CHAPTER 8

He'd woken her up, like she knew he would, in the god-awful hours of early morning, just past midnight. She grumbled and hit him with a pillow for disturbing her dream about a beautiful redhead in a never-ending amusement park, but he persisted and threatened her with cold water, and she finally acquiesced.

She was glad she did, because she really did have to get her mind off him. She was thinking about him subconsciously for God's sake. It was getting out of control, and she hadn't even had a proper conversation with him yet.

They went to the gym together, and just when she had started to stop thinking about him, there he was.

He was using the rowing machine, and Ling found it hard to drag her eyes away from him. If she had thought he was good-looking before, that was nothing to how he looked shirtless and sweating.

She stared at him for a good few seconds, but he was apparently lost in his own world and didn't even notice the newcomers to the gym.

'Ling?' Jin prodded. She blushed and turned back to her friend, who raised his eyebrows but, thank god, said nothing. How could she explain her inexplicable attraction to a man who seemed to hate her best friend for the petty reason of not being able to beat him in a fight?

She followed Jin to the sparring room, and was able to stop herself from turning around to look at him one more time. Though it was such a small thing, she felt proud of herself for resisting, and her mood brightened as she prepared to spar.

They sparred for what felt like hours, and she, for the first time since she had met him, found her mind completely occupied by something else. She hoped that their play-fight was just as distracting to Jin as well.

He certainly seemed a lot more relaxed, telling her an anecdote that involved his grandfather's pet and her own, and she found it amusing that Kuma was heartbroken over her dear Panda.

She wished, briefly, that they could hold onto such carefree moments as these.

Just as she had warmed up, and was ready for some real fighting, another messenger from Heihachi interrupted. She was annoyed at the disruption, but it seemed to sadden Jin even more than her, so she kept a bright face and told him to get to whatever it was he had to do.

She stood awkwardly in place for a minute after he'd left and then reached for a towel to wipe herself down.

She didn't see Hwoarang enter the room.

He stood, watching her for a few seconds, wondering why it was he was standing there, when his mind had expressly told his body to leave her alone.

'You're very good, you know,' he said, announcing his presence.

She froze and turned her head towards him, and then abruptly started wiping her face again, just to hide her blush.

'You were watching?' she questioned softly.

'For a short while,' he lied.

She was trying desperately to think of something cool and sophisticated to say, but her thoughts were drowned out by her rapidly increasing – and not from the exercise – heartbeat, which echoed loudly in her ears.

'What's your method?' he asked, wanting to break the silence. How could one little girl make him so damn awkward?

'It's – it's a hybrid between Hakke Sho and Hikka Ken.' She wondered if he was really interested or just making conversation.

'The ancient art of Chinese assassination.' He grinned at her. 'Nice.'

She couldn't help but smile back at him, though shyly, and his grin widened, and before he knew what he was doing he had asked her to get a drink.

She looked around the room – as though the mirrors held a hidden answer – and then nodded her agreement and they walked, side by side in an easy silence to the nearby open-all-night cafe.

She ordered a fruit juice and he a Berocca, sheepishly admitting that he might have had too much to drink at the party.

She laughed and asked if anything interesting had happened, holding her breath and steeling herself for her eventual disappointment when he mentioned Nina.

'Well,' he started, 'I met you.'

She wouldn't allow herself to be flattered though, and she brushed aside the compliment and mentioned that Nina was a very pretty lady.

He looked confused for a second and then recovered. 'She's one of the twins, right? The brunette?'

Secretly, she felt elated, but she berated him out loud for not remembering who she was. Her secret joy made her reckless, and she flirted a little. 'Seriously, apart from me, do you remember anyone?'

'Of course,' he replied lightly. 'Kazama was there as well.'

She realised that she had touched a sore spot and was about to change the subject when she reminded herself that it was he who had brought up Jin's name.

'Ah, yes,' she said. 'What on earth is going on between you two?'

He was silent for a minute and then shrugged and told her he just wanted to beat him.

'It's not just that,' she said, and he agreed but he wouldn't tell her anymore and she took it as a cue to change the subject.

'Your parents must be proud,' she said, 'to have you in the Tournament.'

'Perhaps,' he said, 'but I don't know them. I grew up on the streets,' he added at her questioning look.

'Oh,' she said, and mentally kicked herself for bringing it up. 'I'm sorry.'

'Don't be,' he replied, looking down at her hand that was now covering his. He felt oddly better. 'My boys – my gang – they're my family.'

'Well, you do have people who care.'

'Yeah,' he paused, lost in memories. 'They were great.' She noticed the past tense and was about to comment, but a waitress brought over their drinks. She smiled and batted her eyelashes at Hwoarang, and Ling was glad that he took no notice.

'Tell me about you,' he said, abruptly changing the subject.

Ling, all of sudden, was overcome by shyness again.

She took a sip of her drink and, not meeting his eyes, asked in a voice no louder than a whisper what he wanted to know.

He bit back the insane desire to say 'everything' and stared at her evading his gaze. 'Tell me – tell me why you're here.'

'Why I'm here?' she repeated blankly.

'This tournament,' he elaborated. 'What are you fighting for?'

'Well,' she paused, 'You'll think it's silly.'

'Will I?'

'Yes,' she said, firmly.

'Tell me anyway,' he coaxed.

She glanced at him to refuse, but that was her mistake. She found herself unable to look away, and willing to tell him just about anything.

'Don't laugh,' she warned him. And then – 'I want to build an amusement park.'

He laughed, and even though she expected it, and even though the laughter wasn't cruel or mocking but genuinely amused, she felt a little disappointed.

It was as if he sensed her change in mood; he stopped quite suddenly and apologised and asked her why an amusement park. She hesitated before giving her answer.

'When people are at an amusement park – it's like –' she broke off, wondering how to put her thoughts into words. 'Everyone who's there is at their – not happiest but – they're at there most carefree. And that's exactly what this world – China, especially – needs.'

He stared, awed at this tiny girl in front of him. Just how much goodness could one person have?

Unnerved by his silence, she let out a self-depreciating laugh. 'It sounds silly, I know. Jin thinks so too.' She continued, wanting desperately to lighten the mood. 'See? You two do have something in common.'

He ignored her last comment and waited for her to make eye contact again, but she was busy wringing her hands – a nervous habit from when she was a child – and no matter how much he silently willed her to, she just wouldn't look up.

He leaned over and tilted her chin up gently, lost for a second in her warm eyes. 'I don't think it's silly,' he said, truthfully. 'It's hopeful.'

She couldn't resist smiling at him, and as ever, he couldn't resist returning it. He pulled his hand away from her face, his head swarming with the smooth, silky feel of her skin.

They sat together in companiable silence and he couldn't keep his eyes – or mind – off her. He studied her hair, held up in pigtails again by yellow baubles, and her shirt, with its pink panda and yellow sunflowers.

He found her adorable, like no other girl he had ever been attracted to.

She ordered another drink – concentrated red cordial, for extra kick, she explained – and he was once again struck by her innocence.

With a sinking feeling he realised just how good she was – far too sweet and pure for someone as jaded as him. If, by some miracle of the gods, she broke it off with Kazama, and they got together, he'd drag her down into his world. A world filled with thugs and gambling and gang fights, and though her fighting ability would make her an asset, she deserved better.

She deserved someone who, like her, was full of goodness. Who could make her smile and laugh and feel at ease. Who could give her a life where she never had to wring her hands again. Who had it all, and who could give all of it to her.

He bit his tongue as he realised she deserved someone just like Jin Kazama.