Epilogue: Butterfly

There is a time for departure even when there's no certain place to go. -Tennessee Williams

So you're really going back to China?" Miharu's face was pulled into a sad frown, and Xiaoyu smiled at her reassuringly.

"Hey! It's not that far away, and I'll still email you," Xiaoyu said with a large smile. "Besides, I think I've overstayed my welcome in Japan," she said. She looked out of the hospital window and let out a sigh. "I really will miss this place, though." She paused and giggled. "Well, not this particular place. If I never see another hospital again, it'll be too soon!"

Miharu pulled at her blankets and smiled at Xiaoyu. "My parents told me you were here almost all the time after the accident. Thanks for staying with me." She winced and stretched, yawning with boredom. "I'm itching to get out of this place too. I feel fine! I don't see why the doctors have to keep me here for more tests!" she pouted.

"Well, I don't think they really believe in all this soul-stealing business," Xiaoyu said. "Just don't try to bring it up yourself, or they might keep you here even longer!" she added, twirling a finger at the side of her head and making a goofy face.

Miharu nodded in agreement, flopping back onto her pillows. "I still can't believe it myself," she admitted. "If I hadn't seen Jin with my own eyes, I would've thought you were crazy too." She looked at Xiaoyu thoughtfully. "What happened to Jin afterwards, anyway?"

Xiaoyu smiled, her hand dropping to the careworn feather pendant around her neck. "Well… he and Asuka decided they're going to return to her father's dojo. He's going to be living with them as a Kazama, I hear, and help train their students. I think it'll be good for him. With Asuka so close by, she can keep an eye on him in case he… relapses," she finished.

Miharu nodded. "Who can blame him for wanting to get out of Tokyo? The Mishima family is seriously messed up!" She looked at Xiaoyu appraisingly. "But are you really okay with that, Xiao? I mean, you were crazy about him for so long, weren't you?"

Xiaoyu smiled and leaned back in her chair, shrugging slightly. "This coming from you? You're the one who was always telling me to move on, you know!" she joked. Miharu rolled her eyes and Xiaoyu relented slightly. "I will miss him. That's not a lie," she said softly.

A slight knock on the door interrupted the two girls' conversation, and Xiaoyu looked up to see Julia peeking in. "Hey!" she smiled, jumping out of the chair and giving the older girl a tight hug. "What are you doing here?"

Julia backed away and nodded at Miharu politely. "I just wanted to see that you two were alright. And I didn't want to leave without saying goodbye," she added. "I'm catching a flight back to the United States this afternoon." She smiled at Xiaoyu brightly. "I hear you're planning to travel, too. Are you sure you don't want to come back with me? My offer is still open."

Xiaoyu shook her head resolutely. "No thanks! It was hard enough learning Japanese, I don't want to start all over again with English," she admitted with a blush. "Besides. I'm going home, too. I think it's time I started being responsible."

Julia nodded slightly, and gave a little sigh. "I guess that means I'm going to have to fend off Steve by myself, then," she said with a note of annoyance. "Did you know that he scheduled to have his next few matches in California? He even matched his flight with mine! I'm beginning to think that he really is that stalker."

Xiaoyu laughed and pinched Julia lightly in the arm. "Come on! It's fun to have a secret admirer! I think it's kind of sweet!"

Julia rolled her eyes helplessly, a faint blush staining her cheeks. "He's not exactly being very secret about it." She pursed her lips slightly. "Speaking of which, did you hear from Hwoarang yet?" she asked. "He's going back to Korea with Baek this evening, too. I think he's planning to meet you at the company headquarters later on."

Miharu sat up in the bed, her eyes glinting eagerly. "Ooooh," she said loudly. "Hwoarang? Is there something you're not telling me, Xiaoyu?" she teased.

Xiaoyu felt her face turn red and glared at Julia as the Native American smiled at her innocently. "Thanks for bringing it up," she mumbled under her breath. "Oh," she said quickly, waving her hand at Miharu nervously. "It's not what you think. He's just a friend I made at the tournament who helped us out."

"S-uuuuu-re," Miharu said with a satisfied smile. "So, is this friend of yours cute?"

Xiaoyu crossed her arms and looked thoughtful. "Well… actually… no. I guess he's sort of good looking when he's not getting beaten up," she said cautiously, "…but it'd go straight to his head if anyone ever actually said that to his face. Cute isn't exactly the word I'd use to describe him unless I really wanted to annoy him," she said with a wicked grin. "Thanks for the idea, Mi!"

Miharu let out a mock sigh of annoyance. "That's Xiaoyu for you. Let me know when you hit puberty, girl. I'll tell you about the birds and the bees." She let out a peal of laughter as Xiaoyu set on her, tickling her mercilessly.

Julia crossed her arms and watched the two friends tussle, and then cleared her throat gently. "Well… it was nice to see you again, Miharu. I really should be going, though. I don't want to miss my flight."

Xiaoyu pulled away from Miharu, her face pulled into a sad smile. "I have to go too. I told grandpa I'd meet him on the docks, and I still have something to take care of in the city."

Miharu fell silent, her eyes growing suspiciously watery. Xiaoyu quickly leaned forward, wrapping her arms around the other girl. "Hey, don't cry. I'll come visit you, I promise. Best friends, right?" she said. "Look on the bright side, now you'll have an excuse to take vacations in China. Nothing can keep us apart for good!"

Miharu sniffled loudly and cleared her throat. "I don't cry, Xiao. Crying's for babies," she scoffed, though when she pulled back, her eyes were red and puffy. "You better write," she said stiffly, pushing Xiaoyu towards the door. "Now get going, or do I have to chase you out of here?" she huffed.

"Goodbye, Mi," Xiaoyu said, giving her friend one last look as she left the room.

Julia was waiting in the hall, and together they walked out of the building in silence. When they finally exited the building and stood in the sunlight, a small silence stretched between them.

"You're going to see him before you leave, aren't you?" Julia said finally. "I can come with you if you want. It's my fault, really, so—"

Xiaoyu shook her head firmly. "No. Don't worry, I can handle myself. Officially, Heihachi won the tournament anyway. He's in control of the Corporation now, not Kazuya, so he has what he wanted. He'll probably just blame everything that happened on 'my idiot son's incompetence' " she said, dropping her voice into a poor imitation of Heihachi's own. "It might be bad for you or Steve to show up there for a while, though," she added.

"If you're sure," Julia said hesitantly. Then, she looked at Xiaoyu, and smiled. "No, you are sure. And I can see that you can take care of yourself. You've really grown up," she said appreciatively. "I guess you don't need me hovering around you like a mother hen anymore," she added with a tiny smile.

Xiaoyu smiled at Julia. "Not really. But I could always use another sister." Then, blinking back her tears, she threw her arms around Julia and squeezed the older girl tightly. "I'll miss you!" she said. "Tell me when you've repaired your forests! I'll come visit them, I promise."

"If I restore the forests," Julia said, returning Xiaoyu's hug. "There might actually be a chance now that I have my data back. I can't thank you enough for that. You've helped me bring hope back to my tribe."

"When, not if," Xiaoyu said, reluctantly releasing the older girl and waving down a taxi. She turned around and gave Julia a large smile as the car pulled up to the curb. "I know we'll meet again. So I won't say goodbye right now. Until the next time!" she said, waving at Julia wildly.

Julia smiled, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Until then," she answered, shutting the taxi door behind Xiaoyu. The car pulled away from the curb, and Xiaoyu leaned back and closed her eyes. "It's been a long tournament," she murmured. "I'm glad it's finally over," she added somewhat unconvincingly as she thought of her friends and the life she would be leaving behind. When the cab finally did pull up to her destination, the driver had to reach back and shake her to rouse her from her musing.

Tossing a few bills to the driver, she instructed him to wait and skipped out of the car. Standing in the shadow of the huge Mishima Corporation Headquarters, Xiaoyu paused to take a final look at the outside of the soaring skyscraper. "I still hate this building," she muttered to herself, making her way towards the revolving doors. Inside, she approached to the front desk, noticing that a garish golden head displaying Heihachi's spiky-haired likeness had already been erected in the center of the lobby. "Some things never change," she mumbled to herself.

"Can I help you, miss… oh, it's you!" The pretty secretary looked up from the desk, blinking her eyes in surprise. "You're Lee's cute little niece, aren't you?"

Xiaoyu squinted and looked at the woman closely. "Hey, you're the arm orna—uh, I mean, you're Uncle Lee's friend, aren't you?" she said with surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"Oh," the secretary said, leaning in and whispering loudly. "After your uncle lost to Kazuya, he was going to return to the Bahamas. Mr. Mishima… Heihachi Mishima, I mean, offered him a post in the company when he regained control, though. Lee pulled a few strings for me. That's how I managed to secure this position," she said with a large wink.

Xiaoyu smirked. "Hah, so that's what happened to him. Totally predictable," she scoffed.

"Why whatever do you mean?" the secretary asked blankly. She held up a finger as the phone on the desk rang and picked up the receiver. "Yes? Why, yes, yes she is… oh? Yes sir, I'll send her right away." Putting down the phone, she smiled at Xiaoyu. "You've been requested upstairs."

Xiaoyu stiffened slightly, but carefully hid the surprise from her face. "Really? I just came here to pick up my things, I wouldn't want to interrupt—" she tried.

The secretary interrupted her quickly. "Oh no. This was a request from the boss himself. Please, make your way to the private elevators. They're right in the back over there," she said, pointing.

"Thanks," Xiaoyu muttered dryly. "I wouldn't have guessed." Seeing that her sarcasm was lost on the flighty woman, she walked slowly over to the elevators, trying to ignore her jangling nerves. As usual, two faceless guards were poised by the door, and she felt a strange sense of displacement as she pushed the button that would bring her to the top floor. It's not home anymore. She wrinkled her nose and checked the thought quickly; it never was home, she amended. The bell dinged pleasantly, and the doors rolled open. She stepped inside, and to her displeasure, she realized that one of the guards followed her in. "Do I look like I need a babysitter?" she said loudly, eyeing the silent Tekken Force guard apprehensively.

Instead of replying, the guard only tapped the button for the penthouse. Xiaoyu waited in tense silence as they ascended to the top floor and she was escorted to the main office. When she finally pushed open the heavy wooden doors to Heihachi's office, the guard didn't follow her in. Xiaoyu didn't notice; her eyes were drawn to the large desk at the front of the room, and the chair that was facing the window behind it. Instead of only one black spike protruding from its tip, this time two white ones gave away the identity of man in the chair. It spun around slowly, and Xiaoyu had a strange sense of deja-vu. It vanished as she saw Heihachi's wide smile, a far cry from the icy smirk Kazuya had always worn.

"Ah, little Ling," Heihachi boomed, standing up and holding his arms out. "I was told you did well in the tournament!" He approached her quickly and gave her a perfunctory hug, complete with a few patronizing taps on the back. "That's a good girl, you were right to stand up to my ignorant son."

"Thanks," Xiaoyu said softly. She didn't bother to check if Heihachi had heard her or to return his embrace; she knew he wasn't listening. In fact, he had already released her and was pacing away, continuing his speech.

"I've heard you wish to return to China with your grandfather. Nonsense, of course! If you're going back because of what that incompetent fool Kazuya…" he paused, his fist clenching as he mentioned his son's name, "… did to your Panda, I can assure you that we can arrange to have her brought back to Japan on the first flight…"

"Heihachi," Xiaoyu interrupted quietly. She felt her eyebrow tick as he continued to speak.

"… and naturally, your education at Mishima Industrial College…"

"Umm, Heihachi," she tried again, this time louder.

"… as a tournament celebrity, you could even do some publicity for the Corporation. I'll order a few new costumes for…"

Xiaoyu sighed and stomped across the room. Heihachi was looking out his window, continuing his tirade, and she poked him harshly in the arm to get his attention.

"… can star in the promotional television commercial as soon as next month… eh?" He looked down, raising a bushy grey eyebrow at Xiaoyu. "Is something wrong, my little Ling?"

Everything, she thought as she looked up at Heihachi's oblivious face. "Thank you for everything you've done, sir," she said formally, bowing deeply to Heihachi. "But my mind's made up. I'm going back to China. No more college, no more Panda, no more costumes, and absolutely no tournament commercials," she said firmly. "I'm done, and I'm leaving, and that's final."

Heihachi's face lowered into a thunderous frown, and he glared at Xiaoyu. "Do you understand what you're saying?" he said to her, narrowing his eyes. "Wang Jinrei is a good man, but he has no business sense at all. He continues to live in the squalor of that backwater country of his, peddling those ridiculous fish!"

Xiaoyu bit her lip, refusing to let her face twist into a scowl at Heihachi's coarse words. She knew he wasn't trying to offend her; he simply didn't realize that he was being offensive. Like every other Mishima before and after him, Heihachi suffered from an intense case of tunnel vision. He had, at least, been kind to her, and so she put on her best childish face.

"Aww, I'll miss you, gr-" she choked slightly on the words. "G-grandpa Heihachi," she finished, throwing her arms around him and squeezing him tightly. "I'm really worried about my mama, though! I just have to go back!" She stood back, her eyes watering dramatically with tears as she clasped her hands under chin. "Please please please let me go!" Seeing his eyebrow lift only slightly, Xiaoyu decided it was time for the big guns. She dropped her hands and planted them squarely on her hips. "If you don't let me go, I'll throw a temper tantrum right here," she added dangerously with a huge pout. "I'll cry, I mean it!"

"Fine! Fine!" Heihachi roared, throwing his hand up. "I give up! Go back to China with Wang then," he grumbled irritably.

"Thanks!" Xiaoyu cheered, turning and flouncing towards the door. She stopped as she heard Heihachi call out to her.

"Ling. Do you have any last requests before you leave? Consider it my parting gift to you." His voice was gruff, and she wondered for a moment if she heard a touch of sadness. Then she remembered it was Heihachi, and shook the silly notion away.

Him, miss me? Maybe for two whole minutes when he needs someone to cheer him up, she thought wryly. A wide smile crossed her face. "Oh… there is something you could do for me," she sang. "I'd like a new bike delivered to the front of the building as soon as possible," she told him. "Top of the line, and pronto."

"A new bicycle? That won't be a problem," he told her, reaching for his phone.

"I meant a new motorcycle," Xiaoyu corrected innocently.

Heihachi gave her a look of pure disbelief. "You ride motorcycles?" he asked, his tone disapproving. Seeing her smile, his face dropped into an angry scowl. "No motorcycles for my little Ling! I forbid it!" he shouted.

Xiaoyu glared at Heihachi and pointed a finger at him. "You said any last requests. No take-backs!" she yelled.

Heihachi ground his teeth together. "You're starting to take after that old miser Wang. Fine, it's done. Now get out of my sight!" he grumbled.

Xiaoyu giggled and gave him a quick wave, then left the office feeling pleased with herself. She stopped by her old room to collect a few of her more precious belongings, and then, burdened by her suitcases but with a very light heart, she allowed the elevator to carry her downstairs for the last time. When the doors finally rolled open, she took a few wobbly steps into the lobby, struggling under the weight of her bags. "Ugh, how did I manage to collect so much crap in just two years?" she wondered out loud, staggering towards the door.

"I'd guess it's 'cause you're a damn packrat," a familiar voice sneered obnoxiously, and Xiaoyu yelped and tipped over, spilling her carefully balanced load across the lobby floor.

She sighed crossly and pushed her bangs out of her face, trying to remember not to be annoyed on her last day in Japan. "You could've helped instead of laughed, you know," she said to Hwoarang, who was sauntering across the lobby to meet her.

"Where's the fun in that, Sunshine?" he said to her lazily. His grin was infectious, and despite her annoyance, Xiaoyu couldn't stay upset at the cocky redhead. "So you're really leavin' this cushy lifestyle behind," Hwoarang said with a sweep of his hand. "That's gotta be tough."

"It's not as cushy as you think," Xiaoyu corrected him. "Besides, it's time I went home anyway. Julia said you were going back to Korea too," she added.

Hwoarang gave her a curt nod, and then to her surprise, he began to help her gather her fallen bags, even picking up a few and swinging them over his back.

"Hey, are you actually being charitable?" Xiaoyu said with surprise.

Hwoarang paused briefly and looked annoyed. "Are you sayin' I can't be nice every once in a while?" he asked her.

Unable to resist her mischievous impulse, she reached out and pinched his cheek. "Aww! That's so cute!" she cooed loudly. As expected, a look of disgust passed over Hwoarang's face and he slapped her hand away.

"Damn. That's the last time I help you carry anything around," he muttered as Xiaoyu stifled a giggle. "You know, you're probably not gonna see me for a while. You sure you don't wanna…" His sentence trailed off as a lone figure detached itself from the corner and moved in front of the revolving doors. His face pulled down into a long scowl, but he glanced to his side and saw that Xiaoyu had stopped cold. The scowl faded slightly, and he shrugged. "I'll wait for you outside, Sunshine," he told her curtly and pushed his way brusquely past the figure and out of the door.

Jin didn't bother to spare a glance towards Hwoarang as he brushed by; he kept his gaze locked on Xiaoyu, who remained silent. A few moments passed, and then he spoke. "Sunshine?" he asked her, lifting one eyebrow.

"It'd take too long to explain," Xiaoyu answered, rolling her eyes. "Besides, it sounds better than 'crybaby' and 'spoiled brat,' so I guess it's an improvement."

Jin's mouth twisted up ever so slightly, and Xiaoyu recognized one of his miniscule smiles. Impulsively, she dropped her bags and stepped forward, grabbing Jin's hands in her own. "I'm so glad you're alright," she told him earnestly. "I was really scared we weren't going to make it there for a while."

Jin looked down at their joined hands, appearing vaguely uncomfortable. "I don't remember very much," he began slowly. "Bits and pieces, like a disjointed dream…" He shook his head, his hands clenching hers reflexively. "More like a nightmare," he finished lowly. Then he looked up, his dark eyes focused on her face. "I know I was a beast to you. I couldn't control myself." He sounded angry, his voice fierce and unforgiving, though Xiaoyu knew it was directed at himself and not her. He squeezed her hands again, consciously this time, and spoke hesitantly. "I'm sorry for what happened to you, Xiaoyu. I hope I'm not the one who's driving you off."

She felt a twinge of sadness, thinking of the secrets the white-winged demon had revealed. "He drowns in his own sorrows; his own concerns consume his every thought." Taking a deep breath, Xiaoyu pulled her hands out of Jin's grasp. She sighed as she saw him flinch, already knowing that he was misreading her action as a rejection. Reaching up, she cupped her hands around his face, and he recoiled in shock at the intimate gesture. She refused to let go, however, pulling his head back down towards her own.

"You're not the reason I'm leaving," Xiaoyu told him sternly. "You're one of the reasons I considered staying, actually," she admitted. "But you have to promise me something before you go," she added, fixing her eyes on his own. "Hang on to your new life with Asuka and her family. Accept them as your own. Don't shut them out like you do everyone else. Can you promise me that?" She stared at him intently, hoping for an answer.

Jin looked surprised, but he didn't pull away from her touch. She could see he was wrestling with his thoughts, unable to completely hide the flickering of emotion in his eyes, and Xiaoyu held her breath as his lips parted slightly. "I…" he struggled, and Xiaoyu's heart fluttered with hope.

If he called out to me right now, if he said just one single word, then I would…

"... I can't," he finished, his mouth falling closed, and his face returning to the impassive mask that she knew so well.

A sharp twinge of sadness stirred in her breast, and Xiaoyu sighed gently. Oh Jin… this was my puzzle now, and you just dropped the piece. She let the disappointment settle around her, and willed it to pass through her and flow out through her toes. It took a few moments and didn't work as well as she had hoped, but when she felt herself calm down, she pulled Jin's head down and touched her forehead against his. His breath tickled her face, and she smiled.

"You're really leaving?" he asked her roughly, still sounding surprised, as though the idea was completely foreign to him.

Instead of answering, Xiaoyu shut her eyes. "Good luck dealing with your family. Both of them," she whispered to him. Then she released his face and backed away, bending down and picking up her suitcase. She could feel his eyes on her as she turned and pushed her way out of the revolving doors, but she refused to look back.

Outside, Hwoarang was standing next to her cab, her suitcases already neatly packed inside. He didn't notice her come; he was too busy staring at the shining hunk of metal that was parked outside of the building.

"Love at first sight?" Xiaoyu called out, tapping him on the shoulder.

Hwoarang blinked and glanced at Xiaoyu distractedly. "Huh? Oh… yeah, yeah," he said carelessly, his eyes still drinking in the sight of the chrome and steel-plated motorcycle.

"At least try to control your drooling," Xiaoyu said as she skipped over to the bike and plucked the keys from the ignition. "Well, Heihachi does work fast," she mumbled quietly to herself, noting that the engine was still warm.

"Holy shit! That bike is yours?" Hwoarang said, flabbergasted. He choked and fumbled in the air clumsily as Xiaoyu sent the keys sailing in his direction.

"Naw, it's yours," she said with a grin. "I have no idea how you're going to get this thing to Korea. Maybe if you go fast enough you can drive it over the water," she joked.

Hwoarang was still staring at the motorcycle like a starving man who had just entered an all-you-can-eat-buffet. "Wha-how-but-wha—" he sputtered, groping for a coherent sentence. "You did this?" he managed to finally ask.

Xiaoyu nodded wildly. "It's a goodbye present from the Mishima Corporation. Try not to commit too many felonies with it," she laughed.

Hwoarang broke into a large grin and crushed his arms around Xiaoyu, whooping as he picked her up and swung her around wildly. "Whoo yeah!" he shouted joyfully as she beat at his shoulders.

"Put me down! You're embarrassing me!" she yelled, and Hwoarang finally relented, letting her go though the mad grin was still stretched across his face.

"You know Sunshine," he said as he tossed the last of her bags inside of the waiting cab, "I'm only gonna give you until the next tournament to get over that bastard," he told her lightly, tossing his head over his shoulder at the huge skyscraper. Slamming the trunk shut, he opened the passenger door and leaned against it, waiting for her to approach.

Xiaoyu smirked. "Sure thing, loser. Keep dreaming!" she told him, sticking out her tongue. As she ducked to enter the car, his arm snaked out and caught hers, holding her back. "Hey, what's the big idea?" she started angrily, glaring at Hwoarang. She paused and held her breath as he leaned towards her. The smile that was on his face gone and his eyes were dark and serious, burning with the fire that he normally reserved for one of his opponents.

"I mean it. Next tournament, no breaks, no excuses, no Jin. I can wait until then. But next time we meet, I'm gonna get you," he swore.

Xiaoyu pressed her lips together. "What is it with tough guys like you?" she said to him irritably. "Why do you always have to get the last word in? It's not like it's only your decision!" With a quick circular twist, she tore her arm from his grasp and pushed her hand into his chest. Instead of knocking him back with the move, however, she wrapped her fingers tightly around the leather of his vest and pulled him in. She enjoyed the look of shock that flashed over Hwoarang's face and then, steeling herself, she closed her eyes and planted a solid, messy kiss directly on his lips. Hwoarang stiffened, and Xiaoyu gave herself a smug mental pat of congratulations. When she felt her point was made, she released him and reversed her push into a hit, sending him sprawling backwards in surprise onto the sidewalk. He looked up at her dumbly, for once speechless, and she saluted him. "Thanks for teaching me a lot about myself," she called out seriously. Then her face split into a smug grin. "You know, I guess this means you owe me twice now! We'll talk about that next time, okay?" And with that, she hopped into the cab and slammed the door before he could form a coherent answer.

After a moment, Hwoarang managed to push himself off of the sidewalk, shaking his head in disbelief. "Damn," he muttered to himself. Slowly, a grin broke over his face, and he tossed the keys in his hand into the air. The revolving door of the building gave a quiet whoosh as it expelled another person from the Mishima Corporation headquarters, and Hwoarang turned around as the sound of footsteps grew closer. He gave Jin a wolfish smile as the dark-haired man approached him.

"Huh. So you're still here," Jin said, narrowing his eyes at Hwoarang. "Don't tell me you were waiting outside so you could pick another fight with me," he said wearily. "When are you going to grow up?"

Hwoarang smirked. "Fuck that. I really am gonna beat you next time." He strode over to his new bike and swung a leg over it, starting the engine.

Jin stared after the Korean, his face a mixture of boredom and disgust. "Is fighting all you ever think about, Hwoarang?" he asked after a moment.

Hwoarang paused, sparing a glance back at Jin. "I wasn't talkin' about fighting." Then with a smirk, he revved the engine and peeled away from the curb, leaving a strip of smoking black rubber on the street behind him.

- x – x – x -

Xiaoyu stood on the deck of the boat, trying to ignore the pungent smell rising from the water. The ship was already being tugged out to sea, fulfilling its promising to carry her back to China. Still, she couldn't just relax in her cabin and let Japan slip away; two years had left a lot of memories, and she wanted to treasure every last moment she had. Even the smelly ones, she noted, holding her nose.

A soft chuckle alerted her to her grandfather's presence and Jinrei approached the railing, leaning on its side. "The more you try to ignore it, the more it will bother you," he told her conversationally. "Not to mention that you're making a very rude gesture of farewell to the Japanese," he added.

Xiaoyu rolled her eyes and dropped her hand away from her face. "I know! I better get used to this stink, right?" she complained.

Jinrei shrugged slightly. "You wouldn't have to if that miserable miser Heihachi had only given you a sizable parting gift," he grumbled.

"Umm, yeah, about that," Xiaoyu said, giggling nervously.

Jinrei cracked an eye open, and then grabbed his head. "Ai-yaaah! He did offer you something, didn't he, and you turned him down!"

"Sorta," Xiaoyu said. She giggled as her grandfather moaned comically while calculating their potential loss. "Aren't you always the one always saying that money isn't everything?" she interrupted him.

"It may not be everything, but it is something," Jinrei said mournfully. Then he caught Xiaoyu's eye, and they both burst out laughing. "Ahh, little sparrow," he said finally when they had quieted down. "You've grown so much while I wasn't watching. It can be very difficult to leave behind the things which have changed us."

Turning around, Xiaoyu leaned back against the railing, facing the open horizon on the sea. "It was time to go," she said honestly. Still… it doesn't feel right. I wish Jin hadn't left me so cold. She sighed in resignation; she was slowly coming to accept the fact that she couldn't change his brooding nature. Would he really still be Jin if I did? she wondered to herself.

"Xiaoyu," Jinrei said to her gently. "Turn around and say goodbye while you can."

Xiaoyu closed her eyes. "I can't stand looking backwards anymore," she answered.

"Ah, my little sparrow. But you have a visitor."

Xiaoyu's eyes popped open. "What?" She twisted around, looking back at the shore. A tall figure was standing on the edge of the dock. She could still see the unmistakable sweep of his dark hair. "It's Jin!" she said, her eyes wide with surprise.

"Xiaoyu!" Jin's hands were cupped over his mouth, carrying his shout clearly over the water.

He actually came to say goodbye! she thought, feeling light-headed. "Jiiiin!" she called out, leaning over the railing and waving at him wildly. He was staring at her, and her heart soared, because in that moment, she knew that he, the real Jin, cared. Maybe he changed his mind… maybe living with Heihachi again wouldn't be so bad… she thought to herself, eyeing the water speculatively and wondering how difficult it would be to leap off and swim back to shore. Maybe he'll be able to say it now! In that moment, all she wanted to do was race to shore and throw her arms around Jin's neck. Her knuckles whitened around the ship's railing, and her breath came out in short gasps.

"What will you do, my little sparrow?" Jinrei's gentle voice was like a lance through her bubble of excitement. He kept his tone carefully neutral, but he was eyeing her with a knowing look.

Xiaoyu turned her head back towards the shore. Jin was still there, his attention focused completely on her. What do I do? she asked herself, confused. She thought about her feelings for Jin, and she weighed them against her feelings for Hwoarang. So different, and so similar, she realized faintly. I wonder what Julia would say. The breeze stirred, catching at the feather hanging off of her neck. She gripped it in her hand tightly, and closed her eyes.

A simple thought occurred to her. Why does it matter what Julia would say? Why does it matter what anyone would say? And to her surprise, she realized she didn't care what anyone else thought. With that decision came a feeling of peace. She drew in a deep breath. "It's my life, I can think for myself. I won't start it by chasing after the past."

Jinrei smiled and dipped his head, turning away and leaving her alone at the railing.

Clutching the feather pendant in her hand, she smiled at Jin. "Xiaoyu means Morning Rain, the cleansing water that washes away the stains of the past so a new day can dawn," she said quietly. I'm ready to face that day on my own now. Then, with a quick snap, she jerked at the pendant violently, tearing the chain off of her neck. "Maybe next time," she said, leaning back and throwing it into the ocean. It circled in the breeze for a moment, glinting pure and white like a diamond catching the rays of the setting sun. Then with a tiny splash, it landed on the ocean, where it was quickly swallowed into the depths of the dark water. She looked up and saw Jin still watching her, and a huge smile spread across her face. With a sudden burst of energy, she threw herself against the railing, leaning precariously over the edge. She cupped her hands over her mouth and took a deep breath, filling her lungs with air. "SEE YOU NEXT TOURNAMENT!" she shouted as loudly as she could, laughing with sheer joy.

- fin -

AN: Well, this is really the conclusion of the story. I like endings that leave "satisfying questions" open to the imagination. I hope this answers the pairing issue for you guys, or at least gives you lots of good things to speculate about. :-) Thank you all for your wonderful comments and support during the course of writing this unexpected monster of a fiction. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. I would single out a few anonymous posters who didn't leave behind emails how much I enjoyed their commentary, if wouldn't delete my story's ass for doing so. Suffice to say, I think you guys know who you are, and I give you my heartfelt thanks and gratitude. For those of you who do stumble across this fiction at a later date, please, please, PLEASE leave a review. I always like to know what readers think of my writing; it helps shape my style and correct future mistakes. Be assured, I read and consider every single one, no matter when it's left. And with that, I will take my good mentor Mr. Williams' advice, and wish you all the best of luck in your own fiction writing.