Germany

‘Home at last…’ Juni’s mind rang out as the orange haired doll reached the door to her house in Germany at long last. She would get to see Julia, perhaps her last time before serving Bison in full, or maybe she’d just move back in with the one she had loved for so long. It was a tough choice, and Juni hated to have to make it. As she sighed, stepping up to the door, she could have sworn she heard voices from inside the house.

“So I says, rect’m, I dang near killed ‘im!” spoke a voice in a British accent that sounded far too familiar. Juni’s real shock came about when she heard Juli afterwards… and she was laughing! Julia rarely ever laughed.

‘No…’ Juni thought as her eyes turned towards the rocky ground below, ‘Julia… she doesn’t want me anymore, I’m sure.’ She had to know more about this. The orange haired doll moved towards a nearby window, carefully and quietly peeking inside to see what was going on.

She was glad that they were not looking her way, or they might have just seen her. She was rather surprised to see Birdie sitting at the table with Juli, as he talked to her about many, many things. The brunette doll seemed to be listening with deep adoration with he chin being held upright by the palm of her right hand. It was strange to say the least, and it made Juni feel very threatened.

“So tha’s when Timmy clasped me on th’ back with a hearty laugh. Chap was drunk off ‘is arse, too!” Birdie said, telling the story of a time with his old wrestling buddy, Titanic Tim as Juli listened with a faint smile and food in front of her. Birdie kept insisting that the brunette girl should eat and be healthy. Still, it was not easy to make an one with an empty stomach eat so much.

Juni did not want to hear any more of this, as she quickly moved away from the window, before she could be caught by either of them looking her way. She felt threatened by Birdie’s being here. He seemed to be taking Julia away from her, and the blonde haired doll did not want that to happen.

‘She is quite taken with him, isn’t she?’ it was Bison’s voice, telepathically speaking to her, as to let nobody else hear.

‘What are you getting at, Bison?’ Juni asked responding to the telepathy. ‘Juli seems happy with Birdie in there, but I know you’re not be here just for fun.’

‘It’s all very simple, really.’ Bison paused as his bodiless voice chuckled, ‘Kill him! He’s only in your way, after all. To be honest, I don’t even need Birdie. I know he’s thinking of betraying Shadaloo yet again. I don’t want to let him tell others. A pity he is meaningless to me.’

Juni nodded through sad eyes, ‘What about Juli?’

‘Hmm? Oh yes, her!’ he said, his voice not very serious about the weakest doll he ever had, ‘She’s a doll, like yourself.’ Bison began to explain, ‘She’s not human enough to hold it against you when her basic needs for happiness make her feel empty and needy yet again. She’ll want you back, or so to say, I am rather certain she will.’ Bison’s disembodied voice paused to release a sigh of relief, ‘You are such a strong and beautiful doll. You should realize how much you mean to me and my cause.’

‘Yes…’ she answered, not really all there as Bison’s compliment sunk in. Tears filled her eyes as she leaned against the wall of the house, deep in conflicting thought of the past. This was not the first time it had come to conflict between choosing Bison or Juli.

Seven Years Ago, Thailand

It rained and thundered, with the sky pitch black, with thick clouds. It was almost ominous, but psycho energy had that effect on the rather immediate and surrounding atmosphere with a disruption to the natural balance. There, amongst the rain, standing in all his power and glory was M. Bison, illuminated with the psycho energy he used and manipulated so well, and he was standing face to face with Juli, who seemed like a mere twig before his horrifying evil. “Ah, I see you’re back.” he stated calmly as the rain drenched everything in sight. “Did you dispose of Cammy, like I asked you to do?” Bison asked with feigned interest. If Juli botched this mission up, she would be exterminated. Killed on the spot for so much disobedience.

“Y…yes.” Juli stated, her gaze did not meet his as she stammered.

“Hmm…” Bison stated with a tilt of his head “why so sad and hesitant? You didn’t listen to her words, did you?” he asked calmly.

“N-n-negative… target Killer Bee des-destroyed.” Juli stammered as she saluted, trembling the whole time. “All functions normal.”

“You are lying, Juli. Her words got to you.” Bison stated with a shake of his head. “You can’t hide the truth from me. You are trying to think for yourself, and for that, you must be destroyed. I gave you too many chances.” It was then that Juni appeared from Bison’s shadow, her eyes focused and her mind empty. Bison’s eyes fell upon Juni, “Kill her.”

Juni nodded, as she moved towards Juli, who was not standing ready to fight. “Juni…” Juli stated, hr held hanging low as the rain camouflaged her falling tears amongst the watery torrent quite easily. It seemed that she would die at the hands and strength of the only one who she still hand in the world to care about her.

As Juni was about to attack, her empty mind reeled with conflict that one without thoughts could have. This was Juli, her partner, friend, and here she was ready to throttle her. “Partner, Juli in imminent danger!” she blurted out, still far from being able to think like a human, “Switching target. Increasing adrenaline to defend unit Juli.” She was far from free of Bison’s powers of enslavement, but instincts mixed with thought just enough to keep her from tearing the weaker half of their partnership into pieces.

Bison’s face did not show fear, as he continued to smile. “Ah, how amusing. Your instinctual will to survive and protect Juli is stronger than I thought. It proves my point though.” Bison laughed, “You are all traitors!” he roared, “Every last doll! You think I‘ll just let you get away, but now I know for sure!” he began to laugh. “This is your last command, my beautiful, traitorous dolls! Die by my hand!”

“Output level increasing!” Juni stated, her voice hastened as the situation seemed dire.

“You dolls were a mistake!” Bison hissed, as he spat at the ground. “You’re all no better than her!” he growled, pointing at the fallen hull of a body with purple hair. It was Rose, who had given Bison an amazingly difficult fight all by herself, “Perhaps trying to recreate in her image was a bad idea. I am glad I got the chance to eradicate that mistake.”

Near Rose’s seemingly lifeless body was Aprile, who Bison had sent to keep the woman away from him as long as he possibly could. It was to no avail though, and Bison had no choice but to do away with her himself. Aprile had regained consciousness by the time Bison finished his gloat.

“Ah, Aprile, how nice to see you join us.” Bison chuckled as she saluted him with the respect her mind controlled instincts taught her to do when addressed. The salute made Bison bawl out in laughter. “Oh god! This is too good. You heard not a word I said about your uselessness.”

“Unit deemed useless.” Aprile stated in a monotonous tone, “Returning to base to train further.”

“No my dear.” Bison cackled. “There is no further living for you. Die as you should have died, oh so long ago!” He laughed as though he lost his mind, as his body charged up with all of his dark power. The dolls were unsure of what to do, and unmeant to think for themselves. Instinct was the only thing they did do without being given a command. “DIE!” he repeated, because the other thirty times he had said the word the whole flashback just weren’t quite enough of a repetition. It was at that roar, that his whole body took on a blueish-purple glow, with bright blackening evil searing through his body as he charged at the dolls present. “Psycho Crusher!” he roared.

End Flashback

Juni snapped out of her thoughts, realizing that she must have nearly dozed off for at least ten minutes already. She didn’t want to be caught here. She’d need time to think on her actions away from Julia and her need for her.

As Juni stood up and bolted, Juli turned her head, as orange-blonde hair appeared with brevity, and seemed to dash away from the nearby window. Could it have been? Was that Juni? It couldn’t have been. She was just still going crazy, no doubt. ‘None of this could possibly be real. No person would ever talk to me and be so nice.’ She sighed, ‘Birdie is so kind. How he managed to work for Bison?’

“‘Ey, kid!” Birdie stated, “Ya feelin’ a’ight?” he asked with concern, having heard her sigh. He was rather surprised by how much she seemed to actually like his company. Everyone else usually hated, or feared Birdie. It was understandable when standing seven feet tall, and looking so very, very awkward. Regardless, he owed it to Juli to be kind and respectful after what he did to her.

Juli’s eyes were wide with adoration, like a well behaved child on Christmas Morning, that believed in and celebrated the holiday for more than just the presents. She quickly shook her head, “N… no. Nothing’s wrong.” She stated with a slight fluster, “Go… um, please keep talking.” she nearly sounded like she was begging. She just wanted to talk! She wanted to learn to be human, and no longer just a doll.

Birdie eyed her with careful concern, and a suspicion of guilt. “Well, aright then. I’ll contin’ya.” He said with a slight smile that seemed to make Juli happier than he intended as she seemed to melt to his words and how nice he was treating her. She felt like she was the queen of the world. For once, Juli felt happy, even without Juni present.

Genoa, Italy

The streets of the waterfront town of Genoa were always so relaxing, with a light scent of seawater and the finest wine ever. Wine was always so refreshing, and so rich with flavor, or so thought the purple haired psychic. It almost made her glad to be alive, dare she sound greedy. Olanjut’s eyes darted about rapidly to the alienating feeling that the city brought to him. Strange, emptied bananas seemed to have people that developed and sprouted from the middle in the middle of the water. The water smelled so strange as well, and the noise and sight of cars and motor vehicles scared the man shitless, to be entirely honest. Still, he felt safe with Rose guiding him, for she was his only real support against the ‘wilds’ of First World Italy.

It had been a long morning of training. Rose was surprised by her lack of physical endurance without the crutch of her soul to guide, predict for, and empower her. As she took another sip of red wine, she released a long sigh of relief, but she wouldn’t dare say that nothing could ruin this day now. Those were last words, famous ones at that, which usually were just asking for trouble when spoken.

It was too late. The famous last words struck yet again! A hand clasped her shoulder swiftly, startling the woman out of her own heartbeat “Rosie?” a male, somewhat Ebonics influenced voice asked as it followed the hand. “I ain’t seen ya in years. How ya doin’, sexy?”

Rose’s eyes seemed to take on an angry look, but she stood her ground as she, oddly enough, sat there still drinking, ignoring the man who attempted to talk to her. She took another sip of wine, though the temptation to just screw proper etiquette and chug, just to be drunk enough to not know he was there.

“Rosie!” he said again as he ran his other hand through his black hair with silvery-gray streaks, and then adjusted his sunglasses, which looked expensive and high quality… which of course meant they had to be ‘hip’, and ‘in’, and ‘da bomb!’ “Don’t ya remember me? It’s me, babe! Tony!” As she continued to ignore him, his patience began to wear away a bit too quickly. He had to likely do something rash to get her attention, which likely led him to place his hand on her breast and squeeze lightly.

“Remove your hand now, Antonio!” Rose said as calmly as she could, giving him no time to comply. She knew he wouldn’t, because he was enjoying the feel far too much to want to. She didn’t even give him a second before lashing out with a grapple to the collar of his fancy suit, and tossing him to the ground in front of her, in an over the shoulder toss. “I have more important things to deal with!” she snapped. “I am stressed beyond anything you can possibly imagine!”

“How so, sexy?” Tony asked, as he staggered back to his feet, a bit annoyed by the grass stains he gained on his suit. “I’m just wantin’ to se ya again. I heard ya been killed! Seems that was wrong, thank the lord and holy ghost above.”

“My life is not for you to know about, Antonio. Be gone before I throw you to the water this time!” Rose snarled. She was not afraid of the Italian wise guy, but Antonio was no mere mafia goon. Rather than just fighting with guns and knives, Antonio took up karate. It was more accurate to say that Antonio WAS his knife, or so his fighting style endorsed it.

The Shuto Style, or Knife Style, was based on flat, open palm chops, strikes, and blocks, and was a very good way to lead your next attack into a grapple or throw. Regardless, when one had focus with Shuto strikes, their hands could be like steel knives, able to cut the skin with focus, power and speed. Antonio just so happened to have that determination, even though his fellow mobsters ridiculed it for being so non-Italian of a thing to do to use Karate. Still, he was powerful with cutting strikes from hand and foot, and though a chopping hand would never come close to slicing a head, or any form of bodily appendage off he body, it would feel as though you were cut up badly, not to mention the force of the chop itself could still hurt. To do great pain with the edges of your hand really took a lot of practice.

“Hey, Rosie…” he called out calmly, “I hears ya did fighting a times back, or so.”

“Well, that was then. I’m sure Bison told you a lot about me back then, didn’t he? No doubt he’s looking at your mafia to help attempt to exterminate me once more.” Rose was not in the mood. She felt weak, and tired. There was no fighting energy in her with her soul on the fritz. “I’m guessing your memory is selective. Do you not remember the time you tried to attack me once before?”

“Yea, ya beat me good, ya did. You’re one amazin’ woman, I’ll tell ya that.” he stated, he was sitting next to her once more as she took another sip from her third glass of wine. With a quick sigh, he spoke again, “Ya know, if it wasn’t for all them mob stuff, I’d really try to win ya heart without all the killin' and stuff. I’m not such a bad guy, really… I ain’t!”

Rose eyed him in anger, having lost her patience a while ago. “If you really DID care, you’d leave me alone!” she yelled. “I am sick and tired of more and more morbidity every second of my life!”

This yelling caught Olanjut’s attention as he rushed to Rose’s side. The one eared African stood like a watchdog by her side.

“Cute kid.” Tony chuckled, “Where’d’ya get ‘im?”

“This is Olanjut, and if you want me to even think of there being even a remotely possible chance of me returning your rather hollow affection, then you’ll tell nobody that he’s under my care.” Rose strernly warned, rather honestly at that. “If you keep word to your Mafia that I don’t exist, it will be an even bigger step in the direction of me trying to like you. Capite?”

Tony grinned, giving a curt nod, “Yea, sure thing, sexy. I’ll keeps my mouth shut and they ain’t gonna know nothin’ about ya bein’ about. If hey find out some other way, then ya don’t blame me, would’ya. I’ll be forced to obey if they puts a hit on ya. I’m kinda forced to, or I’ll get taken cared of if I don’t, and I’m sure ya understand me if I wants to live.” he sighed, as Rose just gave a deep, neutral stare, not saying anything on the matter, “So… can I join ya for lunch?”

Rose shook her head “No! I don’t think that’d be a safe idea for either of us. I should probably get going, right now.” she reasoned, as she finished her wine in many quick sips.

“If ya got too drunk, I ain’t too much a scumbag to help ya home, without tryin nothing naughty. I wouldn’t, really! I ain’t like that.” Tony offered, trying to sound polite.

“The past would suggest otherwise, really. I can manage just fine on my own.” Rose stated as she walked home without any form of alcoholic hindrance. It was only a tiny cup, hardly filled to the top each glass, after all.

Antonio watched, maintaining a calm exterior as he licked his lips. ‘Bitch! If only ya didn’t look so sexy, I’d have cut ya down long already.’ He chuckled, shaking his head.

Thailand

“Rose, Rose, Rose…” Bison’s bodiless voice laughed, “It amazes me how resilient you think you really are.”

“Leave her alone, Bison!” an angry and squeaky voice hissed back. “Is it befitting you to pick on those weaker than yourself?”

“Weaker? No, Guy, Rose was perhaps one of my strongest enemies. As they say, that there is no bigger enemy than one’s own self.” Bison laughed at his words from his bodiless, invisible state of being. “In your case, however, I’d say that’s anything but truth, little gerbil.” He laughed even louder at that, “Do not fume in anger. You’ll probably be glad to know that a certain military man named Rolento has been captured by me. I know he’s not one of your friends, now is he?”

“Rolento? Why would you bother with him?” the bushin-gone-gerbil asked. At this time, he honestly did not really care about anything but regaining humanity and slaughtering Bison, preferably in a brutal manner.

“He has an interesting potential as a host body with his military knowledge of explosives and his surprising agility, especially for his age.” the disembodied voice sighed, “Ah, but in brighter news for you, Sodom has taken up to chumming around with Michael Haggar. It’s admirable of him to still hate you so much, and after far so long. I’d almost feel blessed to have such a lasting impact on someone. Oh wait, I have had that impact on many people.” Far too many to name, to be exact in that matter. He could do without any of them for the time being, if he could avoid it. “If your friend does well on his mission, you’ll both be free to go.”

“Free?” Guy asked as his gerbil paws rapped lightly against the edge of his cage. “Free?! A world controlled by you, and that’d be freedom?” the Bushin was outraged. He had been outraged for years now, being little more than a gerbil of a guinea pig. “Wait, did you say Sodom? As in…”

“I’m sure you remember Sodom, for he still hates you quite a lot after all.” Bison cackled with a sense of pleasure at the gerbil’s shock. “It’s amazing how he manages to put up with Maki’s trash talk and sour attitude so well. Perhaps his love of Japanese women is a bit too strong.”

Guy sighed, annoyed at Bison’s banter. “Why are you even talking to me as though I wish to hear you at all?”

Bison’s reply took a second to come forth, “I’ve been dead for the last four years of my life, and demons aren’t exactly the most enjoyable conversationalists. Do I not deserve some sort of compensation?”

“There is no sympathy for the likes of you, bastard!” Guy hissed in his squeaky, rodent tone. “You are evil, and everything you do goes against everything the Bushin way stands for!”

“Does the Bushin way include honesty?”

“Yes, it is important for a Bushin warrior to be honest whenever they can be.”

“Hmm… I don’t seem to go against ‘everything’, now do I? To you, I’m probably just repeating myself, but I do not lie! Know that you are free to go if you tell nobody that you were here or that I’m still here.”

Guy’s gaze narrowed as he focused on whatever of Bison’s he could, though there was no physical form to hurt, he was a spiritual entity, and with focus, his dark mind could probably be sensed. “No. I refuse! Even if I lose my life against you, I will not let you win!”

“Ah, and the kettle is black, so sayeth the pot itself.” Bison laughed lightly, “It is this attitude that led Rose to me once before. It is funny how you told her that such a sacrifice was not the right thing to do, only to show that you too are under the same influence which is the path to martyrdom.”

Guy was speechless. Bison was too good at mind games for the bushin rodent to even think he could keep up with him. “But… at this point, I have little to lose. I have lost my honor, failed my title, and am a victim of inhumane sorcery. What left do I have to live for?”

Bison laughed again, his voice booming this time around, “Oh, you have lost your honor indeed. You are being so selfish, that you forget to realize your friend Cody is under my servitude. There is also Mr. Haggar who still respects and worries about how you’ve disappeared, if you’ve forgotten already. Your beloved home of Metro City would make for a nice pile of ashes.”

Guy could not think of anything to say in his own defense. All he could do, was groan, and then run the wheel. He had to deal with his years as a rodent sending him deep into insanity, and probably senility, as rodents don’t live very long.

Bison laughed lightly yet again, “I like you.” he said to Guy, a slight of spite and sarcasm in his tone. “You’re a fun conversationalist. Now be a good hamster.”

Guy unleashed a groan of agony, “Ugh! I’m a gerbil!” he yelled, before growling at himself. ‘I need to stop doing that!’ It had become rather instinctual for the bushin rodent to correct being called a hamster with Senoh calling him by the wrong rodent specie all the time.

Italy

“Ok boys!” spoke a heavily Italian toned voice with an air of power and force in a somewhat dark rundown shack with a dimly lit light. “We’s gots ourselves a squealer ‘mongst us.” said the man. With slick, graying, brown hair that was short, and thick, he looked amongst his gathered cronies.

“Does ya knows who it is, boss, does ya?” Asked one of the cronies.

The boss nodded, as he answered with a cocky smile in a pompous tone, “Yea, I knows. If you’s notice, our squealing friend ain’t here.”

“Jimmy Boy was a squealer?” gasped one of the others in the room. “I always thought he hated crowds and loved gatherings.”

The boss eyed the room, “Uh, no, wasn’t not Jimmy Boy. Jimmy’s just busy workin’ some undercover deal as a Merchant of Venice. Uh, it was been Gumpo! Gumpo squealed to the cops, so now he ain’t no longer with us.” It seems, that running a mafia was a business that knew no love. It was life or death, most of the time if you were to turn your back on the gang.

“Punchy ain’t here neither.” said another gangster. “Punchy ain’t no squealer too, is he?”

“No, Tony ain’t.” The boss man nodded. Though Antonio was his real name, the gang dubbed him Punchy, because he used karate. “He just busy in Genoa.”

“Why ain’t he here in Florence?” yet a third gangster asked. “What he doin’ there?”

The gangster who questioned Jimmy Boy’s lack of show snickered loudly, “Heh! That jerk’s probably doin’ that them karate crap.” he chuckled, before putting his hands in a mock ready Kung Fu stance, “Waha! Yah! Woota!” he wailed, mimicking the stereotype martial artists seen in Hollywood movie production. The others laughed, joining in, laughing at their friend’s expense.

“Haha!” laughed another of the mobsters, “He actually wasted his time to learn how to t’row a punch. That’s funny!”

It was then that a voice rang out through the room, “Oh, how the ignorant like to laugh at the smart and their betters.” It was Bison, but the Italian gangsters did not know that.

“Someone’s wearin’ a wire!” shouted one of the mob members, and the sound of guns being drawn soon followed.

“No, none of you are wearing a wire.” Bison laughed. “It’s morons like you who make it sound true when they say that crime doesn’t pay.”

“Who is ya? And where is ya?” asked the mob boss, surprised by where someone could be hiding in the middle of a lit, empty warehouse in broad daylight.

“You forget who I am already?” Bison said, faking sadness. “I hired you morons long ago. My name is M. Bison, the leader of Shadaloo.”

“Eh? I remembers you!” The boss stated calmly, “You still owes us for last time. Ya’s wanted us to kill some girlie named Jo, I thinks it was.”

“It was Rose, and I am not here to make business with you morons. In fact, you’re not even worth a fraction of a lira!” Bison said with a rather calm, yet slightly spiteful tone.

“He ain’t gonna give us our lire, boss! He’s withholdin’ our money!” one of the mobsters stated frantically.

“If you’re not here to pays us, why is ya here?” asked the boss. “I don’t take kindly to those who try and cheats me.

Bison sneered, “None of you were, or are worthy of anything. Well, other than Tony.”

The boss broke out into laughter now, himself. “Is ya crazy? Tony’s a nut! He does them karate stuff, he does.”

“It makes him more of a person than you’ll ever be.” Bison retorted. “He has a great, inner power and focus you’d never understand.”

“I sees…” the boss lied.

“I wouldn’t think of that if I were you.” Bison said, almost disappointed, “You cannot fool a psychic. I know you’re ready to put a hit on Tony. However, I assure you that he will not squeal on you. Furthermore, if you try to get rid of him, all of your loved ones will be killed by my hand when I have one. Am I understood?”

The boss rolled his eyes. “Yea, so what’s the occasion? You wants to get rid of that purple haired woman yet again?” The others laughed.

“Tony actually LIKES that freaky woman!” One of the mobsters laughed, “She gots purple hair, I tells ya! PURPLE, and she says it’s natural. It ain‘t no natural hair.”

“Rose is a very different individual than most people you’ll ever meet. I will leave you with this warning not to put Antonio’s life in any danger.” Bison stated, “I’ll know if you try. It’ll be the end of your business if you do. Should he accept my offer to join Shadaloo whenever he wishes, you WILL be supportive, and respectful of his choice.” With that, Bison was gone.

It was a few minutes of silence, just to make sure he was not just waiting for them to speak yet again. That was when someone broke wind, and everyone covered their noses. “So, what does we do now, boss?”

“We’s keep an eye on Tony.” Boss stated. “He may be strange, but he is be one of us, and we ain’t to abandon him if he still with us. If he does leave us, kill him if he squeals.”

“Are ya’s sure ya wanna do that, boss?” asked one of the henchmen. “Tony ain’t the most useful or important of us, is he?”

The boss sighed, “Tony is actually a very useful asset. His ability to fight the way he does makes him a valuable one, even if he ain’t true to his country by usin’ it. It‘d be a shames to lose a asset, wouldn’t it? I needs time to thinks about this all… until then, we’re here to hold a meeting, so a meeting we shall hold.” He stated, an it was back to the criminal business as usual.

Mongolia

“So, talk to me, old man.” Kushik said casually. He and his uncle shared a bond only psychics could, and were able to easily talk to each other about almost anything. “What’s the problem?”

“Do you remember when I told you about a man named Bison?” Chad’s bodiless voice asked, calmly, yet somewhat saddened.

“Yea, he sounds like a jerk.” nodded Kushik

“He is… and thanks to a blunder on my part, he’s alive once more. I put my beautiful Rose in danger and ruined everything.” Chad stated, submerged in guilt. Had he a head to hang low to the ground, it’d be hung so much that it’d be strangled by a noose.

“Who is this Rose that you always talk about?” Kushik asked.

Chad’s disembodied voice filled the room with a slight laughter, “Rose is the most beautiful young lady that this old Mongol ever laid eyes upon. If you want to see her, I have a few pictures of her in the cabinet in the to your left, by the wall of the yurt.”

The young Mongolian boy complied, as he moved towards the filing cabinet, opening it up, and holding out a picture. In it, was the face of a young woman with purple hair, yet she was not smiling for the camera at all. As he found more, he noticed yet again a lack of smiles were found. “Is this her, with the purple hair.”

“Yes, that is Rose, a beauty that you must not get drawn into, lest it control your life.” Chad stated, perhaps a bit too dramatically, unless one knew how obsessed he was.

Kushik eyed the girl up and down carefully. “Why isn’t she smiling in any of these pictures?”

Chad’s reply was a bit hesitant, almost a stammer at first “Rose… she’s had a rough life.” Chad sighed a sigh any man without a body would make. “What is it you kids say women old enough to be mothers are, yet still good looking are called? Malk?

Kushik shrugged, “I see… and it’s MILF!” Kushik rolled his eyes, “Eh, she looks hot, I guess.” she didn’t exactly seem his type. He wasn’t a big fan of MILFs. “So what’s this dire news? I don’t want to hear about your sex life.”

Chad chuckled, as the crystal ball glowed. “There’s an evil crime lord with a dark, yet incredible power out there. His name is M. Bison, and he has psychic abilities that are incredibly destructive.”

“Wow, so what’s the catch? Am I, like, uh, supposed to be able to stop him?” His sarcasm was thick enough to crush a candycane. "I don’t buy into that crap where kids can overcome the odds and beat superpower evil villains, and such.” Kushik stated honestly. Kushik was a smart one, for he knew well of the ways of the Mary Sue and it's despicability for society.

“You are not to be the one who defeats this Bison, but should try to play an important role in fate in the near future.” it was at that at which Chad changed the subject, “Did I ever tell you how I met Rose? It is how I learned about Bison.”

“Yes, you did. I don’t want to hear about how you scored with her when you were in your sixties, or seventies, or whatever. The point is, you were old, and that scares me! Please, do NOT tell me that ever again! I’m still mentally scarred by the thought, considering she was, uh, how old?”

“Seventeen…” Chad trailed off, sighing. “Look, I was wrong, okay? I feel guilty about it, as well. I don’t think Rose will ever forgive me for it, and I don’t deserve an apology!” He sighed yet again, “The point is, she was under Bison’s teaching for about half a decade, until she escaped. That was where I come into play. I found her somewhere along the border in northern China. I don’t know how the hell she got there, but it was my best find, ever! Rose didn’t like camels very much, or horses, which is a damn shame, really.”

“Right…” Kushik blinked, not even paying attention. This stuff was as boring as hell to listen to.

“Boring as hell indeed! This place utterly sucks, Kushik!” Chad laughed at his words, as he read the mind of his nephew.

“Wait a minute!” Kushik interrupted, “Why did you never fight him youself?”

“I was in my eighties, and had a bad back. Do you expect me to throw from my punch and throw up my lung? An old man can only do so much.”

Kushik sighed, it was going to be a long day. Chad was just rambling. Rambling about Rose, Bison, boring stuff, and everything he didn’t give a damn about… the past. He wanted to know the future!

Barcelona, Spain

Vega lounged around in his favorite comfy chair, lazily enjoying the day. Januara still hadn’t hit the road and gone back home to Toledo, or maybe even just go to Bison’s. He had to make the best of it, and what better way to do that, than to tick her off. What better way to do that than to shoot her a flashy smile and a wink every few minutes, as she stared at him with anger, only getting angrier to his teasing flirts. Life was fine until that day that she was abducted from her home, a decade back. Now, she was a doll, even if she had her free will, she was empty and unguided by anything but singular objectives. Sure, she could kill Vega and get vengeance, but that would never be enough. What would she do with her empty, dollish life then? She was less than human. What could she truly find herself wanting to accomplish?

“Vega, why did you decide to let me live, even after I spit in your face?” the pink haired girl asked, “I mean, I hate you, want to kill you, and might try again in the future?”

“What good would killing you have done?” Vega shrugged, nonchalantly, as he ran a hand through his lengthy hair for dramatic poise. “The crying is beautiful enough to let you keep your life. Further reasons still… I don’t @#%$ dolls.”

Enero rolled her eyes “Uh, I guess I should say thanks for letting me live and all, even if I don’t want to.”

“Si, don’t think I was letting you live for your own benefit! Perhaps, I’ve just gotten too soft and too sympathetic for you freaks… ‘dolls.’”

“I’d say that’s quite how you feel about Cammy.” Enero shrugged, until she noticed Vega’s claw in front of her face before she realized what happened.

“I wouldn’t bring up such things that you don’t understand.” Vega hissed, his words dark, as his clawless arm threatened to strangle her to death “If you understood, you’d know that Cammy…”

“Has risen to humanity. Yes, I’ve been trained for reconnaissance. I know all about you!” Enero retorted. “You are simple to understand. You are also dangerous, and repulsive, but still, you are a very simple chico to understand.”

“Gracias, señorita!” Vega grinned, laughing softly with his effeminate voice. “But if you ever call me chico again, I will not give you the chance to live.”

“De nada,” Enero stated with a false bow and sarcasm in every word. “Tirón!”

Bison’s laughter then sounded through Vega’s home. “I see you two get along quite nicely.”

“Shove it!” Enero hissed, “I’m not in the mood!”

Bison laughed at her rudeness. “My, what anger! I love it! Ah, but I am here to give you both your first mission… for this servitude that is.”

“Ah, Señor Bison!” Vega stated with faked amazement, “I didn’t say I accepted your offer yet.”

“I know.” Bison replied, “You were about to. Fear not, for I think you’ll like your mission… at least, somewhat.”

Vega cocked his eyebrow, “Well then… continue, por favor!”

“Rose will be your first target… both of you!” Bison grinned, “Though I know it may seem strange of me to ask that. Oh, I know you just said so yourself, ‘I don’t @#%$ dolls’, and Rose is probably much like any doll that I’ve ever had. Her mind has little focus on anything but my demise, and she’ll be somewhat lost without her motivation to live.”

Vega’s eyes lit up. “Hmm, I guess I could, but…” he paused, “I’m working with... her?” he pointed to the pink haired spy.

Bison chuckled. “Yes,” Bison replied. “Do try not to tear each other to pieces if you can avoid it, would you? I‘d prefer Rose be left alive. Actually, Rose has company. I’d prefer they all remain alive as well.”

“Why?” asked the pink haired doll with suspicion. “What use do you have with the weaker part of your soul?”

“That is not for you to know. I may never lie, but I will have secrets of my own!” Bison snapped. Even an evil overlord had his secrets. “I suggest you two try and get along. You are ‘partners in crime’ for the time being.” Bison laughed as his dark presence disappeared.

“Great! I’m stuck working with this masked jerk!” the January doll sighed, as Vega laughed.

The matador put a hand around the pink haired girl’s shoulder, “Oh, we’re going to have so much FUN!” he hissed in a soft, chilling tone as he ran his tongue up the woman’s neck. He knew she hated everything that Vega was, and it thrilled him to tick her off about it. “¡Fiesta!” he exclaimed, his sanity not backing his word as he chuckled in a disturbingly calm manner.