Chapter 5:
Chun Li and Ryu stayed the night at Ken's penthouse. During the night, Ryu laid awake in bed next to her. He couldn't sleep knowing what Ken had told him. Bison will bring chaos to the world, but I can stop it. I want to protect Chun Li and everyone else I care about. He got up from the bed and went to the kitchen for some water. As he drank a glass of water, he sensed a presence near him.
"Hello, Rose." Ryu said nonchalantly.
"Ryu. I assume Ken didn't give you and Chun Li the vials?" she asked.
"No, he didn't. I don't appreciate my mind being messed with."
"My apologies, but I'll make you forget a thousand times over if it means killing Bison. This is your destiny, Ryu, it's written in the cards."
"I'm sorry but I'll have to respectfully disagree. I am in control of my own destiny and I choose what paths I take." Ryu crossed him arms and waited for Rose's response.
"Very well. Then heed my warning, the first people Bison will go after once he's ripped you apart will be Chun Li and Ken. Are you prepared for that fate?"
"No, I won't accept that either. I will leave and go back to training. I was never going to stop, but now I have something bigger than myself I want to take care of."
"Finally, a man of reason. I do understand your burden of the dark hadou, and I would like to help you on your journey."
"There's one thing I want," Ryu paused. It took all his strength on what he was going to ask Rose next. "Do you have another vile of your potion?"
"Choosing to forget Chun Li?" Rose was intrigued
"No, I want her to forget me…for now, at least. I keep coming in and out of her life. I can't bear to see her cry because of my life decisions. I want to protect her more than ever and if it means I have to protect her from myself, then so be it," Ryu explained. It was the hardest thing Ryu has ever had to decide. He would have rather fight Sagat a million times than have Chun Li forget him, but he had to take care of himself first to ensure the safety of the world.
"Done," Rose said.
"And get Cammy White out of custody. Chun Li will need her as a friend. Her memories of my relationship with Chun Li will have to be erased too."
"So be it, my friend. I'll expect you in India within the week?"
"Yes."
Rose disappeared into the night. Ryu sat down thinking about what he'd like to do with Chun Li the following day. He felt great sadness, but he knew it was the right thing to do about giving her the potion. Ken walked in the kitchen. "You're really going to go through with it?" he asked.
"I wondered when you were going to come in." Ryu said.
"Couldn't pull one over your eyes, could I? So, you really want Chun Li to forget again? You just found each other again after four years? Do you hear yourself?" Ken couldn't believe him.
"What am I supposed to do, Ken? Come back every four to five years for a few weeks and then leave again? What kind of like is that for Chun Li? She deserves someone who loves her and can be there for her everyday of her life!"
"Yes, you idiot, she does deserve it. And she does have someone that loves her! You do. You can give that to her. What is the point in all this fighting at the end of our lives? Where will it leave us at the end of the day when there's no love or compassion for another person. You are so lucky to have found someone like Chun Li, who would do anything for you. She's one of the smartest people I know, driven, incredibly talented, a fighter for justice, strong, sexy, and she has the biggest heart. You'd be a fool to throw it away."
Visibly upset, Ryu got increasingly annoyed with Ken. "I know there's no one like her, don't you think I know that? It's because I love her, I have to leave. If no one takes out Bison or Akuma, who will? They'll keep getting stronger and stronger. I don't want her to live a life in chaos. I wanted a life with Chun Li, I had asked her to marry me four years ago. Bison will never stop seeking me out, nor Akuma. You know this! She'll never be safe while they're alive. That's why I need to leave and train. I will not come back this time…until they are dead."
"Then you are set in your ways. I can only wish you luck and offer my help when you need it." Ken put his hand on Ryu's shoulder.
"Please watch over her, take care of her. See that she is with someone who treats her right." Ryu looked down and a tear fell from his eye. "I will be gone by morning."
"I will." Ken replied. He had always loved Chun Li and it broke his heart for her to know that Ryu and she would never again be together until Ryu killed his demons.
In the morning Chun Li woke up and noticed Ryu was not in bed with her. She got up and walked into the kitchen.
"Good morning, Chun Li," Ken said. "Would you like some tea?"
"Yes, please," she replied and reached for the cup from Ken. She began drinking it. She looked around, "do you know where Ryu is?"
Thinking of any excuse, Ken quickly replied, "He's somewhere around here, maybe went to the veranda to meditate."
Chun Li felt woozy, her head felt fuzzy, "All of a sudden I don't feel so well. Can you help…" she collapsed to the ground.
"Chun Li!" Ken rushed over to her and helped pick her up. She fell unconscious. The potion must have worked! He carried her to a bedroom and gently put her on the bed. Please forgive us, Chun Li.
Four months later…
Chun Li was at work going over the street fighting tournament that she entered. It was being held in Thailand. A knock was heard at her door and Cammy and Guile walked in.
"Hi guys! Got our next assignment?" Chun Li asked excitedly.
"Yes, it's high time I get back into a tournament and get to kick some ass. It's been a while," Guile said.
"Don't forget, you two, this is also an undercover assignment. We will strictly be there for gathering intelligence on Bison…although, I'd like to get my hands on that bloody fool for manipulating me." Cammy clenched her fists.
"We'll get our chance, Cams," Chun Li assured her. "Anyone want to train later tonight?"
"Sorry, luv, I've got a date with a nice bloke. Love too, but I've got to clear out some of the cobwebs." Cammy winked and smiled. Chun Li got her drift.
"If I stay out late again, Julia will have my ass, then it's the doghouse for me. Thanks, but no thanks." Guile said.
Chun Li laughed, "Take her something special tonight? Maybe that'll put her in a better mood."
"Good idea." He replied.
The three street fighters continued to talk about details of their upcoming undercover work at the Thailand tournament. Not only did they get to fight but they were getting paid for it, which Guile liked the most. Once Cammy and Guile left her office, Chun Li texted Ken and asked if he would spar with her. He messaged her back saying he would meet her across town in a martial arts studio he owned.
At 8:30PM that night, Chun Li arrived at Ken's studio.
"You're lucky you caught me today, I have been in San Francisco all week with my father on a business trip. Eliza stayed behind a few more days to spend some time with friends." Ken said, "we haven't been seeing eye to eye lately."
"I'm sorry to hear that, I hope everything works out. Anything I can give advice on…from a female's perspective?"
"Thanks, but let's get to the fight. I want to clear my mind of all that."
"Me too!" Chun Li took off her jacket and changed into her blue training jumpsuit. "By the way, the main reason I called you is because I'm prepping for a new assignment and it just might involve…street fighters," Chun Li smiled and wiggled her shoulders mischievously to get Ken to guess her next work assignment.
"Street fighters? Don't tell me you're going to Thailand for the tournament!"
"You bet! Guile and Cammy are going too. We all have different assignments but pretty much the same goal. Just gather intel and find anything that leads us closer to Bison."
Ken remembered that Ryu was prepping for that same tournament. He knew they were going to see each other there. "Well, if everyone is going, then I want to join too." Ken exclaimed.
"Would you even have time for that, Mr. Money Bags?" Chun Li put her hands on her hips and taunted him.
"I could always check on my businesses there, check the hotels. Money and pleasure at its finest…Now about that fight?" Ken tightened his red gi and then got into his fighting stance. Chun Li made sure her signature hair buns were secured in place and got into a stance too. She let out a war cry and charged Ken. Chun Li took the offensive while Ken blocked and dodged many of her attacks. She knocked him over with a powerful kick to the abdomen. Ken regained his composure and quickly got back up. He went straight for Chun Li's legs to knock them out from under her but she quickly jumped backwards toward a wall and pushed off it for another attack to his body. As she was coming toward him, he was able to catch her and roll flipped her on the mat. She landed on her side and rushed to get back up. Chun Li noticed her vision a little fuzzy but shook her head to shake it off. As she was about to get ready for another attack, she felt an urge from her gut. She put her hands to her mouth and ran to the bathroom. Ken wondered what was wrong so he ran after her.
"Chun Li! Are you ok? Did I hurt something?" Ken frantically asked. He heard retching noises come from the stall. She's throwing up. I must have hit her pretty hard. The toilet flushed and she came out.
"Sorry about that. I've felt a little funny all day, I think I ate something that didn't agree with me. I've been working so hard lately I think I need a vacation." Chun Li looked pale.
"I think we are done for the night, you don't look so well. Let me call one of my masseuses, you look like you could use one." Ken was still worried he had hit her too hard.
"Don't worry about me. I think I've just been working too much. A nice bath or hot tub sounds great though."
"Let's go to the penthouse." Ken suggested.
"My place is closer, I don't mind relaxing at home."
"Well, at least let me see you home, make sure you're ok. I'll buy you dinner from your favorite place by your apartment." Chun Li agreed. They gathered their things and left.
The two fighters arrived at Chun Li's apartment. Chun Li drew a bath for herself and Ken set up the food on the table.
"Don't you want to eat first so your food won't get cold?" Ken asked.
"I can just eat in the bath, I'm feeling cheeky tonight." Chun Li walked off to the bathroom, undressed, and got in the bath.
"Well, I'll let you be then. Enjoy!"
"Don't go. Stay. We can chat about the details of the Thailand tournament." Chun Li didn't feel like being alone that night.
"Well, how can we talk if you're in the bath?" Ken asked.
"Just come in here, it's not like it's anything you haven't seen before, Ken!"
Ken shrugged and sat on a chair. They both talked and enjoyed each other's company. He noticed Chun Li was picking out all the onions from her food. He thought it was odd. "What's with the onions?" he asked.
"They taste funny. I know normally I eat them, but I haven't had a taste for them lately. They kind of gross me out," she laughed. Once Chun Li was done with the bath, she stood up. "Can you hand me that towel behind you?"
Ken just started for a moment. Her looked over Chun Li's body, she was a beautiful spectacle to look at, incredibly sexy. He turned around quickly while blushing. He handed her the towel with his back still facing her.
"Want to watch a movie?" Chun Li asked.
"I should get going."
"Going to what? More work? Hang out with an old friend! I haven't seen you in two months!" Chun Li tried convincing him.
"Only if it's not some sappy love story," he replied.
Chun Li laughed, "OK!" They sat on the couch and put on the movie. Fifteen minutes into the movie, Chun Li had fallen asleep on Ken's shoulder.
"So much for the movie," he quietly said and shook his head. He covered her with a blanket. As he was tucking the blanket around her, he grazed her lower abdomen. He felt a strong ki coming from her. He put his hand to her abdomen again. Such a strong force, like Ryu's…but it feels like Chun Li's too. Ken started piecing things together. Chun Li must be pregnant! Oh my gosh…
To be continued…