Chapter Three: More Secrets

Ryu woke up with a start. He wasn't in Fei's flat in Hong Kong. He was in his study in Sora. 'That night with Juli...' He shook his head, shaking the cobwebs out of his head.

He looked at the clock. It read 8:00 a.m. He stood up and begin to stretch. 'Aagh...no more sleeping in the study.' Moving around the cluttered desk, Ryu slid the door open and walked out of the study and down the hallway, where he ran into Chun Li, who was already dressed in a white haltertop and blue and yellow track pants.

The former Interpol agent looked at her frumpled husband and giggled. "Good morning, sunshine."

Ryu sneered at his wife. "Har har."

Chun Li pecked her husband on the cheek. "There's some hot water left for you."

Ryu nodded and shambled into the bedroom, closing the door behind him.

-Thirty minutes earlier...-

Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Be-THUD.

A hand came out from the mess of covers and made several attempts to shut off the digital alarm clock on the nightstand, until the hand managed to sweep the offending timepiece off the small table and landed on the floor, silencing it.

With a yawn, Kirina Houshi kicked the covers off and assumed a sitting position, her hair in complete disarray, swinging her legs over the side of her bed. Standing up, she began to stretch, just like her mother taught her to work the knots out of her muscles.

She walked to the open balcony door and stepped outside. The entire balcony went around the entire second floor as she took in the wiew of the Japanese conutryside. The small resort town of Sora was partially hidden through the massive forest and to her left, the metropolis of Tokyo was just fifteen miles away.

Now fully awake and alert, Kirina walked back inside her room and headed to her open suitcase. Pulling out some articles of clothing and a towel from the bureau drawer. Using expertise stealth taught to her by her aunts, she crept to the bathroom and closed the door behind her.

Minutes later, she emerged from the bathroom, fresh and clean from her shower. She was dressed in a black tanktop and white track pants with black trim. Combing out her hair and setting it into her usual style (think Samanouske from Onimusha 3, only more...feminine), and walked down the stairs, past her sleeping siblings and Sakura in the living room, and out the door. She was heading towards the dojo.

Sliding the door open and stepping inside, Kirina looked around the dojo, taking in its simplicity. The dojo itself was about smaller than Satsuki's dojo, but she had to admit that her father had goot taste.

Her eyes came across an assortment of weapons lined up on a rack. 'Looks like dad and Chun have good taste in weaponry,' Kirina thought as she walked over to the weapons rack and inspected the weapons. She stopped when she came across a set of swords. Looking over them she stopped and picked up a Japanese Katana, resting inside its scabbard.

'Hmm...' Kirina picked up the sword and began inspecting it, checking the blade, just as Satsuki has taught her. 'Good sword. Dad definitely has good taste. I thought he only knew Shotokan Karate.'

Aside from learning Shadowlaw commando techniques from her mother and Juni (her mother had called the style Shadowlaw jujitsu), Kirina Houshi was also a rabid sword enthusiast. Satsuki had taught her kenjutsu and Kirina had picked up on the training regime very quickly. She even came up with some techniques of her own.

Walking into the center of the dojo, Kirina started to pratice. To someone watching the eldest daughter of Ryu, it was as if watching a beautiful, yet deadly ballet as Kirina executed a flawless kata with the sword, as if the weapon was an extension of her own body.

"You're pretty good with that sword there," Chun Li said as she watched from the open door.

Kirina turned around. "Oh. Good morning, Chun Li."

Chun Li stepped into the dojo. "Who taught you? Your mother?"

Kirina shook her head. "No. My aunt Satsuki taught me." She looked at the sword. "I like swords."

"So does Ryu," Chun Li replied. "He may not look like it, but he used to be quite the kendoist. He pratices every now and then." She turns to the rack and pulls out a Chinese straight sword. "Say, I'm also an expert with swords. How about a friendly little match?"

Kirina recognized it as a challenge. "You want to fight me in a sword match?"

"Of course."

Kirina smiled evilly. "Okay. I accept." She assumed a classic kendo stance. "I should warn you though, Chun Li. Don't underestimate me."

Chun Li went into her own stance. "The same goes for you."

Back in the house, Ryu emerges from the stairs, looking refreshed from his shower, dressed in a simple shirt and a pair of khaki cargo pants. Upon entering the kitchen, he found Hanzou, Mei and Sakura at the table, eating breakfast.

"Morning, Dad," his two kids greeted.

Ryu reponded with a nod. He then looked at Sakura. "Don't you ever go home?" he asked in a humorous tone.

Sakura stuck her tongue out at her sensei. "Good morning to you too."

Ryu merely grinned and poured himself a glass of iced tea. As he was taking a sip, two female voices were heard from the dojo, followed by the sounds of serious swordplay.

"HYAAAAAAA!"

"YAAAAAHHH!"

The screams startled the occupants, save Ryu, who was drinking his tea. After finishing his tea, Ryu headed for the dojo, Sakura and the kids following him.

The match between the two women was intense. Chun Li had to give Kirina credit. She was better that she had hoped for as she deflected and parried Kirina's attacks. Kirina was thinking along the same lines about Chun Li as she was forced on the defensive.

In one move, Chun Li disarmed Kirina, sending her sword across the dojo. Showing off her gymnastic ability, Kirina backflips away from Chun Li and retrieves her weapon. Once the katana was back in her hands, Kirina attacked with a vertical slash, which Chun Li deflected and countered by once again knocking Kirina's sword out of her hand.

Unfortunately this time, the sword sailed like a projectile, blade-first towards the open shoji door...

..only to be caught by Ryu, as Sakura and the kids ducked out of harm's way.

Kirina looked up, just in time to see her father catch the weapon. Putting one hand behind her head, she smiled sheepishly at her father. "Sorry, Dad. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Ryu replied, walking into the dojo, still holding the katana. "So what's this? The next thing in female bonding? 'Stick the male family head?'"

"I found her in here and I challenged her to a duel," Chun Li admitted. "Sorry, Ryu."

"Oh, sure. I don't mind being impaled by my own sword."

"You know kendo?" Kirina asked.

Ryu shrugged his shoulders. "Only a little. I prefer using my bare hands, though." He walked over to the weapons stand and sheathed the katana. He then turned to Chun Li. "We'll wait for Ken and Cammy to show up. Then we'll head for the restaurant, okay?"

Chun Li nodded. "Okay. Why's Cammy coming with Ken?"

"Ken called and said that Cammy was hitching a ride with him to Japan. She's on medical leave, and wanted to visit us."

"Who's Ken and Cammy?" Kirina asked.

"Ken is a longtime friend of mine," Ryu explained, "not to mention my biggest rival. We trained together and whenever he is in town, he comes by here to spar. Cammy, like your mother and your aunts, is a former Shadowlaw assassin who decided to go good. She works for British Intelligence."

"Oh. Well do you mind if I stay in the dojo and pratice for a while?" Kirina asked.

"I don't mind. Go ahead."

-Later on...-

A black BMW sedan pulls down the worn pathway of the Shotokan School and parks in front of the dojo. The two front doors and the rear passenger door opens, reveraling three people; a man, a woman and a teenage boy of twelve.

Ken Masters looked around the Shotokan School and the cottage. "Wow. This place hasn't changed a bit."

Camilla White also looked around. "Does Ryu know that we're coming?"

Ken nodded. "I talked to him when Mel and I arrived."

Following the Millenium Contest fiasco in Osaka, Cammy was rescued from Bison and was cleansed fron the brainwashing. She returned to work for Delta Red and ended getting married and having a child. Her daughter was back in London with her husband.

Ken was still the undisputed Pan-American champion and vice-president of operation at the Masters Foundation. He was still hapilly married to Eliza and his rivalry with Guile had simmered down somewhat.

Mel looked around. "Is Uncle Ryu here? Looks like no one home?"

Ken was on his way to the dojo. "He may be praticing, as usual."

Upon entering the dojo, Ken, Cammy, and Mel were surprised to see that it was not Ryu, but a slender Eurasian teenager with auburn hair and wearing track pants and a tanktop praticing in the dojo. The trio watched as the girl adjusted a pratice dummy in the middle of the dojo before taking several steps back.

They watched in surprise as the girl ran a couple of steps, and performed a forward handspring. She then jumped into the air, flipping as she tucked her body into a tight ball. When she was close enough, the girl grabbed the dummy by its shoulders, flipped, and slammed it headfirst onto the floor.

Cammy recognized that move. She slipped off her sandals and walked into the dojo. "Hey!" she called out. "That's a modified Hooligan Combination! Where'd you learn that?"

The girl turned around. "Who are you?"

Before Cammy could answer, Ryu appeared from behind Ken. "You're late," he remarked dryly.

All three persons turned around. Ken greeted Ryu in their usual way. He raised one hand, balled into a fist and Ryu slammed his fist into Ken's before the two men embraced like longtime brothers.

"It's been a while, Masters," Ryu said. "I thought you forgot all about us over here."

Ken grinned. "Well, you owe me a rematch. In fact, several."

Ryu turned from Ken and patted Mel on the head. "How you've been, kid? Your father's been teaching you right?"

"Yeah!" Mel replied. "How you've been, Uncle Ryu?"

"Good." He turned to Kirina and beckoned her over to him. "This may come as a shock to all of you, believe me. Ken, Mel, Cammy...this is Kirina...my daughter."

Following the initial shock, Ryu explained to Ken, Mel, and Cammy about what had happened, and why Kirina was with him.

"I was wondering how she learned the Hooligan Combination from," Cammy said. "Only two people know that move: Juni and myself."

"It was Aunt Juni who taught me that move," Kirina confirmed.

"So what happened to Juli?" Cammy asked.

"She passed away from cancer a week ago."

Cammy lowered her head. "I'm sorry."

"But why so long to tell Ryu about you?" Ken asked.

Kirina shrugged her shoulders. "Your guess is good as mine."

Ryu watched the dialogue between his daughter and three friends with approval. Then he snapped his head into the direction of the front door and stood up.

Kirina looked at her father. "What is it?"

Ryu was on his way to the door. "We have company."

There were two women standng outside of the Shotokan School when Ryu and company showed up. The first was Japanese, with short brown hair and clear matching eyes. She was dressed in a simple grey-blue and white hakama with sandals. In one hand, she was holding a slender bundle, concealed in cloth.

The second woman was German, with short chestnut-brown hair and brown eyes that were at the moment staring down at Ryu. She was dressed in a sharp three-piece business suit, all black with a yellow necktie.

Kirina smiles as she rushes over to her aunts and embraced them. "Aunt Juni. Aunt Satsuki."

Ryu turned to Mel. "Mel, please go inside the cottage."

Mel nods and rushed back inside.

When the greetings were over, Juni gently moved Kirina to the side and approached Ryu, while Ken and Cammy moved to the side.

"Ryu Hoshi," Juni stated cooly.

Kirina was surprised by the sudden change of tone in her voice. Satsuki also noticed it and didn't like where this was going.

"Juni," Ryu replied, folding his arms across his chest.

"Why?" Juni demanded.

Ryu blinked. "Excuse me?"

"This is all your fault!" Juni said. "You corrupted Juli! Why didn't you come for her when she gave birth to your child?"

"I didn't know she was pregant with Kirina," Ryu replied calmly. "I did not know that I had another daughter until yesterday."

"That's no excuse!" Juni shouted. "She used to be a great fighter! But she gave it all up so that she can raise Kirina all by herself!"

Ryu was starting to get irritated. "Spare me the sob story, Juni, and get to the point."

Juni poked one finger into Ryu's chest. "You clam to have honor, but when it came to your daughter, you have absolutely none!"

"Apparently," Ryu replied, brushing Juni's finger to the side, "I know a lot more about honor than a former assassin who kills people behind their back."

That did it for Juni. She cocked one fist back and swung, hoping to take Ryu's head off. Ryu merely parried the attack. Juni then leapt into the air, leg extended into a spinning back kick.

Ryu, however, was also in the air, spinning, the familiar phrase of "Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku!" ringing out as he executed his Hurricane Gale Kick.

Juni saw the move coming but it was too late. Ryu's leg caught her in the midsection and she was thrown back to where Satsuki was standing.

As Juni got to her feet, the wind knocked out of her, Ryu, in a quick, praticed motion, pulls out his crimson headband and ties it around his forehead, keeping the bangs out of his eyes. Raising both hands, he balled them into fists, cracking the knuckles, and went into his classic fighting stance.

"Juni," Satsuki insisted, knowing full well that this was a battle that her partner could not win. "Let it be."

Juni shrugged Satsuki off. "No. Ryu had this coming for a long time." With a yell, she charged.

Ryu, with an amused expression on his face as Juni attacked, throwing punches and kicks at the battle-hardened Shotokan master, who dodges, blocked, and deflected the blows.

"You're boring me, Juni," Ryu said.

Juni growled internally. 'Damn him!' She jumped into thair and did a move that Ryu recognized: the Hooligan Combination. However Ryu knocked Juni out of it with his Dragon Punch.

Watching the match, Kirina noted that Juni, who usually calm whenever she fights, was in a full rage as she attacked her father, only to be knocked back again. Her father, on the other hand was not hurrying in his attacks, and had a calm look on his face.

When Juni threw a haymaker at Ryu, he stopped the blow by grabbing her wrist. He then headbutted her and proceeded to fight back, seeing how this has gone on long enough. Kirina watched as her father begin to methodically take apart her aunt, who she thought was one of the best fighters in the dolls.

When Juni was beaten throughly, Ryu executed a perfect Joudan Sokutou Geri...

...and stopped a mere inch from Juni's face.

"It's over, Juni," Ryu stated flatly, lowering his leg and turning around. Juni, drained from the battle, simply sank to her knees, head lowered.

"I hate you," Juni whispered. "Juli was strong...so strong..."

Ryu turned around and looked at the pitiful sight in front of him. Consoling Juni was the last thing on his mind when Kirina walked over to the defeated woman. Kneeling in front of her, Kirina placed one hand on Juni's shoulder.

"Aunt Juni," Kirina whispered. "You're right. Mom was, and still is strong. But she wan't being strong for your sake. She was being strong for me." She looked at Ryu. "I know you obviously don't like Dad, but this is what Mom wanted. She only wants what's best for me. Ryu really is an honorable man for taking me in. Just try and get along with him for me. Please?"

Juni looked at her niece and absorbed her words. As much as she hates to admit it, Kirina was right. Kirina then helped her to her feet then took her place at her father's side.

Juni glared at Ryu. "If you mistreat her in any way and I find out about it...I will come after you and rip your head off," she said.

Ryu said nothing.

With that out of the way, Satsuki stepped forward, still holding the bundle in her hand, and faced Ryu. "How you've been, oniisan?" she asked.

That caught everyone's attention.

"Wait..." Ken started.

Kirina blinked. "You're Dad's..."

"Sister?!" Juni finished.

Ryu nodded. "Yes. Satsuki here is my younger sister."

"But I thought you were the only child," Ken pointed out.

Ryu looked at Ken. "I didn't find out about this until after Chun Li and I had gotten engaged. My mother was pregant when her and my dad got into that car accident. Dad died instantly, but Mom held on long enough to give birth to my sister, whom with her last breath, named her 'May.' The American authorities, not knowing that Satsuki had a older brother and grandfather, placed her in a orphanage."

"And I was adopted by a Shadowlaw technician who raised me as her own daughter," Satsuki finished. "I found out about me and Ryu when Shadowlaw was destroyed and I was loking for information on my family." She gave everyone a small smile. "Imagine a Shadowlaw doll the estranged sister of Ryu Hoshi. If Bison found out about that when he was looking for him, he'd have a fit, seeing how the best way to get Ryu was under his nose. It was also Juli who ordered me to watch Ryu, to make sure that he was safe until the time came to tell him about Kirina."

The Japanese kendoist turned to Kirina. "I have something for you, Kirina." Satsuki presented the bundle to Kirina.

Kirina accepted the gift and undid the string that was securing the cloth covering. The gift turned out to be an Japanese Murumasa sword, resting inside a mahagoany sheath.

Kirina immediately recognized the weapon. "Aunt Satsuki...this is your sword." She looked at Satsuki. "I...I can't accept this."

Satsuki shook her head. "It's all right, Kirina. I know how much you liked this weapon and right now, it needs a new master. Please. Take it."

Seeing as her aunt would not take no for an answer, Kirina grasped the handle of the sword and pulled, exposing the blade. She inspected the sword, just as Satsuki has taught her. Her eyes came on several Japanese kanji that were close to the hilt. "Fuu...rin...kaa...zan...? Wind...forest...fire...and mountain?"

Satsuki looked at Ryu. "I got the term from your father a long time ago, and had it etched into the sword."

"But what does it mean?" Kirina asked.

Ryu spoke for Satsuki. "Fuurinkaazan means, 'move fast like the wind, be silent like the forest, fierce like the fire, and steady like the mountain.' It's a phrase that Shingen Takeda used and had on his banner during the feudal period."

Kirina sheathed the sword and looked at Satsuki. "Thank you, Aunt Satsuki," she said, bowing.

Satsuki nodded in return and turned to her older brother. "Ryu...thank you for taking Kirina in. Juli would be proud."

Ryu nodded. "I know, oneechan. However, something's been bothering me. Why wait until now to tell me that I had another daughter?"

"It was Juli's wish," Satsuki replied. "Juli--as well as all of us--were on the run from Shadowlaw and if they had found out that she had your daughter, they they would have tried everything they can to use that against you. That's why Juli kept it hidden from you after all these years."

"But still," Ryu pointed out. "I feel like a deadbeat for not knowing."

"Oniisan, it is not your fault," Satsuki insisted. "So stop worrying. Just take care of your daughter. It's what Juli wanted of you." She then gives Ryu a hug. "I believe in you, big brother."

Ryu returns the hug. "Thanks...I think..."

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 Kirina.

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 thirteen 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 thirteen 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 Kirina's room, Kirina's was fast asleep.

Or was she?

As Kirina layed in the bed, a woman's hand came and rested on Kirina's shoulder, gently rousing her from her slumber. "Kirina...Kirina, wake up."

Kirina 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 Kirina'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, Kirina. I miss you too."

Kirina wiped her eyes and looked at her mother. Juli smiled a gentle, reassuring smile and patted her daughter on her head. "My darling Kirina. 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..."

Kirina 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..."

Kirina 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.

"You're right, Mom," Kirina said to herself. "You're right. I hope you can rest in peace. I won't cry over you anymore. But I will miss you. For your sake...and my own...I will honor your memory in everything that I do. This I promise."

End.