It's been a week since Dan left his sanctuary and strives to make it on his own. He found and abandoned wooden hut about 15km from Master Gouken's, high atop a plateau overlooking the forest below. He liked it here. The morning bliss of silence but for the echo of birds below, the crackling of wild animals walking over dried leaves and grass. Ah, yes, this was the perfect place for him. Up at the crack of dawn every moring and asleep before the nine o'clock hour. He would train, eat, meditate, relax, train, shower, have dinner and go to sleep. This was his daily routine and found it comforting in his own confidence. Even his fury of Sagat was under control now; not that it has been silenced, but he can focus and train in his own way, not be heckled by Master or anyone else. Even though he took Master's training seriously, he began diverting from the true path of Shotokan, developing his own unique style of execution and technique, yet retaining certain forms of Shotokan in his practice. It was near noon now and Dan was just about to finish his meditation when something curious struck him. He had been refocusing on why he couldn't expel his ki the way Master taught him, yet he did feel the ki flow through his arms, only one side felt stronger than the other, as if unbalanced. He embraced the yoga position again, focused his energy into the center and stood up. Going through the motions again he thrust his arms toward the tree ahead of him, "HA DO KEN!" Nothing came out yet his right arm felt like it was burning, almost ready to explode. He stared at his arm. Little blueish heatwaves eminated from it. He looked back at the tree ahead of him. This time he would just try to extend his right arm with the palm exposed. "HA DO KEN!" His right arm thrust forward and out of the palm came a blue ball of ki that flew forward and connected with the tree in front of him. It was strong enough to splinter the outer wall of the tree, yet it made him proud. He found this on his own; he taught it himself. "This is no Shotokan art but my art," he says to himself look at his right palm. "This will be good. I can enhance this with more practice. This I will call the 'Ga do ken'. His confidence burst outloud, "HA HA Sagat. Soon you will crumble before my attacks!" Picking up his sweat towel, he heads back into the house. He must get to town for some provisions.
Sagat quietly stood there, focusing his energy at the stuffed dummy of Ryu. He needed some new attack to counter Ryu's dragon punch. But what? He tried many new techniques, but none were strong enough to pose a threat. He began fondling his scar, running his index finger along all the dips and curves that Ryu's knuckles had imprinted. His left eye widened, his teeth clenched and made a fist of his right arm. Almost instinctively he knelt to the floor and then rushed upward with the arm extended upward, forced his ki to burst from his massive thighs. It then channeled from below his belt into his arm in bursts, seven to be exact. "TIGER UPPERCUT!" His 250 pound frame soared into the air at the dummy, each burst of ki enhanced his fist's strength for a mere instant, but for seven instants could prove useful. He completes the revolution in mid-air and comes down gracefully. He stares at his fist, only to see sand pouring into his hand. He decimated the dummy, with seven spots on it lacking any leather. The ki burned straight through the shell. He broke out in a harsh laughter, finding the possible technique that could end Ryu's life once and for all. Now, to find the perfect victim to try it on. Where's Adon?
Dan casually strolled into Hong Kong's main commercial district. He needed some fruits and fish to have for the next few days. It was a good four hours to market and such a daily trip was rough. He smiled as soon as he turned the corner and saw such familiars of youth. The hustle and bustle of market owners haggling prices and bargains. Rik shaw's weaving in and out of crowds to get their customers to their destinations promptly. Adjusting the duffle on his shoulder he walked over to a familiar shop of fresh vegetables. He greeted the owner with a friendly smile. The owner gave his salutations back in Cantonese. He picked out two dozen assorted vegetables that were pick of the litter, paid the man, and shuffled off to see what season of fish were for sale. He looked up at the sky, the bright sun showed no remorse in giving out its heat. Suddenly, he knocked into someone and looked down to apologize. He was greeted by what appeared to be two kids no older than 12 or 13. One had a long brimmed cap on and the other had pointed brown hair shouting forwards. Both wore baggy pants and skateboard shoes. They stared at him with authority, though they were smaller than him. Everybody around them saw what was about to take place and scattered. Owners ducked behind their shops and passersby ran to a safe distance. "Can I help you," Dan asked them. "That black shirt you are wearing I want for myself." Said the capped one. "Yeah, give it to us or we will hurt you for it," continued his other half. "What do you mean? Why this shirt?" "We just took over this part of Hong Kong and that shirt is payment for your passing." "Yeah hand it over or we WILL hurt you." Dan drops his duffle and cracks his knuckles, "So who are you that you can make such a threat?" The capped one speaks first, "I am Yun." He struts into crane position and gives an AWWW sound. The other speaks, "I am Yang." He embraces a bowing postion. "We own this section and give it to us before we hurt you. Dan thinks in his mind of the reason he put this black shirt under his clothes in the first place: to hide the scar Sagat imprinted on his chest with his claws. "Sorry, can't do it guys." "You asked for it," and Yang flew at him with a flying punch. Dan side-stepped it but didn't counter. "I don't want to fight you guys. How about money?" "No!" And Yun rolled towards Dan and sprung up with his arms, connecting his feet with Dan's chin. He flew backwards into a chicken cart. Dan sprung back up and prepared to fight, "Well, you guys asked for it!" He ran at Yang and swung with a hard right. It was blocked and Yang countered with a open palm smash to the chest. Dan was nudged backward. Yun came from behind and swept out Dan's legs. Dan landed with a thud but used the momentum to roll backwards and stand immediately. Dan charged in with a flying kick that smacked Yang down. He followed through with a side kick to Yun's chest that tossed him. Yang got up and executed a double palm slap while slamming down his foot in sync. A sort of force wave was shot out from his palms and knocked the wind out of Dan. Yun got up and did a horizontal body spin, causing his outer leg to fling around and land painfully of Dan's back. Dan grabbed Yun's arm as he was vulnerable for a second, stood up with the arm in locked position, and delivered a fist to the gut. Yun was down in fetal position, coughing. Yang smacked Dan in the chest on the scar. It immediately infuriated Dan and he just went into a rage of punches and kicks, "Oroaroaroaroara" he screamed as almost a dozen punches and kicks in absolutely no rhythm or fashion were inflicted onto Yang. It was finished off with an uppercut, "SHO RYU KEN!" Yang landed on his back, stunned. Yun straggled up, got Yang, and ran off, "You'll pay for this" Yun spat back at Dan. All around him clapping and cheering was heard. He just defeated the Chinese mafia's youngest members. It was about damn time! People surrounded him, shaking his hands and speaking of their appreciation. Many offered foods and some clothings for their gratitude. Such attention was his specialty and took it all in like a sponge. "This is great!" he thought. "But 'sho ryu ken'? No, it wasn't that, kinda' different. And what was that flurry of punches and kicks I just delivered? I must get back and think these new techniques through." But for the rest of the afternoon, he would just stay here and revel in his newfound glory.
With the dojo a little less quiet now, Ken and Ryu took the time to spar with more space around them, not worrying about bumping into anybody else. Master quietly watched them as they practiced on their non-ki technique. "Slow down Ken," Master spoke in a calm voice, "You are too aggressive. Let your opponent attack first and use his mistakes to counter with." Ken couldn't slow down. He just kept throwing left and right punches to all areas of the upperbody. Ryu merely dodged or deflected the attacks, waiting for an opening. Then he saw one. Ken extended his right arm too far outside. Ryu grabbed the right wrist with his left hand, pulled Ken forward off balance, and slapped him on his back as Ken slew by him. Ken turned around, obviously infuriated as Master was right. He turned to Ryu and extended his hand, "Good move, buddy!" Ryu went to shake it. Ken suddenly grabbed his wrist and tossed him over his shoulder. Ryu crashed onto the soft earth and Ken laughed. As he helped Ryu up, he turned his head, "How's that Master?" He gave Ken a look of accomplishment, "You're learning Ken. But that won't work twice." "Nice move Ken, you had me." Ryu responded. Ken hugged Ryu with his arm wrapped around him, "Don't worry, Ryu. You'll be good enough someday." Clap! Clap! Clap! They looked above them to see an audience. "Nice move Ken, you are rather sneaky." "What do you want brother?" Master asked. Akuma jumps out of the tree and lands squarely in front of the trio, "Oh, nothing. Just seeing what a waste it is for you to show them the limitations of Shotokan, that's all." For once Master started to look agitated, "You know as well as I do that no human shall ever learn the dark techniques. I've told you just as much as I have told Ken and Ryu." "But why fear the ancients?" Akuma spoke apathetically, "They are no longer around. We can create a new and prosperous dojo. One with the true powers of Shotokan." Right then Akuma stares into the eyes of Ryu. Ryu gets the most chilling sensation down his back. Akuma continues, "How about you, Ryu? You might understand what I mean. You are my closest competitor." Akuma reaches for Ryu's shoulder, but Ken knocks his arm away. "Don't you dare touch Ryu." Akuma gives Ken a stare of death. But Ken doesn't back down. "ENOUGH!" Master walks inbetween them and goes face to face with blood, "That's the last time I will tell you Akuma. Do not try to taint these young minds with your twisted passions." His eyes get narrow and focused, "And you know what I'll have to do if you ever defy our sacred rule." Akuma merely gives him a snicker and turns to walk away, "Yeah, yeah. Like you have a chance, brother," with contempt. "Remember Ryu," Akuma finishes to Ryu, "you alone can show them the right way." Ryu just stares at him and says nothing. Off into the woods does Master's evil half go, looking for his true power.
Nightfall comes, and Dan finally made it home. After an afternoon of partying and talk, he found himself to be very tired. Just as placed down his duffle full of food, he focuses on his two new techniques he executed today, "Now that uppercut wasn't exactly that of Master Gouken's teachings. I couldn't get my arm fully extended, yet the ki within me almost glowed, like a light; shiny." His eyes fill with joy, "That's it! I'll call it the KO RYU KEN! That's perfect." He stood up, waltzing around his bedroom like a kid in a candy shop. His mind full of ideas, "And that flurry attack I gave on that kid. It would have made Master ashamed to see such an unorthodox attack. It will be the hiss...hiss..hisshou ken. No, no! The hisshou...eh...bur...burai." His mouth spout out the final name of it like a bullet, "The HISSHOU BURAI KEN! Perfect." Just then, he passed out on the floor. The day completely exhausted him. Tomorrow, he would start his new training.
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