A/N: Merry Christmas! I came up with the idea for this story back in May, and I finally got to write it and share it with all of you! Some characters aren't referred to by name, but who they are should be easy to figure out. This story takes place between Tekken 5 and Tekken 6.
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to anything involving Tekken. The franchise belongs to Bandai Namco Entertainment.
The ballroom exuded warmth, both in temperature and temperament. The overhead lighting was soft, the red and green fairy lights adding to the ambience. The selection of food was enticing in appearance and aroma, as the guests' stomachs were sounding off with hunger once the scents turned into tastes on their tongues, if they weren't already engrossed in conversation with each other. The falling snow outside—fat and descending at a leisurely pace, as there was no wind—only made the atmosphere more peaceful. The only thing missing was a fireplace.
There it is, Kazuya Mishima thought, catching the orange glow of the flames out of the corner of his eye, its host a bizarre, yet fitting combination of ornate and modern styles. He snorted when he saw what was roasting on the open fire. Chestnuts? Chaolan certainly didn't spare any detail.
He shouldn't have been surprised, considering the occasion. Somehow, Chaolan Lee managed to talk him and Jin Kazama into organizing a joint Christmas party between their companies, with Violet Systems as the location, of course. Jin agreed to it, partly because he was thinking about the public's perception of the Mishima Zaibatsu and himself, as the newly-installed and youngest CEO, and mostly because Chaolan knew how to pull people's strings without looking like he was doing anything. Kazuya agreed to it, partly to get Chaolan to shut up, and mostly to get the chance to humiliate them both, right in front of their guests. It would certainly make up for the promise he made to Chaolan to not get into any fights.
"A brawl is not what our excellent party needs," his brother told him. "Jin certainly won't get into trouble, and you don't want him to look better than you in that regard, especially since… I'm sorry, but I can't seem to remember who won in that fight between you two. Would you please remind me who the victor was?"
Kazuya made sure Chaolan's smirk fled from his face after that insult, but he agreed to his terms. He would not raise his fists. Or his elbows. Or his feet. Or his knees. Or headbutt anyone. Or shock anyone. He wasn't even wearing his familiar red gloves, as confirmation that he would keep his word. Kazuya sighed at the recollection, annoyed at Chaolan's thoroughness in ensuring that he wouldn't commit any acts of violence.
There was the other way he could do that, but it went unsaid, especially since it wouldn't happen. Nothing at this party could ever warrant using the Devil Gene. Both he and Jin knew that. Shaking his head, Kazuya went straight to the bar. If he couldn't fight, he could at least enjoy himself by drowning out everyone else's mindless drivel with several glasses of whiskey. The bartender saw him coming his way, and immediately fixed his drink. Kazuya took it without acknowledging him, and stood off to the side. Chaolan's mere presence would make sure that all attention would be directed to himself, leaving Kazuya on his own. Neither man would have it any other way.
Sipping his whiskey, Kazuya looked around. Bruce Irvin and Anna Williams were talking to each other, and if their eyes wandering the room while gesturing to the décor were any indication, they were reminiscing over past Christmases. A small smile graced Kazuya's features, glad that his friends were able to relax. His gaze moved from them to the rest of the guests. Nina Williams was scanning the crowd as well, no doubt looking for any potential threat to her boss. Curiously, she seemed to avoid looking in the direction of a young man who glanced at her quite a few times while taking some food. Something about the youth seemed familiar, Kazuya noted, especially when he compared the two of them together. Deciding to reflect on that at a later time, his eyes drifted elsewhere. He saw two men talking to each other. He paused upon noticing the younger of the two. Something about him made Kazuya feel like he should know who he is. He saw the scars on his face and the streaks of blond in his sandy brown hair. Wondering what his story was, Kazuya added him to his list of persons of interest. Seeing this man's unusual hairstyle had Kazuya realize that he hadn't seen a certain absurd hairstyle at all.
Chaolan didn't invite Paul Phoenix? That saves me multiple headaches.
Chuckling to himself, Kazuya looked for his brother. Chaolan was surrounded by the majority of the female guests, and some of the male guests, lapping up the attention while maintaining his dignity and elegance. Kazuya rolled his eyes at the commonplace occurrence.
At least he's having fun, he thought. Now, where's Jin?
Looking around once more, Kazuya finally saw his son. He arched an eyebrow when he saw him talking to a girl. She was a few years younger than him, with brown hair and brown eyes. If Jin's posture was any indication, something about her simultaneously put him at ease and set him on edge. Kazuya smirked, sensing an opportunity. He was about to make his way to them, when a blonde girl bounded up to the two without a care in the world. The girl with Jin stiffened.
"You!" She pointed at her, annoyance clear in her Osaka-ben dialect. "Leave me alone! I don't wanna deal with you and your nonsense!"
"It's Christmastime," the other girl laughed, putting her fingers over her mouth. "A time of peace. I don't intend to cause any problems intentionally."
The brown-haired girl exhaled sharply at that, but relaxed. The other girl flicked her eyes at Jin. For the briefest of moments, disdain marred her admittedly pretty face, but she schooled her expression into polite formality just as quickly.
"Especially with one of our hosts," she added, curtsying in a manner so exaggerated, Kazuya hoped she and Chaolan would never meet, lest their mannerisms combine into a vortex of dramatic irritation.
"I am glad to hear that," Jin nodded, tone neutral.
The girl smiled as she straightened up, then started to walk away. As she did so, she saw Kazuya. She stopped in her tracks, frowning in thought. A few seconds later, a mischievous glint was in her eyes. The look on her face said "Watch this." Kazuya arched an eyebrow, but remained where he was. She started to walk away again. After a few steps, she rammed her back into Jin and the girl's backs with more force than he thought she had. They were caught off guard, and stumbled several steps forward. When they found their footing, they were almost out of the ballroom. Jin and the girl looked at her, indignation radiating from them.
"Hey!" The girl called out, getting everyone's attention. "You said you wouldn't cause any problems! What gives?"
The other girl remained silent, save for an amused chuckle as she pointed toward the ceiling. Jin and the girl looked above them. Jin's cheeks started to turn pink.
Hanging from the door's casing were sprigs of mistletoe, the white berries and red ribbon tying them together giving away what it was. Kazuya looked from it to the two people below it, wondering what would happen next.
The brown-haired girl scoffed.
"That's it?" She asked. "That was your grand plan? Well, joke's on you, because we're not embarrassed. In fact…"
Without any hesitation, she kissed Jin on the cheek. Jin's face turned redder than the flame pattern on the pants he would train in.
"There!" She stated, looking back to the girl. "Tradition observed. Now leave us alone."
"Gladly," the other girl nodded, smiling as she pranced away.
Jin and the girl returned to the ballroom, the latter oblivious to Jin's embarrassment. Kazuya, on the other hand, was enjoying the sight.
"Excellent!" Chaolan said, clapping his hands together. "Jin has graciously decided to start the tradition of kissing underneath the mistletoe. I shall continue it. Who wants to kiss me?"
The group that was with Chaolan eagerly followed him to the threshold. Kazuya and Jin knew what he was doing. A look of gratitude passed between uncle and nephew. Kazuya, on the other hand, wasn't about to let Jin walk away without hearing from him first.
"I see the younger generation is moving fast," he said as he made his way to Jin and the girl.
The two of them frowned.
"That's not happening," Jin replied, cheeks still red.
"I hope not," Kazuya smirked. "I don't want to be a grandfather just yet."
It was the girl's turn to blush.
"It-It's not like that!" She stammered.
Jin glared at his father for a moment, then mirrored his smirk, his blush now gone.
"You won't need to worry about that. Unlike you, I actually know what contraception is."
Ignoring the girl's flustered shock, Kazuya was about to retort that if he knew what that was back then, Jin wouldn't even be here. He realized that if he did, Jin would say that if that was the case, he wouldn't be a thorn in Kazuya's side. Jin's steadfast smirk let him know he knew that.
Jin one, Kazuya zero.
A dark look formed in Kazuya's eyes, but his red eye didn't glow. Gripping his glass hard, he turned around and walked away without another word.
Consider yourself lucky, Chaolan, he thought. Jin is the only one who will lose tonight.
Resolution in mind, he downed the rest of his whiskey, its heating sensation somewhat calming him down. He was about to go to the bar to get another glass of it, when a loud and familiar voice cut through his thoughts.
"Don't know what he said, but it looks like your kid got one over you, Kazuya!"
Kazuya groaned.
"So, you're here after all," he said, turning to face Paul Phoenix.
Whatever snarky remark he was going to say after that died in his throat. Paul didn't have his hair in his exaggerated high flattop, which is why Kazuya didn't see him at first. Instead, some of it was in a low ponytail, tied with a thick gray hair tie, with the rest framing his face. He was wearing a red blazer with matching red suit pants, a tucked-in gray dress shirt with the collars out, a black belt with the buckle partly to his right, and black dress shoes. The blazer was open, and only half of the shirt's buttons were done up, revealing his chest. It wasn't nearly as extravagant as the purple tuxedo ensemble Kazuya was currently wearing, but for Paul, it might as well be a transformation. It took Kazuya a moment to register Paul's new look.
"I know it ain't my style," Paul admitted. "But since you, Chaolan, and Jin are hosting a big fancy party together, I thought I'd look nice for the occasion."
"… I didn't know you had a suit," Kazuya said at last. "Or that your hairstyle wasn't natural."
"Yours is?" Paul asked. "And this is the one suit I have."
"I'm not surprised."
"We can't all be rich."
"No, you can't."
"I will be when I win the next tournament!" Paul grins. "Not only will I be rich, I'll finally prove that I'm the toughest in the universe by beating you!"
"You'll never beat me," Kazuya stated. "And there is no next tournament."
"Not yet," Paul responded. "But I'm sure there will be."
The two men made their way to the bar as they talked. Kazuya got a second glass of whiskey. Paul ordered a Shirley Temple. Kazuya stared at him, an eyebrow arched.
"I'm not drinking," Paul shrugged. "I… haven't had the best experience with alcohol recently."
Something about the way Paul said that made Kazuya decide to not press the matter. Instead, he nodded and walked away from the bar. Paul followed him.
"That guy I was talking to earlier was asking about you and Chaolan," he informed Kazuya.
"What man?"
"The one with the weird hair and two blond highlights. Seems familiar somehow, even though we've never met before."
Kazuya stopped walking and looked for the man, and saw that he was now talking to Jin and the girl. He could sense relaxed formality between them. He frowned.
"What's his name, does he work for Jin, and what did he want to know?"
"I actually didn't catch his name, I think he does, and he didn't ask anything about your businesses, or your time in the tournaments. He wanted to know about the two of you."
"What did you tell him?"
"You're a damn good fighter who's kind of high and mighty, and with a temper that makes everyone around you look like a pouting child who didn't get their favorite candy."
"How flattering."
"I'm not wrong. He wanted to know if you had any hobbies or friends. Weird, huh?"
Kazuya's frown deepened. "What did you say about Chaolan?"
"He's not as strong as you, but he dresses better than you, and won't beat anyone up just because they annoyed him."
"You really know how to compliment people. I'll need to learn more about this man, and why he's so interested in us."
"He's not going to hurt you two. He seems harmless enough."
"If he's working for Jin, he's not harmless."
"Whatever. You can spy on him later. For now, just enjoy the party."
Kazuya sighed, silently acknowledging that Paul had a point. He continued walking, Paul in tow.
"I heard you got tired after beating the bear. Are you getting weak?"
"I'm not weak! I just had to get back into the swing of things. If we weren't at a party right now, I'd totally prove that I'm stronger than you."
"Don't tell me you believe in peace and joy during this time of year?"
"I actually don't celebrate Christmas. I just don't want to make a scene."
Kazuya was about to make a remark about him being too poor to celebrate the holiday, but something made him feel that his reasoning was wrong. Instead, he shrugged as Paul ate the cherry that came with his saccharine beverage.
"Good to know you have some tact."
"Between the two of us, someone has to."
"If you fought as well as you talked back, you might actually make me break a sweat."
"Announce the next tournament, and we'll finally get our fight."
"There is no next tournament."
Paul chuckled as he sipped his Shirley Temple, then stopped walking.
"Jabs aside, can I say something?"
"Will it make me want to tear your throat out?" Kazuya asked, stopping as well.
"It's good to have you back."
Kazuya blinked, not expecting that. "… Is that so?"
"It is. I'm sure you don't hear that often, but I'm glad you're back. Not just because I can finally get the chance to beat you, though."
Paul sighed, wondering how to continue.
"The third tournament felt like something was missing when you weren't there. I got used to having you around at every tournament. I didn't think it would feel so empty without you. Now, even though we didn't get to fight each other at the last two tournaments, you being there felt right. You're back, and it feels like things are as they should be."
Paul raised his glass, smiling.
"I'm happy you're back, Kazuya."
Kazuya was taken aback. The only people who were actually happy that he was alive were Chaolan, Bruce, and Anna, and that was fine by him. But here was Paul Phoenix, toasting him and saying he's happy that Kazuya's not dead. Before he knew it, he was clinking his glass of whiskey to Paul's glass.
"Thank you, Paul," he replied, the sincere words out of his mouth before he could even think about what he was saying.
Paul laughed.
"That's the first time you've ever told me that!" He grinned, finishing his drink in one gulp.
Kazuya thought he needed more whiskey in his system for this sentimentality, so he followed suit. The whiskey's heat flowed through his veins, but he was still very much sober.
"How long will you stay in Japan?" He asked, searching for another topic, putting his glass down on the nearest table and resuming walking.
"Chaolan paid for me to stay at a hotel until after New Year's," Paul answered, doing the same. "I might as well enjoy that holiday here, since I'll probably never get another chance like this. Speaking of never getting another chance, is it true that Japan eats KFC for Christmas?"
"It's become a tradition, yes," Kazuya nodded, then pulled a face. "But don't think for one second that I would ever eat that sorry excuse of a meal. Greasy abominations such as that never make their way into a Mishima's stomach."
"I'm pretty sure Japanese KFC is different from American KFC. It'll never beat the original, though I'd like to try it anyways."
"If it'll make you shut up about it, I've heard that you'll need to order in advance, unless you like waiting in long lines."
"Long lines? For KFC?" Paul's eye widened. "It better be good!"
"Again, I don't know, and I certainly don't intend to find out. Now can we talk about something else that isn't a nauseating substitute for food?"
"Okay!" Paul grinned. "You didn't win the last two tournaments. Are you getting soft in your old age? Will I win in our rematch?"
Kazuya's eyes narrowed.
"I know what you're doing, Phoenix."
"What am I doing?" Paul's grin was still in place.
"You're trying to goad me into announcing a new tournament. I'm not falling for your childish taunts. If you must know, I've been getting stronger over the years, and if we were to fight again, it won't take me hours to defeat you."
"So you do remember our last match, and you admit that I can keep you on your toes."
Kazuya snorted.
"This is the last time I'm saying this. There is no upcoming tournament. Now drop it."
"Alright, alright," Paul put his hands in front of him. "I'll stop. But if someone else announces the tournament, we're gonna have our decisive match."
Kazuya rolled his eyes.
"Time hasn't dulled your penchant for being as annoying as possible."
"Love you too, Kazuya."
Kazuya was about to retort, when a voice cut in.
"Is that so?"
The two of them stopped walking, turning to Jin, whose playful smirk promised a bad time. Everyone else stopped their conversations and gave them their full and undivided attention.
"Now's your chance to prove it," Jin said, pointing up.
Kazuya and Paul stiffened. They weren't paying attention to where they were walking, and didn't realize that they were at the same threshold Jin was at earlier, devoid of Chaolan and his admirers. They took their time looking up, hoping that the mistletoe wasn't there anymore. The plant met their eyes, and Kazuya swore that the ribbon and berries were mocking him.
"Hey now," Paul said, his cheeks starting to match the ribbon's hue as he looked at Jin. "I was just joking! I didn't really mean that!"
"I'm not kissing him," Kazuya deadpanned.
"And break the holiday tradition, even though Uncle Chaolan and I followed it?" Jin asked, smirk never shifting. "That wouldn't make you a very good host."
Kazuya glared at his son. He knew that Jin knew well enough that he didn't care about tradition, especially one from a holiday that he never celebrated. No, Jin was trying to entrap and humiliate him, under the guise of the Christmas spirit. If Kazuya goes through with it, he'd be kissing Paul Phoenix. If he didn't, he would look bad in front of his guests, and even if he couldn't care less what people think, that wouldn't stop the headache he'd get from Chaolan telling him what the tabloids had to say about this, voice smug the whole time, nor would it stop Jin from claiming another victory over him.
The metaphorical scoreboard was starting to turn the one into a two. Kazuya was not going to let Jin beat him, even if it meant he was being petty.
A thought hit Kazuya's mind with the impact of a Perfect Electric Wind God Fist. He blinked, surprised at the idea he just had. His glare faded away, and a pleasant smile spread across his face. Jin frowned, having a bad feeling about the shift in his father's temperament.
"Kazuya, are you okay?" Paul asked, noticing the change as well.
"You're right, Jin," Kazuya nodded, still smiling. "That would make me a bad host. I'll just have to prove that I'm not."
With that, he reached behind Paul's head, undid his ponytail, and put the gray hair tie around the same hand's wrist.
"Uh…"
That was all Paul could say before Kazuya kissed him. One of his hands made itself at home on the back of his head, fingers running through his now loose hair, while the other hand rested on his hip, fingers splayed out. Paul's hands flew out, holding Kazuya by the shoulder and arm, but he made no attempt to push him away. The shock that Kazuya—his rival—was kissing him wore off after a few seconds, his eyes closing of their own accord. As he kissed back, he could feel a smirk forming on Kazuya's surprisingly soft lips. Before he knew it, the hand on his hip was under his thigh, pulling his leg up as Kazuya rushed forward, pushing Paul against the doorjamb, his other hand cushioning his head. Paul grunted from the impact, which was interrupted by Kazuya's tongue entering his mouth, wasting no time in wrestling with Paul's. Paul's leg wrapped itself around Kazuya's waist, as his arms shifted to hug him closer. His mind was devoid of all thought; all he could do now was feel, experience, and crave more.
Kazuya noted how Paul's hair exceeded expectations. Instead of the stiffness he thought it would have, it reminded him of the silk sheets he slept on. It made up for the lack of his gloves. Paul's hands on him had him thinking there would be a fight after all, but when there was no force behind the act, he smirked, secure in the knowledge that this was all going according to plan. Paul kissing back had him turn things up a notch. He could taste the grenadine on Paul's tongue as his own tongue wrapped around it, determined to win this battle. The combination of the sweetness and Paul's unique taste—oak and ash—was intriguing in its pungency.
He felt something stir within him. Or rather, someone.
This isn't the way I thought you would dominate him, Devil mused. But I can't say I disapprove. I'm actually enjoying this.
Kazuya ignored him by pressing against Paul as much as he could without squishing him between his body and the doorjamb. Was that a moan he heard from the man?
Yes, it is, Devil purred. Now, as it's better to give than to receive during this time of year, don't be selfish. Let me indulge.
Away with you!
Kazuya shut Devil away with more force than was warranted, but he would not let the creature have any sort of control. Kazuya was the one with power and control, and he wouldn't let anyone or anything take that away from him.
The only exception was the mild throb in his chest that he ignored, which bloomed into a burning sensation in his lungs, ten seconds later. Kazuya pulled away, his drawing of air regulated, betraying none of the intensity of the kiss that just ended. Paul, on the other hand, was reduced to panting, eyes unfocused. Still holding on to the man, Kazuya looked around. Bruce gave him a look that asked him if that was really necessary. Anna's lips were drawn into her mouth, as she was trying not to laugh. Nina, in stark contrast, wasn't impressed in the least. The young man who kept looking at Nina was scandalized. The other man who Kazuya wanted to investigate couldn't hide his blush, despite having his hands over his mouth. The blonde girl was in awe.
"What a man!" She exclaimed.
Chaolan's face was unreadable, his body language betraying nothing. The girl with Jin was wide-eyed and slack-jawed, struck dumb from what she just witnessed. Kazuya savored all of this, and then looked at Jin.
Whatever confidence his son had before was obliterated. His face made all of the red everywhere else—with the possible exception of Kazuya's eye—look as white as the snow that was still falling outside. He was horrified, and quite possibly traumatized.
One one.
"I think I've proven rather thoroughly that I am indeed a good host," Kazuya said, as if he was discussing the weather.
Making sure Paul was leaning against the doorjamb, Kazuya let go of him completely and backed away, giving him space. Paul tried to stand upright, but his knees trembled, and he sank to the floor. Jin was alarmed that his father had this effect on anyone.
Two one, Kazuya taking the lead.
"Let me know if you wish to go somewhere private," he whispered, his voice the huskiest and most seductive it has ever been as he took Paul's hair tie from around his wrist and effortlessly threw it down its owner's half-open shirt.
Paul's breath hitched. Jin made a strangled noise of disbelief and panic.
Three one.
Paul tried to stand; to talk; to do anything. But for the first time in his life, he was rendered speechless and immobile. Both he and Kazuya knew he wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.
I finally got him to shut up, Kazuya thought. An appreciated bonus.
Four one.
Kazuya laughed, causing the unimportant guests to jump with a start, having never heard him laugh before. It was a hearty laugh of triumph and satisfaction, tinged with just a bit of mockery. Jin knew it was meant for him. He could hear the words behind the laughter.
And to think, you thought you could best me.
Jin had no answer for that, and he couldn't stop looking like he wanted to pour bleach into his eyes. Kazuya finished laughing, took a relaxing breath, and composed himself. His familiar frown and scowl slipped on to his face, and without another word, or looking at anyone else, he turned and started to walk out of the ballroom.
"You-you did that, and you're just going to leave like nothing happened?!"
Jin didn't sound like the CEO of the Mishima Zaibatsu. He sounded like an ordinary twenty-one-year-old who was losing both his mind and his sanity. Kazuya kept walking.
"Indeed, he is," Chaolan responded as he stopped the video recording on his phone, annoyed that Kazuya stole the spotlight, that the kiss, rather than him, would be the talk of the party, and that there was no way that he could be the center of attention again, no matter what he would try.
You lost after all, Chaolan, Kazuya thought.
Five one.
As he exited the ballroom, Kazuya thought about how disgusted Heihachi Mishima would be, if he were alive to see his son kiss Paul Phoenix, and in such a scandalous manner. He could see the old man's lip curl in distaste, his fingers close to ripping holes into his suit as he folded his arms, disapproval all too evident in his posture.
Six one.
"I win," Kazuya said to himself, smirking as he chuckled.
A/N: This has been my second Tekken fic. I absolutely loved writing this, and I hope all of you enjoyed reading it. Once again, Merry Christmas!