Chapter 8 Feelings HI! Thank you so much for your reviews! I'm sorry about the ages problem...You are really right about that, come to think of that it didn't make much sense like the other way, huh?, I corrected it in time, no? Oh well... life goes on... Keep sending reviews, please! And, again, thank you! ^_^

"Jin, thank you for the lovely dinner!" Julia said finishing her rice.
"Well... I was kind of feeling a little bad because of the other night!" Jin said looking innocent.
"Really?! Is this dinner just because of that night?" Julia asked.
"Well... Of course not! You want the list of why I invited you for this dinner?" Jin asked.
"Yeah, I want to know!" Julia said smiling.
"Ok. One, because of that night incident. Two, I like your company. Three, you are, like, my best friend in the world. Four, I know you like sushi. Five, Xiaoyu is with Howarang. And six, I think... I'm in-" But Jin was interrupted by the phone that started ringing. "Excuse me."
"Jin Kazama speaking." Jin said picking the phone. "Hi Xiaoyu. ... Yeah I'm with Julia. ... Ok, I'll give her the message. ... Ok, don't worry, bye!"
"Xiaoyu? What did she want?" Julia asked from the table.
"Yeah... She said she was going to be late and for you to not worry with her, she was with Howarang." Jin informed.
"Speaking of Howarang... What's wrong between you and him?" Julia asked seriously.
"What do you mean?" Jin asked.
"I noticed you were friends after the tournament, but now, you can't see each other!" Julia said puzzled.
"Who told you we were friends in the tournament?" Jin asked surprised.
"Well, you two were speaking like you were friends... But suddenly you are like that, mad at each other..." Julia said.
"I thought we were becoming friends, but things change! I guess, this thing, between me and him, you will never understand it!" Jin said looking away.
"I think you should talk to him. Believe me, it's not that hard!" Julia said remembering the talk she had with him. "Howarang... He is a good friend and you are losing a lot by not talking with him."
"I talk with him!" Jin replied.
"Yeah right! "Leave them shocked with your ugly face?" "Hey you-" "I don't know, you tell us Jin!" Ple-e-e-a-se!" Julia said mimiking their talks.
"Well... That were speeches we said!" Jin said.
"Come on, I'm serious here!" Julia said with a giggle.
"I can see that!" Jin said smiling.
"Look... Just try to talk with him about that. Do me this favour." Julia requested in a heavy sigh.
"Fine. I'll try!" Jin finally agreeded. "You know? You really know how to convice people."
"It's a gift I have." Julia said smiling.
***
"What?! This time?!" Jin asked hearing the door bell.
"Are you expecting someone?" Julia said sitting on the couch. Jin shrugged his shoulders heading for the door.
"Jin!"
"Steve?" Jin asked frowning.
"Jin! You have got to tell me how is Howarang!" Steve asked, entering Jin's house quickly, with a nervous look on his face.
"Well... Come in..." Jin said.
"Hi Julia! Look Jin, the thing is- Julia!? How did you get in?" Steve asked astonished.
"I... was already here." Julia said.
"Right! Anyway, can I sit down? Thanks!" Steve said sitting on the couch next to Julia.
"Steve! Calm down please!" Julia said fast. Steve started breathing heavily.
"Now, slow-w-ly, tell us what happened." Julia asked.
"I... received... an anonymous letter telling me to come to Japan because Howarang was really hurt due to an accident!" Steve explained to his surprised friends.
"Howarang? Howarang is fine! Why the hell did someone write a stupid letter like that?!" Jin asked puzzled.
"Howarang is fine? So, what on Earth am I doing here!?"Steve yelled.
"Something is really weird here..." Julia said thoughtful.
"Guys I'm really tired... Jin, do you mind if I sleep here tonight?" Steve asked.
"Not at all, the house is big!" Jin said. "Julia, you better sleep here tonight too..."
***
"Juuuuuliaaaa!!!!!!!" Xiaoyu yelled watching her friend arriving. "You slept again in Jin's house... You nasty girl!"
"Hey! Nothing happened between me and Jin is that clear?" Julia said in a bad mood.
"Ok! Look we have-
"Nothing happened because we were interrupted!" Julia started.
"Good for you, now, we have-
"By Steve! Yeeessss, Steve appeared! The poor guy... Someone just made him a very bad joke!" Julia continued.
"Julia! Christie Monteiro is here!" Xiaoyu said finally, holding Julia's arms. And then looking behind Xiaoyu, Julia saw Christie who waved at her.
"I'm afraid I was the one who made that very bad joke on Steve..." Christie appologized.
"What?! Why would you do that, Christie?" Julia asked frowning.
"I will be direct. I love him! But I know that if he knew it was me writting to him, you know, to meet him, he would ignore me because of Nina... So, I made up that awful excuse. Catching a plane to Japan, I came to ask you some help with this." Christie explained. "I'm feeling so bad!"
"Well, first of all... Why sending him to Japan? You could have just asked!" Julia said.
"I know... But, I missed you... So I thought coming here, I could visit you and ask for your help. And... I'm going to continue my studies here in Japan..." Christie said.
"Second of all... That was a really bad excuse!" Julia said.
"I know... But I didn't know what else to do..." Christie said in a low voice.
"Third of all... Bringing him to Japan to confess your love?!" Julia asked.
"Hey Julia! You're not helping..." Xiaoyu intervened.
***
"I still don't get it!" Steve said to a serious Jin. "Why?!"
"We'll figure something out!" Howarang said. "I mean... Me? In an accident? No way!"
"We thought you could help us with this..." Jin said lowering his voice as he speak.
"I can't help you... I have no idea who wrote this." Howarang said giving the letter back to Steve.
"Thanks anyway..." Steve said with his head down.
"Wait a minute... Maybe it was Nina! You know, trying to contact you... But she couldn't say the truth, and now, she's out here in Japan. Spying on you..." Howarang said smiling evily.
"C'mon Howarang! Give me a break!" Steve said.
"Or maybe, the letter was to another Steve, and that was another Howarang!" Jin joked.
"Aaahhh! This is serious guys! Don't do that!" Steve continued.
"No! It was his evil twin, making fun of you!" Howarang laughed. The phone rang and Howarang left to answer it.
"You shouldn't make fun of this! It really scared me!" Steve said.
"Don't worry, I'm sure everything will end up fine!" Jin assured Steve.
"It was Julia... She needs to speak with you Jin..." Howarang said sadly.
***
"So, basically, Christie made that because she wanted to catch Steve's attention... Well, she sure won that!" Jin said surprised after Julia explained him the whole story about Christie.
"Yeah... What do you think about it? Do you think Christie has some chances with Steve?" Julia asked.
"I don't know... After all he has a crush on Nina..." Jin said. "But she doesn't give a damn about him..."
"So she has a chance with him!" Julia said smiling.
"Maybe, a tiny one..." Jin said.
"But still... It is a chance!" Julia said enthusiastically.
"Maybe, but don't got too much hopes! I'll speak with him!" Jin said.
"Right! But don't let him know it was Christie!" Julia warned. "At least, not yet, ok?" Jin nodded.
***
"See you after classes!" Xiaoyu said waving a hand at Julia and she left with Christie. Julia walked through the corridors.
"Hi Julia!" Jin said aproaching Julia.
"Hi! So, did you talk with Steve?" Julia asked quickly.
"Yeah... I asked him his feelings for Nina... Can you believe it?! Two boys talking about their feelings!" Jin said frustrated.
"Woooo. Can't be good...!" Julia said smiling.
"Anyway! He said his crush on Nina is getting weaker everyday." Jin said.
"I see... Go on." Julia asked.
"Hum... That's all." Jin said.
"You only talked about that?" Julia asked winking.
"I had to go easy on that subject!" Jin replied.
"Right. So, Christie really has one chance with him! I'm so happy for her!" Julia said jumping. She kissed Jin's cheek. "Thank you for your help!"
"We have to go to class." Jin warned blushing and listening to the bell.
***
"Come in, Howarang, Jin is trainning right now..." Steve said to Howarang.
"His trainning can wait!" Howarang said heading to Jin's trainning room.
"Jin!" Howarang called, making Jin stop his trainning.
"Howarang?! What are you doing here?!" Jin asked.
"I came to talk with you."
"Sure, let's go to the living room." Jin leaded their way.
"I'm here to warn you that Julia is the most wonderful person I have ever met. Probably, you already know it..." Howarang began. "And I want you to know that I love her. As a friend and more than that! But, I've lost. Jin Kazama, if anything happens to her, You'll have to deal with me. So for your sake and Julia's sake, be good to her. Another thing you must know, is that I won't move away from her. I'll always be there for everything she needs, even if only as a friend."
"... I-
"Is that clear Jin?" Howarang asked at the frowned Jin.
"Y... Yes, but you didn't have to warn me like that. You know I would never hurt Julia. Don't worry Howarang. She is safe with me... And with you near by." Jin said truthfully.
"Hum. Fine. That's all I had to say." Howarang concluded turning his back to Jin.
"Howarang?" Jin called making Howarang stop, not looking at Jin. " Thank you."
Howarang smiled and walked away.
"I couldn't stop over hearing..." Steve said seriously. "I hope you're not mad at me."
"Don't worry." Jin said.
"I guess it took a lot of courage for Howarang to say those things. He really loves Julia..." Steve said avoiding Jin's stare.
"Yeah..." Jin agreeded.
"I hope he'll find someone who loves him like he loves Julia." Steve said.
"You know what? He has already found that person." Jin said smiling.
***
"Why don't you try to speak with him?" Xiaoyu asked.
"You think I should?" Christie asked.
"Believe me Christie, talk with him or he will go back to America without knowing a thing." Julia afirmed.
"I just don't have the courage..." Christie said.
"Christie, you must only regreat what you haven't done. So, tell him how you feel, I'm sure it won't be in vain." Xiaoyu adviced her friend.
"You know what? I'm gonna do it! I'll tell him how I feel!" Christie said determined.
***
"I can't do it! Look I'm sweating already..." Christie said being dragged by Xiaoyu and Julia.
"Come on, of course you can do it! He must be waiting by now!" Xiaoyu said encouraging Christie.
"Just be yourself and most of all, be true." Julia adviced.
"Oh! There he is!" Christie said looking at the blond man sitting on a chair of the park where they were supposed to be meeting. "My stomach is hurting!"
"It's called nerves... Now go and good luck!" Xiaoyu wished smiling along with Julia. They watched Christie walking towards Steve.
"They look sooooo cute together!" Xiaoyu said grinning.
"Yeah... I hope things work out for them." Julia said thoughtful. They left the love birds alone and started walking.
"How are the things going between you and Jin?" Xiaoyu asked.
"Fine... I guess." Julia answered blushing.
"Fine? There was a dinner and two nights spent in his house and all you can say is "fine."? Xiaoyu said.
"Yeah! I've told you I want to go slowly with this relationship." Julia said.
"Ling? You seem to be spending some time with Howarang nowadays. Can you tell me how he is about me...?" Julia asked.
"He's recovering... But he still talks a lot about you. It won't be easy for him to forget you." Xiaoyu said.
"Xiaoyu! I don't want him to forget me!" Julia said puzzled.
"I know! I meant forget you in the "true love" way." Xiaoyu explained. "He keeps telling me he'll be always with you, protecting you, as a friend."
"I'm truly happy to have Howarang as a friend..." Julia said.
"I understand." Xiaoyu said lowering her head. "But, I'll make him , you know, love me. It will take time, but I hope he falls in love with me."
"I'm sure he will!" Julia assured her hoping friend.
***
Julia punched the air, kicked the air and made powerful combos for her practise. I won't be weak anymore! If anything like the other night happens again, I won't depend on others help. Because I'm a tekken fighter, I will be stronger. I will not let Howarang and Jin down again. I promise! Julia thought during her night practise.
"Julia?" She heard a voice calling. It was Christie on the door. "Sorry to interrupt you."
"It's ok! I was finishing it anyway." Julia said. "Is everything alright? How was it with Steve?"
"I... And he..." Christie started with tears in her eyes.
"Oh Christie... I'm sorry." Julia said hugging Christie.
"No... You see... He understood it very well." Christie said with a giggle. "He said I must be really in love with him to make a thing like that. I gave him quite a scare. We kissed!"
"Really?!" Julia asked surprised. "Because when I saw you with tears in your eyes, I thought the worst..."
"No, they were happy tears." Christie explained. "Thank you so much for your help. If it wasn't for you and Xiaoyu... I would be probably sighing and crying around there. Thank you!"
"I'm so happy for you!" Julia said smiling.
"He says he will stay here with me, in Japan. I'm so happy!" Christie said giggling. "Wait till Xiaoyu knows it!"
***
"I can see that everything worked for them!" Jin said to Julia, watching Christie and Steve kissing as they walked into the college corridors.
"She was so happy when she got home last night!" Julia said looking at Jin.
"Say Julia... Do you want to have lunch with me?" Jin asked. Julia nodded. They left the college huge building and headed to Jin's house since thay were not going to have classes the rest of the day.
***
"Howarang is here!" Xiaoyu said, informing Julia who came running from upstairs.
"Howarang! Great having you here!" Julia greeted
"Great seeing you again!" Howarang said.
"I'll leave you two alone..." Xiaoyu said walking to her room.
"So... You've been busy, huh?" Howarang asked.
"Yeah well, tests!" Julia said smiling.
"Ok, this is getting strange! Can we stop with these shy looks?" Howarang asked causing a laugh to iluminate Julia's face.
"Can't help them!" Julia said. "You're making me act like this!"
"Really?! Am I?" Howarang asked smiling. "Good!"
"Hey, do you want to drink something?" Julia asked.
"Yeah... Maybe a beer or two." Howarang said. Julia stared at him suspiciously. "Hey, I'm kidding! I'll have an orange juice."
"That's more like it!" Julia said smiling.
"I like when you care about me." Howarang confessed it.
"I always will!" Julia assured Howarang.
***
"Why are you crying?!" Jin asked putting his hands on her shoulders.
"It's a stupid thing! Never mind..." Julia said, sobbing.
"Come on, maybe I can help you..." Jin offered watching her tears rolling down her cheeks.
"I phoned Michelle. She just hurried me up. It seemed like she didn't want to speak with me..." Julia explained. "This may look really stupid for you... The way I'm crying about that, but I thought she would be glad to hear about me."

"It's not stupid! I'm sure she has a great reason for doing that!" Jin said cheering her up.
"I don't know..." Julia said.
"Maybe she is preparing some kind of surprise for you. You'll see." Jin said. Julia looked at his eyes through her wet ones. She leaned towards Jin and he leaned towards Julia. They felt each other lips open into a warm and sweet kiss.