Chapter Eight: Where Were You?
Author's Note: Okay…I really appreciate that people are being nice and telling me that my story is not sucking, cuz it really means a lot to me…I'm really not just saying it for attention LOL…anyway, here's a new chapter, thanks to everyone…and I hope we can reply to reviews soon cuz I really miss doing it! Oh, and by the way…I really don't know why Yoshimitsu looks the way he does…so I'm just going to give my own personal spin on it!
"I'm so tired…" Jamie Parker murmured as he flopped onto his bed.
It had been an exhausting day for him and the others…it was funny, but Jamie hated getting his picture taken…he wasn't exactly sure why…maybe it was left over insecurities from his awkward stages, but he absolutely detested it. He already knew how ironic it was that one of his hobbies was taking pictures and he hated getting photographed.
He lay on his bed, stretched and yawned…he had changed into a pair of more comfortable clothes since Orientation…for that, he wore a pair of somewhat baggy jeans, and a white t-shirt that said: Rex Kwon Do: Bow to your Sensei…BOW TO YOUR SENSEI! (Napolean Dynamite was one of Jamie's favorite movies). Mina picked his outfit out for him…she wanted him to look sexy…but not too sexy…
He still wore that shirt, he liked it, and it clung to his frame nicely enough without being too tight…only he changed into a pair of blue, baggy basketball shorts. With his hair tied back in a bun, he had planned to take a quick nap and go on patrol.
Orientation had ended about an hour and a half ago…and everyone was too tired to party. It seemed that tonight's plans would be to rest up for the tournament…which was tomorrow…Jamie put his headphones on and turned on his Mp3 player…as he listened to his patented "Sleep Mix" he began to reflect on the tournament…
Strangely, he didn't feel very nervous…yet…he wasn't bragging when he knew he could take out the newbies easily…of course, there were other threats…and even though they weren't the Nephilim many of these fighter's had been training all their lives…and most had grudges that needed to be fulfilled, which gave them an edge that even a Nephilim found would be difficult to beat!
The roster this year was pretty impressive…that strange demon killing ninja Yoshimitsu was back…and this year he looked like some kind of crazy…insect…thing with a human skull…Jamie had to admit that was a little unnerving…Yoshimitsu was half demon, but a good demon, so Jamie didn't see any reason why he had to kill him.
Demons were like people…many races could choose to be good if they wanted too, and Yoshimitsu was a lot more of a decent person then most human beings that Jamie could think of.
There was another ninja in the tournament…her name was Kunimitsu, but she looked human enough…she had a fox mask to conceal her features…Bruce Irving was in the tournament too…Jamie had never met him…and he didn't really care either…he seemed incredibly…focused…almost extremely so…and the Nephilim had to admit that he did seem rather intimidating.
Of course, there was Craig Marduk…Jamie's 'friend' from last year…and more recently, earlier in the summer when he attempted to kill him while the Nephilim was on a mad hunt for Chakra Orbs…there were so many returning vets and new ones that it was hard for Jamie to keep track.
The Nephilim thought about the tournament for a little while longer before drifting off to sleep…the sun dipped low behind the clouds as it set, and the last thing Jamie noticed before going to sleep that Kyo's bed was perfectly made…he must not have come back to the room.
Oh well…just probably went out with Kaori is all…
Unfortunately, it wasn't that that simple…and before this night was over he'd be regretting not paying more attention to his friend…
New Scene…
Kyosuke Kazama walked the twisting back alleys and streets of downtown Tokyo…a place that he definantely wouldn't have brought Kaori…King of Iron Fist fighter or not…this was no place to bring a loved one. He didn't know where to find Grey…in fact; he didn't know much if anything about Grey at all…then again, neither did anyone else…all Kyo really knew about him was that he was working for his grandfather…which seemed to be a big indicator on who his allegiances lay…and he had beaten up his friend and his friend's girl…and more importantly…his…
Kaori…
But this wasn't the only reason for this confrontation…Kyo had also hoped that maybe he could end this whole Grey thing once and for all…Jamie may not be allowed to kill people, but that wouldn't stop Kyo…and while he wasn't exactly looking forward to it, if it came down to it…then Grey's life could and would end tonight.
He felt bad for not telling anyone about this but if he did then there would be a big argument…and Kyo wasn't in the mood to hear it…besides, on a lighter note, he didn't want to upset them…or cause them to worry…especially Kaori.
Kyo may not have had Jamie's jacked up senses, but for some reason, he could tell that he was getting close to where Grey was…call it intuition or whatever…but as he walked through the narrow, twisting alleys he knew he was getting close.
He leapt a fence with relative ease and found himself at a dead end…two buildings and a third boxed him in…a dumpster stood in the front…
But no Grey…
"Where…" Kyo began, looking around.
"Riiiggghhhtttt heeeereee!" A voice called cheerily as it fell from the sky.
Out of the sky dropped Grey…he had changed much since Grey had seen him last…only tonight he wore a long, black shiny, leather trench coat…it sounded like bat wings as he hit the ground. He landed on his feet, and calmly stood up.
"I'm surprised you showed up…you just moved up a notch on my list…consider yourself at zero." Grey said.
"You use negative numbers? How much of an idiot are you?" Kyo asked.
A nice comeback, Grey decided to ignore it.
"Y'know," He cocked his head to the side and glanced around. "This whole area's kinda famous…that building," He brushed his bangs away and pointed to the building in front of them. "That is where your father threw your friend off the roof during the last tournament."
"That wasn't my father…it was the Devil inside of him."
"And inside of you to right?"
"Don't associate me with that…Jin, Billy and I control it now."
"Of course you do," Grey chuckled and paced. "And I thought my life was messed up."
"Yeah well at least I know who my parents are!" Kyo shot back.
The comment was incredibly untactful and actually a little mean, but Kyo was sick of this game.
"Shut…the…fuck…up…" Grey said angrily. "When I'm through with you…you'll have an interesting life as fertilizer…right next to your whore bitch mother!"
And then the two rushed eachother…
New Scene…
At around the time the fight between Grey and Kyo began, Jamie awoke to the sound of knocking at his room door. He opened his eyes blearily and stared in astonishment at how dark his room had gotten.
He quickly checked his cellphone's clock and found that it was now 10:30 at night…how long had he been sleeping?
"Jamie…Jamie are you in there? Open up!"
It was Asuka…
Pale moonlight washed over the room as Jamie walked to the door…in the dark he tripped over one of his bags...he cursed under his breath and opened it. Asuka stood at the threshold wearing a white tank top and a pair of jogging pants…her hair clung in damp strands…and her face was mirrored with sweat.
"Hey Asuka…what's up?"
"Sorry to wake you…but…have you seen Kyo?"
Jamie quickly checked his roommate's bed…which was still empty.
"Nah…haven't seen 'em…did you check with Kaori…or Jin or Billy? Hell, even Mina…he promised to help her reprogram her cellphone."
"I asked him to help me work on my Kazama technique…and he didn't show!"
"That's not like him." Jamie agreed…brow knitting in confusion.
"The others went to go visit dad at the Zaibatsu to go over some tournament stuff…Jin said that we were to stay put…I don't know, I guess it's 'grown up stuff' or something." She added with a nervous giggle.
"Yeah, then why did Billy go?" Jamie said flippantly. "What about Kaori, does she know where he is?"
"No, and I asked her first…now she's getting upset…Mina's trying to make her feel better…"
"I'll go look for him." Jamie said with resolve.
He flicked on his lights, and winced slightly at the sudden rush of illumination as he reached underneath his bed. He grabbed his hunting knife, and tossed Asuka a dagger.
"Wanna come with?"
"I guess I am now." She breathed reluctantly. "Do you really think it's that bad…do you think…maybe he's in trouble?"
"I don't know…I mean…he was a little quiet after his little run in with Grey and…" Suddenly, all the pieces of the puzzle fit in the Nephilim's mind the mood swings and…
"What?" Asuka asked impatiently…then she gasped. "You don't think."
"Kyo's in trouble…we have to go now!" Jamie said in an eerily calm voice as he jogged across the room and out the door…Asuka following hot on his heels.
"Well he's not-"
"He's not dead…but he's most likely gotten himself beaten pretty bad…we don't have a lot of time we have to hurry!" Jamie said as the two walked down the hall.
"Jamie!" Mina called…she held two sodas in her hands. "Where are you going?"
"Kyo's in trouble…I need you to stay here and please…keep this quiet."
"Alright…be safe okay?" Mina asked.
"I will…" He embraced her and kissed her softly before heading out into the night with Asuka.
Mina watched them until they both were swallowed by the shadows…
New Scene…
"AAAGGGHHH!" Kyo moaned as Grey punched him hard in the face.
He staggered backwards and rammed into the fence. Grey moved to punch him again, but Kyo blocked the attack and flipped Grey onto the concrete…Kyo tried to follow with an axe kick to Grey's face but the Avatar blocked it, grabbed Kyo's heel and flipped him onto the ground. Quickly, with a kick up, Grey was on his feet again, and dropped into a fighter's stance.
"That all you got? Heihachi told me to watch out for that Kazama style…so where is it?"
Kyo got up and lunged at Grey, the two engaged in fierce hand to hand…blocking, punching and kicking…and while Kyo did land a few hits on Grey they didn't seem to faze him…quickly, Grey launched a jumping front snap kick that sent Kyo reeling…he landed against the dumpster…he could feel himself fading.
"Y'know I always wanted a puppy growing up but I never got one…I always thought I'd be good with dogs though…think I could teach you to stay?" A punch came, Kyo blocked it, and desperately launched a side kick at Grey…and while it was enough to buy Kyo some time…it wasn't enough…
The last thing that he saw was Grey's steel toed boot rushing towards his face…he had fought Grey…had landed some pretty good hits…but in the end it wasn't enough…
New Scene…
Jamie and Asuka ran through the alleyways…Asuka couldn't keep up with Jamie's momentum crossing the rooftops but she did her best to keep up with him on foot…Jamie did hold back so he didn't lose her, but they were still making some good time.
And finally, they made it to their destination…the same alley that The Nephilim had plummeted down in the last tournament…had it really been only six months ago? Coming back had brought a rush of nostalgia back…and Jamie felt a dull pain in his back as he remembered his near death experience.
He and Asuka climbed the fence and Jamie found a body…slumped against the dumpster…
"……….oooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhh………" A voice moaned.
"Kyo…oh Kyo…" Asuka began, tears forming in her eyes.
Jamie rushed towards his fallen friend…he was a mess of black and blue bruises everywhere…he remembered Kyo telling him that the Devil within him helped him heal a bit faster then most…but still…
"…Kyo…Kyo I'm so sorry…" Jamie muttered.
He brushed a strand of blonde hair from his face as tears started to form in his eyes…he should have paid more attention…he should have confronted his friend sooner…it boggled his mind that while Kyo was getting his ass kicked, Jamie was safe and comfortable, snoozing in his own bed.
It shouldn't have been Kyo…it should've been him…
Now someone's brother, someone's son, someone's cousin, someone's lover, and someone's friend was injured…badly…and it was all Jamie's fault.
All because some stupid Nephilim had to have a selfish moment.
"Jamie…listen…this isn't your-"
"You're gonna have to help me carry him Asuka…" Jamie said in a scary, monotone voice.
"But…the fence…how are we gonna-"
With Nephilim speed, Jamie ran to the fence and jump kicked it with all his strength…it burst from it's hinges and landed across the street.
"That's one of our problems solved…" He said.
Jamie reached down, and hoisted Kyo up by grabbing him under his arm…Asuka did the same, and it looked like they were carrying a drunk…
"You're gonna be okay Kyo…you'll be fine…let's just get you home…" Jamie whispered reassuring words to him.
"Jamie…don't worry, Jin says that the Devil gene helps people heal faster…kinda like your Nephilim Gene…and he'll be fine for the Tournament tomorrow." Asuka tried to reassure.
The Tournament…
"Grey's gonna be at the Tournament…and I'm going to fight him…" Jamie began calmly.
Quickly, with his free hand, he punched the nearest brick wall…it made a small whole, and red dust floated through.
"And he is going to PAY for what he did…you can mess with me…you can call me names…you can try to kill me…but NOBODY messes with my friends and loved ones!" Jamie finished with resolve.
Author's Note: Rushed I know…but I've been a bit busy…I needed to write a 30 page story for my Creative Writing class so I've been working on it…and I'm up to 25 pages so I'm almost done! Shadowsin…I hope I did okay! Hit me back and lemme know alright? PEACE OUT EVERYONE PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!