Any luck?
Dai shook her head. She doesn't know anything. I get the impression she left before the fight was finished.
Must've left quickly, Hwoarang commented. He took Dai's hand as they began walking, and smiled at her. The Mystic Ninjas called. They managed to calm Jeremy down, so it seems he's not gonna get my ass busted.
Dai chuckled. The Mystic Ninjas'. I like that. She looked at Hwoarang. I don't want you to get the wrong impression about Jeremy. He's a good man, he's just...
Hwoarang finished. Most fathers usually are.
Dai smiled back at him. He understood.
She pushed her raven locks from her face, blowing at the remaining strands. She turned on one heel to face Hwoarang, her coat swirling behind her.
Sooo..where do you think Jin would be? she asked. He's got no family to go to, his only friend is terrified for, and possibly of him, and...ah, forget it.
Hwoarang said, slightly puzzled. Giving up?
Dai shrugged. There's no point trying to find Jin. The Mishima Ziabatsu has been looking for him for the past two years, and their resources far outweigh ours. He's not going to be in the city, because there's too many people about-
-But he could get lost in the crowd, Hwoarang suggested. But then again, after what happened with his fight, he'll probably be trying to stay away from people...to protect them.
Dai brushed Hwoarang's cheek. she said, Are smarter than you look.
And you, he replied, mimicking her tone, Are lousy at giving compliments.
Why, thank you, she grinned. He pulled her into a kiss, a sensation which still made her heart soar. As they walked out of the park, she leaned her head on his shoulder. Looking down, he kissed her affectionately on the top of her head.
Let's check out a sports bar, see if they've got any tournament coverage, Hwoarang suggested. Maybe we can see if Kazuya Mishima won his bout.
Oh, he'll have won it all right, she said darkly. I'd bet on it.
*********
You'll find what you're looking for...or it'll find you.
Steve remembered those words, the goosebumps rising on his skin, and not just because of the cool hospital air. He sat next to the unconscious young woman, looking at her battered form. Barely any of her body had escaped the vicious onslaught of Jin Kazama, but she was recovering.
They thought he knew her. She had his photo...and a letter.
She was the assassin sent to kill him.
That was disturbing enough, but she carried other documents which both appalled and elated Steve. Printouts of confidential data...
At least half the puzzle of his parentage had been solved. That alone was cause for elation.
His was appalled because she hadn't known. They had used her, as a guinea pig, as an incubator, then as a killer. From the dates on the documents he held now in his hands, he gathered that she had only discovered the truth herself the previous day.
Despite the knowledge so recently acquired, was she still planning to kill him? Even though she was his mother? Over the years, Steve had run through many scenarios in his head, imagining what his reunion with his biological parents would be like. He could honestly say that none of them even remotely resembled the reality.
The quiet of the hospital was interrupted by the sound of voices conversing softly, and the click-click of heels in the adjacent corridor. Steve folded the paper before him, placing it carefully in the envelope. Should he hide? If the visitors were from the Mafia, they might try to kill him...or her, for her failure. He felt his mouth go dry.
-Our Nina certainly doesn't seem t'be having the best run of luck, Doctor, a female voice said, with a slight Irish brogue. Y'think she's gonna be okay?
Certainly, my dear, an elderly male voice replied, in a foreign accent. Russian, Steve thought, though he couldn't be sure. The voices were coming closer now...
Hm. She shoulda got her mem'ry sorted out first, before entering the stupid tournament. T'last thing she needs is more kicks t'the head, the female chuckled darkly. Tell me, Doctor Boskonovitch-
As they walked through the door into Nina's room, the elderly man found himself pinned against the wall by a single, but unyielding, hand. There was fear in his eyes...then recognition.
You bastard! Steve spat. You...you're responsible for everything! You complete and utter-
Steve gasped as his arm was grabbed and twisted behind him, soon followed by his other hand. He wasn't sure how she did it, but the woman, who he had failed to see through the red haze that had descended upon him, now had him in a hold where whichever way he turned, it hurt.
Are y'gonna calm down, lad, or am I gonna haf't'hurtcha? she said, her tone horribly superior. He twisted his head slightly, glaring at her balefully.
Well, you certainly are y'mother's son, she said. His eyes widened, then narrowed.
Who the hell are you?
The woman released him, and he rubbed his aching arms. He took a proper look at the woman, and saw that she now had gun trained on him. Her chestnut hair was cut into a blunt bob, and she had the slightly gangly, almost sharp features of a model. She smirked.
Anna Williams, she announced. I'm your aunt.
There was a moment of silence. The elderly man, Doctor Boskonovitch, took the opportunity to warily step back from the confrontation. For a moment, Steve forgot his anger and felt bad for manhandling such a frail old man.
You know, I can't believe I actually forgot what a bitch you are .
The three turned to the source of the voice, but before another word could be said, a nurse entered the room.
Everybody out, she said tartly. Visiting time is over.
After a brief argument with the nurse, Nina's visitors left. As Steve left the room, he took one long look at his mother, and was surprised to find her looking back at him through bleary eyes, her face etched with an emotion he couldn't quite read.
I'll be back tomorrow, he whispered. She moved her head slightly. A nod?
After they had disappeared down the corridor, the nurse nodded to someone just outside of Nina's view.
They're gone, she stated briskly. She's all yours.
Nina felt a quick surge of adrenalin. Was the assassin to be assassinated?
Her fears were allayed as Lei Wu Long entered the room, casually dressed. She wasn't sure who he was, but she had a feeling that he wouldn't kill her.
Picking up Nina's medical notes, the man winced. She sure had received a beating.
Long time, no see, Ms Williams, he said in English, his accent a curious mix of American and Cantonese. Although I've seen you look better. Still good for your age, though.
She struggled through the tar pit of memory. She looked at him, imagined him younger, slimmer...
I've felt better...officer?
I received a letter yesterday, he said conversationally. Nina's eyes glittered. It told me you were hired by the Mafia; your job, I assume, was to kill the young man who has been sitting by your side, looking concerned, for the past six hours.
Nina looked back at the ceiling, but said nothing.
I had a bug planted in this room. He paused, awaiting a response. Nina snorted slightly.
That's illegal, I believe, she said. Lei nodded.
So's assassinating people, but there you go. My point is this; I have a lot of questions, but no answers. Why was young Mr Fox so angry at Doctor Boskonovitch? Why do you and your sister look exactly the same as the last time I saw you, twenty years ago? And why did your sister say she was Steve's aunt...how can that be, unless you're his mother?
You're the detective. You figure it out. Nina turned her face away from the man, trying to summon up hostility towards him, but instead feeling that all the hatred she possessed had been spent. She heard him sigh.
Look, Ms Williams-
Miss, not Ms'...god, I hate it people say Ms'. It sounds like you've got a wasp shoved up your arse.
Despite himself, Lei smiled slightly. Alright then, Miss Williams. I have enough evidence to put you away for a very, very long time.
Nina glared at him. So, this way how it was going to be. She had just got her life back, with a few added extras, and now she was going to be locked up. The worst part of it was that she knew she had only herself to blame; in the past few amnesia stricken years, she had made mistakes that would make an amateur blush, usually caused by her heightened emotions. She thought she had managed to cover them up. Perhaps she was wrong...or perhaps he was bluffing.
she said with a sarcasm she didn't feel. I hope your cuffs are big enough to go round this damn cast.
Lei shrugged. The letter also said that we might be able to help one another. You could help me bring down the mob who are gunning for Steve, and possibly now you, and I...
Lei had a slightly uncomfortable look on his face. I could lose' the evidence against you. Against the Syndicate, you'd be small fry anyway.
Nina tensed slightly. Yes, she had got her memory back, but she wasn't the same person that had gone into that cryotube. As an amnesiac she had studied the facts of her life, every facet...and had found it somewhat lacking. Perhaps now she could start afresh...
Lei smiled lopsidedly. Would it really be that bad to fight on the side of the angels for once?
Nina closed her eyes, and made her decision.
What do you want to know, she whispered.