The old man smiled and steepled his hands before him.

"Why that's very simple Ryu. I merely want your cooperation and perhaps some help."

Ryu grunted. "I think it's very unlikely you'll get my help or my cooperation after siccing those two Hell's Angels rejects on me."

A smile touched the old man's face and he nodded his head a few times. "You have sharp eyes Ryu."

"Wasn't all that hard. Most thugs don't complement each other's fighting styles very well." Ryu looked over at the woman with the odd hairstyle, "And after she ran over yelling their names I was sure."

Chun Li grit her teeth and started to her feet, but the Chief put a calming hand on her forearm. She settled back into her seat and folded her arms.

The old man turned back to Ryu and said, "Now I want to ask you about that warehouse you were at. Why were you there?"

Ryu switched his gaze from the woman to the old man. "I was in town looking for a tournament. The area near the docks is always a good place to find one. A black man approached me and said I looked ready for a fight. I told him I was always ready. He told me he make sure I received one. I followed him to the warehouse and he started throwing opponents at me."

The old man's eyebrow arched. "How long where you there?"

Ryu thought for a while and answered, "Around four hours."

"How many times did you fight?"

"I had twelve opponents one after another." he replied.

"Why did you fight so much?" the old man asked.

"I do not know, but he was filming me and working a computer console most of the time."

The old man looked over at the woman. They talked quietly for a few minutes before turning back to Ryu. This time it was the woman who spoke, "Did you know that this tournament was non-sanctioned?"

"I was pretty sure it wasn't." he replied.

"And it doesn't concern you that you were taking part in an illegal tournament?" she asked, although she already knew the answer.

"No, a fight is a fight. It does not matter where or under what circumstances it occurs."

"I could beg to differ." she said opening a folder.

"I couldn't care less."

Chun Li looked up and glared. She stood and threw the folder in Ryu's face. He allowed it to hit him without moving or blinking.

"I will not be disrespected by the likes of you..."

"Agent Li!!" the old man said sharply.

She whirled to face him.

"Please wait outside for the remainder of this interview."

Chun Li's mouth opened to argue, but nothing came out. She gritted her teeth and sent a withering glare Ryu's way. She became even angrier when he seemed not to notice it. She banged on the door three times and it was opened. She slammed it shut much harder than necessary.

"Now then Mr. Ryu, where were we?"

Chun Li stomped down the hallway to the coffee machine. She crushed three cups before she managed to fill one and drank it in one gulp.

"Whoa, easy there Chun."

She spun and faced a smiling man with an absurd hairstyle.

"What the hell do you want Guile?" she grated after slamming her cup into a waste basket.

"Just wanted to know what's eating at you. Haven't seen you this mad since...well...actually you're mad a lot, but now more so than usual. Anything I can do?"

She snorted and snatched another cup.

"Yeah, go find your shadow and play racket ball somewhere."

Another man with an odd hairstyle walked up to the coffee machine.

"You know Chun Li, it really hurts my feelings when you call me *his* shadow. He's actually mine." Agent Charlie Nash said with a smile.

"Oh, piss of will you." she said before downing another cup of coffee.

Guile shook his head and Charlie said, "Anymore language like that and I won't take you to the Christmas party Agent Li."

Chun Li snorted again. "Oh well."

Charlie feigned being offended. "Your loss."

"So what's wrong Chun?" Guile asked.

"It's that bastard we picked up yesterday."

"The one who trashed all those thugs in lockup?" Charlie asked.

She nodded.

"What did he do?" Guile asked.

"...nothing..." she sighed, leaning against the wall.

Guile looked at Charlie, who asked, "Then why are you so upset?"

"...Well...it's just that I knew him a long time ago. He's...he has changed so much that it's hard to believe I ever knew him or thought well of him."

"Well from what I heard he wasn't involved in the drug or arms dealing." Guile said.

"He wasn't." she said, "I just expected he'd be a great martial artist one day...I mean he beat Sagat the Muy Thai champ and nobody has ever done that. He is a great fighter now...probably the best, but his whole persona has changed...he's nothing but an @#%$..."

She shook her head and as she reached for another cup of coffee Charlie said, "Well it's too bad you and he don't get along, seeing as how the chief is going to try and get him to work with us on this new syndicate."

Chun Li spun and yelled in Charlie's face, "WHAT?"

Before he could answer she had dumped her cup on his new shoes and sprinted down the hall.

Charlie sighed, "My shoes..."

"Some one is going to get an earful..."

"Now Ryu, you do know that your situation is bad, don't you?"

Ryu said nothing and gave a half shrug.

"I could make sure the slate is wiped clean. Would you like that?"

Ryu arched an eyebrow. "What would I have to do?"

"I want you to work with us on a problem we are having. There is a huge new crime syndicate coming into power. We don't have the manpower to contend with all of the individual cases concerning this organization. I think you would be able to infiltrate these un-sanctioned fights they hold and relay information to us that you might come by, such as names, locations, possibly even a leader..."

"No."

The chief looked confused.

"Excuse me?"

Ryu stared hard at him and said, "No. I'm just a street fighter. Nothing more, nothing less. I'm not looking to be any sort of hero. I'd like to help you out with your problems, but this isn't my concern."

The old man looked angry for a moment, but only for a moment.

"You do realize that if you decide not to help us you will have to face the penalty for your actions. That man you were fighting yesterday is in a coma. You were found participating in an illegal tournament. You resisted arrest. We could even get you for attacking an officer of the law."

Ryu merely stared at him.

"I'll risk it."

At that moment there was shouting outside. The door flew open and the guards swung their guns around, before seeing who it was. It was the woman again, and she didn't look happy.

"Sir, I need to speak to you."

The old man looked displeased, but nodded. He stood and buttoned up his jacket, looking at the still seated Ryu.

"You have made your decision Ryu, you may have your phone call now." And saying that he walked from the room.

As soon as the door closed behind him he saw that Chun Li was waiting. He nodded to his office and she opened the door. He walked in first and she followed, shutting it behind her. He sat down in his chair and let out a great sigh.

"Sir I..."

"I already know what you're going to say and you don't need to. He has refused my request and he will be tried."

Chun Li blinked several times and her stance lost it's aggressiveness. She sat down and lowered her eyes.

"I apologize Sir."

He smiled and laughed silently.

"Don't worry Chun Li, I'm more upset that Ryu refused to help."

*KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK*

"Come in."

His secretary walked in and handed him a fax. He read it and his eyes widened first in disbelief and then narrowed in anger. Chun Li was surprised when he handed the fax to her. She read it.

The chief rubbed hi temples and spoke, "It seems Ryu has friends in high places. The Masters Corporation has just contacted Interpol Headquarters and requested that Ryu be released. And my superiors have agreed."

Chun Li didn't know quite what to say. She was happy he wouldn't be working with Interpol, but angry that his affiliation with Ken Masters had got him out of trouble.

"This is Bull****!!" she yelled through clenched teeth, crumpling the paper.

"Well put, but it's out of my hands."

Chun Li was about to throw the paper in the waste basket until a thought occurred to her.

"Chief."

"Yes?"

"Ryu said that Balrog had been monitering his fighting and using a computer. What if he was relaying information about Ryu to someone?"

Hen nodded in understanding. "Go on."

"Balrog was at the tournament where Ryu beat Sagat. He went by the name Mike. If he knew who Ryu was, he could have been telling his employer about Ryu. And like it or not, Ryu is a valuable person. What if Balrog's employer has his eye on Ryu?"

The chief nodded in understanding.

"By watching Ryu we might have an opportunity to get closer to finding out information about this crime syndicate."

Chun Li stood up and started pacing.

"He doesn't want to help us, but what if he doesn't know we are following him? We could put a tracer in Ryu's bag."

"His bag?"

Chun Li nodded enthusiastically.

"Yes, he had a bag full of clothes, some food, money, and a few books. We could put a tracer in his belongings and track him."

"I want it done within the hour."

Chun Li saluted,"Yes Sir."