“Passcode please” the guard said gruffly. Asuka couldn’t help but laugh a little when she said it “Im here to get my *ss kicked”. The guard’s gruff face brightened to a smile as he spoke to Asuka. “Welcome Asu-chan. Here to kick someone’s *ss today”, “You know it Ax” said a grinning Asuka. Ax opened the large door, and Asuka was greeted with sudden loud noise of conversation, music and such. Dozens of people were walking around, some were gambling, some were peddling bootleg merchandise and others were making deals. Casual people were making their way to the club area of the underground complex. As Asuka made her way to her uncle’s quarters, 2 hands clasped over her eyes.

“Guess who,” said a male voice

“Cyraqs if you don’t take your hands off of my eyes Im going to rip them off” threatened Asuka. Cyraqs laughed as he removed her hands from Asuka’s eyes. Asuka turned around to face her childhood friend who embraced her with a hug. “Welcome back Tom Tom” Cyraqs said, Asuka cringed as Cyraqs called her by that old nickname he had given her when they were kids. Before Asuka had hit puberty, most mistook her for a boy, for she had looked like a boy, smelled like a boy, fought like a boy and acted like a boy at some times, thus earning her the name Tom Tom.

“So were ya off to?” asked Cyraqs as he followed a quickly walking Asuka to B.B’s quarter’s. “Im late for a meeting with my uncle” Asuka said hurriedly. As they came to her uncle’s den room, Cyraqs kept moving down the hall toward the gym. “Good luck” Cyraqs called out “better hope B.B doesn’t unleash all of h*ll on ya”, “F--- you too Cyraqs” Asuka shot back silently as she opened the door.

Upon entry Asuka closed the door behind and looked at the room in front of her and studied the room. The walls were furnished wood; several expensive Chinese vases sat on top of a crezenda. A couch and 3 chairs sat in front of a large TV area. In front of her stood a desk with her glaring uncle sitting behind it. B.B was a large man. At a stunning 7,0 he rivaled that of the height of Sagat, his body was extremely muscular, and even though he did business deals and finances for his underground hangout he was a skilled fighter as well. He had the same light brown hair as his niece, but his eyes were different, they were light green instead of light brown. Even though he was Asuka’s uncle he was only 3 years older than she was

“ This is the 3rd time you’ve been late this week Asuka,” said B.B. “Sorry uncle” a sheepish Asuka spoke, “I had some trouble with a few thugs”. Upon hearing those words B.B understood completely, it was his niece way of saying she had beat the crap out some people. “Ok I understand, here, sit.” B.B motioned for Asuka to sit in the chair in front of his desk. Asuka pulled the chair up to her and sat down. Instantly wanting to get down to business, she asked. “Why did you want to meet me uncle jab”. B.B chuckled at the nickname he had received from his niece before answering. “A man wants to sponsor a tournament in our fighting arena, The business talks is taking place over dinner, the sponsor wants to meet both of us so I had to drag you back here to tell you” Asuka was puzzled, why was her uncle was constantly calling this certain person a sponsor instead of by their name. “Who exactly is this sponsor?” Asuka asked. “The man’s name is Chen Shionogi” “THE Chen Shionogi, leader of the raging demon gang Chen Shionogi”. “Yup” B.B answered her. “The dinner is 3 days from now, so I want you to get ready, and no wisecracks and such ok. I don’t want to lose this deal”.

35 minutes later of discussion on how Asuka should act at the meeting. Asuka came out of her uncle’s quarters and made her way to the fighting arena. Upon coming to the door Auka saw her best friend, Riana come running up to her, waving and yelling out “Hey Asuka, whats up?” Riana stopped in front of her best friend to tell her some news. Riana had blond hair that flowed down to her shoulder, light blue eyes, she had on denim jeans and a white sleeveless T-shirt. Riana had a heck o a figure and was considered beautiful by many, but her quick rising to anger and being a skilled fighter kept most men at bay. “Asuka you wont believe it, we’ve got a newbie in today, there placing bets right now” “Newbie?” Asuka asked, puzzled. Then it hit her It’s that man, the one who trashed those punks in the ally, he must be here to fight. Asuka never got to finish her thought because Riana was dragging her through the door. “Hurry up Asuka I want to see the match”.

Upon entering the arena door, the 2 women were greeted with the sudden dim lighting. The lighting was low. There was enough to see were you are walking and to see a person’s face. But in a match the lighting was to a skilled fighters advantage, for you never saw an attack until it was too late. Making their way through the crowd, Asuka and Riana went up to the stairs of the Elite fighter’s box seats. The 2 being one of the elite were able to sit in the high-stationed box seats to watch all the matches. Once they were seated Asuka’s eyes darted toward the bet booths, by looking at the polls most of the bets had been placed against the new guy.

“The fights starting now” Riana said, snapping Asuka’s gaze away from polls and onto the arena. The arena was dark, but when a fight started it lit up into a grid, thus the name “The Grid” was it’s famous nickname.

One of the fighters was a man named Burn, on the list of eligible to become an Elite, famous for his ability to transform his chi into fire. And then Asuka saw the other man, she could instantly tell from the white Gi and red bandanna that it was the same man she saw in the ally. “Its him” Asuka said, “Who” Riana asked “that newbie, he’s the same man I saw fight those thugs in the alley” Asuka answered her. Riana looked down at Ryu and noticed his features. “Hmm he’s cute” Asuka didn’t answer for she was still looking at the arena.

Ryu and burn stepped up to the arena and stood in front of each other. Ryu and Burn both bowed to one another before taking their respective fighting stances. Ryu’s face held 2 emotions, eagerness and determination. “Look at the guy he seems full of himself” Riana stated. Asuka simply said nothing.

The arena’s lights went dimmer and the fighting areas floor flashed, as a grid lit up under the 2 fighters. The fighting ring borders came up and cracked with electricity. There was no running away from matches here, you either threw in the towel or uncouncise on the floor. The Grid flashed the countdown before the fight began.

5.
4.
3.
2.
1.
FIGHT

Burn quickly ran up to Ryu who still was in a defensive stance, and with a yell did a spinning kick aimed at Ryu’ head. Ryu merely caught Burn’s foot and tossed him to the fighting restraints, shocking him back to the ring. Burn shook him self out of his daze and launched a chi attack at Ryu. “SEARING FLAMES”. Burn’s fist blasted out a blast of fire chi at Ryu. Ryu caught off guard by Burn’s attack took the force of it head on. And was knocked down on his back. Quickly jumping back up, Ryu had to block the relentless assault of punches and kicks that Burn threw at him. Blocking most of the blows, Ryu landed a punch to Burn’s lower abdomen. Burn being caught off guard by attack felt several more hit him. Ryu had then elbowed his stomach and landed a quick backfist to Burn’s face. Finishing it off with a sweep that knocked burn off his feet. As soon as Burn came back to his feet Ryu continued his assault, landing 3 punches to Burn’s face before suddenly feeling the same burning on his skin that he felt from Burn’s last attack, Ryu had noticed that Burn had blast Ryu back with a small fire shot. Burn’s face was bleeding his nose was broken and he felt his lower side ache, Burn feeling rage came back up and dashed toward Ryu in full run. His body suddenly was erupting in flames. Ryu was still back in defensive stance. Burn was still running towards Ryu as he roared out in rage. But when Burn came close to Ryu he was knocked back again.

“SHORYUKEN!”

Ryu’s dragon punch knocked Burn back to the ground again.

“WOW, What a move!” declared Riana in an excited tone. Asuka was still silent.

Burn was feeling agitated now, he had hit this man with some of his best attacks but with no avail, he was bruised and bloodied while this man only sported small bruises from his chi attacks. With a yell of rage Burn put his fist together and charged as much chi into his attack as he could. Ryu was caught off guard by the sudden increase of heat in the room, he could see heat waves in front of him as he saw burn continue to power up. With a final cry Burn launched his attack with the yell “ ETERNAL H*LL SEARER” as a wave of intense flames shot at Ryu. Ryu stared at the flames, no way to block them and he couldn’t gather enough chi in time to counter the move. But Ryu’s thoughts were cut off as the attack hit him.

Asuka was starting to get worried, she had seen Burn’s attack hit Ryu and she was afraid of him being badly burnt.

Ryu’s form was knocked down, most of his Gi burnt away by the attack, Burn had his back turned to face the crowds and cheer himself on over his supposed victory. But little to Burn’s knowledge was that Ryu had got back on his feet walked towards Burn, getting his attention with a tap on the shoulder.

Burn turnt around to see who had tapped him only to be punched right in the face, he then felt 3 hard blows to his body. One to his stomach the other to his side and the last one to his chest, the last thing he remembered were soaring up.

Ryu had landed one blow to Burn’s stomach then another to his ribs then had the final blow on his chest, rising into the air with Burn still embedded on his fist. When Ryu had started his decent Burn was still falling. Finishing his attack with a yell “SHINSHORYUKEN”.

Burn’s injured form fell down with a thud and Ryu was declared the winner.

Riana looked up from the arena to her friend Asuka “That was quite a match ne?” Riana asked

Asuka still had her gaze on Ryu, she was smiling, maybe this man had the skill to take her on, maybe not, only time would tell.

“Yes it was a quite a fight Riana”