Author's Forward: This is my first attempt at Tekken fan fiction. I will freely admit, I'm not the best at the game, so my fight descriptions may seem a little off. This story is mainly about Xiaoyu, because I really disliked her story arc in Tekken 5 and wanted to create one where she was a little more serious. I believe Chinese naming convention is last name first, so this story assumes "Ling" is a family name and "Xiaoyu" is her first name. I also don't insert Chinese or Japanese phrasing into the story as I speak neither language, so please forgive the English cultural interpretations.

As per usual, all things Tekken are copyright of Namco. This story was written in fun, and I am gaining no monetary profit or other benefits from doing so, apart from the warm and fuzzy feelings which I get when people leave reviews. So please, if you're reading this, leave them, I beg of you!

Prologue: Blooming Flower

"Jiiiaaaaaa!"

The shrill female cry rang out across the garden, followed shortly by a much higher-pitched scream and a loud thump. Slowly, a young girl rose to her feet, wincing and rubbing her bottom as she stood. Though she was already thirteen years old, the two sprouts of hair sticking up from her head made her look much younger. Her behaviour as she rearranged her dishevelled ponytails and straightened up did nothing to dispel the illusion. "Grandpa!" she yelled, twisting her lips into a huge pout. "That hurt!" The dark-haired girl kicked angrily at the dirt as the old man standing across from her let out an amused laugh.

"Xiaoyu," he began gently. "You must learn to concentrate, or you will never become a successful fighter." He gave the girl a stern look as she rolled her eyes upwards and planted her hands on her hips. "My memory may fail me at times, my dear girl, but I remember quite clearly what you told me this morning."

Xiaoyu sighed and blew her bangs out of her eyes with exasperation. "I know, I know! I said I'd rather spar with you than do my chores!" It had seemed like a good idea at the time, considering the massive amount of cleaning her mother had set aside for her. "But look, I've ended up sweeping the yard with my butt anyway! Can't you let me have a break?"

"No breaks, no pauses," Jinrei countered sternly. "And watch your mouth! You young people have no respect for anything these days," he grumbled. "I see I will have to teach it to you once again. Defend yourself!"

Xiaoyu's eyes widened as the old man came at her, dropping automatically into her own defensive crouch. For being what was, in her opinion, the definition of an old geezer, her grandfather could move with an amazing amount of speed and accuracy. And unfortunately for her, he could also hit with an amazing amount of power when he chose to. Once again, Xiaoyu saw the sky reel overhead before landing heavily on her back. After waiting for the stars and birds to stop circling around her field of vision, she gave a huge sigh and stared up at the clouds overhead. I'm just going to end up in this position in another few seconds, she reasoned with herself. Why bother getting up? Her sore muscles happily agreed with her brain's logic, and Xiaoyu smiled in tired satisfaction. Some moments passed, and then a cough was heard.

"I can also demonstrate methods of striking your opponents while they are down…" began Jinrei.

With a huge groan, Xiaoyu quickly rolled to her feet and gave her grandfather her best version of the evil eye. Considering her wild pig-tails, the dirt streaked across her face and the ever-present pout, it wasn't a very effective look. Jinrei smiled back placidly at her furious glare, fully knowing it would only enrage the sulking girl even more.

"You must learn discipline, child! You have such talent, but you refuse to use it." He gave another sigh, watching as Xiaoyu stomped her foot in anger. "You remind me so much of Lee, little one," he said with a note of nostalgia in his voice. "Except he had the ability to focus, something which you lack. Look at him now, adopted by the Mishima family and on his way to a long, happy life of success! You could do just as well if you would only take your lessons seriously!"

Xiaoyu shrugged her shoulders angrily. "Mishima this, Mishima that! You're always talking about the Mishimas! Well guess what, Gramps, I'm not Lee, and I'm not going to be adopted by some super-rich old guy in Japan! Dad's dead, we're poor, and you teaching me how to fight isn't going to change anything!" she yelled. She paled as she saw Jinrei's face drop at her outburst, and suddenly found the packed dirt by her feet extremely interesting. "I'm sorry, grandpa, I didn't mean-"

"I've always tried to support your mother as best I could," Jinrei began in a wounded voice. "I know that as an old man, I cannot give you and your brothers all of the things that you want." He shook his head regretfully, stooping over and suddenly looking every bit his age. Xiaoyu felt a stab of guilt and shuffled her feet nervously as he turned his back to her and slowly began to walk away.

"Grandpa, I'm sorry! I know you're trying your best," she fumbled. Her feet felt as though they were leaden, rooted to the ground before her. "I was just frustrated, really! I didn't mean it!" She snuck a glace upwards and saw that he was still shuffling towards the house and away from her. "Grandpa!" she called out again, now panicking. "Please, come back! I really didn't mean it! I'll concentrate, I promise!" Her guilt evaporated as the old man spun around suddenly, a smile spreading across his face.

"Oh you will, will you? Well, perhaps I can forgive your rudeness if you perform your lessons well today, and then do your chores. And help me carry my fish to the market." He chuckled as he moved back inside of the rough circle they had drawn onto the ground and adjusted the sleeves of his robes.

"What—did you just--hey, wait a sec, I've been had!" Xiaoyu exploded, her face turning a shade of red bright enough to match her jacket. "Grandpa, that's not fair!"

Jinrei only chuckled. "I didn't become a successful merchant by accident, child!" he told her. "And I know quality goods when I see them. You do have talent, Xiaoyu, the ability to become a truly great fighter. None of your brothers have ever shown such potential. It would be shameful to let such a talent go to waste."

Xiaoyu growled at her grandfather angrily. "Maybe I want to waste it, ever think about that!" she yelled defensively. But it was only a half-hearted yell, and already she had dropped to her crouch, mirroring the old man. "Besides, I'm too weak to be a good fighter! Why even bother?"

"Strength is not power, Xiaoyu," he mumbled as he lunged forward, grunting with approval as she avoided the blow. "But you are correct," he added, catching her foot with his heel as she back stepped, sending her to the ground once more. "At the moment, you have neither. That is why you must continue your lessons with me every day. Besides," he said with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, "Carrying the fish to the market will surely develop those muscles of yours!"

Xiaoyu's high-pitched wail of despair was joined by the sound of Jinrei's laughter as the two continued their sparring match in the crisp morning air.