Everyone had gathered for Ryu's funeral, even Sagat came. The service had been short but to the point.

The preist came up to the podium at the funeral site and began the service."Today we are here to honor a good man, a man who was a lover, a teacher, a freind and a fighter. We are here today to honor the memory of Ryu Hoshi a man who had been called the world warrior but to his close freinds, he was a freind first and a warrior second".

The services were held in Ken's home town Seattle. He had convinced everyone to let him bury Ryu in a private valley bought by him, all those who knew Ryu came to pay their respects to a great freind and a great fighter.

Short were a few who knew Ryu the best.

Dan,Sakura,Guile,Dhalshim,Ken,Chun Li,E.Honda and Cammy.

Dan had knew Ryu and Ken back froom when they first began their Shotoken trainning from Gouken, the 3 became fast freinds, they always sparred together, washed together andtrainned together, he and Ken also played the occasional joke on Ryu.Even when he was sent out of the dojo because of his intentions he kept in touch with Ken, and had an rare meet up with Ryu. But when he received word Of Ryu's funeral he couldn't beleive it happened, he knew Ryu was a strong fighter not those to be killed easily,but yet here he was.

Sakura couldn't help but cry. The man who had became her role model, her Idol had died.When she first sought out to find him she wanted to be close to him, have him teach her, so she could become a fighter like him. It was hard but finally she convinced him to teach her, she had been thrilled by the trainning, the impact of the fists and feet and the rush it gave. But the man who had brought her that joy now had died.

The others thought of Ryu as a good fighter and freind.

After the service everyone said their goodbye's and departed after paying their final respects, but Chun Li stayed behind. She kneeled down in front of the grave and spoke.

"Why Ryu? Why?. Why did you fight Gill, you should have let us help you". Tears began to form in her beautiful brown eyes. "I love you, we could have fought together and you'd still be with me, but no you had fight by that d*mn warrior code, because of that code I lost you. Why did you have to die Ryu, Why did you have to die" Chun Li placed her hands down on the ground and held her head down and cried. ------

" Where am I? what is this strange place" asked a confused Ryu.

Ryu had suddenly awoke to find himself staring at a vast white, white was everywere, on the walls,floor,celing. everywere. Ryu checked himself for everything, it was all there 10 fingers and toes, a head, arms legs everything.

"Welcome Mr. Hoshi" A vast voice boomed

Ryu quickly spun around to meet that voice but saw nothing. "WHO ARE YOU?! SHOW YOURSELF?!" Ryu shouted out.

Ryu watched in disbeleif as white clouds started to swirl around him, the clouds floated over his body and started to take shape. Ryu moved his head up to see a vast council standing, on it were 5 figures clad in white robes, their entier bodies even their faces were clad in the cloth.

Ryu shook himself out of his funk to ask them a question. "Who are you". One of the white clad beings stood up and spoke. "Gretings Mr.Hoshi, we are known as the Council, we are the beings who watch over the spirit realm, some your people would think of as heaven".

"So" Ryu said. "Why are you talking to me when I have not gained my eternal peace as my master has"

"We require your help Mr.Hoshi"

"what for?"

"To fight an evil threating your world"

Ryu arched an eyebrow at the Council, "How am I supposed to fight something when I'm dead"

One of the Counil beings spoke. " We will restore your life only to fight the threat, when you have demolished him you will return here"

Ryu was dumbfounded, he was being given a second chance of life, to see those he cared for again, to see Chun Li again..

"Who is the person you require me to fight?" Ryu asked,"A being known as Tanzra, he is planning to invade your world to take it over for Lucifer, Lord of the underworld. We the council do not want this to happen so we need you to fight him"

"Why me?" asked Ryu " why not my master Gouken, he is more powerful and experianced than me".

"Mr. Hoshiyou have a hidden power that is way mightier than you're master's, this power will defeat him. We will awaken it slightly to an extent, the rest you must discover on you're own"

Ryu knew he could not let all those he cared for be killed so he knew he was going to do this. " I will do as you ask" Ryu replied. All the members of the council bowed to Ryu. "Thank you Mr. Hoshi, Thank you very much"

-------

After hours what seemed like plan and preperation. All was ready to be done. Ryu had brought himself before the council for last minuteinstructions before departing for earth. "Mr. Hoshi we will have a menal link towards you to inform you when Tanzra arrives and where he will srike. we also should show you your freinds and how they are on earth.I must warn you time moves slowly here, for what has seemed like only hours to you has been 5 years on earth"

A sudden hole opened up beneath Ryu, through the hole he could see images of everyone he knew.

Ryu had saw how Ken was the same as ever, but his son was something to behold, he had grew into his father's image though only 5, Next was Chun Li, But what Ryu saw saddned him. Chun Li was no longer greiving over Ryu, though she missed him terribly she realised life moved on, she was now enadged with Fei long and they were living together.

*at least shes happy, thats all that matters" Ryu thought. but within himself he knew has greiving.

After the final images were shown, The Council spoke again.

"The Time has come Mr.Hoshi, We wish you the best of luck"

The Council all bowed before Ryu and He returned the courtesy

Then Suddenly everything went white.