Deception

Chapter 6: Into The Shadow Edges

"You did great, Sakura. I don't know what to add in it further..." 

"Well, you said that I should overcome my enemies, right? Who am I to break promises?"

"Only a backstabber does." Karin chuckled. "You should drop by tomorrow, see what we can do to find more competition."

"Better. Later, Karin!"

After leaving the Kanzuki estate, Sakura and Kei headed out back to their home, but along the way, Kei seemed suspicious as Sakura left more earlier than her usual.

Where is she going?

---

Sakura ran straightly up the high mountains, wasting no time as her determination and curiousity had haunted her. Each steps to the one-path staircase seems endless, and her energy began to drain out of her little by little.

But her efforts led her to the Suzaku Castle. A bit weird because it looks like abandoned.

Where is he? He said he would sometimes hang out here...

Sakura started to walk in the Castle, surveying the corners and even the roofs by gazing up. 

CL-SHACK

A noise. And the assassin jumped off right in front of her.

"Who are you?"

"Subject Detected."

Decapre charged towards her, with her twin pairs of blades with the same Psycho Power simmering in it. Sakura dodged her attacks by side-steps, since she is too agile for blocking.

"You, will submit for exclusive experiment." Decapre said almost robotic, void of any soul.

Sakura braced her headband. "You surely try."

With that, Decapre's blades were infused with high-voltage electricity, resembling as a taser. Sakura was quite worried, since with that one touch of taser would be enough to bring her down. 

Decapre flocked her with fury swings, and once Sakura jumped away, Decapre launched a stream of electricity towards her, hitting Sakura in her foot. 

Decapre looked at her accomplishment. She headed towards her and grabbed her away.

"Mission Complete." 

---

Wh... where am I?

There are metallic shackles on her wrists. 

And the whole room is bright.

What... right, I fought with that violet-girl, and then now, I guess she completed her assignment.

"You're late." A voice boomed. "For a ceremony, that is."

Sakura looked up to see the caped figure with those malicious grin that never left his. The same one she fought a long time ago.

"Bison." She muttered. "What do you want?"

The leader of Shadaloo smirked evilly to her, taking two steps and back forth. 

"You, and your power will serve me well. Ironic that you'll waste such power for keeping it."

To Sakura's left, was an another Tranquilizing Chamber containing the World warrior that disappeared recently.

"Ryu!"

"Haha... same old roleplay, but he's out of my game. The next thing that he would see is your failure to take in his steps."

Ryu was unconscious due to the wires and tranquilizers entering his body, the pressure inside it made the levels stable, sending him in a deep sleep of emptiness. His body seem lifeless, like a corpse, but it was in fact still healthy, even if Bison had managed to drain his limitless powers. 

"He did well for such a being like me. Now, you'll complete my set of powers right before you wake up."

Sakura shook her head several times now, as the voice inside her head whispered with pure darkness.

Look before you! What are you standing for! This is not the time for play-games, you need me!

No... he said that I must not succumb...

But if he succeeds, who will remain?  Bison is the cause of all of this. It is only right to serve justice of those who reek so selfishly in the powers only for himself! Think wisely, my dear... time is short.

Sakura felt lost in her own mind. The voice was right, but at what cost? Her soul? This was more worse if she would witness how her entire world fall under the hands of this power-crazed figure. 

But her words? What now? She always uphold those until now, but she had no other choice. Both will cost her life, either way, however, the one for the sake of the world she know, or to help Bison destroy it.

Red aura caught Bison's eyes, it was from Sakura's figure. Her headband trails upward, the wisps of dark energy infused with her, making her skin dark, almost burned by the searing power building inside her. 

He didn't even tried to conceal his sights as she broke her tempered-glass chamber. With her standing up straightly from the broken shards, some of it pierced her skin, but it was nothing. Her head gazed up at him, bleeding with crimson, but it was burning with anger that she resorted earlier.

"We'll see who's the wielder of the 'higher power'."

Bison didn't emitted a reply as Sakura launched two beams of Hadouken on each of her hands. One hit him, while the other one struck the tranquilizing machine that held Ryu captive.

"No!!!"

Sakura sneered as she landed a hard punch to his chest, sending him on the metal walls with a loud impact.

"Your concept for destruction is worthless." She teleported behind him with her fists filled with red wisps. "This is destruction! Messatsu!"

She grabbed him as lights blinded them both.