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Maine...

A short way from the Masters Estate...

3 Days Later...

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Akuma took several deep breath, standing in a horse stance, as he concentrated, preparing himself. He tried to focus, but every time he tried, an image of Gill turning into that angelic form ran through his thoughts, causing him to shiver in fear.

He shook his head angrily, and teleported through the front gate. When he reappeared on the other side, he started running, planning on challenging Ken the moment he saw him.

And yet even this bothered him greatly. Why Ken? The American had, for the most part, retired from tournament fighting, entering only when Ryu himself was involved. He wasn't as in shape as he used to be, and was concentrating more on being a family man and training the young whelp, Sean Matsuda.

So why did he seek out Ken? Why not Ryu, who was much stronger now than the last time they fought?

Because he was scared. He was scared of what Ryu would do if he actually won their fight. He was scared of losing to one whose master he had slain.

So here he was, challenging the weaker fighter.

That's not the reason I'm doing this, dammit. I need to be sure I'm strong enough before I challenge Ryu directly, Akuma told himself, not believing it for a second.

Finally, he came up to the main door of the Estate. He stared at it for several minutes, trying to work up the courage to go inside, until he simply Hadokened the door open out of sheer frustration with himself.

He stormed into the house, following the frantic sound of voices, tuning out the alarms going off. He listened with mild amusement as Ken gave directions to his family, following the sound to it's source.

"Sean, don't ARGUE with me! Take Mel, take Eliza, and get them to safety!"

"But Ken-sensei, I can help you! I'm much stronger since the tournament, and..."

"Dammit Sean STOP ARGUING! This is Akuma! I've told you how dangerous he is! Now go!"

"... All right, Ken-sensei. But I will be back to help you."

Akuma finally came to the source of the voices, the television room of the house, with a door opening to a little patio with table and chairs. The tall, solidly-built, blond-haired American was busy herding his student, a dark-skinned boy in a tan gi, and his family, a relatively Barbie-esque woman with a better, more athletic figure than the doll and a tough-looking young boy of around 7, out the door. When he saw Akuma enter the room, he panicked, shoving them roughly out onto the patio, kissing his wife as if saying goodbye, and locking the door.

He turned to Akuma and dropped immediately into a fighting stance. The demonic fighter was pleased to see that Ken's stance was still solid, his movements still containing their subtle quickness to them.

"What the hell do you want, Akuma?" he demanded, not taking his eyes off the warrior.

Akuma just chuckled. "I simply want to test myself, Ken Masters. I've challenged Ryu so many times, I have almost forgotten you."

Ken snarled, and started to circle Akuma. "Forgotten me. Right. So now you've come to do to me what you did to your brother. My MASTER."

Akuma frowned, surprised. "How could you possibly know..."

"I was THERE, Akuma. I saw you fight and murder Master Gouken before his daughter's eyes. And now you've come to fight me? To do the same to me, before you take out Ryu? Well, I won't let you, you hear me? I WON'T LET YOU!!! HADOKEN!!"

Ken thrust his hands forward, sending the bluish-yellow energy ball flying towards Akuma. The projectile slammed into Akuma's gut with the force of a powerful kick, knocking the wind from him. Ken was shocked that his attack actually hit, but continued attacking anyway out of pure instinct. He leaped over the couch, his leg extended in a flying kick. Akuma barely got his arms up in time to block the move, grabbing Ken's leg and throwing him into the hall. Ken landed on his feet and spun, his leg lashing up into Akuma's face. Akuma shoved the kick aside, and thrust his palm toward's Ken's face. Ken dodged, the palm strike shattering the wall behind him, and uppercutted Akuma. Akuma's teeth clacked together hard, sending a blaze of pain through his jaws. He rolled back, and lashed out wildly with a roundhouse kick. Ken rolled underneath the blow and into his Shoryuken technique, the flaming rising punch knocking the warrior airborne, smashing Akuma's head into the ceiling. Akuma landed roughly on the floor afterwards, visibly dazed.

Ken knew that shouldn't have worked. And he knew it shouldn't have worked that well. But he wasn't about to take chances. He pressed his attack, and did an axe kick to Akuma's back that knocked him down just as he was trying to get up. He then stomped on Akuma's head, feeling something break in the floor.

Akuma groaned weakly, teleporting away, leaving a smear of blood on the shattered plywood of the floor where his face was. Ken blinked in surprise as he looked around the hall, preparing himself for another attack.

None came.

...the HELL?! Ken thought, confused to the extreme.

The sound of the patio door slamming open snapped him out of his thoughts, along with Sean's 'reassuring' bellow that he was coming to help. The young boy ran into the hall, finding only his master.

"Where... Where is Akuma?!" he demanded.

Ken just stared at the smear of blood on the floor. After a moment, he said, "I beat him..."

Sean laughed, pumping the air excitedly with his fist. "Ha HAH! I knew you were the greatest! Not even Ryu can claim that he's beaten a baddy that major!"

Ken shook his head. "I shouldn't have won. I should be dead. Something was wrong. Something was wrong with Akuma..."

Outside the mansion, Akuma reappeared, moaning and groaning in both pain and fear. He clutched his face as blood gushed from his nose. It wasn't broken, but that was by sheer luck alone.

Gods help me, it's true... he thought, My power has left me... I no longer have the Murderous Intent...