Back at the Yamadas' home, Hwoarang, Dai and their hosts sat drinking tea. A far cry from the last tournament, he thought, when he had been slumming it with various dubious characters around the grimier areas of Tokyo.

Things change. I've changed.

Every time he considered his situation, he wondered what his mentor Baek would have made of it all. AWOL from the army, in love with a one woman army (who he knew nothing about), and currently staying with a strange, slightly surreal couple in the forest, who just happened to be ninjas.

A loud polyphonic tone interrupted his musings, and Dai pulled out her phone. She looked at the Yamadas meaningfully before excusing herself form the room. Hwoarang once more felt out of place.

Reiko began. What do you plan to do after the tournament?

Hwoarang shrugged. Keep travelling, I guess. I can't go home, and I don't think they'll wind down the search for me for a few years, so I'll have to keep on the move.

Reiko looked at her husband briefly, before glancing back at the young Korean. There was definitely something going on...

Ever thought of getting a new job? Mr Yamada asked conversationally. Settle down, perhaps?

Hwoarang burst out laughing. No, not really. I actually kind of liked the army, but...

He shrugged. I don't know. I got to travel, and I liked successfully carrying out missions, when I didn't have a superior breathing down my neck, but there was something missing.

Again, the couple exchanged glances. Reiko took a sip from her cup, and gazed keenly at Hwoarang.

Tell me...have you ever heard of the Devil Gene'? she said, matching her husband's conversational tone. Hwoarang frowned.

No...why? What is it?

Just a little bit of genetic coding, Mr Yamada said, almost lazily. Gives people supernatural strength and stamina, and the ability to survive, well...

Gunshots, falls into volcanoes...that sort of thing.

Hwoarang frowned, a memory tugging at his mind. Where was this conversation going? Suddenly, he remembered a comment Dai had made, only days ago...

Kazuya Mishima is dead - or is supposed to be. Heihachi threw him into a volcano twenty years ago.

********

You did what?!

I sent certain files to Nina Williams and Lei Wu Long, she said, matter-of-factly. It's all there in my report-

Yes!! I know! Jeremy's voice bellowed. What I want to know is...WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING?

I thought we were supposed to be the good guys, Jeremy, Dai said, allowing her tone to frost over slightly. I don't see how saving a man's life, and bringing down a Mafia crime syndicate is contrary to our own aims.

You deliberately went outside your mandate! You could have risked our own mission!
Dai rubbed her brow. You know what, Jeremy? I don't care. It's me risking my life out here, my arse on the line, and if I think that I can help someone in the course of what I do, I will. If you still have a problem with that, sue me.

*******

Hwoarang looked at the ninjas, who were in return looking at him, with an air of expectation.

Kazuya Mishima...he has this Devil Gene'? he ventured. The couple looked satisfied.

Very good, Mr. Yamada said. You see, people with this Devil Gene can be very dangerous, for obvious reasons. And there's always the threat of multinational corporations and governments seeking those that carry the gene...imagine if you could have a whole army of Devil Gene enhanced soldiers.

Fortunately, very few people carry the gene. And there are organisations that seek those people, to prevent them from becoming guinea pigs for nefarious companies and governments.

A realisation struck Hwoarang like a thunderbolt. Kazama's got the gene...that's why Dai's looking for him, and why she raided the Mishima Ziabatsu's offices. She works for one of those organisations.

He looked at the Yamadas. You work for the same organisation.

Reiko gave her husband a superior look. I told you he was smarter than he looks.

*******

I don't think I like your tone, young lady, Jeremy growled. Dai glared at the phone, as if the look would somehow transmit back to Jeremy.

Like I said, sir, that's your problem, she snapped back.

It's that Korean, isn't it?! He's a bad influence-

Jeremy, I'm twenty-two years old, not twelve! she said incredulously. And leave him out of this!

Listen, young lady, I suggest you give him a wide berth...I'd hate for you to be around when his superiors in the army catch up with him, Jeremy said coldly. Dai's eyes narrowed.

You wouldn't dare! You haven't-

Jeremy said threateningly. Dai felt adrenaline surge unpleasantly. Here was a man who had been there throughout her life, had been like a father to her - so much so that she had taken his surname...and now he was acting like a tyrant.

I think this conversation is ended. Goodbye, Ms Martin.

Dai slumped against the wall, tears in her eyes. There was confusion...and then there was anger.

*******

Basically, we provide Dai with back-up, Reiko explained. Our faces are too well known within the Mishima Ziabatsu, otherwise we'd be on missions with her.

Hwoarang paused, taking it all in. What will you do with Kazama once you've got him? And, he said, meeting their gaze, Why are you telling me all this?

With Jin Kazama, it depends what his intentions are. We will offer to help him. If he refuses our help-- the head of our order will then make a decision.

Reiko looked troubled by her own statement, and her husband took over.

Sometimes, it is decreed that some people are too dangerous to be allowed to roam freely. In those cases, they are either tagged, and watched...or, worse case scenario, contained.

Hwoarang asked. Reiko looked disgusted.

A fancy word for imprisonment, where they will be shackled in devices that would prevent them from accessing their powers.

You don't agree? Hwoarang said, surprised.

What gives one person the right to have such power over another? Reiko said softly. Jeremy is a good man, but he is firmly of the view that the welfare of the many outweighs that of the few...but the many can never know. We are a small group, and would be no match in a direct confrontation with the Mishima Ziabatsu. Our existence relies on secrecy.

Which again begs the question...why tell me? Hwoarang said.

For too long Dai has carried the burden alone. She's been our top agent for years, but she's more than that to us. She's family, Yamada said.

We don't want her to be alone anymore, Reiko added. We've seen the way you two are together, don't deny it- she said, smiling slightly at Hwoarang's reddening face. -We realised it before you did. Her loyalty to us, the fear of discovery, would prevent her from becoming close to anyone. We think you can be trusted, so we've told you - so she doesn't have to. Any blame will come down on us-

Reiko was cut short by the sound of shattering wood, and a broken phone skittered along the floor, plastic and wires dragging behind it. Following it, it was followed by an enraged Dai.

Reiko, Sensei, I'm sorry, she faltered. I can't do this anymore. I have to go.

Reiko stood and handed Dai another tea. She rubbed her shoulder comfortingly.

There, there dear. Was Jeremy-

DON'T...just don't talk to me about that man, Dai hissed venomously. Hwoarang, we'd better get going. There's some stuff I have to tell you-

About how you work for a secret organisation monitoring people that possess the Devil Gene and taking countermeasures against organisations that would misuse that power? he said in one breath. Dai halted mid-bluster, dropping her cup. Despite the seriousness of the atmosphere, Hwoarang nearly laughed - he had never, ever seen her truly dumbstruck. She turned to the Yamadas slowly, who looked a picture of innocence. Mr Yamada began whistling.

You...you told him?! she said, her mouth agape. Her sensei shrugged nonchalantly.

We thought you were never going to tell him, so...yes.

Not everything! Reiko grinned. Just the the stuff that will make Jeremy really, really pissed.

Mr Yamada held up the tray. More tea, anyone?