.
(Affirmation)
Jun was barely able to block the incoming punch. Her opponent was only a shadow, but he was larger than life, intimidating, his every blow devastating. The wind pulled at her clothing and tore the fragile leaves from the trees, it brought a chill that settled in her bones and made her tremble. She knew that it would be dark soon and she wanted to go home, desperately longed for the warmth of her room, but the shadow's hits would not let up. His large fist struck her in the chest and she found herself on the rocky ground with her elbows scraped, her chest feeling as if it were on fire and her lungs urgently crying out for air. Suddenly she was angry, furious, overcome by a feeling that was foreign and unmistakable at the same time; a feeling that threatened to burn a hole through her very being.
Hate.
She stood, and with inhuman speed charged at her shadowy opponent. She was no longer small, she was as large as the shadow and just as strong, just as powerful; perhaps more.
"How could you do this to me?" She heard herself yell at the top of her lungs in a voice that was small and shrill, deep and thick at the same time. "I'm your son!"
Jun felt her fist find it's mark and the shadow stumbled backward, she began to punch and kick relentlessly with a fighting style that was not her own. In a matter of seconds, her opponent was down.
Finish it. A raspy voice growled inside her head.
"There's no need," Jun said as she watched the shadow stir feebly on the ground. "He's already down."
Finish it.
"No."
Part of her wanted to do it, wanted to kill him. The feeling was nearly overwhelming, she could almost feel her body moving of its own accord, she imagined herself advancing toward the shadow and had to physically restrain herself.
Finish it. Finish it. Finish it.
"No."
Finish it!
The voice repeated the phrase over and over. It yelled, whispered and screamed inside her head, she felt as if it were clawing and scratching the inside of her skull, soon she was confused, her thoughts muddled, all she wanted was for the voice to stop, to hear nothing but her own thoughts inside her head.
She saw her opponent struggle to his knees and she charged. She twisted her body and raised her leg, her foot connected with his chest and she saw him fly backward then fall down a cliff that she had not even noticed before.
To her dismay, she quickly realized that she was the one who was falling. Her hands and fingers tried desperately to grasp at something, anything but there was nothing save for the cold wind and the feel of gravity pulling her into an endless, dark abyss.
Jun woke up with her chest heaving and tears in her eyes. She lay motionless in her bed letting the tears roll into her hair and behind her ears. She could still feel the clawing inside her head, could vividly remember how Devil's screams made her skull vibrate and muddled her thoughts. She remained immobile until her tears ran dry and her heart rate slowed, until the only sounds that remained were outside her head.
She didn't need Angel to tell her that the nightmare was about Kazuya, though she wasn't sure if what she had seen was past or future. She didn't know if the one falling had been Kazuya, his father or if it was simply a metaphor… Perhaps it had been her own mind trying to wake her up. As she climbed out of bed she reached for a blue, linen robe that was draped over the back of a chair, she put it on and walked to the kitchen then set to make a pot of tea. After putting the tea on the stove she walked into the small living area, her eyes rested on the shoes next to the door. The white, strappy high heels she had worn to dinner with Kazuya the night before.
She didn't know how to feel about their meeting. It was a date. She reminded herself, she shook her head as she remembered that less than twenty-four hours earlier she had planned to treat it as a business meeting. If that was what she had tried to do she had failed miserably and in the end, it didn't even make sense. She had gone knowing that Kazuya was interested in her, why else would he agree to meet with her, why else would his mood improve every time he saw her? The only conclusion was that he had feelings for her.
It's more than lust.
That thought exhilarated and troubled her at the same time, it warmed her and filled her with guilt. After he kissed her she couldn't stop smiling, the city lights that she often found overly bright and obnoxious suddenly made everything look vibrant and new. But as she drove home she let guilt gnaw at her excitement and consume it bit by bit. She shouldn't have asked him to walk her to her car, that had been self-serving and unnecessary, they were already on good terms after finishing with dinner. But her goal was to gain his trust, to get closer to him in order to… She sighed in frustration and stood up to check on her tea.
The way she was thinking about it made it seem like she was conspiring against him, all she wanted was to rid him of that thing that was taking over him, that parasite. Thinking about the dream, remembering the voice in her head made her feel ill. She wondered if that was how Kazuya felt when Devil was active, she wondered how any person went about their day with white-hot hate coursing through their being and a monster screaming inside their head.
She needed to get closer to Kazuya, had to gain his trust, it wasn't a matter of right or wrong or of being self-serving. In her heart, she knew that capitalizing on the feelings he had for her was the only way. She knew that she could get through to him if she showed him what love was; if she showed him that he could love.
Love...
Her heart was suddenly racing faster than it had all morning and as she began to get ready for her day, she couldn't stop smiling.
He had to be a Mishima. Had to be. He was. It was not a matter of choice, it was the only way to acquire the Zaibatsu. What would Kazuya do? What would his brother do if he'd received an anonymous message telling him that Lee was going to be murdered?
Nothing.
And yet… Maybe he could be better, better than a Mishima.
Win the tournament, take ownership of the Zaibatsu and then… Hire bodyguards, a private army to make sure that Kazuya and Heihachi never interfere, never even try to take over.
No, that would never be enough to deter them. It's either let a murder happen now, or plan a murder later. Lee wanted to feel certain about his decision, but it felt wrong. He realized that neither his morals or conscience would come out the winner no matter the outcome of the tournament.
Immediately after setting foot in Japan, he rushed out of the busy airport as quickly as humanly possible and took a taxi to the Mishima Building. When the guards opened the door and bowed to him he automatically nodded in acknowledgment but did not slow his steps until he reached the receptionist's desk.
The pretty, young woman stood up and bowed deeply. "Welcome back, Mr. Chaolan, you were missed."
"Good morning, Asami, is Kazuya in his office?"
"Yes, sir."
"Thank you," he smiled politely before walking briskly to the elevators.
I am a Mishima. Lee told himself as he rode the elevator to the top floor. Mishimas do whatever is required to achieve power.
But it wasn't just power that he was after, he reminded himself. He had to restore honor to the Zaibatsu, he had to lead it in a different direction, steer it away from corruption and infamy, use its resources to invent technology that would help advance the world, not set it back by aiding warlords and…
The elevator stopped too soon. He stepped out and made his way to Kazuya's office, he slowly pulled the door open and watched for a few seconds as Sayuri spoke on the phone. He smiled at her when she noticed him but her expression was one of apprehension. Her eyes darted from Kazuya's closed door to Lee and she hung up the phone without bothering to finish the conversation. Lee closed the door and walked up to her desk, she stood up and walked around to meet him.
She looked beautiful wearing a long-sleeved, silk lavender dress that hugged every curve of her body while still managing to be appropriate for the office. He reached out to touch her but pulled back his hand when he heard Kazuya's door open.
"Get in here, now." Kazuya's voice was deadly calm, leaving the door open he stepped back inside without waiting for a response.
It would have been easy to keep the information to himself if he knew that he would never see his brother in person again, but now…
He felt Sayuri's soft hand on his, he looked down at her and saw the worried expression on her face.
"I'm sorry," he softly kissed her forehead, "we'll talk after."
She nodded solemnly. "Go."
When he stepped inside, Kazuya was standing in the middle of the office. He was immediately met with that familiar feeling, the feeling of dread and fear that gripped him whenever Kazuya was angry. The feeling that seemed to physically occupy empty spaces and envelop those unfortunate enough to be on the receiving end of Kazuya's wrath, it made the air stagnant and difficult to take in.
Lee spoke casually, "I see security alerted you of my arrival."
"What were you really doing all this time?"
Lee looked his brother in the eye even though all he wanted to do at that moment was to be away from him and breathe fresh air. "I was training."
Kazuya advanced slowly toward him giving the impression of a lion stalking his prey. "Don't lie to me." His voice was low and measured. "I've had enough of that. What were you doing?"
"I was training."
"You could have just as easily done that here. Sayuri says that you didn't tell her where you were, I find that hard to believe."
"I didn't tell her."
Kazuya was clenching and unclenching his fists, obviously trying to restrain himself, "you disappear for two weeks right when all the preparations for the tournament need your attention, abandon your post when you're needed the most, and you expect me to believe that all you were doing was training?"
"The preparations need my attention?" Lee shook his head. "Don't patronize me."
"How am I being patronizing?"
"We both know that you were not going to let me do anything important, that you were not going to let me do any interviews or take part in any of the decision-making. You would have given me menial tasks that an inept intern could do just to keep me out of the media's eye."
"So rather than complete some unpleasant tasks you disappear? I don't believe you, I've had you doing menial tasks since the day you came groveling back to me, you're planning something, plotting to take the Zaibatsu from me somehow."
"Yes, by winning the tournament." Lee hated to admit it but it was true. When Kazuya didn't need the world to avert its eyes from the Zaibatsu's latest scandal or when there were no clients that needed to be retained he had Lee doing everything from working in the copy room to training low-level employees. It was just to put him in his place, he knew it and he hated Kazuya for it.
Kazuya sneered. "You won't win the tournament, you won't even make it far enough to face me."
"I will," Kazuya's condescending and dismissive tone grated on him, he clenched his jaw to keep from raising his voice, "I will take everything from you the same way that you took everything from me, what was mine by right." He instantly wished that he had kept quiet, it was not the time to bring that up.
"...Yours by right?" Kazuya shook his head slowly as his scowl deepened, "what rights do traitors have?"
Lee stared indignantly at him for a moment. "...I'm not the traitor, you betrayed me."
"How?"
"You told me that you were going to stay out of the first tournament, you made me think that we could work together against Heihachi, that we could-"
"I was testing you, trying to see if I could trust you, trying to see who you were loyal to! Then you both conspired against me and had me kicked off the will!"
"There was no conspiracy! He came to me and told me that you were out, that was all his doing, I was planning to find a way to put you back in!" Lee didn't try to hold back his anger, what Kazuya was saying was preposterous.
"And I'm the one being patronizing? I was going to let you continue to lead the New York branch, but in hindsight, I'm glad things happened the way they did, I'm glad I saw you for the traitor that you are, for how truly weak you are before it was too late. Your betrayal made me realize that there's nothing salvageable in you, it made me realize that you have no honor."
"I have no honor?" Lee usually bit back his tongue when it came to telling Kazuya his truths, but what he said hit a nerve. "Where is the honor in making illegal weapons deals, in committing murder for profit and revenge? You are leading the Zaibatsu in the opposite direction that your grandfather intended, he would be ashamed if he saw what you are doing to what he built, that you are defiling his legacy with-"
Before he had time to react he found himself pinned against the door. Kazuya had him by the lapels of his jacket, his face inches away, twisted in what was almost a snarl.
"Don't ever mention him again," Kazuya said through clenched teeth.
The atmosphere was suddenly suffocating, fear seemed to pierce Lee's heart and mind. Why did Kazuya make him feel so afraid? The countless times that Heihachi had threatened or beaten him as a boy and as a teenager never made him feel such dread and anxiety. Lee looked toward the large window behind Kazuya's desk wishing that he could open it to let in fresh air.
Kazuya released his jacket and took a step back, his demeanor suddenly changing; it was unnerving. "Despite everything I'm willing to let bygones be bygones… So give me one good reason why I shouldn't have security kick you out of here and I will let you stay."
Lee's mind began to play memories of the day when he came back to ask for a place at the Zaibatsu after losing the tournament. How Kazuya had made him beg.
This is the last time.
There was a heavy feeling in his heart because he was well aware of what he was doing, sealing his brother's fate, but at the same time, he felt an anger that he had never felt before. He skillfully masked it, it was what the was good at.
"Reason number one… I am your brother, no matter how much you hate to hear it. Reason number two… Regardless of your interpretation of events, I have always been loyal to you. Reason number three… I'm certain this is the one that matters to you, you need me to attend dinners and shake hands and make thank-you phone calls and if it wasn't for me half of the people we make deals with would be too scared to approach you, need I go on?"
"No, that will suffice for now."
Lee shook his head and turned toward the door.
"Where are you going?"
He wished that he could ignore him and walk out the door but Kazuya's voice was like a tether and he had no choice but to turn and respond.
"I'm sure I have a plethora of menial tasks waiting for me at my desk," he spoke as offhandedly as he was able.
Kazuya chuckled slightly. "You do, but it's nothing your lying… Sayuri can't handle."
Sayuri. Lee suddenly felt guilt in addition to the anger and fear that was threatening to consume him. He had left her alone to deal with Kazuya's tantrums. He would never be able to make it up to her. "Address her with respect."
"We have a problem," Kazuya began, completely ignoring Lee's demand. "The Russians have entered a robot into the tournament, it's just like the one we have in the basement."
"An android, not a robot."
"Whatever. That means that we need to get that piece of junk working again and into fighting shape."
Lee clenched his fists but his face remained impassive. He had been right about the Zaibatsu needing to invest in robotics, if Kazuya had only listened to him they would have a state of the art fighting android. He wanted to scream it but knew that it wasn't the time and all he wanted to do was leave the room. "It has been out of commission for nearly two years if it turns out that I have to rebuild it from scratch it-"
"Stop complaining, you should be glad that the engineering degree you're always bragging about can finally be of some use. And don't worry you'll have Dr. Bosconovitch to hold your hand if things get too difficult."
"Dr. Bosconovitch? He refused to work for you."
Kazuya shrugged. "You know how persuasive I can be. Which is also why I need you to make sure that he doesn't turn the thing against us."
"God damn it...You kidnapped him." Another crime, one step closer to being apprehended by the law, at this point it was only a matter of time.
"He forced my hand," Kazuya said dismissively, "I need you down there now. When you're done, I'll need you to talk to the legal department and see what progress they've made with the new tournament contracts, I don't want some moron trying to sue me."
"Is there anything else I can do for you." If Kazuya noticed the sarcasm in his voice he ignored it.
"No, not now."
Lee stepped out of the office and pulled the door closed, almost at once it was easier to breathe, easier to think.
"Lee?" He saw Sayuri standing in front of her desk. Her fingers were pushing against her temple, her eyes wide. "I heard noise and yelling, I didn't know what to do...if I called security-"
He took her hand and led her out of the office, they walked quickly and stopped when they reached the first conference room, he made sure that it was empty and stepped inside with Sayuri before locking the door. He put his arms around her and was relieved when she did the same. She laid her head on his shoulder and he took in the scent of her hair, jasmine. She tightened her arms around him holding him in that way that made him feel wanted and needed, secure.
"What happened?" She spoke quietly against the fabric of his jacket.
"He wants me to go deal with some problems in the basement."
"What did you tell him you were doing the past two weeks?"
"Training."
"And he believed you?"
"Probably not, but he left it alone." He held her for a while longer enjoying the closeness, softly kissing her forehead and the top of her head. "I'm sorry." He finally said knowing that the subject needed to be brought up. "I'm sorry I betrayed you and I'm sorry I left you here with him-"
"I don't want to talk about it." Sayuri pulled away from him and gently rubbed her arms. "I just want to move past it."
"We need to address it, I don't want any resentment or lingering feelings of anger or-"
"Please," she took his hand, "if you are willing to promise me that you can move on from this, not forget that it happened just...that we're willing to both do our part so that it never happens again...if you can promise me that, I am willing to let it go."
"I promise." There was a mix of relief and fear, he knew that he wanted to be faithful to her and start a real life with her. He would try...but what if he couldn't? He set those unpleasant thoughts aside and looked at her, truly looked at her, tried to pick out every little detail that made her beautiful and desirable. Everything from her long hair to her lashes to the way that lavender dress fit her perfectly. He reached into the inner pocket of his jacket and pulled out a rectangle-shaped, black velvet box and handed it to Sayuri. "I don't want you to think that I'm giving you this to atone for what I've done," she hesitantly took the box and opened it slowly, "it's something that I wanted to give when I realized that I want you to be part of everything I do, I wanted to give it to you as a way of showing you how important you are to me."
He smiled as he saw her eyes light up when she opened it. Twenty-one diamonds made up an open-circle pendant on a platinum chain, it was expensive as hell, but if it helped her forgive him, then it was worth it.
She smiled as she gently pulled it out of the box. "You know how much I like sparkly things." She set the box on the square conference table and handed the necklace to Lee. "Could you?" He took it and she moved her hair to the side as she turned her back to him, he unfastened the delicate piece of jewelry and put it around her neck. When he refastened it she moved her hair behind her shoulders again and turned to face him. "What do you think?" She took a step back to give him a better view.
"I think you wore the perfect dress for it."
She put her arms around his neck, "I wore it for you, I know how much you like it."
"The only thing I like more than seeing you in it is being able to take it off." He slowly ran his hands down her waist and her hips.
"Are you going to go home with me or do you have to stay late?"
The goddamned android. Lee sighed, "I have to stay late."
"Hmm." Her shoulders visibly fell but then she smiled up at him. "I'll be waiting...and I'll save you the trouble of taking the dress off, I think maybe you'll get home and find that there's nothing for you to take off."
He pulled her against him and kissed her deeply, all of the sudden he didn't care where they were, he didn't care what work needed to be done, all he knew was that he had missed her and that he wanted her. He held her by the waist and helped her onto the conference table then slowly ran his fingertips down her legs and lightly touched her knees, he slid his hands under her dress and kissed her again.
"I missed you," he spoke softly against her lips, his hands slowly gliding up her smooth skin as he left a trail of kisses from her cheek down to her neck. He felt Sayuri's breath tickle his ear and he moved his hands higher up her thighs.
"I love you," she breathed as her lips lightly brushed his skin.
It was as if his blood had turned to ice. His hands were frozen in place and he looked at her before he was able to utter any words. "...I...didn't know that."
She seemed taken aback by his statement, she furrowed her brow slightly and looked toward the door. "...Oh," she pushed lightly on his arms, an obvious sign that she wanted him to stop touching her. "That's because I never told you before...I guess."
"I'm so sorry." He knew there was no way to salvage the situation, no way to spin it in his favor.
Sayuri stood up and began to smooth down her dress. "No, no," she gave him a weak smile, "I should have given you a warning or… I should go back to the office anyway, I don't want him to notice I'm gone."
He took her hand. "I'm sorry."
She sighed, then smiled brightly. "It's all right." She lightly kissed his cheek. "If I'm asleep wake me up when you get home, I want to give you a proper welcome." She smiled one last time and made her way out the door.
A proper welcome? He didn't know if that was comforting or alarming. Feeling the need for a smoke he reached into the pocket of his pants and pulled out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. He lit up and began to smoke even though it was not permitted anywhere in the building, then leaned against the wall.
Why couldn't he tell her that he loved her? He had said it to women who meant nothing to him, so why not Sayuri? Even if it wasn't true yet, he should at least be able to say it, to tell her one little white lie, a truth placeholder, because he knew that eventually it would be the truth. He would love because she was perfect for him, she was beautiful, well-educated and she came from a well-known and respected family. He knew that thinking that made him a hypocrite, he had come from the back alleys of Shanghai, after all, but her background was important to his image and his career. He finished smoking and picked up the jewelry box from the table and dropped it into the empty wastebasket along with the cigarette butt before leaving the room.
Fine leader I will make, not only am I practically plotting my brother's murder, I'm also a hypocrite and a snob.
But maybe that was what it took to lead the Mishima Zaibatsu, Jinpachi Mishima had been a good man with good intentions who didn't have what it took to kill his son and he had paid for it with his life. Thinking about it further, Lee realized that Jinpachi's inaction against the obvious threat that Heihachi was did more than cost him his life, he had allowed a little boy's life to be ruined. If Jinpachi had killed Heihachi when he had the chance Kazuya would have grown up to be a well-adjusted man, perhaps he would have been an exemplary leader for the Mishima Zaibatsu. How many lives had Kazuya's reign negatively affected, ruined or downright ended? If only Jinpachi had had the courage to act…
But then where would I be? That thought was not something that he wanted to dwell on.
He was surprised to find himself in the sub-basement hallway. His thoughts had taken him into and out of the elevator and he had not even noticed. He walked down the corridor leading to the laboratory where he knew he would find Dr. Bosconovitch working on Prototype Jack, the android that he had hoped he would never see again. The guards posted at the entrance bowed deeply to him, Lee nodded in acknowledgment, then input a code into the panel beside the entrance. The thick, metal door slid open and he stepped inside.
He saw a man writing on a notebook and a woman typing on a computer, he remembered seeing them both in the labs before. His eyes drifted to the elderly, labcoat-wearing man with unruly, white hair hunched over a large and sturdy, metal table. On top of the slab, was Prototype Jack lying on its back. Its face resembled that of a man but its body was metal, it was missing its right hand, or drill as Lee remembered from the first tournament. A panel on its chest was open, revealing about a dozen cables that were connected to a monitor that was built into the wall. The elderly gentleman poked at something inside the panel with a screwdriver and the android suddenly raised its right, handless arm, startling both Lee and the gentleman as a beeping sound was emitted by the monitor.
"You've managed to get it working," Lee looked in wonder at the large and intimidating machine on the table. "Well done, doctor, you are Dr. Bosconovitch, I presume."
Bosconovitch turned to Lee and sighed heavily. "And you must be the brother." He scoffed. "I heard that you were the more reasonable one, but I don't suppose you're here to let me go."
"I'm here to assist you and to ensure that your work is satisfactory. Many hands make light work."
"Yes," the doctor detached a cable from the panel and pushed the screwdriver into it again, "I've heard that saying, are you familiar with the one about too many cooks in the kitchen?"
"If I'm being honest, doctor, I'm not only here to make sure that the android is in proper shape to fight in the tournament, I'm also here to prevent you from programming it against us."
"That would be a stupid decision on my part." The doctor detached two more cables. "If I programmed it to attack any of you, how far would Jack get before being shot down or blown up? Could I program him to cause a significant amount of carnage? Certainly, but he would never reach the top floor… And what guarantee do I have that I won't be hit in the crossfire, that I won't die from a piece of ceiling falling on me? And if I die, what of my young bodyguards who are being held prisoner, what of my daughter? Who would save her then?" The doctor turned his back to Lee and pushed a few buttons on the panel next to the monitor.
What Kazuya was doing was wrong. Illegal element aside, forcing a man to work on projects that he may not morally agree with while holding those he cared about prisoner was dishonorable. And he was using the man's daughter as collateral? He wanted to ask him more, wanted to reassure him that when he won the tournament he would set him free, but he couldn't say anything. He could not let him know that he and Kazuya were not on the same page, it was dangerous.
Bosconovitch sighed. "I did nothing to awaken him, a backup fuel supply had already restored some of the cognitive function by the time I began to work on him, it was only a matter of time before he was fully awake."
Lee was about to comment on the Doctor referring to Prototype Jack as he rather than it when he heard the telephone ring. The man writing on the notebook went to the telephone mounted on the wall and answered it.
"Mr. Chaolan, it's Mr. Mishima." He held the receiver as far from his face as possible as he handed it to Lee, almost as if it was a contaminated object.
"Thank you," Lee noticed the relief on the man's face as he took the call. "What is it?" He asked wearily as he put the receiver to his ear.
"You need to go to the lobby immediately. There's an Interpol agent asking to meet with me, I want to know what he's after before I decide if there's anything that needs to be done about him."
"Is there anything in particular that I should-"
"That's what you're going to find out. Go now."
Kazuya hung up before Lee could ask anything else. He sighed and turned to Bosconovitch. "Pardon me, Doctor, it seems I'm needed upstairs, I'll return as soon as I'm able."
The doctor gave him a false smile. "That's understandable, you are free to wander. And don't worry take your time, please." He turned his back to him and continued to work on the android.
Lee left the laboratory and hurried toward the elevator. He rubbed his face and ran his hands through his hair, Interpol, he knew it had to be something about Desmond Mullen's death, Kazuya was much too careless and overconfident. As the day progressed he felt more certain about his decision to keep the information of his imminent death a secret. It was a matter of time before he did something that would doom everyone that had any connection to the Zaibatsu.
Stepping out of the elevator he noticed a young, Chinese man about his own age sitting on one of the brown, leather chairs in the lobby lazily leafing through a magazine. He was surprised by his casual attire and the length of his hair, he was not what came to mind when thinking of an Interpol agent. Certain that he was someone else Lee made his way toward the desk.
"Asami," he smiled and spoke softly as he approached the receptionist, "I was told there is an agent from Interpol here. Is he in one of the conference rooms?"
"No," she gestured toward the man in the chair, "that is Agent Lei Wulong, Miss Yoshida called me and said that you would see him."
"Which is the nearest available conference room?"
"The one next to Mr. Miwa's office."
"Thank you." Lee approached the agent, who stood upon noticing him.
"Agent Wulong," Lee bowed, "I'm Lee Chaolan, from public relations, how may I assist you?"
"Mr. Chaolan," Wulong bowed in return, "public relations, you say?" He smiled slightly, "I was hoping to speak with Mr. Mishima himself, but I guess it was too much to hope for."
"He is a very busy man, especially now with the tournament preparations. I don't suppose you would mind showing me your identification."
"Not at all, though I did present it to your security guards at the door as well as Miss Asami." Wulong reached into the pocket of his beige pants and pulled out a black, leather wallet, he opened it and showed it to Lee.
He nodded upon verifying that it was an authentic Interpol badge and ID. "If you would follow me, please." Lee bowed slightly, then walked toward a hallway that led out of the lobby area, he could hear Wulong following behind. After entering the conference room, Lee closed the door then gestured toward the chairs around the table. "Have a seat." He unbuttoned his jacket and pulled out a chair for himself after the agent had settled into his.
"We were on the same flight." Wulong smiled as he scanned the room.
"Same flight?"
"This morning, coming in from Hong Kong. I saw you when they called for first class passengers to begin boarding the plane. Do you travel there often?"
There was no hint of accusation in his voice, no sign that the man was doing anything other than making small talk, still, Lee didn't like hearing that he had been seen.
He leaned back in his chair. "Not often." He looked at his watch. "I hate to rush you, but I do have an inordinate amount of work to do, what brings Interpol to the Mishima Zaibatsu?"
"Desmond Mullen."
Lee felt his heart drum in his chest but his face remained blank. "According to the media, the man is dead."
Wulong nodded. "Yes, Mr. Chaolan, quite dead. Our records show that the Mishima Zaibatsu was doing business with him."
"With his aviation company, we were leasing a jet."
"And also that your business with him ended abruptly."
"What exactly are you asking, Agent Wulong?"
"Why did you stop doing business with him?"
He cursed himself remembering that he was the one who had found Mullen for Kazuya. "I discovered that he was overcharging us, I also thought that it would be better for the image of the Zaibatsu if we did as much of our business as possible in Japan, if we brought revenue into our own country."
"Would you say it was an amicable departure?"
"No. I'm sure you've read the newspaper articles where he accused the current leadership of straying from the honorable path. He wasn't happy to lose our business."
"The current leadership? Your brother?" His tone remained pleasant and he asked each question with a genuine smile, it bothered Lee to no end.
"Yes. I have a question too, Agent. Why is Interpol sending someone from Hong Kong to Japan to ask about our business relationship with an Irish company?"
Wulong's smile disappeared. "Around the time of the leadership change in the Mishima Zaibatsu, almost two years ago, we had three similar killings in Hong Kong. All three of those men were business associates of Heihachi Mishima, who was presumed dead at the time..."
He knew exactly who the agent was referring to, he remembered the incident well, those three seemingly legitimate businessmen had connections to the Chinese mafia and had been supplying Heihachi with weapons. They had been loyal to the Mishima patriarch to the end and had refused to sell to Kazuya, as a result they had paid for it with their lives.
Lee spoke dismissively. "At the same time that Kazuya Mishima was taking over operations at the Zaibatsu an earthquake struck the Philippines and a hurricane ravaged Mexico. Here in Japan, it was a bad year for the stock market, I lost quite a bit of money. I'm assuming we're discussing unfortunate events from that year."
Wulong's smile returned. "So you would describe Kazuya Mishima obtaining leadership as an unfortunate event?"
Lee felt the urge for a cigarette but instead willed his expression to remain passive. It was almost time to stop the conversation. "Again, I would like to know exactly what you are asking."
"I'm simply interviewing anyone with a connection to all four victims."
Lee nodded slowly, it was time to end it. "I think it's best if you have your office call our legal department. After the tournament, if you would be so kind, we are all very busy at the moment."
Wulong nodded in return, almost as if he had been expecting it. "Very well, thank you for your time." He rose his index finger as if he'd suddenly remembered something. "One more thing."
"I'm not going to answer any questions."
"I understand that Bruce Irvin works in this building, would it be possible to speak with him."
It was interesting, but not Lee's problem. "Have reception call the security office, they will let you know." He stood up from his chair and Wulong did the same, he opened the door and watched as the agent ambled toward the exit and wished that he could hurry him along.
"Will you be competing in the tournament again?" Wulong asked before stepping through the door.
"Yes."
"Well then, perhaps we are due for another leadership change, good luck."
Lee nodded curtly and closed the door as soon as the man stepped through. He quickly picked up the phone at the center of the table and dialed the direct number to Kazuya's office.
"It's me," he spoke quietly when he heard Kazuya pick up.
"What did he want?"
"He's asking about our former business relationship with aviation companies. I'll be in your office in a few minutes."
"We're talking now, just tell me, we both have work to do."
Lee hated having to discuss it over the phone, it made everything seem trivial. "He's asking about Mullen specifically, he's trying to link his death to some killings that took place in Hong Kong two years ago."
"What did you tell him?" Kazuya seemed unfazed.
"To get a hold of the legal department after the tournament. He also asked about Bruce."
"What did he ask?"
"If he could meet with him, I told him to call his office."
"Fine. I just received a very important delivery, it's in the genetics lab. I want you and Bosconovitch to make sure all the parts are there and functioning."
"That's all you have to say about it?"
"Is there more I need to know?"
"No."
"Then get downstairs and make sure the package arrived intact."
He sighed wearily. "On my way."
"And I expect that robot in proper working order before the first day of the tournament. Speaking of which, don't forget to talk to the legal department and check over the tournament contracts to make sure I'm covered in case one of the robots kills a participant."
"What?" Kazuya had already hung up. "...This can't be happening," he muttered.
He looked at his watch, it wasn't even noon yet, maybe if he was lucky he'd be able to get home before Sayuri was asleep. A pulsing headache beginning at his temples reminded him that he needed some food or at least some coffee. He entertained the thought of stopping at the cafeteria but decided against it and took the elevator to the sub-basement instead.
When he entered the genetics lab he saw two large, wooden crates on the floor. They reminded him of coffins; one for each of the men standing in his way.
The events of the morning had served to affirm his decision. He was confident that he could keep the note a secret, confident that he could stand aside and watch an assassin put a bullet through Kazuya. As for Heihachi, he would find a way to deal with him too.
I am a Mishima.
"Does anyone know what's in there?" He asked no one in particular, there were a few scientists and researchers going about their tasks.
"No," a woman answered, "we were told that only Dr. Bosconovitch can open them."
"Would you have someone bring him in, please."
"Yes, sir." The woman walked to the telephone mounted on the wall.
Lee took off his jacket and draped it over the back of a chair then began to roll up his sleeves. He was startled when a pair of slender arms encircled him from behind. His first thought was that it was Sayuri but he quickly remembered that she had no access to that level.
"Hello, handsome," the familiar voice made his heart drum in his chest and his stomach drop.
He pulled away from the unwelcome embrace and turned around to face sparkling blue eyes and red lipstick.
"Did you miss me?"
God damn it. He sighed, only a couple of months earlier her face would have been a welcome sight.
It was past one o'clock when Jun was finally ready to leave her apartment. She had called Kazuya's office in the morning and was told that it was a very busy day and that he would see her tomorrow. It was expected but disappointing at the same time. After that, she had spent her time making phone calls and looking through newspaper ads and now she was ready for some hard training at the dojo. Being unemployed was only acceptable until the end of the tournament, rent needed to be paid and food and clothing needed to be bought whether money was coming in or not. She already had a couple of promising interviews, one for a wildlife researcher position at Kyoto University and the other as an assistant in a wildlife management project in Nikko National Park.
She had been able to contact her former supervisor in Thailand where she had completed her internship working to protect elephants in their natural habitat. All she asked for was a letter of recommendation but she was offered a full-time, paid position as soon as she mentioned that she was no longer working for the WWWC. Jun declined. A month earlier she would have gladly accepted, but after meeting Kazuya she felt tied to Japan, even if a relationship with him didn't end well she needed to stay to help him get rid of that demon. After the nightmare she'd had, after feeling what he felt, bowing out and leaving him to fend for himself wasn't an option. The nightmare had only strengthened her resolve to help him, she was now certain that it was something she had to do.
She picked up her black duffle bag and sighed in frustration when she heard a sharp rapping at her door. When she opened it she was surprised to see a young, Chinese man standing in the hallway, he smiled as he held up a badge and an ID for her to see.
"Good afternoon, I'm Agent Wulong with Hong Kong Interpol." His smile was pleasant and his Japanese was very good.
"How can I help you?"
"I've had a very long day and I was hoping that you could answer a few questions about the Mishima Zaibatsu so that I can go back to my hotel and get some sleep."
She suddenly felt defensive, it was almost an instinct, but she sensed no hostility from him and decided to oblige. There was not much she could tell him anyway. "Of course, come in." She stepped aside to let him pass, then closed the door. "Have a seat." Wulong settled into a worn armchair and Jun sat at the edge of her couch.
"I'll be as brief as possible, it looks like you were ready to go out." He gestured toward the duffle bag. "Off to the gym?"
"Um, yes," he didn't look the part of an Interpol agent with his long hair and casual style, but he was observant, "may I ask something first?"
"Certainly."
"Why do you think that I have information regarding the Mishima Zaibatsu?"
"I was directed here by your former supervisor at the WWWC."
"Why?"
"She said that until a few days ago you were employed by them as a wildlife officer and that you were assigned to find evidence to form a case against Kazuya Mishima or Mishima Zaibatsu."
She suddenly felt uncomfortable and hoped that she wouldn't have to omit any truths or worse, lie. "Why is Interpol working with the WWWC?"
He chuckled slightly. "An officer through and through, I thought I was the one with the questions?" His demeanor remained pleasant, she could sense that he was tired and that his motives were pure. He simply wanted to hear the truth.
"Go ahead then."
"Let me begin by answering your question," he laughed, "yes, I know I just said that I was going to be the one asking the questions." Jun sighed softly and discreetly looked at the clock. "I was sent here from Hong Kong to work on a case involving two countries, my goal is to interrogate Kazuya Mishima regarding the case. I tried earlier today but was told that I needed to arrange it with the legal department. The WWWC is the only agency in Japan that has an open case against the Mishima Zaibatsu so I'm working with them now, they sent me to you."
"I don't have any information other than what was in the written reports that I presented to my supervisor."
"I was told you had several meetings with Mr. Mishima before your resignation."
"Two meetings," Jun corrected beginning to feel somewhat irritated, "not several."
"And you were not able to gather any bit of information on either of those occasions?"
"On the first, I learned that Kazuya Mishima schedules very short meetings and on the second I learned that he's a perfectionist when it comes to organizing the tournament."
"Why did you resign your position? Were you threatened by Mr. Mishima or anyone with connections to the Zaibatsu?"
"No." She sensed that he was genuinely concerned for her, and knowing what she knew about Kazuya she couldn't blame him, still the question annoyed her.
"Then why resign?"
Jun felt her cheeks flush and wondered if he noticed. "I made a very personal decision. That is all the information I have, I'm sorry but I really must get going."
She sensed weariness and disappointment, "I won't keep you then," he chuckled, "...It's funny, if you hadn't resigned you and I would be working together right now, it's too bad I heard you were a great officer." Jun shrugged not knowing what to say. "I've taken enough of your time and goodness knows I need a nap," he said as he stood up, "perhaps we'll see each other again."
"Perhaps." Jun opened the door and Wulong bowed slightly before exiting.
Jun felt her stomach turn into knots and a heaviness settle in her chest as she closed the door. The agent's mood and intentions had not changed, yet she felt a tightening in her throat, something that made her shiver and want to seek refuge under her covers just as she had when she was a little girl afraid of monsters hiding in the dark. She felt Angel's intruding presence behind her shoulder and a chill ran through her as she remembered Devil's voice in her head. What if letting Angel possess her felt the same? What if she muddled her thoughts and bullied her into making decisions and committing acts that were against her beliefs?
"I'll make a decision after I see him tomorrow," if was half apology, half excuse.
She almost swore that she heard Angel's frustrated sigh as the presence retreated.
A/N: I know this chapter was a little slow, but it's not something that I felt I could skip over. From now on there might be more characters making cameos or appearances, but as I said before I won't focus on anyone else, so that's all they'll be, some may only get a mention.
Thanks for reading!
