I don't own Tekken.
Lonelyngel: Hi, I'm glad you liked the chapters. About Panda, I don't know if I'll put her on the story, but if I do, it will be in the end of the story, and Panda will be a cub (I love Panda cubs). :D :D :D
Lady-Eliwen: Thank you so much for your review…I hope you like the beginning of the tournament:D
MooNTeARZ: Thank you very much for your words! They were really inspiring! I want to congratulate you too, for your good job in Crimson Destiny! I hope I don't let you down with this chapter:D
A/Note: I have another exam on the following week, so I'll probably update after Wednesday. Sayonara!
Chapter 35
The 4th Iron Fist
FUJI-NION
30th JUNE 2013
Heihachi was already in Japan, in Fuji-Nion. He had arrived a few weeks ago with Dr.B. and Anna.
Anna was still in coma but Heihachi wanted her to be near him, because she would be useful to control Nina.
As for Nina she was in Fuji-Nion as well, waiting for instructions.
In his room in the Empire Hotel, Heihachi was watching carefully the list of the fighters who would enter the 4th Iron Fist. There were 128 fighters and Heihachi had chosen the ones who would stay between the last sixteen.
-I need Julia Chang and Hwoarang as soon as possible!-Dr.B. said.
-Feeling bored Doctor?-asked Heihachi.
-Yes…Anna is still in coma…I can't do much for her…and I would like to start this project soon. We can't forget that we need a strong army to get Jin…
-I haven't forgotten about that! Hwoarang and Julia will be in your hands after the preliminaries.
-After the preliminaries?
-Yes…I have a little surprise to all of them…by the way do you know who's going to enter the tournament?
-No…-said Dr.B feeling bored.
-Lee…
Lee? Lee Chaolan, your son?
Exactly! That bastard is here! He has a new visual, but I can still recognise that brat!
-And what are you going to do about him?
-Nothing…I want to see what's he capable off and what are his intentions…if he's here it's because he has some kind of plan…
-Maybe he's after the same thing we are…Jin…
-Maybe!
-Have you been studying the list?
Of course…Hwoarang and Jin will be in the last sixteen…there's no doubt about that! They are strong enough…I just have to make sure they don't face each other in the preliminaries. But that's easy since I have total control of this tournament.
-And who else did you chose? I mean, besides Xiaoyu, Chang and Nina.
-There's Steve Fox, Lee…but I'm sure he's going to be qualified too…
-I thought you didn't believe in his abilities…
I do! Lee is not the coward I thought he was…I have also Lei Wulong, that idiot cop, Phoenix and his servant Forest Law…a beautiful young lady from Brazil, who is related to Eddie…
-So you only have to be sure they pass the preliminaries, right?
-Yes. After that my surprise is waiting for them.
In the Stadium, the 128 fighters were listening carefully the new instructions.
This year, things have changed, as you all noticed.-said the present with no enthusiasm.-You all have a number, a tattoo…and we are going to do separate you in two groups. There are 128 contestants the first group is from number 1 to 64 included. The second group is from number 65 to 128. There's going to be two draws, one for the first group and one for the second. The last sixteen fighters will have to pass a challenge…this is something new. Tomorrow morning you have to come here to see your fights on the main screen.
That night, no one could sleep. Everyone was nervous about the tournament. It was almost one a.m. when Jin left his room and went to the park. This time, the man with the mask was already there.
'We meet again…'-Jin said with a smile.
'Yeah…'-Kazuya answered. Once again he didn't know if it was better to leave or stay.
'Tomorrow is a big day!'-Jin said.
'Yes…do you think you're ready?'
'Yes. I have to face someone…and I have to win!'
-'You have a rival?'
-'Sort of…but Hwoarang is no ordinary rival!'
-'You faced him before?'
'Yes…three times!'
-'So and who won?'
-'I did…I mean the first time it was a draw…the second time I won but I left in a hurry, and in the third time, the juries gave me the victory, but it wasn't fair!'
-'Does that mean you two are enemies?'
-'I don't know…he helped once, but now there is something involving our parents…and we don't know for sure…'
Kazuya was surprised by his son's words. He didn't know what he was talking about.
-'Tell me, what happened between your parents?
-'It's no big deal…it seems they were enemies as well! Anyway our parents are both dead so…'
'When did you meet this…Hwoarang?'
-'A few years ago…'
-'He's not Japanese, is he?'
'No, he's from South Korea.'
-'You'll be alright…You seem strong enough to face anyone…I know that we always feel better when we have a family to help us, but you seem fine!'
'Well, my grandfather was a liar, so I guess I'm better off without him! He hurt many people! Including my parents! I'll never forgive him for that!'
-'You were living with your grandfather?'
-'Yes, I was. In Tokyo…he was a rich man, so I had everything I wanted, except for attention…and then I started training martial arts!'
-'I thought your father had taught you…'
-'And he did…but my grandfather wanted to make me the best…he hired a personal coach for me…that guy was rough. He broke my two arms on the first week!'
-'We all had problems!'
When Jin arrived to the hotel, Ling was waiting for him. She had seen him talking with a stranger outside her window and she got curious.
-'You were waiting for me?'-Jin asked.
-'Who was that man?'
'I met him three days ago…in the park…he's nice.'
-'You can talk to me…I mean we're friends…remember?'
-'I know…but it was too late…you should be sleeping…'
-'It's ok. Besides I just wanted to tell you that…'
Ling didn't know what to say so she just kissed him and left to her room.
Jin stood in there for a few seconds and then he entered in his room too. Yuu was sleeping. For some reason, Jin wasn't sleepy and he didn't know why.
FUJI-NION
1st JULY 2013
Everyone was feeling sleepy at breakfast. Ling and Jin were avoiding looking at each other. Baek was the only one excited. When they all arrived to the Stadium, there was a crowd in front of the main screen.
-'I'll see the screen!'-announced Hwoarang.
Baek, Eijiro, Jin and Yuu went to, because they were taller. Julia, Ling and Miharu stayed where they were, waiting for them.
Ten minutes later they got back.
'The fights will start at half past nine…'-said Hwoarang.
-'When do we fight?'-asked Ling.
'This afternoon.'-said Jin.-'The same goes for me, Miharu, Yuu and Baek.'
-'We only fight tomorrow?'-asked Julia.
-'Yes, in the morning.'-announced Hwoarang.-'Today will only fight the first group. Baek is number 64, so he fights today…we have to wait until tomorrow.'
-'I'll watch today's fights, anyway!'-said Eijiro.
Everyone did the same. They couldn't watch all the fights, because there were eight arenas in the Stadium, but they tried to watch the most important fights.
Paul was fighting when Jin was passing by the arena 4.
-'He sure deserves to be a legend!'-said Jin.
-'But he's getting old!'-said Hwoarang.
-'He's in a good shape…I fought against him twice and he's still a rough opponent!'-Jin insisted.
-'He's forty…not twenty! One of these days, he'll have to quit!'
-'How do you explain my grandfather being the Boss?'-asked Jin with a smirk.
'Your grandfather was a lunatic! I rest my case!'
Hwoarang left to join Julia who was more interested watching another fight.
-'Is that Hwoarang?'-asked Kazuya joining Jin.
'Yes…he's an idiot!'-Jin said.-'But he's a good fighter!'
-'Are you fighting today?'
-'Yes, and you?'
-'I fought already…I won.'
-'Congratulations.'
-'Jin! Come on…you're missing a good fight!'-Ling said, calling Jin.
-'Who's she?'-asked Kazuya. He knew Jin had a friend, he had seen them together in Kyushu, but he wanted to know for sure what his son relationship with that girl was.
-'That's Ling. She's a friend.'
-'She's very beautiful…at least you have a girlfriend!'
-'Ling's not my girlfriend…we're just friends!'
-'Good luck on your fight! I have to go!'-Kazuya left and he met Lee.
-'So…you never cared for that kid…and now after thirteen years, you decide to be the perfect father…I don't understand you, Kazuya…'-Lee said.
'There is nothing to understand, Chaolan. There are things beyond your understanding…'
-'What's that suppose to mean?'
-'Nothing…'
-'Good, because as soon as you decide to act normally, you could notice that Nina is here!'
-'Are you sure it's her?'
-'Yes, I am. She's different…she has black hair and green eyes, but it's her alright! She's over there!'
-'Well…she's free to do whatever she wants! Besides, you said she doesn't remember her past, so you don't need to worry about it!'
-'You're right…'
-'I do have something that I want you to do for me…'
-'What is it?'
-'I need you to search some information about that boy…'-Kazuya pointed to Hwoarang.
-'The red head?'-asked Lee surprised.
-'Yes.'
-'Why?'
-'Because his face seems familiar and I can't remember!'
-'Ok. I'll see what I can do!'
Lee was leaving when he turned back to Kazuya again.
'I know that must be hard to see your son here…but if you want to keep things this way, you better stay away from him…besides, it seems to me he has people to count on…'
In the meanwhile Jin had joined the others and he was watching Steve's fight in the number five arena.
He won fairly and then he recognised them.
-'Hey…finally I see a familiar face!'-Steve said happily.
'It was a great fight…'-Ling said.
-'Thanks!'
-'So…are you going to see more fights?'-asked Steve.
-'Yes, we are.'
-'Can I go with you?'
-'Sure.'-said Julia.
They walked among the crowd watching more fights. Jin was always feeling weird, he just had the feeling he was being watched.
-'Detective Wulong…'-said Hwoarang when he spotted Lei.-'Trying your luck again?'
-'Maybe…'-Lei answered.
'I knew you were missing us!'-Hwoarang joked.-'Are you still investigating your damn case?'
-'That's none of your business…by the way I know that Yamada was in the Hospital…'
-'Really? Poor guy…'
-'Some guy sent him to the Intensive Care…You don't know anything about it, do you?'
-'Who? Me? Of course not!'
-'I have my suspicions…
-'I have no idea what the hell happened…and it's not my fault if he's a stupid bastard!'
-'I know you too well…and you're lying!'
-'Whatever!'
Christie was near by and she was paying attention to everything Hwoarang and Lei were saying. It seemed that Lei was a detective, which meant she could learn some stuff from him. She had to be always near that group, because it seemed that they knew about the Mishima case.
At night, after dinner, everyone was celebrating in the bar. Jin, Ling, Miharu, Yuu and Baek had won their fights.
-'I can't believe I won…'-said Miharu for the third time.-'My father is going to be so…amazed!'
-'You have to believe more in yourself!'-said Julia.
'Lets play pool…'-suggested Hwoarang.-'Eijiro and I against Yuu and Kazama…'
-'I don't play pool!'-Jin said.
-'Are you scared Kazama?'
-'No. Fine I'll play!'
Steve and Baek went with them to watch the game, while Miharu, Julia and Ling stayed in their table.
'I mean it's normal for you and Jin to win all the fights…you are used to these competitions! But I never…'-Miharu said.
-'Please, Miharu…lets talk about something else!'-asked Ling.
-'Ok…sorry…'
-'So, Julia…tell me how it's like to live with Hwoarang 24 hours a day…'-asked Ling.
-'Don't play smart with me, Ling…I could ask the same thing about you and Jin…besides, there's nothing between Hwoarang and me…'
-'Hwoarang seems the kind of guy who doesn't think about consequences…'-Miharu said.
-'Sometimes…'-Julia agreed.
-'Hi!'-a voice said behind Ling.-'I think I saw you two once…in the Mishima School!'
Ling turned her head and saw Christie.
-'Yes…we saw you too.'-Miharu said.-'You are Christie Monteiro.'
-'Yes, I am…you remember me…'
'Of course we do!'-Ling said a bit too cold.
-'Are you here to enter the tournament?'-Christie asked.
-'Yes.'-Miharu answered.
-'Me too…by the way did they find out who set the fire in the School?'
-'Yes…the fire was set by two students from the Yamamoto School. They were angry because their contestants had been eliminated!'-explained Miharu.
-'Many people could get hurt!'-Christie said.-'Do you mind if I stay with you for a while?'
-'No…of course not. By the way, I'm Julia Chang.'
-'I'm Ling Xiaoyu and this is Miharu Hirano.'
-'It's a pleasure to meet you…oh…is Jin around?'
-'Why?'-asked Ling.
-'I just want to thank him, because he told me some stuff about this tournament!'
-'He's over there!'-Miharu pointed.
-'Maybe I should let him finish the game…but who are the others?'
'Baek, Yuu, Eijiro, Hwoarang and Steve.'-Ling said.
-'You are quite a big group…'
-'Lets go see how's the game.'-Julia said.
The girls joined the others and Hwoarang and Eijiro were winning.
-'Guys…this is Christie!'-presented Julia.
They all looked at her, but still focused on the game. When they finished the game, Yuu and Jin had to pay the drinks because they had lost.
-'I want to thank you, Jin…'-Christie said.
-'No problem.'
-'I saw Paul Phoenix this morning…'-she said.
-'I saw him too.'
As soon as Christie joined Miharu, Jin joined Eijiro, Yuu, Steve and Hwoarang who were drinking in another table. Baek was at the counter talking with a blonde girl.
-'So…who do you prefer?'-asked Steve.
-'What do you mean?'-asked Yuu.
-'I mean the girls…'
-'Hwoarang likes Julia.'-Jin said to piss him off.
-'Shut the fuck up!'-Hwoarang said.
-'Well, she has a great body!'-Steve said.
-'Hey! Don't push it, pretty boy!'-Hwoarang warned.
-'Sorry…well…Ling is nice…she's very friendly!'-Steve continued.
-'Don't you even think about it!'-Jin said all of a sudden.
'Ok…Is anyone against me having a possible date with Christie?'-asked Steve.
No one said a word.
-'I'll take that as a no!'
FUJI-NION
5th JULY 2013
Everyone had passed for the next round of fights. Now there were only thirty two contestants. That morning Miharu had a big disappointment, she was going to fight against Steve at eleven a.m.
-'I'll teach you some of his weak points!'-said Julia to cheer her up.-'I fought against him in the last Final FX…'
-'It's ok…I guess it was time for me to quit!'
In that precise moment Steve arrived.
-'I'm going to fight with Miharu Hirano, is that you?'-he asked.
-'Yes…congratulations, you won!'-Miharu said.
-'Hey, you're not thinking about quitting, are you?'
-'I think it's the best thing to do.'
-'That's not true! I don't want to win this way…'
-'I'm going for a walk.'-Miharu said leaving them.
An hour later Steve found Miharu in front of the Stadium; their fight would take place in a half an hour.
-'Hi!'-he said smiling.-'Are you ready?'
-'I guess I was dreaming…'-she said.
-'About what?'
-'About all this fighting stuff! I mean…I was never an expert in martial arts!'
-'You passed two rounds of the hardest tournament in the world! You should be proud!'
-'I know…but I was hoping to pass this round too…now it's impossible!'
-'I'm sorry…I would quit for you if this tournament wasn't so important for me…'
-'You would? Why?'
-'Well…It's no pleasure for me to hurt a beautiful girl like you!'
Miharu blushed and smiled.
-'Yeah…sure!'-she said.
-'I'm serious! Look…I don't want you to quit, but I don't want to hurt you either.'
-'So and what am I supposed to do?'
'Just go to the arena and give all that you got! If you do this, even if you lose, you will feel that you did your best and everyone will be proud of you!'
Miharu knew she was going to lose, but she followed Steve's advice. She walked to the arena with no fear and wishing to do her best. Steve was the person who encouraged her the most, though she could hear Julia, Ling, Jin, Yuu and Eijiro, yelling her name.
In the end after a powerful kick, but not that powerful, Miharu was send to the ground and she didn't get up, so Steve could be declared the winner. She knew he hadn't fought with his total strength, to avoid hurting her, but even so, she didn't had a chance against him.
Miharu was tired; she had fought almost twenty five minutes, so she stayed on the ground recovering. Steve walked towards her and took her in his arms.
-'What are you doing?'-she asked embarrassed.
-'You fight better than you say…'-Steve confessed.-'I want to take out tonight…what do you say?'
'Ok…but put me down!'
Steve put Miharu on the floor and he kissed her in the cheek.
-'Congratulations…'-Steve said.
Jin, Ling and the others arrived in that moment to comment the fight. As for Miharu she couldn't believe what had happened to her. She had finished her presence in the Iron Fist but she had a date with a really cute guy. Maybe losing wasn't so bad after all.
FUJI-NION
6th JULY 2013
That was another special day. In the morning, Yuu lost his fight against Kazuya. But just like Miharu, he was expecting to lose at any time. At the end of morning, Jin and Julia passed one more round.
In the afternoon, Hwoarang, Ling and Christie won their fights as well. But there was a surprise, Baek's opponent was Eijiro.
Eijiro knew Baek was Hwoarang's master, so it was going to be a difficult fight, but he wasn't scared.
-'Why don't you quit?'-asked Baek going to the arena.
-'I don't quit! Hwoarang taught me that!'
-'Fine…then I think I'll have to hurt you!'
On the first attack, Eijiro fell hard on the floor and he cut his lip.
-'I wasn't expecting that…'-he confessed.
'Get up, you idiot!'-yelled Hwoarang.
'Who do you want to be the winner?'-asked Julia.
-'Baek is going to win…but I think I should encourage Eijiro…'-Hwoarang said.
-'Why is that?'
'Because Eijiro reminds me when I faced Baek. The only difference is that I won!'
Eijiro was on the ground again, but this time he managed to get up before Baek could stomp on him. Baek tried to use a low kick to make Eijiro fall again, but Eijiro moved to the left and threw him a double punch. Baek stumbled back but Eijiro came at him again. He jumped over Baek's head and kicked him on the back.
This time Baek was sent to the ground, and he was furious.
They were both breathing heavily. Then, Baek hit Eijiro with his knee. Eijiro tried to answer back, but the pain was too much, and he fell on his knees.
Baek attacked again, but Eijiro blocked his kick and got up.
-'This fight can last forever!'-Ling said.
-'I taught Eijiro and Baek taught me…that's why this fight is so intense!'-Hwoarang said proudly.
-'Eijiro lost!'-announced Jin all of a sudden.
Everyone looked to the arena and Eijiro was on the ground.
-'Get up!'-shouted Hwoarang, but Eijiro didn't listen to him.
Baek was the winner.
'Congratulations.'-Eijiro said.
-'Thanks! Hwoarang taught you well.'
-'You idiot! Why didn't you get up?'-Hwoarang shouted at Eijiro.
-'There was no point!'
-'You're a pussy!'
-'Don't say that! Eijiro did his best!'-Miharu said.
-'His best wasn't enough!'
After the last fight of the day, the sixteen last contestants were chosen. Baek, Jin, Ling, Julia, Hwoarang, Christie and Steve listened carefully the instructions that the presenter was saying. Then, they left the Stadium in silence.
Eijiro, Yuu and Miharu were waiting for them outside.
-'So?'-asked Miharu.-'How was the draw?'
-'There was no draw.'-said Jin.
'No draw?'-asked Eijiro surprised.
-'We are going to participate in a new thing…a challenge.'-Christie explained.
-'This is so weird!'-said Julia.
-'Why can't we have a normal tournament?'-asked Hwoarang.
-'This is stupid!'-said Steve.-'I thought the Iron Fist was about fighting…this seems a race competition!'
-'We better be careful!'-Jin warned.-'We never know what may happen!'
-'But what do you have to do?'-asked Yuu.
'We will be taken to different places. They will give each of us a map and we have to find some kind of temple where we have to wait for our opponent.'-announced Ling.
-'That's weird!'-confessed Miharu.
-'The temple is not far from here, but we have to go by separate paths…'-added Julia.
-'Well now we can't do anything about it!'-Baek said.
-'What about us?'-asked Miharu.
-'I think you'll have to stay here and wait for us!'-said Ling.-'The challenge is tomorrow at two p.m.'
