Street Fighter: Endless Path
Chapter 21: A Second Chance, Pt. 2
Ryu woke up screaming for his master.
*Master, it is you... It wasn't a dream."
"Yes, Ryu. I am real."
They hugged. "But how? Have I lost my mind?"
"I can see why you might question that, " said Retsu. "I'm still not sure myself."
"But how can it be...?"
"Ryu, I did die. Akuma's Shun Goku Satsu not only attacks the body but the soul as well. At the moment of the killing blow, I desperately reached to a power I barely understood. I used the power of Mu, the power of nothingness, to empty my body of my spirit. And, in a way, it worked, but my body was dead, I could not return to it. For what seemed like an eternity, I drifted between the realms of the living and the dead, until my spirit was noticed by an old friend, Retsu. His mastery of meditation and mystical techniques were able to guide my soul back to this world. He was able to temporarily materialize my soul into a corporeal form long enough. I hoped, to ensure that you were not alone when Akuma put you to test after the Street Fighter tournament. How long would this physical body will remain on this plane, I do not know. I thought I said my final goodbye to you, but now that we have met again, I am glad I was mistaken."
"But why hide yourself from me after all these years? How could you let keep on believing that you were dead when I needed you?"
"What you needed was a chance to grow and rise to Akuma's challenge on your own terms. Nothing made me prouder than when you just did that. Now come. There is much for us to do."
"Like what?"
"Train. I'm on borrowed time and I do not intend to waste it.
As they train outside...
"These are the final techniques I thought I would never have the opportunity to teach you. All my knowledge is yours, nothing withheld and nothing forbidden. You have earned the right to decide for yourself how to use this knowledge. I watched your journey from a distance as you prepared for the tournament. It pained me deeply to see your struggles and not step in to assist you. But you needed the room to face your demons yourself without interference. I had faith in you. I saw how that faith was well-placed when you refused to respond to Akuma's darkness in-kind at the tournament, only after you had proven yourself did I intervene, only after I saw that you had already won."
"Won? If I won, it was only temporary. Akuma has continued to hound me. When I faced him again I was pushed beyond my limit. I betrayed you. I succumbed to the Satsui no Hado. Its power was exhilarating. I felt that I at last had the ability to defeat Akuma. I am sorry, Master. I didn't seek you or Retsu to advise me on how to suppress the Satsui no Hado, but how could I use it against Akuma? How would you control it? What would you do if it was the only way?"
"I would never use it because I would not be able to control it. By its very nature, the Satsu no Hado cannot be mastered. It is unrestrained violence and rage, welding it is to lose control and to become enslaved to it."
"I know you speak the truth, but I see no other way. I'm sorry if I have shamed you."
"You have not, Ryu. I respect your decision. Only you can decide what you truly are and how you will face Akuma in your ultimate confrontation. Your time as my student is over. It is time you seek out a new master."
"That's not what I meant. I would never abandon you."
"Do not be afraid, Ryu.i have walked this path with you as far as I can, but there is someone who may be able to take you further, someone said to be so enlightened that he has ascended to a level far above good and evil. Let me tell you of a man called... Oro."