Garden Delights Ch. 1
By Mayumi H

The young Chinese woman found him entrancing: a suave, sensuous combatant who seemed more showman than real fighter.

He fought in a graceful ballet of leaps, kicks, and swipes that made his opponents appear to be standing still in the arena.

Nevertheless, she applauded only faintly when he was named the victor and hailed the crowd of spectators with a flourish.

Vega's eyes scanned the crowd as he unmasked. The cheers were like music to his ears, and some of the spectators threw him single roses, which reminded him of his young matador days back in his Spanish homeland. He caught one in the air, from a female admirer, no doubt, and chuckled to himself.

These people were so impressed by him, by his grace and speed and fluidity of motion; there weren't many who could compare with his unique, eclectic fighting style. Most of the others were merely brawlers and brigands, and they didn't stand a chance against him in the arena. He was tired of the ease with which he won. He needed a challenge.

As he worked his way through the dissipating mob, that was heading on to other battles, he heard a soft voice touch his ears:

"That was quite a spectacle."

Vega turned. He smiled handsomely and regarded the speaker fondly. She was a beautiful young woman with jet black hair and piercing blue eyes. He recognized a strength of spirit as well as body in her, and her confident stance reminded him of himself in the arena.

"Thank you." He bowed his head slightly to her, mostly in deference to her sex, but also because he was nothing if not gallant.

"I am Vega."

The young woman smiled radiantly at him. "I know," she said simply.

He raised an eyebrow at her. "Oh? Then you have me at a distinct disadvantage. I like to know the names of my admirers..."

She chuckled. "I never said I was an admirer."

That stung Vega. How could a woman so beautiful as this not be touched by the handsomeness of his style, of himself? "I see..." he muttered quietly.

She raised her deep blue eyes to him. "My name is-"

"No," he said, raising his hand. She regarded him quizzically, and he smiled, once more full of control and confidence. "Let me wonder. At least, until tonight."

"Tonight?" the woman echoed, puzzled.

Vega handed her the rose slowly. "You will join me for dinner tonight, won't you? Nine o'clock at the Retiro?"

She seemed to stumble over her words. "I, um..." She started to stare at the rose.

He raised her delicate chin with his finger, to lock gazes with her. "Ask for me. A table will be waiting." Then he smiled again, and turned on his heel, disappearing into the darkening streets before she could say no.

She chuckled. "How can I refuse?" she said to herself, amused by this new predicament.

*

"A rose... Where did you get it?"

Chun-Li looked up at Po-Lin distractedly. "Hmm?"

Po-Lin smiled with interest. "Where did you get that rose? They're very rare on Shad..."

Chun-Li broke from her reverie. "Oh! Someone gave it to me. Today, at the arena."

Po-Lin's thin eyebrows went up. She cocked her head. "You didn't say you were going to be competing today... Wong-Mei and I would have come to see you."

Chun-Li shook her head, her white ribbons swaying back and forth. "I didn't compete today. I only went to watch for a while."

"Who gave it to you?"

From the other side of the room, Ken Masters spoke around a mouthful of Wong-Mei's egg rolls. He looked at Chun-Li with blatant curiosity and a touch of competitive disdain.

Chun-Li narrowed her eyes. "As if I'd tell my secrets to you, Mr. Masters." Nevertheless, she went over to his table and sat down across from him. "It was just..." She smiled at her own joke: "...an admirer. I'm supposed to meet him later tonight, at the Retiro next to the gardens."

"Him?" Ken echoed. "You're meeting some strange man who gave you a rose at the arena? What kind of weirdo goes around giving women roses and then out of the blue invites them to dinner?"

Chun-Li chuckled. She poked Ken playfully in his ribs. "You're just jealous because you didn't think of it first."

Ken puffed up with pride. "That may be, but I still say he's a weirdo." He gave her another disapproving glare. "And you're doubly crazy for accepting his offer."

Chun-Li picked up the rose again and brought it to her face. She sniffed in Ken¹s general direction and stood up. "I think I can handle myself...and anyone who comes along. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to get ready."

Ken watched her go, then turned to Po-Lin, to complain about Chun-Li. But he stopped when he noticed that Po-Lin was gazing wistfully at the other woman¹s back. "What is it?"

Po-Lin turned to look at him fiercely. "Weirdo?" She shook her head. "Ken, you have no romance in you." Then she turned to enter the kitchen, leaving Ken alone with his embarrassment and egg rolls.

*

Chun-Li arrived slightly early to the Retiro, to mentally prepare herself for this meeting. She knew Vega was dangerous, especially after watching him in the arenas. But this unforeseen act of gallantry set her on her guard. What could he be trying to prove? Did he know that she was a fighter, as well? Possibly, but there had been something more in his eyes when he had looked at her, something not quite there. What had it been?

She was snapped from her reverie by a young man in a modified tuxedo: the maitre'd. He smiled at her cordially enough, then bowed and showed her in, saying, "Welcome, senorita. Your table is waiting."

"How did you..." Chun-Li began, then thought better of it. Obviously, this was planned as only the first surprise of the evening.

She was led past the crowded tables of wealthy and stylish patrons, and each time they passed an empty table, she was sure that's where she was supposed to be sitting. But the young man led her on, across the terrace to the rear, where a few ornate tables looked out over the Spanish gardens adjacent to the restaurant.

The maitre'd indicated a table set away from the rest, with a bottle of wine, two long-stemmed glasses, and a vase of roses on its surface. He pulled out one of the two chairs. "If you please, senorita?"

Chun-Li knew better than to question him. She smiled graciously and sat down, letting him seat her. "Thank you," she said demurely, hiding her curious expression.

"Would you care for some wine?" he asked softly, indicating the bottle.

She blinked. "Oh, um, no, thank you. I think I'll wait."

The young man smiled knowingly. "Of course." He bowed low at the waist and stepped away, back into the lengthening shadows, and Chun-Li was left to her thoughts.

She sat regarding the roses for a moment, then reached out to touch one of them, but she stopped mid-move as she heard someone approach. She looked behind her, and Vega was there, dressed in a semi-formal dark purple suit, smiling down at her. She moved to get up, but his hand on her shoulder bade her sit again.

"Good evening," Vega purred as he stepped around the table. "You look lovely tonight."

Chun-Li couldn't help smiling. "Thank you. You look very elegant, as well, Senor Vega."

Vega sat back in his chair. He shook his head. "You flatter me." He waved a hand over the vase of roses. "Please, go ahead. I didn't mean to interrupt."

Chun-Li chuckled. "I was told that roses are very rare on Shad. And yet I come here and beautiful girls are throwing them at your feet, and there's a vase of them waiting on our table."

Vega reached for one of the flowers himself, plucking it from its brethren and inhaling deep from the petals. "It is a mere peasant tribute. But they are lovely. No?" He set it down on the table between them and reached for the bottle of wine. Without asking her, he filled her glass and then his own, seemingly oblivious to the amused way Chun-Li cocked an eyebrow at him.

He raised his glass to toast her, but his smile wavered slightly when he saw she was just sitting there. "Something the matter?"

"I'm just amused."

"By what, may I ask?"

Chun-Li shook her head. "You don't even know me. Why all this?"

Vega set down his glass and peered at her from between stray locks of his brown hair. "On the contrary, Chun-Li. I know very much about you."

Now it was Chun-Li's turn to be taken off guard, but only for a moment. She straightened in her seat, instantly on the defensive.

She waited for him to go on, as she knew he would; she'd learned over the years that men like Vega enjoyed hearing themselves talk.

"I know that you are not here by accident. The arenas and the Grand Fight bring many to Shad. And you are no spectator." His voice dropped to a hush. "You can be very deadly." Then he laughed, a sound that seemed thunderous in the nervous silence that had surrounded them. "But that is business. And I did not invite you to dinner to discuss petty business matters."

"Then why did you invite me here?" Chun-Li asked pointedly. All illusions were stripped away now. But she still didn't quite know what manner of game he was playing at. Cat and mouse came to mind, but if that were the case, he would soon discover that she would not be so easily cornered...