You think she's what?

Jeremy's clipped English accent roared down the phone line. Thousands of miles separated them, but Reiko still flinched. She shook her head, then shrugged at her husband.

Please Jeremy, calm down, she said softly. She's not a little girl anymore. She's faced more dangerous situations in her short life than most people do in a lifetime - situations that we've put her in. And each time, she accepted it, partly because it was necessary, but mainly because she trusted us. Would it really be so bad to trust her for a change?

Reiko could imagine Jeremy rubbing his brow with frustration, as he sighed heavily. Reiko, she has a job to do. She doesn't have time for this...involvement.

When will she have time, Jeremy? Reiko asked, uncharacteristic anger tinging her voice. Do you really think this is the life her mother wanted for her? To be treated like a soldier - like a weapon - for the rest of her life? Just point and aim her-

That's not fair Reiko! Jeremy protested. I want what's best for her. I don't think that forming a relationship with a Korean street punk during a vital operation like this one constitutes that, do you?

Well actually, yes! Reiko bellowed down the phone as her husband sighed. He gently prised the phone from her hand.

Jeremy. Forgive Reiko. She's emotional.

Finally, the voice of reason-

She's also right, the ninja interrupted. There was nothing but an astonished silence on the other end of the line. He continued his reasoning.

We cannot live her life for her. It's not up to us who she socialises with - it shouldn't be up to us. I'm glad she has found someone to connect with; remember, Jeremy, we won't always be there for her. We can do our best, but that's all we can do.

There was a pause before Jeremy responded. I suppose, he said resignedly, That I'll have to trust your judgment ...and Dai's.

It's all we can do, Jeremy, Mr Yamada said. I'll speak to you after Dai's won her fight tonight. Goodbye.

Mr Yamada slipped the phone into his pocket, and offered his hand to his still fuming wife. She accepted it, and he kissed her on her forehead

He is going to worry about her, dear, he said. He'll have to realise that she has to make her own decisions, be they for good or ill. I suppose he's just worried about history repeating itself...

If Kira hadn't of made that mistake, there would be no Dai, Reiko sighed. Everything happens for a reason.


*****


Heihachi Mishima sat in his private dojo, ostensibly meditating. However, the old man was far removed from the traditional Buddhist practice, long ago denouncing it as weak willed. He concentrated on silence to try and give himself the monomania to dominate all others.

In these times of reflection he also tried to be completely honest with himself. He had to admit that his advancing years were slowing him down; his mind and spirit still burned with the same desire, the same fire, but his body was starting to fail. That was why he had automatically set himself up as the final contender, rather than going through the tournament round by round as he had done in previous years.

It was also why he was seeking Jin Kazama.

During his scientists' research, Heihachi had discovered he lacked the Devil Gene' perhaps if he had it, it would extend his lifespan, give him renewed vigour. And if he combined it with the DNA recovered from Toshin...

He sneered. Surely then no one, not even his upstart son Kazuya, would be able to stop him.

The thought of Kazuya made him frown. The boy had always been trouble, a wellspring of power and a tumult of emotions barely kept in check. Whereas Heihachi was cool and calculating, Kazuya was fiery and impulsive...and never knew when to let go of a grudge.

When Heihachi threw his son into the volcano, it wasn't simple petty minded vengeance in response to Kazuya's similar action two years previous. No, it was because he knew Kazuya was too dangerous, too unpredictable to be allowed to live.

And now Kazuya was back. He shook his head, feeling grudging admiration for his boy. Devil gene or no, surviving a fall of several hundred feet into an active volcano was no mean feat. Likewise, his grandson Jin had survived an assassination attempt that involved several guns and a lot of bullets.

Now, he knew, they would both be after him; Kazuya out of sheer bloody minded fury, and Jin out of that nauseating sense of self-righteousness that he always possessed. Heihachi doubted that even near death could dim that.

His mouth pulled into a broad smile. Let them come. He was old, but he was still a formidable fighter. And if that failed...

Well, even if he lost, the deck was firmly stacked in his favour. Over the years he had learnt that honour was for weak minded fools that had no concept of power. One way or another, he would dominate.

He turned his thoughts to the company reports he had received that day. His data labs had been raided - probably by G-Corp, trying to recover their stolen data. Unusually, they had sent in only two agents, although both were highly skilled. What disturbed him that all the CCTV data was corrupted, and that not a single witness could recall any specific detail about their appearance or manner of escape. Some new form of airborne chemical, perhaps, that caused localised amnesia. But how could a drug be so specific? The witnesses could remember practically everything, just not anything important.

Intelligence had been tracking a young woman who they believed was part of some anti-Mishima group. The agents had lost the trail after she escaped from her hotel - she did not return. Heihachi stroked his chin thoughtfully. This girl was obviously very resourceful - could she be one of the agents who broke into his labs?

He dismissed the thought. All of this was irrelevant. Every time a government had come close to prosecuting the Ziabatsu, he had found a way out, whether it was through bribes, legal technicalities or straight out assassination of witnesses. He may not be in possession of the Devil Gene', but he knew he was untouchable.

Let them come, he said to himself.