Chapter One

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters that are featured in my story. They all belong to Namco which is a shame...

A/N: Well guys, this is my first ever fanfic so I hope you will enjoy it. Because of that, please be kind to me when it comes to reviews. I'm young and innocent... Well not literally very young. I'm actually 17 but you know what I mean. Young in fanfic terms...

"But Julia, it's new! We have to check it out!" Xiaoyu's whiny voice complained. "It would almost be rude if we didn't!"

It was Tuesday morning and Julia Chang was currently being persuaded (or forced in her eyes) to go to the new Tae Kwon Do center which was due to be opened for business that Saturday. Before this, Julia never knew how persistent her supposed best friend actually was.

"No Xiaoyu, for the last time! The only way I'll go to that stupid class is if you beat me".

Xiaoyu was puzzled. "Beat you at what?"

Julia smirked evilly. "At sparring, of course!"

Julia lay on the wooden floor, spluttering and panting. Xiaoyu stood over her, her cheeky face wide with a smile.

"Now will you agree to go with me? I've won fair and square".

Julia eased herself into a sitting position and rolled her eyes at the young, Chinese girl. "Alright, alright, you win. But I'm only going to this stupid class once I hope you know".

Julia was feeling grumpy. How on earth did she manage to lose? She had used a variety of different combos that were sure to get anyone to their knees. So how on earth did she lose to Xiaoyu of all people. Granted, her best friend was strong but Julia has always seen herself as more damaging than the petite Chinese female. But, Xiaoyu had been right, she had won fair and square and now Julia had to go to a Tae Kwon Do class. Why did Xiaoyu want to attend anyways? She was perfectly good at her own martial art, Hakke Sho, as she had shown today. Why did she want to do another one? But then, Julia could never really understand her best friend's mind at the best of times. But she was sure there must be something that had her wanting to go to that dreaded place so much…

Julia sat down at her computer desk and turned her ancient PC on. It stalled for a while before finally spluttering into life. Julia clicked onto the internet icon and when her homepage came up, she typed in three words. Tae Kwon Do.

The search engine roared into life and soon she found herself faced with millions of different finds. She double-clicked on the first link, which mentioned something about the rules of Tae Kwon Do. Julia scanned through them quickly, scoffing aloud at each one she saw. So far, she had read that you had to bow everytime you entered a room, you couldn't laugh, talk or wear jewelry while in the room, everything had to be pristine and you had to stand to attention at all times while the "Black Belt Master" was in the room. Please, give her a break. Did Xiaoyu seriously expect her to willingly be ruled under an iron fist? Hell no. She was going to call Xiaoyu right this minute and tell her that the meeting was cancelled. There was no way she would willingly go to this class. And Xiaoyu couldn't force her…

*****

"Please Julia, for me!" Xiaoyu's babyish voice drifted over the phone line. "I don't want to go all on my lonesome!"

Julia rolled her eyes in dismay. "Xiaoyu, there are some things that I need to tell you" she began. "Firstly, stop putting on that baby voice, it isn't going to soften me up. Secondly, you can't force me to go to this stupid class. I've read about it and found that it is way, way too strict for my liking. I don't like things to be too formal. And thirdly, why don't you take Christie or something? I'm sure she'll be willing to go, she's normally always up for things like this".

Julia heard Xiaoyu sigh loudly. "Okay, I know I can't force you to come against your wishes but you promised me. And you are always having a go at me for breaking promises. You can't be a hypocrite and do the same!" Xiaoyu carried on, barely stopping for breath in an attempt to get what she needed to say out. "And lastly, I've already asked Christie and she told me that she can't make it 'coz she has a date with Steve that evening. And anyways, Julia, you are my best friend. We're supposed to do everything together!"

Nice one. Now Xiaoyu was trying to guilt trip her into going. Seriously, that girl never stopped trying. It seemed like she always had to have her way somehow.

"Pleeease!" Xiaoyu tried again, resorting back to the baby voice in obvious desperation. "We'll be beginners so it won't be that formal. And I guarantee you, we'll have fun. Just try once, if you don't like it, we won't have to come back. I promise".

"Oh for gods sake, fine I'll come. But just once, I hope you know".

"Yay!"

Why did she have to be so weak? First she was telling herself that she wouldn't set foot in that place and now? Now she was in the local sports shop, browsing the Tae Kwon Do section for anything that would enable her to blend in on Saturday. She highly doubted that her usual Native American fighting attire would allow her to appear inconspicuous.

"Excuse me please" a woman's voice asked from her right. Julia looked up to find that she was blocking the woman's way.

"Oh sorry!" she mumbled, moving backwards a few steps so the woman had space to walk through. She carried on reversing and suddenly felt her heel land on something slightly hard. But not hard enough to be the tiled flooring that had been placed throughout the whole store.

"Ouch!" Julia jumped in surprise at the sound of the male voice. She turned to see a young man with fiery red hair and a determined expression rubbing the toe of his shoe gently. The toe of the foot that Julia had abused with her heeled sandals. She blushed in embarrassment.

"I am so sorry, I didn't mean to! Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm cool" the man told her with a cheeky smile. "Jus' crippled for life, but I guess I'll survive". Julia giggled at his little joke and went back to picking suitable headgear for her upcoming class. She wasn't sure if she would need it, but she knew it wouldn't hurt to come prepared. The last thing she wanted was to be embarrassed again, no doubt by some moany, old man about her lack of equipment. She was completely unaware that she was being watched until the man spoke again.

"So I see you're interested in Tae Kwon Do right?" he asked her, scanning through the array of colored belts as he spoke.

Julia gave a shrug. "Well, I wouldn't say I was interested in it exactly. I'm just buying a few things". The man nodded understandingly. Julia didn't have time to say anything more as the shop suddenly became packed with people, all scrabbling past her to get to various items. A few barged her out the way as they passed. "God, people can be so rude!" she muttered to herself as a determined mother stormed past, holding onto her sticky, little boy tightly.

She suddenly felt someone from behind her hit her back quite forcefully. Beginning to lose her temper, Julia used both her elbows to attack whoever was pushing behind her.

"Oof, shit!" Julia warily turned around to see who she had hit. The auburn-haired man was crumpled over slightly, clutching his stomach with one hand. Julia's eyes widened with shock.

"D-Did I hit you?" she asked him.

"Yes you did" he replied in a slightly strained voice. Color flooded to Julia's cheeks again.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry, again! I didn't mean to hit you, I just tho…I just thought that…" she stopped when no more words would come out. The man eased himself upright again and gave a little chuckle.

"Don't worry, I forgive you" he told her. "But I certainly feel sorry for whoever has to fight you!"

This is my first ever chapter finished. And I must say I am rather proud of it. And I hope you will be too. It turned out better than I expected. Please R&R for me. I would love to know what fellow story makers think!