Rendering to Emotion Ch. 4

By Silvercane

 

'At the beginning and end of phrases, means the person is thinking, not saying aloud.

One month later

"Baba, I needed to come talk to you again." Chun Li knelt down in front of the tombstone. She was still drunk in her anger. "Baba, ever heard of the saying, 'Life is but a dream on the way to death'? There is so much meaning and truth in it that I don't understand why I'm living this nightmare". She paused and then continued. "Baba, I've come to admit, in shame, that I have finally shattered".

***

"Akuma, it has been a painful journey to seek you, but your blood on my hands will be my prize". Ryu stood tall and stiff, watching his opponent.

The demon glared at him, then spoke.

"I can see the fury in your eyes, Ryu. I no longer see hope in doing what I had planned; to train you as my own".

***

"I will experience the bliss. There is no use to live on this world when my soul is dead, don't you agree, Baba?" Chun Li smiled sadly to herself, almost insanely?

***

"I will start this fight, Akuma, and I will end it". Ryu took a step forward.

"Very well, then I will feel your wrath, young dragon". The demon took a step forward and bowed. They prepared to fight to the death.

***

"I will trade my soul in for something pure and true…I will be happy". Chun Li reached forward and kissed the tombstone. She got up and left.

***

Blood shed for freedom. Freedom from a life of anger, resentment, and misery. Ryu rushed forward again with an attack. Everything was an illusion now.

***

Chun Li's hair blew in the wind. She surveyed the view around the cliff from which she stood. A tear rolled down her numb and solemn face.

'Ryu, I will cry for you, I will wash away your pain with all my tears'.

***

Ryu lay on the ground and coughed from the blood caught in his throat. Blood rolled down Akuma's mouth like a string of beads.

***

'I suffered, prayed and cried for you. I can't suffer the torment anymore. You will understand'.

***

"Finish it", ordered Akuma as he lay on the ground, unable to move his limbs.

Ryu walked over slowly and fell. Blood poured from his mouth. He forced his tired legs to stand and he walked up to Akuma. Without another word, he raised his leg slowly. Akuma closed his eyes, his expression was neutral. Within a second, Ryu swung his heel down onto Akuma's head; cracking his skull in a victorious instant.

***

Chun Li closed her eyes. 'I will cleanse away all the pain that I am living. I will be free…I believe in you, Ryu. Stay strong'.

***

Ryu lay against a rock. The wind made his cuts sting, but it didn't matter anyway. His body was going numb as his soul began to drift from his collapsed body.

***

'I will always be a part of you. I will always love you. I will do anything for you…I will die for me'.

***

'I'm sorry that I must leave you, Chun Li. I broke my promise, I failed you…I love you'. Ryu's eyes closed. The Dragon's raging fire died out.

***

Chun Li floated off the cliff, like an angel. She felt Ryu's presence by her side the whole way down.