Street Fighter X Mai-HiME: Stage 18 - They Call Him The King For A Reason

"On their mission to rescue Takumi Tokiha from the clutches of M. Bison, Ryu and friends arrived into Thailand by plane, where they learned Shadaloo is based. But before that, they stop into a village within the temple of Buddha, where Ryu again encounters his long-time adversary... The Emperor of Muay Thai - Sagat."

The scene begins in Thailand where Ryu and company entered in a remote village.

*BGM: Super Street Fighter IV Soundtrack - Theme of Sagat*

As the gang explored the entire village, Ryu gazed on a tall and muscular-built man training on the plains. It felt familiar to him, that turns out to be Sagat.

After a vigorous training, Sagat comes in to meet up with our heroes. He wonders of his rival having travelling companions, and what comes into his mind wants to let Ryu know about - another fight?

"Ryu, it has been a long time we've fought together.", Sagat greets in a friendly manner to his arch rival. "How far you have progressed throughout your journey? Seems I want to know an answer from your fists."

"How long did they know each other?", Natsuki asked.

Ken then explains about his friend's rivalry with Sagat, "You see, kid. If you look closely on the scar on his (Sagat) chest, his mind remained unsound, wanting to know about the meaning of first time they fought."

Before the two rivals could clash, Sagat provides the party hospitality through his humble home. Then, Ryu discusses their mission and the HiMEs.

Sagat then looks on through all of the three girls, asking them, "Hmm... It seems you children bear a power that has been shrouded a mystery."

"And not to mention, one of the girls here, said that her brother was kidnapped by Bison and was mentioned that he had a prison camp here in this place.", says Ken.

"Bison took away my brother, Takumi.", Mai said in an impatient mood, "That's the reason why I want to come with Ryu and his friends."

"Relax, child.", the Emperor of Muay Thai replied, "As far as you are aware of Bison's malevolent power, you must not allow yourself to push it too hard. And you don't even know what Bison is planning for the likes you."

"How far did you know about Bison?", Nagi asked.

Sagat responds through his flashbacks and the HiMEs eventually learn that Sagat was once Bison's underlings. On the other hand, during his tenure with Shadaloo, Bison wants him to be part of his criminal empire for two reasons: (1) to seek his revenge on Ryu for giving him the scar on his chest, and (2) to make sure he (Ryu) repents painfully for what he did on the first world warrior tournament.

But when the time Bison brainwashes Ryu in order for him to grant Sagat another rematch - referring to the events of Street Fighter Alpha 3 - the king himself detests Bison for this. And from that day on until now, Sagat severed ties with Shadaloo, and he vows to fight Ryu in his own terms, whether winning or losing.

"So, it turns out that Bison sees you as a mere pawn? Not to mention now that you left Shadaloo from that day, you still want to have a fight with him on your own terms? Now, that's the right thing to do..."

"That's right.", the Emperor himself continues, "Even though my thoughts remained unsound, and the scar of quivering mass on my chest burning like hell, I really want to know answers from every moment we fought."

Natsuki then realizes about Sagat's continuous rivalry with Ryu. According to Ken, Sagat was the most formidable opponents Ryu had face after him. Despite the king's humongous built and strength, seems both of these two rivals will do whatever it takes to reach out into the path of an ultimate warrior.

And in the following day, morning.

The gang are seen in the temple of Buddha, looking on as Ryu and Sagat are about to collide on each others' fists. Since a very long time, Sagat was longing to fight his rival once again.

*BGM: My-HiME Original Soundtrack Volume 1, Track 14 - Duran Shoukan*

The fight begins, both combatants crossup their Hadokens and Tiger Shots after another. Sagat manages to gain in the upper hand, such as Focus Cancelling his Tiger Uppercut to his second Ultra Combo, the Tiger Cannon.

Ryu managed to get up into his feet, this time Focus Cancelling his Shoryuken to his Metsu Hadoken.

While Sakura, Mai, Mikoto and Natsuki observing the fight, Ken then tells her (Natsuki) about something surprising throughout the fight.

"Metsu!", as Ryu is about to execute the... "Shoryuken!", Ryu connects the Metsu Shoryuken on Sagat. However, the latter managed to withstand the brute force of this attack.

"What kind of a move is that!?", Natsuki asked in shock.

"You see, kid. If in case I told you about that scar on his chest, that's the main cause of it. Ryu's Metsu Shoryuken. Unbeknownst to Sagat when the first time they fought, when Sagat managed to dominate Ryu that time, the Satsui no Hado managed to take over him and gave the big guy a mouthful of his own medicine!"

"That's terrible!", muttered Mai. "That was cheating! That Shoryuken that nearly killed him, right?"

"Did Ryu-san did that on purpose?", Sakura butts in.

"No. I completely disagree, Ryu never cheated in a fight nor did that move on purpose. He was so desperate to win, to the point that the Satsui no Hado began to control him like a mindless puppet. Soon, Sagat managed to realize that."

Ryu and Sagat continued clashing on their fists in afternoon, with Ryu almost in the verge of collapsing. "What's the matter, Ryu?" Sagat asked, "Had enough?"

"Nghhh... I'm not giving up!"

And then, by sundown, both combatants are exhausted.

"How long are we been watching this fight? It's getting boring to me...", Nagi sneered.

"I agree with Nagi-san.", Sakura somehow agreed with the latter's opinion, whilst they witness Ryu and Sagat gasping for air due to exhaustion.

The battle is called a draw, since the fight lasted the entire day. Both fighters respected their best, Ryu urges his rival to care for a rematch another time. Sagat somehow approves his suggestion.

Characters

-Ryu
-Ken
-Sakura
-Mai
-Mikoto
-Natsuki
-Nagi

Debuts:

-Sagat

Author's Note/Trivia:

-Speaking of Chun-Li, she will be on the sidelines in this chapter. For in the next chapter, she, along with Mai and Natsuki will rescue Takumi.

-Interestingly, if you ever make an MV for a Ryu and Sagat fight, in particular you would like to see in Super Street Fighter 4; I would go for Duran Shoukan - the music that will play whenever Natsuki summons Duran.

Until then, stay tuned for Street Fighter X Mai-HiME.