STREET FIGHTER:THE BRUTAL YEARS CH.20!

The next match was set between Sakura and Yang in a most unlikely fashion.

"Yikes man."said Ken. "Yang's a lot more..edgier in matches these days I hear.

Word has it he inherited the late great Gen's fighting techniques before he died."

"Trust me,she'll do just fine."said Ryu.

"Huh,what makes you sure this time?"said Ken.

"Like I said,trust me."said Ryu as he got up.

"Hey,where you going?"said Ken.

"To..relieve myself,what do you think?"said Ryu.

"Okay then."said Ken. "Just don't take too long,the next match is about to begin."

Ryu then left the room and headed for the ring.

"Sorry Ken."he thought. "Better you not know..at least not yet anyways."

Chun-Li watched from the sidelines where Sakura and her next opponent would meet.

"Hmmm..only us 3 left eh?"she thought. "Well,whoever's next,I welcome them in the final match."

Suddenly,she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Gasp--what?"she said in a startled sense.

She turned around to see..

"Ryu!"she said.

"Heh--sorry to..disturb you there,Chun-Li."he said.

"You--you're looking well…"she said. "..despite that beard."

"Yeah,that…"he said stroking the whiskers. "…I keep meaning to shave it..but.."

"Reminds you too much of you own sensei eh?"she said.

"Ah,but you don't look a day over 30 yourself,Li."said Ryu. "As beautiful and strong as ever you are."

"Flatterer."she said. "I'm starting to feel my years as well…life's been…different for me since the last time I went Bison hunting with you guys."

"Yes,I know,you've been playing teacher last time I heard."said Ryu. "Must be quite a different challenge for you."

"Ah well,life's as good as it ever gets even these days."she said. "But..I admit that there was something missing from it…you of course..since we last met."

Ryu feel silent,but he knew exactly what she meant.

"Well..would you..like to pick up where we left off if any?"he said.

"I'd never thought you'd ask..mr.greatest world warrior."she said as they went off to be alone somewhere.

The next match began as Sakura made her first move and fired off a Hadouken at the Chinese master.

Yang simply teleported in a sprint of speed and re-appeared in front of her.

Sakura gasped before she could attack,and was directly hit head on by a series of hand strike chops--right in the ribs!

"UURKK--AAAHH!"she cried.

Yang then grabbed ahold of her shoulders and then threw her across the ring.

"UNNF!"went Sakura as she fell on her backside.

Yang smiled and got into his fight stance,ready for more.

"Come young one."he said. "I did not fight my way through the finals to face..a carbon copy of the great Ryu. Show me your skills."

"Errghh--you bet I will--you Gen wannabe!"she said as she got up.

Yang then rushed at her again,but this time Sakura was ready for it as she jumped over the kung fu warrior and landed directly behind him.

Yang swung around,just in time to see her swing a full force hurricane kick,right into the side of his head.

"WHAKK!"

Yang went flying sideways and landed on his face.

"YEAH!"said Ken. "YOU GO SAKURA!"

"YEAH,BEAT THAT,YANG!"she said.

Yang got back up,rubbed the side of his head and got back into his stance.

"You're good so far…"he said. "..but we'll see who falls first."

The two then went at full contact and started to trade blows with each other for several minutes.

Sakura swung a roundhouse kick,Yang blocked it and then came at her with a few stab kicks,but Saky dodged them and brought her elbow down on his knee.

Yang winced,but kept on his toes,and then swung another slash chop at her,but she instead caught his arm and then threw him over her shoulder.

"WHUMP!" Yang landed on his rump and then rolled back to his feet.

"You were saying..?"she said.
"You haven't seen anything yet--GET READY!"he said.

Yang raised his left fist,and a sudden charge of ki energy surged through his arm.

"NOW!"he said and he suddenly shifted so fast,that no one could see him charge past Sakura.

"WHA--AAARRGHH!"cried Sakura as she felt a series of blows and stabs erupt through her side in a painful manner.

"YOW--HE GOT HER!"said one of the patrons in the crowd.

"ULP--this doesn't look good."said Ken. "Ryu,are you seeing this as of now?"

Sakura clutched her side and got back up,she was in pain but anything but finished.

"Another dash sweep will surely finish her off!"he said. "Sorry Sakura--but the victory and the tournament is mine as of now!"

Yang charged up another attack and dashed at her.

But this time,she was ready as she saw it coming and then suddenly slammed her elbow into his chest.

"OOF-WHAT?"he replied in a state of shock and surprise.

"SHORYUKEN!"she cried and then launched the famed Dragon Punch for all to see.

"WHAMM!"

Yang was literally lifted off his feet and then fell back to the floor with a loud thud.

He was down,out and Sakura was the latest to win the semi finals.

The crowds roared in response.

"WHEW!"she said wiping her brow."I sure hope master Ryu saw that."

She then left the arena and saw both Ryu and Li standing before her,she then noticed something.

They were holding hands.

"Oh uh--am I at a bad time or something?"she said.

"Oh,uh--no of course not!"said Ryu as he blushed.

Li giggled. "You did exceptional,Sakura."she said. "Didn't she,Ryu?"

"Er--yes--yes,she did,good job my student."said Ryu.

"Thanks."she said bowing. "I didn't think I was gonna get it--Yang is one tough fortune cookie to boot."

"Duly noted,young lady."said a voice behind her.

It was Yang.

"Oh!"she said startled. "I didn't--I.."

Yang bowed.

Sakura shrugged and did the same.

"You fought well."he said. "But don't get too comfy,you have one final opponent--and what my brother and I remember from Miss Xiang..her skills are just as legendary."

"Yeah,what he said and every word."said Li grinning.

"I'll keep that in mind."she said scratching her head.

"My brother and I will be rooting for you,Sakura."said Yang. "But..we shall fight again..sooner than you think."

Yang then left for the bleechers.

"Hmmm..and I always thought you were hard on serious,Ryu."said Li.

"Yeah,I guess Yang's years as Gen's successor have hardened him a bit I see."

"So..now what?"said Sakura.

"Now--you and I must fight it as well,Sakura."said Li.

"Not just yet you two."said a voice.

It was Ken Masters himself.

He was now dressed in his usual red karate gi with yellow grip gloves.

"Ken--what gives?"said Ryu.

"What you think,master?"said Ken. "It's high time we used the advantage of this tournament--to resolve something once and for all--WHO IS THE GREATER WARRIOR!"

Sakura and Li gasped.

"You--you really mean it?"said Ryu.

"You bet."said Ken. "The final match of the contest will wait--it's time for a--bonus match before the finals!"

"All right then--you asked for it."said Ryu.

"And you know it!"said Ken.

The american martial artist then stepped up into the ring and spoke into a microphone.

"ATTENTION,LADIES AND GENTLEMEN."he said. "WE HOPE YOU'VE ENJOYED THE TOURNAMENT SO FAR,BUT..WE SEEM TO STRAYING AWAY FROM THE MAIN EVENT OF THIS EVENT. IT'S HIGH TIME TO SEE WHO IS TRULY THE STRONGER--ASIDE FROM WHO WILL BE THE WINNER OF THE WORLD WARRIOR TOURNAMENT!

I--HAVE AT LAST CHALLENGED MY RIVAL RYU HOSHI TO A ONE ON ONE MATCH TO DECIDE WHO IS THE STRONGER OF THIS WORLD! ARE YOU ALL UP FOR IT?"

"YEAH!"everyone shouted in unison.
"GOOD TO HEAR!"said Ken. "TAKE BETS AND WAGERS FREELY AND WHIP OUT YOUR CAMCORDERS--THIS IS GONNA HAPPEN ONCE AND ONLY ONCE!"

Ken then gave the mic to the referee while Ryu removed his bead necklace to Sakura.

"You both rest for a bit."he said. "I have a feeling this won't take long."

"Good luck Ryu."said Li. "Ken's a great guy,but it's time to put him in retirement once and for all."

"Yeah,ditto."said Sakura.

Ryu nodded and then entered the ring.

While back in the bleechers,Yang was also subdued by Shadaloo's dolls and brought out to the van.

"Hmmmm.."said Benson. "…this is not..what I had in mind here. Well..no matter…once the contest is at last over--I SHALL STRIKE!"

The next and possibly greatest match was about to take place.

NEXT:IT'S MASTER RYU VS MASTER KEN! WHICH IS THE GREATER SHOTOKAN MASTER! AND AFTER THAT--THE FINAL AND ULTIMATE WW MATCH--SAKURA VS CHUN-LI! BE THERE TO SEE WHO WILL BE CROWNED THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR!