Isle of Shadows, man made island off coast of Shadowlaw

They made a strange group as they headed to the Fighters' village, which was built to house fighters for the sake of the tournament. Not because the three women were soaking wet but more to the fact that there was a squirrel who was carried by a wolf by the scruff of its neck.

The squirrel was making a lot of noise but the wolf was nonchalant as if to it the squirrel was some kind of a plaything. They reached the entrance of the village only to see cats scrambling away in panic. Each raising an eyebrow, they shrugged and entered. The wolf and squirrel parted company and headed towards the kitchen. While the five headed in the hall. Master Gen was waiting for them, the five bowed.

"This will not do. Best you get into some clean clothes." The five bowed again. The three women headed to the their allocated lodging.

"You'll be okay right?" Kumori asked
"Sure. I'll be fine. See you guys later." Lilly said.
"You still got that ointment?" Iwa asked as rubbed her left arm with a grimace.
"Yeah I give it to you later." And disappeared into her room.

About half an hour later, Iwa was already washed up. She yawned and headed to the courtyard to wait for the rest. She slung her vest over her shoulder and squatted down. Taking out a packet of cat snacks she took her time to feed the stray cats. And yawned again.

"Only cats get to see your true nature huh." Kumori said ruffling Iwa's hair that was free of her blue headband's restraint. Turning around Iwa throws a punch at Kumori who caught it with both hands.
"Don't ever touch my head…." Iwa hissed.
"Ooohh. Touchy now." Trying to push Iwa backwards.
"I'm an Aquarius. I can't help being me." There was test of strength going between the two and neither would budge.

Across the yard, Maru the squirrel was scrambling away from an entire horde of dojo cats.
"Hmm..Lost his wolfy I guess." Kumori mumbled.
"He likes watching Maru suffer a bit." Iwa shrugged. As the squirrel scrambled across the yard once more.
"Lilly is taking quite a while you know. On the count of three." Kumori said
"Three!" They said together before letting each other go.

"No sound of water I think she'd washed up already." Kumori mumbled as she placed her ear against the door.
"You think she's okay?"
"Might. So how we get in?"
"This." Iwa said producing a small little thread picker from her wallet and began picking the lock to Lilly's door.
"What the hey?!"
"How else do you think I got into those locked manuscripts rooms? There done!"

"Lilly." The two called out but no answer.
"Iwa. Over here." Kumori called out.
"What?"
'She's sleeping." Observing Lilly sleeping soundly, her silver flute by her pillow. The two smiled seeing that their friend was all right, Kumori pulled the blanket up to Lilly's neck and quietly headed out with Iwa.
"Let her then. You still got that ointment?" Sitting down by the steps
"Heh. You can feel pain?" Kumori asked in mock surprise

"Who said I was invincible? You like watching me suffer don't you." Iwa shot her friend a dark look.
"Aiyah! You're serious ah? EEEYOUCCCH!!!!" Iwa yelled as her friend applied the ointment on her arm.
"Gently!!"
"Hwa! Pain you can endure. This kind of pain you scream like a chicken to slaughter. Heh heh."
"Hey everybody's got some kind of limit okay." The two continue their squabbling. Maru ran across the yard again. The number of cats seems to have increase. Brand the brown and white wolf walk in carrying an air of nonchalance about him. The wolf laid down on a grassy patch just below them.

"Not going to help your buddy?" Kumori asked. The wolf looks at her and looks at the scene going on in the yard. The cats still couldn't catch that one squirrel who kept throwing his arsenal of walnuts at the cats. Brand put his head on his paws and doze off. The two just shrugged.

Ken's private jet, enroute to Isle of Shadows.

"THEIR TRANSPORTATION WHAT?!!!!" Chun Li yelled across her handphone
"I don't care what! I want more information!!!! They better not be hurt or heads will roll!!" she slapped her cellphone cover down and plonk down on the sofa beside Ryu.

"Li calm down. We can't do much." Ryu said. Though worried he don't seem to show much.
"I don't like this. They are just kids. Why can't he let them be." She rubbed her forehead.
"Things happen. Li. In this path especially."
"Now I know why you adopted her. You two think on the same wavelength." She shook her head.
"She's your disciple."
"Yeah but she's your daughter. How do like it when all three of your best disciples are involve the same air crash?!" Chun Li got up and began to stalked the length of the cabin. Her cellphone rang to the tune of her battle tune. All Ryu heard was Chun Li's side of the conversation.

"Peabody! This better be good! Or heads will roll!!!!"
"Oh.Sifu…My apologies Sifu. I was expecting someone else." Chun Li controlled the volume of her voice.
"They are? They arrived okay? She's still sane for that matter? Yes yes. We are on our way!" delight strong in her voice.
"Ryu!! They okay!!" she hugged him in joy.
"What about Lilly? Is she okay? Asleep? Good she's okay. What? Bring them on Sifu."

"Hey how are you're doing? Uh huh. Stop fighting with Iwa. Okay bring her on."
"Stop calling me 'Mom'. I'm your sifu young lady. Have some respect. You have to ask him about that. Iwa…." Chun Li winked at Ryu who slapped his forehead. He has a sort of idea what Iwa was hinting at. Chun Li handed her cell phone over Ryu.

"Moshi moshi? No. Stop going back to that subject. Yes? No …..Again?" He held the phone a little distance from his ear and returns the cellphone to Chun Li.
"Where am I? On my way over. No. Stop going into that subject or you'll mian bi si gu (face the wall in contemplation of wrongs). No it's not a threat. Yes I am serious. Now behave yourself. Good girl. Okay bye." Chun Li breath a sigh of relief.

"Guys! ETA in 20 mins!" Ken pop in.
"Whoa! Am I interrupting something? Carry on with whatever you were doing. Don't mind me." He left again. Chun Li realised that in her joy she was still hugging Ryu. She giggled watching him.
"What?" he asked, he still have yet to figure out what was going on.
"Nothing." Untangling herself from him.

Some time later,

Back in the Fighters' Village. Most of the fighters had already check into lodging to rest and recover from the incident that had happen a while ago. The whole place seem to be back in business. Unknown to all. They were being watched.

"Report." A voice came from the Comlink.
"Lord Bison (Vega) the respective subjects seem to have arrived. All is going to plan." Cammy reported, she continues thumbing through the phone book as if trying to find someone to call.
"Excellent. How goes the bait?"
"Juni and Juli had released Subject Rose at pre-set location. She will be making contact in good time.
"Yes Make sure that fool of a boy Man Sei is kept away from Wai Lim until the tournament itself.
"Yes Lord." The comlink buzzed to an end and Cammy got out of the phone booth continuing her surveillance in another part of town.
 
 

Lilly coughed as she awoke. Remembering where she was and how she got here. She sighed as she gently lifted her flute to lips and played a melody of the joy in life cheering herself up. Feeling better she headed outside.

And the first thing she noticed when she steps out of the room was a squirrel running towards her. It leapt towards her and scrambled to her neck it was panting hard. Then a horde of cats screeched to a stop in front of her. Lilly was amused when the squirrel threw a walnut at one of the cats.
"Shhooo. Go away." Lilly waved at them. the cats slunk away. Maru chattered excitedly to Lilly.
"I'm sorry. I don't speak squirrel."
"He says he owes you his life. How you're feeling?" Iwa asked, getting up from the corridor.
"Better."
"You know Sifu is on her way here!" Kumori chirped.
"She is!"
"Yup"
"How soon?"

"How about now?" A familiar called out. The three turned to see Chun Li and Ryu across the courtyard.
"SIFU!!!!" the three squealed as she came forward hugging all three at the same time.
"You girls okay right?"
"Minor scratches asides yeah." Lilly said, glad that her Sifu is finally here. She still has so much things to ask her.
"And you, you being good?" turning her attention to Kumori.
"You know me. I'm not trouble maker." Kumori grinned

"And the two of you! The moment I turned my back." Chun Li turned around, her suspicions confirmed. Ryu was swatting away Iwa's punches with one hand dealing punches with the other.

"Ahem.. Can't you two wait till tournament?" She tapped her foot impaitently. The two stop and grinned sheepishly
"Shang liang bu zhen xia liang wai(loose translation - The older one leading the younger one astray) Ryu, you're suppose to be an example to her." Chun Li shook her head
"Heh. Li she was your disciple before she became my daughter." Ryu scratches his head.
"Yeah that's why I need a mot…mmpphh!!!" Both Chun Li and Ryu covered Iwa's mouth before she could complete that sentence.

"Don't go into that subject again. That's for Ryu to decide. I want you to run five round around the perimeters of this island and no slacking. Go now!" Chun Li snapped. Iwa stuck her tongue out before running off with Maru riding on Brand.
"Bring back coconuts! You hear! Attap chee too if you find any!!" Kumori called out
"Where did I go wrong…" Chun Li mumbled as she headed into her room. There's still a lot of things she had to do. And Ryu ain't helping much in terms of Iwa.