Chapter 9:

Lose

"HAHAHAHA... And THEN-" Paul's cell phone rang. "Eh. Hold on guys." Steve and Lei exchanged glances as Paul took his call. "Hello? Hm.. HEY HWOA! How's it been? Hm? Hm... What?! Whoa? Are you serious?!" Paul stood up and banged his fist on the table. "There's no way she can-" Hwoarang's voice seemed solemn as he spoke over the phone. Paul grit his teeth. He didn't necessarily LIKE the red headed Korean, but Cyn was like a daughter to him and Hwoarang was like a brother to her, so he had to deal with it. Steve and Lei tried to listen carefully in order to understand what was going on but Hwoarang was speaking too softly. "There ain't no WAY I'm gonna let-" Paul heard the other side cut off. "Dammit. Stupid red headed..." Paul mumbled and groaned on what to do as he sat back down and took a sip of his beer.

"Wha? What was it mate?" Steve asked, curious enough to be killed while asking.

"...... It's Cyn." Lei looked at Paul in a rather confused look. "That Korean found her yesterday, and said she had had an encounter with Kazama's boy, only it wasn't him. There's something screwy going on here, then again there's always something screwy going on when those Mishimas are involved. The redhead said she left this morning." Paul looked to the ceiling of his apartment and tottered on the two legs of his chair.

"Well, I suggest we go an' find her. Where has she gone?" Steve looked thoughtfully out the window.

"Hwoa thinks she is headed out back to where he found her."

"Hm... probably to stand up to whoever this 'imposter Jin' was." Lei added to Paul's statement.

"Oh bugga... Then let's go! We haven't any time to loose! If there is an 'Imposta Jin' then he will have to be stronger than she is! We have to help!" Steve stood up this time.

"The redhead says 'no'. Stupid Korean.... Hmph... Says if we try to interfere with her plans, he'll take care of us personally."

"You don think he can." Lei asked.

"HELL NAW. That idiot couldn't take Kazama's boy out when they were fifteen! And the thinks he can take me out! HA! I'll have him know I beat Kazuya in the first tournament! HA!" Paul thrust his fist into the air and put his hands on his hips.

"Really? I think I missed that fight." A deep voice poured from the open window, as all three of them jumped. Paul turned around and jumped nearly out of his skin.

"KA-KAZUYA! WHAT THE FU-" Paul was cut off by a slight grin from the dark skinned tall man dressed in dark blue pants, black boots, and a light blue suit shirt, sunglasses to the tip of his nose. He stood to his full height and unfolded his arms. "That's trespassing! Get out."

"Is it? You forget yourself, Phoenix." Kazuya looked calmly at the American. Paul sneered. Lei stood up beside Steve.

"What is it you want?" Lei's eyes narrowed.

"Your soul."

"What?"

"On the other hand.... This is but a warning. Next time there will be no warning."

"What in bloody hell?" Steve looked at Kazuya then to Lei.

"This makes it more fun... Don't you agree?" Kazuya grinned menacingly. Paul grit his teeth. Not another moment passed before Kazuya disappeared in a flicker of shadows.

"Damn those Mishimas and their games! I bet ten to none that Kazuya is playing us all in his hand." Paul said in half disbelief half knowingly that it was probably true.

"Bugga..." Steve held his head in confusion. Lei remained quiet.

"What the hell is going on?"

"Yes.... Most likely." Lei stared into his coke.

"What? Most likely what?" Paul asked.

"This is a chess game... And we've only begun to realize." Steve and Paul exchanged surprising looks as they too begun to think about their current situation.

"You mean....?" Lei nodded.

"I believe so." The three got quiet as they wondered of their next move.

"Then... what he just said means... that its almost over?" Steve asked.

"It hasn't begun. This is only the prelude to the symphony." Lei took a large swallow of his coke and threw the empty bottle out the window. It took a quiet second before-

"YOU DAMN HOOLIGAN! KEEP YOUR COKE BOTTLES TO YOURSELF!!!" Lei looked out the window at an angry elderly woman waving her purse menacingly.

"GOMEN NA SAI!! GOMEN NA SAI!!" Lei yelled down to the woman, apologizing to her through Japanese. Lei brought himself back in from the window and was faced by Steve with an enormous question.

"So... If you're saying that this is the prelude.... Then how are we going to...." Lei opened his mouth to answer but was cut off by Paul.

"Kazuya is a Mishima. Mishimas ALWAYS have the game set before you make your move. We have no choice but to play his game." Paul began to whisper harshly. "But THIS time I will NOT LOSE. NOT THIS TIME MISHIMA KAZUYA."