Authors Note: SSSSSOOOOORRRRRYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have been experiencing some pretty severe writer's block. My ineptitude has been constantly slapping me across the face this last week. I haven't even been able to spell the word oarange lately. ..........Er.....I mean orange.....Yeah. *sigh* Never mind.

Disclaimer: *sigh* These disclaimers are so depressing. Why must I always reflect upon what I DON'T have?? It's like the rich owners of Tekken must beat me down every time try to pretend I have some control of the plot of Tekken. Fine!! I'll say it!!! I DON'T OWN TEKKEN!!!!!!!!!!!!! I DON'T! *bursts into tears* (sniff) Are you happy now??

"This is the Habitat." Jiro motioned her to follow him.

Xiaoyu gazed around with interest. Apparently this was where Heihachi kept his grizzly, Kuma. Xiaoyu had been surprised to find out that Heihachi kept a bear for a pet. She'd heard offhand comments but assumed it was a nickname or something.

"As you can see the bears have access to a very clean pond stocked with a variety of fish." he went on.

Xiaoyu peered into its shadowy depths. It sparkled cleanly and beneath the surface green fish kicked sunlight back into her face.

".Miss?"

She turned around.

"This way Miss," he beckoned.

She followed Jiro further and he showed her the caves, hulking caverns filled with cushions. He led her through all of the grounds and in a circle until they arrived near the Mansion's back door.

Jiro shifted uncomfortably. "Well, Miss, Sir will be waiting for you in his office. He's asked for you to come see him when you're finished here."

Xiaoyu nodded vaguely. She drifted back into Mansion thoughtfully. She now owned Panda. This should be exciting but Xiaoyu was struck by the awesome responsibility it implied. It was her job to help train, bathe, and feed Panda and there was a lot of Panda to go around. What if she couldn't do it? Xiaoyu knew. Panda would probably go back to the school. She couldn't let that happen.

She continued to wander dazedly toward the office, so consumed by her thoughts that she walked straight into a stationary Jin. He put a hand out to steady her.

"Umph!" She blinked. "Oh. Hi Jin. Sorry 'bout that."

"Hello Ling-san. Are you well?"

"Well?" she asked. "Oh! The fight. Yeah, I'm good."

He gazed at her. "You're sure?"

Xiaoyu smiled ruefully. "Yeah, I'm not hurt, but it sucks that I got into trouble already. I was trying real hard to be good."

"It wasn't your fault." He turned his eyes from her. "It was mine."

Xiaoyu snorted. "It's not your fault that Kotaro's a jerk and you're not responsible for my actions. Don't be dumb."

Jin looked faintly surprised at her vehemence. After a moment he smiled. "Well, it's good you're fine then; wouldn't want you to miss out on your shopping spree."

Xiaoyu's eyes widened. "Shopping?"

"Yeah. Here." Jin tossed a small orb at her.

She reached out and easily caught the small object but caught her breath and dropped it when it hit her hand. Jin's face instantly lost its smile. He covered the distance between them before the orb hit the ground.

Wordlessly Jin took her hand in his and turned it over. Xiaoyu's surroundings seemed to dim as her awareness shrank to their joined hands. Some small part of her marveled at how tiny her hand looked against his, how warm his skin felt on the back of her hand. But the largest part of Xiaoyu could think of nothing at all.

"How did this happen?" Jin whispered.

Xiaoyu blinked. "I'd forgotten. Kotaro threw a rock."

His grip tightened for a moment then he released her. "You're bruised. Try not to use that hand for a while." Jin bent down and picked up the ball from the floor. "This is a PDA. There's a list on it of things you will need. Heihachi wants you to get whatever you want so don't hold back."

She inspected it curiously. "I thought PDA's were square." She pushed a button and scrolled down. "Cool..." Clothes, shoes, accessories, backpack, school supplies, training clothes...

"Most are." Jin turned walked along side and steered her around furniture as she continued to be absorbed by her new toy. When she was done fiddling she looked up at him.

"Where are we going?"

"To the mall," he replied.

"You guys got a mall here?" she asked. "How big is it?"

Jin shrugged. "It's big.

Xiaoyu raised an eyebrow.

He shook his head and smiled. "Okay... It's about five stories tall and a kilometer long." Jin nodded. "Big."

Xiaoyu gazed at him incredulously then was suddenly overcome by gales of laughter. "...Big?" She chuckled then shook her head.

"It is."

To Xiaoyu's surprise they did not make their way to the parking lot but instead circled the house and went out the back way.

"Jin..." Xiaoyu murmured as she stared blankly at the stone wall.

"Yeah?" he answered over his shoulder. He reached the top of the wall then turned and sat there, looking at her.

"This might sound like a silly question," she said as she shot him a funny look. "But isn't climbing a wall and trekking through an entire untamed forest of death counterproductive to reaching a mall? Which just happens to be in the opposite direction?"

Jin laughed. "Forest of death?"

Xiaoyu crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. "Yeah. Death to my shoes."

"Trust me. Your shoes will be fine. And this is actually a shortcut."

She sighed, "Liar," and vaulted into a tree. Xiaoyu leapt dexterously among the branches before stepping lightly onto the wall.

Jin looked impressed. "You're good at that."

"I love trees. That's one thing that sucked about living in the city: no trees."

He turned and jumped to the ground. Xiaoyu followed suit and stepped over the edge but landed on a stick and lost her balance. The ground rushed at her. Xiaoyu tensed for the impact but something caught her.

Xiaoyu clung to Jin for a moment and caught her breath. He held her as she shook, wondering at her terrified expression. Xiaoyu closed her eyes and bowed her head as remembered fear and pain washed through her. She shivered then stood up. Taking deep breaths she calmed down slowly until the only thing she felt was a curious numbness.

"So," she whispered and her voice barely shook. "Which way?"

Jin gazed at her then took her hand and led her into the forest without a word.

***

The heaviness in Xiaoyu's chest eased as she walked. The forest was beautiful. The friendly brown trunks crowded around her and sunlight filtered through the gaps in the canopy. The animals here didn't seem to be frightened of anything. Raccoons swaggered boldly across their path and birds sang merrily in the background. Xiaoyu smiled and relaxed completely as a weasel poked its head out of a bush and studied them precociously.

"So, Jin? Where exactly is this 'shortcut' of yours?"

He glanced at her concern still on his face. "It's not far."

"This forest must not be bothered much. The animals aren't afraid."

Jin nodded. "Actually almost no one is allowed to come here. Heihachi- sama bought the whole island. Only the city and a few picnic areas are public."

Xiaoyu blinked. "You mean that this whole beautiful forest is only for a few people?"

"Well Heihachi-sama meant for this to be a wildlife preserve."

"Really?" She paused. "He seems very environmentally friendly."

Jin looked uncomfortable. "...Yes..." He stopped. "Here we are."

Xiaoyu looked ahead. They were on the top of a very tall, very steep hill. The path they were on curved around the hill and straight down to a busy street. "Cool...."

Jin glanced slyly at Xiaoyu. "I usually run all the way down. Want to race?"

Xiaoyu turned and grinned at him mischievously. "Well..." And took off.

She heard a loud protest behind her but Xiaoyu only laughed and ran faster. The wind was loud whistle in her ears and it pressed against her, trying to slow her down. But Xiaoyu was too fast; she was practically falling down the hill. Xiaoyu flew, her feet barely touching the ground. She spread her arms and launched into the air. Xiaoyu pretended for an instant that she could fly, that her fingers touched the sky. But then she came down to the ground. Xiaoyu stopped running with a smile on her face.

Jin stopped beside her. He smiled and took her hand. "You're quite the runner."

They crossed the street.