Disclaimer: See initial chapter
Chap. 52
There are legends that speak of a battle between two creatures of great power. Two beasts of such great power that their fight were said to be the cause of all storms. Roars that would echo into thunder; flames that would flash as lightning. According to the stories, these mighty beasts would wage a battle that would go on throughout time; endlessly fighting without a victor.
The Dragon and the Tiger...
On this battlefield, two warriors now stand posed in a final battle between each other. Two immortals, each possessing great skill and power, now unknowingly ready to take up that ancient myth in their own battle. But there would be one difference in this fight; there would be an end.
And in the end, there can be only one...
"Rahhhh!"
Their cries came in unison as the two warriors rushed at each other, a sword at their side. As experienced warriors, they knew their first blow would reveal to the other their strength, at least in part. So they resolved to show the other all that they could and would do in this fight in their very first attack; as their ki began to make itself manifest in their swords and the distance between them growing shorter.
'Shoryusen!'
'Tiger Claw!'
The two shot up into the air, with their blades stretched out in a rising slash and infused with each of their ki, resulting in a spectacular airborne clash of swords of energy. Their gazes met each other's in midair for a moment before the clash knocked them backward. Landing on the ground, both looked up at each other slowly.
And Sagat grinned...
That one clash had given him a glimpse, but he knew this would be a fight he would not be disappointed with. The Japanese immortal had grown stronger, as expected of course. Aside from still being alive, Sagat admitted that when they first fought, Ryu had outlasted many of his other 'prey' that came before him. Reaching a hand up, he grasped at his chest; his scar, feeling the burn of anticipation of battle with this particular opponent.
It wasn't always this way though...
He remembered how he had revived in a Buddhist monastery, weak and scarred. But all he could call back to his mind was the rage; the rage that he had been defeated. He wanted to find the man who did this to him and make him pay for it. But two things stopped him.
The first was his weakened condition. Despite being immortal, that strike of Ryu's had left a horrible scar on his chest. At first, he wasn't really surprised or rather, he didn't care. He assumed that the monks must have found him minutes after the attack and so he was still healing. But then they informed him that he had been unconscious in their care for two days. That had surprised him thoroughly. And it added to his anger. His prey would have long left the country by this time.
The second reason was...a little weird...
"There is much anger in you, my friend."
"..."
"Rage bound to your scar. Warrior's pride, I believe. Is such pride greater than your life?"
"Are you...mocking me?"
"Life brings hope and pain. But revenge never brings redemption."
"What...are you...saying?"
"You know the answer. But if you want, you can start to learn it here."
He didn't understand the monk's words at the time and he was still bent on searching for Ryu. But something the monk said had remained in his mind. Revenge never brings redemption... Redemption for what? It was odd, that something that seemed like foolish wording would keep him from going out and hunting this man down. But it did.
For seven years, he remained with the monks. Aside from his curiosity, he knew he was safe in the temple, it being holy ground and all. But at the end of the seven years, he still didn't quite understand what that monk had told him. At least, not totally. He realized that even if he found Ryu and killed him in the heat of vengeance; it would bring him no satisfaction. He would still be scarred and he would continue on through the Game. And in that, one sole question remained
Why did Ryu let him live at all?
Quite honestly at that point, he didn't know what he would do if he ever found Ryu. But as luck (or destiny) would have it, he ran into Ryu.
"It was... your life... I had no right to take it."
"Life brings hope and pain..."
And that was it. He lived because of a weakness in the man. A weakness in control. Just like him, when he hunted down immortals for sport; for the kill. But now, there was a new drive in Sagat. A yearning for combat that improved a person (and not just from a Quickening). And Sagat became a far better warrior for it. But for a true reconciliation to come between them, they had to finish their fight. It seemed strange, but the pride of a warrior demanded no less that this. A battle to the finish... to the death...
From the other end, Ryu kept his gaze on his opponent and saw the grin come up on his face. Although it wasn't returned, Ryu did allow a slight nod. 'Yeah. You've gotten stronger too.' Like Sagat, Ryu found that to be of no surprise. It was, after all, what Sagat had been training for, for why, Ryu felt a bit odd about. After all, in their last fight, it was Sagat that held the advantage. And Ryu felt that his walking away from that fight at all was a result of, not his great strength, but great weakness.
He had allowed himself to fall under the influence of the Satsui No Hado -Murderous Intent- and even though it was only in a brief moment, it arose nevertheless. And that weakness was displayed right in front of him, a scar across Sagat's chest. But not this time. This time, it will be by his own strength and not with forbidden techniques or power that he will claim victory.
Ryu took a step back, moving into a defensive stance with his sword held parallel to his head. Sagat's sole eye narrow at this and he responded by rushing forward with great speed. Aware of the speed of the larger immortal, Ryu wasn't surprised by it and awaited the attack. Sure enough, Sagat's blade descended, striking down upon the smaller immortal. Ryu shot his arms forward, closing the block and making it more forceful.
Sagat was partly pushed back by this and Ryu went in for the counter, rotating his sword about and attacking with a swipe from the left. Sagat blocked the attack and Ryu pressed with a rushing attack. Sagat blocked it again, but it came up awkwardly and Ryu spun around for a finishing strike. But Sagat duck under the blow and came up right behind Ryu.
'Move!'
Instinct forced Ryu to roll forward before Sagat's rising slash could catch him. Coming up on his feet, Ryu was soon met with a forceful kick to his side, flooring him down completely and nearly disarming him. Again, Ryu rolled up to his feet, internally wincing as the pain of that kick came in. He felt like he had just been hit into a wall by a wall. But it reminded him of Sagat's fighting style -Muay Thai kickboxing- and that he would just as easily damage him with his limbs as he would his sword.
Ryu's attention snapped back when Sagat lifted his sword high, with both hands clasped on the hilt. Ki began to flow into the blade rapidly like a golden fire and with a roar, Sagat slashed downward, releasing a violent wave of energy at Ryu. His eyes narrowed and Ryu jumped high, just barely making it over the blast. His body went into a flip and upon coming forward; he lashed out with a kick of his own, hitting Sagat square on the side of his head.
His feet touching down, Ryu brought his sword in to attack again, but was quickly intercepted by a recovering Sagat, who shot his knee forward and hit Ryu back again. This time, Ryu didn't roll back to his feet and wound up on the flat of his back. Sagat came over him and didn't hesitate to strike down with his blade. But in the last minute, the Japanese immortal rolled to the side, jumped back up on his feet and leapt at Sagat, reversing the hold on his sword and stretching out his leg as he closed in.
'Tatsumaki!'
His body swiftly whirled about in the air and his leg followed. Sagat managed to lift his arm up to defend, but the ki enforced attack caused Sagat to stumble. A second kick made the big man stagger back. However, the attack wasn't finished as now the sword came into play, following up right behind the second whirling kick. Sagat's eye widened upon seeing this and he used the forced momentum from Ryu's first blow to roll back and cause the sword to miss. Ryu landed on his feet and Sagat rose to his and the two immortals simply remained still, breathing heavily and both with a trickle of blood coming down from their lips. Wiping his lip, the Japanese immortal regarded his opponent once again.
And smiled...
'He's as strong as ever. Maybe even more so.'
The two immortals continued to stare each other down, recalling and taking in the details of their exchange. It may have been too early to tell, but they both appeared to be on equal footing. Both immortals knew how to fight with their fists and legs as well as their swords. And although Sagat had range, Ryu's smaller size gave him a slight maneuverability edge and allowed him to attack close.
But these minor factors played an even smaller importance. Both immortals had strength, speed, skill, technique, will and most of all, desire. It had been seen in Sagat's grin before as well as Ryu's smile now. The fervor of battle was now rushing through them and it would only grow from there. Even though this would be a battle to the death, it would be a battle to remember.
The smile on the smaller immortal slipped away though. As strong an opponent Sagat was and as exciting a battle as this was, eventually it would have to end. Both of them had resolved for this to be their final fight. It saddened Ryu somewhat. He would have liked to have this battle without the need of death on either of their parts. Fight, go away for a time, then meet again to see how much stronger they had gotten. But now was the time of the Gathering and there was simply no time for such sentiments. With their ki flaring onto their sword lightly again, the two charged at each other once again, renewing their fight.
There could be only one...
Some distance away, Sakura watched the fight between Ryu and Sagat. When Ryu had informed her of this fight, Sakura became worried. Even though Ryu was as strong an immortal as she had ever known, the story of his first encounter with the tiger king had her worried. But, even though she had conveyed that worry, she understood that this was something that needed to be done. So, not wanting to distract Ryu, she didn't tell him that she would be watching and chose to stay on the hillside so that her presence wouldn't be sensed.
And so far, so good...
Both Ryu and Sagat (whom Sakura couldn't believe was so big) hadn't taken notice of her. But given the way they were fighting, Sakura could only wonder if being closer would have been a distraction at all. From the looks of the power they were lashing out, the only way she could be distracting is if she was right in between them. But that goes to show their focus to the fight.
'Ryu...'
Watching this also gave her a rare glimpse of her sensei/guardian/friend/? in a full-on fight. Granted, she had seen him in battles before, but there were few times when he was this focused. To her knowledge, only Ken had brought up this side of Ryu and that was usually when their spars went on longer than normal. But, seeing him like this, it was truly a sight.
And all the more why she lo...
Before her musings could take that turn, her attention snapped, sensing the presence of an immortal. She wasn't close enough to the combating two for her to sense them; neither had they moved closer to her. That only meant that there was another immortal nearby. Not only that, but the ki she was sensing was great...malevolent.
"Enjoying the match, little girl?"
Moments later, a scream rang out...
AN: Man, I wish it didn't take me so long to make these chapters. I really was trying to get it right with this one. But that, coupled with bouts of laziness and lack of inspiration, not to mention life, has slowed me down. But, as I keep on saying, I have every intention of continuing and completing this story.
So...no worries ^_^