Recalled to Life... Ch.2 (Part 2)
By Pearl/Bean

The paramedics came and put her on a stretcher. Ryu exclaimed, "I'm coming with her." "No, we need to bring her in ER STAT." She has obvious multiple punctured ribs and she may have a major concussion due to an earlier head injury. Ryu grabbed the paramedic's arm in a tight grip. He wasn't going to take no for an answer. In a more raspy voice, "Let me go with her."

The paramedic, some-what frightened, but mainly concerned for the Chinese girl quickly nodded and left ordering everyone in her van to come immediently. "Who is this guy?" One medic said getting into the back with him and Chun-Li. "It's the husband," the paramedic quickly said and got in the front. Ryu, made no attempt to answer. What-ever allowed him to be with Chun-Li.

As the sirens wailed down the freeway back to the hospital ER, the Shotokan warrior reminisced about that party years ago when he first met Chun-Li.

~~~ During the South Korean party earlier before he met Chun-Li ~~~
Gouken and Gen met and shook hands happily. Ryu stood behind Gouken respectfully. Chun-Li was already sitting with the wives and girlfriends. Gouken, after minutes of chatting, turned around seeing Ryu standing. Gouken moved aside and introduced Ryu to Gen. Ryu bowed to him respectfully.

Gen and Ryu started talking about many things, including Chi. Ryu was very interested in the subject for Gouken never talked of it much. After what seemed like an hour, but only ten minutes, Chun-Li came over and pulled Gen aside. She took no notice of Ryu. Ryu, seeing her briefly, turned to see were Gouken was. After the big spill, Gen came back to Ryu hours later that night.

He noticed Chun-Li and Ryu talking and said to Chun-Li it was time to go because they had an early flight the next day. Chun-Li, somewhat disappointed, turned back to Ryu and said her good-bye walking toward the door. Ryu looked at her leaving, stood up and bowed to Gen. "Thank-you for bringing Chun-Li, Master Gen," he said truthfully thankful. Gen noticed the purity in his eyes and his heart. He knew Ryu treated her like a lady by acting as much as a gentleman could. "Earlier I saw a smile on her face. I noticed you caused it."

Gen patted Ryu on the shoulder, "It's nice to finally meet someone that can make her as happy as she deserves to be." Ryu, a little confused merely grinned. Gen wasn't an oracle, but he had a feeling that his student along with Gouken's would be atleast life long friends… if not more. "I hope you continue to help Chun-Li, she's full of rage and hate toward her father's killer. I am trying my hardest to help her over come that, but it's obvious that if I tried my entire life it would not do much."

He paused seeing Chun-Li starting to get impatient by tapping her foot repeatedly. "I hope atleast someone like you can help her over come her difficult times." "If you wish, I will look out for her, like my master does me," Ryu said respectfully understanding her rage and hate… but obviously not following it. "My son, don't put more weight on your shoulders than you can bear. Just remember the kind of woman she is and the kind of man you are."

Ryu, puzzled still, grinned and bowed once again. He watched as both of them left.

~~~ Present day in the hospital room ~~~
Now Ryu knew what Gen meant by saying that. He knew the type of woman she was. She needed someone to be there for her, even when she pushed away. She needed the type of man to look out for her, being one step ahead of her every time. She needed someone that loved her the way she needed to be loved.

As he looked at her, he finally realized the reality behind Gen's words that night. Gen already knew their future together would be close. -But how close? Puzzled about what type of relationship they had, but mainly worried about her life, Ryu sat holding her hand checking her pulse every now and then regardless how consistent the machine that monitored her heart beat beeped.

He pulled her hand close to his cheek and whispered, "I love you, Chun-Li." That was easy to say. He just didn't know how deep his love for her ran. Time would have to unveil that.

~~~ The night before Chun-Li's departure ~~~

Chun-Li packed her final bags for the night. She decided to get atleast one more training in Ken's dojo. She, already dressed in her traditional dress she wore to the earlier tournaments, made her way to the dojo quietly. The Master's family sat in the den watching a movie. Ryu, himself, was busy packing.

The past few weeks at the Master's house was never the same since that night. They got all the damages on the house fixed by the end of that week and Chun-Li came home from the hospital two days before Christmas Eve. Ryu had stayed with her every day and most of the nights in the hospital. Liz left shortly after Christmas, but Chun-Li stayed on the Master's request. She didn't know why they asked, nor did she care.

They all knew she became weaker since she started her new life. Every night she would cry herself to sleep breaking her promise she made to herself and every day she would use the excuse that soap got in her eyes to explain why her face looked puffed and red. The Master's didn't know how to take this. They never would of thought the strongest female fighter in the world would lose… especially to herself.

Ryu, attempting to comfort her every now and then was pushed away by Chun-Li. He let it go all the time, but he was getting hurt everytime he saw her in a barren desert of chaos. He knew she was just going to go back to Hong Kong and train some more trying to get her energy back. -But he realized she could never attain that energy ever again… atleast not attain it through her traditional use of rage and hate.

She wasn't filled with that anymore, that's why her chi wasn't so fit. She didn't need such power anymore, or atleast that's what her true warrior spirit thought. It's not that she had become lazy. He would never look upon Chun-Li as lazy. She had more energy and spirit than he did. Well, with an exception of food.

Thinking about her loss and how weak and vulnerable she was now, Chun-Li entered the dojo and bowed for no apparent reason. She started with her usual warm-ups and stretching. She started on her punches: from jabs all the way up to the kikosho. Then she started with her kicks.

She went from front leg kicks to her Senretsu Kyakuthousand along with her flying kicks. She started practicing against the old and worn punching bag. She tried to use her original rage against the bag pretending it to be someone she hated. She tried to use her hate.

She prepared to do her kikoken, but at her release, "Kikoken!" -nothing came out… not even the little puny ball she hated getting used to. She paused in a gasp, "W-What?" She stood up straight and peered deep into her hands as if they held some secret from her. "W-Why a-are you doing this? W-Why did I deserve this?!" "WHY?!?!?!" She feel dropping to the ground. She stared blankly at the old, worn punching bag she attempted to hit with the chi. "WHY!!!!!" The question formed into a beckoning scream.

The Chinese fighter never screamed so loud in her life. Not from her vocal chords or lungs, but a roar from all her insides! It was a roar of pain, frustration, anger, and most of all fear. The Masters heard this along with Ryu. Ken quickly got up about to go to the dojo thinking Chun-Li must of accidentally injured herself, but Ryu stopped Ken when he was at the front door. "Let me talk with her," he gently spoke as he brushed by Ken, "alone…" he said a darker tone.

Ken just then realized that Chun-Li and Ryu had something that he and Chun-Li could never have. He couldn't quite grasp a word for it, though. Maybe what they had couldn't be named for it couldn't be described in one word?

Ryu entered the dojo and saw Chun-Li on her knees hiding her face with her long shining hair. He was afraid to see her cry. Come to think of it, he never had seen her cry; only her puffy eyes. So he inhaled deeply trying to be the strong one. He approached her and got on his knees infront of her. He slowly reach for her hands and interlocked his fingers with hers. Her hands were cold. Even when she was on the stretcher in the ambulance, they were warm, but now they were icicles. Chun-Li felt his warm hands, full of vibrant energy. She knew his touch. His hands were big and callous, but they were also gentle and peaceful. She had just finished crying when she looked up at Ryu. When their eyes met he completely saw into her and felt just as lost as she was.

Without saying anything he helped her up wrapping his arm around her waist still holding on to her hand with another. She leaned on him for support. She felt as if she was at the bottom of an abyss and Ryu was the single ray of light beaming down for solace.

His touch revived her sense toward the world and she could feel a strong caring aurora come from him. She put her head against his chest. He then decided to wrap his arms around her and comforted her. Usually when someone tries to embrace her, she would quickly move away, but she let him and she felt his presence all around her.

Her eyes opened and the redness vanished along with signs of irritation. She no longer felt cold and lost. For some reason she felt warm, safe and most of all… she wanted to stay like this forever.

What was she doing? She became shocked. Why had she let Ryu hold her like a baby? Like she was weak or something. She quickly looked at him shocked and was about to push him away when Ryu closed his eyes and kissed her cheek. She froze by this.

A normal person would be shocked by these actions a friend did toward another friend… especially her. -But she knew Ryu was a different case. What they had was deeper than friendship. It was obvious. -And she had finally realized it. She kissed his cheek too and they both hugged eachother for the longest of time.

He whispered softly in her ear, "Let me help you." At this request her eyes became as delicate as glass. That's when she realized he cared for her more than she ever thought. She looked up into his fair brown eyes. In them, she saw his experience as a warrior and determination to perfect the fight.

She also viewed his peaceful and gentle nature. Personally, she found that very attracting and rare that a man with so much power could be so sensitive as he was. "Come back home with me," he offered softly, " I'll help you become what you once were… -and even more. -Anything to help you. -Anything to make you happy." "R-Ryu…" Chun-Li stammered. "-That I promise," Ryu firmly spoke still holding the Chinese woman sensitively. Chun-Li closed her eyes letting her first tears of happiness flow out of them. She started crying on Ryu's shoulder. Never once has a man cared for her the way he did. She couldn't refuse such an offer.

Ryu wiped her eyes and put the hair that dangled in her face behind her ears. She nodded, "Yes…" she said as if she was responding to a marriage proposal or atleast a life long commitment together. She wiped her fresh tears.

Ryu could do nothing, but smile. She was so precious at the most unexpected moments, and this was one of them. She felt as if Ryu was the one that saved her powerless soul… The Japanese fighter knew she had been drowning in an ocean full of pain, suffering, detachment, and fear.

That was one ocean that he had to dry up. He knew this challenge and accepted it. He was going to fight to save Chun-Li's internal soul, even if it meant using all of his own.