Chapter 6:
Chun Li felt a light shaking of her body. She woke up dazed. "K-ken?"
"Chun Li, wake up, we need to talk." Ken looked so serious.
"What's wrong? Is everything ok?"
"I don't know how else to ask you this but, are you pregnant?"
Chun Li laughed, "what in the world are you talking about? Where is this coming from?"
"I felt a strong ki come from you…but it wasn't just yours. I felt someone else's too radiating from your abdomen." Ken hovered his hand over her again.
"This is crazy. I would know if I was pregnant or not. So, I missed a period last month but that has happened before, nothing to get over excited about!"
"Haven't you had any signs or indications?" he asked.
"No, nothing. I mean lately I felt little bubbles in my stomach but its probably just indigestion or something, onions do taste funny, and I have put on a few pounds. But, that's no indication of pregnancy."
"I think we should find out for sure, Chun Li. I know I can feel another ki besides yours in there."
Chun Li shook her hands at Ken, "oh, come on, you'd actually have to have sex to get pregnant! I haven't been with anyone in a while."
Ken recalled four months prior, he knew Chun Li and Ryu were intimate while he was visiting. "Let's not be too sure. I'm calling my assistant to bring a test here."
"I think you're crazy, but I'll take your stupid test to prove you wrong!" Chun Li said.
20 minutes later, Ken's assistant showed up with three different pregnancy tests. Ken shoved Chun Li in the bathroom and made her take the tests. Ten minutes later, Chun Li comes out looking like she saw a ghost. "Ken…" she handed him the three sticks, "why am I getting positives on these tests?"
Ken looked at all the positives, "I knew it! I felt another life force when I touched you."
"This doesn't make any sense! How can I be pregnant?" Chun Li sat on a chair and she touched her stomach. "Whose life force did you feel besides mine?"
Ken wasn't sure if he should say it, but he didn't want to hide it from Chun Li, "Ryu's."
She scrunched her face and said, "Ryu's? What did he magically impregnate me from some random location in the world?"
Ken chuckled, "No, the old fashioned way."
"What are you talking about? I've never had an intimate time with Ryu…at least, not since we younger when I had a crush on both of you."
Ken put his hands over his face, he knew he had to tell Chun Li about the forgetfulness potion and her history with Ryu. "Look, I have something to tell you, four months ago when Ryu was here, you guys…well, you know…you were intimate."
Chun Li couldn't believe what she was hearing, "I don't remember that. Was I drunk or something?!"
"No, I mean, you could have been, it's not like I watched! But the point is, you have a history with Ryu"
"We are friends, mostly through you, right?"
Ken sighed, he began to explain everything to her, from the second time they visited her in Hong Kong up to four months prior. She was in shock and disbelief.
"Just so we're clear, you're saying I have an on and off again relationship with Ryu and he even asked me to marry him? And because Rose foretold about a doomsday, I had to lose my memories about Ryu so he could go off and train to defeat him?" Chun Li asked.
"In a nutshell, yes. How do you feel?"
"Angry. I'm angry. I still don't fully believe this. It'd hard to believe it when I don't ever remember having a relationship with him. I only remember being friends whenever he came to town."
"It's the potion! It made you forget, the source of the soul power can do that. Just like when Cammy was under Bison's psycho power, she lost a lot of her memories. The two powers are like a yin and yang." Ken explained.
Chun Li took in everything, it was difficult to process. "So, now I'm pregnant with his child. I can't have a baby. I don't even know the first thing about children. What am I supposed to do?" Panic set upon her, the realization hit her.
"We'll figure this out. We'll tell him."
"No! We can't tell him." Chun Li grabbed Ken's arms, "please don't tell him."
"Why?"
"From what I understand, he left to protect me and everyone in the world from his demons. It must have been hard for him, imagine being in his position. Knowing that much weight is on your shoulders and giving up the love of your life so that they could have a chance at a good life." Chun Li began to cry, "I think that's very noble and admirable. How selfish would I be if I stood in his way?"
"Chun Li…" Ken started to say.
"Don't Ken. This is my decision. I'm going to go about my life as if nothing has changed. I will work until I am forced to stop. Pregnancy will not stop me from being an agent for Interpol. I will still search for a way for avenge my father."
"And what will you do after the child is born?"
"I don't know yet. All I know is Bison is not dead. How can I be a mother while being an agent? It won't work. It's not the way I wanted a family. I don't want to think of this now."
"You should see a doctor, Chun Li. They can tell you how far along you are and other details."
"Will you go with me? I don't want to go alone."
"I promised Ryu I'd look out for you, of course I'll go." Ken hugged Chun Li, "We'll figure this out, I'll be there every step of the way." Chun Li cried into Ken's chest.
"Thank you…so much."
Across the world Rose read her tarot cards. She sensed something had changed in the future. She looked out and watched Ryu train with Dhalsim. What does the future hold? I sense a change…but whos future? She shuffled the cards and carefully placed them in front of her splitting them into piles. She read them. She turned them over to reveal the empress card, the star, the fool, and lovers. She continued reading her cards and turned over the temperance card and the hanged man. Interesting, the death card was never flipped. She pondered the empress card.
Four months later…
It was time for everyone to leave to Thailand for the tournament. Chun Li was now eight months pregnant. She was thankful she didn't show very much and was able to hide her pregnancy from most everyone except Cammy, Guile, and her bosses. Even though Chun Li dropped out of the tournament, she still decided to go to Thailand for other undercover work. Ken had prepared a jet for the four fighters to fly in. He even hired a doctor to go along with them in case Chun Li had an emergency.
Many hours later, they all arrived in Thailand. They all headed to Ken's hotel he owned in Phuket. As the driver took them to the hotel, Chun Li looked out the window and fell in love with the beautiful lush green scenery and beautiful waters. If she wasn't there on business, she would have loved to tour the area. She also felt nervous as she knew Ryu would be staying in Ken's hotel too. He still didn't know that Chun Li learned of the truth about their relationship. They all arrived at the hotel and it was a grand sight. As usual, Ken stayed in the penthouse at the very top of the hotel.
"Alright everyone!" Ken called them to attention, "tournament check in is tomorrow morning at 8AM. I'll have breakfast ready at 6AM and a shuttle to take us there at 7AM. I know everyone must be tired from the flight, so here are your rooms keys," he handed everyone their cards, "Chun Li, you're with me and the doctor in the penthouse." Chun Li rolled her eyes, Ken wanted to make sure she was safe. "If you all would like. Come up to the penthouse for dinner tonight."
Once everyone got settled in, Chun Li felt the effects of being 8 months pregnant. She was hungry and tired. She wanted to work, but felt the need to take the rest of the night off, she knew the following day would be spent at the tournament.
"I have some work to do, Chun Li, and I have to leave for a while. Will you be alright here on your own?" Ken asked.
"Don't worry, I'm going to meet Cammy and Guile in a bit to discuss work stuff anyway." Chun Li really just wanted to lay around the pool and soak in some sun, but she didn't want Ken fussing over her.
"Alright. I'll be back by dinner tonight. See you later." Ken walked out of the penthouse. Chun Li felt relief to have some alone time. She changed into her bathing suit and sat by the pool and played some music. She had a big hat and sunglasses on. She ordered some food too.
A half hour later, Ryu arrived at the hotel. Ken had left a key for him at the front desk to the penthouse, but had planned on being there when Ryu arrived as he didn't want him to see Chun Li without being there. Ryu headed up to the penthouse. He opened the door and walked around. He thought no one was there until he saw hotel waiters coming from the pool area. He must be in the pool. Wow, he ordered quite a few plates of food too.
Chun Li was chowing down on the soups, rice, chicken, and shrimp. She didn't notice someone walk out to the pool area. Ryu walked closer to the pool and looked around and didn't see Ken. He didn't recognize Chun Li with her hat and glasses on.
"Excuse me, miss. Do you know where Ken Masters is?" Ryu asked
Chun Li looked up from her plate and choked on her food. Ryu ran to her and helped her sit up, he saw she was pregnant but still didn't see it was Chun Li. He put his arms around her to do the Heimlich maneuver, and she spit out a piece of shrimp. She coughed and regained her composure. Ryu handed her some water.
"Thank you, you startled me," Chun Li said while still trying to hide her face. Ryu caught a scent of her perfume, he knew it belonged to Chun Li. She finally removed her glasses and looked at Ryu. They were face to face. Her heart raced.
"Chun Li?" Ryu was shocked to see her standing there. She was the last person he expected to see.
"R-Ryu. Uh, hi," she didn't know what to say or how to react. For a minute, Ryu was overjoyed to see Chun Li, he had missed her terribly. His love for her still as strong as it ever was. He carefully hugged her. Chun Li hugged him back, she knew she had to play it cool, even though she knew about their past relationship, she had to act like she didn't. Ryu realized Chun Li was pregnant. His heart broke, he thought she had found someone else and moved on.
"You're pregnant," Ryu blurted out,
"Yes, what a miracle," Chun Li didn't know what else to say.
Trying not to show his disappointment, he said, "Congratulations, who is the lucky father?"
Thinking on her toes, "Someone I'm seeing, it was a big surprise. Who would of thought?" she laughed nervously.
"I wasn't expecting to see you here. I came looking for Ken."
"I'm here on assignment,"
"Still working while pregnant? You never know when to stop, do you?"
"Not until Bison is dead." An awkard silence…Chun Li could see the hurt in Ryu's eyes. He looked so sad, she wanted to tell him the truth but knew she shouldn't. "Ken should be back soon. Do you want to wait for him inside?"
All Ryu could do was stare at Chun Li. Even though his heart was full of sadness, he still thought she looked beautiful. The way her baby belly sat on her body, her glowing beautiful skin and hair, and with the shade of lipstick she had on, he was awestruck. He wanted to embrace her again and tell her the truth, he wanted to stay with her but knew he had to go to keep his focus on the tournament. "It's good to see you again." He walked off inside the penthouse. Chun Li sat down on the chair, a tear fell from her eye. A vision stuck her mind. She recalled the last time was with Ryu, when they made love eight months prior. So, it's true. I really did have a relationship with Ryu, she thought. Deep down she knew but this was the confirmation she needed. She wanted to run inside after him and tell him the truth, but couldn't bring herself to it. I can't be selfish, Ryu gave up so much for me. I have to let him become a true master of the dark hadou.
Ken rushed into the penthouse. The hotel staff had let him know that Ryu was there and that Chun Li was still there, so he ran up.
Huffing and puffing, "Ryu, you're here."
"Why didn't you tell me, Ken?" Ryu angrily asked.
"What do you mean?" Ken played dumb.
"Chun Li is pregnant by her boyfriend! Why didn't you tell me?"
"Is that what she said? A boyfriend?" Ken sighed in relief that Chun Li didn't tell him she knew the truth.
"She must have met him right after I left. I knew I said I was OK if she moved on to have a normal life but I didn't think it would be this soon. It hurts." Ryu slammed his fist down. "I don't know what I expected."
Trying to get Ryu's mind off Chun Li, Ken tried changing the topic of conversation. "You can't let that bother you now. Sources tell me Bison is here in Thailand, he might be spectating the tournament. We have to be extremely careful tomorrow."
Realizing he needed to focus on his training, Ryu pushed aside Chun Li from his mind.
Chun Li crept around the corner of the living room Ken and Ryu were in. She quietly listened to their conversation; it was only about the tournament.
I need to find Rose. I want her to restore my memories…
To be continued…