Fatal Fury Fan Fiction ❯ Fatal Fury: Terry and Sulia ❯ A Lost Friend ( Chapter 2 )

A Lost Friend

Joe and Laela arrived at Andy and Mai's townhouse at four in the afternoon. Joe had told Laela about Mai and Andy, saying that she had been after Andy for years and it wasn't until recently that they had finally moved in together. Laela wondered if the spirit's death had caused her friends to take the chance at being together. She wondered what kind of people the spirit's friends were; this Mai and Andy. She already knew what a bum the man next to her was. How could this soothing spirit be a friend to this pain was beyond her. But Laela continued to wonder about the spirit's other friends, when a devastatingly beautiful Japanese woman opened the door. All right. Now she had an idea what the others were like.

"Joe! You rascal! How are you doing?!" the woman cried out, hugging Joe enthusiastically, crushing her huge bosom against him. From behind her came this gorgeous man. Long, blond hair, worn loose, hung down his back. He was probably American. He wrapped an arm around the voluptuous brunette and greeted Joe with a handshake.

The three spoke amongst themselves reminiscing and catching up on recent happenings. Mai noticed Laela first. "Joe! Why didn't you tell us you had a girlfriend?" Andy and Joe turned to Laela. Andy was surprised. That woman had a strange otherworldly look about her.

Joe was about to speak when Laela cut him off. "That's because I'm not. I am a medium from England. I met Joe in Japan. My name is Laela."

"A medium?" Mai looked thoughtful. "Isn't that someone who talks to dead people?"

"Yes," Laela replied and smiled. "A spirit contacted me and said you three and a man named Terry Bogard were its friends and that it needed to talk to you."

"A spirit wants to talk to us? That's strange. I'm Andy Bogard, Terry's brother. This is Mai."

"Hello, Laela!" Mai said cheerfully. "It has been months since I had a conversation with another woman. But, if you're from England, how did you meet Joe in Japan?"

Laela smiled at the cheerful woman. "My aunt is Japanese. I moved in with her after my parents died."

"Oh, I see." Mai smiled. "Joe is from Thailand, you know, and Andy and Terry are both Americans. They don't understand anything. Especially since they're all males. I haven't had a woman to talk to in…" Mai suddenly cut herself off and shook her head. But Laela caught the slight stab of pain radiating from the woman's eyes. The spirit floating about Laela shimmered, longing to comfort the woman. Mai smiled, hiding the pain and continued. "Why don't you both come in and get comfortable. Tell me what you need Laela, so the spirit can talk to us. I'm sure Terry will be curious when he comes." With that she led the way into the townhouse.

In the next hour Laela got to know Mai and Andy well as they set up the living room for the session. Mai and Andy were deeply in love. They'd been living together for some time, just like Joe had told her. Terry came and went, much like Joe, but the four got together often. They were all really close. None of them mentioned a dead fifth friend. Maybe the pain of that friend's death was still too painful. But Laela remembered the flash of pain in Mai's eyes. Her heart went out to the woman. Obviously the spirit that hung about her had been very close to her friends.

When Terry Bogard arrived, she immediately realized the spirit's relationship with Terry. He had the look of a man that wanted to be alone because of fear and because of too much hope. Laela had sensed the spirit's deep emotion for the man when he came in and that they had once been in love. Laela knew that Terry Bogard chose to be alone because he feared another loved one's death. Perhaps she could heal some of that pain now when he learned of the spirit inside her.

Terry looked at the woman Andy pointed out. She was very beautiful. And very fragile. Her skin almost seemed transluscent. She seemed ethereal. She could speak to ghosts, hmm? Terry wondered what this so-called spirit of hers wanted to tell them. Something inside him clenched. Spirit? His heart began to pound. Could it possibly be…?

Laela sensed Terry's anxiousness as he gazed at her curiously. Did he know or even think he knew? Or did he just hope that she would bring his loved one? Perhaps she could make that hope that glowed in his beautiful blue eyes shine with happiness.

"All right, everyone," Laela said, turning away from Terry's eyes and facing the others. "Sit in a semi-circle around me. I'm going to allow the spirit to speak through me. So you won't be alarmed I'm going to explain how you'll know the spirit is speaking through me." Everyone took a seat and Laela sat down herself. "You know that you can see into one's soul by looking into their eyes? Well, when a spirit speaks through a medium, because it is only a soul, the color of its eyes will appear. Whatever color eyes it has will replace mine. That is how you'll know."

Laela got comfortable and drew in a deep breath. Spirit, I am ready.

Mai, Joe, Andy, and Terry nodded in compliance. Joe was still doubtful; he didn't believe in any of this crap. Mai's heart burned with hope. What if this spirit was…? She shook her head and concentrated. No…it couldn't be… Andy's eyes narrowed as he watched the young woman close her eyes. He just hoped that this woman wasn't a fraud. He saw the hope and anxiety in his older brother's eyes. He really hoped Terry's heart won't be crushed once more if she is a fraud. Terry held his breath as he waited. The woman took a deep breath and Terry sent a prayer to the heavens. Please…

The group concentrated and their eyes widened in surprise as Laela's body began to tremble. They were spellbound as Laela's body began to tremble even more violently. They could not believe their eyes. They couldn't believe it was actually happening. Joe swallowed. Maybe the babe wasn't a fake after all.

The group could feel the room glow though it remained perfectly normal. Suddenly, Laela's body stopped its trembling and she became perfectly still, shocking the group before her. Andy had never seen someone be so still. Terry could not stop his heart from pounding painfully in his chest anymore than he could stop the sky from existing. Laela's eyes slowly opened. A deep, glowing gold had replaced the rich, vibrant violet eyes. Laela smiled. Or the spirit in Laela's body smiled. For the smile was not the medium's usual smile. It belonged to someone else. It was a smile and the golden eyes that made Terry's heart race. Sulia?

"Hello, everyone. It's so good to see you all again."

Everyone started. The voice sounded through all of them with familiarity. They knew this person, whoever she was. But as of yet the group hadn't realized the only person it could possibly be. They were too much in shock. Only one person's heart began to sing with joyful recognition. Joy burned through Terry. Could it possibly be…?

"I'm surprised you haven't guessed who I am yet." The spirit turned her gaze to Joe. "You always used to treat me like a child, Joe, but you had a soft spot for me." She smiled at him and shook her head. "You should be nicer to Laela, Joe. I put her through much to get here to all of you. Plus," the spirit smiled, "I know how you feel about her. Please tell me you remember me, Joe."

She then turned her big golden eyes to Mai and Andy. "Mai. I'm surprised you don't remember our heart to heart chats about the Bogard brothers. You always told me to follow my heart. Well, I did, and here I am. I'm not going to let Terry get away this time. I promise Andy."

Mai's eyes swelled with tears. It couldn't be. It just couldn't be…

Her deep eyes turned to Terry. She smiled lovingly at him. His heart clenched and his soul began to sing. It was she. "And you, Terry? I had hoped you would remember me and how we felt for each other. Don't you remember me, Terry, or have you forgotten me?"

Terry stared dumbfounded at the woman. It was. It truly was she! Sulia! Joy exploded from his features. "Sulia!"

The spirit smiled.

"SULIA?" everyone cried out at the same time. Disbelief was suddenly replaced by joy. "Sulia!"

Sulia laughed as Terry ran to her, tears in his eyes. There was no doubt left after they heard the sound of her laughter tinkling in the room and Terry's reaction. It was their Sulia. Mai laughed with sheer joy and hugged Andy, her happiness exploding from her. Joe was grinning from ear to ear in shocked disbelieving happiness. Andy's eyes trembled with happiness for his brother. Terry had his Sulia back. Thank God. Terry could not stop the tears of happiness that coursed down his cheeks as he held her close. Sulia saw them and wiped the tears away with soft fingertips, her eyes searching his, questioningly.

"I take it you missed me, Terry Bogard?"

Terry grabbed her face and kissed her passionately and desperately. She wrapped her arms around him and held him close. Terry tasted and knew Sulia. He saw her, not the girl whose body she inhabited. Everyone else crushing them in their arms joyfully interrupted them. Joe was the only one a little perturbed at Sulia's appearance. He still saw Laela. He shook it off; knowing Terry had kissed Sulia not Laela and asked the question. "How did you get here?"

The happy mood was suddenly diminished. They were all painstakingly aware that Sulia was still very dead. Sulia stepped back out of Terry's arms and gave him a heart-wrenching smile.

"That's what I have to talk to all of you about." She sat down again and looked at her friends. "I'm not supposed to be dead."

Mai gasped. The guys' eyes widened. Terry's heart began to pound and the memory of the strange voice in his head returned. Could it possibly be true? Sulia smiled. "You see, I am not supposed to die yet. I still have so much to do; my life to live. At least I think that's what it is. I haven't passed on. Since…" Sulia turned her face away and she sighed. "Since…the whole Godamus incident I think my soul should have left to someplace else. In fact, I'm almost sure of it. But something has kept me here. I think it's because my time hasn't come yet. But I can't be sure. Plus, it would be impossible for me to come back if my body had been destroyed like Laucorn's was, but it wasn't. It fell into the sea and someone found it. One would assume that man would bury my body, but he didn't. He somehow knew I was a descendant of Godamus and took my body. He preserved it, hoping that someday I could be revived. I would have returned to my body immediately, but my soul was too weak. So I waited until I was stronger, but while waiting something terrible happened. I found out about something that could destroy us all more efficiently that even Laucorn could with the Godamus armor. I knew I needed to get in contact with you even before I got to my body. I believe this is what is keeping me from passing on. But I just don't know."

Sulia smiled and turned back to the group, her eyes shining. "In order to reenter my body I needed a medium. So I found Laela. I can guide all of us to my body, my only question is do you want to come with me?"

The four gazed at each other, amazed at what they had just heard. Then they all smiled at each other. Mai saw the utter joy and hope in Terry's eyes. She knew for sure that Terry would be like his old self again as soon as they found Sulia's body. And Sulia would be with them again. She turned to Sulia and grinned. "Honey, how could you even doubt it?"

Sulia smiled, her golden eyes sparkling with joy. "Thanks you guys. I'll leave Laela's body now, but I want you all to know that I am with you all."

But before she could start the process, Terry grabbed her hand. "Sulia?"

Sulia stared at the beautiful man before her and her heart clenched. How she had dreamed of coming back to him. "Yes, Terry?"

"I…" his voice trailed off and he stared longingly into her gorgeous golden eyes. He then shook his head and kissed her. Sulia clung to him. Her love for him overwhelmed her and her heart squeezed painfully in her chest. How she had missed him.

Terry finally pulled away and smiled again. "Come to me in my dreams."

She smiled into his eyes, her own eyes glowing with consent. With that Terry let her go, his fingers lingering over hers. Sulia slowly closed her eyes, her gaze lingering on him, and then began to tremble. A crash sounded within the room and Laela's body suddenly collapsed. Joe caught her before anyone else could get to her. Mai giggled.

"Laela? Are you all right?"

Laela's eyes slowly fluttered open. She smiled weakly. "I've never had a spirit with so much emotion and so alive within me before. I felt the pain of loss when she mentioned dying. I felt her love for all of you. No other spirit has ever had so much life. It was draining." She shook her head and Joe and Andy helped her up. Terry had stilled with her mention of the word alive. This was really happening. Sulia was really returning to them.

"What now?" Mai asked as she gazed at all of them.

Terry's deep blue eyes hardened, his mind returning to the task at hand. If he wanted Sulia alive, this came first. He wanted her back and in his life, and he would do anything to have that. "We find Sulia's body and reunite her with it."