Chapter 12:

Test # 2 and Hwoarang's Truth

Jin gently took Kazi's hand in his own and led her slowly to the edge of the bridge. Kazi followed him, frightened at the lava and the uncontrollable flame spewing from it. They walked carefully across the bridge and to the other side. Kazi gave a sigh of relief that was soon broken by a terrified scream as fames sprayed up and devoured the middle of the bridge and broke it. As she fell she tried to grab the remaining bridge hanging on the side of the cliff but failed as it took gave away under her grasp.

"KAZIYA!" Jin screamed and grasped her wrist before she could slip away from him. Kazi winced at the tightness and strength of Jin's grasp. She held her breath.

"Jin!" she managed to choke out, the words scratching her dry throat. Jin struggled for a better grip on the rock as Kazi's hand began to slip because of sweat. Taking a chance at loosing her and his own life, Jin reached down to her with his other hand as she slipped. He caught her again with both hands and began to slip. "KAZAMA JIN! DON'T! YOU'LL ONLY-" Kazi screamed, terrified that she would loose him over saving her, not caring in the least that she herself would die again. Jin interrupted her words with a strong and very loud grunt.

"UGH!!" He pulled with all of his strength, finally bringing Kazi up to the top of the rock. She landed right on top of Jin and he breathed heavily. Kazi only lay there, grasping his now ripped and burned shirt tightly. "Kazi, are you ok?" Jin said after about five minutes. Kazi gave a strange squeak that made Jin smile. 'She's so cute when she does that...' he thought. "Kazi. Kazziiii..." he said, getting the redhead's attention. "You're on to me." At that moment, Kazi's face turned as red as her flaming hair and the lava itself. She scrambled to her feet and stuck her hands in her pockets, still blushing like a ripe cherry. Jin blushed too.

"Uh... Should... Should we... like... go on?" She asked shyly. Jin nodded.

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"Father..." Hwoarang hung his head in shame. Baek looked down at his redheaded son and sighed heavily.

"What am I to do with you?" Hwoarang shut his eyes tightly as Baek's words hit him like a bomb. "Is this how I have raised you?! Is it?! Answer me."

"No, father...."

"What where you thinking?! How could you?! To your own sister as a matter of fact! Hwoarang.... What have you become? I gave you the chance to confront her as an adult and you go off acting like a child!" Hwoarang's face became hot and his eyes watered. Kazuya closed the front door and Jun went into the kitchen for some tea. He watched as Baek scolded Hwoarang in the front room of the Mishima Mansion. He sighed and watched. Baek repeated himself, "What have you become?"

"I... I don't know. I don't know!" Hwoarang's almond eyes wanted so badly to burst into tears, but he didn't dare look up into Baek's face. Baek sighed again. Kneeling, he stroked Hwoarang's mess of hair. Hwoarang looked at Baek, his eyes and mind so clouded.

"Why?" Baek asked simply.

"I.... I.... I was.... I didn't want... I didn't want her to love him." Hwoarang almost choked on his own words, "I.... I didn't want her to be hurt.... To end up like... Like Miss Jun..."

"But, Hwoarang," Baek smiled, "Jun ended up having a son that loves her and would do anything for her, as would the boy's father. They might not be married, and their son might be an illegitimate child, but they love each other and their son, no matter what he is or what has happened to them." Baek paused, "And I'm sure Kazi loves Jin the same as Jun loves Kazuya."

"I-I guess... I... just wanted to be the only guy near her." Hwoarang admitted, the words scraping against his throat.

"You were being selfish, yet you were being protective, but you are going about it in the wrong way." Baek pulled Hwoarang to his feet and led him to the couch. Hwoarang put his head in his hands. Kazuya sat down on the other side of Hwoarang, watching the boy. "Hwoarang." Baek called to him.

"Yes, father?" He looked at him.

"We all know how much you say that Jin's is your rival and that you act as if you hate him. And we all know that you would rather him be your best friend." Hwoarang winced a little at the truth.

"Do not hate Jin because he has Mishima blood." Kazuya's voice came to Hwoarang's ears. He looked at Kazuya in disbelief. "If you should hate Jin, hate him because he has your sister's eternal love, not because he has Mishima blood. We cannot choose out families and blood lines." Baek nodded in agreement. Hwoarang hung his head. He was caught red-handed and he couldn't believe it.

"I... I don't... I don't hate..." One word at a time, Hwoarang declared the truth, "I don't hate Jin." It took all the strength he had to throw his pride away for a moment to admit his true feelings. Baek smiled. Jun, who in fact had been listening, smiled as well as she walked from the kitchen door over to the boys, a tray of hot tea and cups in her hands.

"Here." she said, handing a cup of tea to Hwoarang. Hwoarang looked up and smiled, best he could.

"Thank you, Miss Jun." Hwoarang took the tea and held it. He looked down into the steamy liquid and spoke, "I... I am sorry, everyone. I am sorry, Miss Jun. I am sorry, Kazuya. I am sorry, father. I won't ever do that again. I.... I promise." Baek smiled. Kazuya and Jun exchanged glances.

"You should stay." Jun said, mainly to Baek.

"Miss Jun, I do not wish to be a bother-"

"Nonsense." Kazuya's deep voice said, grabbing all of their attentions. "Jun wishes you to stay and so you shall." Kazuya stated strongly, turning and walking silently out of the room and up the staircase to arrange for two rooms.

"I need to make sure that Jin and Kazi's rooms are straightened for when they return." Jun smiled and walked to Hwoarang, stroking his red hair gently, "You are a fine young man, but choose what you say wisely. Sometimes even the strongest protection can not protect from the inside." With that she followed Kazuya up the stairs and to Jin's room.

"He loves her...." Hwoarang's voice sounded astonished.

"Yes, we have all heard evil rumors of Kazuya just using Jun, yet they aren't true." Baek confirmed. Hwoarang nodded, ''Sometimes even the strongest protection can not protect from the inside'... Kazi, have I been protecting you too much? Have I done that, only because of my own loneliness? Am I lonely?' Hwoarang tried not to think too much, but in the end he was still worried about his twin sister and Jin.