"Hidden Within"
Chapter 14 – "Insight and Exchange."
The boat to Japan's mainland docked, and these soon to be and seasoned Tekken fighters walked down off the ship to reunite with their loved ones and go home. Hwoarang looked around, hoping to maybe see Julia somewhere; however, he saw nothing. He wanted to get to her before Baek did, in hopes of salvaging his relationship with the woman he supposedly loved… He was regretting getting involved with that Bimbo Christie but he couldn't help himself… Maybe Julia wasn't the one for him…Nah, couldn't be… besides…She'd probably forgive him… He thought humbly to himself.
After a short walk home, with Baek still bitching him out, they were home… Something seemed off as they approached. Baek smiled and sighed with relief and happiness to be home again. As Hwoarang and Baek approached the door, a tall man with Raven locks stepped in the doorway. Baek stepped back.
"Kazuya?!" Baek said with surprise. Hwoarang already wanting to pick a fight with him, just because he looked like Jin…only older.
"Doo San…" Kazuya said…"Come with me…" Kazuya motioned him inside, flat out ignoring Hwoarang… Baek followed Kazuya into his own home and into the kitchen, where Jin and Julia sat. Hwoarang stepped around the corner.
"Kazama?! Julia, get away from him!" He said, his light eyes wide with worry, now knowing he stood no chance at saving this so called relationship…but would Julia abandon him that fast?
"No, Hwoarang…" She said firmly.
"What?...I mean.. How?..." Before Hwoarang could make an ass out of himself, Baek grabbed his shoulder and sat him down…
"Sit…" Baek said, before turning his attention to Kazuya.
"What is this all about, Mishima?"
"Ask her…and she'll tell you…" Kazuya nodded to the door as Jun Kazama stepped in... They all turned and looked in her direction as she stepped in beside Baek…Looking up to him.
"And where is Michelle Chang?"
Michelle came down from up stairs…
"What's going on? Who are these-…" She sent Kazuya a glare.
"You!" She exclaimed, ready to tear into him, but Jun's hand on her shoulder stopped her.
"First… I will confess that I've made a terrible mistake…and to you…." She looked to Jin…
"My son… I am truly sorry…" Hwoarang looked at her, and piped up, but she stopped him.
"Sssshhhh…." She closed her eyes, holding her hands in front of her heart… Soon there was a blinding light, which dimmed, before everyone was mentally reliving what had happened at this very dojo on that awful night. The rape, the fighting, and the truth. As for Lee and Nina, they too were both stopped by this bright whiteness as this insight was exposed to them, and afterward, they simply looked at one another…
"You were right, Lee…" Nina said, with a totally bewildered look in her wide blue eyes… Lee nodded, before catching her up in his arms in a tight embrace. Meanwhile, Hwoarang looked angrier than he had before… Not only did Jin kick his ass twice, but stole his woman… Even though he knew he was probably going to lose her anyway, it didn't matter…it meant revenge on Kazama. He looked at Jin, his aqua eyes narrowing and his nostrils flared. Those teeth were clenched so tightly, one could hear the cracking of bone in his mouth.
"Damn you, Kazama…" He grumbled through clenched teeth before dropping his bag and diving over the table tackling Jin. Jin and Hwoarang hit the floor with a thud, breaking the chair Jin had been sitting on. Julia stood up with a yell as Hwoarang drew back.
"No!" she yelled, before Jin grabbed Hwoarang's right knee, tossed him off and stood up quickly. Hwoarang moved in for a sweep kick, sending Jin to the floor again. The hot headed street fighter sprung up onto his feet, raising that deadly high heel, aiming for Jin's neck, Jin throwing his forearms up in a crossed block and bracing himself as that foot came down; however, the heel was stopped in mid air buy the top of another foot. Baek Doo San.
"Enough, Hwoarang!" He exclaimed, as Hwoarang sent Baek a glare.
"You dare stand in my way, Old Man?"
"It would be best if you leave my home now!"
"Heh… You're on the list too then…" He jerked his foot away and shoved through the rest of the group. He would get his revenge at the tournament, and only there would he have his chance to kill…
Julia catered to Jin, checking to see if he was all right, as Jun looked up to Kazuya, as if asking him if she did well, which he answered her questioning gaze with a nod, before he stepped closer to her…
"Let's go home… It's safe there…" He placed a hand on her back, and started to steer her out the door. Michelle sat down at the table with her face buried in her hands, which Baek was there immediately to comfort her, even though nothing could be said.
Jin got to his feet, Julia standing beside him. He looked down to her with those large, sincere, dark eyes of his, placing a gentle thumb on her cheek…
"Let's go…" is all he said to her, speaking softly of course. After realizing what happened here, she was glad to get out of this building. She followed Jin's lead as they all left, parting ways in pairs with this awful gloom hanging over everyone. Jin made up his mind he would protect Julia at all costs…Hwoarang was not going to get a second strike at Julia…what happened to her in the first place shouldn't have happened, had he just gotten there sooner. He refused to regret this now, considering now was his time with her. He glanced over to her face, while her honey brown eyes gazed downward; she looked as lost as he felt. Once they were a good distance away, he stopped her.
"Julia Chang" His Japanese accent ringing through strongly with that deep voice of his…
"Yes Jin?" She asked, as she turned to him.
"I'm…" He just totally lost it as he dropped to his knees in front of her, holding both of her hands, gazing up at her as if begging forgiveness…
"So sorry…" Her eyes went wide as she gazed down at him, nearly seeing the tears welling up in his dark glossy eyes. He looked away and pressed his cheek into her lower stomach, hugging her thighs as he did. How could he have let such an awful thing happen to someone he loved…
"Jin… You did nothing wrong…" She stroked his black locks of hair, her brows knitting together out of confusion…
"What's there to be sorry about?" She asked, honestly not sure what was wrong with him…was she missing something?
"I should have been there faster…I should have been faster, and stronger to protect you…"
Her heart sank as she was crushed by his words…
"Oh no, Jin…" She dropped to her knees in front of him, cupping his face in both of her hands.
"Jin… it wasn't your fault…you did what you could, and nothing can change that…" Her brows rose in a hopeful expression and she attempted to force a white smile, but it was weak. He looked at her with this sad puppy face, but it was genuine. He blinked…
"Forgive me, Julia Chang…" He lowered his head in shame.
"I forgive you, Jin." She said with no hesitation, which he perked up at this, his hands coming up over her hands on his cheeks, relishing the feeling of her hands against his skin. They knelt there together, holding one another. It seemed as though their spirits had been bruised as well as their feelings.
Dr. Briggs had experienced the white light as well; however, it didn't seem to faze him much, but his main guard, Bryan Fury seemed to be pretty upset over losing Nina, though he dare not show it unless he was behind closed doors, but Briggs knew better than to assume he was fine. Yoshi and Kuni weren't affected by it either, which was to be expected, but they kept an eye on Bryan, making sure he didn't follow up on his name and have a fit of Fury. They didn't want him breaking things…
Hwoarang walked quickly, but with nowhere to go. He smiled to himself, even though his eyes said something totally opposite of happiness. It was ALL Kazama's fault. It had to be, there was no other way of looking at it. Loosing himself in his thoughts he didn't see a wide right hook swing out and pop him in the nose. He stumbled back, cupping his face with a muffled holler and grumble while his watering eyes focused on the blonde, with spiky hair. Steve Fox.
"You're the one who stole Christie from me in the first place…Grah!" Steve growled and swung into the red head with a powerful left upper cut.
Hwoarang was lifted off the ground and thrown back by the potent, heart-filled thrust, and landed on his back with a bounce. He groaned, and slowly sat up. Those aqua pools glanced up to see Steve moving in for a downward blow, before Hwoarang rolled to his right, and spun around on his back as if it were a turtle shell, and planted one foot after another into Steve's back, sending him face first into the dirt, while Hwoarang rolled backward and sprung to his feet. Steve quickly got to his feet and turned around; throwing his hands up to block the series of differently angled and aimed kicks from Hwoarang. Eventually, Hwoarang finally made contact with Steve's neck in the crook of his right foot, and from there, Hwoarang shoved Steve's upper half down onto the ground, and brought that same foot back down with an axe kick to Steve's back. Fox cried out, clenching the dirt in his hands as he did. Hwoarang could have killed him right then and there, but it was bad enough the Korean Military was after him…he didn't need the Korean Police after him too. He pulled his foot back and spat on Steve, before he turned walking away. Steve was another on Hwoarang's list…
Mun Note…
Well, here's another chapter…I'd still like to hear from the rest of you, and as for the first review from the one known as…"Niveus", I am building up to what looks like several battles between Hwoarang and Jin.
I was trying to dodge having to write out the Tournament, but it seems like its going to be a necessity, which I don't mind so long as everyone enjoys it! Again, I would still like to hear your opinions on the fic, this chapter, and your ideas for future scenes. Thank you!
-Verity
