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A Tekken Story: Through the Years - Volume I	By : DarkRomancer Category: +S through Z > Tekken Views: 4725 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Tekken but I do own my OCs and plot. If you steal, be prepared to suffer. I am also making no profit from this story what so ever.

Chapter List
- 1
- 2
- 3
Chapter Summary: An ordinary morning in the Oshimaki household, or so it would seem until Akira notices her parents acting weird and overhears an argument between them and decides she’s had enough…

Disclaimer: I do not own Tekken but I do own my OCs and plot. If you steal, be prepared to suffer.

Chapter Warnings: Violence and swearing.

Notes: This chapter is long, a lot longer than I thought it would be (its twenty pages long!). Anyway, I decided to upload the prologue and the first and second chapters together because there’s nothing more infuriating than a story with a really good plot and summary with only one chapter. Reviews are welcome, either good or bad! Oh, and if you don’t know who Keiko Kitagawa and Kyoko Fukada are, they’re both Japanese actresses and you can search them on Google (I can’t be bothered to tell much more detail). Enjoy!

Extra Notes: I’ve had to edit this chapter and chapter 2 a lot which is why it’s late. Sorry!

A Tekken Story: Through the Years

Running away will never make you free

Kenny Loggins

Chapter 1 - Run Away

I woke up at 5:00 a.m. that morning, like I always do to train with Dad. It’s always wake up at 5:00 a.m., warm up for ten minutes, spar for half-an-hour, and then meditate for quarter-of-an-hour before I get ready for school. I had just recently moved to Tōkyō from Ōsaka because of Dad’s new job as a dōjō owner and martial artist and started a new school. I seemed to fit in straight away and made some good friends.

I’ve been living here for a few months now.

I’m currently fourteen years old, 5’8” and 129 lbs. Somehow; I don’t think that’s going to change anytime soon.

I lived in a small three-bedroom house with my parents, Chihiro and Naoya Oshimaki, and my younger sister, Hana, who is currently ten years old.

My name, Akira, means “bright”, “intelligent” or “clear”. Mom says I do live up to my name, because I’m more like her, but Dad likes to joke around and says it’s him. I secretly agree with Mom, even though I don’t tell him that. Whatever. I’m not quite sure what my surname means though.

Anyway, I woke up a few minutes before my alarm when off, the dim sunlight peering over the dark clouds. I moaned and switched the alarm off. I usually wake up with bed-hair and strange indentations marked on my skin, evidence that I move around a lot when I’m sleeping, but not this morning. I sit up in my bed, pushing the duvet off me as I yawn and stretch, trying to wake myself up. I quickly put on my training gear that I put out last night and tie my hair back in a ponytail. Then I hear a soft knock at the door. I already know who it is but I still tiptoe quietly to the door and open it as gently as I can. I smile as I see my father’s trademark shaggy brown hair and dark brown eyes.

“Good morning, Dad,” I whisper, careful not to wake up Mom and Hana.

Last time me and Dad accidently woke up Mom and Hana, Mom had a fit and banned us from training so early in the morning. One way or another, Dad managed to convince Mom into letting me train with Dad again as long as we’re really quiet.

“Good morning, Akira-chan. Are you ready for some training?”

I smile, and he knows I don’t have to answer that.

After our half-an-hour spar (which I won), me and Dad sat ourselves by the entrance of his dōjō, Indian style, and meditated, closing our eyes and listening to the morning chirping of the birds as the breeze swept across us. To be honest, I like the meditation as much I like the sparring. Just to be sitting next to my dad, in a peaceful position, only listening to the sounds of nature, there was no place I was happier.

I was hot and sweaty form the sparring, so I decide to take a shower as soon as me and Dad finished our meditation. I quickly threw my used training outfit in the laundry basket and decided I wanted to take a long, hot shower, but after realising that school would start soon, I couldn’t.

I got out a few minutes later and wrapped a towel around me. The mirror was fogged up from the steam of my hot shower so I wiped it and stared at my reflection.

Luckily, I look more like my mom than my dad. A lot of people say I kinda look like Keiko Kitagawa or Kyoko Fukada, with the whole dark brown eyes, the shade of light suntanned skin, with rich long brown hair thing. But, I do have my dad’s shade of skin colour, a smooth peachy shade. I have long eyelashes which fan out from my huge eyes and a heart-shaped face. I have a toned body, probably because I train a lot and because I dance a lot. I love to dance and make up routines.

I quickly ran a brush through my tangled hair and let it dry before I applied make-up and put on my school uniform, complete with matching gloves and sneakers.

I slid down the banister and skipped into the kitchen, where I greeted by my mom.

“Morning Hana,” I greeted my sister when I passed the living room as she sat infront of the TV, watching it animatedly and occasionally swallowing some of her breakfast.

I didn’t expect a reply, which I didn’t get.

“Morning Akira-chan,” Mom greeted me as soon as I entered the kitchen.

“Good morning Mom,”

At least I got one ‘good morning’ this morning.

“Did your training go well this morning, dear?”

I nodded enthusiastically,” Good. It’s now the fifth time in a row I’ve beaten Dad,”

“That’s very good,”

“Thanks,”

When Mom turned her back to finish washing the dishes, I raised an eyebrow behind her back. Usually Mom hated me and Dad using violence, but she sounded genially enthusiastic and pleased about it. It worried me a bit. I sat myself down at the table and looked at the breakfast laid out on the table before me, the sounds of Mom scrubbing the dishes and her low humming filling the air until Dad walked in, just as I grabbed my chopsticks, his hair damp from his shower.

“Good morning,”

I just waved at Dad, my mouth full of half-chewed rice. Mom only glanced over her shoulder and went back to washing up. Dad didn’t seem to notice.

I raised my eyebrow again. I mean, I know Mom and Dad have been acting weird around eachother for weeks now and they’ve argued a lot…but surely they’re over it now?

I finish breakfast quicker than usual, feeling awkward around both my parents, and then headed upstairs to grab my duffle bag and meet Ryo so I could walk to school with him.

Ryo Kikukawa is my best friend and boyfriend. He’s adorable, with jet black hair and dark brown eyes, his face rounded with a hint of childhood chubbiness. He’s so sweet natured as well, only caring for the happiness of others rather than himself. He has a heart of gold, and does everything perfectly. And, luckily, Ryo only lives a few streets away from me, so we walk to school together.

So I hurriedly ran into my bedroom, grabbed my duffle bag, and ran down the stairs, eager to say goodbye to my parents and meet up with Ryo-kun. I hugged Hana goodbye, even though she was still animatedly watching the TV and dashed into the kitchen, but stopped outside the partly closed door, hearing loud voices.

“I can’t believe you! You’re still getting her up so early in the morning so you two can spar together! Can’t you see how tired she’s getting?”

That was Mom. She was still angry with Dad for me and him training early in the morning.

“Akira loves to train with me! She wants to learn the fighting style! There’s nothing wrong with that!”

“Her grades will start to slip! All she’ll care about is picking fights, not getting a good education!”

“She wants to be martial artist, just like her dad! There’s nothing wrong with that!”

“It is when you’re not bringing money in!”

That was enough for a tear to slip from my prickling eyes. They continued to build and slip as I sobbed to myself quietly.

I turned and ran out the door, not bothering to say goodbye to either of them.

I ran and ran, not knowing where I was going. Definitely not back home or to school. I just need to be by myself, alone. All I knew was that I had somehow managed to escape into the forest not too far from my house.

My legs began to ache, but I carried on running, my head pounding and my heart rate increasing while my breath became laboured, their argument pulsation with the beat of my heart.

“I can’t believe you! You’re still getting her up so early in the morning so you two can spar together! Can’t you see how tired she’s getting?”

“She wants to be martial artist, just like her dad! There’s nothing wrong with that!”

“It is when you’re not bringing money in!”

I wanted to run away as fast and as far as I could, away from the arguments, away from the awkwardness, away from the two parents who suppose to love eachother so much but chose to fight over such stupid things.

I couldn’t bear the thought of them splitting up.

Their loud voices echoed in my ears and shook my head. I just wanted to get out of this skin and start again.

My ankles felt numb but both my legs started tingling, with my head pounding, my heartbeat escalating, my breathing hitching in my throat, I ignored it all. I wish I hadn’t though.

Because suddenly my body went limp and everything went black.

I woke with an aching head and a throbbing body. I blinked rapidly to adjust my vision and tried to sit up, but my sore body protested with pain. I just lied there, staring up at the sky. I must have been out for a while because the sky was dimmer than it was the morning and more cloudy.

It must be at least the afternoon.

“Oh, you finally woke up,”

I jumped at the sound of the voice, raising onto my feet and balling my hands into fists, prepared to defend myself if violence broke out. I looked to the source of the voice and gasped in shock.

A boy, a teenage boy, was standing by the lake, a piece of damp cloth in his hands. His hair was onyx black and spiked in an unusual fashion, spiked at the back with long bangs covering his eyes. He was well toned, obvious to the fact that he must work out or something, his skin a nice tanned colour. He had deep, dark brown eyes, a beautiful shade of rich chocolate.

He smiled at me, gently but firmly squeezing the water out of the cloth. I lowered both my fists and took a step back.

“Who…are you?”

The boy stood up and folded the piece of cloth in his hands.

“Perhaps we should start with why you were in the forest in the first place?” was all he said.

I opened my mouth to say something else but my knees abruptly buckled and I expected to land on the ground with a thump but a hand wound around my waist and another held my back, saving me from injuring myself further.

“Whoa, you should learn to be more careful,”

I looked up to see an angelic face looking down on mine, strong arms holding me on his lap.

“Excuse me!?” I said furiously, my cheeks bright red from embarrassment as I jumped out of his arms and faced him.

“I said you should be more careful,”

My whole face burned tomato red.

Who does this guy think he is?!

I really really resisted the urge to slap this mysterious teenager so I just grounded my teeth together.

How rude is he, talking to a girl like that?!

“You know, you never answered my question,”

I glared at him, “What question?”

“Why were you out here in the first place?”

“Why were you out here in the first place?” I shot back, crossing my arms over my chest.

The boy chuckled. That really ticked me off.

“What’s so funny?”

“You wouldn’t believe my real answer,”

“Try me,”

“I live here,”

I definitely wasn’t expecting that.

“O…K,”

“See, I told you,”

This boy may be cute, but he’s an annoying son of a-

“So?” he asked.

“So what?” I asked, shaking my head.

He crossed his arms over his chest,” Answer my question,”

I refused to speak, but he just sat there patiently, staring at me the whole time.

“Why does it matter to you?” I finally asked him.

The boy shrugged,” I just wanna know,”

I sighed,” I really shouldn’t be talking to strangers…,”

The boy rolled his eyes and shook his head but held his hand out to me,” My name’s Kazama Jin. It’s nice to meet you. And you are?”

He didn’t say with attitude, like I expected him to, but he spoke politely, a small smile on his face as he stared and waited for me to shake his hand. Despite our minor annoyance with eachother, I smiled back and shook his hand.

“I’m Oshimaki Akira. It’s very nice to meet you, too,”

Even though I didn’t want to, he let go of my hand and tore his gaze from mine to the ground.

“Uh…how long was I out for?” I decided to ask, breaking the silence.

Jin looked up at me and smiled,” A couple of hours,”

I smiled gratefully at him,” Thank-you for looking after me. You didn’t have to,”

Jin shrugged, his lips curling into a half-smile, half-smirk,” It was nothing,”

I sighed and got up on my feet,” I’d better get going. My parents will be worried. Thanks again, Kazama Jin-kun,”

Jin also got to his feet,” Do you think…,” he trailed off, looking sadly at the ground.

I quirked an eyebrow,” Do I think what?”

“Do you think…that maybe…we’d see eachother again?” he asked me, his eyebrows furrowed sadly at the thought.

I smiled,” Of course,”

Jin’s cheeks flushed a bright shade of red,” I-I’d like that,”

I suddenly felt hot, especially on my face,” Y-Yeah,” I muttered, not able to make eye contact with him as I smiled to myself.

He unexpectedly became to walk towards me; his cheeks still stained a crimson shade, only much deeper before.

What is he doing?

I felt my arm tingle as his fingertips brushed against my elbow and up my arm, until they rested back to my forearm. His other hand swept across my forehead, swaying my fringe, and cupped my cheek, caressing my skin with his thumb, leaving a circle of goose bumps. My heart started to beat faster and my breathing hitched in my throat as his eyes flickered up and down before meeting mine and he drew closer. I could feel his breath ghosting across my lips as he got nearer and nearer to putting his mouth on mine and I felt my legs turn into jelly.

He’s a compete stranger and I’m letting him kiss me. Well, he is a rather cute stranger…no! I have Ryo-kun! God, I’m so-

My thought and Jin’s action were cut off as we heard a terrifying roar shudder through the air.

“What was that?”

Both me and Jin turned around, still sticking close to eachother, our eyes scanning the surroundings around us.

“Do you sense anything?” I asked Jin in a low voice so not to attract any unwanted attention to ourselves.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jin shake his head,” No, nothing,”

We both waited again in silence, listening for the slightest give away to confirm it wasn’t our imaginations: a leave rustling, a change in the wind, an animal cry, the faintest sound of a footstep.

Nothing.

I couldn’t let out a sigh of relief just yet.

Then I heard crackling, like the kind when you sit infront of a fireplace and watch the orange and red and the yellow mix together to form a flame that blazed and flared brightly, dancing and crackling.

I turned my ears sharply to where the sound came from and gasped in shock.

Fire. The forest had caught fire.

“Oh, my God,” I didn’t realise I had said anything until Jin turned around and stared at the fire, the glow highlighting his face with a strange light orange shadow.

“Who would do such a thing?”

Another paranormal screech ripped through the air, making my blood run cold and my breathing hitch in my throat. I suddenly shivered, goose bumps growing on my bare arms and legs. Jin’s fingers slowly took hold of my hand and curled around my wrist, almost as if he was being cautious, his gaze fixed to the fire burning intensely infront of us and leapt from tree to tree.

“C’mon, we can’t stay here,” he whispered in my ear, his breath tickling my skin.

I let him put his fingers through mine and pull me into a jog which gradually built up to a run. I trailed behind him, trying to keep up with his speed, stumbling as I tried to dodge and weave between the trees and the litter covering the ground. A few times I thought I was going to fall or trip, but Jin held tightly onto my hand, as if he wasn’t about to let me go.

We ran for a while, but I didn’t know where we were going. But I was pretty sure Jin did. I began to grow tired, my legs failing to keep up with Jin’s, my breathing becoming laboured again, my head hammering again, like before. Jin must have noticed this because he rapidly stopped and scooped me into his arms while he broke into a faster run.

I would have protested but I felt terrible again, with my heart beating hard against my ribs, wheezing because my lungs were struggling to breathe regularly and my muscles began to tingle and grow numb again. I simply sat in Jin’s arms, the wind weaving through my hair as he ran as fast as he could. I glanced over his shoulder and saw that the fire was chasing after us, growing closer and closer.

“Jin!”

“I know,”

He said it in a calm voice, which made me less afraid. All the same, I was scared, because miraculously the forest had caught fire and something was in the forest and possibly chasing after us as well.

Who wouldn’t be scared?

I was kinda surprised how easily Jin had lifted me and carried me while running.

Jin continued to run but whenever I glanced at him, I could see his cheeks glow red with exhaustion, his breathing heavier and irregular. I felt a bit guilty so I was about to offer for him to put me down so I could run for myself but he all of a sudden came to a halt and gently lowered my feet onto the ground. I frowned at him with confusion, but he wasn’t looking at me, he was looking forward, so I followed his gaze.

I gasped as my eyes lay on the small thatched hut infront of me. It had stacks of dark logs to form the frame of a small cabin. It had a door and few windows. I took a wild guess and thought it was Jin’s home that he had briefly mentioned.

“Wait here,” He told me and went inside, without telling me what he was going to do.

So I did as I was told and waited outside, keeping a eye out for the fire to start tearing it’s way towards us through the forest and for the so-called ‘monster’ that was supposedly following us, while Jin closed the door behind him and began searching around the place. I heard the faint shouting of his voice but I couldn’t quite make out what he was saying.

He came back out a few minutes later, his face pulled into a slightly worried expression.

I frowned as he walked towards me, almost dragging his feet behind him,” What’s the matter?”

“My mother…she’s not here,”

I lightly touched his arm,” Don’t worry; I’m sure she’s safe,” I took hold of his hand and gently squeezed it before dragging him behind me,” C’mon, we’ll go look for her,”

We started to run again, his hand holding onto mine tightly, almost so tight that it kinda hurt. Soon enough, Jin was sprinting infront of me, lagging me behind him again.

We run further and further into the forest until the fire was in the wake of where our footprints had scarred the disturbed soil.

That’s when I saw it.

Toshin.

It was chasing after us at high speed, its long straw ponytail trailing and swaying as it did, its dirty emerald skin blurring together, its ancient warrior-like clothing and ornaments clanking heavily against its skin. But it’s eyes; they were the thing that scared me the most. They were illuminatingly red, almost crimson.

Blood red.

They didn’t shimmer or sparkle of humanity, only to be outlined in a thick black line.

The eyes of a monster.

My heart seemed to have stopped, fear washing through my body, my lungs tired, my throat dry and scratchy, my body frozen and quivering.

Oh my God…

My body really had frozen because my legs started to slow down, my speed slowly dying down, until I was rooted on the spot, shaking in fear. I felt that I was the only one there, the only one this monster was trapped in the line of its sight.

Jin had let go of my hand.

I was fixed to the ground, unable to move, paralysed with fear.

“Oshimaki Akira,”

I gasped.

How the hell did it know my name?

I closed my eyes, trying to block it out, block everything that had happened that day, hoping it was some terrible dream…

The whisper of the wind merged into my hair, curling around me in silence, nothing surrounding me.

Nothing.

I dared to open my eyes slowly, revealing the sunshine once again, the tall trees looming over me, the birds floating in the clouded sky.

Nothing.

I saw nothing, just the forest. No monster, no fire…no Jin.

“I’ve been hunting for you, Oshimaki,”

The same shivers ran through my spine again as I turned in every direction, trying to catch even the slightest glimpse of something so I knew I wasn’t going crazy.

“I’m hungry for more,”

I tried to shout out, tried to make myself heard, try to demand who or what was there, but my mouth trembled and my voice came out as a gasp.

“This time, I shall absorb the spirit of Oshimaki,”

I placed my hands over my mouth and my shivering became greater.

C’mon Akira, you’re the daughter of a martial artist! Defend yourself!

Instead, all I could do was run. I sprinted off again, not knowing where I was going once again. All I wanted was to be safe again, back home with my family. Instead, I was stuck in a nightmare, being chased by a monster.

I ran inbetween the trees, the small twigs and branches sagging against my face, my feet stumbling on the trunks, my arms brushing against the harsh wood. The faint booming of long running steps thudded behind me.

“There is no use in running, you inconsequential girl! You cannot escape from me!”

“Akira!”

I looked up in surprise, following the sound of that voice.

Jin!

I saw him, his cheeks flushed, his chest hastily moving up and down, using a tree as a support as he tried to regain his normal breathing.

I tried to call back to him but my voice still hadn’t returned. I ran faster towards him, feeling safer with every step I got closer to him.

“You will parish before me, Oshimaki and Kazama!”

It’s after Jin too?

I glanced over my shoulder and saw that monster was running after me again, its stare glued to me.

“Akira, run!”

I darted forward, trying to get ahead of Toshin, but my feet got caught up in a bundle of raised roots and I tripped and fell to the ground.

“Akira, look out!”

I lifted my head and looked up. Toshin was now only a few paces from me.

This is it, the end of the line.

“Watanabe!”

I couldn’t do anything. Toshin would get me, then Jin, then…

I shielded myself with my arm, my eyes closed, expecting the final attack.

“Akira!”

It never came.

I heard a clenched fist connect with a jaw, echoing a loud crack followed by a dull thud and the ground shaking slightly.

No way! It’s not possible Jin took on that monster, is it…?

I slowly opened my eyes and lowered my arm back to my side. I expected to see the tall and mysterious Jin Kazama with his fist screwed up in tight balls and standing steady, prepared to attack once again while looking down a wounded Toshin. But what I saw was a woman, her back to me, her hands turned to the side, her palms facing eachother, her left leg bent forward.

That stance, I know it from somewhere…

“Mom!”

Jin’s mother…

“Run, both of you!”

I sat up and Jin quickly ran to my side, his hand gently clasping my forearm, but his eyes were on the raven-haired women.

“But Mother!”

“Jin, take her and run! You know what to do!”

“But-,”

“Just do as I say Jin!”

We can’t just leave her to fight this thing alone…

“Run, both of you! Now!”

Me and Jin looked at eachother, hopeless and defeated. We could nothing but obey her commands. Jin hauled me up, holding my body close to his, so close I could feel the fear mixed with anger radiate off him.

“Once I get her in a safe place, I will come back for you,” he said to his mother.

His mother looked at him over her shoulder, smiled and nodded. Without another word said, he took my hand once again and pulled me into a fast run.

“Where are we going?” I asked after a few minutes.

“There’s a shrine not too far from here. I will make sure you’re safe there and then go back for Mother,”

What? He’s going to leave me all on my own, with that thing around?

I pushed that feeling away from me. After all, it was Jin’s mother who was in the most danger.

I nodded,” OK,” I replied in a small voice, though I wasn’t sure it Jin heard me.

I wrapped my hand around Jin’s to make sure it was secure and that this time neither of us could let go. I was a little faster with my running; I was almost running beside him and adrenaline coursing through my veins and my breathing regular. I suddenly smirked.

I was so ready to take on this monster if need be.

We ran nonstop, advancing further and further into the forest once again avoiding the trees and long grass swishing against our ankles until we came to a large white and blue-black building with triangular roofs. We approached the shrine and Jin held the door open for me.

“Here,”

I quickly ran inside and Jin followed, closing the door behind him.

“OK, you’ll be safe in here. I have to go back for-,”

Another screech wavered close by followed by shards flying through the air.

It’s trying to get in! It’s smashing through the wall!

Jin pushed me back, his fists tightened, his left leg bent forward. Just like his mom, he was ready to fight.

“Akira, listen to me. I need you to run, get far away from here, go back home,”

“No way! I can’t just leave you and your mother to face this thing yourselves!”

“Akira, go home! This is too dangerous for you!”

I didn’t realise until I felt my clasped hands shake how angry I was. I stood hard on my ankles, my heels buried furiously in the ground but my expression softened. I sighed and bent my head forward, my hair dangling down to hide my expression.

He’s right; I’m just a helpless girl getting in the way…

My nails bit deep into my skin then because I furious with myself.

You idiot! You’re not helpless! You’re the daughter of Oshimaki Naoya, a martial artist! You’re trained in Oshimaki Style Traditional Martial Arts! You can fight this thing off!

I smirked again, skidding forward beside Jin, my left clenched fist resting on my hip, my right plan upright and spread out, my left leg bent forward and my right leg straightened behind me.

“Heh, I don’t give up without a fight!”

Jin looked at me then my stance, his eyes slightly wide with shock, realising I was trained in some martial art. His chocolate-brown eyes staring straight into my hazel ones, saying something like “I don’t know if you’re really stupid or really brave,” but he didn’t say it. Instead, he smirked back at me before turning his attention to the wall the monster was smashing through.

A few more smashes and it was through.

My teeth grounded together and my fist grew tighter. Adrenaline and anger mixed together and burned through my veins, setting my nerves on fire. Our sights were fixed on eachother, ready for someone to make the first move.

That someone was me.

I grew impatient of waiting so I took it into my own hands. I darted forward, my feet intensely pounding into the ground with each step, my hands scrunched up tightly again. I planned to make it look like I was going to attack with my fists but I was really to use a kick attack. I drew a fist in the air, prepared to punch.

“Akira, don’t!”

I ignored Jin and continued forward as Toshin sprinted forward too, determined to meet me halfway with an attack of its own. I drew closer and closer until I was within reach of attacking. I smirked as I held my fist high but stepped my leg forward, getting ready to attack it legs to take it down. It plunged a fist forward so I ducked. I smirked up at it, thinking I now had the upper hand.

How wrong I was.

It’s free arm swept across and caught me on my face, causing me to go crashing into the wall. I landed on the floor, rubble and dust coating me as I lay there, unconscious.

My eyes fluttered open and I immediately shot up, pushing the rubble off my body.

What the hell?

I pressed a hand on my right temple and groaned. Images of Jin, his mother and Toshin flashed in my mind.

I remember…

“My name’s Kazama Jin. It’s nice to meet you. And you are?”

“Thank-you for looking after me. You didn’t have to,”

“Do you think…that maybe…we’d see eachother again?”

“Of course,”

” I-I’d like that,”

“What’s the matter?”

“My mother…she’s not here,”

“Don’t worry; I’m sure she’s safe. C’mon, we’ll go look for her,”

“I’ve been hunting for you, Oshimaki,”

“This time, I shall absorb the spirit of Oshimaki,”

“There is no use in running, you inconsequential girl! You cannot escape from me!”

“Akira, look out!”

“Mom!”

“Jin, take her and run! You know what to do!”

“Once I get her in a safe place, I will come back for you,”

“Akira, listen to me. I need you to run, get far away from here, go back home,”

“No way! I can’t just leave you and your mother to face this thing yourselves!”

“Akira, go home! This is too dangerous for you!”

“Heh, I don’t give up without a fight!”

“Akira, don’t!”

More images of me trying to fight off Toshin flashed.

Then darkness…

I gasped and looked around the room, my eyes scanning the surroundings.

The whole shrine was destroyed.

Shards of painted wood was in piles around me, the walls had been destroyed or badly damaged, allowing some dim moonlight to stream in.

Jin was nowhere to be seen.

“Jin?”

I slowly stood up, my face pulsing with pain where that monster had hit me. I touched it with my hand and wince as the pain returned again. I drew my hand back and saw that my fingers where smudged with blood.

Great.

I inspected the environment around me again, searching for any sign Jin was still here…still alive.

“Jin?” I called out a little this time incase he hadn’t heard me the first time.

I waited, silence the only answer.

“Jin! Are you here?!”

My body grew in panic, my heart thudding against my ribs, my lungs struggling to function properly, my limbs wobbling.

“Jin! Please, if you can hear me, answer me!”

The stillness was scaring me. Jin wasn’t answering, meaning I was all alone. Jin could injured or worse…

I shook my head to get rid of that thought.

He’ll be OK. His mom too. They’re probably around here somewhere…

I was trying to convince myself, but I failed miserably. I was scared out of mind with all the possibilities.

Jin could be injured…He could be dead…His mom too…Toshin could come back…

All the possibilities swam around in my head worryingly. I scrambled around the rubble, searching for a sign. I shifted planks of wood and bundles of rubble, rummaging through the wreckage.

In the end, I found nothing.

It was like Jin and his mom never existed.

OK, clam down…

I took a deep breath in through my nose and exhaled it out through my mouth, the way you’re told to when you panic.

OK, think. Think what to do…

My heart was beating so fast I swear that if it got any faster it would run out of energy and stop or it would be loud enough to be heard through the quietness spaced around me.

That’s all that was around me, quietness and debris scattered in random shapes on the floor.

I could feel the coldness of the night sweep in through the damaged walls of the shrine and coil in the gaps.

I could see the moonlight stream in through the cracks and fractures of the wreckage.

But what scared me the most was the fact that I couldn’t hear anything. Nothing.

I could feel the coldness of the floor under my body but I feel like my body was on fire, fire of fear.

I have to find Jin.

I unsteadily rose to my feet, waving my arms out for balance and stumbled slightly before I stood with stability. I examined the environment around me one last time before running out of the broken shrine and into the darkness of the forest.

To my surprise, it was night-time.

The moon was hardly a light for me to follow; it was hidden amongst the clouds enveloping the black blanket of sky, so I had to make my own way out of the forest, using my hands to feel out the bulky trunks of trees and my feet to search out for whip-shaped roots sticking out of the ground below, slowly jogging as I did so.

After much fumbling on scratchy wood and staggering on tree roots, my foot tapped against a hard mass of wood. I looked down and saw a messy jumble of dark brown wood, similar to the material Jin’s house was made out of. I covered my mouth with my hands when I realised.

It is Jin’s house!

I fell to my knees, my hands quickly scrambling through the heap of wood, desperately crying out Jin’s name. I pushed and pulled logs out of the way, hoping to catch a glimpse of Jin again, to see that he was OK, alive, well.

The sky cracked and let a low rumble followed by a flash. I looked up to see the clouds gathering together, preparing for a storm. I rummaged faster through the pile of logs, sobs choking up my throat as the heavens above opened and let the rain pour down freely. I cut up my forearms and hands but I ignored it, not caring about anything but to see Jin and his mother safe.

Please God, let them be OK!

“Please, please, please…,”

I achieved rummaging through the pile of log, but not for seeking out Jin and his mother. I sat back on my heels, the rain soaking me to the bone and mixing with the tears that streamed down my face and the blood that leaked from my wounds. I shook my head, disappointed at myself.

Don’t be such a baby! Just find them!

I stood up shakily and twisted my head in various directions.

“Jin! Jin, can you hear me? Please, if you can hear me, answer me!”

Only the noises of the rain and the forest replied to me.

I need help to find them…

I hear low murmurs so I snapped my head in the direction they were coming from and saw beams of light scanning the surroundings of the forest.

“Jin? Jin, is that you? Jin!”

I saw two shadowy figures run towards me, the rays of flashlights flashing as their arms moved, shouting sentences at me that were hard to understand due to the fizzing rain.

“Akira! Are you there? Akira! Akira?!”

I recognised the voice, but it was the voice I hoped it was.

It was Dad and Mom’s best friend, Taya.

I collapse into more tears as I saw their faces and run to them. Dad clutched me tightly and pushed me to his shoulder as he kissed the top of my head.

“You stupid girl!” he said as he pulled me at arms length,” We were worried sick about you! We thought you’d gone straight to school but when Ryo phoned, we thought the worst!”

Taya lightly patted me on the back,” We’ve all been searching for you, and since the storms come, we were worried we’d never find you again,”

I swallowed thickly, trying to stop the sobs before I spoke. I cling tightly onto Dad’s arm,” Dad, listen to me. I heard you and Mom arguing about me this morning so I ran, hoping to get away from it but I fainted and this boy, Kazama Jin, found me and this…monster jumped out from the woods while it was on fire and it chased us and-and then Jin’s mom held it off for us but it still came after us so I thought I could take it but I-but I couldn’t and I was unconscious again and when I woke Jin and his mother wasn’t there, and I-“

“Whoa, whoa, slow down!” Dad hushed me;” You heard me and Mom arguing about you this morning?”

I nodded and he rolled his eyes and shook his head as Taya looked worryingly at him.

“I’m sorry sweetie, you weren’t meant to hear that,”

I creased my brow in confusion,” I don’t care about that! What about Jin and his mom? We have to find them!”

Dad’s expression matched mine,” Who? Who’s Jin?”

“Jin, Kazama Jin! He…looked after me after I ran into the forest. He and his mom have disappeared after that monster attacked us-,”

“Wait, a monster attacked you?”

“Yes! It probably caused the forest fire too!”

Dad shook his head again,” No. The police found some teenage kids smoking by the forest and when they ditched their cigarettes, they hadn’t put them out probably so the forest caught fire,”

I couldn’t believe what my ears were hearing,” No. No, that’s not what happened-,”

“It did, Akira. The police arrested two teenage boys for smoking and causing the forest fire. I’m surprised they didn’t find you,”

“Then, what about-,”

Dad held his hand up,” Look Aki, you’ve had a stressful day, so let’s get you home,” he suggested and wrapped a arm around my shoulders to support me but I shook him off and faced him.

“I think I’m making this all up? That a boy looked after me and his mother saved me?!” I screamed at him, my anger boiling up to my fists as I clenched them tightly.

Dad glanced at Taya and then leaned close to me,” Look, let’s talk about this at home,” He drew back and wrapped his arm around my shoulders again,” C’mon, we’ll get you home. Your mother’s worried sick,”

I allowed Dad to steer and support me and for Taya to wrap an arm around my waist as they walked me home.

When I arrived home, Mom burst into tears as she saw me and hugged me tightly, telling me how scared she was that I might have been kidnapped or lying dead in a ditch somewhere. Hana hugged me tightly too, but she stayed silent, but her damp face said everything.

After sorting the police out, Taya left and Mom and Dad put Hana to bed while I stayed on the couch, dressed in my pyjamas with a blanket draped over my shoulders, a cup of hot chocolate wrapped in both my hands. I knew that when they came back down, they wanted to know everything that happened. I didn’t really feel up it, I mean my head was throbbing, my chest was aching, my throat felt tight and I was coughing and sneezing. I must have caught a cold while I was out in the rain.

I stared out of the living room window, thinking that I was cooped up in here, warm and safe, while Jin and his mom were out in the rain somewhere, cold and hurt.

“How are you feeling?”

Mom’s tender voice made me jump.

“Awful. I think I’ve caught a cold,” I sneezed after I replied.

Mom frowned and disappeared into the kitchen while Dad sat opposite me on the opposite couch. He stared at me, his chin resting on his laced fingers, frowning at me with concern. Mom came back with a thermometer and stuck it in my mouth before sitting next to Dad.

“Listen Akira, your Dad told me everything you said-“

“Then you have to believe me!”

Mom and Dad glanced at eachother and Mom sighed before turning back to me,” Aki, the police did find two teenage boys smoking-,”

“That’s bullshit, and you know it!”

“Watch your language!” Dad warned me, his frown growing increasingly angry.

Mom simply stared at the floor and clicked her tongue against her teeth before looking back up at me, her eyebrows creased with concern as she lightly touched my hand,” Me and your father have been going through a rough patch and sometimes it affects the children too-,”

“You don’t believe me either,”

Mom withdrew her hand and rested her eyes on the carpet again while Dad sighed and looked up at me, his curled up fight resting in his cupped hand.

My eyes swayed between my parents,” Neither of you believe me,”

Both of them reminded silent, not able to look me in the eye.

“I didn’t make Jin and his mother up! I found their house in ruins! The monster was after me and Jin! Two filthy little smokers couldn’t cause that much fire damage!”

My throat slowly felt tighter as I got more and more angry and my chest increasingly felt more uncomfortable.

“They are real! They saved me! We have to find them!”

Mom shook her head,” No, you’re not going anywhere for a while, young lady. No school tomorrow either,”

I sighed and slumped back against the sofa, defeated. I studied them both again, noticing how there was a massive gap between them and how they weren’t making eye contact.

“Are you going to get a divorce?” I crossed my arms over my chest and handed the thermometer back to Mom.

Mom sighed again,” That’s something we also need to talk about,”

No. No, no, no, NO! You can’t do this to me!

Mom and Dad glanced at eachother again before Dad cleared his throat and spoke,” I got a job offer,”

I frowned as the corner of my eyes started to sting,” What job offer?”

“To teach a couple of students boxing,”

I took a deep breath before stating my next question,” Where?”

“London, England,”

I stared at him in disbelief, my mouth agape,” England?!”

Dad shrugged slightly and glanced at Mom,” I think maybe me and your mother just need to be away from eachother for a while, just get some space,”

I gnashed my teeth together and frowned angrily at him,” You accepted the job offer?”

Silence.

“Without consulting me?”

Fidgeting and silence.

“What about Hana? What about me? We all need you here,”

Dad made eye contact with me again and then glanced around the room,” Hana doesn’t want me to go,”

I turned to Mom,” What did you say?”

“I think me and your father do need some time away from eachother if we want this marriage to continue to work, but…,” she paused to glance up at Dad and bit her lip before facing me again,” I don’t want him to go either,”

I looked at Dad with triumph,” There you have it. Three against one,”

Dad opened his mouth to say something back at me but Mom grabbed me upright and stared pulling me towards the stairs.

“Come on, we should get you to bed,”

I let Mom lead me to bed, though at that moment I hated both my parents.

“You’ve been watching too much King of Iron Fist,”

I turned around half-way up the stairs, scowling at Dad.

“What did you say to me?”

Dad shook his head and shrugged.

“What did you mean by that?” I descended down a few steps but Mom grabbed my arm and stared pulling me up the stairs again.

Dad shook his head and shrugged again,” Nothing. Goodnight,”

I didn’t reply to him and shook off Mom’s clutch on my arm and marched into my bedroom, slamming the door behind me and grumpily flopping onto my bed, not bidding either of my parents goodnight. The bedroom door opened once again and I heard someone shuffle quietly across the room to my bed and felt them place a kiss on my head.

“Goodnight darling,” Mom whispered, stroking my hair.

I refused to react to her and let her walk out of the room without the usual love and goodnight. I felt my heavy eyelids slowly slide shut and fall to sleep.

That was the first night I ever dreamed about Jin Kazama.
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A Tekken Story: Through the Years - Volume I