Chapter 43
It was precisely 8 o'clock when Kazuya entered his office. He had a lot to do today since he had taken a day off yesterday. He sat down at his desk and woke up his computer. Most of the time he didn't bother turning it off and just let it go to sleep. He logged on and checked his email. Then he read his department's reports from Thursday. At 9 his secretary came into his office and filled him in on what happened while he was gone. He hadn't missed much and by 11 o'clock he had caught up with his work.
Lara opened her eyes at 9. She knew she should get up but she couldn't. She was somehow sad and wasn't in the mood to meet the next day yet. So she closed her eyes and fell asleep again. At ten she woke again. She forced herself out of bed and went into the bathroom. She was longing for a hot bath. Just when she had started to let in some water Bryce knocked at the door. He was carrying a tray with breakfast.
"You didn't hear me knocking earlier, so I just thought I'd bring you something to eat."
"Bryce, you are a sweetheart." she said.
"Oh, you are trying to have a bath?" Bryce asked when he noticed the running water in the bathroom.
"Yes." Lara replied. "But I think I will have breakfast first, before the tea gets cold." she added and turned off the water.
Bryce placed the tray on the table and sat down. He kept Lara company while she had breakfast.
"So when exactly do you want to go home?" Bryce asked suddenly.
"Don't know." Lara replied. "I don't want to miss the final. Kazuya has given me two tickets, so you can come as well if you like."
"Definitely." Bryce answered. "I have not seen any of them fight yet. I am very curious. So tell me about it."
"Kazuya will fight against his brother Lee. They are both excellent fighters. I think Kazuya is a bit tougher. His punches are more powerful than Lee's." Lara said and took a sip of her tea.
"So he will win?" Bryce asked.
"Actually I don't know. It seems that in the past he has always won this match. And if you'd ask him, he would tell you that Lee hasn't got a chance. But I can't judge. I am very impressed with Kazuya's performance so far, but I think I haven't seen Lee's full potential yet." Lara finished her tea and got up. "I think I'll have my bath now."
"Ok, then I will leave you alone." Bryce said and left Lara's room.
She returned to the bathroom and turned on the tap again.
Kazuya was sitting in his office bored. There was nothing to do right now. He leaned back in his chair and placed his feet onto the desk. He picked up the phone and started dialling Lara's number. But then he pressed a button to cancel that. "Why don't you call me for a change?" he said and placed the phone on the desk.
A moment later someone knocked at the door.
"Come in." he replied, not even bothering to take his feet of the desk.
Lee stepped inside.
"What do you want?"
"I wanted to speak to you."
"I am busy."
"Busy doing what?"
"Hell. What do you want?" Kazuya asked taking his feet of the table and sitting up straight.
"I wanted to speak to you about His new ideas?"
"Speak."
"He wants to hold his own tournament."
"So I've heard. He is such a coward, that's just a lame excuse so he won't have to fight me tomorrow."
"Actually I think it's a lame excuse to get rid of you. I have had a look at the rules he came up with. 'Anything goes.' That means even killing?! I mean.... if you participate, it's your own fault. Of course he will make it look like an accident. He could get away with it. Not if he would fight you tomorrow..."
"Chaolan, you are watching too much TV."
"Will you participate?"
"Yes."
"But..."
"If he wants to make a fool of himself while he has got everybody's attention that's fine with me."
"I think you are so consumed with revenge, you don't even see the danger."
"Danger? That's as dangerous as everyday-life with Him." Kazuya was quiet for a moment, then he spoke again. "Are you trying to make me uneasy? Do you think this will give you an advantage tomorrow? Go home and start your training if you want to have a chance."
"Fine, don't listen to my warnings." Lee said and turned towards the door.
As soon as the door had closed behind him Kazuya put his feet back onto the desk. He shook his head, then he started playing with the phone again. He hesitated a moment, then he called Lara's number. He waited but noting happened.
Lara was sitting in the bathtub, her head leaned back. Suddenly her phone started ringing. She had left it lying next to the bed since yesterday evening, which she regretted now. She got up and grabbed the bathing robe, but her hair was too wet to get out of there right away. She grabbed a towel and tied it around her hair. When she had finally left the bathroom the ringing stopped. She cursed.
Kazuya hung up. Anger was building up inside him. He didn't understand why Lara wouldn't answer the phone. He got up and walked out of his office. He knocked at the next door and stepped inside.
"Natsumi, I will be out for lunch. I am not expecting any calls at the moment, but if anyone wants to speak to me tell them I am not coming back before 4 o'clock. I will go straight to the meeting with Mr. Chigasaki."
"Certainly, Mr. Mishima." the girl said and took notes.
He left his secretary's office and then took the lift down to the garage.
Lara searched for her phone in front of her bed and when she had finally found it she looked at the display. Her heart jumped when she saw that Kazuya had tried to call her twice. Once from home yesterday evening and once from the office today. She immediately called his office number. She waited a moment then a girl picked up. Lara's first reaction was that of shock, then she remembered that it was probably Kazuya's secretary.
"Hello, this is Lara Croft. I'd like to speak to Kazuya Mishima." she said.
"I am sorry Miss Croft, he went out for lunch. Can I leave a message?"
"Actually I'd like to speak to him now, but his mobile number wasn't working yesterday."
"Oh yes, he broke his phone, but it should be working again today. If not you can also try the new number, do you have a pen, then I can give it to you."
Lara immediately called Kazuya's new number. He picked up just a second later. Judging from the noises in the background she knew he was in the car.
"You?" he asked surprised. "I thought you didn't speak to me anymore. I called you so many times the last two days."
He sounded quite angry which annoyed Lara.
"So did I." she replied. "But someone broke his phone. And when I called you at home I had your father on the line."
"So then what's your excuse that you didn't answer my calls?"
"Oh, now I have to explain myself?" Lara replied angry and hung up.
Kazuya tried calling her back but she cancelled the call right away. He cursed and threw his phone onto the passengers' seat. Then his attention went back to the road. At the next crossing he took a sharp turn left almost causing an accident.
Ten minutes later Kazuya knocked on Lara's door. She opened expecting to see Bryce. When she saw that it was Kazuya she tried closing the door again, but he put his foot in.
"I have to speak to you." he said.
"I am listening." Lara replied crossing her arms.
"Can I come in?"
"No." she replied.
"Fine, have it your way. I am sorry that I have been unfriendly to you on the phone. You probably had your reasons not to answer my calls. This must have come as a shock to you."
"If that were the case I wouldn't be angry..." she replied.
He looked at her puzzled. Lara stepped aside to let him in and closed the door behind him.
"When you called for the first time I was on the phone speaking to someone else, and all the other times I was nowhere near the phone. I would have answered if I could. But you assume that I just didn't pick up on purpose."
Kazuya was quiet for a moment, thinking carefully about what he could say.
"Forgive me. I thought that you didn't want to speak to me ever again. I assumed you were too shocked."
"To tell you the truth at first I was... But they all warned me, deep inside I knew you were different."
"I'm different? That's what it is?"
Lara ignored what he said and continued: "And I think that's why I fell for you. But now I am scared. You wanted to kill me."
He looked down. "Part of me did." he admitted quietly. "I am always struggling to control that part. He would have killed you, if I hadn't stopped him..."
Lara didn't know what to reply. She didn't fully understand everything, but she didn't want to ask either. Kazuya reached for her hand and gently took it into his.
"You shouldn't be scared." he said. "I will take care of you. I can control it."
She freed her hand. "I have seen that."
Again he was quiet, not certain what to say. He knew she was right, he had less control over his other side than he was prepared to admit. Then he finally spoke again. "So you will be going home soon?"
"Yes. Monday. I have a new job. In Egypt."
"Will you come to my fight tomorrow evening?"
"Certainly." she replied.
"Ok, then I will see you there." he said quietly and walked towards the door.
Author's Note: Yes, I know - another cliffhanger, but I couldn't help it.
It was precisely 8 o'clock when Kazuya entered his office. He had a lot to do today since he had taken a day off yesterday. He sat down at his desk and woke up his computer. Most of the time he didn't bother turning it off and just let it go to sleep. He logged on and checked his email. Then he read his department's reports from Thursday. At 9 his secretary came into his office and filled him in on what happened while he was gone. He hadn't missed much and by 11 o'clock he had caught up with his work.
Lara opened her eyes at 9. She knew she should get up but she couldn't. She was somehow sad and wasn't in the mood to meet the next day yet. So she closed her eyes and fell asleep again. At ten she woke again. She forced herself out of bed and went into the bathroom. She was longing for a hot bath. Just when she had started to let in some water Bryce knocked at the door. He was carrying a tray with breakfast.
"You didn't hear me knocking earlier, so I just thought I'd bring you something to eat."
"Bryce, you are a sweetheart." she said.
"Oh, you are trying to have a bath?" Bryce asked when he noticed the running water in the bathroom.
"Yes." Lara replied. "But I think I will have breakfast first, before the tea gets cold." she added and turned off the water.
Bryce placed the tray on the table and sat down. He kept Lara company while she had breakfast.
"So when exactly do you want to go home?" Bryce asked suddenly.
"Don't know." Lara replied. "I don't want to miss the final. Kazuya has given me two tickets, so you can come as well if you like."
"Definitely." Bryce answered. "I have not seen any of them fight yet. I am very curious. So tell me about it."
"Kazuya will fight against his brother Lee. They are both excellent fighters. I think Kazuya is a bit tougher. His punches are more powerful than Lee's." Lara said and took a sip of her tea.
"So he will win?" Bryce asked.
"Actually I don't know. It seems that in the past he has always won this match. And if you'd ask him, he would tell you that Lee hasn't got a chance. But I can't judge. I am very impressed with Kazuya's performance so far, but I think I haven't seen Lee's full potential yet." Lara finished her tea and got up. "I think I'll have my bath now."
"Ok, then I will leave you alone." Bryce said and left Lara's room.
She returned to the bathroom and turned on the tap again.
Kazuya was sitting in his office bored. There was nothing to do right now. He leaned back in his chair and placed his feet onto the desk. He picked up the phone and started dialling Lara's number. But then he pressed a button to cancel that. "Why don't you call me for a change?" he said and placed the phone on the desk.
A moment later someone knocked at the door.
"Come in." he replied, not even bothering to take his feet of the desk.
Lee stepped inside.
"What do you want?"
"I wanted to speak to you."
"I am busy."
"Busy doing what?"
"Hell. What do you want?" Kazuya asked taking his feet of the table and sitting up straight.
"I wanted to speak to you about His new ideas?"
"Speak."
"He wants to hold his own tournament."
"So I've heard. He is such a coward, that's just a lame excuse so he won't have to fight me tomorrow."
"Actually I think it's a lame excuse to get rid of you. I have had a look at the rules he came up with. 'Anything goes.' That means even killing?! I mean.... if you participate, it's your own fault. Of course he will make it look like an accident. He could get away with it. Not if he would fight you tomorrow..."
"Chaolan, you are watching too much TV."
"Will you participate?"
"Yes."
"But..."
"If he wants to make a fool of himself while he has got everybody's attention that's fine with me."
"I think you are so consumed with revenge, you don't even see the danger."
"Danger? That's as dangerous as everyday-life with Him." Kazuya was quiet for a moment, then he spoke again. "Are you trying to make me uneasy? Do you think this will give you an advantage tomorrow? Go home and start your training if you want to have a chance."
"Fine, don't listen to my warnings." Lee said and turned towards the door.
As soon as the door had closed behind him Kazuya put his feet back onto the desk. He shook his head, then he started playing with the phone again. He hesitated a moment, then he called Lara's number. He waited but noting happened.
Lara was sitting in the bathtub, her head leaned back. Suddenly her phone started ringing. She had left it lying next to the bed since yesterday evening, which she regretted now. She got up and grabbed the bathing robe, but her hair was too wet to get out of there right away. She grabbed a towel and tied it around her hair. When she had finally left the bathroom the ringing stopped. She cursed.
Kazuya hung up. Anger was building up inside him. He didn't understand why Lara wouldn't answer the phone. He got up and walked out of his office. He knocked at the next door and stepped inside.
"Natsumi, I will be out for lunch. I am not expecting any calls at the moment, but if anyone wants to speak to me tell them I am not coming back before 4 o'clock. I will go straight to the meeting with Mr. Chigasaki."
"Certainly, Mr. Mishima." the girl said and took notes.
He left his secretary's office and then took the lift down to the garage.
Lara searched for her phone in front of her bed and when she had finally found it she looked at the display. Her heart jumped when she saw that Kazuya had tried to call her twice. Once from home yesterday evening and once from the office today. She immediately called his office number. She waited a moment then a girl picked up. Lara's first reaction was that of shock, then she remembered that it was probably Kazuya's secretary.
"Hello, this is Lara Croft. I'd like to speak to Kazuya Mishima." she said.
"I am sorry Miss Croft, he went out for lunch. Can I leave a message?"
"Actually I'd like to speak to him now, but his mobile number wasn't working yesterday."
"Oh yes, he broke his phone, but it should be working again today. If not you can also try the new number, do you have a pen, then I can give it to you."
Lara immediately called Kazuya's new number. He picked up just a second later. Judging from the noises in the background she knew he was in the car.
"You?" he asked surprised. "I thought you didn't speak to me anymore. I called you so many times the last two days."
He sounded quite angry which annoyed Lara.
"So did I." she replied. "But someone broke his phone. And when I called you at home I had your father on the line."
"So then what's your excuse that you didn't answer my calls?"
"Oh, now I have to explain myself?" Lara replied angry and hung up.
Kazuya tried calling her back but she cancelled the call right away. He cursed and threw his phone onto the passengers' seat. Then his attention went back to the road. At the next crossing he took a sharp turn left almost causing an accident.
Ten minutes later Kazuya knocked on Lara's door. She opened expecting to see Bryce. When she saw that it was Kazuya she tried closing the door again, but he put his foot in.
"I have to speak to you." he said.
"I am listening." Lara replied crossing her arms.
"Can I come in?"
"No." she replied.
"Fine, have it your way. I am sorry that I have been unfriendly to you on the phone. You probably had your reasons not to answer my calls. This must have come as a shock to you."
"If that were the case I wouldn't be angry..." she replied.
He looked at her puzzled. Lara stepped aside to let him in and closed the door behind him.
"When you called for the first time I was on the phone speaking to someone else, and all the other times I was nowhere near the phone. I would have answered if I could. But you assume that I just didn't pick up on purpose."
Kazuya was quiet for a moment, thinking carefully about what he could say.
"Forgive me. I thought that you didn't want to speak to me ever again. I assumed you were too shocked."
"To tell you the truth at first I was... But they all warned me, deep inside I knew you were different."
"I'm different? That's what it is?"
Lara ignored what he said and continued: "And I think that's why I fell for you. But now I am scared. You wanted to kill me."
He looked down. "Part of me did." he admitted quietly. "I am always struggling to control that part. He would have killed you, if I hadn't stopped him..."
Lara didn't know what to reply. She didn't fully understand everything, but she didn't want to ask either. Kazuya reached for her hand and gently took it into his.
"You shouldn't be scared." he said. "I will take care of you. I can control it."
She freed her hand. "I have seen that."
Again he was quiet, not certain what to say. He knew she was right, he had less control over his other side than he was prepared to admit. Then he finally spoke again. "So you will be going home soon?"
"Yes. Monday. I have a new job. In Egypt."
"Will you come to my fight tomorrow evening?"
"Certainly." she replied.
"Ok, then I will see you there." he said quietly and walked towards the door.
Author's Note: Yes, I know - another cliffhanger, but I couldn't help it.
