Destiny Changed
Disclaimer: I don't own Tekken.
To all the Tekken Fans
Chapter 9
Julia never thought she would have to face Heihachi so soon. She knew Hwoarang was right. Heihachi was too strong but she didn't want to quit. She owed it to her mother who was a powerful fighter and had always taught her to face an opponent even when he was stronger. "You learn more with your defeats than with your victories." Michelle's words proved to be accurate and Julia also had an extra motive to face Heihachi and try to win: he was a horrible man. Heihachi Mishima was actually the perfect spokesperson to all bad men in the world: a lousy father, a greedy man, an ambitious jerk and a selfish bastard. If only she could win.
Miharu was near the arena where Julia was expecting the Mishima patriarch. The Japanese girl was looking all around the place, searching for Xiaoyu. She was definitely worried about the Chinese young woman. Xiaoyu was strong and perfectly capable of taking care of herself but if she was with Jin things were different. She wanted to believe that Jin was innocent and a good person, but Miharu had the impression that the Jin from the past was gone and in his place there was a different person.
"He can harm her…he's the son of the devil…We can't trust him anymore." Miharu's thoughts were erased when Heihachi Mishima entered the arena. Miharu saw Julia getting prepared and mentally wished her good luck.
In the first five minutes Heihachi played Julia's game. He even went to the ground once. Julia knew he was pretending but there was nothing she could do. She remembered all the things her mother had taught her and yet she knew it wasn't enough. Not against Heihachi.
-'You've done well.'-Heihachi complimented her.
"What the hell is he trying to do? Win with nice words?" Julia thought. Jin had told her how hard it was for Heihachi to congratulate other fighters. When Julia didn't thank him, Heihachi knew his attempt to make her let down her guard hadn't succeeded.
-'You're a hypocrite.'-Julia spat, using that time to rest.
-'And you're going home sooner than you thought.'-he replied.
-'Even if I lose, I'll be around to keep an eye on you.'
-'How's your mother?'-Heihachi sure knew how to angry her.
-'Why didn't you stop by our house when you went to Nebraska?'-Julia inquired.
Heihachi looked at her surprised. He wasn't expecting her to interrogate him about the G Corporation's break in.
-'News travels fast…But I don't know what you're talking about.'-Heihachi said trying to sound innocent. Julia didn't believe him.
Since Heihachi wasn't going to admit he had ordered his men to steal the reforestation data from Nebraska G Corporation's facilities, there was nothing more to talk about. Julia took her fighting stance and charged against her opponent. She didn't want to lose without giving him a few bruises, after all that was the man that had kept her mom hostage and was trying to kill Jin. He deserved much more than a bruise but she wasn't strong enough.
A few minutes later Julia was starting to give up. After her arm was grabbed and twisted, she tried to break loose and kicked Heihachi but then she felt her body become heavier than usual and fell on her knees. She looked at Heihachi and saw him holding his stomach. It looked like she had done some damages too. The Spirits had listened to her.
Julia wanted to get up and continue the fight but she was too tired. Heihachi knew her fighting style and was able to dodge and block her attacks. Only once she managed to hit him perfectly in the face. With pleasure she saw blood coming out of his broken nose, but apart from that, the old man was definitely dominant. Now she didn't have the strength to stand up. The last thing she saw before passing out was something red and she clearly heard someone say "stay on the ground".
When Julia woke up she was still in the arena. Miharu and Christie were both standing next to her. Heihachi was leaving surrounded by his tekken guards. Miharu was talking to her but she hadn't listened to a word. Then Christie helped her getting up and Julia came out of her trance.
-'Are you ok?'-Miharu asked for the third time.
-'Yes…I think so.'-she rubbed her stomach and realised she hadn't suffered serious injuries. Her right arm was still numb though.
-'I wonder where Xiao is…'-Miharu said.
-'The old man is tough…are you alright?'-Steve asked approaching the girls.
The next few seconds made everyone think they were in a movie. The moment Steve touched Julia's shoulder she felt an arm around her waist pulling her down. Everyone was screaming and Julia watched Miharu and Christie hiding behind a pillar. Shots were being fired but she couldn't see where they were coming from.
Hwoarang was lying down right next to her. He was the one who had pulled her down to the floor.
-'I can't believe they found me.'-he said.
Before she could ask what he meant by that Julia fainted again. She had hit her head on the floor. She didn't see Lei firing against the shooter nor Steve running towards the hotel after the shots ceased.
-'I'll never enter this stupid tournament again!'-Miharu announced. Christie laughed a bit but then she realised Miharu was serious.
The girls took Julia back to the hotel where she had medical assistance. The doctor told them she had a minor concussion and needed to rest for a few days.
By that time Lei had reached a dead end. He had searched all over the hotel and didn't find the shooter. Finally he decided to have a word with Steve Fox. He knew the young British boxer was the real target. In the past Steve had been involved with the Syndicate, and now the Mafia wanted him dead.
Steve had survived so far by pure luck. This time the bullets had missed him by a few centimetres, next time he could end up in a coffin. Lei's job was to guarantee his safety.
He searched Steve's room but he wasn't there. The only thing Lei found was a laptop and what he saw on the screen made him shiver. It looked like Steve had discovered the shooter's identity and she was also a fighter. Lei knew about Nina's past as a professional assassin. Currently she was a mercenary and she was working for the Syndicate. The fact that she was the shooter gave Steve minor chances of survival. But there was something even more spectacular on the file he was reading: Nina was also Steve's mother. How the hell was that possible? She was about Steve's age.
He had to find Steve as soon as possible and confront him about what was truly happening.
Meanwhile Hwoarang was in his room, bag half packed. He took his passport and placed it in his pocket then he looked out of the window. There was something going on. He could feel it.
During the gun firing he thought the Korean Army had tracked him down but after all it was just a misunderstanding and although he knew that the bullets were actually meant for someone else, he couldn't stop feeling insecure.
Not knowing what to do he left his room and went to see Julia. Christie was with her and let him in even though Julia had told her she didn't want to see anyone while she was resting.
The Brazilian girl wanted to help Miharu searching for Xiaoyu because she had the feeling that if they could find Xiaoyu they would definitely find Jin as well. Besides that was a great opportunity to leave Julia and Hwoarang alone and sort things out between the two of them.
-'What do you want? To rub salt in my wounds?'-Julia asked when Christie left.
-'Maybe.'
-'Just leave…I really don't want to talk right now.'
-'How's your head?'-he insisted.
-'Why do you care?'
-'You should thank me…I saved your life.'
-'For all I know that bullet was meant for you. Who are you running from?'
-'I'm not running…'
-'Liar.'
-'Are you going home soon?'-he tried to change the subject.
-'No…I'm staying to help Jin.'
-'Why? I think he doesn't need any help.'
-'Friends don't leave each other's side and we need to stop Kazuya from getting Jin's powers.'
-'Kazuya? You mean Kazama's father is actually here?'
-'Yes.'
-'So if Kazama and his demonic father face each other…what happens?'
-'Bad things. It depends on who wins.'
-'So you and Pigtails…what's your part in all of this? Do you have a plan or something?'
Julia closed her eyes and remained in silence. There wasn't much she could tell him besides she knew the only thing he was interested in was a rematch against Jin. Fortunately she was "saved by the bell". Someone was at the door and when Julia was about to get up Hwoarang did something unexpected.
-'I'm not doing you a favour…I'm just closer to the door.'-he said.
Steve was a bit surprised to see Hwoarang in Julia's room, but then he realised they had known each other for at least two years.
-'Am I interrupting?'-he asked trying to be polite.
-'Yeah…you are.'
-'I just need to speak to Julia.'
-'She's sleeping.'
-'No, I'm not.'-Julia's voice reached them.
Steve entered and took Julia's hand in his.
-'The bullet was meant for me. I'm sorry you got hurt.'-he confessed.
Julia and Hwoarang didn't say a word. Julia didn't know what to say. She wanted to ask him about it but Steve wasn't the type of guy who liked to tell everyone about his life. Hwoarang on the contrary, wanted to say a lot of things to Steve but he was more focused on Steve's hand holding Julia's.
The British young man apologised again and left.
-'He's definitely up to something.'-Hwoarang started but Julia wasn't in the mood.
-'I lost against that old psycho and I was almost shot…so I really don't want to hear you talking nonsense about Steve Fox just because he held my hand.'
-'What? Are you kidding me? You're the one talking nonsense.'
-'Why are you still here? Are you worried about me?'
-'In your dreams Chang.'
-'In that case I need to rest…bye.'
Hwoarang didn't have a choice and he left. He ended up not telling her what he was supposed to but since she was all excited about Steve and his "living-target" issue he wasn't going to bother her anymore.
Meanwhile Miharu and Christie couldn't find Xiaoyu anywhere and finally gave up.
-'Why are you so worried about Xiaoyu? If she's with Jin Kazama, she'll be fine. I mean didn't you say they have some kind of relationship?'
-'Yes…but I'm not so sure…Jin's a lot different now. I just hope she's not with him.'
