Author's forward: And we are back! I can believe it took me so much time to write this. But I have an excuse. I said I would summit another chapter soon if life was still good, well guess what: It wasn't! My life has been a nightmare lately, I hate my job and I have been under so much stress it's a miracle I didn't get balde. Just now I've been capable of finding stability and it is still hard, so I will take the little victory that is finally out of my hiatus and publish a new chapter, even if so dilated I may have lost the interest of everyone.

Let 's go!

Chapter 7: The phoenix and the unicorn

Ling Xiaoyu woke up the next morning to the singing of a couple of birds sitting on a branch outside the window of her new bedroom. It was pretty early, actually. It might as well be the first time in weeks she had the will to get out of bed without needing Panda dragging her out of the bed. And ironically, she just got to sleep for a bunch of hours, her friend was still sleeping carelessly in a corner of her room, not expecting to wake up her beloved owner until a few hours later.

Her body felt heavy, as if just the weight of gravity over her was a big burden to carry. She looked around her room, it was impeccable. After talking to Anna, the young spy barely had enough energy to take a shower and throw her dirty clothes on the floor, but it looked like they were already picked up. washed, folded and left in a chair in her room. No wonder she didn't hear a thing, she was so tired she wouldn't wake up even if the end of the world was outside. The amount of weird and dangerous stuff that happened in just a day was just so exhausting that the chinese student didn't want to do anything that day but lay in her comfy bed hearing the pleasant noises from her window.

Yet she knew none of that was possible, she was not just a high school student anymore, she was an undercover agent in an active mission, a mission she was responsible to make it progress. So, she got out of her bed, regretting every movement in the process. Her injuries were already taken care of, but she still had a little bruise on her left leg from the Prototype Jack Graving her, not that she actually cared, she had other stuff in her mind.

She put a black tank top, a white jacket with black details and a pair of black shorts that were long just beneath her knees. She looked at herself in the mirror and combed her hair in two pigtails and went out of her bedroom.

The place looked quiet that morning, but not suspicious, just peaceful. As soon as Xiaoyu stood in the halway of the mansion her G-Phone sounded once, so she took it out and read her new message.

This message has been programmed to be sent as soon as you are awake and prepared.

Morning, little agent, some major work situations had sent me away. Nevertheless, your mission's still the same, find a way to get into KIS's dorms and bring some of the suspect's DNA with you without getting caught.

I'm positive you won't encounter any problem in making your job on your own, after all you've already proved to me how my new acquisition is capable of handling things correctly, so I expect nothing but perfect.

We'll reunite to have tea and dessert in the evening. Until then, see you soon.

Anna

Xiaoyu put her G-Phone back in her pocket and analyzed her new situation. So, she is aware of every single movement I'm doing here, but at least now she trusts me a little. She couldn't lie, it felt really good being praised by someone after a long time being scolded by the adults in her life, but she couldn't just fall for it. Neither Anna nor the G Corps were trustworthy, she knew very well every time Anna praised her for her good job last night, she was actually praising herself for getting such a skillful dog. She was trying to tame her, making her feel valued for her ability to please her boss, the same thing goes to her absence, it looked like she was giving freedom, but in reality the young student was firmly tied by her leash, Heihachi used to do the same with all his honor students, especially with Jin, but they realized too late to do something about it, that's why they are now in this situation.

Xiaoyu knew her train of action to follow was still the same as yesterday, do her mission fast and clean, make contact with Jin and get back to Mishima High as soon as it became possible. That means there was no time to lose that day, she was going to get Shin Kamiya DNA that same day, even if she wasn't sure of how yet.

The Chinese fighter walked calmly through the mansion's hallways. They were G-Corps soldiers all over the place as always, but today their presence made her feel more claustrophobic, a clear reminder that as long as she stays here, she will always be watched. She needed a plan to get followed or traced, that's when she remembered she hadn't made contact in a while.

"Panda, wake up! We have to go!" Xiaoyu said to her friend. Panda woke up very confused about this crazy dream where her owner was capable of being awake before her. "Come on. girl! Our day has just begun!"

Xiaoyu put on some pink shoes and a pair of fingerless pink gloves and went outside the building with Panda. At the entrance was the chauffeur waiting for them outside a limo.

"We are not going to precise a vehicle today, thanks anyways." The young girl said in her most sweet voice to make her charm save her for questions, which was effective because there was nothing to suspect of a carefree student going for a walk.

When they finally were far enough from the G-Corp headquarters, Xiaoyu put her plan to work. She took her G-Phone from her left pocket and something else from the right one. It was aluminum paper, she got it from some food she bought the night before for her dorm's watching. She covered her G-Phone with the aluminum paper to avoid someone tracking her or trying to enter her data (Anna included), and then took the earphone she still had and put it on Panda.

"Ok, Panda, I need to make a private call," She whispered carefully to her friend while covering the earphone with another piece of paper. "So, you go west through the forest like we are doing a walk, if they don't reach us we'll blame the bad signal, I'll go east, we'll reunite in two hours, got it?"

"Growl! (Sure, Count on me! But be careful, Xiao)" Said Panda while moving her head excitedly.

"Alright! Ready… Let's go!" Xiaoyu uncovered the earphone and went running straight to the east while Panda walked peacefully to the opposite direction, trying to act as natural as possible.

After twenty minutes running, Xiaoyu stopped in front of an antique but well kept shinre. There was nobody there at that hour, probably because it was too early and there was no upcoming festival at that season, so the business must be slow. The young martial artist looked around one more time, and when she was sure she took out from her inner pocket her stolen special cellphone. Still very nervous, but convinced, she put the battery on it, which was almost fully charged, and proceeded to make a call. As the dialing tone was sounding, she was worried her call wouldn't be answered, after all, this plan was totally out of the blue, and if it failed maybe she wouldn't have another chance in a while. But, luckily, the call was answered in a few seconds.

"Hello," Hearing a voice made Xiaoyu suddenly get a little anxious. There was so much to say she was not sure how to start. " Who's there?"

"Officer Lei Wulong..." She said shyly.

"Ling Xiaoyu! Is that you?" Lei Wulong snapped so desperately after hearing her voice that Xiaoyu almost threw the phone. "Tell me, are you alright?"

"Yes, it's me, I was hoping you remember me from..."

"Thank goodness you're ok! Do you know how worried I was?" Wulong said very loudly, slightly scaring the highschool student "I was filling out some reports when I suddenly received this message of yours saying you're in danger, and when I tried to talk to you it's like you disappeared from the face of the Earth! There is no information about you in Japan any longer and Mishima Highschool insists they cannot find your academic files."

"What?" The news shocked Xiaoyu. She was so worried about her mission she never thought about the possibility of G Corps taking care of her personal information. And it sounded uncanny, her work with G Corps is just a once in a lifetime situation, she could understand keeping a low profile at her new school. But why did they take away all of her files? "Officer Lei, I had no idea this was happening, I swear."

"Xiaoyu, where are you? I will go there right now and I'll help you out."

"I can't tell you right now, it's too dangerous."

"It's Because it's dangerous why I should be there for you!" The firmness of his voice almost sounded paternal, which made the young fighter feel a little overwhelmed. It was somehow very comfortable knowing there were some people out there still caring for her, Lei Wulong, Miharu and the whole student body of Mishima High, all of them must be pretty concerned and now she is out of reach. It almost made her feel guilty for accepting Anna's proposal so fast and worrying all of them. Would they all be relieved if she just ran through the forest straight back home and never looked back at G Corporation?

But even so, she couldn't forget why she agreed to do all of this: she had a friend, a very good one who she trusted and cared about. But one day he disappeared for a long time, and when he finally came back he was changed, he was lonely and out of reach from his colleagues and her, and it was starting to seem like the world was also changing with him, and not for good at all. So now she is there, wishing to see him one more time, wishing to know how to fix whatever is in need to be fixed as long as it makes him the noble person he used to be. Yet, unlike the other times she made that wish, now she has a chance of making something about it, not just from him, but also for everyone (student, soldier, accuantiance) around them. This was not the time to give up.

"Officer Lei, I'm not trying to be unreasonable here. Trust me when I say nothing is making me more grateful than knowing you are there with the will to protect me from my situation." Xiaoyu took a deep breath and stood herself firmly before continuing her sentence. "But right now I have something very important to do, not because I have to, I don't, but because there are people who need me, and I am not gonna turn my back on the ones whom I could help because I know better than to just do that. As long as I can help someone I'll never give up. With all that clear, tell me now, can I count with you on this one?"

There was a small silence on the line, yet Xiaoyu was able to hear Lei's breathing on the phone. Finally, he answered.

"Alright, I can argue with you when you sound like that." Lei sounded tired while saying this, yet still a little content about it. "I might regret it later, but for now on you can count on me"

"Really?" "Thank you so much!"

"Yeah, yeah, just tell me how I can help." The sudden change of heart surprised Ling Xiaoyu so much she needed a second to focus her ideas, but after a second of doubt she was sure of what she needed most.

"I need more information about Heihachi Mishima's death."

"Are you still not convinced about his accident?"

"Right now more than ever, but I also need more information about the traditional Mishima karate style and if it is possible for someone outside the Mishima family to have been learning it."

"That's kind of a specific question, but I see what I can find. Anything else?"

"As a matter of fact, yes. Can you see if there has been someone investing a significant amount of money around Kyoto? It doesn't have to be in anything in particular, but it has to be around three months ago."

"Got it. I'm on the case!" Lei answered enthusiasts. The mission might be dangerous, but he still was a super cop excited for the drill of a big case. "Now listen, I know you don't want me to get closer right now, but I think we should keep some regular contact in case the situation gets out of hand. I know the youth's feeling of wanting to handle everything but yourself, but there's nothing wrong with getting an extra hand. I don't want you to understand that too late." The idea of someone having her back made the Chinese fighter think about Shin Kamiya and their team fighting the night before and how great it felt not having to hold the weight of the world in just her shoulders. Of course she could understand Lei's words about letting someone else carry your problems with you.

"Thank you, Officer Lei." She answered with a happy tone she was sure Lei could notice even through the phone. But the upbeat feeling of counting with a new ally was abruptly put on hold when Xiaoyu noticed a disturbance in her surroundings. It was as if something was feeling wrong with the air all of a sudden, the young student wasn't sure of what it was until she realized the bird's singing had been shouted for a while, something was near and had taken away all the nature's noise.

"Ling Xiaoyu, do you hear me?" Lei asked after hearing nothing but Xiayu's tense breathing for a while. "Is everything ok?"

"Officer, we are going to have to end this conversation for now" Xiaoyu said, paying more attention to the corners of the shrine than the call. "Someone has followed me."

"What! Xiaoyu, are you in danger?"

"I'll call in a couple of days, bye"

"No! Don't hang…" But the little spy had already disconnected the call. Putting her fighting stance she stood in the middle of the patio to get a clear view of her surroundings. The place was tense like a battlefield, in any moment she could receive a surprise attack, yet she was not sure from whom.

"Quit the act! I already know you are here!" The Chinese fighter shouted out loud, wanting to call her opponent out of its hiding spot."Show yourself! There's no point in sneaking like a coward!"

Suddenly, a fast shadow came out of the sky and threw itself at her. The silhouette approached her from her right doing a flying kick towards her face with a loud scream. Ling Xiaoyu almost didn't have time to avoid it with a backflip to let the mystery attacker break the stone floor with its landing. The young martial artist kept doing two more backflips to get more distant from her opponent until she was cornered by a tree. Looking then at her opponent she saw a small and fast object launched straight towards her head, she reacted fast and dodged the weapon doing her phoenix stance. Xiaoyu took a second to see the item stuck in the tree was a fresh red rose with a very intoxicating perfume.

"Excellent! What a marvelous reaction!" Xiaoyu turned around to see her attacker, but his speech already left it clear. "I wouldn't expect any less from such a fierce fighter. So, tell me, did you like my little greeting? I name it Silver Slash."

"Violet!" Ling Xiaoyu screamed with anger. The CEO of Violet Systems was now again with his silver hair, and unlike his previous formal attires, now she was wearing an indigo vest and some dark pants with some heavy boots, much more suitable for a fight.

"Violet? My precious student, I think you got my name wrong, what an impolite attitude of you considering I took my time to perfectly remember your name, Ling Xiaoyu" Lee/Violet said in an over dramatic tone while walking to the center of the temple's front patio, never losing eye contact.

"Violet, Lee Chaolan or whoever you are, it doesn't matter to me! How dare you try to ambush me!" Xiaoyu said with a firm tone, not wanting to waste more time with his acting.

"Oh, but it certainly does matter to you, more than you can ever imagine, my precious student." Lee accommodated his hair and then proceeded with his speech. "I've come here to you with a proposal, but as your beloved sensei I can not give it to you without making sure you earned it."

"You are not my teacher, nor beloved to me, and I definitely am not interested in anything you can propose to me." The teenage spy replied very annoyed. "And to answer your previous question, no, I don't appreciate your cowardly sneak attack of a salute!"

"Cowardly? Au contraire, my dear student. That was nothing but a small test to make sure your capabilities were at my level. Otherwise this proposal would be unfair. Don't you think the same?"

"Cut it out with your games, I'm not doing any deal with you!"

"Why not? Is this simply youthful stubbornness or are your loyalties already taken since you are the newest little pet of G Corps?" The comment froze Xiaoyu's blood in the act.

"How..?"

"Please, a new student appeared out of nowhere in the most secure facility in Japan, no explanation, not previous data but my vague memories of her jumping around in the previous King of the Iron fist Tournament," The young martial artist was surprised Lee/Violet did actually remembered her for the tournaments, she was sure she never left an impression on him "And the next time a see you is during your big entrance at my very exclusive gathering. It's obvious you are working for someone, and since Kazama is not getting in touch with anyone and that old fart is gone, it's easy to sum two and two, your scary gaze was the last confirmation I needed. Did I pass my test?" Lee/Violet asked with a mocking smirk on his face. Xiaoyu felt cornered. There was nowhere to run, if her position as a spy was discovered she was not useful for Anna anymore. There was nothing else to do than play along.

"Just tell me what you want from me."

"You see, this is the problem with society these days, nobody listens. I'm not looking for anything to see if you are really as capable as I suspect, as your teacher I'm obligated to confirm you got what it takes, so here is my proposal, I'm gonna put you under a test, and if you get to do it right, I'll help you with this tiny quest of yours."

"And if I fail?"

"Putting yourself down already? No need to worry about your sensei punishing you, after all, nothing that I do to you could be worse than whatever a Mishima does to their no longer useful mascots." The realization froze Xiaoyu's blood. She has heard the rumors about Kazuya Mishima from her own grandpa. Right now, she was not sure who she feared more, ner new opponent or her new boss. Yet at this time, she was more capable of surviving the first one.

"Alright, you want me to do your test, I will"

"Excellent, that's the spirit of a challenge! A life without passion has the same worth of living in the desolate and null darkness. Now, if you wanna pass this test, you just have to answer one simple question. So tell me, Ling Xiaoyu, Who am I?" Lee/Violet entoned that last sentence very slowly and firmly.

"Isn't that a little philosophical for a history teacher?" The young student asked, still overly perplexed, of the kind of evaluation she was receiving.

"Not at all, my vivacious scholar, don't you know the ones who don't know their past would never see their future? Who we are is tightly linked with where we came from."

Who is he? How should I know? I'm not even sure what his real name is, yet I don't think either of those two ones I know are the answer he is looking for. And he is talking about the past, he is way older than me, there is no way I can know about his story. Xiaoyu was in a tight spot, his new opponent was clever and meticulous, she needed to get smart to pass this challenge, otherwise, it would be game over for her.

"And are you gonna give me any other hint to figure this out?"

"But of course, in fact, I'm gonna give you all my help to decipher this enigmatic riddle… you and I are gonna fight right here and right now!"

"wait, what!"

"Get ready for your next challenge, your text starts now!"

To be continue…

Author's note: I hope you like it! Wait for my new chapter next month, where we see if Ling Xiaoyu gets to pass Lee's test and if I get to put my disastrous life under control. Best wishes in this new year. Love you all!

Thoughts during the creation process: Someone I wanted to develop more in this story was definitely the character of Lei Wulong, I love how he is always in the middle of every story of the game. There's a giant corporation experimenting with animals? Call Lei Wulong! A ciborg is terrorizing the city? Call Lei Wulong! Do you want to know how experimental babies are made? Call Lei Wulong! Did you lose your capoeira master? Call Lei Wulong! And the list keeps going on, I don't know, I'm not sure of how close he can get to the story, but I know I wanted him to take more than a text like in the movie.