Chapter Three: The Past
The Headcrook's Thoughts: Here's the flashback sequence in which Ryu knocks up Juli. Bah.
-The Dungeon, Hong Kong--thirteen years earlier, Flashback sequence...-
The Dungeon: a deserted warehouse used by various elements of Hong Kong's underworld for an underground martial arts tournament. Think the Kumite from the Bloodsport movies, only more corrupted.
Ryu (age 22), were among the competitors. He had heard from Fei Long about an underground martial arts tournament held on the docks of the city, and decided to compete.
The last few years, Ryu has been traveling through Southeast Asia, tracking down Gouken's killer. He found Gouki Akuma somewhere in India and in a dramatic and grueling battle, Ryu avenged his fallen master, but he nearly succumbed to his Dark Hadou.
An Indian monk and master of the Kabaddi fighting style named Dhalsim had helped him, along with a mysterious fortuneteller named Rose. Together, they helped Ryu overcome his murderous intent and as an added bonus, he could control his dark ki. But as a precaution, he stayed away from the moves that could actually kill an opponent.
As a result, his appearance changed. His skin, once pale, went to a bronze tan, his hair had gotten darker and he had gotten more stronger. To test his newfound power, he decided to compete.
The competitors were hardly a challenge. Some were strong, other fast, but lacked dicipline and fell to Ryu's fists.
When it was Ryu's turn to fight again, he stepped into the ring. This time his opponent was a slender female. She was dressed in a black tanktop and matching cargo pants and heavy hiking boots. Her skin was the color of vanilla and her her long brown hair was tied into a bun, with several bangs framing her face. Her hands were wrapped with tape, similar to that of a kickboxer.
Ryu, on the other hand was wearing his usual karate gi. Instead of his white headband, he was wearing on that was scarlet, a gift from Ken. Ryu looked at the woman. 'She looks familiar. Where have I seen her before?'
The woman on the other hand, knew who he was. "It has been a long time, Ryu Hoshi," she said, going into her fighting stance.
"You know me?" Ryu asked as he went into his own stance as he and the girl began to slowly circle the ring.
He got his answer in the form of a quick right jab, followed by a forward snap kick. Ryu parried the first blow, then hopped back to avoid the snap kick. Ryu came in with a roundhouse, which she ducked. When she stood back up, Ryu threw a punch to the face.
She caught it by the wrist, and threw a punch of her own. Ryu caught it as well, and the two fighters stood close, arms locked.
The woman locked eyes with Ryu's, her intense gaze matching Ryu's own. "Do you remember me now?" she asked in that same cool, let low voice.
It then hit Ryu. "You're Juli."
The woman smiled meanly. "Correct." She then headbutted him, forcing him to let go.
"Hyah!" Juli cried as she executed her flying kick, the Snipe Arrow. Ryu, now recovered from the headbutt, flipped over her and tripped her when she landed on her feet.
Juli flipped to her feet, just as Ryu was closing in. Juli executed an uppercut-like chop, which Ryu avoided. Smirking, she ducked, nailed him in the breadbasket with her foot. Again, Ryu was forced back.
"You've improved." Ryu said.
"I've had pratice," Juli replied.
Ryu went back into his stance. "This could prove quite interesting."
Juli rushed in to attack. Ryu went low and aimed a kick for her shin, followed by a hard punch. This time, it was Juli who was forced back by the blows. She had blocked them, but he had enough force behind them to force her back. Ryu, not one to waste an opportunity, grabs a handful of her tanktop and throws her over his shoulder.
The former assassin flipped out of the throw and landed on her feet. Sometime during the match, her bun had came undone, allowing her hair to cascade down her shoulders. They were about to charge into each other when...
KA-BOOM!
SMASH!
Three dozen officers from the Hong Kong Police department, in full riot gear came rushing in and wrecking shop. Wielding batons and gas cannons, they started to arrest anyone trying to get away.
Juli and Ryu had a head start. When the cops came rushing in, they both jumped out og the ring, Juli grabbing a knapsack and Ryu donning a recently discarded trenchcoat to conceal his gi and his pair of sneakers, they both made a break for the rear exit. Three officers saw them and gave chase.
***
Ryu led Juli though the back alleyways of the pier. "Do you know where you're goiting?" Juli asked as they ran.
"Yeah," Ryu replied. "We're not too far from the main city." He turned around and saw the three officers chasing them. "We're gonna have to lose these cops."
***
When the three officers arrived moments later, they only found Juli waiting for them. "Where's the other one?" he demanded.
Juli shrugged her shoulders. "Don't know. We got seperated."
The lead man moved in to arrest Juli, while the other two remained behind. From the shadows, Ryu appeared behind the other two. Grabbing both their heads, he slammed them together twice, effectively knocking them out cold.
Then the third guy turned around, he saw his two comrades out cold. Raising his gun, Juli saw that this was her time to act. She kicked the gun, just as he pulled the trigger. Juli then moved behind the cop. Wrapping her hands around his waist, she lifted him and slammed him into the ground in a perfect German suplex.
Geting back to her feet, she said, "Come on, before any more show up."
***
-Downtown Hong Kong-
Once they were back in the city, they stopped running. The streets were nearly desertd, mainly because of an incoming typhoon that was supposed to hit at any moment.
"Well," Ryu said, "We're in the clear."
Juli nodded, out of breath. She then noticed the hole in his jacket. "Ryu, your arm."
Ryu looked at his arm. He inspected it, but there was no injury. "It's nothing. Bullet must have missed." He looked around. "I better get going. The storm's about to hit at any moment. See you around."
As he walked away, something dropped from inside his coat. As Ryu walked off, Juli picked up the scrap sheet of paper. It was the address of the flat that Ryu was staying in.
***
Later on, inside the sparesely-furnished flat which was owned by Fei Long and was used as his private retreat (it was his first house before he made it big as a movie star), Ryu, now dressed down in a sleevless T-shirt and a pair of sweatpants, was on the phone with the afforementioned owner of the flat.
"So did you find the tournament?" Fei asked on the other line. He was in Hawaii, shooting a movie.
"Yeah. I found it," Ryu replied. "Unfortunately, so did the police."
"I see you managed to escape."
"One must be a master of the unknown, so as not to draw attention to himself," Ryu stated. "Besides, I got lucky." He looked out the window. The rain was starting to fall. "Good thing you're not here. There's a typhoon coming in."
"Lucky me that I'm in Hawaii. How long are you going to stay at my place?"
"Until the storm blows over," Ryu replied. "Then I'm going to San Francisco to visit an old friend of mine."
"Okay. Remember to hide the key above the door when you leave and try not to wreck my place."
"Yes, Dad," Ryu replied with sarcasm in his voice before hanging up the phone.
The TV was on and Ryu caught a glimpse of the news. The weather forecaster was going on about the typhoon that had hit.
"...and the storm has hit the Kowloon area with full force," the forcaster said in Chinese. "The authoruties are expceting several flash flood warnings in various sections of the city and we have reports of power outtages in the business sector of the city..."
Knock-knock-knock.
"Huh?" Ryu turned to the front door. 'Who can that be?' He walked over to the front door and opened it. He was surprised to see Juli on the other side. She was also soaking wet.
"Juli! How did you find me?" Ryu asked.
"I'm the ex-Shadowlaw assassin, remember," Juli replied. "Tracking down one's target is a requirement." She then showed Ryu the scrap of paper he dropped earlier. "Besides, you dropped this. That made it easier for me." She then sneezed.
Not one to let a person stay out in the rain, Ryu ushered in the flat. "Come in. You need a hot bath. Bathroom's second door on the left. I'll make some tea."
***
Later on, as the typhoon raged, Ryu and Juli were both sitting at the table, sipping tea. Juli had just finished her bath and was dressed down in a white dress shirt, with a cotton haltertop underneath and a pair of matching shorts. Her damp hair was wrapped up in a towel, several strands poking out.
The two fighters were chatting with each other.
"I'm actually from Europe orignially," Juli was saying. "Germany, to be precise."
"Funny," Ryu replied. "By your accent, I thought you were at least English."
"I was raised there," Juli replied.
"So how did you...you know..."
"Get into Shadowlaw?" Juli asked. "Well, my dad was an arms dealer, and my mom was a Shadowlaw researcher. I may not look like it, but I'm a genius."
Ryu blinked. "Huh?"
Juli grinned. "I graduated from high school when I was sixteen, and got my degrees in molecular biology and physics when I was eighteen. I was hired by Shadowlaw soon afterward. When Bison designated an all-female squad, I volunteered, out of loyalty. I went under genetic manipulation and training in martial arts. When the Shadowlaw dolls were formed, I was appointed as their commander."
"Who knew?" Ryu asked.
"So what about you?"
Ryu shrugged his shoulders. "Well, My dad was half Japanese, half American, while my mom was Japanese. I was born in Japan and moved to America when I was a couple of momths old. When my father died, my mom and myselfmoved back to Japan. I guess she missed Dad so much, she died of a broken heart and I was raised by her father--my grandfather. I used to get into many fights when I was a kid, so he taught me martial arts to try and teach me some dicipline. As you can see, it worked. So what are you going to do now that you are out of Shadowlaw?"
"I have some money saved up in several accounts that they don't know about," Juli replied. "I guess I'll lay low and start over, go straight." She stood up. "I'm going to bed. Good night, Ryu."
"Good night."
***
Later...
In the master bedroom, Ryu was having a nightmare. He was reliving one of the most traumatic expriences in his life...
"No...Sensei..."
-Dream Sequence-
It was several days after Chun Li had left for Hong Kong, and Ryu was in a foul mood. Upon arriving at the dojo, Ryu (age 19) and Ken (age 18) sensed that something was wrong. The stench of evil was in the air. Ryu looked around. "Grandpa?" he called out.
No answer.
"Sensei Gouken?" Ken called out.
Silence.
Turning to the dojo, Ryu saw that the shoji door was literally blown open. Feeling a sense of dread, Ryu walked towards the door and entered inside.
What he saw would stay with him for the next four years.
It was Gouken. He was bloodied and sprawled on the floor.
"GOUKEN!" Ryu screamed as he rushed over to his fallen grandfather. Cradling his broken body in his arms, he saw that Gouken's injuries were fatal. Ken was in shock from the scene.
"R...ryu," Gouken whispered, the blood from his mouth staining his beard. "I'm...I'm sorry."
"Grandfather," Ryu pleaded, "save your strength. Don't speak." he turned to Ken. "Call an ambulance! CALL AN AMBULANCE!!"
Ken was on his celluar phone in an instant. As he spoke to the dispatch, Ryu held his grandfather's body in his arms.
"It...it was Gouki," Gouken croaked.
"Your brother? How?"
"He...he embraced the dark side of...(cough cough) Sho-shotokan...Dark Hadou," Gouken whispered. "Too powerful...Raging Demon...lost his humanity...demon..." He began to choke on his blood. "Can't breathe...can't breathe...can't..."
Gouken then stopped moving. His hand, which gripped Ryu's jacket, went slack.
Ryu shook him gently. "Gouken? Gouken!"
It was no use. Gouken Suzaku was dead. Cradling the fallen man'd body in his arms, Ryu began to sob uncontrollably.
From his place in the dojo, Ken saw it and dropped the phone. Tears ran down his face as he watched his best friend cradle his master's dead body in his arms.
-End Dream-
***
Ryu's eyes snapped open. He wasn't in the dojo, holding his sensei's body. He was in Hong Kong, at Fei's flat. He assumed a sitting position and brought a hand to his head.
"I'm cracking up," Ryu muttered to himself. "Get a grip, man."
It still hurt to think that his sensei was gone, but Ryu knew that dwelling in the past won't bring Gouken back. His throat was dry, Ryu reached for the glass of water he had placed on the nightstand. After quenching his thirst, he got out of the bed and looked out the window. The rain had weaken and the clouds parted slightly, allowing the moon the peek out. It was cool, so he was wearing his pair of sweatpants.
He was so caught up in his thoughts that he didin't hear the door open. Juli entered the room, and saw Ryu at the window. Biting her lip, she walked over to him, not making a sound.
Ryu felt a pair of hands at his shoulders, which was followed by something warm pressing up against him.
Juli let Ryu go, allowing Ryu to turn around. Juli was still wearing the white shirt from before and the halter top, the height difference allowing Ryu a glimpse of her shirt-encased cleavage. Her hair cascaded down her shoulders, framing her face her eyes not leaving Ryu's.
Standing on her tiptoes (Juli is 5 feet 4 inches), Juli leaned in. Acting on instinct, Ryu lowered his head, ignoring the voices in his head telling him not to do this.
Either way, he wasn't getting any sleep.
He need to forget about his problems with the Dark Hadou, while she needed to forget about her pursuers from Shadowlaw. Better to do it with each other.
The kiss was a gentle one, Juli pressing her lips to Ryu's ever so gently. Out of reflex, Ryu wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close. Juli's hands ran across his muscled back, tanking in the contour and shape of the mass of flesh.
They finally broke off the kiss, but not their hold on each other. Ryu looked at Juli. Before he could say anything, Juli pressed a finger to his lips, silencing him. "Shhh...," she whispered huskily. "I don't want to be alone. Stay with me, please."
Ryu may be an excellent fighter, but he couldn't resist. They met in another kiss, this time Juli slipped her tongue into Ryu's mouth as he slipped his hands inside her shirt and caressed her back, while she broke off the kiss and started to attack his neck with her lips. It wasn't before long before they were kissing again, only this time it was more heated than before.
It was Ryu who broke off the kiss and started to kiss her neck and exposed shoulder, seeing as how Ryu was slipping off the shirt, leaving Juli only in her halter top and a pait of underwear. Juli moaned in approval at what Ryu was doing. It was at that moment that they were inching their way towards the bed. Once they got there, that's when the real lovemaking began...
***
-Several hours later...-
It was still raining outside, but neither Ryu or Juli noticed. Their clothes were strewn across the floor and they were snuggling against each other, a sheet covering themselves for some modesty. Ryu was flat on his back, while Juli was resting on his chest. Both were asleep.
***
For the next two days, Ryu and Juli stayed in bed. However, on the third day...
***
It was early morning when Juli woke up. She looked at the digital clock on the nightstand. It read 5:07 a.m. She looked at Ryu, who was still asleep.
She looked outside the window. The rain was slowing down, meaning the typhoon has passed the city. She smiled at the man whom she had spend the last two days with...then something came back to her mind.
Shadowlaw was still looking for her...and she had a price on her head.
Juli was then forced to make the most painful decision of her life. She dislodged herself from Ryu and stepped out of the bed. Grabbing her discarded clothes, she ran out of the room. After a few minutes, she entered the bedroom again, this time fully clothed, her backpack in her hand. Kneeling next to the sleeping Ryu, she whispered, "I'm sorry to do this, Ryu, but I must walk this path alone." She smiled. "You made me forget my troubles, and I thank you, but we must part ways. I am sorry."
After placing a final kiss on his cheek, Juli was gone.
***
Three hours later, Ryu woke up. He woke up to find Juli gone...
...and the rain had stopped.
He was alone again.
-End Flashback-
The Headcrook's Thoughts: Here's the flashback sequence in which Ryu knocks up Juli. Bah.
-The Dungeon, Hong Kong--thirteen years earlier, Flashback sequence...-
The Dungeon: a deserted warehouse used by various elements of Hong Kong's underworld for an underground martial arts tournament. Think the Kumite from the Bloodsport movies, only more corrupted.
Ryu (age 22), were among the competitors. He had heard from Fei Long about an underground martial arts tournament held on the docks of the city, and decided to compete.
The last few years, Ryu has been traveling through Southeast Asia, tracking down Gouken's killer. He found Gouki Akuma somewhere in India and in a dramatic and grueling battle, Ryu avenged his fallen master, but he nearly succumbed to his Dark Hadou.
An Indian monk and master of the Kabaddi fighting style named Dhalsim had helped him, along with a mysterious fortuneteller named Rose. Together, they helped Ryu overcome his murderous intent and as an added bonus, he could control his dark ki. But as a precaution, he stayed away from the moves that could actually kill an opponent.
As a result, his appearance changed. His skin, once pale, went to a bronze tan, his hair had gotten darker and he had gotten more stronger. To test his newfound power, he decided to compete.
The competitors were hardly a challenge. Some were strong, other fast, but lacked dicipline and fell to Ryu's fists.
When it was Ryu's turn to fight again, he stepped into the ring. This time his opponent was a slender female. She was dressed in a black tanktop and matching cargo pants and heavy hiking boots. Her skin was the color of vanilla and her her long brown hair was tied into a bun, with several bangs framing her face. Her hands were wrapped with tape, similar to that of a kickboxer.
Ryu, on the other hand was wearing his usual karate gi. Instead of his white headband, he was wearing on that was scarlet, a gift from Ken. Ryu looked at the woman. 'She looks familiar. Where have I seen her before?'
The woman on the other hand, knew who he was. "It has been a long time, Ryu Hoshi," she said, going into her fighting stance.
"You know me?" Ryu asked as he went into his own stance as he and the girl began to slowly circle the ring.
He got his answer in the form of a quick right jab, followed by a forward snap kick. Ryu parried the first blow, then hopped back to avoid the snap kick. Ryu came in with a roundhouse, which she ducked. When she stood back up, Ryu threw a punch to the face.
She caught it by the wrist, and threw a punch of her own. Ryu caught it as well, and the two fighters stood close, arms locked.
The woman locked eyes with Ryu's, her intense gaze matching Ryu's own. "Do you remember me now?" she asked in that same cool, let low voice.
It then hit Ryu. "You're Juli."
The woman smiled meanly. "Correct." She then headbutted him, forcing him to let go.
"Hyah!" Juli cried as she executed her flying kick, the Snipe Arrow. Ryu, now recovered from the headbutt, flipped over her and tripped her when she landed on her feet.
Juli flipped to her feet, just as Ryu was closing in. Juli executed an uppercut-like chop, which Ryu avoided. Smirking, she ducked, nailed him in the breadbasket with her foot. Again, Ryu was forced back.
"You've improved." Ryu said.
"I've had pratice," Juli replied.
Ryu went back into his stance. "This could prove quite interesting."
Juli rushed in to attack. Ryu went low and aimed a kick for her shin, followed by a hard punch. This time, it was Juli who was forced back by the blows. She had blocked them, but he had enough force behind them to force her back. Ryu, not one to waste an opportunity, grabs a handful of her tanktop and throws her over his shoulder.
The former assassin flipped out of the throw and landed on her feet. Sometime during the match, her bun had came undone, allowing her hair to cascade down her shoulders. They were about to charge into each other when...
KA-BOOM!
SMASH!
Three dozen officers from the Hong Kong Police department, in full riot gear came rushing in and wrecking shop. Wielding batons and gas cannons, they started to arrest anyone trying to get away.
Juli and Ryu had a head start. When the cops came rushing in, they both jumped out og the ring, Juli grabbing a knapsack and Ryu donning a recently discarded trenchcoat to conceal his gi and his pair of sneakers, they both made a break for the rear exit. Three officers saw them and gave chase.
***
Ryu led Juli though the back alleyways of the pier. "Do you know where you're goiting?" Juli asked as they ran.
"Yeah," Ryu replied. "We're not too far from the main city." He turned around and saw the three officers chasing them. "We're gonna have to lose these cops."
***
When the three officers arrived moments later, they only found Juli waiting for them. "Where's the other one?" he demanded.
Juli shrugged her shoulders. "Don't know. We got seperated."
The lead man moved in to arrest Juli, while the other two remained behind. From the shadows, Ryu appeared behind the other two. Grabbing both their heads, he slammed them together twice, effectively knocking them out cold.
Then the third guy turned around, he saw his two comrades out cold. Raising his gun, Juli saw that this was her time to act. She kicked the gun, just as he pulled the trigger. Juli then moved behind the cop. Wrapping her hands around his waist, she lifted him and slammed him into the ground in a perfect German suplex.
Geting back to her feet, she said, "Come on, before any more show up."
***
-Downtown Hong Kong-
Once they were back in the city, they stopped running. The streets were nearly desertd, mainly because of an incoming typhoon that was supposed to hit at any moment.
"Well," Ryu said, "We're in the clear."
Juli nodded, out of breath. She then noticed the hole in his jacket. "Ryu, your arm."
Ryu looked at his arm. He inspected it, but there was no injury. "It's nothing. Bullet must have missed." He looked around. "I better get going. The storm's about to hit at any moment. See you around."
As he walked away, something dropped from inside his coat. As Ryu walked off, Juli picked up the scrap sheet of paper. It was the address of the flat that Ryu was staying in.
***
Later on, inside the sparesely-furnished flat which was owned by Fei Long and was used as his private retreat (it was his first house before he made it big as a movie star), Ryu, now dressed down in a sleevless T-shirt and a pair of sweatpants, was on the phone with the afforementioned owner of the flat.
"So did you find the tournament?" Fei asked on the other line. He was in Hawaii, shooting a movie.
"Yeah. I found it," Ryu replied. "Unfortunately, so did the police."
"I see you managed to escape."
"One must be a master of the unknown, so as not to draw attention to himself," Ryu stated. "Besides, I got lucky." He looked out the window. The rain was starting to fall. "Good thing you're not here. There's a typhoon coming in."
"Lucky me that I'm in Hawaii. How long are you going to stay at my place?"
"Until the storm blows over," Ryu replied. "Then I'm going to San Francisco to visit an old friend of mine."
"Okay. Remember to hide the key above the door when you leave and try not to wreck my place."
"Yes, Dad," Ryu replied with sarcasm in his voice before hanging up the phone.
The TV was on and Ryu caught a glimpse of the news. The weather forecaster was going on about the typhoon that had hit.
"...and the storm has hit the Kowloon area with full force," the forcaster said in Chinese. "The authoruties are expceting several flash flood warnings in various sections of the city and we have reports of power outtages in the business sector of the city..."
Knock-knock-knock.
"Huh?" Ryu turned to the front door. 'Who can that be?' He walked over to the front door and opened it. He was surprised to see Juli on the other side. She was also soaking wet.
"Juli! How did you find me?" Ryu asked.
"I'm the ex-Shadowlaw assassin, remember," Juli replied. "Tracking down one's target is a requirement." She then showed Ryu the scrap of paper he dropped earlier. "Besides, you dropped this. That made it easier for me." She then sneezed.
Not one to let a person stay out in the rain, Ryu ushered in the flat. "Come in. You need a hot bath. Bathroom's second door on the left. I'll make some tea."
***
Later on, as the typhoon raged, Ryu and Juli were both sitting at the table, sipping tea. Juli had just finished her bath and was dressed down in a white dress shirt, with a cotton haltertop underneath and a pair of matching shorts. Her damp hair was wrapped up in a towel, several strands poking out.
The two fighters were chatting with each other.
"I'm actually from Europe orignially," Juli was saying. "Germany, to be precise."
"Funny," Ryu replied. "By your accent, I thought you were at least English."
"I was raised there," Juli replied.
"So how did you...you know..."
"Get into Shadowlaw?" Juli asked. "Well, my dad was an arms dealer, and my mom was a Shadowlaw researcher. I may not look like it, but I'm a genius."
Ryu blinked. "Huh?"
Juli grinned. "I graduated from high school when I was sixteen, and got my degrees in molecular biology and physics when I was eighteen. I was hired by Shadowlaw soon afterward. When Bison designated an all-female squad, I volunteered, out of loyalty. I went under genetic manipulation and training in martial arts. When the Shadowlaw dolls were formed, I was appointed as their commander."
"Who knew?" Ryu asked.
"So what about you?"
Ryu shrugged his shoulders. "Well, My dad was half Japanese, half American, while my mom was Japanese. I was born in Japan and moved to America when I was a couple of momths old. When my father died, my mom and myselfmoved back to Japan. I guess she missed Dad so much, she died of a broken heart and I was raised by her father--my grandfather. I used to get into many fights when I was a kid, so he taught me martial arts to try and teach me some dicipline. As you can see, it worked. So what are you going to do now that you are out of Shadowlaw?"
"I have some money saved up in several accounts that they don't know about," Juli replied. "I guess I'll lay low and start over, go straight." She stood up. "I'm going to bed. Good night, Ryu."
"Good night."
***
Later...
In the master bedroom, Ryu was having a nightmare. He was reliving one of the most traumatic expriences in his life...
"No...Sensei..."
-Dream Sequence-
It was several days after Chun Li had left for Hong Kong, and Ryu was in a foul mood. Upon arriving at the dojo, Ryu (age 19) and Ken (age 18) sensed that something was wrong. The stench of evil was in the air. Ryu looked around. "Grandpa?" he called out.
No answer.
"Sensei Gouken?" Ken called out.
Silence.
Turning to the dojo, Ryu saw that the shoji door was literally blown open. Feeling a sense of dread, Ryu walked towards the door and entered inside.
What he saw would stay with him for the next four years.
It was Gouken. He was bloodied and sprawled on the floor.
"GOUKEN!" Ryu screamed as he rushed over to his fallen grandfather. Cradling his broken body in his arms, he saw that Gouken's injuries were fatal. Ken was in shock from the scene.
"R...ryu," Gouken whispered, the blood from his mouth staining his beard. "I'm...I'm sorry."
"Grandfather," Ryu pleaded, "save your strength. Don't speak." he turned to Ken. "Call an ambulance! CALL AN AMBULANCE!!"
Ken was on his celluar phone in an instant. As he spoke to the dispatch, Ryu held his grandfather's body in his arms.
"It...it was Gouki," Gouken croaked.
"Your brother? How?"
"He...he embraced the dark side of...(cough cough) Sho-shotokan...Dark Hadou," Gouken whispered. "Too powerful...Raging Demon...lost his humanity...demon..." He began to choke on his blood. "Can't breathe...can't breathe...can't..."
Gouken then stopped moving. His hand, which gripped Ryu's jacket, went slack.
Ryu shook him gently. "Gouken? Gouken!"
It was no use. Gouken Suzaku was dead. Cradling the fallen man'd body in his arms, Ryu began to sob uncontrollably.
From his place in the dojo, Ken saw it and dropped the phone. Tears ran down his face as he watched his best friend cradle his master's dead body in his arms.
-End Dream-
***
Ryu's eyes snapped open. He wasn't in the dojo, holding his sensei's body. He was in Hong Kong, at Fei's flat. He assumed a sitting position and brought a hand to his head.
"I'm cracking up," Ryu muttered to himself. "Get a grip, man."
It still hurt to think that his sensei was gone, but Ryu knew that dwelling in the past won't bring Gouken back. His throat was dry, Ryu reached for the glass of water he had placed on the nightstand. After quenching his thirst, he got out of the bed and looked out the window. The rain had weaken and the clouds parted slightly, allowing the moon the peek out. It was cool, so he was wearing his pair of sweatpants.
He was so caught up in his thoughts that he didin't hear the door open. Juli entered the room, and saw Ryu at the window. Biting her lip, she walked over to him, not making a sound.
Ryu felt a pair of hands at his shoulders, which was followed by something warm pressing up against him.
Juli let Ryu go, allowing Ryu to turn around. Juli was still wearing the white shirt from before and the halter top, the height difference allowing Ryu a glimpse of her shirt-encased cleavage. Her hair cascaded down her shoulders, framing her face her eyes not leaving Ryu's.
Standing on her tiptoes (Juli is 5 feet 4 inches), Juli leaned in. Acting on instinct, Ryu lowered his head, ignoring the voices in his head telling him not to do this.
Either way, he wasn't getting any sleep.
He need to forget about his problems with the Dark Hadou, while she needed to forget about her pursuers from Shadowlaw. Better to do it with each other.
The kiss was a gentle one, Juli pressing her lips to Ryu's ever so gently. Out of reflex, Ryu wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close. Juli's hands ran across his muscled back, tanking in the contour and shape of the mass of flesh.
They finally broke off the kiss, but not their hold on each other. Ryu looked at Juli. Before he could say anything, Juli pressed a finger to his lips, silencing him. "Shhh...," she whispered huskily. "I don't want to be alone. Stay with me, please."
Ryu may be an excellent fighter, but he couldn't resist. They met in another kiss, this time Juli slipped her tongue into Ryu's mouth as he slipped his hands inside her shirt and caressed her back, while she broke off the kiss and started to attack his neck with her lips. It wasn't before long before they were kissing again, only this time it was more heated than before.
It was Ryu who broke off the kiss and started to kiss her neck and exposed shoulder, seeing as how Ryu was slipping off the shirt, leaving Juli only in her halter top and a pait of underwear. Juli moaned in approval at what Ryu was doing. It was at that moment that they were inching their way towards the bed. Once they got there, that's when the real lovemaking began...
***
-Several hours later...-
It was still raining outside, but neither Ryu or Juli noticed. Their clothes were strewn across the floor and they were snuggling against each other, a sheet covering themselves for some modesty. Ryu was flat on his back, while Juli was resting on his chest. Both were asleep.
***
For the next two days, Ryu and Juli stayed in bed. However, on the third day...
***
It was early morning when Juli woke up. She looked at the digital clock on the nightstand. It read 5:07 a.m. She looked at Ryu, who was still asleep.
She looked outside the window. The rain was slowing down, meaning the typhoon has passed the city. She smiled at the man whom she had spend the last two days with...then something came back to her mind.
Shadowlaw was still looking for her...and she had a price on her head.
Juli was then forced to make the most painful decision of her life. She dislodged herself from Ryu and stepped out of the bed. Grabbing her discarded clothes, she ran out of the room. After a few minutes, she entered the bedroom again, this time fully clothed, her backpack in her hand. Kneeling next to the sleeping Ryu, she whispered, "I'm sorry to do this, Ryu, but I must walk this path alone." She smiled. "You made me forget my troubles, and I thank you, but we must part ways. I am sorry."
After placing a final kiss on his cheek, Juli was gone.
***
Three hours later, Ryu woke up. He woke up to find Juli gone...
...and the rain had stopped.
He was alone again.
-End Flashback-