Update: I've rewritten this chapter, fixed grammar errors, and overall just given it a face lift. Please tell me if you find any errors. :]
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Tekken characters mentioned in this story, the wonderful people at Namco do.
Chapter 1- Prologue
In a back alley on the bad side of downtown Seoul, a one-sided battle was being waged...
"Finish him off, Hwoarang!"
"Come on, Dai! Kick his pretty boy ass!"
The crowd, a divided group of leather jackets and starched collars, circled around the two opponents engaged in competition. Calling out insults and encouragement, they were like hyenas waiting to tear into their prey as soon as it collapsed.
The two battlers were as contrasting as the spectators egging them on. The first, a fiery haired Korean, was sneering smugly and looked completely unscathed. The other, a Japanese boy of about 17 years of age, was the image of beaten, his face covered in bruises, a black eye, and a fat lip that was steadily worsening.
"You should give up now, kid," the Korean said calmly, eyeing his challenger with the look a superior gives to a peon not worth his time.
"Fuck off! Korean dog!"
Shrugging, the red head launched a powerful barrage of kicks at his opponent, sending him flying into the brick wall. The Japanese boy remained slumped against it, nearly knocked unconscious from the impact.
Walking over to him, the Korean picked him up by the collar.
"Who's the dog now?" he whispered, throwing the amateur to the ground. Turning to the fallen boy's companions he added, "Looks like you just lost a nice chunk of change, gentlemen."
They leered at him, pissed but knowing too well now what would happen if they didn't pull through with their part of the wager. Throwing the wad of currency at Scar, Hwoarang's second in command, they turned to stalk off. It was only an afterthought that saved the brutalized Japanese boy from sleeping against the wall that night.
"Nice job, Hwoarang. It's not much, but it's enough for a night of fun!"
Hwoarang looked up at the clap on the back. Scar was smiling at him, the wad of cash already safely stashed away. He couldn't help but smirk in reply to Scar's lopsided grin. His real name was Kyung-Sam, but a knife fight had left him with a jagged reminder from the corner of his left eye down his jaw, giving him a fierce appearance that was backed up by the fact that he seldom smiled. Hwoarang had never been fooled by this front, and knew that a nice guy was to be found under the stern appearance. That nice guy showed up sometimes, like now.
The rest of the gang circled around the two now, congratulating Hwoarang on another perfect fight. No one ever mentioned the draw with the Kazama guy, they all knew better.
Hwoarang looked around to see the few girls of the gang giving him bedroom eyes and seductive smile, their white teeth offset by brightly painted lips. He grinned cockily at them, figuring he'd have fun with one, maybe two, later tonight. It would fill the time, at least.
Far from the violence of the beat down in that nondescript alleyway, in a place that was just as cold but hundreds of times cleaner, more subtle harm was being wrought upon those that did not willingly place themselves in harms way...
The white walls of the hospital were blinding in their starkness. Blinding, and yet, so familiar. As was the chill, sickly smell of medicine and the sad stares of the terminally ill.
Faith walked down the seemingly endless hall, waving to bed ridden patients, who raised their hands feebly in response or gave tremulous smiles. At the end of the hall, she opened a door plastered with a brightly colored flower on it, musical notes dancing their way around it.
"Knock, knock," she said, shutting the door behind her.
"Hi, Fay!"
Faith walked over to her sister, hugging her gingerly so as not to bother the tubes coming from the girls thin body.
"How are you today?"
"I'm as good as I was when you asked me yesterday."
Faith smiled, maybe she was being a little paranoid.
"What's wrong, Fay? You seem a little upset."
"It's nothing, Melody. I've just got something on my mind."
"It's about me, isn't it? Don't look so shocked! I'm not naive you know. Besides, you're pretty obvious when you flinch from the IV like that. "
"You're too smart for your own good, you know that? And a smartass to boot!" Faith laughed, ruffling her sister's hair.
"Well, I am a genius," the younger sister replied, striking what she thought looked like an intellectual pose. "So where are you going now? Germany again? Maybe France? England?"
Faith shook her head.
"Well don't leave me in suspense, sis! It's not healthy for me you know." A sly grin accompanied the words.
Faith shook her head, suppressing another laugh. Her sister knew just where to hit her, because the little twerp knew that she was her big sister's weak spot.
Relenting, she opened her mouth to reply to the question, but paused for mock dramatic effect.
"Aw! C'mon, sis!"
"Alright, alright! I'm going to Korea, Melody. No promises as usual, but keep your fingers crossed."
"I always do."
And now, for the real story!