A/N: Here's chapter nine. Thanks for the reviews for the last chapter, as always, and let me know how you liked this one even if it's a tad short, heh. Oh yeah, to answer your question, Dilu, Ayumi's songs are all in Japanese. Nope, I didn't translate the lyrics, (I wish I could translate from Japanese though!) I got the translations from a site called Kiwi Musume. It has translations for virtually all of Ayu's songs, plus loads of other Japanese artists too, and it's the first place I go for translations!

NEVER EVER

The sun will rise

Unaware of the thousands of tears and the pain

I swam in a sea of ashes.

Chapter Nine: Daylight
But it's not alright. I know it isn't, and it can't be, and I'm sure he knows it too, but if it's enough to comfort him, then it doesn't matter, right?

Doesn't matter that it's a lie? When did lies become something to cherish?

Because that's what I did for two years for you, remembered that smile and those words, and held onto them whenever I felt lonely and doubtful. I wonder if that's what you'll do now? When things go wrong, will my words be enough? Will you think to yourself 'Xiaoyu said things would be okay?'"

Is your head always filled with such nonsense?

I pull away from Jin.

"What?"

He looks confused.

"I didn't say anything."

I'm about to argue, but how can I? I know he's telling the truth, even though I could swear it was his voice. How would he be able to say anything when he was kissing me, anyway?

God. I'm hearing things now. I think that qualifies as officially going insane.

"You okay?"

He brushes my hair away from my face with the lightest touch, and I shiver. What a question. And as usual, I nod and say, "Yeah, I'm fine," and he smiles and leans down to kiss me again, to wrap his arms around me and rest his head on my shoulder as we stand in silence. There's a flickering lamp at the side of the pathway, and I can see fog, made more visible by the pool of light.

I know that things aren't going to be like they used to be. Jin's definitely changed. Yeah, in a subtle, almost imperceptible way, but there's definitely something. I want to stay close to him. It's the only way to find out more.

Do you really want to know?

That voice, again. It's his. But it's not. It can't be. He's holding me close, I can feel his breath on my skin, he's not talking, so how?

I wonder.

There's a tinge of amusement to the voice, and it's louder than before, making me give a start. Jin steps back with a frown.

"Xiaoyu, what is it?"

"I... I thought I heard something, I guess."

"What? I didn't hear - "

Interesting dreams you've been having. I wonder... does she actually think you can help him now?

Jin stops, his eyes widening.

"You heard..."

He trails off, stares at me guiltily, and then before I can say anything, he turns around and runs down the pathway. I call his name, set off after him, but the fog swallows him before I can catch up, by the time I get out into the open, there's no sign of him.

I trudge back to the hotel, freezing and confused. What the hell went on back there? That voice, it sounded like Jin, but... something was different. I don't know how to describe it, but it was like there was some weird... I don't know, edge to it. Jin heard it, the last time. He must have. What else could have sent him running off like that? What's happening to him? How am I supposed to help him if he won't tell me anything?

Warm air washes over me as I walk back into the lobby. The clock above the reception desk shows it's just past three thirty. There's no piano music filtering through the air, but when I pass the bar there are still people inside. No one pays me any mind, and I wonder whether they'd serve me if I went in and tried to order something. Nah, the staff probably know all our ages, knowing Heihachi. So instead, I go upstairs. But when I get to my room, I stand in front of the door for a few moments, contemplating. I don't want to go inside. I don't want to be alone.

You're standing in the entrance of the temple, and it's the same as it was back then, but she's not with you this time, and it was well-lit last time. This time, you can hardly see your hand in front of your face. Darkness stretches out in front of you for what seems like forever, but if this is the same place as last time, then eventually you'll find your way. Easy. Pale light shines weakly underneath the wooden door, a door that wasn't there a moment ago, but no matter. You've seen stranger things. You reach out to open it, and a soft, choked sob reaches your ears. The door swings open of its own accord, as if it were waiting for you to find it all this time. There's someone inside, a woman, the light from the wall-mounted torches glowing in her black hair, and she's the one who's crying.

What's wrong?

She doesn't hear you. She's too caught up in her misery to notice you're there, and you hesitate in the doorway, unsure whether you should leave her. There's the scuff of feet on the ground from further in, then a soft thud, and that's what makes up your mind.

It's Kazama, his back to you, his hands shaking, looking down at something on the ground in front of him. And although he's obstructing your view, you can see a small hand, the sleeve of a jacket that you recognise, and no no this isn't real, he wouldn't, she's not, and you're running over and getting to your knees and gathering her into your arms, and Jin doesn't move, doesn't see you, and neither does she. Her eyes are staring blankly, her lips parted, and there's the red imprint on her skin of hands around her throat.

You know it's useless, can tell by the odd angle of her neck that she's not going to open her eyes, but you still shake her softly, call her name. Your throat's tight, your vision blurred, and you hold her close, trembling, whispering apologies for letting this happen, for not getting there sooner, for not being there.

You were too late, she says without speaking. But it's okay. I forgive you.

You didn't think it was even possible for someone to jolt upright in bed after a nightmare, thought it was just something that happened in movies and on tv for dramatic effect, but that's exactly what you find yourself doing. There's daylight spilling through a gap in the blinds, and for a moment you sit there, heart pounding, cold sweat on your forehead, and then it dawns on you that there's someone else with you. Xiaoyu is curled up on top of the covers beside you, still in her day clothes, her hair loose and going in all directions. You take a deep breath. This is real. It's daylight.

Like that makes it any more real.

You sit up better, look down at her as she sleeps, and absently brush her tangled hair away from her eyes, sigh, shake your head.

"Yep. Definitely gotta lay off the crack, Hwoarang."

Fate quietly drifted closer

And you burned out alone and disappeared into the sky.

--- Ryu, Tsukiko Amano