-What do you give a woman
who can have anything she
so desires?
What can you give a man
whose desires are so simple. –

Helen, The Year of Healing.
(defunct fic)
------
 

It was the evening of Valentine's day, the events will be drawing to a close soon. Ryu arm in arm with ChunLi walk down the corridor towards the hall. Ryu had worn for this occasion a white tuxedo with a red cravat instead of a bow tie. ChunLi was wearing a beautiful matching white 'cheongsam' with peony motifs embroidered on it. Her long hair tied in a braid.

They have being invited to spend a Valentine's weekend aboard the Gem of Shadowlaw, the least armed ship of Lord Vega and the only ship in Shadowlaw that was actually converted into a luxury liner equivalent to the QE 2. This is the 6th time they were invited to for such an event. They had only celebrated their 6th wedding anniversary a week ago on the 5th.

"Lovely night isn't Aisai? No Sakura following us." Ryu commented to ChunLi.

"Yes. Even Iwa (the kid) is not around." ChunLi said

"Where is she anyway?"

"She went back to her hometown after her 20th birthday to celebrate Chinese New Year with her family. She's likely to be back during her March holidays." ChunLi said smiling.

"Aisai. She gave left this before she left. Saying that we should open it today." Ryu said, handing the little package to his wife.

"I wonder what it is?" ChunLi opened the little box to find a tube of superglue.

"Superglue? What's she up to?" The couple exclaimed.

They read the little note attach.

--"Heh Heh things are sure gonna get sticky tonight. ^_^
Sorry. How about a rose @-->--- for the lady?
Signed Iwa—
On the note was a cartoon face sticking its tongue out
: p

The couple blushed. The kid that was often mistaken for their child knew them all too well.

"I'll have to discipline her when she gets back. She's regressing again." ChunLi said in mock anger. They both stifled a laugh when they thought of Iwa's expression when they had disciplined her some time back.

Reaching the grand hall the pageboys swung open the doors and they were ushered to the table.

Looking around the room, they could see a few friends a few candle-lighted tables away. Ken and Eliza. Guile and Jane. Dhalsim and Sally. Zannah and Cole. Some Inner Circle Fighters and their dates. Some other fighters and their dates. Lord Vega and Rose her eyes are glazed for she seems to be under Vega’s control again

It seem like everybody though aware of each others presence had not spoil the mood created by chatting each other up.

Dinner was splendid for them as the chef had apparently chosen dishes with symbolism and had taken great pains to decorate them until the food resemble edible pieces of art. From the hall, Ryu and ChunLi headed over to the deck. On the bow was a young blond fighter forced by his feisty Japanese girlfriend to do a scene from Titanic.

Ryu and ChunLi headed to the railings at the side of the ship. Ryu slipped his arm around ChunLi's slender waist as the watch the starry night sky. ChunLi rested her head on Ryu's shoulder. The gentle night breeze playfully tease their hair as the music played on with the sound of waves in the background. ChunLi took in a deep breath of sea air, relaxing as Ryu embraced her.
 
 

"Look! A shooting star! Anata quick make a wish." ChunLi exclaimed. Closing her eyes as she wished upon the star. Following his wife, he himself made a wish as well.

"What do you wish for?" Ryu asked her. Taking in the scent of ChunLi's hair mixed with the salty tang of the sea.

"Won't tell you or it would not come true. What about you? To be the best fighter" her arms rested on his. Ryu nuzzled her neck.

"Not that. I think you would already know what I would wish for that would mean more than anything else." Ryu hinted.

"To be with me? To protect me? To stay by my side?" ChunLi guessed and turn around to face him. Her arms wrapped around his neck.

"See it came true already. I love you more than anything in the world. My beautiful princess. I'm not going to let anyone take you away from me." Ryu gazed in to her eyes.

"Silly dragon, nobody could take me away from you. My love belongs to you and you alone." ChunLi answered, as they started dancing, flowing in and out of the other dancers.
 
 

Some time later they headed back into their cabin. Drunk with merriment and each other. ChunLi took a beautifully wrapped parcel from her luggage while Ryu took one from his. Giving his to ChunLi as ChunLi gave hers to him.

"What is it? Dragon?" ChunLi asked as she was unwrapping it.
 

Her eyes sparkled with tears as an elegant carved jewellery box showed. Delicate and elegant dragons that made up the shapes of their names. Polish till one could see the shine. Within laid mother-of-pearl painstakingly set in.

"You made this?" She gasped. He nodded

"You mean all those extra time in the waterfall cave. It's the most beautiful thing I ever seen!" She exclaimed.
 

Now it was Ryu's turn to open his gift. A book it was, but not any ordinary book. For on it was written "Art of Shotoken volume 7"

"Sensei had always me that is was a printing error and there was no volume 7. Until he gave in one day. Saying volume 7 was more powerful than the Satsui no Hado. And the last copy was destroyed." Ryu said in a voice as calm as he could.

"I found it in the Shadowlaw archives, it was copied into Shad but maintain its Japanese essence." ChunLi said, answering Ryu's unasked questions.

"All those long nights for this?" he asked, she nodded. He left the book inside his bag.

"Aren't you going to read it?" ChunLi asked in puzzlement as Ryu embraced her once more.

"There's always tomorrow my princess." Ryu said, silencing her protest with a kiss. ChunLi asked no more as she put her heart and soul into that kiss. Slowly removing each other's clothes after shutting off the lights.
 

Bonding together their body, heart, mind and soul on a time that is completely theirs. To them this moment is theirs, not caring if the world would end tomorrow. For their lives entwined each other that one could not bear to be without the other. A bond so strong that no words could ever describe properly how they felt for each other. One could always sense the needs of the other and nothing else matters. Their hearts beating together in union, creating a song that only they could hear. Outside the rain was pouring down gently, creating a cool night for all………