Fine Line between Hate and Love

It had been three years since I broke up with Hwoarang, how would I act towards him in the fourth tournament? Would I talk to him? Would I ignore him? I know I shouldn't try to avoid him but it just brings me back to how he reacted.

"Jin...? What is it?... You can tell me, what's wrong?" I had his hands in my own as I looked into concerned eyes.

"...Hwoarang...I...I..." I stopped, why couldn't I say it? I inhaled shakily "I don't think we should see each other anymore"

"What!" It wasn't anger in his voice but hurt, he went to speak but I cut him off,

"I've grown out of love with you... I'm sorry, I am so sorry..." I dropped my head, I couldn't bring myself to look at him.

"What are you talking about? Jin! I love you. I love you dammit! I can't lose you now! We can wor-"

"No. We can't" I said firmly, he had to take me seriously. When I went to release his hands he just gripped onto mine tighter.

"Jin look at me...Look at me!"

"No Hwoarang!" I pulled my hands away from him roughly and went to grab the leather trench-coat that was slung over his couch.

He was quick to move, catching my wrist before I opened the door. "Listen! Please!"

"Hwoarang no! Don't make this harder than it already is!"

"You just can't fall out of love with someone!"

I shoved him backwards so he'd let go of me and went to open the door again before I felt strong hands clasps around my upper arms.

"No Jin! You fucking love me too I know it!"

"What's wrong with you!"

"What's wrong with me? What's wrong with you!" I struggled against him, half of me felt scared he was being so physical and the other half of me felt like shit because he was taking this so badly. I understood he was confused, I understood he wanted answers but he knew how I felt when he acted like this.

"Hwoarang don't make me hurt you!"

"I can change babe, just give me a chance!"

"Nobody can change a person!" I replied, smacking the back of my head against his face. Hwoarang cursed as he let go of me holding his hands to his nose. Blood oozing out between his fingers.

"You'll find someone a thousand times better than me, you'll love them a thousand more times than you loved me and you'll be happier with them than you ever were with me!" I had tears running down my face as I opened the door.

"...Good bye"

That was the last thing I said to him before I walked out of his apartment and out of his life. I knew I never gave him a proper chance to speak his mind, but I didn't want to hear it. I knew if he did I would have fallen for him, the brick wall I worked so hard to build would have crumbled in seconds, and I couldn't let myself do that because in all honesty I still loved him. I was so frightened of what I felt towards him that I couldn't handle it... it's so hard to explain.

I still to this day, when my mind drifts to the times we spent together. I have to tell myself, convince myself that it was in his best intentions and that one day we'll just look back at this and laugh.

But last year, the year the try outs for the iron fist tournament began. Confirmation trials for the fighters who wanted to earn their place in the fourth tournament were. I met someone, someone that I'm dating now, a British boxer or as he likes to think the British boxer. When we first started dating I got butterflies in my stomach each time he got close, I was so unbelievable nervous when he was around, but when I think back on it I was like that when Hwoarang and I started dating too.

It's really quite funny, it's been eight months, eight months since Steve and I've been officially dating and I'm happy. I know that Hwoarang would have met someone special by now too. Probably recovered faster than I did, after all it had been two years and a bit until I started dating again.

"After you've finish filling out these forms. Please hand them to the receptionist over there" A young woman informed me, pointing in the direction of the desk.

I nodded, bowing my head slightly in thanks as I grabbed the forms off her. She had her hands full, running around giving them out to hundreds of people. The place was crowded and it wasn't organized as well as it could have been. All I could hear were the voices of a thousand people talking to one another and over each other, whistles blowing as a few hundred people were fighting in the trails. People trying to impress the specially selected judges watching each move they made so they could go through to the next level. People were practicing and people were crying, some out of sadness and some out happiness.

I saw optimists and pessimists, adults and children, people who were there to win and people who were there for a deeper reason. Mine, to kill Kazuya Mishima and Heihachi Mishima, ever since my grandfathers betrayal I have loathed anything related to the Mishmas, my lineage, my fighting style, the Devil Gene in my blood. Everything. So I unlearned the Mishima- ryu fighting style and mastered the art of traditional Karate.

I trained every single day for long hours learning Karate, so I could master it before this very day came. I knew I was going to have a place in this tournament, I knew there wasn't going to be many new fighters in it. I just hoped I wouldn't see...

"Need a pen?"

I turned my head to see a stranger offer a blue biro to me. I took the pen graciously, bowing my head slightly (force of habit)

"Thank you" I said

"I saw ya just standing here, thought I'd help ya out yeah" The man said to me with a small smile.

"Yeah, I didn't think to bring one"

"Neither here, I just got one with the forms those people are handing out"

"You're English" I stated, noticing his accent.

"London, The weathers so much different in Japan hey"

"Prefer the rain?"

"Actually it's a nice change" The man replied with a chuckle.

I couldn't help but catch sight of the scar on his left arm when I looked up from my forms.

"What style of fighting do you master?"

"Boxing, yourself?"

"Karate" I replied proudly

"Hopefully I'll see you later on yeah?"

I nodded giving him a smile, he was quite attractive. Golden shoulder length hair, ocean blue eyes, lean muscular build and tanned skin. Actually he was gorgeous, and he must have noticed me checking him out because his smile turned into a grin.

"I'll see ya around" He said, winking at me before he heading towards the receptionist.

I felt my cheeks getting hotter as I quickly returned back to my forms.

It had taken literally three and a half hours before I got through to the final levels of the trails. And of course I saw a lot of familiar faces like Nina Williams, Lei Woolong and-

"JINNNNN!" I was suddenly attacked from behind. Arms and legs wrapped around me and straight away I knew who it was.

"Ling!" It came out more like a struggled choke than a happy surprise, not that I wasn't expecting her to be here.

"Have you been getting the e-mails I've been sending you?"

"Yes, yes I have domo" I thanked, peeling her arms off me as she jumped down.

"I've missed you Jin chan!" She said facing me for the first time. "Wow! You've grown since I last saw you!"

"So have you" I replied, smiling down at her.

"Oh I can't wait until this is over, we have to go get some grub!"

"Sounds good"

Our conversation was cut short when my name was called over the loud speaker.

"Next, fighter 0792. Jin Kazama"

"...Good luck"

"Thank you"

As I made my way to the fighting circle I realized this was it. This was what I've trained for, for three years. I couldn't lose now, I had to show them I was worthy of entry. I stepped into the circle, closed my eyes and clutched my fists. I was ready.

"Next, fighter 0613. Steve Fox"

I inhaled deeply and went into my fight stance. I opened my eyes to see ocean blue ones staring back at me.

"I knew I'd see ya again"

I remained in my fighting stance, just my luck he had to be my opponent for this evening.

"Ichi...ni...san...go!"

I reacted, instantly swinging my leg up to hit his ribcage with force. But he blocked it with his right arm, using his left to do an upper cut hitting me hard in the abdomen. I cringed gritting my teeth, I forgot what it felt like to be hit so hard. He went to hit me again in the face from the side, but I quickly ducked and kneed him in the stomach, returning the favour.

The fight probably lasted five minutes, he had some good moves but than again so did I. We knocked each other around pretty badly but neither of us refused to fall. So they stopped the fight, it usually took three minutes for someone to go down but not in this case. Once the whistle was blown I froze, panting like a dog. I just hoped that I wasn't going to be overruled. It felt like an eternity before they told the results.

"The result of this match between Jin Kazama and Steve Fox is...a Draw... congratulations you are both in the iron fist tournament four"

"YES!"

I felt strong arms wrap around me as I was pulled into a bear hug. His sweaty chest pressed against mine for a brief moment.

"We did it mate! I didn't hurt ya too bad did I?" He asked, patting the side of my arm with that gorgeous grin of his face.

I shook my head, beginning to smile "I'll survive"

He wiped his forehead with the back of his boxing glove. "What a work out. Are ya peckish? Can I get ya something to eat, to celebrate winning?"

"I...ah...I'd" And that's when the butterflies kicked in. It'd been a long time since anyone's asked me out. Even if it was just a celebration thing.

Oh shit I forgot Ling. "I'm sorry but I can't I'm already meeting a friend for dinner"

"Oh ok... well...many we can postpone it"

"...A rain check? Sure" That was a lot harder than it seemed.

"Great! I'm staying in Tokyo for a while so it works out perfectly yeah? Come with me for a sec"

I followed him to his training bag and watched him rummage through it.

"Shit... does anyone have-"

"A pen?" I questioned, passing him the blue biro I had in my pocket

He laughed. "Hey thanks"

He jotted down some numbers on a ripped piece of paper and gave it to me.

"Hajimemashite Jin"

I was slightly surprise at his words. "I'm pleased to meet you too Steve" I replied bowing my head.

"I'll hear from you soon"

I nodded in agreement.

Our relationship blossomed from there, I found out 'a while' for Steve was 12 months. Now I'm happy, I never ended up seeing Hwoarang that day but he probably... well I know he went at the crack of dawn. That's just what Hwoarang would do. Everyone knows he's competitive... especially me. I just hope he's happy even more than I am. I'll know for sure when I see him this week.

Authors notes: ah huh and that's it people! I dunno if I should continue, reviews would be a good encouragement:D