Hwoarang stood back and admired his work proudly. The whole of the
apartment was finally finished and he could get rid of all the spare
paintbrushes that had accumulated in the kitchen sink. He turned the volume
on the CD player up, grabbed a beer from the fridge and plopped down on the
couch. Wing's funeral had been a year ago the previous day, and the gang
had been laying low while everything was sorted out, such as new meeting
places, and on Hwoarang's orders, training like hell. He felt it best that
the whole of the gang brush up on their fighting skills to avoid another
accident occurring. He finished the beer, crushed the can and tossed it
into the bin full of wallpaper strippings. Decorating was not one of his
favourite past times, but now it was done, he was glad he had bothered. The
sitting room was blue, his bedroom was purple, the kitchen black and white,
the bathroom fluorescent green because he thought it would help wake him up
in the mornings. So far, it had served its purpose well.
He stripped off his paint-dappled top, throwing it into the laundry basket in the kitchen and replaced it with one emblazoned with the name of some little known heavy metal band. Out of the window, the day looked relatively nice for once. He decided to take advantage of the weather and go for a ride. He went down to the apartment parking lot and started his bike up. It purred into life beneath him. He tightened the wrist straps on his leather bike gloves and freewheeled it out onto the road, where he kicked it into action and tore up the street. His red hair flicked around his face in the wind, and he slowed down to stop at the lights, actually obeying them for once.
"Hey, Talon!" He turned in the saddle and saw Ripley coming up the street with Xion close behind.
"Hey guys" he greeted, moving the bike off the road and to the pavement side "how's it goin'?"
"All good" Xion answered "is the meeting still on tonight?"
"Yeah, at the basketball courts near the arcade. Best not to bother with the warehouse anymore."
Xion nodded "I'll let everyone know. Where are you off too anyway?"
"Just going for a ride" Hwoarang told him "thought I might pay Wing a visit."
"You know, if he had his way, he wouldn't want you spending all your time moping around the cemetery" Ripley said, grinning sadly.
"Yeah I know" Hwoarang agreed "but he isn't around to stop me, is he?"
"That's true. Well, we'll see you later Talon."
He bade them goodbye and started off again in the direction of the cemetery.
It was eerily quiet on the other side of those huge, iron gates, no sound from the streets came through and it made Hwoarang feel like he had jus entered the Twilight Zone or something. No one else was in the cemetery, because most people avoided being there anyway. He left his bike in the tiny parking lot next to the chapel and wandered down the gravel path, past the old trees that reminded him of withered hags hands. Wing's grave stood under one of the only trees that still looked even remotely alive. He sat down on the newly laid turf in front of the headstone and smiled at it. He read the inscription, though he already knew it by heart.
James Robert Cain
Born 07.09.1985
Died 05.06.2003
'All we need is just a little patience
Fly Strong, Blood Wing.'
"Hey Wing" Hwoarang said to the stone "I finally finished decorating the apartment, I can't believe it took me this long! And I did paint the bathroom green, so there" he finished, laughing.
"Xion and Ripley are keeping me in check, I make a sucky leader but they keep me going I guess. The Hoods haven't been around at all, everything's been going quite well but I know better than to believe it's al gonna stay that way."
He sighed; a tear slipped out and trickled down his cheek.
"Look, you've got me crying again. Anyway, I've got to go, we have a meeting soon, and it's not going to look good if the 'leader' shows up late."
He patted the top of the stone and used it to hoist himself up.
"See ya 'round" he said, and left the grave.
He rode slowly back to the basketball courts, his mind not entirely on what he was doing and almost managed to go straight up the back end of the brand new Mercedes in front of him. Most of the gang were already at the courts when he arrived, having disbanded the few neighbourhood kids that were there. He walked through the chain link gate and greeted them as one.
"I don't know about you lot" he said, looking around at his gang members, it was his gang now, after all "but I'm sick of never getting out and having any decent fun lately. How about we just sod the meeting, go out and get pissed?"
The gang erupted in chatter, confirming their approval. They all left and made their way into town. By eleven, an all round town pub-crawl was well and truly underway, and yet remarkably, Hwoarang stayed more or less sober. The gang were falling over each other on the way down the street to the next pub, which was rough as hell and a well-known haunt for street punks. They stumbled in and made for the bar. Hwoarang ordered a double vodka and downed it, gasping when it burned his throat, but ordering another regardless. He could take his alcohol better than most. He turned around, leaning against the bar and looked over the other street punks in the bar.
Most looked back with frightened eyes. The Bloods had earned themselves a name since Wing's death, and most of the other gangs feared them like the plague. Some of the other punters actually got up and walked out, or looked away quickly from Hwoarang's gaze. He ordered more beer, finally getting onto JD, totally forgetting that it didn't agree with him. He looked up at Xion, who was totally plastered and unable to string together a sentence that made sense. Hwoarang took one sip of the JD and grimaced, deciding to leave it. He was tipsy, and needed to be able to ride home without risking life and limb. The pub doors opened, and a small group came through. Hwoarang didn't recognise them, but the guy in front was obviously the leader. He was tall, muscular and had an oriental look about him. He came over to the bar and ordered...
"Water?!" Hwoarang exclaimed, sounding offended that anyone should come into a bar and order something non-alcoholic. The other guy looked about Hwoarang's age, but didn't have the same cocky look in his eyes as most eighteen year olds he knew.
"Nani?" he said, looking straight at Hwoarang.
"Dude, you can't come in here and order water, it's just not practical!" Hwoarang babbled. The other guy stared at him.
'Intense...' Hwoarang thought 'I don't like that look in his eyes at all...'
"I'll order what I want" he said calmly "I'm not a mindless drunk like you street punks."
"Who you callin' mindless??" Hwoarang spat "For your information, I don't drink that often thank you very much, only I turned eighteen yesterday and I didn't get to go out so I'm enjoying myself tonight."
The other boy laughed, his eyes glinting in a way that made Hwoarang feel nervous and uneasy. He stood up and walked over to the others he had come in with and spoke to them in some form of language Hwoarang didn't know.
"Hey! I don't speak Punjabi, so tell me what the fuck you just said!"
"It was Japanese" the raven haired boy informed him "and I was just telling my friend here how much this place reminds me of home. Full of punks like you who think they can take on anyone."
"Oh? Well actually we don't think we can take on anyone, we know we can" Hwoarang informed him, grinning manically. Xion appeared beside him and giggled drunkenly.
"Challenge them," he whispered to Hwoarang "then we'll kick the shit out them and take everything they've got." Hwoarang nodded his agreement.
"We'll prove it" he offered "you and me, out back, now. Winner takes all."
"All of what?"
Hwoarang rolled his eyes.
"Everyone bets on who will win, and the winner takes everything, comprende?"
"Lie Kazama Jin" one of the guy's groupies said, desperately trying to make him change his mind.
"Kazama? Weird name..." Hwoarang said.
"That's my surname, my first name is Jin," he explained, shrugging his protesting companion off "are we going to do this now, then?"
"Hell yeah" Hwoarang said, leading the way into the pubs back. Rain was spitting, bouncing off the beer barrels stacked up around the yard, making a strange tinny drumbeat. They all filed out of the building, the rest of the Bloods lining one wall, Jin's companions taking the other.
Ripley started his betting duties, taking money from both sides. Xion gave Hwoarang a black bandana to keep his hair out of the way and tied it at the back of Hwoarang's head for him. Jin stripped off his shirt, revealing his immaculately toned torso. It didn't put Hwoarang off one bit, rather intrigued him more. This other boy was fascinating. He watched as Jin wound bandages around his hands for protection, and then pulled off his own shirt, leaving his fingerless bike gloves on. He stretched himself and cracked his knuckles. The wet leather of his jeans glinted with the light from the streetlamps. He stepped forward and took up his fighting stance. Jin did the same and Xion stepped in to do his refereeing duties. He grinned at Hwoarang who grinned back. This was going to be good.
"Good luck, Talon" he said.
"Yeah, like I'm going to need it" Hwoarang replied confidently. Jin looked just as confident. He looked directly into Hwoarang's eyes, and the corner of his mouth lifted slightly into a small half smile. His deep brown eyes were soft but focused. Hwoarang couldn't help but stare into them, like he was drowning in them.
He snapped out of the daze as Xion lifted his arm and the fight began. He lashed out immediately and punched Jin square in the jaw. Jin reeled slightly but recovered quickly, returning the blow, which Hwoarang just managed to block. Jin retaliated by grabbing Hwoarang's wrist and lifting the struggling redhead over his shoulder and dropping him violently to the floor. Hwoarang kicked out as he landed, catching Jin in the small of his back and sending him crashing into a stack of empty crates. Jin got back up, laughing.
"You're better than I thought you would be," he said, flinching as he ran a hand over the cut in his eyebrow.
"So are you" Hwoarang admitted "but we're not done yet." With that, he launched himself at Jin and brought him down. He straddled Jin's chest and punched him again. Jin arched his back and flung Hwoarang off to the side. He pulled himself up again and kicked the Korean in the ribs. Hwoarang kicked his legs up above his body, catching Jin in his side, then brought them quickly back down and flipped himself up. Jin punched him once but Hwoarang caught his fist and threw him down. Jin was dazed but still got up. Hwoarang realised his nose was bleeding, probably broken, and the blood was choking him. Jin was having a hard time breathing since he was winded. The two fighters stood, breathing heavily and neither making another move. Xion looked at Ripley desperately, who shrugged, and called the match. It was a draw.
Jin sat down; trying to get his breath back and Hwoarang spat a sickening concoction of spit and blood onto the floor. He touched his nose tenderly. It hurt like a mother, but it wasn't broken. He glared at Jin, who smiled back."
"Oo bathtard" he said, as best as he could manage "I nether loothe."
Jin stood up, still clutching at his side.
"Yeah? Well, neither do I. I'll see you round, kisama."
With that, he staggered back into the pub and left. Hwoarang was burning with anger, both at himself and Jin. He had never come anything less than best in a fight, he always won, it was just the way things went. Ripley came over with a handkerchief and held it out.
"Here Talon" he said, sounding disappointed. Hwoarang scowled at him.
"Fuck off, I'm gohing 'ome."
Ripley stood back and let Hwoarang storm past. He heard his bike start up and heard the wheels screech as Hwoarang sped away.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Aww poor Hwoarang!!! –sniffles- it's just evil! Well, he'll be better soon, I promise!!! Kaine xx
He stripped off his paint-dappled top, throwing it into the laundry basket in the kitchen and replaced it with one emblazoned with the name of some little known heavy metal band. Out of the window, the day looked relatively nice for once. He decided to take advantage of the weather and go for a ride. He went down to the apartment parking lot and started his bike up. It purred into life beneath him. He tightened the wrist straps on his leather bike gloves and freewheeled it out onto the road, where he kicked it into action and tore up the street. His red hair flicked around his face in the wind, and he slowed down to stop at the lights, actually obeying them for once.
"Hey, Talon!" He turned in the saddle and saw Ripley coming up the street with Xion close behind.
"Hey guys" he greeted, moving the bike off the road and to the pavement side "how's it goin'?"
"All good" Xion answered "is the meeting still on tonight?"
"Yeah, at the basketball courts near the arcade. Best not to bother with the warehouse anymore."
Xion nodded "I'll let everyone know. Where are you off too anyway?"
"Just going for a ride" Hwoarang told him "thought I might pay Wing a visit."
"You know, if he had his way, he wouldn't want you spending all your time moping around the cemetery" Ripley said, grinning sadly.
"Yeah I know" Hwoarang agreed "but he isn't around to stop me, is he?"
"That's true. Well, we'll see you later Talon."
He bade them goodbye and started off again in the direction of the cemetery.
It was eerily quiet on the other side of those huge, iron gates, no sound from the streets came through and it made Hwoarang feel like he had jus entered the Twilight Zone or something. No one else was in the cemetery, because most people avoided being there anyway. He left his bike in the tiny parking lot next to the chapel and wandered down the gravel path, past the old trees that reminded him of withered hags hands. Wing's grave stood under one of the only trees that still looked even remotely alive. He sat down on the newly laid turf in front of the headstone and smiled at it. He read the inscription, though he already knew it by heart.
James Robert Cain
Born 07.09.1985
Died 05.06.2003
'All we need is just a little patience
Fly Strong, Blood Wing.'
"Hey Wing" Hwoarang said to the stone "I finally finished decorating the apartment, I can't believe it took me this long! And I did paint the bathroom green, so there" he finished, laughing.
"Xion and Ripley are keeping me in check, I make a sucky leader but they keep me going I guess. The Hoods haven't been around at all, everything's been going quite well but I know better than to believe it's al gonna stay that way."
He sighed; a tear slipped out and trickled down his cheek.
"Look, you've got me crying again. Anyway, I've got to go, we have a meeting soon, and it's not going to look good if the 'leader' shows up late."
He patted the top of the stone and used it to hoist himself up.
"See ya 'round" he said, and left the grave.
He rode slowly back to the basketball courts, his mind not entirely on what he was doing and almost managed to go straight up the back end of the brand new Mercedes in front of him. Most of the gang were already at the courts when he arrived, having disbanded the few neighbourhood kids that were there. He walked through the chain link gate and greeted them as one.
"I don't know about you lot" he said, looking around at his gang members, it was his gang now, after all "but I'm sick of never getting out and having any decent fun lately. How about we just sod the meeting, go out and get pissed?"
The gang erupted in chatter, confirming their approval. They all left and made their way into town. By eleven, an all round town pub-crawl was well and truly underway, and yet remarkably, Hwoarang stayed more or less sober. The gang were falling over each other on the way down the street to the next pub, which was rough as hell and a well-known haunt for street punks. They stumbled in and made for the bar. Hwoarang ordered a double vodka and downed it, gasping when it burned his throat, but ordering another regardless. He could take his alcohol better than most. He turned around, leaning against the bar and looked over the other street punks in the bar.
Most looked back with frightened eyes. The Bloods had earned themselves a name since Wing's death, and most of the other gangs feared them like the plague. Some of the other punters actually got up and walked out, or looked away quickly from Hwoarang's gaze. He ordered more beer, finally getting onto JD, totally forgetting that it didn't agree with him. He looked up at Xion, who was totally plastered and unable to string together a sentence that made sense. Hwoarang took one sip of the JD and grimaced, deciding to leave it. He was tipsy, and needed to be able to ride home without risking life and limb. The pub doors opened, and a small group came through. Hwoarang didn't recognise them, but the guy in front was obviously the leader. He was tall, muscular and had an oriental look about him. He came over to the bar and ordered...
"Water?!" Hwoarang exclaimed, sounding offended that anyone should come into a bar and order something non-alcoholic. The other guy looked about Hwoarang's age, but didn't have the same cocky look in his eyes as most eighteen year olds he knew.
"Nani?" he said, looking straight at Hwoarang.
"Dude, you can't come in here and order water, it's just not practical!" Hwoarang babbled. The other guy stared at him.
'Intense...' Hwoarang thought 'I don't like that look in his eyes at all...'
"I'll order what I want" he said calmly "I'm not a mindless drunk like you street punks."
"Who you callin' mindless??" Hwoarang spat "For your information, I don't drink that often thank you very much, only I turned eighteen yesterday and I didn't get to go out so I'm enjoying myself tonight."
The other boy laughed, his eyes glinting in a way that made Hwoarang feel nervous and uneasy. He stood up and walked over to the others he had come in with and spoke to them in some form of language Hwoarang didn't know.
"Hey! I don't speak Punjabi, so tell me what the fuck you just said!"
"It was Japanese" the raven haired boy informed him "and I was just telling my friend here how much this place reminds me of home. Full of punks like you who think they can take on anyone."
"Oh? Well actually we don't think we can take on anyone, we know we can" Hwoarang informed him, grinning manically. Xion appeared beside him and giggled drunkenly.
"Challenge them," he whispered to Hwoarang "then we'll kick the shit out them and take everything they've got." Hwoarang nodded his agreement.
"We'll prove it" he offered "you and me, out back, now. Winner takes all."
"All of what?"
Hwoarang rolled his eyes.
"Everyone bets on who will win, and the winner takes everything, comprende?"
"Lie Kazama Jin" one of the guy's groupies said, desperately trying to make him change his mind.
"Kazama? Weird name..." Hwoarang said.
"That's my surname, my first name is Jin," he explained, shrugging his protesting companion off "are we going to do this now, then?"
"Hell yeah" Hwoarang said, leading the way into the pubs back. Rain was spitting, bouncing off the beer barrels stacked up around the yard, making a strange tinny drumbeat. They all filed out of the building, the rest of the Bloods lining one wall, Jin's companions taking the other.
Ripley started his betting duties, taking money from both sides. Xion gave Hwoarang a black bandana to keep his hair out of the way and tied it at the back of Hwoarang's head for him. Jin stripped off his shirt, revealing his immaculately toned torso. It didn't put Hwoarang off one bit, rather intrigued him more. This other boy was fascinating. He watched as Jin wound bandages around his hands for protection, and then pulled off his own shirt, leaving his fingerless bike gloves on. He stretched himself and cracked his knuckles. The wet leather of his jeans glinted with the light from the streetlamps. He stepped forward and took up his fighting stance. Jin did the same and Xion stepped in to do his refereeing duties. He grinned at Hwoarang who grinned back. This was going to be good.
"Good luck, Talon" he said.
"Yeah, like I'm going to need it" Hwoarang replied confidently. Jin looked just as confident. He looked directly into Hwoarang's eyes, and the corner of his mouth lifted slightly into a small half smile. His deep brown eyes were soft but focused. Hwoarang couldn't help but stare into them, like he was drowning in them.
He snapped out of the daze as Xion lifted his arm and the fight began. He lashed out immediately and punched Jin square in the jaw. Jin reeled slightly but recovered quickly, returning the blow, which Hwoarang just managed to block. Jin retaliated by grabbing Hwoarang's wrist and lifting the struggling redhead over his shoulder and dropping him violently to the floor. Hwoarang kicked out as he landed, catching Jin in the small of his back and sending him crashing into a stack of empty crates. Jin got back up, laughing.
"You're better than I thought you would be," he said, flinching as he ran a hand over the cut in his eyebrow.
"So are you" Hwoarang admitted "but we're not done yet." With that, he launched himself at Jin and brought him down. He straddled Jin's chest and punched him again. Jin arched his back and flung Hwoarang off to the side. He pulled himself up again and kicked the Korean in the ribs. Hwoarang kicked his legs up above his body, catching Jin in his side, then brought them quickly back down and flipped himself up. Jin punched him once but Hwoarang caught his fist and threw him down. Jin was dazed but still got up. Hwoarang realised his nose was bleeding, probably broken, and the blood was choking him. Jin was having a hard time breathing since he was winded. The two fighters stood, breathing heavily and neither making another move. Xion looked at Ripley desperately, who shrugged, and called the match. It was a draw.
Jin sat down; trying to get his breath back and Hwoarang spat a sickening concoction of spit and blood onto the floor. He touched his nose tenderly. It hurt like a mother, but it wasn't broken. He glared at Jin, who smiled back."
"Oo bathtard" he said, as best as he could manage "I nether loothe."
Jin stood up, still clutching at his side.
"Yeah? Well, neither do I. I'll see you round, kisama."
With that, he staggered back into the pub and left. Hwoarang was burning with anger, both at himself and Jin. He had never come anything less than best in a fight, he always won, it was just the way things went. Ripley came over with a handkerchief and held it out.
"Here Talon" he said, sounding disappointed. Hwoarang scowled at him.
"Fuck off, I'm gohing 'ome."
Ripley stood back and let Hwoarang storm past. He heard his bike start up and heard the wheels screech as Hwoarang sped away.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Aww poor Hwoarang!!! –sniffles- it's just evil! Well, he'll be better soon, I promise!!! Kaine xx