Sachi Gosetsuke: typical me for being so un-creative last year and choosing an old corny song as the title of a story that was beyond that song. Ugh. Eye-roll worthy much?
Well since there's nothing I can do about it, I guess we'll just have to live with it. I mean, this is the last chapter and all. XD it's been a blast with you guys.
So let's take a moment of this story so I can thank all of you faithful reviewers who gave me a crap load of reviews:
Psychoblue: the man who made it happen. Yes, you :) I can't thank you enough for letting me borrow Kenichi. I'm glad you think I did a fine job with him here (At least, I HOPE you think so). Thanks for all the helpful and critique reviews that got me wanting more.
Thunderxtw: thank you for not sticking to a "good job, update soon" review as well! I look forward to reading your reviews and I am so glad that one of my favorite authors actually read one of my stories. You're a fantastic writer and I hope this chapter is good to you!
And since I am tired of typing already, a huge thank you to Wait-for-sleep, NCTeKken08, Scarlet-Child, xjmaster, rituel, Thee S., Hibeki, Ichigo Kyuuketsuki, Hatori Fujiwara, and MANY more.
And now…onto this VERY long chapter!
DISCLAIMER: Asuka and any other Tekken characters are all property of Namco. Kenichi is the sole property of Psychoblue. And any lyrics, references to bands and band members aren't mine as well.
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Ch. 12: Epilogue: Her Song
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"I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I intended to be."
–Douglas Adams.
I have seen innocence, pure, blissful, and perfect, grow and old weary as fear and heartache overshadows the faithful and brave. My hands slightly callused yet still smooth, rough yet still strong have felt and touched the most painful of pain and has not yet lost a finger. My eyes, sharp and observant have seen the cruelty and doubtful, yet is still curious, still shining, still seeking…
No matter what Life had to offer me, it did not break me. I still kept on, still fought on, still kept on soaring… And though I've made my mistakes, I still learned, and when I lost myself and ended up in dead ends, I knew that this was meant to be and it would only get better. Fate is fate, and if my fate is to die this way, then so be it. I may not be where I wanted to be. But it was meant to be, and intended to be from the beginning. So I hold my head up high.
A voice, still young, loud, and un-wise and un-thinking, still speaks. Still seeks. Still sings. It is my voice. And mine alone. And shall forever tell the story and the truth and ask the unanswered questions. And it will live on, no matter if its words are still unspoken, secrets still needed to be revealed…it will live on
And finally…my wings. What wings, you may ask? Well don't you remember? My name is Asuka Kazama. Asuka means soaring board, also known as flying bird of the open space. I was born with wings, both spiritually and literally. Never was I meant for a "normal" life…never was I meant for a cage. I soared where my heart desired, and for that…I am thankful.
They say I am beautiful. I disagree. They say I am the spitting image of my beautiful, angelic mother, her shining brown pearls reflecting through mine…and yet I was born with the spunk and arrogance and "spitfire" attitude of my father's. That I cannot disagree with.
I miss them. I also miss many more. But I believe that there are some things in this world that are done for a reason. While one door closes, the other one opens. I have always believed in this. It is true, that's why. With this, I have managed on for only so long, and it has been worth it…
However…there are still many doors to be open. There are still many questions unanswered. The bird has taken flight, but has not landed yet, and the eyes are still looking, the hands are still reaching, the voice is still calling…
It's not over yet.
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Sensei Kazama hummed a tuneless tune as he flipped the pages of the newspaper he was reading. It was an ideal way to spend his Friday afternoon after finishing with his class: reading the weekly paper while the classical music played in the background, hot cup of tea to his right, a soft antique lamp turned on to his left, peace and silence, and no troubles for him to solve on a quiet, lazy, dreary drizzle April day.
He had ten minutes to kill before Trouble came from school. Not that he was being heartless.
The clocked ticked on and ten minutes later he heard no loud footsteps. No shouts of greeting to him. No bag pack being thrown across the hardwood floor, squeaky wet shoes being kicked off, and perhaps its owner slipping with it from tripping on their socks. Nothing.
The clocked ticked on. The drizzle lessoned but remained. The silence was driving him mad.
Five minutes later and the door opened.
Casually looking up at his paper in the nick of time, he saw Asuka Kazama, 14 and half years old, attempting to sneak off upstairs.
He raised an eyebrow.
"…How was your day?"
She grinned lopsidedly.
"Fine. How was your day?"
"Fine."
Pause.
He began, "Asuka…why are you covered in mud?"
She looked down at herself, and pretended to be surprised at the fact that head to toe, she was alas, covered in mud. Color her surprise.
She sighed in defeat and replied sheepishly, "I…got into a fight. With a 12th grader."
He stared on. And with the same raised eyebrow, "And…?"
She continued, "And…I won…?"
He said nothing. He looked back to his newspaper and turned the page. "That's my girl…"1
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"Now that I know what I'm without,
You can't just leave me
Breathe into me and make me real,
Bring me to life"
Asuka nodded along to Evanescence's, "Bring Me To Life." Evanescence. A long-time, favored band. Ever since their first album came out, she knew it was something different, something cool, and something that definitely defines "music." As old as the song was, she still couldn't get enough of it.
What she liked about Evanescence was that Amy Lee's lyrics were real. Based on cruelties unseen and ignored that only so little yet so many people could truly understand. Call it "emo" or "gothic" but this was what music was all about: reaching out to others.
Evanescence. It was such a beautifully haunting name that just rolled perfectly on her tongue. Ironic to her, the actual word meant "to fade or fading away," or something along those lines. It was strange because to her, their songs simply did the opposite. It was adrenaline rushing, the amazing mix of rock/gothic/metal guitar and basses, and Amy Lee's simply amazing wide-range voice that sang the lyrics that words could not say… Though as dark and eerie as most their songs were, Evanescence simply created tremendous and breathtaking music.
It was true; Asuka was a sucker for good music. She loved anything actually, but really, she was a rock star through and through. The thought of head banging to an awesome metal concert, or singing along to a punk rock band, or even dancing wildly or playing along to any good rock or metal or Goth or punk or anything band…it was just as exciting as fighting. Or jumping off Tokyo Tower ten times over.
She's been an expert at almost all instruments, mainly percussion. She could play a mean drum solo on her precious drums (which sadly, she has not had time to use in far too long), was a decent singer, wasn't so bad on the guitar and bass… She could even clap almost any beat (a talent which she isn't afraid to laugh at), could name any note, song, band, album, anything ever made…but her heart was only for the drums and listening to music. She and her friends have had only few jam sessions, but nothing serious. She's made it to chorus, jazz band, and any percussions-instrument-player in school musicals… Anything music, she tried it out. But her heart settled for the good old rock.
On one, un-Asuka like occasion, she had taken piano lessons for a time as well. She had been nine, maybe eight, possibly till she was ten or eleven or even twelve when twice a week after school, she would walk to her piano teacher's house for a private session.
Her teacher was about 100 years old, who wore the thickest yet smallest and oldest bifocals right on the edge of her nose, a frizzy dark gray mop of a hair, and wrinkles galore. She owned a very boisterous voice, and a million cats, and a very strong passion for music…classical music. What Asuka remembers clearly and vividly about what she most enjoyed about piano was making funny faces at her teacher behind her back and teaching the cats to jump on top of her teacher's head.
It wasn't a surprise at all that Asuka just happened to always get in trouble. She could never sit still; that was the main problem of it. Several times, she had almost been kicked out of piano and even more times been threatened so. But it was better than forcing herself to be polite and accepting her atrocious ancient candy that always took nearly the whole session to chew.
It didn't help that Asuka happened to be a klutz. Never a day goes by where she doesn't trip. Or gain a bandage. It was just one of those things that Asuka really doesn't mean to be: clumsy and accident-prone. Just ask her teachers. And doctor. She doesn't mean to break some antique vase or two or simply demolish something expensive and always, always, everyday trip on the priceless Oriental rug on her way to the piano. And others. It happens.
But one day, her teacher just got so impatient with her, and finally had it.
Or at least it has to be. Why then had her teacher quit? All she did was as usual, come up to her door after school, and rang her doorbell…well…her doorbell is the melody to "Wonderful World," and that day she tripped on the steps, fell on her knee, shrugged, and rang the doorbell…and instead of "Wonderful World," she received a BING. BING. BONK. And according to her teacher, it was her fault that the doorbell broke.
All in all, her heart isn't entirely set on the piano.
But it was all right. She added it to her list of Instruments She Can Play anyway. But she was more into the keyboard. All of it's unending technology and uses, along with Asuka's vast imagination…amazing.
Music was just important to her. End of story.
She sat there on her bed next to her window, her head clear, her heart calm, her senses in peace…with only her iPod plugged in and the good old hit single "Bring Me To Life" playing…as she tried to make sense of what had just happened only so long ago that very night.
It was probably around 10:00 now. She had frantically searched for her bike after that creepy phone call, raced home, threw open her dorm door (to find that for fortune's sake, her roommate decided to go clubbing for the night), and turned on the shower and stepped right in. She didn't want to think. All she wanted to do right now was try and forget everything that has happened, live life the way she wanted to live it, and numb her senses by switching to as freezing cold water as she could stand in the shower.
And now she was there an hour later, iPod plugged in, hair wrapped in towel still, and just…taking a pause.
And for once…she was listening to this song a little more different than usual, and little more closely.
Bring me to life.
It was so strange…how all her life she had wanted exactly that.
I remember, as I grew older, and matured over the years, I felt trapped in my own home.
Ever since she knew how to fight, she had been fighting for justice, fighting for truth. But it was more like searching for justice, searching for truth.
It was as if I had no freedom – even though I did…But…it was the fact that my life was so typical, and normal. I wanted adventure. I wanted to break free of the ties that hold me in place, and just…fly
And just like how every Christmas or birthday, or just some random surprise, she was on a scavenger hunt, hunting for gift, for the reward at the end. Only now it was different.
Maybe it was because there were some things my father doesn't tell me.
Was it all just a coincidence? That she had learned to solve those little riddles, manage every obstacle in her way…And the fact that she had been fighting for some purpose…could Fate had been preparing her for this exact moment?
Or maybe it was because I wanted to escape my own world.
It seemed that just now, everything was starting to make sense; that the fog was starting to clear up; that this was what she was searching for…and at the same time, she now finally began searching.
I was the bird, trapped in her cage, waiting to fly.
She was on another search. Another scavenger hunt. But for what and what purpose, and where to start and where she needed to end…she didn't know. She didn't care.
I wanted to fly and break free of the ties that bound me to my place.
It was time to find that last puzzle piece, for questions unanswered, for answers that needed reasons, for something, something, something…
I didn't know that there would be something out there that I couldn't see, couldn't feel, that I was not ready for.
She deserved the truth. There was something being kept from her, something she needed to know about.
I was Asuka Kazama, 17 years old, serving justice to others, and searching for the truth.
Her heart began to thump a little faster as she realized this. She was almost scared of how excited she was.
But if I never did experience it…if I never did see it…I would have never known.
The chorus of the song came up.
Wake me up.
Wake me up inside (I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside (save me)
Call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up) Bid my blood to run
(I can't wake up) Before I come undone
(Save me) Save me from the nothing I've become
Bring me to life…
Asuka snorted ironically. If my life were a movie, this would be my theme song, she thought. But she stopped and listened to the next verse. Frozen inside without your touch, without your love, darling. Only you are the life among the dead.
…Amy Lee was pleading for redemption. Quite unlike her own. Amy Lee was asking, no, begging for help. Almost in fear. Whereas Asuka was definitely not.
The song was about discovering something or someone that awakens a feeling inside them that they've never had before. Realizing the cold, hard truth. That something was definitely up. Clouds across the sky. It was about discovering that there is a world bigger than their safe and secured bubble. And with that realization, they start to seek for help, redemption.
But Asuka was not asking for help. She was discovering, but still searching, still looking, still seeking. She wasn't cowering or holding back, waiting for someone else to help her. She was doing this on her own.
It was because of the fact that the princesses were all frail and dainty, waiting for their prince charming to rescue them, when they could easily just do it themselves. Even at the age of 5, I saw those princesses giving a bad name to girls.
All her life she strived to be independent, that in the end the only one to help her was herself. There was no such thing as a prince in shining armor. Or a fairy Godmother. Or a pumpkin magically turning into a chariot to drive her away from her troubles. If there was a problem, she was going to fix it. No matter what.
And in the music video, Amy Lee is singing out to a guy, a "boyfriend" of hers that she begs to bring her to life. This sends signals to girls thinking that only their knight in shining armor can bring them to life. But what happens in the video? He dropped her. But of course, Amy Lee could have been trying to tell us this message…
A part of her head was still thinking, I don't get this…is this still "my song?" Or is it just another fairytale? But the other part was jumping up and down, her towel falling to the ground shouting, I get it! I get it!
I am not Cinderella, waiting for my prince in shining armor to rescue me.
She wasn't going to give up and give in to the something that made her realize there was something out there. She wasn't going to wait around for answers, for help, for her "man." She was going to get answers, help herself, and if she had to, she would beat up anyone who would stand in her way. Just like she would always do. Just like how she told Kenichi that if there was another world out there, she was going after it.
Because never was there a time when she didn't do these things. Whether it was the time she had beaten up a 12th grader, or the time when she stopped those bullies in the alley from mugging an innocent… Maybe she almost gave up last month. But it wasn't happening now.
With that, she switched to shuffle and listened to a new song.
I can see
When you stay low nothing happens
Does it feel right?
Late at night,
things I thought I put behind me,
haunt my mind
I just know there's no escape now
Once it sets its eyes on you
but I won't run, have to stare it in the eye
Stand my ground, I won't give in
No more denying,
I got to face it
Won't close my eyes,
And hide the truth inside
If I don't make it, someone else will
Stand my ground.
("Stand My Ground" by Within Temptation).
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"I can't believe you."
She stared straight ahead, scowling at God-knows-what, and walked at a faster pace to go back home. But Megumi kept up with her.
"You don't believe what, exactly?" she asked with a murmur.
"That you didn't bother stopping her!" Megumi cried out. "That you didn't bother try talking her out of it! Or even beat some sense into her! You did nothing!"
She jumped in front of her to stop Asuka from walking.
She glared down at her small height. Though they were both 15 and Asuka had been the fast bloomer in their friendship, Megumi was still taller than her. "Do you know how unlike you that IS?"
Asuka didn't bother answering.
Megumi continued, "Our friend just said that she was planning on running away…and you didn't do a damn thing." She lowered her voice to a softer level. "I had expected her to get angry."
Asuka made a face. "So you're mad that I didn't try to kill her?"
She didn't answer right away. She raised her dainty hand to push her bangs back. "Not literally…"
Asuka sighed. "What did you expect me to say?" she said. "She wouldn't have listened to me any other way. She had been thinking about this for a while, and once she sets her mind on something, she does it. Like me. And she needs to leave this place. You and I both know this."
"But…" Megumi trailed off. Yes, she understood perfectly clear that their friend's foster parents weren't ideal as they would've like. "Look…I mean, I guess being a true friend and all, the only thing we can do about it is just…well…there are other ways to solve these things though! We can always…"
"'Gumi, we've already tried going to the police and telling people," Asuka said painfully. "And no, just letting someone run away is not being a very true friend. And it's not that I actually support her doing this…I mean…I really think it's a bad idea…I just want her to change her mind on her own."
"What if she doesn't?" Megumi asked.
Asuka stayed silent and continued to stare past her. "If she wants an out," Asuka answered in a low voice, "Then fine. She's older than us. She has bigger problems than us. I know she can take care of herself."
Megumi nodded. She had to agree with her. Their friend had grown up a little too fast, being past on from foster home to foster home over the years as a young child. And being almost 18, she could actually take care of herself.
Megumi said, "I know her foster parents are psychopaths and all but…do you really think it's a good idea to just…let her?"
Asuka replied, "Again. If she wants out, she wants out. She's a big girl."
Megumi just shook her head sadly. "I just don't get it though…"2
Asuka said, "I do." She walked off wordlessly.
Because sometimes I want to get out too…
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"…Please?"
Asuka looked away.
"…Pretty please?"
She inspected the hole in her jeans.
"…Please, please?"
She checker her watch.
"But why-yyy?"
She sighed and replied back with every ounce of annoyance, "Because I have stuff to do, ok?"
Hazuki pouted angrily. "But you ALWAYS cancel these things, last minute!"
Asuka retorted, "Uh, not ALL the time."
Hazuki replied, "Look, if it's because of the thing between you and Collin, I'm sorry, ok? If you don't want to go out with him, then fine, but please come to the club with us! PLEASE!"
Asuka hopped off the desk she had been sitting and turned to her with a fierce look on her face. They were in class then and Asuka didn't get any sleep the night before, and because of her typical luck that night after her "typical" event, just as she falls asleep around 3 AM, oh-so typical Hazuki had barged back in their dorm drunk as a who-knows-what really, with a late night "friend."
"I'm going to make plans to try and go back home, ok?" Asuka finally confessed, smoke bellowing from her ears. "That's why I won't go clubbing with you…ok?"
Hazuki's eyes went wide. Like anime eyes. Asuka's right eye twitched. And finally the bomb was dropped.
"Oh no, you are NOT going home!" She shrieked, making the whole class turn to them. "No way, not now! Asuka Kazama, if I have to tie you down in a straight jacket, lock you up in my closet just so you don't leave--!"
"Hazuki!" she hissed at her friend.
Her friend's angry and contorted face turned to a frown and she pleaded, "But why…?"
Before she answered, Asuka turned to the rest of the class who had went deathly silent and clenched her teeth.
"WHAT?" she asked daringly, her loud voice echoing in the classroom.
The teacher came in then, with a puzzled expression and then scowled, "Kazama…"
Everyone sat back down along with Asuka, whose self-conscience was still raging a war.
She grumbled an indistinctive word as the teacher began his lesson.
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"Kazama!"
She clenched her jaw and bit back the "fuck off" that she was oh-so dieing to yell. Honestly. She can't remember anyone, not even Megumi or Ling Xiaoyu as annoying as Hazuki.
She turned slowly, swatting away any of her smart-ass-ness that she possessed and gathered up what was left of her pride and dignity to reply back, "Yes?"
Hazuki rushed up to her, tucking back her blue-black hair behind her ear. "Ok, now will you tell me why you're leaving? I mean, you can't be having a nervous break-down now, are you?"
Asuka shook her head and played with the loose end of the metal spiral in her notebook. "No…" she replied.
Hazuki whined, "Then WHY?"
Asuka lied, "Because…my housekeeper is sick. She's in the hospital, and she had been taking care of me since I was in diapers. I have to go."
Hazuki nodded slowly, but understandingly.
Asuka added a little more sincere, "Don't worry, Hazuki…I won't be gone for long."
At least, I hope, she thought.
Hazuki nodded again. "I see…Gee, Asuka, I'm really sorry."
"Don't worry about it," Asuka said quickly.
Hazuki changed the subject, "So…how bout we just get lunch? I'll pay."
Asuka nodded. "Sure."
So they went to that "cool, Internet-fueled café" nearby, ate, talked, laughed, and planned. Like they always did.
And though Asuka didn't show it, she was still kept on alert for that phantom of the night, that strange figure, perhaps a mysterious call on her cell phone…
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"Wow…"
Asuka was in shock. Standing there, with the wind to her back, the sun just rising into brilliant colors of red, orange, and pink…it was simply amazing.
She turned to Julia with a grin. "Talk about your million dollar views. This tower is amazing!"
Julia grinned back, her mysterious dark orbs twinkling at her young friend's excitement of a simple pleasure. "I knew you'd like it up here. I have a feeling you'll be coming here more often now."
Asuka said joyfully, "I'll say! Hmm, maybe I can bring a bike up here…"
Julia shook her head smiling. "Keep dreaming."
Xiaoyu yawned. "Yeah, yeah. I've been here like, a million times over. Can I go back to sleep?"
Asuka just slung her arms onto the railings and leaned in more closely at the world. "But it's awesome up here Xiao! So what if you're tired and you've been here before? I could never get tired of this place!"
Xiaoyu scowled. "Maybe I'll be a little more cheerful if it weren't 5 AM."
Julia chuckled. "You know, I expected you to be more of a morning person…"
Xiaoyu replied, "Morning is meant for sleeping. How else do you think I get all my energy for the day?"
"True," Julia said.
Asuka just concentrated on watching two birds fly around in the wind, carefree. Unexpectedly, a stab of pain came to her heart. She knew a couple of people who would've loved this place.
Julia broke out of her thoughts and scowled in a maternal way, "Asuka, don't lean in so far out like that. What if you fall?"
Asuka smirked and swung her legs over the railings and sat. "I guess I'll just fall then," she teased.
Xiaoyu said, "Asuka, get off you retard!"
Asuka laughed and swung off. Then she noticed another ladder.3
"Hey…" Asuka began walking towards it. She broke into a mischievous grin.
"Now what?" a grumpy, sleep-deprived Xiaoyu complained.
"Asuka…" Julia warned.
She ignored them and began to climb.
"C'mon guys!" she yelled, climbing higher and higher.
Julia cried, "Asuka, only workers can go up there!" Yet nevertheless, she followed. Xiaoyu sighed. And she too climbed up.
They found themselves in a more tighter spot, knee-high railings surrounding them in their little circle, high right on the exact top of the tower. The three fighters became silent as they stared at the world around them from sky's view.
"I've never been up here before…" Xiaoyu said softly.
Julia shook her head. "Nether have I…but we shouldn't be here…"
Asuka turned to her with a sassy smile. "Do you care?"
Julia smirked and said, "Why should I?"
The girls stayed there for a while, the sun finally rising to its fullest. The crowds and crowds of people below them became thicker, like little ants gathering up in its colonies. Asuka closed her eyes and imagined that she wasn't there in Tokyo, but in a place where no cars or buses or anything city-like could be heard, where all she could hear was the sound of the winds, trees rustling, birds twittering, water rippling…
"I think it's time to go."
She opened her eyes to find Xiaoyu looking at her watch.
Julia nodded. "Yeah," she said, "Our fights are in 2-3 hours."
Not waiting for a reply, the two of them began to climb back down. But Asuka stayed there at the spot, still staring out, spotting the two birds once more.
Wish I could fly.
Xiaoyu called out to her, "You coming or what?"
Reluctantly, Asuka followed.
Neither of them was aware of a dark figure from another nearby building spying on them with binoculars.
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She didn't know what made her think of that. It had been when Julia and Xiaoyu had taken her up to Tokyo Tower for the very first time during the 5th tournament. It was one of her fondest memory of the two.
Asuka didn't mean to tune out her friend while she talked. Hazuki and her were just walking back to their dorm and Hazuki was chatting away, as per-usual.
"It was just so stupid of them to try and do a cover of System of a Down, I mean, who the hell tries…"
It was just that Asuka was trying to search for something in her memories of the tournament about what seemed…out of the ordinary.
Ok. That was a stupid statement. After all, the tournaments were known for their usual "out-of-the-ordinary" events happening. Like the little catch in the third tournament on how you had to fight a giant green monster. At least, that's what she had heard from the rumors…
"…Then again, she did didn't try to not say that, but honestly, how can you not not say something like…"
Well strange things did happen while she was at the tournament. Like during the first briefing. All the fighters gathered around at the hotel lobby where they were all staying to go and see the sponsor, A.K.A. the "Boss." According to veterans of the tournament, they nicknamed the sponsor such a name since he was technically the one to decide who wins or not; meaning, you had to fight them in the end.
Well anyway, Asuka remembers how determined everyone was on meeting the so-called Boss. After all, Heihachi Mishima, the usual sponsor of the tournament was dead, his grandson wanted nothing to do with his own name ("Jeeze, what a freak," Asuka claimed after Julia told her about the Mishima family), and his son, well…
But instead of seeing his actual face, they heard a dark, low voice speak to them. Everyone searched for it's owner, but no, they couldn't find it. What Asuka remembers quite vividly was how suddenly the room went cold, she felt lightheaded and began to shake…and she felt a surge of energy run through her and all she could do was hold back with all her might from jumping at the first person she saw and ripping their head off.
The voice spoke for only a minute or so and then a worker of the Zaibatsu entered and wished everyone good luck and handed them their schedules.
As soon as the voice had bid them farewell, the room retained its usual temperature, she stopped shaking, and felt like she was going to faint. She had hurried off to her room before anyone noticed and blamed it on her nerves and the disgusting cheesecake she tried at the hotel.
"…So I was like, uh, noooo, but they were all, dude, that's wrong, but I said…"
Then there was the time when she first met Jin Kazama. Ok, she didn't actually meet him, meet him; she sort of bumped into him. If you could call it that. What had happen was she had been too busy glaring daggers at the back of Feng Wei's head when suddenly hands came to her and forced her turn around. The next thing she knew was that she was facing a taller, broader, bigger man, wearing a dark jacket with its hoodie masking his face. Every part of his face had been overshadowed in darkness, his perfect lips parted ever so slightly in his own confusion as he stared back at her.
Asuka was too shocked to respond, or to slap him, yell at him, kick him in his groin. All she could think was "What the fuck…?"
They had stood like that for a full two minutes until his mouth closed to a perfect straight line and he shook his head and let her go.
It was very weird.
Then Xiaoyu came running towards her looking like she had seen Asuka get run over by a truck twice and asked a million questions per second. All Asuka could do was say, "Ok…who the hell was that and what just happened?"
Xiaoyu replied in disbelief, "That was Jin Kazama! Ohmygod! I can't believe he was just here! Holy crap, what should I do…?"
Asuka never even wondered how the two had the same surnames. All she said to Xiaoyu, who said maybe they were related was, "Oh c'mon, I'm sure there are millions of other Kazamas out there."
But now that she thought about it…
"…And then you know what she said to me? She said I could just run off and…"
After her encounter with Jin, Xiaoyu continued to talk to herself until as quickly as she had rushed up to her, she vanished to try and find him. Asuka had never been more confused. Finally she swore, turned around, and then bumped into someone.
"Sorry dude," Asuka mumbled, clearly not in a good mood. But she stopped when she found out whom exactly she called a "dude" to.
Kazuya Mishima just stared down at her, eyebrow raised, but other than that a total blank expression upon his scarred and deathly scary face. Shivers ran up and down her spine and she stuttered another apology in a higher octave voice and ran off, feeling the man's eyes on her back even after she left the hotel building.
She also remembers how she spotted the both of them watching her throughout the tournament.
"So yeah Asuka, I decided to paint our dorm room pink and burn all your stuff."
Asuka replied her usual, "Cool." But a minute went by and she screamed, "WHAT?!"
Hazuki slapped the back of her head. "You were ignoring me the whole time, you jerk!"
Asuka was about to reply when suddenly a cold wall came out of nowhere and she walked right into it.
"Ow…" she said lamely, rubbing her head. "Who the hell put this here?"
Hazuki rolled her eyes and replied, "The door's still closed, numb-nuts. Or did you not notice we were here already."
Asuka's cheeks turned a vibrant red and she chose not to reply. Then something white caught her eye to the floor.
"Mail," Hazuki answered in the same tone as before, "Jeeze Kazama, you're really spacey today."
Asuka ignored her and picked up the single manila envelope. On it was her name…and no return address.
She opened it, not listening to a word of Hazuki as she complained to her. Inside was a navy blue card made of thick, fancy paper. Letters were itched in gold, Western-style cursive, wavy and perhaps fancier than the paper. But she didn't have to read what the words said. The minute she saw the navy blue card, she gasped.
Hazuki shrieked, startled at Asuka's sudden outburst. "What is it? A ransom note? Oh my God, there's a spider on it, right? Oh ew, get it away--!"
"No Hazuki," Asuka replied in a dark tone, "Worse."
Asuka simply held out the card so she could see. And forgot that she wasn't good at English cursive.
Hazuki's concerned look turned to a blank frown. "Wow… That's really something Asuka. Freaking…Gone With The Wind."
Asuka scowled at her friend's response. "No!" she yelled, "Look! It's an invitation the 6th Iron Fists!"
Hazuki's eyes sparkled and a mischievous grin lit up her face. "Ohmygod Asuka! That is so cool, you're gonna be in the next fighting tournament! Holy shit, you're gonna be a celebrity again--!"
"No, Hazuki," Asuka said angrily, "This is bad."
"Bad…?" Hazuki replied, lost.
"Yes Hazuki," Asuka replied slowly, as if explaining this to a 5-year-old, "Very bad."
Hazuki scowled, "How is it bad? Or what? Are you scared now?"
Asuka retorted, "No!" She began to argue with her but stopped. She couldn't tell her what had happened last night. She wouldn't even believe her and if she did, she'd be concerned and try to get involved…
Wait…
Rewind…
Last night. She got a phone call—
Go back home and stay there. Forget what you know. Forget everything.
The caller was warning her not to enter this tournament. He probably knew she would've and…
This was where she was going to find the truth. Here, in the tournament. There she would find what she needed to find, all the answers, the truth, the…
Deafening lights. Cheers and boos. Jumping, kicking, punching, pain and blood intertwining as the referee counted to ten. Victory. The adrenaline rush, the fast pace of her heart quickening with each beat as she danced the Deadly Dance of the Kazama-ryu…it was gonna happen once more, all too soon.
Wordlessly leaving a bewildered Hazuki, she opened the door to her dorm and took out her suitcase, and began to pack.
"Asuka…" Hazuki asked wearily, "What do you think you're doing?"
She replied, "I'm gonna join the tournament."
Hazuki said, "But, uh…isn't that a 'bad thing'?"
Asuka grinned and said, "Not anymore."
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And the bird stretched her wings, and began to take flight for a journey of unknown danger, loss, pain, and a little bit of love…and truth that she was not ready for.
But she will be ready.
Sachi: yes…IT'S OVER! And it took me a long, long, long time.
Again, thank you all of you for reviewing and sticking to this story. The new ones, the old ones, the not-so-good-ones-but-still-decided—to-review-to-add-to-my-other-reviews -- THANK YOU!
I've had a lot of doubts for this story…but it turned out to be my best story yet xD Not sure if this will end up being over a hundred review, but…:) we'll see, won't we?
You guys really motivate me to keep on writing, even in my toughest times. With you guys and writing (and Tekken xD), I can get over the bad things that have happened to me. So THANK YOU!!!
And remember people: think SEQUEL!
Hopefully this story made you guys think twice about Asuka, and perhaps made you into fans.
And now, this is Sachi, OUT!
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1 – happened to me xD and that was the exact response my mom gave me.
2 – sadly, I was once in her situation :(
3 – Tokyo Tower people. Hey, any of you seen King Kong? Well I got that scenery from there, where Ann Darrow follows King Kong up that skyscraper and onto the very top…