By Sakura152

The soft music of the crickets filled the night air and the river below sparkled like a thousand diamonds. Everyone in the dojo was asleep-except Ryu. Its' not like he didn't try to go to sleep, he really did try. But he couldn't sleep that night. Not even when he was near Chun-li. He felt that same feeling he had felt when they entered the forest and he kept stopping.

Sighing, Ryu finally got up and walked to the open sliding door of the dojo. 'Maybe I should practice.' He thought while looking out at the serene river. 'Yes, that will calm me. I think maybe that I will practice.' He walked out of the dojo and began stretching on the ground.

He started to practice punching slow at first then gradually faster. He was about five minutes into this before he heard a very slight rustle of leaves singing to his ears. 'Weird.' He thought. 'The wind isn't blowing and there aren't any leaves on the ground, not this time of year.'

Closing his eyes, he concentrated on the feeling he was having, when another tremor from the tree in front of him made his ears perk. He turned his back to the large cherry blossom tree in front of him and cupped his hands to his side. His chi slowly poured into his hands like a blue liquid. A bright blue ball appeared in his hands only visible to him. With the ball of chi in hand he quickly turned and shot the ball at the tree. A bright blue spark ignited the tree and out tumbled a shadow.

To Ryu's surprise the shadow landed on its feet, a blow like that would've sent someone flying out of the tree. The shadow stepped forward into the moonlight revealing a woman. But Ryu could tell this was no ordinary woman. She was a ninja.

The ninja had black hair, which was pulled up in a high ponytail. All of her face that showed was her liquid brown eyes, because of her mask, there was no hint as to who she was. A very revealing outfit complimented her alluring figure. On her back, Ryu could see she carried a katana but there was no telling what other weapons she possessed. Although it would be highly impossible that she concealed any weapons in her ensemble, Ryu never doubted a ninja.

Standing in his fighting stance Ryu growled, "Who are you?"

"I pose no threat to you" said the ninja as she bowed.

"Your point being?" Ryu asked still in his fighting stance.

"You don't have to be so threatened." She answered, gesturing to his fighting stance.

Ryu loosened up a bit, but was ready at anytime to fight the ninja.

"I am Ibuki. I saw you walking through the forest and by your conversation, you are here because of the situation in Shadowlaw." Her brown eyes were very calm.

Ryu nodded, "Why are you here?"

"I am here to accompany you to Taiwan. I know I can help you against Bison." Ibuki's voice was tranquil and soothing.

"Why should I trust you? And what makes you think I need help?" Ryu asked frowning.

Ibuki smiled beneath her mask. "I could've killed you by now if I wanted to. But I didn't because we fight for the same cause. I would never doubt a warrior such as you, but even the strongest warrior needs alliances. If you want Bison dead Ryu, you have to trust me."

"How did you know my name?" Ryu sounded like her trusted her more.

"I listen." She smiled again.

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Chun-li woke up with a start. She had had that same terrible nightmare again. Bison murdering her father, as she and Ling stood by helpless. Chun-li clenched her fist and curled her knee up to her chest. This was when Ryu was supposed to comfort her.

Chun-li looked around the dojo. Where the hell was he? Letting out a frustrated, she got up and went outside only to find Ryu there with a woman she didn't know and had never seen in her life. Chun-li raised an eyebrow, its not like she didn't trust Ryu, she did, but she was still quite jealous.

"Who are you?" Chun-li asked, her hands on her hips.

"Hello Chun-li. I am Ibuki." Ibuki bowed, her eyes never leaving Chun-li.

Chun-li frowned, "Why are you here?" She wasn't surprised Ibuki knew her name.

"As I told him," Ibuki nodded her head toward Ryu. "I am here to help you defeat Bison."

"You an enemy of Bison?" Chun-li asked reluctantly.

Ibuki nodded.

"Then you're a friend of ours." Chun-li bowed in return to Ibuki's bow, a little late but better late than never.