Tekken Fan Fiction ❯ The Stone Lotus ❯ Chapter Four ( Chapter 4 )

Chapter Four

Hwoarang laid on his side that evening on the floor where he had made his bed for the time he had planned on staying with the Changs. Aside from a phone call from Julia that day saying she was going to be very late that night, he hadn't seen or heard from her. He had ended up spending most of the day helping Michelle around the house and watching television.

"I know, this is boring you," the older woman had said sadly as she passed Hwoarang a plate to dry as they did dishes together earlier. "I'll have a word with Jules about that. That's just so rude of her!" Hwoarang shook his head and told her not to worry about it. Somehow, he knew that this was something that had to do with Jin, and it was best he just dealt with it.

The young man sat up and rubbed his eyes; it wasn't particularly that late, but he had nothing better to do but sleep. However, he wasn't tired. Hwoarang stood up, stretched, then made his way over to where his duffle bag was sitting. Quickly and quietly, he dressed.

He left the house and took the key that Michelle always left over the front door frame in case of emergencies, and he trotted down the driveway and down the street. He wouldn't get far, he knew, since the actual bars and such were a ways out from the house, but Hwoarang's trot slowed to a lazy stroll as he decided to enjoy the nice, cool evening. He shoved his hands into his green camouflaged army jacket that he wore over his grey t-shirt and khakis cargo pants.

Soon, the residental area was behind him, and smaller, older homes started to appeared. Hwoarang frowned when he realized where he was, and he sped up his pace to a brisk walk, and he went past the houses, only looking forward. His walk quickened more and more until he was running as the feeling that he couldn't get out of that neighborhood fast enough came over him. He stopped only to lean over and catch his breath, yet when he straighted up, chest still heaving he looked up at the little house that he was standing in front of and a lump formed in his throat.

That would be my luck... he thought to himself bitterly as he tried to start walking again. However, he found himself staring at the old peeling paint light green paint of the house and the rotting wood on its window shutters. There were lights on, which only exhilarated him more, and his heart raced as he stared at the front door, and a ringing in his ears blared. Suddenly, everything about him became calm, and he listened. Arguing, as he expected, a man's voice screaming at a crying woman as she screeched back in Korean. His hands balled up into fists as he fought the urge to barge in and hit the man. With an angry huff, Hwoarang turned to leave, yet before he could walk away the front door slammed opened, and the boy jump, startled by the loud boom it had made.

"Bobby, that you?" a deep voice growled. Hwoarang turned around slowly and sighed heavily.

"Yeah, hi," the boy mumbled at his father.

Jonas was the man's name, and he was angry looking man, his face weathered with frownlines. He was taller and more muscular than Hwoarang, and like the boy, his head was covered with light brown hair, though it was slicked back, making his receeding hair line more prominent. Again, like Hwoarang, he had hazel eyes, though there wasn't a shred a friendiness behind them. Just a coolness that the boy had never gotten used to. The man was still dressed for work, a soiled demin mechanic's jumper with his name neatly stitched in red over his right breast.

From behind the huge man, a tiny Asian woman peeked out, and Hwoarang's heart sank. He could see the bruises on his mother's face. The petite woman, Myung, pushed her way out past Jonas and scurried up to her son to hug him. The boy smiled sadly and clung to her, lifting her light frame with ease. When he pulled back, he blinked, taken back by how old his mother looked. It just seemed like she had aged so much since the last time he had seen either one of his parents, the bags under her eyes and all the grey skewn in hair he remembered as being jet black. She was wearing the melon sundress he always remembered her wearing when he was little.

"You've been eating well?" Myung asked, her voice small and heavily accented.

The boy nodded and responded in Korean, "Yeah, the military takes good care of me. I'm going to start going to school next fall." Her eyes lit up and she smiled brightly and hugged him again.

"I'm so proud, and you've gotten so handsome," she replied pleasantly, also in Korean. Hwoarang grinned weakly and thanked his mother. He then glanced up at his father, who crossed his arms and glared at the boy. With another sigh, Hwoarang hugged his mother one last time.

"I have to go, Mama," he said, this time in English. Her face became mortified when he said that and she pulled away completely.

"Where will you go?" she asked, eyes wide and not understanding.

He smiled at her, "I'll be fine. You know I always manage." He forced himself to turn and walk away, and he didn't look back, though he could hear his mother crying out for him. And again, he started running, this time back in the direction he had came. It wasn't he had gotten completely out of that neighborhood did he stop, and it was then he realized that he had been crying the entire time that he had been running. The young man brought a palm up to his eyes to wipe them then started to head back to the Changs' home.

Julia's car was in the driveway when he returned, and the lights were on in the house; Hwoarang rolled his eyes as marched up the driveway. When he reached the door, he placed the key back over the door then knocked. There was a pattering of feet before the door opened.

"There you are!" Julia sighed as she stepped out of the house and shut the door behind her. "Mom and I were getting worried." He was silent and stared blankly at the girl.

She shook her head, "I'm sorry I took so long, but I ran into Xiaoyu, and she ended up dragging me all over the place." Julia then made a face, "She got really excited when she heard you were in town."

When he didn't respond, she added, "Anyway, I promised myself I'd take you out." She tugged at the tight green cut-off t-shirt she was wearing with her flared jeans as if suddenly embarrassed that her navel was showing or how obscenely tight the shirt was, revealing her lack of bra. Secretly, that amused Hwoarang, however it wasn't enough to keep from being upset.

"Oh," he finally replied curtly.

"I really am sorry, Rang."

"I'm not upset," he insisted.

She frowned, "You're starting to sound like Jin." He narrowed his eyes at that response and turned around. Without saying a word, he walked to the car. Hwoarang then turned around, crossed his arms, and leaned against the Cadillac, waiting for Julia to join him. For a moment, she stood on the porch in shock that he had walked off, but she quickly recomposed herself and scurried over to meet him. She unlocked the doors, and they both got in, not saying anything to each other.

The ride was silent for the most part as she drove to the downtown and past the bars that were just starting to get busy that evening. She pulled up a red light.

As they waited for the light to change, Julia said bitterly, "You know, I'm getting really fucking tired of this, Hwoarang."

He glanced over at her then looked forward, "Well, then stop comparing me to Jin fucking Kazama, and we'll both be happy."

"I never do that!" Julia gasped and she turned in her seat at him, hurt that he had said that.

"Yes you do. You always have." His eyes were still forward. "I've never measured up to him to you and never will."

"That's not true! You're one of my best friends, you know that!"

Finally, he turned to look at her, "I don't want to be your fucking friend, Jules." She didn't reply yet stared wided eyed at her companion, and for a moment it looked like she was going to cry. She didn't however, and turned back around silently in time to see the light change. She slammed on the gas and sped the rest of the way to where she had planned on taking him, the Friar's Cafe.

She pulled into the parking lot of the cafe, which was surprisingly full, and still going at a fast pace, Julia maneuvered her way around until she found a parking spot near the front. Angrily, she shut off the car and slumped back in her seat, arms crossed. Hwoarang rolled his eyes and crossed him arms as well. The two refused to look at each other and sat in silence for what felt like an eternity.

"Are you going to get out anytime soon?" she asked, still obviously upset. Her voice was shakey, again suggesting that she wanted to cry. However, she fought off tears, determinded not to in front of him.

"Ladies first," he replied coolly. That ended up being what made Julia break down, and she hunched over, sobbing. Hwoarang turned in his seat to face her, still frowning. "Jules?"

"Just leave me alone, alright?" she choked between sobs, her head still down.

"I'm sorry."

She lifted her head and threw up her arms in frustration, "No, you're not! You never mean that when you say it!" Again, she hunched over, this time burying her face in her palms.

Hworang's frown deepened, "Yes, I am. I'm sorry for a lot of things." He looked forward, "I know you don't believe me I say this, but Jin hurt me just as much when he said that he didn't want to have anything to do with either one of us. But, there's nothing I can do about that now." He looked over at the crying girl ,again, sighed heavily and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I really am sorry about that. I lost two good friends that day."

So, is it always going to be me apologizing? he wondered idly as he wrapped an arm around Julia and hugged her. He pulled away to brush a lock of hair from her face and kissed her gently on the forehead.

"We can't keep doing this to each other," she whispered as she pulled away hastily and got out of the car. He did the same and followed her as she marched to the cafe. She stopped at the door and stared at her reflection in the glass; her eyes were red and puffy, and she shook her head as she saw Hwoarang jogging up behind her. She glanced over her shoulder at him then back at the door before pulling it open and stepping in. She held the door open for him.

He didn't, however, go in. Instead, he gestured at her and turned back around to fhe parking lot and walked away.

Julia sobbed once and followed.

The trip back to the house was long and silent. They refused to speak and look at each other the entire time. As soon as she pulled up in the driveway and shut off the car, Julia jumped out of the car and slammed her door. Hwoarang cringed and meakly followed.

He gladly slept on the couch that night though he was uncomfortable, and he tossed and turned constantly. Eventually, he gave up and sat up, swinging his legs over to sit correctly on the couch. He then crossed his arms and rested his elbow on his knees. He ended up just staring into space for an hour or so until he heard a door open cautiously down the hall and latch shut. A few moments later, Julia emerged, clad in nothing more than tank top and a pair of panties. Hwoarang glanced over at her at her then back forward again in to the darkness. Silently, she walked over to him and stood directly in front of him.

"I don't want to go to bed angry," she said softly. "Rang, I can't stay mad at you."

He chuckled, "Sure could had fooled me. I've been under the impression that you've been mad at me since Jin died." He shuddered a bit when he felt her fingers running through his hair, and he repressed any urges as they surfaced, though it was difficult.

"I haven't," she frowned and pulled away her hand. She sat down next to him and leaned over in the same fashion to better eye him. "Rang, we messed around once and got caught. That was both of us. Not just you, not just me." Hwoarang blinked, surprised by the frankness of what Julia had said, then managed a light chuckle before turning away. "I can't be mad at you for something we both did."

Julia hesitated for a moment before continuing, "And I can't say that I'm sorry that it ever happened."

"So, you're finally admitting that we had something?"

"Yes, a fling."

"A fling?" Hwoarang lifted a brow then laughed maliciously. "A fling." He groaned still laughing, covered his face, and fell backwards onto the couch cushions. Julia said nothing as she listened to her companion laugh underneath his hands.

Finally he pulled away his hands from his face and chuckled up at her, "I guess that's the best I'm going to get from you."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means he's still won," he sighed, a weak grin across his lips. "Kazama's been dead for two years, and he still gets the last fucking laugh. It's brilliant, fucking BRILLIANT!"

"Hwoarang!"

"No, really, I'm not mad." He sat up, "I'm getting used to this shit, but I'm just can't figure out why you hate me so much."

Julia shot up, hands on her hips, "I don't hate you."

He looked up at her and arched a brow; however he didn't replied and slipped off of the couch to his knees and in front of her. His hands slowly slid up up her bare thighs, and they stopped between her legs. He then leaned in and lightly pressed his lips against the thin fabric of her panties and the most sensitive area there, and he held them there for a moment. Just long enough for her to respond by running her fingers through his hair again, and he looked up at her, face unreadable.

She pulled away from him completely, "This is what caused all our problems to begin with." With that, Julia crossed her arms and hastily exited.

With a frown, Hwoarang sat back on the couch and waited for morning.