Chapter 19:

The Past and Lies

Kazi sat down and opened her mouth to speak. But she found that she couldn't do it. Jin took her hand in his. She looked up at him. Jin wore a serious expression but his eyes were of disappointment, disbelief and a little anger. Kazi took a deep breath and started,

"When I was around the age of three or four, Hwoarang and I were at the docks. But they came and took me. The North Korean soldiers. I don't know what they wanted or why they wanted me or even how they got into South Korea. I remember I was in a jeep but we crashed and I fell unconscious. Then next thing I knew, I was inside of a lab. They kept referring to me as the 'Failure' as if I never heard them. They experimented on me, making me into a monster. The monster that you saw when Jin got hurt before I tackled Devil into Hell. They said I was this monster even before Baek and Hwoarang found me. They said it was in my blood." Kazi paused her fists clenched together. She suddenly lunged out of her seat and punched a hole right into the wall. "BASTARDS! THEY TOOK EVRYTHING! They took everything from me...." All the others were stunned by her sudden outburst. Jin got himself together and put his hands on her shoulders. Kazi bowed her head, the red hair falling so no one could see her face. He quieted and pulled her bleeding fist from the busted wall. "I didn't know it then but I was in America. The United States of America. As another 'test' they threw me into the army, making sure no one knew 'what' I was but them. I got used to it. Every two weeks I would be taken on 'leave' and they ran tests and experimented on me even more." Kazi pulled her shoulders away from Jin's grasp and turned her back to them. She fell quiet for a moment before pulling her shirt off. Jun looked almost horrified. Hwoarang mumbled something closed to 'Holy Shit' and Jin inhaled sharply. The others watched, their eyes wide in shock. Kazi stood her scarred back to them, nothing but a strapless and pants. On her back was a giant scar that looked like someone had went to slice her head off only it was jagged. It trailed from her right side of her neck all the way down and circled her stomach before coming out and ending on her lower back. Other scars ran up and across her arms and were scattered all down her back. She turned around and stared at the floor. "This mark was part of a 'fight or die' experiment. It was made by another of their monsters. They called it Diablo. I don't remember how I won. But I know I was left with this mark and it probably isn't dead. It was a demon and I think it's still alive." Kazi pulled her shirt back on and rubbed her arms. "I got bored in the army and went what they call AWOL. Absent without leave. All I did was ride around town and make a lot of racket, having fun and goofing off. I would come back, only because I had no reason to go anywhere else, and I had no idea where Hwoarang and Master Baek were. I became VERY known by the city police department and gave my 'superiors'," Kazi used her fingers to emphasize the quotations, "a lot of hell. So they assigned a cop to me, every time I went AWOL she was entitled to bring me back. Her name is Denise Bailey. I found a flier for the Iron Fist Tournament and I knew Hwoarang was always drawn to battles so I knew he was gonna be there. So once again I took off, only I didn't come back. Denise followed me but she let me off. She said I should be able to see my family without others standing in my way. She didn't bring me back and so they're searching for me. And they brought the calvary." Kazi ended. She sighed and Hwoarang shook his head in disbelief. Jin hesitated before wrapping his arms around her from behind, hugging her close.

"Kaziya... No more secrets, Ok?" Jin softly whispered in Japanese, "I love you." He whispered in her ear. Knowing that he didn't know Korean she whispered back in her mother language,

"I love you." Jin didn't understand but he hugged her a little tighter before letting her go.

"But those were North Korean. They had the accent." Hwoarang pointed out.

"But it did sound like a few of them were legit Americans." Jin added. "Maybe they're working together?"

"I highly doubt that. America's democracy and president clearly disagrees with the North Korean peoples and their abundant nuclear resources coming from Russia." Hwoarang's words surprised all of them.

"Wow. I didn't know you were political, Hwoarang." Jin said and the redhead's eye brown twitched.

"Then it's settled then, Kazuya?" Baek looked at the dark skinned Japanese man, changing the subject. He nodded.

"This house was built like a fortress. We should plan out- "

"I'm leaving." Kazi unknowingly interrupted Kazuya, for she wasn't paying any attention. Kazuya blinked. Jun just looked and Baek gave Kazi a you-had-better-not-said-what-I-think-you-said look. Jin broke the silence.

"Wh-at?" He gave her a look of disbelief.

"I'm leaving," She said blankly.

"Kaziya Doo San," Baek's voice grew dark and deep, in a fatherly way. Kazi looked at him. "You are not going anywhere. You have no reason."

"But I do. And so does Hwoarang." Kazi said. Hwoarang blinked as Baek looked at him.

"OH, NO! Don't bring me into this! I ain't do nothin'!" He jumped back.

"I want to know, dad. I want to know what 'they' meant by 'Failure' and 'Real'. I want to know...." Kazi bowed her head and took a deep breath. "What if- What if I was some master plan? I have to know. I have to stop 'them' before they hurt the people I love. And before they claim someone innocent. Please Father!" Kazi pleaded. Baek sighed heavily but didn't answer.

"I'm not as young as I used to be Kaziya. You have to understand that. You may go, " Kazi's smiled, "But under one condition." The smile faded. "If you and your brother go, you must take someone else who isn't hot-headed and doesn't think things through, got it?" Kazi nodded and pondered.

"Jin, go with them." Kazuya said casually. Jin did a double take.

"WH-WHAT?"

"I do not repeat myself." Kazuya said looking at him from the couch. He yawned and put his arm around the back of where Jun was sitting. Jin narrowed his eyes. Kazuya grinned. Jin folded his arms and stared at him. "Go boy." Baek looked at Jin, who sneered and turned to him.

"I'll go." Baek nodded and Kazi drug Hwoarang out the back door. Jin went to follow but Baek took a hold of his shoulder.

"We'll talk when you get back but for the time being, take care of my little ones. Keep them out of trouble. Alright?" Jin nodded and followed them through the door. Baek looked down at the couch seat, picked up a small card, and opened it:

Dear Dad,

We're sorry for everything that has happened. But we want to say that we love you. We're not little kids anymore but we'll always be your hawks. Happy Fathers Day.

Love,

Hwoan-chan and Kazi-chan

Baek smiled and shook his head.