Ryu ascended the steps, his master's words still ringing in his ears. Remember, Ryu. When you psyche your opponent out, you have won half your battle. Quietly, he arranged his white uniform. Sensei, do you see me now? His eyes clouded over. Am I right in agreeing to come here?
Recca bounded onto the platform, waving and cheering to his spectators who were waving Hokage banners frantically. "Hokage! Hokage!" A chant began, and Recca yelled to the spectator tiers. "Are we going to have some fun?"
"Yeah!"
"Are we going to have a blast?"
"Yeah!"
"And is Hokage going to win?"
"YEAH!"
Recca turned to the erstwhile ignored Ryu, with a triumphant glint in his eye. Holding his gaze, Ryu slowly reached up to tie his headband and adjusted his armguards. Suddenly, a bright red aura flamed around Ryu, whose mouth was set in an intimidating line. Recca's eyes narrowed. Even though the crowds were wildly cheering, the two men could only hear and see each other, for they were both true fighters.
"Kagerou-san, Sakura-san, what do you have to say about this match?" Demi asked.
"Well, I should think that Ryu and Recca are both on par with each other." Kagerou began, but was rudely cut in by Sakura.
"But Ryu is my sensei, and so he will win!"
raydance: what a fantastic leap of logic.
plhu: yeah, even better than whatzisname...
Without warning, the two opponents launched at each other. "No dragons for me yet, Ryu," called Recca as he danced out of reach of a gut punch.
Ryu smiled . "Then I shall not use my chi. Not until you call out a dragon." Saying so, he slid forward with his leg ready to sweep Recca off his feet.
Recca leaped away from Ryu before reaching out to give Ryu a punch in the nose. Ryu spat blood out on the floor, but almost immediately recovered to attack Recca with a roundhouse. Ryu's foot caught Recca on the ear, and he fell heavily to the ground. Recca got up and dodged Ryu's Spin Kick, and as he passed, threw Ryu an uppercut. Hit, Ryu reeled away and staggered heavily to the side of the platform. Recca was not feeling too good either. "Ryu," he called, "I fear I might have to call out my dragons."
Ryu grinned. "And I shall start using my chi."
"And this is where the real fight begins. Where they begin to really fight." Kagerou said.
Recca held a hand above his head. "The third dragon..." And from his tekkou, a long sinuous length of scales emerged, and slowly twirled around his arm before bursting into flames. "Homura!"
Recca ran towards Ryu, arm raised and ready to battle. The flaming fist rushed towards Ryu's face and it seemed as if he would not be able to dodge it. But Ryu held up his hand, and clenched Recca's fist in his own. "Wha...?" Recca paused, confused.
A bright glow surrounded Ryu's hand. "My chi", he said simply. He leaped back from Recca.
Recca frowned at this new proceedings. Wow...is that just natural ability like mine or trained from youth? "No matter. I will call out... the second dragon, Nadare!"
Recca held up his hand, and from his palm, glowing balls of fire began to rage towards Ryu. Ryu stood his ground, but called out "Hadoken!" And from his own palm, a huge ball of sky-blue energy dashed out, and the different fireballs cancelled each other out. Recca staggered back in shock.
And without warning, he jumped at Ryu, "The first dragon... Saiha!"
He swiped his arm at Ryu, and Ryu fell to the ground with a sickening thud. The wound at his chest started to bleed. Taking this opportunity, Recca leaped towards Ryu again with Saiha poised to slice. Seeing Recca jump into the air, Ryu did the same, except with not the same velocity and height of Recca's.
Time seemed to stop as the two fighters stretched out towards each other; Recca's mouth agape in a feral scream and Ryu's eyes slitted dangerously. His arms reached out and grabbed Recca's legs. With a grunt, he threw Recca over his shoulder and landed lightly on his feet. He turned to watch the fallen Recca who had crashed heavily to the ground.
"So, Kagerou-san, do you now think that Ryu will emerge the winner?" Sakura smiled, cat-like.
"Of course not. How can a mother doubt her own son? Recca will win this round, because in his mind, he has already fixed an ending: his victory. When the outcome is already decided, it makes the process must easier," mused Kagerou.
Demi stared.
Okay, that hurt. So now I'm going to call out the most dangerous dragon. Recca staggered to his feet, grinning madly. "Seems like you know how to torture a man... but take this!" He raised his arm. "The fourth dragon ... Setsuna!"
The dragon with no eyes appeared behind Recca. The spectators hurriedly closed their eyes. They knew how not to get burned...
Ryu felt the dragon's flaming presence. Almost instinctively, he closed his eyes, and listened. Ryu, remember never to lose your composure...
He heard Recca running towards him. He felt a warmth surround his body. He smelt the burning scales of Setsuna. He spoke the words of the ritual of calming, the one his sensei taught him. And with these four senses alone, Ryu could manage to defeat Recca.
plhu: I'm so glad that he didn't have to use the sense of taste.
raydance: barbecued tongue. How's that for a meal?
"Shinkuu Tastsumakisenpukyaku!" He reeled back, before launching himself towards the sound of the running feet, spinning with his legs outstretched. His legs connected with what felt like Recca's head, and deeming it safe to open his eyes, he did so.
"Recca. You are not the only one who can control the element of fire." Ryu commented.
Ryu took a deep breath. "Shakunetsu Hadoken!" From his palms emerged a glowing red fireball, that sped on its way towards the shocked Recca. And as the ball hit Recca in the stomach, he flew backwards, and flames enveloped him. Ryu stood with his arms crossed, watching the screaming Recca calmly.
Recca arose slowly, stunned by the sheer force of the Hadoken. Shaking, Recca raised his hand in a salute to Ryu. "You are good, Ryu. But unfortunately... I AM BETTER!"
From a whisper, his voice climbed to a shout, and his hand, with blood trickling down the sides, traced out two characters in the air. "Nadare! Saiha! Two dragons!" He yelled.
The two dragons emerged from his outstretched arm, and twined themselves together. With a roar that came from the mouths of them and Recca, they disappeared and morphed into fireballs with blades that could cut through almost anything. And suddenly, Ryu saw defeat staring at him in the face. He fell to the ground.
"I will defend my princess and my mother!"
Almost immediately, Recca called out Homura and Saiha. Ryu dodged the flaming whip with the attached blade and dashed towards Recca. "Shin Shoryuken!" The uppercut enchanced with chi hit Recca full on, and he flew into the air. "Fifth dragon, Madouka!" The King of Shields cushioned his fall and Recca rolled to his feet.
The two fighters stood their ground, staring at each other from opposite ends of the platform. Recca very slowly raised his right arm and almost lazily traced out two figures in the air. "Rui. Madoka. Combine."
He pointed towards Ryu. Ryu was immediately enveloped in a black mist.
"A force field has been built around Ryu, and within it we can see a black fog forming! What is happening?" Demi asked worriedly into the microphone.
"This is something new... and I do not know what will happen." Kagerou commented.
It was so dark, he couldn't see his own hands. But before him, a shining man appeared. "Sensei!" Ryu cried out and ran forward to embrace the man who brought him up and taught him skills.
The man frowned. Ryu stopped in midstride. "Ryu. Have you forgotten all I taught you? Fighting is meant for a good cause. Why are you here? What do you have to gain from fighting in this tournament? Sensei is deeply disappointed in you."
Ryu's eyes glowed in the darkness. "I was... wrong?"
"Very. Stop this nonsense at once."
"I should... stop... fighting with Recca?"
"Exactly. At this very moment, before you die from stupidity."
Ryu's eyes glinted again. "You are not my sensei. My sensei would never tell me to stop. MY SENSEI BELIEVES IN THE SPIRIT OF THE FIGHT!"
And with that, Ryu bellowed at the retreating man and screamed "Shinkuu Hadoken!" The ball of energy blasted the man away, and Ryu fell to his knees, tired out by the fight and the last burst of strength. He felt a glowing presence before him and he leaped to his feet, ready to fight this intruder, but he stopped short at the sight of a beautiful woman floating before him.
"I am Rui, Recca's sixth dragon," she smiled radiantly at him. "And you have won the battle of the heart, Dragon of War." Her hand reached out and touched his face. "Always believe... in what your sensei said." And she disappeared into the mist.
"Wait!" Ryu shouted, running forward. Almost immediately, the heavy fog drifted away.
He looked up to see Recca watching him warily from a corner of the platform. Ryu climbed to his feet and turned to Umi. "Umi-san... I have lost this match." Then, he turned to walk down the steps.
Recca could not believe his ears. Just like that? He raised his voice. "Ryu-san, are you sure you don't want to fight anymore?"
Ryu turned at the sound of his voice. Wryly, he smiled. "A single dragon cannot defeat eight, however strong it may be. Whether we win or lose, all of our battles make us stronger." He bowed. "And I will confess that I have no more strength left to battle with you. Team Street Fighter has lost."
He descended the steps.
Recca looked at Ryu's retreating back in confusion. Ryu was the first opponent in this tournament that I've been able to have a good fight with. And we're both dragons. He grabbed a broken slab of concrete and threw it at Ryu's head. "Hey Ryu! I'll fight you again some other time!"
Spirited youngster. Ryu smiled, turned back, and nodded.
Authors' rambling.
plhu: I see you changed the background.
raydance: Yep. Nice, right?
plhu: Hey, which side is Rui supposed to be on?
raydance: Well...the dragons are supposed to reflect the mind of the flamecaster; maybe because Recca didn't want to kill Ryu.
plhu: Reflect the mind? Explain Gokuu then. *smirks triumphantly*
raydance: ... Let's move on to Chapter 9.