Disclaimer: I don't own Tekken.
Thanks to all the reviewers (and Draky thanks for your review on chapter 16).
Chapter 18 – Devil Child
16th APRIL
Julia and Ling had met early in the morning to spar, but Ling was completely distracted from that objective. Jin's arrival had totally disturbed her, not in the wrong way, but she was always thinking about his words. "You'll get hurt…This is dangerous…" What did he mean about that?
-'Are you ok, Ling?'-Julia asked.
-'Actually…I need a break…'
-'Ok…lets talk.'
-'What about?'
-'What's disturbing you?'
Ling sighed and sat down under a sakura tree. She looked at the blue sky and then to Julia. Usually she didn't like to talk about problems to other people, but usually she didn't have problems. That situation was an exception and it was all Jin's fault.
-'My friend arrived yesterday…'-Ling started.
-'That's great…I have to meet him…'
-'You will…'
-'What's the problem? Did you two have a fight?'
-'Sort of…he thinks I'm a child. I know that I'm only sixteen, actually I'm almost seventeen, my birthday is next month…but he thinks I need protection and he said I'm too young for this tournament.'
-'Well…maybe you just need to show him that he's wrong. My family didn't want me to come either.'
-'But you're not sixteen, are you?'
-'No…but the age doesn't matter.'
-'It matters to him!'
-'Then maybe he's not a good friend.'
-'He is a good friend…I lived with him and though at first he was annoying and horrible to me, I saw that deep inside he's just lonely. The thing is I want to help and he doesn't want my help. Actually he wants to be alone and to isolate himself from the world. I don't think that's a good choice because this way he'll be consumed by loneliness…'
-'Since you seem to know him pretty well, maybe you should talk to him again and explain him that. Sometimes people need to be told the same thing a million times until they finally understand.'
-'He's not like that. Whatever I have to say to him, he'll never accept it.'
-'You can't just quit…just show him that you care.'
-'Don't you think I've tried? The thing is, I can't help him of he doesn't tell me what the problem is.'
-'How do you know he has a problem?'
-'You don't know his family…I would be surprised if he had only one problem…but Jin is just too proud…'
Julia was surprised to hear Jin's name. Could Ling's friend be Jin Kazama? That would be a strange coincidence.
-'So…you said you lived with him?'-Julia asked to see if she was right.
-'Yes, I did…'
-'Only the two of you? Is he your boyfriend?'
-'No…we're just friends. I lived with him and his grandfather. Jin doesn't like Heihachi…so he left us.'
Julia watched Ling carefully. Ling wouldn't be telling her all that if she was there to spy on her. Besides, a young girl like her wouldn't work as a spy for Heihachi Mishima, right? At least now she knew that Jin Kazama was already there. Now she had to find him and ask him to help her finding Michelle. If Ling's words were true, he would help her because he despised Heihachi too.
-'I need to go now…'-Julia said suddenly.
-'Ok…I'm going to find Jin and try to talk to him…again.'
-'Good luck.'
-'Thanks.'
When they were entering the hotel, Julia run into Bryan and in order to avoid him, she hit someone else who was coming out.
-'Hey…I knew you would change your mind and come to my arms.'-Hwoarang said holding her.
-'Let go!'-she warned.
-'Calm down babe…I know I'm irresistible.'
-'I'm not going to say this twice…let go of me…'
-'Fine.'-Hwoarang let her go and spotted Ling.-'Hey…if it isn't Miss Pigtails!'
Ling frowned and pouted. She hated that guy. He was so damn immature and annoying.
-'So, where's that stupid boyfriend of yours?'-Hwoarang asked starting to search for Jin.
-'He is not here!'-Ling said.-'What are you doing here?'
-'Isn't it obvious? Geez that Japanese piece of crap like them dumb…and illegal.'
-'Are you calling me dumb?'-Ling asked starting to clench her fists.
-'Duh! You're such a genius…'
-'If you don't shut up I'm going to kill you!'-Ling warned.
-'I'm so scared…besides you're just a small brat. Where's Kazama?'
-'I'm not small! And I'm not a brat!'
-'Yes, you are…you're annoying. How old are you anyway? Why are you on the tournament?'
-'I'm almost seventeen and I'm strong enough to fight in this tournament!'
-'You're still illegal…'
-'Go to hell, Korean trash!'
-'Just leave her alone, will you?'-Julia said to Hwoarang.
-'Don't worry babe, you're still my favourite! Pigtails girl is not my type…'
-'That's it…you're getting on my nerves! Prepare to die!'-Ling said throwing a punch at the Korean.
Hwoarang escaped easily and grabbed her arm.
-'Sorry…But I'm saving my strengths to fight your boyfriend. I don't have time to waste with you.'
Then he released her and left the hotel.
-'Jerk!'-Ling exclaimed.-'I hate him!'
-'You know him?'-Julia asked curiously.
-'Yes…Jin and I met him in South Korea. He wants to fight with Jin again because their fight ended up in a draw. What about you? You know him too?'
-'Unfortunately.'
-'He's such an idiot!'
-'Tell me about it.'
19th APRIL
Ling never got to speak with Jin because he vanished. She was sick of going to knock on his bedroom door, but he never opened it, or he was never there.
She was determined not to quit, but honestly, she didn't know what she could do.
That morning, everyone was informed that Heihachi would officially open the tournament after lunch. All contestants would have to be present in the hotel great saloon to hear what Heihachi had to say. Basically he would explain the rules and announce the matches.
Ling was not the only one searching for Jin. Julia wanted to speak to him too. It was actually her who found him outside the hotel perimeter. He was training.
-'Hi…I'm sorry to disturb you but I need to talk to you…'-Julia said.
-'I saw you before…with Xiaoyu. Did she send you?'
-'No. This has nothing to do with her.'
-'What can I do for you?'
-'You're Jin Kazama, son of Jun Kazama and Kazuya Mishima…'
Julia had got his attention with those words.
-'Do I know you?'-he asked her.
-'No, but we have things in common…'
-'Like what?'
-'We both don't trust Heihachi…'
-'Why do you say that? How do you know Heihachi?'
-'He kidnapped my mother.'
-'What?'
-'I believe he is holding my mother against her will, forcing her to work for him.'
-'Why does he need your mother?'
-'Because she knows about the devil gene and the Toshin.'
-'The devil gene? Toshin?'
-'What you have inside of you is no illness…it's something you inherit from your father. Toshin is the God of War according to some myths.'
-'Are you joking?'
-'Does it look like I'm joking?'
-'What do you mean about what's inside of me?'
-'You know you're different, don't you?'
-'I'm human…just like you.'
-'Not exactly. My mother met your parents many years ago…she became Jun's friend. Your father made a deal with an evil spirit to have more power and defeat Heihachi. During the second tournament, Jun tried to help him to get rid of the devil that was controlling his soul but she failed.'
-'I know…he died and she went to Yakushima to have me there.'
-'No one knows for sure if Kazuya is dead. A devil doesn't die just like that.'
-'Are you saying that my father is alive?'
-'No, your father died when he decided to give his soul to the devil. Even if he's alive, it's not Kazuya anymore…it's an evil person, someone not human, whose only wish is to become stronger and to reunite himself.'
-'Reunite?'
-'Yes…when Jun tried to save Kazuya's soul, she realised that he wasn't totally controlled by the devil…she took an advantage and…well you're the living proof…'
-'I'm what?'
-'The devil didn't kill Jun because Kazuya had feelings for her and because she was carrying Kazuya's baby…I mean you. But you inherited half of the devil powers, making him weaker and that's why he's hiding for now. But he wants all of his powers.'
-'You're telling me that my father became a devil and that I'm half devil too?'
-'Yes…'
-'I'm not a devil, or a demon or whatever…I'm human.'
-'You're stronger than most people, sometimes you feel angry and you want to kill someone…am I right?'
Jin didn't answer. She was speaking the truth. Sometimes it was hard to control his anger and sometimes he had the horrible wish to kill.
-'You have managed to control your evil powers because of your mother's blood. But it's getting more difficult, especially after her death.'
-'How do you know all of this?'
-'I told you…my mother knew yours…and she was trying to help Kazuya as well. My people believe in spirits and curses…My mother knew that the devil had to be defeated. When Jun managed to weaken the devil and when Kazuya was declared to be dead, she returned home, thinking that her mission was over. She was wrong, because years later she went to Central America and she found a tomb. She told the other archaeologists that they shouldn't open it. But they contacted the man who was sponsoring their work and he sent men to open the chamber. That man was your grandfather.'
-'When was this?'
-'Four years ago. He opened the chamber and released Toshin…a very powerful spirit, full of hate and seeking revenge from Humans. He feeds on powerful souls. Heihachi lost many men, killed by Toshin and since he couldn't control it he took my mother, Michelle Chang.'
-'My mother was attacked four years ago…'
-'I know. It was probably the Toshin. Heihachi managed to capture him at first…but sometimes the Toshin managed to break free. Your mother was a powerful fighter that's why he attacked her. But she wasn't the only one.'
-'Ok…assuming that I believe you…what do you want from me?'
-'I need your help to find my mother. I know that she's alive, but I need someone to help me…someone who knows where Heihachi keeps his secrets…'
-'Is there any way to get rid of the devil gene?'
-'I don't know…but if we can find my mother, I'm sure she'll help you. She probably knows more about this than I do. You have my word that I'll do anything to set you free from that curse.'
-'What do you think Heihachi is planning to do?'
-'I don't know yet…but I want to find out and I want to stop him! He probably wants the Toshin's powers…I think this tournament was held to capture the Toshin.'
-'Then we are all in danger…'
-'Yes…that's why we have to hurry. I'm really sorry that you had to learn this from me, it wasn't an easy decision. But I think you deserve to know the truth and besides I really need your help.'
-'I just don't understand why my mother didn't tell me this…'
-'I didn't know if you would believe me…she probably thought the same.'
Jin nodded.
-'I'll try to find out where Heihachi is keeping your mother…'
-'Thanks…oh…and by the way…I think you should talk to Ling.'
-'Why?'
-'She's worried about you and she told me you were friends…'
-'Worried?'
-'Maybe you should tell her…'
-'Tell her what? That I'm the son of the devil? That sounds deadly fun…'
-'Just talk to her…'
