Chun Li's Christmas Carol
Chapter Two: The First Guardian
By The Headcrook and Ted Hsu

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

A slender hand reached out under the mass of blankets and made several attempts to press the snooze button on her digital alarm clock. After several attempts, she knocked the offending timepiece from the nightstand, effectively turning the clock off.

Chun Li kicked of the duvet and sat up. Yawning, she kicked her legs over the bed and stood up, wearing only a tanktop and a pair of blue silk pajama pants. Following a series of stretches and throwing a couple of practice punches and kicks, she bent down to pick up her alarm clock.

'Stupid alarm clock,' she thought darkly. 'Why the hell did I set the alarm so damn early? I swear, Ryu has been rubbing off on me. I am so not a morning...' Chun Li had froze when she had seen the time on her alarm clock.

The time read 1:00 a.m.

Her head snapped up as she heard a soft ringing, followed by someone singing a chant. She recognized the chant, given her Buddhist upbringing as one who sings for the dead.

The second thought was more evident: someone was inside her apartment.

Chun Li's reaction was automatic, honed by her years in Interpol. She padded over to one corner of her room, where her shoulder holster hanged on a coat rack. Chun Li was a martial artist, but she was also pretty handy with a firearm, a crack-shot, having been ranked fourth in international competition.

Chun Li pulled out her handgun, a gift to her from both Guile and Cammy, a Heckler and Koch USP. Making sure that it was loaded and a bullet was jacked into the chamber, Chun Li exited the room, gun leveled in both hands as she followed the sound of the ringing and singing.

The source came from the living room. There was a man there. From Chun Li's perspective, the man was tall, dressed in ancient red armor. A face mask covered the top half of his face, leaving only the eyes exposed. Wild white hair was pulled into a long ponytail. The ringing came from his staff - a Buddhist stave. Chun Li took notice of the strange bronze metal gauntlet that was attached to his left arm.

Chun Li kept the gun leveled at his chest. "Don't move!" she commanded.

The man slowly stood up, literally standing over Chun Li, standing nearly six feet tall. "I mean you no harm," the man replied. "I was merely singing a song for the dead. I am a monk, after all."

Chun Li scoffed. "Monks are bald and don't wear armor. You're a warrior."

The man grunted. "How perceptive of you. I was a warrior, at one time in my former life. It was back during the Sengoku period."

"Sengoku?" Chun Li repeated. She knew about the Sengoku period. "'The Age of the Country at War.' You're Japanese."

The man nodded. Then he lashed out with his staff. The first blow knocked Chun Li's gun out of her hand, sending it clattering across the floor. He then swung the stave low in a sweeping arc, striking her legs, sending her to the floor.

"Very sloppy, Chun Li," the man said, as he removed his face mask. "In my former life as a samurai, my name was Hidemitsu Samanouske Akechi. Now, I am known as Nankobo Tenkai. I am a guardian of the past, so to speak."

"You were a samurai?" Chun Li asked as she got to her feet, mentally berating herself for being caught off guard. She didn't get no bad vibes off of Tenkai, regardless of him attacking her.

Tenkai nodded. "Yes." He sat down. "I was a samurai for the Saito clan. One day, I went ronin, and decided to see the world...or at least the known world outside of Japan. I traveled into China, Korea and even into Mongolia, broadening my horizons. Then I came back and got caught in Nobunaga's campaign to conquer Japan. That's how I got this," he said, gesturing to the gauntlet.

"Nobunaga Oda? The famous Japanese warlord?" Chun Li inquired. Despite having a strange man inside her apartment, her curiosity was piqued.

"One and the same," Tenkai replied. "You will never see this in the history books, but Oda died on the fields of Okehazama. I saw him take an arrow to the throat. But he was revived by shall I say...inhuman means. Long story short, I managed to finally defeat him at Honnoji Temple decades later. But enough about me. We must go. We got a lot to do and not enough time to do it in."

"Go? Go where?" Chun Li asked.

Tenkai merely smiled. "We're going to visit your past." He then tapped his stave on the floor.

Chun Li looked around. She wasn't inside her apartment. In fact, she wasn't even in Hong Kong anymore. After looking around, what she saw verified it for her.

She was standing outside an orphanage.

The orphanage was a converted hotel, with three floors, each room being able to hold six kids at a time. The British flag that flew from the flagpole showed that it was sponsored and funded by the British government.

Chun Li recognized the place immediately. Tenkai watched as her posture changed, the Chinese woman remembering things she had thought she had forgotten.

"Recognize this place?" Tenkai asked.

"I should," Chun Li replied softly, not turning around. "It's the orphanage outside of Kuala Lumpur." She sighed. "I know about my birth parents, but...I can't remember them. They died when I was three, and I was sent here."

Chun Li took notice of the single light from the third floor. "That was my room. I shared it with other orphans and abandoned children. I think out of all of the children there, I was the only Chinese girl in my age group."

Tenkai tapped his stave and in an instant, they were inside the room. Five beds were empty, the beds made. Only one had an occupant; a sad-eyed Chinese girl of four years old. Chun Li sat down on one of the beds as she watched her younger self hug her knees, rocking herself slowly.

"My real parents were freedom fighters, fighting against the rising power of the Communist government in China. Near the end of Mao's regime, they fled to Malaysia, where they had friends inside the British Consulate. They tried to flee to Hong Kong, but the risk was too great. That's where I was born."

Chun Li swallowed visibly. "They died in a fire. The orphanage was run by a agency located in Hong Kong. I stayed there until I was five." She looked at the crying girl. "That little girl was me. Hard to believe, isn't it?" She wiped the tears from her eyes. "Can we go?"

Tenkai nodded and tapped his stave on the floor.

After rubbing the blindness from her eyes, Chun Li saw that she was still inside the orphanage, save that it was now daytime.

After a moment, she spied her younger self once again, only this time, the young girl was now sporting a bandage on one arm. She was seated on a bench, watching the other kids play.

"You were always a fighter, even as a child, were you?" Tenkai asked.

Chun Li nodded. "I remember this day. I got into a fight with one of the Malay girls in my dorm. I ended up with a bruise on my arm and she ended up with a bloody nose." She smiled sardonically at the memory.

"Something else happened on this day, didn't it?" the warrior monk asked.

After a moment, Chun Li saw one of the orphanage directors talking to a Chinese man. The man was dressed in a white shirt, slacks and shoes. His hair was neatly combed back and the moustache and goatee was neatly trimmed. Chun Li recognized the man immediately.

Her foster father, Dourai Xiang.

Tenkai looked at the happy expression on her face.

"Daddy didn't tell me until later on," Chun Li admitted. "The directors had told him that I was always picking fights with the other kids, that I was withdrawn following my parents' death. I guess the directors had tried to dissuade him into adopting me. Dourai's response was 'That girl was born into this life with no advantages. I would like to see her rewarded instead of punished.'"

After a moment, Chun Li continued. "He was visiting friends in Kuala Lumpur, He came across the orphanage by chance, since a friend of his worked there. Most of the other children were Malay. No one wanted a Chinese girl as a daughter. But he did. He adopted me as his own daughter and took me to Hong Kong."

Chun Li watched as Dourai walked over to the sad little girl and took a seat on the bench. "You know, it's too pretty a day to be so unhappy," he said, trying to get a reaction from the girl. "Why so shy? Did you fall down? There's nothing to be ashamed of. Even the best stumble from time to time. What's your name?"

The little girl looked up at Dourai. "My name is Chun Li," she replied.

"Chun Li..." Dourai repeated. "'Beauty from the heart of spring.' A good, strong name. A good Chinese name."

"You're from China?"

"Hong Kong, to be precise, little one," Dourai replied. "My name is Dourai. Dourai Bo Xiang. If you want, I can take you to Hong Kong with me."

The girl's eyes lit up. "Really? You'll take me with you?"

Dourai nodded. "Of course, you'll have to call me Baba," he replied, smiling. "And I will raise you as my own daughter. What do you say, Li?"

Chun Li nodded eagerly. Anything to get away from this hellhole. And Dourai was her golden ticket to a better life.

Dourai smiled and stood up. He bent down and picked the girl up, carrying her from the courtyard.

The older Chun Li watched this scene with tears in her eyes. Tenkai noticed her expression and produced a handkerchief. Chun Li accepted it and wiped her eyes. "Thank you," she said.

"Now I see why you hold Dourai in such high regard," Tenkai noted.

Chun Li nodded. "He took me to a better life. He had no children of his own, seeing as how his wife was killed in a car accident, so he chose to adopt a child. For that, I am eternally grateful to him. It was only the two of us, but it was the best moments of my life. It was through Dourai that I managed to meet Master Gen."

"Funny you should mention that," Tenkai replied. "That's our next stop."

TAP. Tenkai tapped the ground with his stave.

Chun Li shook off the temporary blindness. "Give me a verbal warning next time you do that," she muttered. "I can end up going blind from you doing that."

"Sorry about that," Tenkai apologized.

Once her vision was back to normal, Chun Li saw that she was back in Hong Kong. More importantly, the Genhanten Restaurant.

The Genhanten was one of the more popular restaurant in Hong Kong. Aside from Gen being the owner of the establishment, the local Triads tend to steer clear of him. After all, trying to make a retired assassin pay protection fees was a good way to be sent to the hospital...or in some cases, the morgue.

Chun Li watched as Dourai entered the closed restaurant, with the young Chun Li in his arms. Dourai closed the door and locked it behind him.

Gen entered the dining room area, upon hearing the door open and close. He looked at Dourai and frowned. "What's this?" he asked. "You bringing home strays now?"

"Very funny, Master," Dourai said as he set Chun Li down, presenting her to the old man. "This is my daughter. I adopted her while I was in Malaysia." He then conducted the introductions. "Chun Li, this is my old martial arts teacher, Master Gen. Gen, this is Chun Li Xiang."

The young Chun Li looked at Gen for a moment before hiding behind her father's legs. "She's still a bit shy," Dourai admitted. "I'm trying to break her out of her shell."

"Nothing that a plate of house fried rice can't fix," Gen suggested.

At that, Chun Li's head poked out from Dourai's legs. "Fried rice? Where?"

Gen pointed to a seat. "Take a seat, child. I will bring some food out for you."

The young girl eagerly took a seat. Minutes later, Gen emerged from the kitchen, holding a steaming bowl of house fried rice, with an eggroll. He set the bowl down and retreated back into the kitchen. He returned with a glass of water, and a pair of chopsticks, setting the items down in front of the young girl.

As the young girl ate her food with gusto, Dourai pulled Gen to the side.

"She has a healthy appetite," Gen noted. "Where did you find her?"

"She was in an orphanage in Kuala Lumpur. No one gave her a chance, so I decided to take her in."

"How noble of you," Gen remarked dryly.

"There is another reason why I came to see you," Dourai added. "I want you to train her in martial arts. You owe me for turning a blind eye to your...previous occupation."

Gen sized the girl up. "Hmm...the child does have potential. I can sense it in her ki. You can keep your favor, Dourai. I will train her. I could use the exercise."

"Thank you."

Gen nodded and walked over to Chun Li, who was halfway through with her food. The elder man took a seat across the young girl. "Is the food to your liking?"

Chun Li nodded, mouthful of rice and eggroll. "Mm-hmm."

"I have a question for you, young Li," Gen continued. "Would you permit me in letting me teach you martial arts?"

The young girl looked at the old man, curious. "Martial arts? You know Kung Fu?"

"I know many styles, child," Gen replied sagely. "Including Wushu Kung Fu. I trained your father, after all."

Chun Li's eyes went wide. "You are willing to teach me?" she asked shyly.

Gen smiled as he countered with another question. "The question is, are you willing to learn?"

The young Chun Li nodded.

Gen's grin broadened as he patted the girl's head. "Good. Once you get settled in and get the neighborhood down, we will begin your training," the former assassin decreed. "From here on out, you will address me either as Sifu or Master. Understand?"

"Yes, Sifu," Chun Li said.

From behind her, Chun Li heard Tenkai clear his throat. "Shut your eyes, Li," he said.

Chun Li did so, just as Tenkai tapped the stave along the floor.

Looking around, she recognized the area immediately. She was in Japan, more importantly, the Ansatsuken School of Martial Arts. Breaking into a run, Chun Li ran up the stone pathway, until she reached the courtyard. Tenkai followed her at a much slower pace.

In the courtyard, was a teenage version of herself, along with a younger Ryu and Ken. The younger version of herself was perched along the courtyard wall, watching Ryu and Ken spar...or at least they were trying to. They were in truth, actually trying to impress Chun Li.

"You spent the summer here in Japan, didn't you?" Tenkai asked as stood beside Chun Li.

The Chinese martial artist nodded. "Master Gen and Gouken were friends. He talked Daddy into letting me train in Japan for the summer. That was when I met Ryu for the first time." She smiled at the memory. "I remember this very well. They were trying to impress me. Ken was a show-off, more of a ladies' man." She looked at Ryu, white headband flowing behind him as he attacked Ken. "But Ryu...we connected. Maybe it was he was an orphan too and Gouken took him in."

"You never told him about your past?" Tenkai asked.

Chun Li shook her head.

Tenkai looked around the place. He took notice of the massive mountain palace that shadowed the training grounds and dojo. "Funny. I never noticed how Suzaku Castle looked a lot like Inabayama Castle."

Chun Li looked at the guardian. "What?"

Tenkai waved her off. "Nothing. Just thinking about something from my own past."

The Chinese fighter shrugged her shoulders and turned back to the scene that was unfolding in front of her.

Ken, in the meantime, assumed the crane kick position - hands outstretched in a modified Y, one knee raised, standing on his tiptoe. "What do you think, Ryu?" he asked. "I learned this from a movie."

"Like I'm gonna let you get me with that move," Ryu retorted.

"You're right," Ken replied. "I'll just use this on you!"

With that, he tackled Ryu. Putting the Japanese teenager in a headlock, he proceeded to give him a noogie, grinding his knuckles into Ryu's head. "Ha-ha! Too slow, Hoshi! Wooga-wooga-wooga."

"Get...off…me!" Ryu shouted as he did the only thing he could to get Ken to let him go. He tossed him. Ken flipped out of the throw. "You accusing me of slumping off, pretty boy?"

Chun Li watched as her younger self hopped down from the wall to intervene. "That's enough, you two. I don't want to explain to Master Gouken why his two disciples were hurt in their attempts to impress me."

Ken smirked at Ryu and walked off. "Whatever. I'll be at the waterfall."

"Sometimes, I wonder why I put up with him," Ryu groused, arms folded across his chest. "At least he isn't as annoying as Dan Hibiki."

"I think he's okay," Chun Li replied.

Ryu turned to her and grinned. "I know. You're not coming to Thailand for this tournament?"

Chun Li shook her head. "As much as I want to, Daddy and Sifu are dead set in not letting me go. Besides, I heard that the tournament champion is some Muay Thai kickboxer. Are you sure you're strong enough to beat him?"

Ryu puffed out his chest in a overly macho manner. "I can take on anybody, anytime, anywhere. I'm gonna be the strongest fighter in the world."

"Oh yeah?" Chun Li replied, rising to the challenge. "I'm gonna be the strongest woman in the world!"

"Well, if it means anything," Ryu said, "You're the strongest girl I know."

That comment made Chun Li blush. "Really?"

Ryu nodded. "Yeah. And cute too."

"Thanks. That really means a lot, coming from you."

Ryu gently grabbed her hand. "Come on. I'll buy you some ice cream in town."

The real Chun Li watched as both herself and Ryu walked towards the dojo. Tenkai caught the look on her face. "A yen for your thoughts?" he asked.

"We were so happy back then," Chun Li replied. A sad smile crept across her face. "We were just kids back then, full of hot air, acting like we all has something to prove."

"So what happened?" Tenkai asked.

"Bison and Akuma. Gouken was murdered by his own brother and my father was killed by that monster. Ryu avenged his father figure and went on to defeat Bison in the second tournament. But it was Guile and myself that dealt the death blow on Bison when he tried to attack Ryu from behind." She sighed. "I never was one to remember the past. I just avoided it entirely, since parts of it were too painful. I've been running from it for so long."

WHACK. Tenkai smacked Chun Li on the back of her head with his stave.

"OW! What the hell was that for?" Chun Li demanded, wincing from the pain.

"It's in the past," Tenkai replied. "So why cry over it?

"Because it still hurts thinking about it."

Tenkai nodded. "So true. The past does hurt. In some cases, from experience, it can eat you alive if you dwell on the bad rather than the good. However, you have two choices in the matter: learn from your mistakes..or keep running."

To make his point, Tenkai took another swing at Chun Li. This time, she ducked.

Tenkai smiled. "You see? You're learning." His smile then faltered. "Come, Chun Li. My time is up. It's time to go."

"Wait! Why are you showing me all of this?" Chun Li asked, stopping Tenkai from tapping the ground with his stave.

"To remind you of who you are, and of the person you became," Tenkai replied. "Remember your past, Chun Li Xiang. Otherwise, the path you are taking can very well destroy you."

He then tapped the ground three times.

Chun Li's vision then exploded in a flash of white.

A.N.: Yeah, I stuck references from The Lion King and Memoirs of a Geisha into the story. Sue me.