After getting dressed, Ken went next door ready to bust Ryu's balls for the all nighter that he'd pulled. He knocked a few times with no answer. "For crying out loud!" He began banging his fist against the door.
"Just a moment." The door opened a crack and a sliver of Ryu's head peered out into the hallway and was greeted by the biggest shit-eating grin he'd ever seen.
"Good morning, my honored friend!" Ken said brightly. "Aren't you gonna invite me in? That's so impolite of you not to, Ryu," Ken added in a wounded voice.
"Quit fucking around," Ryu muttered under his breath.
It was dark in his suite and Ken tried to get a peek inside with little success. "So, uh, how'd you sleep last night?" he asked casually.
There was a long pause. "Ken, I do not wish to be rude, but could you come back later?"
Ken flashed him another smug grin and pretended not to get the hint. "Why? You in the middle of something?"
Ryu was having a hard time trying to maintain an air of politeness while preventing Ken from coming in. "Now is not a good time to talk."
Ken was having way too much fun watching him squirm and he planned to milk this for all it was worth. For all he knew, an opportunity like this would never present itself again. He tried to barge his way into the door. "Come on, Ryu, what could you possibly have to hide from me, your best friend?"
"IDIOT!"
Ryu tried to bar him from entering, but Ken faked left and slipped past him. With a triumphant laugh, he took a long look around the suite. "What happened to all the furniture, Bro? Demolition derby?" Suddenly, he scrutinized Ryu, who only had his boxers on and shouted, "What the hell happened to you?" Ryu was covered in scratches and a number of bruises. "Wow, I guess after all that noise you two made last night I shouldn't be surpri-IZED!" Grabbing Ken in a headlock, Ryu threw his stunned friend out into the hallway and slammed the door shut.
Sliding under the covers, he spooned Chun Li, and she happily snuggled into him. Running his hand along her waist, he began kissing her neck, and she smiled contentedly until she felt him hardening against her back. "That's impossible," she said with disbelief.
"Feels so good," he breathed into her ear. "More, more." His hands became more persistent, his fingers digging into her skin.
"Ryu! I need a break!" she pleaded with him. She'd never expected that he would have such an endless supply of energy.
"Why?" he asked innocently.
"Because I'm exhausted! We need to get some sleep!"
Turning her over, he pinned her down with his weight and studied her face. "Beautifuk," he murmured, stroking her cheek. Despite being more sore than she'd ever been in her life, the way he looked at her caused her body to respond in spite of herself and she felt herself getting wet.
"Okay, but after this we really need to get some rest," she said with less conviction. Ryu merely smiled and lowered his face between her thighs.
Eliza was about to call room service, when she heard Chun Li screaming at the top of her lungs. Taking the phone from her hand, Ken placed it back on the cradle, a doleful expression on his face. "Why don't we just go out for breakfast?" he suggested. Another scream pierced the air. "Eh screw it, lunch too."
Though it seemed like it would never happen, Ryu finally fell asleep but not before making her come three more times. Collapsing on top of her, he passed out almost right after he finished. Thank god, Chun Li thought with a sigh of relief. Rolling him onto his back, she laid her head on his chest and listened to his heart rate slow to normal. Not that he was inconsiderate - he was a fantastic lover, but no amount of training had ever worn her out as much as his lovemaking. If sex were an Olympic sport, Ryu would have little trouble snagging the gold. She was amazed at how quickly he learned and had a difficult time believing that someone so passionate could have remained celibate for so long. He certainly made up for lost time though, she thought with a smile. She giggled as he let out a small snore.
Walking into Gouken's dojo, Ryu felt something wasn't right. He looked around. Something was very wrong but he couldn't place what it was. Ken was in the middle of stretching, wearing his usual red gi. He paused to wave at Ryu and continued his exercises. Ryu waved back, but the something about the situation seemed unreal. Footsteps behind him caused him to turn around. Chun Li had entered the dojo and she was wearing her usually tournament garb. Ryu called out to her, but she took no notice of him, and walked past him as if he weren't there.
"Ryu."
That voice…Turning around he could not believe what he was seeing. "Teacher!" Instinctively he bowed to Gouken. "Is that really you?"
Gouken motioned for him to come closer. "I have something to teach you, Ryu. It is very important that you heed my words."
"Of course, teacher."
"Good," he nodded approvingly. "You always were a dutiful and disciplined pupil." Gouken motioned for Ken to come nearer. "Positions!" Ryu and Ken obediently faced each other. "Fight!"
Something strange was happening. Usually sparring with Ken was simply a training exercise, but for some reason, Ryu felt that he had to beat him this time and he began to fight more aggressively.
"Good, Ryu! Continue!" Gouken encouraged.
Knocking Ken to the ground, Ryu punched him hard, disorienting him for a moment and while he was confused, Ryu delivered a roundhouse kick to his head. He heard a sickening crunch as Ken's spine severed itself from his skull and he fell to the ground dead, his eyes staring up at the ceiling. "Oh my God," Ryu thought with horror. "What have I done?" He dropped to his knees and cradled Ken's lifeless body in his arms. "Ken!" He began to shake violently – Ken's body had gone cold. "No! I did not mean for him to get hurt! Sensei!"
Gouken looked at Ken's corpse and his face remained unchanged. "You did very well, Ryu. Very well."
"Teacher, how can you say that? I killed him!"
"Yes, it is a sign that you are strong. You must learn not to let it disturb you. Then you will possess the ultimate power, one that cannot be defied."
Ryu was so confused. "Master, you always taught us that we never fight to kill."
"Idiot!" Gouken roared. "Do as I say. How dare you question me?"
Tears filled his eyes as he laid Ken's body on the ground. "I do not understand."
His master's eyes began to glow crimson. "Tears and pity are for those who lack the courage to become great," he said coldly. "Your tears show you to be weak, Ryu. I am disappointed in you."
"No. How can I not mourn for him? He was like a brother to me!"
"And you did what you had to in order to be strong. You killed your brother."
"No!" Ryu staggered to his feet. "This isn't happening." Out of the corner of his eye he saw Chun Li making her way towards Gouken.
"So lovely," Gouken said possessively. "I have a new pupil that you will service." Ryu felt sick to his stomach, and thought the situation could not get any worse, when Guile suddenly appeared behind him. "Come, boy." Guile walked forward until he was standing opposite Gouken. Taking Chun Li by the hand, Gouken presented her to Guile, saying, "She is yours to do with as you please." With a lascivious smile, Guile grabbed her and began kissing her roughly.
"STOP!" Ryu ran to help Chun Li but he realized that not only was she not trying to free herself, she was kissing him back. She paused for a moment, to look condescendingly at him and then returned to Guile. "Chun Li," Ryu whispered.
"Hey, Asshole," Guile said snidely, "watch this". Taking Chun Li's head in his giant hand, he unzipped his fly and pushed her to her knees.
"No, Chun Li, don't!" She turned to look at him, laughed and bent forward to receive Guile with her mouth. Ryu's clenched his fists, murderous thoughts of destroying Guile circulating in his thoughts.
"He takes what is yours and you do nothing?" Gouken sounded disgusted. "Pathetic. You do not deserve her then. Spoils go to the strong. If you want her take, back what is yours."
Charging Guile, Ryu knocked him onto his back and began repeatedly punching his face until it was scarcely recognizable. A large pool of blood was collecting on the floor near Guile's head and Ryu saw his reflection. He'd been smiling the whole time. Breathing heavily, he heard Gouken say, "The whore cares nothing for you. You saw how she gave herself to your enemy." Ryu glared at her as she retreated against the wall. Growling, he jumped up and grabbed her by her throat and held her off the ground, choking her. "Yes, punish her for what she did to you, be free of her." Ryu ground his fingers tighter around her neck.
"Ryu, please, stop," she begged. For some reason, it sounded like her old self again, but she could be deceiving me, he thought to himself and he squeezed harder. "Please stop, you're killing me…Why are you doing this?"
"RYU!!"
For a moment, Ryu saw a flash of bright light and found that he was back on the floor of his hotel room. The remains of a broken chair littered the floor. Looking up, Ken was supporting Chun Li, who was gasping for air, her lips a dusky shade of blue.
"What-"
"Don't come any closer! What the hell is wrong with you man?" Ken demanded angrily.
Ryu blinked, trying to get his bearings. "You're alive," he said with marked relief.
"Of course I'm alive you idiot. But another minute and she wouldn't have been!" Chun Li was clinging to Ken, sobbing hysterically.
"What happened?"
"What happened?" Ken yelled. "Eliza and I are coming back from lunch and we hear Chun Li screaming for you to stop. We come in here and you've got both hands wrapped around her neck, strangling her. What the fuck is the matter with you, Ryu?"
He couldn't believe that this was actually happening. "I was dreaming," he said weakly.
Ken helped Chun Li to her feet. "You stay here. I'm taking her next door for a moment." She refused to look at him as she left.
Ryu slumped into a chair. "What have I done?" he thought aloud. "Have I gone mad? What is happening to me?"
