Author's Note: This chapter will cover the tournament aspect of the story…not much else going on right now, you'll have to read the rest…oh! Actually, there is a couple of things I wanted to ask…okay, here we go…um, if anyone knows anything at all about Asuka Kazama, if they could send it to me that'd be really cool. My email is on the profile page…or you could just tell me via reviews (nudge, nudge, wink wink). PLLLEEEEZZZEEEEE REEEVVVVVIIIIEEEEWWWW!!!!!
In the midst of fighting the forces of darkness, battling Kazuya, and nearly dying, Jamie had completely forgotten about the tournament aspect of this mission. He was abruptly reminded when Kazuya (seemingly normal looking today in his incredibly expensively tailored suit) had presented the tournament roster for the day. A graph on an overhead projector showed pictures of the various fighters, who their opponents were, where the fights would take place, and what times that the competitors had to leave.
This year, the King of Iron Fist Tournament hosted a bevy of new fighters…there were close to about fifty more fighters in this tournament then there were in the fourth one. It seemed like the newbies were all going against some of the returning veterans. Kazuya ran down the list of matches with the speed of a tortoise on tranquilizers. Jamie tried to listen as hard as he could; he hoped that he wouldn't have to fight anyone remotely tough…his body was still healing, and if he was going to go out later tonight, then he needed all of his powers to be working at the top of their game.
Kazuya kept reading from his list, until he finally got to the end. He paused, and gave Jamie a discreet and wicked grin.
"…Jamie Parker vs. Craig Marduk."
The color drained from Jamie's face and he suddenly felt weak in the knees.
Craig Marduk?! The resident psycho (other then Kazuya, Brian, and the late Heihachi) who was famous for telling Julia that he would "Break her Face" in the last tournament. Marduk was the man who had ended Julia's tenure in the fourth tournament. He fought viciously, ruthlessly, and without mercy…Nephilim or not, Jamie was going to have some problems.
"Well Jamie, it was nice knowing you." Hwoarang said between fits of laughter.
"C'mon Hwoarang, don't scare him." Julia chastised.
"Tough break mate…" Steve said sympathetically.
"What are you going to do Jamie?" Xiaoyu asked.
"What I've gotta do…we'll fight," Jamie turned, and looked at his friends. "And I'll win."
Hwoarang stifled a snicker. "You've got some brass ones for such a young kid, I'll give you that Jamie…but …"
"But nothing!" Julia interrupted. "That's the spirit Jamie! You go kick that Neanderthals' ass for me! I don't know about everyone else, but I'll stop by and see it!"
Everyone agreed…accept Hwoarang, who began to eat Steve's left over eggs. Julia glanced at him, and then discreetly stomped on his foot.
"Ow!!! Will you stop hitting me?!" He shouted. "Oh, right, yeah I'll be there if I can't think of anything else to do…good luck man, you'll need it!"
Realizing that this was the closest thing to support that Jamie would get from Hwoarang…he decided to take it…he only hoped that the support of his newfound friends would be enough to take on Marduk…well, that and his Nephilim powers.
Craig Marduk had killed a man in a bar in Arizona…granted, Marduk was heavily intoxicated at the time, but he had managed to crush his victim's head like a rotting mango…with his bare hands! Marduk had gone to jail for over five years for first degree manslaughter…Jamie had to go to traffic school for getting a ticket…Marduk was a man who kept to himself mostly…he rarely talked, but he was a man who spoke volumes with his presence, and menacing glares. On the rare occasion that he did speak, he normally used noncommittal phrases, with words generally composed of one or two syllables.
Jamie loved to talk, and while shy and quiet around new people, he often warmed up to them very fast. Whenever he was killing demons and monsters, he channeled his fear into his sarcastic quips and puns. No one spoke to Marduk, even Hwoarang, the tournament's resident "bad ass" seemed to avoid him whenever possible. Jamie and Marduk, two exact opposites, thrown into a ring together…they were like oil and fire…and the results would be explosive.
Of course, Jamie knew that Kazuya had deliberately put him in the ring with Marduk. The demon that possessed the Japanese businessman was smart, but Jamie knew the kind of game that Kazuya was playing. Kazuya couldn't just outright kill Jamie, if the Nephilim was in the tournament…if that happened, then Jamie's strange disappearance would raise questions among the media, and fighter's in the tournament. The King of Iron Fist served as a safety cushion for Jamie…whose life literally depended on the outcome of this fight. If Jamie lost, and he was out of the tournament, he would fall into obscurity, making it much easier for Kazuya to kill him.
The limo pulled to a stop at a crowded intersection, and the driver brusquely informed Jamie that he needed to get out. Confused, Jamie complied with the disgruntled driver who sped off as soon as the Nephilim got out of the car. Jamie gazed at the breathtaking, glittering lights, and flashing billboards…he was in the famed Shinjuku district! Known as the Time Square of Tokyo, the Shinjuku district was home to hundreds of shops, and clubs that catered to just about anyone's fancy.
Heart thudding in his chest, Jamie realized that he was standing in the heart of the district! Crowd control gates and policemen kept the crowd at bay…that's when Jamie realized that this was going to be his fighting arena! Jamie took several seconds to take his surroundings in. The crowd cheered when they saw his face. Jamie blushed several shades of red, gave a sheepish grin, and a small wave to the crowd.
He heard people chant his name, and he had trouble believing that they were here to see him. Several girls in school uniforms smiled and waved hysterically at Jamie to come over…he didn't see the harm and did so. In amazingly fluent English, they asked if they could take a picture with him, he more then happily obliged, and was he felt an (as corny as it sounds) overwhelming sense of happiness for making these girl's day.
Jamie continued to work the crowd by filling out some autographs, until he noticed a large shadow descend over him. Jamie winced as he turned, and found himself staring into the dull, green eyes of his opponent Craig Marduk. Marduk gave Jamie an unsettling grin, then began to speak in a gravely voice, rusty with lack of use, and well acquainted with alcohol and cigarettes.
"Show's over teen dream!" Marduk said in a menacing tone.
For once, Jamie didn't have a snappy come back for the hulking behemoth. Jamie only followed Marduk towards the center of the ring to begin the fight.
"Don't think that just 'cuz you're the youngest fighter here I'm gonna go easy on you." Marduk muttered loud enough for Jamie to hear.
"Same goes for you gramps!" Jamie responded, feeling some of his old spunk return.
"Oh that's it YOU'RE DEAD!!!" Marduk shouted.
The fight proceeded after Marduk's threat. Jamie had fought enough incredibly strong demons to realize that what they had in strength, they lacked in speed…hopefully Marduk was the same way. Jamie began the fight by unleashing a relatively simple combination. With his back leg, he set loose a snap kick, followed by a roundhouse, then a crescent kick. Jamie landed each attack, but Marduk only grunted in response…instead of grimacing in pain, the behemoth only looked annoyed...Jamie might as well have been attacking Marduk with trained fleas.
After Jamie landed the crescent kick, Marduk pivoted backwards and let loose a devastating back kick. Jamie, thinking he could block the kick was sorely mistaken. The kick shattered Jamie's guard, and flung him into a phone booth. Jamie heard the devastating crack of glass and he involuntarily sank to his knees. The Nephilim meant to get up, but found that his legs wouldn't let him. The countdown ended, and Jamie had lost the first round!
Mentally cursing himself for being so stupid, Jamie vowed that he would wipe that annoying smirk off of Marduk's face.
"What's the matter little boy? Can't keep up with the big dogs?"
"Sorry, I was distracted by your disturbing body hair, and sickeningly tight bike shorts."
That did it; Marduk screamed in rage and flew at Jamie. Because he was so angry, Marduk kept growing careless with his random swipes at the Nephilim. Jamie dodged the grabs easily, and soon backed himself against a store's window.
"I've got you now!" Marduk shouted.
Jamie smirked at the Neanderthal, and ducked the blow intended for his face. Marduk's fist slammed into the glass, shattering it…and cutting his hand pretty bad in the process. In his crouched position, Jamie swung his leg out, and tripped Marduk onto the harsh concrete. The wind knocked out of the fighter, Jamie had won round two!
As soon as the final round was announced, Marduk flew at Jamie, knocking the Nephilim harshly onto his back. Marduk straddled Jamie's chest, and began attempted to pound Jamie's face into a thick paste with his huge, television crushing hands. Marduk landed one blow, and it left Jamie reeling, and screaming in pain. He couldn't take another one like that again. Marduk grinned at him before raising his bloodied fist.
"Say goodnight bitch!" He crowed.
His fist flamed down, but at the last second Jamie grabbed hold of it and squeezed it with both hands…focusing all of his Nephilim strength into his fists. Marduk grimaced in pain, as Jamie squeezed Marduk's hand as hard as he could. Finally, Jamie heard the ear shattering snap of Marduk's hand, as the bones in it began to break…one by one…
"Good night bitch!" Jamie responded with a smile.
He planted his foot into Marduk's chest, and, flung him off of him. Marduk flew into the phone booth next to the one that Jamie had crashed into…this time though, the phone booth broke completely!
"And the winner of round three and this match…JAMIE PARKER!!!" The announcer shouted in his microphone.
Jamie got up and smiled, waving to his fans…he then remembered that Marduk lay injured in a pile. The Nephalim jogged over, and offered his hand to his fallen opponent.
"Don't touch me!" Marduk grumbled.
Jamie shrugged his shoulders indifferently, and worked the crowd a little more, before deciding it was time to leave. The Nephilim flopped back into the limo, and rummaged through his backpack, to check his cell phone. He found a new voice message on it:
"Jamie its Xiao! Listen, I tried to talk to Julia, but I couldn't find her anywhere! I've left a ton of messages on her phone, but she's not answering it! I asked Hwoarang where she was, and he told me that she went to the hospital right after her match! Look, it's almost sun down…you need to get to the hospital!! Please Jamie," Xiaoyu's voice sounded like it was on the brink of tears. "You need to save her, she's my best friend!"
Jamie immediately checked the time that the message was sent…over an hour and a half ago…Frantically, Jamie called Xiaoyu's room, then her cell phone…both clicked immediately over to their voice mails. With a heavy heart, Jamie realized that Ling had probably gone after Julia…even though he had expressly told her not too...she didn't seem the type to sit at home whenever trouble was brewing...she wanted to help, and be as proactive about it as possible. Such bravery was both commendable...and stupid.
"Shit!" Jamie cursed under his breath, and kicked the seat in frustration.
It looked like he was going to have to go into battle a lot sooner then he had planned…there was no time to get back to his room for weapons…or to formulate a strategy…he would have to act now…if anything happened to Ling or Julia then Jamie would never be able to forgive himself.
"Hey, is there anyway we can stop by the hospital?" Jamie asked the driver.
"Sorry sir, I'm only supposed to take you to the hotel and to the fighting arenas…I could get fired for taking you anywhere else."
What the hell kind of policy is that?! Screw it, I don't have time to contemplate the contracts of limo drivers…I've gotta get to Xiaoyu and Julia before those vamps turn them into the all you can eat buffet!
Jamie opened the door of the limo and jumped out, remembering to tuck and roll. The result was an incredibly painful somersault onto the crowded side walk. Ignoring the stares of the people on the street, the Nephilim ran as fast as he could towards the hospital…praying to whatever higher power that was out there, to please give him enough time to save his friends…hoping that this prayer of his, like so many others, would not fall upon deaf, uncaring ears…