IMPORTANT NOTE: I do not own anything
CHAPTER 5: The mediator's come back
Asuka Kazama used to live a "peaceful" life…well, as this Japanese girl considered her way of life peaceful. She was training with her father, who was teaching her Kazama Style Martial Arts. Yeah, that was something Asuka found completely cool, even though she was sneered at because of that from a "certain person" in the tournaments, she participated. Back then, she decided to ignore him because she had other things in her mind but she, surely, was going to save some of her time for him in the future…
She was a girl, who could be easily pleased, if only someone could give her a bunch of bums to beat up every day. However, what made her pleased was causing trouble for her parents. Asuka Kazama was a nosy child, who was meddling with other people's busyness, and didn't have any problem to admit it. Her motto always was: Fighting is the only way for justice to prevail. And it was true. That girl, honestly, believed it…However, she started to forget about this thought of hers. She participated not only in one but TWO tournaments and all that for nothing. Her parents would tell her that, she couldn't do anything about it with the way she was. Maybe her will was strong and her confidence could be considered arrogance…a lot of people would say that it was only arrogance…but still, she was only a student. No power, no one to take her seriously, not an adult and again no power…
After the sixth tournament ended, she came back to her hometown being completely devastated. She failed her exams, not that she was sure that she was going to succeed even if she was in her usual self, but still that was something that saddened her parents a lot. But what worried her father most, wasn't her failure at school but the fact that she refused to go to the dojo and train. He was confused if his child was sick or just stubborn because she didn't have it her way. On the other hand, her mother was worrying for her as a woman. She didn't take care of her body, she refused to go to her annual visit to her gynecologist and more importantly, she wouldn't eat. Every day, her mother would go to the local market to shop for the house or take Asuka's cat to the vet. She would hear whispers from people, who were saying that the neighborhood is much better from the time Asuka Kazama stopped fighting around. Whenever she would hear a comment like this, the middle aged woman, would ask kindly from someone to hold her bags for her and then, she would turn to face the commenter and solve the "misunderstanding" with…K.O. That being said, her husband had taught her some of the Kazama Style moves. How did they think Asuka had these beliefs of justice and punishment? Her mother was an advocate of these terms and that was what made her husband fall in love with her, in the first place.
…
Osaka…
Kazama Residence…
"You ate already, darling?"
The woman's husband nodded and stood up from the table. He thanked her for the food and she smiled. He saw her sad face expression and his lips turned downwards. He was worried about his wife. Because of their daughter, she wasn't taking care of herself due to her being worried about how she could help her only child recover. Her daughter was her weakness and would do anything for her to not see the frown above her eyes. After learning from her husband, the Kazama family's issues and his sister's specialness, she took it upon herself to not allow her child to resemble any Kazama family member. Not even her father, since she considered him too soft. However, when in family gatherings, the woman would wear her kimono and have quietly tea with the women of her husband's family. They were discussing about how Asuka was that "naughty" and nosy child and the woman would say that her father is not harsh on her. She would smile in the inside and nod to herself thinking that "I won't allow you people to turn my child into a weird freak."…
He walked close to her and kissed her hair gently… "You need to pull yourself together. You won't help Asuka by being as she is."
The woman snapped his hand away from her and looked angrily at him… "You mean to sit here and just wait? It's been two months already! My child is falling apart and we're here doing nothing."
He placed his hand under his chin thinking that his wife was right. But Asuka was way too stubborn… "You're right, if only I was harsher on her, she wouldn't have this "justice" thing only in her mind."
After she heard what he said, she hit with her fist the table. A frown appeared on her face, which the man was seeing the same exactly in his daughter. Maybe, Asuka had inherited the facial structure of the Kazama family but her body measurements and face expressions was something that she "took" exclusively from her mother…
"How dare you say that!? Having the beliefs she has means that we raised her well…But ok…you could have some control over her. She respects you more than she does with me."
"No, no…It's the fact that you, mother and daughter, are exactly the same."
The woman crossed her arms under her chest and said… "And where's the bad thing here? My little girl is an angel!"
The man shrugged his shoulders and tried to reason with his wife… "Honey, ok…We're her parents and we love her but we both know that our daughter is everything but an angel."
The brunette middle aged woman bit her upper lip and before she was ready to say something the corner of her eye spotted Asuka walking down the stairs…
"Oh Asuka, sweetie! Good morning!" she said and walked to her side giving her a light hug, as she rested her head on her daughter's shoulder. The woman believed that if Asuka knew that she had her mother's support she would pull herself together and lighten up. The younger woman patted her mother's back and the other woman released her…
"Ah…yeah…"
"Come on, your food will get cold and I know that you enjoy it better when it's hot. That tongue of yours worries me sometimes."
Asuka gave her a smile at this. It was known that she liked spicy food way better than the Japanese cuisine. However, she shook negatively her head and said…
"Not hungry."
Her mother touched her shoulder and said looking saddened at her trying to make her daughter feel a little guilty by upsetting her own mother. "How can that be? You didn't eat since yesterday morning."
"And you haven't come to the dojo since that tournament thing ended." Said her father angrily standing opposite them… "What do you think you're doing?"
"And I'm not going to come!" she said and made her way to the kitchen…
Her parents followed her… "Asuka! Don't say such things to your father. He put all his effort and love in training you."
The young girl gave them another glance and said… "I'm not going to come again. In the end, all this practice meant nothing. So useless…"
Her father's eyes widened and he walked to her. He hit her at the back of her head and said… "Enough already! All these years your mother and I are going along with your wishes. I had enough of your childish behavior. Now you're going to listen to us, you hear me?"
Her mother nodded agreeing with her husband… "Your father is right, Asuka. I understand what you mean…You failed your exams and…"
"This is the last thing, which worries your daughter, believe me." Said the man interrupting her…
"WHAT?! Of course, I'm worried about my exams."
"Then, why weren't you coming to the dojo? To read for your exams? If that was true, you wouldn't fail them from the very beginning. You're a smart girl." He said to her crossing his arms…
Asuka stayed silent, since she didn't know what to say to her father. He was completely right. Suddenly, she felt her mother's hand on her shoulder…
"Asuka, my love…One of these men is already dead, he paid for his crimes and the other one, who caused us so difficult times, is going to get captured I assure you. Don't worry yourself…Is it fair for a young pretty girl as you to be crying here for a thing like that? Will you do them this favor?"
"M-Mom…" she whispered…
She placed her arm around her shoulder and smiled at her… "I just don't want you to lose yourself. It's ok…You may have failed your exams…you're not the only one anyway…But there are always technical colleges. You just need to find something that well…at least, to gain a little your attention."
"Even if I was to do that, we would have to pay."
"It's ok! If that means that I'm going to have back my healthy daughter all is fine, right darling?"
The man nodded… "Your mother is right. If it means for you to stop being like a zombie and get to practice again, I don't mind. I'm too young to entrust the dojo to you anyway and not to mention my ultimate fear of you turning it into a gambling fighting center."
"I'm not "that" low!"
"Is that ok, then?"
Asuka nodded and smiled to her supportive mother and then, did the same with her father and teacher… "Fine! But be sure you two, that I'll definitely pay you back."
The two parents looked at each other and rolled their eyes…
"I see, go and eat now, ok? I'll take you for shopping next."
"Tsk…So boring…" she mumbled and watched her parents leaving the kitchen…
The woman giggled remembering what her daughter said about paying them back and her husband smiled…
"That's our daughter for you" he sighed…
"She even took that side of mines" she said and touched her chest…
"That trait of hers is one of mine."
"Oh really? Then why were you saying before that, you mother and daughter, are the same?"
The man rolled his eyes and said as he was walking to the door… "That's two different things."
She nodded sarcastically and watched him as he left…
…
Two hours later, Osaka Market District…
The two women, mother and daughter, had been out shopping for an hour now. Asuka was following her like a dead person. That girl was weird…How come she didn't enjoy shopping? Her mother believed that this will help her cheer up sooner…she failed…
"What should I take? A melon…or a watermelon?"
Asuka sighed since they were here for ten minutes now with her mother wondering what of the two she should buy… "You don't help me, honey."
"Mom? Whatever you take from the two, dad doesn't like it."
"It's true that he has a problem when it comes to digestion." She said and placed her hand under her chin…
Suddenly, they heard voices coming from further inside and Asuka, realizing what was going on, tightened her fists. Her mother watched her hands and then her face, which was filled with excitement. She smiled and said…
"Asuka?"
The young girl looked at her mother… "What is it?"
"Hand me the bags."
She raised an eyebrow confused… "But they're a lot, you can't…"
"Trust me…And you do what you MUST." Said the woman and pointed with her eyes to the direction, where the voices were coming from...
Asuka smiled and placed the bags on the ground. She looked at the direction and then at her mother, who was smiling sweetly at her. The young girl gave her a kiss on her cheek and ran away… "I'll be back for lunch! Buy the watermelon."
The woman waved "goodbye" and nodded…
Asuka Kazama ran the way there. If only she had her bike with her, she would make one hell of a bad ass entrance. But whatever…She arrived there and watched as these two gangs had destroyed every single store in the market. She gritted her teeth angrily. She made her way further inside and came face to face with them…
"It's been a long time, hasn't it guys?" she said and smiled…
Their eyes widened as they saw Asuka Kazama being back in business. They looked at each other without knowing what to do. She watched them backing away from her but she wouldn't make them the favor… "Why are you running away? I missed you!"
The young girl wore her light blue gloves, after she took them out from her bag, and said… "And I'm willing to show you exactly how much!"
Thanks for reading!