Chapter 2: The Forest Sage
A car pulled over to the left side of the dirt road it was riding on.
The start of a forest on the other side.
The right backdoor of the car opened and Alisa, Panda, Miharu and Xiaoyu stepped out, each with a suitcase in their hands.
Even Panda was carrying a big backpack on her back.
"What now?" Miharu asked.
"She said she'd be here by this time. Maybe she's running late."
Just as Xiaoyu finished her sentence, Zafina emerged from behind a tree.
"Welcome, I will escort you to our hide-out deep within the forest. The others are expecting you... She is expecting you," Zafina opened.
"Who are the others?" and "Who's she?" Miharu and Xiaoyu asked simultaneously, as the car behind them left.
"You'll see soon enough," Zafina said.
Whilst walking through the forest a to them unknown creature was lurking from the treetops. Suddenly it jumped down and faced the party.
"Who the hell is this wooden dude?" Miharu asked annoyed.
"Mokujin," Xiaoyu and Zafina answered in unison.
"I've had a few friendly bouts with him in the previous tournaments," Xiaoyu revealed.
"He's a great sparring buddy. I always learn something from him."
"He's also one of the guardian spirits of this forest. He's come to test your strength," Zafina added.
"Xiao, Miharu, Zafina, I will be the one to face this foe," Alisa said firmly.
Mokujin pulled a kunai from his back and assumed a combat posture.
"Where'd he get that?" Xiaoyu questioned.
"Aren't his weapons supposed to be made of wood, too?"
Mokujin made some woodblock-like noises.
"It seems he got it as present from Tetsujin," Zafina replied.
"Who's that?" Xiaoyu asked.
"I have no idea," Zafina answered.
"Wait, you can understand him?" Xiaoyu asked.
"Yes, the woodblock noises seem to be some sort of Morse code," Zafina replied.
"Really?" Xiaoyu asked rhetorically.
Mokujin ninja-sprinted towards Alisa with the intent to slash right through her. (Sword Smash)
He was certain he had her, but right before the slash would hit Alisa made a backflip and Mokujin passed right under. (Docking Bay 1 Hit)
Very surprised he was and soon he would feel Alisa's right, backturned kick to the backside of his head. (Goody Two Shoes)
The kick made him fall over and Alisa turned around to face him.
While she made a jet propelled backflip, he made a front roll away from her putting more distance between the two of them.
Alisa giggled as she stroked her hair. (Taunt 2)
Enraged, Mokujin sprinted over and made a quick forward somersault that ended in a left sidekick. (Kuga)
Surprised by the sudden flip Alisa could not react in time and fell to ground.
Laying on the ground she got up by jet propelling.
She flew slightly backwards and dropkicked a rushing-over Mokujin in the chest. (Reboot Meteor Kick)
She flew over towards him and unleashed a clockwise left floating kick, but the wooden man got up just in time to sidestep left evading the kick and the following double clockwise turning kick.
(Linear Dropkick)
He took Alisa by her right arm, and spun her around by walking lightning-fast circles around her. (Tornado Spin)
As Alisa was being spun around, a sizzling noise sounded from her body.
"You spin me right ***, baby, *** round. Like a record baby, *** round, right ***," it sounded from her body.
"It seems her built-in radio is being activated," Miharu commented.
"Go Alisa, show that woodblock, who's boss," Xiaoyu cheered on.
As Alisa fell to the ground she grabbed her head to keep it from spinning.
"It seems my aim is a little bit off," she commented while getting up.
"This time I won't miss," she said.
Mokujin had backflipped several meters away and Alisa made a left-turning vertical double kick that hit nothing but air and followed with a right-turning vertical kick that seemed to be in range.
(Dynamic Range)
Mokujin intercepted the latter with a right backflip kick and while she was launched mid-air he jumped over grabbing her in front, made multiple backflips and finally dropped her on her head and backflipped away. (Chakra Drop)
A crack in the middle off her face appeared.
Xiaoyu and Miharu shared a painful expression while Zafina seemed to be enjoying the action.
"Hfff," Xiaoyu hissed.
"Thank goodness you've got a hard head, Alisa," Miharu commented.
Alisa got back up and combined a right, mid 360 ° turning punch, a left 360 ° high kick and ended with a jet propelled left side kick. (Triple Session)
Mokujin parried the first two hits, but it seemed the last kick had hit him as he weakly fell to the ground.
A deceptive trick; as he teleported and fell from the sky, slashing Alisa across the chest. (Secret Flower)
Alisa fell to the ground, got back up, but just as quickly had to get down again to crouch under three consecutive 360° turning right, high kicks. (Triple Kick Combo)
Mokujin just continued the attack because he was becoming more concerned about his own equilibrium than his target.
Getting up Alisa handed Mokujin her head. (Spam Bomb)
He looked at it and though his facial expression did not change it would seem he was quite surprised.
"Sorry, but my motion sensors have just had about enough of all this spinning," she said as her head exploded.
The blast sent Mokujin flying several meters away.
"Miharu-san, if you would be so kind to give me another head," a muffled voice sounded.
"What's that?" Miharu said caught off-guard.
"Inside the purple bag," it sounded.
Miharu opened the zipper of the purple bag and inside there were ten spare Alisa-heads and five pairs of spare arms.
As Miharu walked the head over to Alisa's body Alisa said:
"Thank you, I will make you my honorable spare-parts caddy,"
"Gee, thanks," Miharu said unengaged as she put Alisa's head on her neck.
"You've already got the cap," Xiaoyu remarked.
Mokujin rushed towards Alisa, punched left and right and ended with a right jumping mid kick. (Flash Kick Combo)
Alisa parried everything and punished with an accelerated left-turning right kick to the head. (Accelerator)
"As I've said," Alisa said strictly, "I've had enough!"
Mokujin spun low and did several 360 ° low sweeps.
But Alisa floated above whilst charging her arms.
Just as Mokujin's right front kick was about to hit her, he was hit by her double rocket punch. (Manji Low Kicks Front Kick/Double Rocket Punch)
"Enough!" Alisa snapped.
Without turning her neck or torso her head spun 180° around and gave Miharu an angry look.
Startled she quickly rushed over with a set of new arms.
Mokujin got up and attempted to quickly spin around punching high, but Alisa ducked under it. (Slap U Silly)
To confuse her he spun away and backturned. (Urakarin)
Alisa was not fazed, and while flying she right kicked the backside of his knee, left kicked his back and jumped with both feet on the backside of his head. (Random Typing)
"Enough!" Alisa snapped even shorter as she did three consecutive left kicks to a laying Mokujin's head. (Triple Click)
"Geez, Alisa, go easy on the poor thing," Miharu said.
Getting up, desperate and confused, Mokujin tried another trick.
Randomly spinning backwards, holding his hands together while the rising ki manifested in the form off leaves over his body.
"You're open!" Alisa yelled as she gave him a right low kick to the knee, took her head off and bashed it in his by turning her torso 360 ° around. (Optimizer)
Mokujin drew back and breathed fire towards Alisa. (Katon)
"Huh, now that's not something you see everyday," Miharu commented.
Alisa sidestepped the flame to her right, forced Mokujin on the ground and whilst flying dragged him across the surface. (Compression)
"I'll shave you, yet," she said ferociously.
Mokujin, being out of ideas, pinned his kunai the ground, did a kabuki-like dance and pulled out a full-length katana.
"Ah, so, we're bringing out bigger weapons, are we?"
Alisa brought out her chainsaws. (Destructive Form)
The minute Mokujin saw Alisa's chainsaws, he dropped back and made an apologizing motion as he shook his head.
Desperate, he stabbed the katana through his own mid-section whilst dropping to his knees. (Harakiri)
"That's enough! Alisa!" Zafina commanded.
Alisa's expression shifted from angry to worried as she looked to Mokujin, her chainsaws and back to Mokujin again.
She cancelled her chainsaws.
"I suppose I went a little overboard," Alisa said.
Slowly she walked over to a quivering Mokujin.
"Mister Mokujin, I am truly sorry," she said as she reached out her right hand.
Looking up Mokujin hesitated a second, but quickly placed the metal ball that was his fist inside Alisa's hand.
Alisa pulled him up and placed her left hand on his shoulder.
"No hard feelings?"
Mokujin paused a second and then quickly shook his head.
Stepping back, he bowed while looking down with his arms to his side.
He turned and nervously walked away, the sword still stuck through his middle.
"I think you really scared that one, Alisa," Miharu said.
"I'll try to be more careful in the future," Alisa said while stroking her hair.
Zafina lead the party deep within the forest towards a vast lake.
Just by the lake a cabin stood, which the five entered.
For a split second it seemed like an intense, loving light embraced the party.
A woman dressed in white, with a grey lock of hair on her front bangs was sitting, eyes closed, meditating in a seiza position at the end of the empty room.
"I present to you the sage of this forest and the leader of the Wreath of Bloody Flowers; Jun Kazama. Code name: White Lotus."
"Jun Kazama? Jin's mom? I thought Ogre killed her?" Xiaoyu inquired.
"Oh, please..." Zafina draws out, "You did not seriously think that such a powerful woman could be defeated by an ancient who had done nothing but nap for the last couple of centuries?
Seriously, if even that bumbling buffoon, Paul Phoenix, could defeat him..."
"Hmm, come to think of it I though it was weird when I first heard it. So behind the curtains she's been planning all of this, huh?"
"Yes, she's been gathering strong individuals such as yourself. We are the chess pieces, when everything is in place, we will take Jin back by force," Zafina explained.
"Welcome everyone," Jun said serenely as she slowly opened her eyes.
"Ling Xiaoyu... Hirano Miharu... Alisa Bosconovitch... and Panda," she said searching eye contact with everyone.
"For being here, you have my deepest gratitude," Jun said placing her forearms on the ground and making a very deep bow from her seiza position.
Feeling a bit awkward and placing her hand behind her head Miharu said:
"I'm sorry... but I really just came along to be with Xiao for the time being. I really don't have any plans on rocking the boat... Truly, I..."
"If you don't have a reason now, you'll have one sooner or later!" Jun interrupted.
"This is true for all of you, however, I do know that you have the strongest motivation to be here, Xiaoyu," Jun said looking at her.
"Yes, I will do my best to get your son back," Xiaoyu answered slightly bowing.
"We will all have to do more than our best," Jun replied.
"It might seem paradoxical but we will truly have to shatter the chains of our limitations if we want to realize our common dream...
Jin has been alone for far too long. It's not healthy.
It is time for us to show him that he still has friends. That there still can be love in his life.
You are the key, Xiaoyu."
Xiaoyu nodded slightly bowing.
Jun stood up.
"Come with me, I will introduce you to the other Flowers," she invited.
The party entered the door behind her.
The next room was less blank than the one before it: no windows, darker, with a fireplace, comfortable furniture, and paintings on the wall.£
Colorful figures were waiting for them;
-an otherwordly-looking swordsman; mechanical and alien,
-a man with wild and blonde hair and an elaborate Tekken Force outfit,
-a black man with a ninja-outfit and daggers to his back,
-an attractive, muscular, red-haired boy, with a biker outfit,
-"That man looks a lot like Jackie Chin," Miharu thought,
-and a mysterious woman with her face hidden in a hooded, white robe
"Our numbers aren't complete, but because time is not on our side I'll brief the people present here anyway," Jun announced.
"But before that, brief introductions and code name assignment of all the members is due."
"Yoshimitsu, leader of the manji-ninja party and ultimately warrior for good," Jun announced.
"Code name: Cherry Blossom."
"It is in honor to be part of the group," Yoshimitsu said bowing.
"Lars Alexanderson, leader of the rogue Tekken Force and son of Heihachi Mishima.
His skills are described by some as 'superhero'. Code name: Urtica."
"Thank you," Lars nodded quietly.
"Raven, Interpol Secret Agent, also knows as 'the Talon of Death'. Code name: Nightshade."
"I should kill you for letting my names be known, Jun," Raven said abrasively.
"You just try that, blondie." Jun answered unshakenly provocative.
Exchanging an intense brief look with each other, Raven, despite his shades,
was the first to look away.
"This co-operation will be based on mutual trust, Raven. Nothing makes you so special that it exempts you from this principle."
"Lei Wulong, Top Interpol Detective, known as the Super Cop. Code name: Phoenix Flower,"
Just as he was about to speak doing the Sun/Moon-greet (fist in palm), Xiaoyu interrupted: "Objection!"
"What's that?" Jun asked slightly wide-eyed.
"If there's anyone that should be named Phoenix Flower it's me!" Xiaoyu said.
"Hmm, more like Cackling Chick Flower," Lei scoffed.
"What's that?" Xiaoyu asked pointing.
"Wanna have a rematch, dude? This time it won't be a draw. This time my phoenix will be sure to eat your scrawny crane," Xiaoyu proposed assuming the Art of Phoenix stance.
"Let's go," Lei said in English while he assumed the Crane stance.
"Enough!" Jun yelled.
"Names are non-negotiable!"
"Why not?" Lei asked as he turned his head whilst in Crane stance.
"Because none of the dudes ever want a flower as a name. And all the girls always want to be Black Rose or some other nonsense," Jun explained.
"Next we have Jin's best friend and rival. He's mainly here because he's longing for a rematch... Hwoarang. Code name: Ginger"
A pained Hwoarang looked at Jun as he inhaled.
"Names are non-negotiable," Jun hissed with a wide-eyed, stern expression.
Sighing, Hwoarang looked away.
"Up next is one creature I owe a lot..." Jun announced whilst the hooded woman threw her cloak off revealing two beautiful, white wings. "Angel. Code name: Moonflower"
"Let's see, who's next?" Jun asked.
Suddenly the door to the chamber was thrown open.
A heavily packed, brown-haired girl with a bike-outfit stumbled in.
"Aah, Asuka(-chan), you're just in time..." Jun said gladly.
"I give you my niece... Code name: Violet. She's been..."
"You're still busy with the introductions, aunt Jun?" Asuka interrupted.
"Uhm, maybe you've been out of turn for a bit too long... But, uhm, we know each other!
I mean we go to the same tournament every few years," Asuka said as she skimmed the room.
As her eyes fell upon Miharu she said: "Though it's the first time I've seen you..."
"Yeah, like, what's up with that?" Miharu asked.
"I mean do we really need another brown-haired girl?
I mean we've already got one: me, Miharu(-sama). By the way what's my code name?"
"Lila," Jun replied.
"The one and only Lila," Miharu proclaimed.
As the conversation between Asuka and Miharu continued Xiaoyu asked Jun:
"Hey, Jun, why don't you just give us the other code names? We can call it a day then."
Jun sighed: "Xiaoyu's Storming Flower, Panda's Lily, Zafina's Venus and Alisa's Daisy."
A part of the group went outside...