Kaji

"Kaji"

Chapter 1: Death is the Beginning

By: Crystal-Aura

�� Heihachi Mishima had only employed Kay Hinako for less than a week, but already, she knew everything there was to know about the Mishima Financial Empire.� She was hired to be his assistant in all that he did, financial situations, paper work, and otherwise. Kay was a European diplomat that had married a Japanese business tycoon, so she now resided in Japan.� She hoped by being assistant to the ever powerful Mishima Corporation, she hoped to fulfill her goal of world peace.� Heihachi too, had the same goal.� Together, she hoped they would be unstoppable.

�� Kay had felt strange in the past week, not quite herself. She seemed to have more energy, and saw things in a brighter, clearer light.� Today, however, was not very bright.� It was cloudy and raining off and on, a very gloomy day at the office.� She straightened out her new desk a bit, and looked out the window as the rain splattered off the windowsill.� As she glared outside into the abnormally dark afternoon sky, she dazed off.� This wasn't like her at all; normally Kay was always alert and focused.� She shook her head and looked at her reflection.

�� "What's wrong with me?..." she looked at the golden haired blurry image of herself.� "...Maybe I'm working myself too hard."

�� She got up from her desk and walked down the hall; it was a quiet afternoon. Many of the other employees of Heihachi Mishima went home early to beat the traffic the rain would create.� As she neared the main entrance to the Mishima estate, she stood there...starring at the door.� For no given reason, she felt she needed to wait there.� For ten minutes, Kay stood in the dim light from the skylight.� As she realized she was being foolish, she began to turn away, until she heard many footsteps approach the doors and fling them open forcefully.

�� Kay stepped backward.� "What's going on?..." she asked as two of the security guards held a young figure tightly by both arms.� "...Who is this?"

�� Struggling at first, then giving up, the teenage boy grew listless.� He wore a large gray sweatshirt with a hood that covered most of his head, only showing the lower part of his face.� His faded blue jeans were torn at the knees and covered in mud and bloodstains, so were his shoes that were once white, were now almost black.�

�� "He tried to tell the guy at the front gate he was a relative of Master Mishima..." One of the guards told her. "...They told him to bug off, but then we caught him trying to break in!"

�� "Think we should bother Master Mishima about it, Mrs. Hinako?" The other asked.

�� Kay looked down at the smaller figure that she could tell was being harmed by the tight grasp of the security guards.� She couldn't stand the sight of anyone in pain.

�� "Don't squeeze him so tight!..." she spoke under her voice with a firm tone.� The guards still held him, only not so intently.� "...It actually IS possible for Master Mishima to have relatives he is unaware of, he has a number of sisters who haven't spoken to him in many years...if he ends up being one of his relatives, I'm sure he wouldn't appreciate that we treated him so badly."

�� "Well, if you don't think charges should be pressed then we'll leave this all to you..." The first guard pushed the intruder forward.� "...He's just a punk kid...not much he can do."

�� "Doesn't look to healthy either." The other told her as he also released his grasp.� "...he's a skinny little bastard."

�� "I think I can handle this, good work, gentlemen...." Kay nodded them off.� "...I'll let you know if you're needed again."

�� The two guards lowered their heads and went back the way they came.� Kay turned around to get a better look at their 'guest'.

�� "You look like you came a long way..." She wasn't sure as to why, but something deep down inside made her feel that this being was very important.� "...You must really need to see master Mishima."

�� He stood tall, but shook from the lack of food, and hypothermia from being in wet clothing.� He nodded his head, and looked up from under his soaked hooded sweatshirt.�

�� "You do understand that may people have tried to gain money from Heihachi Mishima and his financial empire through many devious schemes.� This actually wouldn't be the first time someone has come here to claim being related..." she told him. "...Would you be able to prove that you are indeed a blood relative?...even if you were given a blood test?"

�� He nodded again.� Kay could see more of his face now, and a glimpse of his dark eyes.� She had no logical explanation, but she believed him.� She was old enough to have a child his age; however, her busy lifestyle didn't allow her any time for any children.� She wasn't sure if his sincerity made her believe in him, or her paternal instincts.

�� "I swear to you, ma'am...I'm not here for money...or anything else of monetary value..." his voice slowly came out in short breaths, exhausted from his earlier struggle with the security guards.� "...I just want to see Heihachi Mishima as soon as possible...if I may.� He is the last blood relative I know of that is still living."

�� His voice struck her like an electric shock.� Although he was only a teenager, his words sounded like that of someone much older and wiser than what he appeared to be; certainly deserving of respect in Kay's eyes.

�� "You sound so certain!..." She motioned for him to follow her.� "...and you sound very intelligent, how old are you?"

�� "Fifteen, ma'am..." he nervously followed a far distance behind her.� "...it was my birthday two days ago."

"Fifteen, eh?..." She was surprised. "...I swore you looked a lot older than that! Well, Heihachi should still be in his office... he's discussing about funding another archeological dig in Central America.... he's been on it all week."

�� Kay led him half way across the estate until they reached the huge oak doors of Heihachi Mishima's office.� She pushed the left door open and peered inside.� Heihachi was still there as she anticipated.� He looked in her direction as soon as he heard the door move.

�� "Hinako, it's good to see you.� I need a copy of..." He began as he noticed the look on her face.� "...Is there something you want to tell me?"

�� Kay motioned for her company to come forward.� Heihachi was surprised that she would bring someone unannounced; it wasn't very professional.� The young man stood next to her and seemed lost for words.� Heihachi looked to Kay, puzzled.

�� "I'm sorry, I would have asked you first, sir..." Kay apologized.� "...But I felt this was in need of your attention as soon as possible.� He claims to be a relative of yours..." she explained.� "...He came a long way to see you, I hope you can at least hear him out."

�� Heihachi crossed his arms as he looked down at the 2 of them.� His trust was very thin, especially considering events from the past.� But the confidence in Hinako's eyes was enough for him.� He wanted the world to see him as a peaceful and understanding man, and he had to give this young man a chance to prove himself.

�� "Well, he certainly does look like he had quite a time trying to get here..." Heihachi looked down at the young mans wet clothes, torn jeans and muddy sneakers.� "...How far have to come to see me, young man?"

�� "The mountains of Yakushima..." he spoke quietly as he pulled off his hood.� He smoothed his wet bangs up and away from his face.� "...I've lived there all my life, sir...until a week ago, I had never been outside of Yakushima."

�� Heihachi couldn't believe his eyes, in some nightmarish twisted way, this young man resembled his son, Kazuya Mishima...but he had died almost 15 years ago.� It was as if Kazuya had come back to haunt him long after his murder.� It had been so long, he had almost forgotten what Kazuya used to look like...until now.

�� "What...is your name..." he asked nervously, trying not to sound so disturbed.

�� "My parents were never married, so my mother gave me her last name as my middle name...Kazuya Mishima was my father..." he lowered his head.� "...Jin...Kazama Jin."

�� "Kazama Jin..." Heihachi tried to place the name and the face.� "...Kazama is such a common name...wait...there was a Kazama woman in the second Tekken Tournament...was she...?...yes, I can see it ...I knew she was close to my son somehow, but I had no idea they were that close!� You're mother is Kazama Jun, am I right?"

�� Jin bit his lip as he nodded.� "You remembered her?..." Jin had no idea that Heihachi would draw a connection so quickly. "...I hope you don't think badly of her for bringing me into this world...from what I gathered, she nor my father had no choice in the matter...I just sort of...happened."

Heihachi's eyebrows rose.� "Your mother was one of the strongest women I have ever seen in a tournament..." He reassured him.� "...and she was brave enough to have you and care for you despite your background...not to mention she was that bold enough to give you her last name.� No, Jin...I don't think badly of your mother...she sounds incredible.� I take it she is no longer with you, or else you wouldn't be here."

�Jin had replayed in his mind over and over how he would explain himself to his long lost grandfather, but he seemed to be figuring it all out on his own. He was very relieved he didn't have to explain so much of his painful memories.

�"She said I should find you if anything befall her..." He explained as he tried to push back his agony.� His face got hot as water from his wet hair still dripped down his face and off his chin.� "...she had no family herself.� I don't want your money , but if you could offer me some sort of help so I can get back on my feet, I would be forever grateful.� I have nowhere else to go.� I'd be more than willing to work or do anything to earn my keep."

�� The rain outside pounded harder on the windows.� Heihachi kept his arms crossed as he walked around Jin to get a better look at him.� Kay did not move a muscle.� One of Heihachi Mishima's greatest strengths was that he could read people; whether it was a business transaction to knowing an opponents next attack in a martial arts tournament.� People's thoughts and actions were like open books to Heihachi, and very simple books at that.� He could see that Jin was honest, and was seeking nothing devious...and the more he looked at him, there was so much of Kazuya, yet he was so not Kazuya.�

�� Kay hoped that Heihachi would not consider the old beliefs of the Japanese when it came to illegitimate children.� In the old days, bastard children were considered lowly and unworthy of their own lives.� Illegitimate children were not even worthy of a last name.� But that was the old days, what about now?

�� "So you want help to get your life back together..." Heihachi announced as he walked over to the window.� "...but you don't want money.� What do you expect of me?...to give you some food, a bath, some new clothes and send you on your merry way?� What good would that do...you'd just end up back the way you are now.� Tell me something, Kazama Jin...did your mother teach you how to fight?...how to defend yourself?"

�� "Only self defense..." Jin replied.� "...and only if...absolutely necessary."

�� "The path of life is paved not only with the power of your mind, but the power of your fists..." Heihachi turned away from the window.� "...which means you need training in both...to strengthen your mind and your body.� If you truly are my grandson, and I have no doubt that you are, then I would be very pleased if you would carry on the Mishima legacy.� I don't plan on it dying anytime soon...and I hope never."

�� Jin and Kay were very shocked, but in a good way.

�� "You mean you want to send him to Mishima Tech?..." Kay gasped.� "...that would be a great idea, Master Mishima.� It would be a very gracious decision on your part."

�� "Then I trust you'll get him enrolled, Hinako..." Heihachi told her.� "...Try to have him in classes by next week."

�� Jin couldn't believe his ears.� Although he was terribly cold and uncomfortable, he was very happy.� This was a much better offer than he had ever expected.� Even more, he had always wanted to know what it was like to have relatives other that his mother.

�� Kay turned to Jin.� "You'll love the Mishima School, Jin..." she reassured him.� "...it's one of the highest rated in the whole world.� You're very lucky, it's also one of the most expensive."

�� "I...I don't know what to say..." Jin turned toward Heihachi.� "...how could I ever possibly repay you?"

�� Heihachi didn't answer.� "Kay, make sure he eats and find him a nice room in the east wing..." he turned to Jin.� "...get a good rest, then come see me in the morning, 8 am sharp.� I want to see where you stand as far as your fighting skills go."

�� Jin nodded in his lack of words.� He followed Kay out the door and she led him� down the hall.

�� "I guess first thing we should do is get you cleaned up, huh?..." she escorted him to the eastern portion of the Mishima estate.� "...I think I know of a nice room for you, it has a great bathroom, complete with sauna!� But I'm not sure where to get you some clothes...well, some of the hired help lives on the premise, I might be able to borrow some clothes from them...what size do you wear?"

�� Jin glanced up at her as he walked.� "You're very kind..." he spoke quietly.� "...thank you for believing in me, and allowing me to meet my grandfather."

�� "Think nothing of it..." She told him.� "...besides...I can't stand to see people suffer.� That's why I work for Heihachi, we both want world peace.� I hope we can end such things as world hunger, plagues, war...and I can't bear to see a child without a parent to look after them.� I'm just glad I could help, it's a horrible thing that happened to your mother."

�� "More than words can say..." he told her.� "...unspeakable things."

�� "Then don't speak about them if you don't want to..." After about five minutes they� reached the room and opened the door.� She reached around and turned on the light.� "...ah, here we go!� Well, what do you think?"

�� The room had to be at least four times as large as his old bedroom.� The bed was huge and looked like it was never slept in.� The colors of the room were vibrant and cheerful, and there was even a television and a phone, something Jin never had in his old room.

�� "You mean, I can sleep here?" He asked, not believing it.�

�� "Well, we can get you a bigger room later, if you want." Kay opened the bathroom door.

�� "No, no...it's great...plenty big enough." Jin sat on the edge of the bed.� He wasn't sure if he was dreaming or not.� He was still a little dizzy from his lack of food and sleep.

�� "Well, there are plenty of towels in here..." Kay came out from checking the bathroom.� "...everything you'll need.� This is one of the rooms we use when Master Mishima has company.� He has some very important people come to visit, so you can imagine everything has to be perfect."

�� Jin got up and opened curtains.� He had a balcony view of the wooded area that surrounded the Mishima estate.� It was such a beautiful place, he still couldn't believe he was going to be living here.

�� "You're name is Mrs. Hinako?..." Jin turned to her as shut the curtains again.� "...did I hear it correctly?"

�� Kay nodded.� "You still haven't told me what size clothing you need..." She walked over toward him.� "...I can order some clothes for you on-line and have them shipped over night, but I'll have to find you something to wear for tonight."

�� "I'm a 32 waist...and a medium sized shirt..." he told her.� "...I hope I'm not too much trouble, Ma'am."

�� Kay smiled.� "You're no trouble at all Jin..." She told him.� "...you're exactly what this stuffy old mansion needs...everyone who lives and works here are all well over thirty years old.� Now you get washed up and I'll get one of the cooks to make you something to eat...then I'll get something for you to wear.� In the meantime, there's a robe you can use in the closet."

�� Jin smiled as Kay exited and shut the door behind her.

�� He turned on the television just to break the silence, then he went to take a nice hot bath.� He hadn't bathed in almost 4 days, which was not like him at all.� He usually bathed twice a day.

�� Jin sat at the edge of the overly large bathtub after he had undressed.� As he tested the temperature of the water with his hands, he saw all the scars from the night that changed his life.� His arm, his legs, totally covered in burns , bruises and scratches.� They were all starting to heal, but not quick enough to help him forget the pain.� Flashbacks from that night came back to haunt him...the fire, his mothers screams of pain, and those glowing eyes.� His hands and fingers were the most burned and torn from looking through the charred remains of his home for any sign of his mother.� There were even some chips of glass in his knee that he had overlooked.� He found a pair of tweezers and pulled them out, causing his wounds to bleed again.� His eyes began to tear up as his burned fingers had to press so firmly against the metal tweezers...it didn't seem like any part of his body didn't hurt.� He got in the water as soon as the tub was full enough...maybe the warm water would ease the pain.

�� Every inch of his body ached as the water touched it...every cut stung as the bath salts soaked into his skin.� Although his new surroundings were beautiful, all he could feel was agony.� As he lathered up his hair and tried to get all the tangles out, he could even feel cuts in his scalp...he was injured far worse than he had thought.� He rinsed out his hair, but felt light headed when he turned his head upside down to thoroughly rinse.� He couldn't sit up without feeling dizzy, so he laid down flat in the tub, to the point where only his face remained outside the water.� He could hear nothing but the water in his ears...then the dripping of the faucet, then the draining of the plumbing in the other rooms.� The water in his ears began to sound like a grumble, then a whisper...a voice taunting him...laughing at him...saying over and over again that his mother was dead and he was never going to see again...and it was his entire fault.� It was the same evil voice that stole the life of his mother, the only person he had ever truly cared about.� He quickly sat up and hugged his legs as he pressed his cheek to his knees.� He sat up immediately and didn't fight his tears anymore; Jin sat alone and cried, not since he was a little boy had he cried so much.� Just when he though he could stop, he could hear his mother crying, and it only choked him up more.� The tears just wouldn't stop...maybe he could just drown himself in the water right that minute...lay flat down in the tub and die under the warm water.� That seemed like a quick way to end his pain...just end it all right now...no one would miss him...who could care less whether he lived or died right now?� Jin leaned toward the surface of the dirty water, when he heard a sudden knock at his door.�

�� "Jin?...How are you doing in there?..." Kay's voice came from behind the door.� "...I found you some clothes...nice ones too!� I think one of our gardeners in the same exact size as you...he couldn't believe you got here all the way from Yakushima in less than a week!� Oh, but I got you a couple of t-shirts, a pair of jeans, and some slacks that you can sleep in.� Would you like me to have your old clothes washed?...I can just order you new ones, you can throw your old ones away.� I also got you some new undergarments...the gardener has a box of them he never opened....they might be a little big, but they should be good for now."

�� Jin tried to wipe his eyes and his nose.� He had been there for only a couple of hours, but already he felt so cared for.� It eased the pain more than death ever could.

�� "I'm fine, Ma'am..." he called out...trying to hide the agony in his voice.� He didn't want Kay to know he had been crying, or that he wanted to commit suicide.� "...and thank you for the clothes.� It will be nice to be clean again...I can't stand to be dirty for more than a minute."

�� "I'll just set them all on your bed..." she replied.� "...and your dinner should be ready soon!� Word is getting around the estate that Master Mishima's long lost grandson is here...everyone can't wait to see you!� I'll be back for you in a half an hour so I can show you where you can get your dinner, this estate is so huge you could easily get lost in it.� I'm still learning about it myself...I've only been here a week!"

�� When he heard the door shut, he got out of the water.� He had forgotten his self-loathing for now, he couldn't let all this kindness that he was receiving go to waste.� He quickly dried off and went to try on the clothes he was given.� They were a little big, but not too big.� The pajama pants were really soft, and one of the red t-shirts was also comfortable.� He got on his bed and decided to watch television while he waited for Kay to come back.� He flipped the channels, and decided to watch the news to see what the weather forecast for the next day would be.� After the weather, there were a few criminal reports, then one about a fire.� It didn't strike him at first, but then the flicker of the glowing flames triggered something deep in his heart.� The report told of an old dojo that once was full of kick boxers from the United States.� None of them were found, nine strong men disappeared without a trace...and were assumed dead.� The reporter claimed this was the third attack on a school of fighters in the past week.� Jin thought...this couldn't be connected to him, could it?� This was the same way his mother vanished...very similar.�

He wanted to know more...

His life had to mean something...it just had to.

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