By Sakura152

When Ryu woke up the ninja was gone. 'Hmm, I wonder if she was telling the truth yesterday. But if she was, she'd still be here.' Ryu frowned at that thought. But his frown was replaced by a faint smile. Ryu sniffed the air, only to find the delicious smell of fish. His empty stomach growled and he followed the smell to fill it. Following it outside he found, to his surprise, Ibuki talking to Chun-li while she cooked fish.

Ibuki turned and smiled at Ryu, the only reason he could tell she was smiling was by her eyes. When she smiled her eyes crinkled at the corner. "Good morning Ryu, I hope you slept well."

Ryu smiled slightly, "Yes, I did sleep well. Thank You. If you don't mind me asking who caught the fish?"

"I caught the fish. I wanted to show how grateful I was for your hospitality." Ibuki answered.

"You didn't have to, you're a guest." Ryu gave her a sincere look.

"Well, it's done and there is nothing anyone can do about it except eat the fish." Ibuki smiled again.

Ryu walked over to Chun-li and kissed her cheek. "Where is everyone?" He questioned.

"Cammy went to get the stealth sub and everyone insisted on going. Charlie, I think went to bother Cammy, but everyone else went, I think because they've never seen a stealth sub before. Here try this." Chun-li put a small piece of fish up to Ryu's mouth.

The hungry Shotokan warrior took the fish and ate it. Smiling and eating he replied, "Ish good."

"Is he always hungry?" Ibuki asked Chun-li.

"Unfortunately." Chun-li rolled her eyes.

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"Wonderful!" Ryu proclaimed after licking his fingers clean. He leaned back while patting his stomach. He smiled happily at Ibuki and asked, "Is there anymore?"

Ibuki frowned. Ryu had had seven pieces of fish and he still wasn't satisfied. His stomach was like a bottomless pit.

"Yes Ryu, but you can't have anymore. Other people do have to eat." She stated sternly.

It was Ryu's turn to frown now; he didn't like being denied food. He started to pout, "Just one more piece please?" He blinked innocently at Ibuki.

"No." she answered firmly.

All this talk of food was making Chun-li nauseous, or maybe it was just morning sickness. She swallowed trying to get rid of the sour taste in her mouth, but it was no use. Chun-li got up and ran outside, with one hand over her mouth and the other on her stomach.

Ryu curiously watched Chun-li run outside and noted that she was holding her stomach. Morning sickness. Nothing he hadn't seen before, Chun-li was fine for the moment. He slumped in his chair disappointed that the ninja didn't give in.

He was silent for several minutes, his eyes moving rapidly in thought. Ryu sat up slowly, smiling triumphantly at Ibuki. "Alright how bout we spar for it? If I win, then I get another piece of fish. If you win, I have to stay away from the fish."

Ibuki stared hard at Ryu, "I'm not going to spar with you for such a silly reason." She answered flatly.

Ryu bit his bottom lip thinking a bit, then looked at Ibuki and smiled. "Okay if you win, you get to come with us." He said quietly, so Chun-li wouldn't hear him and object.

Ibuki chuckled, "Ryu, I'm already coming with you. We agreed to that yesterday."

Ryu shook his head, "No, you and Chun-li agreed to that yesterday. If I recall, I didn't agree to anything and neither did anyone else who is coming with us."

Ibuki narrowed her eyes, "And how exactly are you going to stop me from going?"

"Ibuki. We have the sub, remember? What are you gonna do, swim to Taiwan? You have no choice but to agree." Ryu crossed his arms, smiling.

Ibuki sighed heavily and began to tap her fingers. She knew Ryu was right. The others didn't exactly know about her and they could leave her in Japan. If she tried to force her way into the sub, she was going to get more than she could handle. Especially since she didn't know what she would be up against. She stared point blank at Ryu. "Fine."

Ryu smiled victoriously, and walked outside the dojo. "Outside, okay with you?" He asked, getting into his fighting stance.

Ibuki nodded and walked outside. Just as she was about to get into her fighting stance, Chun-li approached her.

"Are you sure you wanna do this? I mean Ryu is a very good fighter under normal circumstances but this involves food. I'm sure he'll be much better than he usually is." Chun-li whispered into Ibuki's ear. She apparently heard what Ryu said; well except the last part.

Ibuki smiled, "I can handle it." She got into her fighting stance and slowly began to circle Ryu, waiting for him to attack… five minutes later he still hadn't made a move. Sighing, Ibuki switched to the offensive and quickly attacked. She faked a left hook, then a right, then brought her left fist into an uppercut.

Ryu's head snapped back, safely away from Ibuki's rising left fist. She was quick and Ryu expected that. But also remained cautious of what he didn't expect.

Again Ibuki faked a left and right hook but after she kicked at Ryu's side with her right leg, which he blocked. Ibuki expected that. Smiling, she quickly lowered her leg and as soon as it touched the ground, she switched her weight to it and kicked hard into Ryu's knee with her left leg, forcing Ryu to kneel before her. 'This was easier than I expected.' Ibuki thought as she lifted her fist high for the finishing blow.

Ryu looked up just in time to see Ibuki's fist flying toward his face. Acting quickly he grabbed her descending fist and rolled backward. He pushed his foot into her stomach as he rolled. At the end of his roll he pushed forward off his foot and let go of her hand simultaneously, sending her flying into a nearby tree.

Ibuki hit the tree hard but was on her feet again in a second. She snarled and tried to even out her ragged breathing. Then ran at full speed toward Ryu.

Ryu braced himself for what Ibuki was about to throw at him, not knowing it was him Ibuki was going to throw.

Ibuki jumped high over Ryu's head. She twisted in mid-air and grabbed Ryu's shoulders. She shoved her foot into his back and pulled him back as her body plunged toward the ground. She let go when her back touched the ground, throwing Ryu into the air. Then she leaned back on her hands and twisted her body into the air, landing on her feet, only to see Ryu landing on his feet after her throw. She growled ominously.

Ryu smiled evilly and dashed forward, surprising Ibuki. It was the first offensive attack he'd made since their match began. Ryu slid down on the ground, skidding to a halt but not before he slid through Ibuki's open legs. He hopped up behind Ibuki only be met by her elbow swinging toward his face. Ryu quickly grabbed her elbow and slipped his arms underneath Ibuki's and clasped his hands around the back of the neck. Ryu smiled. He had learned that move from Ken and knew, by experience that there was no way of getting out of it. "Give it up Ibuki. You're stuck." He said raggedly through clenched teeth.

Ibuki struggled wildly to get out of the hold. Then she stood very still and lifted her leg swiftly, kicking Ryu in the face. "No." She stated firmly.

Ryu's head snapped back. He gritted his teeth and hooked his legs in front of Ibuki's so she wouldn't kick him again. "There's no way out. Just say the word and I'll let got."

Ibuki stayed silent for a while, thinking. Then swiftly let her legs slid to the ground into a split. She hoped this would work and she hoped Ryu wasn't very flexible because if he wasn't then…

"OWW!" screamed Ryu, immediately letting Ibuki go. He began cursing in Japanese while holding his groin.

Ibuki stood up slowly trying to catch her breath. She swept a stray strand of hair out of her sweaty face. "You give up then?" She asked arrogantly, knowing Ryu would say yes. Any guy would in this situation.

"Yea, I-I give up. Ouch! No fair! You cheated." Ryu winced as he sat up.

"How?"

"You're not supposed to hit me there." Ryu stressed.

"I didn't hit you there, I just did a split. Not my fault if you couldn't take it." Ibuki smile. "Plusno one made up rules so I didn't cheat."

Ryu growled, "Fine, fine. You can go with us. Ah!" He winced again as he stood up.

Chun-li, who had been watching the whole match, waltzed down the stairs to Ibuki's side. "Ryu, sweetie are you okay?" she asked sympathetically but couldn't help smiling.

"Never better." Ryu answered sarcastically glaring back at Chun-li before going into the dojo.

Chun-li giggled to Ibuki, "I guess you could handle it after all."