Description: Rumors have swirled in the wake of SIN's assault on Futuba Mansion, like the disappearance of one Hotaru Futuba. Sneaking into the mansion in order to investigate, Chun-li meets someone with some of the answers, but they're hardly the news she wanted to hear. Will the two fighters be able to reclaim some of what was taken by SIN? Or will their best efforts be in vain?
Not everyone here in Southtown fights an overt war.
No, some fight their battles quietly, lurking behind the scenes. Despite the power and strength she possesses, Chun-Li is one such 'soldier' in this battle most unexpected. She hasn't sought out the enemies plaguing Southtown as actively as some may expect of the World's Strongest Woman--especially when the likes of Vega are around. Instead, she has been pursuing information.
Sometimes, it doesn't take strength to overcome the enemy.
Her pursuits have led her down the path relating to Shadaloo--SIN. A man has been seen in town, its designated 'leader' for the division. Seth. And he has made his intentions clear: he wants subjects. And what he wants, he gets.
That's why the Futaba girl has gone missing.
Worried and regretful she hadn't been more actively aware in her pursuits, Chun-Li has begun the only thing she knows to do now: investigate. And where best to start than the house Hotaru lives in? Perhaps there's a clue, something that can be found...or someone with information. She can't let Shadaloo get ahead of her--she has to be one step ahead.
The woman doesn't knock. Instead, Chun-Li quietly and cautiously opens the door, old wood and brass hinges groaning quietly in the expansive foyer. Dressed down, in little more than comfortable jeans, sneakers and an Oriental print sleeveless silk blouse, the World's Strongest Woman carefully breaches the threshold, leaving the door ajar behind her. Once inside, she immediately begins surveying the house, looking for signs of struggle; anything she can find.
And if she gets caught, well...
It's dark in the house. With the moon a curved sliver in the sky and the stars not that much better in terms of light, it may be easy to overlook the muddy grass of the front lawn. Tire marks, foot prints, mud, water, and yellow grass mar the usually perfect Futuba Mansion, all until a certain point, where everything... abruptly stops a few steps from the front porch. The mansion itself is untouched, the only signs of struggle being wear and tear from a full house.
Quiet mumbles and snores can be heard from random rooms, everything arranged like a shelter rather than a pack of refugees descending randomly on a house. Whatever battle took place, it was outside, not inside. But there's others here that are awake, if just barely. The sentries, being plain citizens, are easy to get past.
It isn't until Chun-li reaches a quiet hallway that someone else strikes. A flashlight shines out of nowhere, directed aggressively at Chun-li's face as if she had been staying in broad daylight. ".... You better have a reason to be here." A female voice. Soft, but only to avoid waking the residents sleeping away a few rooms down. Young, but a harsh bite. Definitely not Hotaru's own. "Or I'll break you like the last thief that came here."
So this is what the Futaba house has become..?
Frowning lightly, the Chinese woman shakes her head in disappointment. The city is in ruins, and only few places are safe. Certainly, the Futaba estate is one of the city's more secure places, but still. People here are displaced, worried and scared. And there seems to be no end to this war in sight...
Quietly Chun-Li moves along, almond-colored eyes thoughtfully and morosely glancing over the lay of the mansion. Soft voices carry on the still silence of the night, but the World's Strongest Woman is quiet enough not to rouse them.
Well, most of them.
A flash of light suddenly cuts the darkness, the woman staggering only slightly and startled by the beam. She backpedals a few steps, a hand reaching up and out to shield her eyes from the brightness. Behind the light a voice speaks, curt yes, but still youthful. It's not the voice she'd expect of the mistress of the mansion. It's not--and Chun-Li knows this.
"I'm no thief. My apologies for coming in unannounced or uninvited," the woman offers, her voice soft and friendly. There is nothing about the woman in front of Shurui that expresses hostile intent--hers is a pleasant air, warm and inviting...and a little sad.
"I'm looking for miss Futaba. I heard she had gone missing, but I wanted to make sure for myself this wasn't some rumor. Have you seen her? Is she here?" She hopes for the best, though part of her expects the worse. Thus, mentally and emotionally, Chun-Li braces herself.
The flashlight stays. As pleasant an air Chun-li has, the short sillhouette behind the flashlight is paranoid. Maybe someone from NESTS? They know they can trick her that way. Get a gentle voice, a kind manner, a calm aura... capture her when she's down.
"She was kidnapped," snaps the voice bitterly. "There's still people who can fight here. I dunno if you're a spy for someone else, but you can go ahead and tell them we don't want anymore of their shit. NESTS, the Syndicate, R, Shadaloo, whatever. And if you're from Shadaloo? Give us back those people you took from us."
It's clear that Hotaru is missed. And that the girl standing before Chun-li had some sort of connection with the pig-tailed girl. "The people here might be trusting, but I'm not. If you have something to offer, then. That'd be different." The light adjusts itself briefly in the girl's grip, allowing Chun-li a glimpse of curiously light hair as the light catches upon a few strands. Silver? A trick of the light? ".... Let's take this outside. I don't want to wake anybody up."
Kidnapped.
Kidnapped?!
Visibly the woman shifts, her soft face suddenly concerned and worried before she sharply winces. That's the worst she expected of the situation. It's precisely what she came here, expecting to find by way of information. Clearly, the rumors were true.
"I-I see," is Chun-Li's response, brown eyes slowly shifting to the side and away from the girl and her light. But she looks up once more as the girl wonders her intentions. Once more, Chun-Li's expression is shifting, her face plastered with disbelief and something akin to 'horror.'
"S-spy? No, no; never. Please don't lump me in with those criminal scumbags," she insists, looking a little hurt by such accusations. "I came here because I've been investigating this entire situation. I'm trying to follow what leads I have to see if I can find a way to stop these thieves and killers and put them behind bars." She pauses, exhaling lightly before she adds, "Please believe me.
"...because I'm here to try and help Hotaru."
Shurui, however, does have a point.
"Alright then, let's go outside."
The Chinese woman moves slowly and cautiously, sure to keep her hands in plain sight for the girl to see and not startle her. She doesn't want trouble--only answers.
"Is it true, then, that she was taken by Shadaloo forces?" the woman will ask along the way.
The flashlight wavers. It's not as if the girl seems entirely convinced, but, on the other hand, it's been a long, long day. This one's different from the others that came before her. .... Of course, it might be that she's different in that she actually tries to convince Shurui of her good intentions instead of giving up and pulling out a knife.
"....." She wants to believe someone out there cares about what happens to such a person as Hotaru. Someone could do something about it.
Motioning to the front door with her flashlight, the girl silently walks outside, a hand reaching out to turn on a porch light. The light allows Chun-li to finally see the girl- a short, boyish, but athletic body with healing burn marks on her face, arms, and hands, healthy raw red skin replacing the flakey dry parts of her skin with ease someone would appreciate in an environment like this. A t-shirt drapes over her teenaged frame, shorts and slip-on shoes over the rest. All this, and an odd crop of short grey hair.
The light also casts marks over the lawn, light catching on the edges of puddles and tracks. ".... We did what we could. They attacked from the front and the rear. The first wave was pushed off, but the second... Took Hotaru, a student that came with me named Ichiro, and Frei. Alma and I are left." She casts the flashlight over the lawn for further emphasis. "They didn't touch the mansion. They didn't want the people inside. We thought they did. That was our mistake." A wry smirk crosses the girl's mouth. "Okay, they wanted some of us. Guess my skinny ass was too good for them."
Shurui knows the real reason, even if she has no further idea as to the purpose. But that's not someone she'll let go of yet. "Should've asked you for indentification first, but." She holds out a hand expectantly. "Nothing I told you is something you couldn't have figured out yourself with a little digging."
This woman is as honest as they get. Not a shred of harm or malice can be seen or felt from her presence, her face far too soft and gentle to express any intention of harm. Shurui is a psychic, and her intuitions will reveal as much. Chun-Li is not a Bad Person. She is, in fact, quite good, honest and compassionate.
And she's also incredibly concerned.
Stepping out into the moonlit night, Chun-Li is more than willing to give the young woman her distance, stepping a few feet off the porch before she slowly turns. Finally able to see and get a good look at her, she's somewhat startled at the wounds she's recovering from. Vaguely her face seems horrified for the pain Shurui likely endured. Then, slowly, she offers a sympathetic smile.
...which turns into a frown.
"So it wasn't just Hotaru?" the woman muses thoughtfully, brows gently arcing upwards in disbelief. The situation is worse than she'd imagined. Could it be..?
Shaking her head, the woman's features are gentle but lightly stern, eyes lidding somewhat as she fixes her gaze on the petite psychic. "Be thankful for as much. You are fortunate...and you are a great help. You have first-hand knowledge of the situation, and that's more than anyone else has been able to tell me." It was a foolish mistake for Shadaloo to not take everyone--or kill them.
The woman shakes her head once more, dismissing the thought.
Extending her hand out, she accepts the hand presented from Shurui with a friendly smile. "I'm Chun-Li. I apologize again for not knocking, but I wasn't sure what to expect. I had no clue if the mansion had been occupied by enemy forces or if it was safe." Exhaling, she offers a small frown. "Doesn't really excuse me, though."
She pauses briefly, mulling over what's been said before she asks, quietly,
"Can you tell me who attacked the residence? Anything you know will help me."
The paranoia flooded Shurui's paranormal senses dulls to a lessening throb as the cool night air nips at the skin of her arms. This woman... she feels like she can trust her, for some reason. A nagging sense tells her to be on guard, but it grows silent as her senses grow ever more confident.
The girl doesn't seem to register the sight she must present until Chun-li's aura looks distressed. "...." As if remembering something she forgot, the girl looks at her arms, fingers sweeping past stinging skin. She looks back up. "It's healing fast. No infection. Don't spend time on worrying about it." It's all dismissed in a simple, logical gesture, rather than an offshot of trying to appear tough.
"I'm more thankful that they decided to leave me and Alma alive instead of shooting while we were laying in the mud." The girl seems visibly surprised as Chun-li presses a hand into hers instead of some sort of badge or sort of indentification, but the effect is just as positive in regards to earning her trust.
This woman... she's different from the others. There's a certain strength within her that can't be earned by physical ability. Experience. Would it be so horrible for Shurui to, for once, just go with her gut instead of logic?
"I don't know if it was Shadaloo. I just figured it was. A tank. Lots of soldiers. They invaded Thailand, right? The soldiers moved like they were in a war." NESTS doesn't work that way. Neither does the Syndicate. R? She doesn't know much about R. "Used rubber bullets instead of real ones. They didn't want to kill, just subdue. When the first wave was driven off, a man with weird energy in his abdomen came and fought us alongside a second wave. It wasn't.... Shadaloo's leader. Someone else. Could have been R for all I know."
When Shurui's hand moves, fingertips brushing her arm, the woman follows with her almond-brown eyes, noting the wounds briefly before she meets the young woman's gaze. Her words startle her only slightly, brows lifting with surprise before she offers a tiny, sympathetic smile to Shurui. Don't spend time worrying about it, the girl insists.
"I'll try not to. Please, just take it easy and recover?" Sweeping her gaze up toward the mansion, she adds, thoughtfully, "I think you're needed here. You're a strong young lady." Certainly, Chun-Li can see that in her.
But Shurui's words draw a faint, regretful frown over the Chinese woman's lips. This shouldn't have happened. People such as Hotaru, Shurui or even this "Alma" she speaks of don't deserve such a fate. If only she could have been here. If only she could have helped protect them all. If only...
She presents a smile nonetheless, giving the girl's hand a firm, respectful shake. "I am thankful too. It means the people here who can't defend themselves have people here capable of it for them, to take care of them, as you have been." Withdrawing her hand, she tilts her head, the smile on her soft face sad...but sincere. "I know...you all did your best."
She means every word. Every fiber of Chun-Li's being exudes sincerity and compassion, friendliness and goodness. If Shurui cannot trust her gut, well...
Chun-Li will just have to try and prove she means well.
She listens, though, as Shurui explains what happened. Nodding her head softly at mention of tanks and soldiers, the woman's features darken somewhat. To bring machines of war here? But--
"Rubber bullets?" Now that was unexpected. Lifting a hand to her chin, the Chinese woman cups it gently, listening closely and parsing the knowledge carefully. But then--
"Energy in his abdomen, you say?
"No, not R. Not Shadaloo's leader--but close." Frowning sharply, the woman's posture is suddenly stiff and uncomfortable, arms tense as she half-turns from the girl before her. "You are very fortunate indeed. I fear, though, for Hotaru and those who were taken." This is bad. She didn't think it was this big.
"Did he say anything at all, or drop any clues, as to where they may be going? Anything?" She almost sounds desperate.
".... This is me recovering." The girl makes a lazy gesture with her hand. "If I take it easier than that, who's gonna take my place?" Shurui shakes her head, the grey hair glinting in the lamplight. "This place doesn't need me to be here." It's not a matter of self-pity. It's just that Shurui, much like Chun-li, would like to be someplace else. Someplace closer to Hotaru. Someplace closer to freeing her. "What they need is a Hotaru." Hotaru's heart held them together. Her unjudgmental, gracious, all-compassing heart. Her inner strength. "I have my suspucions where she could be, but I can't risk throwing my life in a gamble. I can't take on Shadaloo."
She can't risk her friends', either. Especially when one of them would throw his life away on the basis of a rumor.
".... Fortunate?" The girl lets out a wry laugh, before her face falls sour. ".... I didn't realize what they were really here for until I woke up an found out that the fighters were gone. The man is not Shadaloo's leader, but he's just as powerful, in a way. Said that our powers were strong enough to recieve his attention. That his name is Seth. He knew the same martial art as Hotaru's; seemed to know a lot, period." She's silent a while, looking out against the torn lawn. "His aura was weird. Like the abyss. I thought it was just my sight, but it was physical too." Her sight? She lowers her eyes. "... I lied earlier. Turns out, I think I know exactly why Alma and I are left."
"We don't have the same type of power as they do. Or as you do. In fact?" She casts a critical eye towards Chun-li. ".... If you were there with us, they would have taken you along with the others." She pauses. "... Chun-li, you said? Think I'd heard your name before. You fight, right?" She tilts her head. "I have a hard time remembering names until I see them face-to-face. Can't read a person's aura on a TV."
"You shouldn't write yourself off so easily," the woman insists, soft eyes peering at the girl closely. "I think, to them, having people here who will fight for them when they cannot...that is what they need. And you did your best. I'm sure they are thankful, in some way." She can't know for certain, but surely there's silver lining to be found.
As for Shadaloo, the woman's features shift, from kindly to a touch regretful, almost grim. "No one can, alone," she states. "...but I refuse to let them get away with such things in the middle of war." What does that mean? The look on the woman's face, the sudden look of resolve and her hardened gaze suggests she'd willingly do what she can. It falters somewhat, a tiny smile edging across her lips once more.
"I'll do what I can," she promises. "Just trust me."
More information is given, and once more the Chinese woman's expression seems upset. "Seth," she murmurs, eyes shifting to her feet. Then her information was correct. Could it be that his reasons here are not for war precisely, but something more? Test subjects..?
The woman looks up as Shurui elaborates. "Chi?" she almost blurts, eyes widening a touch before she frowns. She fears for Hotaru--and the others'--well being even more.
She tries to hide it though, offering a small, almost coy smile as she nods her head. "Yeah, that's me," she offers the psychic, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. "It's nice to meet you, by the way..." She pauses, considering what's happened between them before she asks, sheepishly, "Ah, sorry...I don't think I caught your name, miss."
"I didn't mean it in that way," the girl answers bluntly. "I just meant that I'd rather be doing something than just maintaining the status quo until the next organization comes for the leftovers." And there will be those organizations. NESTS, especially, once they have a moment to devote to her.
It may be better to not be here at all.
"Yeah. Chi. Me and Alma- we don't have that. We have something else. They wanted chi. Seth knew that I wasn't want he wanted, and he knew Alma wasn't either. The fighters he took were of levels equal to me and Alma more or less- wouldn't make sense just to leave us for no reason." Ironic. The one thing that got Shurui kidnapped before is the one thing that, well, didn't.
The girl doesn't seem at all fooled by the Chinese woman's coy smile, but, at the same time, she doesn't seem disturbed either. Either she's long past the reality of Hotaru's fate, or, for right now, the girl wants to believe in the small flame of hope Chun-li is beginning to inspire in her. "Shurui. Shurui Chiang." Her name, finally.
The named girl stares at Chun-li quietly for a moment. "If you have a notion of where to go and are planning on taking them on, I'll come with you. If I can manage against Shadaloo soldiers, that'll free you a little. I know what the risks are; I've already met Shadaloo's leader."
She nods, Chun-Li's expression softening a touch at the young fighter's explanation. She doesn't want to sit idly by and watch. She doesn't want to wait; she wants to get out and help make a difference. Part of the woman can relate to those feelings. But she knows that it can also get her in far over her head.
But...
Exhaling softly, Chun-Li just nods her head lightly. "I understand," she confesses aloud. "I know how you feel." Hotaru is clearly a friend to this girl--a friend to a lot of people. She can see how the circumstances have affected her to a certain degree, whether she'd confess as much or not. There's nothing worse than not being able to save those you care about. Chun-Li knows this first-hand.
"It seems suspicious yes," the elder woman explains, a finger reaching up and gingerly tapping at her chin. "If you and Alma were left behind, and are not capable of using chi, then...well, the circumstances cannot go ignored." It all only justifies the concerns she has. It means she needs to act fast. She'll figure the details later.
"Shurui? Chinese?" she wonders aloud, curious. As for taking them on...
"I need to do a bit of research into rumors," the woman explains. "I have heard that there's a base set up in the city park that's housing Shadaloo forces. I've also heard whisperings that 'subjects' of Shadaloo's R&D have been taken there, but I cannot say for certain if this is fact or mere fiction." Pursing her lips lightly, the woman's gaze thoughtfully shifts to the moonlit sky. She seems to hesitate. Take this girl, despite all that's happened already to her? She's still recovering.
But she can't go alone. That's stupid and Chun-Li knows it.
"Stay here and recover for now, while I look into the information I've found, okay? Once I have verified whether they're true, I'll get in touch with you about making our move. If we accomplish anything, it's getting Hotaru out of there--and who else we can. That'll be priority. Taking out their base is too risky, I think." Pause. "Are you okay with this?"
"They didn't want to kill any of us, and, they can't study chi in someone who's dead, so the chance that Hotaru is alive is high." Blunt. But the concern in the girl's manner makes it evident that this realistic reasoning isn't out of any vague spite. "The downside is that they'd probably be experimenting on her and on the other fighters."
Other fighters. Like Ichiro. She makes a pained look. ".... One of them was one I brought here just to recover. He helped me get into Gedo when I was searching for my friends." Her shoulders slump. "Can't believe I practically led him into the predicament he's in now... Probably being experimented upon too, like Hotaru." And yet, what if he went to the hospital for his injuries? Shurui heard rumors of NESTS attacking there. There's no place to hide, exactly, for someone wounded.
She closes her eyes. The question about her name is a welcome distraction. "... My father was. I was adopted. He owned a shop in Chinatown that sold imports and antiques." Different owners now- the very same who sleep in the rooms above on the second floor. The shop probably has been ransacked by now.
Stay here and recover. Shurui doesn't seem to adverse to the suggestion, now that she has something to wait for. "If we can save them all.... yeah." She nods. "If you can gather information, then I can focus on taking care of the people here until you need me. We'll be no use to them if we charge in without a plan. Find people who can help us or provide backup if we fail, maybe. But promise me you won't do this alone. One of my friends has that tendency and I'm trying to keep this tragedy from getting worse."
Blunt though Shurui may be, the girl has a point. Nodding her head, Chun-Li listens, noting carefully her observations before she simply exhales, her expression sad. Experimenting on those who were captured...it's as she feared. At her side, the woman's hands gently curl, forming a loose fist, though her fingers tighten a touch. Damnable Shadaloo. What are their intentions..?
"We..." she begins, hesitating on her words. Can they really help them? Do they have a choice?
"We will do our best to get them out of there." Chun-Li offers a tiny, almost sad smile. She's quick to dismiss it, shaking her head lightly before she amends. "Sure, it won't be easy, but I am certain we can at least rescue those who have been captured. I promise that we'll get them back. Please, though. Don't blame yourself for anything, Shurui.
"It's a lovely name, by the way. Your father picked a nice one." The elder woman smiles gently.
Half-turning, the woman looks to be taking her leave. "Good. You stay here and heal up more. I'll head out and see what I can find about this supposed 'base' out in the park and who is potentially there. Once I have verification and proof, I'll stop by. I will also secure reinforcements where I can."
The latter that's said from Shurui gives the woman reason to pause, Chun-Li's soft face mildly puzzled before she offers a friendly and assuring smile. "I promise," she assures Shurui. "I won't go alone.
"Take care. I'll be seeing you soon."
With that, the woman turns and begins to make her way quietly out of the mansion's front yard.
Log created on 22:43:13 04/04/2009 by Shurui, and last modified on 13:21:23 04/10/2009.