Author's Note: Thank you for the reviews. I did proof read this but history has shown me that some mistakes will forever elude me, so I apologize in advance for any typos. I feel like this story is getting unnecessarily darker than I first envisioned...

Disclaimer: I don't own Before I ever met you by Banks, but it totally inspired the finishing of this chapter.

IIII

"... You bring out the mean in me and I bring out your insecurities."

/

"Come here."

Xiao scowled, her hands on her hips. "Why?" she asked with attitude.

Jin allowed his lips to curl into a slight smile. "Xiao, come here," he repeated.

She huffed, hesitated but eventually she made her way over to him. There was nothing sexy about her walk towards him, yet everything about it was sexy. From the slight sway of her hips that he knew was not intentional to the way her chest rose and fell. Her eyes looked coal black and mysterious. Sometimes it still gave him pause. He'd always thought Xiao pretty, definitely cute even when he was trying to avoid her, but it's like he went to sleep and when he woke up Xiao became beautiful.

And not just beautiful to look at but the kind of beauty that constantly gave him pause, made him forget his train of thought and a hundred other weaknesses his enemies would be happy to use against him. It's why he sometimes feels like Lars wasn't even trying hard enough to take him down, he'd literally had his biggest weapon against him and he'd done nothing but plot against the Mishima Zaibatsu.

"What?" Xiao asked standing before him.

Brought out of his thoughts, Jin licked his suddenly dry lips as he stared into Xiao's eyes. How could she not see it? That he'd lay the whole world at her feet if she just asked? That there was almost nothing he wouldn't do for her? And perhaps that's why he loved her like he did, because Xiao could bring him to his knees but she was so oblivious to her sway over him.

Even now there was still something so innocent about her, a light that his actions, the Mishima's and the two years apart hadn't managed to touch. She was his redemption and sometimes it terrified him, probably one of the very few things that actually still did.

Placing his hands on her hips he pulled her closer so she was standing between his legs where he sat on the edge of the bed. "I want you with me," he said, holding her eyes with his intense gaze.

She looked puzzled. "I am here with you," she said.

"I want you here permanently by my side," He said seriously.

Realisation dawned on her face and she slowly began shaking her head and from her stance he could tell she meant to bolt so he tightened his hold and said everything he can't yet say and she's not ready to hear with his eyes.

"We were happy, we can be that again," he adds.

"No we can't," she said, dropping her gaze to the floor.

Jin stood, pulling her into his arms. She stood rigid and unmoving but he didn't care. "Says who?" he demanded into her hair. "We are the architects of our own happiness and I swear to you things will be different this time," he insisted even as the devil inside his head hummed and called him a liar. "All you have to do is love me again Xiao..." he paused inhaling the sweet airy scent that's morning in spring and Xiao. "Like before.."

She was silent, her body a statue. Worried Jin pulled away to look into her face only she was as pale as a ghost, her lips parted in a silent scream as fear clouded her vision.

"Xiao?!" he called alarmed but she remained silent. Panicked Jin ran his eyes over her face and finally over the rest of her and that's when his heart stopped.

Blood, the colour of crimson and sin soaked the white gown around her swollen belly.

"No... no... what have I done?!" He couldn't think over the incoherent stutter stumbling from his lips.

Xiao crumpled and he caught her in his arm. I've killed her! He thought as gut wrenching fear twisted his insides. "Xiao!" A blood curling scream claws itself from his throat as pain seizes his entire body. Drenched in the blood of the only person he still loves he bowed his head into her neck as he held her close.

A gust of wind blew into the bedroom, the walls shuddered and the shadows cast blame. And inside that inferno of pain and torment his wings sprouted from his back and like black claws they gripped the air around him and enclosed him inside with Xiao nestled in his arms.

/_

Jin wakes with a start, eyes wide and his skin flushed with a sheen of sweat covering it. It takes a moment for the dream to rescind into the recess of his mind and for his conscious mind to realise it wasn't real. Still he leaps from his bed, makes the necessary distance to the adjoining bedroom in record time. When he flings the door open, Xiao starts at the disturbance, bleary eyed she blinks back at him in surprise.

"Jin?" she questions, voice thick with sleep.

Her eyes are puffy with sleep but there's life in them and he releases a breath he didn't realise he was holding. "Go back to sleep, Xiao" he says softly with the full intention of turning around and heading for one of his private dojos. He knows he can't go back to sleep - not after that dream.

However Xiao quickly stumbles out of the bed and he is amused in spite of himself at her chosen attire. It's an old t-shirt of his from back in his high school days. He had no idea she'd kept it. Even after everything.

"Did you have a nightmare?" she asked walking up to him, her voice coated with concern.

He stares at her and when she reaches out to touch him he halts her hand. "Don't." It comes out as an order but really it's a plea. Even though it pains him to admit it even if only to himself he knows she's here because he gave her no choice. That should he say the words she'd run and not look back. It hurts because he has yet to arrive at the place she currently resides where her love for him has morphed into barely tolerable hate.

If anything still lingers between them it's her lust and his misguided love turned obsession. Jin doesn't know much about being in love, because his mother ever spoke about his father with a far away glance and melancholy lacing her voice. The only woman he has loved and who has loved him back left him abandoned inside the fire they both created. It's the thing that Xiao doesn't understand. It's their demons, only he's the one that fights them while she plays the part of broken hearted and betrayed.

A flash of hurt mars her face at his words and gesture. Her reaction at his attempts to keep his walls in place angers him and once more he wonders how he can love and hurt over someone so much.

"Don't touch me like you care," he hisses still holding onto her wrist.

She winces at the added pressure around her wrist. "You're hurting me," she snaps trying to yank free.

"Isn't that what I'm good for, Xiao?" he asks through clenched teeth.

Xiao's eyes narrow into slits and it's like pouring gasoline on a dying amber. She strikes first, the open palm slap lands on his cheek leaving a burning sting.

"Don't." He leaves it there because even he is not quite sure what he's warning her against. Don't touch me? Don't leave it there? Don't stop? It's like a hook to a bad love song.

When she hits him again, his head nearly rolls on his neck from the force. When his tongue darts over his lip, he tastes blood. "You really shouldn't have," he bites out before pushing her roughly against the wall and entrapping both her hands in one of his.

She kicks at him as he wedges himself between her thighs. Both are panting, eyes glaring at each other. Then like a dam breaking through the wall, their lips collide as their tongues mesh and duel against each other.

Her legs wrap around his waist as he tears the flimsy material of her panties. He attacks that sensitive spot of hers just below her left ear and she moans. It's almost animalistic how they claw at each other, grinding and kissing.

And this time it's Xiao who begs him to fuck her and he latches on like a drowning man, squeezing her thighs as he spears into her.

Jin doesn't want this to be the only true thing between them, but for now it's the only thing keeping them together. So he'll settle and hope he breaks down her walls.

/

"I'm so happy we got together," Miharu said excitedly. "We haven't done this in a long time..."

Xiaoyu smiled wanly. "Yeah..." she said as she absently twirled the straw in her drink while watching Alisa make song picks on the jukebox from the corner of her eye. It had been her plan to meet up, just because she was living in the Mishima mansion didn't mean she couldn't hang out with her girls even if only as a distraction.

"Xiaoyu, are you okay?"

The seriousness of Miharu's tone snapped Xiaoyu from her idle musings as she tried to focus on the present.

"Of course, why do you ask?" she asked.

Miharu gave her a sceptical look. "You've just been unusually quiet today and that's so unlike you," she explained.

Keeping secrets was also so unlike her, but everything was suddenly so complicated. For what felt like the hundredth time in as many seconds, Xiaoyu tugged at the sleeves of the long blouse she'd picked to wear. Neither Miharu nor Alisa had commented on her chosen look considering how hot it was.

"I'm just tired... it's been a long couple of weeks," she answered with a shrug and for the most part it was partly true.

"Honestly, I didn't think you'd last this long," Miharu admitted.

"To be honest neither did I." And it was the honest truth.

Miharu reached out to place a hand over her own. "You've been so inspirational Xiao," she began her voice slightly shaky with emotion. "I know I give you a hard time about it, but I don't know if I could do what you're doing... being around Jin all the time even though he hurt you." She paused, clearing her voice before adding. "I was so afraid you'd get sucked into his lies again but you've been so strong."

Xiaoyu wanted to throw her head back and release a humourless bark of laughter. She wouldn't call her actions being strong. Definitely wouldn't call being screwed against a wall a show of strength. However as long as she kept delivering snippets of Jin's coming and goings everyone was happy.

Everyone except her.

"I got us more drinks!" Alisa exclaimed happily as she placed the drinks around them.

Miharu laughed. "Alisa, are you trying to get us drunk?" she asked amused. "You've been plying us with alcohol and it's not even happy hour yet."

Alisa smiled, shrugging her shoulders. "I promise I'm not trying to get you drunk," she insisted, and then she gestured at a far table in the more secluded area of the bar. "It's from that table, they've bought the last three rounds." She added cheerfully.

Xiaoyu followed Alisa's gesture, squinting in the dim lighting to make out the figure. Although she was clothed in a rather inconspicuous trench coat with a fedora tipped over half her face, Xiaoyu would recognise that poise anywhere.

"Anna..." she uttered in disbelief. Last she'd heard the woman and Kazuya had gone into hiding. For her to suddenly appear and approach them meant something. Why buy people drinks unless you wanted them to notice you?

"Williams?" Miharu asked shocked.

Alisa straightened up, her arms spread and ready to engage into battle should the need arise. "It is her... I didn't see it," she said shooting anxious glances between them and Anna.

"Aren't you programmed to notice such things?" Miharu asked worriedly.

"It's part of the deprogramming Jin had done," Xiaoyu answered distracted, her eyes still pined on the other woman.

Although Alisa was more human than android she was still very much an artificial intelligence. She still answered to Jin's direct orders however her allegiance was with Lars and as such, a few years ago Jin had removed some of her programmed abilities.

Suddenly Miharu grabbed her wrist, snapping her out of her daze. "Xiaoyu, what do you think you're doing?!" her friend demanded in alarm.

Surprised, Xiaoyu found she was standing. Shaking her head of the last of her reservations she pried herself free from Miharu's hold. "I'm going to ask Anna what she wants," she replied calmly. "Obviously she wants something or she wouldn't have tried to get us drunk."

"Okay, we're coming with you," Miharu said already making to stand up.

"No!" Alarmed at the force behind her voice, Xiaoyu tried again. "She's here for me, so I think it's better if I approach her alone," she said in a more gentle tone.

Alisa and Miharu exchanged glances but since they weren't making any attempts to stop her or follow her, Xiaoyu squared her shoulders before heading for Anna's table.

"If it isn't my little cherry blossom," Anna purred, tipping her hat back as she gave her a predatory grin.

Shaking the feeling of apprehension that overcame her at the sight of the other woman, Xiaoyu crossed her arms over her chest as she glared down at Anna. "What do you want?" she demanded.

Anna chuckled. "Can't I enjoy Japan's night life?" she asked coyly before chuckling.

"The only thing you enjoy is killing," Xiaoyu deadpanned.

"That is quite true," Anna agreed with a smirk. Then she made a show of sipping on her drink, lashes lowered as she grinned around the straw. "Tell me, how is our mutual friend?" she asked.

"What mutual friend?"

Again that annoying laugh that sounded like nails on a chalk board. "I understand your confusion, straddling two sides of opposite teams can lead to all kinds of confusion," she said with an easy shrug. "But I mean Kazama... he's been a real busy bee yet somehow he's managed to include romancing you into his schedule... makes for a curious scenario."

Xiaoyu didn't know how much Anna knew about her spying for Lars and she wasn't about to provide the woman unintentionally with information about it. However the reference to Jin did put her on alert. If Anna knew Jin was busy that meant she was watching him which meant Kazuya was watching him which could only lead to disaster.

The city was barely still rebuilding from the last encounter between father and son. The last thing anyone needed was a full on Mishima battle breaking out in broad daylight risking numerous lives of innocent people again.

"Look who's grown up," Anna said all false sweet smiles. "So you're not going to tell me anything?" she paused and when Xiaoyu remained silent gave another shrug. "I guess I'll just have to do the talking for most of us then. I have a message for Kazama so I want you to listen carefully."

Placing her elbows on the table Anna leaned forward. "Tell him that daddy dearest said that he looks forward to meeting him in Zurich," she said before leaning back into her seat, arms dangling loosely over the booth.

Xiaoyu frowned. "What meeting?" she demanded

"I don't make threats honey, I just deliver them," she said than she rose to her feet, the coat falling open to reveal the skin tight dress underneath with its dangerously high slit. "You should've stayed inside your little cave with the rest of the kiddie army now you're going to get caught in the crossfire." With those parting words, Anna slinked away, sashaying her way to the nearest exit.

Shaken, though she'd done well to hide it from Anna, Xiaoyu slowly made her way back to her table.

"What did she want?" Miharu asked anxiously.

Xiaoyu sank into her seat, fingers curled into fists. "She wanted to threaten me," she replied, voice devoid of emotion. It was partly true. For some reason her mouth refused to form the words about a meeting in Zurich.

"But why?"

"To get to Jin Kazama," Alisa replied softly. "I've already sent a message to Lars informing him of Anna William's appearance. He's calling for an urgent meeting at the bunker."

"Okay," Miharu nodded as she stood up. "Xiao, are you coming?" she asked.

Xiaoyu shook her head. "I don't think it's a good idea," she said.

"But-"

"She's right, let's go Alisa," Miharu said interrupting her.

Alisa turned helpless eyes at Xiaoyu.

"Go, I'll be fine, promise," Xiaoyu said her lips curled into a smile.

Alisa smiled, nodded then turned and followed Miharu.

After Alisa and Miharu left, Xiaoyu sat staring at the unfinished drinks before. She wished she could crawl inside a bubble where her current reality was merely a figment of her imagination, but all she needed to do was glance at the angry finger marks marring the skin on her wrists and she knew that this was very much real.

As real as-

But she quickly dismissed the thought. Pushing it to the back of her mind where she keeps the rest of her fears. Not that, anything but what her mind is contemplating.

/

"Before I ever met you, I never knew I could be broken in so many ways."

/

There's a shift in tenses in this chapter that bothers me like crazy. I wrote this in two parts so hence the odd shift. I tried to correct it but it was messing up the story so I eventually left it as is. Sorry if anyone found the change disconcerting.