Disclaimer: See chapter one

Chap. 23

Metro City...

It a small garden park within the city, Cori strode though and sat down on a bench. Looking around, she saw the many faces of people around her. She also examined the children that were playing before her in the grass. Some of them were with their parents. At this, Cori gave a long sigh and simply watched them play.

"Hey Cori."

Cori didn't turn her head, but she already knew who it was. Shinji had walked up and took a seat next to her.

"Are you alright?" he asked after noting the long expression on her face.

Cori simply nodded, "Yeah, I'm fine. I just needed some air."

The two teens were now facing forward and a moment of silence passed before Shinji finally broke it.

"So..." he started hesitantly."I guess you've found what you were looking for."

Cori shifted her feet slightly, "I'm not sure. I mean, I found out some of the answers." Her eyes darkened, "But I don't know why she left me. Or what happened to her." She lifted her head up, "I would still like to know."

Shinji nodded, "Well, I'm sure you'll find the answers."

"Actually..." She looked over at Shinji. "I was hoping if I could travel with you two some more."

Shinji blinked and faced her, "Really? You don't want to stay here with Guy and Rena?"

"No." She looked away again before Shinji could see the slight blush that came on her face, "They are nice people, but I have to find out what happened." She smiled lightly, "Besides, you haven't taught me how to use my ki yet. Remember you promised?"

Shinji looked forward again, "I...guess so."

"Am I interrupting anything?"

The two of them looked up to see Mel coming toward them. A devious grin was etched on his face.

"Shinji, you dog."

Cori blushed again while Shinji blanched, "No, it not what it looks like."

"What does it look like, Shinji?" Mel insisted.

Shinji was dumb-founded, "I...it...We were...just talking."

Mel laughed at his embarrassed friend, "Yeah, sure."

Shinji took a deep breath to compose himself and then answered again, "No, seriously. Cori wants to continue traveling with us."

Mel turned to Cori, "Really? You sure you want to?"

Cori nodded in response, "I'm sure. There's more to learn. Now that I know my mother's name, it will be simpler to find out who she really was."

"Right." Shinji added. "And we need to work on our techniques more."

Mel looked at Shinji and then at Cori and then back again. "So it's decided then. We'll move out tomorrow."

The two nodded and arose from their seat. They began to walk back to the dojo/apartment to tell the others of their plans, but before they could two figures stood before them. They were both dark in appearance, but they looked very different. On was a bulky man with thick sideburns on his face. His head bore a hat and he had a wooden bat in his hand. His partner was smaller, with slick hair that shot out and downward in front.

"Targets acquired."

Mel was taken aback, "Who are these...?"

Cori began to back away, her face showing a hint of fear. "Their aura...dark."

The two shadowy figures stepped forward menacingly, "Proceeding to capture."

Mel pushed his arm back, pushing Cori behind them while Shinji went into battle stance, "Cori, stay back. We'll handle this."

"Be careful."

The shadows attacked...

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

Interpol, Medical Ward

Mikoto had finished examining the two fighters that were brought in from the failed search in Thailand. After examining them, Mikoto stepped back and turned to her mother, who was waiting just outside the room.

"How are they?" she asked.

Mikoto sighed, "Still unconscious. But their vitals are okay. They seemed to have taken quite a beating, but most of their wounds are superficial."

Chun-Li nodded, "That's good to know. The sooner they revive, the sooner we can find the ones who did this and the others as well."

Mikoto looked back in on her patients and whispered, "But...what if we're too late?"

"Let's just hope..." She was suddenly cut off when her cell phone went off. Picking it up, she added, "Excuse me a moment."

As Chun-Li moved away to speak on the phone, Mikoto moved back into the medical room, her eyes examining the two unconscious men. The man who had the weird costume was still in bed. He looked Japanese in origin, with short, black hair. According to the dossier Juni picked up for her, he was formerly a low-waged salesman who had somehow shifted jobs and found his way into fighting. Given his record, he was considered a decent fighter, wielding strange powers. Her gaze then shifted to Kairi. An anguish look was across his scarred face. Mikoto suddenly noticed that his eyes were moving beneath the closed lids.

'Dreaming...or a nightmare.'

Suddenly, Kairi's eyes snapped open and he shot up from the bed. Mikoto quickly moved forward and placed a hand on his chest.

"Stay still. Relax." she said soothingly.

Kairi began looking around in half-panic, "We're am I?"

Mikoto struggled to hold him still, "Please stop. You're alright. You're in the hospital ward at Interpol."

Kairi looked at the young doctor briefly before trying to rise. Mikoto struggled more to hold him still, but to no avail.

"Stay...still....arghh!"

The orderlies rushed in to help restrain him, but Kairi began to force his way through.

"I have to go! I have to find them!"

Kairi began to push them away as he tried to exit the door. But a swift hand suddenly snapped his neck and Kairi fell unconscious. The orderlies picked up Kairi and placed him back in bed as Mikoto rubbed her hand lightly.

"Gomen, Kairi." she whispered.

***********

Thailand...

Within one of the towns of the dry country, Sean strode on the road heading straight through. After beating up the shadow soldiers in the U.S., he managed to track the symbol down to an area within Thailand. He had remembered that some time ago, there was a evil organization called Shadowloo which had existed in Thailand. From what his former master told him, they specialized in various crimes, from drug to assassination and even kidnappings. It was also known that the group had also been scouting street fighters to brainwash them and turn them into terrorists. 'If that's what going on, I'm going to stop them and get Elena back' Sean reassured himself.

"Forget it. This is a dead end."

Sean snapped out of his thought as he turned to a figure that was emerging out of one of the nearby corners

"Ken?" Sean gasped at seeing his mentor there. "What are you doing here?"

"Same as you." he replied. "Considering everything that has happened, I figured I'd do a little investigating of my own. Unfortunately, I wound up here."

"What do you mean 'everything that has happened'?"

"Well, I've been in contact with Chun-Li. Apparently, a group came here not too long ago and were ambushed. It was just a trap to gather more fighters."

"Damn." Sean growled. "Then, I have nothing to work with now."

Ken stepped closer, "Not quite. See there's a pattern in the attacks. Usually they send some shadow-powered minions to capture fighters. But if the fighter is too much, they send mind controlled street fighters to do the job."

Sean considered that. Ken was right in that aspect. He and Elena were first attacked by the shadow soldiers and then later by stronger fighters, mostly likely street fighters.

"So?"

"See, all we need to do is recapture a street fighter. Then if we could bring them to their senses, they might be able to lead us to the base."

Sean thought about it for a moment. It sounded like quite a long shot. But if there was any hope to find Elena, he was more than up for it.

"So you plan on leaving yourself out as bait."

Ken smirked, "That's the plan."

Sean was about to suggest something when a dark shadow flashed over and landed on the ground before them. The figure landed crouched on the ground before slowly rising to its feet. Ken was somewhat surprised at seeing who his dark opponent was.

"Target acquired."

"Allen Snider? Are these guys kidding me or what?"

The former rival leaned into fighting stance, "Engaging target."

"Sean, stay back. I got this one."

Ken tightened the gloves on his hands and stood in fighting stance. Looking at Allen, he motioned his hand.

"Ikuse."

***********

Metro City...

Shinji and Mel battled furiously against the shadow warriors. Mel fought against V. Rosso while Shinji battled with C. Jack. But the moment the fight started, the youths found themselves in big trouble. Their opponents were working united to subdue them, using tag combination to wear them down piece by piece. Using the combination of power and energy plus their ingrate shadow powers to amplify their speed, they were battering the two youths in (In Shinji's case, literally). Both boys found themselves backed up against a wall.

"These guys are really strong." Shinji noted while nursing a bruise on his cheek. "And we're not doing too well."

Mel agreed, holding his arm from the burn he received, "They're double teaming us. We have to do the same." He stood straight, "On the count of three. One..."

"Two..."

"Three!"

The two suddenly lunged back in and attacked. The two opponents simply looked casually until they reached a close range. V. Rosso lashed his fist out, but found it blocked by Mel's arm. At the same time, Shinji jumped over Mel's back and launched a kick, which hit V. Rosso dead on in the face. At the same time, C. Jack arched his arms back, ready to swing his bat at Shinji. Shinji however, hit the ground and ducked to blow by only a hair and grappled the massive man. At the same time, Mel who was now behind Shinji had his hands cupped, filling with pure energy.

"Hadoken!"

The surge of energy shot out toward C. Jack's face, but the dark fighter managed to swiftly duck the attack losing only his bat as the surge fist blasted it to pieces.

"No..."

At the same time, V. Rosso had recovered from Mel's attack and shot up, smashing his fist straight into Mel's stomach hard. Mel was gasped at the power of the blow and staggered down. Not stopping, V. Rosso lifted his booted foot and prepared to stomp down on Mel's head, but in the last second, Shinji rolled back from C. Jack, grabbed hold of Mel and rolled together on the ground and away from V. Rosso's smashing foot. Shinji lifted himself up and looked at Mel, who was still in shock from the pain of the blow.

"Mel!"

Shinji's attention instantly snapped up and he turned too late to see a massive fist coming right at him. Shinji's head was smashed sideways and he was battered away and into a wall. The two shadow fighters looked at the two defeated youths before turning their attention to Cori, who had attempt to get near to one of them, but was caught mid-way.

"Primary target sighted."

Cori began to back away a bit as the two menacing figures approached her. The two boys, who were beginning to recover, saw what was happening, but were too hurt to help her.

"Cori...Get away."

Cori looked to the left and to the right, but there where no exits of escape. The two moved closer and Cori shut her eyes, awaiting the inevitable.

"Cori!"

Cori's eyes suddenly shot opened, glowing in a deep violet. Shimmers of energy circled around her and glowed brightly. The two shadows looked confused by this act. This target wasn't supposed to be fight capable.

"Stop this now!"

In an intense burst of energy, Cori stretched her arms outward and blasted both dark fighters away. Shinji and Mel looked on in shock at the power Cori was surrounded with. The nearby walls were beginning to shake because of it. But it was only brief as the energy died away and Cori fainted. Shinji managed to catch her before she hit the ground.

"Cori. Cori, wake up."

The young girl blinked slightly and whispered, "Shin...ji."

Shinji smiled briefly, but then Cori blacked out again. Shinji shook her a bit, but the girl remained unconscious. At that point, Mel managed to rouse himself and look over at where the two dark fighters were hurled, but they had disappeared into thin air. Moving over to Shinji...

"Is she alright?" he asked.

Shinji stood up (painfully) with Cori in his arms, "I think so. She seems to be sleeping."

Mel nodded and slowly rubbed his stomach, trying to massage the pain. "Come on. Let's get out of here before something else happens."

Shinji nodded and the two walked away. However, several questions seemed to be present in both their minds.

'Who were those guys? How did she do that? Who is she?'

********

Unknown...

A figure's head suddenly lifted up into the sky, as thought it had felt something. A wave of sadness seemed to emanate from the person's aura.

'She's awakening. He's after her. She is in grave danger.'