Your Adolescent Street Fighters Ch.1
By Silvercane

Seattle

Ryu walked aimlessly around the airport. He always hated airports. They were so noisy, crowded, and not to mention, confusing. Ryu also felt weird wearing the clothes that Ken had sent him (a pair of Gap Khakis, a Banana Republic shirt, and Tommy H. shoes, although he still carried his same old duffel bag). Ken wanted Ryu to fit in America since he was going to live there for a year.

Ryu felt a bit nervous about living in Seattle. He had visited Ken here before, but never for such a long period of time. He wasn’t sure that he’d adapt to his blond city friend’s way of living. He had never left Japan for more than a month at a time. His thoughts were interrupted by a fist heading straight for his chest. His quick reflexes managed to block off the shot and he looked up. Ken had an amused grin on his face.

“Welcome to your new life my friend!” Ken greeted proudly. Ryu smiled and flung his duffel bag over his other shoulder.

“It’s good to see you again, Ken”

“Why so formal?” said Ken as he gave Ryu a noogy. “I can’t wait to show you the school we’re going to and we can train together everyday and spend weekend nights hitting clubs and bars downtown and…”

Ryu began to lose attention of what Ken was saying. He wasn’t really a “night” person, let alone a clubbing guy.

“Ryu?…Hello?…Are you listening to me?” Ken asked, looking a bit irritated.

“Yeah, I can’t wait to do all those things”, Ryu replied.

Ken shrugged and started walking. “C’mon, let’s go home.”

Ryu followed him and sighed, “Home…my new home”, he thought.

Ken’s Mansion

“Is that what you call a “Krazy Kick?” Ryu asked. Ken and him were practicing in the dojo built in Ken’s yard.

“Sure” He demonstrated it again.

“Let’s just spar, okay?”

“Fine,…Hyaaaaa!!

Ken came at him with a jab and Ryu dodged it. They got back into stances and Ryu delivered a sweep kick. Ken fell back, rolled on the ground, and sprang up.

“Hey Ryu! Look over there!”

“I’m not falling for that agai……!

As he said that, Ken jumped in the air.

“TETSUMAKISENPUKYAKU!”

The Next Day

‘School…I have to go to school with complete strangers. I just know I’ll stand out’, thought Ryu, still lying in bed, staring at the ceiling. His stomach was filled with butterflies. ‘Just relax’ he told himself. He closed his eyes and began to meditate, hoping it’ll calm him…

“Hey! Wakey, wakey sunshine!”

“Huh?” Ryu opened his eyes groggily and moaned. Ken was smiling at him, fully dressed in his uniform- gray pants, white shirt, navy blue blazer, and a navy blue tie.

“Hurry up or we’ll be late…the first day of school!” The limo is waiting to take us” He tugged on Ryu’s arm and forcefully yanked him out of bed.

Ryu purposely dragged his feet slowly towards the bathroom. After he got dressed in his uniform, which he found quite uncomfortable, he went downstairs to join Ken at the breakfast table. They ate in a hurry and soon were seated in Ken’s shiny black limo.

“So, are you nervous?” Ken asked, trying to break the silence. He could sense that Ryu was a bit nervous, which was unusual since Ryu was always such a calm and patient person.

“Not really,…you?” Ryu asked, adjusting his tie, something hr rarely ever wore.

“No. Actually!…”, his face lightened up. “I think I heard something about a bunch of foreign exchange students attending Glenmore this year. I guess that’s good news for you”, Ken said, hoping the news would cheer up his glum friend.

Ryu glared at Ken, a bit surprised. Ken hadn’t mentioned it before. Maybe school wasn’t going to be so bad after all.

At least I won’t stand out-he hoped.