Hello guys, sorry for the long wait! I had an attack of the block and I didn't want to post another short chapter. Once again, enjoy and review afterwards.
Rumours of Kazuya Mishima being the leader of the Mishima Zaibatsu swirled round. He was always a powerful being but people noted an increase. He was everywhere. News reports covered his every movements, forums buzzed with analysis and groups in cafes would whisper rumours. It had to be Kazuya, Xiaoyu thought. The announcement coincided with Jin's temporary defeat of Kazuya when he...rescued her.
Xiaoyu could handle herself perfectly well. People took her for granted, judged her on her outer appearance and paid for it dearly. But she was human, and needed saving- protecting from Kazuya and Anna's harmful intentions. And Jin did just that. Her Mr Dependable. Only he wasn't hers.
The possibility of silence while they travelled, unnerved Xiaoyu. It was only a week ago that she believed she had lost him forever. There was no way she would let time pass them by. Merely being in his company was not enough. Raven opted not to travel with them and Lars chose to sit away from them, leaving Jin and Xiaoyu to themselves. They viewed the countryside roll by.
'When you spoke to Miharu, how was she?'
Jin fixed his beautiful brown eyes on her. Under his scrutiny Xiaoyu felt herself heat up.
'She was extremely worried about you,' Jin replied frankly. 'And she was rather angry with me.'
Xiaoyu straightened her back against her seat.
'What did she say?'
'She basically told me off for disappearing,' Jin answered with a wry smile.
And at that point Xiaoyu knew exactly where this was going. When she didn't respond, he continued.
'She scolded me for not being there for you. She said...after my "death" you...'
Xiaoyu swivelled so that her body faced the window, readying herself to forcefully explore a section of life she would rather forget.
'She said you went off the rails a bit.'
'It was nothing.'
'But it was. She told me how you were doing so well at your studies and then...that happened and your grades plummeted. You abandoned your training and you became a hard partier.'
Xiaoyu cringed with shame.
'I didn't do it on purpose,' her tone became defensive. 'I didn't take drugs, drown myself in alcohol or sleep around! I just...felt alive. It made me feel alive when I felt the complete opposite.'
Jin's eyes were the epitome of guilt and compassion.
'I'm sorry I put you through all of that.'
Xiaoyu shrugged.
'It was momentary. It was not much longer until I was normal again.'
She lifted her lips upwards to convince him, but her empty smile didn't fool him.
'She also told me that she picked up your results on your behalf: you've graduated university.'
Jin exerted his pride at her achievement. Xiaoyu 's reaction was far mellower. To gauge a proper reaction out of her Jin reached opposite and gave her arm a gentle but teasing push. At first Xiaoyu pouted. She succumbed to his charm and found herself smiling.
It was almost like the old days.
They arrived in Tokyo. The bustle hit them the moment they stepped off the train. Gathering their things, Lars, Xiaoyu and Jin set off towards their allocated hotel. Jin refused to take the Zaibatsu-hired cars; a smart move in case Kazuya was up to his tricks again. Sweet and sour aromas from food stall danced before them. Xiaoyu sniffed with appreciation. The hotel was reachable in half an hour with a brisk walk.
Lars and Jin kept their heads down, avoiding eye contact so that no one recognised them.
The trio stepped into the hotel lobby and Xiaoyu gasped. Everything was marble. The floors, the ceilings- everything was immaculate. After a long consultation between the receptionist and Jin, he turned to face her.
'You're sharing with me.'
Xiaoyu's eyes widened at the sudden change of plans. And because she'd be sharing with Jin. It was enough to send her heart into overdrive.
'Why?' she managed to blurt out.
'Kazuya now knows you're my weak spot,' Jin explained sternly. 'You'll be vulnerable if you're alone.'
Too tired to care, Xiaoyu agreed.
Jin and Lars lead the way. They chose the stairs, and in a grand hotel such as this they assured ample time to map out their methods of espionage. Xiaoyu tried extra hard to hear what was being said, but all she managed to do was capture various words.
"Kazuya". "Security". "Night". "Zaibatsu".
She cursed them for being so softly-spoken.
Lars left them to find his room further along that floor. Jin and Xiaoyu noted the awkwardness between them as they reached their room for the next 7 days. The room they entered was fairly well decorated and furnished; not bad for non-paying guests. They dropped their luggage before the wardrobe. Jin went about scouring the room like a sniffer dog.
'Jin?'
He ceased all actions. Jin seemed to pick up on her thoughts, since she couldn't follow up her interruption with words.
'I'm looking for traps or surveillance.'
Xiaoyu wandered over to the black leather folder seated conspicuously in front of the TV. There were service numbers and menus, but it was the elegant note that caught her eye.
'There's a welcome ball tonight, Jin,' she told him. 'Are you going?'
Although she already knew the answer.
'No, and I don't think you should either.'
Her hands found her hips. Xiaoyu's eyes narrowed.
'I'm going.'
Her steely resolve proved victorious. He sighed: a sign of his relent. Stubborn girl, he thought with an internal smile.
'It's formal attire- I don't have formal attire with me,' she thought aloud. 'I'll have to go out and get something.'
'I'm staying here so you won't need the key,' he told her.
'I'll see you soon.'
Xiaoyu was not particularly in the mood for a ball, or getting ready for one. The assortment of colours, textures and shapes in the shop failed to excite. Eventually she chose a long dress and matching heels with the small amount of money Jin had lent her. She did not want to know where he got it from. Queuing up to pay afforded her time to reflect on what had happened, what could have been and the future.
Moving countries. Meeting the best and worst people. Chasing what she thought were her dreams. Finished school. Graduated university. So what was next? A regular job? Socialising with friends and colleagues? Meeting a man? Getting married? Having children? Or was she going to embroil herself fully into the Mishima family issues, and stumble aimlessly in life with no real purpose.
When she returned to the hotel lobby, she spotted a red-headed man clad in leather at the bar. A smile brightened her previously grave face. She hurried over on tiptoe.
'Hwoarang!'
He spun around and grinned.
'Well look who it is! I was wondering when I would bump into you.'
They embraced briefly.
'Come,' he patted the stool next to him. 'Have a drink with me.'
Without a second's thought, Xiaoyu dumped her bags at the foot of her stool and ordered a lemonade.
'Aw come on,' he objected. 'A lemonade?'
'It's not even dark outside, Hwoarang. You alcoholic.'
Xiaoyu plonked herself next to him, her rustling paper bags caught his attention.
'Shopping? What a girl.'
She slapped his arm.
'I had to get something formal for this ball,' she grumbled.
'Pssh, stupid ball. I'm gonna go in a bin bag just to piss them off!'
Xiaoyu chuckled.
'I'm not looking forward to it either,' she told him. 'But knowing you'll be there, I feel a lot better.'
Hwoarang faced the bar and sipped thoughtfully at his drink.
'I heard you're sharing a room with Kazama.'
She shifted in her seat.
'Yes,' she said eventually.
'Are you sleeping with him?' he inquired.
Gasping, Xiaoyu admonished; 'Hwoarang!'
He coolly ordered another drink.
'Well you're the only fighters sharing a room, so one would think that wouldn't they?'
'I'm not,' she murmured with a glare. 'Not that it's anyone's business.'
'But you want to,' he continued without mercy.
Xiaoyu felt herself flare up, preparing to release a flood of angry words but she bit them back. It was the drink talking. And it was Hwoarang being Hwoarang and not mincing words.
'I'll see you later, at the ball.'
Just as she hopped off to leave he reached out for her arm.
'Hey, listen. I'm sorry. I just don't want you getting hurt.'
She patted on his shoulder and he released her. What she wanted to say would only rile him up further so it was best she did not say a word.
