A/N: This particular chapter takes place after Jin defeats Azazel with that one punch. It parallels that time.


Chapter Nine


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The woman was dressed in a snowy white jumpsuit, with the silhouette of birds rising on one side. Julia thought it was beautiful. From what she remembered, Jun was always mysterious but was more approachable. White dress, soft voice and a gentle gaze. The scent of jasmine. Pearls. She was different now. Now she reminded Julia of a storm that was about to unleash and you couldn't escape from it. You had to endure it.

You had to endure nature.

Yet, she approached the woman with a cup of chamomile tea.

"For you." Julia said politely and with a smile.

"Thank you." Jun replied softly. Maybe there was some humanity inside her, Julia thought. After the attack on Hwoarang, she didn't know what do think. This woman's son was causing a war and once they had been close friends too. Barring Asuka, Kazamas were weird.

They were still in Baek's house and were camping in there for now. She would be sharing a room with Jun.

The Japanese woman took a few peaceful sips as she looked out of the window. Julia sat with her, doing the same.

"I'm sorry about hurting your friend." Jun suddenly spoke. "I saw him as a threat but now I know, he's not a threat."

"I think if you tell him that, it would make things much more better." Julia replied, still maintaining that politeness.

Jun looked pensive and finished her tea. Julia wondered what Jin would do if he learned that his mother was actually alive. He'd be so happy and seeing her old friend be happy would be so heartwarming. Julia missed the old times. She wondered if Jin and Jun would ever cross paths. The outcome of the impending battle that Jun wanted to go on was uncertain. Jin's fate wasn't looking so bright either.

"Could I say something if you don't mind?"

"Okay."

"Do you like being out here with us? Free and away from the Ogres?"

"I do."

Julia's eyes widened. "Then maybe you want to remove yourself away from the Ogres for good? Assimilate back into society, have connections with people, with us?"

"You want me to turn away from my purpose?"

"No. I don't want to dictate your life to you. " Julia replied honestly. "I'm just wondering if you're going to fight against being controlled by the very creatures who tore you away from society."

There was a bit of passion in Julia's voice that even surprised her.

"I don't know how to live in this society anymore." Jun admitted.

Julia immediately reached out for her hand.

"You won't be alone. I will be here for you if you want."

Julia settled her cup down and leaned over to hug Jun. The gesture surprised Jun who didn't know what to do.

The hug was full of acceptance, humanity and hope. It stirred something within Jun.

Taiyo approached them and was surprised to see Jun locked in a hug with Julia. He said nothing and watched Jun's arms stiffly but slowly wrap around Julia.

He smiled.


Taiyo found himself at the Zaibatsu's headquarters. To find the epitaph he needed access to the archives. It was night and he stood outside the tall building. Jun Kazama was beside him. His informant told him that the CEO and his blonde bodyguard were still abroad. They had yet to return which was the perfect chance for Taiyo to sneak in the building. Things were unmanned.

"I'm not supposed to enter the Zaibatsu building." Jun revealed to him. "It's off limits for me."

It's because your son is the CEO, Taiyo thought. And Ogres want to keep your paths separate.

"You can stay out here if you want, but I have to go inside." Taiyo said softly.

"No, I'm coming with you." She replied and gave him a reassuring smile.

He was glad she was breaking yet another order given by those horrible monsters.

"I don't think the Ogres will want you back after our mission is complete." Taiyo joked. "You've broken so many of their rules already."

"I'm not sad about it." Jun said as she took a step forward to the door. "C'mon, we have many things to achieve."

He smiled and followed her in.

Eddy Gordo, Hwoarang's friend found them and escorted them as his guests so no one became hostile to them. It was a nice change for once not to have hoards of soldiers pointing their guns at them, Taiyo thought. Hwoarang was so helpful, he needed to be given a gift of gratitude after this. He wondered if Hwoarang liked cake. Cake was a nice gift. He could share it was Baek and Julia too.

"What cake does Hwoarang like?" Taiyo blurted out to Eddy.

Eddy raised an eyebrow. "He likes Mango cake, I think. With some chilli flakes sprinkled on top."

"Eugh, chilli flakes on cake. That's horrible. No one would eat that."

"Hwoarang would." Eddy chuckled. "He's a sucker for spice."

They boarded the dramatic lift which gave a nice view of the city. Jun felt like she was inside some castle. The dark energy was abundant in the building and perhaps that's why the Ogres wanted her to stay away. It was overwhelming so she grasped onto Taiyo's arm for support.

"Please don't take too long." Eddy requested. "I can't stand this place anymore."

"Is it because this elevator is like some creepy mechanical spider? Because I actually think it's quite novel."

"Heihachi Mishima commissioned this design. You're complementing him."

"In that case, I take it back. It's awful. It's bloody awful."

"You should have seen that fugly huge robot called Nancy, which looks like an alien spider with a machine gun for an arm. It was commissioned by Jin."

Taiyo looked over to Jun to see her reaction to her son's name. There was none.

"That god that Robot is shred to pieces." Eddy muttered. "Hated training with it. Robots here, there and everywhere! Puts Violet Systems to shame."

Taiyo felt that even the Tekken Force looked like robots. Perhaps they were. Who knew if a man was actually behind that glowing mask?

They went to the computer lab and using Heihachi's login details, Taiyo was able to access the archive. He obtained the man's login information through a skilled hacker he hired. After several attempts, he had to admit failure. Getting the location was impossible. They had to go.

Jun said nothing and waited for Taiyo to log out.

"What is it?"

"I sense a great power." She cryptically said.

He noted that Ogres have had Jun trained to be an expert. While they tolerated him probably biding their time when he broke down and let them train him into being a useful tool. His powers were great but he needed to learn how to use them effectively. Maybe they knew he'd escape and they let him because they wanted to test him and have him reach the destination they wanted for him to reach.

She said nothing else, no follow up and he watched her approach the door softly. She stopped and looked at him as if he'd be lost if he didn't follow her.

"Come on, Taiyo." She said before she drifted out of the room.

She led them to a vast room which was almost dark and empty. There was a throne and lots of glass. There were spikes too and a hologram of a devil hand holding the…the globe? The room was illuminated both by the blue flames and the city lights from outside.

"I see nothing but I feel the energy." Taiyo said. "Energy of a devil."

He also felt something else. It was potent. Love between a man and a woman. Something humanising. Taiyo could see blurred faces of a blonde woman and a dark haired man in close embrace in his vision.

It didn't make sense.

He also saw another man, blonde with a female figure flying around. Faces blurred. An image of a flower on the ground, close to where his foot was.

Love and hatred, both existing in the same space.

"Lots of eventful things happened in this room." Jun said softly as she pressed a hand against the window. "Deep emotions. Like tree roots digging deep into the earth."

Taiyo looked at the glass floor which showed how high up they were. There were no roots there. He let Jun take another moment of silence to tell him whether she discovered anything new that he missed. He wondered what she understood from what she saw and felt. Would she realize that the CEO of this company was her own son? If she did, would she discuss it? The woman was such a mystery.

"Yes, there was a fight here. Between the CEO and a soldier who opposed him." Taiyo said.

It was the same soldier who he crossed paths with earlier on the way to save Julia. It was a small world indeed.

They went back to the elevator.

"Thanks for your help." Taiyo kindly told Eddy upon sight.

"Find anything useful?" Eddy asked, with hope in his voice.

"No." Taiyo shrugged.

"Damn."

"We need information from Heihachi Mishima but we don't him to know we're snooping. And I don't think he's friendly enough."

Eddy looked thoughtful for a moment.

"We can pay him a visit." Jun said.

"But it's too risky." Taiyo said. He didn't want to put Jun in any danger and from his research Heihachi Mishima had the strength of a hundred men.

"Maybe the high risk will be worth it this time?" Eddy said. "High risk, High reward. Give it a try?"

"Where does this man stay?" Jun asked Eddy.

"Mishima Estate. It's a long way from Central Tokyo."

"Let that be our next stop." Jun declared. "Taiyo, have trust in your own power."

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A/N: Jun's special intro to Taiyo is her last line of this chapter.