Disclaimer: See chapter one

Chap. 19

Shanghai

It was strange. Even after all the time he had lived, this place felt new to him. True, he had been here twice before, but on both occasions it had been brief. 'Perhaps it will be again' Ryu mused. He was simply passing through, after all. He didn't seem to have any trouble passing through the crowded streets and simply passed on by. But something did catch his interest. A huge tent was placed over a clearing some distance from him. Judging by the design and the various items and animals around it, Ryu saw that it was a circus. He had never been to one before and decided to give it a try now. 'I guess it wouldn't hurt.'

Ryu strode toward the tent, but was stopped by the ticket-seller, asking him to pay for tickets. Ryu checked his duffel bag and managed to bring up some currency, after which he received a ticket and entered. He could hear the cheers from the audience and he looked up at the source. On the high-wire act, a sole figure soared through the sky above. He wore a skeleton-like costume ofwhite and black. He spun around and silently landed on the single wire. The crowd cheered and the figure bowed, only to suddenly slip off. The crowd gasped, but the figure simply put his hand out, grabbing the wire and spinning around it. He then released it in the height of his spin and cart-wheeled through the air. Ryu was fascinated by the balance and grace the man demonstrated. He also noticed that there was nothing below to catch the performer should he make a mistake.

Soon he landed on the wire once again and shrugged. The crowd, seeing that he was acting, both laughed and cheered. The head master came out and a net was finally released. The performer waved and fell back, hands outstretched. His body descended on the net and bounced off, causing him to flip once more and land on his feet on the stage floor. He bowed once more and the crowd cheered again.

"The Great Skullomania!"

The crowd chanted the name as the performer waved. Ryu clapped, pleased with the acrobatic display as well. He had never seen anything like that before. Skullomania continued to wave as he left for the dressing room and then suddenly stopped for a moment. And Ryu knew why. He was sensing him. 'Another immortal. I see.' Skullomania's gaze went over the crowd before ultimately landing on Ryu. Now seeing the source, Skullomania simply waved more at the crowd before disappearing into the back.

Ryu stayed for the rest of the acts and was pleased by all the sights he saw. But the high-wire act of Skullomania stuck more in his mind. It was truly something to see. He flew through the air as though gravity had no hold on him. True, given his immortality, his fear of death was probably nonexistent, but still it was a wonder to see. As Ryu strode around the animal cages, he felt the presence once more. Turning, he saw the high-wire performer, still wearing his costume and mask. Ryu was about to comment on his act, but suddenly saw the sword in Skullomania's right hand. Ryu frowned, knowing exactly where this was about to go.

"I've finally found you. After all these years..."

Ryu blinked in puzzlement, "Do I know you?"

The skeleton actor lifted the sword a bit, "So you've forgotten me already. Well, here's a reminder!"

Skullomania suddenly lunged forward in attack. Ryu quickly pulled out his sword, but Skullomania's speed was far greater and Ryu only managed a weak block.

"You will pay for the murder of my brother!"

Europe, 1794

They were a rare pair indeed. Two brothers who were both immortals. Durant lived in the troubled times of the French Revolution. His elder brother, Darien had been thought to have been killed a while ago in a battle, appeared to him later on when he met his own fated end by a stray gunshot.

"What...what happened?"

"Welcome to immortality, bro."

"Darien? But...I thought...aren't you...weren't you...?"

"Dead? Yes and no. Come on. I have much to tell you."

Darien taught him what he needed to survive. Holy ground, the Quickening, everything. He even taught him the sword art he had recently acquired from his own teacher. Because of the shortness between times, Durant became as skilled a swordsman as his older brother. His style utilized a much faster pace unlike Darien's more forceful style. But despite this, they were the closest of family. They always watched out for each other, all the while performing acts in circuses around the world under the aliases Skullomania and Shadowgeist. They posed as a super-hero/super-villain act in which they would 'battle each other all across the stage, in the tightropes above and even amid the crowds. The people loved them all around and were eager to see them again and again.

But it wasn't to last...

"Hey Darien. Come on. I know you're around here some..."

He suddenly stopped as he saw a flash emerging from behind some crates nearby. He could have mistaken it for just a flash, but he had lived long enough to recognize a Quickening. Even more so because he sensed an immortal presence. 'Oh, !'

Durant quickly ran toward the crates as the lighting flashed around continuously and finally died. Turning around, he saw the one thing he feared. His brother's body was slumped on the ground...with the head a few meters away.

"DARIEN!"

He took a step closer but stopped. His eyes looked up at a retreating figure. The figure seemed to be shrouded in darkness, but the design of the clothes told him that the person was wearing a Japanese fighting gi. But he didn't care as his rage began to get the best of him.

"You killed my brother, you monster!"

The dark figure stopped as Darien rushed at him, grabbing his brother's sword in his rush. The shadowy figure adjusted his sword slightly and suddenly slashed backward.

"Hadojinken!"

An energy blade flashed forth and slammed right into Durant. Durant was completely flattened by the shock and looked up at the shadow, which was retreating once again.

"You're not worth it. Next time, there will be only one."

Durant growled in pure hatred a moment before he passed out.

"You will pay for the murder of my brother!"

"I'm sorry." Ryu exclaimed, keeping his distance. "But I assure you that we have never met before now."

"Save your lies. I will have my revenge."

Skullomania attacked once more, using a quick stabbing blow. Ryu twisted his sword arm, deflecting the stab, but he didn't expect for Skullomania to pull back in a spin and slash horizontally. This maneuver sliced into Ryu's arm, forcing him to retreat. Ryu grabbed hold of the wound, hoping that it healed before Skullomania attacked again. But that wasn't so and Skullomania rushed at Ryu.

"Skullo Slider!"

Skullomania ducked low and slid on the ground, kicking out his legs and causing Ryu to fall flat on the ground. Skullomaina jumped back up to his feet, twirled his blade, and leaped into the air. Ryu looked up just to see Skullomania dive in on him. Reacting, Ryu rolled backward and Skullomania's sword stabbed into the ground. Now on his feet, Ryu went on the offensive. He reared his sword back and a faint glow of ki circled around it.

'Hadojinken!'

Ryu whipped his arm forward and an energy blade flashed out. Skullomania saw the attack and quickly rolled out of the way. The energy clashed into a nearby crate and cracked it. Splinters fell from the damage and Skullomania arose to his feet.

"I knew it. That technique...It's the same."

Sounds of people and voices were closing in on them, and Skullomania began to back away into the tent. He pointed his blade at Ryu.

"We'll finish this another time."

Skullomania disappeared behind the cloth and Ryu sheathed his sword and moved away. By the time the people had gotten there, the two combatants were long gone.

Restaurant

Ryu sat near the wall of the restaurant eating the meal he had just purchased. His thoughts were on the mysterious immortal who had tried to kill him. Why did he want him dead? Who was he? Ryu saw that Skullomaina seemed to recognize him when he used his technique. But that made the list very short. Only he and Ken knew that technique.

Unless... it was...

"You look like crap, Ryu."

Ryu blinked as he recognized the voice. Loking up, he saw his Watcher walking toward him, a bowl of food in his hands.

"Dan. I should have known you'd show up."

"What can I say? It's a gift." Dan took a seat on the opposite side, a grin plastered on his face.

"Let me guess. Immortal problems?"

"Well, you are a Watcher." Ryu answered, unsure as to why Dan was grinning like an idiot. "You probably already know."

Dan's grin broadened, unaware of the warrior's true plight, "Enlighten me."

"I ran across an immortal who blamed me for his brother's murder. But I don't believe I met him before."

This bit of info certainly caught Dan off-guard, "What do you mean, don't believe? You didn't recognize him?"

"He was wearing a costume and a mask. I couldn't see his face." Ryu explained. He then added, "All I know is that he works in a circus as a performer named Skullomania."

Dan frowned, mostly because this wasn't the type of discussion he expected to have with Ryu. He was hoping for...

"Skullomania? Weird, but I may have heard it before." He took a bit of food to his mouth and started chewing, "I'll do some checking."

Ryu was about to take a bite out of his meal as well when he stopped short, "Wait. I thought you Watchers weren't supposed to interfere."

Dan swallowed and shrugged, just catching Ryu's narrowed eyes, "Yeah, well...Don't worry about it. It's okay. I'm just bending them a bit, that's all."

Ryu's eyes narrowed, but he returned to his meal. Swallowing, he replied.

"Thank you."

Late night; Ryu walked up to the roof of the hotel he was staying in. He had sensed the presence of an immortal a minute ago, most likely Skullomania. Grabbing his blade, he strode up the stairs, only to find it already open for him. He walked out onto the graveled floor to see Skullomania's back. He was just pulling his mask over his face, completing his costume once again. Ryu closed the door behind him, but made no move toward him.

"Durant."

"So it was you." Skullomania replied as he began to turn around. "How else could you know that name? Do you even know the name of my brother? The one you slew?!"

Ryu kept his voice calm and leveled, "Durant, stop this. I am not the one who killed your brother. And you have to remember, your brother was immortal, like you. He knew the rules of the Game. This is all that happened here. He wasn't murdered. It is just the way our lives are."

Ryu didn't like having to remind him of the type of lives they lead. A life where all they had to look forward to was a battle to the death. But it was necessary. He felt sympathy for the man's loss, but it was how their lives went.

"Really?" Skullomania asked quietly. "Then you won't mind dying yourself!"

Ryu unsheathed his blade as Skullomania lunged at him. In their last encounter, Ryu was caught unawares by Skullomania's speed and agility, but now he was prepared. Skullomania slashed high and Ryu defended, blocking the strike. Ryu then pushed back and swung his blade forward. Skullomania arched back to avoid it and spun around, his blade following his spin. Ryu ducked, but as the blade ran across, Ryu saw strands of his hair fall to the ground. Skullomania cackled with laughter.

"You are mine!"

Skullomania suddenly back-flipped and upon landing, he held his sword forward.

"Skullo Crasher!"

Skullomania propelled himself forward, spinning rapidly with his sword rotating like a deadly top. Ryu gasped in surprise but suddenly remembered something. 'His movements...it's the same as his display in his act.'

The twirling blade still came at him, but Ryu held his sword downward and waited for the approaching turbine of a man. Skullomania soon came within range, the spinning blade expecting to slice Ryu apart. But as soon the blades touched, Ryu spun his blade to follow and pushed inward. The two blades clashed together, causing Skullomania to fly off to the left. His grip on the blade was lost and the sword flew into the air. The skeleton warrior crashed hard on his back and the sword landed off to his far side. Skullomania attempted to rise, but upon looking up, he saw Ryu standing over him, with the blade pointed at his neck.

"What are you waiting for?" he snarled. "Finish it."

Ryu pushed the blade closer, just touching Skullomania's neck. But Ryu slowly pulled the blade up, cutting the mask in half until it fell away from Skullomania's face and revealed a young man with dark blue eyes and short blond hair. The man's anger was still in his eyes, but it was also mixed with a certain measure of fear and defeat. Ryu lowered the sword.

"I know what you're going through. I know what it is like to lose someone. But taking your revenge out on me will neither justify, nor honor your brother's death. If you want to continue searching for his killer, then go ahead. But know that I am not he."

Skullomania/Durant blinked in surprise, "You're...sparing me...?"

"I'm not the killer. And I have no fight with you. I never did." Ryu turned to leave, but looked over his shoulder. "But if you come after me again, then you'll leave me with no choice...for there to be only one."

The next day, Ryu was once again on the move, this time out of Shanghai. He was heading northwest now. Beyond that, he had no particular destination as he had done so many times in the past. He was a wanderer. Besides, given the past day's events, he really didn't want to stay much longer. Strangely enough, Dan had tried to convince him to stay around and see more of the town. But Ryu saw no reason to and felt that he should leave in order for the tension between himself and Durant to lessen.

Understanding that, Dan dropped the subject, seemingly disappointed. Ryu couldn't understand why, but he was far from understanding Dan at all. With his next journey in mind, Ryu walked out of the city limits and into the open road. But as he did, a bus whizzed past him down the road. During its passing, Ryu stopped. He felt it. Aboard the retreating bus...was another immortal. But it continued down the road without stopping, so Ryu dismissed it and walked on.

'Hm. I wonder who that could have been.'

Metro City, US

A couple strode down the sidewalk and turned toward a doorway. The male pulled out a pair of keys to open the door while the woman wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Tonight was great, Guy. But it's far from over for you."

Guy smiled and bent his head down to kiss her. Backing away, he opened the door with the woman still hanging onto his shoulders. She pulled on him, causing him to stop and almost stumble on the floor. Looking into her eyes again...

"A little assertive tonight, aren't you, Rina?"

Rina winked and smiled even more, "I figured that my husband should get a little more tonight." She pulled herself closer, "Do you disagree?"

Another, more passionate kiss from the dark-haired man was all the answer she. But suddenly, Guy pulled away and looked around. Rina looked at him strangely as Guy continued as though he was looking for something.

"Guy?"

Guy's expression became dark. "I'll be right bac..."

Rina frowned, "Don't give me that." Her eyes saddened, "It's another one, isn't it?"

"...Yes."

Slowly, she moved to him again and gave him a light kiss, "Be careful."

Guy nodded solemnly, moved to the side of the door and pulled up a sheathed sword. He strapped in onto his back and walk back out of the door. His eyes continued to search the area and he strode into a nearby dark alley. 'Darkness...The realm of a ninja.' The presence he felt was stronger here. So much so that he was beginning to distinguish the energy itself. Dark...and destructive. He finally reached the source. Standing before him was a single dark warrior. Guy felt the massive waves of energy emanating from him.

"Your aura...Satsui No Hado."

"You know of the power that I wield." the shadow warrior replied. He began to turn around slowly, revealing flaming red hair and crimson-glowing eyes.

"Submit now."

Guy shut his eyes and bent forward. His hand reached back onto the hilt of his blade and grasped it tightly.

"That is something I can not do."

The dark warrior was now faced forward to Guy, revealing his powerful physique. In his hand was a black-bladed sword, covered with dried blood stains. The demonic warrior gave a slight grin, showing off a pair of razor-sharp fangs.

"You will have a warrior's death."