The Legacy of Akuma\Gouki Prologue
By Dan

Many times the demon Akuma has battled opponents foolish enough to challenge him. Many times the opponents have been killed mercilessly, often seen with a permanent look of horror on their lifeless faces after Akuma initiated the ShunGokuSatsu to instantly murder them with the pain and agony of a million simultaneous deaths. Akuma seemingly does not care about Street Fighter tournaments, or cares much at all for human (or his own) life, either. That was obvious when he killed Master Goutetsu years ago, sealing his dark and devious fate. Akuma cares not for the many fighters who still challenge him (and still get killed), he cares not for M.Bison and his global domination schemes. Foolishness. He cares no longer about Ryu's transformations into Satsui no Hado, either. But yet, he still insists on fighting opponents. Yet, he still meditates and goes through intense training no human could withstand. Why? Soon, he realizes, someone will eventually defeat him in battle, destroying what could almost be called...a legacy. He shall wait for this unseen opponent. He knows that this upcoming fight will be his best, and quite possibly, his last...

*****

Japan

*****

Akuma sat quietly among the great forest, meditating. He didn't feel it neccessary anymore, but nonetheless did it anyway. He had often noticed the creatures of the forest were quiet when he often practiced and trained here. Whenever he walked through, the birds would stop chirping, and all would be still. Everything in the entire world recognized his truly evil aura. Even the babbling brook, as it was known to be called, would seemingly halt and run smoothly, as if not to arouse Akuma's powerful anger. He often ruefully smiled in his mind about these little things. He would never smile on the outside, though. That would show emotions that aren't his...The only emotions he knew were the emotions of the opponent, which usually ranged between fear, cold fear, horror, pain, agony and grief. Akuma only had one true emotion, he realized...rage. It was often seen in his face as he fought an opponent who seemingly wouldn't die. He hated the ones who had "fighting spirit". He almost enjoyed killing them quickly. Whenever Akuma killed his opponent, his face would reveal no guilt, no joy, no anger. Nothing at all. He just didn't care at all. Akuma had no regard for life. It was the same back when he murdered Goutetsu...

*****

Flashback

*****

"It is over. You realize now, who is the actual master now, don't you?", Akuma said, looking down on Goutetsu's form. Akuma performed the ShunGokuSatsu to his master, and now Goutetsu was scarcely breathing, his chest beginning to rise and fall much slower... He realized his fault in not burning the scrolls, and that was what was on his mind. Akuma spoke again. He felt triumphant. He wanted to gloat.

"I am the strongest now! You thought you were, but you NEVER was! I was the one destined to be the master of fists! You taught me nothing!"

"You are correct, Akuma.", Goutetsu said, somehow finding the will to still talk. "I didn't.... teach you anything.... You are a young.... stupid.... arrogant fighter who obviously-"

"SHUT UP!", Akuma roared picking up Goutetsu. He heaved him to the floor, breaking several more of his bones in the process. Goutetsu's body, even though trained to handle intense pain, finally gave out on him. He looked ruefully at Akuma, and soon his heart stopped beating. It was then that Gouken finally spotted the two...

"Master Goutetsu...I was beginning to wonder-" Gouken's breath caught in his throat as he saw what was happening. Akuma was standing over Goutetsu, who was lifeless and not moving...Akuma turned to Gouken, his eyes glowing blood-red with fury.

"Goutetsu is no more!", Akuma said triumphantly. Gouken's eyes went wide. He ran over to Goutetsu to see if Akuma spoke the truth. He pushed Akuma away from his master, and inspected Goutetsu for himself. His eyes were glazed over. He WAS no more. Gouken turned to his brother and gasped. Akuma's facial features were changing! He didn't look human! His red eyes were a giveaway, but his fangs and dark skin...he looked like a demon. An inhuman, evil killing machine...

"It's time for you to join me, brother...", Akuma said evilly. Gouken looked at his dark brother with tears in his eyes, but he was able to speak to him calmly. Truth be told, he feared now, what his kin was slowly becoming.

"How could you kill Goutetsu, Akuma. He looked out for you, for both of us. And you, you..."

"Do you think I care about how he looked out for us? Bah! If I realized how much potential there was in the dark arts of Shotokan, I would've used it to kill him a long time ago!", Akuma said with a sneer. He then added, "This could be you, brother. Think of it...The power is unlimited! We could be the strongest, much stronger than that pitiful corpse.", Akuma said pointing to the still form of Goutetsu. Gouken nodded his head no.

"I won't do it, Akuma. I don't want to be like YOU!", Gouken said with contempt. "Think about it, Akuma! Why would Goutetsu seal the scrolls away? It's because you can't control the power that Satsui no Hado weilds! You don't become the power, the power becomes you! It makes you do what IT wants, and all it wants is blood and death! Don't you realize that? That's not the true way of Shotkan! Akuma, listen to me!"

"ENOUGH, D*MM*T!", Akuma snapped, smacking his brother down with a fist. "I'm tired of listening to this nonsense! I know WHY Goutetsu sealed the scrolls away. he didn't want anyone to be stronger than him, that's why! He knew if someone could tap into the true power of Shotokan, he'd be weak and inferior! But it's too late for him, and if you do not join my side, it is too late for you as well!", Akuma roared with a thunderclap booming overhead. It suddenly began to pour down rain, as if the earth wanted to douse the flames of Akuma's evil rage. Akuma began to walk away from his brother as Gouken noticed a blood-red kanji slowly beginning to form on his brother's back.

"*By gods...*", Gouken thought in pure astonishment. Akuma suddenly turned back to his brother, and spoke again.

"I tell you now, and for the last time, my foolish brother. True power is calling you, and tyou have refuse to accept it. If I shall ever meet you again in the near or far future, I promise to kill you without mercy the way I did Goutetsu. Speaking of whom, you should begin burying him. Don't want flies and maggots eating away at your beloved master, do you?" Akuma laughed a loud roar that matched the intensity of the passing thunderclap. He then turned and walked away as silently as the rain that fell on the two. Gouken looked at his brother with pity, rage and anger coursing through him. Maybe he should use the secrets to destroy Akuma, he thought to himself as the rain poured down harder. NO! Gouken stood over Goutetsu and raised a fist high and proclaimed to the skies and heaven:

"I promise this to myself, my master, and to you, my brother. If and WHEN we do meet each other again, I'll punish you for killing master. But I'll do it my way, without using the evil intent! I swear on it!", Gouken yelled. He then fell to his knees and began to pray silently over Goutetsu's dead body. "Rest in peace, Master. I swear to avenge you. And you shall be, I promise to you." Gouken said "Rest In Peace" in Japanese, and then began the preparations to bury his master.

*****

End Flashback

*****

Akuma remebered that like yesterday. His brother never did come back to avenge Goutetsu, and that's what he remebered the most. Akuma knew Gouken was too much of a coward to fight him, because, frankly, he wouldn't stand a chance now. All the years that Akuma has trained under the evil intent's influences have given him incredible power, strength, speed, and even slight telekinesis. He was the epitome of the total fighter, the 'master of fists' in demon form. Akuma finally got up from his medidating with a scowl.

"*Someone's approaching. No matter, though. They'll wish they hadn't interrupted my meditation soon...*" Akuma then shut his eyes to see if this unseen person was perhaps a fighter. He was. But Akuma's eyes snapped open, somewhat surprised. "*Hm. Whomever this soon-to-be corpse is, he's powerful. I wonder...*" Akuma heard a branch break behind him. He turned in that direction to face whomever was foolishly making their way to his abode. Akuma closed his eyes quickly and opened them. "I know you are hiding. Come out, whomever you are, and show yourself. Do not make me have to murder you, although I probably will anyway.", he said with a sneer. "YAAHHH! DIE!" Suddenly a figure burst from behind a tree and attacked! Akuma dodged the figure and tossed him to the ground.

"Well, what do we have here?", Akuma said with a smirk creeping across his face. The figure dusted himself off, and eyed Akuma with an angry scowl. The man wore a white gi and had a beard not much different than Gen's. He had his graying hair knotted in a ponytail behind him.

"Don't you know who I am?", the person said. Akuma eyed him and yawned.

"Am I supposed to care? Because I don't. Leave now, stranger.", Akuma said. "I'm in a good mood, and do not feel it is neccessary to end your life. Although if you do not leave with your good fortune, I will punish you." The mysterious man smiled wryly.

"I refuse to believe you do not recognize me. Think back, Akuma. You might've forgotten about me..."

"Hm. I seem to remember who you are, but like I said, I do not care. Now leave!", Akuma said. He thrust his arms forward and shot a Hadouken in the man's direction!

"HADOUKEN!", the man pushed his arms forward, and nullified Akuma's fireball with one of his own! "NOW do you know who I am, Akuma?" Akuma nodded and smiled.

"Ah, yes...Gouken. Now I recognize you, brother...You have aged, unlike me. The evil intent hides my true age. Where have you kept yourself?" Gouken scowled at Akuma, who was seemingly mocking him by actually making conversation!

"Don't talk to me, demon. I remember how you said you would kill me the next time you saw me. THAT was over fifteen years ago. I'm pretty sure you overheard me saying I would avenge master's death by killing you, ne? Well, I came back to settle the score with you."

"Waraku omu na (Don't make me laugh).", Akuma said flatly. "If you are challenging me to a fight, you are signing off on your own execution, brother." Akuma's eyes began to glow the familiar red tint, sending a slight jolt of fear through his brother. Gouken dismissed the slight fear, and spoke again.

"I maybe signing off on my own execution, but rest assured brother, I'll take you to h*ll with me before I let you win!" Gouken got into his fighting stance, knowing Akuma wouldn't take that insult lightly.

"Is that so? Well, then! Prepare to go straight to where my power is from, Gouken!", Akuma said, stomping the ground. Akuma growled at his brother with an inhuman, throaty rasp. "You know you cannot win, correct? I don't need to feel any guilt from killing my only brother in the world. Not that I would anyway..." Akuma jumped and threw a fireball in Gouken's direction. Gouken dodged and rolled back into his stance.

"You need not worry about me, Akuma. You'll find I'm stronger than you think.", Gouken said. The two brothers circled each other with Akuma staring menacingly into Gouken's eyes and Gouken, staring back at Akuma with rage beginning to build inside him. Akuma then stomped the ground, letting the flame of the evil intent rise to his shoulders.

"You've forced me to do this, Gouken!", Akuma said thrusting an incredibly quick Shakunetsu Hadouken in Gouken's path. Gouken dodged the projectile barely as the fireball singed part of his gi. Akuma warped towards Gouken and with a quick grunt, uppercut him into the sky. Gouken found the momentum to backflip in mid-air, and surprising Akuma, axe-kicked Akuma to the floor.

"Well! Very good, brother!", Akuma said picking himself up. "But STILL not good enough to beat me!" Akuma warped to Gouken who stayed still concentrating on Akuma. Akuma warped in front of Gouken, who threw a punch to fell the demon, but Akuma warped quickly behind his brother and with a grunt, hurricane kicked him. Four times Gouken was carried by the revolving air kick. He recovered and somersaulted in mid air again, regaining his stance. Akuma looked at his brother, who was beginning to breathe heavily.

"You should've used the scrolls, foolish brother of mine. Maybe then you could stand a chance against me.", Akuma said. Gouken just stared at his brother with disgust.

"Look at you. You make me sick. I can't fathom what you've become. Master was right about sealing the scrolls away..."

"Talk no longer. Fight me now!", Akuma said. He rushed his kin with a flurry of quick jabs, parries and kicks, and while recieving damage, Gouken blocked almost three-quarter of Akuma's barrage. Gouken saw his chance. "Hadouken!", he yelled as the blue fireball channeled through his hands. Akuma was hit by the fireball, and it knocked him backwards. "Impressive!", Akuma said with a chuckle following. He then roared as the fire on his shoulders arose again, forming the kanji of 'Messatsu'. "Messatsu!...", Akuma bellowed. Suddenly, with a roar, Akuma's hands thrust forward and a sizable red fireball rocketed towards Gouken!

"*By the gods!*" Gouken rolled away, and saw the fireball make dirt rise off the ground as it crashed into a tree, and blew the tree apart, sending splinters of burnt wood flying in each direction. A punch to Gouken's jaw sent shockwaves through his body as he hit the floor. "*Argh! Shouldn't have taken my eyes off him!*", Gouken realized. Akuma picked up Gouken, and flung him over his shoulder into the ground. Gouken felt the pain wrack his body, but showed no sign that he was injured.

"Heh, never take your eyes off your opponent. Isn't that something Goutetsu taught you?", Akuma said with a sneer, baring his inhuman fangs.

"He also taught me that an opponent who talks to much is just delaying the ineveitable.", Gouken said, getting to his feet. Akuma looked angry but for a second then turned his back to Ghis brother. As the kanji glowed an incredible reddish hue, Akuma turned back to face his brother. "I will give you but one last chance to leave this place, brother. I warn you, I actually do not think it is neccesary to kill you. Think my offer over. You are still young. Do not waste your remaining years because you tried to defeat me." Gouken smiled.

"You're afraid of me."

"WHAT!?!"

"You heard me, Akuma. You know you don't want to fight me because I'll defeat you. I used to defeat you soundly when we'd spar years ago, and nothing's changed, I bet.", Gouken said. Akuma HATED taunters and jesters. He once came across a martial artist named Dan who did similar. The only reason Akuma didn't murder Dan was because he was the most pitiful fighter he had ever witnessed ever in life. The girl Sakura was a better (and stronger) fighter than Dan. Akuma looked at his brother, who was still in his stance, ready to counter or attack when ready.

"Fine. You win, Gouken. And in doing so, you've sealed your fate....", Akuma said darkly. Akuma's eyes grew cold, and his red pupils suddenly disappeared into his black eyes. His pupils then turned all white. He stomped the ground and grunted in pain, summoning more evil energy into his muscular frame. Gouken watched as Akuma's entire body, including his gi, from head to feet, became all-black. "MESSATSU!", Akuma bellowed. Suddenly, lightning streaked across the sky, signaling a storm was fast approaching.

"Let's do this Akuma! No more fancy acts!", Gouken yelled to the demon. Akuma only needed to charge up ten more seconds. Soon enough, more fire rose up on his shoulders, forming a new kanji. "Ten", Gouken read silently. The blackness went away from Akuma's body as flames engulfed Akuma's entire frame!

"*What in the name of...?*" Gouken could only stammer as the flames circled Akuma and fizzled away, showing Gouken a whole new, different Akuma. Akuma's eyes had no pupils, his skin was nearly red with evil, his gi was brown, and his hair, an intense blonde colour. Gouken could feel the evil aura radiating from his evil brother. "*He's become Shin-Akuma!*", Gouken realized.

"Prepare yourself, Gouken! Heaven is about to recieve another by my hand!", Akuma roared. Gouken wiped the sweat from his forehead. He had something prepared for Akuma, should the odds become stacked against him. The two circled each other a final time, and they attacked! Will Akuma kill his only brother? Will Gouken avenge Goutetsu's death?