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(Potential)

Heihachi sat at his table ignoring the meal that the server set before him.

"Well," Rei straightened in her chair and picked up her chopsticks, "at least the food looks lovely."

"Hmph," he pushed his plate away. It was some sort of dish with prawns, a fish that he was not interested in identifying, and colorful vegetables. Something a student could have thrown together on his first day of culinary school. The banquet the Mishima patriarch had hosted on the eve of the first tournament had been nothing short of lavish and extravagant. He had honored each tournament participant by hiring world-renowned chefs who prepared unique and delectable dishes specific to each individual's country of origin. This evening, however, was one awkward incident after another; the subpar food was only the beginning.

Kazuya had not even bothered to mention the man who had died in his service. In Heihachi's eyes, any man who died performing his duty deserved to be honored, it didn't matter if he was a fighter, a janitor or a driver. It's like he's deliberately rejecting everything I taught him about honor. And Lee sitting there like an idiot with nothing to do while some unknown fool stood behind the podium. It was glaringly obvious that he and Kazuya did not see eye to eye, any half-sober fool could deduce that much, but it made Heihachi wonder if Kazuya could be trying to get rid of Lee. If Kazuya had become aware of the funds Lee had supposedly been stealing from the company, then whatever form of trust had existed between the two brothers was undoubtedly gone.

Rei leaned discreetly toward him. "Your son is done speaking to Miss Williams, I think he's headed for the balcony."

Heihachi spotted Lee as he walked away. He needs a cigarette, no doubt. He was always weighed down by some vice or another, be it cigarettes, women, or illegal drugs. Heihachi still couldn't get over that one. He stood up, deciding to rattle Lee a bit, to remind him of his betrayal. He stood from the table and walked through the crowd, avoiding sponsors and reporters looking for an interview. He found Lee standing with his elbow propped on the balcony railing, a pack of cigarettes in his left hand.

Heihachi stood next to his adopted son, his arms folded over his broad chest. "I don't blame you for stepping out," he spoke in a casual tone, "this isn't much of a party."

Lee chuckled slightly as he shook his head and put the pack of cigarettes back in his pocket, he then turned to face Heihachi. "In my experience, pleasant company makes for a pleasant event. I saw your companion, maybe next time you should bring a date that is interesting instead of young."

The ingrate dares to criticize the company I keep? "I'm saddened by your disapproval. You'll be pleased to know, however, that I wholeheartedly approve of your recent choices."

Lee sighed and fixed his gaze on the sprawling city lights. "Is that so?"

Heihachi nodded. "First Miss Williams, now Miss Yoshida...certainly a step up from the American sluts you used to surround yourself with." Lee turned to look at him, lips tightened, but he didn't say anything, then turned his gaze toward the city again. "Both fine, young women..." Heihachi continued, "but there's a problem with women of their type, who are educated and well-bred."

Lee turned to face him fully and spoke in an irritated tone. "Well-bred?" He shook his head and pulled the cigarette pack out the pocket in his jacket. "Are you talking about women or dogs?"

Heihachi chuckled and continued to speak as he watched Lee extract a cigarette from the pack and fish a lighter out of his pants' pocket. "I remember telling you many times, 'never bed a woman that you can't control' and what-"

"That is shit advice to give a fifteen-year-old, by the way." Lee shook his head again as he put the cigarette between his lips and lit it. He took a long drag then slowly exhaled. "What's your point? Are you trying to tell me something about Sayuri that you think I don't want to know? I know you've been following her."

"If I wanted to tell you something I'd do it, I wouldn't try to tell you."

"Leave her out of whatever you're planning, she doesn't know anything about the Zaibatsu that would interest you, doesn't know anyone you might find useful-"

"Well, I know that now."

Lee sighed and for a moment looked utterly exhausted. "What the hell do you want? I came out here for some peace."

Heihachi smirked. "I just wanted to inquire about your wellbeing after what happened at the stadium this morning."

"Was that you?" Lee asked indifferently as he continued to smoke.

"No. Was it you?"

"No."

Heihachi crossed his arms, the stench of the smoke was beginning to irritate him. "It should have been you."

Lee looked mildly surprised by his statement and eyed him carefully. "...I should have been the one who got blown up? Or are you saying that I should be trying to kill my brother?"

"Either would be acceptable. I told you during the last tournament that Kazuya would try to kill me and that if that happened, you were to take over the Zaibatsu using any and all means, and what do you do? You betray me, side with my killer and-"

"You were dead," Lee pointed at him, his tone full of anger and accusation. "I woke up, and you were dead, and I had nothing. Kazuya closed the New York branch and found some loophole in the will that left me out of everything except my personal accounts. I have not set foot at the Estate in two years; I had to worm my way back into the Zaibatsu and-"

"All you had were your personal accounts? Forgive me if I don't weep for your misfortune. And who do you owe those personal accounts to? Who?"

"That money is mine I earned it, I-"

"Don't forget that you owe everything to me, boy. Every yen you have, every breath you take, you owe it to me. If I had left you in Shanghai, you would not have lived to be fourteen years old. Look me in the eye and tell me I'm wrong."

Lee sighed softly and turned his back on Heihachi then continued to smoke over the balcony. They were both silent, enveloped by the sounds of the city and the banquet hall. After a moment Lee snuffed his cigarette on the balcony railing and turned to face Heihachi once more. "...If you had come to me two years ago, I would have sided with you, I wish I could say otherwise, but it's the truth... Now things are different; I'm different-"

"Hmph, so you have sided with Kazuya."

Lee shook his head. "I'm not siding with anyone. I want the Zaibatsu for myself. I want to restore it to what it once was before you twisted your father's vision and everything that he stood for; before fathers and sons started killing each other."

Heihachi laughed. "Before fathers and sons started killing each other?" It was obvious that Wang Jinrei had gotten to Lee. "And you plan to take over the Zaibatsu how? By asking Kazuya and me to stand aside? By serving us with a restraining order?"

Lee shrugged. "I'll do what I have to do."

Heihachi scoffed. "No, you won't. You're afraid to get your hands dirty. Jinpachi would have liked you; you're a coward just like him."

Lee looked at his watch then walked back into the banquet hall in silence, not sparing his adoptive father even a glance.

Heihachi watched him with a self-satisfied smile and followed after him a few moments later. Inside, he saw Lee talking to a pair of older men in dark suits. He was speaking to them with that smile that fooled almost everyone, but it never deceived him. Heihachi knew that Lee was angry and that he would dwell on that anger and start to plan and over-plan. And hopefully, that would be enough to make him lose his focus.

Looking around the room, he spotted Sayuri Yoshida at the bar talking to Kazuya's head of security. The young woman fixed her gaze on Nina Williams undoubtedly trying to be discreet but in his eyes, failing miserably; not that it mattered he was sure no one else noticed. That look between the two girls affirmed his suspicion; Braden Mullen had sent the older Williams sister to kill Kazuya. It was all so obvious, right under their noses and they were all too self-absorbed to see it.

Jun Kazama was sitting alone at a table a short distance away. He had to keep an eye on her, he didn't know her, and that made her unpredictable. Maybe he would find a way to use her.

He scanned the room again and saw Lee posing for a photograph and wearing that same, unchanging smile covering up the anger and self-doubt. For a moment he felt an inkling of sympathy for him and almost blamed himself for failing to be a better teacher... So much wasted potential. But potential was nothing, counted for nothing if it never led to action.

If Heihachi himself had not acted when it counted, if he had not ripped the Zaibatsu from Jinpachi's grasp, he would only be known for his immense potential. The potential to be a good leader, to elevate the Mishima Zaibatsu to greatness. But he'd had the drive and the courage to do what had been necessary then...and he was willing to do it again, as he had in the past, and again, and again. Potential was nothing only actions mattered. And now that the tournament was about to begin, it was time to leave all the plotting and planning behind, it was time to spring into action and retake his rightful place as the head of the Mishima Zaibatsu.