Destiny Changed

Disclaimer: I don't own Tekken.

To all the Tekken Fans

Chapter 7

After lunch Xiaoyu returned to her room alone and defeated. It was hard to find someone who didn't wish to be found. Was he hiding from Heihachi and Kazuya or was he trying to avoid her?

Although Jin had left without even saying goodbye, Xiaoyu was sure that he hadn't forgotten her just like she couldn't take him out of her mind. More than anything else she wanted to help him. It was horrible to feel helpless. A year ago she was completely sure that she was supposed to fight by Jin's side all the way until he was finally free from the devil gene.

Xiaoyu sat down on her bed and was about to lay down when she noticed a shadow. She immediately took a fighting position but soon she recognised Jin.

Xiaoyu wanted to hug him but for some reason she remained quiet. Jin walked closer to her but didn't make any contact.

-'You should have listened to me. I told you to stay away from Heihachi and this tournament.'-he said.

-'You really know how to make an entrance.'-she stated. Jin noticed bitterness in her voice but he couldn't blame her.

About a year ago he had considered the idea of telling Xiaoyu how much he cared for her but that chance was gone as soon as he realised that he would never have a normal life. She was better off without him and his problems.

Jin still had feelings for her but he was too messed up to focus on a romantic relationship with someone as innocent as Xiaoyu. He thought that his presence would make her happy but even an innocent girl such as Xiaoyu has a limit and leaving without a warning seemed to have turned her affection into rage.

-'Why are you here Jin? I thought you were hiding away from me.'

-'I wish things could be different Xiao.'

-'So you were avoiding me…'

-'I was taking precautions. I know my father and Heihachi want to kill me.'

-'If you know that, why are you entering the tournament?'

This time Jin noticed that she was worried and it was really good to know that she had feelings for him as well.

-'Because I don't want to run forever. I need to sort everything out as soon as possible.'

-'Michelle told us this would happen. Your father is here to kill you and take away your powers. If that happens…'

-'I'm strong…I destroyed Ogre and I won against Heihachi. I think I have a chance against my own father.'

-'He's the devil!'

-'So am I.'

That statement shut her up. It looked like Jin had accepted that he was a monster. In the past, while they were still together, he had never said that out loud. If he was finally accepting his demonic instincts it meant that he had no hope for the future.

-'I can help you…and Julia too.'

-'No. I can't risk your lives. You've done enough for me and my family.'

Xiaoyu faced Jin but his eyes never met hers. To the Chinese girl that was Jin saying goodbye. She wanted to scream and hit him until he realised that he wasn't alone, that he could count on her. She wanted to tell him that he was more than a friend to her and that she would do anything to get him back. But in the end she didn't say a word and he left in silence.

It was over. They were no longer connected. He didn't want her help; actually she wasn't even sure if he ever needed her. He had helped her in the past, in school, training in martial arts; he had protected her against Heihachi and had always made her feel wanted. Because they were friends she had risked her life by fighting alongside Julia and Hwoarang, she was the only one capable of making him turn back to normal after his transformation. With her, he was safer and away from the darkness. But it looked like their dues were settled.

Xiaoyu knew he wasn't turning back. She listened to his steps fading away and remembered that the last time they were together they had almost kissed.

A lonely tear rolled down her cheek but before she could feel sad or angry, someone knocked.

-'Xiao…finally…where have you been?'-Miharu asked when Xiaoyu answered the door.

Julia noticed Xiaoyu's miserable look and tried to get Miharu and Christie out of there but she underestimated Christie's determination to know more information about Eddy.

As soon as Julia told Xiaoyu about Christie's story, the Brazilian girl bombed her with questions. Unfortunately Xiaoyu didn't know much about Eddy and she lied about knowing where Jin was.

-'Are you sure you haven't seen him?'-Christie insisted.

-'I don't think he's interested in being with me.'

-'In that case we have to keep looking.'

-'The next match is about to start. I think we should go there and search for Jin.'-Julia suggested.

-'Ok, lets go.'-Christie quickly opened the door and dragged Miharu along with her. Julia stayed behind.

-'He was here, wasn't he?'-Julia asked.

-'He came to say goodbye.'-Xiaoyu answered and followed Julia out of the room.

In the meantime King was facing the newcomer Craig Marduk. Their fighting styles were similar and there was a lot of tension between the two men. The rumours about their past mentioned a murder many years ago. Miharu finally understood what Xiaoyu meant earlier when she stated that "Everyone has secrets". First it was the Mishima issue, now Christie and Eddy's mysteries and least but not last a brutal crime involving two fighters. Was there by chance anyone normal in that tournament?

Christie had joined Steve Fox, who was watching the fight encouraging Craig to attack once more.

-'You're really into it, huh?'-Christie asked amused.

-'I have a bet on him…he better win this match or I'll be broke.'-Steve confessed.

-'How much did you bet?'

-'Two hundred dollars.'

-'Who's collecting the bets? I want in…'-Christie took her wallet to see how much money she could bet.

-'I am…'-Hwoarang joined them and grinned. Then he saw the reprehensible look on Julia's face.

-'Christie, betting is illegal.'-Julia warned.-'Besides you can lose all your money.'

-'I know that. But it's so cool…the rush, the adrenaline…I used to bet a lot when I was dating Nelson but then we broke up and…'-Christie's smile faded away and she stopped talking. Then she gave Hwoarang one hundred dollars and placed her bet on Craig to win.

-'Are you sure?'-Hwoarang asked.-'I'd bet on King.'

-'Nah…Craig Marduk is stronger.'-Steve said.

-'But King looks more motivated.'-Hwoarang explained.-'Do you want to join us?'-he added to Julia.

-'No…I'm not that stupid.'-she answered.-'As if we're going to spend our money on a bet.'

But Miharu and Xiaoyu were already giving him money.

-'What are you doing?'-she asked almost in shock.

-'Everyone is betting…and we sure need to have some fun.'-Miharu declared.-'Even Xiao looks happier…you're the only one who's worried about it.'

-'I can't believe you're falling in his scheme…'-Julia accused pointing out a finger at Hwoarang.

-'Come on…you're just angry because last night he was talking to Christie.'-Miharu said and received a furious glare from her friend. Thanks to the noise only Xiao and Christie had listened to Miharu's statement. She didn't accuse Julia of being jealous but it sounded that way.

-'Don't worry Julia, there's nothing going on between us. I needed to ask him about Xiaoyu and…'-Christie started but she was suddenly interrupted by Julia, who was now almost, out of herself.

-'Why does everyone say that?! I don't care about him! I'm not interested and I never was! We don't even like each other!'

'Ok, ok…fine.'-Miharu apologised.-'Calm down…let's just watch the fight.'

-'I'm leaving…'-Julia turned her back on her friends and left quickly.

-'What's her problem?'-Hwoarang asked.

-'Apparently…you.'-Christie informed and Hwoarang shrugged because he had no idea what she was talking about.

-'I think she's in denial.'-Miharu said.-'But I owe her an apology.'

Later that night it was Miharu's turn to be upset. She had just found out that her opponent would be Hwoarang. He had already told her how strong he was and how lame her fighting skills were so Miharu was feeling the pressure getting to her pretty hard. She barely ate and went to bed trying to forget his annoying grin when he saw her name as his adversary. Julia's apology would have to wait.

Xiaoyu wasn't too worried about Miharu because in the Iron Fist 3 Hwoarang wasn't too rough on Julia, which meant he actually cared. She too went to bed trying to forget about Jin and his problems.

Julia was about to go to bed when someone knocked at her door. Although she didn't want to answer it because she was almost sure that Miharu would be on the other side, she opened the door anyway. She was surprised to see Steve.

-'Hi, can we talk?'

Julia frowned. She actually didn't know what to say. He was the last person she was expecting to see at her door. But curiosity won and she let him in.

-'It's hard to find you alone…I'm sorry I had to come this late at night.'-he said smiling.

-'Why do you want to speak to me in private?'-she asked. Suddenly she realised that it could be one of Hwoarang's pranks or maybe a bet between them. She crossed her arms and glared at Steve who took a few steps back towards the closed door.

-'I…kind of need your help.'

-'What for?'

-'Hwoarang said you're good with…'

-'Always him! I'm so sick of Hwoarang…'-she exploded throwing her arms in the air.-'Don't you have anything better to do?'

-'Wait…let me explain…'

-'Three seconds, that's all you have.'

-'I need your help to crack down some passwords…I need to see what's in those files.'

Julia was now silent. Steve didn't know if that was a good or a bad sign but he decided to wait.

-'Files?'-she finally asked.

-'Yes, I have it in my computer.'

-'So you can't access the files yourself?'

-'No, Heihachi is really good when it comes to security.'

-'Heihachi? You stole Heihachi Mishima's files?'

-'Yes…but I'm not the first one doing it, am I? Because Hwoarang told me about the Iron Fist Tournament 3 and how you…'

-'Ok…I understand. I guess I can help you out.'

-'Great. I'll get my laptop.'