Chapter 10: Every Rose Has Its Thorn

I couldn't show my face to Hwoarang after the over deal and hoped never to bump into him during the course of the competition. It didn't help matters when the media surrounding the tournament caught wind of the incident and branded me the new slut in the competition. Tabloids, Television and the Internet were openly discussing my supposed sexual escapades. You never know how vicious the media is until you're in the centre of it, especially for a woman. It's a sick double standard.

I keep myself busy, finding different places to train without the risk of anyone recognizing me. And in a spur of a moment thing, I got myself a tattoo. It was a thing that was on my mind for the past year or so, and it was a way to distract me. The tattoo was a rose vine on my back, just below my spatula and ended at the flank area.

Now that the tournament was officially underway, I received information about my opening round match. There was no information on who my opponent was, just the place where the fight would be held. I just prayed that it wasn't Hwoarang, Steve Fox or even my father. I couldn't bear to think any worse opponents for my opening match.

I had at least three hours before my fight, so I decided to get some cardio done. I jogged around the exclusive park that the fighters used. I covered up, wearing fitting tracksuit pants and an over-sized t-shirt, with my hair tied up in a bun. After running a few miles, I stopped to take a breather.

"Hey-heyy" A loud deep voice bellowed at me.

I really didn't want anyone to talk to me. I sighed heavily, turning over to see a colossal of a man with tanned skin and bald head. His presence was intimidating.

"Uhh... Hi?" I answered, trembling with my words.

"You're that chick, Viola Rose, aint ya?" His thick Australian accent became clear.

"Yes... Do I know you?" My disconcert showed in my voice and body language.

"I'm Marduk, Craig Marduk." When he introduced himself, he raised up his enormous hand over my chin to rub it. His eyes sparkled into mine, like he was trying to seduce me. "I hear you are a freak in the sack and I wouldn't mind getting a piece of that action, if you know what I mean."

My heart started palpitating in outrage, no wait, I don't think the word outrage was a strong enough word for it. I wanted to scream, how this man dare advance on me like I was some whore.

"I don't know what you've heard." I gritted my teeth, keeping my anger in check.

"Hey, no need for embarrassment, babydoll. I can pay ya, if ya need it." Marduk went into his pocket to reach out an Australian five dollar note.

At this stage, I wanted to cry in a fit of rage. This man is offering me money like some cheap hooker and with Australian currency. With my strength, I clenched my fist and connected to the side of his face.

"Fuck you, you asshole, I'm not a fucking hooker." I screamed out.

Marduk clutched his cheek, realizing that I knocked his nose in the process. He forcefully got into my face, staring at me with dead set eyes.

"You little cu—"

Before he could call me the worst possible insult in the book, a young American-Indian woman with long brown hair interrupted the argument.

"Back off, Marduk. Leave her alone, if you know what's good for you." The woman had her hands on her hips, unafraid of this savage person.

"I don't have time for this bullshit." Marduk recoiled, not before taunting me with a sexual gesture to get under my skin.

I lowered my head and screamed out in rage, pulling my hair. "...Fuck."

"Marduk can be like that, don't take it too personally. He has his own issues to deal with." The woman wrapped her arm around my back to my shoulder to calm me down. Her touch was comforting.

"Thank you..." A half-hearted smile formed on my face.

"My name is Julia, Julia Chang." Julia smiled back at me, extending out her hand to shake mine. I obliged with the handshake.

"I'm Viola."

"Oh, you're Lee Chaolan's daughter. He has told me so much about you." This time Julia didn't snicker like Steve Fox when he mentioned he knew my father. She still had that consoling smile on her face.

"Oh... that's great." I tried to sound sincere but there was a hint of sarcasm.

We both started walking at the same pace getting acquainted with each other. It was just what I needed, a strong female friend to get along with. I was so glad; it definitely reassured me from being the so-called slut around here. We talked for at least 20 minutes or so, until my peripheral vision caught site of Hwoarang in the distance.

My instinct was to hide but I didn't want to make Julia think I was some weird person. But I had to take the chance - Hwoarang could not see me. The only possible hiding place for me was the tree that was a few inches away from me.

"What are you doing?" Julia asked, dumbstruck of me sidestepping into a tree.

I waved my hands, raising my index finger to my lips to hush Julia.

"Pretend I'm not here." I whispered, standing still behind the tree.

Julia shook her head, still baffled to why I was hiding. I closed my eyes tight, thinking that would conceal me even more. Damn, I was being crazy.

"Ahem... Are you avoiding me?" The voice was Hwoarang's. He saw me behind this tree. Great hiding place genius, I thought to myself.

I opened my eyes to see Julia and Hwoarang standing there with their hands on hips amused by my comical behaviour.

"So, totally not..." I retorted with valespeak with a playful giggle.

"I guess you two have unfinished business, I guess I'll leave you guys to it." Julia sensed there was something more between Hwoarang and I and found it fitting to leave.

"No, please stay, we have NO business to finish off." I pleaded, grabbing Julia's wrist.

"Actually, we never did finish that 'business'." Hwoarang emphasised the word business, implying our last sexual encounter.

Julia laughed and shook her head. "You two settle it out and we can talk later, Viola."

I pouted watching Julia walk off, leaving me with Hwoarang.

"You can't keep avoiding me forever." I turned my attention to Hwoarang who smugly crossed his arms over his chest as he spoke.

I pressed my lips together, fighting the memory over being caught having sex. It was embarrassing and the worst part of it was that everyone knew our dirty deed, and I ended up branded the slut.

"It was equally embarrassing for me too." Hwoarang continued, now scratching the back of his head with uneasiness. "Baek reamed me and I still had my hard on."

I placed my hand over my mouth, to hide my growing laughter. The image of his mentor yelling at him, whilst having an erection was humorous.

"I'm sorry, I don't mean to laugh." I burst into laughter, much to Hwoarang's dismay. The thought was too much for me, I couldn't help myself.

"Laugh it up." Hwoarang impatiently insisted.

I took a deep breath to contain my laughter. I patted Hwoarang on the shoulder, feeling the tension between use ease. That story was something I needed to hear to make me feel better, even though it was at his expense.

"I told Steve afterwards and he ribbed me about it so I don't need to it from you too." Hwoarang sulked.

I tenderly smiled at Hwoarang. I covered my hands on the side of his face and leaned his face into mine, giving him a playful kiss. He put his arms around my waist, submitting to the kiss, entering his tongue into my mouth. Our lips parted and I softly pecked his forehead.

"I have a fight to get to; I'll talk to you later." I whispered into his ear, letting go of him.

"Yeah, we'll 'talk'." Hwoarang did quotation marks at the word talk, grinning at me.

"Don't push your luck." I pointed with coy smile, walking backwards and then jogging away into the distance.

My opening match in the tournament rapidly approached. I wore black shimmer Capri pants, black cropped three-quarter leather jacket with a purple bra underneath and gladiator style black boots. I entered the secret garden, filled with beautiful flowers and plants, concrete walls and a gate with gargoyle statues enclosed the area.

Whoever I was going fight did not arrive yet. I was at least 15 minutes early, so I expected my opponents absence. I wandered around the garden, looking at the various flowers and plants. I stopped to observe the garden violet bed. I ripped off a flower, inhaling the perfume scent. It gave me nostalgia, to when I was a child. I remember my mother telling me that she named me after these flowers. The memory filled my heart since I haven't had a memory about my mother in a long time.

I heard foot steps approaching, indicating that my opponent has arrived. I shifted, eagerly waiting to see my first challenger. The flower I had in my hand dropped down to the ground, when I discovered Jin Kazama standing in front of me.

All the people I could be facing, Jin never crossed my mind. This is the first time I met him in person and I was going to fight him. My luck certainly ran out – well actually, I needed luck in the first place before I could lose it.

Jin's flame printed hooded jacket covered most of his head, only a few strands of his bangs escaped from under. He was already in his fighting stance, ready to start the fight.

"Come on" He solemnly imposed.

I stepped into my fighting position with my arms guarding me. I fixated on Jin, his malevolent brown eyes bore right through me.

We circled each other, until I charged towards Jin, with alternating sidekicks. With some momentum I stepped up with an enzuiguri kick to Jin's temple. Jin crouched on the floor and immediately got back to his feet. I took my chance and jumped on Jin's shoulders, pushing him down to his back with my weight. I prepared myself and cyclone kicked Jin down the floor.

Before I could continue my series of moves, Jin lengthened his arm out, only for my mid-section to meet his fist. I clutched my stomach; I couldn't let that punch detour me. Jin set to uppercut me, but I did a back handspring to evade the hit.

We did a series of moves to each other, dodging each move. Jin caught me with a pivoting hip throw down to the floor. The move winded me, but I got right back up. Instantly I met the floor again when Jin hit me with a leaping side kick.

I was losing focus and the fight. Jin overpowered me, reversing every move I attempted with a blow of his own. My frustration grew, at myself and at him. I could taste blood coming from my mouth, I've been busted open. I did one last dash to Jin, only to be met with Mishima style double-faced kick.

My head was throbbing, telling me to admit defeat. My willpower was fading, my body was giving up. I lay on the ground, with my arms spread out. I surrendered.

Jin towered over me, with his arms crossed. I rolled my body over to get on my stomach, then gradually getting on my hands and knees.

"I hate you." I clamoured.

I hit the ground repeatedly with my palm, throwing a tantrum over my loss. Still on my knees, I sat on my heels, with my hands on my thighs.

"Never fight a battle if you plan not to gain anything from winning" Jin spoke with ascertain as truth before then turning away from me.

I watched Jin leave into the distance. Even though those words spoke the truth, my hatred still blinded me. I couldn't stand Jin Kazama, I hated him.

A/N: Thank you for the positive feedback for the last chapter. Most definitely awkward! Sadly things will only get worse for Viola before they get better. But hey, nothing can be all roses.