Chapter 9:
Raven
Jin beat on the metal door, and waited for the sound of voices over the clatter of rain and the clashing of thunder.
"Who the hell is it?!" A voice screamed from the inside. Remembering what Hwoarang told him, Jin replied,
"An old bum sent me!" He screamed through. The voice erupted in laughter and slung open the door.
"Hwoara-! Wait? Kazama?!" The familiar gang member backed up and called for the others, "Hwoarang's not here but-"
"I know. He sent me." Jin stepped through the door and pulled down his hood. The other gang members', who had just entered the large factory floor, eyes widened at the sight of the red bandanna.
"What the-? What do ya mean-? What are you-?" The familiar face stuttered. Jin sighed.
"If he has Hwoarang's bandanna then that means...."
"Yeah I know, but..."
"You know, I didn't think..." The voices started whispering around the room. A dark-skinned Korean stepped from the group and took a look at Jin.
"Hmm..." He looked the Japanese in the eyes, "Do you know why Hwoarang gave' you his bandanna?" Jin thought for a moment.
"He told me, 'Go to them if you need help.'" The man raised an eyebrow.
"You know that you showed up here risking your life." Jin nodded. "And that since Hwoarang gave you his bandanna that makes you leader." The last statement shocked Jin and he thought it over for a moment. "You know," The guy paused, "SHUT UP!" He whirled around and the whispering died. "Anyway, so you need 'help'?" Jin nodded.
"Hwoarang's being hunted." Whispers erupted once more but the man wouldn't have it.
"DAMMIT! SHUT THE FUCK UP!" He turned back to Jin, "Hwoarang is almost always being hunted by the army, it's no biggie. He can take care of himself." Jin shook his head.
"They've got the Tekken-shu on him too." The man raised an eyebrow,
"What's a 'Tekken-shu'?"
"Mishima Mafia Special Forces." The guy looked surprised but thought for a second and replied,
"Ok then Mr. Leader, let's get to work. But, by any chance would you be Hwoarang's 'lover'?" Jin's heart skipped a beat, 'Does EVERYBODY KNOW?!' The man smirked, "It's no big deal really. We ALL saw how he looked at you when he fought you that day. He tried to hide it. But it was real clear the way he looked you up." Jin blushed slightly. "Ah... That would explain why you care so much, and how you got that." He pointed to the bandanna. "But right. Hwoarang's gonna have back up this time Boys!" The gang busted into cheers and many of them started rambling about training and ran off up stairs. Jin took in a deep breath and exhaled. "The name's Xion. Chinese-Russian." The guy grinned. Jin could tell Communist and atomic bombs didn't mix. "So we need a code name for you. And since you're Hwoarang's lover-'bird'.... How about Raven?"
"As long as it works."
"Heh... You know what? I like you. You've got spunk." Xion laughed.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Jin opened the door to Hwoarang's old room and stepped in, closing the door behind him. The bottom floors of the glass factory were always noisy with the members and their activities. The Japanese marveled at the clean room compared to all the others. A mattress with a pillow and a sheet lay in the far corner, small dresser drawers leaned on the right hand wall, and a small boom box lay next to the mattress on the floor. Jin walked to the mattress and touched the pillow softly. Memories of Hwoarang came flooding back to him. Before he knew it he was laying on the mattress. Jin sat up and hugged the pillow; its smell of the red-head comforted him. He glanced back to where he picked up the pillow and saw an old picture of him at High School. Jin picked up the picture and realized he was only sixteen in it. The rain beat against the window and the thunder shattered him back to reality. Jin marveled at Hwoarang's young girlish features, the bright eyes, his long hair, the curve of his chest and shoulders, and the red shirt-blue panted Korean uniform. The Japanese smiled and laid the picture back setting the pillow in its original spot.
The door opened and Xion watched Jin from the doorway. He chuckled,
"The CD player's still on." Jin glanced from him to the CD player. Xion continued, "And it's still on pause."
"So it seems."
"Press play." Jin nodded and pressed the button. Music flew from the boom box and the words mingled with the room.
And I've gone underground
Never hangin' round
Should have made it back again
Why can't the moon stay full forever
Wednesday's bad but
Friday's ain't much better
(Someone's Hell)
Why can't the moon stay full forever
Right now she's got
Nothin' on her mind
"That's his favorite song. Other than Blue Collared Man."
Will this neverland
Free me from its clutching hand
It won't release me
"What's it called?"
And I've gone underground
Obsessions I have found
Couldn't make it back again
Why can't the moon stay full forever
Wednesday's bad but
Friday's ain't much better
(Someone's Hell)
Why can't the moon stay full forever
Right now she's got
Nothin' on her mind
"Full Forever. Heh he was already past the first verse. And that's the best part." Xion walked across the room and rewind it to the beginning.
And I've had to fight
Another blurred affair tonight
Eyelids wrestle once again
Never gonna see my friend
Guided by the blinding white
Have you left home in spite
Knowing I'm alone tonight
Waiting for the light of day
Doesn't matter anyway
Something that I need to say
He turned it off and looked down at Jin sitting on the mattress. "You have any plan on how we're supposed to save Talon?" Jin thought for a moment and realized Hwoarang was Talon.
"A little, but give me a day and I'll have it all worked out." Xion nodded and left the room closing the door behind him. Jin laid back down onto the mattress.
"Forever... Full Forever." The words replayed over in his mind and lulled him to sleep.