Chapter 6 Fight conclusions / Getting too much close

"I have to see Xiaoyu..." Julia said parting from Howarang's embrance.
"Julia, you should rest." Howarang insisted.
"I won't rest until I see Xiaoyu." Julia demanded and left her room followed closly by Howarang.
"Xiaoyu...?" Julia called watching the chinese young girl, wounded, laying on her bed. Julia saw that she had some scratches in her face, small bruises in both legs and her left hand bandaged. Xiaoyu muttered something. "Xiaoyu, I'm sorry..."
"......It wasn't your fault Julia. And I'm feeling better now." Xiaoyu finally said trying to sit. "My stomach."
"Howarang helped us..." Julia whispered.
"I know. I saw him fighting." Xiaoyu said.
"I'm so weak Xiaoyu, I'm really sorry..." Julia asked again feeling awful inside. I could have protected you Xiaoyu... But I failed because I'm so weak... I didn't know what happened to me back in that fight... Julia thought.
"You're not weak Julia, I saw you fighting those psychos. And you, my friend, you really kicked some butts." Xiaoyu said. Julia couldn't help laughing.
"I can see you're recovering very well, huh?" Julia said smiling.
"Well, I'm just like that! So, who's up to some food? Because I really am hungry you know?" Xiaoyu said getting up.
"You sure you're ok?" Howarang asked concerned.
"Hum... Yeah, these are just some stupid wounds, no big deal, I get them all the time, eheh." Xiaoyu said grinning. "And you Julia, how are you?"
"Oh, I had better days, but this is nothing that can't handle." Julia said.
***
Howarang left saying that he had to take care of something, so the girls staied alone in Xiaoyu's big house.
"Howarang helped us a lot, didn't he?" Xiaoyu said half dreaming.
"Yeah, he is very kind." Julia began.
"And really hot." Xiaoyu said under a surprised look in Julia's face.
"OH, I see..." Julia joked.
"What?!" Xiaoyu asked grabbing a tissue to blow her nose.
"You and Howarang... You know..." Julia said teasing Xiaoyu.
"Wat abou be and Howarang?" Xiaoyu asked, her cheeks turning bright red.
"You think I didn't notice how you look at him and talk to him?" Julia asked with a naughty smile. Listening to Julia, Xiaoyu blew her nose hardly.
"I dot kno wat you are talkig about!" Xiaoyu said.
"You can't fool me Ling Xiaoyu!" Julia said in a singing voice.
"I'm not-.... oh ok, maybe I...! But that doesn't mean... And... Well... He...He... And I? I... Oooohhhh... You win. Yeah... I fancy him. Are you happy?!" Xiaoyu said giving up. Julia nodded happily.
***
"Hi Howarang." Jin said aproaching his Korean friend. But Jin quickly regreated his kindness when, Howarang, punched Jin on the face as soon as he saw Jin coming.
"Why did you do that?!" Jin asked with an angry look.
"Why did you let Xiaoyu and Julia leave later last night?! It's all your fault they had that fight!" Howarang yelled.
"What fight?" Jin asked with panic in his heart.
"Last night when they were going back, six men attacked Julia and Xiaoyu. They, both, are Tekken fighters but they are not machines, Jin. The men were stronger and you know what? The men were from your stupid grandfather's army. I saw their uniforms" Howarang exploded.
"What?!" Jin asked feeling guilty. "How are them?"
"You want to know how they are? You get your butt out of this house and go see them imediatly!" Howarang said still screaming and turning his back to Jin, he left. What have I done? Julia... Jin thought. I have to see them right away.
***
"Jin!" Julia said opening the front door. Jin quickly hugged Julia.
"How are you?" Jin asked looking at the girl.
"I'm better now you're here." Julia said with a rosy smile on her lips.
"I'm sorry... I should have brought you here last night..." Jin asked.
"Sshh... It was not your fault, ok? It could have happened to anybody." Julia assured.
"Jiiiiiiiiin!!!!!!!" Xiaoyu called. "Hi! You came to see us? Hey... What do you have in your face? Did you got into a fight too?"
"Hum... This is nothing, really." Jin said putting his hand on his hurt cheek.
"How are you feeling, Ling?" Jin asked.
"Who me? Oh just fine! You know how it works, a small street fight, some wounds, recover and ready for another street fight!" Xiaoyu said with an evil smile. "But next time I see those stupid mother f-
"Ling!" Warned Julia.
"Right! Next time I see those stupid pathetic guys! Is it fine now? I will break their faces into small pieces, because next time, I'll be ready!!!!!!" Xiaoyu said punching the air.
"I hope there isn't a next time Ling!" Came Howarang's voice from behind. "The door was opening so I came in."
"I see you followed my advice and showed up." He said to Jin noticing how close he was from Julia. "We all have to talk."
They sat confortable on the couches.
"Probably, you didn't notice, but I did... Those men you fought last night... They were from Heihachi Mishima's army." Howarang began.
"Hihachi's army? What were they doing there?" Xiaoyu asked open mouth.
"I guess, that's what Jin has to answer." Howarang said.
"What?! How should I know?" Jin replied.
"Doesn't the fact that he is your grandfather helps?" Howarang shot.
"I've told you, I have nothing to do with Heihachi Mishima!" Jin said puzzled.
"Oh sorry, my mistake to think that the fact that you are related to Heihachi helps to think that probably you know what he's up to!" Howarang said directly in a sarcastic voice.
"What? Don't tell me... Now you think I knew what was going to happen to the girls last night?" Jin said in a deep voice. Julia could notice that his dark eyes were turning aggressive and his face was starting to contract.
"I don't know! It's possible." Howarang said coldly.
"C'mon, give me a break! Why would I do such a thing!?" Jin asked nervous about Howarang's affirmations.
"I said I don't know, you tell us Jin!" Howarang acused.
"Stop it you two!!!! You are not two children! Enough of acusations!" Julia yelled. "Probably, those men were just drunk or just wanted to hurt someone. They may be from Heihachi's army but that doesn't mean they were after us or they were sent by Heihachi. I'm not taking any conclusions yet. Things like that happen everytime, everywhere, so you two act like two adults and stop argueing like that!"
"Way to go Julia!" Ling said applauding. "You know, she's right we should not take any strong conclusions yet, so it's over, move along!" With one last glare at each other Jin and Howarang left the girls.
***
"Ling! The phone is ringing!" Julia called. "Pick up, cos I can't! I'm making the luch! Ling! Ling where are you?! Ling! LING!!!!!"
"Ok, ok! I'm coming!" Xiaoyu said running to the phone. "Hello?... Hi Howarang! How are you, it's been a weak since you don't appear .... Yeah, we are totally better! Julia can put a foot on the floor without hurting already! Ahh I'm just kidding, we are like new now! .... You do? That sounds great! .... Yeah I'll say it to Julia, ok? Thanks for calling and inviting! .... Yeah right! .... Ok, ok! .... Bye! See you later!"
"Juuuliiiiiaaaaaa!!!!!!!" Xiaoyu called arriving at the kitchen. "What a good smell here! Anyway, Howarang called. He is picking us up from here. We are going out tonight! He says he knows a good place to spend the night. He said it was a pub."
"Fine. I'll ask Jin to come too." Julia said.
"Sure, maybe this time they speak without yelling at each other." Ling said.
"C'mon they have to be friends... again?" Julia said placing the two porcelane japanese plates on the table.
"Great, so it will be a Julia and Jin date and a Xiaoyu and Howarang date. Sound really good to me!" Xiaoyu said grinning.
***
"What are you going to wear for tonight?" Xiaoyu asked from her room. "Julia? Hey, I'm talking to you! I know you have the door of your room opened so you must be listening. Julia!" Xiaoyu left her room and walked towards Julia's. The door was closed, she opened it carefully. "Juli- aaaarrrrggghhhhh!!!!!!!!" the girls screamed.
"For God's sake Xiaoyu! You scared me, I was opening the door when you appeard right in front of me!" Julia explained.
"Yeah, the same here! Anyway! I wanted to know what you are going to wear tonight!" Xiaoyu said.
"I was going to ask you the same thing." Julia said.
"You first!" Xiaoyu said.
"Well, I was thinking... since it's cold outside... Maybe my black trousers and my blue sweater with a shirt underneath. Of course and my silver belt. My black boots and the necklace you gave me." Julia said.
"That sounds fine, I like your blue sweater..." Xiaoyu said. "I'm going to wear my dark blue dress, transparent tights and my brown boots.
"You know, the classes start next Monday, so we have two more days to have fun..." Julia said.
"Don't remind me of that."
***
"Julia! The door! Someone is knocking at the door! Open it cos I'm putting my make up! Julia!!!!!!" Xiaoyu called from the bathroom.
"I'm coming!" Julia yelled. "Hi Jin! Come in please."
"You look really beautiful!" Jin said looking at Julia.
"Thank you! You're not bad either you know!" Julia said.
"Is it Howarang?! Oh, it's you Jin..." Xiaoyu said.
"Sorry I disappointed you that much." Jin said looking surprised at Ling.
"Eheh, I dind't mean that... Sorry. It's just that-" But she was interrupted by a knock on the door. "It's Howarang! How do I look?" Xiaoyu asked. Julia said "You're great." Xiaoyu cleared her throat and opened the door.
"Hi... Xiaoyu!!!!! You look really pretty!" Howarang said causing Xiaoyu to open her mouth speechless.
"Great we can go now!" Julia said. "Xiaoyu? What's wrong?" Julia asked waving a hand in front of Xiaoyu's face.
"Well, what can I say? I have this affects on women!" Howarang said with a bright smile.
"Right, leave them shocked with your ugly face, huh?" Jin joked.
"Hey, You-
"Don't start you two! We're all here to have fun, now let's go." Julia said pulling Xiaoyu by her arm.
They arrived at the "Karaoke" pub. It was almost full. Howarang greeted the security guards who let them enter.
"It's cozy in here!" Xiaoyu noticed.
"Let's dance!" Howarang said grabbing Xiaoyu's hand and pulling her to the dance floor.
"You want to?" Asked Julia bitting her lower lip. Jin nodded and they, too, went to the dance floor where they danced slow and fast musics.
"Night people! It's time for the Karaoke! So, who is going to be the first?" A voice annouced. One blond girl raised her hand and headed for the Karaoke machine. "Pure shores" was the song she had to sing.
"Where's Ling?" Julia asked Howarang who was sitting on a chair of the table in which Jin and Julia were drinking "pepsi".
"Oh, she went to the bathroom." Howarang said.
"Hey guys, I'm here!" Ling said arriving. "Great pub this one Howarang!"
"Yeah, I knew you would like it." Howarang said winking an eye to Xiaoyu who nodded grinning.
"What are you guys up to?" Julia asked frowning an eyebrow.
"Nothing!" Xiaoyu said looking away.
"And now, a surprise! Julia Chang you are our guest to sing the next song in Karaoke!" The annoucement voice came again and a focus of light fell over Julia.
"What?! No way!" Julia said glaring at Xiaoyu who was smiling.
"Come on Julia, you can do it!" Xiaoyu encouraged her.
"Oh I'll kill you Xiaoyu, I swer I will!" Julia said getting on her feet. Her knees trembleing as every step she gave. She could hear people applauding her. She picked the microphone and the song title appeard in the television: "Fly me to the moon". Great! I know this one! She thought. She started singing in a beautiful voice that made everybody stop and listen to her.

Fly me to the moon, And let me play among the stars. Let me see what spring is like on Jupiter and Mars. In other words, hold my hand! In other words, darling, kiss me.

"She is good!" Howarang said out loud.

Fill my heart with song, and let me sing forever more. You are all I long for, all I worship and adore. In other words, please be true! In other words, I love you!

When the song ended, Julia was applauded and cheered.

"You see? It wasn't so bad!" Xiaoyu said smiling.

"Don't ever do that to me again! Oooooww... I need fresh air!" Julia said with her voice shaking and went outside. The night was cold and she felt like crying. She missed Michelle and her house back in America. That song made her remember her old days in America.

"Are you ok?" Howarang asked putting his hand on her shoulder.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Julia lied.

"You know, you were really great with that song."

"You think?" Julia asked.

"I'm sure." Howarang said leaning his head to Julia's. She felt his warm lips pressing hers in a soft kiss. She quickly pulled back.

"What? Did I do something wrong?" Howarang asked, his light eyes looking at her astonished face.

"Howarang... The thing is, that I see you as friend... A very good friend in fact... So, please... Don't try to be more than that. Please..." Julia said almost in a whisper, avoiding his eyes. She passed by him looking at her feet and went back inside.

"I'm not feeling well..." Xiaoyu said when Julia came back to the table where they were. Howarang arrived at the table too.

"If... you want to, I can walk you home. I want to go too..." Howarang said avoiding Julia's eyes.

"I would appreciate it Howarang, thank you." Xiaoyu said. And they left Jin and Julia.