Dangerously in Love

Author's Note

Disclaimer: I do not own the majority of the Characters used in this story. Lara Croft, Hilary and Bryce are copyright Eidos Interactive. Kazuya Mishima, Heihachi Mishima, Lee Chaolan and all the other million fighters I have used as sparing partners are copyright Namco. All the other silly names were made up by me or DaPete - if any of them are from Animes, he's the one to be blamed.

This is my second attempt in writing a Tomb Raider fan fiction. It is a crossover between Tekken and Tomb Raider, meaning that I borrowed some characters from Tekken for my story. For those who don't know: Tekken is a fighting game. You don't need any background knowledge of the game to read this story - all characters are introduced. Actually it might make it more interesting if you don't know anything.

This story takes place before Angel of Darkness and after the two movies. I will be using Bryce and Hilary from the movies.

This story also takes place before the first "King of Iron Fist" Tournament (for all unfamiliar with Tekken let's say before the first game). But since you are not familiar with the story anyway, don't bother.

Ah and one other thing: Lee Chaolan... there has been a huge discussion about him. I am one of the people who thinks that Lee is actually his surname; he has been called Mr. Lee repeatedly. That might be a hint that they have been inconsistent in the games and while they used some names like we know them ("Kazuya Mishima" for example) and have used the first name as fighting name, they might have changed this with Lee Chaolan. In the games his fighting name is just Lee, that's why I will use "Lee" when I speak about him. When the others speak to him, they might call him Chaolan.

*****

Chapter1

The sun began to set over the Croft Mansion in South England. The young woman with long brown hair braided down her back stored her guns away in a case. She had spent the last few hours at the shooting range. Weapons were one of her hobbies. As a tomb raider Lara Croft had been in countless life threatening situations and her knowledge of guns had saved her life more than once. As one who travelled the world she didn't have the time for a serious relationship, so the only love of her live was the pair of HK USP Match she used lately.

****

Lara went inside the Mansion and nearly bumped into her butler Hilary. Hilary was quite young for a butler. Winston the old family butler had retired two years ago. He couldn't keep up with Lara's lifestyle anymore. Neither could Hilary sometimes, but he was too young to retire, so he tried his best to survive; at least the payment was good. The only other person living in the house - well not living in the house actually, since he preferred his trailer in the garden, in front of the Mansion - was Bryce. Bryce was a computer specialist and had become Lara's close friend. But let's get back to our story.

****

"Good evening, Miss Croft." Hilary said. He was still a bit shaky but was recovering from his shock quickly.

"Good evening." she replied.

He offered his hand to take the gun case but Lara held on to it. Hilary gave up.

"What can I serve you tonight, Miss Croft?" he then asked.

She took a moment to think about that question. She wasn't really hungry.

"I was planning to watch the News and then go to bed early. You can bring me some sandwiches; Hilary." she said to him.

"As you wish, Miss Croft" he said and disappeared into the kitchen.

Lara went into the living room and turned on the TV. There was an archaeological report on. She regretted that she had missed the beginning. She looked at her watch, then at the TV Magazine to learn that the report was only lasting for another ten minutes, which disappointed her.

In the report they were talking about a huge finding in Japan. An artefact called the "Stone of Eternity" had been found. Lara searched her mind, nothing came up. She had probably never heard of it, at least she didn't recall. The report said, that it was now safely stored in a Museum in Tokyo where it was now being displayed to the public.

She couldn't gather much more from the report, but she promised herself to find out more about it tomorrow. After eating her dinner, while watching the news, she went to bed.

****

The next day Lara had completely forgotten about the "Stone of Eternity". She had sat in her study reading a book about Greek Mythology all morning. When the phone rang she picked up the receiver.

"Hello?" she said.

"Hello Lara, my dear." replied a familiar voice.

"Professor Downey, is that you?" Lara said recognising the voice on the other end of the line. "I haven't heard from you in a long time. What can I do for you?"

Professor Downey was an archaeology professor. Previously he had been working at Oxford University. He was a trusted friend who was always there to help Lara if she had a problem she couldn't solve alone.

"I need your help." He sounded desperate.

"You are lucky, I have no commitments at the moment" Lara replied. She was bored anyway; nothing had presented itself during the last few months.

"Lara, as you might know, or maybe not, I have moved to Japan. I am working for a Museum here in Tokyo. We recently got a very unique piece, the 'Stone of Eternity'".

At once Lara remembered what she had seen on TV. She slapped her forehead. How could she have forgotten about that?

"I saw a report about it on TV yesterday." she said excited.

"It was stolen a couple of days ago." Downey said sadly.

"WHAT? Stolen? Who would steal it and why? Do you know who it was?" Lara enquired.

"We have a hot guess. According to legend the stone will give it's bearer unbelievable powers. And we know one who is looking for that."

"Tell me more!" Lara was getting interested.

"His name is Heihachi Mishima."

"Never heard of him... I think." Lara said searching his mind for the name.

"He is a business man, incredibly rich and apparently incredibly cruel." Downey continued.

"Business? Oh wait, Mishima Financials, Tokyo? I have heard of them. What does he want the artefact for?"

"He is a collector and he seeks power." Downey explained. "Problem is we have no proof that he has stolen the stone, but we are pretty sure it was him. We need it back; it's not safe with him. It would be your task to retrieve it. But you won't be able to just march in and get out in one piece. Von Croy's Skyscraper is nothing compared to the Mishima fortress. He has a task force of a few hundred trained men. He himself is a feared martial arts fighter. If you are interested, there is a whole dossier on him, his family and his bodyguards."

"That sounds really interesting. Could you send that to me? I will see what I can do about coming to Tokyo. I need to book a flight since my private jet is undergoing an inspection. "

"I am really glad that you want to take this job, there is no one else who could do it."

"That's really flattering. But I am always in for some fun." Lara said.

"Ok, Lara, I will send you the information right away. Contact me when you have gotten a flight, I will then book a hotel for you. Goodbye, Lara."

"Goodbye, Professor."

Lara hung up. She put her Greek Mythology book back onto the shelf. Something better has presented itself.

****

Lara walked down into the kitchen where she met Hilary who was preparing lunch. Bryce sat in a corner typing away on his notebook. She took a carrot from Hilary's tray, all the time thinking about the task at hand.

'A rich business man who has stolen a dangerous artefact and I have to get it. I feel like James Bond', she thought 'But that's a welcome change.'

Hilary put the tray out of Lara's reach before she could nick any more. Bryce looked up from his computer.

"What's the matter, you are really quiet, Lara."

"Oh, nothing. I just got a phone call from Professor Downey; he has a job for me, in Japan...."

"Great." he said excited but calmed down at once "And I guess I have to stay here again?"

"Yes. It's far too dangerous; I have to do it alone." Lara said leaving the room.

She then grabbed the phone and called the airport to get a ticket to Tokyo. Surprisingly she got one for the next day, since someone had cancelled. Lara had just started packing her bags, when Hilary called her for lunch.

****

After lunch Lara went up to her study again and checked her computer for mail. There it was, an email from Professor Downey. It included the promised information on Heihachi Mishima, including a picture. It showed a man with black hair. It was standing up on both sides of his head making him look like he had little wings around his ears. 'Must be a manufacturer of hair gel' Lara thought with a grin on her face. A thin beard was curved around the man's upper lips. His eyes were narrowed in concentration making his massive eyebrows stick out even more.

Lara read the dossier thoroughly learning about Heihachi Mishima and his family.

"Wife deceased, two sons, one of them adopted. Mishima Corporation, monthly intake..." Lara read the numbers.

"What the hell... some companies are happy when they make that much money in one year."

She went over to reading the Martial Arts records.

"Heihachi Mishima: sixty-five victories, no defeats; Kazuya Mishima: twenty- nine victories, one draw, no defeats; Lee Chaolan: fifteen victories, two draws, five defeats - two against his brother. Ok, very impressive." Lara commented.

Sadly enough Professor Downey didn't have much more information.

"Well, I guess I have to find out the rest by myself." Lara said to herself.

She continued packing and called Downey to tell him that she had gotten a flight already.