Disclaimer: Same as always.

Chap. 6

Ryu awoken early in the morning. The rays of the sun were just beginning to come over the horizon, a normal start of the day for the warrior. Standing up from his sleeping mat on the floor, he began to get into his warm-up stretches and exercises. An hour later, he was finished and he strode downstairs to train outside. His sheathed blade at his side, he exited the mansion and began his katas. First, he started without the weapon, utilizing a fluid motion of blocks, punches, and kicks. Once done, he knelt down and lifted his sword before him. Like Ken's, it was decorated with several golden designs on the sheath. But instead of scarlet red, it was colored in sapphire blue. The sunlight glittered off the beautiful weapon as Ryu slowly unsheathed it. The silver shone in the light as well, reminding Ryu of that fateful day he and Ken had.

The day when their mortal lives ended...

"What are you doing?"

Ryu was standing at the entrance of the shine/dojo where a group of soldiers had barged in through the doors. One of the men, apparently the leader, sneered at him.

"This is the Shogun's land now. Your shrine does not belong."

Ken came up beside Ryu, "This temple is sacred. You can't just enter in and defile it at your will."

One of the man's lackeys grabbed Ken by his shoulder and shoved him. "Stand aside, gaijin!"

The man soon realized his mistake as Ken took hold of the man's arm and kicked him in the face. Ryu did likewise, ducking low and ramming his fist in the soldiers gut. The two of them went down and Ken dived to the side and grabbed their swords. Tossing one to Ryu, both of them unsheathed their blades and stood ready to fight. The light shone off the blades like a hungry fire, but the captain simply grinned.

"Rifles fire!"

Two men came out with two weapons that neither man recognized. The first shot rang, catching Ken right in the chest. Ken's body slumped back and lay still on the floor.

"KEN!"

In a fit of rage, Ryu leapt straight into the air in attack, but the next rifle went off and Ryu slammed backward. As he struggled on the floor, he felt very cold. His body was slowing down and blood drained out of the bullet wound in his chest. The last thing he remembered was the ruthless men destroying areas of the shrine and setting fires to it.

Then, the rest was darkness...

But not for long...

An hour later…

Ryu's eyes suddenly snapped open and he let in a huge breath. He jolted upright and took deep breaths of air. 'W-what happened? The wound...cold...darkness...does that mean...'

"Ryu!"

Ryu looked turned to see Ken come up beside him. But as Ken approached, Ryu felt a unusual sensation, almost like a headache. Ken stopped suddenly and blinked. But the moment was brief and the feeling passed, but not totally.

"Ken! But I thought..."

"Me too, along with you." Ken answered. "I remember the attack and I was hit by...something. I don't know. But I fell and then I heard you yell. But then everything went dark. The next thing I knew, I woke up here away from the temple."

"The temple. What happened to it?"

Ken looked down and shook his head sadly, "It was burned down. Those men completely destroyed it."

Ryu struggled to his feet and looked over to the side. There, he caught a glimpse at his once beautiful home. The temple was completely destroyed. Blackened marks and burnt cinders were scattered in the area. Ryu dropped to the ground again.

"Why?" Tears fell from his face to the grass. "Why did they do this?"

"They were criminals posing as soldiers."

Ken and Ryu turned to the new voice. Again, the strange sensation fell over them as a man emerged from the trees. He was bald, with a brown gi like theirs. His eyes were fierce and he had a sword buckled to his side as well.

"Sensei Retsu."

Retsu was an old student of Master Gouken. After his training, he left for the world and came back to the temple periodically to teach the younger students.

Retsu nodded to the young men, "Ryu. Ken. The time has come for you two."

Both gave confused looks as Retsu strode pass them. "Come. It's not safe for you two here. Follow me."

The duo followed Retsu through the forest. They continued on until they reached a secluded area in the trees. A single slab of stone was in the center of the area. Master Gouken's burial site. Retsu knelt to the tombstone and whispered a few words. Ryu and Ken waited until he was done and had risen up again.

"Retsu, why are we here?" Ken asked. "What did you mean,' we'd be safe here'?"

Retsu turned to the two, "This place is holy ground. It is the only place they can not harm you."

Ryu narrowed his eyes, "What would prevent those thugs from attacking here?"

Retsu shook his head, "Not the thugs. Immortals like you."

Ryu and Ken were now shocked. 'Immortals? Like us? What is he talking about?'

Retsu turned around, "Before I left, your master wanted to make sure that you knew what would happen if something like this happened to you. He trained you for the time when this day would come. He told me that if he wasn't alive to tell you this, then I was to. I was very fortunate that I returned at this time."

Retsu could just feel the confusion of the newest immortals and turned to them. "What was the last thing you two remember?"

Ryu and Ken retold their experience up until the cold darkness and then their reawaking outside the temple. Retsu nodded.

"What I about to tell you will mean the difference between life and death for you. What happened in the temple is very simple. You died."

The disbelief turned to pure shock on their faces. Ken was the first to shake out of it.

"But if we died, why are we still here, alive?"

"As I said, you are immortals. You were always this way since birth. You won't grow old and you won't die."

Retsu sat down on the grass and beckoned the two to do the same. He then continued on, "Master Gouken was immortal as well along with me. He knew you two were immortal as well and trained you to prepare you for this." His gaze never waved from them.

"You're part of the game now."

In that time, Retsu told them about everything. The safety of holy ground, the Quickening, and finally the event of the Gathering where the few remaining immortals will fight for superiority. He answered whatever questions they asked as best as possible, which included cutting Ken's hand to prove it. When he finished, stood up and bowed to the grave one more time and prepared to leave.

"Wait. Where are you going?"

Retsu didn't stop, "It is time for you go out now. You must find your own paths now. Just remember your training and you will live. One last thing you must remember." His form began to disappear in the trees, leaving only his fading voice.

"In the end, there can be only one."

Swwwwoooooo!

Ryu instantly sprang to his feet as his sword swung out with a almost invisible slice. Ryu took a step back, swinging with another transparent slash. Shifting his feet to the left, he slashed twice, almost bending light as he did. This continued on for a good while until Ryu crotched low, blade in his sheath at his side. Releasing it, he cupped his hands together and a sphere of blue energy formed. Ryu held it for a while until it grew solid and then he released it.

'Hadoken!'

The sphere shot out into the crisp air and soared through for a while before it eventually dissipated. Ryu then rested his hand on the hilt of the blade again and this time, the blade glowed underneath. Then in one swift movement, he unsheathed the glowing blade in a partial slash.

'Hadojinken!'

Another blast of energy flew out, only this one was in the shape of a blade. It too flew off into the air and eventually faded away. The blade was returned to its place and Ryu stood up straight, his exercise now complete.

"I don't suppose I could convince you to take it easy one of these days, can I?"

Ryu looked up and turned to see Ken leaning on one of the nearby trees. He was unarmed so Ryu knew that he wasn't looking for a sparring match. At least not an armed one.

"One must train constantly in order to keep ones strength."

Ken shrugged, "Yeah, well it wouldn't kill one to take a break one day or another."

Ken moved over to him as Ryu released the blade to his waist.

"So what have you been doing, besides the usual of course?"

Ryu shrugged, "I've been visiting a few friends. Well actually, one. Do you remember Dhalsim?"

Ken thought for a moment, "The monk from India? Vaguely, but yeah. Is he still studying Yoga?"

Ryu nodded, "Yeah. He's a true master."

Ken sensed a bit of sadness from his friend. Despite his skill, Ryu still believed that he was just a learner and was far from being a master. Ken had tried to convince him otherwise, but Ryu never whole-heartedly believed it.

"Ken. Breakfast is ready. You better come before Mel..." Eliza exited the house and saw Ken with Ryu.

"I didn't know you had company."

Ken waved his hand, "Its okay. He came in last night. He's an old friend."

Eliza raised an eyebrow, "How old?"

Ken nodded at her implied statement, "About as old as I am. Eliza, this is Ryu. Ryu, my wife Eliza."

Ryu bowed slightly to her, "A pleasure to meet you. You are as beautiful as Ken proclaims."

Eliza blushes slightly and giggles a bit, "Oh really?" She looked over at Ken, "Well you've certainly earned some points for that, dear." Back to Ryu, "Well, would you like to join us for breakfast?"

Ryu smiled, "Sure."

Ken laughed, "I don't think there's enough food in the world for him. You don't know how he eats."

Eliza waved, "Oh, I'm sure we'll manage." She turned to leave, "I'll get things ready."

Eliza re-entered the house and Ken gave Ryu a strange look.

"Where did you learn that?"

Ryu loked back, "Learn what?"

Ken grinned, "Even after 400 years, women have never been your strong suit as far as I remember."

Ryu shrugged, "I've learned that a woman like to be praised in such a manner. It's something they enjoy hearing."

Ken's grinned grew slightly, "And where exactly did you learn that, old buddy?"

"Come on. Breakfast is ready."

Ryu used the call not to answer Ken's question as he entered the house. Ken watched his friend with interest.

'Hmm. I wonder...'