Sorry it took so long, thanks to all the new reviewers hope you enjoy the addition.

Most of the participants that had arrived had gone straight to their 'temporary homes' for the next two months or so. Each person had a room in the finest suites of the Mishima Grand hotel, which was situated right beside the arena in which the fights were to take place. Xiao had opted to stay there also so that she might get a chance to meet and get to know her opponents as had Jin. That was what she had told Heihachi-sama… and it had been a bare lie. She wanted to see what she was up against, not to mention she didn't really want the special treatment. He had agreed but Jin had to accompany her. Jin had been more than willing and they found their room's next to each other's.  

The matches were going to start within two weeks the schedules had not yet been circulated and Xiao was eager to know whom she was fighting. Mishima-sama had organised a welcome party in honour of the competitors and from what she'd heard, it was going to be a very big public event. Xiao had dressed in a smart sleeveless green dress, with a square neck and thick straps. It was of no particular elegance; she just didn't want to look too out of place. She wore her hair down, just to look a little more sophisticated and proceeded to the party hall at the arena. When she had entered the hall where the party was being held, Xiao noticed that the room was actually rather crowded considering there hadn't been very many people that had arrived at the airport the day before. Most of them as it turned out were reporters and, city officials, VIP's and special guests invited to judge the matches. Xiao spent most of the party cowering behind Jin, though he didn't seem all too comfortable himself with the glares and confusing comments from the majority of the crowd. Xiao didn't understand what was going on nor did she think it appropriate to ask him. Deciding that she was definitely bored she went to meet some of the participants. The first person she ran into was the copper headed Korean. She looked up at him and smiled nervously. She didn't really think he was the sociable type but she threw caution to the wind and held out her hand. He raised a quizzical eyebrow and took it awkwardly.

"I'm Ling Xiaoyu." She said confidently in Japanese trying to hide her hesitation hoping he would understand. He frowned trying to place what she had just said. Xiao grimaced; talking to some of these people was going to be pretty hard as most of them spoke different languages. He looked thoughtfully at her for a second.

"Do you speak Mandarin?" he asked in fluent speech.

"Bloody hell, how does everyone happen to know how to speak my tongue here?" she muttered to her self only to meet the Korean's unimpressed gaze. She shrugged and nodded, repeating her introduction in Mandarin. "Hwoarang" he said coldly despite the warm look in his eyes. He was evidently bored and desperately needed to talk to someone. "So what's a little girl like you doing in a tournament like this then?" he asked as if he only just noticed her size and apparent age.

"Little girl???" Xiao fumed. Hwoarang raised his hands in his defence and smiled obviously enjoying her discomfort.

"My mistake, madam." He said in an exaggerated politeness. "So anyway, what's in this for you? You in for the money?" he asked as he sat down in a booth. Xiao slumped down opposite him and sighed. There wasn't a chance she was going to tell him her real motives for entering; he'd have laughed in her face.

"Yeah, I guess you could say that." She replied. Xiao watched him as he opened his mouth to reply, but was distracted as everyone in the hall hushed suddenly. All the attention was diverted to a small elaborately decorated stage located at the back of the hall. Xiao looked up at the stage and watched intently as Heihachi walked up towards the mic stand. He stood there a moment and looked over the crowd critically before leaning forward to speak.

"I welcome you all to this special event. As I understand it, all of you were fortunate enough to make it through the preliminary fights. That was the first stage, and even though you were able to emerge victorious within those fights, this is the true test. Here we shall see who the best fighter is." He paused a minute. Xiao's eyes had wondered around the room during the speech. The reaction of the competitors were varied, Julia Chang had looked on at Heihachi in disgust and turned away. Xiao held her breath just waiting for her to get up and leave. Her eyes flickered over to Lei Wulong, who was staring at the stage with a cold stony gaze. On the other hand when she looked over to another table situated to the left of the stage she watched intently at the yellow-haired American. Paul Phoenix's eyes had glittered notably as he had listened to Heihachi talk on stage. A smirk had spread across his face as he had continued to listen. Xiao turned away to look at Hwoarang; he was watching the stage with a bored expression on his face. He honestly didn't look like he could be bothered to listen nor did he look as if he cared for what the old man said. Xiao turned her attention back to the stage as Heihachi continued to drone on for another fifteen minutes. She couldn't seem to take in the words he spoke until his voice raised slightly indicating the climax of his speech.

"…this tournament you will be able to realise your true strengths and your true weaknesses. Here you shall discover your Tekken!" he concluded. His final sentence was followed by a loud applause, which Xiao noticed hadn't come from the participants but from the special guests that had been invited. Hwoarang snorted at the conclusion of the speech.

"What a load of bullshit." He said to her. "Where does he get that crap from?" Xiao stared at him slightly amused.

"Old age, they think they get wiser. Not quite sure what the hell he's going on about but he's putting up for me so I'm not complaining." She retaliated.

"You're staying with the old man? Didn't think you'd be up for that kind of shit girl!" he said, the look in his eyes implying the impossible. Xiao gave him a cold stare and stuck her tongue out.

"He a guardian, I'm not old enough to stay by myself here, so I'm here as a ward. It's not so bad to be honest." She explained.

"Hell I agree, the guy's probably the richest man in the world; no doubt it'd be good living with him."

"How do you know how to speak Mandarin?" she asked puzzled. "You're Korean aren't you?"

"Yeah." He said with a grin. "But my master, he taught me when I was a kid. He told me it'd be good for me to learn. Broaden my horizons or something." He said with a distant yet genuine smile. They sat and talked idly about irrelevant topics for a couple of hours till most of the participants had turned in for the night. The only people that were left were the reporters and special guests all crowded around Jin and Heihachi.

"Well then kid, I'm out for tonight. I'll see you around." He said and winked.

Xiao got up and said goodbye briefly before walking towards the stage where Heihachi and Jin were stood. Xiao had been careful not to mention Jin to Hwoarang when they had talked. Despite the Korean's cold off handed nature he was quite friendly at times. Xiao wouldn't be able to get by, by just talking to Jin all the time. Besides, the Korean sometimes brought up some rather interesting arguments. Xiao liked a good argument every now and then and Jin seemed just too civilised to argue with her.

"You should get back to your room, you look tired." Jin suggested. "I'll walk you back." He offered.

"It's ok, I'll be alright. I'll see you tomorrow" Xiao assured him.

"No I really don't think it'd be good for you to walk alone…" he said with a little more emphasis. Xiao looked at him with a frown and finally noticed the desperation in his eyes. He wanted to get away from the crowds hounding him and there was no exit. He was practically begging for help. Xiao smiled and rephrased her answer.

"Well I mean I wouldn't want to bother you… but if it's no trouble, I'd really like that." She said politely. Jin spoke with his grandfather quietly and turned towards Xiao as Heihachi nodded his approval. When they exited the hall Xiao burst out into a fit of giggles.

"Thank you Xiao-chan. All those questions were really starting to irritate me. I can't stand the press; they make you feel so closed down. Claustrophobic." He said. Xiao smiled and linked her arm about his. 

"You're funny Jin-san" she said with a skip in her step.

"All the same, you look tired. We have to go to school tomorrow you know?"

"Yeah yeah. But it sure is a nice evening." She said.

"Yes it is…"