Chapter 8: What Lies Beneath

The atmosphere seemed to forebode an unusual occurrence when I arrived to watch my father battle in the tournament . Not like I felt worried about Lee losing this bout, I knew what a strong fighter he is. There was something much more too it, making me anxious for this designed battle.

I gathered to the seat Lee reserved for me in the front row. The fans were rowdy, shouting and yelling, basically looking out for blood. I studied the ring positioned centred of the arena, it had black bars surrounding it, like a cage. The lights went dark and the screen lit up with 'The King of Iron Fist 4 Tournament' in white text. The main event was going to start, making the fans roar in anticipation.

The announcer did the introductions, with Lee, or well Violet, coming out first. I know my father was a sharp dresser but to see him in a puffy, vampiresque shirt was rather amusing. He wore dark gray sunglasses to mask his eyes, making him unrecognizable from the public eye. I stood up from my seat, clapping and cheering to show my support.

The lights dimmed once again for Lee's opponent. Out from the curtain emerged the devil himself, no pun intended, Kazuya Mishima. He stood on the ramp way, locking eyes with his adopted brother. The fans erupted in pandemonium for the battle between the brotherly rivals. Kazuya made his way down, getting into the ring, closer and closer to Violet.

I backed into my seat, sitting down again. My heart was racing at the thought of these two tearing each other apart. The signal for the battle to start rang through the arena, with the announcer saying 'Get ready for the next battle."

Kazuya was the first to charge, attacking Violet with brute force. I got up from my seat and leaned against the barricade, screaming for Violet in support. I could see Lee attempting to fight back but Kazuya was holding him back, with all the strikes from his palm. Violet was able to use the strength of his leg with a hefty kick to the midsection of Kazuya. Violet got into his fighting stance and taunted his brother, before going for low kick. Kazuya was quick and dodged it, graining composure. Kazuya used a kick of his own, knocking Violet down to the floor with vigour.

Adrenaline rushed through my veins, my screams were doing nothing for Violet and I wanted to do something more. Kazuya continued beating Violet senseless, with the fans roaring in approval. My father was losing focus and I had to help him.

Impulsively, I jumped over the barricade. I bolted away like a fox from security who attempted to grab me. With the adrenaline still lingering inside of me, I used my utmost strength and climbed up the exterior of the cage like Spiderman. Lee was kneeling on the floor, with Kazuya standing over him, just about to finish him off.

I reached the top of the cage, looking down to see the height I was at. I knew what I had to do, I had to jump off. I closed my eyes and took a heavy breath leaping off from the top, landing on Kazuya with a crossing body, knocking him off his feet with velocity. I clutched my mid-section feeling the effects of my fall; I crawled away from Kazuya, to allow air to enter my lungs again.

Violet was able to take advantage of Kazuya's state and strike him with various moves. Kazuya had the strength to shove Violet, with electricity illuminating from his body. I was able to get to my feet and jump on Kazuya's back, trying to choke him with a sleeperhold. Kazuya gripped my hair, and then proceeded to flip me off his back.

Kazuya locked his eyes into mine, with his red-eye glowing with intensity. He wrapped his hand around my neck, raising me up in the air with his arm.

"I don't know what you're doing, you little bitch." He bellowed to me whilst choking me with his strength. I was beginning to lose consciousness, until Kazuya let go, throwing me away like a rag doll. I landed awkwardly, landing head first. I don't remember what happened next, I blacked out from the impact.

I don't know how long I was out for, but I awoke in a medical room, laying on a white clothed gurney. I rose up, pressing my sore temple.

"What happened?"I whispered to myself, trying to recollect the earlier events.

From across, I noticed my father, Lee sitting across from me in a chair. Lee immediately went to my side, seeing that I gained consciousness. "Viola, are you okay?"

"I think so, just a little sore"I said moving me legs off the gurney to the floor.

I winced, recalling my interference in Lee's match against Kazuya. I opened my eyes to see Lee crossing his arms to show his unhappiness of my actions in the encounter. "What were you thinking? Going out there and almost getting yourself killed out there?"

"I don't know."I simply said. I didn't have a reasonable excuse to why.

Lee forcefully leaned himself on my thighs, getting close into my face. "I've just had it up to here with you, Violetta."

Lee pushed himself off me and turned away from me, running his hands through his purple hair. I couldn't brace myself when Lee swung his opened hand to strike me across my face. I was awestruck, grabbing on to the side of my face of where my father had hit me. I could feel the redness emerge from the hand print on my cheek.

Lee felt no remorse of his act of violence on his daughter. He didn't even flinch when he saw tears begin to water from my eyes.

"You are turning out just like your mother, a mindless fucking whore."Lee vengefully spat at me.

"...Please say you don't mean that, Dad."I whimpered, getting to my feet and grabbing Lee's clasping Lee's hands with my own.

"Don't dad me, you ungrateful brat." Lee pushed my hands off, not wanting me to touch him.

"Dad.." I said with heaviness in my voice.

Lee turned away from me again, now ignoring my pleading of despair. There was a lamp nearby, which Lee knocked it over in rage, breaking it in pieces. I cringed at the shattering of the lamp.

" I'm sorry, what do you want me to do?" I yelled out, wiping the tears off my face. "You can't protect me forever."

Lee softened his tensed shoulders, listening to my affirmed words.

"I'm going to make mistakes; I'm going to do things you won't agree with. I'm not a little girl anymore. You can't keep tracking what I do with my life, like I'm a lost little puppy." My tone soothed, using my level headiness to articulate my feelings.

Lee finally turned around to face me again. His eyes looked at me with penitence and guilt. Lee raised his hand and gently brushed the area of my cheek which he struck. I remove his hand off my sore cheek and guided it down.

"I want to stay here in Japan." I said with apprehension. I wasn't waiting for Lee's permission, it more of a bold statement.

A/N: I know there has been a slow progress with the story. But I finally got around to write a fight scene! Not the best since I never really write fight scenes so it was a first. I feel this is were Viola really starts to come out from her shell, getting away from being Lee's daughter. I just have to see how she grows into her own character, which will be difficult! Now I can hopefully start to introduce other Tekken characters in the story. =)