By RyuDragon

“Okay, which one is the true weapon ?” – Grandpa.

Ryu Dragon took the third weapon, the katana with the stained blade. “It look the ugliest, on the outside. But this is one among many great weapons that I’ve ever seen in my life. I choose this one.”

Yuki looked at the katana and frowned. Her grandpa smiled seeing her frowned. “You want to ask him something, Yuki-chan ?”

Yuki hesitated. “I… I just don’t understand. I mean… Did he choose the right one, Grandpa ?”

“Why don’t we ask him ?” He turned to Ryu Dragon. “So why do you choose that one ?”

Ryu Dragon held the katana with both hands. “This katana, may looked ugly and weak on the outside, but… I’ll tell you why. The hilt is the hardest among those three weapons. Then, the blade part is also attached to the hilt very firmly. The weapon is also very light, which make it easy to use. And the last thing that makes this katana is the best weapon among the three of them is the ‘soul’ in it. This katana is the only weapon that has the ‘soul’ in it.”

“’Soul’ ?” – Yuki.

“Some great weapons have strong physical points, for example, the weapon was made from a very strong alloy, or was rigged with some kind of mechanism. Some were well known because they looked weird, looked unusual, not like normal, common weapons like swords, saber, katana, staff, et cetera. Some others have mystical element in them. This katana is among ones that have mystical element in it.” explained Ryu Dragon.

Grandpa smiled. “You win. You’re right.” He took the other two weapons and placed them in the box. “The katana is called ‘Sakura-ken’ (Cherry Sword). It’s already been passed through Yasumura’s family for twelve generations. It held the mystical power of the earth god. The sword is very strong and it can deflect certain magic power. Ryu Dragon, please take care of the sword until the worthy heir comes.”

“I will guard it very carefully.”

On the next morning…

“Kikoken !”

“Hadoken !”

The two powerful projectile attacks met and dissipated. Chun Li recovered faster. She continued the attack with two kicks that were dodged and a slap that was blocked. Ryu countered with a punch to the midsection. The punch was evaded at the last second and was countered with a palm attack to his chest. The palm attack connected, then followed with three kicks on his abdomen and chest.

He reeled back from the attack. Sensing another attack came, he raised his hand, just in time to block a punch to his face. He followed the block by catching Chun Li’s wrist then threw her over his shoulder. She somersaulted in mid air and landed gracefully on her feet, ready for his attack. Ryu jumped kick. Chun Li countered with her anti-air attack technique, Rising Bird Kick. Ryu was hit three times but managed to recover in mid-air and released his Hadoken. Hadn’t had time to recover yet, Chun Li was hit and fell down. She quickly got up. Ryu already followed the Hadoken with his Tatsumaki Senpuu Kyaku.

Chun Li reacted quickly. Again, she used her Rising Bird Kick to countered Ryu’s attack. But because she executed the technique in a hurry, her counter attack came a second too late. Ryu knew that she would use the Rising Bird Kick technique, so he quickly canceled his attack just a moment before her counter attack came. He landed, then countered the counter attack with his strongest close range attack, Shoryuken.

Again, she fell down on the ground from the impact. She felt irritated and quickly got up. Both fighters stand guard on their fighting stance.

The wind blew.

Ryu smiled, then closed his fighting stance. Chun Li followed. They bowed to each other, then walked toward each other. Grinning, when they were close enough, Chun Li jumped toward Ryu and hugged him.

“You’re still a kick-ass fighter.” – Chun Li.

“And so are you.” – Ryu. Then they kissed.

Sensing an attack coming from behind Ryu, they broke the kiss. Ryu quickly spun and blocked the incoming roundhouse kick, while Chun Li leapt high over

Ryu and kicked at the attacker. They moved so swiftly, coordinated and fast that the attacker didn’t have a chance to block Chun Li’s kick. The attacker was thrown away about three feet before landing on the ground very hard.

They were about to follow up the attack. But when they saw who was the attacker, they stopped abruptly. The attacker was a male, his hair was blond, and he wore Hawaiian shirt, white pants and a pair of white leather shoes. He was sitting on the ground while rubbing his right cheek where he got kicked by Chun Li.

“Ken !?” – Chun Li and Ryu.

Ken groaned. “I think I need to go to the dentist.” Then he smiled. “Hi guys, how are you ?”

Chun Li and Ryu laughed. They helped Ken to stand. “Ken, how are you ? Gosh, what are you doing sneaking like that ? I could’ve accidentally kill you.” – Chun Li.

Ken grinned and winked at Chun Li and Ryu. “No you won’t. You wouldn’t kill anyone so easily.”

Ryu laughed. “How true.”

Chun Li puffed. “Men. Always thinking they are so strong.” Then she smiled. “Hey, where is Eliza ? Does she come too ?”

“She does, and we also come with another friend.” – Ken.

“Who ?” – Ryu.

Two women emerged from the forest near the training ground. “Hi Ryu, hi Chun Li.”

“Eliza, Natalie !” – Chun Li and Ryu. They embraced, then walked back to Ryu and Chun Li’s place while telling each other stories.

***

It was raining in the afternoon.

“Aaah !” – Yuki. She and Ryu Dragon were about to go shopping when suddenly the rain was coming, hard. They quickly went to the nearby restaurant for cover. They stood in front of the restaurant window while trying desperately to dry their clothes. She saw him grinning looking at her. “What ?”

“Oh, nothing, its just that you looked funny with your hair wet like that.” replied Ryu Dragon.

“Oooh, is that so ?” – Yuki. She pinched him playfully on the arm.

“Aw, aw, hey, cut it out.” – Ryu Dragon pretending to be hurt. But his act was rewarded with more pinches on his arm. He playfully swatted her attack, then caught her wrists. “Stop, its hurt, Yuki.”

“Liar, I bet you didn’t even feel it.”

“Well, you’re right.” – He grinned naughtily.

She rolled her eyes heavenward, then slapped his arm. Suddenly the wind blew past them. She shivered. He took off his jeans jacket and wrapped her with it. “Thanks. But, aren’t you cold ?”

“Nope. I’m fine.” – Ryu Dragon.

The rain fell harder, so they went into the restaurant and had some hot tea. After about an hour, the rain was letting up a bit, and they decided to go home. When they arrived at Yuki’s home, she noticed that there was a letter in her mailbox. She checked it and found a letter addressed to Ryu Dragon. “Someone send you a letter.”

He looked surprised. “I wonder who ? I didn’t tell anyone I was here.” He took the letter and opened it. He read the letter silently.

“From who is it ?” asked Yuki curiously.

“It’s an invitation from the head master of Saikyo Ryu style, Dan Hibiki. That’s strange…”

“Who is he ? Do you know him ?”

“Not personally. He is a friend of Ryu and Ken, the fighters that I told you. I never met him before, although I’ve heard about him a couple of times. But, how come he knows I am here ?”

“What does it say ?”

“He asked me if I can come to his dojo tomorrow, and to bring my Gi with me.” – He folded the letter. “This is strange, I’m going to his dojo tomorrow evening.”

“Is it alright ? I mean, you don’t know him personally, he could be…” – She didn’t finish her sentence, but he knew what’s in her mind.

He smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry, from what I heard from Ryu and Ken, Dan Hibiki is an honorable fighter, although they said that he was also a clown.”

“Well, I guess it’s alright if I come along too ?”

He shrugged. “If you want to.”

It was dark, silent, and cold.

“Noooo !”

He woke up, reaching out. He looked around. He was sweating like after fighting for twenty rounds, and his breath ragged. He held his head with his hand. “It’s a dream. It’s a dream. It’s just a dream.” He told himself. Suddenly, the door was opened.

Yuki came in, then turned the lights on. “Ryu, what’s the matter ? I heard you screaming.”

“Yuki…”

She sat down beside him on the bed. “What happened ? Gosh, you were sweating a lot.”

“Yuki… I…”

She looked at him. “I’ll get you some water.” She stood up.

He caught her hand. “No. Please. I’m fine.”

She sat down again. “Are you sure ? I mean…”

He shook his head. “I’m fine, really. I just had a nightmare.”

“What happened ?”

“I…” he stammered. He told her about his nightmare. He told her everything. He told her his sadness and the guilty feeling that he had carried for a year. The guilt from deceiving his teammates, from her friends’ death, and from his unable to save them. He let out everything.

And she just listened. She listened to not only his words, but also his feeling, his deep feelings that had tormenting him all that long.

In the end, he cried on her lap. He cried out his pain, his pride, his guilt, his dishonor, everything.

And she just let him cried. She only said one sentence. “Let it out, Ryu, let it out.”