A/N: I headcannon that Juri has my taste in music. Some future chapters will be prompted by songs and that just makes it easier. I can't imagine that Ryu is one who's got an expansive playlist.

I claim no ownership to Street Fighter.

Juri didn't let go of Ryu as they made their way, the Taekwondo specialist helping herself to the crook of his arm.

She talked to him idly as they walked. Juri occasionally ran her fingertips up and down his arm.

Juri surmises the simple action is causing a pleasant surge to run through Ryu's body, as every time she does it, she can feel Ryu shiver slightly.

It certainly isn't cool enough out here to cause that, she laughed to herself.

Ryu must not be used too much contact with the opposite sex, Juri guessed.

Ever since she latched on to him outside the restaurant, he's been tense, not just in his body language but she also feels it his in arm.

It's not like he's trying to flex, plus he doesn't really need to, Juri thought.

And he's trying his best not to look in her direction.

If he didn't have a small dusting of red on his face that wasn't so cute, she might've been offended.

"So," said Ryu weakly, still intrigued by everything around Juri, "what do you do for a living these days?"

Such a harmless, innocuous question, Juri thought lightheartedly.

She decided to answer, humoring his attempt to distract himself.

"Security consultant," said Juri.

"I guess we're in the same line of work," he said, pausing to think about what he said, before he added, "in a manor of speaking."

"Hmm," Juri went as she gathered her thoughts. "Due to my former life, I'm decently versed in stealthy infiltration. Some of the jobs I've done for S.I.N required me to take down a target, some of whom were in well-fortified buildings. You know, police stations, government buildings and once or twice actual fortresses."

Ryu nods along, now making eye contact with Juri.

"And therein lies my expertise, finding the weakness not just in the buildings that can be exploited, but patrols, the staff, whatever. There's a lot of businesses and organizations in this town that would find those skills and experiences valuable. It keeps me decently busy, maybe 2 or 3 jobs a month. Plus, Chun-li says I need to keep some kind of employment. I can't imagine Blondie keeps you terribly busy with the position he gave you."

"Yeah, well," he said somewhat nervously, breaking eye contact with her again, "I did tell you I planned to talk to him about that. I'd much rather earn my way, you know?"

"Mmhmm, prideful boy. I can respect that," said Juri as she ran her hand down his arm teasingly slow, smiling at the small shiver she once more managed goad out of him.

"Juri," he responded with a shutter she found to be very endearing, "Where are we going?"

"Since you asked so nicely," she said. "Reliving some of what I told you has got me pretty worked up, and I need to work off some of that energy."

She stops in front of him, leaning into his face while taking his chin her thumb and index pulling his face slowly closer to her, "It's something I sometimes do on my own, but I haven't had a partner in a while. I figured since I'm in such good company, I might as well take advantage of the companionship…"

As hip-hip music blared, though muffled, Juri leads Ryu by the hand down an alley toward the entrance to a building.

It was a nondescript medium sized brick exterior structure, looking like it used to be a warehouse or manufacturing building in its past life.

Besides the music ringing out, there's a neon yellow sign above the entrance that read in graffiti style lettering, 'The Lemony', with cocktail glasses and music symbols underneath it that gave away what the place is now used for.

As they continued their approach, a small line could be seen, a group of friends and three couples, waiting to be let in.

Juri and Ryu take their spots in line.

Ryu can't help but notice that hadn't Juri let go of his hand, the simple action making him way past nervous not all used to this kind of contact from the fairer sex.

Luckily whatever deity's looking out for him has made it that his palms are free of sweat, despite his nerves.

They got to the front of the line, now facing down the doorman, a tall muscular man (though slightly less so than Ryu), with a bald head, green eyes, black leather pants, a fanny pack around his waist, black sneakers and a black t-shirt that carries the name/logo of the club that matched the sign in color and styling.

The door man is looking to the true entrance of the building, which was a short tunnel that led to two very heavy looking French steel doors that also had the logo of the establishment on them.

The couple that was in front them opened the doors, the music now absolutely blaring, but then going back to muffled as the doors closed back up.

The doorman then looks to Ryu and Juri, his face relaxes as he sets eyes on the couple.

"Juri!" He said in a deep baritone, obviously recognizing Ryu's company and not Ryu himself, "Been a while since you've graced us with your presence."

"My friend and I feel like dancing tonight. I'm eager to see what he can do," She responded once more.

"And this must be the boy-toy Rachel texted me about earlier," he responded.

Juri's face drops at the news.

"Hey," said the doorman, as he brought his hands up defensively as he smiled, "don't shoot the messenger. Kid's just happy to see you playing the field."

"She's not the best match maker, I'll tell ya that much," responded Juri, folding her arms under her chest while still smiling, the playfulness evident in her features.

"And what about that other friend of yours? The uh, thick one. With the ox tails. My boss has been asking about her." He asked.

"Trust me, he's not her type." Responded Juri.

They stand there for a beat.

"I'm Ronald Garett. I can guess you already met my sister at the Flamenco Tavern," said the doorman addressing Ryu. "Through her slight annoyance with my sister, it looks like Ms. Manners here left hers at home."

Ronald extended a hand as he dodged a mock punch from Juri.

"Ryu," he responded taking his hand in Ronald's, "Ryu Hoshi."

Taking a 2nd look at the man Ryu can see the resemblance between Ronald and his sister.

They both carried a similar energy Ryu sensed but Ronald was more subdued than Rachel.

"Alright" he said, "it's a 40-dollar cover and I'm going to need to see some I.D."

"All business now Ronnie?" asked Juri lightly mocking, as she dug in her pockets.

"What can I say, I'm on the job technically," said Ronald.

Ryu produced an I.D and the bills to pay the cover.

"Come on. I'm still treating you remember?" Juri protested as she saw Ryu handing off the bills to Ronald.

"No, no," Ryu protested now, "I've got it. I'll also cover whatever else we get into tonight. It's the least I can do to repay you for dinner."

"Fine, fine," responded Juri. She took his hand once more, as she leaned in. "Plus, I like the sound of 'whatever else we get into'. What else have you got planned for me?"

Ryu's face heats up as Ronald takes the bills and hands their I.D's back.

"Have a good time," laughed Ronald, "And thank for looking out for Rachel!"

Ryu didn't get a chance to regroup before Juri grabbed his hand again, guiding him toward the entrance.

She must be eager to work off that excess energy, Ryu thought.

Ryu was painfully aware of the lack of respect Juri had for his personal space, but oddly enough he didn't mind.

The smiles, the touches, the teases were all actions he welcomed (and would tell Juri so if he were a tiny bit more courageous).

He could see himself pursuing something more than what has happened and may happen beyond tonight, but he feels like maybe he'd be pushing his luck.

Clearly Juri was a social butterfly who attracted people everywhere she went.

What would she even want with a guy like him?

He's not even sure what he'll be doing with his life beyond here now, let alone his non-existent love life.

Maybe she's just being friendly?

But Ryu can recall Eliza acting similarly when she and Ken started seeing each other.

And despite the pieces that have fallen into his lap, Ryu maybe too dense to figure out this means.

She rakes her fingers against him again, and a jolt of delight runs up to his head and down to his toes.

Friends don't touch each other like this, he thought as he shivered in pleasure.

Ryu looked around, taking in the people and the sights around him.

His summation of the building being medium in size may have been incorrect as this club looks way bigger on the inside.

The floors are made of a glossy black ceramic tile or maybe vinyl, with little white dots scattered randomly giving the illusion of a stary night sky. There is a dozen or so booths that can fit maybe 7 or people all round the edges of the room. They're circular in nature, with tables in the middle of each that shares the same color and dot scheming as the floor and the seating looks to be black plush leather. It's dark but not too dark to see where one's going. There are spotlights all along the ceiling, some static, some rotating slowly.

Juri leans up as they're walking toward one of four bar set ups, each one with bright lights along the bases and the shelves stocked with liquor.

"Ken or Chun-li ever took you clubbing," she asked loudly as they approached the gaudily lighted structure, her breath tickling his ear.

"They have, but I never stayed long. I don't mind crowds, but they tend to be too loud." Ryu responded.

"And you're enduring the noise, just for me?" She pouted, cutely poking her lower lip with her index.

Ryu dumbly nods, the cute faces she makes quickly becoming a weakness of his.

"Excellent!" Juri said, her smile bright despite the darkened place they're in. "What're you drinking," she asked as they finished their journey toward the bar.

"Shouldn't I be asking you that," Ryu lightly chided, returning a grin, "since I'm buying and all. So, what are you having?" He finished trying to lean cooly on the bar.

"Oh my god, you're such a dork," she giggled at him and his attempt at being trendy, "get me a sazerac thank you," she went on as she laughed behind her hand.

Her laughter filled Ryu with the same pleasant feeling as being called his new nickname. Still unable to put a description to it, he turned his attention to the bar tender.

"What are you having," a young woman dressed in a white tank top that bore the club's logo and jeans asked behind the bar.

"Sazerac for my friend for here and," Ryu paused very unfamiliar with alcohol.

He's had a beer with Guile before and wasn't very impressed with the taste. He'd only finished it out of politeness since the Air Force Major paid for it.

"I'll have the same," he finished.

He couldn't imagine the drink Juri's having could be any worse than a beer.

"How's about we put these bad boys down and hit the dance floor?" Declared Juri as the bartender approached with their drinks.

They both take their glasses, "Bottoms up," said Juri, as she offered her glass.

He obliged, the glasses coming together in light tink, in celebration of the new friendship.

Or whatever it is they're doing here.

He brings the glass to his mouth, but his nose is assaulted by the strong pungent aroma of its contents. So strong he must suppress a recoil.

He looks to Juri, seeing she's already finished hers.

She's got a concerned smile on her face, "You know you don't have to impress me getting the same drink as me. Sazeracs pack plenty of bite, and it looks to me you may not prepared for it. We can order you something else."

Ryu should take the advice, but the idea of being bested by a drink doesn't sit well with him.

"Maybe one sip wouldn't hurt," he said.

He takes a sip and the liquid burns as it rages down his throat, so much so he coughs as his eyes water.

She tried to warn him.

"You don't drink much, do you?" Said Juri, as she patted his back as coughed.

"What was that?" He asked between coughs.

"Sazerac, starts with a glass rinsed and chilled with ice and absinthe and then set aside…" She began.

"Absinthe," he questioned, his eyes going slightly wide as his coughing started to die down, "say no more."

The bartender sets a glass of water down for Ryu, "I can get you something a little lighter," she stated simply.

"We just might take you up that," Juri said addressing the bartender, "are you ok," she asked, still with a subdued smile on her face as her back pats turned into circles.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine," he rasped as he wiped remnants of the drink and spittle from his face from an offered napkin from the bartender, "your mouth must be made of metal between this and all that horseradish you had with your dinner."

He wore a blush on his face, from the coughing Juri surmised, but probably from embarrassing himself.

"Maybe next time listen to me, tough guy," she responded, "and by the way. My mouth is made of softer stuff than that, play your cards right and I may prove it to you."

She takes the glass from him, downing the remainder of his portion of the Sazerac in one gulp.

His blush darkens, either from the implication of her words or the indirect kiss of the shared glass.

He coughs once more into his closed fist, probably to break his nerve.

I don't think I'll ever get tired of teasing him like this, she thought.

"I think I'll take that drink," he addressed the bartender but not breaking eye contact with Juri, "I'll defer to your recommendation."

It's such a small consideration to make, but it still fills her with warmth.

Or maybe it's the liquor.

"Get my man here a glass of a bourbon and ginger ale, one quarter bourbon, three quarter ginger ale with a squirt of cherry of syrup," Juri requested.

The bar keep gives a look of apprehension but still goes about making the drink for Ansatsuken fighter.

She hands the finished concoction to Ryu, "Please don't kill over in my section," the bartender lightly joked.

"Drink it slow," Juri asked.

He brings the glass to his face.

He's not recoiling, so that's a good sign.

He takes a good swig.

"It's good," he says, finishing the glass, "I think I'll have another."

"Not so fast, I don't want you too loaded before I get a dance out of you," said Juri, "like I said before I'm eager to see what you can do."

Nervousness starts to creep its way back on to his features.

Juri likes that she can get these reactions out of him.

She finds his straight forwardness very refreshing in a world preoccupied with presenting a façade.

He throws a few bills on the bar to pay off their tab.

"Come on," she said taking him by the hand dragging him to the dance floor before he had a chance to protest. "Luckily, it's a weekday, so we don't have to contend with a whole lot of people," she said, as she navigated them through the assorted groups and couples in the area showing off their moves.

They settle on a spot with plenty of room between them and the other club goers.

An upbeat, relatively fast song is playing, and it doesn't take long for Juri to find her rhythm.

She's losing herself in the beat, her hands above her head, running her fingertips through her hair, her feet set as she moves her hips in time to the music.

She looks to her partner.

He's moving, and well…

Let's not be overly generous here.

He's moving but not to any beat or rhythm Juri can pick up.

It's more like he's spasming out like a beached fish and said fish is being electrocuted.

He's distracting.

So much so that she stops her own movements and starts shaking with laughter.

He picks up on this and moves closer to her.

She wipes a tear of mirth from her eye, expecting Ryu to at the very least upset at her laughing at him so.

I don't get how such a talented fighter can be so uncoordinated on the dance floor, she thought.

He's slightly flushed in the face, either from his one and a half drinks or from embarrassment, with a small smile playing on his lips.

"Maybe it's too late to give a lesson," He asked, shrugging his shoulders.

She raises an eyebrow at him, "Maybe you weren't listening at dinner. It's never too late."

A good word to describe Juri's movements would be hypnotic.

Ryu couldn't help but be entranced by the way her hips swirled and twirled to the music.

And she would spin around, his eyes would drop down her figure.

Over her shoulders, down her back, to waist, again to her hips.

And lower even. Her actions producing a very enticing bounce to her…

"You sure you're paying attention," she asked lightly, disrupting the thought, looking back at him as she continued dancing, "find your rhythm, two-step for me." She finished, going into the move seamlessly breaking into her previous moves sliding her feet across the dance floor snapping her fingers to the music while still maintaining her rhythm.

He tried to follow her advice of performing a 'two-step' to the music, but apparently, he isn't doing a good job.

He tries the dance, but his movements are jerky and loose, and he isn't sure what to do with his arms, so he keeps them bolted to his sides.

"Come on, do something with your arms! watch me," she said, continuing the step, her elbows bent, fingers still snapping in rhythm as her arms flapped in time to the song.

Ryu does his damnedest to copy her motions, but he just can't get it.

"OK," says Juri, taking his hands in hers, "let's try something else."

"Thank you for having some mercy on me," he says.

"Don't thank me yet, the night isn't over," she responded.

Ryu observed her contemplation evident on her features. The Ansatsuken fighter surmises she's working her way through her thoughts by tracing the calluses in his palms.

"You don't have to work yourself this hard in order to teach me how to dance," he said.

She looks up at him, her features soften as if she's come to an epiphany.

"You're a genius baby, I'll be right back," she said as she scurried off.

He stands there while he reflects on the night.

He doesn't remember the last time he had so much fun.

Juri constantly keeps him on his toes with her teases.

And her laughter at his bad dancing.

If it was anyone else, he'd be self-conscious about it.

Melodic is the word he thinks of when her laughter comes to mind, it being added to his list of weaknesses regarding her.

Before he can consider the thought further, the lights dim, a slower song starts, and he can sense Juri making her way back to him.

"So, I'd figure a slower, more hands-on approach may be better," she said.

Ryu laughed, "Like you haven't been that way all night."

"Guilty as charged," she responded, "Well come on, budge in. I don't bite," she them playfully nipped at him, "unless you ask."

He steps forward, this time he's being the personal space invader, taking hold of her hands.

"Egar aren't we?" She teased.

She pulls him close to the point where there's practically no space between them. She takes his wrists, guiding his hands to her to her waist and then she places her hands behind his neck, her wrists resting on where the nape of his neck and shoulders meet.

As he adjusted his grip, looking to get a more comfortable hold on her, he noticed how thin the material of her romper is.

And the softness of her skin underneath.

She lets out a small giggle, as settled his hold on her.

"You trying to see if I'm ticklish?" She shot at him.

"I'm, uh, admiring the material of your outfit," he responded lamely.

"Well stop admiring and start stepping. I want you to follow my movements. Treat it like a fight," she said as she began to take small steps to the music still maintaining the same distance or lack there of between them, "like you're looking to close the distance on me. I step, you step."

She then fully committed, taking a larger step than before, expecting him to follow and he did.

"You got it?"

"Yeah, I think I follow."

It took a few songs, but Ryu eventually found his footing.

He stepped on Juri's toes a few times, but it looks like she's not holding it against him judging by the way she's been looking at him.

Speaking of which, his eyes fall on his dance partner.

Juri's currently looking up at him, her expression even, eyes slightly lidded and her lips slightly parted. Despite the natural look, Ryu can tell she's far from it.

He notices her left eye, the Feng Shui engine, glowing faintly.

"What," she said, quirking an eyebrow at him and her lips starting to curve into a smile.

"I," he stopped, wanting to complement her. But he didn't want to make things awkward. "Nothing," he completed the thought.

"Are you drunk," she asked, "don't worry. It's fine if you are. I think it's cute that you're a light weight."

"I mean," Ryu trailed off, the warmth of his drinks coursing through him, "I can't deny it, I am a little buzzed. But what about you? You did have wine with dinner."

She laughed, her face going into his chest, briefly turning the dance into a embrace as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"You really didn't invoke the ol' 'wine before liquor', did you," she said as her face emerged from his chest, hands going back to his shoulders and shaking her head fondly at him. She then brings a hand to his face, cupping his cheek, "your concern is touching, tough guy, really. But I'm fine."

Yo, Mo Bee man, drop that shit, commanded a voice over the speaker as a new song started.

This track is slightly faster than the slower songs that have been playing, but Ryu's able to keep up as Juri's steps have become more energetic.

Ryu recognizes the artist of this song as Tupac, mostly from Ken's playlists.

Juri adjusts her hold on him, running her hands across his shoulders, settling on the nap of his neck.

She began to run her fingertips in circles where she placed her hands, as she began to mouth along with the song as it played, and they continued to dance.

Tell me, baby are you lonely? Don't wanna rush ya

I can help ya if you only let me touch ya

If I'm wrong, love, tell me 'cause I get caught up

In the life I live, it's Hell see, I never thought I'd

See the day when I would calm down, you ain't heard?

I've been known to clown and get around, that's my word

See you walking and you looking good, yes indeed

Got a body like a sex fiend

She went along throughout the song continuing to mouth the lyrics earnestly, never breaking eye contact with Ryu.

Despite the club being darkened, Ryu can see her eyes shimmering like a beacon with an emotion he can't quite place.

But that doesn't matter as he can't help but be drawn to it.

Their faces start to drift toward each other, like two celestial bodies in space.

Juri closes her eyes.

Ryu follows suit, as his heart drumming louder as each centimeter of emptiness disappears between their faces.

Their noses touch, lightly colliding.

But before their lips can meet, the song completes, and lights cut back on.

A more upbeat song starts to play as their faces start to part once more, but they're still in each other's embrace.

They don't move, caught in each other's eyes as the club and its patrons are still lively around them.

Juri breaks first, looking down to Ryu's lips before looking back to his eyes as she bites her lower lip.

Between the alcohol and the way Juri's looking him, Ryu's head is swimming.

And maybe the alcohol is affecting Juri too.

He deflates a little at the thought, but he doesn't let it show.

"I like this, being so close to you," she said timidly, surprising Ryu as she had been pretty bold tonight, "but I think we should call it a night."

Yet she'd made no move to leave his arms, and his hands remained at her waist.

"Are you sure," Ryu asked shakily, "I don't mind this either. The closeness I mean."

Ryu must've found the courage he was lacking outside the club.

"Yeah," she responded in a small voice smiling at his response.

She looked at him contemplatively before letting of him, and he let go of her.

But before he could think twice, she invaded his space again, kissing him on his cheek.

"If you ever want an ear to vent to, or another dance lesson. I'll be around," she said.

Ryu stood stupefied, yet elated at the possibility of seeing her again, "Y…Yeah."

His hand starts to go to the spot Juri just kissed him instinctively.

But she intercepts it, slipping a piece of paper into his hand.

He looks down and he sees her phone number written on a napkin.

"Don't keep me waiting, tough guy," she said, repeating what she intoned when she initially invited him to spend the evening with her.