Chasing your blood
Jin quickly took her to his hotel just north, outside of town. He parked the car and they both quickly made their way to the 5th floor. When the elevator opened, he took out another key and opened his hotel room door. They closed it, leaned against it and sighed in relief.
She turned to him and shoved him in the chest. "What are you doing here?'
"Me?" he asked. "This is my hotel room."
"No, I mean, why are you back in town?" Ling watched Jin make his way over to his luggage bag.
"The tournament," he pulled out a blue shirt. "I don't think you should go back home tonight, especially with Heihachi's Tekkenshu moving about," he pulled out a pair of white boxers and placed them on the bed.
She made her way to them. "I guess you're right." She looked up at him, whose eyes were on her. She then looked at the clothes.
"Oh sorry," he turned his back to her, facing the sliding glass door. He looked up and through the glass's reflection; his eyes watched her pull her shirt off. He averted his eyes to his feet.
"Ow," she grimaced.
"What's wrong?" he asked, concern.
"Something on my back hurts," she answered.
"Can...I look?" he offered. When he didn't hear a refusal, he slowly turned around. Ling had her shirt lifted, exposing her whole mid-section. Jin's fingers touched her spine as he examined her back. There was a cut, starting at the side of her lower rib and moving its way up to her back. Around it, the skin stained with smears of blood. "A bullet must have grazed you or you must have fell on something sharp," he said. He searched under his bed and pulled out a small first-aid kit. He pulled out a cotton ball and a bottle of alcohol.
Ling watched the mirror, as Jin moved about from behind her. "You're not gonna put—agh!" she felt a sudden sting on her skin.
"I have to. Now stop squirming," he ordered. He folded up a piece of gauze and taped the sides onto her skin. "There." He packed up the kit and put it back in its place. He turned away to the sliding door to allow her to change. "So...how's Mori?"
Ling slowly pulled off her red shirt. "He's well."
"I remember he always asked for your number after school. Why'd you decide to give him a chance?"
"I dunno." Ling pulled on the blue shirt. "I thought I'd give it a try."
"How long have you two..?"
"3 months." Ling pulled off her jeans.
"Have you two...I'm just concerned..."
Ling giggled. "We've only kissed." She watched his shoulders relax. She pulled on the shorts. "How come you were at Jive?"
"I heard you were going to be there."
Ling hung her clothes on the chair of the desk. "Were you at the book store?" His eyes turned to her. "You're the one who pushed Sato over?"
"I didn't push him, I--."
"Deliberately made him lose his balance," Ling smiled. "Whatever you say. Why'd you do it?"
"Because," he turned to the bed and pulled the covers, "I didn't like what he was saying."
"He means well," she defended. "He's just looking out for me."
"Then he should have said so," Jin turned off the hallway light. "You going to bed or not?"
"So long as you don't take advantage of me," she smiled as she crawled under the covers.
Jin turned off the lamp beside the bed, causing the room to turn dark. "I wouldn't dream of it." He pulled off his hooded sweater and white shirt. He took off his pants. He crawled into bed. "Stay on your side Ling," he told her.
Silence.
"Jin?"
"Hm?"
"Are you wearing boxers?"
Jin smiled. "No, Ling. I'm butt-naked, hoping to get some action tonight," he sarcastically remarked.
"Oh shaddup," she turned to her side, away from him and pulled the blanket up to her chin. Meanwhile, she squirmed to get into a comfortable position.
"Ling, you've been moving around for 5 minutes already."
"I can't sleep."
"I can't either with all your fidgeting."
"I think, earlier, I fell incorrectly and now my back hurts."
"Come closer," Jin told her. She scooted her body close to him while her back faced him. "Where does it hurt?" he asked.
"My lower back."
He placed his thumb at the center of the small of her back. He moved his thumb in circular motions and she felt the pain slowly decreasing. "Why...why'd you leave? Was it...because of me?" She had been holding back that question for two years and now she had a chance to find out. She bit her lip, nervous to his response.
His treatment stopped but resumed after a few seconds. "What are you talking about?"
"Our fight; did that cause you to skip town?"
"No. Sure, I got mad but that didn't cause me to leave. Is that what you believed this whole time?" Silence. "What did Heihachi tell you?"
"He said after you fought, you just left."
"Stupid old man..." he grumbled.
"Why? He said that's what he witnessed--."
"He didn't witness anything. He..." Jin's voice grew hard and he faded his words. "My leaving had nothing to do with you."
"I want to make it up to you...somehow," she admitted.
He smiled at her concern. "We'll see."
"Where have you been all this time?" she asked.
"Brisbane."
"Australia? Why?"
"No reason in particular. But I found myself there retraining, abandoning the Mishima art."
Something must have happened back then that made him run.
"Hm...Jin?" she shut her lids.
"Yah?"
"I...I missed you..." Her breathing became soft and steady. Jin peered over her shoulder and noticed her eyes were closed. He smiled. She must have fallen asleep due to his back rub. "I missed you too," he whispered in her ear and rolled over, falling asleep.
Ling's eyes fluttered open. She took a deep breath and could smell a sweet scent of incense. Ling felt a soft steady breath on her forehead. Her head rested against his chest as she looked up. Jin laid on his side, facing her and his arm was around her. A blush crept up her throat.
Ling rolled over and looked at the wall clock. It was past 10 in the morning. She rolled out of bed and headed to her clothes hanging over the desk chair. She pulled off the boxers and quickly put on her jeans. She heard him groan. She panicked and fell on her rear.
Jin turned over and looked up. "What are you doing down there?"
She zipped up her front. "Dressing."
"What time is it?" he turned his neck and cracked it.
"10:20. I gotta go." She pulled out her cell phone from her pocket.
Jin stood and rubbed his left eye, trying to sharpen his vision. "Let me see your phone."
"Why?"
"Do you want my cell number or not?"
She handed it to him and he pressed it in. He handed her his own cell and she did the same. "Thanks." Ling dialed a number and took a deep breath. "Mei, I need to ask you a favor. Can you pick me up at the Mountain Sea Inn? Please, please, please? Oh, thank you so much!" She closed her phone shut and headed for the door.
"Ling wait!" Jin ran after her. "I need to ask you something."
"What?"
"Be careful, all right?"
"About Heihachi-san?" Ling smiled. "Don't worry, I won't--."
"That especially, but also...are...are you serious with Mori?"
Ling was a little surprised at his question. "Serious? Are you worried about me?"
"I'm just looking out for you," he reasoned.
He was sounding like an older brother but there was a weird look in his eye that she couldn't read. "Jin," she started. " If you want an explanation about my relationship with him, I'll give it to you." He looked at her. "Sato is a nice guy. He doesn't spoil me and I don't spoil him. It's a very mutual relationship. He is really nice once you get to know him and he's really talented."
"Do you date for experience or for companionship?" he asked. "When I was still living here, you never dated, so..."
"That's because everyone was afraid of you," she smiled. "I guess I date for companionship."
"So ...you think Mori is the guy for you?"
"If you're asking if he's the one that makes me weak in the knees, ties my stomach in a knot and makes my heart beat fast...then no, he's not."
"If you date for companionship and you know he's not the one...why do you go out with him?"
Ling looked away from Jin. She couldn't tell him why she went out with Sato. Even she didn't know. "I'm giving him a chance. There was a guy that I considered to be 'the one' but it didn't work out."
Jin nodded, his eyes down. "I'm sorry to hear that."
"Yah, I'm sorry about it too." Ling looked at her watch. This conversation was going at an uncomfortable turn. "Well, she's gonna be here soon, so I better go." Ling opened the door. "I'll see you around."
"Ok, bye." Jin closed the door after she left.
Ling entered the elevator and pressed the lobby button. She leaned against the elevator wall, and took a deep breath. She could feel Jin's arm around her as they slept last night. A blush moved from her throat and into her cheeks. "Jin's body is so warm..." she muttered.
The doors flew open and she walked out. As she exited the lobby, she saw Mei's car pull up. Ling stepped into the passenger's side and hopped in.
"Geez, Ling, what's up? What happened last night?"
"I...uh, saw an old friend."
"Man, Sato-kun and I were really worried! I thought your guardian took you away or something. We were so scared to call your house and why are you wearing a man's shirt?"
Ling looked down and realized she was still wearing Jin's blue shirt. "It's my friend's."
"And your friend is a girl who happens to wear men's clothes and staying at that hotel?" Mei gave Ling a look, and she avoided eye contact. "Oh my gosh, you stayed overnight in a man's hotel room?!"
"He's my friend!" Ling offended. "And it's not like we slept together...um...It's not like we had sex or anything!"
"But you stayed overnight with a guy who's not your boyfriend! If Sato-kun finds out...You two will be in serious trouble."
Ling frowned. "He's just a friend..."
They arrived at the Mishima mansion. Mei stopped at the gates and rolled down her window to talk to the guards. "Hi Sawataki-san," she greeted.
"Hello Hanao-san." He looked over to the gate-operating booth. He gave him a wave and the gates creaked open. Mei drove her car in and parked in front of the house. They saw a white MR2 sitting there as well.
A butler welcomed Ling and Mei. "Good morning Xiaoyu-sama, Hanao-san."
"Hi," Ling's smile faded. In the living room sat Sato, a cross of worry and annoyance in his eyes.
"Ling, where have you been? I've been so worried!" he clutched her by the arms.
Ling wiggled her way free.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"I...I've done some thinking and..."Ling started.
Sato's eyes turned to Mei. Mei looked up. "Oh, that's my cue! Wow, I wonder what's to drink! Don't mind if I help myself? Ok!" She quickly made her way to the kitchen. Boy, was she discreet.
"And?" Sato urged her to continue.
"I...I don't think this relationship could work."
Sato stepped back.
"It's just that..." she continued. "We've known each other for a while and...I can't picture myself in a serious relationship with you. I'm sorry." She averted her eyes.
Sato stood still for a while. Then he shook his head. "You will come to the performance this weekend right?"
She looked up at him. "Really?"
He nodded. "We're still friends, ok?" When she smiled, he gathered her in his arms for an embrace. "I'll see you at school in a few days, ok?" He left the house right after that.
"You dumped Sato-kun for your friend, didn't you?"
Ling turned and saw her friend peeking from the kitchen doorway, drinking from a juice box. Ling shook her head. "You're not going to give up, huh?"
"So what's your friend's name?" Mei walked up to her.
"I dunno if I should say..."
"Why?"
"Because," Ling muttered, "he's being chased by a certain guardian of this very household."
Mei nodded. "Oh...so is he hotter compared to Sato-kun?"
Ling thought for a moment. A blush moved into her cheeks and it was clearly visible. "Unbearably hotter," she smiled.
"You have to have a picture don't you? Let me see!" Mei pleaded. The grandfather clock stuck at the hour: 11 o'clock. "Oh, snap, I gotta meet Makoto. We'll talk about him later, ok?" She walked out the door, which the butler held open for her. "Bye Ling!" she called behind her.
"Bye."
The man stood in front of a large window, overlooking the city. His office was on the top floor of his building on 21st Street. The city view spanned across as far as the eye could see. "So let me get this straight," he said. "Ten men was sent and he got away?"
"Y-yes, Mishima-sama. The chief said they ran quite fast," his assistant explained. He stood in front of the boss's desk, trying not to shake. He could tell his boss was in a bad mood...like always.
Heihachi Mishima turned around. "They?"
"Um, yes, Sir." The assistant opened his binder and skimmed through the notes. "According to the chief's report, there was a young woman who pushed Kazama aside from the bullets. She was about 18-20 years old, about 62cm in height, and she was most definitely Asian."
"Really?" Heihachi scratched his hairy chin. "Waritanka?"
"Yes, Sir?"
"Hire one of the chief's men to watch over Ling Xiaoyu."
"Your ward, Sir?"
"Yes. She could be of use in finding him."
"Um...Sir?" Eri Waritanka spoke. "Permission to ask a question?"
Heihachi rolled his eyes. "Speak."
"Why do you want your grandson eliminate?"
"Because I must," Heihachi crossed his arms.
"And your son?"
"Just like in the jungle: survival of the fittest."
"Even though they are your family Sir?"
"Damn Jin Kazama, damn Kazuya Mishima and damn family!" Heihachi boomed, slamming his fist on his desk. Eri jumped back. "If I can get rid of Jin Kazama before the tournament starts, the public will not know of his return. It must be done NOW! Just image the kind of press that will occur if that information is public? I'm already getting a taste of that with papers saying there have been Kazuya sightings! Why can't that ungrateful son of mine just stay dead!?!" Heihachi eased back in his long back chair. "Now, my grandson and my ward were once very close."
"They were involved, Sir?"
Heihachi glared at him. "I don't know and I don't care! Point is, she is most likely the girl that was with him last night and I want her followed. We follow her, Jin Kazama will be found soon after."
Eri bowed. "Yes, Sir. Anything else I could get for you?"
Heihachi rubbed his right temple. "Coffee; black coffee. And not that decaffeinated crap."
Eri bowed. "Yes, Sir," and exited the room.
Heihachi needed to find good help...fast.
(Note: Woohoo! Done with that! I actually added the old scrooge in the story! Who'd thunk? Well, Xiaoyin fans, I'm warning you right now: you are in for a surprise in the next chapter! =)
