Blast to The Past Ch. 2
By Ryu Dragon

“We’re gonna late !” – a girl running as fast as she could. “And that’s because of you !” – she said to her companion, a boy, about her age, running on fence along the way.

“Me ? You’re the one who took a long time combing your hair, not to mention getting up late this morning.” – the boy.

“Hey, at least I was ready first. I had to woke you up again because you were sleeping when we’re about to go.” – the girl.

“Well, that’s because I was getting tired waiting for you ! And can you use better method to wake me up next time, not with a big mallet of yours ?!” – the boy.

“The most effective way to wake you up is that way, and that was urgent anyway.” – the girl.

Just when they were about to enter the schoolyard, there was a horde of boys in various sport uniforms running toward them while yelling at the girl “Hinata ! Hinata ! date with me, leave that loser Claude.”

“There we go again.” – Claude sighed. “You want to handle them ?”

“Get out of my way, boys. I’m late !!” – Hinata pulled out a huge mallet out of nowhere and starts swinging furiously, making a way through the horde.

For Claude, this was becoming his second morning exercise for most of every day. After Hinata passed through the horde of boys, the way was quickly closes again, blocking Claude from entering the school. ‘Sigh, don’t they ever learn ?’ – Claude. He easily sidestepped every attack from the boys and pushed the closest one to make way. The push seemed light, but it was filled with chi power, making it three to four times stronger than normal push. As he passed the crowd, he looked up and saw a boy holding a sword over his head sailed down in the air toward him.

***

Ryu Dragon stood across the school and watched the scene in amusement. ‘How could that girl pulls out that huge mallet from out of nowhere ? Is she a magician or something ?’ He shook his head in confusion, he had encountered many strange things or events in his journey, but never like this one. Then he saw the girl’s companion easily sidestepping and pushing his attackers as if they are rag dolls. When he saw the boy with a sword descending, he quickly reacted. “Watch out !” – he warned the girl’s companion as he pulled both hands to his side and then pushed out toward the boy in the air. A small and white ball of chi sailed through the air and knocked the boy with the sword down, away from the girl’s companion.

The girl’s companion, Claude, was surprised when he saw the ball of chi hits his opponent. He turned and saw Ryu Dragon across the school gate. He jumped and somersaulted in mid air and landed as light as a cat.

The move reminded Ryu Dragon of Spider-Man, a superhero that he met on his journey while he was in New York. He was wondering if the boy can stuck to a wall or something like Spider-Man, but he quickly dismissed the thought. ”That was close.”

Claude grinned. “That ? That was still far away for me, this thing had been my regular morning exercise. Thanks for the help, though. My name is Claude.” – he extended his right hand toward Ryu Dragon.

Ryu Dragon was caught surprise hearing that, but regardless the cockiness, he still liked Claude. He accepted the offer. “My name is Ryu Dragon.” Then he winked and smiled “Sorry for the interruption then.”

Suddenly, without warning, while still shaking Ryu Dragon’s hand, Claude stepped in, turned around and flipped him over the shoulder. Although caught surprise, Ryu Dragon still managed to avoid being thrown to the ground. He landed lightly on both his feet. Grinning, he sensed Claude approaching from behind, he spun while preparing his right fist for his favorite counter attack, Ryuken (Dragon Punch), his left hand reserved as his shield, set across his chest, protecting his chest and chin. He leapt up and forward while extending his right punch straight up. The counter attack was blocked but the impact still sending the boy a few steps backward. Ryu Dragon landed gracefully into his fighting stance. Claude waved his blocking arm up and down in pain.

“Geez, you’re playing for real ?” – Claude.

Ryu Dragon chuckled and dropped his fighting stance. “If I played for real, I don’t think you would use that throw on me in the first place.”

“Fair enough.” – Claude grinned. “Hey, are you that wandering warrior Ryu ? The one that defeated Sagat, Bison and all others ?”

Ryu Dragon sighed, he had been asked this question many times in his journey by people who had heard the legend of the most powerful warrior on earth - and happened to have the same first name as his – but never met the legend in actual. “No, although I do know him, but no, I’m not him, nor as strong as him.”

“It figures.” – Claude grinned widely.

Ryu Dragon grinned. He straightened his backpack and about to leave when suddenly Claude called him.

“Hey, we haven’t finish yet !” – Claude.

Ryu Dragon turned and saw the school. He pointed at the school with his thumb and said “I think you better get back in there, I believe you’re already late.”

Claude screamed “AAAHHH, you’re right, da**. Hey, will you get back here again around three o’clock ?”

Ryu Dragon chuckled. He nodded calmly and laughed at the sight of Claude sprint into the school with the speed that would burn his shoes’ soles. He shook his head and went to find someplace to spend the time until three o’clock, probably the Laundromat.