Shadows of the Zaibatsu

"I've been accepted." Lee leaned against the wall outside, speaking into the cellphone. He had tried to find some place private, but he suspected at the Zaibatsu, the chance of not being overheard was slim. "Cancel all my appointments and put my assistant in charge of the estate."

The second in command at the Bahamas groaned at that decision. "I should be in charge, Chaolan. Why would you put a bimbo in charge?"

"It won't hurt to have a pretty face representing my product while I'm gone. If there's any technical emergencies, email me the details and I'll take care of it from here, understood?"

"Yes sir." The man paused and took a deep, noisy breath. "How long will you be in Japan?"

Good question. He frowned and gazed over the property. "As long as Kazama is in charge and keeps me around, I suppose. Could be... years..." Something caught his eye. Red hair. It was that damn punk from the tournament! "Look, I've got to go. I'll call you again soon."

As he dropped the phone back into his pocket, he started in the direction of the punk. When he made it, he rolled his eyes as he found the young man fast asleep, hidden behind a bush. Did he really feel so comfortable trespassing that he could take naps?! It was preposterous! Why hadn't that brat been shot and killed yet? Lee gave the boy a swift kick in the side and waited impatiently as the dark Korean eyes shot open and the shocked Hwoarang leapt to his feet, immediately into fighting stance.

Lee scowled. "You're trespassing. From what I hear, there's a prison cell with your name on it." He watched as the young man relaxed his stance and then Lee roughly grabbed a handful of red hair. He yanked on it, ignoring the shout of protest, and pulled the Korean back toward the building. "Guards! I've found a rat that needs a cage!"

"Let go of my hair! That fucking hurts, old man!" Hwoarang stumbled along, trying to pry the fingers off him. "I'll come, I'll come! Jesus, let go before you pull it all out by the roots you asshole! Where's Yokotami-san?"

It was amazing how much he thought he could get away with. "You're trespassing, you idiot! You have no right to ask about an employee here. Your only right is to shut your trap and do as you're told. Guards!"

~~~~~

There was no way it could continue. Julia Chang didn't like the idea at all, and as much as she hated lying to Jun Kazama, it was too late. It was unthinkable to stick Jin with another man. How was a gay relationship supposed to make him rethink his choices? What Jin needed was a real woman!

One problem. That stupid redhead was already at the Zaibatsu, and it scared the hell out of Julia to have him under the same roof as Jin. There was only one option now, and that was to take some drastic measures. If that meant committing a crime herself, so be it. Sometimes a woman must make sacrifices for the one she loves. She climbed out of the cab and made her way over to the apartment building. The door was already opened and she made her way inside and up the stairs. The only danger was that Baek Doo San might come back at any time - she wasn't sure whether he was staying there or somewhere else. That could screw everything up.

She knocked on the door, just in case, and was already pulling the lock picking tools out of her pocket. The door opened. Surprised, she stuffed the tools back in and looked up at the large blond man staring stupidly at her... What was Paul Phoenix doing alone in Hwoarang's apartment? "... Uh... Hi."

"Hi." Paul blinked with a hint of disappointment in his face, and then turned around, wandering over to the couch and picking up what smelled like a joint out of the ashtray. Drugs? He took a puff and then waved at Julia. "Close the door and tell me what you want, Chang."

How was she going to work this out? Paul might get suspicious if she dropped a bag of heroin on the coffee table and told him to leave if he didn't want to get arrested. Then she noticed the peculiar way he was looking at the clock. Was he actually worried about something? She walked over and sat on the couch next to him. "I just came to drop something off for Hwoarang... Are you waiting for something?"

"I'm waiting for him." Paul's eyes only left the clock for a second. "He's fucking late."

They were friends? That was odd; Julia couldn't imagine Hwoarang and Paul actually arranging to meet at set times if they were friends. They were more the type to just hang out when convenient, right? Well, she didn't know either of them very well, so she wasn't too surprised that she was wrong. "He's at the Zaibatsu. They caught him trespassing again."

A startling crack jolted the woman as Paul's fist came down hard on the coffee table. His face was turning red with anger. "He's stalking that fucking war lord again?! What is his goddamn fascination with that bastard Mishima?!" He flung the ashtray against the wall with a growl. "Am I not good enough for him?!"

Julia stared in shock. Paul? And Hwoarang? A couple? Now that was something she had never seen coming! Maybe it could work to her advantage. No, she knew it would work! It was hard to hide her smile by a sympathetic frown, but somehow she managed. "There's nothing wrong with you, Paul. It's so cruel of Hwoarang to string you along like this... How about we go get some coffee and then I'll take you home? You look like you could use a rest."

"I don't fucking want to go fucking home!" The cursing was a little too much, but it didn't seem like the man cared. "He'll be back soon and we're going to spend the goddamn night together whether he likes it or not!"

"That's not a good plan. Baek Doo San is on his way here..." Julia knew it was a bad idea to lie like that, but she saw little choice. Whatever it took to get that man out of the apartment was necessary.

Paul scowled at her and then looked at the clock again. "Oh, that guy... I hate his guts. Alright, fine, let's go get some coffee." He grabbed a jacket off a coat hanger and headed out the door with the joint between his lips.

That was the best chance she was going to get. Julia dropped the packet of heroin under the couch cushion. That was a likely place cops would check that Hwoarang wouldn't see right away. Once that was done, she hurried out the door after Paul and closed it behind her. As soon as she was given news of Hwoarang being released, she'd call the cops, and Jin would be free for the taking. Of course it was for the good of everyone involved, that she was the one to reach him instead of that Korean. Jun would understand, wouldn't she?

~~~~

This is a collab, written together with Chlover. You can find her author profile here: http://original.adult-fanfiction.org/authors.php?no=26260