Chapter 1- Negotiations

(disclaimer: I don't own these characters, Capcom does.)

"No, I can't do this." Ryu stood up and turned away. The idea was ridiculous, and of course, it was Ken's idea.

"C'mon bud! There's nothing dishonorable about teaching our art. Master Gouken took us in, and look what happened! We saved the world, the freaking WORLD! No more Bison. No more Akuma. No more Seth. No more Gill. AND NO MORE SATSUI NO HADOU!" Ken slammed his fist down on the table. Much to Ken's frustration, Ryu was stubborn about not starting up a Shotokan dojo.

"Master Ryu, you've got to open up a dojo!" Ken brought back up including Ryu's only student Sakura. Ryu could say no to Ken all day just because it was Ken, but Ryu would listen to reason from his other friends.

Ryu felt like he was tricked. Ken invited him for a get together with their friends. Ken busted out the playing cards. Eliza played bartender and made cocktails. His brother in law Guile would fire up the grill and make his famous barbecue. Towards the end of the night, Ken had called them all up to his conference room. Every one but Ryu knew what was coming.

"Look kid, trust me. Don't put work in front of what matters most. When I was your age and was constantly staying out late sparring with Charlie, Julia put me on the couch and eventually into marriage counseling." Guile's wife Julia punched him in the arm.

Ken interjected again. "Dude, we're practically brothers, but you spend so much time wandering the damn planet that if something happened to you, no one would know. You need to settle down. ARRGH Chun Li, talk some sense into him."

They tried to deny it. They tried to hide it, but everyone saw straight through them except for Sakura. Sakura believed that Chun Li was just another obsessed fan, but Ken, Guile, and Fei Long knew the truth. Ryu would spend maybe a week with Ken in America before Ryu would come up with his usual "I'm imposing" excuse. Yet, Ryu seemed to linger in China for a month at a time, and Ken knew it wasn't for the dimsum.

"Ken, if Ryu's heart's not in it, we can't make him do it." Ryu looked back at Chun Li and smiled which in turn made the strongest woman in the world blush.

"Chun Li, are you crazy? You of all people should want Ryu to settle down!" Ken was getting frustrated.

"Why do you want this so bad? I've been traveling for years, and I'm fine. Master Goutetsu only had Gouken and Akuma. Master Gouken only had us, and I already have Sakura and Sean. It's tradition!"

"Ryu, why are you so selfish? You keep searching the world to answer all these questions. What lies beyond your fist? What is the purpose of fighting? Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Settle down. Do right by Chun Li. Teach others our art. Honor our master. Share your passion with the world. Because guess what? Now that it is globally known that YOU are the greatest fighter in the world, the crazies are going to find you and they're going to fight dirty. Before you know it you'll be shot in the back as you walk away from the fight."

Ken's words sent chills up everyone's spine in the room. The blush that was on Chun Li's face when Ken mentioned her was soon gone. Ken was right. Ryu was a celebrity now and not by choice. With fighting going mainstream, Ryu's face was going to be every where. Everyone was going to want a piece of him. Fei Long stood up.

"He's right, Ryu. As soon as I put out a few movies, the streets thought I was a fake Hollywood fighter. Everyone wanted to fight me. I went to a small underground tournament. People were placing their bets against me. So after I won and tried to leave, some guy pulled a gun on me. Told me that I lost him a grand. He thought with all my fame, paying him back double would be no problem especially since he was going to spare my life. Naturally I sent his gun flying and he ran away, but if he would have pulled that trigger."

The room was silent, and Ken was growing more and more impatient. Ever since he and Eliza had a son, he became more mature and protective. No longer was he the reckless red head who was itching for a fight every second of the day. With a heavy sigh, Ken got up and left the door with the rest of the fighters following suit except for Chun Li.

"Ryu, he has a good point. It's dangerous for you to be wandering the world the way you do. " For once, Chun Li didn't care if someone saw them together. She wrapped her arms around Ryu from behind as he looked out the window.

"I know. It's not the settling down part that's the issue. You know that Li." Ryu let out a slight chuckle. When she first met Ryu, it was unusual for him to smile or laugh unless he was eating. He was always so serious, so focused, but Chun Li brought out the best in him.

"What do you mean settling down isn't the issue?" She jumped up and bit Ryu on the shoulder. As she jumped off his back, Ryu quickly spun around and caught her before she could get away. Not that she really tried all that hard. She threw her arms around his neck and gave him a quick peck.

She had tried for years to get him to move in with her. Even though they agreed to have an open relationship, neither one of them had been with anyone else. At first, Ryu didn't want to leave a "girlfriend" waiting for him, but Chun Li was more than a girlfriend to him.

"Okay, okay. Real talk. I-"

"HAHA! My warrior did not just say 'real talk'. Oh goodness Ryu, you're too adorable sometimes." They both laughed together and shared a kiss before Ryu finished what he was trying to say.

He pulled her close and whispered in her ear, "Chun Li, tell me that you want me."

Every time Ryu whispered in her ear, Chun Li's stomach filled with butterflies, and her knees gave out so she would hold on to him even tighter. "Mmm, like want you want you? Like on this table right here, right now? With every one in the other room?"

"As tempting and thrilling as that sounds, I don't know if Ken would appreciate that," Ryu layed her down on the table and attacked her neck, "but who cares?"

Ryu undid Chun Li's blouse and continued to tease her with kisses on her neck. "But I think our fun can wait."

"No! Ryu Hoshi, if you stop now, I will kick your ass."

"Trust me. You'll want to hear this," Ryu stopped what he was doing and stared into her eyes, "I think it's time we take our relationship to the next level."

Chun Li went wide eyed. "Wha...what're you trying to say?"

Ryu smirked. "That if I settle down, I refuse to live alone. That I want to be with you for the rest of my life. You know...because real talk. I love you Chun Li."

Chun Li was stunned. She felt like she dreaming. She felt like she was going to throw up all the butterflies in her stomach. This feeling was more intense than anything she had ever felt. She almost burst into tears. Ryu went down for a kiss, but Chun Li was breathless. Her expression made Ryu laugh again.

"Ryu...oh my gosh. Ryu, I LOVE YOU TOO!" Chun Li said it loud enough for everyone in the house to hear it. Everyone ran back into the room. The sight of Ryu on top of Chun Li who's blouse was half unbuttoned was almost too much for everyone to process. Sakura broke down in tears. Ken, Guile, and Fei Long started to cheer for their friend, but nothing could prepare them for what was coming next.

Ryu backed away from Chun Li, and naturally she sat up. The room was silent. The world seemed to stop for everyone. Sakura's crying seemed to be muted. Both Eliza and Julia embraced their men and became teary eyed. Ryu, the world warrior, was down on one knee in front of the strongest woman in the world holding a diamond ring.

"Chun Li Xiang, will you marry me?"