DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything having to do with the Tekken series.
Chapter 7: Love, then Guilt, then Love Again
Xiaoyu's eyes flung open, and her breathing was sharp.
Hwoarang groaned tiredly, "You okay?"
She looked up at him, and snuggled closer to him in the bed "Mmhmm." She replied unconvincingly, pulling his other arm around her.
He smiled slightly, rubbing her thigh "You're still a bad liar. What was it about?"
It took her three seconds before she responded, "I don't remember. I woke up so suddenly."
He gently kissed her head "Come on, we should be getting you home now."
She nodded, clutching the sheet tightly against her chest as she sat up "Wher-"
"I'll be back." He said, pulling his jeans up and disappeared out the door.
Xiaoyu tapped her chin looking around his plain room, wishing she could remember her dream. Suddenly, she felt a surge of panic drowning her like a tidal wave. She crawled out of bed quickly, unconcerned with the clothing issue and ran to the door. She ran into Hwoarang when she opened it.
Hwoarang nudged her back inside and closed the door behind him "You know, normal people wear clothes in public." He joked, handing her the fresh-out-of-the-dryer uniform.
She grinned, instantly forgetting all of her fears "That was sweet, but you didn't need to-"
He neutrally shrugged, "Yeah well, I did. Get dressed."
She childishly stuck her tongue out at him.
He smiled and pulled her close "Did the boogieman try to kidnap you?"
She shook her head against his warm, bare chest and mumbled "I just wanted to know where you were." She thumbed at the belt loops of the jeans that clung loosely to his body.
He ran his hands up her arms and stop at her shoulders "Hey,"
She looked up, eyes sparkling innocently.
He kissed her once and went to go change his clothes. After he finished getting dress, he turned around while combing his hair out of his eyes.
Xiaoyu had watched him, speechlessly just standing there at first. "Wow." She muttered, blushing slightly.
"Wow what?" he asked, lacing his boots, and then standing to his feet to take her hands.
She pressed her body against his, touching him through his jeans "This isn't the only thing of yours that's godly."
He laughed, "Thanks, I guess."
"I am so not joking, you're flippin' hot." She blushed, clinging to his fitted white tee shirt and slightly embarrassed of her blatant 'teenie moment'.
He laughed harder and shaking his head and swiped his keys on their way out.
"I can pull up in front of your house." He offered.
"No, that's alright. Grandpa might hear your motorcycle." She climbed off and played with her finger nervously "Um, I had fun today."
He smiled "Other than the heart attacks I suffered," he paused thoughtfully, "I had fun too."
Xiaoyu's felt slight flutters as she hugged him "Goodnight, Haneul."
He kissed her hair "I'll pick you up tomorrow, 'night."
She walked backwards a few steps and waved to him.
He leaned on his handlebars as he watched her run up to her door.
"Grandpa, I'm home!" she locked the door behind her.
He was sitting in the dining room, staring at a cooling dinner.
"Sorry I'm late." She pouted and took a seat across the table from him.
"Xiao, are you alright?" he asked.
Her eyes shot up to him "What do you mean?"
"You're always coming home late, and you seemed more exhausted these days."
She exhaled a heavy sigh, lazily stabbing her food with her chopsticks "School really sucks. …It's just not the same."
Xiaoyu tiredly climbed the stairs and shut her door behind her. She slid down it crossing her arms on top of her knees. It killed her to see how sad she made her grandpa when he thought she was in pain. In reality she was doing pretty well. Other than the fact that she probably had a few cracked ribs and wouldn't be able to wear a bikini for a few weeks. She changed into her nightclothes. She gasped after she realized she left her books at Hwoarang's apartment. She quietly crept downstairs and picked up the phone. "Hey, it's me."
"What's up?" he sounded like he had been asleep.
"Sorry, I know this sounds really stupid, but I left my books at your house and I really need to get my homework done-"
"I'll see you in about ten minutes." He said curtly.
"Here's your big emergency." He climbed through her window, and handed the bookbag to her. Then chuckled to himself, looking at her then at her pink and white panda styled pajamas.
She glared at him, "Thank you, and goodnight again."
"Aw, come one, if you saw me wearing somethin' like that you'd do the same thing." He sat down on her bed, folding his arms behind his head.
Xiaoyu looked at her schedule for Monday and growled "Errgh, I hate math."
"Just carry the one." He grinned widely, motioning for her to come lay down beside her.
"That's not funny, I really suck at it." She pouted, snuggling into the nook of his arm.
"Master Baek showed me some tricks that make it easier if you want help." He closed his eyes.
She closed her eyes too "Don't get too comfortable."
"Do you really want me to crash my pretty little motorcycle?" he joked, yawning slightly.
"Hmn, yeah," she said incoherently "I mean no… I just…"
Yeah, yeah, I know; this chapter was way short and there was no point to it. I really just didn't want to cram a whole bunch of new topics and stuff all into one chapter like I normally do.