2. New Techniques
"Well, what brings you to Japan, Darrell?" Sakura asked curiously while sipping her drink from her cup.
Darrell placed his hands behind his head. "One word," he responded. "Vacation! Things were getting hectic back home in the States. I was going crazy! So I took a leave of absence from my school for the final few weeks and decided to revisit Tokyo to relax some. You're pretty lucky that your school is out now."
Sakura finally got to the Shining Tiger restaurant at around 8:00. The fight took 20 minutes, and since the restaurant was a bit far from her house, it took a while to get there. They have already ordered their food, which was sitting on the table, waiting to be eaten.
"So. how have you been, Sakura?" Darrell asked. He tilted his chair back when he spoke.
Sakura put her cup down, and then spoke. "Things have been toned down quite a bit. Nothing exciting really. You know how I am; school, training, hanging out with friends." she paused a bit before continuing. "Speaking of friends, I'm supposed to meet Hinata, Batsu, Kyosuke, and Kei here."
A smile spread across Darrell's face. "They'll be surprised to see me again." He closed his eyes while drinking from his cup. After a while, his eyes shot open and he stopped drinking. He put his cup down and asked, "Who is Kei?"
"Oh, you didn't see her the last time you were here, have you? She is my close friend. She's really nice, but she has been trying to stop me from fighting for the longest time."
"She sounds protective."
"Nah. Just concerned about my well being."
Darrell shrugged. "I guess she doesn't see things from a fighter's point of view."
Sakura began eating while he spoke, so it took a while before she responded. "I don't mind it, really. But if I wasn't a Street Fighter, I wouldn't be able to." She trailed off.
"Something wrong?" Darrell asked before stuffing his face with some food.
She shook her head. "No. The gang is here."
Darrell didn't turn around immediately, but he knew what Sakura was talking about. The two waited for the newcomers to break the ice.
Three young teenagers approached the table that Sakura and Darrell were sitting at. The girl had on blue jeans with a plain white short-sleeve shirt and multi-colored sneakers. Her dark brown hair sort of spread out somewhat, and like Sakura, had on a headband, only without the extensions. One of the boys had on all blue, save for the sneakers, which were mostly white with red stripes. He had a scar on his right forehead and his black hair was completely wild. The last member of the group had short, orange hair and glasses. He also wore a gray shirt and white pants and white sneakers with blue and yellow stripes.
"Hey, Sakura!" the girl cheered out while giving Sakura a formal greeting.
"Hi, Hinata," Sakura responded, her mouth full with food. The teen boy in the blue outfit rolled his eyes when he saw Sakura. She swallowed and then looked at the two boys.
"How is it going, Batsu and Kyosuke?" Darrell said. He tilted his chair back again.
Batsu, Kyosuke, and Hinata looked straight at the dark-skinned teen as if he was a distant cousin that they have never seen before. The orange-headed boy, after about a few seconds, finally smiled, closing his eyes. "Wow. it is you. Darrell Goodson: the kid that helped us with the Justice High School incident. How are you?"
"I'm okay, Kyosuke," Darrell sighed. "I'm taking a breather here. America was been a bit crazy lately, just incase you were wondering why I'm here."
"I see."
Darrell turned his eyes to Batsu, who was just standing next to the table, staring down at him. Kyosuke and Hinata already took a seat next to Sakura and Darrell.
"Hey, Batsu," Darrell started. "I can see that you're doing OK. why don't you take a seat. I know that you are tired from your 'journey' from your house to here." He laughed a short laugh at his own pathetic joke.
As always, Batsu didn't laugh. He just cracked a small smile. A very small smile. "Whatever." he muttered.
Darrell raised an eyebrow. "Something wrong, Batsu? I could have sworn that, well, with that look on your face, you were about to crack a laugh."
Batsu shook his head. "Don't you start again," he warned. "Let's not forget. you and me have a little rivalry going."
"Sure. Whatever you say."
Sakura spoke next. "Darrell. that move you used on that guy. I can tell that you just learned that move. What was it?"
Darrell had just finished his meal when Sakura asked her question. When he looked up, everyone had their eyes on him. "Let's see, now. the Shakunetsuken. I created that move. It is like Ken's Shoryuken, only without the whole jumping into the air with the uppercut. My fist, like, covers with flames as I deliver this wicked punch to my opponent. If anything. it was sort of inspired by Batsu's Guts Upper."
This caught Batsu's attention. "What do you mean 'inspired'? It sounds like a complete rip-off!"
Then Hinata added, "And what guy were you talking about, Sakura? You mean to tell me that Darrell just comes to Japan and on his first day back he knocks somebody senseless?"
"Well," Sakura began. "It goes like this." Sakura told her friends about the incident with Sho and his pals. It wasn't anything to be proud about considering what the five did over the last three years.
Batsu gave a smirk. "That's nice and all, but this Shakunetsuken. I want to see what you are talking about."
"Fine." Darrell stood up. "I guess it would be better to show you than to tell you." He turned to a waitress that was passing by. "Check, please."
----- -----
"Shakunetsuken!"
Darrell rushed forward through the grass with his flaming fist and gave a right hook into air. Then, he gave an uppercut. The others looked on at the show that Darrell was putting on with his new technique. The 5 of them went to a public park where they could see the Shakunetsuken without disturbing anyone. which was pretty hard to do if someone just walks by and sees a foreigner displaying fighting techniques with flames for fists. Darrell was really working up a sweat, picking up the speed and variation of his attacks.
"Well, it looks like most of us have been training," Hinata commented while drinking a soda that she got from the Shining Tiger.
"Well, it is a bit unique that he can attack so many times with his hand on fire for so long," Kyosuke added.
Darrell stopped his self-sparring and his fist stopped burning. He looked up towards the gang. "Now that I think about it, I had something to show you guys, especially you, Sakura."
Sakura's eyes lit up as she sat on the fresh grass. "Like what?"
Darrell had a smile on his face. "You know the Shinku Hadouken that you taught me?"
Sakura nodded. The Shinku Hadouken was a powerful, bigger version of her Hadouken that she used earlier. It required a mass amount of energy to use and can take a while to learn. Sakura herself taught Darrell how to do the Shinku Hadouken about 2 years ago while he was recuperating from his beating at the hands of Justice High students. Surprisingly, Darrell already knew how to use the normal Hadouken and didn't take him long to perfect the move.
"Well." Darrell placed his footing and clasped his hands to his side. "I have been working hard to make mine better. Check this out!"
He focused himself. After a while, everything around them was very quiet, save for the breeze that came though. Their clothes rippled in the wind.
{What could he be doing?} Sakura asked herself as a faint blue aura surrounded Darrell.
A small, blue sphere of energy entered his hands that eventually got bigger. Unlike Sakura, who normally lets her Shinku Hadouken go at this point, Darrell let it charge in his hands, making it even bigger and covering it with electricity.
{He has the power right now,} she thought again. {I wonder why he is still holding it.}
Darrell started to hum loudly. Suddenly, his aura and his energy sphere turned from blue to red-orange.
"Shakunetsu Shinku Hadouken!"
He shot his hands forward, releasing the sphere in a huge red energy blast. It crossed the grass, almost burning it as it traveled. It kept going for about 5 seconds before it dwindled and disappeared.
"Wow," Sakura awed at this new attack. The power felt so. enormous that she felt her own energy start to burn. "It must have taken you a long while to master that!"
Darrell turned to his friend, smiling. Even though he was smiling, he couldn't hide the fatigue look of his body. "Well. I. try.ugh." Suddenly, Darrell dropped to his knees. Everyone else gasped at this turn of events.
He looked up at his friends, which were coming over to see what's the problem was. "It's just that. when I use these moves. it takes a lot of my energy." He fell backwards to the ground.
Batsu put a hand over his face. "I don't believe this," he commented. "He improves his moves. but he cannot sustain the energy loss."
"Don't worry about it," Darrell managed to say. "I'll get used to it. It sort of reminds me of this show I watched back in the States." He paused for a while before saying, "Did any of you guys learn any moves?"
For the first time today, Batsu smiled fully. "Now that you mention it. we did."
Batsu stepped away from the rest of the young fighters. Batsu positioned himself as Darrell sat up to see.
{Let's see what Batsu has been doing lately,} he thought.
Batsu started to brace himself. Soon after, twin flames shot out of his fists. He let out a loud growl, and then he shot forward into the open field.
"Maximum Guts. UPPER!" he belted as one flame-covered fist shot down into an overhead attack, then gave an extremely powerful uppercut that unearthed some of the ground with an explosion.
Darrell's eyes widened. {Now THAT is power,} he thought.
"Well, Batsu Ichimonji," Sakura started, "it seems as if you have another powerful attack at your disposal." She turned her attention to her friend, Hinata. "How about you, Hinata?"
Hinata smiled. "I'm surprised you asked. Really, I spent my time changing my Fire Senpukyaku. I call it the Resen Enbukyaku!"
"Why don't you show us then?" Sakura egged her on, nudging her elbow into Hinata's ribs. Hinata brushed Sakura off.
"All right then." She made her way past Batsu, who was walking towards Kyosuke. Kyosuke had kept quiet ever since they entered the park.
{He must have learned something, too,} Darrell thought.
Hinata started her new attack. She ducked down, and then yelled out a bit. She sprang into the air, swinging her legs to kick upward into the air. Her kicks were trailed with rainbow colored energy. After 5 kicking rotations, she stopped her attack and landed on the ground, then she quickly said, "Then there is this other move. Hisshou!"
She rushed forward, and then let out a barrage of punches. There were so fast that they seemed to blur. Then she ducked down and yelled out, "Moutei!" as she spread out her fists while spinning into the air, creating a mini-cyclone. When she finally landed, she let out a "Phew! That is my new Hisshou Rengakiken! And I have a lot more improved attacks to show. but you'll see them later!" Hinata gave a huge smile.
"Okay, now," Sakura started out to where Hinata was. "I have a move to show, but I'll need a sandbag. sort to speak."
No answer from the group. until Darrell stood up.
"Why not?" he said. "It has been a while since I've been hit hard. Try it on me, whatever it is."
Sakura started to protest a bit. He had already lost a large amount of his energy on those moves he demonstrated, but he insisted, and she knew the others didn't want to try this new move. "Okay." she said, "but it is your funeral."
Sakura charged herself up, and then she rushed forward toward Darrell. She stopped right in front of him and unloaded a huge barrage of punches and kicks to Darrell's vulnerable body. He had no choice but to eat the super. Sakura finally finished with a multi-hitting Shouoken, sending the teenager flying to the ground. She quickly rubbed her nose and opened her hand out. "That's how it's done!" she boasted as Darrell slowly got up.
He was rubbing his cheek, right where Sakura's last punch landed. "No one lands punches like Sakura Kasugano! That's for sure!" Darrell complimented. "I guess you can't be a great fighter without having to take a hit. What do you call that, Sakura?"
"That's my new Midare Zakura," she responded. "I see you liked it."
"It was interesting." Kyosuke finally spoke.
"Kyosuke. you are the only one who hasn't shown us a new move. Do you have one?" Darrell was asking this one.
Kyosuke responded with a smile. "I do. but unlike you guys, I don't wish to show it unless if I'm in battle."
"Come on!" Darrell was egging him on now. "Don't leave me in suspense."
Kyosuke was about to respond, but was cut off by Sakura.
"Oh, no! I forgot about Kei! She is probably still at the Shining Tiger!"
Without waiting for a response from the others, Sakura ran toward the exit of the park.
"Wait up a minute!" Darrell's voice rang out as he, along with the rest of the group, pursuit Sakura. As they left, they almost ran into a group of spectators. They all looked at the 5 fighters in awe as they speeded across the street. One of them in particular smiled a bit, unlike the others, which had a big, surprised look.
{Looks like those kids are heading back to the restaurant. I saw their little demonstration, and they can be very useful. Very useful indeed.}
He pulled out a cell-phone and punched some numbers. After 2 rings a, "Boss?" came through.
"Listen, there are a few potential fighters coming to the Shining Tiger. They are looking for someone named Kei Chitose. I suggest you get to her before they do. I'll meet you there. and contact Sho while you're at it. He should be in the vicinity. Oh, and one more thing. get him there, too, just in case they are that good. I need to examine these 5 kids."
End of Chapter 2.
"Well, what brings you to Japan, Darrell?" Sakura asked curiously while sipping her drink from her cup.
Darrell placed his hands behind his head. "One word," he responded. "Vacation! Things were getting hectic back home in the States. I was going crazy! So I took a leave of absence from my school for the final few weeks and decided to revisit Tokyo to relax some. You're pretty lucky that your school is out now."
Sakura finally got to the Shining Tiger restaurant at around 8:00. The fight took 20 minutes, and since the restaurant was a bit far from her house, it took a while to get there. They have already ordered their food, which was sitting on the table, waiting to be eaten.
"So. how have you been, Sakura?" Darrell asked. He tilted his chair back when he spoke.
Sakura put her cup down, and then spoke. "Things have been toned down quite a bit. Nothing exciting really. You know how I am; school, training, hanging out with friends." she paused a bit before continuing. "Speaking of friends, I'm supposed to meet Hinata, Batsu, Kyosuke, and Kei here."
A smile spread across Darrell's face. "They'll be surprised to see me again." He closed his eyes while drinking from his cup. After a while, his eyes shot open and he stopped drinking. He put his cup down and asked, "Who is Kei?"
"Oh, you didn't see her the last time you were here, have you? She is my close friend. She's really nice, but she has been trying to stop me from fighting for the longest time."
"She sounds protective."
"Nah. Just concerned about my well being."
Darrell shrugged. "I guess she doesn't see things from a fighter's point of view."
Sakura began eating while he spoke, so it took a while before she responded. "I don't mind it, really. But if I wasn't a Street Fighter, I wouldn't be able to." She trailed off.
"Something wrong?" Darrell asked before stuffing his face with some food.
She shook her head. "No. The gang is here."
Darrell didn't turn around immediately, but he knew what Sakura was talking about. The two waited for the newcomers to break the ice.
Three young teenagers approached the table that Sakura and Darrell were sitting at. The girl had on blue jeans with a plain white short-sleeve shirt and multi-colored sneakers. Her dark brown hair sort of spread out somewhat, and like Sakura, had on a headband, only without the extensions. One of the boys had on all blue, save for the sneakers, which were mostly white with red stripes. He had a scar on his right forehead and his black hair was completely wild. The last member of the group had short, orange hair and glasses. He also wore a gray shirt and white pants and white sneakers with blue and yellow stripes.
"Hey, Sakura!" the girl cheered out while giving Sakura a formal greeting.
"Hi, Hinata," Sakura responded, her mouth full with food. The teen boy in the blue outfit rolled his eyes when he saw Sakura. She swallowed and then looked at the two boys.
"How is it going, Batsu and Kyosuke?" Darrell said. He tilted his chair back again.
Batsu, Kyosuke, and Hinata looked straight at the dark-skinned teen as if he was a distant cousin that they have never seen before. The orange-headed boy, after about a few seconds, finally smiled, closing his eyes. "Wow. it is you. Darrell Goodson: the kid that helped us with the Justice High School incident. How are you?"
"I'm okay, Kyosuke," Darrell sighed. "I'm taking a breather here. America was been a bit crazy lately, just incase you were wondering why I'm here."
"I see."
Darrell turned his eyes to Batsu, who was just standing next to the table, staring down at him. Kyosuke and Hinata already took a seat next to Sakura and Darrell.
"Hey, Batsu," Darrell started. "I can see that you're doing OK. why don't you take a seat. I know that you are tired from your 'journey' from your house to here." He laughed a short laugh at his own pathetic joke.
As always, Batsu didn't laugh. He just cracked a small smile. A very small smile. "Whatever." he muttered.
Darrell raised an eyebrow. "Something wrong, Batsu? I could have sworn that, well, with that look on your face, you were about to crack a laugh."
Batsu shook his head. "Don't you start again," he warned. "Let's not forget. you and me have a little rivalry going."
"Sure. Whatever you say."
Sakura spoke next. "Darrell. that move you used on that guy. I can tell that you just learned that move. What was it?"
Darrell had just finished his meal when Sakura asked her question. When he looked up, everyone had their eyes on him. "Let's see, now. the Shakunetsuken. I created that move. It is like Ken's Shoryuken, only without the whole jumping into the air with the uppercut. My fist, like, covers with flames as I deliver this wicked punch to my opponent. If anything. it was sort of inspired by Batsu's Guts Upper."
This caught Batsu's attention. "What do you mean 'inspired'? It sounds like a complete rip-off!"
Then Hinata added, "And what guy were you talking about, Sakura? You mean to tell me that Darrell just comes to Japan and on his first day back he knocks somebody senseless?"
"Well," Sakura began. "It goes like this." Sakura told her friends about the incident with Sho and his pals. It wasn't anything to be proud about considering what the five did over the last three years.
Batsu gave a smirk. "That's nice and all, but this Shakunetsuken. I want to see what you are talking about."
"Fine." Darrell stood up. "I guess it would be better to show you than to tell you." He turned to a waitress that was passing by. "Check, please."
----- -----
"Shakunetsuken!"
Darrell rushed forward through the grass with his flaming fist and gave a right hook into air. Then, he gave an uppercut. The others looked on at the show that Darrell was putting on with his new technique. The 5 of them went to a public park where they could see the Shakunetsuken without disturbing anyone. which was pretty hard to do if someone just walks by and sees a foreigner displaying fighting techniques with flames for fists. Darrell was really working up a sweat, picking up the speed and variation of his attacks.
"Well, it looks like most of us have been training," Hinata commented while drinking a soda that she got from the Shining Tiger.
"Well, it is a bit unique that he can attack so many times with his hand on fire for so long," Kyosuke added.
Darrell stopped his self-sparring and his fist stopped burning. He looked up towards the gang. "Now that I think about it, I had something to show you guys, especially you, Sakura."
Sakura's eyes lit up as she sat on the fresh grass. "Like what?"
Darrell had a smile on his face. "You know the Shinku Hadouken that you taught me?"
Sakura nodded. The Shinku Hadouken was a powerful, bigger version of her Hadouken that she used earlier. It required a mass amount of energy to use and can take a while to learn. Sakura herself taught Darrell how to do the Shinku Hadouken about 2 years ago while he was recuperating from his beating at the hands of Justice High students. Surprisingly, Darrell already knew how to use the normal Hadouken and didn't take him long to perfect the move.
"Well." Darrell placed his footing and clasped his hands to his side. "I have been working hard to make mine better. Check this out!"
He focused himself. After a while, everything around them was very quiet, save for the breeze that came though. Their clothes rippled in the wind.
{What could he be doing?} Sakura asked herself as a faint blue aura surrounded Darrell.
A small, blue sphere of energy entered his hands that eventually got bigger. Unlike Sakura, who normally lets her Shinku Hadouken go at this point, Darrell let it charge in his hands, making it even bigger and covering it with electricity.
{He has the power right now,} she thought again. {I wonder why he is still holding it.}
Darrell started to hum loudly. Suddenly, his aura and his energy sphere turned from blue to red-orange.
"Shakunetsu Shinku Hadouken!"
He shot his hands forward, releasing the sphere in a huge red energy blast. It crossed the grass, almost burning it as it traveled. It kept going for about 5 seconds before it dwindled and disappeared.
"Wow," Sakura awed at this new attack. The power felt so. enormous that she felt her own energy start to burn. "It must have taken you a long while to master that!"
Darrell turned to his friend, smiling. Even though he was smiling, he couldn't hide the fatigue look of his body. "Well. I. try.ugh." Suddenly, Darrell dropped to his knees. Everyone else gasped at this turn of events.
He looked up at his friends, which were coming over to see what's the problem was. "It's just that. when I use these moves. it takes a lot of my energy." He fell backwards to the ground.
Batsu put a hand over his face. "I don't believe this," he commented. "He improves his moves. but he cannot sustain the energy loss."
"Don't worry about it," Darrell managed to say. "I'll get used to it. It sort of reminds me of this show I watched back in the States." He paused for a while before saying, "Did any of you guys learn any moves?"
For the first time today, Batsu smiled fully. "Now that you mention it. we did."
Batsu stepped away from the rest of the young fighters. Batsu positioned himself as Darrell sat up to see.
{Let's see what Batsu has been doing lately,} he thought.
Batsu started to brace himself. Soon after, twin flames shot out of his fists. He let out a loud growl, and then he shot forward into the open field.
"Maximum Guts. UPPER!" he belted as one flame-covered fist shot down into an overhead attack, then gave an extremely powerful uppercut that unearthed some of the ground with an explosion.
Darrell's eyes widened. {Now THAT is power,} he thought.
"Well, Batsu Ichimonji," Sakura started, "it seems as if you have another powerful attack at your disposal." She turned her attention to her friend, Hinata. "How about you, Hinata?"
Hinata smiled. "I'm surprised you asked. Really, I spent my time changing my Fire Senpukyaku. I call it the Resen Enbukyaku!"
"Why don't you show us then?" Sakura egged her on, nudging her elbow into Hinata's ribs. Hinata brushed Sakura off.
"All right then." She made her way past Batsu, who was walking towards Kyosuke. Kyosuke had kept quiet ever since they entered the park.
{He must have learned something, too,} Darrell thought.
Hinata started her new attack. She ducked down, and then yelled out a bit. She sprang into the air, swinging her legs to kick upward into the air. Her kicks were trailed with rainbow colored energy. After 5 kicking rotations, she stopped her attack and landed on the ground, then she quickly said, "Then there is this other move. Hisshou!"
She rushed forward, and then let out a barrage of punches. There were so fast that they seemed to blur. Then she ducked down and yelled out, "Moutei!" as she spread out her fists while spinning into the air, creating a mini-cyclone. When she finally landed, she let out a "Phew! That is my new Hisshou Rengakiken! And I have a lot more improved attacks to show. but you'll see them later!" Hinata gave a huge smile.
"Okay, now," Sakura started out to where Hinata was. "I have a move to show, but I'll need a sandbag. sort to speak."
No answer from the group. until Darrell stood up.
"Why not?" he said. "It has been a while since I've been hit hard. Try it on me, whatever it is."
Sakura started to protest a bit. He had already lost a large amount of his energy on those moves he demonstrated, but he insisted, and she knew the others didn't want to try this new move. "Okay." she said, "but it is your funeral."
Sakura charged herself up, and then she rushed forward toward Darrell. She stopped right in front of him and unloaded a huge barrage of punches and kicks to Darrell's vulnerable body. He had no choice but to eat the super. Sakura finally finished with a multi-hitting Shouoken, sending the teenager flying to the ground. She quickly rubbed her nose and opened her hand out. "That's how it's done!" she boasted as Darrell slowly got up.
He was rubbing his cheek, right where Sakura's last punch landed. "No one lands punches like Sakura Kasugano! That's for sure!" Darrell complimented. "I guess you can't be a great fighter without having to take a hit. What do you call that, Sakura?"
"That's my new Midare Zakura," she responded. "I see you liked it."
"It was interesting." Kyosuke finally spoke.
"Kyosuke. you are the only one who hasn't shown us a new move. Do you have one?" Darrell was asking this one.
Kyosuke responded with a smile. "I do. but unlike you guys, I don't wish to show it unless if I'm in battle."
"Come on!" Darrell was egging him on now. "Don't leave me in suspense."
Kyosuke was about to respond, but was cut off by Sakura.
"Oh, no! I forgot about Kei! She is probably still at the Shining Tiger!"
Without waiting for a response from the others, Sakura ran toward the exit of the park.
"Wait up a minute!" Darrell's voice rang out as he, along with the rest of the group, pursuit Sakura. As they left, they almost ran into a group of spectators. They all looked at the 5 fighters in awe as they speeded across the street. One of them in particular smiled a bit, unlike the others, which had a big, surprised look.
{Looks like those kids are heading back to the restaurant. I saw their little demonstration, and they can be very useful. Very useful indeed.}
He pulled out a cell-phone and punched some numbers. After 2 rings a, "Boss?" came through.
"Listen, there are a few potential fighters coming to the Shining Tiger. They are looking for someone named Kei Chitose. I suggest you get to her before they do. I'll meet you there. and contact Sho while you're at it. He should be in the vicinity. Oh, and one more thing. get him there, too, just in case they are that good. I need to examine these 5 kids."
End of Chapter 2.