Chapter 48

Lara woke up in the middle of the night. She wasn't sure what had woken her and for a moment she wasn't even sure where she was. She had this feeling of being trapped and when her head cleared from the clouds of sleep she realised that she was indeed held down by something from behind. She turned around and looked at the man lying next to her who had put his arm around her. Relieved Lara closed her eyes again leaning her head against his chest. She still had to get used to not sleeping alone like she had done for ages now.

She was about to fall asleep again when she heard a noise coming from outside. She listened intently but nothing followed.
"Oh well, must have been the cat..." she whispered.
"That's a very strange cat carrying a magnum." said a voice from behind.
Lara was startled. "I didn't know you were awake." Just when Lara had finished the sentence and expected a reply, Kazuya got up and out of bed.
"Stay here and lock the door after me." he whispered.
"Any more stupid ideas? I'm coming with you!" she said and swung her legs out of the bed.
"Lara, they are armed."
She hasted to her bag and took out her HKs and loaded them. "So am I."
"Forget it. You might get hit."
"Right, I forgot, you are bullet proof."
"Remind me to laugh about it later." he commented dryly and then walked out of the cabin.
Lara followed but when she stepped outside he was nowhere to be seen. She looked down both sides of the passage and then decided to go to the front to the staircase there. She had just made a few steps out of the room when a bullet soared past her and hit a vase in the hall which shattered.
Lara spun around and threw herself onto the floor guns blazing. While rounds and rounds of bullets soared past overhead she sent quite a few shots back. A moment later she could hear screaming, then the firing stopped.

Kazuya was already out in the open, he had made his way to the front stairs and up into the living room where he had stepped out onto the deck. In the distance, at the back of the ship, he could barely make out six dark figures. It seemed they were trying to gain access at the back.
He was about to walk into their direction when he felt a presence behind him and then heard a clicking noise. He turned around quickly and found a rifle pointed at him.
Kazuya rolled his eyes. "What's next? A rocket?"
Nakazo smirked. "Don't move. I won't hesitate to shoot."
»Let me take care of him.« a voice inside Kazuya whispered. »He will kill you if you don't let me.«
Kazuya felt a surge of power running through his body as the devil tried to take over.
"NO!" he yelled.
Nakazo thought he was talking to him and started fiddling with the trigger nervously. "I said don't move."
»Kazuya, you can't hold me back.« the devil whispered and then tried to transform into his natural form.
"Shut up!" Kazuya yelled pushing back the devil.
Then Kazuya ducked, sidestepped and kicked Nakazo in the stomach. Nakazo dropped the rifle and Kazuya caught it. When Nakazo realised what was going on he raised his hands. For a moment Kazuya looked at the rifle and then threw it over board. Nakazo looked almost relieved but that expression vanished from his face when Kazuya, his eyes burning red, advanced upon him. With a well placed hit to the face Kazuya sent Nakazo down. Kazuya prodded him with his foot but the man did not move.
"Second security chief? Pathetic." Kazuya sneered. Then he grabbed Nakazo and threw him over the railing into the sea.
"Nakazo!" he suddenly heard one of the other figures calling. The man came into his direction obviously looking for his chief. Kazuya stepped back into the shadows and let the man approach. When the man had reached the spot where Kazuya had thrown Nakazo over board he stopped and looked around. Kazuya walked up towards him and punched him on the nose. Then he brought up his fist from below sending the guy over the railing as well.

Lara walked over to the stairs and found a dead body. She grabbed the two guns the man had and emptied the magazines before dropping them back on the ground. 'You never knew.' Then she climbed over him and made her way up the stairs, guns at the ready. When she reached the hall above, she could see four figures outside, sneaking around in the dark. They seemed to be distracted by something going on outside.
She quietly made her way towards the open door, both guns trained at the men there. She could see that two of them had rifles and the other two were carrying Magnums.
They were drawn to the other end of the ship, totally unaware of Lara following them.
She stepped out onto the deck behind them. When two of the men suddenly stopped and stayed behind she pressed herself against the wall. The other two disappeared in the distance. Lara still had her guns trained on those two men, in case they turned around unexpectedly and spotted her. Lara listened in silence to what was happening at the other end. She just hoped that Kazuya didn't get himself into trouble.
A moment later two shots were heard. Then someone yelled in pain and then it sounded like something was thrown into the water. The two guys in front of Lara were suddenly moving again and she followed them. They were approaching a single figure standing in the darkness and when they came closer Lara recognised Kazuya
"Drop your guns." he ordered them.
"Or?" one of the men replied. "You are unarmed."
"I am never unarmed." Kazuya replied coolly.
"We will shoot you before you can move."
"Better do as he said." Lara interrupted from behind. Both men turned around shocked and looked at Lara. Kazuya used the chance, moved towards them and attacked one of them. When the other turned around Lara fired her whole magazine and the guy fell. The other one endured some kicks and punches from Kazuya till he lay unconscious on the floor.
"That was the last." he said with certainty.
"I hope so." Lara replied. "How many were there?"
"Eight." Kazuya said.
"Eight?" Lara said surprised. "I have only seen five."
"Sorry, should I have spared the other three?" Kazuya joked. "One of the other was Nakazo."
"So you took care of six armed men without a weapon of your own?"
"I've got my weapon." he replied holding up his fist. "Are you alright?" he then asked Lara with a bit of concern showing in his voice.
"Certainly. I've told you before you don't have to worry about me. I've got my guns. I can take care of myself. They are all finished, right?"
"Except for those who can swim when unconscious." he replied grinning nastily.
"Mental note: Never upset Kazuya Mishima." Lara commented.
"Wouldn't recommend it." he agreed. "But now let's return to bed.

They returned inside and walked down the stairs back to the living quarters. On their way Lara inspected the damage that had been done by all the shooting. She had tried hard not to hit anything but her enemies. But they had been less careful and had caused quite a lot of damage to the ships interior.
"Your father is going to like that." Lara commented dryly.
"Serves him right for sending these idiots after me." Kazuya replied unnerved. Then he approached the dead body. "Let's get rid of him before we go back to bed." he said grabbing him and carrying him up the stairs.

Lara stayed where she was and waited till he returned. He approached her and without warning kissed her.
"You are the most exciting girl I've ever met." he complimented her. "And it's difficult to stay alive around you, even for me." He paused for a moment and then added: "I like that!"