Ryu smiled. “Merry Christmas, Gen-sama.” Ryu bowed.

Fei Long, Yun and Yang stood behind Gen. Ryu greeted all three with bows and handshakes, while Chun Li gave everyone a hug. Lien gave her uncles and grandfather a hug and kiss.

“It’s good to see you, Ryu,” Yang stated.

“Good to see that somebody else didn’t kick his-” Yun faltered, noting the presence of children. “…rear end.”

Lien reached up to her young uncle. “Piggyback.”

Yun grinned and stooped low, so Lien could climb on his back. She squealed in delight as he lifted her.

The seven gathered at the table to eat. Gen sat at the head of the table, Yang, Yun, and Lien on his right, Chun Li, Fei Long, and Ryu on his left.

“I believe it is tradition in America to make a toast before eating a feast,” Gen stated. He raised his champagne glass.

Ryu spoke up, “May I?”

Everyone looked at him in surprise. Gen nodded. Ryu cleared his throat, looking at his raised glass in thought. While he was doing so, Lien was having trouble understanding the purpose of a toast, so Yun placed her glass of juice in her hand and softly instructed her to hold it in the air.

“To our future,” Ryu stated. “May it be prosperous and consist of everything we dream of…”

“I’ll drink to that,” Yun announced. He took several sips of his champagne. Lien followed his example with her juice.

Gen downed his champagne in a quick gulp, much to Yang’s dismay.

“Grandfather, not so much…”

“Do not worry, grandson…I am aware of my alcohol tolerance level…” Gen poured himself another glass.

Everyone helped themselves to food.

“So, Ryu,” Fei Long spoke up after he chewed on his chow mein. “What have you been up to lately?”

Ryu set his chopsticks down. “I just came from San Francsico.”

“You saw Ken?” Fei Long asked.

Ryu nodded. “Yes. His children are growing…”

“Ken wrote letters, sending photographs of Bethany,” Chun Li said. “I couldn’t visit because I had Lien to take care of…and besides, Bethany is too young to fly that distance.”

Ryu nodded. “His family is doing well…” He broke out into a huge grin as he stared across the table.

Lien was watching earnestly as Yun, using his chopsticks, plucked every pea from the fried rice that he had served her. It seemed like a tedious task, but the young martial artist didn’t seem to mind. Yun looked up.

“What’s everyone looking at?” he demanded.

The older adults turned their attention back onto their food.

“Ryu…you seem much more relaxed…more carefree…” Gen observed aloud.

“Well…I’ve reevaluated my life, and I don’t like what has happened so far,” Ryu stated.

“Don’t tell me you’ve given up wandering around and fighting,” Yun mocked.

Ryu shook his head. “No. I believe that the fight is important. But family, friends, and loved ones are even more so.”

Chun Li bent her head, picking at her food. Why didn’t he think that way four years ago? Why was he beginning to realize this now? What had caused the change?

“I am glad you believe so,” Gen said sincerely.

“You’ve changed a lot…” Yun trailed off. “Where did all this come from?”

Ryu smiled slightly. “My sudden insight will remain a mystery.”

Yun smiled wryly. “Whatever…”

Ryu turned to Fei Long. “Are you still acting?”

The movie star nodded. “Yeah. It’s interesting to note how actors get better roles as they get older.”

“That’s only because they’re not immature and rash like Yun,” Chun Li teased.

Yun glared at her across the table. Lien tapped her uncle’s arm, and he turned to look at her.

“When do we open gifts, Uncle?”

“After we eat, kiddo.”

Sure enough, after dinner, the gift exchanging began. Mostly clothes or trinkets for everyone’s home was given…but everyone marveled at Lien’s craftsmanship. She had made little ornaments for each member of her family. The ornament had a drawing of the receiver…Chun Li’s ornament was a star with a drawing of her in the middle. After that, it was time to go.

“Ryu, come back again soon,” Gen stated. “My grandsons would enjoy you visiting them from time to time.”

Ryu bowed. “I promise to visit as much as I can.”

Chun Li and Ryu turned to walk back to her training hall. Lien was asleep, facing her mother, her small arms around her neck. They walked in silence for several minutes.

“Do you want me to carry her?” Ryu asked.

Chun Li paused. Quietly, so as not to disturb her daughter, Chun Li carefully passed her to him. She felt her throat tighten as she gazed at him holding her daughter.

“You’re…very good with her,” Chun Li stated, turning to walk.

Ryu shrugged slightly. “I’m not a heartless man, Chun Li. Children can sense that.”

Chun Li swallowed. “I didn’t mean to imply that you were.”

“Yes, you did,” Ryu countered. “Because of my love for fighting, you assumed that I would not know how to behave around children.”

“I’m sorry if it seemed that way,” Chun Li stated.

“Your apology is accepted.”

Chun Li and Ryu reached the training hall. While Chun Li freshened up in her bathroom, Ryu put Lien to bed. After setting her down, he pulled the covers up to her chin before walking away.

“Ryu?” she spoke up softly.

He turned. “Yes?”

Lien brought her hand from beneath her pillow. “I…got you a present. It was done when we went to Grandpa’s…”

Ryu took the object she held in her tiny hand. Looking it over…he saw it was an ornament with a drawing of him. The black hair and red bandana were the defining characteristics.

“It…didn’t look like you…so I asked Mommy to help…she said to put the red headband…Do you wear headbands a lot?”

“Only when I’m practicing…” Ryu felt a lump in his throat, which he swallowed fiercely. “Th-Thank you…” His eyes lit up. “Wait here…I have your present in my room.”

Lien’s eyes widened. Minutes later, he came back with a tiny box wrapped in gold paper. Lien stared at it, wide-eyed.

“For me?” she squeaked.

Ryu nodded. Lien carefully tore the wrapping paper and set it aside. She opened the white cardboard box. Inside were little pieces of paper folded into swans. She grinned, picking up a large one, presumably the mother.

“Wow…”

“Do you know what origami is?” Ryu asked her.

“Orgami?” Lien stumbled over the word.

“Origami,” Ryu corrected gently. “In Japan, folding paper is art.”

“Can you make a whale?” Lien asked, studying the intricate design.

“Yes.”

“A horse?”

“Yes.”

“A giraffe?”

“Yes.”

“Can I learn?” Lien asked.

Ryu smiled. “Maybe someday I’ll teach you…”

“Promise?”

“I promise,” Ryu vowed.

Satisfied, Lien put the swans back in the box. “Thank you. Merry Christmas.”

Ryu tucked her in again. “Thank you for the gift. And Merry Christmas.”

“Ryu?”

“Yes?”

“Mommy and you are good friends?”

“Yes, we are. Why?”

“Mommy’s so sad. Friends make friends happy, right?”

“What makes you think your mother is sad?” Ryu asked, being cautious of his wording.

“Maybe she has no one…”

“No one?” Ryu echoed, confused.

“A special friend. I think Mommy needs one.”

Her meaning was all too clear. “Your mother is a kind woman…and someday…she’ll find one who you’ll both love,” Ryu stated softly. Ryu was amazed at the child’s insight. What if Chun Li was really lonely? “Don’t worry. I think you’re mother is happy, still. She has you, remember?”

Lien nodded. With that thought in her head, Lien drifted to sleep.

“I wasn’t aware that she could read me that well,” Chun Li spoke up from the doorway of the bedroom.

Ryu turned to face her. “So it’s true.”

Chun Li sighed and turned to go to the kitchen. Ryu followed her. She fixed herself some oolong tea, sitting at the table.

“Children sense these things,” Ryu stated.

Chun Li sighed again. “It doesn’t mean I have to like the truth, does it?”

“Have…you…been seeing anyone else since I left?” Ryu asked gently.

Chun Li massaged her temples. She wanted to say yes, that she had fallen head over heels for another just weeks after he left. But Chun Li was neither vindictive nor a liar.

“No, Ryu.”

“Why not?” he asked. “Because I had another reason in life. Lien. I gave up on love, so I decided that if I was to give my love to anyone…it would be her.”

“You don’t get lonely?”

“Of course I’m lonely,” she exclaimed. “But who are you to talk, anyway? Your entire life is dedicated to solitude!”

Ryu pressed his lips together in a grim line before speaking. “That part of my life is gone now.”

“Ha!”

“You’re not listening to me,” Ryu added. “That is what I’ve been trying to tell you.”

The kettle whistled. Grateful for the distraction, Chun Li got the kettle and poured two cups-one for her, and one for Ryu.

“Are you ready to listen to me, now?” Ryu asked.

Chun Li frowned.

At her hesitation, he stated, “When I left you four years ago, you didn’t understand why. Now I’m going to explain, and come up with suggestions on how to make up for it.”

“It’s in the past. Nothing can change that.”

“I’m aware of that,” Ryu continued. “Which is why I’m trying to make amends in the present. But you’re not even going to let me explain myself, are you?”

Chun Li sighed. For the first time, Ryu saw the pain and sorrow in her eyes. It ran deep…way into her soul. Once again, Ryu was reminded of how much he had hurt her.

“All right,” she said weakly, before sipping her tea. She was too emotionally drained to argue with him. “I guess you can start by telling me about your fight with Akuma…”