Part Three
[Flashback/Dream Sequence]
-Mandarin Imperial Hotel, Hong Kong-
Inside one of the hotel rooms, Ryu [about 15 years younger, older than Alpha version] watched the rain as it poured out over the Hong Kong skyline. A typhoon had struck the city and Ryu was forced to find a hotel to stay until the storm breaks.
It has been six months since he had tracked down Gouki Akuma somewhere in India and avenged his fallen master after a grueling and dramatic battle. In the process, Ryu himself had almost succumbed to his own Dark Hadou. Had it not been for the Kabaddi master Dhalsim, he would had sufered the same fate as did Akuma.
[Note: Kabaddi is Dhalsim's fighting style, NOT Yoga! I checked, trust me. You want a complete list of everyone's fighting styles, then e-mail me.]
The knock on his hotel door was soft that Ryu did not hear it. He heard it the second time, though. Wondering who it could be, Ryu walked over to the door and opened it.
Standing in the hallway, was Juli. Rather than her old Shadowlaw one-piece uniform, which she has long since discarded she was wearing a T-shirt over a military jacket, a scarf over her neck, a pair of black denim jeans, and her old pair of Shadowlaw-issued boots. Her hair was pulled into a neat ponytail and slung over one shoulder was a gym bag. Her left hand, which was holding an umbrella, was bandaged to the wrist, an injury she had accquired during their match three days ago.
Ryu looked at her. "I thought you left town."
Juli shook her head. "Couldn't. Aside from this injury and the fact that every plane is grounded from the typhoon, I thought it would be better it I can find a place to stay until the storm blows over. May I come in?"
Ryu stepped to the side and Juli entered the room. Closing the door, Ryu asked, "How'd you know where I was?"
Juli dropped the bag and turned around. "I'm an assassin, remember? Or used to be." She shrugged her shoulders. "Tracking down one's target is an assassin's requirements." She gave him a small smile. "It really wasn't hard, knowing where you stay and all."
"Well, at least I know you're not gonna try and kill me."
Juli gave Ryu a smug smile. "The thought crossed my mind," she said sarcastically. "But I like you, so consider youself lucky." She pulled off her jacket and tossed it in a nearby chair. "Can I take a shower?" she asked.
Ryu nodded. "There are some towels in the bathroom."
Juli nodded and walked into the bathroom, taking several articles of clothing with her. About 20 minutes later, Juli appreared, now fresh and clean from her shower. She had changed out of her clothes and into a pair of cotton shorts and a gray halter top, the straps of her bra were visible. Her hair was slightly damp and she was running a towel through it. She saw Ryu looking out at the Hong Kong skyline and joined him.
She looked out into the city. "It's really nice, despite the rain." She then looked at Ryu. "What are you thinking about?"
"My parents," he replied. "I'm three-quarters Japanese, and a quarter American. So is Ken. But I look more Japanese than American."
Juli chuckled. "I really couldn't tell," she replied. "You know, I'm actually from Europe. Germany, actually. I was born in Frankfurt, but was raised in London. That's all I can remember about my childhood. When I was thirteen, I was...'recruited' into Shadowlaw, underwent genetic enhancements, and become an assassin. After that, it gets real hazy."
"Funny. I always thought that you were English."
"Most people think that way." She looked at her bandaged wrist and rung her hand.
Ryu caught her looking at her injury and gently took the wrist in his own hand and began inspecting it. "How's your wrist doing?" he asked. Juli had sprained her wrist in their last battle and Ryu bandaged her up.
"It's doing better," she replied. "At least the pain has dulled to an ache. You do a pretty good field dressing, for a nomad."
"You learn some interesting things when you travel as much as I do," Ryu replied in a humorless tone.
He was caught off guard when Juli gently slid her hand out from his and was now holding his wrist in a gentle, but firm grip. She then placed his open palm into the side of her face. Closing her eyes, she sighed softly as she felt him caress her face.
The thought that was going through Juli's mind at the moment was, 'What the hell am I doing?' Ryu had wooed her without even trying, and the sensations that she was feeling at the moment were to her, foreign, and they scared her. But she didn't care. Ever since their first encounter, she felt a mutual attraction the Japanese martial artist and that she was with him, now, she was sure as hell not going to waste this opportunity.
Ryu was caught under Juli's spell. Sure she was a former assassin, several years older than she was, but she still held an innocent quality to her. He moved his hand from her face and moved it to the back of her head. He pulled her closer to him. He could hear Juli's breathing becoming shorter.
Ryu wrapped his free arm around Juli's waist, while at the same time, Juli wrapped her arms around Ryu's neck. At the same time, Juli stood on her tiptoes, while Ryu lowered his head. The resulting kiss was like two flammable chemicals creating fire. After what appeared to be an eternity, they parted, due to a lack of breath.
Juli was visbly trembling at this point. Ryu took notice of this. "Juli..."
She shook her head. "I'm alright, Ryu," she whispred.
They met in another kiss. This time, Juli slipped her tongue into Ryu's mouth and they wrestled for superiority for a moment. Ryu's hands went to her shapely rear and he lifted her up into the air. Juli, almost by reflex, wrapped her lithe legs around his waist as Ryu began to attack her neck and jawline with his lips as he moved to the wall, effectively pinning her. Everywhere Ryu's lips touched felt like fire, and Juli moaned in approval.
Juli's hands weren't idle. She told Ryu to stop for a moment so that she could get his tanktop off. He complied, and Juli managed to discard that bothersome piece of clothing. Even in battle, Juli knew that Ryu was muscular, but seeing him now in a sexual situation made her want him even more. He had a natural tanned complexion, his chest and arms radiating power. As they resumed kissng, Juli rain her hands over the muscles in his back, savoring the touch and texture. She released her legs from his waist and began to guide him back to the bed.
They fell back onto the bed. Ryu and Juli laughed for a moment until she got back to her feet and pulled Ryu to a sitting position. She climbed into his lap, her face holding a seductive expression, her eyes burning with lust as she moved Ryu's hands to the base of her halter top and raised her hands over her head. Getting the point, Ryu slowly pulled the top over her head, revealing her bra-encased chest.
Juli then pounced on Ryu and you can pretty much guess what happened next.
***
Midnight. It was still raining. Ryu and Juli were fast asleep, limbs intwined, a sheet covering their bodies for some modesty. Juli was on Ryu's chest, her hand on his shoulder. Ryu's large arms were draped across her back.
Juli stirred, then opened her eyes. Ryu was still fast asleep. Clothes were strewn all over the place. Ryu stirs, and awakens himself. he looked down at the woman on his chest and smiles.
"Hey," he said.
"Hi," she whispered back. She slid up his body to give him a long kiss before resting her head back on his chest. She then began to shake slightly.
Ryu looked down on her with concern. "Are you all right? Did I hurt you?"
Juli looked at Ryu and shook her head. "No, Ryu. You didn't hurt me. I know you wouldn't. Can you just hold me, please?"
Ryu complied and wrapped his arms around Juli's slender form. Once again, Juli moved up his chest so that she was resting her head underneath his chin.
They stayed like that for about three hours. Then Juli leaned upwards and pecked Ryu on the lips. She moved down, trailing kisses along his shoulder, then back up his neck. The kissing lead to more kissing and caressing and foreplay which lead up to, shall we say, 'Round 2?'
***
Morning. The rain outside has weakened somewhat, but was still going. This time, it was Ryu who had woke up first. He looked at Juli, who was this time, sleeping next to him. Still feeling drained from the previous night, Ryu opted to stay in the bed instead.
The only time either person got up was either to go to the bathroom, or to the hotel's restaurant for food. After that, they were in bed again.
The next morning, Ryu woke up, only to find Juli gone...
...and the rain had stopped.
[End Flashback/Dream]
***
Ryu woke up with a start. He was still in his study, the notes on Shotokan Karate still still in front of him. He was also sweating buckets.
Leaning back into his chair, Ryu glanced at the small digital clock. It read 7:45 a.m. He usually got up earlier than that, but had forgotten to set the alarm.
Pushing the thought of Juli out of his mind, he got up and stretched. 'Damn it. I am never going to sleep in the study again,' he thought. 'I'm sore as hell.'
He stepped out of the study...and bumped into Chun Li, who was dressed in her warmup outfit, which consits of an old blue sweater and jogging pants. her crimson-sreaked brown hair was done up in a bun.
Chun Li giggled at her grouchy-looking husband. "Good morning, sunshine," she said.
"Hardy har har. It is to laugh," Ryu replied.
"I saved you some hot water," Chun Li added.
Ryu grunted as he shambled into their bedroom.
***
-Thirty Minutes Earlier...-
The alarm clock on the nightstand began to ring. Maiya's hand made several attempts to punch the snooze button. Frustrated with her attempts, she managed to knock the offending timepiece off the nightstand, effectively silencing the bothersome object.
Groaning, she sat up in the bed and yawned. Swing her legs out to the edge of the bed, she stood up and stretched, feeling refreshed from her sleep. She threw several punches which was followed by a vertical axe kick. Gathering some articles of clothing from the dresser, and some toiletries she made for the bathroom. About ten minutes later, she emerged from the bathroom, fresh from her morning shower, and dressed in a black tanktop with the words YOU CAN FLY stitched in small text on the front and a pair of baggy sweatpants.
Pulling back her hair, she tied it into a ponytail that would remind someone of a certain zombie-killing female biker ;). She walked into the living room, gingerly stepped passed her sleeping siblings, and out the house.
Walking barefoot, she crossed the courtyard and stepped into the Shotokan Dojo. Maiya took in the simpleness of the massive training area, which was about the same size as her aunt Satsuki's kendo school in Tokyo.
[Satsuki is the Japanese Doll. Her name means May in Japanese.]
In one corner of the dojo, stood an arsenal of weapons. That caught the teen's attention. She walked over and began inspecting the weapons.
'Hmm...spears, nah...tonfas, nope...nunchucks, maybe later...ah-ha.'
Maiya stops at several Chinese-style swords. A small smile srept across her lips as she picked up two Chinese broadswords. She swung them a couple of times to test their durability, then moved to the center of the dojo.
Taking a deep breath, she began her kata. (Remember Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story, when Bruce was praticing with those two swords with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background? Maiya's form is something like that.)
Maiya Asanna Hoshi was a sword enthusiast. It was something she had picked up from her Aunt Satsuki, who, like her mother, a former Shadowlaw assassin and was an expert with swords herself. Aside from Juli training her, Satsuki had also trained Maiya in several styles of swordfighting, inclding Japanese Kendo and Chinese swordplay.
Lost in her kata, Maiya finds herself. She herself was a martial arts champion in her right, having won her first junior championship at the age of ten. Her style of sword fighting was a hybrid of both styles. She was so caught up in her praticing what she didn't notice Chun Li enter the dojo.
For a long time, the Chinese martial artist watched Ryu's Eurasian daughter, mesmerized by her skills. Chun Li herself was an expert in Chinese swordfighting, and was a former champion.
"Not bad, Maiya," Chun Li said as Maiya finished her kata.
Maiya snapped out of her daze and looked at Chun Li. "Oh. Good morning, Chun Li. I thought that I was the only one who gets up early. Where's Dad?"
"In the shower," Chun Li replied. She looked at the swords. "Those two are my favorites."
Maiya casually spun them. "I know. They're exquisite."
Chun Li moved over to the weapons stand. "If only Hanzou and Mei had your enthusiasm over weapons. They would rather fight hand-to-hand. Ryu is the same way. He learned Kendo when he was about your age along with Shotokan Karate, but is better with his hands and feet."
"If you don't mind my asking, what's your style of fighting?" Maiya asked.
"Wushu Kung Fu and Chinese Kenpo. Say..." Chun Li picks up a Chinese straight sword from the stand. "...how about a friendly match? Weapons only."
"Okay," Maiya replied. "I accept your challenge."
Chun Li smiled and turned around. "You're just like Ryu, all right. He never turns down a challenge."
Maiya backed up as Chun Li moved to the center of the dojo. "Neither did my mother. Ready?" she asked, moving into a defensive stance.
Chun Li did the same. "I'm ready."
Both women silently counted to three, then...
"YAAAAAAHHHH!!!"
"HYAAAAAHHHH!!!"
***
Back in the house, Ryu, now dressed in a grey-blue karate gi (his Champion Edition outfit) and crimson headband, stepped into the dining room, where Hanzou and Mei--now awake--were finishing their breakfast.
"Morning," Ryu greeted his two children.
"Morning, Dad," Hanzou greeted.
Mei nodded good morning, since at the present time she had a mouthful of cereal.
As Ryu moved to the kitchen to fix him a cup of lukewarm tea, the unmistakable sounds two women screaming out their battle cries, followed by the sounds of a fight, rang in from the dojo.
His two children caught the sounds as well. Ryu, not in a hurry, poured some tea into a cup, downed it in one gulp and set off towards the dojo, Hanzou and Mei following close behind.
***
Inside the dojo, the battle had waned down into a standoff, but nether Chun Li nor Maiya was ready to yield. During the battle Chun Li came up with another sword in order to fight more fairly with Maiya.
Maiya was impressed. Only one other person could have matched Chun Li's skill, and that was Satsuki.
The two charged again, swords flying, clashing against one another. Maiya knocked Chun Li's sword out of one of her hands and Chun Li reponded by doing the same thing. Maiya was moving incredibly fast, mainly because she had inherited some of her mother's Psycho Power. Chun Li herself moved with the power of the Dark Hadou, something that she had inadvertantly gotten from Ryu nearly twenty years ago.
In one giant swing, Maiya knocked the last sword out of Chun Li's hand...
...which sailed across the dojo, blade-first, like a projectile...
...and Ryu, who was standing at the dojo's entrance, alongside Hanzou and Mei, without blinking and eye, cocked his head to the side, thus avoiding the blade, and snapped his hand up and caught the sword's handle, while Hanzou and Mei ducked out of the way of the incoming weapon.
Maiya blinked. She didn't even notice Ryu and her half-siblings standing there.
"What this?" he asked. "The next thing in female bonding? Try and impaling me?"
Chun Li sheepishly grinned. "Sorry about that. Maiya's pretty good. She managed to defeat me."
"I can see that," Ryu replied.
Hanzou and Mei rushed over to Maiya and congratulated her. "That was awesome!" Mei said.
"I never saw someone beat Mom in a sword match before," Hanzou said.
Maiya beamed. "Thanks."
Ryu tossed the sword back to Chun Li, who returned the discarded weapons back to their posts. "Okay, now that I have my workout for the morning, I have to get another shower so I can be prepared for the lunch hour. Why not show Maiya around Sora and come to the restaurant for lunch?"
"Is my credit still good?" Ryu joked.
Chun Li playfully punched him on his bare arm. "You eat there for free, idiot. Keep trying your luck and next time, I'll make you pay, husband or not."
***
Later on, Ryu challenged Maiya to match. Maiya, wearing one of Mei's extra karate gis, barely defeated her father, something that Mei and Hanzou can only do when they double team him. After Ryu and Maiya had gotten cleaned up, The Shotokan master took his three children to Sora Village, where they showed Maiya around the town. After the tour, they went to Chun Li's restaurant, where they enjoyed a nice lunch. After that, Ryu and his three charges headed back home.
Little did they know that they were being followed.
***
Ryu, Hanzou, Maiya, and Mei were halfway across the dojo's courtyard when Ryu stopped in his tracks, his Dark Hadou-enhanced senses kicking into overdrive. Someone else was there with them.
Ryu spun around, tensing for a fight, his first priority was to defend his children.
Instead, two women were standing there. One was Japanese with shiny black hair twisted into a single braid, dressed in all black and was carrying a slender bundle in her right hand. Her companion was European, shorter, with chestnut bangs that was neatly arranged on her head. Unlike the Japanese woman, she was wearing a smart navy blue business suit.
Maiya recognized the two women immediately. "Aunt Juni. Aunt Satsuki." She rushed forward and first embraced the Japanese woman in a hug.
Ryu turned to Hanzou and Mei. "You two, in the house. Now."
Hanzou and Mei rushed off into the house.
Satsuki hugged her niece back. "You've grown the last time I've seen you, young Maiya."
Maiya then hugged Juni next. Juni had grown up since Ryu had last seen her some fifteen years ago. When Ryu first saw her, she was a skinny sixteen year old working as a Shadowlaw assassin. Now, at the age of thirty-one, Juni had grown (in more ways than one ;P), but still had her short hairstyle. Unlike Satsuki, who had gone legit, as well as several of the other dolls, Juni worked as an assassin-for-hire, but her cover was running a modeling agency in Honolulu.
Now she was in Japan, and had a serious score to settle with Maiya's father.
Juni pushed Maiya aside and confronted Ryu. "Hoshi," she said in a cool tone, her auburn eyes dangerous.
Ryu looked down at her. "Juni. It's been a long time."
Juni cut to the chase. "Why didn't you look for Juli when she had your child?"
Ryu sighed. He saw this coming a mile away. He responded with another question. "Why didn't Juli come looking for me?" When Juni was about to reply, Ryu continued. "Up until yesterday, I didn't even know I had another daughter, which is why I will honor Juli's final request and take in Maiya."
"What do you know about honor?" Juni shot back.
Ryu was getting peeved, but kept his control. "Apparently, I know a lot more about honor than an former assassin," he sneered, ready for anything that the assassin threw at him.
Juni's hands balled into fists. She wanted to inflict serious pain on Ryu, but not while Maiya was there watching.
Maiya saw that this was escalating into something bad. The last thing she wanted was for her father and her aunt to start fighting.
Satsuki saw Maiya's worried expression and decided to intervene. She insinuated herself between the older Japanese fighter and her partner, just as Juli was going to punch him in the face. "Juni, that's enough," she said in a calm tone. "He is right. Taking Maiya into his home is the honorable thing to do."
Juli looked at Satsuki. "Are you going to back him? Even after what he did to Juli, our sister?"
Satsuki raised a hand, silencing her furious companion. "It was not Ryu's fault that he didn't find out about Maiya when she was born. Juli just didn't know how to break the news to him. Not only that, she was constantly being pursued by Shadowlaw. If they found out that she had fathered Ryu's child, then they would have taken the both of them hostage and use them as a trump card to lure him into Shadowlaw. Eventhough it was wrong of Juli to keep this info from Ryu, she did the right thing. We all would have if we were in her place. Now if Ryu had refused to accept the fact that Maiya was his daughter, then his honor woulld be brought into question, right?"
Grudgingly, Juni nodded. Satsuki, ever the level-headed one, had effectively nailed her down. "I guess."
With Juni's anger reined in, Satsuki turned to Ryu. She cocked her head to one side and studied him for a moment before speaking. "My father once told me, 'It's pleasing to one's ancestors to see a man honored by friend and enemy alike.' I've heard a lot about you, Ryu Hoshi." She extended her hand. "I would like to shake the hand of the man who had defeated General Bison and released us from his power."
Ryu extended his hand the the two shook. "Please take care of Maiya," Satsuki said. "She needs her father now."
"I will," Ryu replied.
Satsuki relinquished her hold on Ryu and turned to Maiya. She presented Maiya with the bundle in her hand. "I have something for you."
Maiya unwrapped the bundle and gasped. In her hands was Satsuki's Murumasa sword, her favorite weapon, the blade inside a mahagony scabbard. A beautiful, yet deadly weapon.
[Note: If you don't know what a Muramasa is, it's one of the two swords that Sodom uses in Final Fight (the other is a Masamune.) and in Street Fighter Alpha 3. Cheap bastard.]
"Your sword," Maiya whispered. "Aunt Satsuki, I can't accept this. This is your most prized possession."
Again, Satsuki raised her hand, silencing the young fighter. "It's all right, young Maiya. I have no further need for it anymore. The sword needs a new master, now, and I knew how much you wanted it."
Maiya looked at her Japanese aunt, then at the sword in her hands. She pulled the sword partially out of the sheath, looking at the blade before slipping it back inside. She looked at Satsuki and bowed. "Aunt Satsuki...thank you."
Satsuki bowed back. "You're welcome."
The two former Shadowlaw assassins left without any further incident. Maiya removed the sword from its sheath and admired its blade, before once again, slipping the sword back into its sheath.
***
Nighttime. The house had settled down for the night, all except for Ryu, who was sitting on the dojo's rooftop, looking at the night sky, his mind occupied with thoughts of Juli and Maiya.
He was so caught up in his reverie that he didn't notice a pair of slender hands on the roof's edge. In a gymnastic-style move, Chun Li gracefully flipped herself onto the tile roof.
"I thought I find you here," she said, sitting next to him. "You weren't in the study. Is something wrong?"
Ryu looked at his longtime companion for a moment before staring back into the night sky. He sighed. "You know...I did love Juli...in my own way. When you dumped me in order to pursue Bison, I was crushed, so I blocked my emotions out, only focusing on the next challenge and avenging Gouken. Then that night in Hong Kong, when Juli and I had gotten together, I thought that for a while, she could replace you, despite her past. But she left me as well."
Chun Li listened in silence. Ryu was spilling his secrets out to her. Secrets he had kept for fifteen years.
"When Juli left me...to tell you the truth, I don't know I felt," Ryu continued. "So I bottled my emotions up and once the typhoon had stopped, I continued my journey. When you tracked me down in Japan and when I saw you for the first time in three years at the Interpol Building, and even when you helped me to recover from my match with Bison, the walls began to crumble. Gouken--I mean Grandfather once told me 'Man cannot live by fighting alone.' After all this time, I finally understand." He turned to Chun Li. "We've been through a lot together, the Street Fighter Tournaments, the Millenium Contest, raising our children. Please tell me that I have been a good husband for the past fifteen years."
Chun Li raised a hand and placed it on the side of Ryu's face. "Ryu...you have a lot to be proud of. You fight for what you believe in. You stood by me even at times when I pushed you away. You even turned out to be a better father than I ever thought you would be. I have my flaws, as do you, but you try to make up for them. You are a great husband. You have nothing to be ashamed of."
Ryu knew when Chun Li was being sincere, and this time, she was telling him the truth.
"You know, when I was working in Interpol," she said, "I always thought about you. How you were doing and all of that. When my father died, like you, I wanted to avenge his death, and I saw you as an obstacle, friend or no friend, lover or no lover, and I pushed you away instead of allowing you to help me. When I finally seen you after three years, half of me was happy that you were doing well, yet the other half of me was ashamed for what I did to you."
Ryu looked at her while Chun Li stared straight ahead. "You are right, Ryu. We have been though a lot together. Good and bad. We shared a lot of things together; pain, joy, sorrow, love, the Dark Hadou." She ran her slender fingers through his hair and looked at him. "I love you, husband."
Ryu moved closer to Chun Li. "And I, you, wife."
***
Inside Maiya's room, Maiya was fast asleep.
Or was she?
As Maiya layed in the bed, a woman's hand came and rested on Maiya's shoulder, gently rousing her from her slumber. "Maiya...Maiya, wake up."
Maiya opened her eyes, allowing them to focus on the figure sitting on the edge of the bed.
It was her mother.
Juli.
The former Shadowlaw assassin has aged ever so slightly, but was still an attractive woman. She was wearing a simple business suit, her favorite. Her hair was pulled into her trademark bun with several bangs framing her face.
Tears ran down Maiya's face. "Mom," she sobbed as she collapsed into her mother's arms. "Mom..." she whispered as Juli held her. "I miss you so much."
Juli held her daughter close. "I know. I know, Maiya. I miss you too."
Maiya wiped her eyes and looked at her mother. Juli smiled a gentle, reassuring smile and patted her daughter on her head. "My darling Maiya. Do not mourn my passing. You are here with Ryu and his family now. They will take good care of you."
"Mom..."
Juli looked down at her daughter and smiled. "I will always be with you, my daughter. In mind, body, and spirit. I will be with you always..."
***
Maiya opened her eyes. She was back in her room in Japan. Breathing hard, she turned to the picture of her and Juli on the nightstand.
"It was a dream," she told herself. "Just a dream..."
Maiya wasn't going back to sleep anytime soon. Instead, she took the photo in her hands and hugged it against her chest, the tears rolling down her face.
'I will not cry,' she thought. 'Mom would not like that. She would want me to be strong, for her sake. I will not mourn my mother. I have already cried my share of tears. I, like Dad, will honor her memory instead, in everything that I will do. That I promise!'
End.
Notes: Well, that's it for this side fic. Other than 'Codename Justice,' I have some other projects that I'm working on, when I'm not too occupied with my private life, that is. Here's a complete list of all the Shadowlaw dolls and their specialties:
Enero (Spanish for January) - Communications expert.
Fevrier (French for Febuary) - Markswoman.
Marz (German for March) - Information expert/computer hacker.
Aprile (Italian for April) - Field medic.
Satsuki (Japanese for May) - Expert with swords.
Juni (German for June) - Vice-commander of the Shadowlaw Dolls. Known as 'Level-Headed Silent Killer.'
Juli (German for July) - Commander of the Shadowlaw Dolls. Known as 'The Cold-Hearted Assassin.'
Santamu (Vietnamese for August) - Expert in spear combat. Has a pet monkey.
Xiayu (Chinese for September) - Expert with nunchuckus.
Jianyu (Chinese for October) - Xiayu's partner. Fights with a quarter-staff.
Noembelu (Spanish for November) - Fights with two hatchets. Possibly T. Hawk's sister.
Decapre (Russian for December) - Wears a black mask on her face.
Be on the lookout for an upgrade in my other fics and some new ones coming soon.
The Headcrook
[Flashback/Dream Sequence]
-Mandarin Imperial Hotel, Hong Kong-
Inside one of the hotel rooms, Ryu [about 15 years younger, older than Alpha version] watched the rain as it poured out over the Hong Kong skyline. A typhoon had struck the city and Ryu was forced to find a hotel to stay until the storm breaks.
It has been six months since he had tracked down Gouki Akuma somewhere in India and avenged his fallen master after a grueling and dramatic battle. In the process, Ryu himself had almost succumbed to his own Dark Hadou. Had it not been for the Kabaddi master Dhalsim, he would had sufered the same fate as did Akuma.
[Note: Kabaddi is Dhalsim's fighting style, NOT Yoga! I checked, trust me. You want a complete list of everyone's fighting styles, then e-mail me.]
The knock on his hotel door was soft that Ryu did not hear it. He heard it the second time, though. Wondering who it could be, Ryu walked over to the door and opened it.
Standing in the hallway, was Juli. Rather than her old Shadowlaw one-piece uniform, which she has long since discarded she was wearing a T-shirt over a military jacket, a scarf over her neck, a pair of black denim jeans, and her old pair of Shadowlaw-issued boots. Her hair was pulled into a neat ponytail and slung over one shoulder was a gym bag. Her left hand, which was holding an umbrella, was bandaged to the wrist, an injury she had accquired during their match three days ago.
Ryu looked at her. "I thought you left town."
Juli shook her head. "Couldn't. Aside from this injury and the fact that every plane is grounded from the typhoon, I thought it would be better it I can find a place to stay until the storm blows over. May I come in?"
Ryu stepped to the side and Juli entered the room. Closing the door, Ryu asked, "How'd you know where I was?"
Juli dropped the bag and turned around. "I'm an assassin, remember? Or used to be." She shrugged her shoulders. "Tracking down one's target is an assassin's requirements." She gave him a small smile. "It really wasn't hard, knowing where you stay and all."
"Well, at least I know you're not gonna try and kill me."
Juli gave Ryu a smug smile. "The thought crossed my mind," she said sarcastically. "But I like you, so consider youself lucky." She pulled off her jacket and tossed it in a nearby chair. "Can I take a shower?" she asked.
Ryu nodded. "There are some towels in the bathroom."
Juli nodded and walked into the bathroom, taking several articles of clothing with her. About 20 minutes later, Juli appreared, now fresh and clean from her shower. She had changed out of her clothes and into a pair of cotton shorts and a gray halter top, the straps of her bra were visible. Her hair was slightly damp and she was running a towel through it. She saw Ryu looking out at the Hong Kong skyline and joined him.
She looked out into the city. "It's really nice, despite the rain." She then looked at Ryu. "What are you thinking about?"
"My parents," he replied. "I'm three-quarters Japanese, and a quarter American. So is Ken. But I look more Japanese than American."
Juli chuckled. "I really couldn't tell," she replied. "You know, I'm actually from Europe. Germany, actually. I was born in Frankfurt, but was raised in London. That's all I can remember about my childhood. When I was thirteen, I was...'recruited' into Shadowlaw, underwent genetic enhancements, and become an assassin. After that, it gets real hazy."
"Funny. I always thought that you were English."
"Most people think that way." She looked at her bandaged wrist and rung her hand.
Ryu caught her looking at her injury and gently took the wrist in his own hand and began inspecting it. "How's your wrist doing?" he asked. Juli had sprained her wrist in their last battle and Ryu bandaged her up.
"It's doing better," she replied. "At least the pain has dulled to an ache. You do a pretty good field dressing, for a nomad."
"You learn some interesting things when you travel as much as I do," Ryu replied in a humorless tone.
He was caught off guard when Juli gently slid her hand out from his and was now holding his wrist in a gentle, but firm grip. She then placed his open palm into the side of her face. Closing her eyes, she sighed softly as she felt him caress her face.
The thought that was going through Juli's mind at the moment was, 'What the hell am I doing?' Ryu had wooed her without even trying, and the sensations that she was feeling at the moment were to her, foreign, and they scared her. But she didn't care. Ever since their first encounter, she felt a mutual attraction the Japanese martial artist and that she was with him, now, she was sure as hell not going to waste this opportunity.
Ryu was caught under Juli's spell. Sure she was a former assassin, several years older than she was, but she still held an innocent quality to her. He moved his hand from her face and moved it to the back of her head. He pulled her closer to him. He could hear Juli's breathing becoming shorter.
Ryu wrapped his free arm around Juli's waist, while at the same time, Juli wrapped her arms around Ryu's neck. At the same time, Juli stood on her tiptoes, while Ryu lowered his head. The resulting kiss was like two flammable chemicals creating fire. After what appeared to be an eternity, they parted, due to a lack of breath.
Juli was visbly trembling at this point. Ryu took notice of this. "Juli..."
She shook her head. "I'm alright, Ryu," she whispred.
They met in another kiss. This time, Juli slipped her tongue into Ryu's mouth and they wrestled for superiority for a moment. Ryu's hands went to her shapely rear and he lifted her up into the air. Juli, almost by reflex, wrapped her lithe legs around his waist as Ryu began to attack her neck and jawline with his lips as he moved to the wall, effectively pinning her. Everywhere Ryu's lips touched felt like fire, and Juli moaned in approval.
Juli's hands weren't idle. She told Ryu to stop for a moment so that she could get his tanktop off. He complied, and Juli managed to discard that bothersome piece of clothing. Even in battle, Juli knew that Ryu was muscular, but seeing him now in a sexual situation made her want him even more. He had a natural tanned complexion, his chest and arms radiating power. As they resumed kissng, Juli rain her hands over the muscles in his back, savoring the touch and texture. She released her legs from his waist and began to guide him back to the bed.
They fell back onto the bed. Ryu and Juli laughed for a moment until she got back to her feet and pulled Ryu to a sitting position. She climbed into his lap, her face holding a seductive expression, her eyes burning with lust as she moved Ryu's hands to the base of her halter top and raised her hands over her head. Getting the point, Ryu slowly pulled the top over her head, revealing her bra-encased chest.
Juli then pounced on Ryu and you can pretty much guess what happened next.
***
Midnight. It was still raining. Ryu and Juli were fast asleep, limbs intwined, a sheet covering their bodies for some modesty. Juli was on Ryu's chest, her hand on his shoulder. Ryu's large arms were draped across her back.
Juli stirred, then opened her eyes. Ryu was still fast asleep. Clothes were strewn all over the place. Ryu stirs, and awakens himself. he looked down at the woman on his chest and smiles.
"Hey," he said.
"Hi," she whispered back. She slid up his body to give him a long kiss before resting her head back on his chest. She then began to shake slightly.
Ryu looked down on her with concern. "Are you all right? Did I hurt you?"
Juli looked at Ryu and shook her head. "No, Ryu. You didn't hurt me. I know you wouldn't. Can you just hold me, please?"
Ryu complied and wrapped his arms around Juli's slender form. Once again, Juli moved up his chest so that she was resting her head underneath his chin.
They stayed like that for about three hours. Then Juli leaned upwards and pecked Ryu on the lips. She moved down, trailing kisses along his shoulder, then back up his neck. The kissing lead to more kissing and caressing and foreplay which lead up to, shall we say, 'Round 2?'
***
Morning. The rain outside has weakened somewhat, but was still going. This time, it was Ryu who had woke up first. He looked at Juli, who was this time, sleeping next to him. Still feeling drained from the previous night, Ryu opted to stay in the bed instead.
The only time either person got up was either to go to the bathroom, or to the hotel's restaurant for food. After that, they were in bed again.
The next morning, Ryu woke up, only to find Juli gone...
...and the rain had stopped.
[End Flashback/Dream]
***
Ryu woke up with a start. He was still in his study, the notes on Shotokan Karate still still in front of him. He was also sweating buckets.
Leaning back into his chair, Ryu glanced at the small digital clock. It read 7:45 a.m. He usually got up earlier than that, but had forgotten to set the alarm.
Pushing the thought of Juli out of his mind, he got up and stretched. 'Damn it. I am never going to sleep in the study again,' he thought. 'I'm sore as hell.'
He stepped out of the study...and bumped into Chun Li, who was dressed in her warmup outfit, which consits of an old blue sweater and jogging pants. her crimson-sreaked brown hair was done up in a bun.
Chun Li giggled at her grouchy-looking husband. "Good morning, sunshine," she said.
"Hardy har har. It is to laugh," Ryu replied.
"I saved you some hot water," Chun Li added.
Ryu grunted as he shambled into their bedroom.
***
-Thirty Minutes Earlier...-
The alarm clock on the nightstand began to ring. Maiya's hand made several attempts to punch the snooze button. Frustrated with her attempts, she managed to knock the offending timepiece off the nightstand, effectively silencing the bothersome object.
Groaning, she sat up in the bed and yawned. Swing her legs out to the edge of the bed, she stood up and stretched, feeling refreshed from her sleep. She threw several punches which was followed by a vertical axe kick. Gathering some articles of clothing from the dresser, and some toiletries she made for the bathroom. About ten minutes later, she emerged from the bathroom, fresh from her morning shower, and dressed in a black tanktop with the words YOU CAN FLY stitched in small text on the front and a pair of baggy sweatpants.
Pulling back her hair, she tied it into a ponytail that would remind someone of a certain zombie-killing female biker ;). She walked into the living room, gingerly stepped passed her sleeping siblings, and out the house.
Walking barefoot, she crossed the courtyard and stepped into the Shotokan Dojo. Maiya took in the simpleness of the massive training area, which was about the same size as her aunt Satsuki's kendo school in Tokyo.
[Satsuki is the Japanese Doll. Her name means May in Japanese.]
In one corner of the dojo, stood an arsenal of weapons. That caught the teen's attention. She walked over and began inspecting the weapons.
'Hmm...spears, nah...tonfas, nope...nunchucks, maybe later...ah-ha.'
Maiya stops at several Chinese-style swords. A small smile srept across her lips as she picked up two Chinese broadswords. She swung them a couple of times to test their durability, then moved to the center of the dojo.
Taking a deep breath, she began her kata. (Remember Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story, when Bruce was praticing with those two swords with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background? Maiya's form is something like that.)
Maiya Asanna Hoshi was a sword enthusiast. It was something she had picked up from her Aunt Satsuki, who, like her mother, a former Shadowlaw assassin and was an expert with swords herself. Aside from Juli training her, Satsuki had also trained Maiya in several styles of swordfighting, inclding Japanese Kendo and Chinese swordplay.
Lost in her kata, Maiya finds herself. She herself was a martial arts champion in her right, having won her first junior championship at the age of ten. Her style of sword fighting was a hybrid of both styles. She was so caught up in her praticing what she didn't notice Chun Li enter the dojo.
For a long time, the Chinese martial artist watched Ryu's Eurasian daughter, mesmerized by her skills. Chun Li herself was an expert in Chinese swordfighting, and was a former champion.
"Not bad, Maiya," Chun Li said as Maiya finished her kata.
Maiya snapped out of her daze and looked at Chun Li. "Oh. Good morning, Chun Li. I thought that I was the only one who gets up early. Where's Dad?"
"In the shower," Chun Li replied. She looked at the swords. "Those two are my favorites."
Maiya casually spun them. "I know. They're exquisite."
Chun Li moved over to the weapons stand. "If only Hanzou and Mei had your enthusiasm over weapons. They would rather fight hand-to-hand. Ryu is the same way. He learned Kendo when he was about your age along with Shotokan Karate, but is better with his hands and feet."
"If you don't mind my asking, what's your style of fighting?" Maiya asked.
"Wushu Kung Fu and Chinese Kenpo. Say..." Chun Li picks up a Chinese straight sword from the stand. "...how about a friendly match? Weapons only."
"Okay," Maiya replied. "I accept your challenge."
Chun Li smiled and turned around. "You're just like Ryu, all right. He never turns down a challenge."
Maiya backed up as Chun Li moved to the center of the dojo. "Neither did my mother. Ready?" she asked, moving into a defensive stance.
Chun Li did the same. "I'm ready."
Both women silently counted to three, then...
"YAAAAAAHHHH!!!"
"HYAAAAAHHHH!!!"
***
Back in the house, Ryu, now dressed in a grey-blue karate gi (his Champion Edition outfit) and crimson headband, stepped into the dining room, where Hanzou and Mei--now awake--were finishing their breakfast.
"Morning," Ryu greeted his two children.
"Morning, Dad," Hanzou greeted.
Mei nodded good morning, since at the present time she had a mouthful of cereal.
As Ryu moved to the kitchen to fix him a cup of lukewarm tea, the unmistakable sounds two women screaming out their battle cries, followed by the sounds of a fight, rang in from the dojo.
His two children caught the sounds as well. Ryu, not in a hurry, poured some tea into a cup, downed it in one gulp and set off towards the dojo, Hanzou and Mei following close behind.
***
Inside the dojo, the battle had waned down into a standoff, but nether Chun Li nor Maiya was ready to yield. During the battle Chun Li came up with another sword in order to fight more fairly with Maiya.
Maiya was impressed. Only one other person could have matched Chun Li's skill, and that was Satsuki.
The two charged again, swords flying, clashing against one another. Maiya knocked Chun Li's sword out of one of her hands and Chun Li reponded by doing the same thing. Maiya was moving incredibly fast, mainly because she had inherited some of her mother's Psycho Power. Chun Li herself moved with the power of the Dark Hadou, something that she had inadvertantly gotten from Ryu nearly twenty years ago.
In one giant swing, Maiya knocked the last sword out of Chun Li's hand...
...which sailed across the dojo, blade-first, like a projectile...
...and Ryu, who was standing at the dojo's entrance, alongside Hanzou and Mei, without blinking and eye, cocked his head to the side, thus avoiding the blade, and snapped his hand up and caught the sword's handle, while Hanzou and Mei ducked out of the way of the incoming weapon.
Maiya blinked. She didn't even notice Ryu and her half-siblings standing there.
"What this?" he asked. "The next thing in female bonding? Try and impaling me?"
Chun Li sheepishly grinned. "Sorry about that. Maiya's pretty good. She managed to defeat me."
"I can see that," Ryu replied.
Hanzou and Mei rushed over to Maiya and congratulated her. "That was awesome!" Mei said.
"I never saw someone beat Mom in a sword match before," Hanzou said.
Maiya beamed. "Thanks."
Ryu tossed the sword back to Chun Li, who returned the discarded weapons back to their posts. "Okay, now that I have my workout for the morning, I have to get another shower so I can be prepared for the lunch hour. Why not show Maiya around Sora and come to the restaurant for lunch?"
"Is my credit still good?" Ryu joked.
Chun Li playfully punched him on his bare arm. "You eat there for free, idiot. Keep trying your luck and next time, I'll make you pay, husband or not."
***
Later on, Ryu challenged Maiya to match. Maiya, wearing one of Mei's extra karate gis, barely defeated her father, something that Mei and Hanzou can only do when they double team him. After Ryu and Maiya had gotten cleaned up, The Shotokan master took his three children to Sora Village, where they showed Maiya around the town. After the tour, they went to Chun Li's restaurant, where they enjoyed a nice lunch. After that, Ryu and his three charges headed back home.
Little did they know that they were being followed.
***
Ryu, Hanzou, Maiya, and Mei were halfway across the dojo's courtyard when Ryu stopped in his tracks, his Dark Hadou-enhanced senses kicking into overdrive. Someone else was there with them.
Ryu spun around, tensing for a fight, his first priority was to defend his children.
Instead, two women were standing there. One was Japanese with shiny black hair twisted into a single braid, dressed in all black and was carrying a slender bundle in her right hand. Her companion was European, shorter, with chestnut bangs that was neatly arranged on her head. Unlike the Japanese woman, she was wearing a smart navy blue business suit.
Maiya recognized the two women immediately. "Aunt Juni. Aunt Satsuki." She rushed forward and first embraced the Japanese woman in a hug.
Ryu turned to Hanzou and Mei. "You two, in the house. Now."
Hanzou and Mei rushed off into the house.
Satsuki hugged her niece back. "You've grown the last time I've seen you, young Maiya."
Maiya then hugged Juni next. Juni had grown up since Ryu had last seen her some fifteen years ago. When Ryu first saw her, she was a skinny sixteen year old working as a Shadowlaw assassin. Now, at the age of thirty-one, Juni had grown (in more ways than one ;P), but still had her short hairstyle. Unlike Satsuki, who had gone legit, as well as several of the other dolls, Juni worked as an assassin-for-hire, but her cover was running a modeling agency in Honolulu.
Now she was in Japan, and had a serious score to settle with Maiya's father.
Juni pushed Maiya aside and confronted Ryu. "Hoshi," she said in a cool tone, her auburn eyes dangerous.
Ryu looked down at her. "Juni. It's been a long time."
Juni cut to the chase. "Why didn't you look for Juli when she had your child?"
Ryu sighed. He saw this coming a mile away. He responded with another question. "Why didn't Juli come looking for me?" When Juni was about to reply, Ryu continued. "Up until yesterday, I didn't even know I had another daughter, which is why I will honor Juli's final request and take in Maiya."
"What do you know about honor?" Juni shot back.
Ryu was getting peeved, but kept his control. "Apparently, I know a lot more about honor than an former assassin," he sneered, ready for anything that the assassin threw at him.
Juni's hands balled into fists. She wanted to inflict serious pain on Ryu, but not while Maiya was there watching.
Maiya saw that this was escalating into something bad. The last thing she wanted was for her father and her aunt to start fighting.
Satsuki saw Maiya's worried expression and decided to intervene. She insinuated herself between the older Japanese fighter and her partner, just as Juli was going to punch him in the face. "Juni, that's enough," she said in a calm tone. "He is right. Taking Maiya into his home is the honorable thing to do."
Juli looked at Satsuki. "Are you going to back him? Even after what he did to Juli, our sister?"
Satsuki raised a hand, silencing her furious companion. "It was not Ryu's fault that he didn't find out about Maiya when she was born. Juli just didn't know how to break the news to him. Not only that, she was constantly being pursued by Shadowlaw. If they found out that she had fathered Ryu's child, then they would have taken the both of them hostage and use them as a trump card to lure him into Shadowlaw. Eventhough it was wrong of Juli to keep this info from Ryu, she did the right thing. We all would have if we were in her place. Now if Ryu had refused to accept the fact that Maiya was his daughter, then his honor woulld be brought into question, right?"
Grudgingly, Juni nodded. Satsuki, ever the level-headed one, had effectively nailed her down. "I guess."
With Juni's anger reined in, Satsuki turned to Ryu. She cocked her head to one side and studied him for a moment before speaking. "My father once told me, 'It's pleasing to one's ancestors to see a man honored by friend and enemy alike.' I've heard a lot about you, Ryu Hoshi." She extended her hand. "I would like to shake the hand of the man who had defeated General Bison and released us from his power."
Ryu extended his hand the the two shook. "Please take care of Maiya," Satsuki said. "She needs her father now."
"I will," Ryu replied.
Satsuki relinquished her hold on Ryu and turned to Maiya. She presented Maiya with the bundle in her hand. "I have something for you."
Maiya unwrapped the bundle and gasped. In her hands was Satsuki's Murumasa sword, her favorite weapon, the blade inside a mahagony scabbard. A beautiful, yet deadly weapon.
[Note: If you don't know what a Muramasa is, it's one of the two swords that Sodom uses in Final Fight (the other is a Masamune.) and in Street Fighter Alpha 3. Cheap bastard.]
"Your sword," Maiya whispered. "Aunt Satsuki, I can't accept this. This is your most prized possession."
Again, Satsuki raised her hand, silencing the young fighter. "It's all right, young Maiya. I have no further need for it anymore. The sword needs a new master, now, and I knew how much you wanted it."
Maiya looked at her Japanese aunt, then at the sword in her hands. She pulled the sword partially out of the sheath, looking at the blade before slipping it back inside. She looked at Satsuki and bowed. "Aunt Satsuki...thank you."
Satsuki bowed back. "You're welcome."
The two former Shadowlaw assassins left without any further incident. Maiya removed the sword from its sheath and admired its blade, before once again, slipping the sword back into its sheath.
***
Nighttime. The house had settled down for the night, all except for Ryu, who was sitting on the dojo's rooftop, looking at the night sky, his mind occupied with thoughts of Juli and Maiya.
He was so caught up in his reverie that he didn't notice a pair of slender hands on the roof's edge. In a gymnastic-style move, Chun Li gracefully flipped herself onto the tile roof.
"I thought I find you here," she said, sitting next to him. "You weren't in the study. Is something wrong?"
Ryu looked at his longtime companion for a moment before staring back into the night sky. He sighed. "You know...I did love Juli...in my own way. When you dumped me in order to pursue Bison, I was crushed, so I blocked my emotions out, only focusing on the next challenge and avenging Gouken. Then that night in Hong Kong, when Juli and I had gotten together, I thought that for a while, she could replace you, despite her past. But she left me as well."
Chun Li listened in silence. Ryu was spilling his secrets out to her. Secrets he had kept for fifteen years.
"When Juli left me...to tell you the truth, I don't know I felt," Ryu continued. "So I bottled my emotions up and once the typhoon had stopped, I continued my journey. When you tracked me down in Japan and when I saw you for the first time in three years at the Interpol Building, and even when you helped me to recover from my match with Bison, the walls began to crumble. Gouken--I mean Grandfather once told me 'Man cannot live by fighting alone.' After all this time, I finally understand." He turned to Chun Li. "We've been through a lot together, the Street Fighter Tournaments, the Millenium Contest, raising our children. Please tell me that I have been a good husband for the past fifteen years."
Chun Li raised a hand and placed it on the side of Ryu's face. "Ryu...you have a lot to be proud of. You fight for what you believe in. You stood by me even at times when I pushed you away. You even turned out to be a better father than I ever thought you would be. I have my flaws, as do you, but you try to make up for them. You are a great husband. You have nothing to be ashamed of."
Ryu knew when Chun Li was being sincere, and this time, she was telling him the truth.
"You know, when I was working in Interpol," she said, "I always thought about you. How you were doing and all of that. When my father died, like you, I wanted to avenge his death, and I saw you as an obstacle, friend or no friend, lover or no lover, and I pushed you away instead of allowing you to help me. When I finally seen you after three years, half of me was happy that you were doing well, yet the other half of me was ashamed for what I did to you."
Ryu looked at her while Chun Li stared straight ahead. "You are right, Ryu. We have been though a lot together. Good and bad. We shared a lot of things together; pain, joy, sorrow, love, the Dark Hadou." She ran her slender fingers through his hair and looked at him. "I love you, husband."
Ryu moved closer to Chun Li. "And I, you, wife."
***
Inside Maiya's room, Maiya was fast asleep.
Or was she?
As Maiya layed in the bed, a woman's hand came and rested on Maiya's shoulder, gently rousing her from her slumber. "Maiya...Maiya, wake up."
Maiya opened her eyes, allowing them to focus on the figure sitting on the edge of the bed.
It was her mother.
Juli.
The former Shadowlaw assassin has aged ever so slightly, but was still an attractive woman. She was wearing a simple business suit, her favorite. Her hair was pulled into her trademark bun with several bangs framing her face.
Tears ran down Maiya's face. "Mom," she sobbed as she collapsed into her mother's arms. "Mom..." she whispered as Juli held her. "I miss you so much."
Juli held her daughter close. "I know. I know, Maiya. I miss you too."
Maiya wiped her eyes and looked at her mother. Juli smiled a gentle, reassuring smile and patted her daughter on her head. "My darling Maiya. Do not mourn my passing. You are here with Ryu and his family now. They will take good care of you."
"Mom..."
Juli looked down at her daughter and smiled. "I will always be with you, my daughter. In mind, body, and spirit. I will be with you always..."
***
Maiya opened her eyes. She was back in her room in Japan. Breathing hard, she turned to the picture of her and Juli on the nightstand.
"It was a dream," she told herself. "Just a dream..."
Maiya wasn't going back to sleep anytime soon. Instead, she took the photo in her hands and hugged it against her chest, the tears rolling down her face.
'I will not cry,' she thought. 'Mom would not like that. She would want me to be strong, for her sake. I will not mourn my mother. I have already cried my share of tears. I, like Dad, will honor her memory instead, in everything that I will do. That I promise!'
End.
Notes: Well, that's it for this side fic. Other than 'Codename Justice,' I have some other projects that I'm working on, when I'm not too occupied with my private life, that is. Here's a complete list of all the Shadowlaw dolls and their specialties:
Enero (Spanish for January) - Communications expert.
Fevrier (French for Febuary) - Markswoman.
Marz (German for March) - Information expert/computer hacker.
Aprile (Italian for April) - Field medic.
Satsuki (Japanese for May) - Expert with swords.
Juni (German for June) - Vice-commander of the Shadowlaw Dolls. Known as 'Level-Headed Silent Killer.'
Juli (German for July) - Commander of the Shadowlaw Dolls. Known as 'The Cold-Hearted Assassin.'
Santamu (Vietnamese for August) - Expert in spear combat. Has a pet monkey.
Xiayu (Chinese for September) - Expert with nunchuckus.
Jianyu (Chinese for October) - Xiayu's partner. Fights with a quarter-staff.
Noembelu (Spanish for November) - Fights with two hatchets. Possibly T. Hawk's sister.
Decapre (Russian for December) - Wears a black mask on her face.
Be on the lookout for an upgrade in my other fics and some new ones coming soon.
The Headcrook
