Chapter 13:

Chun Li spent the next day sulking. She was heartbroken, she couldn't fathom how Ryu was so insensitive. Their conversation ran through her head over and over and it made her angry. She hadn't eaten and stayed in her room all day. Dorai came home after a long shift at work and he saw Chun Li still in her room.

"Chun Li? Why aren't you training for the tournament? It's tomorrow!" Dorai saw her eyes red and puffy, "What's the matter, sweetheart?"

"It's…it's Ryu. He left."

"Did he get upset that you told him you weren't going with him?"

"That's the thing, dad…I was going to go with him, but he didn't give me a choice,"

"I see. He made the choice for you. Did he say why?"

Holding back tears, Chun Li said, "he…he didn't want to put me in any danger. He's traveling to train to fight against Akuma…and if we ever run into Bison again."

Hugging Chun Li, "As much as I hate any boy hurting my little girl, I think he's admirable. Imagine if someone killed me, heaven forbid, would you try and seek revenge…exactly what Ryu is doing?"

"Yes, I would. I'd never stop until he drew his last breath."

"Use this as fuel and learn from this, Chun Li. Things don't always play out the way we want them to but the outcome from them can be something we never expect. Try not to dwell on this. Ryu has to fight this Akuma, it's a sacred vow a fighter must take in respect of the man who raised him."

"I told Ryu to never come back. I'll never see him again," Chun Li cried into her father's chest.

"If Ryu loves you the way he says he does, he'll come back. He'll always come back. Please don't worry about it too much. Focus on yourself, you have so much going on for you right now. Become a woman you are proud to be….Now enough about that. I need to talk to you about something important."

Wiping away tears, "What about, dad?"

"There's a drug shipment we know about and we are going to be raiding the criminal warehouse. It's a day after the tournament, but I wanted you to know because they're a big organization and anything could happen."

"Dad, don't talk like that, it's scary."

"I don't like it any more than you do, but it's part of my job. I asked Ken to stay with you that day, so you won't have to be alone."

"Thanks, dad."

"Now how about you get out of bed and we'll have a little spar? I want to see how advanced you've become,"

Chun Li smiled and told her father, "Thank you daddy, you always know how to cheer me up."

In Japan…

After a long climb up a rock formation, Ryu stood atop and meditated. He felt the wind through his hair, the cool rock beneath his feet in which he stood upon, a memory entered his thoughts. He was back where he grew up training with Ken. They were practicing fighting. He remembered his master telling him, what do you see beyond your fist? He got into his hadou stance. He closed his eyes and began moving his arms alternatively building up the life force around him. Blue glowed from his hands, Ryu concentrated on gathering all the energy from the pit of his stomach into his hands. He heard, you don't get to decide for me. Chun Li entered his mind. Don't ever come back, he heard which enraged him. The power in his hands was so strong, he needed to let it go, "Hadouken!" Feeling wiped on his energy, he laid down. Am I a coward for leaving her right before the tournament? I should have run after her in the park, but I can't go back now. I've got to train hard. I'll be back one day Chun Li, I'm sorry.

In Hong Kong…

It was tournament day. Chun Li had decided she wasn't going to sulk anymore. I have been training so hard for this, I cannot let anything stop me. Ryu wanted to leave, fine. I'm done with that, focus on me. I let myself be vulnerable and I paid the price.

Chun Li met with Ken and they went to the Kowloon tournament together.

"Ready for this, Chun Li?" Ken asked

"You bet. Let's kick some ass. I hope we don't have to fight each other but if it comes to it, you're going down, Masters!"

"May the best man or woman win," Ken said with a smile.

Dorai was in his office preparing last minute details for the next day's raid of Shadowlaw's drug deal. Officer Zhou came running to his office.

"Sir, it's Bison. He's the one behind the Kowloon tournament. They're gathering details about the fighters competing. They're taking all their data and analyzing it for God knows what!"

"My daughter and her friend are fighting in that tournament! We must get them out of there now. Call for backup and meet me down there." Dorai put on his gun holster and loaded extra ammunition.

The tournament…

Chun Li and Ken quickly rose to the top rankings. They were very skilled and powerful fighters. Chun Li had something to fight for, something she wanted to prove to herself. If I win this tournament, Ryu will see I can hold my own. I can protect myself.

Behind the scenes a tall man in a red hat and cape watched as fighters competed in the tournament. He sneered and snickered at the losers who didn't advance.

"Lord Bison," a man said, "the ratings from the fighters are average, but there are two fighters in the tournament who you'll be pleased to hear about. Their life force scale ranks high above any other fighters who are here.

"What are their names?" Bison said in his deep voice

"You've encountered them before…Ken Masters and Chun Li,"

Bison let out a wicked laugh, "this will be interesting. Don't let those two leave the tournament or lose. I want to see what became of their fighting styles and power."

"Yes, Lord Bison."

As Bison watched the tournament, he kept watch on Chun Li and Ken. He noticed the power, strength, agility, and life force all had increased in the two fighters since he saw them last. He noticed a special life force from Chun Li, he recognized it, this force is the same as…Gen. In 3 years she managed to obtain the power of hadou, how extraordinary.

Dorai lead a team of officers to raid the tournament but when they got there, they couldn't find way in. He sent officers all around the arena to find ways in.

"Lord Bison," a man said, "we have the Hong Kong Police outside the arena. They must have found out about why we are here. How do you want to proceed?

"Chun Li's father must be here then…the chief of police," Bison let out an evil laugh. "This is all playing out very nicely for me. Let Dorai in with a few of his officers. I want him to think he's gaining an advantage."

At the same time, Ryu was still on the rock he had climbed up. Wiped out from using the power of hadou, he fell asleep and dreamed. He dreamed of Chun Li dying at the hands of Akuma. He let out a yell as he saw Chun Li's body lay lifeless, battered, and bruised in front of Akuma. Ryu shot up like lightning, he was sweating and breathing hard. He realized it was a dream. What a crazy dream…I hope Chun Li is fighting the tournament with all her might. He sighed, got his things together and carefully climbed down the rock formation. He couldn't shake the eerie feeling from his dream.

Back at the tournament…

Chun Li and Ken had advanced to the final round. Before the final match, they gave the fighters time to prepare and rest before the round.

In the locker rooms Ken met Chun Li, "Looks like we're against each other after all," Ken said.

"I guess we'll see who's been training the hardest," Chun Li joked.

"How are you holding up with Ryu being gone?"

"It is what it is. He made it pretty clear he didn't want me to go with him. I'm not going to sit around and mope about it. I gave my heart to him and he crushed it, I don't want to think of it anymore."

Ken sighed, "Chun Li, you know he did it in your best interest, right?"

"That's what everyone keeps saying but I cannot get over the fact he took away my choice as if I wasn't equal. That's what hurt the most."

"And you don't think he's hurting? Do you think it was easy for him to leave you? Did you forget his promise to come back and marry you one day?"

"Can we just focus on the tournament, please? We shouldn't even be talking right now. I have a match to win,"

"Fine…but don't get your hopes up when I beat you!"

The call for the fighters to enter the arena was made. Chun Li and Ken prepared to fight each other. They stepped into the ring.

In the meantime, Dorai and his officers got into the building.

"Be careful, men. Bison is not one to trifle with, he extremely deadly so be on the lookout," Dorai explained.

They carefully secured all the areas on the bottom floor and kept going upward. Suddenly, fighters under Bison's psycho power attacked Dorai and his men. They fought for their lives and shot some of the fighters, but the fighters were relentless, they were programmed to kill. Dorai managed to escape with 3 of his men, they continued to find Bison with their guns at the ready.

All the while, Chun Li and Ken were having the fight of their lives. They kicked and punched at each other, fighting to gain the upper hand. Ken felt the powerful kicks of Chun Li to his abdomen and she felt the power of his punches. Bison watched as the two fought each other.

"Yes. Yes! Marvelous! Feel the power from those two. They'll be fine additions to my fighter collection," Bison said.

"Excellent choices, my lord," Bison's man agreed. The two heard a commotion outside, they heard gunshots and men yelling.

"Looks like it's time to deal with Dorai myself," Bison said angered, "He's become a pebble in my shoe." He got up to deal with Dorai, he was out for blood. Bison walked into the hall and met Dorai face to face.

Dorai aimed his gun, "Not another step Bison. One move and I'll blow a hole right through your head. You're under arrest."

"Are you really that daft to think those bullets can stop me? You're pathetic if you think you can. You are no match for my psycho power," Bison replied.

"Where's my daughter? I know she's here,"

"Oh yes, sweet little Chun Li. She'll make a fine addition to my collection of fighters. I've had her once, and she'll be under my power again, unable to resist me."

Angered Dorai shot all his rounds at Bison, but not one made contact. Bison laughed, "pathetic fool!"

Back in the ring, Chun Li was gaining the upper hand against Ken. She was getting tired, but she didn't want to give up. Her desire to win the match was too strong, her emotions were driving her passion for the fight. I can't lose, I have to prove myself. Ken sensed Chun Li's chi, he knew what she was preparing to do, use the hadou power. He prepared to go on the offensive. Just as the two fighters were getting ready to fire their life force, they heard a large crash from the windows above them. A body came flying out and fell to the ground. Once the dust settled, Chun Li screamed in horror. She ran over to the body.

"Dad? Dad?" she shook him to try to get him to wake up and move. Tears streamed down her face. Ken looked around to see how Dorai had fallen, his eyes widened in terror…Bison.

Dorai very weakly opened his eyes and look up at Chun Li, "Get…get out of…here,"

"Please, don't talk, you're badly hurt. Just hold on dad, please don't close your eyes." Chun Li saw her father was gravely injured.

"Bison! What the hell is the meaning of this? Come down here and fight me! Coward!"

To his servant Bison said, "I've grown tired of this. Prepare the jet. We're leaving."

"But my lord, the data, the fighters? The research we can obtain from their data!"

"I have all the information I need. Move out." Bison and his men left. They took off on their jet.

On the tournament ring floor, Chun Li tried desperately to keep her father from shutting his eyes. Ken tried finding some help.

Weakly, Dorai said, "Chun Li, listen closely. I have always been proud of you. Your mother would have loved the woman you've become."

"Don't talk like that daddy. Ken is getting help, he'll be back. We still have so much to do. I was going to spend all day with you, I am going to take you to Disneyland…and our favorite spots. You have to walk me down the aisle and see your grandchildren someday. Please hold on."

"This isn't goodbye, princess, it's a see you later," Dorai's eyes closed.

"Daddy? Daddy?" Chun Li shrieked. She was bawling, she screamed out of hurt and anger. Ken came back into the room with other officers. The surrounded Chun Li and her father's lifeless body. Ken tried to console her.

"Don't touch me!" She yelled. Soaked in her father's blood, she leaned over his body crying. Hysterical she said, "he's gone…he's gone."

Ken felt helpless. The medical team came in and began to pick up Dorai's body from the ground.

"No! No!" Chun Li screamed. Ken hugged her, and she cried into his chest. Everyone left the scene, saddened they made their way out of the arena.

To be continued…