Chapter 10: A New Beginning

Kazuya didn't know what to make of Jinpachi. He only vaguely remembered him; otherwise he was a complete stranger. The only thing he knew for certain was that Jinpachi was genuinely glad that he was alive. It had been a long trip to his mansion; so when he first go there, Jinpachi had simply let Kazuya rest for as long as he wanted. When Kazuya finally awoke from his extraordinarily long rest, Jinpachi invited him to dinner—it was quite late in the day.

It was a silent dinner at first. Kazuya was hungry enough, but he really had nothing to say to Jinpachi. It wasn't until Jinpachi broke the silence that there was any sort of conversation.

"So, how are you feeling?" Jinpachi asked.

"I'm fine," Kazuya said between mouthfuls.

"No," Jinpachi said slowly, "I mean, how do you feel? You've been through a lot for someone so young."

Kazuya didn't answer immediately as he continued on his food—which he seemed pretty fond of. "I'm alive, aren't I?" Kazuya finally said.

"Are you?"

"What are you going on about?" Kazuya asked with a confused look.

"When you first came here a few days ago, you looked completely defeated—as if whatever it was you were trying to do was a lost cause."

"Well aren't you really nosy," Kazuya said backing his chair up from the table and standing up—he had emptied his plate. "I'm finished here."

"I don't mean to pry, but since you're trying so hard to be distant, I thought it was only natural, don't you think?"

"No. Obviously, I don't want to talk."

"Before you storm off to your room—I have some things to tell you. Please sit."

With a frown, he sat back down at the seat—Jinpachi had just fed him; he at least owed him this much.

"I'd like to go over a few rules."

"Hmph, rules."

"You've probably had more than your share of rules in the past, but I'm sure you understand that they are simply a part of life. That being said, these are more like guidelines. I'm not going to punish you if you decide to ignore them, nothing bad will happen—

"Then how can you call them rules?"

"When you're here, that's how it will be."

"Right. I guess I'll see if it's the truth in the future, won't I?"

"These are the rules: We must eat dinner together at this time during the weekdays. You must go to bed before midnight. And, since you will be going to school, you also must do your homework every night."

"I don't want to go to school."

"Now Kazuya, you have to at least educate yourself."

"No, that's not what I mean. It's just…I don't think I can handle being around so many other kids. If one of your rules is going to school, I can tell you now that I won't do it."

"That's no problem. I think I understand. How do you feel about being homeschooled?" Jinpachi asked. Seeing the other's questioning expression, he explained further, "Homeschooling is when it will only be you and a tutor—your teacher. You'll still get the benefit of education, but without the added pressure of other students."

"I'll do it."

"I'll have to find a suitable tutor, but it can be done."

"Since we're on this subject of what's gonna' happen next, I have something to ask of you?"

"And what's that?"

"Train me."

Jinpachi looked away when Kazuya said this, "You don't have to do that anymore. I know your father forced you day after day to do something you really had no interest in. I don't intend to continue in that tradition. Just because you're a Mishima doesn't mean you're obligated to do that sort of thing—in fact, perhaps it's better that you don't."

"This has nothing to do with some leftover commitment to my father's wishes—I want to train, it is something that I must do. You look pretty strong—I'm sure you must have trained my father when he was younger; I want you to do the same for me."

"The look in your eyes…You really do want to do this. You have some type of goal?"

"Yes," Kazuya responded, but he did not elaborate and Jinpachi asked no further.

"I'll think about it," Jinpachi said finally.

"Grandfather, I—

"Education comes first. When I see that you're doing well in that area, then I will train you."

"Deal."

"Is that all that you wanted? Maybe you might want to try your hand at some other skills?"

"No."

"Alright, well, that's all I wanted to speak with you about. Regretfully, I'll be hard to reach most days—Tekken Zaibatsu is just now budding into greatness and I have to make sure things are moving smoothly. That is why dinner is so important; it will be perhaps the only time we'll have to talk or at least see each other."

"If most of your time is spent doing that…"

"Don't worry, if you hold your side of the deal, I'll hold mine. I won't have much to teach you. In the end, the only person who can improve your technique is yourself."

"So I'll be basically doing it on my own."

"Not entirely. I'll still check on you when I can to monitor your progress and give you direction on what you need to improve on. That is really all that you need."

"Alright."

"You have a good night. I have an early start tomorrow," Jinpachi said standing up now.

When Jinpachi stood, Kazuya was reminded of how small he was. Not only was Jinpachi tall, he was also very muscular even more so than his father. In fact, Jinpachi's stature was far more intimidating than that of his father, but Kazuya was far more at ease with Jinpachi. His grandfather wasn't against smiling. He gave Kazuya a brief one before he went up to his room. Kazuya watched his giant of a grandfather leave in silent awe. He had the same genes as him and his father—wasn't he then destined be as powerful and accomplished as they? Only time would tell.

/

When he climbed into his bed that night, he couldn't fall immediately asleep. This was probably because he had already slept for three days straight and was no longer tired. The bed that he laid on was more than anything he had ever expected to experience. The mansion that he now called his home was bigger than he had ever imagined living in. His grandfather was far nicer than he had expected. Could he step out on a limb and say that this was good fortune? Even as he still held hatred towards his father, this was first time in a while that he could relax. It was the first time he could truly see his future.

"Devil?" Kazuya asked to the darkness around him.

"Yes?" Devil spoke wearily as if he were tired.

Kazuya was a little surprised despite himself to hear the same sinister voice from before. Again he had been strangely silent ever since the day Mr. Hiroshi had found him.

"What happened to you?"

"You act as if you really don't know."

"I don't."

"You don't remember what you did to me back there," Devil said in a frustrated voice, "All of that…and you have simply forgotten?"

"You're speaking in riddles."

"I don't especially like to recount such events in which I was made powerless."

"Just tell me."

"It was a fluke," Devil said as if it was the most ridiculous conclusion he could come to. "I had full control. For a fleeting second, I felt that I had fully controlled your body. However…that good part of yourself—the part which I had annihilated for your own good—sprang up from out of nowhere for no better reason than to save your precious friends—the same friends who had only slowed you down. Had I not been there, you might have killed yourself with your half-assed plan to carry both of them out. Yes, it was I who had to save you once again from your own demise. Those friends of yours almost stole away the only thing which you care about now. And now you sit there saying you don't remember any of this."

"I'm glad…they're safe."

"Oh, really. They don't even deserve to live—especially that Becky girl vying for your attention. I hated her the most."

"What about Benjamin?"

"Even you would have had no trouble with killing him without any enticement from me—and don't tell me that wasn't true."

"From what you told me, I carried him out of the fire. I don't think…I really hated him."

"Bah! Stop lying to yourself!"

"I think I liked you better when you were just quiet."

"I bet you did. I don't especially feel like talking now. This is a good time, however, to begin molding you when you're at your most vulnerable."

"I'm not vulnerable—I will never again put myself in that kind of situation."

"Easier said than done. I can sense that you're far more relaxed here—far more susceptible to my thoughts."

"You're saying…?"

"If you really plan on keeping up this little game of yours, you best keep your guard up. I will have your soul soon enough and there will be no more need to talk like this to you."

"We'll see, demon."

"Oh, we will."