Disclaimer: See previous chapters
Chap. 49
"Ready...to give...up...girl..."
Sakura shook her head as she gazed at the battered form of Dan Hibiki. The watcher was currently breathing heavily and sporting a good deal of bruises. It was the day after Sakura had returned to the dojo and the two were sparring within the structure. Actually, Sakura was sparring; Dan was getting the stuffing beaten out of him.
'At least he's persistent.' she grinned as she watched him steady himself into stance. 'I guess I just don't know my own strength, hehe.' Not knowing his identity as a Watcher, she assumed that he must be fighting on because he didn't want to be beaten by a girl. Even if that girl was trained by Ryu...
Ryu...
The thought caused the woman's attitude to dampen. Since her return, Ryu had been distant and quiet. She was used to him being quiet; that was simply the kind of person he was. It was the distant part that unnerved her. It wasn't like Ryu to be that way. To her, he was an image of serene calm and complete focus.
Just like when he taught her the Hadou principal...
Ryu and Sakura were alone on a hillside in their continued training. The sun shone warmly in the sky and its radiance blanketed the hill. Yet the young girl in this scene was far from relaxed. Tension and concentration was etched on her face as she sought to find clarity and focus needed to create the Hadoken. Beside her, Ryu stood in watch, his face passive as she took up the form again and again.
It had been some time since he last began teaching her this art. Before, he was insistent that she be able to do it, since her life would depend on it. But then he seemed to put it to the side, per say and simply have her focus on the basic forms instead. Those she could do, with great ease. Ryu had told her that she seemed to have a talent for it. It was so that he even began teaching her the sword forms as well, practicing with bokken, which she enjoyed.
It was just this Hadou thing...
Frustrated, Sakura felt like throwing her hands up and giving up. She had been at this for quite a number of years and she still didn't feel close to it. But she didn't want to disappoint her sensei, who was just standing there watching her. He wasn't barking at her to go at it again, he was simply watching her. A flush began to form on her cheeks, but was quickly thwarted by the task at hand. She just didn't understand how to get it to work. She had seen Ryu do it so many times. She had the form down perfectly. So why...?
"Don't give up."
Blinking at the soft words, the young immortal turned to look at Ryu, who moved beside her and settled in stance. Years of practice and use showed as he eased in the form perfectly. It was as though it was natural to him.
"You can do this."
Sakura felt herself smile a bit at his words, but it again faltered at her lack of progress. Still, she settled into the stance once more and shut her eyes. She just didn't know if she could do this. But again, her sensei's words cut through her thoughts in soft undertones.
"Concentrate... Mind and body as one... Achieve tranquility through movement... Integrate spirit and flesh..."
She didn't understand it, but his words were flowing through her mind strangely. She had heard these words before; he taught them to her repeatedly. But now they seemed to have a greater meaning. Now, it was more than just words. It was almost a chant, flowing into her mind and through her entire body.
"Channel the powers... Focus the mind... Cleanse the soul... Release that which is negative...
Her thoughts didn't seem to be hers anymore, and yet, they were. And she felt warn. Very warm. The sun, the air, the ground, everything seemed to be taken in by her senses. Her lagging doubts faded into the background. And there was... for just a moment...a flicker of clarity, of purpose, of life.
"Now."
He hadn't yelled, but that one word shook through Sakura like a crack-whip. The direction was there, the focus was there. Now all that was needed was the release. The focus. The power.
"Hadoken!"
Immediately, Sakura threw her hands forward without even thinking. In a rush of wind, a blue sphere of energy flashed out from her palms and soared through the air briefly before dissipating. Sakura eyes widened, almost not believing what she saw. But she saw it. The Hadoken. And it came from her own hands. Beside her, her sensei gave her a light smile.
"I told you, you could do it."
India
"Yah! Yah!"
Within the training room of a mansion, a young woman was hammering away at a punching bag. Her dark lavender hair swayed and blue eyes were narrowed in focus as she let loose a variety of punches and kicks. The leather bag swayed almost violently under her assault until exhaustion finally caught up with her and she was forced to stop. Wiping the sweat from her brow, she closed her eyes; a small grin forming on her face.
"How long have you been watching me, Darun?"
From behind her, a large, dark-skinned man moved toward her. His face bore a long mustache, which he stroked briefly in response.
"Long enough."
The woman turned toward her partner smiling. After his trip to Russia, he had been withdrawn somewhat. She understood that, for he had been attending the funeral of an old friend of his, Zangief. After Darun's return, he was a bit withdrawn and it took a bit to bring him out of it (a bit, being Purna's constant pestering). She was unaware of Darun's immortality, but she was well aware of how close he was of the royal family, with Purna being like a daughter to him.
Speaking of which...
"The princess?"
"She's with her father." he replied. "He is informing her about the trip."
"Ah, yes. The diplomatic conference in the U.S." Grabbing a towel from nearby, she wiped her forehead. "Which of us is to be the escort?"
"Both of us."
Blair paused. As the bodyguards of Pullum Purna, they were charged with protecting her. Normally, only one or the other of them were required, to work in various situations. And although Blair wasn't an immortal, she was quite a capable protector for the princess on her own. The need for both on a trip meant that may be a real threat involved.
"It is that serious?"
"I'm afraid so." Moving over to a nearby window, he gazed out at the courtyard below. "The conference is to organize countries to fight against the going threat of terrorism. His Excellency is especially concerned for Lady Pullum in this."
"Of course." Blair nodded. But judging from the paused silence, she could tell that Darun wasn't finished yet.
"There's even word that ... that Shadowloo will be a key topic."
Her eyes widened at this. The name of Shadowloo was being heard more and more these days, in association with a lot of the notorious activities. And not just in this country either. It was like a world-wide epidemic and this conference would be the first step in finding a cure.
Provided nothing went wrong...
"Then...it looks like we have our work cut out for us."
"Indeed."
'It never changes...'
Such was the thoughts of the woman immortal as she walked down a secluded path on the side of the hill, giving the moon above a brief, but admiring glance. With such a serene scene around her, Sakura knew exactly where Ryu would be at a time like this. Just below the dojo, there was a waterfall from a nearby river. Often enough, Ryu could be found there when he's in thought and considering the way he had been acting, something was definitely on his mind.
Sure enough, she saw the lone immortal standing before the falling waters. His gaze was skyward as well, looking up at the pale glowing sphere in the sky. Sakura for a moment to look at him. True, he already knew she was there, but that didn't matter. He seemed so peaceful and serene at the moment, like the ocean. And like the ocean, there was more going on beneath the surface. As she approached, he turned around to face her.
"What is it?" he questioned. "Is something wrong?"
"You tell me."
Ryu's expression didn't waver, telling her that he had expected this. "It's..."
Sakura sharply cut him off. "No. Don't. We both know better." Her features softened. "Talk to me, please."
His face soon turning into a slight frown, Ryu turned away partly. She was not going to let go of the subject and they both knew it. Regardless of this, the elder immortal was silent for a time. Again, another indication to Sakura. Whatever he was thinking of, it had to be deep. The times she seen him like this was rare indeed. And this was proven when he started speaking again.
"Our art was originally meant for killing. But we must never allow such intent to enter into our hearts, or allow the Satsui No Hadou to lay claim in our fists."
Recognizing the words of the old master, Sakura finished. "For one who does this fights out of pride and will fight to kill until their last breath."
There was another moment of silence between the two, and again, Sakura waited him out. This, she knew, was a matter not to take lightly. The Satsui No Hadou, the murderous intent, was taught to her as the worse thing that could happen to a practitioner of their art. True, as immortals, the times where an opponent is to be slain were unavoidable. But to let the intent of killing become the focus, to want to kill, that was what made the difference.
Taking Ryu as an example, he had been living for more than 400 years, during which time; many had fallen to his blade. Yet he always saw such slayings as a necessity only. He didn't enjoy killing those he fought, but there was simply no other way. In the end, there can be only one... The Satsui No Hadou was birthed from the desire not to just simply kill, but to destroy.
"Lately, I feel as if I've been fighting against myself." Ryu continued, in near whisper. "Against...a darker side."
Sakura moved closer to him. "And you're afraid. Afraid that you will lose to the Satsui No Hadou."
He didn't reply, but he didn't have to. His silence was more that enough of an answer. More than anyone, Ryu lived by the principles of his master. Aside from his sword and skills, it was all he had left of him. For Ryu, to succumb to the Satsui No Hadou would be the same as betraying his master, the person Ryu would consider to be his father.
"You could have told me." She didn't want to sound accusing, but she found it couldn't be helped. "I know you're used to doing things on your own, but it doesn't hurt to have help."
Ryu shook his head. "No. It's not that. But..."
"To grasp the light, sometimes one must face the darkness... Fight with your soul..."
"But?"
The elder immortal lifted his eyes to the moonlit sky once again. "A new challenge has been presented to me and I fear that it may take me somewhere...that I can never return from."
"Ryu..." At this point, she was close beside him. "No matter where you go... or what becomes of you, just know..."
Slowly, she moved around to his back. Before he could make a word or protest, she lightly draped her arms around him, her hands coming together at his waist. With her chest pressed against his back, Sakura leaned forward and gently rested her head on his shoulder.
"...know that you will not be alone."
"Sakura..."
Unknown
The chamber was dimly lit, but there was enough light to make out a massive form within the room. Before the shadowed figure was a thick pillar made of solid wood, the width of it being the same as a medium-sized tree.
KRACK!
With blinding speed, the figure lashed out at the pillar with a heavy kick. The pillar shuddered under the force of the attack and when the leg pulled away, there were signs of damage on it. A low grunt sounded out from the figure and the leg went flying again, with greater ferocity.
KREEEEKKKCCCKKKK!
The blow didn't crack the pillar this time. It shattered it. Thousands of fragments scattered all over the place, sending splinters in every direction. The figure stood in the center of the destruction, unperturbed by the raining pieces of wood. Instead, it looked over at the far end of the chamber, where several other pillars awaited. But instead of attacking, the figure instead reached back and lifted up a large double-curved sword. With the weapon firmly in grip, the figure turned back to the standing pillars once again. The sword began to glow lightly in flaming energy and the figure lifted it over its head and gripped it with both hands
"Roooaaahhhh!"
With a roar, the figure slashed downward, launching a wave of energy from the glowing saber. The energy flame blazed across the chamber and into the wooded pillars, annihilating them all. The pieces filtered to the ground, appearing like dim embers from the residual energy and glowing enough to make out some of the figure that had destroyed them. It was a large, muscular man, with an eye-patch over his face and head void of hair. His hand rose up to his bare chest, grazing over a long, nasty-looking scar on his chest. As the embers began to die away, he rumbled only one word.
"Ryu..."
