Disclaimer: The Tekken characters belong to Namco. I do not make money out of this.

Notes: Hwoarang will be using Baek's last name, but only until he reveals his birth name. His real canon name is not known yet, but I'll use the same name for Hwoarang in all my stories. -nods-

Also, in this story, things will be a little different time-wise. I know that in the real game, Tournament 4 and 5 were only a two months a part, but I'm going to change that. ThisTag Tournament takes place a year after the fourth. I'm also thinking of a sequelto this story, which will be announced when the last chapter comes out. Until then, enjoy!

I want to Thank Salysha! She helped me so much with this story! So thank you So much Salysha for Everyhting!

Chapter One.

My partner is who?

~*~

"What! What do you mean 'another tag tournament?'" Hwoarang asked angrily of his master Baek.

"Calm down, Hwoarang. It will be fine. I still will be able to train you until you have to leave to be with your partner," the Tae Kwon Do master said calmly to his angered student.

The young Korean, however, did not like this news. With great frustration, Hwoarang turned away from his master, placing both hands to his hips and sighing heavily. "So, what you're saying is that I don't get to train with you this year, and we're not partners, either?! Why the hell not? Don't we get to choose?"

"Take a deep breath and calm down, Hwoarang," Baek started as he watched the young Korean turn to face him again. "Now, I know you don't like it, but it's a random pick with little discussion from the judges and Heihachi. Heihachi started to organize the tournament since the end of the King of Iron Fist Tournament 4. It seems to me, since the first tag tournament went so well, that he wanted to try it again but with different partners, and permanent ones, at that. The first tournament was just practice to see how people liked it. Now, if everything goes well with their new idea, they will continue the tag tournament but at rare and random times. It will be more practice for the fighters."

Hearing his master's words, Hwoarang cursed under his breath and took a deep sigh. "All right, fine, but when do we find out who our so-called 'partners' are?" he asked in a calmer tone, but the tension could still be heard in his voice.

"In two weeks. We will be receiving a letter about the tournament and who our partners will be. Also, when to meet up with them, so we can start our training."

Hwoarang nodded and sighed once again as he listened to his master's words. Feeling the frustration disappear, Hwoarang spoke, "Whatever…. Fuck…. Well, either way, I hope I don't get stuck with someone stupid or with him… Kazama." The Blood Talon cursed at the thought and stormed back into the dojang with his master right behind him.

Two Weeks Later:

The young Korean, Hwoarang, was pacing back and forth as he waited for his master to return with the mail. Today was the day the Blood Talon would finally find out who his mysterious partner for the new tag tournament would be. In the first Tag Tournament, Hwoarang had fought side by side with his master Baek before Baek had disappeared. Later, Hwoarang had learned that Baek was only badly injured and in the navy, while Hwoarang was in the Korean military. Hwoarang didn't find out or hear from his master until after the King of Iron Fist Tournament 4, which had taken place a year and a half ago.

The Blood Talon was grateful that his master was well and on his feet again. Hwoarang was excited to be once again his student, even if their time together was cut short due to the new Tag Tournament. Now, Hwoarang was being forced to train with someone else, which he was not happy about. Mostly, the Blood Talon was disappointedthat in this tournament, he would not be able fight his rival, Jin Kazama.

The Blood Talon was determined to find another way to fight the Japanese fighter or wait until the King of Iron Fist Tournament 5.

"Fuck that," Hwoarang cursed at the very thought of waiting another year to fight his rival.

In the last tournament, Hwoarang hadn't gotten to fight Jin. Instead, the Blood Talon had gone looking for the Japanese fighter and had forced him into a brawl. The Blood Talon had nearly beaten young Kazama in the fight until there had been a minor , before they had parted, Hwoarang had promised Jin they would face each other in the next tournament, which Jin had happily agreed to.

"Damn!" Hwoarang shouted as he continued to pace back and forth, waiting for Baek to return. The Blood Talon was getting ready to lose his patience waiting there and he was ready to hit something.

Then, to his relief, the door to the dojang opened, and Hwoarang ran to his master, nearly knocking over the older man, as he entered the hallway.

"Well?" the Blood Talon demanded, wanting his letter to see who he would be working with.

"Here," Baek said as he handed the Blood Talon the white envelope sealed with the Mishima Estate Temple mark. Hwoarang's eyes brightened as saw the letter. He snatched it out of his master's hands and ripped it open. He then read it out loud.

"Dear Mr. Doo San Hwoarang,

As you may know, this year's tournament is another Tag Team Tournament. We would like you to know that this tournament is to determine how your skills work with those of another fighter.

We had chosen a suitable partner for you in this tournament. We would like you to know that your partner is Kazama Jin, the grandson of Heihachi Mishima.

We would like to thank you for your time. Until further notice, you and your partner may use the Mishima Estate Temple for training. You will receive a letter in the mail, telling of the beginning of the tournament and its whereabouts.

You may join your partner in one week to start training.

Please enjoy the rest of your summer.

Heihachi Mishima"

Hwoarang read the letter twice, not believing his eyes. He couldn't believe they thought Kazama Jin would be a suitable partner for him in this tournament. "Son of a bitch! I can't fight him even if I wanted to! Last tournament, the military stopped our fight, on the third we tied, and then he disappeared, and in our first street fight together, we also tied. Son of a bitch!" the Blood Talon cursed, crumbling up the letter into his hand. "I just can't fight this asshole…."

"Calm down, Hwoarang. It will be fine," Baek said with a smile on his face as he began to read his letter.

"Oh, yeah? Well, who do you have?" Hwoarang asked, throwing his letter into the trash.

"Lei Wulong," Baek answered and walked past Hwoarang into the main room.

"Ha! You got the pig!" Hwoarang laughed as he followed his master and sat down Indian-style on the floor.

Lei and Hwoarang had often been at odds. Hwoarang, a street thug and a fighter when away from his master, had been the target of Lei's attempts to arrest him. When the Korean was in his homeland, a friend of Lei's had had the same job. Neither officer had yet been successful.

The Mishima Temple:

Jin Kazamawas alone in his room, lying on his bed. He had just returned from a long day of training. The young Kazama had returned to his father's temple, along with his step-uncle Lee Chaolan. The two had gotten away from Kazuya, but they had been found by Heihachi. What had really surprised Jin was that his grandfather had stopped, or seemed to have stopped, gathering the Devil Gene from him and his father. Even so, as long as Lee was there with him, Jin knew he didn't have too much to worry about, as his ojiisan would be too busy with Lee to worry about him.

Jin know rested comfortably on the bed, tired and sore from his intense training earlier. He had sparred with both his uncle and grandfather, only to lose to Heihachi out of tiredness.

Jin's attention was then caught by a soft tap on his door. Groaning from slight pain in his back, Jin sat up and walked over to his bedroom door to discover Lee waiting outside. "Yes?" Jin asked calmly.

"Here is your letter, kid. You know, the one telling you who your partner is. Don't know why the old fag didn't tell us himself," Lee said as he handed Jin his letter, folding his arms over his chest.

"To be official," Jin answered as he, too, opened his letter. He read it over once.

"Well, who do you have?" Lee asked, hoping it was him, so he didn't have to bother to read his own letter.

"Hwoarang-san," Jin answered as he folded his letter back up and tucked it into the envelope.

"The Korean street fighter? The one you are rivals with?"

Jin simply nodded to his uncle's question.

"My, he isn't going to be happy about this. Now, let's see who my partner is…. Steve Fox?" Lee raised a brow as he read his letter over and shook his head. "I have a weirdo, and you have a hothead. Great," Lee said with a smile and a laugh before walking away from Jin's door with a simple wave.

Jin returned to his room and kicked the door shut behind him. He moved back to his bed and lay down with a heavy sigh. "Looks like we lost another chance, Hwoarang. I never did believe there was a reason to fight in the first place." Jin turned onto his side, hoping to fall asleep. He thought he better get some good rest now, knowing he was going to have to deal with the hot-tempered Blood Talon in one week's time.

Thanks for reading chapter one. Please enjoy chapter two! ^-^