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Chapter 8 – Admirer
7th JANUARY
Things were quite normal those days. Rumours about Jin and Ling were still circulating around the students, but there were now many versions: the one that Miharu had told Jin; and there were now two more versions: one saying that actually Jin and Ling were dating; and the other saying that he had abused her because of her small size.
Ling was a bit tired of seeing people look at her and whispering things on her back, so she decided to end that once and for all.
At lunch time, she went to the centre of the cafeteria and shouted.
-'I am not dating Jin Kazama and he did not force me into anything! Would I have lunch with him if he did such a horrible thing? I don't think so…'
Everyone was astonished with that attitude, so no one asked anything. Seeing that everyone was in silence, Ling continued in her normal voice now.
-'Jin and I were on detention and that's all. So stop saying stupid things about us and get a life!'
Jin looked at her when she sat down and shrugged.
-'What?'-she asked.
-'You could just ignore the rumours…they would fade away soon.'-Jin said eating his rice.
-'She was just trying to put an end to this.'-Miharu defended her friend.
-'I know.'-Jin confessed.
-'Did you realise what things they were saying about you?'-Ling questioned him.
-'Yes.'
-'Doesn't it bother you?'-she insisted getting up.
-'No.'
Ling sat down again defeated. How could Jin be so calm and numb? She didn't argue anymore because she didn't want to upset him, so she continued to have lunch and started a random conversation with Miharu about fashion colours.
Things between Jin and Miharu were alright, especially because Miharu had changed her opinion towards Jin, but she was far from calling him a friend. That wasn't a problem to Jin; he didn't dislike her totally, he thought that she was a good friend to Ling, but that was all. Besides, he never talked too much with her, only when Ling was with them.
After classes, Ling and Jin returned home. Taka announced that Heihachi would be back in two weeks. Jin shrugged and announced that he was going to change into his practice clothes.
Ling didn't feel like training, but she had to, so she did the same. They sparred a bit before master Kitano's arrival, and the man watched them before he interrupted.
-'Your much better Xiaoyu…much better!'-he exclaimed.
-'Thank you master…'
-'As for you…'-he said turning to Jin.-'I don't know why you keep on training, you're the best fighter I've seen in years. I think you're even stronger than Kazuya.'
Jin thanked the compliment but Ling noticed that he wasn't very happy to hear his father's name. Taka was right; the Mishima family had many issues to solve between its members.
After dinner, Jin was supposed to meet Ling to study, but he never showed up. Ling found him in the garden. He was dressing a long black coat and gloves because it was snowing. Ling made a small snowball and threw it to Jin but he easily escaped.
-'What are you doing outside?'-he asked.-'It's freezing…'
-'I came to look for you. You have a Biology exam tomorrow…aren't you going to study just a little?'
-'No…I know everything already. It'll be easy.'
-'Really?'
-'Yep!'
-'Why are you outside, Jin?'
-'I don't feel like being closed between those walls.'-Jin pointed to the mansion and shrugged.-'Don't ask me why…I can't explain.'
-'But…that's your home!'-Ling said confused.
-'No, my home is…was in Yakushima, in Kyushu island. Here…I don't feel at home.'
-'You lived in Yakushima with your parents?'
-'No I didn't, only with my mother.'
-'Where was your father?'
-'I don't know…I never knew my father. Actually I never knew I had a father until I was fifteen.'
-'Why?'
-'Because it was only then when my mother said that I was Kazuya Mishima's son.'
-'Why did she hide your father's identity from you?'
-'Isn't it obvious?'
-'No, not really.'
-'My father took everything from her. Her dreams, her hope, her future, her dignity, her innocence and her life!'
-'Why do say that? Didn't she love him?'
-'She loved him…with all her heart…but it seems to me that he got her pregnant and ran away…she was just an object to him.'
-'Maybe you don't know the whole story…if your mother was as virtuous as you say she must have seen some goodness in your father.'
-'Or maybe she was just a dreamer and innocent girl just like you.'-Jin suggested.-'Just forget about this. Now that I'm here in Tokyo with Heihachi I have to go until the end.'
-'What end?'
-'Nothing…never mind. Lets go inside or you'll catch a cold.'
-'You don't have to go through this alone. My parents died too…in an accident, so I understand how you feel…'
-'Maybe you do…but we're very different, Xiaoyu…one day you'll see that.'
That night Ling decided to write her second letter to her grandfather Jinrei. She had promised she would write to him every month.
When she finished it, it was almost one a.m. and she was so tired that she didn't even read it again. The letter was left on her desk and slowly Ling crawled to her bed, falling asleep the next minute. In her letter she had written:
"Dear Grandfather, how are you? I hope you're ok. I miss you every day since I left, and I know that you must miss me too. You should write to me too, so I can know how you are going. It is deadly freezing here in Tokyo, but Mr. Mishima bought me warm clothes, for now he's travelling and I'm alone with his grandson, Jin. I think I told you about Jin, didn't I? I think we're friends now, at least now he speaks to me and the other day he helped me a lot in school. I had a little accident and he saved me. But he's very lonely, even when he's with me, I can feel his loneliness. He's always very quiet and he's not rude anymore, at least not to me, but when he gets angry, he's scaring. For some mysterious reason Jin hates his grandfather, he blames him for his father's death; the problem is that he seems to hate his father too. He truly loves his mother though, Jun Kazama, she died too, but Jin hangs on tight to his memories of her. Today he told me that he didn't know about his father's identity until he was fifteen, I feel sorry for him, I really do. I wish I could do something for him, but I'm also scared of his reaction. Jin is very proud and he doesn't want anyone's help. He's also a good fighter; actually he's better than me. We sparred a lot these last few days and he always won. Master Kitano, with whom we are training, said he is the best fighter he had seen recently and I agree with him. You should see Jin, the way he fights…it's like he doesn't care about anything else in the world. I will do my best to be as good as him. I'll write more in the next letter…I'm sleepy now and I've been studying hard for my exams, so I'm going to have some rest.
Love from your granddaughter Ling."
15th JANUARY
Ling and Miharu were waiting patiently for Jin, while he was still doing his Chemistry exam. Their teacher had left a little bit earlier so they were outside Jin's classroom door.
-'After school I'm going to ask Jin to take us to the new amusement park that opened last week.'-Ling announced.
-'What makes you think that he'll take us?'
-'Because he's our friend.'-Ling said with a smile.
-'I think he said he hates amusement parks.'
-'I know…but he only has to take us there, I will not oblige him to stay with us.'
-'You can try, but I don't think he'll do it…'
Things in school were much better now. The rumours were gone and Jin and Ling could now walk around in peace and quiet. Actually, Miharu was the one having problems because the members from Jin's Fan Club were not happy with her. She had always said that she hated Jin Kazama, and now all of a sudden she was walking around in his company. All the girls were envious and they couldn't understand why Miharu had suddenly changed her mind about Jin. Miharu had already told them that she wasn't interested in Jin, she was just getting to know him a bit more, but the girls didn't believe her. For them it was pretty obvious that Miharu was trying to seduce the handsome boy.
All of the girls had also noticed that to be Ling's friend was a very good option, because since Ling was living with Jin, she was their best chance to be closer to him. Many girls had apologised to Ling about the rumours and they had offered their help. Ling had nicely declined because she new their intentions. But it was good to know that she hadn't enemies anymore.
In that moment, when Miharu and Ling were talking about Jin's Fan Club, they noticed a guy from their classroom coming closer. He asked kindly to speak alone with Ling and Miharu left them alone.
-'I'm Taro Kamya…from your class…'-the tall and dark haired guy said.
-'I know…'
-'I wasn't sure if you knew who I am.'
-'I do…but what can I do for you, Kamya?'
-'You can call me Taro.'
-'Ok…Taro.'
-'My sister's birthday is tomorrow. Our parents are out and we're going to give a party. I was wondering if you wanted to come…'
-'Your sister? But I don't know her!'
-'Yes, you do…her name is Akane Hida, she's…'
-'Jin's Fan Club Vice-President…'-Ling completed.
-'Yeah…we don't share the same surname because we have different fathers…'
-'I see…so she asked you to invite me because she wants Jin to go too, right?'
-'Oh, no…that's not true. She wants Kazama to go, but last year she invited him personally and he said no…she felt so humiliated that she promised she would never do that again.'
-'So, Jin is not invited?'
-'If he goes, she will be over the moon…but she won't invite him again…that's for sure. This was my idea…'
-'Why?'
-'Because…I think you're a nice girl and I kind of…like you…'
-'Like me?'
-'Well…you're pretty and it's easy to talk to you…you're nice.'
Those comments made Ling blush in a deep red. Jin was leaving his classroom when he noticed Taro and her talking happily. He joined Miharu.
-'What's going on over there?'-Jin asked.
-'What's wrong Kazama? Are you afraid of some competition?'-Miharu provoked.
Jin gave Miharu a cold look, but when he watched Taro and Ling again, something inside of him made him wish to beat that guy up really hard.
Five minutes later, Ling joined her friends, her cheeks were still crimson.
-'What did he want?'-Jin asked with curiosity.
-'He invited me to a party!'-Ling exclaimed.
-'Oh…it's Akane's birthday…right?'-Miharu asked.
-'Yep. You and I are invited.'-Ling said to Jin.
-'I'm not going.'-he said firmly.
-'Why not? It'll be fun!'
-'I don't like parties…'-Jin said.
Ling shrugged and sighed.
-'Well in that case you can stay at home doing your homework, because I'm going!'-Ling announced.-'I didn't convince him to let you go…'-she added to Miharu.-'He said that he would invite you, but Akane would be really furious…'
-'I understand. Anyway I wouldn't go. Akane's an idiot…'
-'How was the exam?'-Ling asked Jin.
-'Great…it's was great.'-Jin answered. Ling noticed something strange in his voice.
-'What's wrong?'-Ling asked.
-'He's just jealous…'-Miharu said suddenly.
-'No, I'm not!'-Jin replied.
-'Yes, you are…'-Miharu insisted.
-'No, I'm not!'
-'You're jealous because Ling is becoming more famous than you!'
Jin calmed down when he realised that Miharu wasn't talking about real emotions towards Ling's new relationship with Taro Kamya.
But late in the afternoon, Jin realised also that jealousy was the least he could called it. He wasn't jealous, he was more than that, he couldn't stand the idea of seeing Taro with Ling again, and he didn't know what to do to prevent that, considering that homicide couldn't be on the list.
