Disclaimer: Tekken—believe it or not—is still property of Namco.
Chapter VII: Decisions
A/N: I'm not going to give the excuse; it's not even necessary, cuz I'm sure you know the drill. ^_~ But, I will apologize again for the delay. ;( Hope you enjoy; I'm a bit rusty. +_+
Nina looked at the clock on the wall, then at her contract. Flights were being called left and right. She could skip town now, kill Steve, or stick around for the God forsaken tournament. She sighed, as a presence soon alerted her.
"Nina," spoke a masculine voice. She turned and looked at the figure wryly, wondering what the hell he wanted.
"I didn't need you then," she snapped, "and I don't need you now," she reiterated, adding insult to injury.
Shrugging, the muscle mass ignored the snide comment, for he had heard them all, "So that's why the kid's such a screw up. Because you don't need me," he said amused. He chuckled, "That's my problem with women like you,"
Arching a brow, Nina folded her arms, "If you had such a problem with women like me, we wouldn't have had a son, now would we?"
His silenced was corroboration enough as she nodded, and left the man alone, making her decision.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Hwoarang glared upon noticing his rival standing in the same room, and affectionately gazing at the same young woman. Bastard, he swore in his mind, wishing he could kill the teen and end this all now. But then again, how could you kill someone who was supposedly dead?
"What're you here for?" snapped the redhead.
Jin turned to him, but remained silent, once more directing his attentions to the patient.
Groaning a bit, Dionne slowly opened her eyes, "Jin?" she asked, blinking, and simultaneously crushing Hwoarang.
Watching in anger and a sort of horror, Hwoarang shook his head as Jin sat in the corner and smirked at the young woman.
"Nice to see you up," Hwoarang muttered, making Dionne snap her head over to look at him, and offer a smile.
"I know," she said softly, "Thank you."
He nodded, and looked at her for a long time before swallowing—both the lump in his throat and his pride—and walking out of the room.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Julia walked past a tree, and looked around. She noticed a blonde boxer sitting there as well as a camera crew and paramedics.
"You two ready?" asked the announcer lowly.
Steve looked up, noticing his opponent for the first time, and standing to meet her. Julia stepped to him, and the announcer signaled the cameraman.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to our arena the blonde bomb of boxing…Steve Fox! As well as sweet sunflower of Phoenix…Julia Chang!"
Waiting in anticipation as well as anxiety, the two stood in fighting stances, preparing to fight.
"FIGHT!" the announcer snapped, stepping out of the way.
Steve moved from side to side, showing off his agility. Julia narrowed her eyes, and launched a forceful twin arrow blow to his abdomen.
He groaned a bit, but swiftly jabbed at the young woman, and she fell back against a nearby tree. Grunting, Julia refused to give up as she attempted to charge into Steve. He in turn stepped out of the way, and exhaled deeply before executing a firm punch that sent her flying 20 feet into the same tree. She groaned, and tried to get up, but instead opted to hold her aching head. Steve smirked in utter satisfaction as the announcer boomed with satisfaction himself, "The victor, Steve Fox!"
* * * * * * * * * *
Dionne sighed, stretching a bit. Blinking, the first thing her ebony pupils scoped was Jin sitting in the corner. He immediately blinked, and looked at her. She sat up, and he looked a bit surprised. The door was already closed from the last nurse as Jin approached the young beauty. Exhaling in anticipation, she lowered her lashes as Jin walked over, and held her chin. He drew his lips to hers, this time taking the aggressor's role. Dionne rested herself against the raised hospital bed, and inclined her back. Jin put an arm behind her, to help support her cut back. He pulled away from her for a moment.
"Does it hurt?"
"Does what hurt?" she asked breathlessly.
"Your wounds," he spoke controlling his breathing.
She shook her head, "No," she spoke softly. He clenched his jaw, and bent down to her again.
* * * * * * * * * *
Ling Xiayou looked around the room and smiled, "This I can get used to," she smiled to herself as she stepped around the room. She sighed, and looked at the punching bag. Lifting her hands into her kata, she rolled on the ground with her back to the bag as she struck it several times before turning around and maneuvering a phoenix fan and then a fortune cookie. She smiled upon noticing grains seeping from the bag.
* * * * * * * * * *
Sakari watched her pawn from the secret video camera.
"The little flower has more potential than I thought," she spoke with a grin.
"Sakari!" yelled the senile Mishima. She rolled her eyes, "God I can't wait to put a bullet through his head," she muttered angrily. Sauntering over to his office while muttering death wishes, she smiled a sexy smile, "Yes Mr. Mishima?"
He smiled—if you can call the evil sneer he wore a smile—, "The next fight will prove to be quite…exciting. Take a seat," he instructed.
She nodded with her fake smile, and took her seat to scowl again.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
The journey to Christie's room was a long, hard one; but Steve had to make it. If he allowed pride to conquer him, the couple would surely suffer. He sighed, and a voice behind him stopped him dead in his tracks.
"Where you off to, lover boy?"
Smiling in recognition, Steve turned and saw none other than Nina standing before him, "To what do I owe the privilege of seeing my assassin?"
"I never completed my contract," she spoke, making the young boxer's muscles stiffen, "But why should I? After all, kill my own flesh and blood? Who will carry on all my good genes?" she joked.
Shock was clearly shown on the face of the young man, "Mother…"
Nina slowly closed the space between the two, "Here's my card; it has my personal cell phone number on it. I wrote the extension on the back. Memorize the number, and burn the card," she instructed, taking his hand, and setting the card there before closing it once more. Turning to walk away, she stopped upon his request.
"Goodbye," he said softly.
A small smile crept up on her lips, as she nodded, and walked away once more. Steve swallowed, and continued on his way to Christie's room.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Dionne slowly blinked her eyes opened, and allowed her dark pupils to adjust to the light. A light tingling sensation crept up her spine as she sat up. Her slight smile fell from existence as she noticed…
"He's gone," she said softly to the air. The door was closed, and she was all alone. Looking down, a strange thought occurred to her, "Maybe I…dreamt it," she thought aloud. Suddenly, her eyes caught sight of something.
I have a match.
She swallowed as she skimmed the note, and turned on ESPN. None other than Lee and Jin were standing there, ready to fight. She folded her hands, and watched intently.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
"I apologize in advance for any damages you incur, my nephew," Lee spoke with an amused smile.
Jin simply looked on, and cracked his knuckles.
"FIGHT!!!" the announcer yelled by the airport.
Lee sent a three-punch combo to Jin's face to disorientate the youth. Jin returned with a series of punches with an axe kick. Lee hit the floor, and Jin executed a low sweeping kick. Lee's hopes of getting up were diminutive. Nevertheless, he was up in seconds, and he executed a summersault kick that Jin blocked flawlessly. Shoving his uncle into the wall, the dark-haired youth shot a powerful tsunami kick to the man's abdomen and followed it up with a forceful punch to the midsection. Sliding down against the wall, blood began to seep from the corners of Lee's mouth. He crouched, and swept Jin off his feet for a moment, and Jin stayed down briefly. Lee got up, and was about to basque in his victory when Jin grabbed him by the wrist, cracked a few vertebrae of his spine, and slammed him over the shoulder.
"The winner, Jin Kazama!!"
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Heihachi grinned, "What a fight, eh Sakari?"
"Indeed," she spoke genuinely. You'll see, Jin. When the Zaibatsu is mine, you'll be mine as well; she smirked with the thought, and headed back to her office.
Heihachi grunted, but simply looked at the list. He tossed it aside, and shut the TV off, bored for a while.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Evening…
"Thank you," Dionne spoke as the doctor signed her release form. Heading to the exit, she bumped into another person, "I'm…" she was cut off mid-sentence and she proceeded to embrace the man before her.
Jin swallowed, but put his arms at her back.
"Did you find my note?" he asked lowly.
She nodded, "Congratulations," she said with a sexy wink, pulling at the zipper on his jacket. A smirk danced on his lips.
"So you're out of here?" he asked as she finally let him go.
"For now," she spoke with a sigh, leading him outside, "But I have a match next,"
He looked at her through ebony eyes, "No," he spoke firmly, "You can't fight in your condition,"
Dionne sighed, "Jin, I have to do this," she spoke softly, "I have to fight,"
Falling from his unearthly darkness, Jin allowed himself a slightly humane gesture as he caressed her cheek gently. She inhaled his natural scent, and looked up at him.
"Be careful," he warned, letting go, and returning to his previous state.
Nodding, "I will," she promised him as she walked away.
* * * * * * * * * *
Half an hour later…
Dionne waited on top of the building, and her eyes widened when she noticed her opponent walking over. He stopped dead in his tracks.
"Di?"
Swallowing, "Red?"
He approached her slowly, "But you just came out of the hospital,"
She shrugged as the footsteps of the announcer and camera crew were audible, "I have to do what I have to do," she said softly.
Nodding his agreement, "So do I," he immediately turned, and walked over to the announcer, "I forfeit,"
Dionne's eyes went wide and she ran over, "You can't do this! The tournament is…"
He turned to her, "I know what I'm doing," he spoke dishonestly. He shook her hand, and turn to leave. The announcer appeared in front of the TV camera, and began to explain what had happened. Dionne swallowed her guilt, and went to go meet Jin again.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Steve stroked Christie's cheek, making her smile.
"You're so beautiful," he flirted, making her blush.
"I bet you say that to every girl you wake up with," she joked, kissing his nose.
"You're my first, so no. Just you," he spoke, making her look down, then back into his eyes. Taking him by the chin, she slowly closed the space between them, and kissed him softly.
* * * * * * * * * * *
A/N: Okay, don't hate me for making Hwoarang do that. (If anything, hate me later when... ^_~) Well, I gave you a sweet Nina/Steve scene…so forgive me? Anyhow, hope you liked and sorry for taking so long! (School will be out soon, and the fic's almost over!)