Disclaimer: You already know.

Chap. 9

Why do you fight with such a sad heart?

My brother...my sister...all gone.

Don't cry. Please. Explain it to me. Perhaps I could help.

Thank you sir. My brother had been missing for a couple of years. My sister went to search for him, but she disappeared too. I've been searching for them, but I don't know if I can find them.

Are they fighters? Perhaps I might have seen them.

Yes. They are the strongest of my clan.

What are their names?

My brother is named Kairi. And my sister is Hokuto. Can you really help me?

I will do my best.

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"SURPRISE!!!!!!!"

Ryu was faced with a massive crowd of people, all wearing party hats. The house had been decorated with banners and balloons. Graffiti was also sprinkled on the walls as well.

Ryu was in shock, "What is this?"

Sakura walked in, followed by Chun-Li, "What does it look like, Ryu?"

Chun-Li merely shook her head, "It's a birthday party, Ryu. Your birthday party."

"My...birthday party?"

"That's right, buddy." From among the crowd came Ken, too wearing a birthday hat and holding another in his hands. He opened the hat wide and put it on Ryu's head. "You didn't think I'd forget, did you?"

"No, it's not that. It's just that...I've never had a party before."

Ken smiled, "I know. That's why we worked so hard to keep you here long enough to pull it off."

Ryu gave a questioning look, "Keep me here? Oh, this was why you wanted me to stay."

Sakura came in, "That's right. And we had to keep it secret."

Ryu looked around. He could see that many of the guests were the fighters he met on his journeys. "This must have taken you a long time, Ken."

"Actually, it was mostly Eliza work. I just found the fighters."

Eliza came up from behind Ken, "Happy birthday, Ryu."

Of course, the project she had been working on with everyone. That explained a lot. "I...I don't know what to say."

Ken put his hand on his shoulder, "You don't have to say anything. Besides, I've been waiting to do this for awhile. Now come on. Let's PAR-TAY!!!"

Ryu smiled at his friend's obvious enthusiasm and joined in with the guests.

"Hey, Ryu!"

Ryu turned to face the massive Zangief. The wrestler was wearing a pair of black pants and a red shirt that looked like it was going to rip off of him. Beside him was Rainbow Mika, who was wearing similar attire, but a sky blue shirt instead of red.

"Hello my friend. Happy birthday."

"Thank you."

Zangief handed him a box containing an autographed photograph of him. Ryu smiled at the gift as Zangief spoke again, "So you don't forget your friend in Mother Russia."

Ryu nodded, "Thank you. But I don't think I could ever forget you, Zangief."

"Hahahaha! That's the spirit."

Ryu then began to move through the crowd, meeting all sorts of people he had met on his journeys. The Bushin ninja Guy, the soldier Guile along with his family, the gentleman boxer Dudley, even the mysterious Rose was there. I never knew so many cared about me. It was then that he was met by more familiar people.

"Hello Ryu."

Ryu turned to the sound of the voice. Standing there were Hokuto and Nanase, both wearing their traditional attire. And behind them was…

"Kairi? You're here?"

His hair was black now, as opposed to his white hair before when he had the amnesia. His face still bore the scar on it, but nevertheless he was better than before.

"I couldn't miss this. Happy Birthday Ryu"

Kairi handed him a package. It was a karate belt, nicely decorated with several Japanese symbols on it.

"Thank you."

"After the way you helped us, helped me, it was the very least we could do."

It was then that a knock came to the door.Eliza decided to answer it, but she nearly froze at the person.

"Uh, Ryu. Someone is here to see you."

Eliza opened the door wider to reveal a massive man wearing an eye patch.

Sagat.

The crowd grew tense as they saw the hulking man at the door. Sagat held his gaze on Ryu and Ryu did the same as he walked up to him.

"Happy birthday."

Sagat handed Ryu a small box. Ryu opened it and inside was an oval stone. Carved on it was a yin-yang symbol. On one side were a tiger and the other, a dragon. They were both circling each other, poised to attack.

Sagat smiled, "To remind you that I will be waiting for you."

Ryu looked back up and smiled himself, "Thank you. And when I am ready, I will come."

Without another word, Sagat turned around and left. Ryu walked back over to Kairi who was watching the event, "So that was Sagat."

Just then Sakura came over..., "Hey Ryu, come on. Ken wants you to...." And her eyes fell on Kairi. "Who are you?"

Kairi held out his hand, "My name is Kairi. It's a pleasure."

Sakura meekly took his hand, "I'm sure it is."

Ryu smiled a bit and then spoke to Sakura, "Was there something you wanted to tell me? Sakura?"

"Huh? Oh yeah, that's right. Ken wants you to meet him at the table."

Ryu nodded, "Okay."

Sakura then turned back to Kairi, "Well, it was nice meeting you."

"Same here."

Sakura looked down and saw that she was still holding his hand. Reactively, she pulled it back. "Sorry."

As Sakura walked away, Nanase came up to Kairi with a small smile on her face, "So you now have a girlfriend, Kairi?"

Kairi sharply turned to her, "What are you talking about?"

"Come on. You may have been gone for some time, but I recognize that look. You like her."

Kairi frowned, "Are you kidding? I just met her."

Hokuto then came up as well, "That's true. But your face did change. And you looked almost sorry when she let go of your hand."

"That's not..."

Both sisters put their hands on their hips, "Ahhh. You men are hopeless."

Ryu walked up to the table on the side, but before he could sit down, Guy tapped his shoulder, "You should sit here." He then pointed to the seat at the head of the table.

"Oh…Okay."

Ryu nervously sat down at the center. He wasn't used to being the in the center of attention. And if that wasn't enough, Sakura took the seat he was at was right next to him. And Chun-Li was on the opposite end. And then it happened…

"Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, dear Ryu! Happy birthday to you!

Ken came in with a massive cake with several candles on it. He placed it in front of Ryu and put his hand on his friend's shoulder. "Make a wish."

Ryu gave a confused look and Ken suddenly remembered, "Oh. Just blow out the candles and make a wish in your head."

Ryu nodded and looked at the cake. His eyes briefly looked to the left, looking for Chun-Li. But he had forgotten that she was sitting to his right, so he saw Sakura instead. She nodded and he blew out the candles to which everyone clapped. Looking to his right, he smiled at Chun-Li to which she smiled back, but she was a little wary. He looked at her first. Does that mean anything? It's time I found out now.

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"You wanted to talk?"

Sakura and Chun-Li were on the porch of the building, just outside of the party. Chun-Li kept her back to her, "What is going on between you two?"

"Who?"

"You and Ryu."

"Nothing."

"Are you sure?

"Chun-Li, what is this about?"

"It just seems that every time me and Ryu get some time together, you always seem to interfere just at the right moment."

"Oh...I'm sorry." Sakura turned around and spoke quietly, "The truth is that I missed him."

Chun-Li gave a weird look, but Sakura continued, "No, not like that. Ever since I met him, I saw him as my idol. And yeah, for a brief period, I had a crush on him. But over time, I realized that he would always see as a little sister. That's okay with me though. He would never look at me the way he looks at you."

"The way...really?"

"You mean you never noticed? He's always got that dreamy sort of look when he sees you. And he can never seem to take his eyes of you."

Chun-Li began to blush, "I never noticed."

"Don't worry. He tries to hide it, but every once in awhile, I notice." She gave a little smile. "Maybe I am his sister."

"I should apologize. I thought that maybe you were trying to stop us from getting together."

"You mean you actually saw me as a threat?"

"Silly, huh?"

"Actually, thank you. I always thought I looked good, but wow. I even got you worried.

"No. Not like that. I mean..."

"Yeah, I know. I was just kidding. Besides, Ryu isn't like that."

"I know."

 But I should give you some advice. I wouldn't wait too long. Ryu is waiting for you to say the words, but he will leave if he truly believes you don't love him. "Do you love him, Chun-Li?"

Chun-Li stayed quiet for awhile. Then without saying anything, she walked out and headed toward Ryu.

At the same time…

"Ryu, can we talk a bit?"

"Sure Ken."

"What are you waiting for?"

"Huh, what do you mean?"

"I mean with Chun-Li. She's just waiting for you to say the words. What's taking you? Or is there something wrong."

"I...I...don't know."

"What do you mean?"

"I feel as though I'm being pulled apart. I want to say it, but I fear I may...she may...reject me. I wouldn't know how to deal with that."

"Ryu. You're not being honest with me. You know how she feels about you but you're afraid. Afraid that if she does say it, you will no longer be able to continue on your path."

"......."

"Ryu, doesn't that say enough? That you are willing to give up your life dream for her? She's coming. I only have one thing to saw. What do you see beyond your fist? Is it her?"

Ken left just as she came in. For a long while, the two of them remained quiet, both were conflicting with their emotions and feelings.

"Ryu...I...I..."

"Chun-Li."

She searched for the words, but they were slipping beyond her reach. Instead, something else came out.

"It's nothing. I just wanted to see were you were."

Ryu looked at her, his face struggling. He tried to force it out, but found that he didn't have the strength to do so.

"Oh, okay."

Without another word, the two of them left the room with sealed mouths and empty hearts.

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