War of the Roses

By: Mako-chan

(I don't own them, but I can certainly look at them, can't I?)

Chapter 5: Waging War

"I could have you tortured because of what you didn't do."

"I tried, but then you were gone. Almost."

Jin crossed his arms and adjusted his earphone. "Really? There are many ways to tell me that you actually didn't get me, for some reason or another, the suite next to this." He was quite annoyed by the fact that such a discrepancy of gigantic proportions could happen. What is happening with the world lately!

"Well, you're still alive after barging in there, right? That's what matters."

"If what I came across wasn't a delectable sprite, I'd just love to strangle you with my bare hands," he shot back, but omitted the first part.

Tak simply ignored Jin. "Coffee shop, now. We don't want our prospects waiting." After doing his task of informing his boss, he immediately put down the receiver.

"I'll be down in five minutes." Xiaoyu took one last look at the mirror and ran a hand through her curled hair. She didn't have a good sleep the night before, knowing that her sworn enemy Jin Kazama, was just a door away. She had called the front desk for a transfer, but as fate would have it, all rooms were booked for the rest of the week. It disturbed her tremendously, and it was ironic that she was on her way to meet the enterprise people in a bid to set up a meeting with him.

Or maybe I can barge in right now with a knife.

Whether she did what her mind pondered on or not, the occurrence of the inevitable was sped up, or so it seemed. Little did Xiaoyu know that her delegates were granted a short meeting with Jin by none other than Tak.

After formal introductions, Jin took a seat at the head of the table. The one to his right remained vacant, and there was no sign of a woman who looked deprived of a social life. However, it was difficult to tell from where he was sitting. His back was facing the entrance.

"She is on her way down. We did not expect such promptness. Very professional," one of the advisers, Mr. Luo said as they waited for the young head of the Ling Enterprises to come.

"Down? Ms. Ling is staying here?" Jin asked, trying not to sound shocked.

The middle-aged man nodded his head. "Yes, she is staying here…Oh, here she comes."

He craned his neck and found himself slowly standing, as if his legs had a will of its own. Walking towards him was the girl from last night. The one he helped on his way to a drinking party. The one he had walked in on later that night. The one he had the urge to kiss senseless. No way! She looks like a college girl, not a CEO.

Xiaoyu almost stopped when she saw a familiar figure stand up from his seat. Her hunch could never be more exact. She tried to put on a brighter smile so as not to make them notice how her face suddenly turned pale.

"You're finally here!" Mr. Luo exclaimed. "Ms. Ling, let me introduce you to Mr. Jin Kazama, the owner and head of the Mishima Zaibatsu. Mr. Kazama, this is Ms. Ling Xiaoyu, the successor of Mr. Wang Jinrey, the CEO of the Ling Enterprises."

Xiaoyu bowed her head, causing her hair to hide her face. The last thing she wanted to show was a look as if she had just seen the bogeyman… and a hot one at that. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I hope by the end of this meeting, we will be able to clear the matter at hand."

"Likewise. I look forward to having a good relationship with you," Jin said to Xiaoyu as he took his bow. He deliberately made a mistake with his words, making her flinch slightly. As a gentlemanly gesture, he helped her to her seat.

After an hour of friendly discussion and subtle debate, the delegates of the Ling Enterprises left.

"Change of schedule. You can have the night off today. Mr. Oda cancelled tonight's meeting," Tak informed Jin as he made a quick scan of his planner. "The forum starts in ten and I've made reservations for the consultants to meet you at the sushi bar." Like a well-programmed machine, the executive officer left, leaving Xiaoyu and Jin alone.

"So, you're actually Ms. Ling?" Jin asked, tossing her a sideways glance.

Xiaoyu tried to pretend he wasn't talking to her, but his stare was so piercing that it could've blasted holes right through her. "Yes, I am. Is it of any consequence to you?" she snapped, holding her chin high.

He looked at her this time with a smirk. "Of course. Wouldn't it be terrible of me if I didn't know the name of the woman I kissed and pinned naked on the floor?"

Xiaoyu turned to him and made a hissing sound. "I hate overbearing men."

"I happen to have a very soft spot for feisty little women… Hey, where are you going?" he suddenly asked, seeing her storm off.

"To a place I don't have worry about you being anywhere near," she replied, hastening her pace.

"Ouch!" Jin dramatically exclaimed, clutching at his chest as if he had received a fatal wound.

"It's supposed to hurt. Deal with it, Mr. Kazama."

"It's Jin," he told her, smiling as he easily caught up with her.

Xiaoyu gave a shrug. "Whatever."

"I'll be seeing you tonight, Xiao."

"I'm not counting on it." Who does he think he is, calling me "Xiao"!

The day had been busy for her, visiting the headquarters at Shinagawa. She met with all the directors and she had been briefed of all the particulars and activities the subsidiary had been conducting for the past six months. Xiaoyu managed to meet Miharu for lunch who seemed very busy that day. Too bad, she had wanted to go shopping for souvenirs and cakes to bring home.

After her tour, she decided to go around the district but grew tired after quite a while. Soon enough, Xiaoyu found herself alone in the hotel's bar and restaurant.

His meeting ending earlier than expected, Jin decided to drop by the restaurant to see what he could have for dinner. When he entered, he immediately spotted Xiaoyu sitting in a corner by the window, reading a magazine. Having successfully located his prey, Jin took purposeful strides towards her direction.

"What a surprise."

With the glass arrested halfway to her lips, Xiaoyu looked up to see Jin towering above her, a winsome smile on his irritatingly handsome face. This made her wrinkle her nose a little bit, and she put her drink down. Almost automatically, she eased herself onto her back, crossed her arms and turned her head away.

Meanwhile, Jin took the liberty of taking a seat across her, propping a foot on his knee. "Fancy meeting you here. I'm all alone too, you know."

Xiaoyu made a huffing sound. "You're insufferable, aren't you?"

"Irresistible," he offered.

Distracted and severely annoyed, she raised a hand in the air and summoned a waitress. "A bottle of sake, please."

Jin raised his eyebrows in surprise. "You drink?"

"Yes, I do," Xiaoyu lied effortlessly. In truth, the first time she saw her grandpa drunk and reek of liquor, she swore to herself never to touch any of its kind.

"Are you sure you can handle it? I think you'll be out in one sip," he teased.

Not about to back out of a challenge, she bluffed, "Maybe you, not me."

"Me? Who are you kidding? I can finish your bottle if you wanted me to."

"Get your own, Kazama!" Xiaoyu yelled, obviously discomfited by his mockery.

"You don't need to tell me that." With a wave of his hand, a waitress came. "Another bottle, please."

She uncomfortably shifted on her seat. "Just what are you getting at?"

"Nothing, really."

"Then why are you being so annoying?"

"I'm not and you know that," he replied, shoving a hand into his pants pocket. "Look, Xiao, I know last night was not a very spectacular occasion for self-introductions. But I do want to get to know you. At least I'm sure of that. Business aside, I like you and I want to be friends with you. Hate me because I'm the head of the Mishima Zaibatsu, but don't hate me as Jin."

The Chinese woman pretended not to listen and started to grab her bottle of sake when he snatched it from her hands.

"Tradition," he simply explained. "Hold your cup out."

Xiaoyu did as she was told and quickly gulped. The feeling and taste was so foreign that she had to keep herself from shaking her head.

Jin watched her recover, a flush already evident on her face. When his bottle came, he handed it to her, silently asking her to do the same. After finishing his, he gave out a satisfying bellow. He was by no means a heavy drinker, but he enjoyed it nevertheless. He reached for her bottle again and poured her another one.

Bit by bit, their tongues loosened, and not long after, they were telling each other stories from childhood and joking around.

"The biggest trouble I got into was when I snuck inside a cruiser," Xiaoyu told Jin laughingly, "I was so obsessed back then about having a theme park of my own. My grandpa told me that if I could talk to the owner of the ship, maybe he'll help me out."

"Why didn't you ask your grandfather then?" he asked with a chuckle.

Xiaoyu gave another burst of laughter. "I did. I was nagging him for years! After having been sent back, my grandpa was so worried sick and guilty! He told me he only said that to me so I'd stop pestering him about it. He didn't actually believe I'd do it!"

"You're fun," Jin commented, downing another drink. "Honestly, I had no idea about who you were and how you actually looked like… well, I did."

"Me too!" she excitedly chirped. "I thought you'd be older."

"I thought you'd be older than your actual age."

"I thought you'd be bald and lifeless."

"I thought you'd be ugly and without friends."

"Ugly?" Xiaoyu repeated and reached over to slap him on the arm. "You're so rude! Didn't anybody teach you manners and good conduct?"

"They did, I didn't listen."

"Since you've insulted me, I thought you'd have a potbelly."

Jin looked at his stomach. "I happen to have a body to die for."

She raised a questioning brow. "Really?"

He leaned over and whispered to her ear, "I can show you if you want."

Before Xiaoyu could answer and gain pieces of her restraint, she found herself standing in the hallway with Jin as he opened the door to his suite, staring at him as if he was the most astounding person on earth.

"YOU," she said dreamily, tracing his jaw with a finger, "that time, when you bent and offered your hand and asked me if I was alright… I thought you were the most beautiful man in the whole world."

Tempted with her blushing face and half-open lips, Jin placed a hand on the back of her nape and kissed her intensely and passionately. Xiaoyu moaned and closed her eyes, submitting to his touch and the feel of his lips on hers. He moulded them to fit his own, and pulled her closer to him. Aching to touch her, he permitted his hands to roam slowly from her waist, to the small of her back, and to that narrow place just below her breasts.

The taste of liquor and the strong scent of spice aroused her beyond belief, and his caresses if anything, ignited feelings she didn't know existed within her. He was strong, sensual, and gentle; the combination was too much to be refused. Xiaoyu felt melting against Jin, and in an effort not to fall on the floor, she clung to him, one hand around his neck, the other clutching on his shoulder.

Swiftly and expertly, he carried her, almost savagely bursting through the door. Finally inside, he kicked it shut, and wasted no time taking her to the bedroom.

I don't know if the Chinese have a similar drinking custom. But what I do know is the Koreans have a similar tradition of pouring liquor for another.

Back to the matter at hand: Well, what do you think happened?