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Disclaimer: I don't own Chun-Li, Street Fighter, or anything involving it.
Short update!

No Need for Bad News

"You're probably going to miss your flight."

The sweet, soft voice of a woman came into the ears of Ken Masters. He looked to his right immediately, having zoned out in thought when he came across a few outstanding bills of his. His eyes fell on his Ex-Wife Eliza, standing there in his home office with their young son Mel.

"Flight? Oh…right, yeah." He cleared his throat, shuffling his mail up once more. He hadn't any idea how such bills were not getting paid on. Was he losing money somehow? "I'll be back as soon as I can, promise big guy." He went to a knee and placed his hands on his son's shoulders. "We'll go ice skatin' somewhere, maybe play some video games over here?"

Mel smiled, throwing a hug around his father's body. "Yeah! That sounds really cool! Can I spend the night too…?" He asked with hopeful eyes. It had been a while since he was able to spend an entire day with his father since the divorce. It wasn't due to anything legal, it was just Ken was always so busy.

"Sure thing, buddy." Ken spoke softer as he embraced his son. "Now go along and grab your new gear and toys. Your mom's gonna take you to the car in a minute, alright?"

"Okay dad! Have a good trip!" Mel released his father and made haste to leave the home office and head to his old room where his new 'gear' was waiting. Ken had gotten him some new coats, video games, and some gear for sparring that he wanted him to take back home with his mother.

While Ken got to his feet, Eliza smoothed out the front of her violet dress and placed a hand on the wide curve of her hip. "So, you're heading to Hong Kong? Business or pleasure?"

Ken cracked a smile and stood before her. "Just visiting an old friend for a couple of days. You guys need anything extra that I can help with? All the heating in the new place is working correctly, right?"

Eliza smiled softly and rolled her eyes. "Ken, everything is fine. Everything but the two of us. It's good that you're finally getting out to see friends, but that look you have your mail has me worried. You're going to kill yourself if you keep picking up things to work on."

Ken had to cut her short. "I'm fine. I'm doing what I can to keep the company afloat."

"You're not fine, Ken." Eliza insisted. "It's your father's company. You told me before you weren't really ready for it. You're a fighter, Ken. I told you that you have to decide if you want to continue to be a fighter, or find out how to truly run a business. These projects aren't opponents you can study and beat down. They're involving people's lives and life's work. You shouldn't try to take on ten of these every other week. You look tired, stressed, and unhappy, Ken."

He listened to her as he took a seat at his desk. This wasn't even nagging from Eliza; she still cared. It seemed the news media didn't get the entire story. Eliza left him for several reasons; suspecting his infidelity as well as to teach him a lesson. She couldn't stand seeing him as down as he was when it came to work, or feeling as if he was taking priority in other things outside of what he was supposed to 'love'.

"I had a date Friday." She confessed. "It seems there really aren't any other men like you." She leaned forward to place a kiss on Ken's forehead. "I'll keep looking, though. But don't forget that I'm always here if you need me, Ken. I'm always going to be your friend. I just worry about you."

Ken wasn't sure how to feel. He simply gave Eliza a pat at the middle of her back. Things had been mended between them over the year or so they'd been divorced. Though they would never be the same again. "I appreciate it, Eliza." He released her and allowed her to stand completely. "I'll see you guys when you drop Mel off. "

The woman gave him a soft smile, and one final nudge of her knuckles along his cheek. "Happy trails, cowboy."

He watched her leave the room and progressively came to a stand. They knew their way out. None of the help ever had to show them about, they'd just lock the doors. He moved toward his window that overlooked the circular driveway and the expansive front yard. He saw them load up in Eliza's slick looking green sports car and pull off.

He still didn't tell her he was sort of dating Chun-Li now. He couldn't bring himself to discuss it.

There was still the long trip to look forward to.

***
One Day Later
7 AM; Hong Kong

As sunlight poured through Chun-Li's blinds and her alarm clock went off, she reached from under her blanket to slam over the top of the device. The other side of the bed? Well, it was occupied by her grandmother. Due to her inability to sleep alone yesterday, Chun-Li chose to room with her grandmother for mental security.

In the very least, she got a couple hours of sleep. As she climbed out of bed and got on with her morning, all she could think about was discrediting Vega's mind games. It all had to be some intricate design to get inside of her head and ruin her focus. When she brushed her teeth, all she could do was glare at herself. Doubting her own confidence in Vega's words. She wanted to snap his neck like a twig, and that was a big deal compared to how non-lethal she tended to be.

Once cleaned up and dressed up, Chun-Li had her daytime chores about Gen's restaurant. Yun and Yang took the kitchen, and Chun-Li handled setting up the chairs, cleaning off tables, and then taking the trash for the morning out back. The place started to come alive as Gen and Chao made their way down to join them, but that was just as Chun-Li was stepping out back.

She lifted the lid and tossed the trash into the dumpster. As she shut the lid, she felt someone near her. Without hesitation, she turned toward the unfamiliar aura with her fists clinched at her sides.

"Well well, aren't you the feisty one?" The voice of Crimson Viper came forward. She was bundled up for the weather, but still saw it fit to wear her yellow sunglasses over her eyes. The plush peach glossed lips were curved up into a smile while her eyes were only partially lidded. "Don't worry, I'm a friend. I don't believe we've met before under such polite circumstances. I'm Maya Sunee…, I've been watching your back lately."

This was without a doubt a business call. This woman had to be part of some Intel agency just from how she carried herself. "Chun-Li Xiang," She took on a more professional voice. "What is it you're watching my back for?"

"That's the thing, mama can't really give you all the details, but it's extremely vital." She shrugged her shoulders. "In a few hours you're going to get some bad news. So I have good news, bad news, and worse news for you. Depends on which you want first?"

Chun-Li gave this some thought. She wasn't sure how much worse her week could get. "I'm willing to bet ten American dollars that the news isn't worse than what I've already heard. I'll star with the bad news, then."

Maya chuckled softly. "Deal. Well, the bad news is, your case is leading you right to the psychopathic woman known as Juri Han. You might remember her from your childhood…" She watched Chun-Li's face, seeing she was completely oblivious. "Jin Ho Han was very well known through Asia for putting away more than a dozen crime families. Though not a cop like your father…he was a lawyer. He protected witnesses and got the job done in providing evidence better than any ace in the courtroom possibly could." Her hands returned to her pockets. "But…he got a little big headed, as they say."

"Big headed?"

"One of mama's analogies. A little too arrogant, egotistical, feeling unstoppable, and the like. You see, he became involved in one of Shadaloo's cases. That was a mistake. When things got serious, Bison had his wife and daughter kidnapped. When he went to pay the ransom, he was tortured and forced to watch his wife be tortured. His child, however, was viciously beaten before he himself was killed. The little girl who was beaten saw you lots during your childhood when her father and your father would meet. Do you forget all your friends so easily?"

The story made Chun-Li cringe…, but she did start to recall the girl. It was far too long ago, though. "Juri…"

Maya wasn't quite done with her news, however. "The part of the bad news is that her mother was attacked in the hospital this morning and is in intensive care. You won't be able to question her. That brings me to my worse news…, better have that cash ready." She grinned. "The man you know as Vega escaped captivity twenty minutes ago."

"What?!" Chun-Li's jaw dropped and her heart filled with horror.

She could hear her inner Balrog screaming in defeat. 'My fight money~!'

She hung her head down, placing her hands on her forehead. "This is a nightmare…"

Maya lifted a finger and shook it from side to side. "Ah, but then there's the good news. Juri is the weak link of Shadaloo and S.I.N. Not meaning she's weak in any way…but let's just say she wants to kill them all. If you can get her on our side, then we may be able to bring down Shadaloo. What do you say? Going to avoid your boyfriend for a couple of days to do the world some justice?"

Chun-Li's head went up immediately, turning red in the face. "Boyfriend?! How could you possibly…!"

"You know, you should really adjust the privacy settings on your facebook." Maya was rubbing her gloved nails on the side of her chest, looking at them rather dully. "All your cutesy updates are ridiculous. You're like a teenaged girl, you know?"

" I am not!" Chunners protested with her face covered in embarrassment.

"Whatever you say. Mama is a bit too grown for that, but that's beside the point. We'll be in touch…, just try to ditch your boyfriend when I contact you. I'm going to hunt down Juri and Vega. Whichever I find first, I'll need your help bringing them down. Mama isn't superwoman, you know?"

"Why do you keep calling yourself 'mama'?" It was starting to annoy Chun-Li, as shown by the rubbing of her temples.

Viper turned to walk away through the alley. "Maybe I'll answer you another time. We'll be in touch, Chun-Li. You'll know when it's me. Ta ta." She waved at the woman as she left back out onto the street.