[LEONARDO DICAPRIO WON AN OSCAR – I WAS THERE]
The Angel Within
Chapter Six: Pulling Strings
[Day 6]
Saturday, 01:45 UTC (10:45 in local time)
Tokyo, Japan
"Tell me, Jin, how is your… mind?" Anthony asks. He is wearing black shirt and pants, although his doctor coat is as white as always. Sitting on a black chair with casters by Jin's office desk, instead of facing his boss on the other side of the desk, he has turned it to watch Jin adjust his bowtie in the mirror on the other side of the room. Anthony is holding a clipboard, making a full medical analysis of Jin's current state.
"Clear." Jin answers, looking to the doctor through the mirror, sounding as firm as he usually does. Staring at himself one last time, he turns and sits on the chair beside Anthony rather than in his own chair by the other side of the desk, turning it to face the doctor.
"Can you recall your thoughts of while you were in the coma?" Anthony continues the questionnaire. Everything in the room is made of dark brown wood of different tones - the desk, the chairs, the floor, the nearby corner tables. The decoration includes porcelain vases, small sculptures and glass finery.
Jin blinks, and then answers. "Is this really necessary?" He shows no reluctance, annoyance nor any another emotion in his voice.
"I need to determine how clear your mind is."
Jin narrows his eyes so slightly that Anthony only percepts it when Jin goes back to a relaxed expression, after a couple of silent seconds. "Fine." He says. "I relived my childhood."
Anthony simply answers "I see." as he finishes his notes. He decides not to ask for details, now that he has realized Jin's experience was something rather personal. Not that he needed many more details, actually. He stands up and clicks his pen. "This is all."
Jin stands up as well and makes a sign with his palm to show the door. Anthony leaves, and Jin follows. Closing the door shut behind, Jin nods to Anthony as to show he is dismissed and the doctor leaves through the left side of the corridor, while Jin goes through the right.
His dark olive green coat and pants, matching with black shoes, contrast with the dim grey of his button shirt and his skin. His black bangs dance in front of his eyes as he walks towards the elevator. Reaching ground floor and leaving the Zaibatsu headquarters, there is a black car waiting for him, the chauffeur holding its back door wide open, waiting solely for Jin's arrival.
As he gets in, the car rides through the many streets, with many different kinds of buildings around, although the surroundings are mostly green gardens full of pink and yellowish orange chrysanthemums with mystic stone fountains and rustic benches every now and then. It takes about 5 minutes to reach the destination, where the motorist opens the door for Jin again, and he gets into the Third Island Amphitheatre within the Mishima Estate.
The building's architectural style is Baroque revival, with light goldenrod-colored walls, sienna brown details and a crimson red roof. As expected, the fanciness is excessive, with diverse sculptures, mirrors and chandeliers over marble floor and stone walls. Jin courses his way through a few carpeted corridors and staircases until he gets on the backstage of the main stage, where everybody starts doing everything faster upon sensing his presence.
People working on illumination, cameras, makeup, clothes, and more are walking across the room, making sure every single detail is the closest as possible to perfection. A male worker, who's very short and visibly frightened, comes to Jin's assistance. The man is wearing all black clothes, just as most people here, but he seems like some sort of creative director, because he is holding a clipboard and wearing a headset.
"I'm Aki." The man says as he bows and signals for Jin to follow him. Jin keeps himself silent, with his usual incessant dark grim on his face. They don't walk much until they reach two familiar people who seem to be in a conversation. Actually, only one of them is talking. A medium-height young woman of pink hair is speaking, while a cold short blonde woman of icy blue eyes is listening with a vague expression, although she is involved with the talking.
Jin nods to them as he approaches the duo, who nod back also silently. Jin then nods to Aki as to show he is dismissed. "I'll be back when it's time to go to the stage." Aki says and bows, leaving quickly.
Alisa is with her Marilyn Monroe styled curly hair, and she is dressed simply on a white strap dress with very light pink flowers on the print, going until half her calves, accompanied by flat shoes and elbow-length gloves of the same pink.
Nina, instead of her usual simple ponytail, is wearing a sophisticated bun and small silver hoop earrings. Her dress is a simple black piece that covers her from the shoulders to the feet, where she wears black stilettos. This is probably the most covered cloth she has ever wore, in which only her arms are exposed. The makeup of both ladies is minimal and both still look very natural.
Nina would never admit, but she's actually nervous. Even though a stubborn cold sweat is on her forehead right now, she's not showcasing her emotions, as she has done all her life. Actually, not because she actually has something to hide (at least in this very moment), but rather because emotions are for children – or at least that's how she sees things.
Alisa, even though functioning mostly as a human being, is still an android regardless, and her system's primary efforts are always to fulfill the task at hand, whatever it may be – public speeches also included, after all, there's no reason for Alisa not to be able to do such a thing.
Jin, as usual, simply couldn't care less. All the events that take place in a day of his life have become mere obstacles to what he actually cares about: ridding Earth of the Devil.
"Is Lars at the tower?" Jin throws out the question to none of them in particular, the 'tower' being Zaibatsu's main building.
"Yes, as you've requested." Alisa responds automatically.
"Your other request is already on your office." Nina says in a discreet tone. Jin nods to her. If Alisa hadn't been an android, her millisecond curiosity would have most likely lasted much longer.
"Two minutes, everyone!" Aki screams in the background. Some seconds later, the same voice is heard, this time in a normal volume and closer to the trio. "Are you ready?"
"As always." Alisa answers with a smile, on her usual positive tone. Nina keeps herself serious and silent, simply nodding once. It is a necessary evil, after all, and she has learned to accept such things through her life; so has Jin – who simply doesn't bother answering the man's question.
"Please follow me." Nobody says anything, so Aki simply turns and walks towards the curtain, followed by the three. They stop on a corner beside the curtain. "When that light goes green," he points to a small red lamp on the wall behind them. "You get in." He tells Alisa.
She nods smiling. Aki briefly smiles back, bows to everyone and leaves them alone again.
After some seconds, the light goes green, and Alisa nods to Jin and Nina one last time as the curtains open. Alisa walks away from the corner, and the people applaud as she gets onstage. This is basically a live show being broadcast on TV worldwide, watched not only by millions of people, but most importantly a very select group of enemies. Through this spectacle, they aim to portray the Zaibatsu as a company that is willing to repair its own mistakes.
The crowd is mostly composed of Tekken soldiers dressed with black tuxedos and dresses, but the front rows are being occupied by very important people, the only ones who agreed to ally themselves with the Zaibatsu, even after the war it caused.
Basically, leaders of West European countries who fear the potential growth of the Arab world are here, besides Cuba and North Korea, classical allies. India and China are extras, 'courtesy of The Agency', in Robyn's own words through the phone. All of those countries also intent to stop USA's actions around the world. After the Zaibatsu declared peace, the USA took the role of the big villain – they are not only one hundred percent active in south Mexico, but financing many specific groups in many civil wars around the world, all according to their interests, as they usually do.
Another extra is Japan. Although they disagree with the Zaibatsu's actions just as anybody else, it is either this or aligning themselves with the one responsible for the Hiroshima and Nagasaki incidents and many other atrocities, and they definitely don't want such a thing. They still have a lot of, let's say, 'resentment' towards the USA. Besides, the Mishima Estate is surrounded by Japan, which means if a country wants to destroy the Zaibatsu, it will also destroy the Japanese nation in the way through.
Alisa introduces herself and speaks about how the Zaibatsu is willing to repair its own mistakes, giving full support to countries in need, followed by a speech of admiration about the allies who are present tonight. Scenes of Tekken soldiers arriving at allied territories with medical support are shown in a screen, and people applaud as the videos change from country to country, although the Zaibatsu would never admit that the amount of soldiers on the war fields is minimal compared to those who are still in the Mishima Estate. "Now, for a special announcement, I would like to invite Mr. Jin Kazama to the stage." Alisa says happily. The guests are clearly taken aback, but applaud nonetheless. The Tekken soldiers just keep their act.
Jin enters the stage and waves his left hand briefly for the cameras and the guests, keeping his face merciless, as always. The guests are taken aback once again when they see Jin's right hand is busy with another hand – the left hand of a short blond woman who looks as intimidating as him. They walk until they stop behind the wooden speech podium, which has three microphones. By this time, Alisa has already left the stage.
"Good morning to everyone." Jin speaks as Nina keeps herself silent beside him, both looking directly to the camera. "Firstly, I would like to thank everyone who's present today." He says as he eyes the first rows of the crowd. "I'm going to keep this short, but still close this with a flourish." He looks to Nina, and then to the camera. "Meet my fiancée, Ms. Nina Williams."
The crowd gasps and makes surprised noises, which quickly turn into warm applauses, louder than before as everybody gets up from their seats.
"The wedding will be held here at the Mishima Estate next Sarturday, and you all are invited." Jin continues, directed to the country leaders and their families. "Thank you everyone and have a good morning." He says and bows to the crowd, who applaud loudly again, and he leaves the stage with Nina.
The red velvet curtains close behind them as they are already backstage again, and the production workers applaud respectfully. Both have already dropped each other's hand. "Good job." Aki says to them, Alisa by his side. Jin nods, and leaves. Nina and Alisa follow him.
The exit through the back of the building, and stop beside a black car. "Nina. Entertain them for long enough." Nina nods, in one of the rare times she shows emotion on her face, this time of disdain. She goes to another black car, which is going to take her to a ballroom building where a lunch is going to be held to the guests.
"Alisa. Inform Rita she will be in charge of the ceremony details. Assist her in what is necessary." Alisa nods as Jin enters the car and it leaves.
…
"Hello, Ms. Williams, it is a pleasure to meet you." The man shakes her hand happily as he speaks with a very thick accent. "Or should I say Mrs. Kazama?" He jokes and laughs, the woman by his side laughing as well. Nina chuckles only enough to make herself polite. "Congratulations for the wedding."
"Thank you very much." She says, trying to sound as positive as possible, rolling her eyes under closed eyelids. She is talking to a man and a woman who are clearly from India, thanks to the accent and their physical features. The man, who's on his late 40s or early 50s, has black hair and black eyes, and he is wearing an all-grey suit, white button shirt and burgundy necktie. By his side, the woman seems to be on her 20s, and has the same hair color, although her eyes are brown, and she is wearing a red and gold sari, besides plenty of golden jewels on her fingers, arms, ears, and even on her forehead.
"I'm Abhay Dhawan, president of India, and this is my daughter, Manisha." He says, and his daughter nods to Nina.
Nina nods back. "Nice to meet you."
The blabbering continues for some short minutes, until Nina finishes the conversation politely and walks toward the next small group of people. That continues until she has talked to all guests, and then everybody goes to the huge and luxurious dining room on the other door.
…
Jin is already alone in his office again, sitting on his chair. For some long minutes, he simply stares blankly at the sky through the window wall. Everything is going according to plan, he thinks as the bright blue of the heavens embrace him through his view, as if he's floating on paradise. As he closes his eyes and breathes deeply and slowly, he checks everything that needs to be done in the next few days.
Taking a last glance of the sky, he turns to face his desk, and eyes the many different names written on each of the grey folders of the piles on his desk. Wondering about where he should start, it doesn't take too long for his eyes to stop and get stuck at his mother's name. Reluctantly, he takes the folder and open it.
Name: Jun Kazama
Status: Presumed dead
Nationality: Japanese
Height: 170 cm (as recorded from the Second King of Iron Fist Tournament)
Weight: 54kg (as recorded from the Second King of Iron Fist Tournament)
Blood Type: AB (as recorded from the Second King of Iron Fist Tournament)
Fighting Style: Kazama Style Traditional Martial Arts
Occupation: Wildlife Organization Officer (formerly)
Jin already knows all of this, but he reads nonetheless. Anything about his mother is something that will catch his attention. Every single piece of information about her, known or unknown, fills his heart with nostalgia and warmth, and his soul with wistful longing and peace.
After those information charts, there are two pictures of Jun during the second tournament. In the first one, she is wearing white headband, socks and shirt, with black knee-length pants and shoes. In the second one, she is wearing light blue headband, vest and shorts with white knee-length lace-top stockings and brown shoes. She looks lovely. Mother was very cute when she was young. He beams to himself.
Jin never really had the chance to see old pictures of his mother, and she never told him much about her youth. And if such records ever existed, they're mere ashes now.
Also known as: The Chosen One, Ecological Fighter, Mama Kazama
Species: Human
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
Age: 22 (Tekken 2); 37 (at the time of Ogre's attack)
Family: Jin Kazama (son)
Nothing is known about Jun's early life besides the fact that she was born and raised in Yakushima. The circumstances of her childhood are also unknown. At some point, she moved to Tokyo and lost her connection to nature, which she compensated by joining the Wakana Wildlife Work Company (WWWC) as an officer.
Thanks to her duties, she entered the Second King of Iron Fist Tournament to investigate claims regarding Mishima Zaibatsu's genetic experimentation on animals. During the competition, she found out the allegations were true and that the studies resulted in a Macropus rufus (red kangaroo) named Roger and a genetically adapted Dromaeosaurus albertensis (dinosaur) named Alex.
Both animals were going to be killed after Kazuya Mishima, then the CEO of the Zaibatsu, disliked them. However, their creator, Doctor Gepetto Bosconovitch, freed them and the animals entered the tournament seeking survival and revenge, after being trained by Armor King. Jun was responsible for taking them out of the competition and relocating them to Australia, where they are still established.
Jin smiles as he reads those lines, an expression quickly replaced by the raise of an eyebrow at what he sees next. A picture of his mother wearing a white bathing suit and a summer hat, kneeling on the sandy ground. Michelle Chang has one of her hands on Jun's left shoulder, as she stands, although leaning slightly, wearing a brown bikini and a single braid. Nina is posing and wearing a black bathing clothes by Jun's right, although she is more distant from the two ladies. Although there is a beach in the background, there is not even a single grain of sand on their skin.
The caption reads as 'publicity photograph of the second tournament'. Then it clicks on Jin's mind. The earliest tournaments had a special care for publicity. They would even record winning poses of every single competitor with a green scenario in the back, so they could use it for some of the matches that were going to be televised. As always, not all the tournament matches are broadcast, only some of the most expected by the public, usually with a few days of delay. That was to keep the progress of the competition secret to everyone, even to the fighters themselves. And besides, many matches would only come to a conclusion when one of them was almost dying, and that's not very appealing to the mass media and definitely not ethical for the sports committees, so it had to be swept under rugs.
After losing in the semifinals, Jun quit her job and moved back to Yakushima.
Jin raises an eyebrow again, this time higher. He didn't know his mother had reached the semifinals. He continues reading.
Eventually, it would become known that she raised a son there, named Jin Kazama, fathered by Kazuya Mishima. The nature of Kazuya and Jun's relationship is unknown and there are no official registers about it.
There is a soft urge to vomit on Jin's stomach as he reads this paragraph. Something that he would never understand is how his mother ended up with Kazuya. In Jin's eyes, there is nothing in this world that could justify such a thing. His mother definitely was very generous and loving, but not even that could justify such a relationship, that is, if there even was one.
Jin always end up leading himself to think it could have been rape. Although, at the same time, he thinks such possibility is simply not plausible because Jun was too strong to let such thing happen to herself. Even though Jin is a man and much probably will never face the threat of having his physical integrity violated, he knows that fighting to such integrity is the same thing as fighting for survival. So, in the end, he is never able to come with a plausible possibility, although there is always an obvious conclusion on his mind: speculating about the unknown is simply a waste.
Jin turns the page to see a detailed analysis of Jun's participation in the second tournament. The first part of the page contains a simple summary consisting of all the matches of the tournament. After it, there is deeper information about Jun's participation only. The summary reads as:
*Notes:
Alex and Roger were removed from the competition before its official start.
ELIMINATED ON THE FIRST ROUND:
*Byes: Anna Williams, Armor King, Baek Doo San, Bruce Irvin, Heihachi Mishima, King, Kuma, Lee Chaolan, Lei Wulong, Marshall Law, and Nina Williams.
Ganryu (eliminated by Michelle Chang)
Jack-2 (eliminated by Kazuya Mishima)
Kunimitsu (eliminated by Yoshimitsu)
Prot. Jack (eliminated by Paul Phoenix)
Wang Jinrei (eliminated by Jun Kazama)
ELIMINATED ON THE SECOND ROUND:
Nina Williams (eliminated by Anna Williams)
Baek Doo San (eliminated by Marshall Law)
Bruce Irvin (eliminated by Lei Wulong)
Lee Chaolan (eliminated by Heihachi Mishima)
Kuma (eliminated by Paul Phoenix)
Michelle Chang (eliminated by Kazuya Mishima)
Yoshimitsu (eliminated by Jun Kazama)
Armor King (eliminated by King)
ELIMINATED ON THE THIRD ROUND:
Anna Williams (eliminated by Heihachi Mishima)
Lei Wulong (eliminated by Jun Kazama)
Marshall Law (eliminated by King)
Paul Phoenix (W.O.; Kazuya Mishima declared victorious)
ELIMINATED ON THE SEMIFINALS:
King (eliminated by Heihachi Mishima)
Jun Kazama (eliminated by Kazuya Mishima)
FINAL RESULT:
Kazuya Mishima is eliminated and Heihachi Mishima emerges victorious.
He is surprised to see his mother eliminated people like Wang Jinrei, a veteran; Yoshimitsu, a space ninja; Lei Wulong, an Interpol supercop; and most importantly, Kazuya Mishima. His mother was an amazingly skilled fighter and there were no doubts about it, but she definitely faced some of the toughest competitors.
Then, the detailed information about Jun's matches specifically comes right after. They talk about where in the world the match was held, in which date and what time, the names of the monitors, and there are pictures of the places. This is not what Jin is looking for. Actually, Jin is not looking for nothing in particular, but, for some reason, he feels like there's something to know.
In the end, the file lists Kazuya Mishima, Lei Wulong, Michelle Chang, and Wang Jinrei as Jun's acquaintances of the second tournament, but there are no details about those relationships. The page ends by there, and the following one relates what is known of Ogre's incident. Jin shivers and decides not to read it. He knows it too well.
Frustrated, Jin sighs and decides to look for something more in the virtual database. After all, these folds work almost like résumés, and the complete data is always in the computer. Maybe something interesting was left behind. Pressing a button on his high-tech telephone, a small platform elevates on his desk, with a black laptop on it. He opens it and logs in the database.
After some good minutes of research, Jin finds out an encrypted part of the second tournament's files. There, he sees that all tournament matches were recorded. Of course they were, he thinks as he almost laughs about it. Regardless of television broadcast, spying on the competitors is a must of the Zaibatsu. Jin knows it himself, after all, he hosted the sixth tournament. He's very aware of how it works.
Most videos are of the matches, but there is also some recorded footage of the competitors on the hotel, the airplanes, and while they were shooting publicity on a private studio. Although the matches are around the world, all the fighters stay in the many Mishima Hotels through Tokyo and are taken by the Zaibatsu on private jets to wherever they need to fight. The fighters who have rivalry or dislike for each other are separated and stay in different hotels as to avoid conflicts outside the matches.
Jin quickly finds the video in which his mother took the beach picture, and clicks on it. It starts with Jun shooting her winning positions, surrounded by a green chroma key. She is clearly feeling out of place and doesn't really know what to do. The producers are quite impatient, but a friendly Michelle Chang comes out and suggests a pose. Jun tries to imitate it, and the producers seem to like it, so it is recorded. Jun smiles as some of them applaud quickly, and now that she has understood how it works, she comes up with another pose, one of her own. Michelle applauds it happily, and Jun blushes a bit while smiling.
One of the producers seems to have an idea, and calls both ladies to discuss it. After a moment, both reluctantly nod to him and go to another room. After a couple of minutes, they come back wearing bathing suits, and also accompanied by an icy and impatient Nina Williams. This time, the producers are attentive enough to give them some posing ideas, and they do as they're told. After a few camera shots, they girls change clothes again and leave. The video ends by there.
Jin ends up watching all other videos of his mother, although there aren't many. He keeps studying her features, gestures and behavior as if he was seeing her for the first time in his life.
There are only three hotel videos of Jun. All of them are soundless, since the source was the security cameras.
The first video starts with Lei having simply a cup of coffee and Michelle eating a frybread with a honey topping. Lei is wearing a blue kimono with black pants and shoes, while Michelle has a white shirt on, accompanied by blue jeans shorts, black shoes and zebra knee-length socks. After some two minutes, Jun steps in, wearing a white vest that covers her whole torso, combined with knee-length black pants and shoes with white socks, accompanied by white headband. She greets them and takes a seat on their table. She seems to ask Michelle about she's eating, who answers an explanation and offers Jun a bite. Jun tries it and seems to like it, and calls a waiter. A few minutes later, the same waiter brings a similar frybread to Jun. The friends keep talking happily through their meal, and keep on going with their conversation for some minutes after they have already finished eating, although Jun keeps herself silent most of the times, although clearly paying utmost attention to the talking. After a while, Jun starts getting up, and Lei says something as he follows her suit. She nods to him, and both say goodbye to Michelle and leave side by side. Michelle finishes her glass of water and leaves shortly after. The video lasts for a total of 25 minutes.
The second video is shorter. It only shows Jun talking to the hotel receptionist as some men who are clearly of the WWWC, thanks to their uniforms, are assisting Alex and Roger to the exit. Although Jun is wearing her WWWC pin on her upper garment, she is wearing casual clothes, in contrary to her fellow work colleagues – a light blue vest that shows her belly, although high-waist shorts of the same color cover her skin until the bellybutton. Her usual headband is there, this one having a little ribbon, and is of the same color of the vest and the shorts. As of shoes, she is wearing a dark brown pair of them, matched with knee-length plain white lace stockings.
The third one shows from afar Jun and Wang talking peacefully as they're sitting in a bench beside a stone fountain in the hotel's very green garden. She is wearing the same light blue outfit of the other video, but in here she has no WWWC pin. The video lasts for about 5 minutes, and finishes when both leave, going to different ways.
There are also scenes of Jun in the Zaibatsu's airplanes. On those videos, Jun is always looking through the window intently, and sometimes eating something very light, like a salad or some fruit, as she gazes outside. Also, she always seems to be in profound thought, sometimes closing her eyes and breathing deeply, in other times either slightly frowning or faintly smiling from a single corner of her lip. In a longer one, she takes a silent nap through the night for a few hours.
Jin proceeds to watch his mother's matches. She is just as skilled as he remembers from the days he sparred with her during his childhood, in the forests of Yakushima. Not even one day passes in which he doesn't think of his mother. How much he misses her is a feeling that could never be put into words.
Jun's first match was in the second round of the competition, and she fought against Wang Jinrei in Szechwan Fields, southwest China. Jun is wearing her light blue clothes, and Wang is wearing green and blue attire. Both bow to each other respectfully before they start fighting. She moves graciously, with incredible elegance, almost floating in the air as she performs quick yet strong and precise hits. Wang might be old, but his experience is vast and he's a very good fighter as well, being quite faster for his age. When Jun wins the fight, she helps Wang and both leave together.
Jun's second match is against Yoshimitsu. The fight takes place in a serene yet dark forest of northern Japan. One more time, Jun is wearing her light blue vest and shorts, and Yoshimitsu is wearing one of his usual crazy armors, this one having knee-length green shorts and some sort of hat. The two fighters bow to the other, in the same fashion Jun had done with Wang previously. Both clearly have a hard time with each other – Yoshimitsu keeps disappearing and reappearing, besides the fact that he has a weapon, and Jun's fighting style is too elaborate and fast for him to keep up with. When Yoshimitsu is defeated, Jun gets closer to help him, but he dismissively shakes his head and bows in the most respectful way possible before leaving by himself, and Jun exits going to the opposite direction.
Jun's third match is against Lei Wulong. Jun's clothes are still the same, while Lei's clothes are a blue kimono-alike shirt with black pants and shoes. Once again, Jun bows to her competitor, who also does the same. They are in some building rooftop of what seems to be Hong Kong. And one more time, things are not easy for any of the sides – their fighting styles have a very unique pace and technique. After some time, there is a perfect window for Jun to attack, and the hit is decisive. She helps her friend, despite the fact that he is clearly trying to say he's alright. He ends up letting her help him and both leave.
Intrigued and curious, Jin starts watching videos of another competitors of the second tournament, and after a few hours, he has watched almost all of them. In fact, there are only two fighters that he hasn't watched any footage yet: Kazuya and Heihachi.
Breathing deeply, Jin decides to watch Kazuya's clips. He clicks on the video of Kazuya's first match. It was held in a rooftop of Akibahara, Tokyo, Japan. Jin has never seem Kazuya this cruel and determined ever. All of Kazuya's severe looks of today are mere ants compared to the merciless feeling present in his eyes during this match. Kazuya pretty much destroys Jack-2, and even though it's only a robot, it is a bit uncomfortable to watch even for Jin.
Jin then clicks in the video of Kazuya's second match. A brave Michelle Chang, dressed in jeans shorts, feathers and brown boots and coat, is staring at the sky of an Arizona desert with a mean look of someone who's determined to end someone's life. The video then cuts to another camera, showing Kazuya far away from his opponent, dressed in his fighting gi. He is walking in a slow pace towards his opponent, but is actually paying no attention at all to what he is doing, as he seems to be deep in thought. His face is pure… confusion. There's no better word for it, Jin thinks as he is surprised to see such a thing. Kazuya seems quite distracted with his thoughts, whatever they are. He's taken out of his reverie when an angry Michelle snarls. Suddenly, as if dominated by another entity (which wouldn't be a surprise), Kazuya's face turns into a merciless one, although not as determined as the one of his first match, and gets into his fighting stance. Michelle follows suit, and the battle starts. The fight lasts for quite a long time, and Kazuya emerges victorious nonetheless.
In Kazuya's third match, he is standing over a black and brown polished stone floor, with the Statue of Liberty and the Twin Towers in the background of a sunny New York City. This is probably one of the few matches open to the public, and there are many people surrounding the fighting area, contained by a metal fence barrier. Jin is surprised to see that Kazuya seems to be completely lost in himself, and even tired. He is clearly deep in thought, gazing the ground intently, and is not paying attention to anything around him. His presence is merely felt there. In a moment, it looks like he shivers. In another moment, he smiles very faintly to himself as if he is thinking of something good. His train of thought is cut when a mediator screams saying Paul is too late and has been eliminated for W.O. Kazuya adjusts the collar of his white shirt as the crowd goes wild, and he leaves without saying a word, automatically followed by his personal guards. (Reference to Paul's stage on T2)
Jin raises the right eyebrow as he sees there is no video of Kazuya's third match, in which he fought Jun. Jin hadn't actually noticed that when he was watching his mother's matches. And now that he comes to think about it, there are no videos of Jun and Kazuya together at all. He makes a mind note about this.
In the finals, Kazuya has never looked worse. If in the previous matches he looked lost, in this one he looks desperate, like he is Alice herself falling into the rabbit's hole. His red scleras show that he hasn't slept well, or hasn't slept at all. Kazuya has a purple suit on, accompanied by his usual red gloves, but the attire seems rather rumpled. He is surprised to see Heihachi standing in front of him, dressed in his black gi, alive and well. But because of his fatigue, Kazuya is able not even of being in a state of shock for too long. Instead of answering Heihachi's mockery in a similar tone as he would usually do, this time he is dead silent. For a brief moment, there is a flicker of surprise on Heihachi's eyes, which is quickly replaced by his usual merciless determination as he gets into his fighting stance. Heihachi doesn't make any more mocking comments, and although his face is unreadable, it is as if he has realized something is going on. Of course it is. Just look at him, even Jin acknowledges. It doesn't take for too long as it would usually do for Kazuya to struggle.
He then unleashes his inner Devil, but the creature seems to be just as terrible, and even weak. The appearance of the creature is very different of what Jin has already seen. Differently of the dark purple, dark green and dark blue horrendous creature full of big horns and many sharp scales through the body, the Devil Kazuya of the video looks closer to a human form, but with a bright purple skin. The pair of horns in the forehead, the third eye, and the bat wings are still there, but smaller. The only similarity are the glowing red eyes. (Comparison between the Devil of TT2 and the Devil of T2)
After some more minutes of fighting, the Devil retracts itself as Kazuya falls unconscious on the ground. Heihachi goes to a normal standing position and walks towards his son. For a second, he sighs deeply, closing his eyes, then takes his son on his arms. As he does so, the angle changes to an image definitely coming from a mountain, shooting everything from distance, but with a precise zoom. The camera films Heihachi as he makes a calm and silent walk until the top of the volcano that was beside them. There, he calmly eyes the volcano, then Kazuya's face, and then the volcano again. Sighing deeply once more, the throws Kazuya in the lava to burn. Heihachi watches the volcano with an unreadable expression for exact five minutes, and then turns his back to it. The video ends by there.
Deciding he has had enough of this, Jin closes the laptop and sighs quickly passing a hand through his hair. It's a lot to sink in. He takes a brief look on the clock – it is already early evening. He hasn't even had lunch today. The doctor is not going to like this. Closing the laptop, he gets up and instead of asking for a servant to bring him his dinner, he decides to have his meal in the dining room instead, so he leaves his office aiming the building's kitchen.
…
Lars is silently having dinner alone on the dining room of the Zaibatsu's headquarters, which is just beside the building's vast kitchen. The latter is responsible for providing all of the Estate's cuisine. As most rooms, everything is wooden since the start of Jin's leadership. The table is rectangular, very long, and has 14 chairs. The cooks served him a yosenabe, a type of nabemono, consisting of meat, seafood, egg, tofu and vegetables. He mentally curses the cooks as he tries his best to handle the chopsticks and serve himself. (Reference to his TTT2 ending :P – I love it so bad)
His hair is as spiky as always and he is wearing the same black tuxedo all the other Tekken force soldiers were wearing this morning. He has just finished giving the army all the instructions necessary for the following days.
He also mentally curses himself for not focusing fully on the task ahead. That's because a small part of his mind can't stop thinking about yesterday night. In the occasion, he shared a kiss with Alisa, and he can't help but think about it. After it happened, there was a couple of minutes of pure weird silence, which he broke by mumbling something about being late and wished her good night before leaving.
Lars hears a noise, and looks up to see Jin enter the room. Instead of sitting by the end of the table, he sits in front of Lars and starts serving himself, without saying a word. Lars notes that Jin doesn't put any meat on his bowl.
They eat silently for a few minutes, until Jin speaks. "Have you given the instructions to the Tekken Force?"
"Yes, right after the end of the broadcast, as you've asked." Lars says in an automatic tone.
There is a short silent minute again, but Jin speaks up one more time. "Are there any news?"
"No." Lars says. "Lee hasn't contacted us yet."
"What about the Agency?"
"Neither." Lars answers in the usual business voice. "Interpol hasn't called as well." After a brief second, he adds in a more casual tone as he gives his opinion. "It's still too early."
"I see." The room goes dead silent again afterwards.
There is another noise as someone else enters the room. Jin doesn't bother to look up, but Lars does and sees Alisa. He keeps staring at her, and she shyly smiles at him as she takes a seat beside Jin. Somehow relieved, he discreetly smiles back, although he avoids anymore eye contact afterwards. It might be the most childish thing a grown man like him could do, but the thing is that everything is far more complicated than simply liking a girl and being shy about it. Alisa is an android. Lars doesn't even know if having feelings for her or a deeper relationship with her is morally correct or scientifically possible, and that's what has been haunting his mind since yesterday's kiss.
Jin is no dumb and easily percepts something is going on, although he doesn't know precisely what. Regardless of that, since it is none of his business, he silently finishes his meal, stands and leaves. Alisa is already eating of a plate of her own, and Lars is still struggling with the chopsticks, trying to finish his meal.
After short minutes of muteness that feels like long hours, Lars forces himself to speak. "You did great today." He says nervously.
"Thank you." Alisa says smiling. There is a silent second before Alisa chuckles lightly. "Why don't you ask for cutlery?"
Lars drops his chopsticks and turn to face Alisa with a mocking expression of disbelief. "Really?"
She chuckles again. "In that rhythm, you're never going to satisfy your hunger."
Lars laughs back. "But don't you think I should try to learn how to use them? I'm half Japanese, you know."
"And half Swedish." She adds. "Go easy on yourself."
Lars sighs to her with a funny expression. "Okay then. I have to admit it, I hate nabemono."
Alisa laughs. "What would you eat in Sweden?" She asks curiously.
Lars looks up, thinking for a quick second. "I used to always have knäckebröd for breakfast."
"What?" She asks and frowns, tilting her head to the left. That has to be the cutest confused expression ever, he thinks and smiles.
"It's crispbread." He answers, still smiling.
"Oh." She smiles back. "That's nice."
They go silent again, and after a couple of minutes, Lars finally manages to finish his meal. He keeps staring at his bowl, trying to find the right words, trying to decide if saying such words is something he actually should do.
Alisa senses his tension. "Lars." He looks to her. "Are you okay?" She asks innocently.
He smiles faintly at her sweetness, but it fades away right after. "Alisa." He breathes deeply. "About yesterday, I…" He makes a pause and sighs. "I just… I…" He starts to nervously look to all directions and blink rapidly, trying to think how to put it in words.
Alisa's big and curious eyes stare at him intently. Does he… regret it? A slightly sad expression falls on her face.
"I just don't know how to put it in words." He is able to say under a breath, now looking to her again.
"You don't like me?" She asks right after, tilting her head to the left again, in a whisper. This time, instead of a cute confused expression, there is worry.
Lars raises the inner part of his eyebrows, pulling them together. He doesn't want to sadden her. "I do. But that's not the point." Neither acknowledge the fact that he has just admitted his feelings.
Alisa's expression doesn't change. "What is it, then?" She whispers, although a bit louder than her previous question.
He sighs. It's better if I just spit it out. "You're an android, Alisa." He tries to say it as soft as possible.
"So you think I don't like you?" She asks, a small hint of anger on both her face and voice.
Lars is taken aback by that. Even if the hint of anger was very small, he was still able to percept it nonetheless, since Alisa is never angry in any amount.
Thanks to his state of surprise, he doesn't answer her question immediately, so she takes his silence as an affirmative. She looks away, staring to a far corner of the room.
Only now he speaks, with a defensive tone. "I just don't know how something more between us would work, that is, if there has any possibility of something more."
"If depends of me, then there is." She says, full of sorrow, still looking away.
Lars loses it. "Then tell me, how would it be between us?! I mean, like, everything!" He says vigorously, in a bit louder volume.
Alisa turns quickly, this time her face is pure confusion, although a flicker of hurt is in her eyes. "What do you mean?"
Lars sighs and then shakes his head violently. He passes both hands through his spiky hair, the sandy brown strands going up and then quickly down back to place. Alisa's expression is still intact and she watches him attentively.
After sighing again, Lars decides to take the softest approach he can think of. "Do you know how a relationship works? And a family?" He says, lower in volume.
"Yes." She answers as if it is obvious that she knows, still oblivious to what he means.
Lars loses it again. He simply looks at her in disbelief as if to say 'Don't you get what I mean?!'
Alisa frowns and keeps staring at him. After a few seconds, her face turns to an expression of realization. "Oh." It discreetly escapes her mouth as she looks down. This time, she is the one trying to choose words, and Lars gazes at her intently, waiting desperately for an answer.
She looks to him after a moment and speaks in low volume, her sweet voice coming out in a whisper. "You're right." She quickly stands up and leaves walking rapidly, almost running.
Lars watches it dumbfounded, his jaw almost on the floor because of astonishment. That was unexpected, to say the least. Gradually, the state of shock leaves and his brain starts to understand what has just taken place. He plonks his closed fist on the table, the sound almost deafening through the mute room. After a single minute that feels like an eternity of staring angrily at his own fist, he stands and leaves.
The main chef enters a minute later, bringing a chocolate pudding with him, and is confused to see that nobody is inside. After a blink of eyes, he shrugs to himself and leaves, taking the dessert with him.
…
Jin is back at his accommodation, this time in his bedroom just beside the office. He is looking to himself through the huge wall mirror as he takes off his tie. During the ceremony earlier in the day, the servants had already relocated the mirror from his office back to its place in the bedroom, besides the closet.
Suddenly, the telephone rings. He simply drops his tie on the bed and goes to his office. As he picks up the phone, the voice on the other side of the line talks first. "Mr. Kazama." The female voice says rather nervously. "There is a lady here that insists to talk to you."
"I don't recall such an appointment." He says in a bored tone.
"No sir, she d-" The woman is interrupted, and muffled noises follow up.
"Rita?" He calls the secretary's name.
"I don't need your money!" Another female voice says angrily, sounding much younger than Rita.
Jin allows himself to frown. "Who is this?"
"You know damn well who I am! Just leave me alone! And take your money back!"
Before Jin is able to say anything else, more muffled noises come. He is able to distinguish the owner of the angry voice in a moment, screaming 'leave me alone!'. He presumes the Tekken force is already taking care of whoever that was and hangs up.
He walks towards the window, and takes a quick look of the city. He turns to take a seat beside his office desk, but the telephone rings again before he's able to do so. Rather annoyed, he picks it up.
"Mr. Kazama." A male voice talks this time. "This is Lieutenant Beaumont. We've captured the intruder. What would like us to do with her?" He continues, with a very perceptible French accent. The man sounds rather tired, as if he has just done a lot of effort.
Jin is still quite annoyed and answers sharply. "Why are you even asking me? Just follow the protocol."
"Sir." The man says reluctantly. "She claims to be a relative." There is a pause. "Are you sure?" Jin doesn't know, but in the other side of the line, Lieutenant Beaumont regretted asking it immediately after speaking it.
Jin doesn't know what to make out of this. After a long pause for pondering, he speaks. "Put her on the line, then."
There is a moment of muffled noises again before the female voice talks. "I'm on the line." She says clearly annoyed, and sounding just as tired.
"Who are you?"
Jin hears her scoff before she speaks again. "I'm Asuka Kazama. I thought you would know." She says mockingly.
Jin ignores her last statement. "What do you want?"
"Definitely not your money!" She says angrily. Jin hears some sounds coming from the other side, which he guesses is probably because she is trying to break free and whoever is holding her now, is having to tighten the grip.
Jin rolls his eyes under closed eyelids. "You've just left the hospital and you're already looking for trouble?" He says in a disinterested tone.
Asuka, however, takes it as mockery. "You are the one looking for trouble! Stay away from me and my father!" She says angrier than before.
"So I am the reason that brings you to Tokyo?"
She makes a furious growl on the other side. Muffled noises are heard for, like, the millionth time, until Lieutenant Beaumont speaks again. "Sir, how do you wish us to proceed?"
Jin silently sighs. "Just let her go."
A brief 'Yes sir' is heard by Jin as he hangs up.
…
"Let me go!" Asuka screams for the millionth time, and this time she is heard. Confused, she turns to see the three soldiers walking away. Then she realizes she is out of the Mishima Estate. "Hey!" She screams at the top of the lungs, but she is ignored. She walks towards them, and as they hear her stomp, they quickly turn to her, pointing guns to her direction. She stops dead on her tracks.
"Just go." Lieutenant Beaumont threatens sinisterly.
Seeing that there is nothing she can do, she lets a half-angry half-frustrated noise leave her mouth under her breath as she turns and leaves stomping her red sneakers on the sidewalk floor. Getting into the Estate had already been quite a feat. Although she is wearing a simple blue T-shirt, thanks to her enormous breasts, the V-neck showed enough to make a stupid guard's mind. He was alone on a rear entrance and allowed her to get in after some fake flirtatious chit chat. She hates such a thing, but it was her only way in. She discreetly and quickly got inside, but when it came to talking to the secretary, things went down.
Truth is her parent can't know about this. Her motives for being in Tokyo are completely different. I just couldn't miss the chance, she reflects as she walks back to her small hotel room. It is quite far away actually, but she doesn't care. A walk is going to be good now. It'll help her regain focus. A good walk would always do wonders to Asuka's mind whenever it was tormented.
It had already been so much of a trouble to convince her father to let her come to Tokyo. The argument 'it is the dream of my life' made quite a point in the discussion she had with her parent. Deep inside, she feels bad for bargaining with her father for anything, but she's too stubborn to let her wishes go away that easy. Besides, her father would always end up giving in to her pleas. The University of Tokyo, the country's most renowned college institution, applies a test once in a year open to all High School students through Japan who want a scholarship. However, the test location is obviously Tokyo, and so she took a flight yesterday night so she could take the test this morning. Depending of the performance of one on the test, it was possible get either a partial or a full scholarship to any course. Asuka had to take the test – this was an opportunity she couldn't pass.
She wants to study veterinary medicine at college. Asuka loves the animals. She had learned to love them with her father; Even though she grew up the suffocating Osaka city, her parent has a very beautiful garden in their home/dojo, and he would always teach her everything about the different needs of each plant she was young, besides the birds and insects that would show up every now and then. It used to fascinate her when she was a child, and it still does actually, how beautiful creatures like that can exist, every single one of them with their own particularities. She also loves to see her father just as fascinated as her as he talks about the plants and the animals with passion. Although her father wouldn't talk about it – not that she minded – she knew that such passion was because he grew up in the Yakushima forest and was being nostalgic.
Entering her modest hotel room, she picks her only bag and turns to leave. However, she realizes she forgot the television on before leaving, so she turns back to turn it off. She stops when she sees two news anchors talking about 'The Mishima Zaibatsu's CEO Jin Kazama's wedding'. Her jaw drops for a second, which turns to an expression of realization. That's why it was so easy to get in, though. They were probably relocating forces or something like that. Not really knowing what to think of the marriage, she simply turns the TV off and leaves. Anyhow, it just none of her business and she couldn't care less about it, although she can't deny it definitely sounds rather weird. After checking out, she exits the entrance lobby and takes a passing by cab, heading to the airport. She should be home again in about two hours. She draws imaginary lines on her light blue jeans as she watches through the closed window the many buildings of the surrounding city pass her by.
…
Alisa Bosconovitch. Lars types and then clicks the search button. After almost an hour of eyeing everything briefly, he doesn't find what he's looking for, so he decides to make another search.
Gepetto Bosconovitch. He types. Search. He clicks.
After going through texts of things he has already seen on Alisa's files, and more texts of things he has already knowledge of, he finds Doctor B's personal file. As a participant of the third tournament, there obviously was a folder with information about the Doctor, but it was, together with all the other competitors' folders, with Jin right now.
There, he also doesn't find what he is looking for, but he crosses something useful – Bosconovitch's professional file. Bingo. There, he finds out in which of the Zaibatsu's facilities around the world the Doctor is currently situated. Determined, Lars gets up, takes his coat and leaves.
…
"Have you been eating properly?" Anthony asks, as he is sitting in front of Jin's office desk. There are many folders, which he doesn't what are about, and a closed black laptop over it. Jin is sitting on the other side of the desk, but instead of looking to the doctor, he is facing the window wall, with his back facing Anthony.
Jin sighs discreetly. "I skipped lunch today." Lying would only be worse – after all, this is a medical examination.
Anthony narrows his eyes in a playful manner. "I'm not even going to waste my saliva scolding you, really." He adjusts his glasses as he smiles in a good mood. Jin allows himself to smile weakly for a second, although his face is not even in Anthony's direction. "Have you had any headache or fatigue?"
"No." Jin answers. Maybe I should start working to solve out another issues, he reflects as he recalls today's earlier events regarding a certain rebellious teenager. After all, the more knowledge you have, the more power you have. And in the moment, I have to gather all power I can – more than ever before. And I think Mr. Evans might be helpful on this.
"Well, I think my job is done here for today, then." Anthony says as he clicks his pen.
"Indeed." Jin says and then turns his chair to face Anthony. "But I have another job for you, Mr. Evans." He puts his elbows on the desk and his hands under his chin. "That is, if you have any interest."
"Please, call me only Anthony." He says timidly, adjusting his glasses as he usually does.
"Pardon me. It's the force of habit."
Anthony smiles faintly, slightly nodding in understanding. After a second, he speaks. "I'm listening."
Jin looks for a folder on the piles. He quickly finds it, and takes it, putting it in front of Anthony on the desk. "This is Asuka Kazama." He says as Anthony opens the folder on the first page. "I want a full genealogical study of her. I know it is not your specific field, but I trust your abilities."
Anthony takes a brief look on the beginning of the file, and then looks to Asuka's pictures of the first page. "Sure. I don't see why not." He says with a shrug and a faint smile.
"This is all." Jin says nodding, as he closes the file and puts it back on the pile from where he had gotten it firstly. "My secretary will further discuss the matter with you and provide you all the necessary."
Anthony nods back, gets up and leaves silently. Jin proceeds to call Rita and makes the arrangements needed for the task at hand.
Jin decides to take a look at Asuka's file himself. It doesn't say much about her early and personal life besides the fact that she was born and raised in Osaka by her father only and that she has studied at Osaka City School through all her life. It also mentions her actions as the 'Gang Meditator' – a nickname she had acquired thanks to aforementioned actions. The rest of the text only talks about her participation in the tournaments, which is not what Jin is interested about, so he closes it and puts it back on the pile.
Turning his chair to face the windows again, he calmly eyes the city down under for some long minutes, and then stares blankly at the dark sky for some more minutes as he reflects about all of his current plans.
These are going to be one very busy week.
[Day 6]
Saturday, 13:08 UTC (10:08 in local time)
São Paulo, State of São Paulo, Brasil
"Did you watch today's comedy act?" Anna asks in the most mocking tone ever. She is sitting by the desk on her personal office at G Corporation's new headquarters. Although this is her office, right now a casual conversation is going on. Her feet are on the desk, embraced by black knee-length boots, accompanied by black stockings, the latter covered by her tight blue skirt. She also wears a coat of the same blue, and there is a hat for her full look as well, but the latter is also on the desk.
Lee knows exactly what she is talking about. "Yes, I did." Lee smirks. Brown button shirt, grey jeans and black shoes cover him as he watches Anna analyze her black nails with her left arm extended in the air.
"Kazuya would looove hearing such news." She says and laughs. "Sad thing he's not going to know." She says with a joking fake-sad voice, and makes a baby-like pout.
"What do you mean?" Lee asks as he passes a hand through his hair to adjust it.
"He's going to spoil all the fun, of course." She answers, with a slight Irish accent escaping in the end of the sentence, which she hasn't spoken in years. Then, she turns her head to face Lee, putting her arm down. "I'm going to take action myself." Anna smirks, playfully raising an eyebrow.
At hearing that, Lee smirks to himself, although in the context of the conversation it is as if he is smirking back to her. "And what do you have in mind?"
"Something quite fun, I'd say." Her smirk doesn't leave her face, neither does his own.
[Day 6]
Saturday, 13:20 UTC (15:20 in local time)
Istanbul, Turkey
"If publicly announcing a marriage was either planned or genuine, it's still an opportunity to strike that can't be passed. However, it must be done discreetly and very well calculated, because it's obvious that it will be a hard task nonetheless." Albert de Rochefort says on the other side of the line, with his distinctive French accent.
"I couldn't have put it in better words." Heihachi answers. "Actually, I already have a plan in mind."
Heihachi proceeds to explain his plan in details, to which Albert listens attentively. After some minutes, the call is finished, and he puts the telephone back on its place on the nightstand. In a normal situation, he would never use a hotel phone, but since this is Albert's Rochefort Grand Hotel in Istanbul, there is no need to worry, because it's obvious the man will take all necessary measures to maintain safety.
He changes into his black gi of red belt and leaves his hotel room, going to the huge elevator. After some corridors, he eventually leads himself to the hotel's gym. During all that process, he malignantly smirks to himself every now and then.
That wedding is going to be one of this era's greatest events, and will be studied by the future generations, present in many study books.
And I will be there to make that history.
End of Chapter 6
Author's notes: YAASSS, another chapter, this one with +10000 words!
Well, as I've said in a direct review answer to someone some time ago, in some chapters this story will focus only in a particular place. This is an example, as most of this chapter is situated in the Mishima Estate.
As already mentioned in a previous chapter, the Mishima Estate is an independent country. However, I prefer to refer to it as 'Tokyo, Japan' because it is indeed the equivalent location, so it is better for you guys to situate yourselves.
Once again, all of the politicians and the war situations described in this fanfiction are completely fake and do not reflect reality nor my opinions.
*ANSWERING* Guest – Thank you very much! I'll try my best to keep up. :)
giovanna21d – Ai meu Deusssss, uma conterrânea da terra da zoeira! \o/ Muito obrigada pelos elogios, fico muito feliz em saber que estou descrevendo bem o Kazuya e o Jin, porque apesar de todos os personagens de Tekken terem uma certa complexidade, eles são definitivamente os mais difíceis. Mas sinceramente, vejo eles como sombrios como consequência do que eles sofreram (principalmente o Kazuya, e concordo que foi quem mais sofreu dos Mishima), e haverá uma diferenciação disso logo, logo. Inclusive, já até escrevi umas one-shots sobre isso.
E a possibilidade da Kazumi aparecer não é remota – é CERTA! Quero fazer uma história a mais canônica possível, e ela definitivamente irá aparecer. Primeiro, estou tendo que preparar o terreno dos outros personagens, mas ela vai fazer parte sim, assim como Akuma. Inclusive estou com os dedos coçando pra escrever algo sobre ela e o Heihachi na juventude, mas o tempo está curto. :P
Bom, muito obrigada e fico muito feliz em saber que tenho uma leitora brasileira. :) Estarei aguardando ansiosamente por mais reviews suas! S2
I'm going to keep things shorter here in the notes this time (actually, it's already long, but whatever. lol. I guess I talk too much :P).
Thank you very much and see you next time!