Afterwards: The Fourth Tekken Novel

Spa Discussions

Jun met up with Heihachi on the deck behind Nina's chalet. She came with Amber since she felt that the younger woman needed to try to get along with him as well.
But the bored look she wore, accompanied by a disgusted frown, was enough to say that she had no interest in trying to reconcile.
Nina and Steve were with Heihachi too, the former sipping some scotch as she sat, and so was Shasha.
"This is quite the meeting," Jun amiably said as she pulled herself a chair to sit. "So, what's up?"
Steve smirked as he leaned forward. "Our friend came up with a plan."
"Plan? What plan?" Jun curiously said.
Nina sighed. "He wants to bring Kazuya, Lee, Lars, and Jin over to the spa for some treatments."
Jun lit up at that. "Why not?"
"But why Jin?" Amber piped up. "I don't agree with this," she shook her head as she said.
Jun sighed and patted her back. "Amber's still very protective of Jin. Like how I used to be when he was still a child." Then she nodded at Heihachi. "I approve of you taking them out to the spa. It would help them lighten up a bit, relax themselves."
Amber shook her head. "But I don't approve."
"Maybe you should take her along to the spa too," Nina added, smirking.
Amber stared at her in surprise. She then clapped a hand over her mouth and rushed over to the rail as bile rushed up her throat.
"Oh, no, not again," Shasha groaned, going after her. She held Amber's hair back as she retched, leaning over the rail. Shasha shook her head as she crooned softly by her ear. "Let it out, there... there you go. Deep breaths."
Heihachi leaned towards the rest. "Again? Does this happen often?"
"Only when it concerns you, apparently," Steve shrugged. "Amber? You okay?" He called.
Amber nodded, but she was panting. Shasha grabbed the bottle of water resting on the table and rushed back to her.
"Only when... it concerns me?" Heihachi said, surprised.
Jun sighed. "I'm sorry, Heihachi. It's just that she can't stand the sight of you."
Heihachi stared at her in surprise. "Really?"
"Well, it's just what you did to her," Nina shrugged. "Or was it...what the Old Fart did to her."
Steve snorted. "So, we're all calling him that now?"
"Yes," Heihachi nodded. "What is the meaning of my name?"
Shasha frowned as she tried to translate what it meant while Amber sipped some water, leaning against the rail. "Something eight?"
"It means flat eight," Amber added, holding the bottle below her chin.
"Flat ah? Why flat?" Shasha asked. "Because I know that eight means luck because of the kanji growing as it goes downwards."
Heihachi nodded. "Yes. And the character that means flat can mean peace, harmony, order, and equality. Is that what he did?"
"Well, I'd say he included some of that equality when tormenting Jin and Kazuya," Amber shrugged as she came over, placed the bottle down as she sat. "But not so much about the peace and harmony part, let alone order. The Old Fart was a mess."
Heihachi nodded. "Exactly. He did try to be like that before, when... when he was still around my age, but all of that changed after... you know. After that, he was just a big paranoid mess that eventually became worse and more tainted."
"He should have dealt with all of that as a father instead of... a weirdo?" Steve frowned. "I don't know how else to describe him."
"But still, what did Jinpachi even do?" Jun sighed. "I'd say he was in the process of recovering as well, with the war and all. And he was doing a much better job than his son."
Heihachi sighed. "Actually, he was evil before Kazumi confronted him. I remember it, he shoved his memories into my head, he had already imprisoned... Father... under Hon-Maru at the time."
"Well, well, the plot thickens," Amber smirked as she leaned back. "So? You expect us to still think you've taken up formidable ways?"
Heihachi sighed. "I'm not him, how many times do I have to tell you guys that?"
Jun turned to her. "You've met the old Heihachi before, right?" Amber nodded in response, urging her to go on. "Do you feel the same amount of darkness in this Heihachi?"
Amber turned to him with a frown, looked him up and down, then shook her head. "No."
"Then?!" Heihachi exclaimed, much to her surprise.
"We'll see about it," Jun finally said. "You take them out to the spa tomorrow just as you planned." She turned to the blonds. "Nina, Steve, come with me. You too, Amber, Shasha."
The four of them shrugged and followed her to another part of the deck, leaving Heihachi to stare after them in surprise.
"What's up, Jun?" Nina asked when they were out of earshot.
Jun smirked as she looked at them. "What do you say to a free trip to the spa?"
"What?!" The blonds exclaimed in shock.
"Well, yeah, you guys kept your end of the bargain by letting Heihachi stay with you, it's only fair that I kept mine," Jun added.
Steve frowned. "Auntie, I don't think we can accept that now. I was just joking when I told you that."
"Didn't seem like a joke when you were gloating about it to me," Shasha gave him a knowing look.
"Look, I'm sorry, okay?" Steve sighed. "If you want, I'll treat you as well."
Shasha shook her head. "For what? I can pay by myself."
Jun placed a hand on her shoulder. "I'll pay for you. You'll be going with me."
"Huh?!" Shasha stared at her in surprise. "But... but why?"
"Because you deserve this as well," Jun said. "I couldn't have made this happen without you." She turned to Amber and took her hand. "You too. I respect your decision of being sceptical of Heihachi because I don't blame you."
Amber couldn't help but smile slightly. "Thanks."
"We're all going," Jun said. "Okay? We can all observe what Heihachi does."
Nina nodded. "Alright."
Jun nodded. "So that's settled, then."
They went back to Heihachi and told them that they agree with him.
"We're gonna be coming too," Nina said. "Jun promised us that if we let you room with us, she'll bring us to an expenses-paid trip to the spa. And she's planning to cash that in tomorrow."
Heihachi shrugged. "Fine by me."
"Great, so I guess we're done here, then," Amber amiably said. "Come on, Shasha, let's go back to our chalets."
Shasha chuckled and waved at the rest before following the two of them out.
"You should get some sleep," Steve said, turning to Heihachi. "It's been a long day."
Heihachi nodded. "For all of us."
He couldn't help but think of Jinpachi all of a sudden, his father that was mercilessly locked away in starvation all those years ago. For so long, Kazumi had been blamed for the real Heihachi's downfall, many forgot that it was him acting in his own accord that put Jinpachi in that situation in the first place.
It also had Heihachi wondering; will he end up like the man he was cloned from? Was it really possible for him to fully distance himself from the grips of evil that had consumed his original counterpart? What if he ends up walking the same path as well? Without even realising it?
A movement from the corner of his eye caught his attention. Heihachi turned to look and spotted Steve seating himself at the table again, his gaze on his phone as he stifled a yawn. That's when he realised that the younger man was waiting for him.
Was this what it was like to have a friend? Heihachi never really experienced having a close friend, seeing how he had shut everyone out to bury himself in the solitude that fuelled the darkness in him before. He immediately got up and motioned for Steve to come along. After all, staying awake longer would result in the blond losing some sleep as well.