WHAT'S THIS? AN UPDATE! EARLY? That's right, guys! Just for you! This chapter is comin' at ya early! Don't worry, the next chapter will follow its usual schedule but I wanted to get this one out... just for you guys! Now, quick recap, Ryu is going through Guerrilla's gauntlet challenge. He's beaten Vega but now must face the nightmare from his past: Sagat. (BTW, I stole the "nightmare from his past" part from Joey Styles on an old ECW DVD I have. lol.) What will happen when these two lock up? Read and see!

Chapter 9

Ryu stared up at the 7' tall Sagat. Both of them had looks of steel on their faces. The memories of their first fight flashed in both of their minds. It wasn't a pleasant day for either of them. From Sagat's scar and Ryu's loss of control, it was a day that both of them had constant reminders of. And, while Sagat had healed from the physical torment from which his scar was the result, Ryu still felt the guilt over the mental loss of control he felt that day.

But Ryu had no time to dwell on that now. "Sagat."

"Ryu," the Muay Thai fighter breathed out.

"Working for Shadaloo again?"

Sagat smiled. "Hate to disappoint you."

"I thought you had more honor than that."

"Hmph. Maybe I do…"

"Prove it."

Ryu jumped up with a knee. Sagat dodged. Sagat came with a backfist that Ryu just barely managed to duck underneath. He came up with a slightly powered-up Shoryuken. Sagat jumped back.

Sagat landed away from Ryu. "Uh… Uh… Uh…" He waved his finger. "Can't beat me the same way twice, Ryu."

Unfortunately, Ryu knew this was true. There was no way Sagat would be beaten by the same technique a second time. At least, not right away. Ryu charged back in, swinging for the fences. Sagat dodged him, blocked one punch, and came back with punch to the gut. Ryu stumbled as Sagat advanced.

After another punch, Mei looked away. She didn't want to watch her mom's friend being beat up. She recognized Ryu immediately from all the searches Chun-Li did for him. She asked Chun-Li once if that was her boyfriend. Chun-Li turned red and changed the subject. It was until now that the girl realized she never got an answer.

Chow, Chun-Li's half brother, was amazed at all that Ryu had gone through. While he knew the world warrior was mainly doing this as a favor to his sister, Chow couldn't get over just how far Ryu was going for this. He was even more amazed that Chun-Li had such loyal friends. Because of this, he wanted desperately for Guerrilla to show some shred of decency. He looked at the Neo-Shadaloo leader. "Come on, Guerrilla! He's had enough! End this!"

Guerrilla just chuckled. "No. He wanted this. Then he's going to get it." He looked down at Mei. "Come on, little girl. Look at your mommy's friend lose."

They all looked back to see Ryu skimming across the ground from Sagat's latest attack. He kipped up to feet as Sagat ran at him. Ryu caught the massive fighter incoming with an elbow across the jaw followed by a kick to the gut. Fist, fist, kick, kick, uppercut. Sagat stumbled back. Ryu jumped up for a spin kick. Sagat ducked it, surprising tactic for his size and came with an open palm across the side of Ryu's face. He grabbed Ryu and pulled him into a knee in the gut. Despite the pain shooting through him, Ryu pushed himself off of his adversary and jumped back. He launched himself into the air and came down with a kick. Sagat saw it coming. He caught Ryu's leg and, using the latter's momentum as well as some of his own, tossed him into some crates.

"TIGER!" Sagat slammed his fists next to each other to unleash the energy shot at Ryu. The blast zone exploded. The smoke cleared to reveal Ryu lying in the wreckage, burn spots on his clothes and smoke coming off his body.

He wasn't moving.

As Mei and Chow stood stunned, Guerrilla laughed, triumphantly and evilly. "Well done!" he shouted.

Sagat looked up at him and nodded.

Guerrilla came down and walked to where Ryu was still lying, Sagat towering over him as well. The Neo-Shadaloo grinned. He won. If Ryu could be toppled, then the rest of the Street Fighters would fall like dominos. All he had to do was remember how to break each and every one of them down. "Well… it seems these past few days were too much for him."

"Hmmm," Sagat groaned.

Guerrilla patted the Muay Thai warrior on the shoulder. "Well, since you defeated him, please, Sagat, do the honors and rid us of this nuisance."

"With pleasure." Sagat leaned down and picked Ryu up by the collar of his gi. As stoic as ever, he formed energy in his other hand, formed a fist and drew back.

Guerrilla was ecstatic at the victory that was about to be his. He couldn't stop grinning. Nothing could stop him now. Nothing.

Suddenly, Sagat let the energy fade, releasing his fist, much to the confusion of Guerrilla.

"What the hell are you doing?" Guerrilla asked.

Suddenly and uncharacteristically, Sagat smiled. "Is that enough for you?"

All of a sudden, Ryu smiled. "More than enough." His eyes flew open.

"WHAT?" Guerrilla screamed.

Ryu kicked Guerrilla in the chin, sending back. Sagat let him and they both got into fighting stances.

Guerilla got to his and rubbed his chin as his soldiers guarded him. "WH-Wh… SAGAT!"

Sagat smiled. "Like Ryu said… I have more honor."

Guerrilla gritted his teeth. "KILL THEM! KILL THEM ALL!"

Soldiers surrounded the two of them, causing Ryu and Sagat to stand back to back. The soldiers started cocking their guns back, getting ready to fire.

"When does the next part of yours plan kick in, Ryu?" Sagat asked.

Ryu heard helicopters coming. "Right now."

Men tried to shout out warnings but it was too late. Explosions went off all around the warehouse. Soldiers stormed in dressed in desert fatigues and began firing on all the Neo-Shadaloo soldiers. Guerilla ducked for cover, grabbing a gun to return fire. Ryu and Sagat fought off the immediate soldiers when they both saw Guerrilla with his gun aimed at the Hadou master.

"RYYYYYUUUUUU!" Guerrilla screamed.

Ryu and Sagat both braced to dodge the gunshot.

Suddenly, Guerrilla was kicked him from behind by someone, forcing the gun from his hands. The interceptor was clad in his trademark red karate gi with his blonde hair hanging loose and free. Always with a smile on his face, there stood Ryu's best friend, Ken Masters. "Sorry, there, pal! Can't go havin' ya shoot my best friend."

Guerrilla groaned and jumped to his feet. He flipped over Ken just as more of Guerrilla's grunts jumped in to protect their commander. Gunfire from both sides erupted more as more soldiers from outside filled the warehouse. As they ducked for cover, the heroic warriors lost sight of Guerrilla in the fray.

"Dang it! I don't see him!" Ken shouted.

"Never mind him for now!" Ryu shouted. He pointed to Mei and Chow on the catwalk.

The three warriors fought their way up to the top catwalk, on their way to Mei and Chow. Ken and Sagat did most of the heavy lifting to let Ryu catch his breath. They also knew that the fight with Guerrilla belonged solely to the Japanese fighter. They got through some of Guerrilla's more skilled soldiers, though it wasn't easy. The Neo-Shadaloo fighters were well versed in fighting techniques that none of the men were readily familiar with and powerful enough to see why they were Guerrilla's elite. As strong as they were, however, the heroic warriors were on a mission and would not be denied. After a couple of minutes, they succeeded in getting past the elites. Ryu saw looked at the unconscious soldiers while Ken and Sagat kept a lookout for more soldiers.

"It seems we get a reprieve," Sagat surmised.

"Thankfully," Ryu responded.

"I hope I didn't hurt you too much."

"I'm fine. I managed to dodge the Tiger just in time."

"And here I was worried my aim was too perfect."

"It was. I barely had time to dodge."

Sagat chuckled.

Ryu walked to Mei and kneeled down before her. "Hi, Mei. I'm a friend of your mom."

She nodded. "I know. She looks at you on the computer a lot."

He smiled. "So, I heard."

Ken smiled, "What was that?"

"Don't start."

Sagat smiled. "So, you have a fan club, now, Ryu?"

"I guess so." Ryu looked over at Chow, "And you must be Chun-Li's brother."

He nodded, nervously.

"I'm Ryu. Nice to meet you."

"S-Same to you…" Chow replied.

"She's got a brother?" Ken asked.

"Cammy didn't tell you?"

"Nope. Just met up with her like you said to. All she told me was that I helping you go after a guy who ran a criminal empire and kidnapped Chun-Li's daughter. All I really needed to know."

Ryu nodded. "Thanks again for coming, Ken."

"You know better than that, man. You call me? I'm there. Anytime."

Another grunt ran up the opposite side of the catwalk.

Ken smirked and rubbed his fist, "I got him." He charged at the soldier.

Ken jumped on the rail of the catwalk, using it as a launching point. He kicked the soldier across the face, disorienting him. He delivered a swift punch to the gut of the soldier then gave him a spin kick, knocking him down. There was another elite coming as well. Ken ran and performed a jump kick, connecting square in the elite's jaw, taking him out.

Ken scoffed. "Piece of cake."

The first soldier had gotten up and was going for Ken when Sagat wrapped his massive right arm around the elite soldier's throat and choked him out.

Ken looked up at Sagat and, after realizing what happened, narrowed his eyes. "I can't believe I have thank you for backing me up."

Sagat just smiled. He looked down and saw Guerrilla running out of a backdoor. "Ryu! Guerrilla's getting away!"

Ryu shot his eyes toward the direction he ran. "No… he isn't." He looked at the approaching Ken and Sagat. "Can you two take care of them?"

With a grunt, Sagat nodded. Ken gave a thumbs up, "You know it. He's all yours."

Ryu jumped over the rail, to a tall crate, a smaller crate, then the ground. He landed just as a group of soldiers aimed their assault rifles at him. They were both shot, courtesy of the one responsible for getting Ken and the incoming soldiers, Cammy.

"Go get him!" Cammy shouted, holding two smoking sub machineguns. "If you kill him, don't worry! It's sanctioned!"

Ryu nodded and headed after Guerrilla.

YES! Ya gotta love a good plan! I know I do! So, now... all roads are clear, no more enemies in the way, no more plots, no more dodging him, this fight WILL happen in the next chapter. Up next: Ryu Vs. Guerrilla. Don't miss it.