Chapter 6: The Tale of Two Brothers
The trees swayed as a small breeze came over the forest. The forest was a serene place, the water coming directly from the mountain, it's location was secret. The forest was lush with trees of tall height and masked the ground from sunlight, only allowing a few beams of light to pass through, forming a pattern of light. In this forest, two young men stood facing each other. One was tall, with short spiky red hair in a black gi whilst the other had short black hair and wore a white gi. Sitting and watching over them on a rock was an elderly man, wearing an old tattered robe with prayer beads around his neck.
" Take your stance." commanded the elderly man to both the young men.
Both men took their stance. As the seconds flew, they remain motionless. Suddenly, in an instant both men charged towards each other. Both unleashed combos of kicks and punches to each other with each parrying the other's blow. The elder man looked on, his mind clearly interested in the fight.
" Even though they are brothers by blood." the elderly man thought to himself, " Their fighting style greatly differs."
" Gouki's style of fighting is brutal and merciless." the elderly man continued ,his eyes on the man in the black gi, " He has the intention needed by his martial art style."
" Gouken, however, appears to be holding back." continued the elderly man, his focus now on the man with the white gi, " Even now he shows compassion to his opponents."
The elderly man's thoughts were interrupted by a loud noise. Both Gouki and Gouken had simultaneously punched each other in the face, the force of their punch sending them a few feet apart. Both were panting from exhaustion, yet both of them took their stance.
" Enough." commanded the elderly man, " Training is finished."
Gouki and Gouken relaxed and headed towards the elderly man and knelt before him.
" Master Goutetsu." asked a sweaty Gouki, " How did I do?"
" You did well, Gouki." commented Goutetsu, " You have proven yourself to be capable of the brutality of the art."
Goutetesu then turned his focus to Gouken, who remained silent.
" Gouken." asked Goutetsu, " Why are you holding back? Is it because he is your brother?"
Gouken shook his head.
" No, Master Goutetsu." Gouken answered, " I just don't feel like the style should be used for killing people."
Goutetsu shook his head.
" It cannot be helped." exclaimed Goutetsu, " Our style is an assassination style. You should know that by now."
Gouken sighed heavily, knowing he was defeated by that fact.
" Yes, Master." Gouken replied.
" Good." exclaimed Goutetsu, " Pack up your gear and return back to the dojo."
Goutetsu stood up and headed back to the dojo, leaving the two brothers behind. Both Gouken and Gouki proceeded to pack up the gear.
" Gouken," Gouki started, " Why do you hate the killing aspect of our style so much. You should embrace it."
" I don't hate it." replied Gouken, " I just don't think it should be used to kill people."
Gouki sighed and place his arm over Gouken's shoulder.
" Big Brother, you are still so soft." exclaim Gouki, " How will you be strong enough to defeat your opponents with a mindset like that?"
" Not all fights are won by the measure of brutality you give them." retaliated Gouken.
Gouki sighed, scratching his head.
" I can never understand you." said Gouki, " You want to be strong but at the same time you want to be soft as well."
Gouki walked ahead of Gouken, heading towards the dojo.
" And what is it that you want, little brother?" asked Gouken.
This stopped Gouki in his tracks.
" Me?" replied Gouki, " I just want to be the strongest fighter in the world. And if I have to be brutal and merciless to do so, I will."
Gouki continued to walk away until he disappeared in the thickness of the trees. Gouken let out a sad sigh.
" But is it worth giving up your soul to the Satsui No Hadou?" asked Gouken, as he headed back to the dojo.
Few months have passed since the was in his room meditating when there came a knock on his door. Goutetsu stood up and opened the door to find Gouken standing outside.
" What is it, Gouken?" asked Goutetsu.
" I'm leaving, Master." replied Gouken.
" Why?" asked a surprised Goutetsu, " Why are you leaving?"
" My Master." Gouken replied, " I know our style is an assasination style, but I wish to train in the peaceful aspects of our style. I'm afraid the longer I stay here, I will not be able to fulfill that wish."
Goutetsu was clearly stunned but slowly his face relaxed and a small smile appeared on his face.
" I understand." Goutetsu replied, " You may leave."
" Thank you, Master." responded Gouken, excitement in his voice.
A few days later, Gouken was packed and ready to leave. Gouki stood right by him.
" Do you really have to go, brother?" asked Gouki.
" I do." replied Gouken, " It is best for you and Master Goutetsu. You'll be able to continue learning Goutetsu's teachings and obtain your dream."
Gouki remained silent. Gouken, aware of what his younger brother was thinking, put his hands on Gouki's shoulders.
" Do not worry." Gouken said, " I will return to see both you and Master Goutesu. For the time being, become the strongest fighter you want to be and protect our Master."
Gouki stood silent for a while. Finally, he was able to talk.
" I will." replied Gouki, " Good luck on your journey."
" Thanks, little brother." said Gouken, and he proceeded to walk away from the dojo, which was both his home and his training ground. Gouken looked back for a last glimpse of Gouki and the dojo before continuing on his journey.
Few years went by and Gouken found himself taking the familiar path he used to take to the dojo. He had successfully opened his own dojo and had two students. Feeling that he had accomplished his dreams, he decided to visit Gouki and Goutetsu. As he neared the dojo, the sky slowly became darker and darker, until Gouken could only see the , the nights were quiet and serene. However, Gouken felt a dark atmosphere around the forest trees.
" Something is not right." Gouken thought to himself, as he continued to walk.
Suddenly, a scream pierced the night sky. Gouken was shocked.
" That sounded like...MASTER!" exclaimed Gouken and he rushed towards the dojo.
As he neared the dojo, he heard the same scream coming from Goutetsu's room. Gouken ran and kicked Goutetsu's door down. What he saw not only scarred him mentally but also psychologically. His Master, Goutetsu was lying motionless on the ground, blood spewing from his chest. Standing above him, was a dark figure with glowing red eyes. His hands were bloody and he appeared to be holding something. On closer inspection, it was Goutetsu's prayer beads. Seeing the appearance of Gouken, the figure laughed.
" Welcome back, Brother." the figure exclaimed, " I've finally done it. My dream is now a reality."
Gouken could not believe his ears. His heart was beating furiously and his mind kept telling him not to say what he had wanted to say.
" Gouki?" asked Gouken.
The figure smiled a sinister smile and he held up the blood stained prayer bead in the air.
" Yes, it is I." he exclaimed, " Gouki!"
Gouken was shocked. Gouki, whose face was once human, now looked like that of a demon.
" What happened to you?" asked Gouken sternly, " What did you do to our Master?!"
" He is no longer my Master." exclaimed Gouki, " For I have exceeded him, in anyway possible. I AM THE STRONGEST FIGHTER THERE IS!"
Gouken was shocked and stunned at the changed Gouki.
" Brother, the Satsui no Hadou has shown me true power. " Gouki exclaimed, excitement in his voice, " Even Goutetsu was afraid of it! But me, I chose to accept the Satsui no Hadou, no, embrace it fully!"
" Gouki!" yelled Gouken, " Have you gone mad?!"
" Maybe." replied Gouki, " But I don't care if I'm mad as long as I remain the strongest fighter there is!"
Tears rolled from Gouken's eyes.
" You are no longer my brother." Gouken exclaimed, bitterly, " The brother I knew was noble to his cause and would never hurt anyone on purpose. But now, you killed my Master and condemned your soul to the Satsui no Hadou. For that you must be destroyed!"
Gouki was clearly surprised by Gouken's challenge, but surprise turned into excitement.
" GOOD! GOOD! COME THEN, BIG BROTHER!" yelled Gouki, " I"LL SHOW YOU HOW PATHETIC YOUR STYLE IS COMPARED TO THE POWER OF THE SATSUI NO HADOU!"