(a/n): Sorry for such a long wait but I have my reasons. I would have bored you with them but my mind keep pushing me back. Anyway, all the problems are gone now and I have a lot of free time on my hands now. Meaning I'm going to update faster from now. Anyway, enough with my babbling.

You all know what I'm going to say.

ENJOY!!! =)

Chapter13: Things to Come

            "So, you really think you can defeat me?" Jin asked playfully. The sun baked its way to the center, lighting up each corner of the dojo they were in. "Psh." Xiaoyu tightened her pigtails and looked at him. "You sure you don't want me to go easy on you?" His eyes flickered with cunningness and yet softness as he put on his gloves. Xiaoyu felt like laughing at his words. "Don't underestimate me, Jin. Or you will the one begging for mercy."

            It was pleasant, how all this turned out for the better. Feelings of relief came over Xiaoyu as she felt one heavy lock off of her heart. It was a perfect day to see how Jin fought and, also, a perfect day to make him forget about a lot of things. She isn't planning to go easy on him. She'll give him as much trouble as possible. Maybe he'll choose his words carefully next time.
            Xiaoyu felt like smiling as she looked at Jin who had a smirk written on his face. "Alright, just whatever you do, don't turn this place to a battlefield. I don't want my grandfather being on my head, screaming 'What have I done, this is horrible.'" Xiaoyu giggled at his voice acting and nodded in return. It would be funny if that would happen. Seeing Heihachi's mouth drop and eyes pop out onto his forehead would be a day recorded in posterity. "Okay, I promise."

            And so it began. The two fell into silence as they both concentrated on the style they are going to fight in. Wind blew through Xiaoyu's face as she closed her eyes. Silence filled her mind and everything was still. The very bird in the sky, the blooms from the flowers in the air outside, everything was still as she concentrated.

            Xiaoyu opened her eyes and saw the world differently, she saw it in combat, things she could use to her help, walls she can use as offense and most importantly her opponent. Jin. It was time. Xiaoyu put her arms together and bowed in front of him as everything began to move. The bird flew off into the trees and perked as the blossoms flew in circles, doing their own ballet.

              Jin put his hand on his hip and nodded towards her and got into his calm stance. Energy flew through the girl's body. Small yet powerful, she felt she could take on the world. Xiaoyu welcomed this feeling and smiled.

            Xiaoyu turned her back to Jin and he seemed rather surprised as she did. "Come on, Jin. Show me what you've got, big boy." Jin's right eyebrow went up and she giggled. If he thought she is going to stand there, he got to get more practice, for a true fighter never stands. They move. Xiaoyu rolled at Jin and made a Cyclone. Her feet connecting with his jaw and he hit the ceiling before he hit the ground.

            She stayed in her Rain Dance stance as she watched him shake his head and get up. "I told you I'm dangerous." She smiled sweetly at him. "Dangerous, huh?" His voice was low and playful. "Yes, I'm utterly afraid of you. But I'm not giving up without a fight." Jin brushed off the dust from his shoulder and stood in his stance. Jin blew his bangs away from his eyes and beckoned at her.

            Thinking she would the same move would be a wrong idea. Xiaoyu was gifted with so many moves and she's going to show him that she is no 'little'. Xiaoyu went into her Phoenix stance, low to the ground, head straight up with her hands flailing above her. Xiaoyu was about to make a Double Barrel Shotgun when she saw him make distance between the two. She pushed herself closer to the ground and was just about to jump and she watched him sweep her off her feet and she fell to the ground.

            Okay, he had a few tricks but Xiaoyu is just beginning. She rolled towards him and tripped him to the ground. Jin was up in an instance and hit with a mid-kick and she quickly moved away with a cartwheel. Before she could react, Jin grabbed her by her hand and swung her around from place to place and forced to her ground. "You're going easy on me." He whispered as he let her go and gave her room to get up.

            Getting up faster than lightning, Xiaoyu kicked him with a well-rounded hit into his head and he went down hard. She back flipped and waved to him as he got up, rubbing his cheek. To her it seems HE was going easy on HER. If he wants to play with her like that, he'll regret it.

            Xiaoyu got into her Phoenix Stance and shot her head up, looking straight at him. Her pigtails bobbling as she crawled slowly towards him. Jin didn't seem to hesitate as he performed Demon Scissors. Seeing him going straight for her she pulled back her hands and raised for a daring blow, hitting his back and he fell to the side, next to her.

            Before she could react, Jin tripped her. Her head fell against the wooden floor, hard. "Oof." She said and Jin stopped. "Are you alright?" He asked with a concerned looked. She was about to slap his look off his face if he won't stop treating her like a baby. But she had an evil plan. She took his hand and he helped her stand up. "Sorry. I didn't want—"

            She tugged at his arm, pulling back and over her head and tripped him to the floor. "Ow." She heard him innocently say and she laughed a little. Jin rolled away and rubbed his head. "I told you I'm dangerous." She said in a very honorable tone and Jin smiled. "Yes, you are." Jin stood into his stance. "Let's really test your skill." Jin stood in one place, waiting for her.

            Xiaoyu rushed at him with a storming flower. It was foolish thing to do, Xiaoyu figured but only when she saw him grab her hand and wheel her around to the floor. "Crack." He said. "You shoulder is out of its socket." He said to her, as she didn't feel anything. He got up and let her stand up as well. "You think your tough?" Her voice was as playful as his. She took him by his shoulders and climbed on them, pushing him back.

            Jin turned to look at her and Xiaoyu performed a Back Layout, landing on her shoulders. Messing up his hair instead of hitting his head and whispering in his ear. "Boom, I hit your head and you fall to the ground." Laughter filled her ears as she jumped off of him and did a False Salute. Shaking his head in total disbelief of how she plays around, Jin just went along with their little game.

            Xiaoyu went into her Phoenix Stance again and tripped Jin. He fell to the ground, head first and Xiaoyu rolled to a side. Jin was up and on his feet in a second and sidestepped her Step Kick. He quickly took her by her shoulder and made her drop to the floor with a roll in the mid-air. It was a gentle fall, since Jin did the throw very low. He backed off and gave her time to stand.

            Xiaoyu rubbed her forehead and looked at Jin's face. No expression was written, as he waited for her to stand in her stance as he stood in his. "Hmm." Xiaoyu said and rolled towards him as fast as she could, grabbing his arms and whirled him around and to the floor. Xiaoyu skipped away as Jin rolled back, creating a large distance between the two.

            Thinking that she should close the distance before Jin is going to make a run for her, Xiaoyu found herself in a hard situation. There was one small problem. Jin was already running for her. Before she could move, his strong body bumped into her, arms around her body. Xiaoyu pushed back but Jin was too heavy and they both tumbled over, Jin on top of Xiao.

            He breathed into her face and she could smell the mint from the toothpaste. She struggled to get up but it was useless. "I have two choices, you know." He said to her as he pushed his bangs away. "I can pummel with my fist. Or pronounce myself as winner of the 'Screwing Haircuts Up and Pissing People Off Tournament'." Xiaoyu put a very strict face. "Oh, Jin. Such language. Didn't your gramps teach you any better?" Jin looked at her and she started to laugh along with him.

            "Oh, Xiao. You're so much fun." He got off her and Xiaoyu smiled. What Jin didn't realize was that she didn't quit yet. She quickly ran up to him and took his leg and wheeled him around. Jin quickly lost footing and fell onto his back with a shocked expression. Xiaoyu sat on top of his chest, preventing him from getting up, screaming "Continue? 9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1. Ling Xiaoyu Wins!"

            Jin's head hit the floor as if in defeat and let out a deep breath. "You are a very sly person." He said it with tiredness. Xiaoyu jumped off his chest and planted her fists on her hips. "Now, you'll think twice on turning your back on your opponent. See, I actually taught you something." Jin smiled and got up. "An egg teaches a chicken?" He asked her and Xiaoyu frowned, which soon turned into a big grin. "Who came first? The chicken or the egg? Aha!" Jin shook his head in disbelief.

            "You know, you're really something." He came around and took a towel from a shelf and dried his face—

            —When a very dark image appeared in his mind. "Xiaoyu, MOVE!" He screamed as he turned around but Xiaoyu shrieked already and it was too late. Jin watched that same assassin, that attacked him yesterday, hold a knife across Xiaoyu's perfect skin. "You have perfect senses, but your reflexes do not work with them." She spoke fluent English as she looked at his friend.

            "So he was right. You are alive, most surprising, you should have been dead." She seemed to be enjoying this, the hurt look on Jin's face, the way she was in control of a girl's life. "Let her go." Jin said with an accent but in a very cold way. "Why?" She teased as she played with the knife. "Is her life that important." Anger rolled on over and flamed over him. Controlling was a challenge at this point and Jin was about to burst.

            "No, because you don't need her." Jin said calmly, putting his hands up, palms facing her. "You are after me." The woman laughed. "Haha. That is correct, but I'm an assassin, I actually ENJOY killing people." Her voice sounded as though she really was about to kill her and Jin had to do something, something fast.

            "But I have a deal. How about I shoot you and let her go. Shoot you first, that is." Jin's eyes widened as she only laughed, wickedly. "Get off ME!" Xiaoyu shrieked, grabbing the assassin's hand that held the knife and swung her to the floor. The female quickly took out a gun and—

            —Jin dashed for Xiaoyu as the gunshot echoed through the large dojo. "AR!" Jin screamed in pain as he felt fingers grasping at him. "Oh my god, Jin. You'll be alright. Don't worry." Knowing there is not enough time, Jin stood up with pain running down his shoulder. He turned and ran up to the assassin, performing a Rising Uppercut. The assassin flew against the wall in the far back with a groan, the weapon dropping to the floor.

            Jin walked up to her but stopped short when his pain ripped with agony. He grabbed it as the wound was knitting itself. He couldn't breath, as the pain got overwhelming. He could feel Xiaoyu watching it, with big eyes of fear. The bullet fell to the ground from his flesh as it was perfectly healed.

            Finally in control again, Jin looked straight at the woman's staring eyes at what she just witnessed. Her eyes were covered with horror when he came up to her and picked her up by her throat with his healed arm. "Who sent you!?" He nearly spat at her as his voice boomed. "Answer me, god dammit!" He shook her but she only gagged.

            "Jin, please stop!" He heard Xiaoyu wail behind him but he didn't listen to her. "Fine, if you think your boss' life costs more, then so be it." He was about to ram a good hit into the abdomen as Xiaoyu shrieked again, stopping Jin in his tracks. He looked at her, sitting at the floor, her eyes crying. "Xiao?" He asked her just when the woman, he held, cut his face with a knife. Jin touched his cheek with his free hand and watched blood sprawl down his fingers.

            He looked at the woman and she stabbed his arm. He screamed letting her drop to the floor and grab his forearm. She was out of the dojo before he could make a move. Quickly pulling out the knife, Jin gritted his teeth as the wound healed faster than ever. The more he gets hurt the faster it heals. Jin was getting used it but he was more freaked out than happy about it.

            Pushing his thoughts aside, Jin quickly walked up to Xiaoyu and grabbed her shoulders lightly to help her get up. Just when she ripped away from him in fear and stood up on her own. "Xiao?" He asked unsure of himself. "Stay away from me." She said rather in a broken, scared voice, staring at his at his shoulder and then to his arm. She took a breath and ran out the dojo.

            Pain filled up in Jin's heart as he watched her run for the Mansion. Simply put, she was afraid of him.    

(a/n): Oops. Another cliffy. Okay, I am really sorry for this one but I'm crazy for them. No, I mean it. Sorry. I'm just thickening the plot a bit here. So? What do you think will happen now? What made her be so afraid of Jin? Do you know what it is? If you think about it really hard and really think what kind of person Xiaoyu is, you'll get it. Will be updated soon. Oh and I hope you weren't too disappointed with the match between Xiao and Jin. I know some of you waited for the real thing. Sorry.

MissDbzMedabots: Hey, thanks for your compliments. I'm glad you love the rose idea, I did my best on it. Oh and about the comment you wrote, its okay! Actually its great. Thanks. But I do have something to say. You are totally right about the past-present things. But I wrote them correct as well. I write this book in American language and there is past-present term. Sorry for the confusion but I was taught this in school and I can't live without. I'm so sorry. But thanks for the lovely compliment! ^_^

Skitzo-phrenick: Yeah, the whole idea about was it was a little bit too early. That is why Xiaoyu pulled back. But don't worry, they'll have enough time. Hehehe.

Miss Da Qiao: Thank you, thank you, thank you. Those are great suggestions you have given me. Oh and about who attacked Jin. ^_^ You are an oracle! The storyline goes doesn't it?

JamiesAngel2008: Thank you. I'm so happy you love my writing style; I'm doing my best. Well hope you keep reading.

GoodGurl: Yes that's right. Just a little bit more and the tournament begins. Just one more millimeter. Just one more millimeter and they would have kissed. I'm so evil…maybe not. But thanks!

j((Y: Yes, the assassin will be revealed in the story. Don't worry. Jin will pummel her GOOD! Why does Jin need to win the tournament first? He's on a mission. A mission of vengeance. He doesn't want Xiaoyu to be getting involved. It is complicated but it all is explained. Hope you keep reading.