Chapter 8: Humans and Ninjas and Bears, Oh my!
Heihachi watched as Jin practiced his katas on the sidewalk. He laughed to himself. There was no way Jin would defeat every fighter. Soon Kuma lumbered out into the street, looking bored. Heihachi smirked. He knew as soon as that bear got a whiff of Devil everything would change.
Watch out Kazama. Animals don't like me.
Jin watched as Kuma's nose twitched. The bear took a few sniffs of Jin's scent. The bear's eyes turned wild. Forgetting all the training he'd put himself through, Kuma's wild instincts took over. With a loud roar the huge animal charged at Jin on all fours.
"Whoa!" Jin exclaimed, jumping to the side.
Kuma stood on his hind legs and swiped his claws at Jin. The Japanese howled in pain as the bear's claws scratched across his back and ruined his shirt. Jin pulled his now torn shirt off and tossed it aside. He knew this wasn't Kuma's fault. The animal was driven mad by Devil's presence. He felt Devil healing his scratches. By sheer will he stopped Devil in his tracks. Kuma growled and advanced on Jin again. Quickly, Jin dodged the animal and jumped onto his back. Kuma growled and tried to shake Jin off. The fighter hung onto Kuma's fur with one hand and searched for the right pressure point with the other. He found a good point and squeezed. Kuma passed out, falling onto the road. Using his own strength, not Devil's, he painfully dragged Kuma onto the sidewalk out of harm's way.
"Excellent!" Heihachi laughed.
Jin glared at his grandfather.
"Next fight is in ten minutes. Shinjuku District."
Heihachi laughed at Jin again before departing. Jin left Michelle and Julia to attend to Kuma. He jogged all the way to the Shinjuku District. He could feel thin rivers of blood running down his back from Kuma's marks.
Why aren't you letting me heal you, Kazama!?
[Back off or I'll off myself and you won't be able to merge with my father.]
You wouldn't. Not with Hwoarang in trouble.
"Try me." Jin hissed, stepping out into traffic.
NO!
Jin let Devil make him jump back onto the sidewalk. The Japanese had just missed getting hit by inches.
Fine. I'll leave you alone...for now. Idiot.
Jin cracked his knuckles and bounced on his toes. It was another five minutes before Heihachi showed up with his new opponent. Paul Phoenix looked miserable. He was looking at Heihachi with a hate that almost equaled Jin's.
"What if I refuse to fight him? If I just forfeit?" Paul challenged.
"Fine. I'll just have my men beat on Hwoarang a little. No problem."
Paul grit his teeth and swore a little. "Fine. I'll fight."
"I knew you'd see it my way. Put up a good fight, Phoenix."
Paul sighed and shot an apologetic look at Jin.
"I know you're going to kick my ass anyway, but I'm still sorry for this." He said.
Jin nodded and took his mark. Heihachi nodded and the two fighters charged at each other. Jin winced as Paul's fist crunched into his chin. He kneed the older man in the ribs then in the chest when the man doubled over. Heihachi watched, semi impressed. He folded his arms, noticing that the scratches on Jin's back still weren't healed. Jin howled as Paul's thumb dug into one of the deeper scratches. He punched the man in side twice, hard. The blonde moaned slightly and backed away. Jin rushed Paul with a kick combo sending the blonde onto his back.
"Come on, Jin! Hit him again!" Heihachi roared.
"I do not strike people when they're down."
"Fine."
Heihachi nodded to a camera that was hanging from one of the buildings.
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Hwoarang choked as he was punched in the gut, hard. Another punch landed on his cheek.
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"Stop it! Leave Hwoarang alone!"
Heihachi only shrugged. Jin squeezed his eyes shut and kicked Paul in the ribs as carefully as he could. Paul cried out, spitting blood onto the sidewalk. Jin felt like he was going to cry. Hitting someone when they were down went against everything his mother had ever taught him. Devil started to laugh, filling Jin's mind with the sadistic sound.
Heihachi is my kind of character.
"I hate you both!" Jin cried, kicking Paul again.
Finally Heihachi motioned for Jin to stop. The fighter stumbled backwards and sat on the curb. He set his face in his hands, forcing himself to stop the tears from falling.
"Stop being a pussy and get up. Your next fight is here."
Jin looked up to see some of Heihachi's gerbils dragging Paul off to the side. Anna was standing on the sidewalk wearing silver latex jeans and a black crop top. She looked Jin over.
"Hwoarang told me you're a lying fuck-shit. Don't expect me to go easy on you." Anna said.
Jin's eyes trailed down to the high-heeled boots the woman was wearing. He inwardly winced and stood up. Heels tapping on the sidewalk, Anna marched up to Jin. She smiled at him before back handing him a good one. Suddenly Jin found that the ground as no longer under his feet as Anna Blonde Bombed his knees. He fell onto the cement hard, groaning as the fall scraped his elbow up. He rolled to the side as Anna's boot tried to crunch his hand. He rolled again, backwards this time, and stood up. He rushed Anna, hitting her in the face with an open hand. She cried out and stumbled backwards. Jin saw she was off balance and took advantage of that, kicking her foot lightly. The woman cried out and toppled over. She quickly sprung to her feet though and kicked Jin right in the face. The flat, thick heel of her boot slammed into Jin's right cheek, scraping the skin and bruising his cheek bone. She kicked him again in the chest then struck his other cheek. Jin fell backwards, but struggled to his feet. The brunette grabbed his arm and twisted. Knowing he couldn't fight with a broken arm Jin panicked. Before he could control his reaction he kicked Anna hard in the stomach. Her grip on his arm broke as she went stumbling, head over heels, backwards. He rubbed his tender arm, feeling like a total jackass. Heihachi threw his head back and laughed.
"No one comes between you and Hwoarang, huh Jin?"
Jin said nothing. He sprinted to Anna's side and crouched beside her. She was unconscious, but not badly injured. He breathed a sigh of relief and let Heihachi's men take her away.
"Well? Who's next?" Jin asked.
"The Manji scum that calls himself Yoshimitsu."
Jin sighed. He and Yoshimitsu had become great friends over the years. He didn't want to fight him.
[But you fought Paul. You can fight Yoshi. This is for Hwoarang's life.]
Yoshimitu emerged from the shadows of an alley. He nodded at Jin. Jin smiled slightly. He knew Yoshi understood his awkward position. Jin took his mark, Yoshimitsu didn't. Jin frowned, watching the mechanized Ninja.
"Get on with it!" Heihachi ordered.
Yoshimitsu unsheathed his sword and turned it towards himself, pressing the blade's tip against his abdomen.
"Yoshimitsu! No!"
Yoshi didn't listen. With a loud "Argh!" Yoshimitsu performed Hari Kari, pushing his sword through his stomach. Heihachi cursed as the Ninja fell over. Yoshimitsu wasn't dead, but it would take hours for him to repair and regenerate himself. Heihachi didn't have that kind of time. Two of Heihachi's men grabbed Jin before he could run to Yoshi's side.
"Take him to the jungle."
Heihachi's men started dragging Jin along, Heihachi followed. Over his grandfather's shoulder Jin saw Ling and Panda rush to Yoshimitsu's aid. Jin silently thanked the duo and let his grandfather's gerbils drag him back to the Tekken office and stuff him into an awaiting helicopter.
Part nine |
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