A/N: Hey, I think we're in the home stretch now. I want to thank all you reviewers for sticking with me for so long, can you believe I started this story more than three years ago? Anyway, this chapter may be a little short and a lot boring, but hey, I had to set the scene for the next chapter - and for once, I already know how it's gonna play out. ;)

Chapter 32: Shadows

"Give it."

"You're kidding, right?"

"I said, give it."

Hwoarang glances at me, tosses the cigarette to the floor and crushes it under his boot.

"I can't believe you asked me that."

I fold my arms, even though it sends bolts of pain through my muscles, and glare at him.

"I wanted to try it."

"Well, you're not."

"Why?"

"Because I said so."

"Yeah, like I'd ever do anything you say."

He sighs, looking up into the star filled sky.

"Stop being a brat."

"Make me."

"You should be in bed."

"I'm bored."

"Watch TV."

"Don't wanna."

"You're starting to annoy me, kid."

I join him in looking at the sky, trying to stop a contented smile creeping onto my face. Hwoarang's the only one who can get away with calling me 'kid' and not end up in excruciating pain. And I'm the only one who can get away with deliberately trying to irritate him and not end up in excruciating pain. You wouldn't think I'd be in the least bit contented, due to me getting my ass handed to me by Law the other day, but I feel okay. I think knowing that Hwoarang would rather come see I was okay than turn up to his scheduled match might have been a factor in that.

I actually started crying after he told me, and he rolled his eyes and shifted uncomfortably, saying that it was no big deal and no one matched him in skill anyway so the tournament outcome would be a given if he were still competing. I think that was his little way of saying 'I'm glad you're alright'.

"Xiaoyu, glad to see you up and about."

I turn, and Lei Wulong is making his way through the grass towards us. He looks tired, and troubled, but he returns my smile at least.

"Yeah, nothing was broken anyway."

"So it seems. Good." He glances at Hwoarang, and back at me. "Is this the 'friend' you were telling me about?" He even makes sarcastic quote marks with his fingers. Hwoarang looks part curious, part amused, that last bit probably due to the quote marks.

"Dork. And no."

"Boyfriend?" Lei presses, and I feel a blush spring to my face. Where did that come from? I thought my attraction - miniscule, I might add - to Hwoarang had blown over since that whole thing where I nearly did it with Jin.

Hwoarang laughs, opening his mouth to say something, probably of the perverted kind, and I cut him off hurriedly.

"No, he's a different friend. Different in the worst sense of the word."

Lei chuckles.

"What are you doing here, anyway?"

"Just wanted to say goodbye. I'm on my way home first thing tomorrow."

"I thought you were investigating?"

"Investigation's over."

"What did you find out?"

Lei shook his head.

"The investigation's over."

"Lei..."

Hwoarang wasn't interested in our conversation until now, but something Lei said seems to have got his attention and he steps forward, eyes narrowed.

"He probably can't say anything, Xiao. We'll have to find out ourselves."

"I'd advise against it. There's more to - "

"Yeah." Hwoarang interrupts him. "We know."

"The final's in a couple of days." I mutter with suspicion. "You're not sticking around?"

"No. And neither should you."

"Why's that?" Hwoarang asks. Lei says nothing. For a few moments, we're all silent, and the only sound is that of a water fountain somewhere deeper into the gardens. There are beautiful flowers growing all around us, and I was enjoying the peace until just now. (I dragged Hwoarang here 'cause I'd seen this place from the infirmary and I didn't know about it until then. What, you seriously think he'd come here of his own accord?)

"Have you ever seen anyone go in or out of the courtyard temple?" Lei asks. Before either of us can answer his question, he's turned around and started walking away.

"Lei! Hold on!"

He waves over his shoulder, and doesn't look back. Hwoarang arches an eyebrow. He's got that look on his face. I think I know where we'll be heading next. He also tries to get me to go back to bed and let him scope the place out on his own. I kick him in the shins.

"Wow. Does Heihachi subscribe to Nosferatu's Guide to Interior Design?" I spit in disgust as Hwoarang swings open the door, lock successfully dealt with. I guess his juvenile delinquent past comes in useful sometimes. But back to the temple. Nasty. There are burning torches mounted on the walls, weird gargoyle-types glaring out of stone at us, idols carved out of gold that aren't from any religion I've ever studied. I feel like I've stumbled onto the set of a low budget horror film and Tutankhamun's mummy is gonna come lurching out of the darkness any minute now.

"No idea. But maybe if we go further in, we'll find out what the cop was so freaked out over."

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing, though?" I glance sideways at him as he walks over to stare into the flames of one of the torches. "Hey, pyro. Are you listening?"

"You think anyone's here?" He asks slowly.

"I don't know."

There's a flicker of movement from the corridor in front of me, and I frown, straining my eyes to see through the darkness. The torches only light up the entrance. And what's with leaving them burning anyway? My mum starts lecturing me about fire safety when I don't blow my scented candles out.

"You see something?" Hwoarang asks from behind me. The shadows in the corridor seem to shift a little. Okay, not liking this new turn of events.

But before I can reply, there's a huge crash as the temple door slams shut.

Definitely not liking this new turn of events.