Julia pushed the glass door open and peered around the doorframe, as Hwoarang stretched out facing the wall. She watched for a moment admiring his toned shoulders, his perfect posture. She cleared her throat, as she pushed one pig tail behind her shoulder. Abruptly he stopped, and looked back over his shoulder, pieces of burnt orange hair falling into his eyes. He was so stiff…so chiseled…so the military cut out that had fallen onto the ground…rolled in attitude and personality. It was quite the attractive contradiction, if anything.

"You ready?" Pushing the hair back from his face, he looked at her seriously.

"I-Uh, yeah I guess." She was a bit taken back by his eagerness to fight her. Julia was sure what

exactly she had expected, but it was her idea. Hwoarang watched her, his head cocked to one side.

"Don't look so nervous. I'll take it easy on you." He smirked, and she stood straight again.

"Where do you get your charm?" He motioned for her to come forward, and she ran towards him, only to be side stepped and pushed forcefully to the ground. Hwoarang laughed and extended his hand to Julia as she breathed heavily, surprised by his strength. Being the independent and stubborn woman that she was, she waved his hand away and stood on her own.

"Try again?" Without warning, Julia landed a kick right beneath his chin, and without hesitation, she found her back against the wall with his forearm against her throat.

"Take it easy?" She coughed, and he realized he was applying more force than he had meant to. He didn't even recall how they ended up in the situation. It was just by training and brainwashing. Something else had momentarily taken over. He moved his arm, and she fell to the ground, breathing hard.

"I told you, I don't spar." Again, he held out his hand, but she ignored it, spiting him a bit. His facial expression changed, and he was somewhat offended. "Besides, I'm not the one who needs to." Julia rolled her eyes and righted herself, leaving him in the room alone.

-o-

Hwoarang glared at the new match line up sheet based on those fighters who had signed up again. Mostly everyone wanted a second chance, but Jin Kazama's name was absent. All the entered fighters were required to be back at the arena in about an hour. A figure stepped beside him, and he paid no mind, but the scent of roses caused him to look down. Julia stood with her hair tied back, glasses set perfectly on her nose.

"Do you want to hail a cab together. It's cheaper that way." She looked up at him, then back towards the match line up which was taped to the wall. How odd it would seem to everyone that two scheduled to fight in first round combat, would ride together in the same taxi. He seemed unphased by it, but then again, he didn't seem like the type to show a varied range of emotions. After what he had shown in the gym, just sparing with her, she could deny that she was a bit worried about facing him. But she spoke nothing.

-o-

"Hey." Julia spoke to him in the hallway just before their match began. She'd spent longer than usual streaching, and even longer, thinking about the little that she saw of his style of fighting. It was a mix of Tae Kwan Do and military tactics, and those, were the ones she'd have the most trouble with. But, what better time to learn than now? "Don't take it easy on me." She eyed him from top to bottom. He'd worn his camo pants and a green shirt…heavy steel toed boots. Those wouldn't feel good at all. She wore jeans and a tank top. They both looked like street fighters, and that wasn't what the competition was.No one was taking notes on attire. Everyone just wanted to come out on top. He winked at her after she spoke.

"You don't have to worry about that."

The fight began and Julia took him off of his feet, tripping him to the ground before he had the chance to grab her. There was no doubting that he was stronger than her, and if she ended up in his grip, there was no getting out. He laughed, and jumped back up effortlessly. Hwoarang cracked his neck to the side and then ran forward. The fight was on, and it was on strong.

At the end of the match, Hwoarang won, and jumped out of the ring, leaving Julia unconscious in the middle. When he noticed that she hadn't gotten up…hadn't followed, he turned back. She lay crumpled, doubled over in her black tank top and faded jeans. She looked like a doll someone had tossed aside. He frowned, climbing back inside, and tossed the lifeless girl over his right shoulder effortlessly, in front of the crowd of watching fighters.