Chapter 7: The Trap is Set
Blah = Flashback
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Jin moaned. Every part of him hurt.
Get up, Kazama.
Jin's senses started to come back to him. He could smell earth, leaves, and rain. Cold but gentle rain was spattering on his skin. He moaned and rolled onto his back, slowly opening his eyes. Above him was a canopy of beautiful green trees. Now that he was conscious Devil was able to heal him and he started to feel better.
"Hwoarang...? What happened...?"
The fighter sat up and looked around. He was alone in the jungle clearing. He was soaked with both mud and rain.
Your grandfather's gerbils dragged him off somewhere. C'mon. Get your ass up!
"Shut up." Jin said. "I can't believe you..."
What? You've been fantasizing about him for years. I just thought I'd make him give you what you wanted.
"Bullshit!" Jin shouted. "You just wanted Hwoarang to hate me even more and now he does!!"
Devil just laughed. His laughter echoed through Jin's head. Jin shook the mud and water from his hair, sighing. How in the hell was he going to get back to Tokyo?
I can help you with that.
Jin cringed, feelings his wings pushing against his shoulder blades.
"No. I'll walk." Jin replied, standing on wobbly legs.
Shivering from the rain, Jin started walking back to Tokyo.
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Kazuya sat on the edge of Lee's bed, watching the sun set. The silver-haired fighter was fast asleep, snoring softly. Kazuya chewed on his bottom lip. He was set to fight Hwoarang tomorrow morning but the schedule suddenly changed. Now he was fighting Jin sometime in the evening.
[You're plotting something. Aren't you, old man??]
Kazuya growled at the thought of his father. It was because of his father that he was inhabited by Devil in the first place...
Fourteen year old Kazuya was training in the woods when Heihachi swooped down on him like an eagle.
"Ahh!" Kazuya protested as Heihachi lifted him up by the back of his neck.
"You're still too weak!" Heihachi snarled.
"I am not weak!" Kazuya screamed.
"I will make you stronger..."
Heihachi slung his son over his shoulder, heading deeper into the woods.
"Let me go! Put me down!!"
The boy kicked Heihachi in the chest and pounded his fists on the man's back. Heihachi didn't even seem to notice. They came to the waterfall that ran through the Mishima property. The canyon was deep. The waterfall was skinny but still powerful and high. Heihachi stood at the waterfall's edge and looked down into the canyon.
"Dad..." Kazuya's voice quivered. "What are you doing?"
"Lions herd their cubs off cliffs and only raise the ones that climb back up."
Kazuya's eyes widened, this throat and stomach tightened. "Dad, no!!"
"Please don't." A quiet voice said.
Kazuya looked up to see his foster brother peering out from behind a tree.
"Shut up, boy or I'll throw you in too!" Heihachi snapped.
Kazuya's body froze as Heihachi held him over the canyon by the scruff of his shirt.
"Don't!" Lee screamed.
Heihachi ignored his foster son and dropped Kazuya. Lee's screams were drown out by the sound of the roaring waterfall. Kazuya seemed to fall forever, vanishing into the waterfall's mist. Heihachi smirked, turned away, and started heading back to the mansion. Trembling, Lee peered over the side of the canyon, looking for his brother. Far below, in the mist, Kazuya was still falling. He cursed his father as he fell, tears leaking from the corners of his eyes. He landed in the shallowest part of the waterfall's pool. A rock jammed into his chest, tearing through his skin. The pre-teen died upon impact, a slow trickle of blood seeping out the corner of his mouth. From the dark depths of the cave behind the waterfall three ruby eyes burned out at Kazuya's body.
"You will not die Mishima Kazuya..." A sinister male voice hissed.
A purple mist emerged from the cave. The waterfall evaporated to steam when the mist went through it. The mist surrounded Kazuya, lifting him off the rock and turning him over. The evil burrowed into the boy's chest, repairing his ruined heart. Kazuya's bones cracked back into place. The bones that were shattered into a fine powder reformed. The boy's broken legs, collarbone, neck, and hips knitted together. Kazuya Mishima's lungs filled with air and his brown eyes blazed open. Kazuya sat up, gasping for breath. He stared up at the high canyon walls in awe. He felt his chest burning and he looked down to see a rather ugly scar on his chest.
Remember what I did for you, boy.
Kazuya looked around, startled.
Don't bother looking for me, Kazuya. I'm not there anymore. I'm in your head now...in your body. I brought you back to life so you can kill your father. Remember that.
"Kazuyaaaaaaaa!!!"
The presence in his mind vanished and he looked up to see Lee running down the foot path.
"Lee!"
Lee could hardly believe his ears. His brother was alive!!
"Kazuya!" He sobbed, "Where are you!?"
Kazuya stood and sprinted through behind the waterfall and along the bank. Lee's already wide eyes widened some more. Not only was his foster brother alive he wasn't hurt at all! Kazuya gripped Lee in a fierce bear hug.
"Are you ok?" Lee panted, tired from running.
"I'm fine, little one." Kazuya replied, placing a kiss on Lee's forehead. "Only a scar."
"How..." Lee murmured, running his cool hand over the sensitive scar.
Kazuya hissed in pleasure before explaining what had happened to him. Lee listened, eyes wide and dumbfounded.
"That's so cool, Kazuya!" He gushed.
Kazuya smirked. "C'mon. Let's go home."
Using Lee's pocket knife they cut Kazuya's skin up a bit and the older boy let his brother smack him a few good ones to make some fine-looking bruises. Kazuya grit his teeth in pain as he slit his scar open.
"Let's see how impressed Heihachi is..." Kazuya growled. "I survived the fall with only a few cuts and bruises. And only one cut will scar..."
Kazuya was snapped out of his daydream when he felt a hot tongue tracing the scar on his forearm.
"I take it back, Kazuya. Devil is not cool. He's evil and I hate him for taking you away from me."
"You remember that day too, huh?"
"I can never forget it. It haunts my dreams. I almost wish Heihachi had thrown me to my death as well. Then I wouldn't be here to watch you throw your life away."
Kazuya growled softly, nuzzling at Lee's throat before biting it slightly. "Jin has no control over Devil. It will destroy him."
"But what about you, Kazuya!! It will destroy you too! I know I'm being selfish but I don't give a fuck! I don't want you to go!"
"You're not being selfish. You're acting like child."
Lee growled and stood from bed to gather his clothes.
"Don't go..." Kazuya said, grabbing Lee's wrist. "I'm sorry, but it has to be done."
For the first time since he was twelve Lee Chaolan felt like crying.
"I hate you..." He whispered.
"Well that's too bad because I love you." Kazuya replied, pulling his foster brother back onto the bed.
Lee sank back into the soft sheets, face grim.
"At the risk of sounding hokey...I'll always be with you."
"Kazuya. Shut up and fuck me one last time."
Kazuya smirked and rolled on top of his favorite lover. "Yessir..."
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By the time Jin reached a source that could take him back into Tokyo it was almost 5 in the morning. He didn't reach the hotel until 7:30. He stopped short, staring at the hordes of Heihachi's men that were gathered outside the hotel.
"Jin..." His grandfather's nice-as-venom voice said.
Jin whirled around to see his grandfather standing behind him, smirking.
"I was starting to wonder if you had died out there. If you had used Devil's wings you would've had time to rest, but..."
"But, what..." Jin growled.
"I have Hwoarang..."
Heihachi flicked a Polaroid picture at Jin. The younger Mishima caught it and looked at it. It showed Hwoarang gagged and bound to a cast-iron chair.
"No..."
"Yes. My dear grandson. The tournament has changed. You will fight every single fighter that is left. Your prize? Hwoarang's life."
"You asshole!" Jin snarled.
"Ah, I see hanging around that piece of trash has rubbed off on you. Your first fight is in five minutes. You're fighting Kuma here on the street. No refs, no rules. Only my rules."
Jin growled again. The Devil inside him was starting to claw at his innards again.
"Want to kill me, Jin? Go right ahead. I have guards watching this right now. If you so much as look at me funny they'll beat Hwoarang to death."
Jin's hands curled into fists but he averted his eyes. Heihachi and his henchmen laughed.
"See? I told you he was a sap! He'd do anything for his precious little Homorang..."
The Japanese' body quaked in anger at that last remark. If he didn't feel so compassionate towards animals Kuma would be doomed.
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