I don't own Tekken.

Shadowsin: I always thought about Kazuya as a man who hates showing his emotions, but deep inside he has a soft side…the problem is, he never shows it :P

Thanks for your review…keep going with TOF.

Lady-Eliwen: Don't worry everything will be fine…but Hwoarang and Jin will have to show they want to survive! You'll understand what I'm saying when you read this chapter! Thanks for the review. I am enjoying my holidays, but it's almost over! (Cries a lot). And then it will start the last «round» for University students…I'm so scared because I really want to pass this last year! Good luck for you!

Krappkarmin: I knew you would like this, I'm so happy! Thank you very much for reviewing and you don't need to thank me…I said I would read your story and I will! By the way, you're doing great! I hope you like this chapter too…I have a feeling that you will!

Miss Sweetness: I'm really happy that you're enjoying these chapters…Thanks for reviewing and continue with your story because it's great. Take care.

Chapter 44

Survivors

Nina and Lee had returned to the G Corporation base to spend the night, and now it was time to think about what to do.

-'The Army is there…I think we have to wait.'-Lee said.

-'We can be Jin's last chance!'-Nina replied.

-'I know…I have men there to see how things are going with the rescue teams!'

-'Nina are you sure Kazuya, Jun and Heihachi are really dead?'-Kira asked.

-'Yes.'

In Fuji-Nion the ashes were accumulating on the floor and the ghost town was now really scary. Even so, Ling, Julia and Baek had gone there with Lei under the Army's orders.

There's was no sign of survivors and Julia and Ling were terrified when they went to the crater again and saw the solidified lava covering the lake. There was destruction all around and they realised that no human could've survived that.

-'Their only chance was the lake, but since it's completely covered…I don't know if they escaped…'-the leader of the rescue team announced.

-'We understand!'-Baek said.

-'What if they fell on the lake but managed to get out before the lava covered the lake?'-asked Ling.

-'In that case, we'll find them soon…I promise!'

In the meanwhile Hwoarang and Jin woke up; they were in a cave again. It was dark, hot and wet. They soon realised they were in an underwater cave.

-'How the hell did we get here?'-Jin asked.

-'We jumped to the lake, remember?'

-'Oh…yeah…where's my mum and dad?'-Jin asked suddenly.

-'I don't know…'

Jin tried to feel their presence but he failed. He couldn't feel anything. There were two possibilities. Kazuya and Jun could have died, or they could be far away from there. For some reason, Jin believed in the first possibility.

-'We have to get out of here!'-Hwoarang said.

-'I don't see how!'

-'We just have to turn back, get in the water and leave this lake!'

Jin didn't answer. He was thinking about his parents.

-'Hey, are you listening Kazama?'

-'What?'

-'What's wrong…are you ok?'

-'My parents are dead and you ask me if I'm ok?'

-'I'm sorry for your parents! I don't want to be cruel or anything, but your mother said she was dying…so…'

-'I had the chance of a lifetime…to be with my parents again, and now they're gone!'

-'It's not your fault!'

-'I know…I wish Heihachi is burning in Hell right now!'

-'Look, I don't know about you, but I want to leave this cave…'

-'We're wounded, weak and we have no idea how to get out of here, I guess it's the end for us!'

In some way Jin was right. The lake was covered with lava and they were in a small cave. Soon they would have troubles breathing, because the lack of oxygen. Besides, no one knew where they were, so there was almost no chance that someone would find them.

But Hwoarang wasn't willing to die in that place. He was weak due to the blood lost and the fact that he didn't eat in many hours, but he would never give up without a fight.

-'We only have a few hours left…'-Jin said.-'Soon I'll be with my parents!'

-'Shut the fuck up, you idiot! We are not going to die! I still have many things to do! I have to kick your ass…and to be with someone!'

-'I'm losing too much blood…plus I don't have any future!'

-'What about Ling?'

-'What about her?'

-'She's waiting for you!'

-'I'm sure she doesn't want to be with a monster like me!'

-'You don't seem a monster to me…more like a stupid jackass!'

-'Ling is better off without me!'

-'I told Julia I would come back, and I will…and I'll take you with me!'

Jin didn't listen to him anymore because he passed out again. Hwoarang noticed that and he moved towards him, to check his wounds.

He managed to clean their wounds and then he improvised some bandages with his own t-shirt. That way they would lose less blood and maybe they could find a way to leave that cave.

Two hours later Jin woke up. He was thirsty and hungry, but he was feeling a bit better.

-'You were right…the lake is completely covered with lava…there's no way out!'-Hwoarang said.

-'I'm sorry for you…'

-'Don't be…'

-'By the way, why did you turn back?'

-'I don't know…I couldn't leave you behind!'

-'You are an idiot, did you know that?'

-'Yes, I probably am…but I guarantee you that we're not going to die here!'

-'What are you talking about?'

-'I dived a few minutes ago…this isn't the only cave in the lake…there are probably bigger ones, with more oxygen!'

-'Jump from cave to cave will not save us!'

-'There must be a way out in one of these caves! We have to try…I thought you, more than anyone else, wanted to do the right thing!'

-'And I do!'

-'Then why are you willing to die without a fight?'

-'My life sucks! Can't you see that?'

-'Why? Your mother said it wasn't time for you to die…and your father said he was proud of you…you have a future and you can do the right thing by saving yourself…'

-'I was used and after all this, I still have the devil gene within me!'

-'That stupid gene is not responsible for your lack of confidence!'

-'Since when you're an expert in psychology?'

-'Since I want to get out of here fast!'

-'You may have motives to go back…but I just want to be with my mum and dad…'

-'That's really sweet! But what would they say if they saw you now?'

-'I don't care!'

-'Well I do…and they would say…«what a looser»!'

-'You're starting to get on my nerves!'

-'For what I've seen, I can say that your parents suffered a lot…but they wanted you to live…don't waste this chance!'

Jin closed his eyes. He didn't want to admit, but Hwoarang was speaking the truth. His father would never quit and his mother would want him to live and to be happy.

-'If only my father was here…I wanted to apologise to him!'-Jin said with tears falling down his face.

In the meanwhile, Lei had received orders to leave Fuji and to take the witnesses home.

-'We'll leave this afternoon…the rescue teams didn't find anything…I'm sorry!'-Lei said.

Everyone was expecting that, but to receive the news was painful, especially because they knew that the rescue teams would stop the search.

-'So what will we do now?'-asked Christie.

-'I have orders to take you home!'

-'You don't need to bother about me…'-Paul said.

-'We're going to the States! My father is waiting for us!'-said Law.

-'Ok…but keep in touch…'

-'Sure!'-Paul said.

After lunch, everyone was ready to leave.

Steve, Christie, Yuu, Miharu and Ling would go to Tokyo, as for Eijiro, Baek and Julia, they would return to Osaka.

The departure was filled with pain and sorrows. Julia and Ling hugged each other and they promised to keep in touch, but they also knew that would be quite painful.

TOKYO

Steve returned to his hotel and so did Christie. Both hotels weren't far from each other. They both promised to meet with Miharu, Yuu and Ling soon.

Miharu had her parents waiting for her in agony. They were worried sick since they heard the news from Fuji.

Ling returned to her apartment. It was still hard to believe that Jin was gone.

For Yuu, things were a bit more complicated. His father refused to take him back home, because he had gone to Fuji without his permission. Yuu managed to collect his things and he was forced to leave his house.

He asked Ling if he could stay with her for a while and she agreed, at least she wouldn't be alone, but even so, she couldn't stop crying that night.

Yuu felt sorry for her, but he knew he couldn't do anything.

EAST-OSAKA

The Tsunamis were quite excited when Eijiro, Baek and Julia arrived, just before the sunset. They had watched the news and they knew about the eruption in Mount Fuji. Hwoarang's absence was noticed, but Eijiro managed to find a good lie and so the Tsunamis believed that Hwoarang was with Jin and that they were preparing themselves for the ultimate bout between the two.

The worse part in their returning was to put a happy face and celebrate, when all they wanted to do was to be quiet.

Baek left the house when the sun was down. He needed a drink. Julia locked herself in her bedroom and Eijiro had to stay with the others, pretending to be happy, when he wasn't.

TOKYO

10th JULY 2013

For people who didn't know what had happened in Mount Fuji, that incident was just that, a simple incident. But things were very tense in the Army and Government.

Lei couldn't do anything on his own, but he was secretly collecting information to add to the Mishima case, and Ling and Julia's testimonies were very helpful.

Christie was meeting Steve in the lobby of his hotel because they had decided to pay a visit to Ling and the others.

-'So…no bodyguards today?'-she asked.

-'No…I can't spend the rest of my life running…'-he said.

-'You seem worried…'

-'It's hard to believe what happened.'

-'I know. I never thought I would find friends in this country, and I did.'

-'When will you go back to Brazil?'

'Some day…maybe next week or next month…and you? Are you going back home?'

-'Yes, probably…my parents are worried about me. My manager called me last night…she told me that they want to see me!'

'It's normal…I have to go back, to check on my grandfather too…he's sick!'

-'I'm sorry to hear that!'

-'Me too!'

-'This is the address Miharu gave me…'-Steve said outside Miharu's place.

An hour later, Yuu was telling them what had happened between him as his father. They were trying to forget what had happened, but it was hard.

It was almost night when they realised they had to go home. Yuu and Ling left because she said she was feeling tired.

-'I'll wait for you here!'-said Christie allowing Steve to have a minute alone with Miharu.

'When I came…all I wanted was to win this tournament to save my life…to get rid of my own problems…'-Steve said.

-'The Syndicate!'

-'Yes…how do you know?'

'Detective Wulong told us!'-Miharu answered.

'Then, I made friends and I met new people…I even discovered that my real mother is alive!'

-'It wasn't so bad after all…'

'No, it wasn't! Remember when I told you that I was sick and tired of goodbyes?'

-'Yeah…'

-'I was telling the truth!'

-'I believe you…it must be hard on you!'

'It is. That's why I decided that I don't want to say goodbye to you!'

-'What?'-Miharu asked embarrassed.

-'I don't know exactly what I feel, but I think I can say that I like you…more than I was suppose to like!'

-'What about Christie?'

'Christie is a good friend. She's amazing! I owe her big time! But she's not my type!'

-'What's your type?'

-'You are…I guess!'

Steve bent down and kissed Miharu, she didn't fight back.

-'Steve, I…'

-'Don't say anything…I have to go back to the U.K., but I promise we'll see each other again…'

'I believe you…and I really want to see you again.'

TOKYO

11th JULY 2013

When Christie woke up that morning she felt a presence in her room. She turned the light on and she saw Eddie.

She started crying immediately and she hugged him.

-'You are really stubborn, do you know that?'-he said.

-'Yeah, I know!'

-'Why did you have to come?'

-'I was here for you. Are you alright?'

-'Of course I am! Kusak told me you were going to enter the Iron Fist, didn't you know it was dangerous?'

-'Yes, but I'm fine!'

-'You could've died…like Jin and Hwoarang!'

-'No one found their bodies yet!'

-'I don't want to be cruel, but they're probably dead!'

'I hope you're wrong! By the way where have you been?'

-'Hiding…do you think it's easy to be me?'

-'What do you mean?'

-'I was the man who betrayed Heihachi Mishima! I'm marked for life!'

-'Heihachi is dead!'

-'But the Syndicate isn't! This will never end!'

-'Why didn't you tell me where you were?'

-'I couldn't involve you…and I'm here because I want you to go back to Brazil!'

-'I'll go if you come with me!'

-'I can't…'

-'My grandfather is sick…he's dying…he needs to see you!'

-'I saw what happened to you…and the others! I know that this will never end!'

-'How?'

'I was there…I entered the tournament with the name Martin Collins. You didn't recognise me because I didn't use capoeira when I was fighting and I was wearing a mask. Look, there are important people involved.'

-'You saw us…and you didn't help? What kind of friend are you?'

-'I wasn't sure about what was happening, and sometimes I lost your track. Whenever I saw you, you seemed alright…so I never interfered.'

-'Christ? You were there all that time! Why haven't you told me, it would be much easier!'-Christie said.-'It's unbelievable…'

-'I'm still hunted…I can't be seen here…'

-'Will you spend the rest of your life running?'

-'Before I came here…I was living a quiet life in El Salvador…I have a huge property there, with animals and workers. I like it!'

-'Well and while you live a good and quiet life, my grandfather is dying in a miserable Hospital! So, thank you very much for your support!'

-'What can I do? Do you want money? I have money…I can give it to you!'

-'Not even all the money in the world can save him!'

-'In that case…I'm sorry…I really am.'

-'Please…come with me and see for yourself! That's all I ask you!'

-'Christie? Are you there?'-Steve asked outside her room.

-'Steve Fox?'-Eddie asked.-'Are you dating him?'

-'No. He's a friend…we were both caught in the middle of this…and we have common friends. Good friends!'

-'I'm glad you're not alone! Take care!'

-'Wait! Where are you going? And what about my grandfather? Will you let him die without saying goodbye?'

-'I'll keep in touch…just leave this country and I'll meet you in Brazil…I promise!'

-'I'll meet you downstairs, Steve!'-Christie yelled.

She heard Steve leaving and then she said goodbye to Eddie.

-'I hope you keep your promise!'

-'I will!'

Christie had to let Eddie go, she knew he was right about being a marked man and about being hunted down by Heihachi men. He was also right about the Syndicate. Heihachi could have died but his organized crime network would never disappear, they would just have to choose another leader.

Steve was with her to say goodbye. He never liked goodbyes, but he owed her his life. If it wasn't for her he could have ended like Jin and Hwoarang.

-'Thanks again…and if you need something, just say it!'-Steve said.

-'You won't say goodbye to the others?'

-'I want to come back some day…so I'll see them, but you…it will be hard…I mean your going back to Brazil, right?'

'Yes…maybe next week…I don't know yet.'

-'My flight is tomorrow, and I just wanted to say thanks for helping even without knowing me very well!'

-'We're both fighters…so I guess you would've done the same for me!'

-'This was really a big mess…I won't forget this Iron Fist!'

-'Me neither!'

FUJI

12th JULY 2013

Hwoarang and Jin were having some problems breathing. Without food and water they would never survive, and Jin was losing too much blood.

'Alright that's it! Move your ass; we're leaving this cave this minute!'-Hwoarang said.

-'I can't move!'

-'I don't care…we're going even if I have to carry you!'

-'You go…'

-'No…we're going!'

Jin closed his eyes and remembered his childhood. It wasn't so sad after all. Kazuya wasn't always with him and his mother but once and a while they had good times. After that he had been treated like a prince in his grandfather's mansion. Everyone in the house loved him. He was such a nice kid, they all say.

Thanks to his mother memories he was able to control the devil gene in most of the times. Maybe Hwoarang was right and he did deserve another chance. A chance to be happy and a chance to make someone happy. And the person he wanted to be happy was Ling.

'Ok…lets go…but when we leave this place, I'm still going to kick your ass!'-Jin said trying to get up.

They were now, and for Hwoarang's relief, determined to live.

After a few minutes under water, they both found a bigger cave.

-'It's not so hot in here!'-Hwoarang said.

-'That's because we're wet!'-Jin replied.

-'Look, there's a tunnel…maybe there's a way out!'-Hwoarang suggested.

-'Lets have a look!'

-'Don't you want to rest a bit?'

-'Are you worried about me?'

-'No! I just don't want to carry you the rest of the way!'

-'I'm fine…'

After almost two hours walking, they both realised it wasn't so hot, so they were probably going away from the place they were before.

-'I think we're going the right way!'-Hwoarang said.

Jin didn't answer so Hwoarang turned back and found Jin on the floor. He had fainted from the blood loss and because they were walking for two hours. But at least now, they had hope.