"Morning, Boss," Jin Rei welcomed cheerfully. When he got no response, he turned around and took in Jinpachi's haggard appearance, remarking, "You okay, Boss? You don't look so good."

"I haven't been sleeping well the last few nights," he admitted.

"Something on your mind?"

Jinpachi sat down heavily on one of the marble benches. "Jin Rei, have you ever been married?"

"Nope, never had the pleasure, sadly," he joked. "Why?"

"I had the strangest thing happen to me the other day and it made me think of my wife."

"Oh I didn't realize you had a wife."

"I don't," he said sorrowfully. "She died many years ago."

Jin Rei's expression became serious. "I'm sorry."

"I loved her so much," he sighed. "It took me by complete surprise when she died giving birth to Heihachi. I was powerless to help her and I felt so robbed by her death." Looking at Jin Rei, he asked, "Do you believe that people can come back from the afterlife?"

"I think that's not impossible," he answered thoughtfully. "Many people in the world believe in reincarnation."

"Does the goodness of the person or the magnitude of the suffering endured have any bearing on their next life?"

"In Buddhism it does." Jin Rei plucked a small weed by its roots. "The more righteous your previous life, the greater the reward in the next. It's the concept of Karma, that what you do in your present life will be revisited upon you in the future."

"Hanai was a wonderful person and it seemed so unfair to me that such a kind, loving woman had her life taken from her at such a young age." Lowering his voice he added, "For many years I carried this weight inside my heart, not understanding the justice of it all, but now I am wondering if fate is giving me a reprieve from this suffering."

The elderly man pulled a few dead leaves off the rose bush nest to him. "What do you mean?"

"Will you think me foolish after I've told you?"

"I don't believe anything is foolish. And what makes me so special that I have the right to pass that kind of judgment?" Jin Rei encouraged him to continue with a nod.

"I met this girl a few nights ago and the similarities between her and Hanai are far too striking to be attributed to coincidence alone." Taking a deep breath, he elaborated, "She was the same age as Hanai when I first began to love her, we met almost in the exact same circumstances, and everything about her appearance, even down to the clothes she wears and her mannerisms is like how Hanai was. I think that's quite auspicious, don't you think?"

"I have to admit, it's a pretty remarkable story."

"Do you think it's a sign?" Jinpachi demanded anxiously.

Jin Rei seemed reluctant to answer. "I do concede that it's an amazing situation, but usually when we desperately want to believe something is the time when it's most prudent to be on your guard. Usually if something looks too good to be true, it isn't."

Though his comment was not what he had been looking for in the way of affirmation, Jinpachi knew that he was right. "Thank you for the good advice, my friend." Standing up he waved goodbye to the gardener and headed back to his office. Get a hold of yourself, he thought. Jin Rei is right. You can't just plunge in headfirst so recklessly.

"Mishima-sama, there is someone here to see you," Hiroko informed him as he walked in. "A young lady."

Trying to calm his racing heart, Jinpachi tried to restrain his excitement as he entered his office. "Konichiwa, Mishima-sama," she greeted him, bowing. The musical quality of her voice thrilled him.

"I'm glad you came."

"I've given it some thought," she stated, "and as long as it is a true job and I am treated strictly as staff, I will accept your offer."

Jinpachi had to resist the urge to take her in his arms. "I can have a room made up for you in the house immediately. You – ". He stopped talking when she held up a hand.

"Do your other employees live in your home?"

"No," he admitted.

"Then it would not be appropriate for me to do so," she said firmly.

Feeling foolish for letting him get ahead of himself, Jinpachi backed off a little. "Of course. I didn't mean to be overly familiar."

"When should I begin?"

"Be at my residence tomorrow morning at 10 AM," he decided. Handing her the address, he thanked her for coming and had Hiroko show her out.


Taking care not to be seen, Misano went to the bathroom down the hall from Heihachi's office and locked the door. She waited patiently until she heard three distinct knocks and opened the door to let Heihachi in. Turning the lock behind him, Heihachi faced Misano. "Well?"

"I start tomorrow," she reported.

"Excellent. Right on schedule. Well done, Sakura-chan." He ran a finger along her cheekbone, causing her to shiver.

"Will you come and see me tonight?" she asked hopefully.

"Not tonight," he said, to her great disappointment. "Perhaps tomorrow night after I hear what a great first day you had at your new job."

"Hai," she mumbled in a forlorn voice.

"Remember, Sakura, you have to be seductive without being obvious or vulgar. I'll see you tomorrow night." Exiting the bathroom, he looked down the hall to see if anyone was about and nonchalantly walked back to his office.


Checking her appearance in her full length mirror, Misano was satisfied that she looked the part and left for Jinpachi's home. Ringing the door bell, as Heihachi predicted, he answered it personally, barely disguising his pleasure at seeing her. "Okari-nasai!" he welcomed her.

"Domo." She took off her shoes and stepped into his home. It was large, expensively furnished and in impeccable condition. He likely already had a maid. She wondered what ruse he would create in order to find her a purpose to stay. "What are my duties Mishima-sama?"

"Oh, well, I thought you could be my housekeeper," he replied lamely.

Bingo, she thought to herself. As rehearsed, she said, "Your house is so clean already. It doesn't look like there is really a need for a housekeeper. At least not on any sort of regular basis," she added with a slight pout.

"Ah, yes, well…" Jinpachi scrambled for a plausible justification for her employment. "It looks that way because I wanted it presentable for your first day."

"It appears that I don't have much to do today then," she observed. "Shall I come back tomorrow?"

"No!" Catching himself, he amended, "I mean, I thought I could get you familiarized with what your duties will be." He was relieved when she nodded agreeably.

"Very well."

Showing her around the house, Jinpachi gave her the basic requirements of a housekeeper. Taking her to one of the many spare rooms, he opened the door and said, "If you ever feel like you are too fatigued to go home, you may use this room for your personal needs. There is a bathroom inside, and you may bring whatever you like from home that you may require."

The room was bigger than her fake studio and she walked around the space, examining the accommodations. "Thank you, sir, but I don't believe I will be needing this. I do live right down the street." She noted the obvious look of disappointment on his face.

"As for your salary," he quoted her a price and waited for her answer. To his additional disappointment, she seemed uncomfortable with that as well.

"Mishima-sama, I know what the standard rates for maid services are and the sum you are offering me is not appropriate."

Not wanting to scare her away, he hastily replied, "Take what you are comfortable with then."

"I will be fine with a quarter of what you offered," she said simply. "I will see you tomorrow then?"

"You're welcome to stay and familiarize yourself with the house," he suggested, hoping to deter her departure.

"Thank you but no." She put her shoes on and opened his front door. "Tomorrow then. Good day."

She was gone all too soon and it disheartened him to see that she seemed to have no interest whatsoever in anything he had to offer. Perhaps with time she would warm to him. Though he had set aside the bulk of the weekend to spend with her, since she wouldn't start until tomorrow, he grabbed his jacket and decided to get some work done. He'd need a distraction until tomorrow morning.


That evening, Misano waited impatiently for Heihachi to visit her. Pacing the room, she began to despair that he would come at all when she heard the lock turn. Kneeling in front of him as he came in, she lowered her eyes and waited to be addressed. "And how was your first day, Sakura?"

"Very good, sir. Exactly as you said it would be." She looked at him expectantly.

"Yes, yes," he assured her soothingly. "You'll be rewarded for your obedience." Taking off his clothes, the idea of breaking his father's spirit made him smile sadistically. He would take his time savoring the downfall of his father.


okari-nasai: welcome

domo: thank you (respectful)