Chapter 9: Shatter
A few days later. Mishima Zaibatsu—third day of tournament
Lee sat numbed. He had practiced as much as he could but all he had seen in his over and over again these past few days was a replay of how Heihachi had pummeled Yoshimitsu on the first day of the tournament. Anna was sitting next to him. She herself was a little worried over what might happen to Lee, though she still had much ado to keep herself from laughing out loud when she would look at his worried face.
The first match was Paul's.
He stood adjusting his hand guards when he heard a roar behind him. He turned around sharply and saw a full-grown grizzly bear rushing towards him. All the fighters were stunned but Paul held his ground, a confident smile on his face. He shouted out his battle cry, huge flames leaping around his enclosed fist.
"Come on, you over grown care bear!"
All fighters were surprised to see Paul fighting equally with a grizzly bear. Eventually after a tough fight, everybody present was left stunned when they saw the huge grizzly bear roll several feet away, unconscious. Paul had actually defeated a grizzly bear. Law hurried to his friend's side. Paul was bleeding from a few cuts but was all right otherwise. The crowd started applauding as the triumphant Paul walked back to his room.
The second match was Lei against the man he was looking for: Bruce Irwin. The two collided in a good fight but Lei emerged victorious. However, after the fight Bruce ran away before Lei could ask him anything. Lei had to drop out of the tournament and go after him, leaving the island behind.
In the third match Law clobbered another animal—a boxing kangaroo named Roger…and just when they all thought this island couldn't get anymore freaky.
Lee gulped loudly when his match was up. He squeamishly walked up to the place of battle with a somber Heihachi staring at him with a snarl. Lee got in his stands—desperation shining in his eyes. Heihachi's face broke into a cold sneer.
"I should thank Kazuya for this match. I've been waiting for a long time to break you're neck, sonny! Demon uppercut!"
Before Lee knew what happened, a powerful uppercut by Heihachi launched him high in the air. This was going to be the first in the painfully long string of painful, painful blows. As soon as Lee got up, Heihachi leapt at him ramming his foot square in his jaw, whipping him around in the air helplessly with a jump kick. Heihachi spun around immediately and rammed his other leg straight into Lee's nose.
"Hell axel!"
"He's going to kill me…" Lee gasped.
"Yes…I will…" Heihachi's voice rang behind him.
He struggled to his feet and tried nailing Heihachi with a backspin but Heihachi ducked under it and sent a powerful hammer punch to his shoulder, dislocating it on impact. Lee screamed in agony but Heihachi wasn't finished yet. He caught him by the neck in and put him in a side headlock, electric sparks flying around as Heihachi applied more and more pressure.
"Consider this your final 'fatherly' advice—NEVER BETRAY HEIHACHI MISHIMA!"
His grip around Lee's neck become more vigorous as he shook him around mercilessly—he was going to snap his neck in two. Lee knew he had to do something or else he was a goner. He tried punching Heihachi's ribs but it only made it worse, the vice like grip around his neck tightening even more. He couldn't even breathe anymore, his face becoming red and then slightly blue. He finally figured out a way. He repeatedly tapped his hands on Heihachi's shoulder. Heihachi saw the judges stand up and signal the match was over. It took sometime for him to realize what had happened.
Lee had tapped out. Submitted.
"You lowly swine! Coward!"
Heihachi was enraged at Lee's cowardice. Lee had managed to trick him but at a cost of his own pride.
"YOU!" Heihachi roared.
Lee gasped in shock. Heihachi didn't let go. He kept applying more and more pressure in the lock, more lightening flying off as he gritted his teeth mercilessly.
"Oh no! He's going to kill him!" Anna screamed. She turned to the guards. "Go and break it up you idiots! What are you standing here for! Help him! Hurry!"
Many judges and even some guards rushed in to Lee's rescue and eventually peeled Heihachi off him after much ado. Heihachi kicked and punched around at the fallen Lee who lay on the ground, breathing hoarsely, unable to move. He had survived, but barely.
Hours later
Anna walked inside the hospital room. Lee was lying on one of the beds, his arm in a sling, a neck brace, his face full of deep cuts and gashes. Lee looked at her weakly.
"Anna."
Anna wanted to laugh at the sight of Lee but managed to control herself. She placed some of the flowers near on the side table.
"You know Mr. Chaolin, you're lucky! I thought I'd be putting these flowers somewhere else before your fight…and especially during it."
Lee twitched a bit at the corrosive remark. She noticed some papers and a cell phone in his hands.
"What's that?"
"Revenge…" Lee said making a fist, but wincing in pain. Anna looked at him, questioningly.
"I can't defeat those bastards in a fight but I can with my brain. These papers contain all the evidence I need to put Heihachi behind bars for a long, long time. And this…" he said holding the cell phone, "…is my way of getting back at that bastard Kazuya!"
Anna was confused about what he meant but took out some wine she had brought and poured a glass for them both. Lee spoke vehemently, as if trying to catch her attention again.
"At first I though putting him in jail would satisfy me…but now after all this…no, he will have to die. Die miserably and slow. I contacted the same assassin I did a few years ago to kill Heihachi but back then you ruined it."
Anna cringed a bit when he said that. He was talking about…her.
"I told her to make sure he suffered before he died…and she said she knew exactly what I meant! Once this is done nothing will be in my way! Nothing! I will take the Zaibatsu!"
Anna turned around and offered him his drink.
"Here is to our success!"
Lee grinned.
"Ours…yes, ours! Our success!" he whispered, touching his glass to hers, "And for now…here is for her success!"
Two days later.
Kazuya had gone to the town to buy a bike so that he and Jun could go wherever they wanted without having to wait for that confounded bus. Jun insisted that he go in the morning but Kazuya couldn't wait and especially since he wanted to get married as soon as possible. Jun was sitting quietly on the couch when she heard some footsteps outside. She walked towards the door. Kazuya sure was early. As she neared the door she saw it was slightly open. She felt a weird presence that was familiar but she couldn't place it.
"Kazuya?"
"No…"
Jun stiffened up. That voice…
Zap.
A tranquilizer dart flew into Jun's neck, causing her to shudder uncontrollably. She was stunned for a few seconds too long but eventually managed to pull it out of her neck. She tossed it away and immediately got into her stance. However, the tranquilizer was a strong one and the effects started almost instantly. Her head started to spin slightly. Jun held her forehead as her vision become hazy, her head unsteady.
"Whose there!" Jun asked in fury, her eyes narrowed.
Some more footsteps echoed in the little house and finally stopped at the open door. Jun saw a dark figure in front of her wearing tight leather clothing and a mask. It had a backpack and Jun could see a knife and a handgun strapped to each leg. It slowly took off the mask and smiled coldly.
"Nina!"
"Hello Kazama Jun," Nina said in her cold voice, "long time no see, eh?"
Jun's vision started became even more unsteady and darker. Desperation kicked in. She struck out.
"Tooth fairy!"
Nina sidestepped, avoiding Jun's move easily—the tranquilizer had slowed her down too much. Nina sneered. Grabbing Jun by the arm, she brought her down on the ground in a rapid motion and pinned it behind her. Jun was already too unsteady to retaliate effectively.
"W-What do…you want?" she gasped as Nina twisted her arm, putting pressure on the shoulder socket, making her gasp in pain.
"I am taking care of business!" she replied taking out a roll of duck tape from the backpack. "That and a personal score to settle!"
Nina tied her hands behind her back with the duck tape but it was then that she noticed the ring on Jun's finger.
"Oh, whats this?" Nina asked with fake excitement. "A ring? So you're going to be the devil's bride?"
"No!" Jun shrieked in rage.
Nina paid no heed. She twisted Jun's finger sharply and pulled the ring out, struggling with it at first.
Jun tried to break free but it was useless. Nina pinned her harder onto the ground as she tried to break free. Nina stared at the ring for a little while before pulling out her 0.45 Heckler-Koch handgun. With Jun still pinned underneath her, the blonde assassin held her roughly by the hair.
"All hearts break…eventually," she hissed in her. She threw the ring above her. "Always…remember that!"
She took an aim at the ring and blew it to bits.
Kazuya sat in the jolting bus, beaming, thinking of the new Honda bike he had gotten. It was cool purple and black bike with blue flames on the side, and blue neon lights on the bottom. It was a real piece of art and a little expensive too, especially the modification. The bike would be ready with a few days and he couldn't wait to take it out for a spin with Jun. He already imagined himself riding it with Jun holding on tightly as they whizzed through the air. He had gotten her some flowers as well; chuckling a bit when he remembered how much she liked the rose he had given her that day. He couldn't wait to see her face when she saw these ones.
The bus droned loudly as it neared the house. Kazuya walked fast towards the house, eager to tell her about the bike and give her the flowers. After a while of walking he saw the little house.
"Jun? Hey, Jun?"
She didn't reply. Maybe she was too angry with him for coming so late. He entered the house but what he saw in front of him left him speechless, missing a heartbeat.
Jun was sitting on the chair, her hands tied behind her, struggling. There was large strip of duck tape over her mouth. She was clearly scared. Jun started moaning through her taped mouth the moment she saw him—with relief and anxiety. Kazuya rushed up to her but suddenly a flashlight shone in his face, making him shield his eyes.
"WHAT THE FUCK! WHO ARE YOU, BASTARD!" he roared.
A loud metallic gunshot shot off, followed by Kazuya's painful gasp and Jun's muffled scream.
Kazuya gritted his teeth in pain, clutching his ribs. It was a hammer stun gun and Nina shot more of those large metal discs at Kazuya. They hit every part of his body, particularly the arm and the legs ensuring he won't be much of a problem once she goes to 'faze B'. Kazuya sank to the floor, gritting his teeth painfully, the pain being too much to bear even for him. He had fractured some bones in his arms and legs.
Nina put the gun down and walked up to Kazuya, taking out her 0.45 Heckler-Koch handgun. She took an aim against Kazuya's head. Jun closed her eyes not wanting to see, her eyes welling up with tears. Kazuya stared up Nina, feeling the laser at the center of his forehead. Nina smiled.
"Go ahead, you bitch! I don't fear death!" Kazuya snarled. In his mind there was nothing but Jun.
Nina pushed the gun to Kazuya's forehead.
"Bang!" she said mockingly and started laughing. Kazuya gritted his teeth in rage.
"You know, you're a lucky man, Kazuya. I would've killed you right now but my employer told me to 'make sure you suffer.'"
Kazuya was feeling an inferno of rage flood his veins. He could feel the mad onrush in his mind and closed his eyes, barely listening to what Nina was saying. He could see Jun from the corner of his eye and seeing her in her condition only further poisoned his fury.
"Yes…give in to the anger…give in to the rage. Look what she has done to your beloved Jun. She deserves to be punished!" whispered a deep evil voice in his head. A voice he thought he had buried away. Buried away by Jun. Kazuya struggled to get up, his mind wanting to destroy Nina for what she had done to Jun…and another part of him trying to stop himself from giving in to the anger that rushed through his veins like red hot lava.
Jun's eyes widened in horror when she saw the rage on Kazuya's face. Nina was oblivious to what was going on and walked up to Kazuya pushing him back into the wall with her feet. Kazuya felt the stinging pain in his chest as Nina drilled her heel slightly into his chest. Kazuya was in pain but kept himself from making a single sound.
Nina smiled.
"I am ordered to make you suffer…but I see that you're a tough guy so you would be a hard one. But every hard man has an extra weak spot and that weak spot…" she said pointing her gun at Jun, "…is right here!"
"YOU BITCH!"
Before she knew what happened, Kazuya surprised her by lunging at her from the ground with all his might, smashing his head in her jaw. Nina was ripped off her feet with the impact and landed on the ground. Hard. Kazuya stared at her for a bit, painfully picking up the gun up from her hand. He waited to see if she moved but she didn't. She was out cold. Jun's moaning brought him to her side immediately. He peeled the tape off her mouth gently.
"Are you alright?"
Jun was still too dazed to answer. Kazuya had just freed her hands when Jun screamed at him.
"Look out!"