Chapter Five: Elated Reunion…
Author's Note: Alrighty…this chapter as the name implies will have reunions…LOTS of them…so sit back and hold on! Oh, and if you're interested, two pictures of Jamie and Mina are on my website! Krappkarmin was nice enough to draw them for me, so check 'em out if you get a chance…and leave a comment cuz that'd be sweet…I really can't tell you exactly what my webpage is here, cuz it'll not show up when I post this…but check my profile and click on my homepage! Thanks! Oh…and enjoy the humor while it lasts…don't worry, y'all know me, it's gonna get all action-y and angsty pretty soon!
Tokyo Japan…
Narita Airport,
August 10, 2005
The airport was packed as the five fighters got off the plane. The early afternoon sun streamed radiantly through the huge glass windows.
"So…did you get any sleep?" Kyo asked as he yawned.
"I tried too…but my pillow smelled like farts." Jamie responded.
"EEEEEWWWW! Can we talk about something else please?" Kaori asked.
"You boys are so immature!" Mina added with a laugh. "I couldn't fill out all those damn questions on the applications! We were in the air for over ten hours and I'm still not finished!"
"Don't worry Mina, you've got plenty of time…and only the first like, three pages are really important…as long as you got to the part about your fighting styles and stuff you'll be fine."
"Well that's good…I got up to the medical stuff and then just quit…by the way," She turned to Jamie. "Did you add that you were highly allergic to latex?"
"Yes…mom…" Jamie said with an exaggerated sigh.
"I just want to make sure you're safe that's all." Mina said.
"And you know I appreciate it…" Jamie wrapped his arm around her and kissed her lightly on the side of her head. "And I'm going to make sure that you're safe too…" He whispered.
"Aawww…you two are so sweet…" Kaori said.
"Wait…if you're allergic to latex…then how…" Kyo began.
"Oh…well…" Mina began to turn as scarlet as her hair color.
"Oh look," Jamie said, with his voice cracking. "There's the baggage claim!"
Kazuya had gotten off the plane early and told the four that he would meet them later…he had business to attend to at the Zaibatsu, the best thing that the others could do was to check into the hotel and to "Stay out of trouble!"
The only problem was that (usually) Jamie didn't go out looking for trouble…trouble tended to find him!
With the recent turn of events that the world was in, no one was allowed past the security checkpoints and metal detectors other then people who were coming off, or going on to a plane…up until the four got into baggage claim the airport was relatively quiet…but as soon as they descended the escalator…all hell had officially broken loose!
Japanese paparazzi were everywhere!
Jamie and the others rushed to get their bags…and unfortunately, didn't see any of their friends…they noticed some of the new fighters…but Jamie didn't see anyone he recognized.
"I never knew it was this bad…" Mina breathed.
"This tournament's kinda like your American Super Bowl…the Iron Fist tournaments are big everywhere…but especially in Japan." Kyo informed.
"I don't think I'll ever get used to this…" Mina said through nervous laughter.
The flash bulbs from countless cameras flooded Jamie's eyes as he and the others made their way to the waiting limo…as they ran the gauntlet millions of questions rang in their ears.
"MR. PARKER! JAMIE! WHO'S THE CUTE GIRL WITH YOU!"
"MISS, MISS! CAN WE GET A PICTURE? ARE YOU DATING JAMIE!"
"KYO! KYO! HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT YOUR GRANDFATHER HOLDING ANOTHER TOURNAMENT!"
"MISS MITSAKI? MISS MATSAKI? ANY PLANS OF MARRIAGE!"
The voices still carried as the limo pulled away from the airport towards the Mishima Hotel.
(New scene)
The flashes from the cameras didn't stop once the four reached the hotel…but luckily, after braving a gauntlet of paparazzi in the hotel's walkway…they suddenly stopped (thanks to the help of scary looking security guards). Mishima Hotel was just as Jamie remembered it…yet different some how…probably because the last time he was here it was winter, so it was always snowing, overcast and cold…he had never really realized how stunning the hotel actually looked on a late summer day such as this one.
The hotel was a very open and modern establishment…high glass windows and ceilings allowed the suns rays to filter in and splash across the ornate tile floors and wash onto the exotic plants in the solarium in the other room. To the immediate left of the doors was the front desk…decorated in beautiful and expensive jade and mahogany.
The attendants behind the counter were all women…beautiful, tall, and statuesque…while the bellhops all looked as if they had stepped out of the pages of a men's fashion magazine.
A small sitting area was set up to the right of the entrance…it was nothing incredibly fancy…just a few comfortable chairs and a coffee table. To the left of that, was a lounge area. That served drinks and various appetizers…the main food was served in the five star dining hall…and a door from the dining hall led to the infamous Mishima Hotel Ball Room.
The Hotel also boasted owning it's own Shinto Temple (in the beautifully manicured back lawn), a Zen Garden, state of the art training facilities, and several entertainment areas.
Most people would give an arm and a leg to stay at such a fancy hotel…one that if you weren't royalty, or some A list celebrity, you weren't really getting in.
The Nephilim always thought that it was funny that the fighter's never stayed in the actual hotel very long…if memory served him correctly, everyone tended to go out every night and party with the "commoners" in dance clubs and the like.
"Hello, and welcome to the Mishima Hotel." The woman behind the counter said.
She gave off a smile that reminded Jamie of a toothpaste commercial…and her breath smelled like Altoid breath mints.
"Hi," Jamie responded evenly. "We're here for the tournament," He gestured to his friends. "I'm Jamie Parker…and this is Kyo Kazam-"
"I'm sorry," The woman interrupted. "You won't actually get your room assignments at this time…we're still making preparations…we apologize for the inconvenience…but-" The woman's low, soothing voice made her sound almost mechanical.
"It's okay…we'll find something to do." Mina interrupted graciously with a smile.
"I can think of something we could do…" Jamie said with mock innocence.
"Niiiccceee…" Kyo said and the two high fived.
"OH! You two!" Mina said in mock exasperation.
"Really Kyo…is that all you boys think about?" Kaori asked. "C'mon Mina, I'm thirsty…let's get something to drink."
"I'm with you…it girl talk time…"
Suddenly, the doors to the hotel opened and in walked someone that Jamie had never seen before…he wore a pair of brown, corduroy pants, and a brown pull over. He wore an expensive gold watch and several rather nice looking rings on his fingers. His hair was tied back in dreads, and he wore a pair of sunglasses. He looked Brazilian, but then again, Jamie could've been wrong.
Jamie watched him, and the man turned and looked at him…he offered a small smile, and a polite nod before walking to the front desk.
"No more pictures you guys!" A girl's voice giggled from outside. "Seriously…I've gotta get inside or Eddy'll kill me…no more pictures…okay…maybe one more…make sure you get my good side!"
Jamie, Kyo, Mina and Kaori looked at eachother.
"Christie." They said in unison.
Christie continued to pose for the camera for another five minutes before walking inside the hotel. Her exotic, reddish brown hair fell in long, flowing, waves down her back; a pair of white, trendy sunglasses were perched atop her head. She wore a black top, that tied at the neck, leaving her back, and limber arms bare. Christie also wore a tight denim miniskirt, and her trademark sandals.
Behind her, were two drooling bellhops carrying two gilded luggage carts that were filled to the brim with the Capoeira Masters clothing and make up.
"Christie," Mina called and waved. "Over here!"
Truthfully, Mina was a little envious of the other girls in the tournament…and while she loved everyone of them, she couldn't help but feel a tad jealous of each of the girl's unique traits…Christie was so pretty…and so nice…and she was such a great dancer.
Any other girl who wore the outfits that Christie did would be immediately labeled as a slut or a whore, but on Christie, they looked great, and no one said anything.
"Oh my God!" Christie exclaimed loudly.
She rushed to the four teens and embraced each one of them in a hug.
"You guys look so great!" She said with a smile.
"You do too," Mina said. "I love you're outfit!"
"Thanks," She said and did a slow turn to model it. "I know I'm a little over dressed…but I wanted to make Steve totally lose his fish n' chips when he see's me." Her smile faded for a second. "You haven't seen him yet have you?"
"Why? What's wrong? Did you guys break up?" Kaori asked, genuine concern on the petite Japanese girl's face.
"What? Oh no…no not
all…but with this whole Pussycat Dolls thing…and he being the,"
She faked a British Accent. "Middle Weight Champion of the World…we
haven't really seen each other since the wedding."
"We haven't seen him yet…do you want us to go check?" Jamie asked.
"Seriously…me and Kaori were just going to go get a drink…Jamie and Kyo can look if you want?" Mina asked.
"Hey…standing here…standing right here!" Kyo said.
"Mina and I needed some girl talk…being on the plane with these two for the last ten hours has been insane!" Kaori said with a giggle and a wink at her boyfriend.
"That's typical male behavior…don't be too hard on them." Christie said. "They're real sweeties…but…if you guys don't mind?" Christie asked.
"Nah…it's no biggie…we'll find him…I've got all those crazy Nephilim skills."
"Don't forget my sweet Devil moves!" Kyo chimed in.
"Thanks you guys…you both are so sweet…but first, I want you all to meet someone." Christie said.
She turned and motioned for the man Jamie saw earlier to walk over. "This is my friend Eddy…he taught me Capoeira."
"Pleased to meet you all…" He said politely.
Jamie could tell he wasn't much of a talker.
"Hey, how's it going?" Jamie asked as he gave Eddy a handshake.
Quickly, Eddy excused himself to check out the rest of the hotel.
"You'll have to forgive him…he's a little shy around new people…" Christie added.
"Hey don't worry about it!" Kyo said…he turned to Jamie. "So, we're on a Steve hunt right?"
"Right!" Jamie replied.
They turned to leave until Mina called him back.
"Yeah?" Jamie asked.
Mina gave him a quick kiss on the mouth. "You really are a great boyfriend…hurry back okay?"
"Yes ma'am!" Jamie said with a grin.
Quickly, he chased after Kyo, and the two ran down the hall.
(New Scene)
It wasn't that hard to find Steve Fox…he was in the locker room in the pool area…Jamie could tell because his acute, Nephilim sense of smell picked up Steve's distinct odor…Steve smelled vaguely of moth balls, and some kind of shower gel that Jamie remembered when the two roomed together in the last tournament.
They found him standing in front of one of the mirror's fixing his hair…Steve Fox…one of the hunks of the Iron Fist Tournament…his hair and eyes were about a shade lighter then Jamie's own…Steve was good looking and he knew it…and while he was a good hearted person, most people only saw him as self diluted…cocky…and arrogant…
Steve ran his fingers under the faucet and combed his wet fingers through his hair…which had grown a bit in length and was now parted down the middle rather then slicked straight back. Jamie remembered hearing that he was Nina's son…and he supposed that there was a resemblance in the two.
In a lot of ways, Steve reminded Jamie of his friend Robbie back home…which was probably why the two were such good friends…of course, out of most (if not all) The Iron Fist fighters, Jamie was the youngest fighter in the tournament…even Asuka was a month older then he was!
Still, in this tournament, friendships were not made based on age…rather it all depended on how good you were in the ring…it was simple here…respect equals friendship…and sometimes…rivalries…
Jamie felt somewhat stupid that this was his second Tournament and he still wasn't up to date on all the rivalries that go down…but then again, these sort of things seem to start and end overnight…and it was hard for most people to keep up as well.
"Steve?" Jamie asked.
"Oi…who's that?"
"It's Kyo!" Kyo called.
"And Jamie!"
"Hey!" He turned and flashed a huge grin. "How've you guys been?"
"Pretty good…y'know, I'm not dead and the world hasn't been sucked into hell!" Jamie said with his trademark sarcasm.
"It's kinda been a normal summer for us kids." Kyo added.
"That's great you guys…um…you haven't seen Christie have you?"
Jamie and Kyo struggled to keep a straight face.
"Um…yeah…she's with Mina and Kaori." Jamie said.
"Has…she said anything about me?" Steve asked.
"Yeah…kind of…" Jamie said.
"Well…I'm glad that she's livin' it up with the Pussycat Dolls…cause I've got a big boxing career and…she didn't say if she met anyone else did she?"
"I don't think so…let's go find her and check." Kyosuke said.
With Steve in tow, the three walked back towards the main lobby.
"Sir, this is a no smoking area…please…"
"I don't understand the logic here! You've got a crazy ass fucking ninja wondering around here with a kitana…so why can't I have my fucking cigarette! Do you know how long of a flight I've had!"
Jamie didn't have to second guess who THAT voice belonged to.
And, sure enough, as they turned the corner they saw Hwoarang…using gestures with one hand, and holding his cigarette in the other.
"Hwoarang…just put the damn thing out…" Jin sighed.
"No Kazama…I don't have to do anything!"
"Yeah!" Billy Kazama chimed in.
Jamie laughed…it was kind of funny how Billy Kazama idolized Hwoarang, and wanted to be just as badass as him…Billy was mostly talk, but he did have some serious power to back it up.
"Sir…please allow me to direct you to the nearest smoking section and-"
"By that time it'll have burned out genius…look, I hate airplanes anyway, and I'm going on a fuckin' NIC FIT! Just let me smoke!"
The concierge sighed and walked away.
"Nice job…we're here for barely five minutes and you've already nearly gotten us kicked out." Jin said with his arms crossed.
"What Jin?" Billy asked. "The man has to smoke."
"You'd better watch yourself 'cuz…with all the gel you use…if any of those ashes hit your hair, you'll go up like a torch." Kyo said wisely.
"Then you'll really be a flame head like your idol Billy!" Jamie added.
"Fuck off Jamie!" Billy said.
"Hey…" Hwoarang said through the cigarette poking out of his mouth. "Look who it is…my favorite Chosen Warrior for Christ, and mini-me."
"Hey you guys!"
"Jamie…Kyosuke…it's good that you're here…we need to get together with father and figure out what's been going on…we need to know how Heihachi managed to cheat death and who's this new kid we've been seeing."
"Kazama…don't be a fucking party foul…" Hwoarang said as he tapped the ashes, and smudged the last of his cigarette into one of the potted plants.
"And we said we were going to keep low profiles!" Jin spat. "Instead you had to go off on that concierge…wait to go Hwoarang!"
"Listen, Kazama-"
"Hey," Jamie interrupted. "Where are the girls?"
"Jules, Xiao, and Asuka went to the bar." Billy said.
"Then they've probably met up with Kaori and Mina…let's go." Kyosuke said.
(New Scene…)
The bar was packed as the other fighters began to filter in…but Jamie and the others managed to find their friends, who waved them over to a booth.
"Hey Christie…" Steve said nervously.
"Oh…hi Steve…"
"I like your…" Both began.
"Do you wanna-" Steve started.
"Yes…LIKE NOW!"
And with that, both ran off towards the restrooms.
"Well…" Jamie said, breaking the silence. "At least that wasn't weird."
"Jamie! Hey!" Julia exclaimed. She embraced Jamie in a hug.
She wore a turquoise, billowy skirt that was popular among girls nowadays, and a brown camisole top. Her hair was down and she wore traditional, Native American jewelry. Xiaoyu looked pretty as ever in a trendy, bohemian printed summer dress…and Jin looked handsome in a tight black t-shirt and jeans. His hair wasn't gelled…which, once again, Jamie would have to get used too.
Hwoarang was wearing a pair of baggy jeans, and a t-shirt that had a smiley face on it…only the smiley face had a bullet hole through it's forehead…and x's for eyes and a sad frown.
Asuka was next…she wore a pair of flared jeans and a t-shirt that said "Just break up with me!"
After the two had exchanged pleasantries, Jamie remembered something.
"Robbie told me to tell you that he says 'hi!'" Jamie said.
Asuka blushed slightly…and once again, Jamie filed that in his memory banks to bring up later with Mina.
The group chatted some more…filling everyone in on their lives…and while important issues needed to be discussed, they were never brought up…much was forgotten with funny stories and laughing…and they were blissfully unaware that they were being watched from the corner of the bar…he watched them…talking…laughing…and having a great time…and he realized how unfair it was…
Grey watched Jamie laugh at a joke, then tell a funny story and get the others roaring…and he couldn't wait until the time came when he'd punch those pearly teeth of his down the Nephilim's fucking throat…
Author's Note: Okay…this chappie was hard to write so sorry it took so long…hope it was okay…PLEASE READ AND REVIEW AND MUCH LOVE TO EVERYONE! Oh, and to shadowsin…you're idea sounds awesome…and I will use it…if you don't mind waiting like…two chapters…or maybe one…no…no definitely two…then that will SOOOO happen! Hope you like this story so far!