The Soul Within
Chapter 13 – Known Weakness

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"What's wrong with you?" Rila muttered, giving Julia an odd look.

"I'm just a little exhausted," she responded just a little snappishly, tugging her blanket tighter around herself.

First there was a sneer before a thought seemed to occur to Rila. "Oh, I get it. Yeah, a cold will do that to a person, eh?"

"Yes… Wait. How did you know I had a cold?"

"Er… well, so you were saying something about going insane?"

Julia snorted for that not so tactful change of subject. It hardly mattered to her at the moment though as the third day since she first caught the cold rolled by lazily and she was still being haunted by that ordeal. Yes, "ordeal", because already she had this feeling deep in her gut that that day would be the last she'd see of Jin in a long, long time, because she still hadn't been able to contact her mother, and because the illusion that ended the ordeal was haunting her and robbing her of the sleep she desperately, desperately needed. Bundled all together with the normal, everyday problems she was yet coping with, it was a wonder she could string together one coherent thought. It was a wonder she was sane.

Rila was left uneasy by the look on Julia's face, a look of dejection and hopelessness. Sighing, she looked out the window and the ocean sparkling from the noon sun. "I know you're having a really hard time right now, Julia… but you've gotta keep going no matter what. Michelle wouldn't like you to be like this."

"Just shut up… I've got a huge headache is all. Well…" Julia trailed off, again ridden with confusion.

"Talk to me. You'll feel better," Rila encouraged with her laidback tone, returning to the table Julia was sitting at.

"When I was at that dojo… I don't know. For some reason I went outside, following this… this Fairy Pitta and—"

"What the hell? You must've been hallucinating real good, huh!" Rila laughed.

Julia growled, instantly shutting up the other girl. "A 'bird', Rila. A Fairy Pitta is a bird. Anyway, I didn't walk far really, but when I stopped and the bird disappeared I… I thought I saw…" Her eyes suddenly burned with tears. "I thought I saw… my father…"

Rila's eyes widened. "Your… But how would you know? I mean… you've never even seen him before have you?"

"I don't know how. He just… He just looked like he could be my father. We had the same eyes and… I just felt like there was a bond…" Her voice became quiet as she thought more about it and wondered. "Is he alive? Could he be…?"

"Hey," Rila said concernedly, reaching over to gently shake Julia's shoulder, "First things first, right? Steve's still got all this money so… I'm thinking maybe I should head back to Arizona myself and find out what's going on with Michelle. For all we know she just went off on some humanitarian crusade for a week."

They both smiled.

"I suppose that's possible," Julia replied weakly, nodding her head.

Unhappy with that sad, sad reply, Rila frowned and thought for a moment. The mental light bulb lit overhead. Her frown was instantly flipped back up as the idea came forth.

"Hey, hey! I know exactly what you need. You seriously need a pick me up now, right?" Julia raised a brow. "What better to sweep you off your feet all fairy tale style than a dream date with Jin!"

Julia's interest was definitely peaked. But she couldn't say if she felt more horrified or concerned about her friend's mental health or… or something else entirely! "What are you talking about, Rila? I told you that Jin disappeared! How could you possibly contact him when I've already tried? He's not answering his cell…" she explained, slumping down on the table. Then she quietly added, "I wonder now if the number he gave me was a fake…"

"Yeah, I know, so even if you do have a means to contact that specter, doesn't mean he's obligated to answer the call or even keep his damn cell on. However, I happen to have an idea where he might be today," Rila said, stroking her chin with a mischievous glint in her eye.

Julia was still doubtful, eyeing the other girl suspiciously. "You know where he is? What? Back at that dojo?"

"Nah. But believe me, I'm ninety-nine percent sure where he's hanging around."

"Okaaay, and… You think I should just…" Julia's eyes widened as she finally realized what it was Rila was plotting this time. "Oh, no. No way. I can't just go out and meet up with him randomly! That's just… I can't. No way."

"Yep. You will," Rila too happily disagreed.

---

He felt like he was being watched… Jin turned enough so he could see around the flap of his hood at what was coming up on his back. He relaxed when he merely saw a girl dressed in vibrant clothes rolling toward him on a skateboard and a Giant Panda galloping on her heels. Well… a normal person would probably run.

"Hi Jin!" she chimed, waving enthusiastically as she drew close enough.

Skidding to a stop, she popped the board up to reveal a deck embellished by chibi pandas. The wheels let off a soft glow in the night like Panda's hot pink bracelets, and as Xiaoyu turned her wrist out he saw a tiny pink heart tattoo. His brow rose.

"You braved a needle?"

She tilted her head, looking at him confused. Then she noticed where he looked and grinned. "Oh! That? Yeah, it really was no biggie. Um… Miharu was there so I could squeeze her hand when they did it. She was sorer than me afterward, heehee." There was a pause as she scratched the panda's head, hiding her blushing from Jin. "So, I was just skating around the plaza aaand… Well, Panda thought she smelt you!"

Jin's raven brow rose again as he looked at the smiling Panda. "I hope that doesn't mean I reek," he murmured.

It earned a laugh that was larger than Xiaoyu, startling even the Chinese girl's loyal ursine companion.

Somewhat taken aback, Jin braced himself before speaking again, "I guess you being here must mean you're participating in the tournament?"

Xiaoyu's face had flushed beat red, knowing she'd sort of just embarrassed herself by making that… that noise. She looked away, finding it hard to focus now. This wasn't at all how she'd pictured meeting up with Jin again. Sure maybe when she had thought about it the scenario was more fairy tale like and Jin would be wearing a samurai outfit and she would be wearing a silky white kimono and they'd be at the amusement park coasting through the tunnel of love and Jin would pop out a gorgeous wedding ring. And the vows! Oh, he'd cite such wonderful vows that—

"Uh, Xiaoyu?"

"Of course I will! Oh, I can't wait to plan the ceremo—I… I-I mean um, what… did you say again?" Xiaoyu said, lowering her head, defeated. Miharu was right. She needed to put weights on her feet to keep her from drifting off in space…

Jin looked at her, confused by her behavior. True he might not be the best at reading into others feelings but Xiaoyu didn't seem all there right now. Maybe she was tired… or coming off a sugar rush.

"It's been nice seeing you Xiaoyu, but I have to go. I have things to do," he said seriously, looking away in a certain direction.

"No!"

The word rang through him like an alarm. At this distance it kind of stung his ears. "What!" he exclaimed, taken off guard.

"I thought… um, well, you know… that we could hang out for a while and… catch up," Xiaoyu explained uneasily, fidgeting with her fleece vest. Jin started to decline but she quickly intervened, "Please! It's been forever since we've spent time together! We used to be such good friends… I really… really miss that."

He looked away again, shadows over his eyes. Why did he seem so different now? He was distant, quiet, and had this intense bearing about him… Okay, perhaps that wasn't very different from the past but those qualities seemed to have gotten even stronger. Eventually she wouldn't be able to reach him at all.

She couldn't allow that to happen. She had to seize the day!

"Let's go! The amusement park is calling us!" she proclaimed, grabbing Jin by the arm and dragging him off as Panda lopped behind them.

Ten minutes of relentless running brought them bursting through a large crowd into the gates of Tokyo Dome City. Xiaoyu was glad she managed to hold onto Jin as she ran from place to place like a madwoman. Her energy and enthusiasm seemed to be so great that it was burning a hole through the growing throngs… or was that the power of a fully grown panda? Whatever the reason, they got to a number of rides within the hour until finally Jin suggested they take a break. Xiaoyu was happy to do so, seeing as she managed to amuse Jin at least some. At least she hoped that was the case.

They each got some cotton candy, and Panda a sticky liquorish rope—one of her favorites—and then they found a table around a gorgeous fountain. Lights in the star-shaped pool cast the falling water in rainbow colors and clear sculptures of peaceful dragons stood around it like sentinels.

Xiaoyu dropped her skateboard on the ground before taking a seat. She picked at the cotton candy distractedly, watching Jin watch the falling water. It was a wonder how such a hot, beautiful guy like him could exist and that he was actually a part of her life. That's how she liked to think of him, that he was a part of her life. But she wondered if he felt the same even a little.

"Jin?"

"Hm?" he mumbled, munching on the candy.

"Where… Where did you go… after the third tournament? You just… disappeared. I was really, really worried," she said, looking down sadly.

Jin let the sugary stuff dissolve in his mouth before answering, "Brisbane."

Xiaoyu looked up and blinked, surprised. "Brisbane…? That's in… where exactly?" she said nervously.

"Australia."

"Oh… What for?"

He set the half eaten candy on the table and pushed his hand through his hair, closing his eyes. "To train." And knowing she would ask, he went on, "I wanted to take on a different fighting style. The Mishima style wasn't working for me anymore."

The wheels in Xiaoyu's head turned. "You… just felt like a change? But wasn't it hard to completely learn a new style. From what I saw… the Mishima style was very powerful. You would just—"

"What's your reason this time?" he asked, changing subject, brows knitted a little harshly.

Xiaoyu quickly backed down, taking a mouthful of cotton candy. She didn't know if that was a good idea what with her stomach doing a few unexpected somersaults. And then she thought about his question. She didn't know if she should tell him that she wanted to get the money to build a time machine so that she could rewrite the Mishima's horrible history. Because seriously, he would probably just tell her to stay out of it and that it wasn't for her to worry about! She just couldn't help it. Her mission in life was to mend the Mishima's rifts and hopefully bring peace back to them. Knowing Jin and Heihachi personally, she couldn't help wanting them to have happiness.

"My lifelong dream… I want to have the money to build my amusement park. That's… why I've entered," she answered meekly.

Jin gave her a sidelong glance. It was a gaze that seemed to see right through her. If she was cotton candy she would've just begged to be eaten by him. Wait a sec… That didn't quite sound…

"Good luck."

She made a small surprised sound as she looked at him. He held her gaze for a moment before returning his attention to the fountain. Xiaoyu bowed her head a little, "Arigatou, Jin." There was a long pause, filled with the sounds of the busy park until Xiaoyu finished her "meal". Then she hopped up and yipped. "Time for some more rides! Come on!"

This time she didn't drag Jin, hoping she didn't have to, hoping he wouldn't just leave her again without a goodbye. She just stuck her skateboard to her back and ran to here and there, splurging her tickets until there was none left.

They ended up standing in the middle of a plaza. Xiaoyu was snuggling a pink teddy bear Jin had effortlessly one for her at one of the games.

"I guess we're done," Jin said, his arms crossed as he looked around.

Usually people got worn out trying to keep up with Xiaoyu, even Miharu, but Jin's stamina must've kept him conditioned. Not a hair was out of place, not counting the ones that were always out of place. Although, she still couldn't tell if he was really, truly enjoying this outing.

Grinning broadly, Xiaoyu fished out the tickets she saved for a special last activity and waved them in his face. "Not so fast! Just one more!"

"Xiaoyu, I should be getting to—"

She gasped. "No! No, no! Just this one ride! ONE more and THEN we can call it a night, okay? Pleeeease!"

He let out a sigh through his nose and reluctantly nodded.

Xiaoyu did a dance that was supposed to stay in her head but she did it anyway. Some people laughed and one guy even took a picture with his phone but she didn't care.

Seeing Jin was looking off somewhere else, she bent over Panda and whispered, "I'll meet you outside the gates Panda. This is it! Wish me luck!"

Panda let out a happy little growl and then walked off for the exit. Then Xiaoyu hooked her arm around Jin's and led him off to the Ferris wheel.

As the wheel made its stop at the top and the dazzling view was presented, Xiaoyu giggled and looked across the horizon, the lights sparkling in her big, childlike eyes. Jin didn't honestly know what it was about these places that kept Xiaoyu hooked as she was. Just looking at her now, he believed she enjoyed every visit to the amusement park as much as she did the first time. He on the other hand felt this one visit could keep his curiosity at bay for another couple years.

Although, admittedly Xiaoyu's extreme happiness was a sight to behold. She was having so much fun the compartment was swinging about as she leaned over the edges taking in the scenery from as many angles as she could. Jin finally had to tell her to settle down before the thing came off its bolts.

A minute passed of peacefulness. Then Xiaoyu looked at him, her cheeks turning pink, and quietly said, "This was fun… wasn't it? I know I had fun and I'll cherish the moments we've spent these past two hours but… How about you?"

Jin's fingers stopped drum rolling along the outside of the compartment. He shifted in his seat a little uncomfortably, wondering what his own answer was. For a while he didn't exactly like being dragged around a place that was kind of blindingly bright and brimming with noise, but after a while he didn't mind it so much. Strangely.

He looked at Xiaoyu. Then said, "It was nice."

Her smile went from ear to ear, complimenting a pretty face that was meant to be happy all the time.

When the wheel came down, they walked off to the exit along with other exhausted visitors. Outside the gates, Xiaoyu waved at Panda lying across the street next to a souvenir stand. Panda yawned and started to get up.

"Take care, Xiaoyu," Jin said.

Xiaoyu's pigtails whipped through the air as she faced him. "Oh. But—!"

"I think you should know… that even if you believe you can help the Mishimas, don't. There's nothing you can do for them… for me. You'll only end up getting hurt," he told her emotionlessly.

The solemn on her face was almost too much to bear. Across the street Panda watched, resisting the urge to go to the Chinese girl's side. She'd had the tiniest feeling something would happen to make Xiaoyu cry by the end of this night. But she'd stayed silent, hoping that tiny feeling was nothing. Now she just had to stand by while her master and best friend had her heart broken.

"I wouldn't wish for you to be harmed, Xiaoyu. You should just live your life pursuing your own dream, and find your own happiness."

Xiaoyu perked up just a little, gaze lifting to those dark, kind eyes. She did love him. She did. She always would. Now more than ever she believed that.

She looked down at her shoes, blushing as her toes turned inward. "No… I can wait, Jin." His expression was between question and reluctance. Swallowing hard, she went on, "I can wait for you to love me." His eyes widened. "But I don't think I'll ever be able to back down while you're out somewhere struggling. I know you haven't had the easiest life, Jin. I know you're still finding your way, looking for answers, trying so… so hard to find something. You don't have to… have to do it all alone, though, Jin!" she cried and threw her arms around him, tears spilling down her cheeks.

A gentle hand fell on her shoulder. She shivered and pulled herself away enough to look into his eyes. They were cast over with shadows again and the line of his mouth was turned down a bit. That look… It drove something through her. She didn't know what exactly. It was like there was a rope between them and she was losing her grip on her end, swatting at air while it disappeared into the cold darkness.

Desperately she got on her tips toes, jumped just a little and kissed him. It was her fist kiss, the one she'd always dreamed of. She prayed that it would last forever.

---

"Mwahaha!"

"Muhahaha!"

"No, no, you're doing it wrong!"

"Everyone does it your way! I'm being original!"

"Psh. Why not Mooohaha, then? That's what you sound like!"

"Are you calling me a cow!"

"GUYS. Would you please pay attention to what you're doing! The last thing I need now is to end up looking like one of your childhood dolls," Julia said through gritted teeth.

Asuka looked at Rila questioningly.

"Oh, you know how girls like to play dress up with their dolls and paint them up and stuff," Rila explained, to which Asuka merely sniggered. Then she frowned at Julia. "For your information I was the neighborhood Arteest when I was a tot."

Julia flatly said, "I can only imagine what neighborhood you grew up in."

"Ah-ha! Perfect!" Asuka announced, striking a triumphant pose.

Rila's expression contorted in a critical way. "Nuh-uh. You put waaay too much blush on her. You do know we're not sending her out to walk the streets, right?"

Asuka flushed, glaring daggers at Rila. "Why you… I did my own makeup for two big school dances and three big family celebrations, and everyone said I was positively beautiful! Besides, what in the hell did you do with her eye shadow? Now THAT'S what I call slutty!"

These two "makeup artists" had been at it for an hour now, and these were not the results Julia had been hoping for. From what they were saying, she may as well have gone makeup-less. Not to mention they were cutting it close to 9:00. Only twenty minutes and she had yet to get into her dress!

At last she convinced Rila and Asuka to compromise and their bickering came to a short end. While their indecisive faces at the end of her makeover weren't the most encouraging, she hurried to get in the dress Asuka had brought over. It was a nice one, not too formal and not plain. It was perfect for this… occasion, for lack of a better word.

"Date time!"

"He's probably gone by now," Julia murmured, feeling so deflated.

"Chin up! You can't expect much from a guy with your face all droopy like that."

Julia looked alarmed and tried to make a beeline for her closing apartment door but the other two geniuses snatched her by the arms and hurried down the hallway.

"Real smart there, Aska!"

"Don't call me that! It has too much 'ass' in it!"

Rila laughed. "Oh, can't have that now can we? Imagine a J-lo and Pam Anderson hybrid!"

Asuka poked a finger towards Rila. "I don't know who those people are but I think I know what you're trying to get at and I don't like it!"

The oh so witty banter carried on for the longest time as they took the longest walk to the outside and took the longest taxi ride to some random place on the map. Julia heard Rila say some destination but she was a little preoccupied with how she was going to approach Jin, if she'd even see him. She probably wouldn't… I mean what are the chances? A million to one? Well, maybe not the million, but still… Damnit, I should've checked the mirror! My hair feels a little… misshapen. Please don't let them have made me out to be a total idiot clown freak… She groaned as they took her out of the cab and continued to escort her down a peaceful street overlooking a distant beach.

"Mise mono jo nai yo!" Asuka barked at some gawking dude.

"What?" Julia whispered out of the corner of her mouth to Rila.

"'What are you looking at, buddy'," she translated with a smirk.

Julia glanced over her shoulder, her self-esteem taking another nose dive.

They walked down the street for about five minutes and Julia couldn't help but notice Rila's restless eyes dashing from here to there.

Asuka finally growled, "Hey, Rila! You'd better not have put poor Julia through all of this for nothing! Where the heck is this guy? Did you tell him where to be?"

When Rila didn't answer and just kept avoiding their eyes, Asuka jumped in front of her and demanded, "Answer!"

"Calm down… I'm sure he's just…" Rila hesitated, sighing roughly. "Alright, let's just go down the end of this road. Maybe he got distracted by some display at the park down there. Okay Julia?" she said, looking at the other Arizonan.

In spite of herself, Julia nodded, and they continued onward. Sadly, when their promenade came to an end it wasn't sudden elation to be found. But heartbreak.

Julia saw Jin and Xiaoyu, embracing each other and…

She let out a gasp and whipped, around running back the way they came, ignoring the voices of her friends calling out to her. The reality of the moment was sealed as rain started to come down.

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Next time: A date with destiny.