The next day was hectic. The participants of the tournament were to arrive. Jin and Xiao had been asked to greet them and escort them from the airport personally. Xiao didn't know why Heihachi wasn't going to go himself but she was quite excited. She was really looking forward to seeing all the contestants. They were taken to the airport by limousine along with a few guards and five more limousines were also taken with them to escort the participants.

"Wow, this isn't this exciting?" Xiao exclaimed. Jin looked at her and smiled.

"Yeah but don't get too excited, you're going to fight some of these people." He said calmly.

"So. I get to see what I'm up against, right?"

"Yeah, guess so." He replied absently.

When they got there they sat and waited at the arrivals department waiting patiently for the participants. One of the guards was stood holding a board with 'Iron fist' written on it. Xiao lounged on one of the chairs with Panda slumped at her feet and it wasn't long before an Asian man approached them. He was Chinese, Xiao noted, and he looked slightly aged but very healthy. His hair was so long it reached the small of his back; he wore it tied back into a ponytail. Xiao looked at him in wonder and grinned girlishly. She recognised him from her martial arts school. Lei Wulong was a well-known policeman in China, he had been nicknamed 'super-cop' it was almost impossible to miss him. She had the pride of telling all her school friends that she had attended and graduated from the same martial arts school as he had. Not only that, but he'd been a good family friend.

"Mr Wulong?" Xiao said to him as he approached. He looked at her and frowned. "Hi! I'm sorry you may not remember me, but you went to the same martial arts school as me! I'm Ling, Ling Xiao Yu." he looked at Xiao and his eyes suddenly brightened.

"Ling? Little Xiao? Well! Look at you; you're all grown up! The last time I saw you, you were this high!" he said and held a hand just above his knee. He smiled and embraced her warmly. "So tell me how have your parents been?"

Jin looked at the pair rather surprised but smiled and waited patiently as they caught up on old times.

The next half hour was hectic, as most of the remaining participants arrived.        

A famous wrestler that went by the name of 'King' arrived with a crowd of reporters surrounding him. He was given more attention, due to his reputation, by the surrounding media who were covering the arrival of the participants of the Iron Fist Tournament. Paul Phoenix, who had apparently participated in the last tournament, arrived. The man was strange looking; his hair gold in colour was gelled up straight and his face was covered in rough looking stubble. Xiao didn't like him, he kept eyeing Panda distastefully and his manner was very self absorbed. With him was another fighter, despite his Oriental features, when he spoke, he did so with a strong American accent. Unlike his friend, he seemed a little shy but very friendly. Another was a Brazilian man, by the name of Eddy Gordo, so far he seemed to be the most unsociable character that had arrived, ignoring any attention from the media and refraining from saying more than two words to anyone. Julia Chang, a young attractive Native American girl arrived shortly after; she looked like a student. Julia looked a few years older than Ling; she was a nice and polite girl. Though it took time for Julia to understand Xiao's accented English. Then there was Nina Williams, a cold woman despite the warm tones of her golden hair. Xiao didn't even bother to speak to her instead she deliberately ignored her cold icy glare. 

It was nearing noon and all the participants were supposed to have arrived.

"Just one left now and we're home free." Jin said tiredly as he leaned back onto a chair.

"Who?" Xiao asked as she yawned. Jin called a guard over whom in response flicked through a clipboard and showed Jin the remaining contestant to arrive.

"Some guy named, Hwoarang…sounds familiar…." Jin said with a thoughtful expression, "I just can't seem to place it though, oh well, guess we'll find out soon enough" he said.

"There aren't many participants are there?" Xiao said as she leaned over to look at the clipboard. Jin leaned in and whispered in her ear.

"I don't think all of them are here right now. I'm sure there are a few more to come but we're not picking them up here…the remaining participants are unofficial." He said and leant back again. Xiao raised her eyebrows and looked over to him thoughtfully.

"Unofficial hey? Is that like criminals and baaad people?" she asked with a sly grin. Jin laughed and shrugged.

Twenty more minutes passed and finally the last contestant arrived. Xiao looked at him as he strolled over to the group. In mid step he froze and narrowed his eyes at something…someone…Jin. He put his foot down and Xiao saw his hand clenching on the duffel back he held. A scowl spread across his face and he snarled.

"You!" Jin looked up at him and rolled his eyes upward. Xiao stared at the new comer; he was good looking to say the least. His hair fell down to his neck in a soft coppery fall. He was built muscularly, as were most of the other fighters, though like Jin, he didn't look that much older than Xiao herself. The two men stood and stared at each other in silent fury until Jin broke away ignoring him. He called to a few of the guards and instructed them to lead their 'guests' to the limousines as he did so he called to Xiao and walked to one of the limousines. The new comer walked over to the rest of the participants with the scowl plastered to his face. As they climbed in Xiao looked around and asked.

"What the hell happened there? You could have cut the tension with a knife! I'm quite sure I saw blue sparks in the air!!!" she exclaimed

"That was Hwoarang, a street fighter I came across in Korea. He's here because he wants to 'kick my ass' was the term he used I think."

"Err, why?" she asked, a little puzzled.

"Because I drew him to a fight, and he's never lost before. So I think I may have done some major damage to his pride so to speak"

"Right…you guys are weird…" Xiao concluded.

"What's so weird about me?" Jin asked defensively.

"Not you personally…. just guys in general…" Xiao grinned. 

"Thanks… that's a real compliment" Jin replied dryly.