SF: A Warrior's Path Ch. 2 - One's Fate
By Gouki

"SENSEI" Ryu cried and he ran to his master, followed by Ken. "Are you all right?!"

"I understand your concern my disciples" replied a near conscious Gouken. "But please, do not interfere. This is the battle I must partake in. One of us may die today but I must embrace this alone." They reluctantly obeyed and could only watch as their master cautiously got up and faced his adversary.

Striking out with an elbow to the abdomen, Gouken followed it up with a jab to the face, kick to the ankle, crescent kick to the head, knee to the abdomen, elbow to the gut, another knee and an open palm strike to the face. Gouken finished his combo with another open palm strike to the gut. Gouken had used his chi behind that last attack, causing Akuma to double over leaving him vulnerable to Gouken's next assault…

"MESSATSU GOU SHORYU!!" he yelled as he went into the most powerful uppercut technique he had ever performed. As he proceeded into a series of dragon punches, each strike could be heard by his students. Akuma flew through the air a second time and landed face first into the ground. Ryu and Ken could only stare in awe at the true power their sensei wielded deep within him, and the strength and agility he had for one at such an age. However, that attack had drained an immense amount of chi from him. Akuma slowly got to his feet, his face surfaced in blood but still adorning that same look on his face.

"You impress me Gouken" he said. "But your end is near" and before Gouken could detect Akuma's next motion, he unleashed his ultimate attack

Gathering the true evil energy of Messatsu to him, Akuma slid forward with such swift agility, that he left Gouken with no time to retaliate. As he grabbed Gouken's shoulders, a white light enveloped the both of them, it's intensity so powerful forcing Ryu and Ken to close their eyes. An impact of strikes was heard followed not long after by a scream that seemed to echo over and over again. When all was clear, what Ryu and Ken saw would change the fate of their lives. What was left of their master lay on the ground, surrounded in a pool of his blood. All over his body was around 15 marks, the main one located onto his chest, where his heart would be. Stood over his limp body was Akuma himself, with the symbol of "TEN" burning along the back of his gi like an inferno. "My purpose has been fulfilled… for now" the demon murmured as he turned to walk away.

Ken was the first to leap forward towards his sensei, followed by his best friend Ryu. Placing two fingers to Gouken's neck, he managed to feel a faint pulse emitting from his dying heart before it finally gave in. Both stood silent, but eventually a tear trickled down the American's face whilst the emotional look on Ryu's face was enough to indicate that he shared his pain. Ken stood up, fists clenched with his eyes now ablaze with fury. Akuma stopped, and turned to face the person foolish enough to face him despite what they had witnessed. A grin slowly appeared on his face as he stared at Ken, then to Ryu.

"You both are not ready…yet" muttered the words of Akuma as he faded into the forest the same way he had came, leaving them alone to mourn for their master's distorted body.