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(Defeat)

Kazuya's mind was a whirlwind of violent thoughts and furious curses as his body plummeted and the wind whoshed in his ears. He wasn't done. Heihachi wasn't dead. He could still do it. He could win. He could kill him. How could Devil have—The sudden impact depleted the air in his lungs, and he was forced to lay on his back.

He stood up as soon as he caught his breath. "This was my fight! I could have finished it!" His venomous shout was swallowed by the void.

Revenge could have been his for the taking, but Devil took him out too soon. He wanted something to break. Anything. Something solid to hit, splinter, and crush. But in the pitch blackness, all he could do was pace, chest heaving, fists opening and closing, muscles tensing, aching for release.

Two sons. And neither of them can fight worth a damn. He heard Heihachi's voice. He saw him looming over him, looking down with pure disdain and disgust.

"I defeated him once," he called into the void again. "I can do it again if you just let me–"

The words froze on his tongue. Let me? Begging for permission like a child? No. This was Kazuya's fight to win, his challenge to face, and no one, not even Devil, would take it away from him.

He sat on the ground, legs crossed, hands on his knees. He closed his eyes and tried to calm his breathing. It was damn near impossible. So many images flashed in his mind. So much adrenaline coursed through his veins, ready to propel him at any solid object. But he had to do it. Weeks ago, at the Zaibatsu, he had forced Devil to release Jun with a mere, desperate thought, with a picture in his mind of what he wanted to happen.

He breathed in through his nose and out through his mouth over and over until the pounding in his ears stopped, and his heartbeat slowed. Even in the middle of nowhere, on a desolate volcanic landscape, he saw the tiny motes of light energy floating in his mind's eye, as gentle as falling snow. Draw from it. He remembered Jun saying, but how? The motes were scattered, tiny. He focused on one and stared at it until it became blurry and unfocused. In the blink of an eye, it was a hand's width away from his face. He focused on another one and brought it close again, then another, and another until they formed a sphere the size of a marble.

We're supposed to be a team, Devil's voice reverberated around him, but I see you're turning on me…

Kazuya opened his eyes. "Do I have your attention?"

You don't have to be so dramatic. I'm only toying with him a little. You'll get your fun, too.

The window opened above Kazuya's head, and he saw through Devil's eyes. They had moved from the base of the volcano to somewhere near the top. He watched Heihachi roll down the rocky slope until he caught himself. He stood on shaky legs, covered in ash, face bruised and bloody, his gi torn at the knee.

Devil laughed as he rose up into the air. Don't worry. I'll let you deal the final–

The view in the window above became a blur of sky, clouds, and dirt, mixed with the sound of sliding and cracking rocks. Then, Devil's furious growl as he pushed himself off the side of the volcano.

No! Not now!

A stream of silvery-white light came at them, lightning fast, but Devil flew up, then dove down to meet it. When they collided, Kazuya saw that it was a woman. A blonde, winged, ethereal-looking woman. She was as skilled and as strong as Devil, maybe more. She met him blow for blow as they hovered somewhere above the volcano and beneath the clouds.

"Who is she? Why is she attacking?"

But Kazuya's questions went unanswered as Devil struggled to fend her off.

She avoided Devil's red laser with a graceful spin in the air, then retaliated with a beam of white and golden light that Devil narrowly managed to avoid.

Where did she come from?

Devil flew up, nearly colliding with her, and caught her wrist when she threw a punch, then drove his knee into her abdomen. I will never go back. He hissed before slamming his head onto her forehead.

It sent her a good twenty feet back, but she caught herself, then flew higher up and began raining down beams of light until she was concealed behind the golden glow, making it impossible for Devil to see where to aim. He darted and swerved in every direction, avoiding the barrage while trying to retaliate. When he saw her diving at him, it was too late.

She tackled him hard in mid-air, then pushed him into the side of the volcano again. Devil's vision blurred and was further obscured by debris. Kazuya could barely make out the woman's shimmering form.

"I am sorry, Kazuya." He heard a melodic voice speak from the outside. "I am sorry that I was not there to protect you. I was unaware that Devil had escaped until it was too late."

Why was she talking to him? How did she know his name?

"Everything that you endured as a child, you did not deserve. I felt every rejection you suffered, every blow against your psyche and body, and I carry them with me every day. I experience it every time you remember, every time the thought of your father's cruelty and the coldness of the world keeps you awake at night. Every time Devil forces you to relive the events of that fateful day, I relive them too."

Kazuya stood frozen. His voice came out in a whisper. "Why are you here now? I don't need you. I'm a man. I don't know who you are, but you were not there for me when I was a child. No one was."

Except me…

The woman's gentle tone took on a hard edge. "Do not heed his words. They are nothing but venom and deceit."

Devil cackled. Venom trumps inaction. Had I not been there, he would have died alone. A small, broken body wasting away in the cold.

She came into focus now. Her eyes were a shade of blue that did not belong to any human. She was otherwordly. Beautiful. "Kazuya, all is not lost. There is still time for you to experience happiness, joy, and love. It is not too late."

Wasn't it? Everything he had been through, everything he had done…How could he want happiness if he didn't even know what it was?

"When you played in the garden on the days your father was away." The ethereal woman spoke. "When your mother sat in the sunshine and watched you try to catch frogs. You would look to see if she was watching you, and she smiled at you every time."

Kazuya spoke through the ache in his throat. "She was already sick."

He had forgotten. For decades, he had forgotten. But at that moment, he almost felt the sun shining on him. His mother's face was a blur, but he remembered her smile. It stirred something in his heart that had been dormant since he lost her.

"You did not forget that moment, Kazuya," the woman said. "Devil made you forget. He has the power to keep your own thoughts from you. He twists them—"

No one saved your mother, and no one saved you because the world is a cold, cruel place that culls the weak. But I made you strong. I made you a god. So, I am not the villain here. I will not deny that I locked that memory away because letting you get in touch with your softer side was not going to prepare you to face off against your father. It was not going to get you the revenge you thirst for.

A spark of anger emerged inside Kazuya, but it failed to ignite. The memory of his mother further solidified the only truth that mattered. She had been loving and sweet; Kazuya had been small and innocent, and the world didn't spare them. Devil took a lot from him, but he had given him a new chance at life, an opportunity to make Heihachi pay.

"You did not deserve what happened, and you have suffered greatly." The woman extended her hand. "But there is still time to reject Devil and choose your future. There is still time to find happiness."

Despite everything, there was something about her that inspired trust. Kazuya was afraid he could start believing her if they were face to face instead of watching her from behind Devil's eyes. She was truly Devil's opposite. Devil gave him power, and she offered happiness. But did he want it? Did he need it? Revenge was worth more than happiness. Logically, he knew that, but...

Happiness is elusive and fleeting. But revenge is just and permanent.

"Revenge will not right the wrongs of the past. It will only damage your soul and lead you down a dark path from which there is no return."

When your mother died, your grandfather was there to comfort you and protect you. But Heihachi took him from you and then left you to die a slow, painful death. Are you going to let him get away with that?

"No."

The woman's demeanor, her voice, made him question his choices, made him think that perhaps there was something to look forward to beyond revenge, beyond hate. But he had lived almost his entire life for revenge. The few pleasant memories from his childhood had been replaced with the hatred he felt for his father. He couldn't let himself feel anything else because it would cloud his judgment and hinder his purpose. Heihachi had to pay for committing the ultimate betrayal. And Kazuya was going to make sure that he paid in blood.

"Kazuya," There was an edge to the woman's tone. "Do not exchange an instant of catharsis for an eternity of–"

Devil shot forward without warning, his uppercut hitting her square in the chin, violently launching her up. She stopped mid-air, wings spread wide behind her, her delicate features twisted into a mask of pure rage. When a golden glow began to emanate from her, Devil flew to the base of the volcano and picked up a boulder the size of a sedan. He spun, then released it, and when she swerved to avoid it, Devil's laser found its mark. It hit her in the middle of the forehead.

Devil's psychotic cackle as he watched her free fall made Kazuya's stomach drop. He wanted to catch her, to protect her from Devil. He didn't even know why.

She landed hard near the top of the volcano. The violent impact sent up a cloud of dirt, ash, and debris. Devil hovered over her as the dust began to settle.

The dark hair was the first thing that caught Kazuya's eye. There were no wings. Even with the dirt and ash covering her, he immediately recognized the face and felt like he couldn't breathe.

All he could manage was a hoarse whisper. "Jun."

This is too perfect. Devil's gleeful laugh echoed all around Kazuya. So this is how the bitch did it, used your bitch as a vessel. I should have known.

Blind fear gripped Kazuya's heart. It made his hands shake, and the bile rise to his throat. He could feel Devil's intentions. He didn't have to say a word. It was like a pressure on his entire body, a weight that threatened to crush him.

His limbs felt like stone, but he managed to stand and close his eyes. He didn't have to search for the light energy. In his mind's eye, he saw it around Jun's form, glittering like sunshine on a lake's surface. There was so much surrounding her that it was easy to gather and manipulate. When he willed it to move, it covered Devil. It penetrated his eyes and mouth as he screamed and writhed.

Kazuya tried to catch himself when he felt like he was falling backward. He closed his eyes, bracing for the impact that never came. When he detected the smell of sulfur, he blinked and squinted as he tried to adjust to the brightness of the day. He could barely see, but he made out Jun's motionless form mere feet away.

Let me go! Devil howled and screeched. His screams echoed inside Kazuya's head.

He grit his teeth. "If I let you go, you'll kill her." Kazuya closed his eyes and tried to focus. He saw the light energy and directed it to Devil.

Devil's screamed and clawed inside his head until the sound became nearly inaudible. If I don't kill her, we'll both—

Kazuya stood, limbs shaking, legs heavy, his heart racing. He had no idea how long he could keep Devil at bay. He had to get away. Jun began to stir, and his chest tightened. There was an unfamiliar ache that threatened to pull him to her. He didn't know if she was hurt; all that mattered was that she was alive. But if he didn't leave, Devil would tear her apart. He turned his back on her and began walking toward the hiking trail as fast as he was able. He would have run if he could, but his legs felt so heavy.

"Kazuya."

Jun's voice almost made him turn around, but his feet didn't slow. The pounding in his head and the rapid beating of his heart made it difficult to concentrate, to even move.

"Kazuya!"

Why was she calling for him? Couldn't she tell that it was making everything more difficult? That he was trying to protect her? He ignored her and focused on the terrain. He stumbled forward, his gaze fixed ahead until he rounded the summit and saw the hiking trail. He couldn't hear her anymore. Walking would be faster now, and once he was at the bottom, he would run to the nearby woods. Give Jun time to–

A blunt force hit Kazuya from behind, and he fell forward. He felt his jaws vibrate and heard the sound of his own head as it hit a rock. It was dark. Completely dark. There was a familiar voice he couldn't place, but it was outside his head, and it wasn't Devil. Why was it so dark?

"I'll be doing the world a favor."

Kazuya was floating, going higher and higher with each step. Whose step? And now he was falling. No. Devil is taking over. But why was he so quiet? I locked him away to save Jun.

Jun.

He couldn't call for her because he couldn't breathe. The acrid smoke stung his eyes and overpowered his lungs until they felt empty, and his screams died in his throat. The scorching heat parched his tongue and blistered his skin and flesh. The burning pain was in his bones, in every cell of his body...

But then it was warmth. Like sunshine in the garden. And his mother was watching, and she was smiling.

The flames didn't burn. It was just candlelight illuminating Jun's face.

And it was so quiet in his head...

Every muscle in Jun's body was tight and sore as she tried to move on the hard, rocky ground. She felt disoriented, her thoughts muddled. But she sensed Kazuya near her. She was sure about that.

We fell.

The memory jolted her awake. She tried to sit up quickly, but slow was all she could muster. She rubbed her eyes, trying to remove the grit and dirt. When she opened them, she saw the blurry image of Kazuya walking away.

"Kazuya," she called.

Her vision was clearer, but her mind felt fuzzy and confused. No, it was him. His mind was in such turmoil that even from a distance, she could feel it. He was walking faster, nearly running now.

"Kazuya!" She called again. But he rounded the summit, and she couldn't see him anymore.

The ground swayed under Jun's feet when she stood. She had no choice but to wait until her equilibrium was somewhat restored. When she felt steady enough, she walked in the same direction Kazuya went.

She wanted to run, but the terrain was so uneven and rocky that she tripped and slipped every few steps. She could have sworn that she heard Angel speak inside her head, but the sound was so quiet and feeble that Jun told herself she had only imagined it.

The fumes escaping from the vent of the volcano made her stomach churn. But as she continued, her strength and clarity returned gradually despite the hostile environment.

When she finally rounded the summit, she saw Heihachi standing over the vent of the volcano.

She froze.

Heihachi lowered his arms, and something–someone fell in.

Her mind registered what she saw, and she tried to run. She slipped and tripped, but she moved as fast as she could. The tears and the dirt in her eyes blurred her vision as she told herself that she had imagined it, that her eyes were playing tricks on her because what she saw had to be impossible. It had to be.

But Heihachi was standing there, looking down into the vent.

No. I'm wrong. I'm wrong. I'm wrong.

Deep down in her heart, she knew she didn't imagine it.

Heihachi turned around and seemed to finally notice her.

Jun tore her eyes away from him and continued to climb. Her heart beat faster, and her chest grew tighter with each step she took. She wanted to move faster and reach the vent, but at the same time, dread turned her limbs to lead.

When she reached the vent, she slipped and fell to her knees again. The smoke stung her eyes as she looked in. And she saw nothing. Only the smoke. It was so thick and heavy that she couldn't see anything else. But she stared into it. Her mind was blank. Her lungs felt empty.

I'm wrong. Jun told herself again as the crushing realization tried to set in. I'm wrong.

"It's done." Heihachi's gruff voice sounded distant. "There's nothing for you to do."

Jun looked at him over her shoulder. Her voice came out in a strangled whisper. "Why?"

"You don't know what he was. I did the world a favor." He sighed. "Go home, girl. You're lucky this didn't end worse for you." He said before turning his back on her and beginning his descent.

She looked back into the vent.

It's a long fall, Kazuya.

But I have wings.

"Where are your wings?"

She stood up and looked down. It was so dark, the smoke suffocating.

I failed.

If she could take one step. One small step…she could be with him. Just one step.

Jun. Angel's voice was hard as steel. Step away.

"He's gone."

I know. But something is not...right.

"Of course, it isn't. He's dead. Why didn't you help?"

Devil's attack incapacitated me.

"Where is he?"

I do not sense him, but something—

"Then your mission is done. Leave me."

Jun. This was only one of the possible outcomes. Not the one I hoped for. Even I could not—

"Leave me."

I will honor my promise.

Jun felt Angel sever their bond. There was no physical sensation, but her thoughts were clearer, her head uncluttered. She shivered when she noticed the chill in the air. When she went to rub her arms, she realized that the back of her shirt was torn to shreds. She untied the black cardigan from her waist and put it on before beginning her descent. It was done. There was nothing left to do.

A/N: Yep, there's a lot in here. I know that's not how Kazumi died, but when I started this, we had no idea how she died. No matter what anyone says, I don't think that Heihachi was able to defeat Kazuya in his Devil form. I honestly think the only reason he was able to win, was that Kazuya was too distracted with the battle inside himself and he took advantage of that.