Chapter 2: Iron Fist 4 Begins
Lee watched Hwoarang pace the room like a caged tiger.
"I doubt Jin would be stupid enough to show up now. He'll probably wait until the tournament starts."
"I'm not waiting for him to arrive. I am anxious to fight. I have lots of unfinished business to attend to."
"What unfinished business could you possibly have? You put every fighter you went up against in traction...except Nina and Jin. Surely you're not anxious to thrash Nina..."
"Of course not! I've got lots of unfinished business with that damn cop, Lei, or whatever his name is. When does T4 start?"
"Tomorrow morning. Six a.m. I'm fighting Julia..."
Hwoarang snorted, "She's no contest."
"I know, but I do need a warm up. Who are you fighting?"
"Zombie-boy..."
"Who is that?"
"Bryan Fury. We hung out a lot during T3. He's a pretty cool guy...despite the fact that he is dead..."
"Interesting. And I thought Kazuya was the only walking dead-man around here."
Hwoarang cracked his knuckles. "Your favorite daddy is here, Chaolan..."
Lee stood and walked over to the window. Sure enough, Heihachi was emerging from a limousine surrounded by bodyguards.
"He's taking no chances with Kazuya around. It's kind of uplifting...to see the old man so fearful..."
"Tell me about it." Hwoarang grumbled.
"Hn. Come, Hwoarang. Let's find a dealership. I'll buy you a motorcycle."
*********************
Jin watched his grandfather emerge from a limousine and walk into the Iron Fist office from the diner across the street. He almost dropped his coffee when his Uncle Lee and a familiar redhead emerged from the office.
"Hwoarang..." He said quietly to himself.
The Korean was still unbelievably beautiful, but more angry-looking than usual. Hwoarang's gaze shifted and it seemed that he looked right at Jin. The Japanese dropped his coffee this time. He cursed under his breath and started mopping the brown liquid up with a bunch of napkins. He looked up again just in time to see Lee and Hwoarang get into another limo and drive off.
Ah...so your faggot-lover is still alive.
"Shut up..." Jin growled softly.
Your father was a faggot too. That's why I had to force him to rape Jun...because there was no way he'd ever set hands on a woman sexually. All he ever did was fuck your uncle over his desk.
"Shut up." Jin repeated, resting his forehead in his hands.
My other half is still alive, Kazama.
"Leave me alone!" The Japanese shouted.
The diner went silent, people turned to stare at him. Jin flushed in embarrassed, left money for his coffee on the table, and ran out. Devil's laughter rang through his mind and his body. An all-too-familiar burning pain seared his tattooed arm. He burst into the Iron Fist office, but only a few people looked up. Jin held his arm and hurried to the "arrivals" table. He signed in and received his schedule. The pain in his arm was starting to ebb so he released it and went to stand in a corner farthest away from the crowd.
[I'm fighting Christie, 8 a.m., Shinjuku Mall...]
"Jin!" A cheery voice cried.
Jin's head snapped up to see Ling standing in front of him, smiling.
"I'm so glad you're ali...!?"
Jin clamped a hand over Ling's mouth. "Shh! Are you crazy?? My grandfather is in the same damn room. Do NOT yell my name out for everyone to hear!"
He removed his hand and Ling looked down at her feet. "I'm sorry. It's just that...I'm so happy you're ok."
"Jin!" Heihachi bellowed.
Without saying anything to Ling, Jin turned and sprinted out of the office-Heihachi's thugs not far behind. He lost them easily, watching them go by, crouching in the darkness of an alley. Once he was sure they were gone he stood and slowly walked off.
[Why is Hwoarang with Lee...?]
You know why Lee has Hwoarang around, Kazama. Probably has the boy on his knees whenever possible.
Jin growled, shoving his hands into his pockets. [Leave me alone, Devil. I need to think this out myself. I don't need your sadist input.]
As you wish, boy...
Kazama snorted, pacing around on the sidewalk. [Hwoarang...]
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Morning came too quickly for Christie Montiero. The woman moaned and rolled onto her side as the morning sun shone right in her face.
"Damn..." She cussed, rolling over again and looking at her clock.
It was almost seven thirty. If she wanted to reach the Shinjuku Mall before eight she'd have to get up now. The woman rolled out of bed and grabbed some clothes from her travel bag. Since she had left Brazil in a hurry she had only brought two outfits, money, and a hair brush. The winnings from her first fight were going towards buying a toothbrush or something. Christie dressed in her favorite purple latex jeans and purple bikini top. She quickly ran her fingers through her hair and flounced out the door. She arrived at the Shinjuku Mall. "IRON FIST 4. FIGHT ONE: HERE TODAY!" a big banner draped above the mall's entrance said.
"Dios mio..." Christie muttered, shaking her head. She had never liked an audience while fighting.
"Commercialized bastards, huh?" A deep male voice asked.
Christie jumped and whirled around to see a very handsome redhead grinning at her.
"Sorry I scared you. My name's Hwoarang."
"I am Christie."
"Ah, so you're fighting Jin." The redhead said, looking Christie over. "I wish you luck, Christie. I'd love to see Jin get his ass whipped by you."
The Brazilian smirked. "I can kick any man's ass. No problem."
"Then I look forward to watching your match, Christie. Just a tip...Jin's calf muscles can't take that much punishment..."
Christie watched Hwoarang as he entered the mall and vanished into the thin crowd. She sighed, straightened her top, and made her way inside. She followed a small crowd to where everyone was gathering to watch the fight on the second level. A hooded man was standing by the fountains. People stared at her as she walked up to the man.
"Jin Kazama...?" She asked, extending her hand.
The man nodded, taking her hand and shaking it. A referee used a metal detector to sweep the fighters for any hidden weapons before telling them to stand four feet apart. Christie stepped back to her mark. She looked up at third level to see Hwoarang flash her a charming smile and a thumbs up. Christie smiled back.
"Round one. Fight!" The referee ordered.
Before Jin knew it Christie had charged him, toppling them both into the cold fountain. The crowd cheered and Jin threw her off him. While Jin leapt to his feet Christie stayed crouched and kneed Jin in the back of the leg repeatedly. The Japanese stumbled away, stunned. It was like she had planned to do that. Christie stood too, swaying from side to side...dancing almost. Jin rushed forward in a punch-rush combination. The woman managed to dance around a few of his punches but caught a kick right to the gut. She moaned, but did a one-handed back flip to get away from Jin. He rushed forward again but she danced to the side, kicking him right in his right calf muscle.
[This is crazy. It's like she knows exactly where to kick me!]
"Yeah Christie! Keep goin' babe!!" A familiar voice called.
Jin looked up at the third level. Hwoarang smirked at him, extending his middle finger. Since Jin was distracted he didn't here Christie rushing him until it was too late. Christie kicked him four times: right between his shoulder blades, at the base of his spine, and one to each calf muscle. Jin stumbled and was only half-turned towards Christie when she kicked him again. Her foot connected harshly with his shoulder. The impact of the kick made his shoulder crack painfully and sent Jin sprawling onto the cement. Kazama got to his feet, his shoulder was dislocated thanks to Christie's powerful attack. He grabbed onto his wrist and pulled hard, cracking his shoulder back into place. He rushed Christie, punching her twice in the ribs and tripping her. The Brazilian barely managed to protect her head from hitting the hard tile bottom of the fountain. She swallowed a mouthful of fountain water though. The woman gagged, the water tasted terrible. She managed to control her gag reflex and get to her feet. Christie backhanded Jin...hard, send him stumbling. Taking the opportunity she ran, jumped, and kicked Jin squarely in the face. Kazama went down hard, smacking into the fountain's cement steps. The referee shook Jin's shoulder then took Jin's pulse.
"Winner by K.O. Christie Montiero." The referee announced.
The crowd went wild, clapping and cheering. Christie just sighed, collected her check from the referee, and left the mall.
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Julia moaned as Michelle held an ice pack to her swollen nose.
"Damn Lee's good."
Michelle nodded, "I could never beat him."
"Is my nose broken?"
"No, but it will be swollen for awhile. Your ear is starting to swell too..."
A knock came at the small infirmary door. Michelle shrugged at Julia and answered the door. Lee was standing there, holding a bouquet of lilies.
"Please give these to your daughter, Michelle along with my apologies. I am afraid I may have been too rough on her."
Michelle folded her arms. "She's been hurt like this before, Lee. There's no need to patronize her."
"Still have a razor-sharp tongue I see. Here I am trying to be nice and you're spitting it back in my face."
"You're damn right I am." The brunette snapped. "I know your games all-too-well, Lee. Now get out."
"Fine."
Lee placed the lilies on the nearest table and walked out, smirking to himself.
[Some people are so volatile.]
"Chaolan."
"Sweetums." Lee purred.
"Whatever. Fuck you." Hwoarang replied, walking alongside Lee.
"So? Did you have fun tormenting Jin?"
Hwoarang smiled. "Yeah. He was so distracted he got KOed."
Lee laughed. "Marvelous. Now come, we must find Kazuya. I'm horny..."
Part three |
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