Chapter 2: Night Brawl

*ping, ping, ping* My phone kept ringing constantly for the past hour. The group chat was livelier than usual today as Asami, Hirano, and Akari all exchanged messages about preparations for tonight. They sent in photos of their outfits asking for suggestions, and I must admit they all looked really cute. Asami wore a cute short pink dress with a white long-sleeve shirt underneath and chunky white shoes. Akari wore a floral wrap top, black pants, and sandals, while Hirano wore a nice blue cardigan and a pleated skirt with boots. My outfit on the other hand was much less impressive. I pulled out a pair of white capri pants to pair with a black form-fitting top. I paired the outfit with a black pair of sandals and sent the photo to chat.

A few moments went by as I waited for comments.

It's cute, but you don't have a different top, Akari asked.

No, haha, I don't really have much. All my clothes are kind of sporty.

What about if you let your hair down? Try something different today, Hirano inserted.

I sat in front of my mirror, trying to take in my face and body. I don't often feel insecure about my looks, I often don't have time to think about it. As long as I don't have any scars or missing teeth, I always thought why does it matter what I look like. But talking about fashion and beauty with the girls I can't help but pick apart my appearance a little bit. I felt some warm fuzz brush up against my hand, and I looked down to see Panda underneath trying to sooth me. She can always seem to tell when I'm in a bad mood. "Thank you Panda, I'll try not to think about it too hard."

I turned my attention back to the mirror.. I pulled out my green scrunchies and let my hair fall from the pigtails down the top of my back, and brushed it out the crimps. I'm not used to having my hair down; I usually keep it up, so I don't get distracted by it—especially during training. But maybe I can relax today. I don't have to be ready to fight at all hours of the day. I searched through my drawer to find the pearl pink lipgloss Hirano bought me for my birthday last year. After a couple coats, I smacked my lips, took one final look in the mirror and then headed out the door.

Sure thing. I'll meet you guys near Hachiko.

"Sorry to keep you waiting." Hirano arrived 5 minutes after I got to the station. "I think Asami and Akari will be here soon."

"Yeah, they said at 9:15, I think they're train was delayed."

"How are you feeling? Are you excited?" Hirano asked to take a look at my outfit. "You look so cute Xiaoyu, I can't remember the last time you had your hair down. You should wear it like that more often."

"Thanks," I blushed a little bit at the compliment. Asami and Akari arrived at 9:15, already excited for today's outing.

"You guys look so cute. Xiaoyu, you cleaned up nicely, finally," Asami smirked with her backhanded compliment. It's probably the nicest thing she's ever managed to say to me since I've known her. I decided not to comment about her and my appearance any further.

The lounge was on the far west side of Shibuya, in one of the most expensive districts in the area. The party host, another high school girl from West City High, was close friends with Asami, and routinely threw parties to get everyone to mingle outside the school events. We weren't the first to arrive as the place was already crowded and the music was on full blast. Some people already started drinking what I can only assume are alcoholic drinks by the way they were acting. The rules really don't apply to the rich after all.

We got our own table in the back area. As we sat down the host came up to greet us and exchange pleasantries mostly with Asami. "Thank you everyone for coming. You can grab some drinks at the bar, and talk to people, and then we're going to start the games soon." Asami pushed away from the table towards another table in front of us full of four guys. "Shin, you're here." She reached out to hug the student before introducing all of us. "These are my friends Akari, you remember right? Hirano and Xiaoyu."

"Nice to meet you all," Shin continued with his own pleasantries, "This is Kou, Hworang, and Jin." Shin looked around, noticing he was one guy short. "Where's Jin?" Hwoarang turns back to the table and alerts Jin to join the conversation.

"Sorry, I had to answer something. Nice to meet you all."

"It's you!"I excitedly shouted before my brain realized what I said and I cupped my hands over my mouth out of embarrassment.

"I mean, it's you again. I mean nice to see you again."my face slowly grew red from embarrassment trying to regain my cool.

"You guys know each other?" Asami asked surprised. I sensed a tinge of jealousy in her voice and I tried to downplay the degree of our acquaintanceship.

"Oh, I mean we've seen each other around here and there, ah" I stammered over my words trying to figure out what to say.

"She helped me with a little bit of literature in the library the other day. You know my kanji isn't all that good."

"Ah yeah right…"

"You must be good at kanji right," Shin asked. "Since you're from China."

"Yeah, you know my family makes me keep up with it so, it's no big deal. It was just one or two kanji I helped with. Nothing too complicated."

After hearing the answer Asami directed her attention to Jin immediately attaching herself to his arm, "Let's not bore each other with school. Jin I see a punching machine with your name written on it. I bet you could get the high score." She pointed in the direction of the punching bag machine and we followed behind them. I'm surprised to see Jin being so friendly with anyone, let alone a girl. But that's Asami for you, able to command the attention of every guy in the room. The boys lined up taking their turn at the punching bag. Most of the guys scored around 30-50 points. A few guys scored above 70. Shin comes up first and scores 120 points, fairly above average. Hworang goes next, 185 points just 15 points shy of the high score. Jin goes last, getting 200 points, the highest score.

"I knew you were strong," Asami commented as everyone swooned and praised Jin.

"Time for the girls to try," Jin suggested making way for one of us girls to step up. Asami, Akari, and Hirano protested claiming that they were too weak.

"Xiaoyu, you should go," Asami suggested.

"No, I'm probably the same level as you guys."

"Nonsense, you know martial arts don't you? I'm sure you can get a good score." Asami reached out and grabbed my bicep, "So muscular, I bet you'll get like 100 points."

She was teasing me again, and worse in front of all these guys. I could hear some of the whispers surrounding us as onlookers came to see the spectacle. I pulled my arm away annoyed at Asami, and approached the punching machine. I raised my fists up, released a deep breath trying to dispel my nerves and hit the bag with a swift, lightweight punch.

The machine dinged coming in at 65, way below everyone else. But just enough for everyone to drop the subject now.

"See, I told you guys, it wouldn't be that good."

The girls giggled a little at my score. "I guess you are still a girl. Somewhat," Asami asserted.

The party continues on as more students piled into the lounge. To get away from the chaos of everything, I left the rambunctious crowd to stand at the bar for a non-alcoholic drink.

"I didn't expect to see you here," Jin spoke standing beside me at the bar counter. "I don't think I've ever seen you at one of these before."

"I was kind of pushed to come today. I don't think I really fit in here." I looked Jin up and down, he looked a lot more relaxed, he still had a very serious expression but seemed to be more at ease. "You seem like you might be enjoying it here."

"Not, particularly. More like I'm forced to be here. Next in line for the family business and my grandfather says it's important for me to mix and mingle. Need to know who's going to be in my corner. So he says. Thanks for not saying anything back there. I don't need unnecessary attention on me."

"Well, it's not my business to tell. Why were you fighting those guys the other day anyways?"

The bartender handed me my drink and I took a sip through my straw as I waited for an answer.

"Why did you pretend you couldn't throw a punch?" Jin asked. The question caught me so off guard, I actually choked on my drink a little bit.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"You took on those guys in the alleyway. I know you know how to throw a punch."

"Because… I don't like being made fun of."

Jin raised an eyebrow at the statement.

"Guys get to be strong and tough. It's…different for girls." I continued drinking my juice.

"Tough girls aren't that bad.. I think they look less fragile." Jin grabbed some strands of my hair and let them fall through his fingers.

Jin's presence was a little bit overbearing, I could feel my face getting hot and I took another sip of juice to cool me down. "You didn't answer my question."

"Hmm…"

"Was it a hit or something?"

Jin laughed off the question, "No, it was a test."

"A test for what?"

Jin became quiet as he looked over his shoulder and a waiter came up behind us with a raised knife in the air above us. He pushed me out of the way as it came down on the counter bringing the party to a complete stop. Everyone started to scramble as more waiters appeared in the fighting position.

"Get out of here!" Jin shouted as he charged at one of them. Other waiters started to join in on the fight and I immediately started attacking them. As I kicked one down, I could see another one approaching Hirano to hold her hostage. I ran over and gave a forceful elbow strike to knock him down.

"Are you okay?" Hirano was extremely shaken up but I was still able to give me a nod of confirmation.

"Good, okay. Take as many people as you can and go to the emergency exit in the back."

Hirano froze at my instructions falling back against the wall behind her for a little bit of comfort. Another fist came flying at me, but I was able to dodge the strike at the last second, hook my leg around my attacker's leg, yanked hard sending them crashing to the floor. "Hirano!" I shouted to get her attention. "Go before someone gets hurt. Go!" Hirano gains her composure and starts running to the back before the emergency exit. Now it was just Jin, Hwoarang, myself and two other people left to fight this lounge full of unknown fighters.

Of course, this is the one day I let my hair down.

The fighting seemed to continue on for hours, before the last fighter went down. Once it seemed like the commotion died down, I fell to my knees from stress and exhaustion. My arms were shaking and my body was battered and bruised on every muscle. I felt an ice cold presence on my forehead causing me to look up and see Jin and Hwoarang squatting in front of me. "Here for the other day, and today." Jin handed me a bottle of ice cold water.

I took a deep sip, trying to quench my apparent thirst. I looked down at the can and started laughing a little bit.

"Is everything alright?"

"Yeah, I just had never been in a fight like that before. I mean yeah of course training at a dojo but never in a fight where I felt like I was going to die. It's completely different. Scary, but fun at the same time. I don't know if I like this feeling…"

"That's normal for your first time," Hwoarang explained. "You'll get used to it the more you do it. Hey Jin, is this the same girl that saved you the other day right?"

Jin nodded in confirmation towards Hwoarang.

"She's pretty good. You think she could qualify for the upcoming tournament?" Hwoarang continued asking.

"Maybe, I think she did better than a few of the other people here…"

"You're gonna need stronger nerves if you compete though."

My body continued to shake, unable to answer any of their questions. Even after devouring the water. "C'mon let's get you home. Which direction are you in?"

"Towards the north. I just have to take the Yamanote line up a few stops."

"We'll be going in the same direction then."

We boarded the train and took seats together, sitting in silence. My nerves calmed down a little bit as my hands stopped shaking. Looking over at Jin, I can't believe how calm he is about everything. No hint of fear or confusion on his face at all. Almost as if he's used to it.

"What kind of martial arts do you do?"

"It's a mix of piguaquan and Baguazhang. It's my family's fighting style from China."

"Your parents taught you?"

"No, my grandpa. My parents died when I was younger, so I don't remember much of them. But my grandpa took care of me and taught me well. I bet I could take you on." I threw a light punch at his shoulder.

"I guess we're sort of similar. I learned karate from my mom when I was kid and then again from my grandfather when he adopted me."

My heart sank a little at Jin's background. He said it so casually as if that's something you hear everyday,"Your mom, is she.."

Jin's lips pressed into a thin line, "She disappeared 3 years ago, she was challenged to a fight by an evil spirit. I don't remember exactly what happened." Jin paused for a moment taking his time, "I remember lots of flashing lights, and a tall creature holding my mom up in the air. I soon passed out after that. When I came too, she was gone. My grandfather took me in after."

"And he taught you karate as well?"

"Yeah, Mishima-style."

"Wait, Mishima style…" my brain took a little bit of time to register exactly what he said, "Your grandpa is Heihachi Mishima from the Mishima Zaibatsu!?"

Jin laughed at my realization, "Yeah, that's him. I thought everyone in the school knew."

I thought a little longer about that comment trying to figure out how I missed this, "But you go by Kazama instead of Mishima…?"

"Hmm, that's my birth name. And I don't really feel like a Mishima. I didn't really know my family until a few years ago. To me they're really just big people in suits. Nothing more. In fact the people that attacked us there, I'm pretty sure my grandfather sent them."

My brain stopped at the idea of this conversation, "Wha-what! Why would he attack his own grandson, especially the heir? What if you died?"

"He's not exactly a good guy. But I know he's testing me. He wants me to be ready."

"Ready for what?"

"For the next King of Iron Fist Tournament. He plans to announce the 3rd one pretty soon and he wants me to enter." Jin leaned back crossing his arms, and that serious expression returned once again. "I have to enter."

"You're not scared?"

"No, the only thing I'm scared of is losing to my enemy." He furrowed his brows. Jin had the look of a warrior rather than a high-school student. And just briefly for a moment I felt scared to be in his presence.

The train is now arriving at Sugamo. Please transfer here for the Mita Line. The announcement continued as we both stood up to get off the train.

We continued to walk in silence along the main road towards my house. I was a little bit behind Jin, still exhausted from the earlier fights. Jin Kazama, what a mysterious man you are. What exactly could you be fighting for right now? Jin stopped, on guard, watching the approaching black figure. "Stay behind me," Jin held his arm out to shield me away. However as I looked harder, I could recognize who it was. "Wait, don't attack!" I pushed Jin's hand out the way and ran up to greet Panda.

Panda jumped up and lunged at me, knocking me to the ground. She started licking my face to greet me. "Panda stop. You're going to get my pants all dirty." She stepped back, allowing me to stand up and dust myself off.

"You have a pet panda?"

"Yeah, she's very sweet, but sometimes she gets worried if I come home too late." Panda started to circle around Jin, sniffing his legs, trying to find out if he's a threat.

Jin squatted down to get a better look at her, "How the hell do you own a panda? I grew a little nervous as I started to scratch my cheek. "I just sort of adopted her. My parents worked in conservation and she was the smallest one of the litter, so she stayed at our home a lot. We sort of just became friends."

Jin petted her head gently before standing up. "You sure are interesting."

Panda came up behind me and nuzzled her head in between my legs to hoist me onto her back to ride her. "Looks like you can make it home safely from here." Jin reached out and grabbed a little bit of my black hair, "I guess I'll see you at school on Monday, Xiaoyu."

He let go of my tresses allowing them to gently fall back to my face as he turned around and walked back the opposite direction. Watching him walk away made my heart sink a little bit, almost as if… as if … this could be the last time.