He had no knife, no utensils, nothing. To this day, they can't explain how he did it. And the camera footage is of no use, Jeremy added dryly, because it's mysteriously distorted. No one saw what I saw.
Kira sat in mute horror; she was horrified not only by the grisly nature of the story, but because she knew that every word of it was true. It seemed strange that this story of madness should come from the mouth of such a staid individual.
Since my recovery, Jeremy continued quietly, I have made it my mission to seek out those that are afflicted by the condition, to see if there is any way it can be contained. In every case, it has been too late.
Kira looked at Dai, fresh tears stinging her eyes. Was this what fate had in store for her, a future of violent madness? Her daughter looked at her, blue eyes opened wide, her cherubic face an expression of pure concern.
It's not as bad as he makes out, Yamada stated mildly, his sudden presence making Kira jump. Reiko was looking at Jeremy with an countenance of restrained fury, hands balled into fists.
Look, she wanted the truth, Jeremy began. Reiko began to say something, but Kira cut her off.
No, Reiko, I needed to know, she said. She looked at the Yamadas. So how did you two get involved?
Yamada chuckled. We've seen a lot of things. Things that scientific types like Dr Martin usually ignore.
Reiko folded her arms. Our clan has many legends of people with supernatural powers - most cultures do. Only our clan experienced the stuff of legend less than a century ago.
She was the third daughter of the patriarch. Unremarkable in every way, and always overshadowed and overlooked by...well, by everyone, Yamada said gravely. She was a cold, withdrawn young woman, but given her family's indifference to her, that's probably not that surprising.
She was always being mocked by some children, Reiko said, taking up the story. They would compare her to her sisters, who were renowned for their beauty and grace. Everyone knew that they could insult her freely; her father and her brothers cared too little to defend her honour. It was a ritual humiliation she endured day after day, year after year.
It was the day of her twentieth birthday, but in contrast to the grand banquets that her sisters had enjoyed, her day went unmarked. I suppose just to be left alone would have been celebration enough for her, but still she was scorned, just like any other day.
She obviously had enough. She just snapped, and the whole place went up in flames.
Yamada sighed. We know this, because our parents were amongst the few survivors. They were amongst the children who had been haranguing her. They were lucky to have lived. He shook his head. Others paid the ultimate price for their entertainment which had been bought with cruelty. My father never lost his guilt over our clan's near annihilation - or his fear that she would one day come back and finish what she had started.
Did she? Kira asked quietly. Yamada shook his head.
The survivors had no desire for revenge; they felt, rightly perhaps, that the clan had deserved its fate. After she had flown from the island, she never returned. On his deathbed, however, my father made me promise that I would track her down.
I thought no one wanted revenge? Kira frowned, puzzled. Yamada chuckled.
No one did, least of all my father. No, he wanted me to apologise to her, on behalf of the clan. Yamada looked out of the window, to the countryside that was alien to his eyes. It was too late. By the time I was old enough to track her down, she was dead.
She had escaped to Tokyo, and had made a new life for herself, with a new name. She had also made a family, marrying a gentle but prominent businessman named Jinpachi.
Kira's eyes widened.
Reiko nodded. The same. It was a life built on lies, but they were happy enough, by all accounts. We think she took the secret of her true past to the grave.
Kira remembered her training sessions with Wang Jinrey, and how he had once commented that Heihachi was cold', like his mother,and wondered how happy she could have been. As Dai wriggled in her arms, she was hit with the fact that this woman who had slaughtered her kinsfolk wasn't just some nightmare character from distant legend - she was family. Kira shuddered, and looked at her daughter, wondering if she would share her great-grandmother's fate.
Can you still do the tests? Kira asked Jeremy, her mouth dry. Reiko looked dismayed.
She's still your daughter, no matter-
Can you still do the tests? she repeated loudly, cutting Reiko off. Jeremy nodded.
My wife and I still enjoy access to certain facilities, and have contacts that don't ask too many questions. It wouldn't be a problem.
Reiko began to implore, but Kira gave her a steely look.
When can you do it?
*******************
Nearly two years ago...............
Kira wiped away the sweat that was stinging her eyes, and grinned. She was actually getting good at this!
Wang Jinrey performed a small bow. smiling. Very good! You are starting to anticipate, improvise...very good!
Kira was positively beaming - the old man's praise meant a lot to her, as he never gave it out falsely, or to flatter. Her grin, however, faded as two men entered the dojo - Kazuya and his adoptive brother.
Since she had returned to the department, she hadn't seen much of Kazuya - no where near as much, she secretly admitted to her herself, as she would have liked. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, she wished he couldn't see her right now; her hair, which never usually behaved itself anyway, was pinned in a dishevelled heap on top of her head, with stray strands plastered to her soaking forehead, and her skin was a healthy shade of beetroot. She had been training for over three hours but that was besides the point - she looked a mess.
Ah, Kazuya, Lee, the old man said delightedly. You surprise me! I thought you were training at the weekend!
Kazuya has another engagement, Lee said, after shooting a disparaging look at Kira.
We've been training, Kira said lamely, as explanation for her slipshod appearance. Kazuya smiled.
So I'd gathered. He turned to Kira. How's it going?
Uh, the training? Pretty good, I think, she said with a nod.
Well, give it a few more years, and you can train with us, Lee said, with forced pleasantry. Or perhaps-
He cut his sentence short as he swiftly threw a backfist in Kira's direction. He had no intentions of actually hitting her - he was planning to pull the blow short, just to prove that she had a long way to go.
Kira, however, didn't know that.
With reactions honed from months of Wang Jinrey's tutelage, she side-stepped as she deflected the attack, and twirled Lee around until he hit the floor with a loud thump, a noise accompanied by Kazuya roaring with laughter. The old man was more restrained, but his shoulders shook with silent mirth. Lee rolled onto his back and winced. It was debatable who was more surprised, Kira or Lee.
I am so sorry! Kira said, her hand over her mouth in horror. Are you alright?
Lee let out a yelp of pain as he tried to lift himself up. I think you've fractured my wrist-
He was interrupted as the old man gave him a sharp clip round the ear. You fractured your wrist! he exclaimed. What kind of break fall was that?
Well I wasn't expected her to floor me! Lee said hotly, leading to renewed laughter from Kazuya.
She wasn't expecting you to attack her, but she seemed able to...deal with the situation. He looked at Kira with a smile, and suddenly she was glad that she was already red.
I'll take him, Wang said with a sigh. Then, he looked at Kira, grinning. I think she's getting too dangerous for me, anyway.
As the old man lead Lee, who was still complaining loudly, out of the dojo, Kira sighed heavily.
I think he likes me even less now, she said, biting her nails. Kazuya looked slightly bothered.
Is that a problem?
Her face split into a huge grin. Did you see his face? I've dying to wipe that smug look off his face since the first time we met! Her face fell into an expression of mock seriousness. Not that violence is ever the answer.
I don't know, Kazuya smiled lopsidedly. It has its merits.
