The outskirts of South Town
Ranch Stables
Sunday, 10:20 AM

It had been a while since Ryo visited his horse, Tatsumaki. He used to do it all the time, but life just didn't allow for it in the past few months. Whether it was responsibilities, social events or martial arts tournaments, the heir to the Kyokugenryu Legacy wasn't able to make time to spend with one of his best friends.

"Sorry to keep you waiting buddy," Ryo said as he petted the horse's cheek with great care and kindness, "you deserve better. Let's go and stretch your legs for a bit." He waited for the ranch's Hostler to unlock the door for Tatsumaki to come out, as he felt a nostalgia slowly invading him.

It was the month of May, so the visit to the stable wasn't fortuitous. Every year around Mother's Day, Ryo would make time on the weekend to carry out a series of rituals in remembrance of his mother Ronnet. During breakfast he'd turn on Johnny Cash's "Sunday Morning Coming Down", which was Ronnet's favorite song to listen to while making eggs in the morning, and solve the crossword puzzle in the newspaper like she used to. Sadly, he'd rarely ever finish it and would just proceed to draw mustaches and glasses on the people in the pictures.

The ride with Tatsumaki outside was a literal trip down memory lane. He recalled happier times during his childhood when these walks would take place with his mother riding next to him. Ronnet would wear a light woven straw hat with a floral pattern bow on it which sort of matched the color of her hair, and sometimes small beams of light would seep through and light her cheeks. During those walks she'd ask her son — in her comforting southern drawl — about his hopes, dreams and fears in a space of confidence where only they existed, away from the prying ears of Ryo's father or sister. These conversations really helped him develop a sense of maturity that many kids his age didn't have, because they made him aware of himself and his own place in the world.

Before the end of the weekend, Ryo would visit the graveyard to tidy up Ronnet's final resting place; maybe remove some weeds from around the gravestone, and leave a single, fragrant Jasmine once he was done, because that was her favorite flower. Whenever Ryo smelled the familiar scent he'd reminisce about being in the garden with Ronnet as she trimmed some of the leaves on the Jasmine shrubs. She'd always insist that he be careful when playing around those, since she would wait all year round for spring to come, and watch the flowers bloom to take a full breath of their fragrant scent.

Sometimes he'd venture to the kitchen and make pasta just like she used to prepare it, even though the recipe was absolutely abhorrent to many. He would always break the spaghetti before putting it in the boiling water. One time his friend, Robert Garcia, was around to witness the process, and when he saw what transpired he proceeded to ask Ryo in complete disbelief, "What the hell do you think you're doing there, sport?!" to which he replied, "I'm making spaghetti — just like my mom used to make it." They'd always argue about the smallest details, like how to eat a slice of pizza; Ryo would fold his slice for maximum bite volume, while depending on how much time they had, Robert would cut small pieces from his slices and eat them with a fork. "Don't knock it, Sakazaki. I can't risk getting oily sauce all over these expensive shirts. Not that you would know anything about those."

A warm wind blows, and Ryo's long hair gets brushed by the breeze. He didn't always wear his hair long, but since it was his mother Ronnet who used to cut it for him, he just let it grow out as he didn't know any barbers. As he grew into the long haired look, he looked a tad disheveled, but he also wore it as a warning sign of rebellion against a world that he felt had turned its back on him. The wind rustling the leaves on the nearby trees, and the sound of Tatsumaki's hooves slowly clopping on the ground threw Ryo into a trance that invited a longing into his heart. He couldn't help but wonder what his family's lives would have been like if she were still around. Would Takuma have made different choices that got them in less trouble if Ronnet was by his side? What would a normal Mother's Day look like now that he and Yuri were adults? He imagines his mother older, with silver strands scattered throughout her hair, and everyone sitting around the table for a nice family dinner with a fresh bouquet of flowers as a centerpiece. However, these were thoughts that he'd only entertain in moments of weakness, because no matter how battle hardened he was in the field of martial arts, these ideas would hurt him considerably more.

Throughout Ryo's young adult life, he learned that all he should live for was the present moment and the problems at hand; to always focus on making ends meet, and provide for his sister Yuri when they were left by their father to their own devices. It had always been a mystery what was going through Takuma's head during that chaotic chapter in their lives that would end up with him leaving his children on their own; for them to find normality in their lives with both their parents out of the picture. He may have been invaded by sorrow, or perhaps a feeling of revenge, or maybe a mixture of both. Whatever the case, leaving his children high and dry would bring consequences he couldn't be bothered to consider at the time.

Ryo had no time or energy to focus on holding a bigger grudge against Takuma, as they had both found common ground in having to carry on with their lives in the wake of Ronnet's passing. Takuma did ask his children for forgiveness after they reunited, and while they did forgive him, the way they had to become defiant against a life of happiness that escaped them… it was something that would shape them into the fierce martial artists they would end up becoming. It was thanks to people they found along the way that helped them adapt to a feeling of normalcy, but it took them years to let their guard down and relax a little.

"Boy, I missed this. Didn't you? "

Ryo talked to his four legged friend with an endearment that most people would reserve only for their close loved ones. They'd known each other for the entirety of Tatsumaki's life, and more than half of Ryo's too. Sadly, when their lives changed after Ronnet's passing and Takuma's disappearance, Ryo had to put Ronnet's horse up for sale, as he couldn't afford to keep it well taken care of given the circumstances he and Yuri were going through.

"I didn't forget you boy," Ryo assured his friend as he let go of the reins, and leaned forward to pet the horse's mane. "Believe me, I will come more often." After they had enjoyed each other's company for about an hour, it was time to go back to the stable.

All throughout the idyllic ride, Ryo felt his mother's presence very close even if she wasn't riding next to him like she used to. Overwhelmed by this deep affection and longing, a single tear rolled down his right cheek; he couldn't fight his instinct to wipe it off quickly so nobody would see him in this moment of weakness as anything less than the fierce martial artist he was.

After saying his goodbyes to Tatsumaki, Ryo hopped on his motorcycle and headed back home. He enjoyed seeing South Town's skyline at noon, but as soon as he caught a quick glimpse of the factories where his sister was held captive many years ago, unpleasant memories stirred inside him. He started to come back to his regular mindspace, leaving the recollections of his mother locked away back at the ranch stables.

Nobody would know of the sorrow that took hold in the heart of the heir to the Kyokugenryu Karate legacy.