"I'm glad to see you're not hurt."

Ken eyed Ryu suspiciously, unused to seeing his friend so compassionate, so worried about his well being. Since the two of them trained together as children, it was true that they'd watched out for each other. But this was awkward even for Ken. He didn't like being treated like the little brother, but he acted enough like one to Ryu.

"Put a sock in it, man," Ken replied cheerfully, "it's gonna take more than a Shadowlaw agent to bring me down."

"If it wasn't for you," Eliza said, speaking up from the foot of Ken's bed, "I don't think Ken would've lived long enough to have met me." She looked gratefully at Ryu. "I'd tell you to ignore his talk but I'm sure you're used to it by now."

Ryu nodded, talking to Eliza but looking at Ken. "He's definitely got an attitude, but a spirit to match."

"Oh don't talk about me like that …"

"Once you get out of the hospital, Ken," Ryu advised, "you've got some training to do if you want to make it far into the tournament."

"Hey, you're looking at the U.S. Martial Arts Open champion," Ken bragged, jabbing his thumb into his chest. "I'd worry about how to keep my head on my shoulders if I were you, when we face each other in the finals."

"I'll be training hard too," Ryu chuckled. "Speaking of which, it'd be best if I headed out now. The rounds continue tomorrow and I don't think I've prepared myself enough yet, given all the events that have occurred today."

"Alright, buddy," Ken said, jabbing his friend in the knuckle, "you take care. I'll be seeing you shortly, once these people let me out of this place."

Ryu saluted Eliza with a quick wave of his hand and headed towards the door, exchanging goodbyes with Guile and Wagner on his way out. Ryu stepped out into the hallway, brushing past a few nurses on doctors in the midst of their busy schedules and headed for the elevator. He jabbed the lift button with a finger and waited for it to arrive to his floor.

While he waited, Ryu's thoughts drifted back to the events that had unfolded earlier today. Before arriving in Osaka, his plan was to participate in the tournaments in his never-ending search for a challenger capable of pushing his limits as a fighter – a challenger that could make Ryu break a sweat. He'd been living this way for as long as he could remember, enjoying the simple pleasures of life without having to worry about food and shelter. The prize money from the Street Fighter tournaments was his only income as he traveled the globe in search for a worthy opponent. The money didn't come pouring in very often but it was enough to sustain him for a good few years.

However after arriving for the tournament, expecting his life to continue as usual, Ryu's reunion with Ken grew to be bittersweet, after learning that his friend had destroyed Kenny's anonymity. The youth was never meant to rediscover his past. Doing so would only lead him to ask more questions, to dig deeper and find out who he was, attracting Shadowlaw's attention to him.

Ryu and Ken had kept an eye on Kenny during the past nine years, making sure he stayed as anonymous as possible, knowing well that they could get into trouble with the law. And yet, Ken decided to spill the beans on Kenny's past and even to this moment, Ryu couldn't figure out why.

And one thing led to another. Julian and Cranky get attacked by Akuma, the former is later kidnapped by Shadowlaw along with Kenny and Wagner, Guile's adoptive son. When it seemed to Ryu that all hope was lost, Colonel Wolfman of Delta Red contacts him with the good news of Kenny's rescue while simultaneously, Julian attacks Ken and Wagner assaults Guile and Kenny. It surprised him at first to learn of this, but knowing Shadowlaw, Ryu should've been expecting it. They were experts at ruining lives, after looking at what they'd done to Guile and Chun Li. He shouldn't have put it past them to go the extra mile, sending their newest agents after the people they held dearest. Ryu wondered if anything that had happened within the past week would've happened if Ken had never approached Kenny. Logically, it still seemed likely but he still wondered. After all, taking an event out of a series of them might somehow alter the future …

The elevator reached his floor with a gentle beep, as the doors slid open to grant him access. But Ryu paused. Just a few rooms down the hall from Ken, Kenny lay unconscious in a bed. Ryu learned of what had happened to him and Guile shortly after Guile's arrival into Ken's room. Kenny's injuries were supposedly severe, but not life threatening. Ryu glanced down at his rough, calloused hands and suddenly an idea struck him.

Would a chi transfer work? It was an idea tipping on ludicrous, consider a chi transfer wasn't considered effective, in medical terms. And here he was standing in the middle of the heart of everything medical. Ryu was skeptical when it came to modern science, having been raised traditionally his whole life by Master Gouken. If he was somehow able to strengthen Kenny's energy levels, perhaps the youth would wake sooner, and feel better once he did. His strength could work with whatever medicines were being injected into him. Ryu couldn't see any way a chi transfer would have a negative effect on Kenny.

He took a final look at the interior of the elevator and walked in the opposite direction where he'd come from. Kenny's room was only a few doors down from Ken's.

XXXXX

The doctor removed his glasses and wiped his glistening forehead with the back of his sleeve. He sighed and looked at Wagner with a weak, relieved smile. Wagner sensed his relief, letting him release some tension of his own.

"Your father is alright," the doctor said. "He's only suffered some minor bumps and bruises. We've got a few cuts from the glass, but otherwise, he should be okay. If it wasn't for his passenger, we could be looking at something alot worse."

"How is Kenny?" Wagner asked. He wanted to get a chance to thank the teen for what he did if he ever woke up.

"We've eliminated the possibility of brain damage," the doctor replied. "He's got a fractured skull and is out cold right now - concussion. But we think he's going to be alright in due time."

"Any idea when he'll regain consciousness?"

"Anywhere from a few hours to a few days, depending on the severity. But he will recover. You have nothing to worry about. Our nurses are looking after him."

"Thank you very much, Doctor. I appreciate it."

The Doctor nodded his head in acknowledgement and walked away briskly down the hall. Wagner re-entered the hospital room where Guile sat in a bed, refusing to lie down in fear that his strength would degrade if he were to rest too much. Eliza hadn't left Ken's side, forcing him to lie down and not move around too much, not unlike a mother would to her son. But Ken had the energy and mood of a restrained child, moving around restlessly on the sheets.

"These are making me itch," he complained, scratching at the small of his back. "Get me the hell outta here. I need to get some fresh air."

"I'll open a window," Eliza offered, "but I want you to stay put."

"Man, if only Ryu was here, we'd be outside training for the tournament instead of letting my skills waste in here."

"Ryu would be telling you the same thing I am," Eliza countered. The closing of the room door caught her attention as she noticed Wagner walk in with a smile on his face.

"You're pretty happy," Ken commented.

Wagner turned to Guile. "You're both going to be alright," he said.

"Kenny too?"

Wagner nodded. His relief was obvious. He'd been suffering painful guilt after learning of what he'd done to Guile and Kenny. And if anything had happened to either of them, Wagner would never forgive himself.

His thoughts were interrupted as the room door slammed open with such force, it bounced off against the wall. It caught the attention of the four souls in the room, all eyes suddenly focused on the door frame, on the petite figure standing there hunched over, gasping for breath with a thin layer of sweat coating her face.

"Chun Li?" Guile asked.

"Glad to see you care about our well being too," Ken said.

"Where' s Ryu?" she demanded.

"What do you want with Ryu at this time of the night?" Ken asked. "He just left to go train for the tournaments tomorrow."

"He's in serious trouble," Chun Li explained. "I was just at the police station with Yun and he told me about Akuma ..."

"WHAT?" Ken nearly leapt out of his bed and onto the floor. "D…did you just say Akuma?"

Chun Li nodded gravely. "I just found out … the demon killed my Master Gen."

"But that's absurd! Ryu defeated Akuma in the Alpha tournaments. Didn't the demon perish in the Mt. Fuji explosion?"

"Master Gen's corpse is a testament against that theory," Chun Li spat bitterly. "No average fighter could even lay a finger on Master Gen, let along kill him. Whoever was responsible for this must be a powerful fighter."

"But how do you know it was Akuma."

"Yun saw it with his own eyes." Ken squinted to get a better look – he couldn't tell if that was sweat running down her cheeks, or tears. "And he's after Ryu next. We have to warn him. Which way did he go?"

"He's probably returned to the hotel," Guile said. "He only just left a few moments ago. You might be able to catch him in the lobby if the elevator's quick enough."

"Thanks, Guile. I'd stay but given the situation …"

"Just go and warn him!" Ken insisted.

XXXXX

Kenny's room was silent, with the exception of the heart monitor beeps. Ryu was slightly surprised at Cammy and Cranky's presence, the ex-Shadowlaw girl with her arms wrapped tightly around the boy's broad shoulders. His body was sturdily built, but right now it looked as limp as a dried leaf. Ryu couldn't sense any strength in Cranky as he leaned into Cammy, her small frame supporting his complete weight. His face was in his palms and his shoulders bobbed up and down ever so slightly.

Ryu's entrance caught Cammy's attention as he turned her head to face him, her green eyes wide as she looked at the Street Fighter champion.

"I … I must've come at an inappropriate time," Ryu apologized, feeling the prick of guilt. "I'll best be on my way." He should've known Cranky would be here. He'd taken care of Kenny when the two of them were homeless children on the city's streets. Ryu had taken Kenny away in order to protect the youth from Shadowlaw, who was a mere six year old back then. Though at the time he was unaware the kind of bond the two children shared. It had only become apparent to him today that Cranky and Kenny had missed each other dearly, going by the sheer excitement of their reunion earlier today at Wolfman's temporary home. Ryu was young back then too, having not fully considered the consequences of his actions. But thinking back now, he couldn't have changed a thing. Kenny wouldn't be safe had he continuing roaming the streets with Shadowlaw on his tail.

"Don't leave," Cammy said, interrupting his thoughts. "It would be best if we did. We've spent the last few hours here, and I think I'm in the mood for a warm drink. Would you like a few moments with Kenny?"

"I just came to check up on him," Ryu said. "I suppose I could watch him for the next little while, at least until you get back."

"Thanks," Cammy said, helping Cranky to his feet.

"Your brother will be fine," Ryu assured, putting his hand on Cranky's shoulder. "There's no need to worry about him." Indeed there wasn't. If the chi transfer went according to plan …

"I know," Cranky said weakly.

"And, Cranky … I'm sorry for taking Kenny away." A moment of silence fell between them for a few short seconds, and then Ryu continued. "But it was to protect him from Shadowlaw."

"Thanks for making sure he was alright," Cranky said, before leaving the room, keeping it short and sweet as the door closed gently behind him.

Ryu waited a few more seconds to make sure they were completely gone before he approached Kenny's unconscious form lying peacefully on the hospital bed. He took a deep breath and focused his energy into the centre of his body. At this point, he was the only conscious, living being in the room and didn't have much life energy to offer, but it would have to do. He placed his fingers on Kenny's temples and forehead and closed his eyes, continuing a steady breathing pace. Ryu closed his eyes and concentrated on the growing concentration of energy in his body, channeling it through his blood, through the heat of his body and towards his fingertips that were in physical contact with Kenny.

He could sense the energy in the youth's body – steady, but weak. He could also sense the remnants of the evil energy that once possessed him. Ryu broke contact momentarily. The Shadow Technology's presence was almost non-existent. Had Kenny's car accident destroyed the Shadow chip embedded into his spine? Had something happened to him in the time he spent at Shadowlaw's headquarters?

He'd find out later. Shaking the curiosity from his head, Ryu continued the chi transfer, finding his steady breathing pace, pressing his fingers gently into the youth's skull while the energy continued to flow. Ryu felt Kenny's strength return. His heart beat stronger, his breathing grew less shallow with every passing second, and as Ryu opened his eyes, he could see the color returning to his face.

Deciding that he'd transferred enough energy over, Ryu released Kenny and took a step back. Kenny's almond shaped eyes opened slowly at stared curiously at the ceiling, and then over at Ryu who stood at his bedside with his arms folded across his chest, smiling proudly. It had worked. Kenny was having trouble moving after lying still for so long but his eyes seemed to tell exactly what he was thinking, observing the blankets that covered his lower body, moving about the room, and then back at Ryu.

"W…what happened," he stammered, his voice hoarse and rough.

"Don't worry about it," Ryu replied. "You're awake now, and that's what matters to everyone."

"It was you, wasn't it?" Kenny asked, pointing at him.

"I helped a little."

Kenny smirked. "Thank you, Ryu. I really appreciate it."

"It wasn't much trouble."

"Hey …" Kenny looked down at the floor, thinking hard as if he had something important to say. "I just … wanna say sorry for … how I was talking to you earlier today."

An apology was something Ryu was certainly not expecting. "I completely forgot about it," he lied. "I'm just glad you were out there smart-talking me and not being exploited by Shadowlaw."

"I … I need to ask you something," Kenny announced.

"Uh, sure, what's on your mind?" Ryu cocked his head, waiting for the question.

"Why do you fight?"

Ryu didn't know how to answer that question, and it certainly had come out of the blue. What exactly was going on in that little head of Kenny's? Apparently, his stunned moment of silence gave Kenny the message that Ryu was confused by the question as he took a few more words to elaborate on what he'd meant.

"I mean, you obviously have trained your entire life. You seem like someone who's dedicated their lives to the martial arts. And you've won the every single Street Fighter tournament to date. My impression of Ryu, the champion of all street fighters was an untouchable fighting god. Yet you're here playing doctor to me and I gotta say, that's not what I expected of you. The good-Samaritan image was the last thing way I thought I'd ever look at you. Is this the real Ryu? Do you fight for the good of all people, helping the victims that Shadowlaw leaves in its wake, victims like me?"

"I wouldn't go so far as to say I'm a good-Samaritan," Ryu chuckled. "And I haven't helped any other Shadowlaw victims that I can remember. I usually leave that to the authorities."

"So then, why me?"

"Honestly?" he asked. Knowing Kenny's personality, he wasn't going to like the answer, but Ryu explained anyway. "Honestly, I felt sorry for you. A six year old child living in cardboard boxes and stealing for money to get food?" He shook his head. "That didn't sit right with me. I was on orphan once too, you know. And I was fortunate enough to be raised by a kind, gentle man who not only fed and sheltered me, but who also instilled the beliefs I hold dearest. And Ken and I felt that this was a way we could give back to him."

"That makes sense," Kenny said, frowning in thought. "This guy that raised you … your father, I guess I should say … what does he think of your life decisions? I mean, does he like the fact that you beat the crap outta people for a living?"

"He's dead," Ryu said simply.

"Oh," Kenny said, choking on his own tongue. He cursed himself silently for sounding so insensitive. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to …"

"You didn't know," Ryu replied, shrugging off the comment. "The truth is I don't engage people in battle unless they want to challenge me. I travel around searching for one who does to test my skills, to point out my own weaknesses, to get a sense of the kind of diverse ways of thinking present in this world … I've learned a lot."

"Do you like it?"

"I do. Fighting has led me this far in life. The rush of a fight, the strength and endurance it demands are exciting, I'll admit. But the respect you get for your opponent and their capabilities, the restraint it requires to enable one to gain the upper hand – all of these lessons can be applied to everyday life. Fighting is more than a sport. It is also a discipline that I have based my entire life on. It has shaped me into the man I am today."

"I see."

Ryu frowned. This wasn't quite the reaction he was expecting. It surprised Ryu at just how passionate he could be when it came to talking about what he did for a living, and he hadn't realized how proud he could have been relating his philosophies to a young upstart like Kenny. If anything, Ryu thought the youth would be just as excited as he was, listening to the life lessons of an older person, let alone a street fighter champion. But Kenny reaction – or lack thereof confused and even disappointed him a little. But given the circumstances of Kenny's life, being alone for most of it, fighting would have definitely come into play as well – only with more at stake.

"You don't agree with it, do you?" Ryu asked.

Kenny shook his head. "I'm sorry," he said. "I don't mean to attack you or how you've chosen to live your life. But for me … I've fought my whole life. I've scrapped with other street kids for meager pickings out of garbage cans. I used the money Uncle Ken gave me to start a new life in America but I fought there too. Those monsters in Angel Grove, the Umbrella disaster in Raccoon City … no matter where I went, trouble seemed to find me. And each time, I fought to live, fought to escape … I come back home to Osaka and Shadowlaw tracks me down. Fifteen years old and I'm sick of life already. I don't know how much longer I can carry on fighting like this."

"Life has different plans for everyone …"

Kenny continued, ignoring Ryu's words. "I look at someone like you – so free, free to go wherever you want with the world at your fingertips without anyone pursuing you – and of all the things you choose to do with yourself, you fight? Why would anyone continuously choose to put themselves in harms way? It's just …" he shook his head, "…baffling. And to see you do this to yourself with no purpose other than just to fight – despite your freedom – it angers me."

"I can understand your frustration," Ryu said, pulling up a seat by the bed. "But what you are not taking into account is the fundamental differences between you and I. How you and Cranky survived was street brawling. The path I choose goes beyond the will to survive. You are a survivor. I am a warrior. We both fight, that is true, but the circumstances that led us to do so are completely different. You are talented, and you have the skills to become a great martial artist. I've seen you in action before. But the one thing you lack is the soul of a fighter. You only do so because you have no other choice. You just want to be left alone, am I right?"

Kenny nodded.

"And I fight because I learn from each battle. A battle is like a condensed version of life itself. Even when we are not physically engaged in battle, we are always at war with everything around us – how to provide food, social relations, even at war with ourselves. I understand why you have your views and I don't hold them against you, having a vague idea of what you've been through. But that understanding needs to be reciprocated, Kenny. I ask only that much of you."

"I'm sorry to have questioned you."

Ryu shook his head. "You have not made me question my own beliefs, only made me more secure with them. I'm glad we had the talk." Ryu got up from his seat and stretched. "Do you want something to drink?"

"Nah, I'm good," Kenny replied, holding up a hand. "I think this saline's keeping me hydrated enough …"

A slight rumble of the floor interrupted his sentence, causing the both of them to freeze. The lights in the room flickered on and off rapidly for a few seconds. Kenny gripped to the sidebars of his bed and looked around in confusion while Ryu grabbed the chair he once sat in and replanted himself into it. All the while, the shaking floor and the flickering lights never stopped.

"An earthquake?" Ryu asked aloud. He shot a glance out the room window and noticed the building across the street from the hospital. Given the narrow streets of the city, it was relatively easy to see what was going on. Silhouettes of people walked nonchalantly across the windows of steadily lit rooms. Nobody stumbled, grabbed for anything to hold onto, or even lose their balance. It appeared like they were carrying on their normal lives, like they didn't even feel anything. He instantly realized something was wrong. He looked at Kenny who looked back at him with a terrified expression.

And that was when they both felt it – the air in the room grew dense and heavy with the negative energy of pure evil. It was so strong, so powerful that it threatened to choke the both of them. The lights flickered one last time before dying completely, bathing the room in near-complete darkness, now lit up by the lights outside and whatever was able to enter from the bottom of the door.

"Get the doctors in here," Kenny said. Ryu shot up from the seat grabbed for the door handle and tried to open it – but it refused to budge.

"It won't open," he replied as he continued to struggle with the handle.

"Who locked it!" Kenny demanded.

"It doesn't feel like it's locked. It's as if …" he tugged at it one last time before releasing it violently, "… as if someone with an incredibly powerful grip is holding the handle in place from the other side …"

"That's not right," Kenny insisted, looking at the bottom of the door. There was no break in the light on the other side, no shadow that would stop it from getting into the room. "There's nobody on the other side of the door. HOLY SHIT!"

Ryu felt it too, at the exact moment Kenny made his panicked outcry. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up straight. The ominous air in the room seemed to have a life of its own, converging into the centre of the room. From his peripheral vision, Ryu could see Kenny staring at something, his whole body paralyzed with fear. There was a powerful, menacing presence standing right behind Ryu. He spun around to face it and came face to face with a set of glowing, fiery red eyes.

Someone spoke in a deep, rumbling, demonic voice that seemed to have come from the devil himself. "I have found you …"