Outside the hotel they were staying in, was a beautiful Japanese garden with gravel stone paths, and the clear stream in the land's center was decorated with flowers and clean rocks on its edges. The cool breeze tickled the healthy green trees and plants, and the grass was soft and comfortable to the bare skin. The outdoor chairs were newly painted as there was not a single rust visible.
It was incredibly spacious and a relaxing place to stay for awhile...only, our aristocrat lady begged to differ; it was the day of the tournament and before the event starts, Lili had deliberately woken up an hour before sunrise to train at the other side of the garden where a wooden bridge connected the grounds over the stream.
As Lili practices her kicks and jumps, she notices a familiar figure at the corner of her eye. She turns and spots Leo walking his way towards her with a relaxed smile and his hands stuffed in his pockets. He wore his usual suit, but there was a new noticeable accessory around his neck; a red plaid patterned scarf.
Lili was astonished seeing the new scarf instead of his red tie. She wouldn't outright admit it, but she'd wonder from time to time how Leo would look like in something else other than his regular bodyguard uniform, the scarf is the closest thing for a different style yet.
"Good morning Leo. I didn't know you were an early person." Lili greets him with a smirk.
"The early fresh air has always been a favourite of mine, but I noticed you were already up from the window." Leo motions to his suite's windows; from its angle is a perfect view of Lili's spot. "You could've told me you were going to practice beforehand."
Lili shakes her head dismissively, heading to where her towels and water bottle was, then delicately patted the towel onto her face. "There was no need; I can train on my own and you need your sleep. I'm just too exhilarated for the tournament later that I could hardly sleep."
As Lili hums and wipes off the sweat from her neck, Leo watches her thoughtfully. While the bodyguard knew she was prepared and have trained herself immensely, that still wasn't enough to ease his mind as she is the only person he could rely on beating Kazuya in the tournament, he had to depend on her success.
He walk closer and asks, "Lili, are you planning to win the competition or...?"
Lili stops her and whirls him with a disbelief pout, putting her hands on her hips. "But of course! I intend to win and fight the man who's working up my dad into restlessness! Gosh, and here I thought you had faith in me."
"Don't misunderstand me, my lady. I'm only making sure how serious you are as you're about to face some strong adversaries."
"Oh and I'm very much aware of that, which is why I'm excited to see my bruises on their faces! Just imagining them screaming in agony..."
Despite the obvious hint of sadism, Leo smiles with satisfaction at her direct reply. At least she doesn't consider this event as a mere competition.
Before he could rethink his next words carefully he blurted out, "If that's the case, then would you like to spar while you still have the time, my lady?"
He didn't know how his mind came up a question like that, but it was too late to take it back now.
Lili grins wide, her eyes sparkling and clasp her hands together. "I thought you'd never ask! Told to be truth, I've been wanting to spar with you since you saved me from those street thugs. I just never think you'd want to."
"Haha...well, I figured now is the perfect time." He laughs and gazes away for a moment while ruffling up his hair. Though he might've sounded assured and relaxed, in his mind Leo is beating up himself for suggesting a spar.
Oh well, he had nothing to worry about; his enemy is not a threat after all, it's only his protectee. Unless this is one of her trickeries to get rid of him but knowing Lili, she isn't that malicious and she haven't found him boring yet. Still, he couldn't help but think-
"Now then, shall we?" Lili hums delightfully as she places her towel down, skips to the center then stand on her pose.
Leo quickly shoves off his doubts and anxiety and joins her, he stands across her with just enough gap between them. Before he gets into his fighting stance, he winks at her and said, "Ladies first." — which Lili gladly accepted.
After the sparring session, the two sat on a garden's bench beside each other. Lili busies herself by wiping off the excessive sweat beads from her skin while Leo takes a drink from the water bottle he bought.
"May I be so bold to say that for an untrained fighter, you're pretty strong and agile." Leo starts the conversation.
Lili giggles and smiles at him with a pinch of pride in her tone. "But of course I am, Leo. I've been doing gymnastics since my mother taught me to, and signed me into classes."
"Your mother did gymnastics?"
"Yes. She was extremely skilled ; I practically learned a few moves from her."
Leo watches her focused gaze at her water bottle when the lady trailed off into silence; her eyes glistens a tad bit and the corner of her lips involuntarily tug upwards.
"...What happened to her, if you don't mind answering?"
"Not at all; she developed cancer over the years, she had enjoyed life as she possibly could then she died peacefully in her sleep. Of course father and I were devastated, but we knew it was inevitable. Everyone dies, it's just my mother was unfortunate enough to die sooner."
Lili stares up to the violet-orange hue sky as the sun begins to slowly rise from the horizon, a bittersweet smile graces on her face.
Leo frowns to himself and stares down to the ground. "...My mom too, died sooner than expected."
The lady cut off her gaze above to look at the young man. "I'm sorry. May I know what was the cause of her death?"
"She was murdered by Kazuya Mishima. That bastard got to walk on Earth after he killed her as if it was nothing...as if she was nothing." Leo's hands curled up into a fist as anger flood through him, but then tears began dropping from his cheeks. In a mixture of sadness and fury, he furiously wipes his eyes with his arm. A small memory from years ago played in the back of his mind when the disappearance of his father was still new and fresh; his mother would wipe his tears whenever he cried for him, and tell him everything would be alright and he'll come back soon.
"She was all I had. My dad left for an expedition and it's been years since I've last seen him, I don't even know if he's still alive."
Leo absolutely hated himself for crying in front of his protectee, but no amount of self restraints can stop his sobs.
Lili on the other hand, didn't care that her bodyguard was showing weakness in front of her; they've already proved to be much closer than just that after all. She instead feels sympathy for Leo, and the hatred for the Mishima clan grew inside her.
"There goes those Mishimas again. Thinking they could take millions of lives away and slave off my father. Ohh just thinking of them makes my blood boil! When I get my hands on them, I swear I'll show them no mercy!"
Leo stares long at Lili before finally nodding and giving her a half tearful smile and a thumbs up. "Good luck later, my lady."
Lili smiles sweetly at him in return, but her rage for revenge doesn't falter. Sometimes Leo is bewildered how she could pull off the sweetest and kindest smiles and yet still be intimidating.
The two soon then head back inside when the sun has risen up halfway into the sky.