“Why don’t we chat later and get this over with?” Kyo cringed as his drunken adversary fired another shot, causing several glasses to shatter. He swore softly. “My gun’s back at the table…must have dropped it trying to run here…”

She felt adrenaline rush through her veins. “You have any ideas?”

“I’m thinking, I’m thinking…” Kyo removed his hat, slapping it against his thigh.

Chun Li shook her head. “It’s you he wants. Let’s use you for bait.”

Kyo stared at her, wide-eyed. “You’re kidding, right? I’m not gonna commit suicide…”

Chun Li peered over the counter, then glanced at her companion. “Oh…I don’t know…I’d say you look like you can run pretty fast…Besides, he’s drunk…”

“D*mmit, on the count of three, you show yourself or I’ll start shooting these kind folks, one by one!” Roger screamed.

Chun Li glanced at him inquiringly. Kyo gritted his teeth. He wasn’t one to back down from a fight, but he knew when the odds weren’t in his favor. Roger was about a good ten feet away from him, with a loaded gun. He needed a diversion, and he needed one fast…

“Alright, ladies! Dan is here!” a voice called out as the doors of the saloon swung open, hitting Roger in the back, distracting him, and knocking him to the ground.

That was all Kyo needed. Kyo raced towards the front, ignoring Chun Li’s cry of surprise. He kicked aside Roger’s gun. The drunk man’s fist connected with Kyo’s jaw. Roger then froze, noticing that Chun Li stood three foot away, her gun pointed at him. Kyo moved away.

“Roger Dawson, I’m turning you in…” she announced.

“D*mn…” Roger exclaimed.

Chun Li tossed a pair shackles and chains to Kyo. “Be so kind and put these on him.”

Kyo frowned slightly. “Where do you stash this stuff?”

Chun Li grinned cheekily. “Women have more hiding places than men…”

Kyo snapped the shackles on Roger’s wrists. He noticed that Morrigan, the owner, walked up.

“I guess this means that you’ll be quitting…” she commented wryly.

Chun Li smiled apologetically. “I’m sorry. Huntington Agency will compensate you for your trouble.”

She shook her head. “No…it’s just that when you showed up…the place attracted more customers…”

Chun Li replied, “Things will get back to normal for you, I’m sure. I have to get this man to the agency for his moment of truth…” Her eyes focused on Kyo. “I think my boss would like to meet you…”

“Good job, Chun Li…as always.” A tall man with blond hair spoke across his desk.

He wore a dark green collared shirt, dark brown pants and black boots. His hair was unusually high, but he liked his hair that way.

“Have I ever let you down, Guile?” Chun Li responded. She glanced around. “Where’s Cammy and Charlie?” inquiring about the two she had worked with frequently.

“I sent them home. Charlie just came from a mission that sent him to Colorado and back…and Cammy’s been up and down the California coastline…her target had her running ragged,” Guile informed. “She’ll see you tomorrow, though.”

Chun Li smiled inwardly, looking forward to spending time with her best friend. When Chun Li first joined the Huntington Agency, she was the only female operative until Cammy came along. The two instantly became friends.

Guile’s glance slid to the young man sitting in the corner of the room. “So…Chun Li tells me you were quite a big help in apprehending Dawson.”

Kyo moved to the front of Guile’s desk. “I did what I had to do…”

Guile offered his hand for a shake. “I didn’t catch your name…”

Kyo shook it firmly. “Kyo Kusanagi.”

Guile blinked, regarding him steadily. “Uh…Ever think about becoming a detective?”

Kyo laughed. “No thanks…I enjoy my life as it is, sir.”

“We could always use some help…”

“Thanks, but no thanks.”

“All right. Chun Li, I wanted to discuss your next assignment, if you’re up to it…” Guile trailed off.

“Sure.”

“I’ll go leave…” Kyo offered.

“Actually, you can stay…you might want to hear this…” Guile stated.

Chun Li’s eyes rounded. “Guile…”

He held up a hand to silence her. “A client came in yesterday wanting us to track down a man named Iori Yagami.” Guile paused, glancing at Kyo. “He said that wherever Kyo Kusanagi is…Iori Yagami will be…”

Chun Li glanced at her new acquaintance. “Who is Iori Yagami?”

“Long story. But his family and my family have been fighting each other for a long time,” Kyo answered simply.

“How often have you encountered him?” Guile asked.

“Often enough,” Kyo replied.

Guile placed his hands on his desk. “From what the client said, this Yagami is someone not to mess with. At first, I assured he and his wife that Chun Li is more than capable…but something about the man’s insistence made me realize that I don’t want Chun Li going through this alone. It’s great that we got to meet you, because you might be able to help us. We’ll compensate you, of course.”

Chun Li frowned. “Guile, no offense, but I can take care of myself. I’m a strong woman. I-”

“I’ll do it,” Kyo interrupted, ignoring Chun Li’s glare.

Guile grinned. “Great! I’ll draw up a file on all the information we have on Yagami, as well as a contract for you, Kyo. You both can come in tomorrow afternoon…say around three so I can fill you in on all the details.”

As Kyo and Chun Li stepped out of the building and into the sun, she couldn’t help but feel a little angry. Didn’t her boss trust her? Wasn’t she a good detective?

She snatched Kyo’s arm. “I can take care of myself. You don’t have to come in tomorrow.”

Kyo regarded her steadily, his brown eyes serious. “You don’t know what you’re getting into. I think I should help you out…”

Chun Li narrowed her eyes. “I don’t need any help from anyone, not from you. I-”

Gently, Kyo removed her hand from his arm, and she let it fall to her side. “I’m pretty sure you’re good at your job…but Yagami’s after me…it’ll make it easier on you to find him…consider me ‘bait’.”

Chun Li sighed. “I was joking about that…in the saloon…”

He grinned. “This might be kind of fun…I’ve never worked with a detective before…”

She rolled her eyes. “You find yourself on horseback a lot…hot on the trail of your target…staying in hotels…”

“Sounds good. You meet all kinds of people, I bet.”

“Yeah. A bunch of weirdos and very few normal people…”