On the island of Okinawa, in a remote village, a crowd had gathered to watch the event of the day. A fight was going to happen. This didn't normally happen, but the people weren't exposed to much excitement. And no one had ever caused the second richest man in the village to enter a fight. And the wandering warrior standing in the center of the crowd certainly didn't mean to infuriate the man intentionally. He had just walked on the street as the man's car came careening in the neighborhood at a high speed. The rich man had jumped out and shouted words that did not need repeating. The warrior questioned the man's driving skills and personal courtesy, and the man challenged the warrior to a duel. A crowd had formed around the two, waiting in anxiety.

The wanderer narrowed his eyes slightly, gazing at his opponent. The man was around five-ten, with dark hair and eyes. He had keen senses. If blindfolded, he would still know where he was going and who was around him. A red bandana around his forehead kept his bangs from getting into his eyes. He wore a white karate suit, and his stance was loose, relaxed, yet alert.

His opponent was a slim man wearing the traditional samurai outfit, a kendo sword in his hand. His long black hair was pulled back in a high ponytail. Shiro was his name. At least, that's what his group of friends called him.

"You can decline now, wanderer," Shiro said in Japanese. "I can easily defeat you."

The wanderer shook his head slightly. He was never one to back down from a challenge. He loved fighting. He was raised to live and breathe the fight. It was the very core of his existence. He remained at his position.

Shiro gripped his sword tightly. With a fierce cry, he lunged towards the wanderer, and sliced the air. The wanderer dodged and barely escaped. In that single slice, he could tell that Shiro was a skilled fighter. Shiro had speed and accuracy. The wanderer's lips curved in a slight smile, feeling his adrenaline charge through his body. He loved a challenge. He studied the kendo fighter and adjusted the red gloves covering his fists. He then raised his clenched fists, signalling that he was ready.

Shiro stabbed the air in front of him, so his arms and sword were perpendicular to his body. The wanderer jumped back to avoid getting hit. The tip of the kendo was a mere foot away from his face. It looked like Shiro was trying to see how far away the wanderer was. The sword easily gave him an advantage since he could easily hit him from six feet away. The wanderer frowned in thought. How could he get around the sword? The sword was made out of tough material, so it would not be so easy to break...

Shiro quickly jumped in the air and sliced, but the wanderer rolled away to safety. To his surprise, Shiro delivered a quick hit to his shoulder. The wanderer instantly felt it throb in pain. Shiro sliced the air quickly so the sword became a mere blur. The wanderer attempted to block the quick hits. Shiro withdrew his sword and studied the wanderer.

"You are a skilled warrior. That slice to the shoulder would have dislocated the shoulder of any normal man. But you are not just anyone, are you?" he asked in his native tongue. "Who are you?

The wanderer spoke the same language, and he replied in a low voice, "My name is Ryu."

"How fitting." Shiro raised his sword. "Let us continue this fight."

Shiro rushed towards Ryu, sword ready to strike. Ryu quickly assessed his opponent's movement and jumped in the air, kicking Shiro in his upper chest, beneath his collarbone. Shiro gasped in pain and gulped between breaths. Ryu stood five feet away, patiently waiting. Shiro stood tall and nodded. He began to dash towards Ryu, sword poised above his head. As Shiro sliced, Ryu jumped to the side, but not before Shiro grazed his bad shoulder. Ryu winced in pain. The two fighters stood facing each other. Ryu took several deep breaths. Shiro lowered his sword to rest. Ryu lowered his fists. Without warning, Shiro launched himself towards Ryu, sword slicing through the air randomly. In several mere moments, Ryu studied how and where the sword was swung. He saw an opportunity to get close, and he tumbled forward when Shiro was raising his sword. Ryu delivered a swift, hard kick to the shins and quickly summoned his chi energy between his hands.

"HA-DO-KEN!" Ryu shouted.

Shiro took the blast in the chest and went flying into the air until he landed with a thud on the ground dirt. Shiro's four friends stared in shock. Ryu crouched by Shiro's head to examine him. Satisfied that his opponent was just unconscious and alive, he slung his duffel bag over his good shoulder and began to walk away.

"Hey, you!" a male called out.

Ryu turned and spotted a young man heading towards him. He held out a white envelope to Ryu. The wanderer glanced at it and at the face of the man.

"Their have been some bets going on while you two fought...so...here is some money for doctor bills and food. You will also find a map in here of this vicinity."

Ryu shook his head. "I cannot accept money."

"Please." The man bowed his head and looked up.

He had eyes full of life and happiness, in spite of the disaster that just occured. Ryu took the envelope and bowed in respect.

"What will I find in the next village?" Ryu asked.

"It is a lot larger than this village. It is somewhat more modern. The map shows you to go north for ten miles, and you will find it. Be sure to buy food before you leave. You will need it."

Ryu nodded. "Thank you."

The crowd dispersed, and he began walking away. Ryu tucked the envelope in his pocket. While walking through the crowd, someone bumped into his bad shoulder. Ryu winced, clutching his shoulder, and saw a young man bow and mumble an apology. He looked like a peasant, wearing loose brown and white clothing. Ryu assured him that he wasn't bothered by his intrusion, until his keen senses picked up on something that did not seem quite right...

Ryu watched the boy walk away slowly. Ryu felt his hand drift to his pocket. The envelope was gone! Ryu wasn't concerned for money, he just didn't think stealing was right.

Not wanting to cause a scene, Ryu quietly trailed the boy. When he felt that the moment was right, he put a hand on the boy's shoulder, surprised on how skinny and bony it felt.

"Excuse me, but I-" Ryu began.

The boy started to run, but Ryu was quicker and he dropped his duffel bag and quickly turned the boy around by grabbing both shoulders. Head lowered, the boy struggled, but Ryu shook him slightly.

"I won't hurt you!" Ryu explained during the scuffle. "I just..."

He fell silent as the boy's straw hat tumbled to the ground. Long, jet-black hair fell like a waterfall down the thief's back and shoulders. The thief was young, probably fifteen years his junior, with a fair complexion. Dark brown eyes glared up at him in defiance and surprise. Ryu was so shocked that his grip on the thief's shoulders slackened. The thief quickly began to escape from Ryu's hold. Ryu reacted and grabbed her by the shirtfront.

"Wait!" Ryu called out. "I won't hurt you."

She glanced down at the hand clutching her shirt. She looked up at him. "You're going to remove your hands, right?"

Ryu cleared his throat in embarrassment and gripped her shoulders firmly. "I want the envelope you stole from me."

"What envelope?" she asked innocently.

Ryu shook his head. "If you didn't steal anything, why did you try so hard to get away from me?"

Her face flamed at her error. She forgot to act cool and calm. Ryu watched the changes in her expression with amusement.

"If you need the money so badly, why didn't you just ask me?" Ryu asked gently.

She was staring at him with an intensity and thoroughness that actually made him uncomfortable. Ryu shook her slightly. She snapped out of her trance.

"Um...most people aren't willing to give away money to the poor," she muttered.

Ryu nodded. "I understand. There's a map in that envelope that I'll need. If I let you go, will you at least give me the map?"

"You're...you're not going to report me?" she asked, incredulously.

Ryu shook his head, his eyes serious. After seeing truth and sincerity in those eyes, she pulled out the envelope from her pocket. She handed him the entire envelope.

Ryu frowned. "I thought you wanted the money."

She shrugged. "Looks like you need it more than I do." She grinned.

"My name is Ryu. Yours?"

"Kami." She tilted her head to the side, studying him. "There's something very familar about you. I don't know what it is..."

"Maybe you've seen me wandering around," Ryu suggested.

Kami nodded. "Maybe..."

Ryu took out the map and gave her the envelope. "Here. Take this."

She hesitantly took the offering in her hands, touched by his generosity. "Th-Thank you."

Ryu hitched his bag over his shoulder. "You're welcome." He smiled and began to walk away.

"Where are you going?" she asked.

Ryu shrugged. "To find an opponent who is stronger than me."

As he headed off, the wind blew her straw hat away. She clutched the envelope tightly.

"Arigato, Ryu. I will remember your kindness..."