A/N: Thanx for the reviews!! Please be patient - they are trying their
hardest to find Jin!! If I make them find him straight away then I will
have no story left to write =( So please bear with me! Thanx =)
*~*~*~*
"So, let me get this straight - you came all the way over here to find me because JIN'S missing?" Hwoarang stared at them both as if they had gone mad.
They had lost the soldiers by steering through tiny side alleys and streets, but Xiaoyu was sure that wouldn't be the last they'd see of them. At the moment they were staying in hiding, to make sure the coast was clear, down a back street. Xiaoyu and Julia also took this moment to fill Hwoarang in on everything that had happened.
"I'm worried about him," said Xiaoyu, "We thought you'd know where he is."
"I'm the last person Kazama would want to talk to, Xiao," said Hwoarang. Then he looked deep in thought. "That slimy son of a b-" before he could finish his sentence, Xiaoyu smacked him around the head.
"You KNOW I don't like you swearing," she scowled, "And especially when you're saying it about one of my FRIENDS."
"Okay, I'm sorry, Xiaoyu," Hwoarang rubbed the back of his head, "But I know what he's doing - bottling out of the rematch I so generously promised him at the next tournament. He's not gonna show up. Damn him." His last words earned another cuff about his head from Xiaoyu.
"Do that again," Hwoarang growled, "and I'll throw you off the bike and leave you here. I won't even feel guilty about it."
Xiaoyu looked offended. "You would feel guilty!"
"I beg to differ," came Hwoarang's cool answer.
Before Xiaoyu could respond, Julia quickly cut in. "I don't think that's why Jin has gone missing, Hwoarang."
"We thought you'd like to come with us to find him," said Xiaoyu, "We have a flight in 1 hour and bought you a ticket just in case."
Hwoarang appeared to be thinking it over. "Well it is true that I need to get out of the country so the military won't know where to start looking for me . . ."
"Those stupid jerk-heads," muttered Xiaoyu.
"What about Cho-Jung and Min-Young?" asked Julia.
"You've met them? How are they? Did you make sure you locked the door properly after you?" Genuine concern was evident upon Hwoarang's fine features.
"Cho-Jung thinks you aren't coming back," said Xiaoyu, "I told her that you wouldn't do that."
"We have to get back to them," said Hwoarang, worry flickered in his eyes.
Julia and Xiaoyu looked at each other. They had never seen Hwoarang act this way before.
Soon, they had reached Hwoarang's apartment but something was deathly wrong. The door was ajar and looked like it had been forced open, a commotion was sounding from inside.
Hwoarang noticed this with alarm and barged through, Xiaoyu and Julia right behind him.
A crowd of masked youths had Cho-Jung up against the wall, ripping at her clothes cruelly and demanding money. Cho-Jung was protesting wildly and sobbing, as she looked fearfully at Min- Young in one of their arms. "Please don't hurt her," she begged.
"Oh, we won't . . . in exchange for some cash," said the youth holding a crying Min-Young, who was reaching out for her sister in extreme distress.
All Xiaoyu and Julia saw next was a flash of red so quick it could have matched the speed of light. Growling, Hwoarang had jumped in front of Cho- Jung protectively, whilst swiping Min-Young out of the thug's hands and handing her to Cho-Jung. He then proceeded to give the unfortunate bullies the ass kicking of their lives.
Fleeing with bloody noses, broken arms and more than a few tears, Hwoarang chased them out into the corridor shouting what sounded like very rude things in his native language.
Xiaoyu was glad that she couldn't understand Korean, as what Hwoarang was shouting did not sound very nice.
"Those were the guys that were mugging her before," said Julia to Xiaoyu, as Hwoarang hurried back into the room.
Cho-Jung was on her knees and cradling a very frightened Min-Young in her arms, both were crying quietly.
Feeling his heart shatter, Hwoarang knelt down beside the two girls he loved as sisters and felt stray tears slide down his own cheeks when he realised he hadn't done his job properly in protecting them from harm when they had needed him.
"I'm sorry," he whispered softly. Cho-Jung looked up at him wordlessly and buried her head into his neck. "I'm glad you're back," she finally said, as Hwoarang stroked her hair comfortingly.
Xiaoyu could see that Hwoarang cared more for the girls than he did for himself. This was a different side of him that she'd never seen before.
Julia approached them and met Hwoarang's gaze meaningfully. Hwoarang sighed and looked down at Cho-Jung. He picked up Min-Young and held her close. "We must get them out of here," he told Xiaoyu and Julia, "The army could be targeting my apartment with gunfire as we speak."
"The army?" gasped Cho-Jung, scrambling to her feet. It was then she noticed Hwoarang's bloody chest and gave a cry of shock. "Did they do that to you?" she asked sorrowfully as they walked quickly down a twisty flight of stairs and out into the alley below.
Hwoarang nodded quietly, hating himself for what he was about to do. They walked out of the alley and stopped by a busy main street. Tilting Cho- Jung's face up so she was looking directly into his eyes, Hwoarang opened his mouth to say one of the hardest things he'd ever had to say in his life. Cho-Jung was looking at him with a mixture of apprehension and confusion.
Closing his eyes, Hwoarang spoke softly. "Cho-Jung, I think I need to leave the country. They'll find me if I stay here."
"You're abandoning us?" Cho-Jung's eyes were round with fear and hurt. Then she turned angry. "I knew you never cared for us. Just leave, we don't give a damn," she glared at Hwoarang, causing his heart to twist painfully as he felt the hurt radiating from her angry words.
"Hwoarang, we have to be at the airport in 20 minutes," said Xiaoyu fearfully, "What are we going to do? They'll find you here any minute." As she said that, the sounds of approaching army vans rumbled out from the alley behind them.
Cho-Jung turned away from Hwoarang, crossing her arms and trying to hide her tears.
Hwoarang was at a loss. Running a hand in frustration through his copper locks, he thought through every option in his mind. He was coming to a swift conclusion when suddenly a man, whose face was covered in shadow, pulled up in a car next to them. "Get in!" hollered the mysterious driver.
Trusting to fate, since the army vans were fast approaching, Hwoarang picked up Min-Young and pulled Cho-Jung into the car with him whilst motioning for Xiaoyu and Julia to do the same.
"There isn't time for explanations," said the hooded driver, "I will take you to the airport."
Hwoarang did a double take. He knew that voice anywhere. "Hwan?!" he whispered incredulously. The friend he'd long feared was dead lowered his hood and smiled at Hwoarang. Cho-Jung immediately burst into tears at the sight of her brother. Xiaoyu looked at Hwan, his black silky hair fell a little way past his shoulders while his face was extremely handsome and boyish, yet he had an edge of danger about him. In some respects, he looked a bit like Hwoarang.
Julia looked back anxiously. She could see the army vans racing after them. "They're gaining on us!" she cried in alarm.
Finally, they reached the airport. Xiaoyu and Julia leapt out of the car, followed closely by Hwoarang (still carrying Min-Young), Hwan and Cho-Jung.
"Where have you been all this time?" panted Hwoarang as they ran.
"Please, it is a long story. When we meet again I will tell you," Hwan smiled as they reached the terminal.
Xiaoyu was at this moment, praising the lord that she had bought the tickets to California in advance as she showed them to the girl checking them in.
"I can never thank you enough for looking after these two for me," Hwan looked at Hwoarang, then back in alarm at the advancing soldiers, "My friend, you must go now."
"Hwoarang, come on!" shouted Julia, eyeing the soldiers who were closing in fast.
Hwoarang embraced Hwan quickly and handed Min-Young over to him. "Don't be afraid," he whispered to her, "You're with your brother now."
Then he turned to Cho-Jung, who was sobbing tearfully. "Look after yourself, Cho," he kissed her cheek softly, "You'll see me again soon."
With that, he turned and ran after Julia and Xiaoyu, fighting back his own tears.
The flight attendant at the front of the terminal stopped the soldiers who had reached the ramp-way just as Hwoarang had disappeared into the plane.
"Sir, the plane is about to leave, I cannot allow you go through," she said politely.
"There is a runaway soldier on that plane. It must be stopped," the sergeant barked.
"If you don't leave now, I'm going to have to call security," the stewardess said, looking a bit worried.
"You heard what the young lady said," said Hwan coolly, gliding over to her defence. She smiled gratefully at him, whilst the sergeant roared and ordered his troops to follow him down the ramp-way only to find that the plane had left the terminal and was off down the runway.
He gave a loud hiss of irritation. "I will get you, soldier, mark my words."
Meanwhile, on the plane, Hwoarang looked back at the airport and couldn't believe how close he had been to becoming captured (again). But yet, he'd done it again and escaped, with the help of two crazy girls.
He looked at Xiaoyu and Julia in the seats next to him. Xiaoyu was busily scribbling something down in a compact furry pink book and Julia was talking to a stewardess about the safety of the plane, whilst unconsciously tearing the napkin in her hands to shreds. Hwoarang gathered she must have been a bit nervous about planes.
"She's been jumpy about flying ever since we flew out to Seoul to meet you," Xiaoyu whispered when she saw Hwoarang looking at Julia, "She's actually being calm compared to what she was like last time we flew! Poor girl, she'll get used to it." And she went back to her furry book.
Hwoarang smiled. He had tremendous respect for them both, risking life and limb, to help him out like this . . . although; he'd never let them know it.
He looked back out of the window and thought sadly of Cho-Jung and Min- Young. How he hated to leave them.
'If I had stayed, what kind of life would they have had with me?' he thought, his eyes clouded, "Always dodging the military, I'd have been putting their lives at eternal risk.'
He was thankful that they were with their brother now and could finally begin to have some normal kind of life, with someone who loved them there all the time.
"We'll meet again, I promise," Hwoarang whispered his vow and sent it out to Cho-Jung and Min-Young, hoping that somehow they would hear it.
* * *
*LING XIAOYU'S LOG* *290314*
CURRENT LOCATION: ON A PLANE, ON OUR WAY TO CALIFORNIA!
TIME: APPROX. 1:15 AM - WE MADE IT IN TIME!!
NEWEST TRAVELLING COMPANION: DEAR, SWEET HWOARANG HAS JOINED US! YAY!!
OPERATION "X:FIND_HWOARANG" WAS SUCCESSFUL! WE COMPLETEED OUR MISSION AND FOUND HIM. BUT TO GET TO POOR HWOARANG, WE HAD TO RESCUE HIM FROM THE EVIL CLUTCHES OF THAT STUPID-HEAD SERGEANT, GRRRRRR, IT MAKES ME ANGRY JUST THINKING ABOUT HIM.
ANYWAY, HWOARANG SAID HE WAS FOREVER GRATEFUL AND PROMISED TO BE MINE AND JULIA'S ETERNAL SLAVE . . ! WELL, MAYBE THAT WASN'T EXACTLY WHAT HE SAID BUT IT WAS CLOSE! BAD THING IS THAT HE IS TOTALLY BUMMED OUT ABOUT LEAVING POOR CHO-JUNG AND MIN-YOUNG, BUT AT LEAST THEY ARE WITH THEIR BROTHER HWAN NOW (WHO, MAY I ADD, WAS QUITE CUTE!) ANYWAY, WE'RE OFF TO SEE FOREST LAW NOW. I KNOW HE WASN'T AT THE LAST TOURNAMENT BUT HIS DAD, MARSHALL, WAS. MAYBE THEY KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT JIN'S DISSAPEARANCE . . . WHAT'S THAT SAYING? "ONLY TIME CAN TELL" OR SOMETHING =)
* * *
*~*~*~*
"So, let me get this straight - you came all the way over here to find me because JIN'S missing?" Hwoarang stared at them both as if they had gone mad.
They had lost the soldiers by steering through tiny side alleys and streets, but Xiaoyu was sure that wouldn't be the last they'd see of them. At the moment they were staying in hiding, to make sure the coast was clear, down a back street. Xiaoyu and Julia also took this moment to fill Hwoarang in on everything that had happened.
"I'm worried about him," said Xiaoyu, "We thought you'd know where he is."
"I'm the last person Kazama would want to talk to, Xiao," said Hwoarang. Then he looked deep in thought. "That slimy son of a b-" before he could finish his sentence, Xiaoyu smacked him around the head.
"You KNOW I don't like you swearing," she scowled, "And especially when you're saying it about one of my FRIENDS."
"Okay, I'm sorry, Xiaoyu," Hwoarang rubbed the back of his head, "But I know what he's doing - bottling out of the rematch I so generously promised him at the next tournament. He's not gonna show up. Damn him." His last words earned another cuff about his head from Xiaoyu.
"Do that again," Hwoarang growled, "and I'll throw you off the bike and leave you here. I won't even feel guilty about it."
Xiaoyu looked offended. "You would feel guilty!"
"I beg to differ," came Hwoarang's cool answer.
Before Xiaoyu could respond, Julia quickly cut in. "I don't think that's why Jin has gone missing, Hwoarang."
"We thought you'd like to come with us to find him," said Xiaoyu, "We have a flight in 1 hour and bought you a ticket just in case."
Hwoarang appeared to be thinking it over. "Well it is true that I need to get out of the country so the military won't know where to start looking for me . . ."
"Those stupid jerk-heads," muttered Xiaoyu.
"What about Cho-Jung and Min-Young?" asked Julia.
"You've met them? How are they? Did you make sure you locked the door properly after you?" Genuine concern was evident upon Hwoarang's fine features.
"Cho-Jung thinks you aren't coming back," said Xiaoyu, "I told her that you wouldn't do that."
"We have to get back to them," said Hwoarang, worry flickered in his eyes.
Julia and Xiaoyu looked at each other. They had never seen Hwoarang act this way before.
Soon, they had reached Hwoarang's apartment but something was deathly wrong. The door was ajar and looked like it had been forced open, a commotion was sounding from inside.
Hwoarang noticed this with alarm and barged through, Xiaoyu and Julia right behind him.
A crowd of masked youths had Cho-Jung up against the wall, ripping at her clothes cruelly and demanding money. Cho-Jung was protesting wildly and sobbing, as she looked fearfully at Min- Young in one of their arms. "Please don't hurt her," she begged.
"Oh, we won't . . . in exchange for some cash," said the youth holding a crying Min-Young, who was reaching out for her sister in extreme distress.
All Xiaoyu and Julia saw next was a flash of red so quick it could have matched the speed of light. Growling, Hwoarang had jumped in front of Cho- Jung protectively, whilst swiping Min-Young out of the thug's hands and handing her to Cho-Jung. He then proceeded to give the unfortunate bullies the ass kicking of their lives.
Fleeing with bloody noses, broken arms and more than a few tears, Hwoarang chased them out into the corridor shouting what sounded like very rude things in his native language.
Xiaoyu was glad that she couldn't understand Korean, as what Hwoarang was shouting did not sound very nice.
"Those were the guys that were mugging her before," said Julia to Xiaoyu, as Hwoarang hurried back into the room.
Cho-Jung was on her knees and cradling a very frightened Min-Young in her arms, both were crying quietly.
Feeling his heart shatter, Hwoarang knelt down beside the two girls he loved as sisters and felt stray tears slide down his own cheeks when he realised he hadn't done his job properly in protecting them from harm when they had needed him.
"I'm sorry," he whispered softly. Cho-Jung looked up at him wordlessly and buried her head into his neck. "I'm glad you're back," she finally said, as Hwoarang stroked her hair comfortingly.
Xiaoyu could see that Hwoarang cared more for the girls than he did for himself. This was a different side of him that she'd never seen before.
Julia approached them and met Hwoarang's gaze meaningfully. Hwoarang sighed and looked down at Cho-Jung. He picked up Min-Young and held her close. "We must get them out of here," he told Xiaoyu and Julia, "The army could be targeting my apartment with gunfire as we speak."
"The army?" gasped Cho-Jung, scrambling to her feet. It was then she noticed Hwoarang's bloody chest and gave a cry of shock. "Did they do that to you?" she asked sorrowfully as they walked quickly down a twisty flight of stairs and out into the alley below.
Hwoarang nodded quietly, hating himself for what he was about to do. They walked out of the alley and stopped by a busy main street. Tilting Cho- Jung's face up so she was looking directly into his eyes, Hwoarang opened his mouth to say one of the hardest things he'd ever had to say in his life. Cho-Jung was looking at him with a mixture of apprehension and confusion.
Closing his eyes, Hwoarang spoke softly. "Cho-Jung, I think I need to leave the country. They'll find me if I stay here."
"You're abandoning us?" Cho-Jung's eyes were round with fear and hurt. Then she turned angry. "I knew you never cared for us. Just leave, we don't give a damn," she glared at Hwoarang, causing his heart to twist painfully as he felt the hurt radiating from her angry words.
"Hwoarang, we have to be at the airport in 20 minutes," said Xiaoyu fearfully, "What are we going to do? They'll find you here any minute." As she said that, the sounds of approaching army vans rumbled out from the alley behind them.
Cho-Jung turned away from Hwoarang, crossing her arms and trying to hide her tears.
Hwoarang was at a loss. Running a hand in frustration through his copper locks, he thought through every option in his mind. He was coming to a swift conclusion when suddenly a man, whose face was covered in shadow, pulled up in a car next to them. "Get in!" hollered the mysterious driver.
Trusting to fate, since the army vans were fast approaching, Hwoarang picked up Min-Young and pulled Cho-Jung into the car with him whilst motioning for Xiaoyu and Julia to do the same.
"There isn't time for explanations," said the hooded driver, "I will take you to the airport."
Hwoarang did a double take. He knew that voice anywhere. "Hwan?!" he whispered incredulously. The friend he'd long feared was dead lowered his hood and smiled at Hwoarang. Cho-Jung immediately burst into tears at the sight of her brother. Xiaoyu looked at Hwan, his black silky hair fell a little way past his shoulders while his face was extremely handsome and boyish, yet he had an edge of danger about him. In some respects, he looked a bit like Hwoarang.
Julia looked back anxiously. She could see the army vans racing after them. "They're gaining on us!" she cried in alarm.
Finally, they reached the airport. Xiaoyu and Julia leapt out of the car, followed closely by Hwoarang (still carrying Min-Young), Hwan and Cho-Jung.
"Where have you been all this time?" panted Hwoarang as they ran.
"Please, it is a long story. When we meet again I will tell you," Hwan smiled as they reached the terminal.
Xiaoyu was at this moment, praising the lord that she had bought the tickets to California in advance as she showed them to the girl checking them in.
"I can never thank you enough for looking after these two for me," Hwan looked at Hwoarang, then back in alarm at the advancing soldiers, "My friend, you must go now."
"Hwoarang, come on!" shouted Julia, eyeing the soldiers who were closing in fast.
Hwoarang embraced Hwan quickly and handed Min-Young over to him. "Don't be afraid," he whispered to her, "You're with your brother now."
Then he turned to Cho-Jung, who was sobbing tearfully. "Look after yourself, Cho," he kissed her cheek softly, "You'll see me again soon."
With that, he turned and ran after Julia and Xiaoyu, fighting back his own tears.
The flight attendant at the front of the terminal stopped the soldiers who had reached the ramp-way just as Hwoarang had disappeared into the plane.
"Sir, the plane is about to leave, I cannot allow you go through," she said politely.
"There is a runaway soldier on that plane. It must be stopped," the sergeant barked.
"If you don't leave now, I'm going to have to call security," the stewardess said, looking a bit worried.
"You heard what the young lady said," said Hwan coolly, gliding over to her defence. She smiled gratefully at him, whilst the sergeant roared and ordered his troops to follow him down the ramp-way only to find that the plane had left the terminal and was off down the runway.
He gave a loud hiss of irritation. "I will get you, soldier, mark my words."
Meanwhile, on the plane, Hwoarang looked back at the airport and couldn't believe how close he had been to becoming captured (again). But yet, he'd done it again and escaped, with the help of two crazy girls.
He looked at Xiaoyu and Julia in the seats next to him. Xiaoyu was busily scribbling something down in a compact furry pink book and Julia was talking to a stewardess about the safety of the plane, whilst unconsciously tearing the napkin in her hands to shreds. Hwoarang gathered she must have been a bit nervous about planes.
"She's been jumpy about flying ever since we flew out to Seoul to meet you," Xiaoyu whispered when she saw Hwoarang looking at Julia, "She's actually being calm compared to what she was like last time we flew! Poor girl, she'll get used to it." And she went back to her furry book.
Hwoarang smiled. He had tremendous respect for them both, risking life and limb, to help him out like this . . . although; he'd never let them know it.
He looked back out of the window and thought sadly of Cho-Jung and Min- Young. How he hated to leave them.
'If I had stayed, what kind of life would they have had with me?' he thought, his eyes clouded, "Always dodging the military, I'd have been putting their lives at eternal risk.'
He was thankful that they were with their brother now and could finally begin to have some normal kind of life, with someone who loved them there all the time.
"We'll meet again, I promise," Hwoarang whispered his vow and sent it out to Cho-Jung and Min-Young, hoping that somehow they would hear it.
* * *
*LING XIAOYU'S LOG* *290314*
CURRENT LOCATION: ON A PLANE, ON OUR WAY TO CALIFORNIA!
TIME: APPROX. 1:15 AM - WE MADE IT IN TIME!!
NEWEST TRAVELLING COMPANION: DEAR, SWEET HWOARANG HAS JOINED US! YAY!!
OPERATION "X:FIND_HWOARANG" WAS SUCCESSFUL! WE COMPLETEED OUR MISSION AND FOUND HIM. BUT TO GET TO POOR HWOARANG, WE HAD TO RESCUE HIM FROM THE EVIL CLUTCHES OF THAT STUPID-HEAD SERGEANT, GRRRRRR, IT MAKES ME ANGRY JUST THINKING ABOUT HIM.
ANYWAY, HWOARANG SAID HE WAS FOREVER GRATEFUL AND PROMISED TO BE MINE AND JULIA'S ETERNAL SLAVE . . ! WELL, MAYBE THAT WASN'T EXACTLY WHAT HE SAID BUT IT WAS CLOSE! BAD THING IS THAT HE IS TOTALLY BUMMED OUT ABOUT LEAVING POOR CHO-JUNG AND MIN-YOUNG, BUT AT LEAST THEY ARE WITH THEIR BROTHER HWAN NOW (WHO, MAY I ADD, WAS QUITE CUTE!) ANYWAY, WE'RE OFF TO SEE FOREST LAW NOW. I KNOW HE WASN'T AT THE LAST TOURNAMENT BUT HIS DAD, MARSHALL, WAS. MAYBE THEY KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT JIN'S DISSAPEARANCE . . . WHAT'S THAT SAYING? "ONLY TIME CAN TELL" OR SOMETHING =)
* * *