Disclaimer: I don't own any parts of the Tekken franchise. All copyrighted materials belong to the appropriate owners. This is a non-profitable story, written purely for entertainment.

Tekken 5, Aftermath: The Unlikely Hero

.:A Tactless Tales Production:.

Chapter 4

Hwoarang's Exit Note…

Ling Xiaoyu sat on the steps of an extremely wide porch. Pretty pink and authentic brown stones were carved into the cream, marble staircase and veranda. She drew imaginary patterns on the smooth surface with her finger, loving the feel of its clean and cool texture. To her side, Panda just managed to fit her horizontal body on the broad step her mistress was sitting on, silent in her afternoon slumber.

She smiled and gently patted Panda's furry head. She certainly deserved the rest after the long day's events. Xiaoyu sighed, dropping her jaw to supporting palms.

After previously failing to recruit Hwoarang, she decided she'd give it a final try. The entrance of a well-known, Japanese, Tai-kwon-do dojo seemed like the best place to expect him. Not to mention the name Baek Doo San was printed on a metal plate attached to the brick wall at the peek of the staircase. But if he didn't arrive in the next couple of minutes, she would head back home.

The time span between King of Iron Fist Tournaments reached a minimum when the fifth was announced only two months after the fourth. Xiaoyu suspected that the reason Hwoarang hadn't returned to Korea was to be sure that another tournament wasn't just around the corner.

She caressed her red jacket's arms, up and down from shoulders to elbows. It was her least favourite weather. No sun and nothing to compensate for its presence but sinister drifts of calm, cold air. Few people, and even fewer cars, wafted passed her, uninterested or too busy or too frightened by the area, perhaps, to lend her their company.

She'd seen Hwoarang's master at the fifth tournament for the first time. But stories were her only evidence of his formidable fighting skill and of the profuse amount of respect he earned amongst fighters throughout the country. She didn't get a chance to actually face him in battle. That was a good thing, according to most.

In any case, that wasn't her primary concern. She wasn't sitting there waiting for him. She was waiting for his apprentice. Of who's time had just run out.

She turned to Panda and shook her awake. "I think we better get going."

'Wha…?' Panda yawned, rubbing the sleepiness from her eyes. 'Where do you want to go, Ling? I thought we agreed that this is our best bet for where he'd come first.'

Xiaoyu zipped her jacket fully shut, having had enough of being a subject to the cold. "You were right, Panda." She rose to her feet and stretched her arms as she failed to suppress a yawn. "We're wasting our time with him."

'Finally,' her bear companion agreed. She rose to her hind legs, towering over Xiaoyu's short height. Her paw comforted her worried shoulder. 'Don't be afraid. We'll find a way. We always do.'

Xiaoyu reached over her shoulder and placed her hand above Panda's own. The gesture was enough; she didn't need to say any more. Her brown eyes blinked, flames of courage raging within. "You're right, as always," she said confidently, still not turning around. "No 'boy-on-bike'is responsible for steering our fate. I'll do this without his help! He can drive himself straight into a devil, have his bike set on fire in an instant explosion and be thrown across the street, bruised and battered in the quietest hour of night before IEVER help him OR ask for his help!"

Not quite what she expected, but it was a much better attitude. Panda smiled.

Rumbling began to fade into their ears. They both turned in its direction, looking curiously at the last bit of the down-sloping road they could see.

Like the sun breaking surface to the horizon, a deep orange began to rise. Slowly, the figure drove into view. Goggles, green and carroty shirt, dark blue jeans … it was Hwoarang. Strapped above his waist was a pair of forearms. Someone was sitting behind him.

As soon as he caught sight of her and her bear, a smirk surfaced on Hwoarang's lips. She was so predictable. In a show of skill and confidence, he heightened his speed. Once a little further away from the steps of the dojo, he span his bike in a one-eighty, screeching tires against the gravel before coming to a halt and facing the direction he had just come from.

"Don't ever do that again," Asuka gritted in his ear before getting off the bike. She was so happy her legs had touched ground again, given the irresponsible driving habits of her driver.

Hwoarang proceeded to park his bike on the sidewalk. But before he could dismount the vehicle, Xiaoyu had already run down the steps and now stood right before him, once again, ready to plea her case, apparently. He decided he'd have a little fun and listen to what she'd have to say before he told her that he had already agreed to help Asuka, and therefore to help her too.

"Oh, you actually came! This is great. Please you've got to help me!" Xiaoyu said, not seeing Panda shaking her head in disappointment behind her. "You know that thing you wanted from me?" she whispered, looking over his shoulder to make sure his friend couldn't hear her. "I'll do it!"

"What?" Hwoarang's mouth hung open for a while.

ooOOoo

The lone soldier walked the deafening silent path, fearlessly, as some would say. His boots crushed tiny stones underfoot, leaving their morsels to drift with the sandy air. Apart from the sounds of his own footsteps, he could only hear the creaks of old, rusty screws to his far right, helplessly swinging a depreciated banner. The screw gave out, letting the banner crash from its drop to the wooden veranda of the closed pub.

It didn't unease him in the least. All the buildings in the ghost, western look-alike town were exhausted. And with the lack of any human presence at all, they were doomed to remain as-is.

The shins of his blue cargo pants were dirtied by the low gusts of sand. But that didn't bother him either. His mind was practically unconscious to his immediate environment. This was the way he preferred travelling. Any thoughts otherwise would be that of pure survival.

Feelings.

He had none. Not until recently. His human-side was on the verge of rebirth. Unfortunately, and auspiciously at the same time, the first feeling he re-developed was fear.

Suddenly, he stopped, echoes of his footsteps camouflaging in the soundless air. A sharp sensation had hit him. He knew nothing of what it was, except for the trace of life in its presence. Could somebody be ambushing him?

He turned around. There was nothing peculiar about the balls of hay blowing across the dirt road. He focused his optical sensors, zooming in and out the deserted area around him. He once again relied on his installed components. The human in him couldn't be trusted. It was dead.

All he could rely on was the android in him. Something was approaching … from behind, with hostile intent …

Sixty kilometres per hour, at one-eighty degrees, increasing velocity … plan of action, counter attack … intercept in five, four, three, two …

He pumped a fist and swung a speedy, right backhand. The attack was successful, catching the target in a crucial spot, dissembling it into shards of red and golden armour. He crouched and picked up a piece of the deceased, investigating its texture with a frown. It was definitely a familiar substance.

Numerous black swirls began to formulate in the cloudless sky. Several beings dropped from the vortex', landing all around him and enclosing him in their centre. Judging from the colour of their armour, they must've belonged to the same tribe as his recent attacker. He dropped the piece of rubble and stood up.

A slim figure, with shinier crimson boot and chest armour from the others stepped forward. Its green eyes shot at him. It reached for its back, drawing a green-beamed sword by the hilt. "I am Optima," it spoke in a metallic voice. "Senior General of the Manji Clan. Step down, Fury. I hereby place you under arrest."

Bryan Fury looked at the hundreds of them. Why did they want to arrest him? He didn't do anything wrong … did he? That thing he took down tried to attackhim!

He had a right to defend himself. He began to raise his hands, getting ready to plea his case when a loud, cracking sound exploded in his head. He fell knees first to the ground and covered his ears.

The Manji Clan agents watched their target suffer from the excruciating pain, they could only imagine. It served him right.

Fury's loud yells were suddenly silenced. Bits and parts of memories began to flow back into his head. He looked up to Optima.

"Please, you don't understand."

"It's too late for that." The leader of the gang ignored the watery eyes of the murderer and took battle stance. "Draw your weapons!" he ordered his men.

"But – ARGH!" Fury cried out as another ear-splitting shrill rocked his brains. Everything faded to black. Then, a couple of seconds later, everything came back, his entire vision hued by jade. He got to his feet and gargled an evil laugh at the top his lungs. "Come on!" he taunted them dangerously.

"ATTACK!"

ooOOoo

"Keep it down," Xiaoyu whispered angrily to Hwoarang. It was bad enough she felt forced to do this. She didn't want the whole world to know too. She leaned her head to his side, peeking behind him to see who it was that he came with. She still couldn't see the busty brunette's face from her position but the girl looked familiar, real familiar - not by her figure though, but by uniform.

Hwoarang spun around, attempting to catch a glimpse of what Xiaoyu found so interesting. It was Asuka she was staring at. When a wave in front Xiaoyu's face failed to break the concentration, he knew something was up. He reconsidered Asuka again, who was still pacing left and right from his alleged attempt to kill her (his driving wasn't THAT bad), and then he finally got it. An evil grin took to his lips.

He cleared his throat, and then in a deliberate, extremely exaggerated, loud voice said, "GEEZ! I know they're big Xiaoyu but can you please stop staring at Asuka!"

Asuka turned towards them immediately, brown hair whipping around. Xiaoyu was 'caught' by Asuka red-handed. Even though what Hwoarang said was wrong on so many levels, Xiaoyu found herself covering her mouth with both hands, partially hiding the red that formed on her cheeks.

When Asuka realised what Hwoarang was going on about, she began to blush too, though not as much Xiaoyu. She swung a small bag that was on the bike's parcel holder over her shoulder by the strap and made her way towards the highly embarrassed Xiaoyu and the laughing-like-a-maniac Hwoarang.

Asuka cleared her throat with a fist pressed against her lips. This was her signal for Hwoarang to introduce her to his shy friend.

Revenge had never been sweeter. After he finally recovered from himself, Hwoarang cleared his throat. "Ling Xiaoyu, this is Asuka Kazama. Asuka, this is Ling. She's special," he added to Asuka in a whisper.

The two girls shook hands, though Ling was looking down during the whole process. What a jerk, Asuka thought of Hwoarang, spewing out the poor girl's insecurities in such a manner. The world probably gave her enough grief as it was. Though this was the twenty-first century and bisexuality shouldn't have been frowned upon in Asuka's opinion.

"It's okay … to be … you know …" she said in a sincere, low voice.

"No!" Xiaoyu protested, feeling agitated by the silly snickers of Hwoarang beside her. "I'm not like that!"

"But…" Asuka started. "I was talking about him!" She pointed to Hwoarang.

"Oh … of course," Xiaoyu said, relieved.

Much to Hwoarang's disgust and irritation, the two girls began to giggle. He turned away, teeth grinding together from anger as he made his way up the stairs, only to be met halfway up by a chuckling Panda bear. He mumbled curses beneath his breadth.

From his pockets, he retrieved a key and unlocked the padlock keeping the long, black gate shut. The gate's wheels squealed dryly as he pushed it open, sending it gliding further than necessary to allow for the four of them to enter. "This way," he forced himself to say to the girls and the Panda.

The spacious lawn residing to the left of the curved, brick-laid path they walked was neatly trimmed, green sparkles twinkling in light of Asuka's appreciative gaze. Soft showers poured on the grass from the centred sprinkler. Asuka noticed the wall of colourful, flowering plants that outlined the furthest end of the pitch, and the small wired gate she assumed led to an equally attractive garden. Her strong will struggled to contain the emotion urging her to step all over the grass with her messy school shoes to breath a whiff of the beauty exhibited on the opposite side.

Next to heights, nature was one of her dearest addictions. Her father always told her she inherited this adore from the mother she never got to meet. Thus, a tender sadness tagged along whenever she experienced Earth's rare beauty. She kept her gaze on the meadow, taking it all in while simultaneously avoiding her companions' eyes, in fear of what they'd think should a past tear feel rebellious.

Being more of a suburban girl, Ling Xiaoyu was more captivated by the tall manmade structure before her. Its divine cream walls reached four stories into the sky; she derived, having counted how many rows of stained glass windows she could see. The mansion made her grandfather's 'hut' seem like a hut. "Wow…" she marvelled, wide eyes glittering. " … so big."

Hwoarang heard the little gasp of awe behind him and decided he couldn't pass the moment. "Xiaoyu," he sang as if scolding her. "What did I say about staring at Asuka?"

Xiaoyu hung her head in defeat. "Goodness, is that all you ever think about?"

Hwoarang rolled his shoulders impassively. Women, bikes and fighting were his most prominent passions. He didn't really care if he over did it. "I know I agreed to help you and all, but I'd think you'll agree that it's getting kinda late." The mauve sunset was proof of this. "I suggest we spend the night here, and leave first thing tomorrow morning. At the moment, we've only got one guest room available," he explained as they approached the front door. "Which, unfortunately, means two of us are going to have to share a room. I'd suggest Asuka takes the guest room and then me and --"

"Oh no you don't!" Xiaoyu intervened. That gigantic house and he's telling them there was only one room available? She knew him better than that. "I'm sure you can arrange something better. Otherwise, Asuka and I will take the guest room. Plus, you're forgetting about my Panda!"

Hwoarang raised an eyebrow at the bear walking leisurely behind her. "No I'm not," he argued. "If you had held your tongue for one more second and let me finish, I would've told you there's a big enough tub somewhere in the basement toilet." Wasn't it supposed to sleep outside anyway?

Xiaoyu struggled to keep Panda back as Hwoarang continued to walk on, unfazed.

"That was mean, even for you." The panda's grumbles had disturbed Asuka's peaceful admiration of the natural environment. Hwoarang simply titled his head, lowering his ear to one side as he continued to walk in front of them. She had yet to see a descent trait he possessed. In fact, she was beginning to question whether he had any at all.

"One of these days you're going to wake up and learn that you can only breathe your own pitiful scent for so long before it inevitably chokes you. But by the time you realise your existence prevails only in the dense confines of your own eternal solitude, it'll be too late, the world would've long forgotten about you."

For once, Hwoarang hadn't struck back with one of his smart comments. Xiaoyu didn't think anybody could silence the infamous loudmouth. He couldn't be taking it too well. She knew that his silence was far from a calm one. As much as she wanted to thank and congratulate Asuka publicly, she feared he would do something aggressive in retaliation. She simply patted Asuka on the back and let her smile speak the words for her. Asuka gleamed back and Panda had settled, probably also content.

When Hwoarang raised his head, the trio made out a cell phone in his grasp, pressed against his ear. "Alright, later then." He clicked on a button to end the call, pocketing the mobile device. "Um, sorry, what was that Asuka? Something about me waking up and realising you were next to me, breathing my scent?"

All three of the travellers sighed in chorus. "It's hopeless," Asuka submitted. Xiaoyu wasn't even sure of the meaning behind Asuka's words but she could feel the painful inconvenience of them being wasted.

Hwoarang span around to face his visitors, back against the tall, russet double door that was the main entrance to the house. His eyes jumped from one confused face to next. The three females quickly fell silent under his unexpected scrutiny.

"Why are you looking at us like that?" Asuka finally asked, starting to get worried.

"Yeah," Xiaoyu sounded just as curious. "And why are you blocking the door?"

He indulged in a long blink. When his eyes opened, there was a sense of solidity that wasn't apparent before. Even his shoulders seemed tense, and Xiaoyu noticed he had been standing as straight as she had ever seen him stand, with his arms folded across his chest. "Master Baek shouldn't have any objections to your stay, but I must warn you, he isn't one to be troubled by playful behaviour."

Xiaoyu wasn't sure if he actually deepened his voice, or if the slower pace just made it sound that way. "Okay?"

"You don't have to worry about us making noise if that's what you're getting at." Sure, Asuka was still a teenager and could be just as loud as one if she wanted to, but she would never drag that privilege into another's home, let alone a total stranger's. "We'll be good girls." She smiled sheepishly. "As long as you don't do or say any stupid, that is," she grinned threateningly.

That was exactly what discomforted Hwoarang. Under Baek's rule, any of his guests' mishaps were considered his responsibility. Whatever he did, he couldn't let them know this. It would give them too much power over him. Instead, he'd rather have them believe they were directly punishable for their own actions. "Don't misunderstand me. I'm saying this for your own good, not mine. Look, the sooner this night is over, the sooner we can head out tomorrow. Please, let's try and make this as uneventful as possi--"

The door suddenly swung backwards, subtracting its supportive stature from behind him. His spine met the welcome mat with a stifled thump.

His stare up into the familiar, narrowed eyes was hesitant. The skilfully trimmed goatee and moustache outlined the stagnant frown with a silvery glaze. Hwoarang rushed back to his feet, finding a place between Asuka and Xiaoyu. His arms were stationed by his sides as he lowered his head in respect. The two teenage girls also followed into bows while Panda lifted a paw over her chest and lowered her head as well.

"Ladies," he greeted with a slight nod before turning to Hwoarang. "You, you're not going anywhere until you can prove to me you're worthy," he stated, having overheard what the young Korean was saying to his visitors moments earlier. That's all he said before turning around, protruding ponytail whipping around to follow suit. "Oh, and welcome."

The girls assumed his last comment before striding deep into the dwelling was for them. "Whoa! You must have it hard, Hwoarang." Xiaoyu's grandfather was usually strict only during training sessions. She couldn't imagine what home life would be if he walked around all day with a frown plastered to his face.

"You have no idea." Hwoarang just hoped the three of them wouldn't worsen the situation.

ooOOoo

Bryan's slouching form panted heavily at the centre of destruction. The Manji Clan forces were reduced to thousands of scattered body parts. Thick globs of crimson gravy were splattered against the standing components of the ancient shops and bars' broken walls. The dusty air carried the fresh scent of death to his nose.

And it affected him.

He dropped to a knee, hand over his burning chest. His eyes moved from one disfigured body to another, a chilliness stabbing at his gut as he surveyed the disintegrated area.

"D-did I do this?"

The answer to the question was what frightened him most. He knew it was him, even if he couldn't remember doing it. Pretending otherwise was always a temporary solution, but it couldn't avoid his conscious forever.

There was only person who could cure his satanic spasms of fury. He struggled to his feet. If he didn't find him soon, the whole country, world eventually, would fall by his hands. Thus, with another staggering step forward, his journey continued.

End of Chapter 4