It was a beautiful summer day out, a comfortable, breezy seventy degrees with a bright sun as his constant companion, far above him and behind him. Even as he walked he allowed himself a smile; he hadn't seen many days like this, and if his instincts were right, he might not see one again.

But Ken had been right; he had been away too long.

Dressed casually in a white T-shirt, blue jeans, tennis shoes, and his familiar headband, Ryu almost instinctively knew when he had reached his destination and used his free hand to open the left side of the glass double-doors, the front of which bore a dragon-like logo that gave the address and the name of the business; Masters Shotokan.

The door almost closed on his bag behind him as Ryu silently entered the dojo and waited at the entrance. Directly ahead of him, separated by a waist-high wooden wall, was a class of about thirty adolescent students, each dressed in a white, sleeveless gi, each practicing middle punches, alternating hands. Ryu recognized Sean almost immediately, in the front row of the class. Now late teens, he had grown into his uniform, and his abilities. He was now sporting facial hair and as he practiced, Ryu could feel a stronger presence in him, as though Sean had gained full control of his abilities. To Sean's immediate left was another young man, also late teens, but this man was dressed in a red gi reminiscent of Ken's old uniform. Ryu almost felt the snap of each punch the man through; young, but very strong.

And of course, pacing the class with a sternness he had adopted as he approached middle age, was Ken Masters.

Ryu watched his old friend instruct with admiration. The young, reckless youth had been tempered by experience and a number of close calls and had been turned into an extremely capable fighter, one much stronger than the man who had one the US Invitational so many years ago.

Ken, still wearing the same gi now darker from years of combat, held his belt, walking among the class to observe technique as the young man beside Sean ordered them to punch by roaring. Ken would adjust the technique of one of his students, and then move on.

As Ken moved towards the back row, he made eye contact with Ryu for the first time and smiled. Ryu allowed himself a slight smile and bowed to his closest friend. Ken returned the bow and indicated with his thumb over his right shoulder. "Mel, take over."

The young man beside Sean immediately jumped to front of the room and turned to face the class. "Yes, sir!" came his enthusiastic response, "Double-punching, ready…? IIGHT!"

As sounds of cloth snapping was heard, Ken moved quickly up to Ryu and the two struck fists. "Wow, is it really you?" Ken asked in disbelief. "After all this time?"

Ryu nodded, still smiling. "You look good, Ken. Sorry I've been away for so long…"

Ken was already shaking his head. "Hey, don't worry about it! You're here now, that's what counts, right? You up for a match?"

Ryu's smile faded. Ken always had to put on a show. "Ken, I—"

Ken was already heading back to the class. "Class, atten-TION!"

In sync, the entire class stopped punching and slapped their hands to their side, rigidly straight as they stood at attention. As Ken turned to address them, Ryu regrettably recognized the devil-may-care look in his face. Not again…

"Class," Ken started, the excitement clear in his voice, "Take a seat."

As the class moved to sit in the Indian style position, they formed a makeshift ring around the room as Ken looked to Ryu—who was silently pleading with him not to do this.

You've been getting me into trouble since we were children.

Ken now stood at the center of the room. "How about it?" He asked, challenging. "How far have you come?"

For a second, Ryu was silent, holding eye contact with Ken. Ryu shook his head. The man would never change. His bag hit the floor behind him. "Far enough." He said.

Ryu made his way to the center of the floor on the left hand side with all eyes on him. Ken extended his fist again, and Ryu accepted, striking.

Ryu barely had a chance to get set when Ken leapt from his back foot and went airborne. He spun once in mid air, shooting his leg out towards Ryu's head. Ryu stepped to the right to avoid it and wound up behind Ken, who didn't miss a beat as he hit the ground. First came the left foot, stabbing in a back kick, and Ryu blocked his midsection with both arms. Ken pivoted, throwing a right roundhouse at Ryu's head. Ken's instep met Ryu's forearm, and Ryu seized the moment. Stepping in with a reverse punch, Ken saw it coming enough to avoid the full impact but was caught in the upper left chest. Ken recovered immediately, landing a backfist strike to Ryu's open ribs. Ryu shuddered a bit; Ken still had all his hitting power. The two paused, Ken looked at Ryu and smiled. With his fists raised, Ryu waited for the next move.

He didn't wait long. Ken came with another lunging left roundhouse that Ryu blocked and followed through with a leaping turnback kick that Ryu was able to block, but not without getting knocked off his feet a little. Ken stayed airborne and even as Ryu felt the winds kick up, he knew Ken's next move.

Throwing an endless succession of roundhouse kicks to wheelkicks, Ken stayed in the air for at least five seconds and hurled seven kicks towards Ryu, who crouched to avoid the storm, letting Ken pass over him. As he landed, Ryu moved in, dashing with his right elbow to strike twice in Ken's midsection. But again, Ken recovered quickly and was almost immediately airborne. Ryu felt the burn in his chest as Ken's fist dug in, hitting him once, twice, three times, the final blow to Ryu's chin, his entire body felt like it was on fire as Ken rose into the air, having executed the technique that made him famous.

Ryu had been sent rolling, and as the wind had been knocked from him had begun summoning the energy. As he got to his feet, the familiar blue energy began to materialize itself, and Ryu focused, watching Ken begin his descent, focused the energy into heat. By the time Ken next looked to Ryu it was too late. Ryu took the energy he had been gathering and rocketed into a front stance, expelling the red energy at his rival. Ken was caught square, and as his face contorted in shock and pain, he fell to the ground. He took a breath and immediately rebounded. Still holding a stance, he looked across the room to Ryu. "Far enough?"

Ryu nodded, lowering his hands. "Far enough."

Ken chuckled, approaching his old friend. The two hit fists again and Ken looked to his awestruck son. "Mel, finish them off."

Mel, along with everyone else in the class, watched them with their jaws on the floor. Ken leaned in. "Mel?"

"Huh? Oh. Yes. Yessir!"

Mel scrambled to his feet, bringing the class up with him. As Mel headed up to the center of the class, Ken quickly put his arm around him and turned him around to keep what was said silent. "Oh, and uh, Mel? Let's just keep this between us. Your mother doesn't have to know about this, you know?"

Mel looked to his father. "Dad, she promised me a new car if I told her about your fighting again…"

"There's a hundred grand in it for you if you keep your mouth shut."

Mel's eyes lit up. "Sir, yes SIR!!!"

With that, Mel raced to the front of the class as Ken moved to stand beside Ryu, wiping his brow. "You've been practicing."

"Ken, we need to talk."

"What's going on? I heard about your match with Sagat—"

"Sagat's dead."

Ken immediately grew somber, looking to Ryu.

"Ryu…did you…?"

Ryu shook his head.

"No. No…I've got it under control now."

Ken nodded.

"That's good. Then who…?"

"Interpol has a full-fledged global alert for him. He's come back, Ken."

The color drained from Ken's face.

"You mean---?"

"Yes."

Ken exhaled, not knowing what to say. Ryu continued.

"It gets worse."

"What do you mean?"

"Chun-Li…is leading the hunt to bring him down."

Ken nearly gasped, but the look in Ryu's eyes said everything. Ken had never encountered the man one-on-one, but Ryu had, and in doing so, purged himself of his anger. It had nearly cost him his life. Chun Li wouldn't have a chance. Hell, he doubted they would, but they had to try.

"Ken, we have to."

Ken nodded. He saw his whole life flashing before his eyes.

"I know. I…."

He looked to Ryu.

"I'll get my things."