A/N: Sorry for the late update! I've been listening to many love songs for a while and I think I'm inspired at least. But it's a whole other story. By the way, much thanks to my reviewers xiloveme2muchx, Shaira Anne, Mistress Mayu & corpse-thrust. You guys inspired me so much and here's the result. Back to the main reason why you're reading this, I don't know how to summarize this chapter because many things will be happening and seriously, I might get tangled up in the future (even now). Hopefully, I would make this even longer than the last one (which is 4,000+ words). But if I do, the story will be a little fast and may cause fewer chapters. I already prepared my brain for this as well as my eyes so if I see more grammar errors, I'm gonna stab 'em both. Lol. Hahaha! Another thing, I also mentioned Steve was an Aussie. FORGIVE ME AGAIN! He's actually British. Heck, what do I know?! Anyway, enough crap from me, here's chapter four!

Disclaimer: I do not own Tekken and its characters. All rights belong to Namco.

Summary: And it was at that very thought that made her shiver and sweat. "Come on, just a week without it. I'm sure you can still live." He said, planting one of those cute grins on his mouth. Red tint crept all over her cheeks.

Chapter 4: His True Intention

She was about to get irritated, and with this she slapped his hand away from her chin. "Just what will be your proof if ever I lose this shenanigan-y bet of yours? And shouldn't this be a dare instead of a bet? I'm the only one to experience it, after all!"

He kept a cool yet jest posture as he formed his mouth into a smirk, "If I win and you don't get to survive within seven days, money will be banned from your hands," He said as she taunted her with creepy hand gestures. "And don't worry, it's still a bet because I'll join too. Although of course, if I urgently need money I'll use it right away. I'm not as rich as you, you know."

A vein popped on Lili's forehead. He was seriously infuriating her too much. "Alright, I get your point. But how do you suppose I will be banned from touching money?" Hwoarang then took out his cell phone. "I'll make sure your butler Sebasty here keeps you away from it. And also the management from your house." He smirked as he hid his cell phone back. Lili glared at him in an evil way. He's smart enough to even contact the said butler. He must really be serious about this bet. He was a red-haired imp.

"Evil. Just plain evil, Hwoarang. Oh, and what happens if I do win this bet?" she asked, grinning in a way she was sure to win.

He chuckled sarcastically. "It's hardly going to happen, my fair Lili. But I guess you need to know what it is to at least be determined to win my bet. You win this and you'll be free to live your life. I won't grumble with how you spend your money anymore."

'Perfect! I won't lose! I'll show him I can live without money. He'll come crawling back to me and beg to forgive him for making me endure this pain!!' she silently thought as she malevolently laughed, covering her mouth with her left hand and arching her back slightly.

Hwoarang didn't know what she was up to so he just mimicked her and stared. Lili noticed this, thus making her halt. "Just you wait! You'll regret ever making me do this!" She pointed a finger at Hwoarang at the same time running off, leaving him behind. He shouted, "The bet starts next Monday!"

Shaking his head in ridicule of the girl, he plainly crossed his arms over his chest and watched her flee. Then, something kept rattling inside his pocket. Hwoarang took out his cell phone and glanced at the caller.

"Master," he answered as he brought the device to his ear.

"Hwoarang. I need to show you something. It regards your parents." Baek Doo San, Hwoarang's mentor and care taker, replied as he released a smooth and concerned voice.

He almost dropped his cell phone in shock, but managed to tighten his grip. "What is it?"

"Come home after school and I'll show you. Now I got to go. Good bye."

He closed his phone as he leaned on the lockers.

'Regarding my parents… What could it be?' he thought, shutting his eyes as he reminisced the moments his parents were still alive. How he'd wish they didn't pass away. But sadly, God thought it would be best for him. He imagined the image of his mother, smiling at him; and his dad who's patting his back saying he's proud of him. They're both proud of him, if only he'd done well enough while they were still alive. If only he wasn't much of a burden to them yet still they loved them with all their hearts, they wouldn't die like that. He was having too many regrets. Standing up straight, he shrugged it off and walked away.

At Hwoarang's house…

"Master Baek? Are you here?" Hwoarang called, peeping from the house door as he retreated inside. After his parents died, Baek took him in for caretaking. He then trained him Taekwondo for self-defense, and eventually became self-defensive.

He roamed the house in search for him. He wasn't inside the kitchen, living room or the training dojo. He then heard a stumbling sound near his parents' bedroom.

He peeked inside it to see who it was. It was his master. "Just what do you think you're doing?" he asked, coming inside the dusty room.

Baek looked up from the mess that fell and looked at Hwoarang. "Oh, you're here. I found this inside the pillow case," he said, giving a rusty, nearly torn envelope. "They must've written that to you before the car accident happened."

His heart throbbed faster and faster as he slowly unveiled the contents of the note, carefully not tearing it. As he took it out from the envelope, he recognized his mother's handwriting slightly smudged from the age.

To our dearest Hwoarang,

We took the time to write you this because when the fate comes, we will soon leave you. And we may not get the chance to say this. We love you so much, sweetie. We pray every night for your future, for your health and for your protection. You may not like it, but education is a very big part of your humanity. You'll use it throughout your life and it is the one that makes you wise. You are blessed because you get to spend it without any hardships or any problems. That is why your father and I work hard for it. Not many people get educated because they lack something, especially money—

A tear escaped from his eye as he kept reading the note.

So when the moment comes for us to depart, always bear in mind we love you, and always will. In the future, we expect you to be a better person whether it's love, knowledge or success that changes you. He, the Lord, is right there watching your every move and every choice you choose. Make your decisions right and the path will be straight.

Much love,

Mom and Dad

He silently wept as he crumpled the paper. It was too late. He's nearly screwing up. He realized what the path he's taking now was a sturdy, wavy path that danger follows. Danger that can kill him. The justice for his parents won't be served once that happens. Therefore, he must think ahead.

Rapidly sitting on the floor as tears fell down across his cheeks he murmured, "I'm about to screw life already. How am I going to resolve this?" Baek, being considerate and pitiful at what his student's facing now, squatted and patted his back. "If you follow your parents' orders, you can sort this out. It's not too late. Maybe at my age, it will be. But you're young. You'll still have the exact amount of time before anything ends. For now, mend any broken clothes."

Hwoarang kept looking down and swept his bangs away from his face. "But what if that hole is just… too big? And what if the cloth is nearly inefficient?"

"It's up to you how you're going to get more." He replied, messing his disheveled hair. "Now get out of here. I'm rearranging things."

"For what?"

"For our new Training Ground."

Hwoarang stood up immediately. "YOU GEEZER!! THIS IS MY PARENTS' ROOM, YOU CAN'T JUST REMOVE THINGS!! AND WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE DOJO WE HAVE AT THE BACK?!" He shouted as the old man chuckled in a silly way. He kicked Hwoarang out and closed the door shut without uttering any words.

He smirked as he leaned on the door. 'That crusty old man.'

Birds were chirping on a Saturday afternoon. People usually went out for a spree, some on a date, some just for a stroll around the town. Lili was one of those people. She felt bored at home so she figured having a stroll at the town nearby should cure her boredom.

She patiently waited for someone on the bench. Her hair is neatly tied up in a bun with her bangs left hanging on her face. She wore a yellow tee covered with a floral carnation bolero and a pleated skirt above the knee. Guys couldn't help but stare at the angelic figure as they walked past her, which she constantly ignored.

Suddenly, she looked up and smiled sweetly. "You're here." She said. It was Xiaoyu, standing in front of her. "Sorry if I was late," she scratched the back of her head as she continued. "I had to wait for another one since the first one ditched me."

"What did you do then?"

Xiaoyu grinned in an evil manner. "I gave him something he's never going to forget."

Lili giggled at her. She carried herself to stand up and grabbed Xiaoyu's hand as she walked with her.

"So, I heard Hwoarang caved you into a bet, eh?" she asked Lili, clutching on her purse. The blonde didn't waste any time and answered, "Well… Yeah. I'm going to prove to him I can live seven days without it. That's why I called you so I could have some company while I spend my last days with power."

"It must be hard for you, huh? Don't worry. He isn't torturing you like that just for fun."

Lili tilted her head. "He's doing that for what, then?"

They arrived at a café called 'They arrived at a place called 'Café Divinité'. Xiaoyu took her seat first before she spoke again. "He has a history with money. Or rather, had a history concerning money,"

The waiter came to their table and took their orders. After that, Lili took a seat and placed her elbows on top of the round table, covering her mouth as she asked curiously, "What was that?"

5 minutes passed and their orders arrived. "Ah, thanks," The waiter served Ginseng and Oolong tea at their table. Xiaoyu took one and sipped a small amount before replying. "You see, Hwoarang's been an orphan for years now since his parents died of a car accident. He was pretty much of a rebel, but it was no problem for them,"

Lili felt her heart tinge a bit. Compassion might have embraced her heart hearing the tragedy her friend faced. She grabbed the cup of Ginseng tea to cool up a bit. "Wow. Seeing him now, I guess he's a much better person than before." She never thought she would say that, though. Hwoarang, in her eyes, was this sweet yet brave young man. But she didn't expect him to be living in an awful life in the present. If only she can do something about it.

"Yeah. Maybe that's why he settled a bet with you," Xiaoyu once again uttered, taking another sip of her tea. "He wanted you to learn the importance of money and how it should not be wasted." As she said those words, Lili snapped to her senses. It made significance to the bet. His past must be connected to it. She might as well give him a shot at this.

"But I don't even spend too much! I'm particularly careful with money, honest!" she objected, placing the cup down with little force.

Xiaoyu display a straight expression upon face. "That's not what he sees."

She touched her nape. Obviously she lied. Or at least, she was defending herself. "I guess. I should try to understand him," She sighed as she looked down on her cup. "Whether I win or lose. What I'm going to do is for him."

The black-haired girl tilted her head in confusion. "So you're gonna lose?"

Lili looked up and met her gaze. "We'll just see." She said as moved the teacup closer to her lips.

"So, tell me more about Hwoarang's past."

"Hmm… Where should I start?"

They walked around the town for quite long until they realized the sun was about to set. But still, they kept walking. As they strolled along the pavements, Xiaoyu told stories about the incidents Hwoarang had. "Well, as I mentioned back at the café he was a rebel. He hated what his parents were doing to him."

"You meant studying?" Lili asked.

"Yeah. And other various things best for him. He was numb and careless. He'd usually sneak out of the house and join many street gangs," her eyes widened when she heard the last sentence. 'Hwoarang was in gangs?! That couldn't be!' her eyebrows met at the thought. Figures, that's why he was a fighter, but at a young age? It was possible, yes. But it was just wrong for him. Especially since his parents tried to stop his nonsense antics. "You've already explained to me these things twice, and I still can't believe Hwoarang, the guy I knew for weeks, used to be so rebellious and extreme. I mean sure, he's still extreme considering the guy makes me suffer a damn bet but think about it. He's changed, right? At least, for the better. He's not a rebel anymore!" realizing what she had just said, she couldn't believe she was covering him. She mentally sighed as she kept walking with her companion.

Xiaoyu tensed as she came up with an answer, her face sweating like a mad cow. "True, yet I can't help but be curious and scared every time he does something 'against the law'. H-he could grasp the opportunity to be a sleazy gangster, again!" Lili wasn't the least bit affected at all (more or less). "Look, we both know--all of us know, rather--, Hwoarang buried the hatchet. He's not like that anymore. In fact, I bet he realized something from his past and re-learned it again! So let's just let him be, okay?" she comforted, as she moved her arm towards her shoulder.

"I guess so… And you know what, he might not be as smart as some people like Alisa but he's hardworking. Something you'd never expect from a former rebel." Xiaoyu added, smiling sweetly.

'He has flaws but he's a nice guy. Not to mention, he's kind of attractive at some point.' She slapped her forehead in ridicule with what she had just thought. She could never fall in love with him, according to her. Considering they just met, she still has a lot to learn about him. No doubt they were close, but still not enough to have an infatuation with each other. 'Nuh-uh, no way in hell that'sgoing to happen.'

Then she spotted a dress store not far from their path. Jerking Xiaoyu's wrist along, she approached the said store. They tried on many dresses; from tea party dresses to Goth outfits. Lili valued her last days possessing money, as she bought many stuff that day.

'Let the torture begin.'

Monday arrived, much to Lili's dismay. It was the first day of the bet she agreed to do with Hwoarang. 'Shit,' she mentally cursed, 'This is going to be a rough day from now on.' Heaving a sigh, she entered the combination and opened her locker (which was in between Leo's and Xiaoyu's). She took out her purse and gave it one last kiss before keeping it inside the metal locker. Just as she was about to close it, Hwoarang silently crept by her side and reached out his palm as he said, "Surrender the leather case," Lili, obviously flustered where he came from, gave him a glare indicating she wasn't going to hand over her precious. And being a manipulative lad, he couldn't let just one glare escape him. "You won't need it anyway so gimme it."

The blonde princess slammed her locker shut (loud enough to catch some people's attention) as she leaned her hand on it. "What happens if I give it to you? Will you spend the money I have here?"

"And lose to you? Tch, yeah right! Just hand it over."

"That's not fair! If you get to get my purse, I have to get yours!" She stuck out her tongue at her words.

"I don't have a purse. A have a wallet."

Lili was about to burst into smithereens as she shouted, "IT'S THE SAME THING, YOU BOASTFUL TURD!!!" People from the halls instantly shifted their eyes to Lili, followed by a glare at Hwoarang. They knew he was the reason why she was losing control.

He couldn't help but chuckle. "Silly Lili, it really doesn't matter as long as you have something to stash your cash." He still had the urge to continue after the enormous amount of attention they were given. Indeed, they were starting a scene with their constant loud dialogues.

She was about to unleash a powerful punch in his face when Leo got in between them. "Stop it, guys! Debating won't change anything. Just let us handle your money until the end of the bet. Easy, right? And besides, you two cheapskates are blocking my locker." She shoved the two aside as she opened her locker. Sighing at her point, Lili massaged her temples with her middle and index fingers. She couldn't object, so she had no choice but to hand her purse to Leo. It took minutes for Hwoarang to hand his, since he was busy faking a whistle like he didn't hear Leo's last sentence. Faking a smile at Lili, she elbowed his stomach that signaled to give it. He also had no choice, and to be refrained from being elbowed again, he finally slammed his wallet on her hand. "Now both of us are clean from money. Thanks a lot." He said, rubbing his stomach in pain the androgynous girl caused. Lili gave a smirk to him and held her bag on her shoulder.

Hwoarang chuckled softly and grabbed his backpack, imitating her as he followed. She suddenly halted which made Hwoarang bump into her. There was a ruckus in their way. Many people crowded the fight that was happening. "Eh? What's up, Lili?" he asked, putting his head beside Lili's. This made her uncomfortable, yet she didn't mind it anyway. "Looks like a massive school fight."

"What made you say that?

"Well, people are chanting 'Fight! Fight!' over and over. Really, you are so dense." She answered sarcastically, holding her right hip.

His eye twitched. "Just because I didn't realize it sooner doesn't make me dense!" A slight grunt escaped his lips as he adjusted the level of his backpack. Suddenly, he caught glimpse on one of the guys being bullied. He was blonde. That's until he realized who it was.

He dropped his backpack and squeezed into the crowd, eagerly wanting to see who the two people were. "Steve!"

"I-I'm fine! Just settling some business!" he replied, grunting as a black haired man shoved him harder to one of the locker libraries.

Hwoarang couldn't take it. He can't risk the sight of his best friend being beaten up. He got in the way of the two and pushed the guy away. "What the hell, Jin!?" he yelled, showing him a face of concern for the lad.

Jin hid his hands inside his pockets, acting calm and stoic. "Tell your friend never to mess with my cousin or he'll suffer." He hissed as he left. People stepped aside and left to avoid any injuries he might initiate. As for Steve, he sighed in relief as he leaned on the lockers he got shoved to. Lili and the others came to him with a worried face. "What just happened?! And your cheek is swelling!" Lili anxiously asked, placing her hand on Steve's shoulder. He shook his head as he answered, "Nothing. We just had a misunderstanding that's why he did that to me. And I'm perfectly fine! I've had lots of cuts and practically, they're nothing!" He managed to keep that smile on his mouth despite the beatings he got from the guy.

Hwoarang sighed in disappointment as he ran his fingers through his hair, "What's it this time?" he asked, looking Steve in the eyes. Lili was unaware of what he asked, considering the people she was with knew exactly what he meant.

Steve hesitated before admitting. "We… sort of had this small fight like always," he bit his lower lip before continuing. "But I guess things got out of hand and Jin overheard."

"Whoa, whoa, what are you talking about? And to whom did you have a small fight?" she asked, completely naïve at the scene. She didn't like how she was always left out, especially now.

Steve looked at Hwoarang in a way that meant he should explain it to her. He rolled his eyes before uttering a word. "My stubborn best friend loves to tease Asuka 'for me' since I couldn't do it, until I faced her last week of course. But today, he went too hardcore and this happened."

"Hey, she was the one who got hardcore!"

"Whatever. It shouldn't be tolerated any further. And you," he faced Steve. "Stop it. You're daggering Asuka too much with your harassments it's causing Jin's aura to explode on you."

Steve laughed as he scratched the back of his head. "First of all, who would want to harass that woman? And second, I'm not. It was his fault he went through our business."

"It wouldn't have happened in the first place if you hadn't teased her too much." He informed as he held his temples. As for Lili, she didn't have anything to ask, except for one thing. "Jin… that name. Why is it familiar to me?" tapping her chin, she looked at the direction he departed. All of them also became curious, not because she didn't know who he was, but the fact that she might know (not that there's anything wrong). Stretching an arm on her shoulder, Leo said, "Never mind that, Lili. Anyway, let's get to first period."

"But aren't we on a different class?" she asked, tilting her head.

"Not in Gym." She showed an enormous smile enough to show her pearly whites. Still clinging her arm around Lili, they walked leaving the three behind. Hwoarang eyed them as they disappeared from their sight. Xiaoyu, too, bade goodbye with a bow in respect and followed the two. It took 3 seconds before he turned to his blonde best friend, who was staring at him with innocent eyes. He lightly slapped his bruised cheek as he said, "Take care of yourself, idiot. I should be the one and only one to give you pain next time."

Steve replied with a smirk and deployed a friendly guy hug on before he left him for first period.

Glancing at his wristwatch, he walked along with his best friend.

To be continued…

A/N: Phew! This was a tough one to write. Sorry again if the update took long. I'm really busy with some things; I barely have time for this. I also experienced writer's block. Hopefully, I got cured when I read some fandom that inspired me to write again! Hehehe. Was it crappy? 'Cause I think it is. In my point of view, though. Like for example, Lili and Hwoarang's OOCness. It might not even be long as I promised. I made this while I was sick. Yeah, I am sick at this very moment. Grrr… Anyways, please inform me if there are any grammar errors or typos. Then you kill me. XD That's all I have to say! Please review and thanks for reading!