Morning arrived, the world fills with the warmth of the sun, the green leaves of the trees’ rustle as the breeze whispered by. The morning was filled the songs of birds and the chattering of squirrels.
 

The tasty smell of cooked food drifted into the cave, waking the couple up, they were still in an embrace. As is their morning ritual they kissed each other. Together they used the pool to freshen up. It didn’t take long for them to dress up. Together they headed outside.

Seeing Iwa ChunLi thought that her disciple was about to make some sort of inane remark. But the quick witted Yuri tossed the girl a shrap reprimanding look

"Morning guys." That was all she said.

"Thanks for making breakfast." ChunLi said. Ryu popped a sliver of meat into ChunLi’s mouth. It didn’t take them long to finish breakfast and the four of them were on the road again.
 

------
 

By noon they were in busy Athens, ChunLi saw some clothes that caught her fancy.

"Wait here for me? Promise me you won’t start a fight Iwa again. I know you want a rematch with her." she gave Ryu a kiss.

"And you young lady. Lei de ho mn duo pin duo hoi.(loose translation- you’re just as bad as he is)"

"Dare we disobey?" Both ChunLi’s husband and disciple gave her a big idiotic grin and watch her walk off.

"Wait for me! Wait for me!" Yuri ran after her.

"Not going with them? " Ryu asked he sat down on the bench.
"Nah... I usually shop alone. T-shirts and Jeans don’t take up much time to choose. Here drink." She handed him a bottle of icy cold Mineral Water and sat down cross-legged beside him.

"She’s beautiful." Ryu mumbled dreamily while watching ChunLi as she dragged Yuri around from shop to shop.

"Yeah, makes you want to give up everything just to be with her, huh. You’re really serious about going into retreat? " Iwa asked, swatting off a punch from Ryu. Once they saw ChunLi disappearing into a shop, their one arm battle began with a series of swipes and punches.
 

"How did you know?" Attempting to grabbed her wrist but she managed to snake out of the way.

"The way you browse through that book and the notes. You want to spend some time to ponder its meaning in order to understand the essence."

"I am torn between going into retreat and staying with Li. I feel….bad about leaving her so soon after the enforced separation……. What is your view?" Slapping her hand down

"Wait? You are actually asking me? Me who rather not be bothered with the affairs of the heart? Me who have no idea about such stuff?" Iwa was slightly shock.

"Yeah, you. At least you are not bias in your decision."
"Okay….If you truly want my opinion…."
"Yes I would appreciate it. Young one."
"…" she was silent for a while
 

"Take Li Jie with you. If you make her go back to the Dojo first, you won’t even be able to concentrate on the on what you set out to do."

<<   That’s telling him! You hear that you block of wood!   >> A dark voice rang out in his head.
<<   Will you shut up?   >> Ryu asked his dark-side. His dark-side mumbled something before silencing.
 

"Of course the final decision is yours to make. But even if you make her go. I don’t think Li Jie listen to you." Iwa said as she took another gulp of water with her free left hand.
<<   You’re not helping me any. Are you sure you want to see tears rolling down that beautiful face. What can I do? I’m just your dark-side.  >> Ryu’s dark-side sulked.
 

"I know sending her back is a hard decision for me as well. I don’t like it better any more than you do."

<<  I will not stand for it if you really intend to send her back. My mate and I will do everything in our power to stop you. You know we can.  >>  His dark-side was pacing back and forth in Ryu’s head.
 

<<   Even if you do understand the essence and I don’t. Any attempts to master the moves will cause you to zao fo yep mo (loose translation: qi imbalance that will lead to pain, madness or even death. Literal translation: Run fire, enter demon –don’t ask just take the loose translation.)   >> His dark-side continued. It sounded like a threat and a warning.

"Why are you so concern about whether or not I learn from that manual with or without Li." There was a long moment of silence from his dark-side

<<  I know something about that book that you don’t. I know that your precious beauty knows something about that book when she was translating the text for you. The notes will be useless if you don’t understanding it essence. I know you’ll say I’m selfish for wanting to keep my mate near me. Yes. I admit, that’s partly the reason as well. But there is a greater reason as well but a dense guy like you won’t understand it. Just you remember that I won’t stand for it. >> His dark side was silent was once more, refusing to answer any more questions.

On seeing ChunLi coming towards them. Ryu and Iwa stopped their one arm battle immediately, they both got up to help ChunLi and Yuri with their packages.

"Good I see that for once the two of you are behaving." She smile at them.

"Li Jie, I’m going back with Yuri to South Town. You want me to bring this stuff back to South Town for you? I’ll be spending the rest of my school holidays in South Town."

"Okay thanks. I’ll collect them from Uncle Takuma if we pass by your home, Yuri." Handing them the bags of clothes and gifts.

The two girls bid goodbye to couple before going on their way. Sharing jokes and laughing out loud.
 

--------
 

Later that night, in a beautiful hotel room. Ryu was observing his wife in mediation

<  So serene and peaceful. It would not be easy to tell her.  > He thought. He was unable to concentrate on his mediation. So he got up and went for a drink of water and continued thinking at the balcony.

About an hour later ChunLi gathered her qi and let it stabiles. She took a deep breath and let it out with control.

"Why so quiet?" she was in his arms again, the warm scent of her hair mingle with the night breeze, he felt a lot more peaceful. Ryu realized that the meaning of ‘Absence makes the heart fonder’ holds truth.

"Hmm? Nothing." He felt guilty about keeping secrets from her. The words of his dark side still stung him.

"Come on, there is something bothering you. Your meditation is abruptly short. Noramlly you would still be in mediation when I've finished."

"Li would you do anything I tell you to do? Even If it sounds unreasonable?"

There was silence as she thought to herself.

"Maybe." She teased. "But don’t let me hold you back. You know I don’t like to discourage you from doing things you need to do. We walk the paths that we choose. You taught me that."

"I…. I want to go into retreat to ponder Volume 7." He steels himself for an outburst. He couldn’t bear to see her cry. The short silence seems like an eternity, Her sadness would be like a knife stab through his heart and twisted about mashing it to bits. Ryu would rather forgo the retreat than to hurt his beloved wife’s feelings.

"Go. If you feel more at ease if you have the chance to ponder it." ChunLi answered in an encouraging tone. Ryu felt as if a very small piece of the heavy burden he carried had being lifted.

"You’re not upset?" he asked, feeling slightly encouraged

"Sor zhai(silly boy). Am I suppose to be?" She asked playfully. Sitting him down on the bed.

^As much as I hate the thought of being separated from you. You will have no peace if I do not let you go. ^ ChunLi thought

"Like you I am a warrior. I understand that when one is overcome by the need to contemplate. One should never miss such a chance to improve oneself. Doubts will fall an empire while confidence builds it." She added, placing his hand within hers.

"Then would you promise to return to the dojo first?" he knew he’s pushing things too far.

"No. I will wait for you here." She said in a steely voice.

"I don’t know not how long I would take. Days, weeks, months or even years. I want to know that you will be safe." Ryu felt that this time he had push things too far, he felt that this little venture is too much.

<  Best let him ponder the book in peace. But I have other plans in mind.  > She thought.

"Okay. But let follow you to the place of your choosing. I want to go back knowing where you are." She sighed. It seems like a hollow victory to him, he was speechless but he felt that to remain silent would not right.

"Li. Thank you for understanding. I love you more than anything."

"You sure you mean that? Or is it some sweet words to make you less guilty."

<  Gosh he’s so easy to bluff.  > She thought

"Li…." Her statement shocked him.

"You look so cute when you are puzzled." She said shutting off the lights and began to discuss other things until she fell asleep in his arms.
 

---------------
 

The next afternoon

A waterfall some distance away from a secluded beach. Before leaving him, she planted on passionate kiss on him, when she knew that he’s putting a lot of effort into this kiss. ChunLi pushed Ryu away and left him puzzled, with a little laugh she left him alone.

<<  Ungrateful and Stubborn!!! After all that you have done for him. How could he treat you this way!   >>  A voice shouted in her head.

<<  Oh it’s you, why so upset?  >> ChunLi asked, not surprise by the appearance of her dark side.

<<  Woman! I don’t understand. How could you just go back to Shadowlaw just like this? This is so unlike you!  >>

<<  Who says I’m going back? I’m just going to bring my stuff down to beach. You don’t expect me to do nothing while waiting. I still need my own training.  >> She answered calming her dark side.

<<  Oh? I see….  >> Her dark side was silent again.
 

----------
 

The last three days Ryu spent on pondering the book was fruitless. Iwa’s notes didn’t help much. Although he figured out her messy handwriting, the notes don’t seem to connect from paragraph to paragraph. There are some questions that bug him as well. His dark side was silent and uncooperative.

And to make things worse he can’t speak to ChunLi via mindlink, her mind was deliberately shut off from him. He had ask the rest the of the Inner Circle to call her but they came back with negative results.

<< You’ll will never understand the essence this way.  >> his dark side finally spoke.

<<   Shut up and leave me alone.  >>

<<  Your mind is not with you. Admit it, you miss your beloved. Forget about fully controlling me until you mastered the damn book.  >>

<<  Why don’t you find someone else to bother then?  >> Ryu was slightly irritated.

<<  Aiyoh. I am not some parasite that could be expelled just like that. You and I are one and the same. I am your hates, dark desires, anger, fears and most importantly your fear of losing your beloved ChunLi. I’m don’t intend to leave you. You are good location, near my mate. And of course the occasional privilege of using this body is much appreciated. Heh heh   >>

<<  If you know that I can control you why let me have this book then? Why would you want something like that? >>
 

<<  I’ll let you on a little secret since you have being so patient with me. What is good for you is also good for me. As Master Gouken once said: ‘I your dark side, am but a tool. One either use it well or be corrupted by it if misuse with evil intentions.’ And once you mastered the book. I will be more powerful than the old coot (Akuma). Good for you and good for me. So stop asking me to shut up and bring her here already! Or are you waiting for a sign? >>

Ryu picked up the notebook and a slip of paper fell from the pages.

<  Odd that wasn’t here before?  >  he thought as he read the note.

"Get Li Jie in here! Two heads are better than one!" It screamed of Iwa’s handwriting.

<<  You happy now? GO out there then! Man you can be so dense at times.  >>
 

Ryu didn’t know where to start

<  Li! Please don’t listen to me like you sometimes do. > He hoped. Closing his eyes he tried to sense his wife’s qi. It did not take him long before he located her familiar qi, her qi seem stronger now. Though he knows where she is, she still  maintain silence.

ChunLi was going through her moves that morning when she felt Ryu calling for her, she refused to answer and continuing training on the sandy beach concentrating on the execution of each move with precision. From the corner of her eyes she could see him approaching and ran towards him.

Ryu ran towards her. But suddenly she launched into a flying kick, Ryu managed to block as she summersault back, landing on the sand. Thus their sparring begins. Apart from her usual grace and speed, her attacks seem more honed as well. She was deliberately avoiding his attacks, while touching his nose and pulling his fringe playfully as he stumbles passed. Her melodious and sweet laughter fills the air and his heart. Ryu felt proud as he could sense that ChunLi had improved a lot as well.

With the ferocity of a tiger she slams him down on the sand, before he could get up she sat right on his stomach. Crossing his arms before him, she lean forward to use her weight to keep his arms down and immobilized him. Face to face she planted kiss on his nose and smile sweetly at him.

"What? Figured out the book already?"

"No…. I wish for you to join me in retreat. If you wish to join me that is. I’m sorry for upsetting you. I didn’t mean to." He said nervously.

"I would if you do not mind bringing my stuff in."

Ryu vigorously nodded to her request. She wasn’t the least bit angry with him.

"I was afraid you would have listen to me and left for home."

"Sor zhai. I promise I would go back but not without you." She stuck her tongue out at him.

But she didn’t let him get up there and then. It wasn’t easy making the most powerful warrior submit to her. They locked lips again, he didn’t mind what she’s doing to him. She moved a little allowing his hands freedom of movement. He encircled his arms around her waist and pulled his beloved wife closer down towards him. .

Later after he brought her stuff into the waterfall cave, Ryu carried ChunLi into the cave.
 

A few moments after she read Iwa’s notes.

"You know why you couldn’t figure it out?" All she got from him was a puzzled look.

"She was in a writing frenzy and that would mean that she wrote without chronological order. That’s why this paragraph on this page is actually her continuing thoughts and explanation from the first page, which didn’t occur to her until a later time. And some others are just her local terms of expression. And the other one there was actually a joke that book inspired. There’s a few of her pointless quotes and those 9 times out of 10 jokes." Still a blank look was on Ryu face.

"Don’t worry. I know what she means to say in here. I’ll explain it to you as we go along." She sat down on his lap.

"Li where would I be without you by my side?" he asked. Face to face they began nuzzling each other.

"I don’t think you want to know the answer that." She smiled as she stared into his eyes. They both had a feeling that they would be here for at least some time, not that they mind.