Chapter 10

"Check out this spread!" Xiaoyu's eyes opened up as large as the dinner plate she was piling food on.

Julia had to admit it was impressive. As with the fighters, it seemed that nearly every ethnic group was represented at the dinner table. While she stuck with familiar vegetarian dishes, she noticed that Xiaoyu floated from platter to platter as a honey bee to flowers in a garden. Xiaoyu seemed unafraid to sample anything. Xiaoyu didn't waste any words, and as soon as they sat down she began to attack to plate of food with gusto.

"It tastes so good," Xiaoyu said. "But I really should watch myself. If I eat too much I might end up in a higher weight division."

"I doubt this tournament has weight class divisions," Julia replied. "It's possible we may have to fight anyone in this room." Her eyes fell on what looked like a elephantine robot. Its eyes were a deep glowing red like windows to a furnace. It sat immovable, impassive, and as still as if it had been carved from raw ore. "You know, it's even possible we would have to fight each other."

Xiaoyu paused in her eating for a moment, the rice noodle dangling limply from her mouth. She blinked twice and then shrugged. "Doesn't mean we still can't be friends."

'So much like a child,' Julia thought. 'She must have lived a pampered life. What is she doing here?'

Before Julia could pursue the thought further, a resounding gong echoed throughout the dining hall. All eyes turned toward the finely lacquered cherry wood doors which seemed to opened upon their full attention. Two men strode through the double doors. The older one looked like the devil with his twin tufts rising just behind each ear. His eyebrows were so thick and knitted together that it appeared as a single line. He must have been at least in his late fifties, for his hair had grayed to a dull silver and his face was furrowed from the erosion of time. Yet he was thickly built and there was little doubt that he had been a formidable contestant of past tournaments.

The younger man held the same icy, almost arrogant, glare of the older man. The eyebrows gave them away as relatives, probably grandson and grandfather. His hair, black as a coal-miner's dream, had a widow's peak and swept back from his forehead except for two bangs which framed his eyes. He was equally physically impressive.

"That's Jin and his grandfather, Heihachi," Xiaoyu whispered to Julia. "I go to school with him - Jin, that is, not Heihachi. That would be freaky."

"He doesn't look very happy," Julia replied.

"He never does. I talk at him every day. I say at because he hardly ever responds to anything."

Heihachi's voice boomed in the spacious dining hall. "Welcome. It is an honor to host such an illustrious tournament with contestants of your caliber. You represent the best of your countries, the best of your styles, and the best in the world. The winner of the Iron Fist tournament will truly deserve the title of the greatest fighter in the world.

"However, there are some rules which must be abided by. First, is fighting must take place only in designated areas and against scheduled opponents. I know that many of you have old scores to settle." He paused and glanced at a blond and brunette who eyed each other from across the room. "As an accommodation for this, I give you the right to challenge any opponent to a match and the choice for a public or private match. To refuse such a challenge is an automatic forfeit. Second, fights will last until one or both of the contestants are unable to continue. This may include severe injury or death, but I will not tolerate anybody striking an unconscious opponent. Should a fight end in a knockout, the fight is immediately over.

"Lastly, all contestants must stay until the conclusion of the tournament. I shall not have any one making excuses that they were cheated from the title because they prematurely thought the tournament was over."

At this, a Caucasian with blond hair in the shape of a chimney pulled the chicken drumstick from his mouth, neatly stripping the meat from the bone. Speaking around the chicken, he pointed the drumstick at Heihachi. "Hey, I won the last tournament. You do those secret bonus rounds on your own time. I'm taking the title that's rightfully mine."

"Paul Phoenix," Heihachi said, smiling. "One would think I wouldn't be able to miss you in that red gi, but there are so many new guests tonight. You'll have to prove you're the best fighter here."

"Still the best fighter," Paul corrected. "I already proved it last time. I'm just here to prove it again."

Heihachi smirked but didn't verbally contradict Paul. "I know this tournament shall be interesting. There's an energy in this room I have not felt for years. Save this energy. Harness it. You'll need it in the coming days. The tournament will start tomorrow at daybreak. Jin."

Jin stepped forward. "The first match will be on the beach. The area has already been marked off with stones. It is a public challenge match between Anna Williams and Nina Williams."

The blond woman on one end of the room began slapping her right fist into her left palm. The brunette across from her winked and blew a kiss at her.

"The second match will be in the training hall. Ling Xiaoyu and Gun Jack." The massive robot literally pistoned its arm into the air. Julia saw Xiaoyu's jaw drop for a moment before she bounded to her feet with alacrity, giving a big smile to the crowd and a playful salute toward Jin.

"The last match for tomorrow will be Hwoarang Choi and Cholan Lee in the main hall. You may chose to attend all, some, or none of the matches. After dinner, you are free to roam the area and acclimate yourself to the environment. My grandfather has given me permission to speak in his place should he be unavailable. Please speak to either of us should you have any questions, concerns, or special needs. Enjoy the rest of your dinner."

Julia swallowed the food she hadn't realized she'd been holding in her mouth since she first saw Heihachi. Her jaw ached from clenching her teeth for so long at his affectation.

'Go on,' she thought. 'Play your role of honored host pleasantly surprised at the response to your tournament.'

There was little doubt in her mind that Heihachi had seized something of importance from each of the fighters here to ensure their attendance. However, Heihachi was right was right about one thing. This would be an interesting tournament and the fighters were all world-class, but they could have their glory and money. All she wanted was her mother back. Once she found Michelle, they could start working out a way to bring down the Mishima Financial Corporation so he'd never be able to pursue them again.

She needed more information though. Jin looked and sounded as cold as his grandfather, but there may still be a way to reach him. Perhaps, if she needed to, she could talk to Jin and get the information she needed. She filed the thought away. It'd be best not to show her hand too quickly. She couldn't afford to trust the wrong people. Michelle had to be somewhere in the compound. It would only be a matter of time before Julia found her.