Chapter 8

The Calm Before the Storm

*Interior Chun Li's apartment*

*The following late afternoon which is a Monday*

Ryu and Chun Li have agreed to set the final match for two Sundays from now. Lei Fen is home in her room doing her homework while Ryu and Chun Li are sitting on the couch watching tv. "I hope you're not in there with the music blaring while doing your homework". Chun Li forewarned.

*Camera cuts to Lei Fen who is diligently doing her homework with her headphones on but the sound is turned off. Today she is wearing a black and white hoodie and a solid red skirt. "The sound is off. I'm hard at work here" Lei Fen assured with a confident grin. "Good! I'm glad to hear". Chun Li praised.

*Camera cuts to Ryu and Chun Li sitting on the couch next to each other*

Ryu is wearing a white kasaya (robe) while Chun Li is wearing a pink qipao. They are watching halloween baking championship. Ryu comments on the bleeding cakes they are making. "It doesn't looks appetizing but I bet it tastes good" Ryu assessed. Ryu then got up from the couch to get a drink. "Do you want anything to drink?" The wandering warrior asked as he approached from the fridge and opened it. "Green tea please". Chun Li exclaimed. "Got it!" Ryu piped as he saw a daddy long spider scurrying around on the kitchen floor. Ryu quickly closes the fridge door and it gives a small clanging sound. "Hey go easy on the fridge" Chun li warned as she heard the clanging.

Ryu began too sweat a little and got a lump in his throat. "Chun…uh can you please come here quickly!" Ryu fretted. "What's the matter. What happened?" Chun Li inspected as her eye brows perked up. Something is wrong she thought. Ryu sounds on edge. Chun Li quickly got up and walked over to Ryu.

"Ryu cleared his throat and took a deep breath. "There's a spider and you know I hate those things. Could you please get it?" he cringed with a small shiver. "You and these spiders you'd think they were 10 feet tall. I always say look at the size of it and look and the size of you. It's probably more afraid of you then you are of it. Chun Li advised. "I don't care they creep me out. And the daddy long legs are just bleh" Ryu griped with a frown. "Where is he?" Chun Li queried.

"He's scurrying toward the pantry door Ryu warned as Chun Li quickly grabbed a paper towel from the conunter and with a quick snatch and couple of quick squashes the eight legged intruder was no longer among the living. "What ever you do don't flush that paper towel. The toilet will clog up. Put it in the garbage. Don't let it fall out on the off chance you didn't kill it. I don't want that thing crawling out of the garbage and running around the apartment again". Ryu quaked.

"Oh he won't be doing that. He's definitely dead, he's pulverized" Chun Li boasted as she opened up the pantry door and stepped on the garbage foot lid as the lid open she threw the paper towel inside and then put her foot off the lid and the can closed. Chun Li then closed the door. "Why do you have to be so graphic? Just say there's no way that is going to happen. I got him good he's definitely dead". Ryu corrected.

"Sorry I didn't mean to creep you out. Don't forget the drinks". Chun Li advised as she walked back in the living room and waited for Ryu on the couch. "Oh yeah. I knew I was forgetting something that stupid spider made me loose my train of thought" Ryu grunted as he went back to the fridge and grabbed his bottle of water and Chun Li's bottle of green tea. He took a drink in each hand and then closed the pantry door. Ryu then walked over to the living room and joined Chun Li sitting on the couch. Eventually they finished watching their show.

Lei Fen later finishes her homework and the three have a friendly game of scrabble which Chun Li wins 205-200. Li Fen gets 185 and finishes third. "Too bad this isn't part of the series. Chun Li would have won" Li Fen cheered. "Good game. Very close". Ryu remarked with a small sigh as Chun Li nods her head affirmatively. "Yeah you almost got me but not quite" Chun Li confided.

*The Next night interior Suzaku Castle living room*

*Lei Fen is at a friends house. Ryu and Chun Li are sitting next to each other on the couch*

Ryu is wearing a gray kasaya (robe) while Chun Li is wearing her pajama costume. It features croc like shoes on her feet, a pink apron, wrapping around her pink shorts and a pink top of Chinese Lingerie.

Chun Li puts on the Blu Ray of the original halloween movie she brought over. The iconic halloween theme music plays as the movie begins. Chun Li chuckles to herself as Ryu puts a blanket over them and they snuggle up next to each other on the arm of the couch. Chun Li is on the right and Ryu is on the left near the arm. "What's so funny? You know we're watching a horror movie right?" Ryu scrutinized with a confused look. "It's just that I find it kind of amusing that spiders creep you out but all the horror movies with their blood and guts don't scare you". Chun Li evaluated. "Why did you have to bring that up? I don't pick on things you dislike". Ryu critiqued. "Well I'm not afraid of bugs" Chun Li teased while sticking out her tongue.

Ryu rolled his eyes and sighed. "I mean come on Saw, Drag me to Hell and The Conjuring for instance are much scarier than some spider". Chun Li cackled. "Jigsaw doesn't have eight legs". Ryu acknowledged. "Yeah but spiders aren't serial killers". Chun Li giggled to herself. "Not true. Ever see Arachnophobia?" Ryu interposed. "Wasn't that a comedy?" Chun Li shot back with a chuckle.

'Horror comedy" Ryu affirmed. "Ok I'll stop. We all have our fears I won't mention are eight legged friends". Chun Li chortled. "Keep it up and I'll leave". Ryu griped as he stood up. Chun Li snickered and quickly got up herself. "No you won't leave me here all by my lonesome. (plus it's your castle she mused to herself) Chun Li allured while tossing Ryu's hair. "We're going sit her and watch our movie and maybe have some fun" Chun Li piped as she nibbled on Ryu's ear.

"Now come snuggle up close to me. I'll be nice. I don't bite….hard" Chun Li cackled as she patted on the couch motioning for Ryu to sit down and join her. "You don't have to tell me twice" Ryu hooted as he promptly sat next to Chun Li.

He then laid down in Chu Li's ample bosom. Soon Ryu found himself exploring Chun Li's globes and jelly roll while she played some baseball with his bat and balls. The movie become background noise as they took turns mounting each other. The remote that was on the arm chair next to them fell on the floor due to their continued "gymnastics" on the sofa. The back might have come off it and the batteries had to be put back in but it miraculously worked later. The sofa didn't have enough space for the routine they had in mind. They then went upstairs and quickly became au natural. Then they continued their act to a "standing ovation".

The next night Ryu stays home alone at Suzaku Castle while Chun Li is having a girls night out with Cammy. Lei Fen is spending the night at a friends house. Later Ryu goes to bed and falls asleep and has a dream that the day of their fight has arrived.

*Dream bustling side street*

In a very close match Chun Li finishes off Ryu with a powerful Spinning Bird kick and a devastating Kiosho. Ryu is knocked the through the doors of a Chinese restaurant and falls to the ground in a heap in the kitchen. A bowl of udon noodles gets knocked over and lands on the unconscious Ryu's head. His head is completely covered in noodles. "KO" is shouted by an announcer. All of Ryu's friends come over and are in shock over Ryu's defeat to Chun Li. "Oh my God Chun Li knocked out Ryu". Sakura sniffled. "I knew that Chun Li was stronger" Dan disclosed with a smirk.

"Oh how the mighty have fallen. I guess the strongest woman in the world was too much for him" Sagat reported with a frown. "I thought Ryu was the strongest street fighter . Well I guess Chun Li will have to train me now" Sakura proclaimed. "Hah. You'll have to get in line after me" Lei Fen jested with a big grin.

Suddenly everyone but Chun Li was gone. Ryu tried to move but couldn't move an inch. Then instantly he was at the Kanzuki beach shore. Chun Li is wearing her vacation swimsuit costume. Her hair is tied in ox horns with blue ribbons. She has a blue flower in her hair and is wearing an ocean blue two pice swim suit with sand color accents. Ryu looks at her feet and sees she's wearing blue open toed flat sandals.

Seeing Chun Li in this outfit has a calming affect on Ryu. "Oh hi Chun" Ryu groaned weakly. "Konnichiwa. I carried you here and changed your clothes since you couldn't walk. The doctor says you should be able to walk soon. No wait I was wrong now he said that maybe in about a month you'll be out of that full body cast." Chun Li moaned as Ryu was instantly transported to a hospital room bed and is in a full body cast.

"Ahhhh! What the hell I can't walk?" Ryu roared as he tried to move but his body felt lifeless. "Get me out of here I want out of this right now" Ryu commanded as he got his wish and found himself out of his nightmare and back in his Suzaku Castle bedroom laying in his bed. "Wow. That was heavy. That felt so real. I don't why I had that crazy dream. Chun Li may be a great fighter but I know I should be able to take her in a street fight. I have to tell somebody about this. I wish I could tell someone but who can I tell? Ken is not an option. I don't want to tell Chun Li I'm worried about loosing to her. Maybe Sakura? I guess Sakura but I definitely don't want to tell friggin Dan. Or maybe I can tell Blanka. No that's it the only person I want to tell is Ken and maybe Sakura. Ken where are you?" Ryu moaned sleepily as he fell back to sleep.

*Later Ryu has another dream where he talks to Ken and Sakura*

Ryu finds himself in the English countryside in the master bedroom of an old castle. Ryu sits on the bed and Sakura and Ken are standing in front of him. Ken has his red Gi on while Sakura has on her old school girl uniform. They both look they did in Street Fighter 4.

"Look guys we have to talk. I had this crazy dream where Chun Li beat me in a fight and it was so real. It was too real. One minute I was in a Chinese restaurant and the next I was on a beach in Malaysia. Really wild". Ryu admitted. "Dreams are weird like that" Sakura affirmed. Ryu nodded in harmony to her statement and then continued. "I don't know why I'm dreaming about this. Chun Li and are I tied in this competition. Who ever wins this next one wins it all. I guess I'm kinda worried about what would happen if she won. I mean what would happen to Chun Li and I if she won. Would she change? Would I change? Would are lives ever really be the same if she somehow become stronger than me. Who am I if I'm not the strongest street fighter. I don't know what who or what I would be?" Ryu exclaimed.

"I can't believe you think that things would change. You know who you are and I know you are. We've been best friends for a long time. I know what you're capable of as a fighter. You and I both know your skills are world class. I'm probably the only one who could beat really beat you in a fight. Ha ha all kidding aside you won't lose this fight as long as you give it your all and don't underestimate her. However if she somehow manages to beat you know what will happen". Ken granted. "What's that Ryu?" queried.

"Nothing. Nothing will happen. Nothing will change between you, me, Sakura, Lei Fen or anyone. Especially not you and Chun Li. You love her and she loves you and no competition will change that. Remember this is just a game. Give it your all and you'll win. However if you lose it's not the end of the world. You'll still be a great fighter. She's not a punk remember. She's the strongest woman in the world. She teases you sometimes but she does it with love. She's a keeper through thick and thin. She's someone you can stay with the rest of your life and loosing to her would be a great honor". Ken revealed.

"She really is amazing I love being with her. God when we make love its like…" Ryu hooted. Sakura quickly cut Ryu off. "Hey that's really beautiful. I'm happy for you guys really but we don't need to hear those details" Sakura gulped nervously. "Sorry. Thanks for the talk guys. I really appreciate it". Ryu confided with a smile. Ken and Sakura nodded and bowed to Ryu and smiled back at him.

*8am in the morning interior Suzaku Castle Ryu's bedroom*

Suddenly Ryu woke up in his bed and thought about his recent dream and what Ken or rather dream Ken who's really Ryu himself told himself. "He's right no matter what happens nothing will change. I have nothing to fear. Plus Chun Li would be pissed if I didn't give this my all and I went easy on her. She's going to get the fight of her life when we finish this competition!" Ryu decreed

*Gym near Chun Li's apartment. Friday around 10:30am. Two days before the competition*

With most people at work or school the gym is relatively quiet save for some older retirees either doing classes or light cardio or weight workouts. Chun Li has done an extensive upper body workout routine of varied cardio (as a warm up) overhead press, chin ups, chest flys, lateral raises, jump rope skips, kettle bell swings and is now finishing her workout routine with her last 5 kettlebell deadlifts.

Chun Li is wearing her track suit attire. She gets on top of the bell the handle forms a straight line between both her ankles. Looking straight ahead she keeps her eyes fixed there. She pushes her butt back inch from the hips and reaches down between her legs grab the handle and stands back up smoothly. She does this four more times completing her set. She puts her all into the last 5 especially the final two.

Chun Li takes a deep breath and a small wig of water. She grabs her towel on her nearby chair and wipes her small drips of sweat off her head and body. Chun Li then takes a seat on the same chair for a minute to catch her breath and relax and she begins to think about her plans for the rest of the day.

Ryu is meditating and doing training at some temple the old temple I think. That was a good workout. I have to teach a class later then I'll have my last chance work on some things with my martial arts I think Ryu will be very impressed. Hopefully it's enough to knock his socks off if he wore socks (she chuckles to herself) that is. Not only that I don't just want to knock them off I want to knock him out. Tomorrow should be a blast. Time for me to win this and show Ryu just how strong I really am she proclaimed to herself as she took one last small drink of water. She then closed the cap on the water bottle and got up from her chair and threw her towel in a dirty towel bin to her left.

She enters the currently deserted locker room. She gets her bag out of her locker and closes and locks it behind her. She bags the put on her should and slowly walked out of the locker room and towards the front entrance door. A young teenage male employee is standing there by the counter to buzz everyones gym id's as they walk in. The teen exclaimed "Have a nice day" as she walked by the counter. "You too. Bye" Chun li replied with a small smile as she walked out the door.

End of Chapter 8

The finale The Match is up next.

Stay tuned