Chapter 3
The crowd surrounding the arena surged with excitement and energy, two fighters stood in the middle of the gathering spectators eyeing each other up. It was the 5th fight on the first day, that very morning Anna had been standing there at Kazuya's side.
One of the fighters was a huge man, his muscles bulging under his tanned skin slick with sweat and blood. A ferocious jaguar mask covered his face with it's mouth open in a silent snarl, fangs gleaming dully in the light. The man, known only as King, stood his ground with his back hunched slightly and his arms held out protectively in front, his chest heaved with the effort of the long battle. The other fighter was an ageing man, bald apart from two spikes of jet black hair on either side of his head and he was wearing a black Karate Gi. His small muddy brown eyes set deep in his weathered face were watching the masked fighter, awaiting his next move. Despite this man's age he was incredibly powerful and quick on his feet and King was having a hard time just trying to get near him. After his brief rest King lunged again at his opponent, bringing his elbow crashing down on the old man's brow, blinding him just long enough for King slip behind and grab him around the waist. He tightened his hold and began to lift him up, leaning right back but still on his feet he slammed the man's head into the solid wooden floor with a deafening clunk. King rolled to the side and stood over his opponent who lay at his feet, dazed.
The man stayed down for a while, the only sign of life was his heavy breathing. Suddenly in one swift movement he was on his feet again showering King with heavy jabs and punches to the head and chest. King was nearly exhausted and barely managed to block the first punch thrown at his muscular chest. The second connected with his head and his neck snapped back and the man grinned, feeling his fists connect with soft flesh. King regained his balance and shook his head, blood splashed on the floor and he licked at the metallic tasting liquid that flowed freely from his nose. With a loud roar he swung his fist angrily at the other man's gut but it was dodged easily and another punch connected with the jaguar face that sent him spinning helplessly. King hit the ground hard on his back and didn't get back up.
"Heihachi wins!" the announcer declared as Heihachi flexed his muscles, lightning jumping around his outstretched arm.
Meanwhile Anna had decided to go out for a while. It was her lunch break and Kazuya always let her off. She sometimes wondered if some of the male employees were a bit jealous of her special treatment. She picked up a few things to decorate her boring looking apartment at a Japanese market just down the road. Walking back to the Dojo, Anna's arms were loaded with cute and colourful knick knacks, a bouquet of red and yellow gerberas wrapped in silvery paper bobbed their large daisy like heads to the rhythm of her footsteps. In the other hand she carried a bag containing things from books to lollypops (the raspberry ones were her favourite), and a little fluffy mouse toy dangling on a string for Kazumi. The day was bright and sunny with barely a cloud in the sky and the air was comfortably warm. A soft breeze ruffled Anna's hair and despite the circumstances she felt joy surge inside her. As she neared the Mishima Zaibatsu Anna sensed the daylight around her dim a little, the large buildings loomed dark against the crystal sky and she felt a slight urge to turn and run in the opposite direction.
"That's just silly!" she laughed quietly to herself and persuaded her legs to keep moving, not having noticed that she'd stopped.
Back inside another battle had just finished. Anna peeked through a window and saw a crumpled body on the floor, the watching crowd had begun to disappear. A familiar figure stood a few steps back from the scene, her corn coloured hair was hanging limply in her over her face, spots of drying blood marred her usually perfect complexion and a triumphant smile curved her lips.
Anna clenched her fists and the paper wrapping on her flowers crunched in the tightening grip, quickly she made her way to the lifts. Anna fumbled for the key to her room, her hands felt shaky as she finally swung open the door and slammed it behind her. "How am I gonna confront Nina when the sight of her makes me so nervous?" she thought, letting out a sigh. But still she was determined to talk to her. Kazumi looked up at the girl with her black tail waving slowly as her attempts to get Anna's attention failed, she stood up on her hind legs resting her front paws on the interesting looking bag in Anna's hand and sniffed at it. Feeling the increase in weight Anna looked down, her trail of thought broken and she giggled,
"Nosey cat…Oh you want this huh?" she grinned putting the flowers down and taking out a catnip filled mouse, dangling it above the cat's head. Kazumi's ears perked forward and she launched herself upward grabbing the mouse skilfully out of Anna's hand, she came back to the ground with a dull thump and began to chase it across the floor batting it between her snowy paws. Anna leaned back on the door and laughed in delight, her little companion always managed to lift her spirits.
Leaving Kazumi to her new found entertainment Anna realised she was going to be late back from her break, she left her shopping on her bed to be sorted out later and began to make her way back to the Dojo. Hearing the lift open at the end of the hall Anna looked up and saw her sister get out. Nina deliberately stopped a few paces in front of the frozen Anna and looked her in the eye, a mocking smirk slowly spread across her face.
"Get out of my way" said Nina, rolling her eyes and she pushed past her, purposefully ramming her shoulder into her sister's.
"Hey!" Anna cried as she stumbled back "What's your problem?" she gritted teeth in frustration.
"Aww I'm sorry, did I hurt you?" Nina replied sarcastically.
Anna frowned "Why do you always have to act like such a bitch! I haven't done anything to you…"
"Just you being yourself is enough" Nina smirked and started down the hall but Anna grabbed her shoulder.
"Let go of me, skank" she hissed pulling herself away
"Can we please talk?" Anna's voice was barely audible and she tried to ignore that last remark.
"Mm… Nah, now go on, off you go!"
Nina made a hand motion as if she were swatting a fly, an impatient tone in her voice. Anna felt anger slowly swelling in the pit of her stomach.
"How dare she treat me like this without a good reason" she thought as Nina walked away, Anna's fiery glare followed her until she disappeared around the corner of the hallway.
The little encounter made Anna irritable for the rest of the day, she was angry at herself for not standing up to Nina and for trying to be nice. It happened every time but Anna was still hopeful that, one day, Nina would just listen! After all, they were family and families are supposed to be understanding…
"What are you talking about?" Kunimitsu answered after hearing Anna's little story "You've seen no proof of that in a long time right? Look at Kazuya and Heihachi, they'd rather stick pins in their eyes than be in the same room together"
And Anna smiled a little. "I guess you're right, as usual"
"Naturally" Kunimitsu replied with an unseen grin.
"I'll just have to show her that I deserve respect when I beat her in this tournament" Anna giggled, nervously.
Kunimitsu nodded slowly and hoped, for her friend's sake, that she would defeat Nina.
The crowd surrounding the arena surged with excitement and energy, two fighters stood in the middle of the gathering spectators eyeing each other up. It was the 5th fight on the first day, that very morning Anna had been standing there at Kazuya's side.
One of the fighters was a huge man, his muscles bulging under his tanned skin slick with sweat and blood. A ferocious jaguar mask covered his face with it's mouth open in a silent snarl, fangs gleaming dully in the light. The man, known only as King, stood his ground with his back hunched slightly and his arms held out protectively in front, his chest heaved with the effort of the long battle. The other fighter was an ageing man, bald apart from two spikes of jet black hair on either side of his head and he was wearing a black Karate Gi. His small muddy brown eyes set deep in his weathered face were watching the masked fighter, awaiting his next move. Despite this man's age he was incredibly powerful and quick on his feet and King was having a hard time just trying to get near him. After his brief rest King lunged again at his opponent, bringing his elbow crashing down on the old man's brow, blinding him just long enough for King slip behind and grab him around the waist. He tightened his hold and began to lift him up, leaning right back but still on his feet he slammed the man's head into the solid wooden floor with a deafening clunk. King rolled to the side and stood over his opponent who lay at his feet, dazed.
The man stayed down for a while, the only sign of life was his heavy breathing. Suddenly in one swift movement he was on his feet again showering King with heavy jabs and punches to the head and chest. King was nearly exhausted and barely managed to block the first punch thrown at his muscular chest. The second connected with his head and his neck snapped back and the man grinned, feeling his fists connect with soft flesh. King regained his balance and shook his head, blood splashed on the floor and he licked at the metallic tasting liquid that flowed freely from his nose. With a loud roar he swung his fist angrily at the other man's gut but it was dodged easily and another punch connected with the jaguar face that sent him spinning helplessly. King hit the ground hard on his back and didn't get back up.
"Heihachi wins!" the announcer declared as Heihachi flexed his muscles, lightning jumping around his outstretched arm.
Meanwhile Anna had decided to go out for a while. It was her lunch break and Kazuya always let her off. She sometimes wondered if some of the male employees were a bit jealous of her special treatment. She picked up a few things to decorate her boring looking apartment at a Japanese market just down the road. Walking back to the Dojo, Anna's arms were loaded with cute and colourful knick knacks, a bouquet of red and yellow gerberas wrapped in silvery paper bobbed their large daisy like heads to the rhythm of her footsteps. In the other hand she carried a bag containing things from books to lollypops (the raspberry ones were her favourite), and a little fluffy mouse toy dangling on a string for Kazumi. The day was bright and sunny with barely a cloud in the sky and the air was comfortably warm. A soft breeze ruffled Anna's hair and despite the circumstances she felt joy surge inside her. As she neared the Mishima Zaibatsu Anna sensed the daylight around her dim a little, the large buildings loomed dark against the crystal sky and she felt a slight urge to turn and run in the opposite direction.
"That's just silly!" she laughed quietly to herself and persuaded her legs to keep moving, not having noticed that she'd stopped.
Back inside another battle had just finished. Anna peeked through a window and saw a crumpled body on the floor, the watching crowd had begun to disappear. A familiar figure stood a few steps back from the scene, her corn coloured hair was hanging limply in her over her face, spots of drying blood marred her usually perfect complexion and a triumphant smile curved her lips.
Anna clenched her fists and the paper wrapping on her flowers crunched in the tightening grip, quickly she made her way to the lifts. Anna fumbled for the key to her room, her hands felt shaky as she finally swung open the door and slammed it behind her. "How am I gonna confront Nina when the sight of her makes me so nervous?" she thought, letting out a sigh. But still she was determined to talk to her. Kazumi looked up at the girl with her black tail waving slowly as her attempts to get Anna's attention failed, she stood up on her hind legs resting her front paws on the interesting looking bag in Anna's hand and sniffed at it. Feeling the increase in weight Anna looked down, her trail of thought broken and she giggled,
"Nosey cat…Oh you want this huh?" she grinned putting the flowers down and taking out a catnip filled mouse, dangling it above the cat's head. Kazumi's ears perked forward and she launched herself upward grabbing the mouse skilfully out of Anna's hand, she came back to the ground with a dull thump and began to chase it across the floor batting it between her snowy paws. Anna leaned back on the door and laughed in delight, her little companion always managed to lift her spirits.
Leaving Kazumi to her new found entertainment Anna realised she was going to be late back from her break, she left her shopping on her bed to be sorted out later and began to make her way back to the Dojo. Hearing the lift open at the end of the hall Anna looked up and saw her sister get out. Nina deliberately stopped a few paces in front of the frozen Anna and looked her in the eye, a mocking smirk slowly spread across her face.
"Get out of my way" said Nina, rolling her eyes and she pushed past her, purposefully ramming her shoulder into her sister's.
"Hey!" Anna cried as she stumbled back "What's your problem?" she gritted teeth in frustration.
"Aww I'm sorry, did I hurt you?" Nina replied sarcastically.
Anna frowned "Why do you always have to act like such a bitch! I haven't done anything to you…"
"Just you being yourself is enough" Nina smirked and started down the hall but Anna grabbed her shoulder.
"Let go of me, skank" she hissed pulling herself away
"Can we please talk?" Anna's voice was barely audible and she tried to ignore that last remark.
"Mm… Nah, now go on, off you go!"
Nina made a hand motion as if she were swatting a fly, an impatient tone in her voice. Anna felt anger slowly swelling in the pit of her stomach.
"How dare she treat me like this without a good reason" she thought as Nina walked away, Anna's fiery glare followed her until she disappeared around the corner of the hallway.
The little encounter made Anna irritable for the rest of the day, she was angry at herself for not standing up to Nina and for trying to be nice. It happened every time but Anna was still hopeful that, one day, Nina would just listen! After all, they were family and families are supposed to be understanding…
"What are you talking about?" Kunimitsu answered after hearing Anna's little story "You've seen no proof of that in a long time right? Look at Kazuya and Heihachi, they'd rather stick pins in their eyes than be in the same room together"
And Anna smiled a little. "I guess you're right, as usual"
"Naturally" Kunimitsu replied with an unseen grin.
"I'll just have to show her that I deserve respect when I beat her in this tournament" Anna giggled, nervously.
Kunimitsu nodded slowly and hoped, for her friend's sake, that she would defeat Nina.