Heihachi was surprised as Hwoarang swept his legs away, knocking him off balance. A sharp kick dislodged his grip on the revolver, sending it skidding across the wooden floor. He faced the youngster, and had the uncomfortable feeling that he had made a mistake.

Now, bastard, you die, the boy snarled in a rasping voice, tears still staining his face, his dead girlfriend's blood staining his dobok. With an inhuman bellow, he launched himself at Heihachi.

The old man buckled under the onslaught, and soon Hwoarang had him pinned to the floor, cracking blows on his skull that had no legal place in any martial art. Heihachi managed to lift his head slightly, and his eye's widened.

You're...you're alive! he shouted in disbelief. Hwoarang turned, hoping against hope-

Heihachi smirked, and landed a blow on Hwoarang's throat. He pushed the youngster off, and reached for his gun. Once again, Hwoarang was staring down the barrel.

You've got spirit, Heihachi chuckled. But like everyone else, you're bogged down by needless sentiment. It's a shame - you could have been great. But now...now you join your girlfriend. Time to die, boy.

Hwoarang took a deep breath, but in a way, Heihachi's words had made this easier to bear. If he was joining Dai...if he was joining Dai, that would be more than enough compensation for not avenging her death. Somehow, he knew that she wouldn't mind that he had failed in that particular quest. Heihachi pulled the trigger.

In his last moments, Hwoarang realised what people meant when they said that in life and death situations, everything seemed to go in slow motion. The bullets seemed to just hang in the air. He turned and saw Dai, smiling serenely, still blood stained, but surrounded by a corona of pure light, that was almost too beautiful to comprehend. White feathered wings graced her back, and she looked like the very essence of purity, like an angel in a stained glass window. After what seemed like a lifetime her serene expression changed, and finally, she spoke.

Hwoarang? Do you want to get out of the way of the bullets? She sounded slightly exasperated. Hwoarang blinked in confusion.

I'm...not dead? he ventured.

she said matter-of-factly.

You're not dead? he asked, daring to hope. Her face broke into that familiar smile.

Well, duh!

Heihachi stumbled away from the light, the gun wavering in his trembling grip. He shot at Dai, the bullets disintegrating in the light. He carried on trying to shoot even once he had run out of bullets, the spent revolver smoking and clicking. For perhaps the first time in his life, he was truly terrified. Dai advanced towards him.

Who are you? he shouted desperately. What are you?

You call it the Devil Gene', she said softly. But it isn't really. There's a choice. There's always a choice.

Heihachi pointed to Kazuya. Him! He is possessed by a devil! He's evil!

Dai rolled her eyes. Once again you are willing to sacrifice your son to benefit yourself. She looked up at Kazuya, and her voice turned quiet, thoughtful. Two souls in one body; the one is flawed, certainly...that's human nature. The other is evil, pure and simple, and seeks to dominate its host. She looked back at Heihachi. But tell me, Heihachi, what's your excuse? You do not possess the devil gene, and therefore it doesn't possess you. Yet despite this, you choose evil willingly, not out of any dark passion, but out of a cold lust for power. I think that makes you worse than Kazuya.

Heihachi's expression changed. He had managed to regain his composure, and could be seen to be calculating his options. You know nothing, he sneered. I seek order for this world, I seek to restore it to glory!

How? Through murder and destruction? Dai shook her head. I never wanted to believe that you were as evil as people claimed you to be. How could you be? You are human, which means that you are no more completely evil than I am completely good. And yet...

Her expression hardened. I can forgive the fact that you tried to kill me. But you tried to kill him, she gestured to Hwoarang. And that I can't forgive.

What are you going to do? Kill me? Heihachi sneered. How would your precious morality justify that?

Dai raised a brow. I already told you, I'm not completely good.

Her punch sent Heihachi crashing into the wall, making the thick wooden panels splinter under the impact. There was a fizzle of electricity behind the fallen man, and the dojo lights went out, leaving only the weak light from outside to filter through the tiny windows. Dai rushed to Hwoarang.

You're not dead, he stated numbly. I...I thought I'd lost you.

He kissed her, and brushed her hair away from her face. He took a step back, and gave her the once over. It was slightly surreal to see her standing there, acting exactly the same as normal, whilst being covered in blood and sporting huge feathered wings.

he said. You have the Devil Gene?

She smiled. What gave it away? Was it the wings, or the miraculous resurrection?

Why didn't you tell me? he asked. Dai took his hand.

I wanted to, she said. But it's not something that you advertise. And I was worried it would freak you out. She smiled wryly. Admit it, you're freaked out now.

Yeah, a little, he admitted. I just feel weird. When I thought you were dead-

His gaze wondered, and Dai noticed a shift in his expression. He was no longer looking at her, but behind her. She turned, and saw Jin standing over Kazuya. Like Dai, Jin was also sporting a huge pair of feathered wings, but unlike Dai's, they were pure ebony, like the jagged tattoos that had mystically appeared on his chest. Kazuya, who was now free of his bonds, was awake, but obviously still very weak. Jin grabbed his father by the throat, and lifted him effortlessly, as if he was no more than a doll. A strange violet haze swirled around the pair. Dai's eyes widened as Jin raised his fist for a killing blow.

Jin! No! she shouted. He paused, and turned his head slightly. She ran towards him. Jin, you can't kill him.

He's evil. He deserves to die, Jin replied with a thick voice, sounding dangerously close to losing his self-control. Dai sighed.

That's what he thought about his father, she said sadly. Don't you see it, Jin? Can't you see history repeating itself? She looked at Kazuya. If you kill him, you will become him. Please Jin...hasn't there been enough killing in this family?

Jin seemed to consider this, but his expression remained cold. He's evil.

Perhaps he is, she said. But your mother saw good in him once...as did mine.

Jin looked at her, the implications of her words sinking in. A slight shuffle of movement drew his attention back to his father, who was staring at Dai, an unreadable expression on his face.

He tried to stand. Little Hana?

Dai nodded. That was my name once.

But you died, Kazuya said, his expression still blank. You and your mother.

A single tear rolled down Dai's cheek. She knew that you'd never let her go, but she knew that she couldn't stay. She was terrified of what you were becoming.

Kazuya steadied himself against the wall. He seemed to be regaining his strength with each moment that passed. His head lowered, and both Jin and Hwoarang braced themselves for a possible attack. Jin kept looking at Dai, feeling elated that he had found family other than Kazuya and Heihachi. Dai's attention remained on Kazuya.

My life has become dedicated to stopping people like you, to preventing people becoming like you, whilst denying myself. But now, as I embrace my gift, I realise...there's another way.

Without warning, she placed her hand on her father's head. He began shaking violently, began screaming, as blinding light surrounded them, energy visibly snaking its way around them. Hwoarang caught Jin as he faltered, and wondered, not for the first time since he had met Dai, what the hell was going on. Then, as suddenly as it had started, it was over.

Kazuya leant heavily against the wall, and looked at Dai in confusion. What have you done to me?

The entity which you know as Devil' has been imprisoned within a wall of light, Dai panted. You'll find that his influence will be less...persuasive. You can release him, if you so wish. That's up to you. But be aware that the decision you make will affect both you and Jin.

Jin, who had been inspecting his disappearing tattoos, looked up from his chest. What?'

It's clear to me now. Twenty years ago, Devil' effectively split himself in two; the greater portion of his being stayed within Kazuya, whereas the other at some point lodged itself in you

Jin shuddered. Before I even had the chance to draw my first breath...

The entity has sought to reunite itself, Dai continued. I think that knowing that Kazuya's physical form was weakened, Devil' wanted you to kill him, so that it would be completely free of the bond to Kazuya-

And complete itself in me, Jin finished. He had been so close...

This is all hypothetical, you understand, Dai smiled. I'm not entirely sure how I know this. I could just be talking out of my arse, but hey...it's a theory.

Jin nodded, and looked vaguely hopeful. So because the demon is imprisoned in him, the thing inside of me is imprisoned as well?

For now, Dai said. She looked at Kazuya. How long for depends on our father.

Kazuya's expression remained blank; none of the youngsters would have guessed that he was thinking about his children, and the misery his choices had inflicted upon their lives. He particularly wanted to talk to his daughter, Hana, or Dai, as she was calling herself; he wanted to know what had happened to the woman he had loved, the woman he should have married...

Instead he stood there silently as the children away.

Outside, Dai took a deep breath. She looked into the forest, and then at Hwoarang and Jin. Jin smiled at her.

So...you're my interfering big sister.

Guess so, she shrugged, which looked particularly interesting as her wings moved with the motion. She stroked Hwoarang's cheek. Are you alright? You look kind of pale...

he said, thinking about everything that had happened over the past hour.



Is there anything else I should know about you?