Afterward

Fearing One's Self

Amber's eyes were glowing when Jun entered the room. She didn't seem to notice her presence too, staring straight ahead of her as if in a trance.
"Amber?" Jun called, going closer.
Amber seemingly jumped out of her trance as soon as Jun touched her shoulder, eyes turning back to their usual green. She turned to Jun, a little surprised, and seemed confused as she regarded her.
"You okay?" Jun asked, seating herself in front of Amber. "You seemed a little distracted..."
"I... I'm not sure," Amber admitted, running a hand up her face. "I was just thinking about the... the Heihachi issue. And then I must've dozed off somehow..."
Jun shook her head, her eyes laced with concern as she touched Amber's hand that rested on a pillow. "Amber, I don't think you were asleep. Your eyes... they were glowing."
Amber gasped. She felt chills running down her spine as she realised what was up, shaking her head. "Oh... oh no... it's... its going feral again." She looked at Jun with fear. "It's gonna take over again, it's coming back for me. This... this thing, it feeds on hatred."
Jun got up and went closer, pressing Amber's face against her abdomen as she hugged her. "No. You're not gonna let it okay? Heihachi may be back, you might hold a lot of hate towards him, but you're better than that. You know how to keep it from consuming you." Amber let out a muffled sob, which Jun responded by gently stroking her hair. "There now, you're in a better place now, okay? You're better than what you were before." She pulled away. "You know how to keep those things from coming for you, you are in full control here, alright?"
Amber nodded, dabbing at her tears. "I... I'm just so scared for you guys, your safety. I thought I was safe from all of that, but it's coming again."
"Hey," Jun smiled. "You have the Devil Gene in you. It can get unruly sometimes, you can see how it gets Jin sometimes. You have to distract it, think about the things you love, the things you love doing. Think about me, think about us, our family. I'm sure all of that will win over any evil."
Amber sniffed and nodded slowly. "Okay. I'll try. I'll start knitting again. Maybe I can even make Tori a sweater."
Jun smiled as she pulled her up. "That's the spirit. I know you can do this, Amber."
"Yeah," Amber said, using the neck of her shirt to wipe her tears. "Thanks, Oneesan."
"Come on, we're in the middle of making breakfast," Jun said, bringing her out. "Let's go."

Jin staggered out of his room a few moments later and made a beeline for the kitchen. He was shocked to see the time on the wall clock, and realised that breakfast was all set.
"Had a good sleep?" Jun asked as soon as he sat himself down at the dining table.
Jin groaned. "Not really. I only slept at around... five?"
"Yeah, all of us had a terrible sleep schedule last night," Lars sighed, pouring himself some coffee before passing the jug to Jin. "I think it's obvious what the reason is..."
"Yeah," Jin nodded and poured himself some coffee as well. He turned to his father who was silent as he helped some pancakes onto his plate. "You okay, Dad?"
Kazuya shrugged. "I'm not sure. The past I tried to forget is still walking around. How am I supposed to get over it?"
Jun soothingly rubbed a hand on his back. "There, there. I'm sure we can handle whatever this Heihachi does, provided he even does anything."
Amber sighed quietly and just stared at her food, praying that she won't be consumed by the corrupted evil again. She looked up and Jin and noticed how he was actually looking at her.
"How are you holding up?" Jin asked her.
Amber shrugged. "I thought all of it had ended, but him coming back like this is only making my blood boil."
"Her powers are unstable now," Jun explained, reaching for the bottle of maple syrup. "You need to relax, Amber."
"Maybe we should go to a spa?" Lars suggested. "All of us, on a trip to Kyoto for a Ryokan retreat. How about that?"
"That actually sounds nice, but I don't think I'll be able to enjoy it knowing Heihachi is still lurking around," Kazuya frowned. "Should I plant some bugs on him like last time to see what he's up to? Not to clap back or anything, but just to make sure that he isn't planning an attack on us."
"That actually sounds like a good idea," Jin couldn't help but agree. "But where even is this guesthouse of his?"
"Outskirts of Tokyo mainland, near Tsukishima," Kazuya said. "He only has one house there, by the beach. It's a mansion, you know how grand his tastes were, and there's a lab under it I think." He frowned. "So that's how he pulled it off. He only went there because it was well away from the Mishima Zaibatsu, from me. That's where he always hid out, thinking none of us knew. Maybe I should call Lee and ask him about this. He should know about this place too."
"Oh, yeah, I keep forgetting you two shared a childhood," Jin nodded. "Alright, to Lee's it is. After breakfast?"
"Sure," Jun shrugged. "That actually sounds like an okay plan."

Lee and Anna looked kinda tired as well when they greeted them outside.
"Nina and gang are here too," Anna said as they entered the house. "And of course, Shasha."
"Well, good thing too," Jin nodded. "We need some brains now."
Anna sighed. "Tell me about it. Lee's been a little disturbed since... you know..."
"Who wouldn't be?" Kazuya said. "I couldn't sleep all last night, all of us."
"Same," Lee agreed with a sigh. "I just had so many flashbacks from our childhood, with how much the two of us, mostly you, suffered because of Heihachi."
"And now he's back," Lars groaned. "I was happy since I was the only one among you guys who didn't suffer his bad upbringing, but here he is..."
Lee smirked at that. "You sure you aren't already too old for that?"
Lars just rolled his eyes.
They came to the living room and saw that Nina's whole family, with the exception of Adam's parents, were there.
"Oh, where are your parents, Adam?" Jun asked as she seated herself. "They didn't come?"
"They ditched us and went to enjoy themselves," Adam shrugged. "Good thing too, because this is some serious business we're up to now."
"True that," Kazuya agreed. "Anyway, I have a brilliant suggestion." He turned to Lee. "Excellent, do you remember that guesthouse that Heihachi built somewhere near Tsukishima, the one he's staying at now? He always goes there whenever he needs to be 'alone'. I think we've been there a few times, and that place has a secret underground lab."
Lee nodded. "Yes, that's where he cloned himself. I already have a satellite looking over that place."
Kazuya smirked. "I know you do. I feel like we should keep an eye on him to make sure he doesn't strike us first."
"Yeah, about that..." Lee groaned. "He left early this morning and hasn't been seen since."
"Aww come on!" Jin exasperatedly exclaimed. "The one lead is gone too?"
"Why don't you try to spot him?" Kazuya asked.
Lee frowned. "I tried looking for him, but he went off radar. For all I know, he actually returned home."
Everything was silent for a moment, until Kazuya spoke again, at least.
"Shall we just invade the place and bomb him?"
"Kazuya..." Jun groaned.
"Oh, you're right, a bomb isn't enough to kill him..." Kazuya frowned to himself. "Maybe I'll call in some gunmen."
"Kazuya, please," Jun sighed.
Kazuya groaned. "Oh, you're right. He can catch bullets with his teeth. Maybe we can blow poison gas into his house through the basement!"
He started laughing maniacally, but quickly stopped when Jun slapped his back.
"Ow!" Kazuya grunted, surprised.
"This is exactly why I didn't bring my parents over," Adam pointed out.
"Jun, why?" Kazuya continued.
"What did I tell you yesterday? What happens if the cycle restarts?" Jun shook him. She gripped onto his face, her own inches away from his. "Do you want to go through all of that again? The war? The evil? The hatred? You want that?"
Kazuya quickly shook his head. "No."
Jun nodded and let him go, seating herself beside him again. "We need a new plan."
"You guys are so cute together," Shasha grinned, shipping them so hard.