Prologue: Rememberance
Writer's Note: Thanks, Ted
I remember this place.
It was one of the places that I've visited during my travels. That was many years ago. It was a small field outside a small town in Singapore.
I look down. I'm dressed in my old karate gi--the white one. Now I know I must be dreaming. Last time I checked, I was in my dojo, meditating, now I'm here.
I sense someone close by. When I turn to face whoever is behind me, I nearly pass out form shock.
It was Juli.
She was wearing the same outfit that she was wearing when we were in Hong Kong - a black tanktop, khaki cargo pants and black hiking boots. Her hair was tied into that familiar bun with the bangs framing her face.
"J-Juli..." I managed to get out.
She did nothing but smile at me. "It's been a long time, Ryu."
I was still in shock. Me, Ryu Hoshi, the Shotokan fighter who faced Sagat, Bison and some of the best fighters the world has to offer (and overcame a serious fear of spiders), was in shock.
I had good reason, though. Juli was dead.
Juli beckoned Ryu to follow her. "Walk with me."
Reluctantly, I walk with Juli, and at the same time, questioning my sanity.
"I can guess what you want to ask me," Juli said. "It's about Kirina."
I manage to get my head back together. "Yes."
"Why I didn't tell you?" Juli asked. "Well, it may sound mean, but it was the right thing to do at the time. Satsuki knew about her, but I made her promise not to tell you."
"Why?" I asked. "Why wait until two years ago to tell me that I had another daughter?"
"Technically, I didn't tell you," Juli reminded me. "I died, remember?"
"Okay," I corrected myself, "But you could have told me."
I saw Juli bite her lower lip. "Yes. I could have."
"Why didn't you?"
"I wanted you to lead your life," Juli replied. "And I wanted to raise Kirina in peace without looking over my shoulder for anyone loyal to Shadowlaw. How is our daughter?"
"She's doing great," I reply.
"I heard that you're training her in Shotokan Karate," Juli noted.
"I am. She's extremely skilled," I said. "She's at the same level as Hanzou and Mei."
"Ah...your twins," Juli noted. "How's your wife? I heard you've married the Chinese Interpol Agent."
"Chun Li's not in Interpol anymore. She runs a restaurant in the village."
Juli was silent for a moment. "Ryu...there's something I want to tell you that I haven't told anyone else. Not even Juni and the other dolls."
I stop walking and turn. "What is it?"
"Remember that night in Hong Kong?" she asked.
I nod. "I remember."
Juli took a step forward. "When we slept together during the storm...I found out something about you that I never realized. You're more than a champion and a fighter. You showed me that you are an honorable man who hsowed me how to be a woman...and to live my own life. You gave me your love and our daughter is the result. At first, when I was dying, I was concerned on how you would react, but now I see that from beyond the grave how good a husband and father you are."
She paused for a moment and smiles. "She is something, our daughter. The daughter of a Shadowlaw doll with the grace and beauty of her mother and the skill and power of her father. Promise me that you will guide her, Ryu. Guide her and know that Kirina--as well as myself--love you very much."
I slowly nod. "I have kept your promise so far."
"And I thnk you for that."
Ryu opened his eyes. He was in his dojo. It was late, almost midnight. He looked around at the familiar settings and sighed. He was dressed in his grey-blue karate gi and trademark crimson headband. He stood up, stretched, and walked out of the dojo.
The night sky was clear, the full moon partially hidden by the massive mountain fortress known as Suzaku Castle in the distance.
At the same time, his wife was coming up the stone pathway, tired from a long day at work.
Chun Li saw her husband walk towards her. "Hey, you," she said, smiling.
Ryu greeted her with a kiss. "Hard day?"
Chun Li nodded. "As usual. It's festival time, remember?"
"I remember."
Chun Li looked at her husband. "Are you okay?"
Ryu nodded. "I'm fine. I was worried about something, but it's passed now."
"Oh. Okay. Are you hungry?"
"Starving."
Chun Li led him to the house. "Come on. I'll fix you something to eat."
Writer's Note: Thanks, Ted
I remember this place.
It was one of the places that I've visited during my travels. That was many years ago. It was a small field outside a small town in Singapore.
I look down. I'm dressed in my old karate gi--the white one. Now I know I must be dreaming. Last time I checked, I was in my dojo, meditating, now I'm here.
I sense someone close by. When I turn to face whoever is behind me, I nearly pass out form shock.
It was Juli.
She was wearing the same outfit that she was wearing when we were in Hong Kong - a black tanktop, khaki cargo pants and black hiking boots. Her hair was tied into that familiar bun with the bangs framing her face.
"J-Juli..." I managed to get out.
She did nothing but smile at me. "It's been a long time, Ryu."
I was still in shock. Me, Ryu Hoshi, the Shotokan fighter who faced Sagat, Bison and some of the best fighters the world has to offer (and overcame a serious fear of spiders), was in shock.
I had good reason, though. Juli was dead.
Juli beckoned Ryu to follow her. "Walk with me."
Reluctantly, I walk with Juli, and at the same time, questioning my sanity.
"I can guess what you want to ask me," Juli said. "It's about Kirina."
I manage to get my head back together. "Yes."
"Why I didn't tell you?" Juli asked. "Well, it may sound mean, but it was the right thing to do at the time. Satsuki knew about her, but I made her promise not to tell you."
"Why?" I asked. "Why wait until two years ago to tell me that I had another daughter?"
"Technically, I didn't tell you," Juli reminded me. "I died, remember?"
"Okay," I corrected myself, "But you could have told me."
I saw Juli bite her lower lip. "Yes. I could have."
"Why didn't you?"
"I wanted you to lead your life," Juli replied. "And I wanted to raise Kirina in peace without looking over my shoulder for anyone loyal to Shadowlaw. How is our daughter?"
"She's doing great," I reply.
"I heard that you're training her in Shotokan Karate," Juli noted.
"I am. She's extremely skilled," I said. "She's at the same level as Hanzou and Mei."
"Ah...your twins," Juli noted. "How's your wife? I heard you've married the Chinese Interpol Agent."
"Chun Li's not in Interpol anymore. She runs a restaurant in the village."
Juli was silent for a moment. "Ryu...there's something I want to tell you that I haven't told anyone else. Not even Juni and the other dolls."
I stop walking and turn. "What is it?"
"Remember that night in Hong Kong?" she asked.
I nod. "I remember."
Juli took a step forward. "When we slept together during the storm...I found out something about you that I never realized. You're more than a champion and a fighter. You showed me that you are an honorable man who hsowed me how to be a woman...and to live my own life. You gave me your love and our daughter is the result. At first, when I was dying, I was concerned on how you would react, but now I see that from beyond the grave how good a husband and father you are."
She paused for a moment and smiles. "She is something, our daughter. The daughter of a Shadowlaw doll with the grace and beauty of her mother and the skill and power of her father. Promise me that you will guide her, Ryu. Guide her and know that Kirina--as well as myself--love you very much."
I slowly nod. "I have kept your promise so far."
"And I thnk you for that."
Ryu opened his eyes. He was in his dojo. It was late, almost midnight. He looked around at the familiar settings and sighed. He was dressed in his grey-blue karate gi and trademark crimson headband. He stood up, stretched, and walked out of the dojo.
The night sky was clear, the full moon partially hidden by the massive mountain fortress known as Suzaku Castle in the distance.
At the same time, his wife was coming up the stone pathway, tired from a long day at work.
Chun Li saw her husband walk towards her. "Hey, you," she said, smiling.
Ryu greeted her with a kiss. "Hard day?"
Chun Li nodded. "As usual. It's festival time, remember?"
"I remember."
Chun Li looked at her husband. "Are you okay?"
Ryu nodded. "I'm fine. I was worried about something, but it's passed now."
"Oh. Okay. Are you hungry?"
"Starving."
Chun Li led him to the house. "Come on. I'll fix you something to eat."
