Bodominjarvi: Yes, I am a seer of things and people, no one can fool me. :) I knew that Reina would be bratty just by looking at her picture from the leaks. I knew she'd be a teen knowing Harada's love for lolicons and hatred for christmas cakes. He won't develop Nina as his team think in a black and white way, Nina= bad/black and Lars/Jin = Good/White. I loathe that kind of writing just for the Tekken characters. For NPC's like Koldon Markov, that is fine, he's not grey or white.

KOF Allstars gave some birthdays for some Tekken characters like Jin, Kazuya, Paul and Xiaoyu. I don't know how much canon it is but since I've seen Japanese artists celebrate Jin's birthday on the 5th of August, it seems like it may be canon. So cute to know Baby K's birthday. If Jin and Nina have a Taurus son (born in May) that means Jin and Nina had celebrated Jin's birthday together lol just like Jin's parents. I was thinking maybe their son could be an Aquarius (Born in Feb). Thanks for your input, so interesting to read about it.

Thanks for your review.

Published: 27th November 2023.

Chapter Twenty Seven

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Vials of white fluid.

That clearly came from a man.

Too many to count.

A note with them.

To, my slutty slut slut of the skies!

An original gift to you, my Goddess Nina. None have ever came up with this magnificent idea, not in the movies, books…and in real life. I am so original. Enjoy my gift! Smear my healing balm all over yourself like lotion, my love. Thou shalt surrender to my aromatic cream.

-Always Yours, Alligator.

Yeah, as if no one else came up with the idea of a creepy stalker giving such 'gifts' to the victim, Nina rolls her eyes. Someone please pass her a bucket as she's feeling physically sick right now. His type of speech is outdated too. Was that supposed to impress her?

"What a disgusting pathetic clown." She says. "I'm going to hand this over to the cops for evidence. They'll have this idiot's DNA on file."

Julia makes a face when she sees the stuff and realizes what it is. A suspicious package ending up at the front door for and a clueless Nina got her attention.

"Bet he never saw that coming." Julia scoffs and then bit her tongue, realising the unintentional pun. She shoots an apologetic look at Nina.

The fact that this Alligator guy was talking to her as if she was some trollop was annoying. Any man talking to her like that would be slapped across the face, should they dare come in front of hers.

She looks at the words again.

Always Yours….

Never yours. Nina retorts in her mind. NEVER.

If only this bastard could get that through his thick skull. Which she most certainly would like to crack.

After a shower and drying her hair, she decides to go to sleep. Or tries to.

In bed, she curls up and all the pain swarms in her heart. Everything she held back in the past day flooding back.

It gets so intense that Nina just lets her tears stain her cheeks. She had to squeeze them out because crying wasn't natural to her. Waking up in an open grave, all alone, left for dead…almost strangled to death. Not to mention, that disgusting package sent to her and that puke worthy note. Jin getting dragged down with her and then her sacrifice, the pain in his beautiful eyes and knowing it's because of her that he's in pain…it is all too much to cope. Not just one person but so many people were playing this game with her and for what? How many people she pissed off in her previous life that she is paying her dues now?

Knowing Jin was watching over her despite her actions…

She became a coward and didn't close the distance between them yet. Ran off in her apartment and tried to still her beating heart, the memory of his cologne still with her.

She didn't deserve his kindness.

Nina is quiet as she forces herself to have a little cry. She tries to muffle her sobs so Julia doesn't wake up.. With the back of her hand she swipes her tears away. She is not sure if that alleviated her pain or not, the heaviness of pain is still there.

Julia wakes up anyway.

She walks over to Nina's bed and sits on the space that was clear.

"Want to talk about it?"

Nina's eyes flickered open. "You won't judge me will you?"

"No."

"I can't put Jin's life at risk which is why I've separated from him. More than one person wants me dead and I don't know what the hell is happening. I have no control. It's best if you distance yourself from me too."

"Nina…, you can't fight this alone."

"I don't know if I can fight it alone but I don't want Jin and you getting hurt because of this. I can't live with it. You two have given me so much acceptance and helped me turn my life around. I owe you both."

"Why do people want you dead?"

"I used to be an assassin."

Julia sharply inhales. "Used to be… but now you're different."

"I'm going to become an assassin again."

More awkward silence.

"Is killing more people going to solve this problem?"

No answer.

Julia continues, "You have a clean slate. The cold sleep amnesia helped you start anew. You chose a path which wiped away previous crimes."

"That's the thing we'd both like to believe but really it didn't because now I'm paying for it. Karma exists for a reason and I'm getting my dues." Nina says. "It'll be foolish to believe no one gets punished for their crimes."

"You want to make sure Jin and I don't pay for your crimes." Julia says sadly. "Have you thought that you are punishing yourself and Jin? This separation is hurting the both of you."

"He'll forget me soon."

"I don't think so. We both know Jin. When he loves, he loves wholeheartedly."

"It's why I want the best for him and for you too." Nina sighs. "You both are innocent."

"How can you decide that you're guilty and deserving of this 'punishment' ?" Julia asks.

"The universe as big as it is may not care about your existence but your deeds are more important. There's such a thing as karma. I think I must have done something to warrant this in my previous life."

"You agnostic?"

"Anna said we were raised Catholic. Right now, my views have no label. I believe in a God who interacts with the universe. After what I've seen and felt, I know it in my bones. I'm still expanding my knowledge. I just want the truth, even if it's bitter." Nina says.

Julia nods. "Some people may not like a God who punishes."

"We punish people in this world, don't see why we expect God not to punish us." Nina replies. "If anything, God would be justified. So many souls are disgusting anyway."

Especially that disgusting Alligator. Almost killing her, abusing her, threatening to hurt Jin and then leaving her with those disgusting things he called a 'healing balm'.

She's glad Julia is not pushing her views on her. Glad that she actually hears her out and makes her not feel attacked. In fact, this wasn't the first spiritual conversation they had. It was nice to talk about existential crisis with her. Nina didn't feel stupid with her.

Julia places her hand on Nina's. "You have a solid point. It's strange though. Catholic Assassins. If mean who goes into this profession knowing that God will punish them at the end for it?"

Nina lets out a tired chuckle. "I can't remember but if I do, I'll let you know."

Anna would know. Anna had all the answers hidden somewhere. How their catholic father got into assassination. Maybe he was too at this same point as Nina now was. No choice but to protect ones he loved.

No choice.

"I'm going to make some decaf herbal tea. Want some?" Julia said, placing a hand on Nina's forehead. "It'll help you fall asleep."

"Am I okay?"

"You haven't got a fever." Julia replies.

"I'll have the herbal tea anyway, thanks."

"If you're serious about killing the bad guys, maybe bump Craig Marduk off too." Julia half jokes, taking Nina by surprise.

Eun-Seo arrives the next day. Nina is more resilient and composed this time around. It is almost like old times. She pulls out a glossy photo once she sits at the table. Nina is given it and it's one of her. She's in a little black dress, sitting at a table alone in some bar. There is a small glass table near her with a drink. Nina's in the middle of tucking her own hair behind her ear and crossing her stocking clad leg. She's sporting bright red lipstick and had a look of demureness.

Jin would find this shot absolutely beautiful, Nina realises. No matter what, he always made her feel so beautiful. This image would make him gasp.

"I took this picture before I got my drink." Eun-Seo informs. "Had a strange feeling that times would change and I needed to take that picture before it did. It was the last I saw you, before you disappeared for years."

"I was twenty two in there?"

Eun-Seo nods and studies Nina's face. "Still don't look much different. Your hair is longer and you have a different lipstick on. Along with different type of clothes. You do come off as a tourist, not going to lie."

"I am a tourist." Nina says, deadpan.

Eun chuckles. "You can keep the photo and you're welcome. So is there anything else you need from me?"

"I want to learn what I lost."

"You sure about that, Nina?"

"Yes. I'm sure. I've made peace with the fact that I may have to kill some people."

"What if I told you I was the ones who sicced Marduk's goons on you? That day after work?"

"That was you?!"

"The old Nina would have loved that challenge. She too would have knocked them all down like bowling pins."

She hands Nina the gun.

"Hold it."

Nina holds it. Her hands shake slightly. This thing could kill.

The cold metal burns her hand. The heavy object weighs down on her conscious. She dares not touch the trigger.

Nina holds it for a second or two before she places it down. There will have to be a day her hand doesn't quiver when holding this thing.

"I'm putting my faith in you, Eun-Seo."

She tells her friend everything about Detective Coke and the Alligator. The woman listens with a sympathetic look that borders on intrigue and disbelief.

"We're going to hunt this bitch down and teach her a lesson, I promise you. She was the bitch who cried about her fake ass daughter being killed by you."

"I killed someone's daughter in front of them?" Nina gasps.

Then Eun narrates a story that Nina once told her. Many years ago.

There was an American prostitute who was white and had mental problems. She had a big sister who paid Nina to get rid of her so she wouldn't inherit a single dime from their parents property. An African American woman named Detective Coke met this woman years ago and formed something of a parent-child bond with this prostitute. Referred to her as her daughter.

Did her best to stop Nina from killed her Misha, but failed.

"After you killed her dear Misha, Detective Coke was wailing and snotting all over the place, crying like a bitch, your words not mine." Eun tells Nina. "I, still to this day, couldn't believe you left her alive. Any other assassin would have shot her dead before the coppers arrived. You said you didn't have time to shoot her, but I reckon' you felt sorry for her. Did you no good though, she's back for revenge."

"One wants revenge and the other wants to acquire me." Nina says. "I think someone else is pulling the strings."

"My husband." Eun-Seo reveals. "He doesn't know that I figured it out but we have to hide that I'm training you from him." It is recent information to Eun, caught when she heard her husband arguing with a woman named Detective Coke just yesterday.

"Your husband?"

"Yes, Rory Murray, owner of G-Corp. You killed his father, Cian when he was a teen. In a Cinema in Limerick."

Nina sucks in a breath. Her dream was real.

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