I don't own Tekken.
Thanks to all the readers.
Astral Slayer Asuka: Thanks for your review. About FFVII-AC, the story is not brilliant and it can be a bit confusing, but the scenarios, the characters design and the fighting scenes are awesome. It almost looks real. Square Enix knows how to seduce the fans…
Art-freak: I'm waiting for your sequel and I'm sure you'll do well, besides you have talent so don't quit. Thanks for your review.
Krappkarmin: Now that Steve is in the Hospital, it will be hard for them to hang out…but in the last chapter I have a surprise for you, ok? Thanks for reviewing.
Tom: Thanks so much for your review. I hope to hear from you soon.
Chapter 36
Hesitation
TOKYO
22nd JULY 2014
Jin had told Kunimitsu and Yoshimitsu that he needed to go to Tokyo to see a friend and only then he would go with them to Mount Koya.
When they arrived to the Hospital, Miharu was expecting them with anxiety.
-'So…tell me…who won?'-she asked curious.
-'Well…no one did!'-Ling announced.-'It was a draw.'
Miharu looked immediately to Jin and Hwoarang.
-'Again?'
Hwoarang and Jin shrugged.
-'How's Steve?'-Jin asked.
-'Better. Much better!'
-'Good…when can we see him?'
-'In a few minutes…'
-'What about his parents?'-asked Julia.
-'They are coming next week. They want to take him to London…to a private Hospital.'
-'What about you?'-Julia asked.
-'He asked me to go too…but I don't know yet! I haven't spoken to my parents.'
-'You're twenty-one, Miharu…'-Julia said.-'When I decided to stay here I was younger, and my parents didn't stop me!'
-'I'll talk to them soon…but first I just wanted my brother to accept Steve.'
Yuu and Kazumi arrived in that moment and they all entered Steve's room, even without permission.
-'Hey there!'-Julia greeted holding his hand.
-'I'm so glad you're alright!'-Steve said relieved.
-'Well the feeling is mutual!'
-'How did you get out?'
-'Kunimitsu and Yoshimitsu helped me…'
-'We heard that you're a lucky bastard!'-Hwoarang said.-'Being in bed all this time with a beautiful girl taking care of you…'
-'Yeah…I guess I am. The bullet almost hit my left lung…I'll be out in a month…'
-'And in the meantime you're going to travel, huh?'-Christie joked.
-'Yes…I am…'-he answered looking at Miharu. He knew she hadn't made up her mind yet.
-'I want to apologise for putting your lives in danger…again.'-Jin said and bowed.
-'It's alright. It wasn't your fault.'-Steve said.-'We all wanted to help you and Ling.'
-'Thanks.'-Ling said hugging him.
-'There's too many of you inside…some of you have to get out!'-the nurse said.-'Mr. Fox needs to rest; the doctor is coming to see him soon.'
-'We're going to Osaka later…I hope you get better!'-Julia said kissing Steve on the cheek.-'Just write or call us!'
-'Or drop by…I never turn down a fight!'-Hwoarang added.
-'As soon as I get well, I'll come to pay you a visit!'-Steve said with a smile.
Slowly everyone started to leave.
-'Jin? Can I give you a last word?'
-'Sure?'
-'I heard something…I mean I think I heard something…or maybe it was a dream…'
-'What is it?'
-'My mother…she was used in experiences…but she was with us…wasn't she?'
Jin didn't answer.
-'I heard her…in my mind…my mother is that woman…Nina…do you think that's possible?'
Jin looked at him again, but he couldn't decide what to say to him. Steve understood immediately.
-'You knew? And you never told me?'-Steve asked surprised.
-'I couldn't! I'm sorry…things are complicated.'
-'Why? I had the right to know!'
-'I know that…but I don't have the right to involve myself in other people's lives!'
-'I'm your friend!'
-'And she asked me not to tell! I promised!'
-'So she's my mother!'
-'I'm sorry…but that's the only thing I know!'-Jin was leaving when Steve hold his arm.
-'I'm sorry...I didn't mean to accuse you of anything. But you should've told me.'
-'I know…and I'm sorry for that…but I had to make a choice…'
Steve nodded.
After lunch, Hwoarang, Julia and Baek left for Osaka. Asuka decided to stay a bit longer because she wanted to know what Jin would do. Eddie and Christie had already their tickets to the afternoon flight to São Paulo. Christie had promised to return to enter the next Iron Fist. Eddie didn't say anything, but looking at his face, he wasn't pleased.
It was almost five in the afternoon when Ling, Asuka, Jin, Miharu, Yuu and Kazumi left the Hospital after another visit to Steve. Kunimitsu and Yoshimitsu were expecting Jin outside the Hospital.
-'I have to go with them…'-Jin said.-'I promised. Koya is not far from Osaka…I'll go with you in the tonight's train…'-Jin said to Asuka.-'If you want to…'
-'Yeah…sure. I miss my dad.'
-'I'm going to stay with Miharu for a while…when you return from Koya, call me and I'll meet you in Asuka's house.'-Ling said.
-'Ok…that's fine by me!'-Jin agreed.-'I think it won't be too long…maybe one or two days.'
Two hours later Baek was buying his trip back to South Korea.
-'I guess this is goodbye…'-he said to Hwoarang.-'At least I'll arrive to the Headquarters by dinner time!'
-'You could stay for a while with us…there's enough room for you and your ego!'-Hwoarang said.
-'Don't listen to him…you're always welcome, Baek.'-Julia said.
-'Thanks. Take care!'-Baek hugged Julia.-'I'm glad you are with him. This way I know you won't be in troubles…much!'-he said looking at his pupil.
-'I still don't know why you want to go back there!'-Hwoarang confessed.
-'It's not so bad…and to be honest…none of my students is as stubborn as you! So it's a good job for me!'-Baek announced.-'You were the most irresponsible student I taught.'
Hwoarang lowered his head.
-It's ironic how things turned out to be!'-Baek added.
-'What do you mean?'
-'You were also the most talented student of mine! You still are! I came here with a purpose…to watch your skills, to see if you deserve to be called a Tae-Kwon-Do master…and you do!'
-'Do you really think so?'
-'Yes, I'm quite sure! Tae-Know-Do is a very ancient martial art and I'm sure you won't let it die…'
-'Of course not!'
-'Go to Korea one of these days…you know where to find me!'
TOKYO
25th JULY 2014
Ling was living with Miharu and her parents since she had arrived in Tokyo. Shinru had been there with his wife, she was the daughter of a famous movies producer and she was really nice.
-'Look what Aiko offered me!'-said Miharu opening a box.
-'It's a beautiful dress!'-agreed Ling.
-'Shinru is so lucky!'-said Mrs. Hirano.-'Aiko is a really nice girl…I like her!'
-'Mrs. Hirano are you sure that I can stay here? I mean Yuu is living here as well, and maybe I'll give you too much trouble.'-said Ling.
-'Of course you can stay; besides you're staying in Miharu's bedroom!'
-'Thank you…it's just that Jin called me telling that he would be in Koya for more than two weeks since the Manji Party's councillors are having a reunion that will take days.'
-'It's ok!'
Yuu was already studying and thinking about projects to the University. The only time when he wasn't studying was when he was going to visit Steve with Ling, Miharu and Kazumi.
Kazumi was now living in Tokyo, in an apartment not very far from Miharu's house. She was going to enter the Tokyo Military Academy in August. Yuu and her were always arguing, but everyone knew that they didn't really hate each other.
From all her family, Riuga was the only one who hadn't paid a visit to Steve, so Miharu was really unhappy and angry with her brother.
Yuu and Ling had told him that he should talk to her.
-'Hi!'-he greeted when Miharu opened her room's door.
-'Hi. Come on in.'
-'Thanks.'
-'How's Steve?'
-'Ok…he's leaving in four days!'
-'Are you alright?'
-'Yes…but I'm thinking about going with him…his parents don't mind!'
-'What about the University?'
-'There are universities in London…and I can manage pretty well in English.'
-'I know…but…you'll be away from us! Is this guy worth all this?'
-'Yes…'
-'I just don't want to see you hurt!'
-'Then come with me to the Hospital and talk with Steve. You'll see he's not a bad person!'
Riuga looked at his sister and he remembered how close they used to be. He couldn't drive her away just because her boyfriend wasn't Japanese.
-'Ok…I'll go and I'll apologise!'
-'Really?'
-'Yes…'
Miharu hugged her brother and smiled. Now everything would be alright.
That night, Miharu spoke with Ling and told her that she would go with Steve to London. Ling was happy for her.
-'You can stay here anyway…ok?'
-'Thank you!'
Ling got up from the couch and went to the kitchen, when she returned she felt dizzy and Yuu had to hold her so she wouldn't fell.
-'Are you alright?'-he asked worried.
-'Yes…I'm sorry, I just felt a bit dizzy…'
-'I'll better help you to sit down.'
-'Thanks…'
-'What's wrong?'-Miharu asked.
-'Nothing…'-Ling lied.
TOKYO
27th JULY 2014
Miharu was already packing, she was really happy because finally she had made up her mind. As for Ling she was facing some problems. Since that night that she almost fainted, she had been feeling weird.
Morning sickness and sleepiness were worrying her. She didn't know what was wrong with her.
Miharu's mother had noticed that she wasn't feeling alright and she had some advice to give her.
-'Are you feeling sick again?'-she asked.
-'Yes…your food is great…I just don't know what's wrong with me!'
-'Ling…I think that I can help you, but you have to tell me the truth!'
-'What?'
-'Are you feeling sleepy these days?'
-'Yes…'
-'And tired?'
-'Yes…'
-'I think that I know what's wrong with you…'
-'You do?'
-'I think you're pregnant.'
-'WHAT?'
-'You have the symptoms…'
-'I was always careful!'-Ling said blushing.-'Sorry, Mrs. Hirano, but that's not possible!'
-'Are you sure?'
-'Yes!'
-'Then, I think you have to go to the doctors! Or you can just do the test…'
Ling thought about it. They had been careful, so she couldn't be pregnant. Even if she did the test, it would be negative. She waited until Mrs. Hirano went out and she went to the drugstore and bought a pregnancy test.
At home she gathered all her courage and did the test. She waited a few minutes and watched the colour of the paper turn blue. It was negative. She closed her eyes and sighed. If she wasn't pregnant, she had probably caught a cold. When she opened her eyes the paper wasn't blue anymore, it was pink, as in positive.
That wasn't possible, was it? She had been careful. How could that happen?
Ling got out again and bought three more tests. All of them turned out positive.
It was only after lunch time that Miharu returned from the Hospital. She had been speaking to Steve's mother.
-'We're going tomorrow after all. They want to go home as soon as possible. They said I can stay in their house and that I can take care of the University things over there…hey, Ling are you ok?'
Ling didn't answer.
-'What's wrong with you?'-insisted Miharu.
-'Nothing…'
-'Are you sure?'
-'Leave me alone Miharu!'
Ling went to the room and Miharu followed her.
-'Did I do something?'-Miharu asked.-'You don't want me to go, is that it?'
-'No…it's not that.'
-'Then tell me! I'm your friend! Please tell me how I can help you…'
-'There's nothing you can do!'
-'But you always helped me and…'
-'I'm pregnant!'-Ling almost yelled.
Miharu wasn't expecting to hear that and she just froze. She just stood there during at least five minutes without moving.
-'Say that again…'
-'I'm pregnant and I don't know what to do!'-Ling fell in the bed and looked at the window.
-'Is it Jin's?'
-'No…it's from the guy of the pizza's commercials! Of course it's Jin's! How could you ask me that?'
-'Sorry…I wasn't thinking…does he know?'
-'No. I don't understand…we were careful!'
-'There is never a hundred per cent sure…you know that!'
-'What will I do? What will Jin say?'
-'First you have to tell him. As for the rest of it, we can help you…you can always count on us!'
-'Don't tell anyone, please!'
-'Ok. I won't…but I think you should go to the doctors first!'
-'I don't want to go alone!'
-'I'm leaving tomorrow…but we can sort things out.'
TOKYO
28th JULY 2014
Ling was confused. She couldn't say that she was sorry or that she didn't want that baby because she would be lying to herself. The thought of giving birth was scary, but it was also a challenge, and it wasn't so bad since she was in love with the baby's father.
She couldn't understand how it happened because she knew she had been careful, but she was starting to get used to the idea that she was going to be a mother.
Miharu had left early in the morning. Her parents, Yuu, Kazumi and Ling had gone to the Airport to say goodbye to her and Steve.
In the meanwhile, Miharu had told Yuu and Kazumi what was going on with Ling. It was the only way she had found to prevent that Ling would feel lonely.
In that same afternoon, Ling had an appointment in the doctors.
A few hours later Ling, Yuu and Kazumi were waiting in the Hospital.
Ling wasn't angry to know that Miharu had to tell the truth to Yuu and Kazumi, but she still refused to call Jin.
-'You could have gone to that library…I can do this on my own!'-Ling said to Yuu.
-'No way…'-said Kazumi.
-'We want to be sure you enter in that room…'-said Yuu.
-'Fine.'
-'Miss Aikawa, Mr. Murakama…you can go now…the doctor is waiting for you…'-a nurse said.
-'What?'-asked Kazumi confused.
-'Don't you two have an appointment?'
-'Why should we?'-asked Yuu.
-'Oh…so you're not going to be parents?'
-'No!'-Yuu and Kazumi said blushing.
-'She is the one who has the appointment…'-said Yuu pointing at Ling.
-'Oh, sorry…then you are?'
-'Ling Xiaoyu.'
-'You can go!'
-'Thanks.'-Ling left laughing loudly.
Doctor Usagi was a very good doctor, she had confirmed Ling's pregnancy and then she had told her a list with the things she couldn't and could do, drink and eat.
In the end there were the usual questions.
-'Are you a single mother?'-she asked Ling.
-'Yes…I mean we are not married…'
-'Does he want the baby?'
-'I don't know…'
-'You haven't told him?'
-'No.'
-'Why? Is he going to be angry, or even hurt you?'
-'God, no! It's just that we never talked about having kids…it's going to be a shock…but it will be fine! He's not going to hurt me…he's just away, and I want to wait until he returns…'
-'Well your baby will probably be born in the first week of April…'
-'Is it a boy or a girl?'
-'We don't know yet! But we'll be able to tell you in four months.'
-'Ok…'
-'Until then, I want to see you here every month!'
When Ling left she was relieved because she was sure that everything was alright with the baby. But now she was thinking about something else. She hadn't thought much about the gender of the baby, but now that she was beginning to think of it, she realised that she was longing for a girl. Jin was always saying that the Mishima family would end with him, which meant that he didn't want to have children. If she had a boy, he would perpetuate the Mishima family, but a girl wouldn't. It had to be a girl; she couldn't have another male, another Mishima heir.
She would give him a daughter and that was final, but now she had to wait eight months and she would have to tell Jin.