Chapter 3

Kazuya came at me with a blade. I'd already changed back to my human form but still the Gene could be extracted.

"Excuse me, boys, I don't think you belong down here." I turned to look for the feminine voice who'd come to rescue me. She dropped over the wooden railing of the staircase. She was a blonde. I recognize her from the tournament but I can't place her name.

"So, its you." Kazuya seemed hardly surprised.

"Yes, that would be so. What's with the kid?"

Lee spoke up. "What is it that you want, Williams?" Williams. Nina, perhaps, or is it Anna?

"Not until you tell me why he's here." She doesn't give up. That's good for me, I hope. "Alright," she said, seeing as they made no reply. "We'll do this the hard way." Williams landed an array of kicks to Lee's stomach, knocking him into Kazuya. The Mishima only pushed Lee aside and punched her in the face. The woman was not surprised to be hit and seemed expectant. But still she took the first few blows and when she was given the chance, ducked and kicked Kazuya's legs out from under him, knocking his head into the wall behind the staircase.

When Kazuya had pushed Chaolan, he'd fallen and still he laid there until Kazuya fell. Lee attempted to get up but Williams, in walking toward me, stepped a heeled foot to his abdomen, making him sink back down.

"Let's go, Kazama." Her voice was cold and harsh. "I don't usually do rescue missions, but I owed your girl a favor." I knew she was talking about Xiao.

I held up my arms to reveal the chains. "What do you mean a favor?" The woman began to work at my wrists.

"She insisted that she'd helped me. Finally I gave in. God, that girl is annoying." My guess was that she had anticipated metal because she had with her a few pairs of pliers.

A walkie-talkie sounded. "Nina, is everything alright?" I'd expected it to be Xiaoyu, but the voice was somewhat more masculine. It was just loud enough that I could hear.

Nina put a finger to her ear and spoke. "I just broke him out of the cell. The room service was really bad."

"Ling and I are in the Honmaru waiting for you. Heihachi should be back soon and there's nowhere to hide." The voice spoke again.

"We'll be right there." She turned to me. "Is there by any chance that Xiaoyu can defend herself?" I nodded. "Good." I followed her up the stairs, toward the Honmaru. "I'm babysitting."

"The Honmaru is fixed? Kazuya and Heihachi were attacked and there was an explosion, I thought." I questioned as we walked.

She didn't answer.

We reached the top to find a newly built Honmaru. Waiting there, Xiaoyu was standing near a dark-skinned man I have never seen before. What kind of man wears a pink collared shirt and a tie? (A/N: Lukas Hayes, from Death By Degrees, is in this story and he is alive. This takes place before they got back to the cruise ship. If you are not familiar with Death By Degrees, don't worry about it.)

"Jin Kazama, Lukas Hayes." Nina stood there, looking bored and vexed. The man, adjusting his glasses, held a hand out for me to shake.

"Nice to meet you," Hayes smiled. I didn't respond.

"Jin!" Xiao snapped back to reality and she nearly tackled me.

"She's been talking about you nonstop. Does she ever shut up?" I shook my head so Xiao wouldn't hear my answer. Xiao never shut up and I never said a word.

"Jin, are you alright? I was so worried."

"I know, Xiao." I wrapped my arms around her back. I want to love her but I need to keep my distance so she doesn't get hurt.

Her arms dropped back to her sides and she smiled at me.

"Okay, can we get outta here now, before Heihachi comes?" Lukas is afraid but I can't blame him; Heihachi could be pretty scary, I guess.

"But where do we go?" Xiao asked, looking at Nina.

"Lukas and I need to get back to Amphitrite. And you two need to get on with your lives and stay out of mine. I did you your favor; now stay out of my way." Nina seemed vexed but not only with Xiao and I, but with Hayes as well.

"Please, Nina? Help us get out of here." Xiao put on a saddened look and Nina threw up her hands.

"Alright, you win. Anything to get you to shut up." Nina started to walk away. "Just follow me out."

Nina cracked the door open so that she could see outside. A group of Heihachi's soldiers were scattered about in the next room and there was no other exit to take. We had to go in and fight them.

The four of us shuffled out and the men came our way. I threw a few punches at the nearest one. I kicked at their spines as they came at me.

A few minutes passed and I heard a sort of scream. "Help me!" Lukas was on the ground, cowering in fear.

Nina rolled her eyes. "I got him."

I turned back around only to get a punch in the face. I kicked the guy down and turned to look at the room. The room was now empty except for us and the bodies that lie scattered in our path.

We walked towards the door and Nina, as she went, dug her heel into the flesh of the men trying to get back up. After we'd exited the building, Williams turned to Ling and I. "Okay, now leave me alone. Time to go, Lukas."

"Huh? Oh, coming. Bye Jin, Ling, nice meeting both of you." Hayes waved.

"Goodbyes are not needed, now let's go!"

"Gosh, I'm comin', woman. Slow down!" Lukas ran to catch up with Nina.

Ling and I began walking in the other direction. She tried to take my hand but I pulled it away. "Xiao, I can't."

"What's wrong, Jin?" She stopped me from walking any further without talking to her first. "Are you hurt?" She could see the pain in my eyes.

"No, I'm fine. It's just…I…I can't." I shook my head and walked on. This time she didn't stop me.