By Dan

The Bushin master tossed and turned in his sleep. For some unknown reason, an outside force was bothering him, preventing him from getting rest. No matter how he tried, Guy couldn't get any slumber.

"*What could be the reason for this?*", Guy thought to himself, getting up out of his bed. Closing his eyes to perhaps sense what was wrong, his eyes snapped open when he realized what was going on. It was an aura. An aura he knew well. And this particular aura was in danger, Guy realized.

Rising to his feet, he immediately put on his treasured Bushin outfit. Tying the laces to his Air Jordans, Guy quietly made his way upstairs... And bumped right into Jessica, who nearly screamed.

"Guy...! What are you doing here...?", Jessica asked in obvious surprise. The Bushin master smiled halfway.

"Long story...", Guy said, making his way past Cody's wife-to-be. Jessica could only watch in amazement as Guy walked out through the back door, making sure to lock it behind him. Looking up to the ceiling, Jessica smiled evilly, knowing exactly who was behind this...

=====

(A couple of hours after Guy leaves Cody's house)

Crimson stood in the holding cell alongside several other inmates, awaiting his chance to see the judge. He sweatdropped nervously, knowing that some of these inmates would like to get a piece of him and one person in particular kept on looking at him. Crimson tried to avoid eye contact with the man, but knew it was futile when the inmate came over to him from across the holding cell.

"I know you...", the man said. Crimson looked at the taller man with a raised eyebrow.

"I don't know you...", Crimson replied flatly. The man didn't cease, however.

"I could've sworn you were Japanese when I saw you last... You've got the same outfit...", he replied matter-of-factly. Crimson had his head turned away from the man, but his head came back in the direction of the inmate's voice when he heard that.

"*Japanese...? Same outfit...*", Crimson thought. He didn't need to think long, though... The Bushin student had known that Guy was in Metro City for awhile now, he just didn't want to recognize it. But it looked as if he would be forced to.

However, with the present situation in front of him, Crimson knew he may not get out of this confrontation without having to defend himself. But he caught a break, for the police officer who arrested came back in the room where the holding cell was located.

"Alright, you're free to go...", the cop said regretfully. Crimson almost fainted. HOW was that possible? He had to ask.

"How did this come about? Who freed me...?", Crimson asked. The cop shook his head.

"Um, well... A member of the Final Fight Task Force identified you as a member of the group. So, you're free to go..." , the cop answered. Getting the keys from the guard, the policeman opened the lock and let Crimson out.

"Don't let that happen again... That was serious police business you got involved in. Next time, you might not be so lucky to get out of such a situation, understand?", the cop asked Crimson seriously. Crimson nodded, fully aware and understanding the cop's word. Placing his hand in the direction for Crimson to exit the holding cell roon, the cop led the young Bushin outside the precinct... And right to Guy.

"This is the kid, right?", the policeman asked. Guy nodded.

"Alright then... Guy, this kid is in your custody. Keep him outta' trouble, okay?"

"You've got my word.", Guy replied nonchalantly. Crimson kept his eyes averted from Guy's as the two walked down the precinct stairs.

"Looks like you got yourself in some serious trouble...", Guy replied. Crimson closed his eyes and rolled them all at once. Re-opening them, Crimson answered back.

"...Yeah, well, it was a mistake. That's all."

"A mistake that could've taken your life. Had you been more careful..."

"Hey. If you haven't noticed, you're not my teacher anymore, Guy. I don't need the lectures...", Crimson said harshly. Guy raised an eyebrow.

"You know... You could be a little more grateful, Marcus. After all, *I* did get you out of jail just now...", Guy reminded Crimson.

The younger Bushin student didn't want to hear about it anymore. Taking off into a full Bushin sprint, Crimson tried his best to outrun Guy, who he left several hundred feet in the dust. All Guy could do was chuckle as his long hair blew backwards in the wind that Crimson's sprint caused.

"You want to play games, Marcus? Fine... We'll play, then...", Guy said to himself. He didn't bother going after Crimson. After all, the Bushin master was indeed that. The master, and not the student. He had an ace up his sleeve...

=====

Balrog stood in front of M.Bison, sweating nervously and still looking for exits maybe in an unseen crack in the wall, but it was to no avail.

"You mean to tell me that Bushin Ninja has seen fit to interfere in my plans once more...?", Bison asked Balrog. Balrog nodded.

"You know something...?", Bison began while hovering around Balrog, "...It's funny. This whole Mad Gear restoration isn't even on my part, yet because Guy sees you conversing with some suits, he figures something is going on..."

Balrog nodded once more, the only thing he could see fit to do at the moment. "So... What do I do, boss? You want me to rub him out...?"

"You do that... If you can. If not, I may see fit to handle it myself...", Bison replied darkly, letting his right fist erupt into a powerful blue flame.

"Even if this is something minor, I must show that meddlesome Ninja what happens when someone is foolish enough to cross me..."

=====

Crimson was beat. He could've sworn he got to the rooftop of his house by flying. Breathing heavily, Crimson placed his hands to his knees as he hunched over, trying his best to retain his normal breathing pattern. When he got enough air back in his lungs, he looked around and over the roof's ledge to make sure that Guy hadn't followed him. Nobody on any other roof besides him, and no one on the street level, either. Crimson broke into a smile.

"*Good... I lost him...*", Crimson thought almost happily. Feeling somewhat better now, Crimson opened the trap-door to get back inside the apartment building and back into his aparment. Making his way down the ladder, Crimson jumped the final six bars and landed on the floor quieter than a cat.

Fumbling in his pocket to find his keys, Crimson retrieved them and placed them in his apartment's door. Hearing the click of the lock opening, Crimson stepped in his apartment. Closing the door, Crimson turned to his living room. And nearly dropped his teeth in the process. Right in front of him on his living room couch, was the Bushin master in the flesh.

"What took you so long...?", Guy asked with an almost sinister smile.