Admittance
By Kimetara
Multi-part
Disclaimer: Nope, don't own DoA.
"Jann Lee!" Lei Fang ran quickly to catch up with the fighter currently striding away from the grand coliseum of the DOA tournaments, the flaps of her long white dress flying around her. For a moment, she thought he'd ignore her, but he paused, not turning around.
The setting sun cast an orange wash over the ground. Hesitantly, Lei Fang laid a hand on his shoulder.
"Congratulations! You got second place!" she spoke encouragingly.
Jann Lee turned his face aside.
"..." It was then Lei Fang noticed how tense he seemed, how dark his expression was.
"Jann Lee?" She removed her hand and cocked her head to the side. "What's wrong?"
"What's it to you?" he snapped. Lei Fang's eyes narrowed in annoyance.
"I was just asking! What's with you anyway? You're always snapping, or boasting about how powerful you are!" she retorted sharply. Tranquil and upbeat as her sprit was, there was a definite fire to her. Lei Fang never backed down.
"Then why do you listen to me?" Abruptly, Jann Lee turned and slammed her left shoulder into the wall of the stadium. Lei Fang gasped, unready for the attack – the impact caused her side to ache from her last battle with Jann Lee, the battle that had prevented her from going on in the competition.
His eyes burned down into hers, tempest swirls of anger and frustration. She stared defiantly back at him, despite her pain and vulnerable position.
Minutes passed. A reluctant admiration found Jann Lee at her boldness, and he released her and stepped away. Lei Fang massaged her shoulder with her right hand, still watching him warily.
"I'm sorry," he muttered, his face averted from her. "There was no need to take my failure out on you."
*Jann Lee? Apologizing? Well now!* Lei Fang smiled ruefully. "Failure huh?"
"Yes."
Lei Fang shook her head. "Would you like to talk? C'mon!" She glided into his view, hands behind her back, giving him her best grin. "Let's go back up to the Aerial Garden!"
Jann Lee raised an eyebrow at the enthusiastic girl, mentally shaking his head. "...sure." He stepped past her towards the stadium.
Lei Fang blinked. She had just barely hoped he'd take her offer, and couldn't help but to stare in disbelief.
"You coming?"
"Oh! Yeah, sorry!" she answered hurriedly, running again to catch up to him. Jann Lee nearly laughed.
Lei Fang looked around from the center of the abandoned arena, her left arm crossed against her chest as her right elbow rested in her left palm. Her right hand was raised thoughtfully to her mouth. "Hmm. Remember the last time we were here? I'd been waiting for you, and it was getting dark."
"You didn't seem to be disliking it." He shrugged.
"No. I find fireflies very beautiful, don't you?" She linked her hands and stretched upwards, gazing at the sky.
"I'm not really into beauty." He didn't notice her wistful look as he sat on grass, one leg bent, the other outstretched. Lei Fang sat down cross-legged next to him, careful not to land in the small streams.
"Of course not. It's all about power for you, isn't it?" she asked, an odd note in her voice. "So, oh mighty Jann Lee," she mocked lightly, "what is this 'failure' you were speaking of?"
His expression darkened again. "Isn't it obvious?"
Lei Fang rolled her eyes. "If it was, do you think I would have asked? Sorry, but I haven't quite gained psychic-"
"I lost."
"-abilities. ...what?"
Jann Lee's fist clenched. "I lost."
Lei Fang watched him, suddenly feeling tired. "It was only to Hayabusa. And...I don't know, something was different about Hayabusa. As if he knew more about this tournament then he was letting on."
"Still!" He slammed his fist into the ground. The streams rippled slightly from the impact. "I should have won. That mistake I made was unacceptable!" Commoner. Hayabusa had the nerve to call him a commoner. The word grated in his mind. And yet, it was his own rage that had defeated him, that clouded his thoughts.
Lei Fang watched him sympathetically. "There's always next year."
"...next year...I'll be waiting." Jann Lee's eyes flamed. Lei Fang was internally stuck between laughing and sighing. Hayabusa had told her he'd be like this.
"Hello Hayabusa!"
"Good morning, Lei Fang."
"I want to congratulate you on your fight against Jann Lee." Lei Fang smiled at him. "It was spectacular to watch."
"Thank you," he nodded, before turning to walk away. However, he stopped and turned back to her. "Lei Fang...do you...hold something against Jann Lee?"
She frowned, tilting her head to the side. "I...don't know. I hate how arrogant he is, and I'm determined to make him pay for calling me 'weak,'" Lei Fang grinned. "But if you mean do I dislike him, no, I don't." She looked away. "He's very honorable, and strong, and despite all his boasting and aloofness, at times he can be really kind."
"I see." Hayabusa turned away.
"Wait!" The ninja stopped. "Hayabusa...how do you think Jann Lee will take losing?"
A moment passed, before, strangely enough, he laughed. "Jann Lee? He'll probably be depressed for a bit, then become determined to beat me. I'll have to avoid him for a while." Hayabusa's eyes glinted with amusement.
Lei Fang couldn't help but smile again. His good humor was contagious. "Ah, so...you think he'll be alright?"
Hayabusa was quiet. "Perhaps..." he glanced at her. "However, Jann Lee is too focused on fighting, and only fighting. His soul needs to be balanced." He gave her an odd look. "Do you agree?"
"I...yes," she spoke softly. "Yes, I do."
"It's possible you could help him." Lei Fang was about to ask how on earth she could do that, but Hayabusa had melted into the shadows, leaving only yellow flower petals in his wake.
"Fight me, Lei Fang."
"Huh?" Lei Fang blinked from her reverie. "What?"
"Come on." Jann Lee got up and extended his hand. "Fight me." He waited, looking down at her.
Lei Fang grinned and stood, ignoring the hand held out her way. "Okay. But I won't go easy on you!"
The two squared off, shifting into their respective fighting stances. By some mutual consent, they tensed, and the fight began
Jann Lee immediately used a throw, catching Lei Fang by surprise. Her back arched from the impact of the ground, and for a moment she lay, getting her breath back as Jann Lee circled around her. All of a sudden, she rose, her leg in a sweeping kick. Jann Lee blocked, and the Chinese female moved into a torrent of furious kicks and punches.
"C'mon, Lei Fang!" he taunted from his defending position. Lei Fang's eyes flashed, and she suddenly switched into a grab against his counter. Jann Lee was then the one on the ground then.
Lei Fang dashed toward the fallen figure and attempted a downward stab with her heel, but Jann Lee just barely rolled out of the way. She tried her triple back kick, but to her shock he countered her second attack. With a high-pitched cry, Jann Lee pitched her into a stone lantern.
"Ahhh..." Lei Fang moaned, the ache in her side returning tenfold. She was dimly aware of Jann Lee standing next to her. Slowly, she stood, her arm subtly defending her left side.
Jann Lee slammed a knee into her stomach, before pummeling her into the ground. She rose, again performing a sweep kick to make him keep his distance, then rushed at him. Jann Lee defended high, preparing for one of her kicks. At the last moment, Lei Fang shifted, punching his midriff, stunning him before following up with her triple back kick combination. The last struck him powerfully on the head, and he fell to the dirt.
Lei Fang waited, absently massaging her sore side. The pain provided a distraction she couldn't afford.
Jann Lee rushed up, and before she could react, he threw her into the mountain and rammed his shoulder into her stomach. Lei Fang groaned as she slid to the ground.
"I...tried so hard...to be better..." she breathed out.
"You could never defeat me," Jann Lee announced coldly, ignoring his own aching body. Lei Fang slipped into unconsciousness.
He stared at her for a minute, then turned around to leave. He took a step away...and sighed. He wouldn't leave a woman unconscious and alone, even if it was Lei Fang.
Gently, he lifted the female into his arms and carried her to the DOA stadium.
"What do you mean, the medics have been released?" Jann Lee's voice roared through the nearly empty coliseum. He glared at the employee, who cowered nervously.
"I'm...I'm sorry Mr. Lee, but we released them all when the tournament ended," he stuttered. Jann Lee grit his teeth.
"Damn," he muttered, glancing down at the girl he was holding. The employee took a peek at her too. His eyes widened.
"Miss Fang!" the employee cried in shock. "What on earth did you do to her?" he accused.
Jann Lee's eyes narrowed. "We merely had a small fight."
"A small fight? And she's in that condition?" The employee didn't seem to be buying his story. What's more, apparently the appearance of an unconscious Lei Fang boosted his morale quite a bit. "Do you know how much the medics have to work to have you all recover from your 'small fights'? I'd advise you to take her to a hospital right away!" The employee's eyes swept worriedly over the female. "In fact...don't even do that."
"What?" Jann Lee gave the employee a quizzical look. The man ignored him and went to the intercom.
"Susan! Get down here!" he yelled. A middle-aged brunette woman emerged from one of the many open doorways.
"What is it, Andrew?" she asked tiredly.
"Look at Miss Fang."
Susan muttered. "What now..." she grumbled, then suddenly clapped her hand over her mouth when she saw the fighter. "Oh God. What did you do to her?" she yelled at Jann Lee, similar to Andrew's initial reaction.
"I didn't-" Jann Lee started, frustrated. If he knew bringing her here would have caused this much trouble...
Susan didn't even bother listening to him. "Set her down on the ground on her back. Gently." The woman glared at Jann Lee with the natural arrogance a female has when facing a man in the wrong. "Andrew, call the hospital. You, get something to elevate her legs." Susan pointed at Jann Lee, and he huffed, but quickly brought over a bench. Susan lifted Lei Fang's legs onto the bench, bending her knees.
Jann Lee felt his face begin to heat. Lei Fang's legs were clearly revealed through the high slits of her clothes, and he could have sworn he saw the tight-fitting body suit she wore beneath her dress. The white silk pooled fluidly around her body.
"Wait, wha...what are you doing?" Jann Lee demanded, seeing Susan slightly turn Lei Fang to the side and start to pull down the zipper. Jann Lee felt his face get even hotter, and he averted his eyes.
"I'm loosening her clothes, what does it look like I'm doing?" Susan responded sharply. She looked quite pissed. "What is with you men? This poor girl has nearly gone into shock, and you're standing there thinking perverted thoughts!" Susan turned back to her administrations to Lei Fang. "Andrew, have you made that call yet? If so, get me some blankets!"
"I wasn't thinking perverted thoughts," Jann Lee automatically defended himself. "Wait...what do you mean, shock?" He turned back to face her, his eyes boring into the woman.
"Shock! You know, the medical condition? That could very well be fatal?" Susan bit her lip. "I wouldn't be surprised if Miss Fang is suffering from internal bleeding as well, judging from her symptoms, and that bruise along her left side."
Shock...internal bleeding...fatal. Jann Lee stared at Susan in disbelief. How...?
"Help her then!" The words burst from him, an almost frantic note hiding behind them.
Susan shook her head and sighed. "I'm not trained enough. I'm just an assistant." She accepted gladly the blankets Andrew had retrieved, tucking them gently around Lei Fang's still form. "God...I wish this tournament wasn't so far away from everything...when will that ambulance be here?"
Jann Lee didn't hear her as he stumbled next to Lei Fang's side. His hand brushed lightly over her forehead. It was cold and clammy. Jann Lee felt something twist deep within him.
"Lei Fang..."
Sirens rose in the air. "They're here!" Andrew cried. Jann Lee backed away as Lei Fang was lifted and carried away to the hospital.
"Sir." The ambulance worker addressed the stunned Jann Lee. "Please come with us. We need to know what happened."
Slowly, Jann Lee nodded. They got in the van and drove away, sirens wailing.
AN: Hello! Ah, I normally don't stray from the FFVII section, but...
I'm new to DoA (I don't even own the game actually, I've just played a few times on my friend's console – but its addicting!) so sorry if the characterization is off. This should be a two-part story. Please review! ^_^
