Chapter10

Kazuya got up at 6:15, had a shower and got dressed. At the breakfast table he met Lee again.

"Good morning. Do you know anything about the red artefact dad has in his study?"

"No. Red artefact? What are you talking about? But I think it's wise not to know anything about it, if I know our father."

"Never mind."

"Can you give me a lift to the office?" Lee then asked.

"As long as you don't touch anything in my car. You have no luck with cars. You crash the Ferrari, the Honda gets stolen..."

"I know, thanks for reminding me. I hope I get the Honda back."

"Ok, hurry or I will leave you behind."

And so they drove to the Mishima Office building in town.

****

Lara got up at 9. She felt really good today. Although she had to admit, she was quite nervous, when thinking about the evening to come. What would happen with her and Kazuya, she asked herself. The first thing she did was call Downey in the museum.

"Lara, so good to hear from you. You have been really quiet lately. Are you still alright with the job?"

"I have begun it, I will end it." she said firmly.

"What is your situation?"

"We kissed."

"You did what?"

"You heard me."

"No, this is not right. Lara, there is something I should have told you a long time ago."

"What's that?"

"Kazuya Mishima..."

"What about him?"

"Well, he is quite dangerous..."

"I know, you said that before."

"You don't understand... There are rumours...."

"There are rumours everywhere. I prefer to trust my own judgement."

"People say that he has made a deal with the devil."

Lara had to laugh.

"And you believe that? Wait a moment, now I know what this Law was trying to tell me when he said 'I sided with the devil'. You are all crazy, you know that? You don't even know him..." she defended herself.

"I am not so sure if you know him either."

"Do I have to listen to this?"

"Lara, please don't be angry with me, I just wanted you to know that."

"I will get you the stone, then this is over for me." she replied.

She hung up. She had seen possessed people, Von Croy for example, they behaved strangely, there was nothing wrong with Kazuya she told herself. No sign that he wasn't himself. Downey's comment had completely ruined her mood.

****

It was still some time till Kazuya would pick her up. So Lara lay on her bed reading the book about the Stone of Eternity again. She needed to get it from Heihachi without Kazuya noticing that she had something to do with it. She could do that, had done it before. Hide under a mask, don't leave any traces.

****

At 4:30 Lara got dressed. She got a pair of blue trousers and a white shirt out of the wardrobe. She packed spare clothes into her bag. She added the usual stuff, guns, maglite and a knife and then she went down to the hall. She sat there till Kazuya arrived at 5.

He said hello and kissed her on the cheek.

"The fight between Baek and Nina will not start until 7. Shall we drive around town till then? Want another go?" he said giving Lara the car keys.

"I warn you, I will take it home with me, when I go."

"You want to go home?"

"Not really."

And so they drove around. Kazuya showed Lara around and told her nearly everything there was to know about Tokyo.