Of Love, Honour, and Revenge Ch. 2
By Matt Lawson

Los Angeles, CA

Ken stood from the top floor hallway window, surveying the scene before him. An image of the city was visible, it's commercial centre skyscrapers towering like beacons, the famous Hollywood sign behind the houses of popular film stars. Ken had never really known any Hollywood films stars personally, the only star he ever heard of was Fei Long, and he was a Hong Kong film star. However, looking at the news on TV, he heard that Fei Long was actually shooting a film in Hollywood. Ken thought about paying a visit to his, and Ryu's, friend.

For now though that can wait. Personal matters come first.

Ken walked down the stairs of his new home, his very own home since he left his father's estate. His father had finally realized that Ken was a fully matured man now, having learnt discipline from his Shotokan Sensei Gouken, all those years in Japan. Ken thought about those past years many times, wondering what might have happened back then if things hadn't been like this.

Ken's father, a very successful businessman, brought his son Ken, then a brash, impatient, arrogant and selfish young boy, to Japan when he was 12. Ken's mother, a beautiful Japanese woman, had heard about Sensei Gouken, a long time ago. Ken's father was too busy to be able to talk to Ken, and his mother always accompanied him, so Ken was mostly left on his own, taken care of by a nanny. Ken often fought at school, beating kids who bullied him, and often got into trouble with teachers, parents and his own father and mother because of it. His mother always told him to stay inside the house, keeping away from the other children until the trouble had simmered down. It was a year later that Ken realised how he couldn't start learning responsibility and friendship if he wasn't allowed to learn them from the outside. Ken ran away from home, wandering the land of Japan until he came across a Shotokan Karate dojo, run by a kind man galled Gouken, who taught Ken about Karate, Discipline and patience. It was there that he met Ryu, Gouken's only other student. At first, he didn't think much of him, but as the years went by, Ken grew to like and trust Ryu, as if he was a longtime friend. It was when Ryu saved his life from Ken falling down a crevice, that Ken treated him as his best friend. After grazing his head with his toenail from a particularly nasty reverse-roundhouse, Ken gave him his hair band to wear not only as a bandanna and a bandage from the wound, but also as a symbol of friendship.

"Uhh, excuse me. Mr. Masters?"

Ken was interrupted from his thoughts by a removal man, carrying a study desk in his hands. "Where would you like this?"

"Oh, just put it in the main bedroom."

As the removal man carried the desk to the bedroom, Ken looked for his wife Eliza. He found her in the kitchen, telling the man where to place a variety of furniture. Ken gave his wife a hug.

"Isn't this great Ken? Our own home."

Ken looked at Eliza's eyes, staring at her beauty. It was now 3 months since they were married, and they were looking forward to their new life together. Eliza had met Ken four years ago, back when Ken was taking place in a street fighting tournament, which Eliza was sent to report for a TV sports show. Eliza worked in the sporting world, just like most of her family, yet instead of playing it, Eliza preferred watching and reporting about it. She became a sports reporter for a well-known magazine, and her first assignment was to report about a martial arts tournament that involved no rules. She was glad she accepted it. Had she refused, she would never have met the love of her life.

"Yeah, it is. I think I'm going to be happy living her by ourselves. It makes a change from the luxury back at my Dad's estate. I can live with it, especially since it's with you."

"Ken stop, your embarrassing me in front of the workmen. I….mmmph."

"Huh? What's wrong ?"

"I felt Mel kicking again."

She sat down on a nearby chair. Melvin, their first-born son. Eliza was nearly 9 months pregnant, now, it was nearly time for Melvin to be born. A scan revealed that the baby was indeed a boy. They both agreed that they would name their son Melvin, Mel for short, after Eliza's late father. Ken couldn't believe he would become a father. He hadn't even told Ryu, the best man at his wedding, yet. As he comforted Eliza, and felt Mel's kicking, Ken wondered if Ryu would ever marry, and if he did, would Ken be the best man?

Oh, C'mon Ken of course you would.

Eliza started talking, "Why don't you help the workmen? It would get things done a lot quicker. Then we can finally talk about our future."

Ken left Eliza, after a kiss, to help the removal men with his furniture. "Hey, you need a hand with that sofa?….."

An abandoned temple in the woodlands of South America

Akuma looked through the entrance of the temple. This was it. The temple of the dead. In ancient times, Akuma recollected, primitive Aztec men would worship here paying respect to their dead. How little they knew, Akuma thought, about the secrets behind these opened doors. It was said that Shamans could contact the dead spirits of the underworld, while the lesser people prayed for their peace. He will not find peace as long as I live.

Akuma walked through the temple, not even stopping to notice the carved walls of Aztec builders. He had no time for such trivial details. He walked towards the main chamber, and found a great room of gold. Light shined through the single hole at the top of the temple. Closing the door behind him, Akuma sat cross legged and started meditating. My evil intent will empower this place of lost souls, and make it glorious once again. Spirits of the dead started swirling around the room, as the hole suddenly closed, and blue torches started flickering in the darkness. Still Akuma meditated, searching through the dead spirits while looking for the man he sought. The spirits moaned throughout the temple, their souls lost through time itself, left to wander the plains of the afterlife. Finally, Akuma found the one he sought, and opened his eyes. Floating in front of him was a ghostly image of none other than M.Bison, the very man that Ryu destroyed over a year ago. It started speaking.

"What madness is this? What is this form that I have become?"

"Bison. Lord Bison. Answer me, now!"

Bison turned his head and saw a man, wearing a black gi, torn at the arms like his hated enemy, but more powerful. "Why it's you! You're…"

"I am the one that leads the path of Death. A master of all the evil arts of the Shotokan. I am Akuma!"

"I know, who you are! Do not tire me with your Shotokan nonsense. Why have you brought me here?"

"I brought you here in order to give you an offer. That is all."

"Enough! Leave me in peace. Death would be a release next to this travesty!"

"Don't you want to live again more powerful than you were? Your power could be so great so as to kill the one who made you into this in the first place, Ryu."

"How can I do what you ask? I am DESTROYED!"

"You are REBORN! I can give you power beyond your wildest dreams. Make you into a greater man than what you were before. With my Evil Intent, and your Psycho power, we would be unstoppable!…..Redeem yourself, or if you would prefer, AVENGE yourself. Settle your dispute with Ryu, and you will once again be in control of Shadowloo……and the WORLD……again!"

"Your offer is tempting, but there are conditions, I suppose."

"Only one. You will not order me. I will tell you what to do. You can do whatever you want to Shadowloo if you wish, but you will answer to me."

"I answer to NOBODY!!"

"Pity"

Suddenly, lightning and fire erupted around the whole chamber. All the spirits in the world were screaming as their souls dissipated in fire. Bison felt PAIN!

"ARRRRRGGHHHH!!!!!! STOP!! STOP!!! I ACCEPT YOUR TERMS!! IACCEPT!!!!!!"

"Excellent." The room died down. "Wait while I prepare the ritual. Soon Bison, soon, you will be whole once again."