Disclaimer: Tekken belongs to Namco and all of its affiliates.
Chapter VI: After Dusk Comes Dawn
A/N: Sorry it took to long to update!! Evil teachers, hard exams, loads of projects, etc. Anyhow, this chapter is dedicated to Fujin. Talk about my major source of encouragement? Lord knows I would have left this thing alone forever! But since I know someone cares…I'm continuing it, just for Fujin, Fujin, Fujin!!! Enjoy, everyone else, if you can still stand me. ^_~
Paul was up, and prepared for his fight. He cracked his neck from side to side, and cracked his knuckles. Marshall was next to him, and patted him on the shoulder.
"Good luck," he spoke to his friend.
Paul nodded, and the announcer began.
"For the first fight of the morning, I give you the feared crushing machine…PAUL PHEONIX!!!!!"
Paul walked out, and received a few whistles from the women. He smirked, and simply stretched a bit to prepare himself.
"And his opponent, the towering muscle mass…KUMA!!!!"
Paul's eyes went wide, and he swore a million times. He also noticed Marshall at a distance, swallowing for him. The bear stepped in, and arched its back, extending its arms. Paul narrowed his eyes.
"FIGHT!"
Kuma charged into the blonde fighter. He attempted to penetrate his confident armor by tackling him, but Paul executed a fist of the gods, sending his opponent flying to the mall's wall. The audience gasped, and backed away a bit farther. Kuma staggered a bit, and Paul charged into him, knocking him down, and punching at him mercilessly. He leapt off the bear, and Kuma got up in a stupor. Paul smirked, knowing the fight had long since been won. The bear fell, causing the very foundation to rock.
"And the victor," the announcer spoke, barely able to believe his eyes, "PAUL PHEONIX!!!!"
* * * * * * * * * * *
Christie yawned and blinked her eyes open slowly. She looked around, and noticed she wasn't in her room. Looking to her side, she noticed her companion. Uttering a slur of swears, she shifted out of his arms, and stood to dress. The British boxer woke up, and sat up to smile at her almost triumphantly.
"Hello my Brazilian flower," he spoke haughtily.
Christie glared, her hair whipping in front of her face, "Go to hell!" she snapped, slipping on her shoes. He arched a brow, surprised at her reaction. Bellowing out of the room, a few other participants heard the ruckus from their rooms, and looked out to see the poised Brazilian storming from the British con-man's room. They simply returned to their rooms, and Steve ran a hand through his blonde locks.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Jin stared at the ceiling with both arms behind his back. The curtain was slightly ajar, allowing sunbeams to penetrate the darkness. He swallowed, thinking about last night. Why did such an encounter leave him with such fond memories? Never before had something like this happened to him. He sighed, and stood up to open his curtains. Checking his messages on the hotel phone, he noted that he didn't have a match today. He walked to his bathroom, and switched on the light. Looking into the mirror, he discovered a stranger standing before him…his father. He blinked, and the image was gone. He slammed his fist onto the table, and he simply washed his face.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Ling woke up during what she assumed was day. She noticed a few drops of sunlight shining through a hole. Curiously examining the hole, she wondered why she was unable to view the moonlight.
"HELP!" she called loudly, wondering if anyone would be able to hear her. Attempting her cries a few times more, she discovered she was trapped. As she sank to her knees again, she noticed a door opening at the end of the room. She stood, and noticed a gorgeous female enter the room.
"Who are you? What do you want with me?" she snapped angrily.
The woman smiled coyly, "I've come to feed you…unless you're not hungry," she spoke with pure venom in her voice.
Ling narrowed her eyes, but simply remained reticent. The woman closed the door, and approached her with a tray of pancakes, eggs and orange juice. Ling's eyes widened hungrily.
"Ling Xiayou, I'm offering you a chance at victory," the cryptic woman uttered, setting the tray before the famished teenager.
"Victory? Trapped in here?" beginning to devour her eggs.
Smiling, the woman nodded, "Yes. Surely you'd like to win the Tekken tournament?"
Twinkling mysteriously, Ling eyed the woman, conspicuously showing a bit of distrust.
"I'm sure you have more than one reason for not trusting me, but if you do, I promise the reward will be great indeed," she assured.
"Tell me," Ling coaxed.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
"Welcome back, ladies and gentlemen. For those of you just joining us, this is the second fight of the day. Introducing the ancient master of pain joining us from the past of the first two Tekken tournaments…Marshall Law!!" the crowd roared with life, and Law felt pumped up, walking into the arena.
"Now introducing the mocking monkey of martial arts…Combot!!"
The crowd roared once more, and Law looked up to notice the walking mass of machinery walking toward the ring with him.
"Holy gods of war…"
"FIGHT!"
The thing known as Combot threw a jaw-splitting punch to the middle-aged man. He then proceeded to perform a frogman's combo. Law had practically no chance; this thing was thrusting all of his own moves at him! Finally, the robot mustered up his arms, as Law was about to charge, and flashed a heated ball of energy at the man. Law froze in shock, and time seemed suspended as he fell to the floor. It was an eternity for him as he looked up into the crowd, hearing cheers to coax him. He tried to move, but to no avail.
"A quick, clean fight, ladies and gents, the winner is Combot!"
Law could barely move to accept his defeat as the robot swung itself around in a victorious kata.
* * * * * * * * * * *
The gym was silent and a pin could be heard dropping on the ground. A vibration was audible from Dionne's cell phone. She stopped wrapping her fists and glanced at the small silver machine. Narrowing her eyes, she read the text message. Her deep sigh stilled the room as she pocketed her cell phone. She was about to head out of the gym when she remembered her bag lying on the ground. Swearing, she turned around to head back inside, but gasped a bit as a pale, strong hand offered it to her.
"Hey," she said softly her surprise subsiding.
"Hey," Jin replied in his gi. His gloved hand held her bag out to her. She took it, but then suddenly droped it. He arched a brow at her strange actions. She lifted her hands to set them at his torso, and he took her wrists. She swallowed and looked down.
"Sorry," pulling her hands.
To her surprise, he didn't let go. He pulled her closer and kissed her, holding her hands to his torso. Teasing at his lips, she leaned closer. The cell phone vibrated in her pocket, making Jin jolt his hand away and step back. Dionne opened her eyes and noticed the persistent text message. *She looked at Jin and his chest heaved a bit. Whisping her fingers along his lips, she felt herself longing to stay.
"Go," he said simply.
She nodded and left with her bag. Jin clenched his jaw, and lifted his leg. He kicked the bag and sand seeped out.
* * * * * * * * * *
Yoshimitsu waited outside of the arena for his opponent. A redhead stepped up to him.
"You've got to kidding me," he spoke, amused.
The redhead's eyes glinted in humor, "No Yoshi. I'm here to wish your opponent luck," winking.
He smiled, "When he loses, we'll see,"
Hwoarang nodded, and soon after the young Hispanic showed up.
"I see why you waited," Yoshimitsu said, eyeing his opponent.
Dionne sported a black sports bra with plain matching exercise pants. Her hands and feet were both wrapped, "Hey," she offered sweetly to him.
Hwoarang nodded at her, and his eyes glimmered as he noticed familiar red gloves on her hands.
"Yoshimitsu," the manji ninja introduced himself.
She nodded and stepped into the ring. Yoshimitsu arched a metalic brow, but proceeded along. Hwoarang narrowed his eyes watching on.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Christie angrily slammed her fist at the punch dummy. Firm arms wrapped around her to stop herself from injury.
"Stop this bloody insanity," Steve snapped in his thick accent.
Christie's brown locks matted themselves to her face. He held her arms.
"Why are you running?" he asked softly.
"I wanted to beat you to it," she admitted, her voice void of emotions.
He shook his head, hugging her. Momentarily, a shot sounded in the small training house of the hotel. Christie ducked, pulling Steve down on top of her. Another shot sounded through the glass. Bullets began to riddle the room. Christie swallowed and Steve was atop her. Silence was soon heard, and Steve moved to allow Christie to roll over. She stared up into his eyes.
"Are you alright?" he asked lowly.
She nodded, her breath coming shallow, "I'm fine," reaching up and touching his cheek, "Now."
Steve looked a bit surprised, but bent down to kiss her.
* * * * * * * * *
Dionne walked around her opponent.
"Introducing the soultry Latina diva, Dionne DeLavega!"
The crowd went wild, not exlcluding a few of the men who were slapped by their girlfriends.
"And the sword-wielding Manji…Yoshimitsu!"
The crowd once more screamed and cheered.
"FIGHT!!!"
The Manji swished his sword about to distract the teen, but she looked directly into his eyes. He decided on a new approach…his infamous Hirakari. Unfortunately, when he stabbed himself, the poor teen didn't know what was going on. She scratched her head, and edged closer. Unfortunately, Yoshimitsu jumped on his sword, and performed a flea. Then, he jumped off, and sliced her chest. A long scar of blood was evident over her belly button. He grinned, and she soon jumped and executed an extremely powerful roundhouse kick. He fell back, and she charged into him. Once he hit the floor, she jumped on him, and pounded at him mercilessly. Eventually, she got off, and the Manji got up—dizzy.
She performed a move that looked like a ballet twirl, but in reality, sent her leg slamming into the ninja's back. He fell against the rope, and kneeled for a moment. When he got up again, she was in a stance, ready for him. Yoshimitsu raised his sword, and ran at his opponent. He performed a hard-hitting door-knocker jab, and she backed away, shaking dizziness away. He raised his sword to stab her, but she breathed, and quickly sent a hard punch to the stomach. His sword fell from his hand. The green illuminescence was lost as the blade glistened silver. He glared, and she spat blood. He was about to backhand slap her, but she got on her hands, and executed a back-flip style double kick. Yoshimitsu hit the floor, and coughed—but didn't move.
"Dionne wins!!"
She smiled at the cheering crowd, when she felt her energy slipping from her. She slid to the floor, unconscious.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Hwoarang watched the young woman win her first fight, and he nodded in pride. As he watched her slip to the floor, he was immidiately alarmed. He ran in the ring as spectators started to question. He kneeled, and placed her head on his knee, "Dionne! Come on, wake up, damnit!"
She blinked, "I…" but then, she was out again.
Hwoarang lifted her without a second thought, and moved through the crowd. He walked into an unoccupied taxi where the driver was gone. He placed her in the back, and removed his jacket, applying pressure to her cuts. When the driver returned, he gasped at the sight.
"My seats…"
"My ass! Get moving!" Hwoarang snapped, rage evident in his eyes.
The cabby dared not argue with this man; he looked mad enough to kill. Jumping in, and slamming the door, the man wisely decided to pull off.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Jin meditated, and exhaled in the gym. His eyes immidiately snapped open, glimmering a ruby red. He blinked, and shook his head, and he uttered a single syllable, "Di."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
A/N: You people know I love you all, right? ::Gives pleading look:: Anyhow, hope you enjoy this chappie!