Last Time: Chun Li and Guile got in an impromptu fight with an angry Zangief, but were given a helping hand by Ryu. After the fight, Chun Li and Guile convinced Ryu to help them in the fight against Bison. Madison finally reached a town and found out she was in Bangkok. When she got back, she was just in time to see Sakura willingly serving Bison and giving a demonstration of the Clow Cards. Bison became frustrated after he found out that Sakura did not hold all the Clow Cards, but some were held by Li Shoran. But when Madison was caught, Bison ordered her to make a phone call to the Li family grounds.


Plucking a Cherry Blossom: Part 8


Scene: The Li Family Home

Perspective: Li Shoran

Li wished he knew anything. But in the last day, there was no update. He still didn't know where Sakura was or where the fiendish Bison had taken her. He didn't know if she was all right, or if she even had her memory intact.

All that happened so far was that Chun Li and Guile went out to a nightclub and brought back reinforcements. Reinforcements in the form of Ryu. Li couldn't believe they got the skilled fighter to help them, but he couldn't understand what good it would do them.

All Li had done in the last few hours was explain everything about the Clow Cards to Ryu. Ryu said something about wanting to know what he was up against. When Li didn't understand, Chun Li explained to him that Ryu was the only one to ever defeat Bison in a one-on-one fight, which made Li feel a little better, even though Ryu had never encountered anything like the Clow Cards. But still, he knew it wouldn't do them any good if they didn't know where Bison was.

"So these Clow Cards you speak of," Ryu began. "They contain magic and they can only be controlled by those who have Clow magic flowing in them?"

"That's right," Li answered. "And…that's probably why Sakura was taken."

"If this is the same Bison, then her memory's probably already scrambled," Guile said dryly.

Li cringed at the sound of that. Chun Li, seeing how hard that hit Li, kicked Guile in the shin.

"We'll get her back," Chun Li said. "We just have to wait for any word on where Bison is. That might take Interpol days…even weeks."

But as she said that, the phone next to Li rang. With the Li clan all outside, Li answered the phone. "Hello?"

"That voice. That irritating little voice. You are Li Shoran, no?"

Li's blood boiled when he heard that cold voice. "Bison!"

"I'll take that." Guile tried to yank the phone away, but Li moved out of the way. He wanted to hear just what Bison had to say.

"Don't hand the phone to anybody, Li. It is YOU whom I wish to speak with."

"What have you done to Sakura?!" Li demanded.

"Sakura is just fine. She's doing very well, given the circumstances."

"Circumstances? What have you done to her?"

"I just had a little…cleaning to do."

"You brainwashed her!" Li shouted. "I'll kill you! When I find you…!"

"Oh, you're touchy. Please, Li, believe me. Sakura is fine. In fact, if you wish, you can come and see her. I'm right here in Bangkok. I'm not going anywhere."

"You're…in Bangkok?" Li asked, nodding towards Chun Li.

"Bangkok?" she repeated. "He's telling you, himself, where he is?"

"I don't like it," Guile muttered. "That sounds like a trap."

Li thought about that. He was literally being told where Sakura was. He had to get her. But he had to agree with Guile. This sounded like a trap. He didn't know what to say.

"Li…you're not refusing me, are you? I'd hate to think that. I just know Sakura would love to see you again. And I'm telling you the truth when I say that she's fine. I wouldn't hurt Sakura. She's the key to everything. Your…other friend on the other hand…may be a different matter. She's of no use to me."

Other friend? A sickening thought hit Li. He couldn't mean…?

"I think her name is…Madison?"

"NO! Don't hurt her!"

"I can't promise you that. Of course, no harm has to come to her…as long as you come to Bangkok…alone! Leave the agents at home."

"But…"

"You have 48 hours. I bid you adieu. Oh…and Sakura says hi. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"

"WAIT!"

The phone hung up. Li wanted to get another word in, but it was over. The writing was on the walls. There was only one thing to do now.

"What'd he tell you?" Chun Li asked.

Li was breathing heavily at this point. "He…wants me to meet him in Bangkok…alone."

"He wants YOU?" Guile asked. "Why would he want you there? He knows what'll happen when you see him."

Li didn't know at first, either. But then he remembered something. He reached into his robes and pulled out…his Clow Cards.

"He wants these. These are my Clow Cards."

"He probably wants to brainwash you, too," Chun Li thought.

"Forget it," Guile growled. "It's out of the question. You're not going alone."

"I have to go!" Li cried. "He's got another one of my friends! He'll kill her if I don't go!"

"We're dealing with Bison, kid," Chun Li pointed out. "There's nothing that says he won't have you brainwashed and then have her killed anyway." She looked at Guile. "I guess calling in the army's out?"

"I guess we'll have to go to Plan B," Guile said dryly. "We're going to have to put our covert methods to the test."

"Covert methods?" Li asked.

"We'll talk," Guile replied.

"What should I do?" Ryu suddenly asked.

Chun Li examined the awesome fighter. "Bringing you into the equation won't be as easy as we first thought. You'll have to stick with us for now. Everything's going to depend on…Li Shoran."

Li blinked. "Me?"

Guile grinned. "Let's talk."

Scene: A Helicopter Approaching Bangkok

Perspective: Li Shoran

With every mile that the helicopter traveled, Li could feel Sakura's presence…her loving soul…but he knew something wasn't right. Something had happened to her, but he didn't know what…he only had a grim idea.

What disturbed Li more was that he was on his own…for now. He was alone in the helicopter and he would be alone, facing Bison. But it's what had to be done. It would be the only way to save Madison…and ultimately save Sakura. Li didn't know what to expect, though. Bison had something sinister in mind. He was going to try and brainwash him, that's all he knew. He didn't know how Bison would go about that, because Li was not going to go quietly.

The helicopter then began to descend. Li looked down to see the same rusted jet that came into his family's home. It was Bison's jet. Li didn't take his eyes off of it as the helicopter landed. When the helicopter landed, Li stepped out and immediately took out his jade charm. As the helicopter took off, Li had his sword come out of his jade charm. As soon as the helicopter left, Bison emerged from his jet.

"I give you credit," Bison grinned. "I didn't think you'd actually come alone. I thought you'd have the agents hiding behind some trees or something."

Li held his sword out. "Where's Sakura?!"

"You still don't believe me?" Bison asked mockingly. "I told you. Sakura's just fine. Sakura?"

Li's scowl faded as soon as he saw Sakura come out of the jet. She was holding her wand and she looked to be just fine. Li tried to run up to her, but Bison held his hand out. Bison was keeping Li at bay with his Psycho Power.

"Look, but don't touch," Bison growled. "Sakura doesn't like being held by strangers."

"What are you talking about?!" Li demanded.

Bison grinned and looked at Sakura. "Sakura…have you ever seen this person in your life?"

Sakura examined Li confusedly. "I…I've never seen him before, Lord Bison. Should I know him?"

Li's heart broke at that moment. The love of his life didn't recognize him. She didn't know him. This evil cretin had undone years of a loving relationship. A tear rolled down Li's cheek. He let out a scream and tried to rush Bison with his sword, but Bison still held him back with his Psycho Power. Seeing this, Sakura became angry and started to step forward.

"That won't be necessary, Sakura," Bison said calmly.

"But he tried to hurt you, Lord Bison," Sakura replied. "I can't let him get away with that!"

"He just got a little overzealous," Bison said nonchalantly. "He won't do it again. Not if he wants to see his little friend alive."

Li gasped. He suddenly remembered the other person whose life was at stake. He remembered…

"Where's Madison?!"

Bison let out a huge smirk. "Katrina?"

"Up here, Lord Bison!"

Li looked up on top of a nearby tree. He was shocked to see the assassin, Katrina, on top of it. The same Katrina who said she was sent by the Li clan to kill Sakura. It was all starting to make sense now.

"She works for you?" Li growled.

"She's always worked for me," Bison answered. "When she said she was sent by your family, you were so quick to believe it. You're so gullible. You were so consumed by the fact that your family disapproved of your relationship with Sakura that were quick to believe that your family would have her assassinated. It was all I needed to lure you to Hong Kong where I would be sure to find Sakura…and the Clow Book."

Li felt so stupid. As much as he hated to admit it, Bison was right. Li was blinded by his utter contempt for his family for ordering him to break up with Sakura. If he had only seen with clearer vision, he might have realized that even his family wouldn't be so heinous as to send an assassin to kill Sakura.

But Li never had his question answered. "Where's Madison?!"

Bison looked up again. "Katrina? Show him where his friend is."

Katrina pointed at a branch hanging over the edge of the cliff. Hanging from a rope at the end of the branch, was Madison. A cut of the rope would mean Madison would fall off the cliff to the jagged rocks below. And Katrina had a knife in her hand.

Bison chuckled. "You realize that any lack of cooperation means I have Katrina cut the rope. And I don't think your friend would survive. If the hundred-foot fall doesn't kill her, the rocks will. So do your friend a favor and come to me, Li Shoran."

Li knew he didn't have any choice. For Madison, he had to cooperate. He could only hope that help would arrive in time. Li gave up and put his sword back in his jade charm and put it away. He then approached the grinning Bison. But Li tried to look into Sakura's eyes. Her emerald eyes yielded only emptiness. There was nothing there. There was only the effect of Bison's brainwashing.

Another tear rolled down Li's cheek. "Don't you remember me?"

Sakura sneered and walked into the jet without saying anything. It was the worst thing that could have happened. Li's heart broke. He hung his head down as he walked into the jet.

Scene: Inside the Shadaloo Jet

Perspective: Sagat

Sagat, Balrog, and Vega waited patiently when they heard the helicopter land. They were standing by just in case the Shoran kid brought reinforcements. But to their surprise, the encounter was quiet. And a few minutes later, Bison came back in with Sakura…and Li Shoran. He had actually given up.

~* Hmm…nobody ever just gives up. Seems as if this was a little TOO easy. *~

"Is the machine set up?" Bison asked.

"Katrina has had the machine ready to go," Sagat answered. "All that remains is to throw the lever."

"Good," Bison nodded. "Strap him in."

Balrog and Vega lifted Li Shoran up and took him over to the machine's chair. They were set to strap him in…when something sounded from outside. Something like…a jet.

"Bison…" Sagat began. "Were we expecting anybody?"

Bison's expression became mortified. A cold thought had hit him. He began to search Li and then he pulled something out of his robe. It was a small machine.

Bison growled as he crushed the machine in the palm of his hand. "A tracking device!!" He glared at Li. "Your friend DIES now, Shoran!"

Li suddenly kicked Balrog in the shin, loosening his grip. Then he kicked Vega in the groin and he started to run.

"Sagat!" Bison shouted. "Stop him!"

Sagat immediately stood in front of Li, but Li jumped up and kicked him right in the face. Sagat was stunned and that enabled Li to run. Sagat felt humiliated. He decided to take him out.

"Tiger!"

Sagat released one of his deadly Tiger fireball shots that barely missed its mark. Li continued running towards the jet's rear exit.

Bison roared in horror. "Fool! I said stop him, not kill him! I need Shoran alive!"

Bison immediately took to the air and started floating via his Psycho Power. He quickly moved outside and Sakura Avalon followed him, armed with her wand. Sagat was set to follow, but he suddenly stopped.

~* I feel…a powerful chi. No…it can't be. He's here! *~

Scene: The Field Outside the Shadaloo Jet

Perspective: Li Shoran

Li knew that Bison was right behind him. After discovering the tracking device, he knew Bison wouldn't hesitate to have Katrina cut the rope. So he did the only thing he could do. He quickly took his jade charm out and unleashed his sword. Then he quickly reached in for one of his cards.

"Dash Card!"

Li quickly struck the Dash Card and he ran at lightning fast speeds. In the blink of an eye, he went up the tree and grabbed the knife from Katrina's hand.

"Katrina!" Bison called out from inside the jet. "Cut the rope!"

Katrina wasn't expecting any of this. So Li shoved her off the tree and onto the ground. Li went over to the rope holding up Madison and found that there was nothing he could do. Bison had her in a really precarious position. If he untied her, she'd fall. He didn't have a Clow Card for this situation. So he did the only thing he could do. He tossed the knife over the cliff and thought about how to handle this.

"Li!" Madison screamed. "Do something! But please don't let me fall!"

Just then, Kero squeezed out of Madison's pocket and flew up to Li. "There's nothing you can do for her right now, Li. We've got bigger problems!"

Li looked down to see that Bison and his henchmen were out. The three henchmen headed towards the other jet that had just landed. Bison was left alone. Li knew that this was his chance. This would be his chance for vengeance. He climbed down from the tree and ran up to Bison. Li held his sword out menacingly and was ready to kill this monster for what he had done, but then someone else emerged from the jet to confront Li. Li's gaze softened when he saw who it was.

With a fire in her emerald green eyes, there stood his beloved Sakura.

Scene: Same Scene

Perspective: Sagat

Sagat stood in between Balrog and Vega as the other jet landed. This had to be the agents that intervened back in Hong Kong. Sure enough, out came Chun Li and Guile.

"Miss us?" Guile asked.

Guile immediately kicked Balrog in the chest, while Chun Li did the same to Vega. The two agents had paired off, but Sagat waited for the third man. He anxiously awaited that third man to come out. Finally, he came. Dropping his duffel bag, he casually stepped out of the jet and stood face-to-face with Sagat.

It was Ryu.

Sagat chuckled. "Oh…how I've lived for this moment. Do you see this?" Sagat pointed at the huge scar on his chest. "YOU did this to me! And now it is time for my revenge!"

"You are foolish, Sagat," Ryu said calmly. "Rather than accept your defeat gracefully, you have become consumed by rage and hatred. And that rage and hatred will only lead to your downfall."

Sagat snarled. "The only one experiencing downfall will be YOU! I shall not lose to you this time, Ryu!"

"If you wish to fight, we will fight. But I shall not lose," Ryu said.

Ryu took his fighting stance and Sagat did the same. This was it. Years and years of waiting had finally come to end. Sagat finally had his chance to avenge his humiliating defeat. He would have vengeance NOW.

Scene: Same Scene

Perspective: Li Shoran

Li couldn't bring himself to come forward. He didn't want to make a move towards Sakura. He could never bring himself to hurt her under any circumstances.

Sakura looked different, on the other hand. Her emerald green eyes gleamed with hatred. She was ready to kill and come to the aid of Bison. But Li realized something. This wasn't the Sakura he loved. This was a product of Bison's brainwashing. It was up to Li to bring back the one he loved.

"Sakura, please don't do this," Li begged.

Sakura didn't listen. She was ready to strike.

"Sakura…" Bison said threateningly. "KILL HIM!!"


Next Time: It all comes to a head. Can Li jog Sakura's memory without killing her? Will the other warriors be triumphant? Will Ryu defeat Sagat a second time? Can our heroes stop Bison once and for all? Come back tomorrow, because the end is fast approaching.


Any comments? It's almost over, so if you do, mail me at AmericanCaptor@hotmail.com and, PEOPLE, don't forget to review below! I really want to know what you think!