I looked at him in shock. It was hard to believe that he was here, standing right in front of me.

 “What are you doing here?” I asked.

 “I came here to find new challengers.”

 “Like you always do.” My eyes lit up. “Are you hungry? I can take you to this really great restaurant…”

 Ryu nodded. “I ate very little on the plane trip here…”

 “Great. Follow me…”

 Once we were seated and inside the restaurant, I indulged myself by closing my eyes and leaning back in the booth.

 “You must be tired,” he observed. “But not enough to prevent the thief from escaping.”

 I lifted one eyelid. “My eyes hurt. Too much paperwork at Interpol…”

 He sipped his tea in silence. Ryu liked silence. Peace and quiet suited him. I opened both eyes and sat up. I don’t know him very well…but the feeling I get when I’m around him is that I’ve known him a lot longer than I really have. I don’t have to pretend anything…I have my secrets, he has his…even if we’re…friends…we don’t share everything. But we know that if the other needed help in any way, we’d be there. After our fights, we’d usually talk about what happened to us, to us in the fight…things like that.

 “So how are you doing?” Ryu asked.

 “I’m okay…” I briefly stared at the table. “I’m going to quit Interpol soon…”

 His eyes narrowed slightly. “Is something wrong with your job?”

 I shook my head, laughing slightly. “No, no…I just feel it’s time to leave. I’ve been saving some money…plus with the money my father left me when he died…by spring of next year I should be able to open my own martial arts school. I plan on teaching children Wushu.”

 He smiled. “There comes a point in time when every warrior has found their calling.” Ryu studied my face for several moments. “I can tell you’re really going to enjoy being a teacher.”

 “You think so?”

 “You would be very good with children.”

 My eyebrows shot up. “What makes you say that?”

 He set his cup of tea down. “When I met you, you were angry and full of vengeance. But as time went on…as you got over your sadness and anger…you began to display an energetic and happy spirit. Your students will like that.”

 I smiled. “Thank you…”

 “You’re welcome.”

 Silence again. Surprised? Well, it was my turn to ask the questions.

 “What about you? How have you been? Did you fight in any tournaments recently?”

 “There haven’t been any to fight in,” Ryu responded. His eyes darkened slightly.

 “What is it?” I asked quietly.

 “I’m afraid that my life has taken an unusual path,” Ryu said softly.

 “Like what?”

 The food arrived, so he went abruptly quiet. We ate for several minutes before he continued.

 “Shortly after the World Warrior Tournament, I had a visitor,” Ryu began. “He called himself Akuma…he said that I had incredible power…if I only let myself succumb to it…then I could become one of the strongest warriors.”

 I paused before sipping some of my soup. “Succumb to it? Um…Anything one is supposed to succumb to can’t be good…”

 “You’re right.” Ryu sighed. “It’s a form of power that exists in my martial art. My sensei told me about it, but he never taught it.”

“If you never learned it, what’s the problem?”

 “I think…I’m already starting to surrender to it…”

 “What?” I set my spoon down, leaning forward.

 “I don’t know…there are times when I…I’m training…then…I end up training in a place and I don’t even know how I got there. It takes me a while to remember, though…” Ryu stared at his food.

“So…this…entity…is a power that’s inside of you?” I was so confused.

 He nodded. “It will emerge at random times…but when I’m angry it always appears…I…I can’t stop it…”

 “So…you’re basically a killing machine when you turn into this…thing…”

 “Somewhat…” Ryu glanced at me. “Aren’t you…intimidated by any of this?”

 “I have to admit, I am curious…” And scared. But I wasn’t about to tell him that.

 “I see…”

 “Why don’t we finish up here? I have an idea. I’ll take you to an old family friend. Maybe he can help you…” I suggested.

 “ All right…”