Blindfolded by Memories

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN Street Fighter Alpha, or Rival Schools, or K.O.F. They all belong to his respective owners. I DO own 2 guitars, 1 bass, 1 violin, a cello (all of them for left-handed), 3 amp-heads, two 4x12 cabinets, a piano bar, and lots an' lots of effects pedals.

Chapter 3. Reality Check

"Take care of him, Tiffany. You too, Boman"

"(Both) We'll do" As both Tiffany and Boman carried Roy between their arms, he turned back to see that Ryu was waving him goodbye.

Finally, a Japanese I don't dislike that much-

Next, Ryu was undoing the headband on his forehead. Sakura was so excited. She was just looking over for him, and by forces of fate, she had the actual chance to see him in action. She was lost at her thoughts, until...

"Here, thank you for lending it to me" Sakura blushed almost immediately.

"Ah? Oh, you're welcome, ha ha ha!" When Sakura gave a quick thought. -You're acting like a retard. Stop laughing! - After the laughing stopped.

"So... Ryu-sama, about what I was asking you"

"Umm, I don't know. Although I'd like to help you, I don't think I'm in the position of teaching anyone anything. I'm still a student myself" Suddenly, she felt her world was about to crash. He said no. Why did he? He was more than an idol for her.

"...Okay, I understand" Nothing was more far from the truth. Ryu knew it and wasn't buying the whole 'I'm okay' treat. But what would he do? Most of his childhood was spent training along Ken and his Master.

She was still holding her head down. Then, Ryu took both Sakura's hands, where she still had the headband between them.

"Ryu-sama..." Ryu leaned forward a little, and after taking the headband off her hands, he started to re-do Sakura's headband, pushing part of her hair aside.

She couldn't believe it. It was Ryu Hoshi, the guy she admired so much, the one strapping around her hair a headband. She was blushing, as he saw that she was face to face with him. After he was done.

"There, I think it--" Ryu was abruptly interrupted by a strange action, performed by Sakura. Still facing him, Sakura started to caress his left cheek, before--

"!" That was Ryu, with the most surprised face ever. He barely knew this girl's name, but right now, all of a sudden, she was locking lips with him.

It feels so... so good! - That's all Sakura could think of. Meanwhile, she had her arms around Ryu's neck yet again.

Ryu started to slowly undo Sakura's hug. When the kiss finally ended, he leaned his back against the wall. He was breathless. Did this really took place?

To make things worse, she cuddled herself against his chest. This made him become a handful of nervous. Suddenly, yet carefully, Ryu pushed her away. When she saw that Ryu was completely blushed.

"(Worried tone) Ryu-sama! I'm really sorry that I--" Ryu looked down.

"(Sighs) It's not your fault" Then, Sakura started to sob. When Ryu realized.

"Hey! What's wrong, Sakura?"

"(Voice sobbing) Just say it"

"What do--?"

"(Still sobbing) It was the worst kiss you've ever had, wasn't it?"

These last words echoed deeply into Ryu's head.

"(Weak voice) I-I-- It's just that I-- um, well, I didn't expect you to"

Suddenly, her eyes were showing tears. Sakura felt her entire body crashing into a thousand pieces, like she was a broken mirror.

Then, she started to sniff.

"(Voice croaks) b-But, I-I..." Her voice gave the whole scenario away. Ryu felt guilty; like if this time he screwed it big.

"Uh, what I meant by that is--"

"NOO!" She suddenly started to run away. Ryu tried to stop her, but she was already out of reach. He sighed in frustration.

Slightly covering her eyes, she felt so embarrassed. Ryu saw Sakura disappear from his sight.

Damn. They don't prepare you for things like this - Ryu knew how hard it would be to gain that girl's trust once again. But he decided to let this matter rest, at least for today. He had so many things at hand that he desperately needed a little time-out.

After finally getting into his house, Ryu went straight to his futon in what it seemed to be his room. Without even taking off his school outfit, Ryu decided to take a little rest. How did he got himself into all of this?

Then again, it was just 3 P.M. How to rest at such hour? He decided to stand up once again, and change his clothes to a more comfy outfit: Blue jeans, a black tee, and a pair of black converse snickers. Also, he was already wearing his own white headband. When he went out of his house for the second time, he decided to walk it off.

But... where now? - Ryu couldn't think of something to kill some time off. He's usually at work at this time of day.

After many minutes of esque-senseless walking, suddenly he sights a very offbeat couple of guys. However, one of them really caught his attention.

Ryu has seen this particular guy before. Without turning into the corner of the next street, Ryu sharpens his eye view. This guy looks really out going: Red-hair, a dog-like necklace, a misfits' black tee with the skull in front and, to fit properly the profile, black jeans and industrial looking boots. Then Ryu hold his head down, and tried to remember.

I know him, but from where? - Without realizing that...

"(Clears throat) Is something wrong, kiddo?" Ryu came once again into his senses.

"Eh, uh... AH, No! Everything's in order, dude" The red haired guy chuckled discreetly; meanwhile many of the guys along him stared at Ryu with not quite the best intentions.

"That's odd... you were looking at us from this corner, like you got something to hide from us" Ryu opened his eyes a little more when he said that.

"No, course I don't! I just..." Before Ryu could even articulate his sorry attempt of excuse, the guy took a little look at Ryu. He noticed that he was wearing his white headband. Iory chuckled a little louder than before.

"Ha! What's that for? Are you one of those Kusanagi junkies?"

Everyone else, except of course Ryu, started to laugh hysterically. After hearing the sarcastic tone this guy used, something in Ryu's ears felt like a stab. Suddenly, Ryu's ideas came together just fine.

"WHAT! THAT JERK? Are you stoned or something? That guy has been telling everyone that he kicked my ass, when he was the one at the hospital for about a week!" The guy's eyes looked surprised.

"This means that you... But I thought it was all a bunch of bull, so you are..." Ryu sighed. He wouldn't be all that surprised if this guy recognized him as well.

"Yeah, I'm your Tokyo's friendly neighborhood" Something came to this guy's mind about hearing from some guy that moped the floor with Kyo many months ago.

"But... you're not taller than me. Are you really Ryu? THE Ryu?"

"Pretty much" Then, out of nowhere, the guy took Ryu's hand on the most unexpected handshake ever.

"Iory Yagami, honored to meet you" Ryu felt a little overwhelmed by Iory's effusive way to show his so-called admiration. After he let go off his hands.

"Ryu Hoshi, but... I guess you knew that one"

"You kidding? It was the story of the year back at Tamagawa HS! Most of people believed it was some accident the shit-head had, but I knew there was something else"

"Seems you dislike this Kyo as much as I do" After hearing that, Iory scoffed and looked aside.

"Well, It's kind of a family thing, to be honest. Say, wanna get something to drink?"

"Now what's with the sudden invitation?"

"Nothing, it's just I want to meet the guy who finally took down the myth for many of us back at Tamagawa"

"Well I guess... it'll be okay"

"Awesome! Oh by the way, these guys, along me, are the members of Crescent Purple" That name ringed the bell for Ryu.

"I knew that I have seen you before! You're those guys I saw at the Cripple Nightclub like a month ago"

"You were there?" One of the guys was surprised that Ryu was acquainted with the band's name. "Good to know you enjoy Heavy Metal, Hoshi!"

So, It was a pretty rough day for Ryu, but who knew he would meet with such guys.

After getting into a cafe near, both Iory and Ryu realized that they had many things in common. Being one of those things a particular person they both despise for apparently very different reasons: Kyo Kusanagi.

Much more reader friendly, I know, but I had to wrap the first day off... please R & R! Expect update soon!