Battle With Cyria ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Rainthorn Building (Ground Floor), North-Central District Ryo was gone. That lift would take him up to the office of Cyria Mau herself. Which was good. He needed to focus on her. While Kayde would take care of the revenge for Yun-Yun. Though he wasn't the most friendly or magnetic of men out there, Kayde cared deeply for those he could call his friends. Yun-Yun was one of those people. She had stuck beside him for as long as he had known her. Even when Ryo left Sunset City and their group was broken, Yun-Yun always made sure to have room in her life for Kayde and whatever problems he had. It was time that he repaid Yun-Yun for all that she had done for him. The American teen faced off with the other American, Rockeye. His toothy grin was more than apparent. He was more than pleased with himself for what he had done to Yun-Yun. He was clearly on Cyria's payroll. That was more than obvious now. There was no other way he could have gotten into this building without Kayde and Ryo noticing some smash and trash damage. This was all a plan. Rockeye had probably been the one to tell Cyria about Ryo in the fist place. Thinking about all of this made Kayde even more anxious to see justice done. Rockeye sneered at the blonde boy. "So. You must be Lewis Charlie Kayde, am I right?" "Huh?" That had Kayde stumped, "How do you know my name?" "Cyria knows about all of you. She crushed all of the gangs in Sunset City aside from the Zazubaza Gang. Just so that she'd know what was going on in the streets. As long as we told her everything. But mostly... she wanted to know about all those connected to the Asagawa Family. So we made a point of harassing the Brookwood District more than others. It was the neighbourhood you and your friends lived at, wasn't it?" Kayde scowled at him. "So that's it. The reason you kept attacking the Diamond Star. You knew that its owner, Jahn, was a friend of Ryo's in the old days. Just like Yun-Yun and I were. You people have been keeping tabs on us until the day that Ryo finally returned to Sunset City." "Got it in one," Rockeye replied, "Cyria needed us to provide her with all the info on the streets and to keep you people under watch." Kayde tightened his fists. "...You lapdog. Why does she even care about Ryo? What makes him so special to her?" "How the hell should I know? I don't ask questions or bitch about the reasons. She's paying me and my gang BIG BUCKS for doing what we did. That's all I need to know." Money. In the end that was all that people like Rockeye cared about. Money. Even if that meant harming people that didn't even play into the game. Like Yun-Yun. Kayde grit his teeth hard and undid the top button of his brown leather jacket. Then seconds later he assumed a fighting stance and faced off with the towering Rockeye. It was time to make him suffer for what he did to Yun-Yun. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Setsuki-oh Apartment Building, Nippon Town District Black Widow scowled as she stared at her own face in the mirror. This was the bathroom of her apartment in the Nippon Town District. Clad only in her thick black bra and shorts. She had come home earlier on after suffering defeat at the hands of Ryo Asagawa. Widow gripped her hands into fists and growled under her breath. She could never have guessed that someone so young could have been so skilled. And how much of a chance did she have against him in the first place? Everything was going so well for him up until that point. She felt like she was winning. But then it all went pear-shaped. The whole fight just descended out of her control in the blink of an eye. And she could still hear his arrogant voice in her head. "You're pretty good..." "And I can see that you really want to kill me here." "Because I can tell that you're just a lackey for a higher power." "...Oh, it's a boast alright..." "...But it's not false..." Black Widow let off another menacing growl and punched the mirror overhanging her sink. She smashed it into shard in one blow. Leaving behind a fragmented reflection of herself. There was a rage burning inside this woman. To be bested by a mere child... it was more than the Black Widow could take. But there was nothing she could do about it now. The woman sighed and turned on one of the taps. She washed off a little of the blood that was leaking from the fist that punched the mirror. Once that was taken care off she walked out of her bathroom and into her living room. There was a stereo system on the floor at the far side of the room. She walked up to it, kneeled down, and turned the thing on. Soon a Gentatsu Boys song, in-elegantly titled Shadowfuck; played into the background. As the sound of profane lyrics, thrashing drums and searing guitar solos filled the silence of that apartment, Widow walked over to a dining table that was on the alternate side of the room. On it was a bottle of Whiskey and a small shot glass. Black Widow opened the bottle and poured some of the Whiskey into the shot glass. Then she put down the bottle and gulped down the drink. She was not looking forward to reporting the outcome of her fight tomorrow. This just made her feel a little bit more comfortable with the prospect. While she listened to the music in the milieu, there was a rattling noise just above her. This went unnoticed by the cold Black Widow. Until that rattling became completely unavoidable. It was a shaking in a grate forged into the ceiling for the air ducts. It came down loudly and clattered against the pine wood table. Black Widow looked straight back up at the now opened air duct with mistrusting eyes. A speedy flash shot down from it a second later. Something crashed into the wooden table of the living room. Black Widow dove out of the way by flipping backwards repeatedly. The image that had come down from the open air duct was clearly visible. A woman. A woman who was dressed in pure white and had her leg lodged into the gap between the two halves of the broken table. The woman stood upwards and frowned at Black Widow with both pity and anger. That woman was White Rose. "It's been a long time, Camilla." "...Elizabeth?" Widow's eyes narrowed, "...So. Father has trained his little niece to take me down. I can tell from the blood over your face that's what you're here for. To kill me. Am I correct?" White Rose nodded. "Yes. You betrayed our Family. And you forfeited your right to succeed it as the true leader. Now that mission has been passed on to me. And I will make you die for opposing our order." "Heh!" The Widow scoffed at the Rose, "Do you really believe that you have what it takes to stop me? Child, you have underestimated my will to both live and take life. Assassination isn't a kid's game. By challenging me you are assuring yourself of an early grave." White Rose assumed a fighting stance. "...I might be young. But never mistake youth for weakness. No matter what you say... this will happen. You will die. And I shall restore the honour of the Argand Family once and for all!" White Rose then acted on her anger. She leapt from the smashed-up dining table and vaulted across the room towards Black Widow. Widow again scoffed at this and leaned backwards. When the White Rose descended towards her with one leg outstretched to attack, Black Widow caught the kick between her palms right in the middle of the momentum. She tossed the younger girl overhead. White Rose was flung towards the back wall with amazing skill. But not enough skill to subdue Rose's spirit. The young woman rotated in the air and kicked off the wall in recovery from the throw. She pounced back across the room with added speed and zoomed straight for Black Widow again. The older fighter turned around just a little too late to do anything about it. She both gasped and groaned when White Rose punched her across the jaw in attack. And while Widow kneeled down and held her already sore cheek, White Rose attractively flipped around and landed. "So..." Widow pulled a smile and looked back, "...It seems the little bud that was Elizabeth Argand... has finally blossomed into a Rose..." White Rose remained focused. "I will show you no quarter, Camilla." "I wasn't expecting as much," Black Widow then stood back up, "And I don't need it either! It's time to school you in on what a REAL assassin can do, Child!" ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Rainthorn Building (Top Floor), North-Central District When the doors to the lift began to open again at the top floor, the 25th floor, Ryo strode out of them and walked down that long stretch of a hallway to Cyria's office. He had no idea how he was going to handle this. This woman Cyria was after him for some reason that was unclear. But for the most part, he could not let it slide. She had bought danger to Yun-Yun, who was more or less uninvolved. She had allowed that animal, Rockeye, to wreck the Mao-Kung Dojo. It would take weeks, maybe months for Yun-Yun and Shun Son Lee to start training students again. That was their livelihood in the long run. Cyria had put that in jeopardy. She had to pay for it. Ryo paced down the hall until he was staring at that door again. After taking one firm breath... he violently kicked that door open. It was busted off its hinges with one strike. And it toppled backwards into the office of the mastermind behind the revival of Sunset City. And Yun-Yun's current state of health. The very woman herself sat at her desk as usual. With that same devious smile as before. Cyria was here after all. "...Welcome. Ryo Asagawa." "You..." Ryo shook his fist at her, "...I don't know what your game is, but it ends here! What do you want of me!? And what the hell do you mean by ordering your pet dog to attack the Mao-Kung Dojo!?" "...Feeling frustrated?" She asked simply. Ryo was quite confused by that remark. "...W-What...?" "...Little boy," Cyria stood up from her desk, "I paid Cain and the Zazubaza Gang to keep an eye on your friends. I knew that if you came back to Sunset City... they would be the first you would contact. And I was right. Then it was just a matter of bringing you here to me. Not as an inquisitive boy. But as someone ready to fight." "What are you talking about?!" Bellowed Ryo. Cyria then walked away from the desk, replying; "I knew your Father. I have been living in this City for over twenty years. I was master to the great power of Evil Soul. The legendary fighting style based upon the tenets of union between the Body and the Soul. I was ready to take my fated place as a Grand Master. To take my place in destiny. But just as the taste of power was on my lips... it was taken from me by your father!" Ryo blinked. "...My... Dad...?" "Correct," She answered, "I had a record of ninety-nine battles and zero defeats. The hundredth battle of my career was for more than just honour. But my triumph was taken when I fought your father in that battle. He was legendary. Said to be one of the strongest fighters alive at that time. I thought that by defeating Tsukasa... I would gain the kind of glory that I had yearned for my whole life... but I was defeated. Tsukasa broke my record... and my spirit. In one loss my world was shattered. I had to seek out my vengeance. But by then it was too late..." "...Too late..." Ryo then realized, "...My Dad was killed before you could fight him again. You... know something, don't you? Do you know who killed my Dad?!" Cyria's face darkened. "...Of course I do..." "Then you better tell me!" Shouted the Japanese boy. "...Not so fast," Cyria answered back, "I lured you here for one reason and one reason only. To redeem myself... I must defeat Tsukasa. And since he is dead now... the only one left who can fill his shoes... is you. To avenge myself... you must be conquered." Ryo scowled at this. "...You mean this whole thing is about a stupid grudge?! Do you realize how inane this all is? Attacking and monitoring innocent people just so you can arrange a fight to make yourself feel better about a trouncing that you suffered three years ago?!" "Don't be absurd," Cyria shot back, "The KAIGA Group has deeper reasons for wanting you, boy. You are a Child of Gaia. Just like your sister. My official orders were to bring you to us. But I care not for what those pencil-pushing money-grabbers want. All I want is to make you suffer for what your father did to me!" That was something Ryo wasn't going to turn down. The young adopted a fighting stance and breathed with eagerness. "Well... you've certainly earned a fight now. I couldn't give a damn about what issues you have with losing. Or what resentments you have against my Dad. But your actions hurt Yun-Yun. And if you know who killed my father, too... then you better believe I'm gonna beat that identity outta you!" At that, Cyria smiled. "...Perfect..." Of course... Ryo was unaware of just what it was that he was getting himself into. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Rainthorn Building (Ground Floor), North-Central District "Orraaaagggghhh!" The battle between Rockeye and Kayde hadn't lasted long but the damage to the first floor caused by it was apparent. Three of the thick glass panes in front of the doors to the Rainthorn Building were smashed. The front desk where the secretary usually sat was now trashed like the windows. There were dents in the walls as deep as a man's back. And there was still more to come. Rockeye thrust his meaty arm at Kayde. The younger fighter shifted around the strike and came straight back with three solid punches to the stomach. The bigger man gasped and coughed from the shock of being hit so fast. And it was slowing him down. Rockeye's clothing was already torn and his face was bleeding profusely. But there wasn't a scratch on Kayde. The smaller American assumed another fighting stance. His blonde hair whipped around his shoulders whilst doing so. His whole body came down with him as he crouched before the dazed Rockeye. He focused his energies into the lower half of his body. Waiting for that right moment. As soon as Rockeye began to regain his bearings, Kayde launched his attack. His whole body flipped back upwards and backwards in a powerful arc motion. His body cycled around like a flash and both of his feet pelted the hulking Rockeye across the face. The larger man was batted off his own feet and then thrown backwards. His heavy body crashed into a set of steel and plastic chairs that had been made for visitors to the building. It all collapsed around him with an echoing bang. Kayde landed on his feet swiftly. He stood up again and looked down at his opponent, moving his brown leather trench coat out of the way. After a moment of stillness Rockeye began to move again. His groans soon followed that action. And his trembling muscles tried to amble his torso into a standing position. He eventually got back up onto his feet. It was a slow process but he did it. With his breath now heavy and his eyes drooping, the towering man-mountain looked over at the boy who had done this to him. "Damn you...!" Rockeye shouted, "Damn you to hell!" Kayde pulled a smile. "You're angry? Why is that? In spite of everything... you had no problems in beating the hell out of Yun-Yun and destroying her source of income. And you have the nerve to get angry when you face someone who can actually hang ten with you? You're not only scum; you're pathetic." "We'll see about that!" Rockeye yelled, right before charging over at Kayde again. The blonde youth stood still and waited from that attack to come. Rockeye stuck out his arm to knock down Kayde in a sort of lariat attack. Kayde smiled again and ducked under the attack. Once the pressure was over, the young martial artist kicked the bigger fighter in the side. Rockeye groaned at the rib-shot and stumbled forwards. Kayde cracked his knuckles with intimidating zeal. He suddenly looked far bigger than Rockeye was. "...I won't let you get away until I make you feel the weight of what you did to Yun-Yun... and if you're lucky... I might even let you live..." ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Setsuki-oh Apartment Building, Nippon Town District If you listened closely to the walls of that particular apartment in the Setsuki-oh Building, beyond the stereo system bellowing out Gentatsu Boys songs by the bucket load, you would have heard the feminine screams of attack and pain of Black Widow and White Rose. The two assassins of the Argand Family, locked in combat. White Rose dashed over the living room and pulled back her fist to strike. Black Widow watched all of her movements and saw the stride (and what would follow it) coming. When the younger woman attempted to punch her, Widow danced around the fist and turned around at the same time. She then clapped her hand down upon Rose's neck in a sharp chopping motion. White Rose cried out and stumbled forwards over the carpet. And now that she was distracted, Widow had a full opening. Rose gripped the back of her neck to soften the pain. But while she did this; Black Widow roped her arms around the younger woman's waist in a tight grip from behind. White Rose's eyes flashed with alarm but she could not break free from Widow's grip. It was far too strong. "Argand Family Special Technique No. 2!" Widow yelled out, "Argus Backbreaker!" And there was nothing that Rose could do to stop it. A feminine war cry came out of that throaty mouth of the Black Widow when she began tilting her body backwards and hoisted White Rose off the ground. Widow performed a full bridge-like motion that rammed Rose's head into the carpeted ground. It wasn't a rough floor but a collision at that speed could cause a concussion to any normal fighter. But Widow did not release the grip she had around the waist of the White Rose. She instead rolled over on her two legs, positioning the stunned Rose below her. Widow gave off another of those war cries of her and screamed, "Argand Family Special Technique No. 3! Double Argus Backbreaker!" And just like the attack stated, Rose was lifted up off her feet and her head slammed into the ground again with another vicious backbreaker. Widow finally released Rose from her hold and the younger woman rolled away, clutching her head. But that was not the end of it. Black Widow crouched to the ground for a second then jumped into the air with great force. She looked downwards at the laid-out White Rose and descended again directly at the younger Argand. White Rose looked up in the seconds before Widow came down violently upon her. She kicked up both of her legs and pushed up against Widow's stomach, plucking her out of the air. The older Swiss woman was robbed of her breath. Rose growled femininely and pushed Widow off her feet and legs. She was tossed away and thrown straight over the cream-coloured couch to Rose's right. The lover of Maya pressed her palms into the cream carpet and kicked her body up into a standing position. She ran over at the couch to see what had happened to Black Widow. But that timed assassin leapt from the back of the couch into the air again. She forced out her leg and tried to kick down Rose from that position. The White Rose blocked the kick with both hands and skidded back from the force. Widow landed a second later and then shot out a punch. Rose stepped around it with willowy speed and rotated around the older woman. Now Widow had left herself open. The White Rose roped the back of her right hand around Widow's neck and brought up her left arm. Her right hand gripped her left arm, while her left hand latched onto the back of Widow's head. White Rose then hopped up and grasped around Widow's waist with both off her legs. The teen growled out the words, "Argand Family Special Technique No. 7! Poison Lotus Grip!" Widow was feeling the strength of it. Her legs began to weaken and her air grew thin as White Rose held her in a binding and suffocating technique. Her eyesight weakened along with her legs. And soon she began to tumble to that cream-carpet ground again. The two women fell to the floor but Rose did not relinquish the grip. She held on like symbiotic plant. The Poison Lotus Grip was secured. Black Widow grew blue in the face from the strength of the hold and the amount of air she was losing because of it. But she was not going to throw in the towel now. The Widow of assassination struggled her hardest. But with both her own weight and that of Rose, she hauled herself off the ground. Like an inhuman monster she slowly carried herself over to a wall. With Rose still strapped to her back with a vice grip, she turned her back to the wall. Which put Rose's back to the wall. Then Widow rammed backwards. Rose grunted hard as she was knocked into the wall of the apartment. Then Widow did the same thing over and over and over. Again and again, each time a little weaker due to the loss of air. But when it seemed like Widow was just about to pass out, the final blow to the back was too much for Rose. She cried out and released her Poison Lotus Grip, uncurling both arms and legs. Widow ran forwards to just get away from Rose. And she sucked in air desperately to recover. White Rose had performed the Poison Lotus Grip flawlessly. White Rose stood up again, clutching at her back. Then threw caution to the wind and ran for Black Widow across that rock-music banging living room. Seeing that Rose was about to attack her again, Widow waited for her to expose herself for the launching of the strike. Rose pulled back one of her hands. A punch was coming. Widow ran towards Rose in the same way and gripped the girl by the collar of her top. She then rolled backwards and pulled White Rose with her. Then Widow kicked her legs into the firm stomach of the younger woman and tossed her overhead once more. Rose was sent flying into a second table, a coffee table. The sound of wood being broken by human mass thundered in that room. Widow kicked back up into a fighting stance. While an undaunted White Rose stood from the wreckage and splinters of the battered coffee table. Widow rushed ahead with another one of those blind charges. White Rose scowled at this, face now bleeding from being thrown into that mashed coffee table. Before Widow could even lay a hand on her, Rose batted her older cousin away with the back of her fist. Widow's face jerked. And White Rose followed up by kicking the woman dead centre in the stomach. Which had suffered after Widow's fight with Ryo Asagawa. She was propelled backwards by the force of the kick. And Rose advanced upon her with even more powerful combinations of punches, kicks and palm strikes. Each blow alternated between the head and the stomach. Head blows to keep Widow dazed, and stomach blows to exploit her current weakness. Widow could do nothing accept stagger backwards from the onslaught. One final blow across the face pushed the Black Widow from her feet. She fell to the floor and rolled backwards. Out of the doorway of the living room and into the bedroom. Widow soon after pulled her thoughts back into a coherent path and watched as White Rose came for her. As soon as the younger woman leered over her for another attack, Widow kicked out her leg into Rose's face. The younger woman was thumped back a little. Allowing Black Widow to slowly climb back onto her feet. Black Widow drew her hand back and attempted a punch. White Rose caught it with one of her hands. Then White Rose tried a punch with her other hand. Black Widow caught that punch with her free hand. The two women were now locked in hands and glaring at each other with twin looks of hatred, anger, and jealousy. But for all their hatred, they were evenly matched. The Argand Family had trained them both well. Now they were struggling to outdo each other as well as survive. Widow pushed more and more strength into this hand-to-hand stand off. And White Rose scoffed when she realized she was being pushed back. Her white leather boots didn't have enough traction to stop this. No matter how much she struggled. While a grin returned to the face of Widow, Rose hazarded a glance backwards. She was being push past the bed and towards the window of the bedroom. She had to do something. Before she knew it, Rose's back was touching the cold glass of the window. And Black Widow loomed over her with the superior physical strength that came with added years. "...You're finished, Elizabeth. Next time I visit the family home in Switzerland, I'll tell Daddy that you put up a good fight. Right before I kill him!" White Rose tightened her resolve. Though the Black Widow was stronger than her, Rose was far more agile. It was time to prove it. "Not if I kill you first!" What happened next, happened with the rapidity of the wind. White Rose lessened the pressure on her hand-lock with Widow, tightened her body together and slid under the legs of the older woman. This action happened so quickly that it threw Black Widow for six. And left her unable to counter White Rose's following move. The young assassin gave one last kick into the back of Black Widow as she skidded across the carpet. And Widow screamed terrifyingly as she was kicked through the fragile glass of the window. The Setsuki-oh Apartment Building was a good seventy storeys high. Widow was kicked out into the cool night air with shards of broken glass and dots of her own blood surrounding her. And in the bedroom, Rose cast her eyes downwards whilst hearing Widow's plummeting scream into the city streets below. Rose caught her breath and resolved to get herself out of here before the police arrived to investigate. The saga of the Black Widow... was over. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Rainthorn Building (Top Floor), North-Central District The battle between Cyria and Ryo was finally about to begin. The woman stood before the Japanese youth with another deceitful smile on her face. But her body slowly moved backwards, gliding along the ground like an ice skater. She closed her light blue eyes and a bright purple glow began to surround her whole body. It was vivid and sparkling in beauty. And it covered all of Cyria's torso until nothing could be seen of her. Then that glow dissipated. When Cyria was seen again, she was no longer dressed in that appropriate business suit. What was left behind was a completely new set of clothes that suited Cyria far better. A sleeveless red top, clinging red trousers and two links of chains, wrapped around her waist loosely. Over her shoulders was a flowing cape, red on the outside, black on the inside. The shoulder blade attached to the cape stuck out in horizontal directions. Her feet began to slowly rise off the floor in addition; until she was hovering about seven centimetres from the ground. Everyone once in a while, streaks of lightning energy passed up and down her body. Brightly. Sharply. But they did not shock Cyria. No. These were manifestations of her own power. Ryo grit his teeth and held his ground. But deep in his stomach he could sense the power that this woman was wielding. She was no joke in the least. Her Chi was not quiet or restrained. It was violent and passionate; brutally destructive. Something Ryo would have never guessed a normal person could generate. But he had to defeat her. To make her pay for what she did to Yun-Yun and the Mao-Kung Dojo. And to find out who killed his Dad. Ryo growled with momentum then began charging. He pulled back his fist and ran straight into the firestorm of Cyria Mau. The older woman smiled as the teen advanced on her. Her blood red cape flocked behind her. And the new flow of her Chi into that particular area began to crack the back window of the office. Something that Ryo did not notice until he was within striking range of the Evil Soul. His whole body jerked forwards from one side when he drove his fist at her. When the punch came within three centimetres of her face she dodged it. Startling Ryo to no end. His dark eyes went wide when Cyria virtually glided to one side of his strike. He turned to face her again and attempted an overhead kick. Cyria's upper body curled under it with abnormal speed and skill, leaving Ryo vulnerable for approximately three seconds. She didn't capitalize on it. She let Ryo withdraw his leg and make a second effort with the other. It failed just as easily as the first. Cyria's hovering feet drifted over the carpet of that office room with great ease and allowed her to escape the blow. Ryo narrowed his eyes and turned his body again to meet with Cyria. He pulled back his hand and then tried his hardest to punch her. Before he even knew it, Cyria's eyes glinted with the preparation for a counter attack. His punch hit only air as the English woman zoomed around it. Then with almost frightening speed she jabbed her palm into his ribcage. Ryo tightened up with pain and yelled out as his whole body was batted away like a leaf in the wind. His torso was tossed high into the air of that room until he fell to the floor with a rough thump; face down. The young man groaned to himself and felt something wet and oozing under his shirt. Blood. The woman had only used one palm strike and she had already drawn blood. And the pain from it went without saying. He groaned irritably once more then rolled over onto his side. Cyria stood across from him. Eyes gleaming, arms crossed, smile nasty. Her cape circled around her even though there was no wind in that room. Another symbol of her relentless power. Ryo slowly climbed back onto his feet and studied this woman. She was stronger than he initially gave her credit for. But he couldn't stop now. He had come all this way to the Rainthorn Building. He had to see it through. Once he was on his feet again he ran over to Cyria Mau with his throat yelling out a fierce battle cry. He pounced at her again but Cyria did not move an inch. As soon as Ryo thrust out his leg to kick her like before, Cyria pushed her cape back and swerved around the blow with more of that lightning speed. One second she was standing in one place, and in the following second she was 90 degrees to the right. Ryo then grunted sharply with Cyria punching his back. He froze up the instant he felt her cold but savage power extend from her fist and into his body. The Japanese youngster was blown forwards and shoved into the frame of Cyria's desk. He collapsed against it and breathed in heavily. It was the strength of her Chi again. Cyria grinned to see Ryo strung out over her desk. Her body then summarily jumped into the air and ascended with inhuman power. The English woman bolted across the office and began shooting downward towards Ryo with both feet. Ryo released yet another scream when Cyria stomped into him with both feet. This action smashed the boy through the wooden desk of the office with a huge, resounding crash. Splinters, pens and work notes were tossed into the air with the damage. And seeing that damage done; Cyria backflipped off Ryo's back and landed a good five metres behind him. New blood dripped from Ryo's lips and face when he gradually began to rise up from the wreckage of the desk that his body had been driven into. Cyria sniggered at him. "So THIS is what the son of Tsukasa Asagawa is capable of?" "...B-Bitch..." The younger fighter dragged himself out of the mangled shards of wood that was once Cyria Mau's desk and turned around to face Cyria, "...I'm going to stop you... and make you pay... for Yun-Yun." She still just laughed at him. "Aha, ha, ha, ha! Don't make me laugh, boy! Your Father was twice as powerful as this and it took all that he had to defeat me. You stand no chance. I thought that you would provide ripe sport for me. Enough to satiate my bruised honour. But I see now that you are just a weakling. No matter. I can at least please myself with beating the life out of Tsukasa's son." "...Just try it!" Ryo shouted; right before he plunged himself straight into Cyria's proximity again. This time she wouldn't wait for him to attack her. The mistress of the Evil Soul power watched the boy with almost mechanical attention to detail. Then kicked him before he could even begin to defend himself. Ryo's mouth choked up both saliva and blood from the speed of ferocity of Cyria's kick. He was knocked out of his attacking posture and left unguarded in those brief few seconds. Brief few seconds that Cyria was more than happy to take advantage of. She called out a feminine battle cry of her own that made the window of the office crack even further. The woman smashed her fist into the core of Ryo's gut, making his whole body judder. She then ferociously punched him across the face with the free hand, which burst open his lower lip almost instantly. Fresh blood was knocked out of his mouth. Again when Cyria delivered a next brutal punch to the stomach. One that was so hard and so powerful that a wave of dust passed away from Ryo's feet. Caused only by the force of the strike. A final and tremendously savage kick across the face was enough to hurl Ryo backwards again. His image was pelted across the office room like a blur; until he slammed into the back wall. Another tired groan was released from him. And the older of the Asagawa siblings slid down to the floor, leaving behind a crater print in the white-painted wall. Cyria laughed demonically again from seeing the young man forced into submission. Her powers had grown since the battle with Tsukasa. By great lengths. Soon she would be even stronger than Reinhalt Schwarzluft himself. But while she simply gloated about her seemingly impending victory, Ryo opened one of his eyes to look at her. The other was half-open. And his vision was getting blurry. But he still was not about to throw in the towel. His father would never have given up. He knew that Yoko would never give up, that girl was always such a hardhead. So Ryo had no choice but to keep going. The young man pressed his palms into the wall and began to inch himself up. Cyria stopped laughing when she saw this, but still felt relaxed enough about to continue mocking him. "So you're up?" Ryo scoffed at her with a bloody, battered face. "...And r-ready... to give you... the b-beatdown... of your life..." Ryo then pulled back. Determined to win, he stamped both of his feet to the ground, and pressed a gap of about half a metre between the two. The Japanese fighter soon gripped his hands into fists and then deftly pulled them back to his sides, one after the other, in classic Asagawa motion. He leaned forward from the waist and began gathering all of his energy into his fists. His mind began to clear of all distractions and ignored all the pain that his body was feeling. To perform this he had to be deceptively peaceful in both mind and spirit. Cyria watched this curiously but did nothing to stop it. Though the stance looked familiar, she couldn't quite place what technique this was. Ryo slipped his eyes shut and began focusing his energies to an even greater degree with his new air of tranquillity. He then quickly opened those fists of his and spread his palms. He drew them back even further, both his hand switching to vertical positions as they were dragged along. Ryo's eyes broke open again. And his mouth called out the attack as he forced both of his palms forwards at the target, "Fire Wave!" Straight from Ryo's hands came a wide, cannonshell of blustering spirit fire energy. It coursed around its centre like a drilling object and was shot directly for the enemy. Cyria's eyes narrowed when she saw it speedily coming for her; burning the air around it. Her cape blew out of her way and she stuck out her arms suddenly. The Fire Wave crashed into an almost invisible shield of spiritual energy produced from her hands. But it didn't dissipate in that instant. The Fire Wave followed its form and drilled into the spiritual defensive shield, startling Cyria a little. Now she began to realize what this move was and where she had seen it. That thought angered her beyond belief. And she screamed out angrily from impulse. This anger was reflected when the shield convulsed against the Fire Wave, shattering it into scraps of embers. Those embers fell to the floor and set alight that carpet of the office. But Cyria was far more concerned with the ability that Ryo had just used. "The Fire Wave..." She seethed, "...Tsukasa's technique... it seems that you're a little more skilful than I first believed. If you can use Energy Waves then this makes the fight a little bit more interesting. Heh. Follow me..." The bruised Ryo watched Cyria crank her neck backwards and stare up at the ceiling. Her fists tightened together and she pushed one of her hands upwards. While the hand pointed to the ceiling. Another bright purple glow encircled that hand. Streaks of electric energy ran up and down that whole arm and showed Ryo the power that was being generated there. Suddenly Cyria's arm shuddered as she shot an Energy Wave of her own. A crystalline sphere of amethyst spirit power broke into the air and bombarded the ceiling above Cyria. The foundations of the room juddered from the potency of the technique. Rubble began falling down around Cyria. A wide hole had been blown into the ceiling. Providing a clear view of the stars of the night sky. Ryo looked on as Cyria jumped upwards through that hole. She wanted to continue their fight on the roof of the Rainthorn Building. It would probably be more dangerous up there. But he would follow her with all that blind courage of his. Ryo ran over to that point in the room and he leapt up through the hole in the roof himself. His body was now bathed in the cool night air that was of the outside. He landed on the rooftop of the Rainthorn Building itself. A huge stone clearing; with the added beeps of car horns and tire burning as the melody of the backdrop from the busy streets below. Cyria was across from him by about twenty metres. Waiting for the boy to make his arrival. "Aha, ha, ha, ha!" Cyria laughed, "Now the entire city can watch you perish! Nothing can match the power of my Evil Soul!" Cyria pointed her hand towards Ryo in the same way that she had done against the ceiling of her office. That same technique again. Purple energy circled the hand and lightning passed up and down it. The cape of the woman blew back when she fired the second of those ‘Cyria Shots'. It burned a path through the cold night air and towards Ryo. The younger warrior narrowed his eyes and darted to one side of the blast. It zoomed past him and off the edge of the roof, travelling all the way across to one of the neighbouring skyscrapers. It exploded upon contact with that tall building. Causing stray debris to fall from the blast point and down unto all those who might happen to be walking along the distant pavements below. Ryo scowled at that. This woman was endangering innocent people just to kill him. And yet it didn't seem to bother her at all. He ran over to her in that instant and drew back his hand. He had to stop her. Cyria smiled at the boy. His whole body was added to the force of his attempted punch. Like before she stepped aside from the attack and replied with another unruly blow of her own. But that one was bang on the mark. Ryo's face was pelted with the smack back of a kick, which was followed by a second kick from Cyria via the other leg. Ryo tried to thrust his elbowed at her waist anyway, undaunted. Cyria caught the elbow attack between her palms and then bashed her forehead into the younger man's skull. Not a flashy skill but it made its mark. Ryo's upper body swung backwards from the force of the headbutt. Then Cyria went on the offensive. Her hands worked with blurry movement as she began pounding Ryo in the stomach and upper abdomen with a series of speedy body blows. Again and again and again. Ryo was helpless to do anything but stand there and be hit whilst his ribcage was battered with dozens of quick and equally powerful punches. Cyria's knuckles made the finisher with one last punch. The Japanese youth let off a heart-rending scream of agony into the night atmosphere. The last blow had fractured a rib. He could feel it. Cyria sneered at his back and spun around on her hips, extending her leg. Ryo was roundhouse kicked across the face and batted away like a rag doll. He tumbled face down into the ground and his facial flesh burned with friction against that cold roof stone. His body kept skidding until it went off the very rim of that skyscraper known as the Rainthorn Building. Ryo desperately grabbed onto the edge stones of the roof and hung on for dear life. It was a LONG drop down. Falling off that building meant guaranteed death. The wounded fighter swung his body upwards and flipped onto the rooftop before that could happen. Cyria stood away from him as usual, still laughing to herself. Ryo wiped the blood from his mouth with one hand and held his cracked rib with the other. The woman was a total and complete bitch but he had to respect that power of hers. And... he had to figure out a way of defeating that power. But Cyria led off before he had the time to think of a way. She stuck out her arm again and her hand began to glow lavender. The lightning streaks reappeared and a third Cyria Shot was fired at Ryo. The deafening roar of the release of the attack thundered around that rooftop. The Asagawa-youth dashed around the incoming energy wave to avoid it. But Cyria had a little plan of her own. She pressed her hands together and closed those smooth cobalt eyes. The natural glow of her Chi, the tint of amethyst, started surrounding her again. Then in the blink of an eye... she vanished. The ailing Ryo gasped with confusion at that, until he heard a familiar voice whisper into his ear. "Behind you, sweetie." No response was made. Cyria punched Ryo in the back violently. He was tossed forwards again and thrown back into the dusty stone of the Rainthorn Building's rooftop. When his body came to a stop, he coughed up a gob of blood which splattered on the stone floor. "...T-Teleportation...?" Got it in one. Cyria laughed to herself again in that echoing, powerful voice. Her powers had increased since the battle with Tsukasa. Her teleportation technique was something he didn't get to have a taste of... but his son would have all the pleasure of experiencing. Once she crossed her arms together she floated over to the downed Ryo. "Stupid Child," She spat, "You actually call yourself the son of Tsukasa? You fight like a novice. Repeating the same dim-witted mistakes. Charging at me blindly. Your father was sleek of movement, skilled of grace, intelligent and powerful. While you? You're nothing but a little brat." Cyria stamped her heel into the back of Ryo's skull to rub in the point. "...You don't deserve the name Asagawa, weakling. I'm going to grind you into dust. Nothing will be left of you but a memory. Then you can join your Father in heaven!" But by now, Ryo had had enough of that. "...Shut... the fuck... UP!" In one huge burst of adrenalin, Ryo kicked out of Cyria's reach and rolled right out of the way. With arm still clutching his cracked rib, the young man stood up from the dust and grit his teeth hard at the older woman. A vein throbbed at the boy's temple. And his reserves of energy were fast reaching the top of the well. Though one of his ribs were broken, his lip bloody and his face battered and bruised; his Chi was still roaring with anger and determination. But Cyria was right. He had been making the same mistakes over and over and over again. Well no more. He was worthy. Ryo might not want have wanted to live in his Father's shadow but he was more than capable of creating his own. He was an Asagawa. In blood, name and spirit. There was no WAY he would allow some narcissistic, power-hungry lunatic deride who he was. It was time for the tables to turn. But this time Ryo would use a few mental tactics to bring about that win. "...No wonder you're so strong, Cyria. You must get all this power from that over-inflated ego of yours." Cyria's smile fell. "...W-What did you just say?!" "Egotism comes so naturally to you, doesn't it?" Ryo quipped, "You're no warrior. Just some random woman with a complex about a power she didn't even earn. I dunno why God saw fit to give you such strength... but it doesn't amount to much with that kind of vanity." A cold purple residue of Chi-influenced rage rose from Cyria. "Silence, boy!" And to that, Ryo grinned deceptively. He had a plan. But for it to work he needed this woman to be angry enough to lead off and attack him outright. While Ryo continued speaking, Chi flames began burning at his hands. "Something up there, girl? Or don't you like being told the truth? You know, I bet for ALL that power you possess... you don't have single friend to call your own, do you? Ain't it ironic that the most vain and self-important of the people I have ever fought turns out to have the saddest and most pathetic life imaginable? No wonder you're so drunk on yourself. Your Evil Soul is the only thing worthwhile in your life, isn't it?" "...Why you insolent boy!" Cyria bellowed, now charging over at him, "I'll close your mouth for good!" Perfect. Ryo grinned at the woman while the flames in his hands remained unnoticed. Now if he could just time this right. Cyria zoomed over to him and thrust out her fist as she neared Ryo. The boy took a deep breath and dodged as fast as he could to the left. He hurled his body out of the way and sidestepped the attack. Cyria's eyes widened and she realized that she had actually missed Ryo. But the second that he was out of harm's way he ran straight back into the storm. The youngster kicked out his leg and dashed over the stone of the ground like a razor over ice. Just as the flames of his Chi delimited the attacking leg. Cyria gasped violently and her face was struck dead on by the flaming heel of Ryo's Lance Raid attack. She was sent into the ground, at long last toppled for once, her cape falling on top of her. Ryo didn't stand and gloat. He jumped right into the cold air above. While he observed the downed Cyria from below... the flames around his fists now became bluntly visible. The great snarl of the crackling fire emanated sharply to the ears of both Ryo and Cyria. Cinders arose from the fire around his hands, glowing like bright fireflies in the chilly nocturne space. Ryo brought both of his flaming hands together, swerved them into a vertical position and released a bestial howl from the crux of his throat. "Orraaaagggghhh!" He screamed, "Inferno Wave!" That dark rooftop was suddenly brightened with the radiance of a smouldering orange fire energy when the Inferno Wave was released from Ryo Asagawa's palms. A larger and far more destructive version of the Fire Wave burst into the night air and slowly descended for Cyria like a drifting asteroid. The woman looked up from the floor as the air grew hotter and more stagnant. And she saw that penetrating cluster of flame and spirit coming her way. She gasped and extended her arm to produce a spiritual shield for a defence against it. The Inferno Wave drilled itself into the shield and began testing its fortitude to the limit. Cyria grit her teeth and struggled against its power in ways she would have never thought imaginable. Sweat trickled down her face from both the heat of the Inferno Wave and the stress of holding it back. Her muscles tensed and her senses were on red alert. But it was too much. Too sudden. Too powerful. For the first time in her whole life, Cyria expressed a scream of fright as the Inferno Wave completely shattered her spiritual defence and overwhelmed her. The English woman produced more terrified screams as she was swallowed up by the savage flames of Ryo's ultimate attack. The strength of the blast crushed the stone of the rooftop beneath Cyria and it all collapsed around her. That part of the rooftop caved in amid burning hot fire. Taking Cyria along with it, sending her back into the office. Ryo soon landed from his jump. His breath was heavy and his bleeding was growing worse. Not to mention the pain of his broken rib. His Chi was now running low after that shot. But he had to keep going. The boy jumped again through the large, cavernous hole that had carved into the roof via the drilling flames of his Inferno Wave attack. Ryo descended and found himself inside Cyria's office again. Across from him was a now not-so-grand Cyria herself. The mistress of Evil Soul was breathing just as deeply as Ryo. Half of her cape was burned right off. Her clothes were charred and blackened, and the right side of her face was now seeping with blood. The expression on her face showed her rage. But even more than that... her fear. Ryo pulled up a fighting stance. This office was completely infested with flames. From both the Inferno Wave and the previous Fire Wave. Smoke was rising higher and higher. But neither fighter was leaving until they won. After gathering some more power into himself, Ryo began a charge at the weakened Cyria. She stood her ground but was too injured to dodge like she had been doing before. Her face was batted to one side as Ryo pummelled her with a sharp punch. Which was taken up after by a vicious kick across the other cheek. Ryo shoved his knee into the woman's gut to make her lean over with a choke. Then drove his elbow into her back. She cried out and attempted to fight back, but by now, Ryo was in overdrive. He began battering the woman with repeated strikes and combos that caused Cyria's blood to splash onto the burning carpet with each strike. One final punch caused Cyria to fall limply to the ground. Ryo sucked in breath hard. She wasn't getting back up. The fight was over. He coughed on the smoke of the office but concentrated on what he came here for. Ryo crouched down and grabbed Cyria by the collar of her burnt red top, yanking her bloody face to his own bloody face. "Now!" Ryo shouted, breathlessly, "You're... gonna... talk...! Who killed... my Dad!?" Cyria pulled a weak smile and her eyes lulled. "...I am defeated..." "...A-Answer me!" But the English woman simply repeated herself. "...I am defeated..." She wasn't talking. It looked like she was in shock. Ryo cursed and tossed the woman's collar aside. He had won the battle... but what was it all for if he couldn't get that information? The Japanese lad coughed violently from the smoke and held his ribcage. The whole of the room was alive with fire. But a third voice called out to him. "...Ryo...!" By now Ryo was almost out of energy. He could hardly move to escape the flames. But he looked over the burning office to the doorway. It was Kayde. The American youth held a hand over his face to block out the smoke of the fire. He darted between all of the individual upsurges and quickly made his way to Ryo. Ryo smiled tiredly. "...It's good... to see you... Kayde..." "Don't talk. I'll get you out of here," Kayde said, hooking Ryo's left arm over his shoulders and helping him up, "C'mon, just lean on me." The Asagawa-boy did just that. And Kayde helped him past all the fire and smoke of the office. But he couldn't help but look back at Cyria; stunned senseless by her seemingly incomprehensible defeat. "...W-What about... Cyria...?" "Forget her!" Kayde replied angrily, "She's caused enough damage as it is. Lets just get out of here for now. Then we can get you checked out for all those cuts and bruises." The two teens then left the office and began making their way to the lift. But Cyria stayed as the flames in that office grew worse. She choked upon the smoke but did nothing to move herself. That was until a completely new figure emerged from the shadows of the fire. Cyria was at first believing that it was a hallucination caused by the extreme heat. But this figure was quite real. A man of around forty or so years of age. Dressed in rugged but yet somehow elegant green combat attire. And possessing a cunningly perceptive smile. This man... the very C.E.O. of the KAIGA Group. The wounded Cyria could hardly believe it. "...Reinhalt... Schwarzluft..." Reinhalt smirked at Cyria, speaking in that superior German accent. "Worthless. Why did I leave the Sunset City branch in your incompetent hands? To think that you would put your own wishes before my direct orders. You fool. And you actually thought that you could defeat a Child of Gaia? Heh. You have deluded yourself, Cyria Mau." Cyria reached out to him. "H-Help... me..." "I didn't come here to help you. I came here to see if the rumours about your actions were true. And now I see that they are. You are a disgrace to the KAIGA Group. And for your treachery... you will die here with your office. Burn here in the pigmy empire you thought you could amass." Reinhalt sneered at the woman one last time. Then strode off to leave Cyria behind. The mistress of the Evil Soul was left to burn in her office of the Rainthorn Building. But nothing burned brighter or more maliciously than her will for revenge... ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Our lives run different ways Through the rain I see you in the sun Our star shines anyway If you wish upon it we are one Dog eat dog Everyday On our fellow man we prey Dog eat dog To get by Hope you like my genocide I find it such a shame Through the pain I see things as they are We're served up on a plate The pedestal is high enough to fall And if in time We can see the errors of our ways Would anyone change it anyhow Our time is up (One, Two, Three, Four) Dog eat dog Everyday On our fellow man we prey Dog eat dog To get by Hope you like my genocide I bet you'd only run If you saw what goes inside our own... I bet you'd lead the way If it were up to you to decide But it's not Dog eat dog Everyday On our fellow man we prey Dog eat dog To get by Hope you like my genocide ~ Genocide, The Offspring ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ END OF SUNSET CITY 1994: THE RETURN OF RYO ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Kaiser's Afterthoughts =================== * Well there you have it. I'd be lying if I said that this story was not inspired a little by Fatal Fury but I'd like to think that it came off with an aura all of its own. The original idea I had for the story was nothing like this; some characters had to be put into the background (i.e Kayde and Yun-Yun) more than I intended. But I decided to keep this story compact but furious; unlike 'The Tokyo Dragons' in which is mild but wide reaching, if you know what I mean. * Eventually, the characters from Sunset City will cross over with those from The Tokyo Dragons (aside from just Reinhalt). But for now, their stories will remain seperate. * The song 'Genocide' was not written by me. It is property of The Offspring and Epitaph.
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