Feb 14 2000
Shotoken-Wushu Dojo, Shadowlaw
 

The last rays of the evening sun had begun to set as the night slowly creeps across the sky, eating away every last ray of light. The screams of two babies had died down as they have being coaxed into sleep.

A pure black wolf plop it's head on the window sill eyeing the couple who was slumped back to back by the bed. ChunLi made two hand gestures; one to signal silence and the other to signal that all is well. The wolf tilted it head to the right and vanished from the window with a quick movement.

<<  Finally I thought they would never sleep.  >> ChunLi sent, leaning her full weight on Ryu.
<<  Good lungs, definitely good lungs.  >> Ryu rubbed his neck.
<<  And they got your appetite too . >> she elbowed him.

As Ryu got up, ChunLi lost her balance falling backwards with a loud thud.
<<  OOOWWWW!!!  >> She shouted back at him mentally, not wanting to wake their kids again.
<<  LI!!. Gomen! Gomen! Gomen!  >> Ryu apologized profusely as he knelt down on one knee.
<<  Pull me up! You Goondu(fool)!  >> ChunLi hissed back at him.
<<  Li I'm so sorry….  >> Ryu kept apologizing as he pulled ChunLi up, it seem to him that these few days her fuse seems to be getting shorter. He couldn't help but feel that there was something he forgotten. Something that had always bonded them.
 

<<  Outside NOW!  >> She grabbed him by the wrist and pulled him out the other door into backyard which was their private garden as well training yard. A brown-beige wolf pup scrambled across the yard chasing a squirrel into the hole in the wall of Iwa's room and out the perimeters of the dojo.
 

To the left of the yard is a pavilion which had ChunLi's blue-streaked lilies planted beside it. To the right of the yard was a  small cluster of trees. Of one which had ropes tied around its trunk and a swing hanging from its strongest branch. Another two had a hammock tied between them.

A few wooden dummies set in a circular formation. A place for which to work out or relax. To a certain degree it resembles the courtyard of Summerlodge, their little home on her private estate in Shadowlaw. The evening breeze carried with it the pleasant and lightly sweet fragrance of the lilies mix with the smell of grass after a light drizzle. Closing her eyes ChunLi took a deep breath and turned to her husband burying herself in his embrace.
 

"Li. You know what today is?" Ryu asked as he stroke her waist with his left thumb while his right hand lingered on her face. Amidst the natural smell of the nature, his sharp nose picked out familiar scent of ChunLi's perfume. Her lily mixed with the natural scent of her skin, intoxicated by it still after all these years

"Hmm?" She looked up to him, relishing the warmth of his body, a sharp contrast to the cool evening wind against her back.
"Valentine's Day." Ryu said softly, he could feel ChunLi's eyelashes lightly touching his lips when he turned his head slightly. Her lithe body totally relaxed in his arms

"It is?" she mumbled.
"We celebrated Ken's birthday this morning."
"Must have forgotten, we've being busy with the twins."
"I did not get you anything this year."
"Nor I…."

"Lo-Gong (Hubby) You know what I missed doing with you the most." She cooed at him in a seductive voice. Raising her eyebrows repeatedly to emphasize her point.
"Yes….One, Two or Three?" He had an idea on what she was yearning for. And he intends to indulge her fully.
"One. Definitely option number one." Gazing him straight in eyes. Thrilled that he knows what she was after. Her warrior had made much improvement over the years.
"Shall we now then. Aisai" Ryu invited her.
"I am waiting. My warm warrior."
 

A few moments later ChunLi and Ryu pushed each other away, leaping backwards slightly, Ryu got into his ready stance, ready to defend. ChunLi move from her stance with light tap of her
right foot, she flew towards him like a fury. Attacking him with such raw energy that surprise

Ryu to know that she still have energy to pick a fight with him barely three days after the birth of their twins. Ryu has no intentions of giving in, he had being waiting for this fight as long as she had.

No quarter was given and none was asked as they faced each other not as husband and wife but as warriors. No qi used in this battle, just strength, stamina and the wits to outwit one's opponent.

Hidden within the grace and speed of her attacks was traces of frustration. Frustrated at being unable to indulge in some activities, frustrated at just being and frustrated at having to take those tonics.
 

<  Post natal depression?  > ChunLi mused to herself.
 

She realizes that she was in some way venting her frustration out on this fight. But as quickly as these thoughts came she put them away to prevent herself from being distracted. The fight and only the fight was her main concern now. ChunLi dropped low seeing an opening and swept Ryu off his feet. Ryu rolled aside to avoid a downward punch.

ChunLi recovered from her attack a little to late to counter Ryu who managed to get behind her. In turning around with a backhand, Ryu caught her wrist and landed on his back to toss her some distance away. Ryu got up to see ChunLi landing low and on all fours like cat. Her long hair flowed around her face as her hair band broke free. She snarled at him.
 

Ryu stood facing her. Left leg in front, outstretched left hand in a loose fist, right fist close to his face. He narrowed his eyes as thoughts of strategies flooded his mind. ChunLi on the other side of the yard, almost mirroring her husband in stance. Placing her weight on her left leg while her right foot touches the ground only lightly. Left hand an open palm by her face while her outstretched right hand an open palm facing down.

Ryu raise an eyebrow on seeing ChunLi turned her right palm upward and mischievously beckons him to attack her. Ryu narrowed his eyes in concentration again. Moments passed as the couple stood in silent readiness. Every muscle in their bodies tensed in alertness. Watching, waiting, thinking.

As the wind drove a white lily with blue streaks from its heart clear past them. The couple burst into action and rushed towards each other. Exploding punches and kicks against each other upon contact.

The two warriors relentless and seemingly tireless against each other. Working on a hunch Ryu rained punches on ChunLi. His hunch worked as every single punch hits home until ChunLi caught wind of his strategy, changing her timing she swatted off his following punches. Both kept swatting off the grabs of the other.

< There must be an opening somewhere….. > She thought to herself, narrowing her eyes in concentration. Still swatting off his attacks.

ChunLi suddenly ducked, throwing Ryu offguard with her sudden movement, she flipped behind him. By the time Ryu regained his composure ChunLi had grabbed him by his shirt and slammed him against the large tree. The leaves rustled as the tree shook, two squirrels and a raccoon fell from its branches. A shower of rain from the leaves poured down on them.

Drenched as they are, they called it a day. Ryu took his shirt off and wring it of excess water. ChunLi shivered slightly in her wet blouse, Ryu noticed and move towards her but ChunLi moved out of reach. Ryu raise one eyebrow questioningly. As he move towards his wife, she picked up her steps moving out of his reach still.

She stuck her tongue out at him. Ryu ran after her, ChunLi laughed as she run ahead of him teasing him. Across the whole yard Ryu chased her. Till they were back to the tree with ropes around its trunk. Only then did Ryu managed to catch his wife. The wind lifted her hair and unsettles it, creating a wild seductive charm about her.

"I'm not letting you go." Ryu whispered in her ear
 

Ryu held his wife closer to warm her up. Cheek to cheek they stood leaning against the large tree. She looked towards him gazing into his eyes as her left hand rested on his chest, her very touch warming him. Her other hand reached around the back of his head, entangled in one end of his bandanna as she stroked his face lovingly. She smiled at him in a special way reserved only for him alone.

Ryu's left hand traversed slowly up her back and under her long hair, stroking her neck fondly. His right hand around her waist. Ryu tipped ChunLi sweeping her off her feet. His special smile as he held her gaze. Like the scene from 'Gone with the wind' (the poster? I dunno. never saw the movie) Ryu kissed her full on the lips, savoring the salty tang of her sweet lips.

Within his mouth he could feel ChunLi's probing tongue. An electric tingle shivered down his spine as her tongue caress the roof of his mouth. Lips locked together, Ryu watched ChunLi's eyes opened, and she was questioning him. Saying nothing he responded as his tongue greeted hers.

Together they slowly pulled each down to the ground as they continue to writhe in passionate embrace. Tonight in the privacy of their backyard, surrounded by the scent of lilies in bloom Ryu and ChunLi renewed their vows to each other. Rediscovering the beauty of each other. Creating again the magic of their treasured bond as they hearts beat in union.