Disclaimer: I don't own Tekken.
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Chapter 16 – Nightmare and Reality
14th MARCH
Ling was having a hard time since Jin left. First of all she was angry with him because he didn't even say goodbye. They were supposed to be friends, and friends shouldn't leave without saying goodbye. Secondly, Miharu had made a huge drama when she told her that she was going to enter the Iron Fist, and she even tried to convince her not to go.
Then there were Heihachi's interrogations because Jin was still missing. Everyday Ling was interrogated. Heihachi thought that Ling was probably the only person in the world who could know where his grandson was. But for his surprise she didn't know. Ling was also surprised to see that Heihachi was being so persistent in finding Jin; it was odd since they didn't have a very good relationship.
The day after Jin's departure, Heihachi had sent some guys to find him, the Tekkenshu. But they returned with empty hands which made Heihachi have a fury attack and yell with some of his men.
From the night that Jin had left, Ling could only remember her nightmare about a creature with red eyes and black wings. She had never felt as frightened as when she looked into the creature's eyes. But for some strange reason, Ling had the feeling that the creature didn't want to hurt her.
-'Are you sure you want to do this?'-Ling asked Miharu in the gym. Miharu had volunteered to help her in her trainings, since Jin was gone. It was simple, if she couldn't prevent her from going to the tournament the least she could do was to make sure she wouldn't be killed.
-'Yeah, I'm sure…I can't let you die in that stupid tournament…'-Miharu said.-'I can't believe you're actually going to enter the tournament because you want an amusement park…'
-'You think I'm childish, don't you?'
-'Of course I do! I mean…'
-'Maybe I am…but…'
-'Never mind what I said…I don't think you're childish…'
-'It's ok.'-Ling looked around and then she remembered that Jin and her used to train in there everyday after school.
-'You miss him, don't you?'-Miharu questioned.
-'Just a bit. He is my friend and we were starting to know each other. He changed…'
-'We all changed Ling…Jin was not the only one…he only chose the easy way.'
-'What easy way?'
-'Running away. That's the easy way.'
-'You don't know his reasons…Taka told me that this isn't just about Jin and Heihachi…it seems that Heihachi never liked Jun Kazama and Jin is paying for that.'
-'I told you they have loads of secrets. You shouldn't be asking around about this.'
-'I won't. All I want now is to go to the Iron Fist, to win and to find Jin again.'
Ling and Miharu were finally ready to beginning their fight when Heihachi entered the house. It was pretty obvious that he was angry.
-'Leave that ungrateful grandson of mine. Just stop the searches…I wish he dies from a very slowly and painful death. When I put my hands on him he'll be sorry for this! Mark my words Abel…he will regret this!'-Heihachi hung up his mobile.
Miharu and Ling hide while Heihachi passed through the gym and looked at each other with a shocked face.
-'I guess Jin didn't choose the easy way…'-Miharu confessed.
-'What do you mean?'
-'He chose the only way…'
9th APRIL
BEIJING AIRPORT
Sitting down on the airport, a redhead Korean was watching a small card on his left hand; the card was saying "Dear Mr. Hwoarang, the King of the Iron Fist Tournament is proud to invite you to enter this year Tournament, representing South Korea and Tae Kwon Do in this huge martial arts event. You will be staying in a five star Hotel in Okinawa archipelago, all expanses paid. We are counting on your participation so please enter your registration until 12 a.m. of the 19th of April in your Hotel."
Hwoarang had already ridden that card twenty times. He couldn't believe he was going to enter the famous Iron Fist Tournament. His mentor Baek Doo San had entered once too and now it was his turn to prove how strong he was. Hwoarang was also there because in the back of the envelope were the names of other participants and Jin Kazama was among them. He wanted a rematch against Jin more than anything else in the world.
Hwoarang saved his invitation and looked at his watch; he was waiting for a flight for almost two hours. Annoyed he got up and went to speak with the girl in the reception. The poor girl couldn't even explain the situation because she couldn't understand Korean. Finally, when everyone was looking at them, a girl with brown hair approached.
-'Can't you see she's not understanding a word?'-she asked in Korean.
Hwoarang turned to her and shrugged.
-'So? Who cares? I just want to know when I'll be out of this country! I'm sick of waiting!'
-'You could be polite…and try to ask her in English…'
-'Look…babe…no offence but did I ask for your help?'
-'You're being rude and that's unacceptable.'
-'Really?'
-'Yes.'
-'And what are you going to do about it? Sue me?'
The girl shook her head in disapproval and then the speaker announced the flight to Tokyo. Hwoarang left immediately.
Julia Chang couldn't believe she had met the rudest guy on earth. Her flight from the USA had a few technical problems, and they were forced to land in Beijing. Since her flight would only leave China in four hours she had bought a ticket to go on the next flight to Tokyo in a different Airline Company.
She was finding her seat when she dropped some papers she was holding. She bent down to catch them when she heard some steps behind.
-'Nice view…'-Hwoarang said watching her legs.
Julia recognised him immediately and she bushed. She managed to hide her embarrassment.
-'You're going to Japan?'-she asked.
-'Yep. You can go now…I'll behave.'-Hwoarang said in Japanese to the two security guards escorting him.
-'Why are you being escorted by them?'-Julia asked.
-'They thought I was a terrorist…'-Hwoarang joked.-'Are you going to sit down or what?'
-'Is this your seat?'
-'Yep. I'm right next to you, babe.'
Great, she thought, I guess I attract this kind of guys.
-'Don't look at me like that…'-he said.-'I didn't choose this seat.'
-'Yeah…I know…'
-'By the way, I'm not that bad…'
-'I can understand why they thought you were a terrorist.'
-'Hey…that's not fair. I was just forced to leave my first flight because I had a problem with the guy who was sitting next to me…that's all. But this time I'll behave.'
-Geez…I feel honoured…'-Julia said ironically.
-'I love you already…especially your sense of humour.'
Hwoarang woke up when the airplane landed in Tokyo. After that he had to take another flight to Okinawa. To his surprise Julia was also in his flight, but this time she preferred to have a seat away from him.
In Okinawa, they had to wait for the luggage that only arrived almost an hour later. Hwoarang was the first one to pick his bag and leave the airport. He arrived to the hotel and saw that it was almost deserted.
-'I'm here for the tournament…'-Hwoarang said to the reception man named Youmi.
-'You're the first one to arrive…you're early.'
-'Well…I didn't have much to do in Korea. Now do I have a room or what?'
-'Yes, sir…you do, number 129 in the fifth floor.'
-'Is there a bar in the hotel?'
-'Of course…down that hall.'
Hwoarang nodded and went to the elevator. When he was entering his room, Julia was arriving to the same hotel. She watched her invitation to check if that was the right hotel and entered.
-'God…what the hell did I put in this crap?'-Hwoarang asked throwing his bag to the bed.
After exploring the room, he decided to take a shower but when he opened his bag, his eyes saw a laptop and clothes that definitely weren't his.
-'Since when do I have a laptop?'
He took the computer and examined it, but then he saw the clothes: skirts, jeans and women underwear. He grabbed a white bra and a grin showed up on his lips.
-'Well…I guess I didn't take my bag…this obviously isn't mine…'
Hwoarang continued to search inside the bag, to see if there was something to identify its owner, but he couldn't find anything. Only some documents without names and some mini disks.
On the bag there was a small paper with the words "J. Chang."
-'Great…I took Jackie Chan bag…wait he's Chan not Chang…right?'
Finally, Hwoarang decided to phone the reception to ask the airport's phone number. He explained that he had switched his bag and he needed his things back as soon as possible.
-'I'll phone the airport for you Mr. Hwoarang.'-Youmi said.
Hwoarang accepted and hung up.
White underwear…she's probably twelve or something… he thought, still holding the bra Girls don't wear white anymore, unless they're little kids…but with this size…she can't be a kid, I guess she's shy or inexperienced…maybe I should meet her personally, I wonder who she is.
In the meantime, Julia was asking the same question after opening her bag. She noticed that it was lighter than it used to be.
What am I going to do now? Someone else has my laptop and all the documents referring to the genetic experiences made by Dr. Abel, that stupid old scientist who works for Heihachi Mishima. I need to get it back.
For its content, Julia knew that the bag she had belonged to a man, but there was no name on it, only a huge "H". Therefore she took it and went to the reception. Youmi, who was going to phone the airport, realised that probably Julia's bag was the one that Hwoarang had.
-'You're Miss Chang, right?'-Youmi asked.
-'Yes.'
-'Well…I guess I know where your bag is.'
-'Really?'
-'Yes. Mr. Hwoarang phoned me because he said he had brought the wrong bag from the airport. He said that the words "J. Chang" are written on it.'
-'That's my bag! Great…what's his name again?'
-'Hwoarang…'
-'Hwoarang what?'
-'Just that…'-Youmi shrugged.
-'Is it written with an "H"?'
-'Yes.'
-'Then I have his bag…where is his room?'
-'Number 129, it's on your floor, four rooms ahead.'
-'Thanks.'
Julia arrived to the room number 129 and knocked. After a few seconds she heard steps and the door opened. A redhead guy appeared suddenly, making Julia take a step back.
-'YOU!'-they both asked surprised to see each other again.
