Chun Li cautiously looked at the person lying on the bed. Was he friend or foe? As his eyes fluttered open, she noticed the rich brown of his irises. She breathed in relief and stepped closer.

“Hi,” she began. “How are you feeling?”

His lips turned up in a small, brief smile. “Not as well…as I should be…”

“With good reason…” she laughed nervously, feeling her eyes fill. He’s okay. He’s back.

Slowly, his eyes shifted to familiarize himself with his surroundings. “What…?” his voice cracked. Chun Li helped remove his oxygen mask. He wet his lips with his tongue. “What happened?”

If he wasn’t mistaken, Chun Li stiffened. “A lot has happened in the past few days…” She fixed his blanket.

“Is…Gill gone?” Ryu asked, gingerly moving to a sitting position, immediately noticing his restraints.

“For now,” Chun Li declared.

She was being very vague. “I…do not remember what happened…” he said quietly.

“You don’t?” Chun Li asked.

He shook his head.

“Maybe it’s best if you don’t…” she murmured.

He gazed at her in surprise. “What…happened?”

Chun Li sat down on the chair, staring at the floor. “During that fight…something happened to you, Ryu. I…can’t explain it…”

The room filled with tense silence. Ryu looked down at the Velcro attached to his limbs. There was only one thing that he could think of which would cause her to be in this state...and for him to be tied down…

Ryu glanced away. “I…was not myself towards the end of that fight, was I?”

Chun Li remained silent. That only confirmed the answer which he had already guessed. He breathed out slowly.

“I see…”

“I don’t know what happened, Ryu. You were unconscious, then all of a sudden…” Chun Li cleared her throat.

“I wish I knew what to say…” Ryu said softly.

“I’m just glad you’re back,” Chun Li stated. “The real you.”

Ryu glanced at her and smiled slightly. “Before I left to fight…you wanted to say something to me. I…thought you were going to tell me that you-”

The door of his room opened. Gen stepped inside, regarding the two steadily. “I see you are awake.”

Ryu nodded. A thought occurred to him. “Where is everyone?”

“They are resting. As should you be,” Gen hinted.

“My apologies,” Ryu said. “How badly were they injured?”

Knowing that the battle with Gill was a brutal one, the two understood why Ryu wanted to know the extent of his friends’ injuries. Gen and Chun Li glanced at each other sadly.

“What is it?” Ryu asked.

“Sean…and Alex are fine,” Chun Li said quietly. “They’ll be released soon. But…Ken…”

“Is in a coma,” Gen finished.

All the color drained from Ryu’s face. “Am I…responsible for his condition?”

Gen glanced at Chun Li. It was difficult to explain Ryu’s mindset while he was Satsui No Hado. He sensed that side of Ryu was the side that he closed off. Ryu barely showed his emotions. He kept them inside, pent up so they exploded within. He was also a very powerful warrior. When he let that side emerge, he was a very difficult opponent. Gen had no doubt that Akuma’s presence helped fuel the darkness within Ryu. Ryu, in that state, fought until he killed someone. And he continued to fight. “You are not responsible for placing Ken in a coma. Satsui No Hado is the one who placed Ken in that state.”

Ryu looked down at his fists, which were restrained. Was it possible that these very fists were capable of harming his best friend?