“I cannot answer that for you.” Satsui No Hado lightly rubbed his neck where Ryu had gripped it.

At Ryu’s crestfallen expression, Satsui No Hado’s eyes narrowed.

“I can tell you this, however…Because of your behavior, all who you thought were friends will turn against you. You become me very frequently. And when you die…you will die as a very old, lonely man…”

Ryu’s eyes flickered with emotion. What had he done? Why had he become Satsui No Hado? Before…it had taken Bison or Akuma’s power to tap into his evil self. Did he just let himself surrender to the art of dark Shotokan?

Satsui No Hado’s lips twisted bitterly.

He had been fighting Yun, Yang, Chun Li and Ken. But why? Perhaps they were trying to restore him back to his good soul. From the looks of things, their attempts were futile. But why?

Ryu felt a frustration deep in the pit of his soul. There was a lesson to be learned this night…The three spirits didn’t just decide to show up on him. Even St. Nick had said that he should listen to what the spirits had to say. Granted, their words were few, but he had to find the deeper meaning with the events they showed him and their speeches.

But he was at a complete loss. He didn’t know what the spirits were trying to tell him! He sensed that all three had come to deliver the same message. But what was it?! And why was he having such a hard time figuring that out?!

Ryu felt a quick pain in his stomach as Satsui No Hado kicked him. Ryu winced slightly. Blue light flashed in front of him. A woman appeared. There was no mistaking her long, wavy brown hair, dark eyes, and a gentle smile with a touch of mischief…

Her lips moved, and Ryu could hear what she was saying…

“I wish you could stay for the holidays. I hardly see you anymore since I left the Street Fighter tournament.”

Ryu blinked, hearing his own voice. “I must continue on my path. Thank you for your hospitality, Chun Li.”

Her eyes dimmed. “I see. Well, you’re welcome, and I wish you luck, Ryu.”

Her image vanished. He remembered that scene. It had happened about seven years ago…two weeks before Christmas. Chun Li had tried to convince him to stay for Christmas, but he had declined, deciding it was time to train. Ryu turned to Satsui No Hado, dashing towards him. Ryu clenched his fist, hitting Satsui No Hado’s vital points. Satsui No Hado took the hits without flinching. Then he swung his fist at Ryu, hitting him square in the jaw.

Blue light flashed again. This time…he saw an image of himself and Ken sitting in a park in San Francisco. Mel, who was about five years old, was playing with Legos.

“You look well, Ken,” Ryu commented. He glanced at Mel. “Fatherhood suits you.”

“You should try it,” Ken stated. “It’s a lifetime experience…”

“I don’t think I should attempt fatherhood…” Ryu glanced at the boy again. “All our lives, we trained to improve out fighting skills. Are you satisfied with the road you have taken?”

Ken nodded. “Absolutely. I love Eliza…she’s a very special woman. Mel’s a great kid. Kinda reminds me of me when I was little. But I have no regrets. I still train…but I just have other responsibilities that are more important to me.”

Ryu blinked as the scene disappeared. He performed a Joudan kick which hit his evil self in the upper chest. Satsui No Hado rushed up, a trail of shadows behind him, and he seized Ryu.

In that instant, a dozen images flashed in his mind. He saw himself practicing on a cliff…saprring with Ken…giving Sagat a taste of his sho-ryu-ken…Sakura asking him to train her when he gently dismissed her, saying that he was still learning…Guile speaking to him about how his fighting skills could defeat Bison…he training with E. Honda…

Satsui No Hado tossed him on the ground. Ryu groaned in pain, and he instantly felt heat. Purple flames had emerged from the ground. He lay face down.

Another image appeared. He saw himself in Hong Kong…eating at Gen’s place…Yun and Yang watching him from across the dining table, Gen standing behind his grandsons.

“Where you gonna go now?” Yun demanded.

“I will train again. I must per-” Ryu heard himself say.

“Perfect your fighting skills, yeah,” Yun cut in. “Don’t you have anything else to do…besides that?”

Ryu saw himself pause.

“Ryu, I understand your quest to perfect the fight. You have a spirit that truly enjoys the fight. However…” Gen faltered. “Do not allow your training to control you. The consequences could be grave…”

Ryu shook his head slightly, remembering that scene. That was four and a half years ago…

Struggling, Ryu pushed himself up onto his elbows. He felt sore everywhere. He also felt intense pain in all his joints. Fighting to keep his eyes open and staying conscious, he stumbled to his feet. The fires began to move closer. Ryu felt sweat dot his forehead.

Satsui No Hado stood several feet away. He gathered his palms together to collect his chi.

Without warning, Ryu fell to his knees, weary from this battle and the night’s occurrences.

“I’m sorry…” Ryu said hoarsely. “I…I can change…I…won’t let my training dominate my life…I won’t allow myself to become you…”

Satsui No Hado let his hands dropped to his sides. He watched on as the purple flames drew closer and closer to them.

“Please…give me another chance….” Ryu pleaded.

Suddenly, he was engulfed by flames. Ryu screamed in pain.

“No!!!”

He struggled viciously, until he felt his body lose its balance and he fall onto the floor with a thump. Ryu looked up in alarm, noticing that he was back in his dojo. The comforter was twisted around his body, and half of his body lay on the wooden floor of his room. His legs were propped on the bed, his knees bent.

He looked around, just to make sure he was back in his room. Releasing a sigh of relief, Ryu got up and opened the window. He shivered slightly, due to the cold weather. White snow covered the ground. It gleamed as the morning sun cast its rays upon it. Ryu smiled.

The spirits had given him a chance to redeem himself. It wasn’t too late for him. He had realized what the message was. Although the fight was important, he couldn’t allow it to rule his life. Funny how he suddenly had insight much later into the night.

With a burst of energy, Ryu quickly began folding his bed and packing his clothes into a duffel bag. He knew what he had to do. It would take a little time and patience, but he knew that it would be worth it. He quickly put on his jacket and tennis shoes.

Ryu quickly dashed out the door of his dojo and began running to the nearest village.

He had run about seven miles then he started a brisk walk to cool down. Even in the cold, the back of his neck was damp with perspiration, as was his forehead.

He stopped abruptly, almost stumbling when a shadowy figure appeared before him in a cloud of mist. The mist dissipated, and Ryu could easily identify the form…the gi and trousers, the bandana, and the red eyes…

They stood in silence for several moments. Satsui No Hado clenched his fists and brought them close to his body.

“It’s the holidays,” Ryu said quietly. “I can’t deal with you now. I have…family that I need to see…But if you insist on fighting me…I will defend myself to survive.”

Satsui No Hado paused. Ryu tensed. Finally, Satsui No Hado relaxed his stance, bowed, and teleported away.

Ryu stared after him in shock. That was it? Realization struck him. The spirits had given him a chance, but they wanted to be sure that he had been sincere. That was the final test.

When Ryu reached Tokyo several hours later, he noticed that the city was busy as usual. He marveled at the revelation that when things changed, they also stayed the same.

Christmas wasn’t so bad, he thought. Sure…it seemed entirely too commercial, but one had to remember the significance…the deeper meaning. Christmas was about kindness and generosity. It was about being with friends and family.

Ryu’s shoulder collided with another’s. He looked up, seeing an elderly Caucasian man. The man wore a red, green, purple plaid shirt, black pants, black boots, and a thick leather jacket. He had a white beard, and a balding white head.

“Excuse me,” Ryu apologized.

The man smiled. “No problem, son. You know…I think it’s awfully nice that young people still have manners these days…”

“Thank you,” Ryu replied, not knowing what to say.

“And to show how appreciative I am…” he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small, slender folder. He handed to Ryu. “I think this might interest you…”

Ryu gently lifted the cover, his eyes widening with shock. Inside were two airline tickets. One had him registered in first class on United Airlines with a flight that departed that night from Tokyo and arriving in San Francisco the next morning. The second had him also listed in first class on a flight from San Francisco to Hong Kong that would occur in five days. Behind the tickets were traveler’s checks worth a thousand dollars in American currency.

“Sir…I can’t accept this…” Ryu said quietly.

The stranger placed his hand on Ryu’s shoulder. “I think you deserve it. You’ve got a lot of catching up to do in life, Ryu.”

Ryu looked up at the sound of his name, gazing into the very same pair of twinkling blue eyes that he did yesterday…