Tokyo, Mishima Zaibatsu Headquarters
"Mishima-sama?"
"Yes?" Jinpachi was trying to make sense of why he had been suddenly called back to the office from his vacation. Surveying the records and logs, everything was in order and there was no emergency that required looking into.
His secretary hesitantly walked into the room with an anxious expression. "Sir, I…" Her words trailed off before she could even finish the sentence.
"For god's sake what is it?" he demanded impatiently.
She looked at the floor, unable to meet his eyes. "I have just received word that your grandson has fallen to his death. I am so sorry, Sir."
Not sure that he had heard correctly, he asked, "Say that again?"
"Your grandson, Kazuya, is dead," she repeated quietly.
Jinpachi sat down in his chair heavily, feeling as though he would pass out. "How do you know this?"
"We received a call from one of his nannies who was told by a witness of his death."
The thought that Kazuya was gone was unbearable. He had been the son that Jinpachi had always wanted in Heihachi's stead and he couldn't believe that he was dead. "What happened?"
"Apparently he was playing near a very deep chasm and accidentally fell," she reported sadly.
"My little Kazuya," he whispered. "Did – did they find his body?" His voiced shook as he finished the awful question.
She shook her head. "No, sir. They – they think that perhaps an animal took it away as there were drag marks found in the bottom of the ravine."
"Th-thank you. That is all." He turned in his chair to look out the window. Knowing she had been dismissed so that he could grieve privately, she softly closed the door as she exited. "Kazuya," he said with anguish. "I should have been there! I'm so sorry, Kazuya. Forgive your foolish grandfather." Putting his head in his hands, he began to weep.
Walking past his father's secretary, Heihachi threw her a sidelong glance and she looked away guiltily. It had been a challenge to ensure her full complicity with his scheme as she genuinely liked his father, but having skillfully manipulated her, he knew that she was all too aware what would happen if she exposed him. The roll of film he had locked in his safe of her naked, bound and gagged was all the insurance he needed. Not that she had posed willingly – some chloroform took care of that, but now she was trapped and her loyalty, however reluctant, belonged to him now.
Knowing it was of the utmost importance that his father remained ignorant of his awareness of Kazuya's whereabouts, he would feign total ignorance of his death. Had he not blackmailed his secretary into disclosing his travel itinerary, he never would have been able to find his son or create the little diversion that would distract his father. Pleased beyond measure that all the pieces of his plan were beginning to fall into place, he wiped the smile off his face and entered the office.
"So, father, I have the reports from the new investments I've made. You said you wanted to see – " He paused and pretended to be confused by his father's distressed behavior. "What is it?"
"Kazuya is dead!" A fresh bout of tears stung his eyes.
"What are you talking about?" he said disinterestedly.
"Your son, my grandson, is dead!"
Heihachi knew to continue playing the neglectful father. "Oh, well I guess that's worse for you since I never saw the boy. Since you're so upset, I'll come back later." Jinpachi was so heartbroken that he didn't even bother to get angry with his son for his callous attitude of the boy's death. Reassured that his father didn't suspect him in the slightest, Heihachi decided that soon, it would be time for the control of the zaibatsu to switch hands, permanently. "Have a nice day, Hiroko-chan," he sneered at the secretary before leaving. The miserable look on her face was the icing on the cake of his victory.
