IMPORTANT NOTE: I do not own anything
CHAPTER 9
Osaka...
Mishima Zaibatsu Second Military Base...
"You're trying to piss me off, aren't you?!" said the man looking angrily at the shorter, younger girl in front of him...
"HUH?! You're the one doing that! Didn't I tell you from the very beginning that this is too high for me? I need more time to climb this." said the girl back crossing her arms defensively...
A desperate sigh escaped the man's lips and that new expression of his irritated the young woman. They looked at each other for a few moments and before the girl was ready to say something to him, she was interrupted by a blonde tall girl...
"Tsk, Tsk, Tsk…So disappointing…We have already finished with training and our poor Captain is here trying to help you with you talking back at him. Such manners you have there, Miss Kazama."
The shorter girl slowly turned her head to face the other one and shot her a murderous glare. That "blonde witch" as she was calling her, once in a while, had been a pain in her ass from the moment she stepped her foot inside the base with Lars Alexandersson, while she was hugging his arm. They came the next day after Hwoarang did. How come they allowed an airhead like her to enter the army? However, same thoughts were coming from the taller girl, who sneered at her rival's irritated face. All she was thinking, when she first saw her was that Japanese people had seriously lost it after the previous war. How come they allowed that "eyesore", as this one referred to her, to step inside here? Lars Alexandersson, as it seemed, needed a lot of people, because that was the only way she could explain the girl's appearance as a soldier.
"You have a death wish, aren't you? Fine then!" she said as she pointed her finger at her…
"I accept the challenge!" she pointed back at her…
"Alright! Bring it on!"
…
"Oh no, you won't." said the man grabbing with his hands each one's wrist…
The two gritted their teeth in pain. He was grabbing them so damned tightly. He looked first at the short girl on his right and then at the tall one on his left. He lowered their arms and released them…
"Rochefort, why are you here?"
Lili Rochefort looked at the ground and brought her hands together in an innocent way… "Umm…I…I was worried about her, so I came to see how she was doing and maybe help her."
Asuka Kazama, the brunette one, hugged herself tightly because of the disgusting thing she just heard… I'm getting shivers…She thought…That blonde idiot sure had it easy with the small talk…
"You're not yourself the best, you know. And as I remember, I asked you to clean the men's toilets. Did you do it?"
Her eyes were filled with tears. They were genuine, since she couldn't ever imagine doing such a thing. And especially the men's bathroom…So unladylike. The last human being, who could do this, would be everyone but a graceful and delicate girl like Lili Rochefort. In her case, there was only a person, she could picture doing that kind of stuff and she was standing right opposite her…
"Please, Sir! You can't possibly ask from a delicate girl like me to do such a disgusting, inappropriate thing." She said pleading him…
"And why not?" He asked and crossed his arms…
"Umm…well…Would you accept it, if I say that I'm way to pretty for that job?"
As Asuka Kazama heard that, was ready to go and pull her hair from her head. She was so full of herself! Didn't she already realize that she's not in her fairy castle? Hwoarang raised an eyebrow, since he didn't know how to react. Laugh at her joke or shout at her for her disobedience… "Come again?" he asked in the end…
"Don't you think, I'm right? A commoner like Miss Kazama would be ideal for that job."
When the slightly older girl heard her insult, she tightened her grips and glared at her murderously…
"Huh?! How dare you?" said Asuka as she was ready to attack her. In the end, however, Hwoarang stopped her by placing his arm in front of her…
He sighed…
That girl was surely full of herself. Yeah, she was pretty and, she was right…The last person, he could imagine doing that would be her but he was thinking the same thing for Asuka Kazama, as well. She didn't have anything less than Lili did…In his mind, however, well…Asuka was way more well-endowed than Lili but the first didn't have the kind of charm the second one did…They were so different…and so the same, when it came to make his life miserable…
"Before I lose seriously my patience…Go back. Take a mob, a bucket and some chlorine and off to the toilets you go."
She placed her hands together and said… "Come on! I'll do anything else you want."
Hwoarang placed a finger under his chin… "Is that so?" he asked with a smile…
Lili smiled back at him and nodded…
"I see…Ok, I agree!"
"Oh thank you so much!" said Lili as she was jumping up and down.
Asuka bit her upper lip irritated. She wanted to start shouting. She was satisfied with the fact that Hwoarang wasn't going along with her rival's whims, until he fell now as well…
"Even you?!" she said and looked at him. Hwoarang didn't return the look but said to Lili… "It's ok…Have a mop, a bucket with some chlorine inside and go clean the men's toilets."
Her blonde girl's shoulders fell and she looked at the ground. She gritted her teeth as she heard her rival laughing at her. Hwoarang approached her and put his hand on her shoulder… "Cheer up! You're not the first or the last. Tomorrow is Kazama's turn."
"It's not!"
"And how do you know?" said Lili as she glared at her…
"I checked the list that's how I know."
Grr…Hwoarang rolled his eyes as he noticed the two girls barking at each other. He looked at the blue sky and sighed… Oh God…What did I do in my past life and I'm being punished like that?
…
For a while now, the older man was trying to reason with them. What was wrong with him? All his other soldiers were obeying him like their lives depended on him. On the other hand…these two…
"Hey, where are you spacing at? We're being here asking you for a while." Said Asuka taking his attention…
Lili crossed her arms and agreed… "Indeed…Is there something troubling your mind? I'm willing to help."
"Like you could, stupid!"
"Says who? A shorty, who can't even climb a wall."
Asuka bit her upper lip and didn't say anything in return. She knew that she was short, she didn't need that blockhead to point it out. "For your information there are a lot of things a short person can do and a tall one can't."
Lili placed a hand on her mouth and giggled… "Oh sure, I've seen short people in the circus. There're so much fun!"
"W-Why…y-you…"
…
"Commander!" said a young man saluting in front of him as he arrived at their place...
The man took his gaze of the girls and turned to face the man. He wrapped his semi long auburn hair in a low pony tail and said...
"What is it? Did you finish with the chores I asked you to do?"
The black haired man nodded...
"Good but you didn't need to come till here to tell me."
"I'm not here for that, sir."
"So?"
"They gave me orders to tell you that Mr. Lars Alexandersson wished for you to call him."
"Is that it?" he said taking off his black and red gloves...
The two women next to him looked at each other, surprised with how unconcerned he was. Especially, Asuka Kazama...
The CEO of the Mishima Zaibatsu wanted to talk with him, probably for something important…who would like to have a normal chat with this kind of guy anyway… and he was there wrapping his hair and taking off his gloves. In a small part inside her head she found him pitiful. She noticed that he was a little out of reality and most of the time out of topic from the first time she met him...
Osaka...
Three months ago...
Mishima Zaibatsu Second Military Base...
From the time the Second Military Base was rebuilt a lot of men and women were applying to be recruited in the army of the Mishima Zaibatsu. After a very simple examination of their abilities and how much able they were to keep up with the practice, those who did it they were accepted. These two last years they were practicing at a slow pace but that was till Lars Alexandersson took the lead of the Zaibatsu. That made them happy but in the same time worried. For this man to come back, things weren't good...Could it be a new war? But it was impossible for the ex Tekken Force Officer to do something like that. Then, was it G-Corporation? Their thoughts were confirmed when Lars Alexandersson himself told them that Kazuya Mishima, his brother, was having a war against him...
These news weren't liked by the recruits...except from a certain "lady", who believed that it was time for her already to start focusing on her goal. She was also thinking of the other soldiers, who found the idea of a war really bad for themselves and their families. Well, of course, but aren't you here for that reason? To protect your family from any upcoming threats? She nodded to herself when she thought of that...
However, everything completely changed when they heard that they will be having a new commander to train them even harder, just yesterday. That was because Lars was going to use them as well. Her happiness, when she first heard that...well not exactly happiness...someone could say better excitement couldn't be described in words. The time for revenge was here. She wouldn't have to wait anymore and all that thanks to Lars. Inside her mind, she owed him a lot and even though she wasn't like some of the women there, who entered because they wanted just to get close to him, she was feeling very honored that she was going to fight alongside him...
Anyway, this kind of excitement disappeared when she first met the new commander...
The day when he was supposed to come, all the soldiers were standing in the right order waiting for Tougou to arrive with him. The girls were at first enthusiastic over the fact that Lars Alexandersson might come but their hopes were shuttered really soon. However, Tougou wasn't a bad sight himself...
Thirty minutes after they were already in order, the recruits watched an amount of Yggdrasil's soldiers accompanying Tougou, who was having alongside him a young man, same height as him with auburn hair...For a moment she felt disappointed. She hoped that all of a sudden she would see a woman standing next to the black haired man but no...It had to be a man...The disappointment she felt was unique since she really wanted for a woman to come and take action here. That way women would show how much more capable they are from men. And imagined that woman being her, huh? Awesome…Bossing around millions excuses of men…That would be a dream coming true. In the end, she decided to come back to reality and focused her attention back to the man again. However, even from this distance, where she was standing, she could tell that she had seen him somewhere. Being lost in her thoughts about this man in front of her she wasn't paying any attention to what Tougou was telling them. By the way, he had also said the new commander's name but she didn't hear him. She "woke up" when she noticed the soldiers next to her saluting and not having a clue she did the same...
After that, Tougou dismissed them and alongside Hwoarang left the place to enter the main office. The soldiers relaxed themselves and started chattering...
"I'm wondering what kind of practice he's going to put us through." said the man in front of her...
"Me too...Isn't he too young for that kind of practice? It needs a lot of experience." said another making her look at him...
The man nodded and suddenly she said...
"Hey?!"
Both of them looked at her...
"Did he say his name? I mean, you know..."
"Weren't you listening? And then you say that you're serious about being here."
"He's right! You're the worst. If you were like the others, who were here just for being close to Lars Alexandersson then we would let it go and of course tell you his name."
She clenched her fists and tried to manage her anger. How dare they compare her to those stupid girls? She was way different from all of them inside. Both men and women. There was no one inside there, who could understand her.
"Hey, Kazama? We're talking."
She glared at them and said before walking away...
"W-Whatever...I'm gonna find out by myself."
She walked to the building she saw them entering and hid. She was sure that if they would see her, they would ask her why was she here and then, of course, she would have to tell them that she didn't know her commander's name and came to find out. She looked at her left and right. She hoped that she would find him soon and of course not to fall upon Tougou or any of her seniors. She made a step forward but before she was ready to walk straight a hand caught her shoulder startling her...
Oh shit...She thought...
She turned her head to see a taller man standing above her. And, yes, he was well built with long red hair. After staring him upside down she was thinking how they allowed him to enter the army with long hair and didn't ask from him to cut it...
"Did you finish staring at me?"
The girl swallowed hard and nodded...
"Good...I see you're wearing a uniform. What's your name?"
Asuka remembered to salute and after that she said...
"K-Kazama, sir!" his eyes widened at the mention of her name... "Kazama Asuka"
Hwoarang tried not to seem surprised. He crossed his arms and said...
"I see now...That's why you seem familiar."
"You mean?"
"In the Iron Fist Tournament...We fought together, didn't we?"
She tried to remember him further. So, it wasn't just her. He knew her as well...
"It was in the fifth tournament...I was the one using taekwondo."
She nodded. Finally, she remembered him and her loss because of him...
"Oh yes, you're that guy with those beautiful long legs."
Hwoarang found the way she described him kind of awkward. Maybe, it was because she was the only one, who ever said that to him. The guy with the beautiful long legs. It sounded acceptable, even though using the word "beautiful" to describe any part of a man's body seemed kinda off to him. He smiled at her and nodded...
"Yup! And you're that girl with the awesome, strong body and of course those wonderful..." he stopped for a moment and she raised an eyebrow...
"H-Huh?"
"Eyes...I mean your eyes. They were shining."
She blushed feverishly and he smiled at the honesty of her face. She touched her face, noticing the heat, and tried to hide it by looking at the floor...
"Well..." she tried to say something to him but she was interrupted by a male voice...
"Hwoarang! What are you doing here and with that soldier?"
Asuka saluted in front of him and he dismissed her quickly...
"I wanted to take a look around here and I found her strolling around, so I asked her to join me." he said placing his arm around her shoulder...
Tougou sighed...
"Please, let the soldier return to her duties. I told you that I have already called some soldiers to help you."
He looked at her and said...
"Honestly now, as a man, who would you prefer to join you somewhere? Two of your men or a pretty girl as this one?"
"It depends on the situation. Now, please, Miss, return to your duties."
Hwoarang released her and she bowed to the two men before leaving...
So, that was his name...She thought and walked outside the main office...
Both Hwoarang and Tougou watched as the girl disappeared from their sight...
"So? Where you trying to pick her up or what?"
"Not really...She was an old acquaintance."
Tougou nodded and said...
"Whatever...I need to go back to Tokyo. Here's the key of the office. You're the only one who has it. Whatever you need, you can find it there, ok?"
He nodded...
"And anyway, my soldiers will help you...or this acquaintance of yours...See you!" he said and walked outside...
Hwoarang stayed back there and thought of the girl he was with before. Of course, he remembered that girl, even though he wasn't sure she was her and that was why he asked her name. He had spotted her from the very beginning of the fifth tournament since he was surprised when he had to fight another Kazama person that her whole appearance had been inside his head since then. But why was a girl like her here? That made him somehow curious...
Present day...
"Yes, sir!" said the soldier...
"You're dismissed" said Hwoarang and motioned for him to walk away...
He turned to the place where the girls were standing and saw their irritated face expression...
"What's that face for? You better drop it since you have no right to even say a word. And now, you Kazama...Try this again." he said showing her the wall she was trying to climb all this time...
She looked first at the wall and then at him...
"Later with that...How can you seem so relaxed when Lars Alexandersson himself wants to talk with you?!"
"I have to agree with this idiotic woman this time. Master Lars is our leader!"
Asuka rolled her eyes when she first heard that… "M-Master Lars?"
"What's with that?! Are you his fan girls as well?"
They shook negatively their heads...
"Don't get us into the same boat as them! We have important reasons." Said Asuka, who didn't realize that she supported her rival as well.
"I see..."
"See what?! You're avoiding the main subject! How can..."
"The main subject, girls, is the fact that you need to keep up with the others. Do that or else you'll be in trouble and of course not one of my recruits."
Asuka saw how serious his face turned. The training was always hard with him but he had never showed that kind of expression. Did they really annoy him?
"I..."
Hwoarang turned to leave but before that he said...
"Stop meddling in other people's businesses, you two...And continue your practice, I'll come to check on you." He said and Asuka nodded. He then turned to face Lili… "Rochefort?!"
"Y-Yes?" said Lili confused, as well, with the change in his expression…
"Come with me."
Lili nodded and after giving her rival a last glance she followed him…
With these last words of his they left her behind dumbfounded. That was truly unexpected and especially the fact that there was a possibility for her to not be recruited. Being afraid if that was to happen, she decided to keep her mouth shut and do as asked. After all, he was her senior...Even by a small number of years, she wasn't sure how many it was but still...She had to show respect...
She punched her left open hand with her right fist and took a determent face expression…
"Ok wall! I don't like you and you don't like me but we need to do this…w-well…for my sake! Got it?!"
…
Lili couldn't keep up with Hwoarang's walking. Maybe, she didn't want to, on the other hand. He was so scary back there. Suddenly, he stopped and turned his head to face her. She bit her lips and stood still…
"What's your problem with Kazama?" he asked and crossed his arms…
The young girl rolled her eyes in the inside. She was nervous like hell and all that for this question? She brought her gaze to meet his eyes and smiled… "Problem, you say? None…I don't think having a rival is considered a problem, if you ask me. You want a problem? I'll give you one. She won't be able to climb that wall for all eternity."
Hwoarang smiled as he looked at the ground for her to not see him. That girl had a point, he thought. He looked at her and said…
"Whatever…For now, don't bother her. You need, I mean both of you, to maintain a professional behavior…once in a while. Especially in front of others. Go back to your duties, ok?"
"When you say d-duties, you mean the toilets?"
Hwoarang rolled his eyes and shook his head… "No…Forget the toilets and not to mention that with your upbringing, I believe that you'll mess up. On the other hand, I could let you clean my office. Yeah! When I'm finished with the phone call I'll call for you, ok? Be somewhere near. "
Lili nodded and he dismissed her. She watched him as he was walking away. Both Asuka and her had a very weird feeling whenever they were near him. For an unknown reason she found that feeling reassuring but she still couldn't describe it. She couldn't realize it, yet but if someone was to ask her, who would she rely on between Hwoarang and Lars Alexandersson, she would say the first one…Did Asuka Kazama felt the same way? Lili noticed that she depended very much on him…But why?
…
Hwoarang entered the main office and proceeded to call Lars back. He felt sad and a little guilty about the girl he left behind with the wall and how he talked to her but that was for a short time. He knew that he was right about what he told her. He placed the phone on his ear and waited for the man to answer...
They talked on the phone for some minutes until he dropped the call. He relaxed himself on the couch inside the office and thought about what Lars told him. So, he had to send some of the soldiers to the main base and he had to do it very soon.
He stayed in that position for about an hour since he didn't realize that he was sleeping this whole time. He rubbed his eyes and checked the time looking at the clock on the wall opposite him. Noticing that it was time again for practice he stood up and wore his gloves. He walked outside and asked from the soldier, who was guarding the office to inform the other soldiers about the practice's place and hour. Then, he remembered leaving a girl behind. He doubted, however, that she would be still there practicing especially after the way he talked to her...
…
Asuka Kazama was still "fighting" with that tall grey wall. She would manage to climb half of it and a little more but close to the end both her legs and arms would give her up and she would fall on the ground...
"Ugh...Damn it!" she said after the fall...
She was touching with her hands the ground trying to support herself. She looked up and due to her exhaustion the wall seemed taller. She tried to catch her breath and that time she heard some male voices...
"Why don't you give up already?" she heard one of them...
Asuka just glared at them and tried to stand up...
"He's right! A girl's place is outside the battlefield waiting for her man to come back." He said mockingly…
"I'll puke...You're all...disgusting" she stood up and stretched her back...
"How dare you calling us that?!" said the first one...
"You heard me...I think."
The man started to walk at her place angrily, with her just staring at him...
"You bitch!"
That time he threw a punch at her, which, of course, managed to dodge. She grabbed his fist with her hand and kicked him with her knee at his stomach. He screamed in pain and fell on the ground. He looked at her and then heard the man, who was accompanying him laughing. The entire base was going to learn that he was hit by a woman...
"I guess you're not from Osaka since you don't know my name."
The man who was laughing stopped for a while and looked surprised at her...
"Don't tell me you're Asuka Kazama?!"
"Yup! That's me. The one and only!"
The man approached her and extended his hand for a handshake...
"Let me apologize and I'm glad to meet you."
Asuka took his hand and nodded. The man released her and looked at his companion on the ground...
"You have no chance against her, man."
The man looked at him and smirked confusing the other two. He stood up and attacked her once again. The girl started dodging his punches and kicks, something which was pretty easy for her. She started getting him tired but she was running out of patience and finally she gave him a final kick sending him away. She watched him as he landed on the ground and placed her arms on her hips...
"That'll teach you a lesson! Don't mess with me again, ok? Or else you'll regret it."
The girl gathered her things and when she was about to walk away she suddenly stopped, when she heard a gunshot. She dropped her things and turned to see what was happening behind her. An auburn haired man was standing right in front of her holding his gun in the air wearing a not so normal face expression. Even though she was some meters away she could see the small vein popping out from his right temple. She never saw him wearing that expression…Was it that they weren't already practicing? That could be, since she knew that it was the time for their afternoon practice or as she called it another visit to despair. She had already said that his exercise plan was without exaggerating a long painful way to the depths of Hell. It wasn't like she wasn't used to hard practice but that guy never let them go until he was satisfied with everyone. Once as she remembered they were practicing for five hours nonstop. Of course after that they didn't even were in the mood for dinner. They went straight to bed. She pitied the guys, who had to guard the gates that night.
Anyway, it was either that or he didn't enjoy his conversation with Lars Alexandersson. She really wanted to know what they talked about. Could it be that the day arrived? Was it time for her father to be avenged? She had to know. Well, asking him would be pointless, since he was probably going to make fun of her. Other way would be to try to…seduce him…What?! Seduce him? Myself?! She thought…Yeah, yeah…Asuka Kazama was known of her self-sarcasm. Whatever…Why think of things she wasn't even going to try?
Her mind brought her back to reality once again. Good thing her auto-pilot system never betrayed her. She looked behind her at the guys, who were already saluting him and panicking did the same…
He lowered his gun and looked at the girl in front of him. He didn't see her when the other soldiers gathered in the place, where they were having their afternoon practice. Could it be that she passed out trying to climb the wall? He smiled at her determination…Or that she gave up and went back to the dormitories? His smile turned into a frown full of anger...
He asked from one of his underlings to start the practice without him and with that he made his way to the place he left her before, hoping she would be there or she was going to be dead by his hands.
Soon after, he arrived there but stopped some meters away still being not able to be seen. He watched her beating one of the soldiers. He sighed…Did that guy had a death wish? He was sure that he tried to provoke her. However, she gave him one of a show. Maybe, he was going to follow another method with her…He had to think how however…
He saw the guy falling on the ground after the beat up she gave him. Why was she wasting her strength on that guy? One of her punches would be enough. Anyway, he took out his gun and approached them. The other two were trembling at his sight but the girl was knelt at the ground packing her things having her back facing him. Noticing that he wasn't seen by her he raised his gun and without thinking much of it he shoot the sky. That time he made sure that she, at least, realized another presence at the place if not him.
He didn't notice that he was wearing an angry face expression, however, the girl, who he was trying to get her attention, noticed it and saw her uneasiness…
He looked at the two behind her and said…
"You two."
"Yes, sir!" they replied in unison…
"Go to practice in an instant and if I see you again walking around aimlessly and especially when you know that you have duties…You're dead!"
They swallowed hard…
"Understood?"
They nodded…
"Good…Now leave from my sight."
"YES, SIR!" they bowed and left running…
Asuka was laughing silently, while watching them "pissing their pants". Hwoarang turned to her and rolled his eyes at her…
"You stupid, why are you laughing by yourself?"
She stopped at his question, which by the way pissed her off and looked at him. The scary expression from before disappeared and the cocky captain she in the same time admired and despised came back. For a moment, she preferred the scary one. Well, no but you got what she meant by that. She saw him as he raised his eyebrow…
"So? What was so funny?"
"Commander, please forgive me. I shouldn't have done that. You were talking to your soldiers…I mean your other soldiers and I shouldn't have make fun of the situation. My deepest apologies."
He sighed…
"Are you trying to be funny or what?"
"Me?!" she said widening her deep brown eyes… "I was completely h-honest?"
"You're asking me?"
…There was a moment of silence…
"HAHAHAHA" she started laughing loudly…
And there she goes. At least she let it out. She was holding her stomach and he was watching her with crossed arms…
Finally, she stopped and looked at him. She fixed her hair and tried to adopt a serious expression. Something very difficult for her…
"Are you done? I mean, can we finally talk seriously?"
She thought about it for a second and in the end she nodded positively…
"Good…You're dismissed from today's practice and…"
"WHAT?!"
"What's with that?"
"What did I do? They were picking on me and I'm the one being punished?" she said with an irritated expression…
He looked around him for a moment and then he approached her. She looked suspiciously at him and made two small steps back…
"Will you show me a little respect? At least for a moment."
She raised an eyebrow and said…
"For what reason?"
"I believe I should punish you in the end. You're so…so…"
"You mean that you weren't going to, you know…?"
He shook negatively his head and said…
"Go rest…I mean, you know eat, have a shower, anyway, whatever you want and when everyone sleeps come to my room."
"HUH?!"
"What is it? And why are you having this face?"
"Why he says…What's with him? Was he looking at me like that all the time? What for?"
He saw her flustered face and smiled in the inside. Her suspiciousness was a very cute attribute of hers…
"Hey, that flustered face you're having there is quite something…Are you hitting on me?"
"Why you…That's my line! A guy like you…Well, every guy has this in his mind. Of course you're no exception!"
Hwoarang smiled trying to hide his irritation. How dare she compare him to other men? He started walking further at her place with her stepping back until her back hit the wall and he placed both his hands on the wall, while standing in front of her destroying every possibility of escape. Her helpless expression was a sight he would always keep in his mind. No woman had ever looked at him like that and that because these women enjoyed his flirting. That girl in front of him was either inexperienced or didn't find him attractive. That last one would be unforgivable if it was true…
"Then, I guess…I shouldn't destroy this…umm…opinion of yours, on that matter and make you mine. What do you say?"
She looked intensely inside his, just like hers, deep brown eyes and witnessed the flame they were emitting. Such strong gaze, she thought. She shook her head and said…
"Like hell! Just because I didn't have the chance that doesn't mean I'm inexperienced."
"You mean?" he said as he released her…
"I mean that when the time of me wanting to give myself to my special someone comes, I won't just be lying there. I'll be in action."
"Is that so?"
"It sure is. When I do that, it will be when I'm in love with that guy. Isn't it fair from my side to show my feelings as well?" she said with a happy face expression…
Hwoarang dropped his arms at his side. What she said…Unknowingly created something inside him. What was this? He was ready to start walking but she stopped him with her voice. However, he didn't turn to see her…
"I'm right, aren't I?"
"Ask this to your future special someone." He said and started walking away…
"Hey?!"
"What is it?" she stopped him once again…
"Must I really come to your room?"
This time he turned to face her…
"Yeah…I need to talk with you and take Rochefort with you."
"I see. Why does this giraffe have to come? We'll be there."
He nodded and this time he really left…
Six hours later…
Asuka and Lili walked outside the female dormitories. They looked around them to make sure no one was seeing them and left the building. Good thing Hwoarang's room wasn't inside the men's dormitories. It was a normal looking, someone could say, house a little away from the dormitories. Wall by wall, they made it there and after breathing out Lili, after Asuka's request or maybe demand, knocked on the door. Inside there, Hwoarang was for an unknown reason once again disturbed with that feeling inside of him. It became worse when he heard the knock on his door. He set the beer, he held in his hand on a counter and walked to open the door. When he did, he saw their faces, which were showing the question like "so, why did you ask us to come for?" and realized the same thing. He completely forgot what he wanted to tell them. Shit…
"Well, are we going to be standing here all night or what?" asked Lili…
"Umm…sorry…I, you know, whatever come in."
They walked inside being confused with him and how off he looked. Did anything happen? Well, maybe, that's why he called them here. He closed the door and he, also, made sure that Asuka and Lili weren't been seen. He turned to ask them to take a seat but he saw them as they already fighting over, who was going to sit on his couch. Indeed, these girls were a nightmare but why didn't he find them annoying? He sighed and nodded to himself…
"What are you doing?" Asuka said confused…
He walked to take his beer from the counter and then he went and sat on his bed. He sipped some and he heard her again…
"Hey? Are you listening to me?"
"I hear ya."
She gritted her teeth as she saw him being completely relaxed while lying on his bed with his cold beer or what this was in his hand. She crossed angrily her arms and even without looking he noticed her negative vibes.
"You can open the fridge and have something to drink if you want."
"I'll pass. Just tell me what you want, sir." She said mockingly…
"Umm…Is there a possibility to have a soda? The shrimps were terrible." Lili was heard from the couch, since she was the one, who won their little argument…
"Huh?! They were unexpectedly good. You're the one with the weak stomach!"
He threw the empty can of his drink inside the bin and glanced at them. He didn't know if he would do the right thing by what he was going to tell them or regret it afterwards. Especially to Asuka, since he asked her to bring Lili as a backup.
"Asuka?" he murmured…
She was taken aback when she heard the guy calling her by her first name. Either he was going to call her "Kazama" or nothing, meaning that "hey, you".
"What are you on?"
"Huh?" he said raising an eyebrow…
"Don't play it all innocent! How come you call me by my name? Are we friends? And even if we were, we're in the army and you're my senior."
"So, you finally realized it?" said Lili as she sighed to her rival's annoyance…
He rolled his eyes something that irritated her. He stood up and opened the fridge. He found the soda Lili wished for and gave it to her…
"A senior you hold such respect for, eh?" he said turning to face Asuka…
"Of course I respect you!"
"Since when?" asked Lili as she opened the can…
"I will punch you, Rochefort!"
"Is that so?" said Hwoarang interrupting her…
She nodded…After that he gave her a smile…She saw him doing that and she let her guard down without realizing it. The same happened with Lili, who found this smile unexpectedly charming…
"I know that you do…deep down. Anyway, I want to ask you something…"
"Finally…What is it?"
"What do you two want to accomplish by being here?" …
Both of them didn't expect that question, especially Asuka Kazama…Well, truth was that she didn't know what she was expecting. But why for him to ask her this and that thing with her name, he didn't tell her in the end? She looked at him and came face to face with his serious side…
"You ask that…Why?"
"Please, tell me the reason." He said pleading her…
She sighed…
"It's something very important to me, you see. I MUST avenge my father. That jerk's father, I mean, Kazuya Mishima, killed my father."
"You mean especially your father? Why would he bother with just one person? Except if he had unfinished business with him."
"Of course not! That evil man sent his troops to explode Osaka's airport."
"The airport?!"
She nodded…
"Yeah…My father was coming back from a trip and he was killed inside the airport with a million other people."
"I'm sorry for bringing it up…really…"
"It's fine…I can't turn the time back to not tell him to go there or you know tell him to use the bus. I mean, that when it comes to this we must just move on."
Hwoarang looked at her teary eyes and decided to change the subject…
"But I'm sorry "fate", I'm not just going to stand there doing nothing. This man will die. Either from my hands or another's."
He was feeling exactly the same way…
"I understand."
"Understand? You?"
He nodded…
"Why not? You think I was here because of Alexandersson's payment?"
"Well duh…He's quite generous…And so handsome" she said as a matter of fact while drooling in the inside…
For a moment he felt somehow angry…
"Sorry to disappoint you then…The payment is the last thing I'm doing it for."
There was a moment of silence, until Hwoarang said… "What about you, Lili?"
Asuka turned to see her and Hwoarang did the same. As they started talking some minutes ago, Lili had found their conversation completely boring, since the subject was serious and she couldn't mess with her as she wanted. For that reason she decided to rest for a minute her eyes but she didn't realize when she fell into sleep…
The other two looked at each other and Hwoarang felt bad for Lili, since he dismissed her from practice as well to have her clean his whole office by herself. And the worst of it…She just made a bigger mess…He stood up and approached her. Asuka saw him as he took her in his arms, something that she was never going to admit, was that she felt somehow jealous of her. The man, with Lili in his arms, made his way to his bed and set her carefully, as to not wake her up, on it. After doing that he turned back and saw Asuka looking at him with an expression he couldn't understand. He walked there and touched her shoulder…
"Can you take off her shoes and, anyway, make something as for her to sleep comfortably?"
"Huh?" she crossed her arms irritated. What was she? The princess' nanny?! She rolled her eyes and muttered a "whatever". She walked to her side, took off her boots and relaxed her uniform's belt. Before she left, she unzipped her jacket to reveal a black tank top. She sighed in relief. Good thing she was wearing something underneath. She stood up and gave her a last glance. After making sure that she was ok, she walked back inside. She looked at Hwoarang and nodded. She had to ask as well…
She walked in front of him and he said… "Everything's ok?"
"Don't worry, her highness will sleep tight." She said and rolled her eyes…
"You jealous? I can let you sleep in my embrace. I'll sing a lullaby for you as well." He said as he opened his arms for her. Somewhere in the back of his head, he wasn't joking…
Asuka snapped his hands away and said… "Then? It's your turn now…Hwoarang."
He faced her deep in her eyes as she called his name. True, it was her turn now to approach him…
"What did that man do to you?"
He swallowed hard and lowered his gaze on the white floor…
"Two years ago, when Jin caused that war, I created a small rebel army against him and Kazuya. As you see, because of that I lost someone really important to me. It was my entire fault since that army it was my idea. I was the leader of the "Resistance"."
Asuka nodded. Yeah, she had heard of them. Well, she didn't hear the most complementing comments. A lot of people found it ridiculous. Things like: That small rebel army, there's no way they will manage to do anything against the Mishima Zaibatsu and others among these. However, she preferred to stay silent and not say a word. Shaking her head was enough, right? He saw her as she nodded positively and continued…
"I shouldn't have created that stupid thing from the beginning. Now, he would be still here…"
Who was he talking about, thought Asuka? Could it be that he had a brother?
"Can I ask about who you're talking about?"
He scratched the back of his head…
"Oh yeah…this man was both my master and my father figure. The only person I had close to me."
"Sorry to hear that…But now I get it when you say that you understand…I guess that we understand each other."
Hwoarang nodded and smiled at her. However, there was a difference between them but he didn't mention it to her. Her father died and she couldn't do anything but Baek died because of his student's stubbornness and hatred towards both Jin and Kazuya. If he had listened to Baek back then, things would have been different.
"See? I told you so."
That time she didn't say anything. She noticed the sorrowful expression he was trying very hard to hide. Silently, she stood up and approached him. Unconsciously, she knelt beside him and cupped with her hands his hand, which was resting on his thigh and he looked at her saying nothing. He saw her face expression. It was full of understanding and compassion. If it was someone, who wasn't in the situation the two of them was, Hwoarang would say that the person felt pity towards him but with her it was different. He knew that she didn't want to feel pitied as well but if he was to comfort her, she would accept it. Just, as he was doing right now with her.
He touched with his other hand her own, which was caressing his other one and squeezed it gently. The two smiled at each other. He knew that this action was a bad omen but he couldn't dissuade it. Was it that he indeed couldn't? Or that he didn't want to? He was confused but for now he was going to let that young woman comfort him with her warm hands…
…
A young girl after letting a last silent yawn and wondering how come she fell asleep, she made her way inside to see a scene she didn't expect…umm…not that…More like she didn't expect to see it so soon. She smiled at herself and brought her hand on her mouth… "Hehe…Things are getting interesting!" she said to herself and walked silently back to the room… "Even though, I'm getting a little jealous…" she muttered happily…
Thanks for reading!