Chapter 2: To Find A Champion
Somewhere in a small village in Japan......
Ryu had just entered a small restaurant to take a break from his travels for the day.
It was a small quaint little shop in the middle of the village that catered to the local farmers and merchants. He found a nice secluded table in the corner and sat his duffel bag down and took a seat. The hostess came up and offered him some hot tea, he bowed to her and accepted. After finishing a couple bowls of rice, he was about to leave when the hairs on the back of his neck started to rise. With a cautious glance around he surveyed the room. It appeared as if no one paid him much attention let alone look in his general direction.
;But he was certain that someone was watching him. He slowly gathered up his bag and headed for the door paying the owner his respects for the meal he just had and proceeded down the street. It was well after sunset and the sky still had the lazy orange glow on the horizon. He walked quietly down the street scanning for the source of his discomfort. He had made a few foes in his quest for perfecting the fight. He was just about to the lip of a back alley when he took off at full speed to run into the alley.
From the street where he had just passed, two men wearing black overcoats ran up to the alley.
"Where did he go?" said one of the men.
"I'm positive he is the guy we are looking for, check the doors down the alley on the right,
I'll try on down the street"
;As the two men were about to split up, they heard a soft noise from behind them. They whirled around and were taken aback to see Ryu standing behind them.
"Why are you following me?" Ryu asked with a narrowed gaze.
"We were instructed to give you this...." said one of the men, as he reached in the left side of his coat.
Ryu immediately dropped into a fighting stance. The man froze when he saw him do this.
"WAIT!!!" cried the man. "I'm just paid to give you this envelope. I want no trouble."
He slowly produced a small envelope and tossed it to Ryu who had lowered his guard.
"Sorry about that" Ryu apologized. "But here lately when someone reaches into their coat, they pull out more than an envelope."
"Whatever." the guy replied looking at his companion. "Come on, let's get out of here."
Ryu watched as the two hurried out of the alley and out of site before he turned his attention back the envelope. He tore open the envelope and found $1000.00 American currency inside, a voucher for a plane ticket to San Francsico, and a folded piece of paper. He opened the paper and read:
RYU,
;HOPE THIS FINDS YOU IN TIME. COME TO AMERICA. BEEN TOO LONG. INVITED A FEW OF OUR FRIENDS FROM TOURNAMENTS OVER. PLEASE COME.
KEN
;From the date on the letter it was only a week old. Ryu picked up his bag and headed out of town. He needed to make it to the closest city to make a plane flight.
San Fransico, a few days later....
Out of all the people Ken had invited to come, of course Dan Hibiki was the first to come knocking on Ken's door.
"Hiya Ken!, how ya been? Where's the chicks?" he said as he brushed past Ken and dropped his bags at Ken's feet. After a quick search of the room, Dan came back up to Ken with a look of confusion on his face.
"What kinda party is this?" Dan asked.
Ken shoved his bags into Dan's gut and looked at him with a weak smile.
"There is no party, at least not yet. Wait for the others arrive then I'll tell you all at one time what I have got planned."
"You'll be staying in the room over here Dan. Feel free to help yourself to anything in the fridge."
;After saying that, Ken knew he was gonna regret it, Dan tossed his bags in his room and ran into the kitchen with a cry of joy. "What was i thinking inviting Dan?" Ken mumbled to himself. "
;A week after Dan arrived, Ken was about ready to toss him out on his head. Dan had managed to clear out his fully stocked fridge and was constantly bugging Ken to lend him the Porche to go cruise for chicks. It was such a morning when Ken was eating his corn flakes in the living room while Dan was still asleep, that Ken got a knock on his door.
Opening the door he was greeted by a familiar face.
"RYU! Thank god you are here.... Errrr...I mean glad you could make it!" he cried as he patted Ryu on the back.
"Come on in, man you look Great!" Ken commented.
"Thanks, you also look well Ken, have you been keeping up with the training?"
"Yeah, that is one of the reasons i asked you to come here, i have a great idea, remember when we left Master Gouken, and went on the road looking for tournaments? Well i..."
"WELL, WELL, WELL.... If it isn't Ryu. Dan said interupting Ken.
"Konnichiha Dan." Ryu said bowing to Dan as Ken was closing the door.
"Yeah, Hi. Soooo, what is the "greatest fighter" of our times up to? Why have you graced us with your presence?" Dan said with a smirk on his face.
Ryu looked confused at Ken.
"What's with the attitude Dan? Ken asked. "We all trained together under Master Gouken. You didn't have a problem with Ryu back then, why now?"
"Well, IF you remember that old gezzer kicked me out of the dojo, because he said. I had too much anger in me. So I taught myself how to fight to get revenge on Sagat."
"But just as i was ready to beat the living hell out of him and get all the fame, Ryu here comes up and beats him. Not only robbing me of my rightful revenge, but stealing my lime light!" Dan cried.
"If I remember correctly Dan." Ken said, "You had your shot at fighting Sagat. He beat you senseless and if it were not for Ryu showing up to challange Sagat, you would have been dead.
"Yeah, well I was just about ready to.... Umm.... Ah forget it. Dan said turning his back on them and making his way to the kitchen.
"Never mind him old buddy," Ken said pointing at Dan. "He is just jealous." Any ways, I have got a great idea...