Author's note: I would just like to thank TigerEyes2 for the encouragement she has given since the time I decided to write this fic. Without her, I'm not really even sure if I would have wrote this story. Thank you and I hope you all enjoy!

Souls from two Different Worlds

Chapter 1

The evening sky was clear, the plethora of pedestrians seeming to be in a frantic rush to get somewhere. Beijing always had its busy days and this was no exception. The towering buildings, the lush trees, wide streets, and the many restaurants scattered about providing such excellent cuisine. The city was huge, the scenery a splendid attraction for the many foreigners visiting.

Lei Fang smiled to herself, traversing the next sidewalk as the gentle spring wind blew up her frilly, white mid-length skirt. Another hard day of college was complete and the earned reward was a nice trip home via subway train. After all the grueling studying a girl could take from midmorning to afternoon, she deserved a break and a chance to have fun. Perhaps clubbing later tonight would be her solution since she had bought a new outfit to wear for the occasion. Another Dead or Alive tournament wouldn't be held for many months since its passing, so that limited her choices a bit.

Just then, a small, yellow ball bounced from the forefront and into her grasp as she caught it after turning a corner. From the shadows of an alley a little boy walked forth, nibbling at his finger with timid eyes focused upon her. Intuition told her that the ball was his. Lei Fang kneeled down to meet his eyes, offering the ball back to him with an out stretched reach.

"Be careful, little one." She warned with a forgiving smile. "You wouldn't want this to run into the street now, would you?"

His answer came in the form of a cute yet abrupt 'uh uh,' followed by a soft pat on the head by her in return. A nod in thanks and he scurried off with the ball, dribbling it in front on his way until he became a silhouette in the distance.

Lei Fang continued north, the subway station not far from where she ambulated while adjusting the collar of her navy denim jacket. The luminous sun was becoming more apparent, peeking itself out from behind the twin skyscraper buildings in passing. A pair of bicyclists pedaled past as she crossed the next upcoming street once the traffic lights permitted it.

The constant click of her limpid heeled sandals then ceased with her movements, eyes locking on the immobile figure ahead. He appeared lost, head veering in both directions nonstop. Before she could question him and offer her assistance, she noticed something. His spiky hair, those ripped muscles, that trademark scowl. All those familiar features meant it could only be…

"Jann Lee?" Lei Fang's eyes widened with an inaudible gasp, astonished that the Jeet Kune Do expert was standing there in the flesh.

His attention caught, he spun to her in silence as she jogged up to him to ensure her guess was right. "It is you. I knew it." She flung the loose hair behind her shoulders as she found herself having to look up to him due to his superior height.

He gave her a hard stare, squinting his eyes upon viewing her. "Oh, you. What do you want?" came a low, monotonic voice that suggested he was not too thrilled to see her.

Of course they had competed in the Dead or Alive Tournament as rivals, but that did not mean they were forbidden to communicate as civilized individuals. Although his greeting was rude, she ignored it and decided to stay focused on the question he had asked her. Lei Fang still had the manners she inherited from her mother and father and that was not going to change now.

"Just saying hi, that's all. Never thought I'd see you out here. So what have you been up to?" The heel of her sandal slid along the cement ground with arms folded behind her back, awaiting his reply.

There was no answer given, just that standard stern expression he had worn since their encounter. He never seemed like the talkative type, enabling her to imagine why he was always alone all the time. With an impressive physique like his, she would have at least expected him to capture some girl's attention. However, his interest in the opposite sex seemed scarce at best.

"Nothing really." At last, he gave an answer while half turning his body. It was not much, but he had at least spoken some more now. He then he made a full turn, revealing a cast on his arm with a sling supporting it.

The college student gasped as it caught her gaze, stepping up for a closer look. "Oh my, what happened to your arm?"

Jann Lee withdrew it and sighed as if it was no big deal at all. "It's nothing." That excuse was not good enough, but getting a decent answer out of him was a hard task in itself. Something had happened, something he did not want to share with her; that much she knew, unable to help guessing what had caused the injury. Jann Lee always seemed to think of himself as indestructible, yet that arm was a strong indication that contradicted that belief.

Sounds of indistinct chatter, laughter, and the blow of a series of car horns carried through as they walked together. He did not seem intent on discussing his arm, so she changed the subject to something less personal. "Uh….er….where you headed?"

"Subway. Gotta get home." His eyes were distant from her, staring forward.

Her eyes widened at the sudden notice of the coincidence. "Really? Me too," and with that their first objective had been met as the path to the subway came into focus.

They jolted through many waves of pedestrians brushing by on the descending stairs leading to the subway. The train had not even bothered to give them a moments rest as it accelerated from the tunnel before executing a complete stop. They stepped inside and found a pair of seats to settle in, watching the automatic doors shut tight once the passengers boarded.

Lei Fang was intent on breaking the silence between them, not preferring to just stay quiet the remainder of the trip. Smoothing her skirt, she peeked out the window and forced her mind to come up with something to say. "So, been training lately?" That was all she could come up with. She knew nothing else that might catch his interest besides issues relating to fighting.

A slow turn of the head and he took one look at her with that same scowl intact before retracting his gaze. "Of course." came his masculine voice that stated the obvious. He snorted and rolled his eyes, looking ahead at the passengers that sat in front of him.

"Oh, ok. Er….what brings you here? Visiting a family, friends maybe?" She was intrigued to know anything about him. After all, it was not like she ran into him everyday to learn all she could.

"Don't have a family, don't have friends." His answer was cold, deprived of any emotion whatsoever. The more she heard, the more she felt sympathy for him as she shied away from any other questions that might seem foolish to ask.

She turned to him with a guilt stricken face and shook her head, deciding to repent for her ignorance. "Forgive me. I hope that didn't upset you."

Another minute had elapsed and there was silence yet again. She continued to look at his still arm and the grimacing he did from the pain it must have brought. His silent hisses and moans were starting to concern her.

"You know, maybe you should take some….oh!" The jerked interruption cut her off.

Before Lei Fang knew it, the train came to a screeching cease, indicating they had reached their stop; the passengers aboard started emptying out in haste once the doors hissed open for their departure. Lei Fang and Jann Lee were the last to leave, directing themselves toward the steps leading up to the surface.

"Guess I'll see you around." She muttered, beginning to distance herself from him. A sudden groaning noise then caught her ear, eyes searching for the source. "Wha….what in the world was that?"

It occurred again, this time much louder with Jann Lee pressing a hand into his stomach, attempting to silence it. It all made sense now. She was surprised to have even heard it with all the commotion going on around them.

"Oh, I see," she said with a knowing smile. "Hungry, aren't ya?"

He grumbled something and shook his head, as if lying was going to convince her now. "It's nothing."

Lei Fang giggled at the fib, finding it quite pathetic. He must have thought the same as his eyes left her to look elsewhere. "Poor guy must be famished." came a thought of sympathy. Then the idea had dawned upon her. "Hey, I got something at home you might like."

"I'm fine." He dismissed the invite with a waving hand, his stomach starting to groan yet again with another poor attempt to keep it quiet. It was as if he had not had a decent bite to eat in days as she saw him almost keel over in front of her.

"That's funny." She chuckled. "Apparently, your stomach says otherwise. Come on, my place isn't far from here. Stop thinking with your stubbornness for once and listen to what your body is telling you."

He did not give in with words but rather with action as he allowed her to grab his arm and tow him along. Perhaps he had a weakness after all and like almost every other man it was through his stomach. Lei Fang could not believe she was bringing Jann Lee of all people home with her, but not even she could bear to see him suffer like this.

Lei Fang went to hang up her jacket as they shuffled in, letting the snug carpet sooth her feet upon removal of her sandals. The air inside was cool and refreshing, pleasant to the senses, combined with the scent of clean fragrances sprayed from earlier. She guided Jann Lee over to the couch, ensuring he had sat down before she left for the kitchen.

"Just make yourself at home." The recommendation came with a smile and she went to tend to the cuisine sitting on the counter. A hungry tummy and a hurt arm were a terrible mixture for someone like him. Things were not all bad though. At least she could smirk at the realization that she had some company over for a change, even if it was Jann Lee…