"It's all gone! All of it!"
A chest that had once been stocked to the brim with fine clothes, comfort items and other bits of memorabilia wheezed dust into the face of a blue-eyed blonde boy. He was barely a teenager, yet he had all the fire of one packed into a lean, sturdy frame. His peach skin seemed a sickly shade of white there in the dim light of an old Japanese dwelling, and his bright, vibrant long hair paled just the same as his aghast expression. In this crusty dump where not even the rats wanted to tread, just about everything that took root inside would look bleak and disheartened. Only within this rickety chest could the boy be comforted with his creature comforts, and yet looking into it now, all that greeted him was a cold, consuming emptiness.
"My clothes, my watch, my magazines… There's not even a pen and paper! This old fogey's so deep in the dark ages that he doesn't even want me to keep a diary!"
The boy shut the chest with a huff and scuttled over to a short and squat raised bed. Try as his father did to scare the boy with monsters from Japanese folklore, the boy didn't believe any of it. The only things that could have made off with his assortment of sweets would have been rats, but again, what kind of sorry rat would be in a dump like this?
"Not even a single crumb. I bet he's stuffed his face and already pawned off my stuff by now," the boy grunted as he glared under the bed. The search was fruitless, so he turned away and refocused his glare on his sole companion. "What's with you? Aren't you mad? The only things we have to our names are these stupid robes!"
"Gis," his companion replied. "They're karate gis."
Compared to the louder, feistier American, the Japanese boy kneeling beside his own bed was as quiet and unassuming as a mouse. Stern brown eyes poked out from under a mop of auburn hair that was held back by a bleached-white headband. Large, thick eyebrows and an ever-present glower further punctuated his humorless appearance. Unlike his counterpart who was dressed in a red gi with yellow sparring gloves, the Japanese boy was garbed in white with red gloves.
"Whatever. At least these things look new. Can't say the same for literally anything else around." Getting up onto his feet, the American moved over to his roommate. "Hey kid, what about you? Gouken took your stuff too, right?"
"Don't call me a kid. I'm the same age as you are. And for your information, it's Ryu. That's my name."
"Give me a break. You never told me your name."
"Yes, yes I did. I told you my name as soon as you walked into Master Gouken's dojo, and he further introduced me to you. I was listening, Ken."
"Oho! Well forgive me for not hanging on his every word," Ken grumbled, his hands on his hips as he towered over his kneeling companion. "I wasn't exactly in a welcome, receiving mood. Why? Oh, I'm so glad you asked. Because for some reason my dad thought that it'd be a good idea to fly his only son out to Japan for a vacation. Great, just great. I don't mind leaving all my friends and games behind, no really, I don't mind at all."
Ryu wasn't paying much attention to Ken's ranting at that point. His gaze was off to the side, his posture reserved. He had come into this room looking to meditate on what wisdom his master had imparted upon him, but lo and behold the other student had to come in after him. Ken either didn't notice or didn't care then, and he certainly didn't care now.
"But then the wool's lifted from my eyes and dear old dad straight up drops me here like I've been given up for adoption. Discipline, old man? What a load of-" The American's voice trailed off when he noticed that Ryu wasn't giving him the time of day. "Are you even listening to me?"
"Hanging on your every word," Ryu grunted.
It was difficult for Ryu to believe that this boy, Ken Masters, could ever learn discipline. From what Gouken had told him, the Masters family was a proud and prestigious one that had earned its fortunes and accolades through generations of hard work. In the 19th century, a Masters had struck oil in western North America. In the 20th century, another made a killing in developing land and the current one further capitalized on the foundation by building a hotel empire that stretched far and wide. The 21st century was approaching, and it seemed that the young Ken Masters would grow up to be nothing more than a parasite.
Ken was a bright, determined boy, but the problem was that he didn't pay much attention to his studies and that he was a hellion in school. Fights every week, disrespect just about every day and fear for the future forced the father's hand. Yet this was where hard work and discipline could make a man out of a potential leach, and what better option was there than martial arts? It would allow Ken to work off his aggression and obtain an appreciation for effort, among other things. And to think that all it took was a simple phone call to an old friend!
"Well listen Ryu, or whatever your name is… Where I'm from this kind of thing just won't fly. One call to CPS and this whole place would be swarming with SWAT. I'm telling you, this place would be shut down, and that old fogey would be behind bars, just like that." Ken snapped his fingers for emphasis before turning away to brood over his bed. The sheets were old and just a little threadbare, but at least they weren't eaten by moths or stained. "How do we know he's not some kind of lunatic? As far as we know, he's a serial killer, or… or worse!"
"Master Gouken is a good man, and you're over-reacting."
When Ken was told that he was going to be training under someone, he half-expected some bumbling old fool who was far too withered to keep up with a lively sprout. But Gouken was anything but that. He was old, yes, but with age came a plethora of experience and wisdom. The man was built like a mountain- as a matter of fact, he probably carved mountains in his spare time and crushed boulders as if they were made out of ceramic. He moved with all the thunderous grace of a tiger and demanded respect without uttering a single word. Just one of his stern looks was enough to make Ken wise up, even if but for a moment.
"The jury's still out on that."
"It's not every day that you get to train under a master Ansatsuken practitioner," Ryu reassured with a nod of his head. "This should be a good thing. Under his guidance, we could become stronger than ordinary men, move faster than-"
Ryu was cut off by a pillow hitting him square in the face. Taken aback, he scrambled for the pillow and pulled it away to see Ken standing there with fists clenched.
"I don't care about any of that," Ken growled, his dark eyebrows arched over cold blue eyes. "I just wanna go home."
"How can you say that? You just got here," Ryu barked back. He seemed far more insulted that someone would squander this opportunity than by the fact that he had just been smacked with a pillow. "Besides, it's too late now. Your father already left and won't be coming back until winter."
"Which is what, six or seven months away?"
The blonde boy stewed on that for a moment while his hands clenched and unclenched. Ryu could see the gears in his head churning about, but it didn't take someone with 20/20 vision to see the mental gymnastics at play. Even if Ken had no interest whatsoever in carrying on the Masters legacy, he was still a boy, nearly a teenager, who had been dropped here in Japan against his will. Ripped from a life of decadence and left with little else but a karate gi and his name, just about anyone would harbor resentment. After a few seconds, Ken seemed to have calmed down enough to crack a sardonic smile.
"Tch… Whatever. Half a year ain't nothing. At least this is better than going to school, I can tell you that."
Speak of the devil, a massive oni of a man soon appeared in the sliding doorway of the dwelling. A graying beard, dark skin speckled with scars and a wide frame punctuated with bulging muscles painted the picture of Master Gouken. He had to duck and shimmy to get inside the bedroom, and as an adult in a child's playhouse, he took center stage by dominating much of the space. In his calloused hands were two cloth sacks. If it weren't for the stern look on his face, Gouken could have made for a convincing Santa Claus.
That said, he wouldn't be dispensing presents to two children who haven't yet proven themselves.
"Are you two getting along?"
The two boys glanced at each other, took stock of the budding animosity and refused to comment.
"Ah, I see," Gouken murmured. "It is to be expected. Ken comes from a different world compared to us, Ryu. One cannot build a bridge in an hour and expect it to be sturdy."
"What's in the bags?" Ken craned his neck to get a better look at the outlines poking through the sacks. Plenty of square things; perhaps his magazines or one of his many boxes of shoes. "Is that my stuff in there?"
"Oh, no need to worry. I packaged all of it up and sent it back to your home. I wouldn't be so cruel as to destroy what belongs to you, Ken. But yes, you could say that this belongs to you."
Gouken released his grasp on one sack and, with a dull thud, it crashed against the floor. Ken set upon it like a hyena with a fresh kill and dug inside. Hope flashed over his smug little face. He was certain that his father had loosened up or had a change of heart and wanted to leave his son with some form of comfort, or if not that, then Gouken had given over some basic provisions to show that he cared. But instead of playing cards, comfortable shoes or even a blanket, there was a thick set of books and school supplies tied up with a bit of twine.
"Honing your body and soul is all well and good, but one cannot neglect the mind. Your father left plenty of assignments for you. Math, social studies, literature and more. You'll be able to work on them before and after each day of training, and at your own pace." Gouken paid no mind to Ken's terrified expression and continued to pour salt in the wound, whether he was aware of it or not. "Each week will see a new set of assignments delivered."
"This is so unfair," Ken whined. "I have to train every single day and juggle school away from school? I'm twelve! I'm going to be worked to death!"
The other sack in Gouken's hand was given over to Ryu, which revealed the same set of books and supplies.
"Not to worry. Ryu will be going through the same exercises as you. You'll be able to compare notes and assist one another."
The blow to Ken's ego was softened at this, but only by so much. He looked over at his companion and saw that Ryu seemed just as terrified as he did, perhaps more.
"B-but master, I've never been to school. I don't believe I cou-"
"No need to worry, Ryu. As I said, I'm sure that Ken will be willing to assist you. I'm told he's a good scholar… when he applies himself," Gouken added as he nodded towards the blonde boy.
After a few minutes of explaining the intricacies of their assignments and silencing Ken's protests, Gouken took his leave. The two boys sat there on the floor with the weight of the future resting heavily upon their shoulders. In a sense, the two now were balanced in terms of what their strong suits and weaknesses were. Ken was a bright, learned child who chose not to apply himself, who had no grasp of discipline. Ryu was eager and passionate but ignorant about the world and how it operated.
The two of them would have to work hard to get through these next months. For Ken, he would take great consolation in knowing that if he was going to suffer from here on out, at least Ryu would be suffering alongside him.
"Go out into the wilderness, he said. Get in tune with nature, he said."
"Master Gouken didn't say that. Or uh, he didn't say it quite like you just did."
"He practically did. Like, what in god's name am I supposed to be learning by sitting on my butt here, especially after that hundred-mile hike? I'm caked with sweat, I'm dirty and- Gah, there are bugs everywhere!"
Ken had to swat at his arms and legs to get the ants, flies and mosquitoes away from him. He wasn't averse to camping in the woods, but that was only when he had a tent, protective clothing and bug spray to tide him over. Here in this rural Japanese forest, he had nothing of the sort. Barefoot in nothing but his red gi, Ken had followed Ryu into a clearing after a tough series of exercises and a long trek that bordered on five miles. A break in the strain was all that Ken wanted at that moment, so he found himself a nice, shaded spot under a tree and took some time off.
The clearing was something right out of old Japanese folklore or scroll paintings. Luscious trees stood tall and proud, rocky outcroppings had been chiseled by time and weather and the trickling of a gentle, humble stream could be heard through the underbrush. It could be said that a band of wandering samurai had once made camp in this very clearing, for the ground was level and the atmosphere was rich and peaceful. It was one of many places perfect for quiet reflection, which Ryu took full advantage of. Or rather, he tried to when there was a loud-mouthed complainer with him.
"God, I'm starving too. I don't know how much more rice and… what was that meat stew, anyway? I asked if it was beef and he didn't answer." Ken clapped his hands over his eyes and groaned. "What if it was a cat or a dog… Or a bat, or-"
"You're getting just a bit too on the nose," Ryu replied over his shoulder.
"Whatever it is, it's not that it tastes bad. It has no taste at all! I'm a week into this and already I'm feeling my stomach working against me."
Kneeling in a meditative position, Ryu tried once again to drown out the complaints of his companion. His bushy eyebrows were firm and arched, his eyes shut, his hands clasped upon his thighs. Ken, in contrast, was lounging on his back against the shaded tree without a care in the world, or so it appeared. Get within earshot of the blonde boy and anyone would realize that he had plenty of troubles and was dead-set on voicing them all.
"Master Gouken sent us out here so we could reflect on his teachings. If you would stop talking and meditate for a moment, you might just-"
"What's to reflect on," Ken countered with a scoff. He reached out for something to toss at Ryu's back and settled for a pebble. "The old fogey showed us a few stances, we punched and kicked and did a lot of exercises. Big whoop."
"It's more complicated than you believe. Those stances are fundamental to Ansatsuken, and we must-" Another pebble struck Ryu's backside and cut him off. He stirred where he kneeled, shot a rotten look Ken's way and continued on. "Tch… You need to give yourself time to digest his teachings, Ken."
"Oh I'm totally digesting his teachings, and it's giving me stomach cramps."
Ryu sighed at that, shook his head and turned back to his meditation.
"So what's your story anyway?" The American's question came right out of left field for Ryu and gave him pause. Undaunted by the silence, Ken went on. "Did your dad get fed-up with you and shove you off on the old man too?"
"I never knew my father."
"Your mom, then? I mean, obviously someone just dropped you here. No self-respecting adult would leave their kid with that old fart."
Ken felt a few hairs on the back of his neck stand end on end when Ryu turned and looked at him once again.
"I never knew my parents. I was an orphan, and Master Gouken found me and took me in." Ryu's dull tone of voice soon shifted to something far more irritated than Ken had ever heard before. "I looked up to him, and to this day I still do. I want to be strong, I want to learn all that he has to offer me, and I want to know the thrill of fighting."
"Okay, great," Ken grunted with a wave of his hand. "So he's your adoptive father or something. Great. Doesn't mean you gotta suck up to him all the time."
"I'm a suck-up? You're really going to lay there on your back and call me a suck-up?"
"I call it like I see it, and you fit the bill. Teacher's pet, suck-up, whatever." Almost relishing the angry look Ryu was giving him, Ken doubled down. "Orphan, only child, doesn't matter to me. But you're out here acting like the old man himself, constantly picking apart just about everything I do. We're the same age, for Pete's sake. You need to chill out."
"You're calling me a suck-up, and yet you don't have the aptitude to take anything seriously. Gouken is finally going to train me for real, and I won't let some whiny, spoiled brat ruin it all for me because-"
"What did you just call me?"
The sly smile on Ken's face shifted to a dangerous scowl as he stood up. He advanced upon Ryu, expecting him to turn the other cheek and focus on his meditation, but he was given pause when the Japanese boy stood up as well. The two found themselves close, face to face, hands balled up and prepared for a fight.
"I said... you're a spoiled brat," Ryu repeated, his dark brown eyes narrowed.
"So you got some backbone, huh? You think I wanna be here?"
"You've been whining for a whole week with nothing to show for yourself. You've made it very clear that you don't want to be here. If it were up to me, I'd-"
Ken didn't let Ryu finish. Uncoordinated and fueled with rage, the blonde surged against his companion and took him down to the grass. He moved to straddle Ryu and, with fists raised, he lashed out. The first blow whiffed past Ryu's face, the second landed right across his temple and the third went into his cheek. These weren't the heavy, precise blows of a trained practitioner. No, this was the flailing of a child, and while Ryu was a child himself, he at the very least had paid attention during Gouken's training.
A knee slipped up between Ryu and Ken and, using it as leverage, the former extended his leg and shoved the latter away from him. The two scrambled to their feet and collided against each other. It was like a battle between two wild dogs; there was no grace and very little precision whatsoever, only raw emotion and brute force. Ken recoiled from a blow to the stomach, blonde hair billowing behind him, and lurched forward with his guard up to try and force Ryu back. Though Ryu did give ground, with Ken's guard so high it was the perfect opportunity to duck down and sweep the blond's legs out from under him.
It would take more than that to keep Ken Masters down. Tenacious and unwilling to bow out, the boy would get back up time and time again. He succeeded in keeping Ryu on the defensive with quick jabs and wild swings, but for every blow that hit its mark, Ryu would pay it back with more than double the potency. It was a swift fight; both boys bore the marks of their scuffle from the stains on their gis, the fresh bruises, welts and scrapes on their skin and the blood rushing from smashed noses. They cursed and screamed at one another all the while.
It all came to a sudden end when the two boys put their strength into knock-out blows. Ken had a heavy fist aimed square at Ryu's jaw, but the more disciplined fighter was quicker. A stiff, powerful jab to the stomach sealed Ken's defeat and sent him crumpling to the forest floor with an agonizing wheeze. His young body was awash with agony, his senses were rattled and worst of all, the tears he had been keeping back were seeping through. He figured he looked like a miserable wretch at that moment, and he could only imagine that Ryu was looming over him with great contempt.
"I'm sorry."
Ken opened his eyes and raised his head from his pained position to get a look at the other boy. He expected Ryu to be angry or at the very least to look proud in his victory. But the boy seemed more sheepish and apologetic than anything else.
"W-what did you say?"
"I shouldn't have called you a spoiled brat. Under the circumstances, I guess you have a right to be upset," Ryu murmured, doubled over with his hands on his knees. His nose was slightly crooked and bloody, his body aching from the vicious assault. "I apologize."
"You're crazy, man." Ken rolled over onto his back and sat up. His body was far worse off than Ryu's with blood trickling from a split lip. "Oough… Ah, I throw the first punch and you're the one who says sorry?"
"I… Master Gouken raised me to believe that violence isn't the answer to all my problems." The auburn-haired boy wiped his nose with the back of his hand and smiled. "All things considered… Those were good punches."
In the span of a few minutes Ken had gone through being whiny, angry, regretful and now he was downright surprised. More than that, he felt as if a great weight had been lifted off of his shoulders even if his body was too mangled at that moment to appreciate it. A few seconds passed before Ken started to chuckle. His ribs ached and his stomach hurt, and yet the absurdity kept building and building until he began to laugh.
"So, you think I have a chance?"
"If you just apply yourself and listen to Master Gouken, well… Yeah," Ryu replied with all due honesty. "You can do anything, so long as you go at it with the same passion you showed me. Don't you want to, uh… Be all that you can be?"
Ken looked on as Ryu approached him and offered his hand to help him up. Sure, the boy meant well, but Ken still had so much to learn about humility. He ignored the other boy's hand and, by his own power, he managed to get back on his feet once again.
"Alright, if that's how it is, then I accept. Everything you do, I'll do. Training, studying, meditating, whatever." A fire burned behind Ken's blue eyes as he cracked a challenging grin. "I'll get stronger, and then... We're going to fight again, Ryu. Fair and square."
Bewilderment flashed in Ryu's eyes before it was overtaken with a fierce competitive spirit.
"I'll be looking forward to it," he replied with a nod.
The two weren't friends because of that cathartic fight, but neither were they on the contrary. Instead, there was a foreshock of rivalry between each other that washed through their haggard, young frames and invigorated their souls. A rivalry, even if it was built on a volatile foundation, seemed to be just the thing to push them to new heights.
Ken took his declaration to heart and put more effort into his training. He still complained about anything under the sun, but where before he outright refused to do anything, he would carry on with the tasks laid before him. It was almost as if he used his anger and outrage as fuel for his training. His aggressive personality certainly helped with sparing and practicing sets, as even if he was uncoordinated or inaccurate, he nevertheless continued on. Ken refused to give up; he played the part of the incessant killer bee and kept striking at dummies and wooden posts in training until he could take no more punishment.
And when training was over for the day, the vicious fire inside of Ken would have been extinguished. All of his outrage then took a backseat and allowed him to be calm, and to focus on other matters. Of course, Ken complained about his studies, but after coming from hours upon hours of rigorous training that left him sore and sweaty, he came to appreciate the quiet hours. Though Ryu seemed to be struggling with his studies, particularly math, the Japanese boy was still a league or two ahead of Ken in the physical department. Ken would have to push himself further if he wanted to catch up.
That said, despite the new enthusiasm Ken had to apply to his training, Ryu had him beat tenfold. If Ken ran a mile, Ryu ran three. If the two were told to wail on a dummy or wooden training post, Ryu went at it until his knuckles bled. If there was nothing to do and the two had free time, Ryu spent it in meditation with a furrowed brow. Ken had to admit that his rival had more reason to push himself than he did, and though it was commendable, there was the feeling that the boy was going to work himself to death.
Now just under two months later, the boys were sent out into the Japanese wilderness once again. The cicadas were buzzing, the trees were swaying in the gentle breeze and the trickling of nearby water painted the picture of a warm, pleasant day. On unbeaten paths the two boys jogged along, sometimes passing one another, but keeping the pace so they didn't lose focus. They followed old markings and stone tōrōs up to a cliffside camping spot and took a look around for another pathway only to realize that this was the end of the line. Off to the side and about seven or so meters below was a crystal clear pond that had a shimmering waterfall cascading into it from the cliffs above. All of it seemed like a small slice of heaven, and all just for the two boys to enjoy.
"Crazy to think that places like this actually exist," Ken commented as he stood at the edge of the bluff. He looked down into the water and smiled wide. "Haa… And there's some fish down in there. I wonder what kind..."
Ryu didn't care to comment. Instead the boy took center stage there at the camping spot and went to work practicing his martial arts sets. Jabs, hooks, lunges, blocks, kicks, knee strikes and more were displayed while Ken looked on in disbelief. That white headband bobbed and weaved with each frantic motion while sweat dripped from Ryu's grimy form. By all accounts, the boy should have been in great discomfort, perhaps some pain as well, but he was still committed to his training.
"Aw come on. Now you're just trying to make me feel bad."
"You're free to… to join in, Ken."
"Me? No way. Not after all that running and jumping. Besides, that old fogey didn't exactly tell us to run out here and go through our sets."
"Master Gouken asked us to head out into the wild, wait until nightfall, then come back. It's a test, Ken." Ryu pivoted on his foot and turned to face Ken, still with his fists raised and legs bent in his usual fighting stance. "We're to train and keep our strength up living off the land, and when we return under the cover of darkness, Master Gouken will be waiting to-"
"Dude, he never told us any of that. Besides being out here until night, he didn't say we were supposed to pump out squats and push-ups," Ken countered with a bewildered, flimsy grin. "Where are you getting your information? If you ask me, the old man's got himself a girlfriend and he just wants us out from the dojo for a while."
Ryu turned red at that and shook his head. Turning away, he continued with training, punching out at the air and practicing kicks even though his body was trembling from exhaustion.
"I find that… I find that highly unlikely. He wouldn't send us out here in the wild because he wants to entertain a guest."
"It happens all the time where I'm from. Dad's business partners come in, mom has her friends, either way, they shoo me out of the house and tell me to play out in the yard for a while." Ken looked on as Ryu kept practicing before letting out a scoff and a shrug. "Well, listen, you can do whatever you want. Keep training, meditate, whatever. As for me, I'm gonna have some fun."
"What, you're going to slack off again? I thought you said you'd do your best to-"
"Hey, technically I'm not slacking off. Master Gouken didn't say we had to train or anything like that. Just that we should be out here for a while." When Ryu refused to comment and instead turned his back on him, Ken took the opportunity to rush behind the boy. In mere seconds Ken had his companion in a headlock with his fist grinding down into the other boy's scalp. "You blockhead! Can't you just give it up for a few hours and have fun for once?"
The Japanese boy squirmed in Ken's hold and protested. His hands reached up to try and dislodge the blonde's grasp, but he had no experience with the hold. Clearly Ken was using some kind of dirty trick, or perhaps it was a move that wasn't a part of the Ansatsuken fighting style. But the blonde was laughing, and though the grinding of his scalp was irritating and somewhat painful, it didn't seem to be a gesture of malice.
"Wow, no-one's ever given you a noogie before, huh? Talk about sheltered!"
Ken released Ryu from his hold and hopped away when his victim whirled around to grab hold of him. No good; Ken was out of reach and would continue to hop and skip away like a cheeky monkey would against an irritated tiger.
"Ahaha! See? Even you can't keep up that training forever. C'mon, let's go for a swim."
"We really shouldn't slack off, but besides that, you don't know if the water's warm enough, if it's safe enough, if it's deep en-"
Ken shot Ryu a cheeky grin and gave him a two-fingered salute before leaping backwards off the side of the cliff. In hindsight, he had no clue if the pond below was deep enough, or if there wasn't anything dangerous swimming around in the depths. For all that he knew, the pond contained carp and Cthulhu. But once Ken hit the water, all worries and doubts were washed away along with the stress, sweat and grime from a long, arduous day. He took a moment to appreciate the crystal clear waters all around him, the luscious, mossy rock bottom and the startled fish before resurfacing, and there standing on the edge of the cliff above him was Ryu with wide eyes and an agape mouth.
"Hey! Jump in! The water's great!"
"You're reckless, Ken. What if the water wasn't deep enough?"
"Aw come on. You can't spend your life worrying about 'what if'. You gotta be able to jump in and see things for yourself!" To further his pressure, Ken treaded water on his back and waved to the boy overlooking him. "Go on, jump! When are we gonna get another opportunity to go swimming on a day this great?"
"I uh…"
"I dare you to jump in. No, I double-dog-dare you to jump in, or are you a chicken?"
Ryu's eyebrows furrowed, his eyes narrowed and his concerned frown turned into a stern, firm line.
"I am not a chicken."
"Well then prove me wrong!"
Though there was a dash of hesitation, Ryu steeled himself well enough with a tightening of his headband before leaping out. He tumbled through the air and made a less than graceful entrance, but when the water settled and he resurfaced it was clear that, like Ken, all the worries of the day had faded away for him. The boy sputtered and rubbed his eyes free from the water only to have Ken splash him in the face.
"H-hey!"
"I'll give you a four outta ten and a gold star for effort," Ken laughed in reply.
Cleansed by the cool water, Ryu was won over by his companion and decided to postpone his training until the next day. The two swam for some time, collecting interesting rocks from the bottom of the pond, diving from new positions and seeing who could hold their breath the longest before they were tired of it. Ken scavenged around the area and came back to the cliffside campsite with a myriad of resources such as sticks, rocks, deadwood and sturdy green vines which, while nothing like the impressive ropes found in the jungle, made for great fishing lines. With stone and flint in hand, Ken fashioned a couple of makeshift fishing poles out of sturdy branches and passed one of them off to his companion.
As the two passed the time fishing for carp, Ken regaled Ryu with several stories. As his family were millionaires bordering on billionaires, the boy had the privilege of being able to go to a variety of exotic countries. Africa, Asia, Europe, South America, even Australia was a vacation destination. While within said countries Ken was subjected to all the various cultures and, despite complaining and acting out, he had come to appreciate it all. He even learned a few survival skills and grew to love fishing and camping, though if given the choice he'd much rather be inside with his games and magazines.
Night crept up on the boys, but a cozy fire staved off the encroaching darkness and chill. Ken even cooked up the carp he caught, and so the boys had a simple yet filling supper. He felt great pride in hearing Ryu's gratitude and seeing him look so surprised at basic survival skills, and to a lesser extent, he was flattered when the Asian boy listened to those long-winded stories. It seemed that despite this rich environment Ryu had lived a very sheltered life. Ken wasn't sure if he felt pity for his companion, but nevertheless he decided right then and there to make sure that Ryu took a break now and then to have fun.
"Sun's going down. Better get back to the old man before he freaks out," Ken murmured aloud. He tossed the skeletal remains of his dinner off to the side and went to put out the simple fire he had created. "C'mon, Ryu."
Not hearing a reply, Ken turned back to his companion and saw him looking up at the hills and trees above. Ryu didn't seem pale as if he had just seen a ghost, but there was still a disturbed expression about him.
"What's up? You see something?"
"I… I thought I saw a man in a black gi, but… I'm not sure."
"Huh. It's probably some traveling martial artist," Ken reasoned with a shrug.
"Could be, could be." Ryu kept his gaze firm on the hills above for a moment longer before a nudge from Ken brought him back to the present. "I suppose we could ask Master Gouken when we return."
"Speaking of which… Last one back is a rotten egg!"
With that said, Ken dashed down the trail from the campsite, leaving Ryu in a cloud of dust. If getting back to the dojo first was a competition, then Ryu was going to give it a valiant effort as he always did.
A month and a few weeks later saw Ryu's birthday fast approaching during the end days of summer. It came as a surprise to Ken that his companion, hopeless and naive as he seemed, was older than him by at least eight months. To prepare for the occasion, however simple or humble it was going to be, Gouken urged the boys to head into one of the nearby rural villages to procure food and other supplies. For the most part, it was a supply run as the remote dojo only received small parcels or whatever a single man could carry up there, but Gouken was sure to give the boys a little extra spending money so they could pick out some treats.
If it weren't for Ken being so enthusiastic about a potential party, or any celebration at all, Ryu wouldn't have humored either of them. Ryu wasn't the kind of person who lavished attention, yet Ken had felt that it was time their efforts were rewarded. Muscle had cropped up on both of them, their stamina had increased and they felt more confident about their fighting abilities. Another bit of good news was that the boys were doing well academically too, or in Ryu's case, he was above-average. Having a birthday coming up was the straw that broke the camel's back and demanded a celebration.
Ken felt that he deserved a bit of time off after all the effort he's been giving. He wasn't even a teenager and yet he felt as if Gouken was working him like an adult man, pushing him harder and harder once it became clear that he was trying his best. A kid needed some time to party and feel good about themselves, after all. When it came to Ryu, Ken figured that the poor lad ought to enjoy a birthday party, especially since American and Japanese cultures had different interpretations of birthdays. So with bags and woven backpacks in hand, Ken and Ryu traveled to one rural village all the while the former recounted just about every previous birthday party he had ever had.
"With all that money your family has, you probably have a lot of friends," Ryu interjected at one point.
"Well, yeah, a lot of people come to my parties, but I wouldn't call them friends. Most of them just wanted to hang out with me because my family had money, or because I had a lot of toys and space to play at home." Ken ran a hand through his hair and scoffed. "Bunch of fakes and phonies. If I ever had any real problems like my dog dying or me breaking some bones, they'd never come and check up on me."
"I'd check up on you!"
It was the way he said it. Quick and innocent. Ken couldn't help but laugh and slug Ryu's shoulder.
"Oh yeah, I'm sure you would," Ken chirped back with all due sarcasm.
Once the trees and rocks of the luscious forest gave way to modern roads, the boys came across the rural village Gouken told them about. There were livestock grazing in open fields, chickens clucking about in search of worms in the dirt and carts dashing to and fro with lumber and other goods. The buildings were old-fashioned with thatch roofs supplemented with wood. Though the village looked like something out of the late 18th century, there were many hints of modernization here and there. A few cars came and went, electricity was flowing free to lights from telephone poles and the sweet sound of modern music could be heard here and there.
In the heart of the village was a quaint grocery store where the villagers received much of their food and other amenities. Inside were large shelves that formed aisles throughout the store while bins full of produce and other goods were angled against the walls for ease of access. A few coolers and freezers were set up to contain fresh meat, fish, milk, drinks and other perishables. There was a small selection of modern appliances such as toasters, microwaves and more, though from the dust and outdated models it seemed that the village either didn't care for newfangled technology or they got along just fine without it all. The boys slipped inside, greeted the kindly old man at the counter and got to work gathering whatever they wanted.
"You know, with all the rice and potatoes we go through, it's crazy that the old man doesn't grow 'em all himself," Ken remarked aloud as he set aside a few bags of white rice.
"I'm sure he has a few things planted somewhere."
"You think so? I've never seen anything. But you know, we could always do some planting of our own."
"What would you plant?"
"What wouldn't I plant? Jalapenos, onions, peppers, corn, squash, tomatoes, everything under the sun that can be put on pizza."
Ryu chuckled in good humor and gathered up a bit of meat and fish from the cooler.
"I've never had pizza before, but I've seen pictures of it. I'd probably go for one with pineapples on it, or the one with fish."
"Pineapples? Sardines?" Ken stuck out his tongue. "Gross! Pizza is sacred, Ryu. You can't just put anything you want on it."
While the two boys busied themselves with picking out provisions Ken couldn't help but notice a small group of Japanese boys crowded around a magazine rack. He liked comics as much as the next kid, and he had heard about manga and figured it was right up his alley. As Gouken had given the boys extra spending money to buy what they wanted, Ken figured it wouldn't be much of a stretch if he decided to pick out a magazine. They placed their purchases on the counter and, with Ryu taking care of the payment, Ken moved over to the group of boys and reached out for a bright monthly print magazine.
"What's wrong with you gaijin," barked one of the taller Japanese boys as another slapped Ken's hand away. He seemed to be a teenager with a dark bowl-cut, cold brown eyes and a rough face. "We're browsing here. Step off."
"Huh? There's no line, pal, and besides, it ain't like you can lord over the magazines," Ken replied with a frown and furrow of his black brows.
"Americans and their lines. You don't belong here, so step off before I lose my patience."
"Yeah, I'll get going once I get what I want from that rack." Ken once again reached for a magazine, but one of the taller boy's goons blocked him from doing so. "What the hell's your problem? Just move!"
At that moment Ryu came jogging over.
"What's going on? Is everything alright?"
"I just want a mag, man, but these jerks won't move out of the way."
The tall thug sneered and shook his head.
"You Americans think you can just come into every village and get what you want, and when you can't, you yell and shout and force your way about until you get it."
"Well, I'm gonna buy the magazine. It's not like I'm just gonna take it and run off with it!"
Ryu tugged at Ken's arm and tried to urge him away from the agitated group.
"Ken, let's go. It's not worth it."
Despite the anger bubbling up within Ken, he had to admit that getting in a fight here was definitely not worth the hassle. They had gotten what they came for. The blonde boy shook off Ryu's hand and shot a rotten look towards the group of thugs complete with a less than favorable gesture before turning back. The thugs were less than impressed and looked to be on the cusp of hostility, but the fledgling martial artists had taken their goods and left before things came to blows.
Once outside, Ryu gave his companion a little shove as he carried produce in his arms.
"Do I have to watch you all the time?"
"Bite me, Ryu. Those guys started it. All I wanted wa-"
"Doesn't matter who started it. Master Gouken wouldn't want us to get in unnecessary fights."
"I wouldn't call it an unnecessary fight. Did you see that stupid sneer on that guy's face? A look like that needs rearranging… With my fists!"
"Oh, thank goodness I got you out of there, then."
"What, you don't think I could take them all on? Dude, I could lay them all out in a few seconds flat."
"Again, it doesn't matter," Ryu grumbled with a shake of his head. "Violence isn't the-"
Ryu's voice trailed off as the two noticed a small group of boys in the distance. They had to take a side street to get back to the trail leading back to their master's dojo, and it was here where they would be cut off at the pass. The group wandered out in front of the boys, blocking their passage through sheer presence alone. Like the smaller bunch at the store, this lot was dressed in shabby, punkish clothing fitting for a more modern city. Perhaps these were just a bunch of little thieves looking to perform a shakedown, but when Ryu and Ken heard the footsteps of a second group approaching from behind, they realized that the thugs at the store had followed them.
Packaged tight together in a side street flanked by old-style buildings reminded Ken of those old western towns back home, and with these thugs in front and behind him, it gave off the impression of bandits coming in to make a ruckus. The leader of the group was the taller boy from before, bowl-cut and all, only this time he didn't bring a mere sneer and his misguided hatred. An aluminum baseball bat was angled against his shoulder in a relaxed yet foreboding hold. Looking over to the rest of the thuggish group, they didn't appear to have any other weaponry, though they more than made up for it with sheer numbers. At least eight boys had Ryu and Ken surrounded.
"You again?" Ken looked across the dirt street and locked eyes with the armed leader. "What is your deal, man?"
"We don't want any trouble," Ryu spoke, raising a hand to Ken as if he could contain his fiery companion. "We don't want to cause any trouble, either. We're leaving."
"Oh, is that so? Well, unfortunately for your friend here," the leader yipped, pointing his bat at Ken, "he's not about to go home so soon, not after showing us all such blatant disrespect. A little brat like you ought to be punished."
"And what, you're going to drag a bunch of your cronies in on it and go after me with a bat? A coward like you doesn't deserve respect," Ken barked back.
The bat-wielding leader sauntered forward, twirling his weapon idly about in his hand as his sneer turned into a dark scowl. Like hyenas in their pack, the rest of the boys moved in as well. Ken glanced back and forth between the two groups, placed his purchased goods down on the ground and drew up into the fighting stance Master Gouken taught him. Though his blue eyes were cold and determined, inside the blonde boy was terrified. Only his ever-present aggression and foolhardiness served to give him the courage he needed to not break down right then and there.
Ryu, meanwhile, stepped between Ken and the thug with the bat.
"Listen, you don't have to do this," the calmer fighter pleaded. "We just want to leave."
"What's with the long face? You can leave," the thug leader replied with a shrug as he looked to Ryu. "I've got no beef with you."
"I'm not about to let my friend get beaten to a pulp," Ryu shot back.
Ken wasn't the type of kid who paid attention to everything that happened around him- just like most kids his age- but he for sure didn't recall ever hearing Ryu refer to him as his friend. As far as he knew, the two were rivals. Sure they were amicable with one another and joked around, but Ken never once considered this stick-in-the-mud, solemn and serious kid to be his friend. Hearing it now gave him pause. He looked on with bated breath as the thug leader and the young Ansatsuken prodigy stared each other down, looking like a bandit and sheriff about to have their duel.
"That American's your friend? Really? I can tell you, you're not his friend," the thug leader countered. "Step aside, kyōdai."
"I'm not your kyōdai. If you want him, you're going to have to go through me."
The thug leader sighed, drew his bat up and let it lean against Ryu's shoulder like a loaded gun to one's temple. But the young fighter didn't flinch, nor did he give ground. He stood firm and glared up at the thug, daring him to strike. And when the thug lost his patience, when he pulled his bat back and took a swing at Ryu, that was all it took for the fighter to kick things into gear. A swift punch to the gut forced the thug leader back and, with the others soon jumping in for the brawl, Ryu fell back into his fighting stance.
A cursory glance over his shoulder revealed Ken right at his back, the two boys shoulder to shoulder.
"Let's bring it to 'em!"
What followed next was nothing short of an all-out brawl. The young fighters were outnumbered, but not outmatched. They showcased their individual talents; Ryu was the rock that refused to yield to wild strikes and punished those who struck him while Ken bobbed, weaved and struck with all the force of a typhoon. The miscreants were uncoordinated and blinded by rage while the young fighters had their heads on tight, or in Ken's case, he had Ryu to back up. Ken simply couldn't afford to lose his cool if it meant getting knocked out and leaving Ryu to deal with these idiots all alone.
In time the thug leader stepped back into the fight with bat in hand and zeroed in on Ken. There was no chance that Ken could be the mountain that refused to bend to the wind, or rather, no way in hell he could raise his arms and block a baseball bat swung at him with full force. He wasn't even a teenager! But Ken could be clever, and so rather than dip and dive away from the thug's wild swings, he waited for the thug to overextend before reaching out and grappling with his arm. Leaping up with a knee cocked, Ken shot it up into the thug's arm and disarmed him, then, with Ryu at his side, he lashed out with a knockout blow straight to the face.
Like a sack of potatoes, the thug leader crumpled to the ground and kicked up a pile of dust. The other miscreants took one look at their fallen leader and took off like rats fleeing a sinking ship, scattering in different directions. Some were too broken and battered to stand; they writhed in the dirt and groaned while others mouthed off various expletives and other colorful statements. The dust settled and Ken and Ryu were revealed to still be standing. What's better, their purchases were more or less intact, if just a little dirty from the scuffle.
Ken sported little more than a few scrapes and bruises, but Ryu took the brunt of the assault. The boy with the white headband seemed uneasy on his feet as blood trickled from his nose and busted lip. A nasty bruise had formed on his forearm, his hands were roughed up and it seemed that there was a cut above one of his eyes that made it difficult for him to see. Be that as it may, Ryu was still conscious, even if he soon took a knee to recuperate. Ken came over, assessed the damage and did what he could with some bottled water and simple cloth.
"You okay? I mean, the answer's clearly no," Ken muttered, "but still… Anything broken? Heart's still beating?"
"I… I'm fine," Ryu replied, soon giving Ken a grateful bow of his head as the other boy dabbed at the cut above his eye. "I've had worse."
"Yeah, well I never went after you with a bat like some kind of mad dog. C'mon bro, let's get outta here."
Ken offered Ryu a hand, yet there was some hesitation. A second passed as Ryu stared at the offered hand before he glanced up with a bright smile.
"Bro?"
"Take the hand; don't make this weird," Ken scoffed with a smile of his own.
Once Ryu was back on his feet the two boys took their purchased goods and hobbled away from the village. Ryu, as battered and bruised as he was, had to be supported on Ken's shoulder, but the blonde boy didn't mind at all.
Several months passed since that incident, and the boys grew closer together than ever before. They were still rivals, but gone were the days where they would seek to outplay each other. Instead, they worked together from that day on, complementing each others' skill sets and supporting one another as best as they could. Ken assisted Ryu with his academic studies and treated the sheltered boy to a variety of tales, both true and overly-elaborated, that sought to broaden his horizons while Ryu, hardy and disciplined, helped Ken with the more nuanced aspects of fighting. There were still plenty of arguments and a fair bit of infighting, but it was to be expected of growing boys, and they were better off because of it all.
By the time the cold chill of winter approached Ryu and Ken were as thick as thieves, though they still had a long, long way to go if they would be considered Ansatsuken adepts. They had the basics down, the theories were more or less ingrained and their bodies were fit for the next set of upcoming trials. However, Ken had come to the end of his tenure there at Gouken's dojo. The bright, sunny coast of California and the Masters' manor was calling to Ken, and so with his father set to arrive on the final day, the blonde boy packed up what few things he had and said his goodbyes.
Given the choice between a spacious mansion with bountiful amenities and a humble, spartan dojo where rice was always on the menu, one could hardly fault Ken if he was eager to return home. Home had fresh, heavy sheets, pizza, videogames and so much more. Home had his father- Ken couldn't stay bitter with his old man for too long. That said, when the well-dressed patriarch of the Masters clan arrived to take his son home, there was hesitation. Ken had learned to appreciate the humble life in Japan, the thrill of a fight, the intricacies and tactics within martial arts and most of all, he had come to appreciate Ryu as a rival, a fellow student, and as a good friend.
"I'll write to you."
"You don't even know the address, Ken."
"Yeah, which is why I'm gonna address it to you and Master Gouken. If that doesn't work, I'll write it to the 'old fogey' and 'hopeless dope', and they'll know exactly who I'm talking about."
The two boys bumped fists at the entrance to the dojo before Gouken stepped up to the plate.
Though the martial arts master had a professional relationship with his students, he nevertheless loosened up from time to time and let the boys get away with some things. There were times when Gouken was the subject of many pranks such as the boys placing a bucket of water above a doorway, hiding a chaotic noisemaker in the man's bedroom, slipping a toad into his tea and more. Of course, the old man got upset and punished the boys when he knew for sure it was them, but eventually, he grew to enjoy the attention and even got some cheeky payback. Ken had grown to respect Gouken once he realized he had a sense of humor!
"Thank you for training me, Master," Ken said as he bowed low.
"You are welcome. This place will become much more peaceful in your absence, though I will miss your boisterousness," Gouken replied. He folded his arms, one hand soon stroking his beard like the mystical sensei he was. "You still have much to learn, Ken, and I am neither old nor feeble enough to cease my teachings. Should you desire, you are welcome back at any time. I'm certain that Ryu would be happy to have you again."
"Huh. Well… I don't know." Ken looked down a path leading away from the dojo and saw his father approaching. Shrugging, the blonde boy turned back to the old master and his apprentice. "I'll think about it, okay?"
Many adults tended to say that they would 'think about it' or say 'maybe', but they hardly delivered, if at all. Children were different. Promises were kept, for they were as sacred as dares. Back home, Ken spent his winter in relative peace. He was overjoyed to be back home where there was two-ply toilet paper, electricity, ice cream, air conditioning and more, and yet… He kept thinking about his time in Japan, the fights with Ryu, the thrills of living off the land and the exotic sights and sounds in the forest and crags all around. It was an alien, uncomfortable feeling at first, but as the months passed on it became tolerable, even favorable.
Ken cut ties with most of his previous friends. As he explained to Ryu before, they didn't care for Ken as a person, only for what he had to offer. Come Christmas he had only a small handful of close friends, and yet not one of them compared to Ryu. Make no mistake, that Japanese boy was a naive and hopeless stick-in-the-mud, but there was a fire inside him that drew Ken to him like… a moth to the flame. He felt that they were two sides to the same coin, the sun and the moon, two eternal rivals. And it wasn't like Ken didn't try to fill the void, but when the fifth kid he tried to spar with went down in four seconds like all the rest, he realized that he just had to go back.
After his birthday in February Ken pleaded with his father to go back to Japan. Needless to say, his father was shocked and awed, but most importantly, he was proud of his boy. Master Gouken was notified, the plane was set to fly and soon Ken was back for a second round. It had hardly been five months since he left, and while the dojo hadn't changed a bit, Ken couldn't say the same for himself. His growth spurt was kicking in; already he had grown a few inches, and with the testosterone sweeping through his system there came a burst of aggression that could only be sated by his rival.
And speaking of which, Ryu had grown as well over the months, and yet he was still as naive as ever which made him easy to get the drop on. The teenager had moved to a clearing in the forest, the very same spot where he had his first fight with his rival, and sought to meditate once again only to be ambushed by a wildman. Startled, Ryu squirmed against his attacker but was ultimately forced into a headlock. Then came the fist grinding down into his scalp just as before. A noogie!
"Guess who?"
Ken's laughter cut away to a startled gasp as Ryu grabbed his arm and flung him over his shoulder, yet the American landed on his feet like a cat. He looked up and saw his rival, his good friend, staring at him with his mouth agape.
"Ken? Where did- You came back?"
"Don't act so surprised," Ken chuckled. "Someone's gotta keep an eye on you. I mean, honestly, what would you ever do without me?"
"Do you really want me to answer that?"
"Not one bit," came the smarmy reply. Ken approached his rival once again and held out his fist. "I hope you've been keeping up on your training."
Ryu bumped the offered fist and drew himself up into his fighting stance as a smile crept across his lips.
"Only one way to find out."
"Ah yeah, that's the spirit." Ken, in turn, eased himself into his own stance. "Bring it on, bro!"