Parts of this chapter have been edited, while the other chapters have been rewritten

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JIN

"Come on, faster, harder, go for it"

Akira gritted her small teeth and came at me with all she had, swinging her tiny fists and sweeping with her feet. I dodged or blocked her moves, as she continued her attack, changing her fighting styles quickly. First she had been attacking me with Karate, now she came at me with Ba Ji Quan, her mother's style

"Come on, Akira, I know you can do it"

"I'm trying, Daddy, I'm trying"

"I know, but try harder, okay?"

She nodded and lunged at me. She feinted a punch and landed a kick on my stomach. Landing on her feet, she looked up at me. I was clutching at my stomach. It wasn't painful, but it had been a strong kick. I looked down at my daughter, as she brushed a strand of hair back and sighed

"Well done, Akira. Very well done. I think you'll be ready for the tournament tomorrow"

"Alright. Then I can beat David and maybe Dominic"

"True, but we'll see. I wonder how Dominic's training is going"

"He trains twice as long as I do and twice as harder"

She looked up at me with a saddened look

"Does that mean he will beat me?"

"No, honey, it doesn't. I reckon you'll beat him. Just because he trains harder and longer than you doesn't mean anything"

"Really? Cool, I can't wait"

Ever since Akira found that a World Champion Tournament was being held, she had wanted to train harder than before, since she knew Dominic would be entering. Well, Hwoarang wasn't joking. Ever since they first met when they were one, Akira and Dominic have always been rivals, always competing each other in every little thing they could compete in. David, who is Steve and Christie's five-year-old son, usually joined in, but mainly he hung around Dominic's little sister, Amelia, who is four-years-old

"I'm home," called out Julia

Akira and I left the training room and headed into the kitchen, where Julia was bringing in the shopping bags. I helped her unpack, as Akira sat at the table and watched us

"So, Akira, are you ready for the tournament tomorrow?" Julia asked

"Yes, mummy. I'm ready"

"That's my girl"

"I reckon there might be some people who we haven't seen in a few years"

"Yeah, I'll agree with you on that one"

"Like who?" asked Akira

"Friends of ours," I answered, "Now go on and play in your room"

Akira ran off quicker than I could blink. I walked over to Julia and wrapped my arms around her waist

"So, will you be competing?" she asked

"Yeah. Won't pass up the chance to fight Hwoarang again"

"Over the last seven years, how many times have you two fought?"

"Seven times. One every year"

"You guys just never quit, do you?"

"I'd love too, but Hwoarang is very stubborn and persistent"

"Yes, well, I'll give him that"

"He reckons that this time he will beat me"

"And he never does. Oh well, I suppose we will have a nice day out"

"Sounds good to me"

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JULIA

We all arrived at the World Tournament the next day. Akira was eager to sign up. Maybe a little too eager, as she kept running into people and disappearing out of sight

"She's fast," Jin said

"Takes after you"

We reached the desk where we found Akira signing up. She laid the pen down and smiled at the receptionist as we stepped behind her

"So, young Akira, where are your parents?"

"We're here," Jin answered

"Oh, I see. So, the whole family entering?"

"Yep," Akira answered

She started to run off, but I stopped her

"Wait for us, dear, we've still got to sign up"

"You go on ahead," said Jin, "I'll sign you up"

"Okay then"

We left Jin at the desk and headed inside

"Wow, look at everyone here"

The stadium was packed with spectators. I looked around and saw a doorway behind the arena. Akira and I headed over and walked inside, where we found everyone else

"Julia!"

Asuka was the first to come over. We gave each other a small hug, as Asuka knelt down to her niece

"How's my little niece going? You been good?"

"Yep, I've been good"

Asuka straightened and looked at me

"You've cut your hair"

I ran a hand through my shoulder-length hair and smiled

"What do you think?"

"I reckon it looks good. When did you get it done?"

"A few days ago"

"So, where's Jin?"

"I'm here"

"About time you arrived," cried a voice

Hwoarang appeared and slapped Jin on the shoulder, as Lili and their two small children also arrived

"Ready for our fight?" Hwoarang asked

"Yeah, maybe"

"There are no maybes about it. The fight is on. Don't you forget"

Jin gave him a small smile

"Wouldn't dream of it"

"So this is where everyone is?" asked Christie

Steve and David arrived with her, as Jin's parents also arrived

"Everyone's fighting, eh?" asked Kazuya, "This should be interesting"

"And this will make it more interesting," said a deep voice

A ninja joined us, accompanied by a woman with very long black hair tied in a braid and wearing a blue outfit, along with two young children

"Scorpion, Kitana, glad you could make it," said Kazuya, "Who are these youngsters?

"Everyone, meet twins Azriel and Sasha," Scorpion replied proudly

Azriel and Sasha were about the same age as Akira. Azriel had short, spiky black hair, while Sasha looked a lot like her mother, with long dark hair in a braided ponytail

"Are they competing as well?" asked Jun

"Yeah, they're fighting," said Kitana, "They've been training really hard

"Everyone's here? What a surprise," cried a voice

I saw Sub Zero enter the room, followed by a young-looking woman with black and grey hair. Two young boys followed them, along with Sonya Blade and Johnny Cage

"Who's this?" asked Scorpion

"This is Sareena," Sub Zero answered, "And these two are Mataku and Rin"

"There you go, Azriel, competition for you"

"Cool"

"A family reunion. How delightful. Something I've always wanted to see"

We all whirled around at the new voice. The voice belonged to the man standing next to her, who looked a hell of a lot like Jin. So similar, it was hard to tell them apart if you didn't know where to look

"Ashe," said Jin

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