Chapter 10:
Temple
"So. You showed up." Cyn's eyebrows raised in surprise.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?" Cyn looked at the blonde haired woman.
"......."
"Look. If you're in league with Kazuya or Heihachi-"
"Nether."
"What is it YOU want? Since EVERYONE wants something from me."
"Not much. Not much for you to handle anyway. Besides I have something you want." She removed her sunglasses to reveal a set of turquoise blue eyes.
"Me? What do you know of me?"
"More than you know of yourself."
"What do you want from me?"
"You know Steve Fox."
"Yeah."
"I need to see him." Cyn looked the blonde woman up and down, just now realizing that she was wearing the strangest spandex shirt and leather pants.
"So you want me to set up a show date where you see him, now what was it you said about my half?"
"Information."
"What?"
"Don't play dumb."
"..... So... What you're saying that you know something I want to know and in exchange for information, you want to meet with Steve Fox."
"Exactly."
"Who are you?"
"The name's Nina." The blonde slid from her seat on the edge of the Buddhist altar and looked at Cyn.
"Nina... Williams?" She nodded. "I've heard of you. You're an assassin. A famous one. Did THEY send you?"
"Who?"
"You know exactly WHO I'm talking about."
"Not to worry. They won't know of this. So, it's a deal then?" The blonde held out her hand. Cyn looked at it for a moment. Her blue eyes met the blonde's blue eyes and she grasped her hand firmly.
"Deal." The blonde smiled and took her hand back; searching in her pocket, she pulled out a handheld tape recorder and gave the tape to Cyn. Cyn's eyes flickered as she took it and put it away in her own pocket.
"Very well. How soon can I get to him?"
"How soon can I get my four-one-one?"
"Answering a question with another question in specific words.... Keep that up and you'll be your very own assassin."
"Spish...." Cyn sneered.
"I have your information right here." Nina pulled out a small compact disk half the size of a regular CD. Cyn took it from the woman and looked at it.
"It's clear. I don't see an encoding anywhere." Cyn flipped it over and looked through it. Nina opened the case revealing a golden compact disk.
"It's there. The case is specially concealed to camouflage the disk. I'm amused that you saw the disk in the first place."
"Amused." Cyn sneered again. "Right. Now to see to what you want. What do you plan to do with Steve?"
"........."
"Come on. Pray tell. I can't go on and sell my friend out to an assassin, especially since the Mafia is after him."
"He is my son." Nina looked off into the light of the candle. Cyn stared at her in shock.
"But Steve-"
"He was a genetic copy made from cryrotonic fertilization."
"So basically, you were sedated when some scientist took and egg from you and just put your DNA into the cell, making a clone of you... Like asexual reproduction."
"The disk was right. You are a straight A student. Good job kid."
"..... I'm not a kid. And if what you said is true.... Then, there is a chance he'll get away from the Mafia."
"Very slim."
"But still a chance." Cyn thought about the disk. "Where did you get this?"
"You want to find more and yet you haven't read anything yet."
"If I want the story, I want the whole story."
"Mishima Conglomerate Scientific Research Development Department of Identity."
"I'll be sure to remember it." Cyn pulled her cell phone out and dialed quickly.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
"Eh? Hello!" Steve answered Paul's phone as Paul walked out of the shower. "Oh! Hi Cyn! Yeah! This is Paul's phone."
"What are you doing with Paul's phone?" Cyn's voice came over the phone.
"Hm? Oh, well Lei and I are over here watching the game and Paul was in the shower so, I answered it."
"Right. Well I need to talk to you anyway. I need to meet you tonight-"
"Ok, I'll tell the guys-"
"No! Just you. Not the other two. There's something that needs to be told."
"You found something?!"
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Cyn looked at Nina then answered Steve, "Sort of. Meet me at the corner of Yurei Drive and Coronia Street at seven."
"Ok, then." Steve's voice traveled over the speaker.
"Don't tell anyone. And make sure to be alone. I don't want the cops to catch us."
"You stole it?"
"Sort of."
"Aww.... bugga, Cyn. Why do you-"
"Don't worry about it. Just make sure alright?"
"Sure."
"Then, see ya."
"Yah, bye." Cyn cut off the phone. Still holding it, she silently gestured for Nina to wait.
"Three. Two. One." She dialed again.
"Hello?" Steve's voice came back.
"Hey Steve, something's come up and I wont be able to make it, but I'm sending a friend of mine that has the information."
"Wha? Well all right. Same place same time?"
"Of course."
"Alrighty."
"Bye."
"Bye." Cyn ended the call and turned the cell phone off. Nina clapped.
"How long have you practiced?"
".... Since I could talk."
"I'll meet him there tonight."
"Good. While you're at it could you drop this phone off at 186 Sakaiskukei Road?"
"Where do you want it?"
"In the mail box will be fine or just anywhere you can put it for my friend to find it."
"Very well." Nina took the phone and handed Cyn a card.
"What's this?"
"Can't you read?"
"..... You have your own business card? That's hilarious."
"You're not laughing."
"......."
"I like you kid. You've got spunk. See ya around." Nina left the ancient temple. Cyn watched her fade into the thick fog outside in the forest surrounding the building. She looked at the card one last time before putting it away into her pocket.
"Cyn...." She whirled around; her eyes darted back and forth in the dimly lit stone room. Buddha glowed in the flickering light of the white candles that never seemed to go out. "Cyn...."
"Who's there?! Show yourself you coward!!" She took fighting stance, watching every time the flame moved she knew there was another in the room. "Jin? ..... Or is it Kazuya? Show yourself!!!"
"Technically both..." Cyn's eyes grew wide as the candles flickered out.