Disclaimer: See initial chapter
Chap. 51
Walking away from the Buddhist temple, Ryu began the slow walk back to his dojo dwelling; his mind dwelling on the confrontation he had with Sagat. So into his thoughts was he, he didn't see or realize at first that Dan had strode up and walked beside him in silence. It wasn't until Ryu turned to see him that Dan began to speak.
"So you two are finally going to have it out, eh?"
There was a long pause of Ryu's part as the immortal fought the confusion brought about by Dan's words. Taking in a breath, he simply nodded an affirmation.
"Yes."
"Are you sure you're ready for it?"
With a frown forming on his face, Ryu turned to face him. "How much do you know?"
"Enough."
Thailand (Siam), 1549
He was being stalked...
That was the conclusion Ryu came up with when traveled through this land. He had sensed the presence of an immortal nearby, but had yet to see who it was. At first, Ryu believed that whoever it was just trying to avoid him. It wasn't a common occurrence, but there were times when immortals tended to avoid each other. Usually, they were ones who weren't strong enough for a confrontation or they simply didn't want to be bothered. In any case, Ryu simply let it pass. He wasn't looking for a fight in any case and if whoever it was didn't want to be bothered, then he wasn't going to disturb them.
The problem came when the presence didn't go away...
Ryu had gone for a good mile before he sensed it again. He wasn't sure if it was the same person. Perhaps another immortal? But like before, the immortal didn't reveal themselves. Now that was odd. If it was like before, then maybe it could be a coincidence. But the odds of running into another immortal that didn't want to show themselves was pretty high. For the moment, Ryu let it go, although now he was a bit on edge for it.
Paranoia...?
But as continued on, it became clear that someone was indeed following him. He had been traveling through the country for an entire day, with the immortal presence continuing to come upon him, yet the person keeping themselves concealed. Even when he set in to sleep for the night, he was only able to get a brief rest before he sensed the mysterious immortal nearby. Rousing himself, he glared up into the sky, now fully convinced that he wasn't just being stalked.
He was being hunted...
As rare a thing as it was, Ryu had become quite annoyed, which was strange since most people in his situation would be fearful. With his sword in hand, Ryu walked a little ways out. He had been resting in a tree-land area near a clearing. A giant statue of Buddha was in the backdrop of the clearing, but Ryu paid it no mind. Drawing his sword, Ryu yelled into the trees.
"Show yourself!"
For a long while, there was nothing but silence. Ryu waited patiently, knowing that his stalker was still close by. And soon enough, the figure moved out of the trees, revealing himself to Ryu; a large, muscular man with a bald head and an eye-patch over one of his eyes. A strap was across his chest and it didn't take much to realize that a sword was strapped to the man's back.
"Who are you? Why have you been following me?"
"You are the prey." the large man answered in deep baritone. "I am the hunter."
"I have no fight with you."
"Weren't you listening?" The man replied, now unsheathing the sword from his back. "This is a hunt, not a fight."
What followed afterward was the most grueling struggle Ryu had ever been in. Never in the years that he had been alive had he faced an opponent who could overwhelm him both in skill and power. Normally, when his opponent had the advantage, it would be in one area or another. But there was usually something that Ryu could capitalize on.
An example; a larger opponent had greater physical strength, but usually moved slower while a smaller opponent had quickness and agility to compensate for the lack of strength. There were other factors as well such as skill or experience, but the point was that usually with every advantage, there would be a disadvantage and Ryu was usually quick to see it.
Not so with this man...
Despite his size, he moved with such agility and speed that the Japanese immortal believed he was fighting a tiger. And when he struck, it came with such force that Ryu staggered a few time. In retrospect, Ryu was holding his own to an extent. But he saw enough to realize that this fight was not going in his favor. Before he knew it, panic began to creep into him and was quickly followed by fear. And when the large immortal smashed down on him with a strike that drove him down to one knee, Ryu knew one thing
He was going to die and there was nothing he could do about it.
"Prey are weak." the large immortal said as his lifted his sword for the severing blow. "Accept it, and die."
"NO!"
His sword flashed in dark violet and before the big man knew it, Ryu had shot up, his sword slashing deeply across his chest and sending him flying back. And as he flew through the air and his life began to slip away, he would remember that brief moment where he saw Ryu's eyes.
They were red... Blood red...
With lowered eyes, the Japanese immortal replied. "You're well informed."
"Sorry." The two were now on the forest trail leading back to the dojo. Dan had finished relating what he knew about the confrontation between Ryu and Sagat. Solemnly, he added. "It probably wasn't your finest hour."
"No. It wasn't." His eyes lifted up to the trees above as his mind went back to memory.
To when they met again...
18 years later...
"You."
The fact that Ryu kept his surprise to a minimal was impressive in itself (minimal being that only his eyes widened). He had been on his usual wanderings and had traveled into India when he sensed an immortal nearby. As usual, he made himself ready for an encounter, however it may be. He didn't want trouble, but he would be ready for it should it come.
He wasn't quite ready for this however...
Standing, or rather, towering, before him was the immortal who had nearly killed him years ago. The memory of their encounter was still quite fresh in Ryu's mind, but he made no move. Whether it was out of fear or anticipation, Ryu didn't know. The large man too, showed his surprise in the same fashion, with his sole eye merely narrowing slightly.
"Why did you let me live?"
Ryu blinked at the sudden question. "It was... your life..." Pausing for a light breath, Ryu clarified. "I had no right to take it."
"No right?"
Ryu's eyes lowered briefly, recalling what had happened. The calling forth of the Satsui No Hado... After the initial surge of power had died down, he had looked down at his fallen opponent, whose chest had been slashed deeply across and the bloodied scar with flickers of the dark energy upon it. Horrified by the sight and his actions, Ryu did the only thing he could think of doing.
He walked away.
"I had lost that fight."
He expected the larger immortal to be confused by his words, but rather his face became one of contemplation. After a moment of silence, the man spoke.
"...I see. So back then, you were no different than I was."
Now Ryu found himself confused by the man's words but he didn't have a chance to dwell on it as he continued.
"I knew strength and I knew power. But never defeat; not until you struck me down. "
His mind then reverted to his recovery when a Buddhist monk from and nearby temple found him still unconscious in the woods with a still wounded chest. After reviving, Sagat was intent on leaving to continue his hunt, but was convinced otherwise by the monks. It was there that, for seven years, he had changed from the person he was before.
"It was then that I learned...that there was more to our battles than just victory and defeat."
"The fight is all..." Ryu found himself whispering.
"The fight...? Is that what you call it?" Again, a thoughtful gaze came over the larger man's face. "Then that is what I will look for as well."
With that, he began to move on past Ryu, but stopped at the Japanese immortal's side. "And when the time comes, we will face each other again, as true warriors.
With that, he began to move on, leaving Ryu quiet in thought for a moment. But then Ryu turned about and called out to the large man as he strode away.
"I am Ryu of the Hoshi Clan."
"Sagat, the Tiger King."
"So, like I said, are you sure you're ready for this?"
Lowering his eyes from the trees, Ryu answered. "It has been some time since then and the Satsui No Hado hasn't surfaced since then."
"True. But not many of the guys you faced backed you in a corner like that."
Ryu gave Dan a curious glance. It was clear that the Watcher was worried about him, and not without reason. But even still...
"I wasn't experienced enough to deal with it then. But now I am."
It was true; Sagat was the greatest challenger he had ever faced. But that was some time ago and Ryu was stronger than he was back then, both mentally and physically. Sagat would be stronger too no doubt, but Ryu would be ready to face him now. And he would do it on his own strength and not with the dark power of the Satsui No Hado.
"And it's time that we finished what we started."
With a sigh, Dan folded his hand behind his head. "Well, I wish you luck. I'm pretty sure you're going to need it."
Three days had passed since that day. The sun was in set and casting its golden glow down on the two immortals that were standing in the middle of a dry, rocky field. A stiff wind gusted about the two, but neither one of them so much as blinked as they stared at each other. Then the larger of the two lifted his hand to his chest, upon the heavy scar that he bore, gripping it.
"For years I have dedicated myself to this fight." His hand dropped away and he drew his sword. "I will hold nothing back."
The red headband fluttered in the wind as the Japanese immortal slowly drew his sword. Settling into stance, Ryu replied to Sagat's words.
"I, Ryu of the Hoshi clan, accept your challenge, Tiger King Sagat."