SURRENDER by Tina
Notes to certain people:
Princess Michelle - Hmm, the suspense is killing you, eh? Don't worry, it'll all start coming together soon—I hope. I want to also thank you personally for all the encouragement you've given me. I look to you as a writing inspiration for my own work.
Misao Seta – I know what you're saying, but I just want you to remember that I made Xiao and Miharu best friends in this story. They are very close, and Miharu feels hurt that Xiao is keeping something hidden from her, that's all. She's not trying to intrude in on her personal life. Also, remember that Miharu knows nothing of what's going on between Xiao and Jin, so she doesn't realize the seriousness of what she's asking.
5.0 – Running Away
"Xiao… Xiao, wake up."
Xiao groaned in response, turning over on the mattress of her bed and burying her face into one of her pillows.
"C'mon, Xiao."
Again, the same response, only this time she reached behind her, grabbed her other pillow, and pulled it over her head.
A large hand grasped her forearm and shook her firmly.
"Ugh, 'o away!" Xiao growled from underneath her pillow, angry at whoever it was that was trying to disturb her sleep.
"Xiao." Partially awake now, Xiao groggily recognized the voice to be none other than Jin's.
"Wha' 'oo you 'ant?" she demanded, hugging the pillows closer, refusing to fully wake up.
She felt Jin tug on her pillow and she held on to it harder. "C'mon, we're leaving."
Xiao loosened her grip on the pillows, taken aback. "Huh?"
"We're leaving," Jin repeated patiently. When he tugged on the pillows this time, she didn't fight him.
Xiao blinked her eyes, willing them to open. It was still dark inside her room, moon and star light filtering in through the blinds at her bedroom windows. Xiao glanced over at her digital alarm clock. 2:03 a.m., it read.
"What, now? It's so early. Where are we going?" she asked.
Jin didn't answer her. He crossed the room to her closet, opening it. He glanced around it for a moment, looking for something. Pulling out a small duffel bag, he tossed in on the floor and turned back to her. "Start packing," he said.
Xiao's head spun. "Why?"
"I told you, we're leaving."
She sat up in her bed, gazing at Jin quizzically. "I'm not going anywhere," she said defiantly.
"You don't have a choice," Jin said. He went back to her closet and began pulling out random articles or clothing, throwing them over the top of the duffel bag.
"Jin, what's going on?"
"He knows I'm here."
Xiao blinked. "He… What? Who?"
"Pack now, questions later."
"I'm not doing anything until you tell me what's going on."
Jin stopped. Sighing heavily, he said, "Kazuya. He knows I'm here." And then, "Kazuya…he's alive," more as an afterthought to himself.
"Your father?" Xiao's head ached with this newfound information. Kazuya? How could that be? Wasn't he supposed to be dead? Oh, dear Lord, had he staged his death too?
Jin must've read her mind. "I thought I killed him during the last tournament."
His tone of disappointment didn't go unnoticed. "Wait… I'm still confused. Kazuya's the one who's been after you?"
"No—well, yes. But I thought I'd stopped him from doing that years ago."
Xiao slid to the edge of the bed, dangling her legs over the mattress. The carpet was cool under her toes. "What's that supposed to mean? There're more after you than just him?"
"Xiao, now really isn't the time. I'll answer questions later. Please, just start packing."
She stood from the bed, consciously pulling on her pajama shorts to cover her bare legs. "Why do I have to go? Wouldn't I just be in the way? Can't you just leave?"
Jin shook his head. "No. He'll come after you, too."
She frowned. "I thought you said I wasn't in any danger."
"I thought you weren't—that is until he was added into the equation."
Xiao walked over to the wall behind her dresser, reaching for the light switch. Jin stopped her, however, before she could turn it on.
"Don't turn on the lights!" he said in a loud whisper.
"Why not?"
He walked over to one of the windows, spread wide open two of the blinds and peered out. "I don't know whether he's still out there or not."
"He's here?" Xiao gasped in surprise, eyes widening.
"He was," Jin replied. "He left down the street just a few minutes ago. Now, come on. No more talking, start packing."
Xiao didn't need to be told twice. She rushed over to her duffel bag and picked up the clothes scattered over it, choosing carefully and placing them inside.
"Pack only what's necessary," Jin told her. "We travel light."
She heard his footsteps exiting the room. Taking his words into consideration, she dumped the clothes she'd packed onto the floor and brought the bag over to her dresser. Pulling open all of the drawers, she picked out undergarments, socks, T-shirts and jeans. Since they were clearly on the run, Xiao highly doubted that it'd matter whether or not she made a fashion statement. She ran back to her closet and pulled down a few sweaters and sweatshirts—just in case.
Grabbing her purse on her way out of the bedroom, she then ran into the bathroom and grabbed all her toiletries—save for razors, shaving cream and the lot, although she did grab Jin's new purchases and stuffed them in with hers. Kazuya and whoever else was chasing Jin could screw themselves; after what she went through at the grocery store, she'd be damned if those went to waste.
When she came out into the living room, Jin was carrying out his own duffel bag, undoubtedly the same one he'd arrived with yesterday, and a couple sleeping bags and pillows tucked under his arm.
"Ready?" he asked.
Xiao nodded.
"All right, let's go."
Xiao scampered over to the closet and grabbed her jacket as Jin opened the door. He nodded approvingly at her light luggage, holding the door open for her as she stepped out, and then walked out himself, locking and closing the door behind him.
"What do we do now?" she asked, following closely behind Jin as he lead the way down the hallway, though she barely heard the words to her question over the loud, intense beating of her own heart.
"Do you have a car?" he asked.
"No. I always take the train," she said.
"Shit."
They went the rest of the way in silence. It wasn't until they reached the outside world, where the night air was dark and chilly, and street lamps littered the blackened streets with their yellowish glow. Clouds had begun to gather in the sky, a sprinkling of rain drizzling down on the pavement.
"Over here," Jin said, directing her towards the parking lot.
Xiao had a sickening feeling in the pit of her stomach. "Wait, Jin—you're not planning to do—what I think you're planning to… Are you?"
"Yup," Jin said bluntly. He was scanning the small selection of cars parked in the lots.
"Can't we take a taxi or a train or something?"
Jin shook his head. "Nope."
He checked every car door—save for ones on newer looking cars that he thought might have car alarms on them—listening for an affirmative click that would ensure passage. On his forth try, the door gave way, and she heard Jin give a sigh of relief.
Xiao's insides were knotting with anxiety. They couldn't do this. There was just no way they could get away with it. "Jin," she said as she watched him slide leisurely into the driver's seat, tossing his items into the back seat, "are you sure you know what you're doing? We don't have keys for this car."
"It's called hotwiring," Jin said simply. He patted the empty passenger seat beside him. "Now get in," he ordered.
Xiao didn't understand how Jin could act so calm and in control of this matter. She felt her hands shaking from nervousness at her sides, her palms claming up with cold sweat. Her head turned from side to side, checking the nearby alleys for Kazuya or anyone else who might be after them.
"Xiao," Jin called to her. "Let's go."
Xiao hesitantly obliged, walking around to the other side and opening the car door. She slid into her seat and threw her things in back with Jin's as he fiddled with something under the steering wheel. He'd pulled the plastic shielding the ignition cables off, and was now picking at the wires inside. She watched with mild fascination as sparks flew from the bare wires, a slight hissing noise emitting from them. A couple of minutes later, the engine roared to life.
Xiao gaped at Jin in stunned disbelief as he sat back up in his seat. "You've done this before," she said, more as an accusation than a statement.
Jin shrugged, saying nothing, and threw the car into reverse. They backed out of the lot. Jin switched it into drive, then pulled around to the curb.
"Buckle your seat belt," Jin said.
Xiao frowned, ready to argue with why she had to buckle hers when his wasn't, when he suddenly sped out onto the street, the quickness of the movement causing her fling backward in her seat, her head colliding into the side of the doorframe.
"Ow!" she moaned, rubbing the side her head with her hand. "Fuck. Do you have to drive like a bat out of hell?"
"The quicker we're out of here, the better," Jin said, his eyes trained on the road ahead of him. Electric lights and signs streamed past their vehicle in a whir of color.
"And where exactly are we going, might I ask?" Xiao huffed.
Jin took a quick glance her way. His facial expression was serious, but she could've sworn she caught a strange gleam in his eyes. "Who knows?" he said. "Probably wherever the wind takes us."
* * * * *
Heihachi sat at his desk in his office at the Mishima Financial Empire Corporate building. Outside his door, he could hear the sound of footsteps falling against carpet and tiled flooring, printers eating paper, fingers clicking away against keyboards—always at work. He'd been here all night, doing a bit of research himself since his men proved to be nothing but useless to him.
And, even though he hated to admit it, he wasn't coming up with anything either. Jin's whereabouts were truly nowhere to be found. It both surprised and enraged him that his grandson would be capable of hiding from him, the great and feared Heihachi Mishima. He should've caught Jin ages ago, but somehow he always managed to escape from his grasp. Just when Heihachi thought he had him, Jin would pull some crazy stunt and flee into the night, and it'd be days—months—before Heihachi could pinpoint his location once again.
And for some reason this time he couldn't. He hadn't been able to find Jin since his supposed death, which was two years ago. No hotels, no hospitals, no airports or train stations—nothing. How the devil did that boy get around?
He knew the answer to that question. But, damn it, why? Why Jin and Kazuya? Why couldn't it have been him? Why did his kin get to play the roles of super heroes, and he had to chase after on foot?
"Mr. Mishima, sir," a soft, feminine voice spoke from his door. He lifted his head to see his secretary, Hana. "You have a telephone call."
Heihachi frowned, glancing over at the clock hanging on his wall. 2:30 a.m. Who would be calling him at a time like this? "I thought I told you to hold all my calls," he said.
Hana bowed respectively, her hands clasped neatly in front of her. "Yes, sir, you did, but the man said it was urgent that he spoke to you."
He quirked a brow in interest. "Who, Hana?"
"Your son, sir, Kazuya Mishima."
Heihachi managed to keep his surprise at bay. "My…son?" he asked, making certain he'd heard her clearly.
"Yes, sir."
Heihachi nodded. "Very well," he said. "Put him through."
Hana left. Seconds later, a light flashed on his phone set. He pressed the button for line one, picked up the receiver, and said, "Hello?"
For a moment, there was no sound on the other end, but then Heihachi heard a deep, throaty chuckle that sounded all too familiar, and then his son's voice, "Working a little late tonight, eh, Father?"
* * * * *
They'd cleared the city hours ago. Jin wanted to make sure, though, that they were a good, far distance away before stopping to pull over for the rest of the night. It was already nearing five o' clock in the morning. A faint glow from the sun was beginning to kiss the tops of the trees, dawn rising upon them. Xiao was asleep beside him, her head inclined back on the passenger seat, her face peaceful. Cool air seeped in through the cracked window at her side, ruffling her sleek, black hair.
She shifted at his side, a soft murmur escaping from her lips, and she slumped sideways, falling into his arm. Jin smiled. Maybe they'd been driving long enough, he thought.
He spotted a clearing in the forest beside the dirt road they'd been traveling on and steered towards it. There was no way he could just pull over on the side of the road; they'd be all too easily spotted by anyone who drove by. He had to hide themselves in the safety of the woods.
It wasn't easy, but Jin managed to snake through wide spread trees until they were far enough inside the forest that they wouldn't be seen. He put the car in break and turned to Xiao, gently lifting her off his arm.
"Xiao," he said softly.
She snorted; her eyes fluttering open the slightest bit. "Mmm…?"
"Xiao, come on, we're stopping to rest for a few hours."
With what looked to be a great amount of effort, on her part, Xiao pushed herself up in her seat. She gazed wearily about, checking her surroundings. "Where are we?" she asked groggily, her voice soft as a whisper.
"I'm not quite sure," Jin answered honestly. He pushed his car door open, stepping out. He walked around to the back doors, opened them, and took out the sleeping bags and pillows.
"We're in the woods…"
"We can't stay out in the open," he told her. "This will be good for one night."
"But it's still dark," she sounded almost fearful.
For the most part, she was correct. The trees did well to block out the little light that was surfacing above the horizon. "It's almost dawn," he assured her.
Jin took up the sleeping bags and pillow, and, after finding a soft patch of grass near their parked car, laid them out on the ground. "Here," he said, gesturing to his finished work. "I'm going to go find some wood to build a fire."
Xiao nodded, rubbing her hands against her forearms. She stepped out of the car and walked over to one of the sleeping bags. "Don't go out too far," she said, and Jin wondered if it was out of concern or her own fear.
Whichever it was, Jin didn't respond. He set out through the woods, and began picking up stray pieces of book and fallen bark.
Kazuya was back.
The thought rang through his mind like a sounding bell, loud and clear, and stung deep. His father, Kazuya Mishima, was back.
But how? Jin had held his father's body in his arms, feeling the life pulsating out of him, his breath becoming shallower and shallower until his inhaled his very last. There was no way Kazuya could still be alive.
Why not? A small voice inside his head asked. You survived a fatal gunshot from your grandfather, why shouldn't Kazuya be able to survive your own hands?
Because I fought with everything I had, Jin argued defiantly. He'd given his all. He'd put his body, mind and soul into finishing off his father. There was no way Kazuya should have been able to survive a feat like that.
That was no excuse. Jin was denying himself of the obvious. Kazuya had survived the same reason he'd survived his grandfather: the Devil gene. As long as they both had it coursing through their veins, they would both be as good as invincible to physical harm.
A twig snapping behind his jarred him out of his thoughts. Turning, he found Xiao emerging from a blanket of leaves a few yards from where his stood. She had her sleeping bag wrapped around her, its plus stuffing engulfing her, making her appear smaller than she really was.
"What are you doing here?" he asked. He hadn't meant for his tone to sound so unwelcoming, but, given the current circumstances of his thoughts, he really couldn't help it.
"I-I thought you might need some help," she said. "You've been out here for a while."
Looking up through the canvass of branches of leaves, Jin saw that she was right. The sun was already becoming visible, its golden rays stretching over the gray skies. He'd been lost in his thoughts for quite some time.
"You should be back there," he said. "I'll be along in a few minutes."
"All right."
Jin worked quickly now, pushing all thoughts aside and concentrating on the task at hand. He gathered a good number of twigs and brush, and he was fortunate enough to find a few short, thin logs that would serve well for their fire.
Once satisfied with his findings, he headed back to where they'd made camp. Xiao was sitting on her sleeping back, staring anxiously around her into the dark trees, the light of the sun having not yet penetrated through the woods.
When she spotted Jin, she jumped up, running to his side. "Let me help you with those," she said.
Jin decided that it was fear that drove her to act like this, as, given their current relationship and situation, the last he expected for her to be was nice to him.
Working together, they had a fire going in no time. Xiao scrambled back over to her sleeping bag, unzipping it and crawling inside. Jin grabbed his, rolling it out a few feet away from hers. He sat on top of it, but did not bother to make himself comfortable.
"Aren't you going to get some sleep?" Xiao asked over a long yawn.
Jin shook his head. "I don't need it. You get some rest. We have a long trip ahead of us later on."
She grabbed the hem of her sleeping bag, pulling it up to her chest. "What are you going to do?"
"Stay up. Keep watch. We still need to be on the lookout here," he said.
Xiao's eyes flashed from side to side. "Um—okay," she said, uneasy, but slid into her sleeping bag anyway.
A half an hour passed and Xiao still hadn't fallen asleep yet. He watched as she tossed and turned in her sleeping bag, tugging on the covers, adjusting her pillow, sometimes kicking off the covers entirely—that is, until the mosquitoes came after her, and she covered herself once again.
The fire crackled softly, sending orange embers of light spilling over Xiao's form. He could see her hair was damp, slick with sweat and sticking to her skin. He had a long view of her, and as a result she hadn't noticed him watching her yet, and he caught her surveying the area around her with wide eyes.
"Xiao, you all right?" he called over to her.
She stiffened. "N—I mean, y-yes, I'm fine."
Jin sighed, shaking his head. Even if she were shaking in terror, she'd never admit it to him. He'd never known Xiao to be much of a wilderness girl, but he was pretty certain that she wasn't frightened of the woods. She was worried about this whole mess he'd dropped on her—which was completely understandable. She was lost, confused, with no choice but to follow him blindly.
Jin's heart reached out to her. He hated putting her through this. It was his own damned fault. He never should have come back to her. Because of him, now she was probably in more danger than she would've been if he'd just left her alone.
He couldn't blame it on that he had nowhere else to go. Though that was a part of it, all these years he'd never had anywhere to go, and he'd managed just fine—but it was more than that. He'd wanted to see her again. Selfish and dishonorable as it was, that was the truth.
Standing, Jin picked up his sleeping bag and pillow and walked over to Xiao's side. He noticed her slightly trembling as he set his sleeping bag down beside hers.
"W-What are you doing?" she asked, turning over. Her small face peered up at him, her face golden in the firelight, her eyes almost the deep, earthy color of soil, reminding him of home.
He didn't answer. Instead, he lounged out on the sleeping bag beside her, his body close to hers. Ignoring the look of surprise and questioning on her face, Jin wrapped a long arm around her and pulled her close.
"Jin—"
"Shh," he said, hugging her close. He pressed her head down against his chest, willing her to rest against him. "Get some rest."
And, almost instantly, he felt her body relax against his. Moments later, he felt the change in her breathing, slow, steady, smooth; she was sound asleep.
A Note from Tina: Just so you all know, I've never hot-wired a car before, so I have no clue how's it actually done.
