I don't own Tekken.

Thanks to all the readers.

Thanks to the reviewers: Jyu, Krappkarmin, MooNTeARZ and HwoarangTheChamp. Hope you like this chapter too.

Chapter 37

Stand by me

TOKYO

1st AUGUST 2014

Ling had received a call from Jin saying that he would arrive to Osaka that same afternoon. She wasn't ready to tell him the truth, but she knew she would have to do it.

In that moment she was in the Tokyo train station with Yuu and Kazumi.

-'We wish you luck!'-Kazumi said.-'You need to think about the baby now!'

-'I know…thanks Kazumi. I wish you luck too…in the Academy.'

-'Don't worry with me…I'm sure I'm ready…I mean I had military preparation in the G Corporation, so this will be nothing! You take care of yourself and the baby!'

-'Stop giving Ling's advice…'-Yuu said.

-'What's up with you?'-Kazumi asked.-'Is it because Miharu is with Steve in London?'

-'No. Miharu is just a friend to me. How can you give advice to Ling if you don't have kids?'

-'I'm just trying to cheer her up! But you're right…I don't know how it's like because I don't have kids!'

-'Guys…please don't argue!'

-'Are you going to tell Jin?'-Yuu asked.

-'Yes…but I'm not sure when.'

-'He has the right to know!'

-'She'll tell him when she's ready!'-Kazumi said.

-'The father has the right to know!'

-'How can you tell if you haven't been a father yet!'

-'You always think that men don't care, don't you?'

-'No, that's not what I think…it's just that things are complicated!'-Ling said.

-'You can't force Ling to tell Jin…'

-'I don't want to force her…I just want her to understand that Jin needs to know!'

-'You know what Yuu? You have no idea what's like to carry a child…you men are all the same!'-Kazumi said.

-'Well…why don't you have a child to see how it's like?'-Yuu provoked.-'Because it seems to me that you never had a child too, so how can you know?'

-'Because I'm a woman…and I will have a baby…when I find the right guy…'

-'Guys…everyone is looking at you!'-Ling warned.

-'You'll have to wait until forever…you're too violent to have a boyfriend!'-Yuu insisted.

-'Go to hell, Murakama!'

-'My train arrived!'-Ling said and sighed.

-'Take care Ling…'-Kazumi said.

-'You too guys…'

Ling left to Osaka unsure of what to do, but one thing was for sure, Yuu was right; Jin had the right to know.

SOUTH-OSAKA

Asuka and Satome were waiting for Ling in the station. Since Asuka had returned to the Dojo, Satome had returned home. Asuka's father was already at home, his recovery was going well, actually in a month he had recovered a lot.

When his daughter arrived, Takao Kazama was worried but also angry with her. But now, everything was ok, because Asuka was finally home and she was alright.

Asuka haven't told anything about Jin and the Mishimas, she was waiting for Jin to arrive; it would be much easier if Jin talked with her father, instead of her.

When Ling arrived, Asuka introduced her to Satome and they left to the Dojo.

-'We'll have to return to the Station later to meet Jin…'-Asuka said.-'I'm not sure if my father will understand…'

-'You haven't told him yet?'-Ling asked.

-'No…it's hard to explain…besides he always told me that we are the last Kazamas…'

-'Maybe he doesn't know…'-Ling suggested.

-'So…this Jin…he's your cousin, right?'-Satome asked.

-'Probably.'-Asuka said. She had told everything to Satome. Asuka didn't know why but she had the feeling that she could trust him. He had done a great job taking care of her father and the Dojo.

-'So…did Miharu and Steve leave already?'-Asuka asked.

-'Yes…she's going to study in London.'

-'She's really brave! I mean…I would be afraid to leave my country…'

-'Miharu is a big girl! She knows how to take care of herself!'

-'Did you miss Jin?'

-'Yes…I can't wait to see him!'

-'Then why do you look so sad? Did something happen?'

-'No. It's just that…well…Miharu is gone and I left Yuu and Kazumi arguing…'

-'Hey…Miharu will be ok…you said it yourself! As for Yuu and Kazumi, they will sort things out…'

-'Asuka and I were always fighting too…'-Satome said.

-'That's right! But that was because you were really nasty to me!'

-'Me? I was not!'

-'You were always provoking me!'

-'Maybe just a little! But now we are friends…even Kaede and Naoko can't believe!'

-'Come on Ling…give us a smile! After Jin arrives we can go and pay a visit to Hwoarang and Julia…just to see how they are doing!'

-'Yes…that would be great!'

Takao Kazama was a really nice man, and a good father. At least Ling thought that way when she met him. There was something about that man that Ling appreciated, he was peaceful and wise, he reminded her of Jun Kazama.

As the hours passed by, Ling was feeling more nervous. Asuka had noticed that but she thought that her friend was only anxious to see Jin again.

After lunch, both girls left to the Station again.

-'You said we could pay a visit to Hwoarang and Julia…'-Ling started.

-'Yeah…'

-'Are you sure? I mean…'

-'Don't worry…I see Hwoarang as a friend and nothing more. I respect him and Julia.'

-'That's great! I knew you would come to that conclusion…'

-'Yeah…well…things are better this way, besides I've got friends…You, Jin, Satome, Roomax…and all the others…'

-'Roomax? I think I heard that name before…'

-'He's from Hwoarang's gang…Satome and Roomax took good care of my father while I was in the tournament.'

-'Is he cute?'

-'Well…yes…'-Asuka blushed in a light pink.-'But it's not what you're thinking…'

-'I'm not thinking anything…you are!'-Ling laughed.

-'Very funny! Look…there's Jin!'

Ling's heart almost stopped when she heard those words. She just wished she would act normal, so Jin couldn't suspect.

Jin hugged both Asuka and Ling when he saw them, but for their surprised he said he was leaving again.

-'What?'-asked Ling.-'What do you mean you won't stay?'

-'I can't see Asuka's father yet!'

-'Why not?'-asked Asuka.-'I haven't told him yet…because I thought it would be better if you told him…I mean I'm sure you and him have a lot to talk about!'

-'I know, Asuka…but when I was in Koya…I thought about something that master Wang told me and I realised that I need to know something first!'

-'What is it?'-Asuka asked.

-'My mother is alive…I need to speak to her as soon as possible!'

-'But why?'-Asuka insisted.-'Why can't you wait?'

-'I need to hear her first…I need to hear her version of the story first! I'm sorry…'

-'Do you know where she is?'-Ling asked.

-'No…I'm going to Sendai to talk to Lee…my father may have contacted him…'

-'What if he didn't?'-Asuka asked.

-'I'll just follow my instincts…I'm sure I can find her…'

Jin looked at Ling and saw her tears rolling down her face.

-'This doesn't mean I'm leaving you!'-he said hugging her.-'I just need to find my mother!'

-'I know…it's just that…'

-'I need to do this alone!'

-'I understand…but when will I see you again?'

-'Soon. I promise.'

-'Lets go eat or drink something before you go!'-suggested Asuka.

-'Ok…'-Jin agreed.

In the meanwhile, Ling told Jin about Miharu, Yuu and Kazumi, and Asuka told him that she wouldn't speak to her father until his return.

Jin told the girls about his experience with the Manji Party.

-'When Kunimitsu announced me as the leader of the Mishima family…they all bowed to me. Then I was taken to a single room. After that a man came and took me to a place where I had to take a bath…then I had to eat my meal alone…'

-'You were treated like a prince…'-Asuka said.

-'Yes, I was…but I was always telling them that I wasn't their Lord. Then after two days, Yoshimitsu called me for a meeting with the ten councillors. I explained what happened to the Mishima family and I said that I didn't need an army of my own…'

-'So…you set them free!'-Ling said.

-'Yeah…but one of the councillors refused to accept that…he wanted to commit suicide…like in the old times!'

-'What did you do?'

-'I couldn't do anything…they didn't let me!'

-'Why not?'

-'They follow the old values, the bushido…it's forbidden to interfere in a suicide…'

-'So he did it?'-Asuka asked.

-'No…Yoshimitsu managed to convince him… he said that the bushido was the way of the samurai…and that the Manji Party had to let it go because it's old fashioned. I mean the kids…they can't fit in our society if they learn the old ways…'

-'He's right!'-Asuka agreed.

-'After that there was a big reunion to see if they would accept freedom or not…in the end they did. But there was another problem…they needed a leader.'

-'Isn't their leader Yoshimitsu?'-Asuka asked.

-'Yoshimitsu was the leader a few years ago, after that Kunimitsu became their leader, and when they both left to go to the tournament Yakumitsu became the leader…'

-'So? And who is it now?'-Asuka asked with curiosity.

-'I don't know…when I left they were still voting…'

-'You could have waited!'-Ling said.

-'Waited? They were voting for almost five days…I couldn't stay there forever! Besides, I think that Kunimitsu will be the leader.'

A few minutes later, Asuka and Ling were saying goodbye to Jin.

-'Jin?'-Ling called when he was entering the train.

-'What?'

-'I need to tell you something…'

-'What?'

-'I…I'm going to…'

The train was ready to go.

-'What is it?'-Jin insisted.

-'I'm going to miss you!'-Ling said when the door shut.

Jin waved and left on his way to Sendai. As for Ling she hugged Asuka and started crying.

-'Ling…what's wrong?'-Asuka asked worried.

-'I couldn't tell him…'

-'What?'

-'That I'm going to have his baby…'

Asuka opened her eyes but she didn't say a word. She just hugged Ling back.

-'Don't worry…everything will be ok.'-Asuka reassured.

EAST-OSAKA

8th AUGUST 2014

Julia and Hwoarang were back and everything was normal. Her arm was completely cured. It was hard to see if something had changed between them, but one thing was for sure, their relationship had passed many obstacles and they were closer than before.

Julia was now thinking about getting a job because she had received news from home. Her parents and her sister were coming to visit her in the next month. She hadn't told Hwoarang yet, but she knew she had to.

She had a job interview that afternoon and she had asked Hwoarang to go with her.

-'What's the job anyway?'-he asked when they were arriving to the Osaka History Museum.

-'I'll work in the History department in this Museum…I'll do research…'

-'Knock yourself out!'

-'What's wrong? I like it…'

-'Well, I'm happy for you then…but it's boring…'

-'I have something else to tell you…'

-'What?'

-'My parents are coming to see us next month.'

-'Oh…Great! It made my day!'-he said with no enthusiasm.

How could he be happy about it if Lao had threatened him several times?

Julia's interview was alright, they had told her that she had good chances to take that job.

When she left the Museum, Hwoarang wasn't waiting for her like they had agreed.

-'Miss…a guy with red hair told me to tell you that he's waiting for you in the park!'-a kid told Julia.

-'Why?'

-'I don't know…he said he was waiting for you there!'

Julia looked at her watch and sighed. It had been an hour since she had entered the Museum, no wonder Hwoarang had walked to the park.

-'Thank you…'-she said leaving the kid.

In the park, Julia looked for Hwoarang but he was no where to be found. She was turning back when she heard some steps behind her.

The next thing she felt was a hand grabbing her and then she felt her head spinning and she blacked out.

One hour later Hwoarang was trying to understand what had happened to Julia. He had gone to the jeep one second and she never came back. He went to the Museum but they said she had left a few minutes ago.

Now he was at home but she wasn't there too.

-'Where the hell is she?'-Hwoarang asked angry.-'Why doesn't she answer her cell phone?'

-'A guy gave me this!'-Mirk said entering the house.

It was a note from someone who knew Hwoarang pretty well.

-'He has her!'-Hwoarang said and sat down.

-'Who?'-Eijiro asked.

Julia was waking up. She tried to get up but she couldn't. Only then she realised her hands and feet where tied up and she was lying on the floor in some dark place.

She managed to sit down and then she saw someone.

-'You!'

-'Yes, me!'-Li answered. He was the Vain Minds' leader, someone who was waiting patiently to have his revenge against Hwoarang.

-'What are you doing here?'

-'Making sure I won't fail this time!'

-'Where's Hwoarang?'

-'He'll be here soon…don't worry!'

-'What is this all about? Another challenge? You know you can't win!'

-'Last time I realised Hwoarang had a weak point…it was you! Now that I know you are together, I'm sure we'll come!'

-'But why? Why do you bother?'

-'I won't hurt you; I only came for him…'

-'You won't win!'

-'I don't want to win…this time I want to kill him!'

Julia was worried, Li was out of control and she didn't want to lose Hwoarang.

-'Where are we?'-she asked.

-'Don't worry…he'll come! I'm only defending my honour…I'm sorry for you. Today is probably the last day you'll see him alive!'

-'But I was the one who won against your friend. Why don't you want revenge from me?'

-'What happened between me and Hwoarang is more complex than that! The Vain Minds are gone now.'

-'Why?'

-'Because I was never a successful leader. With all those humiliations that Hwoarang inflicted me, how could my friends trust me as a leader?'

-'This is not Hwoarang's fault!'

-'My father was a leader; I was supposed to be a leader too! Hwoarang foiled my plans, my dreams and my ambitions! I hate him! He was a stupid kid when I met him, and even so he won…I was supposed to be the East-Osaka leader, not him!'

-'Don't fool yourself!'

-'He will pay!'

At home, Eijiro was trying to convince Masami that everything was alright.

-'Julia isn't here! How can things be ok?'-she asked angry, because she knew he was trying to lie to her.

-'Please don't make things hard on us!'-Eijiro said.-'Hwoarang is trying to get her back!'

-'Who is Li?'-Masami asked.

-'A group's leader…our rival!'

-'What did he write to Hwoarang?'

-'That he wants to meet him alone near the old Mutsui factory!'

-'Bring me Ghika!'-Hwoarang ordered.-'NOW!'

Ryo left immediately.

-'Calling Ghika? Why?'-Eijiro asked.

-'Li might not be alone…and someone is watching us.'

-'I understand!'

Ghika was a Tsunami. His hair was red, just like Hwoarang's. Physically they were both tall and weighted pretty much the same, so at night it was hard to see the differences between them. That was what Hwoarang was counting on.

-'Can I go too?-asked Mouse.

-'No!'-Eijiro said immediately.

-'I'm sixteen now…I'm a Tsunami!'

-'No!'

-'Shut up you both!'-Hwoarang said.-'Why is Ghika taking so long! I need him here!'

-'Take it easy, I'm sure she's alright!'-Eijiro said.

-'She'll better be…or I'll kill that bastard!'-Hwoarang went to his room and took his gun out of the closet.-'If he touches her, I'll kill him!'-he added.

In the meantime, Ghika and Ryo arrived.

-'Was about time!'-Hwoarang exclaimed.-'This is the plan: Li said he wants to meet me near the Mutsui factory at nine o'clock. It will be dark soon, so at eight Ghika will leave this house with the others pretending to be me.'

-'And what will I do?'-Ghika asked.

-'You'll take my motorcycle and you'll go around the city centre…that will confuse Li. In the meantime I'll go meet him when he less expects.'

-'You can't go alone!'-Eijiro said.

-'I can take care of myself!'

-'But what if he has backups?'

-'I said I can take care of myself!'

When it was time to leave the house, Eijiro couldn't hide his worries. He was afraid because Hwoarang was capable of killing Li.

-'I hope he doesn't get into more troubles!'-Ghika said going to Hwoarang's motorcycle.-'I think he can kill the guy…'

-'I know…but we can't do anything right now…'-Eijiro said.

When Ghika, Eijiro and the others left, someone followed them just like Hwoarang had predicted. Now, he could act.

Ten minutes later Hwoarang was entering the Mutsui factory. Li was waiting for him.

-'I knew you would come sooner! I knew you would fool my friend…'-Li said showing up with Julia in front of him and pointing his gun at her head.

-'Let her go, Li. This is between you and me!'

-'Actually I want to thank her first…she allowed me to see you as an equal!'

-'What are you talking about?'-asked Hwoarang.

-'When you defeated me, I thought you were unbeatable. I mean…you were different from all the other guys, you hadn't a weak point. But last year I got news from here, everyone was saying that the mighty Hwoarang had fallen for a girl!'

-'What's your point?'

-'My point is…she's your weak point! Today you will pay for all the humiliations you put me through…'

-'You shouldn't have touched her…'-Hwoarang threatened.-'I'll kill you for this!'

-'She's alright…I haven't done anything…I'm not a monster!'

-'I don't care! I'll take you right here, right now!'

-'Fine!'

Li pushed Julia making her fall on the ground and he attacked Hwoarang.

But, as he suspected, Hwoarang was stronger and he soon realised he hadn't any chance to win.

Julia was trying to set her hands free, but the ropes were too tight. Then, without any warning Li took his gun and pointed to Hwoarang.

-'Sorry I can't keep on fighting…'

-'That's cheating!'-Hwoarang complained.-'I'm unarmed!'-he lied.

-'Sorry…Say goodbye to your boyfriend!'-Li said to Julia and he fired.

Julia's heart stopped in that instant. She saw Hwoarang falling and she closed her eyes.

She heard one more shot and then a bright light blinded her when she opened her eyes. She saw many people surrounding Li and Hwoarang's body and when she noticed, someone was beside her.

-'Are you alright?'-Eijiro asked, trying to untie her.

Julia didn't answer. She was still in shock.

-'We arrived too late!'-Eijiro continued.-'You better go to the ambulance outside!'

Julia walked towards Hwoarang and she saw a body covered with a blanket. She immediately started crying.

Lei Wulong was there and he approached her.

-'I'm sorry that you had to see this!'-Lei said.-'This would happen sooner or later…he was a lunatic!'

-'Hwoarang wasn't a lunatic!'-Julia exclaimed with anger.

-'I'm talking about Li!'

-'Li?'

-'Yes…he's dead! I had to shoot him or he would kill Hwoarang!'

-'But…Hwoarang?'

-'Hwoarang is outside. He had a vest on, but he wasn't expecting to black out after the shot! Eijiro did the right thing by going to the police. At least Hwoarang didn't become a murderer!'

Julia left immediately. When she saw him in the ambulance, she lost her composure and hugged him tightly.

-'Be careful, Miss…he has two broken ribs!'-the doctor said.

-'I'm not going to the Hospital and that's final!'-Hwoarang said leaving the ambulance with Julia.

-'I was so scared for you!'-Julia said still crying.-'When I saw you falling…'

-'That wasn't supposed to happen!'-Hwoarang said.

-'I'm glad Lei was there!'

-'Yeah…'

-'You can't walk around with a gun…'-Lei said preventing him to leave the crime scene.

-'The gun is mine…even if you took it, I'll get another one!'

-'Yes, I know…that's why I'll let you keep it! Why don't you go to the Hospital?'

-'If that doctor comes near me with that needle again…I'm going to shove it up his ass!'

-'It seems to me you're being stubborn!'

-'I want to go home…can I?'

-'Sure…'-Lei said going inside the factory again.-'I'll solve this mess…but only this time…'-he added.

-'Are you alright?'-Eijiro asked.

-'Stay away from me…you didn't follow my orders!'-Hwoarang said.

-'Eijiro was trying to help!'-Julia said.

-'I know…but he didn't follow my orders!'

Hwoarang and Julia went home. As for the others, they decided to stay away from him during some time. Maybe Julia could make him see that they had ignored his orders because they were worried about him.

-'Eijiro did the right thing. He was only trying to help!'-Julia said, entering their room after a shower, she was wearing only a towel.

-'I know but he didn't obey my order! If things went wrong, you could have died…'

-'Li wanted to kill you, not me! It was your life that was in danger the whole time!'

-'If he wasn't an honoured man, he could kill you just to get to me!'

-'Does his death affect you this much?'

-'No…not really…it was him or me…but this allowed me to understand something.'

-'What was it?'

-'You were in danger because of me! I knew this could happen and I ignored it. If you were dead, I couldn't take it! This is the second time I almost lost you!'

-'Don't say that…'

-'It's true! I have too many enemies! I was right all the time…I shouldn't involved myself with you…you're a target now!'

-'Are you serious?'

-'Of course I am. I have enemies…it wasn't just Li. If he understood that you are important to me, the others will see that too…and one day this can end the wrong way! I promised your father that I would take care of you, and look what happened!'

-'But I'm fine! I'm here and this doesn't mean that this situation will repeat itself. Probably it won't because I'm ready now!'

-'You'll be safer somewhere away from me!'

-'You want me to leave?'

-'I think it's for the best! I mean I don't have anything to give you…I don't deserve you! I'm an outlaw and you're too good for me!'

-'Did I ever ask you anything?'

-'No…'

-'I don't want a big house, a car or jewellery…I don't care…I just want you!'

-'I'm an outlaw and your family will never accept me! Face it, Julia…this will not work out!'

-'Yes it will…'-Julia wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.

-'But you don't know me that well…you don't know my past!'

-'I don't care about your past!'

-'One day you'll wake up and you'll see that you wasted time being with me!'

-'I don't think so! I won't let you ruin what we have between us!'

Julia pulled Hwoarang to the bed and she kissed him passionately. Hwoarang tried to resist her but a few seconds later he knew he had failed because he was responding to the kiss.

-'Now look me in the eyes and tell me you don't want me anymore!'-Julia said with a smile.

Hwoarang pulled her body closer and moved to the top of her, kissing her again.

-'I love you!'-he said. He couldn't deny that he did want her.

-'I know you too well…and I'm not sorry for anything! I don't need to know about your past…I just want to be with you!'-Julia whispered.

-'I'm sorry for what I said…I do want you!'

-'I know…'

-'Thanks!'

-'What for?'

-'For not quitting on me!'

-'I couldn't do that because…I love you…since the day I saw you! You changed my life…I could never imagine that I was going to fall in love with you…but I'm glad I did…you're really worth it!'

Hwoarang smiled with that comment.

-'I'm worth it? Why do you say that, babe?'

-'Kiss me again, and I'll tell you later!'

-'You don't need to say that twice!'