THE ART OF FIGHTING 4
Later that day….
Kyokugenryo Dojo…..
Ryo Sakazaki was the only one left training at the main hall that day. Of course, his other followers of the dojo were still scattered around the area, having their own training as well. Takuma had gone back home to Japan to paid homage to the graves of his forefathers, with Ryo deciding to stay behind. Robert was in Mexico for business visits. But Yuri, on the other hand , had ran away from home again, apparently went off to meet up with Hinako. So Ryo was the only fighter left guarding the dojo.
"Hiaahh!" Ryo unleashed a powerful kick at the straw dummy dangling on the pole right in front of him. The straw dummy was nearly destroyed. He went on delivering a few more blows at it. Just to let go of his stress, he kept on attacking it. He moved backwards at a certain distance.
"Yosh!" Ryo held his arms up and gather his Qi. "Hao Shou Kou Ken!" he unleashed his ball of Qi at the dummy, crushing it into pieces.
"Osu!" he settled down. Then looking up at the clear blue sky…..
"KOF is the best way to test my new updates. But I wonder who would be my latest challenger?" he turned around and walked back into the building. The door was left slip open, so he directly stepped up onto the floor. (Remember, it was a traditional Japanese house which was built a level higher with supporting woods below.) he sat down in front of the kotatsu and poured himself some Oolong tea.
"Ah. Feeling better now…." he looked at his tea, wondering if any tea leaf stood straight up in there.
But before he could even sip it, one of his follower rushed into the room from the other side.
"Sensei!"
"Pooofff!" he nearly choked on his own tea, haven't even had the chance to savor it, only to end up burning his lips.
"Oii, don't simply rush in like that! You forgot your respect once again!" he slammed the cup on the kotatsu.
"Sorry sensei. Demo, dai hen desu! We're being challenged!"
"Nanda? Dare da?" Ryo stood up, all pumped up. "Who dares to come all the way to challenge Kyokugenryo?"
"I'm not sure. He's been standing outside the main gate all the time, forcing us to let him in. Says he wanted to challenged sensei. He looks like an Aikido fighter…"
"Aikido? Could it be him….?" Ryo brushed his chin. "Leave the man to me. You go gather the others and prepare for any unwanted outcomes."
"Haik!" his follower darted out of the room to the other training hall to gather up the other followers.
"Great, just when I want some challenge again. You might really want to buff some fight up. Then bring it on!" he strafed out of the room.
Outside the main gate…
There stood Ryuhaku Todoh, Kasumi's father, and one time opponent of Ryo. (Play Art Of Fighting.)
"Two three of Ryo's followers, or literally the Kyokugenryo disciples were facing off with him, trying to buy some time.
"Makade Tatami!" Ryuhaku slammed the ground, s if flipping tatami upside down.
"Arrgh!" the fighters were thrown back by the harsh impact, plus the strong wind from the attack. Ryuhaku remain tough despite missing for some time.
"So, stop playing games with me here. Hurry up and let me in. Or I shall just storm in and break down this dojo, if that is what it takes to bring your master out.
"You won't see sensei that easy. You have to take us on first." one of them struggled to get up and faced him again.
"Kisama, gozu. You're nothing but a spoiled student of Kyokugenryo. You don't even deserved to learnd karate in the first place, judging from your style. Now get lost!" he walked up to him.
"Hiah!" he aimed a blow at him. Ryuhaku grabbed hold of his arm.
"Tatsumaki Souda!" he threw him down to the ground, and hit his chest. He gave out a cry, and passed out.
"What should we do now?" the other ones were getting afraid of Ryuhaku's supremacy.
"Damn it! Which kind of sensei who would be so afraid to come out when being summoned?" Ryuhaku added some insult to them.
"Maybe that would've been you yourself!" Ryo appeared at the gate, with a serious look.
"Alas. Ryo Sakazaki, so you finally dare to face me?" Ryuhaku glared at him. "What took you so long?"
"So it's really you, Ryuhaku Todoh. Finally you decided to return to Southtown. Damn, you screw up real good the last time we fought. Making Kasumi as my enemy after losing to me, you're a really smart ass of a father."
"Kasumi's not here today, so you can spare one fight there. But, I , shall regain my pride today by defeating you. I've train a lot, lots more than you, for the last ten years. There will be no more blushes to be spared this time." he pointed his finger at him.
"Oh, includes neglecting your own daughter? What she's gonna say when she finds out her father who left homw most of the time comes here and challenge Kyokugenryo again? Well, she will come after me again, thanks to your unwanted deeds."
"That shall be a different story. Prepare to lose this time, Sakazaki. Then I shall tear down your dojo title." Ryuhaku got into his aikido stance, ready.
"Hmmm." Ryo stretched his shirt down. "You really are a nuisance, Todoh. Anyway, if you're daring enough, then come and face me. Hora hora." Ryo himself used his trademark hand signal to provoke him.
"Begone! Makade Tatami!" Another tatami flipping attack from Ryuhaku. It went straight towards Ryo at the other end.
"So you really have improved yourself." Ryo leaped over the attack and…..
" Flying Swallow Gale Kick" a high jump kick version from Ryo struck the ground, but Ryuhaku dodged it. He rolled over and got up. Ryo stood there, looking more serious than before.
"Let's end this feud once okay? I hate making a feud that would last for years. Besides, my old man wants a peaceful retirement as well."
"You can have that for yourself when you're done with this!" he charged towards him. Ryo jumped up and aimed another kick.
"Hah!Midair KasaneAte!" he caught hold of Ryo's leg and slammed him to the ground.
"Ooorrrgghhh!" Ryo exclaimed in pain. The attack was not yet over. Ryuhaku aimed another blow down at him. Ryo blocked the attack with his arms, then kicked Ryuhaku's chest, which was covered by the protective guard, of course. Ryuhaku moved back from the momentum, Ryo leaped back onto his feet, and held his arms high.
"Kora, what more? Show me anything new that you've learn." Ryo breathed heavily. That attack was really a deadly one from Ryuhaku, even Kasumi.
"Prepare to lose this time." Ryuhaku calmed down and returned to his stance.
"Sensei, gambatte!"
"Shisho, you are our only hope!"
"Shisho, our Kyokugenryo pride is at stake!"
"Fight on, sensei!"
Meanwhile…..
At the other end of Southtown. Somewhere below the basement parking lot, the very same stage in Maximum Impact.
Seth' s car was no longer at its place when the last tournament took place there. It was vacant once more. There were quite a few cars parked around, either.
Billy Kane, who managed to survived the last battle against Lien and Rock, was leaning on a car, with his long stick leaned against his shoulder. He looked a little pale, yet to recover completely from the wounds that he suffered. A scratch was still visible on his arm as well.
"He's taking too long? What kind of asshole would make his old boss' hunch man wait so long here?" he grumbled.
Another 10 minutes later…
He heard the engine sound of a car heading down the parking lot. Billy just waited on. Soon, the car was visible within his sight.
"About time." he said. The shining grey limo drove down the way and stopped by Billy. Billy walked up to it, having a quick glance at the number plate. The dark window was winded down
"What are you waiting for? Come on in. You wouldn't want to discuss this matter outside, won't ya?" said Mr. Big poking his head out of the limo.
"Yeah, right." Billy went to the other side, grabbed open the other door and went inside the dark limo.
"How have you been?" asked Mr. Big, relaxing at his seat, with a playgirl next to him, cuddling comfortably next to him..
"Do I looked like I'm in a good state?" Billy replied in a state of a bad mood.
"Oh, yeah, guess you're right." Mr. Big caught sight of the bruises mark on Billy. "Are you ok?"
"Not so ok." he looked around the interior of the limo. "No thanks to Rock Howard."
"The son of Geese attacked you, eh?" Big rubbed his chin. The playgirl remain seated by his side. He reached for the glass of wine served on the portable tray by the side. "Care for some?"
"…"
"It's good to calm you down."
"Alright." Billy reached out for a glass and poured himself some wine.
"Bordeoux wintage '76 style."
"Yeah, right." Billy sipped some of it. Big drank down all of his.
"So what's your plan calling me back all the way here? Want a bashing of Rock from me?"
"….."
"Could it be…..?"
"Listen. You thrive well during Geese's reign here."
"Yeah."
"Thanks to Geese, you have what you have today."
"Yeah, so?"
"Here's my early plan." Billy moved his head closer to Big.
"Let's hear it." he moved away from the playgirl, and closer to Billy's head.
"You know that Southtown now belongs to no one, since Duke was defeated."
"Hmm."
"My plan is…. Do you wish you can have more power within a city?"
"You wanna take over Southtown, right?"
"Terry and the rest won't be able to stand a chance against us, if we fight them as a team. I've been thinking. Together, we can reclaim Southtown for our own. We shall rule the city together, and thus restoring Geese's legacy as well."
"Whoa, that's interesting."
"Agree?"
"Hold it. Terry Bogard's still around right? He will be standing in our way, right? I know he's just a lousy crap, but he beat Geese, didn't he?"
"Don't worry bout that. I got the news that he just left Southtown looking for any clue about Duke. I know his current location. We can ambush him at the right time."
"Then we'll get rid of him."
"That's how the plan goes. Once he's out of our way, we'll be able to get rid the rest of them, including Ryo Sakazaki."
"Not bad. But we'll need a better plan. I don't have much men around to trap him at the moment."
"Then hear my full plan." he whispered to Big.
…
…
….
….…..
…
"Whoa…."
"A deal?"
"You got yourself a deal. Let's rule Southtown together soon. Cheers."
Back to the fight…
The fight had lasted for an hour. It was a tense fight, but in the end, the victory was on Ryo's side.
"Arrgghh!" Ryuhaku Todoh received the final blow on his cheek and was thrown back to the back. He fell to the ground. Ryo stood in front of him, looked badly bruised as well, but still standing tough. Ryuhaku on the other hand, was all worn out, he remained on the ground.
"Admit it, Todoh. You don't stand a chance against me, no matter how long you train."
"Kisama…." Ryhaku got up, trying to go on. But he lost his will, fell back to his knees, almost falling in front, his right arm touched the ground supporting him.
"You're defeated. Stop all this rubbish aim already. Just go back home and spend more time with Kasumi. Don't neglect your own family anymore, and don't waste time trying to tear down Kyokugenryo anymore. Your acts are just futile. You know you can't beat Kyokugenryo that easily."
"Damn you. A little bit more, and I would've won." he tried to control his anger of losing. "After all the training these years…"
"Yeah, sensei won!"
"Shisho's the greatest!"
"Kyokugenryo banzai!"
"Long live Sakazaki!"
"Get lost now, Todoh, you're out." Ryo walked back into the dojo, followed by his followers still joying around for him. Ryuhaku was left sitting out there, tired, totally worn out.
"Damn it, I've lost." he tried to calm down. "Ryo Sakazaki, you are really a great fighter. I must admit you have gone up real high in the dan rank, far far higher than your father, the mighty tiger." He rubbed his bruised cheek. "Way to go, invincible dragon."
