Chapter 7
The Assassin Game
*The Next Afternoon Exterior Suzaku Castle Rooftop*
Ryu and Chun Li are sitting next to each other on the roof top trying figure out the best way for the survival game to work logistically. They decide due to everyones busy schedules their best bet is to invite everyone to a paintball field. They set it for three Saturdays from now at 1pm and give everyone one week to RSVP. They start calling and texting many of their friends. Sakura, Dan, Lei-Fen and Cammy are all a early yes to play. They decide to book a paintball field in Japan specifically War Zone which is the largest paintball field in Japan. They book a survival game which uses camouflage suits and their weapons will be battered powered game rifles that shoot plastic BB gun bullets instead of paint capsules. The field for survival game feature sanctuary in the form of solid bunkers, wooden boards and tires.
*Camera focuses on Chun Li and Ryu discussing the plans for the game*
Ryu is wearing a white kasaya (robe) Chun Li is wearing her Onitsuka Tiger outfit. "So we have to get as many people as possible for this assassin game. It's going to be everyone for themselves. It will be very interesting to see who will be the last one left standing. Suddenly the couple hear a coughing sound and look in front of them. The couple looks up and standing in front of them is a young Korean woman.
She's wearing a purple dudou on her chest supported by eight straps on her back meeting to form a spider pattern. She's wearing baggy off white sweatpants, purple tights and long fingerless gloves. Her nails are freshly painted bright pink. She has dark hair with pink highlights which is styled into two horns and the top of her head is secured with pink ribbons. She has no shoes on and is instead sporting Taekwondo foot wraps on her feet. As the woman licked her lips Chun Li and Ryu each tried to hide the overwhelming dread at seeing none other than Juri Han in front of them. They knew whatever she had to say wouldn't be good.
"So a little bird told me you're doing a little assassin "game" (Juri uses the word game in air quotes to Ryu and Chun Li's confusion). Who are the targets? Who do you want taken out? I can make it look like an accident if that's better for you? Like a parachute malfunctioned and didn't open. Or maybe they fall down some stairs and land (uses air quotes again) the wrong way and crack their head open. Or maybe that have a climbing accident. Or maybe you want to use the kind of weapons that leave no trace of anything maybe some C4 or rocket launchers. I could use a sniper rifle. Maybe poison. Hell I could even make it look they OD'd or maybe you guys want it to look like I suicide? That's it isn't it? I could do that to".Juri advised. "I don't have all day. So pick your poison. What's it gonna be? Juri demanded.
Chun Li paused for a moment and cleared her throat. "I don't know what your intel is and why you're using air quotes on things like game and accident. (Chun Li uses air quotes while saying air quotes) You know that's not the kind of people we are. We're playing a game with powered game rifles and plastic bb gun bullets. No one is really getting killed let alone injured". Chun Li imparted sternly.
Juri took a deep breath and then gave a small sigh before she spoke "I knew it you guys are so lame! Total buzzkills. I should have known you wouldn't be doing anything fun like doing an actual assassination and not some boring game. You know where to find me if you guys ever change. You know what. Forget it I'll find you" Juri groaned as she turned and walked away
Ryu and Chun Li looked at each other and chuckle nervously. Then about 10 seconds later they heard motorcycle tires screeching off in the distance and with that Juri Han was gone. "You knew she wouldn't be staying for that right Chun. The woman doesn't like any kind of games. She fights only for the the thrill of battle and doesn't look for any deeper meaning out of it. She's sadistic. She has no morals. You can never be too careful around her". Ryu warned. "That's for sure". Chun Li said with a small gulp.
*Three weeks later. The Day Before The Game. *
*Interior Suzaku Castle Ryu's bedroom*
Chun Li drew the shades night before so they would be able to sleep in. Chun Li is wearing a red t shirt and black undies while Ryu is wearing a white t shirt and gray boxer briefs. It's now 8am and Chun Li can't sleep anymore. She finds herself focusing a lot on tomorrow's match and everyone being there. She's also eager to talk to Ryu and also doing other things with him but he still sleeping. Chun Li lightly removes the covers from Ryu's hands. Ryu groans as Chun Li puts the covers out of his reach. Chun Li is slightly annoyed that Ryu is wearing boxer briefs today when he's usually in the buff. Chun Li smiles sensually as she notices Ryu's boxer briefs have a noticeable bulge in them. "It looks like Ryu's friend is up and ready while he is still sleeping" she chuckled to herself.
Chun Li plays with Ryu's hair and pull his boxer briefs down and starts working his gun with one hand while lightly patting his face with the other. With the action on Ryu's gun and pats to the face Ryu is up in seconds. "Someone woke up turned on huh?" Ryu asked with a flirting smile. Chun Li nods in confirmation and then seductively said "Guess what I'm having for breakfast and it not's eggs". Ryu chortles to himself before pointing at his chest. Chun Li points down and Ryu nods as he understands just what Chun Li has in mind.
The two share a fiery kiss and then Chun Li pulls off Ryu's boxer briefs and she has to control herself from ripping them off. Chun Li has Ryu's popsicle for breakfast and then he returns the favor by working Chun Li's honeypot with a steady hand. Finally the metaphorical damn overflows as Chun Li finally loses herself to Ryu's efficient handy work soaking Ryu's hand thoroughly. About an hour later after resting the two had a proper breakfast and showered. They're now sitting in the kitchen talking over coffee about tomorrows details.
*Morning Interior Suzaku Castle Ryu's kitchen*
Ryu is wearing a white kasaya (robe) while Chun Li is wearing her usual blue qipao. "So the game starts at 1pm we were able use the field for 4 hours it's usual 3 and a half but I know the owner through a friend of a friend so we were able to get an extra half hour at no additional cost". Ryu disclosed. "Wow that's great a extra half hour. So everyone has to spend like 5-10 minutes preparing and hiding first before we begin the game. We have to give everyone time to be properly prepared other wise all are planning will be for naught and the game will be over too quickly. "This is a very important game. You're currently up 3-2 so I hope you're ready" Chun Li declared. "You don't have to worry about me. This will all be over soon enough". Ryu boasted.
*12:45pm War Zone Paintball Field Motoro Inzai Chiba Japan*
Ryu and Chun Li told everyone to arrive early as they are planning on starting at 1pm on the dot before giving everyone 10 minutes to hide before starting the game. It's now 12:45 and most of the contestants for the competition have arrived. Ryu, Chun Li, Li-Fen, Sakura, Cammy, Dan, Guile, Karin, Blanka, Ibuki, , Lucia are all there. Laura and Sean arrive five minutes later to make a fairly large group of 14. The group gets the ok to go inside 5 minutes early. It's now 12:55 and everyone goes inside scouting out the area for possible spots to shoot from. Everyone is wearing camouflage suits.
"Remember it's everyone for themselves. No teaming up. Anyone who teams up will be disqualified!" Ryu imparted. Laura and Sean are disappointed they work together and try to stay as least within 5-10 feet of each other Ryu gives them both a look and mouths the words "no teaming up" while making an out motion with his left thumb. Cammy and Guile have this desire as well but know it's best to let this go and take everyone out by themselves as per the rules.
*The 10 minute prep has passed and everyone is set up*
*A time buzzer goes off and the contest has officially begun*
Ryu hides out in the bunker. Guile has taken the staircase to the metal platform which has some cover and wants to pick some people off from there. Lucia spots Sean and is able to lure him out by pretending to have bad aim. Sean rushes in aggressively and Lucia takes him out with a bb gun bullet. "Damn it!" Sean exclaimed annoyed as Laura frowned and shook her head in disbelief.
E Honda hides out inside a tank and manages to snipe out Karin much to her dismay. "Who. What the? Who hit me. What the hell? Where did that shot even come from?" Karin gasped in fear. Karin joins Sean on one of the many benches outside out of the "war" area where the "dead" players will gather. "Welcome to the dead club". Sean groaned as Karin sat down next to him. "The next three hours and 45 minutes are really going to drag" Karin moaned with a sigh. "I have Uno, Risk, Nintendo Switch, Monopoly, my basketball, umm what else Sean disclosed while rifling through a large duffel bag he brought with him. "Why did you bring so much stuff. Did you have a feeling you were going to be eliminated early or something?" Karin perused. "4 hours is a long time" Sean allowed as Karin nodded in agreement.
"Come out Ryu. Come out guys time to end this. Time for me to become the paintball master" Dan decreed to himself as he kneeled down behind a blue barrier screen periodically peeking out looking for someone to shoot. Suddenly Dan was taken out by Jimmy aka Blanka much to his chagrin. Blanka wasn't seen when he peeked out from another barrier about 30 yards to the west from Dan's position. Dan later goes and joins the dead club on the benches out of the arena. Sean and Karin are playing Uno and Sean beings grumbling as he sees Dan waving and walking over to them. "Dan is out already" Sean groaned with a sigh. "To be hones I'm surprised he lasted this long" Karin reported as the group begin a new game of Uno to include Dan.
Guile still on the staircase pops out E Honda when he makes the mistake of getting out of his tank to be aggressive and look for people. "He got me who was that? Seemed like it came from above?" E Honda signified as he was now among the "dead". E Honda joins the growing dead club which now has 4 members. Guile finds Blanka hiding behind a car below about the same time Guile is seen by Blanka from below. The two take each other out and now the dead number reaches 6. On the ground Sakura sees Cammy running by a car before going behind a blue barrier screen. Sakura shoots but narrowly misses Cammy. Cammy peaks out returns fires and takes out Sakura with two quick shots. Lucia (from a a staircase above) sees the duo exchanging fire and takes out a shocked Cammy who didn't see who hit her. "Wow someone is a dead eye" Cammy exclaimed as she was eliminated. Lucia then took out Ibuki who was running around on the ground trying to find Ryu.
Now Ryu, Chun Li, Li-Fen and Lucia and Laura are among the 5 players remaining. 2 hours have past 2 hours remain. Ryu is still in the friggin bunker. Lucia is on the metal staircase playing sniper. Laura is in the tank E Honda was hiding out in. While Chun Li and Li-Fen are the only players running around looking for people. No one remaining has taken anyone out of the game other than Lucia who's a literal eagle eye. The dead group is begging to buzz with thoughts on who's going to be the last one standing.
*Meanwhile at the Dead Club benches area*
"So who does everyone think is going to be the last one standing?" Karin queried the group. "Lucia is the most dangerous" Sean heralded. "I'm amazed she took me out like you guys said." Cammy illustrated. "Bang" Lucia took out Li-Fen (who was in the open trying to hide behind one of the tires) as Li missed a shot trying to take out Chun. "She just got another one". Ibuki gaped. Chun Li is now hiding behind a barrier out of view and is not hittable at the moment. "Just three other people and they're all friggin campers. How lame." Chun Li scoffed as Li-Fen joins the dead club.
*One Hour remains left in the Contest*
"Do you think anybody has a chance of stopping Lucia?" Guile pondered to the group. "I say Chun Li can take her". Li-Fen decreed. "Makes sense since she used to be in Interpol she has the skills". Guile exposed. As Laura moved from her tank she was struck by Ryu's bb gun. "Crap. Why did I move? I moved because I wanted to find someone and shoot them" Laura gawked as she fell to the ground. Laura waves to Sean as she joined the dead club. And suddenly another bang is heard as Ryu is finally out. Chun Li snuck into the bunker at the perfect time and shot Ryu from behind as he was taking out Laura.
Chun Li quickly runs out of the bunker and evades Lucia's fire. She hides behind a nearby blue barrier screen and looks and finds where Lucia is about 20 yards to the east from her position. Chun Li sneaks in about 10 yards closer and then gets out of sight. Chun Li does a diversion tactic and throws a nearby empty bottle near Lucia but heading towards the opposite direction to the west. Lucia eyes follow the sound and while Lucia is distracted Chun Li takes the shot. She clips Lucia on the left leg taking her out and winning the match with 20 minutes to spare.
The Dead Group and Lucia feverishly applaud as Chun Li has bettered not only Ryu but every other assassin contestant. Everyone quickly comes out to congratulate the strongest woman in the world on her victory. "Wow what a way to pull that out. I thought Lucia had you for a moment there". Ryu Congratulated. "What a shot. Way to go Chun!" Li Fen Marveled. "You're one hell of a shot. I can see why you were in law enforcement. I'm throughly impressed Lucia praised. "Me? Seriously look at you were talking out people left right and center" Chun Li professed. "That damn tank was a death trap" E Honda moaned. "Two people used it and we both got killed" Laura assessed. "If we do this again no camping out the whole time" Sakura decreed as Chun Li nodded affirmatively.
"We got 20 minutes left I'm shooting all of you now". Sean bragged. "You're not hitting me. I'm too fast for you" Cammy piped. "Hey I didn't get to kill anyone you're all dying now. I the great Dan Hibiki will be wiping the floor with the lot of you". Dan professed.
"In your dreams Dan" Sean jeered. Sakura shoots an unsuspecting Chun Li in the leg as she's talking to Ryu. "Sakura I wasn't ready". Chun Li chided. "Sorry Chun. But you got off easy. You were the only one who didn't get hit". Sakura said while hiding behind a wooden board. "Well now we all did and I'm kind of tired so I just want to rest now ok". Chun Li beamed as Ryu chuckled at the current situation. "We got 15 mins left with this equipment and we're going to use it. So you better use it wisely. Either kill or be killed" Sakura boasted as she shot at peered out of her hiding spot at Chun Li but missed and hit the ground. "Oh is that how it's going to be then? I'll show you" Chun Li cackled. "You're dead Dan" Sean decreed as he shot Dan in the ass. "Hey that hurt. No shooting in the ass. Only supposed to shoot people in body" Dan corrected. "I don't remember that being in the rules" Sean dismissed. "No shooting in the ass" Ryu chuckled. "Aww come on. You don't let me have any fun" Sean groaned.
For the 10 minutes everyone ran around shooting each other until their time ran out. It was a lot of fun but unfortunately like all good things it had to come to and end. The group had to return to their everyday lives. Now there only remained one deciding competition left in Chun Li and Ryu's contest. The next day the ceremonial picking deciding of the contest would be done.
*The next day. Late afternoon Interior Chun Li's apartment*
Ryu is wearing a black kasaya (robe) while Chun Li is wearing her track suit outfit. Ryu was doing 100 push up and 100 sit ups while Chun Li was doing some running. The two are seated on the couch with the bowl of papers and the blind fold is on the table in front of them. Lei Fen comes home from a friends house wearing her usual attire and puts her satchel in her room before joining Ryu and Chun Li on the sofa. "So you're all tied up. It's time to decide what the final challenge will be. It has to be some kind of one on one fight. I think that's the only way to decide who the best fighter really is" Lei Fen requested. "We have to wait and see that the paper says" Ryu imparted.
Chun Li put on the blind fold and put her hand in the bowl. She mixed up the papers well and after about 10 seconds she took a paper out and set the bowl back on the table in front of her. She looked at the paper and chortled to herself. "Well Lei Fen you're a regular Nostradamus. You were 100 percent on the money. The last match between Ryu and I is a street fight to a knockout" Chun Li declared. "How many rounds?" Ryu pondered. "Well that's to be decided but personally I think it's more interesting with one winner takes all round to decide the whole damn thing.
We leave everything out there and leave nothing behind". Chun Li advised. "Just the way I want it. That's the only way to end this" Ryu remarked. "A street fight? It doesn't get any better than this. This is so exhilarating. When are you going to have it?" Lei Fen exhorted. "Hmm we're going to have to work that out but probably pretty soon". Chun Li revealed.
End of Chapter 7
The Calm Before the Storm is on deck for Chapter 8.
The series is approaching it's exciting conclusion.
Stay tuned