STREET FIGHTER:THE BRUTAL YEARS CH.25
THE CONCLUSION!
Epilogue:
The next couple of days were for rest for the remaining heroes who stayed in Japan.
Ryu,Sakura,along with Ken and Chun-Li all re-gathered back at his dojo temple to discuss the future.
"So I guess that's it."said Ken. "Sakura is declared the first official winner of the first WW contest and life goes on for the rest of us."
"Yes,until the next one is held if any."said Ryu.
"Oh,there will be another tournament Ryu."said Ken. "My bank account will count on it..and I'll ,make twice sure that no nasty ass old enemies will ever come across us again."
"Good to hear."said Li."We'll all have to be careful in the future."
"What about Dan and those who fell in battle?"said Sakura.
"The city of Tokyo will hold a funeral service for Dan Hibiki as well as Akuma himself."said Ryu.
"That's good."said Sakura. "Even his friend Blanka would appreciate that."
"Yes,we all should've respected him better at the contest."said Li. "May he find peace in the next life."
Minutes later,the trio said their goodbyes to Ken as he and his two students Sean and Mel headed back to the airport.
But before he went,he hugged Ryu goodbye.
"My fighting days are officially retired Ryu."he said.
"But remember,you and your student will still have my others to face in the next contest--be ready!"
"I will Ken."said Ryu. "Tell Eliza I send my love."
"You too,cya."said Ken as he and the others left in their rental car.
Li then placed a hand on his shoulder.
"We've all come a long way,World master."she said. "But what about the future?"
"We build and plan no matter what."said Ryu. "Shadaloo may at last be gone as is Akuma..but there will be others to plan and plot to hurt us all."
"And we'll be ready,no matter what."said Li.
"Yes."said Ryu.
The two embraced and kissed for several seconds.
"Oh brother."said Sakura. "Those two should get hitched or something."
After that,Li went on her way.
"Will I ever see you again?"said Ryu.
"You will."she said. "But I have a new life to lead and classes to teach,so you soon."
Ryu and Sakura were all that was left at the dojo.
"Well master?"she said. "Now what?"
"Now--we continue your traning,that's what. You may have become the world champion,but you're still a few years behind to be as great as me."
"Yes sensei."said Sakura. "I look forward to it."
Later on,weeks became months and months became years that followed.
A funeral was held for Dan Hibiki and a statue was erected in his honor.
Sakura and Karin paid their respects as did Blanka and Cody.
A lone dark haired woman also appeared and laid a bouquet of roses down.
"Excuse me..?"said Sakura. "Did--you know Dan Hibiki?"she said.
"Yes.."she said with a tear in her eye. "I knew him..the most. But..at least he gave me something to remember him by."
A slight bulge appeared above her waist.
She then left and carried on with her life.
"I don't believe it."said Karin.
"Neither can I."said Sakura. "Dan may have very well left us a legacy."
Karin giggled. "Yeah,but let's hope the child doesn't fancy to wearing pink."
"Yeah."said Sakura. "Till we meet and fight again Karin."
"Yes,till next time."said Karin.
The two bowed and then went their separate ways.
A small gravestone was placed beside the grave of his fallen brother Gouken.
Ryu stood before them both and bowed.
"You may not have been as good as your brother Akuma."said Ryu.
"But you were just as worthy a fighter as any of us..rest in peace."
The rest of the street fighter cast carried on.
Some started families,some went on to become greater warriors then before.
Before Oro died,he found his successor,and gave a detailed scroll to the one he could trust..Cody Rawlins.
"With this--I shall become a truly great warrior!"said Cody.
The clans of ninjas lead by Ibuki and Kairi flourished greatly over the years,protecting Japan from all domestic threats.
Charlie was allowed back into US service and eventually found love and married and raised a family of his own.
Li and Ryu eventually married and gave birth to a child of their own,as did Guy and Rose.
Ken also retired from fighting and the successor of US champion was passed to Sean once he won his first US championship.
Mel was now under Sean's teachings and would also one day rise to become a great champion in time as well.
Years later,Ryu finally passed on the role of master to Sakura who had at last learned all to master from him.
Both Ryu and Li went to raise their family together in China and Li's star student Pai Li grew to become a great teacher of Li's teachings as well.
The empire of the Illuminati was at last found and destroyed by the US government after learning of Urien;s plan to sink the continents of the earth for their own continent.
And Urien was placed in prison after that.
And finally,Sakura took in many young students,teaching them the ways of the Shotokan karate art.
Many more WW contests were held over the years and many great champions arose over the years with it.
At last,the future of the Street Fighters was secure.
The final image of master Sakura standing in a field was the last image that Rose herself had viewed in her glass orb,before it faded away.
"Hmmm.."she replied before she sat back down.
"I cannot see any further than that. And I cannot be certain if that is the future of the heroes and villains of the street fighter world."
Rose was still in the sanctuary of her home in Venice Italy,it was a calm,sunny and peaceful day.
"Hmmm..the future is not certain nor it is a straight line."she thought. "No matter what happens in the future--we all must be ready for it--no matter what."
While back in Japan,Ryu Hoshi stood in a field of grass,a lone warrior had just challenged him and he took to the challenge as he charged up a Hadouken and fired it at him.
"HADOUKEN!"
STREET FIGHTER:THE BRUTAL YEARS!
THE END!
