By EliadS

A figure is standing on a ridge upon the mountain's side and gazing down on the scenery below. He inhales deeply as he scans the vegetation and nature below impassively. The sky is black as coal and lightning crackles brightly, cutting through the thick air. It illuminating the sky with Nature’s glamorous power and the sudden light reflects upon the figure's back.

He looks up towards the sky and his pursed lips curl upward, forming a sinister smile. He enjoys the fresh air and powerful winds of the stormy weather, they seem to feed him, empower him as he flexes his arms and inhales deeply. This weather seems to fit his heart, Cold, black and raging, a true force to be reckoned with.

Suddenly thunder roars loudly, as if Heaven itself cries out at the man. Soon rain starts pouring down from the sky, long blades of water falling down only to crash upon the surface.

The figure ignores the drops, which drench him to the bone, also oblivious toward the cold and icy touch. The water flows down his frame, caressing his body with a bone-chilling stroke. Soon the clear and pure water turns crimson as it touches some fresh wounds upon his dark skinned face.

The drops flow down his forehead, and down to his closed eyelids. One of them has a long jagged bleeding wound on it, one that will surely leave a deep scar on the skin. This shows that his left eye has been recently injured if not destroyed.

The mixture of water and blood doesn’t seem to bother him and neither does the stinging and burning pain that his wounds inflict on him as the cold water caresses them. Something else seems to be bothering him, something probably worst than any physical pain he could have received. He continues looking at the skies, seemingly hypnotized by the sight, or perhaps he just lost in thought.

His hair flaps due to the wind. It is red and spiky, but now lays limp due to the water's effects upon it. He looks aimlessly into the sky for a few more minutes before lowering his head and then for the first time in hours moves a limb other than his eyes and head. He raises his hand to touch his wound, and then he looks down at his hand, his fingers now dark with crimson.

Despite the burning pain he does not wince or even seem to acknowledge the pain, He then snarls and touches another wound, One that adorns his chest, it is deep and lay across his entire upper torso from top to bottom.

His clothes, what seems to have once been a Karate black Gi, now lay torn and burned on his body, only several tattered remnants remaining, flapping with the winds flow. A Red Kanji burns brightly on his backside as his hands clench into fists.

"Ryu...You despicable little boy! How is it possible? How did you beat me again? I don't know how you manage to elude my death so well boy. But next time we meet...You will die!" The figure thinks before purple flames begin dancing around them, tendrils of fire bursting out of his skin and swirling violently, like a tornado.

Then his remaining right eye glows brightly in red. It is narrowed to a small glowing slit; the look on his face is a look of a man with only one purpose, revenge. He teeth clench tightly and he stomps his foot on the rocky terrain, thus sending a violent tremor through the mountain below him.

"Twice you have avoided my Shun Goku Satsu Ryu. But I will succeed next time, For I am Akuma! And no warrior shames me twice and lives for long! Savor your pathetic life boy, for your days are numbered!" The figure also known and feared by many as Akuma thinks before laughing a deep and rolling laughter, one that is slowly swallowed within the booming thunder along with the demon it belongs to.

A single figure is sitting in lotus meditation form upon the wooden veranda floor of a simple looking oriental building. Its architecture is ancient and obsolete in modern times, yet it radiates serenity and peace; something the modern world seems to have lost. It is located in the heart of the forest; the sounds of nature and the wildlife are as a constant symphony to the vagabond who lives there.

The man’s eyes are closed and his breathing steady and repetitive. Cold rain pours on his body, Its flows down his neck and chest, but despite it the figure remains in his meditation stance. His eyelids flutter and open, and reveal a pair of dark brown eyes. His upper body was bare and his muscular frame is well apparent. But it also seen to be covered by many wounds and cuts.

He brushes aside a few wet bangs of his dark brown hair that lay limp on his forehead and rises to his feet. He clenches his teeth as he feels pain course through him. Yet he smiles, a simple smile, one full of silent satisfaction and pride.

"Gouken Sensei...I have defeated the demon once again, but he eludes me yet, He’s fled again. But I will not rest until your murder is avenged, you shall rest in peace...this I swear” He swears to himself.

He crouches and descends to a kneeling position in order to pick up a white Karate Gi top, which is lying on the floor. He holds it between his fingers, which tighten into a clenched fist. It is stained by blood and ripped and burned in various places. He shakes his fist, anger etching his handsome face for a moment before his hand drops.

Then he closes his eyes and exhales tiredly before walking toward the interior of the Dojo. He as always is wearing an old tattered headband, whose red edges flap wildly in the strong wind. Although pain throbs through him he continues walking steadily, his eyes fixed forward.

He then enters the dojo and put down his Gi top before sitting down on the wooden floor of the Dojo. He reenters his Lotus stance and concentrates; soon he feels a warm, soothing wave courses through his aching body.

A middle-aged man in a Grey Gi is sitting in Lotus stance, before him a young Japanese youth is sitting in a similar stance. Both are sitting silently, the birds chirping around them, a light breeze ruffles the boy’s hair and the adult’s long Grey beard.

"Can you feel the Chi around you Ryu?" The man asked the youth in a soft and gentle voice.

The youth nods "Hai Gouken-Sensei”.

Gouken smiles and chuckles lightly "Now my boy, imagine a rope, and try to catch it and bring it to" Gouken commands softly.

The young Ryu clenches his teeth and concentrates "Concentrate...a rope...Chi...Catch it and pull it inside!" He thinks. Suddenly he feels a warm wave flow through his entire body, In his excitement he opens his eyes "I felt it! I actually felt it Sensei!" He says excitedly while smiling.

Gouken smiles " Very good Ryu, you show much promise my pupil, This technique is your friend, When wounded and weak, Let the Chi flow and give you strength" Gouken says.

“Give you strength…Give you strength…Give you strength” The words echo in Ryu’s mind.

Slowly the air around him seems to become hot, small flickers of blue ensue around the warrior and wisps are released from them, the blue energy starting to surround Ryu's meditating form. They swirl around him slowly, caressing his skin and stroking his frame gently. His body emits a soft Blue glow, and the room is alit in soft blue light. The rays expand in all directions, overcoming the soft candlelight and invading all the semi-dark space of the Dojo.

A few hours pass before Ryu inhales deeply and opens his eyes "I will continue your legacy Sensei, I will become a true warrior and kill the one who murdered you. I won't let you down!" Ryu thinks and looks at his fist, some dried blood stains his wrist guard, remnants of some recent battle.

“What do you see beyond your fist?” Gouken’s voice echoes within his mind, memories of his past flowing into his mind.

Ryu ponders on the thought, as he visualizes his master's face before him “I still don’t know…but I won’t stop fighting…till I find that answer” Ryu thinks to himself.