AN. And now onto chapter two. And who is this familiar dark energy? Mm, I do love Kazzy XD

Chapter Two – Entering The Tournament

Kazuya Mishima walked casually up to the front gate of Mishima Mansion. He was wearing a black ensemble; black shirt, black trousers, black shoes. He was even wearing black glasses to hide his left eye.

"Name?" asked the woman at the gate. She was holding a clipboard and a pen with a miniscule version of Heihachi's head fixed on the end.

"Kazuya Mishima," Kazuya said.

"Age?"

"49."

The woman looked him up and down before making a note on the clipboard.

"Height and weight?"

He sighed and told her his measurements.

"Occupation?"

"I don't have one."

"Have you been in any previous tournaments, Mister Mishima?"

"I've been in more than enough," he muttered.

She looked him up and down again, before writing something down.

"Reason for entry?"

"To find out what G-Corporation has done to something very special to me."

"Alright then, Mister Mishima. I'll just give you this tag," she handed him a little slip of paper, "and I hope you enjoy the tournament."

He scoffed and walked inside, tucking the slip of paper into his pocket. There was a large collection of people in the courtyard, some leaning against the high stone walls, some standing in the middle, and some sitting on the edge of the fountain. He wandered around the crowd, noting that most of them were reporters or security guards.

There was Xiaoyu, the silly little Chinese girl who was infatuated with his son, talking to Christie, Julia and Asuka. They were the only people in the tournament under 21, and had thus created their own little group.

"Of course you'll see him here, Xiao," Christie was saying.

"I don't know what you see in him, but I'll pound him for you if you want," Asuka offered, punching one hand with her fist.

"Thanks a lot, guys, but I'll be convinced when I actually see Jin here."

So they were talking about his son. Typical. He kept walking, passing where Hwoarang and Steve standing together. Hwoarang was making eyes at Julia, while Steve was scouting the crowd.

"Where is she?" he asked in his strong British accent.

"She'll be here," Hwoarang replied in Korean. "I think Christie's looking at you."

"Really?" Steve stopped searching the crowd and looked in Christie's direction. "I really need to talk to Nina though."

"You can talk to her anytime. It's not every day that Christie looks at you." Hwoarang elbowed Steve in the ribs and laughed.

Kazuya rolled his eyes and continued through the crowd. There were Marduk and King, their old fight forgotten in a shaky friendship.

"Remember how that guy screamed?" Marduk asked, guffawing.

"It was one of the best tag matches ever!" King replied.

Kazuya couldn't listen to that for long and quickly pressed on. Anna and Nina Williams were a short distance away, yelling at each other. Lee, his adopted brother, was tugging nervously at Anna's arm.

"Let's go, darling," he whispered.

"You bitch!" Anna yelled at Nina, ignoring Lee.

"You're the bitch," Nina yelled back.

Kazuya watched Lee's attempts to get Anna away with great interest. He had never liked Lee, and seeing him struggle was deeply amusing to him. Before he could be noticed by either the fighting pair of women or Lee, Kazuya stole away through the crowd.

In this crowded, bustling courtyard, Kazuya was caught by surprise to find another person who was just standing there quietly. The person was wearing a windproof purple and blue tracksuit with yellow flames adorning the front. The hood was pulled up, concealing the person's face, but Kazuya recognised him anyway. The young man was staring fixatedly at the large balcony. A large poster reading "King of Iron Fist Tournament 6" was hanging from the balcony, G-Corporation's logo on hit.

Kazuya walked quietly until he was standing right next to the young man.

There they stood, side by side, staring up at the banner. Kazuya almost held his breath, waiting for the young man beside him to realise he was there. When he finally did, he recoiled, gasping. Only his eyes and forehead were visible, and the former narrowed.

"You," he hissed, and Kazuya was taken back to nearly 22 years ago, when he had stood on the balcony above them one dark and stormy night.

"Hello, Jin," Kazuya said casually, still looking up at the balcony.

"What are you doing here?" Jin asked menacingly.

"G-Corporation betrayed me," Kazuya said. "Now I'm going to get back what they stole."

"They stole something from you?" Jin asked, doubt creeping into his voice.

"Yes. Something very dear to me."

"It was probably just your blood," Jin said, indifference taking over the doubt.

Kazuya put his right hand over his left inner arm, just under the elbow.

"Yes, they took my blood. But they stole something even more precious." His eyes were fixed on the banner now, unfocused. He blinked and a picture of a beautiful woman floating naked in a glass tube full of liquid flashed behind his eyelids.

Jin was regarding him curiously, his brow furrowed. For a moment compassion flickered in his eyes, the eyes that were so similar to Jun's. But after a second it was gone again. Jin had never been good at hiding his emotions, and now hatred burned in those dark pools. Kazuya sighed.

"Are you going to trust me? Or are we still going to be enemies at the end of this tournament?"

"I'll never trust you," Jin spat. "Never."

Kazuya let out a silent sigh, regret filling his heart but not his eyes. "Then we will meet again."

He turned and walked through the crowd, careful not to draw attention to himself.

"I'd like to go to my room now," he told the girl roughly. She handed him a key after checking a number off on the clipboard. Kazuya turned away, looking down at his key.

24, it said in bold letters.

He walked to that room and unlocked the door. His bags were already there, sitting by the end of the bed, and he sat down on the bed.

"Attention all competitors." A woman's voice came on over the PA. She sounded strangely familiar, but Kazuya couldn't place her voice. "Please go to your rooms now. Dinner will be served shortly. The first round begins tomorrow. The lists are up in the lounge room."

It wasn't a recording. Someone was actually reading those words. But who?

"That is all."

Kazuya lay on the bed and frowned up at the ceiling, trying to put a face to the voice.

AN. (dramatic music interlude) Oh who could it be? Poor Jin, he's ever so suspicious (just like his dad, in retrospect). Please review XD