Chapter Text
Pillars of light rained down from the sun, casting a glow onto his face.
His eyes began to twitch as the brightness relentlessly beamed down upon him, slowly opening up to familiar surroundings.
Home? He thought.
The young man grunted as he started to rise, steadily pushing his ragged body up from the grass beneath his bare back.
Jin sat up, letting his groggy vision analyze the area.
It was an open meadow with tall, unmowed grass. Trees swayed with the wind, tall lush mountains complimented the dream-like blue skies.
Birds sang with the whistling summer air.
While these sights were familiar to him, it wasn’t home.
Jin sighed as he scratched the back of his head. As he did so, he felt something soggy and metallic tangled in his hair. He carefully maneuvered the object out from the back of his dome, then moved his fist forward to uncover what had been trapped inside his dark and spikey mane.
He let out a gasp at the sight.
It was a crunched up, bloody bullet.
Everything started coming back to him now. The defeat of the monster that killed his mother, the soldiers raining gunfire onto his body, and his grandfather shooting him in the head.
An attack that should’ve killed him. But it didn’t. Something rescued him. What it was he couldn’t say, but he felt it. He felt every ounce of its evil influence within his body.
He felt sick to his very core. A monster was within his own genes. And that was something Jin Kazama would learn to live with.
Jin rose to his feet, rubbing his hand against the demonic tattoo as he began to walk.
Despite his feelings of dread and the circumstances that brought him there, Jin felt… calm. Not fully at peace or overly stressed. Just calm, calm enough to move and breathe.
But movement was slow, he exhaustedly trudged through the grass. He felt drained, mentally or physically or both he couldn’t tell, but Jin was tired.
Eventually, after aimlessly moving through the foliage, Jin rested below a large tree, leaning against the pillar of wood, shutting his eyes.
Not too far from where Jin was, a young woman stepped through the wilderness, taking in the fresh summer air. Julia calmly stepped through the grassy forest, her mind at a much needed peace, especially after the stress of the tournament.
Julia didn’t have to worry about her mother, she was safe and sound back home, far away from Heihachi Mishima. She would just return to normalcy, no more trouble.
At least… that’s what she hoped.
Julia’s attention was drawn away from the botanical haven, and instead directed toward a noise. She heard a man grumbling something behind a tree.
In case he was hostile, she crept through the forest, making sure she could get a look at whoever was behind the tree without alerting them to her presence.
Julia quickly found a spot amongst the greenery, allowing her to see him without being spotted. She analyzed him, he was a tall young man with a muscular build and spikey black hair that stood up. He was wearing flame accented pants and red gauntlets, one of the gauntlet covered hands was gripping his bicep.
Julia quickly recognized the man as Jin Kazama, a participant of the tournament who she would’ve fought in the finals if not for that loudmouth Paul Phoenix. But, she couldn’t complain, she did get her pendant and mother back, that’s all that mattered.
Julia didn’t know or talk to Jin much, he was always around that red-haired biker and pigtailed girl and… Heihachi. She didn’t know how Jin was connected to the old man, she just assumed Jin was his grandson or something.
But despite Jin being somehow connected to the man she hated, she felt… sorry for him. He looked like he was in some kind of discomfort. Why is he all the way here in Arizona? She pondered.
Julia had to make a decision, she either leaves him here because of his connection to Heihachi or she helps him.
She wasn’t one to leave people miserable, Julia Chang was raised better than that. Even if he was somehow entangled with the Mishima Zaibatsu, she wasn’t going to let this man suffer.
Breathing a heavy sigh, Julia stood up and walked toward Jin, whose attention was quickly drawn to her.
The two locked eyes, surprised. Julia by his alertness and Jin by her presence. They stayed in awkward silence for a moment before Julia cleared her throat.
“Um… hi.” She said, waving her hand with a gawky smile.
“Hello.” Jin grumbled.
From looking at the woman, Jin recognized her as one of the fighters from the tournament. Although he never fought or spoke with her, all he knew was her appearance.
“I’m… uh… Julia. Julia Chang. We both were in the King of Iron Fist Tournament.”
Jin nodded.
“I’m Kazama Jin. I saw one of your fights.” He awkwardly replied.
“You did?”
“The one with Paul Phoenix.”
Julia rolled her eyes, of course that fight was the one he saw, the one where she lost.
“Yeah it wasn’t my best match. So… what are you doing out here in Arizona?”
Jin paused. “Arizona? Apologies but… I’m not familiar with-
“You’re in the United States.”
“Ah… I see.” Jin understood as he started pushing himself to his feet.
“Well, since you’re not from around here I can help you out.” Julia suggested.
Jin looked at her in bewilderment, he wasn’t in a trusting mood lately, not after being shot by his grandfather.
“I couldn’t ask that of you. I need to find my own way. Thank you for the offer.” Jin stated as he began to walk away.
Julia huffed as Jin limped away, almost tripping a few times. She wasn’t going to let him suffer like this.
“Jin!” She shouted as he turned around. Julia ran up to him, putting her hand on his back.
“I can tell you’re exhausted, you won’t make it far alone.”
“I assure you I’m-
“You’re limping and you look half-dead. Let me help you out. I can,” Julia almost couldn’t believe what she was about to say, “I can let you stay with my mom and I for a bit. We have a nice big cabin for you to rest up in.”
Listening to her words, Jin was reminded of his mother, of their cabin, of Yakushima. He saw Julia’s expression, she clearly wanted to help and who was he to deny her. He felt terrible and needed something to remedy that.
“Okay, I will go with you.” Jin agreed.
Julia let out a quiet but satisfied noise as she rested Jin’s arm over her shoulders.
The two began their trek to the Chang family’s cabin, Julia helping Jin walk there. It would take some time but the two were resilient. If they could handle a martial arts tournament, a long walk wouldn’t be an issue.
“How did you get all the way here?” Julia asked.
Still not in a fully trusting state of mind, Jin chose not to tell her about Heihachi shooting him.
“I… After the tournament, I passed out and woke up here.”
Julia didn’t fully buy into his story, but she decided to go along with it for now. After all, they had a place to be and couldn’t waste time arguing.
Inside the Chang family’s cabin, Michelle looked outside the window, seeing the sun begin to lower into the horizon. She solemnly sighed, wondering when her daughter would get home. Julia wasn’t usually out this long, she loved to explore on her own but she rarely stayed out this late.
Granted, Julia was an adult woman now and Michelle should leave her to her own devices, but a mother’s job never truly ends. She would still worry for her daughter and care for her when she needed it. Where could she be? Michelle thinks.
She then saw two people approaching the cabin, one of which she recognized as Julia, and the other was a shirtless limping man with spikey hair and red gauntlets. The man’s appearance reminded Michelle of someone, she just couldn’t place her finger on who it was yet.
The woman stood up and huffed. Michelle was someone who was willing to help others, and she trusted her daughter’s judgement, but she was still cautious, he could be a threat.
Michelle stepped outside and walked toward Jin and Julia. “Julia!” She called, face stern.
“Hey mom.” Julia replied, sheepishly looking at Michelle.
“You’re home later than usual.”
Julia sighed. “I know.”
Michelle turned to Jin.
“And who is this young man?”
“This is Jin. He’s another fighter from the tournament, I found him while exploring. He’s in pretty rough shape so I thought we could let him stay with us.”
“Alright then, help him inside.” Michelle instructed.
She walked back into the house as Julia and Jin marched behind her.
Once inside, Jin looked around, observing the wooden home. Despite never being here before, Jin felt sort of… cozy. Maybe being in a cabin again just made him feel at home. Julia brought Jin to a wooden chair next to the fireplace, letting him finally rest.
Jin let out a calm breath, happy that he’s finally somewhere comfortable. It’s been a while since he’s felt this way, living with Heihachi wasn’t very ideal. But here, he at last felt a sense of serenity.
But he wasn’t completely calm, despite their hospitality, he wasn’t sure of Michelle and Julia yet. The fear of betrayal was something that had now infected his mind.
On the couch beside the chair, Julia and Michelle sat down, both with eyes on Jin.
“I haven’t properly introduced myself, I’m Michelle Chang.” Michelle introduced herself.
“I’m Kazama Jin.” Jin responded.
“Kazama?” Michelle curiously whispered. Mrs. Chang recalled someone from the second King of Iron Fist Tournament; Jun Kazama.
“Apologizes for asking any personal questions, but did you know a woman by the name of Jun?” Michelle inquired.
Jin’s face simultaneously lit up and frowned at the mention of Jun. If Michelle knew her, then maybe he could trust them.
“Yes, she was my mother. Did you know her?” Jin asked.
Michelle nodded. “Yes, I fought alongside her in one of the tournaments.”
Jin's face then really lit up. “You did?”
“Mmm hmm, Jun was one of the few friends I had there. The two of us bonded very quickly.”
“What was she like?”
“Strong, fierce, had quite the attitude if you got on her bad side.” The three chuckled a little. “But then again I had quite the attitude myself in those days. Most of all though, Jun was kind, passionate, and someone you could trust. Now... may I ask, is she still with us, Jin?”
Jin let his head down, visibly distraught. Julia covered her mouth, and Michelle let out a saddened sigh.
“I’m sorry for your loss.” Michelle lamented.
“It’s… okay.” Jin huffed.
“Her spirit will always be with you Jin, never forget that.”
Jin smiled a little at Michelle’s words, who returned the expression.
Julia sat there, taking it all in. Maybe she could trust Jin now, especially if he’s the son of a family friend. She then looked to her mother, who glanced back at her.
“Julia, would you like to show Jin to his room?”
“Of course. Come on Jin.”
Jin slowly got up, body still aching, but feeling better than before. The two went on their way while Michelle decided to head back outside. Once out, she stared at the approaching dusk sky, mind still tethered to Jun.
I should have went with you to confront Kazu-
Michelle then remembered who Jin reminded her of. His hair, his gloves, it was like Kazuya’s. She then flashbacked to Jun heading off to confront Kazuya, and she began to put it all together.
Oh Jun… of all the men… what did you see in that monster?
Michelle put her hands together and shut her eyes. “Jun… Julia and I will help him. I promise he won’t walk the same path as his father.”