Author's notes: Sorry for the late update. Again, I was busy tending to my other fics. Enjoy!
Asuka gasped after seeing the gloomy smooth surface of Jin Kazama's face, as he looked awfully familiar to her like she had seen him some place before, though she couldn't remember the exact location of where. Not only did that surprise her, but Jin's last name being identical to hers also caught her attention. It could have just been sheer coincidence, but Asuka didn't know whether to believe it or not. She was curious over the whole matter and stepped within the boundaries of the mysterious young man's space, glaring at him eye to eye.
"Hey. Where'd you get that name from?" she said with her arms cross-folded.
Jin exhaled a quiet sigh. "My mother, Jun Kazama, gave it to me. Why do you ask?"
Asuka pointed her thumb toward her face. "My last name is Kazama, too. That's weird to me because I never met somebody with the same last name before."
Jin suddenly, and without giving notice, turned his head back at Xiaoyu. "I'm going to lay down for a while. I need as much rest as possible if I'm going to compete."
With that, Jin walked off and went back to his hotel room, not even giving off a departing gesture to either Xiaoyu or Asuka.
"My, that was rude!" Asuka hissed, watching him disappear around the corner of the hall. "He doesn't have good manners."
Xiaoyu frowned, putting her hands together in a praying formation and bowed down slightly. "I'm sorry, you'll have to forgive him," she said, apologetically. "He acts like that a lot around people."
"Yeah. Besides not saying goodbye, he had the uttermost nerve to ignore me. Well, anyway, I got to go get my friend's clothes from another room. You want to come with me?"
Xiaoyu pondered the thought, but didn't give a straight answer right away like Asuka was hoping. She truly wanted to go back to her room and see what Jin was up to, but if anything, it wouldn't be something interesting that would make her want to hang around very long. Jin spent most of his time in bed sleeping away countless hours of time he could have used to wander the hotel and share some fun with the others, but he wasn't about fun. Jin was a man of seriousness and when he had his sights set on something, nothing would distract him away from his goal. He was focused on the Tournament and the Tournament alone. Nothing else mattered to him with that being his only interest.
"Come on, Xiaoyu. I can tell your bored," Asuka said, pretending she could read her mind.
"Well….ok! I'll get a chance to get some exercise from it, I guess."
Asuka proceeded down to the second floor of the building by use of the hotel stairway with Xiaoyu following close behind. They had reached the room door Hwoarang told Asuka to go to. But rather than knock Asuka hesitated for a moment.
"Xiaoyu," she said, turning around to face her.
"Yeah?"
"What were you and Jin doing an hour ago?"
Xiaoyu made her hand into a fist and placed her under her chin while she thought. "Well, Jin was in bed sleeping. I just sat and watched TV. We didn't go outside or do anything because Jin always insists on saying inside. Why do you ask?"
Asuka sighed regretfully before speaking. "I know you probably won't believe me, but I was attacked earlier by…..."
"Oh my goodness! Attacked? By who?" Xiaoyu interrupted, rudely.
"Mostly everyone in this building."
"Why?"
"I don't know. Hwoarang and me were outside roaming the town and out of nowhere this fog comes in and blinds us. I had a hard time getting here and when I did everybody in the building was giving me these creepy stares. The next thing I knew, they were all attacking and trying to murder me."
"Gee, that is scary. What happened after that?"
"Well, I fought them off and they chased me upstairs to the rooftop when I recovered. I was attacked by Craig Murdok, Steve Fox, King, the hotel guests, the employees, everyone! The people I know I didn't see were you and Jin."
Xiaoyu gasped. "That might explain it!"
"Explain what?"
"I heard some strange noises running through the hallways. I was too worried about Jin and his condition to check it out. I did wonder what they were though. It sounded like a stampede of bulls were running by."
"Jin's condition? What condition?"
"Well, Jin was sick and I was trying to take care of him of course. He threw up in the bathroom several times and complained about suffering sever headaches. That's why he was bedridden, but then later he became fine."
"hmmmm…."
"What are you thinking?"
"I don't know. This all strange to me."
"Well, you have nothing to worry about. If people decide to go ballistic again for no reason against ya, me and Jin have your back."
Asuka was proud that Xiaoyu offered her assistance if the incident were to happen again. Luckily, things were quiet and the people seemed to be back to their usual selves.
Asuka turned back to the door and knocked hard, rowing on the back of her heels as she stood in wait. There was no answer at first, but when she knocked a second time, the door slowly opened and behind it was a shirtless Steve Fox, only wearing a pair of black shorts.
"Evening ladies," he greeted. "How may I help you?"
"Um..yes. I'm here to pick up Hwoarang's clothes for him," Asuka said, nervously remembering that it was Steve Fox that was among that people that attacked her earlier. He was of course his usual self.
"Ugh! That bum had to send you down here to pick up his clothes? Why didn't he send himself? Lazy bastard," Fox cursed.
Asuka asked herself the same questions. She never did anything for anybody that consisted of having to grab their belongings and bring it back to them, unless it was her parents, but for Hwoarang, something was just telling her to just go with his wishes and do it. Steve Fox left the doorway for a minute and came back with a bag of Hwoarang's belongings.
"Hey, don't tell him or anything, but I stole one of his drinks from his bag," Steve whispered, handing Asuka the bag.
"Why?"
"Because, that guy owes me money and he didn't pay up. Is he rooming with you, by chance?"
"Well, sort of."
"Here's a warning to you, my friend," Steve said, waving for Asuka to come closer.
Asuka bent over and listened." Watch him. The guy lies like there's no tomorrow. Don't trust him with your stuff or anybody else's. He'll never change. I'll tell you that now."
Asuka thanked the English boxer for the bag and the useful information, though she believed somewhere down the line she would have figured it out for herself. She proceeded back to her room with Xiaoyu and came to the bathroom door, knocking, after stepping inside.
"Ok. I got your clothes."
Hwoarang opened the door, snatched the clothes from her grasp and closed it back. He came out minutes later dressed in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt.
"Ah, that's better," he moaned at the pleasure of being clean. "Hey, what's Kazama's girlfriend doing here?" he said, glaring at Ling.
"Kazama? Oh, you mean Xiaoyu. She's with me."
"I don't care. Anybody that associates with Kazama shouldn't be allowed within my presence."
"I'm sorry to be causing a problem," Xiaoyu frowned. "I could leave."
Asuka blocked the door way and folded her arms
"No! You're not going anywhere."
"Don't let the door hit your ass on the way out," Hwoarang scoffed.
Asuka became infuriated at Hwoarang's attitude toward Xiaoyu. It reminded her of the bullies that would often tease at her friends. She wasn't going to stand for his rude behavior any longer and took matters into her own hands. Immediately, she grabbed hold of Hwoarang by his ear and yanked him toward her with great strength.
"Hey! Don't be rude to my guest! This is my room, not yours. You don't tell people what to do."
"Hey! Let go! If you don't by the time I count to five, you'll be on the ground crying for your mother."
"Just try me!" Asuka dared him.
"Ok. Uh…one….two…three…four…….."
"Well?" Xiaoyu said, expecting him to finish.
"Hush, woman!" Hwoarang urged her. "I'm trying to get Asuka the easy way out!"
Hwoarang was really stalling his time. He didn't want to fight Asuka, and not because of fear, but deep down he had obtained a sudden liking over the young girl from Japan. He loved to make her upset out of pure fun, but when it came to violence he wanted no part of it with Asuka, though she was embarrassing his ego in front of himself and Xiaoyu.
"You were going to do something to me, Hwoarang?" Asuka muttered.
"I will, just give me a minute."
Hearing that, Asuka turned him loose and sat down on her bed, a little ticked that she didn't get to hurt him.
"That was strange, Asuka. Didn't you say Steve Fox was among the people that attacked you? Why was he being so friendly?"
"I already said he reverted back to normal somehow."
"Wait. What's going on? Did I miss something?" Hworang said, grabbing their attention.
"Asuka was attacked earlier by everyone in the hotel building, including the fighters. Didn't she tell you?" Xiaoyu asked.
"No. The little runt doesn't tell me anything," he grumbled. "Isn't that right, Suka?"
"Little runt? Suka?" Xiaoyu said, scratching her head.
"Those are my nicknames for her," Hwoarang clarified.
"How about I call you thick headed jerk face!" Asuka said, laying herself down on a pillow. "I'm going to go downstairs. I'm hungry again."
She threw the door open and stepped outside, only to hear frequent shouting traveling through the hall in a tone of worry.
"Help! Somebody! Please!"
"What the? What's that?" Asuka said, coming toward the screams.