Chapter 11: Defending Precious Love!
"There may be hope for those who suffer."
Disclaimer: Don't own Tekken...
Kotou: Ok, I'm not going to lie; I have NO idea what I'm doing!!! This chapter is just purely experimental! I have so many ideas, but the trick here is trying to make sense of it. So if it is not good, I'll completely understand. I am not sure how this will work, but I am going to make the best out of it!! Oh, and I wasn't planning on making the sequel NOW!!! I was going to leave off at a certain point, and have you review me if I should end it at this story, or continue on through a new saga. Don't worry, I'll ask you when the time comes.
Opside: Hey, don't miss this! This chapter is dedicated for you!!! As promised, I am killing Kanji in this chapter! I'm still not sure how, so your guess is as good as mine!!!! This will truly be interesting! Hmmm...I am reading your review and I thought about it for a moment, I know who should kill that Bastard! I won't say yet, I'll let you read on and guess, but let's just say everyone will get a shot at him!! And someone is going to get the best out of him!!! MWAHAHAHAHAHA! Also, you mentioned Akuma looking like Steve Fox...Hmmm...the wheels in my mind are turning.
Forevermore: Thanx for reviewing again! Things are going to become a little clearer about you and Europa! So stay tuned! (I just sounded like a TV commercialist.) P.S. I personally think that your character is cool! She's like one of those rebels who know what they're supposed to do, but ignore them!!!
Jupiter's moon Europa: I hope you like the way you came out. ^__^ I tried! Anyways, you will learn a little bit about your history and about the small scar. Plus, Europa looks so cute!!! I drew a few anime pictures of the people in this fic. I should scan it and send it to you, and forevermore!!!
Chandavatika: Woohoo! Thank you for your review. No, I won't end it so soon, but I'm still deciding on how to end it. I have a general idea though. I hope you will like it!
Lacrease: Thank you! I am glad you like it! I want all of my reviewers to be happy!!!! Yet, I cannot please everybody, so I will do my best!
Skittles-Xtreme: I made you happy too? All right! I'm on my way up there!!! I hope that you keep reading my fic!
Lillian: All good things must come to an end. But not YET!!! Tee Hee! This will not end until I think it should. Which will probably be...NOT FOR A LONG TIME! I need an idea for an enemy in the sequel to this...or better yet, I have an even better idea!!!! Better write it down!
Nessa: YAY!!! I'm glad I got you reading this!!! You better review me! If not...you know what'll happen!!! I don't think I have to remind you! P.S. Who ate Grandma?????
Fox lady: Yeah, all the little babies are cute!! But what's even more cut, is Jin!!! I mean, read the way he acts around Zenrei and you'll understand.
After a day of staying in the hospital, Ling, Jin, and Zenrei finally came home. Ling bounced in with her baby in her arms. She spun around giggling and smiling.
"Oh my sweet little Zenrei, We will have so much fun!" She said. Zenrei's eyes were wide and filled with enthusiasm. Jin walked inside with a whole bunch of new baby items. He set down a small baby bag and sat lazily on the couch. Ling hopped next to him sticking close by. "Oh Jinny, I'm so proud of us! This little miracle is a symbol of hope brought back to the Kazama name." Jin gently grabbed his daughter and placed her in his arms.
"There is so much I want to teach her. So much I want to do. I want to spend the rest of my life giving her the life I wish I had. I will teach her how to defend herself, how to love life and every precious moment of it, and how to...be the angel I know she will grow up to be." Jin said rocking Zenrei in his arms. She smiled soundly rocking to the rhythm of his gentle swings.
"I knew you would be a great father." Ling said looking at Zenrei in his arms. Jin looked at her with a smirk painted across his face. "What?" Ling asked in a startled and yet annoyed voice.
"You didn't ALWAYS think that." Jin said. Ling backed away, a little astonished from his remark.
"What are you talking about?" She asked. "I never said that you wouldn't make a good father." Jin laughed as the memory crossed him.
"Remember the night after we first met?" He asked. She thought about it, and then remembered everything clearly.
"Yeah," She looked at Jin straight in the eyes. "What about it?"
"I think I remember a certain little friend of mine telling me that we were never going to have kids." Ling thought back...
Flashback*~*~*~*~*~*
Three years ago.
"Aren't you going to wake up?" Jin looked at the clock beside her bed.
"Yeah, it's getting late." She rolled out of bed and absent-mindedly fell off her bed. She fell hard on her back. Jin rushed to her side. "Ling, are you alright?" Her legs were still on her bed, yet the rest of her body was dangling on the floor. She looked at the position she was in and laughed.
"How did I get here?" She laughed. Jin took her hand and helped her up. He couldn't help but laugh with her. She was so careless. It was funny. Seeing him actually laugh was a blessing. He hadn't ever smiled or talked to her before last night. "What are you laughing at?" She said sardonically. Just thinking about that made him laugh.
"How did you fall? You were way on the other side of the bed. You know I'll never let this down." He smirked. She Held her nose high and walked out of her room.
"You know, one of these days you're gunna do something embarrassing." Then she looked at him playfully. That stare of hers teased him in so many ways. "And I'll be the one laughing! I won't even let our kids forget!" She quickly shut her mouth. She retraced what she had just said. She didn't want Jin to hear that. 'Maybe he didn't hear that.' She thought. Her face became a pinkish color.
Jin, with his arms folded across his chest replied, "Our kids? Who said we were going to have kids?" Ling's face was now noticeably red. She decided to make him feel like he heard wrong.
"Jin! You can't hear! I said 'your' kids!" She scuffed. That was it! She had made her comeback.
"Hm...nope. You said 'our' kids. My hearing is excellent." So much for comebacks. Ling was almost positive she had Jin right where she wanted him. Then it hit her. If he was going to be stubborn, she might as well to; just to see how it works out.
"You obviously misunderstood me. Why would I say our kids? That would mean that you and me...no. I just don't see it happening." She said as she stuck out her tongue. 'Oh yeah! That was perfect!' She thought. She had to admit that it was a good plan. He couldn't say anything to that. She had planned all her words perfectly. She always won petty little fights. It was one of her talents. Jin Kazama was not about to let that remark get to him. He was better than that. He knew if he tried to say it in words, he would probably screw up. So he thought of a way to get her back. It wasn't going to be pretty; she might even hate him after it. "What's wrong Jin? Had enough? Or should I call you 'daddy?'" That was it! His cue!
"Daddy, huh?" Jin said as he slowly turned his gaze towards Ling."Daddy? You want to see daddy? I'll give you daddy!" Jin said as he was pushing his body on Ling's.
"No! Jin, stop!" She laughed. She hadn't remembered when she had so much fun. "Stop! You're tickling me!"
"You don't think I'm good father material?" He asked. Ling was laughing up a storm. Whatever they were doing, she sure as hell liked it.
"No...Jin! I didn't mean..."
"Oh, you're just saying that you can't see us having children!" Jin's voice sounded exited. It was as if he was...
"Listen Jin!" Ling said giggling. "I didn't say anything like that! All I'm trying to say is..." Jin had interrupted her.
"What? What are you trying to say? That I can't be a daddy? That I'm not skilled?" His voice was playful. Ling decided that it was now or never. She was going to see what his reaction was.
"Yes! That's exactly what I'm saying! You may have the body, but who said you got the skills?" Jin's eyes widened. He couldn't believe it! She had just told him that he didn't have...skill!
"I got your skill right here!" He said pushing her on to him.
"Jin! Wait! Not yet! I..." She bursted out laughing again.
End Flashback*~*~*~*~*~*
"Jin, I...I was just joking. Of course I said something like that! I didn't want you to know what I felt!" She said blushing.
"Well, so much for not having skill. I think I have PLENTY of skill, don't you think?" She blushed and silently nodded in agreement.
"Aw, that's just so cute!!!" Miharu said coming from the door. "So when's the party?" She asked sitting next to Ling with Europa in her arms.
"Party? What party?" Jin asked looking at Miharu strangely.
"SURPRISE!!!!!!" Jin and Ling jumped to their feet as they saw all the contestants (Well, most of them) jump out from the sides of the house. The sudden shout and loudness startled both Zenrei and Europa making them cry in unison.
"Whoa! I'm so sorry!" Forest Law. Forest patted Ling on the shoulder. "This is the one? This is supposed to be the one to renovate the Kazama name? Good choice." He said proudly.
Nina slowly approached Jin and the baby.
"Ha! Looks like I have got another Mishima to get rid of." She said stroking Zenrei's cheek. Jin pulled away and held Zenrei close to him for protection.
"She's a Kazama, not a Mishima. And no, you aren't going to kill her!" Jin said sternly.
"Yeah, you're right. No one has paid me to kill her yet." Zenrei stopped crying and began to make weird noises. Nina jumped out of the blue with her gun in her hand pointing at Zenrei.
"Nina!!!!????? DON'T!!!" Shouted Ling as she jumped in front of the rifle. "What the hell do you think you're doing???" She asked. Nina pushed Ling out of the way.
"She's a devil who's transforming!! Didn't you guys hear those weird noises?" She's going to kill us all!!!!"
"NO!" Ling knocked the gun out of her hands. "She's not a devil, and that sound, its called DIGESTING!!!! Babies do it all the time." Nina picked up the gun and left the house. Jin sighed.
"Why is everyone after her? I hope this isn't my fault." He said. Ling hugged him close to her.
"No Jin. It's not your fault." She whispered. Ling's eyes widened as she felt something evil surround her. She stood there, startled at what to do. Lee approached Jin and Ling with a smile. Ling, startled at the presence of evil choking her, slowly backed away from him.
"Well, well, well," He began. "it looks like there is a living legacy wherever we look." Lee said in an eerie voice. "Well? Aren't you going to let your uncle see his little niece?" He asked. Lee took the baby from his arms and held her in his. Zenrei looked deep into his eyes. Lee slowly moved to the corner of the room and checked her out. Lee's eyes turned a bright red, triggering Zenrei's eyes to turn red.
"Jin! I feel that evil again...it's Zenrei!" She said. Lee still held the girl out in front of him.
"Ha! A new little devil." He said in a low husky voice. He walked back over to Ling and Jin handing Zenrei back to them.
"What's wrong Lee? Your eyes look a bit red." Ling said. He rubbed his eyes avoiding her stare.
"Well, I just need a little air. It's ok." He walked out of the house and deep into the woods. Jin looked at Zenrei and saw her eyes change from red to her natural brown again.
"I knew it!" He said. Ling looked at him and tried to comfort him.
"What's wrong?" She asked.
"Lee. He's Devil's new slave. Now he's going to come for Zenrei and posses her."
"But Jin, she may have the devil gene, but he isn't present in her. There is still hope for her, and all of us." Jin nodded. She was right. Devil hadn't come and taken her, he promised to take care of her, and that's what he'll do. "Come on, let's go show the rest of them." She said grabbing on to his shoulder.
As Lee walked out of the house, he smiled and looked at his watch.
"Just as I suspected." Said a voice from behind. Lee sharply jerked his head behind him.
"Who's there?" He asked. No one could be seen, but there was a voice coming from the opposite direction.
"What are you doing here? I don't think that Devils are permitted past the gates of hell."
"Come out coward!" Lee commanded. He held his gun in his hand. Without warning, someone had kicked him in the back of his head and he fell to the floor. Lee looked up at the dark figure.
"What's wrong? Don't your devilish instincts tell you when to attack?" The voice asked. Lee knew that voice; it was his older brother Kazuya.
"Kazuya! What the hell are you doing here?" He asked pointing his gun to Kazuya's neck. Kazuya kicked it out of his grip and crushed Lee's stomach with his knee.
"I believe I was the one asking the questions. Now answer to me and I might spare you. What were you doing in their house?" Lee looked at Kazuya and laughed.
"You mean you didn't know? Wow! How sad that a grandfather does not know about his granddaughter's birth!" He laughed evilly. Kazuya stood there in shock, not knowing what to say.
"Granddaughter?" He murmured. "That's great." He said with a smile. Lee violently pushed Kazuya off of him and kicked the back of his knee plummeting into the ground. He loaded his gun and aimed directly at Kazuya's head. The marks of the Devil began to cover Lee's body.
"Look what you have become." He said gruffly. "Without the devil gene you are nothing. You can't even fight, you're a pussy!" Kazuya, without hesitation and with incredible speed, jumped up to his feet knocking Lee against a tree. As Lee shot at him, Kazuya easily dodged his way around the bullets. He leaped into the air and landed on Lee's shoulders. He cried out in pain and fell into the ground. Kazuya repeatedly stepped on him, each kick harder than the first. After a serried of beating, Kazuya walked away with a smile on his face. "No. I am devil! I won't lose this way." He whispered aiming his gun at his left side. His shoulders hurt badly, causing him to wobble a bit. He managed to aim the gun at a good spot, allowing a bit of leeway for mistakes. "Steady...just right." He said. As he pulled the trigger, he felt something violently push at his arm, making the gun turn a quarter to the left and hitting Kazuya's arm. "Dammit!" He cursed. Kazuya turned around to see a young girl holding the gun in her hands. She had long black hair with blue streaks. Her eyes were soft and dark, and her style of clothing showed that she had been around many types of people. She bravely stood up to Lee with the gun pointed at him.
"Go." She said quietly. Lee laughed and took out his knife. Kazuya watched as the brave girl stood there, poised, and without showing one sign of fear. As Lee began to rise from the ground, the stronger she gripped the gun. "Don't make another move, or I will..."
"What? What will this little CHILD do?" Asked Lee. Kazuya sought out this opportunity and ran after Lee, tackling him to the ground. As Kazuya punched him six times in the face, the seventh time failed. He raised his hand high over his head, buying Lee enough time to strike. He shoved the knife into Kazuya's left side. The girl panicked and held the gun out in front of her.
"Stop it!!!" She yelled. With the nervousness running through her adrenaline, her finger slipped, pulling the trigger, hitting Lee right in his heart. "No!!!" She screamed as she fell on the ground, crying her eyes out. Lee's body laid there, but the devil within, rose out and drifted into the night. Kazuya held his left side and limped his way to her. He held on to her and lifted her chin up to stare into his eyes. She had a sweet and delicate face like Jun. Her eyes were black and glossy; she had never killed anyone before. She faced Kazuya with bravery and tried to stop crying.
"Who are you?" He asked. She gasped and sniffled a few times.
"My name is Razan." Kazuya stopped talking. There was a long moment of silence.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Inside, Zenrei was being showed the best time she had ever had. She was given so much attention that she couldn't even breathe because everyone was surrounding her.
"Oh Ling, she's absolutely gorgeous!" Said Julia as she walked over to look at Zenrei. "God, she sure looks a lot like her father. But I can still see a lot of her mother in you. I bet she is going to grow up to be a very carefree person, isn't she?" Ling just laughed, she wasn't sure what to say.
"Well, I can tell you one thing, if she ends up being spoiled, it's not my fault." Julia looked at her quizzically.
"What do you mean?"
"Jin." She said. "He's so, I don't know, childish now." They looked at Jin who was holding Zenrei and spinning her around. "It's like, he's a kid again. He spoils Zenrei so much, and it's only been a day since we had her." Julia laughed looking at Jin and how playful he is with the baby.
"Way to go Kazama!" Said Hworang as he approached Jin. Jin looked at Hworang and...he stopped. Jin completely froze in place, not knowing what to do or say next. Hworang came over and looked at the new Kazama. "I see, she has a lot of your traits, looks like another competition for JiEun (Jee- young) he said laughing. Jin looked at the child in Hworang's arms.
"Hworang...is she...yours?" Jin asked.
"Yeah. Mine and Julia's." He said proudly. Jin couldn't believe his eyes. Hworang was such a stubborn, cocky, arrogant person. And Julia was the exact opposite of him.
"There are many wonders in this world." Said Jin as he looked at him with much deniability.
"Here Ling, this is a gift for Zenrei." She handed a small handmade item with beads, string, feathers, and a Zircon jewel on the very top. "I don't know if it'll stop Devil from coming, but at least it will allow her to sleep peacefully.
"Thank you Julia." Said Ling with a smile on her face.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"I was sent here by Angel. She told me that I must help Zenrei find her destiny."
"Zenrei?" He asked.
"Yes, Zenrei is Jin and Ling's daughter."
"I see. So you are here to insure her success?"
"Yeah, but I'm not the only one. Europa will help as well." Kazuya remembered those names. Jun had told him all about it.
Time passed and everyone had already begun to leave. Sure enough, Miharu was the last person to leave, holding Europa, and traveling through the woods. Kazuya and Razan snuck over by the window and saw the two holding the baby. Kazuya felt tears begin to take form, but he quickly stooped them. 'No. I won't cry. That is a sign of weakness!!!' He thought. But he couldn't help but to wonder what it would be like to raise a child. He had never gotten the chance, and that was something he regretted. Jin slowly held the baby in his arms and rocked her to sleep.
"She's going to be so spoiled by you Jin." Ling said resting her head on his shoulder and touching Zenrei's cheek.
"I want to teach her everything my mother taught me. I want her to grow up knowing that the world doesn't always have to hate, and that there are good people out there who will love her. I want to show her the affection you showed me, so then, she will have a strong enough will to chose her own path and not let her family legacy chose her path for her." Jin held her up to him as he slowly fell asleep to the still sound of her beating heart. Ling looked at him sleeping silently with his daughter in his arms. A few tears fell down her cheek.
"You were alone for so long, weren't you? Now you have a chance to make up for all that. You can finally learn to show love, and become stronger from it. I know that one day, we will learn something from this." She closed her eyes. "And we will learn it, together." She whispered. The dim orange light from the fire was all the illumination they had. Kazuya felt a sharp pain in his heart.
"You missed out on a lot." Said Razan moving away from the window.
"She is beautiful." Kazuya said moving towards her. Razan stood there looking at the snowfall. She grabbed a snowflake in her hand and watched it melt.
"There are so many things that pass us by, that we do not know exist. Sometimes, we just need a little help finding it." She smiled and turned back to Kazuya. "You didn't know that there was still good in your heart, but Angel showed you, she shows all of us." Kazuya looked at the young girl. "Sometimes, it's too late to make up for what you did. That leaves us in a tight spot. Then sometimes, we are given a second chance. You Kazuya, were given another chance to correct the wrong that you have emitted." The two walked off together.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A month had passed since the birth of Zenrei Kazama. Ling trained hard to get back into shape. Slowly she was succeeding. She walked back from the woods and went into the house. She looked around for Jin, but could not find him.
"Jin!" She called. She heard the sound pf giggling come from upstairs. She walked up the stairs and looked in there room. She saw an empty bed and crib. She wondered around the room and laid her training clothes on the bed. She changed into her normal casual clothes.
"That's a good girl." She heard. She snapped her head looking behind her, but saw no one there. The voice sounded like Jin's.
"Hey! Jin, where are you?" She called.
"Over here." She looked around and puzzled for a moment.
"Over where?" She asked searching the room.
"In my old room. It's directly across this one." She walked out of the room and opened the door to the next room. Jin was holding Zenrei as he fed her a bottle. Ling laughed and walked next to him.
"Looks like you made a little playroom for you and Zenrei. I like it." Jin drew the bottle back from her allowing her to breathe. She then started to hiccup and Jin panicked. Ling watched as he tried shaking her and talking to her.
"What's wrong Zenrei?" He asked. Her face turned a bit pale and she looked like she was choking. Ling took Zenrei in her arms and patted her back. Zenrei kept going on and on.
"Oh, Zenrei, come on. You're scaring me." She said fretfully. She bounced her up and down and patted her back. Zenrei began to cry. "Shh. I'm here." She comforted. "Oh Jin, I wish I knew what to do." After hiccupping for five minutes, she finally stopped. Ling made sure that everything was fine. She picked up the baby and saw Zenrei chuckle. "Oh thank god!" She said at last. Jin came by her and sighed.
"You gave us such a scare!" He said. Ling landed on the floor and let out a big sigh. "I thought I was going to lose you for a moment." He said to Zenrei. She just looked at him and pulled on his bangs. Jin put her back in the small playpen and gave her a stuffed panda bear. Yuki walked over Zenrei's pen and pushed at the gate. The curious child stared intently at the bear. Ling grabbed the baby stroller and put on her coat. "Where are you headed off to?" Asked Jin. She took Zenrei and placed her into the stroller.
"I just thought I'd go out to buy Zenrei some more baby food. It seems that she is running out already." She said. Jin frowned.
"Do you have to take her with? I wanted to spend more time with her." Ling laughed and kissed her husband.
"We will be back soon. I promise, then you can spend all the time in the world you want with her." She went to the front of the door and looked at the lonely Jin and Yuki. She smiled, waved goodbye and went out on her way. AS she went further into the woods, she heard an evil laughter. She suddenly felt an uneasy chill rush through her body. The insane laughing became louder and more prominent. The sky suddenly seemed to get cloudy. 'No. Please, not him.' She thought. She ran deeper and deeper through the woods, but the voice still chased after her. It seemed as if she was going around in circles.
"What's wrong mommy? Can't find me?" She kept calm to try to figure out where the voice was coming from. "Try a bit harder!" She shot her eyes opened and swung her arm behind her, but she was caught. Kanji had a hold of her arm and wouldn't let go. "Why do you even bother?" He asked leaning himself on her.
"Leave us alone!" She shouted. He looked at her strangely. Then he had seen the stroller behind her.
"Ah, I see. It looks like I can come claim my prize." He said heading towards the baby. Ling ran up to him and tackled him to the ground.
"Stay away from her!!" She said sternly. She kicked him in the face until his nose bled gruesomely. He grabbed her ankle and twisted it, causing her to lose her balance. She used her other leg and kicked his jaw with such a force, she dislocated it entirely. He gave out a loud holler and grabbed his mouth. Zenrei looked at the man and began to twitch. She did not cry, squeal, or make any sudden movement at all. She simply twitched her tiny body. Ling was already becoming tired, she hadn't had much exercise for a long time, even though she had trained for that little amount of time; she was already out of breath. Kanji popped his jaw back in place and arose to his feet.
"Not bad, not bad at all. I see that you can fight." He wiped the blood from his mouth. "You even got to take some blood from me. Xiaoyu, you never cease to amaze me." Ling gritted her teeth and clenched her fists tightly.
"My name isn't Xiaoyu any more. I'm now Ling Kazama!" He smiled condescendingly looking into her serious face.
"Oh yes, I forgot. I just happened to think that Kazama Jin must have rapped you. Hmph, that leaves me to judge his character."
"Don't talk about Jin that way!!!" She scowled. She had never felt so much anger build up inside of her. She wanted to rip out his guts through his neck and feed him to Kuma!! She wanted to tear his hateful tongue out of his mouth with her bear hands, pull out his organs, and choke him with them! She had come up with the most gruesome ways to kill him in her head, now all she had to do was plan it out.
"What? Is there something wrong with that? If so, back your words up here!!!" She stood in her fighting stance, looking over her shoulder to check up on Zenrei. She knew that Kanji worked with Hinotama and that this could all be a trap to get her attention. If she were to be preoccupied for just one moment, it would be all over. That could buy them enough time to steal Zenrei. She knew that Kanji was an egotistic son of a bitch, so she decided to get the answer from him by badgering his ego with stupid, yet discouraging remarks.
"No. I will fight you." She said in her teasing little voice. She looked around and pouted. "Aw." She grunted. Kanji had a perturbed look on his face.
"WHAT!?" He yelled. Ling put her hands behind her back and still pouted. She had seen his annoyed look on his face. She brushed her foot on the ground in front of her and looked up at him with sad puppy-like eyes.
"Well..." She began. "It's not much fun this way. Where's Hinotama? That guy can really kick ass!" She said lifting her hands up in a cheering manor. Kanji rolled his eyes trying to forget that comment.
"Just fight me!!" He commanded.
"But you're no fun to fight!" She whined. "I could easily whoop you! All you ever do is screw things up, and try to seduce me! Hinotama actually takes action in what he says." Kanji couldn't believe his ears. He was being told what everyone said to him. He was being put down by someone whom he was sure he could easily kill. "I wanted a bit more of a challenge..."
"Look you whiney little bitch! I don't need Hinotama, or anyone! I can kill you on my own! I promised myself that!!!" She laughed silently to herself. He had just given himself away. He was alone, completely alone, and now she knew that she could fight him easily without having to worry too much about Zenrei.
"Well then, show me!" She said arrogantly. Kanji could feel anger and rage building up within his soul. He ran to her bringing his arm back, ready to launch his fist. She stood in her phoenix stance as he launched his fist right over her head. Seeing the opportunity, she raised her hands and hit him in his eyes. He stammered back and shook his head. She also used this opportunity to kick him in the chest. He fell back and she did her crescent moon kick on him. Slowly, she was wearing herself out. She stood over his body and let him up. He stood up and wiped the blood from his eyes, allowing him to see. He ran up to her again and this time, he faked a right punch and swept her off her feet, plummeting to the ground. She fell hard on her stomach, knocking the wind out of her. She panted and breathed for air holding onto her stomach. "No. I can't lose." Kanji went to kick her ribs, but she rolled to the side, allowing for him to slip next to her. From the ground, she moved her feet and kicked him hard in his ribs. She grabbed onto the tree next to her and pulled herself up. Kanji held on to his ribs and slowly rose up from the ground. His eyes were blood shot red and so was his face. He tightened all of his muscles and attacked her head on. She sidestepped out of the way and elbowed him in the back, breaking his bones. He landed on his stomach and this time, did not get up. Ling looked at the scratches on her arms and legs. Her hair was a bit messed up and there was dirt and blood on her face. She turned her back on Kanji and smiled. "Do you know why you are down there and I am up here?" She asked. Kanji did not answer nor move. "You were blinded by arrogance and anger. Therefore, you could not concentrate." She looked over by where he had fallen; he was not there. She limped her way towards the stroller. She bent down to pick up Zenrei. Her heart dropped when she found the empty stroller. She looked everywhere but did not see her. "Zenrei!!!" She called. She fell on her knees and wept. Her baby was gone. "Zenrei come back!!!" Her ears twitched as she heard the sound of her baby crying. She slowly turned her head and saw her young infant crying in the arms of evil. Kanji had completely transformed himself. He wasn't a devil, but instead, he had the markings of the black dragon on his chest. His eyes were black, and his pupil, in the form of a cat's eye, was red. His hair was spiked with white streaks, and he had dragon like wings spread from his back. Ling now felt more anger and hatred running through her entire body than she had ever felt before in her life. Her head was pounding, yet her heart beat rapidly with fear. Her parental instincts kicked in as she headed straight towards his arms to get Zenrei back. He kicked her in the chest with immense force. She looked up and did the next best thing. She grabbed two sticks and held them by her sides. This time, as she ran towards him. Before she got within hitting distance, she leaped up and dug the sticks into his wings, and from behind, she broke his wings, preventing him to fly off. He grabbed her by the shoulder with his left hand and threw her to the ground. He laughed as he held Zenrei out in front of him.
"Do you know why you are on the ground and I am left standing?" He asked with a raspy voice. Ling couldn't get up. Her eyes were becoming blurry and she had blood dripping from every corner of her mouth. "I'll tell you why!" He said mocking her. He held out Zenrei to her, gently running his sharp talons against her neck, careful not to pierce her skin. "This is why!" Zenrei cried, reaching her arms out to her mama. Ling did the same, barely moving, but still in attempt to hold her child. " But that's ok, Now that I have this little precious girl, Akuma can finally achieve his dream!! Mwahahahahaha! And now, no one will ever look at Kanji again and call him a failure!" He began to run out into the woods. Ling cried out covering her hands with her face.
"No!!!!" She yelled. She laid helpless on the ground. She tried so hard to get up, but she couldn't move. She heard someone running by. She looked up and saw Jin. He knelt down and lifted her head up to him. She cried in his chest, pointing to the way where Kanji had escaped.
"What happened?" He asked. She looked pathetically in his eyes. He had seen the scrapes and cuts on her body.
"Kanji, he took Zenrei! He took our little angel!" She couldn't move, and for some reason, she didn't want to. "I failed Jin. I failed to protect her." He lifted her up and carried her to the direction of where Kanji was.
"You tried. Now it's my turn." He said bravely. He ran and saw Kanji sitting down getting out his cell phone. He laid Ling down, away from him. He laid his finger gently on her lips. "Shh. I will go get her back. I promise." He whispered as he gently wiped the blood off with that finger.
"Thank you Jinny." She breathed. She closed her eyes and knew everything was going to be all right, or at least she hoped. She slowly opened her eyes again and saw Jin sneaking up to Kanji. Kanji was talking, but was rudely interrupted by a hand against his throat. It was Jin. He grabbed him and pinned him against the tree. Kanji was running short of breath.
"You are so fucking hardheaded aren't you?" Jin said in a dark voice. Kanji still had Zenrei in his hands. Jin used both hands and strangled his neck. Kanji slowly let go of Zenrei as she safely fell on a soft spot in the ground. She was crying her tiny eyes out and reached to her father. Jin pushed Kanji harder and deeper into the tree until finally "Snap!" The tree had snapped and Jin and Kanji fell right through. Kanji's head violently hit the ground.
"Let...go of me!!" He begged. Jin didn't dare loosen up. He tightened his grip around him. Since Kanji was in his supernatural form, he had immense strength and power, and now, he decided to use that power. He grabbed Jin's wrists and pulled them away from his neck. Jin had no idea what Kanji had transformed into, but he was definitely not the same. Kanji kicked Jin off of him and landed a strong punch in his stomach. He stood up and laughed. "Thought you had me there, didn't you Kazama?" He asked. Jin tried to do his right roundhouse punch, but it was like hitting solid medal; Kanji did not budge. Jin went on a fury of attacks, and none were working.
"Come on Jin." Ling whispered. She tried to get up, but her body ached way too much. She was helpless to help him. Jin found that none of his attacks were working, and in short, he was only tiring himself out. He panted; he couldn't keep on like this for much longer.
"Is something wrong Kazama?" Kanji asked. Jin looked up at him and tried to keep his eyes in focus. "Maybe I can help." He said. He walked over to Jin and punched him across the face, sending him to another tree. He shook his head and stood, looking at his daughter who looked back at him with hopeful eyes. He had to beat him, for Ling, and for Zenrei. As Jin stood up, Kanji walked over to him again. Jin did his Kazama style 5 hit combo, but Kanji blocked all of it. Jin gathered all of his energy and began to carelessly throw punches and swung at him as many times as he could. Kanji had become faster and more skilled. He had countered everything Jin had thrown at him. He picked Jin up by his hair, forcing him to look at him. He smirked and kneed him in the stomach, following by hitting him over the head with his elbow. Jin fell to the ground. "How pathetic! I see this child has made you week!" He picked up the crying child and licked his lips. "Don't worry, I'll take her off your hands!" He laughed. Jin had his eyes slightly opened and tears fell freely down his face. Ling watched in horror as this nightmare continued on. Zenrei looked sadly at her father, crying, pleading for him to save her. All the love that Jin held in his heart, he feared could not save his precious daughter.
"Please...I beg of you, don't take her away from me. She's my only child, my little baby girl." Jin pleaded while crying, holding his arm out, reaching for Zenrei. Zenrei reached back, but could not touch her father, and still, she cried more. Kanji laughed evilly, looking at the two pathetic excuses for humans.
"Aw, a little daddy's girl! How precious!" Kanji teased.
"Please, give her back. You can take me, but bring her back where she can be safe." Kanji turned around shaking his head.
"Tisk, tisk, tisk, how sappy. You would risk your own life to save your pathetic daughter? That's very touching. But for the record, I won't give her to Akuma." He said calmly. Jin looked up in shock.
"You won't?" He asked. Kanji turned around caressing the child's cheek.
"No. I seem to get more entertainment by torturing you! I will kill her myself, slow and painfully that you hear every cry! Then, I will break your legs and rape your wife until she herself falls at my hands!!!! And you will not be able to stop me!!!!!" He grabbed Zenrei, and with one sharp talon, he brought it closer to her. Jin had snapped. Hearing every word that Kanji had said brought him to his senses. He could feel the devil gene begin to take action. This time, he did not stop it; instead, he welcomed it, letting this power take control of him. Kanji watched in awe as Jin had took a different form. Ling bowed her head to the ground. This was not the way she wanted to see Jin. He might want to flea from her again like he had done every time he changed. Devil Jin used his incredible speed to chase down Kanji. He pounded his head into the dirt. Kanji kicked Jin off of him and held out Zenrei. Her sweet little brown eyes shimmered and sought out the goodness in him. Devil Jin grabbed Kanji's wrist, turning it so he would lose his grip on her. He took his daughter back in his arms and held her close to him. She did not scream, nor cry. Instead, she wrapped her tiny arms around her father's neck. He kissed her cheek and placed her on his shoulders, holding her tight. Kanji held his wrist and began to attack again. Devil Jin dodged every attack, flew into the air, and stroke him down to the ground.
"Your heart is black and impure." He said holding him in the air by the neck. This time, Kanji had lost all sense of being human. He had lost his soul, mind, and heart to whatever it was that had changed him into that. Zenrei had begun to feel a strange power overcome her. Since Kanji was purely dark, the light in her body reacted. A strange blue glow emitted itself from her body. She closed her eyes, and out of nowhere, a blue beam came from her heart and into Kanji's black-hearted soul. He gave out an ear- piercing screech from within. And thus, he fell to his knees and died. After an attack like that, Zenrei was drained from her energy and fell asleep on her father's shoulders. Ling looked at her daughter bewilderedly. Devil Jin walked up to the dead corpse and picked him up by the neck. Kanji had turned the way he was before he had transformed. "What a waste." Devil Jin said with his hoarse voice. He quickly forced his hand through Kanji's body, ripping out his heart and leaving it on the ground. After that, he ran a stick through it, and whatever possessed him, escaped from the organ. "No one should ever have to die to something that they brought upon themselves." He calmed down and turned to normal. He brought the sleeping Zenrei back in his arms and helped Ling up.
"Was that Zenrei?" She asked unbelievingly. Jin nodded.
"That was her light powers. It wasn't her devil powers at all. Maybe she can be the one to save us all in the end." Jin said stroking her hair. She grabbed onto his arm and limped away with him back into the house.
"You were very brave Jin. You saved Zenrei without worrying about the devil gene. I love you." She said kissing his lips passionately like she had done at their wedding. She finally broke the kiss and backed away, staring deep into his eyes. "I'm going to take a quick nap. I'll be back shortly." She said heading up the stairs.
"Ok. I'm just going to stay here with Zenrei." He said. She smiled and headed towards her room. Jin looked sweetly at his daughter and kissed her intently. "I promise, I will always be there to protect you. I will defend you with everything that I have." For a quick second, it seemed that she understood what he had said. It seemed as if she had smiled to her father's promise.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Hinotama had searched the entire office for Kanji, but hadn't seen him for a whole month. He closed his eyes and tried to seek out his power. He gasped when he found that his partner and friend had died. He pounded his fist on the table looking up at the clock. This was around the time that the mission was to take place.
"That damn fool! He went alone, and was killed." Hinotama knew now that he was the only one left. He had to get revenge. He just had to get everything planned out perfect. Akuma had walked in with the file in his hand.
"I believe that I have found a solution." He said. He took Hinotama to a small room filled with darkness except for a few candles. He handed him the file and watched as his eyes widened.
Kotou: Yeah, it's over with now. *Yawn* That took a lot of time to write!!! Ok, I have to thank Opside for giving me this idea. Without your review, I would be completely confused for an idea for this chapter. Actually, I'd like to thank all of my reviewers in general! You have all been so great!!! I don't know how to thank you enough! If you keep reviewing, I will keep updating! All of you inspire me to write more, and I appreciate it! Keep it up!!!!
"There may be hope for those who suffer."
Disclaimer: Don't own Tekken...
Kotou: Ok, I'm not going to lie; I have NO idea what I'm doing!!! This chapter is just purely experimental! I have so many ideas, but the trick here is trying to make sense of it. So if it is not good, I'll completely understand. I am not sure how this will work, but I am going to make the best out of it!! Oh, and I wasn't planning on making the sequel NOW!!! I was going to leave off at a certain point, and have you review me if I should end it at this story, or continue on through a new saga. Don't worry, I'll ask you when the time comes.
Opside: Hey, don't miss this! This chapter is dedicated for you!!! As promised, I am killing Kanji in this chapter! I'm still not sure how, so your guess is as good as mine!!!! This will truly be interesting! Hmmm...I am reading your review and I thought about it for a moment, I know who should kill that Bastard! I won't say yet, I'll let you read on and guess, but let's just say everyone will get a shot at him!! And someone is going to get the best out of him!!! MWAHAHAHAHAHA! Also, you mentioned Akuma looking like Steve Fox...Hmmm...the wheels in my mind are turning.
Forevermore: Thanx for reviewing again! Things are going to become a little clearer about you and Europa! So stay tuned! (I just sounded like a TV commercialist.) P.S. I personally think that your character is cool! She's like one of those rebels who know what they're supposed to do, but ignore them!!!
Jupiter's moon Europa: I hope you like the way you came out. ^__^ I tried! Anyways, you will learn a little bit about your history and about the small scar. Plus, Europa looks so cute!!! I drew a few anime pictures of the people in this fic. I should scan it and send it to you, and forevermore!!!
Chandavatika: Woohoo! Thank you for your review. No, I won't end it so soon, but I'm still deciding on how to end it. I have a general idea though. I hope you will like it!
Lacrease: Thank you! I am glad you like it! I want all of my reviewers to be happy!!!! Yet, I cannot please everybody, so I will do my best!
Skittles-Xtreme: I made you happy too? All right! I'm on my way up there!!! I hope that you keep reading my fic!
Lillian: All good things must come to an end. But not YET!!! Tee Hee! This will not end until I think it should. Which will probably be...NOT FOR A LONG TIME! I need an idea for an enemy in the sequel to this...or better yet, I have an even better idea!!!! Better write it down!
Nessa: YAY!!! I'm glad I got you reading this!!! You better review me! If not...you know what'll happen!!! I don't think I have to remind you! P.S. Who ate Grandma?????
Fox lady: Yeah, all the little babies are cute!! But what's even more cut, is Jin!!! I mean, read the way he acts around Zenrei and you'll understand.
After a day of staying in the hospital, Ling, Jin, and Zenrei finally came home. Ling bounced in with her baby in her arms. She spun around giggling and smiling.
"Oh my sweet little Zenrei, We will have so much fun!" She said. Zenrei's eyes were wide and filled with enthusiasm. Jin walked inside with a whole bunch of new baby items. He set down a small baby bag and sat lazily on the couch. Ling hopped next to him sticking close by. "Oh Jinny, I'm so proud of us! This little miracle is a symbol of hope brought back to the Kazama name." Jin gently grabbed his daughter and placed her in his arms.
"There is so much I want to teach her. So much I want to do. I want to spend the rest of my life giving her the life I wish I had. I will teach her how to defend herself, how to love life and every precious moment of it, and how to...be the angel I know she will grow up to be." Jin said rocking Zenrei in his arms. She smiled soundly rocking to the rhythm of his gentle swings.
"I knew you would be a great father." Ling said looking at Zenrei in his arms. Jin looked at her with a smirk painted across his face. "What?" Ling asked in a startled and yet annoyed voice.
"You didn't ALWAYS think that." Jin said. Ling backed away, a little astonished from his remark.
"What are you talking about?" She asked. "I never said that you wouldn't make a good father." Jin laughed as the memory crossed him.
"Remember the night after we first met?" He asked. She thought about it, and then remembered everything clearly.
"Yeah," She looked at Jin straight in the eyes. "What about it?"
"I think I remember a certain little friend of mine telling me that we were never going to have kids." Ling thought back...
Flashback*~*~*~*~*~*
Three years ago.
"Aren't you going to wake up?" Jin looked at the clock beside her bed.
"Yeah, it's getting late." She rolled out of bed and absent-mindedly fell off her bed. She fell hard on her back. Jin rushed to her side. "Ling, are you alright?" Her legs were still on her bed, yet the rest of her body was dangling on the floor. She looked at the position she was in and laughed.
"How did I get here?" She laughed. Jin took her hand and helped her up. He couldn't help but laugh with her. She was so careless. It was funny. Seeing him actually laugh was a blessing. He hadn't ever smiled or talked to her before last night. "What are you laughing at?" She said sardonically. Just thinking about that made him laugh.
"How did you fall? You were way on the other side of the bed. You know I'll never let this down." He smirked. She Held her nose high and walked out of her room.
"You know, one of these days you're gunna do something embarrassing." Then she looked at him playfully. That stare of hers teased him in so many ways. "And I'll be the one laughing! I won't even let our kids forget!" She quickly shut her mouth. She retraced what she had just said. She didn't want Jin to hear that. 'Maybe he didn't hear that.' She thought. Her face became a pinkish color.
Jin, with his arms folded across his chest replied, "Our kids? Who said we were going to have kids?" Ling's face was now noticeably red. She decided to make him feel like he heard wrong.
"Jin! You can't hear! I said 'your' kids!" She scuffed. That was it! She had made her comeback.
"Hm...nope. You said 'our' kids. My hearing is excellent." So much for comebacks. Ling was almost positive she had Jin right where she wanted him. Then it hit her. If he was going to be stubborn, she might as well to; just to see how it works out.
"You obviously misunderstood me. Why would I say our kids? That would mean that you and me...no. I just don't see it happening." She said as she stuck out her tongue. 'Oh yeah! That was perfect!' She thought. She had to admit that it was a good plan. He couldn't say anything to that. She had planned all her words perfectly. She always won petty little fights. It was one of her talents. Jin Kazama was not about to let that remark get to him. He was better than that. He knew if he tried to say it in words, he would probably screw up. So he thought of a way to get her back. It wasn't going to be pretty; she might even hate him after it. "What's wrong Jin? Had enough? Or should I call you 'daddy?'" That was it! His cue!
"Daddy, huh?" Jin said as he slowly turned his gaze towards Ling."Daddy? You want to see daddy? I'll give you daddy!" Jin said as he was pushing his body on Ling's.
"No! Jin, stop!" She laughed. She hadn't remembered when she had so much fun. "Stop! You're tickling me!"
"You don't think I'm good father material?" He asked. Ling was laughing up a storm. Whatever they were doing, she sure as hell liked it.
"No...Jin! I didn't mean..."
"Oh, you're just saying that you can't see us having children!" Jin's voice sounded exited. It was as if he was...
"Listen Jin!" Ling said giggling. "I didn't say anything like that! All I'm trying to say is..." Jin had interrupted her.
"What? What are you trying to say? That I can't be a daddy? That I'm not skilled?" His voice was playful. Ling decided that it was now or never. She was going to see what his reaction was.
"Yes! That's exactly what I'm saying! You may have the body, but who said you got the skills?" Jin's eyes widened. He couldn't believe it! She had just told him that he didn't have...skill!
"I got your skill right here!" He said pushing her on to him.
"Jin! Wait! Not yet! I..." She bursted out laughing again.
End Flashback*~*~*~*~*~*
"Jin, I...I was just joking. Of course I said something like that! I didn't want you to know what I felt!" She said blushing.
"Well, so much for not having skill. I think I have PLENTY of skill, don't you think?" She blushed and silently nodded in agreement.
"Aw, that's just so cute!!!" Miharu said coming from the door. "So when's the party?" She asked sitting next to Ling with Europa in her arms.
"Party? What party?" Jin asked looking at Miharu strangely.
"SURPRISE!!!!!!" Jin and Ling jumped to their feet as they saw all the contestants (Well, most of them) jump out from the sides of the house. The sudden shout and loudness startled both Zenrei and Europa making them cry in unison.
"Whoa! I'm so sorry!" Forest Law. Forest patted Ling on the shoulder. "This is the one? This is supposed to be the one to renovate the Kazama name? Good choice." He said proudly.
Nina slowly approached Jin and the baby.
"Ha! Looks like I have got another Mishima to get rid of." She said stroking Zenrei's cheek. Jin pulled away and held Zenrei close to him for protection.
"She's a Kazama, not a Mishima. And no, you aren't going to kill her!" Jin said sternly.
"Yeah, you're right. No one has paid me to kill her yet." Zenrei stopped crying and began to make weird noises. Nina jumped out of the blue with her gun in her hand pointing at Zenrei.
"Nina!!!!????? DON'T!!!" Shouted Ling as she jumped in front of the rifle. "What the hell do you think you're doing???" She asked. Nina pushed Ling out of the way.
"She's a devil who's transforming!! Didn't you guys hear those weird noises?" She's going to kill us all!!!!"
"NO!" Ling knocked the gun out of her hands. "She's not a devil, and that sound, its called DIGESTING!!!! Babies do it all the time." Nina picked up the gun and left the house. Jin sighed.
"Why is everyone after her? I hope this isn't my fault." He said. Ling hugged him close to her.
"No Jin. It's not your fault." She whispered. Ling's eyes widened as she felt something evil surround her. She stood there, startled at what to do. Lee approached Jin and Ling with a smile. Ling, startled at the presence of evil choking her, slowly backed away from him.
"Well, well, well," He began. "it looks like there is a living legacy wherever we look." Lee said in an eerie voice. "Well? Aren't you going to let your uncle see his little niece?" He asked. Lee took the baby from his arms and held her in his. Zenrei looked deep into his eyes. Lee slowly moved to the corner of the room and checked her out. Lee's eyes turned a bright red, triggering Zenrei's eyes to turn red.
"Jin! I feel that evil again...it's Zenrei!" She said. Lee still held the girl out in front of him.
"Ha! A new little devil." He said in a low husky voice. He walked back over to Ling and Jin handing Zenrei back to them.
"What's wrong Lee? Your eyes look a bit red." Ling said. He rubbed his eyes avoiding her stare.
"Well, I just need a little air. It's ok." He walked out of the house and deep into the woods. Jin looked at Zenrei and saw her eyes change from red to her natural brown again.
"I knew it!" He said. Ling looked at him and tried to comfort him.
"What's wrong?" She asked.
"Lee. He's Devil's new slave. Now he's going to come for Zenrei and posses her."
"But Jin, she may have the devil gene, but he isn't present in her. There is still hope for her, and all of us." Jin nodded. She was right. Devil hadn't come and taken her, he promised to take care of her, and that's what he'll do. "Come on, let's go show the rest of them." She said grabbing on to his shoulder.
As Lee walked out of the house, he smiled and looked at his watch.
"Just as I suspected." Said a voice from behind. Lee sharply jerked his head behind him.
"Who's there?" He asked. No one could be seen, but there was a voice coming from the opposite direction.
"What are you doing here? I don't think that Devils are permitted past the gates of hell."
"Come out coward!" Lee commanded. He held his gun in his hand. Without warning, someone had kicked him in the back of his head and he fell to the floor. Lee looked up at the dark figure.
"What's wrong? Don't your devilish instincts tell you when to attack?" The voice asked. Lee knew that voice; it was his older brother Kazuya.
"Kazuya! What the hell are you doing here?" He asked pointing his gun to Kazuya's neck. Kazuya kicked it out of his grip and crushed Lee's stomach with his knee.
"I believe I was the one asking the questions. Now answer to me and I might spare you. What were you doing in their house?" Lee looked at Kazuya and laughed.
"You mean you didn't know? Wow! How sad that a grandfather does not know about his granddaughter's birth!" He laughed evilly. Kazuya stood there in shock, not knowing what to say.
"Granddaughter?" He murmured. "That's great." He said with a smile. Lee violently pushed Kazuya off of him and kicked the back of his knee plummeting into the ground. He loaded his gun and aimed directly at Kazuya's head. The marks of the Devil began to cover Lee's body.
"Look what you have become." He said gruffly. "Without the devil gene you are nothing. You can't even fight, you're a pussy!" Kazuya, without hesitation and with incredible speed, jumped up to his feet knocking Lee against a tree. As Lee shot at him, Kazuya easily dodged his way around the bullets. He leaped into the air and landed on Lee's shoulders. He cried out in pain and fell into the ground. Kazuya repeatedly stepped on him, each kick harder than the first. After a serried of beating, Kazuya walked away with a smile on his face. "No. I am devil! I won't lose this way." He whispered aiming his gun at his left side. His shoulders hurt badly, causing him to wobble a bit. He managed to aim the gun at a good spot, allowing a bit of leeway for mistakes. "Steady...just right." He said. As he pulled the trigger, he felt something violently push at his arm, making the gun turn a quarter to the left and hitting Kazuya's arm. "Dammit!" He cursed. Kazuya turned around to see a young girl holding the gun in her hands. She had long black hair with blue streaks. Her eyes were soft and dark, and her style of clothing showed that she had been around many types of people. She bravely stood up to Lee with the gun pointed at him.
"Go." She said quietly. Lee laughed and took out his knife. Kazuya watched as the brave girl stood there, poised, and without showing one sign of fear. As Lee began to rise from the ground, the stronger she gripped the gun. "Don't make another move, or I will..."
"What? What will this little CHILD do?" Asked Lee. Kazuya sought out this opportunity and ran after Lee, tackling him to the ground. As Kazuya punched him six times in the face, the seventh time failed. He raised his hand high over his head, buying Lee enough time to strike. He shoved the knife into Kazuya's left side. The girl panicked and held the gun out in front of her.
"Stop it!!!" She yelled. With the nervousness running through her adrenaline, her finger slipped, pulling the trigger, hitting Lee right in his heart. "No!!!" She screamed as she fell on the ground, crying her eyes out. Lee's body laid there, but the devil within, rose out and drifted into the night. Kazuya held his left side and limped his way to her. He held on to her and lifted her chin up to stare into his eyes. She had a sweet and delicate face like Jun. Her eyes were black and glossy; she had never killed anyone before. She faced Kazuya with bravery and tried to stop crying.
"Who are you?" He asked. She gasped and sniffled a few times.
"My name is Razan." Kazuya stopped talking. There was a long moment of silence.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Inside, Zenrei was being showed the best time she had ever had. She was given so much attention that she couldn't even breathe because everyone was surrounding her.
"Oh Ling, she's absolutely gorgeous!" Said Julia as she walked over to look at Zenrei. "God, she sure looks a lot like her father. But I can still see a lot of her mother in you. I bet she is going to grow up to be a very carefree person, isn't she?" Ling just laughed, she wasn't sure what to say.
"Well, I can tell you one thing, if she ends up being spoiled, it's not my fault." Julia looked at her quizzically.
"What do you mean?"
"Jin." She said. "He's so, I don't know, childish now." They looked at Jin who was holding Zenrei and spinning her around. "It's like, he's a kid again. He spoils Zenrei so much, and it's only been a day since we had her." Julia laughed looking at Jin and how playful he is with the baby.
"Way to go Kazama!" Said Hworang as he approached Jin. Jin looked at Hworang and...he stopped. Jin completely froze in place, not knowing what to do or say next. Hworang came over and looked at the new Kazama. "I see, she has a lot of your traits, looks like another competition for JiEun (Jee- young) he said laughing. Jin looked at the child in Hworang's arms.
"Hworang...is she...yours?" Jin asked.
"Yeah. Mine and Julia's." He said proudly. Jin couldn't believe his eyes. Hworang was such a stubborn, cocky, arrogant person. And Julia was the exact opposite of him.
"There are many wonders in this world." Said Jin as he looked at him with much deniability.
"Here Ling, this is a gift for Zenrei." She handed a small handmade item with beads, string, feathers, and a Zircon jewel on the very top. "I don't know if it'll stop Devil from coming, but at least it will allow her to sleep peacefully.
"Thank you Julia." Said Ling with a smile on her face.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"I was sent here by Angel. She told me that I must help Zenrei find her destiny."
"Zenrei?" He asked.
"Yes, Zenrei is Jin and Ling's daughter."
"I see. So you are here to insure her success?"
"Yeah, but I'm not the only one. Europa will help as well." Kazuya remembered those names. Jun had told him all about it.
Time passed and everyone had already begun to leave. Sure enough, Miharu was the last person to leave, holding Europa, and traveling through the woods. Kazuya and Razan snuck over by the window and saw the two holding the baby. Kazuya felt tears begin to take form, but he quickly stooped them. 'No. I won't cry. That is a sign of weakness!!!' He thought. But he couldn't help but to wonder what it would be like to raise a child. He had never gotten the chance, and that was something he regretted. Jin slowly held the baby in his arms and rocked her to sleep.
"She's going to be so spoiled by you Jin." Ling said resting her head on his shoulder and touching Zenrei's cheek.
"I want to teach her everything my mother taught me. I want her to grow up knowing that the world doesn't always have to hate, and that there are good people out there who will love her. I want to show her the affection you showed me, so then, she will have a strong enough will to chose her own path and not let her family legacy chose her path for her." Jin held her up to him as he slowly fell asleep to the still sound of her beating heart. Ling looked at him sleeping silently with his daughter in his arms. A few tears fell down her cheek.
"You were alone for so long, weren't you? Now you have a chance to make up for all that. You can finally learn to show love, and become stronger from it. I know that one day, we will learn something from this." She closed her eyes. "And we will learn it, together." She whispered. The dim orange light from the fire was all the illumination they had. Kazuya felt a sharp pain in his heart.
"You missed out on a lot." Said Razan moving away from the window.
"She is beautiful." Kazuya said moving towards her. Razan stood there looking at the snowfall. She grabbed a snowflake in her hand and watched it melt.
"There are so many things that pass us by, that we do not know exist. Sometimes, we just need a little help finding it." She smiled and turned back to Kazuya. "You didn't know that there was still good in your heart, but Angel showed you, she shows all of us." Kazuya looked at the young girl. "Sometimes, it's too late to make up for what you did. That leaves us in a tight spot. Then sometimes, we are given a second chance. You Kazuya, were given another chance to correct the wrong that you have emitted." The two walked off together.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A month had passed since the birth of Zenrei Kazama. Ling trained hard to get back into shape. Slowly she was succeeding. She walked back from the woods and went into the house. She looked around for Jin, but could not find him.
"Jin!" She called. She heard the sound pf giggling come from upstairs. She walked up the stairs and looked in there room. She saw an empty bed and crib. She wondered around the room and laid her training clothes on the bed. She changed into her normal casual clothes.
"That's a good girl." She heard. She snapped her head looking behind her, but saw no one there. The voice sounded like Jin's.
"Hey! Jin, where are you?" She called.
"Over here." She looked around and puzzled for a moment.
"Over where?" She asked searching the room.
"In my old room. It's directly across this one." She walked out of the room and opened the door to the next room. Jin was holding Zenrei as he fed her a bottle. Ling laughed and walked next to him.
"Looks like you made a little playroom for you and Zenrei. I like it." Jin drew the bottle back from her allowing her to breathe. She then started to hiccup and Jin panicked. Ling watched as he tried shaking her and talking to her.
"What's wrong Zenrei?" He asked. Her face turned a bit pale and she looked like she was choking. Ling took Zenrei in her arms and patted her back. Zenrei kept going on and on.
"Oh, Zenrei, come on. You're scaring me." She said fretfully. She bounced her up and down and patted her back. Zenrei began to cry. "Shh. I'm here." She comforted. "Oh Jin, I wish I knew what to do." After hiccupping for five minutes, she finally stopped. Ling made sure that everything was fine. She picked up the baby and saw Zenrei chuckle. "Oh thank god!" She said at last. Jin came by her and sighed.
"You gave us such a scare!" He said. Ling landed on the floor and let out a big sigh. "I thought I was going to lose you for a moment." He said to Zenrei. She just looked at him and pulled on his bangs. Jin put her back in the small playpen and gave her a stuffed panda bear. Yuki walked over Zenrei's pen and pushed at the gate. The curious child stared intently at the bear. Ling grabbed the baby stroller and put on her coat. "Where are you headed off to?" Asked Jin. She took Zenrei and placed her into the stroller.
"I just thought I'd go out to buy Zenrei some more baby food. It seems that she is running out already." She said. Jin frowned.
"Do you have to take her with? I wanted to spend more time with her." Ling laughed and kissed her husband.
"We will be back soon. I promise, then you can spend all the time in the world you want with her." She went to the front of the door and looked at the lonely Jin and Yuki. She smiled, waved goodbye and went out on her way. AS she went further into the woods, she heard an evil laughter. She suddenly felt an uneasy chill rush through her body. The insane laughing became louder and more prominent. The sky suddenly seemed to get cloudy. 'No. Please, not him.' She thought. She ran deeper and deeper through the woods, but the voice still chased after her. It seemed as if she was going around in circles.
"What's wrong mommy? Can't find me?" She kept calm to try to figure out where the voice was coming from. "Try a bit harder!" She shot her eyes opened and swung her arm behind her, but she was caught. Kanji had a hold of her arm and wouldn't let go. "Why do you even bother?" He asked leaning himself on her.
"Leave us alone!" She shouted. He looked at her strangely. Then he had seen the stroller behind her.
"Ah, I see. It looks like I can come claim my prize." He said heading towards the baby. Ling ran up to him and tackled him to the ground.
"Stay away from her!!" She said sternly. She kicked him in the face until his nose bled gruesomely. He grabbed her ankle and twisted it, causing her to lose her balance. She used her other leg and kicked his jaw with such a force, she dislocated it entirely. He gave out a loud holler and grabbed his mouth. Zenrei looked at the man and began to twitch. She did not cry, squeal, or make any sudden movement at all. She simply twitched her tiny body. Ling was already becoming tired, she hadn't had much exercise for a long time, even though she had trained for that little amount of time; she was already out of breath. Kanji popped his jaw back in place and arose to his feet.
"Not bad, not bad at all. I see that you can fight." He wiped the blood from his mouth. "You even got to take some blood from me. Xiaoyu, you never cease to amaze me." Ling gritted her teeth and clenched her fists tightly.
"My name isn't Xiaoyu any more. I'm now Ling Kazama!" He smiled condescendingly looking into her serious face.
"Oh yes, I forgot. I just happened to think that Kazama Jin must have rapped you. Hmph, that leaves me to judge his character."
"Don't talk about Jin that way!!!" She scowled. She had never felt so much anger build up inside of her. She wanted to rip out his guts through his neck and feed him to Kuma!! She wanted to tear his hateful tongue out of his mouth with her bear hands, pull out his organs, and choke him with them! She had come up with the most gruesome ways to kill him in her head, now all she had to do was plan it out.
"What? Is there something wrong with that? If so, back your words up here!!!" She stood in her fighting stance, looking over her shoulder to check up on Zenrei. She knew that Kanji worked with Hinotama and that this could all be a trap to get her attention. If she were to be preoccupied for just one moment, it would be all over. That could buy them enough time to steal Zenrei. She knew that Kanji was an egotistic son of a bitch, so she decided to get the answer from him by badgering his ego with stupid, yet discouraging remarks.
"No. I will fight you." She said in her teasing little voice. She looked around and pouted. "Aw." She grunted. Kanji had a perturbed look on his face.
"WHAT!?" He yelled. Ling put her hands behind her back and still pouted. She had seen his annoyed look on his face. She brushed her foot on the ground in front of her and looked up at him with sad puppy-like eyes.
"Well..." She began. "It's not much fun this way. Where's Hinotama? That guy can really kick ass!" She said lifting her hands up in a cheering manor. Kanji rolled his eyes trying to forget that comment.
"Just fight me!!" He commanded.
"But you're no fun to fight!" She whined. "I could easily whoop you! All you ever do is screw things up, and try to seduce me! Hinotama actually takes action in what he says." Kanji couldn't believe his ears. He was being told what everyone said to him. He was being put down by someone whom he was sure he could easily kill. "I wanted a bit more of a challenge..."
"Look you whiney little bitch! I don't need Hinotama, or anyone! I can kill you on my own! I promised myself that!!!" She laughed silently to herself. He had just given himself away. He was alone, completely alone, and now she knew that she could fight him easily without having to worry too much about Zenrei.
"Well then, show me!" She said arrogantly. Kanji could feel anger and rage building up within his soul. He ran to her bringing his arm back, ready to launch his fist. She stood in her phoenix stance as he launched his fist right over her head. Seeing the opportunity, she raised her hands and hit him in his eyes. He stammered back and shook his head. She also used this opportunity to kick him in the chest. He fell back and she did her crescent moon kick on him. Slowly, she was wearing herself out. She stood over his body and let him up. He stood up and wiped the blood from his eyes, allowing him to see. He ran up to her again and this time, he faked a right punch and swept her off her feet, plummeting to the ground. She fell hard on her stomach, knocking the wind out of her. She panted and breathed for air holding onto her stomach. "No. I can't lose." Kanji went to kick her ribs, but she rolled to the side, allowing for him to slip next to her. From the ground, she moved her feet and kicked him hard in his ribs. She grabbed onto the tree next to her and pulled herself up. Kanji held on to his ribs and slowly rose up from the ground. His eyes were blood shot red and so was his face. He tightened all of his muscles and attacked her head on. She sidestepped out of the way and elbowed him in the back, breaking his bones. He landed on his stomach and this time, did not get up. Ling looked at the scratches on her arms and legs. Her hair was a bit messed up and there was dirt and blood on her face. She turned her back on Kanji and smiled. "Do you know why you are down there and I am up here?" She asked. Kanji did not answer nor move. "You were blinded by arrogance and anger. Therefore, you could not concentrate." She looked over by where he had fallen; he was not there. She limped her way towards the stroller. She bent down to pick up Zenrei. Her heart dropped when she found the empty stroller. She looked everywhere but did not see her. "Zenrei!!!" She called. She fell on her knees and wept. Her baby was gone. "Zenrei come back!!!" Her ears twitched as she heard the sound of her baby crying. She slowly turned her head and saw her young infant crying in the arms of evil. Kanji had completely transformed himself. He wasn't a devil, but instead, he had the markings of the black dragon on his chest. His eyes were black, and his pupil, in the form of a cat's eye, was red. His hair was spiked with white streaks, and he had dragon like wings spread from his back. Ling now felt more anger and hatred running through her entire body than she had ever felt before in her life. Her head was pounding, yet her heart beat rapidly with fear. Her parental instincts kicked in as she headed straight towards his arms to get Zenrei back. He kicked her in the chest with immense force. She looked up and did the next best thing. She grabbed two sticks and held them by her sides. This time, as she ran towards him. Before she got within hitting distance, she leaped up and dug the sticks into his wings, and from behind, she broke his wings, preventing him to fly off. He grabbed her by the shoulder with his left hand and threw her to the ground. He laughed as he held Zenrei out in front of him.
"Do you know why you are on the ground and I am left standing?" He asked with a raspy voice. Ling couldn't get up. Her eyes were becoming blurry and she had blood dripping from every corner of her mouth. "I'll tell you why!" He said mocking her. He held out Zenrei to her, gently running his sharp talons against her neck, careful not to pierce her skin. "This is why!" Zenrei cried, reaching her arms out to her mama. Ling did the same, barely moving, but still in attempt to hold her child. " But that's ok, Now that I have this little precious girl, Akuma can finally achieve his dream!! Mwahahahahaha! And now, no one will ever look at Kanji again and call him a failure!" He began to run out into the woods. Ling cried out covering her hands with her face.
"No!!!!" She yelled. She laid helpless on the ground. She tried so hard to get up, but she couldn't move. She heard someone running by. She looked up and saw Jin. He knelt down and lifted her head up to him. She cried in his chest, pointing to the way where Kanji had escaped.
"What happened?" He asked. She looked pathetically in his eyes. He had seen the scrapes and cuts on her body.
"Kanji, he took Zenrei! He took our little angel!" She couldn't move, and for some reason, she didn't want to. "I failed Jin. I failed to protect her." He lifted her up and carried her to the direction of where Kanji was.
"You tried. Now it's my turn." He said bravely. He ran and saw Kanji sitting down getting out his cell phone. He laid Ling down, away from him. He laid his finger gently on her lips. "Shh. I will go get her back. I promise." He whispered as he gently wiped the blood off with that finger.
"Thank you Jinny." She breathed. She closed her eyes and knew everything was going to be all right, or at least she hoped. She slowly opened her eyes again and saw Jin sneaking up to Kanji. Kanji was talking, but was rudely interrupted by a hand against his throat. It was Jin. He grabbed him and pinned him against the tree. Kanji was running short of breath.
"You are so fucking hardheaded aren't you?" Jin said in a dark voice. Kanji still had Zenrei in his hands. Jin used both hands and strangled his neck. Kanji slowly let go of Zenrei as she safely fell on a soft spot in the ground. She was crying her tiny eyes out and reached to her father. Jin pushed Kanji harder and deeper into the tree until finally "Snap!" The tree had snapped and Jin and Kanji fell right through. Kanji's head violently hit the ground.
"Let...go of me!!" He begged. Jin didn't dare loosen up. He tightened his grip around him. Since Kanji was in his supernatural form, he had immense strength and power, and now, he decided to use that power. He grabbed Jin's wrists and pulled them away from his neck. Jin had no idea what Kanji had transformed into, but he was definitely not the same. Kanji kicked Jin off of him and landed a strong punch in his stomach. He stood up and laughed. "Thought you had me there, didn't you Kazama?" He asked. Jin tried to do his right roundhouse punch, but it was like hitting solid medal; Kanji did not budge. Jin went on a fury of attacks, and none were working.
"Come on Jin." Ling whispered. She tried to get up, but her body ached way too much. She was helpless to help him. Jin found that none of his attacks were working, and in short, he was only tiring himself out. He panted; he couldn't keep on like this for much longer.
"Is something wrong Kazama?" Kanji asked. Jin looked up at him and tried to keep his eyes in focus. "Maybe I can help." He said. He walked over to Jin and punched him across the face, sending him to another tree. He shook his head and stood, looking at his daughter who looked back at him with hopeful eyes. He had to beat him, for Ling, and for Zenrei. As Jin stood up, Kanji walked over to him again. Jin did his Kazama style 5 hit combo, but Kanji blocked all of it. Jin gathered all of his energy and began to carelessly throw punches and swung at him as many times as he could. Kanji had become faster and more skilled. He had countered everything Jin had thrown at him. He picked Jin up by his hair, forcing him to look at him. He smirked and kneed him in the stomach, following by hitting him over the head with his elbow. Jin fell to the ground. "How pathetic! I see this child has made you week!" He picked up the crying child and licked his lips. "Don't worry, I'll take her off your hands!" He laughed. Jin had his eyes slightly opened and tears fell freely down his face. Ling watched in horror as this nightmare continued on. Zenrei looked sadly at her father, crying, pleading for him to save her. All the love that Jin held in his heart, he feared could not save his precious daughter.
"Please...I beg of you, don't take her away from me. She's my only child, my little baby girl." Jin pleaded while crying, holding his arm out, reaching for Zenrei. Zenrei reached back, but could not touch her father, and still, she cried more. Kanji laughed evilly, looking at the two pathetic excuses for humans.
"Aw, a little daddy's girl! How precious!" Kanji teased.
"Please, give her back. You can take me, but bring her back where she can be safe." Kanji turned around shaking his head.
"Tisk, tisk, tisk, how sappy. You would risk your own life to save your pathetic daughter? That's very touching. But for the record, I won't give her to Akuma." He said calmly. Jin looked up in shock.
"You won't?" He asked. Kanji turned around caressing the child's cheek.
"No. I seem to get more entertainment by torturing you! I will kill her myself, slow and painfully that you hear every cry! Then, I will break your legs and rape your wife until she herself falls at my hands!!!! And you will not be able to stop me!!!!!" He grabbed Zenrei, and with one sharp talon, he brought it closer to her. Jin had snapped. Hearing every word that Kanji had said brought him to his senses. He could feel the devil gene begin to take action. This time, he did not stop it; instead, he welcomed it, letting this power take control of him. Kanji watched in awe as Jin had took a different form. Ling bowed her head to the ground. This was not the way she wanted to see Jin. He might want to flea from her again like he had done every time he changed. Devil Jin used his incredible speed to chase down Kanji. He pounded his head into the dirt. Kanji kicked Jin off of him and held out Zenrei. Her sweet little brown eyes shimmered and sought out the goodness in him. Devil Jin grabbed Kanji's wrist, turning it so he would lose his grip on her. He took his daughter back in his arms and held her close to him. She did not scream, nor cry. Instead, she wrapped her tiny arms around her father's neck. He kissed her cheek and placed her on his shoulders, holding her tight. Kanji held his wrist and began to attack again. Devil Jin dodged every attack, flew into the air, and stroke him down to the ground.
"Your heart is black and impure." He said holding him in the air by the neck. This time, Kanji had lost all sense of being human. He had lost his soul, mind, and heart to whatever it was that had changed him into that. Zenrei had begun to feel a strange power overcome her. Since Kanji was purely dark, the light in her body reacted. A strange blue glow emitted itself from her body. She closed her eyes, and out of nowhere, a blue beam came from her heart and into Kanji's black-hearted soul. He gave out an ear- piercing screech from within. And thus, he fell to his knees and died. After an attack like that, Zenrei was drained from her energy and fell asleep on her father's shoulders. Ling looked at her daughter bewilderedly. Devil Jin walked up to the dead corpse and picked him up by the neck. Kanji had turned the way he was before he had transformed. "What a waste." Devil Jin said with his hoarse voice. He quickly forced his hand through Kanji's body, ripping out his heart and leaving it on the ground. After that, he ran a stick through it, and whatever possessed him, escaped from the organ. "No one should ever have to die to something that they brought upon themselves." He calmed down and turned to normal. He brought the sleeping Zenrei back in his arms and helped Ling up.
"Was that Zenrei?" She asked unbelievingly. Jin nodded.
"That was her light powers. It wasn't her devil powers at all. Maybe she can be the one to save us all in the end." Jin said stroking her hair. She grabbed onto his arm and limped away with him back into the house.
"You were very brave Jin. You saved Zenrei without worrying about the devil gene. I love you." She said kissing his lips passionately like she had done at their wedding. She finally broke the kiss and backed away, staring deep into his eyes. "I'm going to take a quick nap. I'll be back shortly." She said heading up the stairs.
"Ok. I'm just going to stay here with Zenrei." He said. She smiled and headed towards her room. Jin looked sweetly at his daughter and kissed her intently. "I promise, I will always be there to protect you. I will defend you with everything that I have." For a quick second, it seemed that she understood what he had said. It seemed as if she had smiled to her father's promise.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Hinotama had searched the entire office for Kanji, but hadn't seen him for a whole month. He closed his eyes and tried to seek out his power. He gasped when he found that his partner and friend had died. He pounded his fist on the table looking up at the clock. This was around the time that the mission was to take place.
"That damn fool! He went alone, and was killed." Hinotama knew now that he was the only one left. He had to get revenge. He just had to get everything planned out perfect. Akuma had walked in with the file in his hand.
"I believe that I have found a solution." He said. He took Hinotama to a small room filled with darkness except for a few candles. He handed him the file and watched as his eyes widened.
Kotou: Yeah, it's over with now. *Yawn* That took a lot of time to write!!! Ok, I have to thank Opside for giving me this idea. Without your review, I would be completely confused for an idea for this chapter. Actually, I'd like to thank all of my reviewers in general! You have all been so great!!! I don't know how to thank you enough! If you keep reviewing, I will keep updating! All of you inspire me to write more, and I appreciate it! Keep it up!!!!