A/N: I can't believe I'm getting used to updating fanfics now! I just want to thank those who took the time to review my work. I'm not really bitter by the fact that I only receive a few reviews. I didn't even think ANYONE would read my fics in the first place. So every review I receive is very much worth my time. My fics aren't even that good anyways, compared to a lot of authors here. Writing isn't my best talents to get right to the point. I'm more of an artist than a writer but I decided to give writing a chance. Thank you once again!
Chapter 3: The Plot is Revealed, Yoshimitsu Arrives!
The smoke eventually disappeared all together, leaving Bryan very lost in all this.
"What the hell was that for?!" The American demanded, referring to the kunai that he spotted in the air.
Kunimitsu glowered at him. "I was going to ask the same thing to you."
Bryan had a furrowed expression on his face. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"You seemed reluctant when you had the chance to kill him."
Bryan fell silent.
"Is there something that me and Kazuya are not aware of?"
"I don't know what you're talking about." Bryan stated coldly.
However, Kunimitsu remained unconvinced.
Disregarding the issue for now, Kunimitsu walked over towards the pile of dead people.
"Maybe I should clean up this mess before it causes a stir."
After lifting her mask to her forehead, she did a series of hand seals, murmuring a string of Japanese words. With the final seal in front of her, she took a huge breath before releasing a stream of red-hot fire from her lips. Remarkably, the fire did not harm the delicateness of her dainty lips.
From a safe distance, Bryan watched the fire consume the dead bodies, compressing them into nothing but blackened ashes. He still found Kunimitsu's ninjutsu very intriguing.
As he stared blankly into the fire, his mind was flooded with thoughts of Lei.
Then the fire disappeared into the ashes.
The buildings blurred as he was being moved from one place to another, almost at the speed of light. His hair had already untangled itself from the firm grip of his hair-tie, violently whipping about in his face. To make matters worse, Lei could feel the burning sensation in his stomach. He knew he was going to throw up soon if his carrier did not stop.
As if sensing Lei's distress, the unknown being put himself into a halt. That solid arm, the one thing that kept him in place, uncoiled itself from Lei's waist. The agitated detective managed to stand on his own feet upon being released. Lei looked up to his savior and realized that he wasn't even gazing at a human being. He was staring at an ersatz face...Well, that's what he thought. This individual was covered entirely with armor, except for the one spot on the side of his neck which seemed to be showing a glimpse of human skin. For the past six seconds, Lei stared and the figure in front of him gazed back. This person was familiar.
"Yoshimitsu?!" Lei exclaimed, finally able to identify this person.
Sure enough, it was the Manji leader himself. He felt quite relieved actually.
"Kibun wa dō desu ka?" Yoshimitsu spoke in his eerie tone of voice.
"Kibun ga yoku natta."
Yoshimitsu nodded. He began to explain what was going on to Lei.
"Watashi wa zannen—"
"Chotto matte kudasai!" Lei interrupted all of a sudden. "Eigo ga dekimasu ka?
"Hai, dekimasu."
"Can you speak it? My Japanese is not quite perfect."
"Mochiron."
After resolving the language difficulties, the Manji leader proceeded to speak.
"As I have said earlier, I'm sorry about interrupting your fight between those two. I felt that you needed my help at some point...so I took you away."
That's when Lei realized something. He looked around his surroundings, which was very unfamiliar. He was standing on the roof of a building in a foreign neighborhood. If his assumption was correct, both of them covered approximately a distance of 2 ½ kilometers in 5 minutes...
"I'm actually grateful you came. I would have been killed..."
"I assume that you are still confused about what's happening lately..."
Was Yoshimitsu reading his mind? Confusion was the one thing that Lei felt at this very moment. He had so many questions to ask yet he didn't know where to begin.
"Tell me why they killed Steve Fox."
"It all goes back to Kazuya's plot in dominating the world."
"Kazuya's behind all this?!" This was a shocking revelation to Lei.
"Of course, did you think he won the tournament for nothing?"
Of course not, Lei thought. It had seemed obvious now but the idea hadn't crossed Lei's mind before.
Yoshimitsu went on. "Steve Fox possessed a unique recessive gene that stimulates a human's cells, allowing them to regenerate faster. For example, if a person with that gene spliced into his own and got shot, his wound would heal 20 times faster than a normal human being. This explains why Steve Fox always managed to come out alive from repeated assassination attempts. In fact, he regenerates so fast that his killers had to poison him and break his neck to make sure he stayed dead." Lei winced slightly at this.
"So basically, Kazuya was after it? But how did Steve Fox acquire the gene in the first place?"
"Yes. My theory is that the gene was spliced into Steve Fox when he was conceived, through his arm I think."
Lei paused for a moment between questions.
"Why didn't they take Steve's body right after they killed him? Why did the y have to wait a few days?" Lei inquired critically.
The strange ninja walked closer to the ledge, his back facing Lei.
"Kazuya was required to kill Steve Fox as he agreed to do so in exchange for money. Two days later was he informed about the recessive gene through Dr. Abel, which is called the Regen. Kazuya desired power over money, which changed everything around. He destroyed the mafia organization, fearing that they might steal the Regen from him. That's when he hired Bryan and my former apprentice, Kunimitsu. I know Kunimitsu's planning to overthrow Kazuya but I don't know Bryan's motive for siding with him."
"That makes perfect sense..." Lei remarked, sarcastically.
"But," Yoshimitsu stated, facing Lei yet again "I need your help, Lei."
The Chinese police man half-lowered his eyes, a sure sign of reluctance.
"I couldn't even beat Bryan or Kunimitsu. On top of that, I lost in the tournament. What good am I?"
"A lot. You're the only one who can expose Kazuya's wrongdoings; the only one who can save this world from being drowned into complete darkness. That is why you must help me."
Judging the way Yoshimitsu was grasping both of his shoulders, Lei knew he was determined about this, especially when Yoshimitsu told him he was "the only one". He was definitely in a tensing position right now.
"What's in it for me?" Lei queried in a stern tone of voice.
After letting loose the man in front of him. Yoshimitsu withdrew himself from Lei by a yard.
"Anything your heart desires."
Yoshimitsu's voice was very low, solemn-like. Lei's eyes became opaque and empty as if he was lost in a state of phantasmagoria. He wanted to but couldn't refuse his offer somehow, no matter how unrealistic it may seem. Could this outlandish being really satisfy what his heart truly desired? On the other hand, if you were desperate, one would believe anything. Just like a mirage: unreal and merely imagined.
Despite all of this, Lei nodded slightly, shifting his view to the side.
"Fine."
"Good. Now listen carefully: this Friday, Kazuya will host a banquet at the Mishima Zaibatsu, in honor of his victory at the tournament. I want you to attend the celebration."
"What about the people back at the station?"
"There's nothing wrong if they decide to attend. Just don't give away your purpose."
The ninja edged closer off the ledge, in the process of leaving. Abruptly, Lei inquired one last question.
"What is my purpose?"
Yoshimitsu turned his head a little.
"I will tell you another day. Right now, my party needs me. Ja kondo ne."
With one last goodbye, Yoshimitsu leaped over to the next building and the next, until he was out of sight.
Lei stood still, the morning wind sweeping across his face, eyes staring blankly into space. He knew what he wanted from this, because he couldn't stop thinking about him...
A/N: Okay. There were a lot of Japanese phrases mentioned here in which I know by memory and some I researched myself. I know some of you have no clue so here goes the translations:
Ninjutsu: Ninja arts/techniques. There are many kinds of ninjutsu so I won't be specific.
Kibun wa dō desu ka Kibun wa dō desu ka?: How are you feeling?
Kibun ga yoku natta: I feel much better.
Watashi wa zannen-: I'm sorry -
Chotto matte kudasai: Please wait a minute!
Eigo ga dekimasu ka?: Do you speak English?
Hai, dekimasu: Yes, I do.
Mochiron: Sure.
Ja kondo ne: See you next time.
Expect to see more. I felt that it was necessary to put some Japanese words in the story so the readers will be reminded that the story does takes place in Japan, not because I wanted the story be 'hype'. I do not speak Japanese but I do wish I could.