Saikyokugenryu Ch.5:Grudges and debts.

Dan and Ryo were then taken to a local hotel area with a parking garage underneath. When they were driven and taken there,the Tarantualla had his men cover them while he conducted business upstairs. Both heroes sat in Ryo's car while the two men stood across from them near the limo with their guns.

"So."said Ryo. "..ya mind telling me who exactly did you tick off there and what exactly did you do to get him this way?" Dan sighed in disgust. "All I did was enter an underground fighting contest to earn some extra cash." He said. "And this guy,Kensho Takeshi,better known to the criminal underworld as the Tarantuala,was hosting it. I defeated his reigning champion Bloodgut and won 1000 yin."

"So now it looks like he's wanting to take the cash back?"said Ryo. "Yeah it looks that way."said Dan. "Man,are these crime bosses getting pettier every day or is it just me? Anyways,I'd also kinda like to hear your story on this fighting style Kyokugen was it?"

"That's right."said Ryo. "Founded by my great grandfather many years ago,it's a family traditional sort of thing." "I see."said Dan. "Mine was just started but my father was a great fighter many years ago and-"

Suddenly,the elevator doors were open and out stepped the wee man Dan and Ryo ran into earlier the Tarantuala. He then approached them.

"Hibiki,Mr.Sakazaki."he said grinning. "You are both to come with my men and myself at once."

The two gunmen motioned for them to get out of the car and to follow them to the elevator. Once inside they all went up to the very topfloor and went inside a room marked 705. Once inside,both Dan and Ryo were seated in two brown plush chairs whilst Tarantuala sat in his own near a round wooden table affixed to the floor,it had a set of sake and iced tea on it.

"Now my dear Hibiki."said Tarantuala as he took a glass of iced tea and sipped from it. "Do you know the reason why you're brought here?"

"Uhmm.lemee guess.."said Dan. "Is it to..take back the money I so rightfully earned?"

"Well that..and the fact that I wish to have a simple rematch on your fighting strengths is all."

"A rematch?"said Dan. "But I won fair square and all that in your tournament and." "That you did."said Tarantuala. "And it's obvious by the looks of that..'dojo' you built back there in the suburban area of Tokyo that you've used half of the yin I gave you no doubt. All I wish to do is see how better your fighting skills have got since last time.

Oh sure,you defeated my champion back there,but in my opinion I think you were just lucky last time."

"LUCKY?!"shouted Dan in outrage. "SIT DOWN!"said one of the thugs with his gun on him. "Man,keep it cool Dan."thought Ryo sweatdropping. "These guys have us in their sights!"

"Now now don't get so excited."said Tarantula. "What I want is another demonstration of your..saikyo as call it. And you will do so.as Marlon Brando once quoted an offer you can't refuse."

"Oh great."said Dan. "..do or die huh?" "More than that."said Tarantuala. "I also got a photo of someone close to you." Tarantuala handed Dan a photo of a strange looking man he knew. He was green skinned with orange shaggy hair.

"B-Blanka?"said Dan. "You got him captured?" "Indeed we do."said Tarantuala. "We spotted him outside of Tokyo just a few days ago,said he was coming to see you. He put quite a fight,but nothing a few stun darts couldn't do."

"You stinkin---what do you want me to do anyway?"said Dan. "Ahhh..glad you aked finally."said Tarantula."This hotel we're in.the sunny Sakaza is owned by me.we will stage a fight in the downstairs ballroom locked out and sealed from no one to disturb while you..and your companion there fight it out with some certain fighters I have handpicked."

"Me?"said Ryo. "But--ยก" "SILENCE!"said Tarantuala. "You came with Dan Hibiki on this one-and you shall do as he does,it may be the only way to save your life! Now,I want both of you to change into whatever fighting duds you have brought with you in your dufflebags and then come with us back downstairs to the ground level and ballroom where you shall face off against my group of warriors. And you will both do so at once or suffer the grave consequences!"

Minutes later,both warriors were changing into their karate gi's. "Man,I can't believe this!"said Ryo. "Neither can I!"said Dan. "That's the first and last time I ever do anything under that scumbag king!" "Well,we can't hang about here playing this guy's games,we've gotta do something when we get to that ballroom for the fight!"

"I hear ya."said Dan."But how and what?" "We'll decide that when we get there,I promise you that."said Ryo as he tied his balck belt around his tunic,as did Dan.

They then heard a voice through the door. "Hey,you guy's ready yet or what?" it was one of Tarantualla's thugs. "Yeah,hold your water,we're coming!"said Dan. "Shall we..?" "Might as well."said Ryo.

The two fighters were escorted downstairs by Tarantuala's goons downstairs by way of the stairway and then they came across a door that was marked BALLROOM SIDE ENTRANCE. One of the goons opened and both Dan and Ryo walked inside.

There,they found a vast and sprawling ball room with a wide and large padded mat that was covered over the floor. The walls were painted with gold and white trim and a crystal clear chandilier hung from the pastel gold ceiling.

All of the wooden and metal chairs were neatly folded and stowed away on the far right side of the room and both the Tarantualla and his goons stood before Dan and Ryo in the middle of the floor.

"Shall we have this.dance? Hahaha!"cackled the mobster. "Oh great."groaned Dan. "..he does puns too,how Saturday morning." "This guy maked Mr.Big look like Boss Tweed of the taminy ring."thought Ryo. "This guy redefines lowlife tackiness."

"Now,"said Tarantualla. "We will begin with a little and then a whole lot of one-on-one in this homemade ring setting. We've placed this padded mat covering on the floor so no one will truly get hurt,at least not by falling or slipping that is..hee-hee!

The two of you shall face off against a group of fighters I have handpicked just for such an occasion. Now,as I snap my fingers,they shall enter."

Tarantualla snapped his fingers and the entrance doors from the patio and pool opened. And out came 5 warriors of martail arts techniques.

One was Balrog,the american heavyweight boxing champion from Las Vegas,and former executive of Shadaloo. The second one was Adon,Muay-thai fighter and former pupil of Sagat. The third was Eiji Kisaragi,ninja assassin who it seems has finally shown up after the KOF'95 tournament. The fourth was Jin-fuha,martial arts master. And the fifth in the middle was Urien,brother of Gill.

"Omigosh!"thought Dan. "Adon,Balrog,even that Urien guy! I can't believe this!" "Eiji and Jin Fuha together at last huh?"thought Ryo. "Well,at least that's one thing I don't have to worry about now that he found the ninja he was looking for,but.what does Tarantualla have on them?"

"I hired each of these men for this simple task of fighting you both."said Tarantulla. "And they are the best I have seen thus far. So,whoever goes first shall fight and defeat your opponent. If you both win,you and your friend Blanka will be free.

But if you are both defeated by these men..well,I guess it's been nice knowing you,and yes Hibiki,I will get the rest of my money back and get it off your little dojo back there. That is,if you win. So.without further more ado,let's get ready to tumble! First fighter.Balrog!"

The black boxer stepped up to the ring and pounded his fists together.

"Who's this guy?"said Ryo. "Micky Roger's brother or Michael Max's cousin?" "Neither."said Dan. "He's Balrog-big bad and nasty as they come! I fought him once when I caught him and Shadaloo's boys selling drugs around my neighborhood back in Hong Kong once."

"Yeah,and it's hight time for some payback pinky-boy!"said Balrog sneering. "And I choose you to fight me at that!" "Very well."said Tarantualla. "Match one,Dan VS Balrog!"

"Well uh..good luck Dan."said Ryo. "Thanks,but I don't rely on luck,just my experience and power of the Saikyo."said Dan. "All right then."said the thug referee. "Step up to the ring." Both men faced each other.

"ROUND ONE-BEGIN!" Next Ch.6. DAN VS BALROG!