SF: Warrior's Path Ch. 11
By Gouki

The elegant oak tree shook so violently to the punches Ryu was throwing that its leaves quickly feel to the grassy earth, creating an early autumn. Beads of sweat soaked his autumn-coloured hair, causing it to lie down in sweat-drowned blades, around an inch-and-a-half long or so, all over the top of his head, a few strands falling just above his line of vision.

He continued to pummel the hard wood with repeated punches and kicks. His hands were slowly starting to bleed, and his lungs were on the verge of collapsing, yet Ryu continued in his merciless fury. Sweat had managed to soak itself through the front and back of his cloud-coloured gi, turning it nearly grey, and his breathing almost became non-existent.

He had never felt this alone.

Gouken was the only real family that Ryu knew. He never knew his parents, due to their departure when he was very young. Gouken had taken him in, and taught him everything, from how to eat, to how to fight, live and survive in humble and simple forest surroundings. It was these teachings that would help Ryu on his conquest for revenge.

His friend, perhaps his best friend Ken had left the dojo a few days after the burial of the once powerful Shotokan master Gouken. He knew that eventually, his rival would go back home to America, but Ken was his only friend. In fact, the only person he now knew. Ryu had opted on staying here, wishing to further his training, and remain in what was his only home until he felt ready to leave. After an exchange of fists, both went their separate ways, promising to meet one another again.

That was about a week ago. Since then, he壇 entered the popular, but illegal underground tournament known as the "Alpha Tournament" not to seek the demon, Akuma but to test his skills against new warriors. It was this challenge that Ryu had set himself in order to gain the fighting experience and so improve and hone on his current skills. It was through this that Ryu hoped to have enough fighting experience to challenge the demon and emerge victorious, and so clear the cloud of hatred and vengeance. His two challenges, Birdie and Charlie had brought his fighting spirit to new heights. Ryu had felt honoured by his fighting skills against Charlie, despite his loss in fact guaranteeing to himself that if they crossed paths once more, he would challenge him again.

His mind getting the better of him, Ryu ceased his training, much to the relief of his muscles and lungs. This relaxation only lasted a few minutes, and Ryu once again resumed his practice. The huge oak was slowly beginning to break, but the Shotokan warrior was too focused in his attacks to even notice.

Leaping into the air, Ryu swung his right leg outwards as it trailed a path for a roundhouse kick. As soon as the blow connected, the young fighter gave a cry of an attack, before the chi he was gathering during the dawning of his attack was released.

Ryu痴 body spun in a rotational spin, his right leg connecting with a thunderous strike with the Tatsumakisenpuukyaku technique, otherwise known as the Hurricane Kick. Yet instead of journeying into three slow circulated spins, his rotational turn suddenly increased in speed. After striking the bark around 13 times, Ryu痴 body spun a final time as he withdrew his outstretched leg and he landed on his feet.

The oak tree Ryu was using, as a sparring partner was nothing more than mindless pieces of wood. Leaves were flying everywhere, many of them scattering themselves on and around the Shotokan warrior. Ryu looked at his blood-covered hands, suddenly realising that he had changed a great deal these last few days. It was time he moved on, and faced the future he realised. After brushing the leaves off himself, he grabbed his duffel bag and left the ancient dojo, thoughts of Gouken, Akuma and his recent events preserving themselves in his mind.

What Dan had estimated to be about 3 days, maximum was slowly becoming a week. Five days and five nights Dan spent on the road fuelled only by his determination and desire to find and defeat Sagat. His rose-coloured gi was slowly starting to erode around the edges of the trousers. Like many warriors, the sleeves of his gi were completely torn apart, granting free movement of his toned, muscular arms. The only thing that remained intact was the raven coloured shirt that he modelled under his gi. His father had always worn a similar one before his undeserved demise, so in honour of him Dan followed suit. He chose the colour black, because it represented the seriousness Dan wielded, plus at the time it made his red gi stand out.

A cry of what seemed to be cheering reached Dan壮 ears. His mind immediately commanding his legs to operate, Dan quickly ran towards the sound, hoping that the location was a town, village or anywhere where he could eat some decent food, get a suitable rest and perhaps train. Dan reached what he realised was a small town, and in the middle of the town centre was a small, but exceptionally loud crowd he noted. It seemed that a small fight was taking place within the crowd痴 centre, so Dan decided to amuse himself with a little entertainment. Both fighters were impressive, but it seemed that the kickboxer had the advantage with his swift, powerful attacks. Landing another elbow to the more inexperienced fighter, Dan watched as he gave a cry of "Jaguar" before he leapt up in a rising knee, alternating his legs and striking twice against the chest of his opponent and so ending the fight.

The particularly loud crowd rose in an uproar, all except Dan who had expected to see more of the battle. Maybe this fighter knew about Sagat, and where he may be, he thought. Waiting for the crowd to disperse, Dan calmly strolled over to the Thai fighter, who upon looking up couldn稚 help but let out a small snicker at his pink attire.

"Do you know where a fighter named Sagat is?" Dan asked, a slight hint of anger in his tone of voice, which the fighter didn稚 seem to notice.

"Why?"

"Do you know or not?" Dan was slightly irritated at the fact that this warrior was withdrawing his knowledge of Sagat痴 whereabouts.

"What makes you think I壇 know where he is?"

Dan sighed. If this guy was trying to annoy him, he was doing a good job of it. Ignoring his swelling rage, Dan gave up and turned to walk away from the fighter, until he had something to say.

"Say, you remind me of someone" the Muay Thai fighter started. Dan stopped as he said this, but before he could ask Adon quickly proceeded.

"Er, some fighter in that Street Fighter Tournament" he continued, his face wearing a pondering gaze. "Oh yeah! Sagat killed him in combat. He never stood a chance, such a weak and pathetic・ he never got to finish his sentence as his eyes widened in surprise as a punch threatened to strike him. Managing to avoid the impact, Dan痴 opponent looked across to him and gave a smug grin.

"Don稚 ever mention my father that way" was all Dan said.

"Heh heh, I guess you must be his kid, I see a resemblance" he chuckled. "What makes you think you stand a chance against the Jaguar, Adon?"

"By beating your sorry *ss right now!"

"You致e got guts kid, but that値l end when you realise your weakness" and with that, Adon lunged in with an elbow connecting with the Saikyo fighter痴 chest. Dan staggered from its impact but stood strong as Adon continued with another elbow from his other arm. Dan winced in pain, but kept it concealed from the obviously egoistic Muay Thai warrior.

"Don稚 waste your time with me kid, I won稚 hesitate to kill you" Giving a high-pitched laugh, Adon only resulted in increasing Dan痴 anger. Throwing a quick roundhouse, followed soon after came a jab and Adon felt his legs leave the ground as he felt the effect of Dan痴 sweep. Feeling proud of his attack, Dan raised his arm and went into his most favoured taunts. However, the timing was inaccurate as Adon rolled backwards and cut through the air with a Jaguar Kick. Dan felt the trail of energy burn through his ebony shirt, almost causing a scar if Adon hadn稚 weakened the power of the move. Dan痴 momentarily stunned position was enough for Adon to quickly crouch and gather his chi into his being.

"Jaguar Assassin!" Dan managed to hear before four powerful elbows delivered themselves into his face. The final blow struck across Dan痴 temple, snapping his head viscously to the side and dragging his body with it as he fell. Before Dan could land on the ground, Adon leapt up after him, smashing his elbow and knee simultaneously into Dan痴 midsection. Dan rushed his hand to his mouth as he felt the warm feeling of blood flow pass his lips and along his palm.

"Give up kid, you池e as pathetic as him" Adon sneered "If your dad couldn稚 do it, what makes you think you can?" Those words seemed to fuel Dan somehow, for he spat out the remaining crimson and kicked himself up and into his stance. A slight hint of approval crossed Adon痴 face, as he壇 expected a warrior as weak as he was to be rendered unconscious by that attack he just used.

"I said・ Dan said, his voice barely a whisper. Adon suddenly felt a sudden rise in Dan痴 power, but not enough to worry him "・on稚 ever mention my father in that way・ Taking to the air, Dan drew his foot back, and brought it across from the right, hoping to crash it into the side of Adon痴 head. Problem was that Adon had instantly read the attack and was now grinning as he threw his counter attack towards Dan.

"Jaguar!" Adon cried as he vaulted his body upwards in a diagonal direction, his knee fully extended as the Rising Jaguar technique that ended his previous match looked to end this one. However, Adon痴 knee succeeded in colliding with Dan痴 leg, but Dan痴 attack had also successfully made impact with Adon痴 chest. Both attacks were weak, but they were strong enough to dispatch each warrior out of the air. Adon痴 being stronger in comparison to Dan痴 enabled him to recover while airborne while Dan only had the ground to greet his landing. Before his body would crash into the rocky terrain, Dan痴 body quickly crouched over as it prepared for a recovery roll. After another triumphant part for Dan, he crouched under the descending Adon and waited for his moment of attack.

"Koryuken!" the Saikyo fighter yelled, rising into his altered dragon punch and managing to connect with the falling frame of Adon. Adon soared up once more, and Dan immediately crouched low and shook his fist violently, another one of his taunts. Adon kicked himself up after meeting the ground with a heavy thud and quickly leapt up and somersaulted forward, wanting to end this match against this pathetic warrior. As his leg swooped down in a swift motion to meet the top of Dan痴 head, he gave a cry of victory as a wave of fear coursed through the body of his opponent.

Reflex took over Dan痴 body as he quickly leapt out of the way of Adon痴 Jaguar Revolver and watched Adon repeat it twice, each one launching him more forward. As soon as Adon recovered, he turned to face his opponent only to be introduced to what was Dan痴 most powerful technique・p> "HISSOU BURAI KEN!!"

Adon痴 body felt about five kicks aimed at his legs, midsection and his face as Dan痴 leg rose up and down an axe kick-like fashion before he added a standing shin kick to Adon痴 ankle. Dan now threw a gut punch, and a straight, direct punch followed instantly by a weaker but relatively powerful strike with his left arm. Dan paused for a moment, before placing a jab to Adon痴 bleeding head, which was quickly replaced by a vicious palm strike again to the head. After a great exhibition of hits, Dan gathered his remaining chi and rose into an almost completely vertical Koryuken, delving itself into Adon痴 chest and carrying the limp body of the arrogant Muay Thai fighter through the air. The force of gravity eventually was able to clutch Adon痴 battered and beaten body and it met the ground for a final time.

"Yatta ze!" the pink garbed warrior yelled, celebrating his victory over the unconscious Muay Thai warrior. Though he壇 won, Dan痴 body was still in pain and it was that which was expressed in Dan痴 falling to his knees, clutching his abdomen as he coughed up blood, and fought his body痴 desire to reach the state of unconsciousness. It was fortunate for both warriors that they were in a village, for now at this time they needed medical attention.