Disclaimer: I don't own Tekken.
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Chapter 34 – The Final Match Begins
29th APRIL
Jin was ready to face his grandfather on the "battle field", but there was still time to do something else. Jin had never been too good in speeches, but this time he had to do it. That's why he had asked Ling to meet him outside the hotel. When she arrived, Jin didn't know where to start.
-'You wanted to meet me?'-Ling asked surprised.
-'Yeah…I want to ask you something…what will you do once the tournament is over?'
-'I don't know…I'll go back to Tokyo. Miharu's probably dying to know what happened in the tournament. And I guess I'll have to go back to school. But, why are you asking?'
-'So, you are not going home?'
-'Not yet.'
-'Ok…Once the tournament is over, I'm going away. Julia will rescue her mother and I'm going to the USA with them…'
-'What? Why can't they help you here?'
-'It won't be safe for them or me.'
-'You can't leave like that! What about…me?'
Jin grabbed Ling's face and saw that she was almost crying.
-'I want you to come too.'
He had finally said it. Ling knew that he was serious about it, because his eyes weren't lying. Many young girls had always dreamed with a love declaration from their loved ones, but for Ling those words from Jin were enough for her to know that he cared about her. She couldn't be happier. Without even thinking, she hugged him and started crying.
-'If you come with me…there's no turning back. Heihachi will become your enemy too.'
-'We'll be together, right?'
-'Yes, I guess we will.'
-'Then, it's fine by me.'
-'I have to go now. The fight will start in a moment.'
-'Good luck!'-Ling kissed Jin's cheek and they both headed to the arena.
A few minutes later, Ling joined Julia and the rest of the crowd. Jin was already in the arena waiting for Heihachi to arrive.
-'Did Jin speak with you?'-asked Julia.
-'Yes, he did. He also said you're going to get your mother.'
-'Yeah…I just need Heihachi to see me here, so he won't suspect anything.'
-'I can help you. I'm a good fighter.'
-'I don't doubt that, but it's better if you stay here. Jin might need your support.'
In that moment, Heihachi arrived with a huge smile on his face. Jin clenched his fists. As soon as their names were announced, the fight started. Heihachi saw Julia and Ling together, yelling Jin's name and he felt sorry for them, because in his opinion there was no chance for Jin to win.
Five minutes later, Jin proved that Heihachi was wrong. He had escaped all his grandfather's attacks, leaving him furious.
In the meanwhile, Julia had left already to the forest. She only noticed she was being followed when she was watching the tekken forces' headquarters perimeter.
Hidden behind a tree, Julia waited patiently and when the steps were close enough, she pushed her persecutor and they both fell on the floor. On top of him, Julia put her arm on his throat and pressed it hard. Only then she realised who he was.
-'You?'-she asked surprised.
-'Do you mind? I can't breathe!'-Hwoarang said.
Julia removed her arm, but she didn't move.
-'What are you doing here? Are you stupid?'
-'I saw you leaving…and I have a pretty good idea of what you're going to do.'
-'That's not your problem!'
-'You're right…it's not. But I guess I was curious…'
-'Go back and let me do my job. I can't have you around me, do you understand?'
-'You're going to need help. There are too many guards.'
-'I don't need your help. Understand this: my mother is relying on me. I'm too close now and I'm not going to let you ruin my only chance!'
-'I don't want to ruin your big plan Chang. And I'm not leaving…ok?'
Julia consulted her watch and sighed. She didn't have any other choice but allow him to go with her. She had lost some precious time already.
-'Fine. If you want to risk your neck, be my guest! But I warn you that while we're inside, you'll do what I say without any questions. Is that clear?'
Hwoarang smirked and he rolled over her. Now she was the one lying on the floor.
-'I know that this is important to you…but I don't follow orders! I never did and I'm not going to start now. So lets go and get your mother, shall we?'
Hwoarang got up and helped Julia.
-'Lead the way, Miss Chang!'-he joked.
After a few seconds Julia easily jumped the fence when the guard disappeared behind a building. Hwoarang followed her quickly without a noise.
-'I guess you're better from your injuries…'-Julia whispered.
-'I told you…I heal pretty fast.'
-'Whatever.'
Julia stopped in front of a white door. There was some device on the wall and Julia pressed some buttons. The red light turned green, which meant they had clear access to enter.
-'Follow me and don't even breathe. We can't be caught!'
Hwoarang shrugged.
They followed a long corridor and in the end there were elevators: one to go up and the other to go down. Hwoarang was going to press a button when Julia grabbed his hand.
-'Are you stupid? We'll take the stairs. It's safer.'
-'Up or down?'
-'I think that my mother is probably kept downstairs…in the basement where the labs are.'
-'Then what are we waiting for?'
This time Hwoarang took the lead and when the arrived to the basement, they were in another corridor. There were rooms on both sides. Julia started opening the doors since she was sure that Michelle had to be in one of them. They searched for several minutes and Julia was losing her hope.
Back to the arena, Jin was now attacking. Heihachi was in a difficult position. Since the beginning of the fight, Heihachi had never managed to make Jin go to the floor. According to his plan, Jin would fall after ten minutes, and it had passed almost an hour since they had begun.
-'You have improved…'-Heihachi said trying a right punch that Jin blocked.
-'You shouldn't have underestimated me.'-Jin shot back.-'I'm not a kid anymore.'
Jin grabbed Heihachi's right arm and twisted it, but with his free arm Heihachi managed to hit Jin on the neck. Jin felt a sudden pain from the lack of air, but he recovered quickly. It was too late though, because Heihachi was already free again.
Jin took his fighting stance immediately. Heihachi seemed to be in sort of a trance. He couldn't believe that he had allowed Jin to grab him that easily. Jin attacked again and this time he performed a combo of powerful kicks that hit Heihachi several times in the chest.
The older man managed not to fall and before Jin could attack again, he ran at his grandson. This time, Heihachi was well succeeded and hit him with a kick on his knee. Jin lost his balance but didn't fall completely. He touched the floor with his left hand and used his right hand to block another kick.
Ling knew that the fight would be long. It could be frustrating for the audience and the fighters, but at least Julia would have plenty of time to rescue Michelle.
But first, Julia had to make sure she wasn't caught. Hwoarang had pulled her inside a dark room just in time. Outside, a man dressed in a military outfit was passing by.
-'Thanks.'-she said when the steps faded away.
-'Well, since we're inside, might as well see what's in here.'-Hwoarang said turning the lights on.
-'What if the guard returns?'
-'We'll turn it off and then we kick his…'
Hwoarang stopped when he noticed Julia's face. She was pale and shivering.
-'What?'-he asked.
-'Mother.'-Julia whispered.
Hwoarang turned back and saw a woman lying on the floor inside a cell. They both approached the bars and Julia started calling Michelle.
She didn't wake up.
-'They drugged her. Maybe she tried to escape and they had to take precautions.'-Julia said.-'We can't wait until she wakes up.'
-'I agree. But we don't have the key…'
-'We don't need a key, we need a code.'
Julia sat down in the only computer on the room and started searching. She had to find that code fast.
