Chapter 2: Things To Come

"Yesterday I knew a heaven without sun and
a man without soul a saint in prison
a sad song without owner
I knew your black eyes now yes that
I cannot live without them I ask all heaven
only a desire that's in your eyes
I have traveled already the entire world and a thing I come to you to say"

- Shakira (A rough translation of "Ojos asi")

Mira drove inside the hotels parking lot. Took out her bag and entered the hotel. She was arrived at the front desk she knew very little Japanese. Her eyes still wandering around for someone that looked American to ask for directions.
“Hey what’s a girl like you doing without a guy?” A voice called out behind her. She turned around it was a red headed guy standing smiling “So, what’s your name beautiful,” he asked.
“Uh…Elena!” she blurted and offered a handshake, ‘if it’s the wrong name I’ll make it my middle.’
“Elena huh? Nice. Names Hwoarang, also known as Blood Talon,” Hwoarang said.
“Hwo…Hwoar…That’s a little hard to pronounce don’t you think, and your nick name is a little uh..off hey! The name Bob suits you though,” Mira said finally relived at the fact she met someone who spoke English.
“I never really liked that name you know, sounds stupid,” he said with a frown.
“I’m playing! I know!,” She snapped her fingers, “Red! Fits your hair,” Mira added with a smile.
“I guess there’s no harm in calling me that,” Hwoarang said.
“So Red whatta ya here for?” Her eyes still wandering around the place.
“I’m here for the King of Iron Fist tournament 4 what are you here for road trip?” Hwoarang asked, smirking.
“Ha, ha, very funny, I’m actually here for that tournament too,” Mira, said putting one hand on her hip, playfully frowning.

Someone tapped her on the back of her shoulder she spun around she saw a Chinese girl with pig tails standing in front of her.
 “May I help you?” Mira asked not knowing if the girl spoke English.
“Um, yes have you seen…what are you doing here!?” the girl shouted with a mid accent.
“Well I’m here for the tournament! What do you think? Taking a vacation Ling?” Hwoarang snapped at her.
“I guess you guys know each other huh?” Mira guessed.
Ling grabbed Mira from her arm and dragged her to the other side of the lobby.
“Ugh! That conceited creep!” Ling hissed.
“Why you got in so bad for him,” Mira was pushing her bangs back coolly.
“Never mind about that, any way as I was saying you’re here for the tournament right?”
Mira nodded her head yes.
“I’m looking for a girl named Julia Chang you’ve seen her here?”
Mira shook her head no.
“She’s Native American she about 5’4 you sure you haven’t seen her?”
Mira nodded yes.
“Oh, okay well have you seen a guy he’s about 5’11 tall has spiky hair he has bangs over his eyebrows and…”
Mira nodded her head yes.
“You have!” Ling anxiously said, “Where? When? How?”
She started to shake Mira. “Whoa! Simmer down! Why do you want to know where and why this guy was? Beside It might have been a different guy,” Mira gently push Ling away.

“Excuse me I was talking to her first! So she belongs with me,” Hwoarang pulled Mira to his side.
“We were talking about something important so excuse me!” Ling pulled Mira back to her side.
“You’re excused!” Hwoarang pulled Mira back again to his side people were starting to stare at them, and whispering started.
“Will you two stop it?! Both of you are acting like 5 year olds! Red where the hell is the front desk,” Mira said.
“Right in front of you,” Hwoarang answered, a bit amused at her.
“Oh right,” Mira said a little embarrassed her cell phone rang. “Talk to me,” Mira answered.

“Mira where the hell are you? Girl we’ve been waiting for your ass to come over to the room! We got all the equipment ready but cho’ ass ain’t here! Get over here!” D'Andre scolded.
“We’ll which room are you in? And God damn it quit your bitching,” Mira said calmly she’d known that one of D’Andre’s qualities was not patience.
“Sorry, girl is just that Lupe and me got into a big fight she’s getting mad ‘Fucking wires’ ‘Stupid software’ you know how she is when she’s hooking up equipment,” D’Andre said in an apologetic voice.
 “Yeah, I know don’t worry I’ll be up,” Mira agreeing with D’Andre.
 “The room number is room 217 14th floor, try to be there by 2:00, I’ll see you later,” D’Andre said.
“Bye,” Mira hung up Ling and Hwoarang were looking at her funny. “Uh…cousin from Wisconsin heh, I’m going to the front desk and get the key card to my room so I’ll see ya’ll later,” she went to the front desk.

“She’s weird,” Ling, whispered to Hwoarang he just rolled his eyes.

“Welcome to the Oasis hotel how may I help you,” the manager said, in very perfect English.
“Yes, I’m here for a tournament and I was given information that all of the fighters are staying here and I’m one of them,” Mira said.
 “Your name Miss,” the manager asked politely.
“Elena Martinez,” Mira answered crossing her fingers secretly hoping she’d have dumb luck.
“Let me check,” the tapping sounds of the keyboard made Mira nervous, “Yup, your room is 187 12th floor, here’s your room key and we’re supposed to give this to anyone who is participating in this tournament,” the manager handed Mira a paper in English.
‘Damn, talk about luck’ She got on the elevator with some other people she pressed the 12th button other buttons were push. When she reached her floor it was awfully quiet. She was passing rooms “183,184, 185, 186, 187,” she said to herself and opened the door she dropped her bag on the floor closed the door landed on the bed.  “Freaking tired,” Mira groaned she looked at her watch again 1:57. “Man!” She went out locked her room and headed for 217.

“Right on time like always huh?” D’Andre said. “Yeah,” Mira said, “Hey Lupe.”
“Hey Mira,” Lupe said still getting the equipment online.
“Okay, you need anything?” D’Andre asked.
“No, nothing for now,” Mira said.
“Soon as we get are system online we’ll wire ya,” D’Andre was looking at Lupe. “It’s already online you know,” Lupe glared at D’Andre.
“Let started here check this out,” D’Andre gave Mira a box.
She opened it “ Silver hoops, a necklace with a lightning bolt, boy you know my flow,” Mira smiled and D’Andre and her did their handshake.
Lupe did her usual ‘ugh’.
“The hoops are a make up present from last Christmas just like I promised, they’re normal, now the necklace has a digital camera installed in the lightning bolt and a microphone so we can hear you when your out and about, take good care of the necklace,” D’Andre pleaded Mira.
“Why do you care about the necklace so much?” Mira asked him.
“Cuz it was my grandmotha’s so don’t you go losing it besides it brought her good luck, at the church bingo games, and it’s been in the family for ages,” D’Andre said.
“Thanks, like I say you’re like my big brother.” Mira gave him a hug.
“Yeah. I’m your black brotha’,” D’Andre giggled out.
Mira let out a light laugh, and shook her head, ‘Bye you guys,” and was leaving.
“Hey! Wait your earpiece,” D’Andre handed it to her, “Take it off when you’re sleeping or showering, kay.”
“Okey dokey,” and Mira chuckled, and left the room.

Mira back at her room started to read her profile “Well I’ll be damned I was right my name is Elena Martinez, height 5’9, weight 149, and blood type O. Nice job Bryon hasn’t lost his touch. Let’s see now the paper.”
“The 12th floor is reserved for the participants of this tournament. Participants are to report to the Oasis dining hall at 8:00 p.m. for the official opening of the King of Iron Fists Tournament 4,” She said out loud, “Damn, I got a bad feeling ‘bout this.”
She heard a knock on her door. She opened the door no one was there was a note on the floor she picked it and it read: “Watch your back I’ll be there…” K.M.

‘The hell! Is this some kind of fucking joke? Who cares? I’m fully trained agent I don’t need to worry about this shit.’
Mira slammed the door. Headed for the bathroom she saw the bathtub it was formidably nicely concave ‘A bath would be nice, need to clear up my head anyway.’
She reached for her bag and got out her faithful Mr. Bubble bottle and drew a bath. Enjoyed her self with the warm water greeting her bare body ‘Now this is livin’ but what I wouldn’t give for a Twinkie’
She giggled out loud, Byron always criticized her for having too sweets in at her place warning her about diabetes and how more of the Americans are getting fatter, she would always simply answer ‘Yeah, I know but here’s the thing, it’s not my shit, and you’re not my dad.’ Her eyes were slowly closing she was fully asleep.

“You can't stop me! I'll kill you bitch! I'll kill you!”

Mira felt a strong grasp around her neck she saw a red eye. She shot up from the bath tub the water had turned cold breathing heavily she pulled the plug from the bottom of the tub taking a quick shower got out of the tub wrapped herself in a towel took her watch from the stand look at it was 5:17 p.m. “Fucking dreams,” She muttered, finished drying her hair, got dressed in leather hip huggers, and a tight black elbow sleeve shirt that gave a good impression of the size of her chest, putting on her new hoops, the lightning bolt necklace, not forgetting her watch and the earpiece. “Hello 1,2,3!!” Mira talked into the necklace.

“We can hear you know,” Lupe said.
“Well how ‘bout giving this stuff a whirl?” Mira said while putting her boots on.
“Sure why not, huh?” D’ Andre said.
“You said you wouldn’t hog the microphone this time!” an almost inaudible Lupe.
 “Yeah, whatever so anyways take a look around the hotel girl,” D’Andre was taking a look a what Mira was seeing, “Nice room.”
“I know huh?” Mira said getting out of the room and locking it she went down the elevator and down to the lobby. She received a map from the front desk there were a 2 restaurants, a café, and a bar. They were 20 floors in the whole hotel ‘nice, I could use a quick pick me up.’ She left for the bar. The bar was named “Bahamas Breeze” it had a nice Caribbean touch to it she went up and sat on the bar stool the bartender greeted her.
“So what’s it going to be Miss?”
“Bloody Mary,” she responded. He winked at her and made her drink she looked across at the counter ‘I’ll be damned it’s Lei Wulong the “Super Cop” from Hong Kong,’ she mused. He was drinking his bud wiser casually.
“Here you go Miss, your Bloody Mary that’ll be 363 yen,” the bartender said.
She hand him three dollars, which was the equivalent to that amount. She took her drink and sat by him “Hey there,” she said he turned around.
“Hi,” he said lowly he looked at her a little closer, “Wait a minute you’re that C.I.A agent from that secret branch…” Lei said.
“Wanna say that a little louder? I don’t think everyone heard you,” she said a bit annoyed.
“Sorry,” Lei blushed a bit embarrassed, “So what they say it is true what they say.”
“Yeah, and what’s that,” Mira took a sip from her Bloody Mary.
“You’re a lot prettier in person,” Lei smiled.
“Really, well thank you for the compliment super cop, but what I’ve been hearing around the circuit about you hasn’t been all that great lately,” Mira’s eyes shifted the other way.
Lei took a chug out of his beer, “I’m going to prove them all wrong about those stupid rumors.”
“Hey you’ve been in two of the three tournaments, huh,” Mira asked.
“Yeah.”
“Well, what’s the tournament like?” Mira was curious.
“To be honest every tournament is different in some way. I heard this one is going to be a whole new ball game,” Lei replied.
“Oh,” Mira said.
They started to get off the subject and had pleasant talks about where they came from the relationships they were in. “Are you two laundry hags done talking it’s 7:58,” D’Andre said. Mira looked and it was 7:58.

“Damn, we better go to that dinner thing their hold at the dining hall,” Mira said.
“Shit you’re right,” Lei said getting off of the bar stool, his bum feeling a little numb from sitting there.  Both of them left for the dining hall.
Arriving at the dining hall Mira looked around to see the participants were being directed to where they were being seating.
“Elena Martinez,” A short man asked her.
“Yes,” Mira said flipping her hair back looking around.
“You are to be seat next to Violet, over there,” He pointed to the far right. Mira went and sat by Violet his name did live up to his hair and he wore sunglasses.
‘What kind of an ass would wear sunglasses inside maybe he’s blind or something?’ she decided this was going to take a while so she might as well ask him.
“Excuse me, but why are you wearing sunglasses,” Mira said in a prudent voice.
“Do you want to know,” He said in an eased voice.
She nodded.
“Well, I’m a very rich man that wants to test his fighting abilities,” Violet smirked.
“Uh-huh,” Mira said sarcastically ‘Jeez what a geek.’
 A few minutes later everyone was sitting where they were supposed to, there was a main table at the front where Heihachi Mishima was seated at with his bodyguards at his side.
“Welcome to the Forth installment of the King of Iron Fist…” Heihachi started to talked and Mira didn’t pay attention she looked at Violet he wasn’t paying attention either.
“Damn this shit is boring,” Lupe, said yawning, “Who’s the mystery man in front of you?”
Mira simply grabbed her napkin took out a black pen that held her hair and jotted N.Y.O.B and what do you want? Mira looked at the napkin “None of my business well anyway since you turned off your ringer Byron wants to talk to you so turn on your cell, bitch,” Lupe taunted. Mira wrote “I can’t I’m at the announcement of the tournament.” She thought about it, “Fine,” Mira said out loud, quietly unnoticed leaving, going into a deep lonely corridor.  She flipped it open and answered it, “Hello?”
“Mira, I…have something to tell you,” Bryon sounded afraid and nervous.
“What about?” Mira rolled her eyes.
“Your mother, she was…” He trailed off.
“My mother was what?” Mira was bit shocked.
“Nothing, no…nevermind..Good-bye,” he hung up.
“No! Wait! Asshole!” Mira snapped turning off the cell phone putting it back in her back pocket.
 Mira turned off her cell her mind drifted off into a distant memory.

“No!” Mari Mira’s nanny snapped and took Mira, holding her close.  She was a small innocent 6 year old.  Still one of the two people yanked Mira away from Mari.  Mira spit in his eye he dropped her she ducked the second person trying to catch her and made a run for it.  She was running the fastest she had ever ran scared and confused at what was happening at what was happening. BAM! Mira had crashed into someone she fell back and looked up and saw a young man standing in front of her “You must be Mira, hello,” he said holding out his hand she backed away turned around.  “Hey wait!” he tried to stop her grabbing her wrist on instinct as hard as she could Mira kicked him below his right knee he yowled and let go.  She kept running she didn’t know if this was real or a dream.  Again, she bumped into an INS officer “Stop her!” the young man said.  The INS officer scooped her up she started to scream and move around violently but no avail.  “Who are you?”  INS officer asked, still struggling with Mira.

“Byron Miller, C.I.A.” Byron showed off his badge case holding proof of what he said.  He looked at Mira a scowl was on her face  “You’re mom did say that you were full of spunk,” Byron smiled.  The INS officer put her down but held her hand tightly, “We have to hold her until social services come.”  Mira couldn’t remember what the conversation was about when you’re 6 you tend to have a short attention span.  The next thing she knew Mira was put in a car with the social services and saw Mari going inside the INS car in handcuffs.  Mira tried to get out but they had power locked doors Mira started to bang on the back window “Mari! Mari!” Tears were pouring down her face.  Twelve years later she fell to her knees and screamed while was in front of the grave of her beloved Mari, she was old 63 when they took her away.  After that had felt an emptiness inside her ever since, and jealously when she would see a daughter with her mother smiling care-free, because she was robbed of that simple pleasure that was taken for granted for others.

Snapping back into reality Mira felt a little lightheaded her doctor had prescribed her some pills to handle her migraines. ‘Fuck the pills they just make me throw up and their losing there affect anyway,’ she remembered the first time she had those pills prescribed to her and the doctor said, “For a 17 year old this very odd case you should be having migraines till you’re married or having kids.”

Now she felt nauseated and her head start to hurt really bad she started to rub her temples ‘Oh, man now the pills are starting to sound like a good idea’ the pain started increase ‘Shit! Not even without the pills I had one this bad’

The dining hall started to shake for a small period of time a little it stopped, then shook even harder. ‘Where the hell are those fucking pills!’ She started to dig through her pockets she remembered now. She left them in her duffle bag.
‘Damn it!’

The glasses on the table were exploding, the silverware started to bend, and twist the plates from all the tables were flying around and crashing together. The participants were amazed and terrified at what was being displayed.

Kazuya looked around hiding in the dark corridor the tables were starting to get knocked off. Everyone was ducking and dodging utensils.  He turned away to leave down the far corridor and spotted Mira and smiled "It's the agent, well like the mafia says I’ll take care of her." he made his decision Heihachi wasn't look for him anymore he was more concentrated on what was happening than to find his failure of a son. Mira slumped against the wall feeling fatigued. Kazuya dashed at her and slammed Mira against the wall and put his hand around Mira's neck her breath was slowly fading she tired to scream but squeak only came out. Mira looked down and to her horror she was three feet off the ground she look up back up him one of his eye's were red. While her whole world was slowly fading into darkness. She felt a bolt of energy through her Kazuya floated away from her for a second, then slammed against the opposite wall he fell on the floor. Mira was down on the floor coughing the headache was fading but her fatigue hadn’t left her. Kazuya was out cold she knelt by him. Mira was hoping she didn't give him a concussion. She held his wrist gently checking his pulse its was steady that ment that. He grabbed her wrist and pinned her down pressing his weight on her.

‘Shit! It was a trick!’ Another shock they both flew up and hit the ceiling a loud thud cracked out Mira started to run something tripped her it was Kazuya. He was pulling her towards his direction.

"Let me go!" Mira kept trying to kick him and she finally broke away got up so did he ‘doesn't this guy ever give up?!’

"OOF!" she was down on the floor again Kazuya got on top of her and his strangle hold was stronger. She mustered all of her energy she had left back fisted him across his face which made loud smack sound it knock him off of her. She made a run for it her vision was getting dim due to her lack of oxygen and she crashed in Hwoarang "Are you okay! What's wrong?"

"Nothing I'm..fine," Mira hit the floor and everything went dark.

Mira opened her eyes she saw Hwoarang and Ling they were in the lobby. She was on one of the couches most of the participants were chatting up a storm of what occurred.

“What happened?" Mira groggily asked trying to get up.
"You fainted, hey don't try to get up you gotta rest," Ling said trying to settle her down.
"How'd I get here?" Mira got up, "I want to go to my room."
"Hey! I don't want you to pass out again! Layback down you look really pale," Ling still protested.
"Did you see what happened at the announcement of the tournament? Everyone says that the hotel is haunted," Hwoarang said looking around creeped out.
"Haunted?" Mira asked dumbfounded then she knew they must of thought all of those things that happened must have been part of a poltergeist ‘Oh Jesus! Well on the bright side nobody knows about it except for Psycho back there. . .’
"Come on there's no such thing as a haunted hotel that's just a load of crap," Ling said rolling her eyes.
"Yeah, well then explain this," Hwoarang pulled out a spoon from the dining room it was twisted into a swirl pattern and bent.
"Why are you stealing silverware? How low can you get!" Ling snapped crossing her arms, sighing and shaking her head.
"It's not being low it's collecting evidence! And.." Hwoarang shot back.
"Listen I'll see you two later I'm going to my room," Mira said but obviously but the two were locked in an argument who was right and who was wrong.

Mira started to walk/staggered towards the elevator craving sleep badly for some odd reason, her eyes felt hot. She reached the elevator she pushed the button to the 12th floor the door, then leaned against the cool wall of the elevator. The doors started to close "Hey hold the doors!" a voice said. Mira groaned and held the doors. A Chinese man came in who was holding a drunken white man.

"Come on Marshall! I was gonna git them sons-of-bitches I was gonna show em' who was boss! I was . . .," the man sloppily wavered his hand.
"Paul! You said you wouldn't drink during this tournament you could've of waited till it was over, and thanks to your ruckus we missed the announcements and probably our schedules again!" Marshall said in disappointment.
"I don't give a rats ass! If I wanna drink then I’m gonna drink! Besides I won that tournament I kin’ win it again! I don't give a shit ‘bout it! Hey babe how bout it!" Paul hollered turned towards Mira grabbed her by her waist, forcingly parting her mouth with his. His breath reeked of Jack Daniels straight up Tennessee whiskey she shoved him away and punched his face. K.O.!

"Damn it, it's going to be even harder to drag him to his room, I’m sorry for his behavior he really isn’t like this when his not drinking," Marshall said dragging Paul.
"No I'm the one who should be sorry, I didn't mean to, the instinct you know, I can help you drag him to his room," Mira sympathized.
"No, it's okay I can manage, if I was able to drag him for two tournaments I can certainly drag him on this one and besides you don't look so good," Marshall said.

The elevator reached its destination the door the three got out and headed their own ways. "Hey, aren't you the same Marshall that owned Marshall China?" Mira asked.
"Yeah that's right," Marshall answered expecting her to say ‘It sucked!’.
"I used to love that place! I loved the number five special! Too bad it went outta business," Mira said got in her room. Marshall felt his pride soar smiled and forgotten that he had the burden that he had to drag his wasted friend to his room. Mira went inside her room it was dark. A pair of arms yanked her shoved a piece of cloth to her with face an odd stench Mira drifted into darkness again.