Chapter 2
Arrival

Chun Li arrived at the airport. She checked her watch. Still a bit more time before she had to meet her contact. She was reading up on the Urabatou when a shadow was thrown over her notes. She looked up, expecting to see a man with shades and a cloak, but she was sorely disappointed.

"Cammy."

Cammy narrowed her eyes. She didn't like Chun Li. She knew that Chun Li was after Bison for some reason, and that Lord Bison must be protected AT ALL COSTS!

"Hello Chun Li. I expect you're waiting for the contact."

Chun Li nodded and said, "And you are too, I should think."

Cammy plopped down beside her with a curt "yes". She started playing with her braids and ignored Chun Li's presence.

Guile appeared soon after. "Cammy!" He exclaimed.

Cammy rolled her eyes. Cammy, you're here because of Bison, put up with these people for a while, she told herself. "Hello Guile," she replied coolly.

Guile knew that she was going to ignore him. He was attempting to strike up a conversation when Vega appeared. It was Chun Li's turn to roll her eyes.

Before Vega could make any sexist comments, she said firmly, "Vega, whatever you're going to say, shut up."

Vega removed his mask. "Well, excuuuuuuse me." He rolled his eyes and winked at Cammy before dusting his mask and putting it back on. The four of them sat there, not saying anything.

Ryu came running in, with Sakura Kasugano following close behind. "Sorry, were you all..." he trailed off, watching the four silent Street Fighters. Ah well, he thought, Mori Kouran sure picked the right people for this. "This is Kasugano Sakura, who will be LEAVING SHORTLY."

He turned to glare at the bubbly schoolgirl who suddenly whipped out a handy travel bag. She smiled winningly back. "Come on, Ryu-sensei... Let me come along... I don't have to fight, I can just watch, can't I? Please?"

Chun Li grinned at the flustered Ryu. It wasn't often that one could see Ryu at a loss. "Just let her come, Ryu. She might learn something useful."

Ryu threw his hands in the air. "Whatever."

A man in a ninja costume suddenly materialised from nowhere. Whoops, Vega thought, did he appear or was he already there pretending to be a plastic palm tree and we didn't notice him?

The man smiled at all of them. "If the ladies and the gentlemen are ready, Mori-sama is waiting back at the Murder Dome."

The Street Fighters looked at each other. This was it. They picked up their baggage and followed the man to the jet.


*****

"Domon, are you ready?" Fuuko yelled from downstairs, more than a little exasperated. Domon came lumbering down the staircase, lugging two bulging bags of stuff.

"Domon?!" Recca frowned at the bags, "Are you actually going to bring that much stuff?"

Domon looked down at the little backpack that held HIS things. He nodded vigorously. "Of course! I can't live without my leopard-print pants, my hair-cream, my facial wash, my gym equipment, my teddy bear, my..."

Mikagami cut him off. "Forget it, let's go. He's the one dragging the things, anyway. I'm not paying for any damages to the pavement."

Team Hokage set off, Recca leading the way and Domon in the rear. Their first step, on their way to an uncertain future.

Yanagi was behind her ninja, thinking a little. I'm going to be the "prize" again, she thought, I know Recca will protect me. She looked up at Recca's back and smiled. Her very own ninja.

As if that thought had called him, Recca turned to see his Hime smiling. He grinned back and reached up to place his orange cap on her head. "Worried, Hime? Don't worry. Your ninja will protect you. I did well enough last year, didn't I?"

Yanagi nodded and smiled. Team Hokage wouldn't give up without a fight.

*****

Demi bustled around, arranging notes and team placings. Tatsuko poked her head into the room. "Demi?"

Demi yelped in shock and papers flew everywhere. Tatsuko hung her head. "Oops," she said, "Let me help you with those..." Tatsuko came in and started picking up papers.

Inuko stuck her head around the corner. "Hey, the fighters are already coming in. Aren't you guys ready yet?"

Tatsuko explained the flurry of papers. Inuko rolled her eyes. "Okay, so I'll send the others to welcome them first. But you two had better hurry up. Aren't the both of you MCs or something?" The two turned to glare at Inuko. "Okay, okay, I get the hint. I'll just be going now."

Inuko left the officials' room to find the rest of the 12 referees lounging in the changing room. "Umi, the tail is dropping off."

Umi paused and craned her neck to look at her cotton-tail. "Oh no! Toraha, could you please pass the glue?" Toraha paused in the middle of drawing her tiger stripes to throw Umi the bottle of glue. Amagi walked over to help. "Thanks, Amagi. And your horse ears look cute." Amagi smiled. "Thanks."

Inoko was in the corner dreaming about Domon, while Midori was complaining to Yoko and Enna. "If those jerks start talking about my figure again, they'll get what for!"

Yoko patted Midori on the back, and Enna smiled, saying,"They never complain about ME!"

Yoko retorted, "That's only because you don't like men."

"Mikagami's a man!"

"That's what you THINK." (hehhehheh...author)

Ushino was in another corner fiddling with her tail and cow-horns. Inuko sighed. This was terrible. "Okay ladies. LINE UP!"

The other 11 referees (including Demi and Tatsuko, who had finished with the papers) stood in a line. Inuko started an inspection. "Demi, your mouse ears are crooked; Toraha, nice stripes; Amagi, nice hair; Inoko, straighten your dress; Midori, watch the feathers; Yoko, your hair is covering your horns; Tatsuko, remember not to drool over Recca like last year; Enna, your left braid is loose; Umi, very cute; Sasami, your headband is a little crooked; and Ushino, if anybody asks stupid questions about your phone number again, whack him. There. How do I look?" Inuko self-conciously arranged her favourite (and only) "Running Wild" cloak. Everyone smiled. "You look good, Inuko. Now let's go!"

*****

The 12 referees stood at the entrance to the Dome, each doing her job to the utmost. Demi and Tatsuko were comparing speaker notes, Inuko and Yoko registered the teams while the other 8 acted as ushers. It wasn't long before Team Hokage arrived on the scene.

"Recca!" called out Tatsuko as she sailed over to the registration table. Inuko was frowning at her, but she didn't care as she put her arm through his and started chattering happily to him. The rest of Team Hokage shot a look at Yanagi, who seemed to have a dark cloud settled over her face. Everyone started to hum a song or look faraway into the sky. This wasn't worth their concern. Recca would just get beaten up later, that was all. Enna came bounding happily up. "Let me show you to your seats!"

As Team Hokage followed Enna, Team Street Fighter arrived. They looked around at their surroundings and Chun Li suppressed the urge to just stand at the entrance with her mouth gaping with surprise. They stood uncertainly at the registration table and Yoko bustled about a bit before noticing their presence.

"Yes?" asked Yoko. Guile answered, "Erm, do we register here?"

Yoko turned to look at the huge sign that said "Register Here" above her. She turned back coolly. "No. These people here are all queueing up to watch the Flame of Recca screening at the Anime Fest".

Ryu nudged Guile away and leaned on the table. "We were invited by Mori Kouran. We are Team Street Fighter," Ryu said firmly.

Yoko smiled. "Yes, Mori-sama mentioned this team. Welcome to Urabatou. Before we enter you proper for the competition, you must name your prize."

"Prize?" asked the puzzled team.

Yoko nodded. "Every team names a prize, which the loser must give up to the winner for every match. The team is then knocked out of the competition, of course. Also, the team must give up their madogou. While you are thinking about what to give up, how about telling me your madogou first?"

Silence. Yoko looked up from her forms. "Well?"

"I'm very sorry, Miss Yoko, but the thing is, we all don't own madogous," Ryu said. "But you can have my Hadoken if you want."

Yoko stared, more than a little surprised at this confession. "Oh." Privately, she was appalled. How could anyone join Urabatou without madogou and expect to survive? But since they were invited by Mori-sama...

"How about the prize then? How about betting your team mate?" Yoko pointed to Sakura.

Sakura's eyes widened and she started to back away. Vega frowned behind his mask. "Are you serious, Miss Yoko?"

"Perfectly. It's not unheard of; the champion Team last year bet one of their team mates as well. Of course, it acted as the driving force behind their win."

Ryu rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Ryu-sensei... you can't be serious!" Sakura pleaded.

Ryu's mouth twitched. "No," he said, half-smiling, "We can't bet you." Sakura heaved a sigh of relief. "I'd purposely lose," Ryu continued and got bonked on his head for his pains.

Sakura got a brainwave. She whispered conspiratorily in Cammy's ear, the latter smiling evilly. Add a cauldron to the picture and it'd be perfect. Cammy sauntered up to Guile. "Guile, we haven't talked for so long, why don't you tell me what has gone on your life?"

She half-dragged Guile away from the table while Sakura told Yoko, "Guile's our prize."

The rest of the Team members sniggered. Yoko made a note on a form and Umi started to show them their way. Cammy came back a little while later, a triumphant look on her face. Guile trailed after her, with a silly smile. He asked, "So, what's our prize?"

Cammy turned with a sly smile on her face. "Well, Guile dear... You." Ryu and Chun Li dragged the spluttering Guile after them into the main hall.

"Now don't you dare try to lose," Chun Li warned Ryu over Guile's head. Not a easy feat, since Guile's hair has been measured to be a full 37cm in height.

***
Nobody was actually listening to Mori Kouran's speech. They were more interested in observing their surroundings. By some stroke of luck, (if you want to call it that) Team SF was sitting beside Team Hokage, which meant that Sakura was happily occupied for however long Mori Kouran decided to speak. For she had seen...the one, the only, the absolutely gorgeous (and that is but an understatement!!)... Mikagami Tokiya!!! It was with great reluctance that she left the hall when Amagi came forward to show them to their rooms.


*****End of Chapter 2******


You Don't Have to Read This
raydance: What's with the plastic palm tree thing? I meant the ninja to be Raiha. Palm trees are green. Raiha is 50% purple.
plhu: Oh. I didn't realise. Plastic crocuses?
raydance: ...Palm trees are fine.

Note: As you can tell, the rubbish jokes are plhu's.