Neon Genesis Street Fighter Ch. 24 - Sakura's Bloodlust
By Shin Ryu Ken

Sakura ran towards her secret location, it was a place that no-one else knew of, up in the mountains, It was full of trees and life and there was a cave not far away. Sakura went there to train, or when she needed to be alone. Right now she needed both. She ran through the forest dodging trues and fallen lumber, then finally she reached her spot. The cave had a few large Sakura trees out front, which Sakura adored, but right now she needed to get ready. She walked into the cave and used her ki to light some candles which she had in there. She got into her stance and threw a Hadouken down the large cave, and to her surprise it was double the size it usually was and didn't disappear till it hit the walls of the cave.

Sakura: Yes! I'm ready now. Akuma, you're mine.

Sakura fixed up her gloves and her headband, then ran off to the place where the tournament was held in which Ken and Ryu first meet Akuma, she had a feeling he'd be around.

As she aproached the old wherehouse a chill ran down her spine and she shivered slightly and wrapped her arms around herself. She reached the door and openned it, then walked in, shutting the door behind herself.

Sakura: Akuma! Come out Akuma! You may have killed Ryu, but I know you're weak now and I'm gonna kill you for what you did!

She waited. But nothing.

Sakura: D*MN YOU AKUMA! YOU ARE TRUELY PATHETIC! TO AFRAID TO STAND UP TO ME, A MEER SCHOOL GIRL!

Then Akuma appeared, in a glorious explosion of red ki, the colour of blood. Akuma stared at Sakura for a moment then grinned. "It would truely outrage Ryu when he returns if he learns that I stole his girlfriend's soul!" Thought Akuma, with a wicked sneer on his face.

Akuma: Ha! This will be easy! Ready to die, girl?

Sakura: F*** you, demon scumbag!

Sakura ran at Akuma and did her Shou-o-ken, enveloping her fist in dark blue flames and striking Akuma's torso and ripped it upwards, hitting his chin and sending him flying backwards. Akuma climbed slowly to his feet, but however, was still grinning. Akuma through his Gou Hadouken at Sakura and Sakura cancelled it out with a Hadouken equal in size. "Hah, this girl has skill, maybe I'll get her to join me. If she learnt all she knows from just watching Ryu fight, then imaginehow powerful she will be if trained in the ways of the Dark Shotokan!" thought Akuma evilly.

Sakura focused her ki in a way she had never done before, she charged every inch of her body with ki and then in an instant, transfer that ki behind Akume, along with her body. Akuma turned around just in time to see Sakura's fist slam into his face with a gruesome crunching sound. Akuma staggered backwards and then met the ground with the help Sakura tripping him over. Akuma had had enough of this and teleported behind Sakura and jabbed her in the preasure points in her neck, sending her into a state of unconciousness.

We now return to a place that we haven't seen in along time: The Dark Room.

Sakura was seated on a chair, opposite her was a figure, a male, who was also seated on a chair. It appeared to be the figure of.... Ryu?

Ryu?: You betrayed me Sakura. You let me die then get yourself killed on a vendetta to avenge me, you are worthless.

Sakura: NO! Now that's where you're wrong. The real Ryu would never act like this, who are you? show yourself.

The figure of Ryu stepped forward into the light, with an unaturally evil sneer on his face, and the slowly transformed into Akuma.

Akuma: You are mine to control now, I have your soul...

Akuma openned his palm to reveal a blue ball... it was Sakura's soul. Sakura couldn't move. Whether it was shock or the fact that she no longer had a soul, she did not know. But she did know one thing... she was screwed.

Sakura: What do you want of me Akuma? Why have you not destroyed me? Did you want the satisfaction of seeing me beg for my soul? Well you're not gonna get it!

Akuma: If I wanted you to beg, then I could make you, but I have a greater purpose for you. I will train you to become a great Dark Shotokan Warrior, and I'll keep your soul to reassure you do as I say!

Sakura: Why you!

Sakura was silenced ny Akuma pressing his index finger against her lips.

Akuma: Shhhh. So powerful... and so, Beautiful.

Sakura: Get your hands off me!

Then suddenly someone else entered the dark room, someone who had once done the same thing for Chun-Li, it was Ryu.

Ryu: Get your god d*mn hands of her Akuma!

Akuma: I killed you.

Ryu: We'll I'm back, now give me her soul or you'll die at my hands.

Akuma: Hah! You dare threaten one who has already killed you? You truely are stupid!

Ryu: Enough talk!

Ryu thrusted his hands forward and released a Shakunetsu Hadou Ken which smashed into Akuma like a hammer and set him on fire. Akuma fell over and climbed back to his feet. He charged at Ryu and threw a punch, and Ryu grabbed his arm and broke it, the bone piercing through his skin and flesh. Akuma feel over and started screaming in agony at the sight of his bloodied, broken arm and then disappeared, leaving Sakura's soul behind.

Sakura: Ryu!!! You did it Ryu, thank you.

Sakura ran up to Ryu and embraced him in a hug.

Ryu (scratching the back of his head): Uhhh.. No, Really, It was nothing.

Ryu (A little more seriously): I'm glad I made it in time, but I won't be able to join you in the real world for a while now, but I promise you I'll return.

Sakura: Okay... I'll tell Ken.

Ryu: He knows.... believe me, he knows.