Disclaimer: I don't own Tekken.
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Chapter 37 – A New Enemy
While Julia was waiting to see Hwoarang's body hit the floor, something happened and made Jin stop. In Julia's opinion it was useless to fight against Jin, so she just closed her eyes. But Ling didn't want to fight anymore. She was in front of him, and without hesitation she hugged him. He released Hwoarang and stood in silence, while his tattoos disappeared.
Slowly Julia got up and went to check on Hwoarang, who was unconscious. In the meanwhile, the Chinese young girl was trying to hold her tears, but soon she gave up.
Watching Jin attacking Hwoarang and Julia had given Ling some kind of strength that she had never imagined she could possess. She couldn't just sit back and watch Hwoarang and Julia being killed. Besides, she knew that Jin would never forgive himself if he killed them. Ling had risked her won life in the process, but at least Jin was now returning to normal.
-'Jin…come back to me…please.'-Ling whispered, hugging him tightly.
-'Xiaoyu…'-that was all that Jin could say before falling down on the floor, unconscious.
Ling fell on her knees and felt Julia's hand on her shoulder.
-'You did it…you stopped him.'-Julia said relieved.
-'Will he be alright?'-Ling asked.
-'I think so…but don't worry, my mum will help him.'
Hwoarang recovered his senses and sat down. He was feeling a bit dizzy.
-'What happened?'-he asked.
-'Ling saved us.'-Julia said.
-'What about him?'-Hwoarang pointed to Jin.
-'He'll be back to normal. We have to get out of here before Heihachi wakes up.'-Julia announced getting up.
-'Shouldn't we help Heihachi?'-Ling asked watching Heihachi's body.
-'His men will come back soon. Lets just take Jin and go.'-Julia suggested.
In silence, Ling and Hwoarang took Jin and followed Julia. They walked several minutes before arriving to the hotel. To avoid people, they went to the underground garage and took the elevator. Jin was taken to Ling's bed to rest for a while.
-'I think we have an hour until Heihachi is totally recovered. Now that Ogre was defeated I don't know if he still wants Jin…but I think we should go to the States as soon as possible.'
-'Shall I pack my things?'-Ling asked.
-'Yes. And you should go to his room and pack his things as well. Let him rest until then…'
-'What are you going to do?'-Ling asked again.
-'I'm going to see if there's a flight that we can catch in an hour or so.'
Julia and Hwoarang left and Ling started packing immediately.
-'You weren't lying…there are demons…'-Hwoarang said suddenly.
-'Fortunately for us Jin was strong enough to win this battle.'
-'Yes. But what the hell is he? Is he human?'
-'Jin has an uncommon gene in his blood. That's why he loses control of his actions…but I think we can help him.'
-'That's why you're all going to the States, right?'
-'Yes. My mum can help Jin.'
-'Well…I guess I'll have to wait until he returns…I still want to fight with him.'
Hwoarang and Julia were talking outside her room. Then, she decided that she had to thank him properly.
-'Come on in.'-she invited.
A few minutes later, Julia had spoken with someone from the G Corporation and she was informed that Michelle was fine. Then she booked three air passages to Arizona.
-'Now lets take care of your arm.'-she said sitting down next to him.
-'It's just a scratch.'
-'It's the least I can do for you…'
-'What do you mean?'
-'I was wrong about you. I thought you were just some self-centred idiot…but you helped me and my mother…'
-'Most of the times I am a self-centred idiot…but that was the only way to survive in the streets…'
-'Why did you help me?'
-'I have no idea…By the way, what's the G Corporation? Do you investigate people often? I saw my criminal record on your bedside table.'
-'Well…I had to know who you were. At first I thought you were a spy working for Heihachi.'
-'I look good in the picture…is that why you kept my profile?'
Julia blushed a bit.
-'The G Corporation is a research institute. We do all kinds of research. I'm working on a reforestation project.'
After putting a bandage on Hwoarang's arm, Julia took a piece of paper from a drawer and gave it to him.
-'I think you should go to the hospital to check your ribs…'
-'What's this?'
-'It's your reward…you don't help anyone unless you receive something in return, right?'
Hwoarang watched the check on his hand. It was a large sum of money to refuse.
-'Well…I better go now…'-he said, putting the check on his pocket.
Julia watched the door close and shook her head. Honestly, Julia Chang, there are so many men out there and you've fallen for a Korean outlaw…how pathetic can you be?
Ling had just returned from Jin's room when she noticed that he was opening his eyes.
-'Are you ok?'-she asked.
-'I don't know…I feel tired. What happened? Where are we?'
-'In the hotel…you passed out after the tournament and Heihachi took us to his Headquarters. When the jeep stopped you woke up and left…'
-'I faced that beast, didn't I?'
-'Yes and you won.'
-'Did I hurt anyone else?'
Ling lowered her eyes and didn't answer. It didn't seem right to tell Jin that he had tried to kill his friends. But she couldn't lie to him either.
-'It was nothing serious.'
-'Then what are those marks on your neck?'
-'This? It was nothing…I'm fine. Soon we'll be with Julia's mother and you'll be cured.'
That seemed to cheer Jin up a little bit. He took a quick shower and dressed properly, since they were going to the airport and his clothes were quite filthy.
-'You're the strongest man on earth now…'
Jin knew she was talking about the Iron Fist. He had won the tournament.
-'Where's Heihachi?'
-'In his Headquarters, I think. He was unconscious when we left.'
-'Are you ready to leave?'-Julia asked coming in.
Jin and Ling got up and grabbed their bags. Silently they all left the hotel.
The taxi took only fifteen minutes from the hotel to the airport. There weren't too many people there. After the check-in, Julia went to buy something to eat while they were waiting.
-'So where are we going exactly?'-Ling asked.
-'Arizona…my homeland. We live in a reservation; I think you'll like it.'
Finally it was time to go and leave that island behind. When they were almost at the gate, someone called Julia's name.
-'Isn't that Hwoarang?'-Ling asked surprised.
-'Is he coming too?'-Jin questioned.
Julia was also surprised.
-'What are you doing here?'-she asked.
-'I forgot something…'
-'Jin is not going to fight! Just forget about it and move on with your life, ok?'-Ling said all of the sudden.
-'Well…Pigtails, I do want a rematch with that jerk, but since you're going to be busy for a while, I'll just wait…how's that?'
-'Um…that's…better…I guess…'-Ling confessed.
-'Great, now be a good girl and go help your boyfriend to put his seatbelt. I'll see you around.'
Hwoarang put a hand on her head as if she was just a kid and smiled at her. Ling smiled too, she knew now that Hwoarang was somehow a good guy.
-'Thanks for your help…'-Ling whispered.
Jin and Hwoarang looked at each other for a while. Julia stayed behind though she didn't know what Hwoarang could possibly want.
-'I really have to go.'-she announced.
-'Ok…I just want to give you this.'
Julia took the check back and looked at Hwoarang amazed.
-'But this is yours…you deserve it.'
-'I still ignore why I helped you and that jackass…but I know that I didn't do it for money. Besides, if I need money I can rob a bank…I'm an outlaw, remember?'
-'But this is clean money…I gave it to you because you helped us. Just take it.'
-'I don't want it…'
-'If that's your decision…'-Julia put the check back in her pocket and turned around.
-'Wait!'-Hwoarang asked.
-'What now?'
Hwoarang pulled her and placed a kiss on her lips. Julia froze.
-'I almost forgot about my true reward…I'll leave the rest for the next time we meet. See you around Chang.'
With this, Hwoarang left, with his hands on his pockets and a smile on his face.
-'Is everything alright?'-Ling asked when Julia sat down next to her.
-'Next time I see that guy…I'm going to kill him!'-Julia said, but her heart was telling her the opposite.
Hours later, Julia, Jin and Ling were arriving at the reservation where Julia lived. Michelle was going to stay in the Hospital for 24 hours and Julia decided to clean the house a bit for her arrival.
She took Jin to the guest room and ordered him to have some sleep, since he looked really tired. Ling decided to stay awake with Julia to help her.
-'My mum doesn't see this house in ages…I want her to feel at home again…'-Julia confessed.
-'I'm sure she will.'
Things had been hard for Julia after Michelle's disappearance, but she had never given up on hope.
Twenty-four hours later, Michelle was finally home again. Jin and Ling watched this happy moment for both American women and waited a few minutes. Though Julia had told them that Michelle wasn't her real mother, Jin and Ling were now finding that very hard to believe. When Michelle noticed them, they both bowed.
-'So…I finally meet Jin Kazama…'-Michelle started.-'I think I know why you're here…but first I need to know what happened in the tournament…'
All four of them sat down around the table and Julia started to talk about what happened. How she had met Jin and Ling, their plans to rescue her, the final bout between Heihachi and Jin and finally how they had managed to get her out of Heihachi's Headquarters.
-'While Hwoarang was taking you to the G Corporation's agents, I was watching Jin's fight with Ogre. He won and we're finally free from that beast.'-Julia said.
-'I never thought you could win…Ogre was a very powerful creature.'-Michelle announced.-'It looks like you're even stronger than Heihachi thought you were.'
-'I wasn't me…It was the devil inside of my body that made me fight.'-Jin confessed.-'I can't control myself when I'm in that state…'
-'I know that.'-Michelle declared.-'But it is thanks to you that Ogre is finally dead and no more fighters will die.'
-'But what about me? I'm dangerous too…'-Jin said feeling helpless.
-'You're a very special boy, Jin…believe me.'
Jin looked at Michelle with a narrow look. He had never thought about himself as being special. His mother had told him that once, but he didn't take it seriously.
-'How can we get rid of it?'-Ling interfered.
-'I'm afraid you can't.'-Michelle said. Julia, Ling and Jin were surprised.
-'What? Are you sure…but all the research you did about the devil gene…'-Julia started.
-'I'm sorry…Jin's case is unique…'
-'How?'-Ling asked.
-'Well…there are a lot of people who were possessed by demons all over the world, but in your case, you were born with it.'
-'But that's not relevant, is it?'-Jin asked.
-'Yes, it is. When your father sold his soul to the Devil, he won unlimited power…that's how he managed to win the First Iron Fist Tournament, leaving Heihachi almost dead. After that Kazuya became a threat to the society. That's why I entered the Second Iron Fist Tournament…'
-'Why didn't you kill him?'-Jin asked.
-'I'm strong, but I'm not strong enough to kill the devil…besides, I thought that your mother could save Kazuya. He changed when he met her. His human soul was trying to return. Kazuya loved Jun…I'm sure about that…'
-'Why couldn't Jun save him?'-Julia asked.
-'She tried her best…things didn't go as she had planned, but the Devil also lost a battle. The Devil never thought that Kazuya's feelings were so deep. When you were conceived, a half of his powers were transferred to you…because of Jun he weakened and Heihachi won that tournament…but now that Ogre is gone and Heihachi is out of the game, the Devil will return to get his powers back.'
-'That means he'll go after Jin…'-Ling said feeling worried again. She thought everything was going to return to normal.
-'Unfortunately…it can be now or in a few years…but Kazuya will return.'-Michelle assured.
-'In that case, I'll be ready to defeat him…if I defeat him, I'll be free, right?'-Jin asked.
-'I don't know…maybe. You need to control that power and don't let Devil control you.'
-'That's easy to say.'-Jin said.
-'How did you return to normal after Ogre was defeated?'
-'I…don't remember…'
-'It was Ling…'-Julia said suddenly making Ling blush.
-'Ling?'-Michelle and Jin asked surprised.
-'I…just…I was worried about Jin and I decided to call him back to us…'
Jin was a bit embarrassed too. He didn't remember what had happened.
-'In that case, I guess you better stay together…if this girl is capable of bring you back to reality, she must be able to help you to control the Devil's powers. After that you may have a chance to defeat Kazuya, and maybe save him too.'
-'Save Kazuya?'-Jin asked.
-'Yes…deep inside Kazuya is still your father and he still has a human soul. He's being controlled because you can't just ignore a pact with the Devil…'
Michelle's words were still echoing in Jin's mind that night. But he had already decided to go back to Japan. He would wait until Kazuya's return and he would try to save him, because that was his only chance to save himself and have a normal life.
The only problem was Ling; he didn't want to put her life in danger. Michelle was quite clear about Ling's role in his future. She was the only person who could help him to maintain his self-control. But he couldn't ask her to be with him in those circumstances.
A week later, Jin and Ling were back in Japan. They had decided to go and confront Heihachi. Without Ogre, Heihachi didn't need Jin's blood anymore, that's what they thought.
-'Hi Taka…is everything alright?'-Ling greeted when they both arrived to the Mishima mansion.
Taka was surprised to see them.
-'Mr. Mishima said you weren't coming back.'-she said hugging Ling.
-'I guess he was wrong…'-Ling said.
-'Is he home?'-Jin asked.
-'Yes.'
Ling was more nervous than she thought. What would they say to Heihachi and what would Heihachi say to them?
-'Do you mind if I talk to him first?'-Jin asked.
-'Ok…I'll wait outside.'-Ling sighed as soon as he entered in Heihachi's office.
Heihachi and Jin stood several minutes in silence. Heihachi didn't seem too injured from their fight.
-'Did you have some fun?'-Heihachi finally asked.
-'Not at all…But I got some answers.'
-'Good for you.'
-'I know you wanted my blood from the beginning, and I know why you wanted it…'
-'Then you also know that because of you my plan has failed.'
-'Yes. I want your word in that you won't try to harm Julia and Michelle Chang.'
-'Well…I don't need Chang anymore and I don't need your blood either but I do need an heir. Although you betrayed me, I still accept you in this house.'
-'I want a house of my own. But I want Xiaoyu to stay here in the mansion…'
-'Is Xiaoyu here?'
-'She's outside.'
-'She's welcome here too…besides, I will travel in the next month so I won't be around.'
-'That's fine by me. The least I see you, the better.'
-'How rude of you. I'm still your grandfather.'
-'You tried to kill me, you killed my father, you were responsible for my mother's death, you kidnapped Michelle Chang and tried to kill her daughter, you set Ogre free and you wanted to rule the world…I'm not being rude, I'm being nice…'
-'Whatever…just call Xiaoyu I want to talk to her.'
In the end of the day, Ling was again a guest in the Mishima mansion. She was going to stay two more years to finish High School. She was going to send the money that Jin had given her to her grandfather Jinrei and she was determined to help Jin in his next fight. This time he would have to defeat his own father and Ling knew that difficult times were coming ahead, but until then, they had to wait.
-'So…what are you going to do?'-Ling asked Jin when they were in the balcony after dinner.
-'I'm staying here tonight, but I'm moving out tomorrow.'
-'Moving out?'
-'Yeah…it's an apartment two blocks away from here.'
-'Why?'
-'I don't want to be under the same roof as the man who destroyed my family.'
-'I guess that's fair enough…but you better don't disappear Jin Kazama…or I will hunt you down for sure.'
-'Don't worry…I won't…'
-'Good. You need my help and I'll always be here for you.'
-'I still think that you should go back to China.'
-'I won't go, because now I know my destiny.'
-'Really?'
-'My destiny is to stay by your side as long as you need me…'-Ling said.-'If you want me to, of course…'-she added a bit embarrassed.
Jin was silent for a couple of minutes and Ling prepared herself to go back inside.
-'I do…'-Jin said holding her hand.-'I do want you to be by my side…'
Ling smiled at him.
-'Then we'll be together…always. You promise?'-she hugged him.
-'I promise.'-Jin kissed Ling's forehead and felt that for the first time in his life he believed that he was strong enough to win all the battles ahead, as long as she was by his side.
THE END
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