At dinner, Heihachi Mishima repeated the main points of his speech from the previous night for the latecomers, Yoshimitsu and two other men. One, dressed straight out of a Hollywood film, was introduced simply as Violet, no doubt in reference to his striking purple hair. The other stood at least six and a half feet tall, dark-skinned and bald. He was introduced as Craig Marduk. He immediately stood up upon hearing his name. "So, who's the unlucky guy I'm gonna beat the crap out of tomorrow? Which one of y'all is Ling Jow-yoo?"
Xiaoyu stood up. "Xiaoyu," she corrected. He looked at her, threw back his head, and laughed.
"What is this, some kind of joke? Ain't it a little past your bed time? Go home and get your teddy bear!"
Enraged, Jin jumped to his feet. "I assure you, Mr. Marduk," he growled, "that Miss Ling is a very capable fighter." The two men glared at each other. Heihachi looked from one to the other and chuckled.
"Have a seat, gentlemen and lady. Save your anger for the Tournament." They slowly lowered themselves back into their chairs. Xiaoyu put a comforting hand on Jin's forearm.
"Don't worry," she said. "He's just trying to intimidate me. I'm not afraid of talk." Jin nodded, calming a bit. Still, his face showed his anger.
"If he does happen to get lucky and beat you, he'll have me to answer to."
Xiaoyu scowled. "I can fight my own battles, Jin." She poked at her food with her fork. As much as she hated to admit it, she couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy. Craig Marduk was almost two feet taller than she, and even his muscles had muscles. Across the room, Lei Wulong was busy explaining to him what the food on his plate was.
"What time are you planning on turning in tonight, Xiao?" Julia asked, effectively changing the subject.
"I don't know yet. I guess whenever I feel tired."
"Hopefully that'll be pretty early," Jin added. "You'll need your rest for tomorrow's fight."
"Yeah." Xiaoyu glanced at Hwoarang. He was enjoying a discussion with Paul Phoenix and Marshall Law. Forest sat across from him, concentrating on his food. She sighed, wishing she didn't have to keep her friendship secret from Jin.
Xiaoyu stood up. "Xiaoyu," she corrected. He looked at her, threw back his head, and laughed.
"What is this, some kind of joke? Ain't it a little past your bed time? Go home and get your teddy bear!"
Enraged, Jin jumped to his feet. "I assure you, Mr. Marduk," he growled, "that Miss Ling is a very capable fighter." The two men glared at each other. Heihachi looked from one to the other and chuckled.
"Have a seat, gentlemen and lady. Save your anger for the Tournament." They slowly lowered themselves back into their chairs. Xiaoyu put a comforting hand on Jin's forearm.
"Don't worry," she said. "He's just trying to intimidate me. I'm not afraid of talk." Jin nodded, calming a bit. Still, his face showed his anger.
"If he does happen to get lucky and beat you, he'll have me to answer to."
Xiaoyu scowled. "I can fight my own battles, Jin." She poked at her food with her fork. As much as she hated to admit it, she couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy. Craig Marduk was almost two feet taller than she, and even his muscles had muscles. Across the room, Lei Wulong was busy explaining to him what the food on his plate was.
"What time are you planning on turning in tonight, Xiao?" Julia asked, effectively changing the subject.
"I don't know yet. I guess whenever I feel tired."
"Hopefully that'll be pretty early," Jin added. "You'll need your rest for tomorrow's fight."
"Yeah." Xiaoyu glanced at Hwoarang. He was enjoying a discussion with Paul Phoenix and Marshall Law. Forest sat across from him, concentrating on his food. She sighed, wishing she didn't have to keep her friendship secret from Jin.