13. The Master of the Fist
"Please tell me that I'm dreaming. PLEASE tell me that I'm dreaming."
"Okay, you're dreaming."
"Thanks for the sarcasm, Sakura K."
"You got to admit; this is pretty impressive."
The closer the group got to Ken's estate, the more Darrell's jaw dropped. The place was HUGE! The white looked pretty big from where they were at (which was a good 1/4th of the way there). It was surrounded by around 7 acres of grassfield and statues. As they came up to the front doors, Hinata said, "Not even Kyosuke's place compares to this."
"Okay, you guys," Ken started. "You can get out here. As you know, this is the front door to my humble home, and yes, I know it's huge. When you go in, there'll be a directory to tell you where you want to go. Just don't head to the Master Bedroom. it a bit. untidy."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
"I'll be back in a few. I got to. get some things. for Eliza." He started looking around very cautiously.
"Is there a problem?" Sakura K. asked.
"No."
"Who's Eliza, Ken?" Darrell asked this time. "Is she your daughter or something?"
Ken shook his head. "No. she's my wife. Okay, gotta go!"
When everyone got out the limo, it sped off immediately. The kids took a look of the exterior of Ken's mansion. It was big when you were far away from it. It was HUMUNGUOS when you saw it up close.
"What are we waiting for?" Sakura S. asked anxiously while running up to the front door. "Let's go in, already!"
----- -----
"Okay." Darrell let out while inspecting the directory sign. "Hey, guys! He has his own little shops in the middle of this place, complete with an outdoor pool. Too bad I can't really swim."
"Forget that," Sakura S. barged in. "I'm checking out the T.V. room. Knowing Ken, he has got to have some interesting channels."
"I'm heading to his dojo," Hinata declared. "I want to stretch out some."
Darrell took his eyes off the screen and put them on Hinata. "Hmm. now that you mention it, I do want to check that out."
"I don't know about you guys," Sakura K. started, "but I'm going to look around. This place is too big to just look at a directory."
"Suit yourself," Darrell responded. "If you get lost, just remember to look for the breadcrumbs on the floor."
Sakura K. gave him a rather stupid look. "You are just trying to make me laugh, huh?"
Darrell didn't respond. He just turned his back to her in the direction of the dojo. "Hinata and I are going to hit the dojo. You guys do what you want." He looked down to his little brother. "Where are you doing, kid?"
"I'm going to the T.V. room with Sakura," he replied while not looking up. "The hotel channels all stink."
They all disbursed at the same time on their own designations.
----- -----
Sakura S. and Nijel just stood in awe in front of a 54" T.V. like it was a god. Never in their lives have they seen such a tool, and in a few minutes, they will be graced with its picture and super surround sound.
"So, Nijel," Sakura S. said to Nijel, "you like anime?"
Nijel just nodded in agreement, making the girl smile.
"That's perfect. We can check out the anime channel from Japan. Ken has a true satellite network!"
Sakura S. and Nijel were in what looked like a mini movie theatre, complete with the red chairs, aisles, and dim lights. She was holding a massive controller with what seemed like it had 100 buttons on it. After about 30 seconds of searching, she finally found the buttons that she was looking for and pressed them.
Instantly, the room was blinded with a white flash of light. and the sound of Outlaw Star's Gene Starwind talking to one of McDougall brothers filled the room. The two plopped down into some seats and started to enjoy the anime.
"Come on, McDougall," Gene ordered Harry, holding him by the shirt collar. "What's your business with Malfena!? Tell me!!"
Harry just laughed in his face. "Even if I tell you. you would be too dense to understand it."
Gene got fed up and shoved a Caster gun to Harry's head. "Let me be the judge of that."
"Hey," Nijel said. "I never saw this episode before."
"Where have you been?" Sakura S. asked. "I saw this many times before back in Tokyo. It's a real---"
SHING!!!
Sakura S. gasped as a huge feeling came over her, paralyzing her. She couldn't move. The feeling was just too strong. {What. what's going on?}
"Hey. are you OK?" Nijel asked, worried.
Sakura S. couldn't reply. She just sat there, stiff as stone. then before she knew it, she went out like a light.
----- -----
Sakura K. turned her head from left to right, checking out the rooms and paintings in the corridor she was walking through. The paintings and sculptures all had an exotic and tropical felling to it. It made Sakura K. rather relaxed. She smiled. {Ken sure has some interesting tastes.} She stopped in front of one picture in particular and observed it. It was a setting of a Japanese lake and waterfall. There was a small fog at the base of the waterfall and the sky was white, as if it was about to rain.
Sakura K. stared at it for a while. {Hmm. normally I wouldn't waste my time with art, but there is something about this one. like there is. something familiar about it...}
She moved in for a closer look. then.
SHING!!!
Suddenly, something came over Sakura K.'s body. She let out a small shriek when she found out that her body wouldn't move.
"What's with this??" she asked, amazed. then she blacked out.
----- -----
"Hmm. pretty cozy. for a dojo."
Darrell and Hinata finally made it to Ken's dojo within 10 minutes. It was all the way on the other side of the mansion, and they were pretty tired of walking.
Hinata crossed her arms. "Come on, Darrell. I'm ready whenever you are."
Darrell nodded and the two of them stepped towards the middle of the wooden room. They both took a look at the Japanese signs that were hung up on the walls. Hinata stretched her arms above her head.
"Ah. there is never a good workout like a sparring match," she commented. She eyeballed Darrell with a cocky smile and he got the message.
"Oh. you wanted to get it on, huh? Well then." Darrell backed away from his friend and got into his fighting stance. ".I hope you're ready, because I'm not holding back!"
"Like you ever?" Hinata asked while getting into her own stance. The two stood each other down, about to start their exhibition match.
"Okay," Hinata yelled out. "Here I come!"
Hinata dashed forward and Darrell switched to a defensive stance.
SHING!!!
"What the.!?" Darrell gasped. The two were frozen in their positions just before they could start. Darrell struggled to break free from this new hold, but this one was way too strong for him.
"I. can't. move." Hinata cried out. just before. they both saw blackness.
----- -----
"Ohh. What. happened?"
Sakura K. found herself lying down in a large grass field. As she opened her eyes, she was trying to put together the puzzle of what just happened. She sat up and put a hand on her head, which was hurting like there was no tomorrow.
".damn! I can't remember anything."
She shook her head hard and looked around. The sky was full of dark gray clouds and besides that, there was nothing but grass. and.
Sakura squinted her eyes in the area in front of her. {Who. is that.?}
She got to her feet and walked forward in a small daze that she couldn't seem to shake. As she got closer, she started to recognize who it was. or really whom they were. Sakura K. stopped a few inches away from the bodies. and gasped.
"These are. the guys!"
She was staring at Hinata, Darrell, and her twin, Sakura S. on the ground, all unconscious. What was interesting was that Sakura S. and Hinata were in their school fukus and Darrell was once again wearing his blue jeans with the white shirt. Sakura K. looked down at herself and gasped. She was wearing her school uniform as well, which she was very clear of not wearing before.
{What.?}
Before thinking about it, Sakura K. bent down and shook Hinata vigorously.
"Hinata.! Come on and wake up!"
After about 5 seconds, Sakura K. heard Hinata groaning.
"Yes! You're up!"
Hinata opened her eyes halfway, staring weakly in her friend's eyes. "Wha. Sakura? What are you doing here?" She turned her head to look around. then her eyes sprung open. "Where am I?"
Sakura K. backed up as Hinata sat up. "I have no idea." Sakura answered. "I just woke up a few minutes ago."
Hinata whipped her head from side to side. then downward. and gasped. "Those are."
"Yeah, I know. Let's get them up."
Within a minute, the other two fighters were up.
". well. I guess I had better days." Darrell muttered under his breath. He looked up to Hinata and Sakura K. and said, "You know. after being knocked out for about 3 times. you think you get used to the pounding headache and the dizziness."
"I know." Sakura S. responded.
"Can this be Bison again?" Hinata asked.
Sakura S. shook her head. "No. it can't be. I personally killed him." She suddenly felt a presence. "Whatever this is. it is definitely not Psycho Power."
"What is it then?" Sakura K. asked her twin.
Sakura S. stood up and closed her eyes. Everything was quiet for about 10 seconds as she tried to identify this new malice. After the 10 seconds, her eyes shot open, and they didn't look very pleased.
"I. I don't believe it!"
"What's the problem?" Sakura K. asked shakily.
Her twin slowly turned her head with a big look of fear on her face. "It's. it's. Dark Hadou."
"WHAT??"
POW!!
"Gyaaaaahh!"
Darrell's eyes widened to their extreme and he was letting out cries of pain. Before anyone could react to Sakura S's evaluation, a man came out of nowhere and slammed his fist into his ribcage so hard that Darrell stated to cough up some blood. The figure then backed away, letting Darrell drop to his knees in pain as he held his stomach with both hands.
"Pathetic. he still can't sense me."
The man had the same dark skin as Sakura S., and he was wearing a black gi held up by a rope where the traditional belt was supposed to be at. His red hair stood on end and was held up at the top by some type of hold. Even creepier was the fact that his ridiculously strong aura and his eyes were totally blood red.
"Who. who are you?" Sakura K. asked hesitantly.
"Who am I? Fool! I'm the supreme master of the fist! I am Akuma!"
"That's what I was sensing." Sakura S. noticed. She started to ball her hand into a fist.
"I am surprised at you, little one," Akuma said in a low tone to Sakura K. "Your dark side in completely out of your body. Yet, that will make you weaker than you already are! And you." He turned his attention to Sakura S., who took a step backwards. "You are a disgrace to the Satsu power that runs through you! Using that power to not kill just makes you as weak at the rest!"
"You. bastard."
Akuma turned his gaze to the American, who was slowly getting up off the grass, one arm on his stomach. His red-orange aura surrounded his body once again as he stood and his eyes was filled with rage.
"You. are the. one. who attacked me. in my other dream." he struggled to get the words out through his pain. "I. don't care what your name is. but. I'll get my revenge."
"I cracked your ribs, boy. You shouldn't say things that you will regret. with you life."
"Ah, shut up!"
Darrell took his arm off his stomach and put it to his side. He focused himself and over time, his aura grew in power.
"You still don't get it." Akuma muttered.
"What is there to get? I'm going to whip your ass all over this grass field and you're going to enjoy it!"
"With that pathetic excuse for a fighting style!? You are wasting my time!"
"Come on."
Darrell got into his fighting position, but before he or any of his friends knew it, Akuma disappeared. Not again. and I can't sense which way he's coming from.
"Where did he go?" Hinata asked as Darrell searched left and right for the dark warrior.
"He...," Sakura S. sputtered, catching Darrell's attention.
"He's where?"
She just pointed up... Darrell followed the glance. and was struck with so much force that he didn't even know where he was. Akuma came down with a swift hand strike from the sky, causing a wave of energy to spread across the grass. Darrell's aura immediately vanished from the force of the blow. He was just frozen in place, staring at Akuma. then he let out, in such a weak, tiny voice that if there was a rustle in the wind that no one could have heard him.
"Wh. why?"
He dropped to his knees. his arms hanging limp at his sides. then he fell forward and hit the grass face first. He no longer moved.
"No. way." Sakura K. was speechless. Absolutely speechless. "He. knocked out. Darrell. in one hit. Impossible."
Akuma finally took his eyes off his foe and turned to Hinata. "You are next."
Hinata just stared at him in disbelief. {I don't believe it. Darrell is one of the best out there. If he was knocked out in one blow. then what is my chance?}
"Why do you hesitate?" Akuma asked as his Satsu aura grew even more than normal. "Do you realize that this is your chance to see just how weak you are?"
Hinata didn't respond. She was stupefied for another 5 seconds before she shook it off.
"You are truly weak."
"I won't let you get to Sakura like that," Hinata heard herself say. She was running on pure adrenaline, now. She knew that she couldn't even faze him if she tried, but if he gets to the Sakura twins.
She dropped to her fighting stance, but to her surprise, Akuma just smiled. Before she could say anything, he vanished again. Hinata immediately looked up to see if he was there, trying that knockout move again.
"Fool!"
{From behind!}
Hinata couldn't react in time. The back of her skull was smashed by Akuma's punch, sending her to her hands and knees. She tried to shake off the initial dizziness, but that never happened.
"You are even weaker than the African!"
BANG!!
The back of Hinata's skull now met the overwhelming force of Akuma's heel. She was sent to the ground. and didn't get back up.
"Shoushi."
"STOP THIS!!!"
Akuma turned his body to where the two Sakuras were. Each one was steaming mad, their aura flurrying off their bodies.
"You have done more than enough, Akuma!" Sakura S. yelled out. "If you want to fight someone, then we'll take you on."
"Oh. the twins. You two are definitely unique. just like Ryu."
The "Ryu" stopped both Sakuras from charging up any farther.
"What about Ryu?" Sakura K. demanded.
"You are just like him." Akuma started as he made his way to the two. "His Satsu energy is stronger than yours. and I beat him with no problem."
"You mean."
Akuma had a wicked smile on his face. "Yes. The fool constantly trains for the day for he can avenge the death of his master. but he still can even control his essence! I fought him in both of his forms, normal and evil, and he still doesn't compare! What makes you think that you can beat me!?"
The two were speechless. They have never met someone as strong as Akuma. They had their work cut out for them.
Sakura K. looked straight into Akuma's eyes. He just looked back at her. then disappeared again.
"What?"
"You DON'T LEARN!!"
Akuma's fist hammered Sakura K., but unlike the other attacks, he went straight to her face and bashed it open. Sakura K. stumbled backwards from the blow, holding a hand over it to stop the nosebleed.
"Messatsu!"
Sakura K. immediately looked over her hand and screamed out loud at a huge blast of purple energy slammed right into her body. She was engulfed in the blast. then it exploded. and she went flying backwards a good five feet before hitting the ground. Her lights were out.
"YOU!!" Sakura S. yelled to Akuma. She wasn't thinking anymore. She only reacted. and the first reaction was. the Shungokusatsu.
She got into her stance and, unlike the one she did on Bison, she was much faster as she sped towards Akuma.
"You won't get away from me!"
Sakura S. got to within an inch of Akuma and prepared to make the grab, but the worst thing happened at that time. Akuma used the Ashura Warp to go right behind her.
"He can teleport. right out of my move!?"
"Oseru!"
Sakura S. spun around and met Akuma face to face. She looked into his blood red eyes. was paralyzed. and knew that she was a goner. Akuma wasn't going to hold back. He was going to use the real Shungokusatsu on her. and she was going to die.
He grabbed her by the shoulders. She was expecting pain. but instead Akuma whispered to her, "Be lucky that this isn't real. or this would be the end of your miserable life. I will be waiting for you, however. I suggest you and your friends get stronger. or else the next time we meet. you won't be with the living. Time to say 'goodnight'."
And finally everything faded to black. Sakura S. was met with an unearthly force of pain as Akuma used his Shungokusatsu on her. All she felt was the pain. until she passed out from it.
----- -----
Sakura S. work up screaming. She had never had such a thing happen to her before. It took a while before she stopped. and realized that she was no longer in room with the big screen television or in the grass field where Akuma was. She was surrounded by wood. with Japanese signs. and guessed where she was.
"The. Ken's dojo."
She tried to sit up. but her whole body instantly shot in pain. She winced as she laid back down. {But how.? I thought that it was a dream. Maybe it was. put the pain was real.}
Sakura S. was suddenly interrupted by a scream of pain coming from her right. She sat up while ignoring the pain and saw Darrell roll over, grabbing his ribs.
"Gyah.! That son of a bitch.! Nnnyyahh!"
"Try not to move," Sakura S. instructed.
Darrell stopped on a dime and without looking back, asked, "Sakura.?"
"Yes. it's me. Listen. That dream I had. Could it be that you had it too?"
"Right. This is so lame! He didn't just beat me in one strike. but he killed me. again. And this time, the pain was for real."
He finally relaxed and laid flat on his back, breathing hard. He paused for about 5 seconds before continuing. "He keeps beating me even before I can think about making a move. I'm. I'm."
Sakura S. wasn't right next to Darrell, but she could see the hurt look on his face. and his watery eyes.
"I'm no match. for him."
Sakura S. remained mute for 3 seconds then said, "I don't think anyone is a match for him. Just before he knocked me out, he mentioned."
Sakura S. fell on her back because of the constant state of pain she was trying to endure. She stared up at the roof and finished her sentence. "He mentioned that he beat Ryu. both in normal and in Satsu. He's. too strong for us. He even evaded my Shungokusatsu like it was a normal punch. then he retaliated with the. real. one."
Everything was quiet for a few more seconds. Sakura S. started to sob a bit. "The worst thing is. that he said that he'll be back. for real."
Darrell sighed heavily. The next words that came out of his mouth totally stunned Sakura S.
"That does it. It was good for the long run. but I think its time to say goodbye to these."
Sakura S. looked on in shock as Darrell reached into his pocket and took out his blue handguards. He just held them out in front of him for a while then threw them behind his back. They landed with a thud on the wooded floor.
"Darrell. Does this mean.?"
Darrell turned his head to Sakura S., his eyes full of sorrow. "Listen. Street Fighting is pretty exciting. but taking it to a fight of this caliber is just dangerous. or even worse. I'm sorry, but I'm not willing to lose my life."
Disbelief filled Sakura S. I can't believe he's giving up fighting.
"Are you sure you want to go through with this?" she asked.
"Sakura. there are times when you have to realize that there are people stronger than you can ever be. This is one of those times. I'm totally outclassed, here. If I tried to fight him, he'll kill me. and that will be the time that I WON'T wake up."
"But. what about all that work that we went through? All that power stored inside you. and you are going out on a limb? Have you ever stopped to think that you haven't reached full potential yet. or that Akuma might come after you even if you choose not to fight him? He'll still kill you."
Darrell stared at Sakura S. What she was saying made sense. If Akuma does find him. and he isn't in fighting condition. then he is as good as dead. And what if he could push himself over the limit to reach a new plateau? He could beat him. or even better. but there was something on his mind.
"Sakura. what are you planning to do?" he asked the dark girl.
Sakura just looked up to the ceiling again. "Honestly. I want to become stronger. Behind the fear that I experienced. there was something hidden that I didn't feel until now. A feeling that there is a challenge out there to look up to. Did you notice that excluding Yun and Yang that we beat everyone that challenged us fairly easily? Even when my sister fought Sagat, she didn't feel challenged all the way. Although when we talk about it with her and Hinata she won't think so automatically, but deep down."
"I see."
"So I think we should take this time to train harder than we ever did. We don't know when Akuma will appear, so we need to be prepared. and you need to think positively about this. Think about it. You are the only fighter that we know with such a unique power and talent. You are one of the better fighters in the world and we could use your help more than ever now. Don't let this setback ruin your spirit."
Darrell suddenly remembered the conversation that he had with Hinata earlier today near the trolley. There was a specific part of it that stood out.
-Flashback-
"I guess I can't blame her," Hinata confessed. "A lot of things have happened to her and this Sakura Satsu. I didn't show it, but I was REALLY jealous of her power. The way you three battle is just spectacular."
"Are you trying to say that you are inferior to us? I really have to disagree with that one. You are a lot better than some of these scrubs out there." Darrell paused for a second then something gave him a great idea. "Hey! When we meet up with Ken, why don't you ask him for a sparring match? I will get your confidence up to where it's supposed to be."
Hinata's eyes brightened. "You mean I can? You don't think the Sakuras are going to be mad about this?"
"Come on. listen to yourself! You never acted like this when I first met you. Brighten up why don't ya?..."
-End Flashback-
Darrell sat up and stared at the wall in front of him. {That is like what this is. I'm in Hinata's position and Sakura S. is in mine. but instead of jealously, my problem is underconfidence. I need to brighten up some.}
"Okay, Sakura," he finally said. "I'll go on with this. I think we can get better than we already are. Wait a minute. Where are Sakura K. and Hinata?"
Sakura S. smiled. "They are right over here. They are still unconscious, but they should be coming to in any minute, now. Oh, and one more thing. your ribs aren't cracked. It's just pain."
"How could you possibly know?"
"Well, deduction, really. If this was real pain, then I would be dead by now. Akuma ended the dream by nailing the Shungokusatsu on me, and unlike the one that I have his is the original. He would have killed me."
Darrell and Sakura S. stood up at the same time, their bodies still aching from the Akuma encounter. Just before they got to the other girls, Darrell stopped.
"Sakura."
"Yes.?"
"Should we tell Ken about this?"
Sakura S. stood motionless suddenly. "Oh, man! I forgot about Ken! I guess we will have to. He needs to tell us where Ryu is."
Sakura S. just nodded as they bent down and started to revive them. The next day would be a new start for the Sakuras, Hinata, and Darrell. This time. their lives depend on it. End of Chapter 13
"Please tell me that I'm dreaming. PLEASE tell me that I'm dreaming."
"Okay, you're dreaming."
"Thanks for the sarcasm, Sakura K."
"You got to admit; this is pretty impressive."
The closer the group got to Ken's estate, the more Darrell's jaw dropped. The place was HUGE! The white looked pretty big from where they were at (which was a good 1/4th of the way there). It was surrounded by around 7 acres of grassfield and statues. As they came up to the front doors, Hinata said, "Not even Kyosuke's place compares to this."
"Okay, you guys," Ken started. "You can get out here. As you know, this is the front door to my humble home, and yes, I know it's huge. When you go in, there'll be a directory to tell you where you want to go. Just don't head to the Master Bedroom. it a bit. untidy."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
"I'll be back in a few. I got to. get some things. for Eliza." He started looking around very cautiously.
"Is there a problem?" Sakura K. asked.
"No."
"Who's Eliza, Ken?" Darrell asked this time. "Is she your daughter or something?"
Ken shook his head. "No. she's my wife. Okay, gotta go!"
When everyone got out the limo, it sped off immediately. The kids took a look of the exterior of Ken's mansion. It was big when you were far away from it. It was HUMUNGUOS when you saw it up close.
"What are we waiting for?" Sakura S. asked anxiously while running up to the front door. "Let's go in, already!"
----- -----
"Okay." Darrell let out while inspecting the directory sign. "Hey, guys! He has his own little shops in the middle of this place, complete with an outdoor pool. Too bad I can't really swim."
"Forget that," Sakura S. barged in. "I'm checking out the T.V. room. Knowing Ken, he has got to have some interesting channels."
"I'm heading to his dojo," Hinata declared. "I want to stretch out some."
Darrell took his eyes off the screen and put them on Hinata. "Hmm. now that you mention it, I do want to check that out."
"I don't know about you guys," Sakura K. started, "but I'm going to look around. This place is too big to just look at a directory."
"Suit yourself," Darrell responded. "If you get lost, just remember to look for the breadcrumbs on the floor."
Sakura K. gave him a rather stupid look. "You are just trying to make me laugh, huh?"
Darrell didn't respond. He just turned his back to her in the direction of the dojo. "Hinata and I are going to hit the dojo. You guys do what you want." He looked down to his little brother. "Where are you doing, kid?"
"I'm going to the T.V. room with Sakura," he replied while not looking up. "The hotel channels all stink."
They all disbursed at the same time on their own designations.
----- -----
Sakura S. and Nijel just stood in awe in front of a 54" T.V. like it was a god. Never in their lives have they seen such a tool, and in a few minutes, they will be graced with its picture and super surround sound.
"So, Nijel," Sakura S. said to Nijel, "you like anime?"
Nijel just nodded in agreement, making the girl smile.
"That's perfect. We can check out the anime channel from Japan. Ken has a true satellite network!"
Sakura S. and Nijel were in what looked like a mini movie theatre, complete with the red chairs, aisles, and dim lights. She was holding a massive controller with what seemed like it had 100 buttons on it. After about 30 seconds of searching, she finally found the buttons that she was looking for and pressed them.
Instantly, the room was blinded with a white flash of light. and the sound of Outlaw Star's Gene Starwind talking to one of McDougall brothers filled the room. The two plopped down into some seats and started to enjoy the anime.
"Come on, McDougall," Gene ordered Harry, holding him by the shirt collar. "What's your business with Malfena!? Tell me!!"
Harry just laughed in his face. "Even if I tell you. you would be too dense to understand it."
Gene got fed up and shoved a Caster gun to Harry's head. "Let me be the judge of that."
"Hey," Nijel said. "I never saw this episode before."
"Where have you been?" Sakura S. asked. "I saw this many times before back in Tokyo. It's a real---"
SHING!!!
Sakura S. gasped as a huge feeling came over her, paralyzing her. She couldn't move. The feeling was just too strong. {What. what's going on?}
"Hey. are you OK?" Nijel asked, worried.
Sakura S. couldn't reply. She just sat there, stiff as stone. then before she knew it, she went out like a light.
----- -----
Sakura K. turned her head from left to right, checking out the rooms and paintings in the corridor she was walking through. The paintings and sculptures all had an exotic and tropical felling to it. It made Sakura K. rather relaxed. She smiled. {Ken sure has some interesting tastes.} She stopped in front of one picture in particular and observed it. It was a setting of a Japanese lake and waterfall. There was a small fog at the base of the waterfall and the sky was white, as if it was about to rain.
Sakura K. stared at it for a while. {Hmm. normally I wouldn't waste my time with art, but there is something about this one. like there is. something familiar about it...}
She moved in for a closer look. then.
SHING!!!
Suddenly, something came over Sakura K.'s body. She let out a small shriek when she found out that her body wouldn't move.
"What's with this??" she asked, amazed. then she blacked out.
----- -----
"Hmm. pretty cozy. for a dojo."
Darrell and Hinata finally made it to Ken's dojo within 10 minutes. It was all the way on the other side of the mansion, and they were pretty tired of walking.
Hinata crossed her arms. "Come on, Darrell. I'm ready whenever you are."
Darrell nodded and the two of them stepped towards the middle of the wooden room. They both took a look at the Japanese signs that were hung up on the walls. Hinata stretched her arms above her head.
"Ah. there is never a good workout like a sparring match," she commented. She eyeballed Darrell with a cocky smile and he got the message.
"Oh. you wanted to get it on, huh? Well then." Darrell backed away from his friend and got into his fighting stance. ".I hope you're ready, because I'm not holding back!"
"Like you ever?" Hinata asked while getting into her own stance. The two stood each other down, about to start their exhibition match.
"Okay," Hinata yelled out. "Here I come!"
Hinata dashed forward and Darrell switched to a defensive stance.
SHING!!!
"What the.!?" Darrell gasped. The two were frozen in their positions just before they could start. Darrell struggled to break free from this new hold, but this one was way too strong for him.
"I. can't. move." Hinata cried out. just before. they both saw blackness.
----- -----
"Ohh. What. happened?"
Sakura K. found herself lying down in a large grass field. As she opened her eyes, she was trying to put together the puzzle of what just happened. She sat up and put a hand on her head, which was hurting like there was no tomorrow.
".damn! I can't remember anything."
She shook her head hard and looked around. The sky was full of dark gray clouds and besides that, there was nothing but grass. and.
Sakura squinted her eyes in the area in front of her. {Who. is that.?}
She got to her feet and walked forward in a small daze that she couldn't seem to shake. As she got closer, she started to recognize who it was. or really whom they were. Sakura K. stopped a few inches away from the bodies. and gasped.
"These are. the guys!"
She was staring at Hinata, Darrell, and her twin, Sakura S. on the ground, all unconscious. What was interesting was that Sakura S. and Hinata were in their school fukus and Darrell was once again wearing his blue jeans with the white shirt. Sakura K. looked down at herself and gasped. She was wearing her school uniform as well, which she was very clear of not wearing before.
{What.?}
Before thinking about it, Sakura K. bent down and shook Hinata vigorously.
"Hinata.! Come on and wake up!"
After about 5 seconds, Sakura K. heard Hinata groaning.
"Yes! You're up!"
Hinata opened her eyes halfway, staring weakly in her friend's eyes. "Wha. Sakura? What are you doing here?" She turned her head to look around. then her eyes sprung open. "Where am I?"
Sakura K. backed up as Hinata sat up. "I have no idea." Sakura answered. "I just woke up a few minutes ago."
Hinata whipped her head from side to side. then downward. and gasped. "Those are."
"Yeah, I know. Let's get them up."
Within a minute, the other two fighters were up.
". well. I guess I had better days." Darrell muttered under his breath. He looked up to Hinata and Sakura K. and said, "You know. after being knocked out for about 3 times. you think you get used to the pounding headache and the dizziness."
"I know." Sakura S. responded.
"Can this be Bison again?" Hinata asked.
Sakura S. shook her head. "No. it can't be. I personally killed him." She suddenly felt a presence. "Whatever this is. it is definitely not Psycho Power."
"What is it then?" Sakura K. asked her twin.
Sakura S. stood up and closed her eyes. Everything was quiet for about 10 seconds as she tried to identify this new malice. After the 10 seconds, her eyes shot open, and they didn't look very pleased.
"I. I don't believe it!"
"What's the problem?" Sakura K. asked shakily.
Her twin slowly turned her head with a big look of fear on her face. "It's. it's. Dark Hadou."
"WHAT??"
POW!!
"Gyaaaaahh!"
Darrell's eyes widened to their extreme and he was letting out cries of pain. Before anyone could react to Sakura S's evaluation, a man came out of nowhere and slammed his fist into his ribcage so hard that Darrell stated to cough up some blood. The figure then backed away, letting Darrell drop to his knees in pain as he held his stomach with both hands.
"Pathetic. he still can't sense me."
The man had the same dark skin as Sakura S., and he was wearing a black gi held up by a rope where the traditional belt was supposed to be at. His red hair stood on end and was held up at the top by some type of hold. Even creepier was the fact that his ridiculously strong aura and his eyes were totally blood red.
"Who. who are you?" Sakura K. asked hesitantly.
"Who am I? Fool! I'm the supreme master of the fist! I am Akuma!"
"That's what I was sensing." Sakura S. noticed. She started to ball her hand into a fist.
"I am surprised at you, little one," Akuma said in a low tone to Sakura K. "Your dark side in completely out of your body. Yet, that will make you weaker than you already are! And you." He turned his attention to Sakura S., who took a step backwards. "You are a disgrace to the Satsu power that runs through you! Using that power to not kill just makes you as weak at the rest!"
"You. bastard."
Akuma turned his gaze to the American, who was slowly getting up off the grass, one arm on his stomach. His red-orange aura surrounded his body once again as he stood and his eyes was filled with rage.
"You. are the. one. who attacked me. in my other dream." he struggled to get the words out through his pain. "I. don't care what your name is. but. I'll get my revenge."
"I cracked your ribs, boy. You shouldn't say things that you will regret. with you life."
"Ah, shut up!"
Darrell took his arm off his stomach and put it to his side. He focused himself and over time, his aura grew in power.
"You still don't get it." Akuma muttered.
"What is there to get? I'm going to whip your ass all over this grass field and you're going to enjoy it!"
"With that pathetic excuse for a fighting style!? You are wasting my time!"
"Come on."
Darrell got into his fighting position, but before he or any of his friends knew it, Akuma disappeared. Not again. and I can't sense which way he's coming from.
"Where did he go?" Hinata asked as Darrell searched left and right for the dark warrior.
"He...," Sakura S. sputtered, catching Darrell's attention.
"He's where?"
She just pointed up... Darrell followed the glance. and was struck with so much force that he didn't even know where he was. Akuma came down with a swift hand strike from the sky, causing a wave of energy to spread across the grass. Darrell's aura immediately vanished from the force of the blow. He was just frozen in place, staring at Akuma. then he let out, in such a weak, tiny voice that if there was a rustle in the wind that no one could have heard him.
"Wh. why?"
He dropped to his knees. his arms hanging limp at his sides. then he fell forward and hit the grass face first. He no longer moved.
"No. way." Sakura K. was speechless. Absolutely speechless. "He. knocked out. Darrell. in one hit. Impossible."
Akuma finally took his eyes off his foe and turned to Hinata. "You are next."
Hinata just stared at him in disbelief. {I don't believe it. Darrell is one of the best out there. If he was knocked out in one blow. then what is my chance?}
"Why do you hesitate?" Akuma asked as his Satsu aura grew even more than normal. "Do you realize that this is your chance to see just how weak you are?"
Hinata didn't respond. She was stupefied for another 5 seconds before she shook it off.
"You are truly weak."
"I won't let you get to Sakura like that," Hinata heard herself say. She was running on pure adrenaline, now. She knew that she couldn't even faze him if she tried, but if he gets to the Sakura twins.
She dropped to her fighting stance, but to her surprise, Akuma just smiled. Before she could say anything, he vanished again. Hinata immediately looked up to see if he was there, trying that knockout move again.
"Fool!"
{From behind!}
Hinata couldn't react in time. The back of her skull was smashed by Akuma's punch, sending her to her hands and knees. She tried to shake off the initial dizziness, but that never happened.
"You are even weaker than the African!"
BANG!!
The back of Hinata's skull now met the overwhelming force of Akuma's heel. She was sent to the ground. and didn't get back up.
"Shoushi."
"STOP THIS!!!"
Akuma turned his body to where the two Sakuras were. Each one was steaming mad, their aura flurrying off their bodies.
"You have done more than enough, Akuma!" Sakura S. yelled out. "If you want to fight someone, then we'll take you on."
"Oh. the twins. You two are definitely unique. just like Ryu."
The "Ryu" stopped both Sakuras from charging up any farther.
"What about Ryu?" Sakura K. demanded.
"You are just like him." Akuma started as he made his way to the two. "His Satsu energy is stronger than yours. and I beat him with no problem."
"You mean."
Akuma had a wicked smile on his face. "Yes. The fool constantly trains for the day for he can avenge the death of his master. but he still can even control his essence! I fought him in both of his forms, normal and evil, and he still doesn't compare! What makes you think that you can beat me!?"
The two were speechless. They have never met someone as strong as Akuma. They had their work cut out for them.
Sakura K. looked straight into Akuma's eyes. He just looked back at her. then disappeared again.
"What?"
"You DON'T LEARN!!"
Akuma's fist hammered Sakura K., but unlike the other attacks, he went straight to her face and bashed it open. Sakura K. stumbled backwards from the blow, holding a hand over it to stop the nosebleed.
"Messatsu!"
Sakura K. immediately looked over her hand and screamed out loud at a huge blast of purple energy slammed right into her body. She was engulfed in the blast. then it exploded. and she went flying backwards a good five feet before hitting the ground. Her lights were out.
"YOU!!" Sakura S. yelled to Akuma. She wasn't thinking anymore. She only reacted. and the first reaction was. the Shungokusatsu.
She got into her stance and, unlike the one she did on Bison, she was much faster as she sped towards Akuma.
"You won't get away from me!"
Sakura S. got to within an inch of Akuma and prepared to make the grab, but the worst thing happened at that time. Akuma used the Ashura Warp to go right behind her.
"He can teleport. right out of my move!?"
"Oseru!"
Sakura S. spun around and met Akuma face to face. She looked into his blood red eyes. was paralyzed. and knew that she was a goner. Akuma wasn't going to hold back. He was going to use the real Shungokusatsu on her. and she was going to die.
He grabbed her by the shoulders. She was expecting pain. but instead Akuma whispered to her, "Be lucky that this isn't real. or this would be the end of your miserable life. I will be waiting for you, however. I suggest you and your friends get stronger. or else the next time we meet. you won't be with the living. Time to say 'goodnight'."
And finally everything faded to black. Sakura S. was met with an unearthly force of pain as Akuma used his Shungokusatsu on her. All she felt was the pain. until she passed out from it.
----- -----
Sakura S. work up screaming. She had never had such a thing happen to her before. It took a while before she stopped. and realized that she was no longer in room with the big screen television or in the grass field where Akuma was. She was surrounded by wood. with Japanese signs. and guessed where she was.
"The. Ken's dojo."
She tried to sit up. but her whole body instantly shot in pain. She winced as she laid back down. {But how.? I thought that it was a dream. Maybe it was. put the pain was real.}
Sakura S. was suddenly interrupted by a scream of pain coming from her right. She sat up while ignoring the pain and saw Darrell roll over, grabbing his ribs.
"Gyah.! That son of a bitch.! Nnnyyahh!"
"Try not to move," Sakura S. instructed.
Darrell stopped on a dime and without looking back, asked, "Sakura.?"
"Yes. it's me. Listen. That dream I had. Could it be that you had it too?"
"Right. This is so lame! He didn't just beat me in one strike. but he killed me. again. And this time, the pain was for real."
He finally relaxed and laid flat on his back, breathing hard. He paused for about 5 seconds before continuing. "He keeps beating me even before I can think about making a move. I'm. I'm."
Sakura S. wasn't right next to Darrell, but she could see the hurt look on his face. and his watery eyes.
"I'm no match. for him."
Sakura S. remained mute for 3 seconds then said, "I don't think anyone is a match for him. Just before he knocked me out, he mentioned."
Sakura S. fell on her back because of the constant state of pain she was trying to endure. She stared up at the roof and finished her sentence. "He mentioned that he beat Ryu. both in normal and in Satsu. He's. too strong for us. He even evaded my Shungokusatsu like it was a normal punch. then he retaliated with the. real. one."
Everything was quiet for a few more seconds. Sakura S. started to sob a bit. "The worst thing is. that he said that he'll be back. for real."
Darrell sighed heavily. The next words that came out of his mouth totally stunned Sakura S.
"That does it. It was good for the long run. but I think its time to say goodbye to these."
Sakura S. looked on in shock as Darrell reached into his pocket and took out his blue handguards. He just held them out in front of him for a while then threw them behind his back. They landed with a thud on the wooded floor.
"Darrell. Does this mean.?"
Darrell turned his head to Sakura S., his eyes full of sorrow. "Listen. Street Fighting is pretty exciting. but taking it to a fight of this caliber is just dangerous. or even worse. I'm sorry, but I'm not willing to lose my life."
Disbelief filled Sakura S. I can't believe he's giving up fighting.
"Are you sure you want to go through with this?" she asked.
"Sakura. there are times when you have to realize that there are people stronger than you can ever be. This is one of those times. I'm totally outclassed, here. If I tried to fight him, he'll kill me. and that will be the time that I WON'T wake up."
"But. what about all that work that we went through? All that power stored inside you. and you are going out on a limb? Have you ever stopped to think that you haven't reached full potential yet. or that Akuma might come after you even if you choose not to fight him? He'll still kill you."
Darrell stared at Sakura S. What she was saying made sense. If Akuma does find him. and he isn't in fighting condition. then he is as good as dead. And what if he could push himself over the limit to reach a new plateau? He could beat him. or even better. but there was something on his mind.
"Sakura. what are you planning to do?" he asked the dark girl.
Sakura just looked up to the ceiling again. "Honestly. I want to become stronger. Behind the fear that I experienced. there was something hidden that I didn't feel until now. A feeling that there is a challenge out there to look up to. Did you notice that excluding Yun and Yang that we beat everyone that challenged us fairly easily? Even when my sister fought Sagat, she didn't feel challenged all the way. Although when we talk about it with her and Hinata she won't think so automatically, but deep down."
"I see."
"So I think we should take this time to train harder than we ever did. We don't know when Akuma will appear, so we need to be prepared. and you need to think positively about this. Think about it. You are the only fighter that we know with such a unique power and talent. You are one of the better fighters in the world and we could use your help more than ever now. Don't let this setback ruin your spirit."
Darrell suddenly remembered the conversation that he had with Hinata earlier today near the trolley. There was a specific part of it that stood out.
-Flashback-
"I guess I can't blame her," Hinata confessed. "A lot of things have happened to her and this Sakura Satsu. I didn't show it, but I was REALLY jealous of her power. The way you three battle is just spectacular."
"Are you trying to say that you are inferior to us? I really have to disagree with that one. You are a lot better than some of these scrubs out there." Darrell paused for a second then something gave him a great idea. "Hey! When we meet up with Ken, why don't you ask him for a sparring match? I will get your confidence up to where it's supposed to be."
Hinata's eyes brightened. "You mean I can? You don't think the Sakuras are going to be mad about this?"
"Come on. listen to yourself! You never acted like this when I first met you. Brighten up why don't ya?..."
-End Flashback-
Darrell sat up and stared at the wall in front of him. {That is like what this is. I'm in Hinata's position and Sakura S. is in mine. but instead of jealously, my problem is underconfidence. I need to brighten up some.}
"Okay, Sakura," he finally said. "I'll go on with this. I think we can get better than we already are. Wait a minute. Where are Sakura K. and Hinata?"
Sakura S. smiled. "They are right over here. They are still unconscious, but they should be coming to in any minute, now. Oh, and one more thing. your ribs aren't cracked. It's just pain."
"How could you possibly know?"
"Well, deduction, really. If this was real pain, then I would be dead by now. Akuma ended the dream by nailing the Shungokusatsu on me, and unlike the one that I have his is the original. He would have killed me."
Darrell and Sakura S. stood up at the same time, their bodies still aching from the Akuma encounter. Just before they got to the other girls, Darrell stopped.
"Sakura."
"Yes.?"
"Should we tell Ken about this?"
Sakura S. stood motionless suddenly. "Oh, man! I forgot about Ken! I guess we will have to. He needs to tell us where Ryu is."
Sakura S. just nodded as they bent down and started to revive them. The next day would be a new start for the Sakuras, Hinata, and Darrell. This time. their lives depend on it. End of Chapter 13