Author's note: Before I go on I'd like to make some things clear. This fic's purpose is to tell a story. A fictional, non-canon story. Therefore, certain things "i.e. Chun-Li's last name and Arika's EX characters" were obviously used just for the sake of it. I think we all know no one knows that last name, so I just adopted it. Please do take this very seriously. However, if it's something positive you want to add or point out (like spelling problems or grammar), please feel free to do so. I will admit that things pass my eyes when I proofread. Now... um... where was I? Oh, yeah. Third chapter coming up.
CHAPTER 3: SO THESE GUYS ENTER A RESTAURANT...
Tokyo, Japan: 7:05 P.M.
"A few hours later I let him know. Metrosphere's financial department was going to give Mr. Lee the 1500000 loan. I guess I should've known better. Considering the fact that this would be a great sponsoring opportunity, it could put this little software company on the map."
"That's pretty nice," Sakura replied as she rode in the passenger seat of their Mitsubishi Galant, listening to some American Jazz music. They rode through the glistening light of Tokyo's busy commerce, about to head out to a nice dinner at a new restaurant that had recently opened up. After stopping home and changing clothes, the two were certainly looking like quite the pair. Darrell now wore a simple designer shirt with the image of a raging fire on it with pants to match. Sakura sported a rather nice blue crystal dress as if to counteract Darrell's flaming design, her hair a bit more straightened out than during her matches and overall looking fabulous. Years ago, Sakura never really believed in dressing up to anything. She was as big as a tomboy as you could get... That could've been hard to say about her now...
"So how was your day?" her husband asked while stopping at a red light. "I don't want to seem so talkative, you know."
"Yeah, well... I really can't complain. Everything was pretty normal today."
Darrell looked at her with a bit of a 'get real' look. "Sakura, 'normal' to you isn't exactly normal."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes..."
"Tell me, then..."
After a pause of thinking it over, Darrell continued with, "Ok, let's forget the fact that you're 26, a teacher at your old school, spent 4 years in college to get your degree in order to do this and some other professions, and the other 'normal' things. Let's look at what's left. You've been in a romantic relationship with a man who's not only younger than you, but also pretty much a minority in Japan for about 10 years. That's not exactly normal considering where we live at now."
Sakura shot him a look. "Darrell... two things. One, the light's green now."
Darrell gasped as he looked up at the light, noticed that she was right, and sped the car forward. Once they crossed the intersection, the blossom continued.
"Second, who cares if it's not normal for a Japanese woman to marry an African man? If the two who are bonded don't have a problem with it, then being 'normal' should be the last thing on their minds."
"Yes, yes. I know all that. I never-um- what mean to say is that we live in Japan, correct?"
"Yes, Darrell."
"Well... you do realize I'm one of the few people around who are of my background... Sometimes I sorta get that feeling... You know... that you stick out like a sore thumb in a crowd..."
"Oh... that's what you mean..."
"But that's going off track. I'm talking about us. We're both Street Fighters. Famous ones at that. We've been at it for years and have done a lot. We've been getting in and out of trouble with a lot of people. We've did away with Bison twice, finished off Akuma twice-"
"Correction. You finished Akuma twice with help from me and Ryu... and that tall guy in that red suit who stole his energy right afterwards... Think his name was Rugal now that I look back at it..."
Darrell rolled his eyes. "Sakura, we only met the guy once and he attacked us before we even knew who he really was. Also, the last time I checked, he beat us. We just got lucky when help showed up. In a way, I wonder what his motives were... Anyway, you beat Kairi. That's how you became champ in the first place. All of this and neither of us have reached 30 yet."
"Well... yeah... That's true..."
"I don't know what made me think about all this, Sakura... Maybe it's because it's where we wound up. I got an office job and you're a school teacher. Despite the times when we got together with friends and spar, we don't get a lot of action. I guess we're a bit more normal than I thought..."
The couple remained quiet for a while as Darrell turned down a rather lit street. Commercial stores were all over on both sides, lying in the wake of several large skyscrapers a few blocks away. Sakura looked at Darrell again noticing his somewhat uneasy eyes as they shifted from side to side. Just as she started to call his name, he pulled the car sharply to the right, pulling into a parking lot outside a rather new looking building. As Darrell pulled into a parking space facing the wall and between an SUV and another car, Sakura could clearly see the insides of the restaurant.
"We're here," Darrell announced with a smile on his face. He looked over the Sakura while opening his door and then hopped out, Sakura following right behind him.
"So what is this place, anyway?" the blossom asked. The younger of the couple stretched his arms way above his head and sighed, looking up to the crimson lit sky, and then looked over the hood of the car to face his wife.
"Well... I've only heard of it from some guys at work but they say this place has the best of everything. Foods from all over the world. Best buffet this side of Gato's, Sakura."
He then gave her a smirk, saying loudly, "'Wakaba Family Restaurant.' The friendliest environment outside of home cookin'!"
Sakura couldn't help but giggle. "You know, I almost forgot that Hinata was going to open up a restaurant. She's doing a lot lately..." At that part of her sentence she joined Darrell at the other side of the car and started to walk side by side with him to the entrance. "Part time pilot, environmentalist, mother of a 5 year-old and chef... not to mention one heck of a Street Fighter. Now that I think about it, everyone from high school's grown to be something cool, now haven't they?"
Darrell nodded as they reached the corner of the restaurant and prepared to turn. Just as they did this...
FLASH!
"Aaah!" both yelped out, stumbling backwards from the sudden blinding light that came from nowhere. As they wiped their eyes with their arms a good laugh rang through the air.
"Gomen na sai! I guess old habits die hard, don't they, guys?"
Sakura lifted her head and blinked rapidly, trying to get the spots out of her eyes as well as try to identify the person in front of her. After a few seconds her eyes managed to make out a woman about her height and age, her dark purple hair in a nice, curly hairstyle leading down her short sleeved shirt, which was accompanied with jeans and sneakers. However, once she laid sights on the digital camera in her hands, Sakura instantly know who it was.
"Ran Hibiki!" she said out loud while sharing a hug with one of her long- time friends. "Long time no see! How're you doing these days?"
"Mmmmm!" Ran responded, literally hugging Sakura tight before letting go. "Still busy as ever, that's for sure. After that big political scandal between Japan and England watered down, trying to get a good story was hard. Things get boring quickly around here."
Just then she smiled. "But now, on my vacation, I meet up with the champion of the streets herself and her burning husband! Something like this is destined to hit a spot on the Tokyo Sun and News Combo 7!"
Sakura blushed. "Aww... Stop playing around... I'm not that sweet..."
"No. You're hot. Still on the tops of the tiers as I hear it... and to think I used to go to school with you guys. I haven't picked a fight with someone in a long while..." Ran then looked at Darrell, "but I still remember fighting YOU..."
Darrell twisted his mouth. "Even after 10 years you think I'd forget? You're crazy."
"I know, I know. It was a good fight, too. Too bad it ended in a draw. I was wiping you all over the arena. Something like that I'm not willing to let you forget."
"Oh, look who's bragging..."
"I was and you know it!" the reported sharply shot back, pointing at him while doing so. "Hey, but now you'd be able to toast me like nobody's business. I was there reporting at the Ryubi Exhibition a few months back. The way you handled those guys like charcoal was wonderful. You think you can take Kyo Kusanagi and K' like that?"
Darrell thought about it for a while, then answered... "Well... you know that I fight Kyo whenever I see him. Technically, many people around call me his rival or 'Burning Twin' mainly because we share a lot of things in our fighting styles. Well... now that I think about it... I think I'm more like him as I get older when it comes to techniques... Anyway, I fought him a few times but I always lose. He's just better than I am, but I'll beat him one day. K', on the other hand... Well... from what I've heard about him, I don't want to bother him."
Ran gave him a look right afterwards. "Don't tell me that you're scared of him..."
"I didn't say all that. He just seems like the type not to be bothered..."
"Yeah, well... you keep on that, then..."
"Don't worry about it. So, Ran, we're you here to eat something or were you leaving?"
"I was coming in."
"Want to come and eat with us?"
"Sure! That sounds sweet!"
"Well... come on, then," Sakura said while passing Ran and opening the door. "I want to eat before the night rush comes. As you can see, there's no line at the front desk right now."
Both Darrell and Ran quickly shot playful glances at one another before the reporter went on in with Sakura. Darrell smugly put his hands in his pockets and followed. Once inside, the three laid eyes on the gorgeous environment that was the restaurant. Beyond the short wall leading to the register were dining tables of all varieties, positioned around the long buffet tables near the left side. Each table had a different type of bouquet of flowers on it, definitely showing how romantic an environment like this was. Soft music played overhead as couples, family, friends, and individuals enjoyed themselves. Luckily it wasn't enough to say that the place was crowded.
"Yep, this is how I like it," the blossom commented as she walked over to the counter, Ran sitting at the waiting area just behind her. The woman who manned the register didn't even notice that Sakura was there. She was busy trying to get the vast sums of yen organized in the cashier drawer, which faced away from the front door... and away from Sakura. However the blossom waited patiently, listening to the woman's soft whispering.
"Um... darn, I keep messing up... Uh... 1,000... 2,000... 3,000... 5,000... 7,500... da, da, da, da, da, da... Youshi! Got it! 41,000 ¥ all accounted for!"
Smiling, the cashier woman confidently put the currency back in its place and finally turned to see Sakura staring back at her.
"Oh!" she gasped, her long black hair jolting in a wave as her head snapped back. "Ai, ai, ai... did I keep you waiting?"
Sakura shook her head. "Not long... Don't worry so much. You'll age prematurely."
The employee rubber the back of her head shyly. "I'm sorry about that... It's sort of my first week here and I'm nervous."
"Hey, you don't need to be so worked up, Kaede," Sakura reassured, obviously letting the young woman know she red her name tag. "Knowing Hina...er... Mrs. Wakaba, she's not going to bite your head off if you do something wrong."
This made Kaede smile. "I see... You're one of Hinata's friends. The famous fighter, ne? Well, let me guess. Three adults, family buffet?"
"Nah," Darrell rejected. "Two adults and one teenager. I'm not 18 yet."
"Oh, come on!" Sakura moaned playfully, elbowing her husband in the ribs causing the cashier to giggle. "No lame jokes tonight, ok?"
The younger spouse rolled his eyes. "Sure, sweetie..."
"Ok... Three adults..."
Kaede turned to ring up the total. "3200 ¥."
On cue, the blossom handed her the exact amount from her purse. After registering, Kaede stepped away from the counter and towards the dining area.
"Allow me to escort you to a table."
Kaede leg the three to a vacant corner table so that they could see the entire restaurant at once. Once they got there Kaede spoke.
"If you need anything just let me know. Help yourselves and enjoy your stay here."
And with that she left the three to their business...
5 minutes later
"What
did I tell you, Sakura? Best. Food. Ever."
Sakura couldn't help but smile as she chewed on her food. All three of them were enjoying the vast variety of cultural foods that they scooped up from the buffet. Ran dug into ribs and yellow rich on her plate, Darrell enjoyed his addiction to General Tso's Chicken that he had ever since he was 13, and Sakura chewed on her Lo Mien. So far everything was nice as the blossom looked across the room.
"I wonder where Hina's at..."
"So..." the dark-skinned flame said through chews, "how...'s Dan, Ran?"
"Probably getting his butt whooped by Ryo Sakazaki," she replied smugly. "They both need to retire, if you ask me. This feud's been going on for like... 15 years or something... Honestly Yuri can take both of them at her level now."
Everyone at the table let out some laughs at that one.
"Well, I only speak the truth, y'know."
"It's sort of a shame that the Saikyo and Kyokugen schools still are going at it," the blossom commented. "I mean... I remember when I was part of Dan's school. He was always so wrapped up in showing off Ryo... whenever he wasn't acting like a goof or trying to prove that he's not an imitator of Robert Garcia." She giggled and continued on. "Anyway... I sorta bought into his ramblings. I don't know why... then I met Yuri. We were both young at the time. I think I was 14 and she was 16. We started off being fierce rivals but we soon realized that we were just rivals because of our schools. We got to know each other and we were friends from that point on."
"Hmm..."
"Uh?"
Sakura looked at Ran, who seemed to have magically summoned a notepad and pen from nowhere and started writing down what she said word for word. After a while Ran stabbed the final period in and ate another rib. The blossom frown-smirked.
"She isn't called Japan's best reporter for nothing."
Just then Sakura's eyebrows raised and her eyes shifted over to her husband, who was taking a sip out of his soda. Something... just made itself loud and clear to her...
"Darrell?"
The said person looked out the corner of his eye and put his glass down. "Yes, Sakie?"
Sakura just stared at him for a little while, wonder if she should...
"...you do realize I'm one of the few people around who are of my background..."
"I... need to ask you something," Sakura opened up. "Forgive me if it's a little personal..."
Darrell gave his wife a somewhat blank look. "Just ask me."
"Darrell, why did you come to Japan 10 years ago?"
Silence ran through the table after the question was asked. Sakura and Darrell looked into each other's eyes rather hard, as if searching each other for something... until Darrell closed his eyes and sighed.
"I can't believe that after all this time I never told you... You want to know the truth? Here it goes... Eleven years ago... the Street Fighter's second circuit was taking place. At the time I had left a Tae Kwon Do school while I still lived in America. I can't stand being taught by a sensei. I still can't. Well, now that I think about it, that wasn't really a tournament but most of the matched were televised and after the first tournament made such a buzz... well... never mind. Between the time which I left that school and those matches all over the world I had been watching tapes of Ken Masters in his show in the U.S. Pan American Martial Arts Tournament and tried to adapt all that he did for myself. I admit I... didn't take it seriously. If my mom had never introduced me to that Tae Kwon Do school in the first place I might not have known about martial arts outside Kung Fu movies. But anyway, I still didn't take it seriously... at first. Back when I started, this was just another form of exercise. That changed later that year... when I was 14 and those matches were being televised. I saw you, Sakura..."
Sakura opened her eyes a bit. "You... did?"
Darrell nodded. "Yes, Sakura. I saw you. It was when you were about to fight Sagat. I turned to that channel just as they were introducing the two of you to the viewers. It had your bio on and the guys said how you were a new face to the Street Fighter circuit, how you came about, and a small interview with you."
"Oh... I... I remember that. They didn't show it but that news reporter was obnoxious. I could barely say anything without him cutting me off. The station had to cut a lot of it out."
"I didn't know that... Well, anyway, I initially thought Sagat was going to spank you all over the pavement-"
Darrell paused when he received a hot glare from his wife. He instantly rushed to finish.
"-but from the interview I noticed... a bit of a... resemblance to myself in you. You left the Saikyo dojo because your sensei was... how you say... a nut."
"No. More like 'goof-off'", Sakura corrected.
"Yeah... that and the fact that you looked up to a famous Street Fighter yourself just like I did. You had Ryu; I had Ken. It wasn't until I saw you in action that I grew a liking to you. You were giving the big guy your all and even for a young schoolgirl that was obviously the underdog, you gave Sagat a fight I doubt he'd ever forget. And the fact that you still walked away from it at the end without being banged up too badly made me realize something: I was growing to be a fan of you. Not just one of those hentai fanboys-"
At this moment Darrell pulled Sakura close and whispered, "Don't get me wrong... I DID have a number of those wet dreams fantasizing about you..."
He then pulled away and said out loud again, "-but someone who admired your charisma, bravery, and natural born talent. From then on I took my self training more seriously than before, having you and Ken as my mentors. Also... I always dreamed of going to Japan... to possibly see you and challenge you once I gotten better. A year later I got an offer from a student exchange program that visited my school. I eagerly signed up, was accepted... and the rest is history..."
At the end of all that, Ran was shaking her hand from recording so much in her notebook. However, the married couple was still locked by their eyes. Sakura's heart was thumping wildly, finally getting an answer as to why an African American would travel all the way to Japan just to attend school. She knew when she first met him that there was something more to it... but she never knew it was because of HER...
"I... I..." she found herself stammering as she continued to stare at Darrell. "I... I don't believe it. You've... been a fan of me...?"
Darrell slowly nodded. "More than just a fan. After we finally met during the high school problems, I truly cared for you. I hated to see you hurt and I loved to see you smile. You grew on me ever since day one. I... I had the biggest crush on you... Way before the Turn of the Century tournament. But... you know... rumors are ugly, mainly the one that said you had a crush on Ryu."
"Darrell-"
"Sakura, don't worry. After meeting the guy personally I could see why. He's really attractive. I didn't blame you if you had a crush on him... I was surprised at first that you took me over him... but after hearing about things your way, I realized that it sorta made sense."
Darrell let out a short laugh. "Lucky me, huh? I... managed to marry my idol; a girl that's one and a half years older than me... I'm so lucky..."
He ended with his eyes closed, his head down, reflecting on everything that happened the past 10 years... all while having a smile on his face.
"Awesome..." Ran whispered, just finishing her recording. "That's a... beautiful story..."
"Oh, Darrell!"
"Aah!"
Before he could even react, Sakura grabbed him pulled him close in a tight hug and gave him the biggest kiss he had in a while. His eyes shot open as his heart pounded along side Sakura's. He was taken completely by surprise, especially since she was unleashing so much love out of nowhere. Ran was busy taking a few photos of it all as well and didn't stop until the two broke their kiss, gasping for air.
"Hah... hah... S... Sakura? What's... gotten into you all of a sudden?"
Blushing, Sakura replied, "It's... it's just that I never knew someone could care so much about me. That I was actually a role model years ago. I thought I was just an abnormal schoolgirl looking up at that man... and the fact that I'm married to my admirer makes me... makes me warm inside. I truly love you because of that. That's why I fell in love with you; because you weren't an abuser, hentai or egotist. You are the first my age that I can say truly cared for me. I... I just couldn't contain myself, Darrell. You made me fall in love all over again."
"Aww... Sakura..." Darrell said sweetly and pecked another kiss on her cheek. "You do the same to me everyday... Stay here. I'll go get you some dessert."
"Ok, my little chocolate bar... Don't be gone for too long."
Darrell smiled and moved out the corner and turned around to head back up to the buffet... but something abruptly stopped his foot from moving forward. He let out a yelp as his eyes grew wide, quickly losing balance...
THUD!
Before either Ran or Sakura knew it, Darrell fell face first on the carpeted floor. Instantly the table next to him erupted in laughter, obviously at his expense. Just as he started to get up a firm boot planted itself into his back, making him stay down.
"Hah! Look here guys! A perfect example of a love-struck idiot!"
Darrell turned his head to try to look up at the guys who obviously tripped him. Despite the fact that the four of them all had jeans on, he couldn't see faces. As he strained to get up, Sakura Ran got up from their seats.
"Hey!" Sakura yelled out. "Just what do you think you're doing?"
The guy who had his boot on Darrell wiped a hand through his stylish black hair and gave Sakura a look.
"Don't sweat it, babe. I'm pretty sure this guy wasn't doing anything important... so I'm giving him something to do to get his head out of the clouds; serve as my foot stool!"
The guy let out a carefree laugh as his pink-haired girlfriend crooned to him over his shoulder. The guy's body frame was soave yet toned, as if he worked out. It clearly showed through the clingy black shirt he wore.
"Tch! Guys like you are so alike," Ran commented. "Too dumb to realize what they're messing with."
At this point the guy that sat across from the first two turned to face the young women. One of them had longer black hair and a big smirk on his face. The other, however, didn't have that charisma. As soon as he laid eyes on Sakura, he turned back around and tried to finish his food.
"Mmm... you're Ran, that ultra-popular photographer," the first of the two said.
"Yeah. So what's it to ya?" Ran shot back, putting her notes and camera back in its carrying case.
"Heh, heh... You're much more snooty in person... Might want to watch who you're talking to with that tone."
Ran immediately scoffed. "Trust me, I don't need to watch who I'm talking to, considering that all I see is an ignorant bastard."
Suddenly, the pretty boy of the group almost lost his balance as Darrell sprung up off the floor and to his feet. The guy let out a growl as his girlfriend consoled him and then shot Darrell a look.
"Hey, you twerp," she spat in a very nasty tone, "You almost made Ryoshi mess up his clothes!"
"Oh, please..." Darrell muttered while brushing his shirt off, "Somebody like him most likely has a million of those tucked away in his closet somewhere..."
"You alright, Darrell?" Sakura asked.
"Yeah. I'm fine. Now... what was I doing...? Oh, yeah."
After giving Sakura a small wink Darrell walked off to his destination while the girls shot warning glances at the group at the table. Ryoshi only smirked, as well as his first companion, causing Sakura to groan a bit before sitting down.
"Yeesh... I hate people like that," she said to her friend.
"You're not the only one. How obnoxious."
"Yeah..."
Sakura took out a small hair brush and ran it through her hair, straighten it out. While she did this Ran asked a question.
"So... you haven't seen Ryu in a while, I guess..."
"Yes... About 3 years I think."
"You plan on trying to track him down again?"
Sakura temporarily stopped brushing and focused on Ran. She would be lying if she didn't want to see how he's doing. The guy must still be going despite being 37 years old now... However...
"I don't think so," the blossom replied. "I mean, come on. I have a life now. Husband, job as a school teacher... and so many responsibilities I have to put up with. There's just no more time to be going off trying to find him... and even if I did find him what's my reason? I would never think that I'd go out to find him just because... However... I do get this feeling... like something big's going to happen soon..."
Ran blinked. "Really? Woman's intuition?"
Sakura looked away to the now dark sky outside the windows. "You could say that..."
Ran blinked a little more, and then sat back, looking at her post-dinner plate. "You used to freak me out every time you said that when we were younger... because you were always right."
"Yeah... I kn-"
"AAAAHHHH!"
Sakura jumped out of her seat as her friend did the same. Jumping away from the table Sakura kept her eyes on Ran, who was looking wide-eyes at the table.
"What's wrong, Ran?" Sakura asked frantically.
The reporter just pointed under the table, stammering, "T...that perv! He was under the table looking under your dress!"
"He WHAT?"
Feeling a bit tense after hearing that, Sakura looked under as well... and barely saw a pair of legs pull themselves under the seat... towards the table where Ryoshi and his posse were laughing like there was no tomorrow... or rather, the posse minus 1. That was quickly fixed as the 'shy' guy with the glasses emerged from under their table and sat down in his seat, receiving a hair rub from his mate.
"Hey! I didn't know you had guts like that, Minchi!" he congratulated. "How much did you see?"
"Oh, stop it already, Goretsu," Minchi shot back, fixing his glasses while swatting his buddy's hand away. "I admit it; the woman's got some good-"
Before Sakura herself could shoot her anger, an arm shot across the table and grabbed Minchi by his shirt. It then dragged him out from his seat and onto the food-covered table, knocking it off and onto the laps of Ryoshi, Goretsu, and the pink-haired girl in a sloppy mess. Finally the thin brown- haired pervert was slammed face first into the carpet, smashing his glasses in two.
"Of all the stupid things, THAT TEARS IT!" came Darrell's totally ticked off voice, his focus on the guy who took a personal look at his wife. By now everyone in the restaurant was looking at them, wondering just what the heck was going on.
"AAH! My clothes! They're ruined!" the pink-haired woman shrieked, frantically trying to brush off the contents from her shirt and blouse. Ryoshi looked at her for a second then abruptly stood up, giving Darrell an evil glare.
"How DARE you! That's my girl, you pig!"
Just as that last word escaped his voice box Darrell reached out and grabbed him by his neck, his strong grip choking the pretty boy. Letting out gags, Ryoshi tried to beat himself free but...
"How DARE YOU let that jerk look at my wife like that!" Darrell blasted. "I could live with you getting off with that first stunt, but this really ticked... me... OFF!"
With that Darrell swiftly let go of his neck but relocated the hand to the back of his head, swatting it down and smashing his face into the hard marble that made up the table. The strength was enough to almost break his nose, but he was still hurt, holding his face with both hands. The whole things raised commotion around the area as Darrell's act caused big Goretsu to stand up.
"You're going to pay for that!" he roared as he lunged at Darrell, throwing punches all aimed at the head. The young fighter dodged it all while moving backwards down the aisle, pedestrians scampering away in their seats to avoid getting hit. Just as Darrell thought he had it all figured out the slightly taller and bigger man came with a fist to the stomach, catching him off guard. Darrell let out a yell as his head dropped, pain racking through his torso. Goretsu took advantage and planted another fist into his chest, knocking Darrell off his feet and back first into a table right behind him. He let out a moan as he slumped to the ground, his senses blurred, but he quickly snapped out of it as Goretsu let out a roar, rearing his fist back again.
"TAKE THIS!"
"Aah!" Darrell gasped as he quickly lowered his body to the ground, barely missing the attack which instead met the table. Goretsu let out a painful yell as he recalled his arm, savoring it. This granted Darrell enough time to shoot up into a standing position, his right fist exploding into flames as it shot up and found its mark into the big guy's chin. The uppercut packed enough force to send him sailing through the air in a blaze before crash landing on the floor, where he stayed, writhing in pain. Sakura and Ran just looked on, but Ryoshi and his girlfriend was livid. The pretty boy jumped into the aisle and faced Darrell.
"Why you..." he growled, clenching his fist at his side.
"Don't do it to yourself, pal," Darrell warned. "As much as I want to burn you until you apologize, I'm trying to show some restraint here. We're in a restaurant for crying out loud!"
Ryoshi spat at that. "Jalin, you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"Jalin...?" Darrell repeated, clueless. "Who...?"
"Of course, Ryoshi-poo," the pink haired woman replied, jumping out behind her boyfriend. "He's going to pay for messing up my good clothes!"
Oh, crap... A two on one in a place like this? I can't get much mobility here. I gotta take this outside somehow...
"Listen!" Darrell pleaded. "This isn't the place! They're people trying to eat!"
"Screw them!" Ryoshi shot back. "We're going to grind you into the dirt where you belong!"
At the end of that the guy shot forward towards Darrell, ready to attack. Darrell saw it coming and dodged to the right and down the other aisle, trying to find a place to get some space. Jalin noticed where this was going and stared to rush off to help but a hand forcibly stopped her from going anywhere.
"Oh, no you don't!" Sakura yelled. "You're staying right HERE!"
Just as aggressively as Sakura had stopped Jalin, the other woman returned it by slapping the blossom's hand away.
"Get off, you bitch!" she shot back angrily, her eyes hot with rage. "You're not stopping me from getting to my boyfriend!"
No sooner than she said that, Jalin's head was sent to the ground, followed by the rest of her body. Her cheek was starting to swell... and for good reason.
"Don't you EVER call me that again! You'll live to regret it!"
Jalin shook her head and got up to her hands and knees.
"You... you punched me..." she said in a dazed voice. She then balled her fists and shot up, prepared to teach Sakura a lesson. "I'll get you for touching me!"
Jalin took a wild swing that Sakura blocked easily. She then came with another haymaker with the other that was ducked and returned with an elbow to the face. Jalin cursed as she fell back, holding her face with her hands to see if she was bleeding. When she found out she wasn't she gave a nasty glare to the woman in front of her and came at her once again.
Sakura braced herself to counter whatever the woman would throw at her but she wasn't prepared for the tackle Jalin did, planning them both in the seat where Sakura just ate at. On instinct Sakura tried to put her hands up to shield her face but Jalin was surprisingly quicker than she seemed to be. She pinned Sakura's arms down with her knees, sat up a bit and unleashed her fury with her own fists.
"You filthy... dirty... no good..." the woman screamed as she let out her onslaught on the hapless Sakura below her. "You're... nothing... compared... to..."
She then reared her fist back, getting a good look at the blossom. She had her eyes closed and her face was beginning to bruise up...
"ME!" Jalin finished, about to drive the final blow home but another hand grabbed her fist from behind. Letting out a frustrated growl Jalin spun around...
"Smile for the camera!"
...and let out a scream as a blinding flash not only blinded her vision but blew her off Sakura and into the wall. She slumped into the seat totally out for the count as Sakura opened her eyes to see what's going on. Instead a hand was all she could see.
"Here... Need help?"
"Thanks, Ran..."
Grabbing hold to the helping hand above, the blossom was hoisted out of her seat and to her feet. Shaking her head free of its slight dizziness Ran also helped her out by brushing off her dress.
"You ok, Sakura?"
"Hai..." Sakura responded. "For someone like her she hits pretty hard... but it seems your camera's got more kick than it ever did before, huh?"
Ran smirked. "Only when it needs to... I think we better help out Darrell... Umm... now that I think about it, where is he?"
Both women looked around them. Despite the fact that now a majority of the people in the in the restaurant were staring at Jalin and Sakura, there was no sign of either Darrell or Ryoshi... that is until Sakura sensed some energy at work... and it wasn't normal energy for that matter.
"Found them," she said. "Ran, do me a favor and watch her? I'm going to help out."
Ran responded by giving a thumbs up. "You can count on it."
Meanwhile...
"Dammit! Why... are you so freaking tough to beat?"
Darrell only stared at Ryoshi as they stood on the sidewalk. Cars were passing by on the street just to the right but people who were walking stopped to see the fight, which Darrell had dominating ever since they 'stepped' outside. Ryoshi had a hand on his stomach, his whole body screaming in pain from the other guy's blows. Darrell, however, seemed like 100. The pretty boy cursed again and stared at Darrell with as much hatred as he could muster.
"You want to know why I'm kicking your ass so easily? It's simple, really. I've handled jerks like you one too many times. You're all the same to me. I can burn you without even breaking a sweat. Going to the gym is only going to get you but so far, buddy boy."
Ryoshi let out another growl, sweat running down his face and his hair stressed. Darrell only responded by hardening his eyes.
"Now... are you going to apologize to me and my wife... and those people in that restaurant for breaking their mood or am I going to have to rough you up some more?"
"You... expect me... to a... apologize? Never! I don't apologize for anything!"
Darrell closed his eyes and sighed. "That's too bad... I thought you would listen to reason... Come on! What are you going to do? You're hurt, I'm not even breathing hard, and even if by some odd twist of fate you pull something remotely cool I'll just heat up twenty fold. Give it up before I'm forced to make you."
Ryoshi groaned again as he dropped his head, grasping tightly to his stomach. Darrell just looked on.
"You don't get it..." the pretty boy muttered. "I... I never apologize... and I'm... not starting now... I'll kill you and everyone else here..."
"Uh?" Darrell gasped. "What the...?"
Something's wrong. I can sense something deep building here...
Darrell steadied himself in his fighting stance as Ryoshi let out a loud moan, his eyes shooting up to come in contact with Darrell's. To much of Darrell's sock an aura started to form around his enemy... A very familiar blood red aura...
"Do you hear me?" Ryoshi yelled, his normal eyes starting to completely become overrun by an eerie redness. "I'll kill you all!"
Darrell's eyes flung wide. "What the HELL?"
"YAAAHHH!"
Without warning the pretty boy launched his body forward in a blur, his attacking arm slamming into Darrell's stomach with abnormal vicious power. The Japanese-American found his body flying into the parking lot and slamming head first into a van. With a yell of pain, Darrell fell to the ground stunned by the sudden force of the attack. Opening his eyes, he saw a wild version of Ryoshi running towards him at high speed and snapped out of his daze. Letting out another savage scream Ryoshi lunged towards him with another strike just as Darrell got to his feet, his back facing his attacker. Ryoshi landed another powerful strike to that vulnerable backside... or did he? The moment he touched, Darrell smirked and his entire body lit up with flames, torching Ryoshi. He screamed as he fell to the pavement, writhing in an inferno.
"Ashi Keppaku..." Darrell grinned while spinning around, his arm up behind him and holding up another flame in his hand, "...and this is where the play ends!"
As Ryoshi tried to move, Darrell twisted his torso around, his arms wrapped around his chest and his hands both holding large flames. Darrell waited until Ryoshi got to one knee... and faced him, letting out a startled yelp.
"Time to fry, psycho! SAISHUU HINOTE!"
With that, his arms swung up and then down, the embers flying off his hands and colliding at point-blank range. The wave blasted Ryoshi away and back where they started, totally burning his silk shirt completely and causing the familiar aura to die out. Once he got the message that the guy wasn't getting back up, Darrell rested his back against the van he almost dented and sighed, rubbing the back of his head.
"Geez... that was a pain..." he mumbled, "...but that aura... That looked just like..."
"Darrell!"
He looked up and saw Sakura making her way towards him, noticing a few bruises on her face. He twisted his mouth as she came close.
"You, too?" he asked flatly.
The blossom nodded. "Yes. I didn't expect that woman to hit so hard but the moment I sensed that energy I thought you were in trouble."
"That... wasn't me..."
Sakura gave Darrell a look. "What are you saying? Is your 'brother' getting to you again?"
"No! I'm serious, sweetie. It was that guy over there."
Sakura followed Darrell's glance to see that same guy who started everything on the pavement. Although there was no aura, Sakura definitely sensed the signs of an evil energy that seemed like... She instantly shook her head.
"It can't be what I think it is," she mumbled. "It just doesn't make sense."
"Well, you better make some sense out of it, Sakura, because I want a LOGICAL explanation as to why you disrupted the costumers' meals tonight!"
Both Sakura and Darrell cringed at the sudden voice that rang through the air. Looking towards the door of the restaurant, the two found a brown- haired woman wearing a clean working uniform and shoes. She was around Sakura's height and size, and wore a nametag on her shirt that clearly started "Manager: Hinata Wakaba" on it...
"I... W.. w-w-wait, Hina," Sakura explained, putting her hands up as if she wasn't the one responsible for all that happened that night. "It's not what you think! I would never-"
"Then what, then, Sakura? Darrell?" she shot back while storming over to the two, obviously ticked off. "I couldn't get any work done with you making all that fuss and I come out of my office, I find an unconscious woman in a seat and a huge mess at a few of my tables!"
"We're sorry!" Darrell immediately countered. "We were only protecting ourselves!"
"From what?" Hinata sharply demanded. Both Sakura and Darrell pointed behind her and Hinata spun around to see another body K.O.'ed. At first she was going to ask what he had to do with anything... but after a second she stopped her anger streak and just stared at him. "Oh... I see... but... wait... what are you giving me? You mean that burst of evil energy wasn't Darrell or yours?"
Darrell just shook his head. "Something's obviously a miss here... and I don't like how this it turning out."
"Then trust me, I don't think you're going to like what I got to announce to you three now. Sakura Kasugano, Darrell Markis, and Hinata Wakaba."
Letting out startled gasps, the trio turned their attention to a slightly taller Chinese woman in a blue workout shirt and jeans, a brown vest over her shirt with an Interpol badge on her vest. They almost didn't recognize her since her hair was long and without her signature hair buns, but it didn't take TOO long...
"C... Chun-Li...?" Sakura said, raising an eyebrow. Instantly she put her hands up to seem like repelling the agent. "No... No, no, nonononoNO!" She then started shaking her head furiously in protested. "Oh, no! Last time I checked, every time we meet, something BAD happens or starts to happen right afterwards! Please tell me its good news..."
Chun-Li sweatdropped. "Uh... sorry to bust your bubble but-"
"No! I refuse to hear it!" the blossom cut the agent off, cupping her ears and closing her eyes tightly. "You can't make me!"
Darrell, Hinata, Chun-Li, and Ran, who just came from inside, all exchanged embarrassed glances before looking back at Sakura, who was totally not acting like an adult. Darrell then elbowed his wife in the ribs rather sharply, making her howl a bit while holding onto her onto her side.
"Hey! What was that for?" she demanded. Darrell just sighed.
"You mind acting your age? It's sorta embarrassing for someone like you to act like that."
"Oh... Sorry."
Chun-Li cleared her throat and started to continue.
"Anyway... I bet you're wondering just what I'm doing here and what the heck is going on..."
"Well, yeah," Sakura said bluntly.
"While Ace brings these guys to the authorities, I'll tell you... in a less open area.
"Fine then," Darrell started. "We can head to our house. It isn't too far from here and I can take you all back home when we're done."
"That's cool," Ran replied.
"Sure," Hinata said.
"Ok," Chun-Li responded. "Let's hurry. Time's of the essence."
Hong Kong 4:43 P.M.
"Mmm... This is it..."
Even though the sidewalks were filled with people moving to their destinations and entrepreneurs selling refreshments in their food carts, a young, blond man just stood in front to a restaurant, letting the breeze from all the people passing rush through his red jacket, which had the symbol of a white star with black wings on the back. He sported black driving gloves and the undershirt, jeans, and shoes to match as well.
Anyone who took time to look at him for a while would wonder a couple of things. The first would be why this foreigner from the states just rode out of nowhere on his motorcycle and abruptly park it in front of the Triple Dragon Restaurant, just to stand there and look at it for over 30 seconds. Second would be what his business there was. However, people on the crowded Hong Kong streets were far too busy to stop their routines for those thoughts. However, the guy was heavy at mind on something... Finally, after a few more passing moments, he stepped inside. The moment he went it...
"Hi!"
"Ey!" he yelped out, jumping away from the sudden voice that rattled his eardrums. He turned his focus to the woman who stood right next to the door, who wore casual clothing and a thin hair band on her head, smiling at him. The blond, almost instantly recognizing who she was, regained his composure and closed his eyes, running a hand through his hair.
"Welcome to the Triple Dragons," she chimed brightly. "My name's Yin. Yin Lee: the Red Dragon of the Lightning. I'll be serving you. May I ask what your name is?"
The American opened his eyes. "Rock... Rock Howard."
"Rock..." Yin said to herself. "That's a pretty simple name; not tied down by western complexity... I like it."
"Thanks... I think..."
"Well, seeing you like the way you are now, you must've come a long way and hungry to boot."
Rock twisted him mouth. "Actually I'm-"
"I really think you'll like what we got here, especially the special dishes I personally make! Best in the area!"
This is the same timid Yin Lee from 3 years ago that I saw on TV...?
"Um... that's ok," Rock kindly refused. "Personally, I'm here to see you."
"M... me?" she stuttered, giving him a surprised look. "What do you mean?"
Rock dug into his jacked pocked for a bit and quickly took out a piece of a news paper. Yin just stared at his paper for a second before he spoke again.
"I'm pretty sure you're familiar with the person I'm looking for..." he said before handling her the paper. She flipped it over... and looked back at Rock.
"How could I not know who this is?" she asked. "Sakura's a clear friend of the family. Plus, ever since she became Street Fighter champ, I doubt a person alive hasn't heard of her."
"Well... I was watching the tournament years ago. I was seeing if you knew where I could exactly find out some information on her."
Yin brought down an eyebrow in response. "What do you want with her? She lives all the way in Tokyo. If you wanted to know about her, then you should've traveled there instead."
Rock twisted his mouth again. "At the time of my flight all the flights to Japan were stopped due to some huge hurricane that was threatening to hit and also I didn't want to stay at home and wait it out. Hong Kong was the best I could do, and I got to head towards Shanghai through land to take the clear path to Tokyo."
"Mmm... that's a lot, don't you think?"
The blond just shrugged. "You can't necessarily say I hate sightseeing, either. This is my first time out of the States and on my own at that. There's a lot I want to do before I see her."
Yin paused a bit before saying, "Rock... since you asked me if I knew where Sakura lives, can you tell me why you're going? You're not going to challenger her like everyone else in the world has, are you? I mean that's not a bad thing..."
"Well... first things is that I'm going on far more serious matters. I need to see her to verify some things..."
"Oh..." she said as her eyes adverted to the door. "Watch out, Rock."
Rock looked over a bit and then stepped forward, letting the couple that just stepped in come and face Yin. As they got their warm welcome from the youngest Lee Dragon, Rock's mind started to wander...
flashback
"Rock...? Where are
you going?"
"...Terry..."
"...you understand, then."
"I can see it in your eyes. Rock, you realize that what happened happened three years ago..."
"I know exactly when it happened... and now that I know exactly where they all live, I'm going to even things up."
"Rock, you also realize that they were brainwashed..."
"...well?"
"I know... but there's something that's still telling me to go. I'm old enough to make my own decisions, Terry."
"Well... I'm not sure what you're getting at, but you're right. You're not a wolf cub anymore. You think you got what it takes to make it out there? Give it your all."
"Thanks... but what about you?"
"I'll just do what I'm good at. You know what that means."
"Yeah... well... I'll be back once I'm done with my business overseas. See ya."
End Flashback
"Rock...? Rock!"
Instantly Rock snapped back to reality, blinking at Yin.
"What's that?" he asked.
"You sorta zoned out..."
"Oh. Sorry."
Yin waved it off. "It's ok. Now... you were saying you needed some information?"
"Yeah."
"What exactly are you looking for?" Home address, occupation...? What?"
"Well... address would be nice."
"I don't suppose you have something to write this down with, do you?"
Rock checked the second of his red jacked pockets for a bit but came up empty.
"Mmm... I think I left my notepad in the motorcycle..."
Yin smiled. "Don't worry about it." She reached to her side and took a small notepad from the clip of her pants and then a pencil from the pocket near it. Rock looked on as she scribbled something on it and when she finished ripped it out.
"This is the exact address," she said, handing it to her. "Also the phone number. Just make sure you call out a good time... if you know what I mean."
"I'll be sure to," he replied, about to grab the paper...
"YIN!"
Yin gasped as both she and Rock looked to their side to see someone bolt from the kitchen door, catching the attention of everyone in the room. He was a bit shorter than Rock, wearing a chef shirt over his jeans and a blue and yellow cap on his head, hiding his eyes. His black hair was set up into a ponytail in the back as well.
"Hey, is that...?" Rock started.
"Brother?" Yin asked, surprised. "What're you-"
Without saying a word, the chef threw his shirt off in one sweep of the hand, exposing a silver and blue short sleeved shirt that broke into 4 ends at the bottom. A second later, he lunged all the way from the other side of the restaurant, his fist out and aiming towards Rock. Thinking fast, Rock ducked, letting the other guy sail out and onto the sidewalk, almost running into some pedestrians while landing.
"What's his problem?" Rock asked on his way back up to his feet. Fortunately, Yin didn't need to answer; her brother did it for her.
"I don't know who you are but you're NOT getting anywhere close to my baby sister that way!" he announced while facing Rock. "You guys are all alike; hitting on young girls like Yin and pretending to be caring... I'm not going to allow that because now I'm too wise for your tricks!"
"Oh, man, this is so embarrassing..." Yin mumbled to herself quietly before calling out, "Yun! It's not what you think it is!"
"You don't know what I'm thinking!" Yun defended. "Did he steal your heart like the others you met?"
Rock raised an eyebrow while Yin heavily blushed. "What...? You think I'm trying to-"
"You're darn right, and I'm going to stop it before it goes any farther! Put 'em up!"
Rock couldn't protest it any longer. Yun came at him with a fist to the face that he blocked. The second one he swatted away while taking a step back towards an empty table. Yun tried to capitalize with a kick to the face, but Rock ducked this one while simultaneously swiping the ground with his right arm...
"REPPUKEN!"
Before Yun could realize what happened, a blue energy attack formed on the carpet and hit him in his supporting leg. The attack made him quickly loose balance and kneel to the floor. Rock then grabbed him by the shirt and threw him up and over his shoulder into the table behind him with authority. Luckily the table didn't shatter but Yun's back was hurt due to the fact that there were various utensils still on it... Yin shuddered as soon as it happened and rushed over to see how Yun was doing.
"Uuuugh..." Yun moaned, even though he knew he could just hop off and continue on trying to get him.
"Yun, stop it, already!" Yin pleaded. "He's not someone trying to be my boyfriend! He came all this way to get some information about someone and something to eat. You need to behave yourself!"
"Yes... That was no way to treat a guest, brother."
This new voice came from the front door, where the middle Dragon of the family appeared, his arms full with groceries and other things. Rock relaxed once he saw the Blue Dragon of the Gale known as Yang Lee, and ran his right hand through his hair.
"Yang Lee, I presume," he started coolly.
"Yes... and you are...?"
"Rock Howard."
"Oh, I see, then." Yang and Rock exchanged a quick handshake before Yang continued. "I hope my brother wasn't too much of a hassle for you. At times he's good at jumping to action without thinking things through..."
Yin giggled when she heard Yun moan in response to that.
"No, it was nothing," Rock reassured. "I don't think he really intended to hurt me, anyway... not acting like that."
"Meh..." Yun interrupted again while sitting up, much to Yin's help.
"So, did you get what you came for?" Yang asked politely.
"Yeah, I did. I better go, now. I better get moving if I want to catch the sites on time."
"What?" Yin asked. "You sure you don't want to-"
"Trust me... I'll be ok. I ate before I came here, but thanks for the hospitality."
Yin frowned. "Ok... If you insist... but if you need a good meal, just stop here, ok?"
Rock smiled back her to cheer her up a bit. "Sure. I will. Later."
With that the American picked up and left past Yang and headed towards his motorcycle. The three dragons looked on as he saddled up and started up the engine. As he revved it up, Yun spoke.
"You know... It's people like him that make me the way I am today..."
"What are you saying. You act just like those 'people' you're talking about, you know," Yin replied. Yun just sighed while reaching to grab his cap and pull it over his eyes... only he only wound up grabbing his own hair in the process.
"What the...?" he gasped, spinning around on the table to see where his signature cap flew off to. Yin just giggled at him...
"You looking for this, brother?" she teased while holding up a finger, which balanced his cap on its tip. Yun twisted his mouth and reluctantly took it.
"You know, I say we follow him. I don't like the vibes I got from him."
"You must be nuts," Yang criticized. "In case you haven't noticed, we run a business here. You can't just up and leave like that anymore. Plus, this is the busy season."
"Yang's right, brother," Yin chimed in. "This is when we make the most money. We can't afford to mess it up all because you're holding a grudge against a stranger."
"First thing's first. I'm not holding a grudge against anyone. Second, I hate it when you two gang up on me like that. Give a pal a break every once in a while, now won't you?"
"Sure..." Yin teased, "that is, if you don't break yourself in the process."
"Alright, you two," Yang broke it up, "I've got some ingredients from the store. You know what that means."
"Yeah. Back to the daily grind. Let's go."
While that was happening, Rock was long gone, riding through the streets of Hong Kong with only one thing in mind...
"Sakura Kasugano... Darrell Markis... Hinata Wakaba... Kaoru Miadama... I'm coming for all of you. Prepare yourselves..."
Shanghai, China - Flashback - 5 hours ago
"Father! Father! What's wrong with you? Why are you attacking me!"
"Shut up, fool! Your talk means nothing to me! Just fight me!"
I don't want to admit that I was crying, but I was... Despite how everyone looks up to me, I was crying. Tears ran down my eyes as I tried my best to avoid my father's attacks. I couldn't believe that the same man that raised me and loved me was trying to rip me limb from limb. Everything seemed like a normal day of training in the home garden until I hear crashes from the inside of my house. Since I was the only person home except for my father, I thought either something happened to him or someone tried to break in. Things turned out that neither happened at all... I rush inside the private sparring room of our house and unexpectedly get ambushed by my own father.
Out of our family of 5, my mother, father, me, and 2 other siblings, my father was the wisest and kindest of them all. He was even kind enough to teach his three kids the martial arts while they were young. Throughout my 21 years alive I always knew him as a gentle man, even in combat. I don't think he ever once did anything in anger. Everyone in Shanghai knew that, no matter what would happen to him or his family. That's... sorta why I think I was crying... because I knew this couldn't very well be my father. Somehow, it might look like him, but his soul wasn't there...
As much as I knew that, I couldn't bare to fight back. I didn't want to hurt him despite what he was going... Correction-what he was trying to do. I managed to avoid him as much as I could while trying to talk him out of his sudden rage.
"Snap... out of... it...!" I yelled, having no other choice but to try to fend him off. "What's... wrong... with you?"
"Shut up and fight, woman!" he barked his response, his entire body moving in a blur as he worked on my defense. Each blow he threw and I blacked was harder than the last but despite what he was doing, he must have forgotten that he taught me all that I know. I blacked it all and it must have made him even angrier. He let out a yell as he drew back to give me a mighty blow. I started to block this attack until I, for once, clearly saw his face... and I grew wide-eyed. His expression was pure fury and his eyes were unreal. They both were crimson red... as if possessed by the devil... Something snapped inside my brain and it made me stay where I was, planted between the wall and him... I saw his fist come down... and I convinced myself...
There was only one way to end it.
Playtime ended right there... Before he could strike me down I spun around in the little space I had and unleashed a hard roundhouse kick to his neck within a blink of an eye. I hit cleanly and my 'father' drew back instantly, holding his neck with both hands. I saw my opening and, as I was taught, took advantage.
"WHAAA!"
I pushed my back off the wall and attacked with a fist right to his face. He reeled away in recoil but I wasn't about to let up. Another fist rained down on his face, causing his head to drop and meet my knee. That stunned him enough for me to turn around, charge up my leg...
"You're..."
Then I spun back around, jumping off the floor as my leg sliced the air...
"FINISHED!"
...and connected with all my strength. The force blew him off his feet and to the ground in a heap. I stood firm for a few more moments, waiting if he was going to stand up yet again. Luckily, I confidently gave a relieved sigh... that quickly turned into a gasp. I ran up to my father's body, kneeled down, and checked his face. I bruised it up pretty badly but what shocked me was the sudden black aura that shot out around his body. My senses wanted me to jump away but I didn't. Why would he have an aura...? No on in the family...
As the aura died down I raised a hand and opened one of his eyelids.
"It's..." I started to whisper to myself. "The redness... It's dying down..."
I could see a bit of his iris showing up over time. I then checked his pulse.
"He's still alive..."
I just sat there, staring at my father's fallen body for a while before I shook it clean.
"I got to get you to a hospital.."
End
Flashback - Current time: 5:00 P.M
"Mei-Ling..."
A young woman sat at her father's bedside, her eyes closed as her mind tried to think about what happened earlier that day. Her father had just woken up from unconsciousness and he was glad to see her oldest daughter at his side. The woman had long, shining black hair that ended in a slight braid from her neck to her shoulder and urban clothes, her carrying bag resting near her chair. Her fist was clenched and she defiantly having a heavy train of thought. Her father knew that as well...
"Father," she started, her eyes opening and looking at him, "you need to tell me... What happened to you?"
A pause...
"I can't tell you that," he responded. "Someone like you shouldn't get involved in such things."
"You need to tell me," she repeated sternly. "I was - no. I won't even go into that. What I'm saying is that you were not yourself at all. You were ravenous... You tried to kill me! How can you say that I shouldn't know what happened?"
"Calm down, Mei-Ling..."
"But fa-"
"Calm..." he said again, this time a lot more strongly. Mei-Ling bit her lower lip, her heart aching to know the cause of all those events. Her father closed his eyes a bit and sighed, then looked back at his daughter.
"There's a reason why I say such things. I don't want you to go off on a path of revenge-"
"Oh! So it's a someone," Mei-Ling cut him off, her eyes hardening.
"You're not listening..." her father said, shaking his head. "I'm just trying to protect you from a bad road. Trust me."
"Father... Haven't you seen the news? This is becoming a worldwide epidemic! Shanghai, Tokyo, Paris, London, Mexico City... and the worst place is the United States. People are turning into psychopaths and you're one of them! You need to tell me! Maybe it could lead the police to who it is. I'm not just saying this for myself. It could help the world out since almost all the cases around the world had the infected person dead. You survived... Just tell me and I'll tell the police. You can trust me."
"Mmm... I'd rather tell them myself than trust you. In your current state-"
"Father, the police won't stop here until tomorrow morning. They're handling another crisis. By that time the people responsible are getting away with murder. Listen to reason, father... You have no choice but to tell me."
Silence quickly settled in the room again as the two stared at one another, the sounds of the machine monitoring the father's vital signs and the random calls on the intercom the only exceptions. He then nodded at her and moved over a bit in his hospital bed.
"Fine. You win, Mei-Ling. I'll tell you, only because you do speak some logic. At this moment I wish I was at full strength to handle this myself... but... Anyway... I was at the refreshment restaurant downtown like I always do everyday. I ordered the usual: a Mango de Rilo and the first thing I noticed was that Rico, the guy who usual works at the stand, wasn't there. The cover-guy... um... Shin. He said he went on vacation. I said 'fine'. So he asks me some questions and other menial stuff as he served me. I drank it and it seemed a bit less sweet than normal. I asked him what's wrong with this drink and he says that he wasn't exactly keen on that drink. I said 'Ok. Forget about it'. Went on about my business and came back home to relax before you came home from wherever... but as I came in... I'm not sure. I think I blacked out or something."
Mei-Ling took a while to think it over. "That guy... at the restaurant... It sounds sorta suspicious to me. I think you might have gotten a drug slipped into the drink."
Her father raised an eyebrow. "Now why would-"
"Father, people all over are succumbing to that drug. It's literally all over the place. Average people... and so far I... just... These people who are doing this haven't been identified, so you know their reasons are shrouded."
"Yes... Right."
Mei-Ling sighed and stood up, brushing her pants off with one hand and grabbing her bag with the other.
"I just want this to stop. You're able to help and you just did. I'm off. Take care, ok?"
"Fine, Mei-Ling... You just take care as well..."
The woman nodded and headed off the door... but just as she reached for the door...
"And Mei-Ling?"
"Yes, father?" she asked while looking back. He looked into his daughter's eyes, making her heart drop. Although the red vanished from his eyes, there was still something about that look that made her wary...
"I... know I can't stop you from possible going off and handling business by yourself. You're old enough to make your own decisions. I'm only giving you some wise advice. Nevertheless, whatever you choose to do with that information... just be careful."
Mei-Ling only nodded and then existed the hospital room and into the small corridor. A few of her relatives were waiting on her in the waiting chairs to the side, her mother standing up to hug her daughter tight.
"Mei-Ling... Is he ok?"
"Yes. Just fine. Mother... I'm sorry to cut this short, but I got to leave now."
Her mother pushed away from her and ran a hand through her daughter's hair. "Why's that?"
"I have some business to take care of for father. I'm not sure when I'll be back, so don't wait up on me, ok?"
"You be careful. If I know any better, I know exactly what you're planning on doing."
Mei-Ling nodded slowly and then started to run out, but an arm shot in her path and stopped her. It came from the last chair and it belonged to her older brother, Shun. He looked like the father, even sporting the wrinkles in the stern look that he gave his sister. Mei-Ling let out a scowl. The two of them never got along...
"I don't like it," he said bluntly. "I should be settling this, not you."
"And what do you think you can do?" Mei-Ling shot back while swatting his arm away. "You don't know enough about this to do anything about it."
"Why are you making this difficult? I'm the oldest and best fighter in our family. You'll mess it up. Tell me what you know and I'll handle everything quick."
"This isn't the time to go throw your weight around! I could've been out this hospital and on my way to the police by now! Move!"
"The... police?" Shun repeated slowly before shaking his head. "You really must have lost it. The Shanghai police can't do much about this. The only way to handle this is to leave it to me."
"Look... I can get past you two ways; either you shut your mouth and let me pass or I'll make you eat my shoes and then let myself through!"
Both siblings stared hard into the other's eyes, the tensions between them as thick as fog. However, before their mother could break it up, another voice rang through the air.
"Mei-Ling! Shun! Stop it, the both of you!"
Both instantly snapped out of it and turned their attention to their younger sister, Jiao... and other young woman. She was roughly the same size as Mei-Ling but had short, light brown hair that was recently cut. The younger woman, Jiao, was shorter and a bit thinner, holding up a bag of groceries for her father. It was Jiao's voice that broke up the argument between her older siblings and her mother was grateful that she did.
"Must you two bicker over such things?" her light voice asked. "Think about father. How would he feel if he saw you two going at it again this time?"
Although Shun rolled his eyes, Mei-Ling sighed in defeat and said, "Right. I better go now and give the information to the police. You coming, Fen?"
The older of the two women that showed up nodded. "As ever. Let's go."
As Mei-Ling passed her brother and flashed him a glance, she joined up with her friend as Jiao went in to visit up with her father. The two friends went down another corridor which led to a lobby of elevators where other people were waiting for the transporters to appear. As they waited, Mei- Ling looked at her friend's new haircut and smirked.
"Nice cut..." she said sarcastically. Fen rolled her eyes and sighed hard.
"Mei, you know I hate getting my haircut. I just don't feel like myself when it's like this."
"I don't know... Maybe you should keep it like this."
"Oh, stop it!" Fen said playfully. "I thought I was supposed to be the comedian in our little two-some."
"Mei-Ling shrugged as the elevator in front of them opened, luckily empty. "Roles change, huh?"
"Whatever," Fen sighed again and after feeling her short brown hair once more, accompanied her friend on the elevator. As the doors closed, Fen looked at Mei-Ling again and asked, "So how's your father?"
"He's coming along..."
"Did he tell you...?"
"...yes, he did."
Fen's eyes lit up right after that. "Really? Seriously? Haha! That's perfect! Now we can start on finding those brats responsible for all this mess. I can't go one day without hearing about another psycho!"
"Yeah... I know... it's got to stop. I just hope we can make an impact out of all this."
"You kidding? Come on! We're two of the greatest martial arts girls this side of Chun-Li in Shanghai! We're going to make a big impact on this drug crackdown. I just know we will!"
"I... hehe... I guess you're right." Mei-Ling then held out a hand to Fen, who confidently grabbed it. "Let's go make an impact."
25 minutes
later
"Is this it, Mei-Ling?"
"Yes. Father always goes here for his afternoon drink."
The sounds of downtown rang loudly in the girls' ears as they stared at the place that Mei-Ling's father called the "Refreshment Restaurant.' It was the place that was totally dedicated to selling rinks off all types. Personally, Mei-Ling only went here for shakes every now and then. Through the doors they could see customers taking, drinking and enjoying themselves.
"Ready, Fen?"
"Yeah."
And with that they went inside. The first thing they wanted to lay eyes on was the cashier stand. Mei-Ling, in particular, looked at the employee name tags for the one called "Shin". However, before they could really get to look, the young man at the register called them.
"May I help you, ladies?"
Both turned their attention to the short-haired worker and Mei-Ling spoke.
"We're just looking around."
"Oh... well, I could suggest some things if you like."
Mei-Ling shook her head. "It's ok. Really."
"Hmm... You must be new here. Really. I could help you find something you can really enjoy."
"Lis-"
"Mmmmm..." Fen cut her off, "Whatever you got here, it sure smells nice... I think its cherry..."
The employee's eyes lit up at that. "Right. It's today's special. Sweet Cherry Smoothie."
Fen made her way past Mei-Ling and dug into her jean pockets, looking for something. Mei-Ling, on the other hand, was stumped.
"What does the think she's doing...?"
"I'll take one!" Fen said while slamming her hand onto the counter and showing the money to the cashier. The employee smiled happily and gratefully took it.
"Thanks. One second."
THUD...
Fen jumped at the sudden crash. She turned around and found her friend on the ground, anime-style. Both her and the cashier sweatdropped.
"Is she ok?" he asked.
"Yeah... I guess... Just give me my smoothie, ok?"
"Sure."
As the clerk went off and started preparing the beverage, Mei-Ling got up in a blur, staring Fen down intensively.
"You think when you got your hair cut you cut your brain as well?" she asked.
Fen gave a clueless look while rubbing her hair. "I don't understand what you mean."
"What were you thinking when you ordered that? Don't you think you're forgetting something?"
Mei-Ling twisted her mouth as Fen thought about it a bit, and then it hit her.
"Oh, yeah! I almost forgot!"
Just then the young employee came back with the beverage...
"Um... excuse me," Fen said politely, "but... could you add whipped cream at the top, please?"
THUD...
"Are you sure she's ok?" the guy asked, once again seeing Mei-Ling fallen over body.
"She gets like that some times." Fen sighed. The guy shook his head and then headed back to put the whipped cream in her drink.
"I... don't think you're getting what I'm saying..." Mei-Ling muttered as she got back up, giving her friend a dull look.
"You can say that again... Oh! Here he comes."
As the clerk came back with the drink, Mei-Ling only shook her head.
"I can't believe-uh? Wait a second..."
Mei-Ling just barely got a glance at the employee's name tag before he went towards the back of the restaurant... and her eyes widened.
"FEN!"
Fen just looked over to her, about to take a sip out of her smoothie before Mei-Ling snatched it from her.
"Hey! I paid for that, you know! If you wanted one, you should've asked!"
"No, dodo," Mei-Ling said. "Not that... The guy who served you the drink! He's..."
Mei-Ling whipped her head around at the sudden sound of commotion behind the counter... and just barely saw the door to the outside swing open and the clerk run out.
"Hey!" she shouted while instinctively jumping over the counter herself and following right after him. Fen just looked around at the people who were staring at her and then she looked at her smoothie... She then heaved a sigh and ran after them, smoothie in hand.
By that time, Mei-Ling was hot on the guy's trail, following him through rough traffic and across the street. Desperate to get away, the clerk knocked down people who were it his way as well as stands, all in which she avoided and jumped over skillfully to keep up.
"You're not getting away from me, Shin!" she shouted confidently. "You've got some explaining to do!"
The guy let out a frustrated groan as he crossed another street, nearly getting run over by a car. He barely avoided it by jumping forward and Mei- Ling did the same as it screeched to a halt.
"This guy's a nut...!" Mei-Ling thought as she started to close the gap between her and Shin. Just as she started to reach out and grab him, Shin stopped on a dime and ducked, making Mei-Ling fall over his back and on her back on the ground. Thinking fast, the kung-fu girl rolled forward while getting to her feet, just to see Shin jolt in reverse.
"Damn!" she cursed, just about to run back after him, but he screeched to a halt...due to the fact that Fen was right there to block him off. Shin let out a growl as she stepped backwards, caught in between the two women and no where to run.
"Mei!" Fen shouted, "You mind explaining what's going on?"
"He's the one!" Mei-Ling informed. "He's the one who drugged my father with that psycho drug!"
Fen's eyes grew wide and she instantly looked at her smoothie and threw it away. "I can't believe I almost drank that!"
"Tch! You girls might be smart, but obviously not smart enough..."
Mei-Ling gave Shin a serious look. "What is that supposed to mean?"
Shin let out a chuckle while looking over his shoulder to Mei-Ling, grinning evilly. "Yeah, so I'm the one who spread the Psycho Drug all throughout Shanghai. So what? You can't stop me. You can't stop the new age from spreading..."
"Oh, come on!" Fen groaned. "This is something you hear in the movies! It's so tacky! How about you give up now and tell us all that you know? It's a heck of a lot easier that way. Also I don't need to get my clothes dirty."
"Oh... is that so...?" Shin asked while looking at Fen, his sly smile intact. Fen just looked at him while Mei-Ling saw movement in his right arm...
"Watch out, Fen!"
"What?"
"YAH!"
Fen hit the deck the moment Shin's arm reached out of his pant pocket and fired from a semi-automatic pistol. The sound was deafening and it even startled Mei-Ling even though he wasn't firing at her. Instantly she rushed Shin from behind, grabbing him by the neck, trying to throw him down. Shin grunted while struggling a bit, his finger accidentally pulling the trigger once more and a wild shot flew into the air.
"He's nuts!" someone from nearby shouted as a huge commotion started on the street. People started ducking for cover while another shot fired into the air. Fen herself stayed low, rolling behind a nearby parked car while her friend tried to take Shin down. Luckily she was sitting behind the car since the next wild shot blasted through the windshield.
"Oh, man! What did we get ourselves into...?" she muttered to herself. Breathing in deeply, she then looked over the side to see Mei-Ling swing her arm over Shin's, making the gun point backwards as it fired again.
"Here's my chance," Fen said to herself and dashed out from behind the car, rushing Shin head-on. The clerk growled as he knew he was vulnerable... and even tried to give Mei-Ling a swift kick to a place someone wasn't meant to be kicked. However, Mei-Ling clearly saw it coming and blocked it with her own leg, giving Fen enough time to get close, swing her right arm across her chest...
"YAAAAAH!"
...and give Shin a heavy strike with her fist, the impact literally booming throughout the air. Shin gagged as he dropped the gun, which made a clatter noise as it dropped onto the sidewalk and out of harms way.
"Hey!" Fen said while putting a hand on Shin's chin. "What's that you say? Mei, I think he said that we couldn't stop him..."
"Yes, he did," Mei-Ling confirmed while tightening the hold on Shin, making him yell out in pain from being in an uncomfortable position of so long. Fen smiled big as she looked Shin in the eyes.
"That look you're giving me... I don't like it. It screams-"
Before he knew it, Shin's head whipped to his side, his cheek quickly swelling up from the force of Fen's full hand across his face.
"Slap!" she finished, grabbing his chin and making him face her. "Now spill it! Who do you work for, huh? Who's your boss? What is that stuff you use to make everyone go crazy around here? Oh... and most important of all... Where are you guys set up at?"
Shin gave a forced laugh in response. "You think that all because you got me unarmed makes me liable to speak? You're more naïve than I thought you were, woman."
Fen's eyebrow twitched instantly. "Oh, so now I'm naïve, huh?" She raised her free hand up to for a fist. "How would you like another one of my Yamenekosougi blows? Would that make you change your opinion?"
"Fen," Mei-Ling interrupted, "We're not getting anywhere. I think it's better if we get the police to interrogate this guy."
"Sure," Fen replied lightly while shrugging. "Why not? Perhaps you're right about that much... but-"
Fen instantly stopped when the sounds of police cars reached her. She smirked while looking back at Shin.
"You hear that? That's the sound of your ticket to jail, bub. Hope you enjoy it."
Shin lowered his head and shook it, not from shame, but more from embarrassment. "Women these days..." He then looked up towards the rooftops for a while... and his eyes rested on the roof of a Laundromat.
"What are you looking at?" Fen asked while turning to look herself, only to see nothing.
"Just the skies," Shin replied smugly. "It's going to be a while until I see it again, I guess..."
Fen just sighed. "Whatever, weirdo..."
Meanwhile...
"Did you get the lock on them?"
"Yes... Info's right here. Shadowloo needed the data on these girls for quite a while."
"Should we bail out Shin?"
"Nah... He's fine. Jail's something he welcomes."
"And what if he on. It won't matter, anyway. The way things are running, who cares if one player of the game loses. Ultimately Shadowloo's going to walk away the winner, so you better get ready to retire."
"...whatever you say..."
"Come on. I'm not being paid to just sit around. Let's go."