Chapter 3:

Paul's Hands

Cyn was surprised to see Heihachi, grasping her tightly around the ankle, one eye open and the other shut due to pain. Cyn tried to snatch her ankle back but only succeeding in pulling him with her. She kicked him with her other leg, but Heihachi only grunted. He rolled onto his back and pulled her down onto the floor, tossing her over and pinning her to the floor. This happened too fast for Cyn and she knew she had already tread too far. Heihachi snarled. The next thing she knew, Heihachi was curled up onto the floor a few feet away clutching his stomach in pain. Cyn looked up and saw a tall dark Japanese man, scarred from head to toe wearing only a pair of training pants. 'It's him..... That dude...'

"Are you going to sit there like a moron or get out of here?" The man's deep voice almost growled. Cyn hesitated for a moment before jumping to her feet and out off the door, not looking back until she had reached the tournament stadium. Cyn rounded the corner and collided with someone, knocking her down.

"WOAH! BLIMELY! Are you alright?" Cyn looked up into the face of a blonde haired blue eyed Britain that was easy to see in the streetlamp. "Cyn? Hey hey! It IS you! Most sorry 'bout that." He held out his hand. Cyn grasped it shakily and stood up. "Eh? Eh, Cyn?"

"Sorry Steve I... uh.... was in a hurry." She finished all too quickly.

"You're shakin'. Is somethin' the matter?"

"Uh... no. Just-Just running that's all."

"Eh, you hate ta run. There's somethin' up isn't there?"

"Busted..." Cyn mumbled, "I... Someone attacked me and I got away. That's all, really!"

"Someone attacked you? Oh, bloody hell.... Are you alright?"

"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine, Hey Steve do me a flavor will ya?"

"Uh, strawberry? Or vanilla?" Cyn glared and Steve chuckled.

"...... Anyway. Could ya stop by the hospital an' check on Tony? I'm really worried an' I don wanna show up if I've got someone on my trail."

"Gotcha, mate. But you gotta keep in touch wit' me and talk to Paul, he might be able to help. Oh yeah, watch ya back and if ANYTHING happens, make sure ya not alone, mate." With that Steve Fox, the blonde British boxer made his way down Sakura Street and across to Yurei Drive.

Half an hour later, Cyn's heart had stopped pounding so rapidly in her ears but she was still uneasy. The darkness seemed to give her a bit if a problem with walking straight to where Paul might be. Cyn became insecure and hasty. This wasn't her. This wasn't her at all. She was always safe in the streets especially at night, but why was this changing now? 'Where could Paul be..... Maybe Lei will know.' Cyn reassured herself, but that was cut short. She hit the ground scraping her arm, a dull pain in her cheek. Cyn growled and looked up to see a bit more Tekken-shu than she bargained for. 'Make sure ya not alone...' Cyn smirked and jumped up quickly, starting a leap down the dark and damp alleyway. Gunshots fired and voices of order were heard as well as footsteps. Her ears were full of gunshots as she rounded the corner at full speed skidding in her tennis shoes on the hard asphalt, making an illusion of dust or smoke. She looked side to side for anything recognizable. Amidst all the darkness, Cyn spotted a blonde man walking out of a bar. 'Paul? Oh Lord, I hope that's Paul.' Cyn glanced back, a seemingly wrong thing to do, as a bullet scrapped the side of her head and one into her side. Her feet slipped beneath her as she grasped her side, the denim jeans tore at the knee causing her to bleed. She pulled herself to start running again but only stumbled. Cyn looked up, she desperately needed help, her vision started to blur.

"Paul!" She called out hopefully before she collapsed on the ground from a shot to the leg. Gunfire went on, a moment passed before she felt someone pick her up wholly and run. The moments of pressure and the sound of rushing footsteps soon quieted and she was laid down against the wall of a back alleyway. Cyn opened her eyes, the visions of memories and sight blended well.

"Cyn. Cyn, come on girl, wake up." the gruff voice sounded all too familiar.

"P-Paul?" She said hopefully.

"Yeah. Yeah, that's right. It's me, Paul. Look, I need ya ta hang in there, ok? Ok? Can ya do that?" Cyn nodded. "What's been goin' on? Heard you call me out right 'fore those dudes came."

"I... was attacked.... Jin.... Kazuya... Steve... get you... can't fight alone....." Cyn stumbled through her words.

"Yo, snap outta it, Cyn. Calm down. Now what happened?"

"Jin...disappeared. I went to search.... fight... big fight... three, Jin and Kazuya.... Strange things... Heihachi.. I ran... Bumped into Steve.... told me to get to you... not to fight alone." She breathed best she could. Paul nodded.

"Yeah, those Mishima folks always up to stuff. Wouldn't surprise me if one of 'em was the Devil." Cyn shook her head in exhaustion. "Well, kid, you're in my hands now. Gotta get you somewhere safe." Paul picked her up again and set off behind the buildings.