Disclaimer: I don't own Tekken.
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Chapter 12 – Street Fighter
Jin looked at his grandfather and he wished to wipe off that stupid smile of his face. He didn't move because Ling was still there.
-'Can you leave us for a moment Xiaoyu?'-Jin asked.
Ling knew that he was going to argue with Heihachi, but she couldn't just step into the middle and try to solve things for them. After all she was only a guest in that house.
-'Sure…'-she agreed and left.
Jin got up from his chair and punched the desk. Heihachi didn't even blink. It was obvious that Jin couldn't intimidate him.
-'What are you plotting this time?'-Jin yelled.-'I'm not going!'
-'Yes, you are…you have nothing else to do! You were suspended!'
-'I told you before that I don't want to be your damn heir and I won't learn to deal with businesses and all that crap!'
-'Watch your language…I'm not one of your classmates!'
-'I don't care.'
-'This trip has nothing to do with the Zaibatsu…not directly anyway. I'm only meeting some people…'
-'Why do I have to go too?'
-'You and Xiaoyu will be presented as the potential winners of The Iron Fist Tournament 3.'
-'What?'
-'This is not the official announcement yet, but I want to have some sponsors…for that I need to present some contestants.'
-'Aren't there any more contestants?'
-'Yes, but I still have to think who I'll invite and I don't know the Iron Fist date yet. To hold a tournament like this is very complex.'
-'Will you participate?'
-'Of course I will…I told you that in the end you and I will fight!'
-'I have a feeling that you're hiding something.'
-'You're paranoid…'
Jin gave him a death glare and left to his room. He found Ling there, waiting for him.
-'I'm sorry…I shouldn't have entered in your room, but…'
-'What's wrong?'-Jin asked in a bad humour.
-'There is going to be a tournament, right?'
-'Yes.'
-'No one told me the details so far. Can you explain it to me?'
Jin felt that she had the right to know, so he sat down on his bed and began to tell her all he knew about the Iron Fist Tournament.
-'The tournament will be organised by Heihachi, but he doesn't know the date yet. The three of us will enter, and many other people, all great fighters.'
-'If I win…Heihachi will build an amusement park in China for me.'
-'I doubt that.'
-'Why?'
-'You can't trust Heihachi. Never trust him!'
-'He's your grandfather!'
-'That doesn't mean anything. I'm sure that he's planning something; I just can't see what it is. This tournament it's not just a competition…'
-'But Jin…'
-'I know what I'm saying, ok?'
-'What about this trip to South Korea?'
-'He said that he's going to meet some people in order to find sponsors to the tournament. I have to pay attention…'
-'When do we leave?'
-'Monday.'
20th JANUARY
It was three o'clock in the afternoon when Jin, Heihachi and Ling arrived in Seoul, South Korea's capital. They were staying at a huge five stars hotel. When Ling saw how huge her bedroom was she felt like she was some princess from a faraway kingdom, living a dream that she thought she would never live.
The bedroom walls were painted in a light pink and matched the bed and the carpet on the floor. There were a huge TV, loads of books and DVD's, a computer and a stereo.
Ling looked at all that amazed, after all she was only there for three days. She wished she could stay a bit more, but Heihachi had told them that they were only staying a few days.
After unpacking her things, Ling knocked at Jin's door and she entered. She was surprised to see that Jin's room was smaller than hers. Besides it didn't have nice things.
-'Are you sure this is your room?'-she asked.
-'Yes. Why?'
-'Nothing…'-Ling said quickly. She didn't want to tell him that her room was much better because Jin could have another fight with Heihachi.
-'Do you know where Heihachi is?'-Jin asked.
-'No…But I guess he's in his room.'
-'No. I saw him leaving…'
-'What's wrong Jin? Why are you so…weird?'
-'It's nothing…do you want to go take a walk?'
-'Sure.'
That was enough to put a big smile on Ling's face. She loved to explore new things and places. Ling had never been in South Korea, but since she was with Jin, she wasn't afraid to get lost or anything.
-'Where are we going?'-Ling asked.
-'I don't know…'
-'Please…Mr. Kazama, your grandfather ordered that you shouldn't leave without his permission.'-the hotel manager said when he saw Jin and Ling going outside.
-'Where is he?'-Jin asked curiously.
-'He left, but he didn't say where he was going. He said he would be here for dinner…'
-'I never followed his orders before…I'm not going to start now…tell him that we went out for a walk.'-Jin said. Then he pulled Ling's hand and left the hotel, leaving the manager with a shocked look on his face. Usually, grandchildren respected their elder's orders and advices.
-'Do you think Heihachi will not be angry with us?'-Ling asked preoccupied. She was so tired of Heihachi and Jin's arguments that she wanted to avoid a possible one.
-'Who cares? If he can leave the hotel, so can we.'
Jin and Ling walked in Seoul streets for a while. It was a bit different from Tokyo. That neighbourhood was one of the most expansive and modern ones in Seoul. The shops were filled with well dressed ladies who were shopping with their infants: annoying children who were always crying because their mothers wouldn't play with them, instead of that the women would buy anything to keep their children's mouths shut: dolls, toys, ice creams, sweets.
The men were all dressed in black suits and talking about businesses. Jin understood Korean, but Ling didn't.
-'People here are rich!'-she said amazed.
Jin laughed with the comment. She was so naïve sometimes.
-'There is poverty even in the richest countries…'-he said.-'We're only in a modern and luxurious area of Seoul. I'm sure things will change once we get to that corner.'
Jin was right. Ling was now facing a new world in Seoul. It wasn't the suburbs but it was definitely a less rich area. People were dressing normal and acting like normal and busy people. There was a lady putting washed clothes to dry on her balcony. There was also a group of kids playing in a baseball field and many people entering and leaving the shops. There were taxis, buses and the subway. No expansive shops or hotels.
-'I prefer this side.'-Ling said.
-'Yeah…me too, just make sure Heihachi doesn't hear that.'
-'Jin?'
-'Yes?'
-'Why do you keep on calling him Heihachi?'
-'Look! A videogame shop!'
Ling understood that Jin didn't want to answer the question and she decided not to push him anymore.
-'You like videogames?'-she asked amazed.
-'Yes, why wouldn't I?'
Ling shrugged.
-'It doesn't fit you.'
Jin was watching the shop's window when something caught up his attention. There were a lot of people surrounding someone in an alley.
Jin went to check that out and Ling followed him. To their surprise, there was someone fighting there. Everyone seemed excited about that fight and they could hear some people screaming the opponents' names.
-'What's this?'-Ling asked.
-'A street fight.'-Jin answered.
-'Is it legal?'
-'I don't think so…that's why they're in an alley.'
Jin watched as a boy, younger than Ling, was collecting some money from the audience.
-'I guess they are betting on who's going to win.'-Jin said. Then he studied the guys who were fighting. One of them was huge; the man was as tall as a truck. He seemed dangerous and pissed off. He was also rude, because he was saying obnoxious things that Jin wouldn't even dare to translate.
-'Who do you think is going to win?'-Ling asked.
-'The redhead guy…he looks pretty confidant.'
-'Maybe…but look at his size…he's so small compared with the other.'
Jin looked at her in disbelief.
-'I could also beat that giant! Size doesn't matter!'-he said.-'Didn't your master teach you that?'
-'Yes, but…I'm not sure that this redhead knows how to fight and he looks so…feminine and…'
Ling didn't finish her sentence because in that moment the redhead threw a roundhouse kick against the giant. The man tried to hit back, but he was too slow. After four minutes, he was on the ground bleeding. The redhead had won fairly.
Many people lost their money and left cursing their bad luck.
Jin and Ling were leaving too, when Ling suddenly turned back.
-'Where are you going now?'-Jin asked.
-'I have to ask that guy how he did that…'
-'It's called tae kwon do…'-Jin said following her.-'He's pretty good…'
Jin and Ling stopped when they realised that the redhead was actually shaking hands with the giant man and splitting the money with him. They understood immediately what was going on.
-'They fixed the fight!'-Jin said.-'I can't believe this!'
-'That's called to steal from people.'
Only then they were spotted.
-'What do you want?'-the redhead asked.
-'You stole those people. You fixed the fight.'-Jin accused.
-'So? Did you place your bet?'
-'No.'
-'Then go away…this isn't your business, stranger…'
-'Take that money back!'-Ling ordered.
-'You're Japanese?'-the redhead asked after hearing Ling.
-'Yes.'-Jin answered.
-'Good…we don't like Japanese in this neighbourhood, so leave now before I change my mind and kick your ass.'-he hissed in Japanese.
-'You're a thief…'-Ling exclaimed.
-'And you're getting on my nerves, pigtails. Now go…or I'll kick you too.'
-'First you'll have to beat me up. And believe me…you won't succeed.'-Jin declared.
-'Are you challenging me?'
-'I guess I am…red.'
-'Fine…I accept. Oh…and by the way the name isn't red…it's Hwoarang.'
