Scarlet Lady: The Toshin Quest
By Indigo Siren
Disclaimer: Tekken is © to Namco, and that all characters mentioned from under this label are only used in this fan fiction for entertainment purposes only. No money is being made from this story; it is just for fun. I do however own the basic concept and characters of my own creation.
A/N: The beginning of the end - the final battle starts here!
Chapter 13
Jin's bed was littered with schoolbooks. They weren't really serving any good purpose besides a bunch of hard pillows that the boy had come to rest on. Tiredness had finally taken over the young man's body, forcing him to take a breather from his work. Though, the breather had actually decided to turn into naptime.
It was nice and quiet around him, besides the second breathing that softly came from the edge of his working desk. Without looking up, he knew his study buddy, Xiaoyu, had fallen asleep.
While he was doing math homework, he'd promised to drill a few new mathematical methods into her brain for an up and coming test, but it seemed her book too suited to play the role of a pillow. She had dropped off to sleep some time ago - though he'd decided just to work on without her, not wanting to disturb her. It was a lot more peaceful with her asleep.
Xiaoyu had silent dreams, or she just wasn't projecting them. He usually accidentally picked up people's dreams and it wasn't nice. He was playing it safe and blocking her out his mind, keeping an open place for silence within his brain.
Peering up at the clock on his nightstand, he could see it was past half eleven. He groaned quietly, deciding to close a few books and make room on his bed.
Looking over to Xiaoyu, cutely curled up in his soft, padded work chair, he felt guilty to have to go wake her up. Then, deciding against it, he instead fetched a small blanket to put over her to keep her warm. Keeping a hand against her lovingly, he watched her breath quietly and couldn't help brush aside a few stray locks of hair that seemed out of place on her forehead.
'You're something special, Xiaoyu,' he muttered in the back of his mind, staring at her warmly. 'Have a peaceful rest.'
And he left her be, going back to his own bed. He decided to only slip off his school jumper, opening a few buttons of his shirt as he lay down, reaching out a hand to pull the cord on his lamp, bringing the room to darkness.
He lay, eyes closed, glad that there were not straying voices taken into his quiet, peaceful mind. Most of the staff had probably retired for the night and everything was settled to a calm bliss.
It had been fifteen minutes; he was trailing the path to foregone sleep, when he heard something. Not a noise in his room or anywhere in the house, but somewhere far away. The noise was like a thud - maybe could have been described as a heart beat.
Usually, Jin tried to pay no heed to these kind of things, because sometimes they were just annoying little things that shouldn't be worried over in the least. Clearing his throat quietly, he remained stretched out, hoping for sleep to take him soon.
'Come…'
Jin's eyes snapped wide open.
Another heartbeat-like thud. 'Come…'
It wasn't that loud, fading rather then getting louder. It was like it was on a whole different level outside of what he was really suppose to hear, but he was picking it up anyway.
It was like some sort of beacon, calling out to someone, wishing to be heard.
And he could hear it and his heart told him not to ignore it.
'Could it be… Toshin?' He wondered, now realising he'd sat up.
A break of moonlight in the curtains had left the room in a blue glow and he could still see Xiaoyu had her eyes closed, curled up with the blanket, still asleep.
Jin could easily leave her to rest as he got up, scrambling for a light jacket to put on and also, finding his shoes that he's kicked off earlier. He put them on and quietly exited the room.
But even his quiet footsteps had disturbed the light sleeping form of Ling Xiaoyu, whose eye slowly peeped open in response, meeting nothing but darkness.
***
Jin walked along streets he'd didn't usually walk down in daylight, let alone after dark. Everything was shadowed and unrecognisable. Buildings masked themselves in spooky images, indistinguishable from each other, like a melted background of darkness. He wasn't scared, just not completely comfortable.
That faint voice was nearly gone, but he could distinctly follow the trail. He considered going to a payphone when he next saw one and dropping a message with Anna Williams. It could be the link she needed to solve her case.
He stopped all of sudden, statue like on the pavement. His posture turned stiff and his expression was none too pleased. He didn't turn around, though he obviously addressed whoever was behind him.
"You know, it's dangerous for you to come out here unescorted after dark." There was silence and he scowled. "I'm not stupid. I know you're there, Xiaoyu. I can sense you."
Two footsteps coming from the side of a building brought the young Chinese girl out in the open, a few steps away from his back.
"What about you?" She asked.
"You are of more importance," he said softly.
"But you're the Grandson of a renown Governor. And I'm… nobody," she said softly, a hint of sadness in her voice.
He looked over his shoulder to her, eyes turning soft. "You are someone. Never put yourself down."
"At least people want you around, unlike me," she said, close to snivelling, though she was desperately holding back.
He turned full around, closing the distance between them. His warm hands came to take her shoulders, bringing her eyes up questioningly to look into his.
"Of course people want you around. You're a very nice young lady. You needn't have a title to be something. People don't have to know who you are to give you a better existence." He smiled warmly. "All I'm saying now is that your safety is important. You shouldn't be out here following me."
"Where are you going?" She forwardly asked.
"To be honest, I'm following a sign," he said. She tilted her head to this and he sighed, knowing she would pester him into an explanation anyway. "It could be something to do with this Toshin thing with Anna."
"Oh! Really?" Xiaoyu exclaimed. "You shouldn't go after it! It's very dangerous!"
"I know, but don't worry," he assured "I won't be doing anything stupid."
"I won't let you go alone," she insisted firmly, grabbing hold of one of his arms. "I don't want you to get hurt if I know I can help."
"Xiaoyu--"
"You can't send me back, even if you tell me to go, I won't," she refused with a stomp of her little foot. Jin just sighed.
He wished to say more, but he was silenced as his mind began to buzz with echoing voices. Hateful voices, full of blood lust and malice. He was turning in all directions, trying to home in on these voices. But they weren't in one spot; they were coming from all around.
"Xiaoyu…" He whispered, bringing her defensively against him, eyes scanning carefully.
"Jin?"
"Shh…"
"What is it?"
His eyes narrowed. "We're not alone."
Xiaoyu stayed close to Jin, holding her breath. Fear began to creep up her spine in a cold chill. How she hated the dark, and how she hated the feeling that death might claim her and Jin.
There was a crunching sound and Jin was turning in the direction, with Xiaoyu kept close. His eyes firmly came across a shadow that began to form itself into a human shape as the moonlight caught its frame. Piercing eyes lingered off the pair; a sneer lifted the expression that formed. This newcomer, a young man, in usual street garb sauntered out, fixated on Jin and Xiaoyu like they were the centre of the universe.
More sounds pricked up Jin's ears and behind every sound, a new body came - young people, men and women, in their casual wear, walked out into the streets, zombie like. There was no cold to them, no other life besides the two ahead of them.
Jin could feel the rising hatred, coming from a power that licked over their forms. Not of their own power, but of another. The group was mass possessed.
"Jin…" Xiaoyu shook, noticing the burning eyes that focused on them.
Without another word between them, Jin snappily picked Xiaoyu up, pressing her over his shoulder and he was running. Running like he'd never run before.
With an opening down a side street, his energy was forced into his legs, the speed phenomenal. Adrenaline was pumping around his body, feeding his tired muscles as his every sense told him to get out of there and get Xiaoyu to safety. The poor girl on his shoulder was gripping tight as she bounced slightly against his shoulder. The world passed her in shaky blobs and she decided to close her eyes, face against her arms.
An angry cry emitted to one side as Jin took to a street. The possessed attacker was merely rammed over as Jin pushed him away with his shoulder, glad he hadn't fallen with the impact, continuing to look for a way to safety - and not forgetting, to find a path that led to Toshin.
Coming down to a row of shops that were beginning to lead up to the road into the busier city, he turned off down a dipping footpath that ran along side a sports court. Knowing he was in a good enough drop off destination, he put Xiaoyu down, who almost fell over with wobbly knees.
"Jin," she began but he quickly cut her off.
"Xiaoyu, if you continue following this path, you'll find your way towards the bus station. There should be people around to keep you safe." He dipped into his pocket and brought out a few coins. "If you can't manage to get a bus quick enough, go by foot. You have to go to Anna's hotel. You have to tell her that I'm close to finding Toshin. Tell her I'm going to be travelling to somewhere in the West Boulevard."
"I-I--"
"Just do it!" He ordered and the young girl decided against hesitating and simply nodded and took off like a rabbit down the path, disappearing into the darkness.
Jin prayed for her safety as he turned the opposite way and went back to follow the street to his intended destination.
***
Anna was curled up in her warm bed, finally able to turn out her light after a long day. She'd done as much work as she could with her logging of events, her many informative phone calls. Forest had been a great support and he'd mainly done all the running around for her. And as a reward, she'd sent him off to bed an hour ago, and now, she was certain she could get some rest.
She knew she wouldn't sleep well, but any sleep she could get would be a bonus. Her mind was too busy working away to settle down, too much about the Toshin business, then about Hwoarang, and work in general. And somewhere in between she was wondering about Paul and how she hope she'd go home and hear him being annoying just once more. And she missed her little Smitten, whom she'd entrusted her neighbour to feed. Dearly she wanted to hold her furry little friend again, to ease the aching in her heart.
It was time to stop thinking about the little things that were close to bringing on the tears. It was time to rest and tell herself that things would be back to normal in no time.
For ten minutes, silence and bliss of relaxation, and then, she was asleep.
For once, her dreams were peaceful. She was with her mother, sitting happily in the garden of her old home, look out across the long stretch of grass, laughing together over a jug of ice tea. It was a fantasy of a perfect time in her life, something that wished could happen, but she knew wouldn't. Hugging her mother had felt real, but it wasn't, and she wanted to stay forever in those arms, and never wake up. But she did, and she was awoken unceremoniously.
The door was banged upon, and the groggy woman sat up sharply. At first, she wanted to ignore it, tiredness holding her relentlessly, but as it continued, she decided to answer it before she had half the hotel on her back for the disturbance.
Anna clambered out of bed, slipping on her slippers as she went to the door. The minute she unlatched it, the mass was pushed against her and a little figure frantically bounded in.
"Anna, Anna, Anna!" Xiaoyu's high-pitched voice wailed.
The older woman had to shut the door quickly to contain the noise. "Xiaoyu? What are you doing here? And at this time!"
"Oh, Anna! It's Jin! He needs you! It's really important! He sent me here for you! You have to come! Come on, come on!"
"Slow down," Anna said softly. "And lower your voice. People are trying to sleep."
Xiaoyu looked apologetic but just went on, a little more clearly then before. "I think he got a sign or something. Like a vision. Oh, I dunno. It's just Jin, he went out and I followed him and he said he had to find Toshin. He said he might know where it is. And then, all these scary people started coming out after us and he carried me off and then sent me to come and get you so you could come!"
Anna blinked, tiredness clearing to this notion. "He knows where Toshin is?"
"He thinks he does! I trust him!" She said frantically. "Near the West Boulevard. Please hurry."
"Right," Anna opened the door and instantly went to knock loudly on Forest's. She kept knocking until the Chinese-American appeared dark eyed and exhausted.
He yawned. "What is it?"
"Get dressed, we're going after Toshin. We may know where it is," she said firmly.
"W-what?"
She ignored the wide-eyed expression, wanting answers. "Just get dressed dammit, there's not much time." She turned back to Xiaoyu who was by the door. "You stand out here while I get dressed. I'll be as quick as I can."
The girl leaned back to the wall waiting, almost hopping about in fear of what could be happening at that second to Jin.
It was a few minutes later when Anna reappeared, dressed in a padded black jacket with dark red leather trousers. She'd worn heavy strapped boots so that it would be better to combat in if needed. She was just adjusting her gun holster straps under her coat as she went to re-knock on Forest's door.
"I'm coming!" She heard called from within, with also the sounds of thumping and things being knocked over in a hurry. There was some murmuring as if he was talking to himself, but Anna just put that down to him being tired.
Anna sighed and checked the bullets in her gun.
'Full and I've plenty of ammo.' She nodded and put her gun in its place and zipped up her jacket, turning as Forest's door flung open, with the man struggling to stick his jacket on. He was also armed now; covering it up quickly so not to flash anyone who'd might have come out of their room at that instant.
"What took you so long?" Anna said a little miffed.
"Getting changed," he said, covering a yawn.
"A woman's job is to take time for beautification. You can pass looking scruffy, now come on," she said, locking her door. Forest just tiredly growled, following her example.
Xiaoyu bounded ahead, walking backwards as she spoke. "I'll show you where it is if you don't know."
"Right, let's get to the rental car downstairs," Anna said, following Xiaoyu to the stairwell.
***
Jin had run on from where he'd left Xiaoyu, not stopping, even for the pain that burned in the back of his legs. He'd kept running, even when he realised he'd lost them. Now coming up to a bridge, he began to slow, catching his breath, heaving each sweet inhale in with thankfulness. He came to stop and rest against the railing, eyes looking down.
This is where the feeling, though weak, was at it's most powerful. He was finally on the West Boulevard, standing above a lower tier that led to a long row of all old, some unused, houses.
Able to go on, Jin followed the circled bridge, and came onto the bottom level, stepping into the empty street.
The air was colder then ever, his insides knotting as he could feel the chill reaching inside him. The demonic feeling creeping around him was apparent - another presence was there.
His dark eyes turned to focus on a small-detached building to his right. The outer structure was shabby, broken and unfriendly - the dark insides pitch black so nobody could see beyond the surface.
'A great hiding place.' His eyes narrowed.
A laugh echoed in his head and he stepped back instinctively, keeping himself on the defensive in case of a sneak attack. He wet his dry lips, fists clenching tightly.
"It's been a long search…" A voice echoed, this time, outside of his head. The darkness of the house he was staring at disappeared as a flare of green within light it up like a Christmas tree. Jin was stunned, frozen to the spot.
A thin, figure dressed only in light shimmering material that was plastered to its clammy, pale skin, appeared in the doorway, stepping out into the cold night without a care of the cold temperatures. The beautiful blonde woman, known to the world as Nina Williams, though now merely a vessel for Toshin, crossed out towards him gracefully, a smile stretching her face.
"I never realised it would be so hard to find my prize," she continued on, her voice quaking with two layers. Her own and the mysterious Toshin's. "You've been hiding from me."
"What? I don't understand. Who are you?" He asked.
She chuckled undertone. "I was always so keen to look and hope to see something so obvious, when it truly wasn't. I never thought for one second that maybe, if I really thought about it, I could call out, just at the right frequency and see if you power responded to my call. And here you are."
Jin just looked confused; stepping back as the sleek figure kept coming towards him.
"My call was directed to the gifted aura, the one I've been seeking," she affirmed to him, reaching out in a false welcome. He stopped anyway, listening to her lapping voice trap him there before her.
"You sought me?" Jin asked.
"Yes, I can say I have been seeking you without either of us knowing. You're composed of something phenomenal…" She finally came to press up to him, feeling Jin shudder as the hard tipped curves of this human possessed came in contact against him. Toshin smiled wider with Nina's beautiful lips. "I've finally found you… possessor of the 'Red Eye'."
Jin's mouth dropped open. "W-what?" His voice stuttered nearly inaudibly.
Nina's hands touched his face, fingers caressing. "Oh, you're so unique, so precious. You don't even know, do you? You're more then just the power… you're more then just a human."
"I… I…"
"I know… you don't understand," Toshin said lowly, slightly mocking of his unknowing. Nina's lips came to be inches from his. "I would have found you sooner, if I'd known that it was neither the humans or the demons that I should have searched. Something of both worlds."
What could he say? He was in a confusing nightmare and he wished to just wake up. But this dark place unfortunately was his reality, and now Toshin closed the gap between Nina's lips and Jin's and the younger man relaxed suddenly, though the back of his mind was screaming for him not to let Toshin bewitch him. But it may have already been too late.
"So wonderful, so tasty…" Nina breathed away from the kiss, pushing him slowly backwards, so that he lapsed out on the concrete, almost limp. The sleek form slipped to knee over him, a leg on each side, sitting against his torso. He couldn't think to say anything against it, it was like he was going blind to reality.
"It's such a shame for you… that's without the power I'm taking, your existence will just…" She chuckled. "… Be nothing. Your life will fade out. Oh, poor thing. But I will make this death as gracious to you for being the protector of my power."
Nina pressed her hands carefully to his chest, smiling victoriously as she leaned down towards him, a slight hiss parting from her lips.
A screech of tires had her snapping around, suddenly having to shield her eyes from the bright headlights in view. The car came off the bridge and came to a quick stop, the drivers door flinging open and a figure jumping out, a gun suddenly at hand.
Toshin was leaping off Jin as a bullet grazed its shoulder. The young man finally came back to his senses, seeing the kneeled woman a few inches away, and he scrambled backwards until he came near enough to the front plate of the car.
Toshin assessed the slight injury, healing it in seconds. It brushed the remains of blood onto its fingers and placed them to Nina's lips, lapping it with content, smiling.
"Oh, Anna Williams, you just love to get into my business, don't you?" Toshin said sardonically.
The woman in question kept her possessed sister trained under gunpoint. "I won't let you carry on with your heartless killings."
Toshin snorted. "You nearly met death yourself. Never learnt your lesson, did you? Just coming back to face your end again. It's very entertaining to have prey come to you."
Forest had Anna covered as he came up on the other side of the car, door as a shield.
The auburn haired woman smile, unaffected. "Let me tell you something you scum sucking monster. If you don't have the strength to eliminate your prey the first time, it may start to turn around where the prey becomes the predator. And I'm telling you, with all my faith and power, I will make sure you leave here as nothing more then a memory."
Toshin scowled. "You carry confidence, Anna Williams. But I assure you, it will be worth nothing by the end of this encounter."
"Just die already, your existence is cramping my style," she said, finger hovering the trigger.
Xiaoyu came to kneel around the front by Jin, hugging his shoulders. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I think so," he said softly. "It says it's me… that power it's been looking for…"
"You?" Xiaoyu was surprised. Even Anna cast a glance to him from hearing this but wasn't for one second going to let her gun off Toshin.
"I… I just don't believe it. I don't understand how I can be this 'Red Eye'," he said, hand gripping to Xiaoyu's.
The young girl hugged him tightly. "I won't let anything happen. I promise."
Toshin was enraged. "GET AWAY FROM MY POWER! NO ONE WILL STOP ME FROM GETTING IT!" With a loud scream, it thrust its hands forward; pushing a shimmering energy wave from it's being, blasting it towards them.
They didn't even have time to react as it hit like lightning. The car jolted and Anna and Forest were thrown back onto the floor just behind their shielding doors. Jin was pushed against Xiaoyu, who was also smashed back against the car, hitting her head against the bonnet. She cried out and slumped over, holding the back of her head.
"Xiaoyu!" Jin leant over her, regaining himself quickly.
"YOU!"
Jin looked up as Toshin, screeching voice and all leapt at him, picking him up and throwing him away from the trio and the car. The strength behind the throw was unbelievable and sailed, coming to land hard on the pavement, near the house Toshin had originally come from.
He cried out, grabbing the base of his spine. Racked with pain, he couldn't get up fast enough to get away from Toshin kicking his chest, putting him flat on his back. She kneeled over him again, hand hovering above his face.
"I WANT WHAT IS RIGHTFULLY MINE! THE RAW POWER OF THE 'RED EYE'!"
Fingers tensing, a crackling white glow surfaced over Nina's hand, calling for something to rise from the young man's body. Jin was breathing hard, watching the glow close to his face. There was warmth travelling through him filling his cheeks with great heat, finally hitting the spot on his forehead. Then, there was nothing but agonising pain, scolding in that particular spot.
He was screaming, louder and more distressed then he'd ever done in his life. His body writhed beneath the lighter one on top, but he was two weak to get away.
"Yes, that's right," Toshin hissed in delight. "Come to me…"
Jin dug his hands into the soft earth, racking it, trying to relieve himself of the suffering. It intensified as he could feel the skin splitting, opening up to this power. Blood welled from the split and spilled down his forehead on both sides, dripping off his paling skin to paint the grass in tiny crimson droplets.
A red light began to shine through; little particles glimmering in thousands began to ball away from that split and into the glowing palm welcoming it. When a nice hand sized ball appeared, the light stopped breaking through the wound and the wound ceased to flow. Jin's voice was strained, life strangled in his throat and the world shattered into darkness.
"No…" His eyes slowly closed. "… Anna… Xi-Xiaoyu… help, please…"
Toshin rose from the limp body, stepping out into the roadway, staring hungrily at the red light. "Yes… this is it!"
Xiaoyu finally gathered her senses; Jin's cries still ringing in her ears even after he'd fallen silent. She looked to him, seeing him lay there unmoving.
"JIN!" She cried, pulling herself up, nearly falling over as she ran to him, gathering him against her. Her horrified eyes saw the wound on his head and tears began to flow down her porcelain cheeks. "NO… NO! JIN! WAKE UP!" She frantically shook him, hand quaking as she felt his chest, cool skin meeting her hand as she pressed against him hard. Her eyes widened. "OH MY GOD! H-HE'S NOT BREATHING! JIN! JIN! YOU CAN'T DIE!"
Toshin ignored her screaming voice, smiling warmly as it placed the light to her chest, the thousands of particles soaking into Nina's body.
Anna was pulling herself up the car frame. She'd hit her head when being forced over, and the throbbing was made worse by Xiaoyu's eccentric screeching. The Scarlet Lady soon realised that things had taken a turn for worse as her eyes went wide as orbs on the scene.
She heard Forest groaning on the other side and she looked at him through the car.
"We're too late," she said softly. He rose slightly more, back pressed to the car door, looking at her in disbelief.
She shook, looking towards Xiaoyu, who was bawling over the lifeless body of Jin Kazama and then she turned to Toshin, standing so smugly with Nina's body under its capture.
"I have done it! It's within me now! Nobody can stop me! No man nor demon has my power!" Toshin roared in victory, the voice growing louder and deeper.
Anna pressed up to the window, shaking, fingers trailing the glass like a barrier between her and Nina.
Nina's body staggered forward, breathing hard, deep pained groans coming from her chest. She looked up to Anna, the eye colour flicking between the possessive green to Nina's natural blue.
Anna just stared, unable to move in response.
"An-Anna…" Nina's weak voice came through Toshin's growls.
The younger Williams shook her head. What could she do now to save her sister?
Nina's hand reached out to her, but in a sharp jolt, the woman was stood full upright back arched, screaming in agony, Nina's own real screams mixed with the roar of the monster Toshin.
The pale skin was bubbling; the loud sounds of cracks and twists as Nina's body began to change. Her form was filling out, getting bigger, with the muscles going into spasm as they thicken, stretching the skin tightly across the ever-changing form. The colour soon melted to a pale brown, coarse hair beginning to cover the upper body and on her head, the original blonde disappearing. It covered the top besides the face, which was reforming, mainly the lower jaw, as it was elongating. The wide mouth exhibited the large fangs developing there, becoming much more powerful endowments. The knees popped out of proportion the lower half expanding into a powerful clawed feet. A similar thing was happening with the left arm, but the right was splitting into pieces, forming itself into a long, hissing snake, snapping at the air. From the lower spine, the skin and bone extending, thickening into a tough, long, new limb - a tail to be persist.
The large bulking form twisted and reformed to something that was completely different to Nina's body. Anna's sister was gone, and in her place, a large, hideous creature stood, billowing with power that could have slashed knifes on their skins if it could be seen.
The large creature roared, excited with this new power.
Anna was crying silently, hand sliding down the window.
"Nina…" She whimpered.
Toshin had achieved its desire and stood, bellowing voice breaking into the night, announcing its presence.
The presence of the 'True Ogre'.
*********************************************************************************
A/N: And so, the 'Red Eye' is revealed. None of the characters were ever close to knowing! And you can truly see where I hinted at now! The next part of this battle will continue in the next chapter!
By Indigo Siren
Disclaimer: Tekken is © to Namco, and that all characters mentioned from under this label are only used in this fan fiction for entertainment purposes only. No money is being made from this story; it is just for fun. I do however own the basic concept and characters of my own creation.
A/N: The beginning of the end - the final battle starts here!
Chapter 13
Jin's bed was littered with schoolbooks. They weren't really serving any good purpose besides a bunch of hard pillows that the boy had come to rest on. Tiredness had finally taken over the young man's body, forcing him to take a breather from his work. Though, the breather had actually decided to turn into naptime.
It was nice and quiet around him, besides the second breathing that softly came from the edge of his working desk. Without looking up, he knew his study buddy, Xiaoyu, had fallen asleep.
While he was doing math homework, he'd promised to drill a few new mathematical methods into her brain for an up and coming test, but it seemed her book too suited to play the role of a pillow. She had dropped off to sleep some time ago - though he'd decided just to work on without her, not wanting to disturb her. It was a lot more peaceful with her asleep.
Xiaoyu had silent dreams, or she just wasn't projecting them. He usually accidentally picked up people's dreams and it wasn't nice. He was playing it safe and blocking her out his mind, keeping an open place for silence within his brain.
Peering up at the clock on his nightstand, he could see it was past half eleven. He groaned quietly, deciding to close a few books and make room on his bed.
Looking over to Xiaoyu, cutely curled up in his soft, padded work chair, he felt guilty to have to go wake her up. Then, deciding against it, he instead fetched a small blanket to put over her to keep her warm. Keeping a hand against her lovingly, he watched her breath quietly and couldn't help brush aside a few stray locks of hair that seemed out of place on her forehead.
'You're something special, Xiaoyu,' he muttered in the back of his mind, staring at her warmly. 'Have a peaceful rest.'
And he left her be, going back to his own bed. He decided to only slip off his school jumper, opening a few buttons of his shirt as he lay down, reaching out a hand to pull the cord on his lamp, bringing the room to darkness.
He lay, eyes closed, glad that there were not straying voices taken into his quiet, peaceful mind. Most of the staff had probably retired for the night and everything was settled to a calm bliss.
It had been fifteen minutes; he was trailing the path to foregone sleep, when he heard something. Not a noise in his room or anywhere in the house, but somewhere far away. The noise was like a thud - maybe could have been described as a heart beat.
Usually, Jin tried to pay no heed to these kind of things, because sometimes they were just annoying little things that shouldn't be worried over in the least. Clearing his throat quietly, he remained stretched out, hoping for sleep to take him soon.
'Come…'
Jin's eyes snapped wide open.
Another heartbeat-like thud. 'Come…'
It wasn't that loud, fading rather then getting louder. It was like it was on a whole different level outside of what he was really suppose to hear, but he was picking it up anyway.
It was like some sort of beacon, calling out to someone, wishing to be heard.
And he could hear it and his heart told him not to ignore it.
'Could it be… Toshin?' He wondered, now realising he'd sat up.
A break of moonlight in the curtains had left the room in a blue glow and he could still see Xiaoyu had her eyes closed, curled up with the blanket, still asleep.
Jin could easily leave her to rest as he got up, scrambling for a light jacket to put on and also, finding his shoes that he's kicked off earlier. He put them on and quietly exited the room.
But even his quiet footsteps had disturbed the light sleeping form of Ling Xiaoyu, whose eye slowly peeped open in response, meeting nothing but darkness.
***
Jin walked along streets he'd didn't usually walk down in daylight, let alone after dark. Everything was shadowed and unrecognisable. Buildings masked themselves in spooky images, indistinguishable from each other, like a melted background of darkness. He wasn't scared, just not completely comfortable.
That faint voice was nearly gone, but he could distinctly follow the trail. He considered going to a payphone when he next saw one and dropping a message with Anna Williams. It could be the link she needed to solve her case.
He stopped all of sudden, statue like on the pavement. His posture turned stiff and his expression was none too pleased. He didn't turn around, though he obviously addressed whoever was behind him.
"You know, it's dangerous for you to come out here unescorted after dark." There was silence and he scowled. "I'm not stupid. I know you're there, Xiaoyu. I can sense you."
Two footsteps coming from the side of a building brought the young Chinese girl out in the open, a few steps away from his back.
"What about you?" She asked.
"You are of more importance," he said softly.
"But you're the Grandson of a renown Governor. And I'm… nobody," she said softly, a hint of sadness in her voice.
He looked over his shoulder to her, eyes turning soft. "You are someone. Never put yourself down."
"At least people want you around, unlike me," she said, close to snivelling, though she was desperately holding back.
He turned full around, closing the distance between them. His warm hands came to take her shoulders, bringing her eyes up questioningly to look into his.
"Of course people want you around. You're a very nice young lady. You needn't have a title to be something. People don't have to know who you are to give you a better existence." He smiled warmly. "All I'm saying now is that your safety is important. You shouldn't be out here following me."
"Where are you going?" She forwardly asked.
"To be honest, I'm following a sign," he said. She tilted her head to this and he sighed, knowing she would pester him into an explanation anyway. "It could be something to do with this Toshin thing with Anna."
"Oh! Really?" Xiaoyu exclaimed. "You shouldn't go after it! It's very dangerous!"
"I know, but don't worry," he assured "I won't be doing anything stupid."
"I won't let you go alone," she insisted firmly, grabbing hold of one of his arms. "I don't want you to get hurt if I know I can help."
"Xiaoyu--"
"You can't send me back, even if you tell me to go, I won't," she refused with a stomp of her little foot. Jin just sighed.
He wished to say more, but he was silenced as his mind began to buzz with echoing voices. Hateful voices, full of blood lust and malice. He was turning in all directions, trying to home in on these voices. But they weren't in one spot; they were coming from all around.
"Xiaoyu…" He whispered, bringing her defensively against him, eyes scanning carefully.
"Jin?"
"Shh…"
"What is it?"
His eyes narrowed. "We're not alone."
Xiaoyu stayed close to Jin, holding her breath. Fear began to creep up her spine in a cold chill. How she hated the dark, and how she hated the feeling that death might claim her and Jin.
There was a crunching sound and Jin was turning in the direction, with Xiaoyu kept close. His eyes firmly came across a shadow that began to form itself into a human shape as the moonlight caught its frame. Piercing eyes lingered off the pair; a sneer lifted the expression that formed. This newcomer, a young man, in usual street garb sauntered out, fixated on Jin and Xiaoyu like they were the centre of the universe.
More sounds pricked up Jin's ears and behind every sound, a new body came - young people, men and women, in their casual wear, walked out into the streets, zombie like. There was no cold to them, no other life besides the two ahead of them.
Jin could feel the rising hatred, coming from a power that licked over their forms. Not of their own power, but of another. The group was mass possessed.
"Jin…" Xiaoyu shook, noticing the burning eyes that focused on them.
Without another word between them, Jin snappily picked Xiaoyu up, pressing her over his shoulder and he was running. Running like he'd never run before.
With an opening down a side street, his energy was forced into his legs, the speed phenomenal. Adrenaline was pumping around his body, feeding his tired muscles as his every sense told him to get out of there and get Xiaoyu to safety. The poor girl on his shoulder was gripping tight as she bounced slightly against his shoulder. The world passed her in shaky blobs and she decided to close her eyes, face against her arms.
An angry cry emitted to one side as Jin took to a street. The possessed attacker was merely rammed over as Jin pushed him away with his shoulder, glad he hadn't fallen with the impact, continuing to look for a way to safety - and not forgetting, to find a path that led to Toshin.
Coming down to a row of shops that were beginning to lead up to the road into the busier city, he turned off down a dipping footpath that ran along side a sports court. Knowing he was in a good enough drop off destination, he put Xiaoyu down, who almost fell over with wobbly knees.
"Jin," she began but he quickly cut her off.
"Xiaoyu, if you continue following this path, you'll find your way towards the bus station. There should be people around to keep you safe." He dipped into his pocket and brought out a few coins. "If you can't manage to get a bus quick enough, go by foot. You have to go to Anna's hotel. You have to tell her that I'm close to finding Toshin. Tell her I'm going to be travelling to somewhere in the West Boulevard."
"I-I--"
"Just do it!" He ordered and the young girl decided against hesitating and simply nodded and took off like a rabbit down the path, disappearing into the darkness.
Jin prayed for her safety as he turned the opposite way and went back to follow the street to his intended destination.
***
Anna was curled up in her warm bed, finally able to turn out her light after a long day. She'd done as much work as she could with her logging of events, her many informative phone calls. Forest had been a great support and he'd mainly done all the running around for her. And as a reward, she'd sent him off to bed an hour ago, and now, she was certain she could get some rest.
She knew she wouldn't sleep well, but any sleep she could get would be a bonus. Her mind was too busy working away to settle down, too much about the Toshin business, then about Hwoarang, and work in general. And somewhere in between she was wondering about Paul and how she hope she'd go home and hear him being annoying just once more. And she missed her little Smitten, whom she'd entrusted her neighbour to feed. Dearly she wanted to hold her furry little friend again, to ease the aching in her heart.
It was time to stop thinking about the little things that were close to bringing on the tears. It was time to rest and tell herself that things would be back to normal in no time.
For ten minutes, silence and bliss of relaxation, and then, she was asleep.
For once, her dreams were peaceful. She was with her mother, sitting happily in the garden of her old home, look out across the long stretch of grass, laughing together over a jug of ice tea. It was a fantasy of a perfect time in her life, something that wished could happen, but she knew wouldn't. Hugging her mother had felt real, but it wasn't, and she wanted to stay forever in those arms, and never wake up. But she did, and she was awoken unceremoniously.
The door was banged upon, and the groggy woman sat up sharply. At first, she wanted to ignore it, tiredness holding her relentlessly, but as it continued, she decided to answer it before she had half the hotel on her back for the disturbance.
Anna clambered out of bed, slipping on her slippers as she went to the door. The minute she unlatched it, the mass was pushed against her and a little figure frantically bounded in.
"Anna, Anna, Anna!" Xiaoyu's high-pitched voice wailed.
The older woman had to shut the door quickly to contain the noise. "Xiaoyu? What are you doing here? And at this time!"
"Oh, Anna! It's Jin! He needs you! It's really important! He sent me here for you! You have to come! Come on, come on!"
"Slow down," Anna said softly. "And lower your voice. People are trying to sleep."
Xiaoyu looked apologetic but just went on, a little more clearly then before. "I think he got a sign or something. Like a vision. Oh, I dunno. It's just Jin, he went out and I followed him and he said he had to find Toshin. He said he might know where it is. And then, all these scary people started coming out after us and he carried me off and then sent me to come and get you so you could come!"
Anna blinked, tiredness clearing to this notion. "He knows where Toshin is?"
"He thinks he does! I trust him!" She said frantically. "Near the West Boulevard. Please hurry."
"Right," Anna opened the door and instantly went to knock loudly on Forest's. She kept knocking until the Chinese-American appeared dark eyed and exhausted.
He yawned. "What is it?"
"Get dressed, we're going after Toshin. We may know where it is," she said firmly.
"W-what?"
She ignored the wide-eyed expression, wanting answers. "Just get dressed dammit, there's not much time." She turned back to Xiaoyu who was by the door. "You stand out here while I get dressed. I'll be as quick as I can."
The girl leaned back to the wall waiting, almost hopping about in fear of what could be happening at that second to Jin.
It was a few minutes later when Anna reappeared, dressed in a padded black jacket with dark red leather trousers. She'd worn heavy strapped boots so that it would be better to combat in if needed. She was just adjusting her gun holster straps under her coat as she went to re-knock on Forest's door.
"I'm coming!" She heard called from within, with also the sounds of thumping and things being knocked over in a hurry. There was some murmuring as if he was talking to himself, but Anna just put that down to him being tired.
Anna sighed and checked the bullets in her gun.
'Full and I've plenty of ammo.' She nodded and put her gun in its place and zipped up her jacket, turning as Forest's door flung open, with the man struggling to stick his jacket on. He was also armed now; covering it up quickly so not to flash anyone who'd might have come out of their room at that instant.
"What took you so long?" Anna said a little miffed.
"Getting changed," he said, covering a yawn.
"A woman's job is to take time for beautification. You can pass looking scruffy, now come on," she said, locking her door. Forest just tiredly growled, following her example.
Xiaoyu bounded ahead, walking backwards as she spoke. "I'll show you where it is if you don't know."
"Right, let's get to the rental car downstairs," Anna said, following Xiaoyu to the stairwell.
***
Jin had run on from where he'd left Xiaoyu, not stopping, even for the pain that burned in the back of his legs. He'd kept running, even when he realised he'd lost them. Now coming up to a bridge, he began to slow, catching his breath, heaving each sweet inhale in with thankfulness. He came to stop and rest against the railing, eyes looking down.
This is where the feeling, though weak, was at it's most powerful. He was finally on the West Boulevard, standing above a lower tier that led to a long row of all old, some unused, houses.
Able to go on, Jin followed the circled bridge, and came onto the bottom level, stepping into the empty street.
The air was colder then ever, his insides knotting as he could feel the chill reaching inside him. The demonic feeling creeping around him was apparent - another presence was there.
His dark eyes turned to focus on a small-detached building to his right. The outer structure was shabby, broken and unfriendly - the dark insides pitch black so nobody could see beyond the surface.
'A great hiding place.' His eyes narrowed.
A laugh echoed in his head and he stepped back instinctively, keeping himself on the defensive in case of a sneak attack. He wet his dry lips, fists clenching tightly.
"It's been a long search…" A voice echoed, this time, outside of his head. The darkness of the house he was staring at disappeared as a flare of green within light it up like a Christmas tree. Jin was stunned, frozen to the spot.
A thin, figure dressed only in light shimmering material that was plastered to its clammy, pale skin, appeared in the doorway, stepping out into the cold night without a care of the cold temperatures. The beautiful blonde woman, known to the world as Nina Williams, though now merely a vessel for Toshin, crossed out towards him gracefully, a smile stretching her face.
"I never realised it would be so hard to find my prize," she continued on, her voice quaking with two layers. Her own and the mysterious Toshin's. "You've been hiding from me."
"What? I don't understand. Who are you?" He asked.
She chuckled undertone. "I was always so keen to look and hope to see something so obvious, when it truly wasn't. I never thought for one second that maybe, if I really thought about it, I could call out, just at the right frequency and see if you power responded to my call. And here you are."
Jin just looked confused; stepping back as the sleek figure kept coming towards him.
"My call was directed to the gifted aura, the one I've been seeking," she affirmed to him, reaching out in a false welcome. He stopped anyway, listening to her lapping voice trap him there before her.
"You sought me?" Jin asked.
"Yes, I can say I have been seeking you without either of us knowing. You're composed of something phenomenal…" She finally came to press up to him, feeling Jin shudder as the hard tipped curves of this human possessed came in contact against him. Toshin smiled wider with Nina's beautiful lips. "I've finally found you… possessor of the 'Red Eye'."
Jin's mouth dropped open. "W-what?" His voice stuttered nearly inaudibly.
Nina's hands touched his face, fingers caressing. "Oh, you're so unique, so precious. You don't even know, do you? You're more then just the power… you're more then just a human."
"I… I…"
"I know… you don't understand," Toshin said lowly, slightly mocking of his unknowing. Nina's lips came to be inches from his. "I would have found you sooner, if I'd known that it was neither the humans or the demons that I should have searched. Something of both worlds."
What could he say? He was in a confusing nightmare and he wished to just wake up. But this dark place unfortunately was his reality, and now Toshin closed the gap between Nina's lips and Jin's and the younger man relaxed suddenly, though the back of his mind was screaming for him not to let Toshin bewitch him. But it may have already been too late.
"So wonderful, so tasty…" Nina breathed away from the kiss, pushing him slowly backwards, so that he lapsed out on the concrete, almost limp. The sleek form slipped to knee over him, a leg on each side, sitting against his torso. He couldn't think to say anything against it, it was like he was going blind to reality.
"It's such a shame for you… that's without the power I'm taking, your existence will just…" She chuckled. "… Be nothing. Your life will fade out. Oh, poor thing. But I will make this death as gracious to you for being the protector of my power."
Nina pressed her hands carefully to his chest, smiling victoriously as she leaned down towards him, a slight hiss parting from her lips.
A screech of tires had her snapping around, suddenly having to shield her eyes from the bright headlights in view. The car came off the bridge and came to a quick stop, the drivers door flinging open and a figure jumping out, a gun suddenly at hand.
Toshin was leaping off Jin as a bullet grazed its shoulder. The young man finally came back to his senses, seeing the kneeled woman a few inches away, and he scrambled backwards until he came near enough to the front plate of the car.
Toshin assessed the slight injury, healing it in seconds. It brushed the remains of blood onto its fingers and placed them to Nina's lips, lapping it with content, smiling.
"Oh, Anna Williams, you just love to get into my business, don't you?" Toshin said sardonically.
The woman in question kept her possessed sister trained under gunpoint. "I won't let you carry on with your heartless killings."
Toshin snorted. "You nearly met death yourself. Never learnt your lesson, did you? Just coming back to face your end again. It's very entertaining to have prey come to you."
Forest had Anna covered as he came up on the other side of the car, door as a shield.
The auburn haired woman smile, unaffected. "Let me tell you something you scum sucking monster. If you don't have the strength to eliminate your prey the first time, it may start to turn around where the prey becomes the predator. And I'm telling you, with all my faith and power, I will make sure you leave here as nothing more then a memory."
Toshin scowled. "You carry confidence, Anna Williams. But I assure you, it will be worth nothing by the end of this encounter."
"Just die already, your existence is cramping my style," she said, finger hovering the trigger.
Xiaoyu came to kneel around the front by Jin, hugging his shoulders. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I think so," he said softly. "It says it's me… that power it's been looking for…"
"You?" Xiaoyu was surprised. Even Anna cast a glance to him from hearing this but wasn't for one second going to let her gun off Toshin.
"I… I just don't believe it. I don't understand how I can be this 'Red Eye'," he said, hand gripping to Xiaoyu's.
The young girl hugged him tightly. "I won't let anything happen. I promise."
Toshin was enraged. "GET AWAY FROM MY POWER! NO ONE WILL STOP ME FROM GETTING IT!" With a loud scream, it thrust its hands forward; pushing a shimmering energy wave from it's being, blasting it towards them.
They didn't even have time to react as it hit like lightning. The car jolted and Anna and Forest were thrown back onto the floor just behind their shielding doors. Jin was pushed against Xiaoyu, who was also smashed back against the car, hitting her head against the bonnet. She cried out and slumped over, holding the back of her head.
"Xiaoyu!" Jin leant over her, regaining himself quickly.
"YOU!"
Jin looked up as Toshin, screeching voice and all leapt at him, picking him up and throwing him away from the trio and the car. The strength behind the throw was unbelievable and sailed, coming to land hard on the pavement, near the house Toshin had originally come from.
He cried out, grabbing the base of his spine. Racked with pain, he couldn't get up fast enough to get away from Toshin kicking his chest, putting him flat on his back. She kneeled over him again, hand hovering above his face.
"I WANT WHAT IS RIGHTFULLY MINE! THE RAW POWER OF THE 'RED EYE'!"
Fingers tensing, a crackling white glow surfaced over Nina's hand, calling for something to rise from the young man's body. Jin was breathing hard, watching the glow close to his face. There was warmth travelling through him filling his cheeks with great heat, finally hitting the spot on his forehead. Then, there was nothing but agonising pain, scolding in that particular spot.
He was screaming, louder and more distressed then he'd ever done in his life. His body writhed beneath the lighter one on top, but he was two weak to get away.
"Yes, that's right," Toshin hissed in delight. "Come to me…"
Jin dug his hands into the soft earth, racking it, trying to relieve himself of the suffering. It intensified as he could feel the skin splitting, opening up to this power. Blood welled from the split and spilled down his forehead on both sides, dripping off his paling skin to paint the grass in tiny crimson droplets.
A red light began to shine through; little particles glimmering in thousands began to ball away from that split and into the glowing palm welcoming it. When a nice hand sized ball appeared, the light stopped breaking through the wound and the wound ceased to flow. Jin's voice was strained, life strangled in his throat and the world shattered into darkness.
"No…" His eyes slowly closed. "… Anna… Xi-Xiaoyu… help, please…"
Toshin rose from the limp body, stepping out into the roadway, staring hungrily at the red light. "Yes… this is it!"
Xiaoyu finally gathered her senses; Jin's cries still ringing in her ears even after he'd fallen silent. She looked to him, seeing him lay there unmoving.
"JIN!" She cried, pulling herself up, nearly falling over as she ran to him, gathering him against her. Her horrified eyes saw the wound on his head and tears began to flow down her porcelain cheeks. "NO… NO! JIN! WAKE UP!" She frantically shook him, hand quaking as she felt his chest, cool skin meeting her hand as she pressed against him hard. Her eyes widened. "OH MY GOD! H-HE'S NOT BREATHING! JIN! JIN! YOU CAN'T DIE!"
Toshin ignored her screaming voice, smiling warmly as it placed the light to her chest, the thousands of particles soaking into Nina's body.
Anna was pulling herself up the car frame. She'd hit her head when being forced over, and the throbbing was made worse by Xiaoyu's eccentric screeching. The Scarlet Lady soon realised that things had taken a turn for worse as her eyes went wide as orbs on the scene.
She heard Forest groaning on the other side and she looked at him through the car.
"We're too late," she said softly. He rose slightly more, back pressed to the car door, looking at her in disbelief.
She shook, looking towards Xiaoyu, who was bawling over the lifeless body of Jin Kazama and then she turned to Toshin, standing so smugly with Nina's body under its capture.
"I have done it! It's within me now! Nobody can stop me! No man nor demon has my power!" Toshin roared in victory, the voice growing louder and deeper.
Anna pressed up to the window, shaking, fingers trailing the glass like a barrier between her and Nina.
Nina's body staggered forward, breathing hard, deep pained groans coming from her chest. She looked up to Anna, the eye colour flicking between the possessive green to Nina's natural blue.
Anna just stared, unable to move in response.
"An-Anna…" Nina's weak voice came through Toshin's growls.
The younger Williams shook her head. What could she do now to save her sister?
Nina's hand reached out to her, but in a sharp jolt, the woman was stood full upright back arched, screaming in agony, Nina's own real screams mixed with the roar of the monster Toshin.
The pale skin was bubbling; the loud sounds of cracks and twists as Nina's body began to change. Her form was filling out, getting bigger, with the muscles going into spasm as they thicken, stretching the skin tightly across the ever-changing form. The colour soon melted to a pale brown, coarse hair beginning to cover the upper body and on her head, the original blonde disappearing. It covered the top besides the face, which was reforming, mainly the lower jaw, as it was elongating. The wide mouth exhibited the large fangs developing there, becoming much more powerful endowments. The knees popped out of proportion the lower half expanding into a powerful clawed feet. A similar thing was happening with the left arm, but the right was splitting into pieces, forming itself into a long, hissing snake, snapping at the air. From the lower spine, the skin and bone extending, thickening into a tough, long, new limb - a tail to be persist.
The large bulking form twisted and reformed to something that was completely different to Nina's body. Anna's sister was gone, and in her place, a large, hideous creature stood, billowing with power that could have slashed knifes on their skins if it could be seen.
The large creature roared, excited with this new power.
Anna was crying silently, hand sliding down the window.
"Nina…" She whimpered.
Toshin had achieved its desire and stood, bellowing voice breaking into the night, announcing its presence.
The presence of the 'True Ogre'.
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A/N: And so, the 'Red Eye' is revealed. None of the characters were ever close to knowing! And you can truly see where I hinted at now! The next part of this battle will continue in the next chapter!