Author's Note: Thanks to everyone who have read and reviewed…please keep it up as I am starved for attention and need the assurance of my peers. Oh, to element6 on the last review…um, is that a good thing that I mixed the two together? And also thanks for reviewing cuz I haven't heard from you in awhile and I was starting to get a little worried ). I was honestly thinking how I could take two completely different games and combine them somehow. Anyway, please keep reviewing and much love to everyone!!!
As soon as the announcement was made that he would fight Hwoarang, Jamie fled to the mall's bathroom…and there he sat in the stall for the last fifteen minutes. The remnants of lunch floated in the toilet…he was so nervous…so worried over what would happen. This was why he should have kept his distance from everyone as soon as he entered the hotel for the first time…it would have been so much easier to go through with this if he and Hwoarang hadn't ever taken the time to get to know eachother. Jamie hated times like these; times when he knew that he should never have had friends in the first place.
Times when he knew that he should have abided by the rules...afterall, it was supposed to be all about the mission...
For the past fifteen minutes, Jamie had been staring at the graffiti on the bathroom walls. He could only read some of it because it was all written in Japanese…yet at the same time, he wasn't reading it. He just stared off, contemplating his current situation.
If he won, he could jeopardize the friendships that he had made during this tournament, and destroy Hwoarang's chances of ever getting into the ring with Jin…but if he lost then he could never get close enough to Kazuya to finish the mission…and, ultimately, Kazuya would find it much easier to kill him if he wasn't in the tournament anymore.
Jamie couldn't back out of the match…neither could Hwoarang; like it or not, the two would have to fight. Slowly, Jamie checked his cell phone. The clock read that it was 2:15. He had another five minutes to get down to the mall's hotel. It wouldn't take him very long to make the trip if he left now.
Jamie flushed the toilet and walked to the sink and stared at himself in the mirror. His face had a look of neutrality on it…he felt numb all over…both emotionally and physically. He splashed some water on his face hoping to feel something…anything…any kind of emotion, but found that there was none…just moisture dripping down his chin.
Not wasting anytime, Jamie left the bathroom…it was quiet in there and he had savored it…now it was almost too loud, too noisy…almost stifling out here…out in the real world.
A large crowd had gathered to watch the ensuing battle…and why wouldn't they? One of the most well known fighters in the tournament was going up against the last remaining newbie. The crowd parted like the red sea for the Nephilim. Jamie could see Hwoarang standing next to the fountain practicing his lightning fast kicks. Before Jamie could enter the unofficial "ring" however, Xiaoyu stopped him.
"I'm sorry Xiao, I have to go." Jamie said numbly.
"Jamie, listen to me!" She said, grabbing his shoulders.
"Xiao, it's been done, I've gotta do this!"
"Listen. Whatever happens. However this fight turns out, I want you to know that it doesn't change anything!"
Xiao's face hardened. She too, knew what it was like to have to face off with her friends…it was a liability that one took when entering this tournament. The fact that Jamie had dodged this bullet for so long was nothing short of a miracle….still, Kazuya had pitted Jamie against Hwoarang…Hwoarang was an excellent fighter, and even though he felt the same way about this situation as Jamie did, Xiao knew that it wouldn't stop him from giving the fight his all.
Jamie better hope that his Nephilim abilities were as good as everyone said.
Justin Parker stood next to Xiaoyu, and offered his brother a kind sentence or two:
"Don't worry Jamie…you'll do what has to be done…you always have…"
"Thanks you guys…let's just hope and pray that I can get this over with…and that Hwoarang doesn't kick my ass too bad."
With a thudding in his heart, and vomiting butterflies in his stomach, Jamie Parker walked into the fray
(Five minutes later…)
"Three…"
Jamie Parker looked over at Hwoarang, who stared back at him, a look of cold determination in his eyes.
"Two…"
Jamie dropped into his fighter's stance, and returned Hwoarang's stare.
"One…"
The Nephilim noticed for an instant…for a microsecond that Hwoarang's eyes flashed a look of utter despair…as if to say "I'm as disgusted by this as you"
This is it…here it comes!!
"FIGHT!!!"
Jamie heard the words, but they didn't register in his mind immediately. At that second, the world seemed to dissolve around him. The shouts, the jeers from the hysterical crowd all seemed to melt away. And now, it was just Jamie and Hwoarang…together, in this arena.
Hwoarang wasted no time attacking Jamie with a roundhouse kick to the side. Jamie yelped in pain as he felt ribs rattle in his body. The blow caused him to stoop a bit, leaving his head open, which Hwoarang promptly kicked with another roundhouse kick. Jamie uttered a colorful profanity as the blow connected with his temple. How could he have left himself open to a blow like that?! Quickly, Jamie retaliated with a low sweep, and Hwoarang fell on his ass.
Jamie moved to attack the Korean again, but he rolled out of the way, and was up in an instant. As soon as he got up, Hwoarang attempted to trap Jamie in a reverse hook kick, but the Nephilim ducked the blow just in time. It whizzed by his hair with the speed of a bullet…had it connected, then Jamie felt certain it would have snapped his neck.
Fortunately, the blow missed, leaving Hwoarang opened for the slightest of seconds. Jamie stepped in, launching a devastating array of punches and kicks to the Korean. However, he didn't want to hurt his friend too much, so he pulled his punches and kicks…ever so slightly. He wouldn't dream of unleashing his full Nephilim strength on a human.
The fast combo was meant to slowly ebb away at Hwoarang's strength. The blows were light, but they counted…and right now, that was the only strategy he could think to use for Hwoarang. The two kicked and punched, Hwoarang landing a few blows, Jamie landing a few, and what startled Jamie the most was the fact that Hwoarang's speed almost matched his own. Whenever Jamie faced a regular human, they always seemed to be moving in slow motion…the less experienced of a fighter they were, the slower they would move…and yet, Hwoarang seemed to matching Jamie's pace…which was just a hair below full out Nephilim momentum.
At the last second, Jamie misjudged one of Hwoarang's roundhouse kicks. It was meant to be a fake out, and it worked. The Korean's foot lashed out for Jamie's ankles, and the Nephilim attempted to block the attack…but at the last second, Hwoarang's foot soared towards the Nephilim's face…
The blow connected.
"AAARRRRRGGGGHHHHH" Jamie screamed as Hwoarang's foot came in contact with Jamie's nose.
He heard a soft, snap…and knew his nose was broken. It hurt, but it would heal soon. Blood poured in copious amounts from the wound as Jamie staggered back. Hwoarang finished the job with a punishing side kick. Jamie soared into the fountain, and broke the actual fountain itself.
The statue of cherubs or whatever had been smashed to pieces once Jamie's skull came in contact with it.
Hunh, how's that for poetic justice? Jamie found himself wondering sleepily.
Hwoarang had won the first round as Jamie lay dazed in the pool. His nose was beginning to mend itself, and even though he was offered to throw in the towel, he refused. As Jamie walked into the ring again, Hwoarang shouted to him.
"Don't you dare fucking pull your punches and kicks with me! I've trained with you man, I know what you can do! You wanna be here so bad? Don't you dare hold back on me!!! Prove to me that you want to be here! Make this match worth it!!!" He said, his voice cracking with raw emotion.
Jamie looked into the crowd and saw Xiao. She had her hands clamped firmly under her chin…eyes glassy with unshed tears. Standing next to her were Jin, Julia, Steve, and Christie. Julia was crying, Christie was comforting her, Jin, and Steve watched the battle with captivated interest. Justin gave his brother a half smile, and out of all the noise from the crowd, Jamie heard Justin's voice loud and clear.
"GOOD JOB JAMIE!!! C'MON BRO, YOU CAN DO THIS!!!"
Jamie's gaze fixed on Hwoarang;
"Let's finish this." He said to his friend.
Round two began, and this time, Jamie didn't hold back. He unleashed his full Nephilim strength and reflexes on Hwoarang. The Korean kept pace with Jamie's supernatural speed, but Jamie became relentless with his attacks. He punched; he kicked, dodged, and ducked. Hwoarang attempted to ax kick him, but Jamie back flipped out of the way. As he landed the back flip…still on bent knees, he lunged at Hwoarang, focusing all of his weight into his hands.
The attack worked, Hwoarang and Jamie both tumbled into the arcade. Shouts and screams from the kids ran rampant through the cramped area. Upon getting up, Jamie unleashed a roundhouse kick to Hwoarang's face. Hwoarang caught the kick and used the Nephilim's momentum against him. Hwoarang flung Jamie into the Dance Dance Revolution Machine. Jamie's skull hit the iron bars with a resounding clang. Quick as lightning, Jamie got up, and jump side kicked Hwoarang in the chest.
The kick hurt Hwoarang, who stumbled somewhat. Jamie walked at a fast pace towards him, and snapped out another roundhouse kick. Hwoarang caught it again, but this time, Jamie was ready for it. He lifted his back leg up, and finished the kick.
Hwoarang shouted in agony as the blow landed in his temple. He fell, and Jamie won the second round.
Round three quickly began, and again, the two unleashed blinding punches and kicks at eachother. Jamie made the mistake of leaving himself open for a devastating attack. Hwoarang ran up the Nephilim's exposed knee, spun through the air, and kicked Jamie square in the face…his nose broke again, and Jamie cried out in pain.
While on the ground, Hwoarang leapt onto Jamie…straddling the Nephilim. Hwoarang attempted to snap Jamie's trachea…a move that was utterly devastating. However, Hwoarang made it legal. He only fractured it to a point where the person would be able to breathe again…after passing out.
Jamie knew if he succeeded, then he would lose. So Jamie thought quickly.
He wrapped his legs as tight as he could around Hwoarang's body and squeezed. He squeezed as hard as he could…screaming as he did. Hwoarang's face began to redden in pain…Jamie knew that Hwoarang's ribs would start to break pretty soon…if he didn't give up.
"Hwoarang?" Jamie asked as he struggled to keep the street thug's hands off his throat.
Finally, Jamie heard a pop, as one of Hwoarang's ribs broke. Quickly, Jamie let go, and in a blink of an eye, kangaroo kicked Hwoarang in the chest. The blow made the Korean sail into a skee ball machine.
As fast as he could, Jamie got up and faced Hwoarang. Both panted, were bruised, and bloody. Hwoarang clutched his side. His ribs had been fractured, but not broken.
"Well, what is it?" Hwoarang asked through pants.
"I'm sorry," Jamie panted; tears began to stream down his face. "But I can't let you beat me!"
He ran at Hwoarang then. Hwoarang moved to punch Jamie, but the Nephilim dodged it…then, he unleashed a punch to the side of Hwoarang's face. The blow was enough to drop Hwoarang.
He had lost.
Officially Jamie had won the fight, and Kenji came over to interview him.
There was no posing for cameras or fans…right now, Jamie's only concern was for his friend.
"Oh Hwoarang…I'm so sorry…" Jamie panted.
"You used all of your powers…you didn't hold back…I've got no regrets about how it went down…" Hwoarang said with a smile.
Jamie helped Hwoarang up, and the two embraced in a "guy hug"
"Hold on to me," Jamie said, as he helped Hwoarang walk towards the medics. "We need to get those ribs looked at."
"Maybe…maybe it was meant to be this way…you've got a bigger purpose to be here Jamie…you really proved yourself to me today. Thank you."
The two walked towards the medic station, with their other friends in tow. Inwardly, Jamie sighed with relief that it was over…but now, he had to face an even bigger challenge…tomorrow was his fight with Kazuya Mishima himself…
Author's Note: Whaddya think? Once again, I'm sorry to end it so fast, but I only write really well late at night, and it's like 2:00 in the morning here. Thank god for my one class tomorrow, then I can sleep at work. Thank god I work at the school store!!! Anyway, please read and review, I luvs me some reviews!!!!