Jin
"What would you like to drink?"
I looked up at the flight attendent from my seat by the window. "Oh...uh...root beer's fine."
"We don't have root beer, sir," she said gently.
"Oh. Right." Duh. "Coke."
She wrote that down on a piece of paper before moving along.
I had an entire row to myself. As soon as I saved up the money, I bought myself a ticket from Brisbane to San Francisco, where I'd take a connecting flight to Japan. It was going to be a long flight. I tried to stay inconspicuous...I wanted to surprise good ol' Grandfather and Kazuya when I arrived. Of course, they'd probably be trying to kill each other as it is before I even got there. The tournament's supposed to start in a week. The last day I can sign up is two days prior to the beginning of the tournament. And I'd be going as a late entry. Oh well, I can't help it.
Before I left for the airport, I remembered to check my email. A message had been sent almost two weeks ago from Ling. She had gotten my email. She asked what exactly she was supposed to look for. Guess she figured out who I was. Or at least, took a really, really, really good guess. I made it so that she'd sort of be able to guess who I was, so she wouldn't freak out. I plan on meeting up with her when I get there, as soon as I can.
"Here you are, sir," the flight attendent came by with a tray of drinks. She grabbed a napkin, wrapped it around my soda as I pulled my tray table down.
"Thanks," I said, taking the plastic cup and setting it on my table.
She reached into her pocket and gave me a pack of peanuts. Then she went to the next person.
I stared out the window, watching the clouds below. It wouldn't be long before I'm back in Japan. Where...Where I used to live. I might visit Yakushima, where I used to live with Mom before she died. Mom. It's weird without her around. Even after all these years, I still miss her...
Grabbing a pillow and blanket, I settled in my seat on the flight from San Francisco to Japan. I had been flying for about an hour. A flight attendent walked by.
"Excuse me," I called out. She turned. "Do you have a newspaper I could read? Local or national paper is fine."
"Of course," she replied, smiling. A few minutes later, she came back with USA Today and the San Francisco Chronicle.
Once again, I had an entire row to myself. I turned on all three lights, reading the front page of the Chronicle. Nothing really interesting. I went to the business section. Printed in bold letters, 'Mishima Financial Empire hosts King of Iron Fist 4!'. Geez. Everywhere I go, it's Iron Fist 4 this or that. People swear Heihachi Mishima is a financial genius. I read the article, which gave some type of history behind Mishima Zaibatsu and the tournament.
" 'During Heihachi Mishima's extended vacation many years ago, Kazuya Mishima, his only son, assumed the position as CEO. It was during this time that the corporation had been allegedly involved in illegal activities, disrupting the economy as well as the ecosystem.'," I read quietly to myself. That's how Mom met Kazuya. She had been sent to investigate him because the zaibatsu was involved in the destruction of protected lands and unusual animal experiments... " 'Towards the end of The King of Iron Fist 2, Kazuya Mishima disappeared. The corporation was once again given to Heihachi Mishima. Many years had passed before MFE announced King of Iron Fist 3. During this time, Heihachi Mishima expanded his corporation, forming great alliances with other countries around the world. It became clear that Heihachi Mishima, like many good-doers, was interested in world peace.'," I paused. "What a bunch of crap..." I muttered before continuing, " 'The King of Iron Fist 3 commenced twenty years after the previous tournament. Although it did not receive the same level of publicity as its predecessors, it still gathered enthusiastic fighters from all over the globe. The King of Iron Fist 4 will begin in several days. The MFE is busy preparing for this phenomenal event. The prize is the empire itself upon defeating Heihachi Mishima. This will clearly be a tournament to remember.' " I skimmed the rest of the page, finding a picture of Kazuya Mishima with a complementary article. Judging by his looks, he seemed...older...a little bit older than the picture Mom kept of him stashed away in her closet. He was wearing sunglasses, which were lowered a bit, and he had a scar across his face. " 'Sources confirm that Kazuya Mishima, former CEO of Mishima Financial Empire, will be competing in this year's Iron Fist tournament. Winner of the first Iron Fist tournament, Kazuya disappeared shortly after the second tournament. Kazuya Mishima was reported to be one of the first few who had entered the fourth tournament. It is uncertain why he entered...However, it's been known for many years that strong tension existed between father and son. Kazuya Mishima's intentions with this tournament have yet to be seen.' "
I viciously shoved the paper into the seat pocket. Damn those two. Selfish, ruthless fools who've spent their entire lives torturing each other. What kind of existence is that? I huddled in my corner of the plane, my hood over my head, leaning against the window.
I'll never forget the day he shot me. What kind of grandfather would do that to his own grandson? Why the deception? He had been a decent grandfather over the years. Far from perfect, but I never had the feeling that he'd shoot me. The Mishimas are a twisted family. And I hate them. Both of them. Even if I don't know Kazuya...I still hate him. He was so stupid...so weak...he couldn't overcome what had taken over him. And the stupid thing had to pass onto me. Me! Dammit...even if Mom loved him, he obviously didn't love her back. Otherwise, he would have been able to deal with his issues.
Sometimes...It's hard to even look in the mirror. I see him, and I'll break the mirror. Why did he have to be my father? Why couldn't it be someone else? If it had been someone else, I could have had a normal life. I wouldn't have to deal with back-stabbing grandfathers or a life incognito.
When I get there, I swear I'll make them pay...
"What would you like to drink?"
I looked up at the flight attendent from my seat by the window. "Oh...uh...root beer's fine."
"We don't have root beer, sir," she said gently.
"Oh. Right." Duh. "Coke."
She wrote that down on a piece of paper before moving along.
I had an entire row to myself. As soon as I saved up the money, I bought myself a ticket from Brisbane to San Francisco, where I'd take a connecting flight to Japan. It was going to be a long flight. I tried to stay inconspicuous...I wanted to surprise good ol' Grandfather and Kazuya when I arrived. Of course, they'd probably be trying to kill each other as it is before I even got there. The tournament's supposed to start in a week. The last day I can sign up is two days prior to the beginning of the tournament. And I'd be going as a late entry. Oh well, I can't help it.
Before I left for the airport, I remembered to check my email. A message had been sent almost two weeks ago from Ling. She had gotten my email. She asked what exactly she was supposed to look for. Guess she figured out who I was. Or at least, took a really, really, really good guess. I made it so that she'd sort of be able to guess who I was, so she wouldn't freak out. I plan on meeting up with her when I get there, as soon as I can.
"Here you are, sir," the flight attendent came by with a tray of drinks. She grabbed a napkin, wrapped it around my soda as I pulled my tray table down.
"Thanks," I said, taking the plastic cup and setting it on my table.
She reached into her pocket and gave me a pack of peanuts. Then she went to the next person.
I stared out the window, watching the clouds below. It wouldn't be long before I'm back in Japan. Where...Where I used to live. I might visit Yakushima, where I used to live with Mom before she died. Mom. It's weird without her around. Even after all these years, I still miss her...
Grabbing a pillow and blanket, I settled in my seat on the flight from San Francisco to Japan. I had been flying for about an hour. A flight attendent walked by.
"Excuse me," I called out. She turned. "Do you have a newspaper I could read? Local or national paper is fine."
"Of course," she replied, smiling. A few minutes later, she came back with USA Today and the San Francisco Chronicle.
Once again, I had an entire row to myself. I turned on all three lights, reading the front page of the Chronicle. Nothing really interesting. I went to the business section. Printed in bold letters, 'Mishima Financial Empire hosts King of Iron Fist 4!'. Geez. Everywhere I go, it's Iron Fist 4 this or that. People swear Heihachi Mishima is a financial genius. I read the article, which gave some type of history behind Mishima Zaibatsu and the tournament.
" 'During Heihachi Mishima's extended vacation many years ago, Kazuya Mishima, his only son, assumed the position as CEO. It was during this time that the corporation had been allegedly involved in illegal activities, disrupting the economy as well as the ecosystem.'," I read quietly to myself. That's how Mom met Kazuya. She had been sent to investigate him because the zaibatsu was involved in the destruction of protected lands and unusual animal experiments... " 'Towards the end of The King of Iron Fist 2, Kazuya Mishima disappeared. The corporation was once again given to Heihachi Mishima. Many years had passed before MFE announced King of Iron Fist 3. During this time, Heihachi Mishima expanded his corporation, forming great alliances with other countries around the world. It became clear that Heihachi Mishima, like many good-doers, was interested in world peace.'," I paused. "What a bunch of crap..." I muttered before continuing, " 'The King of Iron Fist 3 commenced twenty years after the previous tournament. Although it did not receive the same level of publicity as its predecessors, it still gathered enthusiastic fighters from all over the globe. The King of Iron Fist 4 will begin in several days. The MFE is busy preparing for this phenomenal event. The prize is the empire itself upon defeating Heihachi Mishima. This will clearly be a tournament to remember.' " I skimmed the rest of the page, finding a picture of Kazuya Mishima with a complementary article. Judging by his looks, he seemed...older...a little bit older than the picture Mom kept of him stashed away in her closet. He was wearing sunglasses, which were lowered a bit, and he had a scar across his face. " 'Sources confirm that Kazuya Mishima, former CEO of Mishima Financial Empire, will be competing in this year's Iron Fist tournament. Winner of the first Iron Fist tournament, Kazuya disappeared shortly after the second tournament. Kazuya Mishima was reported to be one of the first few who had entered the fourth tournament. It is uncertain why he entered...However, it's been known for many years that strong tension existed between father and son. Kazuya Mishima's intentions with this tournament have yet to be seen.' "
I viciously shoved the paper into the seat pocket. Damn those two. Selfish, ruthless fools who've spent their entire lives torturing each other. What kind of existence is that? I huddled in my corner of the plane, my hood over my head, leaning against the window.
I'll never forget the day he shot me. What kind of grandfather would do that to his own grandson? Why the deception? He had been a decent grandfather over the years. Far from perfect, but I never had the feeling that he'd shoot me. The Mishimas are a twisted family. And I hate them. Both of them. Even if I don't know Kazuya...I still hate him. He was so stupid...so weak...he couldn't overcome what had taken over him. And the stupid thing had to pass onto me. Me! Dammit...even if Mom loved him, he obviously didn't love her back. Otherwise, he would have been able to deal with his issues.
Sometimes...It's hard to even look in the mirror. I see him, and I'll break the mirror. Why did he have to be my father? Why couldn't it be someone else? If it had been someone else, I could have had a normal life. I wouldn't have to deal with back-stabbing grandfathers or a life incognito.
When I get there, I swear I'll make them pay...
