I don't own Tekken.

Thanks to all the readers.

Chapter 39

Family affairs

EAST-OSAKA

4th SEPTEMBER 2014

That morning Julia woke up really sick. She passed almost an hour locked in the bathroom throwing up.

-'Do you want to go to the Hospital?'–Hwoarang asked worried.

-'No! I'm feeling much better now! I think I can't keep on eating pizza…at least at dinner…'

-'Your parents arrive today…you didn't forget about them, right?'

-'Of course not.'

-'What will your father say?'

-'I don't know…'

-'I better be miles away when you tell him or he will kill me…But if you prefer to tell them that we're just friends, it is ok by me…'

-'I don't want to lie anymore! I want them to know the truth! Besides I don't care about his reaction! He has to stop acting like a child!'

-'Fine…But I think you should wait a few days…to give him time!'

Before they left to the airport, Hwoarang spoke with some of his friends and ordered them not to mention his relationship with Julia under any circumstances.

It was almost lunch time when the flight arrived. Lao didn't even bother to ask Hwoarang how he was doing, but Hwoarang didn't mind.

-'Is this car stolen?'–Lao asked.

-'No.'-Julia answered carrying her mother's luggage into the car.

-'Why isn't he helping us?'–asked Lao.

Julia didn't answer. She didn't want to tell Lao about the night when Li had died. Hwoarang wasn't recovered yet from all the injuries.

-'How's your job?'–ask Michelle to change the subject.

-'I'm taking some days off now…until the end of the month. Then I'll start working in a new Department in the Museum.'

-'Which one?'

-'The Archaeology and History Department. I thought Michelle was coming too.'

-'She couldn't make it…she's working.'-Lao explained.

-'You were lucky to find that job!'

-'Yes, I know…So how long are you going to stay?'

-'We'll leave in two weeks…we have plenty of time…'-said Lao with a smile.

Julia and Hwoarang looked at each other. Two weeks were a nightmare.

They left the airport to the Hotel, where Lao invited them to dinner. Hwoarang didn't accept and Julia was so angry with him that when he left she didn't even say goodbye.

-'So…are you really going to stay here…I mean, forever?'–asked Lao at dinner.

-'I have a job, dad…and I'm doing fine…'

-'You still need a decent home…I mean; you can't live with a bunch of delinquents for the rest of your life!'

Michelle looked over to her daughter, encouraging her to tell everything to Lao.

-'I like the house…and the company…'

-'Sorry, Julia, but I really find that hard to believe! You don't have much privacy and they must be really stupid sometimes…'

-'Dad, I thought you and I had an agreement…you said you would respect my decisions!'

-'I said that I would respect them, but I didn't say I would like them!'

-'Lao…Julia is doing fine here…so I guess we can't force her to change her mind!' –said Michelle. –'Don't forget that she isn't a baby anymore!'

-'I know that! I just wish she could change her companies!'

-'What's wrong with Hwoarang?'–Julia asked Lao angrily.–'Why are you always picking on him?'

-'I didn't refer him specifically!'

-'I know you, dad! And I'm really sick of you hurting his feelings…'

-'Oh…I didn't know he has feelings…'

-'See? Why don't you give him a chance? Don't blame him for my decisions, ok?'

-'He doesn't deserve a chance!'

-'Why?'

-'Because he is a delinquent… Can't you see that? Are you this blind? What the hell did he do to you?'

-'Nothing…but you are being so unfair!'

-'Julia is right! Just give the boy a chance…'

-'If you're going to keep doing this, I will not forgive you! I don't care if you're angry or not, but please, just leave Hwoarang alone!'

Julia left the restaurant and Michelle followed her.

-'Wait, Julia!' –Michelle asked. –'Lets talk…'

-'I thought that he would be happy for me…since I'm doing so well…I mean I finished the degree and I'm working…what's wrong with him? How can I put things right?'

-'Give him some time…'

-'Time? He had enough time…'

-'Then tell him…'

-'What?'

-'Tell him what you feel for Hwoarang. Tell him what is going on between you two!'

-'Now it's not the right time! I'll tell him after the tournament…'

-'What tournament?'

-'The Osaka Fighting Tournament. It will start the day after tomorrow. Hwoarang is going to enter. He needs some action…Tonight I'm going to kill him…'

-'Why? You had a fight?'

-'He was supposed to be with me…in case I decided to tell dad about us…'

-'I think he did the right thing…imagine what your father would've done!'

EAST-OSAKA

6th SEPTEMBER 2014

Julia and Michelle had managed to convince Lao to go with them and watch the Osaka Fighting Tournament. The tournament was held near the docks, just by the ocean, and Lao, surprisingly liked the place.

-'I just don't understand why you want us to come if you're not entering?'–said Lao.

-'Hwoarang is entering and I'm sure he'll win!'–replied Julia.

-'You trust his abilities too much…I'm sure there are guys stronger than him…'

-'I wouldn't be so sure…you'll see. Just wait until you see him fighting.'

-'Alright, we'll see!'

-'He passed the preliminaries in no time…'

Hwoarang was waiting in the locker room with many other fighters.

In the arena, the presenter was saying that there were sixteen fighters and that the first fight would start in five minutes. Some Tsunamis were there to see Hwoarang.

-'Those kids seem to know you…'-Lao said pointing to Eijiro, Mouse and Ryo.–'Are they the delinquents who live with you?'

-'They are not delinquents…they are my friends!'

-'How many fights are going to happen today?'–asked Michelle.

-'Four. Hwoarang is going to fight in the last one.'

After three poor fights, Lao was completely sure that Hwoarang's fight wouldn't be very different.

Hwoarang jumped to the arena and despite what Julia had said to her father about his skills, he didn't show many attacks. He won fairly because his opponent wasn't good enough, but he could have given a better fight. The explanation for that was that he wasn't totally recovered since the fight with Li ten days ago. Only Julia knew that.

When they were returning home Lao decided to comment Hwoarang's fight, and he was quite happy to see that Hwoarang wasn't the expert that everyone was always talking about.

-'You seemed like a girl!'–Lao said.

-'Dad? What do you mean by that?'

-'No offence, dear! But you have to agree with me! You told me that he was a Tae-Kwon-Do master, but he doesn't seem a master at all!'

-'Hwoarang wasn't giving his best!'

-'Julia, I don't need a lawyer! Listen to me, sir…my patience is ending…I hate when people say that I'm weak, because I'm not!'

-'Well, in that case I'm sorry to tell you that you fight like a girl! A little girl!'

-'Whatever! I don't own you any explanation!'

-'Watch your mouth! You were lucky to win that fight! But I guess one of these days your luck is going to end!'

-'Julia, lets go home!'–said Hwoarang, holding her hand.

But then Lao took Hwoarang's hand out of Julia's and pulled her away from Hwoarang.

-'You will not boss my daughter around! Especially near me! If I could do something, I would get my daughter away from your damn home!'

-'First you would have to get her off my bed!'–said Hwoarang.-'And that's something that you can never achieve!'

Lao was shocked when he heard those words.

-'What the hell are you talking about?'–Lao asked furiously.

-'Do you want me to draw you a picture? Julia and I are together!'

-'Hwoarang! Go home! I'll meet you there!'–Julia said.

-'Fine!'

Hwoarang left immediately.

-'Dad…Hwoarang was right…patience has its limits! You were very rude!'

-'Is that true? Are you sleeping with him?'

-'Dad?'–Julia said shocked.–'It's not like that! You make it look so cheap…'

-'IS IT TRUE?'

-'YES!'

-'Oh, great! Just great! It was humiliating when I said people, back home, that my daughter was living in Japan with a bunch of outlaws…but now…I'll have to say that you're sharing their leader's bed!'

-'You don't need to yell! We're in the middle of the street! Lets go to the Hotel!'–suggested Michelle.

-'I have nothing more to say!'–announced Julia.–'Good Night mum…'

-'Go! Run to the arms of your bastard boyfriend!'–said Lao.

-'I'm not committing a crime!'–Julia added.

Julia left and when she arrived home Hwoarang was a bit worried.

-'I'm sorry!'–he said when she entered their room.

-'You shouldn't have done that!'

-'I'm, sorry…but he deserved it!'

-'We were supposed to tell him only when this tournament was over! He is angry…'

-'I noticed…I'm really sorry…'- Hwoarang pulled her and kissed her.

-'Do you think that a kiss will make me forgive you?'

-'No…not just one…but I think we can work something out…'

-'You're wrong…you won't convince me…'

-'Give me a chance…'

Hwoarang pulled her to the bed and Julia's bad humour disappeared in a flash. While he was kissing her, he was thinking that in that same moment, while Lao was probably cursing him and hating him, he was with Julia, therefore he was the winner. Hwoarang smiled thinking about what Lao would say if he knew what was going on inside that room.

EAST-OSAKA

7th SEPTEMBER 2014

It was early in the morning when Hwoarang heard someone knocking at his bedroom door. He woke up immediately. Julia was sleeping right next to him. He scratched the back of his head and opened the door.

-'Eijiro? What the hell?'-he asked still half asleep.

-'You have to get out of here!'-Eijiro said almost yelling.

-'Why?'

-'Julia's father is coming…and he has a gun!'

Hwoarang took a while to understand what he had just heard.

-'What's wrong?'-asked Julia.

-'You're father is coming…with a gun…'-Eijiro said again.

Julia looked to Hwoarang.

-'Get out of the house!'-she ordered to Hwoarang, but he didn't move.-'Just go! I'll work this out!'

-'What if he hurts you?'

-'He wants to kill you, not me! Please…go!'

Hwoarang got dressed but in that moment, Lao entered the room.

-'Dad…please…take it easy!'-said Julia.

Lao pushed Hwoarang against the wall and he pointed the gun to his chest.

-'Dad? Are you crazy? Put that thing down!'-Julia ordered.

-'I'm not crazy! But I'm pretty furious…I'm here to keep my promise! Remember?'

Hwoarang nodded.

-'What happened between me and Julia wasn't planned…it just happened!'-Hwoarang said.

-'I don't care! I warned you that you would be sorry if you touched her!'

-'Dad! I'm not a baby anymore! Why are you doing this?'

-'Because it's the best for you!'

-'No, it's not! You just care about your pride! I can take care of myself and I'm with Hwoarang because I want to be! Why don't you understand that?'

Julia was almost crying.

-'I warned him, Julia! He just had to take care of you…but it wasn't enough, was it? He fooled you…'

-'No, I didn't! What I feel for your daughter is true!'

-'Shut up, you arrogant bastard!'-Lao pressed the gun against Hwoarang's chest and Julia closed her eyes, but nothing happened.

-'I should never let Julia in your hands!'-Lao continued.

-'I told you that I didn't fool her to get her in bed! It's more than that! I love her!'

-'You don't know what love is!'

-'I know now!'

In that moment Julia put herself between Lao and Hwoarang and grabbed her father's hand that was holding the gun.

-'If you love me, you will put this gun down! Please!'

-'Can't you see that I only want you to be safe?'

-'I know dad…I should've told you sooner…But please understand that I love Hwoarang and nothing can change that…'

-'No you don't…this is just a crush…'

-'Dad…please! Put the gun down…I need you…I need my father back! Stop acting like we are enemies!'

Lao looked at his daughter and after a few minutes he let go of the gun that fell on the floor. Then he hugged his daughter.

-'Is this really what you want?'-he asked.

-'Yes.'

-'Ok…then be it! Boy! I want a word with you!'-Lao said to Hwoarang.-'Outside…just you and me!'

-'Dad…'-Julia started.

-'Don't worry…I just want to talk to him! Pick up that gun and be careful because it's loaded…'

Hwoarang followed Lao, and everyone who was in the house, including Julia, ran to the windows to see what was happening.

In that moment, Lao punched Hwoarang in the face. Hwoarang could have blocked the punch but he preferred to let Lao do that.

-'Sorry…I just needed to do that! That's for stealing my girl from me!'

-'She wasn't stolen…'

-'For me she was…'

-'So, you accept that we are together?'

-'I have to…it's what she wants! I think she deserves better…but it's not your fault if you are a delinquent…your parents should've raised you better than this!'

-'My parents never gave me anything…'

-'You are being ungrateful!'

-'My mother committed suicide after my birth, and my father abandoned me here in Japan…I am the way I am because I want to be!'

Lao lowered his eyes, he didn't know Hwoarang's past and he wasn't expecting that.

-'I don't need your sympathy…'-Hwoarang added. -'But don't worry about Julia…I will protect her with my life!'

-'In that case if something happens to her, I will not have mercy! Oh…and I hope your fight to be better this time!'

Hwoarang's fight was the first in the afternoon and this time he was excellent. He won in less than ten minutes and managed to impress Lao.

-'I told you, dad…Hwoarang is the best! By the way where did you get the gun?'

-'Don't worry I got rid of it! And I won't do anything to your wonderful boyfriend!'

-'I really hope so.'

-'I can't believe you did that!'-said Michelle disappointed.

-'I was just furious! I'm sorry…'

EAST-OSAKA

9th SEPTEMBER 2014

Hwoarang wasn't nervous. He wasn't in his best shape but he knew his limits and he was sure he was going to win that tournament. Now he had a motive, he had to prove Lao that he could take care of Julia.

His opponent seemed rough, and he was twice Hwoarang's size, but that didn't intimidate him.

-'Is he hurt?'-asked Lao, after the fight began.

-'What do you mean?'

-'He's not moving his arm correctly!'

-'He's going to win, dad…don't worry!'

-'I was just asking…I don't care if he wins or loses!'

When after twenty minutes, Hwoarang was declared the winner, Lao was a bit happy to see that Hwoarang would be able to protect his daughter, since he was stronger than he thought in the beginning.

As a matter of fact, Lao congratulated him after the fight, which was, in Julia's opinion, a huge step in their relationship.