The sun had finally set in Mokai as the last ray of light was eaten up by the darkness. The silence within the cottage was broken by the sound of flapping a takeoff. Leaving the older Hoshi couple with the younger Hoshi couple. The silence in the room was thick, so thick that it was stifling. 

ChunLi still holding the unconscious Ryu in her arms looks up, she could see that the older couple have much mixed emotions upon seeing their one and only son. 
  

Miyuki held tightly onto Sho’s arm to make sure that she was not seeing things. There was so much to say yet she knows not where to begin. She worries. No they both worry. Worry over what to say to their son. How were they to explain the choices made over three decades ago. To abandon their son and let him go through life thinking that he was an orphan. But then he would have really become an orphan had they not chosen the present path. 

Yet still there is guilt, guilt in letting Ryu live out a lie. Guilt in making the people he trusted lie to him. The couple was not even sure where to begin. Thirty-five years had gone by and not one day had they not thought about him. Even though they had received reports about Ryu’s growth and life. All that is different from seeing him in the flesh. They felt they have miss so much. 
  

And here Ryu is. No longer the baby that couple had handed over to Zannah but the man who is now lying quietly in the arms of the woman who is his wife. Someone whom they have noticed has much influence in Ryu’s life. A woman whom they believe knows more about Ryu than they could ever have. 
  

Seeing the way the older Hoshi couple looks at her, ChunLi couldn’t help but wonder what they were thinking. Ryu’s parents now stood before her. Technically they are her parents-in-law. But how are they reacting to her? What should she say and should she act. She wasn’t sure. 

ChunLi couldn’t help but feel time slowly ticking yet moving no where. And now this is one of those moments that she wasn’t sure where she stand. But all that does not matter. Her main task is to help Ryu, regardless of what might happen, she is not one to waste time on speculating. 
  
  

“Thank you.” A voice broke ChunLi’s train of thoughts. She looked towards the older couple. The couple was smiling at her however awkward they felt. 
“I did what I could.” She smiled back hoping that it would help them to feel a little easy. 

“There. Now you broke the ice. Go on.” A voice said from the window. All three turned seeing that both Iwa and Kumori were both sitting on the windowsill. 
“I though you both had left?” 
“Us? Leave now? Nooo not yet. At least until we think that its time to leave. Go on don’t mind us.” Kumori said. Iwa nodded and handed a tub of popcorn to her friend. 
“Yeah, it kind of late for the two of us to go out in this darkness. My eyes aren’t good in the dark.” Iwa added as she took out a sandwich for herself. 

“I’m sorry about those two.” ChunLi apologised. 
“Nothing to worry about. They hadn’t change much in over thirty years.” Sho shrugged. ChunLi was a little puzzled by the comment. 
“The Shadowwarriors’ personality tends to rubs off on their hosts. Or did Vega neglect to teach you that?” Miyuki asked. 
“Oh yeah. How is the old man. Was regicide successful for him?” Sho added 
  

“Oh….Yes. Daddy now sits on the Shadowlaw throne. He’s fine very well in fact.” ChunLi answered, it seems to her that both parties were avoiding some issues. 
“And Zannah? Is she still roaming the earth in her restless search?” Miyuki asked sitting beside ChunLi. The older woman reached out to stroke Ryu’s hair and she sighed once more. 

“She found her disciple and they are together for the last ten years. I think things are well for them.” 
“What does he like to eat?”  Miyuki’s hand lingered on Ryu’s face. 
“Almost anything edible.” 
“I see, he takes after his father’s side of the family.” Miyuki winked. 
“I heard that!” Sho snorted. 
  

“Are you hungry? I’ll go cook something for you.” 
“Thank you.” 
“Let me help you. If my boy takes after me. He’ll be very hungry when he wakes up.” 
“Do you need my help?” ChunLi asked. 
“No no. You rest. You must have gone through a lot the last few days. Besides Ryu might worried if there’s no one familiar nearby. And you two. Kitchen now.” Miyuki said. 

“Yes mam.” The two leapt off from their window seat and marched into the kitchen. 
  

“She seem like such a nice girl. ” Miyuki mused 
“Of course she is. Why else would our boy like her? At least she didn’t take after her father in personality.” Sho added. 
“When will he be up?” Miyuki quizzed the two young women. 
  

“Well. Its hard to say. Could be hours, days, weeks, months or even years.” Iwa shrugged. 
“Iwa!” The couple was in slight shock. 
“Stop that.” Kumori said. 
“Sorry. Can’t help myself. I love that line too much.” She shrugged. 
“Seriously?” 
“When he’s hungry enough? I can’t say for sure. But give him his time.” 

“Oh yeah. Is Saky your daughter?” Kumori suddenly asked. 
“Saky?” Sho asked. 
“That girl with the white headband. She bares some kind of resemblance to Ryu.” 
  

The older couple looked at each other. 
“Did you try anything funny with me while I was comatose those five years?” Sho asked his wife. 
“How could you even suggest that? I was worried sick that time?” Miyuki answered with a slap to Sho’s back. 
“Guess our son is an only child then. You two may leave the kitchen now.” Sho said. 
“Come on. We just got our marching papers.” Kumori said as she and Iwa headed out. 
  

Heading back into the room where ChunLi and Ryu were. Iwa noticed that ChunLi had shifted Ryu’s position again. 
“He’s not exactly light.” ChunLi said before Iwa could ask. 
“Would you be okay then?” Kumori asked. 
“No broken bones. You two heading out?” 
“Yup. Hunting I guess.” 
“I thought you said your eyes aren’t good in the dark?” 
“Who said anything about hunting by sight?” 
“Have to go. The rest of the pack is waiting.” Kumori dragged Iwa out. 
  

“Those two are always so noisy Li.” Ryu mumbled as he stirred in ChunLi’s arms. 
“Yeah. They are alright….Ryu? Ryu?!” ChunLi hugged him tightly on finding that her husband is finally awake. 
“How do you feel?” She lets him sit up slowly. 
“Like getting hit by a Power Geyser and Haoh Shokoken at the same time. What about you?” 

“My head still hurt somewhat. Must be the Nulling.” 
“Possible. You know I had the strangest dream.” 
“Do tell.” 
“Right after the Great Divide between me and Satsui no Hado was null. I seem to have lost control over myself. I thought I saw my parents. You were there, those two as well. And I thought I see dead people.” Ryu let ChunLi gently massage his temple. 
“No dream. Ryu.” 
“What?” 

“It’s not a dream. I saw your parents…..” 
“But they were dead, weren’t they?” 
"Technically. Only Haohmaru and gang. But we're not in Kansas anymore" 
"What?" 
"Meaning we're not exactly on Earth Plane." 
  
  

There was a loud clash coming from the doorway as a metal platter dropped to the floor spilling the fruits. As Ryu turned, his jaw nearly dropped, his eyes were wide open. 

Standing at the doorway with her hand covering her mouth was Miyuki. Behind her was a man about twenty years or so older than Ryu. Ryu found that the man and him share some resemblance especially the eyes and the facial structure. Tears were flowing freely from Miyuki’s eyes. 
  

Silence returned to the room once more. Throughout his life Ryu had wondered what it would be like to be with his parents. He had never expected the possibility of ever even meeting them. And now, they are alive and well and standing right in front of them. 

Why then? Why did Gouken Sensei say that they had died? And never even told him what killed them. And Zannah Jie, the one who probably know of what happened had not only refused to tell him anything  but try to divert his attention. Why can’t they just tell him the truth and let him deal with it? 

And just who else are in on this? Why must they do this to him? Why now when he had more or less adjusted to life as it is? But does all that matter at all? He doesn’t know and he has no answers. 

Ryu looked towards ChunLi for some answers but all she did was placed her hand on his shoulder. A signal from her that its entirely up to him now. His choice and his path, she’ll be beside him but he alone makes the decision. 

He could feel a slow rage of betrayal building up in him, his darkside was making itself known to him. Wait not his darkside. His darkside is him in the sense that it made no difference now that they are one. His rage subsided when he felt a comforting presence embracing him. 
  

It was ChunLi. His anchor to sanity who had sensed his confusion, his anger, he listen and let her soothe him. For now all he wants to do is stay within her comforting embrace, 
“Not this way. Ryu. Not this way,” She strokes his head gently as she whispered in his ear. 
  

Looking back the older Hoshi couple, Ryu saw they were prepared for this reaction, as ChunLi had told him the decision and the path was his alone. As someone once said ‘If it was meant to be then it was meant to be.’ But what should he do? What should he say? How should he act. 

<<  What comes naturally.  >> ChunLi’s voice assured him as her hand rest on his shoulder. 
  

Ryu got up wordlessly as tears started to well in his eyes. He walked towards the couple, he nearly stumbled but the couple caught him in good time. No words passed as the family was reunited in a firm hug. No words were needed even though years had passed by robbing them of a chance to say it. The faces of the three of them were tears stained. 

ChunLi wiped a tear from her eye as she sat at the bed watching them. No words were needed after all. Just acceptance and acknowledgement as sometimes words get in the way.