Today was a perfect day for a fight. The dojo was empty, the sun shined brightly while the breeze blew quietly. The flowers tipped back and forth, the clouds soared overhead as the sound of a brawl echoed in the martial arts school. The master was out, and the students were left to their own devices, so why wouldn't they start fighting? It was something usually done during training, under their master's watchful eye, but he was currently out. So the battle hardened warriors took the opportunity to duke it out, one on one.
The two in question were Ryu and Ken Masters; they always had interesting battles. With gravity defying kicks, fireballs and strikes that can break concrete. Ryu stood up, and looked over to the corner where Ken stood, tightening his gloves once more "You going to do that all day?" Ryu asked. Ken scoffed, brushing his hair out of his eyes "You afraid I'll beat you again?" Ryu laughed in response "Oh please. You didn't beat me, Gouken stopped us before it got good." Ken grew closer "Yeah, cause I was going to beat you fair and square!"
He then took a step forward, throwing a jab at Ryu, the brunette dodging his fist and uppercutting his chin, spinning in the air as Masters went flying before landing on his back. He stood back up as Ryu rushed forwards, his right leg kicking the blonde's left arm. Ken caught the kick and rammed his knee into Ryu's shin, then extended his leg into Ryu's stomach, knocking him back near a wooden support beam. Ryu rushed again, jumping over the blonde's next kick and landing behind him. Ryu then spun his right leg, his centripetal force keeping him balanced as he knocked Ken into a nearby rack of weapons.
Ken stood up once more and planted his left foot firmly before lifting his right one up and slamming it into the ground, the rubble jumping into the air as he then punched it, sending the piece of splintered wood towards the brunette. Ryu chopped the rubble in half as another block came towards him. He punched the next one before placing his wrists together and cupping his hands. A fiery blue ball then formed in his palms as he launched at Ken "HADOKEN!" He cried, the flames spiraling around his arms as the orb crashed into Ken, making him crash into the wall. They glared at each other before they clashed once more, sending bits of dirt and ripped gi's everywhere.
Ken stretched his foot out, grabbing onto Ryu's arms before rolling back and sending Ryu overhead and landing against the mat. The blonde stood back up and leaped into the air, his knee bent and his arms held high as he attempted to use gravity to strengthen his attack; Ryu rolled to the side and waited for Ken to land before side kicking him away. Ken's head flopped onto the ground, making him hiss in pain "You took your sweet time there. It's awfully hard to get hit by that." Ken bounced by up, punching in the air as he pumped himself up.
Ryu spun to his feet, facing Ken for a split second before sliding forward, going for a jump back kick. Ken caught him by the heel, and twisted his waist to throw Ryu into the support beam, cracking it in half. Ryu groaned as Ken boasted "Maybe you should try putting a bit more power into those spin kicks of yours, yeah?" Both were growing cocky, their attitudes causing more frustration as they continued. Their arms held each other, their feet doing an elaborate dance as they leg locked and pushed against each other; whoever let go first would undoubtedly get kicked by the other.
So Ken decided to let go, moving his arms to the left to block Ryu's rick kick, knocking them both onto their backs. They jumped back up, with Ryu swinging his whole weight towards his friend, landing a blow on his face. Ken flew back, standing up quickly to rush forward and tackle Ryu to the broken beam, pushing against him with all his Might. Ryu stopped fighting against him and spun around, watching as Ken nearly slammed his bruised face against the shards of wood. "Woah!" He sprung backward, growling angrily "You almost got me there, but I got a move that'll knock your socks off!" Ryu looked down and scratched his hair, "But, I don't wear socks."
Ken balled his fists and raised them up firmly "Here it comes you beef head." he ran forward, holding his right hand up high. It looked like a running punch. Ryu took a defensive horse-back riding stance, preparing for Ken to possibly leap at him. Instead, Ken dropped to the floor, sliding on the wooden panels and used both hands to punch Ryu's knees. The fighter yelled in pain as he toppled over Ken. The blonde slid right under his legs and popped back up in victory. "Hah! How'd you like that?" Ryu rubbed his knees tenderly "Wh-Where did you learn that!"
"I picked up a few tricks from Cammy. That girl has some wild moves!" Ryu nodded in agreement before standing up, his legs shaking slightly "Looks like I really got you there." He steadied himself "As if." They prepared for the final blow- the one to put them in a 1-hour power nap. But then the doors burst open, sending a feeling of dread throughout their bodies as they slowly looked at their enraged master. Gouken was usually a spirited old man, more than happy to indulge in long, drawn out battles. But when property gets destroyed and rooms completely ruined, he gets pissed; Ryu and Ken did just that to the only Dojo he has. This place has been in his possession for years, and he treated it kindly, making sure it was kept clean and sturdy. So when he saw a support beam snapped in half, he was understandably angry.
"Boys! What have you done!" The two disciples were frozen stiff, visibly afraid as they ran over to bow in respect and shame. "I was gone for no more than a half hour, but you managed to destroy the whole dojo!" he yelled, walking amongst the piles of shrapnel and puddles of sweat along the floor "These bamboo swords are meant for practice! Yet it looks like they've been run over by a truck!" He glared at the two, seeing that Ryu was the most guilty for the damage "And these training dummies! Why are all the heads ripped off!" Ken bit his tongue, hoping the screaming fit would be over soon "And the most obvious disregard for property, the wooden beam! It's like you broke it over your knee or something!"
His students trembled, unsure of what he would do next; he has never been this angry before! It was unsettling how pissed off he was. "Get on your knees, now!" They did as instructed, with Ryu doing everything in his power to not cry out in pain. "Now, take off your belts." They hesitated, slowly taking off the cloth. Gouken grabbed their belts tightly.
"These were given to you for your mastery of the techniques I've taught you. For skill, and years of training. However, it seems I've failed to teach you any sensibility! Neither of you had the forethought to take this outside!" Ken began to tear up, connecting the dots that his master was leaving him, with Ryu not far behind. "Therefore, I am forced to take these away, and banish you from the grounds!" Now Ken was weeping, rubbing his eyes feverishly as Ryu's fingernails dug into his palm "Get out of my Dojo and don't you ever come back here!"
It was like waves of depression and awe washed over them, forcing them out of the place they practically lived in for years of their lives. They didn't know what to do, where to go, what their lives would lead to. Without the dojo they were...lost. They didn't blame each other, there wasn't any point to it. They both suffered for their actions, for what they did today would have long lasting actions. "I...I'm not...I don't know what to do…" Ken mumbled, wiping the tear streaks on his face "I've been here for so long, it's all I know."
Ryu nodded his head "I understand. We'll simply need to...to adapt." He wouldn't allow himself to cry, not when he's been through worse. At least, physically speaking. They trudged through the open plains, their feet dragging along the flattened pebbles and cut grass. After a few hours, they came across the city they used to go to for food. They were often assigned with picking it up and bringing it back within a given amount of time. It not only trained their speed, but it gave them a good reason to bring it home quickly; warm food.
The smell of freshly cooked chicken with rice, or the precisely cooked meat-lovers pizza. It was all delicious to a young boy that ran a couple of miles in less than an hour. The taste of tea and a small cup of soda as a reward, that's what Ryu and Ken often looked forward to those days. Now they prefer bland foods with water. A rather uninteresting but cost efficient diet, especially considering Gouken didn't have an actual income, just monthly checks given to him due to his "old age" and the children he helped raise. The good old days.
Ryu went off to the shopping centers, his hands by his sides as he looked at the windows, his eyes glazing over the designer clothing and expensive shoes. Ken went over to a nearby car show, hands in his pockets as he watched the old and young express their passion through the cars they'd taken care of. Cars such as the Toyota 2000GT, or a Isuzu 117 Coupe; infamous cars that were highly sought after and delightfully looked at by many. It was a reminder to them both how others valued their possessions, the things they bought or were given.
Ryu moped around, distraught by his actions. How could he have been so foolish! He should've finished mopping like he was instructed to! Instead, he started arguing with Ken and challenged him to a brawl! He should've known better, he should have been the responsible one and continued with his chores. Then he wouldn't be here, wallowing in his own self pity, walking amongst people who seemed to value their belongings far more than he valued his home away from home. "I have to make it up to him." He thought to himself, looking up at the city night sky.
Ken had a similar thought process. He was now surrounded by car lovers, people who poured their heart and soul into preserving the vehicles they loved so dearly. It was inspiring to see them so dedicated to their craft. They had more patience and wisdom than he ever had in his whole life. It was honestly quite humbling, to see a small percentage of people culminate together for this hobby of theirs. A hobby that doesn't pay back, and is solely based on their actions and visual flair that their cars possess. Similar to the old proverb, show don't tell.
It was a reminder of what he could've been if he had actually done what he was told to do and just finished his tasks given to him. It was so simple, but he refused to do it! It was like he couldn't comprehend the importance of what he was doing, despite having it drilled into his head for years! He was a poor student and an even worse friend! He should've apologized and begged for Gouken to keep Ryu there. He should've done more when he could have. But he didn't, all he could do was watch in horror.
So when he heard people cry out in pain and anguish, he rushed forward with all of his might; he wouldn't make the same mistake twice. He analyzed the situation around him. He saw a man with baseball bats, hitting the roofs of cars while others fought each other. He could identify the car hobbyists by their age and look: with their baseball caps, beer stained sports shirts, and old colorless jeans. Ken leaped in the air, swinging his foot on an assailant and knocking him away from the fist fight. "Get back, all of you! Now!" He warned angrily.
Across the city, Ryu saw what looked to be a riot of Yakuza members vandalizing nearby stores, stealing jewelry, breaking windows and kicking over cabinets of shoes. Ryu bolted over, punching the first gang member he saw, sending him flying towards the street. "You have thirty seconds to leave, now!" They didn't listen and instead ran towards him, holding their metal pipes and knives. The first guy threw his pair of knives at Ryu, which he leaned back and took a step forward, side kicking him in the ribcage. Next he swung his left leg clockwise, knocking over another man.
Ken took his time dodging the bats, redirecting them towards the ground or to each other. His favorite move was to wait for a small group of them to circle around him, swing, and then he'd do the spits and watch their heads crack open like an egg. He broke their fingers, bent their knees backwards, fractured their jaws before nearly ripping them off, kicked their ribs so hard that they caved in on themselves. He hospitalized a lot of these men, but he was pretty sure that a majority of them would be dead by the time morning came.
Ryu acted as a wall against the angry mob, directing their attention towards him and him alone, allowing the shopkeepers and customers to run or board up their workplaces "Why the hell are you here huh? Why are ya saving their shittty businesses?" They asked, twirling their nunchucks. "Because, this is their livelihood! This is how they put food on the table and keep their homes warm! Not only that, but it acts as a way to get clothing, and food! You are utterly destroying this place by removing the stores!" He tried reasoning with them, but they didn't listen.
Ken was asked a similar question: "Why are you protecting these dumb cars!" So he responded "They are these people's passion! They keep them safe and running for years to come! Using their money to keep the car working and their hobby alive! I have too much respect for them to just allow you to ruin their years of work!" They, like the gang surrounding Ryu, didn't listen to him. So he started beating their heads into the ground, curb stomping them until their teeth went flying and their weapons broke like a twig. He wasn't about to lose here.
They used their years of martial arts training to beat them. The dozens and dozens of teenage hooligans. They had no skill, no training, no sense of purpose; they did as they wished and believed themselves to be immune to everything. Whether it be disease or to any rules that most definitely applied to them. But Ryu and Ken were different, they were experts in combat, and had their rage and temptations undergo transformations; now tempered by battles of the past and future. They readied their fists, tightened their cores, and put their skills to good work, protecting the community.
It wasn't until the end of the night and the beginning of a fresh morning when they met each other, their bodies covered in scratches, bruises, scuffs, bitemarks, blood spatters, cuts, and a broken bone here and there. They looked and felt like hell. Ryu saved most of the stores, and Ken defended every car in his power (with the help of the owners). They walked with each other, their arms around their shoulders. Ken limped slightly while Ryu was hunched over, both were injured but alive. All they really wanted now was for everything to return to normal again.
"Man you would not believe the night I had." Ken said, "So, I'm walking to this car show, right? There were a bunch of classic ones, with a few modern sports cars- oh, I'm getting off track, so anyway: I looked around, enjoying the show, when a bunch of teenagers started beating everyone's car! A few of them said it was because of some new law, but I didn't want to hear it." Ryu smiled, listening intently "So then, I began kicking some ass! Doing some flips, punching their teeth in, all of this fighting, for the entire damn night."
Ryu laughed, standing up straight to tell his story "I was taking a stroll through the shopping center. The one where we fought over who was the tallest, so they could get their hands on the food first." Ken cackled, groaning as his chest tightened "The Yakuza began attacking; a resurgence of sorts. They were looting the buildings and helped to keep them back, allowing people time to leave, or to protect their stores properly. It was...quite the challenge. Though I wouldn't want to do it again." The blonde nodded in agreement, making their way to a resting place.
They stood in front of the path they followed the afternoon before, the way to the dojo they were banned from. It was a sinking feeling in their gut, but they truly wanted to go back and beg like their lives depended on it; beg for their master's forgiveness and be let into the dojo to train like they used to. "We gotta ask, right?" Ken muttered "I mean, he wouldn't want us to give up and leave this place. Even if he did ban us…" Ryu inhaled softly, agreeing with his friend "But what if he attacks us Ken?"
"What if who attacks you?" Gouken asked, appearing behind them. The two men were startled out of their minds, falling onto the ground in pain. "Oh don't be such babies. You've endured a lot worse this past night." They looked at him, stunned by his presence "It's made me realize that you two do care, even if you are a bunch of messy snobs. The fact of the matter is, you belong in my dojo. But, only if you can tell me what you've learned from this experience, and what you'll do once you are let back into the school."
Ken sat up "I learned that passion and love is sacred, and should be treated with respect from others." Ryu groaned, sitting up slowly "And that, no matter what your beliefs are, you shouldn't use your strength to destroy peoples livelihoods and workplaces. No matter how you may feel." Ken and Ryu stood up, bowing towards their master "Please, let us back in. We promise to never act like that again." Ken then chimed in "Plus, we'll clean up our mess. At least, whatever remains of it." He was humbled, but he also hoped that Gouken cleaned up some stuff.
The old man scratched his beard, smiling brightly as he hugged them both "Welcome back! I left it just the way it was. So get yourselves patched up and begin fixing your mess." Ken's pout faded, replaced with star stricken eyes, filled to the brim with tears "You mean it master Gouken?" The sensei nodded, laughing at Ken's passionate reaction as Ryu wiped the developing tears, not wanting to break his stoic persona. "Now, head up that hill and get to work you two! I expect results by lunch time!" They immediately ran off to the dojo, wincing in pain.
The doors burst open, as Ken tried to pick up the scatter supplies, only to drop to the ground in discomfort "Ooohhh, they really got me." He whined. Ryu went into the other room, rummaging through the small drawer for first aid. All he found was some rubbing alcohol and some bandages. He bit the inside of his cheek, not enjoying the prospect of enduring the burning sensation that the rubbing alcohol could give. "You wanna go first Ken?" He asked, receiving a barely legible yes from the other room. He walked in and sat on an unbroken wooden bench.
Ken sat in front of him and grabbed the bandages, wrapping them around his non-dominant arm as Ryu started applying the fluid. The blonde refrained from headbutting Ryu's crotch for not warning him. "Man, that stings!" He complained, his toes curling as he wrapped up his arm. "You think Gouken will give us any more chances?" Ryu shrugged his shoulders "I don't know. But I don't feel like testing it." Ken nodded his head, checking his shins for any severe damage "Agreed. I just wanted to make sure that we were on the same page now." Ryu rolled his eyes.
The brunette then switched spots with Ken, getting some of the alcohol rubbed on his back. "Honestly, it felt nice to do something other than train against each other. It was...something new. Albeit, something new that was thrust upon us, but it was new nonetheless." Ken hummed to himself, watching Ryu carefully wrap the tape around his fingers and forearm "You come up with any new moves?" Ryu shook his head "No, but I'm not upset about it. I'm just happy that we are back. It feels like everything is all back to normal." Ken couldn't have agreed more.