Chapter 8 - Circumstances

A sea of yellow traversed the hospital ward floor as the sun set in the other world, a world away from the pained embittered mumblings of beaten fighters, the occasional appearance of a clean shaved man and his buxom entourage walking through looking serious and nodding every so often at nothing really that important, a small man in the corner, listening to a phone, never speaking, scribbling away idly. This was the world that Morris had inhabited for the afternoon. Xiaoyu's prediction had been correct. The cuts were no large matter, and he was a lot healthier by the time he awoke a few hours later. As for his mental state, though, it was undecided whether he was psychologically stable to fight tomorrow. The fight had worn his senses away, he felt a constant numbness, and they guessed that though his body was fine if in pain, his ego was shot and he wouldn't have the willpower to do anything. He had barely spoke, just lay in his bed in heavy thought. The few things he had said where of Asuka's whereabouts.

"Sorry sir, your girlfriend is competing in the tournament right now." They had answered his first enquiry. Morris had to hastily inform them that they were not a couple, the reply being some inaudible mutterings about how much they argued.

"I wouldn't be all that surprised if they were married, never mind a couple." The doctor had laughed to his aide.

After a long while, for which Morris mostly spent boasting to a few bosom nurses and fellow competitors that his pelvis alone could bench-press a hundred pounds, Asuka did indeed arrive.

"I heard you were asking for me." She said. She smirked, not letting the chance to cause blows to Morris's ego slip away. "Are you that obsessed with me?"

"I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you over the sound of me being awesome." He said in retaliation. "I heard Xiaoyu's worse off than me." To this, he laughed heartily, feeling that nothing could ruin this moment. "See her fight today? Her knee's shot. Completely gone. She won on luck alone."

"Luck and determination, Morris." Asuka warned him. "She used to go down pretty easily, but you've sparked something in her. She wants to beat you, and that's what keeping her going. When it comes down to the crunch, you won't take her seriously enough, and she'll roll you up badly."

"Nuts to the flat chested queen of fairyland; she took my knives, so I'm calling it stealing. I was going to use them later, but no, she just ahd to take them. Chekov's Gun indeed. And frankly, I've got bigger priorities than a bad tempered kissogram."

"Like what? No wait, let me guess, you've got some breasts to ogle over rather than actually training for…"

"You, actually." Morris said, not a trace of a smirk.

They looked to each other and said nothing. The clouds darkened as rain began to beat lightly on the window. Asuka just stared at Morris, gawping, as he casually looked outside and reached for his whiskey flask as if he had said nothing. He took a heavy swig.

"Asuka, to be honest, before today I didn't give a flying shit what you wanted." He began to explain. "You came to me and told me how I could make a load of money easily. You told me that I could beat Jin, take all the money and leave your life forever." He paused, still looking away. "Sounded too good to be true. I jumped at the chance to get out of the gutter. So I went along with it. I smiled, punched up a few people. Things sometimes looked hairy, but I pulled myself back up for that money. And then…"

"Then?"

"Something changed. Today. You ran straight into the paths of four swords. Tempers were flying. If I hadn't pulled back, you wouldn't be here." The reality of the situation finally hit Asuka. An act she hadn't really thought about now dominated her thinking. "No joke, you'd be dead. So why'd you do it?"

"I…" Asuka looked for the words. She was amazed at herself. Why had she done it? "For you, I guess."

"Didn't even think about it, did you?" He asked. "You just did it." Asuka nodded. "You were ready to get killed just so save me a scratch." He said in reply. "I owe you. I want to repay you as best as I can." He looked to her at long last. "As soon as this whole affair is over, I'll only take the money I owe people and you have the rest."

Asuka stopped thinking and stood still. Her mind repeated the scene like a CCTV camera, over and over, looking for something, anything, to criticise. A lie, a trick, anything. This was a lot of money Morris was talking about. This was his ticket for a life off the streets and he was offering it away to her on a plate. Why give all away? It made no sense to her.

"Are you totally sure about this?" She asked.

"Positive."

"Well, well… who is it you owe money to?" Morris's eyes darkened, and he looked away again.

"Bad people." He said.

"Why?" Asuka couldn't stop herself. She wanted to die right there and then. Why did I ask him that? Why? Morris made no visible change, though his breathing became a lot more controlled.

"Circumstances." He answered. He remained silent. "Don't worry, Asuka, it'll be in the past as soon as this is all over." He said, smiling to her. Asuka looked in astonishment. For the first time she had known, Morris's smile was a genuine smile. No conniving smirk, no hint of a lie, just a smile. She smiled back in the same way, and sat by him. His smile changed as she did, back to its same old smirk of menace. "You so want to shag me."

"You're the one who asked for me, smart arse." She said. "Hand me that whiskey and stick the TV on, there's a programme I wanna watch."

Kazuya sat lazily in his chair, his legs upon a small stool and his whiskey in a small glass by his feet. The room was much larger than anybody else's, yet it was completely black, except for the flicker of white that the television blurred out into his room. He watched idly, not taking notice but simply watching the fighters as he would ants. His head rolled lazily.

"And now, here's the highlights of today for all you unlucky duckies who didn't catch them." Came a voice too enthusiastic to be genuine. Kazuya stared at the TV, considering why he actually was watching the damn thing.

"Kazama Asuka did well, making good care that Yoshimitsu hit the dirt." A flashy montage of Asuka's well placed blows came up on screen. Kazuya waved his hand slightly. He was certainly surprised of any relation to his wife existing back at the fifth tournament, but by the end, he knew she was unimportant. A mere distraction. A coincidence. He smiled. Maybe after all this, he may meet her. See what Jun's life was like. A curiosity.

And why would you do that?

Kazuya rolled his eyes at his own parasite. Thank you for your opinion, mother. He sighed slightly. He felt the devil was speaking up a lot more than usual. He was often helpful, with only good advice, but now he was just irritating. Kazuya thought that the devil was restless. Something was coming, he supposed.

"The spotlights, though, are on our two underdogs, who have now been placed as high favourites. Ling Xiaoyu has had a very good run, beating all in her path, even with an injured knee. She seems unstoppable."

To this, Kazuya laughed harshly. Xiaoyu? Unstoppable? The two words didn't belong in the same sentence.

"Then there is her rival, Morris Wellington."

"WELLINGTON!" Kazuya shot forward hearing this name. He fell on his knees at the foot of the screen, watching as Morris fought Xiaoyu in a whirl of blood and chaos.

"Tomorrow morning, he'll face off with old time favourite Kazuya Mishima, the first ever winner and a big contender. That's all we have time fo…"

The TV blacked out before the sentence could be finished as Kazuya sat back into the chair, picking up the whiskey once more. "Wellington." He murmured. "Tomorrow you will die."

Spike stood completely still, his gun hand outstretched. He snarled in anger as another, shrouded man was at the other end of his gun. He spoke words, but Morris couldn't hear them. He couldn't hear anything. He couldn't see the man's face, as it was shrouded with fog. He couldn't see the scene or indeed anyone else. All he could see was Spike pushing the barrel to the man's temple. Then somebody else faded into view, again with the head obscured. A screaming woman. Morris almost vomited.

"No." Morris murmured. "Not this. Anything but this." The woman screamed, but it was blurred, distorted. He just heard anger and pain. Spike turned to her.

"No, no no no no no!" Morris shouted again and again. He closed his eyes, he put his fingers in his ears, but it wasn't enough to completely mask the fatal slug of lead smacking into flesh. He opened his eyes instinctively. He was now alone. Morris was completely alone.

"Morris, you ok?"

Morris's head bolted up, smashing Asuka's head right out of the way. He looked to her, on the hospital floor, dazed and in shock, unable to move. Morris got down.

"Asuka?" He asked. He didn't get a response. He thought quickly. "Hey, Asuka, you're a virgin!"

"So are you!" Asuka replied quickly, getting up. Morris smiled dangerously now.

"You know, we can both change that fact. I'm wearing nothing underneath this hospital robe, and..." He stood up. "I'm wearing a hospital robe?" Asuka rolled her eyes.

"I see getting beat up by Xiaoyu really didn't change you, your intellect is still taken up mostly by your libido and your ego."

"Did Xiaoyu beat me…?" He asked himself. "Oh yeah, I touched your breasts." Asuka sighed.

"Yes, Morris, you did, now shut up." She said. "You were having a nightmare." Morris looked confused.

"I was?" He said. He really couldn't remember even a fraction of his dreams, as per usual. "Well, I'll believe you. Spike again?" Asuka nodded, slightly unnerved how casual he seemed about his nightmares.

"Morris, I'm…" She stopped herself. "Look, just get ready. Your fight's in an hour."

It was a bad day to fight in an open arena. The rain from the previous day hadn't ceased, and the throne the yellow sun had once gazed the earth from was now occupied by a cloud of absolute blackness. Colour was replaced by a never ending spectrum of grey. Even skin and clothes that lost colour without light to emphasize it. Morris stood shivering, looking on the arena. Great pillar stood tall above the ground, faded out of sight by the rainfall. This was an arena that would benefit the sneakier fighter. Morris smiled. He was used to underhanded fighting. Playing dirty was his main tactic anyway. He turned to a miserable Asuka, grinning rather stupidly.

"Lovely weather, eh?" He asked. Asuka looked to him.

"I've found out who your opponent is." She said worriedly. "It's a man called Kazuya Mishima. Jin's father and head of the G Corporation. He has bad news written all over him, and his fighting style is completely unique to himself." Morris shrugged. "He's going to be harder than anyone you've faced so far."

"Yes, Obi Wan." Morris moaned. "I wasn't aware that I was the padawan here."

"Morris, I'm serious! Be careful!"

"Pffft…" Morris rolled his arms in preparation. "He won't land a punch."

"Wellington!" Came a stern voice from behind them. Morris and Asuka both turned. Kazuya stood there in his typical shirtless fight gear. Asuka stood back timidly. Morris howled with laughter. "What?" Morris couldn't answer, falling onto the floor in a fit of hysterics. He got to his knees after regaining what little composure he ever had.

"The hell's up with your hair?" He asked. He jammed his hands behind his head. "Hwah! I am mighty fighter. I has luscious hair. Grrrr." He stopped thinking about any strategy, sure that he wouldn't need one. "So, what's your plan? Stabbing me to death with that silly do? Or how about showing your crazy big chest? What with that scar, I don't think you're that tough." Asuka prompted Morris to shut up, and looked at Kazuya.

"Mishima." She said simply. "You hurt him and I'll break you."

"Asuka, isn't it?" Kazuya said politely. "I knew your aunt. We must discuss it some day."

"Don't pretend we're friends." Asuka turned to Morris. "Give him a kick for me."

"Don't need to." Morris replied. "One punch and I'll floor him." He looked to Kazuya once more. "So, ready to lose to the awesomeness that is me?"

"Don't count on it." Kazuya said. "Let's see if you're as much a scumbag as Spike." Morris's brain hammered into gear rather suddenly. He got into his fighting stance instantly, his expression turned, smugness to anger. Kazuya laughed harshly. "Taking me seriously, now? You're a credit to your stupid ancestor." He slumped into his fighting stance lazily, knowing that Morris was now riled, and was going to take the less sensible options.

The claxon wailed from a way away. Morris swung his weight to the left as Kazuya charged. Kazuya's momentum was lost due to having to change direction, and Morris blocked the punch with ease, replying with several sharp, hard hits to Kazuya's chest. Kazuya stood back in pain. Morris smiled.

"Weak spot?" He asked. Kazuya snarled, and pulled his weight onto one foot. Morris stepped forward, sending a jab to the face, missing but covering his advance. Kazuya stood back further, his back pushed right up against a pillar of stone. Morris stopped to smile. "Scared?"

"Stop talking!" Kazuya snarled.

"Or what?" Morris asked, dropping his guard for a split second. Then he noticed that Kazuya was behind him now.

"Or that." He smirked as Morris began to feel the blow. He stooped down in pain, his senses all stunned by the strike.

"Christ!" He murmured, before he looked up. The pillar in front of him began to crack. "How the hell does he move so fast?" He groaned, before rolling out of the way of the crumbling pillar. He stood up quickly. The rain and the pillars hid Kazuya well, and the pitter patter slams of the drops silenced all noise. Morris bit his teeth. He was being circled, and Kazuya striking now when he was at his weakest was a better case scenario. It was a nightmare of a position to be in. He looked around for a sign of life.

"Be brave, Morris." Came Kazuya's voice from somewhere Morris couldn't pinpoint. "Be bold, be stupid. Try and catch me, fool!" Morris spun in midair.

"Come get me!" He barked. He waited for a reply. "You really are a coward, aren't you?" Morris thought desperately. Searching his mind for something, anything, that could change his luck around. Then it snapped. "You know, this tactic of yours…" Morris stood fully, out of battle stance. "Seems more like something Jin would do." Then he stepped simply to the side, allowing Kazuya to run harmlessly past. The wet ground meant that stopping immediately was not an option unless he wanted a broken ankle, and Morris laughed as Kazuya smacked into another pillar. "You're also pretty stupid."

"Stupid boy!" Kazuya shouted, turning around. "You really think that insults will save you?" Morris smiled.

"Worked so far." He said, jumping back in time to avoid Kazuya's anger filled attack. He swung his own fist upward, smacking Kazuya back. "Come on, man! Xiaoyu's a better fighter than you, if I have to put it in perspective." Then he saw Kazuya crouch and crawl towards him. "This looks fun."

Kazuya's trump card sent Morris flying, smashing into a pillar and crumbling it immediately. Morris lay where he landed for a small time, stunned by the attack. He moaned in pain. Asuka was right. While Kazuya had landed only two blows on him, Morris was in dire straights. He had given Kazuya at least ten strikes and Kazuya didn't even seem bothered. He watched as Kazuya approached casually, lifting him onto his feet. The eyes held a great smugness. This was somebody who didn't even consider Morris's importance.

"Spike at least had the dignity to stand up when we met last time." Kazuya said in disgust. "I thought you may hold some significance to all this. I guess not." He punched Morris once more, launching him though the air. Morris rolled pathetically into another slump. He watched Kazuya again, as he approached. "Fight back, boy, or are you giving up?"

"I'm not a boy. I'm a sex machine!" Morris snarled. Kazuya placed his foot onto Morris's head. Asuka stood forward.

"Don't you dare, you motherfucker!" She screamed. Kazuya looked to Morris still.

"You're not even worth the honour of me killing you, boy." Kazuya said. "But unless you surrender I've got no…" Then Morris lost control of himself.

"Wouldn't Kazume be proud?" He replied. Kazuya stopped for a moment. Morris did too. He blinked. What the hell did I just say?

"Pardon?" Kazuya's growl was a rumbling anger. "How do you …"

"How do I know?" Morris finished, pushing himself up and sending Kazuya to the ground. "I'm just clever."

Morris brought his fist into the rising Kazuya, smacking him back down to the ground. He rolled onto his own knee as Kazuya rose. Morris wrapped his arm around his neck and brought his head rocketing into the hard concrete. Kazuya's senses flared into action.

This mere mortal is defeating you, Kazuya? The devil questioned. You're better than him!

Kazuya brought his head forward, sending Morris onto his feet clutching his forehead. Kazuya flipped onto his feet. Time to die, Wellington. He rushed forward, striking as he came forward. Morris was ready, however, and Kazuya's anger was dulling his senses. As such, his strength was repelled easily, and Morris's stubbornness worked to his advantage. His pain all gone, Morris began a fiery assault.

Fight back, Kazuya! The devil screamed as Kazuya was left helpless, hammer blow after hammer blow slowly breaking even Kazuya's spirit to fight on. He's a weakling! A wretch! Kill him NOW! A stomach blow. A jab to the temple. A body shot. A kick to the knee. An elbow to the cheek. Kazuya spat up some blood. KILL! FOR YOUR WORTHLESS SAKE KILL HIM!

Kazuya raised a lazy fist, but he had lost all control on events, and he was in trouble. Morris stood back. Kazuya forced his fist forward, only to have his fist passed between Morris's own, before he was dragged to the ground. Morris's hand smashed against Kazuya's face. Kazuya scowled.

"I know that pin." He murmured. "How do you know my mother?"

"How do you know my uncle?" Morris answered. The two remained silent. Kazuya sighed eventually.

"I guess this is a stalemate." He said. He looked away from Morris. "I hate myself to say it, but there is no point in fighting on. You win for today." Morris let him out of the pin. Kazuya stood up. "Don't think you're safe, Morris Wellington. Even if you win the tournament, I'll find a way to hurt you." He walked away, sulking, suppressing angered screams from Devil within. He stopped to look at Asuka.

"I suppose you taught him that." He said slowly, before walking away. Asuka looked to him and ran to Morris, hugging him harshly.

"It looked bad, Morris." She whispered. Then she raised her eyebrows. "Morris, don't you dare touch my buttocks." Morris raised his hands quickly. They parted as quickly as they came together. "Where to now?" She asked, escorting him to the arena edge and to the cheering crowd.

"Well, I thought that we…" Morris began to say, until something caught his attention. He stopped and stared at it blankly. Asuka looked over.

"Morris, what's wrong?" Suddenly, Morris ran in the opposite direction. She watched him run. "MORRIS!" She shouted, then looking back. Nothing in particular stood out, until she saw a man with a yoyo. His black hair was incredibly short, and he was the only Englishman in the crowd it seemed. He was tall, with a somewhat of a beer belly. His face was darkened by evil, his eyes sadistic and menacing. He wore a thick trench coat and black jeans. His Hawaiian shirt was a glaring feature about him. On his wrist was a small pick and blue band, with the words 'Pro-life' on it. He had a gun stuffed into his trousers, the handle hanging on the belt. But what really caught Asuka's attention was that smile. A greedy, deadly grin. That of a horrifying predator, having spotted prey. His yoyo span dangerously in the air, it moved as if by his thought alone. Asuka stood back slowly and followed Morris.

"Bad people." He said.

"Why?" Asuka couldn't stop herself. She wanted to die right there and then. Why did I ask him that? Why? Morris made no visible change, though his breathing became a lot more controlled.

"Circumstances."