- by maco² 03151999

After half an hour, a girl in a school uniform arrived wearing a small backpack. There by the huge and elegant living room, she waited for Eliza to come down. While looking around for a while, Eliza came down in designer red pants with a small handbag.

"Hi. You must be Sakura Kusagano. I am Mrs. Masters. Eliza Masters. Nice of you to drop by.", she greeted her young guest.

The young girl marveled at the beauty of the lady in front of her. There was no way a man could resist a woman such as this. Only if that guy was gay of which Ken is. "Uhmm... hehe.", she replied shyly, "Good morning. It's a pleasure to meet a beautiful lady like you."

Eliza smiled. She appreciated the compliment Sakura gave her, even though she has heard this a thousand times in her life. "Thank you. Well, I would like to invite you, *sniff*", her nose stuffy, "to have lunch with me at a local restaurant. Would you like to come?"

"Really?", Sakura exclaimed. To be invited to have lunch is definitely something she really likes. But she answered aloud and became conscious about it. "Oh. Sorry about that. hehe. Ok." No one else could match Ryu's bottomless stomach but his number one fan Sakura.

Eliza almost giggled by the girls excited response. It reminds her of high school days. "Let's go."

And she lead Sakura to her luxurious convertible and rode to a local five star hotel restaurant, much to Sakura's amazement. "Wooow!", she wondered. Eliza can't help but laugh beside. It is like bringing your younger sister with you.

Inside the restaurant, Sakura ordered almost everything she was curious about to taste. All of the menu was new to her but she ate up everything. They certainly got the attention of the crowd but Eliza remained oblivious to it, smiling at her companion's provincial manners.

"So, tell me, Sakura. Did you come all the way from Japan.", she asked.

"Yeah.", Sakura wiped her mouth, "I don't have any money so I hid in baggage compartments. Hehe. I hope you don't the authorities about that."

Eliza giggled, "Of course not."

Sakura suddenly became sad and sobbed, "I... I still can't believe Ryu is gay. How could he be one? I don't understand. He's so strong and manly."

Hearing her sobs, Eliza herself can't stop her eyes from getting filled with tears, "I couldn't believe Ken is gay either. *sniff* What made him gay?"

"I dunno.", Sakura replied, "Did he have a bad father?"

"Well, he's kind of strict. But he also spoils him alot of times."

"Maybe because he hangs around with Ryu alot."

"I guess so."

*sniff* *sniff* *sob* *sob*. The two ladies were on the verge of weeping again. But they both saw each other and got embarassed because they were crying. So they both simply laughed it out. "He he he", Sakura snickered while Eliza giggled. It seems like some people were looking at both of them. So, they took the napkins and wiped their faces, then became silent for some time.

"Well, my bestfriend told me not to cry over spilled milk. If they're gay, we might as well accept it.", Sakura broke with a smile.

"What?", Eliza replied wondering.

Sakura flexed her arms, "He he. So they screwed up. It's not entirely their fault but they're not the only victims of this charade. I'll get over this, I think. He he he."

Eliza was somewhat amazed that this young schoolgirl had a wisdom beyond her age. She is right, she thought. Even if right now she feels that she could not get over her love for Ken, it is not good to project a bad image especially for a high-class woman like her. Better to keep it in the closet. But somehow, she feels very light talking with Sakura. As if she was talking to a best friend. It would take her three whole months to find herself feeling better.

"Ms. Kusagano?"

"Oh just call me Sakura please? I get goosebumps with this... uh... formality thing."

"Sure.", Eliza said, "Sakura, could we just keep this a secret between the both of us? About Ken and Ryu being gay. You know, we both have an image to hold on to."

Sakura understood and smiled cheerily. "Ok."

A slight smile also crossed Eliza's red lips. She thought of enjoying herself. It is a sort of rebellion for her. "Would you like to go shopping with me?", she asked.

"Shopping?!", Sakura cried aloud. She covered her mouth at once noticing how loud she spoke.

"Please. Come on. I don't have anyone else to accompany me."

"Uhhh..."

"No use crying over spilled milk."

"You've got a point, sister."

"Ho ho", Eliza giggled, "Let's go."

As they left, they didn't notice a pair of sharp eyes spying at them. The watcher stood up and then followed them outside and seeing them off on the road.

* * *

A bright noon's sunlight flashed the tinted wall of a huge mall. Ken, together with his lover Ryu decided to take 7 year old Mel, Ken and Eliza's son, out and have fun before they both leave for Japan. They went inside an amusement park and took rides.

The first one was the roller coaster. Ryu was screaming like hell came to earth while Ken and Mel yelled with excitement. Afterwards, Ryu felt like wanting to pee. Next, they took the dragon-boat. Ryu could not protest. They rocked like a pendelum, swaying back and forth higher and higher and higher. And everytime the they reached the increasing peaks, Mel and Ken scream with glee. But Ryu shuts up. His belly churning and holds his breathe back, eyes widening trying not to throw up. He could feel his groins likely to fall off.

At last, after all those scary rides, Mel got hungrier. They bought some more snacks while Ryu staggered, looking for restrooms. Later, they played arcade games. Ken bought themselves a ton of tokens. Mel scooted around challenging some skilled video game freaks. Ken and Ryu challenged each other to a variety of video games. Ryu lost a lot of times.

"Owww. Don't feel bad, Ryu.", Ken winked, "I, myself, couldn't win against Mel." It amused him to see Ryu almost losing his cool. Mel came back after wasting all his tokens and tugged the two lovers to try out some other kind of games. They had more fun and lots more fun. Ken and Ryu took a lot of pictures, too. A few moments passed and Ryu was laughing almost all the time.

They decided to watch the latest Jackie Chan film. Mel sat on a seat between the two. He was so immersed of watching the movie, he didn't notice that Ryu and Ken were stealing glances from each other. The two even squeeze each other's hands while seizing popcorn in the gigantic jumbo tumbler on Mel's lap.

After the movie, they were getting a bit more tired. Ryu is carrying Mel who is sitting on his shoulders. While passing by a shooting arcade, Ken saw Guile and Chun-li shooting at a stand with a background of a moundful of stuff toys and an stall owner woefully wiping off his sweat.

"Guile, Chun-li!", Ken cheerily called.

Chun-li and Guile turned around. "Ken!", Chun-li snapped back in return. Then she saw Ryu and Mel, "Ryu!" Guile happily waved his hand. Ryu grinned impishly and walked nearer to them.

Chun-li saw the small kid riding on Ryu's shoulders.

"Is that your son, Ken?", seeing Mel's blonde hair.

"Yup. That's my little kid. He's name is Mel.", Ken answered.

Chun-li giggly went near and pinched Mel's cheek. "Isn't he kawaii!"

"Aww!", the kid squinched.

"Having fun, too?", Guile spoke tapping Ken's back.

"Yeah. Ha ha!", Ken answered.

"So, Ryu, are you enjoying yourself here in the West?", Guile asked Ryu.

"Kewl!", Ryu snapped.

"Ha ha ha!", the whole pack laughed.

"Oh, by the way, where's Eliza?", Chun-li wondered.

"Uhhh... Ahh...", Ken stammered, "She is busy with her modelling right now. So Ryu and I thought we'd take Mel along for some fun. Both of us are going to Japan tomorrow."

"Really?", Chun-li asked, "I'm spending a whole week here enjoying my vacation from China."

"That's great.", Ken replied.

"Are you guys tired already?", Chun-li asked, "'Coz we're gonna have dinner in Chinatown. They're gonna display a wonderful show of fireworks and parade for the Chinese New Year. We're gonna watch the Grand Chinese Circus there too. Wanna come?"

"Uhh...", Ken thought.

"Is it a long ride from here?", Chun-li asked Guile.

"Well, not really that long, unless you're tired."

"Kewl!", Mel spoke aloud. "Come'on Dad, let's go."

"Sure.", Ken agreed, "It's still early anyway. Let's take my private chopper."

"What?!", Chun-li was surprised. * * *

A red light glowing in the dark. Eerie. The room slowly brightens as the silhouette of an evil monster thickens to sight. The crimson glow glistens from his right mechanical eye. Sagat, the fallen Bison's right hand, now leads to revive the world's formerly feared terrorist group, the Shadaloo.

His appearance manifests hate in human form. In his memory a vague form of a young warrior materializes, his red headband fluttering in the air. Ryu, his ultimate enemy. He hungers for his blood in his hands.

"Agent 14 reporting, master", a voice spoke. A dark figure appeared behind him, "Eliza has been spotted in a shopping district in New York alone. She is only accompanied by an unknown schoolgirl."

"Hmm... Capture her. Kill anyone who gets in the way." , Sagat commanded sternly.

"Yes, master."

An electric door is heard to close from behind. Sagat is alone again.

"Ken Masters will try to rescue his wife. Then I will kill both him and his wife. Their heads will make a unique invitation present for Ryu. He will come to avenge them both but his spirit will be broken. This time, I will finally kill him. His head will hang handsomely on my wall.", Sagat leered and then laughed, "Ha ha ha ha ha."

He chuckled the laugh of demons. The aura of hate glows from his body. The room became dimmer and dimmer. And soon the his figure disappered in darkness. The red glow from his mechanical eye glistens with evil intent.

"Ha ha ha ha... GRAHHHHHHHH!!! What happened to the lights?!", hi growled.

"Master.", a voice answered, "The electric inspector caught us tapping from the electric post and cut the wires."

"What?!", the newfound emperor of the broke and defeated Shadaloo grumbled.

- end of part 2 -