The woman stared at the man lying on the bed in the guest room of her home. He had been asleep for a while, ever since he had left the hospital yesterday afternoon. She sighed, wondering when he would wake up.

Her light brown eyes drifted to the window, noticing the bright sunlight. It was high in the afternoon, and he still wasn't awake. She knew that her friend had fought a long battle. After all, he only lived for the fight. It was the center of his focus, of his being.

He had been like that since they had met nearly ten years ago. She smiled faintly, remembering the young man who had defeated her in combat many years ago in an underground street fighting tournament. She stood up and headed to the kitchen.

Her childhood friend and classmate, now a famous martial arts star in Hong Kong, looked up from his late lunch.

"Chun Li, is Ryu okay?" Fei Long asked.

Chun Li rubbed her eyes wearily. "I think so. He's just not waking up."

Fei Long glanced at Ken Masters, Ryu's best friend, rival, and former training partner. Ken was leaning against the wall, arms crossed.

"Give Ryu time. He'll wake up," Ken assured.

"I hope so..." Chun Li replied, a slight frown puckering her brow.

Fei Long smiled reassuringly. "Chun Li, he was awake when we picked him up from the hospital."

She was caught in her musings. Fei Long gazed at her. He had known her for many years. Not only had they been classmates, but they were taught martial arts in the same school...until a great kung fu master decided to take Fei Long under his wing. She had been the sister he never had. They fought a lot when they were younger. He remembered stealing pencils, erasers, crayons, and lunches from her when they were children. Such petty matters started fights between the two. She even kicked him off a jungle gym once. As they grew older, Fei Long became very protective of her-threatening every man who wanted to court her and challenging the few men that had defeated her in combat-Ryu included. He did not always end up the victor. He had watched her grow from a young girl into a mature, beautiful woman. Most men would love to be in her company. But they had to get through him first.

Chun Li abruptly stood up. Both men looked at her.

"I'm going to Ryu's room," she announced before leaving.

Once she was out of earshot, Ken decided to speak. "She's really dedicated to his recovery. But she worries too much. Ryu's going to be fine. He just needs his rest."

Fei Long shrugged. "She'd be the same with us, Ken."

"Well...Yeah, you're right," Ken admitted.

"At the hospital...did Ryu tell you who he fought?" Fei Long asked.

Ken shook his head. "He looked so exhausted, I didn't want to bother him."

Chun Li perched in the chair by Ryu's bed. She glanced at him, wondering when he would wake up. She had something important to tell him...something she would have told him a long time ago.

A movement on the bed created a slight sound. Instantly alert, Chun Li watched him. Slowly, his eyelids fluttered open. Happy to see him awake, Chun Li leaned forward and kissed his cheek.

"I was hoping you'd wake up soon," she declared.

He seemed slightly surprised at her gesture of affection. He glanced around the room.

"How did I get in here?" he croaked.

Chun Li reached for the nearby pitcher of water and poured him a glass.

"Ken and Fei Long brought you here," she answered, setting the pitcher down.

Chun Li slid her palm under his neck and lifted his head slightly, bringing the rim of the glass to his lips. He drank the cool liquid greedily.

"Slowly now," she warned.

After he downed the liquid, she removed her hand and put the glass next to the pitcher.

"How do you feel?" she asked.

Ryu licked his dry lips before responding. "Like I was run over by a tank," he replied softly.

Chun Li studied the weary expression on his face before looking at the bandages wrapped around his bare chest. Her eyes met his, and for the first time, Ryu saw a softness and tenderness in them.

She smiled at him. "Well...you look like it. Can I get you anything?"

"No, thank you."

"Let me know if you need something," she said.

Ryu nodded slightly.

"I'm glad you're okay," Chun Li began, a lump forming in her throat. She took his hand between hers. "I was worried about you."

Ryu glanced down at their hands. There was such a contrast. His was large and tanned...hers pale and small...but it carried almost the same amount of strength. He flicked his eyes back to her face.

"I..." she trailed off. Could she really say it? After all these years, her heart was screaming at her to say what it had felt for a long time. But how would he react to the news? He had always been oblivious. It may make no difference whatsoever. "I...I..."

Ryu frowned slightly, knowing she wanted to say something. "What is it?"

"I...I..." she faltered. "I l-"

The phone rang. She dashed to her room to pick it up.

Hello?" Chun Li greeted.

"Hello, Chun Li. I haven't heard from you in a long time," a female's voice travelled over the line. It was a soft voice that had the lilt of England.

"Cammy!" Chun Li exclaimed. "How have you been?"

"I'm holding up well," her friend replied. "What about you? You're behaving yourself, right?"

"Now what is that supposed to mean?" Chun Li asked.

"You aren't off running into dangerous Interpol missions by yourself...or...chasing after men possessed by demons?" Cammy asked teasingly.

"I don't work for Interpol anymore," Chun Li replied.

"Is that so?" Cammy asked. "I have been out of touch for a long time...I've been touring Europe and the Middle East for the last two years. After that business with Bison...I thought that I could use the vacation. So what do you do now?"

"Well...my revenge has finished...even though I didn't destroy Bison myself...so I run a restaurant now...It's a good job...I run my own hours and vacations."

"Congratulations," Cammy responded. "Uh...I was wondering...."

"About what?"

"How is Ryu? Have you said anything yet?"

Chun Li sighed. "No. I don't think I can do it."

Cammy made a tsking sound. "Don't back down. When was the last time you saw him?"

"Actually...it's a long story, but he's here now. He was in a fight, so he's recuperating here."

"It's the perfect time," Cammy pointed out.

"I don't know..."

"You have to do it sooner or later," Cammy declared. "Regardless of when you do it, you will have to eventually."

"I don't think he wants to hear it."

"Even if he doesn't, you have to say it. You've lived with this for nearly ten years. I have no idea how you managed," Cammy admonished. "I certainly would have never been able to hold it in this long. I think you just need to get it out."

While the two friends debated on whether or not Chun Li should say anything, Ken and Fei Long were in Ryu's room.

"Hope you get better soon," Ken said.

Ryu smiled. "Thanks. I know I will. It's very generous of her to do this..."

Fei Long smiled. "She wasn't always as nice, you know. But...she's grown up, all right."

"When I see her, it's difficult to believe that she's the young woman whose hip I dislocated so long ago," Ryu spoke up.

Ken grinned. "I remember that fight. Chun Li was infiltrating the tournament to get to Bison. Those were the days when I had a crush on her...before I met Eliza."

"If I remember...she went out with you twice," Fei Long said. "Then when she found out that Ryu was your best friend...she was p*ssed off."

Ken shrugged. "He dislocated her hip...she had every right to be angry..."

"I don't think she's ever forgotten that fight..."

"Uh...I thought that she had forgiven me about that," Ryu spoke up.

Ken shook his head. "Nah. Every time a man does something wrong...a woman never forgets it. Sometimes...she'll even remind him when it's irrelevant."

"Oh no..."

"He's joking," Fei Long added.

"No, I'm not," Ken responded. "It's true!"

"Not in this case," Fei Long replied. "They're just friends. That only happens to whipped guys like you."

"I'm not whipped!" Ken exclaimed.

"Oh yeah?" Fei Long lifted his eyebrows. "How many times have you called Eliza today?"

Ken scowled. "I was just letting her know what's going on. Besides...in case Mel does anything interesting, I wanna know."

Fei Long shook his head. "Ken, your son is...what? Four now? He already can walk, talk and pee. What else could you be missing?"

"I think he misses them," Ryu said.

"Being a family man is hard, but it feels great," Ken said proudly. "You two should try it sometime."

Fei Long shook his head. "Show me a girl who doesn't know who Fei Long is, and I might."

"Awww...you love your groupies, admit it..." Ken said. He glanced at Ryu.

"No, thank you," Ryu replied. "I wouldn't know where to start when it comes to pursuing women."

"Sometimes...the answer is right there in front of you," Ken said slyly.

Ryu looked up, puzzled. Then he had a thought.

"You want me to ask Chun Li for advice on courtship?" Ryu asked.

Ken breathed out an exasperated sigh. "Well...that's an idea. I just didn't think of it."

"Well, what then?" Ryu asked.

Fei Long sighed. "Chun Li is very attached to you. You two are close..."

"When we brought you in here, she helped settle you in," Ken added. "And she watched over you. And she didn't leave your side for very long. He and I had to bring food to her, because she wanted to be here when you woke up."

Ryu looked down, understanding what his two friends had to say. He never thought of her as a potential mate. He never thought of settling down period.

"Look, all I'm saying is that when a woman starts being your nurse and sticks to your side like glue, she may think of you as more than a patient," Ken says. "Especially if both of you are single."

Ryu frowned in thought. He had known her for so long that he had difficulty thinking of her along those lines. He had lived for the fight and nothing else.

Ken stood up. "I have to make a few calls. I'll be back." He left the room.

Seeing that Ryu had plenty to think about, Fei Long left as well.