King’s Tavern, Southtown
Novmeber  1998
 

The evening was busy as the tavern was filled with regulars, most are fighters who just wanted to have a place to relax and unwind.

“No fights today?” A regular customer asked King at the counter.
“Sorry no. The pit will become a raised platform for tonight’s band.” King answered after checking the clipboard behind her.

“The only fight of any kind would like be from the FIFA tournament they got inside.” King pointed towards arcade room.
“Who and When?”
“The KOF band as soon as Athena arrives.” King answered as she watches another customer entered. the newcomer headed for the table where ChunLi is.
 

"I wish to talk in private." He said. ChunLi nodded to her companions.

Zannah and Eliza studied the newcomer before moving to Ryu's table. The newcomer felt uneasy when he sat down opposite ChunLi. He had a feeling that half of the people around here were watching him. As a waitress pass by ChunLi ordered a cup of Mocha Freeze
 

"I knew you would be here. Since last year you were missing from the fights. And I thought those rumours of your death were true till I caught sight of you in the stands." He said. ChunLi remained silent.
"Has he done something to you? Did he hurt you in anyway that made you stay away?”  He asked.

"Fei Long? Are you implying that my husband was abusing me?" ChunLi asked, some what offended.
"I know you never like him but you need not insult him." She continued.
 

"You are always defending him. What can a vagabond like him offer you? What has he got that I don't? One of these days he will lose out to his dark demon and hurt you" he said trying not to raise his voice in anger as the waitress puts down the cup of Mocha Freeze.

At Ryu's table Zannah prevented Ryu from intervening.
"If you intervene now it will never be settle. Have trust in her." She said, managing to convince Ryu to calm down.
 

"Fei Long if it's a fight you want, it's a fight you get. You need not sink so low as to instigate a fight." ChunLi said calmly.
"Can't you see that you are beginning to sound more like him?" he pleaded.
"Can't you see that I love you? Can't you see that I can offer you more things than he can? Money, fame, a stable life and home." Fei Long said
 
 

The door opened, three people enter. An old man in purple and a pair of twins.
"Grandfather. There" started one twin.
"He is now!" completed the other.
"Not now let him settle this knot first." Said the old man.
 

"Fei Long, I'm sorry if that is the way you feel about Ryu. But I had always treated you like a brother." ChunLi calmly said. She's tired of this conversation but for the sake of Ryu and herself, she will show no weakness for that would mean defeat.

"ChunLi we go back a long way before you even met him in the arena. Never once have I being allowed to call you the way Master Gen does. Even Master Gen advised against my intention of courting you. I didn't even believe him when he said that you were prepared to lead that kind of life with that vagabond."
 
"ChunLi. For once try to see things from my point of view. All you have is a crush on that vagabond. Do you want to wake up one day in the middle of the nowhere, or dying in his hands when he finally go insane, regretting that you did not choose a better and more stable life when you were presented the chance on a silver platter." Fei Long pleaded.
 

"Why do you see me being with Ryu as wrong? If you can easily persuade me to leave with you, the same thing will happen if another man tries the same sweet words. Won't you have a Shui Xin Yang Hua (fickle) woman on your hands then? What is the point in that?" ChunLi asked coolly.
 

"A man like him doesn't deserve you. He might abandon you if he feels you get in the way of his training. All he knows is train, train, train." Fei Long continued.
"Don't we all train for our own reasons?" ChunLi answered, she sipped her drink yet leaving the Mocha Freeze untouch.

Fei Long started to sweat, he's losing reasons he can used to win over the heart of ChunLi, obviously Ryu has a very strong hold over her.
"Fei Long. You are a movie star. You can have any woman you want. Can't you let Ryu have me, I am just one woman among so many." It was ChunLi's turn to defend.
 

"No. There are no other women like you and you are the only woman I ever want. You are like a princess who has being captured by a dragon and enscrolled by it as well. Unable to see the truth that lays behind the veil of smoke. Refusing the knight's rescue." Fei Long said.

"You wish to get Ryu in and settle this with a fight?" ChunLi asked, obviously fed up.
"Naturally he would win that way."
"Fei Long, I am a married woman, there are some people in this place who are both friends of Ryu and I. They would not hesitate to beat you up if they think that you are haressing me. If you have nothing else to say. Please leave." ChunLi said, taking another sip.
 

<  Oh heavens! Even when she's angry she's as beautiful as ever. How I wish to have her close to me, share her life, her smile and love her. I cannot take her by force, I don't want her hate, just her love. Her sweetness, innocence, beauty, purity ravished by that brutal beast. Good Heavens! How long had it being since that monster brainwashed her? Never once was her smile for me  > Fei Long thought to himself.

Fei Long couldn't help but remain watching the way ChunLi brushed off the droplets of ice with her index finger, long and slim.He tried to find more reasons but she was stubborn.
 

 "Unless you can give me a good valid reason to leave you alone…." Fei Long was cut short when somebody intruded the table and grabbed the Mocha Freeze..

"Gomene" she apologised she lifted her right palm vertically, with her thumb near her chin. In her gloved left hand is the cup of Mocha Freeze.

Fei Long looked at the intruder's features carefully. Her eyes somewhat resemble ChunLi's, but that sheepish smile is so like Ryu. This child seems to be a hybrid of the ChunLi and that vagabond. The young girl headed back into to the arcade room. She seem to be around eleven years of age but yet Fei Long can’t be sure. There was something about her that he can’t placed his on.
 

<  Since when did they have a child?  > he wondered.

Then he realised something. He knew why Ryu’s hold on ChunLi was strong. A lot has to with that child. It seems to him that a lot had being going on between ChunLi and that bum than he ever knew. To have a child out of wedlock for that matter? He didn’t know what to think, except the reason why ChunLi was so cold to him for twelve years or so.
 

"I'm sorry to bother you, Mrs Hoshi. But I'll make you see the truth one day." He said and left the Tavern. ChunLi got up and headed to Ryu's table. Zannah left them alone and went to the counter. Gen and the twins approached them. The twins are clearly excited to see the couple.
 

“Hi Li Jie! Hi Ryu gor!!” they greeted
“You boys have grown quite a lot.” ChunLi smiled.
“Okay okay, you boys may go and enjoy yourselves.” Gen said. The boys bowed and took their leave, heading straight towards the arcade room.

“I’m sorry that this ugly scene had to come about, Li.” Gen said
“I understand Sifu. It was bound to happen one day. I just hope for Si heng’s sake that he’ll see the truth one day.” ChunLi sighed.
“I’ll try to talk some sense into that stubborn boy. I”ll leave the two of you alone.”
“See you later Sifu.”
 

“What’s wrong?” Ryu asked, his hand on ChunLi hand.
“I didn’t knew he’s was still upset about this…. I thought he’d cool down by now.”
“I’m sure he’ll cool down soon. Li. As long as we done nothing wrong. Why should we fear what other say?” Ryu smiled.

“You know. I was half expecting you to come over and tossed him into the pit for a fight.” ChunLi finally smiled as she lightly punch Ryu.
“I was going to.” Ryu said with a serious look on his face.
“What? Afraid of me going off with old Si Heng just because a few hua yan qiao yu (honeyed words)?” she rest her chin on her the back of her palm.

“I have faith in you.”
“No wonder you scored high marks with me.” ChunLi giggled as she patted Ryu’s face. She moved closer to him as Ryu slung one arm around her shoulder. Moments later they were giggling again.