Now...
Michelle Chang lay in heap on the dusty ground, sobbing at her body's refusal to cooperate. She wasn't finished yet, she couldn't be...
Kazuya snorted, walking away.
Michelle screamed, spraying the ground before her with blood. I'm not finished!
The referee thinks otherwise, Kazuya sneered. But as you're so adamant...come and get me.
He stood for a minute, arms spread wide, as his Michelle tried to stand. Multicoloured spots danced in her vision; the pain was immense. She felt a wave of nausea sweep over her, a feeling that was intensified when she saw the purpling protrusion on her shin - a broken bone, at the very least.
Kazuya left the woman to the care of the medics, and headed to his car. His first inkling that there was anything wrong was the unconscious bodyguard lying prone on the floor. His eyes moved from his hapless employee to the woman leaning on the bonnet.
Miss Kazama, he said calmly. Is there any particular reason why one of my men is in this condition?
He was being uncooperative, Jun said, her voice regretful. I feared I wouldn't get the chance to speak with you.
I believe we have said all that can be said, Kazuya said coldly, moving to his car. Jun swiftly stepped between him and the door.
You are in danger, Kazuya Mishima, she implored, looking directly into his eyes. He looked back, and knew in that moment that she would never lie to him. There was no duplicity in those eyes, only concern. And fear...
Well, if you will knock out my bodyguards- he began sarcastically, but Jun held his arm.
The danger is from within you! It has awoken once more - you know what I'm talking about!
Kazuya threw her off, his stomach churning. His voice, however, remained steady.
All I know is that you're insane. He sneered cruelly. Perhaps if you spent more time with people, rather than animals, you would be more...balanced.
As he pulled away in his car, Kazuya saw the woman's image recede in his rearview mirror, unconscious bodyguard still at her feet. He released a breath he didn't realise he had been holding, and eased into the seat. Who the hell was this Kazama woman, and what did she know?
He was deep into the forest when he heard it. The car skidded alarmingly as he slammed the brakes on, but he somehow managed to keep control of the vehicle. He sat, his heart thudding in his chest, unsure whether the sensation was due to the near accident, or down to what he thought he heard.
Ah. Do we finally have your attention?
The edges of his vision turned black, and Kazuya's final thought before he fell into unconsciousness was she knows.
********
Father, no please!
I had hopes for you, Kazuya. But even at this age I can tell you will grow into a simpering, weak-willed coward-
No, father, please! I can be good-
His father's face was a mask of cruelty. Heihachi mimicked, I can be good! That's you're problem boy - clinging to such ridiculous notions. It's better to have no son at all, that to have such a spineless creature as an heir.
Why are you doing this...
Perhaps you can prove me wrong, his father sneered, holding him above the trench.
Kazuya looked at his father, and asked quietly,
Heihachi smiled before dropping him.
It felt like he fell forever. Sharp rocks tore at his infant flesh, bones which had not yet formed properly bent beyond breaking point. When the descent finished, all he was left with was the pain. He was terrified, and not far from death, his life over before it had even properly begun. Even as a five year old, he knew that this was no way to die - alone, and at the hands of his own father.
But he wasn't alone.
It came to him then, seduced him with promises of vengeance and power that he couldn't ignore; his childish mind never comprehending for a moment the hellishness of the pact he was about to seal.
From now on, he would never be alone.
Kazuya awoke with a start, his hand flying towards his forehead. Had he forgotten, really? Dismissed the whole scenario as the hallucinations of a child nearing death? He remembered the pain, and knew that it had been a miracle that he had survived the drop in the first place, never mind his reascent up the cliff face. He forced himself to look at the mirror, but still flinched at what he saw. His brown eyes had been replaced by scarlet irises, and a third eye had split the skin on his forehead. He was simultaneously repulsed and compelled by it.
The Kazama woman is a danger to us, an icy voice resonated in his mind. She knows. She is one of the few that can see us, that can sense us.
She's a mere girl, Kazuya answered calmly, a reflex action to the unbelievable situation. What harm can she do?
There was no answer. Kazuya shook his head, and the grogginess lifted from him. Had all that really just happened? He peered into the mirror, passing his hand over his reflection. A chill passed through his soul as he remembered Jun Kazama's words...
You are in danger, Kazuya Mishima...It has awoken once more...
**********
Back then...
Kazuya sat brooding at his desk, thinking about Wang Jinrey's words. For the first time in his life, he was wracked by indecision; could Kira Wilson be part of his world? Would she want to be, if she knew the truth?
He had killed his father. Despite the fact that it had been his sole aim throughout his life, that knowledge still jabbed uncomfortably at his conscience. Perhaps he could never be as ruthless, as detached from all human emotion, as his father had been.
Did he want to be?
It was a grim thought, but Kazuya couldn't help but wonder if his father had been right to drop him in that ravine. It was as if he was split into two; there was a part of him that was pure Mishima, ruthless and cold...and truly his father's son. On the other hand, he was just a young man that wanted to live his life free of the ghosts of the past. He shook his head; such morbid thoughts were pointless. What was past, was past. He preferred to live in the present...
He could help but smile as he thought about Kira. She was unlike any other person he had ever met. She didn't automatically defer to him because he was a Mishima, didn't seek to improve her social standing by throwing herself at him, like so many young woman had done. There was an air of eccentricity about that he found...endearing. Heihachi would have hated her.
Kazuya grinned. He could think of no higher recommendation. Pressing the button on the intercom, he called his secretary.
Send Kira Wilson to my office, please.
