Disclaimer: See previous chapters

Chap 13

You're Ashura? I should have known it to be you Akuma.

Names do not matter. But let us see how you fare against Kairi.

Kairi. You must snap out of it. Don't let him control you.

No. I will kill you. I will kill you. I will...

Kairi, no. It's me, Nanase. Don't you remember me? Your scatterbrain little sister?

 I...I.....Nan....Nanase? Sister? AiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeeeEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!

Kairi. Are you okay?

Nanase. You've...grown a lot. Where…am I?

It doesn't matter. You're back now. Like Hokuto.

It's over Akuma. Kairi is free.

Perhaps. But you Ryu are not. We'll meet again

_____________________________

"So you finally arrived. And you brought yet another guest. What is with you and these girls?"

Ryu looked down at Sakura who was barely alive.

"Let her go. Your fight is with me."

"Yes, it is. Let's hope you're stronger than this girl. Although I will admit, she put up quite a fight."

With that he flung Sakura away. Sakura flew through the air before Chun-Li jumped up and caught her, then landed safely.

Akuma watched the action, "Ahh. She shows strength. I can tell just from that jump. I see that you would only be satisfied with a strong mate. But enough talk."

"Ryu, be careful."

Ryu nodded and walked up to Akuma. Akuma showed a sharp grin. Finally, this is it. The fight I've been waiting for. Don't disappoint me.

Suddenly, with loud cries both Akuma and Ryu charged at each other, each with his fist raised. Then when they reached a point, they leapt into the air and struck at each other, their fists hitting the other and holding in its place. They growled as they tried to push each other back and they eventually pushed each other away. Akuma rolled away and fired a Gou-Hadoken to which Ryu parried. Akuma took to the air and fired another blast. Ryu rolled, but Akuma anticipated the move, landed and lashed his leg out. Ryu managed to block it, but was thrown off balance. Akuma pushed his aggressive attacks further and pretty soon, Ryu was stuck on the defense. However, Ryu was mostly a defensive fighter, so Akuma was unable to score anymore real hits. Seeing that, Akuma decided to push it further by using the Tatsumaki-Senpuu Kyaku, to which Ryu blocked, but with some effort. Akuma was counting on that, so when he landed, Ryu was unable to block his Gou-Shouryu and lifted sky-borne. Ryu took in the hits and slid on the floor and Akuma landed shortly.

"Do you really think you can keep this up?"

"..........."

On the sidelines, Chun-Li watched while taking care of Sakura. She was injured, but not enough to be life-threatening. However, she did lose a lot of energy and it would take time for her to revive. Watching the fight, she saw the true might of Akuma and how powerful he was. But as the two started fighting again, she saw that Ryu was holding in a lot of his power. Not holding back, in. She saw that he had a plan of some sort and hopefully, it'll work.

As the two clashed again, their energies began to become more present in their attacks. Akuma saw this. Just like the other one. He may push me that far. He just ducked a roundhouse kick of Ryu and was moving in for an uppercut. Ryu backed away from the punch and scored a blow to Akuma's ribs. Akuma gasped and in anger he struck back with a heavy punch to the face. But because of his anger, the blow didn't land as hard as he wanted to and Ryu saw another opening.

"Shoryuken!!!"

This time, it was Akuma's turn to fly through the air. But he managed to safely roll on the ground.

"Denjin..."

The demon arose to see Ryu hands cupped together, but holding in the energy. Akuma saw this and thought, Hmph. Just like the girl. Ryu held it for awhile and let it fly.

"Hadoken!"

Akuma parried the attack, but he underestimated its speed and some of it hit him enough for him to be dazed slightly. By the time he recovered, Ryu hit him with his Joudan-Geri kick and sent him into a nearby tree, cracking it. Akuma slowly got up. Perhaps I misjudged him. That won't happen again. Ryu charged at him again, but the demon simply vanished. Akuma reappeared beside him and on impulse, Ryu sent out another roundhouse kick. Akuma ducked it and summoned a new energy.

"Metssatsu Gou-Rasen!"

The demon went spinning and his kicks knocked Ryu in the air repeatedly until he finished it with a high roundhouse of his own. Ryu fell heavily, but managed to rise again. Akuma rematerialized in front of him and in surprise, Ryu used another attack.

"Metsu-Shoryuken!"

Ryu caught Akuma with an elbow and followed up with a Shoryuken. But as Akuma fell back, he laughed.

"Hahahahahaha! That's it. Use the dark power within you. Let it awaken."

Ryu was left uncertain and Akuma laughed again, "Did you not feel it? That attack and the Hadoken you launched at me before are from the dark arts. Am I wrong?"

Ryu thought for awhile, The Denjin Hadoken was a dark technique. I first used it when I used Satsu No Hado. But I mastered it to be used without killing. But...the Metsu-Shoryuken. No, I must remain focused. I can't allow myself to lose. He took a glance at Chun-Li. Too much is riding on this.

Akuma noticed the short glance, "I see. She's preventing you from awakening. We'll have to deal with that. In a flash, Akuma leapt in the air and summoned his dark power, creating a dark pulse of energy. Ryu saw what he was going to do and jumped after him.

"Akuma, NO!!!!"

"Let's see what happens when she's no longer around. Metssatsu Gou-Hado!"

The demonic fireball headed straight for Chun-Li. And with Sakura there, there was no way she could avoid it.

"NOOO!!!!!!"

(Writer's note: For those who have played SFA3, you may notice that when Ryu finishes a person off with the Metsu-Shoryuken, he turns his back like E. Ryu. Just an observation.)