Nina walked down the streets of Tokyo. Silently she wandered for she had one thing to do before she went out to find Vega. She carried a small bag she’d snatched from Ryu. He’d bought her clothes and stuff she needed during her stay, she could only wish to one day repay him for all he had done. She’d left him there, unsuspecting this morning in his sleep. She carried only things she would need until she reached New York. She stepped into a small establishment in a ginger manner. A woman greeted her as Nina put her bag down. “My hair is too long,” She kept putting it off and her short hair had grown out to her shoulders. “Cut it all off.” In a moment she was sitting in a chair and the older woman sprayed water into her hair.
“Young girls are always cutting their hair short. Don’t you know you look like boys?” The woman questioned as she started to cut strands. “How old are you?”
“Twenty-three” Nina said in a proud manner.
“Wow, I can’t even remember when I was that young. Back then women wore their hair long. The boys swooned over that, it was” she chuckled “sexy” Nina only smiled as she saw the woman finishing up. Paying her she gave her thanks and stepped out of the salon. Last night, Ryu had played with strands of her hair as they laid in bed. She shook her head; she had to stop thinking about him. All that could be on her mind is finding Vega, and she knew where to look. Walking through the boroughs of Tokyo she reached where she had challenged him the last time.
“So, you’re still alive.” A voice called out as Nina walked into an alley. “What a pain”
“Sorry, I don’t die easily.” She said as she was now face to face with Vega. (Well, you want to get technical, she was face to mask and she was looking up at him cuz just like Mai she’s super short XD.)
“So, I’ll just enjoy pounding you again. Maybe, this time I’ll be able to skin you” He said as he pushed himself off the wall he had been leaning on and exposed the hand he’d attached his favorite weapon to. (I think they only look good on Wolverine)
“As if, you’re dying today” Nina let out as she threw her bag aside. Within seconds Vega had lunged at her, laughing maniacally as he did so.
“I’ve been kicked through walls and have fallen down buildings” He said as she tried to evade his advance. “What can a little brat like you do?” With a single guard down Nina had kicked him in the stomach, in reflex he’d scraped his metal claws down her leg. “All you got squirt?” He lunged at her again, in a limp she jumped out of the way and punched at his face. When his mask flew to the ground Vega let out a yelp.
“Do you wear a mask because you’re insecure?” Nina asked as Vega rushed to his mask. With a single kick to the face Vega was pushed to a wall. Nina delivered three more blows before he was able to grab her leg.
”MY FACE!” He launched her aside as he rubbed at his forming bruises. Nina took this as her opportunity to attack. With three back-to-back roundhouse kicks, followed with a single ax kick Vega was on the floor. He lunged his free hand at Nina, who grabbed it and forcefully help it at his neck.
“Now die” She said as she ran the metal claws into his throat. He gagged and squirmed, blood was everywhere. “For Sekime” She muttered as she moved away from him. Grabbing her bag she limped out of the alley. “Be at peace” She said looking up to the sky. Her watch beeped and she looked down. It was twelve, her plane left in an hour.
----Months Later - Seattle----
“She called me two days ago,” Ken said as he sat out on the patio. He ran his free hand through his lengthy dirty-blond hair as he held his cell phone with the other. “Said she was in New York and wants to see me. I heard about everything that happened back in Tokyo. I didn’t expect her to contact me . . . she told me to apologize for her.”
“She left without saying anything and expects me to forgive her!?” Ryu said in a fury from the other line. “She didn’t even leave a %@&$ note or letter explaining her leave!”
“Calm down muscle man, she probably has her reasons. I’m going up there to see her in a couple of weeks with the Elyza. I’ll call you to tell you what she says.”
“How about giving me her damn number or address. I’ll deal with her myself!”
“You can’t travel, the kids and the dojo are depending on you dumbass.” Ken let out, annoyed now by the situation. “Plus, you said it yourself, you’re not in a relationship. That just means you have no power over what she does. Maybe she couldn’t say goodbye.” Trying to calm Ryu down would be harder than he thought. “She didn’t say good bye that time either.”
“Whatever, if she wants to talk to me . . . . Damn her.” Ryu sighed. “I’ll let her do what she wants then. Forget her and everything I feel for her. Tell her, even if she comes back I won’t take her back, even if she begs! I’m #$%$^ sick and tired of her running away”
“Now, now Ryu. Just a minute ago you wanted to fly out to New-”
“%@&$ it! Really it’s not even important anymore. Listen, I’ll talk to you later the boys are making a mess in the kitchen.” With that Ryu had ended the conversation and hung up his phone. Ken only shook his head as he did the same. Elyza, who’d been sitting across from him, placed a hand over his soothingly across the table.
“Going to pass on that message?” She questioned as she caressed her husband’s hand lovingly. “I wouldn’t”
“She’ll probably end up calling him. He can tell her himself, or not” He said as he took her hand and kissed it. “Too much drama.” He said with a weak chuckle. “If he only knew she was-“
“Like you said too much drama. Let’s not let it engulf us too” Elyza said with a sweet smile, crossing her lengthy legs in his view. “Let’s concentrate on us” She said as she rubbed at her stomach.
----New York----
Nina walked down the busy streets of China Town, it had been the only place that had called out to her when she had arrived. Manhattan was a lively place but sometimes it was easier to live in this kind of crowd. She stopped by a small park and peeked in. Inside there were a couple of people, around her age, practicing martial arts. She sighed lightly as she turned to walk away and towards her favorite bakery near Elizabeth street. “Nina?” She turned to look at the woman who’d called her out. “I never expected to see you here”
“Chun-Li!” Nina called out as the two embraced in a friendly manner.
“Wow,” Chun-Li let out as they parted and she was able to examine her old friend. “You got fat since the last time I saw you” Nina only chuckled as she wrapped her arms around her swollen belly. “So who’s the lucky guy?”
“Uh,” Nina only looked away at the question. How could she tell one of her oldest friend that she’d had a one-night rendezvous with her childhood friend, and got knocked up? “Well, it’s a long story.”
“You’re in luck, I have the afternoon free. Why don’t we go down to one of bakeries near here and you can tell me all about it”
“Alright” Nina said with a smile as the two started to walk through a crowd. “So are you still working for Interpol?”
“You bet!” Chun-Li said with a grin, she was proud of the work she did. “You know that job offer is still up if you ever want it.”
“I’m good, thanks. I’m just on break right now, but I have a promoter.”
“Well, congratulations, seems everything is going you’re way.” They entered a quiet bakery just on canal and sat at a small table. “So,” Chun-Li let out as she got comfortable. “What happened to Sekime? Last time we spoke you two were getting close. Is he the father, did you end up getting married without telling me?”
“No” Nina looked down at the table as she began to fiddle with a napkin. “Sekime was killed. It was about a year ago or so.”
“Oh my, who did it?! Did they catch the creep!?”
“You know how the authorities are in Tokyo. No one did anything, so I took matters into my own hands. I fought the creep and he wiped the floor with me. I managed to get away and well . . .”
----Japan----
“Sensei?” Shinji questioned as Ryu slumped in his office. The older man glanced up in question. “Are you alright? You’ve been moping around for sometime now.”
“It’s none of your business” Ryu let out as he started to fiddle with some papers.
“That’s where you’re wrong sensei. Anything that concerns or worries you is the problem of all of us. Right now you’re spirits are down and we want to-“
“I’m really alright!” Ryu said in a fit as he slammed the papers on his desk.
“Nina’s been-“
“Don’t mention that damn woman to me!”
“I’m sorry sensai” Ryu looked up at him, dismay in his eyes.
“Shinji, you’re married right?” The younger man let out a nod “Imagine . . . the woman you love leaves you without an excuse and doesn’t even bother calling”
----Weeks later - New York----
“Wow, nice place” Ken said as he began to scan the apartment. Nina stood, a bright smile on her pale complexion, against a wall with both their coats in her arms.
“It’s not much really.” She said in a modest way. “Have a seat. I’ll get some tea.” With that she’d scurried out of the living room.
“She seems happy.” Elyza said as she sat down on one of the leather couches.
“She usually is. I forget you’ve barely associated with her.” Ken said as he pushed aside one of the burgundy curtains and peered out the window. “It’s her mask.” He sighed lightly as he heard her walking back into the living room.
“Tea!” She let out as she served each of them. “I’m glad you guys could make it, too bad you left the kids.” She said with a pout as she took a seat on the armrest of one of the couches. “It’s really been too long, ya know.”
“Yes, it has. So Nina, do you live here alone?” Elyza asked as she sipped at her tea.
“Well, not really.”
“Oh?” Ken questioned as he turned his attention to Nina. “Do I know the person?”
“Well . . . . not really. It’s someone new in my life.” Nina said with a wide smile. Both Ken and Elyza’s brows furrowed at Nina’s words. “I’ll be right back” Nina placed her tea down on the table and left the room.
“A dog?” Ken questioned. “I don’t think she’d be with someone after leaving Ryu like that . . . . Then again.”
“Well, it has been almost a year since she left. She’s allowed to move on.”
“Hmm.” Just as Ken was about to add something Nina walked into the room. In her arms she held a small object wrapped in blankets. “So you did get a dog?”
“NO!” Nina let out as she stood at the end of the room.
“Silly, she robbed a baby” Elyza said as she stood making Nina chuckle. She walked over to Nina and looked over her shoulder. “She’s beautiful, looks just like you” She noted the scattered strands of red hair poking out of a pink hat. “Guess you didn’t kidnap her” This made Nina roll her eyes and slightly shake her head.
“Her name is Mai” Nina said with a grin as she handed her over to Elyza. Ken didn’t approach, nor did he look over his wife’s shoulder when she stood beside him. He wouldn’t swoon over this child, not until he knew who the father was. His dark brown eyes seemed to burn through Nina as she looked away from him. “I know I should have said something sooner.” Nina let out as she sighed and returned her gaze to Ken.
“Who’s the father?” Both Nina and Elyza noted he was being more serious than ever, then again he was protecting his friend’s territory.
“Ken” Elyza elbowed him lightly as she crossed over and sat on the couch.
“It’s ok Ely. I’ll tell you both. Mai is Ryu’s baby” A gloom seemed to come over Nina as she took a seat on the armrest and glared down at the floor.
“I know he doesn’t know about her because he didn’t mention anything to me. So when are you planning on telling him?”
“Well, Ken, the thing is . . . . I called him, the night she was born . . . . He told me to screw off, that he didn’t want to know anything about me. So I didn’t tell him.”
“Nina,” Ken said, now calmer and more sympathetic. “He’s just mad.”
“I know, but I guess it’s for the best. I mean it’s my own fault, he offered me the world his love and his family . . . . I wasn’t ready or willing to take it all on and now that I am . . . . It’s better that way. I’m always a burden on everyone anyway.” She smiled lightly as she looked over at the couple and her child. “I prefer that he finds someone else that will make him happy. Mai and I have each other.”
“He needs to know.” Ken let out as he finally laid eyes on the infant.
“No, not unless it’s absolutely necessary. If something happens to me . . . . I would like the two of you to have her, if you’re willing to . . . . if not then you can tell him about her. That’s the only way he can ever find out.”
“Nina, we’d gladly care for her, but . . . .” Elyza fell quiet as Mai cooed.
“So, how’s married life?” She asked changing the subject as El swooned over the baby.
“It’s a hoot, I get even more, you know what, than before” Ken said in a goofy manner, as Elyza smacked at his arm. “I mean, it’s great.” Nina chuckled lightly as she slid into a seat.
----Meanwhile – Japan----
Ryu sat out on the steps of his dojo. The trees shaded him from the mid-afternoon sun. He’d gotten used to it now, not having her around. It all seemed like a distant dream. His children still missed her, which soon would change, for with age they’d forget. He on the other hand, couldn’t forget that easily but he’d try to do it again. He was a coward . . . his gaze swerved up as he noted someone approaching. A young woman stood in front of him, her hazel eyes focused on the dojo behind him in awe. With a smile she looked down at him and bowed lightly. “Good afternoon, do you know if the sensei is in?” She questioned as she twirled at her long raven hair. Ryu quickly stood and nodded.
“That would be me.” He smiled lightly as he eyed his children hidden behind a couple of bushes, Pranksters.
“Oh! I’m Dahlia! I was looking to join your dojo.” She said with a bright and proud smile. She was short, thin and seemed very frail.
“Well, if you’d really want to be my apprentice, I’ll have to test you.”
“Oh? Well, I really am a novice.” She said as a small pout formed on her face. Just then Muro and Reiiji jumped out of the bushes, both boys yelling out in hopes of scaring her. “Oh!” Dahlia let out as she looked over at the boys. “Such cute children!” She said as she approached them and knelt down in front of them. “Hi” She smirked as she pinched at their cheeks softly.
“Arg” Reiiji let out as he tried to evade her pinches. “Sav us!” He called out to Ryu, who only laughed at his sons’ struggle.
“I say you pass, Dahlia” Ryu said as she stood to face him. “My name’s Ryu, those runts are my sons Muro and Reiiji.”
----End Chapter 3----
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