Akuma VS Ryu

"Hadouken!"

Ryu lets the trademark fireball fly from his hands towards his target. Akuma doesn't seem impressed however, for he frowns as he smacks the projectile away with the back of his hand.

"Weak...Is this all that you have to offer me?"

Ryu grits his teeth before deciding to charge at Akuma.

"I'll show you what I have to offer!"

Ryu throws a right hook towards Akuma's right cheek, but Akuma slaps it away with his left hand and counterattacks with a right jab to the abdomen. He then follows up with an uppercut to the chin that knocks Ryu flat on his back.

"Pitiful. It seems that life with the woman has made your warrior's spirit soft. A true warrior doesn't allow himself to be held back by such useless emotions such as love! You are nothing but a shell of your former self!"

"Ryu!"

Chun Li runs towards Ryu and puts her hands around his face.

"Ryu, are you ok?"

"Chun Li, stay back..."

Ryu pushes Chun Li to the side as he stands up and gets back into a fighting position. The other residents of the beach quickly scatter away in fear.

"I have no desire to fight you if you have no fighting spirit, Ryu. Prove me wrong..."

Ryu hated being made to look like such a novice in front of Akuma. The fight has always been all that there was for Ryu...right?

"Shimatta...(damn)"

Ryu charges at Akuma and throws a wild array of attacks. Akuma easily dodged or blocked all of Ryu's attacks and countered with much painful options.

Ryu was soon finding himself on the receiving end of a lot of pain. Ryu had only landed one punch on Akuma, and that attack didn't even make Akuma blink.

Meanwhile, Chun Li is standing to the side, very worried about Ryu's performance. Ryu really did look like an amateur out there. But Chun Li started to wonder. What is the cause of it?

"Shinkuu...Tatsumaiksenpukyaku!!!"

Ryu executes his stronger version of the Hurricane kick as a last desperation attack to stop Akuma. Akuma teleports through Ryu through the other side and charges up some of his own energy. When Ryu's attack ended, Akuma made Ryu pay for his mistake.

"Messastu Gou Shoryu!"

Akuma hits Ryu with several Dragon Punches. Once Ryu's body hits the ground, Akuma brings a hand over his body. Seconds later, Akuma's hand is glowing purple with energy.

"You dissapoint me Ryu...you are supposed to be the only one worthy of defeating me. You disgraced yourself!

Ryu couldn't even look Akuma in the face. Ryu's eyes were closed as he waited for Akuma to deliver the final blow.

"Remember this, Ryu. Weakness is a disease...I am the cure..."

And just when Ryu expects the final blow to come, he feels a gust of wind instead. Ryu opens his eyes to find that Akuma has spared his life.

"(I was such a disgrace...not only to Akuma, but also to Gouken...)"

"Ryu!"

Chun Li runs up to Ryu and holds him tightly.

"Ryu, are you ok?"

Ryu had never felt so disgusted with himself in his life. For the first time in his life, Ryu actually felt...powerless...

"Come on Ryu, let's go home."

Chun Li tried to get closer to Ryu, but Ryu pushed her away.

"No. I have become weak. I have forgotten my mission...to discover the true meaning of the fight. My skills have diminished... I wouldn't be surprised if Ken's son Mel was stronger then me now..."

"Ryu? What are you saying?"

Ryu turned around and gave Chun Li an expression that she hadn't seen in a long time...inner rage...

"I don't know why, but Akuma let me off easy this time...he won't be so nice next time. Next time we fight, one of us is going to die...and I don't intend for it to be me..."

Chun Li could almost predict what Ryu's next words would be, but she was hoping that Ryu would prove her wrong. Unfortunately, life has a way of being unfair...

"This is difficult for me to do...but I must train...by myself. I am sorry, Chun Li, but I must leave you temporarily..."

Those were the words needed to set off the tears in Chun Li's eyes. They came immediately.

"Ryu...please don't go! We can work this out! Together! I love you!"

Chun Li really started to cry now. Ryu held her body close to his chest while he continued to speak.

"And I love you as well Chun Li, but this is something that I need to do. I must be ready for Akuma next time we meet..."

Ryu let go of Chun Li and turned his back to her.

"Ryu, where are you going?"

"Back to the hotel...to get only what I will need. And then I must leave to train. I'm sorry to be doing this..."

Ryu walked away, not responding to the cries of his beloved wife Chun Li.

"Ryu! Please! There has to be another way! Ryu!"

Chun Li got down on her knees and continued to cry.

"(It's my fault...that Ryu has gotten so weak. If it weren't for me, then Ryu would still be strong...)"

Eventually the police came to file a report, but Chun Li didn't say a word. It was like she was in a trance...

*****

It has been 3 days since that incident, yet Chun Li has only gotten worse. In those 3 days, Chun Li hasn't eaten a thing, moved from her bed, or gone to work. People would visit her on occasion, but Chun Li would only mutter the same 3 words...

"It's my fault..."

While Akuma may be the cure to weakness, only one thing can cure the heart of the broken warrior Chun Li. And that person is someone who at this very moment, is preparing himself for what may possibly be, the last fight of his life...