Returning to the dojo. Ryu bought ChunLi
to the study to pay respects to Gouken sensei. ChunLi handed the letter
and a parcel from her father over to the older man.
"Daddy sends you his regards."
"Is your Father well?"
"He said he would have come for a little
stay. But he's tied down by some project of his."
"Ryu. Once again you will have the task
of taking care of ChunLi's needs. Tell Ken to come see me when you run
into him."
With that duo left Gouken to read his
letter.
"What's so funny?" Ryu asked when ChunLi
finally broke into laughter.
"Oh nothing." She winked at him, preferring
to keep it as her little secret. Giggling away at some private joke at
his expense. Reaching the guestroom Ryu slides the door open.
"Well. This is your room. If you need
me-----"
"He'll be in that room right behind yours!!"
Ken leaps into view pointing out the window that peers into another room
less than a stone throw away. It seems that the guestroom has been meticulously
prepared and a hot bowl of Wanton noodles with a cup of warm tea waited
for ChunLi by the little table to the side.
Ken got up and strides to ChunLi. With
a showy flourish he bow before the smiling girl.
"I'm Ken. Kenneth Masters the Third at
your service. But pretty lady you can call me anything you like." He winked
at her.
"Don't look at me like that. Its only
natural that you'll chose this room for her. So that you can dramatically
burst though the windows should she need you around." Ken wagged his finger
at the frowning Ryu. Placing an arm around his frowning brother he continued.
"I make it my business to make sure your
cute little girlfriend is comfortable during her stay. It reflects well
on you." Ken whispered and released Ryu.
"So this is your little girlfriend." Ken
whistles as he circled ChunLi studying her. Ryu grabs him by the arm but
he simply brushes his hand off.
"Relax bro. I'm just borrowing your little
girlfriend for a while." Ken put his arm around her shoulders and dragged
the slightly amused ChunLi with him. Ryu followed them but Ken made sure
Ryu was only a few steps behind them so all he could hear were a few words
here and there. And there the three of them were circling the little room
round and round.
"Whisper….whisper…..you and him together
…. *Whisper whisper*… *hint hint*. Didn't you?"
"No!!!" ChunLi blushed heavily and that
made Ryu worry some. Once again Ken made sure he was way ahead of his buddy.
"What about….. *whisper whisper*…"
"Well yeah….That's hard to resist…."
"*Whisper whisper*…. Was he rough on you?"
"Not really…*giggle giggle*… "
"What?!!! No fair !!!……. *whisper whisper*…..Ryu's
butt…"
"Sigh….he won't let me…." ChunLi stole
a wistful glance at Ryu and stuck her tongue out at him.
"How about if….*whisper whisper*… you
know…. Ryu."
"You're obsessed." She shook her head.
"Well so are you. Chunny Whunny Oh wait
he'll get jealous. Hmm Chun-Chun...Chunster… Bad idea. CL then."
"I had not even tell you my name."
"Its my business to know everything."
Somehow Ryu started to get the feeling
that bringing his best friend and his childhood friend together may be
more trouble than he could handle. A bead of cold sweat formed upon his
brow as the duo stop in their tracks. They turned and fell into battle
stance bringing their fists right under his nose. His eyes moved from their
fists to their face, the slightly obsessed look upon them seem to confirm
one thing.
"I Ken!" Ken started
"And I ChunLi!"
"Hereby swear that we will do whatever
it takes to KICK YOUR BUTT!!!!!" The duo said at the same time. Sticking
their index fingers out they practically poke the sides of his nostrils.
The duo broke into a frightful laughter.
"Sensei wishes to see you!" Ryu said the
only thing he could think of.
"Spoilsport. Ah well. There I go. See
you in the morning. Don't let Ryu eat your noodles. I especially prepared
it for a cute girl like you!" Ken shuffles his way towards the door. He
turns towards the duo and a cushion landed upon his face.
"Alright I get the idea that I'm not wanted."
He winked and left the duo alone.
Breathing a sigh of relief Ken headed towards
the study. He kind of wished that the letter had arrived a day earlier
and gave him enough time to prepare. But at least now he would have someone
to help him deal with the melancholic Ryu. Even the invincible Ken can
get exhausted once in a while.
Reaching the study Ken knocked gently and
entered, his sensei was reading a letter but he looked somewhat pale.
"Sensei? Is something wrong?" Ken knelt
down by the table.
"No. How is she settling in." Gouken sighed
and kept the letter. It was obvious that he is greatly disturbed by its
contents
"Like she rules the household. Poor Ryu's
gonna have his hands full with her around. But she does a better job at
it than I do." Ken poured a cup of tea for them both.
"You notice then. Tell me more."
"Well you know how Ryu's been in this deep
funk.. I mean mood since we came from back Thailand. And however hard I
try to lift him from his moods all I done was chip through his dark armor.
But she comes along and bulldozes her way in like she's been doing it all
her life. He simply has no defenses against her and I don't think he intend
to put up any." Ken took a sip of tea before continuing.
"I don't know about you Sensei but I appreciate
the fact that she was sent here now of all times."
"You a sharp lad."
"Aww you'll give me a big head. Sensei."
"Keep an eye on both of them, Ken."
"Sensei!! You don't mean what I think
you mean!! I just left them alone in the room!! No offense but dense old
Ryu would never take advantage her! And I know she has a crush on him but
she's not that bold!!" Ken leapt up and defended.
"Sit down. I did not mean it that way.
And I thought you were sharp." Gouken frowned and shook his head.
"Orrr… My bad. Sensei." Ken sat down,
scratching the side of his head.
"While the chance of that happening to
two hot blooded teenagers may occur. I was referring to something else.
Still you should keep an eye out for that. We cannot afford the Implication
to add on our problems."
"Sensei…. Its starting isn't it? And they're
the ones involved? Aren't they?"
"Yes. Things may happen. But they may
be too blinded to see it as they're just too involved in it."
"And that's where I come in."
"Indeed. And I need you to take them out
of here.. Head to Hong Kong… Her father wants to see him."
"Gouki sama is gonna do a major werewolf
this time. Isn't he?"
"I'm afraid so. What with Ryu going through
his. We can handle one but two at the same time…."
"Its not a problem. Would it be okay to
enlist her help in this?"
"If you think it will help our cause."
"Don't worry Sensei. Ryu's putty in her
hands. If she says he has to go to Hong Kong with her. He'll be nowhere
else."
"Good then I'll leave things in your hands."
"Yes Sensei." With that Ken left the room.
"There is no stopping this." Gouken said
and then he sneezed.
"I see, It extended its protection to
you as well." She mused as she walks into the room. The breeze played with
the loose tendrils of her violet hair.
"You can put it that way." Cleaning his
hands, Gouken offered her a cup of tea.
"You could have prevented the children
from meeting! Why didn't you help me?" She accepted his tea and sat down.
"It is a chance to spare the boy from following
Gouki's path. It is worth a shot. Besides if the children were fated to
meet. No one can stand in their way." Gouken mused, the letter had predicted
the arrival of violet eyes and here he thought that the writer was just
being paranoid.
"You men and your conspiracies…" she fumed
"If you know of a better way to do this,
then share it with us. Another way that prevents either child from dying.
He was right, you worry to much to see beyond your nose."
"And you have too much faith in him."
"At least he has a plan. Here this one
is for you. He said you should try Lavender instead of your roses if you
wish to sleep better." Gouken handed her one of the boxes from his parcel.
“You will give me no help?” Accepting the
parcel with an accusing look.
“I owe it to him and Sho.”
“Fine. Then I’ll go it alone. Do not regret
your choice.”
“But if you harm the children I will not
let you off.” Gouken warned, but no response came, even the scent of roses
vanished with her. |