Author's notes: This story is mostly based on Tekken 4 and the currently (2004) released information on Tekken 5 and its characters. Though some infos were taken from Tekken Official, some situations, events and characters are all fanmade. Rated G
Disclaimer: Kazuya Mishima, Jin Kazama, Asuka Kazama, Heihachi Mishima, Ling Xiaoyu, Jun Kazama, Feng Wei and all Tekken characters referred in this fanfic are the property of NAMCO. This is only a fan fiction from the imagination of an obsessed fan. No copyright infringement intended.
Chapter 11: Commence
The day of the tournament.
A black Mercedes Benz cruised towards the large gates leading to the Mishima Estate. The security guards immediately stopped the vehicle, as was routine whenever visitors come in.
The driver rolled down the tinted windows and when the guards saw his face, no words were needed. With a salute, they quickly opened the gates, allowing the Benz to make its way towards the mansion.
The driver parked the car in a reserved parking space and stepped out of the vehicle. After wiping some lint off his purple tux, Kazuya Mishima took off his sunglasses and watched some competitors make their way towards the lawn.
"Guess I got here just in time," he put on his glasses again and slowly made his way to the group.
Ling Xiaoyu ran down the steps towards the several fighters standing under the balcony. A representative was said to make an announcement at exactly 10 o' clock, which wasn't until the next five minutes. Ling nodded and smiled at a few fighters she had seen compete and had competed with in the previous tournaments like Julia Chang, Yoshimitsu, Christie Montiero and Steve Fox. But right now, she was looking for either Asuka or Jin. She found Asuka first, who was standing under a tree, seemingly like a fish out of water. When she saw Ling, she waved excitedly.
"Hi!" Ling hurried to Asuka's side. "Nervous?"
"A bit..." Asuka let out a soft laugh. "Guess what? I talked to Jin."
"Really? When?"
"Yesterday. He took me aside and we got talking. You're right. We are related."
"In what way? Are you two cousins?"
"Oooh...I...I didn't think of asking that..." Asuka bit her lip. Then, she laughed. "I'm so stupid! I forgot to ask! Maybe I'll ask him later. Why don't we look for him?"
"That's exactly what I was gonna ask you. Come on!"
Jin looked at his wristwatch, impatience written all over his face. In less than two minutes, the representative would be making his announcement.
"But where the hell is he?!" Jin shifted his eyes from one fighter to another. A lot of them, he had already seen compete in the last few tournaments but one fighter he was yet to see was his father, Kazuya Mishima.
Out of the blue, he saw a flash of purple.
"It's him!" he ran then, bumping several people in the process.
"Hey!" a woman with long, brown braids yelped. "You stepped on my foot!"
"Sorry, miss...uh...Ms. Chang," Jin continued to run, his sights set on the long hem of Kazuya's tuxedo. More people began to groan and complain as Jin bumped into them one after the other. He really couldn't help it though, especially since they packed around the lawn like sardines.
"Kazuya!"
Kazuya stopped in his tracks. He knew that voice well. Slowly, almost dramatically, he took off his shades and turned to face his son, who stood several feet away from him, panting heavily. Jin felt that surge of anger that he had become all too familiar with but he knew he had to suppress it.
The two men stared silently at each other, unnoticed by most of the fighters who were either doing some last minute exercises or simply chatting.
Unlike most of the competitors, words just didn't come naturally for these two men. They were father and son...but only by blood. Events had long drifted them apart into such opposite worlds, it seemed impossible to ever be able to have a simple conversation.
"There he is! Jin!"
Jin turned to see Ling Xiaoyu and Asuka Kazama, running excitedly towards him.
"We've been looking everywhere for you!" Ling complained.
"Yeah, Jin," Asuka chimed in. "We still have a few minutes to talk don't we? I need to ask you something."
"You'll have to excuse me," Jin gave a slight nod, obviously annoyed by the interruption. "I still have to talk with Kazuya."
"Who?"
"My...my father..." Jin said through clenched teeth.
"I don't see anyone," Asuka shrugged. Jin turned to look. True enough, Kazuya was gone.
The representative's voice echoed throughout the estate as he spoke of the schedules, locations, rules and several other things involving the tournament. Somewhere behind the mansion, hidden under the shadow of a large cedar tree, a man sat quietly on a bench, his head bent down and his eyes wide with disbelief. He unfolded a list of tournament participants and stared intently at it.
"No...no...it...it just couldn't be. It's impossible! But then...how come..."
"Hiding again, Kazuya?"
Kazuya snapped his head towards the direction of the drawling voice. A competitor, roughly around his age with silvery hair and a pale complexion, smiled smugly at him.
"What are you doing here, Lee?!" Kazuya growled.
"Is that any way to greet your long lost brother? And I was so worried about you," Lee Chaolan tittered and just as quickly, his sarcastic tone turned into a menacing one. "Fool! What else would I come here for?! Now that Dad's dead, I'm here to reclaim the company! Did you really think I'm going to allow you to rule over this forever?! I'm not gonna be second in line, this time!"
"Rule over what?"
"Don't play dumb with me!" Lee fumed. "I know you're the one who's been running the company after that old fart finally bit the dust! I swear, Kazuya---"
"Hahahahahahaha!!!"
"What's so frickin' funny?!"
"Let him think what he wants..."
"WHAT?!" Lee repeated, getting angrier by the minute.
"Idiot," Kazuya snorted. "You couldn't defeat me back then. How'd you expect to defeat me now?"
"Hmph! Save your arrogance for someone else! For when you and I face off, I'll be the one who has the last laugh!" Lee pivoted and stormed back to were the fighters stood. Kazuya let out a smirk of satisfaction and, as if nothing had happened, returned to his previous dark thoughts.
"Achooo!!"
"Oooh...Asuka? Are you coming down with something?"
"This is nothing, Ling. Just a little itch in the nose," Asuka sniffled as she and Ling made their way back to their rooms. Both their battles weren't scheduled for another two hours.
"Cheer up, Asuka!" Ling chided. "Jin's always like that. He's been like that...well...since the last tournament."
"He looked really angry," Asuka spoke softly. Jin had refused to talk to them right after Kazuya disappeared. "Maybe we shouldn't have disturbed him."
"Maybe..." Ling sighed. "But we didn't know he was trying to talk to his father, right? It's an honest and simple mistake. Jin will see that. He's not stupid."
"I just feel so horrible," Asuka complained. "I mean, it's not like we started out great, but he's still my relative and we ought to get along."
"Jin's in his first battle now. We could apologize to him after that," Ling offered.
"Thanks. That'd be nice."
"What's that around your neck?" Ling asked, her eyes fixed on something Asuka had been fumbling with since Jin left. "I never saw that before."
"Oh...this?" Asuka blushed. "I...I tend to fidget with this when I'm nervous or upset. Force of habit."
"Looks kind of expensive," Ling noticed.
"Priceless," Asuka smiled. "My father told me it was my mother's. I've had it since I was a baby. Twenty four karats of solid gold chain."
"It's really pretty," Ling nodded. "Why don't you put a pendant on it or something?"
"I've thought about it, but, nah...I'd much rather keep it the way it was; the way it has always been," Asuka tucked the necklace in her shirt.
Chapter 12