Episode 2

A New Age of Fighters

"Garnet!" Hazuki 'Ling' Ruhua repeated over and over again. Garnet Kazama read his book as she was repeating his name. The two were in Ruhua's kitchen as their parents talked in the living room. Once he was getting sick of being bothered, he placed the bookmark in his book and sighed. "Yes Ruhua, what is it?"

"Can you believe we're going to the school festival on Sunday?!"

"No I can't. Especially since you're forcing me to come with you..."

"But we're going to meet Hunter 'Chan' Bryant! The son of Pai Chan and Jackie Bryant! He might be with one of his parents and a special guest!"

"It's always the same guest,"

"What you mean?"

Garnet took out his phone. "His guest is always this girl. And she doesn't look happy to be there," Ruhua hugged him. "Well this is the first time we're going to the festival! So it'll be fun!" Garnet sighed and patted her head. "We'll see..." Ruhua's mother Xiaoyu walked in. She wore an orange Chinese dress and her dark hair was down. "Hey kids. Having fun?" she asked. Ruhua nodded. "Yes Mother!" Xiaoyu giggled and walked back into the living room.

"Garnet! We're leaving!" called Garnet's mother, Cyrille. Her blonde hair was in a low ponytail tied with a black bow. Her turtleneck dress was white with gold and she had gold beads wrapped around her wrist just like Garnet's. He went over to his parents, book in hand. "Did you say goodbye to Ruhua?" asked his father, Jin. He had glasses like Garnet's and wore a black leather jacket with a hood. His pants had flames and did not wear shoes. Garnet groaned and turned away to a smiling Ruhua. "Bye," he said monotonous. Cyrille smacked him behind the head with her own book. "Nicely," Garnet sighed, then told Ruhua "Goodbye, Ruhua..." She smiled and waved goodbye. When the three left, Jin was talking to Garnet. "Now look, I know you find Ruhua annoying but you have to treat her niceley. Believe me. I know her mother..." he told him. "So...could you at least try to be kind to her?" Garnet sighed and nodded.

Once the three returned home, Garnet went to bed early for the festival. Cyrille kissed Jin on the cheek and removed his jacket, revealing a tattoo similar to the one Garnet has on his shoulder. "You're a better dad then your father was..." she told him. Jin nodded in agreement. "Yeah. He can rot in Hell for all I care, and I'd still be a better father," Cyrille smiled and put her hand on his muscle chest. "If only his great grandfather was still here..."

"I don't care much for him... Thankfully he's dead..."

"...I meant my grandfather."

"...Right. I forgot one thing we have in common is we have dead grandfathers..."

"It's fine. Just ask who's grandfather it is next time,"

"Okay..."

Jin wrapped his arms around Cyrille's waist. He closed his eyes and laid his chin above her head, making her smile lightly. "Can you let me go so I can read?" she asked. Jin sighed and removed her hair bow. He stroked her hair leaving her with the answer "No." Cyrille giggled and shook her head. "Well can I at least get a kiss?" With Cyrille reaching up to his chest, Jin lifted her up gently and kissed her on the lips. He put her down and kissed her forehead. "Thank you," she told him before sitting down to read her book.

Back at Ruhua's house, Ruhua brushed her teeth as Xiaoyu looked at the night sky. "You watching the sky again?" asked the voice of her husband Ryo. He wore a brown leather jacket similar to Ruhua's, but under it was a white dress shirt. Instead of having dress pants, he had blue jeans and white tennis shoes which was an odd combination of clothes. Xiaoyu smiled and cupped his face with her hands. "Yeah... I've been thinking..."

"About what?"

"Do you think Ruhua likes Garnet? Like more than a friend?"

"I don't really see it..."

"Are you saying that as your answer or as an overprotective father?"

Fathers or parents in general do tend to be protective about their daughters being around boys (sometimes vice-versa). However Ryo and Xiaoyu pretty much let their child do anything as long as she isn't doing any crimes. "You know I'm not that protective. She is learning our fighting techniques," he replied. Xiaoyu giggled as she stood on her toes, wrapping her arms around Ryo. "That's right... Though Garnet doesn't seem to have feelings toward her. He cares about her, but..."

"He doesn't have a crush on her."

"Exactly..."

"Maybe she'll fall for someone from another timeline, or another world, or both,"

"You think so?"

"Sure why not?"

"...It's just I don't think it'll be happening again..."

"Well, who knows. Maybe Shinra and Ouma are back at each other fighting,"

Xiaoyu smiles and kissed his cheek. "You know just the right words to say to me..." Ryo smiled and kissed her on the lips. She kissed back, then they pulled back from each other. Xiaoyu saw the small mustache hair on his upper lip. "You are shaving right?" she asked. Ryo hid his mouth with his hand. "No way! This took a while to grow!" he replied.

"I'm just kidding Ryo,"

"Oh... Hehe. Kind of like our high school years,"

"Yeah, but we went to separate schools,"

Ryo picked her up bridal style and kissed her. "Mother, Father! I'm ready for-" Ruhua walked in on her parents kissing. "Bleh! Mom, Dad!" she complained. Ryo put Xiaoyu down after hearing his daughter. "Sorry Ruhua... Goodnight," he said kissing her forehead. Xiaoyu stood up and kissed her daughter's cheek. "Night sweetie," Ruhua smiled and ran to her room to sleep.

~Another viewpoint~

On Saturday, Haru-Xiu was preparing the school festival. She was being assisted by her two best friends: Mel Masters and Alice White. Haru-Xiu knew her friends due to the fact her parents knew theirs. "Hey Haru! Can you throw the flags over here?" Mel asked. Haru-Xiu was either called 'Haru' or 'Xiu' but never those names together. For once she'd like to be called by her full name. She responded by throwing the triangular flags on rope to Mel. "Thanks!" A man with a boy Haru-Xiu's age walks towards the group. The boy had tan skin, long light brown hair with black highlights in a braid. He wore a red hoodie and red cargo like pants with a purple and black belt. On his belt there were purple straps, and he had black and purple bands on his feet so he was somewhat barefooted like Mel. What fascinated Haru-Xiu the most was his eyes. They had a calming, cool light blue to it. "Children," began the man. "This is Corvus Han. He's here to help you children out with preparing the festival,"

Alice and Mel gave Corvus a weird look, but Haru-Xiu gave him a smile. "Hi!" she greeted. Corvus waved his hand slowly. The man left, leaving Corvus to stand there. Mel smirked. "So Corvus can you get us those heavy boxes?" He pointed to the boxes in the truck. Corvus shrugged. "Sure." He walked over to the boxes and removed his hoodie, revealing a very large raven tattoo on his back. Corvus then picked up the boxes with ease and walked towards them. "Here." he said placing the boxes near Mel and Alice. Haru-Xiu had a light blush in her cheeks as Mel had a shocked face and Alice's eyes widened. Haru-Xiu walked over to Corvus. "Wow! You're very strong. You might be stronger than Mel," she complimented. Corvus looked at her. "You think so?" he asked.

"You bet!"

"...What's your name..?"

"Haru-Xiu. You can call me Haru or Xiu if you want... no one calls me by my full name anyway..."

"Okay Haru-Xiu. Anything else you want me to do?"

Haru-Xiu's eyes widened. He actually called her by her whole name. "Uhh, well... we could use help opening the boxes. They're taped and-" Corvus took out what apears to be a small claw. He placed it on one of his fingerless gloves and carefully made sure one blade was used and not all three. Pretty soon, he cut open all the boxes. Mel and Alice grabbed Haru-Xiu's hands and pulled her to somewhere Corvus couldn't hear them. "Okay Haru," Mel began "something isn't right about that Corvus guy..." Haru-Xiu rolled her eyes as Mel spoke. "He's jacked despite being our age, he hardly talks-" Alice nudged Mel's shoulder. "Oh right, you don't speak much either. Sorry Alice! Anyway, my point is... we probably shouldn't trust him," Haru-Xiu gave Mel a ticked look, then looked at Alice. "You feel the same Alice..?" she asked. Alice looked away for a moment, then looked back at Haru-Xiu and nodded.

Haru-Xiu clenched her fist. "Well I'm going to ask him to come over to my house. If you two can't accept my friendship with Corvus... what kind of friends are you?" She then left her two friends. They knew when she was like this, it meant she was going to end up in trouble. Haru-Xiu walked over to Corvus and smiled. She was about to ask him over, but before she could, he asked "...Would you like to come over to my house?" Haru-Xiu's eyes widened. It's like he either heard her conversation with Alice and Mel, or read her mind. Both of those were false due to Corvus showing a text message on his phone. "My mom wants to meet you. It's surprising though because she doesn't get out much..." Haru-Xiu looked at the message, then at his phone. He must not have a lot of money because he held an old design for a touch phone. Then she looked up at Corvus, who had a light blush on his cheeks. Haru-Xiu smiled. "Sure. I was gonna ask if you could come over to my house, but we can hang out at your place," Corvus smiled back as the two helped with the festival until it was time to leave.

~

Corvus and Haru-Xiu walked down the sidewalk to a suburban like area. "You live in the suburbs?" asked Haru-Xiu. Corvus shrugged. "You can call it that." The two came up to a house that looks like the other ones: neat and tidy. "Don't be fooled by the outside of the house. It's pretty messy inside..." Corvus warned. When he opened the door, he was right. There was trash on the floor (mainly plastic bottles and metal cans), and some of the furniture and part of the walls looked warn out. They then saw a woman sleeping on the couch. Her face was in a pillow and the rest of her was covered by a blanket, but Haru-Xiu could see her hair was black. "Mom? Mom we have a guest over." Corvus said as he poked the woman, who was revealed to be his mother. The woman woke up revealing to have pink eyes, but one of them had an eyepatch covering it. "Huh? Wha..?" she then looked up to see her kid and his friend. "Oh hey there... how's my little bird doing..?" she said as she sat up, hugging him. Haru-Xiu noticed her clothes were consisted of a purple hoodie, pink sweatpants, and black sandals. "I'm fine Mom. This is Haru-Xiu. She's my new friend," Corvus introduced Haru-Xiu. The woman smiled and placed her hand on her shoulder. "Oh yeah... I'm Corvus's mom, but you can call me Ms. Han. No wait," she paused. Then smirked, "call me Juri. Don't get all formal on me, kid. Okay?" Haru-Xiu nodded. "I'll call you Juri, if you call me Haru-Xiu." Juri's smirk turned into a grin. "Corvus," she said as she wrapped an arm around her son. "You got a keeper,"

Juri walked into the kitchen and started making coffee. "So Haru-Xiu, do you have a small place like me and Corvus or are you living the big life?" she asked. Haru-Xiu felt nervous asking this, but answered "I live in a mansion. My parents are working, but my mom gets paid pretty well for helping around her workplace. My dad is a business man, but he doesn't get paid as much as my mom does..."

"I see..." Juri put a coffee mug under the coffee maker.

"Yeah. My parents say they're providing but because I'm 18, I pretty much do the shopping."

"Sweet. I'm struggling with finding a job... I left my old one... Damn bastards... anyway, Corvus helps around the house until I can get back on my feet. That's why he gets paid for volunteering around the school."

Corvus pulled out a stack of tens. "I get paid 100 dollars per festival work, 50 for janitorial work, and for fixing up the school 200." Haru-Xiu's eyes widen. "Wow, I can't believe you get paid!" she exclaimed. Juri smiled and kissed her son's cheek. "He's a good boy... so who are your parents?"

"My dad is a businessman like I said earlier, and my mom's an agent in Interpol."

Juri's eye widened when she heard this. "I'm sorry... what?"

Corvus turned on the TV and saw a man in a mask with hair similar to his, but pure light brown. "Damn..." he stood up and put his claw on his glove. He then left, leaving Juri and Haru-Xiu alone. "I...I said my mom worked for Interpol..." Haru-Xiu said nervously. Juri sighed. "Look, I think I know who your parents might be..."

"You do..?"

"Yep. I was familiar with an Interpol prisoner... the one that escaped." Juri pointed to the news which said 'Masked Man Escapes Interpol'.

"I see... that's the guy that tried to hurt my mom..."

"Yeah... To tell you the truth, I'm not really Corvus's mom. I took him after that disgraceful excuse of a human being..!"

~Flashback: Seven years ago~

Juri held her side which had three gashes from a claw. She looked everywhere where Vega had run off to. That's when she noticed a pair of sneakers with untied shoelaces. She opened the door to see a six year old Corvus. He wore a red t-shirt and purple shorts and he didn't have the tattoo on him. His hair wasn't in a braid for it was too short. Juri, without being sadistic and cruel, smiled. "Hey little buddy..." she said as she reached a hand out toward him. Corvus didn't take her hand, but rather hugged her. Juri was at first shocked, but hugged him back. "It's okay... I kicked his butt. Did he hurt you..?" Corvus showed her his leg, which had a gash similar to hers. Juri muttered a swear word under her breath. "Don't worry... I got bandages back at my place. We can patch ya right up." Juri said as she lifted Corvus up.

"Does that mean my dad-"

"He's not your dad anymore. If he was, he wouldn't be hurting you. Got anyone I can call to pick you up?"

Corvus slowly pointed to a dead woman in the corner of the room...

Juri gritted her teeth in disgust. "Narcissistic pig." she said out loud. She looked at the little boy in her arms. "My bad. Guess we should go before the police get here."

"But who's gonna take care of me..?!" Corvus started to tear up.

Juri looked away, then looked back at him. "I said I was gonna take you home with me, right? Do you want to go home with me?"

Corvus looked up at her with his beautiful blue eyes. "You'd take me home..? You'd... you'd be my mom..?"

Mom. That was a word Juri never thought she'd be called. Crimson Viper was a mother, as she had heard Interpol agent Chun-Li was a mother of a little girl these days. "Well... I guess I am your mom now." she said, grinning.

"...Okay." Corvus laid his small head on her strong shoulder. "Does that mean we won't see him again..?"

"Well... I dunno honestly. We may or we may not. But if he is, I'll fight him off and protect ya."

"...Mom?"

"Yeah Corvus?"

"...I wanna learn taekwondo. Just like what you did to fight off my da- I mean, Vega."

Juri smiled. "That's my brave boy..."

~flashback ends~

"Since then, I've been taking care of Corvus myself and training him taekwondo," Juri told Haru-Xiu. "He uses that claw to help open things mostly, but when that bastard Vega started escaping prison he uses it for fighting him... Specifically fighting him." Fearing that she would lose her new friend, Haru-Xiu ran out of Juri's house to search for Corvus. "Haru-Xiu!" Juri called out. Haru-Xiu had disappeared into thin air when Juri looked outside. She was gone, looking for Corvus. "Damn..! ...Gotta say though, she is sort of like her." she muttered as she walked back inside.

~

Haru-Xiu seemed to have wandered into the wrong side of town. "This is where Vega was... So maybe Corvus beat him down..." Haru-Xiu then saw a few police cars and an ambulance. Haru-Xiu saw a masked man in one of the cars and paramedics lift up someone into a stretcher. The person they lifted was Corvus... He had six large cuts, three on each side and it didn't look like he was moving. Haru-Xiu's eyes were wide with fear. Was Corvus seriously hurt? Or was he dead..? Once the ambulance drove off, Haru-Xiu ran after it despite the hospital being so far away. Once there she sat down to rest in the Emergency waiting room, slowly drifting off into sleep.

~

Haru-Xiu woke up in what appeared to be Interpol, her mother's work place. She sat up from the couch and saw her mother and Juri talking. Next to Juri was Corvus, whose side waist was in bandages. Though Corvus stood as if he wasn't hurt at all. Haru-Xiu stood up and went over to them. Her mother, who was Chun-Li wore her business outfit: black jacket, white dress shirt, dark blue pencil skirt, and blue pumps. "Well I thank you Corvus Han, for putting your villainous father in jail," Chun Li said in a formal voice. She looked at Juri and smiled. "and thanks Juri, for finding my child," Juri nodded. Before she walked out with her son, Haru-Xiu grabbed their hands. "Wait!" Haru-Xiu then went to her mother. "Mom, can Juri and Corvus stay at our house? Just until Juri gets back on her feet?" Chun Li crossed her arms. "Now Haru," she began, calling Haru-Xiu by her nickname "you know the stories I've told you about her were bad. Besides, what would your father say?" Haru-Xiu hated the fact that her father was the one that made the most decisions of the house. She had to do something to help Juri and Corvus...

"Mom," Haru-Xiu began "you have to speak up too. So if Dad doesn't agree... then tough luck,"

Chun Li's eyes widened.

"So what do you say? Can they stay with us?"

Chun Li was silent. Then she smiled and went to Juri and Corvus. "Would you two like to stay with us for a while?" Juri smiled. "Sure. Just gotta pack up and we'll both be there in about two hours," As the two talked, Corvus ran to Haru-Xiu and lifted her up, spinning her. "Thank you, Har-Xiu!" he said. Haru-Xiu blushed.

~The Next Day~

Garnet and Ruhua walked into the school festival. "Wow! It looks so amazing!" Ruhua exclaimed. Garnet smiled as he held his book. "Yes indeed, Ruhua. We could thank the decorators, but they don't look too happy..." he said, pointing to Alice and Mel.

"Well we can thank Miss Haru!"

"Yes, but I don't see her anywhere,"

A few seconds after he said this, Haru-Xiu and Corvus walked by him, but he didn't tell Ruhua due to not being social. "Ladies and gentleman," began the announcer "in just one minute, Hunter 'Chan' Bryant will be here with his special guest to enjoy the festival and sign autographs!" Ruhua gasped and tugged on Garnet's arm. "Garnet did you hear that?! Did ya?! Hunter 'Chan Bryant is coming out in a minute!" Garnet nodded. "Yes Ruhua. I did hear it. However I-!" He was then dragged off with his friend to see Hunter arrive.

Meanwhile, a blond boy with brown eyes was preparing himself to greet his fans. He mainly treated his hair as he was already dressed in a red Letterman's jacket with a white 'H' on it. "Hunter, how long will it take for you to treat your foppish hair? I'm tired of telling the announcer you'll be ready in a few minutes..." asked a girl with dark brownish black hair. Her eyes were brown and she wore a purple gi with blue flames on her pants with a headband to match. "Patience Jade... didn't your father tell you that patience is a virtue?"

"...Yes."

"Now then, be a good girlfriend and grab my hair gel,"

"He also said 'silence is golden'..." Jade muttered. Hunter wasn't her boyfriend, but he says it as if it were a publicity stunt. "I am ready now, Jade!" Jade sighed and whispered to the announcer he was ready. "Ladies and gentleman! May I have your attention? I would like to be the first to introduce you all to the son of Jackie Bryant and actress Pai Chan... Hunter 'Chan' Bryant!" Every student cheered as Hunter walked onto the mini stage. Ruhua was heard cheering the loudest as Garnet read. Hunter looked at Ruhua, grinned, and winked. "Thank you everyone! Now, I would like to introduce my special guest. She's always stuck by me for the past few festivals. Please welcome my girlfriend, Jade Yuki!" Everyone cheered, but not as much as they did earlier once Jade came out. Ruhua was still cheering the same way she did. However Jade didn't do what Hunter did before. Instead she just smiled and waved.

~

"Here you go, kid," Hunter told Ruhua after he signed his autograph. Ruhua squealed as soon as she got the autograph. The festival was over, so it was just Hunter and Jade, Garnet and Ruhua, Haru-Xiu and Corvus, and an unknown student who was cleaning up with something in his plastic bag. "Wonderful festival, Haru-Xiu. Corvus." said Jade with a smile on her face. "Thanks!" Haru-Xiu said as Corvus just nodded. The other student walked towards them. "Excuse me... would you guys like some remotes..?" he asked in a weirdly quiet voice. Haru-Xiu, Corvus, Garnet, and Ruhua nodded and took four remotes. Suspicious, Hunter told the boy "No thank you," politely of course, and took Jade somewhere so the two can hide. "So what do these things do? Are they reading flashlights?" asked Garnet. The remotes were black and the button was blue. "Maybe they're laser pointers!" suggested Ruhua. All four teens pointed the remotes and pressed the button. A large rift opens up and sucks the four inside it. The unknown teen smirked and called someone on his cellphone. "Hello. Yes, they took the remotes. Well, all but two. I'll find them though..." he hung up and left thought to be deserted festival. Hunter and Jade came out of their hiding spot. "Ruhua! Garnet!" yelled Jade. "Haru-Xiu! Corvus!" yelled Hunter. No response... what could have happened to them?

To be continued..