Disclaimer: See chapter one
Chap. 21
Ningbo, China
If there was one way to find Ryu, it was to look in the quietest places of the world. As the years passed, these solitary oases gradually disappeared, replaced by cities and construction.
'But some would always remain.'
Ryu walked out into the small clearing. A slight breeze blew in and he closed his eyes, taking in the clear scents of the sea wind. He was near a fishing port, which made it all the more relaxing for him. For him, it the simplest things in life gave him the greatest pleasure. It made him feel free. For a moment, he didn't have to worry about immortals hunting him, the friends that he lost in the years or even the Gathering. He was just a normal man, taking in the niceties of the world around. Giving a light smile, Ryu knelt down on the grass; his eyes still closed. His mind soon drifted, allowing it to open to the world around. He felt the winds, the grass, everything. It wasn't long before it drifted into the past.
Japan, 1520
"The blade is merely a tool. The true weapon lies within the one who wields it."
These words repeated themselves on and on as young Ryu moved through his katas. Somewhere in the darkened room, Gouken was speaking in sequence with the lesson as his student moved in motion. Ryu's eyes were blindfolded and he was holding a bokken (Wooden sword). Despite this, the young student moved with care and precision as though it was a steel blade. Gouken watched this with approval. Ryu had been training all his life and had performed his exercises diligently. But there was more than just training and the fight. Ryu had given him something he never thought he could have had in his years of life. Ryu was the son he always wanted, but could never have.
Life as an immortal had been solitary and at times, it bothered him greatly. But after taking Ryu in and adopting him, his life had more of a purpose than mere survival. Now he had a son, an heir to the art of Ansatsuken. But for Ryu to truly master the style, he had to know the truth behind it. That meant that Ryu had to know about himself as well. The time had come.
"Enough."
The youth stopped in his movements and folded his sword to the side as if he was sheathing it. He then pulled off his blindfold and turned toward the voice of Gouken, who materialized out of the shadows of the side of the dojo.
"Sit."
Ryu obeyed and bent down on the floor, with Gouken doing the same thing. The wooden sword was placed on the side and Ryu looked up at his sensei in wait.
"Ryu. The time has come for you."
Gouken moved his hand to the side and produced a wrapped object. He held it up between the two of them.
"When my master gave me my sword, it meant that I had reached the stage of adulthood. Now, that time has fallen on you."
Gouken lowered the package to Ryu, who took it with both hands. His eyes glanced over it once before he pulled off the wrappingrevealing a sheathed sword. Blue designs lined across it from one end to the other. Hand falling on the hilt, Ryu pulled it, bringing the blade to light. The slender blade curved and glistened before him like fire. But what really grabbed his attention were the symbols that had been carved onto it.
"Blade of the Bternal Dragon?"
Gouken nodded, "Yes. When the time comes, you will know what it means. But for now, you must know about me."
Ryu looked up from his blade, "Sensei?"
Gouken was about to continue when he was cut off by the sensation of an immortal. His eyes wavered toward the entrance and then back at Ryu.
"Stay inside."
Ryu blinked in confusion, but Gouken ignored it as he arose and moved to retrieve his own blade from the back of the dojo. He grabbed the weapon, placed it on his side and walked to the entrance. Ryu watched him leave and then stood up afterward. Moving to the entrance, he peered out and watched his master stride down to the dojo entrance. The sun was setting, making it fairly dark now. Gouken was looking around for something, but there was nothing there. Gouken stood in the pathway and looked up.
"I am Gouken of the Hoshi Clan. Show yourself."
A whip of wind shook the branches in the trees, quickly alerting Gouken. In a single movement, Gouken unsheathed his sword and raised the blade. Ryu blinked when he saw the sword clash with another blade that seemed to have come out of nowhere. Gouken took a step back and a form materialized out of the shadows. It was a tall, lean figure, cloaked in deep purple from head to toe. His face was masked, covering everything except his eyes; the telltale sign of a shinobi. His left arm was equipped with a claw, three blades outstretched.
"Geki of the Sekoi."
With that said Geki pulled back his blade and struck forward. Gouken leveled his blade and blocked it. Then Geki pulled back once again and came with another strike. Gouken ducked it and swiveled to the side, sword flying. Geki rotated and blocked the blade as it came at hischest. Gouken approached again with an overhead strike. Geki blocked again and Gouken began to assault him with several more strikes. Geki retaliated with strikes of his own, but Gouken retained the advantage. Seeing that he would have to end this quickly, the shinobi slashed down and then stabbed forward this time. Gouken hopped back and deflected the blow, but that allowed Geki to lash out with his claw arm and catch Gouken across the chest.
'Master!'
Gouken whirled around and leveled his sword high. The front of his gi was torn and there were marks of blood on it, but the wound did not appear serious. Gouken and Geki circled again, Gouken keeping his sword high. Geki attacked again with a mid-horizontal slash and Gouken hopped back; Geki pressed on with a repeat attack from the opposite direction to which Gouken slashed down, heavily striking Geki's sword. The shinobi was rattled by the heavy strike, but was even more surprised by the crack it made in his blade. Geki reacted instantly with a backhand slash from his claw, but Gouken ducked it and pulled his sword back. Ryu felt the surge of ki and knew what his master was about to do.
"Shoryuken!"
Gouken shot right into the air, bringing his sword zipping through the neck of the masked warrior in a flash of ki and light. Geki was still as Gouken soared overhead and then landed behind. Rising to his feet, Gouken slowly sheathed the sword. The moment the hilt clicked, Geki fell to the ground as his head rolled in the opposite direction. Ryu was horrified, but that soon changed when the body of the slain shinobi glowed in a white aura and began to hover. Lightning began to flash all around and strike Gouken. The warrior's face cringed with pain, but he made no outcry as the energy continued to strike him. The energy was so great that the nearby tree was literally ripped in two. Finally, the lightnings stopped and Gouken knelt down. He then arose slowly and walked back to the dojo. Looking at Ryu, he found his young pupil wideeyed with amazement.
"…!"
Gouken gave a slight chuckle, "We have much to discuss."
Indeed, there was. That night, Gouken spoke of his immortality, how long he had lived and of the journeys he undertook along the way. The only thing his master left out was that Ryu himself was a potential immortal. That was something he found out on his own. His master had been slain before that truth could be revealed to him. But he had been trained well enough to survive in the world of immortals. Ryu's eyes soon opened, but they were lowered in solemn thought.
'Master…father. Thank you.'
Ryu walked into the town of Shanghai once again. He had decided to return to Japan briefly before journeying to America. Moving to a port, he went to find a ferry that would take him to the nearest island when something alerted his senses. The presence of an immortal. Unconsciously, Ryu's hand drifted back toward his sword, until he remembered that there wouldn't be a fight out in the middle of the public. Still, his hand remained a centimeter away while his eyes searched the crowd, looking for whomever had alerted him. Surprise quickly flashed on his face when he saw who it was.
"Chun Li."