Authors Nonsense: I am now certain that I am cursed with horrible computers. :( True that last time, I was able to fix my computer in a jiffy, this time though, the problem was much worse. The motherboard got destroyed. :( I wasn't able to use a computer for a week and three days. Yes. It was pure torture. I just got the computer back last night and thankfully, all my files were still there. :D I was starting to panic a few days ago because I knew I had to update at least once before the year ends, but it seemed impossible without a computer. Thankfully this came back in the nick of time. This would be my last update for the year since I would be leaving for the province on the 24th and would not be returning till the 2nd or 3rd of January. Consider this as my early Christmas pressie for you guys. :D
Disclaimer: I don't own so don't sue! :P
This chapter is dedicated to Lyzz2nwn. Didn't think I'd ever dedicate a chapter for you eh? Naw, I was simply waiting for the right chapter to dedicate. I do dedicate for a reason. ;)
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"Go to sleep you baka! We've got to wake up early tomorrow if we want to catch up with Jinny-chan!"
"Hai hai… baka tomboy." The last had been intentionally meant for only him to hear, sadly, it wasn't covered very well.
"What was that?!" Pow. Silence.
"Huh? Er… I guess I knocked him out. I don't know my full strength eh?" Jin stared at the door in horror. No. He definitely didn't want to invite that sort of thing. But… oh well. It is not in a Kazama to fall back. No risk, no gain. But still… it would hurt a lot.
Jin knocked uncertainly at the door. His heart was pounding so hard on his chest he thought it might get torn off any second now.
"Now what?! I was almost asleep!" He winced. Now he was probably in more trouble. Footsteps slowly made their way towards the door. Jin had to steady himself to keep from running. Having nerves of steel before a fight and standing up to an angry Xiaoyu were two different things. Two entirely different things. The first would not even amount to half the hell the second one was…
The door opened…
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Finding my way to you
Chapter Fifteen: Closer
By: czee
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Xiaoyu's eyes almost popped out as she saw who had knocked on her door. She hadn't expected this, well… at least not yet.
"J… J… Ji…"
"Umm…"
It was a really awkward moment. Xiaoyu standing by the door in sleeping clothes and Jin standing by the doorframe. Neither really knew what to say.
"I… um… good evening Xiaoyu."
"… good… evening…" A million thoughts started going through her head at once. Him. Here. Now. She wasn't ready yet. She hadn't been expecting him yet. She'd been expecting to meet him by tomorrow at the most. Being absolutely clueless, Xiaoyu let loose her automatic defense mechanism.
"IDIOT! BAKA! BAKA! BAKA! WHERE THE HELL WERE YOU?! WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST TELL ME?! BORING BUSINESS MY BUTT!!!" Things were flying all over the room. The lamp. Pillows. Blankets. Her blades. Jin, expecting something of the sort caught them all neatly. Except for one, which tore his shirt a bit.
"What are you trying to do to me?!" He asked in irritation. His smile, however, was still there. He thought that a more emotional response would have been nice. But this was Xiaoyu; this is what was to be expected of her.
Who was he fooling? What reason does she have to be all emotional with his return anyway? You left her by herself.
By then, her anger had started to dissolve as reality set in. Him. Here. Now.
"I… why'd you leave me? I thought we were friends." She pouted at him, and not in a playful manner either. He could tell that she was really upset. And that one, really hurt.
" I didn't want you to be in danger Xiaoyu. We are still friends. That is… we are right?" She gestured angrily back towards her room where her captive lay.
"What did you think would happen? A guy… er… girl came after me threatening to torture and kill me before I pulled my blades on him. Even id I needed your protection, which I don't, how are you supposed to give it to me when you're miles up the road?!"
That was true. That got him real hard. His mind had started working frantically to diffuse the current situation he was in. Suddenly, the idea hit him hard. Jin spread the blades in his hand teasingly.
"Ne, Xiaoyu. Don't you think you're missing something?" She glared at him and snatched her blades from his hand angrily.
"Oh I'll show you what I'm missing! I swore that the moment I find you, I'd kick your butt with my blades. Well, here you are now and you better start running Jin!" In the corner of the room, Robert yawned. There he was. His dream come true. He was there, in person. His god. His idol. Damn, he was as hot as they say, possibly even hotter. But now was not the time. He couldn't talk to him now. He couldn't win him now. Not in his current state. One of these days, he'd meet him again and that is when he'd win him. Now, he had to leave. He looked out the door and drooled at Jin and his godlike form one last time before leaving down the hall almost casually. But remembering her captor, he sped up realizing that Xiaoyu might decide to change targets. She was like that… he had been to first person to know.
"I'll be leaving her to you. It seems it would be worse than anything I could ever do to you. Here's my card. Call me?" Robert tossed a piece of paper his way and walked away. Jin blinked at the man that passed through him by the hall. What the heck was this? Call him? Huh? Who was he anyway? How did he know his Xiaoyu. His Xiaoyu? When did that happen? This reunion was getting things in his head.
Robert laughed once more before walking down the stairs and telling the innkeeper with a wink that the two would only be needing one room for the night. Sadly, Xiaoyu never noticed her punching bag get away.
"So… Jin… do… you… concede? Accept… your… defeat!" Xiaoyu glared at him as she tried to catch her breath. Jin, looking at the blades in his hand, smiled.
"You've gotten a little rusty Xiaoyu. What have you been doing while I was gone? Hopefully not being a bum." That angered Xiaoyu even more.
"You really are a dead man walking Jin! When I get my hands on you!" Their 'small' chase went on for another round before Xiaoyu stopped again to try and catch her breath. Jin was once again holding her blades in front of her.
"Come… on… Jin! CONCEDE!" He smiled again and this time, instead of provoking her, he nodded.
"Sure thing Xiaoyu. As long as you promise to spare my life. Don't kill me okay?"
"I already… told you… can't kill you… wish I could get the breath… to maim you severely though!" He picked her up gently by the arm and pulled her back to her room.
"And why is that?" He asked as he noticed a slight touch of pink tinting her cheeks. Xiaoyu was… blushing? It must have been from either sever anger, embarrassment or…
"I… uhh…" Jin shook his head smiling the way he did only when she was around.
"And now that you've found me, what are you going to do?"
"…"
"I thought so. Goodnight."
"ARGH!!!"
"Umm… Jin?"
"So, it's Jin now? No Jinny-chan?"
"So you are awake. I just wanted to ask. What happened? Why this sudden change? Why the new person so suddenly?" He stiffened immediately. All lethargic feelings had left him at that moment. He studied her for a moment, his face unreadable. For once, he wasn't smiling.
"I'm not really sure myself Xiao. The whole time, I never really knew why I did all those mean things in school. Bullying, blackmailing, bribing. I don't know. It's like I just woke up one day and questioned my actions. I didn't have an answer. I didn't understand why people bothered protecting people who were weaker." Before she could protest, he stopped her.
"Traveling all around had thought me a lot of things. I don't believe that now. Because… I have something to protect now. I understand. I know. I had seen what people actually go through. All the hardships. And that made me realize how they weren't really weak to begin with. They were the strongest of people. And I hate everything I've done before. Because now that I know… now that I care about something… someone… I understand." Jin closed his eyes tiredly, and he caught her off guard by suddenly hugging her tightly and without warning.
"I would have done things… cruel things that would have let you and everyone you love suffer… I would never have known you. But… you're my friend… my only friend ever. I don't understand how you could accept someone like me as a friend. I don't understand how you could do that." The girl felt tears spill onto her neck. She stared down at him uncomprehendingly. But, as she looked down at her friend, the one she had known almost nothing about a matter of weeks ago, something in Xiaoyu changed. She wasn't aware what it was but it made hot tears suddenly roll down her cheeks. A memory surfaced as she realized what she was feeling. She remembered before, Julia or Miharu had told her once when they were talking about him during high school:
"No one has ever cried tears for him before. If they had, things would have changed." (1)
"Shh… it's okay. You didn't do cruel things to me. I'm alright. I didn't suffer. I'm still here. That's what matters." He laughed hoarsely.
"It's so strange hearing someone say that. You know what? I don't think I've ever really been okay until now." Xiaoyu smiled and pulled him closer, stroking his hair gently as she remembered her grandfather doing whenever she was depressed.
"Well it is true. You do know I can't let you out of my sight after now right?" Jin looked up at her wonderingly, wiping a tear trickling down her face.
"You… you're…"
"Crying. Yes, I can cry. It's not like I don't or never did. I don't do it much. Everyone always thinks I can take everything in stride you know. The Chinese girl who can shake off anything. Things hurt though."
"No." he suddenly muttered.
"Huh?"
I had known a long time ago that anyone could cry. I think I just never really understood why. It just… amazes me Xiao. No one ever cared enough to cry for me. I didn't know it was so terrible." He laughed weakly and the beginnings of a real smile were starting to surface.
"Yeah. Well, I've done my share, but I always get over it eventually. When I left, I was just angry. No more tears for Xiaoyu, I told myself. Because you know what? I don't think Dave is ever going to come around. I think I've been moping long enough. And they sent me off because of that. Thinking of it now, I'm glad they sent me."
"I'm glad they did too." She smiled at first, and then pouted.
"What do you mean by that Jinny-chan?"
"I meant it in a good way!"
"Good way? There's nothing good about being thrown out!"
"Ah, gomen, gomen. I didn't mean to offend you!"
"And hey… what are you doing hugging me anyway?!" Things pretty much progressed from there. And they both smiled deep inside. Things between them were normal once again. Or what passed for it anyway.
Tsuzukeru…
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Authors Nonsense: I know it's short again, but I do hope that the content made up for it. :D
Gomen but next update would most probably be next year. :(
And we say our farewell to Robert… sobs He had been a good punching bag. R.I.P. :P
Umm… the no one has ever cried tears for him bit was borrowed lol. That was from RK. :D
Notes: A hundred and one reviews. A hundred and one reviews. A hundred. And one. Wow. I feel so happy! Thank you so so very much everyone for having supported this fic! Love you all! :D
TheWishOfNight: Ehehe. Sorry about the cliffhanger. :P Exams suck? What? I don't know why but…I always loved exam week. Heehee. :P Yes, I'm putting a kissing scene and I'm sorry but it wont be for a while. They have to go through this other thing first. I'll try to make it short. Heehee… but problem is, once I get typing, ideas start popping up and it gets longer and longer. :D I hope you enjoyed that as well. :D
frozen-in-fire: Thank you! I'm sorry I didn't put much humor into this chapter. When I think about it, it's actually a pretty serious chapter ne? Heehee. But I do hope you still enjoyed it! I don't like cliffhangers too… especially when it's in a really good part and the author takes months to update… lol.. hey! At least I don't take months to update right ;) Thanks for the support! :D
mi-chan: :D There, the update you asked for. And it's a double update since I updated my UM fic. See! I am a nice person! Lol. :P See ya around next year. :P
Shadowsin: Thank you! I am glad that you enjoy reading it! :D Hope you'll stick till the end! ;)
Almost Funny: Animal Farm? I never read it. I've been wanting to read it for some time, but… you discouraged me from it now. Lol. Thanks for the warning. :D No internet connection? How long? O.O That's so horrible… :( I'm sorry there isn't much humor in this chapter. I did try my best to make the situation a bit light even if they were all serious and stuff. Heehee.. Thank you for reading and reviewing! :D
potty: Oh you'll see! I've got quite a couple more things in store for the two travel buddies. :D I hope you enjoyed this. :)
Stella: aww… thanks a bunch deary! Getting to much compliments from you already. I'm sensing something. Lol. Umm… Vada… o.O Enjoy your break! :D
Lyzz2nwn: loool. :P starfire/Robin… twitch lol. Sorry, I'm just a bit iffy with Star.. she's all perky and stuff… blinks Wait. Xiaoyu is like that too… although Xiaoyu is waaaay spunkier. ;) Cyborg? Meh. Don't care about him. Haven't read a single Cy fic. :P die cy… uhh… no offense to cy likers. I just like saying it cause it rhymes! XD Cause of my computer, I won't be able to finish this by the end of the year. It seemed like an impossible dream anyway. I've got a long ways to go with this fic. Really long. XD And… confession time… did you know, I'm lazy too? Lol.. that's why sometimes I take a while before I update. But now I'm really into writing and typing! Especially with this new keyboard my mom bought! I love it! It's so loud and noisy! Lol! He "TAK TAK TAK TAK" sound is so inspiring! O.O Thank you for r and r-ing! XD
Relics: YAY! Someone new! :D:D:D I am glad you are loving the story. It really means a lot. You're an author, you should know how a review could make a writer feel. :D Thank you so much for reading and reviewing! :D
I'm-Just-a-teen: Ehehe… sorry about that cliffhanger there. But see, see? An update! :D I deserve a cookie er.. BISCUIT. Lol. Madmod ep. XD ;) Happy people are fun to be with! Cause they keep you uhh…happy. XD When is your birthday? You haven't told me right? Ack. Sorry. STML sticking… XC The sims! Heehee! I love the sims! Especially the new one in PS2. Or maybe it's not new.. anyway, the sims bustin' out. It's really cool! Have you played it? YOU MUST!!! .
I just realized that ten people reviewed the previous chapter. I am overcome with joy I could drop dead! thud And with that, I end this with HAPPY HOLIDAYS! You guys enjoy your vacation! :DReview? ( ' 3 ' ) As a Christmas pressie for me?
Forgive my grammar
bows
.::czee::.