Chapter 5: Chicken, Chicken

The train ride to the preliminaries in Chiba was long. Even on the express trains, it took nearly two hours. Once at the station, I had to follow the instructions written on the flyer to find the entrance.

Follow the trail of white chicken stickers.

"Chicken stickers…?" I looked around the station for a clue. It was pretty bare bones out here. Although there was a folded sign outside the convenience store with a smiling white chicken on it. Its left wing was pointed to the side leaving the station. "Well this is as good as any sign I guess."

I continued walking the designated path finding more ominous white chicken motifs precariously pointing me in different directions, eventually ending up in front of a black door with no handles. I leaned my ear on the door and could hear faint sounds on the other side but nothing too distinct. Tapping on the door, I waited for a moment before two dark eyes appeared through the tiny window.

"What's the password?"a husky voice asked from the otherside.

I held up my phone showing the flyer to the watching eyes. The window closed and after a few moments the door slid open revealing hundreds of people gathered around a giant metal cage dome. Everyone was loud, rambunctious, and itching for a fight. There were all sorts of entrants here. Some seemed like regular people, your average bar brawlers and gangsters. Some were highly qualified and recognized fighters in their respective field, and there were even some unusual characters such as a wooden man…? It was very obvious that this wasn't going to be easy at all.

People pushed and pulled on each other as more and more people came in. "Hey, baby. What's a cute girl like you doing in a place like this?" A man called to me as I walked by. He grabbed my behind as I continued walking past him, making me pause in my tracks trying to register just what exactly happened. I spun around quickly and approached the guy. He was smiling proud of himself that he was able to get my attention. His smug grin made me even angrier and without thinking I decked him in the nose, breaking it and making him fall back to the ground.

"Well I guess that's one less fighter to worry about. a familiar voice said, approaching me. "Glad to see you here pigtails." Hwoarang lightly flicked my forehead.

"Ow, hands to yourself please."

"I almost thought you were gonna chicken out."

"No way. I said I was gonna come. So I'm here. I've been training and everything." I flexed my bicep for him to show my improvements. "Is Jin here already?"

"He's here. He's in the first round of contestants to go." I followed Hwoarang to the fighting dome and grabbed a spot at the front, so I could see everything. Jin was standing in the center of the cage with his back facing towards us. I wanted to shout his name, but stopped myself when I realized he was in deep concentration. It had only been a couple months, but he's already changed so much since the last time I saw him. He seemed taller, stronger, and more powerful. His body completely filled out his red and black leather jacket and pants. Right now I wasn't looking at Jin, the shy student from school. I was looking at a warrior— someone who lived by the strength of his fists alone.

Jin's first opponent approached the center— a giant robot wearing army pants and black tinted sunglasses. Jin was already a big guy but the robot easily had an extra 100 pounds on him. "Round 1 Jin Kazama vs. Private Jack." the announcer shouted signaling for the both of them to get into their fighting stances. "Ready? Fight!"

Jin's rounds flew by quickly as he was able to best all ten of his opponents with hardly a scratch on him. We made eye contact for a moment as Jin exited the dome. Even though he remained with his usual stern expression, I could tell he wasn't happy to see me here. Jin approached Hwoarang first and the two boys did their usual handshake. Hwoarang's number gets called and he goes to the battle dome for his round of fights.

Jin turned his attention to me but didn't say anything. Instead he just crossed his arms over his chest and kept that same serious expression. "You did great out there." I said wanting to break the awkward silence between us. I could tell he wasn't expecting to see me anytime soon, especially in a place like this.

"So, you're fighting after all. I thought you didn't like being in real fights."

I grew a little irritated with Jin's conversation. He didn't have anything he wanted to say to me? Nothing, just simple pleasantries. "I didn't but now I think I'm used to it. You're not the only one who's been training, ya know?"

Jin lightly laughed at me as I threw a light punch at his arm. Once the laughter subsided I asked, "Why didn't you tell me anything? I was worried, I thought something happened to you."

"I didn't mean to make you worry." Jin lightly played with the endtail of my pigtail, and I could briefly see the old Jin.

"I understand, you know." I spoke softly. "You've got something you're fighting for, and you can't afford to be distracted. " I turned to face Jin straight on, "...so you better be careful because I'm coming for you" I pointed my finger directly into Jin's chest. He smirked as his hand came up to mine and interlaced our fingers.

Hwoarang's match finished and suddenly my name was called to enter the fight dome. "I better go. I'm up next." I started, trying to pull my hand away from Jin. Then Jin pulled me into his body and firmly pressed his lips against mine. His hand caressed the small of my back gently before he gently released me, "I'll be waiting for you."