Love's Labors Lost Ch. 8 (Part 2)
By Ring-chan

Later that evening
Chun Li sat in silent contemplation in the sanctity of her living room. She stared out at the evening sky. It was time for her to move on with her life... but how was she going to let go of Ryu?

Leaning back on the couch, she hugged a pillow tightly to her chest .

"I miss you, Ryu..." she murmured.

Then she remembered that night over 4 months ago when they had separated ways. Ryu said goodbye to her with music then... maybe she can do the same for him now.

Maybe this would make it easier to finally let go.

Chun Li stepped up to her shelf of CD's. After thumbing through her collection, she came to a stop on a Puff Daddy CD.

She slipped the CD into the player on her stereo, then set it on the track she had chosen. Soon a soft melody and a steady rhythm fill the room and her ears.

"This is for you, Ryu," she thought with a sad smile. "Where ever you are..."

---Yeah, this right here goes out to everyone who's lost someone that they truly loved...---

Chun Li strolled over to the window, sub-consciously taking her steps into time to the rhythm of the song.

--- Seems like yesterday we used to rock the show, I laced the track, you locked the flow.---

A doleful smile spread over Chun Li's lips as memories flooded back from her time with Ryu. It was just two short, beautiful months... but it a time she would cherish always.

---Life ain't always what it seem to be...---

Ryu always loved life so much. Why did it have to end for him so soon?

---Words can't express what you mean to me...---

Chun Li felt her eyes glaze over again. Every time she thought she had run out of tears, she is proven wrong.

--- Even though you're gone we still a team. Through your family I'll fulfill your dreams.---

The flow of Chun Li's tears increased and soon she found herself sobbing uncontrollably as she leaned to the wall for support.

The room... it seemed to be getting smaller... Chun Li found herself having trouble with breathing. The room appeared to continually close in around her, growing suffocatingly small, Chun Li frantically took a few deep breaths.

She can't stay in here...

She needed to get outside...

Chun Li grabbed her keys and her jacket, rushing out the door without bothering to turn off the stereo.

On her way out, she could hear the music echoing in her head.

--- In the future can't wait to see, if you'll open up the gates for me---

After she got off the elevator, she crashed out of the main gates of her apartment complex and stumbled out into the night. She gulped in the cool evening air, having finally found relief in the open space. The night breeze brushed by her and her dress fluttered, consequently, she pulled the jacket tighter around her.

Again, the music rang in her head.

--- Reminisce sometime the night they took my friend. Try to black it out, but it plays again.---

Chun Li squeezed her eyes shut, but not soon enough to stop another drop of tear from escaping and trailing down her cheek. She put her hands over her ears to try and block out the song that was still playing in her head.

--- When it's real feelings, hard to conceal, can't imagine all the pain I feel...---

She had to get away from there... away from that song...

Chun Li hurriedly hailed a cab, not noticing that someone standing just across the street was watching her every action.

She got into the cab.

"Where can I take you miss?" the driver turned back to ask.

"The south side of Ping Shui beach," Chun Li replied.

And as the cab pulled away, she never could have known that the figure across the street had also hailed a cab to follow her.

Chun Li leaned back in her seat, and closed her eyes.

Why wasn't it working? Why wasn't she feeling better?

"Ryu..."

--- Give anything to hear half your breath, I know you're still living your life after death.---

Soon, the cab dropped Chun Li off at Ping Shui beach where she requested. She paid the driver and then turned around to walk away.

When she reached the sandy stretch that was the beach, Chun Li kicked her shoes off, treading barefoot on the soft, cool sand.

---Every step I take...---

Chun Li walked slowly down towards the calm ocean waters, in a mesmerized, trance-like state. ---Every move I make...---

She stopped as she neared obscured line of separation between the water and the land, and with her right foot, toed the wet, velvety sand.

---Every single day...---

Chun Li clutched the jacket tighter around her and looked out over the sea.

---Everytime I pray...---

Ryu was out there now... one with waters, and one with the waves.

---I'll be missing you.---

Chun Li began walking towards the ocean.

--- Thinking of the day... when you went away...---

She kept walking even when her feet came into contact with the icy fervor of the sea water.

--- What a life to take... what a bond to break...---

She kept walking forward even as the depth of the water rose to lap and splash at the hem of her dress, thoroughly soaking the delicate silk material.

--- I'll be missing you---

Chun Li stood still finally when the sea water came up to her waist level. The cold waters swirled around her but her senses were numbed against such feelings.

--- It's kinda hard with you not around... Know you're in Heaven smiling down...---

Lifting her head to the sky, Chun Li caught sight of the twinkling stars above. She stared for a moment, wondering if Ryu could see her right now...

She felt his presence all around her. The sky above her, the waters swirling about her... She wrapped her jacket tighter around her shoulders, then paused...

The jacket... that was Ryu's too.

---Memories give me the strength I need to proceed... Strength I need to believe...---

Memories. That's all she had left of him now, and glorious memories they were. For now she was content in this moment. She imagined Ryu gazing down at her from the sky. The jacket was his arms wrapping around her. And swirling sea was his loving presence...

Chun Li took a deep breath. Yes. She finally felt better. She was ready to let go, ready to move on. "Goodbye Ryu," she whispered to the night sky. There. She finally said it.

But the feeling of Ryu was so... close...

---One black morning, when this life is over. I know, I'll see your face.---

Chun Li started with surprise as she felt something cool and metal around her neck. She jerked to alertness and looked down.

There around her neck was a thin golden chain, and on the necklace was a small crystal heart pendant.

Confused, Chun Li turned around, nearly fainting as she caught sight of the person standing before her. The color drained from her face and she stood staring as if... as if she just saw a ghost.
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