A week ago,

“You guys have it?” Ryu asked in a hush tone, his eyes darting left and right.
“Nah.” Kumori handed him an envelope.
“It’s in here Don’t say you don’t like it ah. I spent hours listening to you go on and on so that I could capture that moment you spoke of. All are your own words ah. Hwwaaaa…” Kumori yawned, watching Ryu open that envelope.

“….Thank you… It is most beautiful indeed.” He took a look at its contents before putting it away again.
“And here’s your stuff…” Iwa said handing him another envelope.
“Thank you too. Now remember your promises. I apologise for working the two of you so hard.”
“Yeah yeah our lips are sealed. We wouldn’t tell. Bye.” Kumori turned to leave.
“Man I need my sleep…See you around on the second day of Chinese New Year. I’m going home ….Hwaaaaaaah…” Iwa yawned as she left.
 

As they headed to the main gates the two ran into ChunLi.
“Li Jie! You okay? You shouldn’t be moving around so much.” Iwa said as she and Kumori help ChunLi to the bench.

“Ahhh. It’s no big deal. I would only be more irritable if I have sit around too much. So. What have you two being up too? Disappearing for some time? And you Kumori. You have a habit of coming when there’s something up.” ChunLi’s hand stroking her belly.

“..Nothing’s up. Just ..hanging around. Can’t I visit a friend?” Kumori shrugged. ChunLi shifted her gaze to Iwa.
“Me? Back to the island of course. Jack told me to pick up the tonic he made for you.” Iwa said.

“..More soup…..bleah…the bitter ones again?”
“Er… no, he said it’s the semi sour one. And forbids you to get Ryu to help drink that stuff for you.” Iwa said as she sniffed again.
“If you don’t tell and I don’t tell. He won’t know.” ChunLi hinted.
“Heck no! I don’t want to get into trouble from him.” Iwa raised both hands in front of her.

“Okay…So what did Ryu get me?” ChunLi asked sweetly.
“We don’t know.” Kumori answered innocently.
“Come on. I’ll just act surprise for him. Tell me.”
“We seriously do not know.”
“Yeah. What she said.” Iwa added.

"You are hiding something from me.”
“…….” Kumori looked at Iwa who shrugged.
“I’m waiting”
“You know. K this would be a most excellent time for me to not be ‘grounded’. So don’t even think of flying off without me.” Iwa threatened her friend.
“Heh.”

“You two really can’t say it huh?”
“……”
“Okay go.”
“Thanks. And Dolph wants me to give you this.” Iwa handed a package to ChunLi.
“Ah thanks.” Taking the opportunity while ChunLi was busy inspecting her parcel the two girls just ran out of the gate as fast as they could.
“Kids…” ChunLi shook her head and headed to her room.
 
 

Now 5h February 2000
Shotoken-Wushu Dojo.
 

The cool breeze of the morning carries with it the scent of blossoms from the trees that lines of the wall outside the dojo. The dojo was quiet this morning for all its students had gone home to spend the Chinese New Year vacation with their families. Ryu had single-handedly decorated the dojo but under ChunLi's supervision of course.

The couple was standing by the front gate. ChunLi in a beige silk loose cheongsam specially tailored for her in her final stage of pregnancy. While Ryu wore a sleeveless light brown shirt under his blue vest, new dark blue jeans for the season.
 

At the main gate, Ryu held out a string of firecrackers for ChunLi’s inspection. She lighted a match and lit the fuse.
“Ho ge lei! Wai ge Hoi! (the good things come and the bad things go)” Ryu shouted as he flung the firecrackers out and leapt to ChunLi’s side.

“CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!” It sizzled and popped loudly till the last one pop. Ryu and ChunLi strolled towards the pavilion.
 

“Happy 7th anniversary Aisai.” Ryu said, gently kissing ChunLi’s lips.
“You too.” She smiled, patting his hand.
“Has it being seven years already?” Ryu mused as he poured a cup of tea for ChunLi and one for him as well. He offered her a cracker as well.
“Time sure flew by huh. Some said we wouldn’t make it. Prove them wrong we did.” ChunLi took a sip from her tea.

“I got something for you.” The couple said at the same time. They laughed realizing each other’s eagerness.
“You first.” Ryu said.

ChunLi handed him a parcel. Ryu eyed the rectangular object with suspicions.
“This better not be another mysterious volume, Li.”
“Aww and I have three more copies to translate.” ChunLi frowned,
“Uggh….” Ryu’s eyes were wide open.
“Heh heh… Relax, I was pulling your leg.” ChunLi giggled.
“Li…” he breathed a sign of relief.
“Well? Open it already.”
 

Unwrapping the parcel, Ryu found a woolen scarf, he recognised where the soft, warm wool came from, for the quality as it was only available in one place and that he had a feeling who had taught ChunLi to knit as well.

“You approached him to teach you to knit?” Ryu asked.
“Yeah. My first and last piece of project for you. Had wanted to knit a sweater. But he said I’m a fighter, not a knitter and that I should just keep my job.” ChunLi smiled sheepishly.

“I’ll always keep this with me Li.” Ryu removed the scarf gently, a book dropped out of the parcel. A feeling of dread returns and he picked up the book.
“…..Li…this would not happen to be one of those books….?” Ryu eyed her.
“You won’t know unless you read it.” ChunLi shook her finger at him.
 

Ryu began browsing the book, a few chapters later he looked up in astonishment.
“How? How did you remember all those stories?”
“I didn’t. I cornered Zannah Jie and bothered her to retell every single detail.” ChunLi beamed. Ryu couldn’t find the words to say, for he was amazed that his wife had managed to compile all those stories that were told to them during their childhood. All he could do was hand her his gift in silence as he tries to regain his composure.
 

Removing the wrapping paper, ChunLi found another jewelry box staring at her. Obviously Ryu had being craving again. The noticeable differences there were two small drawers at the bottom and the lid was held shut by a lock. Then realization dawned on ChunLi as the carved scenery on the lid looks strangely familiar.

“Draconfalls…..” ChunLi whispered as she touched carving again. Memories came back to her, as that was one place they spent a lot of time sparring at. How she miss those sparring sessions.

“Oh….Uhh..Ryu” She noticed the lock
“Oh! Yeah. Silly me.” Ryu held out his fist to ChunLi who raise an eyebrow. She looked at her husband in puzzlement as she cocks her head to the right.
“Open it.” Ryu smiled. He watched ChunLi pried open his hand finger by finger to reveal a delicate little golden key with a sapphire heart encrusted.

“Awww.” As the lid pops up, two little figures pop up as well near the back of the box. The polished wooden figures were had being painstakingly craved, as it was very detailed from their faces to their clothes. ChunLi had the feeling that Ryu had carved the little figures from the same piece of wood. She marveled at the little figures, Two figures locked in embrace, staring at each other.

“Ryu!!! It’s us!!! You carved us!!! “ ChunLi squealed in delight. This box has being one surprise after another, it was like Ryu was renewing his vow to her in his own unique little way. Ryu drew her attention to the panels behind the figures, it looks like that they could be drawn aside but the scenery of the valley of flowers seem to have words craved on them.
 

“Lily of the valley
Like the sweetness of your beauty
Creating a reality

In my heart you stake
A place you make
That none others could ever take

For you hold the key to my heart
Gentle whispers of love so true
Eternal be my love for you. ” ChunLi read out the words and dabbed away some tears.
 

“Wind it.” Ryu had knelt down on one knee beside ChunLi, whose hand he was holding. The little music box begins to play a familiar tune and the little figures of them began to dance round and round…

“~ Whenever I'm weary..From the battles that raged in my head….. You made sense of madness. When my sanity hangs by a thread……. I lose my way, but still you..Seem to understand. Now and Forever, I will be your man…….~” Ryu looked deep into her eyes, this song that he was singing for her held meaning that he knew she would understand.

“~…..Sometimes I just hold you. Too caught up in me to see…..I'm holding a fortune. That Heaven has given to me…..I'll try to show you. Each and every way I can. Now and Forever, I will be your man…..~”

“~Now I can rest my worries. And always be sure. That I won't be alone, anymore. If I'd only known you were there. All the time, All this time.....” a long pause as ChunLi’s hand lingered on his cheek, he turned slightly, kissing her fingers.

“…..Until the day the ocean. Doesn't touch the sand. Now and Forever.. I will be your man.. Now and Forever, I will be your man…… ~” Ryu got up as ChunLi got up.
 

“......Aiyah…” there was a funny look on her face, a slight wince of pain as she held onto her belly.
“What’s wrong? I’ll go get a midwife!”

“No!” ChunLi grabbed his arm.
“False alarm. They aren’t used to your singing it seems and they are such harsh critics.” ChunLi teased him, wrapping Ryu’s arms around herself as she sat down again.

“Li…..” Ryu sighed a breath of relief.
“Can this be opened?” ChunLi asked pointing at the panels. Ryu nodded and reach out to draw open the panels, One more final surprise.

A little black and white portrait. ChunLi gasped while Ryu smiled. Kumori had captured the moment that he had so vividly described. Seeing that sparkle in her eyes warms his heart to know that ChunLi recognise that moment as well. 

It brought back memories, sweet memories of their first year of marriage. Travelling around the world together. The moment had being when they shared their first sunset together on a lonely beach, laying on the golden sand with the waves lapping at their bare feet, the evening breeze caressing them and leaving the salty tang of the sea on their skin. Gazing into each others’ eyes as they lay in embrace.

It was like nothing else mattered. Not the fight they had entered earlier that day, not the troubles that followed their easy victory, nothing at all. For in that moment lost in the eyes of the other, they felt removed from where they were.

Taken to another place instead, one that was their own, without the worries, without the fighting, where time was but a meaningless term. It was just them and them alone. ChunLi didn’t remember how long they were there or what was spoken, for words would only break the spell that was woven on them.

ChunLi was speechless as she held Ryu’s hand to her heart. Ryu smiled as his cheek touches hers. He wind up the music box again as ChunLi nuzzled his cheek, Ryu brought up his free hand to caress her face. As the music plays again, ChunLi nestled quietly in his arms, listening to the beating of his heart as his hand rhythmically stroked her cheek. Both find it hard to find the right words but decided that none were needed as their hearts are always open to each other.