Chapter 1
Invitation
Ryu was busy training back in his dojo when it came. "Ryu-san. This is for you," came a voice through the door. A thin envelope was slipped through the door crack. Ryu ran to open the door and accost the mystery messenger, but he was already gone. Puzzled, Ryu walked back into the room and picked up the envelope. It was plain with only his name written on the front in a neat hand. He opened it.
In Hong Kong, Chun Li was still working, even though it was in the dead of the night. Her secretary had long gone home, leaving her sitting behind her computer and looking for clues on Bison and his Shadaloo. "Darn you, Bison..." she thought while clicking on a link, "I'm going to get you if it takes me a lifetime." A knock sounded on the door. "Is that you, Wai Lin? Come right in, I'm just about finished here..." Chun Li called out. There was no answer. Chun Li looked up from her computer to see a white envelope slide in from underneath. She shot up to throw open the door, but the messenger was gone. She bent down to pick up the envelope. White, with her name written on the front with black ink. She threw it on the desk to look at later before going back to her computer.
Vega was asleep when his messenger came. "Vega-san..." Vega looked up from his pillow. "What on earth?" A white envelope lay on his bed, addressed to him. There was nobody around. Shrugging, Vega opened the envelope. "Must be some secret admirer."
Guile was throwing punches at a punching bag repeatedly. "Cammy..." he muttered. Damn if he was going to just let her follow Bison around like some love-sick puppy. Damn it all. He was going to train enough to beat Bison up, then save Cammy. Damn. "Guile-san..." came a whisper in the night. "Who?" Guile whipped around, arms in position. A white envelope was on the ground, with his name written neatly on the front.
Cammy was lying asleep in Bison's arms. She tossed fitfully. She could feel someone's eyes upon her. She opened her eyes and wormed her way out of Bison's embrace. Perhaps she needed a drink. How could anyone get through Bison's tight security system? But someone had. She stared at the white envelope lying innocently on her bedside table. Her name was written in black upon it. Cocking her head to one side, she picked it up and opened it.
"Urabatou?" Ryu asked himself. "Isn't that Mori Kouran's big event every year? I've been invited?"
Chun Li shut down her computer, feeling very pleased with herself. Now she knew for certain that Bison was going to be in Japan very soon, and he was dealing with weapons with some Japanese big-wig. She stretched. Time to go home, she thought, but she recalled the envelope and opened it. "Mori Kouran invites Chun Li to the Urabatou?" She stared at it hard for a while. "Isn't Mori Kouran the guy that..." She checked the notes lying on her desk. It was.
Vega raised an eyebrow at the words. "Hmm... Japan, huh? Well, at least he's providing the transport. And I hear Japan is full of babes." He read on. "Team Street Fighter? That means other people have been invited. Ah, it's here. Ryu, Chun Li, Guile, Cammy and myself. Not a bad team."
Guile read through the words. "Cammy's going? That means I'll be going too. Lessee... Be at the airport in two days, when a private jet will take you to the mystery location of the Murder Dome." He put the card back into the envelope and left the gym. He had some packing to do.
Cammy frowned at the card. She didn't really understand what it was saying. Awakened by the light, Bison sat up groggily. "Is it morning already?" Cammy turned round to face him, saying "It isn't. Did I wake you? I'm sorry, but I received this weird thing..." She handed the card to him. He smiled after reading the card. "It's just fighting event that Mori holds every year. Why don't you take part? Remember when I told you I was going to Japan and I couldn't take you? Actually, Mori invited me over to watch this Urabatou. It's highly secret, so I had to leave you behind, but since you're invited..." he trailed off and looked at Cammy expectantly. Cammy grinned. "Of course I'll go. But it says that I'll need to leave tomorrow." Bison smiled again. "Okay. I'll just have to meet you there."
Recca was happily eating the bread that he had bought for himself and his Hime. Yanagi had gone to get a drink, and he was sitting at their usual bench. Koganei dumped himself and his wrapped Kougan Anki in front of him. "Recca nii-chan," he muttered as a greeting. Fuuko and Domon were right behind him.
"Recca!" They yelled and Fuuko waved frantically to Mikagami who was coming down the stairs.
"Kirisawa," Mikagami said as he walked towards them, "Don't. Ever. Do. That. Again." He paused. "It's highly embarassing if the other Year 2s see me."
The entire Team Hokage turned to stare. "Mikagami, I didn't know you got embarrassed," said Recca, voicing their thoughts. Mikagami rolled his eyes. "Of course I do. What, do you think I'm cold-blooded or something?"
Silence.
"I'm not, okay?!"
"That's new." Fortunately for Recca, Yanagi came back and Mikagami had to postpone the beating up till later.
They were all eating and drinking (with the exception of Mikagami who was sleeping) when a voice was heard over their racket. "Hokage..."
They all sprang up, with Recca landing on the table, shouting "Who?", to see the entire canteen staring at them and a white envelope on the table. Sheepishly, they sat down again, and Recca opened the envelope.
"Urabatou." Team Hokage looked around at each other. "Are we going to take part?" Domon asked.
Fuuko whacked him on the head. "Naturally!"
Koganei raised a hand, "But what's our motivation?"
Recca smiled devilishly, "To kick some serious butt. In other words, Mori Kouran. Are you with me?"
Team Hokage flipped him the hang-loose sign.
You Don't Have to Read This
plhu: What's a hang-loose sign?
raydance: *stares VERY hard* You...you don't know?!
plhu: Yeah I don't. So what is it?
raydance: You stretch out your hand. Then put your thumb, third finger and fourth finger together.
plhu: So des ne. But isn't that a secret society handsign?
raydance: No. That's with the thumb and little finger sticking out.
plhu: Oh. Isn't that kind of dangerous then if you do it wrongly?