A/N: It's 2020, let's get ready to rumble!
(Glimmer)
Jun's alarm was set to go off at 4:59, yet she lay on her side with her blankets clutched to her chest, watching as the numbers of the digital clock changed from 4:57 to 4:58. Black background with green numerals, the colors reminded her of trees. Sometimes, when she woke up before the alarm went off, she would look at the numbers through half-lidded eyes and pretend that she was home. She would pretend that when she opened the window, she would be greeted by the smell of moss and cedar, by the songs of white-eyes and wrens. This was no such morning. She knew exactly where she was, exactly what her situation was.
"Hopeless…" She sighed as she reached out and turned off the alarm before the annoying beeping could start. She thought about getting up, but with a deep sigh, she rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling.
How could she possibly help Kazuya when he didn't want to be helped? How could it be possible to get rid of Devil when Kazuya owed him his life? It was something that she had not foreseen, that she could not have imagined. She wouldn't be successful on her own, and teaming up with Angel would very likely result in either Jun or Kazuya's death. Their bodies were only human, after all. She stifled a yawn and wondered how she would look with wings. She wondered if letting Angel possess her would allow her to fly…
She drifted off to sleep but was soon awakened by the twittering of a wren. She couldn't believe it. She left her bed and rushed to the window, moving the curtain to the side.
"I'm dreaming."
She felt a mix of joy and disappointment as she saw the greenery before her. Gone were the streets, apartment buildings, and sounds of traffic. They had been replaced by tall cedars, emerald-green foliage, and the melodious babbling of a stream. And the wrens, how she had missed the wrens.
Now she was outside standing in the middle of a vegetable garden. She saw her kneeling amongst the plants; her wispy, white hair tied in a loose bun behind her head, an old, blue apron over her black, floral-print dress.
"Grandma Junko!"
"Shhh," the Kazama matriarch whispered admonishingly. "Don't scare the birds, I need them to eat these damn grasshoppers, they're going to ruin my tomatoes."
"Sorry," Jun whispered. "Are you really here? Or am I dreaming this?"
Junko stood with some difficulty. "Does it matter?" She gestured to a wicker basket beside Jun. "Pick the ripe ones, my back is killing me."
"Even in a dream?"
"It's how you remember me."
Jun knelt down and began to pick tomatoes. "I don't think I want to do this anymore."
"Which part?"
"The tournament, helping Kazuya..."
"Because it's hard?"
"Because it's hopeless."
"Hopeless." Junko wiped her hands on her apron. "That's a strong word. I've never heard you say it before."
"That's because I've never taken up an impossible task before."
"Jun Kazama, that defeatist attitude stops right now."
"He owes the demon his life. That strange dream I had a few days ago, that was Kazuya as a child being overcome by his father, flung down a cliff. I felt what he felt...no one was there to protect him-"
"Except Devil, I know."
Jun rose to her feet. "He was lost at such a young age, I didn't even know that was possible, I didn't even know that a demon could attach itself to a child that young."
"They can; not often, but it happens."
"How can I hope to reach someone who doesn't even remember what it's like to be human, how can I possibly help him?"
"What do you want to do then?"
"I have opportunities to do some good in the world. I want to go back to Thailand and work with the elephants."
"You think you can't reach him, but you already have. You think he doesn't remember what it's like to be human, but he does when he's with you."
"Are you saying that I have to stay? That I have to help him?"
"You can help him or not help him; you can go, or you can stay; it doesn't matter. You are tied to the Mishimas in a way that can't be undone."
"What do you mean?"
"In time. You have more pressing matters at hand, decisions to make..."
"Should I trust Angel?"
Junko put her arms around her and Jun took in her scent, she smelled of wet earth and wildflowers, it brought her so much comfort that she wanted to stay there forever. "All I can say is that she's told you the truth and that she will never lie. You can accept her offer or not, that is up to you."
"Will the outcomes be different? Is one way easier than the other?"
"If I knew, I would tell you…"
Jun woke up on her bed, with the feel of her grandmother's arms still lingering around her. She shut her eyes tightly and tried to hold on to every detail of the dream, but it was already fading. Once everything became confusing, fragmented images, she opened her eyes and looked at the clock. It was 5:45. She rose from her bed and began to get ready for the tournament. She couldn't remember the details of her dream, but the overall message was there. Her fate was tied to Kazuya's even if she left Japan, and telling herself that she didn't want to see him was a bald-faced lie.
It was still dark out when Anna woke up. She turned quickly when she felt eyes on her and caught Bruce's gaze.
"Are you watching me sleep?"
"No. You moved, I woke up, I opened my eyes, and there you were."
"Good," sat up. "Because honestly, that would have been a little creepy." She reached out for the lamp and turned on the light, then reached for her undergarments and began to get dressed.
"You're leaving already? It's barely six o'clock."
She reached behind her back to fasten her bra. "It's a big day for me, I have to get ready." She looked over her shoulder and saw him looking at her. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"I'm not looking at you like that, whatever that means. I'm just looking. You can't stand in front of me half-naked and expect me not to look."
"It's more like eighty-five percent naked if you're going for accuracy."
He laughed. "Unbelievable, you've made math sexy."
"What can I say? It's a gift."
Bruce chuckled and shook his head then reached for the phone on the bedside table. "I'm gonna check the messages."
Anna went to the bathroom and found her dress hanging over the shower curtain rod where she had left it. She pulled the dress down and slipped into it but was met with resistance when she tried to zip it up. She went back into the room and found Bruce already dressed.
"Anything happen?"
He shook his head. "All's quiet. I'm driving down to the Mishima Estate to relieve Ganryu, then I'll come back with the boss for the start of the tournament."
She walked up to Bruce and turned back to him. "Zip me up."
He laughed. "I thought women only said that in the movies when they're trying to subtly seduce a man."
"The damn thing is just stuck." The feel of his fingertips on her back made her stomach flutter. "And that's really not one of my tactics, there's nothing subtle about me."
"I can't," he said as he released the zipper. "I'll break it."
"This damn dress has been pissing me off since yesterday. If it wasn't so damn expensive, I'd throw it in the trash." Her back was completely exposed, clothing flaps were hanging from either side. "Will you call me a cab to my hotel? My Japanese is atrocious."
He laughed. "You mean, non-existent?"
"That too."
While he made the phone call, she took off the dress and put on the fluffy bathrobe then tied the belt tightly around her slender waist. She slung the dress over her shoulder and slipped into her black, stiletto heels.
"The cab will be waiting for you at the entrance…" Bruce stared at her for a moment. "You're going out in a robe? I'm sure we can find you a t-shirt or something."
Anna picked up her purse. "A t-shirt with these heels? Don't be ridiculous."
"Yeah, I'm ridiculous…" He gave a cautious look. "So this thing...are we calling it just a one-time thing then business as usual?"
Anna shrugged. "Well, if it's more than a one-time thing, can you separate it from the business as usual?"
"Me?"
"Yeah. What, you think because I'm the woman I'm going to be the one letting feelings and shit get involved?"
"I didn't say that."
"How about this, we'll celebrate my victory at your place tonight."
"You're that sure you'll win?"
"Positive." She had to win, losing could not even be a possibility. Not this time.
Kazuya could not forget the look on Jun's face: defeat. She had been defeated before the tournament even started. At first, he had been too angry, too disappointed to care about her feelings. But then, on his way home, the anger was replaced with a strangeness in his chest. And now, Sitting in the dark in the back seat of the car, enveloped by silence, with Devil quiet, he saw her face again. It made his chest feel heavy and that feeling frayed his nerves because he was supposed to be above such things.
Jun wanted him to get rid of Devil. There were times when he wanted that too. But if he did get rid of Devil, if he truly became free of him, what then? What would happen to all his ambition? All his plans? Would he gain a soul but lose his life? Would he be like his grandfather, an astute mind, and a powerful body caged by human morals? Or would he be like Heihachi? A shell of a human being willing to step on anyone and anything to get what he wanted.
That sounds like someone I know…
I'm nothing like him.
Thanks to me. I'm what separates you from mediocrity, from normalcy.
He was gone just as quickly as he appeared. But even with that brief exchange, he knew that he was right. Devil was what made him stand apart from everyone, he couldn't let him go, not to please Jun, not even for her sake. All he had to do was stay away from her, then she'd be safe, and he'd have the power that he desired. He didn't want to get rid of Devil, the only thing he wanted to be rid of, was the heavy feeling in his chest.
Anna felt unusually calm as she applied another coat of vixen-red lipstick. She closed the tube and set it on the counter, then picked up her red-silk gloves and slipped them on. She lightly ran the tip of her finger over her long, thick lashes as she looked in the mirror and stepping back, gazed at her full reflection. She was dressed to walk the red carpet at a movie premiere. Long, red dress, matching Manolo Blahnik pumps, and her trademark sleek bob haircut.
She laughed. "I'm going to be a mess in a minute."
She enjoyed her pristine reflection a moment longer before turning her back on the mirror. What she was going to look like after the fight didn't matter as long as Nina wasn't able to get up.
There was a soft knock on the locker room door, followed by a female voice. "Miss Williams?" A young Japanese woman wearing a headset and holding a clipboard stepped inside. "This way, please."
Anna couldn't help turning back and gazing at her reflection once more before walking toward the door.
"Where is my opponent," Anna asked as they walked down the hallway. "She wasn't in the locker room."
"She is in the arena already."
That bitch, robbing me of my grand entrance. "Makes her seem too eager, doesn't it?"
The young woman shrugged as she looked at her clipboard and pulled off a small piece of paper before handing it to Anna. "I have a message from Mr. Mishima."
Anna took the note.
You'd better win.
She crumpled it up and dropped it on the floor as she felt her heartbeat accelerate. "No pressure."
She followed the young woman to the end of the hallway and waited for her to open the door.
"Now, please."
Anna stepped outside to thunderous roar and applause, to camera flashes. What truly delighted her was the sight of her image on giant screens high above the spectators. She swayed her hips as she walked and stopped now and then to blow kisses in every direction.
She stepped onto the fighting ground, completely ignoring Nina and continuing to wave to her admirers and pose for the cameras.
"Too bad they weren't there to take your picture during your walk of shame this morning." Nina stood in the middle of the stone square, arms crossed, a sour expression marring her pretty face.
Anna smiled as she spoke. "Oh, you were watching me, Sis? It is truly sad that you have nothing better to do, and I'm not ashamed, my bathrobe looked better than that hideous purple leotard you're wearing."
Nina stood immobile, arms crossed.
"Fighter's ready?"
Nina took her fighting stance.
Anna blew a kiss to the audience before doing the same.
"Fight!"
Nina came at her, a snake ready to strike. But Anna was stronger than the last time, faster; she moved with ease from side to side, dodging kicks and elbow strikes before throwing in a few test punches. Nina hopped out of the way before beginning her onslaught again. Anna continued her strategy, dodge, and block, dodge, and block.
Nina charged forward, Anna was sure she would kick, but at the last second, Nina turned. Anna couldn't stop the backhand from hitting her on the chin.
"Bitch!"
The heat of the pain radiating from her chin ignited Anna's anger. She ran at Nina, leaving her strategy behind. She was a flurry of kicks and relentless palm strikes. She felt her heart swell when she saw that she was driving Nina back. Hear ears were buzzing, she clenched her teeth as she landed a punch to her sister's chin, then a knee to her ribs. She was like a shark tasting blood in the water. She craved more, she wanted to hit harder, faster. Wanted to keep going until Nina couldn't get up anymore. Every kick and strike fueled by years of pent up anger. It propelled her every move, forced her to ignore the searing pain in her ribs, the sweat matting her hair to her forehead.
She was winning, she could feel it. Nina was getting tired losing patience, maybe others couldn't see it, but she had trained with her sister since they were little girls and she knew. Anna continued her onslaught, kick, kick, punch, she relished in the feel of her fists and knees striking bone, bruising flesh...
Shit, too close.
She felt Nina's arms around her, her weight pushing Anna down. Her lungs felt empty as she landed square on her back. She squinted against the blinding sunlight as she struggled to catch her breath. She inhaled, then tried to move, but Nina had her pinned down. She tried to push her off, but Nina grabbed her by the wrist and twisted.
This can't be happening again.
There was a fleeting moment of panic when she realized that the fight could go either way. When she tried to pry her sister's hold off her wrist, but it was no use.
She's gonna break it.
"Father would be proud of you," Anna spoke through clenched teeth, her chest heaving, her heart beating faster than she could remember. Nina twisted harder. "He was even proud of you as drew his last, ragged breath."
A glimmer of hope. The look on Nina's face, that flicker of anger that was there and gone.
It was enough. Anna punched with her free hand and felt the hold on her wrist slacken as her fist landed on Nina's jaw. She slipped her wrist out of the hold and twisted her body, throwing Nina off.
Both women stood and eyed each other warily.
"He called for you," Anna said as they circled each other, looking for an opening.
"You lying bitch."
"He was choking on his own blood, and he still managed to say your name. And you weren't there. What an utter disappointment."
Nina lunged at her, anger burning in her eyes, she went in for another hold, but Anna met her with a kick to her stomach, then a second kick to the side of the head.
Nina staggered backward, then fell, her eyes open and unfocused.
Oh, shit...
The announcer knelt beside her and began to count to ten. Nina blinked but didn't move. He finished counting.
Why isn't she moving?
She saw Nina clench her fist. Anna felt relief wash over her and cursed herself for it.
"Anna Williams wins!"
The entire stadium erupted, louder than a thunderstorm. It gave her chills. She had done it, had bested Nina as the world watched.
Nina sat up slowly. "Why didn't you tell me before?"
She shrugged. "You'd better let the paramedics have a look at you."
"I hate you!" Nina screamed.
Anna turned to face her sister, then bent low and blew her a kiss. "My pleasure."
Paramedics and reporters rushed toward the stage. Cameras flashed in her face as a man with a microphone approached her. "Miss Williams, a word, please."
She smiled brightly as she spoke into the microphone. "Call me Anna." The adrenaline began to ebb away, and she started to feel searing pain in her ribs. It hurt to move her right wrist.
"Anna," the reporter began. "You started out strong, but for a moment, it looked like Nina would win, were you worried."
"Not for a second."
She watched Nina walk away, somewhat unsteady, ignoring the paramedics as well as requests for comment.
Anna turned to the reporter again. "We've been told that the pairing of opponents is completely random and selected by a computer program. But it almost seems too much of a coincidence for a computer program to pit you against your sister again."
"You said it, it's a coincidence." She abruptly turned toward a different reporter who was trying to get her attention.
"Anna, do you have a message for your fans?"
She winked as she looked at the camera. "I accept gifts."
She thanked the reporter before leaving the fighting ground.
Her body hurt, she could taste blood in her mouth, her hair was matted and sticking to her forehead, and there were runs on her stockings. But Anna didn't care, she smiled and waved at the audience with her left hand. She felt like singing, like doing cartwheels, like dancing all the way to her hotel room. She had accomplished what she set out to do. She had won, had humiliated Nina, and given her information that would keep her up at night. Anna could not remember a better moment in her life.
Jun didn't know what she was doing standing in the middle of that stadium. There was no point anymore, fighting in a tournament wasn't going to make Kazuya see things her way, being close to him wasn't going to help either.
I should just forfeit, I should just leave.
But she stood facing her opponent. She stood still as a stone as the announcer's voice blared all around her.
Just leave.
The announcer introduced her, then her opponent, Marshall Law. But she didn't move a muscle.
I can still leave.
"Fighter's Ready?"
She took her fighting stance. Her heartbeat was steady, her mind clear.
"Fight!"
Law closed the distance between them shockingly fast. When that first kick hit her forearm, Jun realized that training was not the same as fighting in a tournament. She was being driven back and was barely able to block his assault. She felt a hard blow to her middle, and her knees met the unforgiving, stone ground.
This isn't me.
Law was running at her again. Jun rolled out of the way as his heel narrowly missed her head.
She was in it now, and Kazamas did not give up. Ever.
She blocked the next hit and stood up, a surge of energy coursing through her. Law was relentless, kicking high and low in lightning-fast succession. But Jun dodged, sidestepped, and met him blow for blow.
She tuned out every noise and focused on her breathing, on the man's facial expressions, the aura that surrounded him.
Doubt. He didn't know if he could win.
He came barrelling at her, but she was fast too. She switched seamlessly between kicks and palm strikes. She spun and dodged, blocked hit after hit. She had to be relentless, had to win.
She saw an opening and went low, trying to sweep his feet from under him. Law lost his balance and made a sloppy attempt to grab her but Jun spun around and kicked him square in the chest.
Jun stood ready as she watched him land on his back, but he didn't get up. In the blink of and eye, the announcer had counted to ten and Law was still down.
"Jun Kazama wins!"
She stood still in her fighting stance, not knowing what to do, the deafening noise from the spectators felt like physical pressure around her body. So many people expressing excitement, anger, happiness, it was too much; too overwhelming.
She did her best to tune them out and slowly become aware of how fast her heart was beating, of the sweat making her shirt cling to her back, of the pain on her arms, legs, and ribs.
The flashes from countless cameras blinded her. As she shielded her eyes and tried to walk back toward the locker room, someone pushed a microphone in front of her face, but she pushed it aside and walked straight forward, away from the lights, away from the crowd.
Jun sat on the sofa in her little apartment, watching a replay of her fight. It was like watching a dream, it was strange and made her feel uncomfortable. She cringed as she watched the beginning of the fight.
I was like a deer in front of headlights.
She was still trying to convince herself to drop out of the tournament. But a part of her wanted to know just how far she could make it. She had never tested her skills against an opponent who was trying to hurt her enough to incapacitate her. The feeling was both terrifying and exhilarating.
She gasped as the phone rang. She stood up and turned off the TV, her heart beating a mile a minute. She just knew it was Kazuya, the heavy weight of dread in her heart was simultaneously countered by excitement.
"Yes?" She answered, her mouth going dry.
"I'm so proud of you, Little Sis!"
"...Katsuro?" She felt a mix of relief and disappointment as she heard her brother's voice.
"Why didn't you tell me, Jun?"
"I Thought you would all be mad at me. Then my name was on announcements everywhere the past few days and none of you called me, so I assumed I was right and all of you really were mad."
"Well, you know Mom and Dad, they are mad. But I was hiking with some friends for the past week, no TVs, no radios... Then I come back today and see my baby sister on TV. You were amazing."
"Thank you."
"Mom and Dad are mad at me too now."
"Why?"
"Because you've inspired me to make my own way and not care what they think-"
"I do care what they think."
"Jun, I'm going to open my own dojo. I don't know how, but I'm doing it. Seeing you in the tournament made me realize that our style of martial arts needs to be shared with the world, even if Dad doesn't think so."
"That is so exciting, Katsuro, I'm proud of you too. I-" She heard a knock on her door. "I need to go, we'll talk later, I'm so excited for you."
"Good luck, Jun, I'll be watching. Bye."
Jun felt elated as she hung up the phone. As she neared the door, she sensed him, and her heart skipped a beat. Kazuya was there.
She opened the door and waited for him to say something, but he remained silent and immobile.
Jun stepped aside. "Are you going to come in or…"
He have her a cautious look. "Are you going to try anything?"
She knew he meant against Devil, she could feel him lurking somewhere in Kazuya's mind. "I'm not going to try anything."
Kazuya nodded slowly, then stepped inside. "You should drop out of the tournament while you can."
Jun shook her head as she closed the door. "I signed a contract."
"It doesn't say that you can't drop out."
"It doesn't say that I should."
Kazuya crossed his arms. "...I don't want you doing it for me."
Jun scoffed, shaking her head. "I'm not doing for you. There's no point. I already know that whatever I have to offer can't compare to what Devil gave you."
He sighed. "Then why are you doing it?"
"I don't know."
He was full of guilt, of doubt. She could feel him trying to push it away with his anger, but the guilt was enveloping him and mixing itself with concern as the anger ebbed away.
He looked into her eyes and spoke firmly. "I'm not going to change."
She took his hand even as she felt a lump in her throat. "I know. I should drop out, and I should tell you to leave, but I won't."
He slowly shook his head. "Why are you so stubborn?"
"Why are you here?"
"I don't know."
She put her arms around him, her forehead resting on his shoulder. She felt her stomach flutter when he put his hand on the small of her back. She felt at ease, even with Devil's presence lurking faintly, even with that ache in her throat.
They stood together, doing nothing, saying nothing.
Maybe things weren't hopeless. Maybe she could do the one thing that Devil could never do; accept him and love him for who he really was. He said he didn't know why he was there, but there had to be a reason, and if that reason was love, maybe there was still hope.
A/N: Happy New Year, everyone! I hate to write long notes at the end, but I want to say a few things.
I really don't want to get personal, but two years ago, I went through something. Before then, I was writing and updating on a semi-regular basis. Going through that event, really took away my will to write and to do a lot of other things. It was really hard to write a paragraph, never mind a whole chapter. This whole summer was difficult for far less dramatic reasons, but I actually had really good excuses for not writing. Anyway, it is time to leave the past in the past. That's why I changed my name after eighteen years (I was really young when I started XD). It's time to start anew.
Completely switching gears, I want to talk about fight scenes. I was going to have this chapter out last weekend, but damn, those things are hard for me to write. I've read some stories with amazing fight scenes. One of my favorites had a fight scene that was thousands of words long, it was a freaking masterpiece. I can't do that. I finally came to the realization that nothing I write will make you feel the way you do when you're mashing those buttons and staring at the screen. So I just did my best not to get to wordy with it and... it is what it is. But hey, at least the tournament finally started. *laughs nervously*
