Lee followed the group and suddenly noticed that apparently Maeda had come back to the memorial. Forever...

As he looked on with an horrified expression, Lee noticed who apparently committed the murder and became even more horrified. He then realised what orders Kazuya had given Sep... And why Sep told him to remember the dance... not this... His eyes went from Maeda's corpse, to Sep, to the knife, to even the blood on Heihachi's portrait, Lee was in complete shock...

Bruce and some security guards quickly arrived. Bruce swiftly placed himself in front of Kazuya and ordered the others to form a protective ring in front of the guests.

"Put your weapon down," Bruce said to Sep, "or I'll put it down for you."

Sep let the knife fall from his hand. It clattered to the floor. He didn't resist when Bruce approached him. He looked very calm. Then he saw Lee's expression. Sep lowered his eyes and despair sunk into his features. Kazuya said nothing as he looked on.

"Wh-... wh-... A murder!" cried Commissioner Mochizuki. "There's been a murder! I'm the police!" He didn't move though. He didn't seem to know quite what to do.

Sugiyama pulled out a radio. "Dispatch, bring a team inside. There's been a homicide. Suspect is still at the scene." The radio crackled an affirmative to Sugiyama.

"Somehow I'm not surprised," Mochizuki said slowly. He seemed to have recovered himself and was looking at Sep with loathing. "Just the kind of behaviour I'd expect from someone like you." Mochizuki nudged Sugiyama and, in a more hushed but somehow still very audible tone, added, "Did you see him dancing earlier?"

Sugiyama glanced Kazuya's way and gave Mochizuki a small shake of his head. Mochizuki took the hint and also glanced at the brothers. He muttered darkly to himself, then elbowed Sugiyama and pointed at Sep.

"Well, go on then! Arrest him!"

As Bruce was immobilizing Sep, Lee noticed how Sep's face changed when he saw him… Lee didn't know what to do, he was still horrified by the murder… Yet he also knew Sep was doing this for his Triad gang, he knew how loyal many were in those groups… He now understood the resigned attitude Sep had when he left… that sad goodbye… Sep preferred to sacrifice himself for his group than to lose an alliance with Kazuya… and Kazuya… Did he order a murder right in front of people? Already? Lee remembered when he failed to convince Mr Chang to give him the amulet, Heihachi took things back into his own hands and Mr Chang died some time later. And now, Lee had failed to convince Maeda-san, so Kazuya had taken matters into his own hands and Maeda-san died… just moments later… just after Lee told Kazuya he could not do it… It took a bit more time, though with a bit more insults aimed at him, with Heihachi… At least Kazuya didn't scold him this time… Lee also remembered how Kazuya had turned since he gained power… Those few moments where Kazuya became totally mean and bullied him… Yet he wasn't always like this, he was gentle and kind… like just before that murder…

Then Lee heard the scornful comment coming from Commissioner Mochizuki and looked at him with some anger in his eyes, crossing the gazes of the two policemen now looking at him and Kazuya. He then turned his eyes back to Sep and looked at him with sadness. He was sad for what had happened and for what would happen to Sep… He wanted to convey to him that he wasn't angry at him but he definitely could not hide that he was affected by all this… By that man lying dead just in front of them all… By that man he just spoke moments ago and that the murder was partially his fault… He then remembered Megumi. The journalist. Lee certainly didn't want to have his picture with a murdered person in front of him… or to have his dancing picture next to one with Sep and a bloody knife over Maeda… He went to the closest Mishima security guard and asked him to get all the journalists out of here to not create scandal. Though it was a procedure that had already been done… After this, Lee looked once more toward Sep. He wanted to reassure him, to tell him he didn't hate him over this… But he could not go to Sep and tell him that he still cared for him, since he would look like a culprit as well, mostly when the real one was Kazuya… He could not ask Sep why he did it, he already knew…

Sep winced at Bruce's strong hold on him, but didn't put up any fight. He dropped to his knees and kept his eyes lowered, making sure not to look at Lee again.

Kazuya watched Lee working to contain the damage. Good. He was thinking clearly at least. Kazuya at last stepped forward and stopped before Bruce and Sep. Commissioner Mochizuki hurried to his side.

"Really," Kazuya said to Sep in Japanese. "You couldn't wait until after my father's memorial to settle your differences? It's most disgraceful to tarnish his memory like this. Maeda was a great friend and asset to the Mishima Zaibatsu. I am deeply upset by this turn of events."

Sep kept his gaze still dutifully lowered.

"I'll see him prosecuted, Mishima-sama!" Mochizuki said, appearing from around Kazuya's arm to glower at Sep. "I have officers on the way right now to help out your security!"

"Fetch them right away, Commissioner," Kazuya said. The Commissioner bowed and hurried away, pushing through the crowd.

Kazuya touched Sep's chin, raising his face so that their eyes met. He gave him an almost imperceptible nod, then turned his back on them. He frowned when he saw his security escorting the press out of the hall. One very persistent woman ducked under a guard's arm and ran across the hall, pushing to get to Lee. She held out a tape recorder.

"Lee-san! Matsuo Megumi, independent journalist. Isn't this the man you were dancing with earlier? Did you know he was a murderer when you danced with him?" Zaibatsu security were running to catch up with Megumi as she fired her questions.

Looking at the exchange between Kazuya and Sep, Lee was sad for his previous dance partner. Of course Kazuya was doing it to cover everything up, but Sep was completely surrounded by hostile people and could not even understand what Kazuya was telling him… Though maybe it could be a way to get to him and talk to him… And what did that gesture mean? That small nod? But before Lee could do anything, Megumi was running towards him and asking him questions. Lee bowed to her and said,

"Please, Matsui-san, it is not the moment for this…" He then turned his back on her and left to go toward Sep and his brother. He then told Kazuya, "He does not understand Japanese, he told me. I could translate and tell him what you just said…"

The security guards caught up and each took one of Megumi's arms, dragging her away towards the exit.

"Is the murderer your boyfriend, Lee-san?" she called, as she was removed.

Kazuya's lip curled with distaste as he regarded that journalist. If only Bruce wasn't preoccupied, he'd do a better job of shutting her up than those guards were. Kazuya glanced at Lee when he came up to him.

"No," he said, in an undertone, so as not to be overheard. "It doesn't matter. I said it for others, not for him. It's better not to associate with him. People are already talking." He then thought of the thin ice he was probably on with keeping Lee compliant. Maybe if he got a few words in with the gangster, he'd be easier to handle later. "Can he speak Mandarin?" Kazuya asked Lee. "Too many people know English here. If he does, you can tell him I will take care of his sentence once things have died down, I won't keep him in for too long. Hurry up though, the police are coming. And don't act too friendly." Kazuya nodded in response to a wave on the other side of the throne room. Commissioner Mochizuki was directing a group of uniformed officers to secure the room, and a number to stay at his side as he walked toward the crime scene.

Lee ignored Megumi, still asking questions in the distance, and only listened at Kazuya. He was at first disappointed with his brother's answer but he was relieved when Kazuya finally said that he could talk to Sep.

"Yes, he can. I'll tell him." He then left to go to Sep while discreetly taking the paper with Sep's triad group phone number on it from his pocket, as if he was only putting his hands in his pockets. Once in front of the young man, he stopped and crossed his arms, looking stern. Though the presence of the corpse nearby made him feel a bit dizzy at first, he was still a bit conflicted, Sep was the one who killed that man... But then he was raised into this... Like he himself probably would have been if he had not been adopted and taught higher and more acceptable crimes... but still... Sep just killed a man…

Holding the paper under his crossed arms while taking his serious air again, he said in Mandarin,

"Look at me."

Sep looked up at Lee from where he was kneeling. That change in Lee's tone distressed him. Lee suddenly seemed much more like his stern brother than the charming young man from earlier. He blinked though when he realised Lee had spoken Mandarin. He wondered if it was safe to reply.

"I'm sorry," he replied in Mandarin. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you. And I'm sorry that-..." He glanced over at the body. Then he looked back at Lee and fell quiet.

Kazuya meanwhile went over to Maeda's corpse. He turned the body over with his foot, so that a slash was visible across Maeda's neck. He wrinkled his nose and summoned a security guard to take a pulse and check the man was certainly deceased.

Lee kept his serious air and said, "You won't stay in for too long, my brother will take care of it once things have died down." He then discreetly showed Sep the paper with the phone number from under his arm so that only Sep could see, then wrapped it in his hand and held it against him, his face losing just for a second his harshness before he turned serious again and said while shaking his head as if he said 'no' in a disappointed way and people may think he was breaking up or something, "I won't forget you and our dance. I'll call."

But he lost his harsh expression once more and gained a slightly troubled one when he noticed Kazuya pushing Maeda with his feet. It was disrespectful... and again that man had just been murdered... by the two persons he cared most about in the room... But he once more took a stern face to hide all of this... He did wonder how sorry Sep was about the murder or just that he disappointed him... Maybe they would talk about it later but not here and now... It would serve nothing... And the police were coming... He also did wonder if he should leave, but waited a moment in case Sep had something to say... but he would have to leave soon, he didn't want to be stuck with the police...

A relief spread over Sep's face when he heard Lee's words. All the commotion around him happening in a language he didn't know had him dejected and quiet. He didn't fully understand whether Lee was angry with him or forgiving him. Lee didn't seem to cut all ties with him though, and he did have some gentler expressions, so maybe it was to save face in front of the crowd. He didn't dare try and smile if that was the case.

"Thank you. And thank you to your brother. I'm sorry to cause trouble for you. It's the way it had to be," Sep said quietly.

Mochizuki and his police officers arrived and began fanning out to take hold of the situation. "No fraternising with the perpetrator!" he snapped at Lee. Two officers in uniform came to relieve Bruce and take Sep into custody. One pushed Sep flat onto his front and knelt on his back whilst the other cuffed him.

The way it had to be... Those words made Lee feel very sad. For a lot of reasons, for the sad life Sep could have had, for the loss of a life now, for the direction the Mishima Zaibatsu was still going in... But he still hid his sadness and looked at the commissioner with a haughty air. He also was sad that this man was now scorning him since he wanted to be appreciated by everyone and somehow, with that man being a friend of Heihachi, it was a bit like that appreciation came from his father, but it was lost... But anyway, he didn't care... Well, he cared a bit... a bit too much about everything... And now all that violence... What happened and what was now happening...

"He's definitely dead," Kazuya said, looking down carelessly at Maeda. Mochizuki came to his side.

"A single knife to the throat. Our killer is no stranger to murder it seems. Where's the weapon?"

"Do your job. It's not mine to know these things." Kazuya looked at the blood-splattered flower display and Heihachi's portrait. It suited Heihachi more like this, he thought bitterly. "Get this out of here." He said to one of his security. "Destroy the flowers and clean everything up. Leave the ashes as they are." Kazuya looked over at Lee who had turned his back on it all and was now leaving the room. He hoped he'd had enough of a goodbye that he wouldn't sulk about this later.

Well, Kazuya thought, at least the memorial is going well, apart from Chaolan's mood. He'd got rid of that irritating businessman and that troublesome potential love interest who thought he could lead Lee into daring action without Kazuya's consent. The police were on his side and, even though all his guests had run screaming from the room, it at least hadn't been because of him. Or not that they knew anyway. It was a relatively successful day, all in all.

"Get the body and the criminal out of here," Kazuya said to Mochizuki. Mochizuki bowed to him. "Oh, and, Commissioner?" Mochizuki looked up. "Don't you ever talk to my brother that way again or I'll speak to the Prime Minister and have you fired." Actually he hadn't met the Prime Minister yet, but they'd exchanged a phone call and Kazuya felt fairly confident he could come through on that threat.

The Commissioner paled and nodded quickly. When he turned back round and began ordering his men again, he was even more snappish with them. Kazuya watched as his security dismantled the shrine and the police zipped Maeda's body into a black bag. Sep was marched away in handcuffs across the hall. Kazuya surveyed the scene with disinterest, then beckoned Bruce over.

After he let the police take the murderer, Bruce came to Kazuya's side. He bowed to him and waited for any orders Kazuya had.

Lee closed the door of the bathroom he went to hide into and thought he would never open it again. He was all confused with everything that had happened… It had begun on a bad note, then had been excellent when he encountered Sep, then turned horrible… And again the worse was that it was his brother and his, not exactly boyfriend but, dance partner and excellent advisor, that committed the murder, and he stood there and let them do it… But he didn't really know before and of course the thing he was telling himself was that it had been the same with Heihachi anyway and maybe, in fact really just maybe, Maeda-san was as bad as their father, but nothing was pointing to that… He was a victim of the Mishima Zaibatsu first and now was the victim of the Mishima Zaibatsu again… How he did his own business was not mentioned at all… Lee knew that it was just to justify the crime that he was trying to find something… The man had prejudices against them and was not likable to them but in fact, it was a pure murder…

"Go outside," Kazuya told Bruce. "The press will be there. Inform them that there was a disagreement between two guests. Maeda Saburou is rumoured to have been doing business with Hong Kong Triads and there was a disagreement. The Zaibatsu won't be taking questions at this time." Kazuya looked at Bruce. "I'd get Chaolan to do it ordinarily, but he's been all over the place today. He gets too emotional about this sort of thing. Just say what I told you to say and then come back. Oh, and make sure you know what precinct they're taking our gangster to. Ideally I need a spy in there. Yau better keep his mouth shut or I'll shut it permanently." Kazuya wondered how long Lee was going to hide away for. He gave an irritable sigh. "Bring a car round the back and send someone to fetch my brother. We're leaving. I don't want to be seen around this mess."

Bruce nodded and went outside to meet the press. Meanwhile Lee didn't know if he should think more over all of this or try to distract his thoughts with some more superficial subjects. As he was pondering over this, going from Maeda's dead body to unicorns, robots, and cars, from Kazuya's orders and attitude to his dance with Sep and how liberating it had been, from what Sep did and his sad gaze when he looked at him, to Maeda dead on the floor, someone knocked on the door. Then a voice said,

"Lee-san, you need to come out. Mishima-sama is leaving and he is waiting for you."

Lee sighed and wondered what to do. Should he tell Kazuya about the fact that he didn't like what had happened? Would Kazuya be scary like the other time? But then, they could not let things like this happen... Kazuya did not get rid of their father for that... But Lee was already tired of all this and wanted to flee from it... He looked at himself in the mirror, replaced his vest, checked if the phone number paper was still in his pocket. It was, and it made him think again of the things that happened today, so he left it in his pocket, but was relieved it was still there even if, for now, he didn't want to see it... He combed his hair and took a pose. He was nice looking... No wonder Sep and Matsui-san and many others thought he was hot... He smiled, trying to look relaxed, and now looking presentable enough, he opened the door and said,

"Excellent. Thank you. Where is the car?"

"At the back so that no journalists can annoy you. I'll take you to it."

Lee followed the security officer while still getting assailed by many thoughts...

Kazuya had his arms folded and was tapping his foot irritably when Lee finally appeared. He wanted to snap at him for running off, but held his temper. He was tired of the day's theatrics and tired of pretending to care about Heihachi, and tired of pretending to a room full of Heihachi's colleagues that he hadn't beaten the old man to death with his own hands and rolled his body off a cliff. Everything today had been one long fake interaction. Even many of the things he'd said to Lee had felt fake. He'd said some things Lee needed to hear whilst concealing truths from him. He'd manipulated him and got what he wanted from him. Today had been a success, but he still felt tired, and fake. Kazuya dropped some of his stern expression when Lee came to his side. He walked with him to the back exit, where a black limousine had pulled up, out of view of the main street and all the guests.

"Let's go home," he said.

Lee noticed Kazuya and thought that his brother also looked tired. Maybe he really should talk about the direction the Zaibatsu was taking, about the murder, about Sep, all another day. He wasn't in his right state of mind to argue convincingly and Kazuya probably wasn't in a state to hear about all that either. They both needed some rest to see all this with a clear spirit... Maybe he would go drive around to forget later, or maybe he would just go to sleep with some more pills... a thing Sep would not be able to do while in the hands of police... and certainly not Maeda-san... But he needed to stop thinking about this... He did wonder how Kazuya was really taking all of this, he must be really stressed... but again he would ask tomorrow... He nodded at Kazuya and said,

"Yes."

Kazuya didn't realise how glad he was not to have Lee hostile and arguing with him. When Lee had run off just now, he was sure it was because everything had got too much for him. He was steeling himself to have to put down his many objections when he returned. When Lee seemed more subdued, Kazuya let out a slow breath of air. He could feel there were many things unsaid between them, but he was glad that, for now at least, he could just set all that aside.

The car doors were opened for them, and Kazuya got in. He closed his eyes and leaned back on the comfortable leather. When he shut his eyes, he could see Heihachi sitting opposite him. He was just as he'd been in life, with his mocking, sneering expression. Can't even make it through a public memorial without resorting to violence. Kazuya opened his eyes to banish that ghost. He rested his forehead against the cool car window.

Lee also leaned back on his side of the comfortable leather. He still was confused because the memories of his dance with Sep were sweet and he didn't want to forget them but the murder was far less sweet... Yet he wanted to remember the dance without going to the murder but he could not separate those two... He looked at Kazuya, wondering if he should say something but then noticed that Kazuya seemed a bit troubled. Was it the murder? Lee wondered how Kazuya would wake up tomorrow with that murder on his hands... But again, they would discuss all this tomorrow... Lee wanted to say something casual to relieve them both but nothing about today was really casual...

"So, you told me I would get to choose what we eat?"

Kazuya's brow uncreased. He sat up a little and tried to better look the part of a responsible older brother. "Yes. Whatever you want, I'll order it made. Any thoughts?"

In fact Lee still had no idea what, he just said that to relax the ambiance... He quickly wondered what, maybe Sichuan food would be good... but then Chinese food made him think of Sep... So he said,

"I would like something exotic... something we don't normally eat, or have never eaten before... Maybe Brazilian food?"

"Brazilian?" Kazuya pondered this. "Alright. I don't know anything about Brazilian food - something we haven't had before is good. We can do whatever we please now, try whatever we want. Anything we couldn't have in our childhood, we can have it now." Those thoughts put Kazuya in a better mood. He gave Lee a small smile.

Lee gave Kazuya a small smile back. They needed something to get out of their usual life and think about something other than their actual problems... Even if it was kind of difficult since Lee could not think two minutes without having any thoughts about the murder and Sep... And he wasn't very hungry, but they needed to delay the conversation and put it off until tomorrow... Once they were both more relaxed...

Kazuya gave another sigh. Despite the smile, he knew Lee was edging around the unspoken words in the air. He looked out the window.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Lee was surprised by Kazuya's question. He wasn't ready for this. He was still too troubled to find the right words or stay calm... But then maybe they did need to talk about it now... He could feel all those emotions he tried to suppress come back to the surface.

"Why?" he asked. "Why did you do that? I'm the one who presented a gangster to you... I'm sorry... But I could have talked to that man! Do you feel bad? How do you feel? We shouldn't resort to this, we were free from this... We committed a murder..." Lee knew he presented his arguments in a very bad way, it was full of conflicting emotions... But he was trying not to break down and cry...

Kazuya looked at Lee. He was level and calm. "You said you could not persuade him. I already suspected that he'd be hard to bring around. He was infatuated with Heihachi's legacy. Perhaps I should have kept you out of it. It doesn't concern you, so you needn't upset yourself over it. If not your gangster, I would have used someone else to do it." A flicker of something, maybe amusement or irritability moved over his face. "How do I feel? What does that have to do with it? You are aware that I killed our father, aren't you? Ordering some gangster to kill off a competitor hardly compares to that."

"It's not the same thing... You had history with our father..." Though Lee still had some problems with it too while also understanding Kazuya and even feeling relieved... while sad. It was still really confusing... but still understandable... "You barely knew that man... You had a small history with him but... not enough to feel we needed to suppress him... We should have just let him go if we couldn't convince him... So you... You don't feel bad? And how do you feel... for our father? You said it was harder... Are you okay?"

Kazuya had no desire to talk about feelings at all, and Lee's words sounded dangerously close to an admonition. He was the CEO, and the eldest, and the head of the family: Lee had no right to question him or object to his methods. But it had only been a few weeks, and Kazuya didn't want to drive a stake between them so early. He could fix this. Lee just needed leading around to the situation. He'd be his right hand in the end and support him.

"Let him go? Chaolan, do you not understand what was happening in that room? Those were vultures circling a corpse. I had to convince them the Zaibatsu was alive, or they'd come and take pieces of us for themselves. People had to leave that memorial convinced of my strength and power. They had to be afraid to cross me, but also glad to have my patronage. No one could walk away. Once one person thinks they can walk away from their obligations to the Zaibatsu, how many more would follow? I did what I had to, unclouded by emotion. I don't feel any regret, if that's what you're asking, not about this, and not about Oyaji."

Lee listened to Kazuya and wondered how the vultures could have taken pieces of the Zaibatsu by letting one of them get away... They could still be convinced of Kazuya and the Zaibatsu's strength and power without a murder... That no one could walk away sounded really scary... Though indeed Kazuya was right... one would leave and they would all leave... unless they had something holding them to the Zaibatsu...

"Kazuya,... we could have held them with other things... not just fear... I had not tried enough with Maeda-san... I must say I was tired and thought I would have more time to convince him... But... will he be the last? Now we can start anew, we do not need to be like Otousama..."

Kazuya's eyes narrowed at the mention of being like Heihachi. He could feel his temper building. He took a few slow incensed breaths in and out through his nose, trying to remain calm.

"All I hear are excuses. Next time, you will do better to do as I ask of you, and know what may happen if you fail. You knew this memorial was important. I was not ordering you about just because I like the sound of my own voice. I gave you important tasks. Perhaps you think I asked too much of you." He looked at Lee sharply. Then he returned his gaze forward. "What methods I employ in the future will depend on the situation. Do you think that makes me like Heihachi?" He asked this with an edge of something dangerous in his voice, though it also hovered near mocking.

Lee felt cold at the mention of what would happen if he failed. It happened with Mister Chang, now with Maeda-san... So each time he failed, someone would die? But indeed, the event was important and he did not give his full hundred percent. He had been too jealous and ashamed at the start to begin on a good note and then his dance gave him more confidence but sent so many people away... Thinking of this, Lee became angry. Why did his dance with Sep offend so many people? Okay it may not have been the time and place for it, but he knew they also were offended because of something else... Though for Lee it was important. He had freed himself from something he didn't even know he could or should... But to be free to dance or love whoever he wished was so liberating... Of course, he won't let the ladies down as Matsui-san may fear but he now also had more choices... Yet he wasn't free in every way... That threat Kazuya just told him outraged him very much... What did Kazuya mean by 'asked too much of him'? He would put him in an even lower position than secretary? And that tone... Lee didn't know if he should act defiantly or shut up... Tired by the day, he then said,

"You may not be like our father, but you do employ methods that look a lot like his..."

"I did what I had to to solidify my position and power," Kazuya said coldly. "You think my methods are like Heihachi's? You think he would have defended you after what you did today? You'd be lucky if he didn't punish you in front of the whole room for your audacity. But instead of being grateful to me, you always have to pick holes in everything I do."

Lee was a bit embarrassed by the reprimand and lowered his head. Kazuya was right, Heihachi would certainly not have protected him like Kazuya did... He would have scolded him and humiliated him in front of everyone... And maybe even thrown him out of the family...

"You're right. You're not like our father... I do owe you a lot today... But I still don't like that we had to resort to murder to strengthen the Zaibatsu... I feel as bad as when Otousama was ordering us to do things that made us feel corrupt..." Lee lifted his head and looked at Kazuya. "Kazuya, we can let go of all the things our father did to us. We can be happy and free. We should not go into those murder and crime problems... I'm extremely grateful that you saved us but now we should just enjoy the Zaibatsu. There was an example today and everybody else will understand, no need for any other murders."

Kazuya calmed a little when Lee said he was right and seemed more apologetic. "Today was a necessity. I don't intend to make such decisions idly." He looked at Lee with a gentler expression. "I won't make you do the sorts of things Oyaji made you do. You don't have to feel corrupt. I want you at the face of the Zaibatsu, not involved in any of those more underhand tactics. You're good at talking to people, and people like looking at you. Oyaji was a fool not to see your strengths and to send you to carry out such crude tactics. You won't have to with me."

Lee thought that even today may not have been a necessity - there were other ways, but again it was done and maybe indeed it will keep the others in line... But he hoped he would forget the man dead on the floor soon, he kept seeing him over and over... He listened to Kazuya and when his brother said at the face of the Zaibatsu, Lee wondered if he would be something other than a secretary... He smiled a bit when Kazuya said that people liked looking at him since it was flattering but again, he wondered if he should put the subject of the position on the table once more ... Maybe not so soon... but again, if he always pushed the subject aside, he'd never leave that secretary position...

"So... you want me to be at the face of the Zaibatsu... Does it mean you intend to give me another position?"

Kazuya's eyebrows descended again and he looked contemptuously at Lee. Lee always just wanted more. No matter what Kazuya said, Lee was always thinking of what he could gain from the situation and his words. If he weren't so tired, maybe he could have thought about his answer, and said something that better spurred Lee into working for him, but as it was, Kazuya was frustrated and the day's events had worn him down.

"Must you always only think of yourself," he snapped. "I have an entire corporation to think of, and you're always badgering me about your own position! Maybe I want you in a different position, but you're always too incapable to make the choice worthwhile! You're always whining about your ambitions, and instead of showing me you're indispensable, I just have to clear up your disasters! You failed to win me Maeda, and your stupid dance will be all over the headlines tomorrow, and now you're asking for a promotion? I know what you're good at but I'm not going to give you some powerful position when all you show me is incompetence. I said I wouldn't make you do the work Heihachi did, and I'll continue to use you like I did today to win me allies, but if you can't get it right, I don't see why you deserve anything other than what you've got."

Lee froze at the answer. He may have imagined Kazuya would say no but he had not expected such a long scolding... He didn't know how to react, he felt partly sad, partly angry, somehow indeed he did fail at everything but he did have talents to occupy a better position and should already have had that better position. But the fact that he didn't, made him sulk and somehow work less efficiently to win that place he should have had from the start... And now he was troubled as to what attitude to show Kazuya, he probably should not show his anger and sulking but he could not either grin and accept everything happily... He looked ahead and said,

"Fine." It probably looked a bit too much like sulking but anyway...

"Fine? That's all you have to say?" Kazuya folded his arms. "Fine. I don't know why you have to still be so childish about everything. I have other things to worry about than just you and your pride and your endless demands. I have to make all those people believe I can do what Heihachi did. I have to sit through their simpering, glowing praises for him and pretend like he's some hero, when I hate him. I hate him so much and now there's no one to even direct my hatred at. I just have to pretend like everything is fine, like he was some model father! Every time they say his name I want to punch someone or be sick, or both, and the only person that knows what that's like is just-!" Kazuya turned away and looked sharply out the window. The Tokyo suburbs had given way to countryside, and tall dark trees lined the road they drove down. The evening sun glimmered through the branches. "Well, whatever," he muttered, getting his temper under control again. "I don't care. I can build this corporation to be ten times what it was under Heihachi. I'll do it single-handedly if I have to."

Lee was still sulking until Kazuya mentioned how he had to act toward Heihachi and his admirers and how he let him down... He then felt guilty. He was indeed unhappy with the position he had but he had indeed been very selfish... He put a hand on Kazuya's shoulder and said,

"Kaz, I'm sorry. You did live so much today and so many days since... and even before. I was indeed selfish. I was tired with the day and the murder didn't help my temper, but you did indeed live so much and I didn't do anything to help you or support you... I'm sorry. I won't harass you anymore tonight."

Kazuya regretted saying all that. He didn't care so much about keeping his temper, but he had said a few more things than he intended. He didn't want to look emotional or weak. He was so tired of pretending in front of all those people though. How many times had he talked about living up to Heihachi's legacy today? He could almost feel the weight of Heihachi's body in his arms again as he tried to push it from him, just kick it those last few centimetres and roll it off that cliff the way had been done to him. No one in that room would ever understand that and what it had meant to him. Not even Lee. Kazuya blinked and looked at Lee when he put a hand on his shoulder. He felt relief at his touch and the familiar name he called him. He wished he could just collapse and let Lee look after them for now. But he had to show he meant to stay on top and stay in charge. And anyway, he wasn't the only one who'd been through a lot. Lee had had to face those people even whilst his pride hurt. He'd had to face them again when they scorned him and that dance, and Kazuya had stolen his moment of happiness from him by ordering his dance partner to work as an assassin. Kazuya took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

"I shouldn't have lost my temper. You did succeed at many things today. Despite everything, I have the police commissioner on my side, and an influential Triad gang too." He let out a sigh. He opened his eyes and looked at Lee. "We're both tired. I think we deserve our Brazilian dinner tonight, hm?"

Lee was glad that Kazuya told him he had succeeded at many things today though he wasn't sure of it anymore since everything resulted in a murder and most people scorning him, like that police commissioner, but he probably did. He'll need to remember what Sep told him before the dance... He was from the Mishima Zaibatsu and higher than those people... No need for their scorn... But still he had responsibilities in the Zaibatsu, to maybe try to not murder people and hire Triads but anyway he'll see to this later... Maybe later Kazuya will give him a good position and yes, he was still thinking about that - he probably was selfish, but also Sep told him that he was himself and special or something and that was already good enough... Lee suddenly missed Sep, before he also quickly saw him with his bloody knife... But his face so sad... He will have to call him and talk to him later, ask him how he was doing... He hoped he wasn't too mistreated... But another day... So many things to think about... But now yes, it was Brazilian dinner time... Lee smiled at Kazuya.

"Yes, I do wonder how it will taste..."

Kazuya looked at Lee. He could feel the heaviness of everything that had happened today weighing in the air between them. He could see some of those myriad troubles in Lee's eyes. He appreciated Lee smiling and trying to set it aside though. It was just like it had always been. Their life was always filled with trouble like this. Much worse things had happened in the past. The best thing to be done was to struggle in silence, and pretend there was nothing wrong at all, and focus on menial small things that they could share and enjoy with impunity. Well, no one would punish him anymore, at least. But... somehow it still felt like they were living under the same rules as they had under Heihachi. Those survival rules to just get through each day under him. Maybe they just weren't used to this new freedom yet. Maybe it would feel less like they were ignoring the big problems and living in the moment soon. Probably it was just the memorial that made him feel this way. And the stress of having to talk with Heihachi's old business partners. It was just the shadow of Heihachi hanging over them and making them bicker. Once Kazuya had solidified his position, and there were no more threats from business partners, and the police and the Russians and the Triads were onside, everything would be better. He'd only had that murder committed as a last resort - it wasn't like he'd have to order them regularly. And that Maeda had always been trouble. Heihachi had always said the only way to deal with him was forcefully. Kazuya gave Lee a grin.

"I'm sure it will taste excellent."