Hero of Heroes Ch. 11 - Unfoldings
By Night
"Impressive Ryu!" Grand Master Gen said, clapping, "You're very
adaptable to all sorts of martial arts!"
"There are many paths to become a true martial artist. I've already
traveled down one path, and it never hurts to travel down another!" Ryu
replied, practicing the new style of praying mantis kung-fu he had learned from
Gen.
Chun-Li winked, "You should let ME teach you some 'moves' one day, Ryu!
I can show you a 'thing' or two!"
"I'm sure you can," Ryu returned, "The art of Wushu kung-fu
is a powerful art indeed."
Rolling her eyes, Chun-Li continued practicing along with the rest of the
class. Jeez, he's so naive! He takes everything so literally! But that's
what makes him so cute and lovable...
Weeks have passed since Ryu and Chun-Li saw Guy, Rina and Maki leave for
Singapore. Ryu did not want to keep Chun-Li away from the dojo for very long,
and he decided to learn from there so she could go back to teaching. He learned
quite a bit from Grand Master Gen, but since he was already such an expert at
Shotokan karate, it was a bit difficult for him to make adjustments to his
fighting style. But with the constant support of Chun-Li, he was able to understand
the basics of this new martial art. Whenever he wasn't practicing, Ryu's time
was spent just with her. During the past days they've routinely eaten their
meals together, and went out for nights in the town like two best friends. Ryu
never made an advancement on her, and she did not push him to. They both knew
that Ryu needed time to sort out his feelings, and if it would take days or
even weeks, so be it.
But these weeks being with this woman had changed him greatly. Throughout
his entire life, he was always used to traveling alone, with no companions.
He's hardly ever stayed in one place for very long. He has no real home, except
for the small area he trained in under Master Gouken. Since he left after
Gouken's defeat, he's hardly returned, fearing it would remind him of what
happened there. But here in Hong Kong, with Chun-Li, he actually felt
comfortable. It was very different, but he learned to adjust to it. He realized
that staying in one place was the way most people lived, and by staying with
Chun-Li for the past few weeks, he's learned how to become much more social,
and realized that there was indeed, much more to life than just fighting.
However, that never meant he intended to ever stop practicing!
Ryu lashed out a fingertip strike in his praying mantis stance, but Chun-Li
saw a tiny adjustment he needed to make. "No, no... your hand has to
strike like this," she demonstrated, "and in your stance, you should
position your hands closer to your body." She took his sweating hand into
her own warm hand, and guided it right where it was supposed to be.
It had been a long time since Ryu felt Chun-Li's hand make skin contact with
his, and he almost forgotten how nice it felt. Her hand is so warm... she...
she's always been so helpful to me ever since I arrived... Ryu thought, She's
always enjoyed my company... and I've always enjoyed hers as well... Ryu
closed his eyes at the heavenly warmth of her hand against his, and he could
smell her powerful fragrance emitting from her hair... This was the first time
he was beginning to lose himself in her powerful, charming aura since the night
she tried to seduce him... but this time she wasn't even trying. She was so
close... close enough hold right in his arms. He felt her hand lightly squeeze
his while she re-positioned it, and Ryu squeezed back in response... in a
gentle way Chun-Li could feel that it was more than just a reflex. Ryu opened
his eyes slightly, and stepped forward...
Chun-Li completely froze. She slightly trembled, realizing that he wanted to
get closer... Does he... want to...? She looked up into his partially
closed eyes, and she turned her head, noticing that there were others in the
room as well. "R-Ryu! You're losing b-balance!" she struggled to say
as she lightly pushed Ryu back.
Ryu realized too that others were around, and immediately apologized.
"Oh... I'm... I'm s-sorry!" He let go of her hand and stepped back to
put his foot where it originally was. He got back into his praying mantis
stance, but was blushing from embarrassment. I hope... I hope no one
noticed...! Why did I do such a thing???
"Th-That's okay, Ryu! J-Just be more f-focused next time!" Chun-Li
responded, forgiving him. She too, was shaking from Ryu's sudden advancements. Wow...
what was THAT? She got herself together and walked back to the front of the
dojo and continued helping instruct with Gen. Ryu... you're just so
unpredictable! She giggled to herself as Gen looked over, and put his hand
to his chin wondering what was so amusing.
The Shotokan warrior concentrated while practicing, but still watched
Chun-Li as she continued teaching. So powerful... and so graceful... and...
so beautiful... He his gaze never left her, and remembered for the past
weeks everything she's done to make his stay in Hong Kong, a comfortable one.
She gave him a place to stay, and never let him get bored. She fed him, clothed
him, and was always there for him, no matter what. She became much more than
just a friend... someone very close... someone he could trust with all his
heart... and someone who will open her heart in return... Chun-Li noticed him
studying her, and she returned the gaze deeply into his brown eyes and gave a
warm smile. Ryu felt his heart warm to her eyes, and he closed his eyes briefly
to prevent himself from over blushing. Chun-Li... if my instincts are
correct... than that must mean... you've found a way of slowly entering my
heart...
Chun-Li's eyes never left him... they were locked right into his eyes and
she kept wearing a gentle, warm, inviting smile. Ryu constantly looked away,
blushing... but whenever he looked back, he saw her eyes still looking straight
into his. She was teasing him... and he was... enjoying it! She giggled to
herself again as she watched a tortured Ryu turn bright shades of red. By
just looking at him, he's already under my spell... he's so easy and fun to
tease...
It was clear to Gen that something was going on between the two and he
scratched through his beard again. Very interesting...
"Chun-Li..." he said aloud, "I think Ryu has grown quite
proficient in kung-fu for the past few weeks. Perhaps it's time we test his
skills. Why don't the two of you spar?"
Both Ryu and Chun-Li immediately dropped their stances. There was a day when
they fought each other during the second Street Fighter tournament, but never
did either expect to fight each other again. After Ryu defeated Chun-Li in the
second tournament, he vowed to defeat Bison for her. He never once thought he
would ever battle her again. "Master! I... I cannot fight her...! I could
never strike at her after all she's done for me...!"
Chun-Li looked at Gen, then at Ryu. Me and him fight again huh? she
thought, I would love too... after all, since he thinks so much about
fighting... fighting him again may get us closer...! "Ryu! It's only a
spar!" she said as she got back into her stance, "And I thought you
always accepted any chance at battle!"
Caught off guard, Ryu immediately snapped his body into his new stance and
stood ready. "If you put it that way, then let this be a test of how much
I've learned from here!"
"Excellent," Gen stated, "Then let the match begin."
The entire class watched in amazement, and walked towards the walls of the
dojo, giving Ryu and Chun-Li their space to fight. They got into their fighting
stances and looked at each other straight in the eyes. Chun-Li gave him a sharp
look, an Ryu just looked right back. She continued to gaze deeply into his
eyes, as if she was looking right through him. She moved her body slightly, and
slowly blinked... finishing with a seductive smile directly to him. Ryu blinked
and hung his mouth open briefly, lowering his guard, and suddenly heard the
word "BEGIN!"
Ryu tried to get his stance back into position, but Chun-Li stuck out like a
serpent snatching to catch its prey. He was instantly hit with a powerful jump
kick to his chest, and which was followed up by a palm strike in the same
region, knocking him backwards. Ouch... landed the first blow...
The Chinese female smiled, successful in lowering the guard of the best
fighter in the world. She let Ryu regain his footing, and prepared for whatever
he could lash out with. But he just stood in his stance defensively, not
attacking. Chun-Li delivered quick fakes which Ryu anticipated, but never
countered. Why isn't he attacking...???
I... I cannot bring myself to strike at her... Ryu thought as he
stood in front of her... studying her lithe, agile body. She then struck with a
kick aiming for his head, but he blocked it. Chun-Li just stood, looking at
him, wondering why he was not fighting back.
Looks like I'm going to have to just force him to! "YA!!!"
she yelled as she delivered a punch to his midsection. The punch was swatted,
but she lifted her right leg up to kick his head to retaliate. The kick was
blocked by Ryu's forearm, but she kept her knee raised in the air and kicked
again lower at his waist which connected.
Wincing from the strike, Ryu scrunched his body to prepare for another
follow up attack. His opponent still used her raised leg and kicked lower
against his joint, causing him to bend his knee and lose balance. Before regain
his footing, he felt her foot smash against his face, causing him to reel back!
The same foot began to kick lower at his gut, and kick again at his chest, and
returning back to his head. This kick repeatedly struck these three areas over
and over again... and the kicks speeded up until they traveled as fast as
lightning! Ryu felt as if he was being repeatedly hit with blades of pure
energy!
Chun-Li ended the her combination of kicks at his midsection and sent him
flying across the dojo, causing the students along the wall to move to avoid
the body. Completing this, she still balanced on one foot with her other leg
raised up and knee bent. "C'mon Ryu! Why are you holding back?"
The fallen warrior did not answer. He merely stood back up and into his
fighting stance without saying a word. He looked right at his opponent... with
eyes filled with emotion.
The woman looked right back at him and paused... Ryu... w-why are you
doing this...? Why now...? Please don't... not while we're doing what you love
most... Chun-Li shook her head, getting all thoughts of emotion out of her
mind. She brought open hands towards her chest, and focused her energy into a
swirling form. "KIKOKEN!" she yelled as she forced the ball of energy
from her palms.
Ryu let the wave of energy approach him, and he swatted it away. After the
parry, Chun-Li saw that he just kept looking straight at her. No! I can't
let him soften me up like this! She clenched her teeth, and jumped high
into the air. The students watched in amazement as she gracefully aimed her
heels straight for Ryu's head. He blocked the strike, but Chun-Li used his
block to bounce off of him and onto the wall. She planted her feet briefly onto
the wall she was on, and launched herself off of it, landing an extremely power
packed jump kick right on Ryu's back, sending him back towards the center of
the dojo.
The Shotokan warrior slowly stood back up and just took his fighting stance
once again. Chun-Li didn't know how much longer she had to attack him in order
to make him fight back. Dammit Ryu! ATTACK!!! She clenched her teeth
once again and let out a yell as she charged at him. She straightened her left
hand and lashed out with a fingertip strike that landed right at his solar
plexus, and used her right hand to give a palm strike right to his face.
Standing right next to him, she brought her open hands back to her chest, and
called up even more energy... which swirled with much more intensity that the
entire dojo could feel. Gen could feel immense power emitting from her... a
power he's never felt from her ever. Ho... Ho sai lei...!
"YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH........ CHOU...
KIKOSHO!!!!!!!!!!!" Chun-Li let out all her collected energy, engulfing
her in a complete blue ball of pure intense chi which almost took the size of
the entire dojo and pummeled Ryu with wave after wave. The surrounding students
were blinded by the intensity of the light created, and even Grand Master Gen
had to hide his eyes. When all the energy was consumed from her, Ryu flew back
against the wall, and rebounded back into the center of the dojo. Although
struck with a sudden, incalculable amount of pure energy, Ryu still regained
his bearings, and slowly stood up and got back into his fighting stance and
faced his opponent.
"I think that is enough," Gen called out.
The Chinese warrior looked into Ryu's eyes and saw that they still had the
same emotion in them since before the match. A tear started to form in her own
eyes... "B-B-But sifu... he... he hasn't even m-made one attack...!"
"It matters not, Chun-Li. The match is clearly over," the Grand
Master finished. He studied his student deeply. Somehow... he has brought
about a side of her I've never seen...! And it's made her so powerful!
Chun-Li lowered her arms, and looked at Ryu... he was badly bruised from her
attacks and slightly singed from her powerful kikosho. She fell to her knees
and put her hands on her face trying to keep others from seeing her shed the
tears that began to trickle down her face. "Oh...! R-Ryu... I'm... I'm so
sorry! I've hurt you so badly...! I... I wasn't in control!"
The wounded warrior bent down next to her and placed his hands on her shoulders.
"It's okay, Chun-Li... I am not hurt too badly..." He tried to wipe
away as many tears as possible, but her eyes were gushing like a river.
"I... I shouldn't have been so r-rough! I... I just wanted to get to
you fight back! I w-wanted you to enjoy fighting with me!" she sobbed.
"It's perfectly all right... I did enjoy fighting..." Ryu started,
trying to comfort her. Looking up, he noticed that the two of them were the
center of attention. "Look... let's just stand up and continue with the
rest of the session okay?"
"O-Okay..." Chun-Li said, as she felt Ryu help her stand.
Gen walked in front of the class, and bowed. "I suppose I shall dismiss
class early. Have a good evening, and let this be a lesson not to lose control
in a simple spar."
Class was finally over for the night and each student bowed left the dojo,
leaving only Ryu, Chun-Li, Gen and his grandsons. "Yun, Yang, you two go
on home. I have something to discuss with Ryu and Chun-Li."
"Kay, let's jam!" Yun said as he set his skateboard on the floor
and took off.
Gen shook his head and looked at Yang.
"We shall see you back at home, Yeh Yeh," Yang politely said. He
strapped on his rollerblades and left the dojo after Yun.
"Those two have potential," Ryu stated as he watched them leave,
"They will make excellent kung-fu masters."
"Indeed," Gen nodded, "But Yun still needs much more
discipline. The both of them are still very young, so they'll still have plenty
of time to develop it."
"So," Chun-Li started, wiping away the last of her tears,
"what is my punishment sifu?"
"Oh," Gen continued, "You deserve no punishment at all. What
happened today was not entirely your fault."
"Sifu! I must deserve some form of punishment! I badly hurt Ryu! I
could've destroyed the dojo! I-"
"Listen Chun-Li!" Gen interrupted, "It appears that
somehow... you were able to call more energy than you are usually capable of!
It appears that somehow... Ryu has made you summon it. That kikosho... its
power was incalculable compared to a normal kikosho you usually do."
Both Ryu and Chun-Li were stunned. "Master," Ryu said, "How
is that I am related to Chun-Li's kikosho?"
Chun-Li couldn't say anything. She was completely speechless. She still
could not believe that she was capable of such a powerful attack.
"Well, Ryu," Gen explained, "it seems that her desire to get
you to fight her... it must've... ignited within her to use the untapped energy
within her!"
Ryu had forgotten that like himself, Chun-Li was capable of channeling pure
energy throughout her body. And she too has untapped energy within her... Untapped
energy... He's known that phrase too well. He knew he had it too... but he
was only told by Akuma that it could only be unleashed from evil intent... but
now he's seen Chun-Li unleash it... without any signs of evil at all.
"Master," Ryu said, "if... Chun-Li was able to unleash such
energy... then there must be a way I can too!"
"Ryu... every warrior has his or her own way of finding out how to
untap their hidden energy. Chun-Li unintentionally discovered by her desire to
get you to fight her. But for you, you have a different way of finding
it."
The Shotokan warrior hanged his head in disappointment. "I... I
see..."
Chun-Li listened to each word Gen and Ryu said. My desire to get him to
fight... caused me to untap my hidden energy...? That's awfully weird...
She looked up at Ryu, and remembered how she lost control of herself when she
sparred him. She remembered how she looked into his eyes and saw that he had
emotion in them. He did not want to lay one harmful blow upon her. In the far
regions of her heart... she knew this was definitely true. She wanted to make
him happy by making him fight... making him do what he loves best. But she saw
in his eyes that this time, he didn't... and saw that he would rather give up
fighting for the rest of his entire life than hurt her. Ryu... did I...
uncover my power because... I felt... something from you...?
"I am still not completely sure how she was able to so easily channel
that much energy within her," Gen continued, "but I am sure there is
a reason."
The Chinese woman looked down, thinking to herself about her newly found
powers, and back up at Ryu. Oh Ryu... if I'm right... I think I discovered
my powers because deep down in my heart... I know you... you...
"Well it has been a long day for all of us," Gen continued,
unintentionally interrupting Chun-Li's thoughts.
Arg!!! This old fart talks WAY too much!!! she growled in her head.
"And since it is the weekend I suggest you take the day off tomorrow,
Chun-Li."
"But sifu! I have responsibilities to this dojo! And not only that I
almost destroyed it and-"
"I insist!" Gen interrupted, "Ryu has been quite a handful
around here, and even I need a break from teaching him! You do not realize how
difficult it is to teach a martial artist who is already a master at a
different style! And I'm sure that Ryu is pretty worn out from constantly
trying to learn! So please! Take it easy for tomorrow!"
"Well... okay, if you must insist!" Chun-Li said, giving up.
"We are most thankful of your generous offer, Master," Ryu added,
bowing before the Grand Master.
"Chun-Li, perhaps you should take him to Ocean Park. I know he hasn't
seen that yet, and I'm sure he would want to!"
"Ocean Park?" Ryu asked, "That sounds familiar..."
Chun-Li put a hand to her cheek. "Oh! I can't believe I haven't taken
you there yet! It's a great place in HK! An amusement park! You'll like
it!"
"Then take him there tomorrow," Gen finished.
"Okay sifu! I will! Oh, Ryu it'll be so fun!" the Chinese woman
grabbed his arm and jumped cheerfully.
The bandanna warrior brushed through the back of his hair. "I-I'm sure
it will be!"
Gen smiled under his heavy white beard, "Now you two go on home. Get
some rest from your battle. It opens early! And have fun!"
"Oh, we will! We will!" Chun-Li tugged Ryu out of the dojo with
her arm and Ryu stumbled after her, trying to keep up.
Ocean Park, huh? Sounds like tomorrow will be a fun one! I could sure use
a day of recreation from what happened tonight... and... I get... to be with
you... Chun-Li... the Shotokan student thought, arm-in-arm with Chun-Li.
"Farewell, my students!" Gen waved. As he watched Ryu and Chun-Li
disappear into the night, he back to his office and prepared to close the dojo.
Ryu... I believe that the answer to unlocking your full power lies right in
front of you... she was able to unlock it because of you... and you can unlock
it because of her...
As Ryu and Chun-Li walked back to the apartment, Chun-Li looked up and Ryu
and asked, "Say, why didn't you fight back anyways?"
Ryu looked back at her and struggled to find words. "Well... uh... it's
just that... I just couldn't hurt you. I could never hurt a friend."
Rolling her eyes, Chun-Li retorted, "But you always beat up your BEST friend
Ken!"
"Uh... well..." Ryu couldn't bring himself to tell her...
"You're a closer friend... the type of friend... that I could NEVER
hurt... ever."
Chun-Li looked back at him and smiled. "Aww... that's so sweet of
you." A light breeze blew by, which uplifted her bangs and sent a small
chill throughout her body. She clung onto Ryu's arm tightly, and leaned into
him. "Brrr... it's so cold...!"
"Oh... well... I guess it's the human heater to the rescue then!"
Ryu put his arm around Chun-Li's opposite shoulder, and held her closer to him,
warming her instantly.
"My hero!" Chun-Li said as she clung onto his arm tightly, and
never left contact with his body. Oh, Ryu... this is so perfect... I feel
so... so secure in your strong arm... so safe... so right... She cuddled up
against him to let him hold her closer. I never want to leave your arm...
and I know that you don't want to let go either... I just know it... from
everything that happened tonight...