Chun Li took a deep breath. She was extremely nervous, but she chose not to convey this to Ryu. Gill was more than she imagined. She compared the bits of information that Ryu had provided once about him to the figure before her. The man before her was enormous. She guessed that one glare from this man could make a normal human faint dead away. But she and Ryu weren’t exactly normal.

She and Ryu slowly circled Gill, anticipating his next move. He threw a ball of ice at Ryu. The wandering warrior leapt to the side to avoid it when he saw Chun Li deliver a jump kick to the back of Gill’s head. Gill grunted, displeased with the pain the contact generated.

As soon as Chun Li landed, Gill hit her square in the jaw. Chun Li reeled back several steps as Ryu hit Gill multiple times with his hurricane kick. Gill was already weakened, yet he was putting up one hell of a fight. Gill threw Ryu to the ground.

D*mmit, Ryu thought, pushing himself to his feet. Now what? Beside him, a figure was shaking his head in disapproval. Ryu turned to glare at Akuma.

“Why are you back here?” Ryu asked.

“I came to assist you. But you’re already doing so well…” Akuma responded.

 “My answer is no,” Ryu shot back. He narrowed his eyes in concentration. He didn’t need any distractions right now.

“She cannot see me,” Akuma informed. “Just like the last time…she was in no decent frame of mind. She thought I was an illusion.”

 Ryu remembered that time. That was the time that Bison had been destroyed. Akuma had told him about the darkness within him after he killed Bison. And after that, Chun Li had broken off all communication with Ryu, in fear of herself and what would become of him.

 Chun Li frowned, pausing. Ryu seemed distracted. Why is he just standing there? she wondered. She paused for breath, after performing several attacks that seemed to wear Gill down even more. Gill kicked her in the stomach and raised his arm.

The sky seemed to flash in bright colors and stars seemed to shower upon the two warriors, inflicting unbearable pain. Ryu fell to his knees, and Chun Li fell to the ground, her eyes shut and her body limp.

“Chun Li…” Ryu called out hoarsely. She didn’t respond.

Ryu rushed towards her when Gill delivered a punch that knocked the wind out of him. Gill then kicked him to the side. Ryu lay back, trying to catch his breath. He climbed to his feet just as Gill hit him with a ball of fire. Ryu flinched as the impact sent him reeling. Gill rushed towards him, delivering a blow to his head that knocked him out cold.

Gen appeared just in time to see Ryu go unconscious. He surveyed the scenery. Ryu and his comrades all lay very still, almost as if they were dead. But Gen knew better. He sensed all of their chi. They were all still alive, but very, very weak. He also knew that there was an unexpected visitor. Akuma, Gen thought. What were you doing here? Did you not fight...? His eyes narrowed as Gill turned to him.

“Do you wish to fight, old man?” he boomed.

Gen removed his hands from his sleeves and placed them in front of his body, his weight on his back foot (punch form ^_^).

“No words to say, old man?”

“No. Let us finish this,” Gen responded.

Gill charged forward. Gen blocked his attack and stayed low to the ground, countering with several jabs and low kicks. Gill performed an axe kick, hitting Gen on the shoulder. He winced slightly, stepping away. This was unlike anything he had ever encountered.

From several meters away, Ryu felt his eyelids flutter. Several feet away from him, Alex groaned in pain. Alex lay on his back, staring at the blackening sky.

Ryu’s eyes opened. No…he thought. I lost…I…

“I think it’s rather pathetic,” came a voice.

Ryu squeezed his eyes shut. “No…”

“You could have easily defeated Gill if you had listened to me,” Akuma responded.

 “No. I-”

“You have powerful skills that you refuse to acknowledge. That is why you will never discover the meaning of the fight,” Akuma switched to Japanese. “You refuse to seek your full potential.”

“Iie,” Ryu replied. “I do not wish to-”

“What? Use the dark Shotokan Art? Hurt your friends? Betray your sensei?” Akuma sneered. He glanced at Chun Li. “Upset her? All this is holding you back. You will learn how to use your skills, Ryu. And when you have…”

Ryu knew that would be the day he would face Akuma. “Damn you,” he whispered.

 “You are weak, Ryu.”

 “No.”

 “Everything you were taught is nothing but a lie. Perfecting the fight is all about destroying your enemy. You are just too blind to see that. Your sensei was a fool not to teach you that.”

Ryu’s eyes opened, yet his gaze was far away…He remembered seeing his teacher lying on the grounds of the dojo…his face and body badly bruised. He remembered the anger and blinding loss he had felt back then. It was very similar to the one he felt now. The anger at his own defeat…and the knowledge that he could not help his friends.

 Akuma bared his teeth in what could almost be called a smile.

Ryu narrowed his eyes. He couldn’t allow Gill to win. He would win now…and do whatever it took…

Suddenly, he felt his body curl in pain. A thousand needles pricked him from head to toe. Ryu clenched his fists as the pain continued. Yet, he felt a wave of energy cover him…almost as if he was regaining his strength. He rose to his feet.

Gen stopped, noticing a change in the chi of the people that surrounded him. Ryu, he thought. Your true powers emerge…

And it couldn’t have been at a better time. Gill jumped towards Gen, but the old man countered, jumpkicking him…Gill then floated in the air to revive himself. Ryu punched him, and Gen leapt in the air, using his feet to stomp him onto the ground.

Chun Li opened her eyes a slit, turning her head towards Gill. She saw Ryu pummeling him with punches and kicks, his eyes flashing with red. She swallowed. Gen stood nearby, watching in silence. No…she thought. It can’t be…

Suddenly the air filled with a bright light as Ryu channeled his chi towards Gill. Gill fell, defeated. And the warrior still continued his attacks.

 “Ryu,” Gen spoke up. “That is enough.”

The warrior regarded him with red eyes.

“You have defeated Gill using your powers as Satsui No Hado,” Gen said quietly. “Now it is time to bring you back to Hong Kong.”

“Never.” The warrior glared at him.

“Satsui No Hado is no longer needed.”

“You are nothing but weak, old fool.”

Gen frowned. “I-umph!” Gen flew back as a fireball hit him square in the chest. He scowled. “If a fight will help you regain your senses, Ryu, then we shall fight.”

“I hope you have no regrets in your life, old man,” Satsui No Hado replied.

 For the first time, Gen felt uneasiness. Ryu had done a complete personality change. He only hoped that he could reverse what triggered the appearance of Satsui No Hado.

 Chun Li closed her eyes, feeling hot tears burn beneath her lids. No! her mind screamed. I can’t lose them both…