Disclaimer: I don't own Tekken

A/N: Hello. Thank you for coming by, and thank you for reading. Well, this is the next to last chapter. I know; it's come a long way. This chapter is Hwoarang and Lili centered, so Sei Honou, Angle-Kira, and others, this is for you. I hope you all enjoy it, of course. And here … we … go:

The King of Iron Fist Tournament 7: A Final Tragedy for the Finest Future

Broken but Healing Circle

The upper circle of Kazama G Incorporated was still staggering and recovering from the sudden and tragic death of Jin Kazama. One member of the circle was taking the Kazama heir's passing surprisingly and especially hard.

The day was particularly overcast, the sky a uniform and gloomy silver. In a calm and dreary private cemetery, a young man sat on a marble bench; etched on the bench was the 'Kazama', signifying the family that owned the patch of land. The young's Korean's fiery-orange hair pierced through the multiple dismal shades of gray as Hwoarang sat staring at one particular tombstone … marked Jin Kazama.

Hwoarang sat up and started speaking as if Jin were sitting right beside him, "This is crazy. I thought I'd never have to see another one of these, but here I am … in another one, way too soon too. But I guess I don't have it as bad as you, eh, Kazama? … Yeah, I know; bad joke … I guess this is where I'd tell some of those 'remember-when-we-did-this' stories… … Too bad we never had any…"

-----

Not far away, a parked limo was waiting, two people inside watching Hwoarang with great concern through their windows.

"Ms. Lili…" Kyou asked, "What's Master Hwoarang doing?"

Lili paused to find the right words to tell the six-year-old boy before replying, "He's just grieving, sweetheart."

"Is he going to be alright?" Kyou asked instinctively.

"Sure. He's going to be fine…" Lili said with some uncertainty, as if half trying to convince herself, "I hope at least…"

-----

Hwoarang continued expressing to his fallen peer, "Steve saw our match back at the tournament… Now, he wants to fight all the time. He's pretty good … but he's not … you."

The young Korean with fire-orange hair then grew silent; meanwhile, everything inside of him was getting loud. All of Hwoarang's emotions, everything he'd held in, and everything he'd held down ever since Baek Doo San's passing moths earlier, it all started building up. The pressure and pain of it all grew very strong very fast. Hwoarang soon started shaking as he struggled to hold it back … but eventually he just couldn't. The young Korean exploded…

Hwoarang jumped to his feet and shouted at the tombstone, "Da-- it, Kazama!! One minute,. I'm talking to you and you're fine; the next minute … I'm helping you to your grave. Why?! Why didn't you tell me?! Why didn't you say anything?! Why did you go and die on me?!?!"

Still riled up, Hwoarang slumped back down to the bench, his heart still racing, his breathing heavy, and his body trembling. Kyou, seeing it all, jumped out of the limo, and began running to his master; Lili, knowing not to let the boy disturb Hwoarang, ran after Kyou, caught up to him, and held him back.

Not shouting but still upset, Hwoarang continued, "You were the closest thing to a brother I'll ever have. You were… You were my only friend, Kazama! I still had things to ask you! Like… How do you run that huge company and still have time to train? … What's it like being married… How do you get your hair to stand up in the back like that… Y'know, important stuff.

"Master Baek used to tell me… Eventually we all face death when our time comes. But why now? Why you? … But I guess I shouldn't be surprised. After a while everyone deserts me… First, my parents… Then, Master Baek… And now, you…"

Kyou had heard enough. He promptly wiggled his way out of Lili's grip, and ran for his master. Hwoarang looked up in time to see his protégé coming with Lili right behind.

"What's up, kid?" Hwoarang said, quickly fixing himself up.

Kyou exclaimed reassuringly and genuinely, "I won't leave you, Master. I'd never leave you!"

Hwoarang smiled at the boy's sentiment as he ruffled Kyou's hair, and replied, "Thank, Kyou…"

Kyou went on, "And Master Baek hasn't left you either."

Confused by the claim, Hwoarang asked as he gave a look, "Huh? What do you mean?"

Kyou explained with a smile, "Master Baek said that as long as we remembered him and as long as we keep him in our hearts, he'll never leave us."

The words immediately rang a bell for Hwoarang, and he remembered the saying mid-sentence. It played over in his mind almost as if it were Baek's voice coming out of Kyou's mouth. Appreciative of the reminder, the orange-haired Korean wrapped one arm around the boy's shoulders.

"You're right, Kyou; he did say that…" Hwoarang expressed in a grateful tone, "And I forgot all about it… Thanks for reminding me, kid."

Lili couldn't help but smile at the rather heartwarming moment. After a moment, Hwoarang rose to his feet as he released Kyou.

Looking at Jin's place of rest one more time, Hwoarang thought to himself, "See ya later, Kazama … and thanks … for everything." He then turned his attention to his two companions, suggesting, "Let's get out of here."

Before they could move, Lili expressed, "Kyou, why don't you go on ahead of us; I need to speak to your master alone."

Kyou obediently ran back to the limousine, leaving the two alone. Hwoarang gave another confused look, this time to Lilia as she turned toward him.

Hwoarang promptly asked, lost to what the Monegasque heiress wanted to talk about, "What's goin' on, Princess?"

Lili went to explain, "Well, this recent string of tragedies has got me thinking…"

"Oh. Maybe I should be afraid," Hwoarang quickly added.

The Monegasque heiress gave an amused giggle before continuing, "No. Actually, it's just the opposite… I want you to know … that I'm not going to leave you either… I was thinking it's time we started letting people know about us … not that our friends don't already have an idea."

"Hmm…" Hwoarang replied, feigning consideration, before asking with a smile, "You sure you don't mind being seen with a 'Tramp'?"

Lili quick-wittedly responded, "As much as you mind being seen with a 'Lady'."

"Then, I guess we're going public." Hwoarang said, "No more sneaking around."

The Monegasque heiress added, "Not just that. I was also thinking about something else … something more … permanent…"

Instantly, Hwoarang's eyes grew wide as he was surprised by the prospect. Permanent?! He knew what that meant…

Seeing the shock on his face, Lili continued, explaining further, "Calm down; I'm not saying I want to start making preparations right this moment. It's just that… With everything that's happened lately, it makes you realize that, after all, we're still mortal… And you and I have been together for almost five years now… I'm merely saying we should talk about it, or, if nothing else, think about it…"

Hwoarang remained silent; he had to digest this before he was able to speak. He knew Lili was serious by her tone. The orange-haired Korean was really off-guard as the thought, and he was really not prepared for this conversation… Nevertheless … she had a point, and truth be told … the thought had actually crossed Hwoarang's mind a couple times.

Finally, Hwoarang replied, "You know, a few months ago, I would've just said no way, but now… I don't see why we can't talk about it."

Another smile grew on Lili's face with the positive answer. Thinking it over, Hwoarang started toward the limousine, but the Monegasque heiress had one more thing to give. Suddenly, she grabbed Hwoarang's arm, and pulled him back as she swung him around. Before the orange-haired Korean could react, Lili grasped his shirt, and pulled him closer... In an instant, Lili pressed her mouth against Hwoarang's, the scent and taste of sweet vanilla on her breath and lips rushing onto his tongue immediately. The kiss lasted for several moments before Lili pulled away.

Hwoarang then asked, "What was that for … not that I'm complaining?"

Lili replied with a sly smile, "Oh … just a thank you… Now, we can go."

They both then headed back to the limo. The whole time, Kyou had been watching them, his head sticking out of the passenger window.

As they neared, the young protégé asked with precocious innocence, "Master… if you and Miss Lili get married, can I your son?

Needless to say, Lili was slightly mortified by the question. She immediately stopped cold, and was rendered speechless; she even blushed a little. Hwoarang meanwhile, while he stopped and was surprised too, reacted rather well. He simply smiled at the boy, and continued forward.

The orange-haired Korean finally replied as he opened the door for Lili, "Well, kid, that's really up to Miss Lili, but yeah… When we get married, you can be our son."

Kyou, excited by the decision, shouted with joy at the answered, and climbed back into his seat. Relieved by Hwoarang's aplomb, Lili walked over, and gracefully slid into the limo. It wasn't until Hwoarang slid in next to her and closed the door behind him that Lili realized what Hwoarang had explicitly said. Did… Did Hwoarang say… Yes, he did. He didn't say 'if'; he said … 'when' … as in it was only a matter of time…

-----

In reality, Jin's death had an odd aftereffect on the upper circle of KGI. Any schisms between any of them dissolved… Existing bonds between them became stronger… Hidden, lingering feelings were revealed, amplified, and acted upon… In many ways, it actually brought them closer together. It made them so much closer in fact, that after the birth of the Kazama twins … three more children were born into the circle within a year's time. Speaking of Haku and Jun…

End Chapter

Next Time: "I … can't believe it… It's really you… I missed you soooo much…"

A/N: And there you have it. I hope you liked it. Well, there one more chapter left. Please come back for the true ending to this story. Thanks for reading, and I hope you liked it. Please R&R, and, as always, Rant, Rave, and Review.