Last Time: Vega tried to intimidate Madison into telling him where Sakura was, but Meilin came in and tried to fight him off. After wounding Meilin, Vega tried his tough guy tactics again, but was warded off by an unexpected guest, Guile. Meanwhile a jet landed in the Li family courtyard and Bison came out for Sakura. Li bravely tried to defend her, but was taken out. Guile tried to intervene, but was intercepted by Sagat and Balrog. Bison tried to carry Sakura away, but met up with Chun Li. Bison fought her off, but in the meantime, Madison stowed away on the Shadaloo jet. After they escaped, Bison revealed most of his sinister plan to Sakura and revealed that the assassin, Katrina, was actually working for him. When asked what he would do to Sakura next, Bison only replied, "Soon you shall see." (Wow! Long recap!)


Plucking a Cherry Blossom: Part 6


Scene: The Li Family Courtyard

Perspective: Li Shoran

Li was finally coming to. The first thing he noticed was that his robes had been ravaged by that attack. The next thing he noticed made his heart sink. Sakura was gone. That insane man had taken her away. And he had no idea where.

Li looked around to see that most of the Li clan was just getting up. They must have all been taken out by that man. That man who called himself Bison. He was very powerful, but Li couldn't understand why he took Sakura. More than that, though, Li couldn't understand how he knew who Sakura was. How did he even know about the Clow Cards?

Li continued to look around, but he saw two unfamiliar figures. One of them was a man with a green tank top, camouflage pants, and he his blonde hair was cut in a crewcut. He must have been a man of the military. The other was a woman in blue attire with puffy shoulder pads, a loincloth, stocking, and ribbons in her hair. They both looked strong, but Li wondered who they were and what business they had here.

"You were right," the army man said. "I should have believed you. But it looks like Bison's not really dead."

"We were lucky one of our operatives spotted them in the area," the woman said. "But I don't get it. It's not like Bison to go into kidnapping."

Li finally decided to make his presence felt. He held his sword out. "Who are you?!"

The man took a fighting stance, but the woman stopped him. "Guile, stop! He's not the enemy. He's…ok. I think he might be a friend of the girl." The woman looked at Li. "What's your name?"

Li introduced himself, still holding his sword. "I'm Li Shoran. This is the home of my family, the Li clan. Now who are you?"

The woman introduced herself. "I am Chun Li. Um…no relation. I'm an agent for Interpol. This is Colonel William Guile. He works for Special Forces. We've been on the trail on that man who kidnapped your…friend."

"Sakura's more than a friend to me!" Li huffed. "Who was that?! Who took her?!"

Chun Li sighed. "That was an evil man who goes by the name of Bison. He was the head of a major crime syndicate called Shadaloo. His main goal is world domination at any cost. A few years ago, his organization was taken down and Bison was thought to have been killed by a warrior named Ryu.

"I was skeptical. I didn't think an evil like Bison could be taken down so easily, so when Interpol told me they haven't found any remains of Bison, I had my suspicions. It looks like my suspicions proved to be accurate."

"Do you know where he took her?" Li asked desperately.

Chun Li shook her head. "I'm not sure. Bison could be anywhere. I'm not sure if we'll ever be able to find him. But knowing Bison…we'll find out sooner rather than later. What I can't understand is why he would take your friend."

"I don't get it, either," Guile added. "I don't know how Bison thinks he's going to take over the world by kidnapping a girl. It doesn't make sense. It's not his style."

They didn't know, but it hit Li like a ton of bricks.

~* Wait…he KNEW who Sakura was. He knew she controlled the Clow Cards. Could that be why he took her? *~

"I think I might know," Li said solemnly. "He…kind of knew that Sakura's…not an ordinary girl. She…possesses magic."

"Magic?" Guile repeated skeptically. "That sounds kind of weird. There's no such thing as magic, is there?"

Li nodded. He knew he had to explain to them the meaning of the Clow magic. They might be able to give Li some answers.

So he began. "A long time ago, there was a sorcerer named Clow Reed. He created a powerful form of magic called the Clow Cards. They could control different elements like Wind, Earth, Fire and so on. There are 52 of them overall. Clow Reed sealed all the cards in the Clow Book until…one day, Sakura released them. The only one who could break Clow Reed's seal was someone who was destined to have the cards. That someone is Sakura."

Chun Li blinked and then looked at Guile. "Magical cards. That sounds like a reason Bison might want the girl."

"He'll be disappointed," Li sneered. "Only those with Clow magic flowing through them can use the Clow Cards. I don't think that includes Bison."

Chun Li shook her head. "Bison has other methods."

That worried Li. "W-What do you mean?"

"Bison is not a normal man," Chun Li explained. "He is a powerful man and he is adept at using something called Psycho Power. It's his Psycho Power that allows him to do many things including float in the air, use crippling psychic attacks, and……brainwash people."

Li nearly turned white. "Brainwash people?!"

"That's it," Guile nodded. "That's got to be what he wants her for. If he can't use the magic himself, then he's going to brainwash the girl and have her use the magic for him."

"No!" Li shouted. "I can't let that happen! I have to find her!"

Chun Li tried to calm Li down. "We want to find them just as much as you do. But we can't right now. We don't even know where they are."

"Then do SOMETHING!" Li yelled. "I can't let this happen!"

Guile shook his head. "There's nothing we can do. All we can do it wait."

Li fell to his knees. He felt tears start to come to his eyes. This monster, Bison, was going to have Sakura brainwashed…and there was nothing he could do. He felt so…helpless.

"Li!"

Li got up and looked to see Shiefua running towards him. His eldest sister had been sweating profusely…as if something tragic had happened.

"Li!" Shiefua called out again. "It's Meilin! She's in the hospital!"

Li gasped. "What?!"

Scene: Inside the Shadaloo Jet

Perspective: Madison Taylor

Madison remained crouched behind the crate as she continued to feel the rumbling of the flying jet. But just then…the rumbling gradually came to a stop. The jet had landed. The back of the jet was opened, but no one was leaving. They all remained in the front: Bison, his henchmen, Sakura, and…Katrina. Madison was so infuriated when she learned that Katrina had deceived them all. She had lied about being hired by the Li clan all so Sakura could come to Hong Kong…with the Clow Book.

As much as it saddened Madison, there was nothing she could do for Sakura at that moment. The only thing she could do was leave the jet and find out where she was…and then call Li on her cell phone. But she had to try something first. She crept behind another crate and came closer to Sakura. Vega was holding her, but Madison also noticed Kero sticking out of Sakura's pocket. Kero suddenly spotted her. Upon seeing Madison, Kero flopped out of Sakura's pocket, keeping his stuffed animal charade. Then he very slowly and inconspicuously crawled behind the crate where Madison was crouching.

"What are you doing here?" he whispered.

"I stowed away," she answered softly. "We've got to get out of here."

"But we can't just leave Sakura," Kero pointed out.

"We'll come back for her," Madison told him. "We have to find out where we are first."

Having said that, Madison quietly made her way towards the back of the jet and the exit. She moved with complete silence and she finally made it outside the jet.

Madison immediately found herself in the middle of an empty field. It looked like she was in the middle of nowhere.

"Do you see anything, Kero?"

Kero shook his head. "Nothing."

Madison looked out on the horizon. "We'll…walk this way. We'll have to hit a town sooner or later. And when we do, we can find out where we are. When we find out where we are, I can call for help."

Kero looked back. "We can't leave Sakura for too long. This guy looks like he means business. There's no telling what he can do. Sakura told him he couldn't use the Clow magic, but…that doesn't seem to matter to him. It almost sounds like he has something else in mind…and it could be anything."

"We'll come back for her," Madison said. "We just…have to remember which way we came." She started walking out towards the east. "We'll have to hit a town eventually."

At least that's what Madison hoped. She knew that the life of her best friend may very well be in her hands. She couldn't fail her. She had to find out where she was.

Scene: Local Hong Kong Hospital

Perspective: Li Shoran

Li waited anxiously for any word. When he got to the hospital, he heard about what happened to Meilin. She was wounded badly in the stomach from a vicious slash wound that nearly cut her open. There was nothing Li could do except wait.

This was undoubtedly the worst day of his life. Meilin was in the hospital and came alarmingly close to death. If Meilin had come any closer to that attacker's claw, her stomach may have been punctured. That wasn't all, though.

Sakura was taken from him. She could be anywhere and there was no way Li could find his love. And if she was brainwashed…then there was a real possibility that not only would she not remember him, but Sakura could become a tool of evil. And Li could never endure that. But that still wasn't it.

While Li was waiting for word on Meilin, his other three sisters came back. They told Li that Madison had disappeared without a trace. There hasn't been any sign of her since Sakura was kidnapped and that left Li worried. He couldn't believe his life was falling apart like this. His three friends had all suffered in ways they should never have had to. Li knew exactly what he wanted now. He wanted to find Sakura and get her back…and make Bison pay for what he's done.

Just then, one of the doctors came out. "Li Shoran?"

Li stood up. "That's me. How is she?"

"She's expected to make a full recovery," the doctor said. "But she'll have to remain in the hospital for a few days. You can see her now if you'd like."

Li nodded. "Thank you, doctor."

Li felt so relieved when he heard Meilin was going to be ok. He got up and walked into her room. She looked to be just fine, but she didn't look happy. She looked depressed.

"I heard," she said softly. "I'm sorry."

Li didn't say anything. There was nothing more to be said.

"Li…we'll get her back," Meilin said. "I know we will."

"I just wish I knew where he took her," Li finally said. "I feel so helpless, Meilin! I don't know where Sakura is! I don't know what this monster's doing to her! There's no way for me to know if she's all right or if she's in pain! I don't even know if I'll ever see her again!"

"You WILL see her again, Li!" Meilin said sternly. "Don't start to believe that you won't, because you'll see Sakura again! I just know it!"

~* Yeah…but in what state will she be in? Will she really be brainwashed? And if she is…will she remember me? *~

"Li?"

Li turned around to see Shiefua walk in with a bouquet of flowers for Meilin. A get-well gift. Shiefua set the flowers down and shook her head. The news wasn't good.

Li knew what it was. "Nobody's found her?"

"We've looked everywhere," Shiefua sighed. "There's no sign of Madison anywhere. She's just…disappeared."

"Wait, Madison's gone, too?" Meilin asked.

"She hasn't been seen since Sakura was kidnapped," Shiefua answered. "It's like she left as soon as she was taken. And nobody's seen her anywhere. It's like Madison's vanished without a trace."

It was at that moment that a cold thought hit Li right in the head.

~* She disappeared as soon as Sakura was kidnapped. It's almost like…no. No! She wouldn't. Sakura's her best friend, but even SHE wouldn't…would she? *~

Li just kept thinking about that possibility. Could it be that Madison was taken by Bison as well? That sounded doubtful. Something more likely would have been Madison…stowing away. But if she did that, who knew what trouble she might have been in?

Scene: Inside the Shadaloo Jet

Perspective: Sakura Avalon

From where she was standing, Sakura could hear machinery being prepared in another part of the jet. It made her nervous to say the least. She didn't know what to do. The only thing that comforted Sakura was knowing that she wasn't alone. But when she felt inside her pocket, she realized that she was alone. Kero was gone.

~* Kero! You abandoned me! And just when I needed you the most! *~

Sakura practically turned white. She was on her own now. There was no one to help her. And just then, Bison emerged from one of the jet's chambers.

"Bring her here, Vega," he ordered.

The masked assassin, Vega, took Sakura by the arm and led her towards the chamber and a grinning Bison.

"Are you sure the machine still works?" the bald-headed man asked.

Bison nodded. "Sagat, you're doubting me? Of course the machine works. Isn't that right, Katrina?"

Katrina emerged from the chamber. "There were a few bugs, but I've worked them out. The machine is in working order. It's all set."

Bison nodded towards Vega and the big boxer. "You two know what to do."

Vega lifted Sakura by her left arm and the boxer lifted her by her right arm. Sakura was being carried inside the chamber and up to a large machine. She was placed in a wooden chair where metal shackles strapped her wrists onto the chair and wires were placed on her temples. Sakura was sweating profusely at this point. She couldn't move. She could only watch as Bison walked up to the machine.

"Start it, Katrina."

Katrina threw a lever and the loud humming of the machine began. Sakura instantly felt thousands of shockwaves hit her very brain and she watched as a bright aura surrounded Bison. Bison eyes were all white, no pupils, and they were surrounded by a fire. As Bison's aura became brighter, the machine grew louder and the shocks being sent to Sakura's brain became more painful. The whole ordeal went on for about a minute.

Then Sakura let out a loud shriek as she felt her mind seemingly burst.

Scene: The Streets of Hong Kong

Perspective: Chun Li

"Are you sure about this?" Guile asked again.

Chun Li was quickly becoming annoyed with Guile's skepticism. She knew what she was doing. She knew what she had to do.

Chun Li found herself against Bison once more. This was the man she loathed more than anyone in the world. This was the man who had brutally murdered her father and she always vowed vengeance would be hers…even if it meant someone else had to take out Bison for her. And she knew just the man.

"I told you a thousand times, I'm sure!" Chun Li growled. "Interpol told me that he's been sighted here. He just had a fight against action star, Fei Long, yesterday and he hasn't left Hong Kong. If that's true, then we have to find him."

"Why?" Guile asked. "I think we can take Bison ourselves."

"This is no time for delusions of grandeur," Chun Li said. "Bison's powerful enough as it is. And if it was just Bison, I'd agree with you. But by the time we find him, he might be armed with some deadly magic and we can't deal with that alone."

"And you think he'll fare any better?" Guile pointed out.

"I don't know," Chun Li admitted. "But he's our only option. He's the only one who's ever beaten Bison. He's our best chance. Him…and that Li Shoran kid."

Guile scoffed. "I still think we can take him ourselves."

"Will you get over yourself?" Chun Li groaned. "You're not as good as you think you are, you know."

"I've saved you plenty of times," Guile grinned. "I think that makes me pretty good."

Chun Li groaned again. Guile was obviously referring to a time when she was attacked by Vega in her apartment. She was grateful when Guile came to her rescue. Of course, Guile never let her forget it and often that irritated her.

"You can have as overblown an image of yourself as you want," Chun Li finally said. "But it doesn't matter. We're getting help and that's that."

"Fine," Guile sighed. "You're the boss…I guess."

Chun Li nodded, knowing she won this argument. They continued walking around the streets of downtown until they found a local nightclub. It wasn't as packed as it usually was, but Chun Li knew this was their destination.

"My contacts say he's been sighted in here," Chun Li said. "Let's go look for him."

Chun Li and Guile walked into the nightclub and started looking around for their man. He was easy to find. He always wore his white fighting robe and his red headband and carried his duffel bag around. He never stayed in one place. He was always a nomad, constantly traveling the world searching for a challenge.

Chun Li and Guile kept moving forward until a very large man cut them off and almost knocked Guile down. Guile didn't appreciate it when the big man just kept walking without apologizing.

"Hey, watch it, you big lug!"

The big man stopped and turned around. Chun Li gasped when she saw who it was. To say this defied the odds was an understatement. Guile had managed to raise the ire of a very vicious fighter.

"Comrade, you have made a very big mistake."

Chun Li couldn't believe their rotten luck. They were being approached by the big Russian wrestler, Zangief.


Next Time: Zangief? What are the odds? Needless to say, there's a big bar fight in the next part. And what's happened to Sakura? What state has Bison left her in? Will Madison ever find out where she is? Will Li ever find out where Sakura is? These are questions that need answers and they can only be answered by the next parts. So come back for that next time!


Any comments? You can feel free to mail at AmericanCaptor@hotmail.com and I insist you tell me what you think by reviewing below. I really want to know.