Chun Li stretched her arms over her head and smiled, listening to the chirping of the birds outside her window. The sun was out, its bright rays peeking through the curtains of her room. She got dressed and freshened up, heading downstairs to help Ryu and Kami with the clinic. Last night, she had met the doctor, who was a friendly and wise man. He told her the story of his wife. Sensing it was story that he told many people, Chun Li listened. She didn't mind a good romance story, either, ESPECIALLY when she could relate so easily to the doctor's wife. Only, the doctor was a quick learner. He was very perceptive as well.

"Ryu is very fortunate to have a friend such as yourself," the doctor stated. "Tell me, how did you two meet?"

Chun Li relayed the tale, how their friendship had lasted for over ten years, in spite of the many periods of no communication between them.

"Ryu needs some encouragement," the doctor decided.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"The joy on your face. The sparkle in your eyes. The flush on your cheeks tells me that you wish to be more than friends with him. You also seemed to show a high interest in the tale of my wife and I. You relate to her rather easily."

Chun Li laughed. "Yes, I understand perfectly what she went through."

"Give him time. He will eventually see what matters most to him in life."

Chun Li walked into the waiting room, spotting Ryu and Kami speaking in soft tones, engrossed in conversation. Chun Li sighed. There had been times when Ryu wasn't the only man in her heart. She had had other boyfriends and dates. Some were just haunting memories, one had been engraved in her heart, but not one had shared the special place this man had in hers. It was never easy getting over a first love, or any love, for that matter. She wondered who this young woman was, and how she came about to meeting Ryu. The doctor had explained that she had been a friend of Ryu. But for how long? Had it been that long since Chun Li last saw him? She swallowed. She noticed the way the two were talking. She sensed that the two were drawn to each other upon first meeting. They seemed in their own world.

"Good morning," Chun Li announced.

The two looked up.

"You're awake late," Kami announced, almost coldly, as if she had been displeased with Chun Li's interruption.

Chun Li nodded. "I'm sorry. I haven't gotten much rest lately..."

A hint of concern flitted into Ryu's eyes. "Then you should rest more. We would not want you collapsing during the middle of treating patients."

Kami narrowed her eyes slightly.

Chun Li smiled reassuringly. "It's okay. It's just that the school has kept me busier than I imagined Interpol ever would. I give 4 lessons a day, so I'm occupied a lot..."

Interpol? Kami thought. She was a detective?

"Who is taking care of the school while you are away?" Ryu asked.

"Yun and Yang."

"Ah..." A brief smile lifted the corners of his mouth. "How are the two? You sure it is wise to leave them with the school?"

Kami glanced back and forth between the two as Chun Li laughed.

"I made Yun promise to behave, and for Yang to watch him," she explained.

Ryu nodded. "One day, I would like to visit you in Hong Kong. I would like to see your school, as well as your 'family'."

"Whenever you have the time, you're always welcome."

"I don't think Yun would approve..."

"So!" Kami cut in, "I'm sure you two are enjoying talking about your friends, but I think I see a line of patients in the hallway. Chun Li, why don't you talk to them, see what treatment they're asking for while Ryu and I set up here?"

Chun Li nodded. "That's fine." If she wasn't mistaken, she had just been expertly dismissed. She wondered what the other woman's exact interest in Ryu was.

Once in the hallway, she wrote down the names and injuries of the patients and gave the list to Ryu. He assigned who would take care of whom.

Around lunchtime, when there were only a handful of patients, Chun Li turned to Kami.

"Why don't you fix us lunch?" Chun Li suggested to her.

Kami looked up in surprise. "Me?"

"Why not?" Chun Li asked. "You're not taking care of anyone. I also came in late, so I should at least make up for that. Besides, Ryu and I can take care of the rest."

Ryu looked up from bandaging the arm of a young mother. "I am getting hungry..."

"But..." Kami trailed off, not wanting to leave Ryu.

"That means you have to fix a lot of food," Chun Li said. "He could eat a whole cow..."

Kami narrowed her eyes slightly. "Okay. Fine. Is sukiyaki okay?"

"Yes," Ryu replied, returning to his duty.

"Lots of it!" Chun Li called to her back.

The remaining patients complained of headaches, back pain, leg injuries, nothing the two couldn't handle.

After lunch, a tall Japanese man with angular features walked into the clinic, a kendo sword in hand.

"Can I help you?" Ryu asked.

"Where is he?" he demanded.

"He?" Ryu echoed.

The man sauntered up to the examination table three feet away from Ryu, where a young teen was waiting treatment.

"Where have you been, you brat? I saw you trying to walk out of the work I gave you. The master is not going to like the fact that you just left!"

Kami and Chun Li walked in after hearing the loud voice.

The teen responded weakly, "Juro-sama, I feel tired and-"

"Stop pretending!" Juro slapped him across the face, hard. "I'm paying you to work in that rice field, and you will do what I tell you to. It's either you get hurt or me! And I don't want to get my *ss kicked by the master over your worthless *ss, so you better do what I tell you!"

Chun Li grabbed Juro's arm. "Stop it! We're trying to treat him. He's suffering from heat exhaustion, and-"

"He's my servant, and whatever I say, he has to follow!" Juro grabbed the teen by the shirtfront.

"Stop it!" Chun Li commanded. Ryu and Kami watched from a short distance away as Chun Li tried to calm the man down.

"Shut up, b*tch!" Juro slapped her face hard.

Kami winced as Ryu stepped forward to help her, feeling anger towards the man who showed obvious disrespect for the young boy and a lady. Before he took another step, Chun Li kicked Juro in the gut and tossed him out one of the doors that led to the examination room. Ryu smiled slightly. He should have known that his friend didn't take such rudeness lightly.

"You b*tch!" Juro screeched. "You-"

"Shut up! We're going to take care of this boy, and you're just going to have to tell your master that," Chun Li explained.

"How about we fight for it?" Juro challenged. "I win, I take the boy and he never comes back here!"

"She wins, you go to your master in defeat and dishonor," Ryu declared. He glanced at Chun Li. "Is that acceptable?"

"That's fine," she agreed.

Juro nodded. "Fine. But no help from your boyfriend here."

Before Ryu could correct the man on his misinterpretation of their relationship, Chun Li tossed her long hair over her shoulder and replied, "I don't need his help."

Outside the clinic, Chun Li and Juro got in their stances, ready to fight. Ryu, Kami, the teenager, and a few other curious spectators were gathered in a ring around them.

Kami glanced at Ryu. "She's really going to fight him? Without your help?"

Ryu nodded. "She is a strong woman. She can take care of herself."

Kami sighed and gazed at the two combatants. "I hope you're right..."

Ryu frowned slightly. He felt his heart beat faster-in anticipation or in concern, he wasn't certain. A part of him was worried that Chun Li would get hurt, because he doubted that Juro would fight with honor. He just hoped that her fighting skills were up to par, and that she could counter any cheap shots Juro used.