I still really feel that the story of "Street Fighter" is centered, first and foremost, on Ryu and Ken.  Therefore, the only "successful" movie would involve a plot centered on these two characters.  And this, contrary to what many people think, this is doable.

Any good story has a three tier structure (development, rising action, resolution) which is supported by a single unifying "audience friendly" theme.  What I mean by audience friendly pertains to a subject people understand and care about.  So, a writer has to ask himself, what is it about Ryu and Ken that relates with people? 

Ryu, as we know, is an orphan.  What does an orphan go through?  Abandonment issues.  Why does he try to be the best?  Maybe to cover up his insecurity?  And when you finally find somewhere you belong and it's suddenly taken away from you (Gouken's murder), what do you do?  What if you weren't there to stop it?  Guilt...revenge...a person would loose his way trying to right what once went wrong even when you can't find the enemy.  So, you pick fights and get tempted into become darker (a slave to the Satsui No Hado).  A feeling of guilt paired with revenge could make the character of Ryu become much more human, something audiences will like.

How about Ken Masters?  Undisciplined as a child, mischeivous, looking for attention.  Why?  Same thing why Ryu fights to be the best perhaps.  With a busy father, maybe he feels abandoned as well.  And we see many examples of people with everything except for a friend.  After meeting Ryu, he finds someone that he can relate with in this way.  Maybe after witnessing his master's death, he feels vengeance in his heart as well, but with no sign of the villian, he drowns himself in his work life in America to dull the pain, all the while wondering what happened to his young friend, who's struggling as well.

One alone in solitude and the other alone in the crowds coming together to form a life long bond.  Friendship should be the major theme of Street Fighter.  How about the plot?  On the good guy's side, definitely based on vengeance as this is the unifying "understandable" emotion theatrical audiences are accustomed too, especially in a martial arts movie.  Ken coping with not being able to stop the murderer...Ryu trying to cope with not being there because of his want to be a great fighter (i.e. guilt in failing).

Now for the villian, if you're going to do a film on Ryu and Ken, you need to find a villian that is powerful as well as intimate with their personal history...namely Akuma.  As with every villian, his motivation would be centered on gaining power.  Now in the game, his quest to fight the best fighters to the death is not understandable to a broad audience and makes the story seem unfocused.  To provide direction to his actions, his quest in the story should be focused on gaining "pieces to a puzzle" that will gain him ultimate power.  One thing that is unique about the Akuma character is his use of the "Raging Demon" technique, possibly a technique handed down and made obscure somehow...maybe in separate scrolls of knowledge...held by different heirs to the "assassin's art." 

In other words, a good Street Fighter movie would involve Ryu trying to live his life in penance, fighting off his inner demons with physical combat, while Ken tries to find his old friend and understand what is "really important in his life" (doing business as usual and forgetting...or...remembering and facing the pain again), all in the backdrop of Akuma trying to "collect knowledge" of this "Raging Demon" technique through violent means.

 

Here's my idea of how the plot should be formulated...

Development: 20 - 30 minutes

The first five minutes should be spent in an intercut sequence between Ryu's fight with the "king of Muy Thai" and Ken traveling to visit Gouken to say goodbye only to find Gouken in a fight to the death with Ken offering to help his master.  Dialog will suggest that Gouken has conceiled part of an ancient manuscript he feels is his birthright.  In the end of the sequence, Ryu strikes down Sagat with a massive shoryuken that scars him.  Ryu fears the power in his hands.  Ken witnesses the death of his master and is incapacitated by Akuma in combat.  Akuma reads the scroll and "absobs its power" and mocks Ken leaving Ken to fend for his life.  He passes out.

Flash forward several years, Ken wakes up to a life of prestige and wealth, but he's bored and disturbed...distracted.  He balances this out with caring for his ailing father, but when death comes near for him, he is given the all important advice to not let his material life rule him, but to find the thing that is more important.  Ken's father reaches out a red martial arts belt, stating it was his most proud moment to see his son when he got it.  So he kept it.  So, even though he couldn't be there all the time, he had something of him to remind him.  Father and son moment here...

Such advice would trigger tiny episodes of his childhood with Ryu.  A childhood in which he resents being left by his father in a "dingy little hut in Japan" with some "old fart" and some "weirdo orphan who doesn't say anything."  He thinks nothing or Ryu until Gouken sends him out in the rain to fetch a rare flower, herb, whatever...lost in the forest, Ken feels fear for the first time in his life.  Ryu finds him and they gain strength in their new found bond.

Flashforward to his dad's funeral, Ken heeds his father's advice even more.  One day he just suddenly drops all his responsibilities and uses his resources to search out his young friend who has not seen in a very long time.  Upon getting a lead, he prepares to travel.

Meanwhile, a montage of fights show Ryu ever so ingrained in his fighting though sadness fills his heart at the end.  When everything is said and done, he wanders the rough streets with his bag, takes odd jobs here and there, then disappears to another place.  He attempts to write Ken, but always stops himself.  Little squables here and there put him into action as if he's trying to save his master in each incident.  He goes to sleep with guilt and anger...but yet a glimmer of calmness...

Ryu remembers training with Ken and their comradery.  The promise that when there was something each other needed, they'd be there for each other. 

But for "this journey" he would rather spare from his friend...and he goes to sleep.

Rising action:  60 - 80 minutes

Elsewhere, a mafia sydicate gathers to confront a man meditating at a private prayer place.  It's Akuma.  They have come to eliminate him because of his refusal to execute an important political assasination ordered by their boss.  Upon seeing that their boss is among their presence, he gives them notice explaining the money was never the objective.  He kills many swiftly and manages to get into some aggressive combat with the boss and takes pleasure in beating him.  Offering his life for another "ancient scoll," the boss points to the rear of the main statue.  He kills the boss and finds the other scroll engraved in the rear of the statue.  The boss's son, a coward, is then "persuaded" to do his bidding in finding the other missing pieces and detailing the other holders of the secret.  Others who survive lend their services to Akuma out of fear.

Ryu finds himself working for a family business where he befriends a lonely little girl named Sakura.  He can't seem to shake her but she never seems to say anything, reminding him of himself a bit, so he softens up around her.  Little does Ryu know that he's being watched from afar, and as night falls, he finds himself under attack by skillful assassins with his stalker Sakura caught in the middle.  Ryu rushes to protect her, but as comic relief, she would be studying Ryu's moves as he fought, and she'd do the same thing later.  Something like that...But they are soon overwhelmed by the attackers and are spared by "another boss" who takes them away to his lair. 

Ken, meanwhile, arrives in Southeast Asia.  There he is refered to a "Seargeant Guile" who will act a liason, being he's an important man and all.  To his surprise, the seargeant turns out to be a hot blond in a bar named Eliza.  After exchanging some witty exchanges, Ken fights off some jealous suitors and escapes with his new gal in search of his friend, Ryu.

In the layer, Ryu is informed by the "boss" about a secret pact between four assassin's clans to keep the secret of the "Raging Demon" from the hands of one, splitting the knowledge into four, each piece held by a "boss" or "grand master."  Two (Gouken, and the "boss" Akuma just encountered) are dead.  Only he and a master named Retsu remain.  In order to keep his secret safe, the "boss" entrusts Ryu with his scroll and instructed to flee and protect what Gouken gave his life for.  But before he can leave, Akuma and his new accomplices attack.  Ryu, overcome with the will for vengeance, fights through to Akuma, but when Sakura gets in the way, Akuma uses her to exchange her life for the scroll.  Ryu does, Akuma escapes and the cops arrive to arrest everyone. 

Searching for Ryu, Ken and Eliza, after an episode of flirtation, are hinted to the whereabouts of Ryu from a detective curious about their loitering.  Ken meets Ryu in jail and bails him out.  They have an altercation concerning Ryu's will to do things on his own.  Ken reminds him of their pact to be there for one another. 

Making up, Ryu, Ken, and Eliza find clues to the whereabouts of Retsu through their knowledge of legend and artifacts.  They travel through treacherous lands and find themselves attacked by a mysterious force in the forest.  They find out it is Retsu testing them, and comments that Ryu and Ken are undisciplined.  He takes them to his temple and says that what they look for cannot be found in the material world.  Soon after, Akuma attacks the temple fatally wounding Retsu and placing Ryu in a coma with what he knows of the "Raging Demon attack"  Taking Eliza, Akuma says to Ken that he better find the secret of the "last scroll" or Eliza will be sacrificed. 

Placing Ryu in the hospital, Ken says farewell to his friend and departs sadly to meet Akuma.  Ken meets Akuma and Eliza in a climactic location preparing for the final battle, as Ryu's vitals start to figit.  Memories flood Ryu's head of his master's sayings to him and Ken when they were children, hinting at their worth to each other...their power.  Ken tries to fight Akuma in anger but finds himself overwhelmed until Ryu suddenly appears.  Ryu tells Ken they are the missing scroll.  Their "assassin's art" was not really a killing art, only misunderstood as such by people's ambition.  The last scroll is about working together, shared power, to combat the abuse of such.  With this understood, Ryu and Ken fight Akuma together and save Eliza in a battle for the ages. 

Conclusion:

Ken and Ryu visit their master's grave and promise to keep in touch.  Ken gives Ryu the red belt that his father gave him, hoping Ryu will always keep their friendship alive and well. 

Ken goes to the airport and is greeted by Eliza who is heading back to the states as well.  They take the flight with some witty banter detailing that she's meeting up with her brother later.  Ken thinks they could be buds being a people person...lol.

The credits open detailing Ryu continuing in street fighting and winning many tournaments.  Ken is also shown winning American martial arts tournaments and getting married...

after the credits...a man in a hospital bed looks on at their fights...a military cap is placed on his side table...

Name:  Jerry Ko, AKA "Mr. K.O."

Country:  Mongolia

Height:  6'2"

Weight:  230 lbs.

Martial Art:  Ansatsuken

Background:  Linked with the most feared South East Asian organizations in the world and a member of the revered Ko Family, he has drawn himself out of the shadows to regain the prestige his own family would not garner him.  As overseer of his new master's "ultimate plan," he hopes to gain revenge on those who thought less of him...

Gameplay style:  Slow in directional movement, he is surprisingly fast with dynamic power strikes that catch opponents off guard.  But be warry as his long locks provide tricky long range options of attack.

Special Moves:

Hair whip (quarter circle forward + punch):  A fierce punch makes him swing his hair upward diagonally as an air attacker deterant.  Medium punch sends a whip directly forward with the capability of breaking projectiles and hitting an opponent.  Light punch does the same as medium only faster and weaker.  Be wary of the lag in execution as it could provide an opening...needs good timing and anticipation.

Ghengis buster (half circle backward + punch; follow up: hold forward + punch or kick):  An artful short range stunning punch with small moment of invincibility if timed correctly.  If using punch the whole time, he will swing into one more fancy fist strike into a finishing knockdown power thrust.  If switching to kick, the first punch will be followed by a low hitting trick sweep into a finishing cartwheel leg drop from above.  It can be mixed and mashed, but when changing between punch and kick, there is a lag that can provide an opening if the opponent fails to be confused.

Cartwheel throw (half circle foward + kick)  A short range cartwheel jump to grab opponent by shoulders using his momentum to throw the opponent.  Good for countering opponent's sweep or crouch blockers.  Misses leave you very vulnerable so be warry.  Best to mix it up during the course of close range approach assaults.

more to come...

Name:  Davy

Height:  6'4"

Weight:  285 lbs.

Country:  Australia

Martial Arts:  Freestyle

Appearance:  He's rugged and cut with male capri/cargo pants with a big buckle belt, socks, and work boots.  Though bred for the tough wilderness, don't be surprised to see a wink and smile from the always gracious thrill junkie.

Story:  A man of the great outdoors, he's spent his life working to challenge himself in all things extreme, never letting the gravity of any situation get the better of him often utilizing his mass array of quirky one-liners to lighten the mood...especially with the ladies.  Upon seeing fliers for the upcoming fighting tournament, he hopes to find the ultimate challenge...and maybe improve on his tan...

Gameplay style:  A avid counter puncher through misdirecting moves, Davy utilizes full ground movement, but leaves himself vulnerable when blocked.  Not the fastest in the roster, but definitely up there with his variety of antics. 

Special moves:

Tazmanian charge (charge back to forward + punch or kick) - Punch:  Charges with a blockable though high priority high grab carrying the opponent with one arm and slam into wall (think Rugal from SNK);  Kick:  Charges with a blockable low grapple, double leg takedown fake to the rear (opening for combo assault from behind).

Gorrilla press throw (forward, down, forward + punch) - grab with two hands in gorrila lift and throws opponent to his rear in fluid, quick motion. 

Side step (back, down, forward + kick) - One second stationary sidestep to bypass fast chargers or projectiles with a little cockiness to boot;  good for surprise charge move assaults.  Vulnerable to grab.  Perfect to catch a charging opponent off guard as he passes through and leaves himself vulnerable to a charge attack himself as you continue to hold the forward button...at your own risk.  Good timing move.

Tazmanian smash (charge down to up + kick) - a wild leap up into double stomp knockdown one body length away.

Super Moves:

Super Tazmanian Charge (charge back, forward, back, forward + punch) - Charges and takes opponent with one arm into a wall, where he bounces off to Davy's rear, and Davy jumps backward and stomps on the opponent's chest.

Ultra Moves:

Ultra Tazmanian Charge (charge back, forward, back, forward + three punches) - Charges and carries off opponent into two walls; after the final wall, the opponent falls backward a body length behind Davy where Davy jumps back for a flipping Kangaroo smash on his/her chest.

Ultra Gorrila Press Throw (two quarter circles forward + three punches) - Grabs opponent with a big winking grin and spins him around and does multiple slams (like Mortal Kombat's Jax) and a finishing carpet tug spinbuster slam from the ankles.

Name:  Olga

Height:  6'

Weight:  135 lbs.

Country:  Finland

Fighting Style:  Muy Thai

Appearance:   Though blond, fair, and shaply,  it's hard to confuse her for a barbie doll.  With her hair tied up in dreads, a sleevless top showing off her guns, and beat em' up fighting gloves, she means business.  She doesn't need shoes.  She's made for the hard gravel of the streets as she hopes to kick her way through any opposition.

Story:  After retiring at a young age as the single most dominant female K-1 fighter in the world, Olga was bombarded by a media super storm that dominated her years away from the ring.  But with the praise came many questions of the legitimacy of her past glory and her current status as a darling of tabloids and gossip.  Bored and annoyed by her critics, she finds herself eager to prove herself again, this time in an international world fighting tournament...

Gameplay description:  Though slight and womanly, she is very much a power player that plays well for the expert mindgamer.  Special moves create impact lulls in rhythm and knockdowns with misdirection that can confuse pattern players.  But she's mostly an "impact" player in that she needs to connect moves to create opportunity.  Otherwise, her speed is mid tier and with the lack of a decent anti air attack, she's vulnerable.  Her best defense is a relentless attack plan. 

Special Moves:

Superstar Knee press (quarter circle forward + kick button) - Mid air knee drop to roll off (mechanics of T-Hawk's diving eagle special but result of Honda's sumo smash)

Sneaky Elbow (quarter circle forward + punch; follow up:  pressing forward + punch or kick)- Slides surprisingly quickly across the ground to deliver a crouching elbow strike to the gut with a brief stun.  Follow up punch is a massive anti crouch block elbow smash.  Follow up kick is a low hitting blockable grapple into devastating knee to the lower gut...

Shooting star Elbow (forward, down, forward + punch) - a high angle, short range jump with her back arched and elbow up and comes down on the opponent with an elbow strike, no knockdown (anti-crouch block, anti projectile if timed right); think Yuri Sakazaki from SNK...

Superstar kick (quarter circle back + kick) - A single massive high hitting split kick (mid screen range) for a knockdown (think Van Damme).  anti-air (needs timing).

Super Moves:

Super Sneaky Elbow (2 quarter cirles forward + punch) - Sneaky Elbow into mulitple elbow, turning roundhouse kick into finishing Superstar Kick

Ultras:

Ultra Shooting Star Elbow (2 quarter circles forward + three punches) - (Anti projetile) Quick flipping shooting star elbow (similar to Fuerte's Ultra movement) into cinematic elbow strikes and powerful muy thai clinch knee to the face staggering opponent backward into finishing Superstar Kick (poster quality view finish)

Ultra Superstar Knee Smash (2 quarter circles forward + kick in midair) - squashes opponent down to the ground with devastating knee and rolls off into charging finishing elbow smash to the side of the face passing by an opponent spinning in the air (like Fei Long's Ultra finish)

An ominous mist hovers from the sea inland enveloping the passing turmoil.  Able bodies on the ground struggling to gain their bearings with the signs of battle all around and on their faces.  Beaten and confused, they search for clarity in the incomprehensible atmosphere.  The flashing of red gloves amongst the dizzying stars spinning around their shaken up psyches provide the only clue. 

Farther ahead in the maze of shipyard containers, Sakura clenches herself in the chill of the night as it seeps through her blazer. 

Scratching her head a bit irritated, she concludes to herself, "Well, ninja girl definitely stood me up."  Then, with a suspicion building within her, she guesses, "...or maybe she wanted to set me up for something."  But feeling her imagination running away from her, she shrugs off the possibility, "Ehh, she didn't look that mean.  She's probably just lost somewhere...probably hard to see with that mask on at night...so, now, where could she be..."

Sakura peeks inside a trash can.  She peeks around the corner.  She opens a hatch leading into a dark cylindrical void.  "Hello..." her voice echoes through the rusted metal with no answer.  She sprints and jumps from container to container patroling for any hint of the mysterious girl.  Nothing but moonlight, silence, and a muscled silhouette in the distance atop a container stack.  Figuring that the other lot were not as friendly, maybe some guy hanging out on top of a container looking straight at her might be be different.  Sighing and tightening her gloves, she says, "Well...it's worth a shot, I guess."

On the other side of the docks, criminal dock workers open up a sealed container.  Too dark to discern the contents, one lights a match to reveal loads and loads of boxes.  The head dock worker enters the scene with a cellphone to his ear and nervous impatience upon his face.  He rushes his underlings shouting, "Hurry up!  We only have within the hour before someone smells something rotten."  His accomplices hurry inside the container rummaging through contents while keeping a close eye on their electronic monitors hoping to detect a hint of their intended loot.  Focusing back on his receiver and its silence, the head criminal dock worker worries weigh upon him even more, as he wonders to himself, "Come on...what's going on over there?  Answer!"

Across town inside the luxury penthouse, the sounds of battle echo in the background cresendo of breaking furniture and glass.  Ibuki sommersaults backward with momentum to the wall with her feet finding stability on the wall for that split second before her knees propel her to the attack once again.

The blond European fends off the immediate acrobatic melee, with his opponent's speed backing him from his line.  But with a spark in his eye, he finds opportunity and lashes out for a good grasp flinging the young assassin into the opposite wall.  Courageously, she unflinchingly pursues though seemingly overmanned by the tall foreigner.  His hard body fatigues even the skilled young ninja as calculated grapples squeeze out some of her resolve in every tie up.  She flexes her way out every time to her detriment.  A grab to her throat catches her off guard.  The powerful man flings her aside into a table giving the villian a moment to tend to his mangled clothing.  He approaches the injured ninja.  Ibuki flings several knives.  The blonde European sidesteps one and then the other.  The last comes right at his eye, but he swipes it away effortlessly. 

Standing over Ibuki, the blonde European comments, "Now, here's where the real fun begins."  He activates a device in his suit's sleeve which generates an electrical pulse in his hands.

Back at the docks' container yard, Sakura scales a stack of containers to reach the peak.  There she stares out at this mysterious manly silhouette atop another stack not too far away taking a little too much interest in her. 

"Hey, there!"  Sakura screams out toward the silhouette.  "Do you know how to get to dock eight?" 

No answer comes.  Sakura jumps over to the next stack.  And then to the next.  The closer she gets, the fog becomes less and less a factor.  A pained story of deceit and survival emerges as a life's story is uncovered upon the ink on his rigid mug.  Before the atmospheric curtain is pulled completely, the mysterious figure leaps down into the heavy mist. 

"Hey!"  Sakura protests.  "You could at least be nice and say no!  Hey, where did you go?  Argg..."

Sakura dives into the unknown and finds her feet steady upon the paved surface. 

"Uh, hello?"  Sakura asks a bit concerned.

Suddenly, movement in the mist behind her stimulates her senses.  She turns and backtracks as kicks propel in regular intervals toward her head.  Her back hits an unnoticed container wall.  She sidesteps a stiff sidekick denting the metallic barrier.  Sakura spins off into an open space, where another barrage of varied kicks jab at her.  The speed is almost too much for her as a roundhouse kick finds contact upon her gut.  She blocks the follow ups with some difficulty before kicking off from the villains chest to provide even more space.  With time available, she quickly focuses for a quick burst of energy.

"Hadoken!"  Sakura screams as blue fiery ki missiles through the mist and pounds into some hazardous canisters in the background.  A gigantic blast insues, blowing off most of the mist in the container yard. 

Meanwhile, a security man drops his donut at his station to witness the explosion from afar. 

The head criminal dock worker and his lackies look up and take in the fiery mess as well from a closer distance. 

"What the hell..." the criminal dock worker comments.  He turns quickly to his underlings and yells, "Come on!  Hurry up!"  His underlings scramble through the pile of boxes inside the open container.

Sakura pushes herself off the ground to see the massive firestorm she inadvertantly set off. 

"Whoops..."  Sakura says shyly. 

"That power...you are not exactly what was expected."  the Korean comments from her side leaning against another container wall.

"Oh?  Expecting someone else, huh?"  Sakura questions.  Guessing on Ibuki's height she continues, "She doesn't happen to be someone, um...yay high...with a cute little ninja costume.  Is it?"

"Contracting outsiders doesn't seem to be their style."  the Korean says.  "You just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, I suppose."

"Um...look, if you have a beef with her, that's fine."  Sakura explains.  "I'm just trying to figure out what's going on around here.  She said she would meet me here to tell me some stuff I wanted to know, and now I have a bunch of sweaty older guys trying to pick a fight.  This could go a lot easier, you know..."

"You're right...this could."  the Korean says clenching his fists and approaching her in a steadily increasing pace.

"Uh...well, okay...if that's the way you want it..."  Sakura says as she gets into her fighting stance.

The Korean intiates the next round of combat with a jumping sidekick.  Sakura blocks and sidesteps to retaliate with a two punch combo.  Though blocked, Sakura keeps the Korean wary of the consequences of miscalculation.  He sweeps just as Sakura dashes back.  In a split second rebound, Sakura dashes forward for a left hand but misses.  A few kick combos land high and low upon her body.  She rolls out of the way to avoid being cornered and finds space to counter with a modified axe kick paired with a double axehandle uppercut, staggering the Korean backward.  Sakura presses on with a jumping knee attack that's dodged and countered with secure grapples from the rear.  The Korean flips her off hard onto the ground with a modified judo throw.  Sakura kicks the villain off with both feet and rolls to an upright position.  She rushes forward but meets a hard kick to the face.  Follow up trick kicks keep her confused on her stand up as kicks whiz at her in different directions.  She presses on taking the punishment to get closer despite the Koreans affinity to keep the fight ranged.  Patiently, she waits and finds a roundhouse pass over her head.  With his body in the mercy of motion, Sakura decides to let him know her "spin" on things as she unleashes a hurricane of three well placed kicks to his face and a final one to the body.  Leaning forward in pain, the Korean leaves himself open to a jumping knee, where Sakura leaps into a vertical handstand atop his upright body.  She twists and uses her momentum to take the Korean off his feet and into a container wall.  Angered, the Korean lifts himself back up wiping the sweat from his brow.  Sakura rushes forward and leaps into the air with an attempted double axehandle finish.  Mid air, she notices the sparkle in her foes eye.  Suddenly a stiff flying sidekick meets Sakura's face followed by a barrage of follow up kicks dizzying her up into the air in a pained yell...

Meanwhile, the criminal dock workers find a box inside the container.  Their electronic scanners identify the box with a Master's Group logo on the front to be the package they are looking for.  The criminal dock workers take the box to their leader.  The head criminal dock work looks upon the box pleased.

Suddenly, a crash is heard nearby.  The criminal dock workers turn toward the noise in wonder.

Sakura struggles to her elbows upon the remains of broken crates.  She rolls backward as a slamming foot crashes inches away from her face and into splinters of wood.  She backs away to prepare her stance.  She blocks a stiff roundhouse toward her head but gets pummeled back by a turning sidekick.  The villian advances again with a left and a right.  Sakura keeps active avoiding the blows and gets a grapple upon the back of his head.  She leapfrogs into a rear dropkick to the back of his head.  The Korean staggers to his knees.  Sakura sprints againt toward her opponent.  The Korean turns and finds himself a bit unprepared.  Sakura rocks him with powerful punch combinations, barely missing a turning crescent kick.  Stepping forward again, she hits high and low in varying kick and punch combos, sensing weakness come over the Korean.  Desperate, the Korean clings to one of Sakura's thrown arms pulling backward to shoot her up into the sky with a double leg lift throw.  Sakura stablizes herself in midair and lands safely atop a nearby container. 

Gazing downward at the otherside of the container, she catches a glimpse of the criminal dock workers scrambling for escape, and the conspicious open container with its contents scattered all around.  Cop cars sound their sirens as they approach in the distance.

"Hey, what's going on down there?"  Sakura shouts in suspicion.  The criminal dock workers run off even quicker.  Their leader makes it inside a semi truck with a container and starts the engine. 

She goes back and peers down below looking for the Korean.  He has disappeared.  Turning around once again toward the scene of a crime, she hops down and runs off to the truck.  She waves rushing toward the truck.

"Hey, stop!" Sakura calls out. 

The head criminal dock worker turns the ignition and steps on the gas.  The semi moves out.  Some brave baddies present themselves in her way.  Sakura knocks down the first with jumping roundhouse kick, scrambles forward to dodge a clothesline, and gains momentum to dive for a handstand flip on the next villians shoulders ending with diving kick to the face of the last foe.  Continuing on, she finds the handle of the accelerating semi's container.

Not to far away, Japanese police approach and stop to form a blockade.  The criminal dock worker cranks the gas.  The police officers, coming out of their vehicles grab their guns and find their aim a bit too ambitious and retreat for the sides as the semi smashes through in reckless abandon. 

Sakura almost to the top of the container struggles to maintain her grip on the container after the impact.  At a container stack farther ahead, the Korean waits patiently and jumps.  He lands on the top of the semi's container load just as Sakura lifts herself up. 

"Hey, you again..."  Sakura says as she prepares herself for yet another round.  She sees a silver necklace on the Korean's neck expose itself revealing the letters "KO."  She continues, "Ko, huh?  Good name for a fighter, I guess.  But you aren't working for these guys, are you?"

"What if I am?"  the Korean answers.

"Then, you are not a true warrior."  Sakura says seriously.  "A true warrior defines himself and is not ruled by the object of temptation...or something like that...or was it like..."

"Where did you get that from?"  Ko grins amused.  "A fortune cookie..."

"Um, someone who knows things a lot better than you do apparently."  Sakura answers back.  "I mean, you look all tough and all, but in the end of the day, you're just taking orders from a guy driving a rig.  I mean, no real shame in that...it's just that you don't have to be all braggy."

"What?"  Ko answers taken off guard.  "He's not a truck driver...he's...I mean...I don't take orders from him."

"I don't know..."  Sakura smirks.  "You're up here...he's down there relaxing with the AC...I took psychology in college, so I kind of get the gist of the power thing, you know?  Come to think of it, I knew this funny guy with a big chin that had his own little band of merry men...I think one thought he was pretty or something like that...

Ko's head boils with frustration and explodes, "Enough!"

"Oh,"  Sakura says snapping out of her train of thought.  She shifts quickly back to her fighting stance.  "So...ready to go?"

Across town, the blonde European exits an elevator pulling along a large chest through the building lobby.

Outside in a secluded portion of the lot, he meets a guy next to a van. 

The guy asks, "What's that?"

The blonde European answers, "Oh...just thought I'd bring some work back home."

The blonde European opens the chest pulls out Ibuki, gagged, tied, and very fiesty.  The guy opens the back of the van, and the blonde European chucks Ibuki inside.  The guy closes up the rear of the van and says to the blonde European, "Geez, good luck with that.  Oh, and there were some problems down at the docks, but I think they got what they were looking for.  The package should be at the air strip in less than an hour."

"Good,"  the blonde European says pleased.  "Tell the crew to prepare the plane for plan B and immediate boarding.  Things should work according to plan."

The guy hops into the driver's seat while the blonde European gets into the van from the other door.  The van starts up and drives into the nearby street.

Meanwhile, Sakura and Ko continue their standoff on top of the semi truck container as cop cars close in from the rear.  Their eyes squint intrigued by the anticipation of battle as the moon spotlights them high above at the middle of night.

To be continued...

(Whoa...things are looking up...way up, on top of a speeding big daddy rig.  How will things pan out in this final round matchup between Sakura and her new dangerous foe?  Will Ibuki be able to flee from her powerful captors?  What does Master's Group property have to do with all of this?  Find out in the next episode...stay tuned for Mel Masters # 3 coming soon.)