Destiny Changed
Disclaimer: I don't own Tekken.
To all the Tekken Fans
Chapter 13
Hwoarang woke up suddenly. He heard steps on the hallway and looked at his watch. It's 2:00 am! Who the hell is up at this hour? Probably blondie paying a visit to a girl.
For some reason that thought disturbed him a little. It can't be Pigtails because she has a thing for Kazama…go figure. Pigtails' clone is way too hostile…no guy can put up with her. The Brazilian girl is too focused on that Eddy guy…so blondie is probably after…Chang. Damn it.
Hwoarang got up and opened his door just in time to see Jin disappearing in the elevator. He decided to follow him because he was acting suspicious. When he passed by Xiaoyu's room he heard her crying. So Romeo had finally spent the night with his Juliet. It looked like things didn't go well though. For a moment Hwoarang thought about going back to bed. He had nothing to do with Xiaoyu and Jin's problems but curiosity won and he continued following the Japanese young man. By that time Jin had already noticed he was being followed.
When Hwoarang got to the basement (which was used as a parking lot) the light wasn't enough to see where Jin was but he finally showed up behind the Korean.
-'You're finally here.'-Hwoarang said turning around to face his rival.
-'So, what do you want? Why are you following me?'
-'I can do whatever I want.'
Jin shrugged. In his opinion Hwoarang was a jerk and he would never change. It was also hard to know that in his absence, Xiaoyu could even fall in love with the red-haired Korean because now they seemed to be friends. Jin tried to put that thought away but it was almost impossible.
-'Just leave me alone…'-Jin said.
-'I don't think so. I don't know about you but I want a rematch.'
-'The second round starts tomorrow.'
-'What if I never get to fight you at the tournament?'
-'That's your problem. It means you're not that good.'
-'Fine. I'll take you on right here right now!'
-'There's no reason to fight.'
-'You don't have one? Well I do!'
Jin was trying his best to avoid a direct confrontation with the red-haired Korean, especially at 2:00 am. He wanted to have some rest and think about his own problems.
-'Usually I only attack when I'm provoked but for some reason you always succeed in pissing me off.'-Jin confessed.-'I can't get rid of you. Maybe I should teach you a lesson.'
Hwoarang prepared himself for battle. It seemed that Jin had finally accepted the challenge. They could both be disqualified for fighting outside the arena but it didn't matter anymore.
Jin realised Hwoarang was faster than before. He had certainly practiced hard. He also had new moves and could easily block some of Jin's attacks.
On the other hand more speed didn't necessarily mean more strength. Jin also knew that if he used his evil powers Hwoarang would probably end up dead, and that's why he was trying to control it.
Hwoarang had been hit twice by Jin's powerful fists. The second time he felt some blood droppings on his shirt. His left eyebrow was bleeding but it wasn't serious. Jin was as strong as he could remember, maybe even stronger.
-'You've been busy…'-Hwoarang said.-'Why do you bother when you have that evil super strength?'
-'I can't depend on it. I don't want to be like him…'
Hwoarang knew he was talking about his father. For a moment he almost felt sorry for Jin.
A half an hour later Jin and Hwoarang were tired, sweaty and bloody. It was hard to breathe and they were feeling pain all over their bodies. But none of them wanted to quit.
They were so focused on the fight that they didn't notice a group of soldiers getting closer.
-'Sergeant! Desertion is an offence punishable by Court Martial. Give yourself up soldier!'-the voice of Lieutenant Park Sung Min echoed through the whole parking lot and interrupted Hwoarang and Jin's fight.
Six other soldiers had their guns pointed at them but before the red-haired Korean could say a word Jin disarmed two men and Hwoarang did the same to three more.
-'Fire!'-Park Sung Min ordered to the rest of his men.
Hwoarang and Jin had to hide behind a car to avoid being shot.
-'Kazama, remember I kicked your ass back there. Are you listening?'
Jin nodded.
-'I'll give you the chance to even the scores in the next tournament. You better show up.'
Seeing an opportunity to escape they didn't waste it and Lieutenant Park Sung Min was absolutely furious when he realised Hwoarang was gone. He gave orders to search him all over the hotel, ignoring the fact that Hwoarang was still hiding behind a SUV.
In the meantime Julia was having a really nice dream. She was in Arizona watching the desert area turning into a beautiful forest. It was all thanks to the data she had managed to retrieve from Heihachi. Suddenly her cell phone started ringing and Julia woke up. Since it was almost 3:00 am she thought something had happened to Michelle. With her heart pounding Julia answered the call and was shocked to hear Hwoarang's voice on the other side.
-'I need you…'-he started.
-'How did you get this number? Do you know what time it is?'-she almost yelled.
-'Look…I want you…'
-'Don't you have anything else to do? You don't need me and you don't want me, ok? And I certainly don't need you to call me at this hour…I'm tired of your stupid jokes.'
-'Will you let me finish a sentence??? I need your help.'
That got Julia's attention. Now that she was in silence, Hwoarang could allow himself to make a few less appropriate comments.
-'I need your assistance…can you go to my room…preferably naked, and…'
-'Jerk.'
-'I was kidding…don't hang up. I'm in serious troubles. Go to my room and bring me my bag. I'm waiting in the sub-level…I mean the basement where the cars are.'
-'Why would I help you?'
-'You owe me, remember? I helped you in the Tag Tournament.'
-'So if I help you this time we're even, right?'
-'Yes…'
-'I won't have to keep my promise, is that it?'
-'YES. Now hurry up.'
Julia put on her jacket and left her room but then she realised she didn't have Hwoarang's room key. She went to the reception and asked for the supply key.
-'Room 102…That's Mr. Hwoarang's room…'-the receptionist said.
-'I know that.'
-'Ohhhh…well Miss…you better keep the noise down, otherwise you'll disturb the other fighters.'
Julia blushed and cursed her luck. That stupid asshole was always getting her into trouble.
Ten minutes later Julia met Hwoarang. By now she knew something was going on because the Hotel was being searched. She gave him his bag and prepared herself to leave but he grabbed her arm.
-'I still need your help.'
-'Why? What for? What have you done this time?'
-'Nothing…'
-'There are soldiers all over the Hotel. Don't give me that crap.'
-'Fine…they're looking for me. I need to leave this island right now and I need your help.'
-'I can't…the only way out of here is in an airplane and I don't know how to fly one.'
-'This is an island…isn't there a harbour around here…and a boat…something like that?'
-'There's one a few miles from here…but it's too far to walk.'
-'We'll drive.'
-'I'm not going to steal a car!'
-'No, you're not…but I am. And I'm not stealing…I'm just borrowing it.'
That said, Hwoarang used his room key to open the black SUV and forced Julia to get in.
-'You drive.'-he said to her.
-'What?'
-'I'm tired.'-he didn't want to tell her that he had a fight with Jin earlier.
They left quietly and undetected.
-'After this we're even.'-Julia insisted.-'There's no way I'm going to do what you want for 24 hours.'
That was the promise she had made. During the Tag Tournament Julia decided to investigate Heihachi's activities because he was acting weird. After finding out that the Tag Tournament wasn't even official, she had been caught by the tekken forces but Hwoarang helped her to escape. As a reward he asked her to be his servant for 24 hours. Stupidly she accepted.
-'Fine…you lose. We could've done awesome things together.'
Julia sighed. He was helpless. Always joking around, always getting into troubles, always being a jackass.
-'Why are those soldiers trying to find you?'
-'Who knows…I think it's my pretty face…'
-'If you don't tell me I'm going back to the Hotel.'
-'I left the Army to come to the tournament…it's no big deal.'
-'That's desertion! You're going to face Court Martial and you'll definitely have to serve some time in jail. You're an idiot.'
-'Hey…I had to come…it was my only chance to fight with Kazama.'
-'It's just a fight. How can you jeopardise your future for that?'
-'I don't give a crap about the future. All I care is the present.'
-'You should think before you act. Look at all the mess you caused. I can end up in jail because of you.'
-'Don't worry…you won't go to jail.'-he said and closed his eyes, pretending to be asleep.
-'Are you really going to sleep in a time like this?'
-'If I open my eyes the only thing I'll be looking at is you in that really short nightdress…'
-'Then I guess you should sleep.'
Fifteen minutes later Julia stopped the car under a tree. It was dark and a few steps away she could see the ocean reflecting the moonlight.
-'Where are we?'-Hwoarang asked opening his eyes.
-'There's the harbour…'-Julia said pointing.-'You'll be lucky to find a boat…'
-'Finally.'
-'Do you realise it's the second time I'm in a stolen car with you?'
-'The first time I was the one helping you, so don't start!'
-'I'm just saying…'
Hwoarang got out of the car and Julia followed him. Fortunately there were two boats and one had a motor.
-'I'm saved…'-he said.
-'So…what are you going to do now? It's dark…you won't be able to set sail…'
-'I served in the Army you know?'
-'Are you sure you know what you're doing?'
-'Most of my missions were at night…but thanks for your concern.'
-'I'm not worried.'
-'Yes, you are.'
-'No, I'm not.'
-'I have an idea…maybe we could sail together. We could go to the States and surprise your mother.'
-'Keep dreaming…'
For a few seconds they remained in silence. During that time Hwoarang took notice of how beautiful she was under the moonlight. She was wearing her nightdress, a jacket and tennis shoes. Her hair was loose and she had forgotten to wear her glasses. Julia wasn't paying much attention while he was checking her out because she had just realised he was bleeding. Without thinking she tried to touch his face but he pulled back.
-'You're bleeding…Can I take a look?'-she asked.
-'It's just a small cut.'-he said turning his head the other way.
-'Don't be such a baby.'
-'I said it's just a scratch…'
Julia approached him and in that instant he turned around to persuade her to leave him alone. None of them was aware of how close they were and when they did, it was too late, they were already kissing.
Instead of pushing him away Julia stood still and Hwoarang didn't complain, on the contrary, if she was enjoying the moment he would turn that kiss into something she wouldn't forget. Sadly the noise of two or three cars heading their way broke the magic.
-'Go to the car. Don't let them see you…'-Hwoarang ordered.
Speechless Julia watched him jump to the boat and leave. She didn't even have the chance to say goodbye.
In the next ten minutes Julia remained inside the black SUV, watching Lieutenant Park Sung Min unleash his frustration on his men. It was obvious he was more than upset. If she wasn't stunned by the kiss, Julia would've understood all the offensive names Hwoarang was being called.
-'I hate that kid. When I put my hands on him…He'll be dead!'-the Lieutenant said before returning to his vehicle.-'Call the Japanese authorities in Kyushu. Tell them to capture all the boats arriving.'-he ordered.
Julia waited a few more minutes before heading back to the Hotel. Everything was calmer and she went straight to her room. Before going to bed, Julia tossed away a few pillows and clothes to the floor. The warm feeling that Hwoarang's kiss had left in her was gone. Now she was even more frustrated than Lieutenant Park Sung Min.
I can't believe I kissed him…
