Chapter 15: Nightmares
The morning sky was a dull gray as, Chun li knelt silently before her father's grave. After saying a short prayer under her breath, she spoke to the head stone.
"Father, everyday, since I lost you so many years ago, has been a struggle for me. My quest for vengeance is still unfinished. I have spent years trying to track down your murderer, but to no avail. He has eluded me and killed many more in his mad quest." She said silently.
"The last time I was here to visit you, I prayed for your help to find the fierce warrior I heard about that was able to conjure up powerful energy out of nothingness."
"I knew that if I could learn to harness the same power, I would be able to vanquish your murderer. Finally I was able to find this man father, but complications have arisen."
"I know I swore that nothing was going to stand in the way of my vengeance, but every time I am near him, he takes my breath away."
"We are so much alike, for he has also felt the terrible loss of having his father taken away from him, but he hides his sorrow deep within himself, not letting anyone get near his true emotions."
"Under his powerful warrior shell, I can feel that he is truly a deeply caring and sweet soul. I fear that I have lost my heart to him."
The skies seemed to darken somewhat, and suddenly Chun li was confronted by her father's image. The ghostly figure did not open its mouth, but Chun li could hear its thoughts.
"You have failed me, daughter! Why have you not avenged me yet?" it's Erie voce echoed in her mind.
"People are dying by that man's hand and you have now forsaken me because you are in love with a wanderer who does not feel the same towards you?"
"But father!" she started to cry. "I've given up on any happiness I have ever known when you were taken away from me!"
"But now, I have a chance to be happy again I know somewhere deep inside of him he does truly *love* me! I have not forsaken you!" She cried out. " I thought you would be happy for me since I have found happiness in my life!"
"You are *NOT* my daughter...." the apparition echoed as it faded away.
"FATHER!" she yelled as she closed her eyes crying.
"You are a disappointment to your father now, which makes his failure complete!" A voice said from behind her. She turned looked behind her and saw a man dressed in a red military outfit of some sort with a long flowing black cape. She instantly recognized him.
"VEGA! You are responsible for this! You are the one who ruined my life!" she screamed.
*MUWHAHAHA! * He laughed maniacally. "Do you think you can destroy me? HAHAHA! You are truly a pathetic wench!"
"I, who have crushed infants that were of stronger willpower than yourself! You are no warrior! The only thing you are fit for is to be my concubine!" *MUWHAHAHA! *
"I'd rather die!" she spat back at him.
"That can be arranged my dear!" he said as his eyes glowed red with power.
The ground started to shake, and tombstones started to topple over as skeletal hands erupted from the ground around her. She gazed in horror as skeletons started to claw there way out of the ground and head in her direction. Chun li started to back away from the advance of the horde, when her legs where grabbed by a skeleton rising from her father's grave.
"NO!" she cried as she toppled backward falling to the ground.
"Where is your wanderer at now, when you so desperately need him?" he sneered.
"These are all the people I have slaughtered my dear! They all blame you for not avenging them!" *HAHAHAHA! * He laughed at her, as she tried in vain to crawl to her feet. The hordes of bone figures fell on top of her, pulling on her hair and ripping at her clothes as she struggled to throw them off. But more kept coming at her, as she fought in vain. Tears streamed down her face as she cried, Vega looking on at the site before him laughing.
"I can end this torment. Join with me, and know TRUE POWER!" He said, holding out his hand for her to take.
"NOOOOOO!" she screamed above his evil laugh!
"Chun li? She heard a familiar voice call. "Chun li? Are you okay? I am coming!"
She could barely make out a figure extending his hand towards her just outside of the pile of corpses she was trapped under.
"RYU!" she called, trying to reach for him.
Her vision started to go black...
She awoke screaming, bolting straight up from the bed, nearly knocking the Shotokan fighter off her bed from where he was sitting at the edge trying to wake her up. Tears started to well up in her eyes as she began to sob.
"Chun li? Are you okay? I heard your screams and came to see if you were alright." Ryu said looking at her with concern
She took one look at him and grabbed at him hugging him fiercely, nearly throwing him off balance again. She was crying openly now, as she buried her head into his chest sobbing.
He put his arms around her to comfort her. "What's wrong? He asked quietly.
"It was a horrible dream! *SOB* My father called me a failure...." she choked out.
"It's alright, Chun li. It was just a nightmare...."He replied stroking her hair.
"The dream was so real! *SOB* Vega was there, and all the skeletons of the people he destroyed were grabbing at me."
"I tried to run, but they caught me, and kept falling on top of me, suffocating me. *SOB* Saying it was my fault that they had died." she said trying to stop her crying.
"Just as I was about to black out, I saw you. I heard you calling out my name, saying you were coming. That's when I woke up." She cried, still clinging on to Ryu tightly.
"Well, it's over now." Ryu said softly, comforting her.
"Can I... ask you a.... favor Ryu?" She said quietly, wiping at the tears in her eyes.
"What is that?" he asked.
"Wou...would you please just...st...Stay...with me for tonight..."
" I don't think...." he started to say.
"Please!" she said, looking up into his eyes. "I...I've been alone for so long now... and I just need someone to.... stay with Me." her eyes pleading to him.
'This is wrong to do this.' he thought to himself. 'But she is disturbed by this dream, I cannot turn my back on her.'
"I will stay for a little while..." he replied, hesitantly.
"Thank you..." she said as fresh tears started from her eyes.
She buried her head against his chest, and closed her eyes feeling secure in his powerful arms. He tilted his head down to rest against hers as he held her tightly in his arms.
Neither of them spoke for the rest of the night. Chun li finally drifted off to sleep again, Ryu gently released her from his arms and silently got up to leave. Ryu thought back to the conversation he had with Ken earlier.
"Why would you go with her? Is it because honor demands of it... or...? Is it because of your heart?" Ken had said.
Walking softly out of her room, he still could not think of the answer. "I can not get involved in a relationship ... I still have to perfect the fight.... And there is the Demon awaiting me".... He thought as he walked back to his room.