| Kazama never would have expected night classes to blow as much as they did. He'd gotten out of Chem, he'd stopped downtown for some coffee and, with the covered cup in hand, it would be well past midnight when he returned home. The park through the Yurei District was a shortcut and, while not terribly well-lit, Jin had little reason to be concerned. It was in fact refreshing to know there would be life in the park, and he hoped it wasn't human. The love of nature had been inspired by his mother but now, at nineteen, was very much his own. He took a swallow of the hot coffee. Considering the work he had to do that night, it was going to come in handy. Kazama continued confidently down the street, nearing the park. When he turned up that night, Hwoarang wanted to fight him. He had no business walking the streets -- let alone the Korean's turf -- without a limousine creeping just yards behind him like some domesticated animal, as per usual. Without his little ring of Versace wearing sunglass toting baby-sitters to protect him if he got into a scuffle. It was just disrespectful. "You're just askin' for it, aren't you, Kazama?" Hwoarang called through a crooked smile. The surprise on Jin's face as he sought out his addresser, followed by the dulling of his gaze with exasperation when he recognized the redhead pushing from the wall, were both the Korean's small victories. He was measuring everything in terms of victory these days. Readjusting the strap of a bookbag over his left shoulder, Jin looked back to a path that would take him deeper into the Yurei District before he reached the capacious dwelling of his grandfather. It was a rundown section of Tokyo, a neighborhood full of dilapidation with poor families, crumbling businesses, abandoned buildings -- full of ghosts, which inspired the name. It was also the turf of one rather vicious renju lead by Blood Talon, known simply as the Yurei. "I'm not going to fight you," the Japanese maintained with clement stubbornness. He glanced back to his would-be rival, wondering at the fire in his eyes. |
| Part One |