Destiny Changed

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To all the Tekken Fans

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Chapter 8

Julia worked about three hours straight on Steve's computer before succeeding. When she finally entered the right codes, the screen turned white and it opened some documents that Steve didn't allow her to see.

-'You're not going to tell me what's going on between you and Heihachi Mishima?'-Julia asked.

-'I have nothing to do with Heihachi Mishima…I'm just investigating the Mishima Labs…'

-'The Labs? Why?'

-'That's my problem. You did your part and I appreciate it. Thank you.'

-'Well…if you say so.'

-'The rest is up to me.'

When Steve was leaving, Hwoarang was returning to his room. Steve noticed he was drunk but since he was in a hurry he simply wished a good night for both and left. Before closing her door Julia heard Hwoarang whisper a few words "To be with Blondie here she feels fine" but she preferred not to comment, especially because he wasn't sober.

The next morning Hwoarang woke up with a huge headache. He left for breakfast hoping that after having eaten something he would feel better.

He was about to start eating when he remembered that he was supposed to fight that morning. He quickly searched for his watch and realised that he had left it in his room. After asking the time Hwoarang left running. He was late, hungry, tired and in a very mad mood. His head was pounding and he was about to be disqualified. Cursing all the way to the arena, Hwoarang hit and stepped on a few people but managed to get there on time.

Miharu was even more nervous than before. She almost thought he wasn't going to show up. Xiaoyu wasn't worried but she had never seen Hwoarang miss a fight. The happiness and relief in Miharu's heart disappeared when the red-hair Korean entered the arena. Xiaoyu tried to calm Miharu down, telling her about Julia and Hwoarang's fight in the Iron Fist Tournament 3 and how he wasn't too rough on her. Was it because she was a girl or because he liked her?

Whatever it was, Xiaoyu knew Hwoarang wasn't going to hurt her friend even if he didn't like her much. What she didn't know was that Hwoarang was with a hangover and wanted to finish the fight as fast as he could, even if that meant to knock Miharu down with his most powerful punch.

-'Well…you sure know how to create suspense, huh?'-Miharu teased, trying to put a strong front.

-'Please…shut up. Your voice is giving me a headache.'-Hwoarang replied.

Miharu's face turned white when she heard the judge's voice to start fighting. Everyone was surprised because ten minutes later Miharu was still up and although she was tired, she was actually able to defend herself against Hwoarang's attacks. Hwoarang seemed to be sick which allowed Miharu to dream about a victory. The dream was too short though…She understood her real situation after getting up for the fourth time in only five minutes. Hwoarang wasn't fighting one hundred percent but he was still faster and stronger than her. Besides he had two advantages over her: experience and self-confidence. His self-confidence could easily be misunderstood with narcissism but still it was a very powerful tool to use, especially when he was with a major hangover and slower than usual.

Twenty minutes and twelve seconds was the time the match lasted. After being sent to the ground by one of Hwoarang's kicks, Miharu decided to lay down the necessary time to be eliminated from the tournament. She knew she couldn't keep up Hwoarang's pace and although she could still fight, it was no use pretending that she could win.

When Hwoarang left the arena, after being announced the winner, Law and Paul surrounded him.

-'You are rusty kid.'-Paul said with a grin.-'I've seen you do better.'

-'That's because I'm not feeling well.'-Hwoarang told him, trying to justify the twenty minutes it had taken him to win against such a weak opponent.

-'Let's' go to the bar then…you can pay us a few drinks and we'll forget about this.'-Law suggested.

-'I can't, I'm broke. Besides I'm with a huge hangover right now. That's why it took me so long to defeat Pigtails' clone.'

-'Broke!?'-Xiaoyu asked suddenly. She had been eavesdropping everything.-'What did you do to our money from the bets?'

-'How do you think I got this hangover you idiot?'-he replied.

-'You're a selfish jackass!'-she spat.

-'Don't blame me for that. You're the one who bet on Marduk. I told you King was the right choice.'

-'You knew who was going to win?'-Xiaoyu asked.

-'Of course not. How could I know that?'

While they were arguing the crowd started to leave. In an hour the next fight would be announced and the fighters couldn't hide their excitement. As for Miharu, everyone had forgotten about her. "History only remembers the winners" she thought to herself. She watched as Xiaoyu continued to insult Hwoarang. By that time he was about to explode with anger. Not that the argue was a big deal but because his head was hurting so much he could hardly think or listen what Xiaoyu was saying.

When Miharu was about to get up someone offered a helping hand. She looked up and saw Julia.

-'You shouldn't be helping me. I still owe an apology.'-Miharu confessed.

-'Forget about it. I know how you must be feeling right now.'

-'Really?'

-'Yeah…But if it makes you feel better, I didn't last twenty minutes against him.'

Suddenly Miharu remembered that Julia had lost against Hwoarang in the third tournament. Xiaoyu had told her about it.

-'It really sucks, doesn't it?'-Julia smiled.

-'Yes…but this was the only possible outcome for me.'

-'You fought well. You should be proud.'

Miharu nodded and they both joined Xiaoyu.

-'Are you ok?'-Xiaoyu asked realising how inconsiderate she had been towards Miharu.

-'Yes…just a bit sore.'

-'She needs a check up. Lets go to the medical room.'-Julia suggested.

-'I told you to quit.'-Hwoarang said watching Miharu holding her arm.

-'Shut up.'-she retorted.

-'You should've told her that she had no chance to win.'-Hwoarang told Julia who fumed and tried to ignore him.-'After all I kicked your ass once because you froze when you looked at me and saw how handsome I am.'

Julia was about to reply when Miharu took a few steps forward to face the Korean.

-'Don't be so sure. Julia would never let her emotions overcome her mind. Besides, there's nothing about you that can possibly attract her.'

Julia was surprised to hear Miharu talking that way considering that her friend also thought that she liked Hwoarang.

-'That's what you think…'-he said calmly.

-'Lets go back to the hotel. Miharu needs to go see the doctor.'-Xiaoyu declared. If only Jin was there, he would make sure Hwoarang didn't bully them anymore.

The three girls left and Hwoarang followed them in silence. He went straight to his room and slept for two hours.

In the meantime Miharu was having a total check up and she was cleared a few minutes later. Besides the bruises she would be alright. Xiaoyu tried to forget about Jin but over lunch she didn't say a word. Miharu and Julia noticed but they knew there was nothing they could do to help.

The second match of the day was announced and Xiaoyu turned her attention to it. It was Julia's turn to fight and her opponent was Heihachi.

Miharu and Xiaoyu looked at each other worriedly. Heihachi was the tournament's host and one of the most powerful fighters. So far Jin had been the only one capable to win against the old man. Julia knew she was in trouble.

-'It doesn't mean you won't win.'-Miharu tried to cheer her a bit.

-'Miharu's right…besides you've been training hard.'-Xiaoyu reassured.

-'Pigtails and her clone are both wrong.'-Hwoarang announced. He sat down next to Julia and took some chips from her plate.-'I'm starved.'-he added.

-'Go order your own lunch!'-Julia protested.

-'Don't be like that…I'm here to help you.'-he calmly announced.

-'Who said I need your help?'

-'I fought against the old man and although I would rather forget about it, I'm still going to give you a piece of advice.'-Hwoarang looked at her seriously and Julia finally accepted to listen to him.

-'What then?'-she asked.

-'Your mother isn't his hostage again, is she?'

-'No, she's fine.'

-'You don't want revenge, right?'

-'What's in the past is in the past. I'm not a vindictive person.'

-'In that case you should quit.'-Hwoarang's words almost caused her to hit him.

-'What!? That's your advice!?'

He nodded and took a few more chips.

-'Why are you so surprised? You know you don't have a chance. Besides you gave me the same advice when I was about to face him.'-Hwoarang informed.

-'Because I knew how you'd react after losing the match!'

-'Bullshit! I don't know why exactly you asked me to quit but whatever the reason was you always knew I wouldn't quit.'

-'In that case why are you doing the same to me now?'

-'Because you're supposed to be smarter and you don't take chances. You always play safe.'

-'I'm not going to quit.'

-'It's your funeral…Are you going to finish your lunch?'-he asked.

-'You have some nerves!'-Miharu accused. She didn't know what his reasons to go there and encourage Julia to quit were. Maybe he was worried about her or maybe he was just being the same old jackass who loves teasing other people.

-'What? I'm broke and I clearly need to eat. Do you want me to starve?'-he continued.

Julia got up and pulled Xiaoyu and Miharu, but the girls kept on eating until their plates were empty.

Hwoarang pulled Julia's plate to him.

-'Did you come here for a free meal or to mock Julia?'-Miharu asked.

-'I only wanted to give her a good advice but since she refused it I guess the only thing I can do now is to remember her that she owes me.'

Julia crossed her arms and practically tried to fulminate Hwoarang with her eyes. He didn't seem affected by that.

-'You're such a jackass.'-Miharu continued. She was absolutely disgusted to see how selfish and inconvenient he could be. Not to mention childish, irresponsible and other bad things.

When she realised she wouldn't win that argument because he was simply having fun, Miharu turned to her friends. Only then she noticed Xiaoyu was gone.

-'Where the hell is she?'-she asked Julia, but the Native American girl was also puzzled. She hadn't seen Xiaoyu leaving and neither did Hwoarang who was more concentrated on the food.

-'Let's' go find her before my match.'-Julia said but for some reason she had a feeling that Xiaoyu didn't want to be found.