Welcome back! Alright, it's time for Chapter 4! So, it's time to learn about Neo-Shadaloo. It's also time for a new opponent to appear. And by new, I mean an old opponent who's about to make an appearance. And for those who've been wondering who that is... well... I guess you better get to reading! :) Have fun!

Chapter 4

After extracting what they needed from Markway, Cammy met up with Chun-Li at the hotel she and Ryu was staying at the following night. Ryu had gone out, leaving Cammy and Chun-Li time to talk alone while drinking tea.

"I trust that Mr. Markway was helpful," Cammy said.

"Oh, very," Chun-Li answered. "Very talkative… once everything quieted down."

"What all did he have to say?"

"He told me that Neo-Shadaloo is run by a man named Guerrilla."

"What a name."

"No worse than the others we've heard."

"True."

"Anyway, he said that this Guerrilla is just as much into turning this Shadaloo into a global problem as Bison was about the old one. Except he claimed that Guerrilla is more hands on."

"Then how come no one's seen him?"

"Markway claims that he moves in and out of places he chooses need his immediate attention."

"How… interesting. And, by that, I mean disturbing. What else?"

"Because of his roaming nature, Guerrilla never seems to stay in one place but the last transfer of money that Markway oversaw came from, and get this, Tokyo, of all places."

"So, you're going to Ryu's home country."

"Yep."

"You sure he's still there?"

Chun-Li stared at Cammy for a few seconds. "It was a LOT of money."

"Gotcha. When are you leaving?"

"Early tomorrow."

"And where's Ryu?"

"He heard a rumor of a fight club around here. He went to go find it and check it out. He complained about the lack of a good fight so far."

"I've always liked that guy."

Chun-Li giggled.

Cammy sighed. She decided to bring up a subject that had been bothering her ever since she realized that the Chinese officer called the wandering fighter first. "Chun-Li… why did you call Ryu?"

"What do you mean?"

"Just what I said."

She shrugged. "I just needed the help, that's all."

"No, that's not."

"Why do you say that?"

"Don't give me that. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with Ryu because there isn't. But you could've called me, Guile, or ANYBODY else that has way more connections, are way more inconspicuous, and better investigative skills."

"But no better fighters."

That was almost impossible to argue. "Point. But that doesn't answer the question."

At the question, Chun-Li looked down at the floor, unsure of how to answer. It was a query Chun-Li had hoped all of the time spent searching for Mei and Chow and bringing down Neo-Shadaloo would keep people from asking. Unfortunately, Cammy was a lot quicker to catch on than the Chinese warrior would've liked. Chun-Li started to worry she was taking too long to answer, which had her worried the question would be asked again.

She didn't have to, though. Cammy saw right through her. It didn't make her any less surprised, though. After all, it was quite the realization. "Oh, Chun-Li, don't tell me…"

Since it was Cammy and she clearly already had it figured out, Chun-Li didn't even bother fighting it. "Am I that obvious?"

She sat back. "To another woman, yes. Another man wouldn't have figured it out to save his life." They both were quiet for a long time. "When did this start?"

The former Interpol agent sighed. "A while back. Been fighting it like the plague for… well, ever since it started."

"I understand."

Chun-Li sighed.

Silence took control for a while, Chun-Li feeling a little relieved to get that off of her chest, finally, while Cammy was wondering more about this situation.

"Have you told him?"

"Oh, Cammy, please!"

"Chun-Li…"

"No, Cammy, no. I'm not even going to entertain the idea of telling him."

"You should."

She sat quiet. Surprisingly, this was harder to talk about than she thought. "And expect him to do what? Leave his life of training to come live with me?"

"Why not? Maybe he's looking for a change."

"Most people do. Ryu is not now, has never been, and probably will never be most people."

"True enough. But having him here under false pretenses isn't fair to him."

"It's not false pretenses. I legitimately needed the help of someone they couldn't track."

"Alright. I believe you but…"

"I just can't, Cammy. I don't deal with feelings well. I never have. In that way, I guess me and him are a lot alike."

"But is not knowing worth going through all of this alone?"

"I'm not alone."

Cammy sighed. "I hate to say it… but you kind of are… if you're keeping all this bottled up. You're not trusting him with all the information."

"I just don't want any distractions."

"Him or you?"

Chun-Li scoffed. "I don't think anything can throw his focus off. So, to answer your question… me."

Having found the fight club he was looking for and enjoying a couple of fights, Ryu headed back to the hotel. It was late and he was walking one of the more secluded London streets when he sensed a strong presence nearby and stopped. He recognized the energy. He recognized the feeling. It made his skin crawl. He knows who his stalker is. "I can't believe anyone let you out of jail, Vega."

Around the corner came the metal mask wearing, claw carrying sociopath Vega. The tall Spaniard was wearing smile, it was easy to tell that even with the mask. "Ryu, Ryu, Ryu. It has been a while. How long has it been?"

Ryu turned around and looked in the eyes of his nemesis. His eyes being all he could see, of course, because of the mask. "Nowhere near long enough."

Vega brought his claw up. It gleamed in the moonlight. "That's not very nice. After I came all this way to see you."

Ryu got into a fighting stance. "What do you want?"

"To kill you, what else?"

"Good luck with that."

"I don't need luck."

"Did Neo-Shadaloo send you?"

"Indeed, they did."

"Why?"

Vega scoffed. "You're on the list, Ryu."

Ryu blinked in confusion. "List?"

"Yes." He aimed the claw at him. "And all on the list… must die."

Vega rushed at Ryu and immediate tried swiping him with his claws. Ryu dodged and dodged the claw but Vega caught him with a right kick to his left arm. Ryu went for a punch but Vega flipped backward and dodged. Ryu charged at him and tried punching him. Vega blocked and tried swiping him again but Ryu dodged. He kicked the Spaniard in the side and swept his legs from under him. Vega hit the concrete hard and Ryu got back to his feet and backed up.

Vega got to his feet and jumped at Ryu. He used a lamppost to spin around and kicked Ryu in the face. Ryu stumbled but dodged Vega's next stabbed attempt. Ryu grabbed hold of Vega's claw arm and punched him in the gut repeatedly. Vega got a knee up, blocking the next punch, and jumped with a kick with the other leg. Ryu fell back and Vega jumped in the air and dove for Ryu.

Ryu saw him coming.

Ryu's ki flared up.

Vega saw it coming. But could do nothing to stop himself.

"SHAORYUKEN!"

Ryu met Vega mid-air with the devastating uppercut. The Spaniard crashed hard on his back, his metal mask falling off and landing next to him. Ryu landed in a crouching position, breathing hard.

Ryu heard Vega chuckle.

Vega looked up at his opponent. "Hmmph. Not bad. Not bad at all, Ryu." He kipped up back to his feet and he picked up his mask.

"Alright," Ryu groaned. "I know when you're not trying. So, what's going on?"

He ran his finger across the side of his blade. "Call this an exhibition, Ryu. I can't say I don't enjoy just getting to test you any chance I get." He chuckled, "I wasn't really sent here to kill you. I'm positive we'll have a real fight soon enough."

"What list is this that I'm on?"

Vega was clearly enjoying himself. "Hmm. I suppose I can tell you. My new employer said nothing about silence and I get such pleasure from getting inside your head."

"What are you talking about?"

Vega swiped the air. "As I'm quite sure you know by now, my new employer is Guerrilla and he is running Neo-Shadaloo and he targeted sweet little Chun-Li. He wants her…" He searched for the right word, "broken."

"Broken? How?"

"Chun-Li was one of the primary reasons that Shadaloo went down… from the legally authorized standpoint anyway. You're the other side of that coin but who has time to actually seek you out. Threatening your loved ones is pointless since you're near impossible to track down. Guerrilla seems quite confident in his own abilities in the case that you show back up so he was not very concerned with hunting you. Though, I was called in just in case."

"What about Chun-Li?"

"Ay, yes. Chun-Li, however, is such an easy target. Neo-Shadaloo has been watching her closely. I'm sure she told you the warning to stay out of this or her family would be harmed. But the truth is… she's the target, Ryu. Guerrilla wants to see how far she can be pushed. See, he knew she wouldn't stay away. He was counting on it. He wanted to see how far she would go and slowly break her down until she gives up. After all… if he can break her, he can break anybody."

Ryu's anger was rising. "So, that's why he kidnapped Mei? Took Chow? To prove a point?"

"Essentially. But Chun-Li's brother and daughter are just part of this puzzle. All of the pieces are the ones she cares deeply about. Which, my friend, is where you come in."

"I'm not your friend. And someone must be lying to you. I'd hardly qualify as someone she cares deeply about. This is the first time I've seen her in years."

"Believe what you will." Vega did a backflip, followed by another, then one last flip strong enough to put him on top of a lamppost. "Other friends of hers are being watched and the order is just waiting to be given to capture them, kill them, or otherwise. Think about this, Ryu: why was I told to come after you… now?"

"Because you knew I was helping her. Because you knew I went to help her in Madrid and that we came here."

Vega actually laughed. "Ryu… I had no idea you were even in Madrid. I haven't been following you. Others may have had… more technical ways of locating you but not me. I didn't even know you were in London… or here with Chun-Li… until they called me to come attack you… five hours ago."

Ryu's expression changed to one of fierce… confusion.

Vega jumped again and disappeared from sight.

The world warrior let his fists go and calmed down. He looked at the ground in bewilderment. If Vega was telling the truth, which Ryu was positive he was, why would Neo-Shadaloo come after him when they are targeting people close to Chun-Li?

Interesting, is not? Of all the questions that are important, here is the most important one: How the heck does Vega walk around London wearing a claw and mask? ...Kidding, just kidding. Why is Ryu among those on the list? Does it have something to do with whatever it is Chun-Li isn't telling him? To have all these questions answered and more, you guys will just have to come back for Chapter 5, huh? I really hope you do! Don't worry, folks! It ain't over yet! Comments, please! Until next time, true believers!