Ryu stared out the window of the small helicopter owned by Ken Masters. He took a deep breath, knowing that his fate would eventually be sealed. Ryu knew that this fight may cost him his life…almost like it did the first time around. Death did not bother him. He had been close to it so many times that he no longer feared the unknown. What bothered him was the fact that he had indirectly hurt so many due to his quest for the fight. Ken, Sean, and Alex were all going with him on this battle. He feared for their lives. Chun Li was afraid for him. When he had left her a mere two hours ago, the fear and pain in her eyes were extremely evident. He had almost felt guilty for leaving her. But he knew that he had a job to do. So much was riding on this battle. Whether or not his friends back in China saw a new day would be entirely up to him. Ryu swallowed fiercely. He remembered when he fought Bison…his heart had known that Bison would be a challenge. Yet, he managed to defeat him. Then…his fight with Gill…He had barely survived that one. He had practically gone into a coma after that. If it hadn’t been for his friends…Ken, Chun Li, and Fei Long…he wouldn’t have been able to recover rather quickly.

Ken, sitting beside him, noticed that he seemed distracted. He placed a hand on Ryu’s shoulder. “Are you all right, buddy?”

Alex and Sean, who were sitting across from Ryu and Ken, looked at him for his response.

Ryu turned. “Yes. Why do you ask?”

Ken shrugged. “I just wanna make sure you’re up for this. We’ll be reaching Gill’s island in about six hours. You aren’t getting cold feet, are you?”

Ryu shook his head. “No. I’m fine.”

Sean went back to reading his magazine. Alex leaned back in the seat.

“You know…she’s really worried that you won’t come back this time around…” Ken trailed off. “I…”

Ryu continued to stare out the window. “I told her that I would do my best. If I don’t stop him…she may not wake up to a new day.”

“She’d wake up to hell, you mean?” Ken asked.

“Gill wants Earth…I know that once he claims it as his…it will no longer be a place anyone would want to live in,” Ryu responded.

“She really cares about you,” Ken declared.

Ryu nodded. “Which is why I cannot disappoint her.” He turned to his best friend. “And I will do my best fighting beside you. I will not allow your son to grow up without a father.”

Ken swallowed. “Ryu…if I didn’t know the risks…I wouldn’t have come with you.”

“None of us would have,” Alex added gruffly.

Ryu looked at Sean.

Sean shrugged, then nodded in Ken’s direction. “Master told me what I’m getting into. It’s cool with me.”

Ryu shook his head. “You accept this so easily.”

“Look, if I’m going to die, I’m going to die fighting the ways of Shotokan,” Sean responded. “But we also might win. You survived the last time. You can survive again.”

“He has a point,” Ken conceded.

Ryu leaned back in his seat. “Then you three will not let me fight alone, then.”

Sean grinned. “No way. You’re not going home with all the glory. Besides…you got someone waiting for you back in Hong Kong. You don’t want to piss her off, do you? She’s expecting you to come back.”

“I know,” Ryu replied.

Ken smiled. “I promised her that I’d bring you back. So we’re gonna fight this with you…all the way.”