Chapter 2

Selecting The Next Challenge

*Interior Suzaku Castle dojo. Ryu and Chun Li are each wearing their usual attire sitting across from each other on the dojo floor*

After Ryu and Chun Li's first challenge Chun Li persuaded Ryu to do a series of challenges against her. The challenges either had to be directly related to fighting or involved aspects of fighting. For example strength challenges, problem solving, speed, etc. They were both eager to prove they were the more complete fighter. Chun Li and Ryu each wrote down 10 challenges on some pieces of notebook paper and tore them out of the book and turned them upside down so you couldn't see what was on the writing and mixed them up in a bowl. "Who ever wins the most challenges is the winner" Chun Li piped. "Well duh" Ryu said flatly. "How many victories does it take to win?" Ryu inquired. "How about best of seven? I think that's fair?" Chun Li suggested. "Sounds good" Ryu agreed.

"Also whomever picks the challenges has to be blindfolded". Ryu suggested. "That's the best idea you've had so far" Chun Li exclaimed. "I wouldn't want you peeking and finding a good challenge up your alley to even the score in your favor" Chun Li said with a sly grin. "I went easy on you last time. I'm not doing that again, and if there is any fighting ie marital arts fighting involved there is no way I'm loosing. " Ryu proclaimed. "These boots are made for walking and that's just what they'll do one of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you" Chun Li sang back with a chuckle. "I got it Nancy Sinatra" Ryu grumbled. "Loosen up this is supposed to be fun too you know" Chun Li chided back at Ryu.

After about a minute of silence they both stood up "All right all right. May be the best fighter win" Ryu decreed as they bowed at each other. "Yes!" Chun Li said happily in agreement. "So how do we decide who picks next? Do you want to have the winner of the previous challenge pick?" Ryu implored. "I like that idea. I like it a lot." Chun Li boasted back. I'm not loosing the next challenge to her. This is where I even the score. She's not going to win more than one more challenge the rest of the way. She might not even win another. Ryu thought to himself. Chun Li knew Ryu was eager to even the score and then get a winning streak. I'll show him how strong I really am she thought with a confident grin.

"Round 2 is coming up. Are you ready for this?" Chun Li asked with a smile as she put on her blind fold. "Oh yeah it's time for me get on the board". Ryu exclaimed as he cracked his knuckles. Chun Li kneeled on the dojo floor in front of the bowl. Ryu was kneeling down on the floor next to her. Chun Li put her right hand into the bowl and mixed the little sheets of paper all up. She was excited for their next face off wondering what their next challenge would be. After rifling through all the papers she took one out and took off her blind fold and looked at it. "Sleeping challenge? Are you friggin kidding me Ryu? I hope your other suggestions aren't like this. I know you can sleep anywhere and it has no relation to fighting involved at all. There isn't even any real skill involved either. You've gone past ridiculous and now you have entered into ludicrous territory". Chun Li fumed. "Ludicrous speed go!" Ryu chuckled "Can you please be serious about this and be a good sport?" Chun Li pleaded. "Of course I'm nothing if I'm not accommodating." Ryu said reassuringly as Chun Li placed the sleeping challenge paper on the floor next to her.

"Let's try this again. Chun Li exclaimed while taking a deep breath. She put the blind fold on again. Once again she rifled her hand around the bowl several times and after about 12 seconds she took one out of the bowl. Chun Li took off her blind fold and looked at it. She stood up. This is surprising she thought. It was in Ryu's handwriting. Chun Li smiled and read aloud what was on the paper. "car smashing contest". Hey this is a good one Ryu. I hope the rest of your ideas or like this or at least in the same ball park. If they are this little series of ours will be very interesting." Chun Li beamed with a happy grin.

Chun Li didn't mention it to Ryu but that night she kept thinking about what Ryu had said before they picked the next challenge. "I went easy on you last time" I can't believe he said that. Before we started the stamina challenge he said he would give it his all and now he drops that line. Chun Li told Ryu she was leaving and heading back to her apartment and waved good bye and walked out the door. About five minutes later Ryu gets up and does 100 sit ups and 100 push ups in the dojo. After Ryu finished his workout he went to take a shower. While Ryu is in the shower thinking of the next up coming challenge he starts humming the Jane's addiction song Standing in the Shower… Thinking. Chun Li quietly sneaks back inside and goes into one of the guest rooms.

After a little while Ryu came out of the shower and got changed and went to bed. After he slept for a while he started to dream and slowly began to feel his gun being pulled and hardening. Ooo feels good he thought. Slowly Ryu began to feel someone was handling his equipment. Am I dreaming or is this really happening? he thought. He slowly awakened and his rocket was approaching being fully charged. "Aha Chun Li" he said out loud as he felt the strongest woman in the world working on his gun with a steady hand. The sun was beginning to rise. Ryu was in the buff while Chun Li was wearing black shirt, a red lace bra and black undies. "I thought I heard someone sneak inside last night". Ryu said with a chuckle. "Maybe I wanted you to hear that." Chun Li quipped back. "To what do I owe the pleasure?" Ryu queered. "Answer my questions and my handy work continues. However if I don't like what your answers are this might not end the way you want it to" Chun Li responded. Oh boy I know what's coming Ryu thought. Or not coming if I say the wrong thing Ryu thought to himself. "Did you let me win the stamina challenge?" Chun Li asked in an innocent tone that sounded innocent that Ryu knew was anything but. "Choose your next words carefully. If you want your rocket to blast off."

Chun Li held Ryu's gun lovingly but tightly. Holding down it in a way that Ryu's rocket couldn't get its launch sequence initiated. Ryu thought for a moment how am I going to get out of this. It then dawned on him. He thought no matter what I say this won't go well. If I say I let her win she'll be pissed, If I say I went easy on her she'll say I'm still not answering the question. If I say northing or lie completely and say she won fair and square she'll know I'm full of crap. There's no way this gun is being fired now at least not with Chun Li pulling the trigger. A few minutes had passed and the interpol officer had enough "Time's up what's your answer?". Chun Li asked hotly.

She reached her limit she knew the answer but she needed to hear Ryu say it. Ryu took a deep breath and said lovingly "I went easy on you. I shouldn't have but I did. However not completely you managed to help push the contest out of my mind. Your skills as a fighter and in other areas that you know helped you to win. Some of it was because of your efforts it wasn't all me letting you if that makes sense. All right Chun." Ryu said with the best smile he could muster despite the situation.

He looked into Chun Li's brown eyes and without words hoped she would somehow understand and that this would continue. He knew better however. Chun li's hand slowly let go of Ryu's bat. Ryu sighed for a few moments Chun Li said nothing as he slowly begin to feel his gun begin to retreat. "Don't do me any favors. Next time we have a match don't go easy on me. Give me everything you have. I'm the strongest woman in the world not some punk remember." Chun Li rebuked with a frown as she got out of Ryu's bed and walked away. Ryu's bat now hung loosely. Ryu felt a mild aching in his family jewels but tuned it out. After about 10 minutes Ryu drifted off to sleep. After Ryu had a ham and cheese omelet for breakfast he sat down on his sofa. He heard a beeping sound on his phone on the table in front of him. I know who that is he thought to himself unsurprised. He had a new message from Chun Li. It read "Here's to a contest where we each give our all in every challenge. Each victory must be earned never given. Good sportsmanship is paramount. Remember a gun may be fired in victory and defeat. winky face." Ryu grunted angrily to himself and thought yes despite the fact you didn't fire that gun last night. After a few moments Ryu texted back "I'm down with that".

End of Chapter 2

The car smashing challenge is on deck for Chapter 3.

Stay tuned