Afterwards: The Fourth Tekken Novel

Lava Cake

Jun and Shasha made their way to Heihachi's again, this time with lava cakes.
"Are you sure it's a good idea to bring lava cakes to someone who was thrown in actual lava?" Shasha snorted, amused at the reference.
"Nah, he doesn't remember being thrown into lava, remember? It didn't happen in his lifetime." Jun replied.
Shasha frowned. "Yeah, but he certainly remembers throwing your husband into lava."
That statement made Jun frown. Shasha gave her a knowing look.
"I believe this is not the same Heihachi, and I'm right," Jun said. "This version may have the memories of the old Heihachi, but he left the instant he hit that lava."
"So lava cake?" Shasha smirked.
Jun just sighed and got out of the car, taking the bag of cakes from Shasha as she did. The younger woman got out as well, laughing as the sea breeze blew her curls back.
"Nice, the wind is in my favour," Shasha said, closing the door. "Is the Chigasaki beach nice?"
Jun nodded. "It is. By the way, no lava talks in front of Heihachi, okay?"
Shasha shrugged. "Sure."
The two went towards the gates and Jun rang the doorbell. Shasha was busy admiring the beautiful gardens of the beach house, beautiful flowering plants and bonsai trees. There were fruit trees too, which were now filled with the blossoms of spring.
Heihachi soon came out and let them in. This time, his servants served them with mugicha instead.
"You have a variety of teas, Mr Heihachi," Shasha said as she sipped her cup of barley tea. "And I'm guessing this is of the highest grades of tea as well?"
"You're right," Heihachi nodded. "Anyway, have you confirmed the location of this holiday that you speak of?"
Jun nodded. "Yes. We will be going to Chigasaki."
"That is... Kanagawa, right?" Heihachi said.
Jun nodded again. "Yes. And there is one more thing. You will be sharing a room with Steve, Nina's son."
Heihachi frowned at that information. "Share a room? No way. I want my own accommodation. Which resort? I'll book it myself."
Shasha turned to Jun in surprise, to which the older woman frowned.
"Why would you wanna stay all alone in a three-bedroom chalet?" Jun asked. "Isn't that... a waste of space?"
"And money," Shasha added. "Then again, who else lives in this beach house?"
"No one, just me and my butler," Heihachi said, much to her amusement.
Shasha snorted. "For a second, I thought you were gonna say no one but Donald Duck lives here."
"So you're saying I look like Donald Duck?" Heihachi glared at her.
Shasha shrugged. "Well, think what you think. That's not what I said."
Jun sighed. "Heihachi-san. Aren't you sick of just being alone like this?"
"That's why," Shasha added in agreement. "I don't think I can live alone like this, only shouting out orders to servants. Like, what if you don't get any visitors?"
"Then I go out for a drink," Heihachi deadpanned. "Nothing wrong with that, right?"
Shasha shrugged. "Sure. But what if you get drunk, huh? Who's gonna take you home?"
"I'm not a fool to get drunk like that," Heihachi said.
"Haiya, no point talking to you lah," Shasha sighed and got up. She walked a bit, then turned around and came right back to sit down. "But you still don't know the power of... family. Look at Auntie Jun for instance. Look how happy she is with her family. And look at you, sitting here alone for no reason. Which one better? Surrounded by friends and family or surrounded by no one?"
"I'm surrounded by servants," Heihachi frowned.
Shasha shook her head. "No, that doesn't count. You don't treat them like your family. There are people who do treat their servants like family, but I don't think you're one of them."
Jun smiled and leaned towards her. "This is why I brought you." She smiled.
Shasha snorted at that. "So how? You still want your own chalet?"
"We don't mind that," Jun added. "You can do whatever you want."
Heihachi sighed and frowned to himself. What they were saying were true. He had always been alone, especially after Kazumi's passing, and he had spent many years in solitude. Of course, that was all besides his lady companions.
"I'll do it," Heihachi finally said. "I'll share a room with this boy."
Shasha smirked. Serve Steve right for leaving her out of the spa stuff. It's not like she minded that, but the nerve of him to call her over only to exclude her like that. She could go to the spa herself, maybe take Xiaoyu or Asuka with her. She knew they were coming.
"By the way, we brought some lava cakes," Shasha said, pointing at the paper bag laying on the coffee table.
Jun groaned at that. She had neatly avoided that topic by just saying that it was chocolate cake. But Shasha just had to emphasise on the lava part.
"Make sure you eat them," Shasha added.
Heihachi just rolled his eyes and continued to sip his tea. Jun gave her arm a light slap and shook her head. Shasha grinned at her and laughed.
"I'll text you the dates as soon as we have booked," Jun said, then finished the last of her tea and got up. "We'll see you soon."
"Bye!" Shasha grinned and got up, following Jun.
Heihachi quickly got up as well. "Wait, I need to unlock the gates. It's fingerprint locked."
"Ooh, nice and secure," Shasha nodded as she walked over to the front door.
Jun pulled her arm as soon as Heihachi unlocked the gates, giving him a smile and a bow before dragging the younger woman out.
The two got into the car and quickly drove off. Shasha was laughing throughout.
"That was fun! He was speechless," Shasha chuckled. "Well, at least he agreed to sharing a room with Steve."
Jun sighed. "I was afraid he wouldn't, which he was planning at first. You said what I wanted to say. Thank you."
"You're welcome," Shasha smiled. "By the way, can we go on our day out now?"
Jun looked at the time on the dashboard and shrugged. "Sure, we have lots of time. Let's."
Shasha cheered when Jun drove directly to the mall.

"You think it was pretty mean I excluded her?" Steve sighed as soon as his Korean friend walked in.
"Why did you tell her that if you're not inviting her to the spa with you?" Hwoarang asked. "Like that's a dumb move, dude."
"I know!" Steve covered his face. "I forgot about it, that was until she got excited for it."
Hwoarang shook his head, amused. "Where is she now? You left her at home to wallow in misery?"
Steve shook his head. "Nah, she's out with Auntie Jun. For some Heihachi stuff."
"Oh, yeah, I forgot," Hwoarang smirked as he sat himself on the chair in front of Steve's desk, feet on the tabletop. "I am invited to Chigasaki, right?"
"Sure, if you put your stinking feet down," Steve looked down at the Korean's feet nonchalantly resting on the otherwise pristine surface of his desk. "I'd like my table to be clean."
Hwoarang huffed and placed his feet down, leaning forward as the blond settled himself on his chair. "So, who am I rooming with?"
Steve shrugged. "Probably Jin since I'm booked."
That was news to Hwoarang. "Wait, you're rooming with someone? Who? Your grandparents?"
"Nah, I wish," Steve sighed, shaking his head. "I'm rooming with Heihachi."
Hwoarang's eyes widened at that piece of information as he let out a surprised gasp. He let out a snort and burst into laughter. "My condolences, bro."
Steve sighed again. "What can I say? I sure hope he doesn't snore or I'm holding him underwater until the bubbles stop first chance I get."
"Isn't that your uncles' department?"
"Which uncle?" Steve smirked.
Hwoarang shrugged, laughing. "All your uncles?"
Steve snorted. "True that. By the way, don't go blurting this out to Jin or Kazuya, okay? They don't know about this."
"Don't know about what?"
Steve slowly stood up, horror-stricken, while Hwoarang turned in his chair to look. To his surprise, it was Jin, standing there with his arms folded.