Chapter11

They arrived at the arena late. It was 7:25 already, but when they entered there was no fight going on. They met Lee.

"What's going on here?" Kazuya asked him.

"Baek didn't show up."

"What do you mean, he didn't show up?"

"Like I said, he didn't show up. They waited 15 minutes. Then they declared Nina the winner."

"No!" Kazuya yelled.

"Well I am glad that she has won. But she has to fight against you next. If you win tomorrow that is."

"I hate fighting girls."

"As if you care!"

"Yes I do! Come on Lara, since there is nothing going to happen till 9, let's get outside."

****

And so the two of them went out and entered the garden around the arena. They had walked for a while, when Lara was beginning to have the feeling that someone was watching them. Suddenly Nina, Paul and another guy Lara had never seen before were standing in front of them. Nina held a gun in her hand. The unknown guy grabbed Lara before she could grab into her bag pack, while Paul watched Kazuya carefully.

"Ah, got you." Nina yelled.

"Nina, what do you want?" Kazuya asked her annoyed.

"Guess what I want... If I get you out of the way today Law will win the fight tomorrow. That's my ticket to the final. Baek was so nice and did not come today" she said with an evil smile.

"Nice plan you have there but it won't work."

"Why not." Nina replied angry.

"Because you won't get me out of the way today."

Nina motioned Paul to grab Kazuya and she then held her gun against his temple.

"Mishima, you are an arrogant bastard. If you make one more move you will have a bullet in your head." she threatened. Then she added: "And give me your car keys."

Lara stiffened. Why did she want his car keys? He didn't have them; she had them in her pocket. She hadn't returned them.

"No way." Kazuya said.

Nina hit his face with the gun. "Maybe this changes your mind?"

"Don't be ridiculous." he replied.

"Stubborn as always. Maybe we should search you."

"Fine, do that. I haven't got them. I have given them to Lee, his car got stolen, remember, and he needed a car right now." he lied.

"Ah yes, his car got stolen, right Paul?" she grinned at him.

"So sorry about that car." Paul said with a nasty smile.

"What do we do with them now, Nina?" said the other guy.

"So sad we can't kill Mishima, but his father will kill us if we take this pleasure from him. Tie them together and hide them in the little shed over there." she said pointing to what looked like a cabin with garden maintenance stuff. "He just has to stay there till tomorrow after 9. We will take care of his brother now." she continued.

****

They tied Kazuya and Lara and brought them to the shed. They didn't notice Lara's bag, or they didn't care, since they forgot taking it away. Nina used handcuffs to tie Kazuya to a strong drainpipe. The other guy tied Lara to the wall next to him. Then they left.

"Damn, that bitch..." Kazuya said. "Sorry..."

"Exactly the word I was looking for." Lara replied.

Kazuya pulled at the handcuffs a couple of times, struggling in anger. Soon he had to realise that he couldn't get out of this situation, the drainpipe would hold.

"This is just great." he cursed and kicked the pipe. "Chaolan is such an idiot... Falling for Nina. I can't believe it. If she wouldn't have had that gun, I would have broken her neck."

"Fortunately our friends are pretty stupid. They left me my bag."

"Why, do you have a pair of scissors?"

"Ehm, Kazuya, there is something I have to tell you. I am not just a simple archaeologist..."

"I know. I had a look at one of your books today."

"You did!?"

"Harmless little girl you were trying to play for us."

"Don't be angry with me..."

"I am not."

"Anyway. I got an army knife in my bag pack." he paused for a moment. "And a pair of HK USP Match. Your handcuffs will be no match." Lara added.

"Lara, I love you. Damn, are they stupid to leave a girl like you with her bag." he said.

"Can you reach it, because I can't." she said.

"Turn around, I can try."

He tried to reach Lara's bag pack and with some effort they finally managed to get it off Lara's back. It fell onto the floor but now Lara could reach it easily. She grabbed the knife and cut her ropes. She then cut Kazuya's ropes so only the handcuffs were left. She took out one of her trusted weapons.

"Look away." she said to him.

And then with one clean shot she freed his right wrist.

"Would you prefer to do the other one yourself or do you trust me?"

"Of course I trust you." he replied.

She aimed again and freed his other wrist as well. Kazuya got up.

"Come on, Lara, we have to stop them."

They tried to get out of the hut but Nina had locked the door.

"Damn, I bet she has placed a chain around the door." Lara said.

"Step aside; I will try to kick in the door."

"No, no, you need your strength for the fight against Law tomorrow. I have a better idea. Do you see the little window up there? Help me to climb up. I will break it and climb out. Then I can shoot the padlock from outside."

"You are a genius, Lara."

"That's my job."

Lara got her guns out and shot the window from below. Then Kazuya lifted her up. Lara pulled some shards out of the frame and then climbed through. A minute later Kazuya heard a shot and then Lara opened the door.

"Come on, let's go." she said to him.

****

They ran to the spot where Kazuya had parked the car. Just in time to see Nina and Paul who was holding Lee, arrive. The other guy wasn't there.

Lara threw Kazuya one of her guns.

"Hold it right there Williams." Kazuya said aiming at her.

Nina turned towards him: "Or?"

"Or you will get one or two bullets in your head young lady." Lara said.

"Oh, the girl raises her voice." Nina mocked her.

Lara aimed at her and shot. The bullet touched Nina's leg. She yelled in pain.

"Oh I am sorry; did that hurt? Does that ruin your plans?"

"Bitch" Nina yelled.

Lara stepped closer.

"What did you say?" she said with a threatening voice.

Meanwhile Kazuya aimed at Paul.

"Paul, let him go." Kazuya said.

Paul was not as stupid as Nina and let Lee go. Lee reacted and kicked Paul. Paul saw that the situation was not likely to turn in his favour and got away. Nina was now alone.

"Step away from the car." Kazuya said to her.

Nina turned; saw his weapon aimed at her, turned to Lara whose weapon was aimed at her as well. She raised her hands and stepped away. Lee grabbed her.

"You betrayed me." he said angry.

"Chaolan, don't forget your fight. You have only half an hour left." Kazuya reminded him "Let me take care of Nina."

He grabbed her very unfriendly and pulled her along towards the arena. Nina struggled, but the more she struggled the more Kazuya tightened his grip. In the arena they met Baek, the young man who was supposed to fight against Nina.

"Nina, you have been disqualified from the tournament." Baek said.

Kazuya pushed Nina towards him.

"She's yours." he said to Baek.

He looked back at Kazuya his eyes narrowing. "Don't expect to reach the final." he growled.

Kazuya looked at him, his eyes glowing dangerous, but he didn't say anything. He turned away from Baek and towards Lara instead.

"Let's go find our seats; we don't want to miss Lee's fight."

****

They went inside and sat down in the front row.

"Your father is not here tonight?" Lara asked Kazuya.

"No, he doesn't care about any of us. He will only be here when he has to fight and that's tomorrow."

"Aren't you afraid that you might have to fight against him in the final?"

"No, I hope I will."

His voice had changed and he sounded really scary. Lara decided to let the subject go. She didn't want to find out any more about the hostility in the Mishima family just yet. She sat next to Kazuya quietly and watched the fight between Michelle and Lee. Michelle was a young Indian girl, she was wearing a brown leather outfit and her hair which was black and had the same length as Lara's was tied back in two braids. She looked really beautiful, too beautiful to be in such a tournament Lara thought. She was no match for Lee. Kazuya's brother was stronger than the girl. Michelle had gotten so far in the tournament, because she was much quicker than most of her opponents, but Lee could keep up with her easily. It wasn't long before the girl had to give up.

"Just as I've suspected, Lee has to fight against Heihachi next. I don't expect him to win. Come on, let's go. We can meet him outside." Kazuya said.