards Lee's although he didn't dare touch him.
Lee nodded to Kazuya and turned to Sep. As he listened to Sep, he noticed how the handsome man moved his hand toward his and he would like to hold it but, he knew the whole room and even Kazuya would not be happy about it, since it would bring so many problems to the Mishima Zaibatsu... He smiled back at Sep and said,
"Yes, I will. And I really enjoyed the dance, it was excellent, I'll always remember it... You really helped me, I owe you a lot... I still want to see you again. Can I have your phone number? We can't meet here but we will elsewhere."
Sep felt down his suit until he found a pen and a scrap of paper. "This is the number of the district branch in Hong Kong that I'm the head of. The person who answers there will be able to put you through to me. I don't have a mobile phone." He handed the paper to Lee.
Lee smiled at Sep and said, "Okay, thank you." He took the paper and put it in his pocket.
"I'd like to talk to you again. Maybe you can come visit me... if it's permitted. But even if it's not - it was good. We had fun. I like you. I like your daring. And I like-" Sep ran his hand over the shaved sides of his head. He glanced in Kazuya's direction, then lowered his voice. He looked Lee in the eyes. "I think you're beautiful." He very lightly brushed his fingertip to Lee's. He gave a small, soft smile. "Even if you forget me, at least remember how we danced."
When he felt Sep's fingers over his, Lee felt really moved and touched Sep's fingers in return. People could not exactly see it in the room, but that touch meant a lot for both of them... He then looked at Sep in the eyes and said,
"Yes, it was good, it was excellent." Really watching his tone so that Kazuya wouldn't hear, he said, "And you showed me how to dare, you really saved me... And you are definitely beautiful. You are the first man I danced with, you made me feel free, I will always remember you. And the circumstances we did so will also always remind me of it. There is no way I will forget you, Sep, you are too unforgettable." Quickly gazing toward Kazuya, then back to Sep, he added, "And I'll try to come and visit you."
Lee didn't really know why Sep was somehow talking as if it was the last time they would see each other... It's true they both had some reasons that would forbid them too... But still the time they spent together was magical and Lee still wanted more time with Sep... He truly owed a lot to him and definitely wanted to see him some more... In a place where they would be more free...
Sep sighed and smiled more freely. He was calmed by the affection in Lee's returned touch, and those words did much to relieve him too.
"I'm honoured to be the first man to dance with you. Under different circumstances, I'd take the liberty to also be the first man to kiss you, but I think I only narrowly escaped your brother's wrath and I'm not going to tempt fate." He grinned his jaunty grin again. "I'm glad we spoke and dared to dance. You're going to do fine, Lee Chaolan. Don't lose yourself too much in your head. You're braver than you think you are. And certainly a lot braver than me. I'll see you round."
Lee also really would have wanted to kiss Sep... He wanted to ask to go outside with him, go to a discrete corner and kiss him, but Kazuya said two minutes... and probably not outside. When Sep encouraged him, tears came to Lee's eyes: what Sep was telling him was so kind and touching... He also remembered so well how he first saw Sep outside and things changed so much from the despair he'd felt... Sep had been like an angel...
"You're brave, Sep. And if you think you are less than me, it's maybe because you gave me all your courage tonight. I'll call you, and you can still be the first man to kiss me."
Sep's face glowed and he gave a radiant smile. He no longer looked anxious or burdened. He shook his head slightly in disbelief.
"Who knew there'd be someone like you hiding away here? You're a rare and precious one for sure. I owe you that kiss, Chaolan, hold me to that promise and some day it'll happen." Sep stepped away. Then took another step. And then, as if worried he might not have the courage to go, he turned quickly and left. A moment later, he was lost in the crowd and out of sight.
Kazuya regarded the interaction from a short distance, sipping at a cup of sake and wishing it were whiskey.
Lee was glad to see that Sep looked better and he definitely felt the same way with him - he didn't expect to find someone like him here... He smiled back at Sep and nodded to the promise of that kiss. He did long for that kiss... But for now, he let Sep go as he still smiled at him and watched until he could not see the young man anymore. He felt some sadness when Sep disappeared but he mostly remembered the kind things Sep told him and how they danced together... After a moment, he turned toward Kazuya and went to him.
"So, it went well with you and Sep, huh, I mean with Yau-san?" Lee did wonder what Kazuya asked of Sep but he was glad Kazuya asked him to stay near him, he was tired of going around people... At first he wanted to escape Kazuya's control and his own jealousy but with all those conservative and judgmental people, he quickly had enough of them... Sep was definitely something else...
"Indeed," Kazuya said. He surveyed the room with disinterest. Most of his business here was concluded, provided Lee hadn't ruined the Zaibatsu's reputation with his sudden need to dance about with a Triad gangster. "Yau-san will be useful to me after all, although you needn't concern yourself with him." Kazuya turned to Lee. "You don't need him. I will look after us. I always have. Come to me if you have any troubles. I won't let anyone think ill of you or harm you. Now that everything is mine, I can protect you."
Lee wondered if Kazuya was somehow jealous... He always was a bit of a possessive brother... Lee wondered if talking about Sep would annoy him, but Kazuya had to also give him permission to meet him... or maybe not. Kazuya was his boss for work, not for his life. Lee thought that he now had Sep's phone number, he could call him later, but he wouldn't contradict Kazuya now... They'll probably argue later... Another day... There was also the thing of making business with Triads... Now Lee was embarrassed again to have presented a Triad member to Kazuya... He wanted the Mishima Zaibatsu to get out of those bad alliances now that they could start anew with Kazuya as the CEO, and yet he was the one to present a Triad member to him... But he also was happy to have met Sep, it was the brightest event of this day... And Sep cared for his gang... Lee thought he would have to think about this later, another day... He still wanted to stay on that happy cloud with Sep... For now, he didn't want to spoil his memories of the encounter and dance with him… Sep was still that beautiful angel who lifted him from the ground... He'll see to the moral side later... Anyway, again, most corporations were criminals on their own...
"Thank you, Onii-... Huh, Mishima-sama, for the protection." He went nearer Kazuya and murmured, "I can't wait to not see those people anymore... I'm a bit tired..."
When Lee seemed uncertain what to call him, Kazuya gave him a small smile. He didn't want anyone else in the memorial to see any weakness in him, but he did want to reassure his brother. He felt more familiar and comfortable when Lee came nearer and spoke to him like he used to.
"Everything about them bores me," Kazuya murmured back to him, keeping his eyes on the room and his exterior still professional. "Every one of the people in this room bowed to Heihachi. They either agreed with him or gave up their ideals to placate and submit to him. I hate them all. They're cowards who've come crawling out the woodwork to make sure the comfortable lives they've built won't be rocked by his successor. They want me to step into his shoes and continue where he left off. Well, I won't. I'm nothing like Heihachi. They will learn that soon enough." Kazuya dropped some of his hostile tone and added more gently. "Soon this will be over. We can go back home and relax and tomorrow you can have the day off. You did much today and I'm glad to have you at my side. And for this evening, we'll have the cooks make something special for dinner." He looked at Lee with kinder eyes. "What would you like? Any preferences?"
Lee was glad to see Kazuya smile at him, he felt relieved and even made a small satisfied smile that he quickly tried to hide when Kazuya told him his scorn of those people and that he would not be like Heihachi. He feared looking a bit too mocking of those people... He then continued to express himself with his eyes mostly which shone in happiness with the promise of a day off and time to relax and the compliment Kazuya gave him. Lee knew he made a mistake with the dance but he could not see it like that, it was too beautiful and he was glad Kazuya didn't mind too much about it... He smiled at Kazuya and said,
"Hum... I'll think about it... I guess anything could do... It will all be excellent..." Finally the day was excellent, he met Sep, Kazuya was like before... and all those judgmental people didn't matter...
"Yes, think about it." Kazuya was glad to see Lee smiling again. "Whatever you want, we'll have it for dinner tonight." He turned more fully to Lee and reached out a hand, placing it behind his head and holding him in place just a little firmly. His voice became firmer too. "And if you have any trouble with anyone in future, you come to me, do you understand? When you throw yourself at strangers, you put yourself at risk and the Zaibatsu at risk. Everyone here has allegiances and motivations. You can't trust anyone. I will put anyone who wrongs you in their place." He softened his tone a little. "Don't think I didn't see the way that police commissioner looked at you when you danced. What company you keep will be yours alone to choose. I need to use that commissioner for now, but by the end of the year, I will have him replaced and his name dragged through the mud. He will come begging you to talk sense into me, and you will have the satisfaction of telling him that there's nothing to be done."
Lee kept smiling as he listened to Kazuya though he first wasn't sure if he would be reprimanded for what he did when putting the Zaibatsu at risk was mentioned. But he realised it was definitely to tell him he would protect him that Kazuya was saying that. And Kazuya was right, he was the only one he could trust here… They were brothers... When Kazuya mentioned the way the police commissioner looked at him, Lee felt regretful, still remembering how he tried to win him over, how he thought he'd succeeded and quickly lost him over this dance, but he really was glad for how Kazuya talked about the company he could keep. He had his big brother's blessing on who he could meet… He then felt a bit sad for the commissioner who would be dragged through the mud but remembered how corrupt that man was, how judgmental he had been, and when Kazuya said the commissioner would come begging to him, all pity left Lee and he felt a very cruel pleasure at the thought of having the power of refusing to help that man… It could change so quickly when he had the power… He should not be like this, but he could not help feel like this… He nodded at Kazuya with gratitude in his eyes.
"Thank you, Oniisama…" Lee didn't really know how to call Kazuya. When he felt protected and appreciated by his older brother, he always had the tendency of calling him Oniisan but then Kazuya also wanted to be called Mishima-sama, but then they were not exactly talking in front of everyone… But he then chose a mix of those two appellations and hoped Kazuya would appreciate it…
When Kazuya saw that gratitude, and heard what Lee called him, it was better than any of the empty compliments and respectful well-wishes he'd heard all day. Finally, this sounded like a sentence said for him and for no one else. No shadow of Heihachi hung over what was offered to him. It was just for him. Not because he was Heihachi's son, but because he was himself. He also hadn't missed the glint of something more sadistic in Lee's eyes at the sound of the commissioner's humiliation. It pleased him that Lee could also see the allure of throwing power around like that. He did want to give Lee some power of his own and he loved seeing Lee put others down, but it was too soon to give him more. Kazuya dared not lose sight of the fact that Lee was cunning and conniving. Like this, he was compliant and looked up to him. That would all vanish if he had power, and if Kazuya wasn't careful, he would lose everything to his brother. Lee was clever. Unless Kazuya kept him down, he was likely to push his way to the top. Kazuya could just imagine it. It wouldn't be an outright confrontation, it would be gradual. He would just wake up one day and realise Lee was making all the important decisions in the corporation, handling all the accounts, all the hiring, all the research and investment decisions, all the legal paperwork, all the press conferences,... in the end he'd probably even have his name on paper as CEO. Kazuya would be some figurehead who'd sweated and bled for this position and thrown down their father to take it, and Lee would reap all the reward. Kazuya blinked. He looked back into those grateful eyes and calmed the meandering route his thoughts had taken. Everything was perfect just like this. If he could just keep it like this, with Lee always looking up at him, everything would be fine.
"No need to thank me. It's my duty. It always has been." He let go and dropped his hand back to his side. He still didn't want Lee to see how much his thanks had affected him though, so gave him a little space. He pulled out a packet of cigarettes. It was probably disrespectful to smoke indoors at the memorial, but who was going to stop him? Not Heihachi, that was for sure.
Lee smiled gratefully at Kazuya once more and, as his brother was taking his cigarette, he looked around the room one more time. Kazuya was so right: those were all Heihachi's bootlickers... But among those bootlickers, Lee still couldn't find that Maeda... With the way Kazuya spoke, Lee didn't really know if he should go after that man later or if Kazuya said he had done well and it was okay even for that... And if Maeda was gone already from the party, he may have to go meet him at his own place... But that will be another day... and not tomorrow. Kazuya probably meant it was okay to stop socialising for today... But also looking around the ballroom, Lee wondered where Sep went...
Kazuya lit his cigarette and inhaled deeply. He blew out a curl of smoke and drunk in the atmosphere. Today was going well. It hadn't gone exactly according to plan, but he was good at adapting as necessary. He joined Lee in watching the room. As he did however, the mournful air of the memorial was suddenly broken by sounds of a commotion coming from over near the throne. There were shouts and even a scream, and half a dozen people who'd been 'dancing', stumbled over. The mill of people in the hall abruptly began moving, some rushing toward the commotion, others struggling to run away. A flowerhead from Heihachi's funeral bouquets bounced across the floor in amidst a flurry of feet. Kazuya surveyed the erupting chaos with the same languor he had before. He spoke around his cigarette as he smoked.
"I hope they haven't gone and knocked over Heihachi's urn and found it's empty." He sighed. "That would be a real pain."
Noticing the commotion, Lee wondered what was happening. As security ran toward the place, he also made some steps in that direction before he noticed that Kazuya didn't move at all. He didn't seem to think it would be some assassin or something since he was all calm... Lee wondered for a moment if he should stay near him, in case, but he had to go see...
"I'll go see what it is, or do you wish me to stay near you?"
Always rushing everywhere , Kazuya thought. Why couldn't they enjoy the moment whilst it lasted.
"Let's go and see what the trouble is about," he said to Lee.
Kazuya walked with Lee and the confused guests around them parted. Most were shrinking back away and hurrying for the exits, but Commissioner Mochizuki and his associate Sugiyama appeared beside Kazuya. They shouldered their way through the other guests. They stopped as one however when the crowd thinned. Before the memorial display to Heihachi, a figure lay sprawled on the floor. A pool of blood was growing from the still form. Heihachi's portrait had a fine mist of blood splattered across it, and flowers were strewn all across the floor. Standing over the scene, with a dripping sushi knife in hand, was Sep. He was breathing heavily and just looking at the body.