A/N: This chapter was revised entirely. But the idea remained.

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Shattered Soul

By: Elie

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It was another cold Saturday evening. What a great night to ditch your driver just as Xiaoyu did.

Maybe self-centeredness was swallowing her whole? Not that she minded if old Billy would lose his job, anyway.

Her mind drifted to thoughts that fluttered in her heart. She was still mad.

Mad at her, and mad at Jin. No - she was mad at everybody for making her feel this way.

This fucking hurting way

The breeze felt icy as it hovered around her tauntingly.

Busy traffic lights started to blur her vision as she crossed the pedestrian streets of Tokyo City.

She was lost as hell, but she didn't give any damn about it.

Why was she running away anyway? Hell, she didn't know. Or was she running from reality then – her reality and Jin's?

Is it because love disgusted her more than anything else?

Suffice to say that she hadn't felt real love before. She heard from some that it was very painful to love…So, was she in love because she was feeling pain?

She grabbed the ends of her shoulder blades as the cold seeped through her sweater. Why in the world did she only wear a fucking sweater in this fucking winter season?

Fuck it.

This was going to be a long, long night.

Something was wrong. He could feel it.

Jin rose from his bed and began walking back in forth, uneasily. He reached for his cellphone and dialed Xiaoyu's bedroom number.

HEY, I GUESS I'M OUT, SO JUST LEAVE ME A MESSAGE, THANKS

Shit, he thought.

She wasn't in her room as he'd suspected. But what made him feel so nervous?

This night didn't look any different from the others that had passed. Same cold breeze swooshed his curtains and the same quiet atmosphere surrounded him.

He continued pacing again until he finally gave up and then went to his terrace. "What if she was – damn, what am I thinking? No, she probably couldn't be –"

His mouth gagged open, rubbing his eyes with a hand. He saw old Billy hanging around with Junsei at the lawn three stories below.

"She wasn't with Billy?" He clenched his teeth. "Then, how did she get out of the man –"

Ooh…Jin was pissed – really pissed.

He snapped out of his room and headed outside the mansion toward the lawn.

Old Billy and Junsei immediately stopped their conversation and turned at the young heir.

Jin went up to Billy, grabbed his collar, and lifted his body from the ground.

"Master Jin what is –"

Jin cut him off. "Where the hell is she?" he asked hoarsely.

Billy stammered, "L-lady L-ling is –"

"She is not in her room. Didn't you know she left without saying anything?" Jin's blood raced as he waited for the answer.

He sighed when old Billy shook his head. He placed him down, turning to a plant pot where he poured all his anger by kicking it.

He abruptly stopped when he realized he was going nowhere out of it. Reluctantly, he gave the two drivers an apologetic look before going back inside.

There, he found his car keys.

She was fucking exhausted – not the likes of craving for food or water exhausted, but the 'I've been walking for a day' exhaustion.

Ah, she felt like collapsing on the sidewalk. The temperature felt so…zero.

There were a few signs of people passing by the streets these days. Most of them preferred to keep warm inside their cars while some of the car less ones snuggled in their homes.

Maybe…or just maybe…they were waiting for the holiday sale to come out and that would be the time they'd swarm Tokyo like ants.

Her situation was sad. Since she only saw a few people walk by her. She felt so alone, as if she was the only walking the city.

The only noises she heard were coming from cars and other promotional shit just around the corner.

It was sure quiet if you were lost in your own little mind, no matter how many people would scream at your ears.

This was Xiaoyu's case. And damn. She hated it.

A sharp whistle blew from her side – and it was coming from a dark alleyway.

Cursing herself for being so curious, she approached the corner and went in.

A cloth impeded her mouth before she could even struggle. And as seconds flew by, she was numb.

Strong hands tossed her on the shoulder and carried her deeper in the alley. She couldn't scream. Her lips were also numb. She has been drugged.

Her fighting skills were useless. She was helpless and scared. How naïve of her to be in this horrible situation – all she wanted was to go home now. How stupid.

Really stupid

She was laid on a cardboard bed. And it took a brief moment for her mind to register. The man who had carried her here forcefully unzipped her sweater.

Now she knew what was going on. She was being raped!

She screamed helplessly in her head. Her veins wanted to burst. She couldn't feel anything but she knew she was going to regret this.

As the lacy material covering her breasts was about to be stripped off, she closed her eyes and let a tear fall down her cheek.

THUG

The man's body jerked up and then fell on the floor beside her. She watched his unconscious body being rolled by another guy. Her eyes pried at the new stranger who seated himself beside her.

He looked down on her and said, "I guess you're okay, so, here –"

He wrapped again her sweater on her body. But seeing her chilly look sent him to take off his jacket and cover her with it.

God, there was a hero in front of her. It was Jesus, at last.

How she wished she could thank him right now. If only her damn mouth could talk.

The guy read her eyes. They looked as if urging him to tell about himself.

He twitched his eyes and then hesitated a bit, but then –

"Hi, I'm Hwoarang. You might be wondering but yes, I'm Korean-"

He paused for a while, and then grinned. Self-introductory was always fun especially the part where you get to flaunt it.

"- so, I'm nineteen, and maybe you're thinking why I'm here? Well, I just love hanging around this place…"

And my, oh my, look who's ferreting over that hot Korean thug. Xiaoyu blushed.

He had a shoulder-length auburn hair, great face and WOW body. He was good-looking and fair – pretty much your typical Korean dream guy.

Hwoarang loved it when he was so sure girls were all over him at the moment. He tried to keep his mouth shut for a while so that this lovely face beside him could have all the view she wanted.

Grinning to himself, he pulled a cigarette and lighter. He inhaled the nicotine deeply, wishing his lungs would one day give up result to cancer. He chuckled at the thought.

The numbness started to disperse, and she can feel again - the cold, the ground-everything.

She knew she was really comfortable around this Hwoarang guy. He also seemed nice.

He smiled at her, exhaling smoke from his nose.

This time, it was her turn to introduce herself. She rose and took a sitting position.

"Thank you very much for saving me…" She said, "By the way, I'm Ling Xiaoyu – you're wondering too maybe – so yeah, I'm Chinese."

"Don't fret, babe. Culture shock is so not new to me anymore." He grinned.

She grinned back, "So, I think after all that had happened to me, I'd better get going – "

He cut her off, "Why, what happened to you?"

"It's a damn long story…" She shrugged, standing up, "Really, I think I should get some rest. You too, maybe…"

"So, you're really, really going?" He asked once more, as he also stood up.

Xiaoyu, for the last time, shrugged. "Better be...anyways, I owe you, Hwoarang."

Hwoarang smirked. "Don't have to, it's all covered. Besides, I'm in a good mood to save anyone anyway."

He took a nice long sip of his cigarette before casting it down the unconscious rapist. "It'll burn his pants."

They both laughed. But Xiaoyu frowned afterwards.

"I'll see you again." She smiled at him.

Now, flashbacks of Jin came clashing in her mind, and she just clenched her teeth as she looked at Hwoarang.

"You bet!" He exclaimed. Ah, his being so energetic was highly contagious.

Xiaoyu resisted frowning. Jin formed a solid picture in her mind, and what she needed was distraction.

She tiptoed to Hwoarang – crushing her lips with his.

She was nowhere to be found, as Jin had assumed.

He went to the mall, computer shops, internet café's – anywhere possible.

His eyes wouldn't close because he couldn't stop thinking about her. It really had been a while. She hadn't spoken to him since that day he made a show with Julia in front of the school.

It made him depressed enough to lose sanity.

Another factor that was killing him was lonely nights.

He couldn't take it any longer. He needed her, and he knew for sure that there might be something in her that needed him.

A slam was heard from the room next to his. Upon hearing this, he smiled contently.

She was safe after all.

Old Billy told her EVERYTHING.

Jin was worried, Jin was worried - Jin was worried!

Then guilt consumed her. What if Jin suffered from heart attack because of her?

Nah – he's too young.

But maybe she made him cry or something. Jin crying? – Maybe, but no.

She traced her lips with her fingers. She had just kissed her hero. It felt kind of nice…but at the same time, wrong.

But why would she feel so guilty? After all, Jin kissed Julia too. Ugh. She needed a nice, warm bath…

One thing was for sure, though. She hoped she would never see that Hwoarang – ever again.

The dojo house was quiet as usual. Xiaoyu was the first to head over there fro practice – it was a miracle.

Jin silently dropped his training bag on the tatami floor. He quietly observed Xiaoyu punch and kick the sandbag with all that she had.

She looked so delicious. The sweat shimmering and dripping on her belly was enticing. It made Jin hot, even though it was winter. Well, he didn't fucking care.

The silence was cut when Jin's warm breath intoxicated her ears. He was hot.

"Oh," Xiaoyu dropped it. She turned to him and glowered. "…it's you, Jin."

Jin frowned back. "I know these past few days had been…misunderstood…"

Chocolate orbs watched his hazel eyes intently. They were urging him to – continue…

"I – you see, it's not what you think." He said.

Xiaoyu smirked, "Then what was it?"

Her taunting tone made him swallow hard. "She came to me…that was all."

Xiaoyu fought back her tears. They were insulting her – tears insulting her? But that was how she felt.

"T-then," she croaked, "…tell me what I don't know…"

She understood now…The relationship between best of friends – Jin, Julia and Hwoarang.

It was enough that made her thought how small the world was. After all, by coincidence maybe, Hwoarang was her hero…

Their relationship as she'd described, was far more complicated. It was like a damn soap opera.

Jin's and Hwoarang's mothers were good business partners and best of friends. That explained why their children grew up to be so close.

Hwoarang didn't go back to Korea anymore. In fact, he stayed in a condominium in Tokyo. It wasn't surprising at all because he wanted to be with his best friend.

When Jin was nine years old, he went to America for a short vacation while Hwoarang visited his homeland.

And, Jin came home with a new friend –she was Julia.

Back in the States, silly Jin made a pact with naïve Julia that they would marry someday. Damn horny brats.

Then what was a hopeful girl to do? That's right – follow the boy.

Until they grew up to their adolescence, the three of them were inseparable. Jin and Julia were in love. But every third degree friendship had its downfall.

It was Hwoarang's eighteenth birthday, and Jin decided to trash his condo for a surprise party. And, he regretted it.

When he accidentally barged in his best friend's room, he saw him and his girlfriend fuck each other under the covers. Did he forgive them?

Hell, no.

He broke up with Julia and he became rivals with Hwoarang. That made their friendship in vain – betrayal.

Fortunately, rumors about it didn't spread that much. Julia went home to Arizona while Hwoarang trained in Seoul. They didn't admit it – but they were traitors.

A month ago, Julia came back for the tournament. Hwoarang, as far as Xiaoyu knew, maybe he'd just returned yesterday.

The thought of kissing Hwoarang flashed in her mind, and it made her feel sick. She felt like a whore. She was.

But how could they betray Jin who had nothing against them? And their nerves of coming back to Tokyo pissed her off.

No wonder Jin was so…disturbed. He didn't want to be an heir of the Mishima Zaibatsu. All he wanted was true friends. But why was he so quiet about it? He could've just told her.

"I hate them, I guess. I felt bad for the next few months…" Jin said calmly, "…until, well, you came Xiao."

Xiaoyu jerked up quietly. They were sitting on the floor outside the sliding doors.

But she didn't understand him. She was confused. He was making it so confusing for her!

"To be honest, you made my day, Xiao." Jin hid a frown and it made her look at him questioningly.

The sunset was breathtaking. Here, she realized that this dojo house was made for this lovely scenery. Like, it was made for someone to ease his/her mind with.

She hated remaining silent especially when it came to this matter – about hellish emotions she couldn't even understand.

Rubbing her forehead, she breathed in deeply, "If want to tell me something, get to the point. I'm giving you six more words…"

Jin turned to her and blinked.

She returned his gaze and smirked, "So, are you done? We should practice now."

But when she stood up, she felt this dizzy feeling again. She began to stumble but soon regained her composure.

Jin tried to support her, but she slapped his hands away. "Xiao –"

Her mind felt like it was being eaten slowly. Her eyes fluttered tiredly and then she looked down on him and said, "Five more, Jin…"

His eyes snapped and he realized she was playing him. He frowned at her.

She avoided his hands reaching out to her, and she continued to stand erect. Her vision of him doubled and blurred. She wasn't feeling damn well.

Five more, Jin

Jin caught her as soon as she fell on her knees. She lunged onto him and set her eyes at his hazel ones.

"Finish the sentence," she urged, her mind painting no picture anymore.

Jin held her nervously, his lips trembling in pressure. Was he ready to say something? But what was he supposed to tell her then?

No. He couldn't. He just couldn't. What if she'd…turn him down?

Xiaoyu clasped her hands around his neck and urged him again. She was breathing heavily.

Jin thought for a while, and then sighed. He felt her nails dig onto his flesh, and he liked it.

Five more, Jin

That's right. The perfect, five word sentence –

- "I love you so much," he murmured in her ears.

Xiaoyu snapped her eyes open, and then closed them. She let her body collapse onto his hold. His warm and manly hold…

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A/N: I know, cliffhanger. But please be kind and drop me a review. :