A brief while after Hanzo Hasashi's visit, Dr. Rainey jotted some notes, preparing for her next patient, when her intercom buzzed. She pressed the button. "Yes, Janet?"

"Dr. Rainey, we have a situation in the waiting room!" her assistant said as unknown shouting echoed in the background.

"I can hear. I'm on my way." After setting her notebook on her desk, Dr. Rainey headed to the waiting room. Upon her arrival, she spotted two men arguing. Janet, her assistant, and several other personnel kept the two men apart to prevent physical attacks.

The first man originated in Japan, his black hair spiking at the back of his head. He sported a black jacket matching the rest of his attire with a flame motif.

The second man wore a blue-and-black outfit resembling a ninja. Ice formed around his hands and arms as if ready to fight. His icy demeanor and strength intimidated anyone nearby.

"How dare you push me aside!" the first man said. "I have a 10:00 appointment with Dr. Rainey and have been waiting here long before you!"

The second man growled, his gaze locked onto the first man. "It's my turn to see the doctor, so back off!"

"Mr. Kazama, Bi-Han, please let's sort this out!" Janet said.

"Yeah!" a random patient added. "This is supposed to be a peaceful atmosphere, and you two are not helping!"

"Peaceful atmosphere? I don't care about that!" Mr. Kazama sneered, his voice dripping with hostility. "I've come a long way to this appointment, and I won't let some ice-wielding fool stand in my way."

Bi-Han's eyes narrowed. "You should respect your elders. Mortal Kombat was around long before Tekken appeared. I suggest you step aside before things get even colder."

"Don't make me unleash the Devil Gene on you!"

"How about you devil gene these nuts?!"

The other patients in the waiting room gasped and exchanged wide-eyed glances at Bi-Han's bold retort, surprised by his brash language and defiance. Some floundered in their seats, unsure how to react to the escalating tension between the two men.

Mr. Kazama growled while clenching his gloved fist, which emitted red lightning streaks. "What did you say?!"

Having had enough, Dr. Rainey headed to her office, only to return with an air horn device. Upon pressing the button, the sudden blast from the air horn caused the other patients in the waiting room to jump in surprise, their eyes wide with shock. Some covered their ears while others moved away from the commotion.

"What the hell?!" Mr. Kazama shouted.

Dr. Rainey crossed her arms, annoyed. "Jin Kazama, Bi-Han, what in the ten levels of hell is happening here? Also, I only want these two to answer. No one else."

Jin bowed his head. "My apologies, Dr. Rainey. I have been waiting for my appointment with you since 9:30. I understand that Bi-Han is also waiting, but I should have my turn as I arrived earlier."

"That's bullshit!" Bi-Han said. "I've been waiting here since 9:15, and this fool thinks he can cut before me. I won't accept it! If he were part of the Lin Kuei, I'd freeze him in a block of ice before he could blink. However, since we're in a civilized place, I suggest we settle this like adults and let Dr. Rainey decide."

"I have a better idea. How about a joint session with you both?" Dr. Rainey said. "Since you two have urgent matters to discuss, I believe it would be more efficient and fair to address them together. This way, we can find a resolution that satisfies your needs. Do you object to that?"

Jin and Bi-Han exchanged glares before saying, "No."

"Great. Let's go." Dr. Rainey headed to her office with the two men following her. Once there, she motioned them to sit on the couch. She then sat in her chair, reviewing her notes. "Well, it appears you two have a family issue."

"That's hardly an understatement," Jin said. "Ever since birth, there has been a long-standing feud between my father and grandfather. So far, it has led to a cycle of betrayal, revenge, and power struggles within the Mishima family. I'm caught in it and torn between familial loyalty and breaking free from this terrible cycle."

Bi-Han scoffed. "You got problems? That's nothing compared to the centuries-long rivalry between the Lin Kuei and the Shirai Ryu clans. Countless lives have been lost, and vengeance fuels our every move. I've witnessed the destruction it brings, so don't act like you're the only one caught in a vicious cycle."

Dr. Rainey leaned forward, sympathetic. "Your family histories have left a profound impression on both of you. I'll start with you, Jin. How did this mess between your father and grandfather start? Had your mother told you anything?"

Jin took a deep breath. "My mother never really spoke about it. All I know is that my grandfather, Heihachi Mishima, betrayed my father, Kazuya, and threw him off a cliff when he was just a child. Kazuya survived and swore revenge, leading to a cycle of violence and power struggles that continues to this day."

"What? Your grandfather threw your father off a cliff?" Bi-Han said. "How did he survive?"

"My father inherited the Devil Gene from his mother, which gave him extraordinary abilities. It saved him from the fall and allowed him to seek vengeance against my grandfather. The Devil Gene is both a curse and a power source for our family, fueling the ongoing feud."

"Sounds like your family drama is on another level. I thought the Lin Kuei and Shirai Ryu feud was intense, but this Devil Gene stuff takes it to a whole new scale. That said, had either of them thrown you off a cliff or something?"

"No, but the emotional toll and constant pressure to choose sides... it's suffocating. Sometimes, I wish they had thrown me off a cliff instead. That way, I wouldn't feel torn between warring factions and could focus on my true identity and purpose."

"Well, then, the answer is simple: eliminate them."

Dr. Rainey raised her glasses. "What?"

"Excuse me?" Jin added. "Are you suggesting I kill them?"

"In a way, yes. You did it in that movie Blood Ties, right?" Bi-Han asked.

"First off, that movie was non-canon and made little sense. Even if it was, resorting to violence and killing won't solve anything."

"I'm just saying you could. It's an option."

"Are you saying that because you left your father to die in some accident in Liu Kang's timeline?"

Bi-Han grunted. "That's different. I had my reasons."

"Apart from Bi-Han's remark, Jin, you mentioned the Devil Gene is a curse, right? Have you considered separating it from your genome and extracting it?" Dr. Rainey asked.

"Well, as much as I'd love to pull a Professor Klump and extract the Devil Gene from my DNA, it's not that simple. Our family's history and identity are woven around the Devil Gene. It's a part of who we are, for better or worse."

"I see. Maybe you should go NC with your father and grandfather. Let those two settle their differences without getting involved."

"NC?"

"It stands for 'no contact.' Sometimes, the most effective way to protect yourself and find peace is to create distance from toxic relationships. Without contact with your father and grandfather, you can focus on your growth and define your identity outside their feud."

Jin mused for a moment, considering Dr. Rainey's suggestion. "Creating distance and going no contact might be my preferred option. It would allow me to break free from the suffocating pressure and find my path, separate from the curse and the feud."

"I still think killing Kazuya and Heihachi seems viable," Bi-Han muttered.

"Now, with you, Bi-Han, as Jin mentioned, you let your father die in Liu Kang's timeline. Was this your way of taking control of the Lin Kuei clan, or is there something deeper?" Dr. Rainey said.

Bi-Han crossed his arms, a smile on his lips. "There's always something more profound, isn't there? It was about survival, breaking free from tradition's constraints, and forging my path. Killing my father was a means to an end. As I told Kuai Liang, my father doomed the clan to mediocrity, and being a 'slave' to Lord Liu Kang didn't help either. All I want is for the Lin Kuei to reclaim the greatness it once had from the past."

"Wait, are you insinuating that your father and the Lin Kuei were dick-riding the newly appointed Earthrealm protector, and you became tired of it?" Jin asked.

"You could say that. It's not about 'dick-riding,' as you described. It's about freeing ourselves from subservience and regaining independence and strength. Killing my father was a necessary step in that process, one that paved the way for a fresh start of the Lin Kuei."

"Uh-huh. I don't think the issue lies with your father. What if your Netherealm wraith alter ego still influences you?" Dr. Rainey asked. "What did Lord Liu Kang tell of your fate in the original timeline?"

Bi-Han's expression grew serious. "Originally, my fate was to become the revenant known as Noob Saibot, forever bound to serve the Netherealm."

Jin stifled a laugh.

"And what the hell do you find so funny?" Bi-Han asked.

Jin couldn't help but chuckle. "Noob Saibot? Seriously? That's the most ridiculous name I've ever heard. I mean, come on, couldn't they have come up with something a little more menacing or intimidating? It sounds like the name of a beginner player in an online game!"

The ice-wielding ninja rolled his eyes. "Anyway, Dr. Rainey, what do you mean the revenant part of me influencing my actions? Please elaborate."

"Well, Noob Saibot represents the darker aspects of your psyche and desires. Even when someone has taken over the hourglass, those internal struggles and conflicts don't disappear overnight. His presence may drive your motivations and actions, pushing you towards a path of darkness and vengeance."

Bi-Han mused, leaning on his seat. "Huh. I never thought about that."

"Another thing that concerns me is Quan Chi," Dr. Rainey said. "Thanks to Titan Shang Tsung grooming him and certain individuals to become villains in previous timelines, who's to say he might pull a Hanzo Hasashi on your brother, Kuai Liang? After all, he took the Scorpion mantle in Liu Kang's timeline."

Bi-Han's eyes widened as he processed Dr. Rainey's words. "Wait, you think Quan Chi could manipulate my brother into becoming another Hanzo Hasashi, but worse? I hadn't considered that possibility, but I won't let that happen. Kuai Liang and I may be at odds because of what happened with Shang Tsung (not the Titan version), but I'll be damned if I let Quan Chi get his hands on my brother and turn him into a puppet. Doctor, I appreciate you telling me this. I'll send messengers to inform my brother and his newly formed clan about this. I'm unsure if Lord Liu Kang is aware, but I'll make sure he knows."

"Great. Let me know how that goes."

"Of course." Bi-Han stood and bowed. After that, he activated his portal key, which opened a gateway to his temple. Once he stepped inside, the gateway shrunk into nothing.

"Well, that went better for him than we expected," Jin said. "I should take my leave as well. They need me for the production of Tekken 8, and I hope the storyline is a little better than previous ones. I still don't know how Mortal Kombat does it with their storylines."

Dr. Rainey shrugged. "What can I say? They have some great storytellers. Also, good luck with the no-contact thing with your family."

"Thank you, doctor. It won't be easy, but I'll do my best."

***

That's two clients that Dr. Rainey helped so far. Who's next for her appointment? Put in the comments.