Hero of Heroes Ch. 18 - Always Remember
By Night

"HADOKEN!"

The blue sphere of pure energy traveled through the air, creating a small groove in the large body of water as it passed and eventually dissipating... Ryu was home at last. Dressed only in the bottom portion of his karate gi, he practiced on a beach by the ocean where he had trained during his entire youth. The wind blew across the region, and Ryu could feel the cool breeze gently skim the skin of his forehead due to the absence of his red bandanna... which was now tying back the beautiful long, soft hair of the woman he loved... Looking out at the endless sea, the Shotokan warrior closed his eyes... Mustn't think about that now... what's done is done... must concentrate on the fight ahead...

Ryu flashed open his eyes, and slightly pressed his forward foot into the ground... His right knee raised with the momentum initiated from his left foot, launching him into the air... his left hand quickly positioned itself at his waist... and his right arm arced skyward until it was straight up... "SHORYUKEN!!!" The punch of the rising dragon... the trademark attack that ended the reign of the human behemoth, Sagat... and began the reign of the young, single and simple-minded Ryu. In the air with amazing grace, Ryu reached the height of ascension, and his body twirled as he headed earth-bound, quietly landing a small distance to where he was originally standing.

Always remember your training... from the very beginning... Ryu exhaled, and stood in his stance looking over the horizon... Value each lesson learned... all knowledge is a gift... His head turned to view his other surroundings... the lush, green forest and the mountains behind him... and the rocky cliffs peaking over the seas. Ryu closed his eyes once again... I've almost forgotten what beauty this place has offered... feels so nice to be back in nature... so peaceful... Upon seeing the mountain, he could never forget his days as a child, endlessly training with his eternal best friend and rival, Ken Masters...

Ryu closed his eyes deeply...

***

The boy was running at a fast pace... puffing from exhaustion... but he still kept pressing forward I will make it... I will make it...

Another boy ran beside him, a boy with long, golden hair tied back with a red bandanna, and was appearing to have no trouble keeping up. You won't beat ME, Ryu!

The mountain was steep and the path to the top was extremely dangerous... but the boys enjoyed the challenge, and besides, it was a part of their training. Completing the trail required utmost top physical condition and coordination... failure could result in catastrophic injury and perhaps even death. The boys accepted these chances and still continued to run, knowing the rigorous obstacles ahead.

The Japanese student puffed, but still he ran and focused straight ahead... I will make it... I will make it...

His American counterpart kept ahead of him, running with a smile on his face. Haha! You've lost this one!

Ryu continued focusing straight ahead... taking a keen look at the most dangerous obstacle he was approaching. The large gap in the trail... which plunged straight down into the crashing waters below... I will make it... I WILL make it...! He took a deep breath and exhaled... and he sprinted past his rival...

Ken's eyes went wide... W-WHAT???

The young boy planted his right foot on the ground a mere inches away from the edge of the gap and launched himself horizontally... and for a brief moment he felt like he was flying... until he finally landed his left foot on the other side of the gap, safely making the jump.

Heh heh... you're probably out of breath by that jump! I'll catch up to you on the other side! Ken grinned to himself as he approached the edge... but he pressed himself too hard, placing a large part of his foot over the edge... and when he was about to launch himself... his foot toppled over... taking his entire weight with it. Ken's eyes expanded enormously... his momentum was not enough to even try and reach the opposite edge with his hands... He tried to reach up, but grabbed nothing... and he screamed...

Ryu stopped in his tracks... his danger instincts instantly snapped into focus. Ken is in trouble! The boy turned... seeing his one and only friend falling down to the chasm below... Ryu launched his body forward, and stretched his arm out over the edge, reaching for Ken's... grabbing him by the forearm. Ken's weight began to bring Ryu down, but Ryu braced himself, using his other arm to hang onto the trunk of a tree next to him. Their hands were holding each other's wrists, and Ken looked down... seeing small rocks tumbling toward the crashing waters below. He sighed in relief and looked up at Ryu, who was smiling down at him. And Ken gave a smile in return, a smile filled with complete thanks and friendship.

***

I should be the one to thank you, Ken... you've always told me there's more to life than just fighting. You were right... I've been so blind all this time... and finally I've discovered what you've always meant... only to have it result like this again... Ryu slowly opened his eyes, but kept them narrow, slightly shaped with anger. Damn you, Akuma... because of you, I have gone though much torment... first with Sensei... and with someone more important to me than anything in the world...

With that, Ryu turned the opposite way, striking into the air with the initiating move of his kata. He continued practicing, executing each move with skill and precision until the sun finally began to set...

***

The Shotokan warrior sat, resting underneath a large tree in the forest and looked outward to the beach, watching the sunset. The sky was brightly lit and Ryu relaxed... resting his head against the trunk, letting the winds toss his hair about. He used a hand to flip his hair back into place, and as he did so, he could feel a small ridge on the skin of his forehead... the scar Ken had given him as a boy.

During a spar, Ken's toenail grazed Ryu's forehead leaving a large cut. Ken had given the bandanna to him to help cover the wound, and as a symbol of friendship. Since then he's worn it... for over twenty years... until it finally found its way around the hair of Chun-Li...

Ryu looked with half-lidded eyes toward the sunset... Why... why do you keep entering my mind, Chun-Li...? Always trying to keep you out... yet always finding a way back in... He could feel a warm feeling course through his body... he liked it. He closed his eyes and slowly opened them again as he looked straight up... looking at the outstretched branches and their leaves... And now even this tree... makes me remember... of that time... those early times... when we first really got to know each other...

***

"Class, you are dismissed," Gen announced. Another session was over, and the students departed, leaving only Gen, Chun-Li and the two grandsons in the dojo. Gen returned to his office, while Yun and Yang gathered their skateboard and rollerblades respectively. Chun-Li stood still where she was, looking down... She brought a hand back and lightly adjusted the bow of the red bandanna Ryu had left her... and a small tear rolled down her face. I'll never, ever take this off...

Yun approached her, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Aww, don't worry about him! He's a tough guy! He'll survive... or not... But what matters is-"

"Shut up, Yun," Yang interrupted, "You have no idea of how important he was to her!"

"Hey man, I was just trying to tell her that there will always be people like us to care for her and look out for her!" Yun countered.

"Well that's not going to help her much! The only person she would want to be taking care of her and looking after her is HIM! He means everything to her! She LOVES him! But I guess you just can't see that, can you?"

"..." Yun couldn't think of anything to say...

"Listen to your brother, Yun," Gen advised as she stepped out of his office, "She's going through a difficult time now. Please do not put any burdens down on her heart."

"Okay, I'm sorry..." Yun turned his face back to Chun-Li. "I'm sorry."

"Th-that's ok..." she replied, sniffling.

The grand master spoke once again, "I now know how much he means to you Chun-Li, and I know how much you wanted to go with him. But it is his fight. Fighting is what he does... it's what he is. In fact, I myself wish that I could be there fighting Akuma... but that honor is only for him. It was the battle he has always longed for his entire life. And as warriors, we must respect that honor."

"I know, sifu... I know..."

"Good. Please do not worry about him. He has been our champion three times over. And he has learned quite a lot from you. He has grown to be more of a warrior than we have all expected. Trust him!"

"I do trust him... I always have... it's just that... with Akuma's power... I'm afraid of how Ryu's compares to it..."

"Never give up hope, Chun-Li," Gen said, "No matter how powerful he may seem, there is always a way he can be defeated. A path to Ryu's victory will present itself."

Chun-Li could only nod in response.

"You should go home. Rest. You need it."

"Okay..." Chun-Li wiped a tear away. "But I want to stay just a little bit to practice a bit..."

"Very well. But please return home soon."

"Thank you, sifu..."

Gen gave an affirmative nod, and headed back to his office.

"'Kay, well, I guess it's time for us to split..." Yun began to head for the door, but was interrupted by his grandfather.

"Yun, Yang, you two stay for a while and help clean up a little bit okay?"

"Man...!" Yun groaned.

"Yeah I know..." Yang added.

Chun-Li giggled a bit, seeing how the two teenagers reminded herself of her teenage years when she hated doing chores. From her standing position, she instantly stepped into her fighting stance... her original Wushu kung-fu stance. She performed the ancient moves she's learned since childhood with each step, putting in nothing but pure power and accuracy. Ryu... I wonder what you are doing right now...

She yelled out as she kicked straight up into air, and continued her series of moves... I just can't stop thinking about you right now... are you practicing right now? Resting? Fighting? Stomping down on the ground hard, she put both palms together and pushed them out forward with tremendous force, yelling at the moment of completion.

Yun and Yang both felt the earth lightly shake as she stomped. Interrupted from their duties, they looked over in her direction... Wow... they both thought.

The woman continued... If you are fighting... I dearly hope you're winning... damn I know I mustn't think of such things... but I just can't help myself... can't stop myself from thinking about you... I love you... and I couldn't bear it... if you... were to leave me... She lashed out with a side kick, a kick with intense energy put into it, and she screamed louder than ever... "YAAAAH!!!"

Gen looked up from his paperwork through his office window. "Hmmm?"

And still she continued... Ryu... don't you DARE die on me, you hear me? She jumped into the air, kicking the space in front of her, and twirling her body, bringing back her extended leg, and kicking with the other, repeating the process... each kick delivered with high amounts of pure energy... "TENSHO KYAKU!!!"

The old man stood up from his desk and walked out of his office. "Chun-Li?"

She landed on the ground lightly, and immediately delivered more kicks and punches... each attack having more and more levels of energy behind them...

Her... her power is increasing dramatically! Gen stood shocked and wide-eyed.

How will I live without you, Ryu? How will I breathe? How will I ever survive??? I couldn't! Chun-Li reached down, planting her palms against the floor and instantly stood straight up on her hands... Her two legs split forward and backward perfectly and she lifted one hand off the floor moving it over the other... until she spun around with incredible rotational velocity. "SPINNING BIRD KICK!!!"

She was spinning a complete whirlwind with such a fury that Gen and his grandsons were pinned against the walls from the winds created. "She's... she's gone apeshit!!!" Yun screamed.

"If she keeps this up, she could destroy the dojo!!!" Yang yelled in addition.

Her power is even greater than the last time! Gen could hardly move being pinned up against the wall. "Yun! Yang! When she stops, detain her!"

"What the hell are you smoking?! She'll rip us a new one!" Yun hollered.

"Don't argue! Just do it!" Yang retorted.

Chun-Li's spin slowed down, eventually stopping, and her legs pointed upward, and in an instant she sprang back onto her feet, back into fighting position.

"NOW!" Yun and Yang charged forward at her, who was just looking straight ahead, not paying any attention at all to them.

I'm not going to let you leave me... I won't let it happen! I won't!!! Chun-Li's eyes closed and her arms stretched forward with her fists near her waist... and her feet began to slowly lift off the ground... "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!" An explosion of pure energy knocked the approaching twins onto the floor, and a floating Chun-Li was bathed in a column of pure blue light!

In-incredible! This power is incalculable! And yet... it's stable! She is... controlling it! Almost blinded by the aura of pure energy surrounding Chun-Li, Gen shielded his eyes with his arm.

She continued floating... still rising off the ground... and she launched straight up turning upside down in the mid-air... Her legs split forward and backward and as she ascended she twirled like a tornado... "TENSEI..." ...and when she reached the peak, she flipped herself right-side up with her legs still in splits position... "...RANKA!!!!!!!" ...finally crashing down to the ground in a heavy explosion of pure energy...

Gen lost his footing a bit, but was still able to keep balance. However, Yun and Yang who were trying to get up fell back onto the floor when Chun-Li met the earth.

When the mist of energy swirled away... Chun-Li was still... positioned in her splits on the floor, until she closed her legs to finally stand up, and she simply got back into her fighting stance, looking straight ahead, breathing lightly.

"Man, that last move she did was bitchin'!" Yun commented as he stood.

Yang got back on his feet and dusted himself off as well. "Yeah, I've never seen her do that before..."

The old man just stood, pondering about the sudden course of events. "Chun-Li? Are you... finished?"

There was a moment of silence... and Chun-Li's mouth slowly opened as she still continued to look straight ahead. "Yes."

Gen continued, "You've seemed to have summoned your untapped power once again... and this time it was far more than what I've ever felt... nearly in all my life! How... how is it you were able conjure that much energy... and be able to control it?"

Chun-Li's focus never left its current position and she lightly blinked. "All my heart and fighting spirit... was all concentrated on him... on Ryu. I don't want to lose him... and I have to do whatever it takes... to prevent that from ever happening..."

"Chun-Li... you're going to go after him?" Gen asked.

"..." She didn't answer, knowing that his response will be an objecting one.

"Chun-Li! My student! Answer!"

"..." Still no answer. But after a pause, she lowered her arms to her sides, and finally responded... "I'm going home now, sifu."

"..." The grand master was speechless. He knew and feared those words meant she was leaving... but he did not stop her.

She walked, picking up her belongings and headed straight for the door.

Seeing the look of determination in her eyes, Yang stepped forward. "Chun-Li!"

She stopped, and turned her head a little to the side, but her back remained facing the young teenager.

"I wish you luck. Always listen to your heart! Only it knows your true path!" he finished.

Chun-Li turned her head fully, and sweetly smiled at him. "Thank you..." she whispered.

The other brother decided to take a step forward as well. "Be careful! Take good care of yourself!"

"I will... and please..." She turned to look at the old man... who was standing by himself looking down... "please take care of sifu."

Both boys nodded "Ho."

The determined female gave a final warm smile... and finally turned away, slowly walking out of and away from the dojo...

The twins hung their heads in guilt, knowing their grandfather's disappointment in them, and expected a good yelling... but it never came.

Gen quietly walked back into his office and closed the door. On his desk, he looked at the picture of the woman who just left... and the picture of the older man next to it. My friend... you have raised a very, very powerful daughter. Strong-willed. Independent. Courageous. Stubborn. But heroic. I just wish that the heroes... were never the first to die...

***

She walked down the sidewalk, passing under many trees as she headed towards her apartment. I don't care WHAT Ryu or sifu says... I WILL go after him!

The branches of the trees above her rattled, indicating the passage of a light breeze... and she could feel it pass over body, causing her to shiver and hold her hands close to her face. Brrr... chilly day today...

Chun-Li sat down at the next bench along the sidewalk, and set down her bag, taking out a small jacket. She wrapped it around herself and put her hands at her face again, blowing against them. She looked up at the trees, seeing how their branches and leaves easily flowed with the winds... and she smiled to herself. These trees... and this cool weather... still... remind me of those days... that one day I still remember forever and ever...

***

The young girl was sweating as she faced her opponent... Her black hair was braided, and tied into buns. She wore a blue jumpsuit and had knobbed bracelets on her wrists. She looked at her opponent across from her who was standing in his natural fighting stance... His karate gi was ripped at the sleeves, and the bottom portion of his pants were ripped as well. He wore his black belt proudly, and sported a red bandanna around his forehead. They were both in the forest... lush and green... surrounded by nothing but nature.

"Are you going to attack?" she asked.

"No need to," the warrior answered calmly.

Chun-Li growled under her breath... and attacked with a punch toward his face. Her opponent blocked, but she continued to follow up her attack with a back kick to his solar plexus. He moved to the side, dodging it, but soon found her elbow coming his way... and he barely blocked with it his hands. He then jumped away to get some distance.

"You're still good, Ryu. I'm glad you haven't lost your touch." Chun-Li winked at him.

"The more you fight, the more you know. Each battle in the end is a victory!" Ryu positioned himself back in ready position.

Chun-Li rolled her eyes. "Oh please! You've been talking like that since we were little kids! Don't you ever stop thinking about fighting?"

"Only when I can fight no more!"

"THAT can be arranged! HIYA!!!" She stepped forward, punching towards his face again which he easily blocked. But her attack barrage continued, and she stepped forward with a kick. He stepped dodged, but she followed, stepping forward again with another kick which was also dodged. Not wanting to stop, she turned around with a back kick... which he annoying dodged again! She clenched her teeth as she stepped forward kicked one last time... and he side-stepped. She noticed she was now close to him and finally used her nearest fist to deliver a punch squarely at his chest... only to feel her wrist get grabbed by his huge hand. Chun-Li gasped, and in an instant she felt him grab her collar and hurl her through the air... and a second later she landed on her back in the soft grass...

"Always look for the opening... THAT is when you attack!" Ryu said looking at the fallen Chun-Li.

"Ow!!!" she screamed. She clutched her ankle...

Ryu gasped and dropped his hands to his sides. "Chun-Li! What's wrong?" He ran over and kneeled beside her.

"Ow... I think it's..."

Ryu put his hands over her ankle and lightly moved it. "Does it hurt when I move it?"

"...w-well... the pain isn't as bad... as the pain you'll soon be feeling!"

"W-what...? What do you mean by-"

Chun-Li's leg snapped back, and in the blink of an eye, she lashed out, kicking him in the chest which launched him lightly in the air... and she stepped forward using her other leg kick him again, and repeatedly kick him in the head, chest, abdomen as fast as lightning!

The dazed warrior crashed to the ground next to a tree, completely surprised by this sudden attack. He wiped a little bit of blood off his mouth and saw Chun-Li slowly walking towards him, towering over him.

"Always look for the opening and THAT is when you attack!" she teased.

Ryu smiled and tried to get up, but he couldn't... the wind was knocked out of him when he was hit in the solar plexus.

"Oh... looks like I was a lil too rough... I'm sorry... I guess we can take a break then..."

Ryu nodded in agreement, and scooted himself so his back was against the tree trunk, and he began to slowly catch his breath.

"Hehe," Chun-Li laughed, "that looks like a nice, warm, cozy spot!" She sat down next him against the tree trunk and was shaded by the branches and leaves. "Ahhh, this feels nice... the grass is so soft..."

"This place never changes. It can only get more beautiful," Ryu whispered in response while he looked into the sunset sky.

"Yeah, I suppose your right. When left alone, these forests just keep growing..."

"Mhm." Ryu turned his head over to look at Chun-Li... "That last attack you did was quite a powerful one... it felt as if I was hit over a thousand times..."

Chun-Li giggled. "Teehee... just something I learned for years and years... and learned to put more variation and power into it."

"Such a powerful move should have a name..."

"Hmm? Nah, it's nothing! It's just a little lightning kick with more twist!"

"It's a lot more than that! You burst out with pure aggression, and landed what felt like a thousand blows... it deserves a name... and I think you should call it 'Senretsu Kyaku'! Thousand burst kick!"

"Senretsu kyaku...? Hmmm... that's actually a cute name for it hehe! Sure, I guess we can call it that... although I was never into all that move naming stuff!"

They both smiled at each other, and looked back out at the sky. "So tell me, Chun-Li" Ryu said after a moment of silence, "what brings you out this far anyway?"

"Oh... well... the second Street Fighter tournament is coming up... and well, I sorta knew from my Interpol sources that you'd be around here practicing for it!"

"I see... and why am I so important?"

Chun-Li looked down to think a bit. "Well... because you were the one who defeated Sagat! You ended his undefeated streak! And you ended it well! Everyone knows about it!"

"Just because I won the last tournament, does not mean I will win the next... it is being hosted by a whole different person!"

"Well..." Chun-Li swallowed, "That's kinda what made me want to find you... the next host. He is a criminal drug lord. We at Interpol have been monitoring him for years, and we and the US are THIS close to nailing him... and he knows it."

"I see..." Ryu kept listening.

"And in fear of his drug ring being taken apart... he needs troops. And... the only troops he's interested in are the world's greatest fighters... which means... he wants you, Ryu. He knows the world's greatest fighters are going to compete and that's what he wants."

"So... are you telling me to quit? To back down from a world tournament?"

"No! No no no no no... I want you to compete! But I want you to know that this host... he is in no way an honorable fighter. His power is unknown to us. I just wanted to let you know that... if you ever make your way to him... to be careful. And to please defeat him."

"That is something I cannot promise Chun-Li... but I will try..."

"I will be competing too... and a Colonel of the US Air Force will also be there. And I hear Ken will be there too. Ken is being informed about the host's information right now. This will heighten our chances of one of us actually facing this evil drug lord face to face..."

"Sounds risky... and are you sure that you are up for the challenge? I know that you are an excellent fighter and everything... but are you sure you want to do this?"

"Yes," Chun-Li's eyes began to slowly tear... "I know for sure, that I want to compete. This guy... Bison... has caused me more pain than you can ever know."

"What... what did he do...?" Ryu couldn't help but be curious.

"The bastard... h-he..." More tears began to fill her eyes, and spill over her cheeks... "He... m-m-murdered... my f-father... the monster!"

"Chun-Li..." Ryu reached over to her, and tried to wipe her tears away, but an endless stream of new tears replaced them.

"I hate him I hate him I hate him!" She dived her deeply against Ryu's shoulder, crying into his gi. She assumed Ryu never experienced this much pain before and figured he wouldn't understand just like all those immature boys she met throughout high school... but she soon felt Ryu's arms gently beginning to hold her...

"I know exactly how you feel... for I too... lost my only father figure to an evil murderer..." he gently said into her ear.

"Wh... what...?" Chun-Li looked up at him and sniffled a bit. "You mean... your master...? But I thought he passed away of... natural causes..."

"That is what everyone thought... but only a few know the real truth... and only I was the one who witnessed it with my naked eyes... Ken was back in the dojo sleeping... but I was wondering where Sensei was... and I went out to search for him... only to find him locked in battle with an evil demon up on the mountain..."

"A d-demon...?" Chun-Li's eyes were wide in astonishment.

"Yes... he was Sensei's brother... and he had unlocked the dark arts of Shotokan... and used the forbidden technique... the Shun Goku Satsu... to murder Sensei... and I saw it happen. The demon laughed victoriously... and he noticed me. He jumped down and approached me... and I thought he was going to do the same to me. But he let me live... and he smiled at me evilly and disappeared into the forest... and to his day he still eludes me."

"Oh my... that... that's so sad... you must've been so young..."

"You must've been young too..."

Chun-Li sniffed... "Yeah... I was in high school when it happened... then after I graduated, I devoted my life on catching him... nothing else in the world matters to me now than to seek justice!"

"Well then in that case Chun-Li... I WILL make that promise to you then... I promise that if I ever make it to the top and meet this Bison, then I will defeat him for you."

Her eyes looked up at him, and twinkled. "You... you truly do understand! Oh Ryu... thank you! Thank you thank you thank you thank you THANK YOU!!!" She wrapped her arms behind his neck and hugged him close. Ryu hugged back, wrapping his arms around her back... and when they let go of each other, Chun-Li turned around and rested the back of her head against Ryu's chest, and both warriors looked out at the sunset until it finally faded into darkness.

***

Same tree... same sunset... Ryu saw the sun finally disappear into the ocean, and the sky began to slowly darken. I cannot believe it has been that long... and yet I still remember as if it was yesterday... Oh Chun-Li... how I wish I could share this moment with you now...

***

He was so sweet... he was so different than those other blokes I met in high school. They just took what they wanted from me and ran. They never cared one bit about what I was going though. But he did. And he promised me he would defeat Bison for me and he did. He always kept his word. Chun-Li smiled to herself and she stood up from the bench she was sitting in and continued walking to her apartment. It must've been from that memorable day Ryu... that I started to fall in love with you. But please, please, PLEASE forgive me for what I'm going to do... because I'm going to come after you... I know you don't want me to... but I must... I need to. And because I love you...