"Did you hear something?" Chun Li asked.

"The birds…the wind…" Volpe began.

"Where are we, anyway?" Miko asked. She wrinkled her nose as a lizard slithered past her foot. At least, it looked like a lizard. "And who are we looking for again?"

"Good friends, m'lady. And some…not so good people," Volpe spoke up. He glanced at Ayame, who clung to his shoulders as he gave her a piggyback. "Are you doing okay back there?"

Ayame smiled and nodded. "Yes."

Volpe smiled knowingly. The young lady was putting up a front. He could tell by the strain around her wide green-gold eyes. She was trying to act pleasant…but deep down…she was really, really worried about Kay Lee.

"I meant a voice," Chun Li interrupted his thoughts.

"I didn't hear anything," Miko responded.

Volpe shook his head. Ayame scanned the horizon.

**********************

"Stay quiet," Locke ordered.

Meliza swallowed fiercely. Convinced that she would cause no trouble…and he knew her well enough to know that she would, he swiftly walked to the entrance, scanning the area.

"Shoot…I feel…woozy…" Kay murmured.

Meliza crawled over. "Kay? You're going to be all right. Take a few breaths…"

He blinked, staring up at her, still disoriented. "Meliza? What…? What's going on?"

"I wish I could give you some good news…" Meliza began.

"Unnh…" came another voice.

"She's awake," Locke announced as he entered the cave again.

The three looked on as Acinomia's eyes fluttered before opening fully. Meliza immediately noticed the frost in the woman's gaze. It was like she had no joy of life…or peace in her soul…

Locke studied the woman carefully. She appeared confused at first.

"What…is the meaning of all of this?" she spoke up softly.

"I was merely taking several precautions, Acinomia," Locke announced.

Acinomia glanced at her bonds, her lips twisting bitterly. "I see…"

She glanced around, her eyes widening at the sight of Kay, who was massaging his temples, eager to be rid of the headache that threatened to overcome him.

"Darius…" she whispered.

Kay looked up. "I…uh…" What's the response to that one? 'Hey, it's been a while'? 'Hey, how ya doin?' A simple smile? "Hello…"

Meliza's eyes widened. "How do you two know-?"

"I'm assuming it's a long tale…one I do not care to hear," Locke interrupted.

Acinomia's eyes flashed. "What…have you done to Darius?"

"Nothing," Locke responded. The woman was obviously connected to a man named Darius…and she thought Kay Lee was him. How that was possible, Locke didn't really feel the need to ask. "If I hadn't captured him…he would have escaped."

Acinomia regarded Locke carefully. "Why did you capture us?"

"K…Darius was in a fight with two other young men. To prevent himself from hurting any others, I had to kidnap him. I brought you along as well." Locke flicked his bangs aside. "My methods were unusual…but…I had my reasons…Besides...I'm not here to be your enemy…"

Acinomia rose to her feet. "Perhaps not…but I distinctly remember telling you that I do not ally myself with anyone…"

"Okay, what's going on here?" Meliza asked. "You two apparently know each other…and you two apparently know each other…"

Kay smiled weakly. "Well, I-"

Ignoring the two, Locke focused on Acinomia. "I gave you an invitation to the tournament to meet the man who will show you the reincarnated Phoenix Bearer. I have something better to show you…"

"Oh really?"

"The man you are looking for is just outside," Locke informed.

Acinomia narrowed her eyes, studying the assassin's expression. Cautiously and slowly since she was still recovering from the drug's influence, she crept to the entrance of the cave. Seeing with her own eyes, she turned to him, "You speak the truth…"

Kay and Meliza looked at each other, wide-eyed.

"Jul…Acinomia…" Kay spoke up. "Don't…Don't listen to him…he's only out for himself…"

"Release him," Acinomia ordered.

Locke narrowed his eyes. "I can't do that. There's no telling what he's capable of…"

"It is not your place to restrain him," Acinomia responded. "If you will not release him, then I will."

Locke seized her shoulder as she turned to her former lover. "I can't let you do that…"

Acinomia snatched herself away from him. "Very well, then…"

Locke watched carefully as she held her hands in front of her chest, palms up. A large gold medallion encrusted with a red ruby materialized in front of her.

*******************

Balrog, Vega, and Jin quickly descended into the valley. They did their best to remain unseen, so they could sneak up on the unsuspecting foursome of Chun Li, Miko, Volpe, and Ayame.

From the point where the trio had stood earlier, Memphis Long adjusted his shades. "Time to get to work…"

******************

Acinomia clutched the medallion fiercely, causing fire to surround her. The bonds on her wrists broke, and her eyes were positively glacial. She leapt forward, fist extended.

Locke deflected the attack the second before impact, and tossed her over his shoulder.

Kay and Meliza glanced at each other. They began to work on loosening the ropes that held them.

Acinomia rolled to her feet. She and Locke exchanged attacks and blocks for several minutes, causing them to move to the cave entrance.

"Great way to spend the day, isn't it?" Meliza spoke up as she released her feet. She untied Kay's wrists.

"Yeah, sure." He released her wrists.

The two hurried to the cave entrance. At that moment, Acinomia focused on her powers, shooting the spirits within her medallion at the assassin. Locke dove aside, causing her to miss.

"Get down!" Kay cried out, dragging Meliza to the floor.

Spirits flew over their heads, wanting to suck the energy of Locke Koh, but failing.

"What was that?" Meliza demanded.

"Don't worry about it. Come on, I have to get you out of here," Kay said. He glanced towards the other two. Seeing how occupied they were, he pulled his friend to her feet and they hurried away from the line of fire.

The two friends moved to the side of the cave, peering occasionally at the two fighters who exchanged blows.

"Now what?" Meliza asked.

"I…I have to stay and help her," Kay admitted.

The lady gambler's eyes rounded. "You're kidding. What for?"

"I'm sorry. I…I can't explain right now. You're just going to have to trust me on this one…"

"No offense, Kay…but you're insane. She's insane. Why in the world would you want to-?"

Meliza was interrupted as Locke performed his groundbreaker attack, smashing his fist into the ground to send an explosion of rocks towards Acinomia. Rocks and dirt flew everywhere.

*******************

"Did you see that?" Chun Li asked.

"Over yonder," Volpe agreed, pointing towards one direction.

"It sounded like an explosion. Someone made a very big messssss…" Miko announced.

The three, with Ayame on Volpe's back, began walking towards the source of the sound. A sound whistled through the air, and Chun Li bent backwards (ala Matrix style) as Vega flew over her in battle mode.

"What the-?!"

The fighter known as Jin leapt forward towards Volpe, somersaulted, and launched Volpe into the air with a kick. Ayame cried out in shock as she fell to the ground. She watched as Jin delivered ten kicks in succession to the airborne Volpe before knocking him with a vicious roundhouse.

Before Miko could react to the whole situation, Balrog dashed in with a punch to the solar plexus, knocking her back several feet.

Ayame crawled away several feet. As Balrog rushed forward to inflict more damage on the cleaning lady, Ayame quickly leapt towards him, on his back, and chopped at his neck. Balrog fell to the ground, groaning in pain.

"You'll regret that, little girl…"

*******************

"Whatever he gave us, it was strong enough to knock us all out for a good few hours. She's not up to full strength, and if she continues to fight, he could hurt her."

Meliza threw her hands up in frustration. "This is nuts. Why are you siding with her anyway? She might be all for helping you, but I don't think she's on the same side as you are…"

Kay sighed, knowing that she was right. The fact was that Acinomia killed Crista. They peered around the cave again just in time to see Locke slam Acinomia into a big boulder.

"Ouch…"

Kay took a deep breath. Being Darius, and not Darius made him so torn up inside. A part of him loved the woman who was being attacked, and the other part of him cared for another young woman who was out there somewhere…

****************

Ayame sat on Balrog's legs while Miko repeatedly stomped on his head. Young ladies don't take too kindly to having their organs dislocated by big ugly boxers. (=P)

*****************

"I'm getting out of the line of fire," Meliza announced, backing up slowly.

Kay pressed himself against the cave as Acinomia and Locke continued to exchange blows. Meliza hurried away quite a distance then stopped abruptly. She couldn't see any more ground after eight more feet. She turned around, seeing that Locke and Acinomia's battle was getting much more intense…and much closer.

Meliza swallowed, searching the ground. Deep cracks and crevices had formed due to weather changes. She hoped that the ground below her was stable.

Suddenly, thunder echoed in the sky and rain began to fall.

*****************

Jin leapt against a large boulder, using it like a spring, launching himself against Volpe to attack.

Meanwhile, Chun Li dashed towards Vega and kicked him, launching him in the air. Vega flipped and descended, his fist aimed right for Chun Li's face. She moved aside and Vega's fist hit the ground. She grabbed him and tossed him aside.

*******************

Acinomia sent a projectile of spirits towards Locke. Locke dove to the side. When he rose to his feet, Acinomia hit him square in the chest with her fist, lighted with chi. Locke flew back several feet, knocking into Meliza.

They tumbled to the ground. Meliza rose quickly as Locke rolled to his feet. He smashed both fists to the ground, causing Acinomia to fall backwards.

Suddenly, something flew over their heads. Kay clutched the walls of the cave fiercely, as the wind picked up from the flying object overhead, its turbines whirring with speed. Rain began to fall in sheets.

The force of the flying object caused Locke and Meliza to lose their equilibrium and fly back several feet…and into free space over the edge of the cliff.

As the force of the object dissipated, Locke managed to grab a hold of the cliff wall, and Meliza's waist with the other arm. She grunted slightly as they bumped against the wall lightly.

Meliza craned her neck as her legs dangled freely into space.

"Don't look down," Locke instructed.

She squeezed her eyes shut. Briefly forgetting that this was the same man who had held her at gunpoint and kidnapped herself and her friends, she held on fast, burying her face in his shoulder. "Oh my god…We're gonna die…We're gonna die…"

Locke tilted his head upwards as that same flying object soared overhead at a much higher altitude. There was no mistaking that aircraft. He narrowed his eyes. Bison…