Blind Love vs. Blind Justice Ch.5
By Ting-chan

Location: Interopole Cafeteria, dining facilities.

Jason glanced cautiously across the table at Chun Li who was in turn staring at the bowl of salad before her with absolute distaste and utter lack of appetite. Showing no particular interest, she used her fork to idly browse through the lush green vegetable foliage in her salad bowl.

It was quite evident that though Chun Li had changed out of her training attire and into the mandatory Interpole dress uniform, she was no less ready to kill, so accurately indicated by the expression on her face.

That fact was suddenly emphasized to Jason as Chun Li abruptly and violently plunged her fork into the contents of her salad bowl, stabbing the prongs deep into a small cherry tomato that had the misfortune of being in her salad. She slowly brought her fork up all the while fixing upon the hapless little tomato a steady and murderous glare which suggested that she would sooner kill it than eat it.

"Inspector?" Jason spoke up with an uneasy smile as he unwrapped his sandwich.

"Hmm?" Chun Li looked up, snapping back to attention.

There was an unsteady pause as both tried to discern in their minds just how to approach the uncomfortable and delicate subject. It seemed to be the only time during which Jason was at a loss for words.

"Ahem..." Jason finally cleared his throat. "Maybe..." His concerned eyes searched Chun Li's face for anything that could betray the further depths of her emotions. "Maybe I should start."

Chun Li's small nod of approval granted him way to continue.

"Well," the Lieutenant took a sip of his coke before commencing, "Your father... Mr. Xiang... he was a great man, one of Hong Kong's finest."

Chun Li nodded again. She attempted to smile but found it required too much effort and abandoned the endeavor. "I remember it was my freshman year at the University of Hong Kong," Jason continued. "I was 19 at the time. Studying to major in criminology, I also planned to get my minor in forensics. My head was full of ambition and my body was full of energy. I really wanted to clean up the world...
"But experience... I lacked the experience that I knew I would need in the field. So while in college I went to Interpole and somehow managed to get an internship position under Chief Inspector Dohrai Xiang." Chun Li's looked at him with complete attention, awaiting more of his words.

"Your father was an exceptional mentor and boss. I only worked with him for about 2 and a half weeks until his death. After he died, I left Interpole and went to work with a smaller branch of criminal department. That's where my position was until I got my degrees at Hong Kong University. And for the past year or so I've been working with national security branch in Canton until I transferred here to Interpole's division.
"But of all my years as a detective I've never met a more devoted officer than your father, and I can tell you're following in his footsteps quite nicely."

Allowing her head to droop ever-so-slightly, Chun Li acknowledge the compliment less than enthusiastically. "Thank you."
Jason smiled with assurance as he paused for another sip his coke. "Why don't you tell me your side of the story now. I remember hearing quite a bit about you during the time when I worked with your father. I really regret not having met you then."

With her usual composure somewhat ruffled, Chun Li began as calmly she could manage.

"Just as a note of assurance Lieutenant. The breakdown you witnessed today is not a... frequent occurrence. I go that emotional stage once a year, at most, usually during or near the time of..."

She paused.

"... my birthday."

Hearing this, Jason's hands halted midway as he was about to take another sip of his coke.

"I lost my mother during childbirth. She gave away her life in order that I might have mine."

"I'm sorry Inspector."

"And my father," she continued. "They killed him... on my sixteenth birthday."

Jason's reaction was even more stunned this time. His once-steady hand fumbled and the coke can which he was holding escaped from his clumsy hand. The aluminum can jolted as it collided into the table, spilling its remaining contents about the surface.

Hurriedly, Jason grabbed his napkins and attempted to mop up the liquid mess. "He was killed on your birthday?"

"They were both taken from me," Chun Li whispered almost to herself as she stared down at the table with a remorsefully, yet also indifferent expression. "On that same day... It's like my birth was a curse... Like I just keep loosing what's dear to me every year."

"Inspector, I'm sorry…"

"Stop it!" Chun Li's voice suddenly raised. "You being 'sorry' doesn't help. I don't need your pity! I got enough of that a long time ago. I've had it up to here with 'I'm sorry' and 'It must be tough.' And don't you DARE give me that garbage about how 'his memory lives on in your heart.' Because it's all rubbish!"

Slowly her voice calmed again. "Memories. They fade... dwindle... and sometimes... just disappear."

Chun Li paused before she continued again. "The murderer, the despicable low life who took my father's life, also took his badge. His badge has always been his symbol of pride and honor. Now it's missing. I couldn't even have that much to remember him by."

Jason sympathetically nodded. "The past will in time vanish. In this case, it might be best to let it go."

"What do you mean by that?" Chun Li narrowed her eyes at him curiously.

"Wouldn't it be easiest to simply move on with life and forget all this pain?"

With not the least bit of consent in her voice, rather tinted with resentment, Chun Li answered, "You'll find out quite soon, Lieutenant, that I rarely do things the easy way."

"Don't you think your father would want you to move on with life? To live happy and untroubled?"

"My life is NOT troubled," she answered defensively.

"Inspector, I know you're still investigating your father's murder. Isn't that your off-duty case?" Jason questioned with concern.

"What was I supposed to do?" Chun Li retaliated with full force at his comment. "They closed the case! They deemed it 'Unsolved.' They were about to let my father's murder be nothing more than a number in a history of homicides. I would have never even known who killed him!"

"Do you really think you'll be able to find out the truth?"

"My father was on the verge of closing up a major Shadowlaw case when he was killed. Don't tell me that isn't at least indicative of something."

Jason sighed.

"I'll find a way," Chun Li suddenly slammed a fist into the table. "One way or another I'll find the truth, then my father can rest in peace."

"Inspector, you can do so much more with your life..."

"Are you saying that I'm wasting my time? A murder killed my father in cold blood, Lieutenant. Are you asking me to FORGET what they did to my him?"

"Well, you need to..."

Chun Li rose from her seat in a surge of anger. "Lieutenant, in the future I suggest you keep to your own business and allow me to tend to mine."

"Miss Xiang!" He tried to call after her as she walked away. "Inspector..."

But his efforts were in vain. Chun Li stormed away leaving him behind to his own frustrations.

Jason stared after her even after she disappeared through the cafeteria doors, which she slammed with startling force. He sat… and he thought… he thought hard… this was a very delicate situation, and in his current position, there was much at stake. He had to make sure she doesn't...

"Jason?"

He looked up not without a hint of aggravation. "Oh, Wei Lin." He smiled as he gestured for her to sit down. "Have a seat."

"Thanks," the young assistant nervously sat down. "I saw Chun Li's little outburst and thought I'd check on you."

"I guess I can't blame her. I might have pushed a little too far."

"Oh, no no," Wei Lin quickly added, "It's not your fault. She's…" Wei Lin nervously sighed and began twirling her long black hair. "It's hard for her. It's only two weeks away from the 8 year anniversary of her father's death… That's 8 whole years..."

She paused and checked for Jason's reaction. "You know, her attitude just hardens with every year that passes. Oh God, so many times I wished she would find out the truth... that way her father rest in peace, and she can live in peace."

"So when exactly is that date?" Jason questioned with a sudden spark of interest. "It's also her 24th birthday right?"

"Yeah, it's on the first of the next month," Wei Lin answered. "Why?"

Jason thought it over carefully. "I just want to plan something special for her. That's all."
~~~~~~
Chun Li sighed upon entering her apartment and closed the door behind her.

Her congenial calico cat meowed a feline greeting at the door and affectionately rubbed against Chun Li's ankles.

"Hey, Tigress," Chun Li smiled and picked up the purring feline. "Missed you too sweetie." She scratched the cat behind her ears and then set her down again.

After setting her briefcase down in its usual spot by the coffee table, she kicked her shoes off and slipped her feet into a comfortable pair of fuzzy slippers. Following that, changed from her Interpole dress uniform into sweatshirt and sweatpants. It was nothing out of her usual routine, except this time… she had new thoughts in her head.

"Just let it go..." Jason's voice echoed in her head.

Chun Li frowned.

Does he not have any sense of responsibility to his family? Of integrity?

"Don't you think your father would want you to move on with life?" Chun Li recoiled sharply as she heard Jason's words again.

Would Daddy want that?

Chun Li stopped to picked up the frame photograph of her father on top of her work desk and gazed lovingly and reminiscently into the picture. She let her feather-light fingertips brush over the surface.

"To live happy and untroubled..." The Lieutenant's words repeated in her memory.

"My life is not trouble!" she yelled suddenly. An eerie echoing effect stayed in the stillness even after her shout had died down. Suddenly stunned, Chun Li realized that she was doing nothing more than arguing with chimerical voices in her own mind, fighting a battle against her own mind.

A soft meow brought Chun Li back to reality. Tigress looked up at Chun Li with concern-filled sienna eyes.

Chun Li sighed and knelt down to give the cat a belly rub.

"I'm alright, Tigress."

Was she really? Just what was happening to her?