Chapter Ten: Cat Fight Gone Wrong
"You will NOT believe this," Hwoarang said with a light-hearted smirk as he dropped onto the bar stool.
"Don't talk to me," Nina scowled. Her hair was falling in wisps over her eyes, and her head was lowered as if she were depressed. In reality, she was in deep concentration, and she was afraid that her contact with Hwoarang would endanger her cover in assassinating Steve Fox. Fox was nowhere to be found, however, and Hwoarang wasn't about to be brusquely brushed off.
"I'm most definitely fighting Fox next match," he continued uninterrupted. He grinned across the table at her, crossing his legs casually as if nothing were happening.
Nina seemed agitated that he used her victims name aloud in a public place. Without meeting his eyes, she narrowed her lids and said with feigned casualness: "Come on, now's not a good time or place for talking about business…" She trailed her fingernail over the surface of her wine glass, creating ripples with its sharpness.
"People will just think I'm flirting with some chick at a bar, happens all the time. I mean, you are pretty hot even if you're a dinosaur. You're what, 100 or something?"
"I don't remember," she muttered sharply.
"Soooo, who are you fighting?" he asked light-heartedly.
"None of your business."
"Geez, what's the matter with you today?" Hwoarang flicked a bit of his fiery red hair out of his face, and arched an eyebrow.
"Most scumbag perverts who pick up chicks in a bar would understand that NONE OF YOUR DAMN BUSINESS means NONE OF YOUR DAMN BUSINESS!" Nina hissed sharply. A couple of people at nearby tables and stools turned to look at the two of them.
Hwoarang rolled his eyes. "You didn't say that."
Nina's angry expression suddenly dispersed and was replaced with one of intense aggression. "What." The question was clearly not a question, but rather a statement meant to provoke Hwoarang to retract his remark or back down and mind his own business. Unfortunately, Nina didn't know Hwoarang very well.
"You didn't say 'None of your damn business,' just 'None of your business,'" Hwoarang stated.
With a loaded glare, Nina remarked, "You've taken one too many blows to the head, you're IQ has pitched below retardation."
"Oh, you're really mad aren't you," Hwoarang suddenly looked concerned. He leaned forward, tipping his head to one side imploringly. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Nina snapped.
"Yeah right nothing's wrong, is this some sort of chick PMS thing?"
There is nothing more dangerous for a man to do than to chalk all of a woman's mood swings up to PMS. It's especially unfortunate if the woman really is PMSing, which will result in another unfavorable mood swing. That last remark was about all that Nina could take. With a swift motion she sprung to her feet, and landed a hard slap on Hwoarang's cheek. Gripping him firmly around the neck and taking advantage of his surprise she caught him in a stranglehold.
"I will not hesitate to change targets should the opportunity present itself," she threatened. She threw him away, and he stumbled only a step or two before catching himself. As she stalked out the door, she called back, "I'm facing your little muse in the fight tomorrow. It'll be too easy, like taking candy from a baby…" With a slam she finished her exit.
People around the bar glanced uneasily at Hwoarang as he stood there, restraining the urge to return her blow. The conflict between retaliating and keeping a low profile were waging in his head.He glared sharply at the people staring, and they instantly turned around. No one picked fights with members of the King of the Iron Fist tournament; except for other members of the King of the Iron Fist tournament.
"Women," he muttered acidly. His mind tickled with wondering what in the world her problem was that day. After running a hand through his hair, he headed out of the bar and too his bike.
The engine roared as it revved, and he swung a leg easily over the seat as he put his goggles in place. After settling into his seat, a new question wriggled its way into his mind: Who's my "muse"? He was about halfway to the hotel when it finally occurred to him…
Nina was talking about Xiaoyu.
Xiaoyu dropped into the splits on her floor, pressing her cheek against her shin and touching her fingertips to the gym tile. Panda was sitting with her back pressed against a locker, facing Xiaoyu. Xiaoyu was preparing for her match today, this time against Nina Williams. The announcement day had been largely uneventful, since neither Jin nor Hwoarang bothered to show up.
"Hwoarang's a pretty cool friend," Xiaoyu said easily. Panda tipped over sideways and flopped on the floor so she could look her friend in the eye while she was stretching. She grunted deep in her throat.
"Oh no no, ew, I don't LIKE him, Panda. Yeesh!" Xiaoyu sat up, rolling her shoulders before leaning the other direction to stretch her other leg. Panda groaned, and laboriously crawled the other direction to listen closely. "He's cool and all, he's just not a good person, you know? Like Jin."
Easily she hopped from the splits to her feet, and straightened her pigtails. Panda got up, stood next to her, and the two of them practiced their punches in brief silence.
"I have a good feeling about this match." That was the last thing she said, before slipping into a meditative silence for practice.
"I HAVE arrived!" Hwoarang announced as he trotted up behind Baek.
"I knew you'd be here," Baek said simply. "You sleep through all your trainings, but you must have perfect attendance on every match involving women."
"I have a lot at stake on this one," Hwoarang admitted. "And, there's someone I hope to run into here…"
"Of COURSE you do, Hwoarang, and I'm Paris Hilton." Baek smiled and shook his head at Hwoarang.
"Always wanted to meet you, ma'am," Hwoarang said, giving Baek a playful smack on the shoulder.
Nina slipped up from behind and muttered, "Oh, how touching."
Hwoarang whirled around and grinned cattishly. "Oh, come to say sorry, have you? Well, I forgive you for slapping me."
Nina shook her head, flipping her bangs back. She was dressed in her purple fighting clothes, though she had still adorned high-heeled shoes. She seemed simultaneously distracted and focused, as she looked right through him. "Whatever. I have no intention of going easy on your little friend. I just need a little favor."
"Go on, I'm ignoring you," Hwoarang muttered, pretending to examine his fingertips. A long moment passes. It doesn't stop. Hwoarang blinks a bit, before looking up at Nina. "Well?"
She paused again, before saying tensely, "You'd better cheer for me, jackass, or I'll add you to my assassinations list." With that, she pushed him and strode towards the ring, where the ropes were set up.
Hwoarang was too busy being stunned to respond coherently. Baek quietly rolled his eyes. "I think she likes you."
"I think I hope she doesn't like me," Hwoarang responded lamely. He didn't have any time to calm down, however, for a moment later he felt something pounce on him from behind.
"Boo!" Xiaoyu said, giggling loudly. Unfortunately, Hwoarang didn't share her mirth, and looked three fourths on the way to an aneurism. When he didn't respond, Xiaoyu took the initiative and said, "Thanks for coming to my match! It's always nice to have support, and Panda kinda stinks at cheering and things like that, even if she's mega-supportive otherwise, and I guess the rest of my friends just aren't here, so it was nice of you to come! I've gotta run, by!" She threw her arms around his waist in a hug, and then tore through the crowd to the ring.
A long, low, windy sound was heard, and it took Hwoarang a moment to realize it came from Baek. "I envy you, boy," Baek said. When Hwoarang gave him a quizzical look, he responded, "I'm just too old to have beautiful women give me hugs and death threats anymore… Enjoy it while it lasts."
"I'll try," Hwoarang muttered.
Meanwhile, Xiaoyu was in her corner facing Nina. Nina looked up at her, her eyes sharp and intense. Xiaoyu smiled broadly and strolled over. After sticking out her hand, she said brightly, "May the best girl win!"
Nina's blue eyes narrowed, as sharp as steel. "I will bury you," she hissed.
"You know, you don't HAVE to act all tough, we could be, like, friends, you know?" Xiaoyu seemed completely undeterred by Nina's threatening demeanor.
"It's sad to see you, acting so cute, just to get people to like you. It's like you never bothered to grow up," Nina growled. "You're standing in between me and my goal, and I will beat you until you can't stand if I have to in order to get to that goal. In the ring, no one can save you, "girl.""
Xiaoyu blinked, and stepped back. The announcer crowed "Ling Xiaoyu and Nina Williams, FIGHT!"
Xiaoyu was completely unprepared.
Which is exactly what Nina wanted.
With a swift slap across the cheek, Xiaoyu tumbled to the ground. Her cheek stung, but her pride stung even more. Nina mockingly blew a kiss to her, and the men in the crowd cheered. Xiaoyu stumbled to her feet, and attempted to kick Nina to trip her. Nina, however, grabbed Xiaoyu's leg, threw her to the ground, and twisted. Hard.
The pain was incredible, and Xiaoyu could feel her tired muscles begin to sting. Nina sharply kicked her thigh again with a pointed high heel, and a white flash flew in front of Xiaoyu's eyes.
Oh no, she didn't, Xiaoyu's mind stammered.
The announcer started counting. If he reached ten, she would lose this round. "ONE!" His voice rang clear and true.
"TWO!"All her mind wanted to do was rip Nina to pieces, but all her body could do was lay there, lay there like a little girl who sprained her ankle.
"THREE!" The conflicting emotions drew a confused tear to her eye, and she rolled her head to the side to look in the crowd.
Dark, brown and caring eyes met hers. Panda had gently laid down on the ground outside of the arena, so her eyes could meet Xiaoyu's. She tipped her head slightly, as if to nudge Xiaoyu to her feet. Get up…
"SEVEN!"
Nina was waiting, a dark smile on her face. The announcer had continued counting, his voice breaking the connection between Xiaoyu and Panda.
"EIGHT!"
Get. Up.
"NINE!"
"Aw, come ON Xiaoyu, you're stronger than that!" another voice called. Nina recognized it before Xiaoyu, and her eyes darted to the crowd. Unfortunately, with her attention diverted, Xiaoyu seized the moment to roll forward. With a turning kick with her good leg, Xiaoyu swept Nina to the floor.
There were scattered cheers as the announcer motioned that the round wasn't over yet. Nina didn't stay surprised for long. She rolled to her feet easily, despite her high heels. Xiaoyu, however, was prepared. With an elaborate twirl on her toes, she built up momentum and crashed her arms into Nina's shoulder. Nina stumbled backward, hitting the ground and snapping one of her heels. There was a horrible popping sound from her foot as her ankle twisted inside the boot. Xiaoyu hit the ground next to her, her left leg stinging sharply. She forced herself up, causing the pain to worsen, but keeping the round.
The announcer began counting. Nina staggered, struggling to get to her feet. When the announcer reached three, however, she stopped trying. She simply sat there while the count went out, her cold blue eyes rested on Xiaoyu.
At first, Xiaoyu couldn't believe her eyes. This woman was too tough, too strong to just throw in the towel. But there was something about those eyes, those icy blue eyes that told Xiaoyu that this match was not over yet.