Heritage and Chi Ch. 1
By Mariko Hoshi

Mariko looked at the people around her. Ken and Mel were the only ones that knew what she was going to say. She looked at Guile, Chun-Li and Josh Bison. New friends from the adventer they had to get back the Masters. Then there was Ryu. There he stood beside Ken. Her mother was right about one thing. She could feel the chi inside Ryu, it felt like family to her. All she hope was he would see her as his daughter. Mel could see that Mariko was nerous. "It's okay Mariko go ahead and tell the others what you told me and my father." That warm smile from Mel helped Mariko gather her curege. "I don't know if any of you will believe me...but I be lead to believe..." She turn to face Ryu. "That you..." Rasied her hand towards Ryu. " are my father..."

She too a deep breath. ~There it's out now.~ She waited for Ryu to react to what she said. It was Chun-Li that reacted out. "No way. You're lying. There is no way you can be Ryu's daughter. Tell me I'm right Ryu, please." Ryu remain quite. "I got to say thing Chun-Li but look at Mariko. You can see some features in her face that remind you of Ryu don't you." Ken looked at Chun-Li. "I understand you miss belife but I am telling the truth." Her voice waver. Guile stay quite and watched what would happen next.

Mariko was trembing. She couldn't stand it any longer. "I... will not bather you again." She then suddenly she leap up into the air and over Ken. She quickly try to run into the woods. Mel ran after her. Ryu had turn around to look at her go, and then found him self slap in the face. He looked at Ken. He could see the anger in his friend face. "Ryu come on, you got to listen to this girl. I know it might sound over the edge but I... believe she told me the truth." Ken looked where Mariko had run off too. "She not even sure your her father Ryu but she wants to know if you are." Ryu remain quite for another moment. "So who is the mother of this child?" Chun-Li see to be the one most upset about the news. Ken looked at her. "Well Markio did say who her mother was..." Ken looked at Ryu, who was now looking towards where Mariko had run off too. "Her name Ken what is Mariko's mother's name!" "Chun-Li calm down. Why are you so upset about this?" Guile had finaly spoke up. He couldn't believe Chun-Li's reaction to this. "Stay out of this Guile... Ken who is Mariko's mother?" Ryu turn to look at Chun-Li. "No Chun-Li it's you who has to stay out of this." He turned and headed the way Mariko had run off too.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mel found Mariko crying. He slowly moved towards her. Mariko turn to look into his face. "Are you all right?" His voice was musical in her ears. She slitly jerk away when his hand touch her face. Time seem to stop as Mel rub the tears away from her face. "Mel...I..."

"Mariko!!!! Mariko!!!" It was Ryu's voice that bought her back from the dream state she was in. Ryu came into the clearing that Mel and Mariko were standing. Mariko was trembing. A little scaried girl but a girl that showed so much corage agaist the danger that they faced earier. Ryu looked at the pair. So many thoughts ran threw his mind. "Mariko, forgive my behaiour earier I didn't know what to say." Mariko seem to wanted to flee again but Mel had a good grip. Ryu came closer toward them. "Before any thing gets out of hand. We should talk a bit more, okay." Ryu's voice became soft and warm. "It seem we both need some questions answered. Come back and we talk about this together we find the answers." Mariko looked at Ryu brown eyes were showing the same fear she had inside her. She nodded. Ryu, Mariko and Mel headed back to the others.