Chapter 19:  Fortune Teller

Ken had finally given up on looking for Ryu for the night. He had spent the better part of the afternoon looking, with no luck in tracking him down. Arriving back at the hotel, he decided it would be best to talk it over with the girls and see what their next move should be. Ken walked up to the door to the suite and saw a note taped to the door.

"Great! More notes." He said to himself as he plucked the note from the door and read it.

Sweetheart,

Chun li and I went out searching for Ryu as well. Be back soon.

Love,

Eliza

"Dammit! I didn?t want them to go off on their own with Gouki lurking about." He cursed to himself. "Hope they have better luck than I did."

*CRACK* "ARRRGGGHHHH!!! You broke my nose, bitch!!!" the man said as he dropped to the ground holding his bleeding nose.

"Wow! You will have to teach me how to do that sometime Chun!" Eliza said smiling down at the thug who had accosted them.

"I?ll do far more than break your nose if you ever put your dirty paws on me again." Chun li threatened.

The pair had spent most of the afternoon searching the city for Ryu. Eliza noted early on, that Chun li seemed to get more agitated as the day wore on. Ryu?s disappearance was deeply affecting her the most. ?I wish we could have found a lead or something, but it?s just like the earth swallowed him up whole.

"Come on Chun, we should be getting back. Ken will be worried about us, and maybe he?s found something out." Eliza said tugging on Chun li?s sleeve.

Chun li gave one more angry glare at the man crumpled on the floor, as she looked over towards Eliza, her face saddened somewhat.

"Okay, let?s get out of here." She said heading for the door.

Elsewhere?

"You still have not explained to me yet why you know so much about me." Ryu said to the shapely woman sitting beside him in the car.

"All in due time. Besides, it is getting late, and we should have dinner before I explain *everything* to you." She said with a seductive smile. Rose withered a bit when he did not react to it.

The car pulled into the driveway of a rather large house. The driver escorted them to the door of the house. Once inside, the driver disappeared down a hallway to make dinner.

"The guest room is down to your right. Dinner will be ready in an hour or so. If there is anything that you need, just ring the bell." She said.

"Arigatou." Ryu said with a short bow and retreated into the room. Ryu meditated to pass the time til his questions would be answered. After an hour, the man who had driven them to the house knocked on his door and entered.

"If you would follow me, dinner is served." He said as he motioned towards the door. Ryu followed the man to a rather large and elegant room, which was obviously the dinning hall. Seated at the head of the table was Rose. She was now wearing a rather skimpy evening dress.

"Please take a seat and enjoy this fine repast with me." She said pointing out a chair.

After they finished dinner, Rose guided Ryu to a room adjoining the dinning hall. It was filled with fine tapestries and two plush leather chairs. She motioned for Ryu to sit at one.

"I know you have questions to be answered Wanderer." She started. "I have the gift of glimpsing into the future somewhat, sort of precognition. A few weeks ago while I was visiting the city, I encountered a rather strong ?aura?. I found out that you were the source of this aura. I have never encountered one as strong as yours before."

"I watched you train that Chinese woman, and I felt her aura start to mature." She said. "You are a gifted teacher."

"So, what has this got to do with ?my demon??" Ryu asked.

"Well, as you are aware of from your ability to manipulate ?Chi?, there is negative and positive. The way I see people?s auras, is similar? there is dark and light." She narrowed her gaze at Ryu. "Yours is somehow different."

"How so?" Ryu asked puzzled.

"Yours is gray. The fact that you are a very powerful warrior disturbed me greatly." She replied.

"?.." Ryu raised an eyebrow.

Rose held up her hand to continue? "When I consulted my books and cards, it revealed that you are searching for something. Am I correct?"

"Yes, I am searching for the meaning of the fight." Ryu replied.

"What price are you willing to pay to attain that knowledge?" She asked bluntly.

Ryu narrowed his eyes.

" Forgive me, I did not mean to offend you. Right now you are at a juncture in your quest. There is the long tedious path of light, and the short easy path of darkness."

She looked into his eyes? "I do not wish to see you take the path of darkness, like your mentor?s brother did. He sold his soul for the knowledge, and killed everyone that was dear to him. I do not want to see the same happen to you."

Ryu broke off looking into her eyes. "No offense, but why concern yourself with a stranger? You seem to know a lot about me, but I do not understand your motives."

Rose got up and looked away from Ryu. "I know this is a lot for you to take in for one day. But I am sorry I cannot reveal to you right now the real reason why I am helping you. You will just have to trust me."

"If you will excuse me, I am going to retire for the night. I would like to talk to you more tomorrow morning, so please make yourself welcome in my house." She said as she walked towards the door.

"Arigatou. I will see you then. Good night." Ryu replied. He remained in the room absorbed in his thoughts.

From her bedroom, Rose sat down on her bed in thought as she brushed her long hair.

"His spirit is exceptional strong, and he seems immune to my charms. This will take some time. I will enjoy the challenge of ensnaring the legendary Wanderer." She smiled to herself.