Author: Jiji Kero

Warnings: Profanity, Violence

Couples: None

Author's Notes: Prepare for an emotional roller coaster ride.

If this is your first time reading Obsession, please read The Chronicles of Obsession: Innocence first then you can start on this. For the people who already read Innocence… welcome back! As always, please read and review. I know that this saga is quite different from the first and you will realize it within the first four paragraphs, but I hope you still like it. But, don't worry there will be some cheerful memories. Thanks for your support!

"Hiding"

Hwoarang remained in silence, thumbing through the pictures slowly, watching the photographs coming to life as he tried to refrain himself from remembering every passion, scent, and texture he felt that time... But with every new picture he saw, a familiar emotion, feeling grew inside of him. He stopped at the photograph... of when his love and himself were engaged so deeply with each other. As he thought more about that day, it seemed in that very moment, their two souls intertwined into one. The reminiscing soul lightly gazed his thumb over Jin's face, feeling that same delicate skin he loved so much.

                "Together... forever, huh?" He asked coldly. Ling turned silent at the mention of those lifeless words and shuffled quietly at the end of her phone.

                "Yes…" Ling finally forced herself to say, trying to believe it with all of her heart, "Always together… forever." She whispered softly. Hwoarang glanced once more over the photograph, holding it firmly in his two hands. The picture began to crinkle by the pressure of his cringing hands and cried until his fingers loosened their grip. A faint smile appeared on the torn man's face as his eyes closed, binding himself in the darkness.

                "It was fun while it lasted." He retorted calmly and ripped the photograph in half. The girl winced a yelp upon hearing the shredded picture. Hwoarang took one last look at the two torn pieces of paper before tossing them carelessly into the shadows of his room.

                "Hwoarang…" Ling pleaded over the phone, "He really did… love you." The girl cried gently over the phone. Hwoarang sighed an unconvincing laugh and shook his head softly, breathing a deep sigh.

                "It doesn't matter anymore." His cold heart murmured out-loud trying to convince himself, but it's hard, when you know your own words are lie. He grumbled a harsh sigh as he fumbled around for the cigarettes pack in his pocket, never giving his words another thought. The saddened girl remained silent as the crimson haired man delicately slipped one cigarette out of its case. In a few moments, Hwoarang's zippo lighted the cigarette and clamped it shut with a sharp snap.

                "People come and go," He stated casually as he carefully sat on the pile of overlapping blankets that laid on his bed.

 "People who met each other are fated to part, whether it be tomorrow or a few decades." Hwoarang concluded, taking a deep breath of his cigarette. Smoke swirled around his presence as the disbelieving man exhaled the fumes slowly, wrapping himself in the aroma. While Hwoarang enveloped in the vapor, he propped up his right leg and rested his cigarette hand on the knee.

                "But…" Ling replied softly, "A true friend… loved one always remain… even after they're gone." She stated quietly, wincing at every word that came from her lips. Hwoarang felt his face change into a blank slate and glanced at the wavering fumes from his cigarette. But her words were quickly ignored by the force of his cruel mind, pushing them aside as if they were never spoken. The frustration on his face began to show as he tried to show no intention of listening to such nonsense, but she wouldn't that happen.

                "He loved you then, he still loves you now, I know he does." The girl continued. Hwoarang's eyes narrowed slightly with anger.

                "That's enough, Ling." The conflicted youth demanded sternly, closing his eyes firmly.

                "I can't…" Ling couldn't bear it any longer despite the consequences, "not until you believe it." His eye clenched shut even tighter at the repeated words

                "I said that's enough." He whispered harshly.

                "No, it's not! There's still time-" The girl pleaded, screaming with all her feelings and emotions. But in a click of a button, Ling was silenced from Hwoarang's world. Hwoarang sat there for a few seconds, trying to enjoy the sound of nothing… but it failed. His nails scratched against the phone as his grip grew fiercer until he threw the phone into a wall. In seconds, the phone shattered apart and scattered along the floor. Deep, fierce breaths passed through the air, trying to suppress the red head's growing temper. After some time had passed the forcefully calmed man felt his breathing return to normal and let out one more tired sigh.

                Hwoarang's eyes drifted slowly open, reacquainting himself with the world. He gazed tiredly at the waves of the smoke, which hypnotized him gradually into a drowsy state. Then suddenly, the man's right hand twitched, causing a ripple in the flowing fumes. Hwoarang glanced wide-eyed for a moment, at the hand resting on his leg that held the cigarette. He tilted his hand slightly, studying his palm with a confused look. And then, the baffled stared back at the exact same spot his hand was and his eyes grew bigger, at the realization of why his hand moved. The tortured soul tossed its head towards the other direction and flicked the cigarette away furiously.

                The tired, wavering youth collapsed on his bed and pulled his arms over his head, blocking everything from his sight. As his heart begged for peace, he quietly slipped into a deep sleep, hoping there would be some sort of serenity there.

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                Hwoarang staggered as he tried to remain standing in his state, but the aching was starting burning into his every thought. He clenched his hand desperately to his left side, hoping the pain would subside. His right arm hung lifelessly at his side while blood trickled from the gashes across his body. Then, he felt the warm liquid in his throat again and covered his mouth with his shaking hand as he began to cough violently. Blood stained his hand and dripped from his lips as the sting torn through his entire body. But none of that matter to him now, the one thing that was driving him to stay conscious was the person who was walking away.

                "KAZAMA!" Hwoarang roared, despite the agony he felt ripping through his chest. The heartless figure stopped in his tracks at the mention of his name and stood with his back turned to his opponent. A growl passed through the tormented man's clenched teeth as he forced himself to stand straight.

                "I'm not finished with you!!" He shouted with anger. The motion of a sigh could be see from slight movement of the bothered man as he turned his head slightly over his shoulder.

"I broke several of your ribs, dislocated your shoulder, and sprained your wrist. I doubt you can continue." He retorted coldly. The enraged man snarled violently at those words and slammed his foot a step forward.

"FUCK YOU, KAZAMA!" Hwoarang screamed with all the hatred that was burning through his body. Then the youth suddenly felt the price of using all his strength in those words and let out a distressing cry, feeling the pain stabbing into his ribs. In one controlled bellow, the determined soul forced himself to face his nemesis and growled, taking another fierce step forward.

"I don't give a fuck if I was going to die right now, I AM NOT FINISHED WITH YOU!!" He yelled as he took another agonizing step forward. Suddenly, the once calm man glared angrily from the corner of his eye and whipped around to his inferior.

"FINE. We'll finish this here." The Japanese declared, striding towards the weak, wounded youth. Hwoarang eyes flared in shock and anger as he tried to stand in his stance. However, blood began to clog his throat again and the suffering began to consume his mind. The defeated man hunched over and coughed, trying to get a taste of clean air. The defenseless youth glanced up, through his faded red strands of hair at his pacing rival.

Fuck, he uttered in his mind. He had no chance to defend himself this time round and sighed painfully as he closed his eyes, accepting his fate. The crushed soul listened intently to the strong striding steps coming closer and closer to him, his eyebrows arching more with every step. Just then, dainty footsteps shuffled quickly across the dirt and slid to a stop in front of him. Puzzled, Hwoarang opened his eyes to see Ling standing with her legs firmly stretched apart and her arms held out.

"Ling…" Hwoarang managed to say. Ling stood determined in front of her once, best friend, blocking his path.

"Stand aside." The Japanese commanded, staring down at the small girl.

"NO! I won't let you hurt him anymore!" Ling shouted, not budging from her position. Jin closed his eyes irritably as he exhaled a frustrating sigh.

"This is what the Korean wanted and so I'm giving it to him." Jin retorted coarsely and gripped the unsuspecting girl's shirt into his hands, dragged her to the side like a rag doll. The relentless man lifted the girl easily into the air and narrowed his eyes coldly at her as she tried to pull herself out of his hand.

"Ling!" Hwoarang cried, feeling his heart wince at the thought of her getting hrut. Hwoarang tightened his hand fiercely against his side as he rushed up to his nemesis and fell to his knees, crumbling before Jin.

"Finish me off!" Hwoarang begged, hanging his head low over his aching body, "Just leave her alone!" The youth could feel his knees trembling from trying to support his weight, but he remained defenseless before his enemy. Because… it was for Ling. The only person he had left, and that occupied his thoughts more than anything. If he lost her as well… then he would truly be alone, with no one to understand him or to cry with him. And with that thought in his mind, he let out a long sigh, awaiting his torture… but the man only sneered at him and released Ling from his clutches.

"Pathetic." The Japanese stated and walked away. When Hwoarang didn't sense any danger, he attempted to pull himself to his feet, but the dark liquid began to drown him once again. The Korean collapsed to all fours and gasped for air, spraying blood on the ground. Ling rushed to his side and tried to hold him up.

"Hwoarang!" Ling cried, "Hang in there!" The youth tried to inhale with a raspy breath and glanced deliriously around him at the crowds of the people. People's faces began to merge into one another's, creating a blurred picture for his eyes. He saw the medics running towards him from the corner of his eye, but even they seemed like a smear on the world's canvas. He could his face being pulled into the girl's hand, trying to drag his attention away from the hazing images.

"Hwoarang!" Ling yelled with tears filling up in her eyes. Hwoarang gasped another coarse breath as he felt his broken ribs scratch against his lungs. He looked up at Ling in a daze, trying to focus on her face. He gazed at her with bloodshot eyes and lowered his head tiredly.

"I don't think we can cry each other to sleep tonight…" He said faintly before slipping into complete darkness. Ling grasped her beloved friend closer to her as she felt his strength leaving him and watched helplessly as the emotions slipped from his face. The girl sobbed against the friend's shoulder and screamed a sorrowful cry.

"HWOARANG!!!"