Noiselessly, the door slid open again and Guile crept into the room, pulling his night vision goggles off his head. Having found no sign of Bison or his henchmen in the surrounding area, he decided to get some rest. Lying down next to Chun Li, he noted the tears on her cheeks and felt his heart ache for her continual sadness. Hugging her to him, it never ceased to amaze him how important she had become in his life. It had been many years since they had first met in Hong Kong. At the time, he was still active in the Air Force, and mourning over Charlie's death. He thought back to when they had first met.

"Major Guile?" A pretty Chinese woman extended her hand with a smile. "Chun Li. I'll be your attaché to Interpol - I've been assigned to work with you on this case."

Guile looked at the petite woman and said in a disinterested tone, "Sorry, Lady. I don't do partners."

Stunned, Chun Li stared at him for a moment before a scowl formed on her face. "Hold on a minute, Major!" she interjected. "This is not up to you. We have our orders and I AM going to be working with you whether you like it or not, so I suggest you start getting comfortable with the idea sooner rather than later."

She was a feisty one. He couldn't help but smile a little. "Fine," he said gruffly, "just make sure to stay out of my way." He turned abruptly and walked away.

"Hey!" Chun Li balled her hands into fists and growled at his retreating back.

Walking into the parking lot, Guile fished in his cargo pocket for his keys, trying to remember where he had parked.

"Hello again."

His eyes shot up to see Chun Li seated on the hood of his Mustang, smiling beatifically. "Shotgun?" she said with a smile.

"If you don't mind, I have some leads to follow up on," he said curtly.

She ignored the hint. "Really?" Her eyebrows went up. "Where are we going?"

Seeing that his attempts at tact were wasted on her, picking her up by her tiny waist, he plunked her on the ground and unlocked the driver's side door. "WE are not going anywhere," he told her emphatically. "I, on the other hand, am going to go run some background checks." As he pulled the key out of the lock, he heard her go "Yah!" and his key ring suddenly flew out of his fingers.

Catching it neatly in her hand, she twirled the keys around her finger and arched her eyebrow. "Well, I guess you'll be taking a taxi then, Major." Guile ground his teeth. This broad was really starting to get on his nerves. "Or," she offered as a solution, "you can stop being so goddamn macho and decide that it really wouldn't be so painful to have to work with me."

Guile felt himself getting more and more annoyed as she dangled his keys in front of him, smiling sweetly. He lunged for her but she jumped to the side. "Damn you," he shouted.

"Are you going to start being reasonable?"

He tried again to retrieve his keys and once again, she hopped effortlessly out of reach. "This isn't funny anymore! Hand them over!" he barked.

Sighing, she clucked her tongue and said, "You know you're making this way harder than it needs to be." Pulling the front of her blouse forward, she dropped his keys into her cleavage and looked challengingly at him. "I'd start hailing a cab if I were you. Time's a wasting!"

Even though he was furious, Guile couldn't help noticing what a nice set she had. Turning back to the task at hand he threatened, "Don't assume I won't go there! If you think something like that will stop me, you're dead wrong."

"Go ahead then," she said archly, calling his bluff. As a challenge, she pointed her chest out at him a little and gestured to it. Chun Li tried not to laugh as she watched his face go from a violent shade of red to a livid purple. A large vein had appeared on his temple. She could practically see it throbbing from ten feet away and had to stifle a giggle. The American was fun to mess with.

"Alright, fine!" he bellowed, unlocking the passenger side door. "But," he pointed a large index finger squarely in her face, "Don't – touch – anything. Do you read me?"

She had already slipped inside the car. "Loud and clear," she said gamely, strapping herself into the seat. "Ooh! What's this-?"

"WHAT DID I JUST SAY?" Guile thundered.

She shrank back in the seat and smiled playfully. "I was only looking," she explained in a small, lilting voice. Fishing around in her bra, she handed him the keys and grinned innocently. Snatching them out of her hand, they were still warm from being nestled between her breasts.

Jabbing the key into the ignition, he angrily started the engine. "Baby sitting," he muttered in disgust. "Fly ten thousand miles halfway across the world and I'm fucking baby sitting!" Chun Li simply giggled and held up two fingers to him.

She had teased him relentlessly about the way he had behaved at their first meeting. Still, he had to admit that he never could have predicted how much she would come to grow on him. After losing Charlie, he'd had enough with worrying about other people and avoided closeness at all costs. Still, in spite of himself, he couldn't help but admire her strength and dedication as well as her kind and generous nature. The tragedy of her past brought out a protective side to him that he never knew he possessed, and it wasn't long before he realized he loved her – and that she didn't love him back, not in the way that mattered, anyway. He sighed and wiped her cheek gently, pulling the covers over her shoulders. "You're an idiot, Ryu," he thought to himself as he went to sleep.

**********

Still in the same place where he had passed out, Ryu's eyes twitched underneath their lids, indicating that he had finally entered REM sleep. The dream he was having was set at the dojo. A young Ryu, dressed in simple white cotton robes, sat in front of Gouken as he attempted to coax some rice into the child's mouth.

"Sa," he said gently, holding a small spoon of rice in his massive hand. "You must eat, little one. Aren't you hungry?"

The little boy stared down at the floor silently. Gouken sighed. The boy had been listless and withdrawn since the day he first set foot on the mountain. For the last week, he had barely eaten anything and had spoken not a single word. At night, Gouken would awaken to the sound of his screams as he slept, calling out for his dead mother and father. "Ka-chan! To-san! Yadda! Yamite-kudosai!" Then when he had exhausted himself, his sobs replaced his cries.

Not sure how to engage the boy, Gouken set the rice bowl and spoon down and pondered for a moment. Looking at him out of the corner of his eyes, he an idea formed in his head. Resting his chin in his palm, he pretended to be bored and he channeled a small amount of his life energy into the tip of his finger, which began to glow an electric shade of blue. Glancing over, he noted with satisfaction that he had succeeded in snagging the child's interest. He appeared transfixed by the blue flame that danced on his fingertip. Shutting off the flow of energy, Gouken allowed the flame flicker out of sight.

Ryu blinked, and said softly, "Moddo." He looked at Gouken.

The large man felt a warm rush seeing the boy finally speak. "Would you like me to do it again?" he asked in a pleasant voice."

"Mm," he said, his eyes wide.

Picking up the bowl, Gouken told him, "I promise I will, but you must do something for me first. I need you to eat something. When you finish your meal, I will make the light return." He gave a smile of approval when the boy opened his mouth.

Ten minutes later, the bowl was empty and Gouken sat cross-legged on the floor with Ryu crouched next to him. The child's tiny hands rested on his gigantic leg as he watched the bright energy that Gouken commanded. "Can I learn to do that?" he asked in a wondrous tone.

Gouken smiled paternally at his young charge. "Anyone can learn to do it, but it requires great patience and much work." The boy looked again at the luminous display. "Do you still wish to learn?"

He nodded solemnly, far too gravely for someone of the age of a mere four years. "I do."

Seating him in front of himself, Gouken's voice became serious as he told him, "I can teach you to master your mind and your body, to become strong and to know no fear. But there is one condition that must be met before I will agree to show you the ways of Shotokan warrior. A true warrior never utilizes his knowledge and power for selfish or personal reasons. He seeks only to further himself through patience and discipline. I require your word as your bond that you will remain faithful to this spirit." He gave the child a moment to process what he had said. "Do you give it?"

"Hai," he said determinedly.

"Yosh." Gouken stood up and the boy followed his example. "What is your name?"

"Watashi-wa namai-wa Ryu, des," he answered, trying to make himself sound strong.

"Very well, Ryu-kun. From this moment, you will address me as your sensei. You have difficult times ahead of you, but the rewards of your diligence will be great." He gestured for the boy to follow him. "Come." Sliding the door open, Ryu became confused. It was daytime, but the sky was black, as if it were night and glowed a strange red color. Suddenly the ground began to tremble and Ryu felt absolute terror surge through his body.

***********

From far away, if passerby were to look closely at the mountain, they would be able to see a faint red glow emanating from its peak. A loud rumbling growl rolled through the claret sky, shaking the trees. "Ryu…"

"NO!!" Ryu screamed, bolting upright. Panting heavily, he threw the sliding door of the dojo open and beheld the red light that illuminated the mountaintop, the scarlet heavens reflected in his eyes. "Masaka…it cannot be…"

***********

Guile sat up suddenly at the sound of twigs snapping outside the shack. Chun Li continued sleeping, unaware that anything was amiss. Glancing at his watch, he saw that it was approximately midnight. Noiselessly flattening his body against the wall, he could make out at least two voices conversing indistinctly and they were coming closer. Waiting until the door opened, he grabbed the first person that entered and flung the stunned intruder into the far side of the hut.

Smacking the wall, Ken fell to the floor as Eliza let out a scream. Recovering quickly, he jumped to his feet and raised his fists, ready to attack. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness of the small room, he realized who it was that had thrown him. Rubbing his aching shoulder, he shouted, "What the hell was that for? And what are you two doing here?" Eliza ran over to him to ensure that he was unharmed. Chun Li sat up and rubbed her eyes, wondering what all the commotion was about. She blinked in surprise when she saw Ken and Eliza standing in the cramped space.

"That was my question for you," Guile replied, shooting an annoyed look at Ken. "What the hell were you doing creeping around in the dark out there anyway?" he demanded indignantly.

"We came up here to make sure Ryu was okay," he said defensively. Chun Li suddenly sat up a little straighter at the mention of his name. "We weren't expecting that the space would be occupied already. I thought Ryu and I were the only ones who knew about it." Ken massaged his back, a pained expression on his face. Sitting on the floor, he removed his shoes and asked, "So what exactly are the two of you doing here?"

"Following Bison. For some reason he decided to come here," Guile explained.

Ken furrowed his brow. "He wants, Ryu, but for what, I don't know."

"He's here?" Chun Li couldn't help asking hopefully.

"Oh, shit." He clapped his hand to his face in dismay. "You were the last person on earth who was supposed to know about this place!"

"I have to talk to him," she said grabbing his shirt. "Where is he? Tell me, Ken!"

Disentangling himself from her grip, he firmly shook his head. "No way, Chun. I can't do it. Bad enough that you just happened to come here by pure coincidence, but I'm not telling you where exactly Ryu is. He wants to be left alone and if you care about him, do as he asks."

"But you're here!" she said hotly.

"Only to keep tabs on him and to make sure he's okay," Ken clarified. "Eliza and I have no intention of letting him find out that we came here. And I suggest that you should do the same," he advised her.

"He's right, Chun Li," Eliza agreed. "Have some patience and give him the space that he needs right now."

She looked to Guile who raised his hands in a don't-get-me-involved-in-this-argument gesture. "Fine!" she said with frustration. If none of you will help me, I'll find him myself!" Snatching Guile's goggles and her shoes, she sprinted out the door.

"Chun Li! You crazy broad, get your ass back in here!" Guile commanded, trying not to shout. The last thing he needed to do was to alert either Ryu or Bison to there whereabouts, if they were nearby.

Seeing the red glow from the mountain's peak, she decided to move in that direction. Switching on the night vision, she made her way through the brambles and trees, and as she climbed up the mountainside, she found a faint trail that had once been well worn but now was almost invisible from years of neglect. Pay dirt, she thought to herself with satisfaction. Tracing the little path further, the trees became spaced further apart as a clearing came in to view. There were a few small shacks and a large structure with stone steps leading to its doors and she felt her heart pound when she saw Ryu standing in the entryway, staring into the night. She was about to walk closer to get a better view but was suddenly yanked back into the darkness. A big hand clamped over her mouth to muffle any sounds she might make. Jerking her limbs, she attempted to free herself from her unknown assailant, but he held her with an iron grip.

Her captor set her down and she saw Guile's irritated face in the dim light. Under his breath, he ordered, "Don't make a sound." She was about to say something to object, but his irritation turned to frank anger and he pointed a finger at her in warning, his eyes blazing. Seeing him so irate made her think twice about speaking, so she held her tongue.

Pulling the goggles off her head, he held them to his eyes and made a visual survey of the area. Looking over at the dojo, he saw that Ryu was in fact there. He appeared to be mesmerized by something in the distance. Pulling the goggle strap securely around his head, he lifted Chun Li onto his back and worked his way back to the shack. Once they were inside, he closed the door and stared at Chun Li for a full minute in silence, breathing heavily. Even Ken began to feel a little intimidated.

When he finally spoke, his voice was calm but the rage that he was actively suppressing was all too evident. "That," he began deliberately, "was an incredibly stupid thing to do." His words were slow and measured as he tried to control his temper. "It was reckless, not to mention very fucking dangerous! You could have gotten hurt or even killed! That part aside, have you forgotten that we still have a job to do?" She avoided his eyes. "Look, I know this is hard for you," he continued. "But you can't allow your personal feelings to get in the way of your judgment!"

"Hey, Guile, lighten up a little, man," Ken said in her defense. "After all, she's okay."

"You stay out of this!" Guile spat, venomously. "And you," he said, turning back to Chun Li, "Have you forgotten what the last 9 years have been about? This is about Bison. You've waited so long to get to him, for what he did to your father, and now that the opportunity is at hand, you'd throw it all away?"

Chun Li was quiet. Finally she admitted, "You're right. I have been behaving way too impulsively. I can't let my personal life interfere with something we've worked so hard for. I'm sorry, Guile." She was relieved to see that her apology had somewhat diminished his anger. Scooting closer to the wall, she made room for Ken and Eliza on the floor. "Let's get some sleep and pick this up in the morning," she said with determination.

***********

About ten miles from where they were staying, Chun Li and Guile discovered that Bison had set up shop in one of the mountain's many recessed caves. It had taken them the better part of the day to find it. A helicopter sat on a hastily constructed heliport and satellite arrays had been placed in various locations, likely so that Bison could stay in constant contact with the other members of Shadowlaw. The pair watched patiently, waiting to see what their next move would be. For the most part, they spent the day performing very mundane tasks, but as the sun began its descent over the horizon, Bison called for Vega and Balrog to follow him as he exited the cave. Looking at Chun Li, Guile silently motioned for her to fall back.

Shadowing the group, Chun Li's fears were confirmed when she saw that Bison was leading them straight to the dojo. It was now pitch dark outside and a fierce wind was beginning to sweep over the mountain. Unable to see clearly, Guile gestured for Chun Li to follow him up into the trees. Fortunately the wind created so much noise that it was doubtful that Bison was any wiser to their presence. From their new vantage point, they saw Vega spring onto the roof and brandishing his blades with obvious relish, he slipped into one of the windows. "No," Chun Li whispered with dread.

************

Trying again to focus his thoughts, Ryu sat cross-legged on the floor, a lone candle providing the only light in the large dojo. Suddenly, he heard an odd creak from one of the beams above. Sensing that there was another presence in the room, he nonchalantly licked the tip of his finger, put out the candle and waited. After a few minutes, the creaking began again, but this time it was right above his head. Adrenaline flooded his body, heightening his senses. Every muscle tensed, ready to strike.

************

"KYEEHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"

Both Guile and Chun Li nearly lost their grip when the shrill cry pierced the air. In spite of the loud rustling of the trees, it could easily be heard above the din. This was followed by the loud sound of splintering wood and paper tearing as Vega burst through the main doors of the entrance to the dojo face first. Falling on his back, Vega performed a backspring and righted himself. With a snarl he pointed his blades at the entrance. Stepping over the wreckage of the door, Ryu stared impassively at Vega, then he looked past the Spaniard and his eyes came to rest on Bison.

"What do you want of me?" he asked.

A large smile spread across Bison's face. "I want the power of the Satsui no hadou."

Ryu kept his eyes unflinchingly locked on Bison's. "What do you want with the Dark Hadou?"

"What do you think?" Bison replied. "I will harness its power and once it is at my disposal Shadowlaw will extend its dominion over the entire world without opposition. This whole planet will be in the palm of my hand."

He stood stone still for a moment. The only part of him that moved was the hachimaki that flailed in the wind. "You have no idea what it is that you desire," Ryu intoned gravely. "If you did, you would not seek to possess it."

"Spare me your trivial philosophy lessons," Bison said apathetically. "I just want what I came for."

"And I will not give it to you," he resolved. Ryu assumed a defensive stance and waited.

"Presumptuous fool," Bison leered. "Who said anything about wanting it from you?"

Ryu was taken aback. "Nani?"

"HYAAAAAAAHHHH!!!"

His question was cut short as Vega suddenly slashed at his side. Because he had been distracted, Ryu was unable to react quickly enough to avoid the strike and the blade superficially sliced through him. Clutching his side, Ryu looked at the blood streaming between his fingers and felt anger kindling inside him. Clenching his bloody fist, he drove it home deep into Vega's abdomen, knocking him off his feet. Falling on his back, Vega gasped for breath as Ryu knelt over him. Tearing off his mask, he tossed it aside and paused for an instant to watch Vega's eyes widen in fear before he smashed his knuckles into his face.

Chun Li watched in horror as he mercilessly rained punches down on his head. Even if Vega were by some chance to survive the assault, nothing short of a miracle would ever return his face to any semblance of normalcy. Ryu's eyes began to glow a cruel shade of red and Vega certainly would have died right then had another burst of red light not captured Ryu's attention.

Bison smiled broadly, a look of rapture on his face. "At last," he murmured with anticipation. "It is here."

***************

yadda: I don't want to, gross, scary, I don't like it, stop

yamite-kudosai: please stop

watashi-wa namai-wa Ryu des: my name

masaka: it can't be