Finale Part 1 – Doomed from the start
Disclaimer: If a chicken was a dollar, would it be a commodity?
Author's Note – So, it's been a year and a half coming and here it is. Exodus of the Mind and Soul is on its last legs. I'm still not sure why the title is what it is. I originally chose Exodus because it sounded cool, but now it's even more confusing with the added words, but I digress.
I usually make this sort of thing when all's said and done, but really, I have to say it while it's in my head.
Thank you.
Thank you to all who've stayed through my work. I often call my own work terrible, but now I feel that it's at the very least somewhat decent and your constant feedback has made that possible. While I could name you individually and write paragraph after paragraph on each one of you, such as Razer Athane, TeaC0sy, SeungSeiRan and too many others to mention, but we'd be here all day, and it'd feel unfair not to mention the ones who go unnamed, whether you review or not, and support my work just by reading it.
Consider this my thanks to you.
From Rob.
Now this is a long two-part chapter, so get a sandwich, sit down and read on, you gorgeous love machines.
Morris's eyes stung from the light as he opened his eyes quickly. He pushed himself off Devil's foot, desperate to catch up to whatever developments in the fight may have occurred. He stood to face Devil, who oddly enough remained motionless. Morris pulled back a fist before smacking it flat into Devil's face. His fist actually went through, completely caving through and out the other side. Morris gasped.
"I'VE JUST PUNCHED YOU THROUGH THE FACE!" He shouted, pulling his fist away. He began to cheer, turning away. "That's what happens, UH!" He flexed his muscles with a smile. "I will SKULLFUCK you with my fist! OOOH!" He turned back, noticing that the Devil still had a face, and that he was still unmoving. "Oh, you want more? How about…" He then looked to Devil's feet, and he saw his own body lying at Devil's feet. Morris gulped, then realised what had happened.
Though the world was already silent, it was only now Morris realised it. Nothing moved, all had the same expression of shock and awe, though what had caused this emotion had long stopped moving. But no, Morris thought. His eyes had stung. He was in pain. Pain. The great reminder of your mortality, of your weakness, and yet also the one thing that tells you that you are alive, and Morris knew that he was, in fact, not dead. Though, then where was he? What was he?
"ARRGGGHHH THIS SUCKS!" He shouted in pain as the rest of the world remained unmoving, oblivious to his fate. He realised the futility of the cry, and dropped silently to his ethereal knees. He looked to his body, itself motionless. However, upon close inspection, Morris saw what looked like glass, though it moved like dust in the air, and had a blackened tint. It was a weak but long rope that led into a wall, though the connection moved gradually to the left. Even Morris, with his fairly slow thought train, immediately knew that whatever this black air led to was the thing that brought him here.
Well, I had better make a start looking for it. Morris's knees bent, but he had difficulty standing. He reached out for the black air like a banister, only to have the scenery abruptly change.
"ARGH!" He shouted angrily, his eyes burning as the sunlight ended its journey through space and sky to his sight. He shielded them, looking to the ground, hand on head, taking note of the rocky ground, and the very sudden and deep drop in front of him. He gulped. "Bloody great drop…"
"SPIKE!"
Morris immediately turned to see... Asuka? No, Morris knew that raven hair belonged to a different Kazama, and he had been warned. "No, I'm…" He began, before suddenly receiving a harsh fist to the cheek. He staggered back, waving his hand once in defiance. However, it met its target, and Jun too fell back. Morris followed this up by slipping his legs towards her, left leg to her right, right leg in-between hers. Grabbing her right wrist with his left, he pressed his palm against her chest like lightning, before tugging with his left wrist, guiding her fall to the ground so she was side-on to him. The rocks cracked beneath her, and she scowled in pain.
"You bastard!" Jun shouted, attempting to move. Morris punched her chest with his open palm, before pushing, keeping her forced on the ground.
"I'm not Spike!" Morris shouted. He waited for her to calm down, then remembered where his hand was. He couldn't resist a smirk, which promptly earned him a harsh slap. He rubbed his red cheek. "Oww…oh shit!" Too late to correct his mistake of letting go, Morris found himself in a complex arm lock. Somehow, he was standing up, though Jun's foot was ready to snap his neck as she hung from his arm.
"… you're Morris, right?" Jun said. When Morris nodded, she let go slowly, giving Morris some breathing space. "His brother. I don't remember seeing you before or since Monday." Morris's expression matched her scowl.
"That's funny." He said. "I saw you just a few hours ago." Jun's eyebrows raised.
"How?" She asked. "I shouldn't be…oh god…" Her expression changed to horror, before looking into the distance behind her. "He can't be, I told him not to…!"
"What?" Morris asked. "What's your problem with Spike? What will he do?" Jun suddenly looked to him, her eyes shining with amazement. Morris looked behind him, then looked back to her, before suddenly being grabbed by the shoulders.
"YOU KNOW!" Jun shouted. "YOU KNEW! THIS WHOLE TIME!" Her brow furrowed in anger, before she slapped him again. "GODAMMIT, YOU COULD'VE STOPPED HIM!"
"Ma'am, I need a few more detail-OWW!" She had slapped Morris again.
"WHY DIDN'T YOU STOP HIM?" Her hits became more frantic, weaker, more desperate, and Morris noticed that she was crying. She pushed her head against his chest. Though Morris was slightly dazed and incredibly confused, he hugged her. The crying face reminded him of Asuka's own face when he was being attacked by Johnny. The two stood together, Morris awkward and nervous as Jun began to pour tears down him. She then forced herself away, looking to him.
"Hello." Morris said, trying to break tension.
"You… you can s-stop him now, though." Jun choked. "H-h-he wouldn't listen to me… but you're his brother. You can stop him." She stood to the side. Morris opened his mouth to ask what he was meant to do, but she was gone, running to a safe distance. Morris looked around. Nobody came.
"God I need a piss." He moaned, before hearing a familiar voice.
"Bloody hell, Heihachi's a fan of mountain walks, in'nt he? Oh, hi Morris." Spike said, puffing and panting. Behind him came his student, her black hair flying behind her as she caught up to him in a brisk and purposeful manner. She was considerably less tired, it seemed, but her appearance seemed like a slap in the face to Morris. How did he not see it before?
"Hey." He murmured, looking to the student. She looked to him. "It's Jun Kazama, right?" She nodded, confirming his fears. Spike looked confused.
"I don't ever remembering telling you her name…" He said.
"Spike, Kazuya'll be here soon." Came Jun's voice. It was much younger and much less frantic than the Jun Morris had just met, and for some reason it sickened him somewhat. He didn't understand the words, though he heard the name 'Kazuya' and remembered that the fact that Kazuya was within a five mile radius was no good thing. Spike nodded.
"I know, I know." He reminded her. "I'll give you your privacy when he comes, I just need to talk to my friend here." He looked back to Morris, gesturing that they move away to maintain some confidentiality. He pulled him away from Jun's earshot. "So, what now?"
"Spike, what's going on here?" He asked. "And no lies this time." Spike seemed confused.
"What lies?"
"You told me not to trust Jinrei, and it turns out that he was right all along about devils. Hannah told me that you were like a father figure to Jun, just after you told me how much you hated her." Spike rolled his eyes.
"Not that Jun." He said simply. Morris didn't say anything. "You seem surprised."
"Spike, the Jun you hate is also from the future." He told him. Spike laughed.
"Nah." He said, laughing. "They're sisters."
"Both with the same first name!"
"I thought it was stupid too, but I didn't pick the name." Spike became smug when he visibly saw Morris get annoyed.
"YOU FUCKING MORON!" Morris punched Spike in anger. "YOU COULDN'T PUT TWO AND TWO TOGETHER? WHAT THE HELL'S WRONG WITH YOU, FUCKTARD?" Spike tried to punch back, but Morris blocked easily. "I've had it with this bullshit! I want to know exactly why you and Jun are here despite being told not to come!"
"You're not my mother, stop telling me what…"
"NOW, SPIKE!"
The silence was still, the wind picking up and chilling through their bones as both Spike and Morris stood completely still, glaring from one to the other without acknowledging the surroundings. Spike finally caved in, sighing irritably.
"If you must know, Jun wants to see her boyfriend Kazuya when he wins the second King of Iron Fist Tournament." He explained. "It's perfectly harmless."
"I've met Kazuya, and you have too. The last thing I'd consider calling him is 'harmless'." Spike laughed.
"Is this the same Kazuya we're talking about?" He said. "Sure, he's weird, but he's a nice enough bloke. Went to the pub with him a few days ago."
"Why?" Morris asked. "He despises you like the plague." Spike raised an eyebrow.
"Really?" He suddenly sounded worried. "Why?" Morris shrugged his shoulders.
"Fuck knows, but…" Then he began to pierce the mystery. Kazuya hated Wellingtons. Hannah said that Spike and Jun were closer friends than any other. Jun hated Spike and Morris. And then…
"Morris, you're zoning out."
"Nightmares…" Morris muttered, his mind thinking before his mouth could move.
Spike… Spike NO! SPIKE! SPIIIIKE!
BOOM!
It wasn't his mother he dreamt of. It was Jun.
"Spike… I think you might shoot Kazuya." He said aloud, without really considering the consequences. He then looked around for a bit. "Aren't there any toilets 'round here? I need to piss urgently…" He turned towards Spike. "So, why are you pointing a gun at my head?" Spike snarled angrily.
"Go." He said, restraining himself strongly. "First you tell me that I kill my own sister, and now this. You've brought me nothing but pain and misery…"
"Don't shoot the messenger, mate."
"… GO!" Spike pushed the revolver into Morris's cheek, who staggered back painfully.
"Spike, I'm on your side, I'm trying to OWWW!" His head juddered as he tripped, smacking onto the ground with the barrel forced into his cheek.
"Why do I kill her?" Spike seethed. "Why do I kill Iona?" The shout scared Morris slightly, to the point where he gave in.
"She told you to!"
"WHY?"
"There were these guys who were…" Morris began to sweat, trying desperately to avoid giving the full, painful answer.
"WHY WERE THEY AFTER HER?"
"She had screwed them over, they were bad people, and…" Morris's heartbeat sounded in his ears, to the point where he couldn't hear anything.
"I SAID, WHY WERE THEY AFTER HER?"
"I was explaining that, but…" Morris tried to buy time to come up with a way to avoid it.
"COME ON, MORRIS, WHY WERE THEY AFTER HER?"
"… she had broken a crime ring and… and they found out that she did it…" Morris stuttered. He was at breaking point.
"WHY DID THEY KNOW IT WAS HER?"
"… I… she… they…" He hadn't told Asuka.
"WHY?"
He hadn't told his mother.
"WHY?"
He refused to admit it to himself.
"WHY, MORRIS, WHY?"
"… they…" Morris almost blurted it out.
"THEY WHAT?"
Morris closed his eyes. He couldn't hear anything anymore.
"WHY DID THEY GO AFTER HER?"
"BECAUSE I TOLD THEM!" Morris screamed. Spike stopped shouting. Morris sat up, pushing the gun barrel away from his cheek. "They tricked me into telling them that she nearly broke up their crime ring."
Spike dropped to the floor, silent, his face in awed despair. Morris seemed flippant, wiping the sweat from his brow, but in fact he was shaken, his heart pumping with the volume of a jackhammer. He sighed, tired and feeling at an all time low. He scowled.
"So, Spike, do you have any other questions or shall we do something about this situation?" He asked bitterly, though Spike didn't seem to hear, just sneering at him. Morris rolled his eyes. "Oh what now? We've got more urgent things to worry about than us two, you're about to shoot your student's boyfriend and here we are discussing something that is long out of control for either of us." Spike kept up the scowl, though, re-readying his gun again. "Why do you even have that with you?"
"You… killed her." Spike spat, pulling the hammer back. Morris stood up, ignoring the danger and observing the scene.
"Didn't you hear the word 'tricked' or did you just get the impression that I didn't mind?" He said distractedly, his eyes focused somewhere else entirely. "By the way, it's 'You will kill her.' It hasn't happened yet." He felt the barrel pushed against his cheek again, the metal cold but about to get a lot hotter. "What will shooting me achieve?" His eyes turned to the shaking Spike, whose arm wobbled this way and that in rage. The two stabbed each other with their glares, before Morris sneered happily. "Are you crying? You pussy, get that gun away from OWWW!" The barrel curled, pulling at Morris's skin.
"YOU!" Spike bit his lip as he searched for the next word in the insult. Morris sighed.
"My mum, your sister, died to keep us two, and the rest of our family, alive." He replied, watching as tears rolled down Spike's cheek. "Killing me will just make her death more pointless than it already is."
"More pointless?" Spike seemed shocked. "It didn't work?" Morris didn't answer, just looking into the distance, his face curling into horror. "Answer me!" Spike shouted. Morris gulped, pointing to directly in front of him.
"He's… killing her…"
Jun, the one from fifteen years later, watched as it all evolved in a flash. Spike turned. Kazuya's hands were wrapping their way around the younger Jun's throat. He had just lost the battle, as both Kazuya and the Devil, and in blind rage, though still in Kazuya's form, the Devil lashed out at who he thought was the most dangerous person there, the one who could potentially destroy him. He hoped to kill her before her powers would wipe him out, and then flee to regain his strength. Jun had planned to keep Spike and the younger Jun away, so she herself could destroy the Devil. That didn't work. She hoped Morris would keep Spike so she could finish the job. That didn't work. Now nothing could be done as hot lead pierced Kazuya's torso. Morris was not seen by the young Jun now, and all she saw was Spike turn, aim and fire, all in an unthinking, angered second.
Fifteen years of work, study and determination all destroyed in a second.
The younger Jun watched Spike in revulsion. She screamed in fear as Spike dropped to his knees. The older Jun watched Morris rub his cheek, the gun barrel having left a pink imprint on his skin. All three cried.
Morris barely seem fazed.
"Serves the fucking creep right." He sniggered, walking over to Kazuya's unconscious, seemingly dead body. "That's for the uppercut, you pointy haired bastard!" He then became very uneasy. He dropped to his knees, spinning and swinging a fist, dissipating the black haze that had begun to envelope him.
"Even then, you just didn't care…" Came Jun's voice. Morris snarled, clenching his fists, and throwing them around him, sending Jun into the arena gratings with an almighty slam.
"Why?" He asked. "What's with sending me back?" Jun coughed slightly. She hadn't aged a moment in six years. Her hair was just as black, her eyes just as brown, her face still a beautiful purity, but Morris saw straight through her. A wolf, its fur a near black shade of purple and its hind legs gone, circled the scene, smiling through its drooling maw. Jun looked to him and sneered.
"An unfortunate accident, a connection between us forcing you into my past, though it matters not." She said. "Morris Wellington, it's time for you to face your punishment." Morris stepped back slightly.
"My… what?" He asked her. "What do you want from me?"
"Morris," Jun began. "- I need to destroy the Devil once and for all. No one else can do it. Not even Asuka has the power necessary to do so."
"I was doing all right." Morris said. Jun didn't answer, as Morris remembered just how well he did. "Point taken, though what do you need me for?"
"It could've been anybody, Morris." Jun said. "I need to go back to the world of the living. That's what this wolf, Unknown, did for me." She gestured to the snarling beast, who bowed, tormenting Morris. "It offered to give me a way back in exchange for a temporary host."
"And you thought this was a good idea?" Morris pointed to the beast. "It's a fucking wolf! Do wolves ever keep promises?" The wolf sneered, and Jun imitated the expression.
"I am a man… forgive my mistake, I'm a beast of my word." Unknown said, the voice distant and alien and yet very clear and familiar, as if speaking in Morris's head. "I promised to help Jun achieve any and all her goals." Jun nodded, before looking to Morris, who was stunned.
"Yeah, and when you pull the other leg, it sings." Morris looked to Jun. "What planet are you on, it's just going to blow the world up or something!" Jun scowled.
"That is none of your concern." Jun said. Morris nodded.
"It kind of is. I live in the world!" He shouted. The wolf suddenly let out a hideous bark of laughter, that froze Morris, the noise racing up and down his spine again.
"Not any more." The wolf said. "The world needs to be in balance. For one to live, another must die."
Morris didn't reply.
"Unknown's right." Jun said, walking over to his body, passing Morris himself. "It's one at my hands or the entire world at Devil's hands." She turned to Morris, who looked to her, shaking in fear. "Would you rather Asuka, Xiaoyu, Hannah, Jinrei and anyone else you've cared about dies?" She didn't get an answer, just Morris's scowl as he clenched his fists. "I thought you might protest, murderer."
"I'm not a murderer." Morris spat. "Why does everyone think I'm a bad guy?"
"They have a point." Jun said. "In fact, seeing as you don't want to die, I'll spare you." As she said this, she formed symbols on the forehead of Morris's body. "I'll just show you what everybody means."
"Oh, go sit on a knife, you stupid old…" Morris stopped mid-ramble, looking to the new scene. The rain rattled throughout the cold alleyway, smacking hard on the snow that was on the ground. The brown sky and the heavy chill pricked at Morris's survival instincts, and he ran underneath the nearest shelter, an overhanging terrace above him. He sighed. "God I need a piss." He looked to make sure nobody was looking. Irritatingly for him, there was. A young boy, blonde messy hair, thin as a stick, running for all his might. Morris rolled his eyes, before sitting down on the driest patch he could find. It was still wet, and he sat grumpily. He looked to the sky hoping Jun would hear his cry. "YOU COULD'VE AT LEAST CHOSEN A BETTER CLIMATE, YOU STUPID BITCH!"
"Oh bollocks!" The boy's voice came as he fell on the snow. He slid forward a little. Morris couldn't help it, and burst into fits of laughter. The boy's eyes held a different emotion; fear. He looked forward, his hand scrambling for a grip. Then his hands fell upon a pipe, the cold lead freezing his fingertips on impact. He looked to it, then smirked. And then Morris saw a flicked of ginger hair, and looked to the way the boy came.
"Oh god." He murmured, piecing the puzzle together. The boy stood up, the woman came closer. Morris shook hardening his resolve. "No, it's an accident." And just to prove him wrong, the boy threw, not held onto, the pipe, and the woman didn't run into it, but it pierced into her, driving through her stomach in a shower of gore. Morris gasped. He gulped.
"No, this isn't how it happened." The boy walked over to the staggered woman, who dropped the knife that was in her hand. He grasped the pipe and pulled it away, causing her to stagger back.
"She tries to kill me again."
She didn't. The woman just gurgled and fell to her knees. The boy scowled, twisting his hands around the pipe. Morris shook his head, closed his eyes and clasped his hands around his ears.
"THIS ISN'T HOW IT HAPPENED!"
It took one strike, with a muffled crack, and the snow became red with scarlet. The boy took the pipe with him, but Morris didn't see. He refused to open his eyes for a few minutes. He opened his eyes finally, and dropped his hands. He began to crawl over to the corpse. He looked. It was a hideous sight, and Morris felt like he needed to vomit. He buried his head in the snow, his eyes stinging as they remained open. Tears ran from them as Morris screamed;
"OH GOD NO!" The scream rang in the alley.
"I'M A MURDERER!"
"I KILLED HER!"
"I KILLED MUM!"
"I KILLED THOSE PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN THOSE FLATS!"
"I'M…"
Morris didn't find the words, just remained curled, the hicks that accompanied his tears ringing with a muffled echo. His world ground to a halt. Now he felt truly broken. He felt black. He felt cold. He wanted to die. He couldn't catch his breath.
"PLEASE!" He yelled until his throat ached. "NO MORE! YOU'VE DONE ENOUGH! ITS TOO LATE TO TEACH ME ANYTHING! I GET IT… I'M A MURDERER… IS THAT ENOUGH FOR YOU? IS THAT… WHAT YOU WANT ME TO SAY? I'VE SAID IT NOW! I UNDERSTAND NOW! I WISH I… I WISH I DIDN'T! JUST… ENOUGH! TRICK YOURSELF INTO THINKING I'M DEAD! OR KILL ME! OR JUST IGNORE ALL MY PLEAS BESIDES THIS ONE AND LEAVE ME BE! JUST LEAVE ME ALONE FOREVER! NEVER BOTHER ME AGAIN!"
His breathing stopped.
His thoughts stopped.
He couldn't hear the 'trunkch' of feet crushing snow.
Though he did feel the slap.
"Oh, snap out of it, you great big pussy." Morris rubbed his cheeks.
"The fuck's wrong with you bitch?" He didn't look, opting to punch first, swinging his fist in the direction of the voice. However, he couldn't land it. He didn't know quite what had happened, but he was on the floor, his legs crossed and a hand on his chest. He winced in pain.
"Come on, Morris. You couldn't land a punch on me if I wasn't even looking." Morris recognised the voice, opened his eyes, and choked on his own breath.
"Mum…" He muttered. Iona Wellington smirked.
"Come on, stop gawking like an idiot." She said. "You know how brilliant I look, nearing forty or not. You inherited all your appearance from me and yet you somehow manage to look pug ugly; I'll blame that on your father." She wasn't lying about the inheritance. The spiky blonde hair, the thin limbs, the blue eyes; even the bizarre fingers, all belonged to Iona. She was annoyed that Hannah picked up very little from her, though she was always more of a Reinhart than a Wellington. She wore an amalgam of second hand clothes, much in the style of Morris. A trench coat without buttons, flowing away to reveal a waistcoat-tie-shirt combo, all different shades of blue. Her jeans had a lot of rips and patches stitched onto them. She looked to Morris with warmth eyes, Morris shaking slightly.
"How are you here?" He asked. Iona shrugged.
"Buggered if I know. Magic?" She said. Her smile was as warm as her eyes, though the family smirk slid easily into place. "So, I think we've got to talk, don't we? Morris looked back in shock, before bowing his head.
"Mum… I'm sorry." He muttered. Iona sighed. "I killed you. I killed all those people in my block of flats. I killed the person who attacked me. I nearly got Asuka…"
"Stop." She interrupted. "That isn't my son talking, that's whatever sent you here wants you to say." She let Morris go, pulling him to his feet.
"But it's all my fault." He said. "What happening right now. I've done all these horrible things and now it's all caught up to me."
"What, and you're just going to roll over?" Iona laughed. "Bad news, Morris, but that's not the Wellington way." She plunged her hand into her jacket pocket, pulling a bottle of cider out of the pocket. She tugged at the cork with her teeth, and, having removed said cork, took a swig of the orange alcohol. "We punch everyone we don't sleep with and take their ego down a notch while we're at it." She looked back to Morris. "You want to live, right? I bet a squeeze of yours is on the other side."
"But… I don't deserve her. I don't deserve to even live." He looked to his feet guiltily. Iona rolled her eyes, and slapped him again. "OWW!"
"So what?" She said. "Earn the right to live. Earn her back. Killing someone's bad, though I can name you something that's worse."
"… what?" Morris suggested. Iona frowned.
"Avoiding your responsibilities that it leaves." She said. "It's not doing anything about it. So yes, you arguably killed me, and even that's just Spike being his usual pussy reactionary self..."
"You just love that word, don't you?" Morris said. "Pussy. Anyone would think you're a lesbian."
"Morris, interrupt me again and I'll fucking glass you." Iona said through smiling lips. "So, as I said, if you 'killed' me, then the least you could do would be to make that worthwhile. You might feel like you're getting what you deserved, but really you're still running." She took another swig of cider. "I didn't raise a coward, Morris."
"I'm not a coward!" Morris shouted. Iona scowled.
"You could've fooled me. You do something bad, it isn't somebody else's responsibility to punish you for it. It's your responsibility to put it right. You get it?"
"…"
"Morris, do you get it?" Iona asked again, but then she was slammed. Her face suddenly turned to shock as Morris hugged her. She was a little taller than him, and she smiled without a smirk now, returning the hug. The two stood still for a few seconds.
"Thanks, mum." Morris finally said. "I needed that."
"It's what I'm here for." She said. "Though I still need you to tell me something." She pulled away, Morris standing back to. "Who are you?" Morris raised an eyebrow. "You fucking deaf? Answer the question."
"I'm Morris Wellington?" He said. He got a slap. "What's with the slapping?"
"That is also what I'm here for!" Iona jeered. "Slapping, swearing and drinking. Best!" She slapped him again. "Damn!" Another slap. "Existence!" And another. "EVER!" Morris's cheek was now red, so she stopped, laughing as she watched him rub his cheek. "So, answer the question!"
"I'm… British?"
"Pathetic guess."
"Your son?"
"Try again, Morris, you know the answer!"
"I'm a martial artist! I'm God's gift to women! I'm… I'm… I'm drunk!"
"Come on, Morris, just say it!"
"I'm…"
Devil sneered at Morris's dead body, lifting it off his foot and casually casting it aside, like a child with a ragdoll. The world stood still as the audience became silent for a moment, before beginning the panicked screaming again. Xiaoyu remained on her back, breathing heavily. Morris just… saved her. But he hated her. She hated him. She was only minutes ago battering him with her fists. Weeks ago, he had humiliated her with cold dispassion, and kept doing so throughout the tournament. He was everything she hated in the world.
'What changed?' She thought, rolling onto her stomach to prepare to get off the floor, but Devil was already within kicking distance to her. He put his foot on her head, pushing as hard as he could.
"Humans. I will never understand you cretins." He drawled. "Ready to die for hopeless causes and pointless endeavours. Still, I do not need to understand you to rule you." He then looked away, his nose twitching. "Why do I smell burning?" He turned, and saw Morris's body. Or rather, what was Morris's body. Now was a glowing ball of flame suspended in midair, about the size of a man in the foetal position, one half white and one black. It crackled and fizzled with great ferocity, and though the size did not change, the heat emitted from it was burning Devil's skin more and more. He looked around the arena. "What is this?" He murmured to himself, looking for a possible culprit. Asuka? The Kazama girl, shaking with a combination of despair and rage? No, she looked as shocked at the flame as he was. Kazuya? Was there untapped power within him? No, Devil knew exactly what he could do, even with his own Devil part. Heihachi? Some unknown trick devised just to catch him? No, it was not possible.
"Jin, you know who I am." Came a calm, sweet and familiar voice. Too familiar. For a fleeting second, the Devil Gene lost control, and Jin screamed for his mother, before reverting back instantly.
"You're… urgh!" Suddenly, Devil felt sick, the flames were now roasting him alive. "You're supposed to be dead!" The flame became grey for one second, and then smoke completely enveloped the arena, the brown mist obscuring everything. The fumes leapt into people's eyes, nose and mouth, hoping to obscure the scene with extremely high success. Everybody was coughing besides Asuka, who had worked out who was causing this.
"Jun." She muttered, before looking for a way into the caged fighting ground. She threw herself past the distracted guards, away from Jinrei, and curled her fingers around the gratings. The fog began to clear, and Jun stepped forward.
She seemed to have visibly become younger, her hair about the same length as Asuka's (if a little straighter) and her skin quite soft, or at least the parts that were not covered by the purple slop that worked its way up her feet to her bust incredibly rapidly, though her back remained uncovered, as if something was connected to her from behind. As more of the cloaking fog passed, a looming figure that was bright and radiant became visible. A great wolf, black as night and larger than any man, imitated her movement, her expression, even her reactionary twitches with more than expert precision. Her eyes glowed a pure and fierce gold, as if made of said metal. Her expression carried a great deal of weight, less anger and more of a determined resolve.
"I will destroy the Devil Gene!" She shouted, a thousand voices ringing through her throat as she spoke. "Forever!" Devil scowled.
"What is this trickery?" He shouted. "You can not be real!"
"I am." Jun calmly stated. "I have even got a friend to help me defeat you." She looked to Jinrei, and bowed politely. "Master, it is good to see you."
"You dare ignore me!" Devil shouted, unleashing a laser blast. However, Jun deflected with not even ease, but a complete lack of effort, a simple wave of the hand. She remained looking to Jinrei, as if assuring him all was well, that this danger would pass, that the deal with this Unknown beast was necessary, and that…
… that…
Jun's gaze dropped to her feet. A light liquid was circling around her, catching her feet and dribbling away. She bent down to her knees, prodding at the stream, before bringing her fingers to her nose. Whiskey. She turned to the last of the fog. She suddenly got a tremendous fear, as if she wasn't the only one to arrive here. Impossible. She thought as the silhouette took form, a cape flowing some distance behind him, his hand outstretched, and the flask pouring the contents onto the floor. Blonde hair blew in the dead wind as blue eyes glared at her. She snarled. "You…"
"Yeah." Came the British accent that brought a full and dangerous anger into the arena as Morris stepped through the fog, his eyes burning as he steadied himself. "Me." His glare was not one of ice but of ferocious anger. His breathing was slow and controlled. He slid his right foot behind him, bending his knees. Jun rolled her eyes, the wolf looking straight into Morris's eyes with a grin on its bestial face.
"Really?" She spat. "You came here to defeat Jin, and now I'm about to do so, you're going to fight me?" Morris didn't answer besides raising his fists. Jun snarled, before the wolf leant towards her.
"It would be best to defend yourself against him. Destroying the Devil Gene will be a delicate process, any interruptions could…"
"Shut your fucking mouth!" Morris shouted suddenly, slamming his left foot forward and dragging the rest of his body closer. Jun finally turned to Morris, glaring at him.
"I see that nothing will change your mind." She said, taking up her own fighting stance. "Do you think that this will change anything? Do you seriously think that what you're doing is right?" Morris took another step forward, his knuckles cracked as he shifted them slightly. "You don't deserve any of what little you have. You're a liar. A cheat. A murderer."
"Change the record." Morris snarled, taking another step. Every step closer, his eyes burning with danger in the pupils. Jun kept up an icy glare, keeping back the scorch of Morris's angry growls with a cold seething.
"You know I'm right, Morris." She reminded him. "You've caused the deaths of many people, by your hands and the hands of others." Morris kept coming closer though, slowly and carefully. Jun rolled her eyes. "Why are you here if you know all this? Who are you to interfere? Who do you think you are?" Morris smirked suddenly, his anger mellowing somewhat. He noticed very clearly that more she spoke, the thicker the blackness around her got. The thicker the smoggy goo around her body became. He knew that she wasn't in full control, and all he had to do was make her see it.
"I know the difference between running and fighting." He said, an arms-length away from Jun. Her knuckles snapped as she clenched her fists in rage. "If I let my problems wallow over me, if I let them control me, I'd still be running." She raised her own fists, the gunk swelling and pulsating. "Running from everything I've been looking for. Running from what I need." Jun's teeth ground together. "I'll give you once chance to stop running, then I'll crush you." Jun swung her arm, hoping to smack Morris away. The punch rattled his forearm, but the block worked. He then pulled the arm into a trap, before shoulder-barging Jun away, sending her to the floor. She rolled onto the feet immediately.
"You fool!" Jun shouted. "Why are you doing this?"
"Because I'm a fighter." Morris smiled slightly, his fingers twisting in the air together in anticipation. "It's what I do, bitch."
Jun lunged desperately, hoping to send him scrambling back, but the attack was unfocused, and Morris easily swung away, punching her as he did. Unknown vanished in a puff of smoke. Jun became angrier and angrier as Morris kept moving backwards, peppering her with light jabs he moved back. He waited until he felt his heel touch a metal fence, now in a corner of the cage. Pushing himself away with said heel, his shoulder pounded into Jun's cheek, forcing her away as he rolled to a crouch, now becoming far more aggressive and sending much slower, much more dangerous punches and kicks, before sweeping at her leg, tripping her, and slamming his palm against her stomach. She rattled on the floor.
"Idiot…" She moaned, looking straight to him. "I've got a connection to you… I KNOW YOUR EVERY MOVE!" With this, she pushed herself along the floor, past Morris, lurching forward onto her feet. She pushed off the ground as Morris kicked for her, jumping above him and landing to his front. She wrapped her two hands together and smacked him on the chin as she rose, throwing him away. He squirmed away.
"That all you got?" He asked, before jumping to his feet. "Well, maybe I've learnt something from you!" He suddenly spun on his left foot, kicking her shin with his right, and he kept spinning, elbowing her in the face, then sending a shattering punch to her belly, followed by a last kick to push her away. He smirked as she landed with a slam. "Who's a god? I'm a god!" Then he heard footsteps behind him. "I forgot about you…" He turned away just in time, dodging Devil's hammer blow. However, a misplaced leg tripped Morris up, and Devil clasped his throat.
"A nice reunion for everybody, but I've think we've all forgotten that I CAN TAKE EVERY SINGLE LAST CRETIN ON THIS PATHETIC WORLD DOWN!" He flung Morris into the railings, slowly stamping towards him. "Starting with you, then Jun, then Xiaoyu, then who knows? It doesn't matter what order, YOU'LL ALL DIE AT MY ARGH!" He felt Morris's foot contact his stomach, who twisted it quickly, throwing Devil away. Morris pulled himself up.
"You talk too much." He said. "Coming from me, that means something's wrong with you." He suddenly fell to the ground, though it was deliberate, avoiding Devil's counter. He rolled away, throwing his leg out and sending Devil stumbling onto the floor. "You can fly, tripping shouldn't be a problem for you." He got to his feet, looking to Jun, hoping that she wasn't preparing to spring onto him. He couldn't see her. He whirled around, but it was too late. A hand forced itself into the back of Morris's head, clenching at a clump of hair, another looping around his crown and grabbing his fringe.
"Wisecrack your way out of this!" Jun shouted, dragging his head back but pushing his neck out. She dropped to the floor, forcing Morris's head to collide with the step plate. He felt a wave of nausea from the strike, before desperately scrambling to get away. She kept his head down, and every dint in the floor rattled across his forehead, grazing and scratching as he weaved. He placed his feet on the flat of their heels and dragged back in the hope of throwing Jun away. He became desperate when it didn't work. It was as if Jun had superhuman strength. You couldn't hold a person down by their neck alone, surely?
"GET OFF!" He rolled onto his back, causing Jun to falter with her hands, hoping not to get them trapped. Morris kicked out, batting her away, but she came back in full force, slamming his stomach with an almighty fist. Morris spluttered, his ribs rattling, but he didn't let it stop him, head-butting her once and twice in rapid succession. His bloody forehead was moaning under the pressure, but now he had bought some breathing space…
"Hi." Came Devil's voice. Morris looked up, a small dribble of blood running down from his forehead to his cheek and chin.
"Oh come on!" He moaned, before being plucked up with one claw. Devil readied his other claw, looking to Morris, wondering where to cut, like a butcher with a dead pig. Then he winced, and dropped Morris. Morris fell to the floor, watching as Devil fell to his hands and knees, retching and gasping, smoke rising from his back. Morris looked to behind Devil, and saw Asuka in her battle stance, with the same aura that had circled her at the hospital. "You took your sweet time to get involved, didn't you?"
"Blame those armed guards pushing everyone back." She told him, then observed the scene quickly. Devil was still in pain, but he was getting to his feet. Jun was readying herself for another assault. Asuka frowned. "Which one do you want?"
"You're the one after Jin." Morris answered. "It's only fair that you go for him." He extended his arm, which Asuka used to pull him up. He then very suddenly turned, backhanding Jun away, her cheek shuddering. She stumbled back, with Morris keeping up a quick flurry of jabs that stopped Jun countering. Morris guessed that with Jun's superior strength and speed, the best tactic would be to put her on the hop and keep her from attacking.
THUMP
Morris was sent onto the floor in pain. So much for that. He scrambled along as Jun leapt forward to attack him while he was down. He concentrated on blocking, Jun's many punches being forced away while Morris backed off, trying to get up simultaneously. He balanced on his feet, and then he rose to a crouch, then to standing position, before landing one strong kick. Jun was forced away, which Morris advanced on with determined aggression. He grabbed her head and slammed his knee into her. However, she still wasn't falling over. Anybody else would be too tired to stand after that, and Jun barely had a scratch on her face. She once again punched him, and Morris fell back in shock.
"SWAP!" He shouted, and rolled away as Asuka leapt over him, kicked Jun in midair landed on Jun's foot and punched her in the chest, forcing Jun to fall over. She didn't let Jun get back into shape, going down to a grappling position. She clamped Jun in a headlock, and whirled her body to Jun's left. Jun pushed with her legs, moving towards Asuka, disconnecting the pin.
"Damn!" Asuka moaned, spinning very quickly. Jun charged at her, but Asuka instead fell onto her back, dragging Jun on top of her. Wrapping her legs around Jun's waist, Asuka then proceeded to punch at Jun's face, once twice thrice over and over. Jun tried to get out of the pin, but Asuka kept a firm grip. Then Jun slammed her two hands onto Asuka's chest, winding her and releasing the lock. She stood up quickly, before kicking Asuka away.
"Hey, what are you…" Came Morris's voice as Asuka collided with both him and Devil, tripping them both up. In a great bundle, they slid together clumsily.
"You want to swap, I'm guessing." Morris asked, Devil's foot in his face.. Asuka nodded, before throwing her legs up and slamming them back down on Devil's back. Devil barked in fury, accidentally letting Morris go, before screaming again as Asuka kept up an assault on his back, slamming a double fist onto the lower spine. She got up quickly, backing away.
"ARGH!" Devil shouted, getting up as well as Asuka caught her breath. "You'll pay for that, Kazama wretch!" He leapt dangerously, but Asuka already knew what to do. She willed desperately for a flame to arise to her hand, and just as Devil shoulder barged her, she summoned a fireball around her fist, which she forced into Devil's face. She grabbed hold of his cheek, burning away as Devil screamed in agony. However, in advancing, she suddenly slipped, and Devil pulled her up in a vice grip around his neck.
"Urgh." Asuka groaned as the claws wrapped around her neck, crushing her windpipe. "Swap…" She could barely get the sound out, but almost immediately she was given relief as Morris elbowed Devil in the side of the head. The two spun away, Devil in a defensive stance as Morris charged forward.
"I will fucking PLUCK you!" He shouted, suddenly rolled to the side of Devil's clawed strike. He then grabbed hold of Devil's wing, a fistful of feathers, and pulled desperately, the black feathers coming away with difficulty. Just as Morris planned.
"ARRRRRRGH!" Devil yelped, before feeling the same tremendous pain again and again as Morris weaved this way and that. He then grabbed onto Devil's two horns, and pushed them into the metal floor. They wedged themselves in, and Devil screamed in hate. "YOU BASTARD! YOU'VE DEFILED MY FORM!" He was then treated to a clump of feathers being thrown into his face, Morris laughing.
"Aww, what's the matter?" He cooed, pushing Devil's head harder into the ground. "Boo hoo, can't keep your temper?"
"I WILL KILL YOU FOR THIS!"
"No, you won't." Morris laughed, looking over to Asuka. "How're things at your end?" He saw Jun and Asuka scrambling on the floor, clawing at each other desperately. "Oooh, catfight. This is hot."
"MORRIS, STOP GETTING TURNED ON AND COME HELP ME!" Asuka screamed, pushing Jun away from her with her foot. Morris shook himself.
"Right, yeah, that…" He said, running over to Jun and tackling her easily. The two rolled in one great ball for a moment. When the movement stopped, Morris got straight to the mount and started to land punch after punch onto her. However, he slowly stopped when he heard laughter. He watched in horror as Jun's face curled into greater amounts of mirth as her roaring laughter chilled him to the bone.
"Well," Came a voice in Morris's head, though Jun's lips were moving. "- this has been a most amusing duel of wills, but now it grows somewhat tiresome." Then Jun pushed Morris with such force he actually flew through the air, before slamming back down to the floor. Jun stood up rather casually, and Unknown appeared once again, circling her slightly. The two bowed in respect. "Good day to you, Wellington." With that, Jun turned around towards Devil…