Chapter 6: Beginnings

By Lady

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Jin stepped outside and immediately spotted a helicopter nearby, its blades slowly coming to a halt as it landed. With his two children in tow, he made his way towards the aircraft, the doors opening before him to reveal his uncle, Lars Alexandersson.

Excitedly, both Sasuke and Syouto rushed towards Lars, while Jin greeted him, then Lars knelt down to their level, remarking, "You two are growing so fast, huh?"

Syuuto beamed. "Really! Can you see my muscles grow too?"

Sasuke chimed in eagerly, "Can we have a ride in the helicopter?"

Lars glanced at Jin, who nodded in agreement. With their father's permission granted, both kids jumped for joy as Lars instructed his crew to take them for a short ride.

Lars sat next to Jin "It's been months since I last saw you. How have you been?"

Jin's expression softened with nostalgia as he spoke, "I'm managing, and there's been a new addition to the family," he shared, a hint of pride evident in his voice. "We have a daughter now."

Lars nodded knowingly. "Yeah, I heard from Alisa. You named her Jun after your mother, right?"

Jin nodded in confirmation before his expression shifted to one of concern. "Uncle... Xiaoyu has come across something troubling, and we need your help."

Lars's brow furrowed with concern. "What happened?"

"Jin briefly paused before telling Lars about Xiaoyu's encounter with a woman who had the Devil Gene."

Lars: but how can she possess the same devil gene ..isn't it only related to Kazuya's mother?

"I'm uncertain. That's why I've turned to you. Could it be linked to the Mishima lab?" Jin suggested, his tone tinged with urgency.

Determined to unravel the mystery, Lars declared, "I'll look into it right away. But it's bizarre. How can it be?"

Jin added: we must find her, but I'm at a loss as to where she might be"

After a moment of contemplation, Lars spoke with conviction. "I believe I know where to find her."

Jin's eyebrows raised in surprise. "You do?"

Lars: "It seems the 'surprise' she mentioned may hold the answers we seek."

Jin looked at him confused

Lars handed him his phone: Watch this

Watching the recorded [Live Broadcast]

Reina's voice filled the screen as she made a chilling announcement: "I am announcing the new Iron Fist tournament. I, Reina, the co-founder of the Purple Lightning, will be the boss match. If you win, you can grant any wish you want. And if you lose, you will have to lose everything you have." (She returned to her desk) "I'm talking to you, Kazuya Mishima! Come out from your cave and join. You can't hide forever."

The screen flashed, then returned to Reina. "By the way, at the tournament, I have a special guest or, may I say, a surprise! Now, we're done. The details will come out shortly." (She smiled)

With a swift, decisive motion, Reina punched the camera, causing the screen to go black, abruptly ending the live broadcast.

[End of Live Broadcast]

As the screen faded to black, Reina's assistant, Nina Williams, entered the room. "So, what's next? What if Kazuya doesn't show up?"

Reina smiled mockingly. "A Mishima never stops fighting, and…" She gestured towards the camera lying in pieces on the floor. "Keep both of your eyes open."

Nina turned back "Will do."

*That's what Kazuya and Jun watched (in the previous chapter - 5)

Jun "Are you training to fight?"

Kazuya snapped back, "What does it look like I'm doing, Woman!"

Jun persisted, "You know there's no point in fighting or entering the tournament, don't you?"

Kazuya's eyes flashed with determination. "No, there is, and more."

Confused, Jun probed further. "What do you mean?"

Wrapping his hand with gauze, Kazuya's voice hardened. "Winning this tournament will restore my reputation. I'll reclaim my status as the strongest man on earth, and everyone will know their place."

Jun sighed in frustration. "Is that really all you care about?"

Kazuya's gaze bore into hers. "I need to reclaim what's rightfully mine, and this tournament is my chance."

Jun interjected, "What about our plan?"

Kazuya stopped his attention fully on Jun. "You will come with me!"

Jun shook her head. "I won't comply because it's absurd, and I don't take orders from you. If anything, it's the other way around, or we work together!"

Kazuya looked at her, a mix of frustration and determination in his eyes. "Then we will set out."

With that, he turned away, focusing solely on his training.

Jun watched him, her mind racing as she searched for a way to change his mind about joining the tournament.

Lili: Finally!

She strides over to the box and opens it with care, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

A soft chuckle escaped her lips as she admired the treasure within. "This is a masterpiece," she murmured, before carefully closing the box, keeping its secrets safe.

Meanwhile, Asuka's voice shattered the tranquility as she burst through the door, her frustration evident.

"What were you thinking when you hired Hwoarang?" she demanded, her tone sharp with accusation.

Lili lets out a resigned sigh, knowing exactly how Asuka would react: He has the potential to be a mentor.

Asuka presses, her tone incredulous: How can you be so sure? And why didn't you consult me first?

Lili settles into her seat, taking a contemplative sip of her tea before meeting Asuka's gaze: Just look at your reaction. I wonder what would have happened if I had sought your input beforehand. As for why I chose him, we both recognize his strength. As you mentioned, he's Jin's rival, and he would have emerged victorious in the tournament if not for Jin's Devil Gene.

Asuka is momentarily at a loss for words: But still, you should've asked first.

Lili, still composed, continues to enjoy her tea: Is there something concerning you about him?

Asuka hesitates before responding: No, but I wish you had given me a heads-up, so I wouldn't look a fool in front of him!

Lili still sipping her tea, grinned.

Hwoarang stepped into the dojo, his presence immediately drawing Asuka's attention. She continued her training, a silent acknowledgment of his arrival.

A faint smile tugged at Hwoarang's lips as he observed Asuka's focused dedication. (Is she ignoring me?) he wondered, masking his amusement.

"How is your back? I'm sorry if I was too hard on you yesterday," Hwoarang offered, his tone surprisingly gentle.

Asuka's response was curt, her irritation evident. "Are you trying to start a fight?" she retorted, her eyes narrowed in suspicion.

Hwoarang recoiled slightly, taken aback by Asuka's hostility. "What? No, I was just asking" he replied, scratching the back of his head. "Um, where's Lili?"

Asuka said boredly: She's always late in the morning, but she will show up anytime.

Hwoarang: Oh so do you want me to—

Lili glided into the room, Sebastian following close behind with a box. She placed it in the center of the dojo before Sebastian unveiled its contents—a luxurious vase.

"Good morning, early birds!" Lili greeted, her voice laced with enthusiasm. "I got my hands on something special from my hometown of Monaco. This is quite valuable, and I managed to secure one for myself." She chuckled. "I've decided to bring it here to serve as a source of inspiration and a reminder of my affluence." Her laughter echoed in the room. "Anyway, I hope you don't mind, but I must emphasize the importance of handling it with care. If anything were to happen to it, you'd be held fully responsible!"

Asuka mocks. "Wow, it looks nice, but what's so special about it?"

Lili stops. "Well, they only made three of these in the world!" She cast a meaningful glance at the vase, a wicked smile curling her lips.

Zafina arrived in Italy and made her way to Claudio's location. Upon her arrival, Claudio had already been informed of her coming and instructed her to wait for him in the lobby.

A few minutes later, Claudio entered and noticed Zafina seated, engrossed in a book. What caught his attention was her attire – she was dressed in modest clothing, the dark hues reflecting her usual style.

"How have you been, Ms. Zafina?" Claudio greeted her, breaking the silence.

Zafina stood up. I've been doing well, thank you. How about you?"

"As you can see," Claudio replied with a hint of amusement. "Thank you for coming. I was hoping you could assist me with something I've discovered."

Zafina nodded, ready to help. "Then let's get started."

Claudio hesitated, a nervous energy palpable in the air. "It's a bit difficult to explain... Would you mind giving me some time to combine it?"

Perplexed by his request, Zafina agreed with a slight frown. "Sure.. of course."

With a gentle smile, Claudio began to engage her in conversation, leading the way as they embarked on their journey together.

Back at the dojo, tensions ran high as Lili, Asuka, and Hwoarang engaged in their training sessions.

Lili couldn't resist stirring the pot. "Hey, Asuka, I can't help but notice how differently Hwoarang is training us. It seems rather unfair, don't you think?"

Asuka's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "What do you mean?"

Lili leaned in conspiratorially. "He gave me only 20 minutes of training, while you had a full 40. Seems rather biased, wouldn't you say?"

Asuka's thoughts raced (Does he think I am weak and that I need extra training?), but she refused to show weakness. "Did he really? I'll show him."

Lili hid her evil smile "Oh, please do" she thought, keeping her composure outwardly.

Unbeknownst to Asuka, Hwoarang was closely observing their interaction, his interest piqued by the brewing tension.

After their break, it was Asuka's turn to train.

Hwoarang beckoned her with a gesture, his expression unreadable. Asuka hesitated, recalling Lili's words, before launching into a flurry of punches with renewed determination. Yet, to her surprise, Hwoarang effortlessly countered her every move.

"I like your spirit," he remarked, his tone genuine.

Frustration welled up within Asuka, her anger bubbling to the surface. "Are you making fun of me?"

Hwoarang shook his head, confusion evident in his eyes. "What? No! But what's your deal?"

Asuka's breath came in short, sharp bursts as she struggled to contain her emotions. "What's my deal? You think I'm weak! Don't you?" With a fierce cry, she launched herself at Hwoarang, their sparring escalating into a heated confrontation.

Their intense exchange peaked as Asuka's final strike propelled her backward, inadvertently causing her to crash into Lili's prized vase, shattering it into a thousand pieces. As silence descended upon the dojo, all eyes turned to Lili, whose tear-streaked face betrayed her heartache.

Later that night, Asuka and Hwoarang ventured into the city's midnight market in search of a replacement for Lili's broken vase.

Annoyed, Asuka muttered, "I can't believe we're wasting our time here."

Hwoarang shot her a pointed look. "If you weren't so mad, we wouldn't be here."

Asuka bristled at his accusation. "Are you blaming me now?"

Hwoarang "Yes, I am. Ever since I stepped into the dojo, you've shown nothing but anger towards me."

Asuka was taken aback. "What? When did I—"

Hwoarang raised an eyebrow, leaving Asuka at a loss for words.

Realizing her mistake, Asuka sighed. "Okay, fine. I'm sorry. It's just... seeing you suddenly in our dojo is quite strange, don't you think?"

Hwoarang shrugged. "Well, Lili offered me a good sum of money I couldn't refuse"

Rolling her eyes, Asuka muttered, "Tell me about it... But how long are you planning to stay?"

Glancing at the market, Hwoarang replied, "I don't know, maybe a month or less... Hey, look over there! We might find what we're looking for."

Excitedly, Asuka noticed the market and exclaimed, "Oh, yeah! I think we found it!" She rushed to the shop while Hwoarang followed at a leisurely pace, smiling at her enthusiasm.

At the shop, Asuka showed the owner a picture of the vase, asking if they had something similar.

The owner promised to check the storage room and left Asuka to browse. As she looked around, a guy approached her.

"Hey, aren't you Asuka Kazama from the tournament?" he asked excitedly.

Asuka smiled shyly, feeling a sense of pride. "Yes, I am."

The guy expressed his admiration for her fighting skills and requested a selfie, which Asuka happily obliged.

Meanwhile, Hwoarang observed the interaction with a hint of amusement.

After the guy left, Hwoarang teased, "Someone was nervous."

Asuka laughed. "Me? Yeah, right."

Hwoarang shrugs his shoulder. "I'm just saying. Do you have a split personality or something? Why were you so nice to him? Do you know him?"

Asuka shook her head. "No, I don't. But he appreciates my skills, and I …(looks down) like that."

Hwoarang merely nodded before suggesting they head back.

Asuka checked the time and was surprised to see how late it was. "It's 11 o'clock

Hwoarang joked, "Got a curfew or something?"

Asuka shook her head, but her voice wavered slightly. "No...," she trailed off as she walked to the door, pushing it open to peer outside. The fading light revealed that most of the nearby markets were closing for the night.

As she stepped outside, Hwoarang followed closely behind, watching her carefully. He noticed her stumble slightly and couldn't help but ask, "Is everything okay?"

With a forced air of confidence, Asuka continued forward. "Yeah, why do you ask?" She halted abruptly as she caught sight of a group of men loitering outside, their presence sending a shiver down her spine.

Turning back to Hwoarang, she suggested, "Hey, maybe we should head back to the store. I don't think we should call it a day just yet."

Hwoarang placed a hand on her shoulder, stopping her. "Whoa, hold on. It's too late, and the owner could close up any minute now."

"But we could check another market nearby. We can't just leave now," Asuka insisted, her voice tinged with unease.

Hwoarang looked at her intently. "Asuka... are you scared?"

Meeting his gaze, Asuka frowned, hesitating for a moment before admitting, "Yes, I am scared. I don't like being out at night, especially with a group of guys like that around."

Hwoarang was taken aback by her honesty, but without a word, he took her wrist and led her behind the market. He had noticed a shortcut earlier while they were waiting for the shop owner, and now it seemed like the perfect escape route.

As they emerged from the other side, Asuka couldn't help but smile gratefully. "How did you...?"

"I remembered seeing it from the storage room window earlier," Hwoarang explained. "Owners have easier exits like these."

"Thank you," Asuka said softly, a sense of relief washing over her.

"Don't mention it. Now, let's get you home," Hwoarang replied, his tone gentle yet reassuring.

With a newfound sense of trust and gratitude towards Hwoarang, Asuka nodded, feeling safer in his presence as they made their way back home. As they walked, a soft smile graced Asuka's lips, a silent acknowledgment of the comfort she found in his company.

A/N: Looks like Hwoarang's got a new role as Asuka's designated escort ;)! Stay tuned for more.