Chapter One: Pushing Hands
Tick... tick... tick... tick...
Xiaoyu blinked and tried to keep herself awake. The ticking of the clock on the wall was hypnotic, lulling her to sleep. Her eyelids grew heavy and soon her head nodded forward despite her resolve. As she fell forward, the movement startled her into awareness. She shot up straight in her desk, her eyes wide open and searching for the forthcoming angry teacher with the inevitable reprimand in hand. Her moment of panic was short lived as she looked around, seeing the other bored students surrounding her in the lecture hall. One of the guys in the seat next to her even had his head back and was openly snoring while their oblivious professor carried on with his lesson.
"Right, I'm not in high school anymore," Xiaoyu mumbled, looking down at the messy scrawl in her notebook. Her pencil had made a dark, wide slash across the sheet at exactly the point where she nodded off, turning her page of half-hearted notes into a large doodle. She blinked and looked at the clock again. Fifteen minutes left to go, she mentally noted. Then she glanced at the board, comparing it with her notes, and sighed. "Geez, this is hopeless," she groaned. She stared at the professor again, who looked more like a large insect than a full-grown human from her high seat in the lecture hall, and grinned slightly. "Well, it's not like he's going to notice anything, and I missed out on most of class today, and I really have to go meet Miharu for lunch, and we were going to go shopping afterwards, so I guess no one will mind if I skip out a little early today!" Nodding to herself at the explanation, she carelessly shoved her pencil and notebook into her fuzzy panda backpack and tiptoed out of her seat. The professor didn't blink an eye, but the student next to her did snort loudly and smack his lips before returning to his loud snoring.
As she shut the door of the lecture hall behind her and raced outside to the cafeteria, Xiaoyu felt a huge smile breaking over her face. The smile intensified as she saw a familiar mop of hair waiting for her at one of tables sitting outside. "Miharuuuuu!" she yelled, waving to her friend, who turned and smiled at her.
"Xiao!" she said as the pigtailed girl threw her arms around her. "Hey, you're early! What are you doing here so soon, I thought you still had class?" Miharu smiled and released Xiaoyu, sitting down at the small table.
"No words, just hand over the cola!" Xiaoyu demanded impatiently, grabbing at a cup on the table and taking a long drink. There was a momentary pause, and then a large sigh of relief as Xiaoyu put the beverage down. "God, I needed that! You wouldn't believe how boring college level math is!" she complained.
Miharu giggled, grabbing the other steaming cup on the table and taking a sip. "Xiao, you're so addicted to caffeine it's not funny. You really should try coffee sometime, it'll help keep you awake during those lectures now that your teachers aren't policing the classrooms anymore." She raised her cup invitingly, offering her coffee to the other girl with amusement.
Xiaoyu leaned back and wrinkled her nose in response, sticking out her tongue. "Yuck, coffee tastes gross! I'm fine getting my caffeine high from cola, thanks very much. Besides, I know how YOU get when you don't have your full dose," she added wryly. "I'm not ready to pick a fight with you so soon after a nice nap." She put her hand on her chin and stared off into space as Miharu grinned and took another sip.
"You know, you can put sugar in coffee too, Xiao," Miharu teased. She stopped as she noticed Xiaoyu was no longer listening. "Xiao? Hello? Earth to Xiaoyu?"
"Huh? Oh, uh, yeah!" Xiaoyu said, blinking and looking up as her friend eyed her crossly. Noticing the peeved expression on Miharu's face, she fumbled for an excuse. "Sorry, Miharu, I guess I just have a lot on my mind."
Miharu sat back and nodded understandingly. "It's about Panda, isn't it?" she said sympathetically.
Xiaoyu nodded slightly. "Not just Panda, Mi. It's everything, kinda. I wish we were back in high school. Things were better then, weren't they?" Her eyes glassed over as she thought about her time at the old Mishima High School. "Everything was so simple!" She looked down in surprise as she felt Miharu's hand come over her own and squeeze it.
"Hey, Panda might be back in China, but I'm still here. And believe me, that Mishima guy won't be able to get rid of me as easily as he did Panda, right?"
As Xiaoyu looked into Miharu's grinning face, she could only manage a weak smile. He could probably get rid of you more easily than you think, Mi, she thought to herself. That sent a cold chill down her spine, and she banished it with another quick gulp of her soda. Swallowing, she grinned at her friend. "I don't think you need to worry, Miharu, he won't come after you. After all, you're not part of the financial burden on the Mishima Corporation. You're just the best friend of one annoying little company accident." She gave another small sigh and planted her chin in her palm. "I wish Grandpa Heihachi was still alive. No matter what anyone said about him, he was always nice to us. Everything's changed since Kazuya took charge," she said, spitting out his name venomously.
Miharu leaned back, blinking in surprise. "Geez, Xiao, what's with you? You don't sound normal when you talk about him! Are you PMSing or something?"
Xiaoyu laughed weakly. Huh, I wonder if I should tell Miharu what Yoshimitsu told me, she thought to herself. Heihachi tried to kill his own son. Kazuya tried to kill his own son, too. And Jin… she felt a stab of pain in her heart as the image of the spiky-haired youth passed through her mind's eye. Jin… Sensing Miharu's eyes on her, she shook her head slightly. "No, Kazuya's just… really mean, I guess. If he wasn't such a rotten guy, Jin might not have run away." Xiaoyu was quite proud of herself, her voice had only quavered a little at the mention of Jin's name.
"Ah-hah, so that's the real problem," Miharu said in satisfaction, leaning back and crossing her arms. "You know what? You've got it bad, Xiaoyu. You still miss Jin, even after he acted like a total bastard at the last tournament! Didn't he beat you up or something?"
Xiaoyu felt her cheeks flame and shook her head angrily at Miharu. "Hey, don't say things like that about Jin! He's a nice guy! And he didn't beat me up at the last tournament, we didn't even get to fight. I was eliminated by his dad before I got to face him," she added with disappointment. "I actually wanted to meet him." I would have let him win, too, anything just to have the chance to see him, she thought to herself. She fell quiet, fiddling with the fuzzy keychain hanging off of her bag. "He did seem preoccupied during the tournament, though," she added nervously. "I hope Jin's okay. I just know he'll get in touch with me as soon as he's able to," she added quickly.
Miharu sighed and shook her head. "It's been almost half a year, Xiaoyu. How long are you going to keep waiting for him?" She sniffed and tossed her head as the other girl gave her a mournful look. "Well, if you want to pine for him, that's fine, but I think you should get over him. He barely talked to you when we were in school together, and then he left without a word, twice! That's definite male pattern behaviour if I ever saw it. I think you should move on, girl." Miharu's eyebrow rose speculatively. "Say, I know a few people who would love to date you. Just give me the chance, and I'll have you over Jin in no time!"
Xiaoyu sighed in exasperation. "Miharu, I don't want to be set up with anyone else right now. Besides, like I said, it's not just boy problems bothering me! All I need is a good shopping trip to take my mind off of things," she said. "And I know you can help with that!" The two girls broke down into giggles and finished their drinks. "Alright, let's get outta here and do some serious damage at the mall!" Xiaoyu cheered. Her high spirits fell somewhat as they made their way out of the cafeteria and into the afternoon sunlight.
"Uh-oh," Miharu groaned, slowing to a walk. Sitting on the street before them was a sleek black limo, and both girls knew what that meant. "Maybe they're mad at you for skipping class," she whispered to her friend as the other girl scowled and clenched her fists.
"I wouldn't be surprised," Xiaoyu answered as she shooed Miharu away. "Go on, I'll call you later," she said, then strode purposefully towards the limousine. The driver stepped out of the car and swung the door open perfectly on cue. "So what is it now?" Xiaoyu asked cheekily, brushing by the driver and sliding into the back seat. "I had plans today, you know."
"Mr. Mishima desires to see you," the driver replied before shutting the door. Xiaoyu stuck her tongue out at him behind the darkened glass window, but she knew she wouldn't get any further answers from the man. The Mishima household demanded absolute obedience to the family from its servants. If there was one thing she had learned through her years of living with the Mishimas, it was that she was still an outsider, no matter how special the treatment Heihachi gave her was. She sighed silently as the limo pulled away from the curve, watching Miharu's shrinking form with a pang of regret.
Residence at the Mishima mansion hadn't bothered Xiaoyu before; after all, it did have its perks. Living in the lap of luxury with nothing to want for was definitely a plus. Getting the chance to sleep under the same roof as Jin was another huge benefit. Though the Mishimas had kept Jin busy almost constantly, Xiaoyu had treasured the chance meetings they did share in the household. Her favourite times had been "accidentally" stumbling across Jin as he trained in the dojo; watching him practice was magical to her. After Jin moved away the first time, the mansion had lost some of its magic, but Heihachi's kindness to her and Panda's constant presence had given her a sense of peace and belonging. Then the Fourth Tournament was called, and in the space of one email, everything had changed.
Xiaoyu frowned absently as she watched the buildings pass by, reflected in the windows of the limousine. The tinted glass made everything lose its colour, subduing the life and energy of the world outside. Living in the Mishima Building for the past six months was having a similar effect on Xiaoyu. It had been bad enough to start doubting that her "adoptive" grandfather could be anything less than the generous, accommodating old man she believed him to be; but Xiaoyu had been certain the warning was Jin's doing, and she knew Jin cared for her. Still, she had never confronted Heihachi, never even had the chance to ask Jin if he had really been the one to send that email. And then the explosion occurred, and Xiaoyu's world came apart with Jin's disappearance and Heihachi's death.
The limo pulled up smoothly before the large, imposing skyscraper which housed the Mishima Corporation Headquarters. It also doubled as the current Mishima Residence. The Corporation was run by Kazuya Mishima now, and his personal and business philosophies had always been dominated by a sense of cruel efficiency. The door of the car opened, and Xiaoyu stepped out and paused for a moment to look up at the towering building before her. "I hate living here," she mumbled as she watched a few suits rush past her through the rotating doors. Steeling her resolve, she marched into the building with a scowl on her face.
Inside, she ignored the nonexistent "greetings" of the Tekken Force guards, which mostly consisted of them not opening fire on her as she angrily stabbed the button next to the elevator marked "private." The wait was short, and Xiaoyu was soon ascending towards the penthouse quarters, where she knew Kazuya would be waiting. Butterflies bubbled up in her stomach, and she grimaced and tried to convince herself that the feeling was anger. There were cameras everywhere in the building, and Xiaoyu knew that somewhere, someone was watching. She wouldn't allow herself to show any weakness to Kazuya, no matter how uncomfortable he made her feel. The elevator stopped, and the doors slid open to reveal a large, carpeted room surrounded by windows. An elegant desk stood against the back wall, and the occupant sitting in the large swivelling chair was turned away from her view. Xiaoyu could tell it was Kazuya, however, from the large mass of spiked black hair protruding over the top of the chair. She stepped forward and made her way to the desk, clearing her throat noisily as she approached.
The chair slowly turned, and Xiaoyu repressed her shudder as she looked into Kazuya's mismatched eyes. His red eye reminded her of the Jack androids, only their gazes were at least mercifully blank. Kazuya's stares were always layered with thinly veiled contempt and hatred. She stiffed her resolve, and planting a hand on her hip, attempted to sound bored. "Well, what do you want now? Lowering my allowance again?" she asked him cheekily.
Kazuya's eyebrow twitched as he regarded the young girl before him. Folding his hands under his chin, he glared at Xiaoyu for a moment before speaking. "For someone in a position such as yours, you speak with a confidence that you haven't earned," he replied. "Consider yourself lucky that I still allow you a small stipend for your frivolous pursuits."
Silently Xiaoyu cursed at him, and decided on an offensive tactic. She glanced carelessly around the office, then turned back to Kazuya with a smile and crossed her arms. "Hey, I guess Uncle Lee hasn't visited today, huh? Everything's still intact!" As expected, the sharp comment elicited a deep scowl from Kazuya.
"That annoying pest regards you almost as highly as I do, you little fool. Should his pathetic bids for control of the Mishima Corporation ever come to fruition, I would still have the small satisfaction of knowing that YOU would be no better off." Cracking his knuckles, Kazuya reached for a stack of papers before him on the desk. "I didn't call you here to bicker over inconsequential matters," he added briskly. Finding what he was looking for, he took the small white envelope and held it up before Xiaoyu. "Do you recognize this?"
Xiaoyu turned her head slightly to regard the envelope, and then dropped her arms and her mouth open in surprise. Pointing at the offending object, she yelled "Is that what I think it is?" Seeing Kazuya smirk in satisfaction and drop the envelope, she planted her hands on her hips and stomped her foot. "Hey, what are you, nuts? We just had one six months ago! Why are you calling another tournament?" Xiaoyu was surprised once more as Kazuya began to chuckle.
"So you didn't know," he said smugly. "For your information, I am not the one who is sponsoring the tournament this time," he told her. "Of course, this would also mean that you have not received an invitation to participate." He grinned wolfishly as Xiaoyu recoiled at the statement. "Apparently the sponsor of this tournament does not hold your martial abilities in as high regard as my father did," Kazuya finished.
Xiaoyu felt the colour rising to her cheeks even as the pit of her stomach sank to her toes. No, it can't be! I have to be invited this time, I always am! Remembering who she was standing before, Xiaoyu quickly smoothed away the shock on her face and scowled at Kazuya. "My invitation just hasn't arrived yet, that's all," she hedged. "Just you wait, I'm going to be in this tournament, and I'm going to kick your butt this time!" She frowned as Kazuya only laughed louder at her.
"What charming phrases you children use today," Kazuya taunted, smirking at the fuming girl. "I would like to remind you of exactly how you lost at the last tournament," he added, cracking his knuckles dangerously. Seeing the fear rise on Xiaoyu's face, he grinned cruelly and stood from his chair.
An aura of malevolence encompassed Kazuya's form as he moved around the desk and approached Xiaoyu. She stepped back, thankful that her knees were not knocking together as her breath caught in her throat. The presence of evil in the room was so overwhelming she thought she might choke, and once again Yoshimitsu's words echoed through her head. "Kazuya is dangerous. His heart is blackened, his soul tainted by the devil, his body twisted by science. If you value your life, do not challenge him." Seeing Kazuya Mishima tower above her, cloaked by heavy shadows as his eyes glowed with an unnatural light, she found she couldn't move, barely even breath in the face of such power. This is why I lost at the last tournament, she thought desperately. I can't fight a power like this! Her panicked thoughts must have echoed across her face, because Kazuya's mouth stretched into a slow, evil grin as he regarded her.
"You are weak," he growled, towering over the tiny girl. "You lack focus, discipline, and the strength to succeed. I personally find you to be a pathetic excuse for a fighter." Leaning in, he grinned once more, revealing pointed teeth as Xiaoyu drew back with a squeak of fear. "You are fortunate that I find insects like yourself to be beneath my notice. Otherwise, I might take offence to your attitude. And believe me, you do not want to offend me."
Xiaoyu nodded once quickly, and it seemed to satisfy Kazuya, who turned away from her and returned to his desk. As he did so, the dark aura faded, and Xiaoyu found she could breathe once more. Immediately, a sense of anger flooded her, and one thought floated to the top of her head. That's not fair! her mind screamed. And, never having known when to quit, Xiaoyu replied with the only successful attack she could think of on a moment's notice. "So if you're not sponsoring the tournament, that means Uncle Lee must be, right?" she said tauntingly. "It's a real shame he's not running the Mishima Corporation yet, seeing as how he's so much better at organizing stuff than you are!" Her angry grin faded to a nervous gulp as she saw Kazuya freeze and his back stiffen.
"Ling Xiaoyu. Granddaughter of that old fool Wang Jinrei, are you not? How fortunate that you are related to a respected friend of the Mishima family, it has kept you alive this far. But you make the mistake of thinking that I have the same tolerance as my idiot father." He moved his head slightly, not even bothering to turn around and face Xiaoyu fully. "If you keep pushing, little girl, you shouldn't be surprised when something pushes back."
Xiaoyu gritted her teeth as Kazuya turned his head away and looked out the window. "What's that supposed to mean, you big meanie?" she spit out, glaring at the back of his head. "Are you gonna kill me now or something?" She held her breath, fearing his answer, considering what fighting stance to drop into, thinking of how she really should have gone shopping with Miharu instead, wondering if Jin would somehow magically burst through the elevator doors and save the damsel in distress, calculating if Kazuya would bother ruining his expensive purple smoking jacket by growing wings, and wondering just how big of a stain she would make on the office carpet. All of these things ran through her mind in the space of a second, but Kazuya's answer was the one thing she hadn't expected.
"You are not worth the time or the trouble to kill. In fact, there's no reason for the Mishima Corporation to tolerate your frivolous presence here any longer. Pack your things, you leave tomorrow." With that, Kazuya sat at his desk and began rearranging the carefully ordered papers there, clearly expecting Xiaoyu to leave without a word.
Her mouth opened and closed several times, and then Xiaoyu stepped forward. "W-what do you mean? What are you planning to do to me?" she asked in confusion. She sucked in her breath as Kazuya glanced back up at her lazily, the anger in his gaze gone, replaced only by a look of annoyed boredom.
"I thought I was being clear, but I had forgotten how slow you are to pick up certain things. You are going back to join your imbecile pet and senile grandfather, something which my own father should have done years ago. Ling Xiaoyu, you no longer enjoy the protection of the Mishima Corporation, and are therefore no longer welcome in Japan. You are to be deported tomorrow morning."