Life's Precious Moments
Author's Notes: More updates. Now that the first match set of the tournament is over, wouldn't it be appropriate to kick back and relax? The tournament bracket has also been updated to reflect the latest results.
DeNice: I suppose I owe you an apology for not realizing how deeply you identified with your character. I didn't mean to portray Darrell in a negative light; I thought it was obvious from the following paragraph that McGrath knew Darrell was joking around with him. Otherwise why would he conclude that Darrell had bought a farewell present for Sakura? So consider this an explanation and a formal apology. (But next time you spot an OOC moment, tell me before this sort of thing happens again.)
Osaka, Japan
One day has passed
A steaming plate of fish wended its way to the veterans' table, brought by a smiling waitress. She set down the dish and the table occupants needed no second bidding, pausing only to let Sagat say grace. Then, with a gleeful cry of "Every man for himself!", Captain Commando led the charge upon the oversized platter. The veterans' table had thinned recently, but at the moment Commando, Sagat, M. Bison, Gen, McGrath, and Regina were the six present. Conspicuously absent were Demitri Maximoff, Mike Haggar, Rose and Gill, the last of whom was currently deep in a strategy meeting with high-ranking Illuminati officers. Gen's restaurant, close to the hotel, was rapidly becoming a focus of gossip and night life. The veterans were mostly cheerful and animated, with one exception.
"What's eating you up, doctor?" Sagat asked, at the same time plopping a slice of fish down his mouth.
"Real funny, Sagat. I'm worried about all these disappearances, that's what." McGrath twirled a fork and neatly carved a piece of fish with it.
"You still think my sister has something to do with it, don't you?" Regina asked.
"If I did, I would have tried to confront her about it already," McGrath answered flatly. "No, I simply don't know, and that's what worries me most of all. I'm not used to dancing with an opponent that I can't see. So far I haven't definitely ruled anyone out yet." He glanced up at Regina. "Regina ... is there a chance that I might be able to forfeit my next match and concentrate solely on the investigation?"
She shrugged. "You'd have to ask Jedah or Gill, I've no authority in this matter."
"You really think it's that important, huh?" Sagat asked.
McGrath nodded firmly. "Yes. This reminds me more than anything else of the second World Warrior tournament; Bison gathered his enemies into one place, intending to destroy them. As we all know, that didn't exactly happen. Though I wonder why anyone would want to kidnap people like us?" He sighed deeply and stared at a slice of fish without eating it. "Regina, isn't there some way you could find out where these missing people had gone?"
"I'm sorry, but I can't, not while my power is limited by a human body," Regina replied. "I wish I could help you, I really do, doctor. Wherever they are, even my senses can't find them, and they aren't in Heaven, I know that for certain. I've asked my sister, but she's silent on the subject. If Marin is the one doing this, however, I believe that she has only their safety in mind."
"Really?" McGrath replied doubtfully.
Regina nodded; on the other side of the table, Commando finished telling a joke and half the table erupted into laughter. McGrath abruptly stood up. "Pardon me, please. I have to get back to the investigation. Gen, it was an excellent meal." He nodded and walked away without another word while Regina sighed in sympathy.
Ryu went through a bowl of noodles as McGrath left the restaurant, attempting to eat and speak with Ken at the same time. "What are you going to do, Ken, now that your team is out of the tournament?"
"Dunno about Sean and Kenneth, but I'm sticking around." Ken glanced around the room, taking it in with a single glance. He was wearing the sweater that Regina had knitted for him and he turned to wink at Ryu. "Plenty of attractive ladies here, huh? I'm sure that at least one of them would be willing to go out with m-"
Gouken cleared his throat.
"With, uh ... Mel! Yeah, that's right," Ken finished lamely. "Hey, a father's got to look out for his son, right?"
Ryu sighed sadly. "Ken ... ever since you married Eliza, you haven't kept up with your training, have you? It's sad, really ... you've been my best rival for the longest time. Now ..."
"Sorry, Ryu old buddy, but the fight my life ain't. I have a family to feed and clothe, you know." Ken leaned back into his chair. "A studio's already signed up with me to make a movie about the World Collision tournament once this is all over. Fancy that, huh? I bet it'd make a great show - all the passion, the drama, the intensity of so many excellent fighters gathering under one roof. Blast it, I'm starting to sound like you, Ryu. I got to stop with this act." Ken laughed; after a moment, so did Ryu and Gouken.
"I see ..." Ryu murmured.
Gouken leaned over and whispered into Ryu's ears. "Don't be so disappointed, son. Even if you never meet another strong opponent, Ken is still your friend, isn't he? And you can always fight with me, even if I'm no longer in your league."
"True that," Ryu replied doubtfully. Then, out loud, "By the way, did you two catch the news?"
"About what?" Ken asked, a wafer of bread vanishing into his mouth.
"They found two bodies this morning, killed by Dadallent," Ryu answered. "One of them was Kenneth with his Shadow technology awakened; I've fought the man before and it wasn't an easy fight. The other one ... was me, Ryu of Awakened Killing Intent."
Gouken frowned and asked, "Just how dangerous is this Chaos Prince of yours, anyway?"
"Very," Ryu answered gravely, no longer paying any attention to his food. "Ken and I once fought him, two on one. That was seven years ago and we both nearly lost our lives in the match. He only appeared a few years after your death, dad, but he casts a very long shadow in the fighters' world. He's killed many, many masters, people that I knew, fought, respected, sometimes learned from or studied under. You know how unbelievably skilled Dr. McGrath has become, right? And you've also heard of Gill, no doubt. Dadallent fought the two over a span of five years. Gill and McGrath are far above my level -"
"Not mine," Ken interrupted gleefully.
"- but ... both of them, I think, fear Dadallent," Ryu continued. "Or maybe fear him is the wrong way to say it. McGrath said that he fears what Dadallent is capable of becoming, and I don't know what he means by that."
"So powerful that even Ernest fears him ...?" Gouken mused to himself.
"So I hope that I get to meet him somewhere down the line during the tournament," Ryu finished. "It'll be interesting to see how much he's improved over the past seven years, when Ken and I last fought him. And safe, since the tournament rules forbid lethal attacks."
"What a depressing subject," Ken muttered. "Why don't we talk about better things, eh? Here, give me a second." Ken stood up and went to the military table. As Ryu and Gouken watched, he drew Samantha McGrath out of her chair and escorted her to his table, pulling out a seat for her before sitting down himself. "Samantha, this is my former instructor, Gouken. Gouken, this is Samantha, wife of Ernest McGrath."
"Yes, we've previously met," Gouken said.
"Pleased to join you this evening," Samantha answered courteously. "I tell my husband to worry less since the IDC has dispatched a special task force to investigate the mysteries surrounding the tournament, but Ernest is forever troubling himself over such matters."
"Well, I heard that Cody isn't doing so hot," Ken noted, trying to change the subject. "He's in jail on assault and battery charges. They're taking him back to Metro City in two days for trial. I say that he had it coming. Good show when you beat him up earlier, Samantha." To this Samantha said nothing in reply. After an uncomfortable silence, Ken ventured another tentative question. "Samantha, my memory isn't as good as it used to be, but ... didn't you and I attend Harvard together?"
"Yes, we did," Samantha answered. "I remember you quite distinctly. You and I attended the same Health class, you as a fourth-year student and I in my first semester. Back then, you were already a well-known screen actor. You were surrounded by women. I wished to make your acquaintance, yet I was a virtually unknown girl in a public institution for the first time, whereas you were the famous and brilliant Ken Masters. If I recall correctly, you never did answer a letter that I wrote to you. You were madly in love with ... Eliza, I believe her name was, and you never spoke to or even looked at me."
"Wha -?!" Ken demanded, not believing what he heard, while Gouken and Ryu had doubled up trying to suppress peals of laughter. "Now wait a minute here! You're telling me that you wrote me a letter, and that I neglected to answer someone as beautiful, intelligent, courageous, and desirable as you, Samantha?"
Samantha smiled. "Thank you for the compliments, Ken, but my heart now belongs to another man."
"Well, you can't blame me for trying, right?" Ken ran a hand through his hair. "I graduated that year. What about you?"
"I ... I graduated a year early," Samantha said. "But I fled my home not more than a month after and I was a fugitive for nearly half a year. Perhaps you remember that time? The media devoured the news rather hungrily, if my memory serves."
"Wait a minute!" Ken exclaimed. "You mean that you were the same Samantha Trevors who prompted a nation-wide hunt when you disappeared from home? You were over the news for weeks, if not months! Heck, I think that I even volunteered to help look once. So you actually ran away ... what happened, huh? The police said that they thought you were kidnapped! Who was it? How'd it end? Was it the IDC that had you abducted?"
"Ken ..." Gouken began warningly as he saw how Samantha had fallen completely silent.
"It is a painful tale," Samantha said quietly, "and I do not wish to remember it tonight."
At the military table, Blake Wallis nudged his fellow Phantom and indicated Ken with a twist of his head. Lloyd was seated to his right and bent slightly closer to listen. "Psst, hey, Lloyd. If he makes a move on Samantha, should we tell the doctor or just beat the fool up ourselves?"
"I wouldn't worry about the bloke, Blake," Lloyd answered. "Samantha is faithful enough to her husband."
"Oh, I ain't worried about Samantha. It's that joker who wears the red uniform that I'm worried about." Blake leaned in closer, at the same time reaching into Lloyd's great overcoat and borrowing a Sparrow dagger that the British man had somehow slipped through security. "You know that sweater he's wearing? Regina herself made it for him; I heard it took her three full days. And now Ken has his sights set on Samantha ... come to think of it, didn't he make a pass at her before the tournament began? What do we do? Strangulation? Water torture? Shock therapy?"
"Nothing," Lloyd replied. "Samantha can fend for herself. Cheers." He raised his glass and toasted the table.
"You might tip off Gill that Ken has a romantic interest in Regina," Cammy suggested from Lloyd's right.
Blake instantly brightened. "Hey, that isn't such a bad idea! I can't wait to see Ken's look when Gill drops a bunch of asteroids on his head. And then Gill will beat him up physically. Ooh, this is getting better by the second." Blake rubbed his hands gleefully, looking for all practical purposes like one of Satan's more mischievous henchmen. He tried to steal another weapon off Lloyd, running into the Lunar staff as he reached for an extra dagger. How in the world had Lloyd managed to sneak his staff through security? Then Lloyd reached down and caught Blake's wrist, gently pushing it aside.
"Blake, you know, there's a difference between prophylactic action and sadism," Cammy pointed out, rather disturbed by how pleased Blake seemed to be.
"Not to me there ain't," Blake answered instantly. "Hey, Guile! Watch Ken for me, okay? If your brother-in-law makes any moves on Samantha, let me know. Ernest taught me his MAXIMUM Mayhem Rampage yesterday and I'm dying for a chance to try it out. But for now, lemme get his mind off her." Guile snorted at this obvious lie and rolled his eyes. Blake winked at him and at Scott Wagner, then stood up and strode to the karaoke platform located at the center and back of the restaurant. To his right, Cammy frowned but said nothing.
Blake cleared his throat discreetly. "Ahem. May I have your attention please? Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, I'm Blake Wallis and I'll be singing again for you tonight. Let's hear the song requests, okay? As usual, the beautiful women get priority over everyone else." He jumped up as Maki whipped at his ankles with a steel flail borrowed from Lloyd, still grinning like the cat that caught the mouse. "Well, how about it?"
"Ooh, sing 'Quietly Love Grew Strong' for us, Blake!" Chan called. She was resting her head on Hiryu's shoulder and otherwise looking quite contented with herself. The ninja strider had an arm around her waist and was holding a glass of wine in his other hand, his scarf pulled down low so that his entire face was exposed. They had a table to themselves, back in a shaded corner of the restaurant where the poor lighting made it difficult to look at them directly.
"I said beautiful women get priority, Chan," Blake shot back instantly, and he ducked gamely as Chan sent a razor-sharp slice of wind his way. "You want that one, eh?" Blake flipped through the albums, then frowned. "They don't have the soundtrack here, Chan. I need the music or else ... wait, never mind. All you, captain." Blake nodded in appreciation; from somewhere, Captain Commando produced an old-fashioned guitar and strummed the strings, humming a tune. He found a key that he liked and began to play the music.
"His singing is awful," Sean complained in a low voice as Blake began to croon the words.
"No kidding," Kenneth Feng answered, trying to muffle his ears in a discreet manner.
From the military table, Charlie made a motion as if to propose throwing a rotten orange at Blake. This was vetoed by Juli and Guile, while Cammy picked idly at a roasted quail. Lloyd, who wore a cynical smile, twisted his body as Maki tried to steal a Sparrow dagger and caused it to prick her finger. The Bushin ninja yanked her hand back with an oath as Lloyd sipped from a cup of tea. Zeku shook an admonishing finger at Maki. Satisfied that his arsenal was intact, at least for the moment, Lloyd glanced to the side at Samantha. Even as he watched, she stood up and thanked the men at the table. Then she stepped through the press and gracefully wended her way back to the military side.
"Now at last ... we can talk ... in another way ..." Blake sang. Or screeched, according to various opinions.
"Such a beautiful song ..." Regina sighed, eyes glistening with unshed tears.
Meanwhile, Chan's hopes had been completely dashed by Blake's awful rendering of the music. To be fair, Commando was an excellent guitar player, but Blake ... His singing is awful. Exceptionally awful. It wasn't supposed to work like this, he was supposed to sing better! Yes, and once he got to the second chorus line, "Now at last, we can talk in another way," then I'd look up at Hiryu ... and fix my puppy eyes on him ... and he'd draw me closer. And then, right at the "I wanted just to be with you" line, we'd close our eyes and share a long, passionate kiss ...
"You have an excellent taste in music," Hiryu observed.
That brought Chan up short. I do? He thinks that I have an excellent taste in music? Ah, what's this warm feeling bubbling up in my heart ... maybe we'll get to kiss, after all. Hiryu, you're so wonderful ... even if you did jilt me earlier ... but that's not going to happen again, is it? On the other hand, one never knew with men. She needed ... guarantees, more than Hiryu's repeated but half-hearted assurances. Chan risked a glance at Regina. Perhaps the goddess could be persuaded to dabble in love potions?
"I had so much I longed to ask you ... but now the chance is gone ..." Blake sang.
"This is why we should never have allowed him to sing such a sappy song," Kirina growled, clapping both hands over her ears. She glanced around the table and dropped her voice lower. "Psst. Darrell, Kikoken, Sakura, Kenneth, Mitsu, let's try something after Blake finishes this current song ..." Quite secretly, she sketched out a simple plan of action that met with universal approval from all present at the table.
Blake finished the sad romantic song and bowed as scattered applause, delivered mostly out of courtesy, came from various tables. "Thank you, thank you, ladies and gentlemen. For my next piece, does anybody have a song in mind ... 'Great Gathering of Virtue,' Juli? Okay, let's see ... yes, they have it! Here goes -"
Kirina swore. "Blast it. We have to act now." Then, raising her voice, she called out, "Blake, you've monopolized the stage enough for a night, how about letting us have a turn, hmm?"
Blake halted in mid-note, shrugged, and nodded. "Go ahead. My singing was starting to get on my nerves anyway. If you're taking requests, though -" Kirina made it clear that she wasn't, at least not from him. "Hmph. Ah, well, what gives? Hello, Lloyd, Samantha. Hope I didn't ruin our reputation with my melodious singing." He sat back and laughed.
"Blake, have you heard that Cody is being deported to America in two days?" Maki asked.
"Nope. What for?"
"To stand trial on assault and battery charges, of course. They say that the evidence is strongest there."
Blake frowned. "But the crime was committed here ... why would they send him back to Metro City ...?" Unless ... unless it was a setup, he realized grimly. They mean to frame him for any number of crimes, of course; Cody already has a criminal record in the States. As if the situation with Haggar wasn't enough already. Speaking of which ... "Any news from Guy?" Blake asked.
"He arrived safely," Samantha offered.
"Good. One less worry off our minds," Blake replied.
Osaka, Japan
Three days have passed
"Excuse me, but would anyone here like to play a game of 'Fortune Special' with me?" Standing in the entrance to the lounge room, Regina held up a deck stacked with cards. She was wearing a plain brown skirt, a pair of sandals, a black blouse with a small brown vest over it, and looking as effortlessly beautiful as she always did. She seated herself on the Oriental rug in the center of the room and began to lay out the cards.
"Fortune Special? What's that?" Ken asked as he plopped down.
"Just a simple card game, the object being to get rid of all your cards." Regina leaned in as more people began to cluster around her. "The catch is, however, that whatever is written on the card will come true, one way or the other; I'll see to that. But don't worry, it's mostly harmless, nothing like 'You are destined to destroy the world.' Well, who's in? Oh, so many people! Thank you!" She shuffled the deck thoroughly and placed it on the center of the rug. "You start, Ruby. Then we'll go clockwise, ending with me. Draw five cards; afterwards, you'll have one opportunity to exchange up to four cards for another draw. Your cards enable you to perform a variety of actions, usually on the person next to you. If you have any questions, be sure to ask me, since this game can become complicated. Ready? Let's deal."
"I think that this is pure nonsense, but whatever, I'm in," Bison added, finding himself a space in the circle.
Ruby Heart studied her hand and frowned. These cards ... they looked just like ordinary playing cards, but on the face side there were incredibly beautiful pictures meticulously drawn into each card. In fact, now that she looked closer, it seemed that the picture on the card gave off a 3D-like holographic impression. Then the picture under her hand actually moved and she whistled; magic, no doubt. The text at the bottom of the card seemed to swirl before coalescing into a readable text. These things would be worth a fortune on the market. She glanced at the inscription on the bottom of each card and decided to trade in four of the cards in her hand, drawing four more from the deck. Her last card, though ... she glanced at Kirina, who was on her immediate left, and smiled evilly.
"Are you not joining us?" Regina asked.
"No thanks," McGrath replied. He was sitting in a wooden chair and studying a scrap of paper, pencil in hand. "I have my own ways of keeping amused." He glanced around the room, smiling cynically to himself. Besides Regina and Ruby Heart, down the line there was Kirina with Kenneth Feng looking over her shoulder, Vega next to Kirina, then Scott Wagner, then Ryu, then Alex, then Chun-Li, then Mason Storm, then M. Bison, then Sakura with Darrell, then Ken, then Blake and finally back to Regina again. McGrath sighed and went back to his work; this particular proof was a killer. Lloyd, Hiryu, Maki, Sagat, Chan, and Charlie also contented themselves with watching.
"Aw, come on, doc, you sure?" Blake called.
"Maybe if I finish my work in time," McGrath answered.
"Then let's start," Regina said. "Remember, each turn you may only play a single card unless there's an effect that overrides this rule."
"Okay, here goes." Ruby Heart laid down her first card and read it aloud in a clear voice. "'Someone will call the next player 'Mama' very soon, forfeit her next turn to see to the child.'" She glanced up expectantly at Kirina as she finished, her one good eye almost daring the girl to call the gambit.
Kirina giggled. "Let me get this straight, Regina; anything that's on a card will come true?"
"Why, yes," Regina answered sweetly. "And I'll add a special bonus for the winner. I will grant him or her a wish!"
Kirina collapsed laughing and gradually most of the others joined her, including Ryu. "Oh, hee hee hee, that's just too good, Regina! Ha ha ha ... I know you're a goddess, but ... being a mother, this is ... hee hee hee ... a little ridiculous, don't you think ... ha ha ha -"
"Nice joke, Regina," Blake added, elbowing Regina gently.
"Like I said, pure nonsense," Bison sniffed.
"Hee hee hee ... me, a mother at the tender age of fifteen ...? Ha ha ha ... honestly, Ruby ..." Kirina gasped out, trying hard to control her laughter, "... at least you could've put something ... hee hee ... that was ... believable, ha ha ha ... well, anyway, it's your turn, porcelain face," Kirina continued, slapping Vega on the back, "since somebody knocked mine off with a ridiculous prediction ... hee hee hee ... sorry, it's just too funny -"
"MAMA!"
Kirina's eyes exploded into the size of teacups. Bison's eyes bulged; even Ruby Heart seemed startled, while Ryu had turned as pale as a sheet. Blake Wallis gave off a low whistle of disbelief. In an instant, it seemed that everyone was looking for either the child or the most likely culprit. Kirina's eyes whipped around in every direction before seeing the person who had called her. "Risa, what're you doing here?"
"Come and play with me, mama 'Rina!" Five-year-old Risa Shoukimenji climbed into Kirina's lap dragging a doll in one hand.
"I promise you, I had nothing to do with this!" Kenneth Feng cried as Sagat, Ryu, and Charlie closed in on him in a menacing fashion.
"Risa's a cute little girl that I met in Osaka," Kirina explained. "She usually calls me mama 'Rina."
"Oh. And I was about to Shoryuken him all the way to the States ..." Ryu seemed singularly disappointed, but he and Sagat and Charlie pulled Kenneth upright. They'd been ready to lynch him a moment earlier. Charlie muttered something to Sagat and they both resumed watching.
"Time for beauty to shine brightest," Vega declared, and he laid down his card looking quite pleased with himself, reading it for the benefit of all. "'The next player annoys others with his incessant muttering and must draw a card to appease his fellow players.' Eat it, Wagner!"
Scott frowned, then threw down a card in response. "'As a herald for the good fortune about to come your way, you have reversed the effects of a previous card.' Your little trick is up, Vega."
"Bah, it was worth a try ..." Vega muttered. "Well, get on with it."
"No, you first have to draw a card," Regina interrupted. "Scott reversed the effect of the card, which means that what was intended for him has now been passed to you. It's a counter play and technically still your turn, Vega, so you'll have to draw a card and then let Scott play his hand."
Vega grumbled to himself as he reached for a card. Scott looked through his hand and studied each card in turn, trying to decide what he wanted to do. At the same time, an errant flea jumped onto Vega's back and began hopping its way up. Then it bit him, right on his exposed neck. Vega felt the sting and rubbed the back of his neck, whereupon the flea took the opportunity to bite him on the hand. Annoyed, the Spaniard muttered an oath and twisted his head. At this point, the flea hopped into his hair and bit yet again. Vega clenched his teeth and made a quick swipe at his hair. The flea dodged the grab and dropped down to Vega's nose. His eyes widened as he saw what it was. "Get it off me - owwwwww!" Vega cried, as the flea sank its fangs into his vulnerable nose. He dropped to the ground, whimpering.
"Hey, it came true after all!" Blake exclaimed.
"Of course it did," Regina answered with a sweet smile.
Scott Wagner laughed then. "Well, I'm really glad that it didn't happen to me. You alright there, Vega?" When a stream of invective came back, Scott took it as a negative response. "Man, blow up at me, why don't you? You started this mess." Still cursing, Vega abandoned his cards and stormed out of the lounge, Bison sneering as he did so. "What a wuss. Oh, well," Scott hummed to himself as he picked his card. "'The next person down is about to be scared very, very badly.' There you go, Ryu."
"This I have to see," Ryu replied. "I've faced everything there is, nothing will scare me!"
"Heh, I can't wait to see this one," Blake confided to Regina as he watched and waited.
Ryu picked out a card and was about to play it when he jumped up as though fired from a cannon. "Aaaah!!! Get it off, get it off of me!" he screamed. He scrambled up a couch in the blink of an eye, staring at the place where he'd been seated but a moment ago. A large wolf spider was bunched up and Blake had to decide whether it or Ryu was the one looking more scared. Then the spider jumped a good half meter towards the exit and Ryu yelped, jerking instinctively before his wits could catch up with him.
"Dad's afraid of spiders," Kirina confided to Kenneth.
From the other side of the room, McGrath shook his head slowly. "What am I going to do with you, Ryu? You outweigh it by a couple thousand factors." He made a repelling motion, fingers unfurling as he launched an invisible projectile. It hit the spider, which went tumbling out of the room head over multiple legs. Ryu remained perched on the sofa for a full minute after the exit. McGrath muttered something to himself and returned to studying his problem, while Regina jumped up and ran out of the room for an instant to see if the spider had been hurt in any way. Pride injured, Ryu picked out his next card and laid it down with a vengeance. "'The next player will mop the room clean and forfeit his next turn. As compensation, he may discard a card from his hand.' There you go, Alex."
"Psh, this is ridiculous," Alex replied. "Mop the room clean? And how's that supposed to happen?"
Sagat cleared his throat. "Well, the goddess did say that everything has to come true ..."
"And so far it has ..." Charlie continued.
"And we see no reason why you ought to break the trend," Maki concluded.
"Hey, this isn't funny!" Alex shouted as a mop was unceremoniously shoved into his hands. Sagat and Charlie picked him up and set him to sweeping, while somewhere Maki procured an apron. "At least discard my middle card for me, okay?" Alex pleaded. Most of the others broke into fits of laughter seeing Alex reduced to the rank of janitor.
They must be enjoying this game, Regina thought happily to herself. I didn't even have to arrange anything that time.
"My turn." Chun-Li rubbed her hands in anticipation. "My deck isn't so great, but I do have this! 'Give one of your cards to the person immediately before you and sing a song to go with it.'" Chun-Li gave a rendition of a Chinese bedtime song while everyone else thanked his or her lucky stars that Blake wasn't the one who'd played the card. She curtseyed as she finished, drawing applause from everyone present. Alex looked at the card that Chun-Li gave him and cursed; it was the exact same one that he'd discarded previously.
Next in line, Mason laid down his card of choice. "'The next player will remove his cape after it has become unusable.' Not the worst I had, but I figured you'd enjoy this more than anything else, Bison."
Bison sneered. "Oh yeah? I have something better! 'The person directly before you will be chased all over the hotel and forfeit his next turn.' Have fun, Mr. Storm."
Mason guffawed. "Chased all over the hotel? And who's going to do the chasing, huh? I haven't ran from anything since I went cow-tipping with Blake Wallis before the tournament! C'mon, Regina, I dare you to throw whatever you have at me." Still laughing to himself, Mason failed to notice Sagat and Charlie wink at each other, nor Regina's secretive smile. As it turned out, Sagat and Charlie's services were not required. Another person walked into the room, holding a bouquet of flowers in hand.
"Excuse me," Kikoken began, "but has anyone here seen Mason Storm?" Then, when she caught sight of him ... "Mason, honey!"
"Ahhh ... um, we're kinda busy, Kikoken!" Mason jumped up as Kikoken neared, racing to him with flowers in hand. "Look, now's a really bad time, okay? Aah!" He jumped back when Kikoken tried to present the flowers to him. Mason took to running, Kikoken chasing him around the room calling out romantic pick-up lines. "Kikoken, I'm married!" Mason cried desperately.
"I'm not going to fall for that again!" Kikoken declared as she and Mason ran another circuit.
"Nooooo, and I'd just finished cleaning this part of the room!" Alex wailed as Mason stormed by. As Kikoken came around, she accidentally tripped over the pail of water, which sent the contents flying - directly into Bison's uniform. The Lord of Shadowlaw jumped up, but his reaction wasn't quick enough to prevent him from being completely drenched; instead, his cape caught the dirty water head-on. In the ensuing chaos, Mason took advantage of Kikoken's temporary disability to rush out of the room. A moment later Kikoken was hot on his heels. Bison swore lividly as he tore his cape off and threw it aside.
"Crazy game ..." Charlie muttered.
"My turn!" Sakura picked out her card and laid it flat on the expensive Oriental rug. "'Lucky! This card grants you immunity to all effects for one turn.' Woohoo!"
"Well, it's my turn to go," Ken said. "'Scales of Justice. All cards are automatically reshuffled and reassigned. Using this ability will embarrass you later.' Heh, embarrass me? I'm a Hollywood star, nothing embarrasses me! Well, here goes!" He laid down the card and right before his very eyes the pictures and text on his cards blurred out, reforming into a totally different hand after several moments of activity. "Drat, got absolutely nothing out of that. Kinda like the time I took Erin to a fancy restaurant - oops! No, wait, I meant Eliza! Eliza!"
Blake roared with laughter. "That's a nice one, Ken! Let's see you try to pick up Samantha after your wife hears about this," he added in a whisper, and Ken shot him a dirty glare. "Well, I don't know about you," Blake continued, completely ignoring Ken, "but your rearrangement certainly helped me a lot."
"Mind if I join in?" McGrath set his pencil aside as Regina dealt him a stack of cards. "Finally finished this little problem. Just an exercise to keep my brain in top condition." He found a spot after Regina and glanced through his hand without further comment.
"Well, it's my turn," Blake Wallis said. "'The next person will see something that she considers impossible.' Well, how's that, Regina?"
"Sounds exciting," Regina replied, eyes shining. "Here's my play. 'Annihilator's hand. All opponents must draw one card each.'" She smiled sweetly as groans came from all sides, everyone reaching for a card. Sakura laughed, as she was immune to effects for a turn. Then McGrath called Regina's attention back. "Regina, the card is changing."
"What?" Regina looked down at the card and stared as she did so. McGrath had picked it up, but Regina could see that it had begun shifting colors and text. "That's impossible ..." she breathed. "Once played, a card and a future are both set. What could it change into?" When McGrath did not answer but his brow furrowed, Regina pressed her question. "Doctor? What is it?" He looked up and shook his head slowly. Then he folded his hand upside-down into carpet and stood up, tossing the card. It fluttered through the air and landed facedown as McGrath slowly walked out of the room, deep in thought. What could be on his mind now? Regina wondered, reaching for the card. It was certainly strange enough ... then she turned over the card and had her answer. The picture was a portrait of a sealed and bound scroll. What disturbed Regina more was the inscription underneath that she read aloud.
Ernest McGrath will be the next person to vanish in this tournament.
Author's Notes: More updates. Now that the first match set of the tournament is over, wouldn't it be appropriate to kick back and relax? The tournament bracket has also been updated to reflect the latest results.
DeNice: I suppose I owe you an apology for not realizing how deeply you identified with your character. I didn't mean to portray Darrell in a negative light; I thought it was obvious from the following paragraph that McGrath knew Darrell was joking around with him. Otherwise why would he conclude that Darrell had bought a farewell present for Sakura? So consider this an explanation and a formal apology. (But next time you spot an OOC moment, tell me before this sort of thing happens again.)
Osaka, Japan
One day has passed
A steaming plate of fish wended its way to the veterans' table, brought by a smiling waitress. She set down the dish and the table occupants needed no second bidding, pausing only to let Sagat say grace. Then, with a gleeful cry of "Every man for himself!", Captain Commando led the charge upon the oversized platter. The veterans' table had thinned recently, but at the moment Commando, Sagat, M. Bison, Gen, McGrath, and Regina were the six present. Conspicuously absent were Demitri Maximoff, Mike Haggar, Rose and Gill, the last of whom was currently deep in a strategy meeting with high-ranking Illuminati officers. Gen's restaurant, close to the hotel, was rapidly becoming a focus of gossip and night life. The veterans were mostly cheerful and animated, with one exception.
"What's eating you up, doctor?" Sagat asked, at the same time plopping a slice of fish down his mouth.
"Real funny, Sagat. I'm worried about all these disappearances, that's what." McGrath twirled a fork and neatly carved a piece of fish with it.
"You still think my sister has something to do with it, don't you?" Regina asked.
"If I did, I would have tried to confront her about it already," McGrath answered flatly. "No, I simply don't know, and that's what worries me most of all. I'm not used to dancing with an opponent that I can't see. So far I haven't definitely ruled anyone out yet." He glanced up at Regina. "Regina ... is there a chance that I might be able to forfeit my next match and concentrate solely on the investigation?"
She shrugged. "You'd have to ask Jedah or Gill, I've no authority in this matter."
"You really think it's that important, huh?" Sagat asked.
McGrath nodded firmly. "Yes. This reminds me more than anything else of the second World Warrior tournament; Bison gathered his enemies into one place, intending to destroy them. As we all know, that didn't exactly happen. Though I wonder why anyone would want to kidnap people like us?" He sighed deeply and stared at a slice of fish without eating it. "Regina, isn't there some way you could find out where these missing people had gone?"
"I'm sorry, but I can't, not while my power is limited by a human body," Regina replied. "I wish I could help you, I really do, doctor. Wherever they are, even my senses can't find them, and they aren't in Heaven, I know that for certain. I've asked my sister, but she's silent on the subject. If Marin is the one doing this, however, I believe that she has only their safety in mind."
"Really?" McGrath replied doubtfully.
Regina nodded; on the other side of the table, Commando finished telling a joke and half the table erupted into laughter. McGrath abruptly stood up. "Pardon me, please. I have to get back to the investigation. Gen, it was an excellent meal." He nodded and walked away without another word while Regina sighed in sympathy.
Ryu went through a bowl of noodles as McGrath left the restaurant, attempting to eat and speak with Ken at the same time. "What are you going to do, Ken, now that your team is out of the tournament?"
"Dunno about Sean and Kenneth, but I'm sticking around." Ken glanced around the room, taking it in with a single glance. He was wearing the sweater that Regina had knitted for him and he turned to wink at Ryu. "Plenty of attractive ladies here, huh? I'm sure that at least one of them would be willing to go out with m-"
Gouken cleared his throat.
"With, uh ... Mel! Yeah, that's right," Ken finished lamely. "Hey, a father's got to look out for his son, right?"
Ryu sighed sadly. "Ken ... ever since you married Eliza, you haven't kept up with your training, have you? It's sad, really ... you've been my best rival for the longest time. Now ..."
"Sorry, Ryu old buddy, but the fight my life ain't. I have a family to feed and clothe, you know." Ken leaned back into his chair. "A studio's already signed up with me to make a movie about the World Collision tournament once this is all over. Fancy that, huh? I bet it'd make a great show - all the passion, the drama, the intensity of so many excellent fighters gathering under one roof. Blast it, I'm starting to sound like you, Ryu. I got to stop with this act." Ken laughed; after a moment, so did Ryu and Gouken.
"I see ..." Ryu murmured.
Gouken leaned over and whispered into Ryu's ears. "Don't be so disappointed, son. Even if you never meet another strong opponent, Ken is still your friend, isn't he? And you can always fight with me, even if I'm no longer in your league."
"True that," Ryu replied doubtfully. Then, out loud, "By the way, did you two catch the news?"
"About what?" Ken asked, a wafer of bread vanishing into his mouth.
"They found two bodies this morning, killed by Dadallent," Ryu answered. "One of them was Kenneth with his Shadow technology awakened; I've fought the man before and it wasn't an easy fight. The other one ... was me, Ryu of Awakened Killing Intent."
Gouken frowned and asked, "Just how dangerous is this Chaos Prince of yours, anyway?"
"Very," Ryu answered gravely, no longer paying any attention to his food. "Ken and I once fought him, two on one. That was seven years ago and we both nearly lost our lives in the match. He only appeared a few years after your death, dad, but he casts a very long shadow in the fighters' world. He's killed many, many masters, people that I knew, fought, respected, sometimes learned from or studied under. You know how unbelievably skilled Dr. McGrath has become, right? And you've also heard of Gill, no doubt. Dadallent fought the two over a span of five years. Gill and McGrath are far above my level -"
"Not mine," Ken interrupted gleefully.
"- but ... both of them, I think, fear Dadallent," Ryu continued. "Or maybe fear him is the wrong way to say it. McGrath said that he fears what Dadallent is capable of becoming, and I don't know what he means by that."
"So powerful that even Ernest fears him ...?" Gouken mused to himself.
"So I hope that I get to meet him somewhere down the line during the tournament," Ryu finished. "It'll be interesting to see how much he's improved over the past seven years, when Ken and I last fought him. And safe, since the tournament rules forbid lethal attacks."
"What a depressing subject," Ken muttered. "Why don't we talk about better things, eh? Here, give me a second." Ken stood up and went to the military table. As Ryu and Gouken watched, he drew Samantha McGrath out of her chair and escorted her to his table, pulling out a seat for her before sitting down himself. "Samantha, this is my former instructor, Gouken. Gouken, this is Samantha, wife of Ernest McGrath."
"Yes, we've previously met," Gouken said.
"Pleased to join you this evening," Samantha answered courteously. "I tell my husband to worry less since the IDC has dispatched a special task force to investigate the mysteries surrounding the tournament, but Ernest is forever troubling himself over such matters."
"Well, I heard that Cody isn't doing so hot," Ken noted, trying to change the subject. "He's in jail on assault and battery charges. They're taking him back to Metro City in two days for trial. I say that he had it coming. Good show when you beat him up earlier, Samantha." To this Samantha said nothing in reply. After an uncomfortable silence, Ken ventured another tentative question. "Samantha, my memory isn't as good as it used to be, but ... didn't you and I attend Harvard together?"
"Yes, we did," Samantha answered. "I remember you quite distinctly. You and I attended the same Health class, you as a fourth-year student and I in my first semester. Back then, you were already a well-known screen actor. You were surrounded by women. I wished to make your acquaintance, yet I was a virtually unknown girl in a public institution for the first time, whereas you were the famous and brilliant Ken Masters. If I recall correctly, you never did answer a letter that I wrote to you. You were madly in love with ... Eliza, I believe her name was, and you never spoke to or even looked at me."
"Wha -?!" Ken demanded, not believing what he heard, while Gouken and Ryu had doubled up trying to suppress peals of laughter. "Now wait a minute here! You're telling me that you wrote me a letter, and that I neglected to answer someone as beautiful, intelligent, courageous, and desirable as you, Samantha?"
Samantha smiled. "Thank you for the compliments, Ken, but my heart now belongs to another man."
"Well, you can't blame me for trying, right?" Ken ran a hand through his hair. "I graduated that year. What about you?"
"I ... I graduated a year early," Samantha said. "But I fled my home not more than a month after and I was a fugitive for nearly half a year. Perhaps you remember that time? The media devoured the news rather hungrily, if my memory serves."
"Wait a minute!" Ken exclaimed. "You mean that you were the same Samantha Trevors who prompted a nation-wide hunt when you disappeared from home? You were over the news for weeks, if not months! Heck, I think that I even volunteered to help look once. So you actually ran away ... what happened, huh? The police said that they thought you were kidnapped! Who was it? How'd it end? Was it the IDC that had you abducted?"
"Ken ..." Gouken began warningly as he saw how Samantha had fallen completely silent.
"It is a painful tale," Samantha said quietly, "and I do not wish to remember it tonight."
At the military table, Blake Wallis nudged his fellow Phantom and indicated Ken with a twist of his head. Lloyd was seated to his right and bent slightly closer to listen. "Psst, hey, Lloyd. If he makes a move on Samantha, should we tell the doctor or just beat the fool up ourselves?"
"I wouldn't worry about the bloke, Blake," Lloyd answered. "Samantha is faithful enough to her husband."
"Oh, I ain't worried about Samantha. It's that joker who wears the red uniform that I'm worried about." Blake leaned in closer, at the same time reaching into Lloyd's great overcoat and borrowing a Sparrow dagger that the British man had somehow slipped through security. "You know that sweater he's wearing? Regina herself made it for him; I heard it took her three full days. And now Ken has his sights set on Samantha ... come to think of it, didn't he make a pass at her before the tournament began? What do we do? Strangulation? Water torture? Shock therapy?"
"Nothing," Lloyd replied. "Samantha can fend for herself. Cheers." He raised his glass and toasted the table.
"You might tip off Gill that Ken has a romantic interest in Regina," Cammy suggested from Lloyd's right.
Blake instantly brightened. "Hey, that isn't such a bad idea! I can't wait to see Ken's look when Gill drops a bunch of asteroids on his head. And then Gill will beat him up physically. Ooh, this is getting better by the second." Blake rubbed his hands gleefully, looking for all practical purposes like one of Satan's more mischievous henchmen. He tried to steal another weapon off Lloyd, running into the Lunar staff as he reached for an extra dagger. How in the world had Lloyd managed to sneak his staff through security? Then Lloyd reached down and caught Blake's wrist, gently pushing it aside.
"Blake, you know, there's a difference between prophylactic action and sadism," Cammy pointed out, rather disturbed by how pleased Blake seemed to be.
"Not to me there ain't," Blake answered instantly. "Hey, Guile! Watch Ken for me, okay? If your brother-in-law makes any moves on Samantha, let me know. Ernest taught me his MAXIMUM Mayhem Rampage yesterday and I'm dying for a chance to try it out. But for now, lemme get his mind off her." Guile snorted at this obvious lie and rolled his eyes. Blake winked at him and at Scott Wagner, then stood up and strode to the karaoke platform located at the center and back of the restaurant. To his right, Cammy frowned but said nothing.
Blake cleared his throat discreetly. "Ahem. May I have your attention please? Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, I'm Blake Wallis and I'll be singing again for you tonight. Let's hear the song requests, okay? As usual, the beautiful women get priority over everyone else." He jumped up as Maki whipped at his ankles with a steel flail borrowed from Lloyd, still grinning like the cat that caught the mouse. "Well, how about it?"
"Ooh, sing 'Quietly Love Grew Strong' for us, Blake!" Chan called. She was resting her head on Hiryu's shoulder and otherwise looking quite contented with herself. The ninja strider had an arm around her waist and was holding a glass of wine in his other hand, his scarf pulled down low so that his entire face was exposed. They had a table to themselves, back in a shaded corner of the restaurant where the poor lighting made it difficult to look at them directly.
"I said beautiful women get priority, Chan," Blake shot back instantly, and he ducked gamely as Chan sent a razor-sharp slice of wind his way. "You want that one, eh?" Blake flipped through the albums, then frowned. "They don't have the soundtrack here, Chan. I need the music or else ... wait, never mind. All you, captain." Blake nodded in appreciation; from somewhere, Captain Commando produced an old-fashioned guitar and strummed the strings, humming a tune. He found a key that he liked and began to play the music.
"His singing is awful," Sean complained in a low voice as Blake began to croon the words.
"No kidding," Kenneth Feng answered, trying to muffle his ears in a discreet manner.
From the military table, Charlie made a motion as if to propose throwing a rotten orange at Blake. This was vetoed by Juli and Guile, while Cammy picked idly at a roasted quail. Lloyd, who wore a cynical smile, twisted his body as Maki tried to steal a Sparrow dagger and caused it to prick her finger. The Bushin ninja yanked her hand back with an oath as Lloyd sipped from a cup of tea. Zeku shook an admonishing finger at Maki. Satisfied that his arsenal was intact, at least for the moment, Lloyd glanced to the side at Samantha. Even as he watched, she stood up and thanked the men at the table. Then she stepped through the press and gracefully wended her way back to the military side.
"Now at last ... we can talk ... in another way ..." Blake sang. Or screeched, according to various opinions.
"Such a beautiful song ..." Regina sighed, eyes glistening with unshed tears.
Meanwhile, Chan's hopes had been completely dashed by Blake's awful rendering of the music. To be fair, Commando was an excellent guitar player, but Blake ... His singing is awful. Exceptionally awful. It wasn't supposed to work like this, he was supposed to sing better! Yes, and once he got to the second chorus line, "Now at last, we can talk in another way," then I'd look up at Hiryu ... and fix my puppy eyes on him ... and he'd draw me closer. And then, right at the "I wanted just to be with you" line, we'd close our eyes and share a long, passionate kiss ...
"You have an excellent taste in music," Hiryu observed.
That brought Chan up short. I do? He thinks that I have an excellent taste in music? Ah, what's this warm feeling bubbling up in my heart ... maybe we'll get to kiss, after all. Hiryu, you're so wonderful ... even if you did jilt me earlier ... but that's not going to happen again, is it? On the other hand, one never knew with men. She needed ... guarantees, more than Hiryu's repeated but half-hearted assurances. Chan risked a glance at Regina. Perhaps the goddess could be persuaded to dabble in love potions?
"I had so much I longed to ask you ... but now the chance is gone ..." Blake sang.
"This is why we should never have allowed him to sing such a sappy song," Kirina growled, clapping both hands over her ears. She glanced around the table and dropped her voice lower. "Psst. Darrell, Kikoken, Sakura, Kenneth, Mitsu, let's try something after Blake finishes this current song ..." Quite secretly, she sketched out a simple plan of action that met with universal approval from all present at the table.
Blake finished the sad romantic song and bowed as scattered applause, delivered mostly out of courtesy, came from various tables. "Thank you, thank you, ladies and gentlemen. For my next piece, does anybody have a song in mind ... 'Great Gathering of Virtue,' Juli? Okay, let's see ... yes, they have it! Here goes -"
Kirina swore. "Blast it. We have to act now." Then, raising her voice, she called out, "Blake, you've monopolized the stage enough for a night, how about letting us have a turn, hmm?"
Blake halted in mid-note, shrugged, and nodded. "Go ahead. My singing was starting to get on my nerves anyway. If you're taking requests, though -" Kirina made it clear that she wasn't, at least not from him. "Hmph. Ah, well, what gives? Hello, Lloyd, Samantha. Hope I didn't ruin our reputation with my melodious singing." He sat back and laughed.
"Blake, have you heard that Cody is being deported to America in two days?" Maki asked.
"Nope. What for?"
"To stand trial on assault and battery charges, of course. They say that the evidence is strongest there."
Blake frowned. "But the crime was committed here ... why would they send him back to Metro City ...?" Unless ... unless it was a setup, he realized grimly. They mean to frame him for any number of crimes, of course; Cody already has a criminal record in the States. As if the situation with Haggar wasn't enough already. Speaking of which ... "Any news from Guy?" Blake asked.
"He arrived safely," Samantha offered.
"Good. One less worry off our minds," Blake replied.
Osaka, Japan
Three days have passed
"Excuse me, but would anyone here like to play a game of 'Fortune Special' with me?" Standing in the entrance to the lounge room, Regina held up a deck stacked with cards. She was wearing a plain brown skirt, a pair of sandals, a black blouse with a small brown vest over it, and looking as effortlessly beautiful as she always did. She seated herself on the Oriental rug in the center of the room and began to lay out the cards.
"Fortune Special? What's that?" Ken asked as he plopped down.
"Just a simple card game, the object being to get rid of all your cards." Regina leaned in as more people began to cluster around her. "The catch is, however, that whatever is written on the card will come true, one way or the other; I'll see to that. But don't worry, it's mostly harmless, nothing like 'You are destined to destroy the world.' Well, who's in? Oh, so many people! Thank you!" She shuffled the deck thoroughly and placed it on the center of the rug. "You start, Ruby. Then we'll go clockwise, ending with me. Draw five cards; afterwards, you'll have one opportunity to exchange up to four cards for another draw. Your cards enable you to perform a variety of actions, usually on the person next to you. If you have any questions, be sure to ask me, since this game can become complicated. Ready? Let's deal."
"I think that this is pure nonsense, but whatever, I'm in," Bison added, finding himself a space in the circle.
Ruby Heart studied her hand and frowned. These cards ... they looked just like ordinary playing cards, but on the face side there were incredibly beautiful pictures meticulously drawn into each card. In fact, now that she looked closer, it seemed that the picture on the card gave off a 3D-like holographic impression. Then the picture under her hand actually moved and she whistled; magic, no doubt. The text at the bottom of the card seemed to swirl before coalescing into a readable text. These things would be worth a fortune on the market. She glanced at the inscription on the bottom of each card and decided to trade in four of the cards in her hand, drawing four more from the deck. Her last card, though ... she glanced at Kirina, who was on her immediate left, and smiled evilly.
"Are you not joining us?" Regina asked.
"No thanks," McGrath replied. He was sitting in a wooden chair and studying a scrap of paper, pencil in hand. "I have my own ways of keeping amused." He glanced around the room, smiling cynically to himself. Besides Regina and Ruby Heart, down the line there was Kirina with Kenneth Feng looking over her shoulder, Vega next to Kirina, then Scott Wagner, then Ryu, then Alex, then Chun-Li, then Mason Storm, then M. Bison, then Sakura with Darrell, then Ken, then Blake and finally back to Regina again. McGrath sighed and went back to his work; this particular proof was a killer. Lloyd, Hiryu, Maki, Sagat, Chan, and Charlie also contented themselves with watching.
"Aw, come on, doc, you sure?" Blake called.
"Maybe if I finish my work in time," McGrath answered.
"Then let's start," Regina said. "Remember, each turn you may only play a single card unless there's an effect that overrides this rule."
"Okay, here goes." Ruby Heart laid down her first card and read it aloud in a clear voice. "'Someone will call the next player 'Mama' very soon, forfeit her next turn to see to the child.'" She glanced up expectantly at Kirina as she finished, her one good eye almost daring the girl to call the gambit.
Kirina giggled. "Let me get this straight, Regina; anything that's on a card will come true?"
"Why, yes," Regina answered sweetly. "And I'll add a special bonus for the winner. I will grant him or her a wish!"
Kirina collapsed laughing and gradually most of the others joined her, including Ryu. "Oh, hee hee hee, that's just too good, Regina! Ha ha ha ... I know you're a goddess, but ... being a mother, this is ... hee hee hee ... a little ridiculous, don't you think ... ha ha ha -"
"Nice joke, Regina," Blake added, elbowing Regina gently.
"Like I said, pure nonsense," Bison sniffed.
"Hee hee hee ... me, a mother at the tender age of fifteen ...? Ha ha ha ... honestly, Ruby ..." Kirina gasped out, trying hard to control her laughter, "... at least you could've put something ... hee hee ... that was ... believable, ha ha ha ... well, anyway, it's your turn, porcelain face," Kirina continued, slapping Vega on the back, "since somebody knocked mine off with a ridiculous prediction ... hee hee hee ... sorry, it's just too funny -"
"MAMA!"
Kirina's eyes exploded into the size of teacups. Bison's eyes bulged; even Ruby Heart seemed startled, while Ryu had turned as pale as a sheet. Blake Wallis gave off a low whistle of disbelief. In an instant, it seemed that everyone was looking for either the child or the most likely culprit. Kirina's eyes whipped around in every direction before seeing the person who had called her. "Risa, what're you doing here?"
"Come and play with me, mama 'Rina!" Five-year-old Risa Shoukimenji climbed into Kirina's lap dragging a doll in one hand.
"I promise you, I had nothing to do with this!" Kenneth Feng cried as Sagat, Ryu, and Charlie closed in on him in a menacing fashion.
"Risa's a cute little girl that I met in Osaka," Kirina explained. "She usually calls me mama 'Rina."
"Oh. And I was about to Shoryuken him all the way to the States ..." Ryu seemed singularly disappointed, but he and Sagat and Charlie pulled Kenneth upright. They'd been ready to lynch him a moment earlier. Charlie muttered something to Sagat and they both resumed watching.
"Time for beauty to shine brightest," Vega declared, and he laid down his card looking quite pleased with himself, reading it for the benefit of all. "'The next player annoys others with his incessant muttering and must draw a card to appease his fellow players.' Eat it, Wagner!"
Scott frowned, then threw down a card in response. "'As a herald for the good fortune about to come your way, you have reversed the effects of a previous card.' Your little trick is up, Vega."
"Bah, it was worth a try ..." Vega muttered. "Well, get on with it."
"No, you first have to draw a card," Regina interrupted. "Scott reversed the effect of the card, which means that what was intended for him has now been passed to you. It's a counter play and technically still your turn, Vega, so you'll have to draw a card and then let Scott play his hand."
Vega grumbled to himself as he reached for a card. Scott looked through his hand and studied each card in turn, trying to decide what he wanted to do. At the same time, an errant flea jumped onto Vega's back and began hopping its way up. Then it bit him, right on his exposed neck. Vega felt the sting and rubbed the back of his neck, whereupon the flea took the opportunity to bite him on the hand. Annoyed, the Spaniard muttered an oath and twisted his head. At this point, the flea hopped into his hair and bit yet again. Vega clenched his teeth and made a quick swipe at his hair. The flea dodged the grab and dropped down to Vega's nose. His eyes widened as he saw what it was. "Get it off me - owwwwww!" Vega cried, as the flea sank its fangs into his vulnerable nose. He dropped to the ground, whimpering.
"Hey, it came true after all!" Blake exclaimed.
"Of course it did," Regina answered with a sweet smile.
Scott Wagner laughed then. "Well, I'm really glad that it didn't happen to me. You alright there, Vega?" When a stream of invective came back, Scott took it as a negative response. "Man, blow up at me, why don't you? You started this mess." Still cursing, Vega abandoned his cards and stormed out of the lounge, Bison sneering as he did so. "What a wuss. Oh, well," Scott hummed to himself as he picked his card. "'The next person down is about to be scared very, very badly.' There you go, Ryu."
"This I have to see," Ryu replied. "I've faced everything there is, nothing will scare me!"
"Heh, I can't wait to see this one," Blake confided to Regina as he watched and waited.
Ryu picked out a card and was about to play it when he jumped up as though fired from a cannon. "Aaaah!!! Get it off, get it off of me!" he screamed. He scrambled up a couch in the blink of an eye, staring at the place where he'd been seated but a moment ago. A large wolf spider was bunched up and Blake had to decide whether it or Ryu was the one looking more scared. Then the spider jumped a good half meter towards the exit and Ryu yelped, jerking instinctively before his wits could catch up with him.
"Dad's afraid of spiders," Kirina confided to Kenneth.
From the other side of the room, McGrath shook his head slowly. "What am I going to do with you, Ryu? You outweigh it by a couple thousand factors." He made a repelling motion, fingers unfurling as he launched an invisible projectile. It hit the spider, which went tumbling out of the room head over multiple legs. Ryu remained perched on the sofa for a full minute after the exit. McGrath muttered something to himself and returned to studying his problem, while Regina jumped up and ran out of the room for an instant to see if the spider had been hurt in any way. Pride injured, Ryu picked out his next card and laid it down with a vengeance. "'The next player will mop the room clean and forfeit his next turn. As compensation, he may discard a card from his hand.' There you go, Alex."
"Psh, this is ridiculous," Alex replied. "Mop the room clean? And how's that supposed to happen?"
Sagat cleared his throat. "Well, the goddess did say that everything has to come true ..."
"And so far it has ..." Charlie continued.
"And we see no reason why you ought to break the trend," Maki concluded.
"Hey, this isn't funny!" Alex shouted as a mop was unceremoniously shoved into his hands. Sagat and Charlie picked him up and set him to sweeping, while somewhere Maki procured an apron. "At least discard my middle card for me, okay?" Alex pleaded. Most of the others broke into fits of laughter seeing Alex reduced to the rank of janitor.
They must be enjoying this game, Regina thought happily to herself. I didn't even have to arrange anything that time.
"My turn." Chun-Li rubbed her hands in anticipation. "My deck isn't so great, but I do have this! 'Give one of your cards to the person immediately before you and sing a song to go with it.'" Chun-Li gave a rendition of a Chinese bedtime song while everyone else thanked his or her lucky stars that Blake wasn't the one who'd played the card. She curtseyed as she finished, drawing applause from everyone present. Alex looked at the card that Chun-Li gave him and cursed; it was the exact same one that he'd discarded previously.
Next in line, Mason laid down his card of choice. "'The next player will remove his cape after it has become unusable.' Not the worst I had, but I figured you'd enjoy this more than anything else, Bison."
Bison sneered. "Oh yeah? I have something better! 'The person directly before you will be chased all over the hotel and forfeit his next turn.' Have fun, Mr. Storm."
Mason guffawed. "Chased all over the hotel? And who's going to do the chasing, huh? I haven't ran from anything since I went cow-tipping with Blake Wallis before the tournament! C'mon, Regina, I dare you to throw whatever you have at me." Still laughing to himself, Mason failed to notice Sagat and Charlie wink at each other, nor Regina's secretive smile. As it turned out, Sagat and Charlie's services were not required. Another person walked into the room, holding a bouquet of flowers in hand.
"Excuse me," Kikoken began, "but has anyone here seen Mason Storm?" Then, when she caught sight of him ... "Mason, honey!"
"Ahhh ... um, we're kinda busy, Kikoken!" Mason jumped up as Kikoken neared, racing to him with flowers in hand. "Look, now's a really bad time, okay? Aah!" He jumped back when Kikoken tried to present the flowers to him. Mason took to running, Kikoken chasing him around the room calling out romantic pick-up lines. "Kikoken, I'm married!" Mason cried desperately.
"I'm not going to fall for that again!" Kikoken declared as she and Mason ran another circuit.
"Nooooo, and I'd just finished cleaning this part of the room!" Alex wailed as Mason stormed by. As Kikoken came around, she accidentally tripped over the pail of water, which sent the contents flying - directly into Bison's uniform. The Lord of Shadowlaw jumped up, but his reaction wasn't quick enough to prevent him from being completely drenched; instead, his cape caught the dirty water head-on. In the ensuing chaos, Mason took advantage of Kikoken's temporary disability to rush out of the room. A moment later Kikoken was hot on his heels. Bison swore lividly as he tore his cape off and threw it aside.
"Crazy game ..." Charlie muttered.
"My turn!" Sakura picked out her card and laid it flat on the expensive Oriental rug. "'Lucky! This card grants you immunity to all effects for one turn.' Woohoo!"
"Well, it's my turn to go," Ken said. "'Scales of Justice. All cards are automatically reshuffled and reassigned. Using this ability will embarrass you later.' Heh, embarrass me? I'm a Hollywood star, nothing embarrasses me! Well, here goes!" He laid down the card and right before his very eyes the pictures and text on his cards blurred out, reforming into a totally different hand after several moments of activity. "Drat, got absolutely nothing out of that. Kinda like the time I took Erin to a fancy restaurant - oops! No, wait, I meant Eliza! Eliza!"
Blake roared with laughter. "That's a nice one, Ken! Let's see you try to pick up Samantha after your wife hears about this," he added in a whisper, and Ken shot him a dirty glare. "Well, I don't know about you," Blake continued, completely ignoring Ken, "but your rearrangement certainly helped me a lot."
"Mind if I join in?" McGrath set his pencil aside as Regina dealt him a stack of cards. "Finally finished this little problem. Just an exercise to keep my brain in top condition." He found a spot after Regina and glanced through his hand without further comment.
"Well, it's my turn," Blake Wallis said. "'The next person will see something that she considers impossible.' Well, how's that, Regina?"
"Sounds exciting," Regina replied, eyes shining. "Here's my play. 'Annihilator's hand. All opponents must draw one card each.'" She smiled sweetly as groans came from all sides, everyone reaching for a card. Sakura laughed, as she was immune to effects for a turn. Then McGrath called Regina's attention back. "Regina, the card is changing."
"What?" Regina looked down at the card and stared as she did so. McGrath had picked it up, but Regina could see that it had begun shifting colors and text. "That's impossible ..." she breathed. "Once played, a card and a future are both set. What could it change into?" When McGrath did not answer but his brow furrowed, Regina pressed her question. "Doctor? What is it?" He looked up and shook his head slowly. Then he folded his hand upside-down into carpet and stood up, tossing the card. It fluttered through the air and landed facedown as McGrath slowly walked out of the room, deep in thought. What could be on his mind now? Regina wondered, reaching for the card. It was certainly strange enough ... then she turned over the card and had her answer. The picture was a portrait of a sealed and bound scroll. What disturbed Regina more was the inscription underneath that she read aloud.
Ernest McGrath will be the next person to vanish in this tournament.