SF: A Warrior's Path Ch. 14 - Visions
By Gouki

It was around two weeks since Ryu had left the dojo where he spent his time growing up and training under the tutelage of the great Master Gouken. Two weeks of wandering within the recesses of Nature, using his surroundings to guide him on his journey. This was no smooth journey though, for his legs were becoming tired of the continuous steps the Shotokan warrior took. His hand was bleeding from the torture of the rough, uneven cord belonging to his duffel bag, that tore into his palm with each step Ryu took. His forehead glistened with the beads of sweat that gave birth and were making their own rivers of salt water across his face. His eyes would suffer the wrath of this, causing an almost weathered hand to cleanse the salty moisture from his source of sight. His body’s lust for rest was becoming apparent to the extent that Ryu’s steps were becoming slower, like it was painful for him to walk. It would be soon enough that Ryu’s body would collapse, and in result taking the young warrior with it.

To Ryu, this was merely a form of exercise.

The sun had since disappeared over the horizon, bathing the scenery in an orange-pink hue before the arrival of nightfall as it hovered over Japan like a pair of dark wings. Just ahead of Ryu stood a town, and a place where Ryu would attempt to spend the night, otherwise he would be welcome to the wilderness belonging to Nature. Ryu slowly quickened his pace, though it was barely noticeable and forced the pain that had given birth to a far corner of his mind.

It was hours before the young adult reached this town, his body now pleading for relaxation to which Ryu had no choice but to deliver. He placed his duffel bag onto the ground, where it immediately fell to the side and he flexed his hand, ridding himself of the tightness in his muscles. His dark brown coloured eyes gazed around the town, where it settled on where he would rest. A few feet in front of him and to his left stood a small inn; not aesthetic in appearance but it was after all somewhere to rest for the night. Reaching for his duffel bag, Ryu hung it over his shoulder and trudged over to the small building. After a few minutes of speaking to the innkeeper, Ryu was gestured to the room where he would be spending the night.

The bed was as hard as rock, but it didn’t matter to Ryu considering the rougher places his body had adapted to resting upon. After paying the innkeeper, Ryu rested his duffel bag along the wall next to the bed and prepared himself for the rest that came in a matter of a few seconds. Like his journey this rest wouldn’t be an easy one, for the events of his past would again awake within his subconscious…

**********

"MESSATSU GOU SHORYU!!"

The technique had been as tremendous as the sound that erupted from Gouken’s lips when he had cried out its namesake. His fist charged with energy, he stepped forward and his feet left the ground as his fist drove into the chest of Akuma and ending it at the face, crushing his nose and causing his eyes to water as blood trickled across his deformed face.

And that had been just the beginning.

Instead of rising into the air, the demon that was once known as Gouki merely staggered back, either because the dragon punch was weaker than its true form, or Akuma had amazing vitality to the extent that the move wasn’t able to launch him off ground. It didn’t matter, for the rest of the technique was all but released.

Gouken leapt a second time and again the demon had remained his footing on his ground, though Gouken struck him three times: the stomach, the chest and the face again. Ryu had observed the move with detailed precision, as if he would be expected to execute it immediately after. Ryu had thought what he’d learned was the complete style of Shotokan, but now he knew. What Gouken had taught him and Ken were only the minor techniques; the shell of what Shotokan Karate truly wielded deep, deep within. What Gouken taught them were only the beginning stages. The words he'd said to both of them "…you both have more to learn" had explained it all.

A third, more powerful rising uppercut was unleashed at the battered Akuma and this time, it launched him upward as it smashed into his bleeding body three, final times. The punishment of the Messatsu Gou Shoryu was over and perhaps with it, the battle. Ryu could only stare with awe at the power Gouken unleashed, and gaze over to his opponent. Not just his opponent but his brother, but a man who was no longer a human, in exterior and interior appearance. Akuma’s body continued its descent and ended with his face colliding with the ground followed by the rest of his body falling limply to its side soon after.

"Was it over…?" Ryu had turned to his friend upon that thought being born to see a similar look on his face, but after a while it changed indicating that perhaps Gouken had won whilst Ryu’s had kept his doubtful gaze.

Then he saw it.

A slight movement of his fingertips, then his hand, to both and once his arms were functional and it was then he knew.

He had survived.

Ken’s face slowly changed as well as the demon slowly pulled himself to his feet, and flared his trademark grin, not in arrogance but more like he was impressed with Gouken’s potential. Despite the damage he had just taken he didn’t show any signs of pain, if the feeling of pain was still existent within his soulless body. Then, the final words were released before the technique that would create a new path they were to follow was liberated.

"…your end is near…"

Why Gouken didn’t avoid it or attempted to, Ryu will never know but this was the move that ended his sensei and his parental figure’s life. His foot arched upwards so his toes remained on the ground, Akuma slowly slid forward as he raised his leg upward, bent at the knee and his arms placed parallel to the side of his body as they branched off from the elbow at right angles. His hands were outstretched and were facing Gouken’s shoulders, and the grin on the demon’s face grew larger as he neared his opponent and his brother. Ryu wanted to run and send Gouken out of harms way, but he found he couldn’t move, and this wasn’t reality but an image conjured by his subconscious he was forced to watch once more.

Akuma’s palms made contact with Gouken’s shoulders and held with a vice-like grip. The scene replayed itself for the Shotokan warrior, but the last time he went through the image again, he saw something. Something he couldn’t detect, but this time he could.

Watching through the scene in slow-motion, Ryu watched as Akuma grabbed Gouken’s shoulder for what was the fourth time, but this time he gazed at Gouken as he did so. Ryu saw as his master had looked into Akuma eyes, whilst Akuma gazed back into Gouken’s.

One pair of eyes had shown pity.

The other was pure contempt.

Akuma had sneered at Gouken’s compassion then and just as the scenery around them would be shrouded by a burst of white chi, the final words Gouken spoke slowly flowed from his weakened body. Those words would perhaps sum up Gouken in overall.

"I forgive you…brother…"

The words hadn’t affected Akuma in the least and with no escape for the great master, Akuma unmercifully unleashed the technique, which its true namesake translated meant what its whole purpose was.

Kill Very Quickly.

**********

A man fell to the ground, the bruises and cuts on his body clearly indicating that he’d just taken place in a fight. In fact, he still was.

"Wh-What are you…?" the terrified man questioned the silhouette that was his opponent. He had thrown all his best attacks on this figure, but he was still standing as if he felt nothing.

"Absolutely pathetic" was all the person said. " Now accept your death like a true warrior" and before the frightened man could escape, the figure moved closer and his echoing scream became nothing but silence as it faded into the dark night. The mystery assailant merely sneered in disgust at his opponent before he spoke.

"Another one unworthy of my power, and of his life," he said. "Such weaklings I have to contend with. All except one…" he paused, as the image of the person he spoke of became visible in his mind. "Where Gouken failed I will continue, for he has the ‘evil intent’ and with it, I will mould him into the warrior he truly is." Akuma said and as he disappeared, his final words lingered into the frigid air.

"Soon all will be revealed…"

**********

"What do you have to report?" a figure’s voice echoed from the dark area from where he sat. The person this man was speaking to shivered slightly and paused before speaking quickly, not wishing to offend a man as threatening and powerful as he was.

"Master Bison," the old, frail scientist began the clipboard that he was holding beginning to shake ever so slightly. "The Cyborgs have done their jobs well in observing this tournament, and it has been very promising."

"Go on." beckoned the Shadaloo Lord.

"Many of the participants have proved to be worthy of the ‘Biotechnology’ Program, a few more than others. Take this warrior for example." The scientist pressed a button on his remote control and the screen Bison was watching changed to show the imagery of Ryu’s fight with Birdie.

"According to our information, this fighter’s potential easily puts him in the S Rank, the only warrior we’ve encountered that has managed to fit in this group." the scientist continued as the screen displayed the animation of Ryu’s "Shinkuu Hadoken" technique. "There’s another one who wields the same martial arts style, though not as powerful." The Ryu image changed and was replaced with Ken’s. "His potential places him in the A Rank, though he may be able to make it into S also. There’s one more…" the scientist paused as a cough escaped his body and pressed the button again, this time showing Chun Li.

"She also qualifies as A Rank, though her potential isn’t as good as the first two. She’s still worth looking into though."

"Any others?"

"Well… there’s one who has won the most fights thus far…" he began and the button was pressed for the final time, and the image that was shown soon gained Bison’s interest. "But he’s only a B according to our data, so we shouldn’t waste our time with him."

"Keep an eye on him."

"But sir he’s only a-" the scientist tried to explain.

"Are you defying my orders?" Bison questioned the sudden rise in his voice quickly changing the scientist’s opinion.

"N-No sir, I’ll do as you say."

"Good." Bison responded. "Now leave my sight…" The scientist did exactly as he was told, leaving Bison alone with the image of the fighter that was classified as a B.

"Perhaps it was worthwhile letting you escape Nash…" Bison thought. "…soon you will be mine to control…" Bison then laughed, his voice booming through the walls of his Headquarters.