Author's notes: This story is mostly based on Tekken 4 and the currently (2004) released information on Tekken 5 and its characters. Though some infos were taken from Tekken Official, some situations, events and characters are all fanmade. This is also the sequel to my previous fanfics, Tekken 5: The Kazama-Mishima Connections & The Kazama-Mishima Connections 2. Rated G
Disclaimer: Kazuya Mishima, Jun Kazama, Jin Kazama, Asuka Kazama, Wang Jinrei, Ling Xiaoyu, Hwoarang, Steve Fox and all Tekken characters referred in this fanfic are the property of NAMCO. This is only a fan fiction from the imagination of an obsessed fan. No copyright infringement intended.
Chapter 11: Taking Off the Mask
"I hope she didn't lock her door..." Jin mumbled nervously as he and his sister made their way to Ms. Eva Castinelli's room.
"What makes you think she's there?" Asuka asked indignantly, trying to hide how jittery she actually was. "And...Is she really Mom?"
"We have to start somewhere and we won't know unless we have a second look at her," Jin answered both questions in a sentence. "When I saw her, I thought she was vaguely familiar...'cept for the heavy make-up. Mother never wears them."
"Really?" Asuka mused. "Wow. She's already beautiful without make-up. No wonder Eva...er...she could pass for a model."
"Here we are," Jin breathed, standing stiffly in front of the closed door.
"Here we are..." Asuka mimicked with a heavy sigh. Less than an hour before, they stood on this exact spot after a ruckus that nearly destroyed the thin fabric that held their chaotic family together. Now, they returned to strengthen that bond by bringing some sense back into their mother, Jun Kazama, who was supposedly hiding under another identity.
"What if Dad's mistaken?" Asuka asked. "What if he was just so drunk, he thought Eva was Mom? What if it's not her?"
"We'll have to find out one way or another," Jin gestured at the door knob. "Be my guest."
"What! No way! You go open it!"
"Ladies first."
"That's so last century, Oni-chan. Besides, you're older so you should do the honors!"
"Fine," Jin rolled his eyes exasperatedly and turned the knob. It was open. He poked his head through the door, gazing over the empty sitting room.
"Maybe she's in there," Jin nodded towards the bedroom door. "You go open it."
"Hey! You're ol"
"I opened this one. You go open that."
Asuka scrunched up her nose in annoyance but nonetheless, followed her brother's orders. She burst through the door, only to end up gasping loudly. Jin entered and he too, joined in his sister's gasp.
The woman they knew to be Eva Castinelli stood stiffly before them, one hand on her hip while the other held the scarf that had previously hidden her raven hair, together with the dark sunglasses that had concealed her eyes. Without these two obscurities, there was no doubt that this woman was indeed their mother, Jun Kazama.
"Such rude children," she shook her head and focused her menacing golden eyes their way. "Didn't your father teach you any manners? Not that he has any...but it only takes common sense to never invade a person's privacy."
"Mother! It is you!"
"NOT ANOTHER STEP!" Eva bellowed, her palm snapping up to stop them. "I don't have children...especially ones as ill-mannered as the two of you. And you best tell that man to keep his filthy hands off me! I'm not the one you're looking for so stay away!"
"But Mother..." Jin's voice began to falter. He was back to square one again. He had done his best to make Aiko Sanada remember during the last tournament and had succeeded in putting doubts into her. But Eva Castinelli's behavior told him she would never hear them out.
"Don't call me Mother," Eva said with a snarl. "Now, leave before I call the police!"
"Mother, you remember Asuka?" Jin presented his sister, ignoring the woman's harshness. "She's the daughter you left with your brother. You've never really met, but Asuka has always looked up to you."
"I have, Mom," Asuka nodded vigorously with tears at the corners of her eyes. "I've always wanted to meet you. I even joined 3WC because of you. I"
Suddenly, Eva let out a round of mocking laughter.
"Ahahahaha! You're all fools!" she jeered. "Insanity must run in your family. I pity you. You better drop your resolve and go on with your pathetic lives," she turned her back on them.
"Mother! What's wrong with you!" Jin reached out for Eva but the moment his fingers touched her shoulder, he received a harsh slap that brought him down the floor. Asuka immediately rushed to help him up.
"M-Mom..." tears rolled down Asuka's cheeks.
"Mother...what's happened to you?" Jin stood up shakily. "You're not the same woman we"
"You're right," Eva nodded in confirmation. "I'm not the same woman you knew. Jun Kazama is dead. Deal with it!" she strode towards the open door and once in the sitting room, she turned to them again.
"If you're not gone by the time I return...I'll kill you."
She slammed the door.
Chapter 12