“Kami-chan…What are you doing here?” the man asked, puzzled.

 “I…” she swallowed, looking at Chun Li for help.

 The older woman smiled. “She’s helping me,” she responded in Japanese.

 The man looked at her with his dark brown eyes. Chun Li couldn’t believe it. The resemblance was striking. The older man’s bone structure, his eyes, his mouth…all looked like Ryu. He was Ryu in twenty-so years.

 “Tou-san,” Kami spoke up. She gestured to the ashen wandering warrior. “This…is Ryu-san…”

 The older man regarded Ryu steadily. “I…see…The…famous Shotokan martial artist…” He bowed slightly.

 “We need to get your wife to an examination room,” Chun Li instructed.

 Everyone headed to the room, Ryu following in a zombi-like state.

 Within a few minutes, Chun Li had cold compresses on the woman’s forehead. The man had introduced himself as Hideaki Hoshi, and his wife, Miko. Kami had embraced her father fiercely, very happy to see him. Ryu sat in the corner, his eyes in a daze.

 “Hoshi-sama,” Chun Li began. “Your wife has suffered from heatstroke. She will be fine after some rest and some fluids.”

 “Thank you, Chun Li-san,” Hideaki responded. He glanced at the man in the corner of the room. “You…know my…You are a friend of Ryu?”

 Chun Li nodded. “Yes. For quite some time…” she lowered her voice. “I believe he’s in shock. He’s had many surprises the past few days.”

 Hideaki glanced back, his eyes side. “I see…”

 At his sad expression, Chun Li smiled encouragingly, “Hoshi-san, Ryu takes after you.”

 The compliment seemed to cheer the man up, for he smiled back. “Thank you. Has…Kami-chan behaved since she stayed here?”

 “Yes. The doctor here injured himself, so Ryu and Kami volunteered to assist him in his practice. Ryu sent for me and I arrived here several days ago.”

 “You are very far from here,” Hideaki commented.

 “I would travel to the ends of the earth to help a friend in need,” she quipped. “Your son has done the same for me.”

 “I see.” Hideaki stroked his wife’s hair. “She is so weak…Today…we were worried about Kami-chan. So we left our master in hopes of finding her.” His jaw trembled. “After losing one child, she could not bear to lose another…so we ran away. I think the long walk was too strenuous for her…”

 “You are most lucky,” Ryu spoke up quietly. “Not only did you find Kami, but myself as well.”

 Hideaki took a deep breath. “Ryu…I know this is a shock to you…but…but…we are very glad to see that you are alive and well. You had a great master. You made us very proud when you won the Street Fighter tournament. It pleases your mother and I to know that you are very dedicated to your fighting skills.”

 Ryu sighed. “Then you will understand why I cannot fully accept the idea that I have family…”

 Masking the hurt in his eyes, Hideaki nodded. “You need time to adjust. I understand.”

 “It may take a lifetime,” Ryu responded before walking out of the room.

 “Ryu, wait…” Chun Li called after him. She released a breath of frustration.

“It is all right. My son does need time to adjust. For many years, he has lived his life alone…now he must realize that he isn’t alone…”

 Chun Li squeezed his hand. “Hoshi-san, your son was never alone. He had friends. But they cannot fill the void that you can. He’s scared. He can face any intimidating warrior without flinching, but when it comes to dealing with emotions…he can’t.”

 “You know him well, I see.”

 “Ten years of me waiting around for him to learn the meaning of the fight can definitely do that…”

 Hideaki smiled slightly. He liked the woman who showed such love and affection for his son. If there was one other thing he wanted to see besides Ryu accepting him as his father…was for his son to open up his eyes to the woman who loved him so much.