Author's notes: This story is mostly based on Tekken 4 and the currently (2004) released information on Tekken 5 and its characters. Though some infos were taken from Tekken Official, some situations, events and characters are all fanmade. This is also the sequel to my previous fanfics, Tekken 5: The Kazama-Mishima Connections & The Kazama-Mishima Connections 2. Rated G
Disclaimer: Kazuya Mishima, Jun Kazama, Jin Kazama, Asuka Kazama, Wang Jinrei, Ling Xiaoyu, Hwoarang, Steve Fox and all Tekken characters referred in this fanfic are the property of NAMCO. This is only a fan fiction from the imagination of an obsessed fan. No copyright infringement intended.
Chapter 32: The Locket
"Is everything alright there, Jin?"
"Yes, Xiao. Everything's fine. How 'bout you and your grandpa?"
"After that whole reappearance of Heihachi thing, he literally dragged me to the nearest exit! I was worried about the other fighters, but seems Heihachi just frightened Paul Phoenix off the title. The others were unharmed."
"Yeah, I heard about that..."
"Jin...Grandpa said it would be too dangerous if I got involved with your family matters. He may be right, but he's also told, or rather, ordered me...not to see you...and Asuka again...ever."
"..."
"He doesn't know I'm talking to you right now. He's forbidden it. He's even forbidden me to enter the next tournament!"
"...Xiao, I...I..."
"But I'm not gonna obey him, Jin. I don't understand what's going on. He wouldn't tell me and I'm sure I won't be getting answers from you or Asuka either. But I want you to know that I'm not gonna stop being friends with you and Asuka. I'm not gonna stop seeing you. I'll be joining the next tournament."
"Xiao..."
"And I'm not gonna let you stop me either, Jin Kazama. So don't bother protesting!"
"Ahaha. I know..."
"Made you laugh at last! Or chuckle at least. Is Asuka there? I wanna talk to her too."
"She's...busy at the moment. She's at the monument...again."
"Oh...uhm...I'm really sorry for your loss, Jin. Are you alright?"
"I'm learning to accept it. I'm alright."
"And Asuka? How's she taking it?"
"She took it really hard at first, but she's coping."
"You don't sound too confident."
"It's just that...that little sis of mine can be so stubborn at times. She just won't stop talking to the stone and--"
"Ahahahah! Sounds like you're describing yourself!"
"Wha! What do you mean?"
"Asuka and I had our own little chat a few days back. She caught you talking there, too!"
"Why that little--"
"Oh, don't make a fuss about it, Jin! She wasn't making fun of you when she told me. In fact, she sounded...relieved. Like, she was happy that you're not pretending to be emotionless anymore."
"Me? Emotionless? Xiao, you know--"
"Sometimes, you are Jin. And I know. I know...uhm...Jin?"
"Yes?"
"...I'm glad we're still friends."
"...Me too, Xiao. Me too..."
"I'll...I'll be seeing you and Asuka soon. Bye..."
"Ja ne..."
TCLICK.
Jin listened to the silence at the other end of the line for a while before putting the receiver back into place. After sighing heavily, he left the den and proceeded back to the temple, where his uncle had been waiting for him.
"Took you long enough," Master Kazama commented with a smile and balanced himself expertly with his cane. His progress to recovery was clear for everyone to see. "You must've had a good conversation with your girlfriend."
"S-she's not my girlfriend, Oji-chan," Jin blushed heavily at the statement.
"Really? That's not what your sister told me."
"Darn that girl. You shouldn't believe her when it comes to saying things about me, Oji-chan. She exaggerates a lot. By the way, is she still by the monument?"
Master Kazama nodded silently and looked away...and Jin knew why. Immediately after their traumatic battle with Heihachi, Jin and Asuka had returned to Osaka and told their uncle the truth. It hurt Master Kazama, for it was like having his sister die twice.
"I wish I could've seen her...just one last time..." Master Kazama mused. "But...at least she died with the man she loved. I'm sure she and your father are at peace...knowing that their children are safe...and I intend to keep it that way."
"Oji-chan..." Jin trailed off for a moment before forcing a smile. "Just don't strain yourself too much."
"That's something I won't be telling you anytime soon, young man," Master Kazama faked a stern expression. "You still have to re-learn your Kazama and Mishima moves! There are still other fighting skills of the family you are yet to learn. Now, go get your sister and the three of us are going to start today's training. The two of you have disappointed me these past two weeks. You'll never beat your grandfather if you keep slacking off."
"Yes, sir!" Jin's smile widened as he did a mock salute. He pivoted and rushed off to the grounds. Some students of the dojo waved at him and he waved back. Unlike in the solitude of his home in Yakushima, living in the thriving community of the Kazama Dojo had taught him to be more social but it was mostly because of Asuka's influence.
When the large sakura tree by the gates came into his view, he stopped. Kneeling beneath the tree, Asuka stared silently at the two-foot slab of shiny, black marble in front of her. Jin walked up to her and sat down on the grass, mutely reading the words engraved on the stone:
Jun Kazama and Kazuya Mishima
Forever Alive in the Hearts of their Children
"Asuka..."
"Shhh..." Asuka silenced her brother and clasped her hand tighter together, her eyes, closed. Jin brought his own hands together and immersed himself in his own prayer.
A gentle breeze brought some sakura petals into the air, one of which, landed right on top of the monument. The monument had been Master Kazama's idea. Not only did it commemorate Jun and Kazuya, it also made accepting their deaths easier for Jin and Asuka.
"I'm done," Asuka declared and smiled widely at her brother. "What was it you wanted to talk to me about?"
"Asuka...don't you think you're spending way too much time here?"
"Let me guess," Asuka rolled her eyes. "Father thinks we stunk in our previous training sessions."
"There's no we. I didn't stink," Jin protested.
"Oh, yes you did!" Asuka insisted. "You're slackin' off on training because you come here often too! I see you almost every night out here you know!"
"Why are you always spying on me!"
"I am not! I--"
"You two! Stop bickering in front of your parents! And get back to the temple!" Master Kazama's voice boomed. Jin and Asuka turned to him in the distance, an uncomfortable smile on both their faces.
"Coming, Oji-chan," Jin got up to his feet, as did his sister. "Geez. Even beyond the grave, Dad finds a way to scold us."
"That's so true!" Asuka giggled at the memory. Then, she remembered something. "Hold on, Oni-chan! I just have to do something first."
Jin moved closer to Asuka as she removed the gold chain from her neck and held open the locket. The siblings, like so many times before, watched in wonder and awe at the images within. Asuka then knelt down and put the open locket on top of the monument.
"These pictures suit the words on the stone. I just wish we had larger ones," Asuka nodded and smiled at her brother. "Don't worry. No one's gonna steal it. Besides, I'll be back in a jiff..."
"That one, I'm sure of," Jin put a hand on his sister's shoulder. Together, they walked towards their uncle and later, disappeared into the temple.
Another gentle breeze swept through the dojo grounds, disrupting the shadows made by the shade of the sakura blossoms upon the monument, thus, allowing the gold locket to glisten under the glow of the sunlight. In its small shape, it framed the two small and precious pictures, both of Jun, carrying a small baby wrapped in the softest white cloth. One picture, was of her and baby Jin, the other, of her and baby Asuka. But what made the images so special, was that both were complete family pictures, for in each photo, Kazuya was right beside Jun, one hand over her shoulder, and the other, on their infant children.
A swallow swooped down to rest on the thin branch of the sakura tree. As it did, a person approached the monument and took the locket in his callused hand. He held it out in his palm, apparently staring intently at it for a long while before another hand, this time, a milky-white and delicate looking one, reached out to close it. The two visitors gave a fleeting glance at the slab of marble and turned to gaze at each other.
"Still think it's a good idea? Surprising them, I mean? They seem to have accepted it. Maybe we should call first and--"
"And have them slam the phone on us? They'll think it's a sick joke. Besides, I want to see the look on their faces when we show up."
"Ahaha! You're right. Well? Shall we go then, Kazuya?"
"Yes. Let's go, Jun."
With a bright smile on both their faces, the couple walked arm in arm further into the dojo and symbolically, into a new and brighter future.
THE END
a/n: WHEW! That was A LOT of hard work! Yes, I finally came to the ending with no question marks at the end of those last two words. It was supposed to be a sad ending (and somewhat happy ending), stopping only at the descriptions of the pictures. But really. Whether you admit it or not, we're all suckers for happy endings. A lot of reviewers have been dropping some NOT SO SUBTLE hints of wanting a happy ending, so, I relented. What's the explanation for the ending? Well, here's the thing. This is not just a happy ending. It's a HANGING ending. BWAHAHAHA---choke, choke, cough, UHURM! (readers: Karma!) It's one of those stories that leaves you to decide on what exactly happens next. So, there's just one more ultimate question left unanswered: Will Asuka date Hwoarang, or Steve? Will Jin and Xiaoyu end up together? Did Paul Phoenix and Marshall Law pee their pants when they saw Heihachi? Will Jun and Kazuya---($#&) HEY! Who put those damned questions in! The real question is whether I'll be making a sequel or not. The answer...is a HANGING answer...hyukhyukhyuk...CHOKE! COUGH! SPUTTER! ACKGH! (takes asthma inhaler) Swwooop... Wait...I don't have asthma anymore! GACKH!
On a more serious note...
Thank you so much for reading this fanfic. I am very glad that you enjoyed it. Other than that, I would like to thank you for the rave reviews you gave me, for it encouraged me to continue writing and now, a publishing firm has expressed interest in one of my novels (not Tekken-related). I hope it'll be published soon. Maybe then, I can also become a writer for Tekken stories for Namco if I'm able to apply for the job. LOL! I'm such a dreamer...but dreams are free and they sometimes come true. For now, I'm just happy you enjoyed this fiction. Please watch out for my next fanfic (maybe series but not sure) that will somewhat be related to this entitled "The Tekken 6 Diaries". I'm also planning on doing a Tekken 2 fic that holds events you see mentioned in this fic. Again, thank you very very much for all your support! I'll never forget it!
'Til Next Time,
Gwendy 2005
http/kazxjun.tk