A couple of days has passed, and Leo has been nothing but supportive of Lili's now open plans of tournaments and street fighting — even going as far to giving advices and accompanying her to matches. In return, Lili has become more open towards him; the mutual silence that would once last for days would now only last for a few hours, the lady also would let him sit or walk next to her without any meter preferences between them anymore, which made things easier for them.
Time to time they talk about their lives: what were their parents like, their aspirations, hobbies, goals in life — both did not expect such things about the other and were pleasantly surprised at the new discoveries.
Leo was right when he told himself that Lili would be the one running towards the danger and handling it herself, as she kept on provoking people at any opportunities for a fight. The only times when he'd step in is if the opponent had a fatal weapon at hand, if Lili has been beaten enough, or some pervert attempts to grope her.
Yesterday they've reached the United States and went through San Francisco. Leo immediately notices how aggressive and hot-tempered the citizens were, which was a delightful play for the teenager contrast to her bodyguard's concerns.
In the middle of an afternoon, Lili manages to infuriate a local man in and battles him behind a restaurant. By the time she'd defeated him, she notices an envelope flying out of the man's pocket.
Since her opponent was unconscious, Lili picked it up and first planned to return it to its owner, when she notices the golden capital letters that read, 'KING OF IRON FIST TOURNAMENT' printed on the envelope, and a fist logo as its golden seal.
Curious, she opens the envelope and inside reveals an invitation to a worldwide martial arts competition in Japan where the renowned and the strongest fighters around the globe will participate to getting the said prizes written below — which for the lady's standards, bare minimum.
But her interest shot up when she read the host's name on the paper: the head of Mishima Zaibatsu — the main source of her father's problems — was going to be present.
With that, she have quickly and confidently decides to enter the competition to stop all her father's problems once and for all. She pulls out her phone and dials her butler's number.
"Sebastian, prepare the private jet tomorrow. We're going to Japan."
Inside the jet's conference room, Lili and Sebastian sits next to each other; The butler peacefully sips his tea while the lady types endlessly on her silver laptop.
"Ms. Lili, I hope you don't mind me asking why you've chose to leave USA so quickly? I thought you found the place charming." Sebastian asks.
"Oh I do, it's only because I've registered into the King of Iron Fist Tournament roster and I'm going to get there as fast as I can." Lili replies, showing him her laptop's screen: it shows her face in the competitor's section, along with the other thirty-three profiles.
Leo enters the room with the notebook Lili had fetched him to get and takes the other empty seat beside her. "Another competition huh? Don't you get tired from all these?" he sighs, handing the object to her.
The teenager faces him with a teasing smile. "Why I'd never, I live for this! And this particular tournament is different: the head of Mishima Zaibatsu, the cause for all my father's stress would be showing in person. See?" Lili glances back to her laptop and points at a particular muscular man's picture.
Leo leans forward a little for a better view — his hand touching the lady's, but he tries not to give the new warmth from her hand any attention.
"Oh, him. I don't blame you for having a bone to pick with him. In fact, I think I'd like to ask him a few questions myself."
Leo scans the other contestants' portraits then freezes when he sees one familiar person. "Wait, is this...?!"
Lili whirls back to Leo who gapes in shock as he points at the picture of a glaring man with raven spiky hair and a glowing red eye on his left. The lady puts a worried hand on his shoulder.
"Leo? Leo! What is it?"
"It's...Kazuya Mishima!"
Lili turns to the screen. "Hmm? Oh yes. He's one of those wretched Mishimas, he also happens to be the head of-"
"-G Corporation..."
The air suddenly hangs with sudden tension. Sebastian and Lili glances at one another before then back to Leo. The young man grits his teeth as memories of his mom's funeral overwhelms him, Kazuya's picture continues to glare at him as if it was mocking him.
Lili stares at the bodyguard confused before snapping him out of his trance with a gentle question, "Leo? Are you alright?"
"...How do you register?"
"Pardon?"
"Is it too late to register into the slot?"
"I think so. Look." Lili goes back to the website's main page and scrolls down to show all the selected fighters already in places including herself in one of them. "The roster is already full."
It doesn't take a genius to see the young man was upset of the news; he rests his head down to the table with an arm covering his face.
As beats of silence passes them, Lili attempts to comfort him by putting her palm onto his hand. When she spoke, there were no trace of her usual, proud tone; instead, it was low and serious. "Who's this man to you, why is it so important?"
Leo doesn't respond. Slowly, Leo pulls back from the table and tries to blink back the tears threatening to leave. Though driven with grief and hatred in the moment, he manages to face the lady and the butler with an emotionless face. "May I be excused, my lady?" he said as politely and calmly as he could.
Lili knew through his poker face, he was hurting — his eyes gleam with intense emotions. Still, she prodded. "You haven't answered my question yet. What did he to you?"
"Lili..." Sebastian pulls the teenager back a little with a hand on her shoulder. Lili whirls to him and frowns when she saw her butler's disapproving face.
She turns back to Leo with a huffs "Fine. You're excused, but we'll be discussing this later."
The second the young man heard the first three words, he was already on his feet. He bows curtly to them then heads out the room.
Leo paces forth and back stressfully in the hallway; trying not to get too upset over the missed opportunity to get his revenge to Kazuya...except he understandably is.
He went all through this, he became Lili's bodyguard just for this revenge...This was the perfect moment! And yet he slipped up.
How could he let this pass by?! He'd heard about the Iron Fist Tournament before but ignored so as he didn't hear of any about Kazuya Mishima participating into the competition and thus deemed the tournament as a pointless topic. He should've done more research, he should've been on the man's trail and kept himself updated with everything involving him...and now...
The bodyguard was tempted to punch the nearest wall, but he wouldn't want to make a dent — so instead he slammed his back against the cold wall and sidles down to the floor, hugging his knees as he silently curses himself and let the threatening tears to finally roll out.
He lets himself calm down through deep breaths and rapid blinking. As he was, his blue eyes gazes at the door leading to the conference's room where Lili was and thought of her.
Though he didn't get to register himself, Lili did.
Since the lady has gotten into the tournament, all he can do now is depend and hope for her victory.