Chapter 5: Watch you change

Two weeks had passed since the first day of the tournament. The second day of the tournament was a little later in the day and all fighters, at least those who weren't eliminated, were practicing or sparring with each other. Among them and creating the most noise were Paul and Law with his loud growls and his sharp Kung Fu battle cries. Both were more or less even as they had sparred many times but Paul was little serious today, prompting Law to ask why.

"Hey Paul! Why are you so quiet today?"

"I've been thinking…" but before Paul could finish the sentence, Law cracked up.

"You think? Ha-ha-ha good one!"

"Shut up!"

Law realized that Paul wasn't in the joking mood and so sobered up.

"You know the guy you beat…whats-his-name…Beak?"

"B-a-e-k…"

"What ever…anyway he is leaving today for Korea. He said he was going to start his own Taekwondo dojo."

"Why you telling me that?"

"Well it would be nice if you went and wished him luck. You bashed the poor guy up pretty badly and you know he was upset. The guy isn't such a bad guy and you know it. Just wish him luck, be nice to him for a bit and that would be a good start for him."

Law was considering it when they saw Baek walking out of the compound. He had left the Zaibatsu and his position as Kazuya's henchmen. Paul looked at Law and insisted that Law should wish Baek luck. Law was reluctant at first but finally called out to him. He knew Paul was right.

They both walked up to him and Baek was glad to see Law—since his defeat at his hands he had started looking at Law as not only the better fighter but also as the better person.

"Mr. Law!" Baek said as he stopped.

"So…err…Baek…I…heard you're leaving!"

Baek nodded.

"Well that is good…yeah, it's nice really! Good luck with the dojo you intend to make!" Law finally managed.

"Yeah! Good luck! We would like to see you're dojo one day, Beak!" Paul said with a thumbs-up.

"Thank you, Mr. Phoenix! And my name is B-a-e-k not Beak."

Paul bit his tongue.

"Tomato Potato!" he said, laughing heartily.

Law and Baek just stared at Paul, blankly. That was the wrong expression.

Finally Baek bowed graciously to the two and picked up his bag. As he walked away he felt something on his face after a very, very long time—a smile.

"Hey you can give some pretty good advice, Paul…" Law said to Paul as they watched Baek leave. Paul beamed in delight, waiting for more appreciations being showered his way. "…You're not such a moron after all."

Paul who was nodding and smiling in a self-satisfied way, standing with his arms crossed at his chest, fell down when Law said the 'moron' part. Instantly he held the Kung Fu veteran by the collar in a flash.

"YOU…here I am doing you a favor and you call me a moron!"

"Let go off my collar!"

"I'll never let go! Even if I die!"

"You!"

The rest of the fighters jumped in to stop the two morons from tearing each other apart. It was like that always.

A few days later

Like the first day of the tournament all fighters were there waiting for waiting for the day to begin—the ones who were to fight stood waiting for their opponents, mentally preparing themselves for it. Lei was standing there the most radiant, beaming—and he had all the reason to. Wang Jinrei had dropped out of the tournament making him advance on default—Lei was going to remain in the tournament after all.

"Wow…I better train harder now. I'll make sure that I don't get eliminated again," he kept telling himself again and again…and also to anyone who was listening. Law and Paul, who were standing next to him had to hear that over and over again. Both were fuming by now as Lei kept on going on and on and on. Lei then smiled and spoke to the fighter next to him.

"Can you believe it? I lost but having my kind of luck, I am still in the tournament!" he said to the man in the dark gi, a cheeky smile on his face. Lei gulped when the fighter turned his head and stared at him, no emotion on his face but hatred—Lei had forgotten that he was talking to Heihachi Mishima. Heihachi just scoffed and walked away to his room. Lei gulped and came back towards Law and Paul. Paul nudged Law as they stared at Heihachi walk away.

"What's up that guy's ass?"

"Beats me…"

A buzz from the crowd indicated that the host was making his way to the arena—Kazuya Mishima. Kazuya walked up and had his usual angry expression, his thick eyebrows knitted in a perpetual image of rage and bitterness. However, despite his appearance and his staunch, arrogant gait, all noticed some sort of change in him. His eyes looked more tranquil…maybe he owed it to Jun who walked next to him, a loving and gentle smile on her face as she looked at him. She was smiling and blushing, holding onto his arm. They had made love many, many times since the day she came back to him. By now they had perfect harmony in their lovemaking—and last night was particularly passionate. She couldn't help but smile when she thought about it, intertwining her fingers around his tighter. Kazuya sat down on a large chair and she sat next to him. She smiled at him. Kazuya didn't smile but his eyes did.

Lei couldn't believe his eyes.

"Jun-san…with…Kazuya?"

Lei couldn't help but feel his heart sink—Jun was not going to be with him…not anytime soon.

Kazuya sat staring at all the fighters and at his nod the second day of the tournament began. Kazuya looked at Lee, who was sitting next to Anna fondling her breasts through her clothes, while she had her leg rubbing his. He was constantly whispering something in her ear to which she would laugh out loud that started to make everyone uncomfortable. They continued this way until Kazuya finally whipped around and glared at them his steel gaze locked on him and Anna. Lee moved a little further away from Anna and she sat in a relatively more "womanly" fashion.

"I don't care what you do to her behind close doors, but keep your 'thing' in its place when you're outside! And especially when I am around! You understand?"

Some of the guards chuckled when Kazuya said that. Lee and Anna separated from each other, both their faces sufficed with embarrassment and humiliation. Jun was feeling uneasy with those two shameless idiots and was glad once they straightened himself up. Jun too couldn't help giggling when Kazuya said that. Once he turned around, Jun could see a particularly mischievous smile on his face—he enjoyed messing around with Lee.

The second day of the tournament began with Ganryu taking on Michelle. Jun could feel Kazuya tensing up slightly as he saw Michelle. Ganryu was mentioning something about some pendant to Kazuya before the fight began. Michelle too shouted at Kazuya demanding to know where her mother was. Kazuya as usual didn't react. Jun looked at them Kazuya in confusion and found his eyes avoiding hers.

The fight ended with Michelle picking up a surprise win over the massive sumo warrior. Kazuya's lips curled in irritation as he saw his henchman flat on the ground. Michelle started asking him something as he lay on the ground and he was spilling his guts out. Michelle immediately got up and ran towards Kazuya.

"Kidnapper! Murderer!" she kept on saying as she ran up to the stands where he was.

Kazuya stood up and stared at Michelle as she ran up to him, her eyes glowing with nothing but rage and hatred. Jun just looked at them both utterly perplexed.

"W-what…is going on?"

Kazuya didn't say anything.

Some of the guards took an aim at the running Michelle. Jun saw them.

"STOP!"

They all looked at each other confused. Their boss was her lover. They had to obey her.

Michelle inched closer to Kazuya, powering up her fists.

"Twin-arrow!"

Before she could hit him though, Kazuya ducked low slightly and landed a jarring shot on her midsection, making her double over and crumble to the floor.

"Abolishing fist!"

She gasped, desperately trying to regain her composure, desperately trying to overcome the numbness in her but the moment his fist landed it was all over. Slowly she passed out still doubled over on the floor.

Kazuya stood towering over her, staring quietly and without emotion. With a scowl he flicked his fingers.

"Guards! You know what to do…" Kazuya said, turned around and started walking back to the compound.

The guards picked up the unconscious Michelle off the ground.

"No!"

Kazuya turned and looked at Jun, quietly.

"No, leave her alone. Let her go!"

The guards paused again, confused. Kazuya kept on staring at her quietly. Jun stood her ground, worried that she had angered her lover…but determined to stop a cruelty from taking place. Not by him. They continued staring at each other, both their black eyes locked into each other. Jun saw a slight tint of anger in his but it vanished as soon as it came. Kazuya turned around without any emotion and walked towards the compound in silence.

The guards and all the fighters were looking at the two closely and were shocked when they saw Kazuya—the adamant lord of the island—say nothing and walk away. It was then that they all realized what Jun meant to him and, more so, how much she had changed him.

Jun was relieved once he went away. Thankfully he didn't get angry or at least managed to subdue it.

"I better stop pushing my luck…" Jun smiled to herself.

Jun arranged for Michelle to get some medical attention. The next two matches were over in sometime. Jack literally destroyed Prototype Jack and Armor King defeated King in their much-anticipated match.

The next match was Jun's.

Jun walked up to where the enigmatic blonde woman was. She felt a strange silence from her as if she was hollow inside. Jun couldn't help but wonder if she could see any ordinary people in this island. She looked over her shoulder to look at the large mansion. She looked at the windows, the door and eventually the balcony. He wasn't there.

"Seeyah!"

Jun barely blocked the sharp kick that was aimed at her temples. Another kick came, this time at her midsection. Jun parried it too and nimbly flipped backwards to avoid any more attacks, her face flushed with anger at her opponent's lack of honor.

"Don't you have any honor?" Jun finally said as she got into her stance, her hands at shoulder level with and her legs bent slightly at the knees.

"'Anything goes' don't you remember your lover saying that?" Nina grinned, her voice cold and mocking. With that she charged Jun. Jun tightened her stance as Nina's leg whizzed through the air towards her head. "Take this!"

Jun simply blocked it and landed a sharp kick on Nina's hind leg, making her squat down in front of her. Quickly Jun backhanded her with an elbow to the side of her head sending her on the ground with her first combo attack.

Nina was irate at not only being hit first but also floored first. She didn't waste anytime and instantly swept Jun off her feet. Jun though simply flipped with the sweep, simultaneously sending a kick square into Nina's chin.

"Windmill kick!"

Nina's head snapped back sharply and she fell to the floor again but rolled up, wiping the blood from her lips. She finally got into a stance with her hands open in front of her. Jun realized from her stance that she was a fighter who employed holds and throws. The two stared at each other waiting for an opening, sizing each other up.

"I'll be honest. I underestimated you! But now I am serious!" Nina said running forward. Jun anticipated the high roundhouse kick that Nina threw at her and instantly blocked it, surprised at the power in it—Nina really was serious now. But it was then that Jun felt a sharp pain shoot up her left leg's knee. She cringed a little, her hands instinctively going down to press it. It was then that she felt a powerful kick on her temples that made her numb for a moment.

"Can-opener!"

Jun was stunned and that gave Nina the much-needed time to charge up. Small sparks of yellow ki leapt from her cupped hands as she brought them to Jun's abdomen like a double stun gun.

"Blonde-bomb!"

Jun was ripped off her feet with the move and fell on her side. She lay there trying to catch her breath when she felt Nina pressing her long heel against her shoulder. Jun winced in pain as Nina tried to drill it slightly.

"Get up, show me what you got!"

Jun obliged and swatted her leg away and flipped up. She immediately rolled forward and settled in a crouching stance, staring at the arrogant woman. She saw a small, arrogant, mocking smile tilt its way on Nina's lips and in a flash Jun charged—she was going to wipe that smile of her face!

"3 ring circus!"

She quickly shot her leg at Nina's shin and a light left hook to her jaw. They hit Nina due to their speed but Nina smiled.

"You can't put me out with these!"

Jun smiled

"Silly woman!"

Nina was smiling still but suddenly frowned when she felt a powerful backhand on her cheekbone and almost instantly a powerful backspin kick that tore her off her feet, sending her spinning in the air. She tried nailing an enzuguri on Jun but Jun just ducked under it and flipped forward, sending both her legs crashing on Nina's skull, one after the other.

"Scissor kick!"

The sheer power in the kicks managed to keep Nina airborne for a while and Jun struck out—fast and deadly.

"Double leg lift!"

She leapt in the air slightly and sent two consecutive rising kicks into Nina's prone body, making her howl in pain as the kicks dug into her ribs like sledgehammers. Nina fell to the floor holding her ribs, wincing in pain. This petite woman in front of her had remarkable power…too much power. Nina clutched her ribs as she got up, staring at Jun who stood firmly in front of her, her black eyes alive with an intensity and depth she had never seen. Nina fell in her own stance, her right hand guarding her ribs. She had to do something…and something fast or she was going to lose this match. She moved forward rapidly and tried a backhand slap at Jun, which the Japanese woman ducked under. She sent another powerful slap but Jun parried it.

"Why is she…slapping?" Jun thought.

Nina went for another slap and Jun brought up her hands to block again but suddenly Nina stopped midway and thrust her leg forward at Jun's abdomen. The kick was successful in pushing the Japanese woman back a few paces, the power in it making her struggle with her balance.

"NOW!" Nina yelled as she hopped in the air, flipping forward, her heel aimed at Jun's unguarded head. "Heel drop!"

Satisfied, Nina watching the heel inch close towards Jun's head, but at the last moment Jun side stepped. Nina landed hard on the ground and hurriedly clamored to her feet—she was too open right now.

It was too late.

She felt Jun's arm wrap tightly around her waist, and felt herself being heaved upwards and after a brief span of being airborne her head and spine bounced off the ground.

"German suplex!"

"Damn! She doesn't look that strong!" Lei mumbled as he saw Jun smash Nina head and spine first into the ground with a German suplex. Paul and Law too were amazed.

Nina's head was spinning. Already she could feel her vision darkening slightly, and the pain in her head and spine was excruciating. She had clearly underestimated Jun Kazama.

Jun was still at guard, intense and focused. Her hands were still near her face, ready and waiting for Nina. Small clouds of pure white ki started forming around her body as she watched Nina struggle to her feet, unsteady and shaking. As soon as Nina stood up Jun took a step forward, the ki spinning with her like a ribbon of fire.

"Back-spin!"

Nina saw her coming at her with half closed eyes—she had already lost. The ki around Jun grew brighter and then she spun, once, twice, thrice and sent a powerful backspin in Nina's jaw. Nina felt a immensely powerful blow on her face; the loud thud that followed, Jun's sharp battle cry echoing and finally her own faint painful scream—it all became pitch black after that.

Jun saw the unconscious Nina spin helplessly in the air and fall flat on the ground. She stood still for a while watching the unconscious Nina as she lay flat on her face. Slowly she eased out of her stance. The fight was over.

The crowd started cheering. She didn't react though her mind busy wondering about Kazuya and whether or not he was all too angry with her. She turned around and stared at the mansion. Through the descending darkness of the evening, she saw the back of a large man exit the balcony door and close it behind him, his gait arrogant and firm, his face quiet and serene.

Jun couldn't help but smile.

Jun hurried to the mansion and saw Kazuya standing in the giant hall. He had his back to her as he stood looking at one large picture in the hall. Jun looked up at the picture of a powerful but gentle looking man, oozing of respect and honor.

"Ummm…is he your grandfather?"

"Yes. Jinpachi Mishima," Kazuya said, still staring at the picture.

Jun then noticed something else. There was a little boy standing next to him, shorter than his leg. He had a large smile on his face, tugging a black belt hanging from his waist almost touching the ground as he stood. She noticed the spiky hair and thick eyebrows and almost laughed out loud when she realized that it was Kazuya.

"Hey, is that you? You were so cute!"

Kazuya didn't react and suddenly walked forward and brought up his hand to her shoulder. He bared it slightly and gently kissed a particular spot. The wound Nina had inflicted there. He flicked his fingers and at once a maids ran up to them with a first aid kit. Kazuya took it from her and took Jun with him to his large room.

A few minutes later

Jun was sitting on his massive bed, staring curiously at Kazuya as he was working with the first aid box. She kept on staring at him with large curious eyes, trying but failing to stare over his broad shoulders. Finally after a little while Kazuya walked up to her with a bandage and some cleaning water.

"Take off your top," he said in his usual no-nonsense manner.

Jun raised her eyebrows.

A sarcastic smile crept on his mouth.

"Come on take off your top. It's not like I haven't seen anything before."

Jun couldn't help but blush—he was right and his directness was as lancing as always.

She removed her top and Kazuya placed the water and the bandage on the side table. He then turned to her with the bandage in his hand but felt his breath becoming a bit heavy as he saw her sitting in front of him in her bra, a weird numbness shooting up in his abdomen.

Jun sat there waiting for him to dress her wound but instead of that he was just staring at her breasts. Jun raised her eyebrows a bit at him but Kazuya still didn't pay attention—he was too busy staring. Jun continued waiting but Kazuya didn't seem like he was in a hurry.

"Kazuya…? My wound…" Jun finally smiled.

"Err…oh…yeah…" Kazuya muttered a bit, embarrassed at his uncharacteristic mumbling. Kazuya went to work immediately dressing up her wound carefully. The wound was a lot deeper than he thought.

Jun was surprised at how gentle his hands were now…the same hands that only a few minutes ago had destroyed Michelle's entrails. She realized the two worlds of peace and destruction that are innate in humans, and more so in Kazuya. She looked at him as he meticulously patched up her wound, and at his deep black eyes.

Slowly she felt herself getting hotter and her head spinning slightly. She was having another vision. Her eyes were still staring into his and in them she saw Heihachi walking with a dead baby in his arms and tossing him in a mantle. It was a beautiful baby boy with deep black eyes. It would reach out for its father but Heihachi would keep it away from him. He walked near the fire mantle and slowly tossed the baby inside it, the sharp pitched howl of pain by the boy shook her to the very core of her being.

"Kaz…u…ya…"

Kazuya was a little surprised when he felt her hands tighten around him. He looked at her and took her in his arms when she collapsed forward.

"Jun? Jun! What happened!"