Our three hosts where backstage preparing themselves for the next episode.
"You know. We might as well make it enjoyable while it lasts. I mean these guys aren't really trying to hurt us. Just forcing us to play match maker for their number one hero," Ken said as a make-up artist powdered his face..
"Well who knew nerds with a lot of money had it in them to set all this up just for Ryu?" Ibuki asked as she too was tended to.
"I do not understand why you two are deciding to suddenly embrace this situation," Guy said, choosing not to have anyone near him.
"Dude what else can we do? Besides its not as if anyone's going to get hurt," Ken said.
"Did you forget the last episode Masters?" Guy asked in irritation.
"Well no but still, no one got hurt in the end, although you really gotta dig Vega's new hair-do," Ken said with a grin.
"What about that Gym?" Ibuki asked.
"It's already been payed for," said one of the producers who came into their changing room.
"Hey Derek. I gotta know something though?" Ibuki asked Derek, one of the producers, curiously.
"For the last time the answer is no, we won't free you just yet," Derek sighed. All the fighters wanted blood in the beginning but he had hoped they would start to relax soon and get used to their predicament while it lasted, well for some anyways because they'd have to keep an extra eye on the villains for anything alarming.
"No, not that. I don't like this situation but I accept it for what it is, for now. I wanted to know what exactly happened to the gym Ryu blew up?" Ibuki asked.
"It was costly and we had to avoid a lot of lawsuits by paying for the damages but it all came out good in the end. We're rich and when you have that kind of money there's nothing you can't do," Derek said with a smile.
"And us sharing a changing room?" Guy asked in annoyance.
"It belonged to hosts that came before you and we can't really afford more then one changing room... Well we can but decided not to waste cash," Derek said.
"I hear you there bro," Ken said.
"Yeah man," Derek and Ken fist pumped.
"That still doesn't explain our involvement if the show is all about Ryu," Guy glared at Derek.
"Well it was in the interest of other fans of the series to put you here," Derek breezed through.
"God, why didn't you just make the show about me?" Ken asked.
"Because we're not huge fans of you buddy," Derek said and watched as Ken slumped.
"...Whatever, it's not like a cared anyway," Ken said with a frown.
"Why are you here Derek?" Ibuki asked.
"To tell you guys what will be happening in the episode of course," Derek said.
"Of course," Ibuki frowned.
"What's taking them so long to start the show?" asked the other people in the cage or prison as Cody liked to call it.
"Don't know, maybe they have finally gotten tired of it," Dudley said in his impassive and bored demeanour.
"Why do you always look like you're bored?" Hakan asked curiously.
"Well that has mainly to do with the likes of you people.." Dudley replied.
"...Forget I asked," Hakan said.
"Nice hair," Sakura said to Vega, who had to get a hair cut due to most of it burning when he fought at the gym.
"You like it?" Vega asked surprised, the hair-do was a last minute thing and he didn't think anyone would like it.
"Yeah! It kinda makes you look like an older version of Justin Bieber," Sakura squealed like a fan girl.
"Well...shit," Vega said dejectedly, crap that's not what he wanted to hear.
The stage finally lit up and our host and hostess could be seen ready to start.
"What's up everybody!" Ken shouted excitedly getting some cheers and booes from some of the characters in the cage.
"I'm Ken Masters!"
"I'm Ibuki!"
"And I am Guy," God, even he had to admit that sounded so boring but he had to be serious dammit!
"And you're watching?" Ken asked.
"Date That Loser!" Some characters said, it seemed that some where making the best out of this too.
"Last time we saw Juri involved in a Gym exploding," Ken said.
"Like I give a damn," Juri said with a scowl, she would never admit that her efforts resulted in disaster.
"Aww shame," Ibuki mocked.
"You better watch yourself you little-" she was cut off from activating her Feng Sui Engine by images of Bison and Honda in bikinis making her shiver in fright, she was a psycho but even she wouldn't do this to her worst enemy.
"Better be careful little spider. You don't want to end up living a nightmare for the rest of you life," Seth said, he didn't like her one bit but he wasn't going to pass up an opportunity like this.
"Tch whatever," Juri said.
"So anyway back to us. Let's go check what my buddy man is doing," Ken said as the curtains moved away to reveal the all too familiar screen.
Japan, he's home. Ryu always regretted not fully taking in the scenery of the places this country had to offer. So much technology but it never strayed from it's original traditional roots, he would be dissapointed if it started to. He knew many place here, not all but many and that was enough for him. He didn't want to go to the dojo that he used regularly when he was here, he wanted to try something new for training and luckily Japan had a lot to offer when it came to places for action. His senses kept on giving him a bad feeling but he didn't dwell too much on them.
"Well you should you dumbass! Don't you think it's strange seeing so many familiar faces," Evil Ryu asked.
"I've had enough of you. I am not listening to a single word you're saying," Ryu brushed off easily and cut the link.
"Ryu!" A voice shouted and Ryu sighed. This routine was getting so familiar. He just knew if he looked back he would see someone he met before or fought in the same tournament with. As he looked back his suspicions were confirmed. He knew it was Makoto from her face and hair, as well as seeing glimpses of her in the last tournament with her name being announced a number of times, but her tomboish apearance wasn't present. She was wearing tight black jeans with matching Chuck Taylors, a red shirt that showed a little cleavege but we all know Ryu wasn't focused on that, her face was the same which made it easy for him to know who exactly he was seeing.
"Makoto," Ryu addressed her.
"Hai! You...know my name?" Makoto asked curiously, she never expected Ryu to know her name, let alone make a conversation with her but at least this gave her a bit of a chance to get on Ryu's good side. She needed the money to create more dojos to teach people about her styles and techniques, she wanted to be well known as a fighter and respected by her older brother who wanted nothing to do with her profession.
"Yes. I remember seeing you in the last world tournament and hearing the announcer saying your name," Ryu said.
"Oh. Well I'm honered. I saw you in the distance and I was wondering if you'd like us to get to know each other better," Makoto got straight to the point, no use in giving little hints of interest when you could persuade a date out of the man.
"I don't think-"
"We're both Japanese and we're both fighters and to be honest I don't really know many people around here that can relate to me like you," she cut in quickly and she wasn't lying there, she did know a few people but not much.
"Oh! Than it would be my honer to spend some time with you Makoto-san," Ryu said respectively. He would make time to train here later, he wasn't in a rush today.
"Thank you Ryu-san," the money would be great and dating a hunk of man like Ryu would be a great bonus for her and her popularity. Chun Li can die in a bush for all she cared.
They walked and talked among each other while enjoying the scenery, the Sakura Trees, the japanese cuisines. Makoto couldn't ever remember having a good time like this, she never had a boyfriend in her life and she was starting to develop a crush on the world's greatest fighter. The city was buzzing with life but the only thing Makoto was focusing on was her potential boyfriend.
Ryu was just making conversation to know his fellow fighter, there wasn't anything else there. He had to admit Makoto was a strong individual who had a lot of redeeming qualities to her, she had a good will, although she liked money a bit too much, she was dedicated to her fighting which he found most interesting and she cared about family which was another bonus. She was a nice girl and Ryu enjoyed her company. Too bad that wouldn't last long.
"Step right up everybody!" Shouted a man at a food stand.
"Take your pick in the best food out there!" Another man screamed from another food stand that was next to the former.
"I'm hungry. Would you like something to eat?" Ryu asked looking down at Makoto.
"I-I'd love to," Makoto blushed looking at Ryu, wow she didn't even know that she was experiencing her first crush, damn.
They walked to the food stands and they finally had a good look at who the two men were, El Fuerte and Honda.
"Ryu buddy! How you doing?" Honda greeted enthusiastically.
"I'm well Honda-san and you?" Ryu asked with a smile.
"I'm great! Hey are you two hungry?" Honda asked the couple.
"Yes and you Makoto-san?" Ryu said looking at a Makoto.
"It wouldn't hurt," Makoto shrugged and smiled sweetly.
"Great! I got Ramen, Miso soup, Kaiseki, Bento, Shit-"
"What was the last one?" Makoto asked in alarm.
"What, shit?" Honda asked curiously.
"... Why would you sell shit!?" Makoto asked looking around for any evidence of shit on the counter.
"Well the stuff is really good," Honda said.
"That's disgusting!" Makoto shouted.
"But they're just mashrooms," Ryu cut in.
"Wha..." Makoto trailed off when she saw the shitake mushrooms on the counter.
"You don't like em?" Honda asked.
"No! I'm sorry! I was thinking something else," Makoto was really confused, how come Ryu got what Honda said before she did? He must have eaten them before, that's the only explaination she could come up with.
"Oh okay. So what will you have pretty lady," Honda said with a flirtatious grin.
"Uhh... Ramen please," Makoto said nervously, crap this was all Ryu's fault for bringing them to this fat guy!
"I will have the same," Ryu said.
"Coming righ-"
"Forget that guy and try out my Mexican dishes!" El Fuerte cut in and glared at his rival.
"They came to me first!" Honda screamed giving El Fuerte a death glare so hard that sparks were flying between the two.
"I'm willing to try both," Ryu said trying to diffuse the tension.
"Me too," Makoto chimed in.
"Fine! But you start with mine first," Honda grumbled.
Ryu and Makoto ate Honda's ramen pretty quickly, it was delicious but they needed to prepare their stomachs for El Fuerte's dishes.
"Now it is my turn amigo!" El Feurte shouted while giving Ryu and Makoto two plates with food on it.
"... What is it?" Makoto asked after a while of staring at the food.
"It's a taco senorita!" El Fuerte said.
"A taco senorita?" Makoto asked confused.
"No just taco," El Fuerte said as his eye twitched.
"But you said-"
"Just taco!"
"Okay okay... Sheesh,"
"It looks interesting," Ryu said than took the big chip, filled with beans and meat, to his mouth, Makoto followed suit but they were stopped before they could bite it.
"Don't you guys want a napkin?" El Fuerte asked the two.
"... What?" Makoto asked with a frown. Where she came from a napkin was something a baby used to shit itself in so this was definitely something she had to make sure she heard right.
"Don't you want a napkin?" El Fuerte repeated. The correct term was serviette in Japan but he didn't know that.
"Why would I want a napkin?" Makoto asked as Ryu just waited patiently next to her.
"To hold everything together you know," El Fuerte said.
"I think I can handle it," Makoto said irritably, she wouldn't just shit her pants in the open just because of a stupid taco.
"Don't be a hero man just take the napkin?" El Fuerte insisted.
"Maybe we should," Ryu suggested.
"For what reason Ryu-san?" Makoto asked turning to him.
"Like I said senorita, it keeps everything together. You don't want that stuff to stain your pants, your shirt-"
"How the hell can shit stain my shirt!?" Makoto asked in alarm. What kind of shit could do that? Did it bounce or something? What kind of food was this taco to even do that to someone?
"I'm telling you it will be all over you if you don't take a napkin," El Fuerte said, completely misunderstanding the topic.
"Sick," Makoto said in disgust. She dropped the tacho and grabbed Ryu's arm and was prepared to leave before she was interrupted.
"Yes! My food is better!" Honda cheered.
"In your dreams sumo freak. They didn't even try mine," El Feurte said.
"Because it's crap!" Honda grinned.
"No, your's is!" El Fuerte said with a glare.
"We'll just see about that. You girl are not leaving until you try all our food and tell us which one is better!" Honda said glaring at a surprised Makoto.
"But-"
"You're not going anywhere senorita," El Fuerte said.
"I'm leaving-"
"Get her!" El Fuerte and Honda quickly grabbed Makoto who was struggling to get loose from them.
"Guys I don't think that is such a good idea," Ryu warned when he saw Makoto turning red, literally.
"That's it!" Makoto screamed, breaking the hold they had on her and proceeded to beat the living hell out of the two cooks.
Ryu remembered what Guile told him when Cammy and Sakura fought each other. He realised that he was somehow the cause of this again so he decided to let them cool over without him being here to aggravate things further.
"I'm sorry," Ryu apologised softly then left the scene.
"*Huff Huff* You fucking idiots!" Makoto huffed as her skin turned back to its pale color.
"Uggghh," El Fuerte gurgled in his position on the ground.
"Arg! I'm going to feel that tomorrow," Honda groaned.
Makoto looked around and realised, in her anger, she lost track of Ryu and he was gone.
"...Fuck," She said under her breath as the screen cut off and the stage lit with our hosts and hostees.
"Damn! Remind me never to get her angry!" Ken said.
"Poor Makoto. They really looked like a cute couple," Ibuki said.
"Fuck you!" Sakura screamed from the cage.
"Why do you keep cursing like that? It is unbecoming of a woman," Guy said to a stunned Sakura.
"Dude, are sure your name isn't Gay?" Ken asked staring at Guy.
"... Idiot," Guy grumbled.
"Ha! You didn't deny it!" Ken laughed.
"Oh come on Ken. I know he isn't gay," Ibuki said.
"How?" Ken asked.
"Well uhh... We kissed before," Ibuki blushed looking away from an impassive Guy.
"Se what? Guy you dog," Ken grinned.
"*Ahem* That is the end of our show. Do not forget to vote and stay tuned to?" Guy asked impassively.
"Date That Loser!" the gathered crowd, characters excluded, cheered.
"Until next time!" Ibuki said and then the stage faded to black.
AN: Sorry for earlier chapter mistakes and spelling. I'm still trying to improve as much as possible in english. Vote!
