CHAPTER 4

Everyone looked at Aaron Volpe as if he were a lunatic. After all, he was winning. Why would he quit now, when he could've finished Crimson off then and there?

"I know, I know...", Aaron started, "...You're all wondering why I have quit, ne? Well, I shall tell all of thee. Forsooth, that man over there who goes by the name Crimson is a fighter, and he wants to be the next Bushin Master. I'm not necessarily here to be the victor of a tournament, so I shall give Crimson my victory in a show of good favor and respect."

The referee and the acting judges discussed the current situation in a huddle of sorts while Crimson looked on. The young Bushin then felt the aura of someone approaching him. Turning around, he was greeted by the sight of Guy. And he didn't look too happy.

"Crimson...", Guy said.

"...You didn't fight using any of the techniques I taught you. You were fighting as if you were both blind and deaf."

Crimson sighed. "I know, I know... It's just that I haven't had a match with Volpe in a long time, and..."

"That's no excuse...", Guy said shaking his head. "...Maybe next time instead of exchanging pleasantries with him, you'll try to anticipate what type of fighter he is. I could tell just by looking at him that he was a fighter who could take a lot of punishment and was heavy in reversal attacks. What did you see?"

Crimson was stung yet again by Guy's chastisement. He began looking around idly, searching for a way out of this conversation. Meanwhile, the judges had made their final decision. Making sure the crowd and the fighters had their full attention, the lead judge then spoke up.

"After careful consideration... We have decided that the victory goes to Crimson."

The crowd then made a universal sigh of disappointment upon hearing the judges decision. Aaron then walked up to the Bushin duo. After a brief shaking of hands with Guy, Volpe spoke.

"Well, that's another good deed for me... So, Crimson, where are you headed?"

"Actually, I'm going to head back to the city with Guy.", Crimson replied. Aaron nodded.

"Hm. Would thou mind if you gained another person on your travels, Sir Guy of Bushin?", Volpe said to Guy. Guy shook his head no.

"Wouldn't mind at all, but I have a match about to start very soon. I believe Crimson can get you to wherever you need to get to. Is that satisfactory?"

"Very much so. Thank ye.", Aaron replied. Crimson and Aaron then made their way from tournament. Walking from the fighting area, the two quietly walked in silence until Aaron broke the ice.

"Well sir...", he began, "...I haven't saw much of thee in many a long year. Are you training with Guy?"

"Yeah. With Guy's training and teaching, I'm hoping to become the next Master of Bushinryuu.", Crimson said. Aaron chuckled, his dog tags shining against the now-dawning sun.

"That's a very high goal, my friend. Best of luck to you."

"Thanks.", Crimson said. Turning the tables, Crimson asked Aaron where he's been as of late.

"Me? Well, I've been training and working in the Air Force and Interpol alongside Chun-Li and Charlie Nash for awhile now. I'm on a continuing mission with the two of them to investigate and gather as much information about Shadaloo as possible. It's a fun job.", Aaron said with a grin.

"What...? What's so fun about it?", Crimson asked, not understanding what Aaron was getting at.

"Well...", Aaron started with a smile, "...While investigating Shadaloo, you might -or will, get shot at, nearly blown up, or maybe even face M. Bison yourself. My kind of work."

"Oh...", Crimson trailed off.

*********

(In The City)

*********

Upon reaching the bright lights of the city once more, Crimson and Volpe made their way to a local restaurant. Ruffling through his track pants, Crimson muttered curses as he realized he didn't bring enough money. Turning to Volpe, Crimson asked if he could lend him some money.

"Sure.", Aaron said with a smile. Reaching in the back pocket of his khaki pants, Aaron gave Crimson the money necessary.

"Thanks, man.", Crimson said with a smile. Ordering some teriyaki, Crimson sat down and began eating as he awaited Aaron. Aaron then came back with a plate large enough to serve himself along with two others. Crimson could only stare in sheer amazement.

"Big appetite, ne?", Aaron said with a grin. Crimson laughed, shaking his head. Eating in quiet silence, Crimson then noticed some sort of commotion outside. Turning his direction to the nearby window, Crimson noticed a familiar character that he had seen not too long ago earlier in the day...

"Balrog?", Crimson whispered to himself. He was back already? Hadn't he had learned his lesson already? Volpe must've known who it was, because he was already outside.

"Um...?", Crimson said, observing Aaron's hasty exit to confront Balrog. Finishing the rest of his teriyaki dish in a gulp, the young Bushin made his way out the door. Balrog was certainly making a commotion. Picking up one man from right off his feet, the boxer yelled directly in his face.

"WHERE is that little Bushin punk, Crimson!?!", Balrog spat. The man shook his head, not understanding Balrog's rant. Balrog tossed the man to the ground and let him scramble off. Suddenly, he felt a tap on his back. Turning around, Balrog was greeted by the sight of a perpetually grinning Aaron Volpe.

"Balrog of Shadaloo, methinks."

"Yeah...", Balrog said. "...What's it to ya?"

Aaron smiled, extending a hand. "I'm Aaron Volpe, Air Force member, Interpol officer, and all-around cool guy."

Balrog's eyes went wide in surprise but for a second. "Interpol, eh? Well then, it looks like I'd better make a run for it. But not before I do this!"

The boxer then threw a cheap shot in Aaron's direction. Aaron stepped away from the blow, then stepped in and punched Balrog in the jaw.

"I had a feeling thou would try a move of sheer trickery...", Volpe trailed off. Wiping a thin line of blood off his lip, Balrog growled, then attacked Aaron again. Artfully dodging another potentially dangerous blow, Volpe countered with a back fist that found it's mark located at Balrog's skull.

"Okay, that's it...", Balrog said menacingly. "...Get 'im, fellas!"

From the shadows, a group of Shadaloo soldiers came charging at Aaron from both sides. Crowding him quickly, Volpe could only cover up and try to take the punishment being dealt to him. It was then that Crimson sprung into action!

Pulling one man off of Aaron, the young Bushin turned the soldier around, and smacked him senseless with his Hadouryuken. Noticing that one of their own was in trouble, some of the soldiers then turned their attention to Crimson. One ran at Crimson as another made his way toward him also. The young Bushin waited patiently, awaiting their move, anticipating their strategy...

"YAH!"

Crimson dodged one attack with a spinning kick, turning around to face the other man, Crimson then felt hands then wrap themselves around his neck in a chokehold. At first swinging at empty air, Crimson then elbowed the unseen attacker in the gut, causing the man to slightly relinquish his grip. Crimson kept on until the soldier finally released his grip. Performing a reverse Houzanto, Crimson knocked the Shadaloo thug onto the floor. Turning around quickly, Crimson dodged yet another attack with the skill and grace he didn't seem to use when he battled Volpe. Landing on his feet as he made another soldier miss with an attack, Crimson began to summon up more chi... Finally reaching his maximum level, Crimson then reached for one thug who was busy trying to beat down Volpe. Turning him around, the soldier was greeted to the sight of Crimson, surrounded in a reddish glowing battle aura. Grabbing the man about his collar almost roughly, Crimson called out the name of the most dangerous Bushin technique.

"Bushin... MUSOU RENGE!!!"

Even though Crimson hadn't fully mastered the technique, it was nonetheless a dangerous move. No more than five seconds later, the man was on the ground, panting and in obvious pain. Crimson looked down at the man with obvious contempt.

"Baka...", Crimson muttered to himself in Japanese. Turning around to help up Aaron, he noticed the Air Force ace was already on his feet, surrounded by many fallen soldiers.

"That should take care of them for a good while, methinks.", Volpe said, dusting his hands off for effect. Then both turned around. Expecting to see Balrog ready to charge at them at any moment, Aaron and Crimson both noted that he was gone already...

"Hey... Where'd that rogue villain get to?", Aaron said, looking around. Crimson shrugged nonchalantly.

"Guess he got scared and ran off to Bison. I'm going to call the cops so they can arrest these clowns for disturbing the peace.", Crimson said, pointing at the fallen soldiers. Aaron nodded.

"Good idea, sir Crimson. But first, I'd like to talk to each and every one of these good men. See if I can't get them to perhaps spill some beans about Shadaloo and their terrible plans and plottings...", Volpe said. Crimson shrugged.

"Whatever is best for you...", Crimson said. Noting the time, Crimson then added, "...Oh, man. It's h*lla' late. Guy should be back from the tournament already. You mind if I head back, Aaron?"

"Not at all, mayhap. Get thee hence, I'll handle things here.", Aaron said with a smile. Giving Aaron a firm handshake and parting words, Crimson then made his way back to the dojo that doubled as him and Guy's living area.

*******

At The Dojo

*******

Looking around left to right, Crimson made sure that Guy wouldn't know he got back late. As he got back, Crimson noticed that all the lights inside were off.

"Hm. A bit odd...", Crimson realized. Opening the door, Crimson quietly made his way to his bedroom. Crimson then froze in his tracks. Using his Bushin instinct the best he could, he then turned around. Someone was here in the dark with him... Quietly listening, the young fighter walked carefully and with stealth... The person was close, real close... One false move, and he was history, Crimson realized. Then, without warning, the unseen assailant struck! A fist was sent right into Crimson's jaw. Crimson yelled out in surprise, then attacked in the darkness. The sounds of fists and feet cutting the air were the only audible sounds in the room. Suddenly, Crimson's attacker ran at him and kicked straight towards him. Recognizing the danger as best he could, Crimson then jumped in the air using his rising Senpukyaku. This time, remembering how Volpe easily countered in mid-air, Crimson changed his attack pattern. As he neared completion of the move, Crimson amazingly grabbed his attacker, and all in one swift motion, pulled the unseen person towards himself and slammed him onto the dojo floor hard onto his back. Crimson waited for the attacker to get up, but no sound was heard. Then the lights mysteriously came on. At the switch stood a stern-faced Guy. Walking up to his student, Crimson took note of the slight blood trickle on Guy's lower lip.

"Very good, Crimson.", Guy said approvingly. Crimson's eyes went wide but for a moment, then he smiled. It was another one of Guy's Bushin tests all along, and he passed with flying colors. Guy knew Crimson's road to true mastery of Bushin was going to be a challenging one, but if he showed more effort like that in the near future, Guy knew that Crimson and him would be battling for leader of Bushin soon enough...