Street Fighter: Chun-Li & Son

Chapter 4: Like Mother, Like Son

Michael does not see any shame in the fact he is adopted. He wears it more as a badge of pride as he is not like other kids. The next morning from his bed at the Four Points Hotel near the airport, he woke up for another day, "C'mon, wakey wakey sleepyhead," said Chun-Li pushing on his shoulder to get him up, "you don't want to be late, Michael,"

Although he got his first taste of a fight against the 'Dolls', it was not his first scheduled fight. He wiped the sleep from his eyes, and got up with a light grin on his face. He was still a bit sore from his fight against Juli yesterday. After a shower, a brush of the teeth, and a spot of breakfast with his mom at Hobee's, he went with Chun-Li to enjoy the day.

"Today will be your first fight," said Chun-Li

"Well, not all fights will be like the one yesterday, you won't get to pick your opponents, no matter the challenge, you got to step up and be ready," said Chun-Li with a wink to her son, and gave him a ruffle of the hair. Unlike most teenagers, Michael doesn't mind the bits of affection from his adopted mother. Michael's first fight will be in San Francisco.

There are no scheduled, or set battles. There were just names of the fighters on a sheet. Not all fights will be fair. At Union Square in San Francisco, Michael met his first fighter, "Well, well, who do we have here?" said a blond girl that is about Michael's age. She seemed to have been raised with more than one silver spoon. The blond smiled a fox's smile

"I'm Michael, Michael Xiang, let's have a good match,"

"Huh! Chun-Li's little pup?" said the girl, "I'm Karin"

Michael did not get worked up over her insults, "What's the matter, the little puppy can't bark?" she taunted, Michael said nothing which annoyed her, "well then, it appears the little puppy doesn't know his place," Karin cracked her knuckles as Michael bowed, even if Karin doesn't deserve it. Michael is being respectful none the less. Chun-Li took notice.

"You got this, you are my son," said Chun-Li standing by to cheer him on. Chun-Li has seen her fair share of fights, now her son is stepping up to the challenge. Karin made the first attack to start the match. Michael weaved to dodge it, and Karin let out an assault to keep Michael on the defensive. Not only that, but Karin was changing up fighting styles

For the first time, Chun-Li was on the sidelines for a fight. She grinned warmly seeing her adopted child hold his own against his first major challenge. With a hand on her hip, she observed his technique, 'This is your time to rise up, Michael, remember...win or lose, I will always be proud of you' Chun-Li thought seeing how well the student was fairing.

'First Karate, and now Tai-Chi?' Michael thought,

"You're in over your head, puppy," said Karin,

"You keep thinking that," Michael said, holding back Karin's attacks. Finally, Michael found a fault in Karin's guard, and swept Karin off her feet with a leg sweep. Michael went on the offensive using all the techniques Chun-Li taught him. Karin made the fight go back and forth between them. No doubt Michael is giving Karin a fight that she will remember.

With a knee to the stomach and a double elbow to the back, it seemed that Karin had this fight won. Michael put a hand down, but not a knee, "I admire your spirit, but you are overmatched," said Karin, "and this is Chun-Li's son? You are nothing but a street rat," Michael spat out blood, and looked up at Karin with a grin, and blood dripping out the side

"Why you...," Chun-Li snarled at the insult to her son,

"It's okay, mom," cringed Michael, "the fight is not over,"

"Yes it is," said Karin, and attacked to make the final blow with an axe kick to Michael's head. Michael made a jumping back handspring kick to Karin's chin, and put her on her back. Karin looked up, and held her chin in shock. Chun-Li looked proud to see Michael rise up. She blinked, and a tear fell from her cheek. Karin growled, and attacked Michael.

Michael was blocking every kick and strike with sweat stinging his eyes. It was poetry in motion. With an aimed palm strike to the section just between the chest and the neck, He threw Karin off balance to set up a famous technique that Chun-Li passed on to him. A fury of kicks that put a beatdown to anyone on a receiving end: a Hyaku Retsu Kyaku.

"No...," Karin growled, "I will not stand for this...,"

Karin went on the attack again with Tai-Chi, but her offensive attack did not last long with a hard palm to the stomach on bended knees with his arms like the wings of a bird. Although his positioning is different to set up the final techniques, the technique is the same, "Kikosho!" he called out, and a light blue and white blast hit Karin in the stomach.

She knew this was the end of the fight. Karin had underestimated her opponent, "You really are her son," she said softly as Michael set up the final blow to end the match. When Chun-Li told Michael she was going to teach him all that she knows, she meant it. With a 'Spinning Bird Kick', he knocked Karin into the air, and down on her back. Michael won.

A final technique cemented his first victory, "Kikoken!"