A "courtesy" alarm sounded loudly within Hwoarang's room, jarring him from a half conscious state. His brown eyes searched until he found a tiny speaker in the left corner, above his bed.

"Good morning." A woman with a deceivingly American accent spoke clearly, cheerful, annoying. "Please report to the Wei Pai room immediately. Thank you." He glared at the speaker for a moment, as if it would help the situation and resolve his issue with her waking him up. He rolled his eyes.

"A six-o-clock in the morning call had better warrant something spectacular." He mumbled to himself, having only been asleep for close to three hours. Still mildly intoxicated, he stood and slid a worn black band tee shirt over his mussed head of hair, and then across his defined shoulders. A pair of palm woven flip flops would do just fine he'd decided, as he tucked his metal tags into the neck of his shirt and opened the door.

The chatter of fighters hit his ears instantly as he moved out into the brightly lit hallway. Quickly, Hwoarang shut the noise out and walked towards the elevator. His finger slid across the "down" button, and the high pitched ding of the elevators bell jerked his attention. The elevator happened to be right in front of her room.

he leaned against the railing and watched as the doors began to close. Just as Julia opened her room door, she glanced at those of the elevator which were sliding shut, and made eye contact with him within the inches of space left before the gap was closed completely. Hwoarang stared for a second, his eyes a bit glazed from both lack of sleep, and sleep itself, then sighed.

-o-

The general noise that any crowd of people would create was enough to make him consider turning around, and heading right back to his room. He paused at the door way, looking in and across before taking any action. Some habits died hard, some didn't die at all. Once a property of the military, always a property of the military.

"Ladies and gentleman, this shouldn't last long. I ask your attention please." A middle aged, half Chinese, half Caucasian woman spoke as Hwoarang stepped in and took a place at the very back of the room, next to the doorway. Another quick eye venture around the room told him very quickly, that quite a few competitors were missing. The most notable, of course, was Jin Kazama…but that was another thought for another time.

Julia, her hair in a long braid following her spine, moved quickly past Hwoarang, failing to notice him at all. She took a spot past a few others, directly in front of him, standing. She as well had been quick to leave her room dressed in sleeping clothes from the previous night. She wore a white ribbed tank top, tight to her breasts without a bra, and a pair of short black bicycling shorts with plastic flip flops of the same color.

"Due to Mr. Mishima's recent…unhappiness with the results of the current tournament, he has made the decision to end the current activities, and begin a second round of matches. Re-entrance is allowed if any of your interests lay ahead of you. Mr. Mishima wishes you the best of luck." As soon as the woman had ended her speech, Hwoarang turned for the door. "And," He stopped, rolling his eyes. "breakfast will be served in the room across the hall. Please help yourselves."

Hwoarang figured he could be in and out before any others made their annoying little ways into the dining area. He wasn't social by nature, but a smart ass? Well that was something obvious enough to anyone who crossed his path.

Grabbing a few sugar rolls, he turned to leave, when suddenly someone ran into him. He glanced down, to see Julia, just as surprised as he.

"Sorry." He blurted, his mouth full. She frowned, and then smiled a bit.

"Good morning. Seems we always meet with your apologies." He shrugged, still a little tipsy from the vodka that hadn't had time to leave his system.

"Shit happens." There was a quiet pause, and Hwoarang took another ungraceful bite of one of the rolls he held.

"I was wondering if you'd like to spar since we're already awake and-" She began nervously. It was just an attempt at a social opportunity. He interrupted before she had time to finish speaking.

"I don't 'spar.' What the hell would I need to spar for?" He spoke in a cocky manner, raising an eyebrow, furrowing the other.

"Well I just thought-" Hwoarang interrupted again.

"What time?"

"Um…" She stuttered. Give Julia a thousand books to read, and she was wonderful. Give her three sentences to speak to the opposite and intimidating sex, and she was a mess. "How about now? Do you have the time?"

"Yeah sure." His answer was short and seemed rude.

"Ok…well I have to run back to my room, but I'll meet you in the gym in about fifteen minutes?" His eyes fell over her body making a brief stop at her chest where certain parts of her anatomy were visible through the thin white material of her shirt. He looked away, feeling disrespectful. "Is that alright?"

"Yeah." She smiled softly and left.