A/N: Finally got around to typing another chapter up. Go me. Reviewers, I'm sure you know by now I love you. Marry me, all of you. By the way, Miku-san, as soon as I'm done with this fic, I'm leaving Jin in your hands. I'm sure you'll take good care of him. :wink: Let me know what you think of this chapter, guys, and don't hesitate to tell me if there's anything you didn't like. I've revised the chapter ever so slightly, because I felt that the library scene was a tad rushed. Probably still is, but a little less so. :)

Chapter 21: Overheard

After he's left, I stay where I am, lying on the cushions and trying my hardest to catch my breath. My heart's still racing, and I close my eyes for a while, just remembering the sensation of Jin's mouth on mine. I can't seem to control the situation when I'm around him, things just move so fast and before I know it, all sensible thought goes flying out of the window. I know I should learn to control myself, but when it comes to Jin, I just... I can't. I thought I'd be different about stuff like this, have more reservations - after all, I've never done anything like this before, but like the time I first kissed him, it feels so natural to react the way I do. Is it wrong? I wonder what Miharu would say if I asked her. She'd probably kick my ass for even thinking that.

I open my eyes once more, sitting up and looking over to the windows. The rain's still pounding against the glass, and judging by the thickness of the clouds, it's not going to let up any time soon. Well, I guess I'd better do my homework while Jin's with Heihachi. It really does need doing before Monday. And if I do it now, there'll be more time for doing other things when Jin gets back. Not like that.

I reach for my textbook, still lying on the floor where I'd abandoned it before, and flick to the questions page. Right. Maths. Maths maths maths. The pen Jin and I had fought over is on the floor next to my cushion, and I pick it up and stick the end in my mouth to chew on whilst I read the problem to myself. Habit. It's the one Hwoarang had told me the answer to at school, the distance between the two cities. So, seven hundred and fifty. Or was it sixty? I think it was sixty, actually. I take the pen from my mouth and try to scribble down the answer. Halfway through the seven, the ink runs out. Great. Trust me not to have brought a spare. Guess it's time to have a little look around the place. Not that I'm being nosey or anything, I just need a pen with ink in it, that's all.

Standing up, I walk over to the mahogany desk in the corner near the window and have a search through. Nothing. And I mean that literally. There's absolutely nothing in any of the drawers or on the top of the desk. Kinda weird, if you ask me, but with the mansion being this big, I reason, perhaps they don't use this room often? Even so, there should at least be a pencil in the room. It's not too much to ask, is it? Oh well, maybe there's a maid around who could turn one up for me. I wonder if High Voice from earlier's nearby. I don't know whether to slap her or thank her for interrupting us. Mind you, it wasn't really her fault. Heihachi's the one who sent her. I have a theory that he's evil.

Leaving the lounge for now, I slide the door shut gently and retracing my earlier steps down the corridor. There has to be someone who can get hold of a damned pen for me, surely. Shouldn't there be a bell to ring or something? How do Jin and his granddad get the maid's attention otherwise? Do they just shout really loud? You know, I don't exactly feel comfortable wandering around like I own the place. What if I get lost and end up wandering through corridor after corridor for the foreseeable future? As I advance further down the corridor, vague snatches of conversation reach my ears, and I shouldn't eavesdrop, I know, and it probably isn't any of my business, but the temptation is too much to resist.

"...another one."

The voices sound close. There's a door a few steps further, a black lacquered affair, which I recognize as the entrance to Heihachi's study.

"Who is it this time?"

It's Jin's voice. He sounds so serious… maybe even harsh?

"Doo-San, apparently."

"And?"

"He's that redheaded boy's mentor, isn't he?"

"Hwoarang's?"

"Yes. Maybe it would be a good idea to study Hwoarang's fighting style. If it was Toshin's doing, then you can be sure it will use Mr. Doo-San's moves. The boy's should be quite similar."

"Hm."

Who is Toshin? What are they talking about? And what's happened to Baek?

"Jin?"

"What?"

"You do realize that this could have been prevented?"

"What does it matter? As long as Toshin shows up at the tournament, I couldn't care less."

"Don't let your hatred for Toshin blind you. That kind of attitude was the reason for your father's downfall." Heihachi sounds almost amused.

"I'm not like him."

"Oh? Your mother wouldn't have that sort of mindset, Jin."

"Keep my mother out of this." Jin hisses, and I can hear footsteps headed towards the door. For a moment, I stand there stupidly, trying in vain to think clearly and make a guess as to what's going on. What's happened to Baek? Who's Toshin, and what has he/she/it done to him? And why do Jin and Heihachi know this stuff? Have they got something to do with Baek's disappearance?

Then I realize that if I don't move my ass, either Jin or Heihachi is going to come out and see me standing here like an idiot. Regaining my senses, I scramble off down the corridor, dodging into the nearest room and sliding the door shut hurriedly.

Great going, Xiaoyu. Because there's no chance they heard that racket at all, is there?

And now you've got to find a way back to the lounge before Jin gets there and wonders where you've gone.

It seems I'm in a library. Shelves and shelves of books line the walls, and it's more of a western style room than those I've been into before. I can just make out some horrendous mint green wallpaper covering the space between the shelves and the ceiling. I wander through the stacks, running my fingers over the leather spines and absently noting a picture of Jin hanging on the wall in front of me.

…Well, it looks like Jin, at least. Something seems a little off, though. I walk over to the picture to get a closer look. On second thought, it's not Jin at all. The man in the picture is wearing a tuxedo; hair slicked back, a slight sneer on his handsome face. There's something about him that makes me uneasy. I don't get chance to take in anything more, as behind me, I hear the door to the library slide open, and soft footsteps as someone steps inside.

Okay, not good. Not good at all. How the hell am I supposed to explain this? The footsteps stop, and I look around the room frantically for any sign of an exit. Even if there is an exit though, if I move, whoever's here might hear me. What am I supposed to do? If I stay standing here, eventually I'll be found. If I move, there's a chance I'll be heard – but there's also a chance that I won't.

The footsteps start up again, making up my mind for me, and I tiptoe as fast as I dare around the back of a huge bookshelf, further into the room. There are more shelves, a desk, and a statue, and I feel the panic rising in my chest as I scan my surroundings for an exit and again come up with nothing. I take a breath, willing myself to stay cool, and slip past yet another bookshelf. The footsteps stop, and I stop too. If I carry on, whoever it is will most likely hear me.

If I'm lucky, it'll be one of the maids. If I'm extremely unlucky, it'll be Heihachi. Not the most calming thought I've had today. Wait... there must be another door somewhere. This is a mansion after all. Maybe there's a revolving wall or something similar. Oh God, what if it's Heihachi? He's gonna find me and... and... I don't know... do something bad. Like stab me with a letter opener or something. And there's no exit and I'm gonna be found out. I can't be found out. What do I do? He starts moving again, and I start too, timing my footsteps with his and passing yet another massive shelf of books. And there's a sliding screen in front of me, slightly ajar. It's all I can do not to burst into tears of relief.

Once I get back to the lounge, Jin's already in there. He throws me a questioning look, and I flash the most innocent smile I can muster.

"Oh, you're back!" I say sunnily. "I've just been looking for the bathroom."

Two days later, I'm with Hwoarang, sitting at a table on the ship that's taking us to the island the tournament's being held on. I'm nervous as hell, and although Hwoarang tries to deny it, I know he is too. He's on his fifth cigarette. The other entrants are dotted around; a girl with plaited hair and a headdress is sitting near the window, a blonde woman is leaning on the bar, and the biker from Hwoarang's local is there too, chatting to a man with short black hair and carpet slippers on. I glance around, eyes wide, and Hwoarang flicks his cigarette into the ashtray and rests his chin on his hands as I fiddle with a paper napkin.

"Calm down, Xiao." He smiles. "It's gonna be fine. What's there to be afraid of?"

I try to smile back, to let his words reassure me, but after overhearing Jin and Heihachi's conversation, I can't shake the feeling that something's going to go wrong.