A/N: Hi guys, I know it's been a long time, sorry! I got a surprise job offering at a camp and didn't have time to post before I left. Believe me, I would much rather have spent those weeks writing. As it were I probably washed enough dishes to serve a small army. Maybe even a big one! And setting the tables... I don't even want to think about it! I spent around seven hours in the kitchens a day, and when I wasn't working I was crashing in my cabin. Took a lot of naps... Anyway, here's the next chapter! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Oh yeah, almost forgot. I own Tekken. Wait a minute, lemme think... Yeah, I own Tekken. *layers advance carrying briefcases and machine guns* Ummm, on second thought, Namco owns Tekken and any Tekken characters in my fic do not belong to me! Dun hurt me! Plz! *runs and hides*

Chapter 8

"Is that it?" Jin asked as the last limo drove away.

Xiaoyu stared at him in disbelief. "You're joking right? I just filled up two cars full of stuff."

He shrugged. "Just making sure." Jin looked at the sky. His dark eyes reflected the day's last light. "We had better hurry. It's getting late."

She nodded. "I'm ready. Let's go." Truth be told, Xiaoyu was way past ready to go. She had always loved shopping, but that had been when she couldn't afford anything. The thrill seemed to have left her now; she'd been done after the bare essentials. But Jin had insisted that she have at least one different outfit for every day of the week. For three weeks actually. He'd let her choose, but was firm in his decision that she have cloths for every occasion. He'd even made a special point of handing her training clothes. It had been hours before they finished.

"Come on, this way." Jin brushed his hand along Xiaoyu's elbow and started walking. She shivered.

"Jin?"

"What is it, Ling-san?" he asked.

"Aren't we going the wrong way?"

Jin blinked, puzzled. "Wrong way? Oh. No, we're going in through the front."

Xiaoyu skipped a couple of steps to catch up and Jin shortened his stride. As they walked in silence Xiaoyu brought her arms in close and watched the shadows grow. A breeze caused one of her pigtails to tickle her face. Xiaoyu shook her head compulsively and rubbed her nose. She heard Jin make a small sound and she mock glared at him. He wasn't looking at her but she knew he'd come close to laughing. She chuckled under her breath and shook her head. Xiaoyu knew he'd never admit to laughing at her.

Soon they turned off the street and onto a little market square. It was late and most of the shops were closed, but Xiaoyu could still see some lanterns burning. The little stores were kind of cute really; they looked far friendlier than the mall she'd just left. In front of one of the shops was an old man, sweeping. When he saw them he winked knowingly and Xiaoyu couldn't help but laugh.

Jin paused at the sound of her laugh, but it was not at her that he was looking. He was facing the old man, staring intensely past him at the window. Xiaoyu followed his gaze and saw what he was looking at.

Inside the cozy little shop was a beautiful sundress. It shone in the warm lantern light as the sky shines during a sunset. The dress' sheer material glowed a delicate pink and it flowed in graceful folds to the knee. There was a pattern of flowers that ran on one side from the breast to the thigh; it caught the eye and led it down the gentle curves of the dress. Jin stared a moment longer then walked up to the man.

He spoke to the man softly and brought the dress back to Xiaoyu. He looked at her. Then he handed her the dress and walked off without a word. It took Xiaoyu an instant to realize what had happened. Finally, she clutched her new dress and ran to catch up with Jin.

***

The myrtle wood that was Heihachi's floor shown with lamp light. Combined with the cool rays of the moon it made for an interesting picture. Heihachi sat with his back to the window and behind his enormous desk. His workspace was kept meticulously neat, Xiaoyu noticed. There were few papers and some cups with paper clips and expensive looking pens inside. Heihachi held one of the pens and passed it from one powerful hand to another as he looked at her.

"So you've got everything you need?" he asked.

Xiaoyu thought for a moment then nodded. "I think so. Here you go." She held out the PDA he'd lent her.

Heihachi waved it away. "You keep it. It may come in handy. So, are you ready?"

Xiaoyu blinked. "Ready? Ready for what?"

He shot her an incredulous look. "I didn't tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

Heihachi looked dismayed. "Your training. It starts in ten minutes."

"Ten minutes! I gotta get dressed!" Xiaoyu ran to the door then checked herself. She turned around, bowed hurriedly at Heihachi, and zipped out the door. She heard him yell after her.

"The Training Room! Passed the second hall!"

***

Xiaoyu was breathless when she reached the painted room. The fierce animals shone starkly in the moonlight, softened only by the few candles that were spread across the room. Xiaoyu leaned closer to the wall and gently caressed a jaguar. The feral beasts should have looked frightening in the dim room facing the wild landscape but to Xiaoyu it seemed as though their menace was directed elsewhere. As if they were guardians, warning outsiders to stay away. As if they were protecting her.

"Ling-san?"

Xiaoyu turned, adjusting the clothes she'd thrown on. Jin was there, looking at her.

"Yes?"

"Furikawa-sensei has not yet arrived. Heihachi-sama thought you might need a little time to prepare."

"Who's he?" she asked.

Jin walked over to where Xiaoyu was standing and looked up at the painted wall. "He's the trainer and chief of security. I have practiced many hours with him."

Xiaoyu hesitated. "Should we start without him?"

He thought about it. "I think that would be fine. Do you warm up?"

She nodded. "Most of the time."

"As do I. Ten minutes?"

"That's fine."

They turned as one and walked to the middle of the room, leaving about ten feet between them.

Xiaoyu stood relaxed, and let the moonlight wash over her. She closed her eyes and concentrated on the feeling of peace that night always gave her. A light breeze swept her hair behind her once, then came again and caressed her face. A song began to form when the wind returned and this time, when it brushed her lips, she swept one arm skyward.

That was how the dance always started. But it was never the same after that. This night her steps were slower, her body coiled. She brought her arms in close and pivoted around them before sending them back out to touch the air. Waving in a circular motion, she was not moving fast, but her movements were smooth and subtle enough to confuse the eye. Xiaoyu suddenly stood straight then whirled. She spun and dipped her entire upper body close to the ground without moving her legs. Then she swept her leg high into the air. Her upper body curled around it as descended and Xiaoyu froze on the floor as the song ended.

She opened her eyes. Jin was there looking at her. She wasn't sure he'd moved. Xiaoyu stood up and cocked her head. "Are you ready?"

"Do you always warm up like that?" Jin asked.

Xiaoyu nodded. "Yeah. Dancing stretches all of the muscles and gets you focused." She paused. ".It helps me forget things.when I need to concentrate." She walked over to the vista and sat down on the floor. She slung her legs over the edge and leaned on the railing. It was just the right height for a comfortable chin rest. "Actually, I prefer running. Warms you up, tires you out, and.well, you're going somewhere. Even if you don't know where." She heard Jin come up behind her. He sat on the rail and leaned against the wall, resting one foot on the floor. "So what about you?" she asked. "Any guilty pleasures?"

"I swim," he said. "Swim?"

"Yeah. I grew up in a forest like this one." He nodded toward the mountains. "There were streams and pools everywhere. I loved swimming when I was a boy. It got to the point where my mother would search for me in the nearest lake before she'd search the next room."

Xiaoyu smiled. Jin was so quiet all the time but she could picture him as a boy laughing in the water. "You're very close to your mother aren't you?"

Jin was quiet. Xiaoyu turned and looked at him. He was expressionless as he gazed at the night sky but she could hear the pain in his voice when he spoke.

"I was."

Xiaoyu said nothing for a moment. Then she sighed. "I miss my mother too. We didn't part on good terms."

"Are you close to your mother?" Jin asked.

"I was," she answered. "We only had each other for the longest time. I mean. we moved around so much, I didn't have much time to make friends."

"Why did you move so much?"

Xiaoyu grinned. "Chasing amusement parks, for the most part. We were both obsessed with them for the longest time. I wanted to see them all!"

"And then?"

Xiaoyu's face lost its smile. "Things.changed."

Jin looked at her. "You don't like amusement parks anymore do you?"

"Not much," she admitted.

"Why not?"

Xiaoyu looked out at the night. "It was selfish of me to care about them so much. I know that now."

"You think you're selfish?"

Xiaoyu nodded.

"You're not," he said.

They stayed there, quiet, for a long time. Neither breached the silence, but it was not because they were afraid. It was because each was content with the silence and didn't need to make small talk to be friendly. After a while Xiaoyu stirred.

"So, is this Furikawa of yours coming? He seems a little late."

"He should have been here an hour ago. This isn't like him."

Xiaoyu laid down on the floor and yawned. "I hate to say it, but I don't think he's coming." She stretched out then curled up like a cat.

Jin sounded amused. "What, are you going to sleep there?"

"Yes," she declared. Xiaoyu rubbed her head against the floor a couple times then yawned again.

Jin sighed. "Unfortunately, I think its best you slept in your room. It's beautiful out here but it gets cold."

"Liar," she said. "You just don't want to have to carry me when I fall asleep!" She closed her eyes.

Jin chuckled. "Ling."

She ignored him.

"Ling-san?"

Xiaoyu grinned but said nothing.

"Okay."

Suddenly she was being lifted into the air. "Hey! What are you doing?"

"I didn't want you to catch cold." He said it with a perfectly serious expression but his eyes were dancing.

"Liar," Xiaoyu muttered. "You just wanted to carry me!"

He laughed.

"Okay, mister, put me down!" she demanded.

"Whatever you say," Jin murmured and tossed her into the air. Xiaoyu shouted but he caught her smoothly around the waist and effortlessly lowered her to the ground.

"Show off!" she slugged him.

"Ouch!" he rubbed his arm.

Xiaoyu grinned but it turned into a yawn.

Jin looked at her fondly. "Good night, Ling-san."

"Good night Jin."