"…Moshi-moshi, Asuka-chan wa hanashidesu… aa? Oto-san! Daijobu ka? …Demo, anata wa… un… wakatta. Ja ne."

She turned to Jin with a worried expression as she put her cell away. "It's my dad… he's awake. I have to go check on him. Would you drive me over, if that's okay?" Jin nodded. They had both been allowed access to the tournament proper, so they were allowed to leave. Besides, he had to head for home anyway- training and all that. Though he was concerned about Asuka's current state…

He had heard about how her father had been hospitalized by a fighter from China, who was supposed to end up in the tournament. He had not seen anyone from China, save for Ling and Lei, so it posed a problem at the moment. However, it didn't really matter now, as long as Asuka's father was all right. Still, on the way to the hospital, he noticed that she was in a pensive state… as if she were mulling something around in her head.

"Are you all right? You seem troubled about something." She looked at him and smiled. "I'll tell you about it later… don't worry about it for now. Let's just get there so I can see my father."


Kanto The Slayer presents a Tekken song fiction…

Caught Up!

Phew, that was hard. Doing romanji is a tough business… I only hope I got it right. In any case, while the voting is going on, I decided to write this little incept in between the prelims and the q-finals. Hope you guys like it. Oh, and keep those polls ticking. I need more emanations!

Translation comes at the end of the fic.

Disclaimer: Um… yeah, this isn't mine. Sorry.


She walked towards the receptionist's desk and asked for her father's room number. They stated that he was still in the ICU, but she could visit if she wanted. She nodded and walked in the direction that she was pointed in. Jin, in the meantime, was outside, waiting in the car.

In his exact words- "It's not my place to go in there. Besides, I'm sure that you guys have a lot of catching up to do. Please, go in without me. I'll be right here when you get back."

She nodded and headed inside. About half an hour later, after constantly getting the wrong room, she finally arrived. Seeing her father in such a state almost made her collapse to the floor. She almost couldn't take the stress- but she walked forward hesitantly anyway.

His black hair was as it always was- deep and with a natural sheen, with a few strands of grey here and there. His mustache was his most handsome feature, or so Asuka thought. But right now, his deep, searching brown eyes seemed to look straight through her- as if he could see everything that had been happening to her in the past few months.

"F… father? I'm here, like you asked…"

He mustered a smile, genuinely glad that she was all right. "Hello, Asuka… my Asuka-chan. I'm sorry you have to see me like this. This is not exactly the way I expected things to turn out… The man who fought us was overwhelming…"

She shushed him. "It's gonna be fine now. You'll be all right. Don't worry about him- I'll take care of him for you. Have they been taking care of you?" He nodded. "The staff has been wonderful. If I didn't know any better, I'd say that I was at home, in my own bed."

Asuka smiled, tears threatening to spill over. He took everything in stride like this- he was so much stronger than she was in spirit, and she knew it. "Good. I wouldn't want to have to make trouble for anyone… and you know I would, in a heartbeat."

Asuka's father chuckled deeply, closing his eyes again. He motioned for her to come closer, and as she did so, he asked her a question- one that surprised her. "Now then… will you tell me what's wrong? You've had this odd look in your eyes since you walked into the room."

She genuinely tried to answer his question in the lightest way possible… but found that she couldn't. So she came right out and said it. "Someone told me that… that I wasn't a Kazama. That I didn't look like my own family… I don't see why someone would say that! I just don't see why anyone would be so cruel, and dishonor you like that!"

He opened his eyes slowly, and saw that she was indeed crying. He sighed to himself- she would not like this news any more than what this person said, but she had the right to know. "You want to know if it's true, don't you?"

She looked up at him and nodded slowly. "Yes… I didn't believe him at first, but…"

He nodded to himself. She would've questioned it, sooner or later. "I have a lot to tell you, then. I believed that you would notice, sooner or later, that you were different in some way…"

She was in shock. It was true? Then that meant that… "What? I don't understand-"

"…And I am about to explain. Listen carefully."


Jin lay asleep in the car, listening to his headphones. He wondered when Asuka was going to resurface from the hospital… he had to get ready for the next phase of the tournament, as did she. But still, something within him wanted to be here when she returned. He felt that this was important for both of them…

The Devil within him was getting restless as well. Asuka had the odd effect of keeping that side of him in check, and now that she was away… it stirred. Jin shifted in his sleep, unconsciously trying to restrain himself. But the blood had become stronger- he didn't know how long he could fight it this time.

Asuka… please…


"No one knows who your real parents are, or if you even have any," he said as he began recounting the events. "You were simply at the door one day- just an infant. I couldn't just leave you there, so I brought you inside. I had looked everywhere for your real parents- any clue I could find, any trace or link. In the end, there was nothing."

Asuka's eyes were full of shock and sadness. Kazuya's words came flooding back to her…

If you're a cousin, you should at least look something like your aunt, right?

You've never questioned once… never looked in the mirror and wondered why you look different?

I know Jun better than anyone…

She closed her ears, as if to ward off the voices in her head. She didn't want to hear anymore of him- she didn't know everything, but neither did he. He had no proof… Asuka's father looked at her and asked if she was all right. She opened her eyes again, and noticed that it looked like she was ignoring him entirely.

"Y-yeah, I'm fine… please, keep going."

He closed his eyes again and picked up from where he left off. "I wanted to put you up for adoption- I couldn't think of anything else to do at the time. At least you deserved to be with someone who could take care of you properly. But then, I began to notice something… and the longer we were with each other back then, the more I understood it."

Asuka was now intrigued. This may explain a few things… she leaned in and listened intently, not saying anything until he was finished.

"You have a gift, Asuka… I can't say what it is, even now, but you have a powerful spirit because of it. If you were not raised properly, I feared that this power would be used for ill. So I took you in. I even had someone teach you the basics of the family aikido, once you were at the proper age. You learned at an amazing speed, and had a talent for it. I remember the bright look in your eyes- you always wanted to know more," he said with a fond smile.

She closed her eyes as a picture formed in her mind. Yes, she wanted to know everything back then, just like now. Everything was starting to come together for her, and her shock turned to acceptance. This explained everything- the training, the fighting, and the sheer, unfathomed power that she had felt when she sparred with Jin… everything.

He finally continued. "Over time, I decided to teach you myself… and that's when something awakened. Once you started getting into the entire theory about harnessing your energy and focusing your spirit, you became even stronger. By the time you had turned sixteen, you were an outright master. I was so proud."

She smiled gracefully at him. She could still see the look of pride in his eyes, even now. Tears began to well up again- she had to hold them back, just for a little longer. "You've come so far… done so much… and now you have to hear all this. I'm sorry for everything."

She shook her head. It wasn't his fault at all. "No, it's all right. You did what you thought was right. Besides, you raised me… you took care of me… you taught me… If that doesn't make you my father, then I don't know what does. But… where do I go from here?"

He smiled. "Anywhere your heart takes you. You have to make your own choices and decisions now- don't let this stand in your way. Go and do whatever it is you want to. I'm still behind you, even now." She knew exactly what she wanted, and hearing her father- well, he wasn't exactly her father, but who's keeping score- say such a thing took a burden off of her back. She held him close and kissed his cheek.

"You don't have to tell me twice… thank you for everything."


Jin struggled throughout the dream he was having. Everything burned- it was so damned hot. Why was everything on fire again? He couldn't understand… then, the scene became clearer… his house…. his mother's house.

It was that night.

His eyes widened in shock- what was this all about? Who was responsible this time? Someone was making him relive all of it, everything. Then, he saw them- two black wings spreading amidst the flames, as if an angel of death had come to collect. And it was someone who looked just like him. He knew this scene very well.

"Can't you let me rest? I've had enough of you!"

"You have forgotten… haven't you? The one who did this to us… both of them… they must die. Have you forgotten your mission?"

Jin's eyes widened. Images flashed through his head, making him reel in pain... of Heihachi, shooting him in the forehead; Kazuya's voice echoing within his mind, and then seeing him before his eyes, wanting so much to kill him, but not being able to. Ogre… he could feel him, somewhere. He was still alive, the one that killed his mother… Yes, they still had to die, all of them.

"I have… not forgotten."

The Devil smirked. "Good. That's good, then. Perhaps you and I could be partners in this… I am your destiny, after all." Jin's eyes narrowed. He still didn't trust him… the Devil within him was known to be one of trickery and deception. Jin knew that he would do anything to be reborn through him.

The demon could sense this, and walked forward before Jin could have a chance to do anything else on the matter. Suddenly, he was stopped cold by another force- something entirely different altogether... something that was his opposite. It was as if a circle of protection were around him suddenly…

"No… NO! Dammit, who is it this time? Jun's memory was erased, the moment that you did not kill Heihachi! What is the meaning of this?" He took a moment to think, then suddenly came to the startling conclusion… and yet, he smiled cunningly. "That bitch… she has it as well… and she now knows how to use it… very well, then. You've been spared again, Kazama."

He dissipated in a flurry of feathers, and the flames died down, finally. Jin collapsed onto the ground, exhausted from the strain of holding the Devil Gene at bay…


And when he woke up, she was there.

Earlier, Asuka was walking back through the halls of the hospital, her resolve to find who put her adoptive father in the hospital strengthened. The only thing was that hoping that she could find her way back out again. But as she was navigating her way through the maze of hallways, she felt it. Something bad was happening somewhere… she didn't know what exactly, but it was a strong presence, and destructive as well.

She knew that sheer destruction from anywhere…

Jin! No!

Suddenly, she knew exactly where it was. Her body reacted without thought, moving down just the right hallways, at the right turns, as if she had known the layout of the building beforehand. When she reached the final stretch, she broke out into a run, apologizing as she went along. As she reached the car, she threw open the driver's side door and knelt before Jin, who was having one hell of a nightmare, or so it seemed.

As she placed her hands on his shoulders, she decided to do something very risky… something that may very well get her killed, right now. She stretched her energy out to his, and all at once, she saw what was happening in the dream. Jin was about to give himself over to that… that thing, and somehow, she knew that he was being tricked into it.

She had thought this demon cute; wanted to be friends? What a wake-up call…

I've been fooled.

She was angry at this, and anger gave her strength.

No more! I'm not letting you out again!

She had to find something- anything that could help. She searched his mind, just to the point where she couldn't be detected, and found a thread of power. It was something similar- something that was weaker now than it used to be, but it was exactly the same as hers. Well then, it was time to wake this other side up again and put it back into the fight.

She began feeding him her power directly, and all at once, as the darker half of Jin advanced, he was stopped. A circle of protection that covered a three foot radius surrounded him. She almost laughed as the demon was cursing everything he could, and then smirked cunningly as he found out that she was behind it.

That's right- go away. This is what you get for messing with those I care about.

However, as she lost her focus, she found herself entirely drained, and almost collapsed on top of Jin… if he hadn't caught her by the shoulders. A tired, yet grateful smile was on his face as well.

"You used it… how did you learn so fast?"

She smiled back. "I don't know… I just felt that you were in trouble, and it came out by itself. I guess I have a knack for these kinds of things. But what really sucks is the fact that I'm really wasted now… I could use some sleep."

Jin nodded and carried her over to the passenger seat before closing his door and starting the engine. With a somehow satisfied sigh, she spoke her last few words before becoming too tired to even speak. "Jin… I have something to tell you…"

Jin shook his head. "Save it. We could both use some sleep right about now… I'll hear you out when we get back to my house."

Not even having the strength to answer, Asuka only nodded, and fell asleep in the seat.


Chapter 11: Interlude 1 (Bedside Confessions)

Yeah, you heard me, interlude number one. There are a few more of these in store that will happen outside of the tournament, in-between the stages. That means that the next one will be after the Q-Finals. This one goes out to Phoenix the Eternal- you're my unofficial super hero, dude.

And it's also dedicated to those who said that this pairing wouldn't work entirely- happy now? It's not called an Alternate Universe for no reason, y'know, so read this and be somewhat satisfied.

One more thing- Keep voting! The next stage will not commence until I get rid of ten people, and you all get to decide who stays and who goes!


Translation from the opening:

"Hello, Asuka speaking… huh? Dad! Are you all right? (Father speaking) …But, you're… (Father speaking) yeah… (Father speaking)…understood. See you later."

That's the gist of it. I hope it's correct.

Ja ne.