A/N: Before writing the next chapter of WT, I want to shed some light on some of our cast members using my Character Questions Format, like the ones on Minazuki and Shuwamei. Figuratively, there are two more before the next chapter.

First, Minazuki's mother, Assata.

Character Questions: Assata

Full name: Minazuki Assata

Nickname: Assata (Given name. She's very liberal on who can call her that. Permission will be given if she likes you), Kaa-chan (By Hirose - a callback to her lax approach regarding name-calling), The Sleeping Giant of Justice (Unofficial Tekken Moniker)

Occupation: Agent of the MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications; Japan's equivalent of Internal Affairs in America), former agent of the CIRO (Cabinet Intelligence & Research Office, Japanese equivalent of the CIA), former Teacher at the Kazama Traditional Martial Arts School in Osaka, Former Agent of the CIA and IA.

Appearance: A Japanese Woman born in America with black hair going down to her middle back and bangs falling before her forehead to somewhat shield silver-gray eyes. She's often disheveled due to her job but has yet to show gray hair, even with the stresses of her career. Her skin is tanner than her son's due to multiple trips to America, a rarity amongst the Japanese.

Age: 44

Mannerisms: Hirose gets his borderline merciless sense of justice from Assata. In her youth, her demeanor was exactly like her son's. She kept to herself and had few friends but would do nearly anything for those who earned her friendship. While climbing Japan's Justice System rankings, Assata was ruthless to the criminals she detained and any of her co-workers who tried her.

After meeting Hirose's father, Assata mellowed out and settled down before giving birth to their only child. She's now likable and remains calm when Hirose's sense of justice gets him in trouble, similar to her younger days. However, she'll assert dominance and won't hesitate to put anyone in their place if necessary.

What does he/she wear?: Due to always being in the field and having a martial arts background, Assata wears clothes that allow her a majority range of motion - a dark navy blue windbreaker zipped up with a gray sweater hoodie underneath, regular denim jeans with black and white trainers on her feet. At meetings, she wears a suit without a tie with the blazer unbuttoned while keeping her button-up shirt neatly tucked into her slacks.

Favorite color: Navy Blue

What is he/she good at?: Assata is a former teacher at the Osakan Branch of the Kazama Style Traditional Martial Arts and is a Judan in the discipline. Combined with the Combat Training while in the CIA, she uses each to create an aggressive take on Kazama Traditional, more than Asuka's. She's also ambitious and driven, highlighted by her desire to join the CIRO. To get experience, she used her American Citizenship to get into the Police Force and worked her way up to the CIA the moment she graduated High School. By age 22, she was in the CIA. By 24, she had made her dream come true.

Alas, Assata remains humble and knows she must halt her work at CIRO when she becomes a mother. She was granted permission to transfer to the MIC. Lastly, she does a great job as a mother. (According to Hirose, if you ask him.)

What is he/she bad at?: While her time is Hirose's inspiration in his vigilantism, Assata would let that side of herself show occasionally, and it's never a good time for anyone and everyone in her vicinity. Though she knows Hirose can defend himself thanks to his Kyokushin background, nothing stops her from being a concerned mother.

What does he/she want?: To ensure her son is safe and without worry.

What is his/her goal?: To get back into the active field at the CIRO.

What lie does he/she believe?: Her injury and Hirose's problems prevent her from doing so, even with the resources to rehabilitate.

What flaw results from the lie?: The potential to return to active service is a soft spot, and she'll dodge the topic when it is mentioned.

What truth does he/she learn?: She doesn't have to worry about Hirose, so she can rehab her injury and return to the field.

What is his/her background?

Assata was born to Japanese Parents in the Justice System or Civil Rights Activists in Los Angeles, California. She was named after the Black Panther, Assata Shakur, as her parents were supporters of the CRA and the Black Panther Movements. Yeah, her family did not joke around. Her maternal grandparents were also Interned during WWII.

Her sense of justice was inherited from her parents, so her and Hirose's incessant need to do the right thing can be hereditary. In her youth, she was fiery and passive-aggressive, which made her a gifted but problematic child, especially when she moved back to Japan with her parents when she was 12. Thankfully she didn't take any shit from bullies of either gender and still had time to have excellent marks.

Her parents noted this and enrolled her in Martial Arts classes in Osaka under the Kazama Style Traditional Arts Dojo. Proving a quick study, she was already a Third Dan Black Belt by the time she graduated. She took to it well, though the training did little to ease her fiery nature. She immediately signed up to join the Osaka Police Department, hoping to join the CIRO. But she was rejected for reasons unknown to her to this day. Afterward, she moved in with her Grandparents in California to join the LAPD instead and quickly worked her way up after skipping college entirely. She was offered a CIA position two years later. Her first op was to bring in a war criminal. His name?

Mishima Kazuya.

Assata entered the King of Iron Fist Tournament 2 at age 20 and made it to the quarter-finals before losing to Paul Phoenix. Jun Kazama, a contemporary in Kazama Style, also competed, but Assata eliminated her in the third round.

Assata couldn't bring Kazuya in due to an injured leg during her intense bout against Paul, thus derailing her CIA career. The CIRO in Japan accepted her, and Assata worked there until she met Hirose's father and gave birth to their son. Her leg injury caught up with her and hampered her career in addition to motherhood. Yet she was content and looking forward to raising Hirose.

Then, tragedy struck.

Her husband was killed in a car crash when Hirose was only 4 years old. The new MIC position didn't pay as well, so Assata and Hirose struggled but showed their strength of character and persevered, creating a bond stronger than steel. Alas, her position in the MIC couldn't allow her to rehab her leg as if she had the time. Nowadays, Assata still works for the MIC, and thanks to the deal (she had no choice) made with Heihachi, she's much better off financially.

I can go further, but considering that Assata will be a cast member after the first Arc is done, I think that's all I'll tell you since you'll be seeing her a lot soon.

Additional Questions for Minazuki Assata?

How much did Assata tell Hirose about his father before the accident?

Assata is still over her husband's death. Whenever Hirose asks about his father, Assata (reluctantly) obliges. He has the right to know.

AD: Rightfully so. Losing a parental figure at that age is scarring for any child.

Did Assata ever converse with Jun during Tekken 2? Or even at all?

They conversed before their match, revolving around numerous topics. Philosophy regarding Assata's usage of Kazama Style Traditional in tandem with CQC and their mutual duties to bringing Kazuya in. The reason for Assata defeating Jun was similar to how Heihachi defeated Kazuya. Their general presence of the other weakened them, but Assata would argue that even if Jun had her Kazama Powers, she still would have beaten her.

AD: Figured it was appropriate to ask this question, knowing that Assata practiced the same discipline as your favorite Tekken character.