.

(Disappointment)


Every single person who had approached Kazuya had inquired about his well-being, had bowed deeply while praising deities for providing him with protection. Deities who undoubtedly wanted him dead.

It was sickening.

Liars. All of them. The smugness in Devil's voice made Kazuya clench his jaw, but he didn't allow it to break his train of thought.

Kazuya brought the glass of bourbon up to his face and inhaled hoping the scent would mask the lingering smell of paint in the office.

They were liars. He knew everyone was disappointed that the bomb had failed. Everyone from the lowliest Zaibatsu employee to the board of directors was thinking about how much better things would be if he had died. All day he had told himself that he didn't care what they thought, he wanted to feel complete indifference. But as the day wore on, as he had to look at each of their faces, at their false concern, anger began to chip away at indifference until it was all but gone and he was in a barely contained state of rage.

Anger is good. Devil's voice seemed to flit from one side of this head to the other leaving faint echoes in its wake.

"I should have my hands on the entire Earth Ethics group right now. I should be burning their homes to the ground." They had not only tried to kill him, they had also humiliated him in the eyes of Japan and the world. That was worse than attempted murder.

It couldn't have been the tree huggers; it's too perfect.

"I know, but if not them, who?"

Devil laughed. Don't ask me; I'm not the one being paid to figure it out.

The perpetrators were in police custody already. According to Bruce's contact in the police department, someone claiming to be part of Earth Ethics had called the authorities almost immediately after the blast and had given the names of the culprits. The caller had stated that the group did not want to be associated with the violent methods of a few rogue individuals. Bomb-making materials had also been found in a storage unit being used by one of the suspects. A neat, little bow on a perfectly wrapped box. Too easy, too convenient.

He felt Devil grow quiet and attentive at the sound of a light knock on the door.

"What?" He didn't think he could stomach anyone else giving him false smiles and lying to his face.

Ganryu opened the door and stepped in swiftly before closing it. "Miss Jun Kazama wants to see you."

"Send her in," Kazuya said without even thinking. Ganryu bowed slightly before exiting.

Devil gave a short wry laugh that chilled Kazuya to the bone. Are you trying to test me? Wondering if I will keep my word? If she tries anything, and I mean anything, I will kill her right here and now.

She won't do anything.

Devil cackled. On the other hand, killing her would bring me great satisfaction, so it's worth the risk.

There was a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. Devil was on edge; he was a wild animal ready to strike at the slightest provocation. Kazuya stood up suddenly deciding to have Ganryu send her away, but it was too late, the doorknob turned, and Jun stepped inside.

Jun's tone was sharp as she looked him in the eye. "I tried to get a hold of you all morning. I didn't know if you were hurt..." Her tone softened and she looked at him with concern in her eyes. "...Or worse."

"As you can see, I'm fine." He sat then downed the rest of his bourbon.

Jun shook her head and took a step toward the desk. "You're not fine. I can feel him; he's with you."

Kazuya slowly turned the empty glass in his hand. "And that's where he'll stay."

Jun flinched at his words, her brow creased. "...Is that your decision or his?"

"It's a mutual agreement."

Jun nodded stiffly. "Is he the reason why you do the things you do? Or do you act on your own?"

"Of course my actions are my own."

She shook her head and crossed her arms tightly under her chest. "So then it was your decision to lie to me right to my face."

"About what?"

"It was your decision to abduct and harm an innocent creature then force it to fight for the public's entertainment?"

Kazuya shook his head. "The damned kangaroo again?"

"And a dinosaur? How is that even possible? How many codes of ethics did you break to create him, how many laws?"

"Are you after a confession? An apology? What?"

He sighed and leaned back in his chair. Having her in the room began to make him uncomfortable and he regretted letting her in, hated himself for having wanted to see her.

Jun inhaled deeply then rubbed her arms as she exhaled. "I don't want apologies." She looked down at the floor before looking at him again. "I just...all those decisions to harm, to exploit...It can't all be you."

"It is." Something in her eyes made him want to look away but he held her gaze.

"Maybe now, but you weren't always like this."

He knew what she wanted to hear. That he wasn't the monster that everyone else said he was, that the demon inside him was responsible for all the harm he'd caused; and maybe that was true. But there was no way to discern that now. And he was a Mishima. Heihachi was only a man and he was just as capable of evil as Kazuya.

He shrugged. "What do you want me to say? That I-" He was interrupted by a knock on the door. "Come in."

Ganryu opened the door and poked his head into the room. "Sorry to bother you, boss but I have a message for you." He held up a note.

Kazuya nodded and Ganryu stepped into the room and put the note on the desk before leaving. Kazuya picked it up and opened it immediately; he knew the sumo wouldn't have bothered him unless it was something important.

Son,

Congratulations on hosting the blandest, most boring and lackluster event that has ever been held at the Mishima Hotel. Although, the participants are quite interesting, the lovely Miss Kazama in particular. Ask her if she is still interested in receiving private lessons from me.

Heihachi Mishima

Devil's laugh echoed in Kazuya's head. This has taken an unexpected turn.

Kazuya stared at the note in his hand and reread it, then looked at Jun. There was slight apprehension in her eyes, almost as if she knew what was written on it. He stood up and walked toward her. "How long have you been seeing him behind my back?" He was barely able to keep his voice even; he felt his pulse racing as he pushed the piece of paper into Jun's hand.

She's worried. Devil taunted.

Jun hesitantly looked at the note, as she read it, her expression changed from confusion to irritation.

"I have nothing to hide," she spoke resolutely as she handed it back to Kazuya. "I'll tell you everything." When he remained motionless, she sighed and crumpled it up. "I haven't been seeing your father behind your back." She walked over to the wastebasket and dropped the note into it. "I saw him once and only for a few minutes, if I had known the type of person that he is, I would not have done it."

"How did you know where to find him?"

She spoke slowly. "Sometimes...I just get these feelings...like I should do something or go somewhere. I just followed my instinct."

"Your instinct led you to one specific man in Tokyo? You just walked and happened upon him?"

"Yes."

Lies.

"That is impossible. Unless you were looking for him unless you had-"

"Impossible?" Jun crossed her arms and gave him a defiant look. "After everything that we've experienced together after I helped you get rid of that demon, you think finding someone through sheer instinct is impossible for me?"

Got rid of me? Devil laughed. Not even close.

Kazuya pinched the bridge of his nose before speaking. "...Let's say that's true-"

"It is."

"If you did just happen upon him why did he write that? Why did he ask if you're still interested in receiving private lessons?"

Jun blushed and looked down at her shoes as she rubbed her arms. "Because he offered."

"And why in the hell would he do that?"

"I performed a kata for him and he criticized my form...my fighting form."

"Why would you do that?"

"He was in a little dojo, I-I...I wanted to talk to him, see what he was like, I thought that maybe he could be of some help and-" She shook her head. "Wait, how did this turn into a conversation where I have to explain my actions?"

"You thought he could be of help? Help for what?"

"Help for you. To free you of Devil."

The defiance was gone and the look on her face had softened to concern, maybe even pity, but it was obvious that she was sincere. She had gone to Heihachi for help with pure intentions and that made Kazuya angry. She should have known better. He realized that he had put her on a pedestal and had not even known it, but she was just as naive as every other girl her age.

The anger mixed itself with disappointment and he didn't know which was worse.

"...You went to that man for help. The one person who is actually worse than I am."

She sighed. "I know that I shouldn't have, I know that now, but I was, I am desperate to help you. I hate knowing what he's doing to you, what he-"

"Heihachi?"

"No, Devil."

Naive.

He gave a short, wry laugh. "You hate what Devil is doing to me and you wanted Heihachi's help."

She looked flustered, her cheeks flushed. "Stop hinting at things, Kazuya, just talk. You keep interrupting me, belittling my efforts, my worries; just say what you have to say."

He took a step back and crossed his arms. "...I would not be here without Devil." The words sounded strange, forced coming from his mouth, but once he began, he couldn't stop the flow of truth. "If it wasn't for him I would have died twenty-three years ago. He came to my aid when I was dying; when I was bruised and bloodied, my body broken at the bottom of a ravine. He came to me and gave me life, gave me an opportunity for revenge against the man who put me there. My father. The man that you went to for help, the man who threw a five-year-old child down a cliff for committing the crime of existing. Even I haven't done something that low. So do you think he's going to help me in any way? No. What he wants, is to see his hands covered in my blood."

There was a long, heavy silence; it weighed him down. He didn't know if he had said it to hurt her, to humiliate her or if he had said it just to get it out, to make himself feel better somehow. But now he felt worse, everything felt worse. The silence and the tension made him feel apprehensive, vulnerable. His heart was racing, he made a fist with one hand only for the sake of doing something. Was it her presence that made him feel exposed? Was it the ugly truth that he had never dared to speak? Was it the acknowledgment that he needed Devil? That he owed him everything?

Jun stood motionless, her face expressionless and her gaze fixed on the desk. He wished he knew what she was thinking, but at the same time was glad that he didn't. Jun turned her back on Kazuya and quietly opened the door before stepping out and closing it behind her.

I was not expecting that. Devil mused. Maybe honesty is the best policy, just don't make a habit of it.

Kazuya stood in the middle of the room staring at the door half-expecting her to come back but the door remained closed and he remained enveloped in silence. Even Devil was suddenly quiet.

Over the years, he had replayed the fall onto the ravine in his head again and again, the moments before and the eternity after, he had seen it almost every night. Devil had shown him the images hundreds if not thousands of times, but he had never spoken of it out loud, had never told anyone what happened that night; had never told a soul that his father tried to murder him when he was a child.

He felt odd. Tired.

He looked at the door again and was half relieved and half disappointed that Jun had not come back.

He walked to the door and opened it, Ganryu stood at attention along with the two armed guards. "Drive me home, now."

Ganryu nodded. "You got it, boss."

He walked with his entourage toward the exit resisting the urge to look over his shoulder. He knew she would not be there and it was just as well.

One problem solved.


A/N: I did not realize it had been so long since I last updated. You know how it is, time flies and life keeps you busy. Happy New Year!