Disclaimer: I don't own Tekken.



Chapter Three: The Players Arrive.

Three months after announcement of The King of Iron Fist 4.

"AAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!" Marshal screamed in his frighteningly high-pitched voice while holding onto Paul, who was maneuvering his motorcycle across the highway.

"STOP SCREAMING!!" He hollered.

"LOOK OUT!!" Paul zoomed past a minivan.

"YOU'RE TOO PARANOID!"

"I'M JUST PARANOID ENOUGH!!"

"SHUT UP! I CAN'T DRIVE WITH YOU SCREAMING IN MY EAR!"

"YOU CAN'T DRIVE AT ALL!!!"

"JUST SHUT YOU POTHOLE, YOU PANSY!!" But Marshal kept on screaming throughout the ride. At last, they arrived at the airport. Paul parked his motorcycle Marshal instantly jumped off.

"I'm never getting on that thing again!" He shouted.

"Hey, you got here safe, didn't you?"

"I'm surprised! I thought we were gonna die on account of your driving!"

"I just wanted to get here before the plane took off. Oh, look. We're 45 minutes early. Who do we thank for that?"

"I still say my car would've been better."

"Hey, don't go there! We already settled it. You lost."

"I don't know about that. I still don't think rock smashes through paper."

Paul and Law went inside the airport and strolled to their gate. Paul saw another man sitting, holding an I.D. card, showing he was a fighter. A huge muscleman with long, black hair.

"So," Paul said to him. "You entering the tournament too, huh?" The man looked at him.

"Who are you?"

"Name's Paul Phoenix, the ultimate fighting machine. This here is Marshal Law, the pansy who's scared of motorcycles."

"Hey!"

"So, who are you?"

"Get back to preschool, junior."

Paul's eyes burned. "What did you say?!"

The man stood up, showing his extreme height. "You heard me."

"Are you trying to intimidate me? I've clobbered grizzlies, man."

The man cracked his knuckles. "Ever fought a convict?"

"Nope, but there's a first time for everything!"

"Okay, break it up!" A woman said, stepping between them.

"And who might you be?" Paul asked.

She showed her tournament card. "Julia Chang. I'm in the tournament too. Save your fighting until then."

The man snorted. "Watch your back." He said, then he walked off.

"Julia Chang, huh?" Paul asked. "You were in the last tournament, weren't you?"

"Yeah. You too?"

"Mm-hmm.

"Chang?" Marshal said. "Are you related to Michelle Chang?"

"Yes. She was my mother."

"Was?"

"She disappeared before the last tournament."

"Ah. I remembered the name from the first two tournaments."

"ATTENTION, PLEASE. FLIGHT 4:15 TO TOKYO IS NOW BOARDING." A voice boomed over the intercom.

"That's us." They all boarded their plane. Once they'd put their luggage above them and sat down, Marshal and Paul sat down. A few minutes later, Marshal nudged Paul, who had been looking out the window, and pointed to someone who had just stepped on the plane.

She looked like a supermodel. She had short blonde hair and wore a skintight hot pink outfit that split down the middle in a V shape, which stopped at about mid-chest, along with white boots that went up to her knees and white gloves that went to her elbows.

Once she'd passed, Paul gave a low whistle.

"Who was that?" Marshal asked.

"Don't you recognize her? Nina Williams. She was in the first two tournaments."

"THAT'S Nina?! Shouldn't she be older? She looks like she's only in her mid-twenties!"

"Word has it that she underwent this cyrosleep thing between the second and third tournaments, which kept her young."

"Amazing technology we have these days. Perhaps next, doctors will be able to insert a brain into your head."

"Laugh now, but once we land, I'm renting a motorcycle."

Marshal gulped.

* * * *

Tokyo, Japan

When the plane touched down in Tokyo, the participants found they had a limo ride awaiting them. There was a total of six of them. Paul, Marshal, Nina, Julia, Craig Marduk-the muscleman they'd met-, and Steve Fox, a blonde-haired British boxer who had come to America to escape a mafia group after him (unknown to anyone else).

Conversation was scarce until a man asked, "What do you all plan to do if you win the tournament? Mr. Phoenix?"

"Live life like this." He put his hands behind his head and closed his eyes and smiled. "Boss of a huge company, owner of a giant mansion, and wielder of billions of dollars."

"What about you, Mr. Law?"

"The money I'd win would be more than enough to restart my Chinese food chain!" "Ms. Chang?"

"I'd find a way to reforest my homeland in Arizona."

"What's wrong with it?" Law asked.

"It's becoming a barren desert. It's getting harder to live in."

"What would you do if you won, Mr. Marduk?" the man asked.

"Probably the same thing as the prep with the 2-foot hair."

"Why you little-"

"Hold on now!" The man said. "The tournament hasn't started yet! What about you, Ms. Williams?"

"Mm." She shrugged and continued to stare at the floor.

"Well, how about you, Mr. Fox."

"I'm not sure. But winnings like that leave open quite a bit of possibilities, doesn't it?"

"It sure does. Alright. We're almost there."

"Where are we going, anyway?" Craig asked.

"The Mishima hotel. You shall all stay there during the tournament, as will most of the other participants. We have given you all a room of your own, so you won't tear off each others heads between matches."

"By the way, where are the matches gonna be held this time?" Paul asked.

"Oh, various spots. The airport you just came from is one of them. This very town is one. There are quite a few."

"So this is pretty public?"

"Oh yes. In fact, the final match between Mr. Mishima and the final contestant will be held in the new Octo-ring. It will be like a stadium."

"How many fighters are there?" Julia asked.

"I believe there are nineteen, including all of you and Mr. Heihachi Mishima. Ah, here we are. Remember. Two weeks from today, there will be a grand banquet at Mr. Mishima's mansion. All of you are expected to attend. And look sharp! Best of luck to all of you.



* * * *

Mishima Mansion.

Ling wore the same short, pink, sleeveless dress she had worn to China three months ago. She hadn't received any e-mails from whoever had sent her that mysterious message. She was more calm, but still alert. Lei had changed greatly in the past few months. He regained the muscles that had depleted and, with Lings help, quit drinking. The two had practiced together everyday and were in top shape for this tournament.

"I still say I'm better off without it." Lei said to Ling, who was helping him with his bowtie.

"Nonsense! The other participants will be here soon. You wanna look your best, don't you?"

"I feel silly."

"Don't be so nervous."

"I'd feel better with my gun."

"No weapons during the dinner, remember?"

"I know. No police business, either."

"Right. There. All done."

"How do I look?"

"Sophisticated."

"I'm changing."

Ling laughed. "You look great, Lei."

Just then, Panda bounded into the room and went behind Ling, who rolled her eyes.

"Is Kuma trying to hit on you again?"

Panda nodded. Then Kuma walked into the room. Kuma was a grizzly bear who had a thing for Panda. He used to be Heihachi's pet, but left after being defeated by his rival, Paul Phoenix, in the last tournament. Kuma retreated to the woods to get back in touch with his animal instincts. Poor Kuma had had a crush on Panda since the third tournament, but never got to her. When he disappeared, Panda had wondered (just a little) about his whereabouts. Now that she knew, she didn't appear to want anything to do with him!

"Kuma, how many times do I have to tell you?" Ling said. "Panda isn't available."

Kuma groaned.

"Don't give me that. Go on! Shoo!" Kuma left, disappointed.

"We'd better go on downstairs." Lei said. "The other fighters will be here in a little while."

* * * *

"I don't care what you say, I'm not coming out!" Paul shouted through his bathroom door. Marshal had gone to Paul's room to make sure he kept his promise.

"Come on! You have to uphold your end of the bargain! Now come out!"

"NO!"

"C'mon!"

"NO!"

"Please?"

"NO!"

"Why not?"

"NO!"

"You didn't answer my question!"

"Okay, here's your answer: BECAUSE I SAID NO!!"

"Alright then. I'll just call my friend back in Chinatown and tell him where your motorcycle is so he can dismantle it."

"YOU WOULDN'T DARE!!"

"Try me!"

"Okay! Okay! I'm coming out!" The door opened and Paul stepped out. Marshal used all his strength and still couldn't stop himself from laughing out loud.

"You owe me big." Paul scowled.

Poor Paul got a good laugh from everybody who knew him, which was just about everyone, as they all waited for the limos to come. I wasn't much better when he got to the mansion, either.

* * * *

"Sir. The participants have arrived."

"Wonderful!" Heihachi exclaimed. He, Lei, and Ling stood up from their chairs. Kuma and Panda got on all fours. Heihachi was dressed in his best tuxedo. All five went to greet the fighters. In they came, one by one through the doors. Many were recognized. Some weren't.

"Julia!" Ling called.

"Ling!" The girls hugged. Julia had on a blue dress and had her long brown hair braided back.. "I haven't seen you in two years! How have you been doing?"

"Great! You?"

"Pretty good. Trying to reforest my homeland."

"You'll do it!"

"Well, well. What have we here?" A familiar and unappreciated voice said. It was Hwoarang. Hwoarang was from South Korea. In the last tournament, he'd been Jin's rival and a major jerk. He was 20, wore a black suit, and had red hair that went down to his neck.

"Hwoarang." Julia said, trying to be polite. "How have you been?"

"I got drafted into the military. How happy do you think I'm gonna be?"

"Military? Did you get kicked out or something?"

"Nope."

"They let you out to join this tournament?" Ling asked.

"Nope. I left."

"Left?! But you can't just leave the military!"

"Pft. I did, didn't I? Catch you later." He turned and left, then hollered back, "Hey! If either of you see Kazama, tell him I want a rematch!" Hwoarang had lost against Jin before the last tournament and joined to get revenge. He still wanted it, even two years later.

"He sure hasn't changed." Ling said.

"Nope. Oh! Wait until you see Paul!"

"Paul Phoenix? Mr. 'I'm so macho'?"

"The same. Here he comes!" Paul reluctantly entered the building last, preceded by law. Both men wore suits. Ling cracked up as soon as she saw him.

"What are you laughing at?!" Paul demanded.

"Your hair!" Paul's hair, which had always been in a tall column, was now hanging down to his shoulders.

"What about it?! Maybe I'm trying a new style!"

"Yeah, and maybe I'll get a perm!"

"You should! It'll go great with the black eye I'm about to give you!" But before he could go thorough with his threat, he heard a slight roaring sound. Like a bear was laughing at him.

"You laughin' at me, Kuma?! You want somma this?! Come an' get it!!" He charged at the bear. Marshal shook his head and let the guards deal with him.

"Hey, you look familiar, but you don't look familiar." Ling said.

"I'm Marshal Law. You may have met my son, Forest, in the last tournament."

"Yeah! That's it! So what's with Mr. Macho, anyway?"

"Oh, we made a deal. I said I'd go to this tournament if he put his hair down. Ah, to see all those laughing faces at the hotel was a joy that only happens once in a lifetime. I'd better go calm him down. Nice to meet you."

Ling suddenly shouted something in Chinese. "Who's Goliath over there?!"

"Craig Marduk. All I know about him is he was in jail. I didn't try to get to know more. Ugh."

"I'll say. Sure is ugly, isn't he?"

"No, not him. Nina."

"That-" Julia covered her mouth before she finished that sentence and Ling removed it. "Hey, Lei.Lei?" He was gone. "Hmm. Oh, look! Yoshimitsu!" Yoshimitsu was the leader of the Manji Clan, a band of Robin Hood-like thieves. He hid his face behind a white skeleton mask, while the rest of his head was covered with a dark brown helmet. The rest of his body was covered in dark brown armor. Now, he had wings hidden behind dark brown plates on his back. Yoshimitsu was famous at these tournaments for being the only one to carry a weapon: a green-glowing sword, which was in its sheath for now.

"That guy looks ever freakier than the last time I saw him." Julia said. "Say, Ling. There's a girl I want you to meet. She's really cool. She's from Brazil. Hey, Christie! Over here! Ling, this is Christie Monterio. Christie, this is Ling Xaioyu." The girls shook hands. Christie was older than the other girls. She wore a white dress over her dark Brazilian skin. Her hair was long and brown.

"It's nice to meet you," She said.

"You too. Brazil, huh? Isn't it hot down there?"

"Oh, yes. But you get used to it. Say, do you know someone named Eddy Gordo?"

"Sounds familiar. Oh, yeah! He was in the last tournament."

"Do you know if he's in this one?"

"Not that I know of. Why?"

"He's the one who taught me how to fight. We were good friends. But then he just left. I hoped he might show up here."

"Hey! That's why I'm here!" Ling said.

"Really?"

"Yeah. I'm looking for an old friend named Jin Kazama."

"I remember Jin!" Julia said.

"What was he like?" Christie asked.

"He was a good fighter, but just looking at him would knock you out! Woo!" Surprisingly, that comment came from Julia.

"That reminds me." Ling said. She got the girls to a private area and told them about her mysterious e-mail.

"Whoa." Julia said. "Sound's dangerous."

"Yeah." I replied, but never got anything back.

"Who do you think it's from?"

"I'm not sure."

"What are you going to do?" Christie asked.

"I don't know. It could be a prank, it could be true. But how could someone know something like this?" The conversation came to a frighteningly sudden halt.

"Look, just try not to worry about it." Julia said. "C'mon. Let's enjoy tonight." The girls went their separate ways to see others.

Just as she'd left, Ling rounded a corner and ran right into someone. The sudden impact knocked her to the ground.

"HEY! Watch where you're-" she stopped short seeing who she'd run into. Someone wore black pants and a large blue jacket with the hood up. His face was covered by its shadow. He was strangely imitating. The man extended his hand. Ling took it and he helped her up.

"My apologies." He said, then he walked on. Ling watched him leave. Weird. Who was that? * * * *

A bit later, everyone sat down at the dinner table. Craig took a seat and just stared at the table. A few seconds later, a leopard mask was set on the table nest to the spot in front of him. Craig looked at the mask for a minute, then up at its owner, who looked down at the table. The shadow and his long black hair made it unable to see his face.

"Do I know you?" Craig asked.

"For now, you can call me 'Avenger'."

"Avenger? You're the guy who got me out of jail! Huh. Well, thanks, man. How did you do it?"

Avenger shrugged. "This and that."

Craig looked at the mask again. "That mask looks familiar. Have I seen you somewhere?"

"It looks familiar because you killed a man in a leopard mask."

"Wait a minute. I know you! You were that freak's partner!"

"He wasn't a freak! His name was Armor King, and thanks to you, he's dead!"

"Who are you?"

"I'm known as King."

Craig snorted. "King of what? The masked freaks?"

"You'll regret having an attitude like that."

Nina sat down across from Fox, who were a navy blue tuxedo. Nina still had on her hot pink outfit. She often noticed Fox looking at the revealed section of her chest. But one cold glare and he turned the other way.

Someone else was watching her. That someone was Lei Wulong. He would somehow have to take her down and Brian. Brian. Where was he? Lei looked around until he spotted him. He hadn't dressed up. Not that he expected him to. Brian was a zombie. He supposedly died, but still lived on as a superhuman criminal. He wore a green button-up shirt and blue jeans. Something was different about him. His body seemed paler than it had been the last time he saw him. Plus, the scar along his left eye was more visible. The weirdest thing was that different parts of his body twitched at random. He still had his short, gray hair, though. No matter what physical changes he may have, Brian Fury was a madman and needed to be stopped.

Ling sat down next to Lei and Julia sat next to her.

"Who's that?" Ling asked, pointing to a man with violet hair and a purple tuxedo.

"Oh, his name's Violet. Don't know much else, though..

"What's with the robot imitating him?"

"That's Combot. He's programmed to imitate his opponent's moves in battle."

"You mean like Mokujin?"

"Yeah, kinda."

Ling then noticed the man in the blue jacket sit down near the end of the table.

"Who's the guy in the jacket? I ran into him earlier-literally!"

"No one knows who he is. He doesn't talk and spends most of his time practicing." Julia looked around the room. "Hmm. That's odd."

"What?"

"I heard that there were nineteen fighters, including Heihachi. I count eighteen. Hang on . . . . . .yeah, eighteen."

"Maybe someone just hasn't come yet."

"Yeah, you're probably right."

"Attention, please! Attention!" Heihachi said. "First off, I want to thank you all for coming. I look forward to the many matches we shall soon see. Now, I believe everyone is here, so I will go over the tournament rules."

But at that moment, the doors burst open and the missing person walked in. Nearly everyone stared. He wore a black suit and black shades. His black hair was streaked back into a single spike.

"Hmm. "Quite a few changes in this room too." He said. "Didn't you like my arrangements?"

Julia and Ling looked at each other. Jin?!

"Sorry I'm late. I wanted to make an entrance. I don't suppose you've told them, have you, Heihachi?"

Heihachi was obviously struggling to smile. "Welcome back, Kazuya Mishima."

Instantly, there was an uproar.

"Kazuya?!"

"He's alive?!"

"How is this possible?!"

Suddenly, the man in the blue jacket stood up, mouth open. He removed his hood, revealing an almost exact replica. Their features seemed the same. Even their hair was the same, except this man's had a few strands hanging over his face. Kazuya was shocked. He felt like he was looking at a mirror. He took off his dark glasses, showing that his left eye wasn't normal. It looked like a blood-red reptile eye.

"Who are you?" He asked.

"I am Jin Kazama! Your son!"

Again, there was an uproar.

Ling Xaioyu was probably the only one to look at Heihachi, and he didn't seem pleased with this.

Kazuya shocked look soon faded.

"Hmm. So Jun had a son after all. I guess it figures, after all I was the one who.never mind. So, I finally meet my son. Well, what do you think? How do you feel knowing your old man is alive?"

Jin did not answer.

Kazuya looked at Heihachi. "And how do you feel, knowing your son is alive? Furious, I'm sure. After all, it was you who threw me into that volcano. But of course, that was our deal, wasn't it? Whoever won the match between us at the end of the second tournament would throw the loser into the volcano. You're lucky it wasn't you. I greatly doubt you would have had the ability to return. But then, that would be a pleasure for all of us, wouldn't it?"

Heihachi snarled.

"But enough chit-chat. I believe you were about to explain the rules?"

* * * *

The rest of the night went awkwardly. Everyone was shocked that Kazuya was alive. Ling tried to talk to Jin, but he disappeared after the meal, as did Kazuya.

Outside, Kazuya walked towards the limo that awaited him, but suddenly Jin came out and pinned him against the wall.

"How long have you been alive?!" He demanded. The guards reached for their guns, but Kazuya held up his hand and the eased up.

"A bit of an odd question, isn't it?"

"ANSWER!!"

"Calm down, son. If you really want to know, I'm 43. But I feel like I'm 30."

Jin pulled him back and slammed him against the wall again.

"How long have you been alive since you were thrown into the volcano?!"

"Oh, well you should've been more specific." He chuckled. "Let's see. I was thrown in 21 years ago, so . . .I've been alive for about . . .20 and a half years."

"You were alive the entire time?!"

"Not the entire time. I missed a few months."

"You call yourself a father?!"

"Well, I am aren't I?"

"You left me and mom to fend for ourselves!!"

"By the way, where is your Jun? I would very much like to see her."

"Well, you can't."

"And why not?"

"Because she's been dead for six years!"

Kazuya's face grew a bit remorse.

"If you'd been around, maybe she'd still be alive."

Kazuya looked into his eyes and said one word with no emotion.

"Pity."

Jin's eyes burned. He grabbed his father by the collar with both hands and threw him across the limo and onto the pavement. Then, he ran before the guards could shoot him.

"Mr. Kazuya. Are you alright?" One of the guards asked.

"Yes, I'm fine." He looked at the spot where Jin had been. "But it seems Jin and I won't be spending any quality father/son time."

* * * *

That night, Ling lay in her bed, unable to sleep. Jin really had come! But why did he leave so fast? What was he up to? Kazuya was alive. Three generations in one tournament. This was going to be one messy tournament.



Author's note: Well, told you I'd get more characters. Did you like Paul's little embarrassment? Everyone liked his argument with Law so much, I had to use it again. Already, I have two people asking if there will be any "Xioyin sweetness". Y'all like romance, do ya? Well, we'll see. **coughyescough**