WARNING: EXTREMELY LONG LONG CHAPTER UP AHEAD!
There's a reason why me and boyfriend decided that it was gonna be extremely long because it's the tenth chapter of this story and we wanted to make it special. It's for you guys for being so supportive of me, my boyfriend and this story we worked so hard together.
I'd like to ultimately thank my top supporters, SolSparda36 and Wlyman2009. You guys are the only two that motivate me to continue and continue this story even more with your feedback. I recently created a Twitter account just in case you guys wanna tweet to me your ideas or just wanna socialize, since I enjoy communicating so much with my readers. My username is almost about the same as my fanfic one. It's Phoenix The Rebelist AKA at PTRebelist.
Enjoy the story! :D
CHAPTER TEN: BODIES
"Skin against skin, blood and bone. You're all by yourself, but you're not alone."
Tamaki stood outside the bathroom, waiting for Honoka to finish getting dressed. The older woman let out a frustrated sigh. It's been twenty minutes, and she still hasn't come out. "~Honoka, love, please come out~," she called, her voice laced with fondness and exasperation.
The response was immediate and firm. "No!" Honoka's voice wavered slightly from behind the locked door.
Tamaki leaned closer, her brow creasing with worry. "~But why, sweetheart? You've been in there for an eternity. You're going to miss your date with Hwoarang.~"
There was a pause before Honoka's voice came through, tinged with uncertainty. "O-Oh, well... I-I'm not going. There!"
Tamaki's eyes widened in disbelief, her usual sultry tone ascending into an octave of shock. "What do you mean "not going"?! Are you serious?!"
"That's what I said. I'm just gonna cancel my date with him." The bathroom's barrier muffled Honoka's confirmation. "I'm going to stay here and just do some training for the upcoming match-ups tomorrow."
Unwilling to accept this, Tamaki's annoyance flared. "Absolutely not, Honoka! This guy has fought and won this date with you fair and square! You can't back out now."
"Y-Yeah? Well, I changed my mind! I'm not goin' anywhere." Honoka said.
"Oh, yes, you are!" Tamaki argued, the volume in her voice rising. "You're not going to leave him high and dry on this date."
"Oh, yes, I am!" Honoka argued back in the same tone. "You can tell him I changed my mind."
"Well, you better find another way to UNCHANGE your mind because I will drag you out of there if I have to," Tamaki growled. With a determined grasp, she turned the doorknob and pushed the door open.
Inside, the sight before Tamaki deflated her irritation like a balloon. Honoka was crouched in the corner, her arms awkwardly angled as she wielded a lipstick with shaky uncertainty, the smear across her lips a bold streak of rebellion. Compassion brushed away Tamaki's annoyance, a smile twitching on her lips. "~Honoka, darling, are you planning a heist—or perhaps trying out as the next infamous supervillain with that 'look'?~" the former model teased gently, gesturing to the lipstick smeared across her mouth, giving her an appearance similar to a particular green-haired villain.
"~And why aren't you in your dress?~," she said softly, strolling towards the young girl. Tamaki gently pulled Honoka to her feet and brushed her palm against the back of her dress. "~You can't go on your date with what you're wearing.~"
"But I don't wanna put it on," Honoka whined with a pouty face. "It squeezes me too tight."
Tamaki let out a soft, understanding sigh as she kneeled at Honoka's level, gently cupping the young girl's cheeks. "~I know, sweetheart, I know~," she cooed with a maternal warmth that seemed to fill the room. She knew the struggles of fashion all too well, the way the fabric could constrict, the way beauty often came with a pinch of pain. But tonight was different—finding a balance between elegance and comfort was important.
"~But sometimes, beauty comes with a little bit of discomfort. However, your comfort is far more important.~" She reached for a tissue from the nearby vanity and delicately removed the rogue lipstick from Honoka's face, careful not to tug too harshly at her soft skin. "~There, that's better, isn't it?" Honoka nodded in response. "~Tell me, Honoka, this is your first rodeo at applying makeup, isn't it?"
"Um…W-Well, when I was little, my grandma told me I wasn't allowed to wear any until I hit eighteen, so I don't really have much experience in putting on makeup," Honoka explained.
Flashback
Honoka's thumbs flew over the buttons of her PSP as she battled legendary monsters. A soft knock at her door barely registered in her focused mind. "Come in!" she called without glancing away from the screen. Her grandmother entered, a gentle smile on her face.
"Hello, Honoka," she greeted, her warm eyes resting on her granddaughter. "How are you?"
"Great. How are you?" Honoka replied, still engrossed in her game. "I didn't hear you come in."
Her grandmother settled on the bed, purse and a small bag in hand. The weight of the bed shifted as she sat down, drawing Honoka's attention away from the game. That's when she noticed the bag in her grandmother's hand. Her heart jumped as she recognized the contents.
"I discovered this tucked away in your book bag," her grandmother remarked, her fingers carefully retrieving an elegant tube of lipstick as though it were an ancient, sacred artifact.
"Y-You did?" Honoka stammered, a tinge of trepidation in her voice.
"Mmhm." Her grandmother nodded with a pursed smile. "This isn't part of your school supplies, is it?" she asked, her tone gentle yet carrying an undercurrent of concern.
"Um," Honoka hesitated, her anxiety mounting.
"Now, Honoka," her grandmother began, her tone a tapestry of tenderness and resolve. "Do you recognize this item?"
A lump settled in Honoka's throat. "It's makeup," she confessed, her tongue a traitor to her blooming defiance.
"Good girl," her grandmother said with a note of gentle approbation, resealing the lipstick with an audible click. "Now, the rule our home has always been clear. No makeup until you're eighteen."
Honoka eyes widen in disbelief and disappointment. "EIGHTEEN?! But, Grammie, that's ages away!" she exclaimed, her protest rose like a kite against the wind.
Her grandmother's laugh, warm and rich, poured over the room. The makeup bag in her hand was a symbol of the unspoken tensions between childhood and the rush towards adulthood. "Honoka, we've talked about this before. You're still so young, my dear. There's no need to disguise that with makeup."
"B-But it's not fair!" Honoka protested once more, her voice rising with the fervor of her conviction. "I'm not a kid anymore, Grandma. I'm thirteen years old. I'm practically a woman. See?" she claimed, pulling up her shirt and showing her developing bust.
This earned her a giggle from her grandmother. "Honoka, Sweetheart, you are not a woman. You're a child."
"I'm a YOUNG woman," Honoka corrected, the flame of her ego fanned by the challenge.
"You are an OLD child," came the playful retort, a gentle teasing in the wrinkle-framed smile.
"Maybe a beginning woman?" Honoka's words were a hopeful murmur, clinging to a vine of compromise.
"Okay, Honoka. You are officially a beginning woman."
"Yes! Alright, so that just means I need practice." beamed Honoka.
"And practice can wait until you're eighteen," her grandmother maintained nonchalantly. "It was the rule for your great-aunt, for me, and now for you."
"But times have changed. Every girl at school wears makeup," Honoka countered.
Her grandmother shook her head, her stance firm. "The answer is still "no", Honoka."
"Grandma, ALL my friends are wearing makeup," the younger girl whined.
"Honoka…" started her grandmother, who was trying to stay calm and patient.
"And even Chihiro's mom lets—"
Her grandmother cut her off with a gentle authority that commanded the room. "I am not your babysitter's mother. If you prefer her rules, feel free to stay at her house. But under my roof, I expect you not to wear makeup. Is that understood?"
Honoka considered protesting, but looking at her grandmother's stern posture made her hold her tongue. "Yes, Grandma."
The room was filled with a tense silence as two generations found themselves at an impasse, each standing firm in their beliefs. Yet, the bond between them remained unbroken, a testament to the love and respect that underpinned their relationship.
With a sigh, the elderly woman took her granddaughter's hand in hers, her touch gentle, but her resolve firm. "Honoka. My sweet Honoka, growing up is about more than just appearances. It's about making wise decisions and respecting the guidelines I set for you out of love and concern. Your beauty shines brightest when you're just being yourself. There's no need to rush into adulthood. Cherish these moments of youth; they're more precious than you realize."
Honoka's silent frustration slowly melted away under the warmth of her grandmother's words. Though she longed for the freedom to express herself as she saw fit, she understood the wisdom in her grandmother's counsel. "I understand, Grammie. It's just hard sometimes, feeling like I'm the only one who has to follow these rules," she admitted, her voice softening.
Her grandmother nodded, squeezing Honoka's hand reassuringly. "I know, my dear. But remember, these rules are out of love, not to limit you. And one day you'll appreciate the care and guidance that went into setting them," her grandmother finished, her words a gentle embrace. Honoka gazed at her grandmother, her eyes softened with understanding.
"I do appreciate it, Grammie. I promise." Her voice was sincere, a newfound determination simmering beneath her youthful façade. Her grandmother smiled, a twinkle of pride in her eyes.
"I know you do, my dear. You're a smart and sensible young woman. Just remember, there's plenty of time for makeup and all those grown-up things. Right now, enjoy being a beginning woman and embrace the joys of your youth."
Honoka nodded, her heart a blend of acceptance and reluctance. "I will, Grammie. Thank you."
Her grandmother patted her hand affectionately. "That's what grandmas are for, sweetheart. Now, how about we make some coffee buns together? A beginning woman like yourself must master the art of baking, don't you think?" she teased with a wink
A smile crept onto Honoka's face as she nodded eagerly. "I'd love that, Grammie. Let's make the best coffee buns ever!"
End Flashback
"And since then, I've never really got the chance to learn how to put makeup on," Honoka explained innocently.
"Well, now that you're no longer a…beginning woman, I think it's finally time you've learned how to." grinned Tamaki, placing her hands on Honoka's shoulders.
"But I can't do that." the airheaded girl protested with worry. "Listen, Miss Tamaki, I appreciate what you're doing for me, but I can't let my grandma see me with my face all covered in makeup. She'll be super duper furious."
"~Exactly.~" Tamaki agreed.
"Yeah. Wait-what?!"
"~ You're certainly right. She can't see you because she won't.~"
"What do you mean?"
"~Tell me, Honoka. Where is your grandmother right now?"
"Um…" stuttered Honoka, who was nervously fidgeting. "In the hospital."
Tamaki's eyes widened, and she was genuinely taken aback by her reply but brushed it off. "~O-Okay, good. And considering that she's not here, you can take this opportunity to wear as much makeup as your heart desires.~"
"I dunno about this…"
"~Honoka dear, I refuse to allow you to walk around with your face like that. The last thing you wanna do is give your date a good reason to avoid you entirely.~" Tamaki said, gesturing over to a seat in front of the mirror for Honoka to sit on.
Honoka complied and silently waited for Tamaki to redo her makeup. She nearly fell out of her seat in shock when it was suddenly spun around to face the former gravure model. First, Tamaki applied primer to her face before adding the foundation.
"~Okay, first things first. This brush is too old, so we might as well just have to use my brush for now.~" Tamaki said, pulling out her outliner brush from her own makeup bag. "~Now, let's do something about those eyelashes, shall we?~" Tamaki said.
"Miss Tamaki, could you be careful not to poke my eye out?"
"~Geez, having little faith in me would be nice, eh?~"
"Sorry. I'm just a little nervous about putting on makeup is all." Honoka smiled sheepishly.
"~Just relax, Honoka. I promise I'll be gentle," Tamaki reassured with a warm smile as she carefully brought the lash curler toward Honoka's eyelashes. "~Now, just look straight ahead and keep your eyes open. I'm just going to curl them a little to make your eyes pop.~"
With a soft squeeze, Tamaki curled Honoka's lashes, her touch as precise as it was gentle. She then applied a coat of mascara, wiggling the wand from the base of the lashes to the tips to avoid clumps.
"~See? That wasn't so bad, was it?~" Tamaki asked as she stepped back to admire her work.
Honoka blinked, surprised by the lightness of the makeup. "Wow, it doesn't feel heavy at all!" she exclaimed.
Tamaki chuckled, "~ That's because we're not done yet! But don't worry, it's all about enhancing your natural beauty, not covering it up. Let's move on to a bit of eyeshadow.~"
She picked a delicate peach shade that would complement Honoka's skin tone. "~Close your eyes for me,~" Tamaki instructed. She added a hint of color to Honoka's lids with a few gentle strokes, blending it softly into her natural contours.
Honoka peeked in the mirror and couldn't help but gasp. "It's so... subtle!"
"~Exactly!~" Tamaki beamed, "~Makeup is an art, and your face is the canvas. Now, let's add some blush. Smile for me, and I'll just put it right on the apples of your cheeks.~" As Honoka smiled, Tamaki dusted on a light pink blush, making her cheeks look naturally flushed. "~And finally, some lipstick. We'll go with something light, nothing too bold.~" She selected a soft coral that seemed perfect for Honoka's lips.
Tamaki carefully applied the lipstick, and with a final dust of translucent powder to set everything, she stepped back, "~All done! What do you think?~"
Honoka looked at her reflection, her eyes wide in astonishment. She could hardly recognize herself, yet she looked more like herself than ever—just enhanced. "Miss Tamaki... I look... I look beautiful!"
Tamaki laughed, "~Of course you do! And you were beautiful to begin with. The makeup just highlights the beauty you already have.~"
Honoka's eyes shimmered, not just from the makeup, but from the pools of gratitude welling up within her. "I just wish Grandma could see me. Do you think... do you think she would approve?" she asked tentatively, the worry evident in her voice.
Tamaki tilted her head, considering Honoka with an empathetic gaze. "~I think she would be over the moon to see her granddaughter embracing her femininity and trying something new. Besides, makeup isn't just about how it makes you look—it's also about how it makes you feel. Powerful. Confident. Capable. That's a gift no one should miss out on, especially you, Honoka.~"
The sincerity in Tamaki's voice was the nudge Honoka needed to set aside her doubts. "You really think so?" Honoka asked, her voice a mix of hope and newfound curiosity.
Tamaki nodded, "~Absolutely. Next time we visit her, you'll be her radiant granddaughter, and she'll love you whether you wear makeup or not. But today, you learned something new, and that's important. Remember, it's all about self-expression and feeling good in your skin.~"
Honoka beamed, her smile reflecting the warmth she saw in Tamaki's eyes. "Thank you, Tamaki. This has been... really special."
"~No problem at all! And remember, practice makes perfect. So whenever you're ready, we can do this again, and maybe you can try doing it yourself with a little guidance.~" Tamaki offered, her heart full, knowing she had helped her friend take a small, yet significant step towards self-discovery.
The two friends hugged, a silent promise passing between them that this would be just the beginning of many more sessions of laughter, learning, and the gentle art of bringing out one's inner beauty. Honoka felt a newfound sense of excitement about makeup and, most importantly, about the many facets of her own identity that she was just starting to explore.
The two women were walking in the hallways on the way to their dates when Honoka accidentally bumped into someone. "I'm sorry. I wasn't looking where I was going." She said as she looked up to see a man with distinctive silver hair that covered most of the top part of his head and dark grey eyes. "L-Lee Chaolon…" she whispered, the name rolling off her tongue.
A knowing smile teased Tamaki's lips. "My, you're quite the connoisseur of fighters, aren't you, Honoka?"
"Well, of course I do, silly," Honoka replied with a slight giggle. "He's the owner of Violet Systems. You know? The company that builds those super strong robots to help humans with chores like cooking your meals and scrubbing floors. Oh, and even helping you walk across the street."
"~Helping someone cross the street isn't exactly what I'd call a 'chore,' love.~" chuckled Tamaki.
Honoka ignored her and continued rambling. "W-Wait, hold on. Is it possible that Heihachi Mishima took you under his wing and trained you, Mr. Chaolon?"
A nod—subtle yet certain—told her everything. Lee's gaze lingered on her, intense and measuring. "Indeed, he did. But I'm curious, how does such a delicate flower come to harbor this intricate knowledge of my life?" His rich and velvet voice betrayed his interest and mild suspicion at her familiarity.
Honoka's excitement bubbled over as she explained, "Well, I figured since you practice Mishima Martial Arts combined with Jeet Kune Do, you might've trained with him. As for Heihachi... well, he has been my idol since childhood."
The man looked down at the two ladies with a smirk; however, his attention was entirely on Honoka. Tamaki looked at the older male briefly and returned to her adorable friend. It wasn't hard to notice that his gaze wasn't on her face, but entirely on her breasts and she could tell that he DEFINITELY liked what he saw.
A playful smile crossed her lips as she addressed the elephant in the room, her tone dripping with irony, "~Finding the view to your liking, Mr. Chaolon?~"
A flicker of amusement crossed Lee's face before his attention returned to Honoka. Taking Honoka's hand, he declared with warmth and mystery, "Excellent." He said, taking her hand in his. "And to whom do I owe the delight of this encounter?" he asked, kissing Honoka's hand gently.
"H-H-Honoka." Honoka stuttered, shocked by the man's action. He chuckled; it was deep and seductive.
"I'm Lee Chaolan, the adoptive younger brother of Kazuya Mishima."
The weight of his name pulled her brows high, disbelief etched across her features. "No way! K-Kazuya…Mishima?!" she repeated. Did she hear right? Were her ears playing tricks on her? "As in THE Kazuya Mishima?!"
An enigmatic smile played across Lee's lips. "Surprised? It's as though you've uncovered a missing piece in a vast puzzle," he replied.
Gathering her startled thoughts, Honoka breathed a quiet admonition, "Surprised hardly covers it! But then again, who wouldn't be? To train under Heihachi Mishima is one thing, but to be Kazuya's brother? That's on a whole different level!"
"Of course I am. Can you blame me? You said that Heihach Mishima trained you, but you never said anything about being related to his son."
"—The very same," he confirmed, his tone smooth as silk, "different paths, but bound by destiny and blood. Now, tell me more about this admiration for the Mishimas."
Honoka still couldn't shake off the surreal quality of the moment as she tried to reconcile the charming man in front of her with the name that rang with so much power and history in the martial arts realm. It was like an unseen thread had woven their fates together, and now she found herself a part of this incredible tapestry.
"Well," she began, eager to keep the conversation despite the butterflies in her stomach, "it's just… the Mishima name is legendary. Your techniques, the power, the control—it's all about strength, isn't it? There's this aura of invincibility around Kazuya and Heihachi that's both intimidating and inspiring."
Her eyes gleamed with a mix of respect and a hint of awe that was unmistakably genuine.
Lee appraised her with renewed interest, his complacent smile never faltering. "You speak of strength and power, but there is more to the Mishima legacy than meets the eye. It's not all about the triumphs and the battles won, but also the tumultuous path we tread. A path steeped in conflict, sacrifice, and resilience. That is what defines us," he said thoughtfully, releasing her hand as if allowing her thoughts to expand with the space between them.
Honoka nodded slowly, absorbing his words. She knew of the infamy as much as the fame that was part and parcel of the Mishima saga. "I guess overcoming the odds, no matter how great, is part of the allure. It's something to strive for."
Lee's gaze sharpened a bit, intrigued by her response. "And what is it that you strive for, Honoka?" he inquired, leaning slightly toward her.
Her demeanor shifted from hesitance to determination with the mention of her own ambitions. "I want to be someone who can face any challenge head-on, to never back down. To be strong, not just in body, but in spirit."
A chuckle escaped Lee as if her response pleased him. "A commendable aspiration," he acknowledged. "Perhaps there's more of the Mishima spirit in you than you know, despite the distance in our bloodlines."
Honoka couldn't help but laugh, shaking her head in mild disbelief, "Who would've thought, huh?"
Lee's eyes narrowed thoughtfully, maintaining their enigmatic twinkle. "Perhaps," he said at last, "but the Mishima way is not something to be taken lightly. It is a path filled with hardships and often a loneliness that can only be understood by those who walk it."
Honoka's resolve hardened with his words. "I'm willing to face that," she declared, "if it means becoming stronger and being able to stand on my own."
"Very well," Lee conceded with a hint of admiration, releasing her hand. The subtle transition in his posture suggested the conversation was reaching its natural end. "We may just see what the future holds, Ms. Honoka." His smile was an enigma itself, leaving her to wonder about the depth of his words.
Honoka stepped back with a polite bow of her head, feeling the weight of Lee Chaolan's gaze as she turned to leave with Tamaki.
Honoka stood with Tamaki, listening to the hooting and laughter around her. Tokyo was very busy, it seemed.
"~Hmm…it appears he hadn't shown up, so I suppose we're the first ones here.~"
"I wonder where he is." Honoka pondered aloud, finger pressed against her chin. "Maybe he overslept or something and woke up too late...or maybe he just forgot about-" She immediately stopped when she caught a glimpse of the glare Tamaki was throwing towards her. "I-I mean, he DID tell me to meet here, so there's no way he forgot."
"~He better not have. We didn't do all that shopping and get you all dolled up just to be stood up. I won't allow you to face that kind of humiliation alone.~" Tamaki's gaze softened as she looked at Honoka's hopeful expression. "~If he makes you wait any longer, we'll just go and have some fun on our own. Tokyo has so much to offer, and we won't let it go to waste, right?~" She looped her arm through Honoka's.
Honoka nodded, her spirits lifted by the suggestion. "You're right, Tamaki. We've got the whole city to explore! But let's give him a few more minutes, just in case. You never know; he could be rushing over here right now!"
They found a bench nearby and sat down, watching the crowds bustling past in the bright neon glow of the city. Honoka's eyes flickered toward every passing face, hoping to catch sight of him.
"After all," Honoka said with a wistful sigh, "he did pick this place out especially. It would be a shame to leave without..." Her voice trailed away as she noticed Tamaki scanning the area with a protective frown.
"~Let's just hope he realizes how lucky he is to have someone as patient and understanding as you waiting for him,~" Tamaki said firmly. "~Otherwise, he'll answer to me.~"
They both laughed, the tension easing away for the moment. Despite the uncertainty, the laughter and colors of Tokyo kept their spirits buoyed as they continued to wait.
After a few more minutes, she considered walking back to the Zaibatsu when she felt a hand gently land on her shoulder.
She jumped in fright and turned her head backwards.
"Yo," Hwoarang greeted Honoka.
"~Oh my… Hwoarang you are very handsome this fine evening~" remarked Tamaki.
"Thanks, Tamaki," he replied.
"~You better take good care of my cute Honoka-chan…~ said Tamaki, but her tone for the next words had a bit of ice laced in it. "~Or you might find yourself in a bad situation.~"
A smile may be on Tamaki's face, which Hwoarang sees, but he also saw the Japanese kanji for menacing above her head.
ゴゴゴゴ
A chill went down Hwoarang's spine, signifying that he was scared. Hwoarang's thoughts, however, 'Must be the wind.'
Honoka watching all of this, lets out a giggle. The night was starting out great already for Honoka, and it would only get better in her eyes. Hwoarang leads
Honoka to his bike and then hands her a helmet. Staring at Hwoarang with a concerned look, Honoka asks a question. "Where's your helmet?"
"Don't need one," Hwoarang replied.
"What if you hit something?" asked Honoka.
Hwoarang smirked as he got on his bike and started it. The roar of the motorcycle surprised Honoka, but she wasn't scared. On the contrary, she got excited about it. The aspect of riding a bike sounded like a dopamine rush would happen for Honoka.
(CO A/N: she's not turned on you pervs)
"Hit something? As if I'm too good to crash."
Honoka got on the back of the bike. Hwoarang ensured she was secured, then took off, but slower than he usually did because of Honoka. Honoka turned a little for a split second and waved goodbye to Tamaki. Tamaki gave a light smile and waved back as if watching the girl she mentored move away to live on her own in the world.
"They grow up so fast," she said while pretending to wipe away a tear.
With Hwoarang and Honoka, they were swerving through traffic at a moderate pace, which they both find alright. Honoka found it thrilling at first, but she truly longed for the rush she would see on TV all the time.
"Hey, Hwoarang!" she yelled because of the rushing wind.
"Yeah!?" he replied.
"Faster!" The pink-haired girl yelled out with a smile plastered on her face.
"Ask and thou shall receive!" Hwoarang said with a grin as he dropped a gear and slowed down a little, which confused Honoka. The engine roared as Honoka found her head pulled back by the sudden acceleration.
"Oh Yeah!" Honoka yelled excitedly.
The rush of wind, the blurry lights, and the silhouettes of people as they move through the streets of Tokyo well over the speed limits. They were far from the city center, so Hwoarang could go all out since the traffic was thinner at this time.
Halfway to the destination of their date, a loud "stop!" is heard with the sight of blue lights from a police car. This confused Hwoarang as he knew the Japanese police were taught not to start high-speed chases, but that didn't bother him in the slightest. He felt Honoka shift a little and move her head beside his ear. Hwoarang began to think that his date was scared, but what he heard from her mouth sounded the opposite.
"Lose them."
'That was already the plan.' Hwoarang thought.
"Time to drop a gear and disappear!" said Hwoarang as he repeated his same action earlier but moved way faster than the first time it happened. The police car couldn't accelerate as fast nor get through traffic as fast as the motorcycle.
The cop couldn't keep up, so he slowed down into traffic. He turned off his lights as he watched Hwoarang and Honoka speed away.
A few minutes later, Hwoarang and Honoka make it to their destination. It was a popular bowling alley. To say this night has been an ego booster for Hwoarang is an understatement. Not only did he score a date with a very attractive girl, he clearly impressed her with his riding skills and got away from the cops.
His ego was on cloud nine at the moment.
"That was awesome! I wouldn't mind doing that again anytime!" said Honoka as she removed her helmet.
Honoka just confirmed she wouldn't mind going on another date; this one has yet to get halfway through. Hwoarang helped the pink-haired girl off the bike as they went inside the bowling alley.
Not too far away, two people who were clearly delinquents watch the two enter the establishment.
"Hey, isn't that the bastard the boss is looking for?" said the delinquent.
"It sure looks like it. Let's go get the boss and the boys to handle that fucker." said the other delinquent.
"I wonder what face he'll make after we beat his ass in front of his girl, then strip her."
They laughed as they got on their bikes and rode off to get their boss and the rest of their crew.
The Bowling Alley
A cacophony of pins crashing, balls rolling, and people cheering filled the vibrant, neon-lit bowling alley. The atmosphere was electric, with a mix of casual bowlers and more competitive types filling the lanes.
Hwoarang and Honoka were seated at a small table in the alley's diner area, away from the chaos of the game. They were surrounded by the aroma of greasy, delicious food—a stark contrast to his usual training diets. Hwoarang had a plate of spicy chicken wings in front of him, while Honoka was delighting in a large serving of French fries with a side of her favorite dipping sauce.
"Hmm. These aren't half bad." Hwoarang commented, taking a bite of a wing. "So, Honoka, what did you think of that last match with Steve? That right hook of his almost took me out."
Honoka leaned in, her eyes wide with the excitement of discussing the fight. She held a fry mid-air, momentarily forgetting about it as she got caught up in the conversation.
"I was on the edge of my seat! You were really amazing out there, Hwoarang." Honoka said energetically. "The way you dodged and weaved—it was like watching a dance!"
Hwoarang smiled with pride. He enjoyed the praise he was receiving from his date and a cute one at that. "It's all about reading your opponent, anticipating the next move. Steve's a boxer; he's got the punches down, but he lacks the kicks. That's where I had the advantage."
"I noticed that! You have such a wide range of kicks, and you're really fast." Honoka nodded. "But he did catch you once or twice. Didn't that hurt?"
Hwoarang shrugged. "You learn to take the hits, Honoka. Besides, a little pain's nothing compared to the thrill of the win. That uppercut in the final round—I could feel it. But it only takes one opening, one moment, and that's where you strike."
Honoka was visibly impressed, her eyes reflecting admiration for Hwoarang's resilience and skill.
"You're so strong, Hwoarang. I'm trying to be like that too, to be a fighter who can take the hits and keep going."
Hwoarang leaned back in thought. During his National Service, he found himself slacking off by surfing on his phone, riding his bike away from the military base or anything else that would be enough to cure his boredom. While on his phone, he decided he would watch a couple of matches from the previous DEAD OR ALIVE tournament rather than the tournaments he participated in. There were other things Hwoarang enjoyed other than street fighting and motorcycling.
Looking at gorgeous women in combat. It was a mystery to everyone else, but to himself why he enjoyed watching DOA matches. He loved how the breasts of female combatants would jiggle relentlessly with each move they made.
Which eventually landed his interest in Honoka. However, it wasn't her tiny buxom figure alone that made him want to learn more about her.
Hwoarang mentally rewound Honoka's match in the DOA tournament. He acknowledged that while she could hold her own as a fighter, he also recognized her non-existent fighting style. He was confused, yet fascinated by how she could adapt and execute different techniques from various types of martial arts so easily.
"You've got the spirit, Honoka, and the heart. And you're quick to learn. That's more important than you might think."
Honoka beamed at the compliment, finally remembering her fry and dipping it with a little more enthusiasm than necessary.
"I just love learning new things. It's not just in fighting; I have lots of hobbies." Honoka shyly stated. "I collect all sorts of martial arts videos, video games and I've been practicing cooking different recipes lately."
"Cooking, huh?" reiterated Hwoarang, raising an eyebrow. "Didn't take you for the culinary type. What's your best dish?"
"I make a mean katsudon! It's my favorite comfort food." Honoka beamed, inserting another fry into her mouth. "What about you? When you're not training or fighting, what do you like to do?"
Hwoarang leaned back and thought about it for a moment. "Well, I'm pretty into bikes. Love fixing them up, customizing them. There's something about the roar of an engine, the thrill of the ride… it's a lot like fighting, now that I think about it." he explained, taking a sip out of his drink. "Alright, Honoka, we've talked a lot about fighting and stuff. Let's switch gears a bit. Tell me your all-time favorite movie?
Honoka begin to think long and hard. That was a difficult question to answer, considering there were so many of her favorite movies to choose from.
"Hmm. That's a tough one, but I think I'd have to say "Big Trouble in Little China." It's a weird movie, but it's magical and adventurous. It makes me happy every time I watch it." she answered proudly.
Hwoarang's lips pulled into a smirk. Not only was his date good at fighting, but surprisingly had good taste in movies. "You like that movie, huh?" he asked, earning a nod from Honoka. "Good choice."
"What about you, Hwoarang? Do you have a movie you love to watch?"
With a smile, Hwoarang answered, "I'm a fan of action, obviously. "Mad Max: Fury Road" is up there for me. The stunts, the cars, the chaos—it's like a non-stop adrenaline rush."
Immediately recognizing the name of the film, Honoka became excited. "Oh, I've seen that one! The action sequences are incredible! The way they shot those scenes, it's like a dance—a dangerous, high-speed dance."
"Exactly! Speaking of high-speed, what kind of music gets you pumped? For me, nothing beats some classic rock when I'm on my bike."
Honoka chewed thoughtfully and released a giggle. "Tehe. I'm all over the place with music. I love J-pop, of course, but I also like to listen to some K-pop. The energy is just so infectious, and the dance routines are super fun to learn. Have you ever tried dancing to one of those songs?"
Hwoarang let out a laugh and said, "Can't really say I have. I'm more about the fight than the dance. But I've got some rhythm, maybe I could handle it."
"Sweet! We should totally have a dance-off sometime! It'd be so much fun!" Honoka said, enthusiasm evident in her voice.
"Oh, really?" The taekwondo challenged playfully, raising an eyebrow. "You're on. But if we're talking dancing, I might surprise you. I've got some moves you haven't seen yet."
"I'm looking forward to it!" Honoka agreed, sipping her soda. "Okay, next question: if you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?"
"I've traveled a lot in the military, but for fun?" Hwoarang pondered for a bit before speaking up. "I'd like to hit the road across America. Route 66, the whole deal. See the sights, meet new people, find the best local diners."
Honoka clapped her hands with joy. "That sounds amazing! I would love to visit all the famous landmarks and try all sorts of food along the way. I've always wanted to visit Italy too—imagine all the pasta and gelato!"
"Italy, huh? That's a good choice." he nodded. "The history, the art, the culture—not to mention the food, like you said."
After the pair had finished eating, to make the rest of their date even more fun, they decided to do bowling and got some bowling shoes so they wouldn't slip.
"Say Honoka, have you ever gone bowling before?" asked Hwoarang.
"Nope," the pink-haired girl cheerfully replied, shaking her head.
"Ehh? Then why did you agree to come?"
"Cause it might be fun. I don't have many friends at school to do these types of things with," Honoka explained.
"Who you got as friends at school may I ask?" said Hwoarang.
"A few teachers, a couple of girls in my class, and a bunch of the boys at school. I don't hang out with any of them because I have to take care of my grandma. That's the case for all of them except the boys. I don't like how they look at me and…" said Honoka, but she trailed off.
"And?" Hwoarang pressed, raising an eyebrow.
"Grandma would murder me…." Honoka says with a grave expression.
Honoka's response caused a small chuckle from Hwoarang. "You know, Honoka, I've faced down some pretty tough opponents in the ring, but this—this is a whole different kind of challenge."
Honoka smiled cheerfully. "I love challenges! And I love trying new things. I've watched people bowl before, but I can't wait to see how I do against a real-life fighter like you, Hwoarang!"
Hwoarang chuckled, standing up and gesturing grandly towards the bowling lane. "Well then, let the best bowler win. And just so you know, I don't plan on holding back."
Honoka giggled, picking up a custom pink bowling ball adorned with cute decals of skulls. It was lightweight and seemed to fit her hand perfectly. "I wouldn't want you to! I may look sweet, but I've got some surprises up my sleeve too."
Hwoarang stepped up to the lane first, his body language exuding confidence. He selected a sleek turquoise bowling ball that was adorned with his signature bike design. With a swift and practiced approach, he released the ball with a twist of his wrist. It spun down the lane, hooking just enough to crash into the pins with a satisfying strike. He turned back to Honoka with a triumphant smirk.
"Top that if you can." he challenged.
Honoka imitated a bowling form, walked up to the lane and released the ball, which immediately went into the gutter to Honoka's dismay. Hwoarang laughed at the sight of Honoka's confidence deflating like a hot air balloon.
"Haha, it's alright. We all have been there. Now, watch closely as a master does his thing," said Hwoarang as he patted her shoulder and grabbed a bowling ball. Honoka's drooping shoulders perked up as she closely watched and analyzed Hwoarang's form.
Getting the perfect angle in his eyes, Hwoarang walked up to the bowling lane and released the ball. The ball looked like it was about to go in the gutter but swerved at the last second and hit the pins, getting a strike.
"STRIKE!" the speaker shouted.
With a confident smirk, he turned to an astonished look on her face. "Easy", he smirked.
Hwoarang looked at Honoka, who was grabbing another ball with a serious expression. This made Hwoarang feel a little bad for laughing because he did make fun of her for getting a gutter ball.
"There's no need for such a serious expression on your cute face. It's just a game, so you shouldn't feel so ba-."
"STRIKE!" Hwoarang is cut off by the speaker on the TV shouting strike.
Honoka had gotten a strike while Hwoarang wasn't paying attention.
"Yay! I did it!" Honoka shouted while jumping for joy.
Hwoarang, in his shocked state, thought it had to be luck that she had gotten a strike while being a newbie at bowling.
Hwoarang grabbed the ball and repeated his actions, knocking down all but one pin on his lane. It aggravated him a little, but he kept his cool. He wasn't going to allow himself to throw a tantrum over a game like such a child. He just grabbed another ball and then easily knocked down the last pin.
"SPARE!"
When Honoka's turn came around again, she started mimicking the actions of Hwoarang when he easily got his perfect strike. Hwoarang immediately noticed that she was imitating him. 'There is no way she got a strike just from watching me,' he thought.
The ball gets thrown, swerves from the gutter hitting pins, and knocks them all down.
"Double!"
Honoka's date's jaw dropped in sheer shock that she copied his actions to get a strike.
"There's no way that is possible… Do it again…" said Hwoarang, still not believing what he saw.
Same as last time Honoka gets another strike.
"TURKEY!"
"No way! Again!" shouted Hwoarang, getting other people's attention.
"Okay!" the pink-haired girl replied.
"FOUR BAGGER!"
"FIVE BAGGERS!"
Honoka kept getting strikes every time she released the ball, gathering a large crowd around her, complimenting and praising her for being so good at bowling.
Now this was her twelfth and final turn. The whole bowling alley is silent as they watch Honoka. Getting in perfect form again, she released the ball.
"PERFECT GAME!"
Everyone erupted in cheers, even Hwoarang, as Honoka astounded him.
Honoka shlyly put her hands behind her back as people showered her with compliments. However, the cheers were drowned out by the noise outside. Multiple motorcycles' rumbling and roaring get closer until just before the bowling alley.
The motorcycle was a brand new sports bike with a very known and mightily feared delinquent riding it. Kenji was the leader of the Bushido gang. They mostly acted like the meaning of their name, but when it came down to specific people or gangs, they went full delinquent on them.
And the main target on their list of people to beat the hell out of is Hwaorang. In their words, "This fucker has beaten up too many of our guys and showed little to no respect to us."
What sent them over the edge was when Hwoarang completely totaled Kenji's bike, making it unrepairable. Since that day, Kenji has sworn vengeance against Hwoarang, even if it meant going against their namesake.
Kenji, getting off his bike and holding a steel custom baseball bat, looked towards the bowling alley. Normally, anyone could hear the music and chatter of people inside and outside of it, but it was silent.
"Kill your engines!" he shouted and everyone turned off their bikes.
"Hwoarang, get your bitch ass out here and face me!" It was still quiet and Hwoarang had yet to come out.
"Hey boss, that's that bastard's bike right there," said the delinquent who informed him about Hwoarang's location.
With veins visibly showing on his face, clearly, he was pissed off from the memory of what Hwoarang did to his bike. He walked up to Hwoarang's motorcycle. It wasn't new, but anyone with eyes could see it was a nice bike. Kenji didn't give two shits about it being a nice bike.
*Wham* *Break*
Kenji hit the mirror off the bike and then kicked it over. He caved in the gas tank, bent the wheels, and started going to town on Hwoarang's bike. After it was down, he had a smile on his face and beads of sweat here and there dropped from his forehead.
"What the hell?! My bike!" a shout came from the entrance of the bowling alley from a clearly pissed-off Hwoarang.
"Ahh, the star of the hour. Took you long enough," said Kenji as he walked back to his bike and lit a cigarette.
"Kenji, you're gonna pay for this!" Hwoarang shouted.
"Oh yeah? You and what army? Oh wait, now that I think about it, I got the army. All just waiting for my command to beat your ass to a bloody pulp," Kenji said nonchalantly. Taking a puff, he blew a smoke ring with a smile.
Hwoarang's boiling point was met and he was about to jump out to beat Kenji's ass but was stopped by Honoka's arm.
Hwoarang went to complain about his date's little stunt but saw her expression.
"Let's take them on together." Honoka whispered to him. "Like a team."
Hwoarang gave a knowing smile and nodded, a silent agreement passing between them. He knew these guys fucked up. If he knew one thing about women, it was that they hate for their dates to get ruined by others. So Honoka was just as if not more pissed than he was.
"Oh, what's this? Getting your girl to protect you? Pathetic!" says Kenji as his whole gang starts laughing.
"Oh, I'm not the one that's gonna need the protection." Hwoarang remarks as a smirk is plastered on his face.
Honoka stepped out to the Bushido gang, intending to take them on in a fistfight.
Their eyes lecherously roamed her voluptuous body, specifically her breasts.
"Damn, you guys weren't kidding when you said she got some cow udders on her. Hey, why don't me and you take a little ride while the boys handle the fatherless bastard behind you."
"How about no…" she replied with some venom laced with her words.
"Well, I'll just take you by force and make him watch after we beat his ass. Grab her!" Kenji commanded and the two guys that told Honoka's and Hwoarang's location stepped out.
"Let us handle her."
"Yeah, I wanted to have some fun with her as soon as I saw her."
"Fine, have at it, but don't go too far with it 'cause I want to make that bastard suffer while I make his girl mine," said Kenji.
As they approached Honoka, the two delinquents had huge smirks plastered on their faces.
"We promise not to be too rough with ya."
"Unless you're into that."
The bigger of the two delinquents tried to grab Honoka, but she swiped his hand away and gave him a spinning kick to the diaphragm, instantly incapacitating the delinquent due to a broken rib… or two… Shocking everyone present except Hwoarang, the first to react was the other delinquent.
"You bitch!" he shouted as he went to punch Honoka.
Honoka assumed a boxer guard, then dodged and weaved everything thrown at her. Honoka smacked away his fist, leaving the delinquent open to any attack she had, not that she needed to. A solid jab to the chin caused the delinquent to slump forward and fall to the ground unconscious.
Everyone looked at the one delinquent to see that he was moaning in pain from the decisive kick to the lower chest. Then they looked to see if the other one was knocked out cold. Kenji, who was watching the whole thing, let the cigarette fall out of his mouth.
"You know what beat both their asses!"
He commanded his whole gang. A total of forty-five gang members rushed at Honoka and Hwoarang.
Hwoarang walked up beside Honoka and said, "Ready."
Honoka assumed a Muay Thai fighting stance, signaling she was more than just ready for a fight. Hwoarangs's gaze goes back to the gang member circling them.
"Hey, let's see who can beat the shit out of the most guys here," says Hwoarang initiating a challenge for Honoka and himself. Honoka's eyes sparkled with a competitive fire as she nodded, her stance firm and ready. "I'll take that as a yes. All right, let's do this!
The air buzzed with tension, the encroaching gang members suddenly hesitant as they watched the two fighters prepare. It was clear that Hwoarang and Honoka weren't just any targets; they were a force to be reckoned with, and the gang could sense it.
"Hope you can keep up!" Honoka retorted, meeting Hwoarang's challenge with a fierce grin. Her voice was playful, yet brimming with confidence.
With no further warning, the brawl erupted into chaos. As the first biker lunged towards Hwoarang, the Taekwondo master sidestepped and delivered a swift kick that sent the biker stumbling back into his comrades.
Honoka, channeling her ability to emulate fighting moves, mirrored Hwoarang's style, spinning with a kick that took down another biker approaching from the side. Her movements are graceful yet powerful, surprising the gang with her prowess.
The alley's patrons have backed away, forming a circle around the unfolding scene. Some were cheering for Hwoarang and Honoka, who had become an impromptu team against the biker gang's intrusion.
Honoka's fists and elbows moved with a dancer's grace and a warrior's precision, each strike weaving an intricate pattern through the air, dispatching one opponent after another. Hwoarang's powerful kicks sent enemies flying, his taekwondo techniques a blur of motion that told a story of discipline turned into raw combat prowess.
The clash of the fight was punctuated by the sound of bodies hitting the ground, one gang member after another falling victim to their synchronized assault.
Hwoarang and Honoka moved through the adversaries seamlessly, as if aware of each other's movements, never colliding, only contributing to one another's tally without a word spoken.
The fight escalated further as more bikers joined the fray. Hwoarang and Honoka, back to back, seamlessly alternated between defense and attack. Hwoarang's precise and powerful kicks complemented Honoka's adaptability and surprising strength as they held their own against the gang.
A biker swung a pool stick towards Honoka, who caught it mid-swing, using the momentum to flip the biker over her shoulder. Hwoarang, meanwhile, ducked under a wild punch, rose with an uppercut, and finished with a roundhouse kick that sent the biker crashing to the ground.
In the midst of fighting, Honoka felt a familiar feeling swell within her body with each move she made. Strangely, she felt hot. Very hot.
'There it is again!' she pondered as she continued to fight off another biker member. 'This feeling…'
The same burning sensation she felt the night she fought against her attacker.
"Honoka, duck!" shouted Hwoarang, bringing Honoka back to reality.
They both hit the deck as an oncoming bowling ball flew overhead, smashing into something with a loud crash. Seizing the moment, Hwoarang executed a series of fast-paced kicks, disarming another biker of his pool cue and sending it skittering across the floor.
Honoka sprung up and used her agility to her advantage, delivering a spinning kick that would make any of her competitors and her grandmother proud. The kick caught a biker off-guard, knocking the wind out of him as he toppled onto a nearby seating area.
The atmosphere was electric; the bowlers were now fully invested in the spectacle. Seeing his group dismantled, the lead biker grunted in sheer anger.
There was only one choice left to make, and it was one he hated to make.
"RETREAT!" he angrily signaled his crew.
The remaining gang members, bruised and beaten, scrambled to their feet and followed their leader out of the bowling alley, their engines revving as they disappeared into the night.
The alley erupted into cheers and applause as Hwoarang and Honoka stood, unscathed and victorious. The bowlers pat them on the back, offering high-fives and hugs as they celebrate the defeat of the unruly biker gang.
"Wow, that was intense! You two are total badasses!" shouts one enthusiastic bowler, raising a drink in their honor. Others join in, adding their own words of admiration and gratitude for the pair's quick thinking and impressive fighting skills.
Honoka and Hwoarang exchange relieved smiles, soaking in the warmth of the crowd's appreciation. As the commotion died down, the alley owner approached them with a grateful nod.
"You two just saved my place from a lot of trouble. Drinks are on the house for the rest of the night!" he declares, prompting another round of cheers from the crowd.
"Lemon soda, please!" chirped Honoka, cheerfully raising her hand.
Amid the cheers and laughter, Hwoarang and Honoka share a satisfied look, knowing they've protected the bowling alley and won the respect and camaraderie of the people inside.
The streets were nearly empty, the cool night air crisp as Hwoarang's powerful motorcycle sliced through the silence, its engine a deep, resonant purr. The city's skyline sparkled in the distance, a constellation of terrestrial stars. With his characteristic red hair flowing among the wind, Hwoarang was in his element, the bike an extension of his own fierce spirit.
Honoka clung to him tightly, her excitement visible even beneath the helmet. Her heart raced, not just from the thrill of the ride, but from the evening's unexpected adventures. As the neon sign of the bowling alley receded in the side mirror, she leaned closer to Hwoarang, her voice barely audible over the roar of the bike.
"Whoo, Hwoarang! That was the best date ever! Bowling was fun, but fighting those bikers with you was like something out of a movie!"
Hwoarang glanced back with a smirk. "It's not every day you get to bowl a strike and throw a few punches in the same night, huh?"
The bike weaved through the quiet streets, Hwoarang taking a familiar shortcut that cuts through the sleeping city. The dim glow of street lamps streaks passed, casting fleeting shadows over them.
"I can't believe how you took down those guys! I mean, I've seen you fight in tournaments, but this was different—it was real and it was scary, but you were so cool!" she responded cheerfully.
"It's all about staying focused." Hwoarang stated, take a glance back at his date. "You did great too, Honoka. You've got some serious moves."
"It was like a tag team! Remember that guy who threw that bowling ball at us? And I was like, 'Nope!' and took him down with that spinning kick I learned from Zack!" Honoka rambled on proudly. "I can't wait to tell Tamaki and the others about tonight. They'll never believe it!"
Amused, Hwoarang laughed. He couldn't get over how adorable she was, especially when she was fierce. "Yeah, yeah. Just be sure you tell em' who took most of them down, got it?" he playfully warned. "But yeah, you sent him flying. Shit, couldn't have done it better myself."
They continued riding, the city giving way to a more open road as they near the outskirts where their hotel is located. The wind was stronger here, the open space a refreshing change from the urban confines.
"And then when you did that spin kick, it was just like the movies. I've got to learn that one!"
"You keep saying that, but I'm starting to think you're just butterin' me all up for a rematch." teased the taekwondo fighter with a brazen smile.
"Maybe I am." bantered Honoka. "But seriously, today was incredible. When I get back, I'm going to have to train even harder. I need to be ready for the next time we run into trouble—or for our next bowling match!"
"Training never stops." The redhead agreed. "But it's not just about being ready for a fight. It's about enjoying moments like these too."
Honoka nodded against his back, a sense of camaraderie wrapping around them as comfortably as her arms around his waist.
They pulled up to the hotel entrance, the engine now a quiet purr. Honoka removed her helmet, her hair tousled from the ride. She exchanged a smile with Hwoarang, their adventure at the bowling alley now a shared memory that brought them closer together.
"Thanks for the ride, Hwoarang." she thanked, stepping off the bike. "Tonight was unforgettable.
Hwoarang, dismounting his bike, flashed Honoka a smile. "The pleasure was all mine, doll. Let's do it again soon."
"Definitely!" she cheerfully agreed.
They headed into the hotel lobby, chatting and laughing, the excitement of the evening's earlier thrills still dancing in their eyes.
Mist curled around the twisted trees, shrouding the forest in a ghostly veil. The moon, though full, is a mere specter in the sky, barely offering any solace with its muted glow. Honoka, her pink hair was a stark contrast to the eerie surroundings, running through the undergrowth. Her white dress, pristine and delicate, billowed around her as she moved with a frantic pace, her breaths coming in short, sharp gasps.
'This has to be a dream…' she pondered. 'Please, let this be a dream…' she silently prayed in her head.
The forest seemed to respond to her silent plea with an uncaring silence, the kind that chills to the bone. Honoka's heart pounded in her chest, a drumbeat of fear as she searched for a way out of this nightmare.
Suddenly, the forest stilled.. The night air crackled with a dark energy, and a sense of dread settled heavily upon Honoka.
"Honoka…" sounded a hauntingly demonic voice.
She halted and whipped around at the sound of her name being called, causing the hairs on the back of her neck to stand on end.
"W-Who…Who's there?" she quavered, the fear evident in her voice.
A dark figure stepped out from the shadows of the trees, allowing Honoka to examine the mysterious person calling out to her.
It was a monstrous yet half-man-looking individual, with his menacing aura and formidable presence, towering before her. He partially unfurled his black, feathered wings, his eyes gleaming with a sinister red light that seemed to pierce her very soul.
"Beautiful... An angel lost in the realm of shadows. How poetic." he remarked, voice resonating with dark amusement
Honoka's eyes widened in a mix of awe and terror. She went to take a step back, but her legs felt weak, as if chains were coming out of the ground beneath her and wrapping themselves around her legs to compel her to stay.
"W-Who…Who are you?" she quavered. "What do you want from me?"
He began to move around her, his steps deliberate, slow, as if savoring the moment. His voice was a dark melody that seemed to seep into the woods themselves.
"I am a harbinger of your hidden fears, a mirror for your soul to gaze into. I desire nothing more than to reveal the depths of your power... the darkness within you that you've yet to understand."
"D-Darkness?" she reiterated, confused and scared of what he actually meant behind what he said.
Honoka felt a chill run through her, colder than the night air. His presence was intoxicating, his words twisting into her mind like a knife. She wanted to run, to escape this nightmare, but her body refused to obey.
Suddenly, she felt a burning sensation on her right hand. Honoka looked down to see a red aura emerging from her skin, a stark contrast to the pure white of her dress. The light was hypnotic, dancing like flames around her fingers.
"W-What is this? Why is this happening to me?" Honoka shrieked, voice filled with horror.
The demon halted his circling and stood directly in front of her, his gaze fixated on the crimson light emanating from her hand.
"Ah, a power awakens. A strength you've kept buried…" he said, intrigued by what was occurring in front of him. "Let it out, Honoka. Let it fill you. Only then will you be free."
"Set…free?"
Honoka felt the power in her hand pulse and throb, echoing a rhythm that seems to resonate with the darkest parts of the forest. The red aura glowed continuously as she desperately tried to think of a way to put a stop to it by covering her hand. If there was a huge "STOP" button embedded on her body somewhere, she would immediately press it without a single thought. The heat of her aura increased, making wince in pain.
"S-Stop…please…make it stop."
Too wrapped up in her own dilemma, Honoka barely noticed chains darting out at her from the abyss of darkness and ensnaring her from the ground. She desperately struggled to free herself, but it only proved to be futile when the chains around her arms grew tighter and tighter each second.
Honoka's eyes held fear as she watched the demon slowly approach her, his appearance allowing him to look like a creature straight from a horror movie.
As the demon stood before her, his eyes flickering with dark amusement, Honoka's heart raced with a mixture of fear and confusion. The marked contrast between his monstrous appearance and the delicate beauty of the forest sent a shiver down her spine. She felt trapped, both physically and mentally, as if the very essence of her being was being laid bare before this ominous being.
"You are rare, Honoka," the demon's voice resonated through the dense silence of the forest, wrapping around her like a menacing melody. "A fragile angel, yet harboring a power beyond your comprehension."
Honoka's eyes widened with disbelief, her mind struggling to process the cryptic words uttered by the demon. The pulsing red aura emanating from her hand seemed to respond to the demon's presence, its dance growing more intense and erratic.
"What... what are you talking about? I don't understand." Her voice trembled with a mixture of fear and desperation, her gaze locked on the demon's piercing eyes.
The demon took a deliberate step closer, his wings unfurling slightly as if to accentuate his formidable presence. "You carry within you a power that is both raw and untamed. A darkness that has long been hidden within the depths of your soul, waiting to be unleashed."
Honoka's breath caught in her throat, her mind reeling at the implications of the demon's words. The pulsing red aura in her hand seemed to echo the tumultuous rhythm of her own heartbeat, entwining her very essence with the foreboding atmosphere of the forest.
"Unleash it, Honoka," the demon's voice reverberated in the stillness, his eyes holding an intense gleam. "Let it fill you, let it consume you. Embrace the darkness that dwells within, and you will realize the true extent of your power."
A surge of panic and disbelief gripped Honoka as she struggled against the encroaching aura, her mind and body overwhelmed by the incomprehensible forces at play. The chains that had ensnared her seemed to tighten with each passing moment, restricting her movements and exacerbating her sense of helplessness.
"I-I can't... I don't want this!" Honoka's voice wavered with desperation, her eyes pleading for release from the overwhelming power that threatened to engulf her.
"Interesting. There is more to you than I thought, Honoka. But this is just the beginning."
Honoka woke up with a start, gasping for air, her right hand unnoticeably glowing faintly in the darkness. She took deep breaths, trying to calm her racing heart. The glow from her hand slowly faded as she regained her composure.
"It was…. just a bad dream…" An extremely terrifying one at that. Even though it was a nightmare, it all felt real to her. She could still feel the ghostly feeling of the cold steel chains snaking around her arms, which caused a shiver to go down her spine. Honoka wrapped her arms around herself as self-assurance. "I'm okay. I'm okay."
She looked around her hotel room, reassuring herself that she was safe and that the nightmare was over. The demon that once hauntingly stood before her no longer existed, proving that he was just an infringement of her imagination. Or was he?
With a shaky sigh, Honoka got up from the bed and threw on some casual clothes. Although it was midnight, a nice walk outside couldn't hurt. In fact, she needed to clear her head from the traumatic nightmare she experienced and to comprehend what occurred.
Honoka stepped out into the cool night air, a troubled look on her face. She was dressed in a comfortable hoodie and jeans, her hair swaying gently in the breeze. The city slept around her, but her mind was wide awake, haunted by the nightmare that stirred her from slumber.
Honoka's walk was aimless, her steps taking her away from the hotel and down the deserted streets. The quiet of the night was a stark contrast to the cacophony of her thoughts, the silence allowing her fears to echo louder in her head.
'Why?'
Was the only thought in her head.
'In my dream…I felt hot.' Honoka inwardly recounted in her head. 'It felt like I was on fire, but…not burning up.'
A shiver crawled down her spine from the cool air of the night, however, it wasn't enough to wash away the fiery feeling of her hand glowing and nearly engulfing her. It was like fire and lightning coursing through her veins.
Honoka soon found herself in a city park, the moon casting long shadows over the grass and trees. She headed towards a bench near a softly glowing street lamp and sat down, her gaze lost in the night sky.
The trees swayed gently as if sharing a secret with the night.
'But why now?'
She glanced at her hands as if expecting them to hold the answers. Her mind drifted back to her time in the fifth DEAD OR ALIVE tournament. The only bits and pieces she could gather from her memory was the time she faced off against her opponent, Thomas Blake as she remembered, then…
Honoka stiffened as a vivid memory flashed in her head. In the vision, she and her opponent were engaging in a dance that was only limited to melee attacks from her point of view. And then the unexpected happened. As she was fighting her opponent, her right hand released a burst of red energy, rendering her and opponent unconscious with minor injuries.
Honoka released a faint and hollow laugh at the memory. "Heh heh. That's right…I was disqualified from the tournament as a result…"
And to make things even more complicated, she had no recollection of what happened after the match until now.
Her heart raced with a mixture of apprehension and a glimmer of curiosity. Could it be true? Could this power within her be real?
Unknown to her, it wouldn't be the first and definitely not the last time her powers had mysteriously manifested.
Her thoughts were disrupted by a familiar feeling—a tingling combined with warmth in her right hand that grew in intensity. With a sense of trepidation, she looked down at her palm. The red misty aura began to form, just as it had in her dream and just as it had back in the DOA tournament.
"T-There it is…it's happening again. But why?"
The loud rustling of bushes played their tune in the darkness, alerting Honoka of a possible intruder in her presence.
Instinctively on guard, Honoka stood up from the bench. "Who…who there?" she demanded. She stood tall in an attempt to be brave; however, the fear in her voice was a dead giveaway. After the nightmare she had, she wasn't taking in chances of letting what happened in her dream happen now.
From the shadows of the bushes emerged a staggering and disoriented figure—a man.
Although she was relieved it was a person and not a monstrous creature like the one from her nightmare, his appearance was shocking; it was disheveled, his muscular and chiseled body marred by fresh wounds and bearing the evidence of a possible recent confrontation.
The mysterious man slightly grimaced and looked ahead of him. Standing before him was a young her, her vibrant pink hair swaying in the wind and her right hand continuously glowing in the night.
His gaze then found the girl's. In the moonlight, her eyes seemed to capture the very essence of the night—deep, enigmatic, and tinged with a hint of something powerful and untamed. The red of her irises were like a flame in the darkness, captivating and intense.
"Red…eyes…" he weakly murmured before allowing himself to succumb to his inner darkness and collapsing to the ground…
TO BE CONTINUED...