Choices
By RC

She watched him quietly as she tightened her robe about her body. The sunlight streamed in through the window lighting the room with beautiful golden rays. It made Chun Li happy, despite the feelings she was having.

"Ryu..."

He turned slowly, unfolding his legs from their meditation position as he opened his eyes and stood up.

"No...please sit Ryu." she said quietly.

He complied instantly, sitting down gently on the guestroom bed. Chun Li had been unhappy that he wouldn't sleep with her anymore. She supposed it was her fault though.

"Ryu we need to talk about you're plans." she said as she moved over to sit next to him on the bed.

Ryu nodded quietly silently and she could tell already that he had made up his mind.

"Don't do this Ryu. I need feedback. You hardly talk to me anymore."

"I need to do this Chun...it is my purpose." he said softly as he looked out the window.

She wanted to cry, but that wouldn't work. Not now.

"Why...you have no reason to leave again." she argued.

"I have to fulfill my goals. I have to be the best. I have nothing else."

She felt a hot knife stab deep into her heart. He had nothing else. Now she did feel the tears. And she let them come. Let him see what he does to me.

"How can you say that Ryu. You have me...You married me d*mn it!! You married me and you won't even talk to me!" she said through her tears.

"Chun I know you understand. You said you understood why I did this. You must understand now." he said calmly.

"No!! I don't understand it!!" she screamed as she jumped off the bed to stand in front of him.

"I understood when I was seventeen, I understood when I was twenty, h*ll I even understood at twenty-five, but I don't anymore. When I asked you when you would finally stop you told me when I defeat Bison. Then it was when you defeated Akuma. Then it was when you learned to control and use your Satsui no hado crap, then it was Bison and Akuma all over again. Then it was Gill and then it was Sagat all over again!!"

"I had to Chun. They were the ultimate fighters I have ever faced. I couldn't deny them a fight." he responded, still calm.

"Yes, and I understood. But then it was winning the World Warrior tournament again and giving Ken another match. What else do you want?!?" she raged as tears streamed down her face.

"I want to be the best fighter in the world..." he said.

Chun Li couldn't stand it. She had heard that same old line time and time again. She snapped.

"YOU ARE THE BEST YOU IDIOT!!!!"

Ryu was taken back with her outburst. She had never desplayed such emotion before, except for one other time.

"No I'm..."

"YES...YES...YES!!" she said in barely controlled anger.

"You've beaten them all! Sagat, Bison, Gouki, Gill, Ken, whoever the h*ll else you want to name!! You are the best!! You have beaten them all. You have nothing left to prove."

Ryu was shocked. She couldn't be right. His life's goal...atained...completed...achieved...reached... It couldn't be. She had to be wrong.

"Bison's told me one thing before he died. He said I could never have you because the closer you got to achieving your goal the farther away it would seem to you. And he was right. Ryu you're finally there, but you're so skrewed up you think you're that much farther away!!"

"What...I..." he stumbled over his words. Unsure what to make of what Chun Li was telling him.

"Ryu, I swore to myself that I would not be thirty years old and childless. I waited ten years for you to finish your god forsaken quest and it's done." she said as she knelt down in front of him.

"I'm sorry if I've pushed you, but I can't help it. My mind was made up when I was seventeen and saw you in Thailand. You've told me ever since that you weren't ready and you've handed me every excuse you could think of, but It's time to end it. You told me you loved me. Do you really?"

She looked deep into his eyes. He had said it before, but so much had happened...she wasn't sure anymore.

"Of course I do Chun. I'll always love you." He reached out and lightly touched her arms, pulling him slightly into him.

"I'm just not sure if I can handle this... I never thought I would ever have to make a decision like this... I can't help it, it's a hard thing to accept." he said as he looked down.

"You don't have to. No one ever told you to stop. You can refine your skills all you want. I don't care if you want to fight, but let them come to you. You have other things to be responsible for now. Me, I love you and that's why I wanted you to marry me. But now there is something else. I know you weren't comfortable with it...I was scared too, but I can't get through this alone. I'm pregnant Ryu..."

"Wha..."

Chun Li watched as many different emotions played over his face. She hoped he would not push her away. It had happened too many times lately. She was alone, she needed him to understand to be there for her.

"I need you to make a choice Ryu..." she whispered.

Ryu sat frozen for a few moments, but slowly his hands reach out for her. He lightly touched her hips and pulled her toward him. She embraced him and let out a wracking sob as he pulled her close.

"Shhhhhh...I promise...I'llalways be here..."