Chapter 8: A Final Promotion

They take lunch at the Dancing Crab within Orchard Central while they are waiting for their orders to arrive. It was the first time Hwoarang has to eat crab. Rick, Reggie and Rhima are having a conversation about the final promotion of Miss Global 2016 tonight while Jin remains detached to others after revealing that his mother Jun is Hunyo's representative while watching some videos on his gray tablet.

"I heard Benzon and his groupies are going to that final promotion, Panganiban. Good luck on your disguise as Ms. Corey Yeun. They will be proud..."

"You think you can win the beauty pageant, Rhima. You're the smartest person can do it." Reggie wondered if Rhima can participate which she tells him.

"I do this for the real Corey. She deserves to win this pageant. I had no intention to participate this pageant since we already had Ms. Philippines."

"I guess that you're gonna nailed that contest, right." Rick said noticing her plan and Rhima responded.

"I might nailed that contest and I'm sure that our enemies are already been prepared. So I wanted to get us prepared before they do."

The trio then saw Jin was frustrated since he has been repeatedly watching the videos on replay and Reggie sees him.

"Does he always like this?"

"I think he was getting frustrated over the videos he had currently watched. I need to check on him." Rhima decided to go to Jin who is still frustrated and she sits beside him.

"Rhima-san... I need to be alone right now."

"Don't be upset, Jin... Mr. Lee has reasons to spoke to Mrs. Kazama. I already seen my father's eyes." Rhima said and became saddened when she mentions her father.

"Mr. Panganiban... He was fine when we discussed about this current mission. How can you say that?" Jin grins at her which she tells him sadly.

"My dad was totally stressed out, Jin. I think that would be his reason why he temporarily gives his leadership to Mr. Navarro and Mrs. Kazama became his representative in his place."

Jin was surprised that her father was indeed weakened due to stress while establishing his current job at the UE Manila branch and the main reason of why his mother Jun was chosen.

"I see... Now I understand why my mother was chosen to take your father's place as a representative. Just to look after us and she knows my well being."

"Jin, I saw you were frustrated over the videos you had watched, Is there a problem?" Rhima asked calmly and Jin reveals his problems.

"I already watched a lot of volleyball games on my tablet and it keeps repeating. I'm about to fed up by turning off my tablet."

"I think you watch a previous season of a volleyball game. Today's season of the UAAP is already coming up soon." Rhima said seeing his problems and she shrugs it. "Maybe you can watch it anytime because it was a live sports game."

Jin was surprised when he learns that volleyball games he had watched will be live and it was the first time that he wanted to try and watch this and soon takes her hand.

"Rhima-san... I want to watch a live volleyball game. I never watched in my whole life."

"You need to buy tickets if you like to watch it live. But it will be crowded to fall in line to get the tickets. If it's fully booked then you have to watch it on television via livestream."

"Please, Rhima-san... in my whole life, I always keep on fighting at my world and now I'm in your world. I want to watch that live volleyball game." Jin pleads Rhima in wanting to watch a live volleyball game which she accepts.

"All right... and you were still lucky. I can book tickets by online. That season for the volleyball game will take place in a week and it was the playoffs."

"Thank you so much... Don't forget that okay."

Rhima smiles as their food finally serve and he was surprised to see their main servings including crabs which he wants to eat it.

"Jin, I have to ask you? Why do you always watch a volleyball game? And you have reasons to watch it."

"In my world, there was a mode involving us which is similar to a volleyball game and involves on both punches and kicks to damage my opponents. That mode also makes me lose back then." Jin said revealing to Rhima that he lost to a Tekken Ball game and Rhima recognized it.

"You lose on a Tekken Ball game? My dad knows about Tekken Ball mode and I believe you have one in the game you currently appeared in."

"!"

"Aside from a volleyball game, Sepak Takraw is also a volleyball game but that involves on the footwork. If you want to master Tekken Ball, you had to practice like toss and spike with the use of your moves involved on punches or in same methods in Sepak Takraw using your moves involved on the kicks." Rhima said giving him advice and Jin happily thanked her.

"Thank you for the advice, Rhima-san... You finally eased up my stress."

"Rhima-san... after this, Lee and I are going to give you the makeover. Everyone is gonna see how unique you are." Alisa said informing Rhima about the makeover for tonight.

As Rhima had gone to Plaza Singapura to disguise herself as Corey with both Lee and Alisa's assistance, Jin had stayed in the hotel, thanks to Rei who made a check-in for everyone to take overnights. He was seen in a gold suit and is about to wear a black long formal coat resembling his black trenchcoat until someone calls him.

"Jin."

"Mother... where are you?"

Behind him, a golden yellow light flashes as Jun appears to see him.

"You look nice on that suit, just like Kazuya-san."

"Don't compare to me and Kazuya, mother. I want to know if Rhima is saying is true that Mr. Panganiban was stressed out from getting overworked and you took over his place." Jin wanted to know from his mother Jun and she confirms.

"Yes, Hunyo-san was indeed tired due to stress from his work. Much like what I did as an WWWC officer at my prime."

"!"

"This is why I decided to help the both of you." Jun said calmly and soon stretches both of her arms. "It has been a while after recovering from my grave injuries. I decided to put myself to the test by showing off my fighting skills for the last time."

"Mother... uhm... I want to know if Lee was saying is true that you were a big fan of beauty pageants." Jin said wanting to know if Jun is a fan of beauty pageants which she confirms while giving her son a loving look.

"Of course... that is when I have a little free time watching television when I was in your age before I became disillusioned over living in a city life. Fighting in beauty pageants is like to show yourself how empowered woman you are and to prove yourself worthy to win the crown."

"Mother... are you coming with us?" Jin asked his mother if she comes with them which she answers.

"Yes... I like to see how Rhima-san is doing."

At the hotel lobby, Jin was waiting for his mother to arrive while Hwoarang was with him since the others are getting prepared for tonight.

"Hey Kazama... you seem pretty distressed or something."

"It's none of your business, Hwoarang. I just waited for my mother to come out of the restroom and luckily that Mr. Yu had a friend here to lent her some fashionable clothes." Jin grunted in dismay.

"You're some sort of a mama's boy, Jin. I never seen you acted like this before. Not like our rivalry."

"Jin, Hwoarang... If it wasn't for Han... we'll be in big trouble." Brian said telling them both and he complimented Jun's beauty and appearance. "I wish Hunyo was there but your mother was very pretty in person. I'm glad that Hunyo had chose her to represent him."

"Hey Bri... what do you think of this pretty lady's outfit? She's more unique than my wife is." Han shows Jun without her white headband-like ribbon while wearing a fashionable outfit consist of a pale blue long sleeve collared shirt with the folded puffy sleeves on the wrists, a matching pencil skirt and white open-toed heels. Jin was horribly surprised to see his mother's outfit and Hwoarang teases him.

"Hey Jin... you look like a statue after seeing your mom dressed like that."

"Shut up, Hwoarang...!" Jin said blushing in embarrassment and faces his mother. "Mother, what's with the outfit?"

"Do you like it, honey... Do I look good...? Even Kazuya-san would even see me look like this if he and I we were dating on a different country." Jun said trying to show how proud she was in her outfit, much to Jin's embarrassment.

"I'm so crushed..."

"Don't worry about me, Jin... You should worry about Rhima-san and I sensed that our enemy is already there." Jun said telling her son not to worry and he should worry about Rhima while also sensing the mafia group's presence.

At Plaza Singapura, Rhima now disguised as Corey while wearing an light pink evening gown for the promotion while she was giving a make-up by make-up artists. It reveals that Rhima had finally booked two tickets for the UAAP women's volleyball game and being helped by Ayamie by speaking to her in their respective cellphones to make process by getting those two tickets. Hilda was amused to see her present with the other competitors. Both Alisa and Lee are observing her in case if their enemies are present.

"I've never seen a lot of competitors are also beautiful like Rhima-san."

"This is what a real competition between all the beautiful women in beauty pageants." Lee said smiling as Alisa had detected something on this mall.

"Enemy detected! They are all looming in this mall and they are here for this event."

Lee contacts Lars to inform them that the enemy is already here.

"Lars... you need to take action right now. Those bastards are already here disguising as spectators."

With the song "Brother Louie" has been played, Lars was reunited with Brian and the group and was surprised to see Jun's appearance.

"Jin... is that your mother? She looks stunning..."

"Uhm... yes, Lars. What about it?" Jin answered coldly and Lars reminds himself of his mother, which is the unnamed Swedish woman.

"My mother is usually pretty and she taught me a lot of things in life. When it comes to wearing anything fashion, she was very stunning."

"So this is Lars... I'm glad that you look after my son." Jun formally bows on him which Lars flustered over her actions.

"Uhhh... it's nothing."

"Is Rhima-san was already in the venue?" Jin asked which Lars answers.

"Yes... but our enemy is already here. Lee informs me about it. We have to get ready."

"Sounds like we're going to beat them a thing or two." Brian said grinning over their enemies.

Most of the 30 contestants are seen in their evening gowns who were present on the final promotion and Ms. Hilda was amused to see them present. Alisa looked to see their enemies are nothing more but disguised civilians. She informs everyone to get ready. After this, Rhima was in relief after playing her part as Corey Yeun. She sensed her enemy's presence and to see their attempt of capturing her, it was thwarted by Alisa by shooting a rocket fist.

"Rhima-san... you must go now!"

Rhima removes her heels and she runs quickly. She sees her friends are thwarting most of the mafia group for attempted kidnapping and she was confronted by Kai Cho who is about to capture her. It was quickly subdued by Brian.

"Rhima... Lee is waiting for you outside. Hurry and go!"

Rhima nods and soon leaves the scene. Brian fights Kai with his Philippine Taekwondo moves and to knock him down with one spinning kick to the jaw. Just as she was about to get out of the entrance, she was ambushed by Mark Shang and pricks her with a needle on her neck.

"There's no escape, Corey Yeun..."

Rhima noticed the needle that pricks her causing her to get stunned and soon losing unconscious. Mark succeeds in subduing a disguised Rhima and when he is about to carry her, it was thwarted by Jin by knocking him with one Demon's Paw. Jin looked to see Rhima who was unconscious and paralyzed causing him to lose his temper and seriously wants to take him down.

"Kono yaro! (You bastard!)"

Both men had a brawl but Jin overpowers him long enough by making a powerful assault against him and the fight ends with Jin using his Rage Art without his Devil powers where he knocks him with a right Thrusting Uppercut as he breathes and his right fist are glowing in red. He damages him with Electric Wind Hook Fist and knocking him through the wall with his Leaping Side Kick. Jin became exhausted and he goes to the unconscious Rhima and carries her to escape. Both Lee and Jun see him carrying an unconscious Rhima and to their disbelief.

"Jin... what happened to Rhima-san?" Jun asked worriedly to her son and Jin became angered because of Mark.

"Rhima-san... she was injected with something on her neck that caused her to get paralyzed. It was caused by their leader so that to kidnap her on purpose."

As everyone arrive since Mark and his group of mafiosos had retreated following the failed attempt of capturing Corey Yeun and Han sees the needle mark on Rhima's neck.

"Looks like this needle is made for assassination and this needle they used is a stun needle that cause paralysis to their victims."

"Is there anything to remove the paralysis?" Lee asked and Han tells him.

"If we bring her to the hospital, it's fine to remove the paralysis. However, our adversaries will come back and get her. The only way we can do now is to take her somewhere safe."

"The hotel that we stayed. I stay guard with her." Jin said decided to look after Rhima and Brian simply agrees with him.

"Now the final promotion is over... we can at least stay on the hotel that Rei had checked-in for us. I'm sure their leader might take a few days to recover from Jin's beatings."

With this, they decided to return back to the hotel they had stayed.


Trivia:

*Due to Jun being a human psychic, she is not a game partner nor a stray character because she is able to teleport between the World of Tekken and the real world with the use of her energy ki.

*The first time Jin wears a gold suit which was free for players who bought the pre-release of the game, Tekken 8 to have both male and females wearing the gold suit. However, his overall outfit along with the long black coat was actually one of the generic customizations of the game.

*Hwoarang wears a black suit worn by Kim Hee-chul without the laced ribbon during the food segment with his group Super Junior in their own variety show, Super TV.

*Lars also mentions about his mother which is the unnamed Swedish woman from Sweden when facing Jun.

*The needle that Mark uses on the disguised Rhima to capture her is the same needle used by both Kasumi and Hayate in the 2006 film, Dead or Alive.