Like Day and Night (I and II) by Sapfarah

Source: https://web.archive.org/web/20021018063145/http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Realm/3017/

Author: Sapfarah

Tags: Lee & Kazuya focused, Heihachi

Part I

And the sun sets from the West
Every night.
It comes from the horizon
in the far, far East.
In the land of the Rising Sun.

When Lee Chaolan walked for the first time into the residence of the Mishima family, he was under the escort of Heihachi. He came with only his clothes, a bewildered child previously living in the streets of poor lowly neighbourhoods, where people were under ailing conditions.

He had spent the best of this early part of life roaming those areas, mostly engaging in fights, running away from merchants from whom he had stolen or even the police, only occasionally visiting the brothel where Minako, the woman who had been his caretaker since the very first years of his life worked, and found a temporarily shelter in there, for she was unrelenting to the matter He couldn't live with her. She was probably trying to keep him away from this corruption, yet she was always glad to see him and offer him food, a bed for some hours and always an embrace.

Lee had pictured his life as one of those bigger rowdies, until in one of his visits, Minako introduced him to Heihachi Mishima. With perplexed eyes, he had regarded the strange corpulent man and if not for his unusual appearance, of an oddly balding head where the centre was exposed and on either side two sharp swarthy strands rocketed upwardly and a firm, dark moustache streaming on either side of his mouth, the impact of his small hard eyes was as discomfiting as though he were one of those police officers who were out to bust the likes of him.

The very same afternoon, he was leaving his life for good and following the imposing man back at his home. Seated at the back seat of a limousine, in a chair more comfortable than all the pillows of the brothel all together, he looked out of the polished window, watching the grey streets staying behind him, the faces of the children that either he played or fought with, sad and perhaps jealous as they watched him leave. Indeed the limousine was comfortable but the moment the door was locked, he already longed to jump out. He couldn't stand the confinement, he didn't trust the demonic looking man who sat by him, even if he smiled. In his much prematurely developed mind, all horrific thoughts passed by and he almost cried a tear at the thought he would never again see Minako.

Then was the mansion. He was so absorbed in studying how the route was changing, enhanced with brighter streets and broader, strong, beautiful buildings, taller and wealthier, that he didn't realise when they reached what was to become his new (but not last) home. When the car stopped, as the chauffeur opened the door for him, he could only gape at the immense construction. On its own, the Mishima mansion might have been a city within the city of Tokyo.

His young mind perceived it to be as big as his entire neighbourhood, in fact he knew his entire neighbourhood could live into this house and not worry about tomorrow for decades. To tell the least, he was stunned and when Heihachi asked in a smile how he liked his new home, he merely nodded. He couldn't find any words to utter. It was soon though that he realised, however big the mansion was, alike empty it was inside. If not from people, for as the door opened, at least five servants run to the aid of Heihachi Mishima and there were bodyguards everywhere (luckily they didn't look at him with the authoritative looks of policemen) there sure was an apparent lack of gaiety in that enormous residence, where each room was as big as the other, all richly ornamented with plush carpets and fine works of art. Perhaps it was due to the time he came, a late autumn afternoon, almost evening when they reached but though the rooms were brightly lit (so many impressive chandeliers, reflecting the light in all colours of the iris!) the house was still as if doomed.

As soon as Heihachi got rid of his coat, he incited him to walk on. Lee, not having a jacket to take off (his clothing was not enough to permit it anyway, even though the house was sufficiently heated), following the instruction of the house's lord, walked ahead, his heart pounding and his shaking feet ready to leap to a flee at any moment.

They walked through corridors, carpets, fine tapestry and soft lights in beautiful lamps everywhere. Lee could only be abstracted at the wealth he witnessed. Living in that palace couldn't be as bad, perhaps. Then, as they had ascended some stairs, they stood opposite one big double wooden door, in a wanly lit corridor. Lee's heart skipped and started a hurried pace. Heihachi stretched a hand and pushed the door away.

Always walking under his lead, he stepped into a broad but utterly unlit hall, one that was more of a storage of the fine artwork and furniture no longer used in the house. He gaped looking around, until Heihachi pronounced a name and had it not been for his head turning to his father's call, he would never have noticed this other youth present in the room, sitting by a window, staring outside to the nearly dull clouded sky.

Lee was absolutely stunned. The other boy was about his age but he possessed this strange ability of a ghost, existing into oblivion, for where he sat, leaning on his elbow upon the window, he was nowhere near hidden. Alike he was much different than him, not only as far as external appearance went. Lee understood the boy to be Heihachi's son for he shared the thick, crudely sloped brows and the sharp prominent fabrication of the face. He had one of the weirdest crop of hair he had ever seen and supple healthy but nonetheless pale aristocratic skin on his nearly detached from the rest of the world face, with a strangely apathetic air of artificial indifference and perhaps even boredom on his ostensibly immobile eyes, which Lee decided to be the worst of his expression, this placid resignation, not enough to be derisive or even scornful and wouldn't even melt to sorrowful.

Taking an anxious swallow, he watched him approaching in slow, almost majestic paces towards him, with an indifference of someone who has withdrawn and as he came to stand before him, not for once did he grace him with a look.

Heihachi had placed his palms on his shoulder as he introduced him to Kazuya.

"This is Lee..." he said in his low domineering voice. "He is going to live with us from now on... I want you to be kind to him and treat him as your brother..." he marked in an indirect suggestion that had better not be slighted but Lee knew he wasn't welcome. As he regarded the settled boy, he knew he should be glad not to come into conflict with him. Trouble can be seen a mile away, especially by someone who has learned to live with it from his early life, only then, the only trouble he could foresee, was the one he might have expected from a touchy spoiled wealthy brat. Well, if his lowly origin was too much for his polished listlessness, he should learn to live with it. He wasn't the one to decline an offer such as was granted to him. He was determined to make the best of his new settlement. Yet he tried to make the youngster look at him, but Kazuya didn't even show if he knew he was looking at a new person.

A few moments of silence were intermitted, during which all three stood aligned in complete silence. It was apparent that the expected words would not come from Kazuya's tight lips and Lee momentarily wondered whether perhaps the boy couldn't speak supposing he might have wanted to, but that did not matter at the very least either. He had grown up to no real friends all of his life and those he had, he maintained after long time and hardships together. If that wealthy scion didn't wish to make friends, it was fine with him, as perhaps neither did he want to get to know him any better. Why would he wish to have as friend someone so indolent, so lifeless as not to say a word, perhaps due to... psychological sensitivities, as wealthy are often known to suffer from? This face was too much askew to be normal and he gathered he had always been the settled youth who never had to struggle for anything, the one who could get all he wanted with a sluggish nod. In any case, he seemed placid enough, as to be easily controlled to his advantage, should he need someone to manipulate.

Well, so he seemed. Kazuya didn't respond to his father, he didn't even look upon him and wasn't told off for his audacity, from which Lee assumed that, either Heihachi didn't want to scold him at his presence, or that he was really spoiled, that enforcing his initial anticipation. It was only as the lord of the mansion ultimately took his hands from his shoulders and left them alone, when Lee realised how entirely wrong his first impressions had been.

All of a sudden, the placid face contorted to an almost demonic one in such an enormous way it appeared the boy had changed face as if by pulling a mask from before him. The brows pointed down to the thin nose and the eyes, all of a sudden, out of nowhere obtained a fearful concentration of glow... and this was the most fearful of all, as if, all this time they were invisible, and suddenly... out of nowhere they appeared menacingly right before him, as though they had erupted on the face and their fire cursed through him. As Lee confronted Kazuya's eyes for the first time, terror rushed down on him. The youngster's black eyes were too strong to confront, too hard to look through and impossible to ignore.

"My rules are simple.", Kazuya lowly gnarled, in a clearly spoken brassy voice that took no contradiction. "I command, you obey. Don't follow and I swear, your every day will be a torment worse than the one before..."

Anger and fear mixed in his heart and his quivering fists tightened along with his stare. He had no idea to which he should owe this sudden enmity, other than the battle of reign in the territory, that meaning he would have to give a fight in the last place he ever thought he would have to. If anything, he knew how to fight and no matter how adverse his opponent looked, he knew he was of his handling, so he constrained his fear and gathered all his courage, although the tone of the gnarling voice was on its own as frightful as if he would bring him into hell if he could.

"I'm nobody's slave, mister! Try anything on me and..." He never finished. A slap landed on his face, further sliding to his mouth but the astonishing was that he never saw it coming. He had excellent reflexes but he never saw this one coming. It wasn't so much the strength of the blow that startled him either, for pain was not the intention. However, he didn't stop to ponder about it. Immediately he stopped talking to return the favour with a punch.

He was wrong again to expect the rich spoiled kid to have no experience in real fighting. He had never expected his punch to be almost totally deflected but the next thing, they struggled, grabbing each one another mad with anger, striking wherever they found an open spot, with the ferocity to kill each other. Had it not been for two servants getting into the room, they might have had.

He was drawn aback, just like Kazuya was. Yet, though he struggled in the hold restraining him, looking angrily towards him, it seemed like in the presence of anyone else Kazuya was a soulless puppet. All he did was to set himself free (he twitched making his way out, even though his captor was a full grown man) and elbowed the unfortunate servant on the soft cavity of his pelvis, forcing the poor man to cringe in two in a distressed yelp, then walked away to sit back on his spot by the window. Lee took his confounded eyes from him to the whimpering servant and then on him again. He was staring outside the window, as like he had always been sitting in his spot, all through that time.

Lee followed the two servants to the exit and in a last look behind him, if he didn't know where to look at, he might never have seen that odd youth, sitting before an open window with his back facing the world as he sought far into the horizon. When again out in the corridors and escorted to his own room, his anxiety lessened by no means. He had afterall attacked the boss's son, so he didn't expect anything good out of it. Following the two servants, perhaps due to the way he had witnessed them being treated, he ultimately broke the prone silence that reigned the mansion.

"Hey what's the matter with him, anyway?" he asked, trembling still at the thought that he had come to a house where he was neither welcome, nor safe, playing excessively innocent, in case the event would be reported to the house's lord. Yet, from the response of those servants, he realised, there was no such case, as they seemed to be well acquainted with their young master's irregular behaviour.

"The young master had the misfortune to lose his mother at an early age... Please, try to be mild to him..." one told him, almost begging.

"Hey I didn't start this, ok?" "We know you didn't, young man but we know the young master alike..." the other asserted, the one whom Kazuya had elbowed. What? He was actually pitying him?

"Orphans tend to be violent... And his father punishes him quite a lot..."

Lee shook his head, without consideration, when seeing he was in safe grounds. Yet he still didn't see how that boy, who acted so selfishly managed to still be excused for his actions... It wasn't like he didn't know what it was to be an orphan. He had never met his father or his mother, but he never considered the loss either and Minako, if anything loved him. Even with what these men said, he didn't consider it sufficient reason to accept such battering.

'It must be the money...' he thought and bitterly he realised how true Minako had been to say that money buy the silence, once he had found her with a black eye, weeping in the seclusion of her small bedroom...

"Look, if you're telling me that the guy's crazy, then ok, no problem for me." he concluded. After all, he planned to live into that house, he might as well go with the flow of the situations. He didn't really care either but he realised he'd rather befriend himself with the service personnel, which helped him during the period of his adjustment in the Mishima residence.

From his side, Kazuya kept his promise, to its worth. Every time they happen to walk on the same path, he'd walk on as if he hadn't marked he was right there before him and as they'd cross, without any notice, he'd deliver a powerful punch into his abdomen.

It only took two such events before Lee adopted a fighting pause whenever he saw him. It worked a few times, as Kazuya appeared considering. For some time the daily punching stopped, but it was only an interval to make him lower his defences. He understood that when Kazuya attacked him again. Only that time, Lee had his second move prepared. As Kazuya walked by and he had his back on him, he stepped kicked on his back. The pleasure of hearing his breath violently exhaled filled him over and he was more than ever ready to counteract his foster brother's attack.

Even from the few first weeks, Lee knew he would never adapt to the Mishima mansion. He was melancholic and his eyes sunk in his face. By now he had beautiful warm clothes, as much food as he ever wished for, but he was miserable. He had spent many times in his bedroom, staring at the grey wintry sky, longing for the freezing wind to sweep him as he would walk in the dirty streets among flying garbage, where lowly people of distrustful intentions walked along. He missed going to the brothel where Minako worked and... well, where some of the nicest moments of his life had taken place. He missed gathering with the few other scum of his friends to smoke their time away, or just steal fruit and bread from stalls nearby. What bothered him the most was that he noticed he was beginning to turn to what the only other person of his age around him was...

He was feeling lonely and he knew Kazuya wouldn't be a friend. He didn't consider to attempt a friendly approach, he didn't wish to try anyway. He grew to detest the other boy but more as he saw himself having a tendency to react his way.

So he started getting out. At first, he took permission from Heihachi. The lord of the house would shoot a perhaps menacing stare under his thick twisted brows, but he allowed his exits. Then, after a while, he didn't take permission anymore, just walked out and into the streets of Tokyo, back to his freedom. But go back to his old friends he didn't dare.

Time passed by and the years were uneventful, yet not much better than before. Lee had his luxuries and freedom. One day he dared visit Minako at the brothel she worked... The unfortunate woman was angry to see him, but it was only because she didn't want him to see this corruption and then, after she gushed it all out, she embraced him in tears and stroke his face, kissing him and admiring how he had grown up. Ever after Lee visited casually and soon he became the girl's favourite; he was a teenager but his looks were so extraordinary it would be impossible that he wouldn't be noticed. Those moments were his happy ones.

The time he spent in the Mishima house was intolerable at best. The life in there sickened him as whenever all three gathered, silence reigned and only Heihachi stated questions that demanded answers. Kazuya avoided to even look at him and when he did, his stare was ever menacing, reminding him how he hated him and how he would continue attacking him, every day of his life.

Yet he was now a rich child. He had all the clothes he could ask for and lived in luxury. With the pass of time, Kazuya was not a real problem, as most of the time he didn't see him. He didn't care where he disappeared then. He only tried to make the best out of his new life. It had many things to offer that he couldn't have ever dreamt about.

As a rich boy, he had the chance to experience the trends and amazing secrets of life. He got the chance to start hand-gliding, this probably dangerous, certainly expensive but also beyond words, thrilling activity. When he first flew alone, when he was floating in the sky and the air swept through his hair, although his shaking from excitement hands were firmly leading the glider, his heart was unrestrained and a loud yell of absolute freedom filled his lounges and divulged everywhere into the sky. This was the true freedom. When he was one with the glider and the world below him was a wonderful canvas under a shower of soft, brilliant light.

Elusive. Soon he would return on the ground and when the thrill was gone, he was back to where he started. Back to the Mishima house. Back in that shady dungeon. His scream was suppressed within his chest.

When he gave a good thought about it, he had no one to himself. He was rich but had no friends. He had no one to share his feelings with. That emptiness couldn't be filled with all the clothes, food, money, or hand-gliding in the world.

Maybe his loneliness impelled him to Kazuya. Instead of avoiding him, he started watching him on the scarce occasions when they shared the same area and wouldn't attack each other. He studied the silent way he sat on the dining table, his back straight and all his moves with a calculated and yet so disagreeable perfection as he directed the delicious food in his mouth pulling through the process with the steady rhythm of an obligation. He didn't understand when all this time had passed by but now, his foster brother was nearly fully developed to a man, as was he.

Other than those few times, he hardly ever met him. Most of the time he was at best guess locked in the storage room he had first met him or in that rich library of the mansion, one that Lee entered once and was surprised at the great number of books. Even more rarely he remained in his own room but to be sure, one couldn't be. Nobody could know where he spent his time or where he would roam. Besides, he had the grace of the ghost, being invisible and wandering unnoticed. Therefore Lee soon wasn't surprised to find him lost in his maze of thoughts while walking through the garden or see him coming from the door of the cellar. At times, even when he found him, he wasn't even sure he had actually seen him.

One thing he could tell for sure is that, either he was mentally disturbed or he suffered from great depression. Either way, he was undecided for, supposing he had all of his senses right, Lee couldn't see what might be so bad as to oppress him that heavily...

Then were the bruises. Nasty ones too. He knew he was training in Karate but how come he was always bruised? Even... on the face? One day he came with a black eye. Next he was limping. One other, he would come with half his face swollen, as if he was rubbed on a granite platter. And he never said one word.

All the more curious, he started watching him tenuously and soon he was rewarded.

He learned where his training took place. In the back yard of the Mishima mansion. It wasn't strange that he hadn't found that place before and he soon realised why. Very few access from windows was permitted to this place and it was distant from the most of the mansion. Perhaps that's why Kazuya had this ability to be occulted, if he spent so much time in such a desolate place...

One day, Lee sat next to a window, overseeing this area and watched. It might have been anything but a father training his son. The way Kazuya stood, his body proudly erected, his legs firm at the eased stance and his chin arrogantly pointing to the sky but his eyes, nonetheless firm but boiling in their sockets, were more apt to the way a convict would be standing before his executioner pacing around him, like Heihachi did.

Lee couldn't hear his words, only faintly heard reminders of Heihachi's voice reached him at times, when he shouted in Kazuya's ears and the boy wouldn't stir. He was angry at him, he could tell but he didn't know why, as he didn't know what would be so horrible that, as he stood behind his back, he flicked a fierce hammer kick among his shoulders.

He jumped at the sight. Kazuya fell upon his knees, his face almost kissed the floor as his hands, tied by something stronger than any rope might have been didn't dare to come before him. Just as he attempted to raise himself up, he was kicked again with a full foot, on the butt. He was rubbed along the ground.

Lee shrunk to himself. The boy lay unable to roll from pain, undecided on how far he might make to stand up. He was kicked into the stomach again and this time, he puffed out a yelp. Perhaps the air was forced too strong from his lounges to compel it. He rolled on his back and gnashed his teeth. He heard Heihachi screaming for him to get up. With swiftness that was amazing for what he had been through, he resumed his posture. The moment he was straight again, he was slapped three times across the face, the third one almost throwing him down.

Lee clinched close to the window as if he could see better, rubbing away the dampness of his breath on the glass. He was utterly horrified. Heihachi's outbreak was just as irrational as Kazuya's was against him. Yet somehow he understood Kazuya; he felt threatened by his presence; besides, he could deal with him but as for Heihachi's reasons... he didn't see any and of all that worried him the most.

Was he too going to be treated like that? Heihachi was muttering oaths to his face as he could tell and then, there was utter silence. They stood one against each other, Heihachi pressing his angry stare in his. Lee didn't know how long they had been standing there but all the while, neither had he moved and when Heihachi finally snapped around and left, his muscles had numbed. He caught himself letting a heavy breath escape him but down below in the courtyard, Kazuya was still there. His legs still formed the awaiting stance, his hands were disciplined behind his back and only his head was bent. Lee would swear that in his way, he was crying.

And he understood his cruelty.

Anyone would have been malicious if treated so badly each day, but he had never expected a child of a rich family to be misused in such a way. To say he wasn't familiar with violence would have been inaccurate. He had seen many of his friends bruised up to the hands of their parents or fosters and many times he had been a witness to child abuse. What certainly differed Kazuya from all these children, if not just his wealth was something he perceived as pride... Kazuya would never cry. He didn't whine, no more than those simpers he couldn't help as his flesh was slashed and pinched, grimaces of clenching his teeth, gnashing his breath to nothingness and those faces were to Lee a torment on their own. What had he possibly done so wrong to deserve such bad treatment?

Overwhelmed he walked to him one day and straightway confessed he knew. Kazuya's eyes jumped once in surprise and snared upon him. Lee understood that bitterness as he calmly tried to explain himself. He told him he intended to start training with him...

"Maybe if I am present... he won't be hitting on you..." he answered to his questioning look and there he stopped, waiting for his response.

Even at his concerned face, Kazuya had an astringent narrow look. He heard his words almost sneering.

"So you think you will be doing me a favour then?" he poised his question in a soft voice, with a pleasant smile, apparently murderous and Lee was confused to see the gentle glow in his full of loathing hatred eyes. As he tracked his steps towards him, he only took his own aback, his hands shivering, hoping he would be fast enough to use them when he would unleash his attack.

Kazuya's heavy brows arched, like wings of a bird of prey, conducting towards his nose. His smile had sharp edges, in his eyes flickered a bright glister and his soft voice dripped with poison.

"I am touched... You mean, you would really get into such trouble just to shelter me!"

Lee shook more at his transformation and if he saw his eyes turning evilly red, he wouldn't wonder any more. He knew he was closing up against the wall when Kazuya halted and the venom percolated upon his face, burning it to a gnarling grimace, his eyes shot like sharp blades straight within his eyes.

"Then get this straight! I don't want your charity and I don't want your interest! I want you to Die, Die, DIE!" he spat aloud and to emphasise, he pushed him on the shoulders so violently he hit the wall behind him.

He didn't even have the time to remember his prepared hands and only the sharp pain upon their joint with his shoulders reminded him they still existed. Kazuya had gifted no strength or technique in his blow. Still shaken, he resumed the clearness of his vision to grasp Kazuya just as he rushed at him and grabbed him with both fists from the collar, forcing him with his knuckles against the wall.

"Why don't you just die?" he seethed with too much suppressed anger gnarling very close to his face, his dark as death eyes poking into his, before in a painful shove he discarded him and turned to walk away.

As Kazuya left in fast, aggravated steps, Lee would only lie on his back and watch him. He shouldn't be afraid, many people before had told him they wanted to kill him, only it was the first time someone actually meant it... and he was scared. But looking at the fiery eyes of his foster brother, he saw something even scarier. Anger boiled upon them against not him, nor at the one who tortured him everyday. Anger directed towards himself. Desire for destruction, not of the world that surrounded him but of the world that would not accept him, the world he was a stranger to, that piece that didn't fit in the Universal Harmony, himself... Hatred fed from fear, self scorn and envy...

In a spinning head, he realised, Kazuya had been envying him like the caged canary envies the starved sparrow and for this reason he wanted his death... He wanted to destroy him for possessing something he never had, as he wanted to eliminate anything he couldn't get... It wasn't him he wanted to die...

His foster brother hadn't talked to him. He spoke but his words were not directed to his person... His words came from another world and in a such world they were trapped... Kazuya was a prisoner of another realm, forced into a world that would never accept him. Lee saw him struggling to find a place, find his way in it or out, in the only exit there might have been, with Fear being the merciless doorkeeper... but he wasn't sure if he wanted to liberate him any longer.

Kazuya wouldn't attack him anymore. He spent even more less time in the mansion, hiding in places no one could imagine. In the scarce moments when Lee would meet him, he received an icy cold brief glare and nothing more. A glare pleading. A glare boiling dangerously with tears. Although Lee had no concern about him, for he had clearly marked he wanted to be left alone, his wide eyes, whenever they fell upon him, tore into his heart. One more talent he had and Lee could not explain. Still he wanted to stretch a hand at him.

A few days later, he requested Heihachi to teach him the art of karate his house lodged. The elder snared a quizzical brow at him but he accepted his request. The very same day, he found himself in the same training yard along with Kazuya. A stunned expression in bewildered eyes and lips ready to growl at an attack or start a trail of oaths greeted him and one that ceased at the coming of his father.

However, Lee was accepted as Heihachi's student and followed the same training as Kazuya did, to some extend. For after the first long warm up hours, Heihachi insisted he would leave. Lee knew he was less concerned to have him see Kazuya suffer than teach him all of his fighting secrets, so Lee would stay away and practice his own forms and attacks, under indirect glares of father and son.

He had been wrong to expect his presence would restrain Heihachi. He had many times jumped up in a startle when a loud slap, at best, would toss Kazuya like he was a mere insect on the floor and Heihachi wouldn't bother to return an even apologetic stare at him. On the complete contrary, it appeared as though the torturing process had intensified instead, as if Heihachi intended to transfer a message to him too. For one thing, the verbal abuse had ended, or so had Lee presumed. A little later he understood this became a matter of daily basis, whenever he wasn't present.

Lee didn't dare to face Kazuya anymore. He feared his foster brother had, correctly perhaps, held him responsible for the new situation he was in. The nasty reddish marks didn't appear upon him anymore but Lee heard that Kazuya was secretly taking medication. Yet, other than his grievous mien, he had no other indications as to what he was going through.

It could have stopped there, only it was meant that soon they would learn more about one another but it had to go over more steps. The friendship happened in an irregular manner, as it didn't come directly and long after the occurrence.

One night, as Lee walked to his bedroom, as he passed outside Kazuya's room, in the otherwise utter stillness that absorbed his very footsteps, he had clearly heard whining coming from his room. Soft bemoaning, too wounded to dare be raised, too frightened it might be heard, too ashamed of existing. He cautiously approached the unclosed door and dared peak through the slight opening.

Kazuya was sitting on his bed with his back facing the door. He was intermittently releasing a tiny, close to unheard sob, in a combustion of sorrow and pain as it seemed. Lee was frightened from the hurt echo of each tiny cry and for a little, he stood by the door. Then he took the decision and gently tapped at the door.

"Are you ok?" he dared ask. The tremors on the bare back ceased and the boy stopped even breathing as it seemed. For a little Lee watched him petrified and alike immobile he was, when his fine reflexes dragged him back, saving him from a hurled blade.

The blade hit clumsily the door only inches where his head was before, ricocheting down and Lee, despite his startle, marked the blood splotches it left on the door.

"Asshole!" he yelled and run away, expecting to be chased, and turned behind a corner, awaiting. Yet he heard no steps behind him and so he bowed to take a look.

Kazuya had come out of the room. He looked exhausted as he picked up the blade. There was blood in his hands.

All over them.

His hands were red by a film of blood and they shook as they caught the blade and vanished along with it in the maw of his seclusion.

Suicide? Lee had an urge to stop him but not after the way he acted before. If he wanted to kill himself, he didn't see why he should too forsake his life. All the better if he wanted to kill himself. He would feel a lot more free. Besides, it wasn't his fault. His thoughts swam into his head in through a turbulent storm. He had seen death but not on its coming. He struggled to convince himself there was nothing left back there in the room to rescue, that perhaps what Kazuya was doing was the best there was for him to do. Give an end to his pathetic life and daily torment. Relieve the world from a sad to everybody presence and setting him free from the only person who could intimidate him by one mere look. He deserved what he got. As he made his way to his bedroom, longing for a cigarette, he thought with satisfaction that he could celebrate the end of his problems.

But he didn't sleep all through the night, smoking as he stared outside the open window to the stars in the sky, straying in his thoughts. Because he knew he cared. He wouldn't admit to it but he pitied his foster brother swinging on the thread of life and death, unwilling to battle for his perseverance and felt sorry for his weakness to help him. He spent the night awake, wondering whether he could sense Kazuya's spirit when it would escape. And guilty as he felt, he was glad to see Kazuya again the next morning, grave and mournful on his melancholic face, coming down the stairs in his owned, decadent majestic pace.

A few more days went on by, where the distance between them neither lessen, nor did it become harsher. Things were plainly indifferent. Kazuya was the distant person he had always been and Lee wouldn't even consider talking to him. The next time he did, he had told himself this would be the last act to approach him. If this failed, he would resign and consider his foster brother to be formally signed as a living dead and would try to otherwise make the best out of his own life, with or without a friend in this cruel home, as he would compel his sorrow for the death that consumed a youth right before his eyes, one that he knew if he couldn't stop, he risked the chance of perhaps hosting one day...

Knowing where Kazuya hid in his hours of loneliness, in that spacious room where old furniture and artwork was stored, where he had first noticed him invisible before a wide open window, he took his cigarettes in his hind pocket and before pushing ahead the half open flap of the door for the room, he lit one.

Kazuya was there, before his window. His head was facing outside, his stare piercing through his ghostly reflection on the glass. He didn't turn around at the shriek of the door, just as Lee had expected, nor did he seem surprised. Hesitating by the door, Lee wondered if he had sensed him coming or if he was to be received with a flying object again. Alike was he left with the impression that somehow, the boy in his utter stillness had known he was there as he had known and perhaps even expected him to come, like he would expect the rise of the Sun after the descent of the Moon, not with gladness but not with sorrow either.

As he walked a few steps inside, not particularly cautious to keep them quiet, Kazuya still wouldn't turn his face towards him. Lee took his cigarette at hand, looking at the side of his face as he cautiously moved ahead. Kazuya had his distant face on, the one of no life upon his eyes, no interest in his stare, the one that merely existed because it had no other option and there was no sign of anger or intent to attack him. That gave him the courage to halt and talk.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't see you..." he said but just as the first of his words were heard, Lee's voice fainted as he clearly saw that Kazuya was sank in his far away drifting indifference.

Lee almost lost all spirit but nevertheless walked ahead and took a seat in the other window, smoking his cigarette. His bid to exchange the secret of his bad habit with the reason of Kazuya's loneliness was crashed upon a glassy barrier and he dragged in the smoke as an elixir to his wounded pride.

He kept on watching Kazuya, staring outside the window... until he noticed something about him.

All other signs of vitality were gone from him, extinguished as though in an attempt to diminish himself into obscurity once again but in his hands, all of this lacking of energy was concentrated... and it Was energy. Some strange form of energy he had never before seen in a human being, although he had heard of it but never expected he would ever witness, a strange invisible repulsion that caused a small sphere to hover over his open palm.

In every precaution he stood up and step after step he approached him, his eyes kept upon the sphere. Kazuya sat with his elbow leaning on the window and in his other hand, resting on his knee, the small sphere floated into the air, hopped and dived as his long fingers rolled it around among them with ease almost conjuring. When he reached near him, always alert in case the sphere was hurled to his direction, he slowly sat down and similarly, as if Kazuya felt embarrassed and wanted to impress him, turned all of his attention to the sphere, bringing it before his face. His dark eyes ensnared upon it and in that moment of silence, Lee knew they had finally come close to one another... It was hard to hold down the smile flooding at his lips lest he would turn away all this wonderful happiness. Kazuya's eyes didn't meet his, but he knew, one portion of them was looking at him, cautiously, curiously even and his heart was bulging with the exact happiness...

Lee smiled. He couldn't hold it. Kazuya looked at him for a fleeting moment.

"Gosh!" he said in sincere surprise. He flipped his head to get a better look. There was no string or anything other holding the little sphere.

"Can you do it with... bigger things? Like... me?" he asked, looking upon Kazuya.

And right as he least expected it, his foster brother turned to him and in his face was a hesitant but definite smile...

"You would be toasted..." he said, his voice nearly stammering. And Lee was surprised. He had no idea why there was a smile upon his face... only it was a smile and despite what he had perhaps expected his smile to be, however hard he tried, he found no traces of malice in it. So he believed it to be a genuine sign of... happiness... approval... and probably...

He returned the smile too and he was ever more stunned to see Kazuya lowering his eyes and retracting his stare. So maybe... he was a really ordinary kid inside... He was even shy, he cared about what others thought of him, he wanted to have others around him and share his secrets with...

Lee inhaled to sound calm as he looked at him. "'Bout the other time... Really... no big fuss..." Kazuya's eyes moved to his direction, while his head had hardly moved and Lee thought that he had the most expressive eyes he had ever seen on anyone.

Once more he shrugged his shoulders in a suggestion of easiness.

"It's not like I got you jacking or anything..." The eyes retreated back to the floating sphere. Lee hesitated but dared speak again.

"Seriously now, I take you have heaps of reasons to kill yourself... but, where did the blood come from since you have no scars on your wrists?"

Once again Kazuya looked upon him. He exhaled once through the nose, not hostile, almost with self scorn... then he let the ball fall back on his palm and placed it before him on the window ledge.

Bending his head to his task, he begun unbuttoning his shirt before Lee's stunned eyes. Once he loosened all buttons, he drew it open and Lee found out why Kazuya would never take off his shirt, at least before his eyes, as with horror he regarded the wide scar on his firm chest, stretching from his right shoulder to the top of his stomach, clearly marked round the edges with freshly carved outlining... Even though it would be quite apparent without the rendering...

"Brother, you are nuts!" he gasped, his eyes now hoisted in wild surprise. Kazuya lifted his shoulders once, his lids lowered as in a twisted smirk he puffed through the nose once again and closed his shirt in his own way of self dejection. Lee shook his head once, the horrific image of the large, never to go away wound, persisting in his mind. He couldn't think what might have created that wound and probably he didn't want to know either. But more, he didn't bare to think that for some reason Kazuya needed to preserve its memory, refreshing it like he did, or what was the purpose of avoiding its healing...

An idea flashed into his mind as he decided he could put up the mortification for once maybe... "You need to get out a little..." he said. "Come join me there, will you? I mean... It could be more fun than staring out of the window, levitating balls..."

Kazuya's eyes were wide open and empty from thoughts but hopeful as they looked at his in an expression of hesitance but with suppressed enthusiasm lurking within...

Lee nodded with his chin the gesture of following. "Come on," he said. "No charge." Ultimately, Kazuya left his spot by the window and Lee hardly refrained from smiling as he came to walk next to him.

Ever since that day, the friendship built up fast between them and they acted like they had always known each other, only they hadn't seen one another for long and what they tried was to make up for the time lost.

The first time they went down in the city, just the two of them had been extraordinary for both but for every other who heard of it as well, namely the personnel who saw their unsociable young master guilelessly following Lee's tracks. In the town, things were harder even. Kazuya wasn't exactly a celebrity but the face of the heir of the wealthiest family in Tokyo and probably all of Japan, wasn't unknown either. Lee saw heads turning at their direction, his shrewd ears overheard exclamations of surprise, but the object of their talking never noticed. Instead he walked next to him, his hands in his pockets and while in the start of the walk his eyes were kept nailed at the road below him, soon it was that he left them wandering around, turning his head to each direction that attracted him. Lee was burdened with chagrin at seeing his spasmodic reactions and was only glad he wouldn't start exclaiming in surprise either... only after watching him for some time, he realised that it was only natural for him to act like that... He was like a caged bird that only now conceived the limitlessness of its freedom and anxious even it tried in a heartbeat to absorb into his knowledge all of which he was fortunate to see...

He smiled, knowing that Kazuya would never know, probably envying his (foster?) brother's indifference to the world and how he saw everything fresh and beautiful, as if it had just emerged from its birth...

Many more times they walked together downtown in the streets. Kazuya gradually became used to more and not necessarily familiar crowd. One day they bought food from a stall and ate it as they walked. Another time they walked into the market and enjoyed looking at the windows. One other, they considered going into the movies. And how great was Kazuya's joy when once they met by chance one of the house's servants and when the man looked at them in astonishment, he nodded once and he was greeted back! Lee could tell his joy, even though nothing on his moves revealed it, but ever after his face beamed and his chest was entirely filled with his breath.

Kazuya ultimately invited Lee into his bedroom. Although Lee expected to find a room more lavish and bigger than his own, he found it to be of equal proportions, both in size and luxury. And if he thought he had seen disorder in his room, Kazuya's private area surpassed him by a tenfold.

However tidy and neat he was everywhere else, in his privacy he was as untidy as even some of the rogues he had met in his poorly whereabouts. The windows were sealed, leaving the atmosphere heavy and unpleasantly warm. Upon the furniture, clothes were scattered, chips of food could be found in various corners but what was immediately marked to his attention were the books. Lots of books, piles of them everywhere, on shelves, upon chairs below the non dirty, not clean shirts, stored on piles on the floor, open and interlocked between them, with paper dividers in their pages. Many books, thick tomes of valuable publications in leather strapping and gold lettering, all poetry.

Kazuya loved poetry. There were many tomes of it in his room, from poets he had never heard of, even foreigners and in their native language too. He had the Nibelungenlied, Lord Byron's proses, many of William Shakespeare, Edgar Alan Poe, the prophecies of Nostradamus, Dante's inferno, I Ching and the book of War from Shun Tzu, Lao Tzu's Tao te Ching, the two epics of Homer, Shang Tsung's dissertation in the Psyche to name but a few and on top of a pile next to his bed, as he was reading it was a dark maroon volume of Ghoethe's Faust. Lee looked around exploring the room as Kazuya leaped on his untidy bed and lying back with his shoes on, observed him rummaging with a smile.

It looked perfect; but it wasn't. For Kazuya's smile was as rare as the rain in the desert. While he enjoyed his friendship with Lee and spent time together, there were times when Lee couldn't find him and in those times he knew he was tormented. The lord of the house, the boy's father was the reason. However much progress he made with him, the worse his relationship went with his father.

Lee didn't know if he were to blame, for ever after Kazuya begun walking with him... something about him changed. He appeared taller even and more stately was his attitude to the world. He had tasted freedom and he had liked it. He had learned it enough to fight for it. Now on, when his father commanded him, he didn't just accept it but an astringent look would be shot from his eyes to his face. And Heihachi knew there was something different. Something odd and unfavourable, something he ought to chop while it was still early... Only Lee knew there was no way this would ever happen. For this had resided within Kazuya since forever and buried down below it slowly matured, perhaps more than it would otherwise, since it was compelled so long. Now it was rooted too firmly to be removed and too late to be put back and what had surfaced was the crest of a roaring mountain.

Lee dreaded the change he witnessed. At once he was happy it would finally happen but on the other, he dreaded seeing the tension with his father building alike fearfully. He knew there was only one way to release the tension and he dreaded the moment it would happen. Like he had expected, when it did, he was neither prepared, nor had he foreseen it. But it happened and once the outbreak happened, it was the beginning of the fall. To the end.

The regular trainings became tougher than ever before. Lee continued training under Heihachi's supervision, only now, when he was focused on Kazuya, things had become impossible. Heihachi insisted he wanted to make the best fighter out of him, such as was only fit for his lineage, a champion to be, one talked about all through the times. And to the name of the cause, he had Kazuya getting far beyond his limits and beyond limits of possible endurance. Sprained muscles, bruises and injuries of all kinds were to the daily schedule. Many times Heihachi would even lock the youth in the same cage with a bear he kept, forcing it to fight against it. These times, Lee thought he had seen the end of it, when Kazuya was torn by the claws of the beast and yet, each day he was up, ready for one more session.

It was one of these trainings again. After hours of tough physical conditioning, Lee was again his foster father's assistant at the hardening of his son. A champion to be... Lee was thinking as he handed fast, one after the other the thick cuts of wood to Heihachi, presenting them with exhausting frequency at Kazuya, struggling to break them all.

A champion to be... He wouldn't make it much further if he had to take this every day. Lee was surprised he had made it so far that day, as well as every other day. He handed the wooden pieces but kept an eye on his foster brother. Damn fast, damn strong, full of blind determination, exhausted. He was at the brink of collapse and yet he went on, striking with admirable precision, wherever the target might be placed, two or even three at times. And Lee knew. Kazuya knew. Heihachi knew, every yell accompanying every strike said 'I hate you'. It was hate that kept him going. And his father knew.

Lee kept fuelling with fresh woods the unofficial battle of father and son, either too stubborn to give up. He had obtained a swiftness greater than his thoughts to stop and ponder how a granite plate was found among the rest. He just picked it up, heavier and thicker as it was and even as the additional weight had halted him, Heihachi seized it and offered it ahead, presenting the narrow side, certainly not out of miscalculation.

Lee was left with the next plate at hands, watching Kazuya bellow in pain, awkwardly collapsing on the ground, clutching at his shin. Heihachi too watched him rolling with his teeth clenched and Lee was surprised at him... His tall figure with the devilish strands of hair standing up seemed absolutely indifferent as his son's karate uniform turned to red.

Kazuya stopped moving, panting for breath and Lee could imagine Heihachi's scowling eyes on him. "Get up!" he commanded at the straggling juvenile and Lee watched him fight tears behind his lids as he tried to make his legs support him again. His right leg trembled violently, but he managed to stand up.

"We'll go again", Heihachi declared and proposed the plate before Kazuya. Only the lad looked at it with eyes wide open. "Don't just stare at it! This is your opponent! Smash him!" the elder yelled.

Lee watched in silence. Kazuya didn't move. He just stood there and then he took a hesitant breath. "I can't...." he said.

It was as if a heavy tombstone had sealed over their heads. Lee watched. Heihachi didn't move but he expected him anytime to slap his staggering son with the stone plate. Instead, he turned around and without any words, he handed him the plate.

"Hold this up", he commanded and Lee did as he was told. Heihachi pushed upon it, forcing Lee a step back.

"Firm!" he commanded and Lee put all his strength to the task. Heihachi ensured the stability and as Lee watched in agony, he summoned his strength in a groan and his hefty fist accurately smashed the plate in two even pieces, particles spat upon his face and his palms were scratched, the pain told him so.

Heihachi took the plates from him and placed them apart before Kazuya, right before his feet.

"Two hundred. Get on it. Now!" he shouted and Kazuya's frightened expression rested upon them. But he had not much of an option and kneeling, he placed one fist upon either plates, silently biting the pain and extended his feet to the pose of the exercise. Lee watched from behind as Heihachi observed him over his head

repeating one after the other, until somewhere he gave way. The hissing sound of his breath indicated his fatigue. His breathing should have been painful, his heart was beating over the ordinary and the muscles of his body should have been stale long time now. But Heihachi didn't seem to take it into account.

"Get up!" he dictated. "You'll go again from the start!" Kazuya didn't even have the will to open his eyes. He summoned all his strength merely to resume himself. Vicious rigours run down his bare back.

"My knuckles hurt..." he dared to voice. It wasn't a whimpering protest. Lee knew by now the rules of karate, the rules of the Mishima karate. Pain is a non existent sensation. Pain is for the weak. The weak shall perish. The weak are not worth of living.

Kazuya would never admit being weak. He knew he didn't mind the pain, not in his knuckles but worse, not in his heart. In this weak objection he had concentrated all the power he had. He had aimed right.

A shadow of ire shrouded Heihachi's supervising eyes. Lee shook as he watched him gradually kneeling by an ever shaking with eyes shut Kazuya.

"Listen to you..." he said in loathe. "Your knuckles hurt... What are you going to tell your opponent in a fight? That your knuckles HURT?" he ended raising his full voice so hard that the juvenile pressed his eyes more and trembled.

Even the wind seemed to avoid whistling in the open training space but Lee sensed its cold soothe among his smooth hair, irking the skin on his bare arms and sweating nape. But he dared not tremble.

"You'll do these two hundred push ups even if it kills you. If you are to be so pathetic, all the better!" Heihachi's zestful voice returned.

Kazuya remained silent, his lids were ever sealed and Lee knew there were tears struggling to hold on behind them.

"Hai sensei..." he finally whispered. "WHAT WAS THAT?" Heihachi demanded. "HAI SENSEI!" he yelled again, squeezing his eyes tighter sealed and Lee trembled from fear, not of Heihachi's profound steaming anger but from the reckless rage Kazuya had foolishly perhaps exposed in his last outbreak.

Silence fell heavily upon them and Lee was expecting Heihachi's fist any moment now to dunk on Kazuya's spine, breaking his balanced on four stance with a shuddering crack. It wouldn't surprise him at all, it would only startle him as it had many times, when he had seen his foster father bringing him to the limit of his physical endurance. Unnecessary injuries had been on schedule and all these, not for his improvement, not for his hardening, all this just to humiliate him. On this one occasion, Heihachi chose to spit his disgust upon him.

"You worthless fool..." he steamed, bending closer to him. "Look at me when I speak to you!" he ended with a thunderous shout and Kazuya suppressed yet one more shiver with his eyes.

"Speak up you imbecile! Open your eyes!" yelled Heihachi and to mark this, he pushed his palm to a soundly slap with on Kazuya's cheek.

Lee jumped in shock, wondering, how much more he would last. Kazuya and he had been anything but keen towards each other and in every occasion Kazuya returned all this cruelty on him but Lee, even though raised in the hardships of poverty and homelessness in a world where abandoned children get whacked at all occasions, at such times felt strong compassion and even admiration for his foster brother. He had all his life been an outcast, but Minako would always have an open, cheap perfumed embrace for him and the girls in the brothel loved him; in their way. His foster father had been at the best indifferent towards him, much to his content perhaps, since he knew the kind of 'fondness' some of his adopted acquaintances received. He didn't regard him much, he was simply aware of how to avoid his tempers and they got along. Somehow though, Kazuya could not avoid getting on the way of his wrath and knew he didn't do anything to provoke this treatment. For this he felt strong compassion towards him, even admiration, as he never witnessed him letting go, not for once, not in privacy, not even at such times, after exhausting training for anyone to take, under such severe mortification. Heihachi had been sitting at his side but Kazuya would not face him. Just like every other time, he just kept his eyes sealed as he found the courage to realise his situation.

"I will do the two hundred push ups..." he whispered in a voice compelled and obedient.

Slowly Heihachi stood up, without inflicting any more harm to the trembling juvenile.

"You will..." he affirmed in his haughty, cold voice. "You will and you will be glad to..." Kazuya resumed his fists upon the harsh granite plates that had been stained by a red layer and counted within him, one slow repetition after the other, gritting his teeth together, grateful indeed he didn't have to look at his father. One by one he counted, at least, he thought, he was building up strength... One day, he would be counting, one after the other punches on the hated face of his father...

It was some strange whim of luck that Heihachi's secretary dared his way to the training yard, muttering an apologetic announcement of some expected phone call. Heihachi nodded with a groan and looking once more behind he left. The moment he disappeared in the door, Kazuya collapsed on the ground, face flat. Lee looked anxious at him but to some relief, he got up. His eyes were ever cast down to the damp by his own sweat stone floor and the scattered grains that had dug through the already thick skin on his knuckles. In effort he stood up, turning eyes that scorched to the door. His lips gnarled at hateful thoughts and having resumed his breath, he turned around in a gait. Lee snapped at the perception.

"What are you doing, are you crazy?" he said, without believing he was actually seeing this.

Kazuya walked on impetuously, rubbing off stone splits from his bleeding hands that he couldn't fully unwind yet, Lee at his track. "Where are you going? He'll be nuts!"

"I'm not staying" Kazuya panted. "He won't hurt me again. He won't..."

Lee stopped looking at him walking away and realised he was leaving for good. For a moment he weighted his chances and run after him. Once outside the limits of the Mishima property, as if preordained, they begun running. They run fast away, not once looking back. Lee was faster than Kazuya and surely his leg wasn't giving him trouble, yet, as they run up a hill, when they reached the top, he was the one panting over his knees.

"So now?" he panted as he looked over at Kazuya. But his stare was not returned. Kazuya bowed his head, a riotous spark that had escaped in his eyes, flickered frightened, still looking for an escape.

"Great!" Lee said in anger. "At least you had all you wanted. Money, home, ready job, what more could you want? You just threw all these for a few extra push ups?"

Kazuya looked astonished at him. His eyes were wide open in his devastated anger and his strength retorted despite his exhaustion. Somehow that look alone had been a sufficient reply to Lee. All of a sudden he recalled all his frustration.

"Is that what you think?" Kazuya demanded to know but Lee couldn't find the proper answer for him. So he shook his head at the realisation.

Yet, Kazuya turned away, to go and sit below a tree. Resting his back on the trunk and loosely embracing his knees he seemed to be thinking, only Lee doubted thoughts were actually crossing his head. In exasperation he sighed.

"If you really don't want us to be found, we'd better get moving." he said, but Kazuya kept his head bent above his parted knees, wrapped by his arms. The intensity of his stare was wasted in the nothingness hidden in between.

Lee sighed, clicking his tongue behind his teeth as he walked towards the tree and too sat down next to Kazuya. "You could be sitting quietly like that at home as well..." he said as he exasperated and even at his remark, Kazuya didn't respond.

Puffing violently he fell back on the trunk of the tree, letting his weight leaning upon it, desperate for a moment. Kazuya didn't appear to even consider their situation and he realised that outside his house the boy was weaker than a leaf fallen on the ground. He had exhausted all his strength in taking that step out in the real world and now he was spent, frightened and about to be captured.

Lee jumped to his feet and without looking back to even nod, he started walking. Now on, it all depended upon him and he had to act fast.

He hadn't hurried in his quest, knowing that rashness in critical times only leads to wrong decisions. He had reached a small gathering of poorly houses, not very far from the border of the Mishima property, so close but desperately distanced from such abundant wealth that had vast margins to more than provide them with decent living. He shook his head in grief once, knowing that any of them would do a thousand push ups just to live in that house, still, he gave no second thought before sneaking in the back yard of one of those houses and stealing two trousers, two shirts and two pairs of worn off slippers.

When the whole task along with the time it took him to find it and the significantly shorter one to return was through, it had already been dark. He came back to the tree only to find Kazuya still sitting there, knowing he hadn't moved at all from where he had been sitting and yet, however frustrated he was at the weakness of the one who so many times had pushed him to his limits, he knew it was mirth he felt when for a brief moment Kazuya lifted his head and looked at him with an anguished stare that actually admitted need and perhaps even gratitude... The stare was cut short as his attention fell upon the bundle he carried below his arm and followed it until Lee came and sat next to him, leaving it between them and started taking off his gi.

In a hurry he started putting the clothes on and in the cool night their dampened surface annoyed him awfully, his skin was by now accustomed to luxurious textiles. Kazuya observed the process appearing to be horrified and Lee in his bewilderment couldn't help but wonder whether his problem was putting on poorly or simply wet clothing.

"Where did you get these from?" he finally asked. It was strange that it would be him the first to talk and so much. Lee stopped for a moment to look at his puzzled face. "Nearby house..." he admitted and focused again to pulling the second hose through his ankle. "You stole them!" Kazuya's voice came aghast to his ears. He nearly spat out a sarcastic laughter. What was he suggesting then? That theft appalled him? That he considered him as defiled? Or didn't he know how his family had done far grander thefts?

"We can leave ours in return if you'd rather," he said, placing each slipper on his feet. They weren't the cleanest pair of shoes he ever had but he was trained in putting up with worse. Once he was dressed, he looked at Kazuya by his side. He was only gaping at him, the bundle of clothes he had fetched him untouched. He breathed out in exasperation. "Look here brother, I'm not going to be a pauper AND a dork in karate gi in the gutters of Tokyo! Put the clothes on and lets get going, damn it!"

Kazuya still looked at him, unable to conceive his words as it seemed. Lee snared his eyes and was nearly happy there was a moment he could be the one acting commanding.

"Look here, you've got to face the situation! We're runaways and you cannot be your daddy Mishima's son any more and if you become, you'll only get us back there! We can only hide in the slums now, whether you like it or not and now on you're under My command! I set the rules and you follow because I can survive out here and you don't. You follow?"

Kazuya's face didn't change at all. It was as if he was a picture painted in the air.

"Do you?" Lee repeated. "Nod, damn it!" he shouted, stomping one foot before him. Kazuya bent his head before him and Lee threw his hands down. For a little he paced, considering walking on. He was about to, only when he turned back to declare his decision, he saw how his foster brother had solemnly kept his head bent and with slow yet resolute motions, changed into the damp clothes.

Lee breathed out in care, shaking his head. This would be harder than taking care of a two year old child, he thought. It was obvious Kazuya had never been to that part of the city, for he kept his head down to hide how his eyes flickered wildly and yet, exactly for this reason, passers by only had to turn and look at him. Lee couldn't suggest he should calm down, because he too wasn't less agitated. They both walked fast as Lee tried to think where the best place to spend the night would be.

He looked around. These were the streets he was roaming through as a child... and now, none of those he used to know were there. It was already late and as though the fates were against them,

it started pouring. They found an abandoned building, more collapsed than standing. Lee, taking the responsibility to maintain them, ordered Kazuya to stay behind and gather whatever flammable to start a fire, then turned around fast, before he would see his widened eyes looking at him in horror for the thought he might not come back. He left and walking the streets, he found a baker's shop just before closing. He managed to steal two loafs of bread and then, hurried back. For the time, this was all they could get.

Kazuya had indeed started a fire... he had gathered anything that could burn. Pieces of wood, newspapers, fabric... by now most of it was reduced to black charcoals.

Lee stood hopeless at the door watching him taking one after the other the fuel and clenching them in his fist, igniting them, totally focused to his task and then, discarding the leftovers in the small pyre, nearly extinguishing it from too much ash. So angered was Lee he didn't wish to remark how those skills had increased, as indigo sparks coiled around his clenched fist. Instead he walked towards him and nearly did the mistake of attempting to snatch the bundled paper from his clasp.

"Dammit, are you crazy? Stop that thing!" Kazuya looked up, not startled at all, ignorant even. Lee shook his head. "Stop acting weird..." he said and immediately he regretted. Kazuya bowed his head in sorrow.

"Oh man..." Sitting next to him, close to the warming fire, he took one loaf and gave it to him. Although he attacked his dinner, Kazuya took a bite and chewed as if he was forced to swallow earwax.

"You didn't have money with you..." he muttered then, the first words he said ever since they came downtown. Lee stopped munching and swallowed angrily even. He looked at him assertively.

"You'd rather starve? Up to you." he said. Kazuya's eyes intensified. "We shouldn't be living in theft!" he insisted and Lee almost laughed. Again.

"You don't seem to realise your situation, brother!" he said. "It's all nice to be good and all but you can't be good with an empty stomach! Now eat or get done with it!" he said.

Kazuya brought the bread to his mouth and took another bite, slower again. His eyes wobbled and Lee feared he would try to char the loaf like he did with those papers. Sobs shook him and he seemed about to spit but... he didn't.

"Not clean enough for you, eh?" Lee said and Kazuya looked at him. His eyes were hurt. Lee looked steadfastly at him.

"Yeah. Go on. Spit it. It's stolen bread you have in your mouth. Bread that some miserable guy would have to sell to feed his kids and tonight he'll go home and be a groan. Yeah. Spit it there like a good boy, brother. Forget that there are some people far worse than this poor baker who even if you spat it, stomped and scattered it, they would drop to their knees and gratefully collect it... I know I will..."

To his words Kazuya didn't nod but he seemed considerate. Lee knew he had aimed right.

"Go on. Spit it out. I dare you." he said. Kazuya didn't spit. Instead, he forced it down his throat and handed him the rest, nearly slamming it on his hand he knew he would find waiting. "Here take it," he mumbled and bent over his knees in that same stance again.

Lee was left with two half eaten loafs of bread and then, he resumed his. It wasn't the time to act with kindness. The times were rough; Kazuya had better learned to survive.

The fire was long extinguished and they shivered close to one another, not wanting to get much closer for obvious reasons but close enough to keep warm somehow. Yet Lee couldn't sleep either, even if once he recalled more nights spent like this one and even alone. He twisted about but, all these years in that wealthy home had made it impossible to sleep out in the streets like before.

Kazuya didn't move. As he lied he was totally immobile... It seemed as though, had he had the option to turn into stone at any moment of his life, he would gladly have taken it. But Lee knew he wasn't sleeping either. Yet, where his body regained its reticence, his stomach betrayed him.

Lee almost smiled. His foster brother, even if he was a year older than him, a difference easily neglected anyway, acted much like a four year old child...

"Hey..." he said and two eyes opened, captured in a sleep he didn't long for.

He nodded.

"You hungry?"

Kazuya lowered his eyes.

"I'm fine." he said and turned his back.

Lee shook his head. His hand searched in his shirt and took out the half eaten loaf.

"Here," he said and poked him once.

Kazuya looked back at him and his eyes fell on the bread... he couldn't help it. Lee nodded.

"I saved it for you."

After a little, a hand reached hurriedly for it, trying to be unnoticed perhaps and took the piece of bread from his hold. Lee almost smiled as he made a cushion with his palms and rested upon it, his back turned at Kazuya. A little later he heard faint chewing and only then he felt that he could go to sleep with a light head.

Lee was awakened in the morning and he was all stiff and cold. He yawned and stood up, leaving Kazuya's side, only to see that he too was awake, lying on his back, staring at the ceiling. "Hey."

He didn't quite expect Kazuya to look at him once he was called.

"We can't stay here forever. Let's go." Kazuya obliged.

The town was awakened and Lee was worried whether there was a notice about them and each time he saw a policeman or anyone at all looking suspiciously at them, he would make an abrupt turn. In a newspaper stand he took a look but there was no announcement anywhere to be seen.

Kazuya was silent and considerate all this time. Lee didn't really intend to ask him. He was afraid of what he might hear. He had other things in mind, like their preservation for one. How long would they live in that abandoned wreck of a building, depending on theft?

Kazuya had brought up the issue of work and though Lee was doubtful to how far he was capable of finding any job at all, left alone keep up with it, he couldn't but agree. But that might take months and he knew that the jobs available were those the society only rejected and paid for less than half a meal. Seeing it this way didn't make robbery such a crime...

Then he thought he ought to find them some food. Steal it again, what else? He had been very skilful in theft and with Kazuya walking next to him, ignorant of what he did, he had a natural shield.

As they passed outside a grocery, he snatched two apples and hid them in his shirt.

"Hey you!"

Goddamn!

Urgently he looked at Kazuya but he hadn't understand the signal to start running, only replied with a stunned look. It was worse than he thought as he realised that had he run, Kazuya would still be standing there, completely lost and helpless. His hesitation bought the grocer the time to come and grab him from the wrist.

"Give it back, you little son of a bitch!" he grunted, shaking his hand.

Lee squinted. The grocer was a really huge man and despite being fat, he was very strong. His hand clasped firmly at his wrist and twisted it so he couldn't go away.

"Are you crazy? I don't have it!" Lee pestered with his boyish high pitched voice, always trying to free his wrist from the grocer's grip.

He looked at Kazuya who watched in surprise. What was he waiting for?

"Better give it back, Lee...." he said, not certain of what to do.

"Shut up you little shit!" said the grocer, ever holding Lee who struggled at his hand.

"But I don't have ~" he complained when, as he shook him, both apples fell down before him, rolling on the ground.

"Oh so you don't have them? You don't?" the man yelled and Lee let a shout of pain as his arm was twisted behind his back.

"That'll teach you a lesson..." he heard him say. And then, the grocer yelped in torment. There was a sound of cracking bones as his fingers, not obeying to his will anymore, loosened and his palm hung crippled from his hand. Lee shook his hand, unable to believe that Kazuya had actually hammered his foot on the man's wrist.

They exchanged one look and Lee, looking at the wild surprise in his eyes, was almost ready to smile.

"Hey you!" shouted the grocer's helpers and came at them with mean moods. By that time, both boys were ready.

"Let's give 'em what they want!" said Lee and shouting out loud, he jump kicked one of them in the face while Kazuya slapped a backhand at the grocer's temple.

The fight was short and ended with the three men whirring on the ground and Lee looked at Kazuya... that new face of his was either very beautiful or very evil. He stood with fists ready and an almost devilish smile lined his lips as he looked down on the grocer... And then he did something Lee never expected. Taking an apple in his hand, he kneeled over the grocer with an impish smile across his lips and took a bite. The man watched him, still terrified to react as he chewed and then spat it all on his face. He didn't stir, not even after Kazuya stood up, laughing in wild joy.

Lee shook his head in disbelief and as Kazuya walked away, he grabbed two apples of his choice and run after him. "Do you realise what you just did?" he said laughing, eating fast.

Kazuya was laughing and then he came closer and embraced him from the shoulders in a fast embrace. Lee laughed too, not knowing what was that snap that had changed him, only now he surely liked him better. He too put his arm heavily upon him and they walked on merrily together and as they held onto each other, they played like boys of their age do, trying each to pull the other down and force him off his path. As it was only natural, it ended into a friendly fight of grabbing hands and messing up hair.

Lee jumped away, laughing in a pant and so did Kazuya. They had wrestled in that narrow street and now they looked at each other in good mood... Strange but true and so pleasant...

"You never told me, huh?" Kazuya panted. "You knew your life was damn good... but you wouldn't tell me!"

"Good grief!" Lee said and Kazuya nodded ahead as he started walking.

Lee followed him, looking at him in pleased astonishment. A little earlier he was an inanimate person and now he had before him a joyful youth who advanced in a gait towards life...

"OK, hold on a second..." he called and assumed a stranger's questioning voice. "Eh, excuse me but I was walking with my brother right there and then, eh... what have you done to my brother?" Kazuya stopped and turned at him with a strange spark at the corner of his eye and a smile that was either very evil or if not... "Oh... your brother..." he said as he walked to him and Lee smiled as Kazuya approached him.

"You know... I got your brother just like that..." he said and seized him from the shirt, "gave him a spin around and banged him right onto a wall!" he went on, doing just as he said, only Lee laughed as Kazuya played around, ultimately forcing him back against a wall. He held him like that for some time, the smile in his face was one of cognisance and yet Lee faced it almost anxiously... What, was he about to kiss him?

Perhaps... perhaps not. He didn't kiss him, but he had been hesitant on whether to press more or whether he ought to let go but all this time, his intense stare oscillated in his eyes. Lee said nothing either and strangely, even as it disturbed him greatly... he knew he wouldn't mind if...

However Kazuya drew away, smirking mischievously as he did so and Lee confused tried to figure out whether to be disgusted or not, as he watched him walk away...

A smile shone on his face as he was resolved. "Bastard!" he called at him playfully and charged him, jumping on his back and grabbing him around the neck in a chokehold. For a while they struggled in the streets, playing around like two brothers should... laughing and cheering as they did... Ultimately Kazuya freed himself by banging Lee with his back on a wall and Lee released him. They had sweltered, tired and laughed. After so long, they had finally come close to one another. "You know brother..." Lee said as at last he found his calmness. "I owe you a treat..." Kazuya showed a surprised smile and Lee smiled meaningfully. "Yeah... I'll give you the _best_ treat you _ever_ had..." he declared.

The excessively made up whore looked from behind the door and a huge smile parted her blood red lips.

"Hey girls, it's Lee!" she said and opened the door to the two boys and her arms to Lee who gladly squeezed her and even lifted her off the ground, causing her exhilarated laughter. "You are getting bigger every time I see you!" she praised him indirectly hinting.

"So are you!" said Lee and conspicuously snatched her breast and in a swift move her side on her few extra feminine handles. "You rascal!" she jeered from her heart and the girls jiggled too.

Lee supervised the flock and then prompted Kazuya from the shoulder.

"Hey girls... This is my brother, Kazuya... Treat him well, you know what I mean..." he said and winked at them. "Hi cutie!" said one and carefully bit her fingertip without smudging her painted lips.

"Is your hair the only thing that stands up?" another said and Kazuya nearly blushed smiling with his head lowered. "Answer to her there, will you?" Lee propounded and he was himself smiling.

"Come sit down!" Minako suggested and shoved the girls from the couch for the visitors.

A little later, the giggling in the small hall had stopped as most of the girls were to their customers and was replaced by smooth sounds of licking kisses and hands running over naked skin. Lee, seated on one couch, with Minako on his legs, looked over her shoulder at Kazuya between two of the girls, in a close eyed surrender to their exploratory cuddles.

"He..." he spoke with a voice dull from his own excitement. "How's it going, brother?"

Kazuya opened his eyes only to reveal them blurred and didn't answer. Minako laughed a deep laughter.

"Let's leave them..." Lee said and patted her hips. Minako stood up, stretching a hand to Lee who gladly took it and followed her.

"We need to stay with you for some time... Can you manage us?" "Hey, what did you think this is? I might have known your mother but that doesn't mean anything."

"Come on Minako I know you have a heart..."

"And anyway, I thought you had a palace to live in... So, is the boy who I think he is?"

"Yes, it's him."

"Out of the question, Lee. You can't stay here, especially with a million dollar kid. No. You can forget it."

"I can be useful and you know that!" he said and tried to topple over her but she pushed him back.

"Mind your cigarette, you're being a destruction already!" Lee laughed as he rested back on the pillow. "I could come handy..." he said looking at her.

"I'm sorry kid, we don't specialise in boys, check next street." "Hey... Remember that big guy who just wouldn't go away?" he suggested and his beautiful eyes stared widely at her and she couldn't but melt her frown.

"I can't take you in tonight, baby..." she said soothing his face with her fingers. "I'm expecting lots... but if you come after four, I can take you in..."

Lee smiled heartily and swiftly came close to her and kissed her.

"You are a dear, Minako... I'll go pick my brother right away." He jumped up excited and almost leaped into his trousers. "Don't you think you should stop fooling yourself, Lee?" he heard Minako's voice as he buttoned his shirt.

He turned around and looked at the prostitute's face, excessively painted but grievous as she looked at him. His hands hung and Minako shook her head.

"He isn't your brother, like day and night." she uttered softly and Lee stopped for a moment, her words of reality having paralysed him. How perceptive she was to have known at first glimpse... yet he slowly resumed his buttoning and looked with certainty at her. His heart was telling him otherwise.

"He saved my ass today in the streets. Anyone who does that for me is my brother." he concluded and gave her a confident stare. Minako only returned the look in doubt but Lee turned ahead and opened the door. He was going to fetch his brother.

Part II

Minako's words rung into his mind as they left the brothel, during the long and emotional farewells at the front door. Black harsh hair against silky white, silvery effulgence of the moon against the deep velvet of the night sky, his breezy, cheery attitude contrasted to his gloominess and enclosed self, his rather retreating stance seeking for a back door opposing Kazuya's bold, even blind courage when the going went tough. Just like Tao itself, they might have been the black and white, each having one dot of each other within them, in perfect complement and accordance. Where one bleached, the other supplemented, each with his way, different in their expressions but when looked closely, they were exactly the same... He was as easy as a sun shining day, he was as bold as the bright golden sun. He was beautiful with the gentle grace of the moon, he was dark and occult like the mysterious, unreadable night.

Minako seemed eager to curtail the farewells, cutting short his cheery jokes. Kazuya might never have talked to the girls who took care of him, had it not been for Yuki's initiation to step out and kiss him goodbye, whispering a hurried come-back wish. He kept himself from laughing at his brother's apparent bewilderment when Ensuko directed her own farewell, managing to snatch a squeeze from his butt. Kazuya appeared nervous, nearly smiled too and had it not been for Minako's rather rushed intervention, the good byes might have taken longer. He gave Minako a long hug and greeted the other two girls with affinity he would direct to good old friends and in a last waving back, they both moved away, into the dark streets of a poor suburb, one where the lowest citizens struggled to make a living, even if only for one more day.

Kazuya walked side by side with him. His stare was fixed somewhere in the distance but Lee knew it didn't get very far. He kept staring at him, partly knowing he wouldn't get his stare returned, pondering. Wasn't he supposed to be happy now? After his own first time, he felt like he could literally fly and soar above the world, like the eagles he admired and like he wished he would, one day... The skies had been his dream since as long as he could remember back, when as a boy he stretched his hands and imitated the sound of the engine, running around under the open sky... He had wished to take up piloting lessons one day...Then he thought of his handgliding and the absolute freedom of the graciousness of the skies that permitted him to float in their vastness, with the air on his face, even for so little. As he realised he couldn't afford them anymore, right there he wondered if he hated the guy walking with him tonight. But crying over the past never was him. The future still lay ahead with its hand tightened... Who knows what it had to offer...

In a similar manner, he tightened his knuckles and punched Kazuya on the shoulder. Like he had expected he looked over his shoulder and returned the favour. Only Lee, having seen it coming, easily knew when to drag his shoulder away. Kazuya, having missed, only attacked him and held him from the nape before slapping his back. A new fight started, only this time Kazuya wasn't laughing but Lee accosted this to what he had experienced a few minutes before. He laughed meaningfully and was ready to retaliate the next attack.

This fight was short but fast too, in which Lee managed to deal him a few successful blows. Kazuya was never fast enough to avoid his attacks but somehow, he would still manage to block them. He didn't have to block, since he was always swift enough to evade and direct a following blow. But the fight soon ended by the time they only strode

side by side into empty streets with garbage on the sides, Kazuya was again smiling. "You know, we can rule the world together, you know that?" he begun. "There ain't nothing that can stop us together! No thing!" he said wildly and distended a wild yelp to the night above. Kazuya was laughing and it was really apparent he considered pushing him on the shoulder. He still felt like some action.

"We can be together, as in the movies, you know?" he went on. "You and I, against the world. Like Bud Spencer and Terence Hill. Only I'll be Terence, because I do better with women." Kazuya narrowed one eye and cocked the eyebrow over the other, twisting his mouth ironically.

"Get out of town." he jeered. Get out of town... even his vocabulary had altered... "Well, I'm fair hared, you're dark, face it!" This time, Kazuya gave him the push he had withheld. Lee laughed as he faked a slow back kick to his ribs, which he avoided with a small leap away.

“You know...” Lee said, turning serious. “Ensuko liked you... But Yuki loved you. You’ve got to tell these things.” “I liked Yuki better...” Kazuya softly smiled. Lee patted him on the back and nodded affirming his choice. He then walked ahead and made it for a narrow passageway. Kazuya followed him.

In a dark corner they sat down, one against each other and Lee took at hand Minako's gift, a box with three cigarettes and three matches. He turned on one and packed the remaining.

Kazuya watched him in apparent curiosity as he smoked languidly and then Lee removed the cigarette and offered it to him. He reached for it and Lee observed him toying it in his indecisive hands.

"Don't just stare at it, try it!" he insisted and Kazuya brought the cigarette at his hesitant lips. Shutting his eyes he sipped some smoke and trying hard to repress a cough he passed it back to Lee and with his other hand rubbed the trickling tears in the corners of his eyes.

"There you go!" Lee said and in perfect style took back the cigarette in his index and middle finger, absorbing a generous inhale. As he released the smoke through mouth and nose, he looked again at his adoptive brother.

Kazuya had his self concentrated eyes focused at his knees, bewildered and somewhat melancholic, so unlike the excited almost cheerful youth he had showed a few minutes before. The mirth of his achievement had apparently vaporised.

"Look, I'm sorry to remind you but you have just fucked... Can't you at least be happy?"

But the sorrow didn't leave Kazuya's eyes. "I mean, it's the girl's job to mourn over the loss of her virginity..."

Kazuya exhaled through his nose in an attempt to laugh perhaps but it didn't go beyond that.

"Damn, what is the matter with you?" Lee said furiously. And yet Kazuya only waved with his head. "I don't know... God... I don't know..." His voice was broken under some sorrow and he lifted his eyes to the sky, as like he could find his answer up there. "I know something is missing... I just don't know what... I'll never be happy until I find it..."

His eyes were scanning the Universe above and only then Lee noticed they were glimmering with two small sparks on their endless night.

"What? You are crying?" he wildly interrogated. Kazuya didn't turn at his side. His eyes trebled from a layer of tears as he had them turned to the stars on the cold black sky. "It shouldn't be this way..." he said. "It shouldn't ever be this way..."

Lee shook his head in vexed desperation. "Damn, what's the matter with you?" he exploded. "You had all you ever wanted, money, cars, women, fortune... What more could you possibly ask for?!?"

This time he didn't receive a laugher in reply. "All this money..." he begun... "it will be used for destruction... when it could be given to those who need it... People... like those girls... like you..." His cigarette hung at his hand and like his brother, he now couldn't breathe without hurting. He flicked a kick at his leg. "Don't ever do that again!" he said with almost blurring eyes. "You hear?"

Kazuya didn't even return the stare. He wouldn't have to.

Whichever of the events of the previous day it was to bring that leap in Kazuya's personality, Lee couldn't distinguish but alike did his opinion about him change overnight, or rather, he felt like a covering was removed over the previously submissive boy and as he regarded him, he was nearly spellbound by something close to magic. The speed of his intercepting was amazing as well. In one hour he had learned enough of the skills of poker and he bluffed like no one else. Earlier the day he had bargained just as well as any street scum two pairs of nearly shabby blue jeans, one for each of them and a black leather belt for himself and wore them with such pride as if they were the finest garbs the human eye had ever seen. He spoke loudly, he laughed, even though there was something strange in the echo of his laughter, as from someone who hadn't frequently practised it and it roared almost feral. Later, around midday, when he came to him, a cigarette stuck out on his lips along with a smile. Lee couldn't but return it and raising his hand, they slapped them together, joining in a firm hold. They didn't say anything then, other than by looking at each other. The day was bright and the world was all there, right at their reach, ready for them to reach out and take it.

Kazuya still planned to get himself a job and Lee, although he was sceptic about it, considered the possibility. He was amazed that he, who never in his life had anything to worry about had so willingly discarded it all. Not that he knew this kind of leisure would be one he wouldn't be missing, as neither did he. He hadn't realise until then how much of himself he might have lost all these years in Heihachi's residence as for the first time he understood that Kazuya came to life for the first time. He was absolutely happy for his new-found freedom, as was Kazuya when shortly, Yuki joined them, her smile cutting off their discussion.

"What is it, Kazzy-chan?" she said, directing her smiling eyes at him and she slid her hand around Kazuya's waist, giving him a squeeze in the butt.

Lee shook his head smiling and left them alone. He had indeed plunged into life and sucked it like a thirsty animal. As though he didn't care if he would drown. As if he wouldn't get the chance to taste it again.

Turning and turning the world goes round. Day after night, sunset to dawn. Nothing remains forever the same and soon it was meant that things were to change...

In fact, the very same evening.

Lee had ensured a job, at Kazuya's wish that they would make meagre but decent gains and Kazuya was confident he would be luckier the next day. For that time, they could rest and they did, in Minako's sitting room.

Lee was kissing her passionately in the way he liked. Deeply, fully and perhaps lewdly too. Kazuya was engaged in a similar kissing session with Yuki in the next couch, even though these two appeared more irresolute than them, no less ardent however. Minako slid on his chin and he watched them two, despite the prurient background, trying to find romance in their subdued words. He smiled and poked Minako who stopped kissing him and giggled softly as in silence they overheard their talk.

"I will be a king... so that you can be my queen... if that's what you want..." he said timidly, looking in her eyes.

"You speak beautifully..." Yuki said, her hands around his neck and he never left her eyes. "Like a poet."

Kazuya lowered his eyes for a little.

"Do you know poetry?"

Lee smiled and embraced Minako. Kazuya loved poetry and he had passed that piece of information to Yuki when she eagerly asked. But Kazuya didn't know, he only looked up at her.

"Some..." he affirmed.

Minako lied upon his shoulder, deeply giggling at the other two who acted as though they didn't notice them. Lee tapped at her thigh, laughing at watching their conversation.

"She means, 'oh please, tell me some!'" he marked and as Kazuya laughed in extreme complication Yuki indeed tried to urge him. "I don't remember anything!" he insisted and Lee bit his tongue. What was he talking about, he could quote foreign sagas by heart!

But he was surprised as well when Kazuya looked up at Yuki and clasped her hand.

"What words my eager heart may take... to reach for you, my queen of stars?... Upon your knees my soul I lay... and pray... you take me into your arms..." The girl looked absorbed in his eyes, her lips trembling. "That's... for me?" she said and Lee nearly blurred. He knew that girls like Yuki very rarely hear a kind word... "Nice prose there, brother..." he said, smiling weakly. "who said it?"

Kazuya had his eyes on Yuki alone. "Nobody..."

"Well, write it down and take the credit then!"

"I'm not a poet..."

"I liked it..." Yuki said.

For a little Kazuya gaped at her and in disbelief he chuckled nervously. Yuki was smiling back, her face beaming too. "Kiss the girl!" Lee said aloud, laughing.

They didn't look at him yet Yuki came closer to his face. Kazuya looked at her loving eyes and submitted to her deep kiss. In his turn Lee smiled and pulled Minako with his arm, into a lavish kiss. In that moment, he might have revelled forever. They had all they could ever ask for. Women, their freedom and each other. It was good.

It wasn't destined they should be like this forever. Discussions of customers with whores interrupted the meditative kissing sessions. Idly they stopped to see the visitors walk in under the lead of the girls, only to freeze at their positions. They were Heihachi's bodyguards. Lee was shocked as wide eyed he looked at them and turned towards Kazuya to see how he took the three pairs of eyes wide opened at looking at him. He was simply horrified.

"You have not seen me." he jutted right at their sight. "You have never seen me here. Understood?"

The tone of his voice was commanding, but he barely maintained his voice from violently trembling. Lee sensed his fear, only increasing his and the anxiety of the three newcomers.

"But young master... your father is deeply concerned... He has turned Tokyo upside down looking for you~"

"Am I not being clear enough?!?" Kazuya shouted at him, this time his wide open eyes almost shooting sparks. The men didn't say anything, just returned the look in fright even. Then one of them turned around and the other followed him and as for the four of them, they froze.

"What have you done, Lee, what have you brought to us?" Minako almost cried and pushed him away. Lee didn't say anything; what was he to say? Kazuya on the other side held close to Yuki, his forehead bent upon hers, muttering comforts. He then slipped through her hands and looked at Lee.

"We need to go," he said.

Lee was about to agree when Minako held her hand up.

"You are going nowhere. You will stay here with me. I know Heihachi. Let me handle him."

At her persuasion, they agreed to stay and in case someone showed up, they would hide.

Like they did, when only half an hour later, the men came back. This time with Heihachi following them, determinently walking. Minako forced them hide in a room and it was not before time either, for the men didn't wait to be allowed the entrance.

Into the dark room, Lee didn't even dare to breathe. Unlike him, Kazuya had his eyes intent at the sealed door, more as he heard his father's voice... He was demanding and Minako protested, then Yuki's voice was heard, at which stage Kazuya nearly run outside.

Heihachi's voice shouted angered and Minako demanded they should go when Yuki's thin voice rose sharply. Then a sound of a slap was heard and Yuki's wail followed. Lee's heart was tightened but he was too late to notice Kazuya, as with his eyes wide forced the door open and dashed outside. He rushed to the door only too late and heard a growl from a voice he never expected to and when he looked outside, Kazuya was there, standing with his fists clenched, his body quivering and he could only guess his gnarling expression as he faced Heihachi's wild surprise as he was fallen on his back.

"You!..." Heihachi growled turning around in disbelief and leaped up rushing at Kazuya but instead of what he had expected, he met resistance that forced him to struggle with much strength. At this point, Lee had too run outside, leaning at the door. He could easily tell that Kazuya had no chance, only this time, he was fighting to death. The men in the far end were too looking in fear, Minako screamed once and then, only too late did Lee see Yuki, walking on cautiously with a large vase at hand...

Right when Kazuya was thrown on his back down on the floor the vase was crushed on Heihachi's head. In a raging growl Heihachi reared his head and then his ignited eyes turned to Yuki. Growling he clenched his huge fist and even her widening eyes or her paling expression didn't compel his lethal blow. His elbow was dragged behind his back to be shot~

"NOOO!" Kazuya yelled in fierce rage as all of his body shot him faster than a thunderbolt upon his father's prepared hand. The blow was delivered.

Changing at the last moment to a backfist, it fully crushed upon Kazuya's face, right as his arms wrapped around the prepared fist, blasting him squarely among the brows. The youth quaked in a fierce collision and his grip only managed to prevent his fall, grabbing from Heihachi's vengeful hands. And his father grabbed him back...

Lifted by the hair, he was pulled up, blood streaming from his nose and spattering upon his face and his white shirt, before four more punches were dunked down upon him. When his hair was released, he collapsed awkwardly on his chest, not even having the power to put his hands before him, splashing his face all over the floor.

Nobody else dared to move. Lee watched Yuki trembling with her fingers before her lips, ready to leap right next to Kazuya and he prayed she wouldn't do anything stupid. The rest of Heihachi's corps stood alike immobile, as were the whores with Minako hesitant on whether to attempt to talk to the enraged man. Ultimately thought, everyone's eyes fell on Kazuya's lying body who begun stirring and Lee knew it wasn't the pain of his body that kept him on the ground, because Kazuya would never admit to pain, physical or emotional... especially emotional. But it was the reason he didn't dare raise his head. He couldn't face the concerned eyes of the circle around him. The eyes that read of his failure...

Heihachi seized his arm and picked him up. He didn't do anything more than look away.

"I'm taking my son..." he said. "Does anyone have any objections?"

Nobody said a word and then he looked across at Yuki's weeping eyes. His stare rested on her for a moment.

"And you... do you love him?" he said coldly. Yuki shook her head negatively.

"No, how could I? I'm just a whore..."

Heihachi grunted once in consolation and pulled Kazuya with him outside. He followed without any resistance.

Lee was standing by the door and as he run behind them, Minako rushed up to him and embraced him.

"Don't go, don't go!" she urged him threateningly even but he pushed away and followed. Heihachi looked back at him contemptuously, but he waited for him to follow. Lee knew he had nothing good to expect but there are some things like loyalty. He had to find the strength.

Shivering down to his toes, Lee descended the stairs to the dark underground rooms of the Mishima mansion, all horrendous thoughts crossing his mind. Heihachi walked behind them and he didn't dare look at Kazuya, not as he knew he was about to get to know the horror his foster brother was facing every day of his life.

They reached a cold, grey room where there was nothing but an iron bar along one wall, at the height of the waist. Heihachi led them there and while they stood side by side, he heard him fetching chains. Hesitantly he looked from the corners of his eye at Kazuya... but he was only bending his head expressionless, almost calm and the firm impassivity of his dark eyes was too strong, almost frightful.

Heihachi had chained them both and forced them kneel. Lee trembled when his shirt was removed, watching Kazuya every now and then, complying without the faintest of resistance. The sound of a whip behind his back sent shivers up his spine and he couldn't help the trembling of his manacled hands.

He almost started crying. He never was really punished so severely and he knew he didn't deserve this. He decided he would scream. He would proclaim his pain in loud yells to show his disagreeing but looking at Kazuya at his side, a nearly full grown man indeed, not putting as much as a facial cast to the resistance, completely resigned... he lost all courage. So he decided he would too keep silent only because he didn't want to make him envious he could still resist... he knew he could still hear and feel... only from now on, no one would ever know.

No one.

Then the first blow was given. As the thick whip fell on his back, he bit back his yell, bobbing his head up. The next followed. Each lash was sharper than the one before, rivulets of blood started creeping vexingly down his back and he heard the splashing of the lash through his flesh. Splatters of blood fell on the floor, on the wall, upon Kazuya even, like his blood was splattering him.

Then, he couldn't sense the whip anymore, as it happens after long times of torturing. His head dangled weakly, hot with fever, his view had sparks even in the darkness. Heihachi's growl didn't come through his ears anymore. The whip was gone and he retched blood as Heihachi kicked his stomach. He didn't shout when he was kicked on the back, nor when a rod smashed his hanging wrists. When the chains were removed from him, he fell on the floor and helplessly let Heihachi drag him on his feet and lead him outside the room.

He was laid by the wall, in a similarly empty room, all alone. Kazuya... he wasn't with him. Trying to open his eyes, he saw a faint image of Heihachi disappearing back into the door and then in a pound the door was closed. So were his eyes.

A sickening dizziness overcame him and he felt his head heavy, wavering on his shoulders. And then he heard a slap. It was coming behind the door.

He jumped in a startle, no stronger than the rigours already running through him. More slaps came. And though he knew not what was causing them, he knew it was a torment he wouldn't even bare to watch.

Laying against the wall, his bursting head being his holding point as neither his aching back or his hips permitted him to lean upon, he couldn't help hearing. He shivered, unable to cry, unable to even squeeze these echoes off his head, the continuous rapid whipping of the air, the sharp slap of the lace at slashing through flesh and those irascible growls that did not belong to the one suffering in the chains. Was he so brave and resolute or wasn't he conscious anymore?

It was almost beginning to dawn and his sore throat coughed. He had almost certainly got himself a cold. His legs were still too weak, yet he struggled to get on his feet. He succeeded and with shaking limbs, he went wall to wall, around the room to the door that now lay open. The walls were cold as he touched them and yet he went on.

Staggering he came to the opening and in the deeper darkness in he walked. He only guessed the way when he stopped, as his eyes met what he had been looking for.

Scarcely covered by his shirt now dyed into a dense dirty red, he knelt right where he had last seen him. His back was swollen twice the size into a sickly hunch, lined to the waist and below with fine streams pouring blood and pus. Bruises stained his body all over and even his face was badly swollen, his lips red from the blood that dripped into a dark pool right before his knees. His arms were dropped upon the iron bar, his forehead leaning upon the wall, his eyes swollen but open all the while. Staring ahead, beyond the wall, his stare cut short right before his face, focused on nowhere, empty from all emotions and ultimately life.

He didn't dare call at his name. Somehow, he knew it wouldn't be sane to do so.

It took a few days until he could properly walk again. When he could again, he had immediately looked for Kazuya...

He found him and was into horror for it had taken him long to discover him... and when he did, it was again in this abandoned storage room he used to frequent, invisible before the same window. Just like he was so long before...

Lee sat by his side and talked to him. He pleaded for a reply, he tried to explain. He wasn't feeling any better either, but what were they hoping for?

"Maybe it's for the best, dammit!" he erupted in despair. "We couldn't have stayed in those streets forever! You couldn't have really believed you could work and make a living out of it, could you?"

Kazuya did not reply. His chin upon his hand, staring afar into the distant sky was only breathing.

"Damn, talk to me, brother! You don't really believe it, do you?!?"

But he received no reply and bending closer to the once before bruised face, he asked confidently.

"Is it about Yuki? Is that it?" No reaction came.

"She loved you, man! You really believed what she had said? She said it to protect you! And if you love her, I can ensure you will meet her again! Perhaps in due time you can even ask her as a wife, if that's what you want! You don't have to part from her, off like that! Goddammit! It doesn't have to be over!"

Only the face didn't react, he didn't respond in any way. And Lee studied it, sporting livid marks at places, the lips torn and still swelling but the eyes were... empty...

"Is that it? Isn't it? Isn't that it?" he tried once more.

Kazuya did not respond, not even with an exhale. He was staring far at the distance, like he had so many times done when he was younger for as long as Lee remembered him, his face expressionless with the persistency of the one who boils from pent up anger and thrived in not allowing others to see in it. But of his all new stance, the most worrying was that, unlike the other times, he was looking at him. He knew his presence was at his side, he received his concern reaching at him. Even though through that foggy barrier he built around him. And through that warm cloud, moist as before a rainstorm, he only shot a fiery hot cloud of breath.

"Die".

The word was spoken coldly and hard as stone, clear as it could be. It was the same word he had shouted to him that day, three times. Die, die, die. Each command louder than the one before. Only this time... he didn't care if he had listened. He didn't care if he was scared. He didn't even care if he had said it. Or if he had desired it. But he did.

Again, he didn't realise he had intended it for himself. It sounded too cruel to let fear be discerned within. Ever after, nobody ever heard the distressed call for help into his voice. Nobody was allowed to. From that day on, Kazuya was labelled as cruel. Even to Lee Chaolan.

Ever after, Kazuya never talked to him again. Needless to say he was hardly contacted by anybody.

He was gone missing very often and sometimes it was days until he would return, always tired and weary but with an odd spark igniting in his eyes, one that could only be seen if he let people look upon him and those who saw it would pray they had never looked at it.

Many things had changed. The karate trainings for one had stopped and yet it so seemed that Kazuya grew bigger with each day passing. The melancholy wiped out all traces it had ever placed on his face and a brand new visage was sculpted. One of cold cruelty and firm resentment. A face that only read of Death.

His escapes were frequent but hardly noticed and Lee suspected he deliberately stayed away, only to battle more against his father's will, in a statement of his freedom. He couldn't have suspected what was that really kept Kazuya away. Then, later, he hadn't seen the new scars appearing upon him, those neat and thoughtfully done on the surface, enough to bring out the blood but be gone in a week, marks of rituals summoning evil spirits. He couldn't have imagined either, as at best he would assume it was yet another way he had chosen to inflict torture to himself, a necessity he had learned to need. Not that he would do anything about it if he knew either. Heihachi didn't seem to be concerned either, going on with his own life and Lee decided that so should he.

Then, he was sent to the United States. Of America. There were no other United States.

His departure was announced during a morbid dinner. Among the clattering of silver kitchenware, Heihachi gravely spoke of his decision to send him abroad. To study finance. Lee returned his narrow strict stare, confused. He then looked at Kazuya. He was mixing his food with his fork, his non-existent attention mashed along with it. But he knew he had listened. And alike, he knew the ever bent to the task head had been raised and shot him a maliciously gleaming stare. For as brief as the flicker of a candle. Or a spark that ignites a fire. That short. That big.

Then a couple of days later, Kazuya disappeared from home. He was gone, just like that. Lee had only heard he had come into conflict with his father during one of the celebrations Heihachi organised. He left home for good as it seemed for it was weeks that passed ever since he disappeared. This time, Heihachi even seemed contented he was gone. Still Lee knew he was worried in his way, perhaps he left Kazuya to let him discover his manhood. Or perhaps he had, howbeit late, realised he couldn't hold him anymore...

Lee prepared for his journey but his mind went to Kazuya many times. He didn't believe he was truly gone... how could he make it out there on his own? And what if he had found the courage to end his life? Had life been so unfair to him that it showed him all its beauties to deny them right as he had reached for them and now he denied life?

Lee was worried, expecting him, hoping he would come back, but he didn't return. When the day of his departure came, he was not home yet. At the airport, he gratefully embraced Heihachi but still he hoped for someone else to show. He waited until the last moment. Then as his flight was announced, he whispered a prayer and it was goodbye to Japan.

"Show me the land beyond the West... I want to know what it is like... Is it like ours or is it better? I want to know and ask its people about it."

America, America... The dreamland. The land of opportunities. The land of cowboys, blue jeans, Coca Cola and the statue of Liberty. The land where everything Could happen. The land of the free. The land of Elvis Presley. And Marylin Monroe. The land where each state was a star in a red and white striped flag. Red as the circle of the rising sun of the white flag of Japan. That sun round as the full moon. And one of the stars for the States was it. The moon. Like the sun. Like the red dot on the white flag of Japan.

Lee was sad to leave his country and his home. But when the once-upon gutter child who didn't know where his next meal was coming from arrived in the Promised Land like any wealthy traveller, the flush in his eyes was clear enough to wash away all that had bonded him to what he was. Skyscrapers. All in this country was big, reaching out for the sky. He thought he could fly towards it himself. Without the glider, just his wings. The land of the dreams. College. Education. Dollars. Success. A big office with broad windows, like the ones he had seen on TV. He was there.

The days had rolled by. Fast as a song. A rough song. A song with heavy beat of precrussion instruments, arising his heart to its beat and warrior-like voices, speaking of wild excitement and fierce joy. Rocking and Rolling.

College was easy. Or he was just very smart. He always had brains for arithmetic. And wit. Economics

need plenty of wit. And cunning. And dare. He had it all. He had friends. He had girls crazy for him. Yes, the girls thought he was attractive. He was popular. He was loved. He was the topic of discussion. Soon he could 'sweep the dancefloor' like no one else. Better than John Travolta in 'Grease', which he had been to three times. The first two, he was too busy kissing the girl next to him and lost most of the movie.

But there was something missing. The songs were beautiful but even those love ballads were hard. The women couldn't speak of their passion unless there was a ticking of some tempo on the background and they had to be loud about it. Nothing like the almost monotonous, melodious modest voices of the girls of his country, where at most there was accompanying of a gentle guitar to their song. And those women were blonde... like the fairies. Like him. He was befitting to this country, but only in the face. Because his heart longed for Japan. Even though he was Chinese in blood.

Then came that song. Speaking with it's westernised beat mixed in attempts to imitate Japanese instruments about the land of the rising sun. The song he had so many times hummed in his mind when walking down the streets with his hands in his pockets, among others, under electric lamps. 'In Japan, tonight, in Japan...' and a few things he hardly made out. And he noticed how the only place electricity was found was in the street lights... and he longed for his home. 'Tonight... in Japan...' What might be going on there while he walked down those streets?

He spoke very little to his American friends about his origin... To some extend he didn't let them down. He spoke Cantonese and Japanese fluently, he could read AND write kanji (which he was often asked to from many who wanted an oriental decoration) AND he knew martial arts. Karate was high on popularity. So was he. But he didn't speak more about it. He just shook off with a shameless laughter the suggestion that he had three gheisas at his services every night and how he ate sushi on their naked bodies, or that he could smash boulders three times his width with one hand. As he didn't tell them of his father, or rather foster father. Or Kazuya. Who wasn't his brother like day and night but for whom he cared and he knew he was the part that was missing. Someone he wanted to be with him and revel in all of this joy. Someone who might have been going through torment while he enjoyed his freedom, all alone. Someone whom he wished he could see once again. Someone who had showed him one afternoon how he could summon electricity in his hands. Just like his father. His own real father.

And he knew that he missed his brother...

He missed him for he hadn't seen him ever since he was gone. He missed him because he didn't know if he was dead or alive but he knew that if he was dead, somehow he would know it... So he assumed he wasn't dead, as he assumed that Kazuya too missed him. He couldn't think of anything else he could believe him to

But life had been good. He managed to subscribe in a hand- gliding club. He tried the free falling. Although he continued his private karate training, once he saw the chance to learn Jeetkunedo, he took it.

Then one day a telegram came. From Japan. At reading it, his eyes blurred to learn that Kazuya had come back. He was happy. Sincerely happy.

So he wasn't dead...

His brother, his real brother was alive and well and back home. So he had gone over his asperity. He was back and waiting for him to return.

He had hoped so much for it... The years rolled by. A melody of strange origins all together. A beautiful life Lee had always been dreaming about but only in his wildest fantasies had ever found... College was soon over. One more month for the graduation ceremony and he would be back home, although he struggled to that thought. He didn't wish to leave his new-found friends. He didn't wish to leave the Promised Land. He had gained a lot to let go of them... But he would be Home.

Back home he had so much to tell... so much to share... and perhaps greater joys were ahead. He knew he had learned a lot not just for work but alike for himself. He felt ready to give it all and show them what he really was. And furthermore, he wanted to see Kazuya once again. Perhaps, to give him in return all he had known. Make him happy. Find again the friend he had lost and all these years had missed.

He arrived in Tokyo's airport one sunny day, with his luggage full of memories and dreams and a pair of the coolest sunglasses before his eyes. Heihachi opened his arms for him, broadly laughing and only then did Lee realise he had grown to be a man of matching size and that Heihachi's raven hair begun showing snowed peaks. And he was so eager to start telling of what he had seen, all those things he hadn't included in his cards and letters, about the art of Jeetkunedo he had experienced but then he noticed a cruel gap. A cold absence. And that restrained his mouth.

The house was just as he remembered it, all empty, as if all to himself and Lee knew he was depressed once he stepped inside. But he wouldn't cry... he shouldn't. Even though he longed for his friends back in the college, those friends that now were only pictures, addresses and promises for a reunion. Someday.

Heihachi told him he had been preparing his office... in the Mishima Corporation. Vice president, no more, no less. Lee was stunned. It was too good to be true.

They talked this over dinner that night. One day is not enough to tell anything and they left it for a later time. "Will Kazuya be working with me?" Lee had asked. Heihachi denied. He said Kazuya was not interested. But he didn't tell him where he was either or what he did. He finished off with a broad smile as he told him that a celebration was going to be held for him.

The days went by and he was nearly adapting... he had posted the first draft of letters and enjoyed his work at the Mishima Corporation. In that time, he managed to visit Minako... She had been in her middle ages, when make up is not enough to hide deficiencies but her tears were genuine when she saw him. She embraced him, admiring him as if he was her own son and she was so proud of him... to her Lee had told more of his life in the States than to anyone. And he promised he would go back to see her again. Someday.

Yet, one Friday, returning home exhausted, it was that he should meet Kazuya.

By the way. Yuki was not in the brothel anymore. He walked through the door and into the main hall of the Mishima mansion... to see him there.

Not as he remembered him. He was grown. A man. A visibly strong man with his features coalesced in his maturity. Such was his joy that he saw him again, he didn't see the rest of him. Kazuya stood there, doing something. He was dressed very weirdly too, so unlike him, who took care of his appearance and tidiness as much as nothing else. He was wearing a pair of really shabby jeans, firmly clung on him, and the legs suffered holes big enough to show the skin when he bent. A sleeveless flannel topped his clothing, that didn't hide his impressively broad construction... and he swelled with vigour and some force so strong, everywhere upon his brawny limps and firm expression. He had also got himself a really deep tan. Such as those who live under the sun in the harsh nature do.

Lee was thrilled to see him again. He flashed a smile and he was about to run and embrace him... and he turned his eyes at him... only why was there this cold expression upon his face? "Kazuya?" he said in a grin but then... his grin fainted. Had he been looking upon a face of marble wouldn't make any more difference...

And he didn't at least seem to even be looking at him... "Aren't you happy to see me again?" he asked pressing his brows to his question.

The eyes, familiar as they were, had changed somehow... No sign of recognition flashed in them... but neither a signal of trepidation... not indifference was there either, nor disregard. And that face said without a word or as much as a twitch that he saw him, he knew who he was and nothing more. No happiness, nor the spark of hate. Nothing.

He only walked away, following his own path. And Lee understood one more thing was gone. The spark in his eyes.

Kazuya's astonishing and peculiar resurface had troubled Lee deeply... What was leading him to act like he did? Was he still hating him? Was he still living under his failure?

With these questions in mind, he dared go to that wooden shack in the far end of the mansion's garden, lost in the plantation, afar from notice, where he learned Kazuya spent his days - when he was not gone. He made his way there and stepped inside, looking for answers and his brother. If he could ever be found.

The shack was dusky and even cool, so much it was unfavourable. The atmosphere was damp and an unpleasant smell was applied in it. Such few light, such small room and in the middle, occupying the best of the room a large table made of thick unrefined wood, in utter disorder, heavy with grotesque items. Open books, dirty rags and torn pieces of papers, strange metallic tools of which the use he didn't want to know, pots containing things that might have been living once or dark fluids, bulky used up candles, shreds of cloth here and there, a small scull...

Lee advanced inside, very reluctantly. What kind of a dwelling was that he had chosen?

"Kazuya?" he called, not expecting a reply however. He circled around the table, looking at each item only to take his eyes away in disgust.

Then, as he walked, a gust that nearly cracked his back, forced him down on his face.

He flipped around just to see, towering above him, the bigger frame of his foster brother, dark from the lesser light admitted in that shack of a house, faintly discerning the details of his face above him. Kazuya bent over him and he instinctively attempted to drag himself away but not fast enough when he was violently seized from his shirt and below his jaw, the fine edge of a slight blade was attached so skilfully it could scrape off the thin layer of his skin and leave him unharmed...

He couldn't do other than shiver and that not easily too, for a tiny movement was enough for the fine flat blade to be inserted his flesh. He turned his eyes on Kazuya, to find his stare affixed on where the blade met his skin, inspecting his find indifferently, him not moving either. Then, as instantly as he had attacked him, he was recalled, snapping back on his feet, turning his back to walk away, without even a word or a look.

Lee stood up on his own, still shaken. Was he attacked because he wasn't recognised, or did the dweller of this shack turn into a ferocious animal that only knew of slaughter of anything living? Or... was he preserving old, cultivated grudge for him? Could it be?

"I was hoping for a greeting..." Lee stammered, not succeeding in even getting his attention. He moved in the far other end of the room, distracting him from the scramble and soon he returned, walking calmly as it seemed but Lee had lost his confidence long before. He stopped a little further form him and without a word, he proposed his full fist, tightly clenched around something and the other palm entreating. Lee was undecided when he opened his receiving palms and Kazuya got a firm hold of them. His full fist opened and laid a clamped handful of soil upon them. Before Lee could even decide to throw it off, he had both his hands sealed around it and Kazuya was focused upon them. Mystic chants hovered through his lips, his eyes lowered but frightfully wide.

Lee tried to pull his hands free but the hold around them was unrelenting. He sought for his brother's face and found it devoted to the weird ritual. If not for the upsetting words of the incantation, the sensation of the soil on his bare palms was detesting. Cold and damp, very absolutely cold, as though alive on its own... Panic swept into his heart.

It poured slowly, like cold tar through his veins, replacing his blood and getting his limbs to quiver, despite his control. Pain suffocated him and he couldn't pull away from the trap of his hands because he had no strength to move away, he had no will to pull out, he just wished he would die, so That would stop...

When Kazuya released his hold, his hands were still cold and joined together, dark rivulets of what could have been nothing else but blood streamed through his fingers. It crept all over his palms and freely trickled to the floor below. Lee might have been holding on the lump of soil forever had Kazuya not taken it away, in hands steady and seeming untouched from what had previously happened. He didn't know what it was that kept his palms bonded and were still stiff when his foster brother parted them and got the best of the handful of earth back.

"What did you do to me?" Lee interrogated in a voice hardly kept from trembling.

Kazuya carefully put the lump of earth in a bowl he turned over and looked back at him, for the first time in full attention and a smile stroke across his face... There was nothing mischievous about it but it didn't feel comforting at all.

"Were you afraid?" he gingerly asked and Lee heard his voice for the first time again. It was mature, deep and cold as the forlorn emptiness of death. No warmth of life stained it. And his question was no less comforting.

Shocked at the perceiving but not willing to believe that the answer he knew just as well as he did, he voiced a rather affirmative reply only to be further shaken. Kazuya's face didn't alter but it was definitely complacent, beaming with a cold happiness below his arched satanic eyebrows. "She was a fifteen year old girl... A virgin. She was raped and murdered. Her body was found in the wilderness. Now you know what her fear was like."

His eyes widened, he could tell, as he merely looked at him. Had he really said what he heard? Was this really the explanation he had given him? It was impossible for anyone at all to talk so casually, even with pleasure for such an accomplishment... What girl? Exactly what had become of his brother? "What have you done?" he demanded hysterically. He prepared a spring aback, a strange flicker danced in Kazuya's eyes, somewhere deep within, very far, beyond reality.

"I wanted to show you... what I have learned while you were away... learning your own things..." he said and he spoke with the pride of a child and yet... what was disturbing is that his pleasure on it was just as genuine... How distorted was his mind after all? Lee tried to find a way out of his confusion, grasping upon his words... Had his studies abroad been the reason for... wait, for that thing... not~

"What have you done to that girl?!?" he demanded in a yell. Kazuya showed surprise in his face.

"I stole her memories." he confirmed smiling ingenuously and Lee wanted to get a hold onto somewhere, anywhere that wouldn't remind him of voodoo and the insanity he faced. Kazuya's smiling face and voice came to him as through a vortex in a dream. "Nobody had believed I would come back with the soil of a raped and murdered fifteen year old virgin... but I did!... and it wasn't easy... You have to dig into the earth and hear the voices of the grave... But luckily, the wronged cry out louder than the rest... but some don't cry at all... and these are the hardest... You should be careful and discern the frail little woe... hear the lament in her voice... You have to urge them... Slide your fingers deep into their soul... reach for their secrets... and grab them... possess them... make them yours..."

Was there indeed pride in his voice as he said those he did? Was he smiling with eyes fervently glowing, or was this just one more paradox?

"And you have to be fast! The minute you know what it is, you must know whether to take it or not, or you risk being possessed by their torment... and you must grab it carefully so that it won't go away..."

"How could you!..." Lee whispered in horror. He couldn't look at his 'brother' anymore. "She was a stranger to you! She had her life ahead of her and you...!" he said panting.

In return Kazuya lifted his brows.

"You did it. Didn't you?" he insisted. It wasn't a question and his head was hustled by mingled woes or weeping. Or plain confusion. Among all this sandstorm, Kazuya's face smiled widely. As though he had no concern in this world.

"Why? Aren't there enough murdered violated girls I had to make one myself?"

Lee shook his head in horror but Kazuya steadily came closer.

"You... you have..." he stammered.

"Brother, I plead innocent!..." he said gaily, his eyes

shining. Insanely. He reeled upon his own feet.

"STAY AWAY FROM ME!" he yelled, despite himself. Kazuya laughed. A happy, demonic look. Innocent. He considered yelling once more 'KEEP AWAY!' but instead, he forced his way back, pushing things from the wooden table, cups, or perhaps the top of a human skull, staggering in a mad running backwards and turning away to the door. He never believed he would actually step outside under the sunlight and open air.

The house behind him was distant as a nightmare. Looking over his shoulder he couldn't see Kazuya, or he didn't want to. Still there was no way to reassure himself all the horror would never come out of this wooden shack.

The very evening he went to the police department and the feeling was awkward for he entered for the first time and on his own will the building that scared him the most, not entirely sure on why, and that not being it all, he would be the one to make an accusation...

He made his way to an officer and was carefully heard. However, there was no case of a young girl, abducted, raped and murdered at that time and the police thought he was insane to claim that he thought his brother might have done the crime just because he acted weird. Besides, his only proofs were a lump of soil and bleeding hands, which he couldn't provide either.

His world was sunk into voiceless anxiety. There was a new terror, of what he could see coming and didn't know how to prevent. A menace horrendous, from which nothing would escape. He turned into a prisoner of his own fear. And there was no way out.

He was working hard and that filled up his time. Heihachi asked him to slow down, but he had to keep his mind away from what he had learned... He was so engrossed, he didn't see himself going down. He started smoking again, after managing to quit. After the first two cigarettes he was like he had been before and turned even heavier. Then came the Iron Fist.

Just like it had been coming each year, ever since he recalled. As a child, he would sneak into the stadium and watch the fights from his hideout, hoping to become as good as the ones he admired. He never expected he would one day live in the house of the owner. Nor that he would participate.

That grand tournament brought fighters form all over the world, all hoping to ascend to the top of the rank and some foolish enough had attempted to challenge the King of the Iron Fist, the one who had reigned the topmost position of the fighting essence, Heihachi Mishima himself. They were all crushed.

He wouldn't really care to compete, had it not been for Heihachi's requisition, despite him knowing his work was getting most of his time, at which he granted him vacation, that only verifying the truth behind the reason he had chosen to adopt him in the first place, which wasn't some weird sort of kindness, something he could easily exclude anyway. Ever since he had come, he was intended to be a rival to Kazuya. His existence was only to fuel the sentiments of constant threatening, competitiveness and unrelenting hatred for even those closest to him, that making him even more aggressive towards his true enemies.

So it was that after years of living in the shadow, Kazuya made his break out. He was a contestant in the Iron Fist and Heihachi had Lee in there to prolong the rivalry. But Lee knew it wasn't him Kazuya was targeting. Yet, with Heihachi's compromise that he had the right to decline a fight if he felt like doing so, he agreed to participate. Besides, he was one great fighter, he knew that for sure. He had competed in tournaments before, while in America his college won the intercollege karate championships all four years in a row and in Jeetkunedo he had managed to get two first places. And he had only started. Then the Iron Fist had always been resplendent in his apprehension; being a participant was a great honour by itself.

The tournament started and he had already won the sympathies of the crowd. His looks and swiftness had helped much to it. He was Heihachi's protege. He had the right to decline a fight if he wanted to and many a times he did. He didn't wish to give a fight there was no point in winning. He had no reason to fear. He was fast and deadly if enraged. He was proud enough not to permit defeat. At times, when he lost, he went so frantic he chased his poor opponents with artistic repeated kicks that confused them in a barrage they couldn't break out. He saw no point in fighting. Until he was challenged. By Kazuya himself.

Unlike himself, Kazuya's first appearance either passed unnoticed or unfavourable. In the beginning of the tournament he was just another contestant. No more important than anyone else, even though he was the son of a distinguished family. Even though that family was the wealthiest and strongest in Japan for many generations. Even though that family owned the rights of the tournament. He was just another contestant. That was before he started doing his first few battles.

And wasn't he good! He fought with passion. There was devotion in what he was doing. Devotion into fighting. Into destruction. He fought with the ferocity of a savage beast. He was a storm to everyone who came his way. He started concentrating attention. Bad attention. Hatred. They didn't want to see him win. He was fierce and merciless. Every one of his fights, even against women, had to finish with a knockout. The women thought he wasn't looking good; not with these spiky hair and that odious frown. The men thought he was a brutal culprit they wouldn't dare to face and meet a debasing defeat, if not death. They were spiteful against him but their disapproving shouts didn't make his fighting yells any less fearsome.

Then, the better he did, the more of their favour he received. He had won both in the arena and in the audience. His appearance was loudly cheered. The women loved his big round shoulders and potent hips. The men admired and envied his strength and precision, that lethal combination that brought yet more victories. The audience loved him. He was the favourite to everyone, but one. That dark, overlooking person supervising everything. And Lee dreaded the dark shadow clouding the eyes of that one. Because, the unseen, unreachable resolution in Kazuya, somewhere concealed was feeding on it. Gathering the dark clouds within him, he consumed it. More and more each instant trickling by.

As the fights were closing up to the selected few, the loathe that had turned to esteem transformed into awe with a hint of terror. Sixteen combatants remained. Only half of them would survive, of which the four elite would be chosen to point out the two finalists and the winner who would, if wished, challenge the King of the Iron Fist himself. Lee found himself to be among them. That was when Kazuya challenged him.

He was shocked at best, when he was announced someone had challenged him, right as he had declined his chance to fight Marshal Law, a man he recalled from his life in America, one who had been his instructor in Jeenkunedo. His memories of him were good and he didn't want to put a tournament between them. But then when the challenge came, he couldn't avoid the fight. And he was shocked to hear Kazuya had insisted. But more he was shocked he hadn't come in person to tell him...

He met Kazuya in the fighting grounds and it was nothing like it had ever been. When he thought about it, he had been fighting Kazuya all of his life... only what he faced was somehow... no, that was too strong to be a human. He faced a monster with the ability to predict his moves, ignore his strikes and smash murderous blows on him. And the sparks he had seen timidly coiling his tender hands once upon were now powerful streams of lightning, searing to his utmost depth.

He lost that match but the memory of it would never leave his mind. Memories of continuous violent battering, a face of hatred and the perception of Kazuya's full power and what it was capable of doing. He faced horror in that fight and it was the cognisance that each move was loaded with nothing less than undiluted hatred. By the end of the match, he didn't know if he would live any more than minutes, such was the pain and torment he was in. He woke up in hospital a few days later. He heard Kazuya had come to see him while still unconscious but of all he heard, only one thing mattered.

Heihachi was dead. At Kazuya's hand. He never learned about that battle, but he knew Kazuya now was the president of the Mishima Corporation. That boy he had been with for so long was now the new mr Mishima, the owner of the Mishima wealth, the King of the Iron Fist. He didn't know what to expect.

Once he was on his feet again, he went to the building of the Mishima Corporation and demanded to see the president. Kazuya accepted him in his newly possessed office... He was different. His clothing had changed, but the refined suits fitted weirdly upon his still rough features, speaking of a hardy fighter. And his attitude, even if it was still so reserved, had now changed to one arrogant. Contrary to what Lee had expected, neither did he smile ironically as neither did he seem to remember how he had nearly taken his life. He only asked if he intended on continuing to be employed by the Mishima Syndicate... and Lee accepted.

He didn't know then... He thought things would change now that Heihachi was gone for good. He hoped Kazuya would slowly be back to his old self and perhaps turn into a person content with his life... but it so turned out that for him hell had just broke loose. For one thing, the ruling of the Mishima property was even more cruel. Kazuya had become just as bad and even a worse master of his affairs. Maybe he had not learned of any other way of managing but instead of being calmer, he acted even more cruelly... He had seemed to either believe that force could open every door or he was still not confident of his power and assured of his victory. Soon he gathered a number of trusted people around him and was just as distant as he was before but these people were neither close to him either.

The Mishima residence had too altered. Unlike what it was during Heihachi's ordinance, it was now crawling with people. Servants for all purposes walked around, all ordered to do as commanded, all of them bowing to hail Mishima-sama whenever his path streamed before them. The guards had increased too in almost every possible communication with the outer of the mansion. But all those people could never fill up the lack of humanity in this house. All their voices, all their activities still left a permanent emptiness and Lee understood this to be the same one that had possessed the walking body of his brother. Wherever his spirit was, beyond will and command, however it strove, it couldn't persuade himself that those people could make up for the lack of his own self.

And yet, there was one person who had seemed to have gained Kazuya's so hard to find, attention. She was a weird female ninja, one who always had a mask over her face, one whom Kazuya had brought with once he returned from a late night walk he once did. Lee never really liked her and it was because her acting was one as could only be for one to be close to Kazuya. She spoke little if not at all and she acted sharply too. Her hobby was assembling and dismantling machinery and she spent her free time in doing so, if she wasn't somewhere watching over 'Master' as she dutifully called him... Lee knew she had a secret passion for him, one which he would never know of and perhaps, even though that simplistic in behaviour woman could not accept, was better left unmentioned.

The house was even less comfortable now. There were times Lee could not decide if it was all those goons walking around, devoted to the command of a spiritless man or Kunimitzu, who seemed to imitate her master, by sending her voice to where his spirit resided and her expressionless mask only read of her blind devotion. Maybe she was really blind or how could she remain ignorant to the cruelty of the lord she so eagerly served? She was the only person who actually talked with Kazuya, if what they held as communication counted, for in truth they only exchanged counted brief sentences and sometimes they said even less, using nods and the eyes, even though Kunimitzu's eyes were never seen. But her loyalty to him was exemplary for servants in eras. She executed every command of his without the least of questions and even ordered him when he asked to. At those times, when he would send her to hell, she would stand, her arms crossed before her broad chest, occasionally with the handle of her knife gripped in her clutch, a living statue enraging him with its lifeless stillness.

And Kazuya was distant but alike... even more cruel than ever before, with everyone around him, even those who faithfully worked for him. Soon his name was associated with terror and Lee too tasted its share.

There were nights he just beat him up to death, until he would wear off and sometimes he wasn't conscious to the end of it. He just battered him with whatever he had, punches, kicks or any other thing he could imply as a weapon. From youth to manhood his strength had more than doubled and just as much had his hatred amplified, only unlike then, now he didn't know where it emerged from or where it was directed. It might as well have been his memories, himself, a visionary opponent or plainly him or even nothing, just as something that happens because it has to occur, like the explosion of a volcano. However, even if he knew, this wouldn't make his situation any easier.

He had lost count of the times he had crouched below his folded arms in a corner or the nights he spent crying just for not knowing what else he was to do. He had tried to stay out of his way, wondering what spawned his hate towards him. Was it that he was educated while he was not? Was it some distorted belief that the old man had loved him more than himself? Even supposing that this was it, hadn't he so many times showed him that he was on his side, that he loved him?

He was becoming just like his father, hating with no reason. He had come to be the man he had hated the most... Perhaps he had the cognisance... and that killed him.

Then the unexpected was heard, that Heihachi was alive... Lee knew by then how Kazuya had dropped him down a cliff after he had defeated him, returning an old 'favour' but alike he had seen Heihachi with his very eyes, just as descriptions said him to be: alive.

The Iron Fist was hosted anew. And Lee found himself once again among the contestants. Nothing much happened. Nothing other than noticing a strange behaviour in Kazuya, when, towards the end of the battles, he altered his fight to Paul Phoenix, a contestant from the previous tournament. It wasn't clear why he did it, until he learned that Phoenix was originally going to fight a young woman by the name Jun Kazama.

Lee had lost to Phoenix. He fought very well but his opponent was stronger than himself, that leaving him out of the final few contestants and only then he realised why Kazuya didn't want the woman to face the brawler. He wasn't one to put up against. But he still was doubtful to believe Kazuya had swapped the opponents because he could actually be concerned... How could he ever be?

Lee had seen the woman before. She had come to their house, as Kazuya's guest. At the day of her visit, he was high on something, he did not remember, but he hadn't acted exactly gentlemanly towards her. He had scared her perhaps, as he was very often doing lately... but he didn't stay. Only later as he returned from his night-time exit, he found out that Kazuya and she had shared more than dinner. He was wondering what she had possibly seen in Kazuya as she was one kind woman... One who was exactly what Kazuya was not. Pure and clean of corruption. Undefiled from sin and simple, as he was tricky and inconspicuous. He couldn't see where they matched, what had caused her attraction towards him until he realised that, in contrary to what is commonly believed, opposites do not attract... Jun Kazama was one believing in battling for correctness to the end, a survivor and a winner. She wanted to win that battle for his soul. She had a vast capacity of goodness, a noble heart and one bloating with strong emotions of compassion and love to show her something worthy in him, something that needed to be rescued.... She was an idealist who had a proud gentle spirit... and in sorrow he recalled how she was exactly like Kazuya was... Once upon. But not anymore.

Jun Kazama was what he had been and now had lost to never recover. Lee doubted he could love her. Çe was what he had sought to banish... and she bared it all. He knew Kazuya off too well to know he would try to corrupt her...

But he didn't have the heart to worry about this any more. It had been so long... Two entire years of torment, each day worse than the one before. As the tournament was drawing to a close, with Heihachi ascending, so was Kazuya disappearing more often than before... and he was not reached by anybody. But Heihachi still ascended the ranges until he was the winner... and the challenger to the King of the Iron Fist.

The night before that match was the last time Lee saw Kazuya. He tried to pretend life would go on, but it was apparent he was scared... and he was harsh, demanding and spiteful, far more than ever. He humiliated him with his words. He proclaimed his hatred and loathe to him and Lee couldn't take it anymore... He didn't know where he found the courage, he was again high on something and as Kazuya was about to leave, he stood up in his full height and through tears gathering in him for far too long, he clenched his fists. "You are getting just like the old man, damn it!" he uttered, even if he knew exactly what was to follow.

Kazuya still had his back turned towards him. When he snapped around and grabbed him from the collar, he merely simpered and did not resist when he forced him up against the wall, so violently he banged his head upon it. He never tried to resist anymore. "Don't fucking speak these words, Chaolan! You hear?" he groaned close unto his face and his grimace was one frightful. His teeth were clenched as if he was prepared to deliver the lethal blow. As he held him with his legs lingering above the ground, Lee wished he would.

"It's the truth dammit! Kill me if you want but I will not silence! You know it's the truth, your head says the same~" One fierce punch smashed his face and tore his lips upon his teeth. The hand pressing his throat only tightened but he wouldn't stop.

"Shut up!" a breath hissed to his face, one desperate even, one about to break down and to that voice he found courage. "You are becoming just as he wanted, to prove you're not what he thinks, you have become just like him, a monster!" he exploded. So did he.

"NOOO!" he hollered, squeezing his eyes.

The protest in his voice was desperate like a child's but the rage when he punched into Lee's gut was as malevolent as all woes of Hell. Lee almost retched and after the third punch, he couldn't help slobbering as he couched.

The impact of his feet back on the ground made him place his hands back on the wall to hold. He opened his eyes and Kazuya wasn't near him anymore. Instead he had his head in his hands, pressing upon it as if trying to crush it among his palms and he didn't know what was stopping those tremors that shook him from developing to maddened spasms.

He growled behind his teeth. Lee could hear him snarling, "no, no, NO!" the impossible to grasp word repeated. And all Lee managed to say with his aching lips was "I never wanted to hurt you..."

Kazuya halted into utter silence. But his stillness wasn't stiff anymore.

His hands hung loosely by his side and he didn't seem as unbending this time... But Lee never expected to hear his voice again. This time not being brassy but more like one he had heard once before, talking of poems and dreams. "I'm sorry..." it said.

"What?" he uttered. He didn't know what else to do. Then he watched Kazuya leaning with his back against the wall and tiredly sinking along it. His eyes were painfully shut in what might have been an attempt to cry but even that was futile. Lee didn't know why he walked towards him, but he did... and knelt by his side. In his lips formed a word he hadn't used for so long and now it emerged so naturally...

"Brother..."

And Kazuya returned the stare... for the first time after so long being compassionate, sad and so affectionate even... Lee jumped in surprise at seeing it, because... he had never expected to find it ever again...

"Lee... if you know what's best for you... go away... this place is cursed... look of what it has done to me... to you..." His hands were raised to his face and covered it. At the edges of his fingertips his skin seared and the gentle glow from them, blinded him for a moment. He screamed but when the hand was removed, he felt no pain. He had healed him.

And Lee remembered once upon that Kazuya had left his home and then, while he was in America, a false telegram had come to tell him he had returned... but only now did he come. Only now did he see him again. Whoever that other one was, he was an impostor but that didn't matter anymore. Because he found the one he was looking for... He was sitting right next to him, with his head tiredly looking up. And as he recognised him, a smile appeared in a flash.

That was the one. That was his brother, THAT was his brother! After all these years, he finally knew him. He recognised who was that man that had come once upon and lived in this house all these years. He recognised that man. He was his brother. The youth with whom he had escaped from this house once upon and with whom he had run away into the gutters of Tokyo, two penniless kids but full of desire and dreams about life, two kids who wanted to fight and stand up for what they had their mind on. That was his brother. That rebel with whom he had fought in the streets side by side, he who had opposed along with him the tyrannical silence the wealth imposed and supported his life as a scum, that man with the eminent deeply dark eyes sitting among his knees right next to him, right now. That was his brother. He had just found him... and he wouldn't let him go. "Brother..." he said softly and the word was so warm tears gathered into his eyes. A smile made its way on his aching lips. "Don't be afraid... everything's gonna be all right!... Ok? I swear to you: It will be all right!..." he said once more and placed his hand on his shoulder.

The faint smile on Kazuya's face was as though it had frozen and it was only a carved reminiscent of a distantly felt emotion... but Lee wasn't worried about it. He understood it couldn't be easy to smile again after having gone through hell all your life... especially as that hell still had a hold over you... but this would soon change. He knew how he could make this happen.

He stood up. It was nearly midnight and not a moment to waste. His body ached and it was this resigned man down the wall who did it to him... but not on his own will. Tomorrow, he would contemplate on how to free him from his evil nature. What weighted now was to grand either of them the chance...

"I won't be late... don't worry... everything's gonna be all right..." he assured him once again. With these words, he run out of the room.

His heart was beating mad but his breath was steady as he run through the mansion with his mind firm on his target. The thrill flowing in his body doubled his powers, making forget all tiredness. For the first time he saw a meaning to what his life had been. For the first time he looked forward to the next day. He knew he had a bright dawn to expect.

Kazuya, his brother, was not evil. He was only miserable, relentless because nobody showed him how to be kind, aggressive because he was scared, lost in the abyss of his own nightmares. That might not be an excuse to display such cruelty but Lee understood that in truth he never had that choice. He never met love and affection, he never knew any other way to speak of his heart, a heart that was severed ever since very young and enclosed into spikes to protect whatever was left of it. That tiny part had reached for him today with a last distressed outcry, the last signal of a dying flame so strong it pulled a wretched man through desolation and the devil himself. For that tiny piece of kindness he would challenge the odds tonight. It was only a matter of hours before the last battle of the Iron Fist would conclude and only now did he see that one of them did not deserve to die.

He jumped on his motorbike and turned the engine on with excited hurry. His chances to stop the time were slim but he would try whatever chances he had to abort the imminent. It didn't have to end like this. It didn't have to be yet one more disaster. No, there was still time. He could still save him. He didn't have to go through with that fight. Just like he had saved him once in the streets, he would save him now.

Into the night, he rode like a speed demon through Tokyo's streets...

Epilogue. Of all Lee had in his mind from his knowing of Kazuya Mishima, the most vivid became the first time they had walked together. Not the very first, but the first. They had talked most of that day. Kazuya even quoted by heart verses of poems he had read, even in their original foreign languages too, giving a translation whenever he could, but of all he had said that day, Lee remembered one moment better than ever, the one when they had talked, for perhaps the first time.

Sitting together, side by side, on the top of a hill, they watched in the distant blushing sky the sun diving into the horizon and even as the spectacle, showered in rays of golden light was amazing in grace, alike was it hued with mellow depression.

In silence they stared at the setting sun and Lee heard Kazuya's voice speaking ecstatic at the sight.

"Look at the sun, Lee..." he had said. "Isn't it majestic?" When he looked at him, his wobbling eyes faced with awe far in the setting red jewel of the sky. His lips had trembled as he spoke.

"It rises every day... knowing it will follow a predetermined route to its death... And yet it won't stop... or can't it?"

Lee wouldn't speak to say that he was scared, for how could he explain why something he didn't understand frightened him so deeply? How could he have discerned the secret message in his words?

Then a smile came into Kazuya's face, a twist into an ironic smirk, tinted by the sorrow of decree, full of desperate longing for what he would never reach, what he would never get to hold, that brightness of the warmest grace, distanced at the sun...

"Is the sun that rises everyday from the West the same as the one that has dived in the East the night before? Or is it every time another one born?"

Lee had smiled. "From the West?" he asked. And yet, Kazuya returned a firm stare at him.

"In the other side, where things are not as they are here... where things are right... the sun rises from the West."

Lee hadn't made sense of what Kazuya said, but he realised why his eyes preserved their distant gaze. They were too powerful, so as to be able to look very far, beyond the horizon... in the other end of the world, where the sun went to die, where things were the opposite of what they were to this world, where he would be happy... Where he longed to be and just looking at he was happy... And because so his eyes were so powerful, he had to look away, in the distance, lest they fell on anything near him and burn it and he would have to see how he was only capable of devastation...

He was like the sun. That's why the last time he had looked at him, his eyes hadn't charred him. Just as the setting sun that can only be looked at, while a little before the twilight. Retired, enshrouded in brilliant red but not at the least magnificent or any less regal.

Lee should have known there was no way to hold the setting sun. However he had to keep his promise, even if only to show to him that he was still wanted. And loved. Even in the last moment, even if only for once. For the last time. To encourage him for his last trip. The trip he couldn't prevent, for the land of the darkness, where everything is not what it was in the world they were living in, where he would be happy... where perhaps he would see the sun rise once again from whence it returned... and where he hoped he would not forget him...

The day chases the night as the night chases the day, every circle of the world. But is the sun that rises every day the same as the one that had set the one before? And will the moon tonight be the one that had just been seen after the conclusion of the last day? And even if so it is, how would it make any difference if one knew the answer?

The End

Author's note:

With all my love I dedicate this to my sis because she loves Lee whereas I love Kazuya (although I'd rather die than tell her!!) and fortunately, unlike the above mentioned 'siblings' we get along marvellously. I hope we will always do.