11 Feb 2000, 6 am
Shotoken-Wushu Dojo

Early Morning and the sun had barely risen. ChunLi was woken by the aroma something cooking. Ryu’s side of the bed was already empty.

<  Probably getting ready to receive the guests later….  > she thought to herself as she ease herself out of bed. Headed to the bathroom to freshen herself up. The smell of cooking began to be increasingly tantalizing that she found it hard to resist the lure. So following the trail of the aroma was a natural step to take. Reaching the kitchen, she found the chef in a good mood for he was humming to the tune of ‘Say Yes’ by Chage and Aska on the radio.
 

“You can cook?!” ChunLi said ruffling the chef’s hair.
“What kind of a question is that?” he turned around slightly annoyed. Pulling her gently towards him, Ryu return her a slow lingering kiss to the lips.
“You’re in a good mood. Chefy.” Punching Ryu playfully when he released her.

“Why not? I have you by my side.” Ryu rubbed ChunLi’s shoulders gently.
“What this?” ChunLi asked, as she scooped something out of the pot. The mess looks like something that even it’s own mother who not be able to recognise.
“Stew.” Ryu tossed the cut ‘Gai choi’(something like lettuce, cabbage in that direction, when preserved it’s call ham choi – salted vegetable).
 

“I know it’s stew, but what’s in it? Looks like one needs to be a forensics expert to figure out the thing.” ChunLi frowned a little, dropping the glob of mess back in.
“Oh. It’s yesterday’s chicken, pieces of duck, uummm…uuhh oh yeah, bits of roast pork too.” Ryu continued to stir the thick mess. ChunLi grabbed him with both hands and turned him around, her palm on his forehead feeling for an increase in temperature.

“We had leftovers?!” She exclaimed, something weird is going on. Ryu reached up for her hand.
“Yeah. I wanted to cook this stew for a while, it kept slipping my mind.” Ryu patted her hand in assurance.
“Hot and Spicy?” he asked.
“Mild thank you.” Pointed to her belly.
“Okay.” He dropped two dried red chilies in, lowering the flame.
“When did you learn to cook anyway?”
“Some time back, Cornered Iwa when I found that she took my leftovers as well.”
 
 

Leading his wife out of the kitchen, heading out towards the pavilion where light breakfast is waiting. Ryu poured ChunLi a cup of ‘tie kwan yim’, the aroma of her favorite tea along with the scent of her favorite ‘blue-streaks-from-the-heart ‘lilies. Today seem so perfect, yet there was something about today that she can’t put her finger on.

“Seventh day of the Lunar New Year, Aisai.” Ryu reminded her.
“Oh yeah yen yat, the birthday of everybody.”
“Lo gong (hubby) You know what I miss doing with you the most?”
“Yes.” patting her hand. He knew full well what she meant.
 

Ryu was about to continue but he was interrupted by a bus screeching to a stop outside the wall and soon enough was a knock on the door. Ryu answered the door the door only to greeted by a flying fist which he intercepted with both hands.

“Hey! How’s it going buddy?” The owner of the fist said.
“Better than you’ll ever be.” Ryu said, pulling Ken and flipping him over his shoulder. Ken rolled to his feet.
“Now why you go mess up my clothes for?” Ken called out dusting the dust off his person.
“You ask for it.” Ryu said, the two men were head to head ready to duke it out.
“I did not!”
“Now Now you two. Break it up.” Guile said getting between them.
 

“UNCLE RYU!!!!!” a familiar young voice interrupted, flying straight into Ryu.
“Mel.” Ryu ruffled the boy’s hair.
“Hiya Auntie ChunLi. When are my sparring partners due?” Mel asked as ChunLi came over.
“Mel! Don’t be rude!” Eliza chided her son.
“Liza. It’s okay. Sometime this week I hope.” ChunLi said as she patted Mel on the head.
“Li. You shouldn’t spoil him you know. Ahhh. You’ll know what’s it like soon. Oh yeah we brought someone along.” Eliza step aside allowing Yuri and XiangFei to come forward.

“Li Jie!” Yuri smiled as she hugged the older woman gently.
“Hi Hi!!!” XiangFei greeted enthusiastically with a big smile on her face.
“Fei’s taken over my assignments. So she’ll be staying for a while.”
“Yes! Yes!! I’m sure there’s gonna be a lot of action considering what happen last year!!!!! Oooh!!! That smell!!! Hei YAT WOK SOK(It’s Stew)!!! OOOWWW!!” XiangFei winced as Yuri hit her on the side of her head.

“Why you hit me for?”
“Behave yourself okay. Don’t get too carried away.” Yuri was annoyed with the younger girl.
“O. okay….”
“Oh yeah! Yuri. Where’s the birthday girl herself?” ChunLi asked
“In the bus! Preparing something it seems. Speak of the devil!” XiangFei mused.
“Wah Hey!!! What’s that!” Mel exclaimed as Iwa brought a large platter of something with her.

“Stew?” Iwa asked, she sniffed again, raising an eyebrow, She headed to wards the pavilion and left the platter on the stone table.
“Ooooohhhh!!!!!” the rest eyed the delicious looking masterpiece.
“What’s that?” Mel asked, looking at the platter of red, white and green.
“Yu Sheng, It’s a South East Asian tradition to toss Yu Sheng for good luck.” Iwa answered.
 

Arranged neatly on the plate was a neat riot of colours. thinly sliced pickled cucumber, green shredded ginger, red shredded ginger, sliced leek and melon strips. Taking out a small container Iwa first pour Plum sauce then fish sauce in.

“Now we’re ready.” Iwa distributed the chopsticks.
“No.” ChunLi stopped them.
“No?”
 “Not until I give you this. Happy Birthday Iwa.” ChunLi handed a package over to Iwa.
“Uhh Thanks Li Jie.” She hugged her sifu.
“Can I open this?”
“If you want to.”
 

The package was opened and within laid plastic model of a creature. It was about eight inches tall. Dragonish, greyish blue scales, it’s wings are foldable. A long tail with a fiery fan like crest. Moveable hands and legs.
“Oooh. Geotao….How did you get something like this?”
“Me and Li were in Japan a while back. Found a shop that makes stuff like this.”
“You guys are spoiling me you know.” Iwa put the plastic model aside.
“Well. We have to practice somewhere. Can we eat now?” Ryu asked.
“Oh yeah. All you need to do is mixed the whole thing up, raise high into the air while uttering auspicious sayings Let’s Lo Hei people.” Iwa started grabbing some and raise it high.
 

“Shen ti jian kang! (Good health)”
“Shen yi xin long! (May your business prosper).”
“May the young ones grow up bright and strong.”
“May our qi level rise with effort.”
“May peace and harmony follow you.”
“May your wishes come true.”
It didn’t take long till the dish was well mix, everybody begin tucking in. ChunLi picked some up and fed Ryu a mouthful.
 

A little while later when everything’s eaten and the mess cleared up. Ryu brought out some extra chairs for the others. They were all sitting around. While Mel was playing four of the wolves, three are grey and white while the other is pure black.

“Li Jie. Where’s my room?” XiangFei asked as she lugged her bags from the bus.
“Iwa will show you around.”
“Come on I take you to your room.”

“Hey. I got a few bottles of premium Nu’er Hong (name of Chinese wine) You want?”
“No way Fei. You know Iwa’s not allow to drink after what happened the last time.” ChunLi warned her.
“I can’t remember what happened.” Iwa mumbled.

“Well. Neither me nor Yuri. But according to Terry gor. I got you guys drunk……We uh er…stumbled into the slum part of SouthTown…….Right in between two opposing gang in a gang war…..You pick a fight……..We wipe out two gangs. And the next morning Terry found us in the dumpster.” XiangFei stucked out her tongue slightly embarrassed.

“Wow!!!…Can I come with you guys next time? Can I?!” Mel tugged XiangFei’s sleeve.
“NO!” Eliza chided her son.
 

“Ryu..” ChunLi called her husband over.
“Yes Li?”
“I think my water just broke.” She said softly.
“WHAT!!!!!” Ryu managed to stop everybody in their tracks with his outburst.
“I mean. The children are coming…..AIIIIEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!”
“Iwa!!! You and XiangFei go get the local midwife!!!” Ryu ordered.
“Come on. I’ll show you around town while we’re at it.” Iwa said as she and XiangFei rushed out.

Amidst ChunLi’s screams, Ryu managed to carry her to their room. While Eliza took charge in giving the rest orders on what to do. Today is going to be a long day indeed.