Chapter 14

Back then…

"You're distracted," Wang Jinrey observed. He gave Kazuya a sharp thwack with a wooden stick. "I haven't seen this distracted…well, ever!"

Kazuya grimaced slightly as the old man laughed. "I had…a late night. At a conference."

Wang Jinrey raised his eyebrows. "Oh – is that what they call it nowadays? You young people and your slang!" Wang chuckled, before turning unexpectedly serious. "She could be good for you, Kazuya. Take care of her."

Kira frowned as she made her way to the Mishima dojo. Something had been bothering her since she had left the office, and that something was the nagging sensation that there was danger nearby. The ominous feeling was growing stronger, and was making her jumpy.

She walked through the trees, aware of her heart thudding in her chest. Then, with the reflexes honed from months of Wang Jinrey's tuition, she span around with a powerful back hook kick.

A tall blonde woman swore vehemently as she fell backwards, taken by surprise. She soon regained her composure, and in a fluid motion was back on her feet and resuming her attack. Kira struggled against the onslaught – who ever this woman was, she'd obviously had a lot more training than she had.

This time it was Kira's turn to fall to floor. She rolled, sweeping her leg as she did so, taking her attacker off balance for a few moments. She regained her footing, and tried to remain calm.

"Who are you?" she demanded. She hadn't really expected an answer, nor did she get one. Not a verbal one, anyway.

Her attacker drew a blade from a concealed holster, and for the first time in her life, Kira truly feared for her life. The woman was dangerous…yet familiar?

Kira deftly avoided the blade, silently thanking every deity under the sun that she'd received the benefit of the old man's lessons. In a move that surprised her almost as much as her attacker, she caught her assailant's weapon arm under her own, and with a sharp twist and a scream from the blonde, grabbed the knife and slashed across her opponent's midriff.

The woman wrapped an arm around her wounded torso, and began running fast. Kira breathed heavily; from the speed of her escape, the assassin was obviously either not seriously wounded, or accustomed to pain. Either way, Kira had given her something to think about.

"She's late," Wang Jinrey said, obviously concerned. "This is…unusual."

His concerns were answered when Kira burst through the dojo door, bruised and dishevelled. She gave a small bow before collapsing on the floor.

"Kira!" Kazuya gasped, rushing to her side. "What the hell happened to you?"

Kira sat up slightly. "I was bloody attacked just outside the dojo, that's what happened!"

"But that's impossible – no one can get past security without clearance," Kazuya said. Kira raised an eyebrow.

"OK then, I walked into a tree," she said sarcastically. "Oh, and it was carrying this."

She handed Kazuya the bloodstained knife.

"Nice to see you haven't lost your sense of humour," he said dryly. "You're not hurt, are you?"

"Nice to see you haven't lost yours!" she said indignantly. "I've had the bloody snot kicked out of me, of course I'm hurt!" She paused and shrugged. "But not seriously. I was far too kick ass for that."

"Who attacked you?" Wang Jinrey said. Kira shrugged again, wincing.

"I don't know. She was fast, blonde, and nauseatingly thin," she answered. "I've seen her before I think, or…no. I've got it – Anna Williams. She reminded me a lot of Anna Williams."

"Nina Williams, it must be," Kazuya muttered darkly. Kira looked up.

"Nina Williams? She's related to Anna?"

Kazuya nodded grimly. "Yes, sisters. They hate each other. Both received the same training from an early age, and both went on to become formidable assassins." He helped Kira to her feet. "You're lucky you weren't killed."

"Anna's an assassin?" Kira said. "In those shoes?"

"One of the best," Kazuya said. "But never mind that – are you sure you're ok?"

Kira nodded. "Amazingly, yes. I took her by surprise. I took myself by surprise…"

She winced as Wang Jinrey dabbed her cut forehead with a dampened towel. "I guess I'm surprised as much as I am hurt. Why would anyone want to assassinate me?"

Kazuya looked troubled. "You have access to some of the most sensitive files in the Mishima Zaibatsu. Whoever employed Miss Williams may not have wanted you assassinated – they may have wanted you alive." Kazuya frowned. "You should stay in the compound, I'll get someone to pick up your things from your apartment."

Kira opened her mouth to argue, but the expression on Kazuya's face made it clear that he wouldn't take 'no' for an answer. Besides, it made sense – despite her training, she was no match for professional killers, and her apartment couldn't compete with the Mishima compound in terms of security. She nodded mutely.

Kazuya stood up, and crossed the dojo, pulling out his phone. After tapping in a number, he began conversing in a low voice, to quiet for Kira to make out the words.

"I really am very proud of you," Wang Jinrey said, grinning. "You've survived your first assassination attempt!"

"The first? You expect others?" Kira asked wryly. "Now there's a cheery thought."

Her elderly mentor continued to grin. "Don't worry, young Kazuya will take care of you."

Now…………

"Another day, another broken opponent," Law said cheerfully. "Mishima certainly doesn't pull any punches, does he?"

Paul drained his glass as the final blow of the latest fight was replayed in full crimson glory across the bar's giant screen. He grimaced slightly; normally, he would have allowed himself a beer, but given the importance of the tournament, he was playing it safe, restricting himself to orange juice and mineral water.

"The guy's a psycho," Paul muttered. "But I can take him – I could have took him last time, if I hadn't been cheated-"

Law grinned at the beginning of what was now a familiar tirade. "You can hardly blame the organisers, my friend, for the fact you didn't show up on time."

"You reckon?" Paul said glumly. "Watch me."

Law shook his head, smiling. "Besides, you've got to get past me – you will show up on time for our bout, won't you?"

This time Paul grinned. "Sure – although I really hate kicking the snot out of a friend-"

"In your dream, yankee man!" Law laughed.

"That is the worst insult. Ever," Paul stated flatly. "It's a good job your fighting's better than your trash talking, because you wouldn't have made it past the qualifiers."

"My trash talk is better than your hair-"

"Watch it!" Paul said in mock seriousness. "Some things are sacred."

The two friends and rivals sat in silence for a few moments, as the on-screen brutality faded into a table of names. The tournament was entering its final stage, where only the finest fighters would make the grade. Paul exhaled heavily.

"There we are – two days time." He grinned at Law and offered a hand. "May the best man win!"

"Thanks," Law said. "You're too kind."

"Ha, ha."

"You're wasting both our times, Ms Kazama," Kazuya said. He didn't sound angry, Jun thought….just tired. He looked terrible, as if he hadn't been sleeping well.

"Your time, perhaps," Jun said dryly. "If I'm trying to help someone, I never consider that time wasted."

"Well, aren't you a saint?" Kazuya said sarcastically. "Perhaps your time would be better spent helping someone who wants help. Or needs it."

Jun looked at him, feeling so much sadness she thought she might drown. It was dangerous what she was feeling, she knew that. She had just watched him obliterate an opponent with a brutality that should have appalled her. That in itself worried her – it was as if the darkness surrounding Kazuya was infecting her, desensitising her to the horrific acts he committed.

Or perhaps it wasn't the darkness; perhaps it was the knowledge of what Kazuya had lost, the grief he had endured, that had brought understanding.

"Kazuya, please-"

Kazuya pulled his arm away from her touch sharply. "I don't recall us ever being on first name terms before, Ms Kazama."

"Kazuya – Mr Mishima – whatever – you know that something's not right!"

Kazuya looked at her, and as his eyes met hers, she caught a brief glimpse of the pain that he felt, before it was frosted over. "There's a lot of things in this world that aren't right, Ms Kazama. We all have to learn to live with that."

As he began walking off, Jun sighed in frustration. She began following him, trying to match his lengthy strides.

"What I'm talking about isn't of this world, Mr Mishima," she said urgently. "There are some things that no human should live with."

Kazuya stopped short, turning swiftly, causing Jun to bump into him.

"You know nothing, Ms Kazama," his said, his voice low. "Nothing. And if I were you, I would want to keep it that way. Now for both our sakes…leave me be"

Jun let him go, her heart hammering in her chest.