Disclaimer: Street Fighter and its characters belong to CAPCOM.
"And here I passed him off as a hopeless amateur," Cammy said, walking down the sidewalk side by side with the formally dressed Chinese woman. "I never thought Adon, the student of the Muay Thai King, could actually finish Seth off."
Chun-Li nodded.
"Don't forget he had Dan's help." She caught Cammy's confused gaze and smiled. "Yep, that's right, he was a catalyst in Seth's demise."
Cammy blinked and looked down, thinking. No way that fool could have helped. She looked back up and opened her mouth to protest, but quickly closed it before a sound could be emitted. Chun-Li's expression was serious and left no room to second guess her.
"Oh," she said, slightly annoyed, yet relieved at the same time. "That's... interesting... Anyway, getting back on track, what happened to Juri? You said she was in critical condition after an attack from Seth..."
"It wasn't just any attack, but Akuma's infamous move. I caught up with Ryu once, who told me about what that move does. It's incredibly deadly, the Shun Goku Satsu, capable of instantly killing whoever was unlucky enough to get grabbed by it. Only a few people have survived such an attack, and I know one of them."
"The assassin?"
"Yes. Gen managed to survive the attack by emptying his soul, which I know sounds impossible. Juri though... she survived because she had that eye, and because she received help quickly."
"Good for her," Cammy bluntly replied. "How was she after the attack?"
"The other girls got off easy enough with a few cuts and bruises, but Juri got it bad. She had a broken arm, cracked ribs, and was stuck in a coma for a few days."
"If she was in a coma, that would have been the perfect time to get that eye out of her head."
"Cammy," Chun-Li sighed, shaking her head, "the eye was what was keeping her alive; it was what healed her. Ripping it out of her skull would kill her." She frowned, casting a glance at the British woman. "Are you still angry with her?"
The question was asked even when the answer was known to Chun-Li. She just wanted Cammy to admit it.
"It's hard not to be. She beat you and I up separately, then took us on together in this very city, and won!" She huffed and kicked a stone from her path. "Remember that skyscraper under construction?"
"I'm not sure I recall that..." Chun-Li mumbled, drooping her shoulders. "But still, you accepted her apology. Remember, it's because of you that I accepted her apology as well."
"Oh..."
A tinge of guilt provoked her to look away from Chun-Li. Cammy was proud, noble, and to some extent, stubborn. After Juri kidnapped her sisters, Cammy swore vengeance on her, ready to stop at nothing to see her fall by her hands. When Juri relinquished her grip on S.I.N. to let it fall, it didn't do anything to change the Delta Red agent's disposition. Denied from her coveted interrogation of Juri, and forced to keep watch of her in England, Cammy's disgust grew. She taunted Juri a few times, only to receive a sly remark from her. In her eyes, she was planning something; she was up to no good. When Juri apologized for her sins, Cammy bluffed an acceptance of it. She never truly believed her.
Now, after listening intently to Chun-Li, Cammy felt guilty for her snide remarks and behavior. The Chinese woman noticed the look of guilt on Cammy's face and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I want you to go to her today and accept her apology." The figure she rested her hand on sighed and looked at her. "Everybody deserves a second chance. Juri found hers and took it. You have one too."
"Yeah, I'm... I'm sorry Chun."
"It's alright."
Both women smiled at each other. Chun-Li rubbed Cammy's shoulder before returning her hand to her side.
"Ok," Cammy started, perking up, "what happened after her time in the hospital?"
"Adon took care of her. He never left her side when she was in the coma. Her ribs had healed quickly enough, but her left arm was confined to a cast."
"How do you know all this?"
"I visited her in the hospital when I was called to investigate the body of Seth. She was out of her coma at the time and eager to have a conversation with me after a few years. After five days in the hospital, she was allowed to leave with Adon. During the recovery the two got much closer to each other. I knew they were in love long before the incident with Seth."
Chun-Li inhaled deeply through her nose, letting her breath out slowly afterward. She was enjoying the walk to the reception center, the endorphins from the activity putting an extra spring in her step. She looked back to Cammy, who looked up at her like an eager child waiting for the ending to a bedtime story.
"Adon reluctantly returned to Thailand after Juri's recovery. Surprisingly, Sagat dismissed him from his tutelage right away, leaving him with the title of "Prince of Muay Thai". I don't know the exact reason why he dismissed Adon, but I bet it had something to do with Juri."
"What makes you say that?"
"Because as soon as Adon got back to his little home in Thailand did he receive a visitor: Juri on his doorstep. Turns out he wasn't going to get off that easily. And so, after nine months, here we are, walking to their wedding reception."
"Now see, if someone told me those two would be together four years ago, I would have smacked them upside the head," Cammy said, swinging her hand up for emphasis. "H-how was the wedding anyway?"
"Not too short, not too long. I've never seen so many fighters in one place before; Juri had invited everyone who participated in the past tournament, while inviting a few new people who were thinking about going into one. The people who didn't make the wedding, like you, will show up at the reception."
"Who's the best man," Cammy asked, tilting her head a little.
"I was told Adon considered his late mentor at first, but after Sagat politely declined his offer, he turned to Dan to be his best man."
"Oh dear. How did he act at the wedding?"
"Actually, he was very mature. One wouldn't be able to identify him if he didn't wear a pink shirt with his white tuxedo."
Cammy scoffed, grinning.
"I bet Juri threatened him to behave."
"That was my first thought! He was back to his old self as soon as the service ended though, which was a relief to those of us who knew who he really was."
"Alright, so who are the other groomsmen? And the bridesmaids?"
"Sagat and Ken Masters are the other two groomsmen. Ibuki, Makoto, and I make up the bridesmaids. Juri asked me to be the maid of honor, that you know."
Her light blue qipao and skirt combo fluttered in the breeze along with Cammy's white blouse and tan skirt. Cammy reached down to flatten her blouse and readjust it, looking over at Chun-Li's outfit. She knew that she was the maid of honor, but why wasn't she dressed for the part?
"Chun, are all the bridesmaids wearing that outfit?"
"Oh this?" Chun-Li gestured to her outfit with her hands, raising an eyebrow. "Nope. I changed into this after the ceremony. Purple isn't my color."
"Who was the officiant?"
"Officiant?" Chun-Li questioned, furrowing her brow in confusion.
"Uh, the person who weds the couple, I think."
"Thunder Hawk performed the ceremony. Good thing the arch was behind him, or else he would've had to crouch to do his job. You remember the seven and a half foot tall Indian, right Cammy?"
"Yes, he's the one who found Juli after years of searching." She moaned sadly, remembering her and her mental condition the last time she saw her, which was three years ago. "I haven't seen her in awhile... I hope she's doing better..."
Chun-Li knew that Juli was one of Cammy's "sisters", and that she was stuck in what seemed to be a mental coma. She was unresponsive to stimulation and failed to notice visitors after getting freed from Bison's mind control after his death. While never meeting her in person, Chun-Li assumed Juli looked similar to Juni, another one of Cammy's sisters.
She rubbed Cammy's back and offered a few words of encouragement to her as the two women turned a corner. When they looked up they could see the reception center, which was officially known as the Metro City Banquet Hall. The building was square in design, with a domed top and white walls. Generously placed plants and hedges lined the bottom of the outside walls. A few cars pulled into the parking lot nearby, one of which caught the eye of the Chinese woman.
Stepping out of a black Jaguar convertible was a very tall bald man dressed in a white tuxedo. He fumbled with the keys seeing as his hands were almost twice the size of an average pair. After locking the car, the tall man turned to stare at the two women with one pupil-less eye, his other eye covered with a black eyepatch.
"This is sort of ironic," Chun-Li said, looking up at the man. "Sagat drives a Jaguar?"
"It was a rental," Sagat mumbled, pocketing the keys.
He ignored the snickers of the women as he walked past them into the building. The women quickly composed themselves and followed him in. They entered a large room which served as a central hub for other rooms. All other rooms were closed off except for one, which was filled with tables and people. Sagat walked into the room, lowering his head to avoid bumping it against the top of the double-door frame.
"Names?"
Cammy looked over to a young Japanese woman holding a notebook and pencil. She was wearing a white summer dress with an intricate design of pink flowers, a pink pair of sandals, and a clean red ribbon in her hair. Her eyes opened wide and she smiled when she realized who the women were.
"Cammy! Chun-Li!"
"Sakura, it's good to see you!"
"And you two as well. Boy, it's been awhile hasn't it?"
The British woman shrugged and grinned sheepishly.
"Yeah, sorry I never called you at all after the tournament. I've been real busy with Delta Red assignments. You know, the usual go here, neutralize target, return with item kind of thing."
"Same here," Chun-Li added. "Stopping crooks and rooting out terrorists myself. I've never really spoken to you that much Sakura, but any friend of Cammy's is a friend of mine."
Sakura nodded and presented her notebook. On the pages were seating arrangements for the guests, along with a few off-hand notes on how to do her job correctly. She showed the couple where to sit on the notebook and gestured to the room, inviting them inside.
"Have fun you two. I'll get in soon enough."
She bid the two farewell for the time being, returning her attention to the doors as the two women walked into the huge white-walled room. This was where all the action was going to happen, and this was where everyone was. A sleek, large wooden dance floor rested in the middle of the room, leaving tables and chairs with the outer sides. A quaint little bar was located in a corner with a few people crowded around it. In the back of the room, situated front and center of the dance floor, was the head table.
The bride and groom sat in the middle, the groom sitting to the bride's left. He was currently engaged in conversation with his new spouse, and by his facial expressions, he enjoyed every second of it. Juri continued to talk with her husband, failing to notice the best man next to her was impatiently waiting for someone to fix his white bowtie, as he lacked the finesse to do it himself. Sagat sat near Dan, a vacant seat between them. His eye was closed and his arms were folded in peaceful meditation.
"Shouldn't you be up there, sitting near Adon?"
Cammy pointed to the seat near Adon, which would be where the maid of honor sits.
"Yeah I'll mosey my way up there in time. It's cocktail hour! Mingle with the guests!"
"Um... alright."
Socialization wasn't Cammy's strong suit. Her conversations almost always consisted of things relating to her work. Even when she talked about other things, she only shared them with a few very close friends. If she was going to speak with a bunch of acquaintances, she was going to need to loosen up.
She made her way to the bar in hopes of finding something suitable for her while Chun-Li turned and went the opposite way, walking towards numerous tables to spark up a conversation with someone. Cammy stopped in her tracks when a small blond-haired boy absentmindedly stepped in front of her wearing a green shirt and tan shorts. He looked up at the woman and blinked, sticking his thumb in his mouth.
"Oh hey Cammy!"
A hand came down to ruffle the boy's hair as Cammy looked up to the voice. Both the hand and the voice belonged to a blond-haired man in a white groomsman's tuxedo. His hair was blond, but his eyebrows were black, hinting that his natural hair color was black. His face held a smug grin and fiery brown eyes, making it clear this man was none other than Ken Masters.
"Looks like you met my kid, huh? Say hello to the pretty lady Mel!"
The child removed his thumb from his mouth and placed his hands behind his back, looking down. Cammy looked down at the child and smiled. He was obviously shy.
"H-hello..."
"Hello Mel," Cammy replied. She looked back up at Ken. "So, you're a groomsman?"
"Uh uh, not just a groomsman, but the master of ceremonies as well!"
"I'm not sure why Adon picked you to be a groomsman, let alone an MC. You two didn't look like you would be friends in the first place."
"It would seem like that, wouldn't it?" Ken looked down to straighten his bowtie, standing tall with pride. "Nah, we're just short time friends. He needed someone with wedding experience, so he appointed me a groomsman and the master of ceremonies. Eliza's really doing all the planning; I'm just the guy who talks into the microphone. Right Mel?"
Mel scuffed his shoe on the carpet, too shy to respond to his father around a stranger like Cammy.
"Ah he's just shy. Don't worry though, once you get past his tough exterior," Ken said, bending down to playfully poke his son, prompting a giggle, "you'll find he takes right after me!"
A gruff voice came from the entrance to the room, one that Cammy recognized.
"I hope not. I can only put up with one of you, Ken."
Ken stood up, his grin replaced with an apathetic expression as he looked at the USAF Major. He was dressed in a crisp black officer's dress uniform, generously decorated with a few badges. His hair was left in its trademark tall blond flattop style, well groomed of course. Two other people walked in behind the Major, a tall brunette woman and her daughter, also with brown hair.
"Cammy," the Major addressed her with a nod.
"Guile," she responded, nodding back.
"Julia!"
Ken looked over his shoulder to see his wife approaching the group, eager to see her sister. Julia smiled and walked forward, swallowing her younger sister up in an embrace.
"Sorry Bill," Eliza said, peering over Julia's shoulder at Guile, "but I'm going to take her away for a few. We girls need to catch up!"
"Alright, see you soon honey." Ken smirked once the pair left, muttering to himself. "I'll just talk with old William then."
Guile's brow twitched. He didn't like having his first name of William being used as it made Guile look older than he was. At least Eliza had the decency to use an alternate version of his first name. But still, only a few people were allowed to call him by his first name.
His spoiled rich brother-in-law was not one of them.
"Hey Dad?"
The Major looked down at his twelve year-old daughter, managing a smile.
"I'm going to try to find Lauren," she said, gesturing to the tables.
"Alright Amy, I bet she's around here somewhere. Remember, we're at table two."
Amy nodded and walked off, Mel waddling after her. It was unsure if the two children were simply passing time, or just trying to get away from their soon-to-be bickering fathers. Cammy rolled her eyes and pushed her way between the two fathers, eager to get out before the insults started to fly.
Meanwhile, one of the tomboyish bridesmaids had her arms around the younger Lee brother's neck, smiling into a camera. Yang flicked his hair away from his face and smiled at the camera, which was held by the other bridesmaid.
"Bingo," Ibuki mumbled, pressing a button on the camera. The camera flashed to illuminate the room, taking a picture. "There, I got it!"
Makoto quickly pecked her boyfriend on the cheek and ran over to her best friend to see. The camera held a still image of the karate fighter in her beautiful purple and black bridesmaid's dress holding onto her date. All seemed well until the girls spotted a pair of fingers above Yang's head.
"Yuuuuuuuuun," Ibuki whined, "you ruined it!"
Yun laughed as he sat down while Yang tapped his foot in annoyance. Before he could scold his twin brother, Chun-Li walked in between the two, grabbing their attention. She moved towards a table occupied by a Chinese movie-maker, a portly, amiable Japanese man, and a strange woman she remembered seeing before. The blond woman had two large side ponytails, bushbaby sized blue eyes, and a light blue dress with a dark blue heart on the stomach.
Noticing their boyfriends were looking at Chun-Li, the girls looked at each other, then back at the woman. Makoto rubbed her head, thinking out loud.
"You know, I've just met Chun-Li during this whole wedding thing as a bridesmaid, but I have a feeling I've seen her before."
"Are you kidding? Of course you've seen her before," Ibuki answered. "She's the strongest woman in the world!"
"Strongest woman in the world?" Makoto scoffed, folding her arms. "My ass! I'll debunk that theory in the next tournament!"
"Mak, we don't even know when the next tournament starts, or who's hosting it..."
"Oh. Well mankind has yet to recognize my strength."
"Well," a man with long brown braided hair mumbled, storming away from a table, "my intelligence has just been insulted."
At the table was a large, fat blond-haired man in a yellow Hawaiian shirt, speaking with three other table members. Well, he wasn't speaking with them, but rather ranting on about something. The Indian man across from him had his seat pushed out from the table, sitting in a typical yoga meditation position. His eyes were closed and his expression was calm; perhaps he was simply ignoring the rants of the large man.
The small woman in a tacky outfit nearby was listening intently, her eyes practically glowing from being near him. As she pulled her hands up to rest under her chin, one would notice her wedding band on her finger and her swollen belly, as well as her mismatched shoes. There was also a well-built blond man in a perplexed state next to the larger man, running his hands through his short hair. He then rubbed his scarred face and sighed, giving up trying to understand the incoherent speech.
Amidst a small crowd of people standing near a different table, a green-eyed redhead in a black dress and white coat stepped out. Her coat had an ID tag on the front identifying her as a psychiatrist, and the dog tag around her neck hinted that she was involved with the military. She smirked as she blocked the path of the sharply dressed brunette from earlier.
"And what do you think you're going to do to that man, now that your prized intelligence has been insulted?"
"For his sake it was simple absentmindedness. His mouth runs faster than he does!"
"That's just Rufus," the woman replied, smiling politely at the narcissist. "He does that a lot. At least his mouth didn't insult your beauty, Vega."
"Ms. Nash, your treatment has worked, and I'm grateful for it." Vega frowned and looked back at Rufus. "However, there are still times when I wish for, what would he say, a punching bag?"
The woman nodded, looking over at the table she had come from. Her name was Maya Nash, past-wife of the late Charlie Nash. Working for the CIA under the codename Crimson Viper, Maya sought to locate her husband, who she believed was held in the labs of S.I.N. When found, she and Charlie's best friend Guile gave him a proper burial after several years of being missing in action. Guile was surprised his best friend's wife was the one dogging his co-workers, when in reality she was secretly working towards the same goal as he. As a show of good faith, in front of Charlie's grave he presented Maya with her husband's dog tag, a gift she now always wore around her neck.
"Well it's only natural you feel that way. I want you to make a list of the things that will rile you up today, so we know what to do if you start getting the itch. We wouldn't want you murdering anyone at her wedding now, would we?"
Vega smiled, nodding to show his gratitude. He then craned his neck in an attempt to look over the small throng of people situated near Maya's table.
"What is going on over there?"
"Over there? Your old buddy is about to lose in a small game of poker."
"Now this I need to see," he chuckled, rubbing his hands together.
Gently pushing their way to a good view of the table, Maya and Vega found one of the ex-Shadaloo Lieutenants staring at a hand of cards as if his life depended on it. Balrog looked up from his set of cards at a very calm and elegantly dressed woman holding her own set. Her face was devoid of any emotion unlike Balrog's, which was twisted into a smug grin. In between the two were three cards, face down.
The woman gently nudged the dealer, who wasn't paying attention. The man opened his eyes and looked at the Italian woman before nodding, revealing one of the cards; a ten of diamonds. Balrog slouched back in his chair, disheartened. Both players decided to continue, allowing the dealer to reveal another card, which turned out to be the king of spades. The woman's eyebrow twitched as she stared at it. Soon, the final card was turned; an ace of clubs.
The boxer beamed as he placed his pair of cards on the table in front of him, folding his arms. Surely nothing would beat his ace of spades and king of hearts! Then, the woman smiled softly, lowering her cards to the table. Two aces, one of hearts and one of diamonds. Balrog practically slammed his head into the table in self-disgust.
"Well Rose," the dealer calmly said, shaking his head, "you've won yet again. But of course that's no surprise."
"Hmm… perhaps luck is on my side, Guy."
"Damn, there goes my night money," Balrog mumbled, fishing for a twenty dollar bill.
A large hand came to rest on Guy's shoulder, prompting him to look up at a large, muscular man in a mayor's uniform.
"You know, I've been thinkin'... Maybe opening up a casino in the city wouldn't be in bad taste. It might even help cut down on crime!"
"Michael, that's a terrible idea." Guy stood up from his seat and walked away from the table, Mayor Haggar following. "We've got the Mad Gears on the run; giving them a place to convert and operate out of is just asking for trouble."
"Yeah, I'm with Guy," said a nearby police officer with blond hair and noticeable stubble on his chin. He drank from a glass filled with beer, lifting a finger to pause the two. After finishing his drink he wiped his mouth on the sleeve of his uniform. "We don't need any reason to bring those guys back. Maybe when we fully snuff them out you can think about a casino, Mike."
"Ah, you guys," the Mayor of Metro City said with a smile, "what would I do without you two?"
"You'd probably be stuck in your office for all eternity if it weren't for Officer Travers and I."
"Officer Travers," Cody repeated, rubbing his chin. "Yeah, that's got a nice ring to it."
After the people of Metro City recognized his vigilante acts as a service rather than a menace, Cody was freed from his prison sentence. Now a free man, Cody decided to do some good for his hometown. He applied to become a police officer, and with the support of his best friend and the mayor of the city himself, he joined the ranks of the Metro City Police Department. At times he detested the feel of a police baton, longing for the cold steel of a wrench, but all that failed to matter in time. He was once again a hero in the eyes of the citizens.
"Anyway, it's good that you came out here to show your support of the couple's marriage."
"Anything for the lady who brought down Shadaloo, boys. Saves you and me from forming up again." Haggar laughed and rubbed his beard. "Three against everyone else, remember those times?"
The ninja and street fighter turned police officer nodded and laughed, recounting events from the past with the Mayor. While the three were caught in nostalgia, Chun-Li was finishing up her conversation with the ponytailed woman. The woman held up her hand, pointing to a sapphire ring on her ring finger. Chun-Li held her amazed face as she looked upon the ring.
"I still can't get over this Mika," she said, peering into the blue jewel. "You married your biggest fan!"
"He did too! Ever since I saw him on TV with his funny acts and that mysterious mask, I fell head over heels for him!"
Rainbow Mika beamed when she caught sight of her spouse bounding towards the master of ceremonies. Ken removed his eyes from his brother-in-law's muzzle to focus on the masked chef near him. He listened to the hyperactive chef speak, observing his motions as carefully as possible. Ken nodded after a minute and sent El Fuerte back to the kitchen where he came from. He then shrugged off his irate brother-in-law with a sly sneer, retreating to the head table.
"Alright," Mika exclaimed, attracting the attention of her table, "Mr. Masters is going to do… something!"
Chun-Li grinned sheepishly at her as Ken took a microphone in hand. He tapped it once to check if it worked, and after getting a confirmation check from the always smiling Jamaican DJ, Ken looked up at the bride, who nodded.
"Alright everyone, listen up! The bridal party, including me," he said with a smirk, "thank all of you who could come. In a while we'll start calling tables up to grab a plate and pick out some food over there," he said, pointing to a section of the wall that had been taken down to show rows of food, "prepared by the one and only, El Fuerte! And don't worry; to those who fell behind in the news, his food truly got better."
"Que?" El Fuerte asked behind one of the food carts, raising an eyebrow. "Does my flavor frighten them?"
"She speaks highly of you," Adon said, tilting his head in the direction of the bride. He stood on the other side of the cart with a plate in his hands and a woman leaning against his shoulder, peering down at the selection of food with an eager look in her eyes. His black tuxedo was neatly pressed and his red hair lacked its usual headband. "I'll eat anything, especially something so highly praised."
"Aha! You have a good trait there amigo!" He waved his hand over the food, dragging the couple's attention around as he identified the fruits of his efforts. "Feast your eyes, and soon, your taste buds on anything you see fit!"
The couple smiled at the eccentric chef, using provided utensils to pick out favorable foods. The rest of the head table, including Ken's wife and son, followed closely behind the pair. Makoto held her stomach and groaned, not looking forward to the spicy food.
"I hate wedding food, but I hate spicy food even more..."
"Really?" Ibuki questioned, turning around to look at her friend. "You don't have to get spicy food. The chef made other dishes that aren't spicy."
"Oh thank god," she sighed, wiping her forehead clear of sweat.
El Fuerte really outdid himself this time. Not only did he include his restaurant's famous dishes, he also included the standard bland wedding fare for people who weren't particularly daring. He practically shrieked with glee when most of the patrons swallowed their pride to test his food, finding it wasn't half-bad at all.
From her seated position at the bar, Cammy could see the bride leaving the area with her plate of food, followed closely behind by the groom. She no longer felt contempt towards the Korean woman; her sins had been paid for. One thing Cammy did feel, was guilt. She had to accept her apology from three years ago, as well as offer one of her own apologies for not doing so before.
"Is something the matter, Ms. White?"
The posh accent of the bartender brought Cammy back to the present as she turned around. Standing behind the counter was an elegantly dressed gentleman with dark skin and a pair of blue boxing gloves. Even with boxing gloves on, he managed to perform the most mundane and simplistic of tasks. The current task at hand was cleaning drinking glasses with a white rag while speaking to a fellow Brit.
"I-it's nothing Dudley," Cammy stuttered, reaching for her British ale.
"Now Camilla..." Dudley sighed. "You make for a terrible liar."
Cammy groaned and put her head down on the counter. The boxer raised an eyebrow at her behavior, continuing to clean glasses.
"I assume it has something to do with the bride, am I correct?" When Cammy nodded her head, Dudley set down his glass and rag and placed his gloved hands behind his back. "Old unfriendly rivalries only hinder you in the long run. One must let things from the past slide in the present so things in the future run smoothly. View her as a new friend instead of a spiteful adversary."
"Yeah..." Cammy started, rubbing her temples, "I'll do that. I feel like I owe her an apology for not realizing that sooner." She smiled at the bartender. "Thank you Dudley."
"You are most welcome. Now, you should run along and grab yourself something to eat. I'll get something for myself in time."
The British woman nodded and rotated on her stool, stepping down to the floor. She quickly stretched her back before taking a step forward.
"Oh, Ms. White!"
She turned around, raising an eyebrow at the gloved gentleman.
"I don't suppose your organization can help with finding a stolen automobile now, can it?"
"Heh heh, no, I'm sorry Dudley."
"Drat."
A well-built Japanese man entered the room with Sakura on his arm after a while. Unsurprising was the fact that this man didn't wear any formal garb, opting to wear only his white gi and red headband, plus he held his white duffel bag over his shoulder. His feet were left bare and his hair was disheveled. Astonishingly, the gi was well-kept and strikingly white, clearly new. On closer inspection, one would see the initials K.M. on the front.
"Ryu!"
The couple turned their heads to look at the master of ceremonies coming at them with a grin. Ryu raised an arm that was not currently held by Sakura and offered his fist in greeting. Ken lifted his and bumped it against his best friend's, nodding towards Sakura.
"Glad you could come bro. I see you actually decided to dress up for this."
"Yes, thank you for the clean gi Ken. It would be disrespectful of me to wear my dirty one to a wedding." He looked around at all the guests, all busy eating their dinner and speaking with their table members. "I see we're all eating now. Quick question, as I am inexperienced with weddings: who is the man who plays the music?"
"You mean the DJ?"
"Yes, who is the DJ?"
Sakura and Ken squirmed a little and looked at each other. After what seemed to be at least a minute of awkward silence, Sakura tugged on her teacher's arm.
"Ryu, isn't that obvious?"
As Ryu scratched his head in confusion, the sound of someone clinking their spoon against glass radiated through the room, drawing the attention of everyone. Ken, noticing what was about to happen, picked up a microphone and tossed it to Dan. He missed the catch but was saved by the young ninja sitting near him, who handed the microphone over.
There was a strange silence in the room that lasted for only a few seconds. In those few seconds, most people felt apprehensive about Dan being the one to make a toast to the couple. The bride and groom, however, seemed curious about what he was going to say. Finally, Dan cleared his throat and tapped the microphone.
"I see I have your attention," he said with a smirk. "Most of you know me, but some of you don't. I'm Dan Hibiki, the best man. We're all delighted to be here today on this joyous occasion. Now I know I'm not the best toast-teller here, but as the best man it is my duty to take a few moments to say a few words about our bride and groom."
Dan quickly drank from a glass of water, setting it back down on the table. He gestured to the groom as he continued.
"Now, you all know Adon, right? Cocky, loud, stalwart. I admit that we actually have those things in common! That makes me think of something my sister said: "Opposites attract". I disagree with that. Adon," he said, looking at him, "you found someone just as crazy as you, and I'm jealous! Well actually, Juri found you first." Quite a few chuckles came from the guests, unsure if they were supposed to laugh or keep quiet. Adon shook his head while Juri grinned, rubbing her husband's shoulder. "I know, I know, I'm not here to humiliate the groom. Heck, if I got married, and that's a big "if", Adon would be up here giving me one humiliation to remember. But this isn't about me. This is about the bride and groom."
Without missing a beat, Dan brought out his closing for the toast.
"Adon, take Juri's hand and place your hand over hers." Juri looked at Adon and smiled, placing her hand near him. Adon returned the gesture with a smile of his own, placing his hand over hers. Both of them stared lovingly into each other's eyes, an action that did not go unnoticed by the guests. "Now, I want you to remember this moment and cherish it... because this will be the last time you'll ever have the upper hand!"
At this, most of the guests laughed and some of them quietly nodded, understanding the joke. Sagat himself was enjoying a hearty chuckle and the bride was giggling uncontrollably, much to the dismay of the flustered groom. Juri came down from her fit and squeezed Adon's hand, bringing his attention back to her.
"I'm sure he just means in our marriage."
"In the marriage..." The two stared at each other for a few seconds while the guests continued to snicker. Soon, Adon cracked a smile. "I trust you'll be gentle then?"
"Oh I don't know... maybe if you pamper me enough," she purred.
"You'll receive plenty of that tonight, on our honeymoon, and whenever you wish it, my sweet spider."
"You certainly know how to make a girl feel like a queen, jaguar-boy. I like it."
"Alright," Dan said, raising his glass. "Let's all raise our glasses and drink! Congratulations you two!"
A great amount of applause was about to erupt when Dan lifted his drink to his lips, but he was stopped by a hand on his shoulder. The maid of honor had a look of determination on her face as she gestured to the microphone in Dan's hand. Shrugging, Dan handed over the microphone to the woman, who took it and quickly composed herself for her speech.
"Most, if not all of you, know me as Chun-Li Xiang. I have a toast as well, but most of it is directed towards the bride."
Ignoring the mumbles and whispers from the many guests, as well as the concerned look from the bride and groom, Chun-Li went forward with her toast.
"When I first met you Juri, I didn't think anything of you. You were a callous and sadistic fighter who constantly dogged me and my friends. We believed there was no hope for you, even when we heard about what happened to you long ago."
She closed her eyes and brought the microphone to her bosom, contemplating what else to say. What else was there to say? That she killed many innocents? That her path was dark and destructive? That she felt something for the woman even when she defeated her time and time again?
No, she couldn't say any of those things. Especially not at her wedding. Juri had come so far and lost so much. She looked up and over at Juri, whose downcast eyes made it obvious she was listening, and regretting her actions from the past. She had changed so much. When she looked up, Chun-Li was smiling at her.
She had found something to say.
"Juri, never forget what I am about to say this day. You've proved us, all of us, wrong. You are a source of courage and strength in a depressing world, illuminating the dark path that you've traveled on for so long so others may follow behind you. Your efforts are laudable, and your heart, although dark and wounded, is pure. Y-you've turned your life around so much..." Fighting tears, Chun-Li grabbed her glass and hoisted it into the air alongside Dan. "To the bride and groom, may you know nothing but happiness from this day forward. Congratulations!"
Both the best man and maid of honor rose their glasses to their lips, drinking to honor the newlyweds. The applause came afterward, quiet and respectful. Almost everyone was clapping, not just for Dan or Chun-Li's heartfelt toast, but for the new couple, brought together by their profound love for each other. Juri looked back at Chun-Li, having been distracted by all the wonderful support in front of her. She smiled and gave a silent "Thank you" before looking back at her groom, ready to get back into the party mood everyone was in before the toasts.
"That was an interesting toast," Cammy said to Chun-Li as she stepped down from the head table.
"I meant every word that I said. They deserve their happiness, for too long have either of them gone without it." She reached forward and caressed the left side of Cammy's face, smiling. "Alright. I've gotten something off my chest, now you need to do the same."
Cammy reached up to hold Chun-Li's hand, staring at it. She closed her eyes and nodded as she brought her other hand to rest on top of hers.
"After the first dance I'll talk to her."
A crash resounded through the room, followed by an expression of surprise.
"Bollocks," Dudley cried, looking down at his feet at a broken glass.
He tossed his white rag to the bar counter and bent down to brush the shards away with his gloved hands. For Dudley, those gloves almost never came off. He brushed his teeth with them, gardened with them, and groomed his mustache with them. His old sparring partner approached the bar and leaned over it, smirking.
"Butterfingers, eh champ? Maybe you shouldn't be wearing gloves when you're bartending."
"I think not! I'll wear these gloves until I've made up for the time I've spent without them!"
"Oh right, you got 'em stolen from you. Well, keep doing whatever it is you do, but keep in mind she'll kick you out if you break another glass."
"What in the bloody hell is a kick?" Dudley quipped, grinning.
Balrog chuckled and walked away from his old rival. By now everyone had finished their dinner; some were even looking forward to dessert. The guests knew that at every wedding there was a cake and a few treats, and this wedding was no exception. A beautiful, circular three-tier white cake rested in the corner of the room surrounded by baked goods, chocolate surprises, and a few gifts. Beautiful blue frosting lined the edge of the cake and intricate, edible red roses were indented on the white surfaces.
Suddenly the lights dimmed, leaving a few alone to shine on the hardwood surface of the dance floor. Ken picked up a microphone and walked over to the DJ booth. In the booth was the cheerful Jamaican Deejay, smiling wide enough for everyone to see his large white teeth. He took the microphone, shuffled his feet, and twirled around before speaking into it.
"Heeeeeyyy! Attention everybody, we're gonna start the first dance!" He hopped twice in excitement, pointing to the bride and groom. "Alright you two, come on down!"
Adon gulped while Juri twiddled her fingers together nervously. This first dance was not their first, as they had danced together before. The idea of dancing in front of all those people unnerved the couple, but they couldn't sit out on the dance that was meant for them. Juri looked to Adon, and he looked to her. Smiling sheepishly, Adon offered his hand as he stood from his seat.
As Juri did the same, she starred into the eyes of her husband. All of their troubles seemed to vanish as they moved to the dance floor. Deejay clicked a song labeled as "First Dance" on a small laptop, prompting slow music to make its way through the speakers and into the room. The song picked was "Just the Way You Are" by Billy Joel, a classic for weddings.
Guests leaned forward in their seats, watching as the bride and groom pressed their hands together, taking left in right and right in left. Slowly they started to move in the center, paying no attention to anything outside their space. Lost in their own world, there was only the newly wed couple, the floor, and the music lyrics.
Don't go changing, to try and please me
You never let me down before
Don't imagine you're too familiar
And I don't see you anymore
I wouldn't leave you in times of trouble
We never could have come this far
I took the good times, I'll take the bad times
I'll take you just the way you are
"Why did you pick this song?" Juri asked, tilting her head up to look into Adon's auburn eyes.
Adon looked at her and smiled, continuing to dance with his bride.
"Well... Masters showed me a list of songs I could choose, and this one caught my eye."
Don't go trying some new fashion
Don't change the color of your hair
You always have my unspoken passion
Although I might not seem to care
"As the name of the song implies, I love you just the way you are."
Juri sighed fondly, closing her eyes and resting her head against Adon's chest.
"That goes the same for you, sweetie."
I don't want clever conversation
I never want to work that hard
I just want someone that I can talk to
I want you just the way you are.
The groom looked up from his spouse at Deejay and cocked his head to the bridal table, signaling that they could come dance now. Deejay nodded and took the microphone in hand, speaking softly.
"Come on bridal party, you're wanted on the dance floor!"
I need to know that you will always be
The same old someone that I knew
What will it take till you believe in me
The way that I believe in you.
Quickly taking their girlfriends' hands, Yun and Yang led them to the dance floor, each taking their own corner. Ken and Eliza came as well, followed by Dan and a small orange-haired German woman, one Cammy would recognize as her sister, Juni. Cammy didn't mind that Dan was dancing with her, just as long as he didn't do anything stupid. Knowing Dan, he wouldn't last long.
I said I love you and that's forever
And this I promise from the heart
I could not love you any better
I love you just the way you are.
"Looking good buddy," Ken said to Adon as he passed them.
"You're doing just fine hon," Eliza mentioned softly, looking at Juri.
The couple nodded in thanks before getting back into rhythm.
I don't want clever conversation
I never want to work that hard
I just want someone that I can talk to
I want you just the way you are.
The song ended and the lights slowly began to brighten, illuminating the room. More quiet applause came from the guests as they rested their eyes on the bride and groom, who were lost in a kiss. As Adon came away from it, Juri batted her eyelashes at him.
"I know you're going to get this a lot from me soon, so I'll start right now: I love you, and I always will."
"There is no other woman I would have picked to be my queen. I love you Juri, and I always will."
Yun and Ibuki stayed on the dance floor, awaiting the next dance. Makoto and Yang, not particularly daring, decided to step off and go dance on the song after the one following shortly. Both the Masters and Juni left the floor with satisfied grins while Dan remained, eager to either make a fool out of himself or dance.
"Hmm... Why don't you dance with one of the girls sweetie," Juri said to Adon, glancing at the crowd of onlookers. "I need to seek out someone."
Nodding, Adon let go of her hand and watched as she left.
Juri walked through the crowd, stopping occasionally to receive a congratulations or a handshake from one of the guests. It was here where she mingled with the crowd that people could see her clearly. Her black hair flowed down to her back, swaying with every step she took. Her dress was practical yet elegant. It held vine and spiderweb-like designs in its white fabric, coiling around until it reached Juri's white and violet corset. On her arms were Adon's red and blue armbands, a symbol of her attachment to him.
When she managed to get through the crowd, she looked to the bar. Dudley was attempting to get his gloved hand out of a pitcher, but he had difficulty doing it. Guile and Maya were up at the bar along with a double-pigtailed blond woman, all of whom were watching the spectacle in front of them with a sense of bewilderment. The woman tensed when Juri's hand came to rest on her shoulder.
"Cammy... just the person I wanted to see."
Her pigtailed target slowly turned her head, looking at Juri with wide eyes.
"Juri... I-I, uh..." she stammered, turning her body to face her. "I have s-something I need to say to you..."
"Oh? What is it?"
"You remember that time in England three years ago, where you apologized to me?"
"Yeah, you forgave me."
Cammy squirmed a little and looked down at her hands.
"Actually, I... didn't. I lied when I said I accepted your apology."
"...Why?" Juri folded her arms and frowned. "Wasn't that slap-fest enough to convince you? And by the way that Juni girl slaps hard for being small."
"I just didn't believe you. I didn't see you as a person seeking retribution but rather another Bison." She looked up at the Korean woman and sighed. "But after hearing about your time spent in Japan and seeing what's happened here, I feel stupid for not listening to you. Guilty is a better word, for I was far too stubborn at the time to believe you."
Standing up so she was eye level with Juri, Cammy continued her plea.
"Look, I want to say... I want to say that I accept your apology. And I also want to offer one." Juri raised an eyebrow and dropped her arms, smiling slightly. "Juri, I'm sorry that I tormented you in England, and I'm sorry for lying to you back there. You've really changed, just like Chun said."
Juri smiled fully and embraced her, sighing with relief.
"Apology accepted, and I mean it."
Cammy, unsure what to do at the moment, simply stood still with her arms at the side. She wouldn't go too far to call her a friend, but she was much more than an acquaintance. After a few seconds Cammy's expression turned from disbelief to acceptance, and she moved her arms around Juri's waist, returning the hug.
"But I wouldn't say that I've changed," Juri said with a grin. "I'm just not working for S.I.N. anymore."
"Speaking of S.I.N...," Guile said from nearby, taking his eyes off of Dudley, "pull up a seat. Juri. We need to discuss something important."
"What's the trouble this time," she mumbled, letting go of Cammy to take a vacant stool. "And why are you telling me this now?"
"Because this is like a high school reunion," Maya replied, taking a sip from her drink. "All the people we know from the tournaments are here, and it's the time to catch up from being out of contact for so long."
"Exactly. We haven't gotten a hold of you for awhile, so we're doing this now." Guile coughed and set down his beer, wiping his mouth afterward. "Thanks to you and your husband, Bison and Seth are rotting in their shallow graves. Fitting ends for less than laudable lives. However, when you took down S.I.N. a few scientists managed to escape. Cammy's Delta Red group managed to get a few of them, but the rest of them joined some new organization, something we haven't encountered before."
"Another organization?"
"I'm afraid so. We haven't gotten much info on them, but what we do know is that they're more of a cult. They're called The Illuminati, and their leader is a man named Gill. We, as in the USAF, CIA, and Delta Red, think they may be a threat for you, given your previous alignment with S.I.N."
"Does Chun know about all of this?"
"Yes," Cammy answered, "she was one of the first to find out. There's just no rest for the wicked it seems."
"Rodger that," Guile muttered. "These folks have yet to scratch the surface and make a name for themselves. I want you to lay low for a few months, maybe a year tops. We don't know what they can do yet."
"They could host another tournament," Juri said, shrugging. "This Gill guy might make the same damn mistake Bison and Seth did."
"Come on Juri, do you really believe this organization is dumb enough to do that?" Maya waved her hand as she spoke, "That will be the third time, and I'm not looking forward to it."
"Well, you know what they say... Third strike's the charm."
"Third strike eh," Dudley said, still fumbling with his stuck gloved hand. "I might throw my hat into the tournament, if only to find out where my father's car went to." As he said that, the glove came loose, freeing itself from the pitcher it was stuck in. "Bloody brilliant! Finally!"
Juri smiled and looked to the dance floor. Rose was busy dancing with Adon, seeming to impart tips and tricks about marriage to him while they danced. Other couples were on the floor as well, along with a few singles.
"I'll make sure to tell Adon about this. Take care you three."
No sooner did Juri leave did Chun-Li arrive. She placed her hands on her hips and grinned at Cammy, who leaned forward eagerly.
"See? Doesn't it feel like you've gotten a large load off your chest?"
"Y-yes, it does."
"I'm glad you did all that for Juri, Cammy. Its her wedding, and she deserves our support."
"Support," Cammy repeated playing with her braids nervously. "The best support I could think of was to keep low and out of the way. That's why I'm here at the bar. Can't socialize with anybody new."
"Well I'm going to fix that," Chun-Li said, reaching for her sides.
"W-what are you doing?"
"Come on, I'm taking you dancing!"
With that, Chun-Li pulled Cammy off of the stool and lifted her up to rest over her shoulder. Being the strongest woman in the world made it easy to pick up the small woman and walk back towards the dance floor. Cammy, from her vantage point, blew a strand of hair out of her face and looked at everyone bringing up the behind. Most everybody was used to this kind of behavior and laughed at the sight.
"Hey bring her back in one piece alright?" Guile shouted after them.
Soon, anybody who was anybody could be found on the dance floor. Ken and Deejay had prepared a plethora of songs to play, most of which were songs anybody could dance to. A few were long songs, and a few of those few were even country, prompting the Air Force Major to grab his wife for a dance. Those who weren't dancing were on the sidelines, chatting with friends.
One man who wasn't dancing was sitting in a seat which was too small for his size. His muscles were huge, something he highly treasured. He leaned forward in his seat, looking down at seven seven-year-old children with brown hair, all wearing what seemed to be stone-grey caps. The large man smiled at the Turkish girls and continued to speak, occasionally gesturing with his hands.
"Oh you would not believe the fun we have back in Russia little ones! Almost every day I go to Siberian forests to find a worthy opponent! At times I don't find an opponent, and I simply play with friends."
"You have friends in the forest Mr. Zangief?" asked one of the girls, raising her hand as if she was in class.
"Of course little one! Many friends! Take for instance Sasha, a beautiful grizzly bear who doesn't like to fight. She is very gentle! Could even be compared to American Gentle Ben!" He pointed to a scar on his arm, flexing it afterward. "See this? This was given to me by Boris, strongest bear I ever fought! We wrestle many times!"
"Silly Zangief," the girls giggled, rolling their eyes. "Bears can't wrestle!"
"You doubt me, my tiny comrades?" He stood up and flexed his muscles, the red cloak that covered them falling to the ground. "Feast your eyes on these, then tell me if you doubt me!"
"Alright friend," a large red man said, laughing as he stepped forward. "I think they understand, right girls?"
"Uh... we think so Daddy," they replied in unison.
"See Hakan? They still doubt me!"
"Hey you two," Honda shouted towards them with a plate and fork in his hands, "cake's about to get cut!"
The three wrestlers looked at each other, then at the girls, then at the cake. Already the girls were up and running past their father, who quickly stumbled after them with Honda and Zangief on his tail.
Adon and Juri had already finished talking to the guests about the cake as the group arrived. They looked to each other and, with Juri taking a special silver cake knife in hand, advanced towards the three-tier cake. Following tradition, Juri's right hand gripped the knife and held it a foot away from the cake. Adon's hand gently held her right, serving to guide her into the cake.
"Hold that pose," Ibuki muttered to herself, lining up the two in her camera's sights.
As she took the picture, the couple made the first slice into the bottom layer, prompting cheers to erupt from the crowd. The knife was lifted out from the renowned delicacy and was dropped into it again just an inch from the original cut. Adon picked up the slice of cake and broke it in two, handing one to his wife. Juri leaned forward and licked her lips as Adon brought his half towards her with a dignified smile.
Quickly she experienced the sugary bliss that was the cake, lovingly fed to her by her husband. A few coos came from the crowd, mostly from the young ninja/novice reporter. Adon's half of cake was quickly finished, and she licked her lips again, cleaning them of frosting and crumbs. She grinned and brought her half of cake towards Adon's mouth, a glow of mischief in her eyes. He rolled his eyes and leaned forward to get at her half.
She purposely got a bit of frosting on his face, only so she could reach out and wipe it off. She then giggled, sticking her frosted finger in her mouth afterward.
"I'm not sure I got all of that," Adon said, giving Juri a smirk and a lip of his lips.
"Maybe there's still some sugar on my lips..."
Juri caressed the side of Adon's face, leaning in to give a passionate kiss.
"Quick kid!" Dan exclaimed, nudging Ibuki. "Take another picture!"
"Ew!" Ibuki shuddered, flinching away from Dan. "I'm not taking a picture of that! You're weird Dan!"
As soon as the couple got out from the area with their arms wrapped around each other, the guests helped themselves to the cake. Dan was put in charge of cutting it for everyone, giving him the perfect opportunity to set aside a good piece for himself. Dancing continued for another hour, with Deejay himself stepping in at times to dance, tired of being cooped up in his DJ booth. When the father/daughter and mother/son dances came, Hakan found himself in a predicament: he had seven daughters! He wisely choose to dance with all of his daughters, lest he anger his normally soft-spoken wife.
"Sorry Dan-man," Deejay said into the microphone, his smile refusing to fade from his face as he apologized to the Saikyo master on the dance floor, "I know you want to keep dancin', but this next one's for the girls."
"Aww... oh well. I had my fill!" He smirked and looked to his dancing partner, making a phone gesture with his hand. "Hey Juni, call me sometime alright?"
"B-but," she stuttered, watching him leave the dance floor, "you didn't even give me your number..."
"Alright single ladies," Deejay shouted, waving his hand for attention, "I want every single one of you on the dance floor! It's time for the bouquet toss!"
Deejay shuffled around until he reached his laptop, clicking on a song just for the girls. As the Hall and Oates song "Maneater" began to play, Juri dashed past the DJ booth towards the head table. She had completely forgotten about the bouquet toss! Searching the head table yielded no results, only the grand bridal bouquet, which was not suitable for tossing.
"Looking for this?"
She turned to see Rose holding a small bouquet filled with her namesake out towards her. The psychic smiled when Juri took the bouquet, gently brushing past her to get to the dance floor.
"I am sorry my dear," she said over her shoulder. "I was just curious about the roses."
"Sure you were," Juri retorted, following the woman to the dance floor. "Keep walking."
The Italian stood near other unmarried women, all eager to catch the bouquet. One of the women was dressed in a very expensive looking red dress, complete with elegant matching gloves. Her long golden hair was styled into oversized ringlets and her lips were curled into a sneer. The target of such an expression was Sakura, and she noticed it, giving a scowl.
"Are you going to steal the bouquet like you stole my outfit Karin? Using cheap tricks?"
"Not this time peasant," she replied bitterly, glaring at her rival. "All I'm concerned about is making sure you don't get your hands on the bouquet."
Quickly the two began to bicker with each other as Juri stood far away from the group of women. She turned her back on them and held the bouquet close to her bosom, ready to be thrown over. She stopped before she did the throw, looking over at Adon. There was something in the lyrics of the song playing that caught her attention.
"Hey sweetie! Did you hear that?"
"Hmm?" Adon dropped his folded arms and took a step forward. "Are you talking about the lyrics to the song?"
"Yeah, it was 'The woman is wild, a she-cat tamed by the purr of a Jaguar'..." She grinned and returned to looking forward. "I think I just found my song!"
Adon shook his head and smiled, mumbling something about him in relation to an actual jaguar as Juri readied her arm. She stopped again and stood up straight, listening to the concluding lyrics of the verse. The woman the song was referring to only cared for money, and that falling in love with her was a bad idea. Juri need not want for money, seeing as she retained quite a bit from her S.I.N. reign.
"Uh... nevermind," she shouted to Adon, feeling sheepish. "I'll find my song eventually..."
Her husband rubbed the back of his neck. He wasn't exactly listening to the lyrics, but they must of gotten to Juri. She shrugged and threw the bouquet over her shoulder, turning around to watch the action.
With a push and a shove, the old high school rivals fell forward, losing their chance to catch the bouquet. Cammy stood behind them with an innocent expression, holding her hands behind her back. Ibuki and Makoto grinned as the bouquet came flying towards them over the heads of Chun-Li and Rose. They both reached up to grab it but were stopped when someone behind them stuck their hand out over their heads, easily catching the flowery bundle.
The hand belonged to a tall and dark African woman with white hair in an elegant white dress. Her arms were decorated with numerous blue, purple, and gold bands. She giggled and looked at the flowers in awe.
"Alright Elena," Deejay cried, clapping his hands, "good job catching that! We don't have a garter toss lined up for 'dis wedding, so you get to choose whoever you want to dance with!"
Elena placed a finger to her lips as she looked around the dance floor, curious to find someone. The rest of the girls got off the dance floor, some of them grumbling, but most of them congratulating the tall woman. Her eyes lit up when she found someone interesting, moving towards Deejay's DJ booth.
Deejay calmly stood up straight and brushed back his hair, expecting to be chosen. If he wasn't smiling at the moment, which he always was, he would be smirking. His smile didn't fade when Elena bent down in front of the DJ booth, but his eyebrows disappeared into his hairline. He leaned over the side to see what she was doing and breathed a sigh of relief, and a sigh of rejection.
"Hi there!"
The Brazilian beast-man sitting against the DJ booth raised an eyebrow and nervously wrung his wrists. The only reason he came to this wedding was to see his friends Dan and Sakura. Most of the guests left Blanka as he was, sitting in a corner somewhere in a ripped tuxedo. Something about the African woman's smile comforted him. Usually his mother Samantha had that gift. He smiled sheepishly, showing his yellow teeth.
"Umm... hello..."
"What's your name?" Clearly she was not frightened by Blanka. In some sense his act only poured euphoria into her. Elena placed a hand on her chest and introduced herself. "My name's Elena!"
"...Nice to meet you... Elena." He unconsciously scratched his rear and looked away. "My name... most people call me Blanka... but my friends, Dan and Sakura, call me Jimmy."
"Dan? You mean that silly man over there?"
She pointed at the best man, trapped in a headlock by a very large black man with a yellow mohawk. Despite his position, he was laughing with his captor. Perhaps they had fought each other before and met here on better terms. Blanka looked over at them and chuckled.
"Yes, that is Dan."
Elena placed the bouquet aside and took Blanka's green, clawed hands in her own. She shook them slightly, beaming.
"Come on Jimmy! Dance with me!"
"I-I don't even know how to dance," he mumbled, looking around for support.
"You're silly too! Come on, I'll teach you!"
Adon and Juri watched as the two took center stage. Blanka's sluggish movements were not to be considered actual dancing, but Elena didn't seem to mind. She was in a state of happiness similar to Deejay's, minus the somewhat permanent smile. Blanka himself seemed to be enjoying the company of Elena and seemed to act outgoing, a stark contrast to his behavior earlier.
"After this is the last dance," Adon said to Juri. With a sheepish grin he added, "I think we didn't get to that part in the rehearsal. If we didn't, then we don't have a song lined up."
"Hmm... Don't you worry sweetie, I'll take care of this."
Deejay was still staring at the couple on the dance floor and did not notice Juri leaning over his laptop. Ibuki and Makoto did notice her and walked over to stand behind her, looking over her shoulders. Although she hardly used a computer in the past year, Juri knew much more about them than what Makoto knew, which was just average everyday knowledge. She clicked around until the mouse pointer rested on a song the girls had heard was all the rage then in America.
"Tik Tok," Makoto mumbled, reading the text.
"Really Juri?" Ibuki smirked and brushed her dress. "Is this like your theme song or something?"
"Might as well be," Juri replied, adding it to the line-up. "This one speaks to me. In fact... if I change the lyrics a little bit, I can make this song all about me..." She stood up and turned to face the girls. "Alright, let's get to the dance floor and make this one count. We'll send everyone off on a high note!"
Ken held onto the hand of a very drowsy Mel, looking over at Eliza. She was busy sending her warmest regards to the tired wedding couple as they shook hands with every guest they could. The festivities were finally over, and everyone was leaving. Adon quelled a yawn with his hand, dropping it down afterward to show his satisfied grin. After receiving a farewell from the new Juri Montri, Eliza moved to the doorway.
"Well?" Ken asked, walking with her.
"They'll be fine. Everyone wishes them luck with their marriage and hopes to see them again in a tournament somewhere."
"Best of luck to them. I had fun back there as the MC..." He sighed and added, "I think I'm done with tournaments for some time honey."
Eliza gave him a questionable look and folded her arms.
"Really? I met a young Brazilian in here who was eager to see you in the next martial arts tournament. He even wanted to be your apprentice."
"Did you get a name?" Ken asked, rubbing his eyes.
"Sean, I think he said. Anyway, we should head back to the hotel." She tussled the hair of her child, smiling. "Our little fighter needs some well-deserved sleep."
"Yeah," Ken replied, giving a goofy smile. "Mel needs some sleep too."
"Well," Adon mumbled, watching as the last guest and best man walked out of the reception area, "I think that's the end of it. What do we do now?"
"Now?"
Juri turned to face him. Her hands were on her hips and she wore a seductive smile.
"What do we do now..."
With hearts pounding they locked lips again for what seemed to be the fifth time that day. Juri wrapped her arms around Adon's neck as he wrapped his arms around her waist. Both players deepened their kisses, pulling away a minute later to catch their breath. Juri grinned and leaned into Adon's ear.
"Don't think we're finished here," she whispered with her left eye glowing slightly. "We have all night baby."
Adon smiled and brought her back into an alluring embrace, whispering into her ear.
"And the rest of our lives, my sweet spider."
Author's note: There. It is complete. I started this fanfic back in the December of 2010, and look at where it ended! I assume most people could write a story like this in a few months, perhaps in half the time it took me to do it. I want to thank all of you who have been following the story up to this point, and I want to thank the people who stopped to give comments/reviews.
Please review. You have no idea the amount of euphoria I feel from having my Ipod beep with glee every time I get a review notice.