Authors Notes: Again, I am terribly sorry for the delayed update (I was supposed to update last Friday, August 20). I was really busy last week my cousins came here from Japan and I had to baby-sit their son…although he is such an adorable sweetie, babies aren't always the sweetest thing. Ugh, making this too long… other notes at the end.
Disclaimer: If I were the creator and story writer of Tekken then I wouldn't be writing this and you wouldn't be reading this… you would be watching this.
Well, I think I will dedicate this chapter to myself. I have finally turned fifteen last August 22!! YAY! confetti Are you guys happy for me? Wahaha… right back to the fic… :)
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RECAP
Xiaoyu opened one eye when no bolts hit for a while. Her body relaxed and she let out a breath that she had been holding. Jin coughed pointedly but she didn't let go. He froze. A storm was already one thing.
'HAH! I got them back!" Xiaoyu crowed as she held up her preciously blades triumphantly. Jins eyes opened wide. Now, how did that happen?
BOOM!
The delayed thunder immediately made her forget about her blades. The blades fell to the floor as she shivered under the blanket once more and gripping Jin tightly. The smiling Jin sighed.
It was going to be a long night.
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Finding My Way To You
Chapter Nine: Tanabata
By: Misao Setai
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It was another beautiful day in the streets of Japan. After the long and cold stormy night, the sun had finally showed itself once more showering the streets with golden rays. As usual, the wind was softly blowing wind through the leaves. As usual, the people were up and busy in the streets. But, today is not like any other day. Today is a special day. Today is Tanabata. The holiday where most couples get further united as husband and wife.
For our two travelers however, that wasn't the case.
Xiaoyu felt the warmth near her as she awoke. She let her eyes remain close for a bit enjoying the warmth of whatever was beside her. It was warmer staying in the comfort of the blanket compared to the room, which was near freezing. Their curtains remained down, which prevented the sunlight from providing any heat to the rooms inhabitants.
She didn't want to wake up. She didn't have to wake up so why bother getting up and away from all the wonderful warmth? She could lay down all day in the warmth of her blanket. She was comfortable there. She was content right where she was. She might as well stay in bed all day, she had nothing to do anyway.
After awhile, she became aware of the heat source near her. Oh… so that was where all the heat was coming from. So that was what made this bed so warm and comfortable. She grabbed it roughly and put her arms around it and sighed contentedly as she felt that wonderful 'I'm-not-getting-out-of-bed' feeling.
She heard a soft squeak, and a cough, which was followed by a choke as her arms pulled the heat source tighter. Why did she feel as if something was very wrong about this? As if she should not be doing this?
A squeak.
A cough.
Choking and…
"Xia-Xiaoyu… ple-please let go…"
Very wrong indeed.
She was immediately jerked back to reality.
"AHHH!!! PERVERT! Hentai! Hentai!" The object of her aggressions couldn't successfully dodge her as she was squeezing her arms around him. Tightly. Luckily for him, her precious blades had long dropped out of her reach the night before. He would have been suffering from severe cuts by now if they hadn't. He could even have had one of his eye ball struck by it as Xiaoyu barely missed Jins eye.
"Xiao, I wasn't the one that hugged you. If you remember, and I beg you to remember that, you hugged me." Jin suddenly said, desperately trying to stop Xiaoyus continous attacks. She stopped just as a punch was about to connect with his face.
"O-oh…" Her blood immediately shot up to her face as her cheeks turned crimson. Deep crimson.
"I'm sorry about that. I really hate cold mornings. I hate mornings…" He smiled… or was that a grimace? She was beginning to be able to tell the difference by now. He extracted himself from her death grip, which hadn't slackened in the least bit. Jin pulled himself out of the futon, smirked and suddenly pulled the blanket off, chuckling as Xiaoyu shivered at the loss of warmth. She glared at him for removing her source of warmth.
"That was really cruel Jiiny-chan." The Chinese accused. Jin just raised his eyebrow as if saying that it was not that cruel.
"And clobbering me to death for being hugged wasn't? I think that falls under the genre cruel too Xiao." She sighed in defeat.
"Alright, alright. I get your point already." Glancing around the room, she suddenly noticed her precious blades, which were sprawled all around the room. She stood up right away and dashed to pick each of her treasure, all the while glaring at Jin. After gathering all of them, she stowed them in their usual places promising to herself never to let Jin even touch them. She would never let him get her babies from her again.
"What are we doing today Jinny-chan? Leaving this place already? Got any plans in mind?" The boy just shrugged.
"Hmm… I thought I'd just let you shop here. It is Tanabata anyway, there should be some pretty interesting things outside today." He winced as he saw her face. She had immediately turned downcast at the mention of the festival. It would be the first year that she wouldn't be going with him… the very first Tanabata without him…
She suddenly brightened as if she had just realized that there was another person with her. Another person who could accompany her to the festivities that evening.
"Jinny-chan!"
Jin stared at her surprised at her sudden upbeat attitude and silently marveling at how fast Xiaoyus mood changes from downcast to upbeat.
"Jinny-chan! Could you take me to the festival tonight? Please Jinny-chan! Please! Please! Please! I don't ever ask you for favors… well not often and I've been very very kind to you during the time we traveled so far! Please, please, please take me tongith!" She stared at Jin with pleading eyes. Jin laughed, she almost sounded desperate.
"I was planning on it anyway. We're in the right area for some nice celebrations, better make the best out of it right?" Her energy, whish was usually very low at this time of the day suddenly took a leap, a great leap.
"Yay! You're the bestest Jinny-chan! Let's get going then!" He blinked.
"Aren't we going to eat first Xiao"
"We can just get something while we're out. I have a feeling that the food in this place isn't that good anyway." He smiled.
"Works for me."
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Xiaoyu led Jin out into the busy street by the arm, not seeming to notice the stares that accompanied them. A food stand had caught her eye not long after they had left the inn and they both ate breakfast at the stand.
Jin grinned as he watched her as she bounced booth after booth like a child. Even almost like a butterfly fluttering from flower to flower. Everything caught her eyes and even Jin had to restrain himself from stopping at too many places. By the end of the day, however, he found himself amazed at her restraint when actually buying. Xiaoyu ended up only buying a beautiful hair pin with a tiny flower, a decorative comb and a pretty flowered bracelet and earrings. She had bought all these after a long debate with herself and after he reminded her not to spend too much of her money or else they'd be back to camping in the forests, which for Xiaoyu, was not an option she would like to have.
While strolling, she'd looked very tempted by some flower vendors. Seeming to want one, Jin asked her if she wanted some, but Xiaoyu just shook her head vigorously although still looking longingly at the flowers.
"They're just going to wilt and wither even if I don't end up leaving them behind somewhere. Besides, even if I wanted one, why spend a fortune over those when I could just pick them, right?" Jin looked at her curiously.
"But, isn't it different if you buy them? I think I recall someone telling me that a flower is more special when bought." She smiled.
"It is, but not unless someone bought them for me. I've always wanted some guy to get some flowers for me. I mean, just any flower would do. I wouldn't mind if it was picked and not bought. It's not like I ever even wanted them bought." Her beautiful smile and dreamy look disintegrated into a scowl as she thought about the person she'd purposefully left behind. Jin had carefully tried to enlighten her mood after that, drawing her attention to another stand that was showing off its array of decoration for the festival.
At one part of their stroll, Xiaoyu looked longingly at the dancing in the town square but decided not to mention it to Jin. No one had ever taken her dancing. Especially him. She'd just always look at them longingly and pass by the dancing couples. Not once had a guy asked her to dance.
"Hey Xiaoyu, come over here." Jin motioned for her to follow him.
"What?" She couldn't see anything. He grinned at her confusion.
"It's not here, we've got to go on a little bit." The smiling boy just pulled her along as she'd done to him that morning. They went through the different stalls, then through the trees at a very rapid pace.
When they stopped right in front of the bridge, she was almost out of breath, but that wasn't enough to keep her from gasping in delight at the sight laid out in front of her for her eyes to feast on.
Xiaoyu ran immediately over to the bridge where stone lanterns were flickering softly. The place was completely deserted except for them a few fireflies since everyone else was in the center of the town celebrating the festival. The river, which ran beneath the bridge, glowed with the light of the two constellations that had joined for only that one night of the year. It was the perfect place to see the stars.
"I thought you'd like it." Jin laughed beside her.
"I passed through here during the festival a few years ago. As soon as you mentioned Tanabata I thought of this place." The Chinese' smile was brilliant, almost mesmerizingly beautiful.
"It's beautiful Jinny-chan." She exclaimed. Xiaoyu pulled herself onto the railing of the bridge looking down at the river as it flowed past them. He joined her a few moments later steadying himself by locking his feet behind the bottom rail.
"It's much, much better than what we… what I used to do for Tanabata. I only ever got to play a few games and eat a few really yummy food." Jins smile had turned a lot more gentle than normal.
"I'm glad you're having fun." He told her gently. She was quiet as she watched the river flow by. Staring at the river, she saw Jins reflection. Wait… She examined Jins reflection more. Was his smile different than normal or was it only her imagination…?
Xiaoyu's grip on the rail was too loose to stop her from falling into the river. She let out a cry of surprise as she had lost her balance and started to tumble in.
Jins hand snaked around her waist just in time. Xiaoyu blinked as she hung above the water. Jin pulled her up.
"Maybe we should just sit on the bench." He suggested. She just nodded still a bit shaken from the experience.
After an uncomfortable silence he suddenly spoke up, asking a question, almost out of the blue.
"What were you doing when you jumped out at me on the road?" The Chinese started then laughed nervously.
"Oh. That. Um… well, I sort of thought you were a bandit that I could get some money from. " She defended herself before he could even respond.
"Almost no one ever traveled on that road! I couldn't even see you very clearly from where I was. I mean, it's not like I was thinking at that moment, 'Hey! I bet that's the guy who always bullied everyone in high school!'"
He cringed at the description she had given her. She cursed herself and mentally kicked herself for her insensitivity.
"I['m sorry Jinny-chan. I didn't mean it like that." HE shook his head.
"I know you didn't. Still it's not very flattering. You could've at least thought that I was a vendor.. or a highwayman. More dignified you know?" She let out a breath and laughed. It was good that he has a sense of humor and that he just let that go easily.
With your clothes in that condition? No, you had to be a bandit. There is no way you could pull off a highwayman." Jins smile turned sly.
"What about you? What kind of robber would you be?" She huffed at his question.
"Well, obviously I can't be a robber. I'm the daughter of a restaurant owner and a respected citizen."
"-Who was going to rob me." Xiaoyu frowned.
"Point taken. Fin them. I'm a beautiful woman, a expert fighter, a great cook and I have superb fashion sense. I would have to be a rake if anything." She posed dramatically with her blades. Jin chuckled.
"I don't think you could pull off being a bandit. You would have to be a few years older if you wanted to." Xiaoyu scoffed at him. "I can be whatever I want to be! I keep telling you that. It doesn't matter how old I am. I kick butt!" Jin shook his head in amusement.
"I do keep forgetting that. So what does a bandit and rake put together?" He asked inquisitive and amused eyes watching Xiaoyu.
"Hey! This is all hypothetical. You're a traveler and I'm the most beautiful and talented woman in the planet."
"Yes, yes. You can be whatever you want to be, after all." The Chinese gave him a sly look.
"Really?" Before Jin could respond, she pulled him to his feet and ran with him back to the town square.
"Xiaoyu? What are you doing? Where are we going?" She grinned and pulled him into the dancing crowd.
"I say that we're dancers for tonight! Is that okay with you?" He stared at her, eyes amused, then laughed.
"I don't think I have a choice since we already are dancing."
"I'm going to fall over dead... I mean it." Xiaoyu groaned. Jin, barely winded, looked at her in amusement.
If you think that is bad, you should try baby-sitting, changing dirty diapers… disgusting. It's not even as fun." Xiaoyu looked at Jin curiously.
"When did you ever baby-sit Jinny-chan? Did you do that while traveling?" He suddenly stiffened realizing what he had just said.
"Y-yes… I did that while I was traveling around." Xiaoyu gave him a dubious look, which was followed by a scowl.
"You know, you're a terrible liar Jinny-chan. But, I guess I'll let it go for the night. Now, I want bed! I'm so tired I could drift right off to sleep the moment that futon touches my skin. Ah! Just thinking about all that comfortable softness makes me feel sleepy." Her companion stopped for a moment as if he was contemplating something. She noticed this and stopped a moment later then turned around.
"Is there something wrong?" she asked, confusion etched all over her face. There was a tinge of worry in her voice, she didn't want to be responsible for bringing back bad memories, especially not tonight. They were in such a good mood and she'd do anything to prevent that good mood from getting spoiled.
"No. Everything is fine. I was just… thinking about something." She didn't have time to ask what it was. As he finished his sentence he bent over and picked her up. Xiaoyu's eyes narrowed.
"I don't know if you realize this but I don't resemble a baby Jinny-chan. Not in any way. Sure my face is as cute and adorable but in size? I don't thin so." Jins eyes twinkled as he thought of the obvious response. However, her glare stopped him from speaking.
"Don't even respond to what I just said."
"I just thought that you might have wanted to get to bed faster. It wouldn't be an overall good night if we had to walk for half an hour just to get to bed right after you had tired yourself out, right?" Xiaoyu looked thoughtful for a moment then finally relaxed as he carried her back to the inn.
"Alright. Fine. Carry me if you must. But remember that you'll pay later." She told him matter-of-factly.
"I don't doubt that for an instant." He replied. She felt him shift her weight and bend down to pick something up. Her smiling companion suddenly slipped a small beautiful purple flower behind her ear.
"How is that for payment?" He asked mischievously, a slight shimmer present in his eyes.
She gave a happy cry and didn't complain at all on the way back. Once they got back to the inn and settled into the futon Jin asked Xiaoyu a question.
"You didn't pray tonight." Xiaoyu smiled at this,
"I didn't need to. If someone wants to be my friend they can take me for who I am." He laughed at her response and pulled the covers further over himself.
"I don't want to say I told you so but I did."
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Authors Notes: Hmm… not much in this chapter… I feel like this is a bit rushed because I'm planning on posting this first thing tomorrow… :)
I'm sorry I have been neglecting this fic lately.. I have a new obsession on Gundam Wing fanfics so that's where I spend most of my time in… aside from baby-sitting. Nasketball games also talk about 12 hours of my week, plus school work so yeah… I'm a busy girl. Hope you guys understand and stick with me to the end. I do not plan on stopping this. I promise to finish this. :)
Individual notes: (not in any particular order)
Jeanie: I hope you enjoyed this chapter too. :) I'm sorry I took longer than what I said I'd take (two weeks), I've been really busy. You're an incoming grade 12 huh? Well… I see that you are my elder than! :) You are part of the band camp? Coolie! What instrument do you play? I'm not part of a band camp since I don't think we have it hear but I do know guitars and pianos… J Thanks for reading! :)
skittle-xtreme: thanks you so very much for taking your time to go back to and review this fic just because it didn't allow you the first time. I really appreciate it. Reviews mean a lot to me and help a great deal in inspiring me. Thank you for your support. Hope I didn't let you down with this chapter. :)
potty: Yeah, that previous chapter was pretty long was it? I tried making this shorter, I just hope the spacing works now since last time it didn't work. :( Oh! Thanks for checking out my new fic! I really appreciate it! :)
muonlinefan: Hehehe! Isn't Xiao really cool here? Haha! So spunky and sort off scary even if she's so tiny… I'll stick with that. :) Thanks for sticking with me throughout the whole fic! :) Your review has always been a source of inspiration. :)
mi-chan: BOO! Heehee! Thanks soooo much for reading both fics! How was the UM fic? And the other fic? AHAHA! I'm so happy! Thanks for all your support! Wahaha! LA SALLE WON! Woot woot! :) And yeah I have a thing with making things longer than they should be.. you should know that. :P
Baccus Creamaeus: You missed the last chapter!!! Heehee… but that is alright… :) I understand that everyone is busy and that they don't have internet access like some people do. I love this Xiao too! I find her adorably spunky… hehehe, I'm glad it's not over cute heehee! I haven't seen the Tekken 5 desktop picture cries I need to surf and look for that! :( Is she adorable? Thank you sooo much for all your support. :)
Lyzz2nwn: ouyay nowkay igpay atinlay? Wahahah! :D I don't even know if that's right… I do know pig Latin too! :D I do enjoy reading long reviews… I like long reviews! Yes! I confess I'm a klutz! I have a bruise in my eye brow to remind me of that. I'm sorry if Jin didn't bump into an automatic glass door… I don't think it was invented then. :P Well there's not much fluff in this chapter but I hope it's not that Bad. :P I had to rush with this since I didn't want to make you guys wait so long… I need some serious organizing to do. Thunderstorms don't scare me much… I actually like watching the lines of thunder when it rains wahaha! :P Hmm… why do you say that your fic would absolutely suck? Don't say that! Think positive! Look what happened to me… I thought positive and well my fics aren't that good but I think that they are something. shudders ugh… no stitches please… :P I'm sorry I couldn't update sooner… I hope you're still okay. :P Thank you for all your support! :)
Now people! Show a little support and give the poor striving writer a review here please? Tell me what you think about the story so far. Good, bad, horrible, nice, sweet, I should stop writing, etc. Comments and suggestions are very welcome.
.::bows::.
.::Misao Seta::.