Guile-
I'm sorry. Wagner can explain. This is something I have to do. Please don't try and stop me. I took money from your ATM. I'll be fine, and home soon. I'm sorry again. I love you both.
-Cammy
Guile's fingers gripped the note tightly as he read it a second time, making sure he wasn't seeing things. He wasn't. He stormed out of his bed and into Cammy's room. The first light of morning shone on her empty bed. Guile yelled.
"WAGNER!"
A few moments later Wagner groggily stumbled by Guile's side wearing only his boxer shorts. He rubbed his eyes and spoke.
"What's wrong?"
Guile shoved the note in Wagner's face and yelled.
"What the hell is she talking about?"
Wagner took the note from Guile and read.
"Oh my God, Guile, she promised me she wouldn't go."
"Go where?"
"She's been going to street fights. They were triggering memories from her past."
"And you were a part of this?"
"No, no. I followed her last night to the fight. She was hurt. I made her promise me she wouldn't go to the next one. And she said okay. I thought it was over."
"Wagner, this is really important. Where's the next fight?"
"New Orleans."
"Shit!"
"What?"
"…Shadowlaw."
--
Cammy rose from her bus seat and winced. She placed her hand on the bandages Wagner had placed on her back only hours ago. Technically she hadn't agreed not to go, so she didn't lie to him. It didn't stop her from feeling guilty. And she had taken Guile's money. It wasn't hard. His ATM code was her father's birthday. She took only how much she would need. Enough for a bus ticket and a few nights at any hotel she could find. Luckily there was one near the bus station. Cammy headed in that direction but changed her mind, figuring it would be the first place Guile would look for her. So she walked down the busy streets of New Orleans. It was already beginning to get hot. After two hours of walking, she came upon a Motel 6. It would work just fine. She checked in, using an alias, and paid in cash.
Soon Cammy was in her hotel room. She pulled the paper from her pocket. Check-in for the tournament wasn't for another hour. She decided to go on now and have a look around the tournament site. It wasn't like she could sleep. Cammy looked in the mirror at her image. She spoke out loud.
"Soon I'll know everything and I can finally go on with my life.
After arriving at the site, Cammy looked around in wonder. It was huge, a real fighting arena. She couldn't imagine herself fighting here. But she was going to do it. There were vendors coating the sides of the hall leading to the arena. And the people. There wasn't even a fight today and the crowd was gigantic. Cammy scanned the crowd. So many different people, fighters mostly, didn't wander like her. They knew what this was, had done it hundreds of times before. Suddenly she stopped as her breath caught and her heart skipped a beat.
She saw him across the large hall. Ken. There wasn't a doubt in her mind that that strawberry blonde hair and red gi belonged to him. People passed by her frozen form, some muttering for her to not stand in the way. She didn't care. He turned, smile on his face and Cammy held her breath as her eyes widened. It was him. He stopped, leaned forward and squinted. She nodded her head as if to tell him that it was in fact her.
Then she ran for him. Pushing through the crowd, nearly tripping once, she slammed into his open arms.
"Oh, Ken."
He rubbed his hands up and down her back.
"Cammy, what are you doing here?"
"It doesn't matter right now."
She pulled away from him and looked into his comforting brown eyes; the eyes that had held her together for so long. She smiled and spoke.
"I love you."
He put his hands on her arms.
"Let's go. We have to talk."
--
Julian walked away from the check-in station, files under his arm. Everything was going alright for the tournament. He was nervous being back in the states. It was his first time back since, since he killed that man. After his fight with Vega, Julian had been quite calm, and accepting to everything Shadowlaw was telling him to do. He was defeated. The more he fought them the more he turned into someone he didn't want to be. He was still haunted by Vega's words. He couldn't turn into someone as heartless has him, but the problem was, had he already? Julian shook his head, dismissing the thought from his mind. If he was like Vega he wouldn't be worrying about it right now. He would find his way out of this hell somehow.
He arrived in the back office and began flipping through the sign in sheets. Then he found what he was looking for. Ken was here.
"Dammit."
He left the papers strewn across a table in the back office area and ran into the arena. He had to find Ken and tell him not to fight. There were so many people here already. There was no way he would find Ken in this crowd at least not without being noticed. He went outside and sat down. The sun beat down on his shoulders and it felt good. He loved his freedom. That's way he would be stuck the rest of his life. He sighed deeply. He'd go back and get Ken's file, and call his hotel room. That was better than trying to find him in this mass of people. Sometimes he got so worried and angry about things he didn't think logically. Julian kind of laughed to himself and stood to reenter the arena. He looked to the busy street and froze. He saw Ken getting into a taxi cab, with a girl. Julian looked closer. When the door shut and the girl turned he saw a scar running along the left side of her face. It was Cammy.
"Oh God, I have to stop Vega before he finds out."
--
Cammy felt so happy just riding in the cab with Ken. He didn't say much of anything. Cammy guessed he wanted privacy to talk to her. They arrived at a huge and elegant hotel. Cammy was in awe. She laughed to herself. Ken questioned her.
"What's so funny?"
"I'm staying at the Motel 6."
"Oh. Well I have the suite."
She smiled at him.
"Figures."
"Well you get used to it."
Upon entering his room Cammy sat down on the lush sofa and Ken sat across from her. He rubbed his hands together nervously.
"Cammy, some things have changed since we last saw each other."
Cammy blurted in a burst of emotion.
"I didn't mean what I said to you that night. I was just scared."
"I didn't mean what I said either, but…"
He grabbed her hand and linked his fingers through hers. She stood and sat next to him.
"Ken, when you told me you loved me did you know it would take me the rest of my life, to get over the feeling of knowing my dream didn't turn out right? When you let me believe that you weren't complete without me by your side…"
"How could I know, that you would go, that you would run. Cammy, I thought you were the one."
"Why can't we just leave it all behind?"
"Things are different."
"Does it matter? Ken, I remembered that you saved me. Or tried to, but I was under their control."
She ran her finger along his nose, feeling a bump. He grabbed her hand and pulled it away. She spoke.
"I did that."
"Yes. You did."
"See, I remember. I know you love me."
She stood, urging him to rise with her. She pulled herself into his embrace and he returned it. The phone rang suddenly. Ken reached over, unplugged it, and returned to her arms. Cammy let her hand slide down the side of Ken's face. Her finger trailed across his lips, taking in their softness, their warmth. His breath was hot as he spoke to her.
"Cammy…"
"Shhh."
She moved her hand from his lips and put it on his chest, over his heart. Almost becoming lost in his drowning brown eyes, she spoke softly. Her words were breathy, her voice deeper, sensual even.
"I never stopped loving you."
She waited. Scared of her honesty. Waited. For a reaction, something, anything. Ken placed his hand on top of hers. He laced his fingers between hers and squeezed as her spoke, bringing his face closer. Cammy held her breath as his lips brushed her own.
"I love you so much."
Her body crumbled into his. He caught her with his lips. They kissed frantically, as if they just found one another and soon would be lost again. Cammy ran her hands along Ken's body. Every touch brought a reaction from him. She pulled his shirt over his head and pressed herself against the bare skin of his chest. Ken pulled her back, looked at her face longingly, and then softly kissed her neck. He grabbed the hem of her shirt and lifted it off. Cammy breathed in deeply. He whispered in her ear.
"Are you okay?"
She shuddered as his breath tickled her ear before answering.
"Yes."
He caressed her cheek; she pressed her forehead to his and cherished every part of him. His face, his eyes, everything. She drew him closer and they kissed. They kissed again and again, questing for more. Nibbling, licking, absorbing every thrilling sensation. Cammy felt as if she were floating. Then she realized that Ken was carrying her. She kissed him, brushing his lips softly. He broke from the kiss to speak.
"Sometimes when I look at you, I have to remind myself to breathe."
Still dazed she blinked. She hadn't expected such romantic words. He pushed the quilt off the bed he had led her to and set her down on the cool sheets. Cammy pulled him onto the bed and they tumbled over the sheets, kissing and dragging off their remaining clothes. Then they made love. Slow and easy, yet brimming with passion. She had what she wanted and gave willingly, her body and her heart. This was more than sex she told herself. Cammy whispered as she curled her body into the curve of the already sleeping Ken's.
"So much more."