Street Fighter X Mai-Hime: Stage 3 – The Day of Crossing Paths
"Just after learning from her seatmate Yuuichi Tate about Ryu, and while working in the Lindem Baum Restaurant; Mai eventually encounters Ryu. Shocked and surprised by the World Warrior's appearance. She was likely stunned!"
While Mai was standing still in front of Ryu, Ken, and Sakura; the trio try their best to snap her out. The latter comes to her senses as she continues to ask for the gang's order. After that, she eventually calls Yuuichi and Takumi, then told them that Ryu is here. After serving the trio's order, Mai asks them, "How did you guys came all the way from here?" Ryu responds, "We were asked by our master to look for three girls, who are believed to be studying in Fuka Academy." Mai answers the three warriors that she goes there to school; to which the trio explain their main objectives, just before Ryu can explain, Yuuichi Tate and Takumi Tokiha, Mai's seatmate and younger brother respectively appears before the three Shotokan practitioners.
Before the store could close, and Ryu and company outside; the latter finally explains. "The reason our master wanted us to acquaint you is he needs an observation the power of a HiME. Even though we only have one - which is you (Mai). We need two more who believed to possess such power, and we are asked to bring you before our master. Please, can you help us?" Mai, who is also a HiME, reveals that to Ryu about it, when the latter notices something glowing in her breast. Though confused of the trio's motives, Mai reluctantly accepted. Yuuichi was also confused, including Takumi, Mai's brother.
Meanwhile... it was already 9pm.
While riding around the highway, and returning into the Fuka Academy area. The mysterious woman — Natsuki Kuga, in racing suit, and her helmet removed, sitting on her Ducati DRIII motorbike, looks on into the sky noticing a red star. And after that, her mind again begins to loom about the familiar man with a 'metsu' 滅 kanji, tormenting her. However, she eventually snaps out from the nightmare.
And when things turn ugly, a fight escalates between her and a young girl - Mikoto Minagi.
Just as after Ryu, Ken, and Sakura finished their discussion with Mai, they hear an explosion from a distance.
The trio, accompanied with Mai, Yuuichi and Takumi rushed to the area where a fight between Natsuki and Mikoto escalated. However, Mikoto was knocked out. Prompting to be taken to safety by Ken, Mai and Takumi. All for Ryu and Sakura to do now is to find the assailant.
"Ryu-san, watch out!", Sakura yells as she noticed the familiar mecha-wolf attacking Ryu, however the warrior reacts with timing by unleashing a high-leg blade kick on the mechanical beast, sending it towards on its owner - Natsuki.
The latter gets up on her feet, while her face fully concealed by her helmet asks Ryu and Sakura why did they intervene on her fight with Mikoto.
**BGM: Super Street Fighter IV Character Soundtrack - Theme of Ryu**
"Who are you? Where is the girl?", Natsuki asks Ryu.
"If you wish to seek answers, speak with your fists. If you win, I'll tell you where she is."
With Sakura looking on, Ryu begins to fight Natsuki. The latter has gained upper hand during the battle, while her mecha-pet stalls Sakura. Ryu manage to dodge most of Natsuki's shots from her pistols, and she also manages to dodge the latter's Hadokens, while Duran attempts to lunge Sakura. Sakura, in the other hand, dominates the mechanical beast in the midst of her attacks that she learned from Ryu, she eventually finishes the wolf-like robot with her Shoryu-reppa inspired Midare Zakura attack. However, the beast heaves up from its feet and returns to its owner.
"Duran! Load Silver Cartridge!", as Natsuki orders Duran to fire on Ryu. "Fire!"
"Shinku Tatsumaki!", Ryu eventually counters with an EX Tatsumaki.
"An EX Special!?"
Ryu then hits Natsuki by Focus Cancelling his Shoryuken into his Metsu Hadoken. The Ultra connects, giving Natsuki a mouthful of her own medicine. Not only that, the Metsu Hadoken gave her some withering pain and burning sensation within her left arm.
Ryu now dominates Natsuki, she continues fighting, just until she hallucinates of the man with the familiar 'metsu' kanji, screaming "Die!" With the femme fatale caught off guard.
"Shoryuken!", as Ryu performs that very move. Disarming Natsuki from using her Elements.
Natsuki continues to fight the World Warrior unarmed, just until Ryu punches her in the midsection ("Shin! Sho..."), and then followed with a fierce and yet concussive uppercut ("...ryu..."); the impact of the uppercut causes the visor of her helmet to break, and with the helmet itself follows, then Ryu sends the latter flying with a Shoryuken ("...ken!")
*GALACTIC!*
Just after the battle ended, Ryu and Sakura found an unconscious Natsuki prone on the ground. Sakura comments that the latter just took a serious beating, even after that Shin Shoryuken. Just as Ryu is about to decide what they are going to do with the K.O'ed Natsuki, he instructs Sakura to find Ken and bring Mai and Mikoto to Gouken's dojo.
"Hmm... Looks like she's seriously hurt after that fight.", says Ryu. And he then notices something glowing within Natsuki's back, that turns out that she is a HiME.
"A HiME? Looks like I must bring her before my master. Just as possible she has any answers..."
Ryu has just one idea left to do, tend to Natsuki's wounds as he carries her, then he proceeds to return to his master's dojo alone.
Characters:
-Ryu
-Ken Masters
-Sakura Kasugano
-Mai Tokiha
-Mikoto Minagi (debut)
-Natsuki Kuga (debut)
-Yuuichi Tate (debut)
-Takumi Tokiha (debut)
Trivia:
-Ryu performs the Metsu Hadoken in similar animation in the Street Fighter IV games. In addition, when Natsuki takes damage, is also a reference in the Street Fighter IV: The Ties That Bind movie, when Ryu manages to summon all his concentration and fire the Metsu Hadoken on Seth using the Power of Nothingness (instead of the Satsui no Hado). Not only is it twice as powerful, its energy is capable of withering the skin, muscle and tissue of any being of pure evil to a quivering mess. Not only was Seth's body battered and broken after being hit by it, but it caused him intense muscle spasms, and even the place on Seth's arm where Ryu grabbed with his hand right before firing it was badly burned.
-Natsuki's Ducati DRIII is somewhat fictional, likely based on the real-life Ducati 848.
Author's Note:
-This time, similarly in the second stage, we won't be mentioning the Satsui no Hado, up until the Ryu vs. Akuma fight later on. Don't worry, I will not disappoint all ShizNat fans. I promise that.
Until then, stay tuned for more Street Fighter X Mai-HiME.