GFD

"Hey, Ryu! You just barely pulled that one off!"

"Yes, you are right, Ken. My opponent was exceptional. He was even better than you, Ken," Ryu said as he burst into laughter.

"I don't know how you can laugh, especially since you were nearly killed out there. I should kill you myself for that crack!"

"So, mister 'I-am-the-greatest-fighter-in-the-world,' what's holding you back? Don't tell me you're afraid I can't take it after the hell I just went through!"

"That, and that this is the first time in I don't know how long you had a good laugh, Ryu. You need to not be so serious all the time. That's one of the things that can lead to an overload. That's probably why so many people snap, my man. Forget what you need to do, and just relax sometimes."

"That's easy for you, your dad's rich!"

"Um. well...look! It's Sean, and he looks bummed. Let's see what's eating him."

"Safe again, Ken."

"It comes with the good looks."

"Hey, Sean! How is one of my favorite students? Why are you so glum? What's wrong?"

Sean did not answer them, for he could not hear them. His mind was off in a world onto itself. He was at that very moment trying to figure out how to break the news to Ryu, and it was not until Ken tapped him on the shoulder did he know they were there. At the first touch, Sean fell over, hitting his head hard, and the two friends rushed to help him up.

"So, Sean, would you like to tell us what's ripping you..."

Before Ryu could finish, Sean said in a dazed voice, "I'm sorry, Ryu, it's Sakura."

Too filled with concern for her, he let go of Sean, and he fell on Ken like a ton of bricks.

"Sean, what's wrong with her?"

"She just made it through her fight. I met her outside her, ah, room, to congratulate her. She said 'No biggy!' I could tell she was holding something back, but before I could ask anything, she collapsed! I rushed to her side, for I feared the worst. I pleaded for her to get back up. Then, the BIG A-O appeared, and in a voice that sounded like my mom told me that she had been through the hardest fight of her life--up to this point, and that she would live. Man, A-O FREAKS ME! He used my mom's voice, healed Ryu that time, and what did he mean by - up to this point?"

"I don't know, Sean. But let's hope that for both their sakes, they can pull through this."

Like a man on a death-run, Ryu bursts into Sakura's "room." She was already awake, and then sat up upon his arrival.

"I was expecting you, although I must admit, I like this style much better," Sakura said, followed by the giggle that until that point, he had no idea how much he loved.

"Sakura, you seem ok, for..."

"...a little girl, is that it? That's all I am to you, just a little school-girl that means nothing to you! RYU! WHEN WILL YOU STOP BEING A WARRIOR AND START BEING HUMAN! Is that too much to ask for Mister-I-beat-Sagat-and-now-must-fight-all? Isn't there anything you feel toward me, besides that I'm a little girl?" Sakura near begged. She was at the point of tears.

He sat down beside her and the two look into each others eyes for a long while. It was indeed a long while, for not only did they see the features of the other, but for the first time, they began to see each others souls...and hearts. Finally, Ryu broke the eternal silence.

"You are more than a little girl Sakura."

"That's all!"

"Let me finish. Actually, ever since I said `What do you want little girl?' and you replied `Is that any way to talk to me? I'm you're number one fan! That's Ms. Little Girl!' I knew that there was something that I really liked in you. I guess from that moment on, although I put it out of my thick head, was when I felt the way you felt. I know how you feel, Sakura. Yes, I do love you!"

"Oh! I've been honored! Ryu finally admits he loves me! Next, you'll tell me that you've never kissed a girl," she said teasingly as she hit him with a sort of pillow.

"Actually, you are right. It's NEVER, EVER HAPPENED! I've been so busy in trying to become a true warrior, that I've forsaken all else. So, let's see about changing that!"

"Ryu..?" and then he pressed his lips to her tender lips, and a tear of joy fell from her eyes.

It seemed like eternity, and Sakura hoped it would never end. Unfortunately, fate is cruel, and they did not have more than a minute alone.

Then, they stopped at the sound of two laughing. The laughter was identical to theirs, except in its roots were that of darkness and death. It was E.Ryu and X.Sakura. For the two on the "bed," it was like something from a horrible nightmare. It was the kind in which your death wore the most horrid face ever; your own!

E.Ryu spoke first, and as he did, it's voice was nearly identical to Ryu's, only with more force. What he said would forever set the pace for them all.

"So very touching, isn't it? Ah, but how long will it last? I know even better than you that you can't stop until you've reached the next level. You feel that someone must stop Akuma, no matter the cost. You will reach the next level, Ryu, and die. Now, I exist. The time will be sooner than you wish to believe, yet you know you can't hold it off forever. It is your destiny, and you will fulfill it."

X.Sakura then added, in the same manner as E.Ryu did, "As for you, poor baby, such a pity! He does indeed finally acknowledge your love, and returns it to you. As dear fate will have it, shortly after that, he DIES and is reborn as he was meant to be! For weeks you moan your pathetic little head off. Friends try to cheer you up, but all in vain. You can do only one thing, train. You go to Ryu's dojo, for you know it to be empty. There, after much searching, you find talk of the dark side of Shotokan. You greedily grab it all, and as far as everyone knows, you have vanished from the face of the Earth! You train constantly, stopping only to fight for cash so you can survive. Time passes, and while you feel stronger, you've accomplished nothing. You stand up, and drop like a corpse. You burn all over; your insides burn the worst. It lasts but a minute, yet it seems that you've been damned to Hell! Then, you die; and I live. At the same moment, HE comes. I'm thrilled, not for your pitiful need of love, but for the one who brought me to life. You really are pitiful. It took you a few years to even get a fight with him. It took you longer to meet HIM. It took ME but a matter of minutes to me THE RYU!"

They both laughed with the voices of death. They then mocked the kiss that Ryu had just given to Sakura, laughed the same death laugh, only louder, and then left.

For what seemed to be their entire life, neither did much more than breathe, and think in a troubled mind!

"Ryu, I know that the Alpha-Omega's supposed to be this all-powerful being, but this just can't be real!"

"We both know that, as bad as it is, they are, or may be, real. Fate can be changed! I know it throughout my very core. No matter what happens, I won't be blinded by the need to stop Akuma. When he comes, I'll fight him, but without turning into that. I promise by my love to you!"

"If you do, I won't give up trying to bring you back! I won't fall either! That is our vow to each other!"

Vows that we make in love are often strong and with the best of intentions, but what if fate deems otherwise? Can the love of two mere mortals, no matter how strong it is, overcome the might of destiny? Will they succumb, or will their dream finally come true?

Liu Kang sat on his "bed," and was attempting to use deep meditation to help him block out the pains from his fight with his powerful foe. He was greatful that he was able to get through in one piece, considering who he had just fought. But that was not what he needed to put his thoughts toward. No, he needed to totally clear his head in order to get the best possible results. Now, a few hours had passed, and he had partially succeeded in his goal, but it would take him much longer to fully recover, and he wasn't sure if he would be given the needed time to recover. Then, there was a gentle rap at his "door," and he sprung to his feet, and nearly fell flat on his face, for he had hit a part that still ached. He quickly regained his balance, and approached the "door." From the aura, he could tell instantly who it was, and was light all over.

"Hello, Kitana!" he said energetically to try and hide his pain, "What brings you here? What may I do for the lovely...Kitana?"

"Liu Kang, may I please come in?" the graveness in her voice instantly killed his happiness, and brought a few of his pains back.

"Kitana, what's the matter? You seem like someone you love died. Either that, or you've seen a ghost."

"Both, I'm afraid. It's my mother, Queen Sindel. Liu Kang, I'm so worried about her. During the fight, before we came here, she was nearly set to kill me! Then our ally, Subzero, froze her legs, and she fell. I'm not sure who suffered more from that, her or me. Anyway, I told her to look deep into my eyes, and she seemed to know me. Now, she doesn't recall any of it. I'm frightened. What can I do to help my mother? Can you tell me anything at all. Has anything like this EVER like this occurred on Earth!" cried Kitana.

This was the first time Liu Kang had ever seen his love at the point of breaking. In a slight way, he was glad. It made her seem more like a woman of Earth, although that itself made little difference to him.

"I'm sorry, my love. It is not of Earth's knowledge in dealing with those who have come back from the dead. Maybe if you ask Raiden or Fujin..."

"You know that the gods aren't allowed to discuss such issues with mortals. While we are both ageless, we can still die. NEVER FORGET THIS, MY LOVE!"

"Perhaps you can ask Cage. After all, he was killed by Khan's Extermination Squads. His passage to death was cut off when Khan invaded. He returned after Khan was defeated. Now, he's back. Hey, where are you going?"

"I'm taking your advice Liu Kang. I'm going to talk with Johnny Cage about this."

"Wait a minute! I wasn't serious about that! I meant that..."

"I don't care what you meant it as. I must talk with him at once. My mother's survival may depend on it."

"Wait, Kitana! It's late. He'll be sleeping now. Though he died, since he came back to life, he has all of the features of the living, including the need for sleep."

"Well, I guess you are right. I do not wish to disturb him. I suppose I can wait until later to ask him."

They spent the next few hours talking about how much has happened since the first tournament, and how much closer they had become. At first they were little more than warriors with a common foe. Now, they had evolved into true lovers. Once, she offered him a chance to rule beside her as her king. He could not, for he had to remain on Earth. He asked her to stay on Earth, but she had a duty to her people. She had to help them recover from the damage Shao Khan had done to them.

Now, for the very first time, they were alone, with no interruptions. They felt closer than they ever had before. They wondered if they would both come out of this alive. If they did, and if they could help Sindel, then perhaps the gods would let them see their dreams as well.

©1999