Disclaimer: See previous chapters

Chap. 27

Masters Residence

It has been two days since the incident with Cody and the things had simmered down since then. Ken had the house insured and being a valuable (and wealthy) customer, the repairs had gone rather quickly. Not that it was needed since much of the damage was done by the police and therefore, their responsibility. The repairmen had just finished and leftthe estate and Ryu looked around the immediate area, making sure that nothing was out of place.

"Stop worrying. What's done is done."

Chun Li walked in from the backyard and into the front hall. She knew Ryu was blaming himself for the damages, but there was nothing he could have done to stop it.

"I know. But still, Ken let me stay in his home and I..."

"That's just it, Ryu." Chun Li replied, cutting him off. "You didn't do anything. You handled things the best way you could. It could have been a lot worse."

Ryu simply sighed. He knew she was right, but he couldn't help feeling that way sometimes. At that moment, the doorbell rang. Samuel walked out of one of the rooms to answer it, but Ryu had already moved to the door. He wasn't ready to risk another 'incident'. Opening the door, he was mildly surprised by the visitor.

"Dan?"

"Hey Ryu. I was in the area and I thought I'd stop by."

Ryu was close to asking how Dan knew he was there when he remembered just who Dan was. Chances are he had been watchedever since he arrived in the city.

"Can I come in?"

Ryu shook his head, realized that he just spaced out a bit. Stepping aside, he invited, "Oh, sure."

Dan stepped inside and took in the scenery of the beautiful house. "Whoa, Ken sure knows how to live it up." Grinning, he added, "He must trust you a heck of a like to let you wreck the place."

Ryu frowned, "I didn't..."

Dan soon laughed aloud. "I'm just kidding."

Chun Li snickered a bit nearby and Dan focused his attention at her. Looking for a way out of his situation, Ryu looked over at her and introduced the Watcher.

"Chun Li, this is Dan Hibiki, a...friend of mine."

Chun Li let out her hand and Dan grasped it. "Pleasure to meet you. I've heard a lot about you, Chun Li."

The Chinese woman narrowed her eyes. "Oh, have you? And how is that?"

Dan blinked, realizing that he had slipped up. "Oh...Well..." Looking at Ryu, a humorous glint hit his eye. "Ryu mentioned you in a conversation or two."

Ryu blanched slightly. "I...?"

A bit surprised, Chun Li turned to Ryu. "You have?"

"Uh, well...You see...uhh..."

Dan couldn't have any more fun with his charge than he was now. Ryu was exasperated while Chun Li watched him curiously. 'But this is just the beginning' he thought. Having had enough of Ryu's squirming, he decided to save him...for now.

"Ryu, do you mind if I get something to eat? I kind of rushed over here."

Ryu didn't hesitate to grant Dan's request and quickly ushered him into the dining room, with Samuel already ahead of them to get the food and Chun Li watching the Japanese immortal with interest.

England, Europe

Ken, Eliza and Mel strode through the streets of the bright city. It was a beautiful day and it wasn't very often that Ken was able to enjoy it with his family without worry or interruption. 'It's been awhile since I had a real vacation' he smiled in afterthought. The family soon crossed the street and entered a fairly large park. Various activities were flowing through the area, from couples in picnics to children at play. Mel pulled on his mother's hand as he asked to join them and Eliza allowed it. As Mel ran off to play, Ken held her close and she welcomed it.

"Alone at last." she smiled.

Ken smiled along with her, "That's supposed to be my line."

He pulled her closer as they strode down the path. Ken was quite content with having this moment and day last forever. So it was to his great discomfort that he sensed the presence of a nearby immortal. 'Oh, please. Not now.' He didn't notice that he had stopped and that Eliza had gazed up to see what happened. By the time he came back to reality, it was too late. She had seen the look on his face and knew exactly what it meant.

"Another one." she whispered in statement.

Seeing that she already knew, his gaze looked on ahead and soon fell upon the source. A dark-skinned man was rapidly approaching him, elegantly dressed and holding a rapier blade in his hand. The man soon came within a foot of Ken and stopped, not taking his eyes off of him.

"It has been awhile, Mr. Masters."

"Yes, it has." Ken responded.

"Then let's get down to it. Now."

The man waved his hand and an elderly man, his servant, walked up beside him holding a rapier in his palms. The man reversed the sword he was holding and stretched the hilt before Ken. Eliza watched in surprise as Ken released her and took the sword.

"Ken?" She was surprised that Ken was actually taking up this challenge right here in the middle of the park. She knew that immortals always kept their battles hidden from public eyes and this here puzzled her. However, Ken quietly assured her.

"It's okay. Just step back."

Eliza obeyed and moved away and the two swordsmen walked toward and then past each other, their blades clicking against the other as they did so. Turning around, they raised the swords to their faces and then settled into a fencing stance. Their blades crossed and Ken made the first move, twisting his wrist for a downward strike. The stranger followed, deflecting it with a simple block. Ken pressed, coming at him with slash, this time upward while taking a step forward.

The stranger blocked again, but in order to do so, he had to step back. Ken continued his assault, stepping in each time he attacked and the stranger was forced to retreat. However, there was no worry on the stranger's face and at the fourth attack, he parried Ken's blade and struck back. Ken lifted his arm in a horizontal defense and his blade just defended his face from the stranger's. However, the stranger's blade continued downward and the gentleman suddenly stabbed in, aiming for the chest. On instinct, Ken rolled around and the rapier hit air. The people in the park saw the swordfight taking place and all gathered around to watch. Eliza felt a little dismayed by this.

'They don't know...'

Ken dashed back a step and the stranger followed, coming in with a vertical thrust. Ken flicked it aside with his weapon, but the stranger's speed made Ken unable to retaliate and Ken was forced into the defensive, now retreating from the stranger. Ken was soon backed up against a tree, being hammered in by the stranger's repeated attacks. But like the stranger, Ken was not worried and as the stranger made an upward thrust, Ken stabbed upward, aiming for his head. The stranger was forced to halt his attack and switch to defense, blocking the attack.

Ken pushed himself off the wall and the two continued to slash with each other, without either one pushing back the other. At this point, Eliza couldn't help but be amazed. Both fighters were moving through the duel with a type of elegance and grace. Although the stranger seemed to show a near flawless show of it, she saw it in Ken's movements as well. Neither of them seemed tired from the constant attacks. Ken finally pressed his attacks, moving a notch faster and allowing him to push the stranger back again.

But that was only temporary as when Ken made a low sweep, the stranger sidestepped and slashed for Ken's head. Eliza gasped in terror, but Ken swiftly ducked and wheeled around, continuing his earlier attack. The stranger met the attack with one of his own and the blades locked, bending somewhat between them. The stranger looked up at Ken and let out a smile.

"Your technique has improved, Masters. But you're a little rusty on your form!"

With that cry, the stranger released the lock and lunged, striking in rapidly. Ken met the assault and returned it in the same fashion. The two of them continued to slash at each other rapidly and it seemed as if it would go on for a long time. But then the stranger came in with a horizontal slash and before Ken could recover, he swept back to the other side of the blade. Grunting, Ken lowered his blade and the stranger came in with vertical strike, causing the sword to fly right out of Ken's hand and into the air. Ken was stunned by this and was about to dodge aside to try and retrieve the blade when he found the stranger's own blade right on his throat. Ken stood frozen and the flying sword soon descended and stabbed the ground behind them.

"Ken!"

Eliza dashed out of the surrounding crowd toward him, but Ken raised his hand up to stop her from coming any closer. The stranger looked over at Eliza and then back at Ken.

"Your girlfriend?"

"My wife."

The stranger smiled, "Ah, even better. You may not have mastered a gentleman's weapon yet, but you exceed me in a gentleman's taste for beauty."

Eliza blinked in surprise and the elderly servant from before moved to pick up the downed rapier. The stranger lowered his sword away from Ken as the servant hand Ken back the sword. The two of them lifted the blade to each other's faces once again and the crowd around them clapped. Eliza quickly grew confused, but kept it to herself.

"Thank you for the exhibition match, Kenneth. It has been awhile since my students have seen a real match."

Looking over to the left, he indicated to his students who were wearing protecting white fencing gear and clapping along with the rest of the crowd. Eliza finally pieced everything together. They had been friends from the beginning. Ken just didn't tell her that this was just a friendly match between immortals. 'I don't care if he is immortal' she fumed. 'He is so dead.'

"You're welcome." Turning to Eliza, he introduced her. "Sir Dudley, my lovely wife Eliza."

Eliza let her hand to shake his hand, but instead of doing so, he lifted it up to his face and tenderly kissed it. Eliza blushed slightly, momentarily forgetting that she was mad at Ken.

"Charmed to meet you, my lady."

"H-hello."

Dudley released her hand, "Your husband was one of my finest students." He grinned. "And also the most stubborn."

"Hey, that wasn't my fault." Ken face-faulted. "I was just getting my bearings."

"Excuses?" Dudley raised an eyebrow disapprovingly. "A gentleman makes no excuses, Kenneth. I trust that I've taught you that much at least."

Ken sighed and replied to his former teacher. "You're right. No excuses."

The gentleman smiled, "That's more like it." He then looked over to his other students who where waiting for him. The crowds had already dispersed and Dudley gave his rapier to his servant, who took it and Ken's before moving away.

"I believe it's time for me to go now. Perhaps next time we meet, your form will have improved Kenneth."

"It will." the blond man nodded. "Count on it."

Dudley gaze then returned to Eliza and he reached into his inside pocket and pulled out a single rose. Handing it to Eliza, "A gift for the lady."

Eliza smiled and took the flower. "Thank you."

"Kenneth. Until next time."

"Until next time."

Dudley turned away and walked back to his students. Ken looked on for awhile and then turned back to Eliza.

"Whew. And for a moment, I thought it would be trouble."

A quick slap to the face was his response. Stunned, Ken simply rubbed his face as she stormed away, walking toward Mel.

"What? What did I do?"

Oaxaca Plateau, Mexico

Just outside the city of Zacatecas stood the Sierra Madre Range, some of the highest mountains in the country. Below these mountains was a more leveled region of land on which a single jeep drove through on a road that stretched in from the city. Cody sat in the passenger seat while his driver maneuvered the vehicle. He was still unsure of himself or the events that had occurred in the past couple of days, but he felt certain that he could now start things anew. He had friends…if he could call them that, and information as to what he was and how to defend himself somewhat.

Now he was going to receive training and learn more about what he was now. Soon, he would have a handle on his life again. As the jeep moved on, Cody caught sight of a small town on the plains. Certain areas in Mexico were still rural, so Cody expected that he might have to adapt. But what he didn't expect was the jeep to suddenly veer off away from the town and stop near a rocky area. Cody looked around in confusion and then back at the driver.

"Hey. What's going on?"

The man simply opened his door and stepped out. Cody looked at him in confusion and exited the vehicle as well.

"What's the big idea?"

No answer. Cody stood before him and removed the sunglasses he was wearing, only to find the stranger's eyes were glazed over and he was standing still like a statue. Cody backed away from him and was suddenly hit with one of his strange headaches. The one's that told him…

"Hello, sewer rat."

Cody turned and looked upward. There, crouched on one of the boulders was a lean man wearing a mask over his face and long blond hair was tired in a long ponytail. A tattoo of a serpent was etched on his chest and body and his arm bore a three-pronged claw. Through the mask, Cody could see the eyes of a sadistic creature within.

"You."

Back, two and a half days ago

Within a Los Angeles police station, Cody sat in the dark side of his prison cell. His face was unshaven and miserable and he was positive that he stank like hell. He had been held there for two days now after being moved from a smaller precinct following his arrest. He was to be held until his case was brought up before the courts. But he wasn't afraid or even worried. A part of him felt safe in the fact that in this place, those headhunters couldn't get him. He still didn't understand why they hunted him or why he kept getting those headaches whenever one of them was around. All that he knew was to run. But he couldn't run now. And he didn't have to.

Or so he had thought...

Brriinnngggg!

The alarm blared loudly, causing Cody to snap his head up and look out of his cell. Loud sounds erupted from the main offices above, which could only be discerned as a struggle. A few rounds of bullets were heard firing for awhile and then silence. Soon smoke sank in and began to fill the holding area.

The few prisoners that were there went into a panic and bashed against the bars. Cody triedto look up from his own cell to find out what was going on, but the bars restricted his view. He tried to shift around more when he felt it. Another one of those weird headaches. That meant...'Oh no, not here! Not again.' The smoke continued to filter through and he heard the upper door open. A lean man came down the stairs, making a direct B-line for Cody. His face was obscured in a mask and his blond hair was tiedin a long ponytail.

'Not him again!'

The man approached Cody's cell and jammed what appeared to be a claw on his arm into the lock. After jittering around a bit, the door unlocked and the man swung it open. Cody had backed up into the far end of the cell and this caused the man to chuckle a bit.

"Ah, the sewer rat has cornered himself." He unsheathed a sword that was strapped to his back. "Thought you could hide here? You've only made it easier for me."

The man began to approach him stealthily when the stairs rumbled with movement. A couple of police officers stormed down the stairs and entered the area. Seeing this, Cody suddenly rushed forward and rammed the stranger into the wall. Then without hesitation, he dashed through the smoke past the officers and up the stairs. The police saw him rush by, but were unable to stop him as he exited out through them and the fires that had been burning in the station. Cody ran through the police station and out the back, fear governing his movement. He didn't want to stop; he couldn't stop. No matter where he was, someone was trying to kill him.

He had to run again...

"Who are you?" Cody yelled. "Why are you after me?"

The masked man chuckled and dove off the boulder and onto the dirt ground. Standing up slowly, he answered.

"Live bait just tends to get a bigger catch than dead ones."

"Bait?"

The masked man inched closer to him and unsheathed a sword that had been tied to his back. "You've outlived your usefulness and Shadowloo can't have loose ends hanging around."

'Shadowloo?' Cody wondered. But he didn't have time to dwell on it. Moving back to the jeep, he pulled out his own sword from his belonging and confronted the masked man. Before he left, both Chun Li and Ryu had taught him a few basic moves. It wasn't much, but it was something. 'No more running.' he resigned as he went into stance.

"Ah, the rat shows teeth" the masked man sneered as he readied his sword. Cody tightened his grip on the hilt of the sword and then charged in attack. The masked swordsman met attack and the two blades clashed, sending sparks out around them. Cody pulled his arm back and struck again from the opposite side, but it was blocked by the masked man and pushed back. Not giving up, Cody allowed himself to be pushed back and then spun his back and sword arm around suddenly, slashing with a horizontal slice.

The masked man ducked and Cody wheeled his sword in a vertical position and cut down. But the masked man slashed upward hard, clashing heavily against Cody's sword and sending shocking vibrations that course up to his arm. Cody winced at the clash and backed away. Switching to the offensive now, the masked stranger lunged forward with another slash of his blade.

Cody managed to twist his sword around to block, but his grip on the blade was weak and the sword flew out of his hands. The man pressed on, lashing out with his claw as a follow-up move. Cody dove to the ground to dodge and the claw racked through the air and across the driver's chest. Blood literally gushed out as the man flew through the air and crashed onto the ground. Cody looked at the masked man in shock. 'Wasn't that his man?'

"Hmph. Oh well. One less doll to deal with." Looking down at Cody, he raised his sword and readied to strike down on the helpless immortal.

"There can be only one."