Author's Note: No this story did not end with Chapter 40 :-)
Keep in mind, this is also a Tekken Crossover, and that means: nobody will go home till the final fight has been fought. And we want to see what happens with Lara and Kazuya now, don't we? So here comes the next chapter, I was well into it and then decided to split it up. It might be a while until I update the next Chapter, unless I decide to split it again.


Chapter 41

Lara returned to her bike. She put the helmet on and mounted it, when her eyes fell on a dark jeep parked on the other side of the road.
"Damn." she mumbled recognizing it as Miyoko's car.
She started the bike and drove quickly onto the road. When she looked back, she saw the car following her. Lara drove faster and sneaked through a gap between the cars in front of her. The car couldn't follow her, but she knew this was probably just a matter of time, she couldn't get rid of the followers that easy. And so Lara took the next opportunity to leave the road. She drove the bike right through a park. The paths leading across didn't allow for a car to follow so Miyoko stopped his car at the side. He got out and cursed.

Lara returned to the hotel where she found Bryce sitting in her room at the computer.
"I thought you wanted to go down to the pool?" she asked him.
"I have a sore throat." he replied.
"Oh no, don't get ill now." Lara said.
"Don't worry." he replied. "But tell me what happened in the museum."
"That's a long story."
"I have time."
Lara told Bryce what had happened.
"Why do you always attract the strange guys?"
"I don't know. Actually it might be the other way around."
"You are a hopeless case.
"Thank you so much. Very charming." she said and let herself drop onto the bed.

Lee stepped into the dojo to practice. He hadn't expected to come this far in the tournament, he had expected to lose in the fight against his father, but since he didn't show up Lee moved into the final. And now he had to fight against his brother - again. It would be the third time for him. Lee had lost the previous two fights. He didn't expect to win this time but he had sworn to himself to make it as difficult as possible for Kazuya. With a creak Lee pushed open the huge wooden double doors that lead into the main part of the dojo and stepped through. His eyes met Kazuya's. Lee took one step back. He could see red flames burning inside his eyes and Lee knew what that meant. After almost 20 years of living with Kazuya he had learned how to handle him, but there was no way he could handle this creature. How did one deal with the devil. The red flaming eyes were fixed on Lee sending shivers down his spine. Lee knew only one sensible thing to do, retreat.
"I think I better leave." he said and got out of the dojo as quickly as possible.

Lara was lying on her bed staring at the ceiling. Bryce had tried to convince Lara to do something for the last thirty minutes. But everything he had suggested had been ignored by her.
"Lara, I have never known you like this. What's the matter?"
"Nothing. I just don't want to go shopping, or swimming or sight-seeing..."
"You are thinking about him?!" Bryce asked.
"No! I am not!" Lara replied angry. She grabbed a book and sat down on the couch.

Kazuya found his brother sitting in a chair by the pool. He had finally managed to quiet the raging demon within him, but now he really felt the need to go swimming, to jump into the fresh cold water. Lee sat in his chair enjoying the September sun with a book in his hands. Alarmed he looked up when he noticed Kazuya approaching. But he relaxed, when he noticed that Kazuya seemed to be himself again, that the demon was gone for the time being. Kazuya threw his telephone on the table and placed his towel on a chair. Lee looked up from his book. "One day you will drown your phone in the pool."
"Shut up and read your book."
Kazuya took off his T-Shirt and threw it onto the chair as well. Then he jumped into the water. "Hey, thanks but I had a shower today." Lee complained about the splashing.
Kazuya ignored him. He swam a few rows and then climbed out again. He grabbed his towel and wrapped it around him. Then he sat down on the chair next to Lee. Lee looked up from his book. He noticed that Kazuya was playing with his telephone as if deciding if he should make a call or not.
"You probably won't tell me, but what's the matter?"
"Nothing."
Kazuya slammed his phone onto the table, let the towel drop and put his T-Shirt back on.
"What..." Lee began but was interrupted by Kazuya.
"None of your business." he said harshly.
"So let me guess. She found out the awful truth?"
"If you already know it, why do you ask?"
"How did she react?"
"Get lost."
"That's what she said?"
"That's what I say to you!"
Kazuya picked up his phone again.
"I don't know what I have ever done to you. Why do you treat me like that?"
"Chaolan, spare me this shit. Don't get on my nerves." he said and started dialling on his phone. But a moment later he threw in on the table again.
"Could you please make up your mind." Lee said.
"Leave me alone." Kazuya yelled and slammed his fist on the table. The phone was catapulted off the table and into the pool.
"I think you should have called her." Lee commented while Kazuya fished his phone out of the water.
"Excellent. That has had it." Kazuya said angry, holding up the dripping phone.
"You break more phones than noses." Lee said to him.
"Shut up and give me your phone." Kazuya said holing out his hand.
"Forget it. You don't trust me with cars. I don't trust you with telephones."
Kazuya cursed and walked towards the house.

Kazuya entered the house and walked upstairs to have a shower. He was angry at himself, angry that Lara had found out the truth about him like this, angry that he had broken his phone and angry that everybody wanted to make his life difficult, especially his father. The cold shower wasn't very effective in calming down his rage. He closed his eyes and rested his head against the wall. The water was running down his back. Suddenly he clenched his fist and slammed it against the wall. A crack appeared in the light-blue marble tiles. He cursed. Why was it so hard to control his rage? It was getting harder and harder all the time.
He stepped out of the shower and put on a bathing robe. He stepped in front of the mirror. He didn't need to look at the reflection to know that his eyes had that certain glow again. He closed them and concentrated. It took a lot of effort to push the demon back, but when he opened his eyes again the glowing had faded. After he was done with his hair Kazuya left the bathroom.
He went into his room and looked into the wardrobe. After going through his whole collection of navy-blue, dark-blue, purple and black suits he finally decided that he wanted to wear a jeans. He picked a dark blue one and took an ice-blue shirt to go with it.
All the time Kazuya kept thinking about Lara. Although he didn't want to admit it, Lee was right. He had to call her. He didn't know if he could ever repair the damage that was done, but he wouldn't give up without at least trying. He walked downstairs, grabbed the nearest phone and called Lara's number.

Lara's telephone rang. She picked up and found Hilary on the other end of the line.
Good morning, Miss Croft." he said.
"Hilary. How often do I have to tell you to call me Lara? Besides we are in Japan. It's 4 o'clock in the afternoon."
"I am sorry, Miss Croft. I forgot. I am just calling to tell you that Jean Yves has called here yesterday. He asked for you. I told him that you are in Japan."
At that moment Lara's phone made a beeping noise indicating that someone else was calling.
"Ooops, someone else is trying to reach me as well." she said. "But whoever it is, I will call him back later."

Kazuya walked up and down the hall impatiently. That must have been the fourth ringing and Lara still hadn't answered. "Come on Lara, pick up!" he said loud. "I know you are angry with me but answer the damned phone." But she didn't answer. Kazuya slammed the phone onto the cupboard and cursed.

"So what did Jean Yves want?" Lara asked.
"He said he has a job for you. They are starting an expedition to go looking for the legendary mummy cat of Cheobs II. He said you were interested in that."
"Yes. I am. Very much." Lara said excited. "So when do they start?"
"That's the problem." Hilary replied. "He said that they have found someone who will fund this expedition but it starts Monday in a week. I told him I didn't know if you could make it."
"I have to. I cannot miss this chance." she said. "I think I am done here anyway. Expect us back on Tuesday, Hilary. I will call Jean Yves and tell him when I can come to Egypt. Thank you, Hilary. Was there anything else?"
"No, Miss Croft. That was all."
"Ok, then I will see you on Tuesday."
She said goodbye and hung up.
"You are ready to go home?" Bryce asked surprised.
"Yes. Why not?" Lara said to him.
"I thought you and Kazuya..."
"That's over." she replied. "And not let me see who has called while I was speaking to Hilary.