Disclaimer: I don't own Tekken

A/N: Hello, there. I'm glad you're here to read my fic, and I hope you like it. Well, all the characters are in place, and the storylines are set to converge. I think you'll be surprised by what takes place in this round, so let's get to it. And here … we … go:

The King of Iron Fist Tournament 7: A Final Tragedy for the Finest Future

The Quarterfinals: Unforeseeable Results part 1

Before the start of the round, the announcement goes out:

Ladies and Gentlemen, the end is near. The war has been grueling, the battles harsh, but there's still plenty of fighting left to be done. The field of many has been reduced to a few, and the strongest have emerged as we are down to pour final 8 competitors! It's been a long time coming, and there have been spectacular fights along the way, but you haven't seen anything yet! The arenas are ready and the lights are on bright! It doesn't get any more intense or better than this! Ladies and Gentlemen, the fight card is set, so I hope you're prepared! Here is your final tournament bracket:

Miharu Hirano v. Lee Chaolan

And

Lars Alexandersson v. Heihachi Mishima

Asuka Kazama v. Kazuya Mishima

And

Jin Kazama v. Hwoarang

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Dark Horse

The air was still clean and cold, the ground was still damp, and the fresh rain scent still lingered, all evidence of the rainstorm that had just past. Nevertheless, the crowd was large and raucous, shouting and screaming with elation, underneath the beautiful sight of the rapidly-darkening twilight sky. The excitement was inevitable as this was the first time the tournament had visited the city since using it as Xiaoyu's stage in the third tournament. This, the 'City Center' stage, was the large square of a Japanese city. The buildings with bright signs and large windows surrounded it, and the titanic crowd sat at its perimeter with floodlights illuminated the area. In the middle, Lee and Miharu came walking in from the different sides.

The announcer's voice quickly blasted through the area, "Miharu Hirano, Lee Chaolan, get ready for the next battle!"

Miharu grew anxious as the crowd grew louder, and repeated Xiaoyu's advice to herself, "Just … remain calm. Focus on the fight. One step at a time… One step at a time…"

Immediately recognizing the Japanese girl's lithe frame and red hair, Lee said, "Ah! Miharu-chan! So you're my opponent."

Miharu, surprised to see the Co-CEO as her adversary, stammered, "L-Lee-sama?! This is a … surprise."

Lee simply complimented, "It's not for me… I've seen some of your matches… and I'm very impressed."

Miharu, understandably flattered, felt the blood rush to her face as she started to blush, saying, "Thank you… I just want to make Xiao-chan proud."

Lee inquired as the question came to mind, "So you have… By the way, how is the expectant mother?"

"She's doing great; just as excited as ever actually." Miharu quickly responded with a smile before moving forward with a concern voiced to her, "But there is something… She said she's been trying to get in touch with Jin-kun, but he doesn't seem to have his phone… You haven't heard from him… have you, Lee-sama?"

Thinking it over, Lee answered, "Actually … no; I haven't. I haven't spoken to Jin-san since the start of the tournament."

"Oh…" Miharu responded with some disappointment, and entreated, "Well, if you hear from him, please let him know Xiao-chan wants to talk to him… She's starting to get worried."

"I'll do that…" Lee said with a nod, "In the meantime, let's get started, shall we?"

Miharu offered a hesitant nod in response. In some ways, she was still shaking within herself with uncertainty; after all, she was about to face a tournament veteran, a rather unenviable task considering Lee's fighting reputation. The two fighters bowed to each other in respect and observance of the match about to take place. Miharu then took her fighting stance.

As he took his fighting stance, Lee requested of his young challenger, "Don't hold back now. I want to see just what Xiaoyu-chan has taught you."

Without delay, the announcer's voice boomed into the area to the cheers of the audience, "Round 1! Fight!"

As soon as the announcement went out, Lee came out rushing, throwing out string after string and kicking heavily, with combos such as 'Shredder Kick', his 'Shin Kick' mix-ups, and his 'Laser Edge' mix-ups. Miharu quickly catches him however with a wrinkle Lee didn't know about, one that he never saw Xiaoyu use. She again masterfully utilized her stance parries, techniques of Miharu's own creation, countermeasures out of the many stances her style uses. Needless to say, Lee was completely caught off-guard, and surprised by the vast departure from Xiaoyu's more offensive approach. He just couldn't break through as he was cut off at every turn by Miharu's defense.

Miharu dropped down into 'Phoenix' stance, ready to act. Lee quickly moved to knocked her out … when he hesitated, a brief stutter in his advance. The previous counter out of Miharu's 'Phoenix' instantly popped in his mind, and for good reason. That pause was all she needed. Miharu immediately took advantage, launched him with a rising forearm strike, a 'Wave Crest Power', and slammed him down with two crossing palm strikes, an 'X Marks the Spot'.

The announcer's voice resonated through the city square, "Miharu wins!"

As Lee rose to his feet, Miharu retained her fighting stance. In truth, far from the usual reason, Miharu was really just trying to calm herself down. However, she unknowingly worked against herself as the rush of the battle and the crowd gripped her, her racing heart and flowing adrenaline not helping her at all. Everything was starting to get to her, and she starting wondering. Was this really happening? Did she even dare believe it? Was it even possible? Could she actually do it? Could she actually win?! Lee gave her a smile and a nod, acknowledgement of a well-fought round, and get back into his fighting stance.

The announcer's voice echoed again in the area, "Round 2! Fight!"

This obviously wasn't Lee's first time around, and he knew how to respond. He recognized 'Phoenix' stance as the style's essential component, and he knew he had to counter it. Having learned how to ahead of time, Lee used his vertical attacks to negate 'Phoenix' including 'Spin Kick Somersault', 'Silver Heel', and a new attack, a high impact front flip called 'Feather Landing'. Finally, he had broken through Miharu's defense. With the pressure on, Lee knocked her out of guard with moves such as 'Scatter Kick Throw', 'Mist Trap Throw', and 'Mist Illusion', and, with her open, easily launched her. The lack of walls in the fighting area hurts Lee's pressure game, but he was still a 'Ringmaster', able to juggle his opponents for days.

Eventually, Lee knocked Miharu to her knees with a turning, downward punch, a 'Pirouette Punch', and, as she got up, knocked her back with a flying spin kick, a 'Silver Sting'.

The announcer's voice reverberated through the crowd, "Perfect! Lee wins!"

Well, so much for that… That was the thought ran over and over in Miharu's mind as she was slow to rise to her feet. Lee could help but notices to discouragement on her face…

"Don't give up just yet." Lee said in an encouraging tone.

Surprised by the gesture, Miharu quickly looked up at him as she stammered, "Wha… What?!"

Lee continued to encourage her, insisting, "Don't quit on me just yet. Just calm down and keep fighting; you're doing fine. There's plenty of fight left, so … don't give in now."

Miharu froze in her position as she absorbed Lee's words. Eventually, she shed a slight smile as she rose to her feet. Both fighters once again assumed fighting posture.

Again, the announcer's voice exploded through the area, "Final Round! Fight!"

Miharu again caught Lee off-guard from the outset. Taking a cue from Lee's adaptability, Miharu shifted her focus, and reverted back to Xiaoyu's approach with 'stancing' around and the unpredictable offense. Lee was not expecting that and was caught as he trying to keep up. However, Lee soon recognized Xiaoyu's style and closed the gap by matching her offense with his own. The match was there was like the pulling of the tides, completely back-and-forth, and push-and-pull. It was truly spirited effort from both sides as they traded moves and damage. Meanwhile, the crowd's excitement and noise slowly rose until Miharu's and Lee's kiais couldn't even be heard.

Miharu switched over into 'Rain Dance', a seeming disadvantage. Lee advanced with a 'Triple Fang'… and that's when Miharu had the opportunity to dance with what brought her, and win the way she had from the start. Just as Lee's last punch came out, Miharu spun through it, hitting him behind the head, and quickly snapped him backward onto the back of his head, catching him with a counter 'Reverse Jade'.

To the applause and cheers of crowd, the announcer's voice rang out through the city square, "Miharu Hirano wins! Please proceed to the next round!"

Miharu quickly helped Lee to his feet.

As he rubbed the back of his head, Lee congratulated the young challenger, "Your training's paid off. The day is yours; well done."

Miharu humbly and graciously accepted his complement, saying, "Thank you … and thank you for what you said, Lee-sama."

The two fighters bowed to each other once again, with Miharu giving it and Lee returning it.

As they both rose, Lee finally offered, "My pleasure… Good luck in the next round."

With that, Lee turned and took his leave. Miharu was just frozen in place where she was, simply soaking up the moment. The crowd was cheering loudly, quite a few chanting her name. She was victorious, overjoyed, and overwhelmed by the tremendous weight of what she had just pulled off. She was simply ecstatic, and she wanted to express it; she felt like jumping for joy … but that doesn't mean she could. She was utterly exhausted. Soon, the inevitable call came and she answered.

Just as ecstatic if not more so, Xiaoyu exclaimed over the phone, "Congratulations, Miharu-chan!!! You did it!"

Miharu replied with a smile, "Thanks, Xiao-chan."

"Now, just one more match and…" Xiaoyu exclaimed before wondering aloud, "Sa, did Lee-sama say anything about Jin-kun?"

Miharu replied with slight disappointment, "No… I'm afraid he hasn't heard from Jin-kun either."

Xiaoyu expressed with some dissatisfaction, "Oh… Well, I guess I'll just have to meet him at the finals then…"

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On the way to his limo, Lee, with two tournament staffers flanking him, got a phone call.

Seeing who it was, Lee answered, "Jin-san?! … Yes, my offer still stands… A message? To who? … What?! Are you sure? … Well … if you think it's best … Alright, I'm on my way."

With that, Lee ended the call, and immediately turned his attention to the two staffers.

Lee then ordered, "I need to get to the harbor… I have an assignment for you two…"

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Raising a Storm

A dreadful rainfall hovered over the fighting, drenching the venue in an almost ominous torrential downpour, and the sky was filled with the cracking sounds of thunder and the flickering flashes of lightning. The stage, the 'Ancient Temple', was set on the roof of, appropriately enough, an ancient Japanese temple with a pagoda-style eaves surrounding the edges, the surface being flat instead of the traditional pointed style. Soon, Lars and Heihachi walked onto the fighting ring, both almost oblivious to the rain. Oddly, the rain actually seemed to fall around them rather than on them, almost as if the water was repelled.

The announcer's voice suddenly blasted through the area, "Lars Alexandersson, Heihachi Mishima, get ready for the next battle!"

Without a single delay, Lars got right into fighting stance.

Crossing his arms, Heihachi inquired, "Why so eager, boy?! We'll get to your beating in due time."

Lars snapped back with hostility, "I have been waiting for this … for a long time."

Heihachi grew a smug smile, and observed conceitedly, "Hmm… Eager to fight the best in the world I see."

"No…" Lars quickly replied, "I'm not trying to fight Jin Kazama."

Incensed by that statement, Heihachi let out a growl. Such audacity didn't sit well with the Mishima-ryu master as one could imagine.

Lars continued, "No, my reasons for wanting to fight you are entirely different."

Heihachi expressed rather emphatically, "How soon you forget … who the one who made you is. I'm the one who sought you out of a crowd of others. I'm the one who personally recruit you. I'm the one gave your rank…"

Lars interrupted, revealing, "You forgot as well, Heihachi… You've forgotten just why you had to recruit me at all. I took the liberty of doing a background check to see why Tekken Force was so out of sorts... It was because of you … when you released Toshin, the fighting god… Yes, I know about that. I've known from the start, and I've been running the Tekken Force in spite of you, not because of you.

Heihachi responded with a snarl, "I would tell you to keep your nose in your own business… but it seems you know too much already."

"I know one thing for sure…" Lars continued, "I've seen both your campaign and Jin Kazama's, and, from what I've seen, he seems to actually want to improve the world. You, on the contrary, had the world in your hands only to use the access for you own ends… My loyalty is to the men and women of the Tekken Force … and that means my loyalty is to Jin Kazama."

Heihachi threw his arms down, garnering a large amount of electricity surging through the air, and said, "You sound very adamant about this… and confident too. Well then, if that's truly where your loyalty lies… Then, just like them, you will face your day of reckoning right now!!!"

As Heihachi went into his fighting stance, the announcer's voice blasted into the area, "Round 1! Fight!"

Early and often, Heihachi saw and remembered just why he recruited Lars … and why Lars is so feared and respected. Most evidently, Lars was a unique blend of speed and power, not to mention the Tekken Force Captain was particularly motivated and spirited for the battle, and his attacks were comparable to the slicing and slashing of a sword. Something that Heihachi took particular note was Lars' incredible jumping ability, with several moves had Lars' jumping well above Heihachi's head.

Even with all that, there was something … eerily similar about Lars's style. After he knocked Heihachi to the ground, Lars followed with a very 'Geta'-like stomp… There was a double palm thrust Lars used that really resembled 'Demon Executioner'… When Heihachi slammed him with a headbutt, Lars grabbed him and gave him a headbutt in return… The most telling thing was this white lightning coming off of Lars that felt, looked, and tasted … very familiar.

Heihachi eventually surprised Lars with a sideways arm strike, a 'Demon's Wings', sending Lars rolling sideways. As the Tekken Force Captain tried to recover, Heihachi slowly approached him, slightly dropping his guard … a crucial mistake. Lars sprang to his feet with blinding speed just as Heihachi came close, and forcefully grabbed him by the throat…

"SHINU!!"

The next moment, Lars wrenched Heihachi's neck while giving him a straight shot of white electricity. Fortunately, the surprise and potency of the attack was enough to stun his opponent…

The announcer's voice boomed through the rain, "Lars wins!"

Heihachi quickly shook off the haze in his mind, and jumped back up. The next moment, electricity furiously cracked and surged around his body, only made more prominent and enraged by the rain.

Heihachi harshly scowled, "You're talented, but it will do you no good… Don't you know who I am?!"

Lars fiercely retorted, "I know exactly who you are…"

Lars also responded to Heihachi's showcase, having an outpour of his own and causing electricity to gathering around his body as well. In passing, Heihachi noticed that the lightning that surrounded them was very similar, almost identical.

Lars intensely concluded, "… But you have no idea who I am!"

As the both men got back into fighting stance, the announcer's voice resonated through the storm, "Round 2! Fight!"

Lars went right back on the attack, slashing with his hands and his movement. It didn't take long for Heihachi to get aggravated. He couldn't let this overzealous kid get the best of him. He had to teach him a lesson, show him what Mishima-ryu was really made of. Acting quickly, Heihachi sidestepped to avoid an incoming attack, and countered with a swift chop to the side, a 'Kidney Smasher'. The move was not very damaging at all, more of a stall than anything. It didn't stall for very long at that, not long … but enough, enough to unload.

A moment later, Heihachi began to violently throw out combinations, pouring all the power he could into each shot. Again, Lars found himself in a storm of attacks, and again he was forced to go through it. The Tekken Force Captain had weathered many people's storms before, but none as powerful or as brutal as Heihachi's; Lars never had to face one quite like this. Using the momentum from his tear, Heihachi cancelled after the first hit of his 'Demon's Lair' into a 'Demon Uppercut'. As Lars flew upward, Heihachi jumped up, caught him in mid-air, and slammed him with a 'Jumping Powerbomb', folding Lars up like an accordion.

The announcer's voice erupted onto the roof, "Heihachi wins!"

Lars held his ribs as he sat up, trying to regain himself.

Heihachi confidently exclaimed to him, "Give up now, and I'll have mercy on you. You're not in my league, boy."

Lars paused for a moment, and then slowly laid back down on his back. Could it be? Was this a … forfeit? A moment later, Lars defiantly kipped up into his fighting stance.

"Very well," Heihachi said in resolution, "You've sealed your grave."

As Heihachi went into his fighting stance, the announcer's voice once more resonated through the area, "Final Round! Fight!"

Much like Lars before, Heihachi picked up where he left off, beginning to rampage all over again. Lars, as much as for survival than anything else, used his 'riot control' strategy, which worked well in Lars' previous opponent… It didn't do much to slow down Heihachi though. The Tekken Force Captain was able to get his shots in, but he took a massive beating in the process. Nevertheless, Lars' determination and heart keeps him in it. Every time Heihachi would knock him down, every time it looked like the match was over, Lars would reach down deep within himself, and force himself to his feet, pushing all the pain aside.

Eventually, Heihachi grabbed Lars for a 'Headbutt Carnival', and slammed his own head into Lars' … only he didn't release him after the strike. Heihachi then sadistically slammed his head into Lars again … and then again… and again until the beating became steady. Over and over, Heihachi pounded Lars' head with one strike after another. Finally, when the barrage stopped, Heihachi lifted Lars up over his head for a final blow, but he hesitated and took a long look at the roof's edge a few yards away.

"This is over," Heihachi ominously stated, "You've breathed your last breath."

At that moment, Lars felt one of the pockets on his vest give away, another casualty of the onslaught. Immediately, Lars dropped one hand from around Heihachi's arm, and held onto the contents that fell out. This shift of movement did not go unnoticed by the Mishima-ryu master. Heihachi, more out of instinct than actual interest, grabbed it out of Lars' hand, and got a surprise when he saw what it was: a picture of a younger Heihachi and a young woman with blond hair and blue eyes.

"What is this…?" Heihachi asked before saying forcefully when Lars didn't answer, "I said what is this?!"

Lars divulged, "Just like I said, you don't remember… You don't remember that day… Some 28 years ago, a few years before the first tournament, you spent a day in Sweden with a woman you met named Astrid. Her last name was different then, but eventually she received a different one: Alexandersson… Astrid is my mother, and, nine months after her night with you… I was born.

Heihachi absently dropped Lars, who instantly fell to his knees, in utter shock.

Lars continued, "Like I said… you have no idea who I am!"

Trying to absorb all of this, Heihachi could force out in a stunned tone as he stared at the photo, "What???"

Acting quickly upon the opportunity, Lars sprung him into the air in a high-arching front flip, seeming to fly in slow motion, and grabbed Heihachi by the head on the way up in a feat of great awareness and skill… The Tekken Force Captain lifted Heihachi completely off the ground, and carried him high into the air as he rolled through… With both in the air, again the world seemed to go into slow motion as they began to descend until Lars slammed Heihachi into the ground head-first. A huge tremor of electricity erupts upward around them from the point of impact.

Lars fell back to his knees immediately afterward; Heihachi however remained prone. In truth, he was lying still more from shock than pain, though there was a lot of it as well. The entire match flashed before the Mishima-ryu master's eyes. There were all the signs; the stomp, the palm explosion, and the electricity. Heihachi had missed it all. How could he have missed it?

Breathing heavily, Lars revealed further, "I found out that you threw your son into a volcano… and I was there when you shot Jin Kazama, your own grandson, in the head… I thought you'd abandoned my mother and I, but she was really protecting me from you… That's what this is, and now this is over."

Finally, the announcer's voice blasted over the frantic thunder and lightning, "Lars Alexandersson wins! Please proceed to the next round!"

Lars quickly departed after the announcement. After a while, the realization of what had just happened slapped Heihachi right in the face. Immediately, he shot up as it hit him, and remembered what had taken place while he was in shock. Heihachi then stared back at the photo, and started to shake with anger until he ripped up the photo into tiny pieces. He let out a furious roar and an outburst of power so strong it shook the building.

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Later on, while in transition, Lars, in obvious discomfort, slowly followed a tournament aide. Soon, his pain got to him enough that he collapsed to one knee.

Rushing over and helping him up, the aide asked with concern, "Mr. Alexandersson, are you alright, sir?"

Lars replied, "Yes… but unfortunately, my run in the tournament is finished. I've already informed the match supervisors… I can't compete any further; I'm done."

Just then, Lars got a phone call. Checking and seeing it was Jin, he quickly picked it up.

Lars answered, "Sir?! … Yes, sir; I have withdrawn from the tournament… Yes, I can… Understood. I'm on my way."

CLICK! The call ended. Lars turned to the aide, who stayed close when the call came in.

"I think I'll still need the transport." Lars said, "I need to get to the harbor right now!"

End of Part 1

Next Time:"How long has it been since the last time we fought… Seems like forever, y'know."

A/N: Well, there you have it. That's part 1; part 2 is on the way. Thanks for reading; I hope you enjoyed it, and that you come back for the conclusion. Please R&R, and, as always, Rant, Rave, and Review.