A Tale of Two Seeds

Chapter 14 - Love United

"NO!!!!!"

The single word rings out through the darkness as Kazuya sees the devil plunge it's clawed hand into his loves chest. Kazuya tries to close his eyes but he is forced to watch as Jun's heart is crushed in the Devil's dark grip. Kazuya continues to look on as the devil turns its gaze back towards Jun's now dying body. As the empty chest cavity comes into view the ooze that holds Kazuya fast begins to soften and it quickly flows from the small hole down into Jun's chest. Kazuya's looks up away from the hole and looks into the distance. The dark ground that is now flowing around him and down into Jun's body seems to go on forever, but in the distance Kazuya can make out a darkness like none he has seen before. As more and more of the ooze flows into his love the darkness swiftly descends on him. The last of the devil's essence flows into the hole and the darkness slams Kazuya and he flies out into the void. Kazuya now knows pain. The darkness is like an acid. He looks down at his hands and he sees them slowly being eaten away by the penetrating darkness. His corporeal form begins to stretch out farther and farther. His mind screams in pain and as his conscience begins to fade he utters one word into the darkness.

"help......"

As this one word echoes through the dark void, Kazuya's mind suddenly snaps back into place and his feet touch down on solid ground. Kazuya breathes deeply and looks around. Grass and sunshine fill this place. It too goes on forever but it is full of light. A small quiet voice then speaks behind him.

"Kazuya....."

He turns at the sound of his name. His eyes squint as he tries to make out the figure of the bright form in front of him. Slowly his eyes come into focus and the light seems to diminish just a little bit. He can now make out the form of a woman. She appears to be wearing all white but he can not tell for the light that still surrounds her.

"Wh...who are you," Kazuya slowly speaks still trying to regain his strength from his encounter with the darkness. The woman speaks,

"Do you not know me....I have always been near to you."

Kazuya looks hard at the bright form but shakes his head in frustration when he cannot remember. The angelic form then smiles slightly as she reaches out her hand and touches Kazuya's forehead.

"Perhaps this will remind you"

As the slender fingers brush his forehead a sudden bright light envelopes Kazuya's vision. Memories long forgotten emerge....

The small boy barely 4 years old screams in terror. The dark dream that has plagued his mind for the past year is back again. The darkness that he doesn't understand is tearing at him and reaching for him. Tears form in his eyes as the darkness enfolds him once again in its cold embrace. Suddenly the pain stops....the noise stops...and the darkness recedes to be replaced by a bright calm light. A small calming voice reaches down through the fear that grips Kazuya's soul.

"Kazuya...."

The young boy still cringes in fear as the calming voice continues to call his name.

"Kazuya...."

Kazuya keeps his eyes closed as his name is called again. Gently oh so gently a soft hand touches his shoulder and he flinches slightly at the touch.

"Kazuya..." the voice whispers quietly by his ear, "do not be afraid of me...I am here to help you."

"How do I know?" whispers Kazuya.

"Look at me and you will know," the calm voice assures. Kazuya slowly looks up. As he sees the beautiful features his mind calms and he falls into the beautiful woman's warm embrace.

"There now...you are safe..."says the angelic figure as she rocks Kazuya back and forth in her arms. She strokes his face and softly kisses his cheek while singing a quiet songs in his ear. After a little while she slowly stands up and turns to walk away.

"NO!!" Kazuya yells in fear, "I don't want you to go...it...it....will get me again...."

Slowly the beautiful woman turns and smiles down at Kazuya. She then kneels down by him whispers to him.

"I cannot stay longer than I have...but I will give you something that will protect you from that which you fear."

Slowly she brings her hand out and clasps it lightly over Kazuya's small fingers. She then pulls her hand away and stands up to walk away. Kazuya opens his hand to reveal a small nut. He then looks up and shouts quickly,

"What if I need you?"

The angelic being turns, smiles and softly speaks,

"Just call for me."

Kazuya nods then lays down and the vision begins to fade. But this time before the vision is completely gone Kazuya hears the woman speak 4 soft words.

"Be safe...my son"

A bright flash fills Kazuya's mind and his eyes open to once again reveal the form of his...

"Mother," says Kazuya as he falls to his knees in disbelief.

Kazume Mishima smiles down at her son.

"Why?," asks Kazuya, "Why did you not come to me before when I needed you?"

Kazuya's mother smiles sadly then softly replies,

"You never called me."

At these words Kazuya sinks back onto his knees and puts his face in his hands.

"And now all is lost to me," Kazuya says weakly. "Jun...my...my son...all lost to that...that thing. And it is all my fault...."

As Kazuya slowly sinks down into despair Kazume kneels beside him and pulls his eyes to hers.

"It is not to late...you have been given a second chance to redeem yourself. But you must choose. You can feel pain no more or you can choose to face life and death once again for a brief time."

Kazume leans in close and whispers softly into Kazuya's ear,

"There is still time to save them. It will not be easy but there is time."

Kazuya looks up at his mother. She sees the decision in his eyes and smiles as he stands to his feet.

"What must I do?"

..........................................

"TIME FOR A MOTHER SON TALK"

Jin Kazama can barely make out anything as he hears his mother's now strange sounding voice. He struggles to rise but he can barely move. His arms are week and his legs will not respond. His eyes focus on the form of his mother standing above him. He smiles weakly and asks,

"Mother...what happened?"

Jin's mother slowly smiles and as her eyes look with Jin's they begin to glow a dark red.

"YOU'RE FATHER IS DEAD!"

Jin's eye's open wide and he tries to scramble back from the now evil form of his mother. But his muscles are still not responding and he lies helpless as his mother reaches down and picks him up by his neck. Pulling him to his feet she brings him close and rubs her free hand down the side of his face and across his chest. Jin grimaces at the sensual touch of the beast in front of him.

"YOU ARE HANDSOME....PERHAPS BEFORE YOU DIE WE COULD....."

Her hand slides lower as she speaks and Jin's face darkens in anger. Turning his head he spits directly in the beast's face then with all his strength he manages to head butt the beast right between her glowing eyes. Devil Jun is slightly dazed by the blow and she drops Jin as he shouts,

"You are NOT my mother!!!"

The beast roars in anger. She rears back her foot and kicks Jin hard in the ribs. Again and again the blows fall and a small trickle of blood flies from Jin's mouth as a moan of pain escapes from his lips. The she devil then bends down and picks him up once again by the throat and throws him to land in a heap by the body of his father.

"YOU DARE TO OPPOSE MY WILL....YOU WILL DIE FOR THAT...BUT NOT NOW...OH NO YOUR PAIN WILL LAST MUCH LONGER...EVERYONE YOU EVER HAVE KNOWN WILL DIE BEFORE YOUR EYES...I WILL RAPE THEIR BODIES AS WELL AS THEIR MINDS AND MAKE YOU EAT THE FLESH FROM THEIR BONES....YOUR SUFFERING WILL NOT END TILL I SAY!!!"

With these words the devilish woman reaches down to grab Jin, but in that instant a loud explosion of light surrounds them both. The blast flings Devil Jun far away and Jin is hurled close to the edge of the garden. Jin lands in a heap once again and a loud audible snap is heard as his arm breaks in several places. Jin cries aloud as his arm breaks but turns to look in the direction of the bright light. What he sees amazes him. Kazuya's body is suspended in a writhing snakelike pattern of electrical light. His body twitches and flies about within the large circle of light. Jin gasps silently as his fathers body suddenly stops twitching and hangs motionless in mid air the electricity still writhing about him. Kazuya's head slowly rises and he opens his eyes to meet his son's gaze. His eyes are ablaze with a blue fire that seems to radiate from the core of his being. The electric circle dissipates and Kazuya lands softly on his feet. He looks once in his son's direction, nods his head, and turns to face the approaching form of his love.

"IT IS NOT POSSIBLE!!!" shouts the evil form as she cautiously approaches Kazuya.

Kazuya looks calmly at the devilish form of his love standing before him as he speaks with slow determined words,

"You have tormented this place long enough...your time is over!"

Kazuya then steps back into the Mishima Karate stance and calmly waits for the devil to attack. The just stands and stares at Kazuya seeming to measure his power. Her smile deepens into an evil grimace as she realizes that Kazuya is not as strong as he seems.

"FOOL I DO NOT KNOW HOW YOU HAVE RETURNED, BUT YOUR POWER IS WEAK AND LIMITED COMPARED TO MINE..."

With these words the devil attacks. The devil is fast and powerful. She comes in with a sweeping low hit that Kazuya barely has time to block. It is followed by a swift small uppercut that feels like it has the power of a freight train behind it. Kazuya struggles to defend against the massive onslaught that has just barely begun. Knowing that he stands no chance of defeating Jun's devilish form, Kazuya searches for the one person that can help him defeat this evil beast. His defenses become automatic as he searches with his mind for the small thread of light. He looks through the black abyss and silently calls with his mind...."JUN......." Nothing...his mind reaches further as he calls again.... "JUN....." From the darkness a faint sound is heard and Kazuya stretches toward it..........then she is there. Their minds touch and in that second Kazuya shows Jun what must be done. Their minds are ripped apart as a blow slips past Kazuya's defense and connects squarely with his jaw. He flies through the air and lands near the large tree in the middle of the garden. As he rises to his feet devil Jun walks slowly toward him and smiles her dark evil smile. Kazuya's energy is almost gone and he can feel his body weakening. As Jun's form steps in closer he reaches back and clutches a small object in his hand. As the devil draws it's hand back for the killing blow Kazuya speaks four soft words...

"I love you Jun."

At this moment the devil's hand begins to move forward but something stops it and holds it there for a split second. Kazuya's hand shoots forward and as it plunges into the chest of his love he hears Jun's voice in his mind... "I love you" He drops the small object inside the cavity and pulls his hand quickly free. The wound seals once again and the devil staggers back.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?" screams the devil as energy begins to swirl around Jun's devilish form.

"I have planted a seed in you...one from which you cannot escape"

The devil roars and tries to pull away from the forces surrounding it. The light grows brighter and the devil grows more frantic as a large vortex of swirling color appears behind Jun. Jun's body seems rooted to the ground as the vortex grows larger and larger. Slowly the purple ooze that is the devil's substance begins to seep from Jun's earthly body. The vortex accepts it all and as the last flows from Jun her body collapses to the ground. Kazuya falls on his knees next to her and looks deep into her barely conscious eyes. Jun shows a small smile and softly speaks as Kazuya's face hovers over hers...

"I knew I could save you...."

With these last words Jun's eyes flutter and close and a single tear falls from Kazuya's eye to land on her now lifeless cheek. Kazuya remains kneeling at his loves side as Jin slowly makes his way over to them. Father and son's eyes meet and in that one glance Jin understands. Jin looks down at his mother then bends down and kisses her once on the cheek. He rises and slowly stumbles away to leave Kazuya alone with his love. Looking back just once he sees his father lay his head on Jun's stomach and wrap his arms protectively around her. He then turns and stumbles away into the darkness.