When they all get inside the estate, Ellie heads right for her office and computer. She can hear Hwoarang following, but she doesn't say anything. She picks at her nails instead. Finally, she can scratch off the top item of her very long list of tasks.
Find Jin and bring him home.
But there's still a lot to do. She slinks into her office chair and let's out a sigh. She's glad they found Jin. Now, everyone can breath a little bit easier. Even with Kazuya after Jin, she feels better knowing he's home rather than out there. Here, they all can help him.
She logs into her computer and the first thing she does is open the Estate Guard's list. It has every guard under Jin's payroll, even the ones Ellie cut back during Jin's absence. She switches all their accounts to active, which pushes an alert to their phones. They'll be at the estate within the hour.
Hwoarang saunters into the office, and sits on one of the arm chairs in front of Ellie's desk. He rakes his auburn hair back with one hand and taps on his phone with the other. He's too relaxed for someone whose best friend just returned. He doesn't even seem happy or relieved; he seems unconcerned. He looks up but her eyes flick back to the screen before he notices.
Ellie opens her desk, picks out a small comm device and places it in her ear. "Front gates. This is Ellie. Do you copy?"
There quick brush of static and then a click. "Front gates. Copy."
She glances back at Hwoarang as she talks. "Jin Kazama has returned to the estate. We will be following protocol; code blue. The extra guard detail will be returning today. I want their badges, cars, and trunks all inspected and approved before entering, understood?"
"Yes, Ma'am."
Ellie clicks off the communication but leaves the device in her ear. She still needs to wrap her head around what's happening. She wishes she knew more. She already know Jin and his father are estranged, but not to this extent. Does Kazuya really want to kill him? Hwoarang seems to think so. They all seem to agree that Kazuya means bad things are bound to happen. And what about Zafina? What is her role in all this? Sure, she has her own agenda of not letting the stars meet, but she seemed pretty loyal to Jin when Ellie met her a couple days ago. And why do Zafina and Asuka have it out for each other?
Ellie looks at Hwoarang again, and this time their eyes meet.
"It's a lot, isn't it?" he says easily, reading her distressed face. His smirk is mischievous and handsome at the same time. Ellie tries to ignore it.
"You've been pretty calm throughout this whole thing," Ellie says, narrowing her eyes.
He shrugs. "I knew he'd turn up eventually."
"Because you knew where he was, didn't you?"
He pauses, but only briefly. As he shifts in his chair, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees, not one movement appears suspicious, but Ellie's got a feeling.
"Why would I know that, El?"
"It's just the way you've been acting during this whole thing. You were against looking for Jin in the city. You got irritated with Xiaoyu when she left in the middle of the night."
"Well, I prefer to spend the middle of the night replenishing my body's energy supply, don't you?"
She ignored his quip. " You barely questioned Zafina, even when we knew Jin had been there, and when you see him," she takes a breath, feeling distracted by his intense stare. "You just didn't seem surprised, that's all."
He slips his phone into his pocket as he stands up to come sit on the edge of her desk, facing her. He holds on to his careless demeanor. "I haven't seen my friend in two months, Ellie."
She holds his gaze, determined not to look away, or be deterred by how close he is. "That's not what I asked you, Hwoarang," she whispers. "Did you know where he was this entire time?"
He drops his head and huffs at himself. At that exact moment, Ellie knows she's right. How could he keep something like that from the group? And why does he have to look so pitifully guilty when he admits it, making Ellie not want to be angry with him at all? But it isn't anger. She feels scolded, as if Hwoarang just told her she's not close enough with the original group of friends to know the truth, that she's still on the outside.
She clicks on the computer screensaver and scoots back her office chair to stand.
"El," Hwoarang gently grabs her wrist, keeping her from walking away.
She stops, closing her eyes briefly before turning to him.
"I didn't know exactly where he was, alright? But he told me that he was leaving so he could try to deal with the demon. I knew what part of town he was in, yes, but I didn't know anything about Nina or Zafina or Kazuya."
"You knew where he was and you didn't tell us. Why?" She's more curious now and very much aware that his hand is still clasped onto her wrist.
"I would have told you," he says honestly. "But I promised Jin that I wouldn't, I swore it. I told him he should tell Xiaoyu on his own, but when he didn't, I knew that I couldn't. It wasn't up to me to tell her the truth, or anyone else."
"So you lied instead? And kept it from Xiaoyu, too?"
"It wasn't like that."
"That's exactly what it's like." She finally pulls her hand away.
Hwoarang's face hardens as he looks down at his now empty hand. "Look, Jin is my best friend. I would lie, or cheat, or steal if he asked me to without a second thought, because that's what friends do. They keep each other's secrets. It's the least I could do for him after all he's done for me." He steps closer, minimizing the space between them, his voice almost a whisper. "I'm sorry I had to lie to you, alright? I never want to lie to you."
She swallows, hoping to slow down the pounding in her chest, and nods. It's a silly, nervous nod, but she can't help it. What can she say? She's not mad. She knew if Jin asked her to keep his secret, she would, at least as long as she could. She sighs, giving in. "This this is a mess."
"I know. We'll figure it out… together."
Ellie looks up at Hwoarang through her glasses, and she feels like he can see right through them. Right through her. His hand finds his way back to her wrist, his fingers brushing the insides of her palm. He's got this look in his eyes that she can't quite figure out, and she can't look away. She doesn't want to. She looks over him, his tan, smooth complexion, the fiery piece of hair that falls in front of his almond eyes, the scar above his eyebrow that is mending itself together. She wants to reach out and touch it, to feel the rough ridges of it under her thumb, but thinks better of it.
"Ellie," he starts, but radio static shocks her eardrum.
"Front gates, to Office 1. Copy," the guard calls. Through the earpiece, the other guard arges in the background. "No, stay where you are, sir. We are on high alert. No one enters!"
"Front Gate, go ahead." Ellie pulls away from Hwoarang and shakes the mouse to wake up her computer.
"What is it?" Hwoarang asks over her shoulder.
"Someones at the gates."
"Can you access the footage?"
Ellie knows Jin can't have anything setting off the demon, no matter how small the breach may be. But, it can't be Kazuya already. He'd be far more successful than simply getting caught at the gates.
"Accessing footage now," Ellie says. "Copy to Front Gate." She pulls up the camera footage. The two guards are standing at the gate, warding off the tall burly visitor. "It's-" she can't think of his name, "the guy from Zafina's."
"Miguel? What the hell is he doing here?" Hwoarang growls. "No, he's already caused enough trouble. Tell them to send him away."
Miguel is busy with both guards though. His heavy limbs swing dangerously in the air as he argues with them. His clothes and torn in some places and his face is bruised. He looks frantic and desperate, not angry.
Ellie winces at the screen as she watches. Something is wrong. More wrong than the usual drama they've been dealing with. "Maybe we should get Jin."
Finally one of the guards step away to grab the radio. "Office One, we have a disturbance," the officer says as Miguel yells in the background, "That bastard better open up! Tell him now! Kazuya's got Zafina!"
"Shit." Hwoarang says at the same time Ellie calls out, "Jin!"
Jin comes hurrying in, Xiaoyu right behind him.
"What is it?"
Hwoarang steps back so Jin can get a look at the screen. "Miguel. Kazuya has Zafina."
Jin doesn't need to hear anymore. "Let him in. Now!"
"Let him in," Ellie repeats to the guards.
The guards press open the gates and Miguel starts running up the drive, disappearing from one camera and into the range of another. Jin is already making his way toward the front door and the rest of them, unsure of what to do, follow.
Jin reaches the door first and Miguel comes rushing inside. After what happened, Jin shouldn't be anywhere near Miguel. If they get into another fight, the demon will surely come out. His skin is already crawling, but he resists it, taking deep controlled breaths. Once Miguel's in, he rests his hands on his knees, taking large gulps of air. He smells like sweat and outside and blood, his body and face covered in scratches and fresh welts. He looks like Xiaoyu and Hwoarang when they returned from the alley.
"Kazuya took Zafina!' his voice booms through the entryway and down the halls.
Asuka, hearing the commotion comes from the hall. "What's going on?"
"Took her where?" Jin demands. "Where'd he take Zafina?"
"I don't know. She got into a car with him."
"Zafina?" Asuka crosses her arms and shares a glance with Xiaoyu, "She went willingly, huh?"
"Asuka, not now," Hwoarang warns.
"We were outnumbered. It's like he just appeared there," Miguel rambles between breaths. "If she didn't go, we'd both be dead!"
"Which way did the car go?" asks Jin. "Did you see it?"
Miguel shakes his head, shaggy dark curls falling around his face. "He left some of his men behind so I wouldn't follow. That's how I got banged up."
"What did they come for? Did he take anything?" Xiaoyu asks.
"Just Zafina. I don't know what he wants with her, but we have to find her." Suddenly he points at Jin, "This is your fault!"
Asuka steps forward, waving her hands in front of her. "Woah, woah, woah. Jin wasn't there! And how do we know Zafina didn't mean to go with Kazuya?"
"She didn't. She wouldn't do that." Miguel stands rigidly from his hunch as tall and strong as a deep rooted tree. Still, Asuka doesn't back down.
"Yeah, say the guy who tried to kill Jin yesterday!"
Hwoarang put himself between Miguel and Asuka. "Asuka, that's enough!"
"No! Zafina's has always had a target on Jin's back and everyone here knows it! This could be a trap to get Jin near Kazuya." she yells. All the others exchange glances. There's a possibility she's right. Even if she's not involved with Kazuya, she might still want Jin dead. Asuka continues, "And his word," she points at Miguel, "is no good. He wants to get rid of Jin as much as Zafina does."
"You're right!" Miguel deep voice cuts through the air. "I want him dead, to pay for what he did to my sister."
Hwoarang sighs and rustles his hair, "Jin didn't-
"Let him finish," Xiaoyu says.
Miguel turns to Jin and looks him in the eye. "I want to see you dead, to see that monster die with you and go back to the hell it came from." As Miguel speaks, Jin can feel his fists tightening. "I hate everything you are. But... for some reason, Zafina has set out to protect you, and because of her, I will tolerate you in order to get her back."
"Tolerate him?" Asuka scoffs. "Jin isn't going anywhere."
"He can't go anywhere near Kazuya. It's too dangerous," Xiaoyu agrees.
Miguel continues to talk to Jin as the girls fire off objections. "I don't know what's going on with you and your father, and I don't care. I've seen the demon you are, and I've seen Zafina save your ass when she should have killed you. You owe her this!"
"Jin needs to recover," Hwoarang says, though his face looks like he wants to agree with Miguel. "Unless you want that demon getting out again."
Miguel narrows in on Hwoarang, "Stay out of this Hwoarang! You don't make decisions for him. None of you do!"
The room rises into an uproar of arguments, Miguel yelling at Hwoarang and Asuka, Xiaoyu and Hwoarang all yelling at Miguel. It's chaos.
Jin stands there moment to consider his options. He should go after Zafina, but his friends are right. If Kazuya has the orb, it will grant him an ultimate advantage. He will have the option to take Jin's gene and either consume it and become unstoppable, or he could simply kill Jin. He not so worried about the latter, but he doesn't want Kazuya with that power. If Kazuya's body contains double the devil, everyone on earth will lose. He should stay away.
But how could he not try to save Zafina after all she had done for him, even if that meant putting himself in the same realm of his father? Zafina had saved him, several times over. She showed him the tarot cards, explained her ancestors prophecy, told him the truth. She had kept his secret from his friends. If it wasn't for her, the green and red potions wouldn't exist and Jin wouldn't have a way to temporarily suppress the demon. She could have made a potion to kill him, but instead she helped him. He has to return the favor.
"We go after Zafina."
The room freezes. It's not Jin, but Ellie, who hasn't spoken a word since Miguel arrived, who says this. Though her breaths are shallow and nervous, her expression is firm. "We've got to go after Zafina."
"We?" Hwoarang cords his eyebrows together.
She looks to Jin, who nods, before she speaks again. "Zafina is not the enemy. We have to help her."
"Absolutely not!" Asuka waves her finger. "Are you crazy? No way! I'm sorry Ellie but you should take a back seat on this one. We know what's best for Jin. Plus, she could be on either side. He can't go. It's that simple."
"Yes. It is simple. She saved him, now we have to save her."
Asuka dismissively waves her off. "You don't even know Zaf-"
"ASUKA!" Ellie suddenly shouts. "SHUT UP!"
Everyone's mouth falls open, even Miguel's, and to everyone's surprise, Asuka can't get a sound out. They've never seen their spunky friend speechless. All eyes turn to Ellie. She pushes up her glasses and straightens her shirt before she speaks again. She speaks gently, yet with authority. "Kazuya is the enemy. Kazuya is out to destroy Jin. Kazuya is the one whose men fought Xiaoyu and Hwoarang in the alley. Kazuya is the one who kidnapped Zafina."
Xiaoyu says, "I don't trust her, El."
Ellie nods. "I can understand that. I've only met Zafina once. I hadn't even heard of her until you thought Jin might have gone to her for help. But she protected Jin. She tried to help him with the change. She created the potions that slowed down the demon. Where is the villain in those acts?"
"She didn't help us find Jin when we came looking for him," Xiaoyu added.
"To protect Jin. I heard just a few moments ago about the definition of a friend." She glances Hwoarang as she says it, "'A friend is someone who keeps your secrets.' Zafina's done that. She doesn't want Jin near his father as much as we do, remember? And if Jin trusts her," she takes another breath, almost smiling, "so do I."
"She's right," Jin finally agrees aloud, never thinking Ellie would be the first one siding with him, and he's is grateful for it. "We go."
Miguel nods slightly and a brief moment of respect is exchanged between them.
"Fine," Asuka snaps. She turns to Jin, her eyes cold and narrow. "Go after her. Work with your best friend Miguel and save princess Zafina. Don't ask for my help when she and her boyfriend stab you in the back. Just remember that I told you what would happen."
"Suka," Xiaoyu inhales a breath, shocked.
Asuka raises her hand to stop her. "Sorry, Xiaoyu, but this is bullshit. We did all that searching for what? For Jin to be right back where he's started. There are too many agendas in this room. I'm fucking done."
"Asuka." Ellie takes a step forward, but Asuka's already out the front door, slamming it behind her. Hwoarang puts a hand on Ellie's shoulder.
"Let her go," he says quietly.
"Thank you," Miguel says to Ellie. Even when he's trying to be gentle, his voice is still harsh. "We've got to start looking now. Anyone else out?"
Jin looks to Hwoarang who just shrugs. "I go where you go. Ling?"
She's standing by the front door, staring out one of the side panel windows, hugging herself. When she speaks, her voice is solemn and small. "She's right, you know. We are right back where we started."
Ellie, feeling the vibe in the room suddenly go dark, clasps her hands together. "I should probably find out where Kazuya is hiding out before we go anywhere. Hwoarang, Miguel, help me search the databases?"
The three of them shuffle down the hall, leaving Jin and Xiaoyu alone once again.
Jin starts toward her. "Xiao."
"Kazuya will get to you," she explains firmly. "You know that right?"
He does. "I have to. I'd do it for you."
Xiaoyu turns to face him, keeping her eyes glued to the ground. "You're not thinking about what would happen if Kazuya got your powers."
"I am thinking about it. But I can't let the threat of Kazuya stop me from helping Zafina. Miguel was right, I owe her."
"We're not even sure if she's on our side."
"She's on our side," Jin assures her.
"Even then. You're not thinking about the greater good. You always tell me to think about the greater good. To consider what will happen to those around you by the decisions you make."
"I have considered it, and leaving Zafina with Kazuya is the same as leaving her to die."
"And if you walk in there, with Kazuya, with the gem, with the dozens of guys he's going to have on patrol, you'll be as good as dead too. You are Kazuya's key. If he gets his hands on you - think about all the people who will suffer under Kazuya!"
"I am thinking. I see the bigger picture. I see the greater good, Xiao, but I have to put my friends and those who have helped me first, before myself, before the world, you all come first."
She jerks her head toward him, her stare sharp as glass. "Is that why you left then? You disappearing for two months was putting your friends first? Because I feel like we were the very last thing to cross your mind." Tears suddenly fill her eyes and spill onto her cheeks. Jin knows everything she's been wanting to say to him, but didn't because she doesn't want to upset him is finally coming out. "You put us first, then why didn't you call me? Why didn't you just tell me where you were? Why wouldn't you let me help you? I've been searching for you every day. You abandoned me! All I wanted to do was help you!"
"The journey was mine alone, Xiao. I hurt you, and you stand here and act as if it's insignificant, as if your wounds have healed. If I stayed another day, I could have killed you. Why? Because you don't know when to be smart." She flinches and he knows he's gone too far, but he has to be completely honest with her. That's the only way they'll be able to clear this up. "What I mean is your fearless. I know that you'd die for me, but that doesn't mean you should."
"A note would have sufficed," she fires back. "To me or Hwoarang or Ellie, just to let us know."
"Dammit." Jin hisses. Now is not the time, but the air needs to be cleared. He has to tell her everything. "Hwoarang knew."
Xiaoyu shakes her head at the absurdity, her pigtails flopping around. "No, he didn't," she says confidently. "He couldn't have known."
"Yes, Xiaoyu. He did. He knew as much as I could afford to tell him. He didn't know everything, but he knew enough."
Xiaoyu searches his face, in disbelief and first, and then as the pieces start to form together, in solemn surprise. No wonder Hwoarang barely gave an effort to find Jin. He too, had been keeping secrets from her. Hwoarang, who made her believe they were in it together. She thinks back to that moment in the apartment complex just after the tenants had cussed them out. You're a better friend than I am... You're the one that got us all out here looking for Jin… I just think if he had nothing but friends like me, he'd be gone forever.
Lies. All of it.
"I see," Xiaoyu whispers, wiping her face clean. "You guys have it all figured out."
"Xiao." He tries to reach for her hand, but she's already walking down the hall toward her room. He watches her go, wishing he had waited but relieved that she now knows the entire truth.
He lets out a long ragged sigh. She'll come around, he hopes, but he can't be sure. That's two of his friends who have walked out. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he makes himself switch gears. He'll have to do damage control with Xiaoyu and Asuka later, now he has other things to worry about:
Saving Zafina, and not getting himself killed.