London

Vega lay in the bed covered in white silk sheets and pillows. He stared at the ceiling above thinking back on the past as he had done so many times before. Thinking of things he wished he had done, and things he should have done differently. Still he didn’t believe in regrets, worthless regrets. Even though he had a few of his own.

He thought back to a night when he was child when he was jilted out of his sleep by his mother’s scream. He remembered how he leapt out of his bed. As he ran through the halls and listened to the crazed shouts of his fathers jealous accusations, and his mother’s desperate sobs of replies. Vega ran through the mansion following the sounds of his mothers cries. Until he stood there at the door when his mother screamed again. He opened the door slowly and stood there unable to move for a moment. He watched as his fathers fists ravaged his mothers face relentlessly. He watched as his ugly father threw her to the floor and pulled her hair as he called her a whore. His mother remained on her hands and knees crying as his father coldly left the room. Vega remembered running to her, wrapping his arms around her. Feeling the warm tears that ran down her cheek, her heavy breaths. Vega remembered how she embraced him with the little strength she had left. Above all he remembered the pain and rage that burned in his spirit. How his hideous father had marked her in blood and bruises. Stealing the beauty from his mother’s face.

Vega lay there feeling his heart ache at the thought of the mother he loved so much. He sat up and wrapped the silk sheet around his body. As he stood up he took a deep breath. He felt the anger build and burn inside of him. His rage demanded that someone suffer for his pain. Vega’s eyes were entranced as he silently walked out of the bedroom and into the living room of his luxurious suite. He looked over at the couch where Chun Li in her blue nightgown was sleeping. Her lashes pressed against her soft ivory cheeks as she slept. He looked over her pink petal lips that he wanted to taste. He kneeled down close to her. And brushed her loose dark hair away from her face. He touched her face softly with his fingertips. Looking at her began to fill his soul with peace. Still he couldn’t stop what he was about to do. He slowly got up and walked away from Chun Li leaving her in her slumber. He walked over to his suitcase on the table. He quietly unlocked it and opened it revealing his claw which shimmered in the moonlight. He picked it up and stared at it, entranced by all the pain he could inflict with it.

"I didn’t think you would kill me in my sleep…"

Vega turned to her sitting up on the couch. He remained silent and only smiled at her.

"…It’s not like you." Chun Li finished her words. Then her instincts began to tell her something else. "No you want to kill someone else…why?"

Vega looked down at the claw in his hand. His eyes remained on it as he gave her his answer. "Anyone." After he spoke his eyes returned to her lovely face.

"Then come Vega, try to kill me." Chun Li calmly stood up waiting for him.

"Anyone but you my Beautiful Lady…" Vega’s eyes looked over her face that he adored as much as his own. "I enjoy fighting you too much to kill you…" Vega slowly walked towards her until he was inches away. He placed his claw softly to her chin. He studied her expression. Her fearless eyes that waited for him to make one wrong move. Slowly he drew the claw away and dropped it. He then leaned over and reached for her cheek. Chun Li felt heat rush through her body at his touch. He drew her face close to his. "And the more you fight me, the more I want you." She felt his breath hit her skin. Vega leaned in hungry to taste her lips. Chun Li almost lost control and almost gave in to his desire. Yet something inside her wouldn’t let her give in. And as Vega was about to kiss her she drew away taking a step back from him. She saw the insult in his eyes as she denied his lips. Vega felt his anger grow as hot as his passion. How dare she deny him. Chun Li stood at a defiant distance.

"You didn’t answer my question. Why do you kill?"

"No! Answer me this first! Has the hate of losing your father ever been so intense that if it were a flame it would consume you?" Vega’s furious eyes searched for the truth.

"I don’t think you could understand how much I miss my father."

Vega felt the anger leave him as he looked into her dark sympathetic eyes. But she was very wrong.

"Yes I do." Vega truthfully told her.

Chun Li saw such sincerity in his blue eyes that she knew he meant his words. Chun Li knew she had scratched the surface to the hidden pain Vega harbored. Still she couldn’t let his rage destroy his mind any longer.

"I can’t let you kill people Vega."

Vega looked at her merciful dark eyes. Her heart filled with that thing called compassion that he could never understand. "Why do you want to save everyone?"

Chun Li shook her head. She looked at him trying to make him understand. "I’m trying to save you."

She watched him as the wind from the open windows swayed through his long gold hair and through the silk sheet that covered his body. Vega extended his hand for her to take. Chun Li took it. She may have denied him of a kiss, but he could have her hand. They noticed a subtle light fill the room.

"Come with me." Vega held her hand as he guided her to walk with him to the balcony. Chun Li stepped outside with him and looked at the slowly brightening sky.

"The sunrise." Vega looked at the blush colored sky with her. But Chun Li took her eyes away from the sky and sun and looked at him.

"After the darkness light always comes. The past can’t be changed but it’s a new day. It’s never too late." Chun Li waited for his response.

"Never too late to change." Vega knew what she meant by her words.

The sun continued to rise as Vega slid behind Chun Li and held her in his arms. He looked at her, just as beautiful as the sun rising before her. He felt her smile as he kissed her neck.

"Another day to try to claim your heart."